Indians (Agriculture)

Concerns request for peace made by Lipan capitan to Munoz after suffering attacks in Coahuila and Texas. Lipanes pleased with agreement but inform Munoz of separate groups of Lipanes along border who will continue hostilities. Due to request, virrey orders release of several prisoners. Munoz accepts Canoso's gratitude for release. Virrey relates additional conditions of agreement and requests informe on whether Lipanes are living according to conditions. Virrey also says Ugarte to take trip beginning in Nueva Vizcaya to give instructions on best methods of defense and to encourage cultivation. Virrey notices that price of maiz is high due to drought. Munoz relates incidents of raids but says no large incursions have taken place. Informs virrey that Lipanes never returned to complete agreement instituting peace. Munoz includes requested informe regarding murder and theft in the area. says Ranchos are being deserted and resulting difficulties in moving cattle has forced him to temporarily prohibit their movement. says this destruction and hostility due to peace broken by Ugarte causing retribution by Indians. Munoz sends message to different tribes telling them not to trade with Apaches. Munoz sends Gutierrez to force Sas to meet with Ugarte to finally discuss peace. (M. Dannemiller, November 1988)

Concerns mission life and advice for proper mission administration. Suggests the formation of streets and neighborhoods in towns. Describes certain agricultural techniques and rations and sustenance crops of corn, beans, Cane and cotton. Regarding finance, suggests establishment of cashier's office to be controlled by priest and governor. Relates Indian work schedules and punishments. Describes Indian vices of game, alcohol and Peyote. Advises prohibition of bows, arrows and other weapons to Indians except for hunting. Concerns requiring Indians to have written permission to travel. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)

Describes mission conditions in Nueva Mexico. Concerns the elections of governor and mayor. Fermin discusses inherent nature of Indians and their agriculture. Describes their grain crops, textiles, baptisms and marriages. Complains of a lack of missionaries. Describes continuing reducciones and difficulties due to Apache invasions and increased mission abandonment. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns alleged mistreatment of Pisones by missionaries at Ygollo; presentation, verification of charges a lengthy process, issue continues in sequences 3 and 4. Gimenes, captain of Pisones, outlines poor administration of mission, mistreatment of Pisones who inhabit area and care for mission livestock. Beseeches governor to finish construction on church first promised them in 1749. Informs him that Indians started building church years earlier, also do mission farming, but that reverand fathers have them working 'enero a enero' without payment, assistance or food, only reward is death. One Father left with large sum of mission's money. Gimenes has instructed Indians to cease construction of church until conditions improve; Ramirez sent by governor to investigate situation; in subsequent autos, other sides of issue heard. Fathers offer defense in missives to pizzaro; following autos, various inventories made over years of ecclesiastical and secular goods at Ygollo, testimonios verifying information; individuals testify to treatment of Pisones, knowledge of inventory, quality and quantity of harvests, livestock at mission. (L. Kerr, July 1989)

Documents concern the breaking of peace by the Indians, their banditry and assorted killings. Interrogation of witnesses concerning knowledge of the Indians, of their breaking of the peace, and their crimes is given. F. 189 contains a list of the four points asked of each witnesses. 12 witnesses' responses to these questions follow with accounts of Indian attacks, their stealing of horses, and killing of various soldiers. One soldier killed at Pasaje de Noche Buena, for example. Other documents concern the groupings of various Indian tribes (mesquites, Mulas, and other nations) in order to assault the Villa of Padilla. A description of the persecution of these wayward Indians by the Spaniards is given. Last, there is an account of how the Indians should be brought into mission life and given to agriculture. It is said that under previous peace treaties, the Indians had been brought into the missions, had been given instruction in the planting of maize Frijoles and other agricultural pursuits and had been pacified and converted to christianity. This is the goal again, now that this peace has been broken by these Indians. (P. Lenz, September 1989)

Concerns soldiers' duties at Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion mission with Indians and how the Former abused their power, physically abusing Indians and taking their plots of land for personal use; reactions of Indians and new demands for protection. (K. Hubin, September 1989)

Complaint by Pizones of mistreatment by fray Estrada of Hoyos mission Indians. Indians were to give labor and land to mission for 4 years in exchange for half of the production and their needs taken care of. For the last 2 weeks rations have not been supplied; missionary not meeting needs. Estrada requested to treat Indians well and return their lands as laws prohibit mistreatment of Indians. Description of mission church at Hoyos. Count of oxen, horses and mules of mission; Indians contest that there were more cattle and that they were more Mature. Request that Ramirez be responsible for management of cattle, previously mismanaged. Estrada has had harvests collected and has spent money all over; sale of almost all mission cattle by Blanco. Discussion of Indians attendance of mass, absence of idolatry. Ordovas to make journey to mission to investigate but complains of illness, distance, and dangerous Mecos which has delayed trip; told he must go despite these excuses. Puga to investigate and return land to Indians. Indians having to travel in search of food. 3 Pizones and a Pame went to Mexico City to testify that a year has passed without rations and land taken by Estrada. Descriptions of vegetable and Milpa crops grown. Testimonies of mission apames and Pizones indicate that Estrada gave corn rations the first two years and describe bloody beating by Alcaldes but directed by Estrada, and Indians given other land of lesser quality. (L. L. Woodward, September 1988)

Receipt of testimonies regarding Serrano request for mission in San Carlos and location of possible construction. Mention of friendly Indians who sell fruit and deer skins and return the horses they find. Chosen location does not have enough water for present cultivation, suggestion and advantages for cattle and rainfall agriculture of location near Gabia. Indians of Rancheria Tira la Piedra accused of robbing travelers and Mule drivers, inspite of large corn production. Discussion of combining 3 rancherias to populate mission and necessity of Indians population to work nearby mines. (L. L. Woodward, may 1989)

Detailed testimony of Moreno. Notes that Indian spies keep apprised of affairs by posing as day workers in presidios and villages. Detailed discussion of Rio's and Moreno's crimes, including affirmative testimonies by other Spanish. Other Indians (tortuga, Luis, Bustamante) are convicted of spying and rebellion. Details Apache subsistence-- planting of corn, beans squash, eating of robbed horses and cattle. Meat distributed by leader Calaxtrin in times of need-- notes differential distribution of horse meat by occupation. Records that Apaches do not have formal homes (with exception of Calaxtrin, who has Adobe). Describes Apache movement for water by moon phases and hostilities, and how Apaches recover their dead to bury in Sierra Chivato. Recounts Apache 3 day use of hallucinogenic Peyote after a raid in which Apaches kill horses to cripple forces, eat neck meat of horse, break joints of cadavers and bury cadavers in a round pit covered with soil and rocks. Account of typical Spanish weaponry (shields, leather jackets, whips (?), fire, pikes) and of Indian weaponry (bow and arrow). Detailed account of Indian battle tactics and sale of robbed horses to the north. Mines at real del oro (?) Closed due to Indian threat. (S. Gibbs September 1989)

Concerns letters reporting the need for a new church since much of the province's life depend on it, I.e. Indians being baptized, taxes, agriculture, Diezmos y primicias etc. Budget for new construction is 44,000 pesos. Notice that Indians are constructing a new church given. Old church destroyed by earthquake. (M. Marroquin, June 1989)