Indians (Magic And Witchcraft)

Also mentions el tecolote, a bad sign which when heard by Indians, they die. Dissuaded Indians from attacking the Lipanes. (D. Coates) (1980)

Extensive description of geography, vegetation, fauna, water resources. Usually gives population counts or estimates for ethnic groups. Good ethnographic information- subsistance, ceremonies, division of labor, character or disposition, material culture. Mentions curanderos using Peyote. Refers to carne embarvacoa. Was impressed with the quality of dyed fabric. (R. Perez) (1977)

Mateo de Ortega Dies of illness and two Indian servants of the wife Antonia Luxan testify that Antonia kept snail shells, fish eyes, ribbons, Jojoba beans and other magic articles and reportedly spoke with the devil. No sentence. (R. Davis) (1980)

Leonor Dominguez accuses three Indian women of the village of San Juan of inflicting illness upon her through witchcraft. The governor orders testimony under oath to be taken from these persons and other witnesses. A very involved story develops, involving the Husband of Leonor Dominguez and some of the Indian women, and other relatives and acquaintances of the principals in the suit. However, due to lack of hard evidence, conflicting statements, the governor pronounces a verdict of not-guilty. (Lloyd Kendall) (1980)

Discusses missionization Chinipas by fr. Juan Castini, 1621, desire Guazapares for missionaries as well. Notes successful attempts Castini to secure peace between the two groups, previously enemies. Estimates 21,000 baptisms Rio Mayo, 30,000 Rio Yaqui, 9000 Rio Nebome. Describes Mayos as must docile Indians Sinaloa. Notes recent missionization Conicaris. Gives geographical location, population figures Hios (Warihios)- 17 pueblos, 9 with 500-600 inhabitants, the rest with 200. Notes Huvagures, Teguisos beyond Hios. States Baciroas, Tehatas reduced to Conicari Pueblo, Tepague. Notes Topichis requests for missionization. 11 Yaqui pueblos then, Torim the largest. says Yaquis engaged in continuous wars with neighbors, civil wars, robberies, murders among themselves. Mentions Yaqui resistance to baptism, drunkenness, superstition, polygamy, practice of marrying Mother, daughter, sisters, transhumance. Describes conference of Yaqui sorcerers (hechiceros) in Torim who attempted to disprove missionaries, teachings, saying after death, souls went underground, not to heaven, where they practiced all types of vices and have a very happy life. Apparently, missionary converted them, however. Mentions plans for Yaqui revolt 1620, murder Hurdaide, missionaries, never carried out. Notes missionization Nebomes, who sent 11 children to Villa De Sinaloa to learn how to read/write. Requests Aibinos, Mobas, Nures for missionaries. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

Full of ethnographic information- clothing; subsistence; marital practices; religious (sorcerers, sacrifices, idol called vuamari); use of intoxicants. Cites number of baptisms. Mentions epidemic. Notes war between Tepehuanes and Tarahumara. (R. Perez) (1977)

Brief account of Indians of provincia of Texas, of whom the Spanish have encountered 50 naciones, noting- their dress; receptiveness to Spanish language/religion; presence of valuable minerals among them; absence of ydolatria formal although hechiceros, curanderos present; hunting activities especially buffalo; production of tanned deer hides which they trade to Spaniards; absence of drunkenness among them, which Olivares notes may be due to fact that no hay Magueyes en abundancia, o porque ygnoran el modo de cultivarlos (pg.119); dances to celebrate ware victories, which often cause trouble among them; ceremonial use of Peyote que usan Por bebida del Peiotte y de otras yerbas que suelen causas turbacion en los sentidos de que procede el vervisiones, y fantasmas (pg. 119). (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Diary of Leon's expedition to Bahia del Espiritu Santo from Coahuila. Accompanied by French prisoner with many contacts among Indians, Spaniards- encounter gathering of Indians of 5 naciones - Hapes, Jumenes, xiabu, Mescales, y otra- living in casilla cuvierta de Cueros de cibola- who hang heads of enemies from poles in front of their dwellings; note petroglyphs; journey thru great stretches of Mesquite, Nopales so thick at times they have to dismount; describe Flora, fauna, especially trees, commenting on great numbers, good quality of native walnuts, and buffalo; hear of 4 French traders operating among Indians, trading knives, tobacco for buffalo hides which they transported on dogs; lose over 100 horses in stampede, of which all but 36 recovered; reach French settlement and find it destroyed by Indians- books, bones, broken arcabuces scattered thru wreckage, explore Rio San Marcos; told by Indians that French community at Espiritu Santo suffered epidemic of smallpox (viruelas) which killed more than 100, then were tricked by Indians who came from far away under pretext of desire to trade and killed French in their homes; encounter Texas Indians, some of whom accompany Spaniards back to Coahuila presidio. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Marcos Humuta, an Indian, convicted along with others, of witch craft. Marcos is sentenced to exile. The other two receive one hundred and fifty lashes and four years at labor. Excellent Indian accounts of witchcraft and its relationship with the catholic church. (T. Barnes) (1976)