Indians (Pacification)

States Seri crops will not come up because of difficulty obtaining water for irrigation. Recommends village be moved to better location, otherwise Seris will never take root, settle down. Giving Seris oxen, farming implements, seeds, cattle to help them become farmer-ranchers. (T. Sheridan, 1976)

Concerns sealed paper, anata Media, and cattle irons delivery. Need to ship iron from treasury at Alamos; Alcabala on cash taken from Mexico to Horcasitas. Letter describing contents of documents on pacification of Indians of Santa Lucia; desertion of Santa Lucia; quevedos March with vecinos finds Santa Lucia deserted. Visit of 12 armed Indians to comisaria who dance mitote. Complaints of robbery and killing by Indians of Santa Lucia. Desire to have had troops to follow and punish Indians. (L. L. Woodward, August 1988)

Necessity maintaining 3 more agents to distribute rations to reduced Seris, Pimas, Sibubapous. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

Fueros discusses status of Placeres at Cieneguilla and problems with hostile Indians causing people not to want to live there. Recounts in detail attacks on mercaderes at nearby Paraje and on men grazing horses and mules (which were stolen). Fears united uprising of Indians and recommends removal of certain Indian groups. Draft letters from viceroy(?) Interspersed with letters. Fueros sends to real Caxa de los Alamos shipments of gold for royal fifth; relaciones for shipments included. Reports on status of production from Placeres and Indian workers. Fueros mentions visit to Altar to See Oconor who was there inspecting troops. Letter from Crespo to viceroy concerning troubles Indians causing in region. Military efforts to defend against Indians and punish them discussed. Fueros named capitan de infanteria. (S. Fiederlein, may 1987)

Fueros reports on mining operations at Cieneguilla and actions of Indians of region. Comments on how more tranquil since arrival of partida of troops. Reports on surrender of groups of Seris. cabecilla and his band still holding out. Discusses output of new Placeres, his attempt at inspiring workers to extract More, problem with Placeres being distant from him. Also mentions continuing problems with Apaches and suspension of monthly campaigns against them. Describes Indians clearing asequias to irrigate crops. Tiburones and Tepocas living in peace, planting their crops, and defending against Apaches. (S. Fiederlein, 5-6-87)

Monserrat advises virrey of the following: Tienda de Cuervo to become interim governor after death of Mendoza; planned inspection of presidial troops by Tienda de Cuervo and reassessment of sufficiency of troop strength and deployment patterns in wake of Indian hostilities; need to enforce payment of royal fifth following discovery of gold in Sonora; suggests a softer approach to problem of reducing Seris and Pimas, although if hostilities continue a forceful response will require additional military resources; recommends granting material rewards to Indians who choose to fight against those tribal members who persist in hostilities. Tienda de Cuervo advises stricter regulation of gold and silver mining in Sonora. Includes tables of weight and estimated value of all gold and silver mined to date in area. (A. Tukey, August 1989)

Repetitive accounts of campaign by Mendoza against Seri-Pima alliance. Seri-Pima force of 300 is trapped in canyon, but Mendoza finally decides to withdraw because severely outnumbered. Vildosola receives word of Apache attack against troops near Magallanes. Troops sent to rescue, many Apaches killed. Martinez Villasur advises virrey of Mendoza's death at hands of Seris while traveling to Mexico. (A. Tukey, August 1989)

Correspondence from Mendoza to virrey, mostly concerning reduccion of Seri pueblos on Isla Tiburon; successful conclusion of peace treaty with Seris and Pimas, although notes some isolated Cases of continued hostilities; notes difficulties in reduccion of Papagos due to their excellent mastery of bow and arrow; recounts efforts to exterminate Apaches, to contract alliance with other tribes against Apaches; peace treaty broken by Seris leading to conclusion by Mendoza that they will never be reduced and requests for more arms to help exterminate them. Also includes documents concerning murder case against Figueroa. Mendoza orders expedition to explore area around Altar. Also includes roster of number of personnel stationed in presidios in Sonora and Sinaloa. (A. Tukey, August 1989)

Tienda informs troop unable to pursue Pimas because troop was dispersed in several towns. This was done to assure some Seris and Pimas of Tienda's peaceful intentions. (J. Tapia, April, 1988).

Lopez y Padilla argues for reduction of military presence in Nayarit based on passivity of native inhabitants. Describes concentration of Indians into three pueblos by Jesuits, with further security provided by restrictions on travel and possession of weapons. Argues that danger to missionaries minimal due to presence of Milicia at nearby silver mine and the fact that entire area is surrounded by Spanish settlements. (A. Tukey, July 1988)