Indians (Reduccion)

Relates attempts to present new method of government in new missions and attempts to increase reducciones. Describes some campaigns as successful while others merely increased enemy and so need increases for military protection and for conquests to curb violent acts. Concerns search for riches in new missions as in old for self-sufficiency. Discusses the distribution of land and requests for annual inventory of missions and listing of Indians. States that Indians of San Bernardo are very obedient, attempts are being made to give them Spanish values and that current system allows for Spanish control until Indians can govern themselves and increase population. Governors suggest a new system is needed to keep pace of conquests, that Indians should move into towns and that Jesus and Nizarron should join and share water supplies. Relates failed efforts to establish new missions with adequate water, land and production in 1756 and 1767. (M. Dannemiller, 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 current mission practices and suggestions for more effective government. Regarding use of agricultural land for grazing. Governors request a list of all Indians and their property and that they be given land to cultivate near Spanish so to learn by example. Concerns establishment of towns with Plazas and proper missions where Indians must live to learn doctrine which will cure their faults and protect them from Apaches. Suggests that orders taking Indians away for more than month be prohibited, that missions provide agricultural teaching and that ecclesiastic and secular be kept separate to maintain Indian loyalty. Concerning commerce, should attempt to decrease distance to market, guarantee fair compensation and prohibit Spanish from controling Indian trade. Concerns methods to convince Indians of benefits of reduccion and to prohibit them from communicating with other tribes. Suggests that recently converted Indians should be given military jobs and that priests should accompany troops for moral and spiritual support. (M.dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns the response of governors and capitans of presidios to the viceroy's instructions for a new method of government. Contains a complete list of governors to receive the report. Comments on use of the method as pertains to the missions of Texas. Describes the condition of missions and the relations with Indians. Descriptions of religious routines, prayer, teaching, baptisms and weekly religious activities. Relates new year's process of election of governor, mayor and sheriff. Concerns economic conditions and mission sustenance crops of corn, beans, cotton and cana de Castilla. There was an abundance of cattle (bovine, ovine and caprine) but lacking equine due to frequent attacks. Cotton cloth, ponchos and blankets were made in missions. Contains detailed description of mission life, men and women's duties as well as wardrobe of converts and Elite. Suggestions made for improvements by example such as increasing Spanish populations to serve as examples of culture, government, industry and civil harmony. Authors offer the missions under their administration as examples and describe older methods which have served their development. Under Menchaca, necessities are kept and equally distributed in the missions and used to maintain troops. All administrators feel current system of government to be effective.

Contains letters from various priests concerning their ability or inability to apply the new method to their areas. Gonzales relates difficulties in promoting the plan due to the nature of the land and the temperament of the Indians. Concerns the location of missions and needed incentives to keep Indians in missions. Describes the roles of the missionaries as fathers, teachers and employers. Provisions for the sick and elderly. Discusses suspending the synod, expense records and an annual auditor to be sent by virrey. Relates deterioration and depopulation of missions of Chihuahua, condition of other missions and need to have Indians congregated there - not sent to Spanish haciendas. Discusses fact that Indians in Moqui are pacified due to fact that they live with christians, need for more missionaries and military to assure this type of peace and avoid violence such as with the Apaches. Includes a complete list of missions that received the virrey's instructions of July 13, 1772. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns frays' thoughts on the virrey's new method the ultimate goal of which is firm establishment of reducidos, establishment of new missions and development of missions perfection of spiritual culture and progression of spiritual conquest in north America. Effectiveness of method to depend on proper maintenance, election of qualified ecclesiastic as well secular workers chosen by prelados regulares and enactment of exact rules for missionaries and governors to follow. Concerns necessity for fortified presidios and expedition of Spanish forces with knowledge of nature and enemy's ways to protect missions against increasing movements of infidels on frontier. Petition for virrey's attention regarding proper wages for troops, ministers' salaries reimbursement for expenses incurred and maintenance of synods. Financial provisions to be made by instituting proxy for each province containing missions. Frays advise that to achieve goal, need to populate new areas, and establish new missions in most fertile areas. Indians should learn at the mission weaving or another laborio for commerce and must only be taken from mission for a true service of the crown. Detailed description of missionary duties and rules for the conversion of souls. Mention of Solorzano and book iure indiarum. Description of projects to be undertaken after seeds, raise birds and instruct converts in political and personal relations. Ministers must be most literate and must teach Indians Castellano. Missions must have a teacher and a school. Discusses Indian ideas on land ownership, but recommends a system of common land for Indians until their sufficient yield to divide it. Ideas expressed on Indian behavior, appropriate religious practices, mandatory daily town meetings to explain catholic concepts and use of agriculture, trade and kind treatment to attract Indians or return them to missions. Noted that Pimas are lazy and have few useful skills while Opatas are more hard-working and skilled due to more interaction with the Spanish. Concerns also need for doctors and hospitals. Discusses baptisms, Indian government and Indian obedience to their superiors. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)

Includes 3 expedientes, numeros 30-32, first two somewhat related. Numero 30 includes copies of letters describing Munoz's military service history, letter in which Munoz appointed interim governor of Nuevo Santander, succeeding Vidal. 31 includes anonymous letter from 'vecinos de Nuevo Santander' in which they accuse Vidal of stealing ruthlessly from them; authors beseech virrey to arrest Vidal, reimburse them for money, goods stolen over years; fiscales evaluate claims, but that without known accusers and more specific charges, unable to prosecute. In 32, 3 Pison Indians request assistance in returning to mission after traveling to Mexico City to 'reclamar sobre Tierras de que Les ha desposeido.' (L. Kerr, June 1989)

Documents concern two colleras of Indians that leave from Tamaulipa and Altamira. Pobladores are interrogated about the Indians. Indians are said to be war-like and to have committed many crimes and robberies. The killing of two fishermen and the stealing of horses and cows are committed by said Indians. Indians promote war against mission. They unite and form a confederation against the mission. F.432 contains message from governor Echeagaray with instructions to divide up the Indians of the two colleras and to put them to work in the fields or in Casas honorables. Governor's encouragement of pacification of Indians. In other documents the militia's trouble in pursuing Indians due to lack of food and resources is given. Apaches are said to cause the most damage to these militias. Indians are pacified and sent to Queretero by conde de Sierra Gorda. There they are to be divided and set to work in accordance with Echeagaray's instructions. F. 431 gives list of Mecos. F. 446-447 gives lists of Mecos and Parbulos, including those married and baptized. F. 454-456 gives names and marriages and baptisms of various other Indians. (P. Lenz, September 1989)

Documents concern the request to move the Villa of Santillana. Village's sufferings due to lack of water is listed. Need to move Villa to a site closer to the River. F. 403 gives account of earlier decree of rationing of water and the construction of villages near water resources. Other documents suggest building aqueducts rather than transplanting village. but wells are said to contain water unhealthy to drink and general unsanitary conditions and excessive cost of constructing aqueducts and new wells is stated. Decision to move village is accepted. F. 411-412 gives inventory of possessions of each inhabitant and their possessions (firearms, gunpowder, ammunition, etc.). Final documents tell of the benefit the move will have on efforts of reducing Indians and of preventing them from crossing the River. Groups proceed to move to new location. (P. Lenz, September 1989)

Documents concern the death of the conde de Sierra Gorda. Gives lengthy biography of his services to the crown, of his settling and establishing of villages and repelling Indians attacks. A detailed account of his early military career in Querataro is given. His various promotions and especially of his successful campaigns against the Indians. A good account is given of his establishing of numerous towns and missions and of his pacification of the Indians and of their conversion to catholicism. Conde de Sierra Gorde decorated with the titulo de Castillo, thus freeing him of payment of Media Annata. Account of 1742 battle with English nation and of their attack on Veracruz. Later documents concern charges brought against him by citizens of his province for his over-aggressive style. royal commission sent to investigate. Conde de Sierra Dies before case completed. His son's role in defending his deceased Father against the charges. Commission's finding of no substance to charges. Additional letters concern the request that the governorship become a hereditary post and that the deceased's son, Manuel, shall be named as governor. His son's biography is extensively listed-military campaigns, settlement of towns, and pacification of Indians. A further request is made that assistance be given to the entire family. Names of family members given and their newly-granted offices and titles listed. Governorship granted to Manuel. Throughout the volume are good descriptions of founding of towns and resulting battle with the Indians. Folios 145-149 are especially strong in describing la Campana en Tamaulipas, including number of deaths, injured and prisoners taken. Also detailed are Indian banditry and the attempt to convert them through education and the missions. (P. Lenz, September 1989)