Indians (Reduccion)

Concerns autos and letters dealing with the adjudication of jurisdiction and other powers of capitan protector of the fronteers of San Luis Colotlan. Document deals with specific examples of the area of application of government official(S) in such place. (M. Marrquin, June 1989)

Series of documents dealing with cedulas Reales, enacted to protect Indians Chichimecas and Tlaxcaltecos from the region of Zacatecas and chichilguites. Indians could not be obliged to do anything without consent of the captain protector. (M. Marroquin, June 1989)

Extracts from Loyola's general report Mar-December 1788 including military reports from subordinates in New Mexico, N. Vizcaya, Sonora. Includes campaign diary of Romero and Echeagaray in Sonora (mar-apr). Mentions Opatas inclusion in military force. from Bavispe. Table summarizes battle statistics by region and Indian group. Campaign diary of Elquezabal jun-July 1788 near Norte. Table shows organization of force into companies, lists officers and company size. Drought forces dispersal of troops, ends campaign. Loyola documents movement of Sonoran troops in mountains Sacramento and San Francisco, relates Apache Gileno and Taraumara thefts, murders, attacks, Mule train assaults. Encloses copy Martinez' report from Chihuahua, details Spanish attacks, prisoner taking, beast confiscation from Indians. Brief mention of lesson learned from Chiricagui campaign of mentions plan to join forces with Echeagaray to make mountain campaign. Ugarte y Loyola also reports impossibility of stopping attacks, because Indians attack small defenseless parties (eg woodcutters) elaborates on Indian murders, beast killings, thefts by Apaches Mescaleros in Nueva Vizcaya, summarizes Indian damages by province, Indian group, type of depredation and number hurt. Submits report of Ortega's October 1788 campaign in Sierra Escondida against Apaches. Details tracking and persecution, Spanish custom of decapitating enemy corpses for trophy heads. Relates depredations in San Juan Baptista del Rio, reports use of companias volantes against Apaches Mescaleros. Remarks that because Ugalde's eastern campaign is tying up so many troops, western campaign is forced to make smaller forays. Ugarte y Loyola augments force at Pueblo del Gallo, mentions Taraumara hostilities in Cianori. Martinez report from Sacramento mountains outlines force organization in table, gives daily report, detailing route taken and tracking activities, names officers, tallies weight of supplies carried by each company, mentions use of Opatas in force, notes custom of turning in Indian ears as battle trophies, laments paucity of pasture and water due to drought. Includes table of wounded and sick. Medina reports Indian attacks on sheperds near Mapimi (August 1788). Latter folios concern Echeagaray's forays with presidial troops from Santa Cruz against Apaches, Gilenos, Mimbrenos, and yutaquenos. Mentions Mescal as sustenance, and use of Apache and Opata auxiliaries. Details route taken, use of women (Indian ?) As guides. Tables summarize battle statistics and list Apache inhabitants of Bacoachic. (S. Gibbs, March 1988)

Virrey (?) Comments that defensive operations are not as effective as offensive operations with respect to the goal of reduccion. Also acknowledges receipt of Rengel's campaign diary from New Mexico 1788 concerning reduccion of Apaches and use of Comanches in partidas against Apaches. Ugarte y Loyola describes company of Rengel's force as including Opatas, volunteers and infantry. Describes how Apache hostilities in past had forced Tobas to abandon their settlements. Relates hacienda owners' contributions to defense against Apache raids. (S. Gibbs, March 1988)

Ugarte y Loyola relates peacefulness of reduced Indian tribes (Seris, Tepocas, Tiburones) near Pitic, reports bountiful crop produced by them. Suggests a suspension of rations, justifies suspension by advising government to give arable land to peaceful Indians. Given land, the Indians could grow their own food, and this would eliminate the expense of rations. Proposes establishment of Pueblo for these Indians, reasoning that 1) an official settlement would stabilize peace and 2) establish a long-term source of subsistence. In establishing such a Pueblo, an official should be sent into the field to organize Indian groups and learn their names. Ugarte y Loyola ends by expressing hope that future reduced tribes will follow this example. Virrey responds, enthusiastic. (S. Gibbs, March 1988)

Ugarte y Loyola submits Romero's campaign diary to virrey. Purpose of Romero's campaign is reduccion of Apaches. Details Spanish tracking and attacking. Virrey acknowledges receipt of Romero's diary. (S. Gibbs, March 1988)

Ugarte y Loyola submits month by month report to virrey of Indian depredations and military counterattacks in Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Mexico, Sonora (jan-April 1788). Detailed, extensive report of Spanish - Indian relations & of intertribal relations. Reports general decline in number and severity of hostilities; notes that Apaches Gilenos and Taraumares are groups responsible for robberies and murders that do occur. Reports Apache murders and attacks and Taraumara equipment and food thefts. Relates how ranch Owner, upon killing an Apache in self defense, presents Head to captain. Mentions use of Opatas for tracking in presidial forces of Nueva Vizcaya. Describes Rengel's New Mexico force as composed of presidial troops, vecinos, Indians Xicarillas and Comanches. Relates Rengel's anti-Apache campaign in New Mexico, tallies Spanish murders of Indians, confiscations of property, taking of captives. Details Marrujo's massacres with 2nd compania volante. Reports joining of 2nd compania volante with presidial troops of Janos and San Buenaventura under Cordero to attack Gilenos in Sierra San Miguel. Mentions winter rain and snow as hindrance to winter campaign in mountains. Concludes with table of casualties and robberies by Indian group and province. (S. Gibbs, March 1988)

Concerns letter from Canaveral to viceroy explaining a whole strategy to accomplish Indians reduction. For this the governor suggests distributing land in Santa Gertrudis, where conditions are good for that purpose, in spite of cold Weather. Plan includes reorganization of presidios and authority in Nayarit (more personnel, new salaries, more supplies etc). Letter describes inaccessible conditions of Nayarit, stubborness of Indians who workship idols and progress being made in their reduction to the crown. Political reorganization of alcaldias in the area is also suggested. (M. Marroquin, April 1989)

Concerns petition for retirement. Testimonies dealing with military misconduct of captain Oca. List of Indians put in prison for workshiping idols. (M. Marroquin, April 1989)

Concerns documents on reduccion of idol workshiping Indians. Viceroy asks when Indians will be ready to pay tributes. List of soldiers for presidio of Nayarit are appointed (list is provided here). Governor Canaveral accuses captain Oca of being negligent in the administration of presidio, the reason why Indians have not been reduced yet. Letter of denunciation is sent to the viceroy. (M. Marroquin, April 1989)