Indians (Reduccion)

Correspondence includes following topics: laws, duties, and salaries of intendente and gobernador; reduccion, education and water rights of Indians; quintos and transportation of gold from Cieneguilla; relations between mine owners and buyers of ore; suspension of repartimiento. (J. Johnson, February 1988)

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)

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)

Cruilla (?) Acknowledges being informed of military attack to Seri Rancheria; acknowledges status of silver mines, and urges Tienda to encourage mine workers. Other notes concern reconstruction, bad situation of Cananea's mines, Apache depredations, and reduccion of Sobaypuris in Tucson. Cruillas also acknowledges information about ship seen near Culiacan and presence of epidemic in fronteras. (J. Tapia, may, 1988)

Tienda reports arrival of some Seris, and others in Cerro Prieto willing to accept pardon and live in reducciones. Seris are afraid and request some of their prisoners be released as sign of good faith. Tienda releases few and asks that Seris come to talk to him in Horcasitas. It is mentioned that Pimas are reluctant to accept peace and some of them are prisoners in Tubac and Terrenate; mention of Pima attack in Soyapa. (J. Tapia, April, 1988).

Due to arrival of Pineda, Tienda unable to complete reduccion of Seris, and to visit presidios as planned. He is preparing a relacion geografica of Sonora and other documents which will be present to viceroy upon arrival. (J. Tapia, April, 1988).

Tienda informs Cruillas of his attempt to have Pimas and Seris live peacefully and settle down. Indians are promised pardons if they obey king and accept christianity. Seris will be given land to cultivate, and Pimas will be allowed to go back to their missions. Tienda believes Indians more willing to compromise due to last campaign in which some Indians were killed. List of number of Indians killed, and mentions several rancherias were burnt down. Tienda hopes that later he will spend all energy combating Apaches. (J. Tapia, April, 1988)

Documents concern reduccion of large number of Sobaipuris in Soanca and Tucson. Mention there is enough land and water in Vicinity and it is hoped they will remain there. Priest from Vac will try to convert them to christianity. Also mention that Sobaipuris will probably imitate Papagos already living in Vac. Brief mention of low effort in exploiting Cananea's mines (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)

Recapitulation of information concerning reduccion of Tiburones under calzoni to Torreon near Pitic from Carrizal. (T. Sheridan, 1980)