Indians (Relations)

Concerns activities of several Indian groups in Santander. Sierra Gorda says Saraquis very hostile and are responsible for many thefts in area. says some Lipanes will move to new missions after harvest. Includes list of murders by Indians in Santander through October 1790 as well as punishment made, and equipment and stolen goods retrieved. Also, nine children captured and placed in Presas del Rey. Asks virrey for instructions regarding prisoners and one captured Christian desertor. (M. Dannemiller, November 1988)

1786 letters concerning necessary military response to recent Indian hostilities. Sierra Gorda says he intends to punish Indians responsible for depredations. says Indians under pretense of peace continue to rob, murder and terrorize. Relates incident in which five shepherds murdered. Concerns deployment of troops to search out enemy. After long campaign hindered by rain, caught up with Apaches in Croix. Virrey responds telling Sierra Gorda to watch carefully for abuses of good faith and to use military to assure compliance with peace conditions. says they must attempt to reduce Camoteros and Tanambres. Sierra Gorda says ranches in Laredo and Revilla completely destroyed and such incidents sure to continue if precautions not taken. Suggests method to make campaigns and punishment more successful. says military organization is inefficient and suggests separation of comandancia general. Informs virrey of plans to take troops to Laredo. Virrey says he's unable to send inspector and requests relacion regarding condition of troops, uniforms, munitions, armaments and horses. Will send Gutierrez to inspect soon. Virrey disagrees with Gorda's suggestions saying the system works and reminds him to obey Ugarte's orders. Gorda informs virrey that several Indians killed in incident in Croix. As a result, Mariguanes request to stay peacefully in Llera mission. says mission in Liebana would accomodate Indians from Croix as proposed by Bucareli. Provides description of daily life in mission. Mentions grain and weekly meat rations. says these provisions not sufficient so better for those Indians to live in liberty. Virrey reminds Gorda of Galvez' instructions of 1786 and 1772 to guide his activities. says by law, funds must be obtained to maintain any group requesting peaceful hospice in mission. Gorda says difficult to follow instructions regarding proper treatment due to increased hostilities. (M. Dannemiller November 1988)

Scrambled, unrelated documents concerning construction, destruction of public works. Mentions flooding of Cuebas road, Tlahuac, other places. Ff.60-71 concern citizens of Tamiagua trying to raise enough money to get jail built (1796). F.74 describes miserable state of Indians in Tlaxcala, starving, unable to save crops from continual flooding of Zahuapan River. F.77 Lira suggests reducing Indians to get them out of Tlaxcala, as he found them insufferable to begin with (1795). (A. Dean, September 1989)

In response to viceroy's request, Verger makes suggestions in 22 parts for physical and spiritual development of missions. says new missions should be delayed until older ones are firmly established with sufficient arms and military protection. Must grow food for all mission and presidio residents. Storage and distribution should never be left to Indians. nor should be left to caudillos and capitans since after Jesuit expulsion California example shows they destroy missions. Under priests' control more churches built, more ornaments retained, larger harvests collected. says some form of punishment is necessary because Indians will abuse and steal property without it. Indians should be treated fairly and paid a salary. Describes daily masses and visits to sick and widowed. Discusses corn, bean, lentil crops, weekly rations and duties of women. Discusses also Indian jobs, products and locations of trade. Discusses differences between present conditions and those of Conquistadores. Relates difficulties with jefes who replace hardworkers with incompetents. References to decree by Valero ordering military protection for missions. Discusses power struggle between military and missionary. Verger claims arms are not needed for conversion, only evangelical preaching. (M. Dannemiller March 1988)

Concerns Barri's response to viceroy's request for information. says his knowledge only from a few confidential letters as to Fages' conduct. Has asked Palou to submit list of converted Indian families who could be relocated. Has sent mules and horses to Fages. Discusses most opportune time for safe transportation of mail and provisions. says Indians are given rations not salaries which violates instructions of visitador general. Lack of payment as well as harsh treatment and hunger drives Indians away and makes conversions difficult. says harmony with Franciscan priests can't be achieved because they interpret viceroy's orders as they See fit. Many military men support this opinion. Relates a great resentment due to Dominican take-over. Responding to request for information on Ibarzabal, Barri sends documents from 1769 which confirm his receipt of religious licenses. Documents describe area of Ibarzabal's jurisdiction. Galvez recommended 365 pesos per year salary and asks bishop to immediately award him a canonical institution. Gives instructions for building and administration of new church. License granted to Ibarzabal to administer sacraments, to marry all ethnic groups as well to perform Altar and confessional duties. Galvez also ordered a cemetery established and gave Ibarzabal right to bless it. Description of all activities Ibarzabal authorized to perform. (M. Dannemiller, March 1988)

Concerns current issues in missions. List of mission populations. Palou suggests need for severe punishment due to Indians' insolence. Cites examples of theft and attacks. says soldiers refuse to punish Indians because they are later blamed for Indian desertion. Ramos has followed instructions of visitador general to make progress in material aspects of mission by placing mayordomos in charge of Indians, proof of which appears in October inventory. says progress threatened by theft and destruction by Indians. Requests Barri not to impose order ridding missions of mayordomos claiming a loss in production would occur. Contains count of mules and horses. Guicuras dying of syphilis. Suggests forming Spanish population in Todos Santos. Suggestions for resolving problems including transfering priests and ways to calm and establish Indians. (M. Dannemiller, March 1988)

Concerns Barri's order requesting information on mayordomo's treatment of Indians. Moreno y Castro includes witness' accounts of several Indian deaths due to beatings and mistreatment by mayordomo. States that some abuses are specifically ordered by priests. Accounts of Indian prisoner deaths due to hunger. Mention of specific prisoners and their lack of food and medical attention in prison. (M. Dannemiller, March 1988)

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.

Correspondence between viceroy, gov. Munoz, and others concerning extortion charges. Accusations against Julian de las Casas. Request review of mission books (23.5 folios). Discrepancy in books; six pages missing. Rich in info about livestock. Rich in info about mission salaries. Casas exonerated. Detailed plan for future mission administrative policy sent to viceroy from Sierra Gorda including plans for treatment of Indians, mayordomo salaries, bookkeeping and livestock care. (K. Mccaston, September 1989)