Mission Agriculture

Monumental Tome detailing everything you ever wanted to know about the missions of Nuevo Santander. One document comprising many assembled, transcribed reports from missions of Jalpam, Conca, Tancoiol, Tilaco, Landa, Herrera, Rioverde. Most of first half deals with Tancoiol, second half with Conca; others interspersed. F.359 concerns Landa; F.365 Jalpam; F.374 Conca; F.386 caderreita, Sierragorda; F.387 Rioverde, Nuevo Santander. Topics shuffled together, include minutely detailed description of architecture, ornamentation, furnishing of missions; reports on population (especially ff.349, 358, 375), crops planted (f.356), Indian labor in construction (344), livestock. Occasional mention of number of weddings, deaths of Indians. F.388 mentions Guastecos at Conca deserting. F.399 Indians gathered from mission to search of deserters. Throughout document are references to various missionaries, their document appears on ff.407-417 of this volume; See next entry. (A. Dean, April 1990)

Granados rants again about turning ferocious Seris from wolves into lambs, teaching them art of humanity, creating incorruptible Christian society, asks for musical instruments to polish of their civility. Asks also that land, livestock be granted Seris. Treasury approves giving parcels of irrigated land, quibbles over cost of other request, approves land grants for Bacoachi Apaches. Martinez writes list of purchases made with money allocated by Revilla Gigedo. Mention of chahuis epidemic that destroys bean, wheat crops before ripening. Mention of selection of auxiliaries, arrival of six Tiburones. Much ado about lack of musical instruments; finally Ugarte y Loyola buys and sends some. (A. Dean, may, 1989)

Military chaplain has been administering sacraments to Seris in absence of real missionary, but one is needed soon at Pitic. Description of sacraments. now that mission San Ignacio de Onavas has been established for Seris, reduccion should begin in earnest to rid them of their depraved customs. Martinez is named missionary, plans to start baptisms, formal services, breeding livestock at mission to feed Seris, building Adobe houses for them, clothing them properly. Claims Seris readily accept christianity. Mentions fiscal matters of mission, transactions with treasury. (A. Dean, may 1989)

Concerns need to find missionary who has same zeal for conversion as Granados for Bacoachi Apaches. Suggests using some of religious paraphernalia meant for Seris to supply Apaches. Need for support for establishment of mission at Bacoachi. Wants money from treasury to get tools to teach agriculture (with ploughs) to Indians. Granados tells that Jacinto, Chacho asked him personally for minister for all Apaches there; mention of petition to same effect. Pau reports there isn't enough money in religious funds to afford a new missionary. Suggests asking for priest from apostolic colleges. Grimarest speaks of 200 pesos to be paid in charity to Pima missionaries; says some of that could go toward Bacoachi mission. Also willing to allow some auxiliaries to work in fields to support mission, but doubts Indians would be good at it; it isn't in their character to be industrious, only warlike. Granados brags of turning fierce Seris from wolves into lambs, baptising them himself. Nava speaks of granting parcels of land to Apaches to make them self sufficient, at same time sell them livestock for ranching, using profits to build mission so that it's not so expensive. Mention of Jacinto, Alexandro planting corn. (A. Dean, April 1989)

Correspondence concerning hunger suffered by Indians at mission due to drought in region; request for assistance in constructing 'presa' to store water for agricultural use, particularly cultivation of corn; governor explains that situation causing Indians to 'vaguear en el Campo,' compromising religious education; subsequent letters address details of 'presa,' amount of materials needed, cost, location selected; no one contracts to construct 'presa,' governor requests that necessary amount instead be sent directly to 'presidente' of mission; funds approved, almost two years after original request. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Correspondence spanning several years concerning establishment of new mission for mistreated Pinto Indians, entailing selection of 'ministro,' lengthy discussion of costs, problems involved; cost of 'ministro'S' transportation to Palmitos covered by government, he and other fray express need for generous financial assistance to establish mission, Argue that hungry Indians not receptive to religious education, also request 'vasos sagrados y ornamentos'; discussion of need for sacred objects continues throughout correspondence, speculation that objects from previous mission still at Helguera, 'ministro' permitted to remain at colegio Apostolico until matter solved; action stymied for year or so until found that sacred objects no longer at Helguera, purchase of new objects ordered, Pintos move to mission and substitute 'ministro' assigned, governor requests that Pintos receive supplies of corn, rice, several Head of cattle, etc., in order to establish and sustain themselves until harvest; list of 'utensilios de Campo' (folio 97), itemized list, including costs, of 'utensilios' and sacred objects (folios 100-101); drought in region (1795) threatening crops planted by Indians, request by governor for additional cattle, staples to sustain Pintos till harvest. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Testimony as to whether the sale of wool is covered under an exemption placed on the paying of taxes on fruit harvests of haciendas associated with the missions of California (p. Coyle January 1990)

Letters concerning hiring two blacksmiths in San Blas to work on fragata Concepcion and decisions about sending them to Monterrey or San Fransisco. Letter describing every day life in small towns San Jose and Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe and a number of missions in California. (T. Kahana, August1989)

Letter from Borica to Revillagigedo describing his trip through missions in Alta California while taking possession of his post as governor, good situation of Indians, gentleness of treatment and easy work. Letter describing agricultural achievments in los Angeles and San Jose as well as the soap factory in Santa Barbara and the mills in San Luis and Santa Cruz, a better road from Santa Clara to Santa Cruz has been laid as well as one from San Luis to Purisima avoiding the area of Buchon. Letter concerning plans to build a new presidio in San Francisco, explanations of urgency to do so due to lack of water and bad strategic position of the old one. Letter from real tribunal summarizing San Francisco's history and supporting Boricas petition to move the factory and the mission to a new location. Recommendation to deal with more urgent problems like finding buyers for produce of the area, and staying in old factory in San Francisco for the time being. Letters from real consejo recommend building a convent of San Fernardo order, which will provide monetary gain, this is compared with the creation of new missions on Colorado. (T. Kahana, August 1989)

Informe concerning complaints from Concepcion against a number of frays from misiones fernandinas. Complains include doctrination of Indians in their own languages, baptism without previous instruction, economic inequality between missions, and a number of petty complaints, Concepcion is accused of being crazy, and transfering him to another colegio is recommended. Follows letter from Concepcion asking for audience from virrey and detailed account of situation. Questionnaire sent by Borica to comandantes of presidios asking about situation in misiones; answers describe in some detail every day life of converted Indians including housing, daily diet and clothing in misiones (folios 10-41). Follows copy of informe previously sent to Branciforte by Borica, and now sent to Azanza. Letter from Buenaventura describing in detail con un Muchacho y Le mando que Se Vaya a fornicar. Borica certifies Arenaza's good record in official document. Follows summary of book-keeping in missions of Nueva California. History of religious, military and civil dominance in California since 1772 is described in some detail by Lull, asking to clear the name of the Missiones in California. Fiscal de la real hacienda suggests sending Concepcion back to Spain to avoid scandals. Unsigned document explaining how missions in California should be divided among different orders. In a long document Laruen summarizes in detail everyday life in missions in California special detail on punishment to Indians, number of lashes, instrument etc, claiming that if something, the treatment to Indians is very soft (mui blando el trato), also very detailed account of aranceles of all missions in California. Laruen asks to dismiss the whole incident with Concepcion, explaining that it is all based in anger of neighbor misiones and presidios due to his bad attitude toward them, follows similar detailed account on housing including measurements of dwellings, materials of clothing, money allocated. This informe and particularly the one that follows are an answer to accusations made by Borica and a number of captains of presidios in the area. (folios 63-101, 104-111). Following is a long document from Arillaga explaining discrepancies between reports from missionaries and military personnel, he explains cada uno dice de la Feria, como Le fue en ella. (folios 112-119). Letters from fiscal de la real hacienda clear the misiones from any fault, concluding the expediente