Music And Dance

Toral has an unsettled account with the estate of the deceased. Toral was entrusted with money to purchase an organ. (R. Perez) (1977)

Vaamonde recounts loyal service history as justification for appointment to new position, as unemployment has left him in state of poverty. Includes short account of defense of canary islands from British, construction of fort at San Blas, and disciplining of batallion of Spanish and Indian auxiliaries stationed at San Blas. On page beginning with siguiendo aquello de apeles (folios unnumbered), detailed account of torture ritual and cannibalism practiced by unnamed group of Indians in Nuevo Leon. Spanish victims kidnapped from area around Sayula are tied to stake and burned with branding irons while dance called mitote is performed. Skull cap of victim is removed, and dead bodies are eaten. Vaamonde's campaign against these Indians is recounted, as well as quelling of uprising in 1783 of escaped prisoners, headed by notorious pirate Lorencillo, in Guadalajara. Vaamonde seeks position as governor of Nuevo Santander, intendente of San Luis Potosi, or sargento mayor de Mexico. (A. Tukey, January 1989).

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)

Ugarte y Loyola has gathered peaceful Chiricahuas at Bacoachi; bishop of Sonora asks for missionary to be sent. Speaks of distribution of lands. Treasury says money for mission has to come out of ration funds. Need for missionary for Seris at Pitic. Mention of deporting Apaches to Havana as example to others. Mention of successful conversion of Seris; money donated for purchase of musical instruments. Medina is warned of suspected revolution by Seris. References to Noriega's salary. (A. Dean, April 1989)

Cotrino becomes Alcalde mayor of Nombre de Dios after death of Gomez Sanudo. Testimonies from Gomez Cordera, vallartas, aryza, concio, Cayetano, Casasola, Sadzon, and Alfaro y alzedo protest Cotrina's appointment. Objections to Cotrina focus on cotrin's conduct and occupation in Guadalaxara. There, under the pseudonym Franco, Cotrina played the role of Galan in a local theater. Casasola says Cotrina consorted with Juana Ximenez and did not play opposite his wife, instead acting opposite another woman. Sadzon states that cotrina's history as an actor shames the position of Alcalde mayor and suggests that another be named for the post. Testimonies detail aspects of the performing arts, salaries of civil officials, different kinds of tobacco, and the appointment process of Alcaldes mayores. Considerable discussion of what makes a good civil official. (S. Gibbs, February 1989)

Two letters by Ugalde, one by Florez considering what to do with Apaches who under treaty have apparently agreed to reduccion. Discusses circumstances of other tribes in reduccion; how to arrange rations for Apaches, handle their customs (mentions several dances, solemn and celebratory. F.573 concerns Apaches being transported from Monclova to San Luis Potosi. F.582 mentions missionary efforts. (A. Dean, April 1990)

Series of correspondence to Gobernador Escandon: tables of numbers of troops stationed at towns and missions of Nuevo Santander; notes ship carrying aguardiente run aground near port of Tampico; notes trip of virrey to Coautitlan; death of Amarillas and appointment of Caxigal de la Vega as new virrey; undetailed accounts of attacks by Xanambres and Taumaves against towns in Sierra Tamaulipas and internment of prisoners from these raids at Queretaro; undetailed accounts of celebrations at various villas in Nuevo Santander of coronation of new Spanish king, including dances, plays, mass, bullfights, loas (?), reenactment of battles between Christians and Moors, moxigangas (?), and music. Also includes letter from Escandon to virrey concerning cattle and corn harvests, notes cases of theft from Pisones by Xanambres and general state of poor relations between these tribes, migration of Apaches into northern part of colonia, and abundance of unspecified minerals in Sierra Tamaulipas. (A. Tukey, July 1989)

Concerns sealed paper, anata Media, and cattle irons delivery. Need to ship iron from treasury at Alamos; Alcabala on cash taken from Mexico to Horcasitas. Letter describing contents of documents on pacification of Indians of Santa Lucia; desertion of Santa Lucia; quevedos March with vecinos finds Santa Lucia deserted. Visit of 12 armed Indians to comisaria who dance mitote. Complaints of robbery and killing by Indians of Santa Lucia. Desire to have had troops to follow and punish Indians. (L. L. Woodward, August 1988)

Concerns present military crisis of Nueva Vizcaya; describes settlements; enemy raids; economic decline (in cattle and in mining); reflection on nature of war, emphasizing its cruelty, death and destruction; goods taken by Apaches (clothing livestock and tobacco); actions of Galvez in defense of province; shortage of charcoal, water in mines; Apaches strategy and tactics; many advantages enemy enjoys; their clothing, crops, campaign logistics and weapons (bow, lance, Shields, Cueras and use of guns); comments on Apache scalp dance; describes Chihuahua garrison; prospects of new campaign; need for recruits; notes many non-Indian fighting duties of presidios; reflects consequences of relocations; proposes new presidio sites; considers hard life of soldado de Cuera; his equipment; problems of pay; revenue from tobacco monopoly; Bucareli sends word that he has called council of war to evaluate situation in detail (J. Williams, may 1987)

Conde de la Sierra Gorda reports that Series of robberies and murders has broken state of peace with Comanches and Apaches. Virrey authorizes in kind retaliations. Includes reference to seasonal migration of Apaches to follow bison. Also includes account of animosity of French towards Spanish in Luisiana as revealed in derogatory songs popular in area. (A. Tukey, August 1988)