Spanish-British Relations

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).

Interim gobernador of Californias, Arrillaga, requests a legal opinion (consulta) as to what should be done about neutral ship which put into a Spanish port asking for aid, but then after having received help continued to land at other ports. Final decision is based on treaties, signed in Madrid in 1795, between Spain and United States, and Spain and France. These treaties define territorial limits for navigation and commerce between signatory nations. Royal orders of May 3 and 31, 1792 gave detailed instructions for protection of heartland by coast guard. These contribute to a royal resolution proclaimed on July 15, 1805, which authorized legal seizure (comiso) of ships and cargo of ships of any nation whatsoever that breaks or exceeds boundaries agreed upon in earlier treaties. Most interesting aspect of these documents, including ones to-from virrey of Buenos Aires, is great preoccupation with Anglo-American and-or British incursions into waters of Spanish territories. Opinions are exchanged which fear that many of these ships under pretense of emergency aid are actually engaged in illegal activities such as contraband and-or whaling, fur, or leather trade. (J. M. Johnson, December 1986).