Travel Diaries

Serra tells of his arrival at San Diego, the causes of delay in his arrival, and the land and Indians encountered on the way. Describes the subsistence practices of the coast Indians, although very briefly. (C. Briggs) (1975)

Crespi gives a description of his journey to the puerto de San Diego and the state of affairs there upon his arrival. The description of the hardships along the road is moving, and it contains mention of several possible mission sites (8). Of greatest ethnohistorical import, however, is the description of the clothing, etc. Of Indians near the puerto de San Diego. (C. Briggs) (1975)

Niza's journal of his expedition with Estevanico north from Culuacan. He opens with a very brief description of the state of affairs in Culuacan, and then describes his system of communication with Estevanico, who was sent ahead. Much of the description relates to the whereabouts and characteristics of Cibola. Niza records such bits of information as the reaction of the inhabitants along the way as how they touched his clothing and remarked on the peculiarity of the animals. (C. Briggs) (1975)

Documents concerning Ramon's entrada into Provincia de Texas to establish missions among Texas Indians. Included are both Ramon's diario and Franciscans' diario of expedition. Indians groups, agricultural products, geography, Flora, fauna of province noted. Numerous buffalo hunts mentioned. Ramon and Franciscans also both write informes to virrey concerning reasons for establishment of missions. Indian enemies as well as allies of Texas Indians mentioned. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Teran's diario of his entrada from Coahuila presidio into Provincia de Texas, noting geography, Flora, fauna, Indian groups he encountered. Mentions Indian gobernador named Bernardino, apparently Texas Indian in rebellion against Spaniards. Notes trouble, delay caused by storms, rain, snow. Discusses visit to Cadodacha Indians, led by official called a cadi. Return trip by fragata down Gulf of Mexico coast to Veracruz. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Franciscans request at least 10 soldiers be sent to Bahia del Espiritu Santo, noting that Indians in area enemies of Europeans, and had killed French, English, Spanish and Dutch without ever being punished (7/19/1691). Military officials discuss whether expedition should press on to territory of Texas Indians or remain at Bahia (7/21/1691). Franciscan diario of trip from San Salvador mission in Coahuila to mission San Francisco de los Texas (5/16-8/20, 1691), noting- encounter with Indian groups- Mescales, Yoricas, Chomes, Machomes, Parachacas, Pamanes- living between Rio Grande, Rio Sabinos, all of who rely on buffalo, wild food gathering, none of whom hunt; difficulties traveling with livestock- cattle, goats, sheep- because of rivers in flood, poor pasturage, etc; Flora, fauna, geography, often giving Indian names for places; resources of Rio Nueces area, including many walnuts, buffalo, fish; arrival Indians, many different naciones to trade for tobacco, knives, rosaries, etc. (See 201); visit to Rancheria of payay Indians, nacion Muy grande, choma, Cibola, caynaaya Indians live along Rio Grande and are enemies of Apaches, who fight everyone except Salineros, Apaches described mui-Guerreros who fight with armed horses; chomas described as yndios que en el parraly y Nueva Mexico llaman jumanes, who hunt buffalo from source of Rio Guadalupe to land of Texas during warm time of year, returning to riverine homes during winter; arrival of ships from Veracruz at Espiritu Santo; friendly greeting by Texas Indians, who mourned death of one missionary, many others from unnamed enfermedad. Excellent information on Indians of southern, central, eastern Texas. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Diary of Leon's expedition to Bahia del Espiritu Santo from Coahuila. Accompanied by French prisoner with many contacts among Indians, Spaniards- encounter gathering of Indians of 5 naciones - Hapes, Jumenes, xiabu, Mescales, y otra- living in casilla cuvierta de Cueros de cibola- who hang heads of enemies from poles in front of their dwellings; note petroglyphs; journey thru great stretches of Mesquite, Nopales so thick at times they have to dismount; describe Flora, fauna, especially trees, commenting on great numbers, good quality of native walnuts, and buffalo; hear of 4 French traders operating among Indians, trading knives, tobacco for buffalo hides which they transported on dogs; lose over 100 horses in stampede, of which all but 36 recovered; reach French settlement and find it destroyed by Indians- books, bones, broken arcabuces scattered thru wreckage, explore Rio San Marcos; told by Indians that French community at Espiritu Santo suffered epidemic of smallpox (viruelas) which killed more than 100, then were tricked by Indians who came from far away under pretext of desire to trade and killed French in their homes; encounter Texas Indians, some of whom accompany Spaniards back to Coahuila presidio. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

A day by day account of Anza's trek from Tubac to San Gabriel from 9 February 1774 to 25 may 1774. The route, geography, and inhabitants are described. (G. Miller) (1977)

A diary of an exploratory expedition from Santa Maria to Monterrey by land. none of the numerous Indians encountered along the way are identified, but are nevertheless described. (G. Miller) (1977)

A general description of the Baja California peninsula, with little detail or significance. (G. Miller) (1977)