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)

Larios petitions for rations for remaining 5 Guachichile Indians. Rest of group died in smallpox epidemic. Authorities point out shortages of food supplies. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Elizondo entrada into province of Coahuila to Rio de las Sabinas 60 leagues north of Saltillo. Encounters various Indian groups, including some suffering from viruelas (small pox), called by names of their capitanes (See 022). Indians apparently sick, hungry, petitioning for reduccion. Describes poverty of country, noting that Indians don't know how to farm, and subsist only on raises y frutas de su tierra. Grants Indians lands along Rio de los Sabinas, advises that no Spaniards be allowed into area because of horror gran Indians have of them, nor should Spaniards be allowed to pass thru to hunt buffalo. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Fray Mariano Francisco de los Dolores notes requests of several Apache groups for permission to settle in Rio Guadalupe area and mentions that Apaches suffering from smallpox epidemic. Apaches describe whereabouts of other Apache bands Allied with Julimes. Severe drought noted for Texas provincia. Fray Benito Fernandez de Santa Ana requests presidial soldiers at San Xavier rejoin San Antonio presidio, as well as detachment from Bahia, and that soldiers, other Spaniards establish fort, settlement at Pedernales, near Apache camp. Much discussion of mission frontier. Documents include peticiones from Franciscans, responses from officials in Mexico City. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

History of missionary efforts. Description of missions, their holdings and list of native groups contained therein. Population estimates of many tribes. Extensive list of native groups to the north, and northeast of the Tejas. Some baptismal statistics. Numbers of deaths given for some missions. Mentions several smallpox epidemics. (R. Perez) (1977)

Summary of testimonies about Escandon's record in completing orders to pacify and reduce Indians and settle Nuevo Santander by officers and settlers and their charges against him. Funds spent, mistreatment of Indians, assassination of 5 capitans, use of Indians to work Escandon's land, build his Palace, and increase his wealth. Real cedula ordering pacification of Nuevo Santander delayed in its completion. Activities of Escandon include use of military funds, Indians reduction, founding of 14 settlements with population count of number and families and troops in each (f.8); plus 6 more settlements founded which were not in original budget of 115,000p. Complaint of not achieving increased agricultural production in spite of having fertile land, water; availability of minerals and salt. History of Escandon's earlier military record, reopening of missions. Problems resulting from drought. Espenses of military salaries and sinodos to missionaries. Annual costs in pacification process. Cost of settling 15 families from canary islands in Texas (ff.17). Organization of troops and distribution among settlements; distribution of lands. Difficulty of defending property under Indian hostilities. Complaint that Escandon's soldiers instead of gathering Indians together killed them inhumanely when they asked for peace. Murder by capitan trasieria and soldiers of slave and silversmith not punished or investigated by Escandon; Escandon named capitans and paid them salaries of 500p. (ff.33). Alvares' attempts at populating Rio Verde, movement of people, costs, problems with hostile Indians, mosquito plague (ff.56) order not to let Laredo capitan admit Apaches even though they offered peace (ff.57). Escandon prohibited commerce; payed soldiers in goods. Mining of silver without paying royal fifth (ff.63). Escandon has made few or no reducciones since 1746. List of 9 places on coast where Escandon says he has reduced total of 1,258 Indians and gives names of ethnic groups and number baptised in each location (ff.64). Service record of Escandon since he began service in Yucatan, distinguished service in Sierra Gorda as sargento mayor, teniente until 1746 (ff.68). Provides total inventory of livestock in 20 settlements. Movement of Escandon (Villa), Reynosa, and Burgos settlers to new Parajes (nuezes, Tetillas, Encinos). Molina reinstated as capitan; Barbara Resendi's complaints against Escandon (ff.83)(ff125). Charges against fray Garcia as being hipocrite receiving double salary (ff.91) description of reason for failure of mission for Cocos in San Saba due to murder of missionaries (ff.112). Apaches do not want to be reduced, only want peace and commerce with Spanish (ff.113). Even when they offer peace, Escandon gives them motives to be insolent. Murder at Rancheria of smallpox infected and other Indians by capitan went unpunished (ff.120). Massacre of Janambres on road to Horcasitas (ff 121). Paz not punished for murder of Indians (ff.122). Guevarra's murder of reduced Indians of mission of Santander unpunished. Cordova's mistreatment of Indians in Rio Frio (ff.124). Use of Indians Sihui, janambre as work force, Indian death due to hard labor (ff.125). Attempt to reduce Pames threatening to drive them to the coast. Indians paid 4p month plus rations for corn growing and also grew their own crops (ff.131). Escandon allowed people exemption from debts in order to populate settlements. Escandon's appointing as capitans convicted murder. Escandon refused to release Sanches Borriego who was involved in riot of Coahuila to Serma. Two destructions of Pizones' church in Santa Rossa and Taumave missions. Taking of Indian lands to give to Carmelita priests for 10 years. No payment of Diezmos for farmland; Diezmos payments of hollas, Mier, and Revilla. Escandon nor captain Vasques Borrego payed Diezmos for their large cattle haciendas. Gives cost of campaign against Indians of north and Apaches who attacked Taguacanas. Defense of Escandon's choice of capitans and families to populate settlement in that it is difficult to find cultivated people like those from the capital--they must come from the provinces. Description of Tanambre November 1754 destruction of mission Ruvoroso near Escandon; only 4 escaped including missionary. Complaint of Tanambres robbing, Murdering. Escandon captured tamambre rebles and sent them to Querataro prison. Tamambres and Tonases sent to Querataro as labors, servants and for convents. Marcos Molino's case in which he worked for Hidalgo for 15 years without payment. (ff.163) use of hard labor as punishment as well as death sentence. (L. L. Woodward, November 1988)

Correspondence in which Urresti communicates news worthy of virrey's attention, concerning missions under his command, at nearby mission, suspected by Urresti of only seeking relief from viral epidemic decimating nation, Piedracitos request same at other mission, duplicitous intentions suspected also, quiet, peaceful behavior of Indians at another mission noted, participation in 'cosecha de Frutos' also peaceful, military skirmishes along Rio Blanco involving Indians discussed, establishment of 'las Pazes' per virrey's 'mandato'; letters from virrey commenting on, commending, actions taken by Urresti, approving request by interim governor of Coahuila for 50 soldiers, ordering that silver, though in 'corta cantidad', continue to be mined at Yguana, informing of 'insultos' from siguis(?); letter concerning 'quadernos' containing information on Munoz y Villavicencio's conduct in office. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Officials' correspondence includes summaries of and references to documents not included in expediente; governor Munoz' 'papel sellado'; efforts of squadron to control Indians; operations at certain mines; 'librando' Munoz of governorship in face of accusations of misconduct; reinstatemnt of teniente of presidio; comandante Interino's correspondence includes accounts to virrey of state of province concerning, for example, three missions suffering small pox epidemic, general fiscal affairs, request by Cometunas for establishment of mission in area for purpose of protection, granted on condition that group live according to 'christiana politica', and militia's need for arms, as well as for officers to replace those who died; governor Velasco's correspondence to virrey refers briefly to military and fiscal affairs, establishment of 'correo' in Nuevo Leon, reduction and protection of Indians. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Correspondence from Loyola to viceroy regarding military appointments, promotions, desertions, also orders to prevent spread of smallpox within provincias de oriente. (A. Dell'acqua,May 1988)

Documents concerning petition of retirement by pages. Includes service records and character witness testimonies. Includes several references to vaccinations against smallpox administered by pages to communities surrounding Veracruz. (A. Tukey, November 1988)