Correspondence represents efforts to uncover truth behind allegations of missionary mistreatment of Indians at Bizarron, other missions in region; missionaries inform governor, virrey of attempts to pacify and 'reducir' Indians since assuming charge of mission, but explain that relations with Indians deteriorating, violence, insubordination, robbery, escapes escalating, harsh treatment necessary, moreover, in light of violence, 'reales cedulas' enforcing protection of Indians unwise and wrong; Lipanes' leaders contest missionaries' testimony; Ugalde writes of military encounters with Indians. (L. Kerr, March 1989)

1786 letters concerning necessary military response to recent Indian hostilities. Sierra Gorda says he intends to punish Indians responsible for depredations. says Indians under pretense of peace continue to rob, murder and terrorize. Relates incident in which five shepherds murdered. Concerns deployment of troops to search out enemy. After long campaign hindered by rain, caught up with Apaches in Croix. Virrey responds telling Sierra Gorda to watch carefully for abuses of good faith and to use military to assure compliance with peace conditions. says they must attempt to reduce Camoteros and Tanambres. Sierra Gorda says ranches in Laredo and Revilla completely destroyed and such incidents sure to continue if precautions not taken. Suggests method to make campaigns and punishment more successful. says military organization is inefficient and suggests separation of comandancia general. Informs virrey of plans to take troops to Laredo. Virrey says he's unable to send inspector and requests relacion regarding condition of troops, uniforms, munitions, armaments and horses. Will send Gutierrez to inspect soon. Virrey disagrees with Gorda's suggestions saying the system works and reminds him to obey Ugarte's orders. Gorda informs virrey that several Indians killed in incident in Croix. As a result, Mariguanes request to stay peacefully in Llera mission. says mission in Liebana would accomodate Indians from Croix as proposed by Bucareli. Provides description of daily life in mission. Mentions grain and weekly meat rations. says these provisions not sufficient so better for those Indians to live in liberty. Virrey reminds Gorda of Galvez' instructions of 1786 and 1772 to guide his activities. says by law, funds must be obtained to maintain any group requesting peaceful hospice in mission. Gorda says difficult to follow instructions regarding proper treatment due to increased hostilities. (M. Dannemiller November 1988)

In response to viceroy's request, Verger makes suggestions in 22 parts for physical and spiritual development of missions. says new missions should be delayed until older ones are firmly established with sufficient arms and military protection. Must grow food for all mission and presidio residents. Storage and distribution should never be left to Indians. nor should be left to caudillos and capitans since after Jesuit expulsion California example shows they destroy missions. Under priests' control more churches built, more ornaments retained, larger harvests collected. says some form of punishment is necessary because Indians will abuse and steal property without it. Indians should be treated fairly and paid a salary. Describes daily masses and visits to sick and widowed. Discusses corn, bean, lentil crops, weekly rations and duties of women. Discusses also Indian jobs, products and locations of trade. Discusses differences between present conditions and those of Conquistadores. Relates difficulties with jefes who replace hardworkers with incompetents. References to decree by Valero ordering military protection for missions. Discusses power struggle between military and missionary. Verger claims arms are not needed for conversion, only evangelical preaching. (M. Dannemiller March 1988)

Concerns mission life and advice for proper mission administration. Suggests the formation of streets and neighborhoods in towns. Describes certain agricultural techniques and rations and sustenance crops of corn, beans, Cane and cotton. Regarding finance, suggests establishment of cashier's office to be controlled by priest and governor. Relates Indian work schedules and punishments. Describes Indian vices of game, alcohol and Peyote. Advises prohibition of bows, arrows and other weapons to Indians except for hunting. Concerns requiring Indians to have written permission to travel. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns current mission practices and suggestions for more effective government. Regarding use of agricultural land for grazing. Governors request a list of all Indians and their property and that they be given land to cultivate near Spanish so to learn by example. Concerns establishment of towns with Plazas and proper missions where Indians must live to learn doctrine which will cure their faults and protect them from Apaches. Suggests that orders taking Indians away for more than month be prohibited, that missions provide agricultural teaching and that ecclesiastic and secular be kept separate to maintain Indian loyalty. Concerning commerce, should attempt to decrease distance to market, guarantee fair compensation and prohibit Spanish from controling Indian trade. Concerns methods to convince Indians of benefits of reduccion and to prohibit them from communicating with other tribes. Suggests that recently converted Indians should be given military jobs and that priests should accompany troops for moral and spiritual support. (M.dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns the response of governors and capitans of presidios to the viceroy's instructions for a new method of government. Contains a complete list of governors to receive the report. Comments on use of the method as pertains to the missions of Texas. Describes the condition of missions and the relations with Indians. Descriptions of religious routines, prayer, teaching, baptisms and weekly religious activities. Relates new year's process of election of governor, mayor and sheriff. Concerns economic conditions and mission sustenance crops of corn, beans, cotton and cana de Castilla. There was an abundance of cattle (bovine, ovine and caprine) but lacking equine due to frequent attacks. Cotton cloth, ponchos and blankets were made in missions. Contains detailed description of mission life, men and women's duties as well as wardrobe of converts and Elite. Suggestions made for improvements by example such as increasing Spanish populations to serve as examples of culture, government, industry and civil harmony. Authors offer the missions under their administration as examples and describe older methods which have served their development. Under Menchaca, necessities are kept and equally distributed in the missions and used to maintain troops. All administrators feel current system of government to be effective.

Documents concern two colleras of Indians that leave from Tamaulipa and Altamira. Pobladores are interrogated about the Indians. Indians are said to be war-like and to have committed many crimes and robberies. The killing of two fishermen and the stealing of horses and cows are committed by said Indians. Indians promote war against mission. They unite and form a confederation against the mission. F.432 contains message from governor Echeagaray with instructions to divide up the Indians of the two colleras and to put them to work in the fields or in Casas honorables. Governor's encouragement of pacification of Indians. In other documents the militia's trouble in pursuing Indians due to lack of food and resources is given. Apaches are said to cause the most damage to these militias. Indians are pacified and sent to Queretero by conde de Sierra Gorda. There they are to be divided and set to work in accordance with Echeagaray's instructions. F. 431 gives list of Mecos. F. 446-447 gives lists of Mecos and Parbulos, including those married and baptized. F. 454-456 gives names and marriages and baptisms of various other Indians. (P. Lenz, September 1989)

Letter from conde de Sierra Gorda to virrey describes Indian desertions from mission at Maquines. The Indians' inclination to live in the mountains is cited as the cause. Indian abuses and killings committed by these deserters is given. Mission sends groups to recapture the Indians. Mission depicted as lacking in Indians. Mission need of Indians to work fields is a priority for missions. Finances of mission depends upon cheap Indian labor. Two padres, Misioneros are instructed to go and persuade Indians to return to mission. (P. Lenz, September 1989)

Documents concern the breaking of peace by the Indians, their banditry and assorted killings. Interrogation of witnesses concerning knowledge of the Indians, of their breaking of the peace, and their crimes is given. F. 189 contains a list of the four points asked of each witnesses. 12 witnesses' responses to these questions follow with accounts of Indian attacks, their stealing of horses, and killing of various soldiers. One soldier killed at Pasaje de Noche Buena, for example. Other documents concern the groupings of various Indian tribes (mesquites, Mulas, and other nations) in order to assault the Villa of Padilla. A description of the persecution of these wayward Indians by the Spaniards is given. Last, there is an account of how the Indians should be brought into mission life and given to agriculture. It is said that under previous peace treaties, the Indians had been brought into the missions, had been given instruction in the planting of maize Frijoles and other agricultural pursuits and had been pacified and converted to christianity. This is the goal again, now that this peace has been broken by these Indians. (P. Lenz, September 1989)

Series of documents concerning prosecution of several Indian leaders who are accused of inducing other Indians to rebel against Spaniards. Document give details of the kind of crimes the Indians are accused of I.e. killing some Spaniards and stealing. Indians are put in jail and interrogated but later released (M. Marroquin, August 1989)