Gathered, transcribed documents discussing possible locations in Nuebo Santander, Coahuila for new presidios or relocation of old ones. Problem finding sites with sufficient water, defensible. Letters span 7 years but all very similar; lots of information on geography, distances between places, locations of Arroyos and Rios, places suitable for livestock, etc. (A. Dean, March 1990)

Letters concerning campaign against Seri, Pima rebels, Apaches in league; protection of missions by cavalry; some population figures for indios fixos, laborios, mulatos y Negros (f.308); mentions auxiliaries under Pineda; Cassimiro stripped of rank of teniente for misconduct. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Capitan Costales request license from viceroy to mine salt in Indian lands for consumption in presidio Bahia del Espiritu Santo, viceroy consults visitador Rivero who disapproves such step as Indians could become rebellious. Costales also requests return of nine of his soldiers who are attached to missions as most of his garrison is sick. He also requests that as it is very far from his presidio to settlement of people from canary islands, his soldiers should not be protecting such settlers as there are many Indians in area of his presidio to watch for. Rivera advises viceroy that there are too many soldiers guarding missions and these should be from presidio San Antonio instead of Bahia. Rivera also mentions that rumors of soldiers selling their arms and horses are unfounded. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Concerns Castilla y Theran's accounts and reporting of Indian attacks (murder and robberies), especially at Santa Rosa and at the mission at San Francisco Bizarron. Also mention of the hard life led by those living in towns under Castilla y Theran's jurisdiction due to financial difficulties, etc. Final documents are from 1784 and are biographical of Castilla y Theran, including mentioning the number of descendants he currently had (66). (S. Langmack, July 1990)

Massanet receives several horses from gobernador. Letter from Massanet to gobernador Theran requesting soldiers to protect the mission and to punish the Indians. Fernandez Centra states the impossibility of traveling the River because it's to narrow. This information is confirmed by other capitanes and sent to Theran. Letter from Massanet to gobernador Theran explaining that the Guatsas Indians are stealing cattle and that the Texas Indians are their accomplices. Masanet requests these two groups be punished. Relacion of the soldiers left in the Provincia de los Texas. The relacion contains the names of the eight soldiers. Auto from gobernador Theran dictating sentence to Salazar for desertion. He is to be sent to San Juan de Ulua to work with out salary for two years. Several military receipts are included for weapons and powder. (D. Bautista, July 1990)

Letters concerning administration of newly established missions along Seno Mexicano. Ff.379-385 are progress reports on missions by Gorraez (as inspector). F.379 describes geographic locations, distances between places; F.383 are inspection reports for Soto la Marina, San Fernando, Reynosa; F.384 for Burgos. Ff.386-405 concern mission administrator's request for soldiers to be assigned to missions for protection; instead some missions are assigned to nearby presidios. Discusses reduccion of Xanambres. F.390 concerns padres hospitalarios of San Juan de Dios proposing to study medicine in order to found hospitals, especially for lepers; gives philosophy of sect. Ff.406-417 concern Gaspar Soliz as director of missionary effort of Zacatecas colegio; lengthy description of his plans for orchestration. (A. Dean, may 1990)

Concerns review of autos of the sacramento presidio by Herrera Altamirano and other government officials. Document describes geographic position of presidios, also gives distances from each other. Reorganization of presidios involves the creation of a permanent patrol which will keep Indians under control. Apaches are also known as Xilenos. Relocation of presidio is to protect missions and haciendas in the new area. (M. Marroquin, February 1989)

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)

Concerns fray Barragan complaints about their protector Garcia Davila; Garcia Davila makes his defense with support from and respected people. Gobernador Mier y Noriega sides with Garcia, but the fiscal orders the governor to gently remove Garcia, to avoid conflicts with religious and Indians. Garcia Davila resigned as protector but officials in Mexico City in realize that conflicts continued because the water for the mission came from Garcia Davila's hacienda. The fiscal orders the gobernador of Nuevo Reino de Leon to not let him interfere in the matters of the mission. (D. Bautista, September 1989)

Concerns details of Goicoechea's company including supplies such as uniforms, horses and weapons; includes descriptions of supplies and physical and psychological descriptions of officers; also concerns refusal to grant Goicoechea more royal money and liquidation of his old accounts; also listed are officers' and soldiers' salaries. (K. Hubin, September 1989)