Documents referring to request by viceroy about tithes, alms to be collected from miners of real de los Alamos. (A. Dell'acqua, October 1987)

Letters from governor of Sonora to viceroy re: military campaigns against Apaches and Sibubapas, uprising of Papagos. Military tactics to subdue all rebel groups and tribes. Governor recommends to Capitan Vildosola that presidio Terrenate needs good commander. Governor advises viceroy of reluctance to put command under Elizondo as he prefers to continue in his duties, recommending Capitan Anza as good leader. (A. Dell'acqua, October 1987)

Fayni describes current crisis caused by Indian invasion; includes notes on O'Conor's campaigns; reflects on wars since 1748; Arriaga's recommendations; lack of troops undermines efforts; requests special force to protect Chihuahua; comments on frontier troop readiness; marginal note by secretary refers to convocation of junta de guerra y hacienda in repsonse to letter; responses include notes on strategy; consideration of presidial relocation; new regulation of 1772; presidial Cordon; transfer of dragoon units to frontier. (J. Williams, June 1987)

Various autos, reports submitted to cabildo of Chihuahua city indicating terrible military crisis of province; includes notes on raids near Santa Eulalia; campaigns of Galvez; shortage of mining supplies (includes various technical details about operations at mines); raid near Chihuahua city; losses of livestock; other raids and actions taken by San Buenaventura garrison; notes goods stolen (such as tobacco and clothing); reflects on strategic problems of fighting enemy que no tiene havitacion, Casas Sembrados, ni otros vienes. (J. Williams June 1987)

Report made up of group of letters concerning vagrancy problems on northern frontier; includes notes on Indian attacks; need for Indian labor in mines and haciendas; payment to Indians in Inferior goods; use of Penal labor; reluctance of some Indians to work as day-laborers; visit of Galvez; legal actions of Galvez, Corbalan and others on pay; Croix's inspection; raids on various settlements; types of labor involving Indians (charcoal making; cultivation; Adobe making; mine drain construction; firewood and lumber cutting; livestock tending; Mule train servants; ore processing; and various mechanical arts); dangerous alliance of local Indians with Apaches; economic crisis that results from lack of sufficient Indian labor; problem of local Indian community demands on labor force; limited value of Indians in mines; seasonality of Indian labor demands; role of mulatos in mines; fugitive Yaquis in mining towns; ff. 348-355 includes copy of points 5-10 of Neve's general report of 1783; he finds explanation of rise in banditry in unfair use of forced Indian labor; he sets limitations on coroporal punishment in mission settlements (for example - six lashes for missing mass); he considers other matters involving civil justice; notes many of bandit's crimes falsely attributed to Apaches; use of presidio labor in new presidio constructions; ff 357-361 - Ugarte grants various rights to Indians of Pueblo of Santa Maria (4 December, 1787); this includes coverage of forced labor; payment in goods and cash; reviews earlier Indian labor policy; describes poverty and hunger of Indian day laborers; lack of spiritual guidance; locations of labor; character of culture change; importance of cheap Indian labor to economy, and failure of administrators to solve problems of Indian abuse become clear in this report. (J. Williams, may 1987)

In response to request by viceroy, Barreyro (aid to Rivera) provides informe on Nueva Vizcaya; notes earlier letter of Jesuits (ff 135-154); description of inhabited places & natives; deployment of royal and hostile forces; undeniable reasons why presidio garrisons should each be reduced to 24 men; explanation of why Jesuit missionaries are resisting new regulation; notes on Jesuit and Franciscan establishments; lists Jesuits and their nationalities; reflects on how province can be maintained in peace; various missionized natives; hispanic settlements; some statistical information on population; mission church construction; general mission progress; instruction in Spanish; stresses peace of region; notes convoy escorts; many details on tactics (including night attacks); limited military insights of missionaries; Tarahumara labor for Spaniards; operations of Huydobno; Barreyro defends Rivera and regulation, stressing that they have been unfairly criticized. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Gallardo reflects on nature of Indian wars and present crisis of Nueva Vizcaya; comments on return of Yaquis from Valle de San Buenaventura; reorganization or re-activation of various presidios on Camino real to Chihuahua city; deployment of militia and presidial forces; proposals and comments of Mendoza, Tamaron and Carta; reviews arguments made by those authors; describes frontier military life in harsh terms; problems inherent in military administration; threat of banditry, measures that need to be taken to bring it under control; Indian attacks; places inhabited; dispersal of settlements is major defense problem; areas actually protected by various presidios; possible expenses of reforms; comments on Tamaron's infantry proposal as absurd, claiming they are producto de un celo Santo, y de un concepto in greso Por informes de personas poco instruida en la guerra de los indios; demonstrates Tamaron's calculations in error; describes in detail arms and equipment (Cueras, sables, escopetas), nature of war (unsuited to infantry), advantages of lightly equipped enemy warriors; describes why guns are Inferior to bows and arrows; many details on battle tactics; enemy's lack of formations in battle; stresses war is unconventional struggle de duender; draws comparisons with war in north Africa; praises frontier soldiers; notes present threat of French; notes French weapons trade on south plains; refers to various legal codes; contrasts northern New Spain with other areas being subjected to colonization; emphasizes many shortcomings of New Spain venture; notes use of canary islanders in Texas; lack of plans used in establishing many important settlements; use of Tlaxcaltecans as settlers; many interesting biblical and historical allusions; emphasizes that Spain does not have resources to erect barrier like great Wall of China. Gallardo notes information he is presenting here is based in part on inspection of Nueva Vizcaya, Sinaloa, Sonora of ca. 1750. Document is of great historic merit to any who are interested in later Rubi/Lafora expedition and regulation of 1772. Many of Gallardo's fresh insights have been echoed by later historians such as Thomas and moorhead. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Gallardo comments on conflicting ideas of Mendoza and Carta; makes references to Valle de San Buenaventura Yaquis; recommendations of Tamaron; administration of Mendoza as governor; limitations of acculturation in province; lack of missionary schools; defends Mendoza; problems of governing and bringing justice to extensive lands included in Nueva Vizcaya and Sonora; continuation of wandering habits of Indians there; notes his earlier report on el mejor regimen de las Missiones y pueblos de indios. letter provides valuable insights into church/state conflict on frontier (fight over rule of missions de pan or de palo). (J. Williams, may 1987) may 1987)

Report concerning retiring governor Mendoza's reflections on Indian wars fought in Nueva Vizcaya; includes comments on presidio deployment; Indian depredations at Chihuahua city and elsewhere; need for permanent guard at that city; great dangers of bandits who threaten supply and bullion convoys; convoys to Nueva Mexico and Sonora; relative weakness of presidial locations; strengthes and weaknesses of each presidio; calls for supplemental forces composed of thirty auxiliary Tarahumara archers for each post; value of auxiliaries as spies in broken terrain; relative cost of financing auxiliary forces; progress of missions in province; customs of mission Indians; describes education of mission Indians; schools; their virtues, livestock and crops. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Concerns use of Yaquis in mines of Nueva Vizcaya and problems growing out of their use in Valle de San Buenaventura; comments on lack of livelihood for Yaquis in Valley; their strategic importance as auxiliaries; flight of many Yaquis; similar character of Taraumaras who apostatize (J. Williams, may 1987)