Brief account of Indians of provincia of Texas, of whom the Spanish have encountered 50 naciones, noting- their dress; receptiveness to Spanish language/religion; presence of valuable minerals among them; absence of ydolatria formal although hechiceros, curanderos present; hunting activities especially buffalo; production of tanned deer hides which they trade to Spaniards; absence of drunkenness among them, which Olivares notes may be due to fact that no hay Magueyes en abundancia, o porque ygnoran el modo de cultivarlos (pg.119); dances to celebrate ware victories, which often cause trouble among them; ceremonial use of Peyote que usan Por bebida del Peiotte y de otras yerbas que suelen causas turbacion en los sentidos de que procede el vervisiones, y fantasmas (pg. 119). (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)

Alonso de Leon's account of his entrada into provincia of Texas and his encounters with Texas Indians, who received him well. Briefly describes Texas agriculture and other aspects of culture, including wooden houses, raised beds, and cleanliness of Indians. Encounters Indians in league with French who attenpt to induce him to trade all his horses, clothing to them. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

This informe outlines the reasons for and steps that should be initiated to fortify the Alta California coast in response to expected encroachments from the russians and British. Three general proposals are at the heart of the letter, beef up defenses at San Diego, Monterrey and San Francisco; encourage, immigration; and have Monterrey the initial stop for the Manila trade rather than Acapulco. (G. Miller) (1977)

Description of El Paso by an unnamed citizen. Gives location via coordinants and landmarks. Lists missions and Indians (Mansos now extinct; Indians and Spanish mixed in their habitation). Detailed description of irrigation. Very detailed description of agriculture (including types and quality of crops). Population statistics. Commerce. Exchange Rate (silver to pesos). Scarcity of Ganado mayor and mayor; abundance of fish (described in detail). Lists diesmos. (R. Perez) (1977)

Jesuit defense against charges by presidial captains that they accumulated great Sotres grain/livestock, engaged in lucrative trade, built palaces, lived in luxury. Jesuit attack on presidial captains for abusing Indian labor, cheating own soldiers, failing to perform military duties, showing disrespect for missionaries/religion. High praise for captains Hurdaide, Borgansa Quesada. Condemnation present captain. Account civil/religious conflict Sinaloa-Sonora. Brief description agriculture, barter/exchange rates, Jesuit livestock industry, Jesuit commerce with Parral, wild food gathering (acorns, chestnuts, Quelites), Mescal making, mission architecture, settlement patterns, Indian depopulation at hands of Spaniards, Indian migration to mines/ranches outside province. Defense corporal punishment Indians. Religious/economic reasons for reduction program. Description Jesuit generosity to Indians/Spaniards during famines. Reasons why Indians should support missionaries without monetary payment. Description sad state presidial forces-untrained, cheated by captains. Abuses Sinaloa judicial system. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

Document is a copy of a letter by fr. Francisco Palou which contains excerpts from fr. Juan Crespi's diary of an expedition to the northern coasts. He speaks contact with natives who approach the boat. Description centers on stature and clothing of the natives, their activities around the Spanish ship, and the materials they brought for trading, and wished in return. They gave mostly wooden material and were primarily interested in large iron implements in exchange. (C. Briggs) (1975)

Tells of the practice of the missionaries on the peninsula (California), where ^the few grains and fruits that the missions produce^ are sold for gold and silver at the expense of the already poorly fed and clothed Indians employed by them, deploring such action. (C. Briggs) (1975)

A somewhat different way of accounting- Guiterrez apparently went out of Parral to buy maiz rather than having it brought to him. Given are about three pages of names and the quantity and value of maiz Gutierrez bought from them. (P. Hayes) (1977)