Correspondence deals generally with following topics: Naval salaries, appointments, service and health records of personnel for department of San Blas, ship construction and repair. Much information on cargos and itineraries of the Goleta Sonora and paquebots San Carlos (toison), Principe and Concepcion. Documents of major importance are the following folios: Ff. 242-248 concern publication of general pardon for all military or commercial deserters from navy. Six month term for amnesty offered; terms and enforcement discussed. Ff. 249-260 and ff. 267-271 deal with problems in construction of (new keel for) launch for paquebot San Carlos (toison) and building of additional paquebot for navy. Ff. 279-281 discuss arrival of ship-building tools from Spain and expert technicians from Veracruz. Difficulties in scheduling itineraries and supplying missions and presidios in California due to shortage of ships. Ff. 264-266 request by Hijosa and approval by viceroy for monthly amount of his salary to be sent to assist his wife. Ff. 272-274 deal with illnesses and delayed arrival of technicians; ongoing need for recruitment of surgeon for department. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Primary topics of correspondence are: recruitment of pilots, contramaestros, sailors for arsenal; explanations of vacancies and discussions of qualifications, salaries, illnesses and regulations concerning personnel. Cargos and documents transported to California. Expenses for provisioning ships. Viceroy orders naval equipment stored in Veracruz to be released for use in San Blas. Many details of shipments, itineraries, etc. of Goleta Sonora, paquebot El Principe, fragata Santiago and navio de guerra San Luxan (?). F. 52 Carlos III orders Hijosa to return to Spain to resume marital life after separation of 14 years from wife. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)

Doctor's certifications and other documents regarding teniente de fragata Matute's poor health. Virrey Accedes to matute's request for more sick leave, but later orders matute to report for duty at Tepic when it is discovered that he went to guanajuato without virrey's permission. (J. H. Ochs, July 1988)

Series of documents concerning alleged desertion and theft committed by condestable of fragata Principe Fernando. List of sailors left ashore due to illnesses. (M. Marroquin, June 1988)

Mission procuradores Gomez, santolarios, Hidalgo and others request that virrey and Senor fiscal pay sinodos and Lampara; includes table with census of missions of Santo Domingo of Antigua California; women referred to in context of census; brief reference made to Indians dying out of unmentioned disease; prolonged absence of fray berrequero from mission discussed; includes table listing 28 padres of Sagrado Orden de Predicadores administering missions of Baja California; list of missions. (D. J. McClelland, March 1988)

Brief discussion of Pima, Seri revolts and danger to missionaries. (R. Mendoza) (1979)

Lengthy description problems conversion Tarahumaras, including rustic lifestyle mountain Indians; resistance to christianity factions within pueblos of Papigochic, Guerucarichic; fondness for drinking bouts; Tarahumara machismo. Notes help Tarahumara governor Don Pablo, an old Christian. Describes Pueblo of Tutuaca, half-Tarahumara, half-tepehuan, and notes proximity to Sonora. Mentions efficacy rosary as defense against disease. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

Review religious activity 23 pueblos, numerous rancherias administered by mission. States 14 priests working among some 25,000 christians. Gives number baptisms, marriages, examples miraculous cures for each Partido. In Partido of Ures, states River dried up, threatened bean crop until people promised offering to St. Julio and it rained. Notes success conversion pueblos Nacameri (Rayon), Nacosura, Toapa (Tuape), Cocaripe (Cucurpe), Saracatzi (Saracachi), rancherias of Himeris. (note ethnic difference settlement patterns-Opata pueblos, Himeris (Lower Pima) rancherias). States only one priest Partido Babiacora (Baviacora), Aconche (Aconchi), Llepaca (Huepac), Banamitz (Banamichi), zenoquippe (Sinoquipe). Mentions sadness people Baviacora, Aconchi departure priest. In Partido of Arispe (Arizpe), Chinapa, Bacobitzi, states that Indians who five years ago threatened priests now good christians. States people these three pueblos speak common language of Sonora (Opata), but notes presence group baptized Himeris in Bacobitzi, desire other members this numerous nation to be baptized. Mentions Pueblo Buchubacobitzi. Notes great need for missionaries Partido of Teuricatzi (Teuricachi), Batziner, Cuquiaratzi (Cuquiarachi), Cuchuticac (Cuchuta), Terara, because of prevalence polygamy, homo sexuality, including men who dress as women, sell themselves, do women's work. Notes that bordering this Partido are Sumas, divided into Sumas del Norte, and Sumas del oriente, who live near Bavispes. Describes them as fierce, states they attacked Jesuits, Spaniards at Teuricachi. Pursued unsuccessfully by Spaniards, friendly Indians. Finally group of them petitioned for peace, were consigned to Pueblo of Oppotu, near Huasabas, where many baptized, in 1651. Notes success conversion Indians Partido of vasdabas (Huasabas), Oppotu, San Miguel, Bacatedeuatzi (Bacadehuachi), Nacori, Tetasura. Describes desire Indians Partido of San Juan de batzinas, llasserac (Bacerac), Babispes (Bavispe) for missionization, frustrated because of lack of priests. States Valley fertile, irrigated, supporting 1500 souls, 420 vecinos (large number Spaniards frontier area). Describes actions Hechicero who called people to dances, drinking bouts, walked on burning branches without Pain, told people baptism cause of death when disease broke out, finally beheaded by Christian Indians. Notes successful progression conversion Indians Partido de Cumupas (Cumpas), Opposura (Oposura), Depatzi, real de minas (probably San Juan Bautista). (T. Sheridan) (1976)

Don Pedro, Brother of the Cacique, Don Felipe (Sape) is giving padre Contreras no end of trouble. (T. Barnes) (1979)

Missionary struggles to abolish polygamy, drunkenness among Indians. Eulogy Perez, one of earliest missionaries. Mentions hunger driving Indians into mountains to search for herbs, roots. Notes Indian deaths from various diseases. Notes Jesuit attempts to preach in native languages, Indian acceptance Christian doctrine, practices. Account Hurdaide hurdaide campaign against rebellious Zoes along Rio Cinaloa. Notes success mission San Ignacio, which comprehends Rios Yaqui, Mayo, Nebome. States smallpox worst, most prevalent disease. Notes death Hurdaide. Describes fiesta honoring priests in Chinapa, with bowers, music, maiz, Pinole. Notes fertility Chinapa Valley, large harvests. Notes missionary work among varohios (Warihios) and related groups-tepozes, Guazapares, Haporas, Bayezitos, Cazosopas, Tzayeus. Mentions troubles fr. Olinano, missionary to Nebomes, encountered with various mountain Indians who used poison arrows. Mention Coupas, Hoisuaues (guasaves?), Ashaques. (T. Sheridan) (1976)