Series of documents, taken by Barrio Junco y Espariella, on civil, military and religious life in Espiritu Santo. Primary emphasis rests on the military conditions, especially regarding pay accounts of the soldiers and the quantity of arms per soldiers. Scant reference made to evangelization of the Indians. (M. Bowman) (1979)

Reporting his arrival at an unspecified place of his ecclesiastical visita. Hozio reports that he has been unable to acquire fish for the governor because the Indians are working with their plantings. And asks that letters be forwarded to him. Reply written on the margins. (robert H. Jach) (1981)

A request for the Avilitado to sell him (Prada) paper, concerning the payment of the sinodo for Prada's (?) Mission, the assignment of several missionaries to missions, and informing real Alencaster that he (Prada) is sending him a dozen trout. (Robert H. Jackson) (1980)

Discusses animal life of California, including domestic and wild animals, birds, some insects, sea creatures, and plant life, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, trees. Also remarks on minerals. Generic, rather than scientific names are used. The author frequently made distinctions between species and described the qualities and use of almost all species listed. (J. Grusin) (1976)

Notes Hurdaide's death. Describes successful campaign against rebel Nebomes 70 soldiers, 2000 Indian auxiliaries by new general. Mentions desire various Opata, Pima Bajo groups for missionaries. Discusses missionization Chinipas. Describes Pan- tribal festival held on Rio Mayo. Notes missionaries' successful attempt to remove customary restrictions concerning who could participate huge communal fishing expedition. Notes reduction Vayemas (Guaymas-Seri group) to Pueblo Rio Yaqui. says good harvests this year. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

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)

Correspondence between viceroy, Garces and de Anza concerning Garces's explorations in upper Colorado River with attachment of letters from fray Escalante about Zunis and area in case Garces travels to New Mexico from Colorado River. Accounts by de Anza on expedition to California, his turning command over to comandante Moncada, refusal of Moncada to travel to San Francisco to explore area for establishment of presidio and missions, de Anza travels with teniente Moraga, one priest and eight soldiers to explore San Francisco bay. de Anza gives an rich description of bay with its good soil, abundance of water, pastures, and wild animals and fish, meeting with Indians who fish with nets and use of balses made with reeds to cross bay and fish. de Anza does not name Indians but describes them as gentle. He also describes area to be rich with woods from which construction of fort would be easy. de Anza establishes places where missions and presidio should be built returning to Monterrey where he requests meeting with Moncada without success. Serra meets with Anza preoccupied with moncadas' attitude with friars and families from Sinaloa, teniente Moraga in letter to Anza believes comandante Moncada has lost his mind which results in his not wanting to follow planned agenda. Documents about rebellion in San Diego are not very clear, de Anza also describes desertions of some muleskinners and two soldiers who steal some horses and moragas capture of desertors in Gila where de Anza punishes them with laboring in construction of presidio and missions in San Francisco. Anza informs viceroy about Garces return to Colorado River leaving him foodstuffs for his sustenance as Anza returns, also fray Exiarc returns with Anza to Tumacacori mission. Capitan Palma and three Yumas with accordance with his people attaches himself to Anza to travel to Mexico. Viceroy answers Anza letting him know he is displeased as Anza did not finish his comission as he left before construction of fort and missions began. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Most important documents will be referenced below by folio no. Most unusual document is letter to Pison signed and likely written by his wife regarding his importance to family (f. 308). Incredibly filthy swear words attributed to him, directed against priest during mass, quoted and underlined in ff. 244-245. Useful diagnosis of ailment (sinocat putrida) and simple treatment prescribed of better diet, sleep, exercise by surgeon (f. 316 ?) Traces processes of judicial procedure in determination of charges of other bad conduct on Pison's part, brought by teniente de gobernador Moreno in Loreto. Included is detailed service and conduct record and witnessed testimonies of Pison's past military service; and other biographical information. Accused of years of drunkenness, womanizing, thievery, setting bad examples for mission Indians. Jailed at mission; some witnesses testify that he reacted to provocation by others; Pison requests change of venue for unbiased trial and accessibility to witnesses for his defense who are themselves in prison in Guadalajara. Released by authorities on bail paid by Ramon Espinosa; although his mine personal effects are kept. At trial, jailed prisoners clear him of murder of Osio, by swearing latter died by drowning. Pison countercharges Moreno with beating and refusal to allow his case to go before Barri. Provides motive for Moreno's silencing him by citing evidence of Former's absconding with treasury funds and illegal trade in alcoholic beverages. Missionaries and Armona testify to his generally good character, despite drinking bouts. Final decision, however, by Valcarcel; approved by viceroy is that Pison must be punished by losing personal effects, mine, military title and lifetime banishment from Californias. Ff. 328-331, when punishment given, Pison petitions Bucareli to allow him for temporary stay in Loreto with family to make financial arrangements before his expulsion. (J. M. Johnson, July 1989)

Document gives figures for total amount of revenue produced in salt industry in this area. Mentions role played by Barlovento River in economic development of area. Mentions bad effect of salt in water supply on agriculture. Some settlements in area have expanded to degree that they are exposed to Apache attacks, no troops for protection. Proposal for compania de sugetos along coast from Veracruz to Balisa, or else have real hacienda fund development of fishing industry; also wants more Naval activity. Detailed accounts of economic potential of fish species in these waters. Area between interior and costal settlements must be populated to contain Apaches; details best ports along coast for bringing Spanish settlers in to populate said area. Attention must be paid to northern frontier as U.s. is gaining strength in world trade, makes good use of Indian relations to conquer new territory. Only important trade with northern Indians is in fur, but american mining ventures will tend to result in permanent villages, to detriment of Spanish. Examples of situations in which use of fuero militar has helped establish successful settlements. author favors paid milicias provinciales only when fighting to help populate areas. Government help to settlements will depend on productivity of areas. Noriega favors putting Escandon in charge of these projects. (O. Velez, March 1990)