Croix defends approach to administering missions in Sonora, arguing that missions and missionaries receive sufficient funds, are not suffering as purported. Contends missionaries should not expect Indians to cultivate land because climate does not support activity, and Indians accustomed to fishing, gathering yerbas y raizes. states that while missionaries have not received everything requested, certainly have not been ignored in manner conveyed by Prestamero (See ff 63-100). Croix cites cedulas, particularly that of 8-5-73, as precedent for present decisions. Criticizes missionaries' punishing of Indians for not attending rosario, Misa y doctrina, for getting drunk, refusing to work en los Bienes de la comunidad que Se llaman temporalidades, and for leaving village sin expresa licencia de Sus padres ministros. fiscal declares Croix has satisfied Prestamero's complaints perfectamente (Oficio summarizes issue, provides some background, folios 121-123.), that law of 8-5-73 not meant to discriminate against Franciscanos, and missionaries should not enforce abovementioned rules so that Indians no imaginen Pesado el suabe yugo de cristianismo. (L. Kerr, April 1989)

Prestamero complains to virrey of Croix's poor estimation and treatment of Religiosos in Sonora, that he lends little moral, financial support to missions' education of Indians. Requests release of additional funding to sindicos so manutencion of missions, missionaries improved. Prestamero informs that many ministros discouraged, planning to leave region due to poverty and thankless conditions. Prestamero states that todo Mi interes consiste en que los Misioneros usen de la limosna. amount of money released to sindicos in 1779 indicated in folios 98-100. Also, in folios 89-91 Corvalan cites complaints lodged by Cuguiarachi Indians against fray Valls who los trato con ultrage y desprecio Hasta el extremo de asirlos de los Cavellos y querer uncirlos a las bestias. (L. Kerr, April 1989)

Index and extractions from expedientes containing abundant administrative, military, and religious information about provinces Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Nuevo Santander. (legajo 16, quaderno 2, 1756.) Indexed information includes civil matters involving Sesma and election of officials; autos formed against Rabago; prosecution of Castilla and moral; election of Bustillo to teniente and his rejection of position; naming of Nieto as replacement for Bustillo; Sesma named governor of Coahuila; arrest of Esquivel; excesses of religious men in five missions of Villa of San Fernando; autos regarding excesses of missionaries at Balero and Concepcion; French and blacks; missionaries; maltreatment of Apaches. Election of of mining deputies; establishment of Wall to contain hostile enemies; state of mines in Norotal; establishment of missions Reyno de Leon; movements by French in Luisiana to establish commerce near New Mexico; extortions of missionary Hernandez. (hiller, July 1989)

Ugarte y Loyola reports on measures taken to punctually pay for synods for religious men attending to missions. Men often have difficulties sustaining selves due to delayed payments. Used within the territories, money would benefit commerce, agriculture, and mining. Recommends that certification for these religious men be provided at no cost by territorial judges.

Reyes and Ugarte y Loyola submit informes to Galvez noting disastrous condition of missions and towns. Proposal to create Custodia de San Carlos and movement of capital to Ures. Reyes reports having walked to Arispe, seeing 14 mission towns, their churches and houses almost in ruins. Reports that Indians are without respect and obedience to their priests. Spoke with comandante general who shared bishop's goal of saving important province of Sonora from ruin. The two make plans for founding Custodia de San Carlos, rebuilding churches, missionaries' homes and cultivating of lands. Reyes asks that Galvez publish such a mandate to motivate Indians and Spaniards to work and pay administrative fees. Reports of prison being built (materials used included) but other spendings and buildings ordered by king will be lost. Describes Arispe terrain as sterile and without pasture and with little water, wood, and other building materials. In contrast, Vega de Ures is described as very fertile. These two locations along with Banamichi are evaluated as potential capital sites. Specific administrative plans for leaders and governing regulations. Indian drunkenness and spies are mentioned. (J. Hiller, June 1989)

Two letters praising the 70-folio documentation of all details of five main missions in Nuevo Santander (Actual document appears on ff.336-406 of this volume), praising the missions themselves. These letters serve as annotated bibliography of preceeding document (including folio numbers for specific topics, as well as adding some further information. Concerns conversion, baptism, deaths of Indians at missions (f.409, F.415). Mentions assigning land to Conca mission (412); more than 4000 Pames at Rioverde, Tampico (414); all five missions established in 1744 (417). Frequent mention of key missionaries. (A. Dean, April 1990)

Monumental Tome detailing everything you ever wanted to know about the missions of Nuevo Santander. One document comprising many assembled, transcribed reports from missions of Jalpam, Conca, Tancoiol, Tilaco, Landa, Herrera, Rioverde. Most of first half deals with Tancoiol, second half with Conca; others interspersed. F.359 concerns Landa; F.365 Jalpam; F.374 Conca; F.386 caderreita, Sierragorda; F.387 Rioverde, Nuevo Santander. Topics shuffled together, include minutely detailed description of architecture, ornamentation, furnishing of missions; reports on population (especially ff.349, 358, 375), crops planted (f.356), Indian labor in construction (344), livestock. Occasional mention of number of weddings, deaths of Indians. F.388 mentions Guastecos at Conca deserting. F.399 Indians gathered from mission to search of deserters. Throughout document are references to various missionaries, their document appears on ff.407-417 of this volume; See next entry. (A. Dean, April 1990)

Discusses dismissal of indio Manuel from position as gobernador due to falling out with Guillen. Manuel is to be reinstated; Guillen transferred, replaced. Indian uprisings are worst in Caborca, Pitic and Saric. Local uprisings in theses pueblos have opened area up to Apache hostilities which previously had not been problematic. Suggestion made for Spanish, mestizo and other castes to move into Indian pueblos. Law prohibits non- Indians from living with indios reduccidos or in Indian pueblos, but in this case exception should be made as mixture is necessary to stop hostilities. Plan presented for dividing land among Indians. (D. Uhlman, February 1988)

Reports to Flores de San Pedro from missionaries concerning success of reduccion, status of pueblos receipts for donations to missions by military and civil government. Documents span two years, all same general format, theme. F.409 mention giving sacraments to reduced Indians at Miraflores in their own language. F.415 further mention of barbarous death of Luna; mentions which missionaries responsible for which pueblos. (A. Dean, March 1990)

F.18 is status report on Collera (chaingang) of Indians being escorted to Mexico by soldiers from Pasaje. Ff.19-30 are general reports on efforts to convert Indians in small pueblos; defense of pueblos. Seems to be establishing discreet jurisdictions, outlining problems of a few of these, for appointment of a missionary and/or Coronel to be responsible for each. F.27 mentions Geronimo de la Cruz as interpreter for cora, Alias Naiarit; tecualme; Mexicana; y castellana. (A. Dean, January 1990)