Letter by Ansa (Elder) concerning expedition to find suitable land route to California from Sonora. Discussion of whether or not California is Island. Mentions discovery of native silver in Pimeria Alta. Brief, detailed description of ruins 15 leagues from Janos toward Gila River, building materials, proportions, artifacts; likened to Palace of Madrid. In Margin is related letter by Civan concerning Jesuit missionaries in California, Pimeria. Mentions some English exploration of California (Drake). Mentions locations, with latitude, longitude, of Indian tribes of northern Nueva Mexico; conversion of some of these. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Around midnight on August 31, 1805, steady rain breaches Arroyo, floods Croix. Casas moves entire population first to Piedras, then to Forlon (between Llera, Escandon), only defensible high-ground in area. Speaks of three years of extraordinary dryness, one of excessive rain. paperwork to make move permanent, report on natural resources of Forlon. Calleja objects that settling in Forlon leaves ranches near old Croix sin auxilios espirituales, ni temporales, open to attack by Tamaulipos; requires Villa be reestablished at Piedras, but promises to allow new Villa at Forlon if more than 30 people want to stay. Much debate of relative merits, disadvantages of each site; detailed geographic description of Forlon to demonstrate superiority to Piedras, signed by many vecinos. Order given to move everyone to Piedras, but some refuse to leave Forlon. All religious effects moved back to Piedras. Yturbe gives official threat that anyone remaining in Forlon will be rigorously prosecuted (may - F.193). Inventory of all church property (f.203). Garcia de Leon describes in detail what layout of new Villa should be (f.207). Map of nueba Villa de la Purissima Concepcion de Croix; key lists residents of each lot, proportions of lots, streets, Plazas (f.210). Chart listing property, mostly different kinds of livestock, of each inhabitant (f.211). (A. Dean, July 1989)

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)

Chronological record of land titles from 1540 - 1760 sent to viceroy Croix and consejo real de las indias, including land and haciendas acquired by California missions. Details include changes in ownership and boundaries from inheritance, gifts, judicial disputes, sales, auctions, embargos against taxes and debts from rents. Geographical boundaries specified, census data referred to and some information on judicial and transference procedures. Interesting for discussion of actos taken by Jesuits against religion belemitica, I.e. Another order; Indians and establishment and demolition of boundary markers (mojoneras) during incorporation of lands into larger hacienda holdings. Cuadernos numbered and sometimes cross referenced to other ones. (J. M. Johnson, October 1989)

Letter concerning commercial trade between French and various tribes. Gives distances among San Antonio de Bexar, nacocdochez, Guadalupe; areas analyzed topographically for suitability for livestock farming, water supply; detailed report on types of trees. Local Indian tribes described by location, name derivation, nearness to waterways. Cannot determine how many of these Indians are armed. Mentions Croix, Armat as Principal traders providing weapons to Indians. (O. Velez, February 1990)

Series of correspondence regarding necessity of stepping up military on border with Luisiana due to U.s. aggression; artillery and infantry crucial to border defense plan offered by Bonavia; plan for troop mobilization and military supply routes climate, economy, population, terrain, cost of troop upkeep; question of what to do with anglos living on Spanish land as foreigners (deport them? Leave them alone?); interesting Series of documents. (D. J. McClelland, July 1989)

Account of pursuit of Comanches who stole mules from Vecino de Monterrey; battle and capture, some participants wounded; little significant data; letters and military diario. (D. J. McClelland, July, 1989)

Ugarte y Loyola is sending diaries of Martinez', Diaz' and Maynez's campaigns to virrey. Diaries of Martinez and Diaz are included in Tomo, and relate geographic data, but not much Indian activity. Cover sheet introducing Maynez' diary is present, but Actual diary is missing (probably contained in missing ff. 32-38). (D. Marksz, October 1987)

Diary from Theran to the virrey giving day by day detail of the geography of the new part of the provincia de los Texas. He gives names to all the rivers, Arroyos, Cerros, and Valles. He also describes the type of vegetation. Every day he gives a name to some place and the distance they have traveled. Military journal from Bruno, Alferez of the fragata San Roman, in charge of the Bahia la Movila. (D. Bautista, July 1990)

Concerns different jurisdictions in province of Texas, settlers, governments and enemy Indian tribes in region; contains descriptions of fertility of presidio and mission lands in region; fairly extensive information on Indian populations and lands inhabited by them; also concerns Demesieres' campaign in north and broadening of frontier boundaries encroaching further on Indian lands (Tavoayases); problem of Indian hostilities in Coahuila province addressed and its relationship with residents of Louisiana trading with hostile Indians discussed; contains letters from Demesieres to Galvez describing his trip north with detailed descriptions of lands around Colorado, Trinidad, and Brazos rivers; includes descriptions of Indian tribes of region (friendly and hostile), dress, agriculture and in particular deals with Tuacanas and Tancagues; Mesieres suggests founding settlement of Spaniards and Tlaxcaltecas as key to northern regions to open possibilities for trade and to better deal with hostile tribes (Comanches and Osages) and also to impede any further expansion of English into area. (K. Hubin, June, 1990)