On the Friday of Passion Week, after attending. mass, I went in persuit of the Indians that had left

Transcription

1 My dear Sir: On the Friday of Passion Week, after attending mass, I went in persuit of the Indians that had left the Rosario Mission. For the foregoing purpose, its. priest assigned an Indian who pointed out to me the location of the rancherias of his fellow Indians, that had already fled elsewhere and according to some signs and news, they had gone to join in war with the Carancahua ^Indians,. Upon questioning the Indian spy at the Arroyo del Coleto, about the reasons.jor which the Indians, had to leave the Mission to go to the coast, he replied that it was due to the cruel treatment they received from the priest regarding good, clothing, the excessive amount of, work given to them and their women, as well as cruel lashings. I replied that if he could bring the said Indians to me, I would give my word of honor that they would not be punished too vigorously, since it was a pity to lose their souls. He agreed to chase after them, and I supplied him for this purpose with provisions my soldiers and I had. We all retreated to this Presidio where I arrived on lv the morning of the Good Tuesday.// There, I found, that the cap,tain, from the Presidio, of Orcoquiza, giver of this present one, had left this presidio,

2 i to go to S,a,n Antonio. Immediately, I got on my horse again and followed him. I reached him half a league ahead and entreated him to return because it was very important to inform him about matters concerning the roya,l service of the two Majesties, since I.could not reach a decision alone about these matters. If he would refuse to come back, he sh.ould give me a certificationfbr my own pidmtection. This did not become necessary because he went back with me immediately. On the evening of the Good Wednesday, while both of us were seated, Toribio, the Indian, came in and said: my Cap,tain,, we have aquited outselves badly; rny fellow Indians have joined the Carancah.ua Jndians, in war against the Presidio, of Orcoquiza. To this I replied that there was nothing we could do. Son,, ei said,, go back to the Mission, we will talk about it tomorrow. He replied three and four times in the presence of d,o,n Melchor Afan de Rivera that he refused to return to the Mission under any circumstances; that we could send for his wife who was stark naked and starved to death because they would give her only beef and no corn. All to no avail, for in vain I talked to this Indian, and so he stayed in 9 this house overnight. On the afternoon of the next

3 2 day, Good Thursday,//6someone, let me know that a woman of this presidio had locked up some Indian woman in her house; it was requested of me to order the expressed woman to let the women, out in order that they could attend Church and take a walk through the presidio, all of which I ordered. More or less two hours after this incident, the Indians, men and women, came into my house and said they did not want to return to the Mission: that they were cruelly treated and that the priest hindered them from communicating with the Gpaniafds. I advised them repeatedly to go back to.the Mission,. I offered to give them all the corn and beef they needed and the rest of what I could, but to no avail; in the presence of many soldiers and residents they said they did not want to go back,, that if we would not admit them into this presidio, they would go to the coast. That did ryour, L,ordship, want me to have done but to admit them here and settle them in the houses of this vicinity, to keep the men in my house and to supply them with all the necessary. After Easter, I sent a letter requisitorial to d,o,n Melchor Afan de Ribera about some statements and other little matters concerning my honor, which had been discussed with little respect of God, of the King and of His Justice. All that had been testified

4 against me, being false and deceitful. Icrequested, 2v that he should order the most exact inquiries, taking// oaths to the troop and citizens. This he did. Although I requested that such testimonies be remitted to me, it was not done so, as--i was ignorant of their content, for he gave me two sealed documents, one to be remitted to the M^ost, Ex,cellent, SC.eiftor Viceroy, and the other to be kept, on my file with orders not to open it unless ordered by His Execellency,. Immediately thereafter, I arranged courier to Mex.ic,o. I prepared two Indian women and three Indian men, accompanied by two soldiers, and I sent,the documents, to be presented to Y,our, L,ordship, together with an original letter from the Reverend FFather, Frpav, Pedro Ramirez; such letter sent to me, contained a sort of a:threat. All of this being done in the presence of the referred Afan, who I accompanied to S,a,n Antonio; here I realized all that was said about me. It became necessary for me to appear present in writing before the said, Captain, for him to take testimonies of the matters that Y,our, L,ordship, will learn about upon arrival at this presidio, or ewhen, returning to the Presidio, of Bexar. As a result, being necessary to call on the persqn of deo,n Alexandro Repiso, (the falces student, so

5 called because of this autonomy), I entreat Ysour, Leordship, to order his arrest at whatever place he 3 may be, and that he.be sent with all precautions// 2nd. to the ^Presidio, of S,a,n Antonio de Bexar, or whatever place Y,our, L.ordship, would deem to comm.and, since Jour Lordship, being my Governor, About d,o,n Joseph Gil, I would not mention to Y,our, L,ordship, anything more than, at d,o,n Luis de Mi.nchaca's house, he came to the point of throwing me off my chair where I was seated, and only a man,! like Job would have had more patience than I. D,o,n Santiago Villaseflor retracted himself from many things he has told YCour, L.ordship,.. I have to allege about all these people, and request justice before Ytour, Lcordship, which I hope it will be carried out within Y,our, Z,ordship's, Accompanying d,o,n Nielchor Afan te Ribera are two Indians to attract those who joined the Caranchhua cindians, so the Presidio of the said Captain would make peace with them. justful action according to all rigorousness of the law.. Of what use is life to me without honor, and if this (Rubric) I is denied to me by Y,our, L,ordsh3.p,,

6 I request permission to resort to the tribunals that would best convene my rights,; and upon not finding,justice, in this world, I will claim to the Almighty God. May our Lord keep Y,our, L,ordship's, life many years, as I,wish. Royal Presidio of La Bahia del Espiritu Santo,.Ma.y 2, Your most affectionate and attentive servitor k,isses, Yeour, Lrordship's, hand,. Fran.cis,co de Thobar (Rubric) D,o,n Hugg Oconor IS. 1-3 in E ,