History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII, Part 31

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company
Number of Pages: 890


USA > Arizona > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 31
USA > New Mexico > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 31


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tinez (Damian), Carta al P. Morfi, 1792, MS., in N. Mex., Doc., 450-83, con- tains many of the items on which Morfi's report rests, and also considerable information on minerals, etc., of the province.


+ Santiago Roybal was still vicar and juez ecles. in '56, and apparently in '60. MS. of Pinart col .; Tamaron Visita, MS. Acc. to an article in the Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin, 2da ep., i. 571-2, the 6 doctrinas of the El Paso district were secularized in '56, but the curates were replaced by friars again in '71. The secularization orders of '67 for the 3 villas and El Paso appear in original communications of the viceroy and com. gen. de Indias in July of that year. MS. of Pinart col. The expense of supporting the friars in '76 was 10,473 pesos per year. Revilla Gigedo, Carta, 442. Pino, Exposicion, 35-6, cites a royal order of June 30, '77, and a pope's brief of Nov. 17, '79, for the mission- ary college. He says a convent was built and lands were assigned, but noth- ing more done down to 1812. Croix in '77 or '78 asked the king to employ Zacatecan friars in N. Mex., acc. to the bishop's statement of '91. MS. of


275


NEW MEXICAN INDUSTRIES.


New Mexican industries were agriculture, stock- raising, and barter. There was no mining, though occasional indications of mineral wealth were found. Manufactures, beyond the preparation of skins for home use or a southern market, the weaving of cot- ton in small quantities at a few pueblos, and the making of pottery at others, were confined to the fabrication of coarse woollen blankets by the pueblo Indians. Agricultural products, chiefly from irrigated


Pinart col. In '81 Gov. Anza by Croix's order distributed to the other estab. the sacred vessels, etc., that had been provided for the Navajo missions. Arch. Sta Fé, MS. Revilla Gigedo, Carta de '93, p. 443, gives most particu- lars abont the dissatisfaction of the padres with the reduction of missions for '82; but in the Arch. Stat Fe, MS., is a record of troubles at Sta Clara and S. Ildefonso, where the padre objected to serving both places because the river flowing between them was often not fordable, and because Sto Domingo and Cochití, thongh nearer together and on the same side of the river, had not been united, on account of the gov.'s unfair favoritism to the padre there. There was more controversy in '86. 1790, petition for a vicario castrense and juez ecles. in N. Mex. Id. In '91 there was an order for an examin. of all doctrineros for the position of curate; bnt the bishop writes that in N. Mex. there are no examiners bnt the padres to be examined; besides, the order is contrary to law. MS. of Pinart col.


Alphabetical list of friars serving in N. Mex. in 1750-1800: PP. Manuel Isidoro Abadiano before '61. Rafael Benavides at Zuñi 'SS. Blas Benitez at Alburquerque '89. Jnan Bermejo Nuñez, chaplain at Sta Fé and cust. from '82. (Andrés B. before '61 and José B. at Abiquin in '88 may be different men.) Cayetano José Ign. Bernal at Isleta '82, at Senccú 'S8. José Bilchis at Taos '88. Francisco Bueno at Canada 'S8. Fran. de Burgos at Sandia '88. (Manuel de B. of '65-70, perhaps the same.) Ant. Caballero at Cochiti '82, Alburquerque 'SS. Cris. Calvo before '61. Ant. Campos at El Paso '88. Jacobo Castro, custodio '55. Ant. Cenizo at Cochiti '88. José Corral at Laguna '88. Patricio Cuellar '65-70. Fran. Javier Dávila at Picuries '82. Fran. Atanasio Domingnez, visitador '70-6, at Cia '88. Fran. Dueñas at Sta Clara 'S8. Silvestre Velez Escalante at Znñi '74-8. Ign. Estarrona before '61. Sebastian Fernandez '80, at Cochití '88. Tomás Salv. Fernandez at Acoma '82. Ant. Galfarzozo at Sta Fé 'S8. Andrés Garcia '65-70, at Znñi "79-80. (Angel García perhaps the same.) Fernando Ant. Gomez, sec. '75. Ramon Ant. Gonzalez at Sta Clara '82, at S Juan 'S8. Ambrosio Guerra at Pnjnaque 'S8. Juan José Hernandez before '61. Hezio, see 'Osio.' Agustin Ant. Iniestra '65-70. Juan José Inojosa, cust. '71. Joaquin Jerez. José Jnnguera at S. Juan '62. Diego Muñoz Jurado at Abiquin' 82, at Sta Clara '88. Juan Labora before '61. Gabriel Lago at Pujnaque '88. Juan Sans de Lezaun '61. Fran. Mariño. Dan. Martinez at Zuni and El Paso before '92. José Medrano at Sto Domingo '82. Jnan Mignel Menchero '52-71. Diego Muñoz at Pienries '88. Tomás Murciano. Fran. Osio at Sta Fé '82, Taos '88, custodio '98. Juan José Oronzo from '32, at Laguna '60 (called also Orontaro). José Paez before '61. José Palacios at Laguna '82. Pedro Ign. Pino at Acoma '60. José Prado El Paso dist. 'SS. Gabriel Quintana '65-70. Manuel Rojo at Alburquerque '60. Joaquin Rodriguez. Mariano Rosete at Isleta 'S8. Fran. Sanchez before '61. Santiago Fernan- dez de la Sierra at Sta Clara and S. Juan '82-8. Juan José Toledo at Abiquiu '60 6. Mariano Rodriguez de la Torre '55-70, vice-cust. '70-1, '76, cust. '75. Manuel de S. Juan N. Trigo, vice-cust. '51-61. Tomás Valencia at S. Felipe '60. Manuel Vega at Zuñi 'S8.


276


LAST HALF OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.


lands, were maize, wheat, and beans in the north, or New Mexico proper, with a little cotton, fruits for home consumption, and an inferior species of tobacco known as punche; while the southern district of El Paso was famous for its fruit orchards, vineyards, wine, and aguardiente. Of live-stock, sheep formed the chief element, these animals being raised in large numbers, both for their wool and meat, though there are no reliable statistics extant. Horses and cattle were also raised, but the former were always scarce in the province on account of the numbers sold to and stolen by the wild Indians. I find no definite indications that cattle were raised to any great extent for their hides and tallow.


But all was subordinate to the commercial indus- try,41 and all trade was cambalache, or barter. Each


41 Nov. '54, Gov. Valle orders that the price of a horse be fixed at 12 to 15 skins; or a piece of cotton cloth weighing 10 arrobas for 2 pack-horses, or an iron knife for a skin. Arch. Sta Fé, MS. No mares, mules, asses, or offens- ive weapons to be sold the Ind. Id. Bishop Tamaron, Visita, MS., 99-100, 151, gives some account of the annual caravans, and notes that the one of '60 was attacked by Ind. between El Paso and Chih., losing their horses. Mar- tinez, Carta, MS., 473-7, gives many details of trade. He notes that in Gov. Cachupin's time fine gold was assayed, hut no mines worked; also silver, cop- per, and quicksilver. In Gov. Mendinueta's time a ball of fine silver was found. In '67 the gov. objected to the viceroy's proposition to enforce the tobacco estanco, as very little real tobacco was used in N. Mex., only punche, and by the Ind. a leaf called mata; yet in '76 the estanco was ordered to be enforced, and the planting of punche prohibited. MS. of Pinart col. In Domenech's Deserts, i. 182-3, Wizlizenus' Tour, 25, are found more or less absurd rumors of an earlier exportation of gold and silver to Spain, with re- ports that the Gran Quivira ruins represented a former mining city, where the people, being attacked by Ind., buried an immense amount of treasure, to find which some expeditions were made later. This is all humbug. Oct. 14, '75, gov. forbids citizens of any class to visit the Yutas for trade. MS. in Pinart col. Bonilla, Apuntes, MS., contains some commercial matter. Sept. '77, Gen. Croix refuses to abolish the 2 per cent tax on exports, on the ground that it is simply added to prices, and is therefore borne by the Chih. traders. Arch. Sta Fe, MS. Oct. 25, '88, Gen. Ugarte makes a long report on N. Mex. trade, recommending the encouragement of Chih. industries, now being abandoned on account of the decadence of mining; also the sending of artisan instructors to N. Mex., exemption from taxes, etc., so as to increase manuf. and give the prov. a balance of money. Id. In Ang. '89 M. Louis Blanc, com. at Natchidoches, writes to Gen. Ugarte, urging the opening of trade bet. N. Mex. and Louisiana, by establishing a presidio among the Jumanas. This would prevent smuggling and tend to keep the peace with Ind. trihes like the Osages. The journey with freight was only 40 days, through a fertile country. Pierre Vial and a party had recently made the trip. Gen. U. sends the letter to Gov. Concha for his consideration and report. Id. A little money after '98. Pino, Not., 64. Slight ment. of N. Mex. resources in Anquetil's Univ. Hist., ix. 566. Morfi, Desórdenes, MS., contains the best


277


NEW MEXICAN TRADE.


year in July or August the people met the Comanches and other tribes of the plains at Taos, where a grand fair was held. Some trade was done at other frontier points, and also by citizens and pueblo Indians, who went out in various directions to meet customers, but this was discouraged and at times forbidden. To this fair the wandering gentiles brought skins of deer and buffalo, with Indian captives to barter for knives and other iron implements, horses, beads, and trinkets, and to some extent blankets. At the end of the year the New Mexicans went in caravans, sometimes of 500 men, to attend the January fair at Chihuahua, where they exchanged the skins, Indian servants, blankets, and to slight extent other products of the province for cloths, groceries, and various articles for the year's Indian trade. The value of each year's exports was estimated by the comandante general in 1788 at $30,000. The departure and return of the caravan were the great events of the year. In 1776 the gov- ernor delayed the publication of an important bando till the people had returned from their 'ordinaria an- ual salida;' and the provincial in 1788 explains the impossibility of obtaining reports from New Mexico until the people come down to the January fair. There was no trade as yet with the French in Louis- iana, or with the Spaniards in Texas. There was no coin or other money in New Mexico, but the traders for their accounts invented a system of imaginary cur- rency, including four kinds of dollars-pesos de plata, worth eight reales; pesos de proyecto, six reales ; pesos antiguos, four reales ; and pesos de la tierra, two reales.


general presentment of the country's commercial condition and needs, ex- plaining the system of imaginary money, and giving instances of enormous profits. Revilla Gigedlo, Carta de '93, 444, gives this picture of the general condition: 'No son mejores [in comp. with the Ind.] respectivamente las cos- tumbres de los vecinos españoles y demas castas, cuyas poblaciones consisten en casas ó ranchos dispersos, donde no tienen testigos que descubran los vicios y la disolucion en que se prostituyen, imitando á los indios en la vida ociosa, y reduciéndose todos sus afanes y comercio á la permuta usuraria de semillas y frutos, y á la venta que hacen ellos en la villa de Chihuahua, adonde bajan en cordon cada año y se proveen de los géneros, efectos, y utensilios para sus vestuarios, atenciones domisticas, y labores del campo.'


278


LAST HALF OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.


The beauty of this system was that the traders al- ways bought for the cheap pesos and sold for the dearer kinds, all being 'dollars' to the Indians. Profits were enormous, a trader by two or three bar- ters in a year often getting $64 for a piece of cloth which cost him six. Advantage was also taken of the Indians' weakness for baubles and ignorance of their real value. Señor Trebol bought a guacamaya, or macaw, for eight dollars, and sold the gay feathers for $492. Another system of swindling commerce was the habitual selling of goods to be paid for in future pro- ducts. Thus, for a little seed grain six fanegas at bar- vest were promised; or for a bottle of brandy in holy week a barrel was exacted. The natives through debt became practically slaves, besides losing their land, and the poor settlers were hardly less the vic- tims of commercial oppression. While the settlers and pueblo Indians were always in debt to the traders, the latter in turn were debtors to or agents for Chihua- hua merchants, who thus monopolized all the profits, and nothing was left for New Mexico, except for cer- tain traders, who as alcaldes mayores utilized their political authority for private gain. Padre Morfi's proposed remedy for these evils was the encourage-


ment of home manufactures by sending artisan teachers and machinery to the province, with a view to render the inhabitants independent of Chihuahua. His plan was to send criminals of the better class, whose offences were chiefly due to drink and the temptations of a city, from Mexico to the far north, and through them to reform the New Mexican industrial system. This expedient was tried in California later without any brilliant success.


The population in 1750 has been given as 3,779 Spaniards and 12,142 pueblo Indians, a total of 15,921 in New Mexico proper, or 18,721 including the district of El Paso. In 1760 official reports show that the number of Spaniards had increased to 7,666,


279


STATISTICS OF POPULATION.


that of Indians decreased to 9,104, and the total was 16,770, or 21,752 including El Paso. Down to 1788 there was slight change in the figures, but in the final decade there was an inexplicable doubling of the Spanish population; and at the end of the century the figures stood as follows: Spaniards, including of course the castas or negroes and mixed breeds, 18,826, Indians 9,732, total 28,558, or, including El Paso, 34,138. Details are shown to best advantage in the appended table, though some of the figures are con- fusing, in consequence of varied groupings of the pueblos in the different reports. I also add some local items not given in the table. 42


42 Table of population in N. Mex., 1750-1800:


1760.


1788.


1793.


1798.


1799.


Settlements.


Span.


Ind.


Total.


Span


Ind.


Span.


Ind.


Span.


Ind.


Alburquerque ..


1,814


2,146


1,650


2,279


4,020


603


Santa Fé.


1,285


2,244


2,419


La Cañada.


1,515


316


1,076


1,650


2,594


7,351


1,079


Abiquiú


617


166


1,181


1,147


216


1,573


176


Taos. .


160


505


578


403


518


780


531


1,351


782


Picuries


208


328


212


1,310


254


566


251


San Than.


575


316


1,566


2,173


260


1,971


202


Santa Clara.


277


257


452


635


139


1,840


1.3


San Ildefonso


30


184


368


308


53


22)


79


Nambe


118


204


200


138


148


155


Cochití.


140


450


400


720


425


505


Santo Domingo.


424


608


650


257


1,488


Jemes .. .


373


375


485


314


272


398


1,166


Cia ..


568


1,035


356


81


634


Sandía (Alameda).


222


291


596


810


304


384


236


1,490


1,513


Isleta, Tomé, Belen.


620


304


2,103


2,680


410


1,771


603


Acoma .


1,052


10


820


757


Laguna


85


600


1,368


6


668


15


802


15


1,559


Zuñi ..


664


1,617


10


1,535


7


2,716


7


2,716


Total .. El Paso district.


7,666


9,104


17.153


16,156


9,275


16,065


10,762


18,826


9,732


3,588


1,334


4,927


3,622


1,900


4,943


€37


Grand Total


11,254


10,498


22,080


19,778


11,175


23,769


10,363


240


225


251


Tesuque


Pecos and Galisteo.


509


152


150


183-


San Felipe ..


458


532


424


282


275


262


Santa Ana


404


155


20


178


232


4,194


314


Pujnaque.


99


The 5 reports embodied in the table are as follows: T'amaron, Visita, 1760, MS., in which the bishop expresses the opinion that the padron of Sta Fé does not show more than half the real pop .; Ilzarbe (Joaquin), Estado de las Mi- siones, 1788, MS., in Pinart col., the writer-provincial of the Sto Evangelio province-stating that there were 18 missions (the omissions in his list as per table showing the consolidation effected by Anza), 11 annexes, 24 padres (who are named), 5,508 fam., and for the year 1,254 baptisms, 438 marriages, and 647 deaths, this author making no distinction of races; Revilla Gijedo, Carta


280


LAST HALF OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.


de 1793, sobre misiones, 441-2, also MS., the viceroy giving the latitude of each settlement and the tribe inhabiting it, and being followed in his statis- tics by Humboldt, Essai Pol., 57, and through H. by several others; the report of the custodio, P. Fran. Osio (called Hezio), for '98, as given in Meline's 2,000 Miles, 208-9, the totals as printed and followed by Prince, Hist. Sk., 227, being apparently erroneous, the report including also the totals for '96, Span. 14, 167, Ind. 9,453; also baptisms for '96-8, Ind. 708, Span. 1,283; marriages, Ind. 170, Span. 226; deaths, Ind. 469, Span. 522; and finally, Gov. Chacon's report of '99, in Meline's 2,000 Miles, 220, this doc. giving only the totals for each jurisdiction.


A doc. of '90, Arch. Sta Fé, MS., gives the total pop. as 30,955, and adds ' que por los enlaces que han tenido unos con otros, a penas se hallan indivi- duos que no sean parientes.' In '94 Gov. Chacon gave the pop. as follows:


Men.


Women.


Boys.


Girls.


Total.


Span.


7,502


5,912


2,153


1,763


17,330


Ind.


4,343


4,267


1,539


1,219


11,368


Castas


1,941


1,601


792


1,224


5,558


13,786


11,780


4,484


4,206


34,256


In '93 a similar statement is given, the figures varying but slightly from the above, and the grand total being 34,201. The castas, I think, cannot here include the mixed Span. and Ind., but perhaps negro mixtures. There were but very few full-blooded Span. Arch. Sta Fé, MS. In Lafora, Viage, the pop. for '66 in 37 settlements of 15 nations is given as 10,524 Span. and 9,580 Înd., including El Paso. The extent of N. Mcx. is given by Lafora as lat. 32° to 38°; long. 258° to 264° from Teneriffe; and by Revilla Gigedo as lat. 34° to 373°; long. 268° to 274° The jurisdictions, or districts, as given in the Arch. Sta Fe, MS., in '93-4, were Sta Fé, Canada, Alburquerque, Queres; Zuñi, Laguna, and Acoma: and El Paso. No. 1, 2, 3, and 6 are the same in all reports, but the others vary. Revilla Gigedo gives Taos, S. Felipe, Queres, Sandía, Laguna, and Zuñi. Gov. Chacon in '99 gives Alameda (Sandia), Taos, Jemes (Queres ?), Laguna, and Zuñi. In N. España, Breve Resumen, MS., ii. 321-2; and in Vingero Unin., xxvii. 144-52, are brief descrip. and historic sketches of N. Mex. for '67 and '99 respectively.


Local items in addition to pop. as given in the table: Abiquiú (Sto Tomás), a pueblo of genízaros, or rescued captives, yet having a large Span. pop. It was in the jurisd. of La Canada. In 1771 the citizens wished to abandon the place, but Gov. Mendinueta, through the alcalde mayor, Marcos Sanchez, for- bade it, as all danger from the Comanches was past. The pop. of this an:1 other settlements includes that of scattered ranchos in the vicinity. In 'S8 there were 54 baptisms, 10 marriages, and 17 deaths.


Acoma (S. Estévan), pueblo of Queres Ind., but with a few Span. in the last decade; a visita of Laguna in '88, and prob. had no padre later.


Alburquerque (S. Felipe Neri), villa of Span., with a friar acting as curate, and a vicar appointed by the bishop in '60. Militia force 80 in '66. Though nominally a villa, it was scattered many leagues up and down the valley, the people living on their ranchos, chiefly at the Alameda, and only coming to the town on Sundays. Two padres in '88; bapt. 89, marr. 21, deaths 26. In '60 the bishop confirmed 732.


Belen, Span. settlement of 38 fam. in '66, included in pop. with Isleta. A considerable number of genizaro fam. lived here also, and at the settlement of Tomé, near by, 60 in all in '92, having much trouble with the Span., who, like the Christian Ind., looked down upon these sons of gentiles. They wished to form a pueblo at Sabinal, but did not succeed.


Cañada (Sta Cruz de la), largest of the Span. villas, 1,517 confirmations in '60, and a vicar appointed; 97 bapt., 23 marr., 35 deaths in 'SS, when P. Fran. Bueno was in charge.


Cebolleta. in the Laguna region, abandoned Navajo mission; a few Nava- jos aud Apaches were still living in a rancheria in the vicinity.


28 1


PUEBLOS AND MISSIONS.


Cia (Asuncion), mission of Queres, with Jemes ard Sta Ana as visitas after '82; 93 bapt., 32 marr., 56 deaths in '88.


Cochití (S. Buenaventura), pueblo of Queres, visita of Sto Domingo after '82.


Cubero, or Covero, pueblo in the Laguna region, not mentioned in this half- century; prob. abandoned.


Galisteo, visita of Pecos, with 255 Ind. in '60; not mentioned in later re- ports; prob. abandoned.


Isleta (S. Agustin), mission pueblo of Tehuas(?), whose padre had charge of Belen and Tome; bapt. 74, marr. 25, deaths 31 in '88.


Jemes (S. Diego), pueblo of Jemes, Pecos laag., a visita of Cia after '82. Laguna (S. José), mission of Queres, with some fam. of half-converted Na- vajos and Apaches in vicinity; had Acoma as a visita after '82; bapt. 33, marr. 24, deaths 12 in '88.


Moquino, pueblo of the Laguna region, not mentioned in this period, but perhaps estah. with Moqui fam. now or a little later.


Nambé (S. Fran.), pueblo of Tehuas, visita of Pujuaque after '82.


Pecos (Los Angeles), visita of Sta Fé, and rapidly declining in pop.


Picuries (S. Lorenzo), mission with many Span. settlers in the vicinity; bapt. 15, marr. 6, deaths 8 in '88.


Pujuaque (Guadalupe), pueblo of Tehuas, visita of Nambé in '60, but after '82 mission with visitas of N. and Tesuque; 2 padres in 'S8; bapt. 42, marr. 13, deaths 14.


S. Felipe, mission of Queres; visita of Sto Domingo after 'S2.


S. Ildefonso, mission of Tehuas; visita of Sta Ana after '82.


S. Juan de los Caballeros, mission of Tehuas, with many Span. in the vi- cinity; 2 padres in '88; bapt. 16, marr. 19, deaths 25.


S. Rafael de los Geutiles, 15 settlers of this place, location not given, pe- titioned for and obtained in '65 arms to defend themselves.


Sandía (Asumpcion or Dolores), mission of 96 Tehuas (?) and 196 Moquis in '60; bapt. 57, marr. 27, deaths 18 in '88.


Sta Ana, pueblo of Queres, had a padre in '60; visita of Cit after '82.


Sta Clara, mission of Tehnas, with S. Ildefonso as visita after '82; bapt. 66, marr. 22, deaths 98 in '88.


Sto Domingo, mission of Queres, called Sto Dom. de Cochití after '82; with S. Felipe and S. Buen. (Cochití) as visitas; bapt. 124, marr. 25, deaths 31 in 'S8, having 2 padres.


Sta Fé, capital villa, with garrison of 80 soldiers, but no fortifications; 2 padres, 1 acting as vice-custodio (the custodio generally living at El Paso), and a secular priest paid by tithes; 2 churches and another almost completed in '60, built by Gov. Marin del Valle. Pop. 2,324 in '66. Lafora. In '88 Gen. Ugarte approved Gov. Concha's project of reforming the villa and building a cuartel, or presidio, $2,000 being assigned for the work. There had been some talk of building the cuartel at the suburb of Analco, and even of moving the villa to Sto Domingo, though both vecinos and Ind. objected. The gov. was authorized to use his judgment, and the villa was not moved. Arch. Sta Fé, MS.


Taos (S. Gerónimo), mission pueblo, with a large Span. pop. on ranchos in the vicinity; 2 padres in '88; hapt. 65, marr. 43, deaths 41. Taos was the great trading rendezvous for the tribes of the plains; and, as we have seen, several bloody fights took place in that region during the half-century.


Tesuque (S. Diego), pueblo of Tehuas; visita of Sta Fé in '60, and of Pu- juaque after '82.


Tomé (Concepcion), settlement of Span. and genízaros; 70 vecinos in '66; 402 confirm. in '60; had a good church under padre of Isleta or Alburquerque.


Zuñi (Guadalupe), mission pueblo of many Ind., though a large part of the pop. was usually scattered; 2 padres in '88, bapt. 35, marr. 23, deaths 47. In '90, with its 5 ranches, hudl a pop. of 1,121. Arch. Sta Fé, MS.


El Paso (Nra Sra del Pilar y S. José), presidio and later town, with 2 friars and 2 priests; captain and alcalde mayor, later lieut .- gov. El Paso was


282


LAST HALF OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.


famous for its vineyards and orchards; and except the raids of hostile gen- tiles, its chief concern was about its irrigating ditches and the dam of the Rio del Norte, which supplied them. This dam was usually carried away by the floods of May-July. A doe. in the Pinart col. shows the constant but futile efforts of the authorities in '54-62 to colleet a special tax of 50 cents on each 100 vines to build a solid dam. There were 250,000 vines, but the owners de- clared they were too poor to pay the tax either in money or work. In this distriet were S. Lorenzo, Senecú, Isleta, and Socorro, respectively 1, 3, 5, and 6 1. eastward down the river; also Carrizal, 36 1. toward Chihuahua, founded in '58; pop. 161 Span. in '60, with a guard of 20 soldiers from El Paso; later site of the presidio.


CHAPTER XIII.


LAST YEARS OF SPANISH RULE. 1801-1822.


Two BOOKS-SUCCESSION OF GOVERNORS-CHACON, ALENCASTER, MAINEZ, MANRIQUE, ALLANDE, MELGARES, CHAVEZ, AND VIZCARRA-INDIAN AFFAIRS-COMANCHES, NAVAJOS, AND MOQUIS-MELGARES IN THE NORTH-EAST-ELECTION OF A DELEGATE TO THE CORTES-PEDRO BAUTISTA PINO GOES TO SPAIN-THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE AND BOUNDARY QUES- TION-LALANDE AND PURSELY-ZEBULON M. PIKE-ATTEMPTS AT TRADE -MCKNIGHT -- C'HOTEAU AND DE MUN-GLENN, BUCKNELL, AND COOPER- POPULATION-LOCAL ITEMS-TRADE-AGRICULTURE-MANUFACTURE ;- MINING-INSTITUTIONS-GOVERNMENT-MILITARY-MISSIONS AND BISH- OPRIC-CHARGES AGAINST THE FRIARS-WAR OF INDEPENDENCE-VIVA ITURBIDE!


THE same kind providence that causes rivers to flow near large towns, the moon and stars to shine at night, when their feeble light is of some use, sends snow only in the winter, when there is no hot sun to melt it, and performs other beneficent acts, is not always unmind- ful of the annalist's needs. Thus, when the history of the last years of Spanish rule in New Mexico seemed likely to resemble the famous chapter on snakes in Ireland, not only was it put into the head of the United States government to send an explorer to this far-off province, and of the people to send a delegate to the córtes of Spain, but both explorer and delegate were inspired with the idea of writing a book, as the friar Benavides and the conqueror Villagrá had been in earlier times; and the result was a mass of infor- mation which goes far to make this chapter as long and as interesting as those that have preceded it.




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