Details
KINO, Eusebio Francisco (Father, 1645-1711): Manuscript scribal document entitled 'Relacion brevissim de la entrada grande desde la costa, hasta la contra costa de las Californias o carolinas, que se hizo desde 14 de Dize., de 1684 años hasta 13 de Henero de 1685 Escrita por el Pe. Eusevio Franco. Kino de la Compania de Jesus, que fue a dicha entrada', no place, early 18th century, in Spanish, 10 pages, 8vo (215 x 154mm.), integral blank.
An apparently unpublished account by Father Kino of the first crossing of the peninsula of Lower California from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific, undertaken under the command of Admiral Isidro Atondo y Antillon, governor of Sinaloa and Admiral of California. Father Kino left his base at San Bruno, on the east coast of the peninsula, on the 14th December 1684 and met up with Atondo's party of 34 men and carriers. The entourage was guided by an Indian chief named Leopoldo, who helped them with the local Indian villages to find water, trails and pastures. On the 18th December they began the difficult ascent of the Sierra de la Giganta, 'En 24 Domingo haviendo dicho Missa y caminando como 3 legs, de tan mal camino que por no poder las cavalgaduras entre tantas pinas y piedras pasar adelante paramos y Imbiando el Sn Almirante, siete soldados apie, haver si ha llaban osepodia componer camino, y dandoles algunas chucherias conque agasajar a los Yndios sien contravanno volvieron hasta el dia siguiente y en el interin vinieron 15 Yndios de los naturales de Sn Delfin, y nos trugeron Mescal Fatemado de Regalo, y seles dio Pinole, Chomite, Carne, Soacales, Fijeras, nabajas, Y Catles, Y preguntandoles que sieste ano avia llovindo Digeron que no y que por eso tenian un año muy Exteril, y nos pedian que nosotros hicieramos llover, pues escierto que estos naturales asi aora como en otras ocasiones nos antenido por gente Venida del Cielo y como por Dioses', and on the 27th riding to a peak, Kino saw the ocean 15 leagues away. Some of the Indians were enawed by the military aspect of the travellers; on the 26th Kino records 'y seguido me preguntaron que si los aviamos preso en alguna guerra, digeles quenoo y que eran nors. amigos'. On the 29th Kino parted from the main party to reach the coast the next day meeting some fearful Indians, 'que nosostros veniamos de Guerra y que por eso nos temian, Y diciendoles yo que nosotros no haciamos mal', and on 1st January 1685 turned toward home, giving detailed description of the land, the flora and fauna and the inhabitants, reaching San Bruno on the 13th to much rejoicing, and ends stating that the only purpose of this journey was to convert the Indians, 'donde cada dia Rezan las oraciones y prosiguer en darnos de su parte siempre mayores y mayores esperanzas de su eterna salvacion que para su eterna gloria la conzeda su divina Mag.'
Kino's account of the expedition is taken from the point of view of a missionary, and compared with the published manuscript of Admiral Atondo is more optimistic and detailed in it's description of the territory and the Indians (See Colección Chimalistac 38 vol.III).
Father Kino (Kühn) was born in Trent, educated at the universities of Freiburg and Ingolstadt. He arrived in Mexico in 1681, and joined the expeditionary party of Admiral Atondo. The expedition was ordered by Charles II to conquer and convert the Californias (present day peninsula of California), and set out with 3 ships and necessary soldiers and mariners. Father Kino joined Atondo as rector of the mission and cosmographer of his Majesty. The expedition lasted until 1685, and at a cost of half a million pesos, was largely unsuccessful apart from the first crossing of the peninsula. Kino spent much of his time at Nuestra Señora de la Paz and San Bruno. When Kino discovered that the conversion of the Californias had been suspended he asked to work on the mainland coast of Sonora, but was sent to the Pimería Alta (Northern Sonora and Southern Arizona). In 1687 he established a mission at Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, in the Valley of the San Miguel river, a hundred miles south of Tucson. This mission was to become his base for the next 24 years, and from here he established missions in Arizona and in the Magdelena and Altar valleys; he explored the Gila River several times, crossing the Colorado into California. As a result of his lifetimes explorations he wrote his treatise demonstrating that California was not an island but a peninsula. Father Kino's pioneering work established the Pimería Alta as a Spanish province and inspired the occupation of Lower California. It is said that during his lifetime he brought christianity to 30,000 Indians and performed 4,000 baptisms.
An apparently unpublished account by Father Kino of the first crossing of the peninsula of Lower California from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific, undertaken under the command of Admiral Isidro Atondo y Antillon, governor of Sinaloa and Admiral of California. Father Kino left his base at San Bruno, on the east coast of the peninsula, on the 14th December 1684 and met up with Atondo's party of 34 men and carriers. The entourage was guided by an Indian chief named Leopoldo, who helped them with the local Indian villages to find water, trails and pastures. On the 18th December they began the difficult ascent of the Sierra de la Giganta, 'En 24 Domingo haviendo dicho Missa y caminando como 3 legs, de tan mal camino que por no poder las cavalgaduras entre tantas pinas y piedras pasar adelante paramos y Imbiando el Sn Almirante, siete soldados apie, haver si ha llaban osepodia componer camino, y dandoles algunas chucherias conque agasajar a los Yndios sien contravanno volvieron hasta el dia siguiente y en el interin vinieron 15 Yndios de los naturales de Sn Delfin, y nos trugeron Mescal Fatemado de Regalo, y seles dio Pinole, Chomite, Carne, Soacales, Fijeras, nabajas, Y Catles, Y preguntandoles que sieste ano avia llovindo Digeron que no y que por eso tenian un año muy Exteril, y nos pedian que nosotros hicieramos llover, pues escierto que estos naturales asi aora como en otras ocasiones nos antenido por gente Venida del Cielo y como por Dioses', and on the 27th riding to a peak, Kino saw the ocean 15 leagues away. Some of the Indians were enawed by the military aspect of the travellers; on the 26th Kino records 'y seguido me preguntaron que si los aviamos preso en alguna guerra, digeles quenoo y que eran nors. amigos'. On the 29th Kino parted from the main party to reach the coast the next day meeting some fearful Indians, 'que nosostros veniamos de Guerra y que por eso nos temian, Y diciendoles yo que nosotros no haciamos mal', and on 1st January 1685 turned toward home, giving detailed description of the land, the flora and fauna and the inhabitants, reaching San Bruno on the 13th to much rejoicing, and ends stating that the only purpose of this journey was to convert the Indians, 'donde cada dia Rezan las oraciones y prosiguer en darnos de su parte siempre mayores y mayores esperanzas de su eterna salvacion que para su eterna gloria la conzeda su divina Mag.'
Kino's account of the expedition is taken from the point of view of a missionary, and compared with the published manuscript of Admiral Atondo is more optimistic and detailed in it's description of the territory and the Indians (See Colección Chimalistac 38 vol.III).
Father Kino (Kühn) was born in Trent, educated at the universities of Freiburg and Ingolstadt. He arrived in Mexico in 1681, and joined the expeditionary party of Admiral Atondo. The expedition was ordered by Charles II to conquer and convert the Californias (present day peninsula of California), and set out with 3 ships and necessary soldiers and mariners. Father Kino joined Atondo as rector of the mission and cosmographer of his Majesty. The expedition lasted until 1685, and at a cost of half a million pesos, was largely unsuccessful apart from the first crossing of the peninsula. Kino spent much of his time at Nuestra Señora de la Paz and San Bruno. When Kino discovered that the conversion of the Californias had been suspended he asked to work on the mainland coast of Sonora, but was sent to the Pimería Alta (Northern Sonora and Southern Arizona). In 1687 he established a mission at Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, in the Valley of the San Miguel river, a hundred miles south of Tucson. This mission was to become his base for the next 24 years, and from here he established missions in Arizona and in the Magdelena and Altar valleys; he explored the Gila River several times, crossing the Colorado into California. As a result of his lifetimes explorations he wrote his treatise demonstrating that California was not an island but a peninsula. Father Kino's pioneering work established the Pimería Alta as a Spanish province and inspired the occupation of Lower California. It is said that during his lifetime he brought christianity to 30,000 Indians and performed 4,000 baptisms.