细节
DURANGO, Juan de la Cruz (Fray). Autograph letter signed to 'Your Excellency' (presumably the Viceroy of Mexico), reporting on the missions in Sonora, mining activity and the condition of the Indians, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, 8 January 1688, in Spanish, 6 pages, folio (305 x 215mm.), integral blank, bound in modern vellum-backed boards.
Reporting on his arrival at Cerro Gordo and the state of the quicksilver mines under the control of Capt. Francisco de Cardenas 'baxe luigo a dar principio a las fabricas, a unque con mucho trabaxo de gente, que al miedo de sitio los atemurica por las hostilidades que antes de aora han experimentador de los Chichimecos' remaining there with a few workmen to await help, complaining of the activities of the Padre-Maestro Fray Felipe Galindo (?) reporting the latter's discussions with Cardenas, about the owners of the mine, Durango and his brother Don Alonso, questioning their honesty, and commenting on the fate of Fray Francisco Ximenez who had been ruined by his investment in the Padre-Maestro's enterprise. Continuing about the Missionary Fathers' settlement at San Joseph and a nearby village founded by Capt. Geronimo de Labra, where the natives were induced to settle and then maltreated. They wished to return to their homes, but one was killed, 'Llegan los padres a fundar a San Joseph, que dista siete leguas de este puesto ... se compone de tres xocales una iglesia y dos viviendas ... Alli tenian Padre Espiritual ofreciendoles el temporal para su ordinario sustento, cabras, vacas, obejas para poblar. Vaxaron los nativos sus mujeres ehijueles, buelben los Padres arepetir la oferta ... obligan a las mujeres hagan el barro, traigan piedras y otras que aven, dandoles por unico alimento a cada uno una mazorca de mais. Aunmes y medio de esta opresion dicen van a cozer sus [hijos] cada unas a su tierra, y perexe diule Don Juan de los Angeles uno de los capitanos, a una chichimeca unos agotillos muerte a los dos diaz; (Perque se ha sitarla) los mecos ocicsos blendo los exercitaban; jexan lame palere dictendo no nos dan de comer, ni loque ofrecieron y nos matan las hijos pues hemonos', saying he remained there eight days when he received a letter from Fr. Galindo, which he enclosed, remarking that the mine was now deserted. He apologises for the length of the letter and requests His Excellency to settle the matter.
Reporting on his arrival at Cerro Gordo and the state of the quicksilver mines under the control of Capt. Francisco de Cardenas 'baxe luigo a dar principio a las fabricas, a unque con mucho trabaxo de gente, que al miedo de sitio los atemurica por las hostilidades que antes de aora han experimentador de los Chichimecos' remaining there with a few workmen to await help, complaining of the activities of the Padre-Maestro Fray Felipe Galindo (?) reporting the latter's discussions with Cardenas, about the owners of the mine, Durango and his brother Don Alonso, questioning their honesty, and commenting on the fate of Fray Francisco Ximenez who had been ruined by his investment in the Padre-Maestro's enterprise. Continuing about the Missionary Fathers' settlement at San Joseph and a nearby village founded by Capt. Geronimo de Labra, where the natives were induced to settle and then maltreated. They wished to return to their homes, but one was killed, 'Llegan los padres a fundar a San Joseph, que dista siete leguas de este puesto ... se compone de tres xocales una iglesia y dos viviendas ... Alli tenian Padre Espiritual ofreciendoles el temporal para su ordinario sustento, cabras, vacas, obejas para poblar. Vaxaron los nativos sus mujeres ehijueles, buelben los Padres arepetir la oferta ... obligan a las mujeres hagan el barro, traigan piedras y otras que aven, dandoles por unico alimento a cada uno una mazorca de mais. Aunmes y medio de esta opresion dicen van a cozer sus [hijos] cada unas a su tierra, y perexe diule Don Juan de los Angeles uno de los capitanos, a una chichimeca unos agotillos muerte a los dos diaz; (Perque se ha sitarla) los mecos ocicsos blendo los exercitaban; jexan lame palere dictendo no nos dan de comer, ni loque ofrecieron y nos matan las hijos pues hemonos', saying he remained there eight days when he received a letter from Fr. Galindo, which he enclosed, remarking that the mine was now deserted. He apologises for the length of the letter and requests His Excellency to settle the matter.