Informe sobre la situación y defensa de las provincias internas -- Nicolás de Lafora, 1765-1990 (bulk 1765-1795)
File — Box: 1, Folder: 1
Scope and Contents
This document describes provinces with regard to population (in some cases broken down by ethnic group, including assorted Native American tribes, Spanish, Mestizo or Genizaro, and Mulatto), Spanish townships contained therein, state of security, dangers confronted by those in Spanish townships, Native American settlements therein, and, in some cases, agricultural or economic activities practiced. In this same document, Presidios are described with regard to the number of soldiers and officers staffing each, the salaries of these officers, the annual cost of maintenance of the presidio, and the exact geographic location of each one.
The presidios described include the Presidio de Buena Vista, Presidio de San Miguel de Orcasitas, Presidio de Santa Gertrudis del Altar, Presidio de San Ignacio de Tubac, Presidio de Terrenate or San Phelipe de Jesus Guevavi, and the Presidio Coro de Guachi or Fronteras of the Province of Sonora. The presidios in the province of Nueva Vizcaya are the Presidio de Tanos, Presidio de San Juan Bautista del Rio Grande, Presidio de San Buenaventura, Presidio Guejuquilla, Presidio del Pasage, Presidio de Cerro Gordo, and the Presidio de la Junta de los Rios. Of special interest to scholars of New Mexican 18th century history are the descriptions available for the presidios of the Province of Nuevo México: Presidio del Paso del Rio de el Norte and the Presidio de Santa Fe.
The Province of la Nueva México is described as being surrounded by "infinities of Barbarous Nations" and, thus, in constant danger from Native American groups such as the Comanches, Apaches, Hopis, and Utes. The Presidio of Santa Fe is described as "indispensable" and integral to the maintenance of that province's population, as well as being important in the realm of commerce -- especially that of weavings, wines, liquor, pelts (of otter, beaver, and ermine), among others.
The presidios of the Province of Cuaguila (now Coahuila) include the Presidio de la Moncloba, otherwise known as the Presidio de Coaguila, the Presidio de Santa Rosa María de Sacramento, and the Presidio de San Saba. The province of the Nuevo Reyno de Philipinas contained the Presidio de San Antonio de Bear, the Presidio de la Bahía del Espíritu Santo, the Presidio de los Adaes, and the Presidio del Orcoquizac. The presidio described from the Province of El Nuevo Reyno de León is the Presidio de Monterrey. In the Province of Naiarit, otherwise known as the Nuevo Reyno de Toledo, the explorers visited the Presidio del Tonati, otherwise known as the Presidio de Nayarit.
This narrative reflects the dominant attitudes surrounding the danger Native American groups posed to Spanish settlers at the time. Among the documents one can find references to the military's goal of exterminating entire Native American groups. The ethnic group most feared by the Spaniards was the Apache. The explorers write of Native American warfare in seeming awe. The author of the first document notes the importance of knowing how to distinguish one's enemies and of being familiar with their form of fighting, the advantages of their weapons, and the diversity of their customs. In spite of the frequent use of the word "barbarians" in connection to Native Americans, the Spanish narrators acknowledge that their enemies are not incompetent, as many Europeans believe, and are so skilled in warfare that they pose a considerable threat to the Spanish soldiers..
The presidios described include the Presidio de Buena Vista, Presidio de San Miguel de Orcasitas, Presidio de Santa Gertrudis del Altar, Presidio de San Ignacio de Tubac, Presidio de Terrenate or San Phelipe de Jesus Guevavi, and the Presidio Coro de Guachi or Fronteras of the Province of Sonora. The presidios in the province of Nueva Vizcaya are the Presidio de Tanos, Presidio de San Juan Bautista del Rio Grande, Presidio de San Buenaventura, Presidio Guejuquilla, Presidio del Pasage, Presidio de Cerro Gordo, and the Presidio de la Junta de los Rios. Of special interest to scholars of New Mexican 18th century history are the descriptions available for the presidios of the Province of Nuevo México: Presidio del Paso del Rio de el Norte and the Presidio de Santa Fe.
The Province of la Nueva México is described as being surrounded by "infinities of Barbarous Nations" and, thus, in constant danger from Native American groups such as the Comanches, Apaches, Hopis, and Utes. The Presidio of Santa Fe is described as "indispensable" and integral to the maintenance of that province's population, as well as being important in the realm of commerce -- especially that of weavings, wines, liquor, pelts (of otter, beaver, and ermine), among others.
The presidios of the Province of Cuaguila (now Coahuila) include the Presidio de la Moncloba, otherwise known as the Presidio de Coaguila, the Presidio de Santa Rosa María de Sacramento, and the Presidio de San Saba. The province of the Nuevo Reyno de Philipinas contained the Presidio de San Antonio de Bear, the Presidio de la Bahía del Espíritu Santo, the Presidio de los Adaes, and the Presidio del Orcoquizac. The presidio described from the Province of El Nuevo Reyno de León is the Presidio de Monterrey. In the Province of Naiarit, otherwise known as the Nuevo Reyno de Toledo, the explorers visited the Presidio del Tonati, otherwise known as the Presidio de Nayarit.
This narrative reflects the dominant attitudes surrounding the danger Native American groups posed to Spanish settlers at the time. Among the documents one can find references to the military's goal of exterminating entire Native American groups. The ethnic group most feared by the Spaniards was the Apache. The explorers write of Native American warfare in seeming awe. The author of the first document notes the importance of knowing how to distinguish one's enemies and of being familiar with their form of fighting, the advantages of their weapons, and the diversity of their customs. In spite of the frequent use of the word "barbarians" in connection to Native Americans, the Spanish narrators acknowledge that their enemies are not incompetent, as many Europeans believe, and are so skilled in warfare that they pose a considerable threat to the Spanish soldiers..
Dates
- 1765-1990 (bulk 1765-1795)
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
Spanish.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 box (.45 cu. ft.)
Physical Description
(88 leaves)
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu