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Show SUL AL SLO AG AL SCA SY SP et oe ee ee eee le a ee ees ee . ‘ Te ee ee et ee ed ee ee erat ~€ Pip ele SPIRIT ei alee le ie risigis +/1Fie & * "ae ou nae ee Oe Nt felG 6~@-2 ba adee be Seltact Stedee ea | ae a yell i Speee halted er aa has be Sal" od ek 4 Bel ae 5ee ee ee eo ak ee a ioe pas ett vee 80 THE SPANISH ARCHIVES OF NEW MEXICO And this when the greater difficulty does not occur of the main ditch drying up at the best of times [allegible] ; and even if the greatest diligence is used, as we all do, it serves rather as a greater difficulty, because they dispute, one with the other; so that we all come to the same need, and even in the impossible event of the ditch being secure, the want of oxen will not permit us to extend the plantations, as we work personally ; and even were it not so difficult to find them, the place does not afford a spot on which to maintain them, nor to breed cattle or sheep, still less horses with which to do the work, for your excellency knows how many people passed within a few days and how few horses they passed before you, mostly belonging to residents ; and as regards clothing, were it not for bartering with the soldiers, some of us would be going naked, while others who go off to work in the mines, by dint of labor, seek a shirt or a skirt for their wives, and as they are so far from stores, when they return, as they find their families starving, they are compelled to sell the little they bring to the Indians of the pueblos for supplies to maintain themselves; consequently we are always kept, your excellency, in the same straits, the more so that we have no farms or lands on which to labor as our own private property, for, although the General Don Domingo Jironza Petriz de Cruzate was ordered by the su- ee : or ee ot .as preme government to give possession of lands waters, and renee me e at ek AT ee a te ae Sh en Bk et tee — ee councilmen represent to your excellency as we do, in order that your excellency, knowing all this of your own knowledge, and caring, as you do, for the subjects of his majesty, may be pleased to perceive that it is impossible for this community to remain here in the future, but rather will it a’ Pat er ee ae ee Pee watering places, this corporation, magistrate and , men do not know what motives he had for not doing council so; and always in this community, under your orders under , these great drawbacks [illegible] this corporation, magistrate and die of nakedness and Starvation; and it is pitiable, lord Sovernor and captain-general, that this kingdom of New Mexico, having a declared jurisdiction extending to the river Nombre de Dios, where there are places eXcellence, that we should be compelled to dwell ofin great the very worst and at the mercy of the Indians, Your excellency; as the living image of the king, our lord, be pleased to protect his subjects and that they may not perish, for we main- tain and cover (susttentamos) our bodies miracles; concede permission to this entire settle in the place which may be found most river Nombre de Dios, or Sacramento, or by performing community 10 suitable on the valley of Sam THE SPANISH ARCHIVES OF NEW MEXICO 81 Martin, for in any one of these three places, a Villa may be settled, where we may serve his majesty as his loyal subjects, and shall be better located for our own advantage; and for all the rest that we could allege in the name and in the interest of this community, this corporation, magistrate and councilmen pray and entreat that you will so decree and order; for, granting this, your excellency, all of this community will leave about the month of October, which is the best season for so doing. Thus, your excellency, will this corporation magistrate and councilmen receive, in the name of the community, grace and mercy, and we swear before God our Lord and the sign of the Holy eross, in our souls and those of our people that this, our petition, is not made in malice, but for the obtaining of justice, which is what we ask and whatever else is necessary. ‘‘HRANCISCO DE ANAYA ALMAZAN ‘¢ ANTONIO LUCERO DE GODOY ‘* ANTONIO MONTOYA ‘‘TIBURCIO DE ORTEGA ‘Secretary of the Cabildo.’’ General De Vargas denied the petition and issued the following decree in relation thereto: ‘At the Town of Paso del Rio del Norte, on the twentysixth day of June, sixteen hundred and ninety-two, before me, Don Diego de Vargas Zapata Lujan Ponce de Leon, governor and captain-general of this province and kingdom of New Mexico and guardian of the fortresses and garrisons of his majesty, the very illustrious corporation, magistrate and councilmen, likewise for his majesty, presented the petition on the preceding page, which I directed my secretary of government and war to read to me in their presence ; and this having been done, having listened thereto with the necessary consideration, I ordered that, notwithstanding the manifest justice of their statement and what they repre- sent is truly pitiable, of myself I am unable to remedy the Situation, and still less to grant the permission which the said illustrious corporation petitioned for, in the name of the entire community and population, to leave and settle the places they mention, which only his excellency, the viceroy of all New Spain can do, after an inspection of the grant and title or instrument upon which General Don Domingo Jironza Petriz de Cruzate, my them to remain. predecessor, ordered When his highness will determine what- ever may be for the benefit of all [illegible] . . . let the very illustrious corporation endeavour to show to his excellency this petition and decree and whatever else they |
