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Show PUEBLO REBELLION AND INDEPENDENCE 409 Indians of San Cristobal and San Lazaro made their escape to the mountains, but returned as the other pueblos, who had promised aid, failed to join in a general movement.*?° In the year 1696, a famine broke out desolating the colony. The people were very much distressed and were almost reduced to starvation. Every species of animals and herbs THE FAMINE OF 1696 was used for food, and the people went into the mountains searching for them like wild beasts. In November of the preceding year the governor sent to the viceroy a petition of the cabildo and vecinos for relief, as all that they had sown had been consumed by the worms. The viceroy and junta in February following decided to send them two hundred ecattle from Parral, with some arms and ammunition, at the same time warning them that they must learn to rely upon themselves and not upon the government for aid and assistance. The governor was charged with dereliction of duty in failing to distribute properly the stores of corn which had been sent up from Mexico; it is also stated that four of the colonists, driven by their suffering to desert, were captured and hanged by the governor without the consolations of religion. These statements were all supported by sworn testimony given a few years later in the City of Mexico. The friars, who doubtless had the best opportunities for understanding the real sentiments of the Indians, now looked for another general uprising. So satisfied were they of the hostile intentions of the Indians that on the 7th day of March the custodio wrote to the governor advising him of the imminent danger of a revolution, the defenseless condition of the several missions, the risks under which the friars were working, and the great damage which would inevitably result should the disaster of 1680 be repeated. He strongly insisted upon the placing of a guard of soldiers at each mission, but De Vargas, believing that the natives had submitted in good faith, paid no heed to the request of the custodio, although from different directions reports came in that the Indians had already ‘committed outrages in the new churches. He told the friars that if they were fearful for their lives they might retire to the capital, 410 Arch, N. Mex., 168-9. May 31st, the settlers had been selling arms to - Indians, which was on this date forbidden by De Vargas. The friar ” oe accidentally shot and killed an Indian, and was not blamed. The friar’s ame was Diego Zeinos. |
