[Mexico]

[Manuscript Document Detailing the Citizens in a Small Frontier Settlement Capable of Taking Up Arms Against "los Indios Barvaros"]

Valle de Santa Rosa, Mx. November 29, 1837. [2]pp. of manuscript on a single folio sheet. Old central horizontal fold, minor edge wear and marginal staining, light chipping to one edge, just touching a few letters of text. Very good. Item #5171

A unique manuscript document produced in a small northern Mexican town during the mid-1830s, addressing the ever-present issue of Native American depredations. The town, Valle de Santa Rosa was located in Coahuila on Mexico's northern frontier; it is now known as Santa Rosa de Múzquiz or Melchor Múzquiz after its most famous citizen. The present document is a table listing twenty-seven named individuals who are noted as possessing firearms ("Armas"), a saddle (or mount, "Mont."), and a horse ("Cavl."), all of whom could participate in the town's defense. The text of the document is headed: "Lista que manifiesta los ciudadanos existentes en el capaces de tomar las armar para atender á la defenza de las hostilidades de los indios barvaros que afliten en este pan, en concepto del encargado de otro barrio que se suscribe y en cumplido de orden para el efecto del Juez de pas de este valle, con exprecion de los que tienen armar monturay y cabayos." This translates in English to a "List of the citizens capable of taking up arms to defend against the hostilities of the barbarian Indians that afflict this area, as the commander from another neighborhood subscribes, and in compliance with the order of the justice of the peace of this valley, noting those who have saddles and horses." An unusual entry in the study of the relationship between indigenous peoples and northern Mexican citizens during the country's early national period.

Price: $2,750.00