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Original Spanish letter from
Anza relating to the confirmation of Yuma Indians
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El Dia dos del actual
se confirmaron en la Yglesia Cathedral de esta ciudad El Captian Palma,
y sus compañeros haviendo sido Padri no del primero El Caballero
Govor y de los otros
tres las maiores dignidades de dha Yglesia cuia funcion se ha executada
con to da solegnidad y a complacencia de los intersados quienes con tinuan
su camino con las mis ma tanto por la salud que go zan como por el buen
trata miento que exprimentan de nuestras Eantes lo que me ha parecido partisipar
a V. Exa en cumplimiento
de mi obligaci on y da los encargues cuia veneficio de los propios se ha
vido hazerme.
Juan Bapta de Anza
(rúbrica)
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On the second day of this
month in the cathedral church of this city1,
Captain Palma and his companions were confirmed, the gentleman governor
having been godfather for the first and the chief dignitaries of the said
church for the other three, the said function having been executed with
total solemnity and to the satisfaction of those interested, who continue
their travels2 with
the same good health they enjoy because of the good treatment they experience
from our (people). And now it has seemed (good) to me to notify Your
Excellency of the end of my obligation and to extend to those in my charge
the same kindness that has been shown to me 3.
Juan Bautista de Anza (rubric)
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1Having
spent the better part of the winter in Mexico City after his colonizing
expedition to California, Anza was now on his way back north. With
him were Chief Palma, his brother, and two other relatives, all Yuma Indians.
They had received catechism and were baptized in the cathedral in Mexico
City on 13 February, 1777, a few days prior to their departure for home.
2After
leaving Durango the party continued north to Horcasitas where they arrived
on May 20th. There Anza took command of all the troops in Sonora
and Captain Pedro Tueros of Altar took charge of the four Yumas.
He escorted them to Altar where four soldiers from Tubac continued their
escort to the Colorado River.
3Though
Bucareli was “disgusted” with the way Anza and Rivera y Moncada had acted
toward each other, he seems to never have taken any disciplinary action
of any kind in his dealings with the two men.