CHAPTER XVIII.
PROGRESS IN NUEVO LEON, AND CONQUEST OF SIERRA GORDA AND TAMAULIPAS.
1601-1803.
Governors Agustin de Zavala, Juan Ruiz, and Martin de Zavala — Congregas — Uprising of Natives — And Final Subjection — Political Division — Secularization of Missions — And Consequent General Insurrection — Governor Barbadillo — His Prudent Measures — More Difficulties — Population of Province — Sierra Gorda — Death of Zaraza — Governor José de Escandon — His Pacification and Conquest of Sierra Gorda — Condition of Tamaulipas — Escandon is Appointed Governor — He Founds Nuevo Santander — Numerous Towns and Missions are Founded — Statistics for 1757 — General Progress of the Colonies.
At the close of the sixteenth century Nuevo Leon, as will be remembered, was ruled by the lieutenant-governor, Diego de Montemayor. The records tell us little or nothing about the progress of the country during his term of office, and after 1611 his name disappears. It is uncertain whether he left the province or died there, and only the names of his two sons, Diego and Miguel, are mentioned. Meanwhile, the Spanish settlers seem to have increased in number, spreading toward the adjoining province of Coahuila, where an active trade was carried on with the aborigines. From this time also until 1628,[1] when Martin de Zavala was appointed to office, nothing worthy of note is recorded concerning the province. This ruler
- ↑ In 1613 Agustin de Zavala appears upon the scene as governor, appointed by Viceroy Guadalcázar. He is said to have been a wise ruler, his prudent measures serving to check the occasional aggressions of the natives. He was succeeded in 1625 by lieutenant-governor and captain-general Juan Ruiz, attorney of the audiencia of Mexico.
