of the pacified tribes, who under similar circumstances had hitherto been treated like brutes. It was also remarked that although he divided lands among Spaniards and Indians, none were reserved for himself.
Thus the wild regions of Sierra Gorda were finally brought under Spanish rule, without much bloodshed, and without any of the revolting incidents usually attending the conquest of new territory. In consideration of his services Escandon was made count of Sierra Gorda, and his achievements paved the way for the conquest of Tamaulipas, where still greater laurels were in store for him.[1]
The same causes which led to the final pacification of Sierra Gorda and the subjugation of the Nayarits, ultimately led to the conquest of the gulf region stretching from Pánuco north to the Rio Bravo del Norte. Here, as elsewhere, the Indians were driven to revolt by a series of outrages committed on them by squatters, robbers, kidnappers, and slave-traders.[2] During and subsequent to the operations of Escandon, various proposals were made to the central government at Mexico, and to the crown,[3] for the extension of Spanish settlements in Tamaulipas. No decision was arrived at, however, till 1746, under the rule of Revilla Gigedo, when a council of war held for the purpose intrusted the enterprise to Escandon, who was now universally recognized as a man of consummate
- ↑ In 1767 there were nine Indian towns in Sierra Gorda, with an average of over 1,700 families. Soreaino, Prologo, 2. Most of these were founded by Escandon at the time of the pacification. For further details concerning Sierra Gorda affairs see Ordenes de la Corona, MS., iv. 67-70; N. Mex., Cédulas, MS., 250-8, 268-81; Arlegui, Cron. Zac., 122-3; Frejes, Hist. Brev., 238-40; Tamaul., Conversiones, in Maltrat. Ind., no. 20, 1-5; Guijo, Diar., Doc. Hist. Mex., la ser., i. 330, 362; Prieto, Hist. Tamaul., 60-1, 71-8, 101-2; Zamacois, Hist. Méj., v. 373-4,570, 575.
- ↑ A royal cédula for the protection of the Tamaulipas Indians was issued May 25, 1689. Ordenes de la Corona, MS., iv. 67-70. See also Tamaul., Conversiones, in Maltrat. Ind., no. 20, 1-5.
- ↑ Notably by Ladron de Guevara, whose conditions were very extravagant, and excited suspicion concerning his ultimate object in regard to the natives. N. Mex., Cédulas, MS., 250-8.
