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144 j C H A P T E R S I X T Y- S E V E N The Governor Orders Captain Mendoza to Search for Provisions After the Governor understood the situation with the Indian chiefs of Puerto Reyes, he called together all the local officials , clerics, captains, and other persons of some experience to ask their counsel and opinions regarding what he should do. The people in the place were begging for a morsel to eat, the Governor had nothing to give them, and they were ready to scatter off into the interior to find something to devour. With the officials and clerics assembled, he said, “You’ve seen the hard need and hunger here, very widespread, that our colonists are suffering . I must expect nothing less than wholesale death if the order is not given very soon to come up with some kind of remedy. I’ve been told that some Indians called the Arianicosies have provisions. Can you give me your opinion about what you think I should do?” The assembly thought the Governor should send the greater part of the population to the Indian towns, as much to let them get something to eat right away and save themselves as to buy provisions. “Then the people we send out should bring back food to those who have remained behind with you in Puerto Reyes,” they said. “And if the Indians do not want to part with any provisions that we pay for, we should take them by force. Furthermore, if the Indians try to resist these actions we should attack them until they give us what we need. Our need is enormous: everyone is dying of hunger, and we would snatch food off an altar if it came to that.” They issued this opinion signed with their names. So it was agreed to send out Captain Mendoza to search for provisions , with these instructions: “Captain Gonzalo de Mendoza, you’re about to visit a number of towns in your search for supplies to sustain our people and keep them The Governor Orders Captain Mendoza to Search for Provisions j 145 from dying of hunger. As you negotiate for rations, what you must do is pay the Socorinos and Sococies to their satisfaction. You must do the same with the other Indians in the surrounding territories and tell them on my behalf that I am amazed they have not yet come to see me as have all the other tribes of the area. Tell them I have heard that they are good people, and that’s why I would like to see them and make them my friends. When they come, I’ll have presents for them from my own possessions. “They also need to come and declare their obedience to His Majesty, as all their neighbors have done. If they will do that, I will favor them and assist them against anyone who may be angry with them. “You must exercise the greatest discretion and care with our friends, the Indians who accompany you in your task. You cannot allow them to enter the houses of the Indians you visit nor commit violence of any kind against them. They cannot mistreat them in any way. As you think about giving the people you visit trinkets or trade goods, or if they give you something, pay them until they are happy. That way, they’ll have nothing to complain about. “Once you arrive in their towns, ask the Indians to give you provisions out of their stores to feed your own people. Do offer to pay them; ply them with sweet words. If they aren’t inclined to give you anything, ask them again, once, twice, or three times. Or more than that—however many times you believe you must. Keep on offering to pay them. If they still are not forthcoming, you must take what you need by force. And if they arm themselves for defense, by all means attack them. Our overwhelming hunger will suffer nothing else. “Remember this: in everything that may happen in this endeavor you need to conduct yourself with the sort of moderation that suits our service to God and His Majesty. “And so, I place my confidence in you as a servant of His Majesty.” ...

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