Between the northern coast and the Province of Mechoacan, there is a certain tribe called Chichimecas.[1] They are a very barbarous people, and not so
Expedition
against the
Chichi-
mecas
intelligent as those of these provinces. I have, likewise, sent sixty horsemen, two hundred foot soldiers, and many native allies, against them, to discover the secrets of that province and its people. I have instructed them that, should they find the people there susceptible of civilisation and conversion to Our Faith, as these others have been, and showing a disposition for Your Majesty's service, to make some settlement in the country, and to bring them peaceably under the yoke of Your Majesty. But that if they did not find them as I have just said, but rebellious and disobedient, to make war on them and reduce them to slavery; for, there is nothing so superfluous in this country as those who refuse to acknowledge and serve Your Majesty. By making slaves of these barbarians, who are almost savages, Your Majesty will be served, and the Spaniards greatly benefited, as they will dig for gold, and perhaps through contact with us, some of them may save their souls.
I have learned that, in the midst of these Chichimecas, there are some thickly populated parts where there are large towns whose people live in the same manner as the Mexicans. Some of these towns have even been seen by Spaniards, and I am confident that the country will be settled, for I am assured that it abounds in silver mines.
About two months before leaving this capital for the
- ↑ The Chichimecas were the most ancient of Mexican nations, and were savages dwelling in caves, living by the chase, and having nothing of the Aztec civilisation, and yet, according to Motolinia (Toribio de Benevente) they were monogamists, sun-worshippers, and made no human sacrifices, their offerings being snakes and butterflies.
