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the most exposed, remained unprotected. But it was expected that the military colonies would soon attract civil settlers, and as these grew stronger the former might push onward to form fresh outposts and nuclei for settlement. This expectation received an unlooked for and most welcome response in the application for land by several hundred Seminole and other peaceful agricultural Indians from the United States, who were received with open arms and rendered good service against savage invaders.^[1] A similar system of colonies was applied to maintain in subjection the rebellious Indians of Sierra Gorda, centring in Querétaro, and to set them a good example in agricultural development. Success attended both aims; and in 1851 there were three flourishing settlements, embracing 250 soldiers and over 2,200 other settlers, with schools and rapidly unfolding home comforts.^[2]

y Dec., 1850, i. 138-42. For further authorities and particulars, I refer to Hist. North Mex. States, ii., this series.

1. The applicants consisted of 309 Seminoles, Quicapos, and Mascogos, including families. The Quicapos alone deserted. Derecho Intern. Mex., iii. 496-9.
2. The three colonies were Santa Rosa Uraga, established in June 1851 near Iacala, and numbering at the end of the year 438 souls; Arista, founded in April 1851, near Jalpan, and numbering 450 souls; San Ciro de Albercas, 20 leagues from Arista and 14 from Rio Verde, founded a little earlier and containing 1,603 persons. They were known as the Mexico, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí colonies, respectively; a fourth was needed in the Guanajuato part of the mountains to complete the line. Méx., Mem. Guer., 1850, 18-19, docs 6-7; Id., 1851, 25-6, doc. 5; Id., 1852, 58-63, docs 3-4. They were established in accordance with a decree of Oct. 26, 1849. Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1849, 275-89. Further regulations in Id., 1851, 269-76; 183, 355-68; Arrilaga, Recop., 1849-50, 152-9; Mil., Reglam., 1-15. The decree of July 25, 1851, for placing four colonies on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, was hampered by a lack of funds and by local outbreaks. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., vi. 101-5; Méx., Reglam. Colon. Mil., 1-31; Pap. Var., cxiv. pt 8; Universal, Oct. 14, 1849.