Copy Of Reports On The Expedition Of Capt. Martín Bueno Y Sancho To Reconnoiter The Territory Inhabited By The Choco Indians And Surrounding Areas
Resumen del Libro
Copy, dated Jan. 2, 1629 in Anserma, Colombia, of reports concerning the expedition led by Capt. Martín Bueno y Sancho to reconnoiter the lands of the Choco Indians in the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes, near Tatamá and the surrounding areas. In response to the order issued by Juan Bermúdez de Castro, governor of the province of Popayán, Cristóbal Sanchez, intendent and justicia mayor of Anserma, authorizes depositions from various members of the expedition, dated Dec. 30, 1628: Diego Ruiz de Alarcón, Martín del Pozo, Diego Bélez, Fulgencio Gómez, Francisco de Mena de la Fuente, Francisco Romero, Jacinto de Arboleda, and Marcos de Ayala. The group, consisting of 12 soldiers and 22 Indians porters, leaves Anserma in August 1628, and after 4 days travel, reaches the Choco settlements of Tatama and Morropa, where they spend 3 days. When Capt. Bueno prepares to continue onward, 5 Choco caciques offer him some 200 warriors and youths to take along, an offer which Bueno readily accepts. They journey 9 days–a distance of 50-60 leagues–to reach the land inhabited by hostile Citarás, many of whom are killed or captured by the Spaniards. The witnesses describe the Citará dwellings, called barbacoas, each of which houses 15-20 Indians and their families. At this point, the friendly Chocos refuse to go any further, as they are greatly outnumbered by hostile Indians. As the expedition heads homeward, 6 Chocos are wounded in a clash with the Citarás. When the wounded Chocos are returned to their village, Capt. Bueno rewards them by giving them the booty captured from the enemy. He and his men reach Anserma in mid-October, after a journey of 6 weeks. All witnesses agree that the region is very fertile, with abundant crops and rich gold deposits, which would yield great profits for the king. In addition, for the glory of the Catholic faith, the Indians should be pacified and Christianized. Depositions are recorded by notary public of Anserma, Francisco de…