A Harvest Of Reluctant Souls: The Memorial Of Fray Alonso De Benavides, 1630 Memorial. English

Nearly four hundred years old, this unique classic of Southwestern American history is now available in a modern translation to a wide reading public. Fray Alonso de Benavides, a Portuguese Franciscan and third head of the mission churches of New Mexico, published this highly engaging book in 1630 as his official report to the king of Spain. In 1625, Father Benavides and his party travelled north from Mexico City via creaking oxcart and mule back to reach the mission fields of New Mexico.A keen observer, Benavides described New Mexico as a strange land of frozen rivers, Indian citadels, and elusive mines full of silver and garnets. Benavides and his Franciscan brothers built schools, erected churches, engineered peace treaties, gazed in awe at endless miles of buffalo grazing placidly on the Great Plains, and were said to perform miracles. The most thorough and riveting account ever written of Southwestern life in the early seventeen century, "A Harvest of Reluctant Souls" is at once medieval and a tale of the Renaissance - a portrait of the Pueblos, the Apaches, and the Navajos at a time of fundamental change in their lives. Nearly Four Hundred Years Old, This Unique Classic Of Southwestern American History Is Now Available In A Modern Translation To A Wide Reading Public. Fray Alonso De Benavides, A Portuguese Franciscan And Third Head Of The Mission Churches Of New Mexico, Published This Highly Engaging Book In 1630 As His Official Report To The King Of Spain. In 1625, Father Benavides And His Party Traveled North From Mexico City Via Creaking Oxcart And Muleback To Reach The Mission Fields Of New Mexico. A Keen Observer, Benavides Described New Mexico As A Strange Land Of Frozen Rivers, Indian Citadels, And Elusive Mines Full Of Silver And Garnets. Benavides And His Franciscan Brothers Built Schools, Erected Churches, Engineered Peace Treaties, Gazed In Awe At Endless Miles Of Buffalo Grazing Placidly On The Great Plains, And Were Said To Perform Miracles. The Most Thorough And Riveting Account Ever Written Of Southwestern Life In The Early Seventeenth Century, A Harvest Of Reluctant Souls Is At Once Medieval And A Tale Of The Renaissance - A Portrait Of The Pueblos, The Apaches, And The Navajos At A Time Of Fundamental Change In Their Lives. The Nations That Live Along The Road To New Mexico -- The Mansa Nation Of The Río Del Norte -- The Beginning Of The Apache Nation -- The Province And Nation Of The Piros, Senecú, Socorro, And Sevilleta -- The Mines Of Socorro -- The Tiwa Nation -- The Queres Nation -- The Tompiro Nation -- The Tano Nation -- The Pecos Nation -- The Villa Of Santa Fé -- The Tewa Nation -- Jémez Nation -- The Picurís Nation -- The Taos Nation -- The Great Rock Of Acoma -- The Zuni Nation -- The Moqui (hopi) Nation -- The Rites Of These Heathens -- How Well They Take To Christian Practices -- What That Kingdom Owes To Your Majesty -- The Fertility Of Land -- Fish -- Game -- The Rigorous Climate -- The Great Apache Nation -- The Beginning Of The Conversion Of The Apaches -- The Conversion Of The Gila Apaches, And The Notable Hieroglyphic Of An Apache Captain -- The Conversion Of The Apaches De Navajó -- The Vaquero Apaches Of The Buffalo Herd -- The Miraculous Conversion Of The Human Nation -- The Kingdom Of Quivira And Aixoas -- The Holy Tasks With Which The Friars Keep Themselves Busy -- The South Coast -- The Valley Of Sonora (señora) -- Agastán -- Sibola (cibola) -- Tiguex -- A City -- Marvelous Great Rock -- Tuzayán -- Cicuyo (cicuye Or Pecos) -- Quivira. Translated And Edited By Baker H. Morrow. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 106-107) And Index.