laborers, was a heavy one. Many held the position of caciques by their own assumption, without being the rightful heirs of deceased chiefs. As a matter of fact many of the old lords and chiefs had died, since the Spanish conquest, leaving no succession. Others had become rulers by the favor of the friars or corregidores, who had made them governors, alcaldes, or sheriffs; and as soon as an Indian began to hold such an office he called himself a chief. The next year another set would be created, and this was continued from year to year till the number had so multiplied that about one fourth of the native population called themselves principales, or chiefs. Cortés brought the subject to the attention of the crown with the addition that these self-constituted caciques, having the rod of power in their hands, had seized a large portion of the taxable lands, claiming them as patrimonial, and settled on them native rent-payers, from whom they exacted high rents besides the royal tribute of one dollar, and a half fanega of maize.[1]
Had the yearly tribute been no more than this, the burden might easily have been borne; but as a matter of fact the natives had many burdens laid upon them, such as personal labor, providing firewood, and supplying fodder for animals. The king, the communes, the friars, and the head-men who ruled the towns, all were entitled to a share. The exactions other than crown receipts were called "sobras de tributos y bienes de comunidad," and at one time were no less than 300,000 pesos, and together with personal service were pure imposition on the macehuales. They had, moreover, to serve for nothing whenever the authorities
- ↑ The marqués del Valle urged the discontinuance of the system. The real old chiefs might, however, have their pillalli, or patrimonial lands, cultivated by fairly paid native laborers. Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iv. 449-51. In time many macehuales deserted their lords, which the Spanish court discountenanced. Oct. 20, 1568, it ordered that such deserters should be restored to their natural caciques. However, in 1628 and 1654 royal orders were issued to investigate false titles and set such aside, to protect the rightful caciques in their privileges, and at the same time relieve the plebeians from unjust burdens. No mestizo could become a cacique; a law of 1576 expressly forbade it. Zamora, Leg. Ult., ii. 153.
