During 1869, owing to drought, the corn crop, forming the staple of food for the masses, was very small, and the people suffered greatly. Agriculture was, generally speaking, in a deplorable state, resulting from the twenty years' struggle, which required a large portion of the population to be constantly on the frontier watching the Indians. However, in the region free from Indian depredations henequen was cultivated on a large scale, and quite profitably, promising to become a source of wealth.[1] The war of races continued without the hostile Indians manifesting any disposition to submit, or even to treat with the government.[2]
Other states were also the victims of hostile Indians. Nuevo Leon was often raided by wild Indians from the United States.[3] Chiapas suffered from a war of castes;[4] the national congress and executive at once resolved to aid the state with arms and money.[5] Indian troubles continued, however, for a long time afterward. The frontier states of Chihuahua and Sonora continued to be the tramping-ground of the relentless Apaches.
A pronunciamiento took place at Puebla, headed by Miguel Negrete, who had been in concealment in
- ↑ There were in the state 1,145 haciendas, 363 ranchos, 831 sitios and parages, 117,668 head of cattle, 16,251 horses, etc.; 96 estates had been destroyed since 1862, and 39 new ones made. The estimated value of agricultural property was $1,568,717. Yuc. Exped. Visita Ofic., 5, 6, 15-17, 27.
- ↑ In the latter part of 1871 some chiefs were murdered, being suspected by their people of a wish to tender their submission to the government. El Monitor Rep., Jan. 7, 10, 1872.
- ↑ One of the many invasions was that of the Kickapoos in 1869, when the Posa rancho was assaulted by them. Méx., Informe Comis. Pesquis., 1874, 52-61, and ap. xxii.-xxvi., xlviii.-ix.; Mex., Rept Mex. Border Comm., 307-18; Diario Ofic., March 20, 1969.
- ↑ Two of their chiefs were captured and shot. About 7,000 Indians were dispersed on the 7th of July, 1869, by 350 government troops. The rebels were again defeated with heavy loss, at Puntehuitz, Nov. 13, 1869. El Derecho, iii. 111-12; Diario Ofic., Dec. 10, 1569; El Monitor, Aug. 14, 1869; El Occidental, Aug. 4, 11, 25, Sept. 1, 29, Oct. 20, 27, 1869.
- ↑ Six hundred muskets and $3,000 monthly to be exclusively used for defence against the Indians. II., Oct. 30, 1999; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., x. 743; La Estrella de Occid., Dec. 24, 1869.
kabá. The state government had but few serviceable arms; but in Sept. the national executive contributed troops and money. Diario Ofic., March 27, Aug. 7, Oct. 2, 1869; El Monitor, July 9, 1869; Diario Debates, 5° Cong., i. 46.
