WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA I27 



356. 



In the benefice of Ichmul, which belonged to the Franciscan friars, and where 

 there is a convent, there are 7 villages and in them over 2,800 persons under 

 confessional instruction administered by 2 priests 2,800 



In the circuit of Sotuta there are 4 villages with over 2,000 persons under 

 confessional instruction administered by Father Diego Velasquez, son of a 

 pioneer and well versed in the Indian language 2,000 



In the benefice of Yaxcaba, where there are 4 villages with over 2,000 persons 

 under religious instruction, the curate is Juan Alvarez de Gamboa, B. A., 

 grandson of a pioneer and well versed in the native tongue 2,000 



In the benefice of Peto there are 4 villages with over 1,800 persons under 

 confessional instruction administered by Licentiate Batazar de Herrera, well 

 versed in the native tongue 1,800 



In the port and town of Campeche, i curate and vicar has under his charge 

 2 villages, and the Spaniards' servants, whom they call navorios in this country ; 

 there are over 1,000 persons under confessional instruction 1,000 



357. 



In the town of Valladolid, Spanish settlement, there are 2 curates, who have 

 under their charge 7 villages with more than 3,000 persons under confessional 

 instruction 3,ooo 



Father Ortega, grandson of a pioneer, is curate for the Indians on the island 

 of Cozumel, where there are more than 800 persons under confessional instruc- 

 tion; their tribute is turned over by His Majesty to the curate in return for 

 their instruction 800 



Father Gregorio Rodriguez is the curate for the outer wards of the city of 

 Merida and the villages of Santiago, Santa Ana, Santa Lucia, and San Juan, 

 in which there are over 1,500 persons under confessional instruction; he is well 

 versed in the native tongue 1,500 



In the town of Bacalar, Spanish settlement, and in its district, which covers 

 80 leagues, there are 6 small villages with 600 persons under confessional instruc- 

 tion and only i curate 600 



In the town of Tabasco and in the villages of its district there are 7 more 

 priests, ecclesiastics, and curates for Spaniards and Indians ; there are over 

 3,000 persons under confessional instruction 3,000 



358. In the Cathedral of Merida there are 2 curates. There is 

 another ctirate for the Negroes and mulattoes of the city of Merida, 

 both free and slave. 



There is in this city of Merida a professorial Chair of Latin, 

 taught by Juan Alonso de Lara, B.A., son of a pioneer ; he has 500 

 l^esos' income from a chaplaincy, with obligation to teach this Latin 

 course. 



There is a vicar for the nuns, viz. Father Flores Moran. 



Father Ruiz is Chaplain to the Governor of the province. 



Father Recalde is Sacristan of the church of Valladolid. Besides 

 them there are 8 other clerics in the city without occupation ; so that 



