540 INDIAN LAND CESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES (eth ann. 18 



not molested uor injured in their person or jiroperty ; We coiuniaiid that in all cases, 

 and on all ofcasions, when it shall be jjroposed to institute an inquiry, whether any 

 injury is to accrue to any person in conseiinence of auy grant of land, whether for 

 tillage, pasture, or other purposes, the Viceroys, Presidents, and Judges shall cause 

 summonses to be directed to all persons whom it may really concern, and to the 

 Attorneys of our Royal Audiences, wherever Indians may be interested, in order 

 that all and every person may take such measures as may he expedient to })rotect 

 his rights against all injuries which might result therefrom. — Lib. JI, tit. IS, law 36, 



' vol. I, p. il~. 



Whereas some grazing farms, owned by Spaniards for the use of their cattle, have 

 been productive of injury to the Indians, by being located upon their lands, or very 

 near their fields and settlements, whereby said cattle eat and destroy their produce 

 and do them other damage: We command that the Judges who shall examine the 

 lands, malvi' it their duty to visit such farms, without previous request to do so, and 

 ascertain whether any injury accrues therefrom to the Indians or their property; 

 and, if so. that, after due notice to the parties interested, they forthwith, and Dy sum- 

 mary or legal process, according as they may think most tit, remove them to some 

 other place without damage or prejudice to any third person. — Lih. II, tit. 31, law 

 IS, rol. I, ]i. 48J. 



Should the natives attempt to oppose the settlement [of a colony], they shall be 

 given to understand that the intention in forming it, is to teach them to know God 

 and His holy law, by which they are to be saved; to preserve friendship with them, 

 and teach them to live in a civilized state, and not to do them any harm or take 

 from them their settlements. They shall be convinced of tiiis by mild means, 

 through the interference of religion and priests, aud of other persons appointed by 

 the Governor, by means of interpreters, and by endeavoring by all possible good 

 means, that the settlement may be made in peace and with their consent; and if, 

 notwithstanding, they do withhold their consent, the settlers, after having notified 

 them jiursiiant to Law 9, Tit. 4, Lib. 3, shall proceed to make their settlement with- 

 out taking any thing that may belong to the Indians, and without doing them any 

 greater damage than shall be necessary for tho protection of the settlers aud to 

 remove obstacles to the settlement. — Xifc. IT, til. 7, law 23, vol. 11, j). 24. 



We command that the farms and lands which may be granted to Spaniards, be so 

 granted without prejudice to the Indians; aud that such as may have been granted 

 to their prejudice and injury be restored to whoever they of right shall belong. — 

 Lib. IV, til. 12, law 0, vol. II, p. 41. 



In order to avoid the inconveniences and damages resulting from the sale or gift to 

 Spaniards of caballcrias or peonias, and other tracts of land, to the prejudice of the 

 Indians, upon the suspicious testimony of witnesses, we order and command, that all 

 sales or gifts shall be made before the Attorneys of our IJoyal Audiencias, to be sum- 

 moucd for that jiurpose, who shall be bound to examine, with due care aud diligence, 

 the character and depositions of witnesses ; and the Presidents and Audiences, where 

 they shall administer the government, shall give or grant such lands Ijy the advice 

 of the Board of Treasury, where it .shall appear that they belong to us, at auction, 

 to the highest bidder, as other estates of ours, and always with an eye to the benefit 

 of the Indians. And where the grant or sale shall be made by the Viceroys, it is our 

 will that none of the officers above mentioned shall interfere. Upon tho letters 

 which shall be granted to the parties interested, they shall sue out conlirmations 

 within the usu.al time prescribed in cases of grants of Indians \_incomieiida8 de 

 Ii)(lios].—Lib. IV, tit. 12, law 16, vol. II, p. 43. 



In order more etiectually to favor the Indians, aud to prevent their receiving any 

 injury, we command that no composition sliall Ije admitted of lauds which Spaniards 

 shall have acquired from Indians, in violation of our royal letters aud ordinances, 

 aud which shall be held upon illegal titles: it being our will that the Attorneys- 

 Protectors should proceed according to right and justice, as required by letters aud 



