146 PEST IN 1546 REVOLUTION COUNCIL OF BISHOPS. 



among the black slaves and the Tenochan and Tlaltelolcan Indians, 

 was detected through a negro. This menaced outbreak was soon 

 crushed by Mendoza, who seized and promptly executed the 

 ringleaders. 



A portion of the Visitador Sandoval's orders related to the convo- 

 cation of the Mexican bishops with a view to the spiritual welfare 

 of the natives, and the prelates were accordingly all summoned to 

 the capital, with the exception of the virtuous Las Casas, whose 

 humane efforts in behalf of the Indians, and whose efforts 

 to free them from the slavery of the repartimientos had sub- 

 jected him to the mortal hatred of the planters. The council 

 of ecclesiastics met ; but it is probable that their efforts were 

 quite as ineffectual as the humane decrees of the Emperor, and 

 that even in the church itself, there may have been persons 

 who were willing to tolerate the involuntary servitude of the natives 

 rather than forego the practical and beneficial enjoyment of estates 

 which were beginning to fall into the possession of convents and 

 monastaries on the death of pious penitents. 



Meanwhile the population of New Spain increased considerably, 

 especially towards the westward. It was soon perceived by Men- 

 doza that a single Audiencia was no longer sufficient for so 

 extended a country. He, therefore, recommended the appointment 

 of another, in Compostella de la Nueva Gallacia, and in 1547, the 

 Emperor ordered two letrados for the administration of justice in 

 that quarter. The ultimate reduction of the province of Vera-Paz 

 was likewise accomplished at this period. The benignant name 

 of " True Peace " was bestowed on this territory from the fact that 

 the inhabitants yielded gracefully and speedily to the persuasive 

 influence and spiritual conquest of the Dominican monks, and that 

 not a single soldier was needed to teach them the religion of Christ 

 at the point of the sword. 



During the two or three following years there was but little to 

 disturb the quietness of the colony, save in brief and easily sup- 

 pressed outbreaks among the Indians. Royal lands were divided 

 among poor and meritorious Spaniards ; property which was found 

 to be valueless in the neighborhood of cities was allowed to be 

 exchanged for mountain tracts, in which the eager adventurers 

 supposed they might discover mineral wealth ; and the valuable 

 mines of Tasco, Zultepec, and Temascaltepec, together with others, 

 probably well known to the ancient Mexicans, were once more 

 thrown open and diligently worked. 



The wise administration of the Mexican viceroyalty by Mendoza 



