CHAPTEK V. 

 1589—1607. 



luis de velasco the second becomes viceroy. de- 

 light of the mexicans. factories reopened chichi- 



mecas colonization. alameda indians taxed for 



european wars. composition fowls acebedo vice- 

 roy. expedition to new mexico. indian ameliorations. 



death of philip ii. new scheme of hireing indians. 



california. montesclaros viceroy. inundation. 



albarrada. 



Don Luis de Velasco, — the Second, — Conde de Santiago, 

 VIII. Viceroy of New Spain. 



1589 — 1595. 



Luis de Velasco, Count de Santiago, was the son of the 

 second viceroy of New Spain, and during the administration of his 

 father, as well as for some years afterwards, had resided in Mexico 

 where he filled several offices, and especially that of corregidor of 

 Zempoala. He was not on friendly terms with the last viceroy, 

 Zuniga, for he had suddenly quitted New Spain in the same vessel 

 that brought his predecessor to America. Upon his arrival at the 

 Spanish court he was sent as ambassador to Florence ; and the 

 exaggerated news of the supposed civil war in Mexico having been 

 received just as he returned from his mission, Philip determined 

 to send him back to New Spain. This decision was, no doubt, 

 founded upon Velasco's intimate acquaintance with Mexico and its 

 people, with whom his interests had been so long bound up that 

 he might almost be regarded as a native of the country. 



On the 25th of January, 1590, Velasco entered the capital with 

 more pomp and rejoicing than had ever attended the advent of 

 previous viceroys, for the Mexicans looked upon him as a country- 

 man. As soon as he was seated in power his first acts demon- 



