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Biographical Notes
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Eusebio Francisco Kino
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Late in 1695 Kino wrote a book on Pimeria Alta and Father Saeta's death. His purpose was to support a request for more missionaries to help with the Pima people. After completing the manuscript he rode to Mexico City to lobby his cause in person. Arriving in January 1696 he met with senior civil and religious officials, including Viceroy Paredes, members of the Royal Audiencia, and the new father provincial. He succeeded in obtaining the promise of more missionaries and his explanation of events in the Pimeria Alta went some way to restoring the reputation of the Pima people among senior Spanish officials. He returned to Dolores in May 1696 and met with the principal Pima chiefs. Kino was back home and order was restored to Pimeria Alta.
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On February 5, 1697, the viceroy issued a license to Fathers Salvatierra and Kino to undertake the conversion of Baja California on two conditions - one that they do it at their own expense and two that the land be taken possession of in the King's name. The two men quickly raised the funds necessary and began making plans for their expedition. Almost immediately civil and military officials as well as some within the Jesuit order began arguing against Kino's departure from the Pimeria Alta. In the end it was decided that Father Salvatierra would go on to California without Kino. Father Kino returned to his travels and his efforts to expand Christianity among the peoples to the north and west. In the course of these travels he determined for the first time that California was not an island and suggested that the peninsula be named Baja California and the area above it Alta California. He continued too to think of California and to plan for ways that he could support Father Salvatierra's efforts there.
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In April 1700 Kino laid the corner stone for the mission at Bac. Shortly after that he requested and was given permission to transfer from Dolores to Bac. Permission was at first granted but not later implemented. Kino remained assigned to Dolores. During the remainder of his life he continued to support the Jesuit missions in California and expanded the mission structure in Pimeria Alta. In 1765, Kino's friend, Father Salvatierra became father provincial for all of New Spain. Kino was named Procurator of Pimeria Alta. In 1706 Kino again visited the Gulf coast. This time he took several important civil officials with him to verify his contention that California was a peninsula.
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Late in 1706, Kino's old comrade, Manje, now a general, wrote a book which severely criticized the Jesuits. There were a number of charges but the basic charge was that the Jesuit missions controlled too much land and protected the Indians from being used as forced labor in the mines and on the ranches. The book caused quite a stir and the Jesuits complained vigorously. Manje was arrested but later released. Sometime later his book was revised to remove the harshest criticism and things returned to normal. This episode highlighted a continuing struggle between the missionaries and the colonists. The one wanting to protect their converts and the other wanting to benefit from their labor.
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During his lifetime Kino wrote voluminously and drew a number of important maps of present day Baja California, northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. From these writings it can be seen that Kino had a broad view of the importance of his work in Pimeria Alta. He was an optimist and hoped one day to be able to convert "even" the Apache to Christianity. He saw his work as being part religious and part civil. Simultaneously spreading Christianity and civilization among the "heathen." His fifty some explorations and the maps that resulted therefrom helped define a previously unknown region of the world. The business endeavors associated with his missions provided the foundation for much of the agriculture and ranching that still exists in the area today.
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Father Eusebio Francicso Kino died in Magdalena on March 5, 1711. He had ridden to Magdalena from Dolores to dedicate the chapel to his patron saint. He was buried under the chapel floor there.
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