The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 105
382 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Revolt of the Pueblo Indians of New, Mexico in 1680 105
8. The Discovery of the Plot, and the Premature Uprising
Notwithstanding the strict secrecy that was enjoined upon the
bearers of the knotted cord, the plot was discovered on the 9th of
August, only two days before the uprising was to take place.
Davis says that "two days before the time fixed upon, two In-
dians of Tezuque went down to Santa Fe, and divulged the con-
spiracy to the Spanish governor. They were parties to it, but be-
trayed their country and the cause to the enemy."' In this state-
ment the writer has again conveyed a wrong impression, for the
two Indians of Tesuque did not voluntarily go down to Santa
Fe to divulge the plans of the allies. The facts in the case are
as follows: On August 9 Otermin learned from the Tanos, San
Marcos, and La Cidnega chiefs that two Indians named Catua
and Omtua had brought them the order to take part in the con-
templated revolt. Immediately upon learning this, Otermin de-
spatched the maestro de campo, Francisco Gomez Robledo, to
arrest Catua and Omtua, and by him on the same day they were
carried as prisoners before the Governor. Having been duly sworn
to tell the truth, these Indians stated all that they knew con-
cerning the revolt. They testified that two knots in a cord, which
signified the number of days that were to intervene before the re-
volt, had been given to them to carry in all secrecy to the Tanos,
San Marcos, and La Ci6nega chiefs; that with it they carried the
threat of the allies that any Indian or pueblo not taking part in
the revolt would be destroyed; and that the chiefs of some of the
pueblos had been unwilling to receive the message which they car-
ried. Concerning the causes of the revolt they stated that they
knew nothing, since they had not taken part in the councils of the
old men of the northern pueblos, where the plans for the revolt
were formulated.2
testified that when it was given to them it had only two knots. It is
reasonable to suppose, therefore, that for every day that passed while the
cord was in the process of circulation, one knot was taken out in order to
avoid confusion in the matter of the date. This last testimony of Catua
and Omtua also implies that a knot was not to be taken out by each
pueblo in sign of obedience, for there were yet to be visited three Tanos
pueblos and those of San Marcos and La Cifnega when Catua and Omtua
started on their mission from Tesuque, with only two knots in the cord.
"The Spanish Conquest of New Mexico, 290.
'Auto of Otermin, in Auttos tocantes, I.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912, periodical, 1912; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101056/m1/110/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.