"Desfiguro de naturaleza": los nobles de Ocozocuautla y los laboríos del Valle de Xiquipilas en 1741

Abstract

The General Archives of Central America contain documents from Ocoaocuautla, Chiapas, one of its parts is a petition signed in 1747 by five "caciques" of the name De Velasco, asking for them and their descendants the exention to pay the Royal Tribute. To support their claim, they present a family history and information about the neighboring town of San Pedro Xiquipilas. Since the tribute to be payed was very high, the family claimed that they were not indians from a biological or cultural point of view, which was known at the time as a desfiguro de naturaleza. The second part of the document gives an insight of the population dynamics of both towns.