Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/319

Rh all the regions occupied by the Spaniards north-west of Nueva Galicia, including also the Ávalos provinces, and at times Colima. It claimed jurisdiction as well over the north-western region of Coahuila and Texas, but the king's decision in 1679 was adverse to this pretension. It does not appear that the authority of the audiencia in Nueva Galicia differed in any respect from that in Nueva Vizcaya, although on account of distance and consequent expense, only cases of considerable importance came as a rule from the latter territory. The oidores of the audiencia were alcaldes in criminal proceedings, but had no voice in matters pertaining to war and exchequer; and after the time of Governor Ceballos, who ruled during the latter part of the seventeenth century, they lost the power of making higher appointments which originally they seem to have held. The president, who, as we have seen, was also political governor of Nueva Galicia, simply held the right of presiding over the