340
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
me to come over here, I went to the mouth of Karankaway on the east side and along the bay in sight of the timber of Trespnlacios, and thence up that Creek on the west side in search of you or Selkerk, but seeing no smokes in that direction, I could not but conclude from the time that had elapsed, that something had prevented either of you from starting, and that you had abandoned the job. I was alone and on a borrowed mule, and thought it very doubtfull wheither I could get over at this place, and therefore struck a north cour~e for Alleys. On my arrival there I met Burnham, who inforn,cd me you was to stnrt_from here in a few days. I only remained three days at home, and then proceeded to the head of Trespalacios and followed it down untill I found Selkerk and Cook and directed them to stop at the west point of Trespalacios Ba.y, for I had left orders for Ingram to finish the east side of Karankaway. I expected to find you here, and that the whole meandering could be ploted in two or three days and the tracts all laid off on the map, after which they could have been run, but your absence has totally deranged_all my calculations, and compelled me to make new arrangements, for I must be at Brazoria on Sunday or Monday next. I wish you to make a connected plot of all the meanderings on a scale of 2000 varns to the inch, which is the scale used in all the work, and I will try and return here sometime in .May or June, or if you can send the plot up to the office I can there lay oiI the tracts as they are taken, for there is to be some quarters and some Leagues intermixed. I shall be at Brazoria about 10 days, from there to Galveston bay, by way of San Felipe, and thence up the Colorado above the San Antonio road, so that you sec I have work chalked for myself until June at least, nnd it is in fact quite doubt- ful whether I can be here again before next fall or winter. Another matter The families who came with you to the country have never been to the office. I know not where they all want their land, ever since the 20 of Novr last they were informed by my advertisement what they ought to do. they have neglected their own affairs and if they suffer for so doing, they can blame no one but themselves. I wrote you thnt all their business should be done without advancing one cent except the stamp paper which is fifty cents for each, so that they have no excuse. I will once more inform what they must do. They must each of them, (that is the heads of families) go in person to the office and there enter their names nnd a list of their families and each one must take the oath prescribed by law and procure a certificate of reception as settlers in my colony, and they must each of them state where they want their land and have an entry made of it. When this is done it can be surveyed and not before. This is too important
Powered by FlippingBook