Tlie Begiunings of Civilized Life in Texas, 1731-1745
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so poor that they were a disgrace. He warned Costales that the men stationed at La Bahia were not to be used as mule drivers or as private herders, implying that the captain was committing this breach of the ordinance of presidios. "The soldiers under your command," he said, "are not slaves." If conditions were not remedied he would report the whole matter to the viceroy. 22 But in 1736 the attempt to build the dam across the Guadalupe and construct irrigation ditches was abandoned. The mission Indians tried dry fanning and this proved so successful that an abundant crop of corn was harvested. From this year on, until the mission was again moved in 1749, it became no longer necessary for the neophytes to abandon the mission for lack of food. They could now live under the care of the missionaries the whole year, and under their direction rapid progress with the natives was made in their conversion and instruction in the habits and customs of civilized life. Before dry farming was attempted, a small herd of cattle had been secured, which rapidly grew and multi- plied. Every year was not so successful and there is plenty of evidence of times when nothing was harvested either because of excessive rains, or floods, or droughts; but the cautious Padres took care to store the surplus corn of good years and this proved sufficient to carry them through the lean ones. 23 By 1737, Mission Espiritu Santo had acquired a respectable herd of cattle. It is gathered from a letter of Governor Franquis, who asked Father Fray Andres Aragon to sell him one hundred head at seven pesos each to send to Los Adaes. He adds that he could perhaps purchase the cattle in Natchitoches, but he prefers that the money stay in the hands of the Spaniards rather than that it should go to foreigners. If the mission could not spare that many, he would be glad to get as many as were possible.i. At this time a missionary from Zacatecas had arrived to replace Father Fray Cosme Borruel, who was stationed at San Jose. The new missionary informed Governor Franquis that a train of supplies for the Zacatecan missions had arrived at San Juan Bautista on the Rio Grande, where 22Governor Franquis to Captain Costales, July 16, August 4 1 17 37. A. G. M., Historia, vol. 524, pt. 3, pp. 704-707. "Fray Ignacio Antonio Ciprian to the Commissary General, October 2:1, 17 49 .
San Francisco ,z Grand, Arclliv,, vol. 5, pp. 41-46. 24 Governor Franquls to Fray Andres Aragon, July 16
1 1737. A. G. M., Historia,
vol. 524, pt. 3, pp. 734-35.
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