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Tlie Beginnings of Civilized Life in Texas, 17p-1745
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In order to prove his contention, he requested that an investigation be held and witnesses be called to give testimony on each and every one of the points stressed by the collector of tithes for Coahuila in justification of his demands. A number of witnesses were accordingly called, among them, Nicolas Maldonado, sergeant, one of the first settlers of San Juan Bautista; Francisco Salinas, who had resided for thirty-five years in the presidio; Diego Ramon, who had lived there since its establishment, and Joseph Menchaca. The witnesses agreed that the herds of cattle were not the property of the missionaries or the missions but of the mission Indians for whose benefit they were administered. They testified that in the last few years the herds had been severely hit by the Apaches who had greatly reduced their numbers. As to horses and mules they said there were only a few mules and a small drove of about sixty horses. With regard to the crops raised in the missions, they declared that they were the property of the Indians, as in the case of the herds; that from year to year there were hardly enough raised to feed the neophytes; and that it was publicly known that for several years beans had to be brought from Saltillo, because enough were not raised for the consumption of the Indians. Speaking of the sale of cattle, the witnesses declared that the only time small droves had been sent out was in 1731 to help the new missions which had just been moved from East Texas to the San Antonio; that on various occasions since that time cattle had been sent to relieve the Indians of San Antonio. Some cattle had also been sent, they said, to Monclova in exchange for flour and wine for the celebration of the Mass. At times cattle had been furnished to the Presidio of San Juan Bautista in exchange for clothing or tools for the Indians of the missions. It was generally agreed that these missions had never paid tithes in the past. In regard to the stage of progress of the Indians and their ability to manage their own affairs, the witnesses testified that although the missions had originally been founded in 1698, the Indians congregated and taught were constantly changing, many of them running away and new ones being brought to replace them. Furthermore on two occasions, the missions had been moved after being in part destroyed by Indian attacks, so that it could not be said that they were forty years old. The Indians living in the missions were incapable of governing their own affairs in the opinion of all the witnesses, who declared that if they were left to themselves
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