Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
166
stated that the principal industry of this community was cattle raising; that there were twenty-five families with over one hundred persons; that thirteen of these had been brought by Vasquez Borrego and twelve by his son-in-law, Juan Antonio Vidaurri; and that there being no resident priest, the settlers and Indians congregated here were administered by Father Fray Miguel de Santa Maria de los Dolores in charge of Revilla. There were at this time twenty-seven Indian families with one hundred and fifteen persons, who were fairly well instructed. Speaking of the significance of Dolores, Escandon declared that it had encouraged the other settlements along the Rio Grande, such as Revilla. Mier, Camargo, and Reynosa, to occupy the lands north of the Rio Grande which would ultimately result in the settlement of the entire country to the Nueces and the Presidio of La Bahia. By 1757, when Tienda de Cuervo made his formal inspection, Dolores had thirty families with over one hundred persons. But it was far from being even a hamlet. The houses of the settlers were typical ranch huts made of brush, plastered with mud and thatched with grass. There were twenty jacales in all. There was no church or chapel and services were held in a temporary bower erected when Fray Miguel de Santa Maria visited the hacienda. This was usually right after Easter each year, when he would come and stay for a month at Dolores. Vasquez Borrego paid the good friar for his services. When it was necessary for him to come to tend to the sick, he was generally paid by the party calling him. There were no Indians at this time. The twenty-seven families originally congregated had remained for five years, kept at the expense of Vasquez Borrego who furnished them meat, corn, clothes, and a teacher to instruct them in the doctrina and the ways of civilized life. Only two old Indians remained. But in the vicinity lived the Carrizos, Borrados, and Tepemacas, friendly tribes who did not bother the settlers nor their herds. The chief importance of this establishment was declared to be its strategic location on the new route to Texas and La Bahia. Agustin Lopez de la Camara Alta in his report of 1758 described Dolores as being located on high but level ground on the north bank of the river, about ten leagues from Laredo. The surrounding country he described as rolling, with sparse timber, abundant grass, and little water, well adapted for the raising of cattle. He characterized the land as "cattle and stockmen's paradise." There were by actual count three thousand
., l- ., '
I •
Powered by FlippingBook