175
Escandon and Settlement of Lower Rio Grande, 1738-1779
an annual visit to Laredo, for which he was paid the equivalent of thirty pesos in kind by the settlers. "The residents living here," said Tienda de Cuervo, "desire an ecclesiastical minister to attend them, of which they are in need. Since with their limited means they cannot afford to maintain one, they request that this spiritual comfort be supplied to them by the king.... I believe that a priest could be found to take charge of the administration of this villa and that of Dolores for the remuneration of the first fruits and perquisites which these two towns would pay him, since both are now obliged to pay, when they resort to the religious of Revilla for Viaticum, burials, baptisms, and annual communion." 47 But nothing was done to remedy the deplorable situation for several years. The chief Indian nations in the neighborhood were the Carrizos (Bamboos) and the Borrados (Grays), who had their rancleerias about twenty leagues away, but were friendly and frequently visited Laredo. Another nation which in this early year was friendly to the struggling settlement was the Apaches. These Indians were said to be frequent visitors, but they do not appear to have troubled either the settlers or their herds. Lopez de la Camara Alta in 1758 described Paso de Jacinto as being just above the Villa de Laredo. It could be forded when the river was not high, the water coming up to the edge of the saddle on horses. Three leagues downstream to the east was another crossing called Don Miguel or Garza, where the river was wider and shallower, permitting small stock such as sheep and goats to ford. "This town is important," he declared, "and should be increased in size as a means of communication between the interior provinces and Texas." He pointed out that there were roads leading to San Antonio de Bejar, Monclova, Dolores, La Bahia, and Revilla. It was sixty leagues to Santa Dorotea or La Bahia, the route followed being five leagues to La Becerra, five to El Pato, four to Salado, four to Cajeta, six to San Jose, six to El Mesquite, and six to the crossing on the Nueces, making a total of thirty-six to the Nueces. Hence eight to Agua Dulce, eight to Arroyo de las Mujeres, and eight to Santa Dorotea or La Bahia.' 8 Temporary appointment of a parish priest, 1759-61. The deplorable spiritual conditions of Laredo were vividly revealed by the Bishop of ' 7 Descripcion de las poblaciones ... in op. cit., XV, 124-125. 48 Agustin Lopez de la Camara Alta, Descripcio11 Gen,ral, in A. G. ,JI., Historia, vol. 53, pp. 143-145.
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