Our Catl,olic Heritage in Texas
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reside until missions were organized. From every Indian pueblo the natives agreed to bring two boys, ten years old, to San Francisco, who were to live with the padres in order to learn the doctrina and be able to help the missionaries in their work later. Trasvina left at San Francisco as much flour, lard, meat, soap, tobacco, snuff, writing paper, wine and wax as he could spare from his supplies. The climate at La Junta appeared to be pleasant, the valleys were fertile, and the land seemed to be very well adapted for grazing. Although indications of mineral deposits were observed in the vicinity, Trasvina did not think a mining town could be established because of the lack of woods. Upon his return to the Real de San Francisco de Cuellar he found that Fray Raymundo Gras, who was supposed to have accompanied him but had been detained on account of sickness, was now well and anxious to join his companions at La Junta. Trasvina recommended that Fray Gras be sent to La Junta with three more missionaries, because the number of Indians was such that six padres were required to care for them. To insure the success of the work of the missionaries it would be necessary to send some cattle, seed, and clothing for the natives in addition to the necessary bells and other church equipment. Each pueblo should be allowed one hundred head of cattle and one hundred sheep and goats. He suggested that Chief Antonio de la Cruz, a native of La Junta, who had proved his loyalty to the Spaniards on many occasions, should be appointed governor of the eight pueblos and allowed a salary sufficient to enable him to keep the horses necessary to visit the pueblos. At the request of Trasvina Retis, Fathers Fray Gregorio Osorio and Fray Juan Antonio Garcia publicly acknowledged the diligence and generosity with which he had carried out the instructions of the viceroy. Throughout the trip he evinced the greatest solicitude for the welfare of the padres and the success of the enterprise. The two lonely missionaries continued to labor with astounding tenacity and fortitude in the face of great obstacles, and through their efforts they founded and served inter- mittently six missions on the Texas side in the vicinity of present Presidio. Native revolts forced them to abandon the missions on various occasions and some of them fell into ruins as will be shown in the course of this chapter. Renewed interest in La Junta. As early as 1726 Brigadier Don Pedro de Rivera, who made a general inspection of the frontier outposts from the Pacific coast to Texas, called the attention of the viceroy to the urgent need of a presidio or fort between La Junta de los Rios (Presidio) and
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