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E xploratio11s and Settlements A long tlze Rio Grande
themselves. He, therefore, organized a parish for them and placed it under a secular priest. 33 Much more detailed and interesting is the account left us by Bishop Pedro Tamar6n of Durango, who visited the place in 1760. After saying that the establishment included a presidio and a large settlement of Spaniards, mestizos, and Indians under the protection of Nuestra Senora del Pilar y Senor San Jose, he explained that the spiritual adminis- tration was under the care of two religious of St. Francis from the Provincia del Santo Evangelio of Mexico. One was the Cttstodio of New Mexico, who was prelate of all the missionaries of that province and resided here. The other was the curate of the settlement. He was assisted by two secular priests, one of whom was vicar and ecclesiastical judge. The bishop, however, appointed the Custodio to this office during his visitation. In the Spanish settlement proper (present Juarez) there were three hundred and fifty-four families of Spaniards and gente de rm:on (others besides Indians) with a total of two thousand four hundred and seventy-nine persons, and seventy-two families of Indians with two hundred and forty-nine persons. Upon his arrival he was welcomed by Captain Manuel San Juan de Santa Cruz, the Custodio of New Mexico, and a large number of settlers and mission Indians who went out three leagues (about eight miles) to meet him. On the following day, April 23, 1760, he made his formal entry. The city was located in 32° and 9' of north latitude. It had a large irrigation ditch which took about half of the river's water. This was subdivided into many smaller canals that watered the spacious plains in the vicinity. There were many vineyards where excellent wines were made, better even than those of Parras in Coahuila. Its aguardiente (fire water) was very good. Wheat, corn, and other grains were cultivated and there were numerous apple trees, pears, peaches, and figs. Its summer temperature was very pleasant. But the inhabitants had many difficulties to contend with. Chief of these was the river. The dam built across it to cause the water to flow into the large irrigation ditch was periodically washed away each year. The flood lasted ordinarily from May until the end of July. "Three or four days after my arrival," says the bishop, "I went to look at the river. It was beginning to rise." He then explains how the dam was rebuilt each year. "The settlers rebuild the dam in this manner: Out of - "Bishop Benito to the King, August S, 1731. A. G. I., Auduncia d1 Guadalajara 104•2-11 (Dunn Transcripts, 1715-1741 ), i-6. •
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