235
Explorations and Settlements A long the Rio Gra11de
missionary. There were eighty-five families of Piro Indians with four hundred and twenty-nine persons, and eighteen Spanish families with · one hundred and thirty-one persons. It is strange that at this time no Tiguas were living at the mission. This was on the banks of the river, about five leagues east of Guadalupe. Its church was an exact replica of that of Senecu, being thirty-six varas long and five and a half wide, with a transept that measured nine vara.s. From Isleta to Socorro was about one league east. This mission and pueblo, like the others, was near the river and had its resident missionary. There were forty-six Zuma families with one hundred and eighty-two persons living in the pueblo. A small settlement called Tiburcio, made up entirely of Spaniards, formed part of the mission. There were eighty-two families with four hundred and twenty-four persons in Tiburcio. The mission church was thirty-six varas long and seven wide, with a transept fourteen and three-quarter vara.s from end to end. Nuestra Seiiora del Socorro. Each one of the four missions had its Franciscan missionary and their Guardian lived in Guadalupe, where he was the curate of the parish. The lands of the four missions were as rich and as well cultivated and irrigated as those of Spanish settlements. Each one had its irrigation ditch that took the water from the Rio Grande and by means of a network of canals carried it to the fields. Since he had made his headquarters at Guadalupe. he had to cross the river when he finally left the Presidio del Paso del Norte on his way to New Mexico. After a two weeks stay, he began preparations for the long journey to Santa Fe. On May 6, the supplies, mules, horses, drivers, and a small herd of one hundred sheep were ferried across the river which by now was at flood stage. "On the 7th, early in the morning," says the bishop, "they took me to the river. It was very high. Most of the surrounding country [along the river] had been abandoned. I entered a raft and was taken safely to the other side together with the greater part of my attendants. Some of those who had accompanied me remained in El Paso. The ri"er was dotted with swimming Indians, some pulling the raft with cords, others holding it steady. It. was necessary for me to wait on the opposite bank for my cales:as (rigs) to be ferried across. These had to be taken apart and placed on the raft. This operation consumed considerable time B . . . y Departttre of Bishop Tamaron.
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