Establisliment and Early Progress of San Xavier illissio11s
245
ship was estimated to be six thousand. He emphatically declared that it was a pity to waste such a splendid opportunity to begin their conversion. He explained that if these Indians were to be reduced, the mission or missions designed for them would ha,·e to be in their country. They heartily disliked to abandon their native haunts. Furthermore they could not be placed in the San Antonio area because they were too numerous even granting they should consent to come, a remote possibility in view of the distance to their lands. It is to be noted that Fray Mariano, now that he had an idea of the number of Indians likely to be congregated, speaks of more than one mission. Even at this time, however, the site had not been definitely chosen. He narrated to the Guardian how when the petitioners of the Deadose, Mayeye, Yojuane, and Yerbipiame nations had returned to their country, he had sent with them some San Antonio neophytes. When the latter came back, they told how the news of the promised mission had been joyously received and how the Indians had immediately set about to look for a site that had facilities for an establishment similar to those they had observed in San Antonio, such as arable land, good pastures, plenty of water for irrigation, wood, and other advantages. The chiel of the prospective converts had sent word that he would gather all hL people when winter came and wait for Fray Mariano at a designated place. Fray Mariano manifested to Fray Alonso Giraldo his determination of going to their country in the winter and of staying among them until formal action was taken for the establishment of the proposed missions. He urged and entreated the Guardian to present the matter to the viceregal authorities without delay and to emphasize to them the need of immediate action. He suggested that Fray Francisco Xavier Ortiz or Fray Diego Ximenez, both of whom had seen the Indians petitioners in San Antonio and knew the details, be commissioned by the College to secure the desired authorization for the conversion of these Indians.' Selection of San Xtr.Jier as tlic site. That winter Fray l\fariano, accompanied by five soldiers and several mission Indians from San Antonio, set out for the land of the prospective converts. The departure must have been in December, for on January 7, 1746, he was met bv the chief and many Indians on the San Xavier River, near the point ,~here Las Animas ( Brushy Creek) joins that stream. During the next few
5 Fray Mariano to Fray Alonso Giraldo de Terreros, July 25, 1745. Arcliivo d,l C olegio . . . ( Dunn Transcripts, 1716-1749).
Powered by FlippingBook