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Establislmzent and Early Progress of San Xavier Missions
291
according to the Auditor, and could easily go from Sacramento to San Xavier to conduct the investigation. In addition to his regular" salary, Altamira proposed that he be allowed the pay of a soldier who had been temporarily dismissed from Los Adaes. If the viceroy approved the plan, Eca y Mt'.1squiz should be placed in command of the guard of forty-eight men at San Xavier and given instructions as Juez Comisiouado to survey the lands and water, explore the San Andres, and make a detailed census of the Indians in the missions. 68 In accord with the concurrent recommendations of Doctor Adreu and Altamira, the viceroy issued a commission to Eca y Musquiz on February 3, 1750. In addition to the suggested investigation of the San Xavier missions and the facilities for the proposed presidio, he was to explore the San Marcos River and make an official report on the findings. Thus, four years after the inception of the San Xavier project, three missions had been duly authorized and established in spite of endless contradictions, unavoidable delays, and incredible hardships. Further- more, the guard of thirty soldiers had been increased to forty-eight, and the idea of the establishment of a formal presidio had been approved in principle. But a new investigation had been ordered before its erection. A contrary specter seems to have haunted the efforts of the missionaries. Truly does Morfi exclaim: "On the apostolic road there are only crosses, and if some day the sky is cloudless, it is to make the tempest which follows it more dreadful by comparison." 69 They had succeeded in securing approval for the erection of a presidio and commendations for their labors. But their elation was to be short-lived. "They did not know, nor could they know, that this would scarcely be erected when they would see the work of many years demolished in a few days, their beloved Indians scat- tered, the missions ruined, their honor stained, and their blood shed by the very persons to whom the king had entrusted their safety." 70
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68Dictamen del Seiior Auditor Altamira, January 30, 1750. Stlll Francisco el Grande Archive, Vol. IV, pp. 107-114. The text is translated in full into English
in Castaneda, Morfi's History of Texas, pt. 2, pp. 316-322. 69Morfi, Alemorias, Bk. 9, par. 5, cited by Bolton, Texas, 251. 70Castaiieda, Morfi's History of Texas, pt. 2, p. 330.
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