Destructio1t of tlze Sa1t Xavier irlissions
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sions. If a presidia had been established from the beginning, the irriga- tion ditches could have been opened with the assistance of the soldiers in three or four months. The missionaries ardently desired to confine their labors to spiritual guidance and to leave to the military the task of subjecting and civilizing the Indians in order to make them loyal subjects. Fray Mariano also explained in his letter to Galvan that the tractability of the Coco nation had been questioned. There was no reason for enter- taining such a doubt, he asserted, for even now this nation was quietly congregated in the missions and its members were the most docile of all the tribes. The Bidais were far more bold because of their easy supply of firearms. which they obtained from the French, but they would give no trouble if the soldiers did their duty. Such a task was impossible "to the missionaries alone without the favor of the king's agents." 2 Before the appeal for support from the missionaries in Texas was answered, the protest of Fray Benito had been referred to the Fiscal and Auditor, who promptly rendered their opinions concerning the new pro- posal on March 14, and 24 respectively. They declared that there was no valid reason why the investigation should not be carried out, since all the objections presented had been previously considered. However, they ad- mitted that it would be difficult to secure unbiased testimony while Gov- ernor Barrio remained in office. In view of the facts, therefore, the viceroy issued a decree on April 8, 1750, in which he embodied the views expressed by the two advisers, and ordered Eca y Musquiz to suspend the investiga- tion until a regularly appointed governor arrived, or a successor to Barrio was named, who was serving the office ad interim. If Musquiz had already begun the investigation, he was to drop it upon receipt of the order and report what had been done, carrying out in the meantime all the other in- structions given him. 3 Inspection and survey by Eca y M1,squie, ]1111e-A11-gust, 1750. Orders and counter orders follow each other in such rapid succession in the his- tory of the San Xavier missions that it is almost impossible to follow any measure through. Notwithstanding the order to suspend the survey issued on April 8, 1750, we find that Captain Eca y Musquiz was in San Antonio by June 16, making active preparations to undertake the investigation. 2 Fray Mariano to Galvan, April 12, 1750, Arcltivo del Co/egio, 1750-1767 (Dunn Transcripts). 3Despacho pa~a qe. no se continuaran las diligs. de! Rio de Sn. Xavr. el qe. no tuvo efccto'. Apnl 8, 1750. Archh10 de/ C(J/egio, (Uunn Transcripts); copy also in Sa11 Franc,sco El Grande A rcl,ive, Vol. 4, pp. 252-254.
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