Our Catlzolic Heritage in T cxas
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Possibly the suspension had been countermanded. At any rate, he carried out the original instructions given him on February 3, at the time of his appointment during the summer, in spite of the fact that Governor Barrio was in office until the end of the year. His report is an example of the thoroughness and impartiality with which Spanish officials fulfilled their orders. So accurately and minutely does Eca y Musquiz describe the physical characteristics of the country along the San Xavier, Brushy Creek, Little River, and the San Marcos, that one can identify today every spot visited. His description of the condition of the missions is minute and detailed. From his report the reader obtains a vivid picture of the San Xavier missions at the time of the survey.' Upon his arrival he called on Captain Urrutia to select se,·eral in- telligent, experienced, and unbiased men to aid him in his work. This was a difficult task for one who had been so closely associated with the two contending parties. He begged to be excused, but when on June 20, 1750, Eca y Musquiz reiterated his formal request, Urrutia was obliged to comply. He named one soldier and two civilians: Francisco Delgado, Geronimo Flores, and Juan Diego de la Garza. Although Urrutia declared they were intelligent and "practicos," the last two mentioned could not sign their own names. 5 Determined not to make the mistake of Governor Barrio, Eca y Musquiz next called on Fray Mariano, then in San Antonio, to ask him to be present at the investigation. The friar excused himself and appointed Father Fray Domingo Arricivita, who was minister at Mission San Ilde- fonso, to act in his place. 6 Setting out from San Antonio shortly after June 20, he must have arrived in San Xavier on or before June 30. On that day he requested, in 'Fortunately the complete report, declarations of the witnesses, measurements, and statistical tables concerning the Indians in each mission have been preserved. This is entitled "Testimonio de Diligencias, Executadas sobre los dos Rios de Sn. Franco. Xavier y San Andres, y demas que dellas consta, prozesadas por mi Dn. Jph. Joaquin de Eca y Muzquiz por Comision del Exmo. Senor Virrey de Esta Nueba espaiia." A copy is in the Archivo del Colegio de la _San~a Crns:,. 17so-1767 (Dun~ Transcripts), and another, with a slightly different title m Arch,vo de Sa11 Fra11c,sco el Grande, Vol. 19, pp. 156-166. SExhorto expedido por el Juez Comisionado Muzquiz sobre el reconocimiento de Tierras y aguas para las misiones nuevas, June 16, 1 ! so; Resp~esta al exhorto, June 16, 17so; Nueva instancia, June 20; Auto del_Capitan Urrutia sobre nombra- . date 1 ·n San Fra11cisco El Gra11de Archives, Vol. 19, pp. 156- 1 57 m1ento, same . 'Testimonio de las Diligencias ... Arcl,ivo del Co/egio, I 7 so-1767 (Dunn Transcripts) 25.
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