illissio11ary Activity Amoug tlze A-paclzes, li4J-1758
367
lieutenant in charge of affairs in Coahuila. The patent was dispatched to him at once, but not until May 1, 1754 was it delivered in Monclova. 45 Pedro Rabago y Teran at San Xavier, 1754. Don Pedro was unable to set out for Texas at once. It will be recalled that he had to go to San Juan Bautista at this very time to report on the proposed mission of Fray Alonso Giraldo de Terreros for the Apaches.4 6 This and other matters kept him in Coahuila until late in July, when he proceeded to San Xavier by way of San Antonio. On the way he explored the proposed sites on the Guadalupe River and the San Marcos. The springs near the Guad- alupe (present New Braunfels) might accommodate a settlement of fifty families. The San Marcos offered little or no facilities for irrigation even at its source. Upon his arrival at San Xavier on August 11, he found Lieutenant Eca y Musquiz in charge, and Diego Ramon ac; Alferez. The garrison of fifty men was complete. An inspection of the temporary presidio and its soldiers showed that the fort had never been built, that the soldiers lived in miserable huts thatched with grass, that they were poorly dressed, and that their arms were defective or useless in many cases. There were only one hundred and six horses. Eight of the soldiers had no mounts, and the four swivel guns had no carriages. In his report to the viceroy on September 12, he admits that although the site of the presidio and missions seemed to be pleasant, its appearances were deceiving. The climate was extremely unhealthful, the stream was only a series of pools full of dead fish and decaying waste. the water wa:/ so polluted that even the animals refused to drink it, the fields could no be irrigated, and such Indians as remained were indolent and would run away to the woods on the slightest provocation. They could not be made to work.41 Condition of tlze miss·ions at San Xavier in 1754. One fourth of a league from the Presidio of San Francisco Xavier de Gigedo were still two missions. In Mission San Francisco Xavier there were still remaining 45 Appointment of Pt:dro Rabago y Teran, November 13, 1753. In Testimonio de los autos fechos a consulta de Don Pedro Rabago y Teran . .. A . G. I. A udiencia de Mexico, 92-6-22 (Dunn Tr., 1748-1763, pt. 1), pp. 184-187. Copy also in San Francisco el Grande Archive, Vol. 20, pp. I 3-22. 46 See page 336. 47 Act of possession and review of troops, August 11-12, 1754. San Franci.sco el Gra11de Archive, Vol. 20, pp. 23-25. Pedro Rabago y Teran to the Viceroy, September 12, 1754. Testimonio de los autos fechos a consulta ... A. G. /. A udu11eia de Mexico, 92-6-22 (Dunn Tr., I 7 48-1763, pt. l ), pp. l 84-295.
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