Our Catlzolic H e1·itage in Texas
ultimate establishment of missions on the San Saba River, coming as it did, at the very time the matter was being considered by the perplexed viceregal officials. Renewed proposals for missions on tlie Guadalupe. We have seen how the missions founded on the San Xavier River were eventually moved to the San Marcos River, in August, 1755. Almost a year later, at the recommendation of a special ]tmta, the viceroy ordered on May 18, 1756, that the Indians of the suppressed missions be moved to San Antonio in order that the garrison of the presidio might be left free to go to the San Saba area. The order appears to have arrived in San Antonio early in June. Either this fact, or rumors of the new plan, reached Fray Mariano, who had never abandoned the hope of occupying the Guadalupe River. It happened that at this very time Father Fray Francisco Ortiz was in San Antonio conducting an inspection of the missions. To him, as Visitador (Inspector) for the College of Queretaro, the relentless and zealous Fray Mariano presented a petition on June 25, asking permission to establish a mission on the Guadalupe River for the remnant of the San Xavier establishments, where the scattered neophytes might gather and find refuge. Misfortune, epidemics, and adverse conditions had driven many of the Indians of San Xavier to return to their former haunts before the site was formally abandoned, and the remaining neophytes had been forced by circumstances to move to the San Marcos. But they could not remain there because irrigation was impossible. Furthermore, the con- templated removal of the garrison to the San Saba would leave them unprotected. They could not be brought to San Antonio and joined to those already there because they were uncongenial. It had been this fact that had occasioned the San Xavier experiment. A new place, therefore, must be found for them elsewhere. But it was only the former neophytes of Mission San Francisco Xavier that had to be provided for. The Indians of Mission Candelaria could and would be joined to one of the San Antonio missions. Those of San Ildefonso, the Cocos, could be taken care of in the new mission being planned for the Orcoquisacs on the Trinity River. Under the circum- stances, Fray Mariano pointed out, it would only be necessary to found a new mission, or rather, to reestablish Mission San Francisco Xavier -on the Guadalupe. The location chosen was only twelve leagues from San Antonio and was well suited for settlement, having good timber, lands, and water for irrigation. No military guard would be necessary, because
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