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The Beginnings of Civilized Life in Texas, 173I-Ii45
night and hour, a train of mules called upon the Frenchman, who informed the astonished drivers that he could not give them the corn because the sale had been revealed to St. Denis, who even now was waiting on the road to seize the cargo. The Spanish muleteers started back, therefore, empty, and as forewarned, were halted a short distance from Natchitoches by St. Denis and his men, who, finding nothing to seize, had to allow the mules and drivers to proceed unmolested to Los Adaes. But the frus- trated attempt to seize the contraband enraged St. Denis, who registered a strong protest. The disappointment of the French commander was equaled by that of Gonzalez, who regretfully informed Governor Sandoval that he would now be unable to send him the beans he had promised him. This detail is significant. It shows that not only Los Adaes, but San Antonio as well, was at times dependent on Natchitoches for its food supply. The reason for such a state of affairs is apparent. The nearest market where these supplies could be bought was Saltillo, and in the case of grains and beans the freight was so excessive that it made their purchase prohibitive. Gonzalez explained that his situation was short of desperate in view of the determination of St. Denis to prevent the sale of foodstuffs. He expressed fear that hostilities would result, if St. Denis caught a contraband train of goods, a possibility not so remote, when the sharp vigilance exercised was kept in mind. 13 Heavy rains in the spring and a bitter resentment on the part of the soldiers, who refused to plant and cultivate the presidia} farm, did little to improve conditions throughout the year 1735. By November even the Indians in the vicinity were starving, except those congregated in the missions, who were few in number. But it is to be kept in mind that throughout these lean years, the supposedly useless Missions of Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches, Dolores de los Ais, and San Miguel de los Adaes were in fact the only sources of supplies for the starved garrison and civil settlement. An inadequate train of supplies came in the fall, but the flour brought was so rotten that only the dire need of it made it possible for Gonzalez to sell half the cargo. The horses were in such poor condition that the lieutenant governor immediately disposed of forty-six at any price: "afraid they might die on my hands" he naively confesses. The mules were so weak that a train sent to Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de los Ais to bring corn tired out on the way. In a letter to Governor Sandoval,
13 Gonzalez to Governor Sandoval, April 14, 1735. A. G. Al., Historia, vol. 524, pt. 3, pp. 903-905.
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