107
San Antonio de Valero and 1J1issionary Activity, I7I6-I7I9
To celebrate the completion of his journey a Solemn High Mass was sung by the missionaries on November 21, in honor of our Lady, the Virgin Most Holy. A large number of Indians attended this ceremony which marked the close of Alarc6n's mission to East Texas. While there he had a number of conferences with the missionaries to determine the best measures to be recommended to the viceroy for the extension of mis- sionary work and the establishment of a firmer hold on Texas. He then began to make preparations for his return to the San Antonio River but before he reached the Villa de Bejar he stopped at the old site of the first mission of 1690 and found there a bell that weighed six arrobas (about one hundred fifty pounds). He decided to take this to the Mission of San Antonio de Valero. 56 Disappointment of -missionaries. The m1ss1onaries were frankly dis- appointed in the new governor and the momentary joy caused by his belated arrival was soon dissipated. He had failed to bring the families recommended by the viceroy; he had not recruited the fifty additional soldiers and, as a consequence, he had been unable to increase the number of guards at each mission as instructed ahd to reenforce the garrison of the Presidio de los Tejas; very few of the soldiers were married and fewer still brought their families; he had done nothing to help the missionaries congregate the Indians other than distribute gift~ with little discretion, and he had by his overbearing nature and boastful spirit antagonized many Indians and aroused the fears of the French, who now began to think seriously of asserting their claim to the country of the Tejas. The missionaries realized better than anyone else the influence which the French had upon the natives. The easy morals and good- natured comradeship of the French with the Indians made them much more popular than the Spaniards. "I warn Your Excellency that the French have a complete hold upon the Indians and have subjected them entirely to their will by means of gifts and flattery," declares Father Olivares. The Indians had been won over by the generous manner affected Cadodachos. Domingo Ramon to the Viceroy, February 28, 1718, Provincias /nter,ias, Vol. 181, 226-227. S6Diary of Martin de Alarcon, 1 5-40. It is interesting to note how the bell of the first mission was brought to San Antonio. Here are some additional facts about the mission bells of San Francisco de los Tejas and Santisimo Nombre de Maria. Ramon reported he had found three bells of good quality and size and an anvil that weighed over a hundred pounds, where the old missions of 1 690-93 had stood. He asked the viceroy for instructions as to their disposition. Ramon to the Viceroy, February 28, 1718, Provincias /nternas, Vol. 181, :226-227.
Powered by FlippingBook