CHAPTER IV
THE AGUAYO EXPEDITION AND THE FouNDING OF SAN JosE M1ss10:-i, 1719-1722 Conditions in Texas in 1719. Conditions in Texas were rapidly approaching a crisis in the spring of 1719. The failure of Alarcon to strengthen the hold of Spain upon the province and to expand the mis- sionary activities of the Franciscans was to prove a serious blow to Spanish interests. In spite of the earnest efforts of Spanish officials to widen the sphere of influence among the numerous tribes, to increase the military force, and to encourage civil settlers to establish themselves in the new land, the missions were no better off at the close of 1718 than they had been when founded two years before. The military garrison of the Presidio of los Tejas was weaker, the number of families had remained stationary, and the Indians still found one excuse after another to postpone their being congregated at the missions. 1 The garrison of the presidio had, in fact, become the laughing stock of not only the French but of the Indians themselves. There were less than twenty-five soldiers and most of them were mere boys, poorly clad, and without mounts or arms. 2 The new mission on the San Antonio had a few more Indians and promised to be a greater success, but the number of soldiers was insufficient to afford it adequate protection against the Apaches, which were beginning to appear in its vicinity, and Governor Alarcon had neg- lected to bring the thirty families which the viceroy had recommended. The missionaries had clearly foreseen the unavoidable failure of their efforts unless the government gave them more material and intelligent support. As eariy as May, 1718, they had begun to give serious attention to the advisability of presenting their case to the viceroy. Before Alarcon arrived in East Texas, when they were reduced to the direst need and even the essentials for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass had been exhausted, they held a meeting, at the suggestion of Father Margil, to discuss their plight. Six religious attended this meeting held at the Mission of Dolores. After due deliberation, it was decided to send two representatives to Mexico, one from each college, to appeal per- lEspinosa, Cltronica Seraphica, 443-445. 2Letter of Fathers Espinosa and Margil to the Viceroy, July 2, 17 I 9. Buckley, "The Aguayo Expedition," S 011t/1westcr11 II istorical Q11arterly, XV, 7. [ IJO]
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