145
Aguayo Expedition and San Jose Mission, 1719-1722
was appointed captain by Aguayo and formally placed in command of it, November 4, 1721. 74 A little more than a month before, on September 29, and not on October 12, as Pena says in his Derrotero, the Mission of San Miguel de los Adaes was officially ordered reetablished in a formal celebration held at the presidia} chapel. Father Margil was given authority to erect a mission on a suitable site tentatively selected opposite to the presidio, about one- quarter of a league beyond, across a small creek. The mission itself was not established at this time, because the Indians who had been forced to abandon their homes had not returned with their families. They had promised to congregate in the new mission early in the spring. 75 Celebration of Aguayo's accomplislmzent. With the construction of the fort and the site of the new mission selected, the purpose of the expedition had been accomplished. The French had been driven out of Texas without firing a shot, the Indians had been reassured of the pro- tection of the Spaniards, and French prestige among the natives had undoubtedly suffered a severe blow. To celebrate the accomplishment of their task, the soldiers held a big celebration on October 12, the feast day of Our Lady of Pilar, after whom the presidio was named. There were dances and masquerades. But more strange and significant still was the presentation of several plays. 76 The virgin forest of East Texas became the stage for the first dramatic representation on Texas soil only three years after the first play was given in Williamsburg, Virginia. 77 The natives must have gazed in amazement at the performance, so different and yet reminiscent of their pagan festivals. Unfortunately the chronicler does not record the name of the pieces presented, nor does he give any details. But the practice of using dramatic representations as a means of propagating the truths of the faith was common in Mexico ever since the beginning of the sixteenth century. Perhaps the plays were 74Auto de Fundacion del Presidio de Nuestra Senora del Pilar de los Adaes. November 4, 1721. A. G. I., Audiencia de tlfe:rico, 61-2-2 (Dunn Transcripts, University of Texas). 75Buckley says the new church and presidio were dedicated on October 12, but the presidio was not finished until November I. The official autos of the dedica- tion of the presidial chapel and of the reestablishment of the mission have come to light since. Ibid. (Dunn Transcripts, 1713-1722, University of Texas). 76Pena, Derrotero, 22. 77 For a summary of the early development of the theatre in America and the earliest dramatic representations, see Castaneda, "The First American Play " Catholic World, January, 1932. '
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