01'r Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
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necessary for its restoration. As soon as the ceremony of refounding San Francisco had been concluded, Aguayo set out with all his troops for the Mission of La Purisima Concepcion. He arrived there on August 6 and camped on the site of the Presidio de los Tejas which was abandoned by Ramon in 1719. The diary of the expedition explains what meticulous care the Marquis exercised on this occasion in order to do no damage to the planted crops of the natives. Throughout the entire expedition he had consistently exercised great pains not to antagonize the natives but to win their friendship. The Presidio' de los Tejas had been placed by Ramon about four miles from the Angelina River, about a league from Mission Concepcion. The actual site of the presidio is just west of the present location of the town of Douglas, on Thomas Creek, while that of the mission, which was about a league southwest of the presidio, is near the present Linwood crossing on the Angelina. The mission was slightly over a mile from the place where the road crossed the river, near two springs, in the middle of the Hainai or Aynay village.' This mission suffered less than any of the others in this region, being the only one that was not completely destroyed. In order to hasten its reestablishment, Aguayo sent another group of men on August 6 to help complete the work of restoration and construct two dwelling houses for the missionaries. The following day he was notified that everything was in readiness. On the morning of the 8th, Aguayo and all his troops marched out from their camp on the site of the old Presidio de los Tejas and made their way to Mission Concepcion. Here they were met by a large number of Aynay Indians. To impress the natives, Aguayo now presented his best suit, expensively tailored and beautifully trimmed with gold braid, to the captain of the Tejas. He also gave him another jacket adorned with gold and silver cloth. This not only flattered the old chief but greatly pleased all the Indians. The battalion was now formed in three files in front of the church and the six pieces of field artillery were placed between the troops and the church. As at San Francisco de los Neches, High Mass was sung by the Reverend Father Antonio Margil de Jesus, and during the ceremony several salutes were fired by the musketry and the artillery. This made a deep impression upon the Indians who had never witnessed so great a display of military force. The sermon was preached by the Reverend Father Isidro Felix de Espinosa who, according to the chronicler, pronounced "a very eloquent and touching discourse,
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'Pena, Derrotero, 17; Bolton, "Native Tribes," Quarterl1, XI, 269.
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