The Organization of Mission Life, z722-z728
175
aries to do and have placidly expected that the missions should grow and develop, without their putting forth the slightest effort. 5 Although this view of conditions may seem somewhat exaggerated, it is corroborated sufficiently by contemporary reports of military officials to justify the disillusionment felt by this zealous missionary, who had labored so faith- fully and so long in Texas. Governor Perez de Almazan, who was in actual distress, came to San Antonio in search of supplies. Here he wrote a letter to the viceroy on March 24, 1724, in which he gives a vivid account of conditions in Texas during the two years immediately following the withdrawal of Aguayo. Both during the summer of 1722 and 1723, the crops planted at Los Adaes and La Bahia proved dismal failures and the grain harvested was insufficient to supply the needs of the presidios and missions. There were several contributing factors. The rains had come too late and the exces- sive heat had caused much sickness. In vain, he goes on to explain, that he tried to secure supplies and provisions at this time from either San Antonio or Rio Grande. During the preceding year, a train of flour and a drove of cattle sent from San Juan Bautista for the presidios and mis- sions of La Bahia and Los Adaes had been detained on the road seven months as a result of the heavy rains and the high stage of the numerous rivers that intercept the three hundred fifty leagues that lie between the Rio Grande and East Texas. Almost the entire shipment of flour which consisted of one hundred cargas, had spoiled before it reached its desti- nation, and many of the cattle were lost in the long delays at the different rivers, some animals had run away and others were drowned in crossing the streams. Aware of the obstacle presented by the rivers, he said that he had placed rafts at the most difficult intersections, but these convey- ances seemed to have done little or no good. 6 The captain of the Presidio de los Adaes, Jose Benito de Arroyo, took seriously ill early in the preceding summer and the governor was unable to go in person after the sorely needed supplies because there was no one to remain in charge. With the approach of winter, Captain Arroyo asked leave to go to Saltillo for treatment and Governor Almazan was obliged to grant the request, being forced to remain at Los Adaes until December 29, 1723, before necessity forced him to start in the middle of winter for San Antonio. He explained to the viceroy that it was his plan to buy 5Espinosa, Chro11ica A,Postolica, I, 457. 6Fernando Perez de Almazan to the Viceroy, San Antonio, .March 24, 1724. San Fra11cisco el Grande Arcl1ives, Vol. X, I I 0-1 I 5.
. f I
l
Powered by FlippingBook