Riveras Inspection and Removal of Missions to San Antonio 219
pesos a day, which sum was considered sufficient. The pay of the inspector and his secretaries was to begin on the day they left Mexico City. The General of theJesuits and all Commissaries General of thevarious religious orders, who had charge of missions in the territories to be visited were instructed to ask the reverend missionaries to lend all assistance possible to Rivera in the execution of his commission. Notice was sent to the Bishop of Durango, and the Governors of Parral, Nuevo Reyno de Leon, New Mexico, and Texas of the intended inspection, with a request that they give all assistance possible and hinder in no manner the accom- plishment of the purposes desired in undertaking the Visita. Failure to cooperate with Rivera would be sufficient cause for their immediate sus- pension. The investigation was not to be limited to abuses committed during the years of the administration of Viceroy Casafuerte, but to include the last twenty years, and all officials were to be held responsible, whether dead or alive, for any irregularities during their terms of office. The order for payment was accordingly drawn up on October 14 and the dispatches to the various officials were sent out two days later. 9 It is well to note that before Rivera set out on his long but transcendent tour of inspection, which was to affect the future course of events in Texas so vitally, he was given for his information copies of everything per- taining to conditions in that remote province found in the archives of the viceroy. After his departure he was kept informed of what transpired. Copies of the reports of Governor Perez de Almazan, the missionaries, and the various captains of presidios were sent to him, so that when he finally arrived, he was fully informed of conditions.1° Riverds inspection. In spite of every effort to start with as little loss of time as possible, it was not until November 21, 1724, that Brigadier General Rivera finally left Mexico City for Zacatecas, armed with all the necessary credentials. It is not our purpose to follow him on his long journey over the entire frontier. After almost three years of constant traveling on horse and muleback, over roads little frequented and exposed to unexpected attacks by Indians, relentlessly ferreting out irregularities wherever he went, noting the advantages and disadvantages of each place, and making long and detailed reports on his .observations, the tireless and ever watchful inspector arrived at last in Texas in the spring oi 9 Decreto del Virey Casafuerte, Mexico, October 10, 1724, in Ibid, 10 Raz6n [de documentos recibidos por Don Pedro de Rivera], Mexico, October Jo, 1724, in Ibid.
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