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Rivera's Inspection and Removal of iJ'lissions to San Ant<mio 229
at all times of the year, he recommended that only regularly scheduled trips be made at different seasons. The first was to be made in January, the second in April, the third in July, and the fourth in October. If this recommendation met with the approval of the viceroy he should order that an escort of ten men, including an officer to command it, set out from Coahuila (Monclova) to Saltillo four times a year, in time to be at the latter place on the first of each month indicated. The escort should be instructed to make the trip back to the Rio Grande not by way of Boca de Leones, but by Monclova, first, because the road was less difficult to traverse, and second, because upon its arrival in Monclova the men who made the journey to and from Saltillo could remain at this post and be replaced by others from this garrison who would make the journey from there on to Texas. This would make the service less burdensome and save the hardships of the entire trip to both men and horses. In case that those who had become accustomed to demand an escort at all times of the year should complain of the inconvenience of such an arrangement, they were to be reminded that the convoys that entered New Mexico made only two trips a year from El Paso del Norte, the distance being almost the same as from Saltillo to the Rio Grande. By timing their entrance to Texas, both persons and trains going to Texas would not have to wait long in Saltillo for the regularly scheduled escort which was to give them the necessary protection while en roiete to that province. 21 In discussing conditions at San Juan Bautista, Rivera pointed out that, following an old established custom, each of the four missions in its vicinity kept two soldiers constantly, to act as managers and overseers of the mission farms. This service originated at the time of the estab- lishment of the presidio by order of the viceroy in 1698, but since that time many Indians had become congregated and reduced to mission life, adopting the habits and customs of civilized men, which made the pres- ence of the soldiers unnecessary, particularly in view of the proximity of the presidio to three of them. The services rendered by the two soldiers in each case could now be performed by the Indians themselves, choosing from among them those who had been in the missions the longest and who had become most trustworthy and capable. But if the missionaries believed this should be done by a Spaniard, they could secure the services of any one of a number of civil settlers who had established themselves in that vicinity, who would be glad to act as managers or overseers if
21 Proyecto Mandado hacer• •.• A. G. N., Provincias /nternas, Vol. 29.
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