Rivera's Inspection and Removal of i11issions to San Antonio 257
that in a few days more than fifty cargas had been brought back. It was necessary to send an escort of forty men, with two one-pound fieldpieces, to protect the convoy against the numerous hostile tribes that infested the country in that region. He expressed the opinion that the salines should be worked regularly for the benefit of the king and asked per- mission to extract the salt as had been done after its discovery. \,Vhen the matter was referred to Rivera for his opinion, he declared that he believed it would be best to abandon the idea of working the product as suggested by Captain Bustillo y Ceballos. The presence of such a large number of soldiers as he had used to convoy the salt acquired in the territory of the Indians, who were already inclined to be hostile, might arouse their animosity and cause serious consequences. 60 The viceroy approved the suggestion and ordered that the plan proposed be abandoned. Some time in the fall of 1730, Don Gabriel Costales became captain of the Presidio of La Bahia. His appointment was made by Viceroy Casafuerte to serve ad interim, subject to the approval of the king, as provided in the new regulations for the frontier presidios. The action taken was immediately reported to His Majesty by the viceroy, who explained that Captain Costales had entered the Province of Texas with the Marquis of Aguayo in 1721-1722; had previously served the king for thirteen years as soldier, sergeant, and alferez of infantry in Cata- luiia, having been promoted to the rank of captain in the said expeditior organized by Aguayo, and that he had held other posts of honor ant responsibility, in all of which he had served with loyalty. As a vacancy had been created by the promotion of Captain Bustillo y Ceballos to the governorship of the Province of Texas, Costales had been commissioned captain of La Bahia. On September 16, 1731, the king approved the appointment made by the viceroy and issued him a patent. He was to enjoy all the honors and privileges of his rank and was to be obeyed by the soldiers and all sub- alterns, as well as the Indians congregated in the missions established in the vicinity of the presidio. He was requested to exercise the greatest care in cooperating with the missionaries for the propagation of the faith through the instruction of the neophytes and their reduction to mission life, refraining from the use of harsh measures or the infliction of severe punishment upon them for trivial offences. He should encourage them to persevere by the exercise of kindness, and to act with prudence in all 60 Opinion del Brigadier Rivera, July 19, 1731. A. G. N., Provincias fnlernas, Vol. 236.
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