Our Catholic H c1·itage in Texas
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established to help instruct the neophytes and to serve as an example to the natives. Both the Spanish families and the Indians could be taken from Veracruz to the Bay of Espiritu Santo by water without much cost to the king. 4 First order for settlement of Canary Islanders in Texas. After read- ing the long communication of the viceroy and the suggestions made by Aguayo, it seems the king changed his mind and decided to order the transpc,rtatio:i. of two hundred families from the Canary Islands to be settled in the vicinity of the Bay of Espiritu Santo. The corresponding orders were therefore issued on March 18, 1723, to Juan Montero, Intendant of the Islands. He was to publish a proclamation to the inhab- itants of all the islands and call for volunteers who wished to go to America to settle on San Bernardo Bay. These persons should be sent in small groups on board the ships that sailed regularly to Campeche, in Yucatan, from where they could be taken in the same manner to Veracruz and sent from there to their final destination. The Intendant was warned that all those sent agreeable to the royal order were to go voluntarily and in no other way. He was instructed to give timely notice to the Governor of Yucatan and to the viceroy each time a group of the families embarked in order that these officials might prepare for the reception and make all the necessary arrangements to supply them with whatever they needed. 5 A similar communication was sent on May 10 of the same year to the Governor of Yucatan, ordering him to supply all families sent in accordance with the king's instructions with everything they needed and to provide houses and food for them while they were in port waiting to be sent on to Veracruz. He should see that they were taken on board the first ships sailing from Campeche to that port and to give them anything they might need for their journey. He should notify the viceroy of their arrival and departure in order that he might make arrangements for their reception at Veracruz.' The Intendant of the Canary Islands reported on July 24, 1723, that 'Satisfacci6n a una RI. orden de! Rey nro. Sor. A. G. I., Audiencia de Guadala- jara, 67-1-37 (Dunn Transcripts, 1710-1738). scedula Real sobre la remisi6n de 200 familias de Canarias a nueba Espa. para poblar la Bahia de Sn. Bernardo. A. G. I., Audie11cia de Guadalajara, 67-1-37 (Dunn Transcripts, 1710-1738). 6AJ Gobernador y ofiziales de Yucatan sobre las familias de Canarias que han de ir a Campeche para pasar despues a la Veracruz y de alli a la Bahia de Sn. Bernardo. A. G. /., A udie:11cia de Guadalajara, 67-1-37 (Dunn Transcripts, 1710- 1738).
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