275
Establislmzcnt-of San Fernando de Bejar, Ii23-I73I
in Texas, and what was the most convenient way in which such families as might arrive, pursuant to the king's pleasure, might be sent to their destination in the remote province. He was requested to make such sug- gestions as he deemed best both as to the manne_r of traveling and the route that should be followed. His report must be referred to the Fiscal for his opinion and approval. 13 Rivera's criticism of Aguayo's plan. Rivera seems to have welcomed this opportunity to point out the weaknesses of all the proposals of the Marquis of Aguayo, at whose instigation the plan outlined in the royal ccdula had been adopted. In a long report drawn up on January 16, 1730, he attempted to show how impractical was the project here presented. He first described the province from his personal observation in order to lay the premises for his conclusions. He declared that it began fourteen leagues to the south of the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar on the Medina River, which formed its boundary, and extended from this stream to the Cadadachos River, where the French settlements began. In the vast expanse of territory between the two rivers, which extends for a distance of two hundred and fifty leagues there were twenty-seven streams, large and small, most of which were unsuited to irrigation because of their high banks. But the land was so fertile and the rain so abundant throughout most of the province, that without the aid of irri- gation almost any part could be made productive under proper cultivation. Granting that Aguayo's plan for settling part of the province with families brought from the Canary Islands was the result of his intense desire to serve the best interests of the king, Rivera, nevertheless, called the attention of the viceroy to the fact that the Marquis had overlooked the great obstacles that must be surmounted in carrying out his pro- posals. The transportation from the Canary Islands to Veracruz and hence to the Bay of Espiritu Santo involved considerable expense and no small hardships. But if the natural difficulties of the long journey could be overcome successfully, the families would find, upon reaching their destination, that the sites proposed by the Marquis for a new colony were unfit for settlement. He pointed out that San Jose de Buena- vista, one of the places suggested, was about one hundred leagues from the bay (to the northeast) and lacked the necessary water. The little spring found at this spot was scarcely sufficient to meet the needs of
13Qrder of the viceroy, November 27, 1729. A. G. I., Audiencia de Gu.u/J/a• jara, 67-4-38 (Dunn Transcripts, 1710-1738).
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