Om' Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
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privileges, as well as the title of Hijo Dalgo, prescribed by the Laws of the Indies to first settlers. M arcle to i11exico. Satisfied with the opinion of the Auditor and the recommendations of Rivera, the viceroy lost no time in ordering that the necessary instructions be issued to the officials at Veracruz to turn over the families to Francisco Duval, who was to conduct them to Cuatitlan, under a competent guard for their protection. The settlers were to be supplied with everything they needed for the trip at the king's expense, and they should start as soon as possible. At the same time he issued instructions to the Alcalde Mayor of Cuatitlan to secure houses where the families could stay, to purchase the necessary supplies, to give a daily allowance to each person, to furnish them medical assist- ance if it became necessary, to give them medicines, to bury the dead, and to take care of the horses and beasts of burden from the day of their arrival until their departure. 18 After a much needed period of rest in Veracruz the ten families set out early in August for Cuatitlan, where they arrived on August 27, 1730, under the able leadership of Francisco Duval, who looked after all their needs and had helped them on the march. A corporal and a squad of soldiers accompanied the wearied travelers on their journey and were paid by the Alcalde Mayor of Cuatitlan forty pesos for their services. The necessary houses had been prepared in advance and everything made ready for their reception. Here they were to stay until November 15, 1730, when they started for their final destination in San Antonio. 19 Choosing tlee site for tlze settlement. While .the Canary Islanders, tired after their long march, rested at Cuatitlan, the viceroy was busy making final plans for their actual settlement in Texas. The question that was uppermost in his mind now was the exact location in the vicinity of the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar where the settlement should be established. He naturally consulted the Marquis of Aguayo and Brigadier Rivera on this question. Aguayo was the first to report. With many details, he explained the manner in which the families should be conducted from Cuatitlan to San Antonio; he listed the sup- plies they would need for the trip, the tools, the seed, the equipment, 18Quenta y Relacion Jurada que presenta Dn. Franco. Domingo de Laba, Alcalde Mayor de Cuatitlan. A. G. N., Provi11cias /nternas, Vol. 32. 19Viceroy Casafuerte to Francisco .Jomingo de Laba, August 28, 1730. Provin- cias /nternas, · vol. 32.
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