Establishment of San Fernando de Bejar, 1723-1731
281
and the tents; and estimated the horses and mules required for the trans- portation of the travelers. To make himself very clear as to the exact location, where the families should be settled, he drew up a map of the presidio and the surrounding country, which he sent to the viceroy with his report. Immediately upon receipt of this information, the Marquis of Casa- fuerte sent it on to Rivera, who finally expressed his views on the whole matter on September 30. Prior to this date, he had made a report similar to that of Aguayo as to the best manner of conducting the families to Texas. He now remarked that he had nothing further to add as to their conveyance and the necessary arrangements for the entire trip. He thought that His Excellency could determine for himself which of the two plans outlined for this portion of the enterprise should be followed. But with regard to the map presented and the site suggested for the actual establishment of the proposed town he pointed out a number of errors in the directions and corrected other significant details. To the north of the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar, he declared, there was a low hill not far away, from which two springs flowed to form the San Antonio River, which passed to the east of the presidi9 and the San Pedro which passed to the west. Both followed a southerly course and joined a short distance below, before they entered the Medina as one stream, about eight or nine leagues beyond. The presidio had been constructed, therefore, between the two rivers. The Mission of San Antonio de Valero was on the east bank of the San Antonio River, to the east of the presidio, while the Mission of San Josey San Miguel de Aguayo was to the west of the river, on the same side as the presidio. This obvi- ated the need of crossing the river in going from this mission to the fort. But according to the map drawn by Aguayo, the two missions had been erroneously placed on the east side of the river, or more correctly, on the bank of the river opposite the presidio, which, according to the compass rose drawn on the map, would be the north side. 20 This was an evident mistake, perhaps due to carelessness or an oversight of the draftsman. Furthermore, the map showed a bridge over the San Antonio River. There had never been a bridge over this stream, Rivera affirmed in his report. Ordinarily the women waded across it when they went to Mass from the Presidio to the Mission of San Antonio de Valero. Only when the rain caused the river to rise was the usual passageway obstructed.
20 Aguayo's map, correctly criticized here by Rivera, was published for the first time in Bolton, T,:r;as ;,. t/,1 Mtddl, Eig/rt,,nt/, C,ntur~.
Powered by FlippingBook