Our Catholic Heritage, Volume II

Our Catholic Heritage in T e:zas

so that each and every one of them might render to Francisco Duval such assistance as he might need in the fulfillment of his commission. These officials should be instructed to assist the conductor and the fami- lies in every way possible and to see that such supplies as they might require along the road, were furnished at the most convenient price. The conductor should be given full power to use discretion as to the distance to be traveled each day and to lengthen the stops in accordance with the circumstances. Should a rest of more than a day be required, he should use his judgment. Although the daily journeys outlined were not long for ordinary travel, the fact that many women and children were among the group, might make it necessary to take more than a day to cover some of the distances suggested. Furthermore, sickness and other unforeseen accidents, common to families when on a long march, might necessitate a change in the itinerary. 40 Instructions for the conveyance of tlze settlers. The viceroy was sat- isfied with the recommendations made by Rivera and the suggestions of the Auditor. On November 8, he ordered the Alcalde i11ayor of Cuatitlan to turn over the families placed under his care, designed to settle in Texas, to Francisco Duval, making a careful list of every person. At the same time Duval was informed that he must make all the arrangements necessary to start on November 15 from Cuatitlan and that he should follow the itinerary as outlined by Rivera and the Auditor, exercising bis judgment while on the road as to the length of each day's journey. He was instructed to conduct not only the settlers, but all their bag- gage, equipment, tools, and other belongings. The list of the persons in the party and an inventory of all goods in transit should be furnished by him to Captain Mathias de Aguirre in Saltillo, who was ordered to take charge of them at that place. 41 On the same day he notified the Alcalde i11ayores and the Justzcias of the various jurisdictions along the route to be followed by the Canary Islanders of the orders issued for their conveyance to Texas. Each one of them was enjoined to furnish Francisco Duval all supplies which he might need and to help him to house the travelers properly at each stop within their jurisdictions. He informed them that although the itinerary called for only twenty-five days in which to make the trip, he had

40Parecer del Auditor, October 31, 1730. A. G. N., Historia, Vol. 84. 41Acuerdo del Virrey, November 8, 1730. A. G. N., Historia, Vol. 84.

Powered by