Pe·rmanent Occupation of Texas, 1715-1716
65
of transportation of seven women, a young boy and girl, provided the animals for them to ride, cared for their baggage, and had given them the necessary food, all of this in order to convince the Indians that the Spaniards had come to stay. To illustrate the hardships of the journey he declared that out of the sixty-four oxen with which he started from Saltillo for the missions, only thirty-four arrived. The others died or became exhausted on the long road of more than four hundred leagues. 56 To all of this the Padres testified, and in their report they added that three of the four missions were along the road to the Nachitos (Natchi- toches), by which the French had been in the custom of entering the province from Louisiana; that many more Indians like the Asinai, were expected soon to congregate; and that they had great hopes that this country would become a "Nueva Philipina." It was the declaration of the missionaries that the natives, because of their docility and willing- ness, deserved the liberality of the King who, like a father, should treat them as children of our faith, provide the means with which they should cover their nakedness, cultivate the fields and raise their own sustenance. The careful and impartial distribution of whatever was sent them was but a duty that the Padres would gladly perform. They joined Ramon in his request for sorely needed aid for themselves, pleading they were unable to get any help from their friends at this distance. They further stated that an agreement had been reached-between the friars of the two Colleges of Propaganda Fide of Queretaro and Zacatecas, whereby the land and the fields of activity had been divided for the purpose of the conversion of the Indians. The College of La Santa Cruz was to labor among the nations that occupied the territory to the north, east, and west of the present missions along the road to Natchitoches, in a direct line with the country of the Cadodachos, which in time might be extended to meet New Mexico. The College of Nuestra Senora de Guada- lupe of Zacatecas was to work in the region to the east, south, and west of the present line of missions, extending in time as far as Tampico. Great indeed, they affirmed, was the yield to be expected, both sections being peopled by many nations. With more diplomacy than Ramon dis- played, the missionaries hinted that there were rich mineral deposits to be found in the land, according to the opinion of those who knew. Should mines be found, they said, the settlement of civilians would be made easier. But in such an eventuality they hoped that His Excellency would see that all those who came were of exemplary habits; that no one should
S6Ram6n to the Viceroy, July 22, 1716. Provi11t:ias lnternas, Vol. 181, pp. 8 9 • 93 .
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