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O"r Catholic Heritage in Texas
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three bulls, one hundred head of sheep and one hundred goats be sent for the mission herd. For the construction of the chapel and dwellings he listed numerous tools used by carpenters and stonemasons and stipu- lated that a number of locks and keys and one thousand round-headed nails be included. For the Indians he asked two or three bolts of common Mexican cloth, some blue and green material for skirts for the women, rosaries and beads, ribbons, hats for the chiefs, blankets, baskets, and tobacco. For the chapel he wanted a good picture of Saint Anthony, two vara.s in length if possible. For the missionaries he asked common sack- cloth, a box of soap to wash their clothes, a ream of paper, a dozen shaving knives, chocolate, and two guns which might come handy for the defence of the mission. He was very anxious to start immediately. Within two weeks after the orders for the supplies were issued by His Excellency, he was ready to set out. On December 28, he petitioned the viceroy to give him a patent for the governors, chief justices, and captains of presidios along the road, which he was to follow, that they might give him all help needed and furnish the necessary escort for the safe conveyance from town to town of all the supplies he was taking for the new mission. He also wanted the governor of the Tlaxcaltecan Indians of San Esteban, in Saltillo, to be instructed to give him one master carpenter and one master mason. Lastly he wanted the soldiers in Nuevo Leon to escort him as far as the Presidio of San Juan Bautista on the Rio Grande to protect him, his companions, and the supplies against the well known dangers of this part of the road. 10 Explicit orders, as requested, were issued that same day and the Padre left Mexico City soon after, going by way of Queretaro in order to take two other missionaries with him. He did not wait for Alarcon, but set out ahead of him. The Guardian of the College of Queretaro, Fray Joseph Diez, notified His Excellency that Father Olivares left Queretaro on February 9, 1717, "with two com- panions selected by himself, and fully equipped with everything neces- sary for the founding of the desired mission on the San Antonio River." He expresses regret at the unavoidable delay that has kept the governor from setting out, but declares that on account of the advanced age of Father Olivares, it was best for him to start immediately. By March 24, he was in Saltillo, where he presented his patent from the viceroy and was duly attended by Martin de la Pena, Alcalde Mayor of the villa.
J0Peticion del Padre Olivares, Provincias lnlernas, Vol. 181, p. 214.
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