San Antonio de Valero and Missionary Activity, 1716-1719 89
Having assembled all the soldiers, families, and other persons who were to accompany the expedition on a previously agreed day, and having put in readiness for the start all the supplies, cattle, stock, and equip- ment at the Presidio of San Juan Bautista on the Rio Grande, the gov- ernor should set out at the earliest possible date, this being the most opportune season of the year for the expedition. The various members were to keep together and travel in a body in sight of the supply train of mules and the stock and cattle, maintaining always an advance guard of at least four soldiers who, with the aid of reliable Indian guides, were to explore the country and keep ahead of the expedition. The daily jour- neys were to be reasonably short and the camping site for each night was to be chosen by the advance guard. Alarcon was to make a careful check of the members of the expedition, the supply trains, the stock and cattle, and the equipment each night and to recheck them each morning. He was to follow closely the established route as far as the San Antonio River and to try to the best of his ability to reach this point with his entire group and all the supplies, exercising great care to see that the stock and cattle suffered no diminution while en route. Careful diaries of everything that happened and everything that was observed on the road were to be kept by various members of the expedition and sent back when opportunity offered. When the San Antonio River was reached one or two missions we· to be established "at the best and most suitable location on the said rivei for the conversion of the Indians and the propagation of the faith. A. this was to be done with the approval of Father Olivares and his two companions to whom Alarcon was to furnish all the means necessary for the purpose; such as, some cattle, oxen, sheep, goats, seed for planting, tools, and other things required to cultivate the land and to establish the pueblo or pueblos formed by the congregated Indians. The natives were to be treated kindly, without violence, and to be presented with blankets, cloth, beads, and other gifts, all of which were to be distributed by the Padres or through the Indian chief chosen as governor. The Indians were further to be excused from the payment of all tribute for a period of ten years, but the missionaries were to induce them to work in the cultivation of the land, the improvement of their pueblo, and the building of a church, all of which was for their spiritual and temporal welfare. Given the important location of the site proposed for the mission by Father Olivares on the San Antonio River, within easy reach of the
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