The Search for La Salle, 1685-1689
With the energy that characterized his entire administration, he imme- diately summoned Barroto and Romero and questioned them personally concerning their unsuccessful attempt to locate the French settlement. After consulting with the officials of Veracruz, he decided that it would be well to send out a new expedition to search for the evasive colony. Since it was generally agreed that it was not possible to make a careful exploration of the numerous shallow inlets along the coast with the type of vessels available, the new viceroy gave instructions for the construc- tion of two pirogues, which were to be propelled both by sail and oars, as Admiral Palacios had suggested. With unusual diligence, the two boats were finished within a short time. Each was equipped with forty oars. They carried six guns each, and were to be manned by a crew of about sixty-five men. One was named Nuestra Senora del Rosario and the other Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza. The first was placed under the command of Captain Martin de Rivas, with Barroto as chief pilot, and the second was commanded by Captain Antonio de Iriarte, with Romero as pilot. Provisions sufficient for three and a half months were put on board and no detail was overlooked that might contribute to the success of the expedition. 10 The instructions were drawn up by Admiral Francisco Navarro, com- mander of the fleet that had brought the new viceroy from Spain. The two vessels specially built for the occasion were to proceed directly to Tampico, where they were to secure two native pilots, who were to serve as interpreters also. Setting out from Tampico they were to explore the coast carefully, noting all rivers and inlets to latitude 30°, within which area it was confidently thought the French settlement would be found . The men were enjoined to obey their officers implicitly and to use the provisions sparingly, in order that they might not have to give up the search for lack of supplies as had been the case in the previous expe- dition. Especial vigilance for enemy vessels was to be exercised and a lookout was to be kept constantly on the main mast. Should they find the Bay of Espiritu Santo, they were to examine it with all care and make a detailed map of it. Lastly, they were to acquire all information possible concerning the French colony from the natives in the neighbor- hood and all along the coast. 11 10 Letter of the Viceroy to the King, December 30, 1686; pp. 37-43; Relacion de las dos Piraguas que se han fabricado .. . pp. 26-27; Razon de lo que llevan las Piraguas, pp. 35-37, all in A. C. /., A11dienda de lrlb:ico, 61-6-20 (Dunn Tran- scripts, 1685-1688). llJnstructions for Iriarte and Rivas, December 12, 1686. In Ibid., pp. 28-3 I.
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