345
Establislmzent of Missions in East Texas, 1689-1693
dence of the governor of the whole region. The garrison established on the Guadalupe could keep a close watch on Espiritu Santo Bay. He explained that at each one of the presidios, missionaries should be sta- tioned to teach the natives and instruct them in our Holy Faith. With a line of forts as suggested, communication between the outposts of Coahuila and the remote missions could be easily maintained, future French invasions guarded against, and the numerous nations of this vast territory brought to a knowledge of Christianity and instructed in the ways of civilized life. Such was the plan he proposed. The best time to put it into execution was the following February or March. The success of the work of the missionaries would depend largely upon the character of the soldiers, for which reason only men of good morals should be enlisted. He pointed out that it was impossible to obtain the required number of such men in his province and suggested that these be secured in Zacatecas, Saltillo, San Luis Potosi, and Nuevo Leon. He declared that he would observe strictly the recommendations with regard to the treatment of the Tejas chief, lamenting that up to this time the promised visit to Coahuila had not materialized. In closing, he said he could think of no one better qualified by experience and knowledge of the Indians to undertake their conversion than Father Massanet, and that he had urged him to go to Mexico and lay the whole matter before the viceroy in person. 7 Sound as the recommendations of Governor Leon were, they did not meet with the approval of the Fiscal when submitted to him for an opinion. Declaring that it was against the expressed wishes of the king to spread the teachings of the Gospel by the use of force, Noboa advised that it would be best to abandon the military occupation suggested and to send not more than twenty-five men to escort the missionaries to the Tejas. The Indians among whom they were going to work were so gentle and docile, according to all reports, that a larger force did not seem necessary. It would be well for Father Massanet to choose the soldiers as well as the priests who were to accompany him.• The advice of this well-intentioned official would very likely have been followed had not unexpected circumstances arisen just at this time which changed some- what the pacific nature of the proposed entrada. Two days before the Fiscal rendered his opinion, on August 28, a Mescal Indian named Joseph, had arrived in Monclova with startling
7 Le6n to the Viceroy, August 12, 1689, in Ibid., pp. 26-31. 8 Respuesta fiscal, August 30, 1689, in Ibid., pp. 31-33.
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