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Tlze Founding of Mission Nuestra Sei'iora del Refugio
request for additional funds. 79 The royal fiscal promptly advised the Council of the Indies that under the circumstances, the viceroy, the bishop of Guadalajara, and the commandant general should be requested to report on the proposal and the character of Fray Silva. 80 The viceroy, Marquis de Branciforte, replied that the request had originally been made to Viceroy Revillagigedo, that in the meantime the Province of Texas had been removed from his jurisdiction and placed under that of the commandant general of the Interior Provinces. Con- sequently, he was unable to give any additional information. Pedro Nava referred the inquiry to Governor Munoz, who on January 26, 1795, made an extensive reply explaining the attitude of the various Indian nations to the establishment of missions in the area designated by Father Silva. 81 After recounting in detail the circumstances attendant upon the founding of Mission Refugio, Governor Muii.oz discussed the plan for the establishment of missions among the Arkokisas, Tawakonis, and Taovayas. He pointed out that he had come in contact with these nations since taking over the government from Martinez Pacheco in 1790. His impression was that they did not desire missions. With regard to the Arkokisas, Fathers Fray Jose Mariano Garza and ,Fray Jose Mariano Reyes had spent many years trying to persuade them to live in a mission, but they had found that these natives were interested not in conversion but in gifts. Just recently sixty-one Tawakonis had visited San Antonio. When asked if they desired to be reduced to mission life, they replied that they were "all right as they were." Father Silva had said he could place them in a mission if he had twelve thousand pesos to do it with; but, when Governor Munoz offered to give him the money, Silva had pleaded lack of time. Muii.oz concluded his report with the interesting observation that the Talapousas and Alpames (Alabamas) were begin- ning to drive the Ais and their friends westward. 82 When this informa- tion was eventually received by the Council of the Indies, it was decided that there was no justification for the establishment of any more missions 79 Juan de Moya to Antonio Ventura de Taranco, February 11, 1794. Ibid., pp. 1-4. 80 Antonio Ventura de Taranco to the Council, March 17, 1794. A.G./., Audi,mcia de Guadalajara, 104-1-1 (Dunn Transcripts, 1794-1798, pp. I 1-13). 81 Marques de Branciforte to Antonio Ventura Taranco, September 30, I 794; Pedro Nava to Manuel Munoz, November 29, 1794. A. G. I., A11die11cia de Guadalajara, 104-1-1 (Dunn Transcripts, 1794-1798, pp. 34-36; 40-41). 82 Governor Munoz to Pedro Nava, January 26, 1795. A. G. I., Au,liencia de Guadalajara, 104-1-1 (Dunn Transcripts, 1794-1798, pp. 47-50).
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