Our C at/1olic Heritage in Tezas
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authorized the expenditure on April 15, 1789, and six days later the viceroy ordered that the plan suggested by Ugalde be carried out. 52 The official hurdles had been cleared and it looked as if a start towards the ultimate reestablishment of Mission Nuestra Senora de la Luz would now be made. But months passed and viceregal officials heard no more about it. The question of the control of the coastal tribes had, however, grown in importance. The new viceroy, Revillagigedo, inquired anxiously from Ugalde what had become of the project for the reestablishment of the abandoned coastal mission. The old story of native fickleness was the answer. Ugalde informed Revillagigedo in September, 1790, that upon receipt of the instructions from Viceroy Flores, Father Reyes had made preparations to visit the Arkokisas and to take charge of his new post at Nacogdoches. But it had been thought best to wait for the promised return of the delegation in the spring of 1789. In vain did Father Reyes await the return of his friends to take him back as they had promised. Hope turned into despair, and the plan was abandoned. The failure of the natives to return for the missionary was proof incontestable of their insincerity, Ugalde observed. 53 The new viceroy was a methodical and energetic man. He fully realized the importance of the distant frontier in Texas. He inquired from the new governor, Don Manuel Munoz, an experienced and zealous servant of the king, if the Indians had made any further efforts to secure mis- sionaries or requested the reestablishment of a mission and presidio in their lands. He was puzzled by the report of Ugalde and wished to verify the facts. He asked Munoz, furthermore, that if their petitions were renewed, to tell him confidentially what the advantages of such an establishment were, what the distance to the new site was from San Antonio and from Nacogdoches, and how the Indians could be kept from abandoning the mission if refounded. 54 Governor Munoz made inquiries, and replied that the Orcoquisacs and their friends had not repeated their request for a mission in their country. Father Reyes, who was still in San Antonio, had told him that he was convinced the Indians had lost interest in the enterprise and did not 52 Junta Superior de Real Hacienda, April 15; Decreto, April 21, 1789. Ibid., pp. 31-32. 51 Juan Ugalde to Viceroy Revillagigedo, September 21, 1790. A.G. M., Historia, Vol. 93, pp. 43-44. 54 Revillagigedo to Manuel Munoz, December 1 o, 1790. A. G. M., Historia, Vol. 93, pp. 49-50.
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