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Bernardo also came with the Padres to instruct the neophytes in the routine of mission life and the cultivation of the fields. From January 20 to the 22nd, witnesses were formally examined and testimony was taken as to the suitability of the location chosen for the new mission. Lieutenant Manuel Valdez, Sergeant Francisco Longoria, soldiers Jose Felix Saenz and Tadeo Flores, and others made detailed reports on the extent of the valley, the character of the soil, the facilities for irrigation, the amount of timber, and the various advantages of the site selected. Lastly the Padres were called, the testimony read to them, and their opinion requested. The good friars declared they had personally examined the valley during the last few days and found that the testimony gi\'en by the witnesses was true. They added that they were convinced of the existence of mineral deposits in the surrounding hills, and that the \'alley offered opportunities not only for the cultivation of farm products but of cattle, sheep, and goats. Furthermore, in their opinion the location was well chosen to serve as a base from which to spread their missionary cndea\'ors to the Chanas ( Llano River) and even to the Florido (Texas Concho). They added that they were convinced of the sincerity of the Indians, who were more favorably inclined than ever before to accept the teachings of religion and subject themselves to the routine of mission life. In their opinion no time should be lost in carrying out the formal founding of the mission. The following day, on January 23, 1762, all the Indians and the Spaniards were gathered early in the morning. Through an interpreter, Jose Antonio, an Apache-Lipan who understood Spanish, the Indians were informed of the decision to establish a mission for them and of the pri\'ileges and duties that would accrue to them. The Indians and the Spaniards made their way to low-lying flat hills near the spring, on the east side of the river, where in the intervening days a temporary shelter had been constructed to serve as a church. The two missionaries now solemnly rang the bell, hastily set up in the pro- visional shelter. The joyous sound rang across the narrow valley and echoed melodiously in the surrounding hills. As the sweet notes died down three hundred souls, men. women, and children stood before the little mission with anxious eyes and expectant faces, while several hundred more, still suspicious and undetermined whether to join in the ceremony, watched the proceedings from afar. An altar had been erected beneath the open shelter or arbor that could be seen from all sides. A cross, made of solid oak logs. had been set up in front of the chapc:I. Fray Diego and Fray Joaquin, dressed in their albs and wearing their stoles, formally
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