:
Our Cat/,o/ic Heritage in Texas
IO
de Valero and the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar. The foundations for a church had been laid several years before, but the building had not been completed because of the scarcity of adequate materials. A new quarry, however, had been recently discovered nearby and work had been resumed with the intention of finishing the church as soon as possible. It must be kept in mind that the Indians worked slowly and irregularly at their various tasks in a mission. They were not used to sustained effort and their aversion to systematic labor had to be overcome with patience. In the meantime a large room in the friary had been fitted out as a chapel. Here two altars were built. One was dedicated to Saint Francis, whose carved image was placed over the carefully carved and gilded tabernacle. This was further decorated with other beautifully carved and painted images tastefully arranged. The other altar was that of Our Lady of the Rosary. In the chapel there were two confessionals and several benches. In the sacristy in closets and drawers were kept the ornaments, vestments, candlesticks, and censers. It had four anointers, three silver chalices with their patens, an ostensorium, two pairs of cruets, with their respective trays, a ciborium, a procession crucifix, altar bells, and two silver crowns. It had two missals and five manuals for the administration of the sacraments. In the friary proper, which had two stories, there were four cells on the second story and three on the ground floor. Here also were the looms and the spinning wheels in a special room. There were three looms and all the necessary accessories. On this floor were also the offices and the kitchen. The friary had its arcade and was adequately supplied with all the things needed by the missionaries and the Indians. The granary, like the monastery, was built of stone and mortar and was a large and spacious building. Here were stored over two thousand bushels of com, one hundred and two of beans, and a good supply of chile. salt, cotton, and wool for the use of the neophytes. To cultivate the fields it had thirty-seven yokes of oxen, forty harrows, the necessary plows, fifty-eight hoes, forty-six axes, ten scythes, and sixteen bars. There were also the necessary tools for carpentry, masonry, and blacksmithing. For defense against the enemy the mission had two swivel guns and sixteen firearms with a corresponding supply of ammunition. The mission owned a ranch where its cattle and stock were kept. This had a good stone house where the ranch hands lived comfortably, supplied with all they needed. There were twelve hundred and sixty-two head of
Powered by FlippingBook