Our Catholic Herjtage in Texas
12
ample room and graceful archways. On the ground floor were the offices, kitchen, refectory, and several cells, while on the second story only one cell had been built at this time. This commanded an unusually good view of the surrounding country. There were four other buildings of stone and mortar. The soldiers' quarters, designed for the mission guards, were opposite the church. Then there were a carpenter shop, a granary, and a spinning and weaving room. Each of these was adequately supplied with the tools and equipment necessary for the work done by the Indians. There was also a place where sugar cane was made into brown sugar and molasses. The whole area was surrounded by a well constructed wall in the shape of a square. Arranged along the wall, which formed the back, were eighty-four stone houses where the neophytes lived. The houses had flat roofs and loopholes from which to fire upon the enemy when attacked. Each house had a bedroom and a kitchen, and each family was supplied with a cooking flat iron, a grindstone for com, a water jar, a bed, a chest of drawers. and a clothes closet. For t}:le convenience of the Indians there were several baking-ovens built at intervals, and, wonder of wonders, there was a swimming pool ( alberca) for the neophytes. The water was brought from the river by means of a gravity canal that flowed along the houses, hence into the pool and out into the adjoining fields. Near the building that served as the military quarters there was another swimming pool for the soldiers. Everything was so well arranged that the governor frankly admits it caused one to marvel to find a mission so well planned and constructed with such meager means as the Padres had. But the degree of civilization attained by the Indians of this mission causes even greater wonder and is the best proof of the success of the missionaries in converting the natives from wild heathens to civilized Christians. The governor explains that the Indians selected their own governor, cabildo (governing council), alcaldes (judges), fiscales (over- seers), and captains, managing all their civil and military affairs under the good-natured and sympathetic supervision of the missionaries, who acted as counselors and umpires in the novel game of self-government so ably played by the neophytes. Those who failed to attend prayer or to perform their assigned task were tried and punished by their own officials. That the system had succeeded is evident, says the governor, because the mission had no jail or detention room, nor any chains or stocks. All the Indians seemed to be happy and contented. They were
Powered by FlippingBook