Plans for tlie Reorganization of tl1e Frontier
to be accompanied by Nicolas de La Fora, captain of engineers, and an assistant who were to draw maps and sketches of the presidios and of the country to make the reports and recommendations clearer. 40 The Marques de Rubi set out from Mexico twelve days before La Fora was ready to join him. Following the route of Rubi, La Fora left Mexico City on March 18, 1766, and madt! his way north to Queretaro, continuing to Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Sombreretc, and Durango. It was in the latter city that he finally overtook Rubi on April 14. Before resuming the journey, mules had to be St!cured and a supply of provisions gathered. This rt!quired twelve days, during which time La Fora took observations on the sun and found the latitude to be twenty-four degrees north. On April 26, the march was again taken up and after four days they arrived in the Presidio de la Limpia Concepcion de! Pasage, completely surrounded by mountains except on the northwest. Here they found a small garrison of thirty-six men, including three officers. It took fourteen days to conduct the inspection, draw maps and plans, and secure a new supply of provisions. Route of Rubi and La Fora. On May 14, the march was resumed and on the following day the site of the abandoned Presidio de Gallo on the Nazas River was inspected. On May 17, they camped on the site of the old Presidio de Cerro Gordo, now abandoned and continuing along the ,·alley of San Bartolome, arrived in Chihuahua on June 2, "located in an arid Yalley watered by a small stream with scant water." The decline of the mines in the vicinity and the continuing raids of the Indians had reduced the population to some four hundred families. Here the l\farques de Rubi and his little band were obliged to remain until July 7, to give the horses and mules an opportunity to recover from the hardships of the journey through the inhospitable lands· traversed. On July 7, the march was resumed to the northwest. Passing through the Missions of Santa Anna and San Geronimo, of Concho and Tarauman:: Indians, they came to Mission San Francisco de los Conchos on July 9. Here the route branched eastward to Julimes and La Junta. It was the intention of Rubi to inspect the recently founded presidio at La Junta. but while at San Francisco he was informed that the Governor of Nucva Vizcaya had ordered its temporary abandonment and the retirement of its garrison to the old site of the Julime pueblo on the Conchos Ri'"er (Mexico).
40 Reales Cedulas, 1751-1789, Vol. 4, p. 48; Marques de Croix to Arriaga, July 16, 1767. A.G. I. Audie,,cia de Guadalajara, 104-6-13, (Dunn Tr., 1767), p. 179.
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