Our Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
essential articles of dress and displaying gaudy baubles. Captain Pedro de la Fuente was rigidly enjoined not. to permit his men to squander their pay on useless ornaments, gold and silver braid, silver buttons, silk handkerchiefs and lace, earrings, rings, and other jewelry. Furthermore, he was to limit the amount of cigarettes and sweets which each soldier could buy monthly. It had been his intention to inspect the recently founded Presidio de la Junta de los Rios, at or near present Presidio, while on the way to El Paso, but he had learned just in time to save himself a useless trip, that it had been temporarily abandoned and the garrison moved to the old Pueblo de los Julimes on the Conchos River (Mexico) some thirty miles west. The move he uncompromisingly branded as a concrete example of the arbitrary and foolish judgment exercised by governors along the frontier. The former presidio commanded by Captain Manuel Munoz, founded after long investigations and at great sacrifice to the royal treasury, was now in the hands of the natives, who had destroyed most of it and used its timber for firewood. The six pueblos founded in its vicinity and under its protection were now also in ruins. The few fa.ithful Indians who had followed the missionaries to the Pueblo de los Julimes had abandoned the presidio in its new location, because it failed to offer effective protection. More deplorable still, the Spaniards had lost a group of brave and powerful allies in their war against the Natages and Apaches who ceased to have faith in them, when they forsook La Junta. Regardless of the cost, the presidio should be reestablished at La Junta, a key position in the defence of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya.' 7 In July, 1767, he made his inspection of the presidio at San Saba. Although he made up his mind immediately regarding the necessity of moving it to a more advantageous position or abolishing it, he did not express his determination to its commander. The garrison of one hundred men was reduced to seventy by the assignment of thirty to guard the two missions at El Caii6n, some forty leagues south, near present Montell and Camp Wood. The men showed a little better instruction and had more discipline than those of El Paso. Their rifles were of uniform caliber and make, being imported from Catalonia, but many of them were in sad need of repair. He advised that a gunsmith should be employed to keep them in condition. The horses of the presidio had been greatly diminished by the fierce hostility of the northern tribes who had made frequent •7Rubi, Digttamen, May 4, 1768; A. G. I. Audiencia de Guadalajara l 04-6-13 (Dunn Tr., 1768-177:1) pp. 20-:16; Inspection of Presidio del Paso August, 1766. A.G. I. Aud;enc;a de Guad., 104-6-13 (Dunn Tr. 1767) pp. 107-120.
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