Our Catholic Heritage, Volume IV

288

Our Catltolic Heritage in Texas

wrecked many years before. In a half-rotted box he found a string of amulets with false stones, a bunch of old rosaries, and fifteen silver dollars (pesos columniarios). From this it was deduced it was either a French or Spanish ship that had been driven ashore in a storm many years before. On October 16, Cazorla returned to his camp, crossed the Brazos, and following the old Orcoquisac road continued to the Colorado, where he arrived on October 19. Here he left the main road and turning to the right, followed the west course, which brought -him to the Guadalupe on October 21, far to the north of the Orcoquisac crossing of this river, possibly near present Cuero. From here he continued cross-country in the general direction of San Antonio, where he arrived on October 24, made his report to Governor Ripperda, and returned to La Bahia, where he was by November 1. 21 New regulation of presidios, I772. While the governor of Texas and the viceroy were trying to solve the numerous problems that confronted them in their relations with the Indians and in the prevention of English trade in the Spanish dominions, the Court of Spain had been seriously considering the recommendations of the Marques de Rubi, who, it will be recalled, had sailed shortly after his inspection in 1768. On September 1 o, 1772, the king issued a long cedula (decree) under the titie of Reglamento e instruccion para los presidios que se l1an de formar en la Linea de frontera de la Nueva Espaiia, more commonly known as the "New Regulations." The decree incorporated practically all the recommendations made by Rubi and provided the necessary machinery and legislation for putting them into effect. Number of presidios, location, and garrisons. It provided that there should be fifteen presidios beginning at Altar, near the head of the Gui£ of California, and continuing towards the east at proportionate distances of forty leagues apart to La Bahia del Espiritu Santo. In the order of their location these were to be Altar, Tubae, Terrenate, Fronteras, Janos, San Buenaventura, Paso de) Norte, Guajoquilla, Julimes, Cerro Gordo, San Saba, Santa Rosa, Monclova, San Juan Bautista, and La Bahia del Espiritu Santo. All, with the exception of Janos, San Juan Bautista and Z 1 Ripperda to the Viceroy, December 3, 1772; Diario de mi marcha pa. el reconocimiento de la Costa de la Sur, de esta Prova. con un destacamto . . . Luis Cazorla. La Bahia, September 17-November 1, 1772. A. G. M. Historia, Vol. 51, pp. 133-138 ; 138-1 50 ; The Viceroy to the King, November 26, 1772; A. G. I. Audie11cia de Guadalajara, 104-6-1 S (Dunn Tr., 1755-1776) pp. 168-170.

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