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eastern frontier, their first preoccupation was to try to convince the Governor first and then the new Commaudaute Ge11eral of the advantages of the new site and of the impracticability of returning either to the former site on the Trinity or to San Antonio. \Vhen Father Garcia Botello returned to San Antonio shortly after the second Comanche attack, he very definitely advanced arguments in his report to Governor Cabello in favor of moving to Nacogdoches and against the recall of the settlers to San Antonio. 70 It was Father Garza who made the first formal defence of the new site on the abandoned Mission of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe of the Nacog- doches. In reporting the circumstances that forced the settlers to leave their homes at Paso Tomas, he emphatically stated that a return to Bucareli was impossible. The former site was not only exposed to attack by the Comanches, but the unhealthy climate and the excessive dampness caused by the destructive floods to which it was susceptible made it undesirable for permanent settlement. Furthermore, the entire course of the Trinity was ill-suited for settlement. There was, in fact, no site that offered greater advantages than the one where the settlers had temporarily sought refuge. The good Father Garza went on to state that some had suggested the possibility of establishing a settlement for the unfortunate A daesanos either on the Brazos or the San Marcos or the Guadalupe. While the intention of those who made the suggestion ,vas praiseworthy, the fact remained that these streams were frequently visited by the Comanches and that the sites proposed were nearer to the country of these rentlentless enemies than Nacogdoches. It was in these facts, he assured the new Conmzaudante General, that the reason for the flight of the settlers of Bucareli in the direction of the country of the Tejas rather than towards San Antonio was to be found. The country around Nacogl0ches was firm and free from floods. The site selected for the settlement was between two streams, both with abundant water for all purposes. The climate was more healthy and there were good fields partly cleared within reasonable distance, some of which had formerly been cultivated by the Indians of the mission. The country was particularly suited for the raising of cattle, there being excellent pastures and numerous springs. But the greatest advantage of Nacogdoches was its excellent location in the heart of the
7 0Father Juan Garcia Dotello to Governor Cabello, December 23, 1 778. A. G. Al., Hisloria, Vol. 51, pp. 478-482.
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