Our Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
34
of interest to note that the experienced old missionary explained to the authorities that the source of the trouble since the destruction of San Saba was the failure of the Spaniards to establish civil settlements, as well as missions, at regular intervals from one end of the province to the other.:s Presidio de San A gustfo de A lmmada and Mission Nuestra Se,iora de la lur:. Almost due south of Nacogdoches on the east bank of the Trinity River, one league from its mouth, and barely a quarter of a league from its stream stood the Presidio de San Agustin de Ahumada, also called "de las Amarillas," but better known as the Orcoquisac Presidio. Here a guard of thirty men had been first placed by Governor Jacinto de Barrios y Jauregui in the spring of 1755. At the recom- mendation of a Junta de Real Hacienda, the viceroy had authorized the establishment of a presidio, a civil settlement, and a mission on February 12, 1756. The history of this outpost had been stormy and tragic. In 1766, when the Marques de Rubi visited the place, little or no progress had been made. The presidio at this time consisted of a few frame buildings on a low hill, the only spot not completely flooded by the waters of the Trinity the greater part of the year. Rubi explains that across the mouth of the Trinity there was a large sand bar which caused the flood waters of the river to backwash and inundate the entire area from the mouth to the presidio. This made the land impassable. In order to reach the sea by land it was necessary to make a detour of ten leagues. The entire coast from the Trinity to the Mississippi was equally impassable during the greater part of the year. The reason for choosing so undesirable a place was, it seems, the ill-advised desire to occupy the spot where a group of French traders had been discovered. This was not only unhealthy, but extremely damp and most difficult of access. If intended to protect the coast it was practically useless, observes the Marques, being impossible to reach it by land the major part of the year. The garrison of thirty-one men, including the captain, were poorly clothed, poorly fed, and poorly equipped. Because of the difficulty of securing supplies as a result of the bad roads and the high water, the men were often forced to live on roots, nuts, and wild fruits. The mission, which was located near the presidio, had met with little success. The 0rcoquisac Indians (Arkokisas) had been more or less
25 Fray Jose de Calaborra y Saenz to the Governor, May 8, 1764. San Francisco tl Gra11de Arcl,ivt, Vol. 12, pp. 156-161.
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