I
Occttpation of tlee Trinity River, I746-I772
71
lands. Chief Mateo, who lived on the San Jacinto, likewise declared he wanted a mission in his own country and convinced Governor Barrios that the Orcoquisacs were divided into two bands that were hostile. In view of the circumstances, Fray Vallejo suggested that it might be best to establish a mission near the presidio for Chief Calzones Colorados. one in the ranclteria of Chief Mateo, and one for Chief Tomas, assigning each one a guard of five soldiers, ten of which could be drawn from the fifty families allotted to the civil settlement. The governor was a bit puzzled, but by November, after a personal visit to the Orcoquisac, he was convinced that one mission would be ample. He declared that the Orcoquisacs had in fact four ,-a11cl1erfas (five) ; two of Calzones Colorados and one each of Canos, El Gordo, and Mateo. The first three had agreed to congregate in one mission and he felt confident that Mateo could be induced to join them despite the distance to the site selected. He was not very favorable to the Bidais, who, he declares, "are undependable, live too far away, and really do not need a special mission." Although he had written to the Guardian of the College of Zacatecas urging him to send two missionaries to start work among the natives. the post was still without spiritual ministration at the close of November, 17 56. At that time there were about ninety persons in the presidio, two Spanish families, and two Karankawas. Ten more were being awaited, besides the numerous Orcoquisacs who came and went, looking for the formal establishment of the mission. 38 In this connection the governor made an interesting proposal intended to save time. He called the attention of the viceroy to the fact that the San Xavier missions had been moved to the San Marcos, where they were being cared for by Fathers Fray Lopez and Fray Aparicio. Since these missions had only a few neophytes and were about to be sup- pressed, he suggested that their sacred vessels, ornaments, bells and other equipment be assigned to the new presidio of San Agustin de Ahumada, ~he mission, and the Pueblo of San Luis de Ronda soon to be founded. 39 Arrival of the missionaries. Shortly after Barrios-wrote to the viceroy that the missionaries had not put in an appearance, that official seems 38 Informe del gobernador sobre conveniencia de establecer poblacion .. . November 20, 1756 : Consulta misiones, July 22, 17 56. San Francisco el Grande Arcltive, Vol. 7, pp. I 57·164, 83-90. 39 /bid., Vol. 7, pp. 83-90. For details of the missions on San Marcos River ~e Castaneda, The Missio11s at Work (Volume III of Our Catltoli& Heritage).
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