Occupation of the Trinity River, 1746-1772
73
money from the royal treasury for this expense nor for the stipends of the missionaries. 41 By the time the missionaries arrived, Governor Barrios was already contemplating the removal of the presidio to a new site. This explains his negative instructions to the zealous old missionary Fray Chavira, towards whom he seems to have developed a dislike from the beginning. In a letter to the viceroy he declared that Fray Chavira was too old and his companion too young to work successfully in the new mission. He blamed them for not having brought sufficient provisions for immediate establishment. Barrios seems to have been on very good terms, however, with Father Vallejo of Mission San Miguel. As President of the Zacatecan mission- aries in East Texas, he requested Fray Vallejo to remove Fray Chavira and Fray Satarain, but before action could be taken Providence inter- vened and the zealous old missionary, who had abandoned the ease and comfort of his college to preach the Gospel to the natives in Texas, died a martyr of zeal and charity, alone and unaided, on June 27, 1757. Fray Satarain was also obliged to abandon the mission temporarily on account of illness. Thus the two were removed by the will of God. 42 Early ltardships of 111ission N1,estra Senora de la Luz. Before his death the industrious Fray Chavira drew a map of the new mission which was sent to Jacinto Martinez de Aguirre, syndic of the Order. Unfortunately Aguirre, who lived in Mexico City and who had been requested to turn the map over to the viceroy with a report of the prevailing conditions, died also, and this interesting document was lost. When the Guardian of the College learned of the unfortunate death of Fray Chavira, he was seriously troubled because no missionary in Zacatecas volunteered to take his place, discouraged by the unhealthiness of the location of the new mission and the hardships of the post. He declares that he hesitated to order anyone to go who was not willing to do so. In the last report of Fray Chavira he had described how they often had to live on roots, herbs, and wild fruit. If the conditions were as bad as reported, the guardian thought it might be wise to move the mission to a better location. Strange as it may seem, however, the Indians them- 41Informe de los Padres del Colegio de Zacatecas . . . May 28, 1757, San Francisco el Gra11de Archive, Vol. 6, pp. 112-116. The viceroy ordered 1,088 ,Pesos paid for supplies on November 5, 1757. Decreto del Virey, November 5, 1757, in o;. cit., 16. 42 Governor Barrios y Jauregui to the Viceroy, June 12, 1757, .A. G. Al., Historia, Vol. 91, pt. 1, pp. 64-79; Fray Guadalupe y Alcivia to the Viceroy, September 18, 1757, A . G. M., Historia, Vol. 28, ff. 190-192. See also page 35 for details of his death.
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