The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 31, July 1927 - April, 1928 Page: 58
390 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
experience we continue to gain will eventually give greater skill
in deciding what should be done.
In addition to this settlement it is necessary that your Excel-
lency take steps to settle Bahia del Espiritu Santo. And because
I have already examined the country that lies between the two
rivers of San Marcos and Espiritu Santo before they unite to
enter the said Bahia, I know that there are open stretches and
large plains and great conveniences for establishing large settle-
ments of Spaniards.
This climate is much more agreeable than that of the coast,
because heavy sleets fall there in the winter, as I learned during
that time; and I have reports from the post that it is unhealthy.
This is proved by the great number of Frenchmen who died there.
They also say that many diseases rage there. It is unsuitable
also because it is surrounded by hostile Indians-both on the little
islands in the said Bahia as well as in the surrounding country.
All these form one nation. When I first went to explore the San
Marcos River further up than the junction with the Espiritu
Santo River, I found a large lagoon which we believed to be an
outlet from the San Marcos River. With a little wind it had
waves like the sea. The Texas Indians call the enlargement
Sapinay. But going on up above the said junction we explored
Cerrito Colorado which, at Bahia, was always thought to be on
the banks of the Colorado or Espiritu Santo River. In places
there are groves of trees and on the banks of the rivers are many
kinds of wood for building. On the plains that are bounded by
the lagoons it would be possible to locate the settlement; and I
judge that a boat could ascend the river, enter the lagoon, and
explore it to determine upon the conveniences the various loca-
tions may offer.
Here could be made the first settlement of the Spaniards as an
opening for the commerce for the whole country and, at any rate,
for the commerce with the Texas country. On the whole, this
settlement will be a good means for joining hands between the
Texas country and the frontiers along the Rio del Norte where
the presidios and missions are located. Through the port of Bahia,
above named, the work of settling the whole country can go for-
ward with greater facility and His Majesty will be spared the
heavy expense of transportation by land and the greater delays
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 31, July 1927 - April, 1928, periodical, 1928; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101088/m1/64/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.