The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 31, July 1927 - April, 1928 Page: 61

Description of Tejas or Asinai Indians, 1691-1722 61
dition the French are placing us. They are slipping in behind
our backs in silence, but God sees their intentions. All this, Most
Excellent Sir, demands an extraordinary remedy and if it be pos-
sible-at the great expense of removing certain presidios from
Viscaya-the great damages that is at our very doors should be
repaired.
[Mineral Wealth of Texas]
The gifts which God has bestowed upon this country encourages
one still further in this undertaking, so that, in time, the country
will pay for itself. It has been discovered by some of those who
were in the last expedition who have a knowledge of metals that
this whole region is a mineral district. No stones are known save
those which contain metals, while all the streams flow out from
metals.5 It has not been possible for us to verify this because
we have been much hindered by sickness and other accidents that
have occurred to cause delay in the matter. The Christian Indians
who understand the Castillian language and the language spoken
by the Indians of these regions will be useful for the founding of
pueblos and the collection of Indians into groups. Spaniards who
have had experience in metals will be needed to work the mines.
[Other Products.]
Steps can be taken later to secure workers for the purpose of
encouraging the growing of hemp. His Majesty can send from
Spain those most useful.
The same is true of the vine, in case your Excellency and the
superior government are favorable. I say the same thing con-
cerning the development of the silk industry, for there are a great
number of mulberry trees in this country. These Tejas Indians
do not give us any help. They are content merely to visit us.
The lack of necessities we suffer from, both food and assistance
we leave with God, who has thus decreed it. May all redound to
"In speaking of iidalgo's work among the Alsapas Indians, Juan
Domingo Arricivita says: "The good that resulted from the work of
Father Hidalgo was not spiritual alone, because the Alsapas Indians gave
information concerning some very heavy rocks in a hill near the mission,
and when an examination was made, the richest kind of a treasure was
found, from which great quantities of silver were taken. Father Hidalgo
was the first to bless the mine called San Francisco de Asis." Oronica
Serdfica, 212.