The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 62, July 1958 - April, 1959 Page: 51
617 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Secular Life in the San Antonio Missions 51
of the doors were of carved wood. Lime was used in plaster for
the exteriors and interiors and in whitewash to lighten the dark
rooms. Metal was probably brought to Texas in crude state and
made into bolts, locks, keys, door hinges, and decorative flat studs
by local artisans.20
Outside the mission walls were mission farms. In 1785 Father
L6pez reported that the farms were enclosed by strong wooden
fences which were repaired annually. The missionaries taught
the neophytes elements of farming, but L6pez wrote that the
missionaries had to determine every act "down to the very smallest
details," even how often and how many pieces should be added
to repair the fence rails.21 Soldiers, called mayordomos, helped
manage the farms.
The harvest was stored in a common granary or barn under
lock and key. The padres worked out a system of distributing food
in an attempt to teach the Indians self-control. In 1758 San Jose
missionaries gave each Indian one peck of corn, a piece of meat,
and tobacco on Sunday, and beans, corn, and brown sugar on
Thursday. On Sunday night some Indians would eat, drink, and
make merry over a week's rations and apply for a new portion the
next morning. Gradually the Indians were supposed to learn the
civilized habit of rationing food.22
After the harvest the neophytes were supplied with provisions
and seed was laid aside for planting. Any surplus went to market
for the neighboring soldiers and settlers. The pueblo officials
made the business arrangements, with the priest acting in an
advisory capacity. Money from the transactions went to the In-
dians individually and could not be used for the missions or the
missionaries.23
By 1762 the missions reported good crops. In the next few
years they were able to supply the presidios of San Antonio, La
Bahia, Orcoquisac, and Los Adaes. San Antonio missions had
fenced fields which were well tilled and had good irrigation
ditches.24
20Brooks, Texas Missions, 52-54.
21Dabbs, "Texas Missions in 1785," Preliminary Studies of the Texas Catholic
Historical Society, III, 22.
22Castafieda, Our Catholic Heritage, II, 20o6.
23lbid., 207.
24Ibid., IV, 14; Bolton, Texas in the Middle Eighteenth Century, 99.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 62, July 1958 - April, 1959, periodical, 1959; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101173/m1/69/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.