The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 258
330 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
show no beauty, nor do they have any conveniences. There are
two squares, almost joined together, being divided merely by the
space occupied by the parochial church, but neither one is worthy
of notice. The commerce, which is carried on by foreigners and
two or three Mexicans, is very insignificant, but the monopoly of
it is very evident. I could cite many instances to prove by asser-
tion, but I do not wish to be accused of ulterior motives. Al-
though the soil is very rich, the inhabitants do not cultivate it
because of the danger incurred from Indian attacks as soon as
they get any distance from the houses, as the Indians often lurk
in the surrounding country, coming in the silence of the night
without fear from the troops, for by the time the latter notice the
damage done it is already too late. No measures can be taken for
the maintenance of a continuous watch on account of the sad
condition of the troops, especially since they lack all resources.
For months, and even years at times, these troops have gone with-
out salary or supplies, constantly in active service against the
Indians, dependent for their subsistence on buffalo meat, deer, and
other game they may be able to secure with great difficulty. The
government, nevertheless, has not helped their condition in spite
of repeated and frequent remonstrances. If any money arrives,
it disappears instantly, for infamous hands are not lacking to
take it and give the poor soldiers goods at double their normal
value in exchange for what they have earned, suffering the in-
clemencies of the weather while these inhuman tyrants slept
peacefully in their beds. I am not exaggerating; on the contrary,
I keep silent about many worse things I could say. The character
of the people is care-free, they are enthusiastic dancers, very fond
of luxury, and the worst punishment that can be inflicted upon
them is work. Doubtless, there are some individuals, out of the
1,425 that make up the total population, who are free from these
failings, but they are very few. The temples and old mission
buildings that constituted the missions of Concepci6n, San Jos6,
San Juan, and La Espada, are within a few leagues of the city.
These, with the exception of that of San Josh, founded in 1720
by Fray Antonio Margil, were first established on the frontier of
Texas and were moved to the San Antonio River in 1730, when
San Fernando de Bejar was founded. The missionaries under-
took the reduction of the gentiles with their accustomed zeal, but258
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926, periodical, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117141/m1/284/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.