270 Recreations of a Sportsman 



July, 1716, a fourth mission was established at 

 San Jose, about fifty miles west of Guadalupe, 

 among the Nazones, peaceful Indians who had 

 many rancherias in the vicinity. The missions 

 were established in the most active Indian 

 centres, or within reach of the greatest numbers, 

 and by the end of the year the region between 

 the Trinity and Red rivers, said to be the garden 

 spot of Texas, was sprinkled with settlements, 

 each having its mission and its log cabins. 

 Ramon built the presidio of Neustra Senora de 

 los Dolores de los Tejas a few miles south of 

 the mission of San Francisco, and not many 

 weeks later two other missions were founded 

 Dolores and San Miguel de Cuellar, the mis- 

 sion buildings being erected in the heart of the 

 Aes and Adaes country. 



For many months the friars worked and 

 labored, but, as with their predecessors, they 

 found it almost impossible to civilize the natives 

 and make them live according to the rules which 

 governed the Spanish or French. Then came 

 internal dissensions. St. Denis was arrested by 

 Spanish officials, sent to Guatemala, but finally 

 returned, and we find him again on the French 

 side and commandant at the French fort at Na- 

 cogdoches. The Spanish, still undismayed by the 

 ill success of their friars, continued their estab- 

 lishment of missions. In 1716 Martin de Alar- 

 con was made governor of Coahuila and Texas, 



