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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



July, 1905 



The Spanish Missions in Texas and Arizona 



By Charles F. Holder 



HE earlv history of Spain in America is of 

 dramatic interest, and can not be read even 

 casually without arousing admiration. What 

 more unpromising region than Texas in 

 1532 could be imagined? Filled with hos- 

 tile Indians, its possibilities absolutely un- 

 known, its coast forbidding, few would have essayed it. But 

 this vast region, with its extremes from torrid deserts to cold 

 northers, was crossed and recrossed by many adventurers — 



to internal dissensions it was a failure, and nearly the entire 

 party lost their lives. The French and Spanish sent out many 

 expeditions in rapid succession, and as a result a number of 

 forts and missions were established, the latter in some in- 

 stances remaining to-day as striking ruins. 



One of the interesting missions of the seventeenth century 

 was established through the influence of Viceroy Galve, who 

 sent Leon on an expedition into Texas with the view to the es- 

 tablishment of missions. The Fathers were from the College 



The Interior of San Xavier Mission, Arizona 



Spanish and French — who left as their only monuments some 

 of the most interesting ruins in America. 



One of the first Spanish governors of Texas, as early as 

 1692, was Domingo Teran de los Rios, and one of the first 

 Friars to enter Texas, Antonio Olivares, who, after a march 

 as far as the River Frio, reported to Bishop Galmido and 

 was sent to Mexico for aid, hoping to extend the chain of 

 missions across the Rio Grande. Texas at that time was 

 unknown; it had no name, and was a part of Florida in a 

 general sense; and what bravery and tenacity of purpose was 

 required to penetrate such a country can readily be realized. 

 The expedition of La Salle is famous in history. Its object 

 was to settle the country and convert the natives, but owing 



of Santa Cruz of Queretaro, and were Franciscans. In 1690 

 they established a wooden mission near the Trinity River, 

 and called it San Francisco de los Tejas. Padre Foncubierta 

 was made president, and with a few men, horses and some 

 provisions, he began the work of converting the Tejas 

 natives, whose name was adopted as the name for the modern 

 State. Orders were now given Governor Teran de los Rios 

 to make a study of the entire region, pacify the natives, and 

 establish eight missions, for which purpose nine Franciscans 

 were brought from Mexico. Another mission, Jesus Maria 

 y Jose, was built, but the work of proselyting did not pro- 

 gress, because some of the priests had died. Drought, heat, 

 sudden changes in the weather, the hostility of the Indians, 



