Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/16

 most of the ammunition back to France — finally determined the colonists to abandon this location and seek a new one on the La Vaca River. Here a fort was erected named St. Louis, in honor of Louis XIV. of France, and La Salle, adventurous in spirit, burning with intense desire to ascertain the exact mouth of the Mississippi River, soon after started to explore the vast regions between Texas and Illinois. Enduring incredible hardships, and meeting with many wild and romantic adventures, he was finally murdered by one of his own men. Hearing of La Salle's death, the Indians attacked Fort St. Louis, killed or scattered all the colonists, and this ended the French attempt to found a colony in Texas. Early in 1686 the Spaniards, holding possession of Mexico, heard of the efforts of the French under La Salle to make settlements in Texas, and determined to drive them out of the country. In 1689, an expedition of one hundred men left the Spanish settlement of Monclova, and reached Fort St. Louis on the La Vaca River. Finding it abandoned they went into the country, where they found two of the French colonists among the Cenis Indians ; taking them prisoners they sent them to Mexico, condemned to work in the mines. Returning to Fort St. Louis, the Mission of San Francisco was established, and priests and friars commenced efforts to convert the Indians. The king of Spain was determined to maintain possession of Texas and Cochinla, and appointed a Governor, sent soldiers and priests to establish military posts and missions, taking cattle for farm uses and seed for planting, with them. Settlements were formed on Red, Nechos, and Guadalupe Rivers. These colonies, as well as that of San Francisco, began early to decline. The Indians were hostile, crops failed, and the cattle died. Although a first attempt at a settlement was made at San Antonio de Bexar, by Spaniards, in 1692, all efforts for colonization were abandoned in 1693, and Texas was once more without European settlers. Little was done to settle Texas until 1745. Permanent occupation by Spain may date from this year. La Bahia, or Goliad, was settled in 1716, Nacogdoches in 1732, and Victoria soon afterward. Efforts were made in good earnest to found colonies, to establish missions, and by arms, agriculture, and arts to extend and to establish Spanish influence and laws over the whole country. Prosperity did not attend these efforts and sacrifices; as may be evinced by the fact, that the entire population in Texas in 1745 did not exceed fifteen.hundred people, with perhaps an equal number of Indians. The fearful butchery of priests, soldiers, and Indian converts at San Saba, by hostile Indians— not leaving one alive to tell the tale — in 1758, caused Spanish missions in Texas everywhere to decline. Until 1821, the old Spanish settlements continued to be surrounded by savage Indians, and Texas was, for the most part, an