The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 35, July 1931 - April, 1932 Page: 55

Diary of Fray Gaspar Jose De Solis, in the Year 1767-68 55
Brother Antonio Casai fell sick, the one who was accompanying
me from Boca de Leones, because he was poisoned by the ivy that
is abundant in these lands around the rivers, and I determined
that he should return to the Mission of Espiritu Santo Bay in
order to be cured. In these lands the ivy has harmful qualities as
well as in the other districts.
On the 17th I passed by two creeks of good water, very leafy
and pleasant banks, plenty fish. We arrived at Cuero, which is
a bend or corner down the river, and we stopped on the bank of
the Guadalupe River. 5.
On the 18th we passed through El Rosal and arrived at La Mota
del Padre Campa; good water, the road over hills and through
green and pleasant plains, through woods of very leafy post oaks
and pin oaks. There were many deer, flocks of turkeys, quail in
abundance; of the poisonous animals there are only large snakes,
and sluggish water snakes, very harmful, and some spiders that
they call monillas which are very poisonous, also harvest mites,
mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and all kinds of ticks, but the air is very
pure, the weather and climate temperate, very healthful and mild.
On the 19th we went through a place called Los Ramitos,
through another called La Caveza, through another called La Vaca,
and came to Breviario. The road led through hills and extensive
plains, green and dotted with flowers, a few palms and vines, ash
trees and pin oaks. Herds of deer continued, also turkeys, par-
tridges etc. There is water in every glade between the hills, but
although it is abundant, it is tasteless; there are deep. miry places
and marshes even on the hills. In this place there are plants that
are so harmful that one has to be cautious. A careless young
fellow incautiously caught hold of a stick with which to stir his
gruel. As soon as he ate it, he immediately swelled up and only
on account of the repeated aid given did he escape with his life.
On the 20th we left with a strong north wind blowing. We
passed through a place called la Lamedita, through a creek where
there is much foliage, called La Navidad. There are many thick
trees, walnuts, sabines, pin oaks, post oaks, willows, elms, cotton-
woods and many others. We stopped at a creek that has good
water, which they call Los Creditos; we went through hills and
extensive plains and glades that were very green and filled with
flowers, also with deer, patrtridges, turkeys. 12.