Presidio tour led to early map of Santa Fe Few New Mexicans today are familiar with the Marqués de Rubí. A member of the Spanish nobility, he carried royal orders in 1766 to conduct a major inspection of all 21 presidios guarding the frontier of northern New Spain (Mexico). Those presidios, or forts, had been intended to hold in check Indian raiders, especially Apaches who terrorized Spanish settlements from Texas to the Gulf of California. But they had been largely ineffective. Rubí's instructions required him to find out why and then to submit proposals for reforming the military system. His fact-finding tour ended up covering several thousand miles over a two-year period. A large cavalcade of assistants, servants and a soldier escort accompanying the marqués reached El Paso on July 19, 1766. Because a 50-man presidio was located there, he inspected the troops as well as the condition of the town. El Paso, with its satellite villages, was found to have population of over 5,000, the largest in New Mexico. From that point, Rubí followed the Camino Real into the upper province. He traveled in a posh carriage, while his soldiers rode horseback and an assortment of helpers such as blacksmiths, stock tenders, cooks and laundresses made their way on foot....