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01'r Catlzolic Heritage in T ezas
to the Rio Grande, Captain Miguel de la Garza Falcon reconnoitered the northern bank of the Rio Grande from present day Eagle Pass to the mouth of the river, traversing for the first time the route that was destined to become the present military highway. Setting out from San Juan Bautista on January 21, with twenty-five men from the Presidio of Sacramento, fifteen from Monclova, and ten others recruited from Monclova, Santa Rosa, Valle de San Matias, and San Juan Bautista, besides twenty-five Indians from the Missions of San Bernardo and San Juan, all fully equipped and provisioned, he crossed the Rio Grande and followed its northern bank to the south and east. After going perhaps as far as present Laredo, more or less, he attempted to come in contact with the force that was marching from La Bahia, but finding no water to the east, he turned back to the Rio Grande and, keeping in sight of this stream, he followed the course to its mouth, reaching his destination on the third or fourth day of March. "He arrived at the sea," says Escandon, "along the bank of the northern branch of the river, which he said he was unable to sound." After spending a few days visiting the various tribes in the vicinity, Garza Falcon returned to Monclova entering the city on March 28, after having traveled one hundred and eighty-six leagues each way. Throughout his march he met numerous Indian tribes and was generally made welcome by them. In the area below Laredo, particularly in the section of the lower Rio Grande Valley, he lists the following nations: Cootajam, Sepumpacam, Paramatugu, Perpepug, Coucuguyapem, Tlan- chuguin, Pezpacuz, Hueplapiaguilam, and Masaquajulam. Some of these Indians had visited the camp of Escandon on the southern bank of the Rio Grande on February 27, where they were presented with gifts of tobacco, biscuits, and trinkets of various kinds. When asked if they wanted to be gathered in missions, they said they would be glad to live under the protection of the Padres, provided the missions were established in their own lands, where they would welcome the Spaniards. As to the general nature of the country traversed Garza Falcon described it as barren, with little or no water, scanty grass, small groves of mesquite and similar trees, and unfit for settlement for the lack of an adequate supply of water. The land was almost in its entirety low and sandy. 14
1•Report of Governor Pedro de Rabago y Teran, on the expedition of Miguel da la Garza Falcon; Escandon to the Viceroy, October 26, 1747. A. G. M., P,-ovincias /nlef'nas, vQ!. 179, pt. 1, pp. 240-241; 237-239.
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