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Escandon and Settlement of Lower Rfo Grande, r738-r779
Description of tlee 111011tle of tl1e Rfo Grande by Escandon, r747. Escandon had set out from Jaumave on the appointed date and continued without serious difficulty to the northeast. On February 10, 1747, he arrived at a place near the coast, to the southeast of present San Fernando, which he called Salinas de la Barra. Here he spent ten days making a careful reconnaissance of the coast and inquiring diligently concerning the distance to the Rio Grande, the character of the country, and the nations he would encounter. But he was unable to secure any information. The Indians said they had never been beyond the San Fernando River, because the tribes of the Rio Grande were their enemies. The soldiers in the expedition who were from Nuevo Leon also declared that they had never been in that area. An observation taken at this point indicated that they were in latitude twenty-five degrees north. A glance at a modern map shows that the instrument used was fairly accurate, for the mouth of the San Fernando is slightly above twenty-four degrees and fifty-five minutes. Learning that the mouth of the Rio Grande was actually in latitude twenty-six degrees and thirty seconds, Escandon decided to try to reach it without further delay. Taking fifty men mounted on the best horses at his disposal, and ten helpers with bars and axes to clear the way, Escandon set out on February 20. With him went also Father Fray Lorenzo de Medina of the College of San Fernando, and Sergeant Major Antonio Ladr6n de Guevara, who seems to have joined the expedition. With six Indian guides the party started out resolutely for the mouth of the Rio Grande after the celebra- tion of four masses for the success of the enterprise. After traveling approximately twenty-five leagues, some seventy miles, they arrived at the Rio Grande on February 24, at a point about twelve leagues from its mouth, very likely in the vicinity of present day Matamoros. On the whole the country traversed was level and well suited to agriculture and the raising of cattle, being covered with an abundance of grass which appeared to be perennial. No river or sizeable creek was crossed, but there were frequent lakes or ponds filled with drinkable water. Throughout the entire area numerous wild horses and asses, as well as many deer were found. That same day his force was joined by the troops from Cerralvo and Linares. With the latter came a number of Indian inter- preters who knew the languages of the Indians that lived along both sides of the Rio Grande from San Juan River to the coast. Escandon pitched camp about three-quarters of a league from the river. On February 27, he left his camp and set out for the mouth of the
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