Explorations and Settlements A long the Rio Grande
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regular formation. As the Spaniards approached, the Indians formed two wings and fired a salute which was answered by Idoyaga's men. Members of the Mesquite and Conejo (rabbit) tribes lived in this pueblo. They informed Idoyaga that the mission Indians of La Junta had already returned to their pueblos. The following day, November 23, a census was taken of the Indians congregated at San Juan Bautista on the Conchos and its vicinity. It was found that there were forty-eight families of Cacalotes, twenty-four families of Mesquites, thirty-one families of Conejos, and about ten families of Cholomes. The chapel and sacristy were in fairly good condition and the mission had all the things necessary for divine cult. Desc1·iption of tl1e pueblos and missions at La /tenta. On November 24 the march was resumed, and after going about four leagues ( twelve miles) to the northeast, since the Conchos flows in this direction before entering the Rio Grande, they arrived in Mission San Francisco de los Conchos, located almost at the juncture of the two rivers. The pueblo was on the left bank of the Conchos, this stream being to the east. The valleys of both rivers, as they came together, were fairly wide but subject to floods for which reason irrigation was not practical. Captain Idoyaga remained at San Francisco until November 26. During this time he made a car~ful reconnaissance and took the census of the Indians living at the mission. There were thirty-nine families, eight bachelors and widowers, and nine widows of Conchos and sixteen families of Tecolotes (Owls). Father Lorenzo de Saavedra, who resided here. declared he had been ministering to the Indians of the missions of La Junta for seventeen years; that he had no instructions from Father Menchero; and that as far as he knew it was impossible to irrigate the lands in the vicinity. Father Saavedra was a distinguished Franciscan missionary, who had formerly taught philosophy and theology. had served as Vice-custcdio of New Mexico, and was now Vice-custodio of all the missions at La Junta, the Conchos, and El Paso. Having completed his inspection of San Francisco de los Conchos, Captain Idoyaga set out on November 27 for Mission Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. After traveling one league to the east and crossing the Conchos River, which divided into two channels before emptying into the Rio Grande, he arrived in the mission. Here he was greeted with evident signs of rejoicing by the Indians and Father Fray Francisco Sanchez, the resident missionary, who welcomed him at the door of the
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