Our Catliolic H eritag.e in Texas
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Comanches, so that by the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Lipanes claimed as their habitat the area between the upper waters of the Nueces, the Medina, the Colorado, and the Red. But still hard pressed by their enemies, they began to move more rapidly southward and to extend their wide range of depredations into west- central and central Texas. By the time of the establishment of the Presidio de San Antonio de Bejar, members of this nation raided this outpost and harassed the advance of Aguayo on his march to east Texas. Thus they came to make their home successively on the San Saba, Chanas, Pedernales, Medina, Rio Grande, and Pecos Rivers. Although not as numerous as believed by the Spaniards, their habit of dividing into bands who foraged and raided vast areas, confused their enemies. "The Apache-Lipanes," says Modi, "in general are tall, straight, well formed, robust, of lordly bearing, of regular features, and of clear understanding. They are astute and bold, but false, perfidious, and enemies of all living things. One may rest assured that in their vile hearts they prefer a horse or a mule to even their own parents, children, and women. They are clean and decent in dress, but of lascivious customs; and they differ from the other Apaches only in that they eat the meat of the buffalo, venison, bear, and cattle; some corn which they sow along the river beds; and other seeds and grains produced by nature, because their laziness and wandering spirit make them enemies of cultivation." 29 Ruthless and heartless, the Apache was hated alike by all the tribes. "His hand was against every man and every man's hand was against him," says Bolton. 30 Their cruelty with captives surpassed in refinement all imagination. "When on their way," declares Morfi, "they surprise an enemy, man or woman, who is not a child, or an old man, they guard him carefully, and take him to the rancheria for the celebration of their great fiesta. The captor convokes the numerous captains of the nation, and when those who come have gathered, he delivers to them the captive, that each one may torment him at his will and in his turn.. Some throw the captives naked into the fire, from where they are soon taken out; others wound them with divers sharp pointed instruments; some cut off i piece of flesh, roast it, and eat it; some apply glowing coals to the most sensitive parts of the captive's body; but they all take care to feed the prisoners that they may not die inopportunely from this diversity of cruelties. The day assigned for the conclusion of t~e feast arrives; they
29 Chabot, Morft's India,, E:r;&erjll, 17. '°Bolton, oj. cu., I, 26.
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