267
Establislmzent and Early Progress of San Xavier 1Jfissions
came back on October 2, and again pleaded for a mission. This time they stayed until the 20th. Captain Orobio, who had doubted their sincerity, promised them he would make their petition known to the viceroy. They left a ho~stage at the presidio and promised to return six moons hence. Orobio then explained that this nation numbered three hundred families, who lived in five rancherias, two located between the mouths of the Trinity and the Neches, and the other three between the latter and the Sabine. Their lands west of the Trinity extended half way to the Brazos. These Indians had guns furnished them by Monsieur Fabri Lubpen, and other traders who lived among the Pachinas west of the Mississippi. Tht!y had informed Captain Orobio that French traders also came to visit them by water from Beliz, although they came less frequently. In view of these facts he suggested that the entire coast area from La Bahia to the Sabine should be carefully explored, if possible, with the aid of a launch, in order to determine the extent of French activity and to find a suitable site for the establishment of missions for these Indians. The Orcoquisac. He then suggested means for such establishments. He declared that the missions of Nacogdoches and Dolores had attained little success. Recently the missionaries had called all the Indians in their vicinity and urged them to live in the missions, threatening to leave them if they continued to live in the woods. The Indians had frankly stated that they did not want to live in the missions. Therefore, he concluded. that the four padres now living in these two missions, who had practically no Indians, could be used to found two new missions for the Orcoquisacs. 26 Shortly after making the report just cited, Orobio received the orders of July 27. He immediately wrote the viceroy that he had at once issued the necessary instructions to carry them out. For this purpose he had consulted the governor as to the best way for sending the thirteen men and their families to the site of the new missions on the San Xavier. It was sixty leagues from La Bahia to the proposed missions, and the road was exposed to danger of attack from the Apaches. He took occasion to detail the many difficulties which he experienced by having his garrison constantly divided to provide guards for missions at other places, to escort trains of supplies from San Antonio and the Rio Grande, to send convoys to east Texas, to dispatch mail, and for
MJoaquin de Orobio y Basterra to the Viceroy, November 1, 1747. San Fra,rcisco el Grande Archives, Vol. 19, pp. 82-84.
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