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Jllissionary Acth.,ity Amo11g the Apacltes, 1743-1758
341
for many reasons. Crossing the Rio Grande at San Juan Bautista, there were seventy leagues to San Antonio, located to the northeast. Some two hundred leagues farther in the same direction was Los Adaes. If a line was drawn along the route indicated, it would mark the northern limits of Spanish dominion in Texas. "All the country to the north of this line could well belong to a foreign nation, for there is neither a mission nor a Spanish settlement to be found [within its limits]." He pointed out that by following the Cadodacho River, ca1led the Red by the French because of the color of its waters, upstream in a general northwestern direction to a point due north of San Antonio, a place could be reached in the very heart of the country occupied by the Pelones Apaches. Here was a fact which officials should note. The farsighted missionary then went on to declare emphatically that "the day is not far off when the French nation may leave to the Spanish crown only a small triangle of land along the Gulf of Mexico." That the course of the Red River lay due north of San Antonio could be easily ascertained. If the country was explored in this direction the red waters of its streams, different from those of all the other rivers in Texas, would be found there. It was important that the country to the north of San Antonio be penetrated and occupied. In the twelve years he had spent in Texas the dominion of the king had not been advanced one foot in that direction. He then pointed out that one of the ways in which this country could be occupied was by the establishment of missions for the Apaches. The time for such an undertaking was opportune. Because of the fear of the Comanches, these Indians would welcome the Spaniards now. A presidio in their midst would relieve the garrison of San Antonio of their continued attacks and open to prospectors the rich mineral resources of the un- explored lands. Furthermore, the winning of the friendship of the Apaches and the occupation of their country would preclude future incursions from the enterprising French traders, who, it was well known, were peddling their wares all the way to New Mexico along the route of the Cadoclacho River. But more important than all the worldly considera- tions was the "copious number of souls who, through the merciful inter- vention of Our Lord, may be converted to our holy faith." 5 Futile appeal to tl,e Viceroy. Fray Benito had envisioned from the peace of his cell in the Mission of Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion the full
SFray Benito Fernandez de Santa Anna to the Viceroy, March S, 1743. A. G. /JI. Pr QVi11cias /11tef'11as, Vol. 236, pt. 1.
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