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established themselves along the Red River to the north, traded regularly with the Presidio de Santa Fe in New Mexico. It was a powerful nation numbering thousands. They were well organized and fought in regular formation and with astounding coolness and courage, never surrendering or retreating. They disliked cowardice and disdained cowards. There was no doubt that the Apaches lived in mortal fear of them. Because of this fear they might consider entering missions. By providing missions for the Apaches and winning their friendship, they would in turn con- stitute a bulwark against these fierce and determined fighters. 8 Fray Benito's second attempt to convert tlze A-paclzes, I 7 45. After the questionable campaign against the Apaches led in 1745 by Captain Urrutia of San Antonio, which resulted in the capture of a number of Apaches, Fray Benito, who had accompanied the expedition, renewed his efforts to induce the officials in Mexico to abandon their former policy and attempt to reduce these Indians through the establishment of missions. On May 16, 1745, he explained to the viceroy that the Apaches were not as numerous or as opposed to conversion as was generally believed. The Lipanes were known to have only one hundred and sixty-six warriors, while the Natages had just one hundred. These Indians could be easily reduced to mission life by the establishment of small garrisons on the San Saba, Pedernales, Salado, and the Colorado Rivers to protect the missionaries. 9 It seems that the Apaches themselves had begun to solicit the friend- ship of the Spaniards, being pressed more and more by the ever advancing Comanches. In October, 1745, the chief of the Lipanes had formerly requested a mission for the third time, with or without a presidio. In January of the following year, the wife of an Apache chief, with two boys, personally requested a mission from Fray Benito, and three days later an Indian girl from Rancheria Grande, captured by the Apaches, was released and sent to San Antonio to inform the Spaniards that although the Natages opposed it, the Lipanes wanted a presidio and mission in their country. 10 •Fray Benito Fernandez de Santa Anna to the Viceroy, March 8, r 7 43, A. G. M., Provincias /nte,-nas, Vol. 236, Pt. r. · 9Fray Benito to the Viceroy, May r6, 1745. Cited by Dunn, "Apache Relations," Tire Qua,-/e,-ly, XIV, 258, note 4. JODunn, "Apache Relations," Tlrtt Qua,-te,-ly, XIV, 258-259.
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