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Missionary Activity Among the Apaches, 1743-1758
two missions. This would suffice until it could be seen how many Indians actually came. 13 Captain Urrutia, although in sympathy with the plan, hesitated send- ing it on and making a formal appeal for its approval with no other support than that of the enthusiastic missionary. The mixed feelings of surprise and indignation on the part of Fray Mariano may be imagined, when on his return from a visit to San Xavier, on November I I, he found out that Urrutia had not sent in his petition to the viceroy. He waited a few days, while the details for the release of the Apache prisoners, who were in fact set free on November 28, 1749, were completed, and the day after this was accomplished, he presented a second and more urgent request for immediate action on the proposed mission for the Apaches on the Guad- alupe River. The very day of his return to San Antonio a group of Apaches had come from their country to inform him that smallpox had broken out, that notwithstanding the epidemic they had come to assure him they were ready to join a mission when founded, and to implore some corn and tobacco. These things he promptly had given them. Since the I Ith, two other delegations had come for the purpose of soliciting a mission, and they had declared that they were ready and willing to congregate wherever they were told to do so. It is worthy of note that Fray Mariano asked these friendly Apaches to tell him what they knew of the martyrdom of Fray Silva. They replied that they only knew that the murder was committed by several nations that lived far to the west, one of whom ate cacti and another lived on horse flesh; that those who killed the friar and his companions had fled to the northwest over a very dry area, where no water was found for three days. The year, he continued, had been exceedingly dry and the mission herds of San Antonio, as well as those of the settlers, were being pastured along the Guadalupe. This fact had naturally filled the "spirit- less" settlers, says Fray Mariano, with unfounded fears and apprehension that the new mission might endanger the safety of their herds. "They imagine the Indians will eat all the cattle." To prevent possible difficulties, he had ordered the Apaches on the Guadalupe to move closer to San Antonio to await the decision of the viceroy. Consequently, he urged Captain Urrutia again to take immediate steps to secure viceregal approval for the plan and the necessary supplies which
"Fray Mariano de los Dolores to Captain Urrutia, September 25, 1749. A. G. ,JI. Historia, Vol. 28, ff. 115-118.
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