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ilfissio11ary Activity Among the Apaches, Ii43-1758
opinion, adding that great care should be exercised in the proposed inves- tigation, because these Indians were known for their treachery and in- sincerity. Governor Pedro Rabago y Teran could not conduct the desired inquiry because he had been ordered to proceed to San Xavier. In his absence. the viceroy might order Lieutenant-Governor Juan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos to undertake the examination with the aid of the captain of San Juan Bautista, who was acquainted with the Apaches and their ways. On September 20, 1754, the necessary orders were issued. These were delivered to Fray Guerra of the College of Queretaro to take them to Bustillo y Ceballos. The friar delivered the decree to the acting governor in Monclova on November 22. Not until December 2 did he leave for San Juan Bautista, where he arrived on the 9th. Four days later he set out to fulfill the orders of the viceroy, accompanied by Lieutenant Vicente Rodriguez and Fray Alonso Giraldo de Terreros. The Indians intimated they would prefer a site on the San Rodrigo, but the ill fortune that had befallen a similar attempt in 1750, made the lieutenant-governor seek another place. The exploring party found a suitable location at San Ildefonso. This was eighteen leagues west of San Juan Bautista and two leagues from San Fernando de Austria. An official examination was made on December 18. It was found that the site had an adequate supply of water, sufficient arable land, and good wood. Two days later Bustillo y Ceballos and Fray Alonso interviewed a large group of Apaches encamped a short distance away. Their number was estimated to be over two thousand, but due allowance for exaggera- tion must be made. A council was held with the chiefs and leaders and the plan of mission life was explained to them. They cheerfully agreed to abide by the rules and regulations of the padres and promised to obey and help them. The lieutenant-governor then put them in possession on December 21, 1754, naming the mission San Lorenzo. Thus from this day dates the formal founding of the new Mission of San Lorenzo, established in Coahuila for Texas Apaches, under the protection of San Ildefonso. Sleort existence of San Lorenzo. Fray Alonso immediately took charge of the establishment and began to put things in order. Early in March, 1755, fifty-two Apaches were living in the mission-a small number considering the two thousand that had promised to join-and by the end of the month the number had been increased to eighty-three. The necessary buildings had been constructed and an irrigation ditch built to
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