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,J,fissionary Activity Among tlee Apaclees, 1743-1758
neither furnish volunteers, nor undertake to guard the city in his absence, because at this time they had to attend to their crops. 35 \Vith only a few men, as many as he dared to take, accompanied by Fray Miguel Aranda, Lieutenant Galvan set out shortly afterwards on a reconnoitering expedition into the Apache country. Taking a northern course, inclined to the west, he first visited the Pedernales. Following its course to its source, some ten leagues from where he struck it, he found that this consisted of two small springs. The stream had a deep channel and the water was not very abundant. Those who were in the party, who knew the stream, declared that in dry years it ceased to flow. Irrigation was impractical because of the high banks. There was good grazing land along its banks. Satisfied that a settlement on the Pedernales was not advisable. he then went on, following the same general direction, to the Sanas (Chanas, present Llano) River. For two days he explored this stream, first upstream and then downstream from the point where he came upon it, crossing it at various points. One irrigation ditch might be constructed to water about two leagues of land, which was not the best for cultivation. The country along this stream was generally rocky and there was con- siderable timber, but the banks were too steep for easy irrigation. The water was much more abundant than that of the Pedernales. From the Llano River he went on to the San Saba River. A detailed exploration of this stream revealed that two ditches might be built, each to irrigate about three leagues of good arable land. The river was meas- ured at two places and found to be nine varas wide and one-half vara deep in one, and eleven varas wide and just as deep in the other. A gunshot's distance from the river, a large cross, three vams high. was erected to mark the best place for the proposed missions. Upon his arrival Galvan found a group of Apaches at the .river, who appeared to be overjoyed at his coming. They quickly sent messengers to their friends, and the next day many others came. Each group fired a salute as they came into camp, dismounted to kiss the hand of the mis- sionary, and then solemnly swore their intention of joining the missions when established. When after the exploration of the river, the cross was erected, a procession was held in which all the Indians took part. The A labado was sung and the rosary said at the foot of the cross in honor ' 5 Autos de! Tenlente Galvan, June 3-16, 1753. In Testimonio ... sobre ... reducci6n ... A.G. I. Audi,mcia de lllixico, 92-6-22 (Cunningham tr. 1763, pt. 3), 11-14.
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