Our Catliolic Heritage in T e:xas
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a corporal and several soldiers from La Bahia, among them Cristobal Martinez, he went to the Colorado River some fifty leagues distant. There he met a Coco squaw who was living among the Xaraname Indians, mostly apostates and deserters from La Bahia, whose rancl1erias were not far from the country of the Cocos with whom they maintained friendly relations. Fray Pinilla asked the Indian maid to call her people. Next day a large number came to see the padre. They appeared very happy and fired a salute when they entered the camp. Respectfully they kissed the friar's hand and embraced the soldiers. A native dance was started to celebrate the occasion, but Fray Pinilla would not permit it. Prac- tically all the Cocos caine, with the exception of a few who stayed back home to care for the chief, who was sick. Asked if they wanted to return to mission life, they all answered in the affirmative, but they explained they would not return to San Xavier because the Spaniards there were angry with them. They said they would gladly go to the Guadalupe River, or Comal springs, or any other place. They could not accompany the friar at this time, because they had no clothes and the weather was still cold. The soldiers observed no stolen horses from San Xavier among them. 43 Appointment of Governor Pedro Rabago y Teran, z753. When the report of the death of Captain Garza Falcon reached Mexico, the viceroy promptly filled the vacancy. The choice proved a good one. Don Pedro Rabago y Teran had served as captain of Presidio de San Francisco (present Monclova) and as governor of the province of Coahuila for five years. During this time he had fulfilled his duties and served the king faithfully. In 1747-1749 he had led a successful expedition to La Junta de los Rios and traversed a large part of west Texas from present Presidio to San Antonio. His experience and his integrity fitted him admirably for the new post. Contrary to general belief, he was not a brother but an uncle of Felipe, the originator of all the troubles at San Xavier. 44 His appointment was drawn up on November 13, 1753. He was named captain of the Presidio del Sacramento, left vacant by the death of the former incumbent. He was to receive the same salary and to proceed to San Xavier in Texas to finish the commission entrusted to Captain Garza Falcon. For the short unexpired period of his governorship, he was to leave his - '3Diligencias a favor de los Cocos en los homicidios de San Xavier, May 22, 17 53 . Ard,ivo del Colegio de la Santa Cruz, 1750-1767, PP· 164-167. h ~ brother of Felipe and gives the date of his appointment as "Dunn says e was n , "Th . . the period served by Garza Falcon. Dunn, e Apache Mission on 1752, 1gnonng San Saba," Tlie Quart1rl,i, XVII, 384.
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