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illissionary Activity Among the Apaches, 1743-1758
leagues, reached the Arcon, some fifteen leagues above the point where they had previously observed it. On January 7, they went fourteen leagues to Puerto Viejo, where they met Chief Pintas and his people. Don Pedro Rabago y Teran and Fray Lopez explained to him the plan to establish missions for the Apaches in their country which pleased the chief greatly. He promised to enter the mission and told the Spaniards that above the San Saba, on Rio Florido, (present Concho) lived ten different chiefs and their people who also wanted missions. Such encouraging news won liberal gifts from the Spanish party. They parted with effusive promises of everlasting friendship. Don Pedro entered San Antonio on January 8, where he stayed four days to rest before setting out for San Xaner. On the return march to his presidio he went eight leagues to Cibolo Creek on January 12, the next day he traveled Se\·en leagues to the Guadalupe, from where he marched ten leagues on January 14 to the San Marcos, twelve leagues to the Colorado the follow- ing day, ten to Atascosito on January 16 and twelve to San Xavier on the next day. Since his departure he had traveled two hundred and sixty- three leagues in three weeks. 51 If we were to trace Don Pedro's route on a modern map, we would find that Puerto Viejo must have been in the vicinity of Leon Springs. Arc6n River was either Joshua Creek, near present Welfare, or the Guadalupe in the vicinity of present Comfort. It was here that Mass was said on Christmas day. He must have come upon the Pedernales a few miles below Fredericksburg, from where he continued to the Llano River near present Castell. From here he changed his course to the northwest, and passing close to Mason, continued to the San Saba River which he reached in the vicinity of present Menard. While allowing his men and horses to rest in San Antonio, Don Pedro busied himself in ascertaining the second point of his commission. On January 10, 1755, he formally requested the Cabildo of the Villa de San Fernando to declare whether the Apaches had kept the peace? Whether they had committed any depredations recently? Whether the peace observed might be considered lasting? ·what was the number of these Indians? Where should the contemplated missions for them be estab- lished? Would a garrison be required, and if so, how large? The C abildo 51 Testimonlo (del dnrotero y diario) December 1, 1754-January 17, 1755. In Testimonio de los autos fechos sobre reduccion ... A. G. I. Audiencia de ,lfixico 92-6-22 (Cunningham tr., 1763, pt. 3), pp. 55-67. '
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