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replied the following day. They had evidently suffered a change of mind in the last two years. They frankly admitted that the Apaches had kept the peace during the last five years, and that during this time they had repeatedly solicited missions. They had committed no hostilities, with the exception of a few minor thefts of cattle, and the roads had been safe for the first time in years. The permanent solution was evidently the establishment of missions for them. In their opinion the peace would be lasting. They did not know the number of this nation, but they were convinced the Apaches were numerous. If missions were authorized, these should be established in their own country, because there was no room for them in San Antonio. A presidio with a large garrison was highly advisable to restrain them in view of their multitude. In their opinion one hundred soldiers would be necessary for the protection and safety of all. The same questionnaire was submitted to Captain Urrutia, who con- firmed the answers given by the Cabildo. He related how on two occasions five citizens had recently penetrated the Apache country in search of mines, and how these Indians had given them food and lodging, caring also for their horses. He estimated their number to be four thousand, and he enthusiastically urged the founding of missions for them in their own country. A garrison of one hundred men would be required for the success of the enterprise, because it would take twenty men to guard the horses, twenty to protect the missions, twenty to escort the trains of supplies, ten for guard duty at the presidio, fifteen to escort supplies for the presidios, and fifteen as a reserve for emergency duty. When Bachiller Juan Ignacio de Cardenas Pinilla y Ramos, the new curate, was asked to testify, he said he had been in San Antonio only four months. During this time no hostilities had been committed by the Apaches. This peace had been maintained for at least four years, accord- ing to public information. The Apaches came and went and traded peacefully skins, meat, and fat with the inhabitants. Bachiller Ignacio Martinez, who had been chaplain of the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar in 1754, but had recently been assigned to Nuevo Leon, also declared that the Apaches had kept the peace. He estimated their number at five thousand and agreed that missions for them should be established in their own lands. From his knowledge of these Indians, he thought a garrison of one hundred men would be required. He praised
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