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Our C at/10/ic Heritage in Texas
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the establishment of missions for them as the best and only solution of the problem they presented to peace in Texas. Governor Bustillo made his way first to the San Xavier River, present San Gabriel, where he halted to wait for a party of Tejas Indians who were to join him there. But they did not come, although he waited for them until November I. It seems that a certain chieftain called El Frances, the Frenchman, had warned the Tejas that the Spaniards merely wanted to lure them from their land to kill them and make slaves of their women and children. 10 The march was resumed towards the northwest along present Little River.1 1 Proceeding with great caution to aYoid being detected by the Apaches, whose country they wished to penetrate unobserved, the expedi- tion made its way slowly, sending scouts ahead to explore the land to the north and northwest. For several days not a sign of Indianc; was observed. Governor Bustillo was determined, however, to continue as far as New Mexico if necessary, as he himself declares, in order to find the enemy. For six weeks he marched for a distance of two hundred leagues, slowly and cautiously over a strange land, extremely rough. where the weather grew steadily colder. But he was only about se,·enty leagues northwest of San Antonio by his own calculation. The Ion:; detour had been necessary to prevent the adversary from being fore- warned. Finally on December 8, one; of the scouts reported a ra11c/1er1a about twelve leagues distant along the stream the Spaniards were fol- lowing. Moving his forces cautiously to within five leagues of the enemy's camp, Bustillo held a council. It was decided to press forward and surprise the foe. The battle on the San Saba. Taking one hundred picked men. Governor Bustillo set out at sunset to surprise the enemy. During the night he traveled over very rough country with great stealth. After overcoming many difficulties, they came in sight of the enemy early on the 9th, who was encamped about half a league beyond the river. Having received absolution by the Padre, the party crossed the stream and attacked the Indians, who were estimated to number more than seven hundred warriors, including four tribes, the Apaches, Ypandis (Lipan), Ysandis, and Chentis, each located in a separate rancheria. The Indians IO Memorial del Govor. Bustillo, 1746, cited by Dunn, op. cit., 2 30-2 3 1. IIDr. Bolton has identified the "primer brazo" or first Brazos of Cabello's /nforme, with Little River.
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