Ottr Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
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Thus the fervent faith of the missionaries that carried them over long and weary journeys and exposed them to many dangers and hardships was rewarded, and through their zeal the evil results of Governor Franquis' excesses were in part repaired less than six months after his departure. Diffi.cttlty witli tlze Tacame tribe. A fairly large number of Indians of the Tacame tribe were original1y congregated in Mission San Jose. But as Father Benito declares "They are the most fickle nation, very similar to the Pampopas, who come to the conversions only when impelled by hunger." Not satisfied with conditions at San Jose, they soon became tired and abandoned this mission. Later they asked, in I 736, to be allowed to join the neophytes of San Francisco de la Espada. Naturally they were admitted in the firm belief that they would now stay of their own free will in the mission of their choice. The routine of systematic labor, however, proved too much for them again. In 1737, upon being refused permission to transfer to Mission Valero, they deserted in a body with the others. When the fo11owing year Father Benito went in search of the runaways of Mission San Juan, Corporal Hernandez, who had charge of the escort of nine men, was instructed to try to communicate with the members of the Tacame nation and to explain to them that if they wished to return to live in the missions, they would be allowed to enter San Antonio de Valero, or any one they chose. True to his orders, Hernandez reported that while looking for the neophytes of Mission San Juan, who were being sought by Father Benito, he had made diligent efforts to contact the Tacames, formerly of San Francisco de la Espada, but in vain. Through the chief of the Saiopines, however, he had learned that the Tacames were living in the vicinity of the place known to the Spaniards as La Carniceria (The Massacre). He sent a message to them inviting them to come and assuring them they would be treated kindly and allowed to choose whatever mission they wished to live in. To this they replied that they did not want to return to any mission. After this emphatic reply, "considering any effort to bring them ineffective, the corporal decided it was best for him to return with the Saiopines [to the missions.]" But the missionaries could not be so easily induced to give up their efforts. During the next three years every means was used to persuade the Tacames to come back to mission life. In the winter of 1739 and second petition, February 23, 1738; Report of Andres Hernandez, March 23, 1738. In Nacogdoches Archive, vol. 1, pp. 49-65. -
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