San Antonio de Valero and Missionary Activity, I7I6-I719 95
bad treatment accorded to him, and he went to the meeting of the nations." Fears may well be entertained, because he was an intelligent Indian who had followers. When the Indians get together afterwards, they add more [to their grievances] than they actually are, and they do not say this or that Spaniard dealt with me unfairly, but declare the Spaniards mal- treated me. In truth, this Indian had reasons [for running away]. When asked if the Indians would come to the missions or not, he replied that he could not say, but that he would talk to them about it and would try to induce them to come. To this [statement] Governor Don Martin de Alarcon replied that if they did not come, he would [go in search of them] and put all of them to the sword. [This threat is] more than sufficient reason why not an Indian stayed in this neighborhood and for leagues around. Imagine, Your Excellency, such a method of congregating Indians and settling the land !" 37 In spite of the disappointments of Father Olivares and the undeniable animosity that existed between him and the governor, by the end of the winter of 1718, numerous Indians of the Jarame, Payaya, and Pamaya tribes had come to the mission and with unprecedented willingness, accepted the new order of things. When on January 12, 1719, Governor Alarcon returned from East Texas to San Antonio, he found the number of Indians now living at the mission was such that he thought it best to proceed to the formal organization of the Indian pueblo that had grown up around the mission center. With the consent and apprornl of all the Indians congregated, he appointed a governor, selected alcaldes and regidores from among the principal leaders, and formally organized them into a self-governing community under the direction and care of the missionaries. He then distributed presents among them, giving them clothes, blankets, tobacco, and pieces of cloth of various colors. The Indians had made considerable progress by this time under the patient and able direction of the missionaries, and the governor was moved to remark how edifying it was to watch the natives attend prayers at the ring of the bell. He declared that they came quickly and with apparent eagerness, and that they inspired great hope in the Spaniards by this excellent beginning of order and good conduct. 36 The Indians became suddenly hostile early in 1718, and a general uprising was feared even before the expedition left the Rio Grande. Oli\'ares to Alarcon, Junes, 1717. A.G./., Audie11cia de Mexico (Dunn Transcripts). 37 0livares to the Viceroy, June 22, 171 8. San Francisco el Grand,: .-l rd1i;,1e, \ '1 ll, 210.
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