San Antonio de Valero and Missi.onary Activity, I7I6-I7I9 103
Texas, six months and five days after he left the Rio Grande the first time. The Indians brought their humble offerings of com and beans, wild nuts and skins and received from the governor clothes, beads, knives, and many trinkets of different kinds. Alarcon then called all the natives together and made a long talk to them. He explained the zeal of His Majesty in making them Christians and helping them live as civilized men. He urged them to congregate about the mission and form a pueblo. To all the Indians agreed, but said they could not congregate at this time because many of their people were out hunting buffalo. With those who were at the mission the governor reorganized the pueblo and now called it San Francisco Valero. He inspected the records of the mission· and found that up to this time there had been twenty baptisms performed. The next day he went to Concepcion Mission on the Angelina River, where he was met by Captain Ramon, Father Espinosa, a number of soldiers, and the mission Indians drawn up in line to welcome him. Father Espinosa had left the main expedition four days before and hurried to Concepcion Mission to arrange for the reception of the governor. A salute was fired, the bells rang merrily, and all the Indians cheered and pre- sented their gifts. Then followed a curious ceremony. The Asinay Indians adopted the new governor as a member of their tribe and initiated hity with great solemnity. That evening Alarcon rode his horse to a larg,) straw hut which had been built specially for the occasion by the Indians When he arrived, several chiefs came out to receive him. He was first helped down from his horse, then a chief took his sword and pistols, another took him up on his back, and a third held his feet. In this manner they carried him into the hut. At the door they gently washed his face and hands and dried them with a piece of cloth. With a chief on each side, their hands on his shoulders, Alarcon was escorted to a seat pre- pared for him. After he sat down, the principal chief gave him the peace pipe which he smoked and then passed to the others. After they had all smoked, several Indians rose and with expressive gestures made known to the governor their great pleasure at his coming, to which he replied by explaining to them the pious zeal of His Majesty, who had sent him and all the missionaries to help them and instruct them in our holy faith and defend them against their enemies. The governor decided to make Concepcion Mission his headquarters while in East Texas and asked the Indians to build a shelter for him ' which they did promptly. This was a circular structure with walls made of branches and the roof covered with grass, in the shape of a rounded
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