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for him to find out what relations existed between them and the Apaches. Through the country of the Cadodachos, the French could communicate with these Indians and negotiate an alliance with them without the knowledge of the Spanish governor. In the past he had been able to find out what they were doing and ascertain their intentions, thanks to the friendly intercourse that had existed between the two presidios, but since this had ceased, he knew little or nothing of what they did or planned. He suggested that if His Excellency would allow courteous relations to be reestablished as in the past, it would be an easy matter to learn what contacts were being made with the Apaches. 16 But the ques- tion of permitting trade with the French, which is what the suggestion of mutual exchange of services meant, was a matter so strictly prohibited by royal cidulas, that Governor Almazan was not even given an answer on this point at issue. Indian depredations at Espiritu Santo. Let us now turn to note con- ditions at La Bahia. A glimpse of what had been transpiring there had been revealed first in the reports of the governor made on March 24, as previously cited. Diego Ramon, now acting captain of the Presidio of Nuestra Senora de Loreto in place of his deceased father, Domingo, wrote a letter to the viceroy informing him directly of the murder by Indians of the messenger sent by His Excellency to La Bahia. This attack occurred a short distance from San Antonio. The captain stated that he had previously informed the viceroy about the revolt of the mission Indians and the death of his father. He next gave a brief account of a charge by a band of natives on the presidio January 31, 1724, at which time two soldiers were killed and a number of horses stolen. Since the abandonment of the mission the Indians of the coastal region had been committing petty depredations and repeatedly threatened the destruction of the military post. When in need he had requested help from Captain Nicolas Flores, stationed at San Antonio. The latter replied that he was unable to spare any of his men and that moreover he had instructions from the governor which prevented the transfer of soldiers. Ramon now had great fear and worry that the Spanish establishment at La Bahia might experience the same fate as that of the unfortunate La Salle. Ramon's bitter complaint was that the garrison lacked military equipment, that the horses were insufficient in number and in poor condition and that the food supply was almost exhausted. What made the situation desperate.
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