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Our Caelzolic Heritage in Texas
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this squaw who told Captain Flores how Fray Pita was killed and showed him where his bones were located. She also told him how the raids were organized and how her people were governed. After the party arrived in San Antonio, both Father Gonzalez and Flores again sought the woman, and questioned her about the chiefs of the five nations and their willingness to make peace. To this she replied she had often heard them say that they wanted to be the friends of the Spaniards, but that many of the Indians were afraid_they would be punished for the depredations they had committed in the past. She said that since the location of their ranclzeria had been discovered, her people would be inclined to make peace. 36 It had been the desire of the Spaniards for a long time to use the Apache prisoners as the means of negotiating an alliance. Aguayo bad tried in vain to capture members of this nation for the purpose. Here was the opportunity at last for a treaty. Flores and Father Jose Gon- zalez explained to the squaw that they wanted her to go back and tell the five chiefs to come and be friends. She was told to make known to them that if they came and made peace, the prisoners now held would all be released. Both the captain and the missionary gave her many presents, furnished her with a saddled horse, and escorted her a whole day's travel. Upon leaving them she agreed to take the message to the bead chief and return in twenty days. 37 True to her word, the squaw returned within the time specified, accom- panied by an Apache chief, his wife, and three warriors. When Captain Flores ,saw them coming in the distance he hastened to greet them. Upon his approach, the chief said "Dios ! Dios !" and handed him a silver- mounted cane, the ordinary insignia of his rank. Father Gonzalez accom- panied the visitors to the Mission of San Antonio de Valero, where for three days they were feasted and treated with the greatest kindness. The chief explained that when the woman bearing the message of Cap- tain Flores arrived, he sent word to his four companions to come to hold a council. One of these appeared and suggested that it would be better for just one to go to the presidio to find out if the woman were telling the truth. In the meantime his companion was to call the other chiefs and upon his return they would all go together to make peace. On November 1, the Indians took leave with assurance that it would not be J6Fiores to Aguayo, October 21 and November 2, 1723. A. G. N., Provincias lnternas, Vol. 181. 11 /bid.
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