Rivera's Inspection and Removal of Missions to San Antonio 223
characteristics of their kinsmen who lived to the north, were totally lack- ing in spirit, and were known for their cowardice. In addition to these tribes, who were generally friendly and peaceful, there lived along the coast the Cocos, Karankawas, Coapites, Cujanes, and Copanes. It was these Indians who had rebelled against mission life and been the cause, to a large extent, for the removal of the presidio to its present location on the Guadalupe. But even the coastal Indians, according to Rivera, who was decidedly misinformed or who purposely misrepresented the facts, were not numerous and had little spirit. For this reason any attempt on their part to destroy the post or the mission could be easily put down. It is strange that he should have acquired so erroneous an idea of these Indians, who were known to be the most dreaded cannibals. The Karan- kawas, who included the Cujanes, Coapites, Cocos, and Copanes, were "fierce cannibals," according to Bolton, "and were regarded as particu- larly dangerous to mariners on the perilous coast." 1 ' Conditions at San Antonio de Bejar. From La Bahia, Rivera went on to San Antonio de Bejar, where he found a company of fifty-four men, including the captain and subaltern officers, all of whom were paid four hundred -pesos a year, without distinction of rank. Contrary to reports made regarding the lack of discipline and the unfitness of many of the soldiers for active duty, either because of their extreme youth or old age, the formal inspection of the garrison disclosed they were all active and fit, that the number on the muster roll was complete; and that they had successfully opposed the frequent attacks of the Apaches, who lived in Lomeria Alta, inflicting upon them condign punishment for their daring on various occasions. He correctly observed that these Indians were not as numerous as had been heretofore supposed, admitting that the firmness with which they had been repulsed by the garrison, had caused them to respect the Spaniards. This fact had checked hostilities in recent years to a certain extent, although being confirmed thieves, these Indians still made attempts to steal the horses of the presidio from time to time, whenever they suspected the vigilance had been relaxed, but they uni- formly were made to pay dearly for their raids. After complimenting the captain and soldiers for "their good quality," he gave the commander a set of rules and regulations which were to be observed in the future and a list of the maximum prices to be charged to the men for their 14 Bolton, Athanase de Alezieres a11d tire Louisiana Front:er, 1, 19-20. Castaneda, Morft's History of Texas, Chapter II.
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