Rivera's Inspection and Removal of M~ssions to San Antonio 247
of the presidio had done nothing to pursue or punish the Indians, he stated that Juan Antonio Perez de Almazan (perhaps a brother of the former governor), who was captain, had since that time asked His Excel- lency for permission to wage a campaign against the Apaches in order to inflict upon them the punishment they deserved and to check their boldness. According to the new regulations, he could not start a cam- paign against them without the consent of the viceroy. Rivera now said that it was highly advisable for the safety of the missions, that, in view of the facts presented with regard to the frequent hostilities of these Indians, His Excellency should authorize the Captain of San Antonio de Bejar to lead an expedition to chastise these savages for their insolence and to fight them in self-defence, as the natural law of peoples dictated. Concerning the escort of eight men and a corporal to be furnished to the missionaries, when it was imperative for them to go to the Rio Grande for provisions, he recommended that the request be granted and the captain at San Antonio de Bejar, as well as that at San Juan Bautista, be instructed in this regard. The recommendations in both instances were approved by the viceroy and the corresponding orders to carry them into effect were issued on August 8, 1731, the very day on which Father Mezquia had pleaded that a remedy should be provided." Use of soldiers to bring back r,mau,ay Indians. It has already been pointed out that the Indians congregated in the various missions were in the habit of running away at different seasons, whenever they felt a strong urge to return to their former roaming irresponsible ways. It had been customary for the missionaries to go to the distant rancl,erzas to persuade them to come back. As these journeys often took them over long distances into the territory frequented by hostile Indians, two or more soldiers had generally accompanied them in their peaceful quest for the neophytes. But on August 6, 1729, at the suggestion of Rivera, the viceroy had ordered the captains of the Presidios of San Antonio de Bejar and San Juan Bautista not to furnish soldiers for this purpose any longer. In the future the missionaries were either to allow those who ran away to remain in the woods and ranchertas, or go after them alone. It was not advisable, the former Inspector General thought, for soldiers to recover the Indians who ran away, because their presence might arouse the hostility of those among whom the apostates had taken refuge. When '6Rivera to the Viceroy, May 26, I 7 3 I ; Approval of the Viceroy, July 30, 173 I; Orders by the Viceroy, August 8, 1731. A. G. N., Provincias lnternas, Vol. 236.
Powered by FlippingBook