O,,r Catleolic Heritage in Texas
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is little doubt that by now they had reached this v1cm1ty and were not very far from the Junta de los Rios. The nature of the country here determined their future course. There is no possible way in which they could have continued either along the course of the Rio Grande or east. The general arrangement of the hills and mountains in this area makes it imperative to follow an almost due north course from here, along the small valley of the only large stream in this region, which is Alamito Creek. It seems from the description of the following three days' journey, that this is exactly what Mendoza did. On January 1, 1684, they were at a place which they called Apostol Santiago (St. James the Apostle), seven leagues from La Navidad de las Cruces, where Father Antonio Acevedo had stayed to minister to the Indians and to try to establish a mission. Here Mass was said by the two religious who accompanied the expedition from this time. In describing the country over which they had traveled Mendoza declared that it was rough and rocky, but passable. At Apostol Santiago there was a large creek which flowed from north to south and carried an abundance of good water. There was much grass along its banks, some of which was half dry and some green. 10 There is no stream in this region which would fit the description other than Alamito Creek. On January 2 they reached a high hill from whose side flowed a hot spring. This country became less mountainous, and although there was plenty of grass, the trees became scarce. They traveled seven leagues on this day, but there is nothing to indicate the direction in which they went. The following day, it is expressly stated that the general direction they were now following was north. They pitched camp at a place they called San Nicolas, after trav- eling seven leagues. During the day they had marched over a plateau, which extended to the north. At the end of the plateau they came upon a natural reservoir of rain water, with solid rock walls on either side. To the west there was a large plain. Near the water was a number of trees, mainly willows. Mass was said by one of the Padres before setting out again. By January 7 they had reached a place where a large group of Jumano Indians requested them to halt. From Apostol Santiago to this site, the expedition traveled about forty leagues, or approximately one hundred and twenty miles in a general northeastern direction. If we assume that Santiago was somewhere in the vicinity of present day Presidio, the
JOEntry for January 1, 1684. Ibid.
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