Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
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Cruzate were to explore the country as far as the Rio de Las Perlas. He, therefore, declared he had fulfilled his orders. He described the spot reached as being eight leagues down the stream from the point where Guadalajara had been. He declared it was bordered by fertile fields, many trees, mostly pecans, and that it carried much more water at this place, which he called San Pedro, than above, because it was joined by other tributaries. 20 Temporary 1mssion at San Clemente. Although he had reached his goal, Mendoza went still farther east along the main Concho to its juncture with the Colorado, which he called San Clemente. He arrived on March 15 and seems to have stayed for a while on the Colorado, some- where in the neighborhood of present Leaday. He finally decided to return to New Mexico to report to the governor. On May 1 , he held a council of war on the San Clemente (Colorado) to determine his course of action. It seems that the Apaches had swept down from the north and attacked Mendoza and his Indian allies three times both by day and night. In the last of the three attacks, which was at night, the enemy had wounded a soldier with three arrows. He had also been attacked at night three times by the Salinero Indians from Nueva Vizcaya, who had killed two Indian hunters while they were out getting game. The two Indians were of the J ediondo nation and seem to have been surprised by the enemy while asleep. In view of these facts, the Reverend Fathers Fray Nicolas Lopez, Custodio of New Mexico, and Fray Juan de Zavaleta, Commissary of the Inquisition, Sergeant Major Diego Lucero de Godoy, Captain Hernan Martin Serrano, interpreter of the Jumano language, Alferez Diego de Luna, and Alferez Diego Varela, were all of the opinion that it would be best to return to New Mexico. They declared the number of men was inadequate and that their ammunition was almost spent. It was decided to return and make a report to Governor Domingo J ironza Petris de Cruzate in order that he might decide what was best for the service of both Majesties. 21 It will be well to describe in detail the site where Mendoza and his men camped for almost a month and a half. At the place where he struck the Colorado, the river flowed to the east. There were no clam shells at this point, but he was told by the Indians that six days' journey down the stream there were numerous large shells, many of which had pearls. The
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20/bid. Entry for February 24, 1684. 21/bid. Entry for May 1, 1684.
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