Ottr Catllolic Heritage in Texas
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Teancas, the Hinsas, the Pojues, the Quisabas, the Paiabunos, the Papanes, the Puchas, the Paguachianis, the Iscanis, the Tojumas, the Pagaiames, the Sabas, the Bajuneros, the Novraches, the Pulchas, the Tobites, the Pueharnes, and the Oranchos. 23 Retttm marcli to tlze Rio Grande. In view of the reasons given in the council held on May 1, it was decided not to wait any longer for the envoys of these nations. To those who were in camp, Mendoza and Father Lopez faithfully promised they would return and establish missions for them. Some of the chiefs left with their followers for their pueblos and others remained with the expedition, which started on its return march the following day. Instead of following the same route over which they had come, they now took a general southwestern direction and tried to reach the Junta de los Rios by the shortest route possible. Juan Sabeata and some of his followers stayed behind. Mendoza declared that Sabeata had not been dependable and that he had been afraid to return with the Spaniards. By May 23, the expedition had again reached the Pecos River which they consistently called Rio Salado. On the return trip they crossed this river twice and came upon their former camp which they had called San Juan del Rio. From this point, it was decided to follow the former trail back to the Junta de los Rios, where the expedition arrived some time before June 12. Establislnnent of missions at La Junta de los Rios. Having crossed the Rio Grande, Mendoza declared in an official report drawn up for the Governor of New Mexico on June 12, 1684, that on this day the Indian governors and chiefs of seven nations, who lived in the neighborhood of the Junta de los Rios del Norte and Conchos had appeared before the Reverend Father Fray Nicolas Lopez, Custodio of New Mexico, and with five hundred of their people had solicited six missionaries to instruct them in the holy faith and minister to them. They had explained that the two missionaries promised them were not sufficient, beca:use their different p1,eblos, or villages, were far apart and the number of Indians very large. They stated that they had already built six temporary chapels or churches of timber, thatched with straw, and that when the missionaries came they would rebuild them of adobe. 23/ bid. Compare this list with that given in Hackett, Pichardo: Limits of Louisi- ana and Texas, II, 338; also Bolton, S,Panis/1 Exploratio11 of the Southwest, 33-9-340.
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