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Early Exploration of Big Bend Country, I683-I73I
The governor immediately transmitted this information to the viceroy, adding that while engaged in a campaign against the Comanches in the northern part of New Mexico, he had learned, while at Napestle River, from a wounded Apache, that the French were living among the Panana (Pawnee?) Indians, on the Jesus Maria River. He explained that when the Comanches had started hostilities, he had held a council of war in Santa Fe. It was decided at this time that it would be best for him to go in person and chastise these Indians. He accordingly had set out immediately. On the way to the northeast, he had been joined by one hundred Apaches from La Jicarilla, who promised to lead him to the country of the Comanches. The expedition traveled about two hundred leagues in a general northeastern direction, but when they arrived in the land of the Comanches they found no trace of them. This was in the vicinity of a river which they called Casse. He was ·advised by the Apaches that the Comanches had either fled or were in hiding, and that it would be better to return to Santa Fe before winter set in. Snow had already begun to fall, although it was only the month of September. Moved by.the logic of the advice of the Apaches, Governor Valverde turned back to Santa Fe to save the men from unnecessary hardships and to avoid the loss of the horses through the rigors of the winter. On the return march, the expedition followed a different course and came to a river called Napestle. 30 This was a large stream which flowed near the p11eblo known as El Cuartelejo, where many Apaches lived. Two of the Indians from the ranclzeria came out to the river and begged Governor Valverde to stay in their p11eblo two days to rest and to give their people a chance to see him. While at Cuartelejo, he noticed one of the Apache chiefs had been wounded with a firearm. When he inquired how he had been wounded, the Indian explained he had been shot in a fight his warriors had sustained against the Panana Indians, in which they had been aided by the French. The Governor became curious and asked for more information con- cerning the Panana Indians, their country, and the French who lived among them. He was told that the Panana nation lived on the banks of a large river which was called Jesus l'vlaria, that their country was to
30This river has been identified as the Arkansas Rh·er. Hackett, Picha:-Jo: Limils of Louisiana amt Te:ras, I, JS, 192, 234, 201-206.
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