Ottr Catholic Heritage in Texas
supplies, and equipment for the missions, and gifts for the Indians, Ramon finally set out. But although the long lines hopefully marched five leagues on the first day, they found themselves again on the Rio Grande at the end of the journey, at El Paso de Diego Ramon, about three leagues above the starting point. The reason for this was that after following a northeasterly course for three leagues, finding the country exceedingly dry, they turned west for a distance of two leagues and came to the river again. As if this experience were not a sufficient hardship, at about eight that night, just as the Padres concluded the evening services, a terrific storm arose "with wind and rain, so fierce and furious, that we felt certain the infernal furies had instigated it. It threw down on the ground the greater part of the baggage and provisions that had been stacked up. Our three tents were in serious danger of being completely ruined, the main pole of one having been broken. But worse yet was what happened to a soldier who was on duty. The wind picked up horse, man, and all and carried them for a distance of three or four varas ( nine or twelve feet). The horses stampeded, and so did the oxen and the mules, but God granted that they should all be found."% 5 The violence of the storm caused the missionaries to fall on their knees and pray to the Mother of Sorrows and all their patron saints for deliverance. Fortunately the wind subsided after a short while. The next day the expedition reached Cueva de Leon, about five leagues to the northeast of the river. While traveling, Medar Jalot suffered a severe fall, when his horse stuck its foreleg in a hole and threw him. St. Denis returned to the Presidio of San Juan Bautista for an Indian, and the party moved on towards the Nueces. On April 29, some Pacuache Indians stole twenty horses and started with them towards their ranclteria, but Lorenzo Garcia pursued them, overtook them about four leagues from camp, recovered the horses, and captured four natives. These were brought to Ramon, who, moved by their frightened condition, decided they had had enough punishment. Through an interpreter, the Indians were told that if they were ever again caught stealing horses, they would be hanged. They were given tobacco and set free. After traveling thirty-three leagues from the Rio Grande, in a general northeasterly direction the expedition reached the Nueces River on May 2. Little or no water was found in its bed, and it was necessary to deepen one of the small pools with hoes to permit the horses and cattle to drink. While watering the stock, Ramon counted them and found there were four hundred and ninety head.
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%5/bid., 71. Also Provincias Intemas, Vol. 181, pp. 64, 97-98.
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