Permanent Occupation of Tezas, 1715-1716
55
single file, with St. Denis at their head. Among these Indians I noted nine long arquebuses, all of French make." Arrival in tlze country of the T ejas. Ramon then ordered his soldiers to form in single file on either side of the road, and he, accompanied by all the missionaries, went forth to greet them, carrying an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a crucifix. With a great ceremony, amidst the firing of rifles, the Indians entered camp and took their seats on the blankets that had been spread out for them. Each one embraced the Captain and the missionaries before sitting down. Then, "they brought out a large pipe, used only to make peace. Each one took a portion of tobacco, which they have in abundance and, filling the bowl [with it], they lighted it and began smoking. The captains smoked first in this manner: the first puff of smoke was blown to the sky, the second to the East, the third to the West, the fourth to the North, the fifth to the South, and the sixth to the ground, these being the signs of lasting peace. The pipe was adorned with white feathers, attached from one end of the stem to the other, the stem being more than one vara in length." When the chiefs finished smoking, the pipe was passed to Captain Ramon, who in turn passed it on until every man and woman present had smoked it. The chiefs now took out more tobacco from their pouches, piled it in the center, and invited Ramon to take some. After accepting their gift, he had some of his tobacco distributed among the Indians and gave order for a young bull to be killed and fed to them. "All the ceremony too place amidst general contentment, because this people are very happ) carefree, and pleasant, particularly with the Spaniards, whom they seem to have known for many years," declares Ramon. This ceremony was repeated, with few modifications, on June 28, when as before, St. Denis went out to form the Indians. He acted as their leader so that he might set an example for their proper conduct. About one hundred and fifty 41 came into camp on this occasion. Many shots were fired both by the soldiers and the Indians, the Te Deum Laudamus was sung, and after the solemn procession they all sat in a circle. The Indian women then brought green ears of corn, watermelons, melons, tamales, and beans cooked with corn and nuts. All these things were piled in the center for Ramon and his men to take. To show his appreci- ation the Captain ordered one hundred varas of flannel, forty light ' 1 Father Espinosa says ninety-six. It is curious that in this instance as in the preceding one he should state the number was so much smaller than that given by Ramon. Provincias lnternas, Vol. 181, pp. 116, cf. 83.
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