Our C atlrolic Heritage in T e:xas
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day of fighting, the Spaniards finally arrived in the village of the same Indians, called Auche, 25 and peace and friendship was established. "For two days," says Garcilaso, "the Spaniards rested in the pueblo of Auche, which was the principal one of the province. Inquiring after that which might help them in their travels, they learned that two days' march beyond was a deserted country which required four days to cross. The chief of Auche gave them Indians loaded with corn for six days and an old man to guide them through the uninhabitable area. In the presence of the Spaniards, professing great friendship, he commanded him to guide them through the best and shortest road he knew." 26 Con- fidently, they followed the leader who, for eight days, led them sometimes north, and then west, south and east. The country into which he directed them was very poor and the want of maize was greatly felt. The provi- sions soon gave out and seeing no prospect of replenishing the supply. the Spaniards became suspicious. The guide was closely questioned but he tried to evade the interrogation. He was then tortured by being exposed to the dogs. Unable to stand it any longer he confessed that his chief and lord had sent him with instructions to lead the Spaniards astray and cause them to become lost, where they might starve to death. He begged them to spare his life, promising he would guide them to an Indian pueblo within three days by following a due west course. Moscoso and his men were so enraged , however, that they put the poor Indian to death. 27 Just where the Spaniards were at this time is difficult to say with any certainty. But it seems, from the description of the country and the details of the various accounts, that they were on the eastern limits of the great plains in the vicinity of the headwaters of the Neches, or perhaps, the Sabine and the Trinity. The country in general was poor, practically uninhabited, very lightly wooded, and in places it was an open plain. Five days later, by following a due west course from the spot where the treacherous scout was fed to the dogs, the Spaniards came upon a group of Indians who fled at their approach, but who left behind buffalo meat and skins. It is evident they were on the edge of the great plains, where the immense herds roamed, and that the Indians that fled were the same that Coronado had met on the opposite end of the plains. 25 Cf. Gentleman of Elvas, I 76-177; Herrera, dee. vii, lib. vii, cap. vi, 135; Gar- cilaso, op. cit., 2 I 3. 26 Garcilaso, p. 21 3. 21 /bid., 213-214; Herrera, op. cit., 135.
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