159
Exploration of tl1e Big Bend and Pecos Country
the party.; The provincial not only approved the plan, but assigned Fathers Fray Juan de Santa Maria and Fray Francisco Lopez to accom- pany Fray Agustin. The latter, being a lay brother, Fray Lopez was designated superior. The zealous missionary hastened back to San Bartolome to organize his party. The right to barter and the hope of finding mines induced nine soldiers to agree to accompany the three missionaries at their own expense. A certain Francisco Sanchez Chamuscado was appointed leader; the necessary supplies, horses, and stock were secured; and when all was in readiness the little party. which consisted of three friars, nine soldiers, nineteen Indian servants, six hundred head of cattle, and ninety horses, started down a small stream named San Gregorio, which flows into the Conchos. It was June 6, 1581, when the little band, well supplied with provisions and articles for trading, finally left the Spanish outpost of Santa Barbara, "our sole object being to serve God our Lord and Hi Majesty by establishing the Holy Gospel wherever we might find a sui able place and wherever the Divine Majesty might guide us." 1 Route to the Rio Grande. Following the San Gregorio to its juncture with the Florido, they came to the Conchos (Mexico) . They now con- tinued down the often traveled valley of this river towards the Rio Grande. After going a short distance they began to meet several Indian tribes. all of which seemed to be related and to whom they gave the name of Conchos. These Indians brought presents of pumpkins, ground mesquite, and corn. As they approached closer to the Rio Grande, they encountered another group of tribes whom they called the Raya (sub- sequently called Rayados by Espejo), who spoke the same language as the Conchos and seemed to be closely related to them. Speaking of these two tribal organizations that Jived along the Conchos River for a distance of more than one hundred miles, Gallegos says : "They go about naked like savages. They are lazy, capable of little work, and dirty. 7 The Viceroy to the King, November 1. 1582. In Pacheco y Cardenas, Docu- mento.r, XV, pp. 97-98. 1 "Brief and True Account of the Exploration of New .Mexico," in Bolton, S,Pan- is/1 Ex,ploratio11, r 54. For a summary of the men, supplies and horses, see Ham- mond, ed., "The Rodriguez Expedition to New Mexico," in New Mexico Histori- cal Revi=, II, 242. There is some discrepancy as to the exact date of departure, some of the witnesses giving June 5 and others June 6, 1581, as the date. Cf. docu- ments published by Bolton in t1,P. cit., 142- 155.
Powered by FlippingBook