O,,r Catholie Heritage in Texas
Crossing the Rio Grande near present Senecu, they followed the east bank, visiting the various Piro pueblos until they entered the region of the Tiguas in the vicinity of present Albuquerque. By September 2, 1581, they had arrived in Caceres, on the northern Tigua frontier. From here the party Yisited the Queres and then going still farther north to the Santa Fe region reached the Galisteo valley. It was here that Father Santa Maria announced his intention of returning to Mexico to render a report to the viceroy. Against the opposition of the soldiers and the other two friars, he started back alone on September 10, determined to find a shorter route, but on the third day he was killed by the Indians in the vicinity of the present copper camp of San Pedro. 17 His com- panions, however, did not learn of his sad fate until sometime later. Visit to the Great Plains. After the departure of Fray Juan de Santa Maria, the party visited the country of the Tewas, up the river, going as far as Taos. They then returned south to the Galisteo River and from there decided to go in search of the buffalo, which they were told could be found thirty or forty leagues east of this river. Following the stream as far as a pueblo they called Piedrahita, they set out for the buffalo country to the east of this settlement on September 28. Piedrahita, where the party set out in search of buffalo, has been identified with San Cristobal, the easternmost pueblo of the Galisteo basin. "They skirted the northern edge of the table-land between Galisteo and the Pecos River, but, since they were looking for a pass through the mountains, they remained in the plains country and did not cross the hills separating them from the Pecos valley. Finally, on October 3, the fifth day out, they discovered the Pecos River near the present Anton Chico. They named the river 'El Rio de Santo Domingo' and it was described as being large and beautiful." 11 Following the river downstream for four leagues they came upon a ranclrerfa of Vaquero Indians. These were the Querechos encountered forty years before by Coronado and his men. It was a large camp of almost five hundred huts and tents of tanned cowhide. Upon the approach of the Spaniards, the Indians prepared for battle, but being assured of the peaceful and friendly nature of the expedition, they welcomed the tion by Mecham, op. cit., 273-274. In the remainder of our summary this will be the base of our conclusions. 17For a detailed discussion see Mecham, "The Martyrdom of Father Juan de
Santa Maria," in the Catholic Historical Review, VI, No. J. II Mecham, "Second Spanish Expedition," in op. cit., I, p. 284.
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