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Our Catltolic Heritage in Texas
these nations and with five Catzale Indians set out to traverse the unex- plored wilderness of Monclova. For a distance of about fifty leagues he trav- eled without mishap, until he came to the site where some years later the Mission of Dulce Nombre de Jesus de Peyotes was established.7 Here they met a group of three hundred Tobosos on the warpath, who seeing the Padre and his small escort, decided to hold a mitote, a native dance which required the head of a victim. Diego Francisco, the chief of the five Catzale warriors, remonstrated with the Tobosos, explaining that the missionary was their friend and that they should not kill him. But the Tobosos insisted on carrying out their plan. Seeing that they were too few to offer resistance, the Catzales proposed to their enemies that they play a game of ball . If the Tobosos won, they were to allow him to depart in peace. The challenge was accepted and the game was played. Before starting the game, the Catzales placed the Padre within the hol- low trunk of an old tree, where they deposited also their bows and arrows, assuring their_ friend they would do their best to win for his sake. But fate was against them. The contest, although skillfully played, was lost. In the meantime, however, a light rain fell, which moistened the bows of the Toboso warriors and made them useless. Unwilling to give up their friend, the Catzales now went to the tree as if to bring out the victim, but instead of delivering him, they took their dry bows and arrows and challenged the Tobosos to take the Padre by force. In vain they tried to close in upon their intended victim. The Catzales formed ~ circle about the tree, from which they let their arrows fly with deadly effect upon their enemies. At last, night came and the Tobosos having retired, Father Larios and his five defenders silently stole away under cover of darkness and made their way safely back to their ranclzeria. "Thus was it related to Father Esteban Martinez," says Mota Padilla, "to whom he (Father Larios) unfolded his soul, and who heard it also from the victorious warriors and from some of those who were defeated, when they were later converted."' Fatlzer Larios joined by other missionaries. It was now 1673. For three years the zealous missionary had worked relentlessly among the tribes that roamed upon the threshold of Texas. His heart bled when he thought of the many natives that were willing to be converted but 'The town of Peyotes still exists and is a railway station on the road from Monclova to Eagle Pass. The mission was founded here in 1698. Portillo, A,Puntes, 142, 274. •Mota Padilla, Conquuta del Reino de la Nueva Galicia, 376-377.
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