Tlte Beginnings of iUissionary Activity, 1670-1676
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[with] many stripes of red and yellow and white; on their head some had wreaths of mesquite leaves, others of estofiate silvestre, [a herb used to prevent cholic], and over these wreaths some beautiful feathers." Their war-paint and trappings were not intended as a display against the missionary and his companions, but against their enemies. When Fray Manuel inquired why they had not come back to the mission, they declared that they still wanted to be Christians and that they were ready to follow him wherever he might lead them. Before they could start back, Indian scouts reported that a large force of hostile Indians were in the vicinity, who wanted to kill the missionary. The chiefs of both the Bobole and the Guyquechale proposed that Fray Manuel should stay in camp with the women and children while they went out to meet the enemy. But the good friar was not a coward. "I told them," he says, "that under no circumstances would I do this; that now I had none who were more my sons and brothers than they ; that con- sequently I would not desert them even unto death. Happy over my resolve," he remarks, "they said: 'Now we can see that you love us; you may rest assured that we would rather die than desert you.'" With the combined forces of the Boboles and the Guyquechales, who numbered one hundred and forty-seven, they set out that night to find the enemy and by dawn they came upon their camp. "I told them not to fear," says Fray Manuel, "since God would surely come to their aid. Taking out my Crucifix, I showed it to them and said they should not lose heart; that they were defending the law of God which their enemies refused to accept and instead, deceived by the devil whom they call their god, they were persecuting this Master who died for us on the Cross." With a terrific yell the friends of the missionary charged the enemy so furiously that they broke and fled, leaving seven dead upon the field. Several prisoners, among them seven women, were taken, but thanks to the inter- cession of Fray Manuel, not one of them was put to death. The Indians felt like little children who had done a good deed. "Coming back to me," says Fray Manuel, "victorious and happy, they kissed the Crucifix and, passing their hands over head and face, said in their language: Y Taoque Dios, which is their way of saying: 0 Father God." They all returned to the ranclterfa of the Guyquechales.% 6 By the time all were assembled, there were at the ranclieria six hundred and seventy-three Indians, who were ready to follow Fray Manuel back
26 Fray Manuel to the Commissary, !\fay 29, 1674. Sa11 Francisco El Grande A rcltive, I, I 18-125.
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