Tlee Beginnings of illissionary Activity, 1670-1676
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merely summarized in a letter to the Commissary General, written on July 7, 1674. 2 • It is from this letter that the meager details of his epochal expedition are gathered. He declares that he set out in search of the Manosprictas on May 8. Without stating where he crossed the river, he says that he found the Indians in a settlement four leagues beyond the Rio Grande, which was about fifty leagues from Santa Rosa. Judging from the distance given, it seems that Father Penasco did not follow a northern course from the Sabinas, but chose a route to the east perhaps, which would bring him to the river sooner than if he had gone in the direction in which Brother Manuel traveled. The Manosprietas who had been at Santa Rosa, wel- comed the Padre with much joy and gave him buffalo meat, which he declares was very tasty. When he asked them to return to the mission, they gladly consented and promised to start back with him in eight days. While waiting for them, he learned of another tribe called Giorna, who lived about eight leagues beyond. Not certain of their friendship, Father Penasco sent an envoy to invite them to come to Santa Rosa. The Indians replied that they were not interested in the proposal because they were satisfied where they were, there being there an abundance of food. Believing that the Giornas had misunderstood his request, the mis- sionary sent a second messenger to inform them that he merely wanted to speak to them; that if after they heard him, they did not want to live in the mission, they would not be forced to do so. The Giornas listened with more interest to the second envoy and gave him a boy captive to take back to the Padre as a pledge that in two days they would come to see him. True to their promise, the Giornas reached the rancheria of the Manos- prietas, who went out to meet them. A peace dance was held, bows and arrows were exchanged, and the visitors were welcomed to the camp. Father Penasco patiently tried to explain to them the purpose of his mission and the fundamental truth of our faith. He told them that the Padres were sent by God and His Majesty, the King, to protect them against their enemies, to instruct them in the faith and to help them. "I got on so well with them," says Penasco, "that I won over more than three hundred of them, while seventy others remained with some who were sick in order that, when these were restored to health, they might 28Fray Francisco Pefiasco de Lozano to the Commissary General, Santa Rosa de Maria y Valle de la Concepcion, July 7, I 674. MS., Sa11 Francisco El Grande Archive, [, 126-128.
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