T/1e Beginnings of Missionary Activity, 1670-1676
241
of Don Estevan with that of the Jeniocanes and their allies; and the Yoricas, Jumes, and Vivits [Bibits] with the Arames, Oca!}es and their following; and the Boboles with the Yurbipames. These tribes of people are very numerous and their limits or that of one with another is not known, for neither on the north nor on the east is there any report of their terminus. "For this reason these Indians begged me to go to see their ranchenas and those of their allies; and they have said that they wished to be Christians, and that all wish it, and to settle in pueblos, and to ask for religious; and they wish that aid be given to each one separately and not together, for it happens that for very slight causes they kill each other, and conditions become bad. I decided, therefore, to return from said post of San Jorge, counting on the way the people of Don Estevan who might be on the road, to inform said alcalde mayor, which I now do, both of this as well as that, unless for these three bands or follow- ings of people, three head settlements be made, in which each shall be regarded as independent of the other-one in the valley of San Antonio and Sabinas River, which will accommodate many settlements, and another at Los Baluartes and San Francisco River, which is of the same sort, and the one which is already made at the city of Guadalupe-it will not be possible to maintain these nations under instruction in the Christian doctrine. For they are people, one extremely barbarous, and the others barbarous, who have shown bad conduct toward the Spaniards and other vassals of His Majesty in La Viscaia, the Kingdom of Leon, and in part of La Galicia, robbing and killing for more than twenty years. "Even less will it be possible for any officer of His Majesty to keep them in order and under instruction unless he has forces for it , although he may have to use much love and blandishment when having to correct them ; for since they are vicious people and not habituated to labor to sustain themselves , they will return to their natural habits, and greater damages will result. And there will not be Spaniards who wish to settle in the country, for it is known that those who entered it have left with misgivings or fears which some have been spreading abroad. "The most important post found in which to establish forces is Santa Cruz since it is fourteen leagues from the valley of San Antonio, a little less from Los Baluartes, and twenty from the city of Guadalupe, and in the heart and center of the country. These forces will not be sufficient if less than seventy men, since it is very remote from settlements and
Powered by FlippingBook