Tlte Search for I.a Salle. 1685-1689
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Bautista, they would have come to this river sooner than they did. To go sixty miles from that place before passing over the Nueces the expe- - clition would have had to go more to the north or to the south, neither of which is likely, because in either case, it would have lengthened the total distance to the Guadalupe. Consequently, it is probable that ' 'o/, the expedition actually entered Texas about half way between Laredo j and Eagle Pass, perhaps a little below present :~:from this point, > if we take a compass and set the distance tra~·~kd-··l;;til April 4, when they came to the Nueces, after going twenty-three leagues, we will find that the point of intersection is in the neighborhood of present Cotulla, which lies east-northeast from the starting point indicated. It was some- where in the vicinity of this area that De I.eon must have crossed the Nueces . 54 The march was continued, evidently more to the east, for a distance of seven leagues, or approximately twenty miles, until they came to another river, which, because of its clear waters, they called Sarco. This was present Rio Frio, which they must have crossed in the neighborhood of present Fowlerton, perhaps a mile or two west of this town. From here they continued their march to the north, inclining somewhat to the east for a distance of about fifteen miles before they came to another stream. which had high banks, for which reason they called it Rio Hondo. This could have been no other than San Miguel Creek, as this is the first stream of any size at that distance from the neighborhood of Fowlerton. They followed its course for four leagues along the south bank, going "sometimes east and others southeast." This fits the actual direction fol- lowed by the stream. Crossing it before they came to Three Rivers, they kept generally to the east for a distance of twenty-five leagues, or approximately seventy miles before they came to another large river which they named Medina. This appears to have been not the present Medina, but the San Antonio River, which they crossed probably a mile or two southwest of present day Runge. Continuing their march to the northeast, they reached another river, whose course was dry at first but which had water farther down. This they called Leona, because they found a dead lion in it. A careful study of the map seems to indicate that this stream was Coleto Creek, which appears to have been crossed in the vicinity of present Yorktown. From here the expedition went somewhat more to the south and after traveling twelve leagues, reached the Guadalupe in the vicinity of present Victoria. The river was named ; 4 Cf. Bolton, fl'/J. cit., 390-391; We~t, "Itinerary," fl'/J. cit., 182.
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