Our Catliolic Heritage in T e~as
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between these Indians and the aggressive English pioneers. Powerful and warlike, the northern nations could not be brought under subjection by the Spanish mission. Prolonged contact with Europeans had ~cquainted them with the use of firearms, and the growing infensity of national rivalry had taught the Indians the value of their material assistance. A sharp break in the policy, long pursued with success by the French, would result in the total loss of their friendship. When O'Reilly took possession of Louisiana in 1769, he realized all these facts and-wisely chose one of the most remarkable men on the French frontier to win the support of the northern tribes. Athanase de Mezieres, son-in-law of the redoubtable St. Denis, brother-in-law of the Duke of Orleans, an experienced and tried officer, was appointed lieuten'" ant-governor of the Natchitoches district, with jurisdiction over the Red River Valley. This area included a large portion of eastern and northern Texas and most of Arkansas and Oklahoma.s The instructions given him reveal the general policy to be adopted in dealing with these Indians. Licensed traders were to be appointed for the friendly tribes. Hostile nations, however, were to be deprived of the advantages of trade, whether conducted by the Spaniards or the French. Traffic in stolen horses and Indian captives was .to be discouraged and rigorously suppressed. The center of this reprehensible exchange had long been the villages of the Taovayas on Red River. Here the Comanches, when at peace, obtained firearms, munitions, and agricultural products for their stolen horses and Indians taken in raids made upon Spanish outposts. Spanish captives, while not so numerous as Apaches, were not infrequent, but these were generally taken to San Antonio for ransom. 1 The worle of De Meeieres. De Mezieres proved himself eminently successful in his first expedition. He visited some of the tribes in . the upper Red River, appointed traders for the friendly Yatasi and Cado- dacho, conferred medals on Chiefs Tinhioiien and Cocay, expelled all unlicensed traders and white vagabonds, and held a council at San Luis, a Cadodacho village near present Texarkana. Thr chiefs of the Taovayas, Tawakonis, Yscanis, and Kichais attended the council and promised to 2Bolton, H. E., AtliOMS, de M,iur,s, I, 1-48. The introduction to the letters, dlariea, and reports of this outstanding figure constitute the best biographical sketch and api,raisal of his work. A brief summary of his various visits to the northern tribes in Texas is found in Morli, J. A., History of Texas, Part 2, Chapter X, translated by Carlos E. Castaneda. 'Bolton, o,. cit., I, 47-48; 88-92; 127-193.
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