Reorganization and New Policies, 1770-1800
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, visit San Antonio to cement a lasting peace. The visits to the Indians of the north by Pablo le Blanc and Father Fray Pedro Ramirez in 1771 followed, but the Comanches and Tonkawas still distrusted the Spaniards.' Rumors of English traders, the desire to learn more about the country recently visited, and the actual strength of the northern tribes prompted De Mezieres to undertake a new expedition in 1772. Setting out from Natchitoches in March, accompanied by a few soldiers and some interpreters, he went west to the Trinity, where he visited the villages of Kichais, Yscanis, and Tawakonis near the site of Palestine. He then continued in the same direction to the Brazos and visited two Tawakoni pueblos located near Waco. Going up the Brazos for about two hundred miles he arrived at the village of the Wichitas. Here he sent word to the Taovayas on Red River, and, accompanied by seventy Indians, returned south to San Antonio. I1,1 eighty-eight days he had traversed over a thousand miles of country seldom if ever frequented by white men; he had learned much about the northern Indians, and had won their good will. 5 During this expedition he found that the Taovayas were carrying on an extensive and lucrative trade with the English who furnished them with goods in exchange for stolen Spanish horses. This he attempted to stop. He also learned that the northern tribes, who had recently made peace with the Spaniards, were being hard-pressed by the Osages. He suggested that they move southward to be under the protection of a Spanish presidio. The Indians expressed their willingness to do it after the fall harvest. On his return he, therefore, proposed to Governor Rip- perda the establishment of a presidfo in the country of the Cadodachos. Although the governor enthusiastically endorsed the plan, Spanish officials were dubious of its practicability, and wary of the expense involved. The plan, consequently, was abandoned. At the same time De Mezieres and Ripperda proposed a joint campaign with the new allies against the Apaches, as previously suggested by Rubi. But nothing came of this. On his return to Natchitoches, De Mezieres spent several days among the Bidais and in the villages of the Hasinais, in order to disrupt a dangerous friendship that was beginning to form between these Indians and the Apaches. Temporary failure of D8 J11 stieres' plans. In spite of the zealous efforts of De Mezieries and the determined support of Governor Rip-
'Bolton, H. E., Texas in t/i4 Middle Eighteenth Century, 1::u-122. 5 Bolton, D11 Mezier11s, I, 95·99; :.183-351.
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