I 19
Last A ttem,pts at Missionary Control of Indians
to save themselves from complete annihilation, were about to conclude an alliance with the Mescaleros. This tribe belonged to the same stock, spoke a similar language, and dressed in the same manner, but its members were inflicting severe damage on the frontier outposts of New Mexico and Nueva Vizcaya. Nava suggested that the Lipans in Texas be kept under the closest surveillance, as their relations with the Mesca- leros were a violation of their plighted word. Because of the similarity in language and dress, they were not to be allowed to enter the presidios unless they first proved their identity. 11 The Indian situation was further complicated by the appearance of new tribes upon the northeastern Texas frontie_r, such as the Iowas and the Choctaws, who were being relentlessly driven westward by the advance of the Anglo-American pioneer in his march to the Mississippi and beyond. Members of the old Assinai Confederacy, who had befriended in their way the Spaniards ever since their expedition in search of La Salle in 1689, resented and feared the newcomers. A group of Cadodachos (Caddo stock) headed by their chief, now old and blind, and several members of the greatly reduced tribe of Nacogdochitos came to plead for their people. News had come through Jose del Moral of the new set- tlement of Opelousas, that a group of two hundred fifty Choctaws were making ready to attack the Cadodachos and to occupy their lands.1 9 The Choctaws, the Iowas, and the Huasas (pronounced Wasas) were begin- ning to push out the weakened tribes of northeastern Texas and the Spaniards were helpless to stop by force the onward march of these natives, who were in turn being driven from their happy hunting grounds by the advance of the ruthless Anglo-American pioneer. Attacks upon Coalmila by Texas Comanches. One of the first acts of Lieutenant-colonel Antonio Cordero, distinguished official of the Interior Provinces, when he took charge of the government of Coahuila after the death of Governor Juan Gutierrez, was to report the theft of three hundred head of cattle from Mission San Bernardo, near San Juan Bautista, by a band of Comanches on February 21 and 24, 1797. A detachment of soldiers and mission Indians were sent in pursuit, the raiders were fortunately overtaken in the vicinity of the old mission of San Saba, and a large part of the cattle recovered. The San SabA Canyon had become, it seems, a favorite rendezvous for marauding bands l8Pedro Nava to Manuel Munoz, July 16, 1796. Re:i:ar Arc/rh,es. 19 Jose Maria Guadiana to Manuel Munoz, Nacogdoches, October 23, t 796. Be:car Arcl1ives.
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