Last Attempts at Missionary Control of Indians
125
foreign intruders to satisfy their needs. This was the frank opinion of Spanish officials. 29 In order to regain or retain their friendship, Nava recommended the distribution of annual gifts with greater regularity. He even raised the question as to whether the dispersion would be more acceptable to the northern Indians at Nacogdoches than at San Antonio. It would save them a long trip, he suggested. But he did not realize that the wily Indians preferred to have an excuse to travel inland in order to steal from the Spanish settlers and the missions, for they knew that the officials would only remonstrate and take no action. 30 The Taovayas and the Tawakoni responded to the advances made by the Spaniards to win their favor and support. Four of their chiefs, accompanied by twenty warriors, visited Nacogdoches and solemnly assured the commander they would not trade any longer either with French or English agents. Should any enter their country, they would capture and bring them with their goods to Nacogdoches. 31 As a matter of fact, on October 2, 1799, the Tawakoni Indians did capture a certain Pedro Engle and two companions, who were taken to Del Moral. 3 z The firm but friendly policy adopted by Spanish officials brought protestations of loyalty and a desire of friendship from the erring Comanches, but even as they made the promises they violated their word. Early in December, 1799, a party of seventy-eight Comanches, led by three well-known chiefs, El Tuerto, Zoquine, and Blanc6n visited the governor in San Antonio and assured him their people wanted to be friends and would not do anything to displease the Spaniards any more. 33 It is to be remembered that El Tuerto and Zoquine were known to be instrumental in the exchange of horses for guns and ammunition carried on by illicit traders. The elation over their promises still warmed the heart of Elguezabal, acting governor, when he heard a few days later that this same party had left from San Antonio for Laredo, where they had stolen forty- nine horses. Commandant General Nava wrote him in no uncertain terms that these Indians must be made to understand that they had to keep 29 Pedro Nava to Manuel Munoz, October 1, 1799. Bera, Arc/,ives. SO/bid. 31 Jose Miguel del Moral to Governor Elguezabal, October 28, 1799. Berar Arcnives. 32 Pedro Nava to Elguezabal, October 29, and December 24, 1799. Berar Arcniv,s. 33 Pedro Nava to Elguezabal, Governor ad interim, December 25, 1799. Berar Arcniv,s.
' ' I , , ·! I I I
I I l
'I I
I '
Powered by FlippingBook