Commtmications Between Santa Fe and San Antonio
151
the north, they travelled eight leagues to the Guadalupe, crossing it just below modern Spring Branch. Here they suffered their first accident, losing a horse loaded with supplies in crossing. Two days later, still going north, they crossed a river which they called Chanas (Llano), after travelling, according to their record, twelve leagues. It seems more probable that the river was not the Llano but the Colorado which they crossed at or near present Marble Falls, a short distance below the point where the Llano joins the latter stream. Still going north, they again crossed the Colorado in the vicinity of present Tow. Vial was ill, but they continued along the river for five leagues during the next day. By October 11 they came to the point where the San Saba River joins the Colorado. Here they evidently abandoned the river in order to continue their northern course; and, after travelling fifteen leagues during the next three days, they came to a small stream which probably was Leon River. In crossing it, near Gustine, Vial, who had grown steadily worse, fell from his horse and was senseless for several hours. When he regained consciousness, his companion, Cristobal de los Santos, alarmed by his condition, asked him for a statement in writing that might serve to prove the cause of death in the event that he should die. Vial reassured Santos that he would not die. He decided, however, to change his course and proceed directly to the pueblo of the Tawakoni for treatment. He seems to have visited the pueblo before, and he was of the opinion it was not far away.• Although the diary states that the general direction of his march from October 1 S to October 29 was north, this is an error which may be attributed to the copyist or to Vial's sickness. He clearly stated on the 14th that he was changing his course; he had to change it if he was to go to the Tawakoni villages on the Brazos which were almost due east from his camp. Detour -to Tawakoni villages. 1 The details of Vial's first attempt to find a direct route to Santa Fe are taken from Diario que ,Por la g-racia de Dws comienzo ( yo Pedro Vial) a 1,ac" desde ·este Presidio de Sn. Antonio de Bejar, ltasta arribar al de la Capital Villa de Santa Fe ,Por comision de mi Governador Dn. Domingo Cave/lo, Gover11ador de la Provincia de los Texas, con ex,Presion de las jornadas desde el dia 4 de Octubre de 1787. [1786.] A. G. M., Historia, Vol. 43, document 14. Copies of the same diary are found also in Historia, Vol. 52, document 17, and in Historia, Vol. 62, document 2. All references are to the diary in Historia, Vol. 43, photostat copies of which are in the University of New Mexico. This expedition as well as those of Jose Mares to San Antonio and back by way of Natchitoches and San Antonio are very briefly summarized in Bolton, Texas in tlte iJliddle Eigltluntl, Century, 127- 133.
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