Ot1r Cat/1olic H e,-itage in Texas
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he would guide them to their destination. They discussed also the reestablishment of the Mission and Presidio of San Saba for the Coman- ches either at the old site or on the Pedernales. Vial decided to go on, and promised to take up the matter of San Saba with the Tata Grande (Big Father) in San Antonio upon his return to Texas. He remained a few more days, however, with Chief Zoquine before resuming his journey on January 17. He took a westward course and, travelling slowly on account of the cold, he made about twelve leagues during the next three days. He was now at or near modern Clara or Burkburnett. Here he established winter quarters and stayed until March 4. Chief Zoquine and some of his followers accompanied Vial and his companion when they resumed their march in the spring. They again went almost due west, leaving the main stream of the Colorado and fol- lowing for a while Pease River to the vicinity of Coleyville, in Cottle County, where they camped on April 7, after travelling about forty-eight leagues and passing probably through modern Vernon and Medicine Mound. Here they were overtaken by two Comanches who declared that three of their friends had just returned from San Antonio and brought word that the captain of Santa Fe had written to the commander in Texas to kill all the Comanches, and that Vial had deceived them and was leading them to New Mexico in order that they might all be killed. Chief Zoquine said that he did not believe a word of it, and would continue to accompany his friends. His firmness saved Vial and his companion, and the journey was resumed after a four-day halt. By May I I they had travelled approximately fifty-two leagues to the northwest, halting frequently to hunt buffalo. According to the diary they went eight leagues west from Coleyville, then turned north for three leagues, and then nineteen leagues to the west; this course would take them to the vicinity of Whitefield and Kress. Here they turned north for twenty-two leagues to a large river they thought was the Red, and so named it, but it was the South Canadian which they struck north of Amarillo, after passing by the site of the city of this name. They now followed the river west for a distance of thirty-five leagues and came to a ranclt-erfo of Tupos seemingly in the vicinity of present Logan, New Mexico. The chief welcomed Vial and showed him a Spanish flag that had been given him by the captain of Santa Fe. The party rested for a day and went on to the neighboring ranclt-erfo of the Tumparias, located on the same river two leagues beyond. They found these Indians
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