Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
ceeded in a general eastern direction across plains, noting the numerous lakes in the area between Rhea (they had entered Texas just above it) and Dimmit. In the vicinity of Tulia they came upon a ranclierza of Comanches, where they met Chiefs Zoquinatoya and Tazaquipi. On August II they visited the rancliena of Chief Nocay, which they found some nine leagues to the east. Across the plains for a distance of thirty-four leagues they followed an almost due east course, slightly inclined to the south, and on August 22 came upon two ra11d1erzas not far apart on Prairie Dog Town Creek, in the vicinity of present Quanah, in Hardeman County, which Mares called San Marcos. Mares turned south, and on August 28 after going nine leagues, came upon a river which he called the River of the Taovayas, and rioted the water was "very red." This stream was not Red River as may be supposed, but North Pease River which Mares and his party must have struck slightly west of Vernon. From here he continued almost due east for a distance of sixty-six leagues, and arrived at the villages of the Taovayas on September 5. Visit wit!, tire Taovayas. Mares was warmly welcomed by these Indians who, since the time of the visit of De Mezieres, had been on the most friendly terms with the Spaniards. He found that two of the pueblos were on the north side of Red River and one on the south, in the vicinity of modern Spanish Fort. The first had twenty-three houses, the second had forty, and the third, which was on the south side of the river, close to present Farmers' Creek, had twenty-seven. After a four-day visit Mares and his companions set out to the south, crossed a dry ravine, and, after going three leagues, camped on high ground near two small mesas. Here the French had long maintained a trading post to deal with the Comanches. Southwest of Spanish Fort there is today a site called Belcherv, highest point in the vicinity with an elevation of 981 feet, and to the southeast of Spanish Fort is a place known to this day as Illinois Bend, both mute evidence of the activity of French traders from the Illinois and the Arkansas in this area. Route followed from tlze Taovayas to San Antonio. Striking out across plains and intervening ravines in a general southern direction, slightly inclined to the west, Mares made thirteen leagues in two days and came to a Comanche rancliena located in a deep and densely wooded ravine. This probably was between Saloma and Sunset. He turned to the west at this point and went nine leagues across
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