161
Commtmications Between Santa Fe and San Antonio
made his way to Bernal Canyon, crossed the Pecos to the pueblo of the same name, and on April 27 arrived at Santa Fe. 13 He had travelled a total of 325 leagues, or some 710 miles, and had taken a much more direct route than the one followed by Vial in 1786, or by himself on the way to San Antonio. The route touched those of the two previous explorations, or came very near to them at some point. The location of the Comanche ranclzerias at the headwaters of the Brazos in the vicinity of Hamlin and at the entrance to Palo Duro Canyon near Ashtola is of interest. Gradually more detailed knowledge concerning the country and the extent of the ground over which the various northern tribes ranged was being acquired. Tlie expedition to tlze lttmanos and tlie exploration of a route from Santa Fe to Natclutoclzes, r788-r789. The return of Mares from San Antonio seems to have aroused still further the interest of officials to learn more about the native tribes and the country t~at lay between Santa Fe and the friendly Jumanos, Natchitoches, and the capital of Texas. The desire to strengthen the relations with the Indian nations of the north, and to establish definite lines of communication with Natchi- toches and San Antonio prompted Governor Fernando de la Concha of New Mexico to organize a new expedition in June, li88, two months after the return of Mares. Pedro Vial, who had recently traversed the route from the pueblos of the Taovayas on Red River to Santa Fe and who had previously fre- quented them from his former residence in Natchitoches, was commis- sioned to discover the most direct route from New Mexico to the distant outpost. From Natchitoches he was to undertake a similar exploration to determine the shortest route to San Antonio, and to ascertain the attitude of the native tribes towards the Spaniards throughout the country visited in the course of his explorations. From San Antonio he was to return to Santa Fe to verify the routes previously followed by himself with Mares, and by Mares alone. He was consequently given letters for the commanders of the posts he was to visit, requesting them to extend to him whatever aid he needed for the execution of his commission.1' 13The details summarized are from the Derrotero J diario • .• desde la Capital de San Antonio de Bejar . . . /rasta la de Sa11ta Fe .. . que /rago Yo Jose ,I/ares. A. G. M., Historia, Vol. 43, document 16. Location of other copies has been indicated in the preceding note. The date of his arrival is erroneously given as April 17, 1788, by Bolton. CJ. Texas i11 the Middle Ei_r:hlee11lh Ce11tury, 130. HDerrotero, Diario " Calculacio11 de /eag1111s, que en descubrimiento -por derecho desde esta Provincia del Nuevo Mexico has/a el Fuerte de Natc/ritoclres J la de
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