Ottr C atliolic Heritage in Texas
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out and travelled eastward only about three miles. During the next three days he proceeded south for a short distance and then almost due east. On July 30 shortly after entering the timber belt, known to Vial and the Spaniards as Monte Grande, he camped all day. He had made about twenty leagues, or approximately fifty miles, from the pueblos of the Taovayas. He was now at or near Gainesville. This assumption is confirmed by the fact that the next day, July 31, after turning east, he crossed a small stream which ran south and which he was told was the Trinity. 23 It was the headwaters of Elm Creek which rises almost due north of Gainesville, and flows through the eastern section of that city today. Changing his course to the southeast, he kept steadily in this direction. first through a heavy wood, then over wide plains, until August 6, when he came to another heavily timbered area which he called the Natchi- toches Woods. He halted and camped on a small stream. He had travelled thirty-three leagues, or seventy-five miles. This would place him at or near present Greenville. The stream on which he camped was probably modern Cowleech Fork which forms part of the headwaters of the Sabine River. Vial called the stream San Diego. The woods, Vial noted, were chiefly cedar, pecan, oak, and sabine. Vial turned due south at this point and, after going eight leagues, camped the second day on a lake which he called Whetstone, and on August 9 came to the Sabine River, a few miles east of Terrell, having noted alligators in the shallow lakes and marshes just above this area. Here he changed his course again; and proceeding southeast, he arrived on August 12 at the pueblo of the Nadacos. He had travelled about twenty-five leagues, or approximately sixty-two miles. Given the direction of his march and the distance covered, the pueblo reached by Vial prob- ably was in or near present Winona near the Sabine. The pueblo consisted of some fourteen or fifteen houses, rather large, and made of grass."' The next two days he continued almost due east, with a slight inclination to the south, and on August arrived at one of the ranches of the Bidais, located about twenty miles from the Nadacos, probably in the vicinity of Gladewater. During the next two days Vial passed by two ranches owned by Frenchmen, Atanacio and Cadelafita. Might this be a relative of the notorious Lafitte of later times? Vial enjoyed the hospitality of the latter and stayed for two days. On August 19 he continued southeast
"Vial, Derrotero, diario ,y calculacion, entries for July 29-3 r. 24 /bid., entry for August 12.
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