Preparing to Weatleer tire Storm, I790-1800
will be recalled, held in low estimation the loyalty and character of this Indian, whom he referred to as the meanest Indian living. 31 Captain Cortes had been alarmed three years before by similar fears of foreign prowlers along the coast. On August 27, 1795, he distinctly heard a cannon fired in the vicinity of Mission Rosario. He immediately dispatched Juan Chirino with twelve men to investigate the incident. They proceeded to San Antonio Bay, but could find no trace of intruders. Governor Munoz, however, was as alarmed as Cortes, and on September 15, 1795, ordered Corporal Jose Manuel Granados to make a new reconnais- sance of San Bernardo and Matagorda bays. Taking six men, Granados left immediately and marched as far as Salado Creek. The following day he reached La Tortuga, a ranch located in the vicinity of modern Nixon. Granados crossed the Guadalupe in the vicinity of Victoria on September I 7, and the next day reached the coast at a place which he called Los Laureles (Oleanders), possibly near Port Lavaca. On September 18 he continued along the shore to what he called the Port of Matagorda, which may have been modern Port O'Connor or Magnolia Beach. Since the direction and distance travelled are not given, it is difficult to ascertain just where Granados was at this time. In the vicinity of what he called the Port of Matagorda, which could also have been near present Seadrift, he met two Karankawa Indians and their families from the ranclieria of Chief Frazada Pinta. When asked if they had heard cannon fire or seen any strange ships, they replied in the negative, and assured the visitors they had not seen strangers in their lands. Granados explored the coast to the north on September 20, but found no trace of foreign prowlers. He next explored the country to the west as far as what he called Laguna Verde (Green Lake), which may be the lake north of modern Mission Bay. There is a strong probability that it was, as in its vicinity the party met Chief Frazada Pinta and six of his warriors. They declared they had neither seen nor heard anything about strangers. The fact that Granados and his companions marched back to the Guadalupe the next day confirms the opinion that they had been north of Mission Bay the day before. They probably reached the Guadalupe just below Victoria. The river was high and the party had to construct a barge to cross. This delayed them a day. On September 23 they resumed
'1Manuel Munoz to Del Moral, September 23, 1798; Del Moral to l\fonoz:, October 27, 1798. Bexar Archives.
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