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Aftermatl, of San Saba ,llassacre
109
make a formal request for thirty soldiers to be added to the garrison of the Presidio of San Luis de las Amarillas.u Not until October 17 did Parrilla have an opportunity to obtain an official statement from the Apaches concerning their attitude towards San Saba. On this date, while in San Antonio awai~ing the arrival of the officers summoned to the special Junta, Chief Tacu, meaning in the Apache language Shorty, paid a visit to the commander. Parrilla called Fathers Fray Jose Lopez, Fray Francisco Aparicio, and Fray Mariano de los Dolores, and in their presence questioned the chief through an interpreter. Tadt declared that the Apaches were ready to congregate as soon as the campaign, which they were undertaking against their enemies, freed them of the danger of future attacks. In the meantime, his people had chosen to have no fixed habitat in order to avoid a surprise by the enemy. It was for this reason, the chief assured Parrilla, that his people had not come to stay at San Saba. When told that the Spaniards were also planning a campaign to punish the northern tribes, Chief Tacu evinced great joy and gladly offered to take part with all his people as allies. 13 Shortly after the declaration of Chief Tacu, Fray Mariano de los Dolores testified concerning the character and faithlessness of the Apaches. The experienced and aged missionary, who had once defended the Apaches so stoutly, had now become completely disillusioned. He declared that no faith could be placed in their promises. Under the guise of friendship they had almost ruined the entire frontier by exacting gifts, demanding good treatment, and shamelessly stealing whateYcr and whene,·er they wanted. They now constituted the most serious menace to Spanish interests in Texas. They had come and gone freely into every settlement, mission, and presidio during the last ten years. The result was that they knew the resources and the strength of every post and could lead a surprise attack that might prove fatal. It was his opinion and that of every missionary in San Antonio. that after the formal campaign was brought to a close, the Apaches should be made to fulfill their promises. There should be no more temporizing. A formal request, that they be reduced to mission life. should be made to their chiefs and a time limit set for their reduction. If they did not comply with the request within the time stipulated, they should be con- sidered enemies of the Spaniards and treated as such.
12 Viego Ortiz arrilla to the \"keroy. August 11,
1 i 5~ . . .J. 1.;. I., . .J11dic:1"i,1 de
,1/Jxico (Cunningham Transcripts. 1 i63 ), pt. .?. pp. 164-1 68. 13 Declaration of Chief Taci1, October ti, 1758. In ibid., pp. .?ot-.?IJ.
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