A ftcr111atle of San Sab,i- ,IIassacre
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the oflicial declaration of Saint Quentin to the Governor of Texas. This Frenchman declared that o,·er a year ago he had set out from the French post on the Arkansas for Natchitoches with a modest supply of mer- chandise to trade. On the way he had visited the Yillage of the Tawakoni. He explained that there was no other way to go from Arkansas to Natchitoches. On September 23, 1757, he recei,·ed a letter from GoYernor Kerlerec, while in Natchitoches, with instructions to deliver it to the commander at the post on the Arkansas. But he had been unable to lca,·e Natchitoches on his return trip until February 4, 1758, at which time M. Le Blanc gave him a passport. From this point the chronology of the movements of Saint Quentin is not given. He emphatically states that on his return trip he was not engaged in trading. But he goes on to say that when he arri\"ed in the pueblo of the Tawakonis, he found the Indians celebrating a victory in a wild orgy of dancing. As soon as they saw him, he declares. they seized all his goods-strange, if he was not on a trading expedition.- and gave him in exchange some partly soiled and partly burned pieces of silk goods, some gold and silver braid, a chalice, two silver cases for stocks of sacred oils, two patens and three plates of some metal which he did not know. He also received three sih·er forks. He added that he had been told by the Tawakonis that the Taovayas had many articles of solid silver in their Yillage a short dstance up the river. The Indians explained that the Taornyas hacl accompanied them and, being very numerous, had obtained the major part of the spoils. He declared, furthermore, that he had learned of the recent destruction •of San Saba from the Indians. He actually saw in the village a number of scalps around which they were dancing, and he noticed an Indian wearing a part of the habit of one of the murdered missionaries. He said that these things had made him fear for his life and had forced him to accept what they had given him. But the goods they had taken from him were worth more than what he received.1 5 That the Indians had a good espionage service is shown by the fact that Saint Quentin declared that the Tawakonis were aware of the pro- posed campaign against the northern tribes. They had dispatched scouts to keep them apprised of the movements of the Spaniards and to warn them of their approach. Furthermore, they told the French trader that they were expecting a band of Taovayas and Nasonis to join them in August to make a new raid upon tht: Spaniards in the fall. Chief Cuello 15 Cesar Le Blanc to the Governor of Texas, August 1 o, 17 58. A. G. /., A udiencia de 1l!exico (Cunningham Transcripts, 1763), pt. 2, pp. 265-269.
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