Our Catlioli& Heritage in Texas
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Adaes, he left Nacogdoches on September 16, and made his way to the pueblo of the Hainais, some eight leagues (twenty miles) northwest, located on the Angelina River, a few miles due east from Rusk. Here he was joined by one hundred Tejas Indians. The following morning, guided by the natives, he crossed the Angelina a short distance from the ra11d1eria and following a northwesterly course, continued for ten leagues along pines, oaks, and walnuts to a creek called San Francisco Xavier on which the party camped for the night. On September 18, they resumed the march and, after going fourteen leagues, crossed the Neches River. At the point where they crossed this stream it was wide and deep. Two leagues before reaching the river they came upon salines and the country traversed from San Francisco Xavier Creek to the Neches was a gently rolling country with an occasional hill. l t seems that they arrived at the river in the vicinity of present Chandler. They found good timber, abundant pasturage and excellent fish. The following day the party went west for three leagues, possibly to the vicinity of present Brownsboro or Edom, and turning once more north- ward for eleven more leagues they arrived on a creek which they called Santa Barbara, possibly the upper reaches of the Neches River near present Canton, where they camped that night. On September 20, they traveled twelve leagues and crossed the south or west branch of Sabine River. This day they reached the edge of the plains after going four leagues. They then continued their march over broad and open country. The following day, still going north, they crossed the north branch of the Sabine River and came to the village of the Tawakonis after traveling four leagues. This must have been a few miles west of Mineola. Before they arrived, they were met by a group of Indians who came out to welcome them. It was about eleven o'clock when Father Calahorra entered the village. Four chiefs greeted him and his companions, while all the Indians of the pueblo made evident their great joy at seeing the Padre and his companions. The four chiefs conducted them to the special quarters which had been prepared for them beforehand. Shortly after their arrival they were treated to a splendid banquet prepared in their honor. The festivities and rejoicings continued for the entire eight days spent among the Tawakonis. Immediately adjoining their pueblo, which consisted of forty-seven large houses, in each of which lived twelve families, was another pueblo of almost the same size. This belonged to the Iscanis. The Tawakoni village was governed by four chiefs who treated the Spaniards kindly. The four were brothers. One of them was called
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