Aftcrmat/1 of San Sab,i ,1/assm:re
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standing in the ,·illage, made out of cedar logs, on which was carved the name of Juan de Alarcon. The Indians had told him the go,·crnor left it there and promised to return. From the Wichitas, Cayetano Gomez and his companions had gone to the Tawakonis, where they found Alarcon had visited also. To these Indians he had likewise promised to found missions on his return. ~lorc- over, he had assured them he would establish a presidio near their ,·illa~c for their protection. At the time Gomez visited these Indians, he had found they all used bows and arrows, but now it was well known that they had abandoned their former weapons for the more effective firearms furnished them by the French traders. The governor further learned from other witnesses that the French established a trading post among the Tawakonis in 1754 or 1755 and lived among these Indians until the destruction of San Saba mission in 1758.' 6 In his report to the viceroy, Martos y Navarrete declared that these Indians had always been friendly to the Spaniards. that they were still willing to welcome them to their land. and that they wanted missionaries to instruct them. Their recent enmity against the Spaniards was the result of the friendship shown by the latter for the Apaches, their inveterate enemies. The northern tribes claimed the Spaniards had promised them missions since the visit of Alarcon in 1718 but had not kept their word. 47 The matter was referred to the advisers of the viceroy, and Diego Ortiz Parrilla. who was in Mexico at the time. was requested to make a special report. Parrilla and Felipe de Rabago y Teran were still on friendly terms. Furthermore, the unfortunate commander of the expedition against the northern tribes still looked upon them with distrust and resentment. He took advantage, therefore, to discourage friendship with the enemy that had recently inflicted on him so severe and unexpected a defeat. On November 8, 1760, in a long report. he assured the viceroy that the northern tribes were as faithless and as treacherous as the Apaches. No reliance could be placed on their vows and offers of friendship, nor on their petition for missions. The northern Indians, he averred, were dangerous-he remembered too vividly his experience. It was well to listen to their overtures for peace and to humor them, but no trust should be placed in them. No action taken. 46 lnvestigation held hy Governor Martos y Navarrete at Los Adaes. April 6, 1761; Report of the governor. ,4. G. /., .411diem:ia de Mexico, 92-6-22 (Dunn Transcripts, I 748-1763), pt. 2, pp. 111-113; II 5. 41 /bid., pp. 113-115.
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