Our Catltolic Heritage i1t Texas
154
almost one hundred years before. The river that ran almost due north and south, whose water was brackish, wa~ none other than the Pecos. Rabago y Teran knew the Apache Indians and could differentiate the characteristics of the various nations that made up this numerous family. The Apache Lipans, he assured the viceroy, originally lived in the Presidio country, that is, the Big Bend. and as far east as the Concho River (Texas Concho), but they had been forced southward from their former haunts to the headwaters of the Frio and the Nueces Rivers and down these streams to the Rio Grande. The San Saba River was not their country now, nor had it ever been. They visited this area only when the buffalo ranged along this stream on the way to the great plains to the north and west. The Natages, Mescaleros. and Faraones, although they spoke a similar dialect and appeared to be of the same stock, looked with disdain upon the Lipans and had their habitat to the north and west in the direction of Nueva Vizcaya (present Chihuahua) and New Mexico. Description of Indian nations. To the north and east of San Saba lived the Comanches, Tawakonis, Taovayas, Yojuanes, Tonkawas, Mayeyes, Quitseys, and the Hierbipiames. Although these different nations were not of the same stock, they were allies in war, being joined primarily by their common hatred of the Apaches. They constituted the northern tribes and had become the enemies of the Spaniards, because of the friendship shown by the latter for the despised plains Indians. The Tejas and the Bidais had long been the friends of the Spaniards. They lived almost due east from San Saba and only occasionally did they join the northern tribes impelled by circum- stances, their natural greed, and the provocation of the Apaches.11 It seems strange that with so clear an analysis of the native alignment and so perfect an understanding of the issues involved in the relations with the rival tribes, Rabago should have advocated so strongly the continuation of a friendly policy toward the Lipan Apaches, the mainte- nance of San Saba for their protection, and the founding of new missions for them. Importance of tl1e Presidio at San Saha. In one thing did Parrilla and Rabago fully agree. San Saba, in their opinion, should be maintained at all cost. It was the corner stone in the defense of four frontier provinces. Its abandonment would imperil the infant settlements of New Mexico, 11 Rabago y Teran to the Viceroy, March 2, 1761. A.G./., Audi1ncia d1 Mh:ico, 91-3-3 (Dunn Transcripts, 1759-1762), pp. 15-25.
i·
Powered by FlippingBook