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Ret11rn of Rabago and the Fo1111ding of Ca,ion Missions
Nueva Vizcaya, Coahuila, and Texas. It would put an end to any effort to continue missionary activity among the Apaches. It would preclude all possibility of developing the mineral deposits found in the hilly country of West Texas. Furthermore, its abandonment would be a public admission of defeat, which would embolden the northern tribes and bring down upon the Spaniards the vindictive rage of the Apaches themselves, who would justly feel they had been betrayed. Even now there were rumors of an impending attack by the Comanches. A squaw of that nation had been taken prisoner in a recent raid and she had told how her people were organizing a new attack. In the winter, numerous groups of the northern tribes visited San Saba 'and other frontier posts under the guise of friendship to trade skins and hides for provisions. These Indians were in reality spies and scouts, who reported the strength of the garrisons and the approaches to the presidios. The favorite time for attack on San Saba had always been in March. Constant vigilance was essential to prevent a surprise and possibly complete annihi- lation of the guard at San Saba. Communication with the outposts in Texas, Coahuila, and Nueva Vizcaya had long since been established and reenforcements could be secured from them, but up to this time no road had been discovered to New Mexico. Rabago y Teran enlarged upon the need and the importance of establishing such communication. He asked permission to undertake an expedition to find a route, and he suggested that the middle of May was the best time for the undertaking. At that time water was abundant in the plains country and the grass was at its best. 12 Exploration of the Conclzo and Pecos Rivers. Without awaiting a reply, Captain Rabago y Teran decided to reexplore the country to th,. west of San Saba (present Menard). A party of forty men, under the command of a lieutenant, was sent into what is now Schleicher, Irion, Reagan, Upton, Crane, and Ward counties. The men were gone twenty- four days. Upon their return they reported that they had explored the country in a general westerly direction, with some inclination to the north, until they had reached a large river that ran north and south, which they called Puerco. The river flowed across apparently endless plains and was about eighteen varas wide and almost two varas deep at the place where they came upon it. This stream they were assured by the Indians, flowed into the Rio Grande. The country along the river was more or less flat, but two ranges of mountains were discernible to the west. Not far from 12 1 bid., pp. 1 s-2 s.
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