157
Return of Rabago and the Formding of Cation Missions
off the fort. Before the end of November the work on the fort would be completed. As soon as the fortification was finished the soldiers would begin to replace their log cabins with stone and mortar houses. This would make San Saba the strongest presidio on the entire frontier. The garrison, too, had been improved. Although the number had been one hundred when turned over to him on October r, 1760, he had subse- quently found that eighteen of the men were not part of the regular garrison but a part of those recruited for Parrilla's campaign who had remained to fill vacancies temporarily. Furthermore, several were boys unfit for military service. In the garrison were included three tailors and a sacristan, who knew nothing about military life or duties and had never fired a gun or ridden a horse. Rabago informed the viceroy that he had gradually replaced these men with twenty new recruits, who were brought from Coahuila. He had also sent for horses to Nuevo Santander and Coahuila. Escandon had sent him three hundred and seventy, and two hundred and sixty had been brought from Coahuila. The garrison was now up to full, strength and well mounted. 14 Clianged attitude of A-paclres. The energy and determination dis- played by Rabago since his return in placing the presidia on a firm basis to resist attack appears to have inspired confidence in the frightened Apaches. They began to frequent San Saba and to speak of mission life again. Agreeable to his instructions, the new commander took advantage of every opportunity to win the friendship and confidence of the wayward, insolent, and treacherous Lipans. He sent out repeated invitations to the various chiefs, and he generously distributed presents, trinkets of various kinds, and such food as he could spare, to all who came to the presidio. He furnished them military escort to go and hunt the buffalo in safety, making them realize in various ways the material value of the friendship of the Spaniards to their welfare. At the same time he made them understand that the only way in which they could enjoy all these advantages perma- nently was by agreeing to be congregated in missions. where they could be instructed by the friars and be protected by the presidia. He patiently but firmly refuted all their excuses and pointed out to them how they had already been deprived of their hunting grounds by the Comanches. how they would starve without buffalo meat or the aid of the Spaniards. and how their enemies were pursuing them farther and farther into their own lands. 1 :; 14R:ibago y Teran to the Viceroy, ~ovember 1, 1760: same to same, November o. 1760. A. G. ,II., Hisioria, Vol. 94, pt. 1, pp. 20-30. ISArricivita, Cronica, 282-283.
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