163
Retum of Rabago and tlee Founding of Caiion 11'/issions
just east of the river and two smaller ones near it. From this description of the Valley of San Jose, it could just as well be in the canyon of the upper Nueces as in the canyon of the Frio River. However, the distance to San Saba, San Antonio, and San Juan Bautista, as well as to the Llano and Canon de las Lechugas determine with considerable accuracy the actual location as having been at or near present Barksdale on the upper Nueces. If a point of a compass is placed at Barksdale and the other at San Saba, swinging the instrument around in an arc towards San Antonio, it will be found that it passes over the present site of San Antonio and almost exactly over present Eagle Pass. The location is further confirmed by the specific reference to the Canon de las Lechugas (Fern Valley) located east of the proposed mission. This can be no other than Rio Frio Canyon, which is much narrower and where even today wild ferns abound on its craggy slopes. 21 Late in December, Chief Cabez6n and his people returned to San Saba from their buffalo hunt and informed the captain they were ready to be congregated in the Valle de San Jose. Immediately thirty men were ordered to prepare themselves to accompany them to San Jose Valley, under the command of a lieutenant. On January 2, 1762, the soldiers and the followers of Chief Cabez6n set out from San Saba. They were soon followed by Captain Rabago. Seven days later, they arrived at their destination and camped by a copious spring on the east bank of the new Rio de San Antonio (upper Nueces). Chief Cabezon informed Captain Rabago that this site was the exact location where his people wanted to be established as a mission. Tlee founding of Mission San Lorenzo det Cai'ion. An official exploration of the entire valley was immediately ordered, and a messenger was dispatched to call Fray Jimenez from San Juan Bautista. On January 16, the good friar, who had been anxiously awaiting the good news with hope and fear in his heart, arrived accompanied by Fray Joaquin Banos. He brought a good supply of axes, bars, hoes, and other tools necessary to clear the ground to erect the first buildings. and to begin the tilling of the soil. He also brought the much desired tobacco, some sweet piloncillos (brown sugar loaves), corn, beans. clothes, hats, beads, and numerous trinkets so dear to the heart of the Indians. Several yoke of oxen were supplied and a number of mission Indians from San ::Auto de Don Felipe de Rabago y Teran, December 31, 1761-January 23, 1762. A.G. ,II., Historia, Vol. 84, pt. 1, pp. 164-190; lnforme de los Padn:s Fray Diego Jimenez, Fray Joaquin Baiios, and Fray Martin Garcia, February 7, 1761. .-I. G. '1/. Historia, Vol. 29, pt. 1, pp. 113-115.
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