Our Catl1olic Heritage in T~xas
166
melons, and requested Spanish clothes, copper kettles, nutates and coma/es (grindstones and flat irons used for cooking). In a petition to Captain Rabago the two friars pointed out the material needs of the enterprise, but explained that these could all be taken care of by the Padres until the viceroy approved the project. However, there was one need which only Rabago could supply, which was essential to the success of the new mission. The presence of the captain, with whom the Indians had in fact bargained, and of a respectable guard was indis- pensable. Only in this way could the neophytes be made to fulfill their promises and to .submit to the routine and discipline of mission life until the new habits of orderly and uniform living were formed. The nature of the Apaches and the particular circumstances that had attended the founding of the new mission made their request all the more urgent and necessary. Without his presence and an adequate guard there was great danger that the whole enterprise would fail. Captain Rabago was impatient to return to San Saba, fully aware that praiseworthy though the enterprise might be, he was exceeding his instructions and that his prolonged absence from his presidio constituted in fact a serious breach of duty. He consequently agreed to leave twenty men under the command of Lieutenant Manuel Valdez to guard the new mission, and to send the missionaries such supplies as he could spare, with the understanding that when viceregal approval was obtained and royal aid granted to the mission he would be reimbursed for all expenses incurred. Just at this time, there came a letter from San Saba informing Captain Rabago of the arrival of a Texas chief called El Turnio (Cross-eyed) with a numerous following, who wished to be congregated. The captain lost no time now. He immediately left for San Saba, giving instructions to Father Fray Diego Jimenez to join him as soon as possible in order to enter into an agreement with the new petitioner. 14 The founding of Mission N1'estra Seiiora de la Candelaria. Thuc; hardly had Mission San Lorenzo been established when it was left in charge of Fray Joaquin Banos, protected by twenty soldiers, while Captain Rabago and Fray Diego hurried back to San Saba to plan another mission. They were met by Chief Turnio and Chief Panocha (Pancake), who expressed a vehement desire to be placed in a mission with all their people. 2'Petition of Padre Diego Jimenez and Joaquin Banos, January 26, 1762; Autos del Capitan Rabago y Teran, same date. A.G. M., Historia, Vol. 84, pt. 1, pp. 191- 197. Fray Diego Jimenez to Fray Manuel Naxera, February 5, 1762, in Ibid., pp. 51-62. Arricivita, op. cit., 384-385.
I
.·I :1
1 I
·i
'1
I I
Powered by FlippingBook