195
Retum of Rabago and tlte Founding of Ca,ion ,1/issions
They retired a short distance to Loma de Piedra (Rock Hill) and in full view of the presidio nonchalantly slew several beeves, roasted them and feasted unconcernedly, while the rest of the herd grazed nearby unguarded. Two days later either the same band, or another, tried a ruse. They were mostly Tawakonis, who brought with them a Tejas Indian as interpreter. They rode up to the walls of the presidio and presented a flag of truce, declaring they were friends. Rabago was suspicious and ordered the men to remain at their posts and to keep the gate closed, while he talked to the party through their interpreter. The Tejas Indian explained that the Indian visitors were friends, that they did not want to fight or hurt the Spaniards, that they were hunting for their enemies, the Apaches, and wanted to know if there were any in the fort. Captain Rabago ordered some presents distributed among them. The Indians pitched camp right under the walls of the fort and proceeded to spread out their wares for trade. But the ·Spanish soldiers remained at their posts and the settlers were not allowed to come out to barter with them. Seeing that their efforts to get the Spaniards to relax their vigilance were futile, the Tawakonis took friendly leave and retired to a camp they had established a short distance away. Early the following morning they returned with a liberal supply of buffalo meat which they gave to the soldiers over the wall. The gate remained closed and the guards kept their posts. The Indians. through the interpreter, invited the entire Spanish garrison to come to their camp as their guests and feast with them. The invitation was politely refused and a fe,.,,· presents were again distributed among them, chiefly tobacco and beads. For a week or more there was an ominous absence of prowling Indians, but on December 20, two soldiers. who had gone out to the rh-er in the morning. suddenly returned with a brisk run to warn the garrison of the approach of the enemy. The Indians rushed to the walls. but finding the men posted at their places. slackened their pace and raised a flag of truce. This time the visitors were Comanches. They had a French interpreter who could not speak Spanish. With the aid of Pedro Minon. an artillery- man of the presidio who knew French. a conversation was carried on. The Comanches declared, like the Tawakonis, that they were friends of the Spaniards and wanted to make peace. They wanted to kill all the Apaches because they were bad. While the parley was being- held a train of supplies which was being expected and for whose S.'\fety Rabago had begun to fear. arrived. Among the muktet·rs were sewral Indians of
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