197
Return of Rabago and the Founding of Caiion i11issio11s
He had had a surgeon from Coahuila and a medico treat them, but to no avail. During the last month an epidemic had appeared in the presidio which was about to disable the entire garrison. At first the ailment had affected only the women and children. It began with a sore mouth. Then the gums became inflamed and secreted pus. It seemed as if the gums began to rot. At this stage the lower limbs of the patient began to draw up and become stiff, impeding movement. The disease completely disabled the patient, who generally died in a few clays. The ailment had spread from the women and children to the men, and the garrison was seriouslr imperiled by the dreaded malady, which was called in this area Jlfal de Loanda.sa Garrison complains of ill-treatment. Continued vexations, unrelaxing vigilance, endless privations, and constant peril seem to have worn the nerves of the garrison to threads. The men began to grumble and Rabago himself in no better humor appears to have become harsh and irascible. Early in 1768, a formal complaint was lodged with the viceroy in the name of the garrison. The men complained that Rabago was neglecting his duties, that the food supplied them and their families was poor and insufficient, that the equipment issued was inadequate, that the captain never took part in any campaign, that he had deprived the men of their personal liberty, and that he freely made love to their wives. When the viceroy was confronted with this long list of abuses, he was indignant. He had never liked Rabago. He now took occasion to reprimand him with great severity for his shortcomings and warned him in no uncertain terms that a second complaint would be sufficient cause for his removal. 59 Conditions at San Saba apparently grew worse in the spring and early summer of 1768 and Rabago y Teran could no longer stay at his post. Without consulting the viceroy and asking his formal permission, he ordered San Saba abandoned early in June and moved with the entire garrison and with the few families to Mission San Lorenzo in the Valle de San Jose, where he arrived on June 22, 1768. Not until July 10, did he make a formal report to the viceroy of his daring decision to move. He now informed him without a preamble that he had been forced to move by circumstances and merely announced the incident as a fait accompli. The reasons for Rabago abandons post witlio"t a1'tkority. stRabago to the Viceroy, December 2, 1767; same to same, February 29, 1768. A.G. M., Historia, Vol. 94, pt. t, pp. 145-150. 59 Vlceroy to Rabago y Teran, May 3, 1768; complaint of soldiers against Captain Rabago y Teran. In Ibid., 24-28.
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