Ottr Catholic Heritage in T cxas
Route f()l/owed from San Saba to San Antonio. From San Saba to San Antonio the route followed was mostly southeast and the party appears to have pursued a course in general similar to the present highway from Menard. They arrived in San Antonio on August 8. The garrison con- sisted of twenty-two men, fifteen of whom were generally stationed in the fi,·e missions located along the river for a distance of three leagues. La Fora and Rubi were of the opinion that the missions were prosperous and the Indians so civilized that they should be placed in the care of seculars. There were in the five missions eight hundred and nine Indians of the Payaya, Xarame, Chana, Coco, Pajalate, Tacame, Pampopa, Mes- quite, Aguataya, Pamaca, Chayopin, Pacaos, Venado, Borrado, and Pata de Perro nations. Rubi and La Fora remained in San Antonio until August 25, when they again set out for the distant post of Los Adaes. 41 Going east, southeast, they crossed Salado Creek about four leagues from San Antonio. Four leagues beyond they came to Aguila Creek, which they crossed at Las Calaveras, continuing four more leagues to Los Chayopines, where they camped on the left bank of the San Antonio, above present Floresville. On August 26, they went more to the east and crossed a partially dried creek which they called Marcelino, seven leagues from Chayopines. T,vo leagues beyond they came upon the Cibolo, along which they noted Sa11 Bartolo ranch and other similar estates owned by citizens of San Antonio. Here some corn was raised and herds of cattle and horses were pastured without molestation from the Indians. Continuing in the same general direction they reached Cleto Creek after going six leagues and here they camped. The creek was almost dry and had only some stagnant pools. This, like the Cibolo, flowed into the San Antonio River. Ro1ete foll<rwed from San Antonio to Los Adaes. The next day they changed their course and went north, northeast. After travelling six leagues. they came to Cuchillo Creek, formed by three short streams that came together a short distance above the crossing. Eight leagues beyond, they crossed the Guadalupe at the place called Vado de! Gobernaclor, perhaps at the point where Alarcon came near drowning in 1728. "The water came to the horses' stomachs," says La Fora, "but the stream was very swift because of its narrowness. A slight rain soon renders it impassable, except on barges." The crossing must ••The account of the route of Rubi, never given in detail before, is based on La Fora, Relacion del Viaje que de orde11 del Excelent,simo Se,ior Virrey Marques de Cruillas l1izo ... Nicolas de La Fora en co111pa11ia del Afariscal de Campo Marques de Rubi ... ff. 1-67.
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