A handonme,it of East Texas
prohibiting this trade in New Spain. Was the Spanish policy sound? "It is to be noted," he observed, "that the natives of that area (east Texas), guided by the apostates from our missions, have successfully attacked our dominions. This has not happened in Louisiana. From this it may be deduced that we have not known how to reduce the Indians or that the happy hour of their divine conversion has not arrived." He frankly admitted that the situation in Texas was confusing and regretted that the distance of six hundred leagues between that province and Mexico made it difficult to adopt measures conducive to its solution. 19 Fear of Euglislt attack. In April, 1771, Ripperda was informed by the viceroy that the relations between Spain and England were strained. He was asked, therefore, to make a report on the defense of his province in case of an outbreak. He replied that Los Adaes was the nearest post to Louisiana, that to the north were the Cadodachos, among whom was the post of Arkansas, only six leagues distant from the English. Texas was the master key to New Spain. He recalled that during the previous year two Indians of an unknown nation, accompanied by a white man, who appeared to be English, had been observed near Opelousas, Louisiana, making a reconnaissance. Shortly afterwards, three other strange Indians were discovered north of Natchitoches by a French hunter. The Comanches, Tawakonis, Quitseys, Iscanis and Taovayas would be invaluable allies in case of war to fight the Indian allies of the English. He considered the coast region in the vicinity of the mouth of the Trinity another vulnerable spot, and he deplored the lack of information concerning this Yast area. Brother Sedano, of the College of Zacatecas. who conducted the trains of supplies to the missions in east Texas. had heard that during the last three or four years not less than three white men, who might be French or English, had visited and lived for short periods on Culebra Island (Matagorda) opposite the month of the Guad- alupe. where numerous Karankawas lived. In case of hostilities, the English should be checked if possible on the frontiers of Texas. If they penetrated beyond Los Adaes. San Antonio could afford little or no protection. Its stockade wai- more a corral than anything else, "affording greater protection to those that approach it than those that defend it." La Bahia, perhaps. offered a better position for resistance. Ripperda made a strange suggestion to improve the dnciem·y nf thl' 19 The Viceroy to the King, October 27, 1772. A.G. I. A1uii,mcit1 de G11cJti11/11j,m,. 104-3-2 (Dunn Transcripts, 1773-1774) pp. 156-158.
Powered by FlippingBook