The Bcgi1111i11gs of Present Nacogdoches
339
would only encourage smuggling and bring foreigners into the land. How far the resentment of friendly Indians to the curtailment of trade would go was shown during Oconor's time by attacks and raids made on San Antonio by former friendly tribes. 75 It is to be noted that this suggestion was e,·entually carried into effect and that it was Ibarbo who was charged with the supervision of Indian trade. Not long after the settlers were established at Nacogdoches, they were Yisited by Nicholas de la Mathe, the French trader, now under Spanish employ. When in June, La Mathe left Nacogdoches for San Antonio with a train of mules, horses, and cattle, part of which belonged· to Ibarbo and the settlers, he was unexpectedly attacked by the Tawakoni Indians not far from Nacogdoches. In the engagement that followed, the Alferez Juan de Mora was killed, and a soldier, Pedro Gonzalez, suffered a broken. leg. The enemy succeeded in driving away a good number of mules and horses, and the party, led by La Mathe was forced to return to Nacogdoches. Ibarbo immediately went out with twenty-six men to recover the remains of Mora, to escort eight messengers as far as Ojo de Agua, and to give aid, if necessary, to a party of hunters from the settlement who had gone to the Colorado in search of food. While at San Pedro, one of the villages of the Tejas, he had learned how a large number of Comanches had recently brought many Spanish captives from New Mexico to one of the villages of the Tao,·ayas. Here a French trader bought a woman and a child and took them to Natchitoches, going ten leagues north of Nacogdoches in order to amid the Spanish settlement. Ibarbo assured the governor that the discontent prevalent among the Indians in northeast Texas was growing and that even those who had formerly been friendly were now becoming hostile, because of the failure of the Spaniards to keep their word with regard to trade. Just recently, the Orcoquisacs, Bidais, and other coastal tribes had planned to raid La Bahia and to steal horses from the missions there. Fortunately, he had been able to disuade them from their purpose. Ibarbo concluded by urging the need of a trading post and a garrison at Nacogdoches. The Indian pueblos in the vicinity, in his opinion, should be Yisited more fre• quently in order to maintain their friendship and allegiance. The Indians. he said, were more inclined to evil than to good and the b(l()ty from raids on Spanish settlements was always a strong and irresistible tempt~\tion.a 75 lbarbo to Croix, May 9, 1779. A.G. JI!., Hislori,,, \·01. 51, pp. 539-5.p. 76 lbarbo to Governor Cabello, June 1 3, I 779. A. G. .1/., l/istori~, , ·01. 51, pp. 541-544.
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