Occtt,pation of tlte Trinity River, 1746-1772
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Governor Barrios' second investigation, 1755. In the meantime the governor, fearful lest the projected French settlement might be estab- lished, and curious as to what was happening in the Trinity region, ordered Domingo del Rio, one of his trusted lieutenants, on April 29, 1755, to visit again the site, where Blancpain was arrested and report on the attitude of the Indians. Del Rio set out shortly afterwards with a good supply of gifts and presents. By June 4, he was back in Los Adaes. He reported that soon after the arrest of Blancpain a boat containing men had come, who having learned of the fate of the French traders had not stopped in the Trinity but had explored the coast as far as the Brazos, from where they had turned back to New Orleans. This group had not been the only visitors. After the boat disappeared, four Frenchmen on horse- back had entered the country of the Orcoquisacs, bringing merchandise to trade, but the Indians refused to have anything to do with them. with the exception of those at the ra11cl1er1a of Chief Canos. The state- ment made by Del Rio was substantiated by seven other witnesses who swore to its truth. But Governor Barrios did not inform the viceroy until September 6 of the new intrusions and of the recent overtures made by Governor Kerlerec of New Orleans for permission to purchase cattle in Texas, and a reciprocal arrangement for the return of deserters. 21 The proposals assume an added significance in view of the project Governor Kerlerec had presented to French authorities in 1753 to open trade with the interior provinces. In his memoire to the king he pointed out that although Spain was most jealous in her commercial policy, never- theless the weakness of the frontier outposts made her exclusiveness ineffective. Furthermore the rich mines of Nuevo Leon and Coahuila could be occupied without difficulty. The main obstacle seemed to be not the Spanish outposts but the ·Apaches, whose hatred of the eastern and northern Indians extended to the French. The first step was to negotiate a peace between the Apaches and their eastern neighbors. This would prepare the ground for the occupation of the Apache country, which at present was not controlled either by Spain or France. Then if a rupture should occur between the two crowns, the French would be in position to advance and take possession of the Spanish interior provinces already indicated." 21 Comision que le dio a Domingo de! Rio para que pasase a la averiguacion .. . April 29, 17 5 5; Declaraciones de testigos; Barrios y Jauregui to the Viceroy, Septem- ber 6, 1755. A . G. I., Audiencia de Guadalajara, 103-6-23 (Dunn Transcripts, 1756), pp. 113-134. 21 "Project de Paix et D' Alliance avec les Conneis," in Journal de la Sociele des Ame-ricanistes de Paris, Nouvelle Serie, III, 67-76.
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