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Show 386 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY PUEBLO REBELLION AND INDEPENDENCE 387 Godoy, Fernando Duran de Chavez, Adj. Gen’] Diego Varela, Adju- It was made known to De Vargas that no sooner had he left the coun- tant try the year before than his interpreter, one Pedro de Tapia, began telling the Indians that the moderation of De Vargas was all assumed and that it was his purpose, upon his return, when he had sufficient force to insure the execution of his demands and desires, to put to death all of the leading men who had taken part in the revolution of 1680. When the natives heard that he was approaching they feared that it was his design to carry this plan into effect. Having made the necessary disposition of his forces to ward off any attack while on the march, De Vargas moved his command from Isleta and marched northward in the direction of Santa Fé, camping Francisco de Anaya Almazan, and sergeant and secretary, Juan Ruiz. During this year, also, Alfonso Rael de Aguilar and Antonio Valverde appear as civil and military secretaries. There were over three thousand horses and mules. To each family there were given from ten to forty dollars for the purchase of necessaries on the journey. From whom these necessaries were to be purchased does not appear, nor is it apparent that coin was of any use in exchange or barter among the natives. De Vargas pursued the same course up the river that he had taken on his previous journey. The colonists suffered greatly. Each person was allowed one pound of flour and a small amount of beef daily until they arrived at Luis Lopez, at which place the provisions were exhausted. Here it is related that they sold their arms and horses to the Indians for food. Thirty persons perished from hunger and exposure, and the march was so much retarded by the wagons — carts — carrying the effects of the colonists that the general was compelled to leave them behind to come up at leisure, while he pushed ahead with his troops. As the Spaniards passed the pueblos in the valley of the Rio Grande, they were received with coolness by the inhabitants. When the pueblo of Isleta was reached, less than a hundred miles south of the capital, De Vargas made camp and remained here for a time in order thoroughly to prepare for his march into the interior. He sent messengers to the pueblo of Cia, seeking information as to the condition of the country and such other news as might prove useful and valuable in his future operations. The messenger, upon his return, reported that the Indians at Santa Fé had been in council, had resolved to resist his advance, and had provided a great number of lances and arrows. Their plan was to make an attack upon the troops and the animals at the same time, hoping by thus dividing the attention of the Spaniards, to meet with success. The Pueblos had invited the Apaches to join them and these had agreed to do so. There was great scarcity of provisions in the country owing to the damage pers. He also reported that much done to the crops by grasshopdivision and dissension existed among the inhabitants of the pueblo of Cia, some being in favor of war, while others were very pronounced in their desire for peace: Being thus warned, De Vargas moved and acted with great caution. in the valley of the Rio Grande at a deserted Spanish hacienda, which he fortified. The day following he proceeded to the pueblo of San Felipe. Here the Indians formed in two lines, with a large cross between them, and upon his entry of the village he was received with friendly demonstrations. He told them that he had brought priests with him and that they must say mass according to the form of the Spaniards. In this they were satisfied and brought refresh- ments to him and his command. At San Felipe he met some of the chiefs from the pueblo of Cochiti, whom he told it was his intention to visit their pueblo and directed them to return and talk with the people, advising them of his friendliness and to come and see him the day after. De Vargas now sent Captain Cristobal with a number of cattle to the pueblos up the river to trade for grain and other provisions of which the army stood in great need. Four leagues from camp he met an old woman who told him that the Indians were assembling at a point about seven leagues from Santa Fé for the purpose of destroying the entire Spanish force. Cochiti asking These Indians, she said, had sent two messengers to the assistance of that pueblo, but the latter, being divided in their opinions, had not yet determined upon the course Shortly afterwards he was informed that bethey would pursue. cause the people of Cochiti had refused to join with them, the Indians had returned to Santa Fé, where they were determined to resist any attempt upon the part of the Spaniards to enter the city. De Vargas now concluded to visit the pueblos of Santa Ana, Cia, and Cochiti. He found the Indians from these pueblos assembled upon the high mesas which overlook the valley of the Rio Grande; |