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Show 82 VI. NAAKAII^BAHI NINAADAA' Navajos' sudden interest in Catholicism surprised the fathers, for the Navajos had never shown interest in the Christian teachings before. Urged by the fathers, a large group of Navajos led by Fernando de Orcazitas moved to Cebolleta in 1748. But interest in Christianity was not the only reason for this move. A severe drought destroyed Navajo crops in 1748, and Ute raids were causing as much damage as ever. The missionaries promised the Indians seeds, livestock, and tools, as well as religion. Two missions were built, one at Cebolleta and one at nearby Encinal. Each had a missionary. At first many people were baptized. But, as time passed, the Navajos grew more and more reluctant to move to towns near the mission. They could not see why this religion required them to settle in one place. And they were unhappy with the fathers' work for other reasons, too. When the missions had been set up, the Navajos saw few of the gifts they had been promised. Many of the People had been most eager to find protection from the Utes. Moving to Cebolleta had helped protect the People, but Christianity itself gave them little safety. They saw at first-hand the kind of Spanish rule under which the Christian Pueblos had to suffer. This too was a good argument against baptism. And their own religion satisfied their spiritual needs. By early 1750, they had driven the missionaries out. Despite the failure of the missions, the Navajos stayed at peace through the 1750s and 1760s. But once again Spanish policies began to anger them. Settlers were moving west of the Rio Grande Valley. The Spanish governor had given out many grants to lands that bordered on or included land used by the Navajos. The grants contained attempts to protect Navajo rights, and at first the Navajos did not protest. But, by the 1770s, Spanish herds and flocks were damaging Navajo farms around the base of the Cebolleta Mountains. The growing Navajo herds and flocks needed the grazing lands. And the nearness of Spanish stock offered young Navajos an easy way to make their fortunes. Another part of Spanish policy also threatened the peace. Sometime before 1749, the Utes and the Comanches had become bitter foes. The Spaniards took advantage of this to form an alliance with the Utes. Governor Tomas Velez Cachupin actively sought Ute friendship during his two terms as governor, from 1749 to 1754 and from 1762 to 1767. He also made truces with the Comanches. But these truces did little to stop wars between tribes. In fact, the Spaniards tried to use the Utes, Comanches, and |