The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913 Page: 167
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Retreat of the Spaniards from New Mexico in 1680 167
dependent of suggestions from anyone,' decided to send to the
pass for aid. Moreover, La Salineta is not mentioned at all in
this connection, and the error of Davis' statement that they were
to proceed to that place to await provisions is evident when it is
understood that La Salineta was only four leagues above El Paso,"
while Socorro was about seventy-five leagues above La Salineta.
On the same day that Otermin decided to send this company
of soldiers to meet Father Ayeta he received a letter from Father
Diego de Parraga written at Fray Crist6bal, stating that the Rio
Abajo people were in grave necessity, and asking that they either
be supplied with provisions or else allowed to proceed on their
journey in the hope of getting aid sooner. Otermin thought it
strange that he should receive such a letter from Parraga, since
Thome Dominguez de Mendoza had been left in command of the
Rio Abajo refugees by Garcia when the latter started north to
meet the governor. At the same time his own troubles were suffi-
cient in themselves, for by that time the people in his charge had
reached the point where they were living on roasted corn. Wor-
ried at receiving such a letter under those circumstances, Otermin
replied to Parraga the next day as follows:
Reverend Father Preacher Pray Diego de Parraga: Today, the
birthday of our lady, I received the letter which your paternity
writes from Fray Crist6bal, which it seems to me is the only
letter I have had from you in all the time of your govern-
ment. In it you tell me that that camp contains 1,500 souls,
and, because of having exhausted the supplies which were taken out
with them, if they remain there longer a. great ruin may be looked
for. On account of this you ask that I supply them, or that I order
them to proceed on their journey until near El Paco, where they
can have aid. In reply let me say that Thome Dominguez de
Mendoza, in whose care and disposition the camp was left, on
account of the absence of the lieutenant general in coming to find
and to see me, has not written me, nor sent me any message in
regard to this matter [of going to El Paso] nor of the other [the
condition of the Rio Abajo, refugees]. In regard to the other, pro-
vided it be thus, as I am sure it is, it is a serious affair in a desert
place like this, and so many leagues from the villa, that supplies
should be asked of one sufficient for the sustenance of more than
'Auto of Otermin, in Auttos tocantes, 31.
2Autto Y dilijencia," in Auttos tocantes, 43.
'Auto of Otermin, in Auttos tocantes, 31.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913, periodical, 1913; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101058/m1/175/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.