The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 30, July 1926 - April, 1927 Page: 301
330 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Descriptions of Tejas or Asinai Indians, 1691-1722 301
abandon their houses nor their country, although they do go to
war with their enemies.
They are an industrious people and apply themselves to all
kind of work. Indeed, if during the year and three months I
have been among them if I had had some bells, some small clasp
knives, some glass beads, and some blue cloth-which they greatly
prize,-some blankets, and other little things to exchange with
these Indians, I could have started a convent with the articles
it would have been possible to make from the best materials that
are abundant here. I, therefore, declare that it will be well for
the ministers to have some of these things-not that one person
only should have them-because the Indians are of such a nature
that they have no love save for the person who gives them some-
thing. So strong is this characteristic that only the person who
gives them something is good while all others are bad. They do
not even want to receive the holy sacrament of baptism except
from some person who has given them a great many things. Even
the ministers are not able to persuade them, nor will it ever be
possible to develop the mission without these presents. During
my stay of one year and three months in this country and dur-
ing the ten months since I started this, Your Excellency's mis-
sion, under the name of Santissima Nomibre de Maria, I have
not had a scrap or anything else. I have torn even my tattered
garments up to give to some Indian for helping me. The gov-
ernor of this mission of yours can vouch for this.
In addition to this brief report-filled as it is with so many
superstitions that to describe each of them in detail would re-
quire a great deal of paper-I cannot fail to give additional
facts. At different times of the year, these infidels arrange cer-
tains feasts honoring the caddices and the grand xinesi, in cele-
bration of the victories their ancestors have had. Some of the
tribes invite other tribes to these feasts, the captains paying
homage to the great captain, or xinesi, by presenting him with
bows and arrows and with other things which they value highly.
For three days and nights the feast goes on with dancing, eat-
ing, and fun; all those who have come feast but the xinesi. IIe
goes without eating for three days and without sleeping for
three nights. They do not let him sleep or eat. He does not
even drink or rest, but he is continually stirring about from place
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 30, July 1926 - April, 1927, periodical, 1927; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117142/m1/327/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.