1778 – Karankawas

[March 18, 1778] De Mézières to Croix

Author: Athanase de Mézières y Clugny

Description: De Mézières states that a group of 90 Carancahuas (a tribe of Karankawas) is visiting and trading with the Akokisas on the coast.

Relevance:

(1) De Mézières stance on the Karankawas first becomes clear. He intends to limit their access to trade and believes the apostate Karankawas will draw other Karankawas into apostasy.

(2) The document also shows the groups in which the Karankawas found themselves aligned: Cocos, Mayeyes, and the Akokisas.

Access: De Mezieres to Croix, March 18, 1778, Blake Papers.

Further Reading: Do you have any ideas?

Tags: Trade

[September 15, 1778] Croix to Ripperdá

Author: Teodoro de Croix

Description: This letter is a summary of the documents written from March to July 1778 by the captain of La Bahía, Luis Cazorla, regarding the Karankawas. Unfortunately, I have had little success in tracking down the actual letters by Cazorla and have had to rely on these descriptions.

Relevance:

(1) Mission Rosario is abandoned by the Karankawas and the repeated campaigns are ordered against the Karankawas.

Access: Croix to Ripperdá, September 15, 1778, BA.

Further Reading: Do you have any ideas?

Tags: War

[October 13, 1778] Fray Joaquín de Escobar to Ripperdá

Author: Fray Joaquín de Escobar (I plan to create an encyclopedia entry on Escobar)

Description: Escobar, a longtime priest of the Gulf Coast missions, is attempting to lure the Karankawas back to Mission Rosario.

Relevance:

(1) This is on the precipice of the Karankawa-Spanish War. Because this ploy by Escobar fails, he ultimately travels to the Karankawas’ lands, learns of the Andry massacre, and war breaks out between the two groups.

Access: Fray Joaquín de Escobar to Ripperdá, October 13, 1778, BA.

Further Reading: Do you have any ideas?

Tags: War