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Five chiefs of Apalachicola told Gov. Cabrera they will obey only the cacique of Coweta
Source: Situado and Sabana #82
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As he had informed the Crown in his first packet of dispatches, Marquez Cabrera had celebrated his arrival on Florida soil by reopening the mission at Sabacola, stationing seven soldiers to protect the friars. The insecurity of the missionaries' situation became apparent in the fall of 1681, when some Indians from Apalachicola crossed the border into Apalache and killed two persons. Captain Juan Fernandez de Florencia, teniente of Apalache, sent soldiers in pursuit of the "agresores," whereupon the Apalachicolas ejected all the Spanish from their province, including their supposed teniente, Captain Andres Perez, and two friars. Marquez Cabrera offered to forgive the murders if the caciques of Apalachicola would come to St. Augustine "to give obedience and receive the faith." In due time, five caciques appeared and refused to do either. In the presence of the parish priest, the sergeant major, the contador, and the defender of the Indians, they unitedly declared that they had made the Spanish leave in order to save their lives, because the "aggressors" were of "those who wander in bands as fugitives in the woods without recognition or subjection to their caciques." Ejecting the espanoles was not their idea, they said, but that of the "cacique of Caweta, who is not in Apalachicola but is the most principal, the one to whom they all render vassallage." Realizing that the Spanish sphere of influence was in danger of evaporating, the governor reasoned with his visitors at length (and for the record), "declaring to them how well it would be for them to reduce themselves to the body of Catholics because they were living deceived of the devil... and should see to their souls, and... if they just gave the word... he would give them ministers to teach them the Christian doctrine... [and would] help them in all he was able and defend them from their enemies." The chiefs listened in silence, then responded that they were prepared to trade with Spaniards and live in peace, but "as far as asking for friars, they had never done so or thought of doing so, and if God ever wanted them and their vassals to become Christians they would ask for friars then, but they did not presently find themselves with that intention" (Marquez Cabrera, 1681f). The self-assured caciques were not inclined to offer their obedience, either. The balance of power in the Southeast had shifted. Now that the Apalachicolas had the option of trading with South Carolina, the governor of Florida was in no position to dictate terms. (Bushnell SS)
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