Apache Raids in Arizona

In the secondary source Hispanic Arizona, 1536-1856 by James E. Officer, the raids in southern Arizona are examined. This map of the Northern Pimeria Alta from 1691-1767 shows the different missions, including San Xavier del Bac. Being located to the west of the Santa Cruz River allowed them to have access to water and they could use the river as a way to travel south to trade with other towns besides Tucson. The Apaches raided San Xavier in early October 1768, and then traveled south to raid Tumacacori and the Mission of Santa Maria Soamca. Being able to see the locations of towns and missions surrounding the Papago Indians demonstrates who it was easiest to trade with, and how the Santa Cruz River served as kind of a guide for the Apache raids.