Hidalgo and Salazar with assistance had solicited the aid of the Flores
families of Saltillo, some of whom were merchants and others owners of
landed estates. The merchants supplied the mission de Los Delores with
trade supplies.
Through Bernardino, Sub-chief of the Hasinai Indians, Hidalgo learned of
a meeting place called Campti, where each Fall of every year all of the
tribes of the Caddo Federation of Indians gathered for sports and
trading purposes. (Campti was the name of the Chief of the Natchitoches
tribe who had organized this meeting, held on a great sand-bar near
present-day Campti, Louisiana). These meetings were of a secret nature
and not sanctioned by the Spanish Government, and the tradition of their
occurrence had remained with the Flores family. Hidalgo prevailed on the
Flores family, who knew the value of land and what it could produce for
settlers, to assist him by sending men to go on a trading expedition to
the Campti. Bernardino was to act as guide.
Ramone Flores and a cousin, Joseph Colliea, were designated by the elder
Flores to go and assist the Spanish priests. These two made four trips
in the Fall of the years 1708, 1709, 1710 and 1711 to the Sand-bar near
_Campti, Louisiana_.