VASQUEZ DE CORONADO a.d. 



1539. 



And if I depart at the time aforesayde, they say wee may 

 wade over it. They tolde mee that from hence to Topira 

 was not above 50. leagues ; and I have learned since that 

 it is above foure score leagues. I doe not remember that 

 I have written to your Lordshippe the information which 

 I have of Topira : and though I had written thereof unto Topira. 

 you, yet because that since that time I have learned some- 

 thing more, I thinke it meete to signifie the same unto 

 your Lordship in these my letters. It may please your 

 honour therefore to understand, that they tell mee, that 

 Topira is a very populous Province, lying betweene two 

 rivers, and that there are above 50. inhabited townes 

 therein. And that beyond the same there is another Another 



Countrey greater then it, the name whereof the Indians ^^^^f^ 



1 1 "^ ° It 1-1 • r • 1 province. 



could not tell mee, wherem there is great store or victuals 



of Maiz, French peason, Axi or Pepper, Melons, and 



Gourds, and great store of Hennes of the countrey. The 



people weare on their bodies golde. Emeralds, and other 



precious stones, and are served commonly in golde and 



silver, wherewith they cover their houses : and the 



chiefe men weare great chaines of golde well wrought, ^J^- 304-] 



about their necks, and are apparelled with paynted ^^^^^ ^^ £ 



garments, and have store of wilde kine ; and they say the Pintados 



they enter not into their countrey, because themselves mentioned by 



have no great store of people : those Indians being Fner Marco 



many in number, and very valiant. That which here ^^^ ^ ^^^ 



I say, I learned by two other relations of Indians 



dwelling neere unto them. I meane to set forward at 



the time before mentioned, and I carrie with me 150. 



horsemen, and twelve spare horses, and 200. footmen, 



crossebowmen, and gunners. I take also with mee live 



hogs, sheepe, and all such things as I can get for money : 



assure your Lordship that I meane not to returne to 



Mexico, until I be able to informe your honour more 



perfectly, what the state of that place is : and if I find 



ought that we may doe good in, I will stay there, untill I 



have advertised your Lordship, that you may command 



what you will have done : and if it fall out so unluckily, 



119 



