FRIAR MARCO DE NICA ad. 



1539. 



A relation of the reverend father Frier Marco [in. 366.] 

 de Ni9a, touching his discovery of the king- 

 dome of Cevola or Cibola, situate about 30. 

 degrees of latitude, to the North of Nueva 

 Espanna. 



Chap. I. 



Frier Marco de Ni^a departeth from Saint Michael in 

 the Province of Culiacan, standing in 24. degrees 

 of Northerly latitude : and comming to the Towne 

 of Petatlan, receiveth many courtesies of the Indians 

 there. Departing from thence, he had information 

 of many Islands, and of a great countrey inhabited 

 with civil people ; he commeth to Vacupa : where 

 during his aboad, he heard newes of Cevola, and of 

 the state of the 7. Cities, and of other provinces, & 

 of the rich Islands of perles, which extent northward 

 upon the coast. 



Frier Marco de Ni9a of the order of 

 S. Francis, for the execution of the 

 instruction of the right honourable lord 

 Don Antonio de Mendo9a, Vice-roy 

 and captaine Generall for the Emperors 

 Majestie in New Spaine, departed from 

 the towne of S. Michael in the province 

 of Culiacan on Friday the 7. of March, in the yeere 

 1539. having for my companion Frier Honoratus, and 

 carying with me Stephan a Negro, belonging to Andrew 

 Dorantez, and certaine of those Indians which the sayde 

 lord Vice-roy had made free, and bought for this pur- 

 pose : whom Francis Vazquez de Coronado governour 

 of Nueva Galicia delivered me, and with many other 

 Indians of Petatlan, and of the towne called Cuchillo, 

 which is some 50. leagues from Petatlan, who came to 

 the valley of Culiacan, shewing themselves to bee 

 exceeding glad, because they were certified by the 



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