VASQUEZ DE CORONADO ad. 



1540. 

 with this resolution and purpose wee all marched cheere- 

 fully through a very badde way which was not passable 

 but one by one, or else wee must force out with Pioners 

 the path which wee founde, wherewith the Souldiours 

 were not a little offended, finding all that the Frier had 

 sayde to bee quite contrary : for among other things 

 which the father sayde and affirmed, this was one, that 

 the way was plaine and good, and that there was but 

 one small hill of halfe a league in length. And yet in 

 trueth there are mountaines which although the way were 

 well mended could not bee passed without great danger 

 of breaking the horses neckes : and the way was such, 

 that of the cattell which your Lordship sent us for the 

 provision of our armie wee lost a great part in the 

 voyage through the roughnesse of the rockes. The 

 lambes and sheepe lost their hoofes in the way : and of 

 those which I brought from Culiacan, I left the greater 

 part at the River of Lachimi, because they could not The river of 

 keepe company with us, and because they might come ^^'^himl. 

 softly after us, foure men on horsebacke remained with 

 them which are nowe come unto us, and have brought 

 us not past foure and twentie lambes, and foure sheepe, 

 for all the rest were dead with travailing through that 

 rough passage, although they travailed but two leagues a 

 day, and rested themselves every day. 



At length I arrived at the valley of the people called T^he valley of 

 Caracones, the 26. day of the moneth of May: and from ^^e people 

 Culiacan untill I came thither, I could not helpe my ^^^^^ 

 selfe, save onely with a great quantitie of bread of Maiz : 

 for seeing the Maiz in the fieldes were not yet ripe, 

 I was constrained to leave them all behind me. In this 

 valley of the Caracones wee found more store of people 

 then in any other part of the Countrey which wee had 

 passed, and great store of tillage. But I understood 

 that there was store thereof in another valley called The l^alle del 

 Lords valley, which I woulde not disturbe with force, '^^^'^^'*- 

 but sent thither Melchior Diaz with wares of exchange 

 to procure some, and to give the sayde Maiz to the 



147 



