DISCOVERY OF NEW MEXICO a.d. 



1581.83. 



promise, & bare them company 22 leagues, which was 

 all inhabited by people of the same nation. 



Next unto the foresayd province they came unto Another pro- 

 another further up the great river aforesayd, being '''^^^^' 

 much more populous then the former, of whom they 

 were well received, and welcomed with many presents, 

 especially of fish, whereof they have exceeding great 

 store, by reason of certaine great lakes not far from Great lakes. 

 thence, wherein they are bred in the foresayd plenty. 

 They stayed among these people three dayes ; all which 

 time both day and night they made before them many 

 dances, according to their fashion, with signification of 

 speciall joy. They could not learne the name of this 

 nation for want of an interpreter, yet they understood 

 that it extended very farre, and was very great. Among 

 these people they found an Indian of the foresayd nation 

 of the Conchos, who told them, and shewed them by 

 signes, that fifteene dayes journey from thence toward 

 the West there was a very broad lake, and nere unto A mighty lake. 

 it very great townes, and in them houses of three or 

 foure stories high, and that the people were well ap- 

 parelled, and the countrey full of victuals and provision. 

 This Concho offered himselfe to conduct our men thither, 

 whereat our company rejoyced, but left off the enterprise, 

 onely to accomplish their intent for which they undertooke 

 the voyage, which was to go Northward to give ayd unto 

 the two friers aforesayd. The chiefe and principall thing 

 that they noted in this province was, that it was of very 

 good temperature, and a very rich soyle, and had great 

 store of wilde beasts, and wilde-fowle, and abundance 

 of rich metals, and other excellent things, and very pro- Rich metals, 

 fitable. 



From this province they folowed their journey for the 

 space of fifteene dayes without meeting any people all that 

 while, passing thorow great woods and groves of pine IVoods of pine 

 trees bearing such fruit as those of Castile : at the end 

 whereof, having travelled, to their judgement, fourescore 

 leagues, they came unto a small hamlet or village of fewe 

 IX 193 N 



trees. 



