DISCOVERY OF NEW MEXICO ad. 



1581-83. 



departed, to informe their companions of the things above 

 mentioned. 



Being returned to the campe they had intelligence of Quires border- 

 another province called Los Quires, which stood sixe ^^^jvJ;^/^'' 

 leagues higher up the river called Rio del Norte. And 

 in their journey thitherward, being arrived within a league 

 of the place, there came forth very many Indians to 

 receive them in peace, requesting them to beare them com- 

 pany to their townes : which they did, and were marvellous 

 well interteined and cherished. In this province they 

 found five townes only, wherein were great store of 

 people, and those which they saw were above 14000 

 soules, who worship idols as their neighbours do. In 

 one of these townes they found a pie in a cage after 

 the maner of Castile, and certaine shadowes or canopies 

 like unto those which are brought from China, wherein 

 were painted the Sunne, the Moone, and many Starres. 

 Where having taken the height of the pole-starre, they 

 found themselves to be in 37 degrees and J of Northerly ^|^^^^ J^ 

 latitude. ^ and a halfe. 



They departed out of this province, and keeping still [III. 394.] 

 the same Northerly course, foureteene leagues from 

 thence they found another province called The Cunames, Cunames, or 

 where they saw other five townes, the greatest whereof P^^^"^^^- 

 was called Cia, being so large, that it conteined eight Cia a great 

 market-places, the houses whereof being plaistered and ^^^^' 

 painted with divers colours, were better then any which 

 they had seene in the provinces before mentioned : the 

 people which they heere saw, they esteemed to be above 

 twenty thousand persons. They presented to our men 

 many curious mantles, and victuals excellently well 

 dressed ; so that our men deemed this nation to be 

 more curious, and of greater civility, and better govern- 

 ment, then any other that hitherto they had seene. They 

 shewed them rich metals, and the mountaines also not Rich metals. 

 farre off whereout they digged them. Heere our people 

 heard of another province standing toward the Northwest, 

 whereunto they purposed to goe. 



197 



