AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1581-83. 



upon the banks whereof grew many vines bearing excel- 

 lent grapes, and great groves of walnut-trees, and much 

 A mighty ^ flaxe like that of Castile: and they shewed our men by 

 River of eight sig^^s, that behinde those mountaines there was a river 

 rumhsilo- ^bout 8. leagues broad, but they could not learne how 

 zvard the neere it was : howbeit the Indians made demonstration 

 ISlorth sea. that it ran towards the North sea, and that upon both 

 Perhaps this gides thereof stood many townes of so great bignesse, that 

 tnmJuChese- ^^ comparison thereof those wherein they dwelt were but 

 piouk bay, or small hamlets. 



into the great After he had received all this information, the said 

 lakeofTadoac. Captaine returned toward the province of Zuni, whither 

 he had sent his said companions : and being arrived there 

 in safety, having travailed upon a very good way, he 

 found in the same place his 5. companions, & the said 

 father Frier Bernardin Beltran, with the souldiers which 

 were determined to returne, as is aforesaid, but upon 

 certaine occasions were not as yet departed : whom the 

 inhabitants had most friendly intreated, & furnished with 

 all things necessary in abundance, as afterward likewise 

 they used the Captaine, and those that came with him, 

 comming foorth to meete them with shew of great joy, 

 and giving them great store of victuals to serve them in 

 their journey homewards, and requesting them to returne 

 againe with speed, and to bring many Castilians with them 

 (for so they call the Spaniards) to whom they promised 

 food sufficient. For the better performance whereof they 

 sowed that yeere more graine and other fruits, then they 

 had done at any time before. 

 [III. 396.] At this present the Frier and souldiers aforesaid 



resolved themselves in their former determination, & 

 agreed to returne unto the province from whence they 

 came with intention before mentioned, to seek the two 

 Friers that were slaine, to whom also Gregorio Hernan- 

 dez who had bene standard-bearer in the journey, joyned 

 himselfe. Who being departed, the Captaine accom- 

 panied onely with 8. souldiers, determined to prosecute 

 his former attempt, & to passe up higher the saide river 



202 



