COEONADOS MARCH. 3^3 



fill account of the country tliey had passed through, that, it leaking out, 

 many in the army began to lose heart ; and it was only by Friar Marcos 

 de M§a insisting upon it, that the country was a good one, and that 

 they should not leave it with empty hands, that they were persuaded to 

 continue the march. 



The day after Easter, the army took up its march for Culincan, at 

 which place they were well received by the citizens and furnished with 

 all necessary supplies. This was the last town inhabited by Spaniards, 

 and, therefore, the last from which they could gather provisions, except 

 from the Indians with whom they might meet in their furtlier march. 

 It is represented by Castafieda, as being two hundred and ten leagues 

 from the city of Mexico.* 



After resting a couple of weeks at Culiacan, Coronado led the advance 

 of his army, consisting of fifty cavaliers, a few infantry, his particular 

 friends, and the monks, leaving the rest of the army with orders to march 

 a fortnight after, and to follow his path. As Oastaiieda, describing his 

 progress, exx)resses it, " when the general had passed through all the 

 inhabited region to Chichilticale, where the desert begins, and saw that 

 there was nothing good, he could not repress his sadness, notwithstanding 

 the marvels which were jiromised further on. No one save the Indians 

 who accompanied the negro had seen them, and already on many occa- 

 sions they had been caught in lies. He was especially afiiicted to find this 

 Chichilticale, of which so much had been boasted, to be a single, ruined, 

 and roofless house, which at one time seemed to have been fortified. It 

 was easy to see that this house, which was built of red earth, was the 

 work of civilized people who had come from afar. 



" On quitting this place they entered the desert. At the end of fif- 

 teen days they came within eight leagues of Cibola, on the banks of a 

 river which they named Vermejo, in consequence of its red and troubled 

 water. Mullets resembling those of Spain were found in it. It was 

 there that the first Indians of the country were discovered; but when 

 these saw the Spaniards they fled and gave the alarm. During the night 

 of the succeeding day, when not more than two leagues from the village, 

 some Indians who were concealed suddenly uttered such iiiercing cries 

 that our soldiers became alarmed, notwithstanding they pretended not 

 to regard it as a surprise ; and there were even some who saddled their 

 horses the wrong way, but these wei'e men who belonged to the new 

 levies. The best warriors mounted their horses and scoured the coun- 

 try. The Indians, who knew the land, escaped easily, and not one of 

 them was taken. Od the following day, in good order, we entered the 

 inhabited country. Cibola was the first village we discovered ; on be- 

 holding it the army broke forth with maledictions on Friar Marcos de 

 Niga. God grant that he may feel none of them ! 



" Cibola is built on a rock ; this village is so small that, in truth, there 

 are many farms in New Spain that make a better appearance. It may 

 contain two hundred warriors. The houses are built in three or four 

 stories 5 they are small, not spacious, and have no courts, as a single 

 court serves for a whole quart'er. The inhabitants of the province were 

 united there. It is composed of seven towns, some of which are larger 

 and better fortified than Cibola. These Indians, ranged in good order, 

 awaited us at some distance from the village. They were very loth to 

 accept peace ; when they were required to do so by our interpreters, 

 they menaced us by their gestures. Shouting our war-cry of Sant lago, 

 we charged upon and quickly caused them to fly. 



* Castaueda's Eel., Ternaux Compans' Col., -p. 149. 



