WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 201 



566. The padre and the army stayed in this province, and Capt. 

 Espejo with nine companions journeyed 28 leagues eastward, coming 

 upon an extensive province with more than 50,000 souls ; and near 

 the pueblo of Zaguato, which is the chief town, they were met by 

 the caciques and all the inhabitants with great festivities. The country 

 is abundantly supplied with everything. They wear woolen and 

 cotton blankets very elaborately decorated, and antelope skins ; they 

 have towels with tassels at the ends, and other elaborate specialties. 

 There are silver mines 45 leagues W. of this province ; some very 

 rich ones lie on mountain ranges inhabited by highland Indians. 

 This province contains many large rivers with fine valleys and forests 

 along their banks and courses; in them are many walnut trees, vine- 

 yards, and other fruit trees like our own ; they raise excellent flax. 

 Behind these mountain ranges runs a mighty river, and along both 

 its banks there are large heathen villages, although some are being 

 Christianized by the Franciscan Fathers, who are established in New 

 Mexico, where they have 18 convents distributed over all these 

 provinces. They are like workers in the Lord's vineyard and are 

 cultivating these new shoots from among the heathen, preaching 

 them the Holy Gospel and teaching them our Holy Faith. This 

 country is abundantly provided with everything necessary for human 

 Hfe. 



567. Returning to Cibola, 60 leagues along the river to the N. 

 one comes to the Province of the Quires already mentioned, and 12 

 leagues E. of that, the Province of the Hubates, with abundance ot 

 supplies and a population of over 25,000 souls, all intelligent people ; 

 it contains mines of silver and other metals, great forests of pine 

 and cedar, and houses two or three stories high. One day's journey 

 from there is the Province of Tamos, with over 4,000 souls; this 

 was rediscovered by Capt. Antonio de Espejo, after the original 

 discovery and visit by Gov. Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. This 

 is the site of New Mexico, a city with over 80 Spanish residents 

 and a Governor appointed by the Viceroy of New Spain for its good 

 administration ; he has a salary of 2,000 pesos and the title of Lord- 

 ship. There are in these provinces 18 Franciscan convents for the 

 evangelization and the instruction of the Indians and the administra- 

 tion of the Holy Sacraments. They have a Commissary General 

 named and appointed by the General of New Spain. 



568. Capt. Antonio de Espejo turned back from the Province of 

 Tamos, guided by a friendly Indian, down the Rio de Las Vacas 

 (so called from the numbers of buffalo along its banks), along which 

 they traveled 120 leagues ; after that they went on to the Rio de 



