340 



of these nations, which are so entirely different from those of all the 

 other nations we have found np to the present time, prove that they 

 caine from the region of the Great India, whose coasts touch those of 

 this country on the west. They may have approached by following the 

 course of the river after crossing the mountains, and may have there 

 fixed themselves in the locations that seemed most advantageous to 

 them. As they multiplied they built other villages along the banks, 

 until the stream failed them by plunging into the earth. When it 

 reappears it flows toward Florida. It is said that there are other villages 

 on the banks of this river, but we did not visit them, preferring, accord- 

 ing to the Turk's advice, to cross the mountains to its source. I believe 

 that great riches would be found in the country whence these Indians 

 came. According to the route they followed they must have come from 

 the extremity of the Eastern India, and from a very unknown region, 

 which, according to the conformation of the coast, would be situated far 

 in the interior of the land betwixt China and Norway. There must, in 

 fact, be an immense distance from one sea to the other, according to the 

 form of the coast as it has been discovered by Captain Villalobos, who 

 took that direction in seeking for China. The same occurs when we 

 follow the coast of Florida ; it always approaches Xorway up to the 

 point where the country ' des baccalaos,' or codfish, is obtained."* 



The foregoing reflections seem crude to us who are better informed 

 with regard to the geography of the earth's surface ; but when we con- 

 sider that in the days of Castaiieda the whole of that portion of the 

 continent lying east of the Rio Grande was called Florida, and but lit- 

 tle, if anything, was known of the exact relations of the northern part 

 of our continent with the other portions of the world, they do not appeal- 

 irrelevant. 



In conclusion ,j[ think it proper to observe that the " Relations " of 

 Corouado, Castaiieda, Jaramillo, and Alarcon, though somewhat vague in 

 style, and therefore requiring a great deal of study to comprehend their 

 meaning with certainty, are nevertheless written in a straight-forward, 

 natural manner, and are manifestly entitled to credence whenever they 

 describe what came under their observation. When, however, they 

 describe the tales of others their narratives partake the character of 

 the marvelous ; but, even then, if we carry along with us the idea that 

 they do not mean to deceive, but only to give expression to what might 

 possibly be true but which they do not assert to be so their narratives 

 must be regarded not only as truthful, but as meritorious, and emi- 

 nently deserving of careful study and reflection. 



* Castafieda's Relations, Ternaux Compaus, pp. 183, 184. 



