wdiship] THE SPANIARDS . AT CULIACAN 385 



were with the expedition. The granaries of the place were filled with 

 the surplus from the bountiful harvests of two preceding years, which 

 sufficed to feed the whole army for three or four weeks, besides pro- 

 viding supplies sufficient for more than two months when the expedi- 

 tion resumed its march. These comfortable quarters and the abundant 

 entertainment detained the general and his soldiers for some weeks. 1 

 This was the outpost of Spanish civilization, and Coronado made sure 

 that his arrangements were as complete as possible, both for the army 

 and for the administration of New Galicia during his absence. 



The soldiers, and especially the gentlemen among them, had started 

 from Compostela with an abundant supply of luxurious furnishings 

 and extra equipment. Many of them were receiving their first rough 

 lessons in the art of campaigning, and the experiences along the way 

 before reaching Culiacan had already changed many of their notions 

 of comfort and ease. When the preparations for leaving Culiacan 

 began, the citizens of the town received from their guests much of the 

 clothing and other surplus baggage, which was left behind in order that 

 the expedition might advance more rapidly, or that the animals might 

 be loaded with provisions. Aside from what was given to the people 

 of the place, much of the heavier camp equipage, with some of the 

 superfluous property of the soldiers, was put on board a ship, the San 

 Gabriel, which was waiting in the harbor of 'Culiacan. An additional 

 supply of corn and other provisions also was furnished for the vessel by 

 the generous citizens. 



THE EXPEDITION BY SEA UNDER ALARCON 



A sea expedition, to cooperate with the land force, was a part of 

 Mendoza's original plan. After the viceroy left Coronado, and proba- 

 bly while he was at Colima, on his way down the coast from Com- 

 postela, he completed the arrangements by appointing Hernando de 

 Alarcon, his chamberlain according to Bernal Diaz, to command a fleet 

 of two vessels. Alarcon was instructed to sail northward, following 

 the coast as closely as possible. He was to keep near the army, and 

 communicate with it at every opportunity, transporting the heavy 

 baggage and holding himself ready at all times to render any assist- 

 ance which Coronado might desire. Alarcon sailed May 9, 1540, prob- 

 ably from Acapulco. 2 



'A note, almost as complicated as that which concerns the date of the army's departure, might be 

 written regarding the length of the stay at Culiacan. Those who are curious can find the facts in 

 Coronado's letter from Granada, in Castaueda, and in the footnotes to the translation of the latter. 



2 The complete text of Alarcon's report was translated into Italian by Ramusio (vol. iii, fol. 363, 

 ed. 1556), and the Spanish original is not known to exist. Herrera, however, gives an account which, 

 from the close similarity to Kamusio's text and from the personality of the style, must have been 

 copied from Alarcon's own narrative. The Ramusio text does not give the port of departure. Her- 

 rera says that the ships sailed from Acapulco. Castaiieda implies that the start was made from La 

 Natividad, but his in format ion could hardly have been better than second band. He may have known 

 what the viceroy intended to do, when be bade the army farewell, two days north of Compostela. 

 Alarcon reports that he put into the port of Santiago de Bnena Esperanza, aud as the only Santiago 

 on the coast hereabout is south of La Natividad, which is on the coast of the district of Colima, 

 14 ETH 25 



