388 THE CORONADO EXPEDITION, 1540-1542 [eth.ann.14 



them to return unto their city and bid them stay quiet in their houses 

 fearing nothing." The general assured them that they need have no 

 anxiety, because the newcomers had been sent by His Spanish Majesty, 

 "to defend and ayde them." 



THE CAPTURE OF THE SEVEN CITIES 



The provisions brought from Culiacan or collected along the way were 

 now exhausted, and as a sudden attack by the Indians, during tbe last 

 night before their arrival at the cities, had assured the Spaniards of a 

 hostile reception, it was necessary to proceed rapidly. The inhabitants 

 of the first city had assembled in a great crowd, at some distance in 

 front of the place, awaiting the approach of the strangers. While the 

 army advanced, Garcia Lopez de Cardenas, who bad been appointed to 

 Samaniego's position as field-master, and Hernando Vermizzo, appar- 

 ently one of the "good fellows" whose name Oastaueda forgot, rode for- 

 ward and summoned the Indians to surrender, in approved Castilian 

 fashion, as His Majesty commanded always to be done. The natives had 

 drawn some lineson the ground, doubtless similar to those which they still 

 mark with sacred meal in their ceremonial dramatizations, and across 

 these they refused to let the Spaniards pass, answering the summons 

 with a shower of arrows. The soldiers begged for the command to 

 attack, but Coronado restrained them as long as he could. When the 

 influence of the friars was added to the pleas of the men — perhaps with- 

 out waiting for the command or permission — the whole company uttered 

 the Santiago, the sacred war cry of Saint James, against the infidels, 

 and rushed upon the crowd of Indians, who turned and fled. Coronado 

 quickly recalled his men from the. pursuit, and ordered them to prepare 

 for an assault on the city. The force was divided into attacking par- 

 ties, which immediately advanced against the walls from all sides. 

 The crossbowmen and harquebusiers, who were expected to drive the 

 enemy back from the tops of the walls, were unable to accomplish any- 

 thing, on account of their physical weakness and of accidents to their 

 weapons. The natives showered arrows against the advancing foes, 

 and as the Spaniards approached the walls, stones of all sizes were 

 thrown upon them with skillful aim and practiced strength. The gen- 

 eral, in his glittering armor, was the especial target of the defenders, 

 and twice he was knocked to the ground by heavy rocks. His good 

 headpiece and the devotion of his companions saved him from serious 

 injury, although his bruises confined him to the camp for several days. 

 The courage and military skill of the white men, weak and tired as they 

 were, proved too much for the Indians, who deserted their homes after 

 a fierce, but not protracted, resistance. Most of the Spaniards had re- 

 ceived many hard knocks, and Aganiez Suarez — possibly another of the 

 gentlemen forgotten by Castaueda — was severely wounded by arrows, 

 as were also three foot soldiers. 



The Indians bad been driven from the main portion of the town, and 

 with this success the Spaniards were satisfied. Food — " that which we 



