winship] AFFAIRS AT SAN HIERONIMO 395 



the east, as well as more reliable details than we now possess, of what 

 had happened during the preceding fall and winter. But this April 

 letter, which was an acknowledgment and answer to one from Charles 

 V, dated in Madrid, June 11, 1540, has not been found by modern 

 students. Wben the reply was dispatched, the messenger — probably 

 Juan Gallego, who had perhaps brought the Emperor's letter from 

 Mexico — was accompanied by Pedro de Tovar, who was going back 

 to Corazoues valley for reinforcements. Many mishaps had befallen 

 the town of San Hieronimo during the year, and when the messengers 

 arrived there they found it half deserted. Leaving Don Pedro here, 

 Gallego hastened to Mexico, where he raised a small body of recruits. 

 He was leading these men, whose number had beeu increased by some 

 stragglers and deserters from the original force whom he picked up at 

 Culiacan, toward Cibola and Quivira, when he met the expedition 

 returning to New Spain. It was during this, probably his fifth trip 

 over the road from Mexico to our New Mexico, that he performed the 

 deeds of valor which Castafieda so enthusiastically recounts at the 

 very end of his book. 



THE JOURNEY ACROSS THE BUFFALO PLAINS 



April 23, 1541, Coronado left the Tiguex country and marched toward 

 the northeast, to the plains where lay the rich land of Quivira. Every 

 member of the army accompanied the general, for no one was willing to 

 be left behind when such glorious prospects of fame and fortune lay 

 before them. A few of the officers suggested the wisdom of verifying 

 these Indian tales in some measure before setting the whole force in 

 motion and abandoning their only sure base of supplies. It seems as 

 if there must have been other reasons influencing Coronado beyond 

 those revealed in Castaiieda's narrative; but, if so, we do not know 

 what they were. The fear lest he might fail to accomplish any of the 

 things which had been hoped for, the absence of results on which to 

 base a justification for all the expense and labor, the thought of what 

 would await him if he should return empty handed, are perhaps enough 

 to account for the determination to risk everything and to allow no 

 possible lack of zeal or of strength to interfere with the realization of 

 the hopes inspired by the stories of Quivira. 



Guided by the Turk, the army proceeded to Cicuye, and in nine days 

 more they reached the buffalo plains. Here began the long march 

 which was to be without any guiding landmarks. Just where, or how, 

 or how far the Spaniards went, I can not pretend to say. After a month 

 and more of marching — very likely just thirty-five days — their patience 

 became exhausted. A second native of the plains, who accompanied 

 the Spaniards from the pueblo country, had declared from the first 

 that the Turk was lying, but this had not made them trust the latter 

 any less. When, however, the Indians whom they found living among 

 the buffalo herds began to contradict the stories of their guide, suspi- 

 cion was aroused. The Turk, after much persuasive cross-questioning. 



