86 ‘GUIDEBOOK OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. 
Bernalillo (bare-nah-leel’yo, locally ber-nah-lee’yo; Spanish for 
little Bernard) was so named because it was settled by descendants 
of Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who was associated with 
Bernalillo. Cortez in the conquest of Mexico. The population 
Elevation 5,033 feet. consists mainly of Mexicans, and the village is one of 
rok oe ites, the oldest settlements in the valley. The fertility of 
the wide valley and the favorable conditions for irri- 
gating by use of the water of the Rio Grande have been the principal 
factors in sustaining a large settlement at this place. De Vargas, 
the Spanish governor who restored Spanish domination after a lapse 
of 12 years, died here in 1704. There have been Indian villages on 
the same site and in the vicinity for centuries. 
A short distance north of Bernalillo began the province of the Tigua 
group of Pueblo people, who became famous through the narratives 
of the early historians. They comprised three geographic divisions, 
of which the one living in the region extending from Bernalillo 35 
Sandia Mtn 
b 
“ti 
FIGURE 16.—Section through Sandia Mountains, near Bernalillo, Mex., looking south. a, Sandstone; 
e Bremciosmier mentone; c, red sandstone; d, gray sandstone ai a lienretome: e, red shale; f, massive 
g, gypsum and limestone; h, saree shale; i, Dakota sandstone; j, Mancos 
aa k, Ssccadees wicca 
miles south was the middle. The reported population in 1630 was 
7,000, living in 15 or 16 pueblos. Their principal settlement, 
Puaray (pwa-rye’), called by the early explorers Tiguex, lies im 
ruins at the south end of the present village of Bernalillo. It was 
probably here that Coronado spent his first winter and here that he 
conducted a 50-day siege during the revolt of the Tigua villages 
against him. His success led to the first plundering of the town 
by the Spaniards; the last occurred at the time of the general revolt 
of the Pueblos against Spanish rule in 1680 and resulted in the final 
abandonment of the village by the Indians. 
From Bernalillo to Albuquerque, a distance of 16 miles, the railway 
continues along the east side of the Rio Grande, but in some places it 
is separated from the stream by wide alluvial flats, which at Albu- 
querque are more than a mile across. The Tigua pueblo of Sandia is 
on the east side of the Rio Grande about 12 miles north of Albu- 
querque. It was visited by Coronado and had many vicissitudes of 
abandonment and burning, but was reestablished by the missionaries. 
