492 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



to the Moqui villages, where their wants are relieved. Hence they have no further 

 trouble in reaching Zuni (where there is a mission) and then Santa Fe, by way of 

 Acoma, on the 2d January, 1777. 



It nun' be interesting- to know that Escalante found the Moquis opposed to 

 Christianity, wliich had at one time been introduced among them, but from which 

 they had apostatized. He had some lengthy interviews with their headmen, and tried 

 to persuade them to return to the fold, and to submit to the Spanish government; but 

 although they displayed no hostility, and, on the contrary, were quite friendly and 

 hospitable, they did not show any disposition to come to Escalante's terms, any further 

 than in what might be advantageous to both parties in the way of trade. 



On his outward journey to Lake Utah, and again, when lie is homeward bound, 

 but still to the westward of the Colorado, Escalante inquires of the Indians whom he 

 meets whether they have heard of any padres (meaning the Padre Garces), or of 

 any Spanish, coming from Monterey to the Moqui villages; but the Indians either 

 know nothing, or are unwilling to say anything about the matter. After crossing the 

 Colorado he does not allude to the subject any more, and the reason for this seems to 

 be, from certain remarks that he makes, that the Moquis were displeased with the 

 Cosninas, their neighbors to the westward, for having brought to them (or allowed to 

 pass through their country) the Padre Garces. It became therefore useless and im- 

 politic for Escalante to say anything about his brother padre, from Monterey, after he 

 had crossed the Colorado, and was in the vicinity of the Moquis. 



All this settles the point, it appears to me, that the expedition of Garces to the 

 Moquis had taken place previous to that of Escalante, and that the latter knew of it. 

 Humboldt states that the expedition of Garces was in 1773. So far as we know, and 

 as indicated on a copy of a map that was found in the archives of New Mexico, 

 Garces did not go further eastward than Moqui, but returned to California. The copy 

 of the map above mentioned is in the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, and is 

 dated 1777. 



Escalante's journal is written with great precision and clearness, every day's 

 courses and distances are stated, the topographical features minutely described, and a 

 good deal of mineral and botanical information added. 



The two padres, Dominguez and Escalante, went on a pacific mission of dis- 

 covery and propagation of Christianity among the Indians ; their companions were 

 evidently actuated solely by worldly motives. It was with great difficulty that Esca- 

 lante and his brother padre could prevail on the rest of the party to give up the idea 

 of going on to Monterey. They had undoubtedly been considering this— the explora- 

 tion of a route through to the Pacific coast — as the main object of the expedition, and 

 looked forward to this route as a source of great future advantage and lucrative specu- 

 lation. 



As a matter of special interest I have subjoined a literal translation of Escalante's 

 description of Lake Utah or "Timpanogo." 



"At the northern part of the river San Buenaventura there is a range of mount- 

 ains, which, according to what we ascertained yesterdav, extends from the north to 

 the southwest more than sixty leagues, and which in breadth is at most forty; where 



