4 



/ 



214 NEW TEACKS IN NOETH AMEEICA. 



the proYince of Pintados,* wtere there are said to he mines 

 of great abundance. Of other kingxloms lie says lie eonld 

 not obtain snch particular information. When lie told the 

 Indian chiefs that were with him what a goodly city Ceyola |ei 

 seemed, they answered him that it was the least of the >(, 



c 



seven cities, and that Totonteac was the greatest and best of , 

 them all, because it had so many houses and people that there 

 was no end to them. Having set up a cross and made a \^ 

 heap of stones, he named that country El !N^ueYO Eegno de 

 San Francisco. Then, " with more fear than victuals," he 

 returned. In two days he overtook the people he had left 

 behind, crossed the desert, hurried from the valley, and passed 

 the second desert. Having arrived at the valley of the 

 Gila, he determined to visit the great plain he had been in- 

 formed of towards the east ; but for fear of the Indians, did 

 not go into it. At its entrance he saw " but seven towns " 

 of a reasonable size, which were afar off in, a low valley, f 

 being very green, and having a most fruitful soil, out of which 

 ran many rivers. 



Fired by the high-coloured reports brought back by 

 Father Marco, Francisco Yasquez de Coronado, abeady 

 famed as a great soldier and explorer, determined himself 

 to start for Cevola. His expedition was composed of the 

 flower of Spanish chivalry, and as he marched noi-thward 

 through Sonora by land, Fernando Alarcon, with two ships, 



sent up the coast to render assistance should occasion 

 require. It was not known at that time (1540) that Lower 



was 



motmtains 



discovered, proving tliat there must have been some foundation for this 



statement. 



•diU 



passed 



valley of the Gila. 



