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ESPEJO'S JOUENEY. 219 



are flat-roofed, and built of mortar and stone." Tliese 

 people were well clothed, and seemed to hare some know- 

 ledge of the Catholic faith. Ascending the great river, they 

 discovered another province of Indians, who showed them 

 many cuiious things made of feathers, with divers colom-s, 

 and many cotton mantles striped blue and white, like those 

 brought from China. These people showed by signs that five 

 days' journey westward there were precious metals. 



1 



Journeying thence northward along the ^io del IS'orto, 

 they were well received amongst a numerous population. 

 Here they were told by a Concho Indian who accompanied 

 them, that fifteen days' journey towards the west could be 

 found a broad lake,* and great toT^Tis with houses three and 

 four stories high. They noted especially the excellent tem- 

 perature of the climate, good soil, and abundance of precious 

 metals. 



From this province they travelled fifteen days without 

 meeting any one, passing through woods of pine trees bearing 

 fruit like those of Castile. 



Having thus travelled eighty leagues, they arrived at vil- 

 lages where there was much excellent white salt. Ascending 

 the valley of the aforesaid great river twelve leagues further, 

 they arrived at the country which they called K'ew Mexico. 

 Here all along the banks of the river grew mighty woods of 

 poplar (cotton-wood), in some places four leagues broad, and 

 great store of walnut trees and vines, like those of Castile. 

 Having travelled two days thi'ough these woods, they arrived 

 at ten to^Tis situated upon both sides of the river, where were 

 about ten thousand persons. Here were houses four stories 

 in height, with "stoves for the winter season.'' They had 



Probably the Laguna de Guzman and tbe pueblos on the. river wHcb 

 feeds it. 



