388 Colorado River of the West. 
that Territory and form the Colorado, but the point of junction has never 
~ been visited nor determined. For hundreds of miles below this point 
the stream has not been seen, till recently, by white ae excepting at 
one spot, and few Indians, for centuries past, have been near i its ban 
Notwithstanding this, some portions of the river were among the earliest 
parts of America to be explored. In less than fifty years after the land- 
ing of Columbus, Spanish missionaries 7 soldiers were Kiger upon 
the alovado, following its course for a long way e mouth, and 
even attaining one of the most distant eal gtk sotnts of its upper 
waters. More information was gained ere it at that time than 
was acquired during the three iabes nent centu 
In the year ced the viceroy of New w Spain, inte rested in the accounts 
derived from a Franciscan ed of the latter’s travels in the Territory 
under the command of Vasquez de Coronado. A detachment of twenty- 
five men, led by one Diaz, left Coronado’s party and travelled pen 
ey discovered the Colorado and followed it to its mouth. Their de 
scription of the river and of the tribes they met upon it is not - all in- 
applicable to the condition of ‘things at the present day, though the state: 
m 
e 
doubtless, they a are perhaps as fine a race of men, phys 653 - 
About the same time en Tom ando Alarcon, by order of the reid 
roy, sailed up the Gulf of California and ascended the Colorado in vie 
for a long distance. The account of what he saw agrees with that 
cotemporary explorer. of 
Another of Coronado’s captains, named Cardinas, with & Lept 
twelve men, reached the pueblos of Moquis, and repaired from them, 
the le Big Cafion of the Colora of 
Seve I times, ring the succeeding two centuries, the lower part 
tag was visited by Catholic priests. In 1744 a Jesuit rE ps 
named Jacob Sedelmayer, went thither, following the course 0 
and travelled extensively in both New Mexico and Sonora, fade Y wiih 
irty years afterw e Jesuits established missions among ree anil 
= who live at the junction of the Gila and Colorado. te had 
: aking at ctl massacred by the fierce tribe among whom 
= 1776 saother Catholic missionary, Father Escalante, travelled from 
eebat | 
