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The National Geographic Magazine 



left the place called San Felipe de Jesus, 

 always traveling toward the north, along 

 the same river for about four leagues, 

 where it joined another stream, which 

 we traveled along, still toward the north, 

 leaving on our right hand in the direc- 

 tion of the sunrise a range of high hills 

 with sharp peaks, and passing beyond 

 them we reached the ford of a river 

 called the Nadadores, which place we 

 found unpossessed and uninhabited. 

 We took royal possession of it in the 

 name of the king. Today religious in- 

 struction was given to the Indians, who 

 were fishing in the stream, which was 

 full and swift. There were poplars and 

 forests of mesquite along its banks. 

 This place is about ten leagues from 

 San Felipe. We erected a high wooden 

 •cross on the bank of this river and 

 named the place San Francisco del Paso. 

 We saw taken from this stream turtles 

 and many large fish. 



May /, 1673. — Having left the place 

 called San Francisco del Paso on the 

 Nadadores, and having crossed the river 

 and traveled toward the north, having 

 all the time a high and long sierra on 

 ■our left (this long chain ran from south 

 to north), after traveling about four 

 leagues we came to a creek at a long 

 ridge; there was running water in it, 

 and our Indians called it in their lan- 

 guage Toporica. We took royal pos- 

 session of it in the name of the king, 

 and in sign thereof erected a high 

 wooden cross. We gave this place the 

 name of Santa Cruz. 



On the same day, month, and year, 

 having left the place called Santa Cruz 

 and having traveled about four leagues 

 toward the north, still having the said 

 chain of mountains on the same side of 

 us, we reached a creek below a ridge 

 and in front of a peak. There was run- 

 ning water in it and a growth of tule. 

 We took possession of this place in the 

 name of the king and gave it the name 

 of Santa Catalina Martyr. We erected 

 a high wooden cross and performed the 



other acts necessary to the assertion of 

 our rights of possession. Religious in- 

 struction was given to the Indians. 



May 5, i6j$. — Left said place called 

 Santa Catalina Martyr and traveled 

 about six leagues toward the north, hav- 

 ing the sierra already mentioned always 

 in the same position. We reached a 

 broad river with groves of very large 

 poplars, cedars, and mesquite, with ex- 

 tensive and beautiful plains of green 

 grass; a delightful place. The Indians 

 said it was called the River Savinas, or, 

 in their language, Muero. We gave it 

 the name of San Antonio. It was un- 

 inhabited. We took possession of it in 

 the name of the king, our master, and 

 in sign thereof erected a high wooden 

 cross. There were fish of all kinds in 

 this river and in abundance. Religious 

 instruction was given to the Indians by 

 the missionary fathers. 



May 7, r6yj.—We left the Rio San 

 Antonio and traveled toward the north. 

 About 12 leagues from said Rio San 

 Antonio de Savinas we came to a water- 

 ing place, to which we gave the name 

 of San Ilefonso. We found it unin- 

 habited, with only the ruins of two 

 grass huts. We took possession of it in 

 the name of the king, our master, and 

 in sign thereof erected a high wooden 

 cross. We gave this place the name of 

 San Juan Evangelista. The missionary 

 fathers gave religious instruction to the 

 Indians. 



Jfay 9, 16J5. — Having left the place 

 called San Juan Evangelista and trav- 

 eled toward the north about 6 leagues, 

 across a plain with clumps of mesquite 

 trees, we came to another watering place, 

 in which there was tule growing. It was 

 between high ridges, with groves of oak 

 trees. We found it uninhabited and 

 took royal possession of it in the name 

 of his majesty and for said conquest, 

 and we gave it the name of San Ray- 

 mundo de Pena Fuerte, and in sign of 

 possession erected a high wooden cross. 

 Religious instruction was sriven to the 



