2$>Z 



A M E<Kl C A. 



Chap. VIII. 



Travels of 

 KujK Eft*)*** 

 and others. 



featedupona Lake, but fcatteringly built, and much ofthefpace taken up with 

 Mountains and many fair Gardens, in the midft of which the Town ftandeth . 

 of all which more hereafter. This is certain, that the Countrey to which they give 

 the Name of New Mexico, is of a vaft extent, reaching from the Mines of St. Barbara 

 in Nei> Bifcay Eaftward, and to the North-Eaft, above two hundred Leagues al- 

 ready difcover'd, but doubtlefs taking up no fmall part of thofe Countreys which 

 arefometimes affign'd to Florida, if not of the Confines of Virginia alfo. 



This Countrey was firft, Anno 1 581 . difcover'd by a FranciJ can Monk, nam'd 

 Augujline 5(«K, who with two other Monks of his Order, got eight Soldiers of 

 Condede Cortina, Vice-Roy of New Spain, for his Companions ; with whom he tra« 

 VelTd from the Valley Sant Bartholomew, to the Province De los Tiguas, where one 

 of the two Monks was kill'd by the Natives, which occafion'd fuch a fear amongft 

 the Souldiers, who judg'd themfelves too weak to make any refiftance, that they 

 iefolv'd to return , notwithstanding all the arguments which %uy^ us'd to diiTwade 

 them from it j yet neverthelefs he and his Brother Erancifcm Lope^, and four Indi* 

 went onward of their Journey ; which news the Souldiers carried back to 



mis 



the Vrancijcans in Sant Bartholomew • who fearing their Brethren would be deftroy'd, 

 fent feveral Souldiers and a Monk, call'd Bernardyn Beltran, after them, who were 

 alio accompanied by Antony Ejj>ejus,w\\o fpent a great part of his Eftate in raifing of 

 Men, providing Arms and Provifions , loading therewith a hundred and fifty 

 Horfes and Mules • with which he travell'd direct North from the fore-mention'd 

 Valley, and after two days Journey found a People call'd Conchi, who went naked, 

 and liv'd in Huts built together like a Village : They were Govern'd by Cafiques, 

 fed on Hares, Deer, Rabbets, 24ai^ Calabajbes, and Melons. Several adjacent Ri- 

 vers afford them plenty of Fifh. They were amaz'd at the Croffes which the Spa- 

 niards there erected, till they were inform'd of a Crucifi'd Saviour. Efyejus being 

 every where kindly Entertain'd amongft them, and conducted twenty two Leagues 

 farther, came amongft the Indians ca\Y d Tajf agnates, of tht like Conftitution with the 

 Condi's-, who had skill in Minerals, and judg'd that there were many Silver Mines 

 in that Countrey. From whence the fajfaguates travell'd with the Spaniards to the 

 Borders of the Los Tobofos, who no fooner faw them, but they fled, becaufe a few 

 years before they had been miferably dealt with by the Spaniards^xxt being informed 

 by the Interpreters, that they needed not be afraid of any thing, they all appear'd, 

 and conducted EJpejus to the Borders of the Tatarabueyes ; which People poffefs a 

 large Countrey, Stone Houfes and Villages built in good order. Great Rivers 

 which come out af the North, and others that difembogu'd into the North Sea, af- 

 forded them all forts of Fifh ; as alfo the Woods plenty of Venifon, Fowls, and 

 wholfom Plants. In fome Pools alfo the fait Water afforded Salt. 



The Valour of the Inhabitants may fufficiently appear by the rough Entertain- 

 ment which the Spaniards met withall the firft Night; for the fatarabueyes fell fo 

 fiercely upon them, that had not the Watch given notice thereof in time, none had 

 efcap'd with Life . neverthelefs five Horfes were kill'd, and a confiderablc num- 

 ber of Men wounded : after which retreating, they went upon a neighboring Hill, 

 whither Efyejus fent his Interpreter, and an Indian the fame Countrey, to inform 

 them, That the Spaniards came not to moleft them, and if they pleas'd to come to 

 them, they fliould meet with none but Friends ; which was the more eafily credi- 

 ted, becaufe the Cafiques received fome Prefents ; after which being reconcild, they 

 conducted the Spaniards twelve days Journey up a long River, whofe Banks were 

 inhabited in feveral places. From thence they reach'd to a Place, inhabited by a 

 People richly Cloth'd, who alfo feem'd to have fome knowledge of God; for in 



their 



