AND THE ADJACENT COUNTRY. 183 
between the years 1698 and 1701. Thisrediscovery was 
made by Fathers Kino and Sedlemayer, two of the ear- 
liest and most distinguished of the Jesuit missionaries, 
who in consequence were able to open a communication 
by land with the missions of Lower California, which had 
already been established.* Kino, next to Alarchon, 
followed up the Colorado beyond its confluence with 
the Gila; and was the first to preach the Gospel 
among the Indians, who were then very numerous in 
this region. He made five separate journeys to the 
Gila and Colorado Rivers between the years 1694 and 
1706; and on one occasion intended to cross over to 
Monterey, in Upper California, from which he was only 
prevented by an accident. He established a mission 
near the mouth of the Colorado and one at the mouth 
of the Gila. The former did not last many years. The 
latter was in existence as late as 1776, when Fathers 
Pedro Font and Garces came with a large party from 
Sonora to replenish the missions of California, but 
chiefly that at Monterey. Fathers Garces and Ki- 
rarch remained at the Colorado, and Font proceeded to 
the coast. Garces afterwards made extensive journeys 
* This question seems to have awakened much interest among the 
geographers of the period. Captain Mange accompanied Father Kino 
in the journey referred to, and his letter announcing the discovery, with 
great detail, is given in Alegro’s Hist. de la Comp. de Jesus en Nueva 
Espana. Vol. HI. 
+ I obtained in Monterey, by the kindness of Dr. A. Randall, a copy 
of the manuscript journal of Father Pedro Font, together with the map 
which illustrates both the journeys of Font and Garces. The existence 
of this map was not before known, and it may be regarded as of great 
value, 
