Rio de Buena Guia 
25 
much objection to this plan, but he proceeded to carry it out, 
taking all three boats this time, loaded with “wares of ex¬ 
change, with corn and other seeds, with hens and cocks of 
Castile,” This region he called the Province of Campanna de 
la Cruz, and he left orders for the building of an oratory or 
chapel to be named the Chapel of Our Lady de la Buena Guia. 
The river he called the Rio de Buena Guia (good guidance) 
from the motto on the viceroy Mendoza’s coat of arms. It 
was Tuesday, the 14th of September, when he started, taking 
with him Nicolas Zamorano, chief pilot, to record the latitudes. 
He soon arrived again among the Quicomas,’ and then among 
the Coamas, where he found his man who had been left behind 
on the first trip. This man had been so well treated that he 
was entirely content to remain till the party should come back 
down the river. This was the highest point reached on the 
first visit. Everywhere the people were treasuring the crosses 
which had been given them, kneeling before them at sunrise. 
Alarcon kept on up the river till he “entered between certain 
very high mountains, through which this river passeth with a 
straight channel, and the boats went up against the stream very 
hardly for want of men to draw the same.” From this it may 
be inferred that the Coamas did not strive with each other for 
the privilege of towing the boats of these children of the sun 
as those below had done. Now an enchanter from the Cu- 
manas tried to destroy the party by setting magic reeds in the 
water on both sides, but the spell failed and the explorers went 
on to the home of the old man who had been so good a friend 
and guide to them. At this, Alarcon’s farthest point, he 
caused a very high cross to be erected, on which words were 
carved to the effect that he had reached the place, so that if 
Coronado’s men chanced to come that way they might see it. 
Nothing is said about burying letters, yet Diaz later mentions 
finding letters buried at the foot of a tree, apparently nearer 
the sea. Deciding that he could not at this time accomplish 
^ The tribes and bands spoken of by Alar9on cannot be identified, but these 
Quicomas, or Quicamas, were doubtless the same as the Quiquimas mentioned 
by Kino, 1701, and Garces, 1775. They were probably of Yuman stock. The 
Cumanas were possibly Mohaves. 
