ESPEJO’S JOURNEY TO NEW MEXICO. 
113 
At length he learned of Cevola, from one who had seen that city, “that it was a great thing, 
and had very high houses of stone.” He was told that the people wore long garments and blue 
stones; and that, by a path along the river, it was forty days’journey thither. Afterward, 
ascending the river, he reached a town, belonging to the lord of Quicoma, which was occupied 
only for the time of planting and harvest. There was cotton here, hut the Indians knew not 
how to use it. Among them was an Indian who understood the language ot the interpreter 
whom Alarcon had brought with him. 
At length he inquired the distance to Cevola, and was informed that there was the space of 
ten days’ journey without habitation—the rest of the way not being counted, because there 
were inhabitants to be found. Alarcon then wished to go to Cevola; but the Indians discouraged 
him, saying that there would be danger in passing the lord of Cuinana A whom they greatly 
feared. When he went forward to the next town above, called Coama, the people ot Cumana 
sent an enchanted person, who placed canes on both sides ot the river, to prevent his passing. 
He had now ascended the riverf eighty-five leagues, to where it forms a straight channel 
between high mountains. He set up a cross, and returned to the Hull, and thence sailed tor 
the port of Colima. 
“ VOYAGES TO NEW MEXICO, BY FRIAR AUGUSTIN RUYZ, A FRANCISCAN, IN 1581, AND ANTONIO DEESPEJ0, 
IN 1583. — THE LAND IS SITUATED NORTH OF NEW SPAIN, FROM 24° TO ABOVE 34° NORTH LATI¬ 
TUDE.” 
Augustin Ruyz and others, departing from Santa Barbara, which lies 160 leagues from the 
city of Mexico, travelled 250 leagues north, into a country called the Province de los Tiguas. 
Here, one of the fathers having been killed by Indians, the soldiers returned to Mexico, leaving 
the other priests alone with the savages. Another expedition, under the command of a citi¬ 
zen of Mexico, called Antonio de Espejo, left the valley of San Bartolo, November 10, 1582. 
Directing his course north, he met with great numbers of Conclios, who dwelt in villages, or 
hamlets, of cottages covered with straw. These Indians went nearly naked; cultivated maize, 
pumpkins, and melons; and were armed with bows and arrows. They worshipped neither 
idols nor aught else. The caciques sent information of the expedition from one town to 
another, and the party was well treated. They passed through the Passaguates, the Tobosos, 
and the Jumanes, whom the Spaniards called Patarabueyes. Their villages are upon Rio del 
Norte; their houses are flat-roofed, and built of mortar and stone. These people were well 
clothed, and seemed to have some knowledge of the Catholic faith. Soon ascending the great 
river, they discovered another province of Indians, who showed them many curious things 
made of feathers, with divers colors, and many cotton mantles, striped blue and white, like 
those brought from China. These people showed by signs that, five days’ journey westward, 
there were precious metals. 
Journeying thence northwardly, along the Rio del Norte, they were well received among a 
numerous population. Here they were told, by a Concho Indian who accompanied them, 
that, fifteen days’ journey towards the west, could be found a broad lake, and great towns, with 
houses three and four stories high. They noted especially the excellent temperature of the 
climate, good soil, and abundance of precious metals. 
From this province they travelled fifteen days without meeting people, but passing through 
woods of pine-trees, bearing fruit, like those of Castile. Having thus travelled fourscore 
leagues, they arrived at villages where there was much excellent white salt. Ascending the 
" Probably the Totonteac of Father Marco de Ni<ja ; the region bordering the valley of Rio Verde. This may be identical 
with Tucano, the chief of the seven cities described by the Zunians to Coronado in the same year. Espejo describes a place 
of the same name near Rio del Norte. 
f This agrees pretty well with Captain Sitgreaves’ survey from the mouth of Williams river to the Gulf; and by the 
description, the mountains also correspond with those which impinge upon the river below the junction of that stream 
with the Colorado. 
15 i 
