Juan de Oñate , 1602 
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the project itself can be saved unless I go on, even though I believe that 
he has not ceased putting stumbling-blocks in my way. 
On the fourteenth of the same month I sent Vicente de Zaldivar, 
sargento mayor of the camp, with sixteen men, to search out a new road 
from the Rio de Conchas with a guide, who lost the road and direction. 
Notwithstanding this, he went on and arrived at the village of the Indians, 
by whom he was well received, although some, as many as fifty, of them 
took up arms and resisted him, without appreciating the kindness which 
he showed them, and compelled him to treat them with severity, after 
which they permitted him to pass from there. On the twenty-eighth of 
the same month he reached the river called El Norte, sixteen or twenty 
leagues from the first settlements of New Mexico. From there he re¬ 
turned, examining the road and judging it to be very good, with plenty 
of springs of water, well placed for its conservation, for sixty leagues 
from there to here. He heard of and avoided the village of the hostile 
Pataragueyes Indians, leaving it forty leagues to one side, on the right 
hand. 
With this favorable beginning I am continuing the expedition and 
shall go on with it until its purpose is accomplished, and, until I die, I 
shall do my duty in serving your Majesty. Since at the beginning the 
door to it was closed and the viceroy was in opposition and I encountered 
nothing but obstacles, fearing this now, I shall be content if this letter and 
the duplicate of the one which I have already written to your Majesty 
reach your royal hands, without daring to send an explanation of the 
small credit that was given me by the one who took the muster from me 
the second time, with the desire of making me appear impecunious. I pray 
your Majesty, in the belief that my suffering deserves reward, to deign 
to order that the agreement made with me by Viceroy Don Luis de 
Velasco be kept, and that the favor that I deserve and that is due to one 
who has endured with patience, as I have, a flood of vexations, be granted 
me, with rewards in return for my labors, for I hope in God that the one 
I am now following will have great results. Of this I will give an account 
to your Majesty when I reach New Mexico, and I promise myself the 
reward for it from the hand of your Majesty, whose life may our Lord 
guard, with increase of great kingdoms in this part, as we, loyal subjects 
of your Majesty, desire. At the Rio de las Conchas, March 15, 1598. 
Don Juan de Oñate. 
Don Juan de Oñate. Title of adelantado of the provinces of New Mexico 
for Don Juan de Oñate , governor and captain-general of them. 
[ Villalpando, February 7, 1602.] 
Don Felipe . . . Inasmuch as upon your part, Don Juan de Oñate, 
governor and captain-general of the province of New Mexico, which is in 
New Spain, the statement has been made to me that by one of the articles 
of the contract which was made with you by my orders in regard to the 
exploration, pacification, and settlement of the said provinces, Don Luis 
de Velasco being my viceroy of New Spain, it was promised you that you 
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