The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-20
IcOMMuSIcATED.J
The early Discoveries OF the Spaniards Ina
New Mexico.


journeys of discovery of the Spaniards in the coun
try to which they gave the name Of New Mexico;
and it would have been impossible to have accom-
plished this undertaking. but for the assistance of
that extraordinary and invaluable collection of
maps and books on the subject of America, made
with great expense and labor, by Mr.. FoRcE, Of
Washington. OF these difficulties no one can form
just idea who has not made the attempt. II may
be proper to state, that the whole country from the
mountains east of the Rio Grande to the Pacific
from about 800 south to 37o north-in consequence
Of these discoveries, and on account of its great
cities, and its numerous and civilized population,
was called New Mexico in reference TO old Mexico
as New Spain named in reference to old Spain.
My principal source Of information is the work of
Gomara, in Hackluyps collection Of voyages; but
was obliged to consult many other werks.
In Of the oldest maps, the Colorado of Cali
fornia is called the Rio Grande del Norte, and is
represented as taking its rise in the great lake ;
while the Rio Grande Of the Gulf, or. as it was
called, the North Sea- does not appear. 1t will be
readily that this sufficient to account for
much of the confusion and mistakes of the early
writer's and of the frutless attempts to trace the
early journeys of discovery.
The first journey that of Marco de Nicia, a
friar, accompanied by small party. He set out
from Pitatlan, the Gulf of California in latitude
240, in the year 1885, about twelve years after the
conquest. shall not enter into details. After
some days travel to the north, through populous
countries, he came to vacupa, where he first heard
of populous countries to the north, of the pro-
vince Of Cibola, and of the great cities After
reaching as he supposed, latitude 26o he found in
dams who had no knowledge of Christians. He
then about fifty leagues from the Gulf of Cali
4. IL It,
great plain, about thirty days further travel to the
north, inhabited by people living in large towns
built of stone and lime, who wore cotton garments
and possessing abundance Of gold and torquoises or
| emeralds.
Advancing still further, he sent negro and some
Indians TO see and report to him on their return,
while he followed them slowly Some of these In
dams returned, and informed him that they had
reached Ciboa, but had been badly treated, and the
negro killed. Nicia, on his return, published his
account, which is, in many respects, exaggerated
and fabulous; it gave rise, however, TO expedi-
ton under Vasques de Coronado, in 1910. Coro-
nado greatly disappointed, and freely gives the
lie to the accounts of Nicia. He went as far as the
cities Of Cibola, which he described as consisting of
five small towns, of five hundred houses each, well
built of stone. He heard of populous provinces to
to the north and Of cities great salt lake, to
the northwest, where there was an abundance of
gold. He returned with the intention of making
another expedition, but which he never accom-
plished. The towns which he saw, were, no doubt,
the Ga and south fthat river while the great
province Cbola lay to the north between that river
and the Colorado. The unfavorable report Of Coro-
nado, and the failure of Cortez in his northern ex-
poratons, had the effect, doubt, of discouraging
further discoveries in this direction
No further attempts made to explore the
country for nearly forty years In the mean time,
the Spanish settlements had advanced from Guade-
laxara to New Bscay, and the valley of St. Bar
tholomew, or Chiwawa. In the year 1888, a we'll
prepared exploring expedition set on foot, un-
der the command Of Antonio de Espeio. II pro-
ceeded north to the Conchas and Pasaguetas, nu-
merous tribes, who had no previous knowledge of
the christians. Their course was along the Rio
Conchas.
They followed the course of the river 10 the To-
bosos and Jumanos, where they found large towns,
with fiat roofs, built Of stone and lime, and regu-
larly laid out in streets They now reached the
RIO Grands Of The GuB Of Msrico-here il a point
of departure about which there can be no mistake
They proceeded about twelve days up the river,
and came to another great nation. The inhabit-
ants wore NANTES of cotton with blue stripes, of
present Paso del Norte. After leaving this, they
travelled fifteen days up the river, through ooun-
try not admitting of population, and this is its pre-
sent character. until they came To what may be
called the valley Of Santa Fe. They found towns
with houses four and FIVE stories high, warmed
by stoves and ladders TO ascend from one story 10
the other. They proceeded thence TO Tiguasi,
where they found sixteen towns. Here they learn
ed that the part Of Ciboa bordered on this
province. the western border Of which had been
visited by Coronado. They speak of eleven other
towns containing forty thousand inhabitants. Whe-
tier they meant families (vicinos) or souls am
unable to say. They proceeded up the Rio Grande
to Cha, Zia, the largest town they had SEEM con-
tanning 20 900 inhabitants and eight market houses
The houses were plastered and handsomely painted,
and the people civilized. At this place, hearing of
great province to the northwest, they took that
direction. They heard of seven large towns, but
did not go 10 them. Fifteen leagues further still
going west, they came TO a great town called AGO
ma, situated on a high rock, accessible only by
way cut in the rock. The inhabitants were sup
piled with water by cistcrns. Twenty -four leagues
further, they came TO the province Of Zuni, called
by the Spaniards Ciboa, where the inhabitants had
information Of the visit Of Coronado. They were in
formed that, at the distance Of eighty leagues,
there was great lake, many large towns, and
plenty Of gold-probably California. The main
party now returned towards the Rio Grande, while
Espejo and nine companions went further west
After travelling twenty leagues, they found great
province, containing fifty thousand inhabitants,
called Zaguato. They heard much OF the cities Of
the Great Salt Lake, and their wealth, gold, &c
Espejo made an excursion Of forty five leagues 70
the northwest, where II was said there were silver
mines, and which he found very rich. This was
two rivers Of reasonable szc probably the Col
orado and the Jaquisita. ! am satisfied that the
country thus explored lay between the ella and the
Colorado.
On the return Of Espejo, the main party deter.
mined TO return To New Biscsy, or Chiwswa, but he
resolved TO ascend higher up the river. The only
mention Of degrees Of latitude is on one occasion,
when they speak Of having reached the s7th degree
but this was probably mere guess work.
Espejo now assembled the river sixty leagues to
Quires; thence, going east, he came to Hubites,
containing $4,000 inhabitants, and he heard Of the
Tsmss, containing 10000. Whether these were
towns provinces Is not stated. All the places
visited had rod and torq. ,oiscs and ma