Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-04-26
KINGDOM OF new MEXICO,
Its Settlement, Occupation and Gov
orrment by the Spaniards,
An interesting and Complete historical
Sketch from A. D. 1899 to
the Year 1900
Prepared Tor the New Mexican
BN 40. F. BANDkLIER.
Mcmner Arch Geological Institute OF Amvrl,a.


Tie discovery Of New Mexico is due to
the Franciscan monk Fray Marcos, OF
Nzza. What has been published about
a visit OF Cabeza de Vaca to this territory
in the year 1886 is devoid of all foundation.
Nor does Cabeza de Naca, in his report
lay any claim to having been in or even
heard OF the New Mexican pueblos
FRAY Marcos, however, came within sight
OF the plain of Zuni (Cibolal in the early
part of June, 1899, but had to abandon his
project OF entering any one OF the seven
cities" owing to the death of his com
panion, the negro Estevan, at the hands Of
the Zuni Indians. What has been said
and written about the eXaggerations of
the iriar is untrue, his official report being
absolutely truthful and reliable.
coRoSADo's EXPEDITION.
In l54U Francisco Nazquez Coronado,
guided by Fray Marcos, and with an
armed force Of about two hundred and
fifty men, moved up through Sinaloa and
Sonora into western New Mexico, and
occupied Cihola (Zuni). Thence he sent
Oft accommodating parties which explored
the Moqui country CTusayan), Acoma
(Acuco), the Tigua villages on the Rio
Grande between Bernalillo and Albu-
querque (Tijuex, name more specially
applied to the group OF villages on the
site of and near Bernalillo). Pecos (Cicui
que), and the Gaisteo basin. Coronado
himself moved to the banks Of the Rio
Grande at Bernalllo in December of
that year, hOstilities With the Tiguas
having broken out. No further explora-
tons were attempted until May OF l54l :,
when the whole force moved out into
the eastern plains in search OF Quivera.
The latter place and tribe "a group of
shiftless northern Indians, destitute of
all mineral wealth and dwelling in frail
round huts) were found in northwestern
Kansas. Disappointed at the result of
the journey, Coronado retired again to the
Rio Grande at Bernalillo. He sent
scouting parties to Jemez, to the QUERIES
OF Cha, to the Tenuas (Yuque-Yunque,
or Chamita) and rs lar north as Taos
(Braba). One of his officers also de-
scended the Rio Grande rs far as Mesilla,
visiting on the way the Pros puebIos.
The site of Santa Fe was never visited
by Coronado's men, and there was no
pueblo there at the time; the former
ldIlO NllihSe lldNlnS bteIl hbdliilbutu
long previous to the sixteenth century.
In the spring of 1542 Coronado, dis
satisfied with the appearance OF the country
and disappointed III every respect, evac-
uated New Mexico, without having ef-
fected a settlement. He left behind
but one soldier, a Portuguese by the
name of Andres Docampo; and
three priests. One OF the priests,
Fray Juan de Padilla, wandered as far
northeast as Quivira, where he was muir
dered. Fray Juan de la Cruz remained
among the Tiguas at Bernalillo, and
Fray Luis Descalona went to Pecos.
Both the latter disappeared, at the places
named. While it is true, therefore, that
the first attempt to establish missions
in New Mexico dates from about l543
these attempts led to no permanent
results, still less to the foundation of s
church at Santa Fe. The supposed ex.
petition of BoniIla to New Mexico in l55(