The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-21

National Museum. mexico. Nfftfl$ TOT
the Los Angeles Times. gives the follow
| ing historical facts.
Fray Marcos. OF Nice. a Frenchman.
a native Of Italy. who came 10 America
in 1851. and joined Pedro de Alvarado on
his return from Eucador. reached Next
, CO in 1882, and as curiosity had been
stirred, and with il ambition. through
the discovery Of the Seven Cities. the
Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza COM
missiored him TO go in search or them
IN the year 1850
This curiosity or ambition for conquest
of wealth was confirmed by the fact that
Cabexa de vaca, together with the re-
naming members OF the expedition which
had gone 20 Florida. was about to start
from Cuihuacan or cuiiacan. where he
was in the year ISL.
The story OF his journey which was
given by Fray Marcos Is worthy OF
study. although IL has. up TO the pres
ent. been looked upon with indifference
and he has been held truthful; but
consider 1t document OF the greatest
interest
We knew CT an important place in
the North called Culiacan. which In the
story told BY Fray Marcos was called
Cuihuacan. The Franciscan friar start
ed from this city on :he 9Th OF Marcn,
1889 taking with him Fray Honorato for
his guide He was also accompanied By
q large number OF Indians from the VII
lagos of Yz,lan and Petatan. distant
about forty leagues from Culhuacan. AZ
ter marching twenty-five leagues from
Pstatlan he reached the coast. and he
relates how the Indians crossed over
to the main land ON RATS from the Pc
nirsuia from California. which was
thought to be an island. In the small
villages that on his journey he met at
great distances from each other. he was
told that on the other side of the Sierra
there was a valley with numerous and
large towns. populated sy a people who
dressed in cotton clotn and who wore
gold ornaments in their ears and noses.
and employed serspers Of the same met
their bodies.
Continuing along the coast and with
out crossing the mountains. he reached
town called Acapa or Huscspan, from
whence he sent the negro Estebln To
explore the country for about sixty
leagues 10 the north.
messenger came back from Esteban.
and announced that at 4 distance OF thir-
Is days journey from Huacapin there
was great city called C.bola and that
in the same province there were seven
large cities with houses OF stone masonry.
The smallest of which was OF one story
with fat roof on top. whilst the others
were of two or three stories ard that OF
the chief of four. all adjoining each other
in due order and that the main doors
Of the principal houses were worked with
turqueises and that the inha b'tants were
we'll dressed
We must not pass over the fact that
Fray Marcos received a visit from some
wild Indians. whose faces, breasts and
arms were carved. and who confirmed
the existence OF the seven cities. They
also gave him news Of other towns called
Maraa. Acus and Totonteac fel
They also tell him that they were GO
ing 10 the city OF Ciboia TO work and 10
receive in payment turqueises and OK
hides CD and Fray Marcos asserts that
in the village OF Huscapan he saw
large quantity OF both in the possession
Of the Inhabitants. He also aids that
they all carried turquofsss hanging from
their ears and noses, which were Of good
quality.
They also related that the Inhabitants
off Cibola dressed themselves In Gotten
shirts which reached down 20 ths instep
with button at the throat and long
hanging cord, and with wide sleeves from
the shoulders. that they went about with
turquoise belts around their waists: a.
ard that over the shirts they wore good
cioaks or well worked OK hides Fray
Marcos continued his journey northword
from Huscapan for several days. during
which he found several villages, In all OF
which they confirmed the above informa-
ton
Still continuing his journey he reached
a town whose name he does not give. but
Of which he gives an important report,
stating that IL Contained an agricultural
population; that II had irrigable lands
that both men and women wore cotton
clothing and some of skins. which was
generally considered a superior dress;
hat they all wore turquoises hanging
from their NOSES. which they denomlnat-
I'd ''cacona,' with necklaces and par
ridges. He also relates that they made
him large presents OF this kind OF game.
rs well as of corn, hides. beautiful pot 1
terry and other articles.
Fray Marcos proceeds 10 relate that IN
his place he received similar news Of The I.
5even Cities. and that on seeing his cloth j
clothing, they told him that In Teton
Qir-afIa II.
hair of certain animals cf the size Of the /
sreyhounds which the negro Es;ebsn had
With him.
After travelling for four days through 1
, desert country. he found lot Of towns (
similar 20 the last. where they gave him
he same report. and as he adds that Re
had reached the ihirty-ffth parallel. ard /
hat the ooss; turned towards the wet.
{ was evident that he rad reached ,f-
country of Upper California. 1t - - be 4
soted that in the design OF the houses 4
y Cibois. such theY are given 80
an well perceive the form az the large
houses teasas grades, and rneation 81 i
made 81 the ladders used fc- betting In
% them
in tbs valley. through shsrh he tray 1
led for Eve days Re found rfsrn-ro1ss
little villages. IN which they cssstsvsfed
irrigated ssids that he compares % gar i
lens and there be spoke With a sasive
abola. who gave rim IRE foIloEins in
ornstIoa. The chief 81 the Sever Cite.
fved IN Acur and sp1osnssd chiefs for the
,thsrs- cioolz was e large city Nth
tre~ts and squares. with a large ropuia-
ion and Eiih large hozses ;hs; rose 20
- many as ten stories. buiif Of raasonry.
nd Ia Shsch .4se principal iahss:tansa
net o. certain days Of the rear OF these
'eSsn Cities the best vzs Aha~sx ard the