The Abbe Domenec states that as early as the year 1542 the Spaniards had gained possession of no less than seventy-four towns, distributed amongst fourteen provinces, of which Tiguex formed the centre and Cevola probably the furthest westward. These provinces, therefore, do not include any of the communities celebrated in those days, such as Totonteac, Moqui, Acus, Marata, &c, which occupied regions far removed from the Rio Grande.
On the 10th of November 1582, another expedition, headed by a citizen of Mexico, called Antonio de Espejo, left the valley of San Bartolo (160 leagues from the city of Mexico) to explore the Rio del Norte and to discover the fate of two friars, Lopez and Euyz, who were reported to have been murdered there.
Directing his course northward, he met with great numbers of Conchos (Papagos) who dwelt in villages or hamlets covered with straw. These Indians went nearly naked, cultivated maze, 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 Pas-saguates, the Zoboses, and the Jumanes, who were called by the Spaniards Patarabueges. "Their villages are upon the Uio 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. Ascending the great river, they discovered, another province of Indians, who showed them many curious things made of feathers, with divers colours, 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 northward along the Rio del Norte they were well received amongst 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 any one, passing through woods of pine trees bearing fruit like those of Castile.
Having thus travelled eighty leagues, they arrived at villages where there was much excellent white salt. Ascending the valley of the aforesaid great river twelve leagues further, they arrived at the country which they called New Mexico. Here, all along the shore of the river, grew mighty woods of poplar (cotton-wood), in some places four leagues broad, and great store of walnut-trees and vines, like those of Castile. Having travelled two days through these woods, they arrived at ten towns situated upon both sides of the river, where were about ten thousand persons. Here were houses four stories in height with "stoves for the winter season." They had "plenty of victuals and hens of the country." "Their garments were of cotton and deer-skins; and the attire, both of men and women, was after the manner of the Indians of Mexico." "Both men and women wore shoes and boots, with good soles of leather -- a thing never seen in any other part of the Indies." "There are caciques who govern the people, like the caciques of Mexico, with sergeants to execute their commands. In all their arable grounds, whereof they have great plenty, they erect on the one side a little cottage, or shed, standing upon four poles, under which the labourers eat and pass away the heat of the day; for they are a people much given to labour." "This country is full of mountains and forests of pine trees." "Their weapons are strong bows, and arrows pointed with flints." "They use also targets or shields made of raw hides."
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adapted from A. W. Bell
"On the Native Races of New Mexico"
1869 (Journal of the Ethnological Society of London)
