Let us now try to discover, from the writings of a few of the earliest Spanish explorers, what kind of people they found on their discovery of the country. I think I have said enough about the small remnant of civilized Indians still remaining, and of their natural enemies the wild and untamable savages, to prove what a striking difference exists between them. I have also probably given a longer catalogue of ruins than the patience of my reader has been able to bear; the question, however, of the greatest interest still remains to be answered, viz., Who were the builders of these ruins, and why have they disappeared? The early Spaniards throw considerable light upon this question; and I think, after hearing what they have to say, we may draw a fair conclusion for ourselves. I have neither had time nor opportunity to make researches amongst the long-forgotten archives of Spain or Mexico; but Lieutenant A. W. Whipple has discovered, in Colonel Peter Force's extensive library at Washington, some very interesting matter; a little more material has been added from other sources; and I collected many additional facts at Santa Fe during my fortnight's visit there. I may also add that the second, third, and fourth letters of Fernando Cortes to the Emperor Charles Y. were translated in America by George Tolson (New York, 1843, 8vo), and that the fifth letter has just appeared in the "Journal of the Hakluyt Society" by Don Pascual de Gayangos (1868). The first letter has not been translated, because its authenticity is still doubted.
Early in the spring of 1526 (ninety-four years before the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in New England, and thirty-four years after the shores of St. Salvador delighted the eyes of Columbus) Don Joseph de Bas9onzales crossed the centre of Arizona towards the Great Canon and penetrated at least as. far as Zuiii. No record remains of this, the first expedition into that country, but the bare record of the fact carved on the side of " El Moro; " for none of the expedition ever returned to tell of their adventures. They either perished by the hands of the Indians, or met a still more miserable end amongst the labyrinths of chasms still further north, across which nought living but the birds can successfully pass.
Those who remember the wonderful achievements of Cortez in Mexico may call to mind one Pamphilo Narvaez, who in 1520 was despatched by Velasquez, Governor of Cuba, with a detachment to arrest Cortez in the midst of his victories, and to deprive him of authority. Cortez was then in the city of Mexico, beset with many and appalling difficulties. Nevertheless he marched at once with a few trusted comrades towards the coast, attacked Narvaez with one furious onslaught, overcame, him, and took his whole detachment prisoners. " Esteem it great good fortune," said Narvaez, " that you have taken me captive/' Cortez disdainfully replied, " It is the least of the things that I have done in Mexico/' This was the Narvaez who afterwards obtained from Charles V. the right to make extensive conquests and explorations north of the Gulf of Mexico.
In the winter of 1527-28 he fitted out an expedition, consisting of four hundred men, eighty horses, and five ships, left San Domingo, and, after a prosperous voyage, reached the coast of Florida about the middle of April. There, while carrying on explorations in the interior, he was deserted by his squadron, and obliged to put out to sea in live rude boats made by his famished soldiers. His usual bad fortune, however, followed him; he was wrecked on one of the islands at the mouth of the Mississippi, and perished with all his companions save three: these were Cabeza de Vaca (treasurer and second in command), Esteva Dorantes (an Arabian negro), and Castillo Madonado. Vaca was a man of letters, and of great strength of character, and boldly determined at all hazards to advance into the unknown regions before him, and strike, if possible, the Pacific coast. He was taken prisoner, however, by the wild Indians of Southern Texas, and remained a captive for six years.
After that time the three adventurers made their escape; and after travelling for twenty months in a north-westerly direction, amongst hostile tribes and over arid deserts, they struck the Canadian River. This they followed in a westerly direction, and passed over the dividing ridges into the valley of the Rio Grande. After wandering from pueblo to pueblo, they at last made their way, in the month of May 1538, to the village of San Miguel, in Sonora, scarcely sixty leagues from the Pacific coast, and finally reached the city of Mexico. Vaca returned next year to Spain, and laid before the King a thrilling narrative of his adventures. His description of the large towns with lofty houses containing many stories, which he had heard of in the Rio Grande valley, of the civilized Indians who cultivated maze and adorned themselves with precious stones, and of the mineral wealth which he had discovered soon led to the organization of a fresh expedition.
Next article Next article
Back to main page
adapted from A. W. Bell
"On the Native Races of New Mexico"
1869 (Journal of the Ethnological Society of London)
