Coronado and La G1·an Quivira, r537-1544
91
mined to see, even though it were at a distance. ·when almost a day's journey from his goal, two other Indians of those who had escaped from the massacre of Cibola, came to him covered with blood and wounds and gave some fresh details of the attack. The natives bewailed the loss of their friends and kin and appear to have threatened the life of the mis- sionary, who went to one side and remained in prayer for a period which he thought lasted an hour and a half, expecting to be killed any minute. Undaunted, however, he again distributed gifts and persuaded two chiefs to go with him near enough to Cibola to obtain a view of the city. Fray ilt/arcos describes the Cibola pueblos. Let Father Niza, the first European to behold the Indian pueblos of New Mexico, describe in his own words the ultimate attainment of his mission. "With them and with my Indians and interpreters," he declares, "I followed my road till we came in sight of Cibola, which lies in a plain on the slope of a round height. Its appearance is very good for settlement, the handsomest I have seen in these parts. The houses are, as the Indians had told me, all of stone, with their stories and flat roofs. As far as I could see frorr a height where I placed myself to observe, the settlement is larger thar, the City of Mexico. I was almost tempted to go further, knowing that I did not risk more than my life, and that life I had already offered to God on the day when I began the journey ... Having seen the nature of the city, it seemed to be well to call the land the New Kingdom of Saint Francis. With the aid of the Indians I made there a large pile of rocks and placed a medium size cross of light wood upon it, because I lacked the means to make a larger one. I declared that I placed the pile of stones and the cross in the name of Don Antonio de Mendoza, viceroy and governor of New Spain for the Emperor, our lord, as a sign of possession and in accord with my instructions." 15 Fray Marcos now lost no time in returning to Mexico, hastening "with much more fright than food." He soon overtook his escort. The Indians in the San Pedro Valley were not as hospitable now. Stopping only long enough to take possession of the upper Yaqui Valley from a distance, he went on to Culiacan, but not finding Coronado there, he proceeded to Compostela, where he arrived at the close of August, I 539. His report was made on September 2, and sent to the provincial for him to transmit it to the viceroy. "I say only what I saw and what'was told to me in the
2S"Relaci6n" in Documentos lneditos, Ill, 347-348.
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