Our Catholic H eritage in Texas
named Granada in honor of the birthplace of his protector and friend. the viceroy. 35 The Indians had previously sent their women and children away. Upon surrendering the city, they too departed, leaving the Span- iards in full possession. The conquerors found much corn, beans, salt, and wild turkeys, which the Indians kept for their plumage. During · the next few days, while Coronado was recovering, representatives of the neighboring pueblos came to offer peace, but the natives deserted their houses, taking refuge in the surrounding mountains with their women and children as well as all the supplies they could carry. The fabled dreams of gold and wealth faded before cold reality. The Spaniards were truly disappointed. The Indian pueblos were remarkable in many respects, but compared with the fancies inspired by the exag- gerated accounts which rumor had spread, they were poor indeed. No wonder that many turned questioning eyes upon Fray Marcos, and others gave expression to their disappointment in uncomplimentary remarks about the good friar's character. What the honest and equally surprised missionary felt may well be imagined. It is not strange, therefore, that when on August 3, 1540, Coronado wrote his first report to the viceroy, Fray Marcos availed himself of the opportunity to return to Mexico with the messenger, Juan Gallego. He was now an old man, broken in health and fast becoming paralyzed. Hardships, toils, and disappoint- ment, for there can be little doubt that he, too, was disappointed, crushed his spirit. Shortly after his return to Mexico, he went to Jalapa in search of health, but in vain. He lingered on, partly paralyzed, until 1558, when he died in Mexico City. 36 Alvarado visits the buffalo plains. While at Hawiku, a delegation of Indians from the province of Cicuye, a group of Jemez, who lived east of the Rio Grande in the great pueblo of the Pecos, not far from Santa Fe, came to offer peace. With them came a fine looking young man, whom the Spaniards immediately nicknamed Bigotes, because of his long moustache. On August 29, Coronado ordered Captain Hernando de Alvarado with twenty men and Fray Juan de Padilla to visit that province and explore the country. The active friar had just returned from a visit to the Moqui villages in Arizona. Setting out at once, they SSGomara, op. cit., 196. 36 Vetancourt, Menologio, 117-118; Bandelier, "Fray Marcos de Niza" in American Catholic Quarterly Review, XV, 551.
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