Ottr Catholic H critage in T cxas
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and St. Paul," says Jaramillo. That they were in the great plains all this time is evident. "We spent many days without water and cooked our meals with buffalo chips," declares Coronado, "because there is no kind of wood in all these plains, except in the creek and river beds which are few indeed. The Lord willed that after traveling over those desolate regions ... I arrived in the province of Quivira." 51 Contrary to the prevailing opinions, it is clear that in spite of having traveled thirty days, Coronado covered a relatively short distance in his trip to Quivira from Palo Duro Canyon. Jaramillo, the most reliable of the sources, plainly states that the marches were not long and Coronado himself explains the difficulties encountered from lack of water. At the end of the march they came to a river which the Indian guide identified as being below Quivira. What stream was this, the first of any size encountered after the little party left Palo Duro Canyon? It is only necessary to see a map and follow a due north course to come to the inevitable conclusion that it was no other than present Canadian River in Hutchinson County. 59 Neither Coronado in his letter, nor Jaramillo, nor Castaneda mention having crossed another stream of any size or having seen, during the thirty days, any hills or mountains. There is, therefore, but one conclusion possible. They were still on the great plains. They followed a due north course from Palo Duro Canyon in Armstrong County to the Canadian River in Hutchinson County, which was the place where Coronado and his men, among who was Fray de Padilla, came upon "the river below Quivira." 60 "We crossed there," says Jaramillo, "and following along the north bank we went down stream, changing our course to the northeast. After three days' journey we met some Indians who were out hunting, killing buffalo to take the meat to their pueblo, which was three or four days' march farther down." The Indians were a little surprised when they first saw the Spaniards and seemed on the point of fleeing, but Ysopete, the guide called to them in their language. They then came up to the Spaniards without fear. 61 58 Coronado to the King, October 20, 1541, in Docume11tos ltzeditos, III, 366 ; Jaramillo, "Relacion," in Ibid., XIV, 312. 59 See map in Donoghue, "The Route of the Coronado Expedition," in Quarterly, XXXII, 190. 60 Compare all three accounts of Jaramillo, Coronado, and Castaneda in Winship, op. cit. 61 Jaramillo, op. cit., XIV, 312-313.
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