175
Exploration of tlte Big Bend and Pecos Country
the country and started back for Santa Barbara from Zuni the latter part of May. Espejo and eight companions who remained set out on :Vlay 31, 1583, for the Rio Grande and the Tiguas with the intention of continuing their explorations to the east. When they arrived in Puaray (Sandia), they were jeered by the Indians. Such insolence could not be permitted to go unheeded, so the little band of Spaniards set fire to the pueblo, captured sixteen of the fleeing Indians, and admin- istered a severe lashing to the prisoners. This act of daring produced a salutary effect and the Indians of the neighboring pueblos treated the visitors hereafter with the highest respect. 39 Espejo and his men now decided to explore the country to the east. This resolve was to take them into Texas. Following the Galisteo basin as Chamuscado had done before, they reconnoitered the mine of Santa Catalina to the south of Galisteo ( San Cristobal). They then continued to the Tano settlements in the vicinity of present Galisteo, about twenty miles south of Santa Fe. But since these Indians proved hostile, they crossed the mountains to the northeast and entered the Pecos valley and came to a pueblo which they called Cicuic or Siqui, which was no other than Cicuye or the old pueblo of Pecos visited by Coronado. This was located about thirty miles southeast of present Santa Fe. The Indians at first refused to give the Spaniards food, but upon being threatened, they complied with the request . The Spaniards took two Indian guides by force to show them the way to the buffalo plains. Setting out to follow the course of this river on July 5, 1583, the little party traveled six leagues through a very dense forest of white pines and savins. "The road was bad," says Luxan, "and the march difficult so that when we reached the place, the garments of the train were more in condition to be renewed than repaired. We halted by the Rio de las Vacas [Pecos]. It is a medium size river with exquisite water, surrounded by numerous trees and many vines, roses, rosebush fruit, and much pennyroyal." They were in the vicinity of present day San Jose. 40 From here the party tried to follow the Pecos as closely as possible in the hope of finding buffalo and a new way back to the Junta de los Rios. On the seventh they resumed the march, and after traveling about five leagues "over mountains and sometimes along the river," they camped 39 This summary is based on Espejo's account in Bolton, np. cit., 180-189; Lur/m's Narrative, 82-117. 40 /bid., 120-121; U. S. Geological Survey Map, State of New Afexico, 1922.
Powered by FlippingBook