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Our Cat/1olic Heritage in T cxas
beyond the northern mountains. He now selected Fray Marcos de Niza, vice-commissary of the Franciscans, to accompany the new governor to Culiacan to carry out his long cherished project. In this he was fo1lowing the policy he had adopted ever since his arrival in New Spain. "Being a pious man," declares Herrera, "Don Antonio de Mendoza followed the advice of his good friend Fray Bartolome de las Casas, in not under- taking discoveries by force of arms. He sent, therefore, religious to the different points to explore and preach." 10 The experienced missionary was instructed to travel as far as Culiacan with the new governor. "And if through the favor of God our Lord, and the grace of the Holy Ghost," his orders read "you should find a road on which to proceed onward and penetrate farther inland, you shall take along with you Esteban Dorantes as a guide." His mission being essen- tially one of peace, he was enjoined to exercise the utmost care to win the friendship and good will of the natives and do nothing to antagonize them or endanger his life. He was to note the kind of people of each tribe or nation, their number, their dress, habits and customs, the character of the land, the climate, the vegetation, the animals, and the mountains and streams. He was to collect and send specimens, as often as conven- ient, of whatever objects he thought advisable for the better information of the king.11 Estevanico, the negro slave of Dorantes purchased by the viceroy, who was to go as guide, was strictly commanded to "obey in all things ordered." In addition to -this experienced escort and interpreter, Fray Marcos was to be accompanied by a number of Indians of those who came with Estevanico and others from Michoacan, who had been instructed in our faith and trained as interpreters.12 Character of Fray Marcos. Who was Fray Marcos de Niza and how did he come to be chosen for this delicate and important mission? "He was manifestly a shrewd and very able man," declares Bandelier, "of no ordinary attainments for the period in which he lived, and wholly devoted to duty. The great principle of his Order, obedience, ruled in all his actions. He obeyed implicitly the viceroy, as well as the superiors 10 Herrera, op. cit., Dec. vi, Lib. vii, Vol. 3, p. I 55. 11 "Instrucci6n de Don Antonio de Mendoza, visorey de Nueva Espana, " in Doc11- mentos lneditos, III, 325-328. 12 /bM.; Herrera, op. cit., Dec. vi, Lib. vii, Vol. 3, p. 11 5; Lowery, Spanish Settle111e11ts, 262-263; Bandelier, Co11lrib11tio11s, 119-121.
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