Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/45

34 34 BUFPAIX)ES AKD BUFFALOES. comfortable." (Although it is about 360 years since the Spanish shoemaker told of this process of manu- facturing shoes, yet in some of the old countries of the world they stiU tan the leather and last it upon the feet, making a superior glove-fitting foot gear.) Mendoza: "And now, my good Don, one ques- tion more and most important. Prom all the in- formation you were able to obtain, do you think it advisable to examine further into these seven cities of Cibola which you were told of by the natives?" De Vaca: "Assuredly, for it seems to me from the accounts given it equals this colony when con- quered by your predecessor, (Cortes). But, Your Excellency, there is one matter which you should hear of. We traversed many leagues of country where we saw thousands and tens of thousands of animals with wool like large sheep or cows, (buffa- loes), but have a big hump on their back the same as a camel. They are a brave animal and ferocious and make excellent meat. We subsisted on these ani- mals and the deer which roam near them for many months." And thus ended the story. As before stated, there are persons who have in- vestigated the country traversed by these four men, it being claimed that they must have come as far north as the Arkansas river. Then there are others who take the position that that would be too far north in order to have the party arrive so far south as the Gulf of California. It seems that those who make this assertion forget to take into consideration the yule laid down by navigators and geographers.