Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/77

66 68 PEACEABLB INDIANS. mountains. From this point they turneu northeast teiward the seven rich cities of Cibola. The accounts of the trip to this territory, say that it was a wilder- ness that had to be traversed before reaching the goal. This wilderness, so designated, would be through the eastern part of Arizona and southwest- ern New Mexico. At last the first of the s.even cities are seen, but not until they had this experience: General Coronado wrote to Mendoza; "To refresh our former 'Trauailes' (trials), the first days we founde no grasse but worser way of mountains and badde passages." Another writer remarks: "The discouragement of the m^i increases with the diiliculties of the way. The horses were tired, and the slow progress became slower, as horses and Indian carriers fell down and died. Corn was almost gone, and as a result of eating the fruits and herbs which they found along the way a Spaniard and some of the servants were poisoned so badly that they died. The skull and horns of a great mountain goat filled the EuropesRS with wonder, but this was hardly a sign to inspire them with hopes of abundant food and gold. There were thirty leagaes of this traveling before the party reached thft borders of the inhabited country where we found fresh grass and many nutte and mullberrie trees. The day following that on which they left the wilderness, the advan»@ guard was met in a peaceable mai^per by four Indians. We treated them most kindly, gave tiaem beads and clothing and wUled them to return unto their city and bid they stay quiet in. their houses fearing nothing. The General assured