Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/83

72 72 AI.ONG THE PECOS VALLEY. , the account of this first visit in the language of the old chronicler: "From here, (Acoma), we went to a province called Tiguex, three days distance. The people came out peaceably, seeing that Whiskers was with us. These men are feared throughout aU these provinces. Alverado sent messengers back from here to advise the general to come and winter in this country. The general was not a little reheved to hear that the country was growing better. Five days from here we came to Cicuye or Pecos, the last of the walled cities toward the east. It was a very strong vUlage four stories high. The people came out from the viUage with signs of joy to welcome Alvarado and their captain brought us into town with drums and pipes, something like flutes, of which they had a great many. They made many presents of cloth and turquoises, of which there are quantities in that region. We enjoyed ourselves here for several days and talked with an Indian slave, a native of the country toward Florida, which is the region Don Fernando de Sota discovered. This fellow said that there were large settlements in the further part of the country, so Alvarado took him to guide them to the cows; but he told us of many and such great things about the wealth of gold and silver in his country that he did not care about looking for cows, but returned after he had seen some few, to reporb the rich news to the general. We called this Indian "Turk" because he looked like one." This town of Acnye i.s located about forty miles soutiieast of Santa Fe and twenty miles southwest of Las Vegas,