CHAPTER VII.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS IN CALIFORNIA, NEW MEXICO, AND ARIZONA.
Having traced the course of early discovery from the most southerly
point of Florida to the mouths of the Mississippi on the west, and
up the Atlantic coast to the 60th parallel of north latitude, from the Gulf
of St. Lawrence to the central table-lands of North America in Minnesota
and down the Father of Waters to the sea, we will complete our survey of
the work done in the first two centuries after the discovery of Columbus by
turning to the South-west, which from the first presented special difficulties
to the explorers, on account of the rugged nature of its scenery and the persistent
hostility of its inhabitants.
From Mexico went forth the first authenticated expeditions for the exploration of the districts now forming the south-western states of North America, and to the restless ambition of Cortes may be traced much of the hatred of the white man which still distinguishes the Apaches, Pueblos, Shoshones, and other aboriginal tribes of New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
As early as 1530, the conqueror of Mexico, anxious to retrieve his waning greatness by new discoveries to the northward, sent forth two brigantines, under Diego de Hurtado, to explore the coast above the 25th parallel of north latitude. These first vessels were wrecked, and their commander lost; but, nothing daunted, Cortes at once equipped two others to take their place, which put to sea in 1534, under two captains, named Grijalva and Mendoza. The former is supposed to have reached the northern portion of the Gulf of California, but the latter was murdered by his pilot, Ximenes, who afterward landed on the coast of California, where he and many of his men where killed by the natives. The survivors returned to Mexico with wonderful stories of their adventures and the wealth of the districts visited, which so inflamed the imagination of Cortes, that he soon afterward himself started for the North with three well-manned vessels.
