from proceeding, pretending ignorance of the country and danger from the Comanches. But the 3d of September saw them again on their way. Pursuing a north-west course, the second day they crossed and camped on the north bank of the Rio San Rafael, or Colorado,[1] in latitude 41° 4′. Their course thence was north-westerly, and on the 9th they crossed a river called San Clemente,[2] flowing west. Signs of buffaloes were abundant, and on the 11th they killed one. Two days afterward they crossed the Rio de San Buenaventura,[3] the boundary between the Yutas and the Comanches, in latitude 41° 19′, at a place which the priests call Santa Cruz. Here were six large black poplars, on one of which they left an inscription. After resting two days they took the course of the San Buenaventura south-west ten leagues, and from a hill saw the junction of the San Clemente. Descending a little farther they found a river flowing in from the west, following which they reached a branch the 17th, naming it the San Cosme.[4]
From this point they proceeded westward, following up the Uintah, across the Duchesne, and over the mountains, with no small difficulty, to a river which they called Purísima,[5] and which they followed till on the 23d they came in sight of the lake which the natives called Timpanogos, but which is known now as Utah Lake.
Several reasons combined to bring the Spaniards so far to the north of what would be a direct road
- ↑ Grand River; but the latitude given was about 1° 30′ too high.
- ↑ White River, the point of crossing being near the Utah line.
- ↑ Green River. The latitude given is at least 50' too high. The crossing was above the junctions of White River and the Uintah with Green River. See Rep. Fr. Alonso de Posada, custodio de N. Mex., in Doc. Hist. Mex., i. 439.
- ↑ This is the north branch of the Uintah. Indeed the narrative of the explorers makes their route in this vicinity unmistakable.
- ↑ Now the Timpanogos. ‘Proseguimos al noroeste media legua, pasamos á la otra banda del rio, subimos una corta cuesta y divisamos la laguna y dilatado valle de Nuestra Señora de la Merced de los Timpanogotzis—así lo nombramos desde aquí.’ Diario, Doc. Hist. Mex., série ii. tom. i. 454.
