Page:The Coronado expedition, 1540-1542.djvu/22

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THE CORONADO EXPEDITION, 1540-1542
[eth. ann 14
November Mendoza begins to prepare for an expedition to conquer the Seven Cities of Cibola.
Melchior Diaz is sent to verify the reports of Friar Marcos.
De Soto finds the remains of the camp of Narvaez at Bahia de los Cavallos.
Nov. 12 Witnesses in Habana describe the effect of the friar's reports.
1540
Jan. 1 Mendoza celebrates the new year at Pasquaro.
Jan. 9 Coronado at Guadalajara.
Feb. 5 Cortes stops at Habana on his way to Spain.
February The members of the Cibola expedition assemble at Compostela, where the viceroy finds them on his arrival.
Feb. 22 Review of the army on Sunday.
Feb. 23 The army, under the command of Francisco Vazquez Coronado, starts for Cibola (not on February 1).
Feb. 26 Mendoza returns to Compostela, having left the army two days before, and examines witnesses to discover how many citizens of New Spain have accompanied Coronado. He writes a letter to King Charles V, which has been lost.
March The army is delayed by the cattle in crossing the rivers. The death of the army master, Samaniego, at Chiametla. Return of Melchior Diaz and Juan de Saldivar from Chichilticalli.
March 3 Beginning of litigation in Spain over the right to explore and conquer the Cibola country.
March 28 Reception to the army at Culiacan, on Easter day.
April The army is entertained by the citizens of Culiacan.
Mendoza receives the report of Melchior Diaz' exploration, perhaps at Jacona.
Coronado writes to Mendoza, giving an account of what has already happened, and of the arrangements which he has made for the rest of the journey. This letter has been lost.
April 17 Mendoza writes to the Emperor Charles V.
April 22 Coronado departs from Culiacan with about seventy-five horsemen and a few footmen.
April Coronado passes through Petatlan, Cinaloa, Los Cedros, May Yaquemi, and other places mentioned by Jaramillo.
May 9 Alarcon sails from Acapulco to cooperate with Coronado. The army starts from Culiacan and marches toward the Corazones or Hearts valley.
May 26
June
Coronado leaves the valley of Corazones. He proceeds to Chichilticalli, passing Senora or Sonora and Ispa, and thence crosses the Arizona wilderness, fording many rivers.
The army builds the town of San Hieronimo in Corazones valley.