condition, and having arrived at his border town of San Miguel de Culiacan, he despatched Niza from that place, careful provision having been made for his safe return by procuring native guides and taking other precautions.
On the 7th of March, 1539, Niza set out on his search, accompanied by Father Honorato, a negro named Estevanico, and a band of friendly Indians. Coronado a month later invaded a northern territory known by the name of Topiza,[1] of the wealth of which he had received reports. But the expedition mnet with little success. He failed to discover the people who decked their persons, as he had been told, with ornaments of gold and precious gems, and who faced the walls of their houses with silver.[2] After a long and wearisome march over mountains he reached a barren land in which he could obtain neither gold nor food; hence he retraced his steps to San Miguel.
Not long afterward Niza returned and brought to Coronado the welcome news of the existence and grandeur of the reported cities, whereupon the governor determined to go with him to Mexico, and with the assistance of the viceroy prepare an expedition for the anticipated conquest of Cíbola. They arrived at the capital at the end of August,[3] and so great was the excitement over the glowing account of Niza that in a few days he had raised a force of three hundred Spaniards with eight hundred native auxiliaries, eager to join in reaping the golden harvest. A reconnoitring party of fifteen men was sent forward under Melchor
- ↑ Probably identical with the latter Topia. In a letter addressed to Mendoza after the departure of Niza, Coronado stated that he would be ready to start on this expedition the 10th of April following. His force would consist of 150 horsemen, with 12 spare animals, 200 foot-soldiers, cross-bowmen, and arquebusiers, and he provided with hogs and sheep. The distance to Topiza, or Topira as it is written in this letter, he considers to be 80 leagues from San Miguel. Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série 1. tom. 1x. 352-4.
- ↑ 'Les habitants portent des parures en or, des émeraudes et autres pierres précieuses; ils emploient l'or et l'argent à des usages communs; ils couvrent leurs maisons avec ce dernier métal.' Id., 353.
- ↑ He was in the city of Mexico on the 2d of September, since he was present on the occasion of Niza presenting to the viceroy a written narrative of his exploration. Niza, Rel., in Id., 282-3.
