CORONADO

The means of discovery and the routine Esteban and the priest followed was laid out by the priest thusly:

Frey Marcos de Nizza, ”Relación …,” trans. Fanny Bandelier, The Journey of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and his Companions from Florida to the Pacific, 1528-1536,” (New York: A. S. Barnes & Company, 1905), pp. 207- 208:

I sent certain Indians by three several ways whom I commanded to bring me some Indians of the Sea-coast and of some of those Islands that I might receive information of them: And I sent Stephan Dorantez the Negro another way, whom I commanded to go directly northward fifty or threescore leagues, to see if by that way he might learn any news of any notable thing which we sought to discover, and I agreed with him that if he found any knowledge of any peopled and rich country which were of great importance, that he should go no further but should return in person, or should send me certain Indians with that token which we were agreed upon, to wit, that if it were but a mean thing, he should send me a White Cross of one handful long; and if it were any great matter, one of two handfuls long; and if it were a Country greater and better then Nueva Espana, he should send me a great cross.

Upon nearing the town, Esteban had great reports from the Indians. Frey Marcos reports that the Indian residents of a town Esteban had passed through.

p.222:

… told me, that with Stephan the Negro were gone above 300 men to bear him company, and to carry victuals after him, and that in like sort many of them would go with me to serve me, because they hoped to return home rich. I thanked them, and willed them to set things in order with speed, and so I rested there three days, wherein I always informed my self of Ceuola, and of as many other things as I could learn, and called many Indians unto me, and examined them severally and all of them agreed in one tale, and told me of the great multitude of people, and of the order of the streets, of the greatness of the houses, and of the strength of the gates, agreeing altogether that which the rest before had told me.

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