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Show 190 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY FRANCISCO customs of the people, their manners of dress and living, and everything of consequence that would be of possible interest to the viceroy and the king. Within a very few days Coronado found time to write a letter to the viceroy, in which he calls attention to the misrepresentations of the friar.?°° As the captain-general says in his letter to the viceroy, he found these natives to be well bred. In truth, the people were more civilized and intelligent than any with whom the Spaniards had met since leaving Mexico. Their clothing was made of skins and of cotton. The costume of the women differed from that of the men. The former wore a mantle over the shoulder fastened around the neck and passing under the right arm. The skins of which their garments were made were beautifully dressed. The hair was arst Beale Letter to Mendoza, August 3, 1540: ‘It now remains for me o tell a out this city and kingdom and province , of which the Father Provincial gave your Lordship an account. In brief, I can assure . . ith turquoises, nor made of lime nor of good Te very good houses, with three and four and five ery good apartments and good rooms with corridor s y good rooms underground and paved, which are made for winter, and ! are something like a sort of hot rhi their houses are all movab le and iene: <i which neh are taken upLap and gat wherever they please. placed e: They are made of two ours. The Seven Citi pieces of wood with rounds like I “a deseri , ae Sree a a s ] caved the kingdom of Cevola, and each has its own name and no ines > ts city I ees price ig are called Cevola. This one which I have called a as out of regard ore Py because it has some Similarity to it, as well Stevenliina S05 1to your Lordship. In this place where I am now lodged there toe Gia sent ro all surrounded by a wall, and it seems to me that with families. Mei ae not so surrounded, there might be altogether 500 larger thanoe this 9 : another ldap nearby, which is one of the seven but somewhat ont of the same size as this, and the chhan four are er. I send them all to your Lordship, painted with the route. The skin on which the painting aint 2 2 : ; people of the towns ihe mg 18 made was found here with other skins. The I do not think that the to have to build these h entirely naked ton, because the country is very y the exhibits which I send. It nd in their houses. They wear They have all good figures, and are Apia 1¢ not ay find any women nor an on three old men who remained in sehaad of turquoises 4€ corn, . ae when ae i which they have I arrived, _ a because 2 VASQUEZ CORONADO 391 ranged in a peculiar manner, being done up behind the ear ‘‘in the shape of a wheel which resembies the handle of a eup.’’ Corn was raised as an article of food, the stalks being very short, the ears starting out very near the ground, and containing seven or eight hundred grains. This was a matter of great astonishment to the Spaniards, and was said to excel anything seen in the Indies. Many wild and ferocious animals were found, including bears, in great numbers, lions, wild-cats, hyenas, and beavers. A few turquoises were found but no gold or silver. The customs and manners of the people attracted a great deal of attention and were carefully noted. A man married but once, and if he lost his wife, he was condemned to a life of single-blessedness forever thereafter. The women were well treated, but two of them were not permitted to enter a place at the same time, such conduct being considered sacrilegious. They had very little government and no caciques or councilors. It was believed that their religion was related to the worship of the Aztecs. They had priests, who were selected from among the older persons, and it was the duty of these to regulate the manner of living for the people. They preached They were a peaceful and laborious peoevery morning at sunrise. ple. The cross was known to them, and was an emblem of peace. The dead were cremated, and with them the instruments of their trade. The captain-general remained at Cibola for some time and during this period received a delegation of Indians who came to him asking Naturally Coronado was pleased with their offer, but on for peace. the very day following their coming, the Indians abandoned their towns and escaped to the mountains, taking with them their women, children, and all their goods and supplies.*"’ Not long after this interview with the natives, the captain-general was advised that the Indians were fortifying a pueblo situate on a mesa or high table land near by. Coronado was not long in reducing 207 Coronado, Letter to Mendoza, August captured this city, some of the Indians who They brought me some turquoises and peace. in his Majesty ’s name with as good speech as the purpose of my coming to this country. their houses and suddenly, the next day, they erty, their women and children and fled to the with only some few remaining in them.’’ ‘‘Three days rot 3, 1540: e lived here came to offer _ a = poor mantles, and I receiv : oe I could, making them und Oo ee After this —. packed up their goo “ . deserted, hills, leaving their towns |
