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Show 278 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN EARLY HISTORY they traveled two days, and, in a distance of fourteen leagues, arrived in the province of Cunames or Punames. Here they found five towns, the largest of which was called Cia. The town of Cia was quite extensive, containing eight market places and the houses were better built than any others which had yet come to the notice of the Spaniards, as they were plastered and painted in many colors. Espejo estimates the population at twenty thousand. They made the Spaniards presents of provisions and some handsome mantles. Here they were also shown some specimens of the precious metals and were shown the mountains from which they had been taken. From Cia the Spaniards went in a northwesterly direction, probably up the river of that name, to the pueblo of Jemez, called by them Emexes, Emeges, or Amejes; this province contained seven pueblos altogether, and contained some thirty thousand inhabitants; one of the towns, a large one, situated in the mountains, was not visited. The people of this province resembled those of Cunames, being well provided with the necessaries of life and possessing a good form of government. Espejo left the Jemez country and pursued a westerly course for fifteen leagues to the pueblo of Acoma, situated upon a high rock, and accessible only by steps cut in the solid ESPEJO VISITS ACOMA, rock, and containing a population which was ZUNI, AND MOQUI estimated at over six thousand. Upon the approach of the Spaniards the principal men of the place came down to meet them, bringing with them many presents and an abundance of provisions. The cultivated fields of the Acoma were located two leagues from the town, and were irri- gated from a small river that flowed nearby, along the banks of which were growing great clusters of roses like those of Castile. > rer heen cla th Stay Indians vo the asim said to contain metals, but performed a solemn dance before them. They the dressed in good apparel and gave many amusing exercises performances. On the morning of the fourth day after their arrival at Acoma, Espejo westerly, and at a distance vince ones wT he rlike people and were not visited by the y remained three days, and during their of resumed his journey, still continuing of twenty-four leagues reached the proZuni, which the Spaniards called Cibola, having, as the SPANISH EXPLORATIONS 279 commander says, six pueblos and twenty thousand inhabitants. Here they found still standing the crosses which had been erected by the Spaniards forty years before under Coronado’s command. They also found the Mexican Indians whom Coronado had left behind when he returned to New Spain still living; they were named Andrés de Culiacan, Gaspar de Mejico, and Antonio de Guadalajara. They had been so long among the Zufis that they had almost forgotten their mother tongue and spoke the language of the Zufis with great fluency. They told Espejo of the journey undertaken by Don Pedro de Tovar, but, what was of greater interest to the Spaniards, they informed them that in a journey of sixty days to the west, far beyond where Coronado’s captains had been compelled to return on account of the lack of water and the great canyon, there was a lake with many settlements upon its banks, where the people had gold in abundance, wearing that metal in the form of ear-rings and bracelets. They said that Coronado had heard of this province, but after attempting to reach it failed and came back to Cibola and never made a second attempt. Espejo was very anxious to attempt the discovery of this lake and the populous towns, and proposed to his men and officers that they undertake the journey. Some of them were willing, but the majority, including the friar, Beltran, was opposed and advocated a return to New Biscay. diers agreed to accompany him, preparations, on his journey he left Cibola and, having made Nine of his sol- the necessary to the west. In a dis- tance of twenty-eight leagues, they approached a large and populous province which was estimated to contain fifty thousand inhabitants. This was the they heard immediately towns under his coming Come to his carry to Spaniards country of the Moqui. The Indians were alarmed when of the approach of Espejo and his companions, and sent a messenger to warn him not to come nearer their penalty of death. They were assured by Espejo that was for a peaceful purpose and that no harm could people. He gave the messenger several presents to the and Indians. He the presents made such had so much a favorable report of the influence in quieting the fears of the natives that they gave Espejo permission to enter their When the Spaniards arrived within a league of the first towns. town, they were met by about two thousand Indians who had come Cut to give them welcome, and bringing with them great loads of |