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Show THE CONQUEST OF NEW MEXICO 329 of the country. Ofiate wanted to make further explorations to the west and advised that he be reénforced with five hundred men, which number was not too many to send to such a country, where it was possible for him to gain for the crown new worlds better and greater than those which Cortés had given him. Ofate sent this letter to the viceroy in charge of Captains Villagr a, Farfan, and Pinero, and also instructed them to make full explanations to the representative of the royal authority. At the same time, accompanied by an escort, Friars Martinez, Salazar, and Vergara went to New Spain for the purpose of securin g more friars for the missions which had been and were to be establis hed. On his journey Friar Salazar died. Fr. Martinez remained in Mexico, but Fr. Juan de Escalona came back as comisario along with Vergara and six or eight members of the Franciscan order. A force of seventy-one men, under Casas, also returned, being the force raised to complete the 200 which Ofiate had promised to take with him. Later on the viceroy was ordered by the king to give Ofate all possible encouragement and support. Everything now went well with the colonists; they seemed contented with the country as a home and the representatives of the church were satisfied with it as a field for their labors in the cause of Christianity. The great majority of the colonists were favorable to a policy of extreme conciliation in dealing with the Indians. The captaingeneral, however, thought only of holding ONATE MARCHES GREAT TO THE PLAINS them in subjection, of reducing other pueblos, and making further explorations. The friars thought only of the salvation of souls, and regarded the army only as an aid and protection to them in their efforts for the faith. In the month of June, 1601, having become somewhat restless, for even though satisfied with his present achievements he was anxious for other and greater ones, accompanied by the friars, Velasco and Vergara, and guided by the Indian survivor of the force which had come into the country under Humana, he left San Gabriel, with a force of eighty men, and marched northeastward over the plains. His exact route is not known, but in all probability it was nearly the same as that followed SAAN: NAA) |
