the grand canyon of arizona-第42部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
trial and execution of the native king； Atahualpa。 From Peru； he returned to Central America； and thence he returned on foot to Mexico。 He was a man of known bravery and character； and already was appointed to the office of vice…commissary of his order。 Thus Mendoza felt no hesitation at charging him with the arduous mission of penetrating to the heart of what are now Arizona and New Mexico； as far as the reported seven cities of Cibola； and bringing back to his superiors a truthful account of what he saw。 The father provincial of the order； Fray Antonio de Ciudad Rodrigo； on August 26； 1539； certified to the high esteem in which Fray Marcos was held； and stated that he was skilled in cosmography； and in the arts of the sea； as well as in theology。
Mendoza Instructs Fray Marcos。 Mendoza drew up for him a set of instructions as to how he should proceed。 These were very explicit as to the good treatment the Indians were to receive at his hands； and required him to make certain scientific observations with due care and thoroughness。 He was to leave letters at stated intervals； and also send back to the viceroy reports of his progress； wherever possible。 Coronado escorted him as far as the new town of Culiacan； and on March 7； 1539； accompanied by a lay brother； Onorato； he started on his trip。
Courage of Spaniards。 When it is remembered that this journey of several hundreds of miles was on foot；for the rule of the Franciscans was that all their members should travel afoot save in cases of extreme necessity； through a barren； almost waterless desert； roamed over； by warlike Indians； the courage of the man is apparent。 Yet he was not remarkable in this。 The history of Mexico and of all the Spanish colonies； as well as those of New Mexico （which used to include Arizona）； Texas； and California； abounds in the names of men of equal courage and daring。 On reaching Petatlan； Brother Onorato fell sick； and Marcos had to leave him behind； thence alone； as far as white men were concerned； he traveled to Cibola。 Six Indian interpreters and a large number of natives accompanied and followed him； and Stephen； the negro； went ahead as his guide。
Investigates Regarding Pearl Islands。 He reached Vacapa （now known as Matapa）； in Central Sonora； two days before Passion Sunday； which in 1539 fell on March 23。 From this point he sent to the seacoast for some Indians； in order that he might learn from them something about the pearl islands； of which rumors had come to Cabeza de Vara。 He remained here until April 6。
Stephen； the Guide； Is Sent Ahead。 In the meantime； Stephen had pushed on to the north； leaving on Passion Sunday； with orders from Fray Marcos not to go further than fifty or sixty leagues ahead。 If he found any signs of a rich and populous country before he had gone that distance； he was not to proceed further； but was to return for Marcos； or remain； and send messengers for him； bearing a white cross the size of the palm of his hand。 If the news was very promising； the cross was to be twice the size； and if the country about which he heard promised to be larger and better than New Spain （as Mexico was then generally known）； a cross still larger than this was to be sent back。 Castaneda says that Stephen was sent on ahead because he and Marcos did not agree well； the negro not only showing covetousness and the determination to acquire the turquoises of the natives； but also an amorousness that demanded of them their youngest and prettiest women。
Messengers Bring Good News to Marcos。 Four days after his departure； messengers sent by Stephen reached Fray Marcos with a very large cross as tall as a man。 This； according to the signs established between them； meant wonderful news。 One of the messengers told what it was。 He it was； indeed； who had given the news to the negro； and he； in turn； had sent the native on to Fray Marcos。 This is what Marcos records of the Indian's story：
Report of Turquoise Stones。 〃There are seven very large cities in the first province； all under one lord； with large houses of stone and lime； the smallest one story high； with a flat roof above； and others two and three stories high； and the house of the lord four stories high。 They are all united under his rule。 And on portals of the principal houses there are many designs of turquoise stones； of which he says they have a great abundance and； the people in these cities are very well clothed。 Concerning other provinces farther on； he said that each one of them amounted to much more than these seven cities。〃
Marcos got a very clear idea of what actually existed； though he misunderstood the democratic community rule of the people of Cibola； under a chief whom they had elected to the office； for the rule of an overlord。 The houses were built about as he describes； and whitewashed inside and out with gypsum； and though the placing of turquoises in the door jambs is discontinued； the traditions of the people clearly indicate that at one time that was their general practice。
Messenger from the Coast Returns。 Had he been a man of great impatience； Marcos would have started off at once to discover the truth or falsity of these reports； but he waited until his messenger who had been sent to the coast returned； with natives of that region。 These told him of pearls found in quantity near their homes。 Other Indians； with painted or tattooed faces； chests and arms； living to the east （doubtless the Pimas or Sobaipuris）； also visited him； and told him of the seven villages with which they claimed to be familiar。
Marcos Follows Stephen。 The friar was now ready to start； and on the second day following Easter （April 6）； he left； expecting to find Stephen waiting for him at the village from which his messenger had been sent。 Instead； he met a second cross； much larger than the first one； with messengers who gave a fuller and completer account of the seven villages； but agreeing in every particular with what had been told before。 All this was confirmed when Friar Marcos reached the first village； so he hastened on； doubtless annoyed somewhat that Stephen had disobeyed his orders； and journeyed beyond the prescribed distance。 But it was perhaps well for him that Stephen had done so。 Gathering turquoises and women as he proceeded； and followed by an increasing number of natives； the negro pushed on to Cibola。 Before arriving at the principal town； he sent forward a notice of his approach in the shape of a gourd； to which were attached a few strings of rattles and two plumes； one white and the other red。 This was unfortunate for Stephen； for undoubtedly it was part of the paraphernalia of a medicine man of a tribe hostile to the Cibolans。 Its receipt made the people both angry and suspicious。 The chief who received the gourd threw it upon the ground； and told the messengers that 〃when their people reached the village； they would find out what sort of men lived there； and that instead of entering the place； they would all be killed。〃 Stephen paid no attention to this warning； but recklessly entered the village。 He was duly received by the chief； but instead of his being acclaimed； and a generous welcome accorded him； he was coldly requested to remain without the walls； and occupy a house that was pointed out to him。 This for years has been the habit of the Zuni people of our time； in dealing with strange Mexicans who come to visit them； owing to their religious ceremonies。
Stephen Is Killed。 Poor Stephen's confidence doubtless began to leave him the following day； when his turquoises and women were taken from him； and he found himself a prisoner without food or drink。 As much afraid now as he had been over…confident before； he endeavored； during the early morning hours； to escape； but was overtaken and killed； together with some of his followers。 The others； to the number of sixty； returned to Fray Marcos with the appalling news。
Indian Followers Wish to Desert。 But； undaunted and unafraid； the brave friar kept on his way。 He was sent to see the villages of Cibola； and make a report on them。 He had injured no one； and intended to injure no one。 While he must be circumspect and not risk his life unnecessarily； he must perform his duty； even though by so doing he put his life in jeopardy。 Another difficulty confronted him。 The first reports of Stephen's death were accompanied with the statement that all of his native followers were also slain。 As soon as the Indians who were with Fray Marcos heard this； they wished to desert and return home at once； but he opened up some bundles of presents he had with him； and by a free distribution of them prevailed upon his escort to remain。 Then he went apart to pray； and while he was gone the ingrate Indians decided to kill him as the source of all their troubles。 It took a good deal of argument； more presents； and some threats； to persuade them that to kill him would be the height of folly。 Before they had time to hatch up any more plots； he succeeded in getting two of the chief men to go with him to a hilly place overlooking the city of Cibola； which he describes as a city on a plain； on the slope of a round height。 In his report he writes：
Marcos' Description of Cibola。 〃It has a very fine appearance for a village； the best
