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.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 132 of 167
Words from 67669 to 68173
of 85893
