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.
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