Diaz and Juan de Saldivar,[1] for the purpose of verifying Niza's account. This party left San Miguel on the 17th of November, and proceeded one hundred leagues northward. The time of the year was, however, unfavorable, and the excessive cold prevented further advance.[2]
In the mean time preparations in the capital were pushed forward as rapidly as possible. Compostela was named as the rendezvous, and so important was the expedition deemed by the viceroy that he proceeded thither to give encouragement by his presence and to superintend final preparations. But the enterprise was not without its opponents, whose principal arguments were that it would deprive Spanish towns of men needful for their protection; hearing which Coronado took sworn depositions as to the actual number of citizens enrolled. On the 22d of February a review was held, and from the declarations made it appeared that the ranks were mainly composed of poor but well-born adventurers, who had not been long in the country, and were regarded as dissolute idlers and burdens upon the community.[3]
It was, perhaps, not without some ground that the settlers of Nueva Galicia objected to the departure of their governor with so fine a band of troops. Just apprehensions of a general uprising of the natives were entertained; indeed, im some portions of the province the natives were in open revolt. Indian towns belonging to the Spaniards were attacked, cattle driven off, and converts and negroes massacred. Coronado had been so occupied with schemes of conquest and too frequently absent to attend properly to
- ↑ Done by the viceroy's special order.
- ↑ 'Quelques Indiens qu'il emmenait avec lui furent gelés, et deux Espagnols souffrirent beaucoup.' On the 20th of March, 1540, Diaz wrote an account of his proceedings to the viceroy.
- ↑ Only two citizens of the city of Mexico, and two of Guadalajara, were found among the troops. From Compostela not one was going. Among those who examined the men and gave depositions may be mentioned Gonzalo de Salazar, the royal factor, and Pero Almidez Chirinos, the veedor; also Christóbal de Oñate. Inform., in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiv. 373-84. A certified copy of these depositions was forwarded to the crown.
