up the river, inquiring as they went on all subjects.  On September 6th the old man who had been a particular friend and interpreter was called on shore by the natives, and there was immediately an animated discussion which Alarcon discovered related to himself.  Information had come from Cibola that there were there men like these Spaniards who said they were Christians.  These had been warlike, and it was proposed to kill all of Alarcon’s party to prevent the others from gaining a knowledge of this country.  But the old man declared Alarcon to be the son of the sun and took his part.  Finally it was decided to ask him whether he were a Christian or the son of the sun.  Alarcon pretended great wonder at men like himself being at Cibola, but they assured him it was true, as two men who had come from there reported that they had beards and guns and swords just the same.  Alarcon still insisted that he was the son of the sun.  They said the men at Cibola said the same, to which Alarcon replied that it might well be, and if so they need have no fear, for the sons of the sun would be his brothers and would treat them as he had done.  This seemed to pacify them.  He inquired now how far it was to Cibola, and they answered ten days through an uninhabited country, with no account of the rest of the way because it was inhabited.

* The old Spaniards used “v” and “b” interchangeably, so that Cibola and Cevola would be pronounced the same.  Other letters were used in the same loose way.

** Windows on the sides of the houses, not of the walls, as one writer has put it.  The villages of the lower part of New Mexico had these walls of circumvallation, but to the northward such walls appear to have been rare.

Alarcon was now more than ever desirous of informing Coronado of his whereabouts, and tried to persuade some of his men to go to Cibola with a message, promising fine rewards.  Only one, a negro slave, and he with reluctance, offered to attempt the journey.  Alarcon tried to get the old man to give him guides and provisions, but without success, as the old man seemed to desire to induce Alarcon to help them fight their battles with the Cumanas, saying, if he would end this war, he could have their company to Cibola.  Alarcon was determined to go, and sent a man back to the ships to inform those there of his purpose, but he changed his mind soon after, concluding to go to the ships himself and return, leaving there his sick, and rearranging his company.  The man who had been sent to the ships overland was overtaken and brought back by the natives, but was obliged to remain with them till Alarcon came up again.  The descent from here was made in two and a half days, though it had taken fifteen to come up.  Arriving at the ships all was found to have gone well except a few minor accidents, and, directing repairs to be made, Alarcon turned about and started up-river once more, first calling the whole company together, telling