them what he had learned of Cibola, and that, as Coronado might now have been informed by natives of his presence, he hoped to find means of reaching him.  There was much objection to this plan, but he proceeded to carry it out, taking all three boats this time, loaded with “wares of exchange, with corn and other seeds, with hens and cocks of Castile.”  This region he called the Province of Campanna de la Cruz, and he left orders for the building of an oratory or chapel to be named the Chapel of Our Lady de la Buena Guia.  The river he called the Rio de Buena Guia (good guidance) from the motto on the viceroy Mendoza’s coat of arms.  It was Tuesday, the 14th of September, when he started, taking with him Nicolas Zamorano, chief pilot, to record the latitudes.  He soon arrived again among the Quicomas,* and then among the Coamas, where he found his man who had been left behind on the first trip.  This man had been so well treated that he was entirely content to remain till the party should come back down the river.  This was the highest point reached on the first visit.  Everywhere the people were treasuring the crosses which had been given them, kneeling before them at sunrise.  Alarcon kept on up the river till he “entered between certain very high mountains, through which this river passeth with a straight channel, and the boats went up against the stream very hardly for want of men to draw the same.”  From this it may be inferred that the Coamas did not strive with each other for the privilege of towing the boats of these children of the sun as those below had done.  Now an enchanter from the Cumanas tried to destroy the party by setting magic reeds in the water on both sides, but the spell failed and the explorers went on to the home of the old man who had been so good a friend and guide to them.  At this, Alarcon’s farthest point, he caused a very high cross to be erected, on which words were carved to the effect that he had reached the place, so that if Coronado’s men chanced to come that way they might see it.  Nothing is said about burying letters, yet Diaz later mentions finding letters buried at the foot of a tree, apparently nearer the sea.  Deciding that he could not at this time accomplish his purpose of opening communication with the army, Alarcon concluded to return to the ships, but with the intention of trying once more.  The second day after starting down he arrived at the place where the Spaniard had remained.  He told him that he had gone “above thirty leagues into the country” beyond.  It had taken him, before, two and a half days to reach the river mouth from here, so that it seems he was about four days going down from his farthest point.  Roughly estimating his progress at six miles an hour for twelve hours a day, in four days the distance covered would be about 288 miles.  He says he went up eighty-five leagues (this would be fifty-five the first time and thirty more the second), which, counting in Mexican leagues of two and three quarter miles each, gives