EARLY EXPLORATIONS AND EXPEDITIONS.
 

TITLK  TO  THE  S(.lll„

"^TATIOXS acquire the right of eminent domain: (1) by priority of dis-
-L> covery; (2) by conquest; (3) by purchase; (4) by treaty; (5) by suc¬
cessful revolution; (6) by long-continued and uncontested possession or
occupancy. Citizens derive their individual right or title from the General
Government or from prior owners: (1) by purchase; (3) by graCit or gift; (3)
by inheritance; (4) by right of occupancy, confirmed by successful defense
against trespass or invasion

It can be said of the soil of Kansas, what can be said ot none other
on the surface of the globe:

It is in possession of its rightfal owners by virtue of every franchise
known to civilized nations; by right of discovery; by right of conquest;
by virtue of treaty; by right of purchase; by virtue of successful revolu¬
tion; by right of occupancy; by right of brave and unconquerable defense
against invasion. Thus it is emblematic of all the high and manly
virtues invoh-ed in the acquisition of so complete a title. The peaceful
and unquestioned possession of to-day has bsen won through the extreme
s-acrifices demanded by courage, fortitude, patriotism and religious convic¬
tion. The story of the dangers braved, the privations endured, the sacri¬
fices made, the sufferings borne, Avhich, out of great tribulation have
wrought such happy issu(?s for the people of later timss, constitutes the
history of Kansas.

SP.ANtSH  EXPLORATIONS  .AND  DISCOVERIES (1527-1536.)

In June, 1527. the Spanish expedition of Pamphilo de Narvaez, in
which Cabeza de Vaoa held the office of Treasurer, left the Guadelquiver,
for the West Indies. Being appointed Governor of Florida, Narvaez, with
his fleet of four ships, well officered and supplied, left Havana in the spring
of 1528, to explore his new dominion. Driven by a storm, the ships
anchored near the outlet of the "Bay of the Cross," novv Tampa Bay.
On the day before Easter, 1528, the Governor landed, and in the name of
Spain took possession of Florida. With three hundred men he thoroughly
explored the country, always seeking for gold and silver. The search was
continued through the summer, but proved fruitless, and after encounter¬
ing many perils, and nearly perishing with hunger, the disappointed ad¬
venturers abandoned all hope of realizing their golden visions, and only
desired to safely escape from the unhealthy and hated country. On re¬
turning to the sea, np trace could be found of their ships, and with their
arms and such tools as were left, they constructed five small boats, in
which all who had survived the hardships of the summer embarked, and
proceeded westwardly along the coast, in hopes to reach a Mexican port.

On the 13th of October, 1528, Cabeza de Vaca. who commanded one of
the boats, discovered one of the outlets of the Mississippi, Avhioh he de¬
scribed as a " ver\- great river, bringing down such a flood of Avater, that
even at the distance of a league from the stream the water is sweet," Sev¬
eral futile attempts lo enter the river were made; the rising north wind,
and the force of the current baffling all their efforts. In the early part of
November, the boats of Cabeza de Vaoa, Alonzo de Castillo and Andres
Dorantes were wrecked off an island on the coast, near the mouth of the
Mississippi. The three commanders, and those of the crew not drowned,
were taken prisoners by the Indians. Of the other boats no information
was e\'er gained.

The Spaniards remained in captivity, enduring from the natives the
most cruel treatment, until all except the commanders, and a Barbary Moor,
named Estevanico (Stephen), finally succumbed to the united Influence of
the climate, hardship and despair.

Cabeza de Vaca alone remained courageous. He studied the lan¬
guages of the various tribes Avith whom he came in. contact, learned their
customs, gained their confidence, and finally acquired so great an influence
over them, that, at the end of six years, inspiring his companions Avith his
own indomitable courage, he dared plan an escape that involved the
traversing of a continent through countries inhabited by strange and often
hostile Indians.

In September, 1534, was commenced this pioneer journey of the Eu¬
ropeans, led by the brave Cabeza—" the great forerunner among the path¬
finders across the continent." From the Gulf, the party fled " toward the
mountains " (probably of Northern Alabama), thence westwardly across
"the great river coming from the North;" still west to the plains of
Texas; northwardly, to the sources of the Canadian River;'* by Indian
trails to the valley of the Rio del Norte; thence west and still toward the
West, until after twenty months their wanderings ended. May, 1.536, at the
village of San Miguel in Sonora, near the Pacific. The.y arrived worn,
half-starved, and nearly naked, but bearing to the greedy ears of their
countrymen marvelous tales of splendid and populous cities, rich in gold
and precious stones, of which they had heard from the Indians, whose
country they had traversed.

CORONADO (1540-1541.)
As early as 1530, Avild stories were told in Ncav Spain of the magnifi¬
cence of Cibola—the fair province, with its .seven gorgeous cities, that lay

* Hon. .lames W. S,iva^e of Nebrask-a, says in his lecture read before the State Ilistorical
Society, April, 1880, that the route extended " through parts of Kansas and Colorado."
 

to the north forty daj^s' journey through the desert, and an expedition
was undertaken for tlie discovery and appropriation of the coveted prize.
The terrors of the desert and the mountain daunted the courage of the first
adventurers, and they penetrated not far beyond the limits of Spanish oc¬
cupancy.

On the arrival in Mexico of Cabeza de Vaca and his three companions,
the interest in these mysterious cities, Avhtch had only smoldered, re¬
vived afresh. The strangers told their story to Francisco de C!oronado,
Governor of New Galicia, and he with the consent and approval of the
Viceroy, Mendoza, determined to send without delay a party of Franciscan
friars under the guidance of Cabeza's black companion, Estevanico, to
ascertain and report to him the truth in re,gard to the country of which
such wonders were related.

On the return of the party, their Superior and spokesman, Marcos de
Niza, reported the death of their guide the Moor, at the hands of the In¬
dians, in consequence of his insolent and overbearing conduct, but assured
Coronado that in regard to the splendor of Cibola and the riches of the
country, the half had not been told.

An expedition was immediately fitted out by the Viceroy, to subju¬
gate and secure to Spain this treasure of the New World. Coronado was
appointed commander, and so great was the excitement that in a few days
many young cavaliers of the proudest families of NeAV Spain had enlisted
under his banner ready to brave any peril, and share any danger, to roach
the glittering mirage that lured them on from across the desert. The ren¬
dezvous was appointed at Compostella, the capital of New Galicia, the
northern province of Mexico. On Easter morning, 1540, the army, num¬
bering 300 Spainards and 800 natives, celebrated mass, in company with
the Viceroy, and the following day Coronado began the march that was to
lead him over the plains and through the valleys of Kansas.

On arriving at Culiaoan, the extreme outpost of Spanish colonization,
the army halted for supplies and rest. Coronado, with a small party of
cavaliers, and a few monks, started in advance of the main command,
reached Chichilticale,* "where the desert begins;" entered its confines on
Saint John's Day eve, and marched in a general northeasterly direction fif¬
teen days, when they arrived within eight leagues (about twenty-seven miles)
of Cibola, on the banks of a river which they called Vermejo.f The fol¬
lowing day the Spaniards arrived at Cibola, | and their disgust and
indignation was proportioned to their former extravagant hopes. They
learned that the province of Cibola did indeed contain seven villages, but
at thesi,^ht of the first, the chronicler states "the army broke forth with
maledictions on Friar Marcos de Niza," adding, like a Christian—"God
grant that he may feel none of them." He further says: "Cibola is built
on^a roc:k; this village is so small, that, in truth, there were many farms in
New Spain that make a better appearance,"

Poor as the village Avas, it contained food and shelter, which the jaded
troops eagerly appropriated; subsisting unou the hoarded stores of the
Indians, while parties were sent out in different directions to find and
plunder the other "cities" of Cibola, and the adjacent provinces, and to
explore the great river (Colorado), of which they had hearii. (After a
journey of twenty days the Colorado was found, and its AA-onderful canon
is graphically described, and the circumstances of gathering white crystals
of salt that hung around a cascade, is noted.)

An expedition, commanded by Hernando de Alvarado, was sent by
Coronado to the Province of Cicuye, || seventy leaguesg to the east of Cibola,
which the Spaniards had heard contained cattle whose skins were " covered
with a frizzled hair which resembled wool," and where dwelt a peaceful
and wealthy people. After five days' journey from Cibola, Alvarado
reached Acuco, a village "built on a rock." Three days from Acuco
(Acoma), he reached "Tiguex (on tho Rio Grande), at which village his
reception was so cordial and hospitable that he sent back a messenger to
Coronado, suggesting that he make the place his Avinter quarters. He then
continued'his journey east, and in five days arrived at Cicuye, which he
describes as strongly fortified and containing houses of four stories.

In accordance with the suggestion of Alvarado, Coronado established
his camp at Tiguex for the winter (1540-41). The army arrived in Decem¬
ber, and repaid the hospitality of the simple and kindly natives by acts of
the most wanton and extreme cruelty, culminating in the total destruction
of the villages of Tiguex.

When Alvarado returned to the army, from his visit to Cicuye, he
brought with him the first report of the "great kingdom of Quivera."
From an Indian that he met while on his expedition, he heard of this
mythical country. Becoming thoroughly convinced of the truth and re¬
liability of the story, Alvarado took him to Tiguex that he might relate to
Coronado also, the wonderful tale of his home in Quivera, with its river
seven miles wide, in which fish as large as horses were found ; its immense
canoes ; its trees hung with golden bells, and its dishes of solid gold.   Half

'According to Gen. J. H. Simpson, the site of Casa Grande on the Gila River. (Smithson¬
ian Report for 1869.)

t The Little Colorado.

J The Zuni of New Mexico.

II Cicuye is believed by Gen. Simpson to be the ancient Pecos, on tho river of the same
name in New Mexico, and a little south of Santa F6.
g The Spanish league equals 3.42 American miles.