History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

BETURN TO SANTA FE. 17
purpose. They have come far; they can surely find a
way : why turn back? To determine the matter prayers
are made and lots cast, the decision being against Monterey.
As they turn eastward, the 11th, in latitude
36° 52', they are obliged to make bread of seeds purchased
from the natives, for their supplies are wholly
exhausted. Reaching the Colorado the 26th, twelve
days are passed in searching for a ford, which they
find at last in latitude 37°, the line dividing Utah
from Arizona. Their course is now south-east, and
the 16th of November they reach Oraybi, as they call
the residence of the Moquis. There they are kindly
received; but when for food and shelter they offer
presents and religious instruction the natives refuse.
Next day the Spaniards visit Xongopabi, and the day
after Gualpi, at which latter place they call a meeting
and propose to the natives temporal and spiritual submission.
The Moquis will be friendly they say, but
the further proposals they promptly decline. Thereupon
the friars continue their way, reaching Zuni November
24th and Santa Fe the 2d of January 1777. 22
22 The journey into Utah of Dominguez and Escalante, as given in Doc.
Hist. Mex., seiie ii. torn. i. 375-558, under title oiDiario y derrotero de losR. B.
PP. Fr. Francisco Atanasio Dominguez y Fr. Silvestre Velez de Escalante, para
descubrir cl camino desde el Presidio de Santa Fe del Nuevo Mexico, al de Monterey,
en la California Septentrional, is full and clear as to route and information
regarding the country and its inhabitants. As must be expected in all
such narratives it is full of trivial detail which is tiresome, but which we can
readily excuse for the worth of the remainder. The priests were close and
intelligent observers, and have much to say regarding configuration, soil,
climate, plants, minerals, animals, and people. A summary is given in Simpson's
Explor., app. R by Philip Harry, from a manuscript copy of the original
in the archives in the city of Mexico which answers the purpose therein
required, but is not sufficiently reliable or exact for historical purposes. The
map accompanying the summary is better, being for the most part correct.
Of the two padres and what they saw Humboldt says, Essai Pol.: 'Ce terrain
est la continuation de la Cordillere des Grue's, qui se prolonge vers la
Sierra Verde et vers le lac de Timpanogos, celebre dans l'histoire mexicaine.
Le Bio S. Rafael et le Rio S. Xavier sont les sources principales du flcuve
Zaguananas, qui, avec le Rio de Nabajoa, forme le Rio Colorado: ce dernir a
son embouchure dans le golfe de Californie. Ces regions abondantes en sel
gemme out (ste examinees, en 1777, par denx voyageurs remplis de zele et
d'intre'pidito, moines de Forder de S. Francois, le pere Escalante et le pere
Antonio Velez. ' From the last clause it is clear that Humboldt was confused
as to names, Velez and Escalante belonging to the same person. Simpson,
Explor., 13, enters upon a long dissertation over a simple and very transparent
mistake. See also Hist. North Mex. States; Hist. New Mex.; and Hisi.
Cal., this series.
Hist. Utah. 2