determined to go forward and to pursue our attempted voyage. And we
passed forward with much ado, turning our stems now this way, now
that way, to seek and find the channel. And it pleased God that after
this sort we came to the very bottom of the bay, where we found a
very mighty river, which ran with so great fury of a stream, that we
could hardly sail against it."

Here, then, began the acquaintance between the European and the river
now known as the Colorado of the West. The experience of Alarcon was
immediately typical of much that was to follow in the centuries of
endeavour to arrive at an intimate knowledge of this savage torrent.



CHAPTER II

The Unknown River--Alarcon Ascends it Eighty-five Leagues and Names
it the Rio de Buena Guia--Melchior Diaz Arrives at its Banks Later
and Calls it the Rio del Tizon--Cardenas Discovers the Grand Canyon.

Having triumphed over the fierce tidal bore which renders the mouth
of the Colorado dangerous, Alarcon secured a safe anchorage for his
vessels and began immediate preparations for following up the river
into the distant interior, both to gain a knowledge of it and to seek
for information of the position of Coronado. Leaving one of his small
boats for the use of those who remained in charge of the ships, he
took the other two, and, placing in them some light cannon, prepared
them as well as he could for any emergency that might be encountered.
His party consisted of twenty soldiers, sailors, and helpers, besides
his treasurer, Rodrigo Maldonado, and Gaspar de Castilleia,