the Spaniards, whom he described, from finding their way into the
Cibola country. This man also described the bison and a people who
lived in painted tents in summer and in winter in houses of wood two
or three storeys high. And thus the expedition continued 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