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