lves with gazing on the pueblo
(which they describe as "more considerable than Mexico") from a safe
distance, and then hurriedly returned to Culiacan. They gave Coronado a
most glowing account of all they had discovered.

Coronado now thought the time had come for decisive action. Accordingly,
with the viceroy's permission, he organized his forces, and in 1540 set
out on his memorable march in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola. We
do not propose to give in detail the series of conquests beginning with
this expedition and finally ending with the subjection of New Mexico
in 1598. It is needless to say that the Spanish forces found no cities
teeming with wealth. What they did find was a country much the same
as at present. The cities were the communal houses, or combination of
houses, known as pueblos. The pueblo of Zuni is the remaining one of the
mystical seven. The ruins of at least six other pueblos are known to be
in the immediate vicinity.<2>

This historical account, short and imperfect as it is, introduces us to
a most interesting people. If we would know more of them we can not do
better than to adopt the advice of Hosta, ex governor of Jemez, to Dr.
Loew: "If you wish to see what a great people we once were you must go
upon the mesas and into the canyons of the vicinity, where ruins of our
forefathers are numerous."

One of the most important pueblos yet remaining inhabited, and one of
the first that Coronado encountered in his expedition, is Zuni.
The present pueblo is considered as the remaining one of the Seven
Cities--at least, by the majority of Americanists. Whipple describes
Zuni as follows: "Treading an opening between rocky bluffs,... we
entered the valley, several miles in width, which leads to Zuni. The
soil seemed light, but where cultivated it produced fine crops without
the aid of irrigation.... Within the valley appeared occasional towers,
where herders and, laborers watch to prevent a surprise from Apaches.
Near the center of this apparent plain stood, upon an eminence, the
compact city of Zuni.<3> By its side flowed the river which bears
the same name. It is now but a rivulet of humble dimensions, though
sometimes said to be a large stream.... Passing beneath an arch, we
entered a court,... entirely surrounded by houses of several receding
stories, which were attained by means of ladders loading from one to
another.... From the top the pueblo reminds one of an immense ant-hill,
from its sim