CORONADO

To his credit, Coronado reported on the flora and fauna of the countryside he explored. His letters to the Viceroy and King are full of such observations. He goes so far as to say

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, “… al emperador …,” trans. George Parker Winship, The Coronado Expedition 1540-1542, (Washington: Bureau of American Ethnology, 1896), p 582:

The country itself is the best I have ever seen for producing all the products of Spain.

But any enthusiasm for exploiting the land or for unleashing the clergy on the population was extinguished by the sense of failure at not finding easily transportable booty.

His troops, despite the disappointment, also saw what there was. Jaramillo, for instance, describing the Kansas plains

Juan Jaramillo, “Relación …,” trans. George Parker Winship, The Coronado Expedition 1540-1542, (Washington: Bureau of American Ethnology, 1896), p. 591:

This country presents a very fine appearance, than which I have not seen a better in all our Spain nor Italy nor a part of France, nor, indeed, in the other countries where I have traveled in His Majesty's service. For it is not a very rough country, but is made up of hillocks and plains, and very fine appearing rivers and streams, which cer­tainly satisfied me and made me sure that it will be very fruitful in all sorts of products. Indeed, there is profit in the cattle [He means the Buffalo] ready to the hand, from the quantity of them, which is as great as one could imagine. We found a variety of Castilian prunes which are not all red, but some of them black and green: the tree and fruit is certainly like that of Castile, with a very excellent flavor. Among the cows [the Buffalo again] we found flax, which springs up from the earth in clumps apart from one another, which are noticeable, as the cattle do not eat it, with their tops and blue flowers, and very perfect although small, resembling that of our own Spain .... There are grapes along some streams, of a fair flavor, not to be improved upon.

Clearly, this was a land one could love. And some of the troops wanted to stay. Jaramillo goes on to say

p. 592:

…[Coronado] conceived the idea of returning [to New Spain], which ten or twelve of us were unable to prevent by dissuading him from it.

And some did stay.

p. 592:Jaramillo again:

Friar Luis [de Escalona] wished to remain in these flat-roof houses [Tiguex]. I also recall that several Indians [from Mexico] remained behind in the Quivira region, besides a Tarascan belonging to my company …. Friar Juan de Padilla preferred to return to Quivira.

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