Search for the Seven Cities of Cibola

Search for the Seven Cities By ELIZABETH TOOHEY, State Historian

TO A BLACK MAN and a Franciscan friar belong the honor of discovering this state. They, in their search for the Seven Cities of Cibola, crossed into what is now the state of Arizona in 1539.

The black man was Estevan, a Moor, born in the city of Azumir, on the coast of Morocco. When he was very young, perhaps only thirteen years of age, he set sail for New Spain. This must explain why, although Estevan was later described as being a tall and powerful man, he is referred to as Estevanico, or little Stephen.

Estevan was probably a Mohammedan. The Mohammedans at this time were a highly educated people. There is nothing to lead us to believe that he ever became a Catholic. It is also believed that Estevan could read and write.

Estevan left Spain, in the service (perhaps as a slave), of some member of the De Narvaez party. He is referred to as a negro, but not as a Negro. He was a black but not an Ethiopian.

On June 17, 1527, Governor de Narvaez left the port of San Lucar de Barrameda, to conquer and govern the provinces of the main, from the River Palmas to the Cape of Florida. Cabeza de Vaca, who was treasurer and high-sheriff of the expedition, tells us that the fleet consisted of five ships and six hundred men. There were five Franciscan friars among them.

When they reached San Domingo, they tarried forty-five days and took some horses on board. One hundred and forty men remained in San Domingo. The rest sailed, and upon arrival at Santiago de Cuba, more men, horses, and arms were taken aboard.

De Vaca and thirteen of his companions including Estevan were shipwrecked off the coast of Florida in 1528.

Cabeza de Vaca and Estevan were separated from their companions and wandered from Indian tribe to Indian tribe for eight years, ever pressing their way westward where they knew Spaniards to be. When they reached thewest coast near the Gulf of California, they were found by a party of Spaniards exploring in Mexico, and were taken by them to Mexico City and Culiacan.

During their wanderings, De Vaca and Estevan had heard stories from the Indians of large and rich cities to the north.

The stories De Vaca had heard greatly interested the viceroy, Mendoza, and he planned an expedition in 1537, being desirous of finding gold for the King as well as a personal fortune.

Estevan, who had become the property of Dorantes, was purchased by Mendoza, and Dorantes was hired as a guide. The project was temporarily abandoned. Little is known of several preparatory tours in Northern Sinaloa. However, we have a record of the entrada into Arizona.

Fray Marcos, chief of the Franciscas' band, was an Italian. Under orders, through Coronado from the viceroy, Fray Marcos, with another priest named Oronato, the black Estevan, and a band of natives from Culiacan, left San Miguel, March 7, 1539. Oronato, when they reached the Petatlan river (Sino-loa), became ill and was left there, but de Niza kept on, being made welcome by the natives.

Bancroft tells us that some twenty-five or thirty leagues after leaving Oronato, De Niza met some Indians from the island where Cortez had been (California) half a league from the sea, and they also told him of thirty other in-habited islands beyond, and of pearls. For four days De Niza and Estevan made their way through an uninhabited country. At the end of the fourth day they encountered a people who had never seen Christians, and who called De Niza, man from heaven (Sayota).

SEPTEMBER, 1934. of Cibola ARIZONA HIGHWAYS 9 The Story of the Expedition of a Black Man and a Franciscan Friar for Fabled Wealth in Arizona

Three days later, they came to Vacapa, forty leagues from the sea. It was a fairly large settlement and food was plentiful. The friar and Estevan rested at Vacapa for about nine days. De Niza decided to remain there for the time being, and Estevan, accompanied by natives, left Vacapa on Passion Sunday. De Niza had no fear of the natives. Cabeza de Vaca and his followers had won the confidence of the tribes that De Niza had encountered up to this time.

It had been agreed upon between De Niza and Estevan that Estevan should send back to De Niza, by Indian runners, a cross, if all was well with him. If nothing unusual was noted, a small cross large as a man's hand was to be sent. If he encountered news of riches, a cross two hands in length. In other words, the size of the cross sent was to indicate the importance of his discoveries.

Estevan sent back to De Niza, at Vacapa, a cross as tall as a man, with instructions that De Niza was to accompany the Indians to the place where Estevan awaited him. From where Estevan awaited it was thirty days journey to the first city of Cibola.

The accounts sent by Estevan were so glowing that the friar hesitated to believe them. Estevan told of seven cities all under one ruler. The cities were large and the doorsills of the houses were paved with turquoise.

Fray Marcos did not at once set out to join Estevan, expecting that the slave would wait for him as directed. On the second day after Easter Sunday, De Niza left Vacapa with two seris and three painted Indians, and his interpreters. These messengers were Indians given as guides and interpreters to De Niza and Estevan when they left San Miguel. Mendoza had the friars teach these Indians Spanish in preparation for the journey of exploration.

A three days march brought De Niza to a village where Estevan had received the first news of Cibola. Proceeding north from here, three days later De Niza must have reached the valley of the Sonora river near Babiacora. The Indians there were the Opates, and knew of Cibola. It was here that De Niza learned that Estevan had disregarded his strict orders, and had gone on, not waiting for the friar to join him.

the Sonora river near Babiacora. The Indians there were the Opates, and knew of Cibola. It was here that De Niza learned that Estevan had disregarded his strict orders, and had gone on, not waiting for the friar to join him.

Perhaps the lure of gold and treasures had been too strong for the black man. Perhaps it was the desire to have the glory of discovering these rich cities for himself alone. We do not know. All we know is that the Indians told De Niza that the black man had gone on, demanding and receiving gifts of women and turquoise.

After De Niza left the high tablelands near the Sonora valley, he came to the valley of the San Pedro, which was well irrigated, and contained groups of small villages which extended down the valley. The natives wore great strings of turquoise around their necks, and the women also wore these stones on their ears and noses.

The men wore skins and blankets, and the women blouses, or chemises, and skirts. It was here that De Niza saw his first buffalo robe. He described this robe as being half as large again as the hide of a huge ox. Fray Marcos continued his journey and reached the Gila river, perhaps at a point east of where it converges with the San Pedro. Here he saw many varieties of cacti. He also received news of Estevan, who had collected a large following of natives, and gone on his

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