ESPEJO, Antonio de (espa'ho), Spanish explorer, born in Cordova, Spain (some say in London), about the middle of the 16th century. He was a captain of the army in Mexico, when in 1582, after organizing a special force of one hundred horsemen and a corresponding infantry detachment, almost at his own expense, he undertook, in company with Father Bernardino Beltran, a journey in search of the Franciscan missionary Agustin Ruiz.

After traveling several days toward the north, he met some natives who had been converted during the expedition of Panfilo de Narvaez to Honda in 1528. The people among whom these lived, the Jumanes, were so far advanced in civilization that they inhabited houses of stone. Shortly afterward he learned that Ruiz had been killed, but pushed on toward the east, and, after marching through a fertile country, reached the territory of the Cunames, whose capital, Cia, possessed "eight public markets; the houses were built of limestone of divers colors, and the inhabitants wore beautiful cloaks of cotton, woven in the country."

Five leagues northwest of this he found the Amayes, who had seven cities, and afterward visited the town of the Acomas, situated on an almost perpendicular rock, which had to be ascended by narrow stairs cut in the stone. After journeying eighty leagues farther, he reached the country of the Zunis, where he met three Spaniards who had accompanied the expedition of Vasquez in 1540, and who had lived so long with the Indians that they had almost forgotten their native tongue.

Here Father Beltran, with most of the party, left Espejo and returned to Mexico, but he pushed on with but nine followers, and reached the town of Zaguato, whose inhabitants lodged him sumptuously and gave him presents of clothing, He then passed through the land of the Quires, which contained 25,000 inhabitants, and abounded in mines. The natives wore cloaks of cotton or of painted skin, and lived in houses four stories high. The forests abounded in game; the rivers in fish, and in the valleys grew maize, melons, flax, fruit trees, and vines.

But he soon encountered the Tamos, who refused to let him proceed through their territory, and, turning back, he journeyed along a River which he named "Rio de las Vacas," from the cattle on its banks. He reached San Bartolome in 1583, after a journey of nine months. He left a work entitled "Relación del viaje al Nuevo Mejico" (1636).

ESPEJO, Antonio de (espa'ho), Spanish explorer, born in Cordova, Spain (some say in London), about the middle of the 16th century. He was a captain of the army in Mexico, when in 1582, after organizing a special force of one hundred horsemen and a corresponding infantry detachment, almost at his own expense, he undertook, in company with Father Bernardino Beltran, a journey in search of the Franciscan missionary Agustin Ruiz. After traveling several days toward the north, he met some natives who had been converted during the expedition of Panfilo de Narvaez to Honda in 1528. The people among whom these lived, the Jumanes, were so far advanced in civilization that they inhabited houses of stone. Shortly afterward he learned that Ruiz had been killed, but pushed on toward the east, and, after marching through a fertile country, reached the territory of the Cunames, whose capital, Cia, possessed "eight public markets; the houses were built of limestone of divers colors, and the inhabitants wore beautiful cloaks of cotton, woven in the country."

Five leagues northwest of this he found the Amayes, who had seven cities, and afterward visited the town of the Acomas, situated on an almost perpendicular rock, which had to be ascended by narrow stairs cut in the stone. After journeying eighty leagues farther, he reached the country of the Zunis, where he met three Spaniards who had accompanied the expedition of Vasquez in 1540, and who had lived so long with the Indians that they had almost forgotten their native tongue. Here Father Beltran, with most of the party, left Espejo and returned to Mexico, but he pushed on with but nine followers, and reached the town of Zaguato, whose inhabitants lodged him sumptuously and gave him presents of clothing, He then passed through the land of the Quires, which contained 25,000 inhabitants, and abounded in mines. The natives wore cloaks of cotton or of painted skin, and lived in houses four stories high. The forests abounded in game; the rivers in fish, and in the valleys grew maize, melons, flax, fruit trees, and vines. But he soon encountered the Tamos, who refused to let him proceed through their territory, and, turning back, he journeyed along a River which he named " Rio de las Vacas," from the cattle on its banks. He reached San Bartolome in 1583, after a journey of nine months. He left a work entitled "Relacidn del viaje al Nuevo Mejico "(1636).

Start your search on Antonio de Espejo.

Samuel Huntington
First President of the United States of America
in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to July 6, 1781

President Who? Forgotten Founders Part II

Unauthorized Site: This site and its contents are not affiliated, connected, associated with or authorized by the individual, family, friends, or trademarked entities utilizing any part or the subject's entire name. Any official or affiliated sites that are related to this subject will be hyper linked below upon submission and Evisum, Inc. review.

Copyright© 2000 by Evisum Inc.^TM. All rights reserved.
Evisum Inc.^TM Privacy Policy