The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925 Page: 147
344 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Expedition of Panfilo de Narvdez
Correlitos and Babisbe. Further south the Sierra was impassi-
ble for hundreds of miles.2 Since the sole purpose of Cabeza de
Vaca's journey up the Rio Grande was to find an available route
to the maize region beyond the mountain barrier; it is certain
that this route lay through one or the other of these two moun-
tain passes.
Following a drouth of two years' duration we know that the
Casas Grandes River, and its tributaries, and Rio Carmen and
Rio Santa Maria, and the lakes, or "sinks" in which these rivers
disembogue, were all diminished to the vanishing point,13 and
that all journeys through this region were regulated by the
water supply. Necessarily, then, the first objective after cross-
ing the Rio Grande, would be the famous oasis of Samalayuca,
twenty miles west of the Rio Grande at San Elizario. And be-
cause the distance from the Rio Grande to Samalayuca is less
at and just below San Elizario than elsewhere, the "river cross-
ably well in the bottom lands, and is cultivated in sufficient quantities
to supply a small sugar mill . . . The plain on which the town
stands is intersected with many arroyos which after heavy rains become
filled, inundate the country, and endanger the town. Several extrensive
haciendas are situated in the vicinity. . . . There are a few wheeled
vehicles here, and among them some very fine private carriages, which
are used between Ures and Hermosillo, where the road is good; but they
can not be employed except with difficulty, in traversing other parts of
the country, owing to continuous mountain chains which intersect the
state on north, east and south. . . . The road from Ures [to Hermo-
sillo] is excellent for several miles extending along the bottom land of
the Sonora River, which is one continuous corn field, to the village of
Guadalupe, six miles distant; after that, still keeping in or near the
valley and often crossing the stream, the road becomes more hilly, and
in many places there are bad gullies. It is then hard and smooth to
Tapahui, twenty-seven miles from Ures. . . . The natural road con-
tinued down the valley, hard and smooth, past several haciendas and
ranchos, with extensive and highly cultivated grounds. . .. [We]
reached Hermosillo, distant 27 miles [from Tapahui]. . . . Hermo-
sillo . . . is thirty leagues distant from the nearest point of the
shores of the California Gulf. . . The town lies in a valley almost
ten miles in length by four in width. It is closely hemmed in on the
east by a mountain or rugged file of rocks, . . . called La Sierra de
la Campana . . . several small ranges of mountains, known as the
Colorado and Chanati Sierras, encompass the valley through which flows,
the Sonora river, furnishing sufficient water to irrigate the lands ad-
jacent. This river . . . has two great branches. The eastern or
Ures branch, generally bears the name of Sonora River. The western
branch has several appellations, but it is usually called the San Miguel.
They unite near Hermosillo, and, after flowing half way to the gulf, lose
themselves in a cienega or swamp."
"Ibid., II, 332; I, 295.
"Thbid., II, 362.147
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925, periodical, 1925; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101087/m1/151/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.