"We kept a northerly course until we came to the first large river from our starting place, (Red river), if we were correct in our reckoning it was about 250 miles which we crossed, continuing north until another large stream was reached, (Arkansas), which we figured to be about 140 miles further. This one came from the northeast. We continued along its banks for about thirty miles towards its source and we changed our course for due west, and eternally west, west, crossing mountains without any road except the paths made by wild animals. It was in these mountains that we suffered and met our greatest hardships; we became bewildered, in truth, we were lost in the world, and that is the reason we decided to keep directly west, feeling certain it would bring us to the ocean if we kept on that course. Finally the ocean was seen and then we skirted towards the south hoping to find some Europeans; and at last we did meet with a party of Spanish slave catchers near the little village of San Migal on the coast of the Gulf of California. We could not have endured the hardships and fatigue much longer, but our saviors gave us clothes to cover our nakedness, and more important still, food, which we very much needed. And here we four, who for nearly eight years have been among savages, at last have the honor to stand before Your Excellencies to, tell that which we sincerely hope will redown to the glory of our beloved King and Country."
At the conclusion of the narration, the viceroy requested Maldonado to be seated and then propounded numerous interrogatives to the leading
