The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 22, July 1918 - April, 1919 Page: 234
521 p. : ill. (some col.), ports. ; 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 Southwestern ITistorical Quarterly
villa. Topographical and natural history evidence from refer-
ences made in the narratives before recording the crossing of this
stream has already been presented. The evidence from references
in the narratives made after the record of the crossing is equally
convincing. Mountains are noted in both accounts as being first
seen within a few days march beyond this river. The Indians
told them that these mountains extended to within fifteen leagues
of the ocean. Such mountains are first seen between Florida and
Pinuco, so near the Gulf, a few days march south of the- Rio
Grande. The San Juan River is at the correct distance beyond
the Rio Grande for the next river referred to in the narrative,
and one of its main branches flows, as the narrative requires, "at
the foot of the point" of the mountain.
The gourds noted by Cabeza de Vaca as having been brought
down by the floods in these rivers were found at no place in Texas,
but grew on the tributaries of the Rio. Grande in Nuevo Le6n,
Tamaulipas, and Coahuila. Indian corn or maize, is mentioned as
having been found within a few days journey after this crossing,
and up the next river. Maize was not grown by any Indians
living west o4 the Trinity in Texas. It was grown by tribes in
Northern Tamaulipas and Nuevo Le6n. These facts are all sug-
gested by Mr. Baskett2 and Judge 0. W. Williams,26 who are
most resolute in rejecting the Rio Grande in this connection, be-
cause Judge Williams assumes that the lower Rio Grande has
too much volume to be easily forded. He is partially in error.
There are long periods in each year when crossing this river in
its lower course would be a serious problem even for a practiced
swimmer like Cabeza de Vaca. More often, however, the Rio
G rande is fordable in a hundred places below the mouth of the
San Juan, its last large tributary. It was formerly navigated
from Roma to the Gulf by stern wheel steamers which drew only
two or three feet of water. These, in ordinary stages of the
river, could cross the numerous bars only by taking them crab
fashion and cutting out a channel with the propeller wheels.127
Near Laredo there was a ford where sheep and goats crossed.128
"'Baskett, THE QUARTERLY, X, 272-273.
Williams, TIIE QUARTERLY, II1, 60.
"'This statement is made on the authority of Captain Win. Kelly, of
Brownsville, w'ho operated a line of steamers on the ,io Grandle from the
close of the Civil War until navigation of this river was finally abandoned.
1'Bolton, "Tienda de Cuervo's Yn pecei6n of Laredo,," THE QUARTERLY,234
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 22, July 1918 - April, 1919, periodical, 1919; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117156/m1/248/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.