and when we thought we had secured it, quite the opposite happened, since the Christians had planned to attack the Indians whom we had reassured and sent in peace. They carried out their plan. They took us through the wilderness for two days without water, lost and without a trail. We thought we would all die of thirst and, in fact, seven men did. Many of the Indian allies accompanying the Christians could not reach the place where we found water that night until the following day at noon. We traveled with them for twenty-five leagues, more or less, and arrived at a pacified Indian village. The Justice who was taking us left us there and went ahead three leagues to a town called Culiacán, where Melchor Díaz, the Mayor and Captain of that province, lived.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

How the Mayor Received Us Well the Night We Arrived

When the Mayor was informed of our departure and arrival, he set out that night and came to where we were. He wept a great deal with us, giving praise to God our Lord for having shown us such great mercy. He conversed with us and treated us very well, and on his own behalf and that of Governor Nuño de Guzmán he offered us everything he had or could do and regretted the poor reception and treatment Alcaraz and the others had given us. We were certain that, if he had been there, he would have prevented what was done to us and to the Indians.

We spent the night there and departed the following day. The Mayor entreated us to remain there, saying that we would render great service to God and to Your Majesty by doing so, since the land was abandoned