From the diary of Franciscan Friar Miquel de La Garza part of a 1611 expedition sent by New Mexico's, second Spanish governor, Don Pedro de Peralta, from Santa Fe. The purpose of the expedition was to learn about the peoples and country of Tejas, although the captain seemed more intent on finding El Dorado.
This expedition took place approximately 70 years before the Spanish established the first European base in 1680, along the upper Rio Grande River, near modern El Paso, Texas.
As it is written in the journal as translated from the original Spanish, "This is the journal of Father Miguel De La Garza recording our travels to explore the unknown territory at the request of the governor Don Pedro de Peralta. I record this for the benefit of those who are to come. I have tried to be faithful to what we saw and did. May God have mercy on our souls."
