The negro, if not the other men, gave a highly colored account of the lands they had traversed, and especially of what they had heard, so that more fuel was added to the fire, and the desire to explore the mysteries burned into execution.

Cortes, harassed by his numerous enemies in Mexico and Spain, determined on a new effort to carry out his cherished plan of reaping further glories in the fascinating regions of the north so full of possibilities.

There consequently sailed from Acapulco, July 8, 1539, a fleet of three vessels under Francisco de Ulloa.

Cortes was prevented by circumstances from going with this expedition.

After many difficulties Ulloa at length found himself at the very head of the Sea of Cortes in shallow water.
* For a full account of the experiences of Alvar Nunez, see the translation of Buckingham Smith.