CHAPTER II.
The Unknown River--Alarcon Ascends it Eighty-five Leagues and Names it the Rio de Buena Guia--Melchior Diaz Arrives at its Banks Later and Calls it the Rio del Tizon--Cardenas Discovers the Grand Canyon.
Having triumphed over the fierce tidal bore which renders the mouth of the Colorado dangerous, Alarcon secured a safe anchorage for his vessels and began immediate preparations for following up the river into the distant interior, both to gain a knowledge of it and to seek for information of the position of Coronado.

Leaving one of his small boats for the use of those who remained in charge of the ships, he took the other two, and, placing in them some light cannon, prepared them as well as he could for any emergency that might be encountered.

His party consisted of twenty soldiers, sailors, and helpers, besides his treasurer, Rodrigo Maldonado, and Gaspar de Castilleia, comptroller.
Alarcon possessed the qualities of a successful explorer.

He was bold yet cautious, determined but not reckless, with safe judgment and quick adaptability.

His first command was that, no matter what happened in case of meeting with natives, all his company were to remain silent and inactive.