Pueblos, Gods and Spaniards

The careers of Coronado, Espejo, Juan de Onate and Vargas are just so many more confirmations of the established image of the conquistador -- an opportunist powered by his own greed who revenged his failure to find treasure on the helpless Indian population. As in Apache Chronicle (KR, 1972) and The Navahos (KR, 1970), Terrell's contribution to popular understanding lies in his empathy with and knowledge of the victims. The 150 Pueblos that flourished when Cabeza de Vaca first brought back news of the Seven Cities of Cibola were cultured communities though not, as Terrell shows, entirely deserving of the label ""peaceful."" They were accomplished warriors who indulged in occasional internal feuds and were used to protecting themselves against Apache and Navaho raids, but they were basically defensive fighters -- ""the Pueblos usually waited until they were attacked. . ."" -- and in dealing with the Spanish this was a fatal mistake. Aside from providing this anthropological perspective, Terrell allows the contemporary chroniclers to condemn themselves, excerpting their own words to preserve ""for posterity outstanding examples of the hypocrisy, humbuggery, and unqualified dishonesty employed by Spanish officials and countenanced by Spanish priests."" The record has stood for centuries; considering the revival of interest in the history of the Spanish southwest, Terrell offers his indictment at a propitious time.---Kirkus Review