His followers then built rude boats, floated down the river to the Gulf, steered along the coast of Texas, and in September, 1543, reached Tampico, in Mexico.
More than half a century had now gone by since the first voyage of Columbus.

Yet not a settlement, great or small, had been established by Spain within our boundary.

Between 1546 and 1561 missionaries twice attempted to found missions and convert the Indians in Florida, and twice were driven away.

In 1582 others entered the valleys of the Gila and the Rio Grande, took possession of the pueblos, established missions, preached the Gospel to the Indians, and brought them under the dominion of Spain.

But when Santa Fe (sahn'-tah fa') was founded, in 1582, the only colony of Spain in the United States, besides the missions in Arizona and New Mexico, was St.Augustine in Florida.
[Illustration: A Spanish mission] %14.