In 1650 Hernando de Ugarte y la Concha, Governor of New Mexico, dispatched an expedition from Santa Fe, led by Captains Diego del Castillo and Hernan Martin, to explore what is now north central Texas.
[1] The Castillo-Martin expedition travelled about 520 miles (840 km) southeast from Santa Fe along the route that had been taken by the Dominican friar Juan de Salas when he visited the Jumano Indians in 1632.
According to Christoval de Anaya, speaking in 1663 when on trial for heresy, the expedition traveled 300 leagues east for nine months through country inhabited by friendly but non-Christian Indians.
[4] Meanwhile, Captain Andrés López travelled with a party of twelve soldiers about 80 miles (130 km) east, where they found a ranchería of "Cuitao"[a] people.
[2] When the López party rejoined the main expedition, the combined force returned to Santa Fe with their rich haul of pelts and slaves.