John Sorenson notes that according to R.E.W. Adams, Cortez and his troops traveled across the water-logged base of the Yucatan peninsula, averaging a little more than ten miles per day (having to construct many bridges). [John L. Soresnon, The Geography of Book of Mormon Events: A Source Book, F.A.R.M.S., 1992, p. 401]
Note* This would amount to roughly 300 miles a month, which is not too far off from the average given above of 286 miles per month for the Lewis and Clark expedition. Given the proposed time for the Limhi expedition (4-5 months), the proposed distance would about remain the same--1300 miles or a little over 600 "wandering" miles each way. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]
Mosiah 8:7 43 Men had been sent to find Zarahemla. ([Illustration]): Journeys indicating distances. [John L. Sorenson].
Geographical [Theory Map]: Mosiah 8:7; 21:25 43 Men Had Been Sent to Find Zarahemla (Year 479-480)
“The Space of Many Days Yet Were They Diligent”
According to Charles Bagley, the geographic situations that confront us are certainly important in any evaluation that my be made of the Limhi expedition. The probability that it could have originated in South America and extended as far as New York State is very remote. But it is equally unlikely that it all took place within a couple of hundred miles or so of the city from which it started. There is strong evidence that they traveled a distance much greater than the time required than that needed to get to Zarahemla. "The space of many days" (Mosiah 8:8) given as the time required to accomplish this journey is indefinite. But the phrase, "yet were they diligent" suggests that it could have been a very long one. How far they could have gone is answered in documented reports of similar journeys.
The Lewis and Clark expedition (May 14, 1804 to Sept. 23, 1806) is one example. "The journey from the Mississippi River to the Pacific and back again, 8000 miles, occupied two years four months and nine days." (New Standard Encyclopedia). Of the 45 members of the original party all survived but one. They had been given up for lost and their return was quite as unexpected as could have been that of Limhi's forty-three scouts. Although Lewis and Clark were well provisioned with food, boats, horses and money, some of these, particularly the horses, were more of a hindrance than a help at times. A less encumbered party could have made better time, some believe. [Charles S. Bagley, "The Limhi Expedition, unpublished, September 1985. pp. 9-11] [See the commentary on Mosiah 21:25]
Note* Dividing 8000 miles by 28 months gives an average of roughly 286 miles per month. At least some of this travel can be attributed to waterways. Using the estimated maximum time (8 months) and minimum time (40 days) and the proposed time (4-5 months) calculated for the Limhi expedition from the previous commentary, we can then substitute the Lewis and Clark distances which yield the following:
Maximum distance = 2288 miles
Minimum distance = 375 miles
Proposed distance = abt. 1300 miles or a little over 600 "wandering" miles each way.
[Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]