They espied thirtie Indians comming ouer a plaine which the Cacique sent to discouer the Christians determination and assoone as they had sight of them they tooke themselues to flight The horsemen pursued them and slue tenne and tookâ— fifteene And because the towne whither the Goueâ—â—â— went was neere vnto the Riuer he sent a Captaiâ—â—ith as many men as he thought sufficient to carrie 〈◊〉 barges vp the Riuer And because in his trauelling by land many times he went farre from the Riuer to compasse the creekes that came from it the Indians tooke occasion to set vpon them of the barges and put them in great danger because that by reason of the great current they durst not leaue the shore and from the bancke they shot at them Assoone as the Gouernour was come to the towne A towne hee presently sent crossebowmen downe the Riuer which came to rescue them and vpon the comming of the barges to the towne hee commanded them to bee broken and to saue the iron for others when it should bee needfull Hee lay there one night and the day following hee set forward to seeke a Prouince called Pacaha which hee was informed to bee neere vnto Chisca Pacaha neere vnto Chisca Great townes where the Indians told him there was gold He passed through great townes of Aquixo which were all abandoned for feare of the Christians Hee vnderstood by certaine Indians that were taken that three daies iournie from thence dwelt a great Cacique whose name was Casqui Hee came to a small Riuer where a bridge was made by which they passed that day till Sunset they went all in water which in some places came to the waste and in some to the knees When they saw themselues on dry land they were very glad because they feared they should wander vp and downe as forlorne men al night in the water The first towne of Casqui At noone they came to the first towne of Casqui they found the Indians carelesse because they had no knowledge of them There were many men and women taken and store of goods as mantles and skinnes Another towne as well in the first towne as in another which stood in a field halfe a league from thence in sight of it whither the horsemen ran This Countrie is higher drier and more champion then any part bordering neere the Riuer that vntill then they had seene There were in the fields many Walnut trees Walnut â—rees with soft shels bearing soft shelled Walnuts in fashion like bullets and in the houses they found many of them which the Indians had laid vp in store The trees differed in nothing else from those of Spaine nor from those which we had seene before but onely that they haue a smaller lease There were many Mulberrie trees and Plum trees Many Mulberrie trees and plum trees which bare red plums like those of Spaine and other gray somewhat differing but farre better And all the trees are all the yeere so fruitfull as if they were planted in orchards and the woods were verie thinne The Gouernour trauelled two daies through the Countrie of Casqui before hee came to the towne where the Cacique was and the most of the way was alway by champion ground which was full of great townes Many great townes so that from one towne you might see two or three He sent an Indian to certifie the Cacique that hee was comming to the place where hee was with intent to procure his friendship and to hold him as his brother Whereunto he answered That he should be welcome and that he would receiue him with speciall good wil and accomplish all that his Lordship would command him Hee sent him a present vpon the way to wit skinnes mantles and fish And after these complements the Gouernour found all the townes as he passed inhabited with people which peaceablie attended his comming and offered him skinnes mantles and fish The Cacique accompanied with many Indians came out of the towne and staied halfe a league on the way to receiue the Gouernour and when hee came to him he spake these words following Right high right mighty and renowned Lord your Lordship is most hartilie welcome Assoone as I had notice of your Lâ—rdship of your power and your perfections although you came into my Countrie killing and taking captiues the inhabitants thereof and my subiects yet I determined to conforme my will vnto yours and as your owne to interpret in good part all that your Lordship did beleeuing that it was conuenient it should be so for some iust respect to preuent some future matter reuealed vnto your Lordshâ—p and concealed from me For well may a mischiefe be permitted to auoid a greater and that good may come thereof which I beleeue will so fall out For it is no reason to presume of so excellent a Prince that the noblenesse of his heart and the effect of his will would permit him to suffer any vniust thing My abilitie is so small to serue you as your Lordship deserueth that if you respect not mine abundant good will which humblie offereth all kind of seruice I deserue but little in your presence But if it bee reason that this be esteemed receiue the same my selfe my Countrie and subiects for yours and dispose of me and them at your pleasure For if I were Lord of all the world with the same good will should your Lordship by me be receiued serued and obeyed The Gouernour answered him to the purpose and satisfied him in few words Within a while after both of them vsed words of great offers courtesie the one to the other and the Cacique requested him to lodge in his houses The Gouernour to preserue the peace the better excused himselfe saying that hee would lodge in the fields And because it was very hot they camped neere certaine trees a quarter of a league from the towne The chie e towne 〈◊〉 Câ—â— que oâ— Caâ—quâ— The Cacique went to his towne and came againe with many Indians singing Assoone as they came to the Gouernour all of them prostrated themselues vpon the ground Among these came two Indians that were blind The Cacique made a speech to auoid tediousnesse I will onely tell in few words the substance of the matter Hee said that seeing the Gouernour was the sonne of the Sunne and a great Lord he besought him to doe him the fauour to giue sight to those two blind men The blind men rose vp presently and very earnestly requested the same of the Gouernour He answered That in the high heauens was he that had power to giue them health and whatsoeuer they could aske of him whose seruant he was And that this Lord made the heauens and the earth and man after his owne likenesse and that he suffered vpon the crosse to saue mankind and rose againe the third day and that he died as he was man and as touching his diuinitie he was and is immortall and that he ascended
were alreadie wearie seeing the small profit that insued thereof The Gouernour commanded the Captaines and principall persons to meet to consult and determine what they should doe And being informed what peopled habitation was round about he vnderstood that to the West the Countrie was most inhabited and that downe the Riuer beyond Quigalta was vninhabited and had little store of food He desired them all that euerie one would giue his opinion in writing set his hand to it that they might resolue by generall consent whether they should goe downe the Riuer or enter into the maine land All were of opinion Their general resolution to trauell by land Westward that it was best to go by land toward the West because Nueua Espanna was that way holding the voyage by sea more dangerous and of greater hazard because they could make no ship of any strength to abide a storme neither had they Master nor Pilot Compasse nor Chart neither knew they how farre the sea was off nor had any notice of it nor whether the Riuer did make any great turning into the land or had any great fall from the rocks where all of them might be cast away And some which had seene the sea-chart did find that from the place where they were by the sea coast to Noua Espanna might bee 400. leagues little more or lesse and said that though they went somewhat about by land in seeking a peopled Countrie if some great wildernesse which they could not passe did not hinder theÌ„ by spending that sommer in trauell finding prouision to passe the winter in some peopled Countrie that the next sommer after they might come to some Christian land and that it might fortune in their trauel by land to find some rich Countrie where they might doe themselues good The Gouernour although he desired to get out of Florida in shorter time seeing the inconueniences they laid before him in trauelling by sea determined to follow that which seemed good to them all On Monday the fifth of Iune The fifth oâ— Iune he departed from Guachoya The Cacique gaue him a guide to Chaguate and staied at home in his owne towne They passed through a Prouince called Catalte Cataltâ— and hauing passed a wildernesse of sixe daies iournie the twentieth day of the moneth he came to Chaguate â—â—aguate The Cacique of this Prouince had visited the Gouernour Don Ferdinando de Soto at Autiamque whither he brought him presents of skinnes and mantles and salt And a day before Luys de Moscoso came to his towne we lost a Christian that was sicke which hee suspected that the Indians had slaine Hee sent the Cacique word that he should command his people to seeke him vp and send him vnto him and that he would hold him as he did for his friend and if he did not that neither he nor his should escape his hands and that hee would set his Countrie on fire Presently the Cacique came vnto him and brought a great present of mantles and skinnes and the Christian that was lost and made this speech following Right excellent Lord I would not deserue that conceit which you had of me for all the treasure of the world What inforced me to goe to visit and serue the excellent Lord Gouernour you father in Autiamque which you should haue remembred where I offered my selfe with all loyaltie faith and loue during my life to serue and obey him What then could be the cause I hauing receiued fauours of him and neither you nor he hauing done me any wrong that should mooue me to doe the thing which I ought not Beleeue this of mee that neither wrong nor any worldly interest was able to make me to haue done it nor shall be able to blind me But as in this life it is a naturall course that after one pleasure many sorrewes doe follow so by your indâ—gnation fortune would moderate the ioy which my heart conceiueth with your presence and that I should erre where I thought surest to haue hit the marke in harboring this Christian which was lost and vsing him in such manner as he may tell himselfe thinking that herein I did you seruice with purpose to deliuer him vnto you in Chaguate and to serue you to the vttermost of my power If I deserue punishment for this I will receiue it at your hands as from my Lord as if it were a fauour For the loue which I did beare to the excellent Gouernour and which I beare to you hath no limit And like as you giue me chastisement so will you also shew me fauour And that which now I craue of you is this to declare your will vnto me and those things wherein I may bee able to doe you the most and best seruice The Gouernour answered him that because he did not find him in that towne hee was incensed against him thinking he had absented himselfe as others had done But seeing he now knew his loyaltie and loue he would alwaies hold him as a brother and fauour him in all his affaires The Cacique went with him to the towne where he resided which was a daies iournie from thence They passed through a smal town A smal towne where there was a lake where the Indians made salt Salt made of salt springs of water and the Christians made some one day while they rested there of a brackish water which sprang neere the towne in ponds like fountaines The Gouernour staied in Chaguate sixe daies There he was informed of the habitation that was toward the West They told him that three daies iournie from thence was a Prouince called Aguacay The day that he departed from Chaguate a Christian called Francisco de Guzman the base sonne of a Gentleman of Siuill staied behind and went to the Indians with an Indian woman which he kept as his concubine for feare he should be punished for gaming debts that he did owe. The Gouernor had trauelled two daies before he missed him hee sent the Cacique word to seeke him vp and to send him to Aguacay whither he trauelled which hee did not performe From the Cacique of Aguacay Aguacay before they came into the Countrie there met him on the way 15. Indians with a present of skinnes fish and rosted venison The Gouernour came to his towne on Wednesday the fourth of Iulie He found the towne without people and lodged in it he staied there about a day during which he made some roades and tooke many men and women There they had knowledge of the South Sea Knowledge of the South Sea Here there was great store of salt made of sand which they gather in a vaine of ground like peeble stones Store of Salt made And it was made as they make salt in Cayas CHAP. XXXII How the Gouernour went from Aguacay to Naguatex and what happened vnto him THe same day that the Gouernour departed from Aguacay he lodged in a small towne A
30. in others 40. leagues from North to South It hath 6. townes of Christians to wit S. Iago Baracôa Bayamo Puerto de Principes S. Espirito and Hauana Euery one hath betweene 30. and 40. households except S. Iago and Hauana which haue about 60. or 80. houses They haue Churches in each of them and a Chaplen which confesseth them and saith Masse In S. Iago is a Monasterie of Franciscan Friers it hath but few Friers and is well prouided of almes because the countrie is rich The Church of S. Iago hath honest reuenew and there is a Curat and Prebends and many Priests as the Church of that Citie which is the chiefe of all the Island There is in this countrie much gold and few slaues to get it For many haue made away themselues because of the Christians euill vsage of them in the mines A steward of Vasques Porcallo A wittie stratagem which was an inhabitour in that Island vnderstanding that his slaues would make away themselues staied for them with a cudgill in his hand at the place where they were to meete and told them that they could neither doe nor thinke any thing that hee did not know before and that hee came thither to kill himselfe with them to the end that if hee had vsed them badly in this world hee might vse them worse in the world to come And this was a meane that they changed their purpose and turned home againe to doe that which he commanded them CHAP. VI. How the Gouernour sent Donna Isabella with the ships to Hauana and he with some of his people went thither by land THe Gouernour sent from S. Iago his Nephew Don Carlos with the ships in company of Donna Isabella to tarrie for him at Hauana which is an hauen in the West part toward the head of the Island 180. leagues from the Citie of Saint Iago The Gouernour and those which staied with him bought horses and proceeded on their iournie The first towne they came vnto was Bayamo 〈◊〉 they were lodged foure and foure and sixe and sixe as they went in company and where they lodged they tooke nothing for their diet for nothing cost them ought saue the Maiz or corne for their horses because the Gouernor went to visit them from towne to towne and seased them in the tribute and seruice of the Indians Bayamo is 25. leagues from the Citie of S. Iago Neere vnto the towne passeth a great Riuer which is called Tanto it is greater then Guadiana and in it be very great Crocodiles which sometimes hurt the Indians or the cattell which passeth the Riuer In all the countrie are neither Wolfe Foxe Beare Lion nor Tiger There are wild dogges which goe from the houses into the woods and feed vpon swine There be certaine Snakes as bigge as a mans thigh or bigger they are very slow they doe no kind of hurt From Bayamo to Puerto dellos principes Puerto dellos Principes are 50. leagues In al the Island from towne to towne the way is made by stubbing vp the vnderwood and if it bee left but one yeere vndone the wood groweth so much that the way cannot be seene and the paths of the oxen are so many that none can trauell without an Indian of the Countrie for a guide for all the rest is very hie and thicke woods From Puerto dellos principes the Gouernour went to the house of Vasques Porcallo by sea in a bote for it was neere the sea to know there some newes of Donna Isabella which at that instant as afterward was knowne was in great distresse in so much that the ships lost one another and two of them fell on the coast of Florida and all of them endured great want of water and victuals When the storme was ouer they met together without knowing where they were in the end they descried the Cape of S. Anton The Cape of S. Antonio a countrie not inhabited of the Island of Cuba there they watered and at the end of 40. daies which were passed since their departure from the City of S. Iago they ariued at Hauana The Gouernour was presently informed thereof and went to Donna Isabella And those which went by land which were one hundred and fiftie horsemen being diuided into two parts because they would not oppresse the inhabitants trauelled by S. Espirito which is 60. leagues from Puerto dellos principes The food which they carried with them was Caçabe bread which is that whereof I made mention before and it is of such a qualitie that if it be wet it breaketh presently whereby it happened to some to eate flesh without bread for many daies They carried dogges with them and a man of the Country which did hunt by the way or where they were to lodge that night they killed as many hogges as they needed In this iournie they were well prouided of beefe and porke And they were greatly troubled with Muskitos especially in a lake which is called the mere of Pia which they had much adoe to passe from noone till night the water might be some halfe league ouer and to be swome about a crossebow shot the rest came to the waste and they waded vp to the knees in the mire and in the bottome were cockle shels which cut their feete very sore in such sort that there was neither boote nor shooe sole that was hole at halfe way Their clothes and saddels were passed in baskets of Palme trees Passing this lake stripped out of their clothes there came many muskitos vpon whose biting there arose a wheale that smarted very much they strooke them with their hands and with the blowe which they gaue they killed so many that the blood did runne downe the armes and bodies of the men That night they rested very little for them and other nights also in the like places and times They came to Santo Espirito Santo Espirito which is a towne of thirtie houses there passeth by it a little Riuer it is very pleasant and fruitfull hauing great store of Oranges and citrons and fruites of the Countrie One halfe of the companie were lodged here and the rest passed forward 25. leagues to another towne called la Trinidad La Trinidad of 15. or 20. households Here is an hospitall for the poore and there is none other in all the Island And they say that this towne was the greatest in all the Countrie and that before the Christians came into this land as a ship passed along the coast there came in it a very sicke man which desired the Captaine to set him on shore and the Captaine did so and the ship went her way The sicke man remained set on shore in that countrie which vntill then had not been haunted by Christians whereupon the Indians found him carried him home and looked vnto him till he was whole and the Lord of that towne maried him vnto a daughter of his and had warre with all the inhabitants round
Santo and himself with the rest of his people went into the maine land FRom the Port de Spirito Santo where the Gouernour lay he sent the Alcalde Mayor Baltasar de Gallégos with 50. horsemen and 30. or 40. footemen to the prouince of Paracossi to view the disposition of the countrie and enforme himselfe of the land farther inward and to send him word of such things as he found Likewise he sent his shippes backe to the Island of Cuba that they might returne within a certaine time with victuals Vasques Porcallo de figueroa which went with the Gouernour as Captaine Generall whose principall intent was to send slaues from Florida to the Island of Cuba where he had his goods and mines hauing made some inrodes and seeing no Indians were to be got because of the great bogs and thicke woods that were in the Countrie considering the disposition of the same determined to returne to Cuba And though there was some difference between him the Gouernor whereupon they neither dealt nor conuersed together with good countenance yet notwithstanding with louing words he asked him leaue and departed from him Baltasar de Gallègos came to the Paracossi Paracossi There came to him 30. Indians from the Cacique which was absent from his towne and one of them made this speech Paracossi the Lord of this prouince whose vassals we are sâ—ndeth vs vnto your worship to know what it is that you seâ—ke in this his Countâ—ie and wherein he may doe you seruice Baltasar de Gallegos said vnto him that hee thanked them very much for their offer willing them to warne their Lord to come to his towne and that there they would talke and confirme their peace and friendship which he much desired The Indians went their way and returned the next day and said that their Lord was ill at ease and therefore could not come but that they came on his behalfe to see what he demanded He asked them if they knew or had notice of any rich Countrie where there was gold or siluer They told them they did and that toward the West there was a Prouince which was called Cale and that others that inhabited other Countries had warre with the people of that Countrie where the most part of the yeere was sommer and that there was much gold and that when those their enemies came to make warre with them of Cale these inhabitants of Cale did weare hats of gold in manner of head peeces Baltasar de Gallegos seeing that the Cacique came not thinking all that they said was fained with intent that in the meane time they might set themselues in safetie fearing that if he did let them goe they would returne no more commanded the thiâ—ty Indians to be chained and sent word to the Gouernâ—ur by eight horsemen what had passed whereof the Gouernour with al that were with him at the Port de Spirito Santo receiued great comfort supposing that that which the Indians reported might be true Hee left Captaine Calderan at the Port with thirtie horsemen and seuentie footemen with prouision for two yeeres and himselfe with all the rest marched into the maine land and came to the Paracossi Paracossi at whose towne Baltasar de Gallegos was and from thence with all his men tooke the way to Cale He passed by a little towne called Acela Acela Tocaste and came to another called Tocaste and from thence hee went before with 30. horsemen and 50. footemen toward Cale Another towne And passing by a towne whence the people were fled they saw Indians a little from thence in a lake A Lake to whom the Interpretour spake They came vnto them and gaue them an Indian for a guide A swift Riuer and hee came to a Riuer with a great current and vpon a tree which was in the midst of it was made a bridge whereon the men passed the horses swam ouer by a hawser that they were pulled by from the otherside for one which they droue in at the first without it was drowned From thence the Gouernour sent two horsemen to his people that were behind to make haste after him because the way grew long and their victuals short Hee came to Cale Cale and found the towne without people He tooke three Indians which were spies and tarried there for his people that came after which were sore vexed with hunger and euill waies because the Countrie was very barren of Maiz low and full of water bogs and thicke woods and the victuals which they brought with them from the Port de Spirito Santo were spent Wheresoeuer any towne was found there were some beetes and hee that came first gathered them and sodden with water and salt did eate them without any other thing and such as could not get them gathered the stalkes of Maiz and eate them which because they were young had no Maiz in them when they came to the Riuer which the Gouernour had passed they found palmîtos vpon low Palmetrees like those of Andaluzia There they met with the two horse men which the Gouernour sent vnto them and they brought newes that in Cale there was plentie of Maiz at which newes they all reioyced Assoone as they came to Cale the Gouernour commanded them to gather all the Maiz that was ripe in the field which was sufficient for three moneths At the gathering of it the Indians killed three Christians and one of them which were taken told the Gouernour that within seuen daies iournie there was a very great Prouince and plentifull of Maiz which was called Apalache And presently hee departed from Cale with 50. horsemen and 60. footemen He left the master of the Campe Luys de Moscoso with all the rest of the people there with charge that hee should not depart thence vntill he had word from him And because hitherto none had gotten any slaues the bread that euery one was to eate he was faine himselfe to beate in a morter made in a peece of timber with a pestle and some of them did sift the flower through their shirts of maile They baked their bread vpon certaine tileshares which they set ouer the fire in such sort as heretofore I haue said they vse to doe in Cuba It is so troublesome to grind their Maiz that there were many that would rather not eate it then grind it and did eate the Maiz parched and sodden CHAP. XI How the Gouernour came to Caliquen and carrying from thence the Cacique with him went to Napetuca where the Indians sought to haue taken him from him and in an assault many of them were slaine and taken prisoners THe 11. day of August 1539. the Gouernour departed from Cale hee lodged in a little town called Ytara Ytara and the next day in another called Potano Potano and the third day at Vtinama Vtinama and came to another towne which they named the towne of Euil peace The towne of Euill peace because an
they could and made them cabins on the other side of the Riuer in the thickest of the wood because they might flee if wee should goe to seeke them The Gouernour seeing hee came not at the time appointed commanded an ambush to be laid about certaine store-houses neere the lake whither the Indians came for Maiz where they tooke two Indians who told the Gouernour that hee which came to visit him was not the Cacique but was sent by him vnder pretence to spie whether the Christians were carelesse and whether they determined to settle in that country or to goe forward Presently the Gouernour sent a Captaine with footmen and horsemen ouer the riuer and in their passage they were descried of the Indians and therefore he could take but tenne or twelue men and women with whom hee returned to the campe This Riuer which passed by Nilco was that which passed by Cayas and Autiamque and fell into Rio grande A Riuer falling into Rio grande or the Great Riuer which passed by Pachaha and Aquixo neere vnto the prouince of Guachoya and the Lord thereof came vp the Riuer in canoes to make warre with him of Nilco On his behalf there came an Indian to the Gouernour and said vnto him That he was his seruant and prayed him so to hold him and that within two daies hee would come to kisse his Lordships hands and at the time appointed he came with some of his principal Indians which accompanied him and with words of great offers and courtesie hee gaue the Gouernour a present of many Mantles and Deeres skinnes The Gouernour gaue him some other things in recompense and honoured him much Hee asked him what townes therâ— were downe the Riuer Hee answered that he knew none other but his owne and on the other side of the Riuer a prouince of a Cacique called Quigalia So hee tooke his leaue of the Gouernour and went to his owne towne Within few daies the Gouernour determined to goe to Guachoya to learne there whether the Sea were neere or whether there were any habitation neere where hee might relieue his companie while the brigantines were making which he meant to send to the land of the Chrisâ—iâ—â—â— As he passâ—d the Riuer of Nilco there came in câ—â—â—es Indians of Guachoya vp the streame and when they saw â—im supposing that he came to seeke them to doe them some hurt they returned downe the Riuer and informed the Cacique thereof who with all his people spoiling the towne of all that they could carrie away passed that night ouer to the other side of Rio grâ—nde or the great Riuer The Gouernour sent a Captaine with fiftie men in sixe canoes downe the Riuer and went himsâ—lâ—e by land with the rest hee came to Guachoya Gâ—â—choya vpon Sunday the 17. of Aprill he lodged in the towne of the Cacique which was inclosed about and seated a crossebow shot distant from the Riuer Here the Riuer is called Tamaliscu â—â—â—e naâ—â—s 〈◊〉 Rio grande and in Nilco Tapatu and in Coça Mico and in the port or mouth Ri. CHAP. XXIX Of the message which the Gouernour sent to Quigalta and of the answere which he returned and of the things which happened in this time ASsoone as the Gouernour came to Guachoya hee sent Iohn Danusco with as many men as could goe in the canoes vp the Riuer For when they came downe from Nilco they saw on the other side the Riuer new cabins â—â—de Iohn Danusco went and brought the canoes loden with Maiz French beanes Prunes and many loaues made of the substance of prunes Many loaues made of prunes That day came an Indian to the Gouernor from the Cacique of Guachoya and said that his Lord would come the next day The next day they saw many canoes come vp the Riuer and on the other side of the great Riuer they assembled together in the space of an houre they consulted whether they should come or not at length concluded to come and crossed the Riuer In theÌ„ came the Cacique of Guachoya and brought with him manie Indians with great store of Fish Dogges Deeres skinnes and Mantles And assoone as they landed they went to the lodging of the Gouernour and presented him their gifts and the Cacique vttered these words Mightie and excellent Lord I beseech your Lordship to pardon mee the errour which I committed in absenting my selfe and not tarrying in this towne to haue receiued and serued your Lordship since to obtaine this opportunitie of time was and is as muâ—h as a great vâ—ctâ—rie to me But I feared that which I needed not to haue feared and so did that which was not reason to do But as haste maketh waste and I remoued without deliberation so as soone as I thought on it I determined not to follow the opinion of the foolish which is to continue in their errour but to imitate the wise and discreet in changing my counsell and so I came to see what your Lordship will command me to doe that I may serue you in all things that are in my power The Gouernour receiued him with much ioy and gaue him thankes for his present and offer He aâ—ked him whether hee had any notice of the Sea Hee answered no nor of any townes downe the Riuer on that side saue that two leagues from thence was one towne of a principall Indian a subiect of his and on the other side of the Riuer three daies iourney from thence downe the Riuer was the Prouince of Quigalta which was the greatest Lord that was in that Countrie The Gouernour thought that the Cacique lied vnto him to rid him out of his owne townes and sent Iohn Danusco with eight horsemen downe the Riuer to see what habitation there was and to informe himselfe if there were any notice of the Sea Hee trauelled eight daies and at his returne hee said that in all that time he was not able to go aboue 14 or 15 leagues because of the great creekes that came out of the Riuer and groues of canes and thicke woods that were along the bancks of the Riuer and that hee had found no habitation The Gouernour fell into great dumps to see how hard it was to get to the Sea and worse because his men and horses euery day diminished being without succour to sustaine themselues in the country and with that thought he fell sick The Gouernor falleth sick of thought But before he tooke his bed hee sent an Indian to the Cacique of Quigalta to tell him that hee was the Childe of the Sunne and that all the way that hee came all men obeyed and serued him that he requested him to accept of his friendship and come vnto him for he would be very glad to see him and in signe of loue and obedience to bring something with him of that which in his countrie was most esteemed The Cacique answered by the same Indian That whereas he said he was the Child of the
parts the lesser trauell because in going along the coast they went a great way about by reason of the compasse which the land did make Iohn Danusco said that he had seene the seacard and that from the place where they were the coast ran East and West vnto Rio de las Palmas and from Rio de las Palmas to Nueua Espanna from North to South and therefore in sailing alwaies in sight of land would bee a great compassing about and spending of much time that they would be in great danger to be ouertaken with winter before they should get to the land of the Christians and that in 10. or 12. daies space hauing good weather they might bee there in crossing ouer The most part were against this opinion and said that it was more safe to go along the coast though they staied the longer because their ships were very weake and without decks so that a very little storme was enough to cast them away and if they should be hindred with calmes or contrarie weather through the small store of vessels which they had to carrie water in they should likewise fall into great danger and that although the ships were such as they might venture in them yet hauing neither Pilot nor Seacard to guide themselues it was no good counsell to crosse the gulfe This opinion was confirmed by the greatest part and they agreed to go along the coast At the time wherein they sought to depart from thence the cable of the anker of the Gouernours brigandine brake and the anker remained in the Riuer And albeit they were neere the shore yet it was so deepe that the Diuers diuing many times could neuer find it which caused great sadnes in the Gouernour and in all those that went with him in his brigandine But with a grindstone which they had and certaine bridles which remained to some of the Gentlemen and men of worship which had horses they made a weight which serued in stead of an anker The 18. of Iuly They landed the 30. of May 1539. Chap. 7. they went foorth to sea Iuly 18. 1543. they went foorth to sea with faire and prosperous weather for their voiage And seeing that they were gone two or three leagues from the shore the Captaines of the other brigandines ouertooke them and asked the Gouernour wherefore he did put off from the shore and that if he would leaue the coast he should say so and he should not do it without the consent of all and that if hee did otherwise they would not follow him but that euery one would doe what seemed best vnto himselfe The Gouernour answered that hee would doe nothing without their counsell but that hee did beare off from the land to saile the better and safer by night and that the next day when time serued he would returne to the sight of land againe They sailed with a reasonable good wind that day and the night following and the next day till euening song Fresh water almost two daies sailing in the Sea alwaies in fresh water whereat they wondred much for they were very farre from land But the force of the current of the Riuer is so great The coast shallow and the coast there is so shallow and gentle that the fresh water entreth farre into the Sea That euening on their right hand they saw certaine creekes Câ—rtaine creekes where they rested a â—â—ght where whither they went and rested there that night where Iohn Danusco with his reasons wonne them at last that all consented and agreed to commit themselues to the maine Sea alleaging as he had done before that it was a great aduantage and that their voyage would be much shorter They sailed two daies and when they would haue come to sight of land they could not for the winde blew from the shore On the fourth day seeing their fresh water began to faile fearing necessitie and danger they all complained of Iohn Danusco and of the Gouernour that followed his counsell and euery one of the Captaines said that they would no more goe from the shore though the Gouernour went whither he would It pleased God that the winde changed though but a little and at the end of foure daies after they had put to sea being alreadie destitute of water by force of rowing they got within sight of land and with great trouble recouered it in an open roade An open Roade That euening the winde came to the South which on that coast is a crosse winde and draue the brigandines against the shore because it blew very hard and the anchors were so weake that they yeelded and began to bend The Gouernour commanded all men to leape into the water and going between them and the shore and thrusting the brigandines into the Sea assoone as the waue was past they saued them till the winde ceased CHAP. XL. How they lost one another by a storme and afterward came together in a creeke IN the bay where they rode after the tempest was past they went on shore and with mattockes which they had they digged certaine pits Fresh water is commonlie found by digging in the sands on the sea side which grew full of fresh water where they filled all the cask which they had The next day they departed thence and sailed two daies and entred into a creeke like vnto a poole fenced from the South winde which then did blow and was against them and there they staied foure daies not being able to get out and when the Sea was calme they rowed out they sailed that day and toward euening the winde grew so strong that it draue them on the shore and they were sorie that they had put foorth from the former harbour for as soone as night approched a storme began to rise in the Sea and the winde still waxed more and more violent with a tempest The brigandines lost one another two of them which bare more into the Sea entred into an arme of the Sea An arme of the sea which pearced into the land two leagues beyond the place where the other were that night The fiue which staied behinde being alwaies a league and halfe a league the one from the other met together without any knowledge the one of the other in a wilde roade A wild roade where the winde and the waues droue them on shore for their anchors did streighten and came home and they could not rule their oares putting seuen or eight men to euery oare which rowed to seaward and all the rest leaped into the water and when the waue was past that draue the brigandine on shore they thrust it againe into Sea with all the diligence and might that they had Others while another waue was in comming with bowles laued out the water that came in ouerboord While they were in this tempest in great feare of being cast away in that place from midnight forward they endured an intollerable tormeÌ„t of an
his backe and they trauelled vp into the countrey and found Indians which told them where their fellowes were and gaue them good entertainement wherewith their sadnes was turned into ioy and thâ—y thanked God most humbly for their deliuerance out of so many dangers CHAP. XLII How they came to Panuco and how they were receiued of the inhabitants FRom the time that they put out of Rio Grande to the sea at their departure from Florida vntil they arriued in the Riuer of Panuco were 52. daies They came into the Riuer of Panuco the 10. of September 1543. They arriued in the Riuer of Panuco 1543. Septem 10. They went vp the Riuer with their brigandines They trauelled foure daies and because the wind was but little and many times it serued them not because of the many turnings which the Riuer maketh and the greâ—t currâ—nt drawing them vp by towing and that in many places for this cause they made very little way and with great labour and seeing the execution of their desire to be deferred which was to come among Christians and to see the celebration of diuine seruice which so long time they had not seene they left the brigandines with the mariners and went by land to Panuco All of them were apparrelled in Deeres skins tanned and died blacke to wit cotes hose and shooes When they came to Panuco presently they went to the Church to pray and giue God thankes that so miraculousely had saued them The townesmen which before were aduertised by the Indians and knew of their arriual caried some of them to their houses and entertained them whom they knew and had acquaintance of or because they were their Countrimen The Alcalde Mayor tooke the Gouernour home to his house and commanded al the rest assoone as they came to be lodged 6. 6. and 10. 10. according to the habilitie of euery townesman And all of them were prouided for by their hostes of many hennes and bread of Maiz and fruites of the Countrie which are such as be in the Isle of Cuba The descrâ—â—tion oâ— Panuco whereof before I haue spoken The towne of Panuco may containe aboue 70. families the most of their houses are of lime and stone and some made of timber and all of them are thatched It is a poore Countrie and there is neither gold nor siluer in it The inhabitants liue there in great abundance of victuals and seruants The richest haue not aboue 500. crownes rent a yeere and that is in cotten clothes hennes and Maiz which the Indians their seruants doe giue them for tribute 311. Christians arriued at Panuco There arriued there of those that came out of Florida three hundred and eleuen Christians Presently the Alcalde Mayor sent one of the townsmen in post to aduertise the Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoça which was resident in Mexico that of the people that went with Don Ferdinando de Soto to discouer and conquer Florida three hundred and eleuen men were ariued there that seeing they were imploied in his Maiesties seruice he would take some order to prouide for them Whereat the Viceroy and all the inhabitants of Mexico wondred For they thought they were miscarried because they had trauelled so farre within the maine land of Florida and had no newes of them for so long a time and it seemed a wonderfull thing vnto them how they could saue themselues so long among Infidels without any fort wherein they might fortifie themselues and without any other succour at all Presently the Viceroy sent a warrant wherein hee commaÌ„ded that whithersoeuer they sent they should giue them victuals and as many Indians for their cariages as they needed and where they would not furnish them they might take those things that were necessarie perforce without incurring any danger of law This warrant was so readilie obeyed that by the way before they came to the townes they came to receiue them with hennes and victuals Of the fauour which they found at the hands of the Viceroy and of the inhabitants of the Citie of Mexico FRom Panuco to the great Citie Temistitan Mexico is 60. leagues and other 60. from Panuco to the Port de Vera Cruz where they take shipping for Spaine and those that come from Spaine do land to go for Nueua Espanna These three townes stand in a triangle to wit Vera Cruz to the South Panuco to the North and Mexico to the West 60. leagues asunder The Countrie is so inhabited with Indians that from towne to towne those which are farthest are but a league and halfe a league asunder Some of them that came from Florida staied a moneth in Panuco to rest themselues others fifteene daies and euery one as long as he listed for there was none that shewed a sower countenance to his guests but rather gaue them any thing that they had and seemed to be grieued when they took their leaue Which was to be beleeued For the victuals which the Indians doe pay them for tribute are more then they can spend and in that towne is no commerce and there dwelt but few Spaniards there and they were glad of their companie The Alcalde Mayor diuided all the Emperours clothes which he had which there they pay him for his tribute among those that would come to receiue them Those which had shirts of maile lest were glad men for they had a horse for one shirt of maile Some horsed themselues and such as could not which were the greatest part tooke their iournie on foote in which they were well receiued of the Indians that were in the townes and better serued then they could haue been in their owne houses though they had been well to liue For if they asked one hen of an Indian they brought them foure and if they asked any of the Countrie fruit though it were a league off they ran presently for it And if any Christian found himself euill at ease This is the manner of China to carrie men in chaires they carried him in a chaire from one towne to another In whatsoeuer towne they came the Cacique by an Indian which carried a rod of Iustice in his hand whom they call Tapile that is to say a sergeant commanded them to prouide victuals for them and Indians to beare burdens of such things as they had and such as were needfull to carrie them that were sicke The Viceroy sent a Portugall 20. leagues from Mexico with great store of sugar raisons of the Sunne and conserues and other things fit for sicke folkes for such as had neede of them and had giuen order to cloth them all at the Emperours charges And their approch being knowne by the citizens of Mexico they went out of the towne to receiue them and with great courtesie requesting them in fauour to come to their houses euery one carried such as hee met home with him and clothed them euery one the best they could so that he which had the meanest apparrell it
about and by the industrie and valour of the Christian he subdued and brought vnder his command all the people of that Island A great while after the Gouernour Diego Velasques went to conquer it and from thence discouered new Spaine And this Christian which was with the Indians did pacifie them and brought them to the obedience and subiection of the Gouernour From this towne della Trinidad vnto Hauana Hauana are 80. leagues ' without any habitation which they trauelled They came to Hauana in the end of March where they found the Gouernor and the rest of the people which came with him from Spaine The Gouernour sent from Hauana Iohn Dannusco with a carauele two brigantines with 50. men to discouer the hauen of Florida and from thence hee brought two Indians which he tooke vpon the coast wherewith aswell because they might be necessarie for guides and for interpretours as because they said by signes that there was much gold in Florida the Gouernour and all the companie receiued much contentment and longed for the houre of their departure thinking in himselfe that this was the richest Countrie that vnto that day had been discouered CHAP. VII How we departed from Hauana and ariued in Florida and of such things as happened vnto vs. BEfore our departure the Gouernour depriued Nunno de Touar of the office of Captaine Generall gaue it to Porcallo de Figueroa an inhabitant of Cuba which was a meane that the shippes were well furnished with victuals for he gaue a great many loads of Casabe bread and manie hogges The Gouernour tooke away this office from Nonno de Touar because hee had fallen in loue with the daughter of the Earle of Gomera Donna Isabellas waighting maid who though his office were taken from him to returne againe to the Gouernours fauour though she were with child by him yet tooke her to his wife and went with Soto into Florida The Gouernour left Donna Isabella in Hauana and with her remained the wife of Don Carlos and the wiues of Baltasar de Gallegos and of Nonno de Touar And hee left for his Lieutenant a Gentleman of Hauana called Iohn de Roias for the gouernment of the Island May 18. 1539. On Sunday the 18. of May in the yeere of our Lord 1539. the Adelantado or president departed from Hauana in Cuba with his fleete which were nine vessels fiue great ships two carauels and two brigantines They sailed seuen daies with a prosperous wind The 25. day of May the day de Pasca de Spirito Santo which we call Whitson Sonday they saw the land of Florida This place was called Baya de Spirito Sancto being on the West side of Florida in 29. degrees and because of the shoalds they came to an anchor a league from the shore On Friday the 30. of May they landed in Florida two leagues from a towne of an Indian Lord called Vcita They set on land two hundred and thirteene horses which they brought with them to vnburden the shippes that they might draw the lesse water Hee landed all his men and only the sea men remained in the shippes which in eight daies going vp with the tide euery day a little brought them vp vnto the towne Assoone as the people were come on shore hee pitched his campe on the sea side hard vpon the Bay which went vp vnto the towne And presently the Captaine generall Vasques Porcallo with other 7. The ships came vp to the towne of Vcita horsemen foraged the Countrie halfe a league round about and found sixe Indians which resisted him with their arrowes which are the weapons which they vse to fight withall The horsemen killed two of them and the other foure escaped because the countrie is cumbersome with woods and bogs where the horses stacke fast and fell with their riders because they were weake with trauelling vpon the sea The same night following the Gouernour with an hundred men in the brigantines lighted vpon a towne which he found without people because that assoone as the Christians had sight of land they were descried and saw along the coast many smokes which the Indians had made to giue aduice the one to the other The next day Luys de Moscoso Master of the Campe set the men in order the horsemen in three squadrons the Vantgard the Batallion and the Rerewarde and so they marched that day and the day following compassing great Creekes which came out of the Bay They came to the towne of Vcita The towne of Vcita Iune where the Gouernour was on Sunday the first of Iune being Trinitie Sunday The towne was of seuen or eight houses The Lordes house stoode neere the shore vpon a very hie mount made by hand for strength At another end of the towne stood the Church and on the top of it stood a fowle made of wood with gilded eies Heere were found some pearles Some perles found of small valew spoiled with the fire which the Indians do pierce and string them like beades and weare them about their neckes and handwrists and they esteeme them very much The houses were made of timber and couered with Palme leaues The Gouernour lodged himselfe in the Lords houses and with him Vasques Porcallo and Luys de Moscoso and in others that were in the middest of the towne was the chiefe Alcalde or Iustice Baltasar de Gallegos lodged and in the same houses was set in a place by it selfe al the prouision that came in the ships the other houses and the Church were broken down and euery three or foure souldiers made a little cabin wherein they lodged The Countrie round about was very fennie and encombred with great and hie trees The Gouernor commanded to fel the woods a crossebow shot round about the towne that the horses might runne and the Christians might haue the aduantage of the Indians if by chance they should set vpon them by night In the waies and places conuenient they had their Centinelles of footemen by two and two in euery stand which did watch by turnes and the horsemen did visit them and were readie to assist them if there were any alarme The Gouernour made foure Captaines of the horsemen and two of the footemen The Captaines of the horsemen were one of them Andrew de Vasconcelos and another Pedro Calderan de Badaioz and the other two were his kinsemen to wit Arias Tinoco and Alfonso Romo borne likewise in Badaioz The Captaines of the footemen the one was Francisco Maldonado of Salamanca and the other Iuan Rodriguez Lobillo While wee were in this towne of Vcita the two Indians which Iohn Danusco had taken on that coast and the Gouernor caried along with him for guides and interpretours through carelessenes of two men which had the charge of them escaped away one night For which the Gouernour and all the rest were very sorie for they had alreadie made some roades and no Indians could bee taken because the countrie was
and they report that when he will haue them doe that sacrifice vnto him he speaketh with them and telleth them that he is athirst and willeth them to sacrifice vnto him Iohn Ortiz had notice by the damsell that had deliuered him from the fire how her father was determined to sacrifice him the day following who willed him to flee to Mocoço for shee knew that he would vse him wel for she heard say that he had asked for him and said hee would bee glad to see him and because he knew not the way she went with him halfe a league out of the towne by night and set him in the way returned because she would not be discouered Iohn Ortiz trauailed all that night and by the morning came vnto a Riuer A Riuer which is in the territorie of Mocoço and there he saw two Indians fishing and because they were in war with the people of Vcita and their languages were different and hee knew not the language of Mocoço he was afraid because he could not tell them who hee was nor how hee came thither nor was able to answer any thing for himselfe that they would kill him taking him for one of the Indians of Vcita and before they espied him he came to the place where they had laid their weapons assoone as they saw him they fled toward the towne and although he willed thē to stay because he meant to do thē no hurt yet they vnderstood him not and ran away as fast as euer they could And assone as they came to the towne with great outcries many Indians came forth against him and began to compasse him to shoote at him Iohn Ortiz seeing himselfe in so great danger sheilded himselfe with certaine trees and began to shreeke out and crie very loud and to tell them that he was a Christian and that he was fled from Vcita and was come to see and serue Mocoço his Lord. It pleased God that at that very instant there came thither an Indian that could speake the language and vnderstood him and pacified the rest who told them what hee said Then ran from thence three or foure Indians to beare the newes to their Lord who came foorth a quarter of a league from the towne to receiue him and was very glad of him He caused him presently to sweare according to the custome of the Christians that hee would not run away from him to any other Lord and promised him to entreate him very well and that if at any time there came any Christians into that countrie he would freely let him goe and giue him leaue to goe to them and likewise tooke his oth to performe the same according to the Indian custome About three yeeres after certaine Indians which were fishing at sea two leagues from the towne brought newes to Mocoço Mocoço his towne within 2. leagues of the sea that they had seene ships and hee called Iohn Ortiz and gaue him leaue to go his way who taking his leaue of him with all the haste he could came to the sea and finding no ships he thought it to be some deceit and that the Cacique had done the same to learne his mind So he dwelt with Mocoço nine yeeres with small hope of seeing any Christians Assoone as our Gouernor arriued in Florida it was knowne to Mocoço straightway he signified to Iohn Ortiz that Christians were lodged in the towne of Vcita And he thought he had iested with him as hee had done before and told him that by this time he had forgotten the Christians and thought of nothing else but to serue him But he assured him that it was so and gaue him licence to goe vnto them saying vnto him that if hee would not doe it and if the Christians should goe their way he should not blame him for hee had fulfilled that which he had promised him The ioy of Iohn Ortiz was so great that hee could not beleeue that it was true notwithstanding he gaue him thankes and tooke his leaue of him and Mocoço gaue him tenne or eleuen principall Indians to beare him companie and as they went to the port where the Gouernour was they met with Baltasar de Gallègos as I haue declared before Assoone as he was come to the campe the Gouernour commanded to giue him a sute of apparrell and very good armour and a faire horse and enquired of him whether hee had notice of any countrie where there was any gold or siluer He answered No because he neuer went ten leagues compasse from the place where he dwelt But that 30. leagues from thence dwelt an Indian Lord which was called Parocossi Paracossi 30. leagues from Puert de Spirito Santo to whom Mocoço and Vcita with al the rest of that coast paied tribute and that hee peraduenture might haue notice of some good countrie and that his land was better then that of the sea coast and more fruitfull and plentifull of maiz Whereof the Gouernour receiued great contentment and said that he desired no more then to finde victuals that hee might goe into the maine land for the land of Florida was so large that in one place or other there could not chuse but bee some rich Countrie The Cacique Mocoço came to the Port to visit the Gouernor and made this speech following Right hie and mightie Lord I being lesser in mine owne conceit for to obey you then any of those which you haue vnder your command and greater in desire to doe you greater seruices doe appeare before your Lordship with so much confidence of receiuing fauour as if in effect this my good will were manifested vnto you in workes not for the small seruice I did vnto you touching the Christian which I had in my power in giuing him freely his libertie For I was bound to doe it to preserue mine honour and that which I had promised him but because it is the part of great men to vse great magnificences And I am perswaded that as in bodily perfections and commanding of good people you doe exceede all men in the world so likewise you doe in the parts of the minde in which you may boast of the bountie of nature The fauour which I hope for of your Lordship is that you would hold mee for yours and bethinke your selfe to command me any thing wherein I may doe you seruice The Gouernour answered him That although in freeing and sending him the Christian he had preserued his honour and promise yet he thanked him and held it in such esteeme as it had no comparison and that hee would alwaies hold him as his brother and would fauour him in all things to the vtmost of his power Then he commanded a shirt to be giuen him and other things wherewith the Cacique being verie well contented tooke his leaue of him and departed to his owne towne CHAP. X. How the Gouernour sent the ships to Cuba and left an hundred men at the Hauen de Spirito
Gouernour did come to speake with him hee should cast his hands about his necke and choke him Who wheÌ„ he saw opportunitie laid hands on the Gouernour and before he cast his hands about his necke he gaue him such a blow on the nostrils that hee made them gush out with blood and presently all the rest did rise He that could get any weapons at hand or the handle wherewith he did grind the Maiz sought to kill his master or the first hee met before him and hee that could get a lance or sword at hand bestirred himselfe in such sort with it as though he had vsed it all his life time One Indian in the market place enclosed betweene 15. or 20. footemen made a way like a bull with a sword in his hand till certaine halbardiers of the Gouernour came which killed him Another gat vp with a lance to a loft made of canes which they build to keepe their Maiz in which they call a Barbacoa and there hee made such a noise as though tenne men had been there defending the doore they slew him with a partisan The Indians were in all about two hundred men They were all subdued Two hundred Indians taken And some of the youngest the Gouernour gaue to them which had good chaines and were carefull to looke to them that they gat not away Al the rest he commanded to be put to death being tied to a stake in the midst of the market place and the Indians of the Paracossi did shoote them to death CHAP. XII How the Gouernour came to Apalache and was informed that within the land there was much gold THe Gouernour departed from Napetuca the 23. of September he lodged by a Riuer A Riuer where two Indians brought him a buck from the Cacique of Vzachil The next day he passed by a great towne called Hapaluya Hapaluya a great towne and lodged at Vzachil Vzachil and found no people in it because they durst not tarrie for the notice the Indians had of the slaughter of Napetuca He found in that towne great store of Maiz french beanes and * Aboboras pompions which is their foode and that wherewith the Christians there sustained themselues The Maiz is like course millet and the pompions are better and more sauorie then those of Spaine From thence the Gouernour sent two Captaines each a sundry way to seeke â—he Indians They tooke an hundred men and women of which aswel there as in other places where they made any inrodes the Captaine chose one or two for the Gouernour and diuided the rest to himselfe and those that went with him They led these Indians in chaines with yron collars about their neckes and they serued to carrie their stuffe and to grind their Maiz and for other seruices that such captiues could doe Sometimes it happened that going for wood or Maiz with them they killed the Christian that led them and ran away with the chaine others filed their chaines by night with a peece of stone wherewith they cut them and vse it in stead of yron Those that were perceiued paid for themselues and for the rest because they should not dare to doe the like another time The women and young boyes when they were once an hundred leagues from their Countrie and had forgotten things they let goe loose and so they serued and in a very short space they vnderstood the language of the Christians From Vzachil the Gouernour departed toward Apalache and in two daies iournie hee came to a towne called Axille Axille and from thence forward the Indians were carelesse because they had as yet no notice of the Christians The next day in the morning the first of October he departed from thence and commanded a bridge to bee made ouer a Riuer A Riuer which hee was to passe The deepe of the Riuer where the bridge was made was a stones cast and forward a crossebow shot the water came to the waste and the wood whereby the Indians came to see if they could defend the passage and disturbe those which made the bridge was very hie and thicke The crossebowmen so bestirred themselues that they made them giue back and certain plancks were cast into the Riuer whereon the men passed which made good the passage The Gouernor passed vpoÌ„ Wednesday which was S. Francis his day and lodged at a towne which was called Vitachuco Vitachuco subiect to Apalache he found it burning for the Indians had set it on fire From thence forward the countrie was much inhabited and had great store of Maiz. Hee passed by many granges like hamlets On Sunday the 25. of October October 25 he came to a towne which is called Vzela Vzela and vpon Tuesday to Anaica Apalache Anaica Apalacâ—e where the Lord of all that Countrie and Prouince was resident in which towne the Campemaster whose office it is to quarter out and lodge men did lodge all the companie round about within a league and halfe a league of it There were other townes where was great store of Maiz Pompions French Beanes and Plummes of the Countrie which are better then those of Spaine and they grow in the fields without planting The victuals that were thought necessarie to passe the winter were gathered from these townes to Anaica Apalache Apalache within 10. â—â—aâ—ues of the sea The Gouernour was informed that the sea was ten leagues from thence Hee presently sent a Captaine thither with horsemen and footemen And sixe leagues on the way he found a towne which was named Ochete Ochete and so came to the sea â—he â—â—a and found a great tree felled and cut into peeces with stakes set vp like mangers and saw the skulles of horses Hee returned with this newes And that was held for certaine which was reported of Pamphilo de Naruaez that there hee had builded the barkes wherewith he went out of the land of Florida and was cast away at Sea Presently the Gouernour sent Iohn Danusco with 30. horsemen to the port de Spiritu Santo where Calderan was with order that they should abandon the port and all of them come to Apalache He departed on Saturday the 17. of Nouember In Vzachil and other townes that stood in the way he found great store of people alreadie carelesse Hee would take none of the Indians for not hindring himselfe because it behooued â—im to giue them no leasure to gather themselues together He passed through the townes by night and rested without the townes three or foure houres In tenne daies he came to the Port de Spirito Santo The Port de Spiritu Santo tenne daies iournie from Apalache He carried with him 20. Indian women which he tooke in Ytara and Potano neere vnto Cale and sent them to Donna Isabella in the two carauâ—ls which hee sent from the Port de Spirito Santo to Cuba And he carried all the footemen in the brigandines and coasting along the shore came
of fortune If from this day forward we may be capable of this benefit that your Lordship will hold vs for your owne we cannot faile to be fauoured and maintained in true iustice and reason and to haue the name of men For such as are void of reason and iustice may bee compared to brute beasts For mine owne part from my very heart with reuerence due to such a Prince I offer my selfe vnto your Lordship beseech you that in reward of this my true good will you will vouchsafe to make vse of mine owne person my Countrie and subiects The Gouernour answered him that his offers and good wil declared by the effect did highly please him whereof he would alwaies be mindfull to honour and fauour him as his brother This Countrie from the first peaceable Cacique vnto the Prouince of Patofa which were fiftie leagues is a fat Countrie beautifull An excellent Countrie for 50. leagues and very fruitfull and very well watered and full of good Riuers And from thence to the Port de Spirito Santo where wee first ariued in the land of Florida which may bee 350. leagues little more or lesse is a barren land and the most of it groues of wild Pine-trees low and full of lakes and in some places very hie and thicke groues whither the Indians that were in armes fled so that no man could find them neither could any horses enter into them Which was an inconuenience to the Christians in regard of the victuals which they found conueied away and of the trouble which they had in seeking of Indians to bee their guides CHAP. XIIII How thâ— Gouernour departed from the Prouince of Patofa and went through a desert where he and all his men fe l into great distresse and extreme miserie IN the towne of Patofa the youth which the Gouernour carried with him for an interpretour and a guide began to some at the mouth and tumble on the ground as one possessed with the diuell They said a Gospell ouer him and the fit left him And he said that foure daies iournie from thence toward the Sunne rising was the prouince that he spake of The Indians of Patofa said that toward that part they knew no habitation but that toward the Northwest they knew a Prouince which was called Coça a verie plentifull countrie which had very great townes in it The Cacique told the Gouernour that if he would go thither he would giue him guides and Indians for burdens and if he would goe whither the youth spake of that he would likewise giue him those that he needed and so with louing words and offers of courtesie they tooke their leaues the one of the other Hee gaue him seuen hundred Indians to beare burdens He tooke Maiz for foure daies iournie Hee trauelled sixe daies by a path which grew narrow more and more till it was lost altogether He went where the youth did lead him Two swift Riuers and passed two Riuers which were waded each of them was two crossebow shot ouer the water came to the stirrops and had so great a current that it was needfull for the horsemen to stand one before another that the footemen might passe aboue them leaning vnto them Another greater Riuer He came to another Riuer of a greater current and largenes which was passed with more trouble because the horses did swim at the comming out about a lances length Hauing passed this Riuer the Gouernor came to a groue of pinetrees and threatned the youth and made as though hee would haue cast him to the dogges because he had told him a lie saying 〈◊〉 daies 〈…〉 it was but foure daies iournie and they had trauelled nine and euery day 7. or 8. leagues and the men by this time were growne wearie and weake and the horses leane through the great scanting of the Maiz. The youth said that hee knew not where hee was It saued him that he was not cast to the dogges that there was neuer another whom Iohn Ortiz did vnderstand The Gouernour with them two and with some horsemen and footemen leauing the Campe in a groue of pinetrees trauelled that day 5. or 6. leagues to seek a way and returned at night very comfortlesse and without finding any signe of way or towne The next day there were sundrie opinions deliuered whether they should goe backe or what they should doe and because backward the Countrie whereby they had passed was greatly spoiled and destitute of Maiz and that which they brought with them was spent and the men were very weake and the horses likewise they doubted much whether they might come to any place where they might helpe themselues And besides this they were of opinion that going in that sort out of order that any Indians would presume to set vpon them so that with hunger or with warre they could not escape The Gouernour determined to send horsemen from thence euery way to seeke habitation and the next day he sent foure Captaines euery one a sundrie way with eight horsemen At night they came againe leading their horses or driuing them with a sticke before for they were so wearie that they could not lead them neither found they any way nor signe of habitation The next day the Gouernour sent other foure with as many horsemen that could swim to passe the Ose and Riuers which they should find and they had choice horses the best that were in the Campe. The Captaines were Baltasar de Gallegos which went vp the Riuer and Iohn Danusco downe the Riuer Alfonso Romo and Iohn Rodriguez Lobillo went into the inward parts of the land The Gouernour brought with him into Flâ—rida thirteene sowes The great increaâ—e of â—â—â—ne and had by this time three hundred swine He commanded euery man should haue halfe a pound of hogs flesh euery day and this hee did three or foure daies after the Maiz was all spent With this small quantitie of flesh and some sodden hearbs with much trouble the people were sustained The Gouernour dismissed the Indians of Patofa because hee had no food to giue them who desiring to accompanie and serue the Christians in their necessitie making shew that it grieued them very much to returne vntill they had left them in a peopled Countrie returned to their owne home Iohn Danusco came on Sunday late in the euening and brought newes that he had found a little towne 12. or 13. leagues from thence he brought a woman and a boy that he tooke there With his comming and with those newes the Gouernour and all the rest were so glad that they seemed at that instant to haue returned from death to life Vpon Monday the twentie sixe of Aprill the Gouernour departed to goe to the towne which was called Aymay Aymay and the Christians named it the towne of Reliefe He left where the Camp had lien at the foote of a Pinetree a letter buried and letters carued in the barke of the pine the contents whereof
returned home to Hispaniola All the Companie thought it good to inhabit that Countrie It is in 32. degrees because it was in a temperat climate And that if it were inhabited al the shippes of New Spaine of Peru Santa Martha and Tierrâ—â—rme in their returne for Spaine might well touch there because it was in their way and because it was a good Countrie and sited fit to raise commoditie The Gouernour since his intent was to seeke another treasure like that of Atabalipa Lord of Peru was not contented with a good Countrie nor with pearles though many of them were worth their weight in gold And if the Countrie had been diuided among the Christians those which the Indians had fished for afterward would haue been of more value for those which they had because they burned them in the fire did leese their colour The Gouernour answered them that vrged him to inhabit That in all the Countrie there were not victuals to sustaine his men one moneth and that it was needfull to resort to the Port of Ocus where Maldanado was to stay for them and that if no richer Countrie were found they might returne againe to that whensoeuer they would and in the meane time the Indians would sow their fields and it would be better furnished with Maiz. He inquired of the Indians whether they had notice of any great Lord farther into the land They told him that 12. daies iournie from thence Chiaha 12. daies iournie from Santa Helena and Coste 7. daies iournie from Chiaha at which towne of Coste they had an oxe hide Chap. 16. there was a Prouince called Chiaha subiect to the Lord of Coça Presently the Gouernour determined to seeke that land And being a sterne man and of few words though he was glad to sift and know the opinion of all men yet after hee had deliuered his owne hee would not be contraried and alwaies did what liked himselfe and so all men did condescend vnto his will And though it seemed an errour to leaue that Countrie for others might haue been sought round about where the people might haue been sustained vntill the haruest had been readie there and the Maiz gathered yet there was none that would say any thing against him after they knew his resolution CHAP. XV. How the Gouernour departed from Cutifa-Chiqui to seeke the Prouince of Coça and what happened vnto him in the way THe Gouernour departed from Cutifa Chiqui the third day of May. And because the Indians had reuolted and the will of the Ladie was perceiued that if she could she would depart without giuing any guides or men for burdens for the wrongs which the Christians had done to the Indians for there neuer want some among many of a base sort that for a little gaine doe put themselues and others in danger of vndoing The Gouernour commanded her to be kept in safegard and carried with him not with so good vsage as she deserued for the good wil she shewed and good entertainement that she had made him And he verified that old prouerb which saith For weldoing I receiue euill And so he carried her on foot with his bondwomen to looke vnto her In all the townes where the Gouernour passed the Ladie commanded the Indians to come and carrie the burdens from one towne to another We passed through her Countrie an hundred leagues in which as we saw she was much obeyed For the Indians did all that she commanded them with great efficacie and diligence Peter the youth that was our guide said that she was not the Ladie her selfe but a neece of hers which came to that towne to execute certaine principal men by commandement of the Ladie which had withheld her tribute which words were not beleeued because of the lies which they had found in him before but they bare with all things because of the need which they had of him to declare what the Indians said In seuen daies space the Gouernour came to a Prouince called Chalaque Chalaque seuen daies iournie from Cutifa Chiqâ—i the poorest Country of Maiz that was seene in Florida The Indians fed vpon rootes and herbes which they seeke in the fields and vpon wild beasts which they kil with their bowes and arrowes and it is a verie gentle people All of them goe naked and are very leane There was a Lord which for a great present brought the Gouernour two Deeres skins and there were in that Countrie many wild hennes 700. Hennes In one towne they made him a present of 700. hennes and so in other townes they sent him those which they had or could get From this Prouince to another which is called Xualla he spent fiue daies Xualla 5. daies off here he found very little Maiz and for this cause though the people were wearied and the horses very weake he staied no more but two daies From Ocute to Cutifa-chiqui may bee some hundred and thirtie leagues whereof 80. are wildernesse From Cutifa-chiqui to Xualla two hundred and fiftie and it is an hillie Countrie The Gouernour departed from Xualla toward Guaxule he passed very rough and hie hilles Rough and hie hilles In that iournie the Ladie of Cutifa-chiqui whom the Gouernour carried with him as is afore said with purpose to carrie her to Guaxule because her territorie reached thither going on a day with the bondwomen which lead her went out of the way and entred into a wood saying she went to ease her selfe and so she deceiued them and hid her selfe in the wood and though they sought her they could not find her She carried away with her a little chest made of canes in manner of a coffer which they call Petaca full of vnbored perles Some which could iudge of them said that they were of great value An Indian woman that waited on her did carrie them The Gouernour not to discontent her altogether left them with her making account that in Guaxule he would ask them of her when he gaue her leaue to returne which coffer she carried away and went to Xualla with three slaues which fled from the Campe and one horseman which remained behind who falling sicke of an ague went out of the way and was lost This man whose name was Alimamos dealt with the slaues to change their euill purpose and returne with him to the Christians which two of them did and Alimamos and they ouertooke the Gouernour 50. leagues from thence in a Prouince called Chiaha and reported how the Ladie remained in Xualla with a slaue of Andrew de Vasconcellos which would not come backe with them and that of a certaintie they liued as man and wife together and meant to goe both to Cutifa-chiqui Within fiue daies the Gouernour came to Guaxule Guaxule fiue daies â—â—f The Indians there gaue him a present of 300. dogges because they saw the Christians esteeme them and sought them to feed on them for among them they are not eaten In Guaxule and
wherein I had first notice of your Lordship with so great desire to serue you with so great pleasure and contentment that this which I make shew of is nothing in regard of that which is in my heart neither can it haue any kind of comparison This you may hold for certaine that to obtaine the dominion of the whole world would not haue reioyced me so much as your sight neither would I haue held it for so great a felicitie Doe not looke for me to offer you that which is your owne to wit my person my lands and subiects onely I will busie my selfe in commanding my men with all diligence and due reuerence to welcome you from hence to the towne with playing and singing where your Lordship shall be lodged and attended vpon by my selfe and them and all that I possesse your Lordship shall vse as it were your owne For your Lordship shall doe me a verie great fauour in so doing The Gouernour gaue him thankes and with great ioy they both went conferring together till they came to the towne The towne and he commanded his Indians to void their houses wherein the Gouernor and his men were lodged There was in the barnes and in the fields great store of Maiz and French Beanes The Country was greatly inhabited with many great townes Many great townes and many sowne fields which reached from the one to the other It was pleasant fat full of good meadows vpon Riuers There were in the fields many Plum trees Many plum-trees of diâ—ers sorts â—wo sorts of â—â—apes aswell of such as grow in Spaine as of the Countrie and wild tall vines that runne vp the trees and besides these there were other low vines with big and sweet grapes but for want of digging and dressing they had great kirnels in them The Gouernour vsed to set a guard ouer the Caciques because they should not absent themselues and carried them with him till he came out of their Countries because that carrying them along with him he looked to find people in the townes and they gaue him guides and men to carrie burdens and before hee went out of their Countries he gaue them licence to returne to their houses and to their porters likewise assoone as he came to any other Lordship where they gaue him others The men of Coça seeing their Lord detained tooke it in euil part and reuolted and hid themselues in the woods aswell those of the towne of the Cacique as those of the other townes of â—is principall subiects The Gouernor sent out foure Captaines euery one his way to seeke them They tooke many men and women which were put into chaines They seeing the hurt which they receiued and how little they gained in absenting themselues came againe promising to do whatsoeuer they were commanded Of those which were taken prisoners some principall men were set at libertie whom the Cacique demanded and euery one that had any carried the rest in chaines like slaues without letting them goe to their Countrie neither did any returne but some few whose fortune helped them with the good diligence which they vsed to file off their chaines by night or such as in their trauelling could slippe aside out of the way seeing any negligence in them that kept them some escaped away with the chaines and with the burdens and clothes which they carried CHAP. XVII How the Gouernour went from Coça to Tascaluca THe Gouernour rested in Coça 25. daies He departed from thence the 20. of August 20. of August to seeke a Prouince called Tascaluca hee carried with him the Cacique of Coça He passed that day by a great towne called Tallimuchase Tallimuchase a great towne the people were fled he lodged halfe a league farther neere a brooke The next day he came to a towne called Ytaua Ytaua subiect to Coça Hee staied there sixe daies because of a Riuer that passed by it which at that time was very hie A great Riuer and assoone as the Riuer suffered him to passe he set forward and lodged at a towne named Vllibahali Vllibahali There came to him on the way on the Caciques behalfe of that Prouince ten or twelue principall Indians to offer him his seruice all of them had their plumes of feathers and bowes and arrowes The Gouernour comming to the towne with twelue horsemen and some footemen of his guard leauing his people a crossebow shot from the towne entred into it hee found all the Indians with their weapons and as farre as he could ghesse they seemed to haue some euill meaning It was knowne afterward that they were determined to take the Cacique of Coça from the Gouernour if hee had requested it The Gouernour commanded all his people to enter the towne which was walled about Vllibahali walled about and neere vnto it passed a small Riuer The fashion of their walles The wall aswell of that as of others which afterward wee saw was of great posts thrust deepe into the ground and very rough and many long railes as big as ones arme laid acrosse between them and the wall was about the height of a lance and it was daubed within and without with clay and had loope holes On the otherside of the Riuer was a towne A towne where at that present the Cacique was The Gouernour sent to call him and hee came presently After he had passed with the Gouernour some words of offering his seruices he gaue him such men for his cariages as he needed and thirtie women for slaues In that place was a Christian lost called Mançano borne in Salamanca of noble parentage which went astray to seeke for grapes whereof there is great store Great store of good grapes and those very good The day that the Gouernour departed from thence he lodged at a towne A towne subiect to the Lord of Vllibahali and the next day hee came to another towne called Toasi Toasi The Indians gaue the Gouernour thirtie women and such men for his cariages as he needed Hee trauelled ordinarily 5. or 6. leagues a day He trauelled ordinarily fiue or sixe leagues a day when he trauelled through peopled Countries and going through deserts he marched as fast as he could to eschew the want of Maiz. From Toasi passing through some townes subiect to a Cacique which was Lord of a prouince called Tallise hee trauelled fiue daies He came to Tallise the 18. of September Tallise a great towne September 18. The towne was great and situated neere vnto a maine Riuer A maine Riuer On the other side of the Riuer were other townes and many fields sowne with Maiz. On both sides it was a very plentifull Countrie and had store of Maiz they had voided the towne The Gouernour commanded to call the Cacique who came and betweene them passed some words of loue and offer of his seruices and hee presented vnto him 40. Indians There came to the Gouernour
into heauen where he standeth with his armes open to receiue all such as turne vnto him and straightway he commanded him to make a verie high crosse of wood which was set vp in the highest place of the towne declaring vnto him that the Christians worshipped the same in resemblance and memorie of that whereon Christ suffered The Gouernour and his men kneeled downe before it and the Indians did the like The Gouernour willed him that from thencefoorth hee should worship the same and should aske whatsoeuer they stood in need of of that Lord that he told him was in heauen Then he asked him how far it was from thence to Pacaha He said one daies iournie and that at the end of his Countrie there was a lake like a brooke which falleth into Rio Grande and that hee would send men before to make a bridge whereby he might passe The same day that the Gouernour departed thence A towne belonging to Casqui Other townâ— he lodged at a towne belonging to Casqui and the next day hee passed in sight of other townes and came to the lake which was halfe a crossebow shot ouer of a great depth and current At the time of his comming the Indians had made an end of the bridge which was made of timber laid one tree after another and on one side it had a course of stakes higher then the bridge for them that passed to take hold on The Cacique of Casqui came to the Gouernour and brought his people with him The Gouernour sent word by an Indian to the Cacique of Pacaha that though hee were enemie to the Cacique of Casqui and though hee were there yet he would doe him no disgrace nor hurt if he would atteÌ„d him peaceablie and embrace his friendship but rather would intreate him as a brother The Indian which the Gouernour sent came againe and said that the Cacique made none account of that which hee told him but fled with all his men out at the other side of the towne Presentlie the Gouernour entred and ran before with the horsemen that way by which the Indians fled and at another towne distant a quarter of a league from thence Another towne they tooke many Indians and assoone as the horsemen had taken them they deliuered them to the Indians of Casqui whom because they were their enemies with much circumspection and reioycing they brought to the towne where the Christians were and the greatest griefe they had was this that they could not get leaue to kill them There were found in the towne many mantles Mantles Deeres skins L on s skinnes â—eares skins and Ca s skinnes and Deere skinnes Lions skins and Beares skinnes and many Cats skins Many came so farre poorely apparrelled and there they clothed themselues of the mantles they made them cotes and cassocks and some made gownes and lined them with Cats skins and likewise their cassocks Of the Deeres skinnes some made them also ierkins shirts hose and shooes and of the Beare skinnes they made them very good clokes for no water could pierce them There were targets of raw oxe hides found there Targets of raw oxe hides with which hides they armed their horses CHAP. XXIIII How the Cacique of Pacaha came peaceablie to the Gouernour and the Cacique of Casqui absented himselfe and came againe to make his excuse and how the Gouernour made them both friends VPon Wednesday the 19. of Iune the Gouernour entred into Pacaha Pacaha a very great towne beset with towers He lodged in the towne where the Cacique vsed to reside which was very great walled and beset with towers and many loopeholes were in the towers and wall And in the towne was great store of old Maiz and great quantitie of new in the fields Within a league and halfe a league were great townes all walled Where the Gouernour was lodged Great walled â—ownes was a great lake that came neere vnto the wall and it entred into a ditch that went round about the towne wanting but a little to enuiron it round From the lake to the great Riuer was made a weare by the which the fish came into it which the Cacique kept for his recreation and sport with nets Nets found that were found in the towne they tooke as much as they would and tooke they neuer so much there was no want perceiued There was also great store of fish in many other lakes that were thereabout but it was soft and not so good as that which came from the Riuer and the most of it was different from the fresh water fish of Spaine The diuers sorts of excellent fish in Rio Grande There was a fish which they called Bagres the third part of it was head and it had on both sides the gilles and along the sides great pricks like very sharpe aules those of this kind that were in the lakes were as big as pikes and in the Riuer there were some of an hundred and of an hundred and fiftie pounds weight and many of them were taken with the hooke There was another fish like barbilles and another like breames headed like a delicate fish called in Spaine besugo betweene red and gray This was there of most esteeme There was another fish called a pele fish it had a snout of a cubit long and at the end of the vpper lip it was made like a peele There was another fish like a Westerne shad And all of them had scales except the bagres and the pele fish There was another fish which sometimes the Indians brought vs of the bignes of an hog they called it the Pereo fish it had rowes of teeth beneath and aboue The Cacique of Casqui sent many times great presents of fish mantles and skinnes Hee told the Gouernour that he would deliuer the Cacique of Pacaha into his hands He went to Casqui and sent many canoes vp the Riuer and came himselfe by land with many of his people The Gouernour with 40. horsemen and 60. footemen tooke him along with him vp the Riuer And his Indians which were in the canoes discouered where the Cacique of Pacaha was in a little Island situated betweene two armes of the Riuer And fiue Christians entred into a canoe wherein Don Antonio Osorio went before to see what people the Cacique had with him There were in the Isle fiue or sixe thousand soules Fiue or sixe thousand Indians And assoone as they saw them supposing that the Indians which were in the other canoes were also Christians the Cacique and certaine which were in three canoes which they had there with theÌ„ fled in great haste to the other side of the Riuer The rest with great feare and danger lept into the Riuer where much people was drowned especially women and little children Presently the Gouernor which was on land not knowing what had happened to Don Antonio and those that went with him commanded the Christians with all speed to enter with the Indians of
fell downe and so he carried him to the Gouernour and as hee asked him wherefore he came not being able to speake hee fell downe dead The night following the Gouernor commanded a souldiour to giue the alarme Great prouidence and to say that he had seene Indians to see how ready they would be to answere the alarme And hee did so sometimes as well there as in other places when he thought that his men were carelesse reprehended such as were slacke And as well for this cause as in regard of doing their dutie when the alarme was giuen euery one sought to be the first that should answere They staied in Autiamque three moneths with great plentie of Maiz French beanes Walnuts Prunes and Conies Three moneths abode in Autiamque which vntill that time they knew not how to catch And in Autiamque the Indians taught them how to take them which was with great sprindges which lifted vp their feete from the ground And the snare was made with a strong string whereunto was fastened a knot of a cane which ran close about the neck of the conie because they should not gnaw the string They tooke many in the fields of Maiz especiallie when it freesed or snowed Frost and snow A moneth of snow The Christians staied there one whole moneth so inclosed with snow that they went not out of the towne and when they wanted firewood the Gouernour with his horsemen going and comming many times to the wood which was two crossebow shot from the towme made a path-way whereby the footemen went for wood In this meane space some Indians which went loose killed many conies with their giues and with arrowes These conies were of two sorts Conies of two sorts some were like those of Spaine and the other of the same colour and fashion and as big as great Hares longer and hauing greater loines CHAP. XXVIII How the Gouernour went from Autiamque to Nilco and from thence to Guacoya VPon Monday the sixt of March 1542 March 6. 1542. the Gouernour departed from Autiamque to seeke Nilco which the Indians said was neere the Great riuer with determination to come to the Sea and procure some succour of men and horses for hee had now but three hundred men of warre and fortie horses and some of them lame which did nothing but helpe to make vp the number and for want of iron they had gone aboue a yeere vnshod and because they were vsed to it in the plâ—ine countrie Tâ—e deaâ—h of Ioâ—n Oâ—tiâ— anâ— the great 〈◊〉 him being he â—â—â—erpâ—etour it did them no great harme Iohn Ortiz diâ—d in Autiamque which grieued the Gouernor very much because tâ—at without an Interpretour hee feared to enter farre into the land where he might be lost From thence forward a youth that was taken in Cutifachiqui did serue for Interpretour which had by that tâ—me learned somewhat of the Christians language The death of Iohn Ortiz was so great a mischiefe for the discouering inward or going out of the land that to learne of the Indians that which in foure words hee deâ—lâ—red they needed a whole day with the youth and most commonly hee vnderstood quite contrarie that wâ—ich was asked him whereby it often happenâ—â— that the way that they went one day and sometimes two or three daies they turned backe and went astray through the wood here and there The Gouernour spent ten daies in trauelling from Autiamque to a prouince called Ayays Ayays A Riuer and came to a towne that stood neere the Riuer that passeth by Cayas and Autiamque There hee commanded a barge to be made wherewith he passed the Riuer When he had passed the Riuer there fell out such weather that foure daies he could not trauell for snow Great snow about the twentith of March. Assoone as it gaue ouer snowing he went three daies iourney through a Wildernesse and a countrie so low and so full of lakes and euill waies that hee trauelled one time a whole day in water sometimes knee deepe sometimes to the stirrup and somtimes they swamme He came to a towne called Tutelpinco abandoned and without Maiz Tutelpinco there passed by it a lake that entred into the riuer A great lake which carried a great streame and force of water Fiue Christians passing ouer it in a periagua which the Gouernour had sent with a Captaine the periagua ouerset some tooke hold on it some on the trees that were in the lake One Francis Sebastian an honest man of Villa noua de Barca Rota was drowned there The Gouernour went a whole day along the lake seeking passage and could finde none nor any way that did passe to the other side Comming againe at night to the towne hee found two peaceable Indians which shewed him the passage and which way hee was to goe There they made of canes and of the timber of houses thatched with canes rafts wherewith they passed the lake Rafts wherewith they passed the lake They trauelled three daies and came to a towne of the territorie of Nilco called Tianto Tianto Thâ—re they tooke thirtie Indians and among them two principall men of this towne The Gouernour sent a Captaine with horsemen and footmen before to Nilco because the Indians might haue no time to carrie away the prouision They passed through three or foure great townes Three or â—â—uâ—e great â—â—â—â—es and in the towne where the Cacique was resident which was two leagues from the place where the Gouernour remained they found many Indians with their bowes and arrowes in manner as though they would haue staied to fight which did compasse the towne and assoone as they saw the Christians come neere them without misdoubting them they set the Caciques house on fire and sled ouer a lake that passed neere the towne through which the horses could not passe The next day being Wednesday the 29. of March March 29. the Gouernour came to Nilco Nilco he lodged with all his men in the Caciques towne which stood in a plaine field which was inhabited for the space of a quarter of a league and within a league and halfe a league were other very great townes Vâ—rie great townes wherein was great store of Maiz of French beanes of Walnuts and Prunes This was the best inhabited countrie The beâ—t Counâ—rie of Flâ—rida that was seene in Florida and had most store of Maiz except Coça and Apalache There came to the campe an Indian accompanied with others and in the Caciques name gaue the Gouernour a mantle of Marterns skinnes Mâ—râ—erns â—kinnes A cordon of perles and a cordon of perles The Gouernour gaue him a few small Margarites which are certaine beades much esteemed in Peru and other things wherewith he was very well contented He promised to returne within two daies but neuer came againe but on the contrarie the Indians came by night in canoes and carried away all the Maiz
smal towne subiect to the Lord of that prouince The Campe pitched hard by a lake of salt water and that euening they made some salt there The day following hee lodged betweene two mountaines in a thinne groue of wood Salt made here The next day hee came to a small towne called Pato Pato The fourth day after his departure from Aguacay he came to the first habitation of a prouince called Amaye Amaye There an Indian was taken which said that from thence to Naguatex was a day and a halfes iourney which they trauelled finding all the way inhabited places Hauing passed the peopled countrie of Amaye 〈◊〉 on Saturday the 20. of Iulie they pitched their Campe at noone betweene Amaye and Naguatex along the corner of a groue of very faire trees In the same place certaine Indians were discouered which came to view them The horsemen went out to them and killed six and tooke two whom the Gouernour asked wherefore they came They said to know what people hee had and what order they kept and that the Cacique of Naguatex their Lord had sent them and that he with other Caciques which came to aide him determined that day to bid him battell While they were occupied in these questions and answeres there came many Indians by two waies in two squadrons and when they saw they were descried giuing a great crie they assaulted the Christians each squadron by it selfe but seeing what resistance the Christians made them they turned their backes and betooke themselues to flight in which many of them lost their liues and most of the horsemen following them in chase carelesse of the Camp other two squadrons of Indians which lay in ambush set vpon the Christians that were in the Campe which also they resisted who also had their reward as the first After the flight of the Indians and that the Christians were retired they heard a great noise a crossebow shot from the place where they were The Gouernour sent twelue horsemen to see what it was They found sixe Christians foure footmen and two horsemen among many Indians the horsemen defending the footmen with great labour These being of them that chased the first two squadrons had lost themselues and comming to recouer the Campe fell among those with whom they were fighting and so they and those that came to succour theÌ„ slew many of the Indians and brought one aliue to the Campe whom the Gouernour examined who they were that came to bid him battell He told him that they were the Cacique of Naguatex and of Amaye and another of a prouince called Hacanac Hacanac a Lord of great countries and many subiects and that the Cacique of Naguatex came for Captaine and chiefest of them all The Gouernour commanded his right arme and nose to be cut off and sent him to the Cacique of Naguatex charging him to tell him that the next day hee would bee in his countrey to destroy him and if hee would withstand his entrance hee should stay for him That night he lodged there and the next day hee came to the habitation of Naguatex Naguatex which was very scattering he inquired where the Caciques chiefe towne was They told him that it was on the other side of a Riuer A Riuer that passed thereby hee trauelled thitherward and came vnto it and on the other side hee saw many Indians that taried for him making shew as though they would defend the passage And because hee knew not whether it could bee waded nor where the passage was and that some Christians and horses were hurt that they might haue time to recouer he determined to rest certaine daies in the towne where he was So hee pitched his campe a quarter of a league from the Riuer because the weather was very hot neere vnto the towne in a thinne groue of very faire and hie trees neere a brookes side and in that place were certaine Indians taken whom hee examined whether the Riuer were wadeable or no 〈◊〉 They said yea at some times and in some places Within ten daies after he sent two Captaines with fifteene horsemen a peece vpward and downe the Riuer with Indians to shew them where they should goe euer to see what habitation was on the other side And the Indians withstood them both defending the passage of the Riuer as farre as they were able but they passed in despite of them They passe the Riuer and on the other side of the Riuer they saw great habitation and great store of victuals and with these newes returned to the Camp CHAP. XXXIII How the Cacique of Naguatex came to visite the Gouernour and how the Gouernour departed from Naguatex and came to Nondacao THe Gouernour sent an Indian from Naguatex where hee lay to command the Cacique to come to serue and obey him and that hee would forgiue him all that was past and if he came not that he would seeke him and giue him such punishment as he had deserued for that which he had done against him Within two daies the Indian returned said that the Cacique would come the next day which the same day when he came sent many Indians before him among whom â—here were some principall men hee sent them to see what countenance they found in the Gouernour to resolue with himselfe whether hee should goe or not The Indians let him vnderstand that he was comming and went away presently and the Cacique came within two houres accompanied with many of his men they came all in a ranke one before another on both sides leauing a lane in the middest where hee came They came where the Gouernour was all of them weeping after the manner of Tulla Tulla not far from Naguatex Eastwaâ—d which was not farre from thence toward the East The Cacique made his due obedience and this speech following Right high and mightie Lord whom all the world ought to serue and obey I was bold to appeare before your Lordship hauing committed so heinous and abominable an act as only for me to haue imagined deserued to be punished trusting in your greatnes that although I deserue to obtaine no pardon yet for your owne sake only you will vse clemencie toward me considering how small I am in comparison of your Lordship and not to think vpon my weaknesses which to my griefe and for my greater good I haue knowne And I beleeue that you and yours are immortall and that your Lordship is Lord of the land of nature seeing that you subdue all things and they obey y u euen the very hearts of men For when I beheld the slaughter and destruction of my men in the battell which through mine ignoraÌ„ce and the counsell of a brother of mine which died in the same I gaue your Lordship presently I repented me in my heart of the error which I had committed and desired to serue and obey you and to this end I come that your Lordship may chastise
The Riuer of Daycao which seeâ—â—th to be Râ—o del oro they came to the Riuer which the Indians had told them of Ten horsemen which the Gouernour had sent before passed ouer the same and went in a way that led to the Riuer and lighted vpon a companie of Indians that dwelt in verie little cabins who assoone as they saw them tooke themselues to flight leauing that which they had all which was nothing but miserie and pouertie The Countrie was so poore that among them all there was not found halfe a peck of Maiz. The horsemen tooke two Indians and returned with them to the Riuer where the Gouernour staied for them He sought to learne of them what habitation was toward the West There was none in the Camp that could vnderstand their language The Gouernour assembled the Captaines and principall persons to determine with their aduice what they should doe And the most part said that they thought it best to returne backe to Rio grande or the Great Riuer of Guachoya because that in Nilco and thereabout was store of Maiz saying that they would make pinaces that winter and the next sommer passe down the Riuer to the seaward in them and comming to the Sea they would goe along the coast to Nueua Espanna For though it seemed a doubtfull thing and difficult by that which they had already alleaged yet it was the last remedie they had For by land they could not goe for want of an Interpretour No trauellâ—ng by land without an interpretour And they held that the countrie beyond the Riuer of Daycao where they were was that which Cabeça de Vaca mentioned in his relation that he passed of the Indians which liued like the Alarbes hauing no setled place and fed vpon Tunas and rootes of the fields and wilde beasts that they killed Which if it were so if they should enter into it and finde no victuals to passe the winter they could not chuse but perish For they were entred alreadie into the beginning of October and if they staied any longer they were not able to returne for raine and snowes nor to sustaine themselues in so poore a countrey The Gouernour that desired long to see himselfe in a place where hee might sleepe his full sleep rather then to conquer and gouerne a countrie where so many troubles presented themselues presently returned back that same way that he came CHAP. XXXV How they returned to Nilco and came to Minoya where they agreed to make ships to depart out of the land of Florida WHen that which was determined was published in the Campe there were many that were greatly grieued at it for they held the Sea voyage as doubtfull for the euill meanes they had and of as great danger as the trauelling by land and they hoped to finde some rich countrie before they came to the land of the Christians by that which Cabeça de Vaca had told the Emperour and that was this That after hee had found clothes made of cotton wooll Gold siluer and prâ—ciou◠〈…〉 hee saw gold and siluer and stones of great value And they had not yet come whâ—re hee had been For vntill that place hee alwaies trauelled by the Sea coast and they trauelled farre within the land and that going toward the West of necessitie they should come where hee had been For he said That in a certain place he trauelled many daies and entred into the land toward the North. And in Guasco they had alreadie found some Turkie stones Tuâ—kie stone and man les 〈…〉 and mantles of cotton wooll which the Indians signified by signes that they had from the West and that holding that course they should draw neere to the land of the Christians But though they were much discontented with it and it grieued many to goe backward which would rather haue aduentured their liues and haue died in the land of Florida then to haue gone poore out of it yet were they not a sufficient part to hinder that which was determined because the principall men agreed with the Gouernour And afterward there was one that said hee would put out one of his owne eyes to put out another of Luis de Moscoso because it would grieue him much to see him prosper because aswell himself as others of his friends had crossed that which hee durst not haue done seeing that within two daies hee should leaue the gouernment From Daycao where now they were to Rio grande or the Great Riuer was 150 leagues 150 leagues betweene the Riuer of Daycao and Rio grande which vnto that place they had gone Westward And by the way as they returned backe they had much adoe to find Maiz to eate for where they had passed the countrey was destroyed and some little Maiz that was left the Indians had hidden The townes which in Naguatex Naguatex they had burned whereof it repented them were repaired againe and the houses full of Maiz. This countrie is well inhabited and plentifull In that place are vessels made of clay Fine earthen vessels which differ very little from those of Estremoz or Monte-mor In Chaguate Chaguate the Indians by commandement of the Cacique came peaceably and said that the Christian which remained there would not come The Gouernour wrote vnto him and sent him inke and paper that he might answere The substance of the words of the letter was to declare vnto him his determination which was to goe out of the land of Florida and to put him in remembrance that he was a Christian that hee would not remaine in the subiection of Infidels that hee pardoned him the fault which he had done in going away to the Indians that hee should come vnto him and if they did stay him that hee would aduertise him thereof by writing The Indian went with the letter and came again without any more answere then on the back side his name and his seale that they might know he was aliue The Gouernour sent twelue horsemen to seeke him but he which had his spies so hid himselfe that they could not find him For want of Maiz the Gouernour could not stay any longer to seeke him Hee departed from Chaguete and passed the Riuer by Aays Aâ—ys going downe by it hee found a towne called Chilano Câ—ilaâ—o which as yet thâ—y had not seen They came to Nilco Nâ—lâ—â— found so little Maiz as could not suffice till they made their ships because the Christians being in Guachoya in the seede time the Indians for feare of them durst not come to sow the grounds of Nilco and they knew not thereabout any other countrie where any Maiz was and that was the most fruitfull soile that was thereaway and where they had most hope to finde it Euery one was confounded and the most part thought it bad câ—unsâ—ll to come backe from the Riuer of Daycao and not to haue followed their fortune going that way that went ouer land For by
Sea it seemed impossible to saue themselues vnlesse God would worke a miracle for them for there was neither Pilot nor Sea-chart neither did they know where the Riuer entred into the Sea neither had they notice of it neither had they any thing wherewith to make sailes nor any store of Enequem which is a grasse whereof they make Okam which grew there and that which they found they saued to calke the Pinaces withall neither had they any thing to pitch them withall neither could they mâ—ke ships of such substance but that any storme would put theÌ„ in great danger and they feared much it would fall out with them as it did with Pamphilo de Naruaez which was cast away vpon that coast And aboue all other it troubled them most that they could finde no Maiz for without it they could not bee sustained nor could doe any thing that they had neede of All of them were put to great confusion Their chiefe remedy was to commit themselues to God and to beseeeh him that he would direct them the way that they might saue their liues And it pleased him of his goodnesse that the Indians of Nilco came peaceablie and told them that two daies iourney from thence neere vnto the Great Riuer were two townes whereof the Christians had no notice and that the prouince was called Minoya and was a fruitfull soile that whether at this present there was any Maiz or no they knew not because they had warre with them but that they would be very glad with the fauour of the Christians to goe and spoyle them The Gouernour sent a Captaine thither with horsemen and footmen and the Indians of Nilco with him Hee came to Minoya Minoya Two great â—ownes and found two great townes seated in a plaine and open soile halfe a league distant one in sight of another and in them he tooke many Indians and found great store of Maiz. Presently he lodged in one of them and sent word to the Gouernour what hee had found wherewith they were all exceeding glad They departed from Nilco in the beginning of December Thâ— beginning of December and all that way and before from Chilano they endured much trouble for they passed through many waters and many times it rained with a Northren winde Raine wiâ—h Northren wind â—xceeding cold and was exceeding cold so that they were in the open field with water ouer and vnderneath them and when at the end of their daies iourney they found drie ground to rest vpon they gaue great thanks to God With this trouble almost all the Indians that serued them died And after they were in Minoya many Christians also died and the most part were sicke of great and dangerous diseases which had a spice of the lethargie At this place died Andrew de Vasconcelos The death of Andrew Vasconcelos and two Portugals of Eluas which were very neere him which were brethren and by their surname called Sotis The Christians lodged in one of the townes which they liked best which was fensed about and distant a quarter of a league from the Great Riuer The Maiz that was in the other towne was brought thither and in all it was esteemed to bee 6000. hanâ—gs or bushels And there was the best timber to make ships that they had seene in all the land of Florida wherefore all of them gaue God great thankes for so singular a fauour and hoped that that which they desired would take effect which was that they might safely bee conducted into the land of the Christians CHAP. XXXVI How there were seuen Brigandines builded and how they departed from Minoya ASsoone as they came to Minoya the Gouernor commanded them to gather all the chaines together which euerie one had to lead Indians in and to gather al the yron which they had for their prouision and al the rest that was in the Camp and to set vp a forge to make nailes and commanded them to cut downe timber for the brigandines And a Portugall of Ceuta who hauing bin a prisoner in Fez had learned to saw timber with a long saw which for such purposes they had carried with them did teach others which helped him to saw timber And a Genowis whom it pleased God to preserue for without him they had neuer come out of the countrie for there was neuer another that could make ships but hee with foure or fiue other Biscaine carpenters which hewed his plancks and other timbers made the brigandines And two calkers the one of Genua the other of Sardinia did calke them with the tow of an hearb like hempe Enequen is an herbe like Hempe whereof before I haue made mention which there is named Enequen And because there was not enough of it they calked them with the flaxe of the Countrie Flaxe of the countrie and with the mantles which they rauelled for that purpose A cooper which they had among them fell sicke and was at the point of death and there was none other that had any skill in that trade it pleased God to send him his health And albeit he was verie weake and could not labour yet 15. daies before they departed he made for euery brigandine two halfe hogs heads which the mariners call quarterets because foure of them hold a pipe of water The Indians which dwelt two daies iournie aboue the Riuer in a Prouince called Taguanate Taguanate two daies â—â—urney aboue Minoya and likewise those of Nilco and Guacoya and others their neighbours seeing the brigandines in making thinking because theiâ— places of refuge are in the water that they were to goe to seeke them and because the Gouernour demanded mantles of them as necessarie for sailes came many times and brought many mantles and great store of fish And for certaine it seemed that God was willing to fauour them in so great necessitie moouing the minds of the Indians to bring them for to goe to take them they were neuer able For in the towne where they were assoone as winter came in they were so inclosed and compassed with water that they could go no farther by land then a league a league an half And if they would go father they could carrie no horses The great vse of horses without theÌ„ they were not able to fight with the Indians because they were many and so many for so many on foote they had the aduantage of them by water and by land because they were more apt and lighter and by reason of the disposition of the Countrie which was according to their desire for the vse of their warre They brought also some cords and those which wanted for cables were made of the barkes of Mulberrie trees Mulberrie trees They made stirrops of wood made ankers of their stirrops In the moneth of March when it had not rained a moneth before the Riuer grew so big that it came to Nilco The mightie increasiâ—g of tâ—e 〈◊〉 for
two monâ—ths â—pace to wit all March anâ— Apâ—â—ll which was nine leagues off and on the other side the Indians said that it reached other nine leagues into the land In the towne where the Christians were which was somewhat high ground where they could best goe the water reached to the stirrops They made certaine rafts of timber and laid manie boughes vpon them wheron they set their horsâ—s and in the houses they did the like But seeing that nâ—thing preuailed they went vp to the lofts and if they went out of the houses it was in canoes or on horsebacâ— in those places where the ground was hiest So they were two moneths and could doe nothing during which time the Riuer decreased not The Indians ceased not to come vnto the brigantines as they were wont and came in canoes At that time the Gouernour feared they would set vpon him Hee commanded his men to take an Indian secretly of those that came to the towne and to stay him till the rest were gone and they tooke one The Gouernour commanded him to bee put to torture to make him confesse whether the Indians did practise any treason or no. Hee confessed that the Caciques of Nilco The grand conspiracie of the Indians against the Christians Guachoya Taguanate and others which in al were about 20. Caciques with a great number of people determined to come vpon him and that three daies before they would send a great present of fish to colour their great treason and malice and on the verie day they would send some Indians before with another present And these with those which were our slaues Note well which were of their conspiracie also should set the houses on fire and first of all possesse themselues of the lances which stood at the doores of the houses and the Caciques with all their men should bee neere the towne in ambush in the wood and when they saw the fire kindled should come and make an end of the conquest The Gouernour commanded the Indian to be kept in a chaine and the selfesame day that he spake of there came 30. Indians with fish Hee commanded their right hands to be cut off Thirtie Indians of the Cacique o Guacâ—â—ya haue their righâ— hands cut off and sent them so backe to the Cacique of Guachoya whose men they were He sent him word that he and the rest should come when they would for he desired nothing more and that hee should know that they thought not any thing which he knew not before they thought of it Hereupon they all were put in a very great feare And the Caciques of Nilco and Taguanate came to excuse themselues and a few daies after came he of Guachoya and a principal Indian and his subiect said he knew by certainâ— information That the Caciques of Nilco and Taguanate were agreed to come and make warre vpon the Christians Assoone as the Indians came from Nilco the Gouernour examined them and they confessed it was true Hee deliuered them presently to the principall man of Guachoya which drew them out of the towne and killed them Another day came some from Taguanate The right hands and noses of traitours cut off and confessed it likewise The Gouernour commanded their right hands and noses to be cut off and sent them to the Cacique wherewith they of Guachoya remained very well contented and they came oftentimes with presents of mantles and fish and hogs Hoggâ—s in Floâ—ida which bred in the Countrie of some swine that were lost by the way the last yeere Assoone as the waters were slaked they perswaded the Gouernour to send men to Taguanate They came and brought canoes wherein the footemen were conueied downe the Riuer and a Captaine with horsemen went by land and the Indians of Guachoya which guided him till they came to Taguanate Taguanate taken assaulted the towne and took many men and women and mantles which with those that they had alreadie were sufficient to supplie their want The brigandines being finished in the moneth of Iune Iune The Riuer increaseth but once a were whâ—n the snowes doe meâ—â— in March and Aprill A â—â—â—â—calous â—â—â—ent the Indians hauing told vs That the Riuer increased but once a yeere when the snowes did melt in the time wherein I mentioned it had alreadie increased being now in sommer and hauing not rained a long time it pleased God that the flood came vp to the towne to seeke the brigandines from whence they carried them by water to the Riuer Which if they had gone by land had been in danger of breaking and splitting their keeles and to bee all vndone because that for want of iron the spikes were short and the planckes and timber were very weake The Indians of Minoya during the time that they were there came to serue them being driuen thereunto by necessity that of the Maiz which they had taken from them they would bestow some crummes vpon them And because the Countrie was fertill and the people vsed to feed of Maiz and the Christians had gotten all from them that they had and the people were many they were not able to sustaine themselues Those which came to the towne were so weake and feeble that they had no flesh left on their bones and many came and died neere the towne for pure hunger and weakenesse The Gouernour commanded vpon grieuous punishments to giue them no Maiz. Yet when they saw that the hogges wanted it not and that they had yeelded themselues to serue them considering their miserie and wretchednes hauing pity of theÌ„ they gaue them part of the Maiz which they had And when the time of their embarkment came there was not sufficient to serue their owne turnes That which there was they put into the brigandines and into great canoes tied two and two together They shipped 22. of the best horses that were in the Camp the rest they made dried flesh of and dressed the hogges which they had in like manner They departed from Minoya the second day of Iulie 1543. CHAP. XXXVII As the Christians went downe the great Riuer on their voyage the Indians of Quigalta did set vpon them and what was the successe thereof THe day before they departed from Minoya they determined to dismisse al the men women of the Countrie which they had detained as slaues to serue them saue some hundred little more or lesse which the Gouernour embarked and others whom it pleased him to permit And because there were many men of qualitie whom he could not deny that which he granted to others he vsed a policy saying that they might serue them as long as they were in the Riuer but when they came to the sea they must send them away for want of water because they haâ— but few vessels He told his friends in secret that they should carrie theirs to Nueua Espanna And all those whom hee bare no good will vnto which were the greater number ignorant
infinite swarme of Moskitoes which fell vpon them A swarme of grieuous Mosâ—â—oâ—s which assoone as they had stung the flesh it so infected it as though they had bin venomous In the morning the Sea was asswaged and the wind slaked but not the Muskitoes for the sailes which were white seemed blacke with them in the morning Those which rowed vnlesse others kept them away were not able to row Hauing passâ—d the feare danger of the storme beholding the deformities of their faces and the blowes which they gaue themselues to driue them away one of them laughed at another They met all together in the creek where the two brigandines were which outwent their fellowes There was found a skumme A skumme of the sea like 〈◊〉 called â—â—pee which they call Copee which the Sea casteth vp and it is like pitch wherewith in some places where pitch is wanting they pitch their ships there they pitched their brigandines They rested two daies and then eftsoones proceeded on their voyage They sailed two daies more and landed in a Bay or arme of the Sea Anothâ—r deep â—â—y where they staied two daies The same day that they went from thence sixe men went vp in a canoe toward the head of it and could not see the end of it They put out from thence with a South winde which was against them but because it waâ— little and for the great desire they had to shorten their voyage they put out to sea by force of oares and for all that made very little way with great labour in two daies and went vnder the lee of a small Island A small Island into an arme of the Sea which compassed it about While they were there there fell out such weather that they gaue God many thankes that they had found out such an harbour There was great store of fish in that place Great store of fish which they tooke with nets which they had and hookes Heere a man cast an hooke and a line into the Sea and tied the end of it to his arme and a fish caught it and drew him into the water vnto the necke and it pleased God that hee remembred himselfe of a knife that he had and cut the line with it There they abode fourteene daies Fourteene daies abode â—n this place and at the end of them it pleased God to send them faire weather for which with great deuotion they appointed a procession and went in procession along the strand beseeching God to bring them to a land where they might serue him in better sort CHAP. XLI How they came to the Riuer of Panuco in Nueua Espanna IN all the coast wheresoeuer they digged they found fresh water there they filled their vessels and the procession being ended embarked themselues and going alwaies in sight of the shore they sailed sixe daies Sixe daâ—es sailing Iohn Danusco said that it would doe well to beare out to seaward for he had seene the Sea-card and remembred that from Rio de las Palmas forward the coast did runne from North to South and thitherto they had runne from East to West and in his opinion by his reckoning Rio de las Palmas could not be farre off from where they were That same night they put to sea and in the morning they saw Palme leaues floting 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 â—aues 〈…〉 and the coast which ranne North and South from midday forward they saw great Mountaines which vntill then they had not seene for from this place to Puerto de Spiritu Santo 〈◊〉 North 〈…〉 tâ—e 〈…〉 where they first landed in Florida was a very plaine and low countrey and therfore it cannot be descried vnlesse a man come very neere it By that which they saw they thought that they had ouershot Rio de Palmas that night which is 60 leagues from the Riuer of Panuco which is in Nueua Espanna They assembled all together and some said it was not good to saile by night lâ—st they should ouershoot the Riuer of Panuco and others said it was not well to lose time while it was fauourable and that it could not be so neere that they should passe it that night and they agreed to take away halfe the sailes and so saile all night Two of the brigandines which sailed that night with all their sailes by breake of day had ouershot the Riuer of Panuco without seeing it Of the fiue that came behind the first that came vnto it was that wherein Calderan was Captaine A quarter of a league before they came at it and before they did see it they saw the water muddie and knew it to be fresh water and comming right against the Riuer they saw where it entred into the Sea that the water brake vpon a shold And because there was no man there that knew it they were in doubt whether they should goe in or goe along and they resolued to goe in and before they came vnto the current they went close to the shore and entred into the port and assoone as they were come in they saw Indian men and women apparelled like Spaniards whom they asked in what countrey they were They answered in Spanish that it was the Riuer of Panuco The Riuer of Panuco the towne 15. leagues from the mouth of the Riuer and that the towne of the Christians was 15 leagues vp within the land The ioy that all of them receiued vpon these newes cannot sufficiently be expressed for it seemed vnto them that at that instant they were borne again And many went on shore and kissed the ground and kneeling on their knees with lifting vp their hands and eyes to heauen they all ceased not to giue God thankes Those which came after assoone as they saw Calderan come to an anchor with his brigandine in the Riuer presently went thither and came into the hauen The other two brigandines which had ouershot the place put to sea to returne backe to seeke the rest and could not doe it because the winde was contrarie and the Sea growne they were afraid of being cast away and recouering the shore they cast anchor While they rode there a storme arose and seeing that they could not abide there much lesse endure at Sea they resolued to runne on shore and as the brigandines were but small so did they draw but little water and where they were it was a sandie coast By which occasion the force of their sailes draue them on shore without any hurt of them that were in them As those that were in the port of Panuco at this time were in great ioy so these felt a double griefe in their hearts for they knew not what was become of their fellowes nor in what countrey they were and feared it was a countrey of Indian enemies They landed two leagues below the port and when they saw themselues out of the danger of the Sea euery one tooke of that which he had as much as he could carrie on
cost aboue 30. ducats As many as were willing to come to the Viceroyes house he commanded to be apparelled and such as were persons of qualitie sate at his table and there was a table in his house for as many of the meaner sort as would come to it and he was presently informed who euery one was to shew him the courtesie that he deserued Some of the CoÌ„querors did set both gentlemen and clownes at their owne table and many times made the seruant sit cheeke by cheeke by his master and chiefly the officers and men of base condition did so for those which had better education did enquire who euery one was and made difference of persons but all did what they could with a good will and euery one told them whom they had in their houses that they should not trouble themselues nor thinke themselues the worse to take that which they gaue them for they had bin in the like case and had bin relieued of others and that this was the custome of that countrey God reward them all and God grant that those which it pleased him to deliuer out of Florida and to bring againe into Christendome may serue him and vnto those that died in that countrey and vnto all that beleeue in him and confesse his holy faith God for his mercie sake grant the kingdome of heauen Amen CHAP. XLIV Which declareth some diuersities and particularities of the land of Florida and the fruites and beasts and fowles that are in that Countrie FRom the Port de Spiritu Santo Port de Spiritu Santo is in 29. degrees on the West side of Florida where they landed when they entred into Florida to the Prouince of Ocute which may bee 400. leagues little more or lesse is a verie plaine Countrie and hath many lakes and thicke woods and in some places they are of wild pinetrees and is a weake soile There is in it neither Mountaine nor hill The Countrie of Ocute is more fat and fruitfull it hath thinner woods and very goodly medows vpon the Riuers FroÌ„ Ocute Ocute to Cutifachiqui Cuâ—ifachiqui may be 130. leagues 80. leagues thereof are desert and haue many groues of wild Pine trees Through the wildernesse great Riuers doe passe From Cutifachiqui to Xuala Xuala may be 250. leagues it is al an hilly Countrie Cutifachiqui and Xuala stand both in plaine ground hie and haue goodly medows on the Riuers From thence forward to Chiaha Coça and Talise Chiaha Coça and Talise is plaine ground dry and fat and very plentifull of Maiz. From Xuala to Tascaluça Tascaluça may be 250. leagues From Tascaluça to Rio Grande or the Great Riuer may be 300. leagues the Countrie is low and full of lakes From Rio Grande Rio Grande forward the Countrie is hier and more champion and best peopled of all the land of Florida And along this Riuer from Aquixo Aquixo to Pacaha and Coligoa are 150. leagues the Countrie is plaine and the woods thinne and in some places champion very fruitfull and pleasant From Coligoa Coligoa to Autiamque are 250. leagues of hillie Countrie From Autiamque Aâ—â—â—â—quâ— to Aguaâ—ay â—â—â—acay may be 230. leagues of plaine ground From Aguacay to the Riuâ—r of Daycao 120. leagues all hillie Countrie From the Port de Spiritu Santo vnto Apalache they trauelled from East to Wâ—st 〈◊〉 72. and Northwest From Cutifachiqui to Xuala from South to North. From Xuala to Coça from East to West â—rom Coça to Tascaluça and to Rio Grande as far as the Prouinces of Quizquiz and Aquixo from East to West From Aquixo to Pacaha to the North. From Pacaha to Tulla from East to West and from Tulla to Autiamque from North to South to the Prouince of Guachoya and Daycao The bread which they eate in all the land of Florida is of Maiz Maâ—z which is like course millet And this Maiz is common in all the Islandes and West Indies from tâ—e Antiles forward There are also in Florida great store of Walnuts 〈…〉 and Plummes Mulberries and Grâ—pes They sow and gather their Maiz euery one thâ—â—r sâ—uerall crop The fruits are common to all for they grow abroad in the open fields in great abundance without any neede of planting or dressing Whâ—re there be Mountaines 〈◊〉 there be chestnuts they are somewhat smaller then the chestnuts of Spaine FroÌ„ Rio Graâ—de Westward the Walnuts differ from those that grow more Eastward 〈…〉 for they are soft and like vnto Acornes And those which grow from Rio Grande to Puerto del Spiâ—itu Santo for the most part are hard â—nd the trees and Walnuts in shew like those of Spaine There is a fruit through all the Countrie which groweth on a plant likâ— Ligoacan which the Indians doe plant 〈…〉 The fruit is like vnto Peares Riall it hath a verie good smell and an excellent taste There groweth another plant in the open field which beareth a fruit like vnto strawberries Strawbâ—rries close to the ground which hath a verie good taste The Plummes are of two kindâ—s 〈◊〉 of two â—â—â—ds red and gray of the making and bignesse of nuts and haue three or foure stones in them These are better then all the plummes of Spaine and they make farre better Prunes of them In the Grapes there is onelie want of dressing for though they bee big they haue a great kirnell All other fruits are very perfect and lesse hurtfull then those of Spaine There are in Florida many Beares and Lyons Beasts Wolues Deere Dogges Cattes Martems and Conies There be many wild Hennes as big as Turkies Fowles Partridges small like those of Africa Cranes Duckes Pigeons Thrushes and Sparrowes There are certaine Blacke birds bigger then Sparrows and lesser then Stares There are Gosse Hawkes Falcons Ierfalcons and all Fowles of prey that are in Spaine The Indians are well proportioned Those of the plaine Countries are taller of bodie and better shapen then those of the Mountaines Those of the Inland haue greater store of Maiz and commodities of the Countrie then those that dwell vpon the sea coast The Countrie along the sea coast is barren and poore and the people more warlike The coast runneth from Puerto del Spiritu Santo to Apalache Eâ—st and West and from Apalache to Rio de las Palmas from East to West from Râ—o de las Palmas vnto Nueua Espanna from North to South It is a gentle coast but it hath many sholdes and great shelues of sand Deo gratias This Relation of the discouerie of Florida was printed in the house of Andrew de Burgos Printer and Gentleman of the house of my Lord Cardinall the Infante It was finished the tenth of Februarie in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and seuen in the noble and most loyall citie of Euora FINIS
doe before They came first to that brigandine wherein Calderon went for Captaine and was in the rereward and at the first volie of arrowes they wounded 25 men 25. Spaniards wounded There were only foure armed men in this brigandine these did stand at the brigandines side to defend it Those that were vnarmed seeing how they hurt them left their oares and went vnder the deck whereupon the brigandine began to crosse and to goe where the current of the streame carried it One of the armed men seeing this without the commandement of the Captaine made a footman to take an oare and stirre the brigandine hee standing before him and defending him with his target The great vse oâ— large targets The Indians came no neerer then a bowshot from whence they offended and were not offended receiuing no hurt for in euery brigandine was but one crossebow and those which wee had were very much out of order So that the Christians did nothing else but stand for a butte to receiue their arrowes Hauing left this brigandine they went to another and fought with it halfe an houre and so from one to another they fought with them all The Christians had mattes to lay vnder them which were double and so close and strong that no arrow went thorow them And assoone as the Indians gaue them leisure Strong mats a good defence against arrowes they fensed the brigandines with them And the Indians seeing that they could not shoote leuell shot their arrowes at randon vp into the aire which fell into the brigandines and hurt some of the men and not therewith contented they sought to get to them which were in the canoes with the horses Those of the brigandines enuironed them to defend them and tooke them among them Thus seeing themselues much vexed by them and so wearied that they could no longer endure it they determined to trauell all the night following thinking to get beyond the countrie of Quigalta and that they would leaue them but when they thought least of it supposing they had now left them they heard very neere them so great outcries that they made them deafe and so they followed vs all that night and the next day till noone by which time we were come into the countrie of others Another Prouince whom they desired to vse vs after the same manner and so they did The men of Quigalta returned home and the other in fiftie canoes fought with vs a whole day and a night and they entred one of the brigandines that came in the rereward by the canoe which she had at her sterne and tooke away a woman which they found in it and afterward hurt some of the men of the brigandines Those which came with the horses in the canoes being wearie with rowing night and day lingered behind and presently the Indians came vpon them and they of the brigandines tarried for them The Gouernour resolued to goe on shore and to kill the horses because of the slow way which they made because of them Assoone as they saw a place conuenient for it they went thither and killed the horses Dried horse-flesh for food and brought the flesh of them to drie it aboord Foure or fiue of them remained on shore aliue the Indians went vnto them after the Spaniards were embarked The horses were not acquainted with them and began to neigh and runne vp and downe in such sort that the Indians for feare of them leaped into the water and getting into their canoes went after the brigandines shooting cruelly at them They followed vs that euening and the night following till the next day at tenne of the clocke and then returned vp the Riuer Presently from a small towne â—â—al towne that stood vpon the Riuer came seuen canoes and followed vs a little way downe the Riuer shooting at vs but seeing they were so few that they could doe vs but little harme they returned to their towne From thence forward vntill they came to the Sea 〈◊〉 â—â—â—led 〈…〉 â—he Riâ—â—hâ—ch is â—bout 250 lâ—â—guâ—s they had no encounter They sailed downe the Riuer seuenteene daies which may be two hundred and fifty leagues iourney little more or lesse and neere vnto the Sea the Riuer is diuided into two armes each of them is a league and an halfe broad CHAP. XXXIX How they came vnto the sea and what happened vnto them in all their voiage HAlfe a league before they came to the sea they came to anker to rest themselues thereabout a day for they were very weary with rowing and out of heart For by the space of many daies they had eaten nothing but parched and sodden Maiz which they had by allowance euery day an headpeece ful by strike for euery three meÌ„ While they rode there at anker seuen canoes of Indians came to set vpoÌ„ those which they brought with them The Gouernour commanded armed men to go aboord them and to driue them farther off They came also against them by land through a thick wood and a moorish ground and had staues with very sharp forked heads made of the bones of fishes and fought verie valiantly with vs which went out to encounter them And the other that came in canoes with their arrowes staied for them that came against them and at their comming both those that were on land and those in the canoes wounded some of vs And seeing vs come neere them they turned their backs and like swift horses among footemen gat away from vs making some returnes and reuniting themselues together going not past a bow shot off for in so retiring they shot without receiuing any hurt of the Christians For though they had some bowes yet they could not vse them and brake their armes with rowing to ouertake them And the Indians easily in their compasse went with their canoes staying and wheeling about as it had been in a skirmish perceiuing that those that came against them could not offend them And the more they stroue to come neere them the more hurt they receiued Assoone as they had driuen them farther off they returned to the brigandines They staied two daies there And departed from thence vnto the place where the arme of the Riuer entreth into the sea They sounded in the Riuer neere vnto the Sea and found 40. fathoms water They staied there And the Gouernour commanded al and singular persons to speake their minds touching their voiage whether it were best to crosse ouer to Nueua Espanna committing theÌ„selues to the hie sea or whether they should keepe along the coast There were sundry opinions touching this matter wherein Iohn Danusco which presumed much and tooke much vpon him in the knowledge of nauigation and matters of the sea although hee had but little experience mooued the Gouernour with his talke and his opinion was seconded by some others And they affirmed that it was much better to passe by the hie sea and crosse the gulfe which was three of foure