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
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
behalfe to see what his Lordship would command him to doe for he was readie at his commandement The Gouernour and all his companie were verie glad For in no wise could they trauell without an interpretour The Gouernour commanded him to be kept safe and bad him tell the men that came with him that they shuld returne to the Cacique and signifie vnto him that he pardoned him for that which was past and thanked him much for his presents and interpretour which he had sent him and that he would bee glad to see him and that he should come the next day to talke with him After three daies the Cacique came The Cacique of Tulla and 80. Indians with him and himselfe and his men came weeping into the Camp in token of obedience and repentance for the errour passed after the manner of that Countrie Many Oxe hides with wooll on them as oft as sheepes wooll Comara H stor Gener cap. 2â—5 Many Oxen towâ—rd the North. He brought a present of many oxe hides which because the Countrie was cold were verie profitable and serued for couerlets because they were very soft and wolled like sheepe Not farre from thence toward the North were many oxen The Christians saw them not nor came into the Countrie where they were because those parts were euill inhabited and had small store of Maiz where they were bred The Cacique of Tulla made an oration to the Gouernour wherein he excused himselfe and offered him his Countrie subiects and person Aswell this Cacique as the others Tâ—e gâ—eat eloquence oâ— the â—â—dians and all those which came to the Gouernour on their behalfe deliuered their message or speech in so good order that no oratour could vtter the same more eloquentlie CHAP. XXVII How the Gouernour went from Tulla to Autiamque where he passed the winter THe Gouernour enformed himselfe of all the Countrie round about and vnderstood that toward the West was a scattered dwelling and that toward the Southeast were great townes especially in a Prouince called Autiamque tenne daies iournie from Tulla which might be about 80. leagues and that it was a plentiâ—ull Countrie of Maiz. And because winter came on and that they could not trauell two or three moneths in the yeere for cold A winter of twâ— or t ree moneths waters and snow and fearâ—ng that if they should stay so long in the scattered dwelling they could not be susteined and also because the Indians said that neere to Autiamque was a great water and according to their relation the Gouâ—rnour thought it was some arme of the Sea And bâ—cause he now desired to send newes of himselfe to Cuba that some supplie of men horses might be sent vnto him for it was aboue three yeeres since Donna Isabella which was in Hauana or any other person in Chrâ—stendome had heard of him and by this time he had lost 250. men and 150. horses he determined to winter in Autiamque and the next spring to goe to the sea cost and make two brigantines and send one of them to Cuba and the other to Nueua Espanna that that which went in safetie might giue newes of him Hâ—ping with the goods which he had in Cuba to furnâ—â—h hims lfe againe and to attempt the discouery and conquest toward the West for he had not yet come where Cabeça de Vaca had been Thus hauing sent away the two Caciques of Cayas and Tulla he tooke his iournie toward Autiamque Quipana fiue daies â—uâ—â—â—e from Tulâ—a â—ee trauelled fiue daies ouer very rough mountaines and came to a towne called Quipana where no Indians could betaken for the roughnesse of the Countrie and the towne being betweene hilles there was an ambush laid wherewith they tooke two Indians which told them that Autiamque was sixe daies iournie from thence and that there was another Prouince toward the South eight daies iournie off plentifull of Maiz and very well peopleâ— which was called Guahate Guahate But because Autiamque was neerer and the most of the Indians agreed of it the Gouernour made his iournie that way In three daies he came to a towne called Anoixi Anoixi He sent a Captaine before with 30. horsemen and 50. footemen and tooke the Indians carelesse hee tooke many men and women prisoners Within two daies after the Gouernour came to another towne called Catamaya Catamaya and lodged in the fields of the towne Two Indians came with a false message from the Cacique to know his determination Hee bad them tell their Lord that hee should come and speake with him The Indians returned and came no more nor any other message from the Cacique The next day the Christians went to the towne which was without people they tooke as much Maiz as they needed That day they lodged in a wood and the next day they came to Autiâ—mque Au amque siâ—e◠〈◊〉 ournie from Quiâ—ana They found much Maiz laid vp in store and â—râ—nch beanes and walnuts and prunes great store of all sorts They tooke some Indians which were gathering together the stuffe which their wines had â—idden This was a champion Countrie and well inhabited The Gouernour lodged in the best part of the towne and commanded presently to make a fense of timber round about the Campe distant from the houses that the Indians might not hurt them without by fire And measuring the ground by pases hee appointed euery one his part to doe according to the number of Indians which he had presently the timber was brought by them and in three daies there was an inclosure made of very hie and thicke posts thrust into the ground and many railes laid acrosse Hard by this towne passed a Riuer A 〈◊〉 that came out of the Prouince of Cavas and aboue and beneath it was very well peopled Thither came Indians on the Caciques behalfe with a present of mantles and skinnes and an halting Cacique subiect to the Lord of Autiamque Lord of a towne called Tietiquaquo Tietiquaquo came many times to visit the Gouernour and to bring him presents of such as hee had The Cacique of Autiamque sent to know of the Gouernour how long time hee meant to stay in his Countrie And vnderstanding that he meant to stay aboue three daies he neuer sent any more Indians nor any other message but conspired with the lame Cacique to rebell Diuers inrodes were made wherein there were many men and women taken and the lame Cacique among the rest The Gouernour respecting the seruices which he had receiued of him reprehended and admonished him and set him at libertie and gaue him two Indians to carrie him in a chaire vpon their shoulders The Cacique of Autiamque desiring to thrust the Gouernour out of his Countrie set spies ouer him And an Indian comming one night to the gate of the inclosure a souldier that watched espied him and stepping behind the gate as he came in he gaue him such a thrust that he
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
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
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
August he came to the towne where the Cacique vsed to keep his residencie on the way he sent him a present of many mantles and skinnes and not daring to stay for him in the towne he absented himselfe The greatest towne seene in Florida The towne was the greatest that was seene in Florida The Gouernour and his people lodged in the one halfe of it and within few daies seeing the Indians became liars he commanded the other halfe to be burned because it should not bee a shelter for them if they came to assault him by night nor an hindrance to his horsemen for the resisting of them There came an Indian very well accompanied with many Indians saying that hee was the Cacique He deliuered him ouer to the men of his guard to look vnto him There went and came many Indians and brought mantles and skinnes The counterfeit Cacique seeing so little opportunitie to execute his euill thought as hee went one day abroad talking with the Gouernour he shewed him such a paire of heeles that there was no Christian that could ouertake him and he leaped into the Riuer which was a crossebow shot from the towne and assoone as hee was on the other side many Indians that were thereabout making a great crie began to shoote The Gouernour passed presently ouer to them with horsemen and footemen but they durst not tarrie for him Going forward on his way hee came to a towne A towne where the people were fled and a little further to a lake where the horses could not passe and on the otherside were many women The footemen passed and tooke many of them and much spoile The Gouernour came to the Camp And that night was a spie of the Indians taken by them of the watch The Gouernour asked him whether he would bring him where the Cacique was he said he would And he went presently to seeke him with twentie horsemen and fiftie footemen and after he had sought him a day and an halfe hee found him in a strong wood And a souldiour not knowing him gaue him a wound on the head and he cried out that he should not kill him saying that he was the Cacique so he was taken an hundred and fortie of his men with him The Gouernour came againe to Quigaute and willed him to cause his men to come to serue the Christians and staying some daies for their comming and seeing they came not he sent two Captaines euery one his way on both sides of the Riuer with horsemen and footemen They tooke many men and women Now seeing the hurt which they sustained for their rebellion they came to see what the Gouernour would command them and passed to and fro many times and brought presents of cloth Cloth and fish The Cacique and his two wiues were in the lodging of the Gouernour loose and the halbardiers of his guard did keepe them The Gouernour asked them which way the Countrie was most inhabited They said that toward the South downe the Riuer were great townes and Caciques which commanded great Countries Colâ—â—oa nâ—â—â—e to certâ—â—ne mountaines Northwest and much people And that toward the Northwest there was a Prouince neere to certaine mountaines that was called Coligoa The Gouernour and all the rest thought good to goe first to Coligoa saying that peraduenture the mountains would make some difference of soile and that beyond them there might be some gold or siluer As for Quigaute Casqui and Pacaha they were plaine Countries fat grounds and full of good medowes on the Riuers where the Indians sowed large fields of Maiz. From Tascaluca to Rio grande or the great Riuer is about 300. leagues it is a very low Countrie and hath many lakes From Pacaha to Quigaute may bee an hundred leagues The Gouernour left the Cacique of Quigaute in his owne towne And an Indian which was his guide led him through great woods without any way seuen daies iournie through a desert where at euery lodging they lodged in lakes and pooles in verie shold water there was such store of fish that they killed them with cudgils A new way to take fish and the Indians which they carried in chaines with the mud troubled the waters and the fish being therewith as it were astonied came to the top of the water and they tooke as much as they listed The Indians of Coligoa Coligoa had no knowledge of the Christians when they came so neere the towne that the Indians saw them they fled vp a Riuer A Riuer which passed neere the towne and some leaped into it but the Christians went on both sides of the Riuer and tooke them There were many men and women taken and the Cacique with them And by his commandement within three daies came many Indians with a present of mantles and Deeres skinnes and two oxe hides Two oxe hides Store of oxen toward the North. And they reported that 5. or 6. leagues from thence toward the North there were many of these oxen and that because the Countrie was cold it was euill inhabited That the best Countrie which they knew the most plentifull and most inhabited was a Prouince called Cayas lying toward the south â—â—â—m Quiâ—â—â—â—e to Coliâ—â—◠〈◊〉 40. leagues From Quiguate to Coligoa may be 40. leagues This towne of Coligoa stood at the foote of an hill on the bank of a meane Riuer of the bignesse of Cayas the Riuer that passeth by Estremadura It was a fat soile and so plentifull of Maiz that they cast out the old to bring in the new There was also great plentie of French beanes and pompions The French beanes were greater and better then those of Spaine and likewise the pompions and being rosted they haue almost the taste of chestnuts The Cacique of Coligoa gaue a guide to Cayas and staied behind in his owne towne Wee trauelled fiue daies and came to the Prouince of Palisema The Prouince of Palisema The house of the Cacique was found couered with Deeres skinnes of diuers colours and works drawne in them and with the same in manner of carpets was the ground of the house couered The Cacique left it so that the Gouernour might lodge in it in token that he sought peace and his friendship But hee durst not tarrie his comming The Gouernour seeing he had absented himselfe sent a Captaine with horsemen and footemen to seeke him Hee found much people but by reason of the roughnesse of the Countrie he tooke none saue a few women and children The towne was little and scattering and had very little Maiz. For which cause the Gouernour speedilie departed from thence Hee came to another towne called Tatalicoya 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ya hee carried with him the Cacique thereof which guided him to Cayas From Tatalicoya are foure daies iournie to Cayas When hee came to Cayaâ— Câ—â—as and saw the towne scattered hee thought they had told him a lie and that it was not the Prouince of
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
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