taken he was come on his Travels to Napetaca That his Country called Yupaha was govern'd by a Lady whose Town was of a prodigious bigness that she had Tribute paid her by all her Neighbours by some in Goods and by others in Gold Whereupon he described the manner how that Gold was dug how it was melted and refined as if he had seen it done a hundred times or as if the Devil had taught him insomuch that all who understood the manner of working in the Mines averred that it was impossible for him to speak so exactly of it without having seen the same and so the relation of that Indian past for a real Truth because of the circumstances wherewith he confirmed it CHAP. XIII The Governour leaves Palache to go in search of the Province of Yupha and what befel him in that Expedition UPon this encouragement we left Anhayca of Palache on Wednesday the Third of March 1540. no man having any thing in his thoughts but to go in search of the rich Country of â—…upaha The Governour ordered Provisions to be made for threescore Leagues of desart which much incommoded the Foot who were obliged to carry their Victuals on their backs because the Indians that served us going naked and in Irons during the bitter cold of Winter were almost all starved to death After four days march we came to a River where the Governour caused a great Canoe to be made by means whereof Chains were fastned to both sides of the River which served for Cables to bear up the Canoe in passing against the current of the water The Horse swam over by the help of Ropes that pulled them and that labour stopt us a day and a halfs time At length we came to Capachiqui on Saturday the Eleventh of March the Indians were in Arms in all that Country so that five Spaniards being gone to seek Mortars to pound their Maes in in some scattered Cottages met with several Indians who came upon the scout Five of them detached from the rest and attacked us so furiously that a Spaniard ran away and came and gave the allarm in the Camp The most diligent went out to assist their Comrades and found one Christian dead and the other three dangerously wounded but the Indians fled into a swamp to secure themselves from the Horse The Governour leaving Capachiqui past over a a desart Country and came to Toalli the One and twentieth of the Month. In that Country we began to find houses far different from those which hitherto we had seen Those were onely covered with Herbs whereas these of Toalli had for their Roof little Canes placed together like Tile they were very neat some had the walls made of poles so artificially interwoven that they seemed to be built of stone and lime For that being a cold Country every Indian hath a House to live in in the Winter inside and outside made tight with these Poles The door is narrow and low they shut it well in the night-time and kindle a fire within the house which heats it like an Oven so that one hath no need of being covered They have other Habitations for the Summer and Kitchins adjoyning their Houses where they bake their Bread The Granaries wherein they lay up the Maes are raised upon four posts boarded on the sides with a floor made of Canes The Houses of the Caciques and persons of Quality amongst them are to be distinguished not onely by their greatness but also by the large Balconies that they have over the Entry and by seats below made of Canes in the manner of benches Every house hath several Granaries where they lay up what their Subjects and Tenents bring them in for Rent as Maes Stags skins and Mantles of the Country made like little Cassocks of the rind or soft part of the bark of certain Trees nay and some also woven of the thread of a certain Herb which being well beaten becomes like flax These Mantles serve them for Cloaths one they have which covers them from the girdle down below the knee and another on the left shoulder thrown back under the right arm which they wear always abroad in the same manner as the Bohemians do The Indians have never more than one about their shoulders and cover their lower parts with Breeches made of a Stags skin much like to those that are used in Spain The leather is extraordinarily well drest and they give it what colour they please with so perfect a dye that their fire-red colour is not surpassed by the finest Scarlet Their Black is good also and of this they make Shooes they give the same colour to their Mantles with as much perfection We parted from Toalli the Twenty third of March and on Friday the Army came to a little River which they passed upon a Bridge made of one single Tree from which Bennet Fernandez a Portuguese fell into the water and was drowned The Village of Achese was pretty near where the Indians had no intelligence of our march to our view they threw themselves into a little River near the Village but some were taken and amongst these women One of them understood the Language of that Lad who conducted the Governour to â—…upaha which much confirmed the relation he had made because we had passed through Countries where different Languages were spoken nay and some which he understood not The Governour sent one of the Indians whom he had taken to call back the Cacique who was got to the other side of the River He came and made him this following discourse Most High most Mighty and most Excellent Lord things that are rarely seen cause admiration How could we then be affected at the sight of your Lordship and men who were altogether unknown to us mounted upon so furious Beasts as these seem to be and breaking into my Country so impetuously before I knew any thing of your coming This hath appeared to us so extraordinary a thing and hath struck such terrour in our minds that it was not in our power to stay and receive your Lordship with that Honour which is due to so High and Illustrious a Prince But the confidence I have of your Generosity and Virtues makes me hope that you will not onely pardon my fault but gives me also boldness to desire Favours of you First that your Lordship would dispose of my Person Country and Subjects and then that you would tell me from whence you come whither you go and what you seek that so I may be in a better condition to render you service The Governour answered That he was as well satisfied with his Offers and good will as if he had presented him with a great Treasure that he was Son of the Sun and that he came from the places of his abode in search of the greatest Lord and richest Province of that Country The Cacique replied That beyond his Territories there was a great Lord whose Country was called Ocute and
submissively and told us that two days journey from the place where we were we should find upon the side of the great River two Towns which we had not as yet discovered that was the Country of Minoya which was extraordinarily fruitful The Indians added that they knew not then whether there was Maes there or not because they were at War with that people and that they would be very glad to joyn with the Spaniards and fight against them Moscoso commanded out a Captain with some Horse and Foot and accompanied by the Forces of Nilco they went to Minoya and found two great Towns distant from each other half a League in an open Champion Country there they took several Indians and found Maes in abundance The Captain fortified himself in one of the Towns and sent advice to the Governour of what he had done Great was the joy all over the Camp and instantly we parted It was the beginning of December and that proved as hard a march as any we had made since we left Cilano because of the swamps we met with and of the rains that fell with a North wind so that we were wet above and below and had great cause to give thanks to God when we found a little dry place to rest in at our journeys end These fatigues killed all our Indian Servants and several Spaniards also after we arrived at Minoya few of those who survived escaping dangerous diseases which degenerated into Lethargies That Country sickness was fatal to Andrew de Vasconcelos who died of it and to two other Portuguese of the City of Elvas who attended him they were Brothers and went by the name of the Sotis The Army quartered in the better of the two Towns which was senced with a Palissado a quarter of a League from the great River Thither we brought all the Maes from the other Town which amounted in all to six thousand bushels In this place we found the fittest Timber for building of Vessels that we had hitherto seen in all Florida for which we all thanked God as for a singular mercy and some glimpse of hopes of getting once more into a Christian Country began to appear among us CHAP. XXXVI Seven Brigantines are built the Army departs from Minoya SO soon as our Quarters were setled at Minoya the Governour ordered all the Chains of the Indians who were in the Camp to be knockt off and all the Iron that was kept for a reserve to be brought out We set up a Forge for making the Iron-work of the Vessels and felled wood to build them of A Portuguese of Ceuta who being a slave at Fez had learned to sawe taught some Souldiers the use of the Sawe and a Geneose whom God had purposely preserved to save us for he alone knew the Art of building Ships and had it not been for that man we had been still in Florida that Geneose I say being assisted by four or five Carpenters of Biscaye who prepared and fitted the Timber undertook to build Brigantines Another Genoese and a Catalonian of the County of Cerdagne took care to cawlk them with that Herb I told you of which resembles Hemp and is called Enequen and when that failed them they supplied the want with the thread of Mantles which they purposely undid and mingled it with fat Earth We had with us a Cooper but he was sick to extremity and he being the onely man of his Trade that we had we were obliged to wait till it pleased God to restore him to his health and though he was still very weak yet fifteen days before our departure he made two large Casks for each Brigantine such as the Sea-men call Hogsheads The Indians of Taguanate which is a Province two days journey from Nilco up the River and those of Nilco also and Guachoya seeing that the Brigantines went forward were perswaded that we made them for carrying away their crop which they put into the water nevertheless they still brought us Fish and Mantles which the Governour exacted from them for making of Sails God was so gracious at that time as to continue to us the marks of his protection by moving the Indians to bring us in Mantles for we had no means left to go and fetch them because in the beginning of Winter the water had surrounded the Town leaving but one League of dry Land around us so that we could not go out on horseback and without that it was impossible to reduce the Indians for they were very numerous and feared our foot so little that they made no scruple to fight them hand to hand either by land or by water because they are more dexterous in shooting and nimbler than the Christians the ground also being more proper for their way of fighting They also brought some Ropes of which we made Cables and when those failed we made others of the rinds of Mulberry-trees The Troopers made wooden stirrups and gave â—…heir Iron ones to make Anchors of In March â—…hough it had not rain'd for above a month before â—…he River swelled so prodigiously that it reached â—…o Nilco which is nine Leagues off on 't and the â—…ndians said that it spread as far on the other â—…ide The Town where we were stood on a â—…eight nevertheless in the highest places the â—…ater reached the stirrups of a Trooper We â—…uilt high sheads of great pieces of Timber coveâ—…ed with boughs for stabling our horses and the â—…ke was done in the houses But these not holâ—…ing out the water we were obliged to get up â—…o the Garrets and never went out of doors but â—…n Canoes or on horseback where the ground was high We spent two Months before the River returned into its Channel in the mean time we kept a good guard about our Brigantines â—…nd no Indians were any more suffered to come â—…ear them in their Canoes for the Governour â—…egan to have some suspicions not without ground that the Indians had a mind to rise so â—…hat he ordered that without any noise one of â—…hose who came to the Town should be seized and â—…rought to him when all the rest were gone The â—…rders were put in execution and finding that â—…he Indian would not confess any thing he commanded him to be rackt Then the Indian confessed that the Caciques of Nilco Guachoya anâ—… Taguante accompanied with other Caciques tâ—… the number of twenty had resolved to attacâ—… the Camp with a very great Army that tâ—… mask their Treachery they were to send him 〈◊〉 great Present of Fish three days before the Attack and another Present the same day they haâ—… pitched upon for the Enterprize That the Indians who brought the Fish combining witâ—… those who served in the Camp were to set fire tâ—… the houses of the Town having first made themselves Masters of the Lances and other Arms thaâ—… stood before the Souldiers doors That at the sight of the fire the Caciques who were to be iâ—… ambush would fall upon
of an Anchor with some bitâ—… that the Troopers had still reserved which werâ—… tied to it to encrease its weight Thus we puâ—… to Sea with a favourable wind and in very faiâ—… weather being the Eighteenth day of Iuly The Governour and Danhusco being on head with their Brigantines kept out two or three Leagues at Sea the other Captains bore up to the Governour to ask him if he designed to quit the shoar which he ought not to do without acquainting them seeing it was contrary to the resolution of Council that if he would not follow it neither would they follow him and every one would make the best of his way Moscoso answered That he would not undertake any thing without the advice of his Council that he stood onely off from the shoar that he might sail with more security in the night-time and that next day he would come in sight of it again when he saw his time We failed all that day and the next until the Evening with a fair wind and all the while in fresh water which was a surprize to us seeing we were a great way from the mouth of the great River but its Current being very strong and the Coast low it carries its fresh water a great way out into the Sea About night we discovered a little Island like a Rock where the Fleet came to an Anchor to take a little rest There Danhusco so prevailed by his reasons that all the Officers consented to stand out to Sea We followed that course two days but when we had a mind to put in again to the shoar we met with a contrary wind so that the fourth day we began to be in want of fresh water Every one cursed Danhusco and the Governour too for complying with his advice and all the Captains swore that they would no more leave the shoar let the Governour take what course he pleased It was the will of God that the wind veered about a little and four days after that the Fleet had stood out to Sea all our fresh water being spent we rowed in to shoar again with a great deal of difficulty and went to land on the sand where there was no shelter In the Evening the wind turned about to the South and blew full upon the shoar on which it forced our Brigantines The wind was high and our Anchors being but light and weak came home so that our Vessels drove In this extremity all leapt into the water by the Governours order and stood betwixt the Land and the Brigantines to keep them out in the water until the wind abated CHAP. XL. Aâ—…storm disperses the Brigantines the joyn again at a Rock or little Island SO soon as the storm was over our men wenâ—… ashoar and dug pits which furnished us witâ—… fresh water enough to fill the Casks of all thâ—… Brigantines Next day we set sail again and after two days came to an Anchor in a little Creelâ—… safe from the South-wind that blew at that timeâ—… and was against us it detained us four days iâ—… that place till at length the weather being calâ—… again we rowed out but towards the Evening the wind began to blow fresh so that it forceâ—… the Brigantines upon the shoar We were sensible then of our fault in leaving our Road foâ—… the Sea began to swell very high and the winâ—… blew so hard that the Brigantines could not keep company Two of them that were on head oâ—… the rest were forced into an Arm of the Sea thaâ—… run into the Land and the other five separateâ—… from one another a League or a League and a half were cast upon a slat open shoar not knowing where they were nor what was become oâ—… the rest the Sea being rough broke furiously upon that shoar and the Anchors could not hold The Oars signified nothing at all almost against â—…e violence of the storm though there were at â—…east seven or eight men at each Oar to keep the â—…essel in the water which made all the rest jump â—…ver-board When the wave that forced the â—…rigantine to land was past they thrust her out â—…gain with incredible pain and labour whilst the â—…est with bowls laved out the water that broke inâ—…o the Vessel In the mean time the tempest was still encreasing as our fears also of seeing our Brigantines in which all our hopes lay broken to pieces when we were attacked by a far more insupportable calamity for about night such a terrible quantity of Musketto's came about us that we were all over covered with them and their stingings caused so sharp pains that they seemed to be venomous About break of day the wind ceased and we had a calm but the Musketto's continued as bad as ever for they fell upon us in such numberless swarms that our white Sails appeared all black and the Rowers could not set their hands to an Oar without somebody by them to beat off these Insects However we were so glad to see the storm over that we laughed at the other inconvenience when by day-light we could see one another with monstrous faces and it was no unpleasant sight to behold how every one beat themselves to kill the Musketto's All fell a rowing and our Fleet got together again in that little Gulf where the two first Brigantines had put in to There we found of that scum of the Sea called Copeck much like to pitch which some indeed make use of instead of it for their Vessels as we our selves did having stayed two days in that place to re fit our Brigantines We sailed two days more and came to an Anchor in a Bay where we stay'd as long we sent out seven men in a Canoe to find out the bottom of the Bay but they could not The Fleet set sail with a South wind which was against us nevertheless seeing it was not violent all were so desirous to make an end of our Voyage as soon as we could that we employed our utmost endeavours to get out to Sea again We advanced then for two days with little Wind and much labour till we came to a little Island at the entry of an arm of the Sea The weather that hapned after gave us good cause to thank God for sending us into that safe Road There were a great many fish thereabouts which we took with Nets or the Hook and it hapned that a Souldier having thrown in a Line the end whereof was tied to his wrist a fish swallowed the Hook and Bait with so much force that it drew the man headlong into the water by good luck he bethought himself of an Axe which he carried about him wherewith he cut the Line and swom back to the Brigantine Bad weather kept us here a fortnight and then it pleased God to send us a favourable gale for which we rendred him our most humble thanks in a very devout Procession which we made along the shoar of that Island beseeching his Divine Majesty
either to alight and drag their horses on by the bridles or to stop and rest them a little in the open fields Though the Quarter-Masters and their Officers spared neither work-men nor wood which they cut down every-where to fill up the broken places of the way with faggots nevertheless when the Horses and Waggons that set out very early in the morning had once passed them it was impossible to pass after them the Emperour himself his Son and all the Lords of the Court were oftner than once forced to cross over mires and fens on foot fearing they might be exposed to greater danger if they attempted to pass them on horseback When we met with Bridges or any narrow passes all the Army made a halt and so soon as the Emperour with some of the most considerable was over the rest came crowding on and every one striving to be first several tumbled into the water others going about by more dangerous ways fell into bogs and quagmires where they stuck In fine they suffered so much in all the ways of East-Tartary that old Officers who for above thirty years had followed the Court said that they had never endured so much hardship in any Expedition On these occasions the Emperour oftner than once gave me proofs of a very singular good-will The first day we set out upon our return we were towards evening stopt by so large and rapid a Torrent that it was impossible to foard it over The Emperour finding there by chance a little Boat which could not hold above four went over first with his Son and some of the chief Kings followed next all the other Princes Lords and Mandarius with the rest of the Army waited impatiently in the mean time on the bank for the return of the Boat that they might get over as soon as they could to the other side of the water because night was drawing on and the Tents were already over long before But the Emperour coming back to us in just such another little Boat as the other asked aloud where I was and his Father-in-Law having presented me to him Let him come in said the Emperour and go over with us So that we onely passed over with the Emperour and all the rest continued on the other side where it behoved them to spend the night in the open Air. The same thing hapned next day and almost in the same manner The Emperour about noon came to a River as high and rapid as the former he ordered the Tents and Baggage to be carried over in Boats which took up the time till night and made me alone to pass over with him and a few of his Retinue leaving all the great Lords on the other side who were obliged to spend the night there The Emperours own Father-in-Law having asked him if he should not pass over with me seeing I lodged in his Tent and eat at his Table he made him answer that he should stay and that he himself would take care that I should have what was sitting When we were over the Emperour sate down by the water-side and made me sit down by him with the two Sons of two little Western Kings and the chief Colaos of Tartary whom he honoured on all occasions The night being clear and the sky very serene he would have me name to him both in the Chinese and European Language all the Constellations that at that time appeared above the Horizon and he himself named first all those which he knew already then unfoulding a little Map of the Heavens which some years before I had presented him with he fell a searching for the hour of the night by the Star of the Meridian delighting to shew to all the skill he had in those Sciences All these and the like favours which he shew'd me often enough insomuch as to send me dishes of meat from his own Table were so publick and extraordinary that the Emperour 's two Uncles who bore the Title of Associates in the Empire said upon their return to Pekin that when the Emperour was out of humour or appeared melancholick he resumed his usual cheerfulness so soon as he saw me I arrived in good health at Pekin the Ninth of Iune very late though many were left sick upon the Rode or came back from the Journey wounded and maimed I say nothing of what we have done for Religion in this Journey I reserve the particulars of that for a Relation apart wherein it will be seen that by the Grace of our Lord our favour at the Court of China produces considerable fruit to the Church and deprives not the Emissaries of their Crosses I will subjoyn here the Tartarean Names and the distance of the several places through which we passed in East Tartary from the Capital City of the Province of Leaotum to Kirin in order according to the days we spent in that march This may be reduced into a Typographical Map and inserted in the Map of the Province of Leaotum which is to be found in the Atlas of Father Martin Marini changing therein onely the Latitudes according to the Elevations of the Pole which we have taken notice of before I 'll add one thing more which I learned from the very Inhabitants of Ula to wit that Nincrita which is a place of considerable note in those Quarters is distant from Ula 700 Chinese furlongs each containing 360 Geometrical paces and that embarking at Nincrita upon the great River Helum into which the Songoro and some other more considerable Rivers than it discharges themselves following the Current of the water and going North-East or a little more towards the North in forty days time one will arrive at the East-Sea which is as I conceive the Streights of Anian This I had from the Generals own mouth who is at Kirin and who hath made the Voyage himself The distances of the places through which we passed in East-Tartary THe first day we parted from Xyn-yam the chief Town of the Province of Leaotum and arrived at Seao-lysto for so that place is called in the Chinese Language 95 Chinese furlongs The second day we arrived at Chacay Angha 85 furlongs The third day at another River of the same name 70 furlongs The fourth at Kiaghuchen 50 furlongs The fifth at Feyteri 80 furlongs The sixth at the Brook of Seipery 60 furlongs The seventh at the Brook of Ciam 60 furlongs The eighth at Courou 50 furlongs The ninth at the Village of Sape 40 furlongs The tenth at Quaranni Pyra 40 furlongs The eleventh at Elten Eme ambayaga 70 furlongs The twelfth at Ypatan 58 furlongs The thirteenth at Suayen ny Pyra 60 furlongs The fourteenth at Ylmen 70 furlongs The fifteenth at Seuten 70 furlongs The sixteenth at the City of Kirin 70 furlongs That way makes in all 1028 Chinese furlongs which are 369 miles allowing 1000 Geometrical paces to the mile I have already told you that a Chinese furlong consists of 360 Geometrical paces A
bears no other fruit The Island of Cuba is three hundred Leagues in length from East to West and thirty or forty in some places over from North to South There are in it six Towns of Christian Habitations St. Iago Baracoa Bayamo Princes Port the Holy Ghost and the Havana each of these little Towns contain thirty or forty Families but St. Iago and the Havana have at least threescore and ten or fourscore houses a piece Every Town hath a Church and a Priest to Administer the Sacraments besides there is a Convent of Cordeliers at St. Iago where though there be but a few Friers yet they have good store of Charity by reason of the riches of the Country nay the Church of St. Iago hath also good Revenues and is served by a Curate some Beneficiaries and several Clerks as being the Parish of the Capital Town There is a great deal of Gold in this Island but few Slaves because many have hanged themselves to be rid of the miseries that they were forced to suffer in the Mines An Overseer belonging to Vasco Porcalho who was one of the chief Inhabitants knowing that the Indians under his charge had resolved to go hang themselves went and staid for them at the place where they intended to put this dismal resolution into execution with a Rope in his hand he told them that they must not imagine that any of their designs were hid from him and that he was come to hang himself with them that he might torment them in the other world an hundred times more than he had done in this This discourse made them quit the resolution which they had taken and came back with him ready to do whatever he should command them CHAP. VI. The Governour sends his Wife and Ships to the Havana whither he with the rest of his men go by Land FRom St. Iago the Governour sent his Cousin Don Carlos to wait on Dona Isabella on shipboard to the Havana which is a Port at the head of the Island on the North West-side distant from St. Iago an hundred and fourscore Leagues As for himself having bought Horses as all the rest of his company did he resolved to go by Land The first habitation they sound was Bayamo where his men were well received and lodged four and four or six and six together according as they had associated themselves They had all charges born except for the Maiz which they gave their Horses and that also because Soto in visiting that Country imposed some Duties upon the Tribute and Services which they drew from the Indians Bayamo is twenty five Leagues from St. Iago and near it runs a great River called â—…anto larger than the Guadiana it feeds great â—…nd surious Crocodiles that sometime carry away â—…he Indians that venture to foard it over These â—…re the most dangerous Animals of the Island for it breeds neither Wolves Foxes Bears Lyons nor Tygers There are indeed wild Dogs there which run away from the Houses into the Woods where they live upon wild Hogs There are Snakes also bigger than a mans thigh but very unwildy and harmless From Bayamo to Princes Port they reckon fifty Leagues of way cleared with a great deal of labour and care and which when it is not kept clear fills so full of bushes that no tract appears so that it is impossible to travel it without Indian guides because of the paths which the Cows make in several parts The Governour took a Canoe at Princes Port to go by Sea to the habitation of Vasco Porcalho and to learn news of his Wife who at that time was in extream danger as was found afterwards for her Ships were scattered in a furious Storm so that two of them were driven in sight of the Coast of Florida and all put into great streights for want of fresh water and provisions When the storm was over they gathered together again and made Cape St. Antonio in a place of the Island of Cuba which was not at all peopled There they took in fresh water and after forty days sailing from the time they set out from St. Iago they arrived at the Havana The Governour had intelligence of it and immediately parted to go meet his Wife They whom he left to the number of an hundred and fifty Horse divided themselves into two bodies that they might not incommode the Inhabitants of the Island by Quartering Their way was by the Holy Ghost about sixty Leagues from Princes Port and their Provision was the Cassadoe-bread that I mentioned which dissolves in Broath so soon as it is put into it So many of that Troop were reduced to eat flesh without bread They had Dogs with them and an Huntsman of the Island and when they came at night to their Quarters they killed wild Hogs proportionably to the number of men for they had no want of Hogs and Cows during the whole march but they were horribly tormented with Muskettoes especially in a Marish which they call La Cenega do Pia They spent from noon till night in passing that Marish with a great deal of pains for it was at least half a League in length and a good Bow-shot over which was to be past swimming In the rest there was water up to the middle and mud to the knees but the ground was so pestered with brambles and bushes which tore the feet that neither boots nor shooes could hold out whole one half of the way The Baggage and Saddles were conveyed over on rafts made of the bark of Palm-trees These fatigues were encreased by the persecution of the Muskettoes who rising in all parts of the Marish fell upon the men that were stript and so soon as they had prick'd in any place a great knob presently swelled up with an intolerable itching immediately the hand went to the place and scratched at so prodigious a rate that the bloud trickled down arms and legs like a little brook so the whole night was spent without any repose which hapned also in other places From thence they went to the Holy Ghost which is a little Town standing upon a Rivulet containing about thirty Houses It is a very pleasant and fertile place abounding in Fruits both in those of the Country and in excellent Oranges and Citrons One half of the Governours Cavaliers lodged there and the other advanced as far as the Trinity which is another little Town twenty Leagues from this in it there is an Hospital the sole that 's to be found in the Island and that habitation is said to have been the best peopled of any in those quarters and that before the Christians setled there a ship which sailed along the Coast left a man very sick on shoar who had earnestly beg'd of the Captain to do him that kindness The sick person lying there was found by the Indians who carried him away and took so great care of him that he recovered and married a Daughter of the Captain of these Indians
gave us an Interpreter and Guides This obliged the Governour to set at liberty all the Subjects of this Cacique whose Village he left marching along the River through a very well-peopled Country We parted the first of April and at our departure by orders from the Governour erected a wooden-Cross in the middle of the Market-place of the Village and being in haste we onely told the Indians that that Cross served to put us in mind of what Iesus Christ suffered for our Redemption that he was both God and Man and that he created Heaven and Earth that in consideration thereof they should bear a reverence towards that sign which they promised to do The Fourth of April we came to Altaraca and the Tenth of the same Month to Ocute The Cacique sent two thousand Indians to the Governour with a Present of Rabbets Partridges Maes-bread two Pullets and a great many Dogs These last were no less esteemed in the Army than the best sheep because meat and salt were very scarce there insomuch that the sick had no kind of refreshments which was the cause that the smallest indisposition which would have been made nothing of in other places reduced a man to extremity of a sudden so that he died of meer weakness And it was sad to hear the poor wretches in their agony sigh and say Alas had I but a bit of meat or a little salt I should not die The Indians are not put to such streights for with their Arrows they kill store of Fowl and Venision as wild Hens Rabbets Stags and other Beasts They are expert in catching wild Fowl and Beasts and have a thousand inventions for that which the Christians had not and though they had had they wanted time being constantly on the march and not daring to leave their Ranks This want of meat was the cause that of the six hundred men who followed Soto he who could catch a Dog in any Village thought himself a very happy man for sometimes we found thirty in a place but the Souldier that killed one and sent not a quarter to his Captain suffered for it paying dear for his incivilities when he was to go Sentinel or upon any guard of fatigue Tuesday the Twelfth of April the Governour parted from Ocute the Cacique having given him four hundred Indians for Service He went to Cofaqui and from thence to Patofa the Cacique of this Province who was in peace with the Cacique of Ocute had information of the Governours march and being desirous to procure his friendship he came to him and spake in this manner Illustrious and Potent Lord I should now demand of Fâ—…tune that she would be pleased by some small cross onely to make me pay for the Honour to which she advances me in making me so happy as to obtain the thing I most desired in this life which is to see your Lordship and be able to render you service Though my Tongue bear the image of what is in my heart and that my heart cannot dissemble the satisfaction which it receives on this occasion yet it wants power fully to express it What can the Country which I govern have merited to be honoured with the sight of so great a Man and so excellent a Prince who ought to be served and respected by all men in the world And the Inhabitants of this Country being the most inconsiderable of all others whence can they have this happiness the thought of which alone is enough to preserve them from all the calamities that may befal them according to the course of Fortune Seeing if to day we be so happy as to be reckoned amongst your Lordships Subjects we cannot fail of being protected and maintained by true Iustice and Reason and of taking to our selves the name of men seeing they who have neither Reason nor Iustice may justly be ranked among Beasts I heartily then and with all due respect offer my self to your Lordship beseeching you that in recompence for the sincerity of my will you would be pleased to Command me my Country and Subjects The Governour told him that he was much obliged to him for his kind expressions of the effects whereof he was already sensible that he would remember his good will as long as he lived and honour and favour him as his Brother For the space of fifty Leagues from Ocute to Patofa the Inhabitants whereof are of a gentle and peaceable nature the Country is very pleasant and the Soil fat being watered with a great many Rivers which contribute to its fertility But from Ocute to the Port of the Holy Ghost where we first entred Florida that Country which is no less than three hundred and fifty Leagues â—…n extent is a light and soft Land full of swamps and very high and thick bushes where the wild and warlike Indians defend themselves against the attempts of the Spaniards because Horse cannot break through those strong places which was very incommodious to us not onely because of the want of Provisions which in all places they carried away but also for the difficulty we had in finding Guides CHAP. XIV The Governour leaving the Province of Patofa meets with a Desart where he and all his men were reduced to extream misery IN this Habitation of Patofa the young Indian who served for Interpreter and Guide fell upon the ground foaming at the mouth as if he had been possest with the Devil the Gospel was read over him and he recovered After that he assured us that four days Journey from thence towards the East we should find the Country he spake of The Indians of Patofa on the contrary affirmed that they had no knowledge of any Habitation that way but that they knew there was a plentiful and populous Province to the North-West called Cosa however the Cacique told the Governour that he would furnish him with Guides and Servants what way soever he resolved to go whether towards Cosa or towards the Province which that Indian designed Soto demanded six hundred Indians of him and so they parted with testimonies of reciprocal affection We took Maes for four days and marched six by a way that grew narrower and narrower still till at length it altogether failed us The Indian marched in the Van and made us foard over two great Rivers a Cross-bow-shot broad where we had water up to the girts but seeing the Current was very rapid the Horse were forced to make a Lane to secure the passage of the Foot who passed through holding by the Horses Our fatigues were doubled in passing a broader and more rapid River where the Horses were forced to swim a Pikes length This put the Governour into a great perplexity he made a halt under some Pine-trees after we had passed the River and threatned the young Indian that he would have him thrown to the dogs because he had deceived him in telling him that it was but four days journey whereas we had spent nine marching seven or eight
great many people in a very large Country on the other side of the River That they were come in his Name to acquaint his Lordship that their Master would come to-morrow and wait upon him The Cacique did indeed come followed by two hundred Canoes full of armed Indians painted after their way and adorned with feathers of all colours having shields in their hands wherewith they covered the Rowers the rest with their Bows and Arrows stood fore and after in the Canoe The Cacique's Canoe had a Pavillion in the poop under which he sat there were others also trimmed up in the same manner for the chief Indians who sitting under their Pavillions gave their orders to those who guided the Canoe They put themselves in order and advanced within a stones throw of the River-side from thence the Cacique spake to the Governour who stood on the shoar well attended and told him That he was come to offer him his services and assure him of his obedience because he had been informed that he was the most Potent Lord of the whole Earth Soto thanked him and prayed him to come ashoar where they might discourse more commodiously together to which the Indian made no answer but ordred three Canoes to put in which were loaded with fish and bread made of paste of Prunes or of the kernels of that fruit and of the shape and bigness of a tile The Governour accepted the Present and importuned the Cacique to come ashoar But seeing the design of the Indians was onely to watch for an occasion to surprize us when they perceived that the Governour had put his men into very good order they stood off from the shoar and at the same time the Cross-bow-men who were all in a readiness shot at them with loud shouting and made five or six to fall They retired in very good order covered with their shields and no man leaving his Oar though he saw his Companion fall by his side They landed several times afterwards to attack us but so soon as we charged them they hastned back to their Canoes It was a very pleasant sight to see them in their Canoes which were most neatly made and very large with their Pavillions Feathers Shields and Standards that looked like a Fleet of Galleys In the mean time our four Boats being finished in thirty days time the Governour chose three of them which three hours before day he manned with twelve Troopers of tried Courage who he was certain would die rather than turn their backs to their Enemies Each Canoe contained four defended by Cross-bow-men with good Rowers to carry them over to the other side of the River Iohn Guzman who commanded Maldonado's Company was in the other Boat with his men and because the current of the water was very swift he made them go a quarter of a League higher than the place where we encamped so they passed over and landed just over-against the Camp When they were within two stones throw of the shoar the Troopers took the water on horseback and landed in a place where the sand was firm Finding no Enemies there they easily landed and made themselves masters of the passage The Boats immediately returned back to the other side where the Governour was who past over with the whole Army two hours before Sun-set The River in that place was half a League over so that a man could not be distinguished from one side to the other it was very deep and very rapid and being always full of trees and timber that was carried down by the force of the stream the water was thick and very muddy It abounded with fish most of which differed much from those that are taken in the Rivers of Spain as we shall etll you hereafter CHAP. XXIII The Governour goes from thence to Casqui and from thence to Pacaha where he finds a Country different from the other parts of Florida WHen we had passed that River the greatest of all Florida the Army marched a League and a half to a Town in the Province of Aquixo the Indians had abandoned it nevertheless the Cacique sent thirty to learn intelligence of our march and design As soon as they appeared in sight of the Camp the Horse made towards them and the Indians dispersed and fled but the Country being open and level they were so hotly pursued that two of them were killed and fifteen taken who were brought to the Governour He had sent a Captain with Souldiers to bring our Boats up to this Town which stood upon the River but seeing the course of it was not streight and that it behoved us to turn a great many reaches before we could get to the Camp the Indians who were acquainted with all the turnings and windings and expert in that Navigation many times attacked the Boats and reduced us to great extremities for we durst not venture out into the stream which was too rapid and standing in to the shoar they skulked by the River-side and shot at us No sooner was the Governour got to the Town but he sent off all the Cross-bow-men who came very seasonably to our assistance When the Boats were come to the Town he caused them to be broken up and all the Iron-work to be kept for other occasions The Army rested a night in this Town and parted next day to go into the Province of Pacaha which according to the relation of the Indians bordered upon the Country of Chisca where that Metal was found which the Governour took to be Gold On our march we found several great Villages abandoned by the Indians nevertherless we took some who told the Governour That three days journey from the place where we were he would find a powerful Cacique called Casqui This made him hasten our march to a little River which we crossed upon a bridge but seeing the waters were out the men marched till Sun-set up to the middle in water At length we saw dry land to our great satisfaction because we feared we should have been forced to pass the whole night in the water and our joy hereupon adding to our strength next day about noon we found the first habitation of the Province of Casqui The Indians expected us not which cost many of them their dear liberty That Village we plundered with another half a League distant whither the Horse had advanced The Land of this Country was the highest driest and evenest of any that we had found before we came to the great River the fields were covered with Nut-trees whose fruit was of the shape of an Acorn and we found store of them every-where in the houses which the Indians had laid up for their Provisions These Walnut-trees differed nothing from those of Spain nor from those which we had seen elsewhere in that Country but that their leaves were somewhat smaller We found also a great many Mulberry-trees and Plum-trees whereof some bore red Plums like those of Spain and others Plums of a violet-colour
course by the largest branch of the River which run very swift making way a-pace with our Oars The first day we put a-shoar into a Wood by the River side on the left hand and when night came we Embarked again Next day we landed near a Town which the Indians abandoned There we took a Woman who told us that the Town belonged to a Cacique called Nuhasene a Vassal of Quigaltans and that Quigaltan expected us with great Forces Moscoso sent some Horse down along the River side who found great quantity of Maes in some Houses whither the whole Army went and tarried a day to put on board the Maes which we wanted very much Whilst we were still in that Post we saw several Canoeâ—… with Indians in them who rowed down the Water and being come to the side opposite to us with some kind of confusion they drew up in order of Battle The General sent off all the Cross-bow men in two Canoes who dispersed the Indians but when they saw that the Spaniards did nothing but disperse them without pursuing they took heart and drew â—…igh threatning us And so long as the Fleet continued in that place they still kept within sight of us some in their Canoes and others on the River side When we weighed Anchor they got on head of us and joined all together near a Town that stood very high upon one side of the River as if they intended to stay and fight us there Each Brigantine had a Canoe at heâ—… Stern to serve when occasion offered These Canoes were Manned with well-armed Souldiers who dispersed that Body of Indians and burnt the Town After that we went a-shoar in anâ—… open Plain where the Indians durst not molest us but next day they appeared upon the River to the number of an hundred Canoes amongst which there were some so great that they carried threescore and ten men The Cacique's Canoes had their Pavillions under which the Indians appeared adorned with Feathers of several Colours and they advanced in good order within two Cross-bow shot of the Brigantines From that station they sent three Indians in a little Canoe under the false pretext of a Treaty But in reality to observe our order and strength They were carried aboard Moscoso's Brigantine to whom one of the Indians said that the Cacique of Quigaltan his Master had sent him to offer him his Friendship and to assure him that all that the Indians of Guachoya had spoken to his prejudice was false that they being his declared Enemies the Governour ought not to give credit to their Impostures but believe that Quigaltan was ready to serve him Moscoso answered that he was very well perswaded of the good intentions of Quigaltan and that he should tell his Master that he had a great esteem for him and desired to be his Friend The Indians returned with that Answer to their Master and immediately they fell upon us with terrible shouts The Governour Commanded out Iohn de Guzman with fifteen armed men in Canoes to make head against the Enemy The Indians made a stop at the sight of that Detachment and divided into two till the Spaniards were got betwixt them two Divisions Then they joined and shut in Guzman with the Canoes that had advanced with him which they furiously engaged and seeing their Canoes were much bigger than ours and that they jumpt into the Water on all sides to hold them up and to over set those of Guzman they over-turned these in a trice so that those brave Men fell into the Water where they perished miserably because of the weight of their Arms that sunk them to the bottom and such as could keep themselves up by swimming or that stuck to the Canoes were knocked down with poles The Souldiers who were in the Brigantines seeing that terrible disorder did all they could to assist them but the rapidity of the stream rendered their Attempts useless because there was no rowing against it to come up to the Enemy so that there was but four Spaniards saved who swam to the next Brigantine They lost eleven amongst whom Iohn de Guzman and a Son of Don Carlos called Iohn de Vargas were much lamented the rest also were persons of Quality and worth They who escaped said that they had seen some Indians carry Iohn de Guzman into one of their Canoes but whether dead or live they could not tell CHAP. XXXVIII Of the Headstrongness of the Indians in pursuing us during our course in the River THis advantage made the Indians so insolent and fierce that they came and attacked the Brigantines which they had not the boldness to do till then The first they set upon was that which Caldeiran commanded and which was in the Reere At the first discharge they wounded five and twenty men on board for there were but four in that Brigantine that had Armour These came to the sides to hinder the Indians from boarding but they who had no Arms finding themselves exposed to the Arrow-shot left the Oars and hid themselves under the Deck So that the Brigantine fell across the stream and would have been carried down by the Current had not one of the Souldiers in Armour without staying for the Captains Orders made a Foot Souldier ply his Oar again who set the Brigantine to rights and kept her so whilst the Trooper covered him with his Buckler nay and with his Body too The Indians came no nearer than their Bows shoot from whence they did us a great deal of mischief when we could do them no hurt because there was but one Cross-Bow in each Brigantine the rest being out of condition of serving so that all the Spaniards could do was to receive their shot and keep them from boarding At length they left that Brigantine and attacked another which they engaged for half an hours space and so one after another they had a touch at all of them We made double Mats well put together and so strong that an Arrow could not pierce them And they who had so much spare time from the Indians shot made a Target-sence along the sides of the Brigantines These people being mad that they could not hurt us by shooting upon a level shot their Arrows at random in the air that falling down into the Brigantine they might by their weight do greater Execution and so they wounded some Souldiers Their greatest efforts were against those that lookt after the Horses in the Canoes which a hundred times they essayed to board but the Brigantines defended them turning round the Canoes and at length put them into the middle of the Fleet. In the mean time that way of fighting wearying them so that they could hardly stand under their Armour any longer The Governour resolved to keep going all the night long that he might pass the Province oâ—… Quigaltan where he thought the Enemies would give us no more trouble But they followed us on still and when we imagined them far enough from
Emperour chose out three thousand of his Life-guard armed with Arrows and Javelins Those he dispersed several ways so that they took up a great compass of ground about the Hills which they environed on all hands This made a kind of circle three thousand paces diameter then drawing nearer and nearer together in a regular march without leaving their Rank what impediment soever they found in their way for the Emperour had put Captains and some Grandees also among them to make them keep their order they brought that great circumference into a circle of far less compass which had about three hundred paces in diameter so that all the Beasts who were enclosed within the former were caught in this as in a Toyl because all alighting they joyned so close together that they left no space for them to get out at Then were they so hotly pursued within that narrow compass that the poor Creatures quite spent with running fell down at the Huntsmens feet and were taken up without any trouble In this manner I saw two or three hundred Hairs taken in less than a days time besides a great many Wolves and Foxes I have seen the same thing several times in that part of Tartary which is beyond the Province of Leaotum where at one time I remember I saw above a thousand head of Deer enclosed within such Toils which came and cast themselves into the Huntimens hands finding no way to make their escape We killed also Bears wild Boars and above sixty Tygers but for killing of them they take another course and make use of other Weapons It was the Emperours pleasure that I should be present at all these different ways of Hunting and he recommended it to his Father-in-Law in a very obliging manner that he should have a special care of me and see that I were not exposed to any danger in the hunting of Tygers and other fierce Beasts Of all the Mandarius I was the onely person near the Emperour without Arms. Though I had been enured to fatigue from the time we set out upon our progress yet I was so weary every Evening when I returned to my Tent that I had much ado to stand upon my legs and many times I would have spared my self the labour of following the Emperour if my friends had not advised me the contrary and if I had not been afraid he would have taken it ill if he had perceived it After about four hundred miles of continua Hunting in this manner we arrived at length at Xyn-yam the Capital City of the Province where we staid four days The Inhabitants of Coree came and presented the Emperour with a Seal or Sea-calf which they had taken the Emperour shew'd it me and asked me if that Fish was mentioned in our Books of Europe I told him that we had a Book in our Library at Pekin which explain'd the Nature and had a Cut of it He said he would be glad to see it and immediately dispatched a Courier to our Fathers at Pekin who within a few days brought it to me The Emperour was pleased to see that what was observed concerning that Fish in the Book agreed with what he saw He ordered it afterwards to be carried to Pekin to be carefully preserved there During our stay in that City the Emperour with the Queens went to visit the Tombs of his Ancestors which are not far distant from whence he sent them back to Xyn-yam that he might continue his Journey towards East-Tartary After several days marching and hunting he came to Kirin four hundred miles distant from Xyn-yam That Town lies along the great River Songoro which has its source in Mount-Champé distant from thence four hundred miles towards the South That Mountain so famous in the East for having been the ancient Habitation of our Tartars is always covered with Snow from whence it hath taken its Name for Champé signifies the White Mountain So soon as the Emperour perceived it he alighted from his horse kneeled down on the River-side and bowed three times to the ground to salute it then he gave orders that he should be carried on a Throne glittering with Gold and in that manner made his entry into the Town All the people flocked out to meet him shewing by their tears the joy they had to see him And that Prince was extreamly pleased with the testimonies of their Affection and as a mark of his good-will he shew'd himself publickly to all and discharged his Guards from hindring the people to come near him as they do at Pekin In this Town they build Barks of a singular shape and the Inhabitants have a great many always in a readiness to beat off the Muscovites who come often upon that River to contend with them about the Pearl-fishing The Emperour rested two days there and then went down the River with some Lords accompanied with above an hundred Boats as far as the Town of Ula which is the fairest of all the Country and was heretofore the Seat of the Empire of the Tartars A little below that Town which is above thirty miles from Kirin the River is full of a certain kind of Fish which looks much like the Plaice of Europe and it was chiefly to divert himself at Fishing that the Emperour went to Ula but the Rains falling all of a sudden so swelled the River that all the Nets were broken and carried away by the floud Nevertheless the Emperour tarried five or six days at Ula but finding that the Rains continued he was obliged to come back to Kirin without the pleasure of Fishing As we were returning up the River the Bark wherein I was with the Emperours Father-in-Law was so beaten with the waves that we were forced to go ashoar and to get into a Cart drawn by an Ox which brought us very late to Kirin the Rain continuing all the way At night when they were discoursing with the Emperour about that Adventure he said laughing The Fish have made fools of us At length after two days stay at Kirin the Rains began to abate and we returned to Leaotum I cannot here express the trouble and fatigues we endured throughout this whole Journey in ways broken and made almost impassable by the Rains we went continually over hills and dales and with extream danger crossed the Brooks and Rivers which were much out by the Torrents that run into them from all parts The Bridges were either broken down by the violence of the Currents or covered all over with the overflowing of the waters There were in many places great plashes of water gathered together and such deep dirt that it was hardly possible to get out of it The Camels Horses and other Beasts that carried the Baggage could not get forward they stuck in the mires or died of weakness upon the Rode The men fared no better and all pined away for want of victuals and necessary refreshments for so long a Journey A great many horse-men were forced
He was in War with all his Neighbours whom he overcome by the skill and valour of that Christian so that he became very powerful Long after Diego Velasquez undertook the Conquest of that Island from whence he went upon the discovery of New-Spain after he had reduced under his Obedience all the Indians of Cuba by the assistance of that man who had a great deal of authority over them There remains threescore Leagues from the Trinity to the Havana and no habitation to be found in all the way at length all the Cavaliers arrived in this Town where they found Fernando de Soto and the rest who came from Spain with him from that place he sent Danhusco and fifty men in a Caravel and two Brigantines to find out a Port on the Coast of Florida who brought back with him two Indians whom he took on that Coast. This exceedingly rejoyced the Governour not onely because these Indians were to serve for Guides and Interpreters but also because by their signs they had given to understand that there was a great deal of Gold in that Country All the Fleet shared in his joy and thought the hour of departure would never come so fully were they possessed that Florida was the richest Country as yet discovered in the Indies CHAP. VII Our departure from the Havana and our arrival in Florida BEfore our departure from the Port of the Havana the Governour gave to Vasco Porcalho de Figueroa the charge of Captain-General which he had granted to Nuno de Touar He preferred Vasco to that Office to reward him for the care he had taken in providing the Fleet with all things necessary and he deprived Nuno of it because of an intrigue of love which he had managed with the Daughter of the Count of Gomere Waiting-maid to Dona Isabella Nuno durst not shew any resentment for the loss of his place on the contrary seeing he thought it best to entertain the Governours favour and that the Maid was with Child he married her and went with Soto into Florida The Governour left Dona Isabella at the Havana accompanied by the Wife of Don Carlos and the Wives of Gallegos and Touar and appointed for his Lieutenant in the Island a Gentleman of the Havana called Iohn de Roias Having so ordered all matters the General parted from the Havana with his Fleet consisting of five Ships two Caravels and two Brigantines on Sunday the Eighteenth of May 1539. The weather being very fair and the wind in poop we discovered the Coast of Florida on Whitsunday the five and twentieth day of May and came to an Anchor within a League of the shoar because of the banks Five days after the General put on shoar two hundred and thirteen Horse which he had to the end that the Ships being lightned they might draw less water This descent was made within two Leagues of the habitation of an Indian Lord named Ucita then all the Army landed and none remained on board but the Seamen who advancing still by little and little with the Tides came at length in eight days time to an Anchor near the habitation of the Indians So soon as the Souldiers landed they entrenched themselves on the Sea-shore near the Bay that adjoyned the Village After that the Captain General Vasco Porcalho took seven horsemen to go and discover the ground farther in about half a League from the Camp they met six Indians who stood upon their defence with their Arrows which are the Weapons they make use of in fighting but the Horse-men rushing upon them killed two and the other four betook themselves to â—…light into a Marish full of bushes where the Horses wearied and in a manner sea-sick stuck and fell down with their Riders The night following the General with an hundred men in the Brigantines attacked a Village which he found abandoned because the Indians had discovered the Christians so soon as they appeared upon the Coast and had given the signal all over by fires and thick smoak At break of day Louis de Moscoso Camp-Master-General drew the Army up in Battalia and formed them into three bodies the Van-guard Main body and Reer-guard assigning a Squadron of Horse to every body In this Order we marched that whole day and the next and fetching a great compass about the Marish which made that Bay we came to the habitation of Ucita on Trinity-Sunday the first of Iune that Village consisted of seven or eight Houses the Lords House was near the shoar upon an eminence made purposely to serve for a Fortress the Temple was at the other end of the Village where over the entry-door there was a wooden-sowl with the eyes gilt and some Pearls were found in that place but spoil'd and of small value for they pierce them in the fire that they may thread them into Chains and Bracelets which they carry about their necks and arms and is the Ornament they most esteem Their Houses were of Wood covered with the leaves of Palm-trees The General lodged in the Lord's house with Porcalho and Moscoso the Serjeant-Major Balthazar de Gallegos took his quarters in the houses in the middle of the Village where all the Provisions that were brought from the Vessels were laid up in store the rest of the houses and Temple were demolished and the Souldiers made baraks of them where they lodged three or four together The Country about that Village was full of very thick bushes which Soto caused to be cleared a Cross-bow-shot round for the convenience of his Horse and that the Indians also might not approach without being discovered if they had a mind to fall upon him in the night-time He placed double Sentinels at all the Avenues and at other places of danger They were relieved every quarter of an hour the Horse visited them and went upon the scout in a condition of fighting if any allarm hapned In this place the General made Captains four of Horse who were Andrew de Vasconcelos Peter Caldeiran of Badaios and his own two Cousins Ayres Tinoco and Alfonse Romo and two of Foot to wit Francis Maldonado of Salamanca and Iohn Rodriguez Lobilho Whilst we were still in that Post of Ucita the two Indians whom Don Husco had taken upon that Coast and whom the General designed for Guides and Interpreters made their escape one night by the fault of those that had them in keeping the General and whole Camp were extreamly afflicted at that loss because we had already made several inrodes without being able to take one Indian by reason that the Country was fenny and covered with very high and thick bushes CHAP. VIII Of Incursions made into the Country and how a Christian was found who for a long time had been in the Indians hands IN that place of Ucita the General commanded out Balthazar de Gallegos with forty Horse and fourscore Foot to enter into the Country and try if he could take some Indians Lobilho was also commanded to go
pierced them We found also in that Town Bucklers of the raw hides of Cows which the Troopers made use of for their defence CHAP. XXIV The Cacique of Pacaha comes and offers his service Casqui withdraws but comes again to excuse himself The Governour makes them friends WEdnesday the Nineteenth of Iune the Governour entred the Town of Pacaha and lodged in the Cacique's house which was very large and fortified with a Palissado and Turrets wherein holes were made to shoot through The Town was provided with old Maes the fields covered with green and in the compass of a League about the Town there were a great many other very large ones and all fortified The Town where we quartered had a great Lake near its enclosure the water whereof fell into a ditch drawn round the same close or sence which encompassed it almost all round And the Indians had also made a Canal from the great River to the Lake by that means the River-fish came into it in great plenty and the Cacique usually diverted himself at fishing What quantity soever were taken they were never missed as we tried it with Nets that were in the Town Several Lakes thereabouts were every whit as well furnished but they were a softer kind of fish than the fish that came from the River and nothing near so good they all differed from the fish of Spain The fish which they call Bagres is of an extraordinary shape the head of it is one third of its bulk and about its sins and belly it hath great bones as sharp as a needle Those which we took in the Lake were about the bigness of a large Pike but in the great River there were some that weighed from an hundred to an hundred and fifty pound weight of which many were catched with the Hook There are other fish that resemble a Barbel and others again a Carp with scales like a Roach but of a colour somewhat browner these they esteemed most We caught another sort of fish also called Pexe-palla the Palat-fish the head of it is covered with a kind of an elbow-hood the upper point whereof is shaped like a Palet or Lingel others again resemble the Alose and all had scales except the Bagres and Palat-fish The Indians sometimes caught fish as big as a hog which they called Pexe perco and had several ranks of teeth above and below The Cacique of Casqui sent the Governour Presents often and told him one day that he would deliver up to him the Cacique of Patacha He went to Casqui from whence he sent up a great many Canoes by water and came himself by land attended by several of his Subjects Soto led them himself accompanied with forty Horse and sixty Foot to a place where the Indians in the Canoes discovered Pacaha and his men who were retreated into a little Isle Five Spaniards went in a Canoe under the Command of Don Antonio Osorio to view the Indians of Pacaha and judge what number of men they mightbe They were about five or six thousand who taking all those that came in the Canoes for Spaniards were so frighted that the Cacique and Indians who were in three Canoes fled to the other side of the River and the rest cast themselves into the water with so much fear and precipitation that though they could swim yet many of them were drowned especially Women and Children The Governour who was on shoar not knowing what hapned on Don Antonio's side put on board the Canoes of Casqui Souldiers to go into the Island where they arrived at the same time Don Antonio did and took several Indians men and women with a great deal of booty These Indians had loaded much of their Goods in Paniers of Canes upon floats to carry them to the other side but fear making them forsake them the floats carried down by the current of the water fell into the hands of Casqui's men who filled their Canoes with them and fearing that the Spaniards might take their booty from them went away with their Cacique without taking leave of the Governour Soto was extreamly incensed at that and returned immediately to Pacaha from whence he made an incursion into the Territories of Casqui and took twenty or thirty Indians having done so he returned to the Town because the horses were quite weary but with a resolution to go and attack Casqui within four days He set at liberty a Subject of Pacaha and sent him to tell his Cacique that he desired to be his friend that he should come to him and that they should go together and make War against Casqui Pacaha immediately sent back several Indians who brought one with them whom they called the Cacique but the cheat was discovered by one of Pacaha's Brothers who was Prisoner The Governour told these Indians that they should bring their Master since he knew very well that he who usurped his Name was not and that no resolution could be taken unless they took their measures together So that the Cacique came accompanied with many of his Subjects and made the usual Present to the Governour This he seconded by a very fine discourse which he concluded That though his Lordship had done him so many injuries in wasting his Country and killing his Subjects without any provocation ever given by him yet he could not forbear to be his most humble Servant Soto set his Brother and the most considerable of his Subjects at liberty and the same day the Cacique of Casqui sent an Indian to assure the Governour that his Master would come next day and beg his pardon for the fault he had committed in retiring without his leave To which he made answer That if the Cacique did not come in person he himself would fetch him and punish him as he deserved Casqui failed not to come and began with a present of Mantles Skins and Fish besides one of his Daughters whom he offered to Soto saying that it was his greatest ambition to Allie his Bloud with so great a Lord and that for that end he had brought his Daughter whom he prayed him to take for Wife thereupon he made a very long and judicious speech full of the praises of the Governour and concluded by begging his pardon for the sake of that Cross which he had left in that he had gone away without his orders being ashamed at what his Subjects had done without his consent Soto answered that he had chosen a very good Patron and that if he had not come to excuse himself he resolved to have gone and put him his Subjects and Country to fire and sword To which the Indian replied My Lord I and my Subjects are yours and my Country belongs to you in doing so then you would have destroyed your own Country and killed your Subjects as for my self I am ready to accept of any thing from your hands whether it be punishment or favour What I have already received from you in leaving me the Cross is
Marish where we were oblig'd to sleep amidst water It was indeed very low and so full of fish that we killed them with our sticks and when our Indian slaves stirred onely the water and made it muddy they came up to the brim as if they had been giddy and stunn'd so that they took as many as they pleased with their hands The people of Coligoa had no intelligence of our march and were so surprized to see us in the first Town that they threw themselves in a crowd into a little River that past by that Habitation but seeing the Christians came on both the sides many of them were taken with their Wives and the Cacique himself Three days after the chief of his Subjects came to wait on the Governour with Mantles Stags skins and Cows hides which they presented him with They told us that five or six Leagues from thence Northwards there were great herds of these Cows but that the Country was not much inhabited because of the cold and that they knew no Province more plentiful and better peopled than that of Cayas towards the South From Quigate to Coligoa it is almost forty Leagues and this last Town lies at the foot of a mountain and upon a River as big as the River of Coya in Estramadura the Soil is fat and bears so great plenty of Maes that they are fain to throw away the old that they may have-store room for the new it likewise produces Pease or small Beans and Cucumbers bigger and better than those of Spain and which being roasted on the hearth taste like Chestnuts The Cacique of Coligoa gave us a Guide to conduct us to Cayas and abode still in his Town We marched five days to Palisema where the Cacique's house was hung with Bucks skins so well died and wrought that one would have taken them for good Tapistry the floor also being covered with the same The Cacique left all the furniture to accommodate the Governour and to shew that he was inclined to peace nevertheless he durst not stay for us himself which obliged Soto to send a Captain in search of him He met with a great many Indians but it being a rough Country could not apprehend any but women and children Seeing there were but a few separated Habitations there the Army made no long stay but advanced to Tafalicoya Soto took the Cacique of this Town to serve him for a Guide towards the Province of Cayas which was four days journey distant When he came there and found the Habitations at a distance one from another in the Country the Cacique having assured him that it was a very populous Country he imagined that he had put a trick upon him he threatned him sharply asking what place they were in but the Cacique and all the Indians affirmed constantly that we were in the Province of Cayas that that was the best and most populous Town of all the Province and that though the Habitations were scattered in that manner yet there were many Inhabitants and large fields sowed with Maes That Town was called Tanico and we encamped in the pleasantest place on the River-side the Governour advanced a League farther with his Horse and met with no Indians but a great many Skins which the Cacique had left as a sign that he was not our Enemy for that 's the custom in that Country CHAP. XXVI The Governour goes to see the Province of Tulla what happens to him upon the way THe Army rested a Month in the Province of Cayas during which time our horses grew so fat that they never were in so good case since the beginning of our Expedition The Maes there being excellent good and the straw better they eat a great deal of it without any danger but the water of a Lake contributed also much to the fatning of them which was so good and wholesome that they could not get their bellies full on 't and fatned them to the eye We had had no Salt till we came to that place where a great deal was made and where the Souldiers did not forget to make Provision Indians trade in it with their Neighbours and barter it for Mantles and Skins They make it in cakes along the River-side which leaves a great deal upon the sand when it overflows and seeing they cannot make these cakes so long as it is mixed with the sand they put altogether into baskets that are made for the purpose wide above and narrow below which they hang in the air upon a pole and throw water upon the sand that drops down into a vessel set under the basket which afterwards they boyl and the water being evaporated the Salt remains at the bottom of the pot There was a great deal of Maes sowed in the fields upon the sides of the River But the Indians were afraid to appear at length some ventured to come near the Camp and were called to by the Souldiers which gave them the boldness to cross the River and come to see the Governour attended by his Souldiers Soto asked them news of their Cacique they told him that he desired to live in peace with him but that he was afraid to present himself The Governour sent him word that he might come securely and that if he would shew himself to be his friend he should give him Guides and an Interpreter otherwise that he would come and find him out which would be to his ruine Soto waited three days for his Answer and seeing he came not he went himself and took him with an hundred and fifty of his Subjects Soto put the ordinary questions to him If he knew of any good Country and any great Lord The Indian made answer That the best Country thereabouts was the Province of Tulla a day and a halfs journey distant towards the South that he would give him a Guide to conduct him but that he could not furnish him with an Interpreter because the Language of the Indians of Tulla differed much from the Language of his Subjects and that seeing his Predecessors and he had always been in War with the Caciques of that Province they had no communication together and understood not one another Upon that information the Governour set out with some Horse and fifty Foot-souldiers to see if he could pass through Tulla with the Army but so soon as they had intelligence of his march the whole Country rose and when fifteen or twenty Indians were got together they set upon the Governour but being paid off by the Horse they got up to the roof of the houses shooting Arrows from thence and though they were driven from one post yet they got upon another and attacked the Spaniards on all hands That way of fighting lasted so long that the horses could not make one step forwards they killed one and wounded some Christians leaving fifteen of their own upon the place We could not take any but about forty women and children for the Indians that fought had no
us with all their men and surprize us in that disorder The Governouâ—… ordered the Indian to be kept in Chains and oâ—… the day he pitched upon thirty Indians loadeâ—… with Fish came to the Town They were presently apprehended and Moscoso ordered the noses and right arms of all of them to be cut off and in that condition sent them back to Guachoya whose Subjects they were with orders to tell him that he and all his confederated Caciques might come that he impatiently expected them and that he should know the Governour was informed of all even to his most secret thoughts This example put them all into a strange fright so that Nilco and Taguante came with great submission to justifie themselves and some days after Guachoya brought another Cacique a Vassal of â—…is who had learnt of a certain that Nilco and â—…aguante had really combined against the Chriâ—…ians whereupon Moscoso caused some of the â—…ndians of Nilco to be apprehended who confessed â—…he truth They were delivered over to this Cacique who put them to death without the Town and next day Moscoso punished likewise â—…ome Subjects of Taguante who also confessed the Treachery of their Cacique to whom he sent them home without nose or hands This piece of justice comforted and fully satisfied the Indians of Guachoya and from that time they came daily â—…ringing with them Mantles Fish and Hogs of which they had got a breed by the Swine which â—…tray'd when we passed through that Country before Nay they egg'd on the Governour to make War with Taguante as soon as the waters were fallen and offered to accompany him and serve him as Guides He sent thither some Foot whom the Indians carried down the River in their Canoes and a Captain with Horse by Land who attacked the Town They made a great many Prisoners of both Sexes and good booty of Mantles which came very seasonably considering the want we had of Sails At length in the Month of Iune the Brigantines were finished and though the Indians had told us that the great River overflow'd but once a year when the Snow melted which had already happen'd and that it was then Summer when no rain lâ—…a fallen for a very long time yet it was the will 〈◊〉 God that it swelled again all of a sudden at neâ—… Moon and as I may say came to find our Brâ—… gantines which so were very easily launched whereas had we been necessitated to carry theâ—… over-land they would have been in danger 〈◊〉 breaking or bulging by the Keel or somewherâ—… else the nails for want of Iron were so short anâ—… the planks so thin The Indians of Minoya camâ—… daily to serve us not so much out of inclinatioâ—… as necessity that they might gain somewhat tâ—… live on for the Souldiers had seized all theiâ—… Maes And seeing their Country was very fruitful in that and that they made most of theiâ—… food of it they being so numerous knew noâ—… what to get to eat Those who came to thâ—… Town were so famished that they were reduceâ—… to skin and bones and many died for meer wanâ—… The Governour had severally discharged any Maes to be given to them but the Christians seeing that even the Hogs had their bellies full and that these poor Indians who came and took so much pains to serve them and whose extream misery they could not but pity charitably gave them of the Maes they had nevertheless through their charitableness we had not Maes enough to put on board for the use of the Army All that remained was put into the Brigantines and twelve great Canoes that were fastned two and two together First we put on board two and â—…wenty of the best Horses and then killed all the â—…est whose flesh with that of the Hogs were dried â—…o the Spaniards parted from Minoya the second â—…f Iuly 1543. CHAP. XXXVII The Indians of Quigaltan attack the Spaniards upon the River and the success of that Engagement ONE day before we went on board it was resolved that all the Indian Men and Women who followed the Army should be dismissed except an hundred whom the Governour allowed to be kept and Embarked But there being a great many persons of Quality whom he durst not refuse what he granted to others he was obliged to come off with this Fetch that every one might keep Indians so long as we were upon the River but that they must all be sent back when we come to the Sea because we had not Casks enough to hold fresh Water for so many people In the mean time he gave notice privately to his Friends that they should retain those whom they had and carry them with them into New Spain So they who were in bad terms with him and who were nâ—… a few sent back about five hundred Indians 〈◊〉 all Age and Sex amongst whom there weâ—… some young ones that spake and understooâ—… Spanish already For being ignorant of the Mystery which time discovered to them afterward they thought it would be cruelty to take theâ—… along with them and leave them so far froâ—… their own Country in danger of being madâ—… Slaves by other Indians and for the advantagâ—… of a few dayes service to reward them so ill â—…o all the services they had rendered them Moâ—… of these poor Indians went away weeping whicâ—… wrought a great deal of compassion in us seeing so many Souls lost without remedy thaâ—… might have been saved by instructing them iâ—… the Christian Faith which with all their heart they would have received The Spaniards whâ—… parted from Minoya were in all three hundreâ—… and twenty two in seven Brigantines pretty well built save that the Planks were a little toâ—… thin because of the weakness of the Iron work that they were not well caulked and that they were open without any Deck Some boardâ—… were laid a-cross to serve for a Deck that the Seamen might have convenience to Sail and work the Vessel and that the Souldiers also mighâ—… walk and take the air Moscoso appointed a Captain for every Brigantine and made them take an Oath to obey him till we were come into a Christian Country He chose the best of all for himself and so we fell down to Guachoya The Indians expected us there in their Canoes and had made a kind of a Hall covered with branches of Trees where they intreated the Governour to come a shoar and refresh himself but he excused himself and continued his course The Indians waited upon us in their Canoes as far as a branch of the River which broke off to the right hand They told Moscoso that the Province of Quigaltan was not far from thence and they pressed much to land and make War against that Cacique promising to assist us with all their force but seeing they had told us before that that Province was three dayes Journey distant the Governour thought they had a mind to betray him and therefore dismissed them So we continued our
us and began to take heart again they came upon us all of a sudden with such hideous shouting that we were quite stunn'd with it These allarms lasted all night long and half next day at which time the Fleet was past the Province of Quigaltan nevertheless we found no more ease for all that because the former before they left us recommended us to the Indians of that other Province who presently came in pursuit of us with fifty Canoes We were engag'd with them a whole day and a night nay they had the boldness to board one of the Brigantines which was retreating with its Canoe at the stern out of which they took an Indian woman and wounded some Souldiers They who carried the horses in the Canoes being weary of rowing so long a time rested themselves sometimes and then the Indians fell upon them immediately This obliged the Brigantines to stay for them which was a great hindrance to us so that the Governour resolved to put ashoar and kill all the horses accordingly having found a place fit for putting that design in execution we landed and killed these poor beasts that were dried as the rest were There were but onely five or six left alive which so soon as the Spaniards were on board again the Indians went ashoar to seize but the horses defended themselves by kicking and running from side to side which put them into such a fright that most part leapt into the water and all got into their Canoes again to follow the Brigantines which they mauled with continual shooting of Arrows In that manner we spent that whole night and until ten a clock next morning about which time the Enemy left us Then seven Canoes with Indians of a little Town upon the side of the River came to continue the pursuit but perceiving they did us but little hurt they return'd to their Town and from that time forward we met with no more Enemies upon the River Our course continued seventeen days wherein we made two hundred and fifty Leagues the River at its mouth divides it self into two branches eachof which are at least a League and a halfover CHAP. XXXIX The Fleet comes to the Sea what befel the Spaniards before they put out into it and in the beginning of their Voyage THe Souldiers being almost spent by so much fighting and much more by the trouble of rowing we resolved to go ashoar half a League from the mouth of the River that they might have some days rest They had other troubles upon them besides occasioned by the scarcity of provisions insomuch that for many days they had nothing but a little Maes roasted or boiled in a pot which was distributed amongst them by allowances every mess of three having a Head-piece full and but scanty measure too As soon as we were encamped the Indians came in seven Canoes to attack ours and at the same time other Enemies made up to us cross a swamp armed with poles with sharp-pointed hooks made of a fish bone wherewith they fought so vigorously that after they had wounded some Spaniards with their Arrows they closed with us but at length with much ado we beat them off In the mean time the Governour ordered some Souldiers to go into the Canoes and make head against the Enemies They waited for us till we were within bow-shot and then having shot and wounded some Souldiers they retreated as nimbly as a well mounted Trooper clears himself when he is beset by Foot and rallying again they renewed the charge always within the reach of their own shot and without the reach of ours for though some of our Souldiers had Bows yet they knew not how to use them and besides their Arms were almost broken with rowing The Enemy on the contrary expected them at their own ease and having made their discharges they wheel'd about again like Horsemen a pickeering Our men observing this and that there was but little appearance to come up with them nay and that those who had got nearest were very ill handled thought it was enough to beat them off and so returned to the Brigantines We tarried two days in that place and then the Fleet following the Current of that branch of the River where we were fell down to the Sea The Governour ordered to sound to see what water we had in the Rivers mouth and having found forty fathom water he came to an Anchor and called a Council that all might give their Opinions as to the Voyage we were to undertake The question was put Whether we should direct our course streight for New-Spain standing out to Sea or Coast it along near the shoar Opinions were divided but the advice of Danhusco weighed most with the Governour because he found others that concurred with him in the same Judgment Danhusco was a man that presumed much on his parts and skill in Sea-Affairs though his knowledge therein was backed by no experience He alleadged to the Governour that it was much more convenient to stand out to Sea and cross the Gulf than to keep near a shoar that made many Bays seeing it would shorten our Voyage by three parts in four Maintaining That according to the Maps which he had seen the Coast from the place where we were to the River of Palms bore East and West and that from that River to New-Spain it run North and South so that if we followed it we should make a compass that would extreamly retard our Voyâ—…ge and put us in danger of being overtaken by the Winter before we could come into a Country â—…nhabited by Christians Whereas if we had but any favourable wind we might cross the Gulf in ten or twelve days time But that advice was not at all approved by the better part of the Council They said that it was the far surer way to keep along the Coast though the Voyage would be longer because our Vessels were very slightly built and without Decks which made them in danger of being lost should we meet with the least storm that the risk was no less if we were becalmed or met with contrary winds because we had but very little fresh water for want of Casks to put it in And in sine though the Brigantines were strong enough to hold out a storm since we had neither Pilot nor Compass to direct our course it would be a rashness to cross over an unknown Gulf. That Advice which carried by pluralities of voices was followed and it was concluded that we should not stand off from the Coast. The Fleet being ready to set sail the Cable of the Brigantine on board of which the Governour was slipt its Anchor and left it in the bottom of the water And though we were near Land nevertheless it could not be got up again by the Divers because of the depth of the River Moscoso and all thaâ—… were aboard with him were extreamly troubleâ—… at this accident and they were forced to take 〈◊〉 Mill â—…one instead