A Narrative of the expedition of Hernando de Soto into Florida published at Evora in 1557Knight of Elvas
History
A Narrative of the expedition of Hernando de Soto into Florida published at Evora in 1557
Knight of Elvas
America -- Discovery and exploration; Florida -- History -- To 1565; Soto, Hernando de, approximately 1500-1542
The Governor departed from _Napetuca_ the 23d of September; he lodged by
a river, where two Indians brought him a buck from the cacique of
_Uzachil_. The next day he passed by a great town called _Hapaluya_, and
lodged at _Uzachil_, and found no people in it, because they durst not
tarry for the notice the Indians had of the slaughter of _Napetuca_. He
found in that town great store of maize, French beans, and pompions,
which is their food, and that wherewith the Christians there sustained
themselves. The maize is like coarse millet, and the pompions are better
and more savory than those of _Spain_. From thence the Governor sent
two captains each a sundry way to seek the Indians. They took an hundred
men and women; of which as well there as in other place where they made
any inroads, the captain chose one or two for the Governor, and divided
the rest to himself, and those that went with him. They led these
Indians in chains with iron collars about their necks; and they served
to carry their stuff, and to grind their maize, and for other services
that such captives could do. Sometimes it happened that going for wood
or maize with them, they killed the Christian that led them, and ran
away with the chain; others filed their chains by night with a piece of
stone, wherewith they cut them, and use it instead of iron. Those that
were perceived paid for themselves, and for the rest, because they
should not dare to do the like another time. The women and young boys,
when they were once an hundred leagues from their country, and had
forgotten things, they let go loose, and so they served; and in a very
short space they understood the language of the Christians. From
_Uzachil_ the Governor departed toward _Apalache_, and in two days'
journey he came to a town called _Axille_, and from thence forward the
Indians were careless, because they had as yet no notice of the
Christians. The next day in the morning, the first of October, he
departed from thence, and commanded a bridge to be made over a river
which he was to pass. The depth of the river where the bridge was made,
was a stone's cast, and forward a crossbow shot the water came to the
waist; and the wood whereby the Indians came to see if they could defend
the passage, and disturb those which made the bridge, was very high and
thick. The crossbow-men so bestirred themselves that they made them give
back; and certain planks were cast into the river, whereon the men
passed, which made good the passage. The Governor passed upon Wednesday,
which was _St. Francis_' day, and lodged at a town which was called
_Vitachuco_, subject to _Apalache_: he found it burning, for the Indians
had set it on fire. From thence forward the country was much inhabited,
and had great store of maize. He passed by many granges like hamlets. On
Sunday, the 25th of October, he came to a town which is called _Uzela_,
and upon Tuesday to _Anaica Apalache_, where the lord of all that
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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