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
That night he lodged there; and the next day he came to the habitation
of _Naguatex_, which was very scattering: he inquired where the
cacique's chief town was? They told him that it was on the other side of
a river, that passed thereby: he traveled thitherward, and came unto it:
and on the other side he saw many Indians, that tarried for him, making
show as though they would defend the passage. And because he knew not
whether it could be waded, nor where the passage was, and that some
Christians and horses were hurt, that they might have time to recover,
he determined to rest certain days in the town where he was. So he
pitched his camp a quarter of a league from the river, because the
weather was very hot, near unto the town, in a thin grove of very fair
and high trees near a brook's side: and in that place were certain
Indians taken; whom he examined, whether the river were wadeable or no?
They said yea, at some times, and in some places. Within ten days after
he sent two captains with fifteen horsemen a piece upward and down the
river with Indians to show them where they should go over, to see what
habitation was on the other side. And the Indians withstood them both,
defending the passage of the river as far as they were able, but they
passed in despite of them: and on the other side of the river they saw
great habitation, and great store of victuals; and with these news
returned to the camp.
The Governor sent an Indian from _Naguatex_ where he lay, to command the
cacique to come to serve and obey him, and that he would forgive him all
that was past; that if he came not, that he would seek him, and give him
such punishment as he had deserved for that which he had done against
him. Within two days the Indian returned, and said that the cacique
would come the next day; which, the same day when he came, sent many
Indians before him, among whom there were some principal men: he sent
them to see what countenance they found in the Governor, to resolve with
himself whether he should go or not. The Indians let him understand,
that he was coming, and went away presently: and the cacique came
within two hours accompanied with many of his men: they came all in a
rank one before another on both sides, leaving a lane in the midst where
he came. They came where the Governor was, all of them weeping after the
manner of _Tulla_, which was not far from thence toward the east. The
cacique made his due obedience, and the speech following:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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