Spanish Explorers in the Southern United States, 1528-1543.: The Narrative of Alvar Nunez Cabeca de Vaca. The Narrative of the Expedition of Hernando De Soto by the Gentleman of ElvasNúñez Cabeza de Vaca, Alvar, active 16th century
History
Spanish Explorers in the Southern United States, 1528-1543.: The Narrative of Alvar Nunez Cabeca de Vaca. The Narrative of the Expedition of Hernando De Soto by the Gentleman of Elvas
Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Alvar, active 16th century
America -- Discovery and exploration -- Spanish; Coronado, Francisco Vásquez de, 1510-1554; Florida -- History -- To 1565; Indians of North America; Soto, Hernando de, approximately 1500-1542
[11] Vasco Porcallo de Figueroa afterward became De Soto's
lieutenant-general in Florida, but returned to Cuba early in the
history of the expedition.
[12] On the southern coast, longitude 80°.
[13] Now Cabo Cruz, longitude 77° 40'.
[14] One Juan Pantoja, captain of crossbowmen and Lord of
Ixtlahuaca, accompanied Narvaez on his first expedition to
Mexico. If the same as the present Pantoja, which seems likely,
he was killed by Sotomayor in a quarrel. See ch. 17.
We having arrived with the two vessels at the port of Trinidad,
Captain Pantoja went with Vasco Porcalle (_sic_) to the town, a
league off, to receive the provisions, while I remained at sea with
the pilots, who said we ought to go thence with the greatest despatch
possible, for it was a very bad port in which many vessels were lost.
As what there occurred to us was very remarkable, it appears to me
not foreign to the purpose with which I write this, to relate it here.
The next morning began to give signs of bad weather; rain commenced
falling, and the sea ran so high, that, although I gave the men
permission to go on shore, many of them returned to the ship to avoid
exposure to the wet and cold, and because the town was a league away.
In this time a canoe came off, bringing me a letter from a resident
of the place, asking me to come for the needed provisions that were
there; from which request I excused myself, saying that I could not
leave the ships. At noon the canoe returned with another letter, in
which I was solicited again with much urging, and a horse was brought
for me to ride. I gave the same answer as before, that I could not
leave the ships; but the pilots and the people entreated me to go, so
that I might hasten the provisions as fast as possible, and we might
join the fleet where it lay, for they had great fear lest remaining
long in this port, the ships should be lost. For these reasons,
I determined to go to the town; but first I left orders with the
pilots, that if the south wind, which often wrecks vessels there,
came on to blow, and they should find themselves in much danger, to
put the ships on shore at some place where the men and horses could
be saved. I wished to take some of the men with me for company; but
they said the weather was too rainy and cold, and the town too far
off; that to-morrow, which was Sunday, they would come, with God's
help, and hear mass.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account