USA > Louisiana > Historical collections of Louisiana : embracing translations of many rare and valuable documents relating to the natural, civil and political history of that state > Part 19
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The Governor answered him, that he forgave him all which was past, that from thenceforth be should do his duty, and that he would bold him for his friend, and that he would favor him in all things. Within four days he departed thence, and coming to the river be could not pass, because it was grown very big; which seemed to him a thing of admiration, being at that time that it was, and since it had not rained a month before. The Indians said, that it increasel many times after that manner without raining in all the country. It was supposed, that it might be the tide that came into it. It was learned that the flood came alway from above, and that the Indians.of all that country had no knowledge of the sea. The Governor returned. unto the place where he had lodged before : and understanding with- in eight days after that the river was passible, he deparied. He passed over and found the town without people: he lodged in the field, and sent the cacique word to come unto him, and to bring him a guide to go forward. And some days being past, seeing the cacique came not, nor sent anybody, he sent two captains sundry ways to burn
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the towns, and to take such Indians as they could find. They burnt great store of victuals, and took many Indians. The cacique seeing the hurt that he received in his country, sent six principal Indians with three men for guides, which knew the language of the country through which the Governor was to pass. He departed presently from Naguatex, and within three days' journey came to a town of four or five houses, which belonged to the cacique of that province, which is called Nissoone: it was evil inhabited, and had little maize. Two days' journey forward the guides which guided the Governor, if they were to go westward, guided him to the east; and sometimes went up and down through very great woods out of the way. The Governor commanded them to be hanged upon a tree : and a woman that they took in Nissoone guided him, and went back again to seek the way. In two days he came to another miserable town called Lacane: an Indian was taken in that place, that said, that the coun- try of Nondacao was a country of great habitation, and the houses scattering the one from the other, as they used to be in mountains, and had great store of maize. The cacique came with his men weep- ing, like them of Naguater: for this is their use in token of obe- dience : he made him a present of much fish, and offered to do what he would command him. He took his leave, and gave him a guide to the province of Soacatino.
The Governor departed from Nondacao towards Soacatino, and in five days' journey came to a province called Aays. The Indians which inhabited it had no notice of the Christians: but as soon as they saw that they entered into their country, they assembled them- selves : and as they came together fifty or a hundred, they came forth to fight. While some fought, others came and charged our men an- other way, and while they followed some, others followed them. The fight lasted the greatest part of the day, till they came to their town. Some horses and men were wounded, but not to any hurt of their traveling : for there was no wound that was dangerous. There was a great spoil made of the Indians. That day that the Governor de- parted from thence, the Indian that guided him said that in Nonda- cao he had heard say, that the Indians of Soacatino had seen other Christians, whereof they all were very glad: thinking it might ho true, and that they might have entered into those parts by Avera España; and that if it were so, it was in their own hand to go out of Florida, if they found nothing of profit : for they feared they should lose themselves in some wilderness. This Indian Jed him two days out of the way. The Governor commanded to torture hin ..
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He said, that the Cacique of Nondacao, his lord, had commanded him to guide them so because they were his enemies, and that he was to do as his lord commanded him. The Governor commanded him to be cast to the dogs : and another guided him to Soacatino, whither he came the day following. It was a very poor country : there was great want of maize in that place. Ile asked the Indians whether they knew of any other Christians. They said that a little from thence toward the south they heard they were. He traveled twenty days through a coun- try evil inhabited, where they suffered great scarcity and trouble ; for that little maize which the Indians had, they had hidden and buried in the woods, where the Christians, after they were well wearied with their travel, at the end of their journey went to seek by digginwhat theg y should eat. At last, coming to a province that was called Guasco, they found maize, wherewith they loaded their horses and the Indians that they had. From thence they went to another town called Naquiscoca. The Indians said they had no notice of any other Christims. The Governor commanded to torment them. They said, that they came first to another lordship which was called Nacacahoz, and from thence returned again to the west from whence they came. The Governor came in two days to Nacucahoz. Some women were taken there : among whom there was one which said that she had seen Christians and had been taken by them, and had run away. The Governor sent a captain with fifteen horsemen to the place where the woman said she had seen them, to see if there was any sign of horses, or any token of their being there. After they had gone three or four leagues, the woman that guided them said that all that she had told them was untrue. And so they held all the rest that the Indians had said of seeing Christians in the land of Florida. And, because the country that way was poor of maize, and toward the west there was no notice of any habitation, they returned to Guasco. The Indians told them there, that ten days' journey from thence toward the west, was a river called Doycao, whither they went sometimes a hunting and killing of deer: and that they had seen people on the other side, but knew not what habitation was there. There the Christians rook such maize as they found and could carry, and going ten days' journey through a wilderness, they came to the river which the Indians had told them of. Ten horsemen, which the Governor had sent before, passed over the same and went in a way that led to the river, and lighted upon a company of Indians that dwelt in very little cabins : who as soon as they saw them took themselves to flight, having that which they had; all which was nothing but misery and poverty.
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The country was so poor, that among them all there was not found half a peck of maize. The horsemen took two Indians, and returned with them to the river, where the Governor stayed for them. He sought to learn of them what habitation was toward the west. There was none in the camp that could understand their language. The Governor assembled the captains and principal persons to determine with their advice what they should do. And the most part said that they thought it best to return back to Rio Grande, or the Great River of Guachoya; because that in Nilco and thereabout was store of maize; saying, that they would make pinnaces that winter, and the next summer pass down the river to the seaward in them, and coming to the sea they would go along the coast to Nueva España. For though it seemed a doubtful thing and difficult, by that which they had already alleged, yet it was the last remedy they had. For by land they could not go for want of an interpreter. And they held, that the country beyond the River of Daycao, where they were, was that which Cabeca de Vaca mentioned in his relation that he passed of the Indians which lived like the Alurbes, having no settled place, and fed upon Tunas and roots of the fields, and wild beasts that they killed. Which if it were so, if they should enter into it and find no victuals to pass the winter, they could not choose but perish, for they were entered already into the beginning of October : and if they stayed any longer they were not able to return for rain and snows, nor to sustain themselves in so poor a country. The Governor (that desired long to see himself in a place where he might sleep his full sleep, rather than to conquer and govern a country where so many troubles presented themselves) presently returned back that same way that he came.
When that which was determined was published in the camp, there were many that were greatly grieved at it : for they held the sea voy- age as doubtful, for the evil means they had, and of as great danger as the traveling by land: and they hoped to find some rich country before they came to the land of the Christians, by that which Cabeça de Vaca had told the Emperor : and that was this: That after he had found clothes made of cotton wool, he saw gold and silver, and stones of great value. 'And they had not yet come where he had been. For until that place he always traveled by the sea-coast : and they traveled far within the land; and that going towards the west, of necessity they should come where he had been. For he said that in a certain place he traveled many days, and entered into the land to- ward the north. And in Guasco they had already found some Tur-
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key stones, and mantles of cotton wool: which the Indians signified by sigus that they had from the west : and that holding that course they should draw near to the land of the Christians. But though they were much discontented with it, and it grieved many to go backward, which would rather have adventured their lives and have died in the land of Florida, than to have gone poor out of it; yet were they not a sufficient part to hinder that which was determined, because the principal men agreed with the Governor. And afterward there was one that said, he would put out one of his own eyes, te put out another of Luys de Moscoso; because it would grieve him much to see him prosper : because as well himself as others of his friends had crossed that which he durst not have done, seeing that within two days he should leave the government. From Duycao, where now they were, to Rio Grande, or the Great River, was one hundred and fifty leagues : which unto that place they had gone westward. And by the way as they returned back they had much ado to find maize to cat : for where they had passed the country was destroyed; and some little maize that was left the Indians had hidden. The towns which in Naguater. they had burned (whereof it repented them) were repaired again, and the houses full of maize. This country is well inhabited and plen- tiful. In that place are vessels made of clay, which differ very little from those of Estremoz, or Montemor. In Chaguate the Indians by commandment of the cacique came peaceably, and said, that the Christian which remained there would not come. The Governor wrote unto him, and sent him ink and paper that he might answer. The substance of the words of the letter was to declare unto him his de- termination, which was to go out of the land of Florida, and to put him in remembrance that he was a Christian, that he would not ro- main in the subjection of infidels, that he pardoned him the fault which he had done in going away to the Indians, that he should come unto him : and if they did stay him, that he would advertise him thereof by writing. The Indian went with the letter, and came again without any more answer, than, on the back side, his name and seal, that they might know he was alive. The Governor sent twelve horse- men to seek him : but he, which had his spies, so hid Himself, that they could not find him. For want of maize the Governor could not. Stay any longer to seek him. He departed from Chaquety, and passed the river by lays ; going down by it be found a town called Chilano, which as yet they had not seen. They came to Nico, and found se little maize, as could not suffice till they made their ships; because the Christians, being in Guachoya in the seed time, the Indians for
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fear of them durst not come to sow the grounds of Nilco : and they knew not thereabout any other country where any maize was : and that was the most fruitful soil that was thereaway, and where they had most hope to find it. Every one was confounded, and the most part thought it bad counsel to come back from the river of Daycao, and not to have followed their fortune, going that way that went over land. For by sea it seemed impossible to save themselves, unless God would work a miracle for them : for there was neither pilot, nor sca-chart, neither did they know where the river entered into the sea, neither had they notice of it, neither had they anything wherewith to make sails, nor any store of enequem, which is a grass whereof they make oakum, which grew there; and that which they found they saved to caulk the pinnaccs withal; neither had they anything to pitch them withal; neither could they make ships of such substance, but that any storm would put them in great danger : and they feared much it would fall out with them, as it did with Pamphilo de Nar- vacz, which was cast away upon that coast. And above all other it troubled them most, that they could find no maize : for without it they could not be sustained, nor could do anything that they had need of. All of them were put to great confusion. Their chief remedy was to commit themselves to God, and to besecch him that he would direct them the way that they might save their lives. And it pleased him of his goodness, that the Indians of Wilco came peaceably, and told them, that two days' journey from thenee, near unto the Great River, were two towns, whereof the Christians had no notice, and that the .province was called Minoya, and was a fruitful soil : that, whether at this present there was any maize or no, they knew not, because they had war with them : but that they would be very glad with the favor of the Christians to go and spoil them. The Governor sent a cap- tain thither with horsemen and footmen, and the Indians of Nilco with him. He came to Minoya, and found two great towns seated in a plain and open soil, half a league distant, one in sight of another, and in them he took many Indians, and found great store of maize. Presently he lodged in one of them, and sent word to the Governor what. he had found: wherewith they were all exceeding glad. They departed from Nilco in the beginning of December; and all that way, and W fore from Chilano, they endured much trouble : for they passed through many waters, and many times it rained, with a northern wind, and was exceeding colt, so that they were in the open field with water over and underneath them : and when at the end of their day's jour- ney, they found dry ground to rest upon, they gave great thanks to
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God. With this trouble alnost all the Indians that served them died. And after they were in Minoya, many Christians also died : and the most part were sick of great and dangerous diseases, which had a spice of the lethargy. At this place died Andrew de Vasconcelos, and two Portuguese of Elcas, which were very near him : which were brethren, and by their surname called Solis. The Christians Jouged in one of the towns which they liked best, which was fenced about, and distant a quarter of a league from the Great River. The maize that was in the other town was brought thither; and in all it was esteemed to be six thousand hanegs or bushels. And there was the best timber to make ships that they had seen in all the land of Florida ; wherefore all of them gave God great thanks for so singular a favor, and hoped that that which they desired would take effect, which was, that they might safely be conducted into the land of the Christians.
As soon as they came to Minoya, the Governor commanded them to gather all the chains together, which every one had to lead Indians in ; and to gather all the iron which they had for their provision, and all the rest that was in the camp: and to set up a forge to make nails, and commanded them to cut down timber for the brigantines. And a Portuguese of Ceuta, who having been a prisoner in Fes, had learned to saw timber with a long saw, which for such purposes they had carried with them, did teach others, which helped him to saw timber. And a Genovese, whom it pleased God to preserve (for with- out him they had never come out of the country, for there was never another that could make ships but he), with four or five other Bisrayon carpenters, which hewed his planks and other timbers, made the brigantines : and two calkers, the one of Genera, the other of Str- dinia, did calk them with the tow of an herb like hemp, whereof before I bave made mention, which there is named enequen. And because there was not enough of it, they called them with the fax of the country, and with the mantles, which they raveled for that purpose. A cooper which they had among them fell sick, and was af
the point of death : and there was none other that had any skill in that trade : it pleased God to send him his health. And albeit ht. was very weak, and could not labor, yet fifteen days before they do- parted, he made for every brigantine two half hogsheads, which the mariners call quarterets, because four of them hold a pipe of water. The Indians which dwelt two days' journey above the river in a province called Tagurmate, and likewise those of Me and.
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Guacoya, and others their neighbors seeing the brigantines in making, thinking, because their places of refuge are in the water, that they were to go to seck them, and because the Governor demanded man- tles of them, as necessary for sails, came many times, and brought many mantles, and great store of fish. And for certain it scemed that God was willing to favor them in so great necessity, moving the minds of the Indians to bring them : for to go to take them, they were never able. For in the town where they were, as soon as win- ter came, they were so enclosed and compassed with water, that they could go no farther by land, than a league, and a league and a half. And if they would go farther, they could carry no horses, and without them they were not able to fight with the Indians, because they were many : and so many for so many on foot they had the advantage of them by water and by land, because they were more apt and lighter, and by reason of the disposition of the country, which was according to their desire for the use of their war. They brought also some cords, and those which wanted for cables were made of the barks of mulberry trees. They made stirrups of wood, and made anchors of their stirrups. In the month of March, when it had rained a month before, the river grew so big that it came to Nico, which was nine leagues of: and on the other side, the Indians said, that it reached other nine leagues into the land. In the town where the Christians were, which was somewhat high ground, where they could best go, the water reached to the stirrups. They made certain rafts of tim- ber, and laid many boughs upon them, whereon they set their horses, and in the houses they did the like. But seeing that nothing pre- vailed, they went up to the lofts : and if they went out of the houses, it was in canoes, or on horseback in those places where the ground was highest. So they were two months, and could do nothing, during which time the river decreased not. The Indians ceased not to come unto the brigantines as they were wont, and came in canoes. At that time the Governor feared they would set upon him. He commanded bis men to take an Indian secretly of those that came to the town, and to stay him till the rest were gone : and they took one. The Governor commanded him to be put to torture, to make him confess whether the Indians did practice any treason or no. He confessed that the caciques of Nilo, Guachoya, and Taguanate, and others, which in all were about twenty caciques, with a great number of people, determined to come upon him; and that three days before, they would send a great present of fish to cover their great treason and malice, and on the very day they would send some Indians before
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with another present. And these, with those which were our slaves, which were of their conspiracy also, should set the houses on fire, and first of all possess themselves of the lances which stood at the doors of the houses ; and the caciques, with all their men, should be near the town in ambush in the wood, and when they saw the fire kindled, should come, and make an end of the conquest. The Go- vernor commanded the Indian to be kept in a chain, and the self- same day that he spoke of, there came thirty Indians with fish. He commanded their right hands to be cut off, and sent them so back to the Cacique of Guachoya, whose men they were. He sent him word that he and the rest should come when they would, for he desired. nothing more, and that he should know, that they thought not any- thing which he knew not before they thought of it. Hercupon they all were put in a very great fear : and the caciques of Nilro and Taguanate came to excuse themselves : and a few days after came he of Guachoya, and a principal Indian, and his subject, said, he knew by certain information, that the caciques of Nilco and Taguanet were agreed to come and make war upon the Christians. As soon as the Indians came from Nilco, the Governor examined them, and they confessed it was true. He delivered them presently to the principal men of Guachoya, which drew them out of the town and killed them. Another day came some from Taguanate, and confessed it likewise .. The Governor commanded their right hands and noses to be cut off, and sent them to the cacique, wherewith they of Guachoya remained very well contented : and they came oftentimes with presents of man- . tles and fish, and hogs, which bred in the country of some swine that were lost by the way the last year. As soon as the waters were slaked, they persuaded the Governor to send to Taguanate. They came and brought canoes, wherein the footmen were conveyed down the river, and a captain with horsemen went by land; and the Indians of Guachaya, which guided him till they came to Taguanate, as- saulted the town, and took many men and women, and mantles, which with those that they had already were sufficient to supply their want. The brigantines being finished in the month of June, the Indians having told us that the river increased but once a year, when the snows did melt, in the time wherein I mentioned it had already in- creased, being now in summer, and having not rained a long time, it pleased God that the flood came up to the town to seek the brigan- tines, from whence they carried them by water to the river. Which, if they had gone by land, had been in danger of breaking and split- ting their keels, and to be all undone ; because that for want of iron,
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the spikes were short, and the planks and timber were very weak. The Indians of Minoya, during the time that they were there came to serve them (being driven thereunto by necessity) that of the maize which they had taken from them, they would bestow some crumbs upon them, and because the country was fertile, and the people used to feed of maize, and the Christians had gotten all from them that they had, and the people were many, they were not able to sustain themselves. Those which came to the town were so weak and feeble, that they had no flesh left on their bones : and many came and died near the town for pure hunger and weakness. The Governor com- manded upon grievous punishments to give them no maize. Yet, when they saw that the hogs wanted it not, and that they had yielded themselves to serve them, and considering their misery and wretched- ness, having pity of them, they gave them part of the maize which they had. And when the time of their embarkment came, there was not sufficient to serve their own turns. That which there was, they put into the brigantines, and into great canoes tied two and two to- gether. They shipped twenty-two of the best horses that were in the camp, the rest they made dried flesh of; and dressed the hogs which they had in like manner. They departed from Minoya the second day of July, 1543.
The day before they departed from Minoya, they determined to dismiss all the men and women of the country, which they had de- tained as slaves to serve them, save some hundred, little more or less, which the Governor embarked, and others whom it pleased him to permit. And because there were many men of quality, whom he . could not deny that which he granted to others, he used a policy, saying, that they might serve them as long as they were in the river, but when they came to the sea, they must send them away for want of water, because they had but few vessels. Ile told his friends in secret, that they should carry theirs to Nucca España : and all those whom he bare no good-will unto (which were the greater num- ber) ignorant of that which was hidden from them, which afterward time discovered, thinking it inhumanity for so little time of service, in reward of the great service that they had done them, to carry them with them, to leave them slaves to other men out of their own coun- tries, left five hundred men and women ; among whom were many boys and girls, which spake and understood the Spanish tougne. The most of them did nothing but weep; which moved great com- passion ; seeing that all of them with good-will would have become
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