USA > Louisiana > The province and the states, a history of the province of Louisiana under France and Spain, and of the territories and states of the United States formed therefrom, Vol. I > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
"Capaha replied to De Soto that the greatest mark he could give of his obedience was to do what he requested of him, and that he was ready willingly to unite in friendship with Casquin; and thereupon the two Caciques embraced each other, but apparently their caresses were constrained. Nevertheless, they did not omit to converse ingeniously with the general concerning Spain and the provinces of Florida. Their conversation lasted until they came to inform him that it was time to dine, and immediately they passed into another room, where the table was set for three. The
* The Capahas, or Pacahas, were the modern Quapaws, and the Casquins were the Kaskaskias, who then lived on the St. Francis river.
ろ
411
31
17
11
w
m
13
del Espiritu Santo
411
ORIGINAL MAP OF THE EXPLORATIONS OF SOTO AND MOSCOSO. 1539- 1543. R.E.M.
NoXV.
33
SPANISH EXPLORATIONS.
general placed himself at the upper end, and Casquin at his right, but Capaha civilly remonstrated with Casquin that as the most dis- tinguished, most powerful and of a more illustrious nobility, that place belonged to him. De Soto, who saw this contest, wished to know the cause of it, and when he had learned it, he said without regard to the advantages which the one had over the other, Capaha ought to have respect to the white hairs of Casquin, and accord to him the place the most honorable ; that it was becoming a young lord, well-bred, to have consideration for the aged. Capaha replied that if Casquin was his guest he would willingly concede the first place to him without even having regard to his age, but that eating at the table of a third person, he ought not to lose his rank ; and that if he were not jealous of his honor, all his subjects would complain of it; that for these considerations, if the general wished that he should eat with him, he should not suffer him to derogate from his rank nor from the glory of his ancestors ; that otherwise it would be better for him to go and dine with his sol diers, who knowing his conduct, would love him the more for it. Casquin, who wished to appease Capaha, and who knew that this lord was right, arose and said to De Soto that Capaha demanded nothing but what was very just, and that he begged him to invite him to take his place; that as for liin, he esteemed himself so honored to be at his table, that it was of no importance on which side he sat. As he spoke he passed to the left of the general and calmed Capaha, who during all the time of dining, did not show any resentment. These circumstances show that even among bar- barians, the rank which gives title is something of importance. The Spaniards were astonished at the proceedings of these two chiefs, for they never would have believed that the Indians would have been so sensitive upon the point of honor."
Previous to this time, the Spaniards had suffered greatly from the lack of salt, and having complained to the Indians, were told that "there was some in the mountains at forty leagues from Capaha. They also said that there was found there the yellow metal of which they had spoken to them. Our people rejoiced at this news. Moreno and Silvera, who were careful and wise, offered to go with the (native) merchants and find out the truth of all these things. The general immediately dispatched them with orders to notice the quality of the land through which they should pass ; and Capaha had them escorted by Indians, and gave them pearls, deer-skins and beans with which to purchase gold and salt. 'Then they left and at the end of eleven days returned with six loads of fossil salt, clear as crystal, which gave great joy
I-3
34
THE PROVINCE AND THE STATES.
to the Spaniards. They also brought back some copper, very yellow, and said that the country whence they came was sterile and very poorly populated."*
Soon after this occurrence, De Soto "resumed the route to the town of Casquin, in order from there to direct his course towards the West and to explore its lands." After five days spent at Casquin,¿ resting and recruiting, he "marched four days down the river (the St. Francis) through a country fertile and popu- lated, and arrived at the province of Quiguate." He was now probably in the county of Phillips, Arkansas, near the old month of the St. Francis river. He encountered a friendly reception at the borders of this province, and was requested to continue on down the river to the capital, which was likewise called Quiguate. Accordingly, the "general believed what they told him, and con- tinued five days his journey, descending along the Mississippi river through places abounding in provisions, and on the fifth arrived at the capital. The town was divided into three quar- ters. The Spaniards lodged in two, and the Indians in the third, where was the house of the cacique." **
The inhabitants of Quiguatett showed themselves to be suspi- cious, and the Spaniards did not receive at the capital the welcome they had expected and had been assured they would be accorded. However, after a few preliminary skirmishies, peace was patched up, and the Spaniards remained at Quiguate six days. "They left the seventh, and after marching five days down along the river, which passes by Casquin,t they arrived at the capital of the Province of Colima." Here they were not well received, but the unflinching De Soto again managed to placate or hood- wink the natives .. After three days spent here in recruiting and laying in provisions, "they continued their journey through fer- tile fields, pleasant forests, easy to pass, and at the end of four
* This trip was made, no doubt, to the mountains in the southwestern part of Missouri, where the natives collected salt from the many salt springs or deposits in that region. It is probable that they did not have to go the entire distance of forty leagnes and return-240 miles-because they could not have covered the dis- tance in the time mentioned-eleven days. Or perhaps the distance was less.
# The Portuguese account says, that " the capital, the province and the eicique were called Casquin." When, therefore, they " resumed the route to the town of Casquin," it is to be presumed it was to the capital of Casquin on the St. Francis river, where they had been so royally entertained before.
** They were now probably on the Mississippi below the mouth of the Arkansas. tt It will be noticed that the description located Quiguate on the Mississippi river, and not on the St. Francis, as some writers maintain, beenuse, after leaving Quiguate, they marched " down and along the river which passes by Casquin" until they arrived at the capital of Colimn. The province of Casquin evidently lay between the Mississippi and the St. Francis.
Plainly, the term Casquin here used refers to the province, aud not to its chief town, or capital.
-
35
SPANISII EXPLORATIONS.
days arrived at the borders of a river where the army encamped." Here they spent some time and made salt from what De la Vega calls "sand of an azure color." ** 1949951
The Elvas Narrativet describes the journey down the river from the province of Capaha in the following language: "The governor rested forty days in Pacalia (Capaha). From thence he sent thirty horsemen and fifty footmen to the province of Caluca to see if he might travel to Chisca,* where the Indians said there was work of gold and copper. They traveled seven (eleven ?) days' journey through a desert and returned. The governor, seeing that toward that part of the country was poor in maize, demanded of the Indians which way it was most inhab- ited, and they said they had notice of a great province, which was called Quiguate, and that it was towards the south. The Cacique of Casquia (afterward the Kaskaskia) commanded the bridge to be repaired, and the governor returned through his country and lodged in a field near his town. He gave us a guide and mer for carriers. The governor lodged at a town of his, and.the next day at another near a river (the St. Francis)} whither he caused canoes to be brought for him to pass over. The governor took his journey toward Quiguate.§ The fourth of August he came to the town. The town was the greatest that was seen in Flor- ida." The account given by Luis Fernandez de Biedma, who likewise accompanied the expedition to the end, was as follows : "We remained at Pacaha (Capaha) twenty-six or seven days, anxious to learn if we could take the northern route and cross to the South Sea. "We then marched northeast. We traveled eight days through swamps, after which we met a troop of Indians who lived under movable tents. We next came to the Province of Caluca. Seeing there was no way to reach the South Sea, we returned toward the north, and afterward in a southwest
** Judging by the number of days they had thus marched southward, this stream could have been no other than Red river.
This narrative was prepared by the "Portuguese gentleman of Elvas," a writer whose name is unknown, but who accompanied the expedition of De Soto to the end, and thus participated in the events which he describes.
* This trip was presumably to the mountains of southwest Missouri, as already narrated from the de la Vega account.
t It will be noticed that the Elvas Narrative cannot escape the conclusion that another river than the Chucagua ( Mississippi) was referred to; and it is amusing to observe the confusion of subsequent writers in attempting to locate all these movements on the Mississippi. The St. Francis river is, in many places, but a short distance from the Mississippi, and as the country is comparatively level, the communication between the two was easy but slow. By considering the move- ments to have been on the St. Francis, all confusion is avoided.
¿ Quiguate was situated on the Arkansas river near its mouth. The Indians were afterward called the Akanseas, or Arkansas.
NOTE .- Colima was probably the same as Tanico near the mouth of Red river.
.
36
THE PROVINCE AND THE STATES.
direction to a province called Quiguate, where we found the larg- est village we had yet seen in all our travels. It was situated on one of the branches of a great river." *
The Elvas Narrative further says, "As for Quiguate, Casqui and Pacaha, they were plain countries, flat grounds and full of good meadows on the rivers, where the Indians sowed large fields of maize." It must be admitted that the country was full of corn and other provisions to support four or five hundred Spaniards and their horses for months at a time. They had now been from two to three months in the provinces of Casquia, Capaha and Quiguate, and had been supported the whole time by the Indians-partly through fear, but as much so from kindly motives, which put to shame the savagery and base intentions of the Spaniards. The Indians were war-like, and the women were even more savage and courageous in battle than the men. They did not hesitate to take up the same weapons as the men and join in the desperate struggles against the intruders. Numerous instances are narrated of their prowess. The Elvas Narrative says, "From Pacalia (Capaha) to Quiguate may be a hundred leagues." 'The actual distance was probably fully that far, count- ing from near the mouth of the Arkansas upward to about the Missouri state line. It further says, "The governor asked which way the country was most inhabited. They said that toward the south, down the river, were great towns and Caciques, which com- manded great countries and much people .; And that toward the northwest there was a province, near to certain mountains, called Coligoa. From Quiguate to Coligoa may be forty leagues."
'The account of de la Vega states, that after leaving Quiguate, they marched down the River Mississippi five days and reached the town of Colima, capital of the province of the same name. Leaving here, they seem to have taken a northwesterly direction, continuing for four days, when they arrived "at the borders of a
* Particular attention is called to this description of an eye witness of the scenes which he describes so briefly. He says they marched northeast, but this could not have been so. because they would have had to cross the Mississippi, which they evidently did not do. He says they marched eight days on the trip for gold and salt: the Elvas Narrative says seven and de la Vega eleven. Biedma says they returned toward the north, but, of course 'it was toward the south. Ile conld hardly have gone northeast and then returned north. They went northwest and returned, and according to Biedma were gone about sixteen days, eight going and presumably the same returning. Upon their return they went in a southwest di- rection, arriving finally at Quiguate, which he says was situated on a "branch of a great river." This branch could have been no other than the Arkansas. Thus the three accounts of de la Vega, Biedma and the Elvis Narratives fix the St. Francis as the river, upon which these operations were conducted, and where stood the capitals of Capuha and Casquin or Cusquin.
f The Elvas Narrative fails to give an account of the journey to Colima, given by de la Vega. This was doubtless because of the absence of exciting or import- ant events; but the details given by the latter are too vivid and definite not to ave been based upon actual observations.
37
SPANISH EXPLORATIONS.
river."* The description shows this to have been a different river from any they had yet seen. Their entire journey during the four days had been through large and well-cultivated fields of corn, pumpkins, beans, etc. The country was very smooth and "easy to pass." The Elvas Narrative continues, "The governor with an Indian, which was his guide, passed through great woods without any way seven days' journey through a desert, where at every lodging they lodged in lakes and pools of very shoal water : there was such store of fish that they killed them with their cud- gels. We then crossed vast plains and high mountains, when suddenly we came to Coligoa. The Indians of Coligoa had not known of the Christians, and when they came so near the town that the Indians saw them, they fled up a river which passes near the town and some leaped into it; but the Christians went on both sides of the river and took them. We inquired here for other villages, and they directed us to go south and southwest and we should find them. We traveled five days and came to the province of Palisema .** He found much people, but by reason of the roughness of the country he took none save a few women and children."
From Coligoa De Soto went southwest for five days, at the end of which time he arrived at Tatel Coya, probably on Red river. Thence he marched four days up the river to the province of Cayas, where he stopped at the town called Tanico. In the province of Cayas, the Spaniards made salt and discovered springs of hot water. From Tanico he went to Tulla, a day and a half's journey, but to reach it was obliged to cross high hills. These operations were doubtless along Red river in modern Louisiana.t
The Elvas Narrative says, "We were told that if we were to ascend this river (the Washita) we should find a large province called Cayas. We repaired thither and found it a mountainous country and composed of populous villages. This town was called Tanico (Cayas appears to be Spanish). He pitched his tent in the best part of it, and here, in the province of Cayas, the governor rested a month; in which time the horses fattened, and they drank of very hot water and somewhat brakish. On
* It was probably Washita river. The Spanish league is two and one-third iniles. ** Probably on the Washita in what is now northern Louisiana.
tIt must be admitted that the description of the country over which the expe- dition passed is so doubtful from the contradictory statements made, that the route cannot be laid down with certainty. It is possible that, instead of being on Red river, these operations were on the Arkansas river, from Little Rock to its mouth. All the latest and best authorities, however, locate these movements along Red river in modern Louisiana.
38
THE PROVINCE AND THE STATES.
both sides of the river the country was full of sown fields, and there was a store of maize. * * The governor asked the * Caciques which way the country was best inhabited. He answered that the best country thereabout was a province toward the south a day and a half journey, which was called Tulla." But the Indians there resented the coming of the Spaniards, and De Soto concluded to return to Cayas or Tanico to spend the winter. He carried the cacique (of Tulla) with him; and of all his men there was not one found who under- stood the speech of Tulla." * * "The governor informed himself (of) all the country round about, and understood that toward the west was a scattering dwelling, and that toward the southeast were great towns, especially in a province called Autiamque; he traveled five days over rough mountains and came to the town of Guipana, situated at the foot of high hills. Where no Indians could be taken for the rough- ness of the country, and the town being between hills, there was an ambush laid wherewith they took two Indians, which told them that Autiamque# was six days' journey from thence, and that there was another province towards the south, eight days' jour- ney off, called Guahata. But because Autiamque was nearer, the governor made his journey that way, and in three days he came to a town called Anoixi. Within two days after he came to another town called Catamaya and lodged in the fields of the town. The next day they went to the town and took as much maize as they needed. That day they lodged in a wood and the next day they came to Atiamque. Hard by this town passed a river that came out of the province of Cayas ('Tanico) and, above and below, it was very well peopled. They stayed in Atiamque three months ( wintered there)."t
"Upon Monday, the 6th of March, 1542, the governor departed from Atiamque to seek Nilco, which the Indians said was near the great river (Red). The governor spent ten days in traveling from Atiamque to a province called Ayays (Adayes in western Louisiana), and came to a town that stood near the river that
* They had traveled from Tanico (Cayas), which lay up and near the Red river a considerable distance over high hills. Autiamque was ten days' journey from Tulla, though in a zig-zag course. From Guipana he turned easterly, crossed the high mountains again and descended into a plain, very fertile, where stood Autiamque on the banks of both the Mississippi and the Red rivers. Here he re- solved to spend the winter.
tThe province of Cayas (Tanico) seems, then, to have been located in the mod- ern parishes of Concordia and Catahoula, Louisiana, bordering on the three rivers, Red, Washita and Mississippi.
39
SPANISH EXPLORATIONS.
passeth by Cayas and Autiamque (the Red).t There he com- manded a barge to be made wherewith he crossed the river. When he had crossed the river, he went three days' journey through a wilderness and a country so low and so full of lakes and evil ways that he traveled a whole day in water, sometimes knee deep, sometimes to the stirrups, and sometimes they swam. They came to a town called Tutelpinco. There passed by it a lake that entered unto the river which carried a great stream and force of water. The governor went a whole day along the lake sceking a passage but could find none. They made rafts where- with they crossed the lake ;* they traveled three days and came to a town in the province of Anilco or Nilco called Tianto. They passed through three or four great towns. In the town where the Cacique resided, which was two leagues from the place where the governor remained, they found many Indians who, as soon as they saw the Christians coming, set fire to the Cacique's house and fled over a lake that passed near the town, through which the horses could not pass. The next day being Wednesday, the 29th of March, the governor came to Nilco: he lodged with his men in the Cacique's town, which stood in a plain field, which was inhabited for the space of a quarter of a league, and within a league and a half were other very great towns. This was the best inhabited country that was seen in Florida, and had most stores of maize except Coça and Apalache. The river which passed by Nilco was that which passed by Cayas and Autiamque and fell into the Rio Grande (the Mississippi), which passed by Pacaha and Aquixo, and near unto the province of Guachoya, the lord of which came up the river to make war with him of Nilco. Within a few days the governor determined to go to Guachoya. As he crossed the river Nilco (Red) there came in canoes the Indians of Guachoya up the stream, and when they saw him they returned down the river. The governor (having crossed) sent a captain with fifty men in six canoes down the river and went himself by land with the rest. He came to Guachoyat upon Sun- day, the 17th day of April : he lodged in the town of the Cacique, which was enclosed about (by palisades probably), and seated a cross-bow shot from the river ( Mississippi). That day came an
t This ten days' journey was unquestionably westward across the State of Loui- siana to the province of Adayes, partly in Louisiana and partly in Texas. The low country between Natchitoches and Texarkana was where they were obliged to wade in water.
* This lake seems to'have been one of the many bayous situated on Red river. It is admitted that the town of Guachoya stood on the west bank of the Missis- sippi, near the mouth of the Red river.
40
THE PROVINCE AND THE STATES.
Indian to the governor from the Cacique of Guachoya. The next day they saw many canoes come up the river; and on the other side of the Great River (the Mississippi) they consulted whether they should come or not, and at length concluded to come, and crossed the river. In them came the Cacique of Guachoya. The governor asked him whether he had any notice of the sea. He answered 'no,' nor of any towns down the river on that side, save that at two leagues from thence was a town of a subject of his : and on the other side of the river was the province of Quigalta." ** While the army was stationed here, one of the cavaliers-a gentleman of high character and education, Diego de Guzman, by name-voluntarily left the army and took up his abode with the Indians and refused to return. He had fallen in love with an Indian girl and refused to desert her.
Here it was that De Soto, in the words of Biedma, "fell sick and died." The Elvas Narratives are scarcely more explicit, to the following effect: "The 21st of May, 1542, departed out of this life the valorous, virtuous and valiant Captain Don Ferdi- nand de Soto, Governor of Cuba, and Adelantado of Florida." The death of De Soto was concealed from the Indians, who had been led to believe that the "Christians" were immortal. Having kept his body for three days, his comrades, finally, under cover of darkness, buried him within the walls of the town, near one of the principal gates. The next day the Indians noticed the fresh earth and asked what it meant. The question was evaded, but fearing they might proceed to dig there to satisfy their curi- osity, the new commander, luis de Moscoso de Alvarado, had his body removed in the middle of the night and quietly and secretly taken out into the Mississippi river, where, having been weighted with sand, etc., and no doubt enclosed in a rude wooden coffin, it was consigned forever to the mighty river, the discovery of which, in so definite a way, is destined to perpetuate his name through all the coming centuries.
The subsequent route of the expedition under Moscoso is even more in doubt than that under De Soto. However, it is clear that in July, 1542, he marched northwest or west, and after traversing about one hundred leagues, arrived at a province called Auche or Aguacay. Continuing a westerly direction, they reached Naguatex in six days. They were now west of the province of Tulla (mentioned before) and were doubtless in modern Texas. He passed many Indian villages and crossed
The Elvas Narrative, by one who participated in the expedition.
-
-
41
SPANISHI EXPLORATIONS.
many streams, and reached the province of Dacoyo on or near the Trinity river, sending out side expeditions to explore the country through which he passed. Upon his return, he seems to have crossed his route going out, but arrived finally at Guachoya. Near this place, at the villages of Aminoia, or Minioia, or Minoya, they passed the winter of 1542-3, the inducement being 18,000 measures of corn in the possession of the Indians. While here they made brigantines, in which to pass down the Mississippi the following spring on their way to Mexico. They departed on the day of St. John the Baptist, but were pursued and harassed con- stantly by large bodies of Indians in excellent boats. During the nineteen days required to reach the Gulf, there was scarcely an hour when they were not required to repel an attack. Many of the Spaniards were killed, and every remaining horse was destroyed. In one engagement forty-eight Spaniards were killed, being either drowned, or knocked on the heads with the oars of the savages. The remnant finally reached the Gulf, whereupon, the boats of the Indians not permitting further pur- suit being withdrawn the survivors were left in peace. They finally succeeded in reaching Mexico.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.