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

by active 16th century Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca; active 16th century Pedro de Castañeda de Nájera; Knight of Elvas

[47] Saint John the Baptist's Day, June 24. They had been travelling through the jungle for four or five days.

[48] The assessor, or inspector, it will be recalled, was Alonzo de Solis.

[49] The sweet-gum, copalm, or alligator tree (Liquidambar styraciflua).

[50] Seemingly the lake country in the northern part of Leon and Jefferson counties, Florida. "Apalachen" town was perhaps on Miccosukee Lake.

[51] The opossum. This is probably the first allusion to this animal. The name is derived from the Algonquian language of Virginia, having first been recorded by Captain John Smith.

[52] As it was now late in June, this is not explicable, unless the season was an unusual one.

[53] Buckingham Smith thinks it strange that the turkey and the alligator are not particularly mentioned among the fauna of the region.

[54] Most authorities agree that this place was at or near the site of St. Marks, south-southeast of Tallahassee, although the distance seems too short for nine days' travel, as will be seen.

[55] See Buckingham Smith, Relation of Alvar Nuñez Cabeça de Vaca, 1871, p. 42, note 7, regarding this Aztec prince of the blood.

[56] "Twenty-six days." Oviedo, 586. The edition of 1542 (Bandelier trans., p. 30) says: "And so we left, arriving there five days after. The first day we travelled across lagunes and trails without seeing a single Indian."