Strange Booty.
He is in great extremity.
Cabeca is Stranded.
His strange Entertainment at Malhado.
Notwithstanding these unsuccessful Expeditions, Pamphilus Narvaez retain’d so much Courage, that obtaining Letters Patents from the Emperor Charles the Fifth, he fitted out four Sail and a Brigantine, weigh’d Anchor from Cuba with six hundred Men and eighty Horse, in the Year 1528. On Florida he Landed three hundred Foot and forty two Horse; they found many empty Huts, but in a great House a golden Bell hid amongst the Nets, Chests full of Merchandise, and in each a dead Body cover’d with Beast Skins, and painted; Pieces of Linnen Cloth, and Wedges of Gold, which they had from the remote Countrey Apalache. Narvaez, though against the Opinion of Nunnez Cabeca, march’d up into the Countrey, whilst the Fleet was to stand along the Shore, and travelling fifteen days saw neither House nor Man, onely here and there some Palmito-Trees: Crossing a River on Floats, they were Encountred by two hundred of the Natives; of which the Spaniards, having routed them, took six Prisoners, who furnish’d them plentifully with Indian Wheat. After this they march’d fifteen days farther, without discerning the least foot-step of a Man; but at last they met an Indian Lord with a considerable Train, before whom march’d several Pipers: being told by Narvaez that his Journey was for Apalache, he conducted the Spaniards with a Canoo over a River, and Landing again, walk’d with them to his Village, where he Entertain’d them with great civility. Narvaez, after a long and troublesom Journey, came at last in sight of Apalache, a Village which contained two hundred and forty Straw Houses, built between the Mountains on a Moorish Soyl, full of Nut, Pine, and Savine-Trees, Oaks, Laurel, and short Palmito’s, besides the Trees, which blown down in several places by a strong Wind from between the Hills, and lying cross, cumber the High-ways: There are many deep Pools, and also Bears, Lyons, and other ravenous Creatures, which make the Ways very dangerous. Narvaez falling suddenly on the Village, took the Casique Prisoner, as also store of Wheat, Mortars to pound it, Hides, and Thred-spun Cloaks. Here he rested twenty five days, during which time some of his Men Journey’d farther into the Countrey, yet found none but poor People, troublesom Ways, and an unfruitful Soyl: twice they were set upon by the Natives, who kill’d some of the Horses and Men: They being a very strong People run stark naked, and as swift as a Deer, Diving under Water from the Spaniards Bullets; which not a little amazing Narvaez, he thought it convenient to set upon the Village Aute, lying on the Shore: Nine days he was in a miserable condition before he got any Wheat, Pease, or other Provisions from this Village; the getting whereof cost him very dear, for the Villagers behav’d themselves so valiantly, that they kill’d many Spaniards, and some of their Horses, which since they left the Haven of St. Cruce had travell’d two hundred and eighty Leagues; so that being tir’d and out of heart, they could not carry the Sick and Wounded, who not able to go, fell down dead in the Way: whereupon it was judg’d convenient to make five Barques, in which they made their Shirts serve for Sails, the Horses Tails and Mayns for Ropes, their Skins to hold fresh Water; with which putting out to Sea, they saw no Land in seven days; and running through the Straights of St. Miguell, Steer’d along the Coast of Rio del Palmes; where they suffer’d great Drought, insomuch that some drinking salt Water, died thereof: at last Landing, they were in the Night set upon by a Casique, who having given Narvaez a great Wound in the Face, fled, leaving behind him a Sable Cloak, scented with Amber; three days they rang’d again along the Sea-shore, when the Barque of Nunnez Cabeca being behind, was by Storm driven on the Shore, where a hundred Indians waited to cut them off, but were pacifi’d with some Trifles: Thus being bereav’d of Arms, Provision, and all manner of Necessaries, they found themselves on an Isle, by the Inhabitants call’d Malhado, where they were lodg’d and maintain’d so long as they had any thing left; but Famine grew at last to such a heighth, that they devour’d one another, and in a short time of eighty Men there remain’d onely four alive, viz. Nunnez Cabeca, Castillo, Orantes, and Estevanico, who at last by Land reach’d to New Gallicia, and soon after to Mexico, having escap’d a thousand Dangers. Of Pamphilus Narvaez never any tydings being heard, it is suppos’d he was drown’d.
Sottus’s Expedition very remarkable.
Strange dealing of the Cofachiquians.
A Maid Governs the Countrey.
Great Treasure of Pearls.
Great Tempest.