CONTENTS.
————◆————
| CHAPTER I. | |
| Childhood and Youth. | |
| PAGE | |
| Birthplace of Ferdinand De Soto.—Spanish Colony at Darien.—Don Pedrode Avila, Governor of Darien.—Vasco Nuñez.—Famine.—Love in theSpanish Castle.—Character of Isabella.—Embarrassment of DeSoto.—Isabella's Parting Counsel. | [9] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| The Spanish Colony. | |
| Character of De Soto.—Cruel Command of Don Pedro.—Incident.—TheDuel.—Uracca.—Consternation at Darien.—ExpeditionOrganized.—Uracca's Reception of Espinosa and his Troops.—TheSpaniards Retreat.—De Soto Indignant.—Espinosa's Cruelty, andDeposition from Command. | [21] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Life at Darien. | |
| Reinforcements from Spain.—Aid sent to Borrica.—Line of Defense Chosenby the Natives.—Religion of the Buccaneers.—The Battle and theRout.—Strategy of Uracca.—Cruelty of Don Pedro.—TheRetreat.—Character of Uracca.—Embarrassment of Don Pedro.—Warningof M. Codro.—Expedition of Pizarro.—Mission of M. Codro.—Letter ofDe Soto to Isabella. | [37] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Demoniac Reign. | |
| Giles Gonzales.—Unsuccessful Contest of De Soto with Gonzales.—BoldReply of De Soto to the Governor.—Cruelty of Don Pedro to M.Codro.—Assassination of Cordova.—New Expedition of Discovery.—Revengeupon Valenzuela.—Reign of Don Pedro at Nicaragua.—Unwise Decision ofDe Soto. | [55] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| The Invasion of Peru. | |
| The Kingdom of Peru.—Its Metropolis.—The Desperate Condition ofPizarro.—Arrival of De Soto.—Character of the Spaniards.—ExploringTour of De Soto.—The Colony at San Miguel.—The GeneralAdvance.—Second Exploration of De Soto.—Infamous Conduct of thePizarros. | [72] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| The Atrocities of Pizarro. | |
| Fears of Pizarro.—Honorable Conduct of the Inca.—The March toCaxamarca.—Hospitable Reception.—Perfidious Attack upon theInca.—His Capture and Imprisonment.—The Honor of De Soto.—TheOffered Ransom.—Treachery and Extortion of Pizarro. | [90] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| The Execution of the Inca, and Embarrassments of De Soto. | |
| Pledges of Pizarro.—His Perfidy.—False Mission of De Soto.—Executionof the Inca.—His Fortitude.—Indignation of De Soto.—GreatEmbarrassments.—Extenuating Considerations.—Arrival of Almagro.—MarchTowards the Capital. | [107] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| De Soto Returns to Spain. | |
| Dreadful Fate of Chalcukima.—His Fortitude.—Ignominy of Pizarro.—DeSoto's Advance upon Cuzco.—The Peruvian Highway.—Battle in theDefile.—De Soto takes the Responsibility.—Capture of the Capital andits Conflagration.—De Soto's Return to Spain.—His Receptionthere.—Preparations for the Conquest of Florida. | [126] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| The Landing in Florida. | |
| The Departure from Spain.—Arrival in Cuba.—Leonora and Tobar.—IsabellaInvested with the Regency.—Sad Life of Isabella.—Sailing of theExpedition.—The Landing at Tampa Bay.—Outrages of Narvaez.—NobleSpirit of Ucita.—Unsuccessful Enterprises.—Disgrace and Return ofPorcallo. | [144] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| The March to Ochile. | |
| The March Commenced.—The Swamps of Florida.—Passage of theMorass.—Heroism of Sylvestre.—Message to Acuera.—His HeroicReply.—Fierce Hostility of the Indians.—Enter the Town ofOcali.—Strange Incident.—Death of the Bloodhound.—HistoricalDiscrepancies.—Romantic Entrance to Ochile. | [163] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| The Conspiracy and its Consequences. | |
| The Three Brother Chieftains.—Reply of Vitachuco to hisBrothers.—Feigned Friendship for the Spaniards.—The Conspiracy.—ItsConsummation and Results.—Clemency of De Soto.—The SecondConspiracy.—Slaughter of the Indians.—March of the Spaniards forOsachile.—Battle in the Morass. | [180] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| Winter Quarters. | |
| Incidents of the March.—Passage of the River.—EnteringAnhayea.—Exploring Expeditions.—De Soto's desire for Peace.—Captureof Capafi.—His Escape.—Embarrassments of De Soto.—Letter ofIsabella.—Exploration of the Coast.—Discovery of the Bay ofPensacola.—Testimony Respecting Cofachiqui.—The March Resumed. | [199] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| Lost in the Wilderness. | |
| Incidents at Achise.—Arrival at Cofa.—Friendly Reception byCofaqui.—The Armed Retinue.—Commission of Patofa.—Splendors of theMarch.—Lost in the Wilderness.—Peril of the Army.—FriendlyRelations.—The Escape from the Wilderness.—They Reach the Frontiersof Cofachiqui.—Dismissal of Patofa.—Wonderful Reception by thePrincess of Cofachiqui. | [220] |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| The Indian Princess. | |
| Crossing the River.—Hospitable Reception.—Attempts to visit theQueen Mother.—Suicide of the Prince.—Futile search forGold.—The Discovery of Pearls.—The Pearl Fishery.—The Princessa Captive.—Held in Silken Chains.—Her Escape.—Location ofCutifachiqui.—The March Resumed. | [240] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| The Dreadful Battle of Mobila. | |
| The Army in Alabama.—Barbaric Pageant.—The Chief of Tuscaloosa.—NativeDignity.—Suspected Treachery of the Chief.—Mobila, its Location andImportance.—Cunning of the Chief.—The Spaniards Attacked.—Incidentsof the Battle.—Disastrous Results. | [259] |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| Days of Darkness. | |
| The Melancholy Encampment.—The Fleet at Pensacola.—Singular Resolveof De Soto.—Hostility of the Natives.—Beautiful Scenery.—WinterQuarters on the Yazoo.—Feigned Friendship of the Cacique.—Trickeryof Juan Ortiz.—The Terrible Battle of Chickasaw.—Dreadful Loss ofthe Spaniards. | [276] |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| The Discovery of the Mississippi. | |
| The Fortress of Hostile Indians.—Its Capture.—The DisastrousConflict.—The Advance of the Army.—Discovery of the MississippiRiver.—Preparations for Crossing.—ExtraordinaryPageants.—Unjustifiable Attack.—The passage of theRiver.—Friendly Reception by Casquin.—Extraordinary ReligiousFestival. | [296] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| Vagrant Wanderings. | |
| Trickery of Casquin.—The March to Capaha.—The Battle and itsResults.—Friendly Relations with Capaha.—The Return Journey.—TheMarch Southward.—Salt Springs.—The Savages of Tula.—TheirFerocity.—Anecdote.—Despondency of De Soto. | [315] |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| Death of De Soto. | |
| Ascent of the Mississippi.—Revenge of Guachoya.—Sickness ofDe Soto.—Affecting Leave-taking.—His Death and Burial.—TheMarch for Mexico.—Return to the Mississippi.—Descent of theRiver.—Dispersion of the Expedition.—Death of Isabella. | [334] |
CHAPTER I.
Childhood and Youth.
Birthplace of Ferdinand De Soto.—Spanish Colony at Darien.—Don Pedro de Avila, Governor of Darien.—Vasco Nuñez.—Famine.—Love in the Spanish Castle.—Character of Isabella.—Embarrassment of De Soto.—Isabella's Parting Counsel.
In the interior of Spain, about one hundred and thirty miles southwest of Madrid, there is the small walled town of Xeres. It is remote from all great routes of travel, and contains about nine thousand inhabitants, living very frugally, and in a state of primitive simplicity. There are several rude castles of the ancient nobility here, and numerous gloomy, monastic institutions. In one of these dilapidated castles, there was born, in the year 1500, a boy, who received the name of Ferdinand de Soto. His parents were Spanish nobles, perhaps the most haughty class of nobility which has ever existed. It was, however, a decayed family, so impoverished as to find it difficult to maintain the position of gentility. The parents were not able to give their son a liberal education. Their rank did not allow them to introduce him to any of the pursuits of industry; and so far as can now be learned, the years of his early youth were spent in idleness.