Volume V Part 22 (1/2)
Peter Martyr of Angleria.--Diego de la Tobilla.--Motolinea.--_Don Hernando Colon_.--Olonsa de Ojeda.--Alonso de Mata.--Enciso.--Gonzalo Hernandez de Oviedo.--Francisco Lopez de Gomara.--Andres de San Martino.--Pedro de Zieza.--Alvar Nunnez Cabeza de Vaca.--_Bernal Diaz del Castillo_.--The Bishop of Chiapa, Las Casas.--The Dean Cervantes.--Francisco de Xeres.--Gonzalo Ximenes de Quesada.--Garibay.
--Pedro Pizarro.--The relations of Cortes.--Nunno de Guzman.--Diego Fernandez de Palentia.--_Augustino de Zarate_.--The Pontifical History.
--Don Alonzo de Ercilla.--Geronimo Benzon.--Theodore de Brye.--Jusepe de Acosta.--Father Augustino Davila.--Garcila.s.so Inga.--Gabriel La.s.so de la Vega.--Don Antonio de Saavedra.
In the Catalogue of Spanish Books and Ma.n.u.scripts consulted by our ill.u.s.trious Historian of America, WILLIAM ROBERTSON, an edition of Herrera is quoted as printed at Madrid in 1601, in 4 vols. folio. We have used on the present occasion the Translation of Herrera into English by Captain John Stevens, in 6 vols. 8vo. printed at London in 1725. Though a.s.suredly authentic and to be depended upon so far as it goes, the plan of this _General History of the vast Continent and Islands of America_, is exceedingly ill devised, and very troublesome for being consulted; as the author endeavours continually to preserve the chronological series of events throughout the numerous discoveries, colonizations and conquests of the Spaniards, in all the islands and continental provinces of Spanish America, by which he is forced into perpetual and abrupt transitions from subject to subject; instead of using a double arrangement, geographical as well as chronological, in which the narrative belonging to each territorial division might have been distinctly and separately arranged in chronological order. Thus in regard to _Florida_, which const.i.tutes the subject of our present chapter, we have had to travel through every one of the _six_ volumes of Herrera, on purpose to reduce all the scattered notices respecting the early discovery of that country under one unbroken narrative.
Owing to the utter impossibility of ascertaining the various parts which were visited by the Spaniards, in these early peregrinations in Florida as related in this chapter, we have not given any map of the country on this occasion, which will be supplied in a future division of this work, when we come to particular and more recent travels in that province of North America. Indeed the country originally named Florida by the Spaniards was vastly more extensive than the modern application of that name, and appears to have included all Louisiana, with Georgia the Carolinas and Virginia, and the entire countries on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. In fact it was meant as a generic term, including all of the eastern parts of north America, not previously comprised under New Spain and its dependencies; just as Virginia was applied in the reign of Queen Elizabeth to all that part of North America claimed by the English, which was afterwards part.i.tioned into many provinces, from Nova Scotia to Georgia both inclusive. Besides, a map to serve the purposes of the present chapter is of almost impossible construction, as all the appellations of towns and territories, especially in the extensive peregrinations of Ferdinand de Soto, are merely the fugacious names of the caciques or sachems who happened at the time to rule over the various tribes of savages which were visited by Soto in his singularly erratic expedition. One point only in the whole course of his wanderings can be ascertained with certainty, the Bay of _Espirita Santo_ on the western coast of Florida, in about lat. 28 N. and long. 83 W.
_Mavila_. may possibly be what has since been called _Mobile_, and the _Rio Grande_ or great river was most probably the Mississippi. All the other points are involved in impenetrable obscurity, or would require an extended discussion inadmissible on the present occasion. In the course of the chapter some conjectures will be attempted respecting the geography of the wanderings of Soto, and his adventurous followers, whose sole object appears to have been to search for mines of the precious metals, in which they were altogether unsuccessful.
One circ.u.mstance, to be gathered from the peregrinations of Soto seems worthy of remark; that the scattered tribes then occupying the southern portion of North America which he visited, were more agricultural than when the country came afterwards to be colonized by the English, and not addicted to the horrible practices of the North American savages of torturing their prisoners taken in war. Perhaps they were afterwards extirpated by a more savage race from the northwest, who have no hereditary chiefs, as were found by Soto. From these differences, and their wors.h.i.+p of the sun and moon, the tribes met with by Soto were probably branches of the Natches, a nation which will be described in the sequel of this work, and which does not now exist.
SECTION I.
_Discovery of Florida, by Juan Ponce de Leon_.
After the settlement of Hispaniola in peace by Obando, Juan Ponce de Leon was appointed lieutenant of the town and territory of Salveleon in that island. Learning from the Indians of that district that there was much gold in the island of Borriquen, now called San Juan de Puerto Rico, or Porto Rico, he procured authority from Obando to go over to that island, which he reduced[122]. He was afterwards appointed by the king of Spain to the government of that island, independent of the admiral Don James Columbus. In a war between De Leon and the natives, wonderful havoc was made among these poor people by a dog belonging to the governor, called Bezerillo, insomuch that the Indians were more afraid of ten Spaniards with this dog than of a hundred without him, on which account the dog was allowed a share and a half of all the plunder, as if he had been a cross-bow-man, both in gold, slaves, and other things, all of which was received by his master[123].
[Footnote 122: Herrera, I. 327.]
[Footnote 123: Herrera, I. 339.]
Having acquired much wealth, and being deprived of the government of Porto Rico, Juan Ponce de Leon determined upon making discoveries to the northwards, that he might gain honour and advance his estate[124]. For this purpose, he fitted out three s.h.i.+ps well manned and stored with plenty of provisions, with which he sailed from the port of St German on Thursday the 3d of March 1512, steering for _Aguada_. Next night he stood to the N.W. and by N. and on the 8th of the same month came to anchor at the shoals of _Babecua_, near the _Isola del Viejo_, in lat.
22-1/2 N. Next day he anch.o.r.ed at one of the Bahama or Lucayos islands called _Caycos_, and then at another called _Yaguna_, in lat. 24 N. On the 11th he came to the island of _Amaguayo_, and then pa.s.sed _Manegua_, in lat 24-1/2 N. He came to _Guanahani_, in lat. 25-1/2 N. on the 14th, where he refitted the s.h.i.+ps before crossing the bay to windward of the Lucayos. This island of Guanahani was the first land discovered by the admiral Don Christopher Columbus in the New World, and by him called _San Salvador_. From thence De Leon steered to the north-west, and on Sunday the 27th of March, being Easter-day, called _Pasqua de Flores_ by the Spaniards, he saw and pa.s.sed by an island. Continuing the same course till Wednesday 30th of March, when the wind became foul, he altered his course to W.N.W. and on the 2d of April came to nine fathoms water a league from the land, in lat. 30 8' N. Running along the land in search of a harbour, he anch.o.r.ed at night in eight fathoms near the sh.o.r.e. Believing the land to be an island, he gave it the name of _Florida_, because it appeared very delightful with many pleasant groves, and all level, as also because first seen during Easter, which the Spaniards call _Pasqua de Flores_, or _Florida_. At this place Ponce went on sh.o.r.e to take formal possession.
[Footnote 124: Id. II. 33. We now enter upon the discovery of Florida, which will be found regularly referred to the fragments of its History, as scattered through the work of Herrera, at each respective transition.--E.]
On Friday the 8th of April he continued his course along the coast as before; and next day changed to the S. and by E. till the 20th, when he perceived some _bohios_, or Indian huts on the coast, off which he came to anchor. Next day the s.h.i.+ps continued their course along sh.o.r.e, but met with so strong a current as drove them back though with a fair wind.
The two s.h.i.+ps nearest the sh.o.r.e dropt their anchors, but the force of the current was so great as to strain their cables. The third was a brigantine, and farther out at sea; which either found no bottom for anchoring, or did not perceive the current, so that it was carried to sea and lost sight of by the rest, though the weather was fair. Being invited on sh.o.r.e by the natives, Ponce landed, and the natives immediately endeavoured to seize the boat, oars, and arms of the Spaniards, who were forced to fight in their own defence, during which two of them were wounded with darts and arrows pointed with sharp bones.
Night parted the combatants, and Ponce collected his people with some difficulty, having done very little damage to the Indians, and returned to the s.h.i.+ps. He sailed next day along the coast to a river, which he named _Rio de la Cruz_, where he proposed to wood and water and to wait the return of the brigantine. He was opposed at this place by sixty Indians, one of whom was made prisoner, that he might learn Spanish, and be able to give information respecting the country. Leaving at this place a stone with an inscription, he doubled the Cape of Florida on Sunday the 8th of May, giving it the name of _Cabo de las Corrientes_, or Cape Currents, because they are there stronger than the wind; after which he came to anchor near an Indian town called _Aboaia_. All this coast, from Cape _Arracifes_ to Cape _Corrientes_ lies north and south one point east, being clear and free from rocks and shoals, with six fathoms water near the sh.o.r.e.
After pa.s.sing Cape Corrientes, he sailed on till he fell in with two islands to the southwards, in lat. 27 N. At one of these, which he named _Santa Martha_, about a league in circ.u.mference, he watered. On Friday the 13th of May, he sailed along a shoal with a chain of islands, to one called _Pola_, in 26 30' N. Between these islands and the continent is a s.p.a.cious sea like a bay. On the 15th of May he proceeded ten leagues along the chain of small islands, to two white ones which he called _Los Martires_ in 26 15' N. He continued along the coast, sometimes N. sometimes N.E. till the 23d of May, and on the 24th ran along the coast to the southwards as far as some small islands that lay out at sea, still believing that he was coasting along the sh.o.r.e of a large island. As the anchorage between these small islands and the coast appeared convenient for the purpose, he continued there till the 3d of June taking in wood and water, and at the same time careened one of the s.h.i.+ps named the St Christopher. At this place the Indians for the first time came off in canoes to view the Spaniards, who refused to venture on sh.o.r.e though repeatedly invited. Seeing the Spaniards about to heave one of the anchors, on purpose to s.h.i.+ft its situation, the Indians laid hold of the cable as if to draw the s.h.i.+p away; on which the long-boat was sent after them, and the crew going on sh.o.r.e took four women and broke two old canoes. No hostilities of any moment occurred, and the Indians even bartered some skins and low gold with the Spaniards for trinkets.
On Friday the 4th of June, while waiting for a wind to go in quest of a cacique named _Carlos_, who was reported by the Indians to have gold, an Indian came on board who was able to converse with the Spaniards, and who was consequently supposed to be a native of Hispaniola or of some of the other islands possessed by the Christians. This man desired them to remain at their present anchorage, as the cacique intended to send gold to barter. Accordingly, they soon after saw twenty canoes approaching, some of which were lashed two and two together. Some of these canoes went to the anchors, which they endeavoured to weigh, but being unable attempted to cut the cables, while others of them drew near the s.h.i.+ps and began to fight. The long-boat well manned and armed was sent against them, and put them to flight, taking four prisoners and killing several of the Indians. Ponce sent two of the prisoners to tell the cacique that he was willing to make peace with him, although he had slain one of the Spaniards. Next day the boats were sent to sound the harbour, and some of the men landed, when they were a.s.sured by the Indians that the cacique would come next day to trade; but this was a mere feint to gain time, as at eleven o'clock eighty canoes well equipped and full of men attacked the s.h.i.+p nearest the sh.o.r.e, and fought till night without doing any harm, as all their arrows fell short, and they durst not come near for fear of the cross-bows and great guns. At length they retired, and the Spaniards having staid nine days resolved to return to St Domingo and Porto Rico, endeavouring to discover some islands by the way of which they had received accounts from the Indians. Ponce accordingly set sail on his return on the 14th of June, and sailed among islands till the 21st, when he arrived at the small islands called _Las Tortugas_, or the tortoises, because the crews took 170 of these creatures in a short time of one night in one of these islands, and might have had more if they pleased. They also took fourteen dog-fishes[125], and killed at least 5000 seagulls and other birds.
[Footnote 125: Probably Sharks.--E.]
On the 24th, leaving Tortugas, they steered S.W. and by W. On the 26th they saw land, which they sailed along till the 29th, when they came to anchor to trim their yards and sails, but could not tell what country it was. Most of the Spaniards believed they were on the coast of Cuba, because they found canoes, dogs, knives, and others tools of iron. On the 25th of July they were among a cl.u.s.ter of low islands, still ignorant of where they were, till Ponce sent to view an island which appeared to be Bahama, as indeed it was said to be by an old woman whom they found in another island, and in which they were confirmed by a pilot named Diego Miruelo, who happened to be there in a boat from Hispaniola. Having ranged backwards and forwards till the 23d of September, and refitted the s.h.i.+ps, Juan Ponce resolved to send one of them to take a view of the island of Bimini, which the Indians reported to contain much wealth, and to have a spring which made old people young again. Juan Perez de Ortubia was appointed captain of that s.h.i.+p, and Antonio de Alaminos pilot. They took two Indians along with them to point out the shoals, which were so numerous that it was both difficult and dangerous to get through among them. Twenty days afterwards, Juan Ponce returned to Porto Rico, and was followed some time after by Ortubia, who had found the island of Bimini, which was large, pleasant, and abounding in good water and delightful groves; but the wonderful spring was not be discovered. It is certain that Juan Ponce de Leon, besides the main design of discovering new islands which all the Spaniards then aspired to, was desirous of finding out the spring of Bimini and a certain river in Florida, in both of which it was a.s.serted by the natives of Cuba and Hispaniola that old people became young again by bathing in their waters. It is likewise well known that many of the natives of Cuba, firmly believing the existence of such a river, had gone over into Florida in search of it, and had built a town there before the coming of the Spaniards to the West Indies, and that their descendents continue there to this day. This report prevailed among all the princes or caciques in these parts, who were all so anxious to find out this wonderful river, that there was not a river, brook, or lake in all Florida in which some of them had not bathed, and many still persist in the belief that it is the river now called Jordan at Cape _Santa Elena_, without reflecting that the Spaniards first gave it that name in 1520, when the country of Chicora was discovered.
Although this voyage turned out to little or no account to Juan Ponce, it yet encouraged him to go to court to sue for some reward for having discovered this new country, which he still continued to believe an island or cl.u.s.ter of islands, and which opinion was retained by the Spaniards for some years. Yet this voyage was actually beneficial on another account, by the discovery of a pa.s.sage to Spain from the West Indies through the channel of Bahama, which was first performed by the pilot Alaminos. For the better understanding the voyage of Ponce, it must be observed that the Lucayo or Bahama Islands consist of three groups, the _first_, or Bahama cl.u.s.ter gives name to the pa.s.sage, and in which the currents are most impetuous: The _second_ is called _De los Organos_; and the _third_ the _Martyrs_, which are next to the _Cayos de las Tortugas_, or Turtle Keys to the westwards; which last are not to be seen from any distance, being all low sands, and in consequence many s.h.i.+ps have perished on them, and all along the Bahama channel, and on the islands of Tortugas. Havannah in the island of Cuba and Florida, are south and north of each other; and between them are these before-mentioned islands of Organos, Bahama, Martyrs, and Tortugas, having a channel with a violent current, twenty leagues across in the narrowest part between Havannah and the Martyrs, and fourteen leagues from the Martyrs to Florida. The widest part of this channel is forty leagues, with many shoals and deep channels between these, but has no safe pa.s.sage for s.h.i.+ps, and is only practicable for canoes. But this pa.s.sage from the Havannah for Spain, is along the channel of Bahama, between the Havannah, the Martyrs, the Lucayos, and Cape Canaveral.
No farther attempt appears to have been made towards the conquest and settlement of Florida by the Spaniards, till the year 1528, when Panfilo de Narvaez made a most disastrous expedition to that country, which will form the subject of the ensuing section of this chapter; except that about the year 1525, the licentiate Luke Vasquez de Ayllon sailed with three s.h.i.+ps for that country from Santiago in the island of Hispaniola[126]. Vasquez arrived with his small armament at Cape Santa Elena in Florida, where he found an Indian town called _Oritza_; since named _Chicora_ by the Spaniards, and another town in the neighbourhood called _Guale_, to which the Spaniards have given the name of _Gualdape_. At this place is the river _Jordan_, so named from the pilot by whom it was discovered, and where Vasquez lost one of his s.h.i.+ps. He proceeded however in his enterprise with the other two s.h.i.+ps, and landed two hundred men upon the coast of Florida; but being himself unacquainted with military discipline, and little regarded by his men, his troops were defeated by the natives and mostly slain. The few who escaped returned to Hispaniola; some alleging that Vasquez was of the number, while others a.s.sert that he was slain in Florida. In this unfortunate expedition, from which great consequences had been expected, no other towns but the two above mentioned were seen in Florida; and by this disaster all attempts for the conquest and settlement of that country were laid aside for some time, more especially as all the natives who had been there met with appeared poor and miserable, and having very small quant.i.ties of gold and silver, and even what little they had appeared to have been brought to them from remote parts of the country.
[Footnote 126: Herrera, III. 367.]
SECTION II.
_Narrative of a Disastrous attempt by Panfilo de Narvaez to conquer Florida; together with some account of that Country_[127]