54 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 73 
the people of Guale had captured two men belonging to those of 
Orista. Menendez prevailed upon the Guale chief to make peace 
with his northern neighbor, who is said to have been the more power- 
ful of the two — the advantage which had been gained over him having 
been due to the French refugees at Guale. Then, taking the two 
Orista captives with him, and leaving two Spaniards as hostages, 
Menendez kept on toward the north and finally entered Broad 
River. There he found that the town of Orista, which is of course 
identical with the French Audusta, had been burned and the inhabit- 
ants were starting to rebuild it. The Indians met him at first in no 
friendly spirit, but through the mediation of his two captives he soon 
placed himself upon good terms with them, and they sent to all the 
surrounding villages to summon the chiefs and people to come to see 
him. "They lighted great fires, brought many shellfish, and a great 
multitude of Indians came that night, and three chiefs who were 
subject to Orista; they counselled him that he should go to another 
village a league from Orista, where many other chiefs would come to 
see him." The next day Orista himself and two more chiefs came, 
along with other Indians. "Many Indians came laden with corn, 
cooked and roasted fish, oysters, and many acorns," and the Spanish 
leader on his side brought out biscuits, wine, and honey. After the 
feast "they placed the Adelantado in the seat of the chief, and Orista 
approached him with various ceremonies, and took his hands; after- 
wards the other chiefs and Indians did the same thing — the mother 
and relatives of the two slaves whom they had brought from Guale 
wept for joy. Afterwards they began to sing and dance, the chiefs 
and some of the principal Indians remaining with the Adelantado; 
and the celebration and rejoicing lasted until midnight, when they 
retired." Later the Spaniards returned to the village of Orista 
itself, where they were again hospitably entertained. "In the morn- 
ing the chief took the Adelantado to a very large house, and placed 
him in his seat, going over with him the same ceremony that had 
been performed in the first village." The Spaniards were presented 
with well-tanned deerskins and some pearls, although these were of 
little value, because they had been burned. At Menendez's request 
the chief showed him a site suitable for a fort, which was begun forth- 
with and received the name of San Felipe. On his way back Menen- 
dez was able to make such an impression on the Indians of Guale, 
who believed that the cross he had set up in their town had been 
instrumental in breaking a long drought, that they desired to have 
Christians left with them and inside of the islands along the Georgia 
coast many Indians came down to the shore to beg for crosses. 
Barcia states that a bolt of lightning having fallen on a tree near the 
cross which had been set up at Guale "the Indians, men and women, 
all ran to the place and picked up the splinters in order to keep 
