i6 OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING 



Order, according to his compact with King Phillip II; 

 and there is also mention of five hundred slaves, "the 

 third part of which should be men, for his own service 

 and that of those who went with him, to aid in culti- 

 vating the land and building." But it seems doubtful 

 that he brought these, for there is no later mention of 

 them. 



Landing in the fall of the year, as did the Puritans 

 over half a century later, the first six months were fear- 

 ful ones for the Spaniards ; not so much from climatic 

 rigors, however — although East Florida may be un- 

 comfortably cool at times — as from the harassing In- 

 dian warfare waged by the followers of Satourara, 

 who had been the friend of the butchered French. 

 This chief ruled the country west, between the Indian 

 village of Selooe where the Spaniards lay, and the 

 river now known as the St. John; and he was so re- 

 lentless that more than six score men are said to have 

 perished from the arrows of his braves during this first 

 winter. 



The fort was strengthened, however, and a reinforce- 

 ment of fifteen hundred men, in seventeen ships, ar- 

 riving during the summer of 1566, saved the somewhat 

 discouraged colony. Two years went by in peace; but 

 then came De Gorgues to avenge the massacre of his 

 countrymen under Ribault — and whatever in the way 

 of buildings or gardens may have been started, was 



