Chap. III. A M ETi^I C A. ' %i $ 



he fitted out four Sail and a Brigantine,,weigh'd Anchor from Cuba with fix hun. 

 dred Men and eighty Horfe, in the Year 1528. On Florida he Landed three hun- 

 dred Foot and forty two Horfe ; they found many empty Huts.but in a great Houfe ^ 

 a golden Bell hid amongft the Nets,Chefts full of Merchandife, and in each a dead 

 Body cover'd with Beaft Skins,and painted; Pieces of LinnenCloth,and Wedges of 

 Gold, which they had from the remote Countrey Jpalache. TiarVae^ though againft 

 the Opinion of Nunne^Cabeca, march'd up into the Countrey, whilft the Fleet was 

 to ftand along the Shore, and travelling fifteen days faw neither Houfe nor Man,^ 

 onely here and there fome Valmito -Trees : Crofling a River on Floats, they were 

 Encountred by two hundred of the Natives J of which the Spaniards, having routed 

 them, took fix Prifoners, whofurnifli'd them plentifully with Indian Wheat. Af- 

 ter this they march'd fifteen days farther, without difcerning the leaft foooftep of a 

 Man ; . but at laft they met an Indian Lord with a confiderable Train, before whom 

 march'd feveral Pipers : being told by NarVae^ that his Journey was fot Jpalache, 

 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. ^NarVae^ 

 after a long and troublefom Journey, came at laft in fight of Apalacktfi Village 

 which contained two hundred and forty Straw Houfes, built between the Moun. 

 tains on a Moorifh Soyl, full of Nut, Pine, and Savine-Trees, Oaks, Laurel, and 

 fliort falmito's, befides the Trees, which blown down in feveral places by a ftron<r 

 Wind from between the Hills, and lying crofs, cumber'the High-ways : There are 

 many deep Pools, and alfo Bears, Lyons, and other ravenous Creatures, which 

 make the Ways very dangerous. 2Y>v^ falling fuddenly on the Village, took the 

 Caftaue Prifoner, as alfo ftore of Wheat, Mortars to pound it, Hides, and Thred- 

 fpun Cloaks. Here he refted twenty five days, during which time fome of his 

 Men Journey'd farther into the Countrey, yet found none but poor People, 

 troublefom Ways, and an unfruitful Soyl : twice they were fet upon by the Na- 

 tivcs^ who kill'd fome of the Horfes and Men : They being a very ftrong People 

 run ftark naked, and as fwift as a Deer, Diving under Water from the Spaniards 

 Bullets ; which not a little amazing KarMae^, he thought it convenient to fet upon 

 the Village Ante, lying on the Shore : Nine days he was in a miferablc condition h< i, (* 

 before he got any Wheat, Peafe, or other Provifions from this Village , the getting S£ ""* : 

 whereof coft him very dear, for the Villagers behav'd themfelves fo valiantly, 

 that they kill'd many Spaniards, and fome of their Horfes, which fincc they left the 

 Haven of St. Cruce had travell'd two hundred and eighty Leagues ; fo 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 fervefor Sails, the Horfes Tails and 

 Mayns for Ropes, their Skins to hold frefh Water , with which putting out to Sea, 

 they law no Land in feven days ; and running through the Straights of St. Miguell, 

 Steer'd along the Coaft of ^10 del Palmes ■ where they fuffer'd great Drought, info- 

 much that fome drinking fait Water, died thereof : at laft Landing, they were in 

 the Night fet upon by a Cafique, who having given 2^anae^ a great Wound in the 

 Eacc > fl . e <*, leaving behind him a Sable Cloak, fcentcd with Amber ; three days they 

 rang'd again along the Sea-lhore, when the Barque of Nunne^ Cabeca being behind,,, 

 was by Storm driven on the Shore, where a hundred Indians waited to cut them off",: f*"J j? 

 but were pacifi'd with fome Trifles : Thus being bereav'd of Arms, Provifion, 

 and all manner of Neceffaries, they found themfelves on an Ifle, by the Inhabitants 

 call'd Malbado , where they were lodg'd and maintain'd Co long as they had Jf» £ «™s< 

 any thing left ; but Famine grew at laft to fuch a heighth, that they devour'd JJ"** 



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