Part 1

Produced by Chuck Greif, Library of Congress; France in America and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

OF

LOUISIANA,

EMBRACING TRANSLATIONS OF

MANY RARE AND VALUABLE DOCUMENTS

RELATING TO THE

NATURAL, CIVIL AND POLITICAL

HISTORY OF THAT STATE.

COMPILED WITH

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES,

AND AN

INTRODUCTION,

BY B. F. FRENCH,

_Member of the Louisiana Historical Society; of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Honorary Member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Corresponding Member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, etc., etc._

PART II.

PHILADELPHIA: DANIELS AND SMITH.

_New York_, G. P. PUTNAM; _Boston_, LITTLE AND BROWN; _New Orleans_, B. M. NORMAN; _London_, JOHN CHAPMAN; _Paris_, GALIGNANI AND CO. 1850.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by

B. F. FRENCH,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED BY T. K. & P. G. COLLINS.

TO THE

MEMBERS OF THE LOUISIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THIS VOLUME

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

BY

BENJAMIN F. FRENCH.

[The following is an excerpt from this volume. (note of etext transcriber.)]

A NARRATIVE

OF THE

EXPEDITION OF HERNANDO DE SOTO

INTO

FLORIDA.

BY A GENTLEMAN OF ELVAS.

PUBLISHED AT EVORA 1557.

TRANSLATED FROM THE PORTUGUESE

BY

RICHARD HACKLUYT.

LONDON, 1609.

CAPTAIN SOTO was the son of a squire of _Xerez of Badajoz_. He went into the Spanish _Indies_, when _Peter Arias_ of _Avila_ was Governor of the _West Indies_. And there he was without anything else of his own, save his sword and target: and for his good qualities and valor, _Peter Arias_ made him captain of a troop of horsemen, and by his commandment he went with _Fernando Pizarro_ to the conquest of _Peru_: where (as many persons of credit reported, which were there present) as well at the taking of _Atabalipa_, Lord of _Peru_, as at the assault of the city of _Cusco_, and in all other places where they found resistance, wheresoever he was present, he passed all other captains and principal persons. For which cause, besides his part of the treasure of _Atabalipa_, he had a good share; whereby in time he gathered a hundred and four score thousand ducats together, with that which fell to his part; which he brought into Spain; whereof the Emperor borrowed a certain part, which he repaid again with 60,000 rials of plate in the rent of the silks of _Granada_, and all the rest was delivered him in the contractation house of _Seville_. He took servants to wit, a steward, a gentleman usher, pages, a gentleman of the horse, a chamberlain, lackeys, and all other officers that the house of a noble may require. From _Seville_ he went to the court, and in the court, there accompanied him _John Danusco_ of _Seville_, and _Lewis Moscoso D'Alvarado_, _Nuno de Touar_, and _John Rodriguez Lobillo_. Except _John Danusco_, all the rest came with him from _Peru_: and every one of them brought fourteen or fifteen thousand ducats: all of them went well and costly appareled. And although _Soto_ of his own nature was not liberal, yet because that was the first time that he was to show himself in the court, he spent frankly, and went accompanied with those which I have named, and with his servants, and many others which resorted unto him. He married with _Donna Isabella de Bobadilla_, daughter of _Peter Arias_ of _Avila_, Earl of _Punno en Rostro_. The Emperor made him the Governor of the Isle of _Cuba_, and Adelantado or President of _Florida_; with a title of Marquis of certain part of the lands that he should conquer.

When _Don Ferdinando_ had obtained the government, there came a gentleman from the _Indies_ to the court, named _Cabeca de Vaca_, which had been with the Governor _Pamphilo de Narvaez_ which died in _Florida_, who reported that _Narvaez_ was cast away at sea with all the company that went with him. And how he with four more escaped and arrived in _Nueva Espana_. Also he brought a relation in writing, of that which he had seen in _Florida_; which said in some places: In such a place I have seen this; and the rest which here I saw, I leave to confer of between his Majesty and myself. Generally he reported the misery of the country, and the troubles which he passed: and he told some of his kinsfolk, which were desirous to go into the _Indies_, and urged him very much to tell them whether he had seen any rich country in _Florida_, that he might not tell them, because he and another, whose name was _Orantes_, (who remained in _Nueva Espana_ with purpose to return into _Florida_: for which intent he came into _Spain_ to beg the government thereof of the Emperor) had sworn not to discover some of those things which they had seen, because no man should prevent them in begging the same. And he informed them _that it was the richest country of the world_. _Don Ferdinando de Soto_ was very desirous to have him with him, and made him a favorable offer: and after they were agreed, because _Soto_ gave him not a sum of money which he demanded to buy a ship, they broke off again. _Baltasar de Gallegos_, and _Christopher de Spindola_, the kinsmen of _Cabeca de Vaca_, told him, that for that which he had imparted to them, they were resolved to pass with _Soto_ into _Florida_, and therefore they prayed him to advise them what they were best to do. _Cabeca de Vaca_ told them, that the cause why he went not with _Soto_, was because he hoped to beg another government, and that he was loth to go under the command of another: and that he came to beg the conquest of _Florida_: but seeing _Don Ferdinando de Soto_ had gotten it already, for his oath's sake he might tell them nothing of that which they would know: but he counseled them to sell their goods and go with him, and that in so doing they should do well. As soon as he had opportunity, he spake with the Emperor, and related unto him whatsoever he had passed and seen, and come to understand. Of this relation, made by word of mouth to the Emperor, the Marquis of _Astorya_ had notice, and forthwith determined to send with _Don Ferdinando de Soto_ his brother _Don Antonio Osorio_: and with him two kinsmen of his prepared themselves, to wit, _Francis Osorio_, and _Garcia Osorio_. _Don Antonio_ dispossessed himself of 60,000 rials of rent which he held by the church; and _Francis Osorio_ of a town of vassals, which he had in the country _de Campos_. And they made their rendezvous with the Adelantado in _Seville_. The like did _Nunez de Touar_, and _Lewis de Moscoso_, and _John Rodriguez Lobillo_, each of whom had brought from _Peru_ fourteen or fifteen thousand ducats. _Lewis de Moscoso_ carried with him two brethren; there went also _Don Carlos_, which had married the governor's niece, and took her with him. From _Badajoz_ there went _Peter Calderan_, and three kinsmen of the Adelantado, to wit, _Arias Tinoco_, _Alfonso Romo_, and _Diego Tinoco_. And as _Lewis de Moscoso_ passed through _Elvas_[A] _Andrew de Vasconcelos_ spake with him, and requested him to speak to _Don Ferdinando de Soto_ concerning him, and delivered him certain warrants which he had received from the Marquis of _Villa Real_, wherein he gave him the captainship of _Ceuta_ in _Barbarie_, that he might show them unto him. And the Adelantado saw them; and was informed who he was, and wrote unto him, that he would favor him in all things, and by all means, and would give him a charge of men in _Florida_. And from _Elvas_ went _Andrew de Vasconcelos_, and _Fernan Pegado_, _Antonio Martinez Segurado_, _Men Roiz Pereira_, _John Cordero_, _Stephen Pegado_, _Benedict Fernandez_, and _Alvaro Fernandez_. And out of _Salamanca_, and _Jaen_, and _Valencia_, and _Albuquerque_, and from other parts of _Spain_, many people of noble birth, assembled at _Seville_, insomuch that in Saint _Lucar_ many men of good account, which had sold their goods, remained behind for want of shipping, whereas for other known and rich countries, they are wont to want men: and this fell out by occasion of that which _Cabeca de Vaca_[B] told the Emperor, and informed such persons as he had conference withal touching the state of that country. _Soto_ made him great offers, and being agreed to go with him (as I have said before) because he would not give him money to pay for a ship, which he had bought, they brake off, and he went for governor to the river of _Plate_. His kinsmen, _Christopher de Spindola_ and _Baltasar de Gallegos_, went with _Soto_. _Baltasar de Gallegos_ sold houses and vineyards, and rent corn, and ninety ranks of olive trees in the _Xarafe of Seville_. He had the office of _Alcalde Mayor_, and took his wife with him. And there went also many other persons of account with the President, and had the offices following by great friendship, because they were offices desired of many, to wit, _Antonie de Biedma_ was factor, _John Danusco_ was auditor, and _John Gaytan_, nephew to the Cardinal of _Ciguenza_, had the office of treasurer.

The Portuguese departed from _Elvas_ the 15th of January, and came to _Seville_ the 19th of the same month, and went to the lodging of the Governor, and entered into a court, over the which were certain galleries where he was, who came down and received them at the stairs, whereby they went up into the galleries. When he was come up, he commanded chairs to be given them to sit on. And _Andrew de Vasconcelos_ told him who he and the other Portuguese were, and how they all were come to accompany him, and serve him in his voyage. He gave him thanks, and made show of great contentment for his coming and offer. And the table being already laid, he invited them to dinner. And being at dinner, he commanded his steward to seek a lodging for them near unto his own, where they might be lodged. The Adelantado departed from _Seville_ to _Saint Lucar_ with all the people which were to go with him. And he commanded a muster to be made, at the which the Portuguese showed themselves armed in very bright armor, and the Castellans very gallant with silk upon silk, with many pinkings and cuts. The Governor, because these braveries in such an action did not like him, commanded that they should muster another day, and every one should come forth with his armor; at the which the Portuguese came as at the first armed with very good armor. The Governor placed them in order near unto the standard, which the ensign bearer carried. The Castellans, for the most part, did wear very bad and rusty shirts of mail, and all of them head-pieces and steel caps, and very bad lances. Some of them sought to come among the Portuguese. So those passed and were counted and enrolled which _Soto_ liked and accepted of, and did accompany him into _Florida_; which were in all six hundred men. He had already bought seven ships, and had all necessary provision aboard them. He appointed captains, and delivered to every one his ship, and gave them in a roll what people every one should carry with them.

In the year of our Lord 1538, in the month of April, the Adelantado delivered his ships to the captains which were to go in them; and took for himself a new ship, and good of sail, and gave another to _Andrew de Vasconcelos_, in which the Portuguese went; he went over the bar of _St. Lucar_ on Sunday, being _St. Lazarus_ day, in the morning of the month and year aforesaid, with great joy, commanding his trumpets to be sounded, and many shots of the ordnance to be discharged. He sailed four days with a prosperous wind, and suddenly it calmed; the calms continued eight days with swelling seas, in such wise that we made no way. The fifteenth day after his departure from _St. Lucar_, he came to _Gomera_, one of the _Canaries_, on Easter day in the morning. The Earl of that island was appareled all in white, cloak, jerkin, hose, shoes and cap, so that he seemed a Lord of the Gipsies. He received the Governor with much joy; he was well lodged, and all the rest had their lodgings gratis, and got great store of victuals for their money, as bread, wine, and flesh; and they took what was needful for their ships, and the Sunday following, eight days after their arrival, they departed from the Isle of _Gomera_. The Earl gave to _Donna Isabella_, the Adelantado's wife, a bastard daughter that he had, to be her waiting-maid. They arrived at the _Antilles_, in the Isle of _Cuba_, at the port of the city of _St. Jago_, upon Whit-sunday. As soon as they came thither, a gentleman of the city sent to the sea-side a very fair roan horse, and well furnished, for the Governor, and a mule for _Donna Isabella_, and all the horsemen and footmen that were in the town came to receive him at the sea-side. The Governor was well lodged, visited, and served of all the inhabitants of the city, and all his company had their lodgings freely: those which desired to go into the country, were divided by four and four, and six and six, in the farms or granges, according to the ability of the owners of the farms, and were furnished by them with all things necessary.

The city of _St. Jago_ hath fourscore houses, which are great and well contrived. The most part have their walls made of boards, and are covered with thatch; it hath some houses built with lime and stones, and covered with tiles. It hath great orchards and many trees in them, differing from those of Spain: there be fig trees which bear figs as big as one's fist, yellow within, and of small taste; and other trees which bear a fruit which they call Ananes, in making and bigness like to a small pineapple: it is a fruit very sweet in taste: the shell being taken away, the kernel is like a piece of fresh cheese. In the granges abroad in the country there are other great pineapples, which grow on low trees, and are like the Aloe tree: they are of a very good smell and exceeding good taste. Other trees do bear a fruit which they call Mameis, of the bigness of peaches. This the islanders do hold for the best fruit of the country. There is another fruit which they call Guayabas, like filberts, as big as figs. There are other trees as high as a javelin, having one only stock without any bough, and the leaves as long as a casting dart; and the fruit is of the bigness and fashion of a cucumber; one bunch beareth twenty or thirty, and as they ripen the tree bendeth downward with them: they are called in this country Plantanos, and are of a good taste, and ripen after they be gathered; but those are the better which ripen upon the tree itself; they bear fruit but once, and the tree being cut down, there spring up others out of the but, which bear fruit the next year. There is another fruit, whereby many people are sustained, and chiefly the slaves, which are called Batatas. These grow now in the Isle of _Tercera_, belonging to the kingdom of _Portugal_, and they grow within the earth, and are like a fruit called Iname; they have almost the taste of a chestnut. The bread of this country is also made of roots which are like the Batatas.[C] And the stock whereon those roots do grow is like an elder tree: they make their ground in little hillocks, and in each of them they thrust four or five stakes; and they gather the roots a year and a half after they set them. If any one, thinking it is a batata or potato root, chance to eat of it never so little, he is in great danger of death: which was seen by experience in a soldier, which as soon as he had eaten a very little of one of those roots, he died quickly. They pare these roots and stamp them, and squeeze them in a thing like a press: the juice that cometh from them is of an evil smell. The bread is of little taste and less substance. Of the fruits of _Spain_, there are figs and oranges, and they bear fruit all the year, because the soil is very rank and fruitful. In this country are many good horses, and there is green grass all the year. There be many wild oxen and hogs, whereby the people of the island are well furnished with flesh. Without the towns abroad in the country are many fruits. And it happeneth sometimes that a Christian goeth out of the way and is lost fifteen or twenty days, because of the many paths in the thick groves that cross to and fro made by the oxen; and being thus lost they sustain themselves with fruits and palmitos--for there be many great groves of palm trees through all the island--they yield no other fruit that is of any profit. The Isle of _Cuba_ is three hundred leagues long from the east to the west, and is in some places thirty, in others forty leagues from north to south. It hath six towns of Christians, to wit, _St. Jago_, _Baracoa_, _Bayamo_, _Puerto de Principes_, _S. Espirito_, and _Havana_. Every one hath between thirty and forty households, except _St. Jago_ and _Havana_, which have about sixty or eighty houses. They have churches in each of them, and a chaplain which confesseth them and saith mass. In _St. Jago_ is a monastery of Franciscan friars; it hath but few friars, and is well provided of alms, because the country is rich. The Church of _St. Jago_ hath honest revenue, and there is a curate and prebends, and many priests, as the church of that city, which is the chief of all the island. There is in this country much gold and few slaves to get it; for many have made away themselves, because of the Christians' evil usage of them in the mines. A steward of _Vasquez Porcallo_, which was an inhabitor in that island, understanding that his slaves would make away themselves, stayed for them with a cudgel in his hand at the place where they were to meet, and told them that they could neither do nor think anything that he did not know before, and that he came thither to kill himself, with them, to the end, that if he had used them badly in this world, he might use them worse in the world to come: and this was a means that they changed their purpose, and turned home again to do that which he commanded them.