Part 14

From _Panuco_ to the great city of _Temistitan, Mexico_, is sixty leagues; and other sixty from _Panuco_ to the port de _Vera Cruz_, where they take shipping for _Spain_, and those that come from _Spain_ do land to go for _Nueva Espana_. These three towns stand in a triangle: to wit, _Vera Cruz_ to the south, _Panuco_ to the north, and _Mexico_ to the west sixty leagues asunder. The country is so inhabited with Indians that from town to town those which are farthest are but a league and half a league asunder. Some of them that came from _Florida_ stayed a month in _Panuco_ to rest themselves, others fifteen days, and every one as long as he listed: for there was none that showed a sour countenance to his guests, but rather gave them anything that they had, and seemed to be grieved when they took their leave. Which was to be believed; for the victuals which the Indians do pay them for tribute, are more than they can spend: and in that town is no commerce; and there dwelt but few Spaniards there, and they were glad of their company. The Alcalde Mayor divided all the Emperor's clothes which he had (which there they pay him for his tribute) among those that would come to receive them. Those which had shirts of mail left were glad men; for they had a horse for one shirt of mail. Some horsed themselves; and such as could not (which were the greatest part) took their journey on foot: in which they were well received of the Indians that were in the towns, and better served than they could have been in their own houses, though they had been well to live. For if they asked one hen of an Indian, they brought them four: and if they asked any of the country fruit though it were a league off, they ran presently for it. And if any Christian found himself evil at ease, they carried him in a chair from one town to another. In whatsoever town they came, the cacique, by an Indian which carried a rod of justice in his hand, whom they call Tapile, that is to say a sergeant, commanded them to provide victuals for them, and Indians to bear burdens of such things as they had, and such as were needful to carry them that were sick. The Viceroy sent a Portuguese twenty leagues from _Mexico_, with great store of sugar, raisins of the sun, conserves, and other things fit for sick folks, for such as had need of them: and had given order to clothe them all at the Emperor's charge. And their approach being known by the citizens of _Mexico_, they went out of the town to receive them: and with great courtesy, requesting them in favor to come to their houses, every one carried such as he met home with him, and clothed them every one the best they could: so that he that had the meanest apparel, it cost about thirty ducats. As many as were willing to come to the Viceroy's house he commanded to be appareled, and such as were persons of quality sate at his table: and there was a table in his house for as many of the meaner sort as would come to it: and he was presently informed who every one was, to show him the courtesy that he deserved. Some of the conquerors did set both gentlemen and clowns at their own table, and many times made the servant sit cheek by cheek by his master: and chiefly the officers and men of base condition did so: for those which had better education did inquire who every one was, and made difference of persons: but all did what they could with a good will: and every one told them whom they had in their houses, that they should not trouble themselves, nor think themselves the worse, to take that which they gave them: for they had been in the like case, and had been relieved of others, and that this was the custom of that country. God reward them all: and God grant that those which it pleased him to deliver out of _Florida_, and to bring again into Christendom, may serve him: and unto those that died in that country, and unto all that believe in Him and confess his holy faith, God for his mercy's sake grant the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

From the _Port de Spiritu Santo_, where they landed when they entered into _Florida_, to the Province of Ocute, which may be 400 leagues, little more or less, is a very plain country, and has many lakes and thick woods, and in some places they are of wild pine-trees; and is a weak soil. There is in it neither mountain nor hill. The country of _Ocute_ is more fat and fruitful; it has thinner woods, and very goodly meadows upon the rivers. From _Ocute_ to _Cutifachiqui_ may be 130 leagues: 80 leagues thereof are desert, and have many groves of wild pine trees. Through the wilderness great rivers do pass. From _Cutifachiqui_ to _Xuala_, may be 250 leagues: it is all an hilly country. _Cutifachiqui_ and _Xuala_ stand both in plain ground, high, and have goodly meadows on the rivers. From thence forward to _Chiaha_, _Coca_, and _Talise_, is plain ground, dry and fat, and very plentiful of maize. From _Xuala_ to _Tascaluca_ may be 250 leagues. From _Tascaluca_ to _Rio Grande_, or the Great River, may be 300 leagues: the country is low, and full of lakes. From _Rio Grande_ forward, the country is higher and more champaign, and best peopled of all the land of _Florida_. And along this river from _Aquixo_ to _Pacaha_, and _Coligoa_, are 150 leagues: the country is plain, and the woods thin, and in some places champaign, very fruitful and pleasant. From _Coligoa_ to _Autiamque_ are 250 leagues of hilly country. From _Autiamque_ to _Aguacay_, may be 230 leagues of plain ground. From _Aguacay_ to the river of _Daycao_ 120 leagues, all hilly country.

From the _Port de Spiritu Santo_ unto _Apalache_, they traveled from east to west, and north-west. From _Cutifachiqui_ to _Xuala_ from south to north. From _Xuala_ to _Coca_ from east to west. From _Coca_ to _Tascaluca_, and to _Rio Grande_, as far as the provinces of _Quizquiz_ and _Aquixo_, from east to west. From _Aquixo_ to _Pacaha_ to the north. From _Pacaha_ to _Tulla_ from east to west: from _Tulla_ to _Autiamque_ from north to south, to the province of _Guachoya_ and _Daycao_.

The bread which they ate in all the land of _Florida_ is of maize, which is like coarse millet. And this maize is common in all the islands, and from the Antilles forward. There are also in _Florida_ great store of walnuts, plums, mulberries, and grapes. They sow and gather their maize every one their several crop. The fruits are common to all, for they grow abroad in the open fields in great abundance, without any need of planting or dressing. Where there be mountains, there be chestnuts; they are somewhat smaller than the chestnuts of _Spain_. From _Rio Grande_ westward, the walnuts differ from those that grow more eastward; for they are soft, and like unto acorns; and those which grow from _Rio Grande_ to _Puerto del Spiritu Santo_ for the most part are hard; and the trees and walnuts in show like those of _Spain_. There is a fruit through all the country which groweth on a plant like Ligoacan, which the Indians do plant. The fruit is like unto Peares Riall; it has a very good smell, and an excellent taste. There groweth another plant in the open field, which beareth a fruit like unto strawberries, close to the ground, which has a very good taste. The plums are of two kinds, red and gray, of the making and bigness of nuts, and have three or four stones in them. These are better than all the plums of _Spain_, and they make far better prunes of them. In the grapes there is only want of dressing; for though they be big, they have a great kernel. All other fruits are very perfect, and less hurtful than those of _Spain_.

There are in _Florida_ many bears and lions, wolves, deer, dogs, cats, martens, and conies. There be many wild hens as big as turkeys, partridges small, like those of _Africa_, cranes, ducks, pigeons, thrushes, and sparrows. There are certain black birds bigger than sparrows, and lesser than stares. There are goshawks, falcons, gerfalcons, and all fowls of prey that are in _Spain_.

The Indians are well proportioned. Those of the plain countries are taller of body, and better shapen, than those of the mountains. Those of the inland have greater store of maize, and commodities of the country, than those that dwell upon the sea-coast. The country along the sea-coast is barren and poor, and the people more warlike. The coast runneth from _Puerto del Spiritu Santo_ to _Apalache_, east and west; and from _Apalache_ to _Rio de las Palmas_ from east to west; from _Rio de las Palmas_ unto _Nueva Espana_ from north to south. It is a gentle coast, but it hath many shoals, and great shelves of sand.

_Deo gratias._

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Elvas is a city in Portugal.

[B] Cabeca de Vaca was the Governor of the River of Plate.

[C] The Cassavi root.

[D] Tampa Bay, on the west side of Florida.

[E] From Spirito Santo or Tampa Bay.

[F] Twelve days from St. Helena, and Coste seven days' journey from Chiaha.

[G] Chisca is directly north from Cutifachiqui, which is within two days of St. Helena.

[H] Rio Grande, or Rio de Espiritu Santo.

Corrections made to the text by the etext transcriber:

Timoco=>Tinoco

Vasconcellos=>Vasconcelos

northwest=>north-west