Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca by Sandra Colmenares

Author:Sandra Colmenares
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
Published: 2019-06-10T00:00:00+00:00

The Spaniard explorers traveled through a landscape they had never seen or experienced before. The Indian captives may have tried to lead them through the most difficult passages.

THE APALACHEE ADVENTURE

The overland group, which included Narváez, packed up their gear and set off toward the Apalachee with a few Indian captives as guides. In his report, Cabeza de Vaca said they came across many lagoons, deer, enormous trees, and low palm trees called palmettos, much like those of Castile. He also noticed the soil was sandy and stiff. Throughout the journey, the natives repeatedly attacked them with arrows. Finally, they saw an Apalachee village, which Narváez ordered Cabeza de Vaca and his soldiers to attack.

When they arrived, there wasn’t much to attack: they found only women and children, and a cornfield. They searched the village of forty houses but found no men or gold anywhere. It was theirs to occupy. Soon the Indian men returned, however, and fought the Spanish intruders. When they couldn’t beat them and had retreated, the cacique (chief) and a small delegation approached the Spaniards in hopes of negotiating, but instead Narváez took the chief as a hostage. While the Spaniards remained in the village feeding themselves, Cabeza de Vaca took notes about the Native American habits and farming, as well as the flora and fauna of the area. In the meantime, the Native American men watched the village from the outside, repeatedly attacking the Spaniards in hopes of freeing their cacique and forcing out the intruders.

OUT OF THE APALACHEE TERRITORY

One day, the chief persuaded the Spaniards to go south. There they would find the sea and the village of Aute. In Aute, he said, there was enough maize, beans, squash, and fish to feed all. The Spaniards all agreed and walked for nine days through swamps, lagoons, and rivers. All along the way, the natives attacked, leaving Cabeza de Vaca with a minor wound. When they finally arrived, Aute was abandoned. The Indians must have known they were coming and left.

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