little store, in regard of that which was needful, and that for this
cause, as well for their sakes that were wounded, it was needful for
them to rest, as for the great journey they were to march to come where
store of maize was: yet the Governor was enforced to depart presently
toward _Quizquiz_. He traveled seven days through a desert of many
marshes and thick woods: but it might all be traveled on horseback,
except some lakes which they swam over. He came to a town of the
province of _Quizquiz_ without being descried, and took all the people
in it before they came out of their houses. The mother of the cacique
was taken there: and he sent unto him by an Indian, that he should come
to see him, and that he would give him his mother, and all the people
which he had taken there. The cacique sent him answer again, that his
lordship should loose and send them to him, and that he would come to
visit and serve him. The Governor, because his people for want of maize
were somewhat weak and weary, and the horses also were lean, determined
to accomplish his request, to see if he could have peace with him, and
so commanded to set free his mother and all the rest, and with loving
words dismissed them and sent them to him. The next day, when the
Governor expected the cacique, there came many Indians with their bows
and arrows with a purpose to set upon the Christians. The Governor had
commanded all the horsemen to be armed, and on horseback, and in
readiness. When the Indians saw that they were ready, they stayed a
crossbow-shot from the place where the Governor was, near a brook. And
after half an hour that they had stood there still, there came to the
camp six principal Indians, and said, "they came to see what people they
were, and that long ago, they had been informed by their forefathers
that a white people should subdue them; and that therefore they would
return to their cacique, and bid him come presently to obey and serve
the Governor:" and after they had presented him with six or seven skins
and mantles which they brought, they took their leave of him, and
returned with the others, which waited for them by the brook side. The
cacique never came again nor sent other message. And because in the town
where the Governor lodged, there was small store of maize, he removed to
another half a league from _Rio Grande_,[H] where they found plenty of
maize. And he went to see the river, and found, that near unto it was
great store of timber to make barges, and good situation of ground to
encamp in. Presently he removed himself thither. They made houses, and
pitched their camp in a plain field a crossbow-shot from the river. And
thither was gathered all the maize of the towns which they had lately
passed. They began presently to cut and hew down timber, and to saw
planks for barges. The Indians came presently down the river: they
leaped on shore, and declared to the Governor, "that they were subjects
of a great lord, whose name was _Aquixo_, who was lord of many towns,
and governed many people on the other side of the river, and came to
tell him on his behalf, that the next day he with all his men would come
to see what it would please him to command him." The next day, with
speed, the cacique came with two hundred canoes full of Indians with
their bows and arrows, painted, and with great plumes of white feathers,
and many other colors, with shields in their hands, wherewith they
defended the rowers on both sides, and the men of war stood from the
head to the stern, with their bows and arrows in their hands. The canoe
wherein the cacique was, had a tilt over the stern, and he sat under the
tilt; and so were other canoes of the principal Indians. And from under
the tilt where the chief man sat, he governed and commanded the other
people. All joined together, and came within a stone's cast of the
shore. From thence the cacique said to the Governor, which walked along
the river's side with others that waited on him, that he was come
thither to visit, to honor, and to obey him; because he knew he was the
greatest and mightiest lord on the earth: therefore he would see what he
would command him to do. The Governor yielded him thanks, and requested
him to come on shore, that they might the better communicate together.
And without any answer to that point, he sent him three canoes, wherein
was great store of fish and loaves, made of the substance of prunes like
unto bricks. After he had received all, he thanked him, and prayed him
again to come on shore. And because the cacique's purpose was, to see if
with dissimulation he might do some hurt, when they saw that the
Governor and his men were in readiness, they began to go from the shore:
and with a great cry, the crossbow-men which were ready, shot at them,
and slew five or six of them. They retired with great order: none did
leave his oar, though the next to him were slain, and shielding
themselves, they went farther off. Afterward they came many times and
landed: and when any of us came toward them, they fled into their
canoes, which were very pleasant to behold: for they were very great and
well made, and had their tilts, plumes, paueses, and flags, and with the
multitude of people that were in them, they seemed to be a fair army of
galleys. In thirty days' space, while the Governor remained there, they
made four barges: in three of which he commanded twelve horsemen to
enter, in each of them four. In a morning, three hours before day, men
which he trusted would land in despite of the Indians, and make sure the
passage, or die, and some footmen, being crossbow-men, went with them,
and rowers to set them on the other side. And in the other barge he
commanded _John de Guzman_ to pass with the footmen, which was made
captain instead of _Francisco Maldonado_. And because the stream was
swift, they went a quarter of a league up the river along the bank, and
crossing over, fell down with the stream, and landed right over against
the camp. Two stones' cast before they came to land, the horsemen went
out of the barges on horseback to a sandy plot very hard and clear
ground, where all of them landed without any resistance. As soon as
those that passed first were on land on the other side, the barges
returned to the place where the Governor was: and within two hours after
sun rising, all the people were over. The river was almost half a league
broad. If a man stood still on the other side, it could not be discerned
whether he was a man or no. The river was of great depth, and of a
strong current: the water was always muddy: there came down the river
continually many trees and timber, which the force of the water and
stream brought down. There was great store of fish in it of sundry
sorts, and the most of it differing from the fresh water fish of
_Spain_, as hereafter shall be showed.
Having passed _Rio Grande_, the Governor traveled a league and a half,
and came to a great town of _Aquixo_, which was dispeopled before he
came thither. They espied thirty Indians coming over a plain, which the
cacique sent to discover the Christians' determination; and as soon as
they had sight of them, they took themselves to flight. The horsemen
pursued them, and slew ten, and took fifteen. And because the town,
whither the Governor went, was near unto the river, he sent a captain,
with as many men as he thought sufficient, to carry the barges up the
river. And because in his traveling by land many times he went far from
the river to compass the creeks that came from it, the Indians took
occasion to set upon them of the barges, and put them in great danger,
because that by reason of the great current, they durst not leave the
shore, and from the bank they shot at them. As soon as the Governor was
come to the town, he presently sent crossbow-men down the river, which
came to rescue them and upon the coming of the barges to the town, he
commanded them to be broken, and to save the iron for others, when it
should be needful. He lay there one night, and the day following he set
forward to seek a province, called _Pacaha_, which he was informed to be
near unto _Chisca_, where the Indians told him there was gold. He passed
through great towns of _Aquixo_, which were all abandoned for fear of
the Christians. He understood by certain Indians that were taken that
three days' journey from thence dwelt a great cacique, whose name was
_Casqui_. He came to a small river, where a bridge was made, by which
they passed; that day till sunset, they went all in water, which in some
places came to the waist, and in some to the knees. When they saw
themselves on dry land, they were very glad, because they feared they
should wander up and down as forlorn men all night in the water. At noon
they came to the first town of _Casqui_: they found the Indians
careless, because they had no knowledge of them. There were many men and
women taken, and store of goods, as mantles and skins, as well in the
first town, as in another, which stood in a field half a league from
thence in sight of it; whither the horsemen ran. This country is higher,
drier, and more champaign, than any part bordering near the river that
until then they had seen. There were in the fields many walnut trees,
bearing soft-shelled walnuts in the fashion like bullets, and in the
houses they found many of them, which the Indians had laid up in store.
The trees differed in nothing else from those of _Spain_, nor from those
which we had seen before, but only that they have a smaller leaf. There
were many mulberry trees and plum trees, which bare red plums like
those of _Spain_, and others gray, somewhat differing, but far better.
And all the trees are all the year so fruitful, as if they were planted
in orchards; and the woods were very thin. The Governor traveled two
days through the country of _Casqui_, before he came to the town where
the cacique was; and the most of the way was alway by champaign ground,
which was full of great towns, so that from one town, you might see two
or three. He sent an Indian to certify the cacique that he was coming to
the place where he was, with intent to procure his friendship, and to
hold him as his brother. Whereunto he answered, that he should be
welcome, and that he would receive him with special good-will, and
accomplish all that his lordship would command him. He sent him a
present upon the way; to wit, skins, mantles, and fish: and after these
compliments, the Governor found all the towns, as he passed, inhabited
with people, which peaceably attended his coming, and offered him skins,
mantles, and fish. The cacique, accompanied with many Indians, came out
of the town, and stayed half a league on the way to receive the
Governor, and when he came to him, he spake these words following:--
"Right high, right mighty, and renowned lord, your lordship is most
heartily welcome. As soon as I had notice of your lordship, of your
power, and your perfections, although you came into my country killing
and taking captives the inhabitants thereof and my subjects, yet I
determined to conform my will unto yours, and as your own to interpret
in good part all that your lordship did: believing that it was
convenient it should be so for some just respect, to prevent some future
matter revealed unto your lordship, and concealed from me. For well may
a mischief be permitted to avoid a greater, and that good may come
thereof: which I believe will so fall out. For it is no reason to
presume of so excellent a prince, that the nobleness of his heart, and
the effect of his will would permit him to suffer any unjust thing. My
ability is so small to serve you as your lordship deserveth, that if you
respect not mine abundant good-will, which humbly offereth all kind of
service, I deserve but little in your presence. But if it be reason that
this be esteemed, receive the same, myself, my country, and subjects for
yours, and dispose of me and them at your pleasure. For if I were lord
of all the world, with the same good-will should your lordship by me be
received, served and obeyed."
The Governor answered him to the purpose, and satisfied him in few
words. Within a while after both of them used words of great offers and
courtesy the one to the other, and the cacique requested him to lodge
in his houses. The Governor, to preserve the peace the better, excused
himself, saying that he would lodge in the fields. And because it was
very hot, they camped near certain trees a quarter of a league from the
town. The cacique went to his town, and came again with many Indians
singing. As soon as they came to the Governor, all of them prostrated
themselves upon the ground. Among these came two Indians that were
blind. The cacique made a speech: to avoid tediousness, I will only tell
in a few words the substance of the matter. He said, that seeing the
Governor was the son of the Sun, and a great lord, he besought him to do
him the favor to give sight to those two blind men. The blind men rose
up presently, and very earnestly requested the same of the Governor. He
answered, that in the high heavens was he that had power to give them
health, and whatsoever they could ask of him; whose servant he was: and
that this Lord made the heavens and the earth, and man after his own
likeness, and that he suffered upon the cross to save mankind, and rose
again the third day, and that he died as he was man, and as touching his
divinity, he was, and is immortal; and that he ascended into heaven,
where he standeth with his arms open to receive all such as turn unto
him: and straightway he commanded him to make a very high cross of wood,
which was set up in the highest place of the town; declaring unto him,
that the Christians worshiped the same in resemblance and memory of that
whereon Christ suffered. The Governor and his men kneeled down before
it, and the Indians did the like. The Governor willed him, that from
thenceforth he would worship the same, and should ask whatsoever they
stood in need of, of that Lord that he told him was in heaven. Then he
asked him how far it was from thence to _Pacaha_. He said, one day's
journey, and that at the end of his country, there was a lake like a
brook which falleth into _Rio Grande_, and that he would send men before
to make a bridge whereby he might pass. The same day that the Governor
departed thence, he lodged at a town belonging to _Casqui_; and the next
day he passed in sight of other towns, and came to the lake, which was
half a crossbow shot over, of a great depth and current. At the time of
his coming, the Indians had made an end of the bridge, which was made of
timber, laid one tree after another: and on one side it had a course of
stakes higher than the bridge, for them that passed to take hold on. The
Cacique of _Casqui_ came to the Governor, and brought his people with
him. The Governor sent word by an Indian to the Cacique of _Pacaha_,
that though he were enemy to the Cacique of _Casqui_, and though he
were there, yet he would do him no disgrace nor hurt, if he would attend
him peaceably, and embrace his friendship; but rather would intreat him
as a brother. The Indian, which the Governor sent, came again, and said
that the cacique made no account of that which he told him, but fled
with all his men out at the other side of the town. Presently the
Governor entered, and ran before with the horsemen, that way by which
the Indians fled; and at another town, distant a quarter of a league
from thence, they took many Indians; and as soon as the horsemen had
taken them, they delivered them to the Indians of _Casqui_, whom,
because they were their enemies, with much circumspection and rejoicing,
they brought to the town where the Christians were: and the greatest
grief they had was this, that they could not get leave to kill them.
There were found in the town many mantles, and deer skins, lion skins,
and bear skins, and many cat skins. Many came so far poorly appareled,
and there they clothed themselves: of the mantles, they made them coats
and cassocks, and some made gowns, and lined them with cat skins; and
likewise their cassocks. Of the deer skins, some made them also jerkins,
shirts, hose and shoes: and of the bear skins, they made them very good
cloaks: for no water could pierce them. There were targets of raw ox
hides found there; with which hides they armed their horses.
Upon Wednesday, the 19th of June, 1541, the Governor entered into
_Pacaha_. He lodged in the town, where the cacique used to reside, which
was very great, walled, and beset with towers, and many loopholes were
in the towers and wall. And in the town was great store of old maize,
and great quantity of new in the fields. Within a league and half a
league were great towns all walled. Where the Governor was lodged was a
great lake, that came near unto the wall; and it entered into a ditch,
that went round about the town, wanting but a little to environ it
around. From the lake to the great river was made a wear by which the
fish came into it; which the cacique kept for his recreation and sport.
With nets that were found in the town, they took as much as they would;
and took they never so much, there was no want perceived. There was also
great store of fish in many other lakes that were thereabout, but it was
soft, and not so good as that which came from the river, and the most of
it was different from the fresh-water fish of _Spain_. There was a fish
which they called bagres; the third part of it was head, and it had on
both sides the gills, and along the sides great pricks like very sharp
awls. Those of the kind that were in the lakes were as big as pikes; and
in the river there were some of an hundred, and of an hundred and fifty
pounds weight, and many of them were taken with the hook. There was
another fish like barbilles, and another like breams, headed like a
delicate fish, called in _Spain_ besugo, between red and gray. This was
there of most esteem. There was another fish called peel fish; it had a
snout of a cubit long, and at the end of the upper lip it was made like
a peel. There was another fish called a western shad; and all of them
had scales, except the bagres, and the peel fish. There was another fish
which sometimes the Indians brought us, of the bigness of a hog; they
called it the pereo fish; it had rows of teeth beneath and above. The
Cacique of _Casqui_ sent many times great presents of fish, mantles, and
skins. He told the Governor that he would deliver the Cacique of
_Pacaha_ into his hands. He went to _Casqui_, and sent many canoes up
the river, and came himself by land with many of his people. The
Governor, with forty horsemen and sixty footmen, took him along with him
up the river. And his Indians which were in the canoes, discovered where
the Cacique of _Pacaha_ was, in a little island, situated between two
arms of the river. And five Christians entered into a canoe, wherein
_Don Antonio Osorio_ went before, to see what people the cacique had
with him. There were in the isle five or six thousand souls. And as soon
as they saw them, supposing that the Indians which were in the other
canoes were also Christians, the cacique, and certain which were in
three canoes, which they had there with them, fled in great haste to the
other side of the river. The rest, with great fear and danger, leapt
into the river, where many people were drowned, especially women and
little children. Presently the Governor, who was on land, not knowing
what had happened to _Don Antonio_ and those that went with him,
commanded the Christians with all speed to enter with the Indians of
_Casqui_ in the canoes, which were quickly with _Don Antonio_ in the
little island, where they took many men and women, and much goods. Great
store of goods, which the Indians had laid upon hurdles of canes and
rafts of timber to carry over to the other side, drove down the river,
wherewith the Indians of _Casqui_ filled their canoes; and for fear lest
the Christians would take it from them, the cacique went home with them
down the river, without taking his leave of the Governor; whereupon the
Governor was highly offended with him, and presently returning to
_Pacaha_, he overran the country of _Casqui_ the space of two leagues,
where he took twenty or thirty of his men. And because his horses were
weary, and he wanted time that day to go any farther, he returned to
_Pacaha_, with determination within three or four days after to invade
_Casqui_. And presently he let loose one of the Indians of _Pacaha_, and
sent word by him to the cacique, that if he would have his friendship,
he should repair unto him, and that both of them would make war upon
_Casqui_. And presently came many Indians that belonged to _Pacaha_, and
brought an Indian instead of the cacique, which was discovered by the
cacique's brother, which was taken prisoner. The Governor wished the
Indians that their master himself should come; for he knew very well
that that was not he, and told them that they could do nothing which he
knew not before they thought it. The next day the cacique came,
accompanied with many Indians, and with a present of much fish, skins
and mantles. He made a speech that all were glad to hear, and concluded
saying, that though his lordship, without his giving occasion of offence
had done him hurt in his country and subjects, yet he would not
therefore refuse to be his, and that he would always be at his command.
The Governor commanded his brother to be loosed, and other principal
Indians that were taken prisoners. That day came an Indian from the
Cacique of _Casqui_, and said that his lord would come the next day to
excuse himself of the error which he had committed, in going away
without license of the Governor. The Governor willed the messenger to
signify unto him, that if he came not in his own person, he would seek
him himself, and give him such punishment as he deserved. The next day
with all speed came the Cacique of _Casqui_, and brought a present to
the Governor of many mantles, skins, and fish, and gave him a daughter
of his, saying that he greatly desired to match his blood with the blood
of so great a lord as he was, and therefore he brought him his daughter,
and desired him to take her to his wife. He made a long and discreet
oration, giving him great commendations, and concluded, saying, that he
should pardon his going away without license, for that cross's sake
which he had left with him; protesting that he went away for shame of
that which his men had done without his consent. The Governor answered
him that he had chosen a good patron; and that if he had not come to
excuse himself, he had determined to seek him, to burn his towns, to
kill him and his people, and to destroy his country. To which he
replied, saying:
"My lord, I and mine are yours, and my country likewise is yours;
therefore if you had done so, you should have destroyed your own
country, and have killed your own people; whatsoever shall come unto me
from your hand, I will receive as from my lord, as well punishment as
reward; and know you, that the favor which you did me in leaving me the
cross, I do acknowledge the same to be a very great one, and greater
than I have ever deserved. For you shall understand, that with great
droughts the fields of maize of my country were withered; and as soon as
I and my people kneeled before the cross, and prayed for rain, presently
our necessities were relieved."
The Governor made him and the Cacique of _Pacaha_ friends; and set them
with him at his table to dine with him; and the caciques fell at
variance about the seats, which of them should sit on his right hand.
The Governor pacified them; telling them that among the Christians all
was one to sit on the one side, or on the other, willing them so to
behave themselves, seeing they were with him, that nobody might hear
them, and that every one should sit in the place that first he lighted
on. From thence he sent thirty horsemen and fifty footmen to the
province of _Caluca_, to see if from thence he might travel to _Chisca_,
where the Indians said there was a work of gold and copper. They
traveled seven days' journey, through a desert, and returned very weary,
eating green plums, and stalks of maize, which they found in a poor town
of six or seven houses. From thenceforward towards the north, the
Indians said that the country was very ill inhabited, because it was
very cold; and that there was such store of oxen, that they could keep
no corn for them; and that the Indians lived upon their flesh. The
Governor, seeing that toward that part the country was so poor of maize
that in it they could not be sustained, demanded of the Indians which
way it was most inhabited; and they said, they had notice of a great
province, and a very plentiful country, which was called _Quigaute_, and
that it was toward the south.