all the chains together, which every one had to lead Indians in; and to
gather all the iron which they had for their provision, and all the rest
that was in the camp: and to set up a forge to make nails, and commanded
them to cut down timber for the brigantines. And a Portuguese of
_Ceuta_, who having been a prisoner in _Fez_, had learned to saw timber
with a long saw, which for such purposes they had carried with them, did
teach others, which helped him to saw timber. And a _Genevese_, whom it
pleased God to preserve (for without him they had never come out of the
country, for there was never another that could make ships but he), with
four or five other _Biscayan_ carpenters, which hewed his planks and
other timbers, made the brigantines: and two calkers, the one of
_Geneva_, the other of _Sardinia_, did calk them with the tow of an herb
like hemp, whereof before I have made mention, which there is named
enequen. And because there was not enough of it, they calked them with
the flax of the country, and with the mantles, which they raveled for
that purpose. A cooper which they had among them fell sick, and was at
the point of death: and there was none other that had any skill in that
trade: it pleased God to send him his health. And albeit he was very
weak, and could not labor, yet fifteen days before they departed, he
made for every brigantine two half hogsheads, which the mariners call
quarterets, because four of them hold a pipe of water. The Indians which
dwelt two days' journey above the river in a province called
_Taguanate_, and likewise those of _Nilco_ and _Guachoya_, and others
their neighbors seeing the brigantines in making, thinking, because
their places of refuge are in the water, that they were to go to seek
them, and because the Governor demanded mantles of them, as necessary
for sails, came many times, and brought many mantles, and great store of
fish. And for certain it seemed that God was willing to favor them in so
great necessity, moving the minds of the Indians to bring them: for to
go to take them, they were never able. For in the town where they were,
as soon as winter came, they were so enclosed and compassed with water,
that they could go no farther by land, than a league, and a league and a
half. And if they would go farther, they could carry no horses, and
without them they were not able to fight with the Indians, because they
were many: and so many for so many on foot they had the advantage of
them by water and by land, because they were more apt and lighter, and
by reason of the disposition of the country, which was according to
their desire for the use of their war. They brought also some cords, and
those which wanted for cables were made of the barks of mulberry trees.
They made stirrups of wood, and made anchors of their stirrups. In the
month of March, when it had rained a month before, the river grew so big
that it came to _Nilco_, which was nine leagues of: and on the other
side, the Indians said, that it reached other nine leagues into the
land. In the town where the Christians were, which was somewhat high
ground, where they could best go, the water reached to the stirrups.
They made certain rafts of timber, and laid many boughs upon them,
whereon they set their horses, and in the houses they did the like. But
seeing that nothing prevailed, they went up to the lofts: and if they
went out of the houses, it was in canoes, or on horseback in those
places where the ground was highest. So they were two months, and could
do nothing, during which time the river decreased not. The Indians
ceased not to come unto the brigantines as they were wont, and came in
canoes. At that time the Governor feared they would set upon him. He
commanded his men to take an Indian secretly of those that came to the
town, and to stay him till the rest were gone: and they took one. The
Governor commanded him to be put to torture, to make him confess whether
the Indians did practice any treason or no. He confessed that the
caciques of _Nilco_, _Guachoya_, and _Taguanate_, and others, which in
all were about twenty caciques, with a great number of people,
determined to come upon him; and that three days before, they would send
a great present of fish to cover their great treason and malice, and on
the very day they would send some Indians before with another present.
And these, with those which were our slaves, which were of their
conspiracy also, should set the houses on fire, and first of all possess
themselves of the lances which stood at the doors of the houses; and the
caciques, with all their men, should be near the town in ambush in the
wood, and when they saw the fire kindled, should come, and make an end
of the conquest. The Governor commanded the Indian to be kept in a
chain, and the selfsame day that he spoke of, there came thirty Indians
with fish. He commanded their right hands to be cut off, and sent them
so back to the Cacique of _Guachoya_, whose men they were. He sent him
word that he and the rest should come when they would, for he desired
nothing more, and that he should know, that they thought not anything
which he knew not before they thought of it. Hereupon they all were put
in a very great fear: and the caciques of _Nilco_ and _Taguanate_ came
to excuse themselves: and a few days after came he of _Guachoya_, and a
principal Indian, and his subject, said, he knew by certain information,
that the caciques of _Nilco_ and _Taguanate_ were agreed to come and
make war upon the Christians. As soon as the Indians came from _Nilco_,
the Governor examined them, and they confessed it was true. He delivered
them presently to the principal men of _Guachoya_, which drew them out
of the town and killed them. Another day came some from _Taguanate_, and
confessed it likewise. The Governor commanded their right hands and
noses to be cut off, and sent them to the cacique, wherewith they of
_Guachoya_ remained very well contented: and they came oftentimes with
presents of mantles and fish, and hogs, which bred in the country of
some swine that were lost by the way the last year. As soon as the
waters were slaked, they persuaded the Governor to send to _Taguanate_.
They came and brought canoes, wherein the footmen were conveyed down the
river, and a captain with horsemen went by land; and the Indians of
_Guachoya_, which guided him till they came to _Taguanate_, assaulted
the town, and took many men and women, and mantles, which with those
that they had already were sufficient to supply their want. The
brigantines being finished in the month of June, the Indians having told
us that the river increased but once a year, when the snows did melt, in
the time wherein I mentioned it had already increased, being now in
summer, and having not rained a long time, it pleased God that the flood
came up to the town to seek the brigantines, from whence they carried
them by water to the river. Which, if they had gone by land, had been in
danger of breaking and splitting their keels, and to be all undone;
because that for want of iron, the spikes were short, and the planks
and timber were very weak. The Indians of _Minoya_, during the time that
they were there came to serve them (being driven thereunto by necessity)
that of the maize which they had taken from them, they would bestow some
crumbs upon them, and because the country was fertile, and the people
used to feed of maize, and the Christians had gotten all from them that
they had, and the people were many, they were not able to sustain
themselves. Those which came to the town were so weak and feeble, that
they had no flesh left on their bones: and many came and died near the
town for pure hunger and weakness. The Governor commanded upon grievous
punishments to give them no maize. Yet, when they saw that the hogs
wanted it not, and that they had yielded themselves to serve them, and
considering their misery and wretchedness, having pity of them, they
gave them part of the maize which they had. And when the time of their
embarkment came, there was not sufficient to serve their own turns. That
which there was, they put into the brigantines, and into great canoes
tied two and two together. They shipped twenty-two of the best horses
that were in the camp, the rest they made dried flesh of; and dressed
the hogs which they had in like manner. They departed from _Minoya_ the
second day of July, 1543.
The day before they departed from _Minoya_, they determined to dismiss
all the men and women of the country, which they had detained as slaves
to serve them, save some hundred, little more or less, which the
Governor embarked, and others whom it pleased him to permit. And because
there were many men of quality, whom he could not deny that which he
granted to others, he used a policy, saying, that they might serve them
as long as they were in the river, but when they came to the sea, they
must send them away for want of water, because they had but few vessels.
He told his friends in secret, that they should carry theirs to _Nueva
Espana_: and all those whom he bare no good-will unto (which were the
greater number) ignorant of that which was hidden from them, which
afterward time discovered, thinking it inhumanity for so little time of
service, in reward of the great service that they had done them, to
carry them with them, to leave them slaves to other men out of their own
countries, left five hundred men and women; among whom were many boys
and girls, which spake and understood the Spanish tongue. The most of
them did nothing but weep; which moved great compassion; seeing that all
of them with good-will would have become Christians, and were left in
state of perdition. There went from _Minoya_ three hundred and
twenty-two Spaniards in seven brigantines, well made, save that the
planks were thin, because the nails were short, and were not pitched,
nor had any decks to keep the water from coming in. Instead of decks
they laid planks, whereon the mariners might run to trim their sails,
and the people might refresh themselves above and below. The Governor
made his captains, and gave to every one his brigantine, and took their
oath and their word, that they would obey him, until they came to the
land of the Christians. The Governor took one of the brigantines for
himself, which he best liked. The same day that they departed from
_Minoya_, they passed by _Guachoya_, where the Indians tarried for them
in canoes by the river. And on the shore, they had made a great arbor
with boughs. They desired him to come on shore; but he excused himself,
and so went along. The Indians in their canoes accompanied him; and
coming where an arm of the river declined on the right hand, they said
that the Province of _Quigalta_ was near unto that place, and importuned
the Governor to set upon him, and that they would aid him. And because
they had said that he dwelt three days' journey down the river, the
Governor supposed that they had plotted some treason against him, and
there left them; and went down with the greatest force of the water. The
current was very strong, and with the help of oars, they went very
swiftly. The first day they landed in a wood on the left hand of the
river, and at night they withdrew themselves to the brigantines. The
next day they came to a town where they went on shore, and the people
that was in it durst not tarry. A woman that they took there being
examined, said, that the town belonged to a cacique named _Huasene_,
subject to _Quigalta_, and that _Quigalta_ tarried for them below in the
river with many men. Certain horsemen went thither, and found some
houses, wherein was much maize. Immediately more of them went thither
and tarried there one day, and which they did beat out, and took as much
maize as they needed. While they were there, many Indians came from the
nether part of the river, and on the other side right against them
somewhat carelessly set themselves in order to fight. The Governor sent
in two canoes the crossbow-men that he had, and as many more as could go
in them. They ran away, and seeing the Spaniards could not overtake
them, they returned back, and took courage; and coming nearer, making an
outcry, they threatened them: and as soon as they departed thence, they
went after them, some in canoes and some by land along the river; and
getting before, coming to a town that stood by the river's side, they
joined altogether, making a show that they would tarry there. Every
brigantine towed a canoe fastened to their sterns for their particular
service. Presently there entered men into every one of them, which made
the Indians to fly, and burned the town. The same day they presently
landed in a great field, where the Indians durst not tarry. The next day
there were gathered together an hundred canoes, among which were some
that carried sixty and seventy men, and the principal men's canoes had
their tilts, and plumes of white and red feathers for their ensigns: and
they came within two crossbow shots of the brigantines, and sent three
Indians in a small canoe with a feigned message to view the manner of
the brigantines, and what weapons they had. And coming to the side of
the Governor's brigantine, one of the Indians entered, and said:
"That the Cacique of _Quigalta_, his lord, sent him his commendations,
and did let him understand, that all that the Indians of _Guachoya_ had
told him concerning himself, was false, and that they had incensed him,
because they were his enemies; that he was his servant, and should find
him so."
The Governor answered him, that he believed all that he said was true,
and willed him to tell him that he esteemed his friendship very much.
With this answer they returned to the place where the rest in their
canoes were waiting for them, and from thence all of them fell down, and
came near the Spaniards, shouting aloud, and threatening of them. The
Governor sent _John de Guzman_, which had been a captain of footmen in
_Florida_, with fifteen armed men in canoes to make them give way. As
soon as the Indians saw them come towards them, they divided themselves
into two parts, and stood still till the Spaniards came nigh them, and
when they were came near them, they joined together on both sides,
taking _John de Guzman_ in the middle, and them that came first with
him, and with great fury boarded them: and as their canoes were bigger,
and many of them leaped into the water to stay them, and to lay hold on
the canoes of the Spaniards, and overwhelm them; so presently they
overwhelmed them. The Christians fell into the water, and with the
weight of their armor sunk down to the bottom; and some few, that by
swimming or holding by the canoe could have saved themselves, with oars
and staves which they had, they struck them on the head and make them
sink. When they of the brigantines saw the overthrow, though they went
about to succor them, yet through the current of the river they could
not go back. Four Spaniards fled to the brigantine that was nearest to
the canoes; and only these escaped of those that came among the Indians.
There were eleven that died there: among whom _John de Guzman_ was one,
and a son of _Don Carlos_, called _John de Vargas_: the rest also were
persons of account and men of great courage. Those that escaped by
swimming said that they saw the Indians enter the canoe of _John de
Guzman_ at the stern of one of their canoes, and whether they carried
him away dead or alive they could not certainly tell.
The Indians, seeing that they had got the victory, took such courage,
that they assaulted them in the brigantines, which they durst not do
before. They came first to that brigantine wherein _Calderon_ went for
captain, and was in the rearward: and at the first volley of arrows they
wounded twenty-five men. There were only four armed men in this
brigantine; these did stand at the brigantine's side to defend it. Those
that were unarmed, seeing how they hurt them, left their oars and went
under the deck: whereupon the brigantine began to cross, and to go where
the current of the stream carried it. One of the armed men seeing this,
without the commandment of the captain, made a footman to take an oar
and steer the brigantine, he standing before him and defending him with
his target. The Indians came no nearer than a bowshot, from whence they
offended and were not offended, receiving no hurt: for in every
brigantine was but one crossbow, and those which we had were very much
out of order. So that the Christians did nothing else but stand for a
butt to receive their arrows. Having left this brigantine they went to
another, and fought with it half an hour; and so from one to another
they fought with them all. The Christians had mats to lay under them,
which were double, and so close and strong, that no arrow went through
them. And as soon as the Indians gave them leisure, they fenced the
brigantines with them. And the Indians seeing that they could not shoot
level, shot their arrows at random up in the air, which fell into the
brigantines, and hurt some of the men: and not therewith contented, they
sought to get to them which were in the canoes with the horses. Those of
the brigantines environed them to defend them, and took them among them.
Thus seeing themselves much vexed by them, and so wearied that they
could no longer endure it, they determined to travel all the night
following, thinking to get beyond the country of _Quigalta_, and that
they would leave them: but when they thought least of it, supposing that
they had now left them, they heard very near them so great outcries,
that they made them deaf, and so they followed us all that night, and
the next day till noon, by which time we were come into the country of
others, whom they desired to use us after the same manner; and so they
did. The men of _Quigalta_ returned home; and the other in fifty canoes
fought with us a whole day and a night; and they entered one of the
brigantines, that came in the rearward, by the canoe which she had at
her stern, and took away a woman which they found in it, and afterwards
hurt some of the men in the brigantines. Those which came with the
horses in the canoes, being wearied with rowing night and day, lingered
behind; and presently the Indians came upon them, and they of the
brigantines tarried for them. The Governor resolved to go on shore and
kill the horses, because of the slow way which they made because of
them. As soon as they saw a place convenient for it, they went thither
and killed the horses, and brought the flesh of them to dry it on board.
Four or five of them remained on shore alive; the Indians went unto
them, after the Spaniards were embarked. The horses were not acquainted
with them, and began to neigh, and run up and down in such sort, that
the Indians, for fear of them, leaped into the water; and getting into
their canoes went after the brigantines, shooting cruelly at them. They
followed us that evening and the night following till the next day at
ten of the clock, and then returned up the river. Presently from a small
town that stood upon the river came seven canoes, and followed us a
little way down the river, shooting at us: but seeing they were so few
that they could do us but little harm, they returned to their town. From
thence forward, until they came to the sea, they had no encounter. They
sailed down the river seventeen days: which may be two hundred and fifty
leagues' journey, little more or less: and near unto the sea, the river
is divided into two arms; each of them is a league and a half broad.
Half a league before they came to the sea, they came to anchor to rest
themselves there about a day; for they were very weary with rowing, and
out of heart. For by the space of many days they had eaten nothing but
parched and sodden maize; which they had by allowance every day an
headpiece full by strike for every three men. While they rode there at
anchor seven canoes of Indians came to set upon those which they brought
with them. The Governor commanded armed men to go aboard them, and to
drive them farther off. They came also against them by land through a
thick wood, and a moorish ground, and had staves with very sharp forked
heads made of the bones of fishes, and fought very valiantly with us,
which went out to encounter them. And the other that came in canoes with
their arrows staid for them that came against them, and at their coming
both those that were on land, and those in the canoes wounded some of
us: and seeing us come near them, they turned their backs, and like
swift horses among footmen got away from us; making some returns, and
reuniting themselves together, going not past a bow shot off: for in so
retiring they shot, without receiving any hurt of the Christians. For
though they had some bows, yet they could not use them; and brake their
arms with rowing to overtake them. And the Indians easily in their
compass went with their canoes, staying and wheeling about as it had
been in a skirmish, perceiving that those that came against them could
not offend them. And the more they strove to come near them, the more
hurt they received. As soon as they had driven them farther off, they
returned to the brigantines. They stayed two days there: and departed
from thence unto the place where the arm of the river entereth into the
sea. They sounded in the river near unto the sea, and found forty
fathoms water. They staid there. And the Governor commanded all and
singular persons to speak their minds touching their voyage, whether it
were best to cross over to _Nueva Espana_, committing themselves to the
high sea, or whether they should keep along the coast. There were sundry
opinions touching this matter: wherein _John Danusco_, which presumed
much, and took much upon him in the knowledge of navigation, and matters
of the sea, although he had but little experience, moved the Governor
with his talk: and his opinion was seconded by some others. And they
affirmed, that it was much better to pass by the high sea, and cross the
gulf, which was three of four parts the lesser travel, because in going
along the coast, they went a great way about, by reason of the compass
which the land did make. _John Danusco_ said, that he had seen the
sea-card, and that from the place where they were, the coast ran east
and west unto _Rio de las Palmas_; and from _Rio de las Palmas_ to
_Nueva Espana_ from north to south: and therefore in sailing always in
sight of land would be a great compassing about and spending of much
time; and that they would be in great danger to be overtaken with winter
before they should get to the land of the Christians: and that in ten or
twelve days' space, having good weather, they might be there in crossing
over. The most part were against this opinion, and said that it was more
safe to go along the coast, though they staid the longer: because their
ships were very weak and without decks, so that a very little storm was
enough to cast them away: and if they should be hindered with calms, or
contrary weather, through the small store of vessels which they had to
carry water in, they should likewise fall into great danger: and that
although the ships were such as they might venture in them, yet having
neither pilot nor sea-card to guide themselves, it was no good counsel
to cross the gulf. This opinion was confirmed by the greatest part: and
they agreed to go along the coast. At the time wherein they sought to
depart from thence, the cable of the anchor of the Governor's brigantine
brake, and the anchor remained in the river. And albeit they were near
the shore, yet it was so deep, that the divers diving many times could
never find it; which caused great sadness in the Governor, and in all
those that went with him in his brigantine: but with a grindstone which
they had, and certain bridles which remained to some of the gentlemen,
and men of worship which had horses, they made a weight which served
instead of an anchor. The 18th of July (1543) they went forth to sea
with fair and prosperous weather for their voyage. And seeing that they
were gone two or three leagues from the shore, the captains of the other
brigantines overtook them, and asked the Governor, wherefore he did put
off from the shore? and that if he would leave the coast, he should say
so; and he should not do it without the consent of all: and that if he
did otherwise, they would not follow him, but that every one would do
what seemed best unto himself. The Governor answered, that he would do
nothing without their counsel, but that he did bear off from the land to
sail the better and safer by night; and that the next day when time
served, he would return to the sight of land again. They sailed with a
reasonable good wind that day and the night following, and the next day
till evening song, always in fresh water; whereat they wondered much:
for they were very far from land. But the force of the current of the
river is so great, and the coast there is so shallow and gentle, that
the fresh water enters far into the sea. That evening on their right
hand they saw certain creeks, whither they went, and rested there that
night: where _John Danusco_ with his reasons won them at last, that all
consented and agreed to commit themselves to the main sea, alleging, as
he had done before, that it was a great advantage, and that their voyage
would be much shorter. They sailed two days, and when they would have
come to sight of land they could not, for the wind blew from the shore.
On the fourth day, seeing their fresh water began to fail, fearing
necessity and danger, they all complained of _John Danusco_, and of the
Governor that followed his counsel: and every one of the captains said,
that they would no more go from the shore, though the Governor went
whither he would. It pleased God that the wind changed, though but a
little: and at the end of four days after they had put to sea, being
already destitute of water, by force of rowing they got within sight of
land, and with great trouble recovered it, in an open road. That evening
the wind came to the south, which on that coast is a cross wind, and
drove the brigantines against the shore, because it blew very hard, and
the anchors were so weak, that they yielded and began to bend. The
Governor commanded all men to leap into the water, and going between
them and the shore, and thrusting the brigantines into the sea as soon
as the wave was past, they saved them till the wind ceased.