De Soto alld 11'/oscoso Beyond the Jlfississi.ppi, 1537-1543
135
recalled now, had said that after coming to the country where cotton cloth was used, "would be found gold, silver and stones of much value, and they were not yet come to where he had wandered." By keeping steadily to the west, they said, they would unavoidably come to where he had been. That they were near the land where cotton cloth was used was evident, for "in Guasco they had already found some turquoises and shawls of cotton, which the Indians gave them to understand by signs, were brought from the direction of the sunset." This statement is sig- nificant in showing that there is little doubt that Guasco was on the eastern edge of the plains and not in the vicinity of present vVaco. Coronado's experiences in New Mexico prove that the plain Indians traded with the pueblos of New Mexico and the shawls and turquoises referred to by the Gentleman of Elvas, as having been found in Guasco, could not have been obtained anywhere else. 43 There was a personal reason of pride against the decision reached : the admission of defeat and failure, that made many regret their declaration. "Many grieved to go back, and would rather have continued to run the peril of their lives than leave Florida poor. They were not equal, how- ever, to changing what was resolved on, as the persons of importance agreed with the governor." With mingled feelings of deep concern and undeniable thanks for getting out of the inhospitable country into which they had wandered, the survivors, who still numbered about three hundred persons, besides numerous Indian slaves, started from the River Daycao back to Guachoya on the Mississippi. "From Daycao, where they were, to the Rio Grande [Mississippi] was a distance of one hundred and fifty leagues, which they had marched toward that place, always westwardly; and, as they returned over the way, with great difficulty could they find maize to eat; for, wheresoever they had passed, the country lay devastated, and the little that was left, the Indians had now hidden. The towns they had burned in Naguatex, of which they had repented, they found already rebuilt, and the houses full of maize. That country is populous and abundant," declares the narrator, adding that pottery of clay was made there as good as some found in Spain: 44 Retracing their steps with much difficulty and suffering greatly from the want of adequate supplies, the expedition made its way back to Anilco,
43 /bid., 246-247. 44 /bid., 247.
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