Early Exploration of the Coast of Texas s Cuba and report to the governor what he had seen and experienced. He carried as evidence a small amount of gold and a few articles secured from the Indians to corroborate his story. But misfortune seemed to haunt the little band. Hardly had they put out to sea, when they were again visited by fierce storms and such strong winds that the expedition was driven off its course. Alaminos pointed out that they were now nearer to Florida than to Cuba, and that, since their water supply and provisions were running low, it would be better to steer to Florida and hence to Cuba. Accordingly, they made their way · to a bay formerly visited by Ponce de Leon on the western coast of Florida. As most of the men were still convalescing from the wounds which they had received at the hands of the Mayas, only twenty men went ashore to get water and such supplies as they could gather. Warned by Alaminos against the treacherous nature of the natives of this region, guards were stationed to prevent a surprise. But in spite of the strict vigilance kept, a swarm of Indians suddenly swept down upon them, overpowered several of the sentinels on duty, and fought the Spaniards as they tried to reach the ships in their rowboats. Before they boarded the vessels, six Spaniards had been seriously wounded and twenty-two Indians killed. Berrio, the only soldier who had come unscathed from the struggles in Yucatan, was captured. The Spaniards were too weak and exhausted to attempt to rescue him. With much difficulty the crippled expedition made its way back to Cuba, where Cordova reported to Governor Diego Velazquez the details of the trip and his strange experiences. Ten days later he died from the wounds he received in the encounters with the natives of the new land of Yucatan. 10 Grijalva's expedition to Yucatan. It was the report of this ill-starred expedition that so excited the cupidity of Diego Velazquez that he imme- diately dispatched a fleet of four vessels, under the command of Juan Grijalva, his nephew, to ascertain the truth concerning the wealth of the newly discovered country. Anton Alaminos again accompanied the new expedition in the capacity of pilot, and Pedro de AlvaradQ, who was later to play so important a role in the conquest of Mexico as a lieutenant of Cortes. was captain of one of the ships. Better prepared to resist the bellicose natives, the expedition made its way to Yucatan 10 The facts summarized here are gathered from the accounts given in Diaz de! Castillo, Historia Verdadua: 1, I 0-33; Cardenas y Cano, E11sayo Cro110/ogico, 3; Oviedo, Historia Ge11cral, 1. 497-498; II, 139; Winsor, Na,-rt1/h1e a11d Critical His- tory, II, 236-237.
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