Ot1r Catholic Heritage in Texas
8
also one of the chief aims of the expedition. 14 Be that as it may, the fact remains that whatever the divers purposes of the expedition, it was the first to explore carefully and map the entire coast of the present State of Texas and to complete the exploration of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Yucatan. The exact date on which Pineda set out is unknown, but it must have been at the beginning of the summer of 1519. 15 Following a northern course after he passed the Island of Cuba, he seems to have made his way to the vicinity of the Bay of Pensacola. Still doubting, perhaps, that Florida was part of the mainland, he undertook to follow its shores to the south and east in an effort to round its southern extremity. But adverse winds and the strong currents off the cape prevented Pineda from carrying out his purpose, according to the official report sent to Spain. He now changed his course, and retracing his steps, followed the coast line closely around the gulf towards the west. He was careful to note, as he went, the character of the land, the bays, the inlets, and the rivers. Observations were made concerning the natives seen, the vegetation, and the presence of precious metals in the ornaments worn by the Indians. After coasting for a distance of about three hundred leagues, stopping repeatedly on the way to take formal possession of the land and to trade with the Indians, Pineda arrived in Veracruz in August, only to find Cortes already there. 16 Cortes meets Pi11eda's men. It was on the eve of Cortes's departure for the interior, immediately after he had carried out the sinking of all his ships to prevent his dissatisfied followers from abandoning him, that he was informed of the presence of the unwelcome intruders. After establishing the Villa Rica de Veracruz and organizing its civil govern- ment, he had left for Cempoala, an Indian town of importance about four leagues from Veracruz. It was here that Juan Escalante, his lieu- tenant, brought him the news. He declared that four vessels had appeared before the harbor; that he had gone out in a small boat to inquire who HFrancisco Lopez de Gomara, Cronica de la Nueva Espaiia, in Barcia, Histori- adores Primitivos, II, 44-45; Diaz del Castillo, op. cit., I, 168-169; Oviedo, op. cit., Ill, 261-263 ( 1853 edition); Herrera, op. cit., I, 136; Cervantes de Salazar, Cronica de la Nueva Espa,ia, 182-183. 15 Cervantes de Salazar, Cronica, 182-185 . From this account it appears that Piueda arrived in Veracruz August 1 and remained off the coast until the I 5th. Considering the stops made by Pineda on the way from Florida as he coasted to Veracruz, it must have taken him three or four months to make the trip. 16 /bid., 182; Cardenas y Cano, of cit., 3; Navarrete, coleccion, III, 147.
' '
. I I l
Powered by FlippingBook