Early Exploration of tlee Coast of Texas
15
The incident with Cortes at Veracruz made him realize the importance . of acting immediately in order to establish an incontestable claim to the region north of the Panuco. He decided, therefore, to fit out a new expedition without delay and to send it to establish a settlement on the "very large river," perhaps, where Pineda had spent forty days careening his vessels, or on the Panuco River. Most of the accounts seem to indicate that the destination of the second expedition of Garay, undertaken in the early summer of 1520, about which little or no mention has been made, due to the meager details that are extant and their confusing nature, was the Panuco. But the distance from Veracruz to the river to which Garay's second expedition was supposed to be making its way, which is stated to be fifty _leagues, indicate that it was a river farther to the north and again points to the Rio Grande as the most likely location. 36 Whatever its actual destination, Garay sent three vessels, under the command of Diego de Camargo, 37 with one hundred and fifty men, seven horsemen, and some artillery to occupy the lands recently explored. A good supply of bricks and lime was also placed on board and a number of brick masons accompanied the expedition in order that they might build a fort which could afford adequate protection to the new settlement soon to be founded . 38 Not until several months later did Garay explain to the king the reasons for the second expedition. From the composition and the materials taken, it is evident that it was intended to establish a permanent settle- ment and to erect a fort that could withstand the attacks of the natives and of any contestant that might dispute the rights of Garay to the land. But in his petition for a grant of the lands discovered and the right to settle them, which he made either late in 1520 or early in 1521, Garay declared that the new expedition had been undertaken because the men who had returned with Pineda had expressed a strong desire to go back to the lands they had discovered. They had explained to Garay, he said, that they had promised the natives they would soon return and con- sequently they were anxious to redeem their promise in order that the Indians might have confidence in the word of the Spaniards. Further- 36 Herrera, Historia, Dec. ii, Lib. x, Cap. xviii, Gomara, Cro11ica, in Barcia, II, II, I 56-1 57; Cervantes de Salazar , Cro11ica, 564. 37 Both Gomara and Herrera declare his name was Diego, but Cervantes de Sala- zar says his name was Antonio. Cf. references of previous note. 3BNavarrete, op. cit. , III, I 48.
Powered by FlippingBook