Tl1e Scarclz for la Salle, 1685-1689
321
to Mical usa and emphasized that everywhere he had treated the Indians kindly. As ::i. result of this policy, he went on to state, he had made treaties of peace with several hostile nations, who were surprised that the Span- iards did not maltreat them. 32 Taking the advice of the natives he dispatched messengers to the Mobilas to acquaint them with his purpose and to ask them for supplies. While waiting for the return of his messengers, he allowed some of his soldiers to visit the Tiquipache, from whom he obtained a small amount of corn , with which he was able to resume his march to the west, over land which had never before been visited by Spaniards or Christians. While on the march they were met by the scouts sent to the Mobilas, who were returning with the chiefs of that nation and five others. The chief of the Mobilas, acting as spokesman for the others, explained to Delgado that their people were friendly, but that it would be impossible for the Spaniards to continue their march to the west because there was no food to he had anywhere. The natives had been subsisting for some time on shellfish . Furthermore, the Chatas, a powerful nation, through whose territory the Spaniards would have to pass, had heard of their coming and were laying in ambush to kill them. Delgado was much perplexed. His food had almost given out; his gifts had all heen distributed; and his men were suffering from fever. 1n view of these circumstances and the lack of food in the country that lay ahead of him. he rlecided to return to Florida from here. Before doing so, how- ever, he made diligent inquiry from the Indian chiefs concerning the French colony, but to all his questions the Indians replied that they had never heard of any settlement by French, English , or any other foreign people in the region beyond their lands. Delgado gave the letter which he was bearing for the viceroy to the chief of the Mobilas and asked him to forward it to the viceroy. He then wrote a long letter to Governor Cabrera. on October 16, acquainting him with the circumstances that had forced him to abandon the march, and a few days later he returned to Florida. 33 Dunn. speaking of the sig nificance of this expedition says. "It constituted 1he first extensive exploration made by the Spaniards in the western region of Florida during the seventeenth century, and marked the revival of Spanish activity among the tribes of that district. For
32 Delgado to Cabrera, September 19, 1 686, in / bid., 68-70. 33 Deli;:-ado to Cabrera, October 16. 1686, in /hid., 80-83.
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