Our Cat/10/ic Heritage in Texas
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be found. It was here that the fateful word "Apalachen" first rang in the ears of the Spaniards and conjured to their excited imaginations the magic goal where food, wealth, and fame awaited them. 21 Lured by this charming word, the governor immediately conceived the idea of penetrating to the golden kingdom of Apalachen. A council was called at which all the officers, the Bishop-elect Fray Juan Suarez, and a notary public were present. Nan·aez informed them of his intention of sending the ships along the coast to find the Rio de las Palmas, while he and all the men entered the land and proceeded to the same destination. Cabeza de Vaca vigorously opposed the pla1~, declaring they would never again see the vessels. He pointed out that the pilots were not agreed on anything and rea11y did did not even know where they were; that the horses were in very poor condition; that the supplies were inadequate for an extended expedition; and lastly, that they were in a strange and most desolate country the lang~1age of whose natives they did not understand and of whose character they knew nothing. Fray Suarez, however, agreed with Narvaez and the majority followed his leadership. The governor, impatient at the opposi- tion of Cabezn de Vaca, taunted him by saying that if he was afraid to penetrate the land, he could go on the boats as their commander. The dart of the one-eyed commander's slanderous remark, uttered in the cavernous voice of Narvaez, wounded the young officer's pride and sealed l1is fate. He determined then and there that no matter what happened he would go as far as the last man of the expedition rather than give "occasion for it to be said I had opposed the invasion and remained behind from timidity. I chose rather to risk my life than put my honor in such position." 2 ! Fatefttl outcome of e.1:pedition foretold. Cabeza de Vaca was not alone in fearing the evil outcome of the expedition. There was a woman on board the ships who, even before they reached Florida, had foreseen and described many of the misfortunes they had suffered up to this time. When informed of the determination of the governor, she warned him "not to enter the land because she knew that neither he, nor any of those who went with him, would ever come out; that if any were saved it would be only through the great mercy 21 "Relaci6n de! viaje . .." Pacheco y Cardenas, Docummtos, Vol. 14, p. 270, Darcia, I, 4. Hereafter the "Relacion" will be referred to as Pacheco y Cardenas, Documentos. : 2 Hodge, 24.
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