Our C at/10/ic 11 eritagc in Texas
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of this pueblo has been identified as being near Tallahassee, possibly on Lake Miccasukee. 25 Much as the Spaniards desired gold, they were just as glad to get corn, beans, and pumpkins. For twenty-five days they stayed in the village, using it as a base to explore the country. They found few natives, no metals, and but scanty supplies. The Indians constantly harassed them from the easy protection afforded by the dense woods and impassable lakes. It was here that Don Pedro, a former prince and lord of Tescuco, in Mexico, who had accompanied the pious Fray Juan Suarez, was shot from ambush by the hostile natives. 26 There was little reason to stay. It was decided, therefore, to make an effort to reach the coast which was said to be to the south. They accordingly set out for a town ca11ecl Ante, located in the vicinity of present day St. Mark's, 27 where they arrived nine days later, exhausted, hungry, and with one-third of the men sick. For four or five days they rested here and enjoyed the abundance of supplies they found. But every one was anxious to reach the sea as the only avenue of escape. In spite of sickness and the ill-health of Narvaez himself, the dispirited adventurers moved on and came to a sma11 harbor in Appalachee Bay. While on the way, a number of the horsemen, in despair, attempted to abandon the commander and the sick to their fate. But an appeal to their sense of duty and honor prevented the execution of this sinister design. 28 Narvaez abandons Florida. It was August 3, 1528, and the situation of the hopeful band that had entered the country full of confidence in May was now desperate. They were disheartened, broken clown, sick, and hungry. Narvaez weakly asked the men's advice as to what they should do next. They agreed that there was nothing to do but try to leave the country, a thing that could be accomplished only by building ships in which to go. "This appeared impossible to every one; we knew not how to construct, nor were there any tools, nor iron, nor forge, nor tow, nor resin, nor rigging ... and above all, there was nothing to eat, while 25 Lowery, S-panis/1 Settlements, 183-185; Barcia, I, 5-6. 26 Buckingham Smith, Relation of Alvar N11iiez Cabeza de Vaca (1871 edition), p. 42, note 7. Hereafter referred to as Buckingham Smith. 27Lowery, o-p. cit., p. 186, note 2. 28 Pacheco y Cardenas, Documentos !11editos, Vol. 14, p. 273; Oviedo, Vol. 3, p. 587 ; Barcia, I, 9.
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