Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
the Spaniards in such a terrible plight. "The Indians," says the narrator, "at sight of what had befallen us and our state of suffering and melancholy destitution, sat down among us and from the sorrow and pity they felt, they all began to lament so earnestly that they might have been heard at a distance, and continued so doing more than half an hour. It was strange to see these men, wild and untaught," remarks Cabeza de Vaca, ' "howling •1ike brutes over our misfortunes." 35 Those who had been in New Spain were now seized with grave appre- hensions, fearing that their visitors would take them to their pueblos and offer them up as sacrifices to their gods. Disregarding these f ea.rs, Cabeza de Vaca proposed to the natives that they take the Spaniards to their village. To this request they gladly acceded, and building fires at con- venient distances along the road, they practically carried the half-dead survivors from fire to fire to keep them from freezing on the way. With unexpected foresight, the Indians had prepared a hut for them before- hand, where they had kindled several fires. They welcomed the strangers with genuine joy and festivities. 36 The next day they learned of another crew which was similarly ship- wrecked about four miles up the beach. These proved to be the men of the boat of Captains Andres Dorantes and Alonso del Castillo, all of whom had been saved. They had struck the coast a day before, on November 5, 1528, possibly on the extreme ~n e1lll of. G4!.vestm1 Island, but they had with them only the clothes they wore. They were much grieved, when they came upon Cabeza de Va.ca and his companions, because they were unable to give them wearing apparel to cover their nakedness. Ever hopeful to reach Panuco, the enduring men began to discuss how they could refit the boat of Dorantes, in order that as many as could might embark for the land of the Christians (New Spa.in) to carry the news of their misfortunes and bring a rescue party to help those who remained behind. Men of action that they were, they set a.bout to carry out the plan immediately. Tavera, one of the members of Cabeza de Vaca's crew, however, was too exhausted and worn out. Before the boat was ready, he died. After incredible hardships, the men were prepared to launch the patched-up wreck of a sailing vessel. As they tried to set it afloat, the boat fell to pieces. Circumstances now compelled them to be rec- onciled to the inevitable necessity of spending the winter where they were. 35 Hodge, 47. 36 Oviedo, Vol. 3, p. 591; Barcia, I, 14; Hodge, 47-48; Bandelier, 59-60.
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