Tlee Narvaez Expedition, I526-I536 57 It was agreed, however, that four men, the strongest and the best swimmers of the little band, should start immediately for Panuco, still believing they were not far off, to carry news of their misfortune and bring to these victims of fate assistance as soon as possible. The four men chosen for this important but impossible mission were Alvaro Fernandez, Por- tuguese carpenter and sailor-very likely the lone carpenter to whose diligence Narvaez owed the construction of his five barges at the Bay of Horses-Mendez, Figueroa, a native of Toledo, and Astudillo, a native of Zafra. With the four men went a faithful Indian who had accom- panied the expedition from Cuba. 37 Fate of tlee various vessels of Narvaez. In the meantime what had become of the other three vessels? After the barges of Cabeza de Vaca and Dorantes had been cast ashore in the vicinity of the western extremity of Galveston Island and the present peninsula of San Luis, the boat of Captain Alonso Enriquez and the Bishop-elect Fray Juan Suarez appears to have gone on until it came to the mouth of San Bernardo River, where it was wrecked, some forty miles below Galveston. 38 It was in this boat that all the religious had embarked. After they became stranded, the group tried to continue along the shore. Shortly afterwards they were overtaken by the boat of the governor. Many of his men were tired of the sea and preferred to go ashore to continue their journey on land. It seems that Narvaez complied with their request, when he met the survivors of Enriquez. Together they all proceeded along the coast, while the governor went on in the boat to help them across the difficult inlets and rivers. In this manner the men traveled 'from the S'an Bernardo, across Caney Creek, which was probably the main course of the Colorado at this time, and on to present Cavallo Pass, the entrance to Matagorda Bay, which appears to be the "Anc6n Grande," the large inlet to which Cabeza de Vaca and his companions frequently refer. 39 When the party arrived here, Narvaez helped them across the pass. "He took his men and crossed to the other side and returned for the purser [Enriquez], and the friars and all the others." 40 Just how long they stayed at this place is not clear. But it seems that 37 Hadge, 49, note 2; Barcia, I, 1 s; Bandelier, 63. 38Davenport and Wells, Quarterl,y, Vol. 22, p. 124; R. T. Hill, "Hideous Ship- wreck," Dallas News, July 30, 1933. 39Davenport and Wells, Quarterl,y, Vol. 22, pp. 123-32; R. T. Hill, "Hideous Shipwreck", map, Dallas News, July 30, 1933. 40 Davenport, Quarterly, Vol. 27, pp. 237-238; Barcia, I, 19; Bandelier, 84.
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