CHAPTER II.

Spanish Expeditions.

This Region not discovered by Columbus-Ponce de Leon reaches Florida-Other Expeditions - Narvaez undertakes to conquer the Country-His Contests with the NativesObliged to return to the Coast-His Party construct Vessels -Their Disastrous Wreck-Alvaro travels westwardReaches Mexico-Fernando de Soto-Appointed Adelantado of Florida-Departure from Cadiz-Landing-Various Conflicts-Enters Georgia-Reaches the Gold Country in Carolina-Returns to the Coast-Battle of Mauvila-Marches into the Western Territory-Winters among the ChickasawsCrosses the Mississippi- Obliged to return-Reaches the Mouth of the Red River-His Death-His Companions fail in proceeding by Land-Construct Vessels-Voyage down the Mississippi-Arrival in Mexico-Cancello.

SPAIN carried off the first and great prizes of transatlantic discovery. The wise or fortunate resolution of Isabella to patronise Columbus, conveyed to her a dominion over empires of almost boundless extent, and rich in those treasures which mankind most eagerly covet. That navigator, on first viewing the American coast at Guanahani, was not very distant from Florida; but the hope of a passage to the East Indies, and other circumstances, induced him to steer in a south and south-western direction. All the great islands of the archipelago had been discovered, the coast of Terra Firma examined, and Nunez de Balboa had obtained his celebrated prospect of the Pacific, before the Spaniards even suspected the existence of that vast region which now forms the United States. It was brought into view by accidental and somewhat singular incidents.

Juan Ponce de Leon, after distinguishing himself in the wars of Grenada, had embarked with Columbus in his second voyage. He then added greatly to his reputation, and being intrusted by Ovando, the governor, with a command in the eastern part of Hispaniola, had an opportunity of observing the rich aspect of the adjacent shores of Porto Rico. Having proposed to his superior officer to conquer it, he was allowed a body of troops to try his fortune. In this he completely succeeded, and obtained gold, not in the expected abundance, but to a considerable amount; being accused, however, of those cruelties which were much too familiar to the Spanish adventurers. His claims as governor being also considered as conflicting with those of Columbus, he withdrew, and obtained in compensation Bimini, one of the Bahamas which lay nearest to the continent.

Here an object very different from conquest or plunder engrossed the whole soul of the warlike veteran. In an age of comparative ignorance, and after witnessing so many wonders, his mind was prepared to credit almost any extravagance. Ponce de Leon had somehow imbibed the full belief, that on one of those insular shores there existed a fountain endued with such miraculous virtue, that any man, however worn out with age, who should have once dipped himself in its waters, would rise restored to the full bloom and vigour of youth. In this delusive search, he beat about restlessly from shore to shore, landing at every point, and plunging into every stream, however shallow or muddy, in the vain hope of springing up in this blissful state of renovation. On the contrary, his eager and incessant activity under a burning sun, brought upon him, it is said, all the infirmities of a premature old age; and according to Oviedo, instead of a second youth, he arrived at a second childhood, never after displaying his former energy of thought or action.

Extraordinary exertions, even when misapplied, commonly lead to something. While the Spaniard was sailing in every direction after his miraculous fountain,

he came unexpectedly, on the 27th March 1512, in sight of an extensive country, hitherto unknown. Magnificent forests, intermingled with flowering shrubs, exhibited so gay an aspect, that he named it Florida. He landed on the 8th April near the present site of St Augustine; and notwithstanding the dangers of navigation amid the violent currents produced by the gulfstream running among the islands, he spent a considerable time in tracing its outline, and finally rounded the southern point. Thus, though still supposing it to be an island, he ascertained that it must be both large and important.

This great discovery seems to have weaned the mind of the Spanish chief from his engrossing chimera. He repaired to Porto Rico, and thence to Spain, laid before the king the particulars of the new country, and obtained permission to conquer and rule it under the pompous title of adelantado. A considerable time, however, was consumed in preparations; and while thus busied, he was obliged to engage in suppressing an insurrection among the Caribs. This contest was attended with reverses, by which he lost much of his reputation; and nine years elapsed before he could conduct two ships to his promised dominion. While planning a site for a colony, he was surprised by a large body of Indians; his men were completely routed, and himself severely wounded by an arrow. As these people were never able afterwards in the field with Spanish troops, this disaster may lead us to suspect that he really had lost his former military talent. Having regained the ship, he sailed to Cuba, where he soon after died of his wound.*

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The fate of Ponce de Leon for a considerable time discouraged all such adventurers. The coast was, however, visited by individual merchants; and Diego Miruelo is said to have made repeated voyages from Cuba, ob

*Herrera, dec. i. lib. ix. c. x.-xii. Oviedo ap. Ramusio, tom. iii. pp. 146, 147. A History of the United States, by George Bancroft, 3 vols. 8vo, Boston, 1834, 1837, 1841, vol. i. p. 36-39.

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taining, among other commodities, some gold, which confirmed the delusive ideas entertained of its wealth. Fernandez, Grijalva, and Garay made surveys of some extent along the southern coast, but without reaching Florida, or connecting their discoveries with that of De Leon. The idea of island which the Spaniards had at first attached to the country, gave way before additional intelligence and the assurances of the natives; and it became evident that a vast expanse of land lay in this direction. They, accordingly, from thenceforth claimed as Florida the whole continent of North America, including even Quebec. But this pretension, being encountered by the rivalry of more active European nations, could not be enforced; and, at no distant period, another sway and other names were established over nearly the whole of this vast range of territory.*

The knowledge, however, that such countries existed was turned to a cruel account by Spanish avidity. Slaves to cultivate the rich soil of the Antilles became an early object of demand, and could be procured from these savage coasts: hence a company was formed, and Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon was sent with two ships on this nefarious mission.. He reached South Carolina, entered the river Combahee, which he named Jordan, and experienced the usual facility of a stranger, in opening a friendly intercourse with the natives. After the usual interchange of visits and friendship, they were easily lured in crowds on board the vessel; when, in the height of their confidence, the treacherous Spaniard set sail, and stood for the West Indies. Yet the crime was nearly abortive;-one of the ships sunk, and sickness thinned greatly the number of captives in the other.t

Another expedition, with a more legitimate design, was undertaken by Stephen Gomez, a Portuguese, who had been a companion of the great Magellan. Between

* Bancroft, vol. i. pp. 34-41, 67, &c.

+ Ibid. vol. i. pp. 41, 42.

the countries hitherto explored and Baccalaos, or the Codfish Island, as Newfoundland was then termed, there extended a vast space, within which there might still exist the eagerly desired passage to Hindostan. Gomez, employed by the council of the Indies, appears by the meagre narratives extant to have sailed northward to the latitudes of 40° and 41°. He consequently discovered New York, and part of New England, which are designated in early Spanish maps as the "Land of Gomez." Finding the continuity of coast still unbroken, he gave up the pursuit, but endeavoured to compensate his failure by the measure, not only unauthorized, but expressly prohibited, of enslaving a number of the natives,-a step which served only to increase the ridicule attached to the abortive issue of an expedition from which very sanguine hopes had been cherished.*

Meantime the attention of mankind was almost wholly engrossed by the exploits of Cortez in Mexico,—a region so vast that it might almost be called an empire, and abounding beyond any yet known in the precious metals. With reference to his success, a desire naturally arose to effect a similar achievement elsewhere. Florida was as extensive; and no reason was yet known why it should not be equally rich. Pamphilo de Narvaez, the unfortunate rival of Cortez, first sought it as a theatre of glory and wealth. He had been employed by the governor of Cuba to seize and supersede that chief, whom he equalled in valour, but by no means in prudence and conduct. He was surprised, wounded, and completely defeated, upon which most of his troops went over to his adversary. He possessed still, however, sufficient influence to obtain the means of trying his fortune on another field. He was invested in Spain with the title of adelantado of Florida, which included the functions of general and governor, giving authority at once to conquer and rule that territory.

Bancroft, vol. i. p. 43.

The only original narrative of this expedition is by Alvaro Nunez, called also Cabeca de Vaca, who accompanied it as