landed, a multitude of savages rushed out of the vil
lage and surrounded them, and, at the same time,
the hostages on board plunged into the sea and
6
62 CONQUEST OF FLORIDA.
swam on shore. The crew of the vessel, seeing the
number of the enemy, and dreading some further
mishap, made sail with all haste, abandoning their
luckless comrades to their fate.*
The captives were conveyed with savage triumph
into the village of Hirrihigua ; for the whole had
been a stratagem of the Cacique, to get some of the
white men into his power, upon whom he might
wreak his vengeance. He placed his prisoners un
der a strong guard, until a day of religious festival.
They were then stripped naked, led out into the
public square of the village and turned loose, one
at a time, to be shot at with arrows. To prolong
their misery and the enjoyment of their tormentors,
but one Indian was allowed to shoot at a time. In
this way the first three were sacrificed, and the Ca
cique took a vindictive pleasure in beholding them,
running in their agony from corner to corner, vainly
seeking an asylum in every nook, until after repeat
ed wounds they were shot to death.
Juan Ortiz, a youth, scarce eighteen years of age,
of a noble family of Seville, was the fourth victim.
As they were leading him forth, his extreme youth
touched with compassion the hearts of the wife and
* Garcilaso de la Vega. Part 1. L. 2. c. 1.
Portuguese Narrative, c. 9.
Herrera. D. 6. L. 7. c. 10.
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. 63
daughters of the Cacique, who interceded in his fa
vour.
The Cacique listened to their importunities, and
granted for the present the life of Ortiz ; but a
wretched life did he lead. From morning until
evening he was employed in bringing wood and
water, and was allowed but little sleep and scanty
food. Not a day passed that he was not beaten.
On festivals he was an object of barbarous amuse
ment to the Cacique, who would oblige him to run,
from sunrise until sunset, in the public square of the
village, where his companions had met their untimely
end ; Indians being stationed with bows and arrows,
to shoot him, should he halt one moment. When
the day was spent, the unfortunate youth lay stretch
ed on the hard floor of the hut, more dead than
alive. At such times the wife and daughters of the
Cacique would come to him privately with food
and clothing, and by their kind treatment his life
was preserved.
At length the Cacique determining to put an
end to his victim s existence, ordered, that he should
be bound down upon a wooden frame, in the form
of a huge gridiron, placed in the public square, over
a bed of live coals, and roasted alive.
The cries and shrieks of the poor youth reached
his female protectors, and their entreaties were once
64 CONQUEST OF FLORIDA.
more successful with the Cacique. They unbound
Ortiz, dragged him from the fire, and took him to
their dwelling, where they bathed him with the
juice of herbs, and tended him with assiduous care.
After many days he recovered from his wounds,
though marked with many a scar.
His employment was now to guard the cemetery
of the village. This was in a lonely field in the
bosom of a forest. The bodies of the dead were
deposited in wooden boxes, covered with boards,
without any fastening except a stone or a log of
wood laid upon the top ; so that the bodies were
often carried away by wild beasts.
In this cemetery was Ortiz stationed with a bow
and arrows, to watch day and night, and was told
that should a single body be carried away, he would
be burnt alive. He returned thanks to God for
having freed him from the dreaded presence of the
Cacique, hoping to lead a better life with the dead
than he had done with the living.
While watching thus one long wearisome night,
sleep overpowered him towards morning. He was
awakened by the falling lid of one of the chests, and,
running to it found it empty. It had contained the
body of an infant recently deceased, the child of an
Indian of great note.
Ortiz doubted not some animal had dragged it
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. ^ 05
away, and immediately set out in pursuit. After
wandering for some time, he heard, a short distance
within the woods, a noise like that of a dog gnaw
ing bones. Warily drawing near to the spot, he
dimly perceived an animal among the bushes, and
invoking succour from on high, let fly an arrow at
it. The thick and tangled underwood prevented
his seeing the effect of his shot, but as the animal
did not stir he flattered himself that it had been fatal ;
with this hope he waited until the day dawned,
when he beheld his victim, a huge animal of the
panther kind,* lying dead, the arrow having passed
through his entrails and cleft his heart.
Gathering together the mangled remains of the
infant, and replacing them in the coffin, Ortiz
dragged his victim in triumph to the village, with
the arrow still in his body. The exploit gained him
credit with the old hunters, and for some time sof
tened even the ferocity of the Cacique. The resent
ment of the latter, however, for the wrongs he had
suffered from white men, was too bitter to be ap
peased. Some time after, his eldest daughter came
to Ortiz, and warned him that her father had deter
mined to sacrifice him at the next festival, which
was just at hand, and that the influence of her mo-
* The Inca calls this animal a Lion, as the Spanish discoverers
were prone to call animals of the Tiger or Panther kind.
6*
66 CONQUEST OF FLORIDA.
ther, her sisters and herself would no longer avail
him. She wished him, therefore, to take refuge
with a neighbouring Cacique named Mucozo, who
loved her and sought her in marriage, and who, for
her sake, would befriend him. " This very night
at midnight" said the kind-hearted maiden, " at the
northern extremity of the village you will find a
trusty friend who will guide you to a bridge,
about two leagues hence ; on arriving there, you
must send him back, that he may reach home be
fore the morning dawn, to avoid suspicion for well
he knows that this bold act, in daring to assist you,
may bring down destruction upon us both. Six
leagues further on, you will come to the village of
Mucozo tell him that I have sent you, and expect
him to befriend you in your extremity I know
he will do it go, and may ^our God protect you !"
Ortiz threw himself at the feet of his generous pro
tectress and poured out his acknowledgments for
the kindness she had always shown him. The In
dian guide was at the place appointed, and they left
the village without alarming the warlike savages.
When they came to the bridge, Ortiz sent back the
guide, in obedience to the injunction of his mistress,
and, continuing his flight, found himself, by break of
day, on the banks of a small stream near the village
of Mucozo.
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. 67
Looking cautiously round, he espied two Indians
fishing. As he was unacquainted with their lan
guage, and could not explain the cause of his coming,
he was in dread lest they should take him for an
enemy and kill him. He, therefore, ran swiftly to
the place where they had deposited their weapons
and seized upon them. The savages fled to the
village without attending to his assurances of friendly
intention. The inhabitants sallied out armed with
bows and arrows, and made show as though they
would attack him. Ortiz fixed an arrow in his bow
and prepared for defence, but cried out at the same
moment, that he came not as an enemy but as an
ambassador from a female Cacique to their chief.
Fortunately one present understood him, and inter
preted his words. On this the Indians unbent their
bows, and returning with him to their village, pre
sented him to Mucozo. The latter, a youthful chief
tain, of a graceful form and handsome countenance,
received Ortiz kindly for the sake of her who had
sent him ; but, on further acquaintance, became at
tached to him for his own merits, treating him with
the affection of a brother.
Hirrihigua soon heard where the fugitive had
taken refuge, and demanded several times that he
should be delivered up ; Mucozo as often declined ;
considering himself bound by the laws of honour and
68 CONQUEST OF FLORIDA.
hospitality to protect him. Hirrihigua then em
ployed as mediator another Cacique, a brother-in-
law of Mucozo, by the name of Urribarracuxi, who
went in person to demand Ortiz. The generous
Mucozo, however, indignantly refused to deliver up
to a cruel enemy, the poor fugitive who had come
recommended to his protection, and treated the
very request as a stain upon his honour. The two
Caciques continued their importunities, but the high
minded savage remained faithful to his guest, though
in maintaining inviolate the sacred rites of hospi
tality, he lost the friendship of his brother-in-law,
and forfeited the hand of her he tenderly loved, the
beautiful daughter of Hirrihigua.
69
CHAPTER IX.
Baltazar de Gallegos despatched in search of Juan
Ortiz. The Cacique Mucozo, and afterwards his
mother, visit the Spanish camp.
1539. AT this juncture tidings reached Mucozo
of the arrival of De Soto and his troops at the village
of Hirrihigua, and that it was their intention to con
quer the country. The cacique, alarmed at this in
telligence, addressed himself to Ortiz. " You well
know," said he, " what I have done for you ; that I
have sheltered you when friendless, and have chosen
rather to fall into disgrace with my relations and
neighbours, than deliver you into the hands of your
enemies. This I have done without thought or hope
of reward, but the time has come when you can re
pay me for my friendship. Go to the chieftain of
this army of white men that has arrived represent
to him the asylum I have extended to you, and
which, in like case, I \vould have afforded to any of
your countrymen entreat him, in return, not to lay
waste my small territory, and assure him that I and
mine are ready to devote ourselves to his service."
Ortiz gladly departed on the mission, accompa-
70 CONQUEST OF FLORIDA.
nied by fifty chosen warriors. It happened that
about the same time Baltazar de Gallegos had been
despatched, as has been already mentioned, on his
embassy to Mucozo. .
As Ortiz and his Indian escort, therefore, were
on their way to the village of Hirrihigua, they came
in sight of Baltazar, and his band of lancers, glisten
ing at a distance, in the midst of a verdant plain,
skirted by a wood.
The Indians would have concealed themselves
in the forest, until the Christians could be informed
that they were friends ; but Ortiz slighted their ad
vice, insisting that his countrymen would at once
recognise him : not reflecting that in appearance he
was in no wise different from his savage companions,
being like them almost naked, his body browned by
exposure to the sun, his arms painted, a quiver at
his back, a bow and arrow in his hand, and his head
adorned with feathers.
No sooner did the Spaniards descry the savages,
than they came down upon them at full gallop,
heedless of the voice of their captain ; for they
were newly raised soldiers, full of spirit, and eager
for a brush with the natives.
The Indians seeing their furious approach, fled
terrified to the wood. One of their number, how
ever, being bewildered, or possessing more courage
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. 71
than the rest, loitered behind. He was pursued by
a Spaniard, and before he could attain the shelter of
the adjacent thicket, was overtaken by the trooper s
lance. Juan Ortiz was assaulted by Alvaro Nieto,
one of the stoutest and boldest troopers in the army,
who charged upon him full tilt with his lance.
Ortiz parried the thrust with his bow, running at
the same time, and leaping from side to side with
great agility to avoid the horse, crying out lustily
Xivilla,Xivilla meaning Seville, Seville ; and mak
ing the sign of the cross with his arm and bow, to
signify that he was a Christian.
Alvaro Nieto hearing him cry out Xivilla, demand
ed of him whether he was Juan Ortiz. On his re
plying in the affirmative, he seized him by the arm,
lifted him upon the croup of his saddle, and scoured
away with him over the plain to present him to
Baltazar de Gallegos. The captain received him
with great joy, and ordered his troopers to be im
mediately recalled, for they were beating up the
entangled woods, hunting the poor Indians like so
many deer.
Ortiz himself went into the forest and called with
a loud voice to the Indians, to come out of the
thickets and fear nothing. Many of them, however,
were panic-struck and fled back to their village, to
acquaint Mucozo with what had happened. Others
72 CONQUEST OF FLORIDA-
joined Ortiz in small parties, upbraiding him with
his rashness, but when they found one of their peo
ple wounded, they were so exasperated, that they
would have laid violent hands upon him had not the
Spaniards been present.
They were at length pacified. The soldiers
bound up the wounds of the Indian, and placed him
upon a horse. The troopers, having taken up all
the Indians behind them, galloped away for the
encampment of the Governor. Previously to set
ting off, however, Ortiz despatched an Indian to
Mucozo, with a true account of the late events, lest
that cacique should be irritated by the alarming
statement brought by the fugitives.*
The night was already far advanced when Balta-
zar de Gallegos and his band reached the camp.
When the governor heard the tramp of their horse,
he was filled with alarm, suspecting some mischance
had befallen them, as he did not look for them be
fore the expiration of three days. His apprehen
sions, however, were soon turned to rejoicing. He
praised Gallegos and his men for the skill and suc
cess of their expedition, and received Ortiz as his
own son, sympathizing with him in his past suffer
ings, presenting him with a suit of clothes, arms, and
* Portuguese Narrative, c. 8. Herrera, D. 6. L. 7. c. 9
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. 73
a good horse.* The Indians who accompanied
them, he treated with every mark of kindness, and
ordered the wounded savage to be carefully attend
ed. He then despatched two of the natives to Mu-
cozo, thanking him for his past kindness to Ortiz,
accepting his proffers of friendship, and inviting him
to visit the camp. Not an eye was closed this
night, but one and all joined in the revelry which
welcomed the liberation of poor Ortiz.
On the third day after the envoys had been des
patched, the cacique Mucozo arrived, accompanied
by his warriors. He kissed the hands of the Go
vernor with great veneration, saluted each one of
the officers, and made a slight obeisance to the pri
vates. De Soto received him with affectionate
courtesy, and assured him that his people would be
ever grateful to him for all his past kindnesses.
" What I have done unto Ortiz," said Mucozo, " is
but little indeed ; he came commended to me, and
threw himself upon my protection. There is a law
of our tribe, which forbids our betraying a fugitive
w r ho asks of us an asylum. But his own virtue and
dauntless courage entitled him to all the respect
which was shown him. That I have pleased your
people, I rejoice exceedingly, and by devoting my-
* Portuguese Narrative, c. 7, Garcilaso de la Vega, P. 1. L. 2.
c. 7. Hcrrera, Decad. 6. L. 7. c. 10.
74 CONQUEST OF FLORIDA.
self, henceforth, to their service, I hope to merit
their esteem." These words were uttered with so
much grace, his bearing was so noble and lofty, and
his manner was so full of kindness, that De Soto and
his officers were touched, and made him presents
for himself and his warriors.
Two days afterwards came the mother of Muco-
zo, overwhelmed with grief because her son was in
the power of the Christians. She never would have
consented to his visiting the army, but was absent
at the time of his departure. She passionately en
treated the governor to deliver up her son, and not
serve him as Narvaez had served Hirrihigua. " He
is young," said she, " only give him his liberty, and
take me, who am a poor old woman, and treat rne
as you please. I will bear any punishment for both."
De Soto endeavoured to reassure her by expres
sions of gratitude and friendship for her son and
herself; but though she remained three days in the
camp, and was treated by every one with respect
and kindness, she continued anxious and suspicious.
She ate at the table of the governor, but would par
take of nothing until Ortiz had tasted it; fearing she
might be poisoned. " How is this," said a Spaniard
to her, "that you have now so great a fear of death,
you who offered to die for your son ?"
" I have the same love of life as other mortals," re-
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. 75
plied she, " but most willingly would I lose it to
save a son, who is far dearer to me than life itself !"
Even when assured of the perfect liberty of Mu-
cozo, and that he only remained for a time with the
Spaniards through choice, because they were young
braves like himself, she was but poorly comforted,
and departed sorrowing for her home. On parting,
she took Juan Ortiz aside, and besought him to libe
rate Mucozo, inasmuch as he had saved him from
the vengeful hands of Hirrihigua.
The cacique remained in the army eight days,
and during this time became very familiar, and was
inspired with perfect confidence in the Spaniards.
He went home well contented, and frequently after
wards revisited the Governor, bringing always a
number of presents.*
* Garcilaso de la Vega. P. 1. L. 2. c. 7, 8.
76
CHAPTER X.
The Governor endeavours to gain the friendship of
the stern Cacique of Hirrihigua Gallegos des
patched on an expedition to the village of Urri-
barracaxi he hears of a region to the westward"
abounding in gold.
1739. WHILE these things were passing in the
camp, the provisions and munitions were landed from
the caravels, and stored away in the village of Hir
rihigua. The Adelantado, following the example of
Cortez and other renowned captains, despatched se
ven of the largest vessels to the Havana, in order
that his followers might lose all hope of leaving the
country, retaining only a caravel and twobrigantines
to keep command of the sea coast and of the bay.*
He appointed Pedro Calderon to the command of
this important post. He was a hardy veteran, nursed
in a rough school, amid camps and battle scenes,
and had served in his youth under the great Captain
Gonsalvo de Cordova.
* Herrera. Hist. Ind. Decad. vi. L. vii. c. 10.
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. 77
De Soto left no means untried to gain the friend
ship of Hirrihigua, being aware that the example of
this powerful chieftain would have great sway with
the neighbouring Caciques. Accordingly, when
ever the troopers, in foraging the adjacent country,
captured a vassal of this Cacique, he instantly sent
him home loaded with presents and kind messages,
urging Hirrihigua to accept his proffered amity, and
promising every reparation for the wrongs inflicted
upon him by Pamphilo de Narvaez. These wrongs,
however, were too deep to be easily obliterated
from the stern bosorn of the savage chieftain. The
only reply he deigned to give was, " The memory of
my injuries forbid my sending a kind answer, and
a harsh one your courtesy will not allow me to re
turn." Still these constant and unwearied exer
tions of De Soto in some measure mitigated the
deadly rancour of the Cacique against the Span
iards.
The Governor made many inquiries of Ortiz re
specting the country, and whether there was any
region abounding in gold and silver. Ortiz knew of
no such place, and could yield but little information.
When with Hirrihigua he had been closely watch
ed, and not allowed to wander : and although while
dwelling with Mucozo he had perfect liberty, yet he
dared not venture far, through fear of being waylaid
7*
78 CONQUEST OF FLORIDA.
by his enemies. He had heard much, however, of
a Cacique named Urribarracaxi, whose village was
thirty leagues distant, who was the most powerful
chieftain of the country. To him Mucozo, Hirrihigua,
and all the other Caciques of the coast paid tribute,
and his territories were far more fertile and abun
dant than those nearer the sea.*
Upon this the Governor despatched Baltazar de
Gallegoson an expedition to the village of this pow
erful Cacique. Gallegos chose the same sixty lances
that had accompanied him when in search of Juan
Ortiz, and other sixty foot soldiers, armed with cross-
bows and bucklers. He was accompanied by Or
tiz as guide and interpreter. On approaching the
village of Mucozo, the Cacique came forth to receive
them, and entertained them for the night with great
hospitality. On the following morning the Captain
demanded of him a guide to the village of Urri
barracaxi. The Cacique at first thought their de
signs upon the village were hostile, and shrank with
noble spirit from what would have been an act of
perfidy against his relative and neighbour. When
he found, however, that they w r ere on a friendly
errand, and only wanted one of his vassals as a pre
cursor, to go before and inform Urribarracaxi of
* Portuguese Relation, c. 9. The name of the Cacique in the
Portuguese Narrative is Paracoxi, We follow the Inca.
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. 79
their amicable intentions, he gladly furnished them
with an Indian for the purpose, who had been a fast
friend of Juan Ortiz.
In their march thus far into the interior they had
been occasionally impeded by morasses, which,
however, became less frequent the farther they
went from the sea. They observed many trees
similar to those of Spain, such as Walnut, Oak,
Mulberry, Plumb, Pine, and Evergreen Oak. There
were wild grapes also in abundance.
The distance from the village of Mucozo to that
of his brother-in-law was about seventeen leagues.
They arrived there in four days, but found it desert
ed, the inhabitants having fled to the woods. They
sent their envoy repeatedly to the Cacique, with the
most friendly messages, but every effort to draw him
from his retreat proved fruitless, though he mani
fested no hostility in word or deed. Gallegos made
diligent inquiry of the Indians they met with as to
any province where gold and silver were to be
found. They replied that there was a country to
the westward called Ocali, the inhabitants of which
were continually at war with the people of another
province, in which the Spring lasted all the year
long, and gold was so plenty that their warriors
wore head pieces of that precious metal.*
* Portuguese Narrative, c. 10.
80
CHAPTER XL
The expedition of the veteran Vasco Porcallo in quest
of the Cacique Hirrihigua, and how he fared in a
swamp.
1539. AFTER the Governor, Hernando de Soto,
had despatched Gallegos on his exploring expedition,
he received intelligence that the Cacique Hirrihigua
was concealed in a forest at no great distance from
the camp. He was about to send a captain with an
armed force in quest of him, when the enterprise
was claimed by the Lieutenant-General, Vasco Por
callo de Figueroa. This brave old cavalier had a
passion for military exploit, and was withal, a little
vainglorious. He thought this a fitting opportunity
to signalize himself, and insisted upon having the
honour of capturing this fugitive, yet formidable
Cacique. The enterprise being granted to him, he
prepared for it in his usual style ; for he was fond of
parade, and generous in all his appointments. Hav
ing selected a band of horsemen and foot soldiers,
he put himself at their head and sallied forth from
the camp, well mounted, and cased in glittering ar-
CONQUEST OF FLORIDA. 81
mour, vaunting that he would bring home Hirri-
higua either a prisoner or a friend.*
He had not proceeded far, however, when he was
met by an Indian messenger, sent by Hirrihigua,
who had received intelligence by his spies of the
armed force, marching in quest of him. The mes
senger entreated Vasco Porcallo on the part of Hir
rihigua, not to proceed any farther, as the Cacique
was in so secure a fortress that, with all his exer
tions, he could not get to him ; whereas he and his
troops would be exposed to infinite perils from the
rivers, morasses and tangled forests, which he would
have to pass. The Cacique added, that he gave
this advice, not through any fear for himself, but in
consequence of the forbearance manifested by the
Spaniards, in not injuring his territory, or his sub
jects.
Vasco Porcallo listened to the messenger with
incredulity ; persuading himself that fear, not gra
titude, nor courtesy dictated the message ; so he or
dered the trumpet to sound, and marched on. As
he advanced, messenger after messenger encounter