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and one by one requested their advice for leaving that awful country and seeking some help, for there was none to be found in it. Since a third of the men were quite sick and with every passing hour more were succumbing to illness, we were certain…

many palmettos gathered to use their fiber and covering, twisting it and preparing it to use it instead of oakum for the boats. The sole carpenter in our company had begun constructing the boats. We worked so diligently that we began on August 4th…

in another that he gave to the Purser and the Commissary went an equal number; the third he gave to Captain Alonso del Castillo and to Andrés Dorantes with forty-eight men; another to two captains named Téllez and Peñalosa with forty-seven men. After…

sailing along the coast in the direction of the River of Palms, with greater hunger and thirst each day because we had few provisions and these were running out. We ran out of water because the skins we made from the horses' legs rotted and became…

that at sunset we rounded a point of land where we found fair weather and shelter. Many canoes came towards us with Indians who spoke to us, but turned back not wanting to wait for us. They were large, handsome people and they had no bows or…

could have inflicted much damage had they had a greater supply. During the last attack Captains Dorantes, Peñalosa and Téllez prepared an ambush with fifteen men, attacking them from the rear and forcing them to flee and leave us. The following…

Proem

Holy, Imperial, Catholic Majesty:

Among all the princes we know to have existed in the world, I think that none could be found whom men have endeavored to serve with such great diligence and desire as we see that they serve Your Majesty…

When morning came, many Indians in canoes came to us asking us to give them the two men they had left as hostages. The Governor said he would hand them over when they brought back the two Christians they had taken. Five or six chiefs came with these…

Since we found no firewood, we decided to enter the river which was behind the point one league away. We could not go in because the very strong current totally prevented us and carried us away from the shore despite our effort and determination. The…

with all the able-bodied men in our boat until the sun had nearly set. Since the Governor had the healthiest and strongest men, we could in no way keep up with him.

When I saw this, I asked the Governor to throw me a line so I could follow him,…