The History of Hernando de Soto and Florida: Or, Record of the Events of Fifty-six Years, from 1512-1568A historical record of expeditions to Florida by Hernando de Soto and others from the years 1512-1568. |
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accompanied adelantado afterwards Almegro Alvarado Alvaro Aniasco Apalache arms army arrived arrows Atahualpa attack barbarians battle boats brigantines cacique camp caravel Casas cavaliers CHAPTER coast Cofaciqui commanded companions conquest Cortes Cortes's courage crossed Cuba Cuzco Diaz Diego Diego Velasquez discovered dispatched embarked enemy entered expedition favor fear fire Florida four Francisco de Garay Garay Garcilasso gave Gila gold governor Harriga Havana Hernando Hernando de Soto Hernando Pizarro horses houses hundred immediately inca Indians inhabitants island Juan killed king lances land leagues Mexico Mucoço Narvaez night Nunez Ortis Panuco passed Pedrarias Pedro Pedro de Alvarado Peru Pizarro Ponce port prisoners province provisions received remained replied river route sailed Sandoval sent ships shore side Silvestre soldiers soon Soto Spain Spaniards Spanish took town trees troops Truxillo Velasquez Vera Cruz vessels village Vitachuco voyage wood wounded
Popular passages
Page 137 - To us it was a rare sight to be thrown in the midst of a large nation of what is termed wild Indians, surpassing many of the Christian nations in agriculture, little behind them in the useful arts, and immeasurably before them in honesty and virtue.
Page 77 - It is plentifully supplied with lakes and ponds of running water, and being in the latitude of 34. the air is salubrious, pure and temperate, and free from the extremes of both heat and cold. There are no violent winds in these regions, the most prevalent are the north-west and west. In summer, the season in which we were there, the sky is clear, with but little rain : if fogs and mists are at any time driven in by the south wind, they are instantaneously dissipated, and at once it becomes serene...
Page 81 - Their women are of the same form and beauty, very graceful, of fine countenances and pleasing appearance in manners and modesty ; they wear no clothing except a deer skin, ornamented like those worn by the men ; some wear very rich lynx skins upon their arms, and various ornaments upon their heads, composed of braids of hair, which also hang down upon their breasts on each side.
Page 80 - These vines would doubtless produce excellent wine if they were properly cultivated and attended to, as we have often seen the grapes which they produce very sweet and pleasant, and not unlike our own. They must be held in estimation by them, as they carefully remove the shrubbery from around them, wherever they grow, to allow the fruit to ripen better. We found also wild roses, violets, lilies, and many sorts of plants and fragrant flowers different from our own.
Page 81 - The young man was similar in his general appearance. This is the finest looking tribe, and the handsomest in their costumes, that we have found in our voyage. They exceed us in size, and they are of a very fair complexion ; some of them incline more to a white...
Page 77 - The whole shore is covered with fine sand, about fifteen feet thick, rising in the form of little hills about fifty paces broad. Ascending farther, we found several arms of the sea which make in through inlets, washing the shores on both sides as the coast runs. An outstretched country appears at a little distance, rising somewhat above the sandy shore in beautiful fields and broad plains, covered with immense forests of trees, more or less dense, too various in colors, and too delightful and charming...
Page 646 - But it may be proper to observe, that this mount, on which the rotunda stands, is of a much ancienter date than the building, and perhaps was raised for another purpose. The Cherokees themselves are as ignorant as we are, by what people or for what purpose these artificial hills were raised...
Page 85 - Adriatic gulf, near Illyria and Dalmatia. We had no intercourse with the people, but we judge that they were similar in nature and usages to those we were last among. After sailing between east and north the distance of one hundred and fifty leagues more, and finding our provisions and naval stores nearly exhausted, we took in wood and water and determined to return to France, having discovered 502, that is 700 (sic) leagues of unknown lands.
Page 80 - ... mouth, forced its way to the sea ; from the sea to the estuary of the river, any ship heavily laden might pass, with the help of the tide, which rises eight feet. But as we were riding at anchor in a good berth, we would not venture up in our vessel, without a knowledge of the mouth ; therefore...
Page 80 - ... in size about equal to the island of Rhodes, having many hills covered with trees, and well peopled, judging from the great number of fires which we saw all around its shores ; we gave it the name of your majesty's illustrious mother.