that port of his discovery to which he would himself come by land. However, should he not reach there that summer, then he directed Maldonado to go back to Havana and return there the next season to await him as he would make it his express object to march in quest of Ochus.

Of the Indians taken in Napetuca, the Treasurer, Juan Gaytan, brought a youth with him who stated that he did not belong to that country but to one afar in the direction of the sun's rising, from which he had been a long time absent visiting other lands. He said that its name was Yupaha and was governed by a woman. The town she lived in was of astonishing size. Many neighboring lords were her tributaries, some of whom gave her clothing, others gold in quantity.

The young Indian showed how the metal was taken from the earth, melted and refined -- exactly as though he had seen it all done, or else the Devil had taught him how it was. They who knew aught of such matters declared it impossible that he could give that account without having been an eyewitness. They who beheld the signs he made credited all that was understood as certain.

On Wednesday, the 3rd of March, in the year 1540, the Governor left Anhayca Apalache to seek Yupaha. He had ordered his men to go provided with maize for a march through 60 leagues of desert. The cavalry carried their grain on the horses. The infantry carried theirs on the back because the Indians they brought with them for service, being naked and in chains, had perished in great part during the winter.

Elvas concludes his account of the four-year journey with a flash-back reference to the Florida portion: "From the port of Espiritu Santo to Palache, a distance of 100 leagues, the Governor marched from east to west." This would place the landing at Tampa Bay.

PRINCIPAL CLUES FROM ELVAS

Elvas gives us a few new clues but confirms most of Ranjel's observations:

1. The fleet anchored a league from shore because of shoals.
2. The army landed two leagues from the town of Ucita.
3. Ships were unburdened and took eight days to get near "the" town.
4. Camp was pitched "on the sea-side, nigh the bay, which goes up close to the town."
5. The country was obstructed by bushes and ponds.
6. At night the governor and men in the pinnaces came up to the deserted town.
7. To reach Ucita, the army marched two days around great creeks which ran up from the bay.
8. The cacique's house stood near the beach upon a high "mount," and at the other end of town stood a temple on top of which perched a wooden fowl with gilded eyes.
9. The ground was very fenny, or marshy, and encumbered with dense thicket and high trees.
10. Half a league from camp, over swampy land where horses could not travel, there were some huts near a river.
11. The River of Mococo was reached by Ortiz after a night of running.
12. Mococo's land was near enough to the coast that his people fished three leagues from land.
13. Chief Paracoxi, to whom all paid tribute, lived 30 leagues distant in a fertile land.
14. The town of Cale was beyond a river of powerful current, and an Indian guide said Apalache (Tallahassee) was seven days' distant.
15. From the Port of Espiritu Santo to Palache, "a distance of 100 leagues," Soto marched east to west.