enter lest he create a disturbance. Then when it was day he saw two Indians coming out of the town by the same path he himself was pursuing.

During the years that Ortiz stayed with Mucozo, in a position of honor, Hirrihigua many times asked for the return of his slave. Mucozo steadfastly refused. Then, Hirrihigua asked the assistance of Urribarracuxi, a brother-in-law of Mucozo. But when that chieftain sent messages concerning the release of the captive, Mucozo gave the same reply. This protection of Ortiz cost Mucozo marriage of Hirrihiqua's daughter.

Ortiz had lived ten years among the Indians when Soto landed on those shores. Upon hearing of Soto's arrival, Mucozo dispatched Ortiz to the Spaniard's camp on the same day that Soto sent Baltasar de Gallegos toward Mucozo's village.

The Spaniards traveled more than three leagues along the broad, straight road leading to the town of Mucozo. At this point their Indian guide decided that it was not very clever for him to exercise so much fidelity with men who had come to deprive his people of their lands and liberty. The Spaniards from far back had shown themselves to be declared enemies, although no grievances of which they could complain.

The Indian changed his mind about directing these men and took the first path which he saw crossing and leaving the highway. After pursuit of this path for a short distance, he lost it for it was not continuous. Thus, for a great part of the day, he misled these Spaniards, directing them always in an arc toward the sea. It was his purpose to come by chance upon some marsh, creek or bay where, if possible, he would drown them.

Being unacquainted with the land, the Castilians were not aware of the deception at first. Finally one of their number on arriving at a clear wood glanced through the trees. By chance he saw the main topsails of the ships they had left behind in the bay. Realizing now that they were near the coast, this man hastened to inform the Captain of his discovery.

The perfidy of his guide having been disclosed, Baltasar de Gallegos threatened him with death and made a gesture as if to run him through with a lance. Fearing that the Spaniards might indeed kill him, the Indian, with whatever signs and words he could muster, indicated his willingness to take them once more to the main road.

Now, since the Indians were following the Spaniards and since the latter were returning over the same route they had taken, each caught sight of the other upon a great plain which was fringed along one side by a dense forest.

While the search for Ortiz was underway, Soto busied his men with "unloading supplies and munitions. These he placed in Hirrihigua's town, it being near the sea and closest to the Bay of the Holy Spirit." That at least one of Hirrihigua's towns was near the sea, as well as the bay, is indicated by another incident mentioned by Garcilaso:

During two other encounters, the same Indians captured two more Spaniards. One was a large seaman named Hernando Vintimilla, and the other a boy called Diego Munoz who served as page for Captain Pedro Calderon; but the Indians did not kill these men or even maltreat them as they had done Juan Ortiz. On the contrary, they permitted them to go about as freely as any one of themselves. In consequence, both cunningly contrived to escape in a boat driven by storm to the Bay of the Holy Spirit."

These things occurred within a period of a little more than three weeks. Then the Governor commanded Baltasar de Gallegos to take 60 lancers and a like number of foot soldiers -- including arquebusiers, crossbow men and shieldbearers -- for the purpose of exploring the interior. They were to go as far as the principal town of the Cacique Urribarracuxi which was located in the province nearest the lands of Mucozo and Hirrihigua.

The names of these provinces are not included here inasmuch as it is not known whether they were called after the caciques or vice versa. Further on in our story we shall see that in many parts of this great kingdom the lord and his lands, as well as his principal village, went by one and the same name.

To accompany him now, Captain Gallegos selected those same 60 lancers who had assisted in the search for Juan Ortiz. In addition he took 60 foot soldiers, among whom was Juan Ortiz himself who was to serve along the route as guide and interpreter. This group proceeded first to the village of Mucozo. He came out on the road to receive them with much joy at seeing them in his land and offered them entertainment and lodging for the night.

On the following day the Captain requested that his host provide an Indian to guide him to the