three additional days in crossing it. But during the whole time they were in the swamp and traveling the 12 leagues along its banks, not a single native was seen.

The whole army had now reassembled in the province of Acuera, and eventually both men and horses were able to assuage the great hunger they had suffered during the past days. At the end of 20 days, the Governor departed with his men from the province of Acuera, having avoided doing any damage to either towns or fields lest the Spaniards be looked upon as cruel and inhuman.

They were now searching for a province called Ocali which was about 20 leagues distant. Proceeding toward the north, yet turning a little to the northeast, they traveled for some 10 or 12 leagues through an unhabitated region where there was a great forest of walnut and pine as well as other trees not known in Spain. All looked as if they had been planted by hand, being so far apart that the horses could safely run between them. The result was a very light and peaceful wood.

Having crossed over the 12 leagues of wilderness, the army now passed through seven leagues of an inhabited area where there were a few houses scattered throughout the countryside, but no towns. At the end of this distance, however, they came to the principal town of the district, which like the province and its chieftain, was called Ocali. Here they found that the Cacique and all of his people had gathered up their household possessions and fled to the woods. They therefore entered the town and proceeded to take lodging in the 600 dwellings that comprised it.

Near the village lay a large river which carried a great amount of water and which the Spaniards could not ford even though it was now summer. On both sides of this stream there were banks 28 feet in height ("two pikes") which were as sheer as a wall. In all of Florida, since there is little or almost no rock in the soil, the rivers cut away much earth and leave deep ravines. But this particular river I am describing in more detail than others, since mention is to be made later of a notable act performed within its waters by 30 Spaniards.

The Ocali River of Garcilaso is another Florida landmark which historians have tried to locate with certainty. Its unique features of sheer banks two pikes in height and a flood plain more than two bow-shots in width are distinctive. Unfortunately such efforts are thwarted by the discrepancies between the account of Garcilaso and those of Ranjel and Elvas.

Obviously Garcilaso is one step off in matching the Ranjel chronicle after crossing the Great Swamp. Thus, events often are placed by Garcilaso at different locales from the eyewitnesses. This could have resulted from faulty recollections of his informants, or his own imperfect notes.

Whatever the reason, Garcilaso places Ocali Province at Ranjel's Potano Province, Acuera Province at Ocale Province, Ocali Village at Cholupaha. In addition, Garcilaso transfers to Cholupaha the events Ranjel places at Bad Peace. He equates the River of Asachile to Ranjel's River of Deer.

The important clue that brings the two conflicting accounts into step for study purposes is the building of a fine bridge at mid-point in the first year of march. This event occurred at the Stream of Discords according to the eyewitnesses, Ranjel and Elvas, who also place the Ocali or Cale River at the Great Swamp.

It is tempting to place the Ocali of Soto's time at the present day Ocala near Silver Springs. Certainly Silver Springs was an important Indian center from earliest times, and the name Ocala has been long associated with that area. However, we cannot be sure whether the various spellings similar to Ocala -- Cale, Etocale, Ocali -- are phonetic interpretations of the same site or subtle Indian language prefixes signifying different locations.

The Oklawaha River just a few miles east of today's Ocala was notable for its steep banks until a dam was built to capitalize on this feature and create a reservoir. The town of Moss Bluffs today suggests a topographical feature some scholars believe to be the bluffs of Garcilaso.

The difficulty of accepting the Oklawaha as Garcilaso's Ocali River is that the Village of Ocali would have to be east of that river in what is now the Ocala National Forest. Garcilaso clearly states that the river was just beyond the village as the army marched northwest toward Apalache.

The historic San Francisco mission catering to the Indians of Potano -- those visited by Soto two days after leaving Ocale -- was located near Gainesville. Therefore, it is logical to place Ocale-Ocali southward near Ocala and the steep-bank Stream of Discords northward in no way associated with Ocali.

In Garcilaso's account of the events at Ocali, he says the Indian chief remained in hiding for six