Ever since people began constructing settlements they also established roads between them. It is remarkable how traces of both persist.

Perishable structures such as stick and straw huts leave post-holes stains in the earth detectable by trained archeologists centuries later. Convenient routes between villages were packed hard by constant use and reveal the way for generations.

It is certain that some Indian towns visited by Soto have been replaced by modern cities. Some primitive trails he trod correlate to automobile highways.

Several early maps attempted to lay down Soto's route. However, the lack of unique land-marks make it clear that the trace was not based on observation.

From his experience in Peru, Soto placed a high value on native trails. He knew it was folly to strike out blindly across strange country with a large body of soldiers. Chroniclers of the expedition make a point of Soto's efforts to find good roads, and of his holding back the main force until he was confident of the way ahead.

The exception to this policy apparently was the first march inland from Mococo's town. This part of the journey led across a large plain with no water or shade. Indeed, one of Soto's stewards died of the hardship -- indicating the area lacked environmental features necessary for human habitation.

Once the plain and Great Swamp were passed, advance parties regularly found good passage for the army over Indian paths.

EARLY ROADS

One of the first road maps of Florida was prepared in 1708 by the geographer Herman Moll. It reflects a major trail between St. Augustine and Palaxy Fort (St. Marks).

By this time, the tribes of Soto's day were decimated by their own rivalries, imported diseases and foreign invaders.

In addition, the original natives of Florida were on the verge of extinction by participation with the Spaniards against American colonists in Queen Anne's War of 1712-13. Into this vacuum soon would move part of the expanding Creek Indian population of Georgia and thereafter would be known as Simanoli (Seminole) or "those going to live elsewhere."

It is a fair assumption, though, that the road shown by Moll represents a principal Timucua-Apalache trail of long standing. Narvaez and Soto may have marched to Inachio on part of this path.

The trail first served the large Indian town, now Jacksonville, on St. Johns River. The Moll map indicates that a route from St. Augustine headed sharply northwest to catch the Timucua road before swinging due west.

When St. Augustine and St. Marks grew to be the largest towns in Florida, a more direct route was opened up. The road connecting them was called the Camino Real, or King's Highway. South of this trail was a cluster of Spanish missions, some of which we associate with landmarks of Soto's expedition: San Francisco de Potano, Assilla, and San Pedro Old Fields.

The Camino Real was described in 1763 by Roberts who conducted an inspection of Florida. "There is a road overland from the mouth of this river (Apalache) to St. Augustine," he said, "which is as follows:

"Ocon is 15 miles from St. Marks; and 10 miles beyond is Ayavalla Fort; 24 miles farther is Machalla; and 11 miles from that is St. Matheo, both of these are situated on branches of the Rio Valsisa which is about 80 miles in length and enters the Gulf of Mexico 15 miles S.E. from St. Marks; 25 miles from St. Matheo is San Pedro on the south side of the river San Pedro which is 100 miles long and enters the Gulf of Mexico 70 miles from St. Marks; 11 miles from San Pedro is Utoca; and in 12 miles more we come to Nuvoalla situated on the