BRIDGES AND STREAMS

A man-built feature seldom recognized is the remains of bridges. These frequently are washed out by large streams in flood. Yet, water-logged pilings in turbid streams and swamps persist for centuries.

The Soto narrators mention that they took advantage of rude Indian bridges on several occasions. These appear to have incorporated fallen trees and sand spits wherever possible and to have been little more than foot bridges.

Spaniards, on the other hand, built more substantial bridges. They had the necessity of transporting horses, carts and a herd of hogs as well as retinue of soldiers and baggage carriers.

It will be recalled that two bridges were built over the River of Mococo when the expedition started out, while the river-swamp of Cale was crossed with ropes and an Indian bridge of fallen trees and planks.

At the Stream of Discords we obtain a glimpse of the Spaniard's bridge-building skill. There Maestro Francisco, "a Genoese engineer," drew geometrical plans for a large bridge of pine trees bound together with heavy ropes. Thick boards enabled the army to pass over "very much as they pleased."

The Aquacaleyquen River was crossed with a bridge of pines also, but it apparently was a small stream inasmuch as only Ranjel mentions it.

Another well-engineered bridge was constructed at the River of the Deer. This time, we are told by Garcilaso, the framework was built on land preparatory to being "cast into the water." While engaged in the initial work, the Spaniards were at-tacked by Indians defending the opposite shore. This required construction of six rafts with which soldiers could cross the river and secure a beach head. Upon retreat of the Indians, the Christians continued building the bridge which they completed in a day and a half. This structure was "three great pine trees in length" -- perhaps 200 feet in all -- and four in breadth.

The last stream bridged on the march to winter quarters was the river-swamp of Ivitachuco where a footpath continuing underwater suggests a dry bed most of the time. Here we are told simply that a bridge was made to facilitate a passage hotly disputed by Indians.

We can only hope that erosion and bulldozing has not obliterated the fragile remnants of Soto's master bridge builders so that traces may be discovered in the future.

CONCLUSIONS FROM LANDMARKS

Early records of trails, place names, mounds and streams provide no hard evidence of Soto's route but would support the following conclusions:

1. The trackless plain, that Soto traversed initially, was located in the quadrangle bounded by Tampa Bay, Carlos Bay, Lake Okeechobee and Lake Kissimmee.
2. His point of departure, therefore, was somewhere between the present cities of Tampa and Fort Myers, but not from these cities because they were served by good trails inland which Soto would have used.
3. The logical route northward would be the Peace River trail, the first major road inland across a plain.
4. The logical route westward would be the Timucua trail, though lesser paths merged with it near Madison.
5. All the place names mentioned by the Soto chroniclers that first year were of Timucua origin, with the possible exception of the first village, Ucita. This would place Soto's landing place north of a line through Charlotte Harbor bisecting Boca Grande Pass.
6. Myakka stream names north of Charlotte Harbor suggest a connection with Mococo.
7. The most likely candidate for the Great Swamp is the upper reaches of the Withlacoochee River, called Big Cypress on early maps, now Green Swamp north of Lakeland.
8. Ocale Village probably was near present Ocala and was associated with some water feature.