camp would have been amidst the fertile "Santa Fe old fields" shown by Purcell.

Despite topographical uncertainties, the St. Augustine trail is provocative. It is more direct to Apalache (Tallahassee), and Purcell records a "remarkably deep, round pond" just west of the Santa Fe River. The military map of 1846 shows a swampy stream disappearing close to a "double sink." These descriptions recall the Napetuca battlefield with its two lagoons but do not meet the time-distance factors involved.

The De Soto Expedition Commission is more likely correct in following A trail shown on the 1846 map. It proceeds north from High Springs to cross the Santa Fe over water and intercept a west-bearing road near Lake City. This would place the village of Cholupaha at a point on the Santa Fe River designated by Purcell as "Metopochee, a noted Indian camping ground.

Aquacaleyquen Town would be another day's march to present Providence. The stream beyond would be today's Oulusta Creek, possibly carrying more water then. Ranjel's Aquacaleyquen River could not have been a major waterway because none of the other chroniclers mention it. Apparently it was a small stream where it was more convenient to throw across a simple bridge than get wet feet.

Soto paused here to await arrival of the main body of soldiers coming from Ocale. The doubts that infected the advance party at the Stream of Discords may have been transmitted to the rear echelons at Ocale. Elvas says the men at Ocale buried "some iron implements with other things," expecting they should have to return that way.

When the expedition was rested, all departed Aquacaleyquen. In short marches they reached the "Village of Much Water" near present Lake City, next a "very bad swamp" which would be the headwaters of the Little River at Wellborn, and then Napituca near the mineral springs of Live Oak. One more day brought the Spaniards to "Deer River," the Suwannee at present Ellaville.

From Suwannee River westward there is little disagreement about Soto's route. Apalu probably was near present Lee. Ucachile was at Madison where the San Pedro Old Fields are shown on several early maps and where a large Indian mound described by Garcilaso may have stood.

The present Aucilla River is that which was variously spelled Agile, Axille, and Aquile by the narrators. Its mid-region is a large swamp which was more extensive in the old days. This was the dreaded Swamp of Ivitacho so hotly contested by the Apalache. The village of Ivitacho just beyond probably was near present Aucilla.

Calahuchi (Elvas says Uzela) would be one of the Indian towns known to have flourished on the southern shore of Lake Miccosukee. The ravine where the Indians made their delaying stand would be the upper course of St. Marks River. Iviahica, the principal town of Apalache, is generally agreed to be very close to Tallahassee.

Thus, a plausible landing and route of the Soto expedition is traced through Florida -- one that reconciles all the chronicles. It "backs up" as consistently as it moves forward. In addition, it is supported by the accounts of early settlers who noted the landmarks and topography before plows and bulldozers subdued the wilderness forever.