The Fountain of Youth, so prominent in popular literature, surely had little bearing on Ponce's urge to go adventuring. There is no mention of rejuvenating waters in any of his letters, or in any official documents. Significantly Ponce did not suggest the possibility of such priceless drink in his sales pitch for an asciento. Nor did King Ferdinand include it in the long list of assets he expected to share.

Perhaps the story was helped along by Ponce's later critics who mistakenly believed he was born in 1460 and thus middle aged when he set out. Supposedly he then would have had great interest in an elixir. However, at an official inquest in Seville a year after his discovery Ponce swore he was 40 years old. Five years later, in a trial involving his second wife's dowry, he declared he was 50. Whichever age is correct, Ponce was in the prime of manhood at the time of his discovery and unlikely to be concerned about his virility.

The myth of a magic spring on Bimini Island was touted by the Indians. As such, it was briefly noted in a volume of "De Orbe Novo" wonders compiled in 1511 by Martyr.

This might have indicated to Ponce the existence of unusual features of the "north coast" meriting careful investigation. Whatever the truth, his name was irrevocably tied to the legend by Oviedo. The titillating tidbit was enlarged by

Fontenada, as we have seen, and his version repeated by the historian Antonia de Herrera.

Bartolome de Las Casas, who had helped Ponce pacify Higuey, said Ponce went north to take slaves.

The several places where Ponce landed on his epochal voyage is a matter of debate. His route is related most completely by Herrera in the 1601 "History of America":

Juan Ponce de Leon, being out of employment because the government of the Island of St. Juan de Puerto Rico had been restored to Juan Cern and Miguel Diaz, and having gathered much wealth, he resolved to do something that might gain him honor and increse his estate. Being in-formed that there were lands to the northward, he thought fit to go make discoveries that way.

To this purpose he fitted out three ships well stored with provisions and men. He sailed from the Port of St. German on Thursday the 3rd of March 1512 (actually 1513), making for Aguada, to steer his course from thence.

The next night he stood away northwest and by north, running eight leagues by sun rising. Proceeding til Tuesday following, being the 8th of the same month, they came to an anchor at the shoals of Babueca, near an island called Del Viejo, or the Old Man's, lying in latitude 22 degrees and a half.