Nunez continues his narrative:

On Saturday, first of May, the date of this occurrence, the Governor ordered to each man going with him, two pounds of biscuit and a half pound of bacon. Thus victualled we took up our march in-to the country. The whole number of men was 300. Among them went the Commissary, Friar Juan Xuarez, and another Friar, Juan de Palos, three clergymen and the officers. We of the mounted men consisted of 40.

We traveled on the allowance we had received 15 days without finding any other thing to eat than palmitos which are like those of Andalusia. In all that time we saw not an Indian and found neither village nor house.

Finally we came to a river which we passed with great difficulty by swimming and on rafts. It detained us a day to cross because of the very strong current. Arrived on the other side, there appeared as many as 200 natives, more or less.

The Governor met them, and conversing by signs they so insulted us with their gestures that we were forced to break with them. We seized upon five or six and they took us to their houses a league off. Nearby we found a large quantity of maize in a fit state to be gathered. We gave infinite thanks to our Lord for having succored us in this great extremity, for we were yet young in trials. Besides the weariness in which we came, we were exhausted from hunger.

On the third day after our arrival, the Comptroller, the Assessor, the Commissary and I met, and together besought the governor to send to look for the sea. If possible we might find a port, as the Indians stated there was one not a very great way off. He said that we should cease to speak of the sea for it was remote. But as I chiefly importuned him he told me to go and look for it, and seek a harbor, to take 40 men and to travel on foot. So the next day I left with Captain Alonzo del Castello and 40 men of his company.

We marched until noon, when we arrived at some sea sands that appeared to lie a good ways in-land. Along this sand we walked for a league and a half. With the water half way up the leg, treading on oysters which cut our feet badly and made us much trouble, we reached the river we had before crossed emptying into this bay. As we could not cross it by reason of our slim outfit for such purpose, we returned to camp and reported what we had discovered.

To find out if there was a port and examine the outlet well, it was necessary to repass the river at the place where we had first gone over. The next day, therefore, the Governor ordered a captain, Valencuele by name, with 60 men and six cavalry, to cross and following the river down to the sea ascertain if there was a harbor.

He returned after an absence of two days and said he had explored the bay. It was not deeper anywhere than to the knee, and he found no harbor. He had seen five or six canoes of Indians passing from one shore to the other, wearing many plumes.

With this information, we left the next day (May 24), going over in quest of Apalache, the country of which the Indians told us. Our guides were those we had taken. We traveled without seeing any natives who would venture to await our coming up with them until the 17th of June. Then a chef approached, borne on the back of another Indian, and covered with a painted deer-skin. A great many people attended him, some walking in advance, playing on flutes of reed. In this manner he came to where the Governor stood, and spent an hour with him.

By signs we gave him to understand that we were going to Apalache. It appeared to us by signs he made that he was an enemy to the people of Apalache and would go to assist us against them. We gave him beads and hawk-bells, with other articles of barter. He, having presented the Governor with the skin he wore, went back. We followed in the road he took.

That night we came to a wide and deep river with a very rapid current. As we would not venture to cross on rafts, we made a canoe for the purpose and spent a day in getting over. Had the Indians desired to oppose us, they could well have disputed our passage. Even with their help we had great difficulty in making it.

One of the mounted men, Juan Velazquez by name, a native of Cuellar, impatient of detention, entered the river. The violence of the current cast him from his horse, and as he grasped the reins of the bridle both he and the horse were drowned.

The people of that chief, whose name was Dulchanchellin, found the body of the beast and told us about where in the stream below we should find the corpse it was sought for.

This death caused us much regret for until now not a man had been lost. The horse afforded supper to many that night.