view of Apalachen without the inhabitants being aware of our approach. We gave many thanks to God, at seeing ourselves so near, believing true what had been told us of the land. Also, we felt that there would be an end to our great hardships, caused as much by the length and badness of the way as by our excessive hunger.

Although we sometimes found maize, we oftener traveled seven or eight leagues without seeing any. Besides this and the great fatigue, many had galled shoulders from carrying armor on the back. Even more than these we endured. Yet, having come to the place desired, and where we had been informed were much food and gold, it appeared to us that we had already recovered in part from our sufferings and fatigue.

When we came in view of Apalachen, the Governor ordered that I should take nine cavalry with 50 infantry and enter the town. Accordingly the Assessor and I assailed it. Having got in, we found only women and boys there, the men being absent. However, these returned to its support, after a little time, while we were walking about, and began discharging arrows at us. They killed the horse of the Assessor. At last taking to flight, they left us.

We found a large quantity of maize fit for plucking, and much dry that was housed; also many deer skins. Among them were some mantelets of threads, small and poor, with which the women partially cover their persons. There were numerous mortars for cracking maize.

The town consisted of 40 small houses, made low, and set up in sheltered places because of the frequent storms. The material was thatch. They were surrounded by very dense woods, large groves and many bodies of fresh water. So many and so large trees are fallen that they form obstructions rendering travel difficult and dangerous.

The country where we came on shore, to this town and region of Apalachen, is for the most part level. The ground is of sand and stiff earth. Throughout are immense trees and open woods. In these are walnut, laurel, and another tree called liquid-amber, cedars, savins, evergreen oaks, pines, red-oaks, and palmitos like those of Spain.

There are many lakes, great and small, over every part of it. Some are troublesome of fording on account of depth and the great number of trees lying throughout them. Their beds are sand. The lakes in the country of Apalachen are much larger than those we found before coming here.

In this province are many maize fields, and the houses are scattered as are those of the Gelves. There are deer of three kinds, rabbits, hares, bears, lions, and other wild beasts. Among them we saw an animal with a pocket on its belly in which it carries its young until they know how to seek food; and if it happen that they should be out feeding and any one come near, the mother will not run until she has gathered them in together.

The country is very cold. It has fine pastures for herds. Birds are of various kinds. Geese in great numbers, ducks, mallards, royal-ducks, fly-catchers, night-herons, and partridges abound. We saw many falcons, gerfalcons, sparrow-hawks, merlins, and numerous other fowl.

Two hours after our arrival at Apalachen, the Indians who had fled from there came in peace to us. They asked for their women and children, whom we released. But the detention of a cacique by the Governor produced great excitement, in consequence of which they returned for battle early the next day. They attacked us with such promptness and alacrity that they succeeded in setting fire to the houses in which we were.

As we sallied they fled to the lakes near by. Because of this, and the large maize fields, we could do them no injury, save in the single instance of one Indian whom we killed. The day following, others came against us from a town on the opposite side of the lake. They attacked us at the first had done, escaping in the same way, except one who was also slain.

We were in the town 25 days, in which time we made three incursions. The country was very thinly peopled and difficult to travel for the bad passages, the woods and the lakes.

We inquired of the cacique we kept and the natives we brought with us, who were the neighbors and enemies of these Indians, as to the nature of the country, the character and condition of the inhabitants, of the food and all other matters concerning it. Each answered apart from the rest that the largest town in all that region was Apalachen. The people beyond were less numerous and poorer, the land little occupied, and the in-habitants much scattered. They said that thenceforward were great lakes, dense forests, immense deserts, and solitudes.

We then asked touching the region towards the south, as to the towns and subsistence in it. They said that in keeping such a direction, journeying nine days, there was a town called Aute, the in-