returned the night after, reporting that those creeks and bays were large, and lay so far inland as made it difficult to examine them agreeably to our desires, and that the sea shore was very distant.

These tidings obtained, seeing our slender means, and condition for exploring the coast, I went back to the Governor. On our arrival we found him and many others sick. The Indians had assaulted them the night before, and because of the malady that had come upon them, they had been pushed to extremity. One of the horses had been killed. I gave a report of what I had done, and of the embarrassing nature of the country. We remained there that day.

The next morning we left Aute, and traveled all day before coming to the place I had visited. The journey was extremely arduous. There were not horses enough to carry the sick, who went on increasing in numbers day by day, and we knew of no cure. It was piteous and painful to witness our perplexity and distress.

We saw on our arrival how small were the means for advancing farther. There was not anywhere to go; and if there had been, the people were unable to move forward, the greater part being ill. Those were few who could be on duty. I cease here to relate more of this, because any one may suppose what would occur in a country so remote and malign, so destitute of all resource, whereby either to live in it or go out of it. Most certain assistance is in God, our Lord, on whom we never failed to place reliance.

One thing occurred more afflicting to us than all the rest. Of the persons mounted, the greater part commenced secretly to plot. They hoped to secure a better fate for themselves by abandoning the Governor and the sick who were in a state of weakness and prostration. But, as among them were many hidalgos and persons of gentle condition, they would not permit this to go on without informing the Governor and the officers of your Majesty.

We showed them the deformity of their purpose, and placed before them the moment when they should desert their captain and those who were ill and feeble -- and above all the disobedience to the orders of your Majesty. Consequently they determined to remain, and that whatever might happen to one should be the lot of all without any forsaking the rest.

After accomplishment of this, the Governor called them all to him. Of each apart he asked ad-

vice as to what he should do to get out of a country so miserable and where else to seek assistance which could not be found here -- a third part of the people being very sick and the number increasing every hour.

We regarded it as certain that we should all become ill and thereby could pass out of the country only through death. That, from its coming in such a place, was to us all the more terrible. With these and many other embarrassments being considered, and entertaining many plans, we coincided in one great project extremely difficult to put in operation. That was to build vessels in which we might go away.

This appeared impossible to every one. We knew not how to construct, nor were there tools, nor iron, nor forge, nor tow, nor resin, nor rigging. We had no one thing of so many that are necessary, nor did any man have a knowledge of their manufacture. Above all, there was nothing to eat, while building, for those who should labor.

Reflecting on all this, we agreed to think of the subject with more deliberation, and the conversation dropped from that day. Each went his way, commending our course to God, our Lord, that He would direct it as should best serve Him.

The next day it was His will that one of the company should come saying that he could make some pipes out of wood which with deer skins might be made into bellows. As we lived in a time when anything that had the semblance of relief appeared well, we told him to set himself to work. We assented to the making of nails, saws, axes and other tools, of which there was such need, from the stirrups, spurs, crossbows and the other things of iron there were.

We laid out of support, while the work was going on, that we would make four entries into Aute with all the horses and men that were able to go. We also decided that on every third day a horse should be killed to be divided among those who labored in the work of the boats and the sick.

These incursions were made with the people and horses that were available. In them were brought back as many as 400 fanegas of maize, but these were not got without quarrels and contentions with the Indians. We caused many palmitos to be collected for the woof or covering, twisting and preparing it for use in the place of tow for the boats.

We commenced to build on the 4th, with the only carpenter in the company. We proceeded with