VERY NOBLE GENTLEMEN:

The being in a new country not very distant indeed from that where you are, still with some sea between, a thousand years appear to me to have gone by since any thing has been heard from you. Although I left some letters written at Havana, to go off in three ways, it is indeed long since I have received one. However, since opportunity offers means by which I may send an account of what it is always my duty to give, I will relate what passes, and I believe will be welcome to persons I know favourably, and are earnest for my success.

I took my departure from Havana with all my armament on Sunday, the XVIIIth of May, although I wrote that I should leave on the XXVth of the month. I anticipated the day not to lose a favourable wind, which changed, nevertheless, for calms upon our getting into the Gulf. Still, these were not so continuous as to prevent our casting anchor on this coast as we did at the end of 8 days, which was Sunday, the festival of Espiritu Santo.

* * * * * * *Decaídos del puerto quatro u cinco leguas sin que minguno de mis pilotos supiesen en donda estava por lo qual me convino salir en los vergantines i buscarlo i en esto i entrar la boca del puerto. Nos deturimos tres dias i tambien por no estar instrutos en la canal que es un ancon que entra necesidad de embiar a Vasco Porcallo de Figueroa, un lugar Teniente General, en los vergantines a tomar un pueblo questava al cabo del ancon.*******

*******Having drifted off course of the port four or five leagues, without which not one of my pilots suspecting where we were, I had to go out in the vergantines and search for it and enter the mouth (or opening) of the port. We were detained three days, and also for lack of instructions in the channel that is a bay that enters a dozen leagues and more upon (or: in, on, for) the sea. We were so much delayed that I felt it necessary to send Vasco Porcallo de Figueroa, employed as Lieutenant General, in the vergantines to take a town that was on a cape (or extremity of land) of the bay (or in-dented shore line). *******

I ordered all the men and horses to be landed on a beach, whence with great difficulty we went on Trinity Sunday to join Vasco Porcallo.

The Indians of the coast, because of some fears of us, have abandoned all the country so that for 30 leagues not a man of them has halted.

At my arrival here I received news of there being a Christian in the possession of a Cacique. I sent Baltazar de Gallegos with XL men of the horse, and as many of the foot, to endeavor to get him. They found the man a day's journey from this place with eight or ten Indians whom he brought into my power. We rejoiced no little over him for he speaks the language. Although he had forgotten his own, it directly returned to him. His name is Juan Ortiz, an Hidalgo, native of Sevilla.

In consequence of this occurrence, I went myself for the Cacique and came back with him in peace. I then sent Baltazar de Gallegos, with eighty lancers and a hundred foot soldiers to enter the country. He has found fields of maize, beans, and pumpkins with other fruits, and provision in such quantity as would suffice to subsist a very large army without its knowing a want.

Having been allowed without interruption to reach the town of a Cacique named Urripacoxit, master of the one we are in as well as many other towns, some Indians were sent to him to treat for peace. This, he writes, having been accomplished, the Cacique failed to keep certain promises, whereupon Baltazar seized about XVII persons. Among them are some of the principal men, for in this way it appears to him he can best secure a performance.

Among those he detains are some old men of authority -- as great as can be among such people who have information of the country farther on. They say that three days' journey from where they are, going by some towns and huts, all well inhabited and having many maize fields, is a large town called Acuera where with much convenience we might winter.

They say also that afterwards, farther on, at the distance of two days' journey there is another town called Ocale. It is so large, and they so extol it, that I dare not repeat all that is said. There is to be found in it a great plenty of all the things mentioned; and fowls, a multitude of turkeys kept in pens, and herds of tame deer that are tended. What this means I do not understand, unless it be the cattle, of which we brought the knowledge with us.

They say there are many trades among that people, and much intercourse, an abundance of gold and silver, and many pearls. May it please God that this may be so, for of what these Indians say I believe nothing but what I see, and must see --- although they know, and have it for a saying, that if they lie to me it will cost them their lives.