swamp of Cale. The current was strong and broad and they crossed it with great difficulty. Where there was no need of a bridge they waded through the water up to their necks, with clothes and saddles on their heads, a distance of more than three cross-bow shots.

The 30 horsemen that Nuno de Tovar took crossed the following Sunday and the current carried off one horse which was drowned. Seeing that, the rest crossed with ropes just as those had done who were with the Governor.

These soldiers and the Governor came to the first village of Ocale, which was called Uqueten, where they took two Indians. Next the Governor sent back some of the horsemen with mules that had been brought from Cuba, loaded with corn and other provisions for those that were behind, since he had come upon an abundance.

This succour came in good time for they found them in that swamp eating herbs and roots roasted and others boiled without salt, and what was worse, without knowing what they were. They were cheered by the arrival of the food. Their hunger and need gave it a relish and flavor most acceptable. From this refreshment their energies revived, and strength took the place of weakness.

On the following Tuesday, the last of those lagging behind arrived at the Governor's camp. But some soldiers who had strayed had been wounded, and a crossbow man named Mendoca, had been slain. The camp was now at Ocale, a village in a good region for corn.

There, while messengers were sent to Acuera for provisions, the Indians on two occasions killed three soldiers of the Governor's guard and wounded others, and killed a horse. All that was through bad arrangements. Although these Indians are archers and have strong bows and are skillful and sure marksmen, yet their arrows have no poison nor do they know what it is.

On August 11, the Governor set forth from Ocale with 50 horse and 100 foot in search of Apalache, since it was reputed to be populous. Luis de Moscoso remained behind with the remainder of the camp until it should appear how the advance section got on.

That night they slept at Itaraholata, a fine village with plenty of corn. There an Indian crowded up to Captain Maldonado and badly wounded his horse, and he would have snatched his lance from his hands had not the Governor by chance come up. Maldonado was a good knight and one of

the most valiant in the army, but the Indians of that land are very warlike and wild and strong.

The next day they were at Potano. The next, Wednesday, they reached Utinamocharra. From there they went to the village of Bad Peace. This name was given to it because Johan de Anasco on the way had captured 30 persons belonging to the chief of that place; and in order that they might be surrendered, the chief sent to say that they wished to make peace. However, he sent to treat in his stead a vagabond, who was believed to be the chief himself, and his people were given to him.

The sequel was that this Indian, escaping from the Christians another day, took refuge among the mass of Indians which were in a dense wood. A blooded Irish greyhound which came up at the call, went in among the Indians; and, although he passed by many, he seized no one in the crowd except that fugitive. Him he took by the fleshy part of the arm in such a way that the Indian was thrown, and they took him.

The next day the Christians arrived at a fair-sized village where they found much food and many small chestnuts dried and very delicious, wild chestnuts. The trees that bear them are only two palms high, and they grow in prickly burrs. There are other chestnuts in the land which the Spaniards saw and ate, which are like those of Spain and grow on as tall chestnut trees. The trees themselves are big and with the same leaf and burrs or pods, and the nuts are rich and of very good flavor. This army went from there to a stream which they named Discords, and the reason therefor he who prepared this narrative (Ranjel) desired to conceal because as a man of worth he did not purpose to relate the faults or weaknesses of his friends.

On that day they built a bridge of pines which abound there. The next, Sunday, they crossed that stream with as much or more toil than was the case with the Ocale. The next day, Monday, they arrived at Aquacaleyquen. Rodrigo Ranjel and Villalobos, two gentlemen equestrians -- I say equestrians because there were cavalry in that army -- captured an Indian man and an Indian woman in a corn field. She showed where the corn was hidden. The Indian man took Captain Baltasar de Gallegos where he captured 17 persons. Among them were the daughter of the chief, in order that it might impel her father to make peace; but he would have liked to free her without it, if his deceptions and shrewdness had not been less than those of these conquerors.