During upwards of twenty-five years, when my wanderings extended to all parts of our country, this was the only time at which my life was in danger from my fellow-creatures. Indeed, so little risk do travellers run in the United States, that no one born there ever dreams of any to be encountered on the road; and I can only account for this occurrence by supposing that the inhabitants of the cabin were not Americans.

Will you believe, reader, that not many miles from the place where this adventure happened, and where fifteen years ago, no habitation belonging to civilized man was expected, and very few ever seen, large roads are now laid out, cultivation has converted the woods into fertile fields, taverns have been erected, and much of what we Americans call comfort is to be met with. So fast does improvement proceed in our abundant and free country.

They were now quite sobered. Their feet were world; he now appeared at the court of the emperunbound, but their arms were still securely tied. our Charles V. in magnificent style, and was attended We marched them into the woods off the road, and by a knot of brave cavaliers, many of whom had having used them as Regulators were wont to use been with him in Peru; he was in the prime of such delinquents, we set fire to the cabin, gave all manhood, about thirty-six years old, commanding in the skins and implements to the young Indian war-figure, and of a dark animated and expressive counriour, and proceeded, well pleased, towards the set- tenance. With such advantages of person and reptlements. utation he soon succeeded in gaining the affections and hand of a lady of distinguished rank and merit, Isabella de Bobadilla, which marriage strengthened his influence at court. About this time the fate of Pamphilo de Narvaez and his followers, who had gone on an expedition to Florida, reached Spain. The imagination of de Soto became excited by the narrative of this expedition; his ambition was roused by the desire of rivalling the fame of Cortez and Pizarro, and his reputation, wealth, past services, and marriage connexions, all gave him the means of attaining his wishes. He therefore asked permission of the emperour to undertake the conquest of Florida at his own expense and risk. His prayer was granted; numerous privileges were conferred upon him, and he was created captain-general for life, of Florida as well as of Cuba; the control of the latter island being important to him in fitting out his armament for the conquest of Florida. The news of this expedition was soon promulgated throughout Spain and in a little more than a year from the time that this enterprise was first proclaimed, nine hundred and fifty Spaniards of all degrees had assembled in the port of San Lucar de Barrameda, HERNANDO DE SOTO-Born, 1501-Died, 1542. to embark in the expedition. Never had a more AMONG the many bold and chivalrick gentlemen gallant and brilliant body of men offered themselves who visited America, early after its discovery by for conquest in the new world. All were young and Columbus, the name of Hernando de Soto, occupies vigorous, and fitted for the toils, hardships, and dana prominent place. A man who was by nature well gers of so adventurous an undertaking. De Soto adapted for adventurous enterprise: he possessed was munificent in his offers of pecuniary assistance, great strength of body and vigour of arm, he was to aid the cavaliers in fitting themselves out accordpatient and persevering, brave as a lion, but courte-ing to their rank and station. Many were compelled, ous and engaging in his manners; his ideas of mili- through necessity, to accept of these offers; others, tary discipline were strict, and while the least breach of duty was severely punished, he was always ready to reward the meritorious and deserving.

BIOGRAPHY.

Audubon.

The most authentick narrative of his exploits are contained in an interesting work entitled "The Conquest of Florida, by Hernando de Soto. By THEODORE IRVING," from which we shall quote freely in this brief sketch of his life.

HERNANDO DE SOTO was born about the year 1501 in Villa nueva de Barcarota; he was of good family, but poor, all his estate being a sword and buckler. He accompanied Davila, when he came to America to take governourship of Terra Firma, and the merits of de Soto were such, that he had command of a troop of horse given to him, with which he followed Pizarro, in his expedition to Peru. Here he soon signalized himself by a rare combination of prudence and valour; he was excellent in council, yet foremost in every perilous exploit; bravely putting every thing at hazard, where any important point was to be gained by intrepidity. Pizarro soon discovered his talents, and appointed him his lieutenant; a master of his weapons, and a perfect horseman, his prowess and adroitness were the admiration of the Spanish soldiery, who declared that his lance alone was equal to any ten in the army.

After distinguishing himself in Peru, de Soto returned to Spain enriched with the spoils of the new

who had means, generously declined them, deeming it more proper that they should assist than accept aid from him. Many came splendidly equipped with rich armour, costly dresses, and a train of domesticks. Indeed, some young men of quality had spent a great part of their property in this manner. This brilliant armament embarked at San Lucar de Barrameda, on the sixth of April, 1538, in seven large and three small vessels. The governour, his wife, together with all his family and retinue, embarked in the largest vessel, called the San Christoval, of eight hundred tuns' burden. They quitted the Spanish shore in company with a fleet of twentysix sail bound to Mexico, amid the braying of trumpets and the thunder of artillery. The armament of de Soto was so bountifully supplied with naval stores that each man was allowed double rations. This led to useless waste, but the governour was of a munificent spirit, and so elated at finding in his train such noble and gallant spirits, that he thought he could not do enough to honour and gratify them.

The armament arrived at the Canaries on the twenty-first of April, where de Soto was entertained with great courtesy: sailing again on the twentyfourth of the same month, he arrived at Cuba about the last of May. Here the fleet remained for a long period; during which, de Soto despatched a vessel to Florida to select a safe harbour. This having

[Portrait of Hernando de Soto.] been accomplished, he sailed from Havana on the twelfth of May, 1539, and on the twenty-fifth of the same month arrived at Espiritu Santo, and took formal possession of the country in the name of Charles V. The troops disembarked, and.not a single Indian was to be seen, the soldiers remained all night on shore in careless security, when in the morning they were suddenly attacked by a large body of Indians; several of the Spaniards were wounded by arrows, but reinforcements arriving from the ships, the savages were repulsed and the army took up their residence in a deserted village, the houses of which were large, built of wood and thatched with palm-leaves. Leaving a garrison in this village of Herrihigua, de Soto proceeded for several leagues into the interiour, although constantly harassed by the Indians. The kind of resistance met with by the Spaniards may be seen by the following extract: The fertile province in which the army was now encamped lay twenty leagues to the north of that governed by Urribarracaxi, and was governed by a cacique named Acuera, who, on the approach of the Spaniards, had fled with his people to the woods. Hernando de Soto sent Indian interpreters to this chief, representing the power of the Spaniards to do injury in war, and confer benefits in peace; declaring his disposition to befriend the natives; his only object being, by amicable means to bring the people of this great country into obedience to his sovereign, the powerful emperour and king of Castile. He invited the cacique, therefore, to a friendly interview, in order to arrange a peaceful intercourse. The

cacique returned a haughty reply: Others of your accursed race,' said he, have, in years past, disturbed our peaceful shores. They have taught me what you are. What is your employment? To wander about like vagabonds from land to land; to rob the poor; to betray the confiding; to murder the defenceless in cold blood. No! with such a people I want neither peace nor friendship. Warnever-ending, exterminating war--is all I ask. You boast yourselves to be valiant-and so you may be; but my faithful warriours are not less brave; and of this you shall one day have proof, for I have sworn to maintain an unsparing conflict while one white man remains in my borders; not openly in the battle-field, though even thus we fear not to meet you, but by stratagem, ambush, and midnight surprisal.' In reply to the demand that he should yield obedience to the emperour, the chief replied: I am king in my own land, and will never become the vassal of a mortal like myself. Vile and pusillanimous is he who submits to the yoke of another when he may be free! As for me and my people, we prefer death to the loss of liberty, and the subjugation of our country! The governour, filled with admiration at the spirit of this savage chieftain, was more pressing than ever to gain his friendship: but to all his overtures the cacique's answer was, that he had already made the only reply he had to offer. The aimy remained in this province twenty days, recruiting from the fatigues and privations of their past journey. During this time, the governour sent persons in every direction to explore the country; and

they returned with favourable reports. During this time the Indians were not idle. To justify the bravadoes of their cacique, they lurked in ambush about the camp, so that a Spaniard could not stray a hundred steps from it without being shot and instantly beheaded; if his companions hastened to his rescue, they found nothing but a headless trunk. The Christians buried the bodies of their unfortunate comrades wherever they found them; but the savages invariably returned the following night, disinterred them, cut them up, and hanged them upon trees. The heads they carried as trophies to their cacique, according to his orders. Thus fourteen Spaniards perished, and a great number were wounded. In these skirmishes the Indians ran comparatively little risk, as the Spanish encampment was skirted by a thicket, whither, after making an assault, the assailants could easily escape. In this manner the Spaniards saw effectually verified the threats of their ferocious foes, who had hung upon their rear during the march. Keep on, robbers and traitors!' they cried, in Aucera and Apalachee we will treat you as you deserve. We will quarter and hang up every captive on the highest trees along the road.' Notwithstanding their great vigilance, the Spaniards did not kill more than fifty Indians, for the latter were extremely wary in their ambuscades."

When the Indians risked general engagements, they were always defeated with great slaughter by their well-armed, brave, and highly-disciplined adversaries, and particularly by the terrour inspired by their horses. We copy part of the conclusion of one of these battles, which took place in the vast province of Vitachuco :—

the water. At length, the intercessions of Juan Ortiz, and of the four Indian interpreters, began to have effect. The most weary came on shore, one and two at a time, but so slowly that by the dawn of day not more than fifty had surrendered. The remainder, seeing that these were kindly treated, and being persuaded by them, now gave themselves up in greater numbers, but still with extreme reluctance. Some, when near the bank, returned to the middle of the lake, until the love of life compelled them to yield. At ten o'clock, two hundred landed at the same time, and surrendered themselves, after having been in the water four-and-twenty hours. They were in a wretched condition-swollen with the water they had swallowed, and overcome with fatigue, hunger, and want of sleep. There yet remained in the lake seven Indians of such indomitable spirit that neither the entreaties of the interpreters, the promises of the governour, nor the example of their comrades who had surrendere, had any effect upon them. They treated all promises with scorn, defying both menaces and death. Thus they remained until three o'clock in the afternoon, and would, no doubt, have remained there until they had died; but the governour, struck with admiration of their magnanimity, thought it would be inhuman to allow such brave men to perish, and consequently ordered twelve Spaniards, who were expert swimmers, to go into the lake with their swords in their mouths, and drag them out by main force. As they were too much exhausted to resist, the Spaniards seized them by the legs, arms, and hair, drew them to land, and placed them upon the bank, where they lay extended, more dead than alive; having, according to the Spanish narrator, been thirty hours in the water, apparently without putting their feet to the ground, or receiving any relief; an exploit adds the Inca historian, almost incredible, and which I should not dare to record, but upon the authority of several cavaliers and nobles, who, both in the Indies and in Spain, assured me of its truth, confirming the authenticity of this extraordinary feat, related to me by a person in all things worthy of belief. The Indians, who had come out of the lake and surrendered themselves, were distributed among the Spaniards to serve them as menials, so long as their conquerors should remain in the province. This was partly as a punishment for their participation in the late treason, and partly to deter the neighbouring tribes from like aggressions. *

*

*

*

*

"A worse fate attended the enemy's vanguard, composed of his bravest warriours; who are always doomed to fare the worst in battle. After receiving the first impetuous charge of the cavalry, they fled; but, unable to reach either the forest or the larger lake, more than nine hundred threw themselves into the smaller one. Here they were surrounded by the Spaniards, who endeavoured, by threats, promises, and occasional shots from their crossbows and arquebuses, to induce them to surrender. The Indians replied only by flights of arrows. As the lake was too deep to give them footing, they adopted a mode of defence as singular as it was desperate. Three or four clung together, and supported each other by swimming, while one mounted upon their backs, and plied his bow and arrows. In this way an incessant skirmishing was kept up all day. Num- "Vitachuco (continues the narrative) now remainbers of Indians were slain, and all their arms ex-ed in some sort a prisoner in his own house, but was hausted, yet no one expressed a desire to surrender. treated with great kindness and respect, and dined At night the Spaniards posted themselves near each at the governour's table. Rage and hatred, howevother, round the lake, the horse by two and two, the er, still rankled in his breast; and he soon conceivfoot in parties of six, lest the savages should escape ed another scheme of vengeance. Nine hundred of in the dark. Some of the latter endeavoured to save his bravest warriours were dispersed among the themselves by covering their heads with the leaves Spaniards; equalling the latter in number, and, as he of water-lilies, and swimming noiselessly to land; thought in personal prowess. They attended their but the watchful troopers, perceiving that the water new masters as slaves, and as the Spaniards, when was agitated, spurred their horses to the bank, and at their meals, were seated, off their guard, and many drove their enemies back again into the channel, in of them without weapons, the cacique conceived hope of tiring them out, and thus forcing them to that at such a moment it would be easy, by a precapitulate. They, moreover, threatened them with concerted movement, for his subjects to strike a sigdeath if they did not yield, but offered them peace if nal blow that should rid them at once of their oppresthey would surrender. So obstinate were they, sors. Scarcely had Vitachuco conceived this rash however, that it was midnight before any of them scheme, than he hastened to put it into operation. submitted, although they had been fourteen hours in He had four young Indians who attended him as

pages. These he sent to the principal prisoners re- their arms broken, others were maimed by sticks and vealing his plan, with orders that they should pass it stones. One was knocked down by his slave with secretly from one to another, and hold themselves in a firebrand, and beset by three other Indians, who readiness, at the appointed time, to carry into effect. dashed out his brains. Another was assailed with The dinner-hour of the third day was the time fixed blows, his teeth knocked out, and he was on the upon for striking the blow. As Vitachuco would be point of falling a sacrifice when several of his coundining with the governour, and the Indians in gener- trymen came to his assistance. The savage assailal attending upon their respective masters, the ca- ant fled and mounted a hand-ladder into a granary cique was to watch his opportunity, spring upon De opening upon a court-yard, taking with him a lance Soto and kill him; giving, at the moment of assault, which he found against the wall. The Spaniards ata war-whoop that should resound throughout the vil- tempted to ascend after him, but he planted himself age. This was to be the signal for every Indian in in the doorway, and defended the entrance so bravethe place to grapple with his master, or any other ly with his lance that no one dared approach him. Spaniard, and despatch him on the spot. Many of At length, Diego de Soto, a relative of the governthe poor natives saw the madness of this second our, arrived in the court armed with a crossbow. project; but, accustomed to yield implicit obedience He presented it, and took aim. The Indian never to their chief, they promised to carry it into execu- attempted to draw back or screen himself; his obtion or perish in the attempt. On the day fixed, ject was, not to save his life, but to sell it as dearVitachuco dined as usual at the table of the govern- ly as possible. At the instant, de Soto drew his our, who sought to win his friendship by the kind- bow, he threw the lance. The steeled point grazed est attentions. When the repast was concluded, the Spaniard's right shoulder, and the shaft knockthe savage stretched himself upon the bench on ed him down upon his knees, passing half a length which he had been seated, and twisting his body beyond, and remained quivering in the ground. The from side to side, projected first one arm, then the aim of de Soto was more certain. His shaft pierother, to its full extent, clenching his fists, and draw-ced the Indian through the breast, and killed him uping them up so that they rested on his shoulders; he on the spot. It was fortunate for the Spaniards that then jerked out his arms two or three times, until ev- most of the Indians were in chains, and none of them ery joint cracked like a snapped reed. In this way regularly armed, otherwise their assault would have the Indians of Florida used to rally their strength been attended with great carnage. As it was, many when about to perform any extraordinary feat. Af Spaniards were maimed, and four slain, before the ter this preparation, the cacique sprang upon his savages could be overpowered. A signal vengeance feet, closed instantly with the governour, at whose was then taken upon the prisoners. Some of the side he had been sitting, seized him with his left Spaniards were so exasperated at the wounds they hand by the collar, and with the right hand gave had received, and at hearing of their governour's him such a blow in the face as to level him with the maltreatment, that they wreaked their fury upon evground, the blood gushing out of his eyes, nose, and ery Indian in their power. Others, who were cavamouth, as if he had been struck with a club. The liers, thought it beneath their dignity to take away cacique threw himself upon his victim to finish his the lives of slaves. They brought their prisoners, work, at the same time giving his signal war-whoop therefore, to the grand square of the village, and deso loudly that it might have been heard for a quar-livered them into the hands of the archers of the ter of a league. All this was the work of an instant, general's guard, who despatched them with their and before the officers present had time to recover halberds. Among the cavaliers who thus brought from their astonishment, the governour lay sense- their captive slaves to be executed, was one of a less beneath the tiger grasp of Vitachuco. One small and delicate form, named Francisco de Saldamore blow from the savage would have been fatal; na. He entered the square, leading after him a but ere he could deliver it, a dozen swords and lan- powerful Indian, by a cord tied round the latter's ces were thrust through his body, and he fell dead, neck. No sooner, however, did the savage perceive blaspheming heaven and earth at having failed in what was passing, and the fate that awaited him, his deadly purpose. The war-whoop of the cacique than, driven to desperation, he closed upon Saldana had been heard and obeyed by his subjects through- as he walked before him, seized him with one hand out the village. On hearing the signal, the Indians, by the neck and with the other by the thigh, raised who were attending upon their masters, assailed him like a child, turned him topsy-turvy with his them with whatever weapon or missile they could head downwards, and dashed him to the ground command. Some seized upon pikes and swords, with a violence that stunned him. Jumping then which they wielded with great skill; others snatch-upon his body he would have despatched him in an ed up the pots in which meat was stewing at the fire, instant, had not a number of Spaniards rushed with and beating the Spaniards about their heads, bruised drawn swords to the rescue of their comrade. The and scalded them at the same time; some caught up Indian seized Saldana's sword, and received them plates, and pitchers, jars, and the pestles with which so bravely that, though there were more than fifty, they pounded the maize; others, bones remaining he kept them all at bay. Grasping the weapon with from the repast; others seized upon stools, benches, both hands, he threw himself into the midst of them, and tables, striking with impotent fury when their whirling himself round like a wheel, and dealing weapons had not the power to harm. The greater blows so rapidly and madly that no one dared oppose number, however, armed themselves with burning him, and they were obliged to despatch him with firebrands, which seemed to have been provided for their fire-arms. These and many similar scenes of the purpose, and rushed like devils into the affray. desperate valour occurred in this wild affray. In In this chance-medley fight many of the Spaniards order to embroil with the natives of the neighbourwere terribly burnt, bruised, and scalded; some had hood, the interpreters, and those Indian allies who