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peared. Pursuit was vain, and though the Spaniards heard of her some days afterwards, she was fortunate enough to keep out of their way.'

The historian of Florida, Garcilaso de la Vega, terminates his account of this princess by declaring that she possessed a truly noble soul, and was worthy of an empire. Shame for his countrymen has induced him to suppress all mention of the brutal indignity to which she was subjected by Soto, and for which, as a Castilian knight, he deserved to have his spurs cut off. The Portuguese narrator, who accompanied the expedition, states the facts too circumstantially to leave us in any doubt about the matter, and the noble and generous Cofachiqui is to be numbered among those who suffered by trusting to the honor and justice of the plunderers of the New World.

TASCALUZA

WAS a cacique, whose territories lay upon the rivers that enter into the bay of Mobile. He was a man of gigantic size, being taller by half a yard than any Spaniard in Soto's army, and stout in proportion. His courage, resolution and fierceness corresponded to his enormous stature. When Soto arrived at the frontier of his dominions, Tascaluza had heard of the ravages and plunderings committed by the Spaniards in their progress through the country, and resolved to oppose them. He did not at first disclose his hostile designs, but despatched his son to the frontier with a peaceable message, and an offer to guide the Spaniards to his capital. The son was nearly as tall as his father. Soto received him civilly, and sent him back with a present. Travelling three days, the Spaniards came to the town where Tascaluza held his court. They found the cacique sitting under a balcony in front of his house, which stood upon an eminence, affording a delightful prospect of the surrounding country. He was seated upon two cushions, laid upon a carpet; and an attendant held an umbrella of buck's skin over his head, to shield him from the sun. A hundred of his chief men were present, dressed in rich fur robes, and adorned with head-dresses of colored plumes.

One of Soto's officers, with a squadron of horse, preceded the general, and delivered a harangue to

the cacique, who looked on in silence, casting his eyes upon the Spaniards, one after another, in a haughty and disdainful manner; but when Soto himself appeared, Tascaluza rose and advanced fifteen or twenty steps to meet him. Soto took him by the hand, and they sat down together. The chief made a complimentary speech, and offered to accompany the Spaniards in their march through his territories. Soto accepted the offer, although he had been warned to be upon his guard against Tascaluza, who bore the reputation, among his neighbors, of being fierce, proud and turbulent. After resting two days in this place, the army re-commenced its march. It was necessary to mount Tascaluza on horseback, but the Spaniards had great difficulty in finding an animal strong enough to carry him. At length, one huge steed was found, which he could bestride without dragging his feet on the ground. The army marched two days, and came to a broad river, which they crossed on rafts of cane, constructed by the Indians. Here a circumstance occurred that began to disturb the friendly feelings of the two parties. The Spaniards, wherever they passed, had made no scruple of seizing the women, and carrying them off as slaves. An Indian woman now ran away from her master, and the Spaniard pursuing her lost himself in the woods, or was killed by the natives. Soto told the cacique he must be accountable for him, and threatened to keep him in fetters as long as he lived, if the Spaniard was not returned.

Tascaluza required nothing more than this to stimulate him to the hostile deeds which soon followed.

They were approaching the town of Mauvila, the modern Mobile. The cacique sent one of his men forward to give notice of his approach, and prepare for the reception of the Spaniards. This messenger carried secret orders to muster the warriors of the place, and hold them in readiness to attack the strangers on their arrival. On approaching the town, Soto sent a soldier forward to reconnoitre. He returned with alarming accounts that the Indians were extremely busy in fortifying the town with palisades, that armed men were arriving from all parts, and that the children had been removed, as well as all the women, except those who were young and capable of fighting. Soto was advised by his officers not to enter the place, but to encamp in the neighborhood. He replied that he was weary of encamping, and would take up his quarters in the town. He wished to avoid any overt act that might indicate hostility or suspicion, and therefore merely gave warning to all his troops to be on their guard.

The Spaniards found the town of Mauvila strongly fortified. It contained about eighty houses, but these were of enormous size, some of them being large enough to lodge fifteen hundred men, and the smallest five hundred. The army entered the town, and were received with every show of rejoicing; their horses were sent to a commodious place without the walls, and the men were entertained with the dances of some beautiful females, who, in Florida, were peculiarly skilful in this exercise. After this, the cacique and Soto fell into conversation, and Tascaluza requested the general to leave him in that place,

and not carry him further on his march. Soto declined granting this request, and the cacique left him and went into another house, where some of his people were assembled. It was customary for him to dine with the general, and the dinner-hour having arrived, notice was sent him that dinner was on the table. He sent word, in reply, that he was engaged in council with his chiefs, and would come presently. Soto waited some time, and then despatched a second message, to which he received a similar answer. After another interval, Juan Ortiz was sent to say that dinner was waiting, and that Tascaluza must instantly come.

When this affronting message was delivered, one of the Indian chiefs rushed out of the council-house, with a countenance and gestures full of indignation, and exclaimed to the Spaniards, "What robbers and vagabonds are these, that dare talk in such a style to the great Tascaluza, our sovereign-as if they were giving orders to a wretch like themselves! By the sun and moon! who can endure the insolence of such a pack of devils? Cut them in pieces!-the infamous tyrants!" This was the signal for a general attack. All the Indians rushed forth and fell in a mass upon the Spaniards. Their horses were without the town, and Soto judged it advisable to retreat until they could secure the animals, as the chief advantage they possessed over their enemies was in being mounted. The retreat was accomplished by facing the enemy and slowly withdrawing; yet such clouds of arrows were discharged upon them, that they suffered severely. The Indians pursued them

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