Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-07-27

Euronean account oil him IS, thal ne was
from Portugal, and a companion to fizarro
in the conquest of Peru. That he was
known not more by his courage, than hrs
ability to promote the views OF Spain in A.
merica. His visit 10 America was cen
fury before our settlements. Charles v;
made him governor of Cuba. and general OF
Florida, and he came into Florida IN 1905,
and died after having passed above three
wears in the country. He deserves the
highest honor for his active services. III
which he sacrificed his life. Our biographer
seems not TO have put that value upon MS
services which has been decreed IN Europe,
and introduces him 10 show that the works
now found scattered over America were mol
of European origin. But when we recol-
ect that he did not live 10 report his disco
veries, and has left proofs OF us ndefatlga-
bic labors, where every modern aid has not
assisted greater discoveries, or more extern
siye researches, we shall be ready to give
every tribute 10 the enterprise OF an unsuc-
cessiul adventurer. But our present object
is TO introduce our reader 10 this man OF I'M
| exampled perseverance, upon his visit TO
| Florida, and by the character Of his SER
vices as given by the American biographer.
From Havana he reached the Bay of Flo
| rida in May, 1889. His company was six
hundred men. In search of gold he passed
necessarily from place TO place, in every
direction, as the different accounts he re-
ceiyed invited him. He passed the rivers
and braved all dangers. In his contests
with the natives he was Successful, but
great losses were felt by him. In bis. diff
ierent routes he found the Mississippi, and
became on its banks the victim of his zeal,
from the fatigue to which il exposed him.
After his death'the troops which remained,
being above half OF the first number, pass
ed down the Mississippi upon ,Aeir return
TO Cuba. II is not easy 10 trace the routes
which he took, but it will be difficult to
find more labor bestowed, or better, when
we consider that his attention was claimed
to the wealth or gold he could find. If the
, Spaniards did not profit directly from the
expedition, he supplied the full conviction
that il was not in this part of America 10 be
found. The avidity with which gold was
sought, may be discovered from the ac-
count OF one of his countrymen and compa-
Mons. Upon his visit to the queen Of the
! country, she gave him chain OF pearl from
! her neck. The country before him was
delightful, and the people appeared so con-
tented and happy, that the queen soon dis
| covered that nothing was so dear TO her
new visitants as the pearl she had given
them. Unable to supply what the people
of the country had made one OF their prin-
cipal ornaments, she directed Soto TO search
! the graves Of the deserted towns he had Vi
sited, which he did readily, and found near
L., Il ,,oinhf pE ithaca rirpae Tho
description of the queens situation is that
Of good soil. with rich pastures and mea-
dows, with woods and rivers, and with a
a country Astounding with the best trees,
and with walnut and mulberry tree. That
her subjects were OF good form, quiet man
ners, and well clothed.
The thin population was explained in
Florida as il has been in ew-England,
by some desolating sickness Of which we
have only the Indian tradition, without any
! fact, but the condition of the country. Of
! that part TO which our attention is now d.
/ rected, we have the account of very intel
ligent modern traveller, who was here be-
fore the American revolution, in 1918, al
! the request of DR.. Fothergill, 10 search the
: Floridas for natural history, particularly in
the vegetable riches oft. He gives a very
pleasant description of Alachua, from which
| Mr.. Bertram entered the pine forest, and
soon passed TO the old Spanish highway
from ST. Augustine, across the lsthmus OF
Florida, to st. Marks in the bay of Apa-
lache. The course and distance Of this
rout is from east 10 west, from ST. Augustine
to Fort Picolala on the river st. John, 81
miles, thence across the river TO Poopoa
Fort 3 miles, thence TO the Alachua Savan-
nah 40 miles, thence to Talahasochte, OH
the River LittleSt John, rs miles, thence
down this river to st. Marks 80 miles, the
whole distance from Augustine TO st.
Marks, one hundred and eighty miles.
This is the distance across the istbmus in
about latitude so, not far from the latitude
of the shore of the continent, and not a
degree south Of the entrance OF the bays of
Pensacola and Mobile, with about degrees
difference Of longitude from the west side |
of the Isthmus. The visit to Cuscowilla is
not described as very different from that of
Soto to the Queen of the Country, nearly |
three centuries before. The Chiefw sur
rounded by his ancient men, and the women
appeared with chceriulness and desire TO
please. Near the path was large artiii- !
cial mound Of earth, on most charming,
high situation, supposed TO be the work OF
the ancient inhabitants, with traces Of an
ancient town. At the village brook |
passed which entered lake near it. After
the pipe of peace and refreshment, the pur- |
pose Of the visit was explained, and Ber- |
tram received the name Of Puc PIGGY or
the Flower Hunter, and had unlimited per-
mission 10 pursue The object ofhis visit. As !
further settlement of the English Treaty !
was proposed, arrangements were made !
for this purpose. The Indians were adj
dicted 10 the religious and civil manners of |
the Spaniards, which they still retained |,
with all their enmities 10 the Spanish peo- !
Il fHba ell lodi IN