Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-24

hundred OF the Spaniards and lndians-Don
Mexia himself being one OF the prisoners
Col. Moor transported 400 OF the Indians, ana
fixed them in a settlement near the Savannah
river The settlements were completely des-
troyed. This agrees tolerably well with
the Evolutionary account Of the old Indian Che
6xico, who rays that his father told him the
settlements formed by the intermarriage OF the
Spanjards and Indians, had been destroyed by
a great warrior, after three different invasions.
Cheixico says that when boy, the country
was SO opsn as 10 be scarce OF game, and was
not resorted 10 by the Indians until the forests
grew I'D; that it was then foil OF Orange and
Fig trees, and the roads and bridges still to be
seen. At present the traces OF the roads are
still visible, and also numerous sites OF villages,
forts, and private residences A number oil
towns are laid down on the old mapsl;he prin-
cipal of which are, St. Mathew, ST. Juan, AS
palaga, Ocon, Tapalaga, ST. Mark de Apalache,
Ayayala, San Pedro, sc. No such place as 81.
Louis is marked, and am at loss TO know
on what authority the ruins Of fort near Tai
lahassee has been called by that name.
The District Of Apalache, we learn. from
Garcillaso de la Vega, was very populous at
period much more remote. Pamphite de
Narvas was the first who discovered the bay OF
Apalache, but was compelled 10 retreat on
board his vessels with great loss. This is the
same person who was afterwards appointed by
the Governor of Cuba to supercede Co'tes to-
the conquest of Mexico, Eleven years after
the landing Of Narves, that is, in 1880, the eel
ebrated fernando Soto landed at Tampa bay,
and marched along the coast, until he came to
Apaache, of which a very curious and inter-
esling description is given. "The Governor s.
MS companions having been informed, in the
town of Osachile, thai the province Of Apala
che, which they had heard so highly praised,
as we'll on account of the abundance and fer
tility ofthe soil, as for The valor of its nhabi-
tants, was now at no great distance, were desi-
rous to see whether it was as fertile as it was
represented to be" After slow and tedious
march, opposed a, every step by parties Of In
dans, and after several bloody engagements, he
reached the province. "At daylight" he OBJ
serves "the Spaniards proceeded through ex-
;ensive fields Of corn, beans, pumkias, & other
vegetables, which extended on either side oil
the road farther than the eye could reach. Be
tween The fields great number Of houses were
scattered about without any order, as in the vii
lagos. On the next day the Governor went In
advance with two hundred cavalry and one
hundred infantry and reached the principal
town, which he found deserted. 1t consisted
Of $50 large and good houses, in which he
lodged his army, while he himself occupied the
residence Of The CaoiYue. Besides this town
there was throughout the whole district, at the
distance Of half league, league, and league
aad nalf, villages containing sixty or hun
dred houses, besides a vast number OF dwell
ings scattered about without order. The face
Of the whole province is delightful, the land
fertile, with great abundance OF provisions, &
plenty of fish, which the natives catch all the
lear aud presessA fss 10 TITS coun-
try and its fertility but found the Indians fierce
and warlike. To shew the fertility of this
province, it suffices to say, thai the whole Of
the Spanish army, together with the Indians in
their service, exceeding 800, and 800 horses,
Subsisted on the supplies taken al first, & when
they stood in need of any addition, they never
went more than league and hail 20 procure
it. The country is also well suited 10 the rear
ing Of every kind OF live stock, having fine
woods, excellent water, lakes, ponds, & reeds,
which cattle eat SO readily, as not to require
any kind Of grain in addition. 1t is also well
adapted TO the culture Of silk, from the great
quantity of mulberry trees; and there is besides
an abundance OF nSh Of an eXCelleEt quality.
l hiSdescription is wonderfully accurate. The
settlement Of this country may perhaps be dat
ed from the year $50. which, until the destruc.
ton in 1905, would be nearly two hundred
years. 1t is probable that part Of De Soto's
army remained in possession; we have, howev
er, no authentic account OF the exact period al
which the Spaniards made their settlements.
1t is stated by Roberts, that previous to their
destruction by Gov. Moor, they carried ON
considerable trade with Havana by small YES
sells. After the destruction, the country ap.
pears to have been lost sight Of by European
Powers; the Spanards made no attempt to set
tie i, again, and it was no, until about the year
1868, tina. the British built the present Fort Of
St Marks, bu, formed no settlement, perhaps
on account Of The hostility Of the Mlskogee
Indians, who then possessed it. During the
period the Spanisrds subsequently possessed
ii, the Seminoles and Muskogees carefully for
oade any one to enter it. As proof how lit
tie i, was known 10 the Spaniards, will men
ton the fact, that there is not single Spanish
grant In The whole Of it, the gram OF Forbes,
merely approaches its borcers. In some old
maps il is marked the A2aache Old fields
he march of General Jackson into this dis
lrict, in 1918, in pu'sa,, OF The Seminole Indi-
ans, was The first notice We ever had of it. II