Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-10-07

in great measure denied him. Everywhere
his exploring parties were attacked, and strag
glers cut Off Even his camp was the scene o
constant alarms. Having been informed by
two youthful Indians, lately brought in prison
ers of the existence Of abundance of gold and
silver at Cofachiqui, remote province to the
eastward, De SOTO broke up his eantOnment in
the early part of March, 1910, and departed in
search al a regien so promising. On his en-
tering the territory of Georgia, two warriors
haughtily accosted him: "What seek you in our
land?1 they demanded. 'Peace or war;" "We
seek distant province responded De Soto,
'and desire your friendship. and food by the
way 1t was granted. Passing throiish a
pleasant and fertile region, the army finally hal
ted On the bank Of the Savannah river.
Here De Soto was visited by the beautiful
princess OF Cofuchiqui, whose.towif was Oh the
sopposite shore, now known as Silver ss4i..-=
She came,to the water side in a litter, boF8e 10y
four mer, and entering a richly carved aud or
nameued canoe, seated herself upon a crshion-
ed seat oeershadowed by canopy. She was
attended by her six cOunSellorS, grave men 81
mature age, and by u numerous retInue. On
reaching the presence Of De Soto, the youthful
citidue took from her person long string OF
pearls and placed them abOu, the neck of The
Spanish leader. With like courtesy, De Soto
drew from his finger a gold riag, set with a
ruby, and calamity presented it to her rs a ne
moral of his friendship. The next day the ar
my passed the river and occupied the village.
On the I'd of May, De Soto a gain took up his
line Of march. Proceeding through northern
GeGr, ia, he crossed the OoStanaula, and at the
invitation of It's Young chiet, took up his quar-
ters earl the following month iii the tawn OF
Chaha. Here che troops found yess. Is co.ltaii-
iuf hr e qua itities OF walnut anu bei,r' ) oil;
and puts Of Wild honey.
Alie~ Speeding m,uth Ch;aha. De Solo
Earr bed down the west bank Of the Coosa. aad
cdt r-l Alabama. lie had heard ni gold aHt
copper in the mobn5aias to gh1 uorih, a d hav-
ia sent two ti.a|ess troopers TO eXp,ore that re
sion. he waited Il; 1le town of Costa uutil they
rrtariied. The hardy aGveIturer, brought
back tiiiags Of copper, bat corld find no gold:
he march WAS nov resumed. Passing thrO
the beautiful province OF Coosa, De Soto was
met on the 2ath of July, by the chief Of that re-
sion.' He came to him sealed On cushions, in Il,
chair 6f STATE, sustained by four OF his prnci-
pal men. lie was arrayed IN a magnificent
mantle of martin SKINS and wore upon his head
a gray tiara of many-culored feathers. lie was
attended bv band Of chorsters and musicians,
and BY a thousand noble-look.ns warriors, yari-
ouslv p!I 'ne,l and ornamtnteI.
rhe chief welcomed De Sos0 With great
warmth, invited the army to partaae Of the hos
pitaiity Uf his town, and placed al! re had at
their service. After remaining a. the cayi4al
nt Co0sa for nearly month"; De Soto, marching
souihwariv, entered the frontier town of Tai
lase, situated upon the Tallapoosa river, when
he again encaiiiped. Leaving this place, he
came to the province Of Tuscaloosa, powerfti
ehe;, whom, on the third morning, the Span
iards io;iud waiting for them in state,. seated
upon the crest Of high hill, overlooking an
extensive and lovely valley, and surrounded by
his principal Warriors dressed in rich furred
manfles. and gaiiy c0lortd pluines.
Forty years OF age. aud OF large stature,
yet nobly propor;ioned the naughty chief Of the
Mobilians regarded with unconcern the militia
ry display which was made B3 the Spaniards,
for the purpose Of elicilinc his notice. '.You
ftfe welcome,N Said he to De Soto at is need
less 6talk long. What l have to say can be
said in few words You shall know how viii
ling am to serve YOU"
During the march from Apalachee, terrible
thalady Had broken out among the soldiers from
which numbers of them had already died
The cause of the disease was at length arres ed
by the use of the ashes Of Il weed recommended
by the Indians.
Resuming their march, accompanied by Tur-
caiooSa who, being mounted On Il strong hack
nev belonging to De Soto, was detained in
sort Of honorable captivity, as was the custom
Of the Spaniards i'll every province through
which they passed. But no fair speeches and
courteous attentions could blind the bold Tus-
caloosa to the fact that his liberty was restrain
ed-nor were his people less indignant than
heir chief. While on the route to Mobile two
IF the soldiers were missing. Suspectng they
lad been slain, De Soto enquired for them of
Tuscaloosa 5. followers. "Why do you ask us?"
said they. "Are we their keepers!?'
These curt replies led the Adeantado to dis
patch two troopers in advance to Mobile, a
strongly fortified village, supposed to have occu
1ied ChOctaw Bluff on the Alabama Riv
II. This village contained eighty houses, each
arge enough to hold from five numbered to a
thousand men. 1t was surrounded by high
1aliside, formed of trunks, waited together with
'ines, and covered with smooth coat of mud
plaster, so as to resemble wall of masonry
rs De Soto, accompanied by Tuscaloosa, APP
,roached the village with the vanguard, consis-
ing of two hundred horse and foot large num-
Jers of warriers, clad in fufs and gay feathers
md ornaments, followed by musicians and dan
:GrS2, by q band of Young and beautiful mai
lens, came out to welcome them as to a testi- |
al. They had Scarcely entered within the !
walls, before the chief was engaged in earnest
conversation with his people. Presently IT,
lings were brought to De Soto that within the |
IouSes immense numbers OF warriors were as
emhled, amply supplied with their ordinary |
Weapons and missiles of offence. Orders were |
It Once given to the Spahiards to be on the /
.ert. DESTROYS of avoid a resort to arms, if |
'oSsbFe De Soto endeFvored to regain posses
ion of Tuscaloosa. He sent several messages
. the chief by Juan Ortiz, inviting him to
ONE and partake of the dinner which awaited
i'm; but the naughty Mobilan disdaned to
eturn and reply At length, one OF iiS primer
al warriors dashed out from The house III which
tuscaloosa remained surrounded BY hIs people,
n exclaimed, i'll d passionate voice, ~ here
re th4s. ROBBERS, these vaIabonds who call upon
nv chief Tuscaloosa to come out with so little
ev..reucc? Let US cut them tJ pieces ON the
po;. an,l 50 PIT aa cad to their wicAedDess and
.raaay!'
a. Indian placed bow IN his hand. Giying
-ec9om 10 his motions, hy throwing back his
pendJ fur mantle, he directed the arrow,
f.-Sn to l's head against a yroup of Spaniards
ssembled in the square. At this moment, he
II dead, being nearly spit IN twain by the
weep Of Il sword, wielded by soot 'Baltasar
'e Galiegos. A fierce tumait immediately
rose. Myriads Of armed warriors rushed out
the houses, and assaulted the SpaniarIs with