Evening star., 1935-07-30
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

That morose soldier of fortune, Her.
nando De Soto, discoverer of the Mis-
SiSSippi, and one of the first white men
to penetrate the interior of the present
United States. once was outwitted by a
beautiful Indian princess"
With the exception of the affair of
John Smith and Pocahontas there is
perhaps no more colorful an episode in
volving an aboriginal woman in the story
of American exploration than that of
De Soto and the celebrated white
msnteled LADY of Cofitachequi."
DR.. John r. Swanton, ethnologist of
the Smithsonian Institution and an
authority on the route followed by De
Soto's little army, has been able to de-
termine the spot where the famous hood
winking of the Spaniard took place. 1t
was, he has decided after painStaking
exploration of the surrounding country.
near the village Of Franklin, on the Little
Tennessee River. The location fills all
the requirements of the scene as de-
Scribed in the diaries of some of De
Soto's followers.
1t establishes an important landmark
in the De Soto journey. the retracing
of which is important to ethnologistS
striving to identify the Indian tribes
with which the SpaniardS came into
contact. DR.. Swanton has been eSpe-
cially interested in tracing the trail OF
De Soto, in Northwestern South Caro-
lima, through the Appalachians to the
HiwasSee River. He located the site OF
the old Indian town of Xualla, men
toned in the De Soto narratives where
numerous Indian remains still constantly
are being unearthed. Over the hill on
which the town stood there still is
well-marked Indian trail connected with
an ancient trail whose course still Is
well-known to old inhabitants. 1t ran
to the Little Tennessee, which De Soto
forded near the present Franklin, and
it was there, DR.. Swanton decided, that
the escape actually took place.
** x x
The incident was described in the diary
of Rodrigo Ranjel, De Soto's secretary:
The next day the Governor came to
the crossing opposite the village of Cofi-
tachequi and the chief Indians came
with gifts and their woman chief lady
of the land. whom the Indians of rank
bore on their shoulders with much re-
spect, in litter covered with delicate
WAAOC 1l4lClas 4A1o, LII 1WdhOVAA ooy o.
probably was a white fabric woven of
f1bers of the inner bark of the mulberry
tree) And she crossed in the canoes
and spoke to the Governor quite grace
fully and at ease. She was young girl
of fine bearing, and she took of string
of pearls which she wore on her neck
and put it on the Governor as a neck
lace to show her favor and gain his good
will. All the army passed over in canoes.
and they received many presents of
skins we'll tanned and blankets, all very
good, and countless strips of venison and
dry waters. All the Indians went clothed
down to their feet with very fine skins
and blankets of sable fur and others of
the skin of wildcats which gave out a
very strong smell. The people were very
clean and polite and naturally well con-
ditioned."
That same day, the diary continued
De Soto and his secretary entered "the
mosque and oratory of this heathen
people: and found great supply of the
fresh-water pearls which they supposed
to be of great value. Eagerly and
covetously the two Spaniards ran their
hands through this treasure. Ranjel
found among the pearls green stone,
which he believed to be an emerald of
great value. He intended to take it. he