The conquest of the river Plate (1535-1555.) I. Voyage of Ulrich Schmidt to the rivers La Plata and Paraguai. From the original German ed., 1567. II. The commentaries of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. From the original Spanish ed., 1555. Tr.from the Hakluyt society. With notes and an introduction, by Luis L.Dominguez ..

Front matter

No. .\x Case fz&f? Shelf.

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II. The Commentaries Of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH EDITION, 1555.

TRANSLATED FOR THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.

BY

LUIS L. DOMINGUEZ,

MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OE THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OE THE ARGENTINE GEOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE AND OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY OP HISTORY.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY,

4, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, W.C.

M.DCCC.XCI.

LONDON

WHITING AND CO., SARDINIA STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS.

COUNCIL

OF

THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.

Majoe-Genebai, Sib HENRY RAWLINSON, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. Associe Etbangeb de L’Institut de Fbance, Vice-Pbesidbnt.

JOHN BARROW, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A.

WALTER DE GRAY BIRCH, Esq., F.S.A.

ROBERT BROWN, Esq., M.A., Ph.D.

The Right How. Sib MOUNTSTUART E. GRANT DUFF, G.C.S.I.

ALBERT GRAY, Esq.

E. A. PETHERICK, Esq.

Lobd ARTHUR RUSSELL.

ERNEST SATOW, Esq., C.M.G., Ministeb Resident in Ueuguay.

S. W. SILVER, Esq.

COUTTS TROTTER, Esq.

Pbof. E. B. TYLOR, D.C.L.

Sib CHARLES WILSON, R.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G., F.R.S. , D.C.L.,and LL.D. E. DELMAR MORGAN, Honobaey Secbetaee.

Chap. VI. — How the governor and his people advanced into the interior - - - - - -106

Chap. VH. — Which treats of what happened to the governor and his people on their journey, and of the nature of the land 108

Chap. VIH. — Of the troubles that the governor and his people underwent on their way, and of a kind of pine tree, and of the fruits of that land - - - - - 112

Chap. IX. — How the governor and his people found themselves starving, and appeased their hunger with worms from reeds - 114

Chap. X. — Of the fear the Indians had of the horses - 117

Chap. XI. — How the governor navigated the river Yguazu, and how, in order to avoid a cataract of that river, he transported the canoes one league by hand - - - - 119

Chap. XII. — Which treats of the rafts that were made to carry the sick ------ 122

Chap. XIII. — How the governor arrived at the Ascension, where the Spaniards lived whom he had come to relieve - - 124

Chap. XIV. — How the Spaniards left behind through sickness on the river Piqueri arrived at the town of Ascension - - 126

Vlll

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chap. XY. — How the governor, wishing to repeople Buenos Ayres, sent reinforcements to those who had come there on the ship 1 Gapitand - - - - - 127

Chap. XVI.— How the natives kill and eat their enemies - 129

Chap. XVH. — Of the peace which the governor concluded with the Indian Agazes - - - - 131

Chap. XYIII. — Of the complaints addressed to the governor by the pobladores against the officers of His Majesty - - 134

Chap. XIX. — Hov^jbhe governor received complaints against the Indian Guaycurus - - - - - 135

Chap. XX. — How the governor informed himself concerning the complaint - - - - 136

Chap. XXI. — How the governor and his people crossed the river, and how two Christians were drowned - - 139

Chap. XXII. — How the spies, by order of the governor, went in search of the Guaycurus - - - - 140

Chap. XXIII. — How the governor, pursuing the enemy, was informed that he was marching in front - - - 142

Chap. XXIY. — Of a panic among the Spaniards and Indians caused by a tiger _____ 143

Chap. XXY. — How the governor and his people overtook the enemy - - - - - 145

Chap. XXVI. — How the governor pursued the enemy - 147

Chap. XXYII. — How the governor and all his people returned to the town of Ascension - - - - 149

Chap. XXYIII. — How the Indian Agazes broke the peace - 150

Chap. XXIX. — How the governor set at liberty one of the captive Guaycurus, and sent him to summon his fellow tribesmen 152

Chap. XXX. — How the Guaycurus came and submitted to His Majesty ------ 153

Chap. XXXI. — How the governor, after making peace with the Guaycurus, delivered the prisoners to them - - 154

Chap. XXXII. — How the Aperus came and made a treaty of peace and submitted - - - - - 156

Chap. XXXIII. — Of the judgment passed on the Agazes by the advice of the monks, captains, and other officers of His Majesty 158

Chap. XXXIY. — How the governor sent relief to Buenos Ayres 159

Chap. XXX Y. — How the three Spaniards and the Indians returned from their reconnaissance

TABLE OF CONTENTS. ix

Chap. XXXVI. — How wood was prepared for the construction of two brigantines and one caravel - - - 162

Chap. XXXVII. — How the Indians came again and offered their services ______ 163

Chap. XXXVIII. — How the settlement of Ascension was burnt 166 Chap. XXXIX. —How Domingo de Irala arrived - - 167

Chap. XL. — What Gonzalo de Mendoza wrote - -170

Chap. XLI. — How the governor helped those who were with

G-onzalo de Mendoza - - - - -172

Chap. XLII. — How four Christians died of their wounds during this war - - - - -173

Chap. XLIII. — How the friars took to flight - - 175

Chap. XLIV. — How the governor took four hundred men on his

voyage of discovery - - - - -177

Chap. XLV.— How the governor left part of the provisions he had brought with him - - - - - 179

Chap. XL VI. — How he stopped to speak with the natives of another port and land - - - - - 180

Chap. XL VII. — How he sent for an interpreter to treat with the Payaguas - - - - - 182

Chap. XL VIII. — How the horses were embarked in the port - 183

Chap. XLIX. — How Juan de Ayolas entered the port where he and his Christians were killed - - - 185

Chap. L. — How the interpreter and those who had promised to come failed to do so - - - - - 188

Chap. LI. — How the Guaxarapos spoke with the governor - 192

Chap. LII. — How the Indians come and establish themselves on the shore of the river - - - - - 193

Chap. LIII. — How they erected three crosses at the mouth of the river Yguatii - 196

Chap. LIV. — How the Indians of the port of Los Reyes cultivate the soil - - - - - 199

Chap. LV. — How the Indians of Garcia settled in this place - 202

Chap. LVI. — How they spoke with the Chaneses - - 203

Chap. LVII. — How the governor sent to find out the Indians of Garcia ______ 204

Chap. L VIII. — How the governor held a council with his officers, and informed them of what was passing - 205

X

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chap. LIX.— How the governor sent an expedition to the Xarayes 207

Chap. LX. — How the interpreters came back from the Xarayes 212

Chap. LXI. — How the governor decided on entering the country 215

Chap. LXII. — How the governor arrived at the Rio Caliente - 216

Chap. LXIH. — How the governor sent to discover the house which was further on- - - - -218

Chap. LXIV. — How the interpreter returned from the Indian habitation - - - - - 219

Cu

Chap. LXY. — How the governor and his people returned to the port of Los Reyes - - - - - 221

Chap. LXYI. — How the Indians would have killed those who remained at the port of Los Reyes - - - 222

Chap. LXYII. — How the governor sent Captain Mendoza in search of provisions - - - - - 223

Chap. LXYIII. — How he sent a brigantine to discover the river of the Xarayes with Captain de Ribera - - - 225

Chap. LXIX. — How Captain Francisco de Ribera returned from his exploration - - - - - 228

Chap. LXX. — How Captain Francisco de Ribera reported of his discovery - - - - - - 229

Chap. LXXI. — How the governor sent for Gonzalo de Mendoza "233

Chap. LXXII. — How Hernando de Ribera returned from his exploration along the river - - - - 236

Cpiap. LXXIH. — What befell the governor and his people in the port of Los Reyes - 237

Chap. LXXIY. — How the governor, having arrived with his people at the town of Ascension, was made a prisoner - 239

Chap. LXXY. — How the population assembled before the house of Domingo de Irala ----- 243

Chap. LXXYI. — Of the tumults and disturbances that took place in the country - - - - - 245

Chap. LXXYH. — How the governor was kept in prison - 247

Chap. LXXYIH. — How the insurgents ravaged the land, and took possession of the property of the inhabitants - - 249

Chap. LXXIX. — How the monks left the country - - 250

Chap. LXXX. — How they tortured those who were not on their side

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XI

Chap. LXXXI. — How they wished to kill a sheriff who had made them a requisition - - - -253

Chap. LXXXII. — How the insurgents gave the Indians permission to eat human flesh - - - - - 254

Chap. LXXXIIL— How the insurgents had to write to His Majesty and send him a report - 256

Chap. LXXXIY. — How they gave arsenic three times to the governor during the voyage - 259

Narrative of Hernando de Ribera - - - 263

ILLUSTRATION.

Map of South America in the XYI Century.

Cu

COEEIGENDA.

Page 1, title, for Von Straubingen, read of Straubing. ,, 15, line 27, for lakes ix, read lake six.

,, 16, last line, for salnaischo, read saluaischo.

„ 24, note, for for mof, read form of.

„ 32, line 15, for St. Catherine, read Sta. Catharina.

,, 43, note, for Guaragos, read Guarayos.

,, 80, line 4, for Schmiedel, read Schmidt.

„ 83, note, for Uruguai, read Uruguay.

„ 106, line 18, for Estropinan, read Estopinan.

,, 107, line 4, for Estropinan, read Estopinan.