1540]

DE SOTO'S EXPEDITION.

57

ever they wanted, requiring them to carry their baggage, and on the slightest suspicion setting fire to their villages, cutting off their hands, throwing them to bloodhounds, or burning them alive. In the fall of 1540, the invaders found themselves on the site now occupied by the city of Mobile [mo-beel']. Extravagant demands were here made upon the Indians; they resisted, and a battle ensued in which 2,500 natives and 18 Spaniards were killed.

Making his way northward, De Soto, with his men now reduced to 500, spent a cheerless winter on the Yaz'-oo River, Wishing to continue his march in the spring, he demanded of the Chickasaws 200 men to carry his baggage; but, instead of complying, they set fire by night to their wigwams, which the Spaniards had seized upon and occupied. Eleven of their party were thus burned alive. Most of the baggage was consumed, and many horses and hogs perished in the flames.

Their losses having been repaired as far as possible, the Spanish army moved to the west. Seven days brought them to the Mississippi, then (1541) for the first time seen by Europeans. They were kindly received by the Indians, who crossed the river in multitudes, bringing their visitors fish and loaves made of persimmons. A month was spent in crossing, and then De Soto, hearing of a rich country in the northwest, started in that direction. On the route, a tribe of Indians offered to worship the Spaniards as "children of the sun", and brought them those that were blind to be restored to sight. "Pray only to God who is in Heaven, for what ye need", was De Soto's reply.

There was yet no gold, and not only the men but their leader were breaking down under long continued fatigue. At length they found their way to the country of the Natchez. This warlike tribe they tried to frighten into supplying what they needed. The Natchez chief, however, questioned the

them? In the fall of 1540, where did they find themselves? What took place there! In what direction did they next move? Where did they winter? What took place in the spring? In what direction did the Spanish army next move? What river did they discover? How were they received by the natives? Where did they next go?

claims of his visitors, and was as ready for war as peace. "You say", said he, "you are the children of the sun; dry up this river, and I will believe you."

De Soto could no longer endure his disappointments.

Distress of mind and exhaustion of body brought on a malignant fever, of which he died in May, 1542. The priests chanted a requiem over his body, and his comrades wrapped it in his mantle and sunk it at midnight beneath the waves of the mighty river he had discovered. The surviving Spaniards wandered as far south as the forests and plains of Texas, then turned their course north, and after great trials reached the Mississippi River, near the mouth of the Red. Here they erected their forge, made nails from the fragments of iron in their camp, and built some frail barks without decks.

What occurred on the route? What was the condition of both men and leader? At last, where did they make their way? What did they try to obtain from the Natchez ? What answer did the chief make? What became of De Soto? Describe his burial

1543]

HUGUENOT COLONY IN FLORIDA.

59

In these they descended the Mississippi, and about half the original number finally reached the Mexican coast in safety.

86. It has been mentioned that a party of French Huguenots had settled in Florida. Philip II., remembering that possession had been taken of the country in the name of the Spanish crown, resolved to drive them out, and in 1565 commissioned Melendez [mā-len'-dath] for that purpose. Melendez undertook to subjugate the country in three years, to plant a colony, and to introduce the sugar-cane. He reached Florida on St. Augustine's [aw-gus-teenz'] day, and gave the name of that saint to the river up which he sailed, and the town that he founded on its bank [see Map, p. 151]. This was the first permanent settlement within the present limits of the United States, being more than forty years older than any other.

Ribeault [re-bo'], the French commander, immediately prepared to attack the Spaniards, but a storm wrecked his vessels and left him entirely at their mercy. Melendez was not long in taking advantage of his helplessness. Leading a strong force by land against the French fort, he took it, and caused a general massacre of all it contained, including even women and children, old and sick, declaring that he killed them, "not as Frenchmen but as Lutherans".

This wanton cruelty was not to go unavenged. De Gourgues [du goorg'], a brave adventurer of Gascony, fitted out three ships with the aid of his friends, for the express purpose of punishing the murderers. He succeeded in surprising the Spanish settlement, and hanged his prisoners on trees, placing over them the inscription, "I do not this as unto Spaniards or mariners, but as unto traitors, robbers, and murderers".

Too weak to maintain his position, De Gourgues returned to France, and the whole country was left under the domin

What became of the surviving Spaniards? 86. Where had a party of French Huguenots settled? Whom did Philip II. send to drive them out? What did Melendez undertake to do? Where did he land, and on what day? [See Map, p. 151.] How is St. Augustine situated? In what direction from the St. John's River?] How does St. Augustine compare in age with the other permanent settlements? What did the French commander do? Relate what followed. How and by whom was this cruel act

ion of Spain. Cuba henceforth formed the centre of the Spanish West Indian possessions; which included, not only the surrounding islands, but all that portion of the continent that lay on the Ca-rib-be'-an Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

CHAPTER III.

CONQUEST OF MEXICO AND PERU. VOYAGE OF MAGELLAN.

87. GRIJALVA [gre-hahl'-va], on a visit to the Mexican coast in 1517, first heard of a rich empire in the interior under the dominion of Montezuma [mon-ta-zoo-ma]. Velasquez [vā-lah'-skath], then governor of Cuba, resolved to attempt its conquest, and selected Fernando Cortez as commander of the expedition. Cortez was a man of great energy and courage, though unprincipled, rapacious, and cruel. Devoting all his powers to the enterprise, he soon raised 617 men, 16 of whom were mounted. Fire-arms had not at this period come into general use, and only thirteen muskets and ten small field-pieces could be procured. The arms of the greater part consisted of cross-bows, swords, and spears. Thus prepared, Cortez landed where Vera Cruz [va'-ra crooth] now stands in April, 1519.

88. The natives had never before seen horses, and thought that the horse and rider were one and the same animal. When they looked at these formidable creatures and the floating fortresses in which the Spaniards had come, when they heard the thunder of the muskets and cannon and witnessed the terrible effects of their discharge, they thought the strangers must indeed be the children of the gods. News of their arrival was soon conveyed to the emperor, who sent back orders that they should leave the country. But to these

avenged? What became of De Gourgues? What henceforth were included in the Spanish possessions?

87. Who first heard of Montezuma's empire? Who was governor of Cuba at the time? What did he resolve to do? Whom did he select as commander? What kind of a man was Cortez? How large a force did he raise? How were they armed? Where did they land? 88. Whom did the natives take the strangers to be? Why? What mes

1519]

CORTEZ AND MONTEZUMA.

61

Cortez paid no heed, particularly as they were accompanied with rich presents which allured him onward.

Having suppressed a threatened mutiny and destroyed his ships that there might be no temptation to return, Cortez advanced into the country. He met with little opposition on his march, induced the Tlascalans [tlah-skah'-lanz], a tribe hostile to Mexico, to join him, and at last came in sight or the great Az'-tec city. With rapture he beheld evidences of civilization that he had found in no other part of the continent. Temples and palaces, stately structures and gilded domes, glittered in the sunlight. A populous and magnificent city lay before him on a picturesque island, surrounded by a region teeming with the richest vegetation.

89. Montezuma, alarmed by what he had heard respecting the invaders, received them hospitably. Gorgeously attired and borne in a chair on the shoulders of four men, he welcomed them to his capital. There was a belief among his people, he told the Spanish leader, that strangers from the east would at some time visit them. The great chief who had brought the Aztecs to that spot had gone to a distant land, but promised that he or his descendants would return. "As you come," continued the emperor, "from that region where the sun rises, I doubt not that the king who sends you is the royal master of the Mexicans."

Cortez took advantage of this superstitious feeling, and, not contented with the rich presents he had received, resolved to gain possession of the whole country. He formed alliances with several neighboring caciques [ka-seeks'], or chiefs, who were enemies to Montezuma, and soon began to meddle with the affairs of the empire. Destroying the idols to which human sacrifices were offered in their temples, he placed in their stead images of the Virgin Mary and the saints. At last, Montezuma, though afraid of the Spaniards, secretly ordered one of his generals to attack them. Cortez

sage did the emperor send to Cortez? With what success? Give an account of tho march of Cortez. Describe the Aztec or Mexican capital. 89. How did Montezuma receive the invaders? What belief was current among his people? What did he tell Cortez? What did Cortez resolve to do? What changes did he try to make in their