The Lady of Cofitachequi, 1540

e tanto q viera partio pera Cutifachiqui, no caminho se tomaram tres indios, os quaes dissera que a senora daqlla terra tinha ja dos christãos noticia e os estaua esperado em hú pouo seu. Ho gouernador por hú delles lhe mandou oferecer sua amizade e fazerlhe saber como hia pera la, ho gouernador chegou e logo viera pera elle quatro almadias, e hũa dellas vinha hua hirmã da cacica e chegando ao gouernador disse estas palavras. Excelẽte senor minha hirmã por mim mãda beijar as mãos a V. S. e dizerlhe q a causa porq ella nã vẽ em pessoa he parecer-lhe q mais ho serue qdando como queda dando ordẽ a q cõ brevidade se faça prestes todas as suas almadias pera que V. S. passe e q d'scanse porq logo será seruido. Ho Gouernador lhe deu os agardecimẽtos e ella se tornou pera outra parte do rio.

and as soon as they came he set out for Cutifachiqui; on the way three Indians were taken, who said that the lady of that land already had news of the Christians and was waiting for them in a town of hers. The governor through one of them sent to offer her his friendship and let her know that he was going there; the governor arrived, and at once four canoes came to him, and in one of them came a sister of the cacica, and coming to the governor she said these words: Excellent lord, my sister through me sends to kiss the hands of Your Lordship and to tell you that the reason she does not come in person is that it seems to her that she serves you more by staying, as she stays, giving orders that all her canoes be made ready quickly so that Your Lordship may cross; and that you should rest, for you will soon be served. The governor gave her thanks, and she went back to the other side of the river.

As soon as they had come, he set out for Cutifachiqui. On the way three Indians were taken. They said that the lady of that land already had news of the Christians and was waiting for them in one of her towns. Through one of them the governor1 sent to offer her his friendship and to let her know he was coming. When the governor arrived, four canoes2 came to him at once. In one of them came a sister of the cacica.3 She came up to the governor and spoke these words: "Excellent lord, my sister sends me to kiss Your Lordship's hands. She asks me to tell you why she does not come in person. She thinks she serves you better by staying where she is, giving orders to make all her canoes ready quickly so that Your Lordship may cross. Rest, for you will soon be served." The governor thanked her, and she went back to the other side of the river.

1. Hernando de Soto, governor of Cuba and leader of the expedition. The writer calls him "the governor" throughout.
2. Dugout canoes. The writer uses almadia, a Portuguese word for a small boat.
3. Cacica, a Spanish word taken from the Taíno cacique, "chief," used here for a woman who ruled.

Dahi a pouco espaço sahio a cacica do pouo e hú andor em que certos indios principaes até ho rio a leuaram. Entrou em hua almadia que tinha toldada a popa, e no sollo estaua jaa lançada sua esteira estẽdida e ẽ cima dous coxins hu sobre outro dõde se ella assentou e cõ seus principaes e outras almadias de indios que a acõpanhavã. Foy pera õde ho Gouernador estaua e como chegou fez a fala seguinte. Excelẽte senor a vinda de V. S. a estas suas terras seja muy boa, ainda que minha possibilidade se nã yguale a a võtade e meus seruiços nã seja cõformes ao q eu d'sejo e hum tã poderoso principe como V. S. lhe merece, pois a võtade he mais diria de receber q todos os tesouros do mundo q sem ella se ofereça cõ muy certa e crara lhe ofereço minha pessoa, terras e vassallos e este pobre seruiço:

A short while after, the cacica came out of the town in a litter in which certain principal Indians carried her as far as the river. She got into a canoe that had the stern covered with an awning, and on the floor her mat was already laid out, spread, and on top two cushions one on the other, where she sat; and with her principal men, and other canoes of Indians who accompanied her, she went to where the Governor was, and when she arrived she made the following speech: Excellent lord, may the coming of Your Lordship to these your lands be very welcome, although my ability does not equal my will, and my services are not equal to what I desire and to what so powerful a prince as Your Lordship deserves; for the will is more [worthy? diria] of being received than all the treasures of the world offered without it; with very certain and clear [will] I offer you my person, lands and vassals, and this poor service.

A short while later the cacica came out of the town in a litter, and some leading Indians carried her to the river. She got into a canoe with an awning over its stern. Her mat was already spread on the floor, with two cushions on top, one on the other, and there she sat. With her leading men, and other canoes of Indians around her, she went to where the governor was. When she arrived, she made this speech: "Excellent lord, welcome to these lands, which are yours. My means do not match my goodwill, and my services do not match what I wish or what so powerful a prince as Your Lordship deserves. But goodwill is worth more than all the treasures of the world offered without it. With sure and open goodwill I offer you my person, my lands, my people, and this poor gift."

e apresentou-lhe muita roupa da terra q nas outras almadias trazia .s. mãtas, coyros; e de seu pescoço tirou hú grande fio de cõtas de perlas e o lãçou ao pescoço do gouernador passando cõ elle muy graciosas palauras de amor e cortesia, e mãdou alli vir almadias em q o gouernador e sua gente passou. Tanto q no pouo apousentado foi lhe fe outro seruiço de muitas gallinhas.

and she presented to him much cloth of the land that she brought in the other canoes, namely cloaks [and] skins; and from her neck she took a great string of beads of pearls and threw it around the governor's neck, exchanging with him very gracious words of love and courtesy; and she had canoes come there in which the governor and his people crossed. As soon as [he was] lodged in the town, another gift of many hens [turkeys?] was made to him.

She presented him with much cloth of the country,4 cloaks and skins, which she had brought in the other canoes. From her own neck she took a great string of pearl beads and put it around the governor's neck, and they exchanged very gracious words of friendship and courtesy. She had canoes brought, and in them the governor and his men crossed. As soon as he was lodged in the town, he was given another gift of many fowl.

4. Cloth of the country. The writer goes on to name cloaks woven from inner bark fibers and feather cloaks.

Era aqlla terra muy aprazivel, grossa e de boas varzeas de rios: ho aruoredo ralo de muitas nogueiras e amoreiras: diziam q estaua ho mar duas jornadas: dalli ao redor a legoa e a mea legoa auia grades pouos despouoados e cheos derua q parecia q auia dias que nã abitauã nelles gente: deziam os indios q auia dous anos que naqlla terra ouuera peste e q se mudarã pera outros pouos: nas barbacoas delles auia grande cantidade de roupa, mantas de fiado de cascas d'aruores e mantas de pena, brancas, verdes, vermelhas e amarellas a seu uso louçãs e proueitosas pera ho inuerno: auia tãbe muitos coiros de veado bẽ cortidos de cores, debuxado nelles lauores e delles feitos calças e meãs calças e çapatos:

That land was very pleasant, fertile, and with good river meadows; the woods thin, of many walnut and mulberry trees; they said the sea was two days' journey away; from there around, at a league and at half a league, there were large towns, unpeopled and full of grass, so that it seemed that for some time no people had lived in them; the Indians said that two years before there had been a pestilence in that land and that they had moved to other towns; in their barbacoas there was a great quantity of cloth, cloaks of thread from the bark of trees and cloaks of feathers, white, green, red and yellow, fine in their fashion and useful for winter; there were also many deerskins well tanned in colors, with designs drawn on them, and made of them hose and half-hose and shoes;

That land was very pleasant and fertile, with good meadows along the rivers. The woods were open, with many walnut and mulberry trees. They said the sea was two days' journey away. All around, a league or half a league off, there were large towns standing empty and full of weeds, as if no one had lived in them for some time. The Indians said that two years before there had been a pestilence in that land, and the people had moved to other towns. In their barbacoas5 there was a great quantity of cloth: cloaks woven of thread from tree bark, and feather cloaks, white, green, red and yellow, handsome in their way and good for winter. There were also many deerskins, well tanned and dyed in colors, with designs drawn on them. From them they made leggings, stockings and shoes.

5. Raised platforms of poles, used for storage and for drying food. Here they held cloth and skins.

e vendo a Cacica q os christãos estimaua as perlas, disse ao gouernador, que mandasse buscar certas sepulturas que naquelle pouo estauam, q acharia muitas: e se quisesse mãdar aos q despouoados estauã podiam carregar todos seus cauallos: foram buscadas as daqlle pouo, acharam se catorze arrobas de perlas e meninos e aves formados dellas. A gẽte era morena, bẽ d'posta e proporcionada e mais polida q nhuã da q se vio em toda a terra da Frolida e andauam todos calçados e vestidos.

and the Cacica, seeing that the Christians valued the pearls, told the governor to send to search certain graves that were in that town, for he would find many; and if he wanted to send to those that were in the empty towns, they could load all their horses. Those of that town were searched; fourteen arrobas of pearls were found, and children and birds formed of them. The people were brown, well built and well proportioned, and more polished than any that were seen in all the land of Florida, and all went shod and clothed.

Seeing that the Christians prized the pearls, the cacica told the governor to have certain graves in that town searched, for he would find many there. If he wanted to send to the graves in the empty towns, they could load all their horses. The graves of that town were searched, and fourteen arrobas6 of pearls were found,7 along with figures of children and birds made of them. The people were brown, well built and well proportioned, and more refined than any seen in the whole land of Florida. All of them wore shoes and clothes.

6. An arroba was about 15 kilograms (32 pounds), so fourteen arrobas would be over 200 kilograms. The writer may be repeating a rough estimate.
7. Freshwater pearls from river mussels, which the people here buried with their dead.

Neste pouo se achou hum punhal e cõtas d'xpãos e dissera os indios q auia estado no porto q duas jornadas dalli estaua e q auia ja muitos anos q foy o q alli chegou ho gouernador licenceado Aylhã q aqlla terra hia cõquistar, e ẽ chegando ao porto faleceo e ouue diuisam, brigas e mortes antre alguas pessoas principaes q cõ elle hiã sobre quẽ auia de gouernar: e do porto sem saberẽ nada da terra se tornarã a Espanha.

In this town were found a dagger and beads of Christians, and the Indians said that [Christians] had been at the port that was two days' journey from there, and that it was many years ago that the governor licentiate Aylhã, who was going to conquer that land, arrived there, and on arriving at the port he died, and there was division, quarrels and deaths among some principal persons who went with him over who should govern; and from the port, without knowing anything of the land, they went back to Spain.

In this town a dagger and some Christian beads were found. The Indians said that Christians had been at the harbor two days' journey from there. Many years before, the governor, Licentiate Aylhã,8 had come there to conquer that land. On reaching the harbor he died. Then there were divisions, quarrels and killings among some of the leading men with him over who should govern. They went back to Spain from the harbor without learning anything about the land.

8. Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, a Spanish official who led a colony to the coast of what is now Georgia or South Carolina in 1526. He died there, and most of the settlers left.

A todos pareceo bẽ pouoarẽ aqlla terra por estar ẽ boa paragẽ: que se se pouoara todolos nauios da Noua Espanha e do Peru e Sancta Marta, e Terra firme, indo pera a Espanha lhes vinha bẽ fazer ali escala: porq he por alli seu caminho: e por ser boa terra e aparelhada pera fazer proveito. Ho gouernador como seu intẽto era buscar outro tesouro como ho d'Tabalipa senor do Peru, nã se quis cõtẽtar cõ boa terra nẽ cõ Perlas em caso q muitas dellas a peso de ouro valiã: e se se a terra repartira as que os indios depois pescaram valerã mais; porq as q tinham por as furarem cõ fogo lhe fazia perder sua cor.

It seemed good to all to settle that land, because it was in a good position: for if it were settled, all the ships of New Spain and of Peru, and Santa Marta and Tierra Firme, going to Spain, would do well to make a stop there, because their route is that way; and because it was good land and fit for making profit. The governor, since his intent was to seek another treasure like that of Tabalipa, lord of Peru, would not content himself with good land nor with pearls, even though many of them were worth their weight in gold; and if the land had been divided up, those that the Indians fished afterward would be worth more, because those they had, from their piercing them with fire, it made them lose their color.

Everyone thought it good to settle that land, because it lay in a good position. If it were settled, all the ships from New Spain, Peru, Santa Marta and Tierra Firme could put in there on the way to Spain, since their route passes that way. It was also good land, fit for making a profit. But the governor's aim was to find another treasure like that of Tabalipa,9 lord of Peru. He would not be content with good land or with pearls, though many of them were worth their weight in gold. If the land had been divided among settlers, the pearls the Indians fished later would have been worth more. The ones they had lost their color because the Indians bored the holes with fire.

9. Atahualpa, the Inca ruler captured by the Spaniards in Peru in 1532 and forced to pay a vast ransom in gold. De Soto was among his captors.

Respondeo ho gouernador aos q apertaram cõ elle q pouoasse: q em toda aqlla terra nã auia bastimentos pera sua gẽte se poder soster hũ mes: e era necessario acudir ao porto de Ochus dõde Maldonado auia desperar, q se outra terra mais rica nã se se achasse, que aqlla podia tornar cada vez q quisessem: e antre tanto fariã os indios suas sementeiras e estaria milhor prouida de mayz, preguntou aos indios se tinhã noticia d'algũ senor grade adiante dissera que doze jornadas dalli estaua hũa prouincia q Chiaha se chamaua sogeita ao senor de Coça: logo o gouernador d'tremino hir em demãda daquella terra; e por ser home rijo e seco de palaura, e ainda q folgaua de escutar e saber o parecer de todos, d'pois que dezia ho seu nam queria q ho contradissessem e sempre fazia ho q lhe a elle parecia: e assi todos se cõformauam cõ sua vontade: e ainda q pareceo erro deixar aquella terra porque se pudera ao rredor buscar outra dõde a gente se sustentara te que alli se fizeram as sementeiras e se colhera Mayz: e nam ouue que cousa alguã lhe disiesse sabida sua detreminaçam.

The governor answered those who pressed him to settle that in all that land there were not provisions for his people to sustain themselves one month, and it was necessary to go to the port of Ochus, where Maldonado was to wait; that if another richer land were not found, they could return to that one whenever they wished; and in the meantime the Indians would make their plantings and it would be better provided with maize. He asked the Indians if they had news of some great lord ahead; they said that twelve days' journey from there was a province called Chiaha, subject to the lord of Coça. At once the governor determined to go in search of that land; and being a hard man and dry of word, and although he liked to listen to and know the opinion of all, after he said his own he did not want to be contradicted, and he always did what seemed right to him; and so all conformed to his will; and although it seemed a mistake to leave that land, because around it another could have been sought where the people could sustain themselves until the plantings had been made there and the maize harvested, there was no one who said anything to him, once his determination was known.

The governor answered those who pressed him to settle there. In all that land, he said, there was not food enough to keep his men for a month. They also had to go to the harbor of Ochus,10 where Maldonado was to wait for them. If no richer land were found, they could come back to this one whenever they liked. Meanwhile the Indians would plant their fields, and the land would be better supplied with maize. He asked the Indians whether they knew of any great lord farther on. They said that twelve days' journey away was a province called Chiaha, subject to the lord of Coça.11 At once the governor decided to go in search of that land. He was a hard man and sparing of words. He liked to listen and hear everyone's opinion, but once he had said his own, he would not be contradicted, and he always did as he thought best. So everyone fell in with his will. It seemed a mistake to leave that land. They could have looked for another nearby where the men could live until the fields there were planted and the maize harvested. But once his decision was known, no one said a word to him.

10. A harbor on the Gulf coast, probably Pensacola Bay, where de Soto had told his captain Francisco Maldonado to meet him with supplies.
11. The writer's name for a chiefdom to the northwest, in the hill country of what is now Georgia and Tennessee.