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Discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon - Expeditions
of De Ayllon, 1512- 1525. The discovery of Florida is one of the romantic episodes of history. Columbus and his successors had, rather by chance than design, pursued a southerly line of exploration, which had led them to the discovery, in the first instance, of the West India Islands, and, subsequently, of the mainland of South America and a small part of Central America. Even the shores of the vast Pacific had been reached by Balboa before the southeastern portion of the United States had been discovered. This seems the more singular, as the pursuit of a westerly course from Spain would have brought an expedition in sight of land on the coasts of North America much sooner than the southwesterly course, which carried the navigators to the islands and shores of the Caribbean Sea. It has been claimed that Sebastian Cabot, in the year 1497, sailing under a commission granted by Henry VII. of England, coasted along the shores of North America from 61° * to the southern extremity of Florida. It is, however, very doubtful whether he went south of Cape Hatteras, in lat. 36°, the whole statement resting upon a passage in Peter Martyr, in which it is stated " that Cabot sailed so far toward the west that he had the island of Cuba on his left hand, in manner, in the same degree of longitude." * This expression, in connection with the previous statement that he had sailed as far southward as the Straits of Gibraltar, would indicate Cape Hatteras as the southern limit of his voyage. At the period of these early voyages the name of Florida was applied to the whole coast, from the Chesapeake southwards. The generally received opinion, however, confers the credit of the discovery of Florida upon Juan Ponce de Leon, in the year 1512. The origin of the expedition which resulted in the discovery, and the object of its prosecution by the romantic old cavalier, have associated Florida with the Fountain of Youth so long embalmed in ancient fable. Juan Ponce de Leon was one of the companions of Columbus upon his second voyage, and subsequently remained on the island of Hispaniola an officer of some reputation under Ovando. While thus employed he visited the island of Porto Rico, and eventually received a commission to conquer and colonize that island. After various turns of fortune, checkered with successes and adversities, he at length succeeded in accomplishing its subjugation, only to find himself, as was not infrequent in those days, superseded by some newer favorite of the court. Thus deprived of his dignity as Adelantado of Porto Rico, the restless old soldier turned, naturally enough, to the setting on foot of some new expedition, which should redound to his honor and profit. The explorations to the south and west had already engaged the attention of many others, and it was the fashion in those days to apportion limits, which would preclude all, except the duly commissioned parties, from visiting or exploring within certain degrees of latitude and longitude. This arrangement was the more readily made, inasmuch as at the outset of the discoveries in the western seas Pope Alexander VI. had, by special grant, given to his Catholic Majesty of Spain no diplomatic notes of protest being made by other powers, those most interested being ignorant of the concession unlimited sway over all the countries, nations, and people lying to the westward of those previously assigned to the crown of Portugal. While casting about in his mind as to what direction to give to his proposed enterprise, the veteran was informed by some of those purveyors of the marvelous who can always manage to supply the appetite of the credulous, that there was a famous land, lying to the northwest, which contained within its borders all the treasures of El Dorado, and, moreover, to its other wonders added that of possessing a stream the waters of which were gifted with the power of conferring upon those who should bathe themselves therein the freshness of youth and a renovation of all their faculties. This enticing description appealed to Ponce de Leon by many considerations, among the most prominent of which was the natural craving for gold felt by him in common with all the adventurers ; and, moreover, to one sensibly declining in years and strength, nothing could be more desirable than to obtain a fresh lease of youthful vigor and enjoyment ; while to these potent reasons was added the expectation that the honor which would crown the happy discoverer of this wonderful land would exceed that of all his predecessors in the field of discovery. The veteran officer had acquired some degree of wealth in his public employments, and was thus enabled, from his own means, to equip three vessels for his expedition. He easily obtained followers to accompany him, as credulity was not a rare quality, and the real wonders of the New World were apparently as strange as any that could be invented. Departing from Porto Rico in the spring of 1512, Ponce de Leon directed his course, in the first instance, towards the supposed location of Bimini, an island which shared with the other unknown region the possession of one of these wonderful fountains, and was said to lie near at hand in the Lucayan group. A long cruise amid the Bahama cluster of rocks and islets gave no satisfactory result to his search for the fabled Bimini, and, like many other wonders, more seemed to be known about it at a distance than in the locality where it was said to exist. Unable, after a long exploration, to find Bimini, he then determined to seek the more distant land which had tempted his covetousness and his ambition. It is highly probable that, in cruising among the Bahamas, he received information of the existence of land to the northwest of them, as the Strait of Florida is but some fifty miles in width, and the natives had, doubtless, some intercourse across the calm summer seas with their neighbors of the main. He first made land on the eastern coast of Florida on Sunday, the 27th of March, 1512, but did not set foot upon its shores until the 2d of April, in lat. 30° 8', at a point probably a short distance northerly of St. Augustine. The Indian name of the country is said to have been Cautio, but Ponce de Leon, following the custom of the times, by reason of having come upon the coast on Palm Sunday - Pascua Florida, as it is called in Spanish and probably delighted with the green verdure and flowing glades which opened upon his view, gave to his supposed island the name of Florida. The usual ceremony of planting a cross and taking possession of the country in the name of the Spanish monarch, swearing allegiance to his throne, and throwing the royal banner to the breeze, was observed, and the country came thereby to be considered by their Catholic Majesties a Spanish province by right of discovery. They remained on the coast some two months, exploring the interior to some extent, and visiting various portions of the shores of the supposed island. The inhabitants they found to be fierce and implacable, and the explorations made brought to light neither riches nor treasures of any kind ; nor could the eager De Leon obtain any tidings of the fabled fountain which was to renew his youth. Finally, discouraged with the fruitless results of his expedition, he returned to Porto Rico, carrying with him nothing of value but the report of his discovery. Whether the story of the Fountain of Youth, and of the golden treasures of the mainland, was a pure fable, or whether it was merely a poetic and exaggerated description of the country, may well admit of a doubt: I am inclined, however, to the belief that the latter is the more reasonable view of it. While much of Florida is in one sense comparatively barren, yet the evergreen and luxuriant foliage which covers its soil and hangs in rich masses along the banks of its streams, the pleasant equability of its climate, a country affording in its rivers, its forests, and its productions, easy means for the support of life to a savage race while the passion for display could be gratified by the gold and pearls obtained, with no great difficulty, from the streams and hills of Georgia - might well cause it to be accounted by the occasional visitors from the adjoining isles as indeed a rich and pleasant country, and even the fabled fountain might seem to find a realization in some of the remarkably beautiful springs which exist in various portions of the country. Who that has ever floated on the bright waters of Silver Spring, or the bosom of the Wakulla, has not felt his pulses thrill with delight at the almost unreal character of the scent - the waters so pellucid that one seems suspended in mid-air; the shadows from the skies above rest in changing beauty in its depths ; while the bright sunlight flecks the silvery rocks below with rays of dazzling brightness, and an azure tinge encircles every object and surrounds it with a halo of purplish light. It is not strange that they should be deemed to possess a renovating elixir, and to promise, to those who would dwell by their banks and disport in their waters, a restoration of youthful vigor and energy. Ponce de Leon, on leaving Florida, again searched for the renowned island Bimini, but with no better success than before, and thence returned to Porto Rico, putting the best face on the matter, and determined to gain whatever credit might attach to his discovery of a new region of country; doubtless to enhance its importance, he made a flattering report of its riches and value. The purpose of his expedition had in the mean time become widely known, and the wits of the Spanish court rallied him not a little upon his pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. He sought for, and obtained, however, from the crown, the title and privileges, whatever they might be worth, of Adelantado of Florida, agreeing to transport thither three hundred men, and to conquer and colonize it for his Majesty. He was to commence his enterprise within one year, and to explore the country within three years. He did not appear, however, to be in any haste to revisit it, and accepted the command of an expedition against the Canto Indians, in which he was unsuccessful In the mean time, in the year 1516, Diego Miruelo, a pilot, sailed from Cuba with a single vessel, and, directing his course to Florida, obtained from some of the natives he encountered, pieces of gold, but without much exploration returned to Cuba, where he gave most glowing accounts of the richness of that country and its neighboring islands, and excited the wish among a large number of persons to undertake an expedition to its shores. In the following year an expedition landed in Florida from a vessel commanded by Fernandez de Cordova. Bernal Diaz, afterwards so well known in connection with the conquest of Mexico, accompanied this party. Although they placed sentinels upon their landing, and took every precaution against surprise, they were unexpectedly attacked by a large body of natives, who wounded six and killed one of their number. The attack was made so vigorously that the Spaniards escaped with difficulty to their vessel, and were glad to return to Cuba, where their leader died of his wounds. One Anton de Alaminos was of this party, and, upon his arrival in Cuba, undertook to make a full report of what he had observed upon the coasts of New Spain and Florida, to the governor of Jamaica, Don Francisco de Garay, giving a glowing account of the extent and riches of those regions. De Garay gave such encouragement to Alaminos that he went with three vessels to the coast of Florida, landed twice upon its shores, and was each time forced by the Indians to re-embark, and, pursuing his voyage, coasted the Mexican Gulf as far as the river Panuco. His patron, assured of the truth of the representations he had made, applied to the Spanish crown for the Adelantadoship and government of the country. As no further action was had by De Garay, it is presumable that he did not succeed in his application. Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, an officer of some distinction, holding several profitable employments in Hispaniola, and, as a consequence, very rich, formed a company on joint venture, in 1520, with six of his neighbors, having for its principal object the procuring slaves from among the Caribs, to work the mines of that island. The capture of these Caribs was an ingenious device of the settlers to replenish their supply of labor, which their hard usage of the natives had much diminished. The remonstrances and efforts of Las Casas had induced the Spanish court to issue decrees calculated to insure better treatment ; but it was found that the inhabitants of some of the islands were entirely impracticable, and the story was started that these Caribs were cannibals, and they were thus placed beyond the pale of humanity; so that it was not difficult to exclude them from the benefit of the humane laws framed to repress the rapacity and cruelty of the colonists. Of course, if it was deemed necessary to obtain labor, nothing was easier than to discover an island of Caribs. De Ayllon made his preparations for a descent upon the inhabitants of the Lucayan Isles, a quiet and inoffensive people, among whom Columbus had first landed, and from whom he had received every mark of unsophisticated kindness; but they happened to be near at hand, and some one could be found to declare that they were Caribs and cannibals, if it was the interest of others to have it so. For the purpose of this expedition, De Ayllon fitted out two vessels, and made sail for these islands. Unsuccessful in entrapping the natives, and driven off by severe weather, he passed to the northward, and came to the land of Chicora, on the coast of South Carolina. Of this wonderful land, two remarkable things are related with much gravity by the ancient chronicler. They say he reports that the royal personages of Xapida, a neighboring province, were giants, made so artificially. The mode in which this was accomplished was as follows: While in tender infancy, certain Indian masters of the art took the young prince and princess, and softened their bones like wax, with plasters made of certain herbs, until they left them lifeless in appearance. The nurse who suckled the children was fed with very nutritious food. After some days, the professors in charge of the matter returned and stretched the bones of the infants, and did the same with the nurse, until they had arrived at such a stage of progress as would enable them to increase more than any others in stature, according to their experience in such matters. Others say, upon the authority of the Indians, that they grew so large because they were fed upon such rare and efficacious herbs that their growth was forced. This wonderful art may be considered as one of those lost of old, and these rare and curious plants are no longer known, even to the weird sisters. Another remarkable thing, which De Ayllon learned upon this expedition, was the existence of a race of beings with a caudal appendage, similar to that of the equine race, which was whisked about with great vigor. The diet of these singular beings was raw fish. Subsequent explorers seem never to have encountered these races, unless Gulliver's visit to the Houyhnhnms be considered as authentic history. Such are the mixed creations of the imagination, interspersed with realities, which characterize the relations of the early voyagers. De Ayllon landed at various points, and received only kindness at the hands of the natives. By gifts and protestations of friendship, he enticed some one hundred and thirty of them on board his vessels, and set sail for Hispaniola. So sudden and treacherous an act struck his captives with amazement, and aroused their fierce indignation ; no kindness or attention could reconcile them to their fate, and no artifice could divert the minds of the proud and high-spirited sons of Chicora from their grief and proud despair. They were of a different race and spirit from the natives of the Antilles, and would not submit to the restraints sought to be placed upon them. They were of an unconquerable spirit, and their successors upon the soil of Chicora, the gallant sons of Carolina, have vindicated their claim to be considered their descendants, in their spirit of independence and bold assertion of their rights and liberties. One of the two vessels foundered at sea, and went down with all on board. The other arrived in Hispaniola; but De Ayllon was severely censured for the artifices used to entrap the people of Chicora; and the final history and result of the expedition are thus briefly and pointedly told: "y los Indios no sirvieron de nada, porque casi todos murieron de enejo y tristeca." (These Indians profited them nothing, because they all died of care and grief.) Some years had now elapsed since the veteran Juan Ponce de Leon had obtained the title and privileges of Adelantado of Florida and Bimini ; but, discouraged by the reception which he had met with at the hands of the warlike Floridians, and by the ill success which he had encountered in his attempts to chastise the Caribs, he had remained inactive in his alcaldeship of the town of Porto Rico, yet not unobservant of the reports brought by the various expeditions which had, in the mean while, visited the shores of Florida. The voyages of Miruelos and Alaminos in the Gulf of Mexico, and of De Ayllon on the Atlantic coast, had proved that Florida was not, as he had supposed, an island, but a continent of illimitable extent, and of greater richness and value than his own observation had led him to believe. His ambition and his avarice were again aroused, and he looked forward with renewed hope, not to finding his Fountain of Youth, but to founding an empire which should give to his name an enduring celebrity. During the year 1521 he concluded his arrangements for another expedition to Florida: Cortez had commenced his wonderful enterprise of effecting the conquest of Mexico two years previously, and the reports of his exploits had doubtless reached the sturdy Ponce de Leon and infused into his veins new ardor to undertake a similar enterprise. He fitted out two vessels at his own expense, and absorbed his entire fortune in his outfit. He reached Florida, after severe storms at sea, and landed on the nearest shore, eager to anticipate all others in planting his standard on the soil of his Adelantadoship. Doubtless his first act, upon landing, was to cause his notary to make proclamation of his sovereignty and right to the allegiance of the natives, as their governor-general, and to require their obedience, as was the custom of the great captains in those days. The answer of his liege subjects on this occasion was of a most unsatisfactory character, for they attacked his forces with the utmost fierceness and impetuosity, killing great numbers of the Spaniards, and wounding the governor himself severely, forcing them to retreat precipitately to their ships and to leave their coasts. Ponce de Leon, grievously wounded and sick at heart, and doubtless depressed at the apparent ill fortune which seemed to attend all the enterprises of his declining years and, perhaps, believing, with the superstitious feeling of his countrymen, that some malignant fate overshadowed his destiny, rankling with pain of both head and heart, succumbed to the adverse winds of fortune, abandoned the shores of Florida, and the prospective honors before him, and sailed to the neighboring coast of Cuba, where, after a few days, he died, regretted and honored by many who had known the bold and adventurous cavalier in his earlier years. This simple epitaph was inscribed on his monument : - * * Mole sub hoc fortis Requiescunt ossa Leonis Qui vicit factis Nomina magna suis. Which was rendered into Spanish by Castellano, as follows: - Aquesto lugar estrecho Es sepulcro del varon Que en el nonibre fue Leon Y mucho mas en el hecho. Ponce de Leon left a son named Louis, upon whom the emperor conferred the Adelantadoship and honors of his father. It does not appear, however, that he ever made any use of his privileges, or attempted to carry out the designs of his father ; and he is heard of no more in connection with the history of Florida. Of all the historic names associated with its long history, De Soto alone perhaps excepted, the name of Ponce de Leon stands out more prominently than "any other : the romantic character of his expedition has won 'for him a name and a remembrance which the real importance of anything he attempted or accomplished, in that or any other quarter, would have failed to give him - so true it is that the folly or credulity of mankind often makes more impression upon the public mind than distinguished virtues. In the mean time, De Ayllon, not discouraged by the profitless results of his abduction of the natives of Chicora, and trusting, by renewed effort, to make an advantageous lodgment upon that coast, proceeded first to Spain, taking with him one of the natives of Chicora, named Francisco, a captive whom he had instructed in the faith and language of the Spaniards. Having presented himself at court, De Ayllon related to the ministers of the crown the events of the voyage he had undertaken to Chicora, described the situation of the country, its fruits and productions, as well as the manners and customs of its inhabitants, and sought the privilege of its conquest and settlement. This was granted, with the additional honor of being created a Knight of the Order of St. Lago. The agreement entered into between the king and De Ayllon contained, however, a special article, which forbade the subjection of the natives, or the granting of repartimientos, which, up to that period, had been usually given, and had been deemed a necessary privilege granted to the Royal Adelantados and conquerors. This clause was probably due to the untiring efforts of Las Casas to ameliorate the condition of the poor natives, and may also have had some reference to the previous foray of De Ayllon upon the people of Chicora. It is an interesting fact in this connection that a greater amount of consideration was accorded to the natives of the mainland of our own section of country, than to the people of the islands which the Spaniards had occupied. By the tenor of the Royal Assiento with De Ayllon, the natives of Florida were to be treated as freedmen and vassals, and to receive compensation for their labor. Owing to delays in making his preparations, it was not until 1524 that De Ayllon was enabled, in conformity with his agreement, to dispatch two vessels to begin the exploration of that portion of the mainland embraced within his contract, which was from the 35th to the 37th degree of N. latitude. These vessels soon returned, bringing specimens of gold, silver, and pearls, and with so favorable a report of the country which they had visited, that De Ayllon determined to set out at once and take possession of his province of Chicora. He refitted the two vessels which had just returned, and, adding a third, again set sail, and safely reached his destination. Choosing a favorable point for landing, with the view of establishing a settlement, he disembarked, and was received by the natives with affected cordiality and pleasure, and this was carried to such an extent as to disarm him of all suspicion. He at once concluded that his design would readily be accomplished, and congratulated himself upon the ease and dexterity with which he had glided into his government. For the purpose of exploring the country, he dispatched a party of two hundred men to visit a town a day's journey from the coast. This party was hospitably entertained and feasted by the natives for four days, and all precautions on the part of the Spaniards being laid aside, they were suddenly set upon, and the whole company destroyed, not one being left to carry to De Ayllon the news of the disaster. A vigorous attack was then made upon those who had remained in charge of the ships, who, getting on board with much difficulty, made sail. It is said that De Ayllon himself perished in this massacre, and shared in the terrible retribution which was visited upon the expedition, on account of the duplicity and treachery of which De Ayllon had been guilty upon his first expedition. The son of De Ayllon sought of the crown the rights and privileges of his father, which were granted to him; but, being unable to equip an expedition, he died in Spain, it is said, of melancholy, in consequence of his disappointment. About this period, Juan Verazzano, an Italian navigator in the French service, came upon the coast of North America in about latitude 35°, landed at various points as he coasted northward, enjoying the most friendly intercourse with the natives, and coasted as far north as Cape Cod. He returned thence to France, and gave a brief account of his voyage and of the manners, customs, and appearance of the different tribes of Indians whom he from time to time encountered at different points on the coast. He made a second voyage to America, and was never again heard of, having perished probably at sea.*** Public attention in Spain and the islands was now directed for many years to the progress of events in Mexico, where Cortez was prosecuting his successful career of conquest, surpassing in the brilliancy of his deeds all that had hitherto been accomplished upon the shores of America, and giving a new stimulus to the love for adventure in all classes. From the success of Cortez, it seemed probable to the public mind that in the interior of both North and South America regions existed of great fertility, and abounding in gold, silver, and pearls, only requiring the stout arm and brave heart of Cortez to give to whomsoever should discover them the like rewards. An expedition for the conquest and settlement of Florida was about to be undertaken upon a much larger scale, and under fairer auspices, than those which had preceded it. It was hoped that a new empire would be conquered, north and east of Mexico, in an indefinitely located region described as lying between the River of Palms (near Tampico) and the limits of Florida, which latter was, in those days, a general designation of the countries bordering upon the Atlantic. This long shore-line, from the Capes of Labrador southward to the Gulf of Mexico, was claimed at a subsequent period by two different parties, with about equal justice. The discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon was considered by the Spanish crown as establishing their prior claim and right of dominion over the whole coast, while the English fell back upon the voyage of Cabot in 1497, and the view he obtained of the coast, as establishing theirs. Subsequently France, as a third party, interposed the much stronger claim of actual occupation to much of the country.
NOTES * " Thus seeing such heapes of ice before him, he was enforced to turne his saile and follow the west, so coasting still by the shore that he was thereby brought so farre into the south by reason of the land bending so much southwards that it was thereby almost equal in latitude with the Straits of Herculaneum, having the North Pole elevate in a manner with the same degree. He sailed likewise in this tract so far toward the west that he had the island of Cuba on his left hand, in manner, in the same degree of longitude." - Hakluyt, vol. iii. ** Irving's Spanish Voyages of Discovery. " In this sepulchre rest the bones of a man who was a Lion by name and still more by nature." ***Hakluyt, vol. iii. p. 295.
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