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Show ay peewr Fe a AE CHAPTER arr) ae THe First SPANISH Expuorers, CABEZA DE VACA aa Hey = i \ o me) a my A ‘ om ‘ A i “te \ \ o oO oq v b ® n AW ov eae \ a Ay AN \\iy a Ws ANY A\ \ o n a nw oe sro \\Y Dae o id H do Yo 5ty QO, 2 ot Se we , 4 fae WY sig 4 II 1534-1542 — Autvar NuNgEz AND HIS COMPANIONS NE of the most marvelous incidents of the sixteenth century, in the way of exploration of the North American continent, was the crossing of the continent by the ship-wrecked survivors of the Narvaez expedition.*®* Don Panfilo Narvaez had occupied the position of lieutenant under Don Diego de Velasquez, when the latter was governor of Cuba. Later on he was placed in command of the flotilla sent out by Velasquez for the seizure of Hernando Cortés and his companions. In this he was most unsuccessful, inasmuch as he himself fell into the hands of Cortés but was finally set at liberty by the conqueror of Mexico. After twenty-six years spent in the service of his royal master in the New World, Narvaez returned to Spain, addressed a petition to the king, asking for the grant of a kingdom, and, after due consideration by the Council of the Indies, was authorized to conquer the country from the Rio de las Palmas to the Cape of Florida, and was also granted certain titles and concessions.** Narvaez was a native either of Valladolid or of Tudda on the He was of tall, commanding presence, fair complexion, with Duro. a red beard, and had lost an eye in a conflict with Hernando Cortés.*° 38 Hodge, F. W., Spanish Explorers in the Southern United States, p. 3. 84 Hodge, F.-W., Ibid. see Smith, Buckingham, Relation of Alvar Nuiiez Cabeza de Vaca; Petition of Narvdez to the King of Spain; Appendix i, p. 207. 85 Diaz, Bernal, Memoirs, Lockhart’s trans., vol. i, p. 325: ‘‘AIl at once I heard some one, and it must have been Narvdez, ery out in a loud voice: ‘Assist me, Oh blessed Virgin! I am a dead man! One of my eyes has been thrust out!’ At the same time we all eried out, Victory! Victory! for those of the watchword Espiritu Santo! Narvdez is fallen! ’’ |