Adventures In The Unknown Interior Of America

Erica Del Gallego

Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America

On June 17th, 1527, 600 Spaniards left the port of San Lucar de Barrameda on a journey to conquer Florida. Among these men wasCabeza de Vaca, who later wrote Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America, where he narrates their experiences with the Indians they meet along the way.
The trip did not go as they planned. Theyhad a lot of trouble finding food, shelter from the cold, drinkable water and their boats sank sometimes. Most of their men died during the journey. Some from starvation, others from illnesses, andothers were killed by Indians. The Spaniards went from island to island, finding in each of them different tribes, with different Indians, each with different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.Sometimes the Indians were good to them, and other times they were very savage and aggressive towards them. Sometimes they would make them think they were being nice, and would attack them when they leastexpected.
It took Cabeza de Vaca a long time, but he finally and unintentionally figured out a way to gain respect among the Indians. For some unknown reason, one of the tribes thought he and hisfellow companion were medicine-men. At first, it seems that they were both doubtful of whether they should continue this job that had been imposed on them, or not. But it went really well for them: everytime they got a patient, the patient claimed that he/she was cured. This went on for a while, and sooner or later the complete tribe seemed to think that they had special powers; that they could healanyone, or kill anyone. The Indians obeyed them and gave them all of their possessions without them even asking to. Soon they were known among many tribes, and all of them wanted to touch them,because they thought that that was the way they could get cured. Cabeza de Vaca and his companion went from tribe to tribe curing the ill Indians, and gaining each time more and more respect. It came to...