A map published in 1656 shows villages like Naguatex, which were described in the 1557 book, Gentleman of Elvas, about the de Soto expedition.
In 1557, a Portuguese conquistador who styled himself the "Gentleman of Elvas" (links to Project Gutenberg) published one of the first accounts of the North American Southeast. This Spanish book explained the "hardships suffered by Governor Hernando de Soto... during the discovery of the providence of Florida."
The book gives dispassionate descriptions of the horror and misery de Soto and his entourage inflicted on the people and cities they encountered in Spanish Florida in their search for gold and slaves. The Spanish crown knew that de Soto was a volatile and violent man, having taken part of the horrors meted out against the Incan empire. The aftermath of his actions were recorded in a best-selling book published in 1552, "A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies" by Bartolome de las Casas, which detailed de Soto's treatment of the natives of today's Cuba: torn apart by dogs, chopped off hands and noses, public burnings, tortures, and mass rapes.
Spain "gave" Florida (the peninsula as well as today's Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana) to de Soto to reconnoiter, but this may have been a ploy to get him out of Cuba. De Soto and his men took off to conquer and exploit this area to become richer than they already were, although the "official" purpose was to bring Christianity to the people there. However, as luck would have it, de Soto was killed by the Chickasaws. Thereafter, Luis de Moscoso de Alvarado led the conquistadors into the Great Bend of the Red River region in a search to return to New Spain, all the while plundering and stealing and massacring. Eventually, they returned to the Mississippi River and followed it to the Gulf of Mexico.
Since this expedition did not include cartographers or naturalists, and map makers of the time period were just getting used to the idea of maps being read from left to right/up and down like books, the de Soto expedition's trajectory has been always been subject to speculation. One of the earliest maps that depict the Spanish journey was published in 1656. I reproduced a portion above and it's available to see online at Barry Ruderman's Rare Maps.
The portion I'm focusing on is, of course, the Red River Valley, which is labeled on the map R. de Spiritu Santo and constitutes the western-most river in Florida. The villages of Naguatex (Naguater on the map), Nisoona, Lacane, and Aays (Ayx on the maps) were mentioned in the book by the "Gentleman of Elvas" and faced destruction by the conquistadors.
The Caddoan villages of Naguatex, Nissona (Nassonites) and Lacane no longer exist; Naguatex was most likely located at the Great Bend of the Red River in today's Miller/Hempstead counties, Arkansas or Bowie County, Texas. The account mentions the nation of Nondacao - the Anadarko, aka the Caddos - but the map does not indicate their village. I believe the Aays (Ayx) are the Aydes, who later peopled a village close to Natchitoches that hosted a Spanish mission and presidio and became, for a brief period, the capital of Spanish Texas. The passage also relates the village of Naçacahoz, aka Nacogdoches.
An interesting side note: there is another Naguatex on this map. It's closer to the Floridian peninsula along the river "S.M. d'Ochus." I'm unsure how scholars have used this map to account for two villages so far apart, yet with the same name?
Below is the excerpt from the book that explains what the horrors that happened along the Red River. The interactions with the native people were described through an Indian interpreter who had learned Spanish and could speak several languages; parts of the journey were led by captive women.
Making Salt
The same day that the Governor departed from Aguacay, he lodged in a small town subject to the lord of that province. The camp was pitched hard by a lake of salt water; and that evening they made some salt there. The day following he lodged between two mountains in a thin grove of wood. The next day he came to a small town called Pato. The fourth day after his departure from Aguacay he came to the first habitation of a province called Amaye. There an Indian was taken, which said that from thence to Naguatex was a day and a half's journey; which they traveled, finding all the way inhabited places. Having passed the peopled country of Amaye, on Saturday, the twentieth of July, they pitched their camp at noon between Amaye and Naguatex along the corner of a grove of very fair trees. In the same place certain Indians were discovered, that came to view them. The horsemen went out to them, and killed six, and took two, whom the Governor asked, wherefore they came? They said, to know what people he had, and what order they kept; and that the Cacique of Naguatex, their lord, had sent them, and that he, with other caciques which came to aid him, determined that day to bid him battle. While they were occupied in these questions and answers, there came many Indians by two ways in two squadrons: and when they saw they were descried, giving a great cry they assaulted the Christians each squadron by itself; but seeing what resistance the Christians made them, they turned their backs and betook themselves to flight, in which many of them lost their lives; and most of the horsemen following them in chase, careless of the camp, other two squadrons of Indians, which lay in ambush, set upon the Christians that were in the camp, which also they resisted, who also had their reward as the first. After the flight of the Indians, and that the Christians were retired, they heard a great noise a crossbow shot from the place where they were. The Governor sent twelve horsemen to see what it was.
Christians and horsemen at Naguatex; the people won't let the Spanish cross the Red River.
They found six Christians, four footmen and two horsemen, among many Indians; the horsemen defending the footmen with great labor. These being of them that chased the first two squadrons, had lost themselves, and coming to recover the camp fell among those with whom they were fighting: and so they, and those that came to succor them, slew many of the Indians, and brought one alive to the camp: whom the Governor examined, who they were that came to bid him battle. He told him, that they were the Cacique of Naguatex, and of Amaye, and another of a province called Hacanac, a lord of great countries and many subjects; and that the Cacique of Naguatex came for captain and chief of them all. The Governor commanded his right arm and nose to be cut off, and sent him to the Cacique of Naguatex, charging him to tell him, that the next day he would be in his country to destroy him; and if he would withstand his entrance, he should stay for him. That night he lodged there; and the next day he came to the habitation of Naguatex, which was very scattering: he inquired where the cacique's chief town was? They told him that it was on the other side of a river, that passed thereby: he traveled thitherward, and came unto it: and on the other side he saw many Indians, that tarried for him, making show as though they would defend the passage. And because he knew not whether it could be waded, nor where the passage was, and that some Christians and horses were hurt, that they might have time to recover, he determined to rest certain days in the town where he was. So he pitched his camp a quarter of a league from the river, because the weather was very hot, near unto the town, in a thin grove of very fair and high trees near a brook's side: and in that place were certain Indians taken; whom he examined, whether the river were wadable or no? They said yea, at some times, and in some places. Within ten days after he sent two captains with fifteen horsemen a piece upward and down the river with Indians to show them where they should go over, to see what habitation was on the other side. And the Indians withstood them both, defending the passage of the river as far as they were able, but they passed in despite of them: and on the other side of the river they saw great habitation, and great store of victuals; and with these news returned to the camp.
The Governor sent an Indian from Naguatex where he lay, to command the cacique to come to serve and obey him, and that he would forgive him all that was past; that if he came not, that he would seek him, and give him such punishment as he had deserved for that which he had done against him. Within two days the Indian returned, and said that the cacique would come the next day; which, the same day when he came, sent many Indians before him, among whom there were some principal men: he sent them to see what countenance they found in the Governor, to resolve with himself whether he should go or not. The Indians let him understand, that he was coming, and went away presently: and the cacique came within two hours accompanied with many of his men: they came all in a rank one before another on both sides, leaving a lane in the midst where he came.
The Spanish learn of the Great Raft
The Governor answered him, that he forgave him all which was past, that from thenceforth he should do his duty, and that he would hold him for his friend, and that he would favor him in all things. Within four days he departed thence, and coming to the river he could not pass, because it was grown very big; which seemed to him a thing of admiration, being at that time that it was, and since it had not rained a month before. The Indians said, that it increased many times after that manner without raining in all the country. It was supposed, that it might be the tide that came into it. It was learned that the flood came always from above, and that the Indians of all that country had no knowledge of the sea.
The Caddoan Villages
The Governor returned unto the place where he had lodged before: and understanding within eight days after that the river was passable, he departed. He passed over and found the town without people: he lodged in the field, and sent the cacique word to come unto him, and to bring him a guide to go forward. And some days being past, seeing the cacique came not, nor sent anybody, he sent two captains sundry ways to burn the towns, and to take such Indians as they could find. They burnt great store of victuals, and took many Indians. The cacique seeing the hurt that he received in his country, sent six principal Indians with three men for guides, which knew the language of the country through which the Governor was to pass. He departed presently from Naguatex, and within three days' journey came to a town of four or five houses, which belonged to the cacique of that province, which is called Nissoone: it was evil inhabited, and had little maize. Two days' journey forward the guides which guided the Governor, if they were to go westward, guided him to the east; and sometimes went up and down through very great woods out of the way. The Governor commanded them to be hanged upon a tree: and a woman that they took in Nissoone guided him, and went back again to seek the way. In two days he came to another miserable town called Lacane: an Indian was taken in that place, that said, that the country of Nondacao was a country of great habitation, and the houses scattering the one from the other, as they used to be in mountains, and had great store of maize. The cacique came with his men weeping, like them of Naguatex: for this is their use in token of obedience: he made him a present of much fish, and offered to do what he would command him. He took his leave, and gave him a guide to the province of Soacatino.
The Governor departed from Nondacao towards Soacatino, and in five days' journey came to a province called Aays. The Indians which inhabited it had no notice of the Christians: but as soon as they saw that they entered into their country, they assembled themselves: and as they came together fifty or a hundred, they came forth to fight. While some fought, others came and charged our men another way, and while they followed some, others followed them. The fight lasted the greatest part of the day, till they came to their town. Some horses and men were wounded, but not to any hurt of their traveling: for there was no wound that was dangerous. There was a great spoil made of the Indians.
The Nondacoas lead the Spanish party astray
That day that the Governor departed from thence, the Indian that guided him said that in Nondacao he had heard say, that the Indians of Soacatino had seen other Christians, whereof they all were very glad: thinking it might be true, and that they might have entered into those parts by Nueva España; and that if it were so, it was in their own hand to go out of Florida, if they found nothing of profit: for they feared they should lose themselves in some wilderness. This Indian led him two days out of the way. The Governor commanded to torture him. He said, that the Cacique of Nondacao, his lord, had commanded him to guide them so because they were his enemies, and that he was to do as his lord commanded him. The Governor commanded him to be cast to the dogs: and another guided him to Soacatino, whither he came the day following. It was a very poor country: there was great want of maize in that place. He asked the Indians whether they knew of any other Christians. They said that a little from thence toward the south they heard they were. He traveled twenty days through a country evil inhabited, where they suffered great scarcity and trouble; for that little maize which the Indians had, they had hidden and buried in the woods, where the Christians, after they were well wearied with their travel, at the end of their journey went to seek by digging what they should eat. At last, coming to a province that was called Guasco, they found maize, wherewith they loaded their horses and the Indians that they had. From thence they went to another town called Naquiscoça. The Indians said they had no notice of any other Christians. The Governor commanded to torment them. They said, that they came first to another lordship which was called Naçacahoz, and from thence returned again to the west from whence they came.
"Taking" women, and the women leading the Spanish party astray
The Governor came in two days to Naçacahoz. Some women were taken there: among whom there was one which said that she had seen Christians and had been taken by them, and had run away. The Governor sent a captain with fifteen horsemen to the place where the woman said she had seen them, to see if there was any sign of horses, or any token of their being there. After they had gone three or four leagues, the woman that guided them said that all that she had told them was untrue. And so they held all the rest that the Indians had said of seeing Christians in the land of Florida. And, because the country that way was poor of maize, and toward the west there was no notice of any habitation, they returned to Guasco.
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