They Called This Place Bahia De Mala Prelea, Or
The Bay Of Evil Battle, On Account Of The Misfortune They Had Here
Encountered.
On arriving at the ships, the Spaniards gave thanks to God
for their deliverance from danger; and being all
Wounded except one, they
came to the resolution of returning to Cuba, and set fire to one of their
ships which had become leaky, as they had not now able hands enough to
manage the sails of both, and to work the pumps. Being much distressed for
water, as they had been constrained to abandon their casks at Pontonchan,
some of the soundest of the men went on shore at a creek which they called
De los Logartos, on account of the numbers of alligators found there.
Finding no water here but what was brackish, Alaminos, and the other
pilots, recommended to stand over to the coast of Florida, where they
arrived in four days. Alaminos went on shore in search of water, with
twenty of the stoutest soldiers, armed with cross-bows and muskets, the
Captain Hernandez begging them to bring him some water as speedily as
possible, as he was perishing of thirst. On landing near a creek, Alaminos
said he knew the place, having been here before with Ponce de Leon, and
advised them to be on their guard against the natives, and they
accordingly posted centinels to give the alarm. They dug pits along an
open shore, where they found good water, with which they quenched their
thirst; and while employed in washing some linen for the wounded men, and
almost ready to reimbark, one of their centinels came running towards them,
calling out to put to sea without delay, as warlike Indians were coming
towards them. Soon after they saw many canoes with Indians coming down the
creek. The Indians were armed with long bows and arrows, and spears and
swords after their manner, and being large men clothed in deer skins, they
had a very formidable appearance. At the first discharge of their arrows,
the Indians wounded six of the Spaniards; but finding the effects of the
Spanish arms, they drew off again to their canoes, and seized the Spanish
boat. On this the Spaniards closed with them, being obliged to wade up to
their middles in the water, but succeeded in rescuing the boat and putting
the Indians to flight, Alaminos being wounded in the throat during the
fight. When the Indians retreated and the Spaniards were all ready to
embark, the centinel who gave the alarm was asked what had become of his
companion? He answered, that he had stepped aside towards the creek by
which the Indians came down, on purpose to cut down a palmito; and that
hearing him soon afterwards cry out, he had run away to give the alarm. A
party was sent in search of him, following the track of the Indians, who
found the palmito he had begun to cut down, and near it the grass was much
trodden down, which made them conclude he had been carried away alive, as
they could not find him after an hours search.
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