Summary Of The Epic Journey Of Cabeza De Vaca A Land So Strange

“The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca: A land So Strange” written by Andres Resendez takes place in the sixteenth century with Spanish conquistadors searching for treasures in northern Mexico, and the state of Florida that only a handful have traveled into, leaving this unknown territory to be speculated about. Spanish conquistadors involved in the journey to explore Florida consisted of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, Andrés Dorantes, Alonso del Castillo, and Estebanico Dorantes. The goal of journeying to Florida was mainly to bring treasure that was said to have been found in the Native Americans lands in Rio de las Palmas, México. However, due to the lack of pilots experienced with the Rio de las Palmas area the expedition was the result of the

After what's seems to be years of Cortes and Velazquez competing to see who bring the most treasures to the new king, these two aging men were reaching the end of the their years of expedition, for Velazquez had only one eye, Cortes on his deathbed was regretting never searching above Mexico and what lies above it. This is how Velazquez decided to settle the score, to journey where his enemy never had nor never would travel to, due to his failing health. Rio de las Palmas was the destination to reach that Velazquez, who soon learn after traveling to Seville which has been known in that area to be the birthing place of transatlantic voyages due to their massive port and is the only port that is licensed to do business with the American colonies. Velazquez over a large amount of time and many set backs finally acquired enough money, supplies, and volunteers for the voyage to finally begin. However, pilots that could navigate the Rio de las Palmas area were unknown, King Ferdinand had his people keep a record of experienced pilots and what areas they specialized in, also demanded that everyone treated and respected any pilot that came into any town anywhere due to how rare they are and how they differ from a captain as said in page

This was the same for sleeping arrangements unless you willingly chose to sleep above deck vulnerable to the elements and the sounds of the crew members maintaining the ship. Restocking for supplies at ports while on their way to Rio de las Palmas was a curse in the sense that the passengers left the voyage and joined settlements, Native American tribes, etc. on the way especially when stopping at Gran Canaria and La Palma. Overcrowding worsened the depletion of the passengers by the spread of disease and sickness due to the lack of personal space. Narvaez refused to replace the passengers lost and instead continued on with their expedition, telling that he did not wish to depopulate the Canary Islands in page sixty-three. Narvaez, and his fleets arrived in Trinidad where they met a nomadic Native American people that conquering was a simple task, the natives feared for their life so much that they told of their enemies, the Apalachee, who had great wealth of silver and gold and could make them rich beyond their wildest dreams. Greed gets the best of him, Narvaez, decided that the voyage would make a stop at their village before arriving at Rio de las Palmas