[Verse 1]
In the beginning of March we came to a country the Indians called Anicoyanque
A cacique called Guachoyangue came to see us
He lived on the banks of the Great River
His village was fortified and well surrounded by walls
At this place the governor had determined to build some brigantines to send to Cuba
To let them know that he was still alive
He sent his captain to find out the direction of the sea
He returned back in a few days
Saying that the vast swamps which the Great River had formed
Prevented him from doing so
At length the governor, finding his situation becoming every day more embarrassing
And his affairs going wrong, fell sick and died
[Verse 2]
We remained here six months to build seven brigantines
We launched them on the river, and it was a miracle they did not leak
They sailed well, although they were calked with the thin bark of mulberry trees
[Verse 3]
On the second day out, as we were descending the river
Some forty or fifty canoes came towards us
In one of which were eighty warriors
They soon discovered that we had neither arquebuses nor crossbows to reach them
The only arms we had were some swords and shields
Consequently, they had nothing to fear from us
They shot arrows at us, and captured some of the small canoes we had taken with us
In which were twelve of our best soldiers
The current of the river was so rapid that we could not go to their assistance
Encouraged by this victory
The Indians continued to harass us until we reached the sea
Which took us nineteen days
[Verse 4]
We entered the sea through one of the mouths of the river
And for three days and nights we could not see land
We perceived towards the west some small islands, which we followed
Keeping close to the shore, to find something to eat
Until we entered the River Panuco
Where we were kindly received by the inhabitants
[Verse 5]
The Spaniards went to sea on the 18th July
And arrived in the river Panuco on the 10th September, 1543
The inhabitants of Panuco, says Garcilaso de la Vega
Were all touched with pity at beholding this forlorn remnant
Of the gallant armament of the renowned Hernando de Soto
They were blackened, haggard, shriveled
And half naked, being clad only with the skins of deer, buffaloes, bears, and other animals
Looking more like wild beasts than human beings
In the beginning of March we came to a country the Indians called Anicoyanque
A cacique called Guachoyangue came to see us
He lived on the banks of the Great River
His village was fortified and well surrounded by walls
At this place the governor had determined to build some brigantines to send to Cuba
To let them know that he was still alive
He sent his captain to find out the direction of the sea
He returned back in a few days
Saying that the vast swamps which the Great River had formed
Prevented him from doing so
At length the governor, finding his situation becoming every day more embarrassing
And his affairs going wrong, fell sick and died
[Verse 2]
We remained here six months to build seven brigantines
We launched them on the river, and it was a miracle they did not leak
They sailed well, although they were calked with the thin bark of mulberry trees
[Verse 3]
On the second day out, as we were descending the river
Some forty or fifty canoes came towards us
In one of which were eighty warriors
They soon discovered that we had neither arquebuses nor crossbows to reach them
The only arms we had were some swords and shields
Consequently, they had nothing to fear from us
They shot arrows at us, and captured some of the small canoes we had taken with us
In which were twelve of our best soldiers
The current of the river was so rapid that we could not go to their assistance
Encouraged by this victory
The Indians continued to harass us until we reached the sea
Which took us nineteen days
[Verse 4]
We entered the sea through one of the mouths of the river
And for three days and nights we could not see land
We perceived towards the west some small islands, which we followed
Keeping close to the shore, to find something to eat
Until we entered the River Panuco
Where we were kindly received by the inhabitants
[Verse 5]
The Spaniards went to sea on the 18th July
And arrived in the river Panuco on the 10th September, 1543
The inhabitants of Panuco, says Garcilaso de la Vega
Were all touched with pity at beholding this forlorn remnant
Of the gallant armament of the renowned Hernando de Soto
They were blackened, haggard, shriveled
And half naked, being clad only with the skins of deer, buffaloes, bears, and other animals
Looking more like wild beasts than human beings
( Sabertooth Swing )
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