1630 Testimony regarding Florida Geography and Ethnology
Back to Document Transcriptions Page
See also: Mission Provinces
The following text was transcribed in late October of 1657 by governmental notary Juan Moreno y Segovia at the request of Governor Diego de Rebolledo as a part of his submission to the Spanish crown in the residencia of previous Governor Benito Ruíz de Salazar Vallecilla. The original document was a series of autos initiated in March of 1630 by then-Governor Luís de Rojas y Borja in response to a written petition submitted by Franciscan friar Francisco Alonso de Jesús for information and opinions of military officials regarding the expansion of Spanish settlement in Florida in order to foster the growth of the mission frontier.
The initial intent of the friar's petition was to obtain support for his proposal that Spanish settlers be sent to Florida to establish settlements among the unconverted Indians north and west of the existing mission chain. Nevertheless, in response to the overwhelmingly negative opinions expressed by the soldiers and settlers called by Governor Rojas y Borja, the friar subsequently expanded his original petition, requesting that all the witnesses be recalled in order to provide detailed information regarding the physical and social geography of greater Florida, including not only converted provinces within the mission system but also unconverted provinces along the colonial frontier. In addition, he requested specific information regarding the customs of the Indians in all these provinces. The end result represents a remarkable summary of the state of knowledge of Florida's veteran frontier soldiers in 1630.
Archivo General de Indias, Escribanía de Cámara
Testimony regarding Florida Geography and Ethnology, by Governor Don Luís de Rojas y Borja, 1630
Translation by John E. Worth
Petition
Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, undeserving son of my father St. Francis, of his Regular observance, preacher, custodio, and general procurador of this province of Santa Elena de la Florida, in the best way and form that is suitable to my estate, I appear before Your Grace and say that having attentively considered and understood with a long discourse of time the great importance for the good of this conversion, and the augmentation of the royal crown, that these extensive provinces should be settled by Spaniards who would cultivate them in the most comfortable places, it has seemed suitable to my aforementioned province to ask Your Grace for his opinion and counsel for the stated effect, as the person who in the name of His Majesty has reigned and governed them, so that together, unanimous and consistent, we should consult and confer and discuss a matter of such importance, and having reached the required accord in a legal manner and form, it can be presented in the royal council of the Indies, for which, God willing, I am departing, and so that Your Grace looks over the most principal reasons that at present have moved my aforementioned province to undertake this important errand, in its name I make a presentation of them, which are in the following form:
The first and most principal [reason is] for the propagation and extension of the sacred gospel, which is our responsibility, and for the exaltation of the kingdoms of His Majesty to the populus provinces of Apalache, La Tama, Santa Helena, and Cayagua, the population of which exceeds one hundred thousand souls, which many years ago, and with such security, rendered obedience to the Catholic majesty of the king, our lord, and in his name to the governors preceding Your Grace, and who have on diverse occasions asked for evangelical ministers with such emotion, and today they are demanding and asking for sacred baptism, which is denied them on account of the great distance that there is from this presidio to the stated provinces, which is about eighty leagues. All of this would cease with the aforementioned settlement, the denial of which is done with great pain of the ministers who serve on the frontiers of the said provinces, all of which His Majesty ought to remedy with all brevity so that so many souls are not lost, which are now the responsibility of Your Grace and His Majesty. This should also be done for the said provinces, in case the enemy should on some occasion descend upon the ports of Havana, occupying the Bahama Channel as has been done in past years, [from which] it would be possible [for us] to cross securely by land from the bay [enseñada] called Apalachee, where the fleet from New Spain arrives, to this other northern sea [the Atlantic Ocean], where there are known to be famous ports like Santa Helena, Cayagua, and many others that the said coast has.
Regarding the second [reason], inasmuch as these Indians are of the best nature that is known in these kingdoms, because they do not get drunk, like those of New Spain, the New Kingdom of Santa Fé, and Peru, nor do they have a particular drink of theirs for this effect like the others, and up to now we have not found idols, even though they have some superstitions, which they leave off and abandon with little effort from the missionaries, and thus they easily receive the sacred gospel, and show themselves in short time very able and diligent in our sacred faith, and they have good habits in attending very frequently to the sacred sacraments of confession and communion, and they are very fit for everything pious and religious, in such a manner that men and women, young and old, endeavor to learn to read and write using some books that missionaries have translated in their language.
Thirdly, because the land and climate is the best that is known in these kingdoms, almost all its wild trees and grasses are the same as our Spain, not counting many others that it has all of its own, prickly pear cacti [tunas] that produces extremely fine cochineal dye [grana], and without any human help it produces the precious and fine indigo dye [añil], the esteemed and medicinal sassafrass, woods full of full-grown mulberries that only await the silkworm, a great abundance of sumac [sumaque] that grows in the fields much more large than that of Castilla Real, ditamo, oregano, frenol, and many other medicinal herbs with which the natives and Spaniards cure themselves, sweetgum [liquidambar], turpentine, and many woods of tall pine from which is distilled the liquor from which pitch [brea] is made, and finally all types of seeds and frutiferous trees have been brought from Castilla, sown and transplanted in [these provinces]. There are many more than in our Spain, as will be evident to Your Grace, and there will be many more in the aforementioned provinces that I have noted of Apalachee, and on account of the ground and earth [being] very similar to that of our Spain, cotton and corn [will grow] with greater abundance than in other kingdoms. [It is] populated with many deer, bears, lions, although not as large and fierce as those of Africa, wild peacocks [pabos reales silvestres, presumably turkeys] and many other species of birds both of land and water. The livestock that have entered in [these provinces], although few, including cattle and horses, [are] the best that are known in this New World, as is demonstrated by the horses, cows, heifers, and yearlings that they have brought from Timucua these years to this presidio. And what surprises the Spanish farmers of what they understand is that one yearling nine months old is protected [se cubra] and at eighteen [months] it has already produced offspring. In size and flavor, the pigs are not surpassed or excelled by either our Spain or all of America. [There are] very navigable rivers with precious fish, without lacking the grouper [mero] or the famous Betis sturgeon [sollo] on the seacoasts, almost every fish that there is in our Spain. [These provinces] are rich in metals, even though they have not been found in the land that has been discovered, and amber, [and] everyone who navegates our Mediterranean Sea is familiar with the many and rich pearls [found] in the lakes, rivers, and seacoasts of [these provinces], which we have known about for many years from the accounts and news of the fortunate knight Fernando de Soto.
Fourthly, on account of the exceptional peace and great tranquility that are enjoyed by the aforementioned provinces and all those where the evangelical voice has resonated now from the children of my father San Francisco, and by means of many natives who, having forgotten their bloody and dark wars and perpetual battles, communicate and deal with one another with great amity and security, a matter which the Indians themselves have had through supernatural and divine [help], since these natives are very inclined [to war] in their infidelity and simplicity, even though they are not totally lacking in knowledge of the spirit and its perpetuity, as is demonstrated by the many and diverse rites that they practice with their dead, which does not help, and favors little their general acclaim, with which they hear and receive our sacred faith, and are persuaded that it is necessary for eternal life.
Fifthly, on account of the extreme necessity that these poor and miserable people have of natural and human regulation [policia], which in large part they are lacking, although the caciques, who are their natural lords, and the legitimate counselors that they have, rule and govern their republics in such a manner and means that most of them live in common and conserve themselves in peace and tranquility, and the inferiors respect their superiors, and they serve them and give them tribute without much pressure and violence, on account of which it is very easy for them to render obedience to our king and natural lord, and to receive the sacred gospel, and thus we attest that it will not disturb them to provide seeds and animals for the benefit of agriculture, instruments and materials for the mechanical arts, Spaniards to instruct and implement both things, helping the settlers, and in a short time they will be able to give tribute to His Majesty, with which to excuse so many and such great expenses that are made in these provinces from the royal hacienda, and people of such a good nature, who have such ardent desire, can be put to good use in the service of God, and we will see infinite souls within the sheepfold of the sacred Church, which is the principal goal that the king our lord has, and that for which we all endeavor. And so that I can present this my petition, and everything that Your Grace decrees about this matter, in the royal council of the Indies, I ask to be given a copy. Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús.
Auto
The señor governor and captain general having seen the petition presented by the father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, he said that he would remit an accord with the officials of the royal hacienda, and ordered me, the notary, to notify him, and likewise His Grace would inform the old soldiers who have experience in the land, and he would give an account of whatever they might inform him and of what His Grace is aware of, and a copy of everything will be given to [the friar], and this he provided, ordered, and signed in St. Augustine, Florida on the tenth of March, sixteen thirty. Don Luís de Rojas y Borja. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
Notification
In fulfillment of the auto provided by the señor governor and captain general, I, the notary, read it and notified the officials of the royal hacienda of these provinces, and having understood, they said they are ready to assist in what His Grace orders and commands, and this they responded, of which I, the notary, swear. Juan Ximénez, notary.
In the city of St. Augustine, provinces of Florida, on the thirteenth day of March, sixteen thirty, the señor Don Luís de Rojas y Borja, knight of the Order of Santiago, gentleman by the order of the king our lord, and his governor and captain general in these stated provinces, and the official judges of their royal hacienda, Francisco Ramírez, accountant, Juan de Cueva, factor and overseer, Ensign Don Bernardo de Arraçola y del Corral, treasurer, being all in agreement together dealing with the matters of royal service, and in that which has been requested by Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, and having called Captain Alonso Díaz de Badajóz and Ensign Marcos Fernández Turel and Ensign Pedro de San Martín and Sergeant Diego López, and Juan Fernández de San Augustín, and Juan Calvo, settler, all being together, and having read them the petition presented by the aforementioned Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, and having understood what he requests in it, Captain Alonso Díaz de Badajoz said that on account of the practice and experience that he has from the fifty years that he has been in these provinces serving His Majesty in all the occasions that have offered themselves, in which the governors have employed him, having walked upon all the stated provinces named by the aforementioned Father custodio, he says that his opinion is that if His Majesty is served to send settlers to the stated provinces, that without the recourse of a fort and soldiers in the province of Apalachee and Santa Elena it would not be of any effect on account of the risk that will be had from their natives, by being of a fickle and irritable condition, even if they convert to the law of God, and in any other way one cannot expect any security from them. Of all this he has seen many examples in the time that he has stated that he has been in these provinces, which he would be able to indicate, but which he will leave off by being so many. He only says that he saw that in the time of Governor Juan Fernández de Olivera, he sent the aforementioned Captain Alonso Díaz with infantry from this presidio to punish the Indians of Pohoy because of having killed seventeen Christian Indians who were coming through the river of Cofa with the food and clothing of a missionary, and with the order that he carried to punish them he killed them all, and thus he is of the opinion that without the recourse of a presidio, His Majesty ought not undertake the settlement of the stated provinces, and particular that of Santa Elena, by being near Jacán, and by there being ports where enemy corsairs commonly enter, without there being anyone to hinder them. In particular, [regarding what the Father custodio] says that if the enemy takes the port of Havana and the Bahama Channel it would be possible to pass with security across the land from the Bay of Apalachee where the fleet arrives from New Spain, [this witness] says that since they would have to disembark in the Bay of Espiritu Santo, because there is no other port, that there is a great distance of land, which is much more than one hundred leagues, very dangerous with pagan Indians who are not subject [to us], and many rivers, swamps, very dense woods, and many other difficulties that could be mentioned, and in order to undertake and make this road, it would be necessary for His Majesty to send many soldiers to go as guards of the silver or whatever other thing that might be carried to the ports that the aforementioned Father notes--Santa Elena or Cayagua--which are to the north. And it should be clearly seen the great distance that there is from the lands of the Bay of Espiritu Santo, which is at twenty-six degrees [latitude], and the port of Cayagua is at thirty four long [degrees], on account of which [this witness] finds it to be very difficult and almost impossible to undertake such a road, apart from the fact that the Bay of Espiritu Santo is so large that it cannot be fortified, nor is it possible to impede the entrance of anyone who wants to, or to fortify the port of Caiagua or that of Santa Elena in order to receive the silver. This is his opinion, and the truth of that which he has declared on account of what he owes to the service of His Majesty.
The Ensign Marcos Fernández Turel said that if His Majesty is served to send settlers, he is of the opinion that, helping them with sustenance for several years, giving them pack animals and seeds and livestock for the expansion of breeding, the land is suitable, securing them from the natives, since they cannot be trusted, since it is certain that they will become angry, seeing that the settlers are occupying their woods and lands. He declares this based on the experience that he has of more than nineteen years serving His Majesty in these provinces, having traveled across many parts of it, and when His Majesty does not send settlers in order to extend the converstion, it is necessary to expand the presidio so that the missionaries are respected, and in order to assure their lives, and this is his opinion, and he says it thus by the obligation that he has for the success of His Majesty.
The Ensign Pedro de San Martín, having heard and understood the request by the aforementioned Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, said that he agrees with and is of the same opinion as that stated by Captain Alonso Díaz de Badajoz and Ensign Marcos Fernández Turel, that in the provinces of pagans in which he has walked, which are those of Pohoy and Carlos and Santa Helena, and on account of the understanding that he has from having listened to many very experienced people from this presidio who have served many years and who have gone to Apalache and La Tama, where he has not been. And on account of the experience of those who have dealt with these provinces, he swears the same as the rest, and this he knows by having served His Majesty during the time of twenty-two years in these provinces, and this is what he declares on account of what he owes to the service of the king our lord.
The Sergeant Diego López, having thus heard and understood the request by the aforementioned Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, said that he has been in the provinces of Apalache, Santa Helena, and Cayagua many times, and based on what he has seen and understood of the Indians of the stated provinces, he says that he is of the opinion that without presidios neither the conversion nor the settlement of Spaniards can move forward, for the reasons declared by Captain Alonso Díaz de Badajoz and the aforementioned Ensigns Marcos Fernández Turel and Pedro de San Martín, and he knows this based on the practice and experience of forty years that he has been serving His Majesty in this presidio, and this he declares on account of what he owes to the service of the king our lord.
Juan Fernández de San Augustín, soldier, having heard likewise and understood the request by the stated petition, said that he has walked in all the named provinces of pagans, and very many others, and [also] those subject to His Majesty and converted in these provinces, and he has traveled in them various times with orders from the governors during forty two years that he has been serving the king our lord. And based on what he has seen in the province of Santa Elena and Caiagua, it has good land for cultivation and raising livestock, and it is very fertile, but if His Majesty is served to send Spanish settlers and advance the conversion, he is of the opinion that it would not be suitable for royal service without the recourse of a presidio on account of the little security and bad nature of the Indians, and in the ports that there are in the aforementioned province, each day there enter and depart ships of enemy corsairs that go and come from Jacán, and no settler would be safe from them, and with the communication and dealings that they have with the enemy, the natives will do the same. In the particular [case] of the provinces of La Tama and Apalache, he says that it is land very good and fertile, and [suitable for] raising livestock and for cultivation, but that without the recourse of forts and presdios, he is of the opinion that it would not be suitable to the service of His Majesty to attempt their settlement, nor the advancement of the conversion, and this is what he understands and has seen, on account of it being the land that he has seen in the stated time.
Juan Calvo, soldier, said that having heard and understood that stated by Captain Alonso Díaz, Marcos Fernández Turel, Ensign Pedro de San Martín, and Sergeant Diego López and Juan Fernández de San Augustín, he said that he agrees with their opinions, because he has seen and walked it various times by order of the governors that there have been in these provinces in thirty six years, and he agrees with their opinions, and this he declares on account of what he owes to the service of His Majesty.
Bartolomé García de Capilla, settler, having heard and understood the request by the Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, said that based on what he has seen and knows from twenty three years that he has been in these provinces, twelve of which were as a soldier and the rest of which were as a settler, and on account of having walked in the province of Guale, with livestock of pigs and cows that he has seen in San Pedro and Guadalquini, and having walked in the province of Santa Elena and Caiagua, and in Timucua and in Apalachee and in Potano, he has not seen or found a land more suitable for livestock of cows, mares [yeguas], sheep, and goats than in the Nayoa of Santa María, which is twenty-four leagues from this presidio, its natives subject to His Majesty and Christian, because in the year sixteen twenty-four [there were] seven cows, three yearlings, and one bull, and today they have produced ninety-six head in all, because some cows of eighteen months, and nineteen, and twenty months at most, as soon as they give birth they become pregnant, and their mothers become pregnant every year, and the mares are the same as those in Spain, because from three or four years old they give birth, and the brood mares [yeguas de vientre] become pregnant every year, and they are fat throughout the enire year, on account of the land being as fertile as it is. The land of Apalachee is good for growing wheat and barley, and to have a crop of oil, and in the neighborhood of this presidio it is good for rye, and in all the provinces that the Father declares there are trees and herbs both frutiferous and medicinal as he refers to in his writing, and it is certain that they are in great quantity because [this witness] has seen them, and this is a certain and true relation.
And His Grace the aforementioned señor Governor having seen the declarations of all the persons named, asked them additionally to declare what they know and have heard said, and what they understand about what the aforementioned Bartolomé García de Capilla declared, and all unanimously and in agreement said that everything that he declared regarding the cattle and horses and the fertility of the land and the frutiferous and medicinal trees was certain, on account of their having seen them in the stated provinces and gathered their fruit.
The Sergeant Major Alonso de Argüelles, having been read the request by the Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, and the declarations of the Captain Alonso Díaz de Badajoz, and of Ensign Marcos Fernández Turel, and Ensign Pedro de San Martín, and Sergeant Diego López, Juan Fernández de San Augustín, and Juan Calvo, said that what he knows and has seen from forty years that he has been in these provinces, and having set foot in them on different times and occasions by order of the governors in trips that they have occupied him with, is that regarding the [proposed] settlement, the land is fertile and good and will bear fruit, but that it will be necessary, if His Majesty sends settlers, he should be served to command that a fort be made for the recourse and security of the missionaries and settlers, because in no other manner could they be secure from the Indians, on account of their irritable and fickle character, and who have different opinions every day, and regarding what he says that if sometime the enemy should come upon the ports of Havana and the Bahama Channel that it would be possible to transport the silver across land from the Bay of Apalachee, he said that he understands that the Cape of Apalachee is very shallow and has little water and has many sandbars two leagues out to sea, and that all the fleets that come from New Spain flee from it on account of the said reason. And even if a suitable port and channel were to be found to offload the silver, [this witness] believes it would be very difficult and impossible to transport it across land to the port of Caiagua, or to that of Santa Elena, on account of having to traverse all the province of Apalachee, and much land that nobody knows if it is empty until arriving at La Tama, which is the province that also would have to be traversed in order to arrive at the [province] of Santa Elena, and much more distance by land if it were necessary to go to Caiagua. Such a long voyage could not be made without many people to guard the silver or whatever is brought, and all these people would have to carry the food that would be necessary, because there will be none on the road. On account of such essential difficulties, it seems to [this witness] that the endeavor is impossible, and there are other difficulties that are not as great, which he could state, but he leaves them off since the stated ones are the most essential. Regarding what [the Father] says that the Indians are of a good nature, it is thus as the Father says, but [regarding] the Indians of Apalachee, he has not communicated with them, [but] he has heard the Fathers who have been among them say that they are of good nature and that they request baptism, and that they have also heard it said that the stated Indians commit sodomy [pican en el nefando], and that men are married with men. Regarding what he says that in the land there are many frutiferous and medicinal trees and herbs, it is thus as the aforementioned Father says in his writing, and [this witness] confirms what the Father says in this particular point. And regarding the cattle it is thus as he says, because in the few years since livestock have been brought, they have produced very many, and it is a very fertile land. This is what he understands and knows, and he declares it by being true, and for what is suitable to the service of His Majesty.
And I, Juan Ximénez, notary public for the king our lord, declare that from fifty-two years that I have been serving His Majesty in these provinces, I am sure of all that referred to and declared by the persons named in this declaration, and from other old soldiers who have been in these stated provinces and gone on different times among the natives, and with what these persons have seen and heard said, I can confirm the particulars of all of them, and I make this declaration on account of what I owe and am obligated to the service of the king our lord.
Those that knew how to sign thus signed it. Alonso Díaz, Alonso de Argüelles, Diego López, Marcos Fernández Turel, Juan Fernández de San Augustín, Bartolomé García de Capilla. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
The aforementioned señor governor and captain general and the royal officials, having heard and understood the declarations of the stated witnesses, who were examined in the presence of their Graces at the petition of Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio of this province, so that he can inform His Majesty about that which is contained in his petition regarding whether settlers should come to these provinces, and in order to be able to do it with certainty, as is suitable to the service of His Majesty, and in fulfillment of their obligations, they were of the opinion that they should call the oldest and most experienced persons who had traveled these provinces, who are the eight persons who have declared, honorable people of faith and credit, very experienced in the disposition of the land and the nature of the Indians, and they gree with their opinion by being what is suitable to the service of His Majesty, and this they signed and agreed in their names, and they ordered me, the notary, that if a copy is requested, I should give it. Don Luís de Rojas y Borja. Francisco Ramírez. Juan de Cueva. Don Bernardo de Arraçola y del Corral. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
Petition
Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, preacher and general procurador in the kingdoms of Castilla for this province of Santa Elena de la Florida, I say that inasmuch as I have requested and implored Your Grace to give his opinion regarding the settlement by Spaniards that I intend to propose to His Majesty for the good and expansion of this conversion, which is at the charge of the religion of my Father St. Francis, and [regarding] the remaining matters that my requests contain, and in the declarations made by the persons that Your Grace named, it is not clear, nor are they declared with the distinction that is required, the places in the provinces, the distances that there are between them, the coasts and ports that they have, where the conversion and evangelical preaching have reached and where the doctrinas that we have at our charge are conserved, and in which provinces and what distances there are in them, the practices of the natives both in weapons and in working the land, the seeds that they sow and their general sustenance, the layout [traça] of their houses and huts, the clothing that they wear, including men and women, the means that they have in curing their illnesses, and the government of their republics, so that everything is on record with greater clarity and distinction for the señores of the royal council, so that they might provide with more clarity what is suitale to the service of God and the Catholic majesty. For all of this, I ask and implore Your Grace to command that the aforementioned persons, or others with experience, make [these declarations] in the manner and form that I request here in order to avoid all confusion and doubt that could occur. And if it seems suitable to Your Grace, [I ask you] to give me permission to attend [these declarations] as a person who has seen all or most of the provinces that are today discovered, and who has dealt with the natives for much time, and I have to appear before the king our lord and the señores of the royal council in order to inform and give an account of everything, I request the aforementioned permission so that the doubts that could occur might be proposed and overcome, and so that any that might be possible can be declared, and so that I may resolve [such doubts] with greater ease when they are proposed to me by the señores of the royal council, since all this is commanded for the greater honor and glory of God, and the good of these provinces and for the growth of the royal crown. And because the frigate that Your Grace is dispatching for the port of Havana is at the point of leaving, and I am obligated to embark for the kingdoms of Castilla, I ask and implore Your Grace to order that the aforementioned declarations be made without any delay or hindrance, with the brevity that is most suitable, by this matter being so [important] to the service of God, the obligation to the king our lord, the utility of all these provinces, and the extension and propagation of the sacred gospel, and also that I be given a copy of them in a form and manner that is certified. Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús.
Decree
And the petition presented by the Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús having been seen by the señor governor and captain general, he said that he was again calling the persons that have declarad, so that they might newly declare in the form that he asks in his petition, and that His Grace concedes the permission that he requests and that he might be present for them, and that the officials of the royal hacienda Francisco Ramírez, accountant, Juan de Cueva, factor and overseer, and Ensign Don Bernardo de Arraçola y del Corral, treasurer should be notified so that they might join with His Grace and be present in the declarations of the points that the aforementioned Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús requests, and thus he provided, ordered, and signed on the third of April, sixteen thirty. Don Luís de Rojas y Borja. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
Notification
In fulfillment of the auto above, I, the notary, read and notified the officials of the royal hacienda what the señor governor and captain general ordered, and having understood it they said that they were ready to fulfill what was ordered of them, and this they responded and signed in their names. Francisco Ramírez. Juan de Cueva. Don Bernardo de Arraçola y del Corral. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
In the city of St. Augustine, provinces of Florida, on the third of April, sixteen thirty, the señor Don Luís de Rojas y Borja, knight of the Order of Santiago, gentleman by order of the king our lord, his governor and captain general of these provinces, and the official judges of their royal hacienda Francisco Ramírez, accountant, Juan de Cueva, factor and overseer, Ensign Don Bernardo de Arraçola y del Corral, treasurer, being together in agreement dealing with the request by the Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, that the witnesses might newly declare again, in conformity with his petition, they ordered to be called Juan Fernández de San Augustín, soldier, and having read him the petition, he said that what he knows is that leaving this presidio of St. Augustine, Florida, for the province of San Pedro de Tuluteca, of the Agua Salada [province], there are twenty leagues in transit to the north, and it is a province of converted Christian Indians, and it has some ports, which are three [in number], and in two of them there can enter very small frigates, and in the other one, called Ballenas, cargo ships [navios de porte] of one hundred tons and a little more, and this province borders immediately with that of Guale, which is of Christians, and it has some ports and bars in which there can enter ships of up to fifty or sixty tons, and this province borders to the north with that of Santa Elena, a land of pagans [page torn], and in this province there are some ports and bars, and in the Bar of Santa Elena there can enter ships of up to two hundred tons, and with these two provinces borders that of La Tama, to the west, and it is some fifty leagues distant from them, a little more or less, and this [province] of La Tama, which has its location in the middle of the land, borders with that of Santa Ysavel, to the southwest, which is about thirty leagues distant from Tama, and this [province] of Santa Ysavel borders with that of Harapaha, a land of Christians to the west, which is about another thirty leagues to the west, and all flat land [tierra llana], and from the [province] of Arapaha one goes to the province of Apalache, which is of pagans, fifteen leagues distant to the west, and in this stated province is the Cove [ençenada] called that of Apalache, which is to the south of it, and on this cove to the southwest is a river of freshwater in which there can enter ships of fifty tons, and turning to the south, this province borders with that of Timucua, which is of Christian Indians, twenty leagues distant from it [across?] uninhabited land [tierra desierta], and bordering this [province] is that of Pohoy, running always to the south, about thirty leagues to the south. In this province there are some ports in which can enter large ships of one hundred tons and more, and many others in which frigates can enter. The province of Harapaha is about seventy leagues from this presidio to the northwest, and that of Apalache is about eighty leagues to the west. And regarding the practices of the natives, their weapons are bows and arrows and clubs [macanas], and the arrows without poison, and their agriculture [labranzas] is tilling and sowing corn, beans, and squash [calavaças], with which they sustain themselves, and they hunt in the woods. The clothing of the women is a grass [yerba] that they call guano, and others with ponchos [guaipiles], with which they cover their privates, and the men naked, their privates covered with deerskins [gamuças]. Their houses are of straw [paja], well accomodated for shelter from the great cold. The cures that they make use of are with herbs. And in regard to government, he says that their caciques [and?] principal people [xente principal] govern them with some type of regulation [policia], in their style, without permitting thefts or other insults. And all this he said to be true, and he swore it in form before God and a sign of a cross, on which he placed his right hand, and he signed it with his name, and he said he is of the age of fifty-six years, a little more or less. Juan Fernández de San Agustín. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
And for the declaration of that requested by the aforementioned Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, the señor governor and captain general ordered called Diego López, sergeant, and being present, the presented petition was read to him. He said that what he knows of the case is that leaving from this city to the north, at about twenty leagues is the province of San Pedro de Tuluteca, of the Agua Salada [province], and it is of Christian Indians, and it has three ports, and there can enter in them small frigates, and in the other one larger [ships], and this province borders immediately with that of Guale, which is of Christians, and it has some bars and ports in which can enter ships of up to fifty or sixty tons, and this province borders with that of Santa Elena, a land of pagans. There are fourteen leagues in distance, and in this province there are some bars, and in that of Santa Elena there can enter ships of two hundred tons and more, and in the [province] of La Tama and of Santa Ysabel he has not walked, nor does he know them, and that of Arapaha [is] a land of Christians, and that of Apalache, which is of pagans, is fifteen leagues in distance to the west, and it borders with the province of Timucua, and the land that is in-between is uninhabited land. The province of Arapaha is seventy leagues distant from this presidio, and that of Apalache is eighty leagues distant. And regarding the practices fo the natives, their weapons are bows and arrows and clubs, and the arrows without poison, and their agriculture is tilling and sowing corn, beans, and squash, with which they sustain themselves, with the hunting that they do in the woods. The clothing of the women is a grass called guano and with some ponchos woven from the roots of herbs, with which they cover their privates, and the men [wear] some deerskins with which they cover their privates. The houses in which they live are of grass and straw, well suited for shelter from the great cold. The cures that they make use of are with herbs, and for this they have their doctors [médicos]. And regarding their government, he says that their caciques and principales govern them with some manner of regulation, in their style, and he said this is what he knows of what [page torn] he swears in [legal] form, and he signed it with his name, and he said he was of the age of fifty-two years, a little more or less. Diego López. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
In the city of St. Augustine, provinces of Florida, on the third of April, sixteen thirty, for the declaration of that requested by the stated Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, the aforementioned señor governor and captain general ordered to be called Captain Alonso Díaz de Badajóz, and being present the petition presented by the aforementioned [Father] was read to him, and having understood it, he said that what he knows of this is that from this city to the Bar of San Juan there are ten leagues to the north, and in it there can enter frigates of one hundred tons, [and it is] a land of Christians, and to the [Bar] of San Pedro de Tuluteca, of the Agua Salada, there are twenty leagues, a land of Christians, and it has two ports and bars, one to the north and the other to the south. Frigates of fifty or sixty tons and more can enter them. And as is stated, to the north of San Pedro is the Bar called Ballenas, [where] frigates of one hundred tons can enter. And from this town [pueblo] of San Pedro to that of Guale there will be about fourteen or fifteen leagues, a land of Christians, and it has two ports and bars, one called Sapala and the other Espogue, in which can enter ships of one hundred tons or more. And from there to Santa Elena there are fifteen leagues, and from this port [of St. Augustine] fifty leagues, and it has Bars. The Bar of Shoals [Barra de los Bajos] and that of Santa Elena are five leagues from one another, and ships of two hundred tons, a little more or less, can enter them. In the [town] of La Tama he has not walked, nor does he know what district it has, and he has seen the river called Santa Ysavel, but he has not walked in [the town], nor in the land of Arapaha, nor has he walked in Apalachee nor does he know it, and he has only gone from this city to the land of Timucua and Potano, and he has reached San Juan de Buacara and has gone to Pohoy, and he has seen it with all the neighboring towns [of?] the province [lengua] of Timucua, a land of Christians where there are missionaries instructing them. And he knows that their agriculture is tilling and sowing corn, beans, and squash for their sustenance, and they hunt deer and other birds with bow and arrow, and their clothing is to walk with a deerskin covering their privates, and the women with a grass that is grown in the rivers which is called guano, and with ponchos woven from roots of trees, with which they are covered, and the houses in which they live are of straw, and of mud [barro] in some parts, and protected for the great cold, and their cures are medicinal roots, and they have herbalist Indians [yndios herbolarios] who know them. And regarding their government, he says that the caciques and principal Indians rule and govern them with some type of regulation. And in the [town] of Pohoy there is a port in which can enter ships of one hundred tons, and other smaller ports. And this is what he said he knows regarding that which he was asked, and having been read [his declaration] he affirmed and ratified it, and he signed it in his name and swore it in [legal] form, and he said he was of the age of sixty-nine years, a little more or less. Alonso Díaz. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
In the city of St. Augustine, provinces of Florida, on the fourth of April, sixteen thirty, for the investigation of that requested by the Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, the señor governor and captain general ordered to be called Juan Calvo, an old soldier, and being present, he was read the presented petition so that he might state what he knows regarding its tenor, and he asked to be read the statement and declaration of Juan Fernández, his brother, and having heard and understood it, he said that he affirms and ratifies it, and that he knows all of it because he has walked across all of it many times by order of the governors that there have been in these provinces, and by order of the señor governor and captain general he has gone many times, and a little more than one year ago he was in the province of Pohoy, and he brought back the captain of that town, which is the second person of the cacique, so that the señor governor might give him gifts and negotiate peace between them and the Amacanos, and they achieved and have conserved [peace], and that they are pagan Indians, and there will be about fifty leagues from this presidio to the aforementioned village and port toward the southwest, traversing the province of Santa Lucia, a land of Christians. And this he stated to be true, and he did not sign on account of not knowing how, of which I, the notary, certify his declaration, and he said he was of the age of fifty years, a little more or less. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
In the city of St. Augustine, provinces of Florida, on the fourth of April, sixteen thirty, the señor governor and captain general having seen the declarations of Juan Fernández de San Augustín, and Diego López, sergeant, and from Captain Alonso Díaz de Badajóz, and Juan Calvo, soldiers, in response to that which was requested by the aforementioned Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, commanded me, the notary, to give him an authorized copy of everything in a legal manner and form, and to each one of which that might be given to him [the governor] said that he was interposing and interposed his authority and judicial decree wherever it was legally appropriate, and this he provided and ordered and signed with his hame. Don Luís de Roxas y Borxa. Before me, Juan Ximénez, notary.
And I, Juan Ximénez, notary public for the king our lord, principal and governmental notary in these provinces, by order of the señor governor and captain general, and at the request of the Father Fray Francisco Alonso de Jesús, custodio, transcribed [a copy] from the original that remained in my power, and corrected it, and it corresponds, and I swear in true testimony, and I seal and sign it in my customary name, which is Juan Ximénez, notary.
The official judges of the royal hacienda of these provinces of Florida who here sign our names certify and swear to whichever señores it might be given how Juan Ximénez, who sealed and signed the copy above on the other side, written on six folios with the seal of principal public and governmental notary for the king our lord in these provinces, as he is called, and as [page torn] and writings that pass and have passed before him, that he has given and gives entire faith and credit inside and outside of legal proceedings, and so that this is on record wherever it is presented, we give the present signed with our names, on account of not having other notaries before whom to make similar certifications. Dated in St. Augustine, Florida, on the ninth of April, sixteen thirty. Juan de Cueva.