how the gouernour discouered the prouince of tulla, and what happened vnto him.

the gouernour rested a moneth in the prouince of cayas. in which time the horses fattened and thriued more, then in other places in a longer time, with the great plentie of maiz and the leaues thereof, which i thinke was the best that hath been seene, and they dranke of a lake of very hot water, and somewhat brackish, and they dranke so much, that it swelled in their bellies when they brought them from the watering. vntill that time the christians wanted salt, and there they made good store, which they carried along with them. the indians doe carrie it to other places to exchange it for skinnes and mantles. they make it along the riuer, which when it ebbeth, leaueth it vpon the vpper part of the sand. and because they cannot make it, without much sand mingled with it, they throw it into certaine baskets which they haue for that purpose, broad at the mouth, and narrow at the bottom, and set it in the aire vpon a barre, and throw water into it, and set a small vessell vnder it, wherein it falleth: “being strained and set to boile vpon the fire, when the water is sodden away, the salt remaineth in the bottome of the pan.” on both sides of the riuer the countrie was full of sowne fields, and there was store of maiz. the indians durst not come ouer where wee were: and when some of them shewed themselues, the souldiers that saw them called vnto them; then the indians passed the riuer, and came with them where the gouernor was. he asked them for the cacique. they said, that he remained quiet, but that he durst not shew himselfe. the gouernour presently sent him word, that he should come vnto him, and bring him a guide and an interpretour for his iournie, if he made account of his friendship: and if he did not so, he would come himselfe to seeke him, and that it would be the worse for him. hee waited three daies, and seeing he came not, he went to seeke him, and brought him prisoner with 150. of his men. he asked him whether hee had notice of any great cacique, and which way the countrie was best inhabited. hee answered, that the best countrie thereabout was a prouince toward the south, a day and an halfes iournie, which was called tulla; and that he could giue him a guide, but no interpretour, because the speech of that countrie was different from his, and because he and his ancestors had alwaies warres with the lords of that prouince: therefore they had no commerce, nor vnderstood one anothers language. immediatly the gouernour with certaine horsemen, and 50. footemen, departed toward tulla, to see if the countrie were such, as hee might passe through it with all his companie: and assoone as hee arriued there, and was espied of the indians, the countrie gathered together, and assoone as 15. or 20. indians could assemble themselues, they set vpon the christians: and seeing that they did handle them shrewdly, and that the horsemen ouertooke them when they fled, they gat vp into the tops of their houses, and sought to defend themselues with their arrowes: and being beaten downe from one, they gat vp vpon another. and while our men pursued some, others set vpon them another way. thus the skirmish lasted so long, that the horses were tired, and they could not make them runne. the indians killed there one horse, and some were hurt. there were 15. indians slaine there, and 40. women and boies were taken prisoners. for whatsoeuer indian did shoot at them, if they could come by him, they put him to the sword. the gouernour determined to returne toward cayas, before the indians had time to gather a head; and presently that euening, going part of the night to leaue tulla, he lodged by the way, and the next day came to cayas: and within three daies after he departed thence toward tulla with all his companie: he carried the cacique along with him, and among all his men, there was not one found that could vnderstand the speech of tulla. he staied three daies by the way, and the day that he came thither, he found the towne abandoned: for the indians durst not tarrie his comming. but assoone as they knew that the gouernour was in tulla, the first night about the morning watch, they came in two squadrons two seuerall waies, with their bowes and arrowes, and long staues like pikes. assoone as they were descried, both horse and foot sallied out vpon them, where many of the indians were slaine: and some christians and horses were hurt: some of the indians were taken prisoners, whereof the gouernour sent sixe to the cacique, with their right hands and noses cut off: and sent him word, that if he came not to him to excuse and submit himselfe, that hee would come to seeke him, and that hee would doe the like to him, and as many of his as hee could find, as hee had done to those which hee had sent him: and gaue him three daies respit for to come. and this he gaue them to vnderstand by signes, as well as hee could, for there was no interpretour. at the three daies end, there came an indian laden with oxe hides. he came weeping with great sobs, and comming to the gouernour cast himselfe downe at his feet: he tooke him vp, and he made a speech, but there was none that vnderstood him. the gouernour by signes commanded him, to returne to the cacique, and to will him, to send him an interpretor, which could vnderstand the men of cayas. the next day came three indians laden with oxe hides; and within three daies after came 20. indians, and among them one that vnderstood them of cayas: who, after a long oration of excuses of the cacique, and praises of the gouernour, concluded with this, that he and the other were come thither on the caciques behalfe, to see what his lordship would command him to doe, for he was readie at his commandement. the gouernour and all his companie were verie glad. for in no wise could they trauell without an interpretour. the gouernour commanded him to be kept safe, and bad him tell the men that came with him, that they should returne to the cacique, and signifie vnto him, that he pardoned him for that which was past, and thanked him much for his presents and interpretour, which he had sent him, and that he would bee glad to see him, and that he should come the next day to talke with him. the cacique of tulla. after three daies, the cacique came, and 80. indians with him: and himselfe and his men came weeping into the camp, in token of obedience and repentance for the errour passed, after the manner of that countrie: he brought a present of many oxe hides: which, because the countrie was cold, were verie profitable, and serued for couerlets, because they were very soft, and wolled like sheepe. not farre from thence toward the north were many oxen. gomara histor. gener. cap. 215. the christians saw them not, nor came into the countrie where they were, because those parts were euil inhabited, and had small store of maiz where they were bred. the cacique of tulla made an oration to the gouernour, wherein he excused himselfe, and offered him his countrie, subiects, and person. aswell this cacique as the others, and all those which came to the gouernour on their behalfe, deliuered their message or speech in so good order, that no oratour could vtter the same more eloquentlie.