somehiker
Silver Member
- May 1, 2007
- 4,365
- 6,434
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Seeing as how Jeff (Arcana Exploration) had nothing to do with the grandiose claims that ruined, once again, another valuable thread, I've decided to repost the last relevant contribution by Jeff to the topic. Hopefully, this conversation can proceed from this point without more of the same kind of disruptive behavior.......
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Even though Alvar de Vaca's journey, according to the analysis done by the makers of the video posted above, did not include any part of Arizona, his story is still relevant to the overall history of what I am trying to unravel. His vivid descriptions of the lands, the climate, and the native poulations he and his companions encountered and interacted with along the way until finally locating Diego de Alcaraza's company of slavers near San Miguel de Culiacán ( now simply named Culiacán ), adds a great deal to what we know of Florida, Texas, and northern Mexico during the earliest days of Spanish colonialism.
A few things within De Vaca's relacion I found interesting. One in particular is worth doing a bit more research on.
That one village of indians on the west coast of Florida had in their possesion " many boxes for merchandise from Castilla. In every one of them was a corpse covered with painted deer hides. The commissary thought this to be some idolatrous practice, so he burnt the boxes with the corpses. We also found pieces of linen and cloth, and feather head dresses that seemed to be from New Spain, and samples of gold."
"We inquired of the Indians (by signs) whence they had obtained these things and they gave us to understand that, very far from there, was a province called Apalachen in which there was much gold. They also signified to us that in that province we would find everything we held in esteem. They said that in Apalachen there was plenty."
Going by the description of goods and the location...west coast of Florida/Crystal River area...I'd say the natives had salvaged a very early Spanish shipwreck, perhaps one carrying items being sent to Spain by Cortez himself.
There are few references to treasure within de Vaca's Relacion of what he and his three companions experienced after leaving the gulf coast of Texas, and no mention of large and wealthy cities to the north within. Yet we know that he and his companions had learned of such a place during this part of their travels and had reported this to Viceroy Mendoza upon their arrival in Mexico City in 1536. Estevan Dorantes (Estevan the Moor), who may have known more than even de Vaca did about what soon became rumored to be the fabled "seven cities of gold", was subsequently chosen to accompany and guide the first officially sanctioned exploration of North Western Mexico and Arizona.....that of Friar Marcos de Niza in 1538-1539.
That is when it starts to get even more interesting IMO.
More:
Even though Alvar de Vaca's journey, according to the analysis done by the makers of the video posted above, did not include any part of Arizona, his story is still relevant to the overall history of what I am trying to unravel. His vivid descriptions of the lands, the climate, and the native poulations he and his companions encountered and interacted with along the way until finally locating Diego de Alcaraza's company of slavers near San Miguel de Culiacán ( now simply named Culiacán ), adds a great deal to what we know of Florida, Texas, and northern Mexico during the earliest days of Spanish colonialism.
A few things within De Vaca's relacion I found interesting. One in particular is worth doing a bit more research on.
That one village of indians on the west coast of Florida had in their possesion " many boxes for merchandise from Castilla. In every one of them was a corpse covered with painted deer hides. The commissary thought this to be some idolatrous practice, so he burnt the boxes with the corpses. We also found pieces of linen and cloth, and feather head dresses that seemed to be from New Spain, and samples of gold."
"We inquired of the Indians (by signs) whence they had obtained these things and they gave us to understand that, very far from there, was a province called Apalachen in which there was much gold. They also signified to us that in that province we would find everything we held in esteem. They said that in Apalachen there was plenty."
Going by the description of goods and the location...west coast of Florida/Crystal River area...I'd say the natives had salvaged a very early Spanish shipwreck, perhaps one carrying items being sent to Spain by Cortez himself.
There are few references to treasure within de Vaca's Relacion of what he and his three companions experienced after leaving the gulf coast of Texas, and no mention of large and wealthy cities to the north within. Yet we know that he and his companions had learned of such a place during this part of their travels and had reported this to Viceroy Mendoza upon their arrival in Mexico City in 1536. Estevan Dorantes (Estevan the Moor), who may have known more than even de Vaca did about what soon became rumored to be the fabled "seven cities of gold", was subsequently chosen to accompany and guide the first officially sanctioned exploration of North Western Mexico and Arizona.....that of Friar Marcos de Niza in 1538-1539.
That is when it starts to get even more interesting IMO.
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