ong with the
fugitives; and as the inhabitants obstinately refused to submit or
surrender they were all massacred. After this, on Reynoso Cabeza de
Vaca[179] going into one of the houses, he was suddenly beset by five
women who had hidden themselves in a corner, who would have stifled him
if he had not been rescued by two soldiers who came in upon hearing his
cries for assistance, and who were forced to kill the women before they
could extricate him from their hands. From this place Soto sent out
parties of his cavalry to view the country. When any Indians were made
prisoners in these excursions, they used to throw themselves on the
ground, exclaiming "_either kill me or leave me_," refusing obstinately
to accompany the Spaniards, or to give any account of the country. At
this place the Spaniards found several well dressed cows hides, though
they could never learn from whence they came[180], and likewise other
good skins of various kinds. Four days after the arrival of the
Spaniards at this place, they were attacked one morning early by
surprise by a large party of Indians, in three several places at once,
all calling out _Tula! Tula!_ continually, which was considered as a
watch-word to know each other in the obscurity and confusion of the
attack. The Spaniards seized their arms in all haste, invoking the
blessed virgin and their patron apostle St Jago for aid, as they were in
the utmost peril. In this battle the Indians fought with great clubs, a
weapon which had not been seen before in Florida. The Indians continued
the assault with such obstinacy till after sunrise, and the Spaniards
had been so completely surprised, that they were forced to lay aside all
punctilios of military discipline, each using his utmost individual
efforts for safety, and the officers even submitting to fight
occasionally under the command of their inferiors. At length the Indians
were repulsed, and retired unpursued by the Spaniards, of whom four were
killed and a good many wounded.

[Footnote 178: It is proper to observe that this place is named Fula on
another occasion by Herrera.--E.]

[Footnote 179: This may have been a relative of Alvar Nunnez Cabeza de
Vaca, whose adventures in escaping from the disastrous expedition of
Panfilo de Narvaez to Florida have been related in the third section of
this chapter.--E.]

[Footnote 180: It is however well known that buffaloes are found in
various parts of North America.--E.]

While the Spania