y of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the pilot
Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of
this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on
our passage to the Havannah._

As soon as we had arrived off the coast of Florida we determined that
twenty of our men, who had almost recovered from their wounds, should go
on shore. Among the number was myself and the pilot, Alaminos. We each
took a mattock and a small cask, being, moreover, well armed with
crossbows and muskets. Our captain, who was dangerously wounded and very
much weakened by the extreme thirst he suffered, begged of us, in the
name of God, to bring him some sweet water, as he was almost dying of
thirst. Indeed, the water, as I have before said, which we then had was
quite salty and not drinkable. We landed in a creek, and our pilot again
recognized this coast, which he had visited ten or twelve years
previously with Ponce de Leon, when he discovered these countries. They
had here fought a battle with the natives, and lost many of their men.

We therefore took every precaution lest the natives should also fall
upon us unawares. We posted two sentinels at a spot where the stream had
a considerable breadth. We then dug deep wells where we thought fresh
water was likely to be found. The sea was just ebbing, and it pleased
God that we should find sweet water there.

With joyful hearts we then took our fill of the refreshing beverage, and
washed the bandages of our wounded. A good hour's time was spent in
this, and as we were on the point of re-embarking with the casks of
water, quite overjoyed at our success, one of the men whom we had placed
sentinel on the coast came running towards us in all haste, crying
aloud, "To arms! to arms! numbers of Indians are approaching, both by
land and sea." And indeed the Indians came up to us almost at the same
time with the sentinel.

They had immense sized bows with sharp arrows, lances, and spears--among
these some were shaped like swords--while their large powerful bodies
were covered with skins of wild beasts. They made straightways to us,
let fly their arrows, and wounded six of our men at the first onset. I
was also slightly wounded in my right arm. We, however, received our
enemies with such well-directed blows and musket-shots that they very
soon quitted us who had been digging the wells, and turned towards the
creek to assist their companions who in t