by Timothy Burke

Sarasota, Florida

Calderon's Company

"Some People, moved by malice and excessive envy,
have accused Spain of having brought dominion over
the whole of the New World at no greater outlay of fortune
than the expenditure of stupied and persistent madmen."

_Garcilasco de la Vega

The Lady of Cofitachique

Leading his soldiers north into what is now Georgia, De Soto reached the Indian village of
Cofitachequi.

"...and the cacica, ruler of that land, came, whom the principle [Indians] brought with much prestige on a litter covered with white (with thin linen) and on their shoulders, and they crossed in the canoes, and she spoke to the Govenor (De Soto), with much grace and self-assurance. She was young and of fine appearance, and she removed a string of pearls that she wore about the neck and put it on the govenor's neck, in order to ingratiate herself and win his good will"1

"And from her neck she drew a long string of pearls and threw it about the govenor, exchanging with him many gracious words of affection and courtesy."2

"In the barbacoas of the towns there was considerable amount of clothing-blankets made of thread from the bark of trees and feather mantles (white, green, vermilion, and yellow), made according to their custom, elegant and suitable for winter. There were also many deerskins, well tanned and colored, with designs drawn on them and made into pantaloons, hose and shoes."3



                            
       

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