University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Cabeza de Vaca Taken Captive by the Indians

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PRIOR to 1528 very little was known of Texas. None but Indians had seen or explored tkis vast region, and tKe buffaloes and Indians ruled tbe land which was to become Texas free from any interference of the white men. In 1528, a part of an expedition under Narvaez sent to subdue and govern Florida lost its way, and was shipwrecked on the coast of Texas. Cabeza de Vaca, the leader of this detachment, and several of his companions were taken captive by the Indians. For seven years de Vaca and his associates lived among the different Indian tribes as captives, and during this time they had many opportunities to visit parts of the vast region and to learn a great deal about this unexplored country. At the end of that time, four of the men managed to escape to the Christian settlements in Mexico, where they unfolded tales of privation, suffering, and hardships like none that had ever been heard before. The tales of the country, brought by these adventurers, together with a detailed account of the expeditions written by de Vaca shortly after his arrival in Mexico, caused interest to be aroused in the great country to the northwest. Niza, a Span- ish priest, Coronado, and De Soto lead expeditions to Texas from time to time but no settlements of a lasting character were made. The Indians re- mained in undisputed control of Texas until near the close of the seventeenth century.