Forced into Service

Forced into Service. Florida De Soto Trail. , It’s August 13, 1539… , Hernando de Soto and his scouting party are passing through the Indian villages of Utinamocharra located just south of here – , My army of more than 700 men follow behind. We will march quickly through this area on our way north to the Apalachee chiefdom to find food and gold. We also hope to find new Indian guides, as many have deserted our ranks. , ”The governor commanded his men to ambush and seize as many natives as possible, for those who had come along and had served had now fled, and guides were needed. Accordingly they took thirty Indians, counting children and adults. Then coaxing the captives on the one hand with flattery, gifts and promises of reward should they do their duty, and on the other with great threats of cruel death if they should fail in it.” , - Garcilaso de la Vega , La Florida of the Inca , The Conquistador Trail , The Spanish relied heavily on Indian captives to act as guides and interpreters during their expedition. Many times, these captives lied and misled the Spanish in order to protect their people and villages. When discovered, the guilty were burned at the stake or torn apart by war dogs. Those who escaped unknowingly brought disease back to their villages from contact with the Spanish. , The Native Path , The people of Utinamocharra built several clusters of small villages. Their close proximity facilitated alliances for trade and protection. However, it did little to protect them from the onslaught of European armies and their infectious diseases.