towards justice and clemency, but his fondness for magnificence and show led him to undertakings which oppressed the people, while his reserved and taciturn habits rendered him almost inaccessible to the complaints of his injured subjects. Strength of mind was a quality which he never exhibited, and his generosity and forbearance toward the perfidious Spaniards were so egregiously misplaced as to amount to a fault. He possessed, in short, none of the essentials of a great character, and it is chiefly for his overwhelming misfortunes that he can find a place in history. He left posterity in Mexico, from one branch of which descended the Counts Montezuma and Tula.

COFACHIQUI,

A PRINCESS of Florida, or, more properly, of that wide region traversed by Soto in his expedition. This district comprised, not only the country now known as Florida, but also a portion of Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. The precise situation of the territory of this princess is not known, few of the original names in that part of the continent having been preserved to the present day. Soto, in his wanderings to all parts of the compass, came one day to a broad and rapid river, beyond which, his Indian guides informed him, lay the territory of Cofachiqui. The Spaniards were suffering from famine and the fatigues of their long march. The country through which they had passed was hostile, and they found it necessary to cross the stream. Marching up and down the banks, they at length came in sight of an Indian town, which they were told was the residence of the princess of the country. Some of the inhabitants appeared on the opposite shore, and the Spaniards called out to them, saying that some friendly strangers wished to visit their sovereign, and treat of an alliance. The Indians, after gazing in astonishment at the horses of the Spaniards, ran away to the town, and, a short time afterward, six of the inhabitants, who afterwards proved to be magistrates, came down to the shore with their attendants, embarked in a canoe, and crossed the river. On being introduced to the general they

bowed first to the sun in the east, then to the moon in the west, and lastly to the general, to whom they put the usual question, whether he wished for peace or war. Soto replied that he wished for peace and a passage across the river; also a supply of food for his men. He made many apologies for giving this trouble, but he hoped to be able to make some suitable return.

The ambassadors made reply that they accepted his offer of peace, and that every disposition would be felt to comply with his request for provisions, but that, unfortunately, the country had been severely ravaged by a pestilence the year previous; in consequence of which, a great many of the fields had been abandoned, and the inhabitants had fled to the mountains, so that a great scarcity of food existed at that time. They further stated that the sovereign of the country was a noble and amiable young princess, just of a marriageable age, who would do everything in her power for the entertainment of her guests. With these words, they bade the general adieu, and returned to the

town.

In a short time, the Spaniards espied two large canoes approaching. One of them was decked with. an elegant canopy and a variety of strange and beautiful ornaments. In this canoe was seated the princess Cofachiqui, attended by eight noble ladies. They had no rowers, but were towed in state by the other canoe, which contained the six magistrates and numerous attendants. On landing, the princess quite enchanted the Spaniards with her beauty and grace, and the dignity and propriety of her demeanor. After preliminary compliments, she informed Soto that, not

withstanding the prevailing scarcity, she had provided for his men six hundred bushels of corn, which was lodged in two houses for their use; and that, moreover, her granaries were at the service of the Spaniards, should this supply not be sufficient. She would give orders that one half the houses in the town should be evacuated to provide quarters for the army, and would even surrender the whole, if the number of the soldiers required it. Soto replied, to these and other generous offers made by the princess, with corresponding acknowledgments.

While this conversation was going on, Cofachiqui was occupied in disengaging from her neck a string of pearls, as they are called by the narrator who attended the expedition. These pearls were as large as hazel nuts, and the string passed three times round her neck, and hung down to her girdle. This she put into the hands of Juan Ortiz, to deliver to the general, her feminine scruples not allowing her to present them directly. Soto informed her that it would give him much greater pleasure to receive the gift from her own hands, as a token of peace, and that such a proceeding would not be considered as a violation of the strictest laws of decorum. After some modest reluctance, the scruples of the princess were overcome, and she rose to present him the necklace. The general rose to receive it, and, drawing a valuable diamond ring from his finger, gave it to Cofachiqui, who accepted it with great politeness.

After these ceremonies, the Indians prepared a great number of canoes and rafts, by help of which the whole army crossed the river, and took up their