hty very large houses; each one of which, it was
stated, would accommodate a thousand men.

As they approached this important place, De Soto sent forward some
very reliable couriers, to observe if there were any indications of
conspiracy. Early in the morning of the eighteenth of October, 1540,
De Soto with the advance guard of his army, consisting of one hundred
footmen, all picked men, accompanied by the Cacique, entered the
streets of Mobila. Mr. Irving gives the following interesting account
of this important capital:

"This was the stronghold of the Cacique, where he and his
principal men resided. It stood in a fine plain, and was
surrounded by a high wall, formed of huge trunks of trees
driven into the ground, side by side, and wedged together.
These were crossed, within and without, by others, small and
longer, bound to them by bands made of split reeds and wild
vines. The whole was thickly plastered over with a kind of
mortar, made of clay and straw trampled together, which
filled up every chink and crevice of the wood-work, so that
it appeared as if smoothed with a trowel. Throughout its
whole circuit, the wall was pierced at the height of a man
with loopholes, whence arrows might be discharged at an
enemy, and at every fifty paces, it was surmounted by a
tower capable of holding seven or eight fighting men."

As De Soto and the chief, accompanied by the advance guard of the
Spanish army, and a numerous train of Indian warriors, approached the
walls, a large band of native soldiers, in compact martial array, and
as usual gorgeously decorated, emerged from one of the gates. They
were preceded by a musical band, playing upon Indian flutes, and were
followed by a group of dancing girls, remarkably graceful and
beautiful. As we have mentioned, De Soto, and the Cacique in his
scarlet uniform, rode side by side. Traversing the streets, the whole
band arrived in the central square. Here they alighted, and all the
horses were led outside the walls to be tethered and fed.

The chief then, through Juan Ortiz, the interpreter, pointed out to De
Soto one of the largest houses for the accommodation of himself and
suite. Another adjoining house was appropriated to the servants and
attendants. Cabins were also immediately reared just outside the walls
for the accommodation of the main body of the army.

De Soto was somewhat anxious in view of this arr