What was cabeza de vaca known for

From to , Cabeza de Vaca and these others lived a meagre life with the Karankawa Indians, in a state of semi-slavery and often separated from each other. During this time Cabeza de Vaca took advantage of his slight medical skills and remade himself as healer. He explored this small section of the East Texas coast in hopes of finding a way to Mexico and the Spanish colonies there. With the help of many native Americans along the way, they crossed the Pecos and Colorado rivers and made their way towards Spanish outposts by Finally they turned south, moving inland.

Trekking, however, was far from over for Cabeza de Vaca. In the early s, he again served the Spanish crown as governor in present-day Paraguay. To inspire his followers, he took off his shoes and walked every step of the way, even though horses were available as mounts. During his experiences in Texas, he had become a lay champion of Indian rights, despite years spent as a slave when he was often badly treated and hungry.

After a series of appeals, his harsh sentence was commuted in August Cabeza remained in Spain until his death about His burial site is unknown but may been in the family vault at the Real Convento de Santo Domingo in Jerez de la Frontier.

The path for Cabeza de Vaca in becoming a defender of Indians is almost as remarkable as his adventures in Texas. Rolena Adorno and Patrick C.

Donald E. David A. Alex D. Jesse E. The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style , 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U. The TSHA makes every effort to conform to the principles of fair use and to comply with copyright law.

If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Texas Vistas Third Edition. The site also features a TEKS-based lesson plan on Cabeza de Vaca that utilizes both primary documents and secondary sources. Adorno, Rolena and Patrick C. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, Our Catholic Heritage in Texas, — Prepared under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus of Texas.

Edited by Paul J. Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones Company, — Chipman, Donald E. Denton: Texas State Historical Association, Seeing that traveling by foot will be impossible, crew managed to build 5 primitive boats, each being able to carry 50 people. Using them they sailed along the coast Gulf of Mexico, before reaching bad weather at the delta of Mississippi River.

Only two boats with 40 survivors managed to survive that misfortune, landing on the Galveston Island where they were eventually enslaved by local Native American indian tribes.