The Conquistador’s Journey
In the spring of 1527, five Spanish ships left their home for the New World. If they can predict their future, they would have not done that. It was a 300 man crew, but by the fall of 1532, there would only be four. Cabeza de Vaca was one of the four. How did Cabeza de Vaca survive ? Cabeza de Vaca survived by having great survival skills, success as a healer, and the respect from the Native Americans.
One reason Cabeza de Vaca survived is by having great survival skills. Cabeza had to deal with all the dangers in the wild world back then. He had to drink water stored in hollowed-out house leg containers, “and Cabeza ate what was available, including spiders, rats, and lizards.”(Doc.B) Cabeza also had to deal with physical features like mountains, rivers, and deserts. The deserts and rivers might be the biggest problems for Cabeza. The deserts are hot at day, cold at night, and some rivers have fast currents and …show more content…
In his Journal, he wrote, “ with a knife I had, I opened his chest to that place…”. This is believed to be the first surgery recorded. At the time, he was ordered to take the point of the arrow out of a man’s chest. And this was a successful surgery.(Doc C) That earned respect and trust from the Indians, and they rather follow Cabeza than the other Spaniards. “ They were saying that we cured the ill, and the Spaniards killed the well.” That shows the Indians trust them more than the Spaniards. (Doc D)
The last reason is that Cabeza had respect from the Indians. When Cabeza met the Spaniards, it stated that “ the Indians are not all convinced, some talked among themselves, saying that the Christians are lying.” (Doc D) They don’t like the Spaniards but they do trust Cabeza. And it also recorded the Indians saying that they healed the ill, but the Spaniards killed the well, how the Spaniards took everything they have, and Cabeza didn’t take anything but rather send gifts to the Indians. (Doc
In the spring of 1527, five Spanish ships left their home for the New World. If they can predict their future, they would have not done that. It was a 300 man crew, but by the fall of 1532, there would only be four. Cabeza de Vaca was one of the four. How did Cabeza de Vaca survive ? Cabeza de Vaca survived by having great survival skills, success as a healer, and the respect from the Native Americans.
One reason Cabeza de Vaca survived is by having great survival skills. Cabeza had to deal with all the dangers in the wild world back then. He had to drink water stored in hollowed-out house leg containers, “and Cabeza ate what was available, including spiders, rats, and lizards.”(Doc.B) Cabeza also had to deal with physical features like mountains, rivers, and deserts. The deserts and rivers might be the biggest problems for Cabeza. The deserts are hot at day, cold at night, and some rivers have fast currents and …show more content…
In his Journal, he wrote, “ with a knife I had, I opened his chest to that place…”. This is believed to be the first surgery recorded. At the time, he was ordered to take the point of the arrow out of a man’s chest. And this was a successful surgery.(Doc C) That earned respect and trust from the Indians, and they rather follow Cabeza than the other Spaniards. “ They were saying that we cured the ill, and the Spaniards killed the well.” That shows the Indians trust them more than the Spaniards. (Doc D)
The last reason is that Cabeza had respect from the Indians. When Cabeza met the Spaniards, it stated that “ the Indians are not all convinced, some talked among themselves, saying that the Christians are lying.” (Doc D) They don’t like the Spaniards but they do trust Cabeza. And it also recorded the Indians saying that they healed the ill, but the Spaniards killed the well, how the Spaniards took everything they have, and Cabeza didn’t take anything but rather send gifts to the Indians. (Doc