The age of exploration has sprung, we all know of the glory. Discovering a new world, exploring. But have you ever heard of what happens when that all falls apart? Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer or conquistador who left Spain to colonize the New World in 1527. He got shipwrecked near what is now Tampa Bay, FL and got lost. They decided to make rafts and try to sail to Mexico City, but got pushed ashore in a hurricane near modern day Galveston, TX. He was then an Indian slave for four years. After that he finally escaped and walked to Mexico City. So what we need to know is how did Cabeza de Vaca survive? Well he survived by having good survival skills, being a successful healer, and respect with the Native …show more content…
I know surprising but according to The Relación of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, 1542 he survived by hallowing out horse legs to use as almost a water bottle. He also ate really icy things like rats, lizards, snakes and spiders. He also found a spot where a tree had been struck by lightning he lit a branch in the flames and had a fire there to stay warm. As you can see all these things show how Cabeza de Vaca even stood a chance of survival.
Another reason for survival was the fact that he became a successful healer. He performed one of the earliest forms of surgery according to The Relación of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, 1542. He says he cut an arrow out of a man, which had gotten stuck in him. By doing this he became valuable to the Native Americans, so they feed him and didn’t kill him.
The final reason he survived is because he developed a respectful relationship with the Native Americans. By the end of his stay he realized that the Native Americans were people as well. As he said in The Relación of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, 1542 “Because we [The Indians] come from where the sun rose and [the Spaniards] where it set; we [The Indians] cured the sick and they killed those who are well” This is why the Indians stood up for him and helped him, as he did to them, which helped him