Narvaez  caused  a  captive  cacique,  or  chief,  to
be  mutilated  after  the  first  engagement  with
the  hostile  Indians.  His  nose  was  cut  ofi^,  aud
he  was  otherwise  disfigured ;  aud  the  invader
caused  fierce  blood-hounds  to  tear  the  chiers
mother  iu  pieces  iu  the  presence  of  her  chil-
dren. Narvaez  supposed  this  would  strike  ter-
ror, and  make  conquest  easy;  but  he  was  mis-
taken. ( See  Narvaez. )  De  Soto  had  blood-
hounds, iron  neck  -  collars,  hand-cnffs,  chains,
and  iustrumeuts  of  torture,  wherewith  to  sub-
due the  barbarians,  who  were  really  less  bar-
barous than  he.  He  loaded  his  captives  with
chains,  and  made  -beasts  of  burden  of  them  re-
gardless of  age  or  sex.  After  some  acts  of  this
kind,  he. sought  to  conciliate  Acuera,  a  Creek
cacique,  or  ruler,  whose .  territory  he  had  in-
vaded, for  he  was  powerful,  and  commanded
many  warriors.  •.  De..Soto  invited  the  dusky
sovereign  to  a  friendly  interview,  when  he  rcr,
ceived  frova  Acuera  this  haughty  reply :  "  Oth-


ADAm

era  of  your  accnrsed  race  [Narvaez  aud  his
men']  have,  iu  years  past,  disturbed  our  peace-
ful shores.  They  have  taught  me  what  you
are.  What  is  your  employment  f  To  wauder
about  like  vagabonds  from  laud  to  land;  to
rob  the  poor  aud  weak ;  to  betray  the  confid-
ing [see  Maiden  Indian  Queen] ;  to  murder  the
defenceless  iu  cold  blood.  No!  with  such  a
people  I  want  neither  peace  nor  friendship.
