twelve leagues. Throughout the mountainous areas of this entire land we saw many signs of gold and antimony, iron, copper and other metals. The area in which the permanent settlements are located is hot, so much so that even in January the weather is very hot. From there towards the south of that land- which is uninhabited all the way to the North Sea-the country is very wretched and poor, and we suffered from incredibly great hunger. The people who live there are terribly cruel and of very evil inclinations and customs. The Indians in the permanent settlements and the ones further back pay no attention at all to gold and silver, nor do they find them useful.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

How We Saw Traces of Christians

After we clearly saw traces of Christians and realized that we were so near them, we gave great thanks to God our Lord for willing that we should be brought out of our sad and wretched captivity. Anyone considering the length of time we spent in that land and the dangers and afflictions we suffered can imagine the delight we felt. That night I asked one of my companions to go after the Christians, who were going to the area of the country where we had assured the people of protection, which was a three- day journey. They reacted negatively to this idea, excusing themselves because it would be difficult and they were tired, although any one of them could have done it more easily because they were younger and stronger. When I saw their unwillingness, the following morning I took the black man and eleven Indians and, following the trail of the Christians, went by three places where they had slept. That day I traveled ten leagues. The following morning I caught up with four Christians on horseback who were quite perturbed to see me so strangely dressed and in the company of Indians.