"The Relation"

Charles So
English 48A
Journal for De Vaca

Author Quote:
"When Indian men get into an argument in their villages, they fist fight until exhausted, then separate. Sometimes the women will go between and part them, but men never interfere"(46)

Internet Quote:
"Cabeza De Vaca journey's resonated in history in several important ways. The mention of two advanced Indain cultures and possible riches to the North promoted two subsequent journeys"(Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca "Relacion" volume II 1993 trans. by Martin A. Favata and Jose B. Fernandez found in Googlescholar)

Summary:
Cabeza De Vaca reports to the Emperor and tells of his 9 years venturing in the new world, from his voyage to the new world and the mishaps that lead to the demise of the entire crew,all but 4 who survived accounting him. De Vaca gives great detail about the culture of the Native Americans he lived and engaged with. He talks about their odd customs such as piercing and the way they have funeral rites. Then De Vaca talks about his heralding survival while being naked and constantly hungry going against the jungles of the new world. De Vaca's vivid portrayal of the Native American people and culture and also descriptions of the new world is throughtout his accounts.

Personal Opinion:
Its fascinating to read about the journey of De Vaca, i cant believe he survived. The details about the culture of the Native Americans in the new land is amazing. When De Vaca is in between Texas and Florida  he might of been the first to journey on foot across those terrains who wasn't Native American. De Vaca's in-depth understanding of the Native culture is amazing, he writes about how Indian men fight bare knuckle to solve heated arguments and that other men never try to break it up, its almost like De Vaca is mesmerized by the simple but intricate ways of the Natives. De Vaca's naked journey through the wilderness is very courageous and proves his will to survive, whether it was luck or skill De Vaca is a survivor of the new land and his story is outstanding.