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20 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
he describe the process of taking the yellow metal from the earth, of
melting it in crucibles, and of taking it therefrom refined and purified
that the eyes of the Spaniards began to sparkle with triumph. At last,
they were fringing the Land of Gold.
Four days later, beyond a doubt, the Spaniards stood upon Georgia
soil, having crossed the Ocklockonee River. Within forty-eight hours
they came to an Indian village called Capachiqui. Here, at sight of the
Europeans, there was at first great consternation among the natives,
who took flight as the Spaniards approached; but when five of the
Spaniards visited some Indian cabins, encompassed by a thicket, they
were attacked from ambush. As a result, one was killed and three were
badly wounded. Says Jones: '' Thus does the Gentleman of Elvas
record the death of the' first Spaniard who fell upon what is now the
soil of Georgia."
Toalli, the next Indian village at which the Spaniards arrived, on the
21st of March, is located by Jones at some point south of Ocmulgee
River, perhaps in the present County of Irwin; and, after remaining here
for three days, they made a short journey to Achese', a village located
upon the above-named stream, in the neighborhood of Avhat is now the
Town of Abbeville. According to Gallatin, Aches or Ochis was the Musco-
gee name for the Ocmulgee River. Here, the inhabitants likewise fled
before the Europeaiis; but the chief was found to be friendly and he
informed De Soto that further on there reigned a powerful king whose
country was called Ocute. To assist him in finding the place a guide
was furnished. On the first of April, De Soto resumed his march, skirt
ing the edge of a river whose shores were found to be thickly inhabited.
Within four days, he arrived at Altamaco, the locality of which is un
identified; but on the tenth day he reached Ocute, the principal town
of which was probably somewhere in the neighborhood of the present
City of Dublin. According to Colonel Jones, the banks of the Oconee
River in this neighborhood give token that in former times the aboriginal
population was somewhat dense. On approaching the town, he was met
by 2,000 Indians, bearing as a present from the chief an abundance of
wild game, including partridges and turkeys.
Here he remained until April the 12th. When ready to depart, he
obtained from the chief 400 burden-bearers to accompany him on the
march; and, after passing through Cofaqui, he came to Patofa, the chief
of which town received him with every mark of consideration. It is
astonishing how kindly the Spaniards were treated by the natives when
the rapacious character of the expedition is taken into account. They
misused women; they employed men as beasts of burden; supplies of
every kind were appropriated by them; and in quest of costly ornaments
they even ransacked temples and burial places of the dead.
On leaving Patofa, De Soto taxed the king for enough maize to last
the expedition four days; but it so happened that soon after leaving the
Indian village, he lost the trail which he was following. For several
days, the Spaniards wandered blindly through the pine barrens, fording
with difficulty two rivers, probably the sources of the Great Ogeechee;
and swimming another, supposed by Jones to be Briar Creek, in what