Child of the Sun: The Expedition of Hernando de Soto; No. 3; Much Feared in all the Land

Radio Action Theater presents Child of the Sun, The Expedition of Hernando de Soto, a drama in five episodes. Your host, Eli Wallach. After a year of searching without success for treasure in the land of La Florida, Hernando de Soto and 5040 has been welcomed to the chiefdom of coffee, checking in what is now South Carolina. The chief, or Akasaka, is a woman who has hidden herself in the countryside to avoid capture by the Spaniards. Word must have reached her that De Soto, to ensure provisions and bearers to carry his load, has made hostages of other chiefs. For their part, the Spaniards are eager to explore this new territory. Up till now, they have seen nothing of the treasure thereafter like that found in Central America and Peru. But an Indian boy taken captive by the Spaniards has told them the Indians of CofI Takaaki prized gold as the natives of this territory

have welcomed De Soto with open arms. There is now a reason to believe that gold is there for the taking. Episode three of Child of the Sun, much feared in all the land. The story of the toils and hardships attending the NATO in the conquest of Florida, who he was and who the others were with him, all that they saw and what befell them to take them to the board of magistrates. Santiago, the. Very noble gentleman. They say there is much commerce among the Indians here, abundance of gold, silver. I mean, please, God, this be so proud of what these Indians say, I believe nothing about what I see.

And Seawell. They will know. And have it for a saying among them that if they lied to me. It will cost them their lives. After a difficult journey of more than one year among native peoples who hid themselves and were often hostile, the expedition of the Fernando Soto had nearly met with catastrophe, lost in an unknown land, but had reached the populist town of Coffee Takaaki on the first day of May 15 40. Here, the land was fertile for many leagues in each direction. The houses we had first encountered in Florida had been roofed with grass. Here they were roofed with cane after the fashion of tile and kept very clean. We received many presents of skins and blankets and gave the Indians in return

the small bells which the Indians took to wearing on their arms and legs. I said, this is good. Indians were thrown down to their feet with very fine skins and blankets of survival for the people, very clean and polite. The Spaniards were all enamored of the princess of coffee, Takaaki, niece of the cachaca and perfect in the extreme, honoring her nobility. She was called Sonoda. My deepest appreciation for your hospitality. Nia, what will they do not want to see? The accuracy of senator says she will do everything possible in your service, well, within the limits of what I know come that the houses of the town have been emptied for your

officers. And the people have been sent elsewhere. You may tell her in the name of my lord, the emperor of all Christians, that I receive her kindness so that my sovereign might show gratitude in his own time and occasion, that her generosity will never be forgotten. That many other Christians who will come after us will be her protectors. Ali. I was against the word of God in these people, and I am against it now, but what are we to do with drought and sickness have left us weak? And how long will they stay? Forever. The land will no longer be ours to welcome them as paramount chiefs. These people are not like us.

They bring all the lady. Chief is not here to see what is happening in her city, occupied by people who have come to destroy us. They have not abused our welcome. We'll see how long it takes. The Sinora had seen the great value the Spaniards placed in the pearls, abundant in coffee Takaaki on behalf of her and the Kasuga, she invited Don Hernando to visit the tombs of her ancestors and take as many as he wished of the precious pearls to be found there. This Maltman. The smell of the dead baskets NASCO. Hopefully this one here. Recently, the pearls look big, it's chickpeas from their rivers, not the sea.

And look how they burn holes in them. Some not all open the others. Incredible. Leave him take 200 pounds only imagery, the rest, but Nundle, their value. We'll ask about the gold. The boy described governor here and then there's more groceries, more emeralds. Look closely by the south one. This is no emerald Spanish class because baskets that young another man who fell out of his. Killed by a fever soon after his ships arrived on the coast somewhere east of here. His captors fought and killed each other over who should take his place. Now, these relics are buried with the union that

they will not. Well, not very, yes. Senator, we visited the tomb of your ancestors, but took only as many of your precious pearls as would give us a memento of your great beauty. Let's see what she norteño she says again that all she has is yours. Tell her we've heard from our guide. There is much gold and silver in this land. We would like very much to see it. What are you looking Manoly on here? She has ordered his servants to bring it out.

All the precious metals that look copper polished the shine. He told the boy better described. Wait, wait, wait. There is something else. Banka the color of silver, black, only the color of this. It may thank the senator for this display of a rare metals. Indeed, beautiful. If there is no gold, there is no gold, perhaps. We will find this woman who is their chief. There is gold. He with her. The latter, yes. The water, there is no gold here.

But I know for a fact that I sing a national wish to remain here, to establish a colony and possible spread the word among the men in case Don Fernando listens too closely to what Gallegos, Lincolnesque, will have to say, there is no gold in coffee paycheck. No, he asks too much, the chiefs made it plain she does not wish to see these people, the chiefs sort of requires one of us to guide him to her. It would be against her word if we don't do as he wishes, he will attack us and kill our people told him or honor will not permit us to take him to our chief. She wishes to remain alone. I have told him what he wishes to see her. I command you to go right there and take them to the chief me, because you are my cousin and I know you will do as I say. Yes, I'll do what must be done.

De Soto ordered one day on Yasko to seek out the cachaca, who he suspected of concealing the treasure of coffee that checky three days into a remote countryside, the Indian noble, their guide, told them gravely they were nearing the end of their journey. Near nightfall, the Indians sat quietly at the edge of the camp. The Spaniards watched him as he drew arrow after arrow from his quiver, each with brightly colored feathers to guide its flight. Sir, I salute your workmanship. He says there is much we do not know, but his people have to look at this one. Francesco, quickly, what did he do the last hour was a dagger, he put it in his own heart.

The Indian noble who was guiding us killed himself before we reach the cacique, the parents claim they didn't know where to find her. We had no choice but to come back. Then. It's time to leave this place, we've stayed long enough. Will you accept our counsel, commandant? But I always welcome what my trusted lieutenants are thinking. You're struck by this place, I know. No, no, no, I agree. We are not alone. Many of us want to settle in this land. It's rich and plentiful. And the ocean ships could stop here from Spain. You have to feel me. Even if you were going to Spain and the people are friendly. For how long don't. Hernando, I am for searching out the gold.

Gentlemen, you all ignore one simple fact. A plague has wiped out the countryside. The fields like fallow in all this country. There's not food enough to feed our army a month. There are other lands close by. We could look for gold in time, Treasurer, but not wild. What's more incredible than you can imagine? One gold, silver, precious jewels. Yes, there is land here. But did you not come here to find treasure the treasure the others got eyes on? Shalon died before they could find. No, no, no, no, sir. We will go on. The natives had told De Soto of a province twelve days distant called Chiapas, subject to a chief of Coosa. De Soto resolved to go at once in quest of that country, and although he liked to know what his captains had to say, he was an inflexible man, dry of word, and did not like to be opposed, all bent to his will.

For though it seemed an error to leave a land of coffee, Takaki no one would speak after Don Hernando had made up his mind. What is it she is mourning the death of her cousin, the one who took his own life. All right. But tell her I must see her. I will get Pedro to translate. So we're prepared to leave, but I must have the bearer's I asked of you, Pedro. In fact, I need teacher money. She says she cannot grant the request she has given you all she can tell her I must have bearer's my mountains ahead. I've heard all the other chieftain's we have provided us with the carriers we needed.

I mean, how get a moment? Why not call? Your mama says her cousin is dead because he could not disobey her or also could not betray the word of the cachaca. Not wish to see her looking your. She says your men have acted badly in the town. Several women have been taken against their will. There has been stealing. Tell her when an army in camps, it's not always possible to oversee the conduct of every man you want or you know me, Yamatji, she says she cannot provide you with anything and tell her I have no alternative but to take her with me. We will have our bearer's. Not a bullet or physical. Why not just make it plain?

I'll wait for her outside. For well doing, they are saying, bus, are you repayed? The 13th of May, 15 40, De Soto set out from coffee to check in with a large number of bearer's and the senora as his guest, the country turned public, its people primitive for 100 leads. The senora was greatly obeyed. The natives did not wish to see her harmed every other senora. I have no wish to be here, but I was left by my people twenty years ago. My only thoughts are for my own survival. I have learned the native language. You see, I must serve my king. Perhaps this journey will end soon.

Why not? What does he want? How do you think of his apology and vanity? She says she must stop here and go into the thicket to relieve herself. All right. Well, what is this woman going with her? She bears the basket for the Lady Snead's. Tell them we can't wait long. But what about the other thing? What did she say, Bigi? She thanks, your lordship, for your hospitality. So, Jonah, you are too long for this battle. I just want to hurt you, man, quickly. You had no inkling of this and putting people in chains before

they run. The senator could not be found, she'd taken with her a box of valuable pearls DeSoto had hoped to take from her when they reached the end of her territories. Word reached the Spaniards later that the senator had returned to Capitol Checky with a runaway slave from the expedition and that they lived as man and wife. Stone will find me a woman who should have done it in the last place. Now we are back among the savages with nothing to eat. What about the little dogs that do not look out around dog or rodent? It's tasty when there is nothing else. Tuesday, the 25th of May, we went over a high ridge, suffering severe cold, though it was near summer.

And Yasko. The horses are worn out, unfit to be mounted, and the men are scattered everywhere. If we were attacked now, we'd be slaughter. Yes, the men are grumbling more each day where it has already reached them. There's no gold here. Yes, but no one who has a report of gold to the north one. Look at the mountains to the north, steep ridges, no trails, no way to get through. He will only send a small force in that direction. The rest of the army will move south to this Khoosat one. Moscoso It's pressing down even harder to keep up the search for gold when it's obvious we'll never find it. This is a different country than Peru. It's up to you and me to stop him stop London. I don't know.

We are at his command. The king, yes, the king. But the king is not here to see what is happening. We're deeper in Indian country than we've ever been before and making enemies of all Baltazar. I cannot question. No, I'm sorry about this. It's my first expedition. I hope it's not your last. Arriving at the prosperous town of Chukka, Nundle asked the chief for 30 women slaves, the chief conferred with his council that night. The people fled with 30 horsemen and as many on foot down. Hernando went out to hunt them down, passing by the towns of chiefs who'd gone off. He cut down and destroyed the great maize fields at an island in a river, sort of learned that a large number of townsman were hiding

where the cavalry could not go. He sent a message by an Indian, tell them to return to their homes at once and provide as parents, as every other chief has done. But seeing the great value your people place upon them, I will not ask for your women as long as we have our bears, the people judged it well to return to their homes and make their excuses, giving Boehner and all the slaves he needed. The expedition traveled six more days toward the Paramount chief of Coosa on the sixth day of July 15 40, after sending many messengers, the great cachexia of Coosa himself came out to greet us. Born on a litter on the shoulders of his principal, men seated on a cushion and covered with a mantle of modern skins

on his head. A diadem of Plume's Magos up about the nearby Maya MacGuineas Charlie. I'm one of the humble oligarchical Nakaji, I mean, YIISA on him, an equally powerful lord superior to every other on the Earth. I received you in my heart the first day I heard of you. The country thickly settled in numerous and large towns with fields extending from one to another was pleasant, with rich soil and fair river margins, but finding nothing of the treasure he was seeking. Don Hernando was determined to move on in the warm weather. Many more men and women were taken and put in chains. On Friday, the 20th of August 15 40, DeSoto set out for the province called Tuscaloosa, taking with him the casket

of Coosa crossing a river. The expedition reached Talisa surrounded by maize fields. The inhabitants had gone off, but a chief had come on behalf of Tuscaloosa, Mago. Tuscaloosa had their families and willing to let me go in jail. Khwaja Nomaka. He says the Grand Kazuki of Tuscaloosa sends him to salute you. And because he is told how all led captive by your perfections and power. And that he longs to see you. As much as he could desire the continuance of life itself, we've heard many other tribes are afraid of this Tuscaloosa good legacy.

We send these beads as a token of our esteem. The Indians get nothing for this. We tell him we also look forward to our meeting as much as life itself. Don Hernando seemed eager to meet this chief whose warlike reputation preceded him, but first sent to soldiers after the cacique messenger. So the Spaniards might take counsel and be forewarned. I cannot let you go. This is how they call in peace with spies and worthless trinkets. Let's not provoke them. Perhaps he is the child of the sun as they claim they have no God, or else their gods are evil and must be killed. Tuscaloosa has made slaves of other tribes and taken that woman for his soldiers. He says this trial, the sun, the sun will not rise

on the day the people of Tuscaloosa become slaves. I do not. You got logic here. The following night, the governor, Don Hernando, rested at a village two leagues from the town where the casket, Tuscaloosa, much feared in all the land, awaited us. Hernando de Soto. His decision not to establish a colony and what is now South Carolina was a fateful one not only for his expedition but for the future history of North America. Had he founded such a colony, Spain might have established a stronger foothold in North America ahead of the English and French who came after. But the conquistadors were not at the land, they were seeking the immediate rewards of gold and silver, their payment for pacifying the Indians and bringing them within the dominion of the Spanish crown. This is Eli Wallach. Join me next time for another episode of Child

of the Sun Tuscaloosa's. His people accept your peace. As equals, the towns filled with warriors, no women anywhere, and the houses weapons, many weapons. I knew how treacherous the lay siege that's in on it, he says. Now go by we to give orders in Tuscaloosa. We are thieves and tyrants and it is only right that we die today. Child of the sun, a drama and five episodes was produced and directed by Robert Clem and adapted from the true relation of the Portuguese Gentlemen of Elvas, published in 1957. Music Score, composed and performed by Don Stark. Script by Robert Clem, Sound Effects by Arthur Miller. In the cast were Roger Pretto, Arturo Castillo, Emilio del Pozo, Francisco Ravella, Mateo Gomez, Paul Tomatoe, Juan Aguerro,

Adriano Gonzalez, Blanca Camacho, Ron Hayle, Raul Breton and George Lee Andrews. The program was recorded at West Tracks Recording Studios in New York City by Jesse Plumley and mixed at the studios of South Carolina Educational Radio by Bill Sexton. For portions of the program recorded in Native American Languages, special thanks to Greg Keys to Robert Bushy Head and Gene Blanton of the North Carolina Cherokee's and to the Choctaw people of Cowahata, Mississippi. Funding for this series was provided by the Florida Humanities Council, the Arkansas Humanities Council of the North Carolina Humanities Council, the Mississippi Humanities Council, the New Jersey Committee for the Humanities, the South Carolina Humanities Council, and the Program for Cultural Cooperation between Spain's Ministry of Culture and U.S. Universities. The series is production of Radio Action Theater and the Foundation for New Media.