Cabeza De Vaca And Narvaez's

Colonization of the new world had may aspects behind it, including but not limited to the of exploring of new sectors of the world, to the expansion of empires, and the hopes of gaining wealth and higher social standings. These same principals of colonization are illustrated in both Castaways, Cabeza De Vaca’s personal narrative of his journey to the new world and Andres Resendez’s A Land So Strange an interpretation of Cabeza’s expedition. Both pieces of literature excellently demonstrate the hopes of people journeying to the new world and the shortcomings and tribulations the expeditioners did not anticipate or were prepared for. Within the two books Cabeza De Vaca and Panifilo Narvaez demonstrate this very struggle people faced. While it

would be easy to say that the lack of knowledge the two had on the area led to their demise as it did play a part, a key if not the main component of why these Spaniards struggled so immensely in their quest of colonization is the conflict between these two-main protagonists in the novels. In both Cabeza’s and Resendez’s respective novels it clearly depicts the conflicts Cabeza and Narvaez endured, and the lack of leadership and wits Cabeza believed that Narvaez demonstrated throughout the voyage. Both novels explain the disagreements the two went through with Cabeza’s being a personal account to the King about the events of the expedition and Resendez’s being his own interpretation of Cabeza’s journey. Point being both texts explain how the selfishness, greed, and Narvaez’s unwillingness to listen to the counsel of Cabeza led to the eventual demise of Narvaez himself and the expedition. Narvaez’s actions led both Cabeza and Resendez to document the lack of leadership and contention that occurred during their exploration of the new world.
To begin with Resendez’s text as it serves as the least biased between the two texts, Resendez’s interpretation of Cabeza’s and Narvaez’s relationship favors Cabeza.

From the start of Resendez’s novel it paints Narvaez with an aura of incompetence and arrogance. For example, before the novel reaches what was supposed to be the colonization of present day Florida, which was a problem within itself Resendez explains the trouble Narvaez faced while attempting to colonize Mexico. Narvaez was employed to colonize Mexico in place of Diego Velazquez who was a former conquistador because he was “… getting old, and his expanding waistline was already the butt of jokes.” while “Narvaez, by contrast was still in his thirties and looked every bit the part of the Spanish conquistador…” . Though Narvaez may have looked the part of a great colonist he did not play the part according to the accounts of Resendez as the events in Mexico Tenochtitlan depicted. Narvaez was sent to Mexico to “…apprehend Cortes and his soldiers, who were bad men with no license from the King of Spain...”, however the exact opposite happened. One night there was a storm and Narvaez “…had never believed that Cortes would dare to fight a force that was four times as large…” however that is exactly what happened and even after having the chance to prepare himself with news that “Cortes’s forces were about 3 miles from camp, the leader could not bring himself to take the threat seriously.” Narvaez did not take the

threat seriously and was defeated and for years would end up “shackled and in chains” imprisoned by Cortes, ironically the same person he was supposed to bring back in chains. Resendez’s account of what happened in Mexico make it easy to understand why Resendez depicts Cabeza’s disgust with Narvaez’s leadership abilities. After being imprisoned for years by Cortes Narvaez’s wife was eventually able to buy his freedom and have him released to Cuba where they resided. One would think after Narvaez suffered such a devastating loss in Mexico he would retire from his career as a colonist. Unfortunately, that is not the case and Narvaez would set out for one last expedition, a decision based upon pride and seeking retribution from Cortes, unfortunately none of these goals would be accomplished on his final trip.
Adding on to the failures of Narvaez’s attempt at colonizing Mexico the events leading up to Narvaez’s attempt at colonizing what was supposed to be Rio de Las Palmas further displays Resendez’s description of Narvaez as an inept leader. The first of many mistakes made by Narvaez was his inability to find “a pilot familiar with the coast of Florida” which lead them to land quite a distance away from where he had intended to settle with no idea of the terrain with very little supplies. Coupled with the mistakes Narvaez made on his way to Florida are the mistakes he made upon landing at his “destination”. Upon landing Narvaez thought it was best that they split the expedition in two with half proceeding on foot along the coast and the other half sailing on to the mouth of the river to meet the others. Despite the contest of Cabeza who thought it was best to stay with the ships till they found a reliable harbor and more resources as they were running low, Narvaez continued with his plan, a decision that proved to be costly. With hindsight being the friend of Cabeza it appears that Narvaez used poor judgement in what to do. From deciding to move inland, to deserting the rest of his troops some ways into the expedition, to his eventual death, Narvaez’s decision making seemed self-serving and ultimately wrong. These details provided by Resendez paint a clear picture on why Cabeza did not trust Narvaez as a leader, an account that Cabeza describes even more clearly in his own personal narrative.
Cabeza’s account from Castaways combined with what we learned from Resendez’s book is the last piece that completes the contentious relationship between Cabeza De Vaca and Narvaez.

Though there may be some bias “Given what became of the expedition, it would have been very much in his interest to cast himself as the voice of reason in this decisive argument.” the events Cabeza recounts point to conflict between himself and Narvaez. The first of these events that displayed Cabeza’s lack of faith in Narvaez is also displayed in the text of A Land So Strange. It comes when the colonists first reach land after sailing for several months and Narvaez called for counsel among the leaders about the decision to move inland. This is first decision that Cabeza advises against stating “I replied that I thought we should by no means leave the ships…” instead of moving inland Cabeza wanted to find a safe harbor first, with hindsight being Cabeza’s friend his advice should have been taken. Instead Narvaez questioned Cabeza’s honor “I had stayed behind out of fear, and that my honor would be impugned; and that I preferred to risk my life rather than place my honor in that position” and led to the deaths of many. Furthermore, as the expedition aged on an conditions grew graver the decision making of Narvaez continued to deteriorate as well. At one point as they were sailing on three separate rafts towards land, as Narvaez believed it to be the best course of action the Narvaez refused to

aid the ship containing Cabeza despite his plead. Cabeza had asked for a line from Narvaez’s ship as he could not keep up as his ship contained the weak and sick while Narvaez’s contained the healthiest and strongest. Despite Cabeza’s rational cry for help Narvaez replied “… this is no time for some to give orders to others, that each must do what best to him to save his life…” with this Narvaez sailed off leaving Cabeza behind with the sick and very little supplies. It is easy to understand what Cabeza thought about Narvaez as a leader and person at this point as Narvaez essentially left Cabeza and his men for dead, something very uncharacteristic of a leader. Now the last and ironic display of Narvaez ineptitude comes at the expense of himself. After some time of not seeing the Christian men he embarked on this trip with Cabeza encounters Esquivel who told Cabeza the fate of Narvaez. Esquivel told Cabeza how the northern wind had taken Narvaez’s and a mate’s “…boat out to see without anyone seeing it go…” without any supplies or anchor because he refused to sleep inland, because he did not trust the Indian tribe they were with. This would be the last mistake Narvaez would live to make and serves as fitting end to his expedition with his poor leadership leading ultimately to his own death as it had for many others.
All in all, though the circumstances faced by both Narvaez and Cabeza would have been difficult for anyone to manage, Narvaez’s decision making was viewed as subpar in the eyes of Resendez and Cabeza De Vaca. Narvaez’s poor leadership abilities led to the death of all but four who embarked on the voyage and is thus very clearly discussed in a very negative light in the two texts. Lucky for us Cabeza De Vaca could live and tell the tale of Narvaez grievances and hopefully help his own case as he faced many trials due to the debts acquired throughout voyages to come. Cabeza’s account of the expedition gives a clear understanding of the lack of trust he had in Narvaez and A Land So Strange from Resendez does a great job portraying this message as well. These two texts provided great insight for the struggles and dangers faced when exploring the New world.