Cabeza De Vaca Expedition

A man who had to devour anything he could see. A man who had to drink water from a horse container to survive. A man who had to make his own hole for warmth. That man was Cabeza de Vaca. During Cabeza de Vaca's expedition, he shipwrecked near present day Galveston Island, Texas. This caused a life threatening situation. Cabeza de Vaca survived his eight year journey for three reasons: his wilderness skills, his success as a healer, and his respect for the Native Americans.
To continue living, Cabeza de Vaca consumed what was available including berries, mollusks, rats, roots, lizards, snakes, and spiders. He also survived dehydration by drinking water stored in hollowed out horse leg containers. Other than food, he had to sustain the weather

and climate too. He remained alive through the coldness by huddling in a hole that he dug, with a man made fire. Eating whatever was available did not leave him starving. Drinking water from the horse leg containers was a solution to his dehydration. Digging his own hole with his own fire gave him warmth. All of these things helped him live.
He performed surgery to remove an arrowhead from Native American.

An injured Native American was brought to him and Cabeza de Vaca started healing him by cutting open his chest and with great difficulty. After that with a deer bone he gave the person two stitches. Two days later, the Native American was healed and he gained a good reputation throughout the land. Being a expertise healer, he was able to help the Native Americans. Helping the Native Americans gave him a good reputation so the natives gave him things needed for life. For example, food and supplies.
He gave everything back that the Native Americans gave him. He cured the Native Americans. He learnt their languages. For example, he learnt four Indian languages including Charrucos and sign language. Cabeza de Vaca learning their languages helped him make friends and gained more of their trust. Gaining more of their trust, they gave him more supplies.
His wilderness skills, his success as a healer, and his respect for the Native Americans helped him survive the dangerous journey. He might have these three expertise however the major skill needed is his respect for the Native Americans. That is the most important because he gained their trust. By gaining their trust they gave him food, water, and supplies which are needed to live. This question is still important because of all the difficulties Cabeza de Vaca went

through.