was beside a small rapid stream, (lose under a moun-
tain. The chief received them in friendly fashion. giving them corn,
dogs of the small breed already mentioned, carrying baskets, and bur-
den bearers. The country roundabout showed greater indication- of
gold mines than any they had yet seen. 1
Here De Soto turned to the west, crossing a very high mountain
ranee, which appears to have been the Blue ridge, and descending on
'tin' other side to a stream flowing in the opposite direction, which
was probably one id' the upper tributaries of the French Broad. 3
Although it was late in May, they found it very cold in the moun-
tains.* After several days of such travel they arrived, about the end
of the month, at the town of Guasili, or Guaxule. The chief and
principal men cameout some distance to welcome them, dressed in
tine robes of skins, with feather head-dresses, after the fashion of the
country. Before reaching this point the queen had managed to make
her escape, together with three slaves of the Spaniards, and the last
that was heard of her was that she was on her way back to her own
country with one of the runaways as her husband. What grieved
De Soto most in the matter was that she took with her a small box of
pearls, which he had intended to take.from her before releasing her.
but had left with her for the present in order •"not to discontent
hei- altogether."
Guaxule is described as a very large town surrounded by a number
of small mountain streams which united to form the large river down
which the Spaniard- proceeded