One main reason Cabeza De Vaca survived his trip are his wilderness skills. He was smart, educated, and clever with what supplies the environment provided him. For example, he was smart when he used the technique of digging a hole, placing fires around it, and sleeping in the hole. (document b) Another example of his skills are how he hollowed out horse legs and used them as containers to store water. (document b).If it weren’t for the fire, animals may have hurt him, and if it wasn't for the water, he may have been so dehydrated he could've died. (doc B) Both these examples are just some of the ways Cabeza survived using his great wilderness skills. …show more content…
Another reason he made it to Mexico is because of his good relationships with the Natives in and around the area.
One reason he would need this to survive was because some tribes he crossed paths with could have been dangerous. He got this reputation by healing injured natives, and now tribes would let him in and help, instead of kill him. (doc C)Without these relationships, the natives could have put Cabeza’s crew in grave danger. Some of them might have attacked or enslaved him, but with his reputation, they wouldn't even
dare.
One final reason for his existence, are his communication skills. Cabeza and his crew knew an equivalent of 5 languages, in which each one of them helped him in certain ways. 4 of them were different native american languages, and one sign language. These helped him tell people he meant no harm, and wanted peace and friendship, not war.All these different languages help with negotiation, getting directions, and explaining their stories, which all helped on their journey. Without them, people may have thought he meant harm, and harmed him instead.
Wilderness skills, communication, and relationships are some of the only reasons Cabeza survived his journey. They each helped him in many different but important ways. Let me just say, without these skills, you probably wouldn't be reading this today.
By, Cameron Youtsey