Cabeza De Vaca Dbq Essay

Have you ever wondered what it takes to survive? It takes a lot more than hoping, you must be strong willed and able to think outside of the box, just like Cabeza de Vaca. Cabeza de Vaca was sailing with six hundred settlers to begin a colony in the northern areas of the Gulf in 1527. On the way to where they hoped to start a colony Cabeza lost the majority of his men. When the settlers did not find treasures they wanted or needed, their main goal was now survival. Cabeza was in charge of one of five rafts that the leader, Panfilo de Narvaez, ordered be created whenever the goal changed from exploration to survival. After a strong wind blew the rafts into the sea, Cabeza’s raft and men landed on what is modern day Galveston Island, Texas. Within a year there would only be four survivors, one being Cabeza. Upon arrival they met Indians who
He would used hollowed out horse legs to carry and store fresh water, so that he never ran out (Background). While he slept, Cabeza was able to use the fires that he created to not only keep him warm but ward off any animals that may attack him (Document B). We see that through these actions he took he was able to take the resources given to him and reuse different things to protect himself. Cite your documents Direct quotes.
The second reason that Cabeza was able to survive several years on his own was that he helped Native Americans whenever he could. As seen on Document C, he saved a wounded Indian who has a arrow resting above his heart. Cabeza performed the first documented surgery of North America. He was able to get the arrow out and save the Indian’s life just by using a knife. Whenever he completed this operation and removed the stitches a few days later. Through Cabeza saying “And this cure gave us a very great reputation among them throughout the land.” implies that he made friends through saving this