In 1540, Hernando de Soto explored North America for Cabeza DeVaca's Legendary Northern Sea to establish trade with China. With 620 soldiers, their horses, servants, wives and supplies, his army infected 100's of native villages, today's cities, along Indian trails which would become our modern highways.  WHY?

 Stranded in North America the decade before DeSoto's Conquest, Cabeza de Vaca survived six years of hostile captivity before escaping to Mexico. He shared native legends of Interior Gold and a Great North Sea with Coronado and DeSoto which persuaded them to explore America; Coronado from Mexico City, DeSoto from Havana.

A great circle of Earth drawn between Havana, the New World super port, and China, the Old World super market, crosses North America. DeSoto wanted to traverse America and its Northern Sea to China. His scouts would find that sea at Chicago, but in it no tides: Lake Michigan is landlocked. DeSoto would die of anguish within one year.   TRAILS

Florida Georgia N and S Carolina Tennessee Alabama Kentucky Indiana Illinois Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Texas Back to Arkansas Great River Escape Epilogue