The governor [Hernando de Soto] reached Acoste in seven days. On the second of July, he ordered the camp made in the open field
two crossbow flights from the town and with eight men of his guard he went toward the town where he found the cacique [chief ], who apparently received him with great friendliness. While he was talking with him, some of the foot soldiers went to the town from the camp to look for maize, and not being satisfied with it, went rummaging around and searching the houses and seized what they found. Annoyed at this the Indians began to get excited and to seize their arms. Some of them with clubs in their hands went to five or six Christians [Spaniards] who angered them and with blows served them to their liking. The governor seeing them all excited and himself among them with so few Christians, in order to escape out of their hands, practiced a stratagem quite contrary to his usual disposition which was very direct and open; and although it grieved him greatly that any Indian should dare, either with or without reason, to show contempt for the Christians, he seized a club and went to their aid against his own men, which was done for the purpose of assuring them [the Indians]. . . . He secretly sent a message to camp through a man for armed men to come to him. He took the cacique by the hand while conversing with him very courteously and with some of the principal Indians who were with him drew him from the town to a level road, and within sight of the camp whence the Christians began gradually to come. . . and to take position round about. Thus the governor led the cacique and his principal men until he got into the camp with them. When near his tent, he ordered them to be placed under guard and told them that they could not go until giving him a guide and Indians for carrying [the possessions of the Spaniards]. . . . Based on the above passage, how would you describe the relationship between the Spaniards and the Indians?
