An amazingly un|lucky
Conquistadore who overcame his horrible name ("Álvar Nuñez Cow-Head"--think he got
teased at all in school?) to become the first
European to cross
North America. He was
shipwrecked in
Florida, and over the next eight years he walked--
walked on foot!--across Florida,
Texas,
New Mexico,
Arizona and northern
Mexico all the way to
Mexico City, where he rejoined the
conquest already in progress.
His report to the
King is one of the most amazing books I have ever read in my life. You should read it:
Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America, Translated and edited by Cyclone Covey, University of New Mexico Press.
Most of chapter 35 is about
Mr. Badthing.