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Gov. Avendano brought 5 successful friars to Guale

Source: The Debatable Land #557

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A new epoch was opened in 1595, when, in the cool of October, Governor Avendano conducted five more friars to Guale. Gratifying success attended their labors. In seven towns along the Georgia coast old churches were restored or new ones built.1 [Note: 1 An illuminating report of the missions in 1597 is given in Ynformacion hecha en S. Agustin de la Florida ante fray Francisco Marron, custodio cura y vicario de aquellas Provincias, sobre la pobreza y necesidad en que se encuentran los Religiosos Misioneros y del buen efecto de las misiones entre los naturales. January 23,1597 (A. G. I., 54-5-20).] Father Chozas the explorer, and Pareja the linguist, labored on San Pedro Island; Davila, the captive-to-be, on Ospo (Jekyl); Velascola the Cantabrian giant, on Asao (St. Simons); the veteran Corpa on the mainland at Tolomato, across from Zapala (Sapelo) Island; Rodriguez at Tupique three leagues north, and also on the mainland; Auñon and Badajoz at Santa Catalina. Encouraged by bountiful harvests on the coast, Fathers Chozas and Velascola journeyed inland eight days on horseback to distant Tama and Ocute, Creek towns near the upper Altamaha. Their enthusiastic reports revived old tales of Boyano's Diamond Mountain, and stirred up new dreams of interior conquest. [Picture: Santa Catalina Island, looking south, down the Inland Passage.]