“In 1535 Cabeza had done a successful surgical operation on an indian to remove an arrow from his chest”(Document C). As a result, his reputation as a great healer built up among the Indians. This surgical cure was something the indians had never seen before, so in response the showered Cabeza with support and popularity. This contributed to his survival in the harsh desert-like environment.
Finally, Cabeza De Vaca survived because of his wilderness survival skills. “Cabeza undertook a 2,400 mile journey”(Document A) and had to have some survival skills. “He ate what was available, carried water in hollowed-out horse legs, and even made his own torch to light four fires”(Document B). His wilderness skills helped him survive in the early stages of being shipwrecked.
So because of his respect for native americans, his success as a healer, and his wilderness skills Cabeza De Vaca survived for a miraculous nine years. Do you think you could survive for that long? Maybe some of his skills were picked up from the native americans, or did he have some equipment? We don’t know but we know one thing, Cabeza De Vaca really is a true