NUREZ. AEXAR, (CABECA DE VACA), 1490-1564; b. Spain. second in command to Pamfilo de Narvaez in the unfortunate expedition to Florida in 1527. After the latter was lost while attempting to make his way to Mexico, Nunez, with a few other sur vivors of the expedition, succeeded in landing on the continent at some point w. of the Mississippi river, and went n. w. to a country supposed to have been what is now New Mexico. The party had endured great hardship on the journey, but were well cared for by friendly Indians, among whom they passed eight months. They then went on towards the s. w., and after terrible suffering, only Nufiez and time companions sur vived to arrive at the Spanish colonies on the Pacific. This was in 1336, eight years after the shipwreck of Narvaez. Nufiez went back to Spain, but in 1540 started for La Plata, of which lie had been appointed governor. His vessel was wrecked, and he
landed in Paraguay, which he at once began to explore, passing down the La Plata through the country of theGoaranIs„toASkuicion; whickbe made Ids headquarters. Ire conquered several Indian tribes, but was at one time defeated, and soon afterward on the accusations of Domingo de Hata, his second in command, be was sent to Spain for trial, found guilty, and banished to Africa. Recalled by the king at the end of eight years. he was made judge of the supreme court of Seville, and continued in that othee till his death. The Shipwrecks of Alva,. Nunez, with the ConmentarWs ofAtvar .Nunez., written by his secretary, Fernandez, appeared at Valladolid in 1544. His story is found in an abridged form in Hakluyt's Voyages, and an English translation of the whole was published by Buckingham Smith at Washington in 1852.