From Mobile he wandered northwestward until he came to a great river.

It was the Mississippi, and was so wide that a man standing on one bank could not see a man standing on the opposite bank.

Some of De Soto's men penetrated westward nearly to the line of Coronado's march.

But the two bands did not meet.

De Soto died and was buried in the Mississippi.
Those of his men who still lived built a few boats and managed to reach the Spanish settlements in Mexico.
[Sidenote: Other Spanish explorers.] [Sidenote: Attempts at settlement.] 16.