Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was the first European to describe the buffalo also known as a bison. In 1527, Cabeza joined the expedition to Florida. After he landed, he soon became separated from the ships. Cabeza and a few other companions, including the explorer Estevanico, they sailed in a barge from northern Florida to an island off the Texas coast. They lived with the American Indians for several years before reaching northwestern Mexico on foot. The explorers report that great wealth lay north of Mexico so it attacked other explorers to the area. In 1540 he was announced as governor of Paraguay. He soon failed at being the governor, and the colonist later deposed him.