Both Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and John Smith have different attitudes regarding their accounts of Indian life. The difference in attitudes could be the result of the difference in the treatments each man received during captivity. De Vaca's experience is humbling. His account of Indian life is thoughtfully written and describes Indians kindly. Although he describes his captivity as “melancholy and miserable” (De Vaca 34), it is clear that he bears no ill will towards the Indians. He states that he and his men were treated well, that they lived like “free agents” (De Vaca 32), and tried to get used to Indian life. He is very attentive to Indian life. Records Indian lifestyles in detail; his account is more like a study of cultural anthropology. His account of Indian life ends on a note of sympathy towards Indians, especially after he realizes his error of judgment towards Christians. “We often misjudge the motives of men,” writes de Vaca, “we thought we had affected the freedom of the Indians, when the Christians were only ready to pounce (De Vaca 36).” Smith, on the other hand, describes his tale. in a boastful way. His account of Indian life reads like a fantasy adventure novel in which he is the glorified hero. Throughout his narrative he continually refers to the Indians as “savages” (Smith 46) or “barbarians” (Smith 48). He even describes them as “devils” (Smith 51). At one point, he thinks the Indians are trying to “fatten him up to eat him” (Smith 50). Smith's tale is so incredibly dramatic that he expects "every hour to be confronted with one death or another" (Smith 52). Additionally, the incident with Pocahontas saving Smith appears to be highly romanticized. Smith's writing style, in which he writes about himself in the third person, only adds to the boastful tone of this tale. It makes the whole story seem impersonal. It also makes Smith appear presumptuous and frivolous. One can only speculate as to why there is such a big difference in the attitudes of these two writers. Their background may be a factor that influenced their attitudes. For de Vaca, it may have been his religious background that influenced him and shaped his attitude. In his story he acknowledges his religion several times. “My only comfort in these labors was to think of the sufferings of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and the blood he shed for me,” writes de Vaca.