A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies Part 1

A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies.

by Bartolome de las Casas.

THE ARGUMENT OF THIS NARRATIVE.

By way of PREFACE TO THE READER.

_The Reverend Author of this Compendious Summary was_ Bartholomaeus de las Casas _alias_ Casaus, _a Pious and Religeous person, (as appears by his zealous Transports in this Narrative for promotion of the Christian Faith) elevated from a Frier of the_ Dominican _Order to sit in the Episcopal Chair, who was frequently importuned by Good and Learned Men, particularly Historians, to Publish this Summary, who so prevailed with him, that he Collected out of that copious History which might and ought to be written on this subject, the contents of this concise Treatise with intention to display unto the World the Enormities,_ &c.

_the_ Spaniards _committed in_ America _during their residence there, to their eternal ignominy; and for the author finding that no Admonitions or Reprehensions, how mild soever could operate upon or sink into the rocky-hearted Tyrants in those Occidental parts; he therefore took up a firm resolution, being then about 50 years of age (as he himself declares) to run the Hazards and Dangers by Sea, and the Risque of a long voyage into_ Spain _there to acquaint and Certifie the most Ill.u.s.trious Prince_ Phillip _the Son and Heir of his Imperial Majesty_ Charles _the Fifth of Blessed Memory, with the Horrid crimes,_ &c.

_perpetrated in those countries, part whereof he had seen, and part heard from such as boasted of their Wickedness. Whereupon his_ Caeserean _Majesty moved with a tender and Christian compa.s.sion towards these Inhabitants of the Countries of_ America, _languis.h.i.+ng for want of redress, he called a Council at_ Valedolid, _Anno Dom.

1542. consisting of Learned and Able Men, in order to the reformation of the_ West-Indian _government, and took such a course, that from that time their Tyranny and cruelty against those_ Barbarians _was somewhat repressed, and those Nations in some measure delivered from that intolerable and more then_ Aegyptian _Bondage, or at least the_ Spaniards _ill usage and treatment of the_ Americans _was alleviated and abated. This Book mostly_ Historical, _part_ Typographical, _was Published first by the Author in_ Spanish _at_ Sevil, _after that Translated into_ Latin _by himself; and in process of time into_ High Dutch, Low Dutch, French _and now_ English; _which is the Sixth Language it has been taught to speak, that anyone of what Nation soever might in this Narrative contemplate and see as in a mirror the dismal and pernitious fruits, that lacquey and attend unlimited and close fisted Avarice, and thereby Learn to abhor and detest it,_ Cane pejus & angue: _it being the predominant and chiefest motive to the comission of such inexpressible Outrages, as here in part are faintly, not fully represented. Which sin the Pagan_ Indians _themselves did exprobate in the_ Spaniards _with all Detestation, Ignominy and Disgrace: for when they had taken some of them Prisoners (which was rarely) they bound them hand and foot, laid them on the ground, and then pouring melted Gold down their Throats, cried out and called to them aloud in derision,_ yield, throw up thy Gold O Christian! Vomit and spew out the Mettal which hath so inqinated and invenom'd both Body and Soul, that hath stain'd and infected they mind with desires and contrivances, and thy hands with Commission of such matchless Enormities. _I will then shut up all this, being but an Extract of what is in the Prefatory part of the Original. I earnestly beg and desire all Men to be perswaded, that this summary was not published upon any private Design, sinister ends or affection in favor or prejudice of any particular Nation; but for the publick Emolument and Advantage of all true Christians and moral Men throughout the whole World._

Farewell

THE CRUELTIES OF THE Spaniards Committed in AMERICA.

America was discovered and found out _Ann. Dom._ 1492, and the Year insuing inhabited by the _Spaniards_, and afterward a mult.i.tude of them travelled thither from _Spain_ for the s.p.a.ce of Nine and Forty Years.

Their first attempt was on the _Spanish_ Island, which indeed is a most fertile soil, and at present in great reputation for its s.p.a.ciousness and Length, containing in Circ.u.mference Six Hundred Miles: Nay it is on all sides surrounded with an almost innumerable number of Islands, which we found so well peopled with Natives and Forreigners, that there is scarce any Region in the Universe fortified with so many Inhabitants: But the main Land or Continent, distant from this Island Two Hundred and Fifty Miles and upwards, extends it self above Ten Thousand Miles in Length near the sea-sh.o.r.e, which Lands are some of them already discover'd, and more may be found out in process of time: And such a mult.i.tude of People inhabits these Countries, that it seems as if the Omnipotent G.o.d has a.s.sembled and Convocated the major part of Mankind in this part of the World.

Now this infinite mult.i.tude of Men are by the Creation of G.o.d innocently simple, altogether void of and averse to all manner of Craft, Subtlety and Malice, and most Obedient and Loyal Subjects to their Native Sovereigns; and behave themselves very patiently, sumissively and quietly towards the _Spaniards_, to whom they are subservient and subject; so that finally they live without the least thirst after revenge, laying aside all litigiousness, Commotion and hatred.

This is a most tender and effeminate people, and so imbecile and unequal-balanced temper, that they are altogether incapable of hard labour, and in few years, by one Distemper or other soon expire, so that the very issue of Lords and Princes, who among us live with great affluence, and fard deliciously, are not more effminate and tender than the Children of their Husbandmen or Labourers: This Nation is very Necessitous and Indigent, Masters of very slender Possessions, and consequently, neither Haughty, nor Ambitious. They are parsimonious in their Diet, as the Holy Fathers were in their frugal life in the Desert, known by the name of _Eremites_. They go naked, having no other Covering but what conceals their Pudends from publick sight. An hairy Plad, or loose Coat, about an Ell, or a coa.r.s.e woven Cloth at most Two Ells long serves them for the warmest Winter Garment. They lye on a coa.r.s.e Rug or Matt, and those that have the most plentiful Estate or Fortunes, the better sort, use Net-work, knotted at the four corners in lieu of Beds, which the Inhabitants of the Island of _Hispaniola_, in their own proper Idiom, term _Hammacks_. The Men are pregnant and docible. The natives tractable, and capable of Morality or Goodness, very apt to receive the instill'd principles of Catholick Religion; nor are they averse to Civility and good Manners, being not so much discompos'd by variety of Obstructions, as the rest of Mankind; insomuch, that having suckt in (if I may so express my self) the the very first Rudiments of the Christian Faith, they are so transported with Zeal and Furvor in the exercise of Ecclesiastical Sacraments, and Divine Service, that the very Religioso's themselves, stand in need of the greatest and most signal patience to undergo such extream Transports. And to conclude, I my self have heard the _Spaniards_ themselves (who dare not a.s.sume the Confidence to deny the good Nature praedominant in them) declare, that there was nothing wanting in them for the acquisition of Eternal Beat.i.tude, but the sole Knowledge and Understanding of the Deity.

The _Spaniards_ first a.s.saulted the innocent Sheep, so qualified by the Almighty, as is premention'd, like most cruel Tygers, Wolves and Lions hunger-starv'd, studying nothing, for the s.p.a.ce of Forty Years, after their first landing, but the Ma.s.sacre of these Wretches, whom they have so inhumanely and barbarously butcher'd and hara.s.s'd with several kinds of Torments, never before known, or heard (of which you shall have some account in the following Discourse) that of Three Millions of Persons, which lived in _Hispaniola_ itself, there is at present but the inconsiderable remnant of scarce Three Hundred. Nay the Isle of _Cuba_, which extends as far, as _Valledolid_ in _Spain_ is distant from _Rome_, lies now uncultivated, like a Desert, and intomb'd in its own Ruins. You may also find the Isles of St. _John_, and _Jamaica_, both large and fruitful places, unpeopled and desolate. The _Lucayan_ Islands on the North Side, adjacent to _Hispaniola_ and _Cuba_, which are Sixty in number, or thereabout, together with with those, vulgarly known by the name of the Gigantic Isles, and others, the most infertile whereof, exceeds the Royal Garden of _Sevil_ in fruitfulness, a most Healthful and pleasant Climat, is now laid waste and uninhabited; and whereas, when the _Spaniards_ first arriv'd here, about Five Hundred Thousand Men dwelt in it, they are now cut off, some by slaughter, and others ravished away by Force and Violence, to work in the Mines of _Hispanioloa,_ which was dest.i.tute of Native Inhabitants: For a certain Vessel, sailing to this Isle, to the end, that the Harvest being over (some good Christian, moved with Piety and Pity, undertook this dangerous Voyage, to convert Souls to Christianity) the remaining gleanings might be gathered up, there were only found Eleven Persons, which I saw with my own Eyes. There are other Islands Thirty in number, and upward bordering upon the Isle of St. _John_, totally unpeopled; all which are above Two Thousand miles in Lenght, and yet remain without Inhabitants, Native, or People.

As to the firm land, we are certainly satisfied, and a.s.sur'd, that the _Spaniards_ by their barbarous and execrable Actions have absolutely depopulated Ten Kingdoms, of greater extent than all _Spain_, together with the Kingdoms of _Arragon_ and _Portugal_, that is to say, above One Thousand Miles, which now lye wast and desolate, and are absolutely ruined, when as formerly no other Country whatsoever was more populous.

Nay we dare boldly affirm, that during the Forty Years s.p.a.ce, wherein they exercised their sanguinary and detestable Tyranny in these Regions, above Twelve Millions (computing Men, Women, and Children) have undeservedly perished; nor do I conceive that I should deviate from the Truth by saying that above Fifty Millions in all paid their last Debt to Nature.

Those that arriv'd at these Islands from the remotest parts of _Spain_, and who pride themselves in the Name of Christians, steer'd Two courses princ.i.p.ally, in order to the Extirpation, and Exterminating of this People from the face of the Earth. The first whereof was raising an unjust, sanguinolent, cruel War. The other, by putting them to death, who hitherto, thirsted after their Liberty, or design'd (which the most Potent, Strenuous and Magnanimous Spirits intended) to recover their pristin Freedom, and shake off the Shackles of so injurious a Captivity: For they being taken off in War, none but Women and Children were permitted to enjoy the benefit of that Country-Air, in whom they did in succeeding times lay such a heavy Yoak, that the very Brutes were more happy than they: To which Two Species of Tyranny as subalternate things to the Genus, the other innumerable Courses they took to extirpate and make this a desolate People, may be reduced and referr'd.

Now the ultimate end and scope that incited the _Spaniards_ to endeavor the Extirptaion and Desolation of this People, was Gold only; that thereby growing opulent in a short time, they might arrive at once at such Degrees and Dignities, as were no wayes consistent with their Persons.

Finally, in one word, their Ambition and Avarice, than which the heart of Man never entertained greater, and the vast Wealth of those Regions; the Humility and Patience of the Inhabitants (which made their approach to these Lands more facil and easie) did much promote the business: Whom they so despicably contemned, that they treated them (I speak of things which I was an Eye Witness of, without the least fallacy) not as Beasts, which I cordially wished they would, but as the most abject dung and filth of the Earth; and so sollicitous they were of their Life and Soul, that the above-mentioned number of People died without understanding the true Faith or Sacraments. And this also is as really true as the praecendent Narration (which the very Tyrants and cruel Murderers cannot deny without the stigma of a lye) that the _Spaniards_ never received any injury from the _Indians_, but that they rather reverenced them as Persons descended from Heaven, until that they were compelled to take up Arms, provoked thereunto by repeated Injuries, violent Torments, and injust Butcheries.

Of the Island HISPANIOLA.

In this Isle, which, as we have said, the _Spaniards_ first attempted, the b.l.o.o.d.y slaughter and destruction of Men first began: for they violently forced away Women and Children to make them Slaves, and ill-treated them, consuming and wasting their Food, which they had purchased with great sweat, toil, and yet remained dissatisfied too, which every one according to his strength and ability, and that was very inconsiderable (for they provided no other Food than what was absolutely necessary to support Nature without superfluity, freely bestow'd on them, and one individual _Spaniard_ consumed more Victuals in one day, than would serve to maintain Three Families a Month, every one consisting of Ten Persons. Now being oppressed by such evil usage, and afflicted with such greate Torments and violent Entertainment they began to understand that such Men as those had not their Mission from Heaven; and therefore some of them conceal'd their Provisions and others to their Wives and Children in lurking holes, but some, to avoid the obdurate and dreadful temper of such a Nation, sought their Refuge on the craggy tops of Mountains; for the _Spaniards_ did not only entertain them with Cuffs, Blows, and wicked Cudgelling, but laid violent hands also on the Governours of Cities; and this arriv'd at length to that height of Temerity and Impudence, that a certain Captain was so audacious as abuse the Consort of the most puissant King of the whole Isle. From which time they began to consider by what wayes and means they might expel the _Spaniards_ out of their Countrey, and immediately took up Arms. But, good G.o.d, what Arms, do you imagin?

Namely such, both Offensive and Defensive, as resemble Reeds wherewith Boys sport with one another, more than Manly Arms and Weapons.

Which the _Spaniards_ no sooner perceived, but they, mounted on generous Steeds, well weapon'd with Lances and Swords, begin to exercise their b.l.o.o.d.y Butcheries and Strategems, and overrunning their Cities and Towns, spar'd no Age, or s.e.x, nay not so much as Women with Child, but ripping up their Bellies, tore them alive in pieces. They laid Wagers among themselves, who should with a Sword at one blow cut, or divide a Man in two; or which of them should decollate or behead a Man, with the greatest dexterity; nay farther, which should sheath his Sword in the Bowels of a Man with the quickest dispatch and expedition.

They s.n.a.t.c.ht young Babes from the Mothers b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and then dasht out the brains of those innocents against the Rocks; others they cast into Rivers scoffing and jeering them, and call'd upon their Bodies when falling with derision, the true testimony of their Cruelty, to come to them, and inhumanely exposing others to their Merciless Swords, together with the Mothers that gave them Life.

They erected certain Gibbets, large, but low made, so that their feet almost reacht the ground, every one of which was so order'd as to bear Thirteen Persons in Honour and Reverence (as they said blasphemously) of our Redeemer and his Twelve Apostles, under which they made a Fire to burn them to Ashes whilst hanging on them: But those they intended to preserve alive, they dismiss'd, their Hands half cut, and still hanging by the Skin, to carry their Letters missive to those that fly from us and ly sculking on the Mountains, as an exprobation of their flight.

The Lords and Persons of n.o.ble Extract were usually expos'd to this kind of Death; they order'd Gridirons to be placed and supported with wooden Forks, and putting a small Fire under them, these miserable Wretches by degrees and with loud Shreiks and exquisite Torments, at last Expir'd.

I once saw Four or Five of their most Powerful Lords laid on these Gridirons, and thereon roasted, and not far off, Two or Three more over-spread with the same Commodity, Man's Flesh; but the shril Clamours which were heard there being offensive to the Captain, by hindring his Repose, he commanded them to be strangled with a Halter.

The Executioner (whose Name and Parents at _Sevil_ are not unknown to me) prohibited the doing of it; but stopt Gags into their Mouths to prevent the hearing of the noise (he himself making the Fire) till that they dyed, when they had been roasted as long as he thought convenient.

I was an Eye-Witness of these and and innumerable Number of other Cruelties: And because all Men, who could lay hold of the opportunity, sought out lurking holes in the Mountains, to avoid as dangerous Rocks so Brutish and Barbarous a People, Strangers to all Goodness, and the Extirpaters and Adversaries of Men, they bred up such fierce hunting Dogs as would devour an _Indian_ like a Hog, at first sight in less than a moment: Now such kind of Slaughters and Cruelties as these were committed by the Curs, and if at any time it hapned, (which was rarely) that the _Indians_ irritated upon a just account destroy'd or took away the Life of any _Spaniard,_ they promulgated and proclaim'd this Law among them, that One Hundred _Indians_ should dye for every individual _Spaniard_ that should be slain.

_Of the Kingdoms contained in_ Hispaniola.

This Isle of _Hispaniola_ was made up of Six of their greatest Kingdoms, and as many most Puissant Kings, to whose Empire almost all the other Lords, whose Number was infinite, did pay their Allegiance.

One of these Kingdoms was called _Magua,_ signifying a Campaign or open Country; which is very observable, if any place in the Universe deserves taking notice of, and memorable for the pleasantness of its Situation; for it is extended from South to North Eighty Miles, in breadth Five, Eight, and in some parts Ten Miles in length; and is on all sides inclosed with the highest Mountains; above Thirty Thousand Rivers, and Rivulets water her Coasts, Twelve of which prodigious Number do not yield in all in magnitude to those famous Rivers, the _Eber, Duer,_ and _Guadalquivir;_ and all those Rivers which have their Source or Spring from the Mountains lying Westerly, the number whereof is Twenty Thousand) are very rich in Mines of Gold; on which Mountain lies the Province of rich Mines, whence the exquisite Gold of Twenty Four Caracts weight, takes denomination. The King and Lord of this Kingdom was named _Guarionex,_ who governed within the Compa.s.s of his Dominions so many Va.s.sals and Potent Lords, that every one of them was able to bring into the Field Sixteen Thousand Soldiers for the service of _Guarionex_ their Supream Lord and Soverain, when summoned thereunto. Some of which I was acquainted with. This was a most Obedient Prince, endued with great Courage and Morality, naturally of a Pacifick Temper, and most devoted to the service of the _Castilian_ Kings. This King commanded and ordered his Subjects, that every one of those Lords under his Jurisdiction, should present him with a Bell full of Gold; but in succeeding times, being unable to perform it, they were commanded to cut it in two, and fill one part therewith, for the Inhabitants of this Isle were altogether inexperienced, and unskilful in Mine-works, and the digging Gold out of them. This _Caiu_ proferred his Service to the King of _Castile,_ on this Condition, that he would take care, that those Lands should be cultivated and manur'd, wherein, during the reign of _Isabella,_ Queen of _Castile,_ the _Spaniards_ first set footing and fixed their Residence, extending in length even to _Santo Domingo,_ the s.p.a.ce of Fifty Miles. For he declar'd (nor was it a Fallacie, but an absolute Truth,) that his Subjects understood not the practical use of digging in Golden Mines. To which promises he had readily and voluntarily condescended, to my own certain knowledge, and so by this means, the King would have received the Annual Revenue of Three Millions of _Spanish_ Crowns, and upward, there being at that very time in that Island Fifty Cities more ample and s.p.a.cious than _Sevil_ it self in _Spain_.

But what returns by way of Remuneration and Reward did they make this so Clement and Benign Monarch, can you imagine, no other but this?

They put the greatest Indignity upon him imaginable in the person of his Consort who was violated by a _Spanish_ Captain altogether unworthy of the Name of Christian. He might indeed probably expect to meet with a convenient time and opportunity of revenging this Ingominy so unjuriously thrown upon him by preparing Military Forces to attaque him, but he rather chose to abscond in the Province _De los Ciquayos_ (wherein a Puissant Va.s.sal and subject of his Ruled) devested of his Estate and Kingdom, and there live and dye an exile. But the _Spaniards_ receiving certain information, that he had absented himself, connived no longer at his Concealment but raised War against him, who had received them with so great humanity and kindness, and having first laid waste and desolate the whole Region, at last found, and took him Prisoner, who being bound in Fetters was convey'd on board of a s.h.i.+p in order to his transfretation to _Castile,_ as a Captive: but the Vessel perished in the Voyage, wherewith many _Spaniards_ were also lost, as well as a great weight of Gold, among which there was a prodigious Ingot of Gold, resembling a large Loaf of Bread, weighing 3600 Crowns; Thus it pleased G.o.d to revenge their enormous impieties.

A Second Kingdom was named _Marien,_ where there is to this day a Haven, upon the utmost Borders of the Plain or open Countrey toward the North, more fertil and large than the kingdom of _Portugal;_ and really deserving constant and frequent Inahbitants: For it abounds with Mountains, and is rich in Mines of Gold and _Orichalc.u.m,_ a kind of Copper Mettal mixt with Gold; The Kings name of this place was _Guacanagari,_ who had many powerful Lords (some whereof were not unknown to me) under his subjection. The first that landed in this Kingdom when he discovered _America_ was an Admiral well stricken in years, who had so hospitable and kind a reception from the aforesaid _Gracanagari,_ as well as all those _Spaniards_ that accompanied him in that Voyage, giving them all imaginable help and a.s.sisstance (for the admiral's vessel was sunk on their Coasts) that I heard it from his own mouth, he could not possibly have been entertained with greater Caresses and Civilities from his own parents in his own Native Country.

But this King being forced to fly to avoid the _Spanish_ slaughter and Cruelty, deprived of all he was Master of, died in the Mountains; and all the rest of the Potentates and n.o.bles, his subjects, perished in that servitude and Va.s.salage; as you shall find in this following Treatise.

The Third Kingdom was distinguished by the Appellation of _Maquana,_ another admirable, healthful and fruitful Region, where at present the most refined sugar of the Island is made. _Caonabo_ then reigned there, who surmounted all the rest in Power, State, and the splendid Ceremonies of His Government. This King beyond all expectation was surpriz'd in his own Palace, by the great subtilty and industry of the _Spaniards,_ and after carried on board in order to his transportation to _Castile,_ but there being at that time six s.h.i.+ps Riding in the Haven, and ready to set Sail such an impetuous storm suddenly arose, that they as well as the Pa.s.sengers and s.h.i.+ps Crew were all lost, together with King _Canabao_ loaded with Irons; by which judgement the Almighty declared that this was as unjust and impious an Act as any of the former. This Kind had three or four Brothers then Living, Men of strength and Valour, who being highly incensed at the Captivity of their King and Brother, to which he was injuriously reduc'd, having also intelligence of the Devastations and Butcheries committed by the _Spaniards_ in other Regions, and not long after hearing of their Brothers death, took up Arms to revenge themselves of the Enemy, whom the _Spaniards_ met with, and certain party of Horse (which proved very offensive to the _Indians_) made such havoc and slaughter among them, that the half of this Kingdom was laid waste and depopulated.

_Xaraqua_ is the Fourth Kingdom, and as it were the Centre and Middle of the whole Island, and is not to be equalled for fluency of Speech and politeness of Idiom or Dialect by any Inhabitants of the other Kingdoms, and in Policy and Morality transcends them all. Herein the Lords and Peers abounded, and the very Populace excelled in in stature and habit of Body: Their King was _Behechio_ by name and who had a Sister called _Anacaona,_ and both the Brother as well as Sister had loaded the _Spaniards_ with Benefits and singular acts of Civility, and by delivering them from the evident and apparent danger of Death, did signal services to the _Castilian_ Kings. _Behechio_ dying the supreme power of the Kingdom fell to _Anacaona:_ But it hapned one day, that the Governour of an Island, attended by 60 Horse, and 30 Foot (now the Cavalry was sufficiently able to unpeople not only the Isle, but also the whole Continent) he summoned about 300 Dynasta's, or n.o.blemen to appear before him, and commanded the most powerful of them, being first crouded into a Thatcht Barn or Hovel, to be exposed to the fury of the merciless Fire, and the rest to be pierced with Lances, and run through with the point of the Sword, by a mult.i.tude of Men: And _Anacaona_ her self who (as we said before,) sway'd the Imperial Scepter, to her greater honor was hanged on a Gibbet. And if it fell out that any person instigated by Compa.s.sion or Covetousness, did entertain any _Indian_ Boys and mount them on Horses, to prevent their Murder, another was appointed to follow them, who ran them through the back or in the hinder parts, and if they chanced to escape Death, and fall to the ground, they immediately cut off his Legs; and when any of those _Indians,_ that survived these Barbarous Ma.s.sacres, betook themselves to an Isle eight miles distant, to escape their Butcheries, they were then committed to servitude during Life.

The Fifth Kingdom was _Hiquey,_ over whom Queen _Hiquanama,_ a superannuated Princess, whome the _Spaniards_ Crucified, did preside and Govern. The number of those I saw here burnt, and dismembered, and rackt with various Torments, as well as others, the poor Remnants of such matchless Villanies, who surviving were enslaved, is infinite.

But because so much might be said concerning the a.s.sa.s.sinations and Depopulating of these people, as cannot without great difficulty be published in Writing (nor do I conceive that one fragile part of 1000 that is here contained can be fully displayed) I will only add one remark more of the prementioned Wars, in lieu of a Corollary or Conclusion, and aver upon my Conscience, that notwithstanding all the above-named Injustice, profligate Enormities and other Crimes which I omit, (tho sufficiently known to me) the _Indians_ did not, nor was it in their power to give any greater occasion for the Commission of them, than Pious Religioso's Living in a well regulated Monastic Life did afford for any Sacrilegeous Villains to deprive them of their Goods and Life at the same time, or why they who by flight avoided death should be detain'd in perpetual, not to be ransom'd Captivity and Slavery. I adde farther, that I really believe, and am satisfied by certain undeniable conjectures, that at the very juncture of time, when all these outrages were commited in this Isle, the _Indians_ were not so much guilty of one single mortal sin of Commission against the _Spaniards_, that might deserve from any Man revenge or require satisfaction. And as for those sins, the punishment whereof G.o.d hath reserved to himself, as the immoderate desire of Revenge, Hatred, Envy or inward rancor of Spirit, to which they might be transported against such Capital Enemies as the _Spaniards_ were, I judge that very few of them can justly be accused of them; for their impetuosity and vigor I speak experimentally, was inferior to that of Children of ten or twelve years of age: and this I can a.s.sure you, that the _Indians_ had ever a just cause of raising War against the _Spaniards_, and the _Spaniards_ on the contrary never raised a just was against them, but what was more injurious and groundless then any undertaken by the worst of Tyrants.

All which I affirm of all their other Transactions and pa.s.sages in _America_.

The Warlike Engagements being over, and the Inhabitants all swept away, they divided among themselves the Young Men, Women, and Children reserved promiscuously for that purpose, one obtained thirty, another forty, to this Man one hundred were disposed, to the other two hundred, and the more one was in favor with the domineering Tyrant (which they styled Governor) the more he became Master of, upon this pretence, and with this Proviso, that he should see them instructed in the Catholick Religion, when as they themselves to whom they were committed to be taught, and the care of their Souls instructed them were, for the major part Idiots, Cruel, Avaritious, infected and stained with all sorts of Vices. And this was the great care they had of them, they sent the Males to the Mines to dig and bring away the Gold, which is an intollerable labor; but the Women they made use of to Manure and Till the ground, which is a toil most irksome even to Men of the strongest and most robust const.i.tutions, allowing them no other food but Herbage, and such kind of unsubstantial nutriment, so that the Nursing Womens Milk was exsiccated and so dryed up, that the young Infants lately brought forth, all perished, and females being separated from and debarred cohabitation with Men, there was no Prolification or raising up issue among them. The Men died in Mines, hunger starved and oppressed with labor, and the Women perished in the Fields, harra.s.sed and broken with the like Evils and Calamities: Thus an infinite number of Inhabitants that formerly peopled this Island were exterminated and dwindled away to nothing by such Consumptions. They were compelled to carry burthens of eighty or one hundred pound weight, and that an hundred or two hundred miles compleat: and the _Spaniards_ were born by them on the Shoulders in a pensil Vehicle or Carriage, or kind of Beds made of Net-work by the _Indians_; for in Truth they made use of them as Beasts to carry the burthens and c.u.mbersom baggage of their journeys, insomuch that it frequently happened, that the Shoulders and Backs of the _Indians_ were deeply marked with their scourges and stripes, just as they used to serve a tired Jade, accustomed to burthens. And as to those slashes with whips, blows with staves, cuffs and boxes, maledictions and curses, with a Thousand of such kind of Torments they suffered during the fatigue of their laborious journeys it would require a long tract of time, and many Reams of Paper to describe them, and when all were done would only create Horror and Consternation in the Reader.

But here is is observable, that the desolation of these Isles and Provinces took beginning since the decease of the most Serene Queen _Isabella_, about the year 1504, for before that time very few of the Provinces situated in that Island were oppressed or spoiled with unjust Wars, or violated with general devastation as after they were, and most if not all these things were concealed and masked from the Queens knowledge (whom I hope G.o.d hath crowned with Eternal Glory) for she was transported with fervent and wonderful zeal, nay, almost Divine desires for the Salvation and preservation of these people, which things so exemplary as these we having seen with our eyes, and felt with our hands, cannot easily be forgotten.

Take this also for a general Rule, that the _Spaniards_ upon what _American_ Coasts soever they arrived, exercised the same Cruelties, Slaughters, Tyrannies and detestable Oppressions on the most innocent _Indian_ Nation, and diverting themselves with delights in new sorts of Torment, did in time improve in Barbarism and Cruelty; wherewith the Omnipotent being incensed suffered them to fail by a more desperate and dangerous lapse into a reprobate state.

_Of the Isles of St._ John _and_ Jamaica.

In the Year 1509, the _Spaniards_ sailed to the Islands of St. _John_ and _Jamaica_ (resembling Gardensa and Bee-hives) with the same purpose and design they proposed to themselves in the Isle of _Hispaniola_, perpetrating innumerable Robberies and Villanies as before; whereunto they added unheard of Cruelties by Murdering, Burning, Roasting, and Exposing Men to be torn to pieces by Dogs; and Finally by afflicting and hara.s.sing them with un-exampled Oppressions and torments in the Mines, they spoiled and unpeopled this Contrey of these Innocents.

These two Isles containing six hundred thousand at least, though at this day there are scarce two hundred men to be found in either of them, the remainder peris.h.i.+ng without the knowledge of Christian Faith or Sacrament.

_Of the Isle of _Cuba.

In the Year of our Lord 1511. They pa.s.sed over to _Cuba_, which contains as much ground in length as there is distance between _Valledolid_ and _Rome_, well furnished with large and stately Provinces and very populous, against whom they proceeded with no more humanity and Clemency, or indeed to speak truth with greater Savageness and Brutality. Several memorable Transactions worthy observation, pa.s.sed in this Island. A certain _Cacic_ a potent Peer, named _Hathney_, who not long before fled _Hispaniola_ to _Cuba_ for Refuge from Death, or Captivity during Life; and understanding by certain _Indians_ that the _Spaniards_ intended to steer their course thither, made this Oration to all his People a.s.sembled together.

You are not ignorant that there is a rumor spread abroad among us of the _Spaniards_ Arrival, and are sensible by woeful experience how such and such (naming them) and _Hayti_ (so they term _Hispaniola_ in their own language) with their Inhabitants have been treated by them, that they design to visit us with equal intentions of committing such acts as they have hitherto been guilty of. But do you not know the cause and reason of their coming? We are altogether ignorant of it, they replied, but sufficiently satisfied that they are cruelly and wickedly inclined: Then thus, he said, they adore a certain Covetous Deity, whose cravings are not to be satisfied by a few moderate offerings, but they may answer his Adoration and Wors.h.i.+p, demand many unreasonable things of us, and use their utmost endeavors to subjugate and afterwards murder us. Then taking up a Cask or Cabinet near at hand, full of Gold and Gems, he proceeded in this manner: This is the _Spaniards_ G.o.d, and in honour of him if you think well of it, let us celebrate our _Arcytos_ (which are certain kinds of Dances and caprings used among them); and by this means his Deity being appeas'd, he will impose his Commands on the Spaniards that they shall not for the future molest us; who all unanimously with one consent in a loud tone made this reply. Well said, Well said, and thus they continued skipping and dancing before this Cabinet, without the least intermission, till they were quite tired and grown weary: Then the n.o.ble _Hathney_ re-a.s.suming his discourse, said, if we Wors.h.i.+p this Deity, till ye be ravished from us, we shall be destroyed, therefore I judge it convenient, upon mature deliberation, that we cast it into the River, which advice was approved of by all without opposition, and the Cabinet thrown in to the next River.