A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies

B >> Bartolome de las Casas >> A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies

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But to return to that great Tyrant, who outdid the former in cruelty
(as hinted above) and is equal to those that Tyrannize there at
present, who travelled to _Guatimala_; he from the Provinces adjoyning
to _Mexico_, which according to his prosecuted journey (as he himself
Writes and testifies with his own hand in Letters to the Prince of
Tyrants) are distant from _Guatimala_ four hundred miles, did make it
to his urgent and dayly business to procure Ruin and Destruction by
slaughter, Fire and Depopulations, compelling all to submit to the
Spanish King, whom they lookt upon to be more unjust and cruel then his
inhumane and bloodthirsty Ministers.

_Of the Kingdom and Province of_ GUATIMALA.

This Tyrant at his first entrance here acted and commanded prodigious
Slaughters to be perpetrated: Notwithstanding which, the Chief Lord in
his Chair or Sedan attended by many Nobles of the City of _Ultlatana_,
the Emporium of the whole Kingdom, together with Trumpets, Drums and
great Exultation, went out to meet him, and brought with them all sorts
of Food in great abundance, with such things as he stood in most need
of. That Night the _Spaniards_ spent without the City, for they did
not judge themselves secure in such a well-fortified place. The next
day he commanded the said Lord with many of his Peers to come before
him, from whom they imperiously challenged a certain quantity of Gold;
to whom the _Indians_ return'd this modest Answer, that they could not
satisfie his Demands, and indeed this Region yeilded no Golden Mines;
but they all, by his command, without any other Crime laid to their
Charge, or any Legal Form of Proceeding were burnt alive. The rest of
the Nobles belonging to other Provinces, when they found their Chief
Lords, who had the Supreme Power were expos'd to the Merciless Element
of Fire kindled by a more merciless Enemy; for this Reason only,
becauase they bestow'd not what they could not upon them, _viz._ Gold,
they fled to the Mountains, (their usual Refuge) for shelter,
commanding their Subjects to obey the _Spaniards_, as Lords, but withal
strictly and expressly prohibiting and forbidding them, to inform the
_Spaniards_ of their Flight, or the Places of their Concealment. And
behold a great many of the _Indians_ addrest themselves to them,
earnestly requesting, they would admit them as Subjects, being very
willing and ready to serve them: The Captain replyed that he would not
entertain them in such a Capacity, but instead of so doing would put
every individual Person to Death, if they would not discover the
Receptacles of the Fugitive Governours. The _Indians_ made answer that
they were wholly ignorant of the matter, yet that they themselves,
their Wives and Children should serve them; that they were at home,
they might come to them and put them to Death, or deal with them as
they pleas'd. But the _Spaniards_, O wonderful! went to the Towns and
Villages, and destroy'd with their Lances these poor Men, their Wives
and Children, intent upon their Labour, and as they thought themselves,
secure and free from danger. Another large Village they made desolate
in the space of two hours, sparing neither Age, nor Sex, putting all to
the Sword, without Mercy.

The _Indians_ perceiving that this Barbarous and Hard-hearted People
would not be pacified with Humility, large Gifts, or unexampled
Patience, but that they were butcher'd without any Cause, upon serious
Consultation took up a Resolution of getting together in a Body, and
fighting for their Lives and Liberty; for they conceiv'd it was far
better, (since Death to them was a necessary Evil) with Sword in Hand to
be kill'd by taking Revenge of the Enemy, then be destroy'd by them
without satisfaction. But when they grew sensible of their wants of
Arms, Nakedness and Debility, and that they were altogether incapable
of the management of Horses, so as to prevail against such a furious
Adversary, recollecting themselves, they contriv'd this Strategm, to
dig Ditches and Holes in the High-way into which the Horses might fall
in their passage, and fixing therein purposely sharp and burnt Posts,
and covering them with loose Earth, so that they could not be discern'd
by their Riders, they might be transfixed or gored by them. The Horses
fell twice or thrice into those holes, but afterward the _Spaniards_
took this Course to prevent them for the future; and made this a Law,
that as many of the _Indians_ of what Age or Sex soever as were taken,
should be cast into these Ditches that they had made. Nay they threw
into them Women with Child, and as many Aged Men as they laid hold of,
till they were all fill'd up with Carkasses. It was a sight deserving
Commiseration, to behold Women and Children gauncht or run through with
these Posts, some were taken off by Spears and Swords, and the
remainder expos'd to hungry Dogs, kept short of food for that purpose,
to be devour'd by them and torn in pieces. They burnt a Potent
Nobleman in a very great Fire, saying, _That he was the more Honour'd
by this kind of Death_. All which Butcheries continued Seven Years,
from 1524, to 1531. I leave the Reader to judge how many might be
Massacred during that time.

Among the Innumerable Flagitious Acts done by this Tyrant and his
Co-partners (for they were as Barbarous as their Principal) in this
Kingdom, this also occurs worthy of an Afterism in the Margin. In the
Province of _Cuztatan_ in which S. _Saviour's_ City is seated, which
Country with the Neighbouing Sea-Coasts extends in Length Forty or
Fifty Miles, as also in the very City of _Cuzcatan_, the Metropolis of
the whole Province, he was entertain'd with great Applause: For about
Twenty or Thirty Thousand _Indians_ brought with them Hens and other
necessary Provisions, expecting this coming. He, accepting their Gifts,
commended every single _Spaniard_ to make choice of as many of these
People, as he had a mind to, that during their stay there, they might
use them as Servants, and forced to undergo the most servile Offices
they should impose on them. Every one cull'd out a Hundred, or Fifty,
according as he thought convenient for his peculiar service, and these
wretched _Indians_ did serve the _Spaniards_ with their utmost strength
and endeavour; so that there could be nothing wanting in them but
Adoration. In the mean time this Captain requir'd a great Sum of Gold
from their Lords (for that was the Load-stone attracted them thither)
who answered, they were content to deliver him up all the Gold they had
in possession; and in order thereunto, the _Indians_ gathered together
a great Number of Spears gilded with _Orichalcum_, (which had the
appearance of Gold, and in truth some Gold in them intermixt) and they
were presented to him. The Captain ordered them to be toucht, and when
he found them to be _Orichalcum_ or mixt Metal, he spake to the
_Spaniards_ as followeth. Let that Nation that is without Gold be
accursed to the Pit of Hell. Let every Man detain those Servants he
Elected, let them be clapt in Irons, and stigmatiz'd with the Brand of
Slavery, which was accordingly done, for they were all burnt, who did
no excape with the King's Mark. I my self saw the Impression made on
the Son of the Chiefest Person in the City. Those that escap'd, with
other _Indians_, engaged the _Spaniards_ by Force of Arms, but with
such ill success, that abundance of them lost their Lives in the
Attempt. After this they return'd to _Gautimala_, where they built a
City, which God in his Judgement with Three Deluges, the First of
Water, the Second of Earth, the Third of Stones, as big as half a score
Oxen, all concurring at one and the same time, laid Level with its own
Ashes. Now all being slain who were capable of bearing Arms against
them, the rest were enslav'd, paying so much _per_ Head for Men and
Women as a Ransom; for they use no other servitude here, and then they
were sent into _Pecusium_ to be sold, by which means together with
their slaughters committed upon the Inhabitants, they destroy'd and
made a Desert of this Kingdom, which in Breadth as well as Length
contains One Hundred Miles; and with his Associates and Brethren in
Iniquity, Four Millions at least in Fifteen or Sixteen Years, that is,
from 1524, to 1540 were murdered, and dayly continues destroying the
small residue of that People with his Cruelties and Brutishness.

It was the usual Custom of this Tyrant, when he made War with any City
or Province, to take along with himas many of those _Indians_ he had
subjugated as he could, that they might fight with their Country-men;
and when he had in his Army Twenty, or sometimes Thirty Thousand of
them, and could not afford them sustenance, he permitted them to feed
on the Flesh of other _Indians_ taken Prisoners in War; and so kept a
Shambles of Man's Flesh in his Army, suffered Children to be kill'd and
roasted before his Face. They butcher'd the Men for their Feet and
Hands only; for these Members were accounted by them Dainties, most
delicious Food.

He as the Death of many by the intolerable Labour of Carrying Ships by
Land, causing them to Transport those Vessels with Anchors of a vast
weight from the _Septentrional_ to the _Mediterranean_ Sea, which are
One Hundred and Thirty Miles distant; as also abundance of great Guns
of the largest fort, which they carried on their bare, naked shoulders,
so that opprest with many great and ponderous Burthens, (I say no more
than what I saw) they dyed by the way: He separated and divided
Families, forcing Married Men from their Wives, and Maids from their
Parents, which he bestow'd upon his Marriners and Soldiers, to gratifie
their burning Lust. All his Ships he freighted with _Indians_, where
Hunger and Thirst discharg'd them of their Servitude and his Cruelty by
a welcome Death. He had two Companies of Soldiers who hackt and tore
them in pieces, like Thunder from Heaven speedily. O how many Parents
has he robb'd of their Children, how many Wives of their Husbands, and
Children of their Parents? How many Adulteries, Rapes, and what
Libidinous Acts hath he been guilty of? How many hath he enslav'd and
opprest with insufferable Anguish and unspeakable Calamities? How many
Tears, Sighs and Groans hath he occasion'd? To how many has he bin the
Author of Desolation, during their Peregrination in this, and of
Damnation in the World to come, not only to _Indians_, whose Number is
numberless, but even to _Spaniards_ themselves, by whose help and
assistance he committed such detestable Butcheries and flagitious
Crimes? I supplicate Almighty God, that he would please to have Mercy
on his Soul, and require no other satisfaction than the violent Death,
which turn'd him out of this World.

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_A farther Discourse of_ New Spain: _And some Account of_ Panuco
_and_ Xalisco.

After the perpetration of all the Cruelties rehearsed in _New Spain_
and other places, there came another Rabid and Cruel Tyrant to
_Panuco_, who acted the part of a bloody Tragedian as well as the rest,
and sent away many Ships loaden with these _Barbarians_ to be sold for
Slaves, made this Province almost a Wilderness, and which was
deplorable, Eight Hundred _Indians_, that had Rational Souls were given
in Exchange for a Burthen-bearing-Beast, a Mule, or Camel. Well, He
was made Governour of the City of _Mexico_, and all _New Spain_, and
with him many other Tyrants had the Office of Auditors confer'd upon
them: Now they had already made such a progress toward the Desolation
of this Region, that if the _Franciscans_ had not vigorously opposed
them, and that by (the King's Council, the best and greatest Encourager
of Vertue) it had not speedily bin prevented, that which hapned to
_Hispaniola_ in Two Years, had bin the Fate of _Hispania nova_, namely
to be unpeopled, deferred, and intomb'd in its own Rules. A Companion
of this Governour employed Eight Thousand _Indians_ in Erecting a wall
to inclose his Garden, but they all dyed, having no Supplies, nor Wages
from him, to support themselves, at whose Death he was not in the least
concern'd.

After the first Captain before spoken of had absolutely profliaged and
ruin'd the _Panuconians_, Fifteen Thousand whereof perished by carrying
their Bag and Baggage: At length he arriv'd at the Province of
_Machuacan_, which is Forty Miles Journey from _Mexico_, and as Fertile
and Populous: The King to honour him in the Rencounter, with a Multiple
of People, marcheth toward him, from whom he had received One Thousand
Services and Civilities very considerable, who gratefully requited him
with Captivity, because Fame had nois'd it abroad, that he was a most
Opulent Prince in Gold and Silver; and to the end he might export from,
and purge him of his Gold, he was cruciated with Torments after this
manner; his Body was extended, Hands bound to a Post, and his Feet put
into a pair of Stocks, they all the while applying burning Coals to his
Feet at a tormenting distance, where a Boy attended, who by little and
little sprinkled them with Oyl, that his Flesh might roast the better:
Before him there stood a Wicked Fellow, presenting a Bow to his Breast
charged with a Mortal Arrow, (if let fly) behind him, another with Dogs
held in with Chains, which he threatned to let loose at him, which if
done, he had bin torn to pieces in a moment; and with these kind of
Torments they racked him to extort a Confession, where his Treasures
lay; till a _Franciscan_ Monk came and deliver'd him from his Torments,
but not from Death, for he departed this miserable Life not long after:
And this was the severe Fate of many _Cacics_ and _Indian_ Lords, who
dyed with the same Torments which they were expos'd to by the
_Spaniards_, in order to the engrossing of their Gold and Sliver to
themselves.

At this very time, A certain Visiter of Purses rather than Souls hapned
to be here present, who (finding some _Indian_ Idols which were hid;
for they were no better instructed in the Knowledge of the true God by
reason of the Wicked Documents and Dealings of the _Spaniards_)
detain'd Grandees as Slaves, till they had deliver'd him all their
Idols, for he phancied they were made of Gold or Silver, but his
Expectation being frustrated, he chastised them with no less Cruelty
than Injustice; and that he might not depart bubbled out of all his
hopes, constrain'd them to redeem their Idols with Money, that so they
might, according to their Custom, Adore them. These are the Fruits of
the _Spanish_ Artifices and Juggling Tricks among the _Indians_, and
thus they promoted the honour and worship of God.

This Tyrant from _Mechuacam_ arrives at _Xalisco_, a Country abounding
with People very fruitful, and the Glory of the _Indians_ in this
respect, that it had some Towns Seven Miles long; and among other
Barbarisms equal to what you have read, which they acted here, this is
not to be forgotten, that Women big with Child, were burthen'd with the
Luggage of Wicked Christians, and being unable to go out their usual
time, through extremity of Toil and Hunger, were necessitated to bring
them forth in the High-wayes, which was the Death of many Infants.

At a certain time a profligate Christian attempted to devirginate a
Maid, but the Mother being present, resisted him, and endeavouring to
free her from his intended Rape, whereat the _Spaniard_ enrag'd, cut
off her Hand with a short Sword, and stab'd the Virgin in several
places, till she Expir'd, because she obstinately opposed and
disappointed his inordinate Appetite.

In this Kingdom of _Xalisco_ (according to report) they burnt Eight
Hundred Towns to Ashes, and for this Reason the _Indians_ growing
desperate, beholding the dayly destruction of the Remainders of their
matchless Cruelty, made an Insurrection against the _Spaniards_, slew
several of them justly and deservedly, and afterward fled to the
insensible Rocks and Mountains (yet more tender and kind than the
stony-hearted Enemy) for Sanctuary; where they were miserably Massacred
by those Tyrants who succeeded, and there are now few, or none of the
Inhabitants to be found. Thus the _Spaniards_ being blinded with the
Lustre of their Gold, deserted by God, and given over to a Reprobate
Sense, not undrestanding (or at least not willing to do so) that the
Cause of the _Indians_ is most Just, as well by the Law of Nature, as
the Divine and Humane, they by Force of Arms, destroying them, hacking
them in pieces, and turning them out of their own Confines and
Dominions, nor considering how unjust those Violences and Tyrannies
are, wherewith they have afflicted these poor Creatures, they still
contrive to raise new Wars against them: Nay they conceive, and by Word
and Writing testifie, that those Victories they have obtain'd against
those Innocents to their ruine, are granted them by God himself, as if
their unjust Wars were promoted and managed by a just Right and Title
to what they pretend; and with boasting Joy return Thanks to God for
their Tyranny, in imitation of those Tyrants and Robbers, of whom the
Prophet _Zechariah_ part of the Forth and Fifth Verses. _Feed the Sheep
of the slaughter, whose Possessors slay them, and hold themselves not
guilty, and they that sell them say, Blessed by the Lord, for ye are
rich._

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_Of the Kingdom of _JUCATAN.

An Impious Wretch by his Fabulous Stories and Relations to the King of
_Spain_ was made praefect of the Kingdom of _Jucatan_, in the Year of
our Lord 1526; And the other Tyrants to this very day have taken the
same indirect Measures to obtain Offices, and screw or wheedle
themselves into publick Charges or Employments, for this praetext, and
Authority, they had the greater opportunity to commit Theft and Rapine.
This Kingdom was very well peopled, and both for Temperature of Air,
and the Plenty of Food and Fruits, in which respect it is more Fertile
than _Mexico_, but chiefly for Hony and Wax, it exceeds all the
_Indian_ Countries that hath hitherto bin discover'd. It is Three
Hundred Miles in Compass. The Inhabitants of this place do much excel
all other _Indians_, either in Politie or Prudence, or in leading a
Regular Life and Morality, truly deserving to be instructed in the
Knowledge of the true God. Here the _Spaniards_ might have Erected
many fair Cities, and liv'd as it were in a Garden of Delights, if they
had not, through Covetousness, Stupidity, and the weight of Enormous
Crimes rendred themselves unworthy of so great a Benefit. This Tyrant,
with Three Hundred Men began to make War with these Innocent People,
living peaceably at home, and doing injury to none, which was the ruine
of a great Number of them: Now because this Region affords no Gold; and
if it did the Inhabitants would soon have wrought away their lives by
hard working in the Mines, that so he might accumulate Gold by their
bodies and Souls, for which Christ was Crucified: For the generality he
made slaves of those whose lives he spared, and sent away such Ships as
were driven thither by the Wind of report, loaden with them, exchanging
them for Wine, Oyl, Vinegar, Salt Pork, Garments, Pack Horses and other
Commodities, which he thought most necessary and fit for his use. He
proposed to them the choice of Fifty Virgins, and she that was the
fairest or best complexioned he bartered for a small Cask of Wine, Oyl,
Vinegar or some inconsiderable quantity of salt Pork, the same exchange
he proferred of Two or Three Hundred well-disposed Young Boys, and one
of them who had the Mind or presence of a Princes Son, was given up to
them for a Cheese, and One Hundred more for a Horse. Thus he continued
his flagitious courses from 1526 to 1533, inclusively, till there was
news brought of the Wealth and Opulence of the Region of _Perusia_,
whither the _Spaniards_ marcht, and so for some time there was a
Cessation of this Tyranny; but in a few days after they returned and
acted enormous Crimes, robbed, and imprisoned them and committed higher
offences against the God of Heaven; nor have they ye done, so that now
these Three Hundred Miles of Land so populous (as I said before) lies
now uncultivated and almost deserted.

No Solifidian can believe the particular Narrations of their Barbarism,
and Cruelty in those Countreys. I will only relate two or three
Stories which are fresh in my memory. The _Spaniards_ used to trace the
steps of the _Indians_, both Men and Women with curst Currs, furious
Dogs; an _Indian_ Woman that was sick hapned to be in the way in sight,
who perceiving that she was not able to avoid being torn in pieces by
the Dogs, takes a Cord that she had and hangs her self upon a Beam,
tying her Child (which she unforunately had with her) to her foot; and
no sooner had she done, yet the Dogs were at her, tearing the Child,
but a Priest coming that way Baptiz'd it before quite dead.

When the _Spaniards_ left this Kingdom, one of them invited the Son of
some _Indian_ Governour of a City or Province, to go along with him,
who told him he would not leave or desert his Native Countrey,
whereupon he threatned to cut off his ears, if he refus'd to follow
him: But the Youth persisting resolutely, that he would continue in the
place of his Nativity, he drawing his Sword cut off each Ear,
notwithstanding which he persever'd in his first opinion, and then as
if he had only pincht him, smilingly cut off his Nose and Lips.

This Rogue did lasciviously boast before a Priest, and as if he had
merited the greatest applause, commended himself to the very Heavens,
saying, "He had made it his chief Trade or Business to impregnate
_Indian_ Women, that when they were sold afterward, he might gain the
more Money by them."

In this Kingdom or (I'm certain) in some Province of New _Spain_, A
_Spaniard_ Hunting and intent on his game, phancyed that his Beagles
wanted food; and to supply their hunger snatcht a young little Babe
from the Mothers breast, cutting off his Arms and Legs, cast a part of
them to every Dog, which they having devour'd, he threw the remainder
of the Body to them. Thus it is plainly manifest how they value these
poor Creatures, created after the image of God, to cast them to their
Canibal Curs. But that which follows is (if possible) a sin of a
deeper dye.

I pretermit their unparallel'd Impieties, _&c._ and only close all with
this one Story that follows. Those haughty obdurate and execrable
Tyrants, who departed from this Countrey to Fish for Riches in
_Perusia_, and four Monks of the Order of St. _Francis_, with Father
_James_ who Travelled thither also to keep the Countrey in Peace, and
attract or mildly perswade by their Preaching the remnant of
Inhabitants, that had outlived a septennial Tyranny, to embrace the
knowledge of Christ. I conceive these are the persons who in the year
1534, Travelling by _Mexico_ were sollicited by several Messengers from
the _Indians_, to come into their Countrey, and inform them in the
knowledge of one God, the true God, and Lord of the whole World: to
this end they appointed Assemblies and Councils to examine and
understand what Men they were, who called themselves Fathers and
Friers, what they intended and what difference there was between them
and the _Spaniards_, by whom they had been so molested and tormented:
but they received them at length upon this condition that they should
be admitted alone, without any _Spaniards_, which the Fathers promised;
for they had permission, nay an express Mandate from the President of
New _Spain_ to make that promise, and that the _Spaniards_ should not
do them the least detriment or injury. Then they began, to Preach the
Gospel of Christ, and to explicate and declare the pious intention of
the King of _Castile_, of all which they had notice by the _Spaniards_
for seven years together, that they had no King nor no other but him,
who oppressed them with so much Tyranny. The Priests continued there
but forty days, but behold they bring forth all their Idols to be
committed to the flames; and then their Children which they tendred as
the apple of the Eye, that they might be instructed. They also erected
Temples and Houses for them and they were desired to come to other
Provinces and Preach the Gospel, and introduce them into the knowledge
of God, and the Great (as they stiled him) King of _Castile_: And the
Priests perswasions wrought so effectually on them, that they
condescended to that which was never done in _India_ before (for
whatsoever those Tyrants who wasted and consumed these large Kingdoms
and Provinces, did misrepresent and falsifie, was only done to bring an
odium and disgrace upon the _Indians_). For Twelve or Fifteen Princes
of spatious and well-peopled Regions assembled, every one distinct and
separate from the rest, with his own subjects, and by their unanimous
consent upon Council and Advice, of their own accord sumitted
themselves to the Government of the _Castilian_ Kings and accepted of
them as their Prince and Protector, obliging themselves to obey and
serve them as subjects to their Lawful Liege Lord.

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