A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies
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Bartolome de las Casas >> A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies
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In Witness whereof I have in my custody, a certain Instrument Signed
and Attested by the aforesaid Religioso's.
Thus to the great joy and hope of these Priests reducing them to the
knowledge of Christ they were received by the Inhabitants of this
Kingdom, that surviv'd the heat and rage of the Spanish Cruelties: but
behold eighteen Horse and Twelve Footmen by another way crept in among
them, bringing with them many Idols, which were of great weight, and
taken out of other Regions by Force. The Commander in chief of these
_Spaniards_ summoned one of the Dynasts or Rulers of that Province
which they entred into, to appear before him, and command him to take
these Idols with him, distribute them through his Countrey and exchange
every single Idol for an _Indian_ Man or Woman, otherwise he would make
War against him. The abovesaid Lord compelled to it by fear did so
accordingly with a command, that his Subjects should adore Worship and
Honour them, and in compensation send Indians Male and Female into
servitude. The terrified People delivered up their Children, and by
this means there was an end made of this Sacrilegious Merchandize, and
thus the _Casic_ satisfied the greedy desires of the (I dare not say
Christian) _Spaniards_. One of these Sacrilegious Robbers was _John
Garcia_ by name, who being very sick and at the point of dath, had
several Idols hid under his Bed, and calling his _Indians_ that waited
on him, as a Nurse, commanded her not to part with those Idols at a
small rate for they were of the better sort, and that she should not
dispose of them without one _Indian_, for each Idol by way of Barter.
Thus by this his private and Nuncupative last Will and Testament
distracted with these carking cares, he gave up the Ghost: And who is
it that will not fear his being tormented in the darkest and lowest
Hell? Let us now consider what progress in Religion the _Spaniards_
made, and what examples of Christianism they gave, at their first
arrival in _America_, how devoutly they honoured God, and what expence
of sweat and toil they were at to promote his Worship and Adoration
among the Infidels. Let it be also taken into serious consideration,
whose sin is the greater, either _Joroboam's_, who made all _Israel_ to
sin, and caused two Golden Calves to be erected, or the _Spaniards_ who
traffick and Trade in Idols like _Judas_, who was the occasion of such
great scandals. These are the good Deeds of the Spanish _Dons_, who
often, nay very often to feed their Avarice, and accumulate Gold have
sold and still do sell, denied and still do deny Jesus Christ our
Redeemer.
The _Indians_ now findint the Promises of the Religious, that the
_Spaniards_ should not enter into this Countrey, null and void; nay
that the Spaniards brought Idols from other places to be put off there;
when as they had delivered up their own to the Priests to be burnt,
that there might be only Worship of the true God established among
them; they were highly incensed against these Friars, and addressed
themselves to them in these Words following: Why have you deceived us,
binding your promises with false protestations, that the Spaniards
shoudl not be admitted to come hither? And why have you burnt our
Gods, when others are brought from other Regions by the Spaniards? Are
the Gods of other Provinces more sacred than ours? The Friers as well
as they could (though they had little to return in answer) endevour'd
by soft Language to appease them; and went to these Thirty Spaniards,
declaring the evil actions they were guilty of, humbly supplicating
them to withdraw themselves from that place. Which they would by no
means condescend to, and what is most flagitious and wicked perswaded
the _Indians_, that they were introduc'd by those Priests; Which being
made known to them, These _Indians_ resolved to be the death of these
Monks, but having notice thereof by some courteous _Indians_, they
stole away from thence by night, and fled; but after their departure
the truth of the matter and the Spanish Malice being understood; they
sent several Messengers who followed them fifty Miles distant
beseeching them in the name of the _Indians_, to return and begging
pardon for that ignorant mistake.
The Priests relying on their words, returned, and were caress'd like
Angels sent from Heaven; and continued with them, (from whom they
received a Thousand kindnesses) four or five months. But when the
Spaniards persisted in their resolution not to quit the place, although
they Vice-Roy did use all endeavours and fair means to recall them,
they were Proclaim'd Traitors, guilty of High Treason; and because they
continued still exercising Tyranny and perpetrated nefandous Crimes,
the Priests were sensible they would study revenge, though it might be
some considerable time before they put it in execution, fearing that it
might fail upon their own heads, and since they could not exercise the
function of their Ministry securely and undisturbed by reason of the
continual Incursions and Assaults made by the Spaniards, they consulted
about their departure, and did leave this Kingdom accordingly which
remain'd destitute of all Christian Doctrin and these poor Souls are at
this day involv'd in the obscurity of their former Misery and
Ignorance, they being deprived by these accursed Spaniards, of all
hopes of remedy, and the irrigatioon of Divine knowledge, just like
young withering Plants for want of Water: for in that very juncture of
time, when these Religioso's took leave, they embraced the Doctrine of
our Faith with the greatest Fervency and Eagerness imaginable.
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_Of the Province of St. _MARTHA.
The Province of St. _Martha_ was rich in the Neighbouring Golden Mines,
and a fruitful Soil, nay the People were very expert and industrious in
those Mine-works: Upon this Account, or Temptation it was, that from
the Year 1540, to 1542, abundance of Tyrants sailed thither, laying
waste the whole Country by their Depredations, slaughtering the
Inhabitants at a prodigious and bloody rate; and robbing them of all
their Gold, who dayly fled to their Ships for Refuge, moving sometime
to one place, and sometime to another. And thus those Provinces were
laid waste, the greatest Outrages being committed on the Sea-shore,
which lasted till the Year 1523, whither the _Spaniards_ then came to
seat themselves, and fis their intended Habitation. And becuase it is
a plentiful Region and Opulent withal; it was subjected to several
Rulers, who like Infernal Fiends contended who should obtain the Palm,
by out-staining the Sword of his Predecessor in Innocent Blood;
insomuch, that from the Year 1529 to this very day, they have wasted
and spoiled as much good ground as extended Five Hundred Miles, and
unpeopled the Countrey.
If I design'd to enumerate all the Impieties, Butcheries, Desolations,
Iniquities, Violences, Destructions and other the Piacula and black
Enormities committed and perpetrated by the _Spaniards_ in this
Province, against God, the King, and these harmless Nations; I might
compile a Voluminous History, and that shall be compleated, if God
permit my Glass to run longer, in his good time. It may suffice for
the present to relate some passages written in a Letter to our King
and Lord by a Revernd Bishop of these Provinces, Dated the 20th of
_May, An. Dom._ 1541. wherein among other matters he thus words it.
I must acquaint your Sacred Majesty, that the only way to succour and
support this tottering Region is to free it from the Power of a Father
in Law, and marry it to a Husband who will treat her as she ought to be,
and lovingly entertain her, and that must be done with all possible
Expedition too, if not, I am certain that she will suddenly decay and
come to nothing by the covetous and sordid Deportment of the Governours,
_&c._ And a little after he writes thus, By this Means your Majesty
will plainly know and understand how to depose the Prefects or Governours
of those Regions from their Office if they deserve it, that so they may
be alleviated and eas'd of such Burthens; which if not perform'd, in
my Opinion, the Body Politick will never recover its Health. And this I
will make appear to your Majesty that they are not Christians, but Devils;
not Servants of God and the King, but Traitors to the King and Laws,
who are Conversant in those Regions. And in reality nothing can be more
obstructive to those that live peacably, then Inhumane and Barbarous
Usage, which they, who lead a quiet and peacable Life, too frequently
undergo, and this is so fastidious and nauseous to them, that there can
be nothing in the World so odious and detestable among them, as the
Name of a Christian: for they term the Christians in their Language
_Yares_, that is, Devils; and in truth are not without reason; for
the Actions of those that reside in these Regions, are not such as
speak them to be Christians or Men, gifted with Reason, but absolute
Devils; hence it is, that the _Indians_, perceiving these Actions
committed by the Heads as well as Members, who are void of all Compassion
and Humanity, do judge the Christian Laws to be of the same strain and
temper, and that their God and King are the Authors of such Enormities:
Now to endeavour to work upon them a contrary perswasion is to no purpose;
for this would afford them a greater Latitude and Liberty to deride
Jesus Christ and his Laws. Now the _Indians_ who protect and defend
themselves by force of Arms, think it more eligible, and far better to
dye once, than suffer several and many Deaths under the _Spanish_ Power.
This I know experimentally, Most Invicible _Casar_, &c. And he adds
farther, Your Majesty is more Powerful in Subjects and Servants, who
frequent these Kingdoms, then you can imagin. Nor is there one Soldier
among them all, who does not publickly and openly profess, if he robs,
steals, spoils, kills, burns His Majesties Subjects, 'tis to purchase
Gold: He will not say that he therein does your Majesty great Service,
for they affirm they do it to obtain their own Share and Dividend.
Wherefore, Most Invincible _Casar_, it would be a very prudential Act
for your Majesty to testifie by a rigid Correction and severe Punishment
of some Malefactors, that it is disservice to you for your Subjects to
commit such Evil Acts, as tend to the Disobedience and Dishonour of the
Almighty.
What you have read hitherto is the Relation of the said Bishop of St.
_Martha_, Epitomized and Extracted from his Letters, whereby it is
manifest, how Savagely they handle these mild and affable People. They
term them Warlike _Indians_, who betake themselves to the Mountains to
secure themselves from _Spanish_ Cruelty; and call them Country
_Indians_, or Inhabitants, who by a dreadful Massacre are delivered up
to Tyrannical and Horrible Servitude, whereby at length they are become
depopulated, made desolate, and utterly destroy'd; as appears by the
Epistle of the praementioned Bishop, who only gives us a slight Account
or Essay of their persecution and Sufferings. The _Indians_ of this
Country use to break out into such Words as these, when they are
driven, loaded like Brutes through the uncouth wayes in their Journeys
over the Mountains, if they happen to faint through Weakness, and
miscarry through extremity of Labour, (for then they are kicked and
cudge'd, their Teeth dasht out with the Pummels of their Swords to
raise them up again, when tired and fallen under weighty Burthens, and
force them to go on without Respiration, or Time to take Breath, and
all this with the following increpation, or upbraiding and taunting
words, _O what a wicket Villain art thou?_) I say they burst out into
these Expressions, I am absolutely tir'd, kill me, I desire to dye,
being weary of my Life as well as my Burthen and Journey: And this not
without deep Heart-breaking Sighs, they being scarce able to draw or
breathe out their words, which are the Characteristical Notes, and
infallible of the Mind drowned in Anguish and Sorrow. My it please our
Merciful God to order the discovery of these Crimes to be manifested to
those Persons, who are able and oblig'd to redress them.
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_Of the Province of_ CARTHAGENA.
This Province is distant Fifty Miles from the Isle of St. _Martha_
Westward, and situated on the Confines of the Country of _Cenusia_,
from whence it extends One Hundred Miles to the Bay of _Uraba_, and
contains a very long Tract of Land _Southward_. These Provinces from
the Year 1498 to this present time were most barbarously us'd, and made
desert by Murder and Slaughter, but that I may the sooner conclude this
brief summary. I will not handle the particulars, to the end I may the
better give an Account of the detestable Villanies that ruin'd other
Regions.
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_Of the _Pearl-Coast, PARIA, _and_ TRINITY-ISLE.
The _Spaniards_ made great Spoils and Havock from the _Parian_ Coast to
the Bay of _Venecuola_, exclusively, which is about Two Hundred Miles.
It can hardly be exprest by Tongue or Pen how many, and how great
Injuries and Injustices, the Inhabitants of this Sea-shore have endur'd
from the year 1510, to this day. I will only relate Two or Three
Piacular and Criminal Acts of the First Magnitude, capable of
comprehending all other Enormities that deserve the sharpest Torments,
Wit and Malice can invent, and so make way for a deserved Judgment upon
them.
A Nameless Pirate of the Year 1510, accompanied with a parcel of Sixty
or Seventy, arriv'd at _Trinity-Island_, which exceeds _Sicile_, both
in Amplitude and Fertility, and is contiguous to the Continent on that
side where it toucheth upon _Paria_, whose Inhabitants, according to
their Quality, are more addicted to Probity and Vertue, than the rest
of the _Indians_; who immediately published an Edict, that all the
Inhabitants should come and cohabit with them. The _Indian_ Lords and
Subjects gave them a Debonair and Brotherly Reception, serving them
with wonderful Alacrity, furnishing them with dayly Provisions in so
plentiful a manner, that they might have sufficed a more numerous
Company; for it is the Mode among _Indians_ of this New World, to
supply the _Spaniards_ very bountifuly with all manner of Necessaries.
A short time after the _Spaniards_ built a stately House, which was an
Appartment for the _Indians_, that they might accomplish their
praemeditated Designs, which was thus effected. When they were to
thatch it, and had rais'd it two Mens height, they inclos'd several of
them there, to expedite the Work, as they pretended, but in truth that
they who were within, might not see those without; thus part of them
surrounded the House with Sword in Hand that no one should stir out,
and part of them entred it, and bound the _Indians_, menacing them with
Death, if they offered to move a Foot; and if any one endeavoured to
escape, he was presently hackt in pieces; but some of them partly
wounded, and partly unwounded getting away, with others who went not
into the House, about One Hundred and Two Hundred, betook themselves to
another House with Bows and Arrows; and when they were all there, the
_Spaniards_ secur'd the Doors, throwing in Fire at another place, and
so they all perished. From hence they set Sail to the Island of St.
_John_ with near upon One Hundred and Eighty Slaves, whom they had
bound, where they sold one half of them, and thence to _Hispaniola_,
where they dispos'd of the rest. Now when I taxed this Captain with
Wickedness and Treachery in the very Isle of St. _John_, he dismist me
with this Answer; _Forbear good Sir._ I had this in commission from
those who sent me hither, that I should surprize them by the spetious
pretense of Peace, whom I could not sieze by open Force, and in truth
this same Captain told me with his own Mouth, that in _Trinity-Isle_
alone, he had met with a Father and Mother in Civil usage, which he
uttered to his greater Confusion and the aggravation of his Sins. The
Monks of our Order of St. _Dominic_ on a certain time held a Consult
about sending one of their Fraternity into this Island, that by their
Preaching they might instruct them in the Christian Faith, and teach
them the way to be sav'd, of which they were wholly Ignorant. And to
this end they sent thither a Religious and Licentiate in Theologie, (or
Doctor in Divinity, as we term it among us) a Man Famous for his Vertue
and Holiness with a _Laic_ his Associate, to visit the Country,
converse with the Inhabitants, and find out the most convenient places
for the Erection of Monasteries. As soon as they were arriv'd
according to custom, they were entertain'd like Coelestial Messengers,
with great Affection, Joy and Respect, as well as they could, for they
were ignorant of their Tongue, and so made use of signs, for the
present. It hapned that after the departure of that Vessel that
brought these Religious Men, another came into the Port, whose Crew
according to their Hellish Custom, fraudulently, and unknown to the
Religious brought away a Prince of that Province as Captive, who was
call'd _Alphonsus_, (for they are ambitious of a Christian Name,) and
forthwith desire without farther Information, that he would Baptize
him: But the said Lord _Alphonsus_ was deceitfully overperswaded to go
on board of them with his Wife and about Seventeen more, pretending
that they would give hime a Collation; which the Prince and they did,
for he was confident, that the Religious would by no means suffer himo
be abus'd, for he had no so much Confidence in the _Spaniards_; but as
soon as they were upon Deck, the perfidious Rogues, set Sail for
_Hispaniola_, where they were sold as Slaves. The whole Country being
extreamly discompos'd, and understanding that their Prince and Princess
were violently carried away, addressed themselves to these Religioso's,
who were in great danger of losing their Lives: But they being made to
understand this unjust Action, were extraordinarily afflicted, and 'tis
probable would have suffered Death, rather than permit the _Indians_ to
be so injuriously dealt with, which might prove an Obstruction to their
receiving of, and believing in God's Word. Yet the _Indians_ were
sedated by the promises of the Religious; for they told them, they
would send Letters by the first Ship that was bound for _Hispaniola_,
whereby they would procure the Restitution and Return of their Lord and
his Retinue. It pleased God to send a Ship thither forthwith, to the
greater confirming of the Governours Damnation, where in the Letters
they sent to the Religious of _Hispaniola_, Letters containing repeated
Exclamations and Protestations, and protest against such Actions, but
those that received them denyed them Justice, for that they were
partakers of that Prey, made of those _Indians_ so injustly and
impiously captivated. But when the Religious, who had engag'd to the
Inhabitants, that their Lord _Alphonsus_ should be restor'd within Four
Moneths, and found that neither in Four, nor Eight Moneths he was
return'd, they prepar'd themselves for Death, and to deliver up their
Life to Christ, to whom they had offer'd it before their departure from
_Spain_: Thus the Innocent _Indians_ were revenged on the Innocent
Priests; for they were of Opinion, that the Religious had a hand in the
Plot, partly, because they found their Promises that their Lord should
return within Four Moneths, ineffectual, and partly because the
Inhabitants made no difference between a Religious Frier and a
_Spanish_ Rogue. At another time it fell out likewise, through the
Rampant Tyrrany and Cruel Deeds of evil-minded Christians, that the
_Indians_ put to Death two _Dominican_ Friers, of which I am a faithful
Witness, escaping my self, not without a very great Miracle, which
Transaction I resolve silently to pass over, lest I should terrifie the
Reader with the Horror of the Fact.
In these Provinces, there was a City seated on the Bay of _Codera_,
whose Lord was call'd _Higueroto_, a Name, either proper to Persons or
common to the Rulers of that Place. A _Cacic_ of such signal Clemency,
and his Subjects of such noted Vertue, that the _Spaniards_ who came
thither, were extraordinarily welcom, furnished with Provisions,
enjoying Peace and Comfort, and no Refreshment wanting: But a
perfidious Wretch got many of them on board, and sold them to the
Islanders of St. _John_. At the same time I landed upon that Island,
where I obtained a sight of this Tyrant, and heard the Relation of his
Actions. He utterly destroy'd that Land, which the rest of the
_Spaniards_ took very unkindly at his Hands, who frequently playd the
Pirate, and rob'd on that shore, detesting it as a wicked thing,
because they had lost that place, where they use to be treated with as
great Hospitality and Freedom, as if they had been under their own
Roof: Nay they transported from this place, among them, to the Isles of
_Hispaniola_ and St. _John_ Two Millions of Men and upward, and made
the Coast a Desert.
It is most certainly true, that they never ship off a Vessel freighted
with _Indians_, but they pay a third part as Tribute to the Sea,
besides those who are slaughter'd, when found in their own Houses. Now
the Soarce and Original of all this is the ends they have propos'd to
themselves. For there is a necessity of taking with them a great
number of _Indians_, that they may gain a great sum of Mony by their
Sale, now the Ships are very slenderly furnished with Provisions and
Water in small Quantity, to satisfie few, left the Tyrants, who are
term'd Owners or Proprietors of Ships should be at too great expence in
Victualling their Vessels, nay they scarce carry Food enough with them
to maintain the _Spaniards_ that manage the Vessel, which is the reason
so many _Indians_ dye with Hunger and Thirst, and of necessity they
must be thrown over-board: Nay one of them told me this for a Truth,
that there being such a Multitude of Men thus destroy'd, a Ship may
sail from the Isle of _Lucaya_ to _Hispaniola_, which is a Voyage of
Twenty Leagues and upward, without Chart or Compass, by the sole
Direction or Observation of dead fluctuating Carkasses.
But afterward, when arriv'd, and driven up into the Isle whither they
are brought to be sold, there is no Person that is in some small
measure compassionate, but would be extreamly mov'd and discompos'd at
the sight; _viz._ to spie old Men and Women, together with Naked
Children half starv'd. Then they separate Parents from Children, Wives
from their Husbands, about Ten or Twenty in a Company, and cast lots
for them, that the Detestable Owners of the Ships may have their share;
who prepare Two or Three Ships, and equip them as a Fleet of Pirates,
going ashore ravaging and forcing Men out of their Houses, and then
robbing them: But when the lot of any one of them falls upon a parcel,
that hath an aged or diseased Man; the Tyrant, whose Allotment he is,
usually bursts out, as followeth. Let this old Fellow be Damm'd, why do
you bestow him upon me; must I, think you; be at the charge of his
Burial? And this sickly Wretch, how comes he to be one of my alloted
portion must I take care for his cure? Not I. Hence you may guess
what estimate and value the _Spaniards_ put upon _Indians_, and whether
they practise and fulful that Divine and Heavenly precept injoyning
mutual Love and Society.
There can be nothing more cruel and detestable then the Tyrannical
usage of the _Spaniards_ towards the _Indians_ in their Pearl-Fishing;
for the Torments undergone in the unnatural Exenteration and tearing
out with Paracidal hands the richer bowels of our common Mother, or the
inward cruciating racks of the most profligate, Heaven daring
_Desperado_ can admit of no comparison with these, although the
extracting or digging for Gold is one of the sharpest subterranean
Drudgeries, they plunge them down four or five ells deep under Water,
where swimming about without breathing, they eradicate and pull up
Oisters, wherein the Pearls are engendred. Sometimes they rise up to
the superfities of the Water with Nets full of Oisters for respiration
and Air, but if these miserable Creatures stay but a little more then
is Ordinary to rest themselves the Hangman is immediately upon them in
a _Canow_ or small Boat, who beating them with many stripes drag them
by the hair of the head under Water, that they may drudge again at
their expilcation or Pearl Fishing. Their Food is Fish, and the same
which contains the Pearls and _Cassabus_ made of Roots with a few
_Mahids_, the Bread of that Countrey; in the former there is little or
no nutriment or substance, and the other is not made without great
trouble, nor for all this have they a sufficient allowance thereof to
support nature. Their Lodging or Bed is the Earth confined to a pair
of Stocks, for fear that they should run away: And it frequently
happens that they are drown'd with the toil of this kind of Fishing and
never more seen, for the _Tuberoms_ and _Maroxi_ (certain Marine
Monsters that devour a complete proportioned Man wholly at once) prey
upon them under Water. You must consider withall, that it is
impossible for the strongest constitution to continue long under Water
without breathing, and they ordinarily dye through the extream rigor of
the Cold, spitting Blood which is occasioned by the too great
compression of the Breast, procreated by a continued holding breath
under Water, for by too much cold a profluvium of blood follows. Their
hair naturally black is changed into a combust, burnt or Sun-colour
like that of the Sea Wolves, their shoulders and backs covered, or
overspread with a saltish humor that they appear rather like Monsters
in humane shape then Men.
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