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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I also affirm that I saw with these Eyes of mine the _Spaniards_ for no
other reason, but only to gratifie their bloody mindedness, cut off the
Hands, Noses, and Ears, both of _Indians_ and _Indianesses_, and that
in so many places and parts, that it would be too prolix and tedious to
relate them. Nay, I have seen the _Spaniards_ let loose their Dogs
upon the _Indians_ to bait and tear them in pieces, and such a Number
of Villages burnt by them as cannot well be discover'd: Farther this is
a certain Truth, that they snatched Babes from the Mothers Embraces,
and taking hold of their Arms threw them away as far as they would from
them: (a pretty kind of barr-tossing Recreation.) They committed many
other Cruelties, which shook me with Terror at the very sight of them,
and would take up too much time in the Relation.

I likewise aver, That the _Spaniards_ gathered together as many
_Indians_ as fill'd Three Houses, to which, for no cause, (or a very
inconsiderable one) they set fire, and burnt every one of them: But a
Presbyter, _Ocana_ by Name, chanced to snatch a little baby out of the
fire, which being observ'd by a _Spaniard_, he tore him out of his
Arms, and threw him into the midst of the Flames, where he was with the
rest, soon burnt to Ashes, which _Spaniard_ the same day he committed
that Fact, returning to his Quarters, dyed suddenly by the way, and I
advised them not to give him Christian Burial.

Farthermore I saw them send to several _Casics_ and Principal
_Indians_, promising them a protecting Passeport to travel peaceably
and securely to them, who, no sooner came, but they were burnt; Two of
them before my Face, one at _Andonia_, and the other at _Tumbala_, nor
could I with all my perswasions and preaching to them prevail so far as
to save them from the Fire. And this I do maintain according to God
and my own Conscience, as far as I could possibly learn, that the
Inhabitants of _Perusia_ never promoted or raised any Commotion or
Rebellion, though as it is manifest to all Men, they were afflicted
with Evil Dealings and Cruel Torments: And they, not without Cause, the
_Spaniards_ breaking their Faith and Word, betraying the Truth and
Tyrannically contrary to all Law and Justice, destroying them and the
whole Country, inflicting on them great Injuries and Losses, were more
reay to prepare themselves for Death, than still to fall at once into
such great and irrecoverable Miseries.

Nay I do declare, according to Information from the _Indians_
themselves, that there are to this day far greater Quantities of Gold
kept hid and concealed than ever were yet detected or brought to light,
which by means of the _Spanish_ Injustice and Cruelty, they would not
then, nor ever will discover so long as they are so barbarously
treated, but will rather chose to dye with the Herd. Whereat the Lord
God is highly offended and the King hath very ill Offices done him, for
he is hereby defrauded of this Region, which was sufficiently able to
furnish all _Castile_ with Necessaries, the Recovery whereof can never
be expected without great difficulty and vast Expenses.

Thus far I have acquainted you with the very words of this Religious
_Franciscan_, ratified by the Bishop of _Mexico_, who testifieth that
the said Frier _Marc_ did affirm and maintain what is above-mentioned.

Here it is to be observ'd what this said Frier was an Eye-Witness of;
for he travelled up in this Countrey Fifty or a Hundred Miles, for the
space of Nine or Ten Years, when as yet, few _Spaniards_ had got
footing there, but afterward, at the noise of Gold to be had there in
great plenty, Four or Five Thousand came thither, who spread themselves
through those Kingdoms and Provinces the space of Five or Six Hundred
Miles, which they made wholly desloate, committing the same, or greater
Cruelies than are before recited; for in reality they destroyed from
that time to these very days, above an Hundred Thousand poor Souls more
than he gives an Account of, and with less fear of God and the King,
nay with less Mercy have they destroyed the greatest part of Mankind in
these Kingdoms, above Four Millions suffering by violent Death.

A few days after they darted to Death with Arrows made of Reeds a
Puissant Queen, the Wife of a Potentate, who still sways the Imperial
Scepter of that Kingdom, whom the _Spaniards_ had a design to take,
which instigated him to raise a Rebellion, and he still continues a
Rebel. They seized the Queen his Consort, and contrary to all Law and
Equity murdered her, as is said before, who was then, as report, big
with Child, only for this Reason, that they might add fresh Affliction
and Grief to her Husband.

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_Of the New Kingdom of_ Granada

Many Tyrants there were, who set Sail from _Venecuela_, St. _Martha_,
and _Carthagena_, hastening to the Conquest of _Perusia_, Anno Dom.
1539. and they accompanied with many more going farther from this
Region, endeavored to penetrate into the Heart of this Countrey, where
they found about Three Hundred Miles from _Carthagena_ and St.
_Martha_, many admirable Provinces and most fruitful Land, furnished
with an even-tempered or meek-spirited People, as they are in other
parts of _India_; very rich in Gold and those sorts of precious Stones
known by the name of Emralds: To which Province they gave the Name of
_Granada_, upon this account, because the Tyrant who first arrived in
these Regions, was born in the Kingdom of _Granada_ belonging to these
parts; now they that spoiled these Provinces with their rapine being
wicked, cruel, infamous Butchers, and delighting in the effusion of
Humane Blood, having practically experimented the piacular and grand
Enormities perpetrated among the _Indians_; and upon this account their
Diabolical Actions are so great, so many in number, and represented so
grievously horrid by circumstantial aggravations, that they exceed all
the villanies committed by others, nay by themselves in other Regions,
I will only select and cull out a few out of so great a number which
have bene transacted by them within these three years, for my present
purpose.

A certain Governour, because he that went to commit depredations and
spoils in the Kingdom of _Granada_, would not admit him, as a Companion
in his Robberies and Cruelties, set up an Inquisition, and produced
proofs confirmed by great evidence, whereby he palpably lays open, and
proves the Slaughters and Homicides he committed, and persists in to
this very day, which were read in the _Indian_ Courts of Judicature,
and are there now Recorded.

In this Inquisition the Witnesses depose, that when all these Kingdoms
enjoy'd Peace and Tranquillity, the _Indians_ serv'd the _Spaniards_,
and got their living by contstnat day-labour in Tilling and Manuring
the Ground, bringing them much Gold, and many Gems, particularly
Emeralds, and what other Commodities they could, and possessed, their
Cities and Dominions being divided among the _Spaniards_, to procure
which is the chiefest of their care and pains; and these are the proper
measures they take to obtain their proposed ends, to wit, heaping and
treasuring up of Gold and Riches.

Now when all the _Indians_ were under their accustomed Tyranny: A
certain Tyrant, and Chief Commander, took the King and Lord of the
whole Countrey, and detain'd him Captive for six or seven moneths,
demanding of him, without any reason, store of Gold and Emeralds. The
said King, whose name was _Bogoca_, though fear, promised him a House
of Gold, hoping, in time, to escape out of his clutches, who thus
plagu'd him, and sent some _Indians_ for Gold, who frequently, and at
several times, brought him a great quantity of Gold, and many Jewels;
but because the King did not, according to his promise, bestow upon him
an Apartment made of pure Gold, he must therefore forfeit his Life.
The Tyrant commanded himto be brought to Tryal before himself, and so
they cite and summon to a Tryal the greatest King in the whole Region;
and the Tyrant pronounced this Sentence, that unless he did perform his
Golden Promise he should be exposed to severe Torments. They rackt
him, poured boiling Soap into his Bowels, chain'd his Legs to one post,
and fastened his Neck to another, two men holding his Hands, and so
applyed the scorching heat of the Fire to his Feet; the Tyrant himself
often casting his eye upon him, and threatning him with death, if he
did not give him the promised Gold; and thus with these kind of horrid
torments, the said Lord was destroy'd; which while they were doing, God
being willing to manifest how displeasing these Cruelties are to His
Divine Majesty, the whole City, that was the Stage on which they were
acted, was consumed by fire; and the rest of the Captains following his
example, destroy'd all the Lords of that Region by Fire and Faggot.

Once it fell out, that many _Indians_ addressed themselves to the
_Spaniards_ with all Humility and Simplicity, as they use to do, who
thinking themselves safe and secure, behold the Captain comes into the
City, where they were to do their work, and commands all these
_Indians_, sleeping and taking their rest, after Supper, being wearied
with the heavy drudgery of the day, to be slain by the Sword: And this
stratagem he put in practice, to make a greater impression of fear on
all the minds of the Inhabitants; and another time a certain Captain
commanded the _Spaniards_ to declare upon Oath, how many _Casics_ and
_Indians_ every individual person had in his Family at home, who were
presently lead to a publick place, and lost their Heads; so there
perisht, that bout, four or five hundred Men. The Witnesses depose
this of a particular Tyrant, that by beating, cutting off the Hands and
Noses of many Women as well as Men, and destroying several persons in
great numbers, he exercised horrid Cruelties.

Then one of the Captains sent this bloody Tyrant into the Province of
_Bogata_, to inquire who succeeded that Prince there, whom he so
barbarously and inhumanely Murder'd, who traveling many miles in this
Countrey, took as many _Indians_ as he could get, some of which,
because they did not tell him who was Successor of this Deceased
Prince, had their Hands cut off, and others were exposed to hunger-
starv'd Currs, to be devour'd by them, and as many of them perished
miserably.

Another time about the fourth Watch, early in the morning he fell upon
several _Casics_, Noblemen and other _Indians_, who lookt upon
themselves to be safe enough, (for they had their faith and security
given, that none of them should receive any damage or injury) relying
upon this, they left the Mountains their lurking places, without any
suspition or fear, and returned to their Cities, but he seized on them
all, and commanding them to extend their hands on the ground, cut them
off with his own Sword, saying, that he punished them after this maner,
because they would not inform him what Lord it was, that succeeded in
that Kingdom.

The Inhabitants of one of these Provinces, perceiving that four or five
of their Governours were sent to the other World in a fiery Vehicle or
Chariot, being terrified therewith, took to the Mountains for
Sanctuary, there being four or five thousand in number, as appears by
good Evidence; and the aforesaid Captain sends a Tyrant, more cruel
than any of the rest after them. The _Spaniards_ ascend the Mountains
by force (for the _Indians_ were naked an unarm'd) Proclaiming Peace,
if they would desist and lay down their Arms, which the _Indians_ no
sooner heard, but quitted their Childish Weapons; and this was no
sooner done but this Sanguinary _Spaniard_ sent some to possess
themselves of the Fortifications, and they being secur'd, to attaque
the _Indians_. Thus they, like Wolves and Lyons, did rush upon this
flock of Sheep, and were so tired with slaughter, that they were forced
to desist for a while and take breath, which done, the Captain commands
them to fall to it again at the same bloody rate, and precipitate all
that survived the Butchery, from the top of the Mountain, which was of
a prodigious height; and that was perform'd accordingly. And the
Witnesses farther declare upon Oath, that they saw the bodies of about
seven hundred _Indians_ falling from the Mount at one time, like a
Cloud obscuring the Air, who were all broken to pieces.

This very Tyrant came once to the city _Cota_, where he surprized
abundance of Men, together with fifteen or twenty Casics of the highest
rank and quality, whom he cast to the Dogs to be torn Limb-meal in
pieces, and cut off the Hands of several Men and Women, which being run
through with a pole, were exposed to be viewed and gaz'd upon by the
_Indians_, where you might see at once seventy pair of hands,
transfixed with Poles; nor is it to be forgotten, that he cut off the
Noses of many Women and Children.

The Witnesses farther depose, that the Cruelties and great Slaughters
committed in the aforesaid new Kingdom of _Granada_, by this Captain,
and other Tyrants, the Destroyers of Mankind, who accompany him, and
have power still given them by him to exercise the same, are such and
so hainous, that if his Majesty does not opportunely apply some remedy,
for the redress and prevention of such mischiefs for the future, (since
the _Indians_ are daily slaughtered to accumulate and enrich themselves
with Gold, which the Inhabitants have been so rob'd of, that they are
now grown bare, for what they had, they have disposed to the
_Spaniards_ already) this Kingdom will soon decay and be made desolate,
and consequently the Land being destitute of _Indians_, who should
manure it, will lye fallow and incultivated.

And here is to be noted, how pestilential and inhumane the cruelty of
these Tyrants hath been, and how violently exercised, when as in two or
three years space, they were all slain, and the Country wholly desolate
and deserted, as those that have been Eye-witnesses can testifie; they
having acted like Merciless Men, not having the fear of God and the
King before their Eyes, but by the instigation of the Devil; so that it
may well be said and affirmed, not one Person will be left alive,
unless his Majesty does retard, and put a stop to the full career of
their Cruelties, which I am very apt to believe, for I have seen with
these very eyes of mine, many Kingdoms laid waste and depopulated in a
small time. There are other stately Provinces on the Confines of the
New Kindgom of _Granada_, as _Popayan_ and _Cali_, together with three
or four more above five hundred miles in length, which they destroyed,
in the same manner, as they have done other places, and laid them
absolutely waste by the prementioned Slaughters, who were very
Populous, and the Soil very Fruitful. They who came among us from
those Regions report, that nothing can be more deplorable or worthy of
pity and commiseration, then to behold such large and great Cities
totally ruinated, and intombed in their own Ashes, and that in a City
adorn'd with 1000 or 2000 Fabricks, there are hardly now to be seen 50
standing, the rest being utterly demolished, or consum'd and levelled
to the ground by Fire and in some parts Regions of 100 miles in length,
(containing spacious Cities) are found absolutely destroyed and
consumed by Fire.

Finally many great Tyrants who came out of the _Perusian_ Kingdoms by
the _Quitonians_ Travelled to the said new Kindgom of _Granada_ and
_Popayan_, and by _Carthagena_ and the _Urabae_, they directed their
course to _Calisium_, and several other Tyrants of _Carthagena_ assault
_Quito_, who joyn'd themselves in an intire Body and wholly depopulated
and laid waste that Region for the space of 600 miles and upward, with
the loss of a prodigious number of poor Souls; nor as yet do they treat
the small remnant of so great and innocent a people with more humanity
then formerly.

I desire therefore that the Readers who have or shall peruse these
passages, would please seriously to consider whether or no, such
Barbarous, Cruel and Inhumane Acts as these do not transcend and exceed
all the impiety and tyrrany, which can enter into the thoughts or
imagination of Man, and whether these _Spaniards_ deserve not the name
of Devils. For which of these two things is more eligible or desirable
whether the _Indians_ should be delivered up to the Devils themselves
to be tormented or the _Spaniards_? That is still a question.

Nor can I here omit one piece of Villany, (whether it ought to be
postpon'd or come behind the cruelty of Brute Animals, that I leave to
decision). The _Spaniards_ who are conversant among the _Indians_ bred
up curst Curs, who are so well instructed and taught that they at first
sight, fly upon the Inhabitants tearing them limb by limb, and so
presently devour them. Now let all persons whether Christians or not
consider, if ever such a thing as this reacht the ears of any Man, they
carry these Dogs with them as Companions where ever they go, and kill
the fettered _Indians_ in multitudes like Hogs for their Food; thus
sharing with them in the Butchery. Nay they frequently call one to the
other, saying, lend me the fourth part of one of your Slaves to feed my
Dogs, and when I kill one, I will repay you, as if they had only
borrowed a quarter of a Hog or Sheep. Others, when they go a Hunting
early in the morning, upon their return, if you ask them what sport had
you to day at the Game? They will answer, enough, enough, for my Dogs
have killed and worried 15 or 20 _Indian_ Vassals. Now all these
things are plainly prov'd upon those Inquisitions and Examinations made
by one Tyrant against another. What I beseech you, can be more horrid
or barbarous?

But I will desist from Writing any longer at this time, till some
Messenger brings an account of greater and blacker Impieties (if
greater can be committed) or else till we come to behold them again, as
we have done for the space of forty two years with our own Eyes. I
will only make this small addition to what I have said that the
_Spaniards_, from the beginning of their first entrance upon _America_
to this present day, were no more sollicitous of promoting the
Preaching of the Gospel of Christ to these Nations, then if they had
been Dogs or Beasts, but which is worst of all, they expressly
prohibited their addresses to the Religious, laying many heavy
Impositions upon them, dayly afflicting and persecuting them, that they
might not have so much time and leasure at their own disposal, as to
attend their Preaching and Divine Service; for they lookt upon that to
be an impediment to their getting Gold, and raking up riches which
their Avarice stimulated them so boundlessly to prosecute. Nor do they
understand any more of a God, whether he be made of Wood, Brass or
Clay, then they did above an hundred years ago, New _Spain_ only
exempted, which is a small part of _America_, and was visited and
instructed by the Religious. Thus they did formely and still do perish
without true Faith, or the knowledge and benefit of our Religious
Sacraments.

I Frier _Bartholomeas de las Casas_ or _Casaus_ of the Order of St.
_Dominick_, who through the mercy of God am Arriv'd at the _Spanish_
Court, Cordially wishing the expulsion of Hell or these Hellish Acts
out of the _Indies_; fearing least those Souls redeemed by the pretious
Blood of Christ, should perish eternally, but heartily desiring that
they may acknowledge their Creator and be saved; as also for the care
and compassion that I ever had for my Native Countrey _Castile_,
dreading least God should destroy it for the many sins committed by the
Natives her Children, against Faith, Honour and their Neighbours: I
have at length upon the request of some Persons of great Quality in
this Court, who are fervently zealous of the Honour of God, and moved
with pitty at the Calamities and Afflictions of their Neighbours
(though I long since proposed it within my self, and resolved to
accomplish it, but could not, being distracted with the avocations of
multiplicity of constant Business and Employment, have leisure to
effect it) I say I have at length finished this Treatise and Summary at
_Valencia, Decemb._ 8. _An. Dom._ 1542, when they were arrived at the
Height, and utmost Degree of executing Violences, Oppressions, Tyrrany,
Desolations, Torments, and Calamities in all the aforesaid Regions,
Inhabited by the _Spaniards_ (though they are more Cruel in some places
than other) yet _Mexico_ with its Confines were more favourably treated
than the rest of the Provinces.

And indeed no Man durst openly and publickly do any injury to the
Inhabitants; for there some Justice, (which is no where else in
_India_) though very little is done and practiced; yet they are
grievously opprest with intolerable Taxes. But I do really believe,
and am fully perswaded that our Sovereign Lord _Charles_ the Fifth,
Emperour and King of _Spain_, our Lord and Prince, who begins to be
sensible of the Wickedness and Treacheries, which have been, and still
are committed against this Miserable Nation, and distressed Countries
contrary to the Will and Pleasure of God, as well as His Majesties that
he will in time, (for hitherto the Truth hath been concealed and kept
from his Knowledge, with as great Craft, as Fraud and Malice) totally
extirpate and root up all these Evils and Mischiefs, and apply such
proper Medicines as may purge the Morbifick and peccant Humours in the
Body Politick of this New World, committed to his Care and Government
as a Lover and Promoter of Peace and Tranquility. God preserve and
bless him with Renown and a happy Life in his Imperial State, and
prosper him in all his Attempts, that he may remedy the Distempers of
the Christian Church, and Crown him at last with Eternal Felicity,
_Amen_.

After I had published this Treatise, certain Laws and Constitutions,
enacted by his Majesty then at _Baraclona_ in the Month of _December,
An. Dom._ 1542, promulgated and published the Year ensuing in the City
of _Madera_, whereby it is provided, (as the present Necessities
requir'd) that a period be put to such great Enormities and Sins, as
were committed against God and our Neighbours, and tended to the utter
Ruine and Perdition of this New World. These Laws were published by
his Majesties Order, several Persons of highest Authority, Councellors,
Learned, and Conscientious Men, being assembled together for that
purpose, and many Debates made at _Valedolid_ about this weighty
Affair, at length by the unanimous Consent and Advice of all those who
had committed their Opinions to Writing, they were made publick who
traced more closely therein the Laws of Christ and Christianity, and
were judged Persons pure, free from and innocent of that stain and
blemish of depriving the _Indians_ of their Treasures by Theft and
Rapine, which Riches had contaminated and sullied the Hands, but much
more the Souls of those who were enslav'd by those heaps of Wealth and
Covetousness, now this obstinate and hot pursuit after Wealth was the
Original of all those Evils committed without the least Remorse or
Check of Conscience.

These Laws being thus promulgated, the _Courtiers_ who promoted these
Tyrants, took care that several Copies should be transcribed, (though
they were extremely afflicted to see, that there was no farther hopes
or means to promote the former Depredations and Extortions by the
Tyranny aforesaid) and sent them to several _Indian_ Provinces. They,
who took upon them the Trouble and Care of Extirpating, and Oppressing
by different ways of Cruelty, as they never observed any Method or
Order, but behav'd themselves most inordinately and irregularly, having
perused these Diplomata or Constitutions, before the new made Judges,
appointed to put them in Execution, could Arrive or be Landed, they by
the assistance of those (as 'tis credibly rumour'd, nor is it repugnant
to truth) who hitherto favour'd their Criminal and Violent Actions,
knowing well that these Laws and Proclamations must necessarily take
effect, began to grow mutinous, and rebel, and when the Judges were
Landed, who were to Execute these _Mandates_, laying aside all manner
of Love and Fear of God, were so audacious as to contemn and set at
nought all the Reverence and Obedience due to their King, and so became
Traytors, demeaning themselves like Blood-Thirsty Tyrants, destitute
and void of all Humanity.

More particularly this appear'd in the _Perusian_ Kingdoms, where _An.
Dom._ 1542, they acted such Horrid and Stupendous Enormities, that the
like were never known or heard in _America_, or throughout the whole
World before that time: Nor were they only practised upon the
_Indians_, who were mostly destroy'd, but upon themselves also, God
permitting them by his just Judgement to be their own Executioners, and
sheath their Swords in one anothers Bowels. In like manner the other
parts of this New World being moved by the Example of these Rebels,
refused to yield Obedience to those Laws. The rest pretending to
petition his Majesty turn Rebellious themselves; for they would not
voluntarily resign those Estates, Goods and Chattels they have already
usurped, nor willingly manumit those _Indians_, who were doomed to be
their Slaves, during Life; and where they restrain'd the Murdering
Sword from doing Execution, they opprest them gradually with personal
Vassalage, injust and intolerable Burthens; which his Majesty could not
possibly hitherto avert or hinder, because they are all universally,
some publickly and openly, others clancularly and secretly, so
naturally addicted to Rob, Thieve and Steal; and thus under pretext of
serving the King, they dishonour God, and defraud his Imperial Majesty.

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