Salvageness of the Indians.
From hence the Fleet pass’d by several other fruitful Islands, Columbus giving them the Names of Montseratto, Rodondo, St. Martin, Santa Cruz, formerly by the Inhabitants call’d Ayaya. On this last Island he landed thirty Men, who took four Women, which held out their Hands before them, as if Petitioners that begg’d Quarter, or praying, and then conceal’d themselves in Ambuscade, the better to surprize more; when by chance they spied an Indian Canoo at Sea, with eight Men, and as many Women; whereupon those in Ambuscade made a Signal to the next Ship, which immediately sent off some Boats well Mann’d; but before they drew near them, or expected an On-set, one of the Spaniards was kill’d, and another wounded with their Arrows; amongst whom a Woman, to whom all the rest shew’d greatest Respect and Reverence, aim’d very exactly. Their barbed Shafts were poyson’d; whereupon the Spaniards enrag’d, stemm’d the Canoo, and oversetting, row’d quite over; which little or nothing avail’d; for they all swam, and though separated, shot their Arrows at them, as if the Boat had been a But. At last the Indians got upon a blind Rock, cover’d with Shole Water, which gave them fresh Courage; but the Spaniards having more aid sent them from the Fleet, took them all Prisoners; but the Queens Son being wounded in the Scuffle, and dying soon after, was thrown overboard. The Prisoners being brought before Columbus, foam’d at the Mouth for raging madness; and being afterwards carried to Castile, so retain’d their fierce and salvage Nature, that they scar’d away and frighted the safe Beholders.
Columbus comes to Hispaniola.
Finds the Spaniards slain.
His Discourse with the King Guaccanarillo.
Strange gathering of Gold.
Decas 1. De Orba Novo.
Mean while the Spanish Fleet proceeded on their Voyage, between several Islands, to Hispaniola, of which some appear desolate and barren, others green and Woody; the small Vessels sailing close under the Shore, and the great ones standing further off at Sea, which was very turbulent, and beat exceedingly against the Shole Rocks. The Island Burichema, Columbus call’d St. Johns, to which belong’d some of the Women sent forth in Guadalupe, who inform’d them, That Burichema was well inhabited by a kind and hospitable People, who when the Cannibals landed there fought them, and if Conquerors, were so much exasperated with their inhumane Barbarisms, that they seiz’d on them like Mastiffs open-mouth’d, and tore them piece-meal with their Teeth; yet themselves abhorring the Custom of eating Mens Flesh. Here the Spaniards found onely a large House, surrounded with twelve lesser ones, all deserted; for the Inhabitants with their King Chiasichio were then retir’d into the cool and more sheltring Woods, from the mid-day Heat. All this the Indians told him, which he brought back with him from Spain. Coming to an Anchor at Hispaniola, he sent one of the Indians ashore, that he might tell what brave things he had seen in the Spanish Court; but the remaining three took the advantage of the following Night, and leaping over-board, swam to Shore. But this Accident he not much regarded, trusting to have a sufficient Account from his eight and thirty Spaniards which he had left in the Fort upon the Island; and the more, because King Guaccanarillo’s brother, in sign of Friendship, had presented him with two Golden Images: But all these Conjectures fail’d him, so that hearing nothing, he landed, where he found the Spanish Garrison utterly destroy’d, and the Royal Fort burnt down to the Ground, and lying in a heap of Ashes. Then they fired several Guns, to give notice, that if any of them had conceal’d themselves, and lay sculking in the Woods, or otherwise, they should discover themselves, and come to the succour of their Friends: But all in vain, for none came; for as they were afterwards inform’d, the Inhabitants had slain them, because of their insupportable behavior, insolently committing Robberies, Rapes, and Murders: Hereupon he sent Messengers to the King Guaccanarillo, to inquire why they had fired his Fort, and what they had done with his Men, who brought him this Return, That over that mighty Island were many Princes, of which two being provok’d by the reports of the Strangers that were entertain’d in the Island, came marching upon them, each with their Armies; but that he endeavor’d what he could, and came with a Power to assist the Strangers; yet all he got for his Kindness, was a Wound in his Leg, which had been so sore and troublesom, that forc’d him to keep his Bed, and no less than seven Concubines to attend him, and dress the Wound: But he told his Tale so ill, and feign’d his Lameness worse, that Sibilius, one of the Messengers sent by Columbus, lifting up the Coverlet, saw that he ail’d nothing, which soon confirm’d his doubt, that he was confederated with the rest, and alike guilty of the Slaughter. At last Guaccanarillo being desir’d, came in Person to Columbus, in whose presence he held a long Discourse with an Indian Woman, which they had brought from the Island of Santa Cruz, there Christned by the Name of Catharine: At length Guaccanarillo was dismiss’d, and the Night following this Catharine, with seven more of the Indian Women, leap’d over-board, and swom almost a League to Shore, so going thence directly to their King Guaccanarillo. This Accident gave more suspicion to Columbus, who thereupon sent three hundred Men, commanded by Melchior, Hoieda, and Gorvalano, to march through the Island three several ways, and with special Commission to secure as their Prisoner Guaccanarillo. Melchior discover’d a wide River, full of Reaches and winding Bays, gliding between high Hills cover’d with Woods, resounding with the ecchoing noises of harmonious Birds, and disemboguing his Waters, enlarg’d by two other Rivers, into the Sea, so making a convenient Harbor for Ships. Here a hundred of the Islanders, well Arm’d after their manner, met them, crying aloud, We are no Cannibals, but Taynos, that is, a People more civil than they are cruel. The Spaniards making Signs of Peace, the Taynos approach’d, and joyn’d their Forces in a friendly manner. Near the place of this Meeting appear’d a House built in an Oval fashion, being thirty two Paces in the Circumference, the Roof curiously pleited of divers colour’d Rushes, round about which stood thirty lesser Dwellings. Mean while, in his March Hoieda discover’d a River that descended from a high Mountain, where the Inhabitants gather’d much Gold after this manner: They dig a Hole about two Foot deep; then taking up their left Hand full of Sand, with their right Hand they cull out the precious Ingots, which little accounting of, as they gather’d, they dealt away to the Spaniards. Most of the Pieces were as big as Pease, yet some so large, that they weigh’d nine Ounces. Peter Martyr, Councellor to the Emperor Charles, tells us, That he hath seen of them in the Spanish Court, that were brought over thither by Columbus. Moreover, Hoieda was inform’d here, That this Gold-River took its Original in the Province belonging to Cacicus Caunaboa, signifying, The King of the Golden Palace.
Columbus builds a City.
Strange fruitfulness there.