Anno 1513. two Dominican Fryers went over from Terra Fiona to Cumana, where the Natives kindly Entertain’d them, till a Spanish Ship Anchoring there for the Pearl-Trade, carry’d away by violence the Governor and seventeen of his Servants; whereupon the Natives threatned, that unless their Lord was restor’d, they would put the two Dominicans to death; the Spaniards promising restauration of him in four Moneths time, inform’d the Council at Hispaniola of it, who not consenting to his Releasement, the two Monks were, according the former threatning, presently put to death. Yet after this the Franciscans and Dominicans built each of them a Cloyster in the Province of Chiribichi, where they kept friendly Correspondence with the Cumana’s, till Anno 1520. when Alonso de Ojeda coming to an Anchor before Maracapana, under pretence of bartering Maiz for Spanish Goods with the Tagarez, who came about fifty from the Mountains on which they liv’d, being three Leagues up in the Countrey, and brought Maiz down to the Shore, the Spaniards took thirty six of them Prisoners, and kill’d or wounded the rest: Whereupon the Governor Gonzales being complain’d unto by the neighboring Prince Maraguey, and his assistance desir’d in taking Revenge of the Dominicans and Franciscans, who had urg’d and perswaded Ojeda to the fore-mention’d Act, Gonzales hereupon made an Agreement with Maraguey, that he should destroy the Monks, whilest he himself would kill Ojeda, which they accordingly perform’d. The Council in St. Domingo inform’d hereof, immediately sent three Ships, Mann’d with three hundred Men, under the Command of Gonzalvo de Ocampo, who Anchoring in the Haven of Maracapana, feign’d as if he came newly from Spain, and that he knew nothing of the Business between Ojeda and Gonzales, that so he might entice the Natives into his Ship, and accordingly when divers of them came aboard, the Armed Spaniards started from under the Decks, and hung them up at their Yard-arms, burnt the Village Maracapana, and ruin’d the Countrey far and near with Fire and Sword.
Soto with all his Men destroy’d by the Indians.
Ocampo also built the Town Toledo, about half a League farther into the Countrey, where the Bishop Bartholomew de las Casas, making his Visitation, commanded Ocampo to forbear his cruelty against the Natives, he having daily either burnt, hang’d, beheaded, or made Slaves of some or other of them. Casas also caus’d a little Fort to be built at the Mouth of the River Cumana, to be near to prevent the inhumane Murders and Oppressions committed by his Countrey-men; but because the Inhabitants of Cubagua bereav’d him of his chief Builder, his Fort was left half unfinish’d; wherefore Casas leaving the Command of this Countrey to Francisco de Soto, went back to Hispaniola, where in St. Domingo he made his Complaints to the High Court of Justice of the Spaniards Cruelties; but being little regarded, he went into the Dominicans Cloyster, till he was call’d out and made Bishop of Chiapa. Mean while Soto, contrary to Casas his order, had fitted out two Ships to Trade along the Coast of Paria; but the Expedition prov’d very unsuccessful, for he and all his Men were destroy’d by the Natives; not without just reason, for the Spaniards (according to the Relation of Casas from an Eye-witness) destroy’d this Countrey after such a manner, that a Ship Sail’d between Lucago and Hispaniola sixty Leagues without any Compass, finding the Way onely by the floating of dead Bodies, thrown out of the Spanish Ships. Moreover, the Prisoners fainting, were set ashore on Hispaniola, and divided into Companies, each Company consisting of twenty; Parents separated from their Children, and Husbands from their Wives, and Lots cast for them: those that had either sick, decrepid, or old People fall to their share, us’d to cry (as Casas testifies he hath often heard,) What do I do with this sick, decrepid old Dog? give him to the Devil; I will not put my self to the trouble to kill and bury him.
But Soto’s Death was not left unreveng’d; for not long after Jacob Castellon setting Sail from St. Domingo, left several Companies on Cubagua, to re-build the Town Cadiz, and rais’d a Fort at the Mouth of Cumana, which hath ever since been kept by the Spaniards, who made great slaughter amongst the Natives.
Hieronymo Ortall deserted by his Men.
Hieronymo Ortall Sailing up the Stream Negeri, sent his Lieutenant Augustine Delgado through the populous Provinces Guacharuco and Parimatuotu to the River Unare, where, not without a sharp Conflict, he took abundance of Provisions in a Village. In the mean time Ortall travell’d to Meta, acting inhumane Cruelties all the way; but approaching Guiana (where Delgado was kill’d) he was deserted by his mutinous Men, who ran over to Nicholas Federman; so that he was forc’d to return back to the new Fort Miguel de Neveri, and from thence to St. Domingo with ten Soldiers, fearing that Antonio Sedenno (who judg’d himself wrong’d by Ortall, because Cumana belong’d to his Lordship) would fall upon him.
Sedenno being five hundred Men strong discover’d the Sea-Coast all along to Patigutaro; where Setling himself, he regarded no Discipline; which the Natives observing, kill’d many a Spaniard, and others the Tygers also devour’d, especially in the Night, they being forc’d to keep lighted Fires about them against the wild Beasts.
The Death of Sedenno and Juan Fernandez.
About the beginning of the Year 1537. Sedenno travell’d to the Countrey Anapuya and Orocomay, to the Province Goioguaney, where the Inhabitants defended themselves very valiantly in a woodden Fort, before which many Spaniards were kill’d with poyson’d Arrows, and those who were not mortally wounded, had no way to escape but by burning the Poyson out with hot Irons; yet at last the Defendants were forc’d to flie with their Wives and Children up to the Mountains, overgrown with Brambles. Sedenno marching through barren Fields, and over troublesom Rivers, came to the mountainous Countrey Catapararo, where he found abundance of Maiz, and some little pieces of Gold, and was advanc’d about a League and a half in Cumana, when dying, he made room for his Successor Juan Fernandez, who surviv’d him not long; yet the Expedition was not left unprosecuted: for Sedenno’s Men, after the Decease of him and Fernandez, went farther, and discover’d a low Land, which in the Winter being overflow’d, forc’d the Inhabitants to remove to the Mountains: But at last the Spaniards, being weary with travelling, fell out amongst themselves, and dividing into several Parties, went several ways, some to Venezuela, others to Maracapana, and the rest to Cubagua.