You have to all admiration come to see this Countrey from another World, my advice to you is, That you hurt none; for the Souls of evil-doers go to dark places: But on the contrary, they shall enjoy the heighth of all Pleasures that are Friends to Peace.
Columbus reply’d, That he came a Scourge for the cruel Cannibals, but a Shield to protect the quiet and well-meaning Indians.
Great disturbance in Hispaniola.
After this, returning to Hispaniola, much contrary to his expectation, he found all things which he had setled there turn’d topsie-turvy: for first the Governors at Isabella jangled, and were at private contentions amongst themselves, and the Benedictine Monk Boilus and Peter Margarites were return’d to Spain; there to make their complaints at Court: and besides, the Spaniards had dealt very inhumanely with the Natives, by their frequent Rapes, Thefts, and Murders; wherefore the Indians, not unjustly incens’d, destroy’d all the Spaniards they found stragling in any part without the Lines of their Fortification. Caunaboa also lay about the Fort St. Thomas, and closely besieged Hoieda; but receiving intelligence of Columbus’s arrival, he broke up his Siege, and march’d from thence, but soon after was taken Prisoner by the Spaniards. Mean while upon Design (a Plot none of the wisest) the Natives of Hispaniola had neither Till’d or Sow’d the Ground, or us’d Agriculture the year before, contriving by want of Provisions (not considering themselves) to starve out the Spaniards; but the mischief fell upon the Contrivers: for so great a Famine hapned, that spreading over the whole Countrey, in a few Moneths fifty thousand were starv’d to death; but the Spaniards made a saving, though hard shift with their own store, then, though too late, the Islanders repented of their folly, for they saw the Spaniards making an advantage of their misery, not onely built more Houses in their City Isabella, but prepar’d their Weather-beaten Vessels, with which Sailing to the Gold Mountains of Cipangi on the Hill, whence sprung several Fountains, they rais’d the Castle of the Conception. Great benefit they reap’d by this Fort, to which they carry’d daily abundance of Amber, Brimstone, mix’d Ore of Silver and Gold, and Brazile-wood, besides great store of Gold: and they might have gotten ten times more, had they not been so much inclin’d to slothfulness, and minding other vain pleasures: yet notwithstanding all, the Fleet carry’d that year above one thousand two hundred pound weight of Gold to Spain.
Spaniards tyrannise there.
In the mean while the Natives complain’d to Columbus of the Spanish Soldiers, which under pretence to seek for Gold, committed many insufferable Outrages; therefore they desir’d that they might be retain’d in their Forts, and not straggle so much abroad, and they would willingly bring them every three Moneths a certain weight of Cotton, Amber, Brazile-wood, and Gold, more than equivalent to what they snatch’d; but Columbus (whose Soldiers, notwithstanding his severity, and using Martial Law upon some of them for their Crimes, and proud with their success) yet prevail’d at last, that they consented thereto; but the Inhabitants never perform’d their promise, who being almost famish’d, had much to do to preserve themselves alive, spending their time in picking Sallads.
Their Conquest.
Whilst the Business remain’d in this ill posture, or rather confusion, Cibanus, Brother to the imprison’d Caunaboa, rais’d an Army of five thousand Men: the Spaniards, divided into five Companies, march’d to meet him; and their Enemies being naked, and having no other Arms than Bowes, Arrows, and Clubs, after some little resistance, were soon dissipated and put to flight, but overtaken by the Spanish Horse, many of them were taken Prisoners, and others forc’d to skulk and hide themselves on the tops of Mountains.
Horible Tempest.
A remarkable passage concerning Bartholomew Columbus.