A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies: Or, a faithful NARRATIVE OF THE Horrid and Unexampled Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of Cruelties, that Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish Spanish Party on the inhabitants of West-India, TOGETHER With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in America by Fire and Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from the time of its first Discovery by them.Casas, Bartolomé de las
History
A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies: Or, a faithful NARRATIVE OF THE Horrid and Unexampled Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of Cruelties, that Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish Spanish Party on the inhabitants of West-India, TOGETHER With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in America by Fire and Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from the time of its first Discovery by them.
Casas, Bartolomé de las
Indians, Treatment of -- Latin America; Spain -- Colonies -- America
The Third Kingdom was distinguished by the Appellation of _Maquana,_
another admirable, healthful and fruitful Region, where at present the
most refined sugar of the Island is made. _Caonabo_ then reigned there,
who surmounted all the rest in Power, State, and the splendid
Ceremonies of His Government. This King beyond all expectation was
surpriz'd in his own Palace, by the great subtilty and industry of the
_Spaniards,_ and after carried on board in order to his transportation
to _Castile,_ but there being at that time six Ships Riding in the
Haven, and ready to set Sail such an impetuous storm suddenly arose,
that they as well as the Passengers and Ships Crew were all lost,
together with King _Canabao_ loaded with Irons; by which judgement the
Almighty declared that this was as unjust and impious an Act as any of
the former. This Kind had three or four Brothers then Living, Men of
strength and Valour, who being highly incensed at the Captivity of
their King and Brother, to which he was injuriously reduc'd, having
also intelligence of the Devastations and Butcheries committed by the
_Spaniards_ in other Regions, and not long after hearing of their
Brothers death, took up Arms to revenge themselves of the Enemy, whom
the _Spaniards_ met with, and certain party of Horse (which proved very
offensive to the _Indians_) made such havoc and slaughter among them,
that the half of this Kingdom was laid waste and depopulated.
_Xaraqua_ is the Fourth Kingdom, and as it were the Centre and Middle
of the whole Island, and is not to be equalled for fluency of Speech
and politeness of Idiom or Dialect by any Inhabitants of the other
Kingdoms, and in Policy and Morality transcends them all. Herein the
Lords and Peers abounded, and the very Populace excelled in in stature
and habit of Body: Their King was _Behechio_ by name and who had a
Sister called _Anacaona,_ and both the Brother as well as Sister had
loaded the _Spaniards_ with Benefits and singular acts of Civility, and
by delivering them from the evident and apparent danger of Death, did
signal services to the _Castilian_ Kings. _Behechio_ dying the supreme
power of the Kingdom fell to _Anacaona:_ But it hapned one day, that
the Governour of an Island, attended by 60 Horse, and 30 Foot (now the
Cavalry was sufficiently able to unpeople not only the Isle, but also
the whole Continent) he summoned about 300 Dynasta's, or Noblemen to
appear before him, and commanded the most powerful of them, being first
crouded into a Thatcht Barn or Hovel, to be exposed to the fury of the
merciless Fire, and the rest to be pierced with Lances, and run through
with the point of the Sword, by a multitude of Men: And _Anacaona_ her
self who (as we said before,) sway'd the Imperial Scepter, to her
greater honor was hanged on a Gibbet. And if it fell out that any
person instigated by Compassion or Covetousness, did entertain any
_Indian_ Boys and mount them on Horses, to prevent their Murder,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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