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
Some Captains since the Year 1502 to 1503 undertook Four or Five
Voyages to the River of Plate, which embraceth within its own Arms
great Kingdoms and Provinces, and is peopled by rational and
well-temper'd Inhabitants. In the general we are certified, that they were
very injurious and bloody to them; but they being far distant from
those _Indians_, we frequently discourse of, wer are not able to give
you a particular account of their Transactions. Yet beyond all
Controversie, they did, and still do go the same way to work, as others
in several Regions to this present time do, and have done; for they are
the same, (and many in number too) _Spaniards_ who went thither, that
were the wicked Instruments of other Executions, and all of them aim at
one and the same thing, namely to grow Rich and Wealthy, which they can
never be, unless they steer the same Course which others have followed,
and tread the same paths in Murdering, Robbing and Destroying poor
_Indians_.
After I had committed to Writing what I have prementioned, it was told
me for a great Truth, that they had laid waste in those Countreys great
Kingdoms and Provinces, dealing Cruelly and Bloodily with these
harmless People, at a horrid rate, having a greater Opportunity and
Convenience to be more Infamous and Rigid to them, then others, they
being very remote from _Spain_, living inordinatly, like Debauches,
laying aside, and bidding farewel to all manner of Justice, which is
indeed a Stranger in all the _American_ Regions, as is manifest by what
hath been said already. But among the other Numerous Wicked Acts
following this is one that may be read in the _Indians_ Courts. One of
the Governours commanded his Soldiers to go to a certain Village, and
if they denyed them Provisions, to put all the Inhabitants to the
Sword: By Vertue of this Authority away they march, and because they
would not yield to them above Five Thousand Men as Enemies, fearing
rather to be seen, then guilty of Illiberality, were cut off by the
Sword. Also a certain number of Men living in Peace and Tranquillity
proffered their services to him; who, as it fell out, were call'd
before the Governour, but deferring their appearance a little longer
than ordinary, that he might infix their minds with a remark of
horrible Tyranny, he commanded, they should be deliver'd up, as
Prisoners to their Mortal _Indian_ Enemies, who beg'd with loud
Clamours and a Deluge of Tears, that they might be dispatcht out of
this World by their own Hands, rather than be given up as a prety to
the Enemy; yet being resolute, they would not depart out of the House
wherein they were, so the _Spaniards_ hackt them in pieces Limb by
Limb, who exclaim'd and cryed aloud, "We came to visit and serve you
peaceably and quietly, and you Murder us; our Blood with which these
Walls are moistned and sprinkled will remain as an Everlasting
Testimony of our Unjust Slaughter, and your Barbarous Cruelty. And
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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