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
Nor can I here omit one piece of Villany, (whether it ought to be
postpon'd or come behind the cruelty of Brute Animals, that I leave to
decision). The _Spaniards_ who are conversant among the _Indians_ bred
up curst Curs, who are so well instructed and taught that they at first
sight, fly upon the Inhabitants tearing them limb by limb, and so
presently devour them. Now let all persons whether Christians or not
consider, if ever such a thing as this reacht the ears of any Man, they
carry these Dogs with them as Companions where ever they go, and kill
the fettered _Indians_ in multitudes like Hogs for their Food; thus
sharing with them in the Butchery. Nay they frequently call one to the
other, saying, lend me the fourth part of one of your Slaves to feed my
Dogs, and when I kill one, I will repay you, as if they had only
borrowed a quarter of a Hog or Sheep. Others, when they go a Hunting
early in the morning, upon their return, if you ask them what sport had
you to day at the Game? They will answer, enough, enough, for my Dogs
have killed and worried 15 or 20 _Indian_ Vassals. Now all these
things are plainly prov'd upon those Inquisitions and Examinations made
by one Tyrant against another. What I beseech you, can be more horrid
or barbarous?
But I will desist from Writing any longer at this time, till some
Messenger brings an account of greater and blacker Impieties (if
greater can be committed) or else till we come to behold them again, as
we have done for the space of forty two years with our own Eyes. I
will only make this small addition to what I have said that the
_Spaniards_, from the beginning of their first entrance upon _America_
to this present day, were no more sollicitous of promoting the
Preaching of the Gospel of Christ to these Nations, then if they had
been Dogs or Beasts, but which is worst of all, they expressly
prohibited their addresses to the Religious, laying many heavy
Impositions upon them, dayly afflicting and persecuting them, that they
might not have so much time and leasure at their own disposal, as to
attend their Preaching and Divine Service; for they lookt upon that to
be an impediment to their getting Gold, and raking up riches which
their Avarice stimulated them so boundlessly to prosecute. Nor do they
understand any more of a God, whether he be made of Wood, Brass or
Clay, then they did above an hundred years ago, New _Spain_ only
exempted, which is a small part of _America_, and was visited and
instructed by the Religious. Thus they did formely and still do perish
without true Faith, or the knowledge and benefit of our Religious
Sacraments.
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