The Island of Cuba

In the Year of our Lord 1511. They passed over to Cuba, which contains as much ground in length as there is distance between Valledolid and Rome, well furnished with large and stately Provinces and very populous, against whom they proceeded with no more humanity and Clemency, or indeed to speak truth with greater Savageness and Brutality. Several memorable Transactions worthy observation, passed in this Island. A certain Cacic a potent Peer, named Hathney, who not long before fled Hispaniola to Cuba for Refuge from Death, or Captivity during Life; and understanding by certain Indians that the Spaniards intended to steer their course thither, made this Oration to all his People Assembled together.

In the year of our Lord 1511, they crossed over to Cuba. The island is as long as the distance between Valledolid and Rome. It had large, magnificent provinces and a great population. They treated its people with no more humanity or mercy than before. In truth, they acted with even greater savagery and brutality. Several memorable events worth noting took place on this island. A certain Cacic, a powerful chief named Hathney, had recently fled from Hispaniola to Cuba. He sought refuge from death or lifelong captivity. He learned from certain Indians that the Spaniards intended to sail there. So he gathered all his people and gave the following speech.

You are not ignorant that there is a rumor spread abroad among us of the Spaniards Arrival, and are sensible by woeful experience how such and such (naming them) and Hayti (so they term Hispaniola in their own language) with their Inhabitants have been treated by them, that they design to visit us with equal intentions of committing such acts as they have hitherto been guilty of. But do you not know the cause and reason of their coming? We are altogether ignorant of it, they replied, but sufficiently satisfied that they are cruelly and wickedly inclined: Then thus, he said, they adore a certain Covetous Deity, whose cravings are not to be satisfied by a few moderate offerings, but they may answer his Adoration and Worship, demand many unreasonable things of us, and use their utmost endeavors to subjugate and afterwards murder us. Then taking up a Cask or Cabinet near at hand, full of Gold and Gems, he proceeded in this manner: This is the Spaniards God, and in honour of him if you think well of it, let us celebrate our Arcytos (which are certain kinds of Dances and caprings used among them); and by this means his Deity being appeas'd, he will impose his Commands on the Spaniards that they shall not for the future molest us; who all unanimously with one consent in a loud tone made this reply. Well said, Well said, and thus they continued skipping and dancing before this Cabinet, without the least intermission, till they were quite tired and grown weary: Then the Noble Hathney re-assuming his discourse, said, if we Worship this Deity, till ye be ravished from us, we shall be destroyed, therefore I judge it convenient, upon mature deliberation, that we cast it into the River, which advice was approved of by all without opposition, and the Cabinet thrown in to the next River.

You have heard the rumor spreading among us about the arrival of the Spaniards. You know from bitter experience how they have treated certain places (he named them) and Hayti, along with their inhabitants. Hayti is their own name for Hispaniola. The Spaniards intend to come here and commit the same acts they have committed elsewhere. But do you know why they are coming? We know nothing of their reasons, they replied, but we are certain that they are cruel and wicked. Then he said: They worship a greedy god whose cravings cannot be satisfied with a few modest offerings. To serve and worship this god, they demand many unreasonable things from us. They do everything they can to conquer us and then murder us. Then he picked up a chest nearby, full of gold and gems, and continued: This is the Spaniards’ god. If you agree, let us celebrate our Arcytos in his honor. These are certain dances and leaps they perform. If we appease this god in this way, he will order the Spaniards not to trouble us anymore. They all loudly agreed: Well said, well said. Then they kept leaping and dancing before the chest without stopping until they were completely exhausted. Then the noble Hathney spoke again: If we worship this god until he is taken from us, we will be destroyed. So, after careful thought, I believe we should throw the chest into the river. Everyone approved of this advice without objection, and the chest was thrown into the nearest river.

When the Spaniards first touched this Island, this Cacic, who was thoroughly acquainted with them, did avoid and shun them as much as in him lay, and defended himself by force of Arms, wherever he met with them, but at length being taken he was burnt alive, for flying from so unjust and cruel a Nation, and endeavuoring to secure his Life against them, who only thirsted after the blood of himself and his own People. Now being bound to the post, in order of his Execution a certain Holy Monk of the Franciscan Order, discours'd with him concerning God and the Articles of our Faith, which he never heard of before, and which might be satisfactory and advantagious to him, considering the small time allow'd him by the Executioner, promising him Eternal Glory and Repose, if he truly believ'd them, or other wise Everlasting Torments. After that Hathney had been silently pensive sometime, he askt the Monk whether the Spaniards also were admitted into Heaven, and he answering that the Gates of Heaven were open to all that were Good and Godly, the Cacic replied without further consideration, that he would rather go to Hell then Heaven, for fear he should cohabit in the same Mansion with so Sanguinary and Bloody a Nation. And thus God and the Holy Catholick Faith are Praised and Reverenced by the Practices of the Spaniards in America.

When the Spaniards first landed on this island, this Cacic, who knew them well, avoided them as much as possible. He defended himself with weapons wherever he encountered them. But he was eventually captured and burned alive for fleeing such an unjust and cruel nation and trying to survive. The Spaniards thirsted only for his blood and the blood of his people. Once he was tied to the stake for execution, a holy monk of the Franciscan Order spoke to him. The monk explained God and the teachings of our faith, which the chief had never heard before. These teachings might bring him comfort and benefit in the little time the executioner allowed him. The monk promised him eternal glory and rest if he truly believed them, or everlasting torment if he did not. After Hathney had thought silently for a while, he asked the monk whether the Spaniards were also admitted into Heaven. The monk answered that Heaven’s gates were open to all who were good and godly. The Cacic replied without further thought that he would rather go to Hell than Heaven. He feared sharing a home with such a bloodthirsty and murderous nation. And this is how the deeds of the Spaniards in America bring praise and reverence to God and the Holy Catholic Faith.

Once it so hapned, that the Citizens of a Famous City, distant Ten Miles from the place where we then resided, came to meet us with a splendid Retinue, to render their Visit more Honourable, bringing with them delicious Viands, and such kind of Dainties, with as great a quantity of Fish as they could possibly procure, and distributing them among us; but behold on a sudden, some wicked Devil possessing the minds of the Spaniards, agitated them with great fury, that I being present, and without the least Pretence or Occasion offered, they cut off in cold Blood above Three Thousand Men, Women and Children promiscuously, such Inhumanities and Barbarisms were committed in my sight, as no Age can parallel.

Once, the people of a famous city ten miles from where we were staying came to meet us. They brought a splendid procession to make their visit more honorable. They brought delicious food and delicacies, along with as much fish as they could obtain, and shared everything among us. But suddenly, some wicked devil possessed the minds of the Spaniards and drove them into a furious rage. With me present, and without the slightest excuse or provocation, the Spaniards slaughtered more than three thousand people in cold blood. They killed men, women, and children indiscriminately. I witnessed acts of inhumanity and barbarity that no age can equal.

Some time after I dispatch Messengers to all the Rulers of the Province of Havana, that they would by no means be terrified, or seek their refuge by absence and flight, but to meet us, and that I would engage (for they understood my Authority) that they should not receive the least of Injuries; for the whole Country was extremely afflicted at the Evils and Mischiefs already perpetrated, and this I did with the advice of their Captain. As soon as we approached the Province, Two and Twenty of their Noblemen came forth to meet us, whom the Captain contrary to his Faith given, would have expos'd to the Flames, alledging that it was expedient they should be put to Death, who were, at any time, capacitated to use any Stratagem against us, but with great difficulty and much adoe, I snatcht them out of the fire.

Some time later, I sent messengers to all the rulers of the Province of Havana. I urged them not to be afraid or seek safety by fleeing, but to come and meet us. I promised that they would not suffer the slightest harm, for they recognized my authority. The whole country was deeply distressed by the evils and abuses already committed. I sent this message on the captain’s advice. As soon as we approached the province, twenty-two of their noblemen came out to meet us. Despite his promise, the captain wanted to have them burned alive. He argued that anyone capable of plotting against us at any time should be put to death. But with great difficulty and much effort, I rescued them from the fire.

These Islanders of Cuba, being reduc'd to the same Vasselage and Misery as the Inhabitants of Hispaniola, seeing themselves perish and dy without any redress, fled to the Mountains for shelter, but other Desperado's, put a period to their days with a Halter, and the Husband, together with his Wife and Children, hanging himself, put an end to those Calamities.

These islanders of Cuba were reduced to the same servitude and misery as the inhabitants of Hispaniola. Seeing themselves dying with no hope of relief, they fled to the mountains for shelter. But others, driven to despair, ended their lives by hanging themselves. A husband, together with his wife and children, hanged himself, bringing those sufferings to an end.

By the ferocity of one Spanish Tyrant (whom I knew) above Two Hundred Indians hang'd themselves of their own accord; and a multitude of People perished by this kind of Death.

Because of the brutality of one Spanish tyrant I knew, over two hundred Indians voluntarily hanged themselves. And a great many people died in this way.

A certain Person here in the same Isle constituted to exercise a kind of Royal Power, hapned to have Three Hundred Indians fall to his share, of which in Three Months, through excessive labour, One Hundred and Sixty were destroy'd, insomuch that in a short space there remained but a tenth part alive, namely Thirty, but when the number was doubled, they all perisht at the same rate, and all that were bestow'd upon him lost their lives, till at length he paid his last Debt to Nature and the Devil.

A certain man on this same island was appointed to exercise a kind of royal power. He was allotted three hundred Indians. Within three months, excessive work killed one hundred and sixty of them. Before long, only a tenth of the original number remained alive, just thirty. But when the number was doubled, all died at the same rate. All who were assigned to him lost their lives, until he finally paid his last debt to nature and the Devil.

But afterward they consulted how to persecute those that lay hid in the Mountains, who were miserably massacred, and consequently this Isle made desolate, which I saw not long after, and certainly it is a dreadful and depolorable sight to behold it thus unpeopled and laid waste, like a Desert.

But afterward they discussed how to persecute those hiding in the mountains. Those in hiding were brutally massacred, leaving the island deserted. I saw the island not long afterward. It is certainly a dreadful and heartbreaking sight to see the island so empty and devastated, like a desert.

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