The Kingdoms of Hispaniola

This Isle of Hispaniola was made up of Six of their greatest Kingdoms, and as many most Puissant Kings, to whose Empire almost all the other Lords, whose Number was infinite, did pay their Allegiance. One of these Kingdoms was called Magua, signifying a Campaign or open Country; which is very observable, if any place in the Universe deserves taking notice of, and memorable for the pleasantness of its Situation; for it is extended from South to North Eighty Miles, in breadth Five, Eight, and in some parts Ten Miles in length; and is on all sides inclosed with the highest Mountains; above Thirty Thousand Rivers, and Rivulets water her Coasts, Twelve of which prodigious Number do not yield in all in magnitude to those famous Rivers, the Eber, Duer, and Guadalquivir; and all those Rivers which have their Source or Spring from the Mountains lying Westerly, the number whereof is Twenty Thousand) are very rich in Mines of Gold; on which Mountain lies the Province of rich Mines, whence the exquisite Gold of Twenty Four Caracts weight, takes denomination. The King and Lord of this Kingdom was named Guarionex, who governed within the Compass of his Dominions so many Vassals and Potent Lords, that every one of them was able to bring into the Field Sixteen Thousand Soldiers for the service of Guarionex their Supream Lord and Soverain, when summoned thereunto. Some of which I was acquainted with. This was a most Obedient Prince, endued with great Courage and Morality, naturally of a Pacifick Temper, and most devoted to the service of the Castilian Kings. This King commanded and ordered his Subjects, that every one of those Lords under his Jurisdiction, should present him with a Bell full of Gold; but in succeeding times, being unable to perform it, they were commanded to cut it in two, and fill one part therewith, for the Inhabitants of this Isle were altogether inexperienced, and unskilful in Mine-works, and the digging Gold out of them. This Caiu proferred his Service to the King of Castile, on this Condition, that he would take care, that those Lands should be cultivated and manur'd, wherein, during the reign of Isabella, Queen of Castile, the Spaniards first set footing and fixed their Residence, extending in length even to Santo Domingo, the space of Fifty Miles. For he declar'd (nor was it a Fallacie, but an absolute Truth,) that his Subjects understood not the practical use of digging in Golden Mines. To which promises he had readily and voluntarily condescended, to my own certain knowledge, and so by this means, the King would have received the Annual Revenue of Three Millions of Spanish Crowns, and upward, there being at that very time in that Island Fifty Cities more ample and spacious than Sevil it self in Spain.

The island of Hispaniola consisted of six great kingdoms, each ruled by a powerful king. Almost all the countless other lords owed allegiance to these kings. One kingdom was called Magua, meaning a plain or open country. If any place in the world deserves attention, this kingdom does, for the beauty of its setting. It stretches eighty miles from south to north. Its width varies from five to eight miles, reaching ten miles in some places. Very high mountains surround it on every side. More than thirty thousand rivers and streams water its lands. Twelve of these rivers are as large as the famous rivers Eber, Duer, and Guadalquivir; All twenty thousand rivers flowing from the western mountains are very rich in gold deposits. On those mountains lies the province of rich mines that gives its name to the finest twenty-four-carat gold. The king and lord of this kingdom was named Guarionex. He ruled over so many vassals and powerful lords that each could field sixteen thousand soldiers. They could provide these soldiers whenever Guarionex, their supreme lord and sovereign, summoned them. I knew some of these lords. This prince was most obedient, very courageous, and morally upright. He was peaceful by nature and deeply devoted to serving the Castilian kings. He ordered every lord under his authority to present him with a bell filled with gold. Later, when they could not meet this demand, they were ordered to cut the bell in half and fill one half. For the island's inhabitants had no experience or skill in mining or digging out gold. This Caiu offered his service to the king of Castile, on the following condition. He would see that the lands were cultivated and fertilized where the Spaniards first landed and settled. This settlement began during the reign of Isabella, queen of Castile. The lands stretched fifty miles, as far as Santo Domingo. For he declared that his subjects did not know how to mine gold. This was no deception, but the absolute truth. To my certain knowledge, he had readily and willingly agreed to these promises. By this means, the king would have received an annual income of three million Spanish crowns or more. At that very time, the island had fifty cities larger and more spacious than Sevil itself in Spain.

But what returns by way of Remuneration and Reward did they make this so Clement and Benign Monarch, can you imagine, no other but this? They put the greatest Indignity upon him imaginable in the person of his Consort who was violated by a Spanish Captain altogether unworthy of the Name of Christian. He might indeed probably expect to meet with a convenient time and opportunity of revenging this Ingominy so unjuriously thrown upon him by preparing Military Forces to attaque him, but he rather chose to abscond in the Province De los Ciquayos (wherein a Puissant Vassal and subject of his Ruled) devested of his Estate and Kingdom, and there live and dye an exile. But the Spaniards receiving certain information, that he had absented himself, connived no longer at his Concealment but raised War against him, who had received them with so great humanity and kindness, and having first laid waste and desolate the whole Region, at last found, and took him Prisoner, who being bound in Fetters was convey'd on board of a ship in order to his transfretation to Castile, as a Captive: but the Vessel perished in the Voyage, wherewith many Spaniards were also lost, as well as a great weight of Gold, among which there was a prodigious Ingot of Gold, resembling a large Loaf of Bread, weighing 3600 Crowns; Thus it pleased God to revenge their enormous impieties.

But can you imagine how they repaid and rewarded this merciful and kind monarch? Their only reward was to inflict the greatest possible insult on him through his wife. She was raped by a Spanish captain utterly unworthy of being called a Christian. The monarch might well have expected an opportunity to avenge this unjust humiliation by gathering troops to attack the captain. But instead, he chose to hide in the province of De los Ciquayos. A powerful vassal and subject of his ruled there. Stripped of his property and kingdom, the monarch chose to live and die there in exile. But the Spaniards learned for certain that the monarch had withdrawn, and they no longer tolerated his hiding. They went to war against the man who had welcomed them with such humanity and kindness. After devastating the entire region, they finally found him and took him prisoner. They put him in chains and took him aboard a ship to send him to Castile, as a captive. But the ship sank during the voyage. Many Spaniards were lost, along with a great weight of gold. Among the gold was an enormous ingot shaped like a large loaf of bread, weighing 3,600 crowns. Thus God saw fit to punish their monstrous wickedness.

A Second Kingdom was named Marien, where there is to this day a Haven, upon the utmost Borders of the Plain or open Countrey toward the North, more fertil and large than the kingdom of Portugal; and really deserving constant and frequent Inahbitants: For it abounds with Mountains, and is rich in Mines of Gold and Orichalcum, a kind of Copper Mettal mixt with Gold; The Kings name of this place was Guacanagari, who had many powerful Lords (some whereof were not unknown to me) under his subjection. The first that landed in this Kingdom when he discovered America was an Admiral well stricken in years, who had so hospitable and kind a reception from the aforesaid Gracanagari, as well as all those Spaniards that accompanied him in that Voyage, giving them all imaginable help and assisstance (for the admiral's vessel was sunk on their Coasts) that I heard it from his own mouth, he could not possibly have been entertained with greater Caresses and Civilities from his own parents in his own Native Country. But this King being forced to fly to avoid the Spanish slaughter and Cruelty, deprived of all he was Master of, died in the Mountains; and all the rest of the Potentates and Nobles, his subjects, perished in that servitude and Vassalage; as you shall find in this following Treatise.

A second kingdom was named Marien, where a harbor remains to this day. It lies at the far northern edge of the plain or open country. The kingdom is more fertile and larger than the kingdom of Portugal; and truly deserves a settled, thriving population. For it has many mountains and rich mines of gold and Orichalcum, a copper metal mixed with gold. The king of this place was named Guacanagari, and many powerful lords were under his rule. Some of these lords were known to me. The first to land in this kingdom when he discovered America was an elderly admiral. The admiral and all the Spaniards accompanying him received a warm and generous welcome from Gracanagari,. The king gave them every possible help, for the admiral's ship had sunk off their coast. I heard the admiral himself say that his own parents, in his homeland, could not have treated him more lovingly or courteously. But this king was forced to flee the Spanish slaughter and cruelty. Stripped of everything he owned, he died in the mountains. All the other rulers and nobles under him perished in servitude and bondage, as you will find in this account.

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.

The third kingdom was called Maquana, another wonderful, healthy, and fertile region. The island’s finest sugar is now made there. Caonabo ruled there then. He surpassed all the other kings in power, grandeur, and the splendid ceremonies of his government. Against all expectations, the Spaniards captured this king in his own palace through great cunning and skill. They then took him aboard a ship to transport him to Castile. But six ships were anchored in the harbor, ready to sail, when a violent storm suddenly arose. All six ships were lost, along with all their passengers and crews, and King Canabao, who was bound in irons. Through this judgment, the Almighty declared that this act was as unjust and wicked as any of the earlier ones. This king had three or four brothers still living, all strong and courageous men. They were deeply angered by the unjust capture of their king and brother. They also learned of the destruction and slaughter committed by the Spaniards in other regions. Not long afterward, they heard of their brother’s death, so they took up arms to avenge themselves on the enemy. The Spaniards met them in battle. A force of cavalry, which proved especially destructive to the Indians, caused such devastation and slaughter that half the 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, another was appointed to follow them, who ran them through the back or in the hinder parts, and if they chanced to escape Death, and fall to the ground, they immediately cut off his Legs; and when any of those Indians, that survived these Barbarous Massacres, betook themselves to an Isle eight miles distant, to escape their Butcheries, they were then committed to servitude during Life.

Xaraqua is the fourth kingdom and lies, as it were, at the very center of the whole island. No inhabitants of the other kingdoms equal its people in fluent speech or polished language. In government and morality, its people surpass them all. Lords and nobles were plentiful here, and even the common people stood out for their height and physique. Their king was named Behechio, and he had a sister called Anacaona. Both brother and sister had showered the Spaniards with favors and exceptional kindness. By saving the Spaniards from clear and immediate danger of death, they had greatly served the Castilian kings. When Behechio died, supreme power over the kingdom passed to Anacaona: But one day, the governor of an island arrived with 60 horsemen and 30 foot soldiers. The cavalry alone could have wiped out the population not only of the island but also of the entire mainland. The governor summoned about 300 rulers, or noblemen, to appear before him. He ordered the most powerful nobles crowded into a thatched barn or hut and burned in a merciless fire. He ordered a multitude of men to pierce the rest with lances and run them through with swords. And Anacaona herself, who ruled the kingdom, as we said before, was given the greater honor of hanging from a gallows. If anyone, moved by compassion or greed, took in any Indian boys, they might put the boys on horses to prevent their murder. Another man was assigned to follow and stab the boys through their backs or hindquarters. If the boys escaped death and fell to the ground, the men immediately cut off the boys' legs. And when any of those Indians, who survived these barbarous massacres fled to an island eight miles away to escape the slaughter, they were condemned to lifelong slavery.

The Fifth Kingdom was Hiquey, over whom Queen Hiquanama, a superannuated Princess, whome the Spaniards Crucified, did preside and Govern. The number of those I saw here burnt, and dismembered, and rackt with various Torments, as well as others, the poor Remnants of such matchless Villanies, who surviving were enslaved, is infinite. But because so much might be said concerning the Assassinations and Depopulating of these people, as cannot without great difficulty be published in Writing (nor do I conceive that one fragile part of 1000 that is here contained can be fully displayed) I will only add one remark more of the prementioned Wars, in lieu of a Corollary or Conclusion, and aver upon my Conscience, that notwithstanding all the above-named Injustice, profligate Enormities and other Crimes which I omit, (tho sufficiently known to me) the Indians did not, nor was it in their power to give any greater occasion for the Commission of them, than Pious Religioso's Living in a well regulated Monastic Life did afford for any Sacrilegeous Villains to deprive them of their Goods and Life at the same time, or why they who by flight avoided death should be detain'd in perpetual, not to be ransom'd Captivity and Slavery. I adde farther, that I really believe, and am satisfied by certain undeniable conjectures, that at the very juncture of time, when all these outrages were commited in this Isle, the Indians were not so much guilty of one single mortal sin of Commission against the Spaniards, that might deserve from any Man revenge or require satisfaction. And as for those sins, the punishment whereof God hath reserved to himself, as the immoderate desire of Revenge, Hatred, Envy or inward rancor of Spirit, to which they might be transported against such Capital Enemies as the Spaniards were, I judge that very few of them can justly be accused of them; for their impetuosity and vigor I speak experimentally, was inferior to that of Children of ten or twelve years of age: and this I can assure you, that the Indians had ever a just cause of raising War against the Spaniards, and the Spaniards on the contrary never raised a just was against them, but what was more injurious and groundless then any undertaken by the worst of Tyrants. All which I affirm of all their other Transactions and passages in America.

The fifth kingdom was Hiquey, ruled by Queen Hiquanama, an elderly princess whom the Spaniards crucified. The people I saw burned, dismembered, and subjected to various tortures here were countless. So were the survivors enslaved after these unparalleled atrocities. But so much could be said about the murders and destruction of these people that writing it down is extremely difficult. I do not believe that even a thousandth of what happened here can be fully described. So I will add only one final observation about the wars already mentioned. I declare on my conscience that the Indians gave no grounds for all the injustices and monstrous crimes described above. The same applies to other crimes I have left out, although I know them well. Nor could the Indians have given any grounds for these crimes. They offered no more justification than devout religious people living in a well-run monastery would offer to sacrilegious villains. Such villains would have no right to rob those people of both their possessions and their lives. Nor would they have any right to enslave forever those who escaped death, without any possibility of ransom. I further believe, and am convinced by unmistakable evidence, that the Indians committed not one mortal sin against the Spaniards during these atrocities on this island. They committed no such act that could justify anyone taking revenge or demanding compensation. As for sins whose punishment God has reserved for himself, I believe very few Indians can justly be accused. These include an excessive desire for revenge, hatred, envy, or inward bitterness. The Indians might have felt these things toward such deadly enemies as the Spaniards. Yet I speak from experience when I say their force and intensity were less than those of ten- or twelve-year-old children. And I assure you that the Indians always had just cause to wage war against the Spaniards. The Spaniards, by contrast, never waged a just war against them. Their wars were more unjust and groundless than any undertaken by the worst tyrants. I affirm all this about all their other actions and dealings in America.

The Warlike Engagements being over, and the Inhabitants all swept away, they divided among themselves the Young Men, Women, and Children reserved promiscuously for that purpose, one obtained thirty, another forty, to this Man one hundred were disposed, to the other two hundred, and the more one was in favor with the domineering Tyrant (which they styled Governor) the more he became Master of, upon this pretence, and with this Proviso, that he should see them instructed in the Catholick Religion, when as they themselves to whom they were committed to be taught, and the care of their Souls instructed them were, for the major part Idiots, Cruel, Avaritious, infected and stained with all sorts of Vices. And this was the great care they had of them, they sent the Males to the Mines to dig and bring away the Gold, which is an intollerable labor; but the Women they made use of to Manure and Till the ground, which is a toil most irksome even to Men of the strongest and most robust constitutions, allowing them no other food but Herbage, and such kind of unsubstantial nutriment, so that the Nursing Womens Milk was exsiccated and so dryed up, that the young Infants lately brought forth, all perished, and females being separated from and debarred cohabitation with Men, there was no Prolification or raising up issue among them. The Men died in Mines, hunger starved and oppressed with labor, and the Women perished in the Fields, harrassed and broken with the like Evils and Calamities: Thus an infinite number of Inhabitants that formerly peopled this Island were exterminated and dwindled away to nothing by such Consumptions. They were compelled to carry burthens of eighty or one hundred pound weight, and that an hundred or two hundred miles compleat: and the Spaniards were born by them on the Shoulders in a pensil Vehicle or Carriage, or kind of Beds made of Net-work by the Indians; for in Truth they made use of them as Beasts to carry the burthens and cumbersom baggage of their journeys, insomuch that it frequently happened, that the Shoulders and Backs of the Indians were deeply marked with their scourges and stripes, just as they used to serve a tired Jade, accustomed to burthens. And as to those slashes with whips, blows with staves, cuffs and boxes, maledictions and curses, with a Thousand of such kind of Torments they suffered during the fatigue of their laborious journeys it would require a long tract of time, and many Reams of Paper to describe them, and when all were done would only create Horror and Consternation in the Reader.

Once the fighting was over and the inhabitants had all been swept away, the conquerors divided the captives among themselves. These were the young men, women, and children kept indiscriminately for that purpose. One man received thirty, another forty, another a hundred, and another two hundred. The more favor a man enjoyed with the domineering tyrant, whom they called Governor, the more captives he controlled. The pretext and condition were that each master would have his captives taught the Catholic religion. Yet most of those entrusted with teaching them and caring for their souls were ignorant, cruel, and greedy. They were stained with every kind of vice. And this was the great care they took of the captives. They sent the men into the mines to dig out and carry away gold, an unbearable labor. But they forced the women to fertilize and till the soil. This work was exhausting even for the strongest, sturdiest men. They allowed the captives nothing to eat but plants and other food that offered little nourishment. As a result, nursing mothers’ milk dried up, and all their newborn infants died. The women were separated from the men and forbidden to live with them, so no children were conceived or born. The men died in the mines, starving and crushed by labor. The women perished in the fields, exhausted and broken by the same suffering and misery. In this way, countless inhabitants who had once populated this island were exterminated, wasting away to nothing. They were forced to carry loads weighing eighty or a hundred pounds for a hundred or two hundred miles. And the Spaniards were carried on their shoulders in suspended carriers, a kind of bed made of netting by the Indians. In truth, they used the captives as beasts to carry the loads and bulky baggage needed for their journeys. As a result, the shoulders and backs of the Indians were often deeply scarred by lashes and blows. This was just how they treated a worn-out horse accustomed to carrying burdens. As for the whippings, beatings with sticks, punches, slaps, curses, and insults, describing them would take a very long time. The captives suffered these and a thousand similar torments during their exhausting journeys. Describing them would fill many reams of paper. And when the account was finished, it would bring the reader nothing but horror and dismay.

But here is is observable, that the desolation of these Isles and Provinces took beginning since the decease of the most Serene Queen Isabella, about the year 1504, for before that time very few of the Provinces situated in that Island were oppressed or spoiled with unjust Wars, or violated with general devastation as after they were, and most if not all these things were concealed and masked from the Queens knowledge (whom I hope God hath crowned with Eternal Glory) for she was transported with fervent and wonderful zeal, nay, almost Divine desires for the Salvation and preservation of these people, which things so exemplary as these we having seen with our eyes, and felt with our hands, cannot easily be forgotten.

But note that the devastation of these islands and provinces began after the death of the most serene Queen Isabella, around 1504. Before then, very few provinces on that island had suffered unjust wars or widespread destruction as they later did. And most, if not all, of these acts were hidden from the Queen. I hope God has crowned her with eternal glory. For she was filled with a burning, extraordinary zeal, indeed, an almost divine desire to save and protect these people. We saw such exemplary care with our own eyes and felt it with our own hands. Such things cannot easily be forgotten.

Take this also for a general Rule, that the Spaniards upon what American Coasts soever they arrived, exercised the same Cruelties, Slaughters, Tyrannies and detestable Oppressions on the most innocent Indian Nation, and diverting themselves with delights in new sorts of Torment, did in time improve in Barbarism and Cruelty; wherewith the Omnipotent being incensed suffered them to fail by a more desperate and dangerous lapse into a reprobate state.

Take this, too, as a general rule: the Spaniards committed the same atrocities on every American coast they reached. They inflicted massacres, tyranny, and hateful oppression on the utterly innocent Indian people. The Spaniards took pleasure in inventing new forms of torture, growing ever more barbaric and cruel. Their cruelty angered the Almighty, so he allowed them to fall further and more dangerously into spiritual corruption.