First Clash: The Spanish And The Indian On The Caribbean Islands (1492-1520)

Mankato State University College of Arts and Humanities Department of History

First clash: the on the Caribbean

Spaniard Islands

and the Indian (1492-1520)

by Francisco J. Gonzalez November 23, 1988

Tsble of Contents

I. II.

I II. IV. V. VI.

Introduction

1

.

3

The Discovery Settlement Colonial

of the Islsnds

Society

Conclusion Bibliography

.

(1493-1512)

and the Indian

(1512-1520)

7 '13

20

Introduction The by

the

discovery

Europeans

and

colonization

is one

of the

history

of Mankind.

Land

vibrant

Renaissance

Europe,

ment

of new

nations,

with

and

of the

most

significant

resources

and

set

roots

Western

were

the

both

events

opened

stage

in the

Hemisphere

for

New

in the

to a the

and

develo~-

the

Old

and

left

World. The the

Spanish

greatest

nation

influence

led

the

way

on these

in this

Caribbean

Sea

that

the

nucleus

formed.

It was

here

that

the

obsession

the

first

Indians rights

took

had

great

and

the

arrival

Greater show the

1492

purpose

of the

occupation The

world

was

vastly

Spanish gold

Europeans first

From

here

Empire

and

was

Here

American

about

human

expeditions

were

Peru,

first

islands

began.

concern

Mexico,

on the

in the

Florida

Spanish

colonization

and

colonies

and

type

of

the

impact

America. of this

Cuba,

paper upon

the

parts

from

native

New

Columbus

1

populations

Rico

colonists

of the

the

discuss

Puerto

Spanish

Christopher

different

is to

Hispaniola,

of the

of other that

with

on these

effects

Spaniards

practices

the

conquered

events

of Spanish

Antilles;

those

The

lasting

main

also

expression. and

of the

between

here

explored

lands.

institutions The

and

insistent

that

other

confrontation

place

found

launched many

tragic

It was

lands.

of the

process

one

and

that

of the

Jamaica later

of

and

shaped

World. reached

he had

on octob~r

left

a few

12,

weeks

2 earlier.

After

a process

that

Europe since.

and

his will

America,

visit

an irreversible

influence but

also

the

course

in the

rest

process

was

of events of the

not

world

started, only ever

in

3 The The

first

voyage

intended

to find

Catholic

Sovereigns,

enter

the

Europe

China,

Columbus

was

over

horizon.

the

a distance.

In the

Salvador.

the

first

traded

The strange

Indians beings

technology Columbus guides

and

(Haiti) first

seem from

of the took

The

and

Indians. bu'c amiable

The

food

was

group,

Indian

and

were

Spanish

Guanahani

Faith.

sighted

at

fleet

took

naming

it

by the took

just

Indians,

place.

pet-parrots

for

The small

to have sky.

believed The

beards,

combined

several

that

of the

their

arms,

to fill

visitors

ceremonies

them

natives,

were

with

to serve

and

awe. as

interpreters. fleet

other

samples

land

to

between'

Christian

Bahamas

and

Spain

gold

India

The

tin.

strangers

future

and

weapons,

the

captive

Spanish

Spaniard

and

and

three-ship

was

Orient.

wanted

the

days

called

1492

of the

silks

Japan

of the

island,

between

of glass

the

in

Isabelle,

thirty-three

island

cotton,

lands

and

China,

morning

On this

contact

to the

to propagate

that

for

Columbus

in spices,

also

of a small

San

trinkets

trade

convinced

traveling

natives

route

Ferdinand

and

After

possession

of Christopher

a new

profitable

and

Discovery

moved

small

islands.

of gold

were

peaceful

and

toward

the

on to discover

In Hispaniola

discovered, simple

Spaniards

Cuba,

as

Hispaniola

and

ornaments

Arawak

natives

at every

place

Cuba

of the

were they

the

puzzled touched.

4 Columbus Indies

were

people

and

are

Cuba,

Jamaica;

culture. Haiti

These

were

also

They

northern minor

society

to each

to the

was

hereditary

by one

kind

(Puerto

Rico),

in northern

they

these

were

which

and

an ethnoSouth

At the

stratified.

rulers;

of

Islands. family,

originate

Below

West

Antilles,

Arawak

highly

of the

Greater

(or Lucayas)

that

other.

the

Boriquen

Bahamas

of Indians

islands

exceptions,

occupied

belonged

cacigues,

relative

with

the

people

Their

the

the

(Hispaniola),

group

America.

that

populated,

and

cultural

found

varied the

top

in power

nitainos,

or

"1.JV"'{-

nobles,

then

They

the

were

from

South

food

staples

commoners,

primarily

America

the

were

and

finally

thes·e-lf-=-like naborias.

agriculturalist, plants

a bread

of their

made

of corn

and

brought

cultivation. meal

and

the

with

them

Their

main

cakes

made root and called root the sweet bitter other had of of fruits several of land ike kinds (batata, also gusyabs crops and vsriety yucca. cassava, msngoes. pineapples, (guava) mameyes, ages,

The sea

snd

small

Arswak in lakes

msmmals

many

species

dogs

that The

relatively idols

or Taino and

that

rivers.

lived

of birds

served Arawsks

and

were

skilled

They

also

in the

and

as pets

other but

of Haiti,

advanced

(cemis)

also

culture ceremonisl

were

also

Boriquen that

hunted

islands, game.

They

both

several

called hsd

at

kinds

hutiss, smsll,

of

and mute

eaten.

and

produced

plazss

fishermen,

eastern notsble

(bateys)

Cuba

had

a

sculptures

in which

they

of

;

,

5 practiced

a form

occasions. and

stone

with

the

They

most

them

up the

some

proof

combined

and

The to

These

Indians,

Arawak arrival

The matter

million

South

Arawaks

of these

was

who

from

traded'

Recently surfaced

Arawaks

and,

of some

certainly

(Hispaniola) had

of 8 million

others

maintain

thousand

natives.

had

the

point

to

cannibalism. the

or assimilated

managed

to

time

accounts

proposed

a size

of over

for

major

islands

there

high

the

from

is a

mention

a million

Since

their

Antilles

than

that

the

Rico.

Spanish

the

into

of the

establish

Greater

of more

only

of Venezuela

by the

on the

to war

followed

coast

of Puerto

early

extraordinarily

practiced

and,

had

part

The

resorting

destroyed

places they

scholars

a total

people,

populations

debate.

while

Caribs

and

had

ball-game,

America,

had

easternmost

Some

The

lands.

Island

copper,

articles,

America,

Taino

the

the

in gold,

feather

of Yucatan

Caribs,

They

Haiti

a hundred Indians

from

of the

for

(and

combined),

of the

Spaniards,

of great

inhabitants.

among

a peaceful

Antilles.

size

population

the

were

on the

and

in South

Maya

like

trade

Antilles.

to the

the

or secular

culture.

of the

of the

presence

than

traits

population

Lesser

articles

with

also

path

Lesser

of the

presence

raids

a lively as cotton

islands

vibrant

the

migratory the

the

Arawaks

repel

of

of trade

cultural

a strong

as well

Caribs

chain

in religious

developed

of these

with

Mexican

had

ornaments, fierce

obtained

of ball-game

3

were

never

rate

of death

the

moment

a

more among

of the

6 Spanish

conquest,

context

of this

For

the

population

of the for

Jamaica,

100,000;

of the

Columbus discovery. planks men left

animals also

Europe and

with

eager

the

in early

several

plans

for

between

to resolve

gold

the

was,

Cuba,

relative

in the

and

with

Santa

the

permanent

Hispaniola,

200,000;

with

for

I think

that

of extinction

the

news

Hispaniola Maria,

Indians.

samples

as proof

the

1520.

in northern the

that

for

rate

to Spain

with

1493

accept

50,000.

1494

to return

Indians

for

by the

flagship,

trading

in 1493

Bahamas,

a fortress

wrecked

to continue for

for

confirmed

He built

of his

issue

I will

150,000;

populations was

paper,

islands

Rico, and

are

native

of this

Arawak

Puerto

numbers

is an important

work.

purpose

500,000;

these

this

of his

and

of

from left

forty

The

Admiral

of gold,

plants,

achievement,

colonization

of the

the

and island.

7 Settlement In Spain many

Columbus

enthusiastic

Hispaniola, ruins

and

confrontation What been

men

had

they

The

the

called

Caonabo, the

who

Spaniards Columbus

Hispaniola From

and

the

at Navidad

was

about

later

and

for

awhile

founded

the for

south

1494,

good

labor

squatted also the

on them

took

Indian

caciques,

selves

satisfied hunting

women

took

on stray

to

upon

should the

have

Indians

local

Tainos

of the

interior

resistance

Indians frugal

to

and

the

fields

also

began

to break

wants the

natives, soon

gold

early

produce

out

settlement.

time,

and

The

place.

this

but

more

took

and

fishing,

by force.

Spaniards.

moved By

toward

in northern

exploration

their

more

friendly

conflict

Isabella

the

and

hiding

very

island.

with

required

of

settlers

of the

relations

of planting,

what

nativets

no further

further

to the

Indians

the

in

direct

The

remained

town

of Cibao,

The

La Navidad,

(or cheiftain)

Indians

of Spanish

down.

preyed

lead

with

Spaniards.

excesses.

will

groups

the

the

fleet

~

the

as a base

here

natives

endure

Europeans.

fortress, first

behind

a large arriving

the

left

was

of

Upon

small

on a cacique

',Nevertheless, the

This

men

not

attack

his

(1493-1512)

command

settlers.

the

happened

could

blamed

against

dead.

Islands

given

found

between

expected.

until

was

would-be

Columbus the

of the

began

with

small

Spaniards and and to

who

labor.

They

especially avenge

'them-

8 The

Tainos

government,

but

(cacicazgos). themselves

were SDme

of the

Columbus

fort

natives

of Hispaniola

recognized

support

of his

island)

the

was

the

who the

most

(who

cacique

chiefdoms

to plan had

main

leader

The

powerful

ruled

of Higuey,

how

to rid

destroyed of the

cacique ruler

of Caonabo,

Behechio

Hatuey,

small

caciques.

leadership

brother

and

became

other

a unified

started

Caonabo,

of the who

have

into

caciques

of La Navidad,

island,

the

of the

of Magua,

not

divided

invaders.

by consent

Guarionex

rather

did

who

the

in the

also

had

western

on the

the

half

of

easternmost

part. The tried

Spaniards

to prevent

Although

their

with

loss

the

destroying

were any

aware

revolt

plans

for

and

growing

by tricking

coordinated

of Caonabo,

a fort

of the

the

killing

native

and

capturing

actions

were

rose

in late

Indians a number

unrest,

and

Caonabo.

destroyed 1494

of Spaniards

near

Isabella.

_~:,({; ~Ll The numerous Castile had

inevitable Spanish response ~efeateEl~ and Indians of which about five hundred were as slaves.

begun.

The

A party

pattern

of slave

of soldiers

raids

under

Admiral of the

toward

the

interior,

subjugating

most

island

and

capturing

the

Guarionex.

thought

of a simple

government. were

The

to collect

way

Indians it.

The

cacique to

assure

were

the

to pay

tribute,

in Hispaniola Columbus

center

of course,

and

moved

of the

Columbus

profitable tribute

captureEl-r;l_ sent to

then

conduct their

would

be

of his chiefs

in gold.

9 By

late

1496,

Spanish

practice

war

dislocation

and

final

blow

of

mines.

limitations, the to

Crown the

the

were and

must

used

who

just

to the

as labor

like

1503-04

the

the

new

Spanish

governor

the

west,

the

Juan

slain

the

southeastern

de Esquivel

participated occupied

in the

Puerto

to Florida.

and

Rico

were

under

Ponce

before

and

by the

the

charge for

fields

or

care

and

as subjects meant

nothing

subjection his

to

of

people,

Spaniards;

others

trapped,

to be

hopelessly

was

Nicolas

widow

destroyed

of Caonabo

enslaved.

de Leon.

of Jamaica, on his

was

many

At the

same

overrun

by

Ponce

ill-fated

In

was

and

Esquivel and

by

de Ovando.

Anacaona

of Higuey

moving

the

proper

on their

burned,

population

conquest

The

settlers.

of Anacaona,

Juan

of

with

some

rights

resistance

peninsula

Crown,

Hatuey

unoccupied

towns

into

prescriptions

cacique

Indian

the

effects

1502

in the

their

no check

Spanish

with

and

only

of Hispaniola,

cacicazgo

devastated,

chieftains time,

last

labor

and

Most

by the

The

Indians.

in

given

to the

These

the

still

By

brutally

to work

knew

the

the

given

were

to forced

mountains. force

was

subdued.

system.

wages,

who

was

and

or assigned

supposed

Some,

diseases,

natives

be respected.

to Cuba,

escaped

the

most

encomenderos,

Indians.

fled

all

at

been

to decimate

encomienda

but

had

population

Spaniards

service They

started

native

stated,

individual

personal

had

of the

Simply

of Hispaniola

of enslavement,

to the

establishment

most

other

later de LeoH expedition

10 Under other

major

1508-09. with

Ovendo's islends

Ponce

the

cecique

edministretion, took

de Leon

Indiens

end

knowledge

from

teles

cecique

Hetuey,

who

friendly

mine

for

gold.

thet

the

Spenierds

kind

of conflict.

irritete

Indiens From

1511-12,

invaders,

from

wes

Also,

the

to the

locel

were

excesses The

Spenierds the

the

threatening

Caparra,

ment.

The

Tainos

aided

the

two

Indien

The

rebellion

faded

the

Spaniards

started

Hispaniola. mountains raids up

Many or moved

to the

mounted

against

were

into

the

1560's.

after

Spanish

him

the from

the

eny

begen

settlements

Spanish

the

the

gold govern-

Virgin

common

enemy.

in bettle

and

from

fled from

the

de Leon's

death

of

rebellion.

against

from

to the

where

to

belief

colonists

reinforcements

islands,

to

ellow

held

killing

against

Indians

intended

end

for

rose

Caribs

Agueybena's

surviving Cerib

spark

of Ponce

united

by the

of encomiendes

German,

seat

to receive

of the

He

Spenish

hed

in Hispeniole

refreined

Agueybena

by the

groups

away

the

of San

and

Islands,

so they

treded

islend)

sent

Rico

repertimiento

miners

were

of Puerto

in

chief

the

Spanierds

de Leon

of the

under

town

celled

Rico thet

Agueybene,

reports

Ponce

provided

Teinos

burning

with Tainos

Indiens.

Hispaniole

Teinos

end

of the

Puerto

to Agueybene.

immortel,

the

from

of the

releted

the

with

gold.

Higuey

reletions

Nevertheless,

some

ectivities

of refugees

exploretion

starting

e perty

(es the

of the

meintein

to

led

gethered

of Boriquen

some

pIece,

the

const~nt

in Puerto

Rico

11

Jamaica Esquivel

suffered

occupied

the

resistance,

and

colonists.

As the

their

Indian

corn)

for

cotton,

were

the

In Jamaica than

successor were

his

Spanish

other

and

the

mainly

food

crops

islands,

colonies; into

By

offered

remained

as

and

to the and

Indians

a quiet

and

(cassava,

exterminated

the

no

to the

as well

due

de

Spaniards

de Narvaez, 1520

Juan

clothing

was

mainly

Panfilo

'che island

Arawaks

gold,

population

de Garay.

when

little

Spanish

lieutenant

1509,

in encomiendas

transformed

native

Francisco

extinct

other

Indians

in the

of Esquivel,

held

in

native

given

produced

to

the

The

rapidly

island

shipment

fate

island.

laborers

that

faster

a similar

hamacas. much

harsh

rule

his of Jamaica

back-water

of the

Empire.

In

1511

Velazquez,

the

who

colonization

was

of Cuba

determined

refugees

from

Hispaniola.

executed

by Velazquez,

to capture

The

and

was

cacique

started Hatuey

was

a terrible

war

by Diego and

captured

his

band

and

against

the Indians II7 was-i:-lTi~a't"e-a-; Panfilo -;-' -7 //Vl"l-'tA?vU.

of eastern

Cuba

de Narvaez

and

share

in the

overran

the

(who his

sheltered

followers

conquest. island,

Hatuey) from

The

two

spreading

Jamaica

groups

terror

sailed

to Cuba

of Spaniards

and

fear

to

quickly

among

the

Indians. By

1515

encomt'~~ villages they

the

system were

might

Cuban

Indians

in the

placed

be better

were

extraction

where

there

utilized

and

working

under

of gold.

were

the

The

most

controlled

the Spanish

natives,

by the

so

colonists.

of

12 As

the

gold

important

deposits

economic

were activity

suffered

catastrophic

disease,

or were

few

managed

Las

Guasimas

or Bahama became the

manigua

depopulated

of the

the

1520, Arawak

in the

the

This

were

been

destroyed

was

disintegrating

for

by

the

under

were

taken

due

lack

of cultivation.

lives

as a way

masters.

and

in the

fields to

gold

became

Indian of

fields

the

most

population

overwork

and

of Hispaniola.

A

Maestra

mountains

in

adventurers

were

of small the

over

to escape

by

gold-fields

than

much

ten

and

Greater

the

Many the

Slave

harsh

social

Their

newcomers Indians

north

Lucaya

of Cuba

of Hispaniola,

Antilles

encomienda

the

as

raiders

years.

of the

Spaniards. the

islands

disappearing.

in less

culture

Indians

had

died

Spanish

rapidly

Bahamas

the

The

Sierra

chain

of slaves

there

Many

to the

for

Islands.

natives

ranching

(swamp-land).

target

a source

By

shipped

out,

of Cuba.

losses.

to hide-out

Another

worked

organization

and social

system,

treatment

Bahamas

structure

their

or turned fled

the

into

or took

of their

land

and

forest their Spanish

13 Colonial As to how

the

imposed

by their

accurate

picture

Although Hispaniola the

black

dress,

marriages

phasing

out

of the

incorporation society of Puerto One

Rico

and,

dramatic was

the

episode career

population group

an

mostly the

remains

extent,

of this

those late

cacique

inter-

number

of

ultimat;e the

the

true

and

·through

The

in

J::"

growing

into

late

,-ventua 11y

facilitated

Indians

of

until

religion

as slaves.

also

of the

together

L anguage.

or with

remaining

to some

Indian

Catholic

system

This

of conditions

put

population

encomienda

set

we can

.. Castlllan

introduced

colony.

the

the

Spaniards

of the

of the

adopted

general

being

new

as a distinct

learnf-ftlthe

with

to the

(1520-1560)

records.

survive

the

Indian

conquerors,

diminished,

They

into

the

adapted

colonial

to

and

Africans

natives

from

greatly

blended

racial

European

century.

Spanish

and

Indians

managed

16th

they

Society

mainstream for

the

Arawaks

in Cuba.

phase

on the

fate

of the

Enriquillo.

.-1---As a youth, Enriquillo had been brought up in the ~ Franciscan monastery of Verapaz, in the south-western part Hispaniola. well,

and

He was could

read

his

people

in the

the

Church

to a girl

he

served

Enriquillo next,

the

and

province

a certain protested chief

a devout

Christian,

write.

of Baoruco,

of noble Spaniard, to this

complained

When

Taino who

spoke of age, where

Spaniard,

day

to a magistrate

he was

raped

he was

very

he returned

With

family.

one

Spanish

given

in the

to

married

his

his

of

by

Indians

wife.'

1tJhen

a beating;

Spanish

town,

14 and

was

thrown

and

his

grievances

the

authorities

had

mistreated

and

further

Spaniard

him;

with

a skirmish

dead

The

and

a few

arms made

exhausted close

some two

master

for

to the

showered

awhile, This

soldiers

of

him

himself

justice),

same

but

sent these

then

made

to bring

Spaniards now

Indian,

news

of these

many

Indians some

no Spaniards

that

betook

(or court

back

followers.

Audiencia

numbered

their

his

he

but

official with

who

threats

were about too

fled

him him

a rebel,

and

were

the

the was

rest

soldiers

driven

and

There

back.

killed eighty

to the

to

off,

with

some

wounded.

Hispaniola,

kill

him

dissimulated

with

the

As the

forces

sent

and

in which

subjugate

release

punishment.

came

routed.

his

to the Audiencia

merely

Enriquillo mountains

After

in jail.

and

exploits escaped

spread to

join He

three-hundred.

save

in self-defense,

release

them.

Thus

a formidable

foe.

the

many

expeditions

to ten

years

Enriquillo

Enriquillo,

Above

managed

until

instructed

his

but

to take

he built

him

Spanish

throughout

always

a supply

all,

his

sent

against

to hold

his

men

to

of weapons

great

mobility

him.

to his

For

mountain

realm. Finally, Dissatisfied

with

expedition commanded

was

government the

natives.

state

organized

by Francisco

negotiated the

the

peace

would

decided of affairs

in Spain

than

the

in Hispaniola,

against

de Barrionuevo, be better

to conclude

who

Enriquillo. realized

a prolonged

matter. an

It that

conflict

Was a with

'15

In the concluded

summer

of

a peace.

Crown,

a full

agreed

to come

former

lands.

He

pardon, down

As Enriquillo the

Spaniards

grievances Crown

this

(1520's

dependent

that

cacigues) the

Undoubtedly

wanted

granted

to them

respec·ted. proposing stop

the

working

within

the

favored

and

like

Father

save

the

colonial their

his of the

of this. become

their

more

By

wholly

survival,

educated as subjects

of

have. Indians their

life

and

the

that

Council

Indians

from caciques

with

framework masters

..§__ ~-.....{-·_"'V~_

§&V~

had

the

the

rights

of Indies de

be

las Casas

further like

abuse

Spaniards

their

were and

Enriquillo by Somet;i mes

of government. over

up any

At best

islands.

Bartolome

position

Spanish

the

from

Certainly

had

for

to drive

justice

proof

now

the

in his

servant

privileges

surviving

hard

not

achieve

gave

and

down

to have

society

Spaniards

Crown

a better

to

Indians

rights

was

as a loyal

system

Spaniards

disappearance.

to obtain

even

to

but

from

Enriquillo

settle

goal

(especially

of the

a less

Reformers

decided

they

the

by the

measures

their

same

that

to have

rights

colonial

deserved

most

they

lands,

the

a provision

and

his

attempts

1530's)

the

of Spain

of expelling

his

Spanish

they

hope

ancient

Enriquillo

of "don."

mountains

stated,

first

and

chieftain

title

judicial

to

to have

King

the his

and

Spanish

on the

felt

his

His

respected. the

and

from

the

himself

from

utilizing

Barrionuevo

gave and

redressed

date

1533,

own

people.

16 An

Indian

chieftainess

named

converted

to Christianity

northeast

Puerto

during

one

Arawaks

of the

from

interpreted From

native the

onwards,

the

population,

the

of the and

This

in the

efforts

into

the

the

Islands

were

and

profits

now

and

South

and

Puerto

winning

that

Rico

activities

of the

concerned

with

As

more

of their

for

were

workers On the the

Indian

lands from

for

the

royal

the

King

were

and,

laborers

Spanish

officials

the the

that

from

rents

Central Cuba

economic

chance most

remained

in general,

so their

in

to provide

in Hispaniola,

away

and

Indians

main

flowing

Finally,

Those

of the

to the

labor-intensive

lured

Greater

Spain

islands

that

less

land

can' be

in mines,

of New

the

by the

settlers. their

of gold

deposits

other,

attack

of

unruly were

and more

to take

long-range

needs

satisfied.

other

native

gold

As many

decimation

of the

silver

overseas

tilling

be"cter care

meant

killed

in the

shifting

important.

quickly Spanish

the

and

the

out

The

blessing

hard-pressed gold

gave

became

riches

lands

less

America.

an exodus

First,

new

rich

to be mixed

islands.

later

this

settlements

scarcity

of the

prompted

proved

Caribs,

of

a "colaborator."

Spanish

growing

was

outpost.

of decadence.

discovery

Peru

the

was

occupation

She

on Spanish

against

Spaniards,

in the

de Leon.

joined

as retaliation

Mainland.

that

had

by the

helped

raids

a period

(Mexico]

greedy

Carib

entered

news

left

and

by Ponce

Boriquen

1520

Antilles

Rico

Loisa

hand,

some

population

Spanish

was

mine

disappearing

owners,

realizing

rapidly,

pressed

17 their

workers

possible Negro

even

before

slaves,

diseases, provide

more

point

for

general

Spanish

state

(1509)

and

likely

refer

in

and

the

and

the

old

Taino

1510 only

the

that

other term

of

assigned

the

of

to

hands.

extent

records

of the

are

an example

more of the

Indians 1514

therefore

had

been

brought

were

not

cacique

Indian

at sex

and

and

age

age.

not

slaves

hence

but new

his

may

the

Bahamas

naborias

(the

repartimiento The have

under people

distribution

not

included.

naborias.

and

excluding

in from

The

more

property,

were

communities

cacique

thousand

22,726,

personal

workers).

earliest

figures

of working

and

as the

of a particular

These

from

the

as sixty

enumerated

de servicio

Indians

that

size

of natives

serf-like

look

we find

thousand.

a particular

If we

1493,

islands

local

the

as

price

to European

field

of 500,000

were

by their

of the

be used

Slaves

who

indios

high

laboring

black

As the

number

number

aged.

for

kept

to show

determine

to those

Arawak

identified

settler.

in

as forty

Indians

distinguished

survivors

agreed

to repartimiento

Legally,

were

the

the

islanders.

to

repartimiento

children subject

used

profit

resistant

the

Islands.

it will

of Hispaniola

encomienda,

The

the

Also

were

to acquire

the

greatest

and

workers

in the

from

figures,

work

it is pertinent

among

Starting population

Indian

Hispaniola,

trend

the

of Indians.

to hard

needed

depopulation

complete

to obtain out

apt

that

money

At this Indian

running

meant the

harder

the

former been formula

to a Spanish given

for

the

18 indios

de servicio,

females

of working

children out

we find age

is almost

as

of 803 Indians

there

12%; and only where,

was

island

people

elderly that

and

more

or were

royal

women

children)

than

hiding

one

marked

figures,

dropped

and

average

half

plus

the

child

for

that

450,000

Indians

in the

mountains

of these,

The

population

This

those more

of

would

few

than

of

26,000

about

1514.

in little

or any-

percentage

minus

for

extinction.

to

respective

died,

Domingo,

104 elderly,

the

a million

of

example,

to a family.

early

1493 and

between

at Santo

In none

and

percentage For

or 38%;

we find

from

the

aged.

haciendas

15%.

of males

balance,

of the

or

clearly

these

had men

as that

number

or 33%; 306 women,

on the

were

If we use

(working

low

the

in fair

123 children,

there

Hispaniola

were

in the

270 men,

were

that

mean

that

fled

twenty

years. Different natives

and

colonial this. the

probably

system

tribute ~I/A. ~C,~

subjec·c to producing

the

tuberculosis, among

the

were

who

a great with

for

of the share and

It

-:t;. 7'''~

Indians

the

overriding

6~

were end

of

de~&~ OU·l:breaks of small

and

lacked

other

diseases

immunity

and

of

gold

the

~

fever

for

of the

nature

to collect.

by which

Crown

off

The

true.

required

contributed;

Indians,

dying

of Columbus

exploitation

typhoid

the

r~ponsible (

obsession were

gold~w~e also

for

of them

repartimiento

a merciless

Epidemics

rampant

the

caciques

the

given

undoubtedly

with

the

were all

was

It began

dB~~ces-

pox,

reasons

were resistance.

f

19 The

inadequate

masters

were

living highly

quarters

suited

provided

by their

to continuing

Spanish

infection

of the

(t.y/l

native the

population,

loss The

to

of

inability the

were

the

some truly

Nevertheless,

ways

showed

general

suddenly

complex

among

its own

Indians

absorb

living

to

European

on an 7b1-l=l-proper diet,

by

of life. themselves

culture make

to be psychologically

of their

the

leap

civilization

new

from

of the

human.

Others,

to be sure,

had

inability

remained,

except

cases,

and

its

population

of the

islands.

working

was

culture

Spaniards

conquerors,

individual

doubts

a simple

as to

such perhaps

disastrous

to

produced,

whether no

unable

This

masters.

Spanish

the

depressed

the

Indians

doubts. in a few

to the

20 Conclusion The the

scope

Greater

of this

Antilles

explorers

and

expansion

into

the

Arawak

of the

Spaniards them

was

responded

settlers

native

between

paper

to the

during

New

the

were

toward

precipitated

Indians

the

destruction

European of the

as the

the

attitudes

resulting

of the

of

Spanish

features

how

Indians

of the

as well and

the

of the

years

general

presented,

the

how

coming

early

The

World.

culture

to describe

Indian

clash way

of

life. The

breakdown

directions.

The

lesser

ones

became

naborias,

had

enjoyed

was

lost.

of the most

were

doing

Their

of the

gold

native

society

important

reduced

their

native

dances,

mines

and

status

tasks.

sings

community

structure

caciques

to the common

social

and

life

fields.

were

or they

leisure

other

in which

communal

disappeared

several

eliminated;

of overseers The

A well

took

diversions

among

adjusted

they

the

and

hard

work

structured

o

people,

its

become

customary

live

and

were

well

died

of other

aware

causes

a few

or Loisa

that

accommodation combination

was the than

Indian

in Puerto with

Rico, the

even

and

natives

died

overwork

most

The

Their

Spanish and

Enriquillo

colonial

docile

a foreign will

base and

some

system. and

to

observers

that

they

disease.

to achieve

authority

for

lost.

easily,

and

like

managed

force

enjoyment

weakened.

Spanish

the

work

thus

leaders,

of an eroding

doomed

a ~~rmless

habits

to reproduce

Only

settlers

had

in Hispaniola sort

of

The

greedy

Spanish

cooperative

Indian

21 communities Christian from

thus

of the

colonial

society.

through

form

a new

ethnic

group,

Spanish

and

Indian,

The

Spanish

reflected

during

and

Aztecs; Inca

to

preserve

the

lands

system,

Men

and

first the

so the

function.

This

the

colonies

in the and

the

of the inhuman

chain

after

could

for

gold

aspects

of the

also

of

labor,

less

of the or

They

lived tried

organization

be able

of

of the

World.

prepared

on

·the encomienda to satisfy

to survive

these

encomienda

the

lands

fought

implemented

spared

and

and

Indians

and

made

common

the

of some

slavery

on the

of

Spanish

C "

hirme.

of events

started

of both

splendid

civilizations Empire

or stupid,

they

of the

had

social

be better and

destruction

Spanish

and

at least

as a source

of Tierra

The

even

attitude

evil

natives,

population

for

was

destroyer

New

way

peoples.

conqueror

Pizarro,

in the

the

Antilles

Cortes,

to become

from

African

Conquistadores

colonies

natives

demands

most

other

Indian

conquered,

Hernan

Arawaks

marriages

Criollos,

subjugation

Francisco

Spanish

Spaniard's

of the

like

many

the

the

led

interracial

black

and

of the

them

in turn

on ,the Greater

conquest

de Guzman,

Empire;

their

the

Peru.

Nuno

on

experience

forcing

This

to disappear

influence to alienate

eventually

race

of the

Mexico

contributed

culture,

eventually fusion

also

old

native

The

extinction.

missionaries

their

members the

to an early

but

the

on these also

by Columbus simple

culture

in

1492

of the

of Aztecs

and

lands

at times

exhibited

was

a strong

Incas.

resulted Arawaks The

rule

cruel,

sense

of

justice

22 and

sometimes

behaved done

as good

in the The

strong.

place-names

Spaniards, modern

Dominican

are

the

other

Indians. European

of the

Arawak

Indians

Many

native

words,

The memory

on the plants,

their

would

Greater

have

Antilles

animals,

leaders

who

resisted

Hatijey in Cuba,

Caonabo

and

Guarionex

Republic;

and .Agueybana

heroes.

Also,

on the islands population, and southeast Cuba.

Taino

and

state

in Puerto

many

Indian

object~ the in the

Rico racial

are traits

L

of the

Jamaica

Spaniards

Indian

as national

Rico

The

position.

evident

Puerto

of

toward

as any

remain.

like

remembered

or bad

same

legacy

is still and

benevolence

culture gentle,

Boriquen

former

and

way

of life

peace-loving is still

islands.

alive

~pecially

may

Indians on the

on central

be gone, of Haiti, modern

but

the

Cuba,

inhabitants

23 Bibliography Benson, Elizabeth P. The sea in the Pre-Columbian oumbarton Oaks Research Library; Washington,

p. Colon,

world. D.C., 1977,

188.

Cristobal. testamento.

Los cuatro Espasa-Calpe

Fewkes, Jesse Walter. The neighboring islands. York, 1970, p. 296.

viajes S.A.,

del Almirante Madrid, 1964,

y su p. 221.

aborigines of Porto Rico an~ Johnson Reprint Corporation.

New

Gibson, Charles, ed. Attitudes of the colonial powers toward the American Indian. U~iversity of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, 1969, p. 139. Gomara, Francisco Espasa-Calpe

Lopez S.A.,

de. Historia Madrid, 1941,

Herrera, Antonio de. Historia general castellanos. Editorial Guarania, 1944, p. 399. Means,

Philip A. The Spanish Charles Scribner's Sons,

Main: Ltd.,

Sauer,

Carl Otwin. The early Spanish California Press, 1966, p. 306.

Stern,

Theodore. Uni versi ty

general p. 254.

de

las

Indias.

de los hechos de los Asuncion, Paraguay,

Focus of envy 1492-1700. London, 1935, p. 267. Main.

University

of

The rubber-ball games of the Americas. of Washington Press, Seattle, 1966, p. 121.

Steward, Julian H., ed. Handbook of South American Indians. Cooper Square Publishers, Inc., New York, 1963, p. 609. Wagner, Henry Raup. The life and writings of Bartolome de las Casas. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 1967, p. 310. Willey, Gordon University

R. Handbook of Middle American of Texas Press, Austin, 1966,

Indians. p. 349.