lities, to whom he committed the adminiftration of American affairs. This board affembled regularly in Seville, and was invefted with a diftinct and extenfive jurisdiction. He gave a regular form to ecclefiaftical government in America, by nominating archbishops, bishops, deans, together with clergymen of fubordinate ranks, to take charge of the Spaniards establifhed there, as well as of the natives who fhould embrace the Chriftian faith. But notwithstanding the obfequious devotion of the Spanish court to the Papal See, fuch was Ferdinand's folicitude to prevent any foreign power from claiming jurisdiction, or acquiring influence, in his new dominions, that he referved to the crown of Spain the fole right of patronage to the beneficies in America, and ftipulated that no papal bull or mandate fhould be promulgated there until it was previously examined and approved of by his council. With the fame fpirit of jealoufy, he prohibited any goods to be exported to America, or any perfon to fettle there, without a special licence from that council. g)

The number of the Indians diminishes faft.

But, nothwithstanding this attention to the police and welfare of the colony, a calamity impended which threatened its diffolution. The original inhabitants, on whofe

g) Herreia, dec. 1. lib. vi, c. 19, 25.

labour the Spaniards in Hifpaniola depended for their profperity, and even their existence, wafted fo faft, that the extinction of the whole race feemed to be inevitable. When Columbus difcovered Hifpaniola, the number of inhabitants was computed to be at least a million.h) They were now reduced to fixty thousand in the space of fifteen years. This confumption of the human species, no less amazing than rapid, was the effect of feveral concurring caufes. The natives of the American iflands were of a more feeble conftitution than the inhabitants of the other hemifphere. They could neither perform the fame work, nor endure the fame fatigue, with men whofe organs were of a more vigorous conformation. The liftlefs indolence in which they delighted to pass their days, as it was the effect of their debility, contributed likewife to increase it, and rendered them, from habit as well as conftitution, incapable of hard labour. The foot on which they fubfifted, afforded little nourishment, and they were accustomed to take it in small quantities, not fufficient to invigorate a languid frame, and render it equal to the efforts of active induftry. The Spaniards, without attending to thofe peculiarities in the conftitution of the Americans, impofed tafks upon them fo Q 2

h) Herrera, dec, 1, lib. x, c. 12.

1

difproportioned to their ftrength, that many funk under the fatigue, and ended their wretched days. Others, prompted by impatience and defpair, cut fhort their lives with a violent hand. Famine, brought on by compelling fuch numbers to abandon the culture of their lands, in order to labour in the mines, proved fatal to many. Difeafes of various kinds, fome accafioned by the hardfhips to which they were expofed, and others by their intercourfe with the Europeans, completed the defolation of the ifland. The Spaniards being thus deprived of the inftruments which they were accuftomed to employ, found it impoffible to extend their improvements, or even to carry on the works which they had already begun. In order to provide an immediate remedy for an evil fo alarming, Ovando propofed (1508.) to tranfport the inhabitants of the Lucayo iflands to Hifpaniola, under pretence that they might be civilized with more facility, and inftructed to greater advantage in the Christian religion, if they were united to the Spanish colony, and under the immediate infpection of the miflionaries fettled there. Ferdinand, deceived by this artifice, or willing to connive at an act of violence which policy reprefented as neceffary, gave his affent to the propofal. Several veffels were fitted out for the Lucayos, the commanders of which informed the natives, with whofe language they were now well acquainted, that

they came from a delicious country, in which the departed ancestors of the Indians refided, by whom they were fent to invite their defcendents to refort thither, to partake of the blifs enjoyed there by happy fpirits. That fimple people liftened with wonder and credulity; and, fond of vifiting their relations and friends in that happy region, followed the Spaniards with eagerness. By this artifice, above forty thoufand were decoyed into Hifpaniola, to fhare in the fufferings which were the lot of the inhabitants of that ifland, and to mingle their groans and tears with thofe of that wretched race of men. i)

New difcoveries and fettlements.

The Spaniards had, for fome time, carried on their operations in the mines of Hifpaniola with fuch ardour as well as fuccefs, that these feemed to have engroffed their whole attention. The fpirit of discovery languished; and, fince the laft voyage of Columbus, no enterprize of any moment had been undertaken. But as the decrease of the Indians rendered it impoffible to acquire wealth in that island with the fame rapidity as formerly, this urged them to fearch for new countries where their avarice might be gratified with more facility.

i) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. vii. c. 3. Gomara Hift. c. 41.

Juan Ponce de

Oviedo, lib. iii. c. 6.

Leon, who commandad under Ovando in the eaftern diftrict of Hifpaniola, paffed over to the ifland of St. Juan de Puerto Rico, which Columbus had difcovered in his fecond voyage, and penetrated into the interior part of the country. As he found the foil to be fertile, and expected, from fome fymptoms, as well as from the information of the inhabitants, to difcover mines of gold in the mountains, Ovando permitted him to attempt making a fettlement in the ifland. This was eafily effected by an officer eminent for conduct no less than for courage, In a few years Puerto Rico was fubjected to the Spanish government, the natives were reduced to fervitude; and, being treated with the fame inconfiderate rigour as their neighbours in Hifpaniola, the race of original inhabitants, worn out with fatigue and fufferings, was foon exterminated. k)

About the fame time, Juan Diaz de Solis, in conjunction with Vincent Yanez Pinzon, one of Columbus's original companions, made a voyage to the continent. They held the fame courfe which Columbus had taken, far as the ifland of Guanaios: but, ftanding from thence to the weft, they difcovered a new and extenfive province, afterwards known by the name of Yucatan, and proceeded a con

as

k) Herrera, dec. 1. lib. vii. c. 1-4. Relacion de B. de las Cafas, p. 10.

Gomara Hift. c. 44.