the invaders. The refult was, that the Indians rofe and attacked the fort, burnt it, and put to death the garrison with the exception of one who escaped to tell the news. The Governor instantly proclaimed war, and gave Juan de Efquibel the command. The war was carried on in the accuftomed way, as regards the unavailing efforts of the Indians, and with more than the accustomed ferocity on the part of the conquering Spaniards. There were some signal instances of valour shown by the Indians. On one occafion, where Las Cafas was an eye-witness, a naked Indian with only his bow and arrows maintained, unhurt, a close conteft with a well-armed Spaniard, to the admiration of both armies ftanding aloof to behold the engagement. The Indians, however, found their chief safety in flight; and it is recorded that those whom the Spaniards compelled to act as guides and whom they kept attached to them by ropes, often threw themselves off the precipices and thus balked their mafters. Unfortunately, amongst the Spaniards themselves, were men who had become quite skilful in tracking Indians; so much so, that from the turn of a withered leaf, they could detect which way a party had gone of those they hunted after. The cruelty wreaked by the Spaniards upon their сарtives was exceffive. They used the same mode

ties in Hi

guey.

of fending terror amongst the Indians which had ⚫ been adopted in the former war; namely, cutting off the hands of their captives. Las Cafas mentions that on one occafion they hanged up thirteen Indians" in honour and reverence of Chrift our "Lord and his twelve Apoftles." Thefe men Barbari- hanging at fuch a height that their feet could just touch the ground, were used as dumb figures for the Spaniards to try their fwords upon. This hideous cruelty Las Cafas fays he saw, but at the same time he adds with a shrinking which all will feel to be natural, that he fears to relate these things now, hardly being able to perfuade himself but that he must have dreamt them. On another occafion he saw some Indians being burnt alive in a fort of wooden cradle. Their cries disturbed the Spanish Captain taking his fiefta in his tent; and he bade the Alguazil who had the charge of the execution, to dispatch the captives. This officer, however, only gagged the poor wretches, who thus fulfilled their martyrdom in the way he originally intended for them. "All this I faw "with my bodily mortal eyes,' "* emphatically exclaims our witness for the fact.

*Todo efto yo lo vide con mis ojos corporales mortales. Las Cafas, Hift. de las Indias, Segunda Parte, cap. 17.

And here I must say for Las Cafas, that I have not the slightest doubt of the truth of any statement which he thus vouches for. He manifefts, throughout, in various little things his accuracy and truthfulness. For inftance, he is careful to point out the exact pronunciation of the Indian names. He shows a fair appreciation of those perfons he is moft bitterly opposed to: as, for example, he says of this Governor Ovando, that he was a man fit to govern, but not Indianswhich is much the fame conclufion that we shall probably come to ourselves in reviewing his go

vernment.

But to return to Higuey. Notwithstanding all the efforts of the Spaniards, Cotubano, the chief Cacique, the fame who exchanged names with Juan de Efquibel, remained untaken; and the fubjection of the province was therefore confidered incomplete. This Cacique had retired to the little island of Saona where he had his spies who watched out for the approach of the Spaniards. One day thefe fpies, two in number, were seized. One was put to death, the other made to ferve as a guide. The Spaniards hurried off in different directions, each anxious to distinguish himself in the capture: at last one of them, Juan Lopez Labrador, came fuddenly upon twelve

Capture

and death

of Cotubano.

Indians, marching in a line one after another. The Spaniard asked for Cotubano: the Indians faid he was the laft of the line; and the poor frightened wretches made way for the Spaniard, who dealt a blow with his fword at the Cacique which he received with his hands that were thus cut off, or at least rendered nearly useless. The other Indians fled, and the Spaniard feizing Cotubano by the throat, and with a fword pointed to his body, was carrying him off captive when the Cacique made a sudden spring on one fide to avoid the fword; then, maimed as he was, rushed on Labrador, got him down and was on the point of flaying him when a party of Spaniards came to the rescue. They ftruck Cotubano down fenseless, took up their almost lifeless comrade, and afterwards conveyed the Cacique to St. Domingo where he was hanged by order of the Governor.

Higuey was now confidered to be at peace, and two fettlements were made in it, called Salvaleon and Santa Cruz.

Meanwhile the news of Anacaona's punishment has reached Spain; and we may imagine how wrathful Ifabella is on hearing of fuch things, for, with all her sweetness, she is capable of ftern

and fierce thoughts. Ovando, we are told, ftrove much to justify himself; but the Queen was minded to make "a great demonstration," (these are the very words) and fhe is reported to have faid to the Prefident of the Council, "I will have fuch a "refidencia taken as never was before."

Nevertheless, Ovando maintained his place, probably on account of the Queen's illness, which began to be fevere in August, 1504: and this is 1504. the last we shall hear of Isabella in the conduct of the affairs of the Indies.

returns to

voyage.

It was at this time, late in the year 1504, that Columbus returned to Spain after his fourth voy- Columbus age, which had proved very difaftrous. Poor, Spain after old, infirm, he had now to receive intelligence his laft which was to deepen all his evils. He remained at Seville, too unwell to make a journey himself, but fent his fon Diego to Court to manage his affairs for him. The complaints of the Admiral that he has no news from Court are quite touching. He fays he defires to hear news each hour. Couriers are arriving every day, but none for him his very hair ftands on end to hear things fo contrary to what his foul defires.*

y

* Muchos correos vienen cada dia, y las nuevas acá fon tantas tales que se me encrespan los cabellos todos de las oir tan al revés de lo que mi ánima defea. Navarrete Coleccion, vol. 1, p.