B. VIII. place some twenty leagues from Cumaná, called Ch. I. Piritú de Maracapana. The Indians received

the Dominican monks with joy and hospitality, and the vessel which had brought them returned. In a short time one of the Spanish vessels connected with the pearl fisheries touched at this

part of the coast. Pedro de Córdova did not prove happy in his conjecture that the coast would be free from molestation on the part of his lay countrymen; but at the time that he made his request to the King, little was known of the Terra-firma. In general, when the Indians per

stealing

ceived a Spanish vessel approaching the coast, B. VIII. they fled; but now, relying upon the presence of Ch. 1. the Dominicans, the natives welcomed the newcomers, and gave them provisions. After a few days spent amicably, the Cacique of that region, with his family and servants, amounting in number to seventeen persons, accepted an invitation on board the Spanish vessel. If the Cacique thought at all about any danger from this visit, he must have thought that the Dominican brethren who were left in the hands of his subjects, constituted a sufficient guarantee for his safety; but no Mansooner were the Indians on board, than the vessel on the weighed anchor and sailed away. As might be Coast. imagined, the Indians on shore instantly resolved to kill the Dominican brethren, who, with great difficulty appeased them, and contrived to obtain a respite, promising that the Cacique and his family should be brought back in four months. In a few days another Spanish vessel made its appearance; the Dominicans communicated with the crew of this vessel, told them of the straits they were in, and gave them letters to Pedro de Córdova at St. Domingo.

Pearl

Conduct of

Meanwhile, the pearl-fishing, man-stealing villains of the first Spanish vessel arrived at St. Domingo. They had sold, or were selling, the poor Cacique and his family, when the Judges of Appeal came down upon the prize, said that these the Judges captives had not been made with the proper licence, and forthwith divided the Indians amongst themselves (the Judges!). In a few days after this transaction, the vessel whose crew had taken charge

of Appeal.

B. VIII. of the letters from Francis de Córdova and Juan Ch. 1. Garces entered the port of St. Domingo. The

captain of the pearl-fishers, seeing his villany on the point of being discovered, fled at once to a monastery of the order of La Merced, which was just then being established, and took the habit of a lay-brother. He hardly fancied, I imagine, that his foul trick upon the poor Dominicans would in a few weeks make a monk of him! No sooner were the letters from the captive monks delivered at the monastery, than a great ferment, no doubt, arose among the brotherhood, eager to rescue their unhappy brethren on the Pearl Coast. Antonio Montesino had by this time recovered from his illness, and had returned Montesino from San Juan to St. Domingo. He went to brethren the Judges of Appeal, and prayed to have the Pearl Coast. Cacique and his family liberated and sent back to

Efforts of

for his

on the

First

martyrs

in the Terrafirma.

the Terra-firma. If Montesino could preach with such force as he did, when he excited the rage of the colonists about their dealings with the Indians, what must he not have said now? But all was in vain. The Judges of Appeal did not give up their slaves: and the Indians of the Terrafirma, after waiting the time agreed upon of four months, put to death their two prisoners, Francis de Córdova and Juan Garces.

This transaction is important, as it will have other consequences than the death of these two poor monks. But in itself it claims our notice, as showing the disposition of those with whom then rested the supreme power in the Indies.

Not daunted, however, by this calamity

which had befallen his first mission to the Terra- B. VIII. firma, Pedro de Córdova had himself just set out

upon another like expedition when Las Casas arrived. It happened that a great storm compelled the Prelate and his company to return to port; and thus Las Casas was fortunate enough to obtain an interview with one of whom he ever speaks with great veneration, the Prelate of the Dominicans, Pedro de Córdova.

between

and De

This excellent monk received Las Casas very kindly, and applauded his purpose greatly, but at Interview the same time gave but little hope of its being Las Casas brought to a successful termination in King Fer- Córdova. dinand's time, on account of the credit which, he said, the Bishop of Burgos and the Secretary, Lope Conchillos, had with the King, and their being entirely in favour of the system of repartimientos, and moreover possessing Indians themselves.

The Clerigo, grieved but not dismayed at these words, declared his intention to persevere, to the delight of Pedro de Córdova, who, as the Dominican monastery was very poor, and only partly built, resolved to send Antonio Montesino in company with Las Casas to the King, to ask alms for completing the building. Moreover, if any opportunity should offer, he was to aid the Clerigo in his mission. And so Las Casas in September, 1515, Las Casas, Montesino, and for Spain. another brother embarked at St. Domingo for Sept. 1515. Spain.

Before giving an account of the proceedings

VOL. I.

I I

embarks

B. VIII. of Las Casas at the court of Spain, it is necessary Ch. I. to mention briefly what had been done in the course of the preceding year, with respect to the Indians, both in Hispaniola and in the mothercountry. Rodrigo de Albuquerque, a near relative of a member of the Council in whom the King put great trust, had been sent to make a new division of the Indians, and he was called querque's Repartidor. What occasion there was for this repartition. new repartition, is not told; and it is difficult to

Albu

imagine any good reason for such a proceeding. It did no good to the Indians: in fact it seems to have riveted their fetters, as it gave the Indians for two lives, for the life of the person to whom Albuquerque made the repartimiento, and for the life of his next heir, whether a son or a daughter. It created the most vehement rage and opposition amongst the old colonists, some of whom found themselves deprived altogether of the services of the Indians. And it was an affront to the Governor, Don Diego Columbus, as this power of giving away Indians was one of his chief privileges, and one most likely to render the Spanish colonists obedient to him.

Albuquerque was much blamed for the manner in which he exercised his office, and he was accused of bribery. It was an office in which it must have been impossible to give content. The rapid diminution of the Indians is shown by this repartition, if we can trust the figures of LAS Population CASAS, as I think we can in this case, for they of Hispa- were probably taken from official documents. 1508. When the Treasurer Pasamonte came to Hispa

niola.