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it, and found it eight fathom; yet the water is so limpid, that I can easily discern the sand at the bottom. The banks of this river are embellished with lofty palm-trees, whose shades give a delicious freshness to the air; and the birds and the flowers are uncommon and beautiful. I was so delighted with the scene, that I had almost come to the resolution of staying here the remainder of my days; for, believe me, Sire, these countries far surpass all the rest of the world in beauty and conveniency; and I have frequently observed to my people, that, with all my endeavours to convey to your majesty an adequate idea of the charming objects which continually present themselves to our view, the description will fall greatly short of the reality." A multiplication of words rather than an improved account of this country, is to be found in the numerous writers upon the same subject; and so sensible have they been of the accuracy of Columbus, that most of them have preserved this valuable letter.

As the productions of the West Indies are various, and as they differ specifically from one another, their variety and utility will best appear in the description of each particular island. There are many natural productions, it must be admitted, which are of general application, and therefore might with equal propriety be introduced in a separate view; but such pursuits will detain us too long on preliminary matters, and prevent us from entering more immediately upon the great objects of this history.

The different species of animals and vegetables, which abound in the islands, would occupy too many of our pages, if described with minute exactness in this stage of the work; and to make selections where all is new, and therefore interesting, would be an unpleasant and difficult task.

Many of the land animals, and of the feathered race, which once inhabited these delightful abodes, are now no more. The desolating hand of man has pursued them with unjustifiable avi-, dity, and exterminated them from this portion of the globe. Their names are preserved by historians, and some particulars of their features have been transmitted to us; but the pages of history are their only places of residence; they are struck from the lists of existence, and are to be found no more. Their names and their description will appear hereafter, when we proceed to contemplate their peculiarities, and to describe the places where they were found.

Such general observations as we have judged applicable to the islands at large, have been already introduced. The ap pearance of the country, its situation and general extent, have been given, together with the varied seasons of the tropical year. But lest from the manner in which the subjects have

been introduced, and to which we thus refer, it should be thought that the details are uniform and exact in all their parts, it is necessary again to remind the reader, that many deviations are to be found. The ideas which are conveyed, are only to be taken in a general point of view; allowing for those diversities, which must always be included in a country of any great extent; and which more particularly must be applicable to a group of islands, engrossing no inconsiderable portion of the globe.

From the observations which we have made on the various forms of inanimate matter, and the peculiar beauties with which these forms strike upon our senses; and from tracing the works of the Almighty Father, from inanimate matter through a few displays of vegetative life, we shall proceed in the next chap ter to turn our thoughts to man. The various human beings that are scattered over the face of our sublunary sphere, present to our views a strange diversity of our race. The shades which in many cases darken the intellectual powers, are not less diversified, than those which distinguish the external features, and mark the skin. In the latter case, they pass through all the variety of light and shade; and in the former we behold the intellectual powers of man descending from exalted comprehension, through comparative knowledge, down to that degraded ignorance which half joins him in appearance to the

brute creation.

Instructed by revelation, and guided by a degree of understanding which takes a circuit round human actions; and directed by a judgment which looks backward on the past, and anticipates the future, man rises above his apparent station in existence, and we behold him approaching towards angelic na

But descending from this height, and pursuing man through all the intermediate stages of intellectual debasement and deformity; beholding him acting under the dominion of error; in captivity to his passions; impelled by appetite; directed by lawless sallies; deluded by his senses; actuated by instinct; or by those diabolical intruders which have stifled every thing that was good in his original nature when first created; we behold him, sinking to the lowest station, and joining himself to the tenants of the forest.

The situation of man in polished society, is not just at present our subject: but in this, in which it appears most degraded, it is less generally known. Its condition is not, however, on that account less certain. The facts of which the next two chapters will give a melancholy example, are but a specimen of the state of millions of our fellow-creatures in the present day, who now implore our assistance and solicit our relief.

CHAP. II.

NATIVES OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

Reflections on their situation and calamities—their origin-character arising from their conduct towards the Spaniards—arrival of Columbus at Hispaniola-country-inhabitants—diversions-modes of life-personal and intellectual endowments--mechanic arts-governments-changes effected by the introduction of Cuanaboa a Charaibean Chief-history of Anacoana-religious rites-funeral solemnities-number of inhabitants-inhuman butcheries of the Spaniards-reflections on the whole.

THAT the various islands of the West Indies, both Leeward and Windward, when first visited by the Europeans, were inhabited by man, must be reckoned among those truths which supersede the necessity of all proof, and of which even incredulity will not permit us to doubt. It is natural, therefore, to suppose that the reader will expect some account to be given him of the original inhabitants in these introductory chapters. And in compliance with so just an expectation, this and the following chapter will be devoted to that purpose.

The aborigines have been invariably divided into two dis tinct classes of native Indians by Columbus himself, and by the earliest writers on this subject; and in this view they have been justly presented to the world. But in what light soever we consider them, much difficulty will attach to an investigation, which attempts to reach their origin, their internal manners and modes of life. A great deal of learned discussion may be found in Rochfort and La Bat upon this question, Whether these islanders were all originally emigrants from the continents of North and South America, or whether we are to ascribe to them a transatlantic origin? But the discoveries which have been made by British navigators in modern days, seem to have nearly decided the point; and they support that opinion, which, from the light of their discoveries, in conjunction with a train of circumstantial evidence, we have ventured to adopt.

The proofs drawn from these quarters, have induced us to suppose, that the Charaibees, or natives of the Windward Islands, migrated originally from some of the countries of the southern continent of America. The language and savage cus

VOL. I.

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toms have been found to be similar in many prominent features; but particularly in one, which is both detestable and unnatural— the custom of devouring human flesh. It has, however, been asserted with much confidence, that this practice was by no means of a general nature. It has been said that it resulted from the impulse of momentary passion; and was confined solely to the bodies of such enemies, as were either slain in battle, or taken prisoners of war.

It is equally probable from the testimony of concurrent circumstances, that the natives of the Leeward Islands which were first discovered by Columbus, were a branch of the Apalachian Indians; a nation inhabiting the southern part of the northern continent of America. If therefore the natives of the Leeward Islands originally sprang from the Apalachian tribe, they in all probability migrated from the Florida shores.

These circumstances being premised, the proofs of which will appear hereafter, we proceed from a description of the islands, to make some observations on the origin and characters of their respective inhabitants. We have surveyed the climate in the varied seasons, and the amazing fertility of this Archipelago; and from vegetation we proceed to man.

We have already observed, that Columbus, in his first voyage, landed on an island, which, from pious gratitude, he named St. Salvadore; and that from thence he proceeded in his expedition, and discovered the extensive island of Hispaniola. These islands were both inhabited by a people who were in some measure civilized, or at least were devoid of that ferocity which is the general characteristic of savage manners. The islands which they respectively inhabited, were no improper index to their condition. The natives of the former were comparatively poor, and few in number; while those of the latter were vastly numerous, and exhibited every sign of opulence and ease. his second voyage Columbus discovered both Cuba and Jamaica, but returned to Europe a second time, in considerable doubts whether Cuba were an island, or some part of an unknown continent, which was then for the first time visited by any civilized nation.*

In

It may seem somewhat strange that Columbus should rest satisfied merely with the discovery of Cuba, without ascertaining whether it were an island or continent, especially as he had been appointed by the king of Spain, governor of all the territories which he had discovered, or should take possession of for the crown of Spain. His mind however seemed to be so intenz upon the extensive prospects which lay before him, that he proceeded in the discovery of new islands, before he made himself fully acquainted with the boundaries of those which he had but partially made his own.

The natives of these islands, together with those of Porto Rico, discovered in their persons and features a striking similarity. They observed the same customs, and spoke the same language; they had the same religious views, lived in nearly the same manner, and practised the same superstitions. In their conduct they were kind, hospitable, and free; they seemed glad to promote the interests of their invaders; and without any suspicious apprehensions, they rejoiced in their prosperity, and sympathized with them in their woes. Nor did those features of their character arise either from fear or treacherous designs. Their friendship for Columbus and his associates followed them in their distresses, and their hospitality administered to their relief. Necessity alone obliged them to desert a number which it became excessively troublesome to supply; but even then they withdrew without offering to injure the afflicted Spaniards, though they could not have been insensible that it lay in their power to exterminate the whole race of their invaders. From these concurrent circumstances they have hitherto been considered as distinct branches of one common nation, and no just reason can be assigned why we should depart from this generally received opinion.

Of the Windward Islands our prospects are however very

This island originally obtained the name of Cuba, from its first Indian possessors, which name it still retains. But though it was discovered by Columbus in his second voyage, perhaps seen by him in his first, it seems to have lain in a dormant state for many years. It was not till 1508, that its extremities were fully ascertained; and not till 1511 that any settlement was attempted to be made on it. In the year 1508, one Sebastian, by order of Nicholas Ovando, of infamous memory, ran down its coasts, and taking a circuit round it, ascer tained its insular situation, In 1511 Jago Velasquez went thither with 300 men, and for the first time, after it had been discovered rather than possessed by the Spaniards for no less a period than 19 years, planted a small colony on the southern coast, near a fine port, which, probably after his own name, he denominated Jago. And though but few improvements have been made upon it from that distant period to the present moment, in a comparative view, yet the place of the first settlement is still known by its primary name; and the original appellation of the island and of its first settlement have been alike secured from innovation and change. The wisdom of Velasquez appears still conspicuous in his judicious selection of a spot on which to plant his infant colony, All circumstances considered, the place on which he fixed, may be deemed as the most congenial to his design, of any in the island; and it presents perhaps one of the most eligible situations of which the world can boast.

From these simple facts it evidently appears, that the extensive island of Cuba remained merely in a discovered state during the remnant of the life of Columbus, without either being known to be an island, or receiving any settlement from the continent of Europe. We have already observed that it was not settled until 1511, and Columbus died at Valladolid in 1506, without ever knowing the extent of those discoveries which he had made, even if we suppose that the vast continent of America was totally unknown to this extraor dinary man.

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