Hispaniola. Before we proceed any
further, it is fit to observe that the Province of Guahaba lying
next to Cuba, the Distance between the two Points being but
eighteen Leagues, many Indians went over to Cuba in their Canoes
and among them pass'd over, with as many of his Men as could, a
Cazique of the said Province of Guahaba, call'd Hatuey, a brave and
discreet Man. He settled on the nearest Country known by the name
of Mazci, and possessing himself of that Part kept the People as
Subjects, but not as Slaves; for it was never found in the Indies
that any Difference was made between a free people or even their
own Children and Slaves, unless it were in New Spain, and the other
Provinces, where they us'd to sacrifice Prisoners to their Idols
which was not practis'd in these Islands. This Cazique Hatuey,
fearing that the Spaniards would at some Time pass over into Cuba,
always kept Spies to know what was doing in Hispaniola and being
inform'd of the Admiral's design, he assembled his People who it
is likely were of the most martial, and putting them in Mind of
their many sufferings under the Spaniards told them: 'They did all
that for a great Lord they were very fond of, which he would show
them' and then taking some Gold out of a little Palm Tree Basket,
added 'This is the Lord whom they serve, him they follow, and as
you have already heard, they are about passing over hither, only to
seek this Lord, therefore let us make a Festival, and dance to him,
to the End that when they come, he may order them not to do us
harm.' Accordingly they all began to sing and dance till they were
quite tir'd, for it was their Custom to dance as long as they could
stand, from nightfall till break of Day, and these Dances were as
in Hispaniola, to the Musick of their Songs, and tho' fifty
thousand Men and Women were assembled, no one differ'd in the least
from the rest in the Motions of their Hands, Feet and Bodies; but
those of Cuba far exceeded the natives of Hispaniola, their Songs
being more agreeable. When they were Spent with Singing and Dancing
before the little Basket of Gold, Hatuey bid them not to Keep the
Lord of the Christians in any Place whatsoever, for if he were in
their Bowels, they would fetch him out, and therefore they should
cast him in the River un