d
inveterate; neither are we to suppose, with some, that it proceeded from
too great an excess of sensual pleasures. Nature had never punished
excesses of this kind with such disorders in the world; and even to this
day, we find that a momentary indulgence, which has been passed for
eight or ten years, may bring this cruel and shameful scourge upon the
chastest union.

34. The great Columbus, after having built several houses on these
islands, and discovered the continent, returned to Spain, where he
enjoyed a reputation unsullied by rapine or cruelty, and died at
Validolid in 1506. But the Governors of Cuba and Hispaniola, who
succeeded him, being persuaded that these provinces furnished gold,
resolved to make the discovery at the price of the lives of the
inhabitants. In short, whether they thought the natives had conceived an
implacable hatred to them, or that they were apprehensive of their
superior numbers; or that the rage of slaughter when once begun, knows
no bounds, they in the space of a few years entirely depopulated
Hispaniola and Cuba, the former of which contained three millions of
inhabitants, and the latter above six hundred thousand.

35. Bartholomew de la Cases, bishop of Chiapa, who was an eye-witness to
these desolations, relates that they hunted down the natives with dogs.
These wretched savages, almost naked and without arms, were pursued like
wild beasts in the forest, devoured alive by dogs, shot to death, or
surprised and burnt in their habitations.

36. He further declares, from occular testimony, that they frequently
caused a number of these miserable wretches to be summoned by a priest
to come in, and submit to the Christian religion, and to the king of
Spain; and that after this ceremony, which was only an additional act of
injustice, they put them to death without the least remorse.--I believe
that De la Cases has exaggerated in many parts of his relation; but,
allowing him to have said ten times more than is truth, there remains
enough to make us shudder with horror.

37. It may seem surprizing, that this massacre of a whole race of men,
could have been carried on in the sight, and under the administration of
several religieuse of the order of St. Jerome; for we know that cardinal
Ximenes, who was prime minister at Castile before the time of Charles V.
sent over four monks of this order, in quality of presidents of the
royal council of the island. Doubtless they were not able to resist