document there is no mention of
Indians, so that they had not come to form portion of a repartimiento at
this period. The document in question is of a formal character, expressed
in the style of legal documents of the present day, by virtue of which the
fortunate Spaniard who gets the land is "to have, and to hold, and to
possess," and so forth; and is enabled "to sell and to give, and to
present, and to traffic with, and to exchange, and to pledge, and to
alienate, and to do with it and in it all that he likes or may think good."

While the acts of legislation above narrated, which cannot be said to have
been favourable to good government in the Indies, were being framed at the
Court of Spain, Don Bartholomew Columbus was doing much in his
administration of Hispaniola that led to very mischievous results.

Before the admiral left the island, he had discovered some mines to the
southward, and had thought of choosing a port in their vicinity, where he
might establish a colony. He had spoken about this in his letters to the
Government at home. As he entered the Bay of Cadiz on his return, he met
some vessels there, which were bound for Hispaniola, and which contained
letters from their Highnesses approving of his suggestion. By these ships,
therefore, he sent orders to his brother to make this southern settlement;
and the "Adelantado" accordingly proceeded southwards, and fixed upon a
port at the entrance or the river Ozama. He sent for artizans from
Isabella, and commenced building a fortress, which he called St. Domingo,
and which afterwards became the chief port of the island.

XARAGUA PENETRATED; TRIBUTE IMPOSED UPON THE INDIANS.

There was one part of Hispaniola into which the Spaniards had not yet
penetrated: it was called Xaragua, and was reigned over by a Cacique named
Bohechio, whose sister, Anacaona, the wife of Caonabo, and a noted beauty,
seems also to have had much authority in those parts. The Adelantado,
after seeing the works at St. Domingo commenced, resolved to enter the
kingdom of Xaragua, whither he proceeded at the head of one hundred men.
Arriving at the river Neyba, he found an immense army of Indians drawn up
there to oppose his progress. Don Bartholomew made signs to them that his
errand was peaceful; and the good-natured Indians accepting his proffers
of amity, he was conducted some thirty leagues further to the city of
Xaragua, where he was received with processions of dancing and singing