and are so timid that a thousand would not stand before three of our men.
So that they are good to be ordered about, to work and sow, and do all
that may be necessary, and to build towns, and they should be taught to
go about clothed and to adopt our customs."

_Monday, 17th of December_

It blew very hard during the night from E.N.E., but there was not much
sea, as this part of the coast is enclosed and sheltered by the island
of Tortuga. The sailors were sent away to fish with nets. They had
much intercourse with the natives, who brought them certain arrows of
the Caniba or Canibales. They are made of reeds, pointed with sharp
bits of wood hardened by fire, and are very long. They pointed out two
men who wanted certain pieces of flesh on their bodies, giving to
understand that the Canibales had eaten them by mouthfuls. The Admiral
did not believe it. Some Christians were again sent to the village,
and, in exchange for glass beads, obtained some pieces of gold beaten
out into fine leaf. They saw one man, whom the Admiral supposed to be
Governor of that province, called by them Cacique,[183-1] with a piece
of gold leaf as large as a hand, and it appears that he wanted to
barter with it. He went into his house, and the other remained in the
open space outside. He cut the leaf into small pieces, and each time
he came out he brought a piece and exchanged it. When he had no more
left, he said by signs that he had sent for more, and that he would
bring it another day. The Admiral says that all these things, and the
manner of doing them, with their gentleness and the information they
gave, showed these people to be more lively and intelligent than any
that had hitherto been met with. In the afternoon a canoe arrived from
the island of Tortuga with a crew of forty men; and when they arrived
on the beach, all the people of the village sat down in sign of peace,
and nearly all the crew came on shore. The cacique rose by himself,
and, with words that appeared to be of a menacing character, made them
go back to the canoe and shove off. He took up stones from the beach
and threw them into the water, all having obediently gone back into
the canoe. He also took a stone and put it in the hands of my
Alguazil,[183-2] that he might throw it. He had been sent on shore
with the Secretary[184-1] to see if the canoe had brought anything of
value. The alguazil did not wish to throw the stone. That cacique
showed that he was well disposed