An account of the first voyages and discoveries made by the Spaniards in America containing the most exact relation hitherto publish'd, of their unparallel'd cruelties on the Indians, in the destruction of above forty millions of people : with the propositions offer'd to the King of Spain to prevent the further ruin of the West-Indies / by Don Bartholomew de las Casas, Bishop of Chiapa, who was an eye-witness of their cruelties ; illustrated with cuts ; to which is added, The art of travelling, shewing how a man may dispose his travels to the best advantage.

Of the great Kingdoms and Provinces of Peru.

A Spanish Commander with a great number of Soldiers enter'd these Kingdoms with the Ti∣tle of Governour; and with a Resolution to heap up a vast Treasure in a little time. He had already given some proofs of his skill and capacity on the Continent; and he every day perfected himself more and more in the Art of cutting of throats and pillaging. He was naturally cruel, without Faith, Honour or Religion; he knew no other God than Gold or Silver, and therefore gave him∣self liberty to commit all sorts of Crimes, to get these Metals any way in the world. He did abundance of mischief in the large Provinces of Peru. 'Tis not possible to represent to the life what Persecuti∣ons the Inhabitants of this rich Country underwent; and what cruel sorts of death they were made to

suffer, to extort their Gold and Silver from 'em.

When this Governour first enter'd Peru, he rifled divers Villages, and took away prodigious quantities of Gold. He then pass'd into an Island (not far from this Kingdom) which is very pleasant, fruit∣ful and populous. The Prince of this Island, toge∣ther with the Inhabitants, came out to meet the Spa∣niards, and received 'em with great joy and civility. But in the space of six months, which time the Spa∣niards continued here, they consum'd all the Corn and other Provisions they found in the Island. After this they discover'd that the Indians had hid some Corn under ground, to keep against a time of scarcity, for the subsistence of their Wives and Children; which they were constrain'd to leave to the discretion of the Spaniards, who took possession of it as their own Pro∣perty; and hereby reduc'd these poor People to the utmost necessity. Soon after this they left the Island, but first kill'd a great many of the People, and car∣ried away the rest with 'em for Slaves. Thus by the many Cruelties they committed, this Island is quite depopulated.

From hence they went into the Isle of Tumbala, which is situate near the Continent; here they mas∣sacred all the Inhabitants that fell into their hands. The rest frighted at this cruel slaughter, fled every way they could to avoid 'em; and tho they did this only to save their Lives, it was interpreted a Rebel∣lion against the King of Spain; but was only an Ar∣tifice of this Tyrant to entrap these miserable Peo∣ple, that he might make 'em surrender to him all the Gold and Silver they had: which they brought to him in great quantities, while he still demanded greater, being resolv'd to leave 'em nothing: And when he had strip'd 'em of all they had, he told them he receiv'd 'em into the number of the King of Spain's Subjects, and pretended a great deal of kind∣ness

to 'em, promising he would treat 'em as his friends, and not do 'em the least hurt for the time to come. This Hypocrite was for plundering the Indians, and terrifying 'em with menaces of the King of Spain's displeasure; but had the Policy not to receive 'em into the number of this Prince's Vas∣sals, till he had robb'd 'em of all they had. And yet the Title of the King of Spain's Subjects did not secure 'em for the future from his Insults and Robberies.

The name of the Soveraign Prince and Empe∣ror of all these Kingdoms was Atabalipa, who brought with him an innumerable Army of naked men, who made use of a ridiculous sort of Wea∣pons, not understanding the force of the Spaniards Swords and Lances, and Horses, with which these Indians had never been acquainted; he advanc'd his Troops near the Spaniards, crying with a great deal of courage, Where are these Spaniards? I'll never leave 'em till they have made me satisfaction for all my Subjects that have been kill'd by them; of all my Towns which they have burnt, and of all my Riches which they have carried away. The Spaniards came to meet this Prince in good order and well-arm'd, and made a horrible slaughter among his Souldiers; they took the King himself, who was carried on a stately Seat upon the Shoulders of his Subjects. This Prince finding himself in this miserable Condition, began to treat with 'em about his Ransom, for which he promised to give 'em 4 Millions of Crowns: for this Sum they engag'd to give him his Liberty; yet would not stand to their own Agreement, but obliged him to assemble all his People, who to obey their Prince's order came together in Crowds. This King bore such a sway in the minds of his Subjects, that he boasted that the Leaves of the Trees in the Woods durst not move without his order. He told

the Spaniards he was their Prisoner, and they had now power to put him to death if they pleas'd. Upon this they held a Council of War to deliberate what to do with him; and resolv'd to burn him with a gentle Fire: only there was one Captain not quite so inhuman as the rest, who told 'em they ought to content themselves with strangling him, and then burning him after he was dead. When the King was inform'd that he was condemn'd to die, he thus express'd himself; Why will ye needs put me to death? What Crime have I committed against you? Did you not promise to restore me my Liberty, pro∣vided I would pay that Fine of Gold you impos'd on me? Have not I given you a greater Sum than you demanded? However if you are resolv'd to kill me first send me at least to the King of Spain. But all his Complaints, all his just Reproaches and Protestations could not hinder them from burning him. 'Tis easy to see that the Spaniards had no right to make War with this Prince and to treat him so inhumanly. But the Captivity of this King, the Sentence of Death pronounc'd against him, and the Cruelty with which they put it in execution, after they had extorted such vast Treasures from him, all sufficiently disco∣ver the Genius of these Tyrants, and of what In∣justice and Violence they have been guilty both against the Princes and People of the new World.

I have a Letter from a Monk of the Order of St. Francis written to the King of Spain, by which it will appear how the Spaniards behav'd themselves towards the Indians: The very Terms of which Letter I'll here set down.

I, Frier Mark de Xlicia of the Order of St. Francis, General of all the Monks of the said Order in Peru, who came into this Country with the Spaniards that first in∣vaded it, do testify what I have seen with my own Eyes of

the manner of their treating the People of this new World. Having been an Eye-witness, I have a certain knowledg of the Disposition and Manners of the Inhabitants of Pe∣ru; they are a meek, good-humour'd and peaceable Na∣tion, and have shewn a great deal of Affection and Re∣spect to the Spaniards; I have seen 'em give 'em great Sums of Gold and Silver, and Pearls of a great value very readily; they render'd 'em all the Services they could require of 'em with all the diligence that could be reasonably desir'd. They never offer'd to make War with 'em, nor so much as to put themselves in a posture of Defence, till they had receiv'd all imaginable Injuries from 'em, and were thereby constrained to it contrary to their Inclina∣tions. They gave the Spaniards as many Men and Women as they needed for their Domestick Business; and when they had receiv'd 'em into their Towns and Villages with all the Honours they could think of, they supplied 'em liberally with all the necessary Accommoda∣tions of Life.

I farther testify, that the Spaniards without having receiv'd the least occasion of Offence from the Indians, seiz'd their great Cacique Atabalipa, soon after they enter'd his Country, and burnt him after they had receiv'd four Millions of Gold of him, and after having taken immense Sums out of his Province without any Resistance. They inflicted the same Punishment on Cochilimaca his Captain General, when he came to meet them in an ami∣cable manner with many other Noblemen of Peru. A few days after another great Lord of the Province of Quitonia suffer'd the same fate; for the Spaniards burnt him without having the least occasion given 'em for so cruel an Action: With the like Barbarity and Injustice they burnt Schapera the Prince of the Canaries. They also burnt the feet of Aluis, the first and greatest Lord of the Province of Quitonia, and put him to a great many other Torments to make him reveal K. Atabalipa's Treasures, of which he was utterly ignorant, as it evi∣dently

appear'd by the sequel. They condemn'd Coco∣pagaganga to the same Punishment, who was Prince of the Province of Quitonia: He suffer'd himself to be over perswaded by the Treaties of Sebastian Banalcaçar a Spanish Captain, to come in an amicable manner and surrender himself to the Spaniards; this Captain having given him his word that no Injury should be done him; yet, contrary to this promise, he was burnt alive, with several Caciques besides: and I have been inform'd, that the Spaniards design'd to shew no Mercy to any Indian in the Country.

I moreover affirm, that I my self have seen the Spa∣niards in several places cut off the Noses, Ears and Hands of Indian Men and Women, without any Provo∣cation, in cold Blood (as it seem'd) purely for the sake of doing Mischief, which is a most inexcusable sort of Bar∣barity. I have seen the Spaniards set their fierce and hungry Dogs at the Indians to tear 'em in pieces and de∣vour 'em. And I have seen 'em set fire to so many Towns and Villages, that 'tis impossible I should recollect the number of 'em. 'Tis certain they have torn Children from their Mothers Breasts, and thrown 'em with all their might as far as they could, to divert themselves with this brutish Sport. I have often been a Witness of many other Cruelties of this nature, which have fill'd me with Dread and Horror; but I should be too prolix and tedious to give the Detail of 'em.

I protest, that once the Spaniards when they had as∣sembled the greatest number of Indians they could in three great Houses, set fire to 'em and burnt 'em all alive, without any reason, having not receiv'd the least affront from 'em. And a certain Priest, whose name was Ocana, happening to attempt to take a young Child out of the Flames, a Spaniard that saw him, took the Child from him, and immediately cast it again into the Fire, where it was burnt with the rest. This Spaniard the same day be committed this black and cursed Action, died suddenly

as he was going to the Camp; and I was of opinion that his Carcase ought not to be interred.

I have seen the Spaniards send Deputies to the Ca∣ciques and chief Indians, to engage 'em to come and meet 'em without fear, promising 'em to employ their In∣terest with the King of Spain on their behalf: but as soon as they were come upon the Credit of the Promises that had been given 'em, they were burnt without Pity or any formal Process. Two of the most illustrious and conside∣rable Indians were burnt in my sight, one at Andonia, and the other at Tumbala. All the Efforts I made to secure 'em from the Flames, and to get 'em out of the hands of these bloody Wretches, were to no purpose; my Discourses and Exhortations made no impression on 'em. I can say with a good Conscience, and in the presence of God, that so far as I have been able to learn, by the long time I have been among 'em, the Inhabitants of Peru have never fomented any Mutiny or Rebellion, or done the least Injury to the Spaniards, who have treated them so inhu∣manly; but whatever Torments they have suffer'd, they seem'd to have laid aside the thoughts of Revenge. And when they found the Spaniards were always deceiving 'em, and breaking the Promises they made 'em; when they found they treated 'em with so much Tyranny, contrary to all Law and Equity; and that they did not scruple to commit all sorts of Outrages against 'em, they rather chose to die, than to be continually expos'd to such Mi∣series.

I have been inform'd by the Accounts the Indians themselves have given, that there is a great deal more Gold among 'em undiscover'd than has been yet found; the ill Ʋsage and Cruelty of the Spaniards having made 'em conceal it: and they are resolv'd never to discover it while they are treated with so much Injustice and Tyranny, but will rather die as their Companions have done, who have been put to death with so much Cruelty. The Injuries offer'd these poor Indians are very hainous Sins in the

sight of God, and contrary to the Interest and Service of the King, who has been cheated of more Treasure in Peru than would keep all the People in Castile.

Thus far the Letter of that Monk, which was confirm'd by the Attestation of the Bishop of Mexi∣co: He was an Eye-witness of what he here relates, for he went through this Country for the space of fourscore or a hundred Leagues, and continued there nine or ten years, in a time when there were but few Spaniards there. But as soon as it was reported in Spain that this new World was so full of Gold, there presently came four or five thousand People, who spread themselves through these noble Pro∣vinces, and possess'd five or six hundred Leagues of the Country, which they entirely ruined, commit∣ting all those Disorders and Crimes that have been mention'd before. They have destroy'd a great ma∣ny more People here than this Frier takes notice of in his Letter: and without having any fear of God before their Eyes, or any regard to the King, or the least sentiment of Compassion to their fellow-Creatures, they have almost destroy'd one half of Mankind; for in the Provinces of Peru alone they have kill'd above forty Millions of People.

A few days after what I have related above, they kill'd a great Queen with Arrows made of Reeds; she was Wife to Prince Elingue, who still governs this Province in quality of King: the Spaniards did what they could to seize this Prince's Person, and omitted no Tricks and Artifices to accomplish it; this was the occasion of his Revolt against the Spa∣niards, and he has ever since continued their declar'd Enemy. They took his Queen contrary to the Rules of Equity and Justice; and 'tis said they kill'd her at a time when she was big with Child, meerly to vex and grieve the King her Husband, who lov'd her

very tenderly. If all the Massacres the Spaniards have committed in Peru should be recounted, every one would be astonish'd at the recital, and the num∣ber of 'em after an exact Computation would sur∣pass all probability, and appear too great to be believ'd.