as the
cultivation of the soil, the carving in wood and stone, and the
manufacture of pottery and furniture.

The Spaniards have ever been treacherous, selfish and a nation of
money-grubbers.

Now followed an instance which is only one of many to prove the truth of
this statement.

After Ponce de Leon had won the confidence and had been the recipient of
boundless hospitality from the islanders, he returned to Hayti and at
once commenced to fit out an expedition for the invasion and subjugation
of Porto Rico. From a purely selfish point of view, this was a most
senseless proceeding on his part. He could have done much better without
having any recourse to force, for at first the natives regarded the
Spaniards as immortal visitors from Heaven, as superior beings whom they
could not kill.

But they speedily recognized their mistake and discovered the abominable
character of the invaders.

De Leon killed off all the natives that he could and made the rest
slaves to work in the gold mines of Hayti.

When any one resisted he was killed, and if he attempted to escape he
was hunted down by bloodhounds.

It is related that Ponce de Leon had a dog which became noted as a slave
catcher. So valuable was he in this respect that his name was actually
carried on the army payroll for the benefit of his master.

When the natives found that they were being slain or deprived of their
liberty they naturally became exasperated and turned against their
dastardly oppressors. But from their point of view it was absolutely
necessary to find out if the Spaniards were mortal. If they were not, it
would be an act of impiety to resist them.

This vital question must be settled, and therefore one of the native
chiefs was detailed to try if he could kill a Spaniard. The trial was
eminently successful. A young man named Salzedo was found alone and was
drowned by the natives.

The action is thus related in the words of a competent authority:

"The guides conducted Salzedo to the bank of a small river through which
they must pass, and to prevent his being exposed to the water one of the
Indians kindly offered to take him on his shoulders and carry him over.
Salzedo mounted to his high seat and was borne into the middle of the
stream, when the Indian and his burden fell into the water. The other
Indians immediately rushed into the river with the apparent purpose of
rescuing their guest, but contrived, while professing to offer him
assista