owledge of the people's historical antecedents.

I have endeavored to supply this need to the best of my ability, and
herewith offer to the public the results of an arduous, though
self-imposed task.

R.A.V.M.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, _November 3, 1902._

CONTENTS

PART I

HISTORICAL

CHAPTER

I.--THE DEPARTURE. 1493

II.--THE DISCOVERY. 1493

III.--PONCE AND CERON. 1500-1511

IV.--FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF INDIANS. "REPARTIMIENTOS" 1510

V.--THE REBELLION. 1511

VI.--THE REBELLION (_continued_.) 1511

VII.--NUMBER OF ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS AND SECOND
DISTRIBUTION OF INDIANS. 1511-1515

VIII.--LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 1511-1515

IX.--THE RETURN OF CERON AND DIAZ. PONCE'S FIRST
EXPEDITION TO FLORIDA. 1511-1515

X.--DISSENSIONS. TRANSFER OF THE CAPITAL. 1515-1520

XI.--CALAMITIES. PONCE'S SECOND EXPEDITION TO FLORIDA
AND DEATH. 1520-1537

XII.--INCURSIONS OF FUGITIVE BORIQUEN INDIANS AND CARIBS. 1520-1582

XIII.--DEPOPULATION OF THE ISLAND. PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
INTRODUCTION OF NEGRO SLAVES. 1515-1534

XIV.--ATTACKS BY FRENCH PRIVATEERS. CAUSE OF THE WAR WITH
FRANCE. CHARLES V. RUIN OF THE ISLAND. 1520-1556

XV.--SEDESO. CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT 1534-1555

XVI.--DEFENSELESS CONDITION OF THE ISLAND. CONSTRUCTION
OF FORTIFICATIONS AND CIRCUMVALLATION
OF SAN JUAN. 1555-1641
XVII.--DRAKE'S ATTACK ON SAN JUAN. 1595

XVIII.--OCCUPATION AND EVACUATION OF SAN JUAN BY
LORD GEORGE CUMBERLAND. CONDITION OF
THE ISLAND AT THE END OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY

XIX.--ATTACK ON SAN JUAN BY THE HOLLANDERS UNDER BOWDOIN. 1625

XX.--DECLINE OF SPAIN'S POWER. BUCCANEERS AND
FILIBUSTERS. 1625-1780

XXI.--BRITISH ATTACKS ON PUERTO RICO. SIEGE OF SAN
JUAN BY SIR RALPH ABERCROMBIE. 1678-1797

XXII.--BRITISH ATTACKS ON PUERTO RICO (_continued_).
INVASIONS BY COLOMBIAN INSURGENTS. 1797-1829

XXIII.--REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN PUERTO RICO AND THE
POLITICAL EVENTS IN SPAIN FROM 1765 TO 1820

XXIV.--GENERAL CONDITION OF THE ISLAND FROM 1815 TO 1833

XXV.--POLITICAL EVENTS IN SPAIN AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON AFFAIRS
IN PUERTO RICO. 1833-1874

XXVI.--GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE ISLAND, THE DAWN OF FREED