l
times. In regard to those who descend from them, there is even less
shame; and among another kind of relations is an utter disregard of
nature in this respect, for their own nephews are the slaves of their
uncles, and, vice versa, uncles are slaves of their nephews.

They do not know what charity is. Consequently, whatever benefits
they confer are all placed on account as debts, which their tyranny
estimates wholly to their own satisfaction. Unfortunate he whom
abandonment or orphanage has flung into the house of another, for
now for his sustenance, and again for his rearing, he must become
a slave. Kindness is shown at the cost of liberty. Although that
was general throughout the islands, in this island it is excessive,
as it is a tenet of the perfidious sect of Mahomet; and its cruelty
has left no liberty that it has not opposed. Therefore, there is not
in this nation the middle class that is found in the others which
forms the common people out of the freemen; for there are no freemen,
nor any mean between chiefs and slaves. Their community is composed
of but two extremes, so far separated. It is a fact that there are
many ways by which to reduce men to such a condition, and there is no
escape from the injury. For, since self-interest is the advantage of
those who are powerful, it unites them against the unfortunate one
who dares to proclaim the offense that has been done to him, while
his punishment conciliates so many other offenders who might perplex
justice; and fear shuts the mouths of those whom the same fortune might
gain to his favor in the support of his testimonies. Therefore, when
it comes to proof there is always a lack of witnesses for innocence;
while on the contrary there is for tyranny an oversupply of ocular
witnesses of things that they have never seen or heard. When some
stranger goes to a village to trade where he does not have the
guaranteed patronage of many powerful relations, in the case of any
neglect that is shown him in courtesy or in the laws, they bring
such a case against him that to get out of it well he abandons his
business and perhaps with his business his freedom. The worst of it
is that the punishment is always more than the offense, for the just
pay as if they were sinners. Their avarice or tyranny not satisfied
with the vengeance taken on the criminal makes the offense related to
the very blood, in order to extend their cupidity farther. Hence it
is that on account of the crim