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_Of the Isle of _Cuba.

In the Year of our Lord 1511. They passed over to _Cuba_, which
contains as much ground in length as there is distance between
_Valledolid_ and _Rome_, well furnished with large and stately
Provinces and very populous, against whom they proceeded with no more
humanity and Clemency, or indeed to speak truth with greater Savageness
and Brutality. Several memorable Transactions worthy observation,
passed in this Island. A certain _Cacic_ a potent Peer, named
_Hathney_, who not long before fled _Hispaniola_ to _Cuba_ for Refuge
from Death, or Captivity during Life; and understanding by certain
_Indians_ that the _Spaniards_ intended to steer their course thither,
made this Oration to all his People Assembled together.

You are not ignorant that there is a rumor spread abroad among us of
the _Spaniards_ Arrival, and are sensible by woeful experience how such
and such (naming them) and _Hayti_ (so they term _Hispaniola_ in their
own language) with their Inhabitants have been treated by them, that
they design to visit us with equal intentions of committing such acts
as they have hitherto been guilty of. But do you not know the cause and
reason of their coming? We are altogether ignorant of it, they
replied, but sufficiently satisfied that they are cruelly and wickedly
inclined: Then thus, he said, they adore a certain Covetous Deity,
whose cravings are not to be satisfied by a few moderate offerings, but
they may answer his Adoration and Worship, demand many unreasonable
things of us, and use their utmost endeavors to subjugate and
afterwards murder us. Then taking up a Cask or Cabinet near at hand,
full of Gold and Gems, he proceeded in this manner: This is the
_Spaniards_ God, and in honour of him if you think well of it, let us
celebrate our _Arcytos_ (which are certain kinds of Dances and caprings
used among them); and by this means his Deity being appeas'd, he will
impose his Commands on the Spaniards that they shall not for the future
molest us; who all unanimously with one consent in a loud tone made
this reply. Well said, Well said, and thus they continued skipping and
dancing before this Cabinet, without the least intermission, till they
were quite tired and grown weary: Then the Noble _Hathney_ re-assuming
his discourse, said, if we Worship this Deity, till ye be ravished from
us, we shall be destroyed,