the wicked actions and
cruelties of the Spaniards dishonored God and his religion in the
minds of the Americans.

One day there came to us a great number of the inhabitants of a famous
city, situate about ten leagues from the place where we lodged, to
compliment us and bring us all sort of provisions and refreshments,
which they presented us with great marks of joy, caressing us after
the most obliging manner they could. But that evil spirit that
possessed the Spaniards put 'em into such a sudden fury against 'em,
that they fell upon 'em and massacred above three thousand of 'em,
both men and women, upon the spot, without having received the least
offense and provocation from 'em. I was an eye-witness of this
barbarity: and whatever endeavors were used to appease these inhuman
creatures, 'twas impossible to reduce 'em to reason; so resolutely
were they bent to satiate their brutal rage by this barbarous action.

Soon after this I sent messengers to the most noted Indians of the
Province of Havane, to encourage and engage 'em to continue in their
country, and not to trouble themselves to seek remote places to hide
in; and advised 'em to come to us with assurance of our protection.
They knew well enough what authority I had over the Spaniards, and I
gave 'em my word no injury should be offered 'em: for the past
cruelties and massacres their countrymen had suffered, had spread fear
and terror through all the country; and this assurance I gave 'em was
with the consent and advice of the captains and the officers. When we
entered into this province, two-and-twenty of their chiefs came to us,
and the very next morning the commander of our troops, without any
regard to the promise that had been made 'em, would needs sentence 'em
to be burnt, pretending 'twas best to put these people to death,
because they might one time or other use some stratagem to surprise
and destroy us: and I had all the difficulty in the world to prevent
'em from throwing 'em into the fire.

The Indians of Havane, seeing themselves reduced to a state of severe
slavery, and that there was no remedy left, but they were
irrecoverably undone, began to take refuge in the deserts and
mountains to secure themselves if possible from death; some strangled
themselves in despair. Parents hanged themselves together with their
children, to put the speedier end to their misery by death. Above two
hundred Indians perished here after this manner to avoid the cruelty