ed down what seemed to them the most striking
incidents; still others embodied their reflections on what they had seen
and heard in letters that were sent home whenever an occasion presented
itself.

Out of this great mass of personal records of travel in the New World a
number stand out as deserving of more than passing notice, and though a
careful perusal of these books shows a tendency on the part of some
authors to repeat what they had heard or read in the reports of their
predecessors, there is something worth noting in every individual
volume. Among the writers who were evidently the source from which many
authors drew to corroborate and complete their personal observations is
Tordesillas Herrera, his Spanish Majesty's Chief Chronicler, traces of
whose "Description of the West Indies," which was translated into Dutch,
English, French and other languages are found in many books. The
writings of that worthy prelate and Champion of the Indians, Bartolomeo
de Las Casas, have also been drawn upon by many writers. Almost amusing
in the light of later day events, is a copiously illustrated little book
in which a pious German translator dwells with unctuous
self-righteousness on the cruelties practised by the Spaniards upon the
natives of the islands.

Herrera thus relates the story of the first settlement of Cuba in the
second volume of "A Description of the West Indies," which was
translated into Dutch, English, French and other languages and appeared
in English in the year 1625:

"This same year 1511, the Admiral Don James Columbus, resolved to
make settlements in Cuba, knowing it to be an island, the soil
good, populous and abounding in provisions. To this purpose he made
use of James Velasquez, being the wealthiest and best belov'd of
all the first Spanish inhabitants in Hispaniola. Besides he was a
Man of Experience, of a mild and affable Temper, tho' he knew how
to maintain his authority; of Body well-shap'd, of Complexion fair,
and very discreet. As soon as it was known in Hispaniola that James
Velasquez was going to make settlements in Cuba, Abundance of
People resolv'd to bear him Company, some because, as has been
said, he was belov'd and others because they were ruin'd and in
Debt. All these, being about three hundred Men, rendezvous'd in the
Town of Salvatiena de la Zavana to embark aboard four ships, this
Place being at the Extremity of