d on
several of them he settled colonies, and did all he could to make them
the abodes of peace and happiness.

On his taking leave of them for the last time, Ovando continued governor
of Hayti.

The cruelties exercised by this unfeeling man it would take a volume to
describe, but I will mention only one or two instances.

When the natives were unable to pay the tribute which he exacted from
them, he always accused them of insurrection, and it was to punish a
slight insurrection of this kind in the eastern part of the island that
he sent his troops, who ravaged the country with fire and sword. He
showed no mercy to age or sex, putting many to death with horrible
tortures, and brought off the brave Catabanama, one of the five
sovereign caziques of the island, in chains to St. Domingo, where he was
ignominiously hanged by Ovando, for the crime of defending his territory
and his native soil against usurping strangers.

But the most atrocious act of Ovando, and one that must heap odium on
his name, wherever the woes of the gentle natives of Hayti are heard of,
was the cruelty he was guilty of towards the province of Xaragua for one
of those pretended conspiracies.

Ovando set out at the head of nearly four hundred well armed soldiers,
seventy of whom were steel-clad horsemen; giving out that he was coming
on a visit of friendship, to make arrangements for the payment of
tribute.

Behechio, the ancient cazique of the province, was dead, and his
sister, Anacaona, wife of the late formidable chief Caonabo, had
succeeded to the government.

She was one of the most beautiful females in the island; of great
natural grace and dignity, and superior intelligence; her name in the
Indian language signified "Golden Flower."

[Illustration]

She came forth to meet Ovando, according to the custom of her nation,
attended by her most distinguished subjects, and her train of damsels
waving palm branches, and dancing to the cadence of their popular
ayretos.

All her principal caziques had been assembled to do honour to the
guests, who, for several days were entertained with banquets, and
national games and dances.

In return for these exhibitions, Ovando invited Anacaona, with her
beautiful daughter Higuenamata, and her principal subjects, to witness a
tilting match in the public square.

When all were assembled, and the square crowded with unarmed Indians,
Ovando gave a signal, and instantly the horsemen rushed into the mid