bound to
their ship. Hoisting sail they departed for the island of San Juan,
where they sold one half as slaves, and afterwards to Hispaniola,
where they sold the remainder.
9. When I at the time reproved the captain in the same island of San
Juan for such infamous treachery and malice, he replied "Go to,
Senor, thus was I commanded, and instructions were given me by those
who sent me, that if I could not capture them in war, I should take
them under pretext of peace."
10. And in truth he told me that in all his life he had found neither
father nor mother, if not in the island of Trinidad; such were the
good services the Indians had rendered him. This he said to his
greater shame and the aggravation of his sins.
11. Numberless times have they done these things on this continent,
capturing people and making them slaves under promise of safe
conduct. Let it be seen what sort of acts these are: and whether
those Indians taken in such a way, are justly made slaves.
12. Another time the friars of our Order of St. Dominic determined to go
and preach to those people and convert them, for they were without
the hope or the light of doctrine by which to save their souls, as
they still are to-day in the Indies; they sent a monk, who was a
theological scholar of great virtue and sanctity, accompanied by a
serving friar as his companion; his object was to see the country,
become intimate with the people, and seek convenient sites to build
monasteries.
13. When the monks arrived, the Indians received them as angels from
heaven, and listened with great affection, attention, and joy to
those words which they could make them understand more by signs than
speech, as they did not know the language.
14. It happened that after the departure of the vessel that had brought
the monks, another ship arrived there; the Spaniards on board of it
practising their infernal custom, deceitfully enticed the lord of
that land, named Don Alonso, on board without the monks perceiving
it; either the friars or some other Spaniards, had given him this
name, for the Indians like and desire Christian names and at once
ask to have them, even before they know enough to be baptised. So
they deceived the said Don Alonso, to make him come aboard their
ship, with his