in a few days; for it is impossible for men to live much under
water without respiration, especially because the cold of the water
penetrates their bodies and so they generally all die from
haemorrhages, oppression of the chest caused by staying such long
stretches of time without breathing; and from dysentery caused by
the frigidity.
40. Their hair, which is by nature black, changes to an ashen colour
like the skin of seals, and nitre comes out from their shoulders so
that they resemble human monsters of some species.
41. With this insupportable toil, or rather, infernal trade, the
Spaniards completed the destruction of all the Indians of the
Lucayan Islands who were there when they set themselves to making
these gains; each one was worth fifty and a hundred crowns, and they
were sold publicly, although it had been prohibited by the
magistrates themselves; it was even more unjust elsewhere for the
Lucayans were great swimmers. They have caused the death of
numberless others here, from other provinces, and other regions.

The Yuyapari River

On a river called the Yuyapari, which flows for more than two hundred
leagues through the province of Paria, a wretched tyrant(98) sailed a
great distance in the year 1539, accompanied by four hundred or more men;
and he did very great slaughter, burning alive and putting to the sword
numberless innocent and inoffensive people who were in their towns or
houses, unsuspicious of danger; and he left immense tracts of country
burnt, terrorized, and the inhabitants scattered. He finally died a bad
death and his fleet was dispersed. Other tyrants succeeded him and
continued this wickedness and tyranny: and to-day they go through those
regions destroying, killing, and sending to hell those souls that were
redeemed by the son of God with His own blood.

The Kingdom of Venezuela

The Spaniards have always exercised diligent care to hide the truth
from our lord the King about injuries and losses to God, to human
souls, and to his State; and in the year 1526, he was deceived and
perniciously persuaded into giving and conceding to some German
merchants, the great kingdom of Venezuela which is much larger than
all Spain; the entire management of the government and all
jurisdiction were concede