32 HISTORY OF THE [BOOR i. 



character of this ill-fated people, which, if I mistake 

 not, will lead to some important conclusions in the 

 study of human nature. 



Their fierce spirit and warlike disposition have al- 

 ready been mentioned. Historians have not failed 

 to notice these, among the most distinguishable of 

 their qualities. Restless, enterprizing, and ardent, 

 it would seem they considered war as the chief end 

 of their creation, and the rest of the human race as 

 their natural prey; for they devoured without remorse 

 the bodies of such of their enemies (the men at least) 

 as fell into their hands. This custom is so repugnant 

 to our feelings, that for a century past, until the late 

 discoveries of a similar practice in the countries of the 

 Pacific ocean, the philosophers of Europe had boldly 

 impeached the veracity of the most eminent ancient 

 voyagers who had first recorded the existence of it. 

 Even Labat, who resided in the West Indies at a pe- 

 riod when some of the islands still remained in pos~ 



Dr. Robertson, in note 93 to the first vol. of his History of Ameri- 

 ca, quotes from a MS. History of Ferdinand and Isabella, written by 

 Andrew Bernaldes, the cotemporary and friend of Columbus, the follow- 

 ing instance of the bravery of the Charaibes. " A canoe with four men, 

 " two women, and a boy, unexpectedly fell in with Columbus's fleet, 

 *' A Spanish bark with twenty-five men was sent to take them, and the 

 (t fleet in the mean time cut off their communication with the shore. In- 

 " stead of giving way to despair, the Charaibes seized their arms with 

 e< undaunted resolution, and began the attack, wounding several of the 

 ** Spaniards although they had targets as well as other defensive armour $ 

 " aad even after the canoe was overset, it was with no little difficulty and 

 " danger that some of them were secured, as they continued to defend 

 *' themselves, and to use their bows with great dexterity while swimming 

 " |.n the sea." Herrera has recorded the same anecJot.c. 



