CHAP, in.] WEST INDIES. 75 



been related at large in the late American history, 

 need not be repeated here. 



The islands of Cuba and Jamaica were divided, 

 like Hispaniola, into many principalities or kingdoms; 

 but we are told that the whole extent of Porto Rico 

 was subject to one cacique only. It has been re- 

 marked, that the dignity of these chieftains was he- 

 reditary; but if Martyr is to be credited, the law 

 of succession among them, was different from that of 

 all other people; for/ he observes,]] that the caciques 

 bequeathed the supreme authority to the children of 

 their sisters, according to seniority, disinheriting their 

 own offspring; "being certain," adds Martyr, " that, 

 ^ by this policy, they preferred the blood royal; 

 " which might not happen to be the case, in ad van 

 ^ cing any of the children of their numerous wives." 

 The relation of Qviedo is somewhat different, and 

 seems more probable: he remarks, that one of the 

 wives of each cacique was particularly distinguished 

 above the rest, and appears to have been considered 

 by the people at large as the reigning queen;* that 

 the children of this lady, according to priority of birth, 

 succeeded to the father's honours; but in default of 

 issue by the favourite princess, the sisters of the ca- 

 cique, if there were, no surviving brothers, took place 

 of the cacique's own children by his other wives. 

 Thus Anacoana, on the death of Behechio her bro r 



P. Martyr, decad. i. lib. ii. 



ij Decad. iii. c. ix. 



? Oviedo, lib. v. c. iii. 



