94 HISTORY OF THE [BOOK. i. 



<f at a slow firej and as the miserable victims poured forth dreadful 

 te screams, which disturbed the commanding officer in his afternoon 

 " slumbers, he sent word that they should be strangled ; but the offi- 

 " cer on guard (I KNOW HIS NAME, AND I KNOW HIS RELATIONS IN 

 " SEVILLE) would not suffer it ; but causing their mouths to be gagged, 

 " that their cries might not be heard, he stirred up the fire with his own 

 " hands, and roasted them deliberately till they all expired. I SAW IT 

 " MYSELF."!!! 



It may be necessary perhaps, on my own account, to add, that I have 

 no other edition of Las Casas, than that which was published at An- 

 twerp, in 1579. From a copy of that edition I have extracted the fore- 

 going horrid relation ; my hand trembling as I write, and my heart de- 

 voutly wishing it could be proved to be false. 



