CHAP, i.] WEST INDIES. 139 



lumbus Santa Gloria (now St. Ann's Harbour), and the 

 daily accession of new inhabitants would naturally ex- 

 tend the boundaries of the capital, till the rude village, 

 consisting at first of a few temporary huts, must have 

 increased to a place of importance. Religion too, in 

 all the Spanish territories, very soon forced architec- 

 ture into her service ; for, by a lamentable inconsist- 

 ency in the human mind, these destroyers of their 

 fellow-creatures were wonderfully exact in the obser- 

 vance of all the outward ceremonies of divine wor- 

 ship. With hands yet reeking in the blood of mur- 

 dered innocence, they could erect temples to the Al- 

 mighty, and implore that mercy from Heaven, which 

 they had just denied to the miserable victims of their 

 cruelty and rapine. Among other costly buildings a 

 cathedral and monastery were designed, and the foun- 

 dations of both were visible not long ago, as many of 

 the ruins are at this day. Peter Martyr of Angleria, 

 the author of the decades, was appointed abbot and 

 chief missionary of the island. A fort was also erect- 

 ed, the remains of which, as well as of the cathedral, 

 were inspected by Sloane in 1688, who relates, that 

 a pavement was discovered at the distance of two 

 miles from the church ; a circumstance that may give 

 us some idea of the extent of the city in the days of 

 its prosperity. The west gate of the cathedral stood 

 entire in 1688, and displayed, in the judgment of 

 Sloane, very excellent workmanship; but it was his 



of the ancient town are still visible in some of the cane-fields. It de> 

 scended to him from his ancestor captain Heming, an officer in Crom- 

 well's army. 



