NATIVE PROVINCES 23 



the eastern " point " (Cape Engano) of the island as far westward 

 as the river Hozama (Ozama), which flows by the capital city, San 

 Domingo. The northern border of this Province of Martyr's was 

 marked by precipitous mountains (Cordillera Central), which, on 

 account of their steepness especially, bore the name " Haiti." The 

 Province of Huhabo (Magua?), according to Martyr, lay between 

 the mountains of Haiti and the lacaga (Yaque) River. The third 

 Province from the east was supposed to extend as far west as the 

 mouth of the lacca (Yaque) River, one of the rivers "dividing the 

 island into four equal parts." The Province was supposed by Martyr 

 to extend to the Cibao Mountains where gold was mined. Another 

 Province, Bainoa, began at the frontier of Cahibo (Cibao?) and 

 extended as far as the island of Cahini ( ? ) , almost touching the 

 north coast of Hispaniola (spelling is Martyr's) at the place where 

 the colony was once founded (La Navidad). Martyr's Province of 

 Bainoa may either be Marien or Maguana. The remainder of the 

 island along the west coast formed the Province of Guaccairima 

 (Xaragua), thus called " because it is the extremity of the island." " 



An interesting observation regarding Martyr's classification of 

 native Provinces and subprovinces is that he agrees with other early 

 Spanish chroniclers in placing Xamana (Samana) as a subprovince 

 (" canton ") of the northeastern Province of Huhabo (Martyr's term 

 for Magua) and not of the southeastern Province of " Caizcimu " 

 (Higuey). He also agrees with other more reliable writers in saying 

 that the language of the Province of Huhabo (Magua, which in- 

 cludes Samana) differed from that spoken elsewhere in the island. 

 He also refers to the natives as "Macoryzes" (people of foreign 

 speech). According to Martyr, Higuey was a canton of " Caizcimu." 

 The term " Caizcimu " is not used by other Spanish writers. 



Las Casas speaks of Cotubanama as the cacique of Higuey Prov- 

 ince, while other writers refer to the cacique Cayacoa as ruling the 

 eastern portion of the island. Still other writers mention the name 

 of the " queen " Higuanama as a ruler of the eastern Province of 

 Higuey. The several writers are, of course, referring to various 

 periods of time, as the Spanish ultimately succeeded in destroying 

 all native rule and in wrecking the lives of the native caciques. 



The statement made by the Spanish friar Ramon Pane confirms 

 the notion that the language of the Ciguayans of Samana differed 

 from that prevailing elsewhere on the island. Pane was ordered by 

 Columbus to live among the natives and to record what he might 

 observe concerning their religious beliefs and practices. Pane's notes 

 are brief but are invaluable. The manuscript is incorporated in 



" De Orbe Novo, vol. 2, pp. 366-367. 



