HISTORICAL SKETCH. 423 



tribes; viz., the Nepoios, Yaios, Carinapagotos, and Cumana- 

 gotos; also by Aruacas, Chaymas, Tamanacos, Chaguanas, 

 Salivas, and Quaquas. As it appears, these people were formed 

 into two confederacies, or leagues, with two chiefs, Buchumar and 

 Maruane. These aborigines were well made and brave. 



The island was visited in succession by several adventurers. 

 In 1499 by Ojeda, in partnership with Amerigo Vespucci and 

 Juan de la Cosa ; a little later by Pedro Alonso Nino ; in De- 

 cember, same year, by Vicente Yanez Pinzon, both companions 

 of Columbus in former voyages; and in 1500 by Diego de Lope. 

 It appears also that Christobal Guerra, the companion of Nino, 

 sailed in 1501 for the Gulf of Paria. In 1502, Alonzo de Ojeda 

 made a second voyage to Trinidad. Pearls seem to have been 

 the principal, if not the sole, article of trade. 



To the year 1510 no attempt had yet been made to conquer 

 or civilise the island. In that year, however, the Provincial of 

 the Dominicans sent two of his religious to Trinidad, with the 

 object of converting its inhabitants to Christianity. They were 

 at first successful, as the Indians manifested a willingness to 

 become Christians and be baptized. A Spanish vessel having 

 anchored in the Gulf meanwhile, the Indians, instead of keeping 

 aloof as they were wont to do, received the new comers with 

 great demonstrations of friendship, as compatriots of the 

 reverend fathers. They were easily induced to come on board to 

 bargain ; but when a sufficient number had been thus enticed, 

 the captain weighed anchor, and sailed with the poor deluded 

 creatures. The natives, being convinced that the monks had 

 connived at the treacherous act, would have massacred them on 

 the spot but for their promise that they would obtain the release 

 of the prisoners. They were allowed a few months of respite ; 

 but the release of the prisoners having been refused at Santo 

 Domingo, the poor monks were made to atone for the crime of 

 the kidnappers. Subsequently unscrupulous adventurers did not 

 hesitate to resort to the nefarious practices of their predecessors ; 

 and the poor natives of Trinidad were either carried off and sold 

 into slavery, or killed by thousands whilst defending their inde- 

 pendence. 



Some thirty years had elapsed since the discovery of Trinidad, 

 and no attempt had yet been made to settle it permanently. 

 The time, however, was near at hand when, from its geographical 



