956 A P P E xN D I X TO Vol. III. 



which the Indians of Cuba, and adjacent iflands, appear to have en- 

 countered, \intil the Spaniards cnme among them. 



We are not aliiired whether the Indians of Jamaica had more than 

 one cacique; but as their form of government rtfembled that of the 

 Haytians, it is hkely that the ifland was quartered into provinces fub- 

 jedt to the authority of their refpedlive chiefe. Thcfe caciques, if wc 

 may believe what is related of the Indians in Hayti or Hifpaniola, 

 m;.intained their power chiefly by working on the fuperftition and cre- 

 dulity of the common people by means of their cemis, or oracular idol: 

 this was a liollow wocden image, within which the prieft could con- 

 ceal himfelf, and deliver mandates or relponfes through a tube or pipe. 

 Tliey had alfo in their cuftody three confecrated ftoncs ; one of which 

 was efficacious for promoting the fuccefs of their crops; the fecpnd, for 

 the fafe and cafy delivery of pregnant women ; and the third, for ob- 

 taining rain, or favourable weather : but thefe ftones appear to have 

 been resrarded I'ather as a kind of amulets than divinities. The behl- 

 qiies, buut'ios, or phyficians, adlcd likewife in the capacity of pri'eftsand 

 conjurors, and made themfelves extremely ufefiil to the caciques; for 

 by combining all thefe trades, they were better enabled to influence the 

 people in conformity to the pleafurc of the cicique, and the junflure of 

 affairs. We cannot, however, depend implicitly on the accounts which 

 the Spaniards have given of their religious ceremonies and opinions ; 

 for they are allowed by fome writers to have believed in one God, the 

 immortality of the foul, and a ftate of future blifs; whereas, others re- 

 prefent them addiifled to grois idolatry, and their notions of a Deity, 

 or the fou), extremely confufed and abfurd. 



Weiuay venture to believe, that each cacique, with his confederate 

 band of jugglers, framed whatever model of religion he thought fit for 

 his own reipeiilive province, only taking care not to abolifh any favou- 

 rite popular fupcrftition. Their government, taking its colour from the 

 lin^plicity and mild difpofition of their lubjccls, leems to have been cf- 

 tablifhed more on policy and cunning than violence ; gentlenefs cha- 

 rafterifed the fpirit of public authority, no lefs than their private man- 

 ners. Columbus relates, that when he f^rft arrived at Hifpaniola, the 

 cacique of tiie neighbouring territory paid him a vifit : it Icems the ifle 

 of Tortuga was likewife fubjeft to the dominion of this chief. On tlic 

 following day, a piragua came in from Tortuga, with forty Indians on 



baard. 



