LOUISIANA. 



II 



*' from it killed him, when he expe6led to have 

 *' fucceeded in his whimfical defign. Thus 

 ** blind mortals haften their death by too great a 

 ^* purfuit after the luxuries of this life." 



But to return to the Indians of Saint Domingo, 

 The hiilory of that ifle informs us, that a Ca- 

 cique # called Poncra^ being harafTed by the Spa- 

 niards, refolved to flee from his village, which 

 the enemies found abandoned, and where they 

 took three thoufand marks of gold, which had 

 been left there. Vafco Nunez de Balboa^ the- 

 fuccefTor of Nicolas de Ohando^ fent his people 

 to the Cacique, with orders to aiTure him, that he 

 fhould not fear to return, becaufe he ihould be his 

 friend ; but that if he did not come back, he 

 ihould go and hunt for him, and caufe him to 

 be devoured by his dogs f. 



Poncra 



■^ A cacique is a petty prince or king of the Indians. 



f The Spaniards had brought over with them from Europe 

 jfome maftiiTs, which they had taught to hunt the Indians ; 

 as loon as they were let loofe upon thefe wretches, they tore 

 out their bowels, and devoured them. One of thefe dogs 

 called Baremel was very much dreaded all over the ifland ; 

 and though he was guarded by a ihleid agalnfl: the arrows of 

 the Indians, they, it Is fald, at lafl killed him, by piercing 

 ^is tj^iLZ with darts, v/hich was a kind of triumph for them. 



Antonio 



