238 CHRONOGRAPHY. 



The present republic of Central America, comprises the old king- 

 dom of Guatemala, which was subdued by the Spaniards, under 

 Pedro de Alvarado. He set out from Mexico, for this purpose, in 

 1523, under the orders of Cortez ; and, after several battles, and the 

 death of Tecum Umam, the native king, the invaders founded the 

 city of Guatemala, in 1524. From that time the country remained 

 under a Captain general, subordinate to Mexico, till, in 1821, it 

 declared itself independent; and in 1824, adopted a federal constitu- 

 tion, similar to that of the United States. The first president was 

 Don Manuel Jose Arw, but that office is now held by General 

 Morazan. This country has suffered from insurrections ; and in 

 1838, the city of Guatemala was taken by the insurgent General 

 Carrero, when Salazar, the vice president, was slain. 



Of the West Indies, Hayti, or St. Domingo, called by Columbus, 

 Hispaniola, (or Little Spain), was colonized by him, immediately 

 after its discovery, in 1492 ; this being the first European settlement, 

 at least in modern times, in America. The French obtained a foot- 

 hold in the western part of this island, about 1650; and that part 

 was ceded to France by the treaty of Ryswick, in 1691. The 

 French Revolution led to an insurrection in this colony, in 1791, 

 and to the enfranchisement of the negroes, by the French National 

 Assembly, in 1792. In 1801, Hayti was proclaimed independent, 

 by the African population; the whites having been mostly massacred, 

 or expelled. In 1804, Dessalines assumed the title of James I., 

 (Jacques I.), emperor of Hayti: but he was slain in 1806; and 

 succeeded by Christophe ; who defeated Petion, and, in 1811, styled 

 himself Henry I., king of Hayti. Boyer succeeded him, in 1820 ; 

 and in 1821, the Spanish part of the island voluntarily submitted to 

 his government ; under which the whole island still remains. Cuba, 

 was subdued in 1511, by the Spaniards, under Velasquez, sent from 

 Hayti. It was taken by the English, in 1762 ; but exchanged by 

 them for Florida, in 1763 ; since which time it has continued under 

 Spanish dominion. Jamaica was colonized in 1509, by the Spaniards: 

 but the English took its capital, in 1596; and completely subdued 

 the island, in 1655. 



4. We proceed next to the history of South America ; still pur- 

 suing the geographical order of countries. 



Brazil was settled by the Portuguese, soon after its discovery ; and 

 in 1549, Thomas de Souza, (or Sousa), was appointed its governor. 

 St. Salvador was founded by him in the same year. In 1624, Brazil 

 was invaded by the Dutch ; and in 1630, their admiral, Henry Lonk, 

 or Conk, with a large fleet, attempted its entire conquest. They 

 succeeded in taking seven provinces of the fifteen ; but afterwards 

 sold them back to Portugal. The gold mines of Brazil, were dis- 

 covered in 1698 ; and the diamond mines, in 1782. Brazil was still 

 farther favored, by the arrival thither of the royal family of Portugal, 

 in 1808; as the grant was then made to it of free trade with foreign 

 nations. In 1815, Brazil was erected into a distinct kingdom ; and 

 in 1820, it obtained a constitution, from the crown prince, Don Pedro. 

 In 1821, the king, John VI., returned to Portugal; and in 1822, his 

 son, the regent, Don Pedro, was declared constitutional emperor of 



