JOURNAL OF GALLEGO. 203 



for the construction of the brigantine. Meanwhile the General had 

 sent Pedro Sarmiento with thirty men into the interior. They 

 penetrated about five leagues, and met with some Indians, one of 

 whom they took as a hostage. This native was treated kindly by 

 the General ; and he was set at liberty in order that he might carry 

 a favourable account to the other natives of the island. Durino- 

 this incursion, a soldier had been struck by an arrow, but received 

 no hurt. Shortly afterwards, a larger force was disjDatched under 

 Pedro de Ortega to explore the interior. The expedition included 

 52 persons, and comprised 35 soldiers, with some seamen and 

 negroes. They were absent seven days from the ship ; and from 

 the account of Gallego, we may infer that but little discretion was 

 employed in their dealings with the natives. They burned " many 

 temples dedicated to the worship of snakes, toads, and other 

 insects ; " and, as the result of such proceedings, two soldiers were 

 wounded, one of whom subsequently died of tetanus. His name 

 was Alonzo Martin, and he bore the character of a good soldier. 



" These people," writes the Chief Pilot, " are tawny and have 

 crisp hair. They go naked, wearing only short aprons of palm 

 leaves. They have as food some maizes or roots which they call 

 henaus and plenty of fish. They are, in my opinion, a clean race, 

 and I am certain that they eat human flesh." On the 15th of 

 iNlarch, whilst the Spaniards were at mass on shore, a fleet of four- 

 teen canoes arrived at the place where the brigantine was beinc^ 

 built. The cacique, who was in command, sent the General a 

 present of a quarter of a boy, including the arm and hand, together 

 with some roots (benaus), which he requested him to accept. In 

 order that the natives should understand that the Spaniards did not 

 eat human flesh, the General ordered it to be buried in their 

 presence, at which they were abashed and hung their heads, and 

 returned to an islet which was situated at the entrance of the 

 harbour. This cacique, who is termed in the Journal the Taurique 

 Meta, lived at a place fifteen leagues from the harbour to the west- 

 by-north. Pedro de Ortega, with the two pilots, Pedro Roanges and 

 Juan Enriquez, were sent with thirty soldiers and four Indians to 

 visit the place where this taurique lived. They were absent four 

 days, and effected nothing except the capture of four Indians, two 

 of whom they retained as hostages in order to compel the natives to 

 bring them provisions. 



On the 4tli of April, the brigantine was launched, and the 



