172 = J, A. Van Heuvel on the Indian Race of Hayti. 
and peaceable character of the Haytians, he in the same letter 
: “They are without arms, which they know not 
how to use, being of a timid disposition. They have canes dried 
in the sun, the ends of which are pointed with a piece of har 
wood: sharpened; but even this weapon they dare not use, for It 
often happened, that on our sending two or three men to visit 
some of their towns, all the inhabitants fled in disorder.”? 
They were also of an extremely amiable and benevolent na- 
ture. In the intercourse which Columbus had with them, he 
met with a most friendly and generous reception, accompanieé 
with the greatest respect and even veneration. As he approached 
Hayti the first time with his vessels, and, in sailing along it, one 
of them was wrecked on the coast, the Cacique in whose domin- 
ions the accident occurred, on hearing of it, directly sent some 
canoes which brought away all that was in the vessel. He came 
to the shore, and took care that none of the goods should be lost, 
himself remaining to guard them, and had them taken to two 
houses he had appointed, sending a message to Columbus not to 
be concerned, and he would give all he had to repair his loss” 
“The Indians,” says Herrera, ‘so affectionately gave them he! 
that it could not have been better done in Spain, for the people 
were gentle and loving.”* Ina letter which Columbus addres 
to his royal patrons, Ferdinand and Isabella, he observes: ‘The 
people are so affectionate and tractable that I swear to you there 
is not a better people nor a better country in the world, They 
love their neighbor as themselves, and their conversation is the 
sweetest in the world, being pleasant and always accompanied 
with a smile.”® 
Hayti, Cuba, and Porto Rico, at the period of their discovery; 
were most densely populated. The entire number of their 1- 
habitants, according to Las Casas, was six millions, and those 
Hayti were half that number. Oviedo states their whole pop® 
lation at three millions, and that of Hayti at somewhat more 
than one million; which estimate Bryan Kdwards, in his History 
of the West Indies, thinks to be probably the most correct.’ 
ut, being inhabited by a race so gentle and unwarlike, they 
were without difficulty immediately subjugated by the Spat 
iards, After their conquest their history is as short as it 1s meh 
ancholy. The rigorous treatment which the Haytians experie™ 
ced from their invaders in being forced to Jabor in the mines of 
their island, which soon broke their constitutions, unused to toil, 
almost entirely swept off their numerous population, in less that 
half acentury. In 1509, but seventeen years after the first 
landing of the Spaniards, they were reduced to sixty thousand. 
? Navarette, ii, p.777,&e. > * Robertson’s America, Book I. 
- * Dees, Book I, Ch, 18. ® Robertson’s America, Bouk I, Note 15- 
© History of the West Indies, Book I, Ch. 3. 
i 
