r 



Chap. III. 



A M E%1 C A. 



47 



{landing further off at Sea, which was very turbulent, and beat exceedingly 

 aaainft the Shole Rocks. The Ifland ( Buncbcma y Qolumbus call'd St. jobns y to 

 which belonged fomc of the Women lent forth in Guadalupe, who informed 

 thern, That Buricbema was well inhabited by a kind and hofpitable People, 

 who when the Cannibals landed there fought them, and if Conquerors, were 

 fo much exafperated with their inhumane Baibarifms, that they ieiz'd on them 

 like Maftiffs open=mouth'd, and tore them piece-meal with their Teeth • yec 

 themfelves abhorring the Cuftom of eating Mens Flefh. Here the Spaniards 

 found oncly a large Houfe, furrounded with twelve letter ones, all deferred ^ 

 for the Inhabitants with their King Chiaficbio were then retir'd into the cool 

 and more fheltring Woods, from the mid-day Heat. All this the Indians told 

 him, which he brought back with him from Spain. Coming to an Anchor ac 

 Hifpaniola y he fen t one of the Indians afhore, that he might tell what brave 

 things he had feen in the Spanifi Court ; but the remaining three took the ad- 

 vantage of the following Night, and leaping over*board, fwam to Shore. But 

 this Accident he not much regarded, trufting to have a fufficient Account from 

 his eight and thirty Spaniards which he had left in the Fort upon the Ifland j 

 and the more, becaufe King GuaccanarMo' s brother, in fign of Friendfhip, had 

 prefented him with two Golden Images : But all thefe Conjectures fail'd him, 

 fo that hearing nothing, he landed, where he found the Spanijh Garrifon utterly 

 deftroy'd, and the Royal Fort burnt down to the Ground, and lying in a heap 

 of Aflies. Then they fired feveral Guns, to give notice, that if any of them 

 had concealed themfelves, and lay sculking in the Woods, or otherwife, they 

 Ihould difcover themfelves, and come to the fuccour of their Friends : But all 

 in vain, for none came - y for as they were afterwards informed, the Inhabitants 

 had (lain them, becaufe of their infupportable behavior, infolently commit- 

 ting Robberies, Rapes, and Murders : Hereupon he fent MelTcngers to the 

 King GuaccanarMo, to inquire why they had fired his Fort, and what they had 

 done with his Men, who brought him this Return, That over that mighty 

 Iiland were many Princes, of which two being provok'd by the reports of the 

 Strangers that were cntertain'd in the Ifland, came marching upon them, each 

 with their Armies j but that he endeavored what he could, and came with a 

 Power to affift the Strangers 5 yet all he got for his Kindnefs, was a Wound in 

 his Leg, which had been fo fore and troublefom, that fore'd him to keep his 

 Bed, and no lefs than feven Concubines to attend him, and drefs the Wound : 

 But he told his Tale fo ill, and feign'd his Lamenefs worfe, that StbiUus y one 

 of the Meflengers fent by Columbus , lifting up the Coverlet, faw that he ail'd 

 nothing, which foon confirm'd his doubt, that he was confederated with the 

 reft, and alike guilty of the Slaughter. At laft GuaccanarMo being defir'd, came 

 in Perfon to Columbus, in whofe prefence he held a long Difcourfe with an In- 

 dian Woman, which they had brought from the Ifland of Santa Cru%> there 

 Chriftned by the Name of Catbarine : At length GuaccanarMo was difmilVd, and 

 the Night following this Catbarine y with feven more of the Indian Women, 

 leap'd over-board, and fwom almoft a League to Shore, fo going thence di- 

 rectly to their King Guaccanartllo. This Accident gave, more fufpicion to Co- 

 lumbut, who thereupon fent three hundred Men, commanded by Mtlchior y Hoi* 

 eda y and Goryalano y to march through the Ifland three feveral ways, and with 

 ipecial Commiflion to fecure as their Prifoner Guaccanartllo. Mekbior difcover'd 

 a wide River, full of Reaches and winding Bays, gliding between high Hills 

 covered with Woods, refounding with the ecchoing noifes of harmonious 



Birds. 



Citttmb*: conws to £8; 



fpau.vU, 



Finds the Spsuiar&t fliin. 



• His Difcourfe with ike 

 King Guaccxuarilk. 



