384 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



In 1507, there did not remain more than the tenth 

 part of the Indians which were in 1493, according to 

 Las Cafas, an eye-witnefs ; and from that time the po- 

 pulation of that ifland diminifhed to fuch a degree, that 

 in 1540, there hardly remained two hundred Indians; 

 on which account, from the beginning of the fifteenth 

 century, the Spaniards began to tranfport thoufands of 

 Indians from the Luyacos, to recruit the population of 

 Hifpaniola ; but thofe having likewife died, they began 

 before the conquefh of Mexico to carry people from 

 Terra Firma, and other countries of the continent of 

 America, according as they difcovered them. It is known 

 from a letter written to the council of the Indies by the 

 firft bifhop of Mexico, fent by Las Cafas to the emperor 

 Charles V. that the cruel governor of Panuco, Nugno 

 Guzman, fent from thence twenty-eight veffels loaded 

 with Indian flaves to be fold in the iflands : fo that it 

 is far from being true, that the Spaniards carried peo- 

 ple from the iflands to inhabit the continent of North- 

 America ; that on the contrary they carried people from 

 the continent to inhabit the ifles, which the above au- 

 thors exprefsly relate. It is true, that after the con- 

 quer!: of Mexico, flaves were imported there from Afri- 

 ca ; not becaufe there was any want of people ; but 

 becaufe the Spaniards required them to ferve in the mak- 

 ing of fugar, and to work in mines, to which they could 

 not compel the Americans, on account of the laws then 

 recently published : it is therefore falfe, and contrary to 

 the depofition of thofe above mentioned authors, that 

 Mexico was depopulated three years after the conqueft, 

 or that it was neceflary to bring people there from the 

 Lucayos and Africa to recruit its inhabitants. We are 

 rather certain, that fome colonies were fent a few years 



after 



