SPANISH OPPRESSION. 



153 



viceroy^ in order that their injuries might 

 receive commiseration and redress ; but the 

 corregidor always managed to be beforehand 

 with them^ and put in his own justification in 

 such a way as to terminate the dispute^, by 

 obtaining an order from the government to 

 chastise the Indians for rebellious conduct. In 

 one province^ where this system had not hitherto 

 been established^ a corregidor more avaricious 

 and bold than his predecessors^ determined 

 upon instituting the repartimiento. For this 

 purpose^ he planned and executed the following 

 stratagem : — He paid court to a good many 

 Spanish gentlemen^ in the habit of passing 

 through his jurisdiction^ and having detained 

 them in his house^ on pretence of enjoying 

 their society^ he took this opportunity to con- 

 voke the principal caciques in his neighbour- 

 hood^ to pay their accustomed tribute ; stating 

 H 3 



