29 



America, the latter had already abandoned the 

 group of the little Lucayes islands ; an archi- 

 pelago, in which an astonishing variety of lan- 

 guages prevailed, as always happens in lands 

 peopled by shipwrecks, and by fugitives *. 



The dominion, which the Caribbees so long 

 exercised over a great part of the continent, and 

 the remembrance of their ancient greatness, 

 have inspired them with a sentiment of dignity 

 and national superiority, which displays itself 

 in their manners and their discourse. " We 

 alone are a nation," say they proverbially ; iC the 

 rest of mankind (oquili) are made to serve us." 

 This contempt of the Caribbees for their ancient 

 enemies is so strong, that I saw a child of 

 ten years of age foam with rage on being called 

 a Cabre or Cavere ; though he had never in 

 his life seen an individual of this unfortunate 

 people-}-, who gave their name to the town of 

 Cabruta (Cabritu) ; and who, after a long re- 

 sistance, were almost entirely exterminated by 

 the Caribbees. Thus we find among half savage 

 hordes, as in the most civilized part of Europe, 

 those inveterate animosities, which have caused 

 the names of nations, that are enemies, to pass 



* " La gente de las islas Yucayas era (1492) mas blanca 

 y de major policia que la de Cuba y Haiti. Havia mueha 

 diversidad de lenguas." Gomara, Hist, de Ind., fol. xxi. 



t See above, vol. v, p. 151, 204, 209, and 681, 



