Such had been the course of events in la Espanola.  The same causes had the same effects here.  Herrera relates that when Miguel de Pasamente, the royal treasurer, arrived in the former island, in 1508, it contained 60,000 aboriginal inhabitants.  Six years later, when a new distribution had become necessary, there were but 14,000 left—­the others had been freed by the hand of death or were leading a wandering life in the mountains and forests of their island.  In this island the process was not so rapid, but none the less effective.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 20:  The king’s favorites in the metropolis, anxious to enrich themselves by these means, obtained grants of Indians and sent their stewards to administer them.  Thus, in la Espanola, Conehillos, the secretary, had 1,100 Indians; Bishop Fonseca, 800; Hernando de la Vega, 200, and many others, “The Indians thus disposed of were, as a rule, the worst treated,” says Las Casas.]

CHAPTER VIII

LAWS AND ORDINANCES

1511-1515

We have seen how Diego Columbus suspended Ponce in his functions as governor ad interim, and how the captain after obtaining from the king his appointment as permanent governor sent the Admiral’s nominees prisoners to the metropolis.  The king, though inclined to favor the captain, submitted the matter to his Indian council, which decided that the nomination of governors and mayors over the islands discovered by Christopher Columbus corresponded to his son.  As a consequence, Ceron and Diaz were reinstated in their respective offices, and they were on their way back to San Juan a few months after Ponce’s final success over the rebellious Indians.

Before their departure from Spain they received the following instructions, characteristic of the times and of the royal personage who imparted them: 

“1.  You will take over your offices very peaceably, endeavoring to gain the good-will of Ponce and his friends, that they may become your friends also, to the island’s advantage.

“2.  This done, you will attend to the ‘pacification’ of the Indians.

“3.  Let many of them be employed in the mines and be well treated.

“4.  Let many Indians be brought from the other islands and be well treated.  Let the officers of justice be favored (in the distributions of Indians).

“5.  Be very careful that no meat is eaten in Lent or other fast days, as has been done till now in la Espanola.

“6.  Let those who have Indians occupy a third of their number in the mines.

“7.  Let great care be exercised in the salt-pits, and one real be paid for each celemin[21] extracted, as is done in la Espanola.

“8.  Send me a list of the number and class of Indians distributed, if Ponce has not done so already, and of those who have distinguished themselves in this rebellion.