In 1525 Tomas Ortiz, a Dominican priest, wrote a report to the Council ofthe Indies. Heargued that Indians didnotpossess thesame natural rights asEuropeans: On themainland they eathuman flesh. They are more given tosodomy than any other nation. There isno justice among them. They go naked. They have norespect either for love orfor virginity. They are stupid and silly. They have norespect fortruth, save when it is to their advantage. They are unstable. They have noknowledge of what foresight means. . . . They are incapable of learning. Punishments have no effect upon them. Traitorous, cruel, and vindictive, they never forgive. Most hostileto religion, idle, dishonest, abject, and vile, in their judgments they keep no faith or law. . . . Liars, superstitious, and cowardly as hares. They eat fleas, spiders, and worms raw, whenever they find them. They exercise none of the humane arts orindustries. When taught the...