Gloucester County Democrat., 1891-09-24
slowed upon iler.

The Indians now conducted the Span
iards to their houses, and set before
them cassava bread, fish, roots and fruits
of various kinds. They brought also
great numbers of domesticated parrots,
and indeed offered freely whatever they
possessed. The great river flowing
through this valley was bordered with
noble forests, among which were palms,
bananas, and many trees covered with
fruit and flowers. The air was mild as
in April; the birds sang all day long,
and some were even heard in the night.
The Spaniards had not learned as yet to
account for the difference Of seasons in
this opposite part of the globe; they
were astonished to hear the voice of this
supposed nightingale singing in the
midst of December, and considered it a
proof that there was no winter in this
happy climate. They returned to the
ships enraptured with the beauty Of the
country, surprising, as they said, even
the luxuriant plains Of Cordoya. All
that they complained of was that they
saw no signs Of riches among the natives.
And here 1t is impossible to refrain
from dwelling on the picture given by
the first discoyerers Of the state of man
ners In this eventful island before the
arrival of the white men. According to
their accounts the people of Hayti ex-
listed in that state Of primitive and saw
age simplicity which some philosophers
have fondly pictured as the most envi-
able on earth, surrounded by natural
blessings, without even a knowledge OF
artificial wants. The fertile earth pro-
duced the chief part Of their food almost
without culture; their rivers and sea-
coast abounded with fish, and they
caught the utia, the guiana, and vari-
ETY. Of birds. This, to beings of their
frugal and temperate habits, was great
abundance, and what nature furnished
thus spontaneously they willingly shared
with all the world.
Hospitality, we are told, was with
them law of nature universally OBJ
served there was no need Of being
known to receive its succors; every
house was as open to the stranger as his
own Columbus, too, in letter to Luis
de st. Angel, observes; "True it is that
after they felt confidence and lost their
fear Of US, they were SO liberal with
what they possessed that it would not
be believed by those who had not seen
it. If anything was asked Of them they
never said no, but rather gave it cheer
fully, and showed as much amity as If
they gave their very hearts; and whether
the thing were of value or of little price
they were content with whatever was
given in return. In all these islands it
appears to me that the men are all con-
tent with one wife, but they give twenty
to their chieftain or king. The women
seem to work more than the men, and
have not been able to understand wheth-
er they possess individual property, but
rather think that whatever one has ali
the rest share, especially in all articles
of provisions.
One of the most pleasing descriptions
of the inhabitants of this island is given
by old Peter Martyr. who gathered it, as
he says, from the conversations Of the
admiral himself. "It is certain" SAYS
he, .that the land among these people is
as common as the sun and water, and
that mine and thine, the seeds of all
mischief, have no place with them.
They are content with SO little that in so
large country they have rather super
fluffy than scarceness, so that they seem
to live in the golden world without toll,
living in open gardens, not intrenched
with dikes, divided with hedges or de-
Tended with walls. They deal truly one
with another, without laws, without
books and without judges. They take
him for an evil and mischieyous man
who taketh pleasure in doing hurt to an
other, and albeit they delight notin super
fuities, yet they make provision for the
increase of such roots whereof they
make their bread, contented with such
simple diet whereby health is preserved
and disease avoided"
Much of this picture may be oyercol;
ored by the imagination, but it is gener
orally confirmed by contemporary his.
torians. They all concur in representing
the life of these islanders as approach
ing to the golden state Of poetical felici-
ty; living under the absolute but patri-
archal and easy rule Of their caciques,
free from pride, with few wants, an
abundant country, happily tempered
climate and natural disposition to care
less and indolent enjoyment.