after an absence of nine years, again visited them. Whilst returning from the continent of New Spain to St. Domingo, in the month of June, 1503, he encountered a dreadful storm, in which he lost two of his ships, and was compelled to bear away, in the utmost distress, for Jamaica. He gained, with great difficulty, a small harbour on the north side of the island, called to this day, Don Christopher's Cove; and here, to prevent their foundering, he was necessitated to run his two remaining vessels on shore. He, and his crews, were received by the natives in the most generous manner, were soothed by the most humane attentions, and were supplied with all the necessaries of life. But as the natives were destitute of commerce, they had not been accustomed to cultivate a greater quantity of provisions, than what they themselves required. The Spaniards, incapable of controul, and ferocious in their dispositions, mutinied against their commander, and committed the most atrocious and ungrateful enormities upon their generous benefactors. These, at length, roused the indignation of the natives, who retired to the mountains, threatening the destruction of the Spaniards. This would, in all probability, have been the case, had not Columbus, who, from his knowledge of astronomy, foresaw an eclipse of the moon, convened all the Caciques in the neighbourhood, that he might inform them of something which was of importance to their happiness, and essential to their preservation. These good creatures attended him; and he, after complaining of their leaving him and his companions to perish by famine, addressed them in the following words, which he pronounced with a peculiar emphasis, as if he had been inspired :---" To punish you for your cruel conduct, the Great Spirit, whom I adore, is going "to visit you with his most terrible judgments. This very “evening you will observe the moon turn red; after which,

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"she will grow dark, and withhold her light from you. "will only be a prelude to your calamities, if you obstinately persist in refusing to give us food." He had scarcely finished this speech, when his prophecy was accomplished. The natives were astonished; and being easily induced to deeds of benevolence, they, upon a promise of better behaviour by Columbus in behalf of his turbulent followers, and assurances of a speedy departure, promised to supply them with whatever they required. He then told them, that heaven, moved with their repentance, was appeased, and that nature was now to resume her wonted course.-They afterwards conducted themselves with greater circumspection; and were, during the remainder of their stay, furnished with the necessary supplies of provisions. At length, after a residence of twelve months and four days in Jamaica, two ships arrived from St. Domingo, and relieved the natives from their troublesome guests.

In the year 1509, Don Diego, the son of Columbus, who was, at that time, governor of St. Domingo, sent Juan de Esquivel, with about seventy men, to take possession of the island. Esquivel conducted himself with prudence, and was not destitute of humanity: for he wished to reduce the Jamaicans to subjection, without driving them to despair; a conduct, which, however unjust in itself, deserves the highest praise, when compared with the remorseless cruelties of his countrymen. He founded the seat of government near to that spot where Columbus had resided in the year 1503, and gave the town the name of Sevilla Nueva. This town, which was founded on the scite of an ancient Indian village, near to the port of Santa Gloria, now called St. Ann's Harbour, soon became a place of considerable importance. But Esquível, dying during his administration, the Spaniards, by their cruelties and oppressions, roused the resentment of the natives, who, accord

ing to the traditions still prevalent in the island, suddenly and completely destroyed the inhabitants of the capital. This event is supposed to have given rise to the establishment of St. Jago de la Vega, now generally called Spanish-town, on the south side of the island. In what year the foundation of this capital was laid is uncertain, but it seems probable, that it took place in the year 1523. It was founded by Diego Columbus himself; but he soon afterwards retired to his native country, where he died in the year 1525.

It was at this period that a scene of cruelty was displayed, which is unparalleled in the history of even the most savage nations. Spanish historians, though necessitated to take notice of the barbarous murders committed on the innocent and helpless natives of St. Domingo, have, with all possible caution, drawn a veil over the transactions of Jamaica. But their caution concealed not the crimes of their countrymen; for we find, that, in the space of a few years, not one individual remained of that innocent, smiling, happy people, to complain of their fate, or to upbraid their oppressors. The number of the native Indians has been generally estimated at sixty thousand; but there is reason to believe, that they even exceeded one hundred thousand. This last statement becomes the most probable, when we consider their ignorance of warfare, their allowance of polygamy, their unacquaintance with hard labour, their innocence and gaiety, the amorousness of their dispositions, the fruitfulness of their soil, and the genial warmth of their climate. Bartholomew de las Casas, the only advocate for the cruelly oppressed Indians, who, while the Spaniards were a disgrace to the name that they bore, was an honour to human nature, expressly states, that the natives swarmed on the islands, like ants on ant-hills. Little did these generous sons of nature expect, that, while they held out the right hand

of charity to their visitors, their benevolence was to be their ruin. No: nothing but nature in a state of lamentable depravity could have even supposed, that such a return would be made to all their kindness. Yet the Spaniards were not long in commencing the work of death; the only pretence for which was, that their benefactors would not become their slaves; and would not patiently submit to toil, for which, by constitution and habit, they were unfit, and for which, they were not to receive the smallest reward.

The manner in which the remorseless Spaniards tortured their unoffending victims, was worthy of the goodness of such a cause. They seized upon them by violence, distributed them, like brutes, into lots, and compelled them to dig in the mines, until death, their only refuge, put a period to their sufferings. It was also a frequent practice among them, as one of their own historians informs us, (human nature shudders at the tale,) to murder hundreds of these poor creatures, merely to keep their hands in use. They were eager in displaying an emulation, which of them could most dexterously strike off the head of a man at a blow, and wagers frequently depended on this horrid exercise: It is impossible for words to express the indignation and horror excited by such merciless cruelty. If any of these unhappy Indians, goaded by their sufferings, and driven to despair, attempted resistance or flight, their unfeeling murderers hunted them down with dogs, who were fed on their flesh. Weakness of age, and helplessness of sex, were equally disregarded by these monsters. And And yet they had the impudence to suppose themselves religious, and the favourites of heaven! Some of the most zealous of these adorers of the Holy Virgin forced their unhappy captives into the water, and after administering to them the rites of baptism, cut their throats the next moment, to prevent their apostacy! Others

made and kept a vow to hang or burn thirteen every morning, in honour of Christ and his twelve apostles!! But let us turn from this scene of human depravity; a scene the most remorseless and cruel ever displayed on the theatre of the world.

From causes already mentioned, but little is known respecting the state of Jamaica, until the final conquest of it by the English troops in the year 1655. However, this island having come into the possession of the house of Braganza, by a marriage with Isabella, Columbus's grand-daughter, the Portuguese formed a numerous and respectable body of the settlers. The Spaniards, who, in that age, seem, on all occasions, to have plentifully indulged themselves in the passion of hatred, detested these new comers, and regarded them as unwelcome intruders. Their minds were so narrow, that they were incapable of entertaining any enlarged views, and even disregarded the first principles of good policy. The mutual hatred and consequent dissentions of the Spaniards and Portuguese, were the chief causes of the success of Sir Anthony Shirley, who invaded this island in the year 1596. He met with little resistance, plundered the country, burnt St. Jago de la Vega, the capital, and was, while he staid, absolute master of the whole island. Had his orders permitted him, there is no doubt, but he could have retained possession of his conquest; but his royal mistress Elizabeth, with all her political sagacity, does not seem to have been aware of its importance. Sir Anthony was obliged to evacuate the island, and retired to the Spanish main, where he was ordered to cruise. The Spaniards being now sensible of the ill effects of their jealousy, contrived to live hereafter on better terms with the Portuguese. The governor now paid more attention to the interests, perhaps even to the harmless prejudices of these colonists, which produced a complete reconciliation. The good effects of this policy became conspicuous,