La primera crnica religiosa del Caribe: la Relacin acerca de las antigedades de los Indios (c.

1496), del jernimo Ramn Pan

The first Caribbean religious chronicle: the Account of the Antiquities of the Indians (c.1496), by the hieronymite Ramn Pan

LouRdESdoMNguEz
Investigadora titular y asesora del Gabinete de Arqueologa de la Oficina del Historiador de la Ciudad de La Habana, Profesora titular adjunta de la Facultad de Filosofa e Historia, del Instituto Superior de Arte y del Colegio Universitario San Gernimo de la Habana. E-mail: chinopelon36@gmail.com
ResearchsupervisorandAdvisortotheArchaeologyCabinetof theHistoriansofficeinHavana,ProfessoratthePhilosophyand HistoryFaculty,attheSuperiorInstituteof ArtandattheStJeromeCollegeatHavana.E-mail:chinopelon36@gmail.com

LuIzESTEvAMdEoLIvEIRAFERNANdES
Profesor adjunto de la Universidad Federal de Ouro Preto, Investigador titular del Ncleo de Estudios en Historia de la Historiografa y Modernidad (UFOP), Investigador colaborador del IFCH-Unicamp. E-mail: leof79@gmail.com
ProfessoratFederaluniversityof ouroPreto,Researchsupervisorof theStudygroupinHistoryof HistoriographyandModernity(uFoP), ResearchFellowatIFCH-unicamp.E-mail:leof79@gmail.com

El documento que presentamos es uno de los primeros relatos hechos por europeos sobre los indgenas en el Nuevo Mundo, pocos aos despus de la llegada deCristbalColn.Suautor,RamnPan,erafrailedelaordendelosJernimos,ha permanecidoalgunosaosentrelosindiosTainoehaproducidoelprimerrelatohecho porunreligiososobreesespueblos.Ademsdepresentaralgunasnoticiassobrelaobra ysuautor,ofrecemosallectorunaclavedelecturaparaeldocumento.
PAlAbrAs clAves

resumen

Crnica,Amrica,Alteridad,RamnPan.

AbstrAct Thedocumentherepresentedisoneof thefirstaccountsmadebyEuropeans abouttheIndiansintheNewWorld,justafewyearsafterthearrivalof Christopher Columbus.Theauthor,RamnPan,wasahieronymitefriarandstayedforacoupleof yearsamongtheTainoIndians,producingthefirstaccountmadebyareligiouswriter aboutthesepeople.Besidespresentingsomenoticesabouttheauthorandhiswork,we offerakeytothereadingof thedocument. Keywords

Chronicle,America,Alterity,RamnPan.

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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes En1492llegaalastierrasquedespusseconocerancon elnombredeAmrica,elmarinogenovsCristbalColn;este primerviajemarceldestinodedospueblos,unabuenaparte delmundoconocidoenEuropahastaesemomentoyaotro,el noconocidoanydelcualnosetenanoticiaaparentemente. SienelprimerviajequeefectuColnhabaescasamente tres embarcaciones y un pequeo nmero de marineros, en el segundo, hubo un 90% ms de barcos y qu decir de lacantidaddehombresquellegaron.EIAlmirante,comoya erallamado,tenaideasmuyconcretasparaelemplazamiento enestastierrasdeunaasentamientoespaolyparalograrese objetivo necesitaba conocer muy bien el grupo humano que vivaenellas;porestemotivorealizaunaseriedeactividades paralograrconocerlos,entrelascualesfuelamsimportante, laobservacindesumododevida,pordiferentesvas. EIllamadodescubridoryasehabapercatadodealgunas desusregularidades,peronecesitabasabercmopensabanesos hombresyculeseransusintereses,portalraznenlasegunda viaje,leencomiendaaunjovenclrigo,desuconfianza,que partadesdelaIsabelaaotrocacicazgocercanoypermanezca seguidamenteduranteunlargotiempoenesaaldeaparaque le confeccione una relacin de cmo vivan, cules eran sus formasdevidaysobretododesuspensamientosysureligin. deestamaneraelreligiosodelaordendelosJernimos llamadoFrayRamnPanpartehaciaelpueblodeuncacique llamado guarionex siguiendo la orden de Coln, teniendo algunas alteraciones en el derrotero cambiando despus al cacicazgodeMabiatuendondesemantuvohasta1496. durantetodasestasmudanzasPanintercambiconlos moradoresdeaquellaszonasdelaIslaysobretodoconvivi con ellos, de ambos grupos tom sus ideas y conform su relacinenaquelmismoaoodosaosdespus. EI documento llamado Relacin acerca de las antigedadesdelosIndiospresentaunaclaridaddeexpresin enloqueconciernealavidacotidianadeestosgruposhumanos, loquehapermitido,apartirdelunestudioetnohistricoy unaayudainmensaalaarqueologa.Porserunainformacin de primera mano insustituible, y de gran valor, es que este documentorepresenta,comodiraelProfesorJosJuanArrom, enlaprimerpaginadelaintroduccinquehicesobrePan,que marcaunhitoenlahistoriaculturaldeAmrica,ademsde constituirlapiedraangulardelosestudiosetnolgicoseneste hemisferio.
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In 1492, the genoese sailor Christopher Columbus arrived in the lands that would be knownasAmerica;thisfirstvoyagemarkedthe fateof twopopulations:agreatdealof European knownworlduntilthatmomentandanother,one stillunknownof which,apparently,noonehad everheardof before. If inColumbusfirstvoyagetherewerescarcely threevesselsandasmallnumberof sailors,the second one had about 90% more ships and an enhanced number of man that came along. TheAdmiral,ashewasalreadycalled,hadsolid concreteideasfortheestablishmentof aSpanish settlement and, to make sure his project would turnoutright,heneededtowellacknowledgethe humangroupsthatlivedinthearea;thatiswhy herealizedaseriesof activitiesthatwereintended to make contact and get to know them, among allthemostsignificantonewastoobserve,ina varietyof manners,theirwayof living. The so-called discoverer had already taken noticeof someof theirpeculiarities,buthestill needed to understand how those men thought and what their interests were. Therefore, he commissioned a young cleric of his trust to depart from Isabela, go to a near cacicazgo, stay thereforalongtime,andwriteanaccountabout how they lived, which were there habits, and moreover,theirthoughtandbeliefs. Thus, following Columbus orders, the hieronymitefriarRamnPanwenttotheIndian settlement of the cacique named guarionex. Havingtochangehisitinerary,helatterstayedin theMabiatucacicazgo,whereheliveduntil1496. In the meantime, Pan interacted with the peoplewhoinhabitedinthoseareasof theisland, livingamongthem,collectingtheirideas.Hemay havewrittenhisaccountinthesameyearheleft thisexperienceoreventwoyearsafter. The document called An account of the Antiquitiesof theIndiansrevealsacrystalclear expressioninwhatconcernstheordinarylifeof thosehumangroups,allowingustorealizesome ethno-historicstudiesandofferingagreatdealof helptoArchaeology.Beingof suchsignificance, thisaccount,asProfessorJosJuanArromsaidin thefirstpageof hisintroductiontoPanswork, establishesadivisionmarkinAmericanCultural Historyandconstitutestheanglestoneof the ethnologicstudiesinthishemisphere. Theoriginaltextislost.Littleisknownabout the friars life, though it is likely that he was

LaprimeracrnicareligiosadelCaribe
CatalanbecauseLasCasas,inApologtica,chapter CXX,asseveratesthatPanwasaCatalanwho hadtakenthehermitorders[],hewasasimple man,of goodintuitionwhoknewsomethingof theIndiansidiom.Thedominicanalsostated, inchapterCLXvII,thatFriarRamoncame[to Espaola]fiveyearsbeforeme. otherchroniclersusedPansopuscule:Pedro Mrtir de Anglera in his Dcada I, book IX, chapters Iv to vII, and Las Casas, Apologtica, chaptersCXX,CLXvIandCLXvII,forinstance. In more recent times, there were some Spanish editionsof theAccount,fromwhichof them wereproducetheonewethinktobethebest. Thirty-five years after the edition made by Professor Arrom, with a new and refined translationof thedocumentinItalian,underthe auspicesof theMexicanEditorialSigloXXI,and aftermorethan50yearssinceithasbeenmade, wefoundthisopportunitytoreproducethetext in these pages. We think this will considerably helptheAmericanhistoriography,andalsogive a new life to the text, as well as enormously contribute to the Taino Archaeology. We have only reproduced the document, not Arrom footnotesbecauseweunderstandthatistheresult of such a profound research that it constitutes anotherbook.Therefore,wehaveattainedtothe Accountitself.TheEnglishtranslationiskindly offeredbyProfessorPeterBakewell,towhomwe wouldliketothank. About the documents significance and matter contained it is little to be said, only that this is the first chronicle written in Spanish America regarding the men found in these first encountersthatareknownasdiscovery.Weoffer, nonetheless,areadingkeytoPansoriginalasan interpretativesuggestion. His text follows a traditional line of the medieval religious chronicle in which the exact measure of time has no great important. So, Pans account draws a biblical argumentation line,beginningwiththeworldscreation,passing throughthemenandwomencreation(according to Indians reports), to the native relation with thesupernaturalandwithdeath.Theissueof the creationof theworldiswrittenaftertheFallof mennarratedrightatthebeginningof thetext. Buthejustifies:IfearthatIamtellinglastthings firstandfirstlast;butIputitdownjustasIhad itfromthenativesof thecountry.

Eloriginaldesutextoestperdido.Tampocoseconoce mucho de la vida del fraile, pero es muy probable que Pan fuesecataln,puesLasCasas,enla Apologtica,cap.CXX,dice deFr.Ramnqueerauncatalnquehabatomadohbitode ermitao [...], hombre simple y de buena intuicin que saba algodelalenguadelosindios.Elmismodominico,enelcap. CLXvII,dicedeFrayRamnquelvinoaella[aEspaola] cincoaosantesqueyo. otros cronistas se aprovecharan de este opsculo de Pan: Pedro Mrtir de Anglera en su Dcada I, lib. IX, caps. IvavII,yLasCasasensuApologtica,Caps.CXX,CLXvIy CLXvII, por ejemplo. En los tiemposms contemporneos, hubealgunasedicionesencastellanodeestaRelacin,delas cualesreproduciremoslaqueconsideramoslamejor. A35aosdelaedicinrealizadaporelProfesorArrom, con una nueva traduccin acotada y refinada del documento enitalianoyauspiciadaporlaEditorialSigloXXIdeMxico, y a ms de 50 aos de hecha, encontramos la razn para reproducirlaenestaspginas.Loconsideramosunaayudaala historiografaamericana,yunarevitalizacindeestaliteratura, ascomounaimprescindiblecolaboracinalaArqueologade los Tainos. Solo hemos reproducido el documento traducido sin las acotaciones de Arrom porque entendemos que este aspectoesdesuautorayeselresultadodeunainvestigacin tanprofundaqueensiesotrolibro,poresosolonosremitimos alaobraprincipal.Latraduccinalinglsfuemuygentilmente cedida por el Profesor Peter Bakewell, a quien somos muy agradecidos. Quetrataeldocumentoyculessuimportancia,esbreve loquepodramosdecir,soloendecirqueeslaprimeracrnica escritaenAmricaHispanasobreloshombresencontradosen este primer encuentro que se llama descubrimiento, le da un valorinestimable.ofrecemos,todava,unaclavedelecturadel originaldePancomosugerenciainterpretativa. Sutextosigueunalneadetradicindelacrnicamedieval religiosa,enlacualeltiempo,medidoentrminosexactos,no es importante. Luego, la narracin de Pan sigue una lnea argumentativabblica,comenzandoconlacreacindelmundo, despuslacreacindeloshombresymujeres(deacuerdocon suvisin acercadelos relatos indgenas)hasta la relacin de losnativosconelsobrenaturalyconlamuerte.Elproblema de la creacin del mundo lo pone en el texto despus de la delhombre,queabrelanarracin.Perolojustifica:creoque pongoprimeroloquedebieraserltimoyloltimoprimeroo
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes volvamosahoraaloquedebamoshaberpuestoprimero,esto es,alaopininquetienensobreelorigenyprincipiodelmar. LagrannovedaddelarelacindePaneslapresencia de la alteridad americana. No se saba al cierto si se trataba deunNuevoMundo(comodespuslellamaranloseuropeos aAmrica)odeunantiguo,aunqueigualmentedesconocido. deestaforma,nosquedalapregunta:CmoPanretratla nueva realidad cerca de l teniendo como base las ideas que traadelaviejaEuropa? Eslcitosuponerqueelreligiosopreguntabaloquebien entendaalosindioseinterpretabalascontestacionesconforme suformacinreligiosaeintelectual.ElJernimodice:todolo queescriboaslonarranellos,comoloescribo,yaslopongo comoloheentendidodelosdelrestodelpas.Poreso,Pan expone cuestiones cruciales para el pensamiento catlico del fin del siglo 15: la creacin, la universalidad del mensaje de dios,lanaturalezaaristotlicadeloshombres,entreotros. La forma con que hace creble su texto es consonante a los dems cronistas de su generacin. Lo que el autor fue testigoesdignodefe.Ensegundolugar,loqueelautorhaodo defuenteconsideradaconfiable.Esposibleleer,cuandonarra lascreenciasindgenas:Porqueyolohevistoenparteconmis ojos,bienquedelasotrascosascontsolamenteloquehaba odo a muchos, en especial a los principales, con quienes he tratadomsqueconotros. Todoloquesacadenovedosolocomparaasumundo de referencias: una guayaba tiene sabor de membrillo para el religioso as como el cazabe es el pan que se come en el pas.Lareliginindgena,pornoencontrarmuchodesimilar al cristianismo, lo tacha de hechicera, cosa del diablo o demonio.Lomsdelosasuntosespirituales,loexpone,como afirmamos,enunalgicabblica,capazdeencontrarmrtires entre los indgenas conversos muertos por otros aun infieles omilagros,comoenelepisodiodelaparecimientodelacruz. Adems,Paninauguralugarescomunesenlatradicin delacrnicadelNuevoMundo,cmolapresenciadeaugurios indgenas previendo la Conquista, la persistencia de las costumbresindiasdespusdelacatequesis,laposibleydeseable separacindelosnefitosnativosdelosdemscolonos(para evitarqueseconfundiesenacercadelverdaderocristianismo)y eldebatesobreelusodelaviolenciaenelesfuerzocatequtico. Conforme lo hemos expuesto, se ha cuidado de reproducirlatraduccindelProf.Arromentodasuplenitudy sehamantenidolasintaxisylaortografaporlaplanteadaen
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The greatest novelty about Pans account is the presence of the American alterity. No one wasreallysureif thatwasaNewWorld(asthe EuropeanslattercalledAmerica)oranoldone, though entirely unknown. Thus, there is left a question:howdidPanpicturedthenewreality around him having only the tools he brought fromtheoldEuropewithhim? Itisallowedtowonderif thereligiousasked whateverhewantedtotheIndiansandtranslated the answers organizing them in his intellectual and religious framework, though the anchorite said: I put it down just as I had it from the natives of the country. That is why Pan exposescrucialsubjectstothecatholicthinking of the 15thcentury:thecreation,theuniversality of godsmessage,theAristoteliannatureof men etc. Thewayinwhichhejustifiesandturnsitinto acredibletextisconsonanttootherschroniclers of his generation. What the author testified is worthyof faith.Insecondplace,whattheauthor heardisatrustablesource.Thisispossibletobe apprehendedwhenhewritesabouttheIndians beliefs: These deceptions I have seen with my owneyes,whereastheotherthingsItoldaboutI heardof onlyfromothers,especiallyfromtheir principal men--because these men believe these fablesmorefirmlythantheothers. Everything new he compares with his world of reverences: one guava tastes like quince to thereligious,asthecassava,whichisthebread of that country. The Indian religion, as it did not well matched with Christianity, is called sorceries, devils or demons thing. other spiritual matters are exposed, as we have said before,inabiblicallogic,onethatisabletofind martyrsamongtheconvertedIndianswhowere killedbyothersstillinfidel,ormiracles,asinthe episodeof theappearanceof theCross. Pan also inaugurates commonplaces in the traditionof theNewWorldschronicle,suchas thepresenceof Indianspresagesforetellingthe Conquest,thepersistenceof Indianshabitsafter theywerealreadybeenchristened,apossibleand desirableseparation betweentheneophytesand theothercolonists(inordertoavoidaconfusion abouttherealChristianity)andthedebateabout theuseof violenceinthecatechesiseffort. As we have assured, we have taken care of reproducing the Professor Arrom translation in its fullness, keeping the original 1974 editions

LaprimeracrnicareligiosadelCaribe
syntaxes and orthography, always with his approval. The same is made with Professors BakewellEnglishtranslation. ***

laedicinde1974,siempreconsuconsentimiento.Lomismo sepasaconlatraduccinparaelinglshechaporelProfesor Bakewell. *** RELACINdEFRAyRAMNPANACERCAdE LASANTIgEdAdESdELoSINdIoS,LASCuALES, CoNdILIgENCIA,CoMoHoMBREQuESABE LA ENguAdEELLoS,LASHARECogIdoPoR L M ANdATodELALMIRANTE yo, fray Ramn, pobre ermitao de la orden de San Jernimo, por mandato del ilustre seor Almirante y virrey y gobernador de las Islas y de la Tierra Firme de las Indias, escriboloquehepodidoaprenderysaberdelascreenciase idolatrasdelosindios,ydecomoveneranasusdioses.delo cualahoratratarenlapresenterelacin. Cadauno,aladorarlosdolosquetienenencasa,llamados por ellos cemes, observa un particular modo y supersticin. Creen que est en el cielo y es inmortal, y que nadie puede verlo,yquetienemadre,masnotieneprincipio,yaestellaman ycahuBaguaMarocoti,yasumadrellamanAtabey,yermao, guacar,Apitoyzuimaco,quesoncinconombres.Estosdelos queescribosondelaislaEspaola,porquedelasotrasislasno secosaalgunapornohaberlasvistojams.Sabenasimismode quepartevinieron,ydedondetuvieronorigenelsolylaluna, ycomosehizoelmarydondevanlosmuertos.ycreenquelos muertosselesaparecenporloscaminoscuandoalgunovasolo, porque,cuandovanmuchosjuntos,noselesaparecen.Todo estoleshanhechocreersusantepasados,porqueellosnosaben leer,nicontarsinohastadiez.

THERELACINoFFRAyRAMNPANE I,FrayRamn,apooranchoriteof theorder of St. Jerome, write by order of the illustrious Lord Admiral, viceroy, and governor of the islandsandmainlandof theIndieswhatIhave been able to learn concerning the beliefs and idolatryof theIndians,andthemannerinwhich theyworshiptheirgods.of thesemattersIshall giveanaccountinthepresenttreatise.Eachone adorestheidolsorcemiesthathehasinhishouse insomespecialwayandwithsomespecialrites. They believe that there is an immortal being in the sky whom none can see and who has a motherbutnobeginning.Theycallhimyocahu vagua Maorocoti, and his mother Atabex, yermaoguacar, Apito, and zuimaco, which are fivedifferentnames.Iwriteonlyof theIndians of the island of Espaola, for I know nothing abouttheotherislandsandhaveneverseenthem. TheseIndiansalsoknowwhencetheycameand wherethesunandmoonhadtheirbeginning,and howtheseawasmade,andof theplacetowhich the dead go. They believe that the dead people appearontheroadstoonewhowalksalone,but whenmanygotogether,thedeaddonotappear. All this they were taught by their forebears, for theycannotreadorcountaboveten.

I. Of the Place from Which the Indians Came, and How They Came In Espaola there is a province called Caonao, in which is found a mountain called Canta, having two caves named Cacibayagua and Amayauba. From Cacibayagua came the majority of the people who settled the island. When they lived in that cave, they posted a guard at night, and they intrusted that charge to a man named Marocael; they say that one daythesuncarriedhimoff becausehewaslate incomingtothedoor.Seeingthatthesunhad carriedawaythismanforneglectinghisduties, they closed the door to him, and so he was changedintoastonenearthatdoor.Theysay

Capitulo I: De que Parte Han Venido los Indios y en Modo La Espaola tiene una provincia llamada Caonao, en la que est una montaa, que se llama Cauta, que tiene dos cuevas nombradas Cacibajagua una y Amayana la otra. de Cacibajaguasalilamayorpartedelagentequepobllaisla. Estagente,estandoenaquellascuevas,haciaguardiadenoche, y se haba encomendado este cuidado a uno que se llamaba Mcocael, el cual, porque un da tard en volver a la puerta, dicen que se lo llev el Sol. visto, pues, que el Sol se haba
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes llevadoasteporsumalaguardia,lecerraronlapuertayas fuetransformadoenpiedracercadelapuerta.despusdicen queotros,habiendoidoapescar,fueronpresosporelSol,yse convirtieronenrbolesqueellosllamanjobos,ydeotromodo sellamanmiroblanos.ElmotivoporelcualMcocaelvelabay hacialaguardiaeraparaveraquepartemandaraorepartirala gente,yparecequesetardparasumayormal.

that others who had gone fishing were caught bythesunandchangedintothetreescalljobos ormyrobalans.ThereasonwhyMarocaelkept guard was to see in what direction he should send or distribute the people; and his lateness washisundoing.

II. How the Women Were Separated from the Men

Capitulo II: Como se Separaron los Hombres de las Mujeres Sucediqueuno,quetenapornombreguahayona,dijo aotroquesellamabayahubaba,quefueseacogerunahierba llamada digo, con la que se limpian el cuerpo cuando van a lavarse.Estesaliantesdeamanecer,ylecogielSolporel camino,yseconvirtienpjaroquecantaporlamaana,como elruiseor,ysellamayahubabayael.guahayona,viendoque novolvaelquehabaaenviadoacogerdigo,resolvisalirde ladichacuevaCacibajagua.

Itoncehappenedthatguaguyonatoldanother man named yadruvava to go to pick the herb called digo with which they clean their bodies whentheybathe.Hewentoutbeforedawn,and the sun caught him on the road and changed him into a bird which sings in the morning, like the nightingale; it is called yahuba Bayael. guaguyona,seeingthatthemanhehadsentto lookfordigodidnotreturn,decidedtocomeout of thecaveCacibayagua.

III.

Capitulo III: Que Guahayona, Indignado, Resolvi Marcharse, Viendo que no Volvan Aquellos que Haba Mandado a Coger el Dilo para Lavarse ydijoalasmujeresdejadavuestrosmaridos,yvmonos aotrastierrasyllevemosmuchogeyo.dejadavuestroshijos y llevemos solamente la hierba con nosotros, que despus volveremosporellos.

Thenguaguyona,angrybecausethemenhe hadsenttopickdigoforhisbathdidnotreturn, decidedtogoawayandsaidtothewomen,Leave yourhusbands,andweshallgotootherlandsand takemuchdigowithus.Leaveyourchildren,for weshalltakeonlytheherbwithus;laterweshall returnforthechildren.

IV.

Capitulo IV guahayona parti con todas las mujeres, y se fue en busca de otros pases, y llego a Matinin, donde enseguida dej a las mujeres, y se fue a otra region, llamada guann, y habandejadoalosniospequeosjuntoaunarroyo.despus, cuandoelhambrecomenzamolestarles,dicenquellorabany llamabanasusmadresquesehabanidoylospadresnopodan darremedioaloshijos,quellamabanconhambrealasmadres, diciendomamaparahablar,peroverdaderamenteparapedir lateta.yllorandoas,ypidiendoteta,diciendotoa,toacomo quien pide una cosa con gran deseo y muy despacio, fueron transformadosenpequeosanimales,amaneraderanas,que
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guaguyonaleftwithallthewomen,andwent insearchof otherlands,andcametoMatinin, wherehesoonleftthewomenanddepartedfor another region called guann. The women had lefttheirlittlechildrenbyabrook,andwhenthe latterbegantogrowhungry,theyweptandcalled ontheirmotherswhohadgoneaway.Thefathers couldnothelptheirchildren,andintheirhunger thechildrencalledoutmama;theywerereally asking for the breast. So, weeping and asking forthebreast,andsayingtoo,toolikeonewho insistentlyasksforsomething,theywerechanged intolittleanimalslikefrogs,calledtona,because they had asked for the breast. That is how the menwereleftwithoutwomen.

LaprimeracrnicareligiosadelCaribe
V. How the Women Returned from the Island of Espaola, Which Was Formerly Called Haiti, that Being the Name of Its Inhabitants; and this and the Other Islands Are Called Bouh AstheseIndianshavenoalphabetorwriting, they cannot give a coherent account of these matters,buttheyhavethemfromtheirforebears. Therefore theiraccountsdo not agree,nor isit possibletowritedowninanorderlyfashionwhat theysay.Whenguaguyona(hewhocarriedoff allthewomen)wentaway,healsotookwithhim the wives of his cacique Anacacuya, deceiving these women as he had done the others. There also went a brother-in-law of guaguyonas, namedAnacacuya,whoenteredtheseawithhim; and when they were in the canoe, guaguyona saidtohisbrother-in-law,Seethebeautifulcobo inthewater.Thiscoboistheperiwinkle.When Anacacuyalookedintothewater,hisbrother-inlawguaguyonagrabbedhisfeetandthrewhimin thewater;thusguaguyonahadallthewomento himself andleftthoseof Matinin;itissaidthat todaythereareonlywomenonthatisland.And he departed for another island, called guanin becauseof whathetookawayfromthere. VI. How Guaguyona Returned to the Island of Canta, Whence He Had Brought the Women They say that when guaguyona was in the landtowhichhehadgone,hesawthathehadleft awomaninthesea.Hehadgreatpleasurewith her,butsoonhadtolookformanybath-houses inwhichtowashhimself becausehewasfullof thosesoresthatwecalltheFrenchSickness.She placed him in a guanara, which means a place apart;therehewascuredof hissores.Afterwards she asked permission to continue on her way, which he granted. This woman was named guabonito. And guaguyona changed his name, henceforthcallinghimself Biberociguahayona. And guabonito gave to Biberoci guahayona many guanines and many cibas to wear tied on their arms; these cibas are stones which much resemblemarbleandwhichtheywearabouttheir necksandarms;theyweartheguaninesintheir ears, which they perforate when they are small; these guanines are made of a metal like that of which florins are made. They say that these guanines began with guabonito, Albeborael, guahayona, and the father of Alberborael. guahayonastayedinthatcountrywithhisfather,

sellamantona,porlapeticinquehacandelateta,ydeesta maneraquedarontodosloshombressinmujeres.

Capitulo V: Que Despus Hubo Mujeres Otra Vez en la Dicha Isla Espaola, que Antes se Llamaba Hait, y As la Llaman los Habitantes de Ella; y Aquella y las Otras Islas las Llamaban Boho y puesto que ellos no tienen escritura ni letras, no pueden dar buena cuenta de cmo han odo esto de sus antepasados,yporesonoconcuerdanenloquedicen,nian se puede escribir ordenadamente lo que refieren. Cuando se marchguahayona,elquesellevotodaslasmujeres,asimismo sellevolasmujeresdesucacique,quesellamabaAnacacuya, engandolocomoengaalosotros.yademsuncuado deguahayona,Anacacuya,queseibaconel,entrenelmar; y dijo dicho guahayona a su cuado, estando en la canoa: Miraquehermososcobohayenelagua,elcualcoboesel caracoldemar.ycuandostemirabaalaguaparaverelcobo, sucuadoguahayonalotomoporlospiesylotiralmar;yas tomtodaslasmujeresparas,ylasdejenMatinin,donde sedicequehoydanohaymsquemujeres.yelsefueaotra isla,quesellamaguann,ysellamasporloquesellevde ella,cuandofueaall.

Capitulo VI: Que Guahayona Volvi a la Dicha Cauta, de donde Haba Sacado las Mujeres dicenqueestandoguahayonaenlatierraadondehaba ido,viquehabadejadoenelmarunamujer,delocualtuvo granplacer,yalinstantebuscmuchoslavatoriosparalavarse, por estarllenodeaquellasllagasquenosotrosllamamos mal francs.Ellalepusoentoncesenunaguanara,quequieredecir lugarapartado,yas,estandoall,sandesusllagas.despus lepidilicenciaparaseguirsucaminoyelseladi.Llambase esta mujer guabonito. y guahayona se cambi el nombre, llamndosedeahenadelanteAlbeboraelguahayona.ylamujer guabonitolediaAlbeboraelguahayonamuchosguaninesy muchascibas,paraquelasllevaseatadasalosbrazos,puesen aquellastierrasaquellascibassondepiedrasqueseasemejan muchoalmrmol,ylasllevanatadasalosbrazosyalcuellos,y losguanineslosllevanenlasorejas,hacindoseagujeroscuando sonpequeos,ysondemetalcasicomodeflorn.Elorigen de estos guanines dicen que fueron guabonito, Albeborael
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes guahayonayelpadredeAlbeborael.guahayonasequeden latierraconsupadre,quesellamabaHiauna.Suhijoporparte depadresellamabaHiagualiguann,quequieredecirhijode Hiauna,ydesdeentoncessellamoguann,yassellamahoy da.ycomonotienenletrasniescrituras,nosabencontarbien talesfbulas,niyopuedoescribirlasbien.Porlocualcreoque pongoprimeroloquedebieraserltimoyloltimoprimero. Perotodoloqueescriboaslonarranellos,comoloescribo,y aslopongocomoloheentendidodelosdelpas.
namedyauna.Hissontookfromhisfatherthe name Ha guaili guann, which means the son of yauna;laterhecalledhimself guanin,andis calledthattoday.AstheIndianshavenoalphabet orwriting,theydonottelltheirmythswell,nor canIwritethemdownaccurately,andIfearthat I am telling last things first and first last; but I putitdownjustasIhaditfromthenativesof thecountry. VII. How the Women Returned from the Island of Haiti, Which is Now Called Espaola Theysaythatonedaythemenwenttowash themselves;andwhiletheywereinthewater,it rainedhard,andtheyfeltgreatdesireforwomen; frequently when it rained they sought traces of their wives, but could not find them. However, that day, as they were washing themselves they saw falling from the trees, sliding down the branches,somecreaturesthatwereneithermen nor women, and had neither male nor female genitals.Theytriedtocatchthem,buttheyslipped awaylikeeels.Sobyordersof theircaciquethey summoned two or three men who should see how many of these creatures there were, and whoshouldbringasmanymenof thekindcalled caracaracol,becausetheyhadroughhands,who wouldbeabletocatchthemandtiethemdown. They told the cacique there were four of these creatures; so they brought four men who were caracaracoles. This caracaracol is a sickness like thescabthatmakesthebodyveryrough.When theyhadcaughtthem,theyconsideredhowthey couldmakewomenoutof them,sincetheyhad neithermalenorfemalegenitals. VIII. How They Devised a Way of Making Women of Them They found a bird now called inrim, and in ancient times inrire cahuvayal, that is, a woodpecker, which bores holes in trees. Then, seizing those women without male or female genitals, they bound their hands and feet, and tied that bird to the body of each. The bird, thinking they were trees, began his accustomed work,peckingandhollowingouttheplacewhere womens genitals are wont to be. The Indians say that is the manner in which they acquired women,astoldbytheiroldestmen.AsIwrotein hasteandhadnotenoughpaper,Icouldnotput everythingwhereitbelonged,yetIhavemadeno

Capitulo VII: Como Hubo De Nuevo Mujeres En La Dicha Isla De Hait, Que Ahora Se Llama La Espaola dicenqueundafueronalavarseloshombres,yestando enelagua,llovamucho,yqueestabanmuydeseososdetener mujeres;yquemuchasveces,cuandollova,habanidoabuscar lashuellasdesusmujeres;msnopudieronencontraralguna nuevadeellas.Peroaquelda,lavndose,dicenquevieroncaer dealgunos rboles,bajndosepor entrelas ramas,unacierta formadepersonas,quenoeranhombresnimujeres,nitenan sexodevarnnidehembra,lascualesfueronacogerlas;pero huyeroncomosifuerananguilas.Porlocualllamaronadoso treshombrespormandatodesucacique,puestoqueellosno podancogerlas,paraqueviesencuantaseran,ybuscasenpara cadaunaunhombrequefueracaracaracol,porquetenanlas manossperasyqueasestrechamentelassujetasen.dijeron alcaciquequeerancuatro;yasllevaroncuatrohombres,que eran caracaracoles. El cual caracaracol es una enfermedad comosarna,quehacealcuerpomuyspero.despusquelas hubieron cogido, tuvieron consejo sobre como podan hacer quefuesenmujeres,puestoquenotenansexodevarnnide hembra.

Capitulo VIII: Como Hallaron Remedio para que Fuesen Mujeres Buscaron un pjaro que se llama inriri, antiguamente llamado inriri cahubabayael, el cual agujerea los rboles, y en nuestralenguallmasepico.Eigualmentetomaronaaquellas mujeressinsexodevarnnidehembra,ylesataronlospies ylasmanos,ytrajeronelpjaromencionado,yseloataronal cuerpo.yeste,creyendoqueeranmaderos,comenzlaobra que acostumbra, picando y agujereando en el lugar donde ordinariamentesueleestarelsexodelasmujeres.ydeesemodo
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mistake,fortheybelieveeverythingthatiswritten here.TurningnowtowhatIshouldhaverelated first,Ishalltelltheirbeliefsconcerningtheorigin of thesea. IX. How the Sea Was Made There was a man called yaya, whose name they do not know; his son was called yayael, which means son of yaya. This yayael wishing to kill his father, the latter banished him, and hewasbanishedforfourmonths;afterthathis fatherkilledhimandputhisbonesinacalabash whichhehungfromtheceilingof hishut,where it hung for some time. one day, wishing to see hisson,yayasaidtohiswife,Iwanttoseeour son yayael. She was content and, taking the calabash,turneditovertoseethebonesof their son. out of it came many large and small fish. Perceivingthattheboneshadbeenchangedinto fish, they decided to eat them. one day, when yayahadgonetohismaizefields,thatwerehis inheritance, there came four sons of a woman namedItibaTahuvava,allbornatasinglebirth; forthiswomanhavingdiedinchildbirth,theycut heropenandtookoutthesefoursons.Andthe first one they took out was caracaracol, which meansscabby,andhisnamewas...;theothershad noname. X. Thefourtwinsonsof ItibaTahuvava,whodied inchildbirth,wenttogethertogetthecalabashin whichyayakeptthebonesof hissonyayaelwho hadbeenchangedintoafish;butnoneof them daredtogetitexceptdimivanCaracaracol,who took it down; and they all had their fill of fish. Whiletheywereeating,theyheardyayacoming back from his fields; and in their haste to hang thecalabashupagaintheydidnotdoitright,so thatitfelltoearthandbroke.Theysaysomuch watercameoutof thecalabashthatitfilledthe whole earth, and with it came many fish. They say this was how the sea began. After they had leftthisplacetheymetamannamedConel,who wasdumb. XI. What Happened to the Four Brothers When They Were Fleeing from Yaya The brothers, coming to the door of Basamanacos house, noticed that he had cassava, and said, Ayacavo guarocoel, which

dicenlosindiosquetuvieronmujeres,segncuentanlosms viejos.Puestoqueescribdeprisa,ynotenapapelbastante,no pudeponerensulugarloqueporerrortrasladaotro;pero con todo y eso, no he errado, porque ellos lo creen todo tal comocomoloheescrito.volvamosahoraaloquedebamos haberpuestoprimero,estoes,alaopininquetienensobreel origenyprincipiodelmar.

Capitulo IX: Cmo Dicen que Fue Hecho el Mar Hubo un hombre llamado yaya, del que no saben el nombre,ysuhijosellamabayayael,quequieredecirhijode yaya.Elcualyayael,queriendomatarasupadre,stelodesterr, y as estuvo desterrado cuatro meses; y despus su padre lo mat,ypusoloshuesosenunacalabaza,ylacolgdeltecho desucasa,dondeestuvocolgadaalgntiempo.Sucediqueun da,condeseodeverasuhijo,yayadijoasumujer:Quierover anuestrohijoyayael.yellasealegr,ybajandolacalabaza,la volcparaverloshuesosdesuhijo,delacualsalieronmuchos pecesgrandesychicos.dedonde,viendoqueaquelloshuesos sehabantransformadoenpeces,resolvieroncomerlos. dicen,pues,queunda,habiendoidoyayaasusconucos, quequieredecirposesiones,queerandesuherencia,llegaron cuatro hijos de una mujer, que se llamaba Itiba Cahubaba, todosdeunvientreygemelos;lacualmujer,habiendomuerto departo,laabrieronysacaronfueraloscuatrodichoshijos,yel primeroquesacaroneracaracaracol,quequieredecirsarnoso, elcualcaracaracoltuvopornombre(deminn);losotrosno tenannombre.

Capitulo X: Como los Cuatro Hijos Gemelos de Itiba Cahubaba, que Muri de Parto, Fueron Juntos a Coger La Calabaza de Yaya, Donde Estaba su Hijo Yayael, que se Haba Transformado en Peces, y Ninguno se Atrevi a Cogerla, Excepto Deminn Caracaracol, que la Descolg, y Todos se Hartaron de Peces y mientras coman, sintieron que vena yaya de sus posesiones,yqueriendoenaquelapurocolgarlacalabaza,nola colgaronbien,demodoquecayentierrayserompi.dicen quefuetantaelaguaquesalideaquellacalabaza,quelleno todalatierra,yconellasalieronmuchospeces;ydeaqudicen quehayatenidoorigenelmar.Partierondespusestosdeall,y encontraronunhombre,llamadoConel,elcualeramudo.
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes Capitulo XI: De las Cosas que Pasaron los Cuatro Hermanos Cuando Iban Huyendo de Yaya Estos, tan pronto como llegaron a la puerta de Bayamaco, y notaron que llevaba cazabe, dijeron: Ahiacabo gurocoel,quequieredecir:Conozcamosanuestroabuelo. delmismomododeminnCaracaracol,viendodelantedesia sushermanos,entrparaversipodaconseguiralgncazabe, el cual cazabe es el pan que se come en el pas. Caracaracol, entrando en casa de Bayamaco, le pidi cazabe, que es el pan susodicho. y este se puso la mano en la nariz, y le tiro unguanguayoalaespalda;elcualguanyuayo estaballenode cohoba,quehabahechohaceraquelda;lacualcohobaesun ciertopolvo,queellostomanavecesparapurgarseyparaotros efectosquedespussedirn.Estalatomanconunacaade mediobrazodelargo,yponenunextremoenlanarizyelotro enelpolvo;asloaspiranporlanarizyestoleshacepurgar grandemente.yaslesdioporpanaquelguanguayo,envezdel panquehaca;ysefuemuyindignadoporqueselopedan. Caracaracol,despusdeesto,volvijuntoasushermanos,yles contloquelehabasucedidoconBayamanacoel,ydelgolpe quelehabadadoconelguanguayoenlaespalda,yqueledola fuertemente. Entonces sus hermanos le miraron la espalda, y vieron que la tena muy hinchada; y creci tanto aquella hinchazn,queestuvoapuntodemorir.Entoncesprocuraron cortarla, y no pudieron; y tomando un hacha de piedra se la abrieron,ysaliunatortugaviva,hembra;yassefabricaron sucasaycriaronlatortuga.deestonohesabidoms;ypoco ayudaloquellevoescrito. y tambin dicen que el Sol y la Luna salieron de una cueva,queestenelpasdeuncaciquellamadoMautiatihuel, lacualcuevasellamaIguanaboina;yelloslatienenenmucha estimacin,ylatienentodapintadaasumodo,sinfiguraalguna conmuchosfollajesyotrascosassemejantes.yendichacueva habadoscemes,hechosdepiedra,pequeosdeltamaode mediobrazo.Conlasmanosatadas,yparecanquesudaban. Loscualescemesestimabanmucho;ycuandonollova,dicen que entraban alli a visitarlos y enseguida llova. y de dichos cemes,alunollamabanBoinayelyalotroMrohu. Capitulo XII: De lo que Piensan Acerca de Andar Vagando los Muertos, y de que Manera Son, y qu Cosa Hacen Creenquehayunlugaralquevanlosmuertos,quese llamaCoaybay,yseencuentraaunladodelaisla,quesellama
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means Let us make the acquaintance of our grandfather.ThendemivanCaracaracol,going aheadof hisbrothers,enteredthehousetosee if hecouldfindsomecassava,whichisthebread of thatcountry.Caracaracol,enteringthehouse of Ayamanaco,askedhimforsomecassava.At this Ayamanaco put his hand to his nose, took out a guanguayo, and threw it at Caracaracols shoulder; this guanguayo was full of cohoba whichhehadhadmadethatdayandisapowder thattheysometimestakeaspurgeandforother purposeswhichwillbetoldhereafter.Theytake itbymeansof thecanehalf anelllong,putting oneendof thiscaneinthenoseandtheotherin thepowder;theysnuff thispowderintothenose, anditpurgesthemgreatly.Sohegavethemthat guanguayo instead of bread, and he went away very angry because they had asked him for it. Caracaracolthenreturnedtohisbrothersandtold themwhathadhappenedwithBayamanicoel,of theblowthathehadgivenhimontheshoulder withtheguanguayo,andthatithurthimsorely. Hisbrotherslookedathisshoulderandsawthat it was much swollen, and that swelling grew so that he was about to die. They tried to cut it, withoutsuccess,buttakingastonehatchet,they managedtoopenit,andoutcamealivefemale turtle;sotheybuilttheirhutandfedtheturtle.I couldnotlearnanymoreaboutthis,andwhatI havewrittenisof littleworth. They also say that the sun and moon came outof acaveinthecountryof acaciquenamed MauciaTivuel;thiscaveiscalledyovovava,and theyfeelgreatreverenceforit.Itisallpaintedin theirfashion,withoutanyfigure,butwithmany leaves and the like. In this cave there were two stonecemies,abouthalf amansarminsize,their handstied;theyseemedtobesweating.Theyheld thesecemiesinmuchregard;theysaythatwhen they needed rain they would visit these cemies, and the rain would immediately come. one of thesecemieswascalledBoinayol,andtheother Maroya. XII. Their Beliefs Concerning the Wanderings of the Dead, of Their Appearance, and What They Do They believe the dead go to a place called Coaybay,ononesideof anislandcalledSoraya. They say that the first to live there was one Maquetaurieguayava,whowaslordof Coaybay, homeanddwellingplaceof thedead.

LaprimeracrnicareligiosadelCaribe
XIII. Of the Forms Which They Assign to the Dead Theysaythatduringthedaythedeadlivein seclusion,butatnightwalkaboutforrecreation and eat of fruit called guabaxa, which has the flavor of [the quince B.K.] and during the day is... but at night is changed into fruit; and they havefestivitiesandkeepcompanywiththeliving. TheIndianshavethismethodof identifyingdead people:Theytouchthebellyof apersonwiththe hand,andif theydonotfindanavel,theysaythat personisoperito,whichmeansdead;fortheysay thatdeadpersonshavenonavels.Sometimesone whodoesnottakethisprecautionandlieswitha womanof Coaybayismocked;forwhenheholds herinhisarms,shesuddenlydisappearsandhis arms are empty. They still believe this. When a personisalive,theycallhisspiritgoeiz;whenhe isdead,opia.Theysaythatthisgoeizappearsto themoften,nowintheshapeof aman,nowof a woman.Theysaytherewasamanwhowishedto fightwithaspirit;butwhenheclosedwithit,it disappeared,andthemanflunghisarmsabouta treefromwhosebrancheshehung.Allof them, youngandold,believethis;theyalsobelievethat thespiritsappeartothemintheshapeof their father, mother, brothers, relatives, or in some othershape.Thefruitthattheybelievethedead eatisthesizeof apeach.Thedeaddonotappear tothembyday,butonlybynight,andtherefore onewhowalksaboutatnightfeelsgreatfear. XIV. Whence Come these Beliefs and Why They Persist in Them There are certain men among them, called bohuts, who practice great frauds upon the Indians,asshallbeexplainedhereafter,tomake them believe that they, the bohutis, speak with thedeadandthattheyknowalltheirdeedsand secrets, and that when the Indians are ill they curethem.ThesedeceptionsIhaveseenwithmy owneyes,whereastheotherthingsItoldaboutI heardof onlyfromothers,especiallyfromtheir principal men--because these men believe these fablesmorefirmlythantheothers.LiketheMoors, theyhavetheirreligionsetforthinancientchants bywhichtheyaregoverned,astheMoorsareby theirScripture.Whentheysingtheirchants,they playaninstrumentcalledmayohavauthatismade of woodandishollow,strong,yetverythin,anell longandhalf aswide;thepartwhichisplayedhas theshapeof ablacksmithstongs,andtheother end is like a club, so that it looks like a gourd

Soraya.ElprimeroqueestuvoenCoaybaydicenquefueuno quesellamabaMaquetaurieguayaba,queeraseordeldicho Coaybay,casayhabitacindelosmuertos.

Capitulo XIII: De la Forma que Dicen Tener los Muertos dicenqueduranteeldaestnrecluidos,yporlanoche salenapasearse,yquecomendeunciertofruto,quesellama guayaba,quetienesaborde(membrillo),yquededasony porlanocheseconvertanenfrutayquehacanfiesta,yvan juntos con los vivos. y para conocerlos observan esta regla: queconlamanoletocanelvientre,ysinolesencuentranel ombligo, dicen que es operito, que quiere decir muerto: por eso dicen que los muertos no tienen ombligo. y as quedan engaadosalgunasveces,quenoreparanenesto,yyacencon algunamujerdelasdeCoaybay,ycuandopiensantenerlasen losbrazos,notienennada,porquedesaparecenenuninstante. Esto lo creen hasta hoy. Estando viva la persona, llaman al espritu goeza, y despus de muerta, le llaman opa, la cual goezadicenquelesaparecemuchasvecestantoenformade hombre como de mujer, y dicen que ha habido hombre que ha querido combatir con ella, y que, viniendo a las manos, desapareca, y que el hombre meta los brazos en otra parte sobrealgunosrboles,deloscualesquedabacolgado.yestolo creentodosengeneral,tantochicoscomograndes;yqueseles apareceenformadepadre,madre,hermanosoparientes,yen otrasformas.Elfrutodelcualdicenquecomenlosmuertoses deltamaodeunmembrillo.ylossobredichosmuertosnose leaparecendeda,sinosiempredenoche;yporesocongran miedoseatrevealgunoaandarsolodenoche.

Capitulo XIV: De Donde Sacan esto y Quienes les Hacen Estar en tal Creencia Hayalgunoshombres,quepracticanentreellos,yseles dice behiques, los cuales hacen muchos engaos, como mas adelante diremos, para hacerles creer que hablan con esos (losmuertos),yquesabentodossushechosysecretos;yque, cuando estn enfermos, les quitan el mal, y as los engaan. Porqueyolohevistoenparteconmisojos,bienquedelas otras cosas cont solamente lo que haba odo a muchos, en especialalosprincipales,conquieneshetratadomasquecon otros;puesestoscreenenestasfbulasconmayorcertidumbre que los otros. Pues, lo mismo que los moros, tiene su ley
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes compendiada en canciones antiguas, por las cuales se rigen, comolosmorosporlaescritura.y,cuandoquierencantarsus canciones,tocanciertoinstrumento,quesellamamayohabao, queesdemadera,hueco,fuerteymuydelgado,deunbrazode largoymediodeancho.Lapartedondesetocaesthechaen formadetenazasdeherradorylaotrapartesemejaunamaza, demaneraquepareceunacalabazaconelcuellolargo.yeste instrumentotocan,elcualtienetantavozqueseoyealeguay mediadedistancia.Assoncantanlascanciones,queaprenden dememoria;ylotocanloshombresprincipales,queaprenden a taerlo desdeniosyacantar conl,segnsucostumbre. Pasemosahoraatratardeotrasmuchascosasacercadeotras ceremoniasycostumbresdeestosgentiles.
withalongneck;thisinstrumentissosonorous thatitcanbeheardaleagueandahalf away.To itsaccompanimenttheysingtheirchants,which theyknowbyheart;andtheirprincipalmenlearn frominfancytoplayitandsingtoit,accordingto theircustom.NowIshalltellmanyotherthings concerningtheceremoniesandcustomsof these heathen. XV. Of How the Buhuitihus Practice Medicine, and What They Teach the People, and of the Deceintions They Practice in Their Cures AlltheIndiansof theislandof Espaolahave many different kinds of cemes. In some they keepthebonesof theirfather,mother,relations, andforebears;thesecemesaremadeof stoneor wood.Theyhavemanyof bothkinds.Thereare somethatspeak,othersthatcausefoodplantsto grow,othersthatbringrain,andothersthatmake the winds blow. These simple, ignorant people, whoknownotourholyfaith,believethatthese idolsorratherdemonsdoallthesethings.When an Indian falls ill, they bring the buhuitihu to him.Thisdoctormustobserveadietjustlikehis patientandmustassumethesufferingexpression of asickman.Hemustalsopurgehimself just as the sick man does, by snuffing a powder called cohoba up his nose. This produces such intoxication that they do not know what they are doing; and they say many senseless things, declaringthattheyarespeakingwiththecemes and that the latter are telling him the cause of theillness. XVI. What these Buhuitihus Do Whenabuhuitihugoestocalluponapatient, beforeleavinghishuthetakessomesootfrom a cooking pot, or some charcoal, and blackens his face in order to make the sick man believe whateverhemaysayabouthissickness;thenhe takessomesmallbonesandalittlemeat,wraps the whole in something so it will not fall out, andputsitinhismouth.Meanwhilethepatient hasbeenpurgedinthemannerdescribedabove. Enteringthesickmanshut,thedoctorsitsdown, andallfallsilent;if thereareanychildreninthe hut, they are put out so they will not interfere with the buhuitihus work; only one or two of the principal men remain. Then the buhuitihu takessomegiieyoherb,...wide,andanotherherb, wrappedinanonionleaf fourincheslong(but

Capitulo XV: De las Observaciones de Estos Indios Behiques, y Cmo Profesan la Medicina, y Ensean a las Gentes, y en sus Curas Medicinales Muchas Veces se Engaan Todos,olamayorpartedelosdelaislaEspaola,tienen muchoscemesdediversassuertes.unoscontienenloshuesos desupadre,ydesumadre,yparientes,ydesusantepasados; los cuales estn hechos de piedra o de madera. y de ambas clasestienenmuchos;algunosquehablan,yotrosquehacen nacer las cosas que comen, y otros que hacen llover, y otros quehacensoplarlosvientos.Lascualescosascreenaquellos simplesignorantesquehacenaquellosdolos,oporhablarms apropiadamente,aquellosdemonios,noteniendoconocimiento denuestrasantafe.Cuandoalgunoestaenfermo,lellevanel behique,queeselmdicosobredicho.Elmdicoestobligado a guardar dieta, lo mismo que el paciente, y a poner cara de enfermo. Lo cual se hace de este modo que ahora sabris. Es preciso que tambin se purgue como el enfermo; y para purgarsetomanciertopolvo,llamadocohoba,aspirndolopor lanariz,elcuallesembriagadetalmodoquenosabenloque sehacen;yasdicenmuchascosasfueradejuicio,enlascuales afirmanquehablanconloscemes,yqueestoslesdicenquede ellosleshavenidolaenfermedad.

Capitulo XVI: De lo que Hacen Dichos Behiques Cuandovanavisitaraalgnenfermo,antesdesalirde casatomanhollndelasollasocarbnmolido,yseponenla caratodanegra,parahacercreeralenfermoloquelesparece

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the giieyo herb is what they all generally use), and taking it between his hands, he mashes it into a pulp; and then he puts it into his mouth atnightsoastovomitanythingharmfulthathe mayhaveeaten.Thenhebeginstosinghischant and, taking up a torch, drinks the juice of that herb. This done, he isquietfor a time;then he rises,goestowardthesickman,wholiesalonein themiddleof thehut,andwalksabouthimtwice or as many times as he thinks proper. Then he standsinfrontof himandtakeshimbythelegs, feelingof hisbody fromthethighsto thefeet, after which he draws his hands away forcefully, asif pullingsomethingout.Thenhegoestothe door,shutsit,andspeakstoit,saying:Begone tothemountain,orthesea,orwhereyouwill then after he has blown like one who blows chaff fromhishand,heturnsaround,joinshis handstogetherasif hewereverycold,blowson hishands, and sucksinhis breathasif sucking marrowfromabone,thensucksatthesickmans neck,orstomach,orshoulder,orcheeks,orthe belly or some other part of the body. Having done this, he begins to cough and make a face asif hehadeatensomethingbitter;thenhespits intohishandthestoneorboneorpieceof meat thatheputinhismouthathomeorontheroad. Andif itisapieceof food,hetellsthesickman, youmustknowthatyouhaveeatensomething thatcausedthesicknessfromwhichyousuffer. SeehowIhavetakenitoutof yourbody,where yourcemilodgeditbecauseyoudidnotprayto himorbuildhimashrineorgivehimsomeland. If itisastone,hesays,Takegoodcareof it. Sometimes they believe these stones are good andhelpwomeninchildbirth,andtheytakegood careof them,wrappingthemincotton,placing them in small baskets, and putting food before them;theydothesamewiththecemiestheyhave in their houses. on a holiday, when they have muchfood--fish,meat,orbread--theyputsome of eachfoodinthehouseof thecemi,andnext daytheycarrythisfoodbacktotheirhutsafter thecemihaseaten.Butitwouldtrulybeamiracle if thecemateof thatoranythingelse,forthe cemiisadeadthingof stoneorwood. XVII. How these Physicians Are Sometimes Paid Back for their Deceptions If thesickmanshoulddieinspiteof having doneallthesethings,andif hehasmanyrelations oronewhoislordoveravillageandsocanstand uptothebuhuitihuordoctor(formenof small influence dare not contend with them), then

acercadesuenfermedad;yluegocogenalgunoshuesecillosy unpocodecarne.yenvolviendotodoesoenalgunacosapara quenosecaigan,selometenenlaboca,estandoyaelenfermo purgado con el polvo que hemos dicho. Entrado el mdico en casa del enfermo, se sienta, y callan todos; y si hay nios los mandan fuera, para que ni impidan su oficio de behique, niquedaenlacasasinounoodosdelosmsprincipales.y estandoassolos,tomanalgunashierbasdegeyoanchas,y otrahierba,envueltaenunahojadecebolla,mediacuartalarga; yunadelosdichosgeyoseslaquetomantodoscomnmente, ytrituradasconlasmanoslasamasan;yluegoselaponenen labocapara vomitarloquehancomido,afindequeno les hagadao.Entoncescomienzanaentonarelcantosusodicho; y encendiendo una antorcha toman aquel jugo. Hecho esto primero, despus de estar algn tiempo quieto, se levanta el behique,yvahaciaelenfermoqueestasentadosoloenmedio delacasa,comosehadicho,ydadosvueltasalrededordeel, comoleparece;yluegoseleponedelante,ylotomaporlas piernas,palpndoloporlosmuslosysiguiendohastalospies; despustiradeelfuertemente,comosiquisieraarrancaralguna cosa.deahvaalasalidadelacasaycierralapuerta,ylehabla diciendo:vetealamontaa,oalmar,oadondequieras.y con un soplo, como quien sopla una paja, se vuelve una vez mas,juntalasmanosycierralaboca;yletiemblanlasmanos, comocuandosetienemuchofro,ysesoplalasmanos,yaspira el aliento, como cuando se sorbe el tutano de un hueso, y chupa al enfermo por el cuello, o por el estomago, o por la espalda,oporlasmejillas,oporelpecho,oporelvientreo pormuchaspartesdelcuerpo.Hechoesto,comienzaatosery ahacerfeosvisajes,comosihubieracomidounacosaamarga, yescupeenlamanoysacaloqueyahemosdichoqueensu casa,oporelcamino,sehabametidoenlaboca,seapiedra,o hueso,ocarne,comoyasehadicho.ysiescosadecomer,le dicealenfermo:Hasdesaberquehascomidounacosaque tehaproducidoelmalquepadeces;miracomotelohesacado delcuerpo,quetucemtelohabapuestoenelcuerpoporque nolehicisteoracin,onolefabricastealgntemplo,onole distealgunaheredad.ysiespiedra,ledicengurdalamuy bien.yalgunasvecestienenporciertoqueaquellaspiedras sonbuenas,yayudanahacerpariralasmujeres,ylasguardan con mucho cuidado, envueltas en algodn, metindolas en pequeascestas,yledandecomerdeloqueelloscomen;y lomismohacenconloscemesquetienenencasa.Algnda solemne,enquellevanmuchodecomer,pescado,carne,opan, ocualquierotracosa,ponendetodoenlacasadelcemi,para quecomadeaquelloeldichodolo.Aldasiguientellevantodas
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes estas viandas a sus casas, despus que ha comido el cem. y aslesayudadios comoelcemcomedeaquello,nideotra cosa,siendoelcemcosamuerta,formadadepiedraohecha demadera.
thosewhowishtodothebuhuitihumischief do thefollowing:First,inordertolearnif thesick mandiedthroughthedoctorsfault,orbecause he did not observe the diet that the doctor prescribedforhim,theserelationstakean herb which is called gueyo, whose leaves resemble those of the sweet basil, being thick and long; thisherbisalsocalledzacn.Theysqueezethe juicefromtheleaf,thencutthedeadmansnails andthehairabovehisforehead,poundthenails and hair to a powder between two stones, mix thispowderwiththejuiceof theherb,andpour themixturebetweenthedeadmanslipstofind outfromhimif thedoctorwasthecauseof his deathandwhetherheobservedhisdiet.Theyask thisof himmanytimes,untilatleasthespeaks as distinctly as if he were alive and answers all theirquestions,sayingthatthebuhuitihudidnot observethediet,orwasthecauseof hisdeath. Theysaythatthedoctoraskshimif heisalive, andthathecanspeakveryclearly;herepliesthat he is dead. After they have learned from him whattheywanttoknow,theyreturnhimtothe gravefromwhichtheytookhim.Theyperform this sorcery in still another way. They take the dead man and make a great fire like that used for making charcoal, and when the wood has turnedtolivecoals,theythrowthebodyintothat fierceblaze;thentheycoveritwithearth,asthe charcoal-burner does the charcoal, and leave it thereaslongastheythinkadvisable.Thenthey ask him the same question as above. The dead manrepliesthatheknowsnothing.Thistheyask of himtentimes,andtentimesherepliesinthe sameway.Againtheyaskhimif heisdead,but hewillspeakonlythosetentimes. XVIII. How the Dead Mans Relatives Avenge themselves When They Have Had a Reply Through the Sorcery of the Potions Thedeadmansrelationsassembleonacertain dayandlieinwaitforthesaidbuhuitihu,givehim such a thrashing that they break his legs, arms, andhead,andleavehimfordead.Atnight,they say,therecomemanydifferentkindsof snakes-white,black,green,andmanyothercolors--that lick the face and whole body of the physician whomtheIndianshaveleftfordead.Thistheydo twoorthreenightsinsuccession;andpresently, they say, the bones of his body knit together again and mend. And he rises and walks rather slowlytohishome.Thosewhomeethimonthe road say, Were you not dead? He replies that thecemiescametohisaidintheshapeof snakes.

Capitulo XVII: Cmo Algunas Veces los Sobredichos Mdicos se Han Engaado Cuando,despusdehaberhecholascosasmencionadas, de todos modos el enfermo se muere, si el muerto tiene muchosparientes,oesseordeunpueblo,ypuedeenfrentarse condichobehique,quequieredecirmedicopueslosque pocopuedennoseatrevenacontenderconestosmdicos--; elquelequierehacerdaohacelosiguiente:queriendosaber sielenfermohamuertoporculpadelmdico,oporqueno guardladietacomoesteloorden,tomanunahierbaque sellamageyo,quetienelashojassemejantesalaalbahaca, gruesaylarga,ypornombrellamasezacn.Sacan,pues,el jugodelahoja,ylecortanalmuertolasuasyloscabellos quetieneencimadelafrente,yloreducenapolvoentredos piedras,locualmezclanconeljugodedichahierbaylodan abeberalmuertoporlabocaoporlanarizy,haciendoesto, preguntanalmuertosielmedicofueocasindesumuertey siguardladieta.yestoselopreguntanmuchasveces,hasta que al fin habla tan claramente como si estuviese vivo; de modoquevienearesponderatodoaquelloquelepreguntan, diciendoqueelbehiquenoguardladieta,ofuecausantede sumuerteaquellavez.ydicenquelepreguntaelmdicosi estavivo,ycomohablatanclaramente;yelrespondequeesta muerto.y,despusquehansabidoloquequeran,lovuelven a la sepultura de donde lo sacaron para saber de el lo que hemosdicho.Hacentambindeotromodolosmencionados hechizosparasaberloquequieren:tomanalmuerto,yhacen ungranfuego,semejanteaaquelconqueelcarbonerohace carbn, y cuando los leos se han convertido en brasas, echanalmuertoenaquellagranhoguera,ydespuslocubren detierra,comoelcarbonerocubreelcarbn,yalllodejan estarcuantolesparece.yestandoas,lointerrogancomoya sehadichoantes:elcualrespondequenosabenada.yesto selopreguntandiezvecesydeallenadelanteyanohabla ms.Lepreguntansiestamuerto;perolnohablamsque estasdiezveces.
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And the dead mans relations, very angry and desperatebecausetheythoughttheyhadavenged thedeathof theirkinsman,againtrytolayhands on him; and if they catch him a second time, they pluck out his eyes and smash his testicles, for they say no amount of beating will kill one of thesephysiciansif theydonotfirsttearout histesticles.Howthedeadmanwhomtheyhave burnedrevealswhattheywishtoknow,andhow theytaketheirvengeance.Whentheyuncoverthe fire,thesmokerisesuntilitislostfromsight,and when it leaves the furnace, it makes a chirping noise.Thenitdescendsandentersthehutof the buhuitihu or doctor. If he did not observe the diet, he falls sick that very moment, is covered withsores,andhiswholebodypeels.Thisthey takeforasignthathedidnotobservehisdiet, andsotheytrytokillhiminthemannerdescribed above.Thesearethesorceriestheyperform. XIX. How They Make and Keep their Wooden or Stone Cemies Theymakethewoodencemiesinthisfashion. If amanwalkingalongthewayseesatreemoving itsroots,hestops,filledwithfear,andaskswho itis.Thetreereplies,Summonabuhuitihu,and hewilltellyouwhoIam.Thenthatmangoes insearchof aphysicianandtellshimwhathehas seen.Thesorcererorwarlockimmediatelyruns toward that tree, sits down by it, and prepares acohobaforit,asdescribedinthestoryof the fourbrothers.Andhavingmadethecohoba,he rises, and pronounces all its titles as ifit were a greatlord,andsaystoit:Tellmewhoyouare andwhatyouaredoinghere,andwhatyouwant of me and why you summoned me. Tell me if youwantmetocutyoudown,andif youwish tocomewithme,andhowyouwantmetocarry you;forIshallbuildahouseforyouandendow itwithland.Thenthatcemiortree,becomean idolordevil,tellshimtheshapeinwhichitwants to be made. And the sorcerer cuts it down and carvesitintotheshapethatithasordered,builds ahouseforitandendowsitwithland;andmany timesayearhemakescohobaforit. Thiscohobaistheirmeansof prayingtothe idolandalsoof askingitforriches.Whenthey wish to know if they will gain a victory over theirenemies,theyenterahuttowhichonlythe principalmenareadmitted.Andthelordisthe firsttomakethecohobaandplaysaninstrument; andwhilehemakesthecohobanonemayspeak. After he has finished his prayer he remains for some time with bowed head and arms resting

Capitulo XVIII: Cmo se Vengan los Parientes del Muerto Cuando Han Tenido Respuesta por El Hechizo de las Bebidas Se renen un da los parientes del muerto, y esperan al susodicho behique, y le dan tantos palos que le rompen las piernas y los brazos y la cabeza, molindolo todo, y lo dejan ascreyendohaberlomatado.yporlanochedicenquevienen muchasculebrasdediversasclases,blancas,negrasyverdes,yde otrosmuchoscolores,lascualeslamenlacaraytodoelcuerpo deldichomedicoquedejaronpormuertocomohemosdicho. Elcualseestaasdosotresdas,ymientrasestaas,dicenque loshuesosdelaspiernasydelosbrazosvuelvenaunirseyse sueldan,yqueselevanta,ycaminapocoysevuelveasucasa.y losquelovenlepreguntandiciendoTunoestabasmuerto? Perolrespondequeloscemesfueronensuayudaenforma de culebras. y los parientes del muerto, muy irritados porque creanhabervengadolamuertedesupariente,vindolovivo,se desesperanyprocuranecharlemanoparadarlemuerte;ysilo puedencogerotravez,lesacanlosojosylerompenlostestculos; porque dicen que ninguno de estos mdicos puede morir por muchospalosygolpesqueseledensinolesacanlostestculos. Capitulo XVIII BIS: Como Saben lo que Quieren de Aquel que Han Quemado, y Cmo se Vengan Cuandodescubrenelfuego,elhumoqueselevantasube haciaarribahastaquelopierdendevista,ydaunchirridoal salirdelhorno.vuelveluegoabajoyentraencasadelbehique medico,yesteseenfermaenesemismoinstantesinoguard ladieta,ysellenadellagasyselepelatodoelcuerpo.yesto tienenporsealdequenolahaguardado,yqueporesomuri elenfermo.Porlocualprocuranmatarlo,comoyasehadicho. Estassonpueslashechicerasquesuelenhacer. Capitulo XIX: Cmo Hacen y Guardan los Cemes de Madera o de Piedra Los de madera se hacen de este modo: cuando alguno vadecaminodicequeveunrbol,elcualmuevelaraz;yel hombrecongranmiedosedetieneylepreguntaquienes.yel leresponde:Llmameaunbehiqueyeltedirquiensoy.y aquelhombre,idoalsusodichomdico,lediceloquehavisto.y elhechiceroobrujocorreenseguidaaverelrboldequeelotro lehahablado,sesientanjuntoal,ylehacelacohoba,como
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes anteshemosdichoenlahistoriadeloscuatrohermanos.Hecha lacohoba,seponedepie,yledicetodossusttulos,comosi fuerandeungranseor,ylepregunta:dimequieneres,yque hacesaqu,yquequieresdemiyporquemehashechollamar. dimesiquieresquetecorte,osiquieresvenirconmigo,ycomo quieresquetelleve,queyoteconstruirunacasaconheredad. Entoncesaquelrbolocem,hechodoloodiablo,leresponde dicindolelaformaenquequierequelohaga.yellocortay lo hace del modo que le ha ordenado; le fabrica su casa con heredad,ymuchasvecesalaolehacelacohoba. Lacualcohobaesparahacerleoracin,yparacomplacerlo yparapreguntarysaberdeldichocemlascosasmalasybuenas tambin para pedirle riquezas. y, cuando quieren saber si alcanzaranvictoriacontrasusenemigos,entranenunacasaen la que no entra nadie ms que los hombres principales. y el seordeelloseselprimeroquecomienzaahacerlacohobay tocauninstrumento;ymientrashacelacohoba,ningunodelos queestnensucompaahablahastaqueelseorhaconcluido. despusquehaterminadosuoracin,estaunratoconlacabeza bajaylosbrazossobrelasrodillas;luegoalzalacabeza,mirando alcielo,yhabla.Entoncestodoslerespondenauntiempoenalta voz;yhabiendohabladotodos,dangracias,yelnarralavisin quehatenido,ebrioconlacohobaquehasorbidoporlanarizy selesubialacabeza.ydicehaberhabladoconelcem,yque conseguirnlavictoria,oquesusenemigoshuirn,oquehabr granmortandad,oguerras,ohambreuotracosatal,segnque el,queestaborracho,diceloquerecuerda.Juzguencomoestar elcerebro,puesdicenquelespareceverquelascasassevoltean conloscimientosparaarriba,yqueloshombrescaminancon lospieshaciaelcielo.yestacohobaselahacennosoloalos cemesdepiedraydemadera,sinotambinaloscuerposdelos muertos,segnarribahemosdicho. Los cemes de piedra son de diversas hechuras. Hay algunos que dicen que los mdicos sacan del cuerpo, y los enfermostienenqueaquellossonlosmejoresparahacerparir alasmujerespreadas.Hayotrosquehablan,loscualestienen formadeunnabogrueso,conlashojasextendidasportierray largascomolasdelasalcaparras;lascualeshojas,porlogeneral, separecenalasdelolmo;otrostienentrespuntas,ycreenque hacennacerlayuca.Tienenlarazsemejantealrbano.Lahoja de la yuca tiene cuando ms seis o siete puntas; no se a que cosapuedacompararla,porquenohevistoningunaquesele parezcaenEspaanienotropas.Eltallodelayucaesdela alturadeunhombre.digamosahoradelacreenciaquetienen enloquetocaasusdolosycemes,ydelosgrandesengaos quedeestosreciben.
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onhisknees;thenheliftshishead,looksupto thesky,andspeaks.Allrespondtohiminaloud voice, and having spoken, they all give thanks; andherelatesthevisionhehadwhilestupefied withthecohobathathesnuffeduphisnoseand thatwenttohishead.Hetellsthathehasspoken withthecemiandthattheywillgainthevictory, orthattheirenemieswillflee,orthattherewill bemanydeaths,orwars,orfamines,orthelike. orwhatevercomestohisaddledheadtosay.one can imagine the state he is in, for they say the houseappearstohimtobeturnedupside-down and the people to be walking with their feet in theair.Thiscohobatheymakenotonlyforthe cemesof stoneandwoodbutalsoforthebodies of the dead, as told above. There are different kindsof stonecemes.Somethedoctorsextract from bodies of sick people, and it is believed thesearethebesttoinducechildbirthinpregnant women.Thereareothercemesthatspeak;these havetheshapeof alargeturnipwithleavesthat trailoverthegroundandareaslongastheleaves of thecaperbush;theseleavesgenerallyresemble thoseof theelm,othershavethreepoints:The natives believe they help the yucca grow. The root resembles that of the radish, and the leaf generallyhassixorsevenpoints.Iknownotwith whattocompareit,becauseIhaveseennoplant likeitinSpainorinanyothercountry.Thestalk of theyuccaisahighasaman. Now I shall tell of their beliefs concerning theiridolsandcemes,andhowtheyaregreatly deludedbythem. XX. Concerning the Cem Buyab, Which Was Burned in Time of War, and Aftemoards, Being Washed With the Juice of the Yucca, Its Arms, Eyes, and Body Grew Back Because the yucca plant was stunted, they washed [this cemi B.K.] With wilter and the aforesaidjuiceinordertomakeitlarge;theysay thiscemimadeillthosewhohadmadeitbecause theyhadnotbroughtitcassavatoeat.Thename of thiscemiwasvaibrama.Andif someonefell ill, they called the buhuitihu and asked him the cause of that sick ness. The buhuitihu replied thatvaibramahadcauseditbecausefoodhadnot beensenttothecaretakersof thatcemishouse. XXI. Concerning the Cem of Guamorete They say that when they built the house of guamorete, who was a principal man, they put initacem,whichhekeptontopof hishouse;

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the name of this cemi was Corocote. once in timeof wartheenemiesof guamoretesetfire tohishouse.Then,theysay,Corocotegotupand walkedacrossbowshotfromthatplace,nextto thewater.Theyfurthersaythatwhilehelivedon the top of that house he would come down at nightandliewiththewomen.Afterguamorete died this cemi fell into the hands of another cacique,andcontinuedtoliewithwomen.They alsosaythattwocrownsgrewonhishead,and thatiswhytheyusedtosay[of someoneB.K.], sincehehastwocrownsheiscertainlytheson of Corocote. All this they believed without question. This cem later fell into the hands of another cacique named guatabanex, and the placewherehelivedwasnamedyacab. XXII. Concerning Another Cem Named Opiyelguovircn, Who Belonged to a Principal Man Named Cavavaniovavc, Who Had Many Vassals Theysaythiscemopiyelguovircnhadfour legs, like a dog, and was made of wood, and frequentlylefthishousebynightandwentinto thewoods.Theywouldgoinsearchof him,and bring him back to the house tied with cords, but he always returned to the woods. They say thatwhentheSpaniardsarrivedontheislandof Espaola, this cemi fled and went to a lagoon; theyfollowedhimtherebyhistracks,butnever sawhimagain,andknownothingmoreof him. Thatisthestorytheytell,andfaithfullydoItell itagain. XXIII. Concerning Another Cem Named Guabancex This cemi lived in the land of a principal cacique,namedAumatex.Itisawoman,andthey say she has two other cemes for companions; one is a herald and the other is the collector andgovernorof thewaters.Theysaythatwhen guabancex is angry, she raises the winds and water, throws down houses, and tears up the trees.Theysaythiscemiisawomanandismade of stones of that country. Her herald, named guatauba,carriesoutherordersbymakingthe other cemies of the province help in raising wind and rain. Her other companion is named Coatrisquiof himtheysaythathecollectsthe watersinthevalleysbetweenthemountainsand thenletsthemloosetodestroythecountryside. Thepeopleholdthistobegospeltruth.

Capitulo XX: Del Cem Buya y Aiba, del que Dicen que, Cuando Hubo Guerra, lo Quemaron, y Despus, Lavndolo con el Jugo de la Yuca, le Crecieron los Brazos, y le Nacieron de Nuevo los Ojos y le Creci el Cuerpo Layucaerapequea,yconelaguayeljugomencionado le lavaban para que fuese grande; y afirman que causaba enfermedades a los que haban hecho dicho cem, por no haberlellevadoyucaquecomer.EstecemisellamabaBaibrama. y cuando alguno se enfermaba, llamaban al behique, y le preguntabandequeprocederasuenfermedad,yelresponda queBaibramaselahabaenviado,porquenolehabamandado decomerporconductodelosquetenancuidadodesucasa. yestodecaelbehiquequelehabadichoelcemBaibrama. Capitulo XXI: Del Cem de Guamorete dicenquecuandohicieronlacasadeguamorete,elcual eraunhombreprincipal,pusieronalluncem,queelteniaen loaltodesucasa,elcualcemisellamabaCorocote,yunavez que tuvieron guerra entre ellos, los enemigos de guamorete quemaronlacasaenqueestabadichocemiCorocote.dicenque entoncesesteselevantoysemarchodeaquellugaradistancia deuntirodeballesta,juntoaunasaguas.ydicenqueestando encimadelacasa,denochebajabayyacaconlasmujeres;y quedespusguamoretemuri,yquedichocemvinoaparara manosdeotrocacique,yqueseguayaciendoconlasmujeres. ydicenademsqueenlacabezalenacierondoscoronas,por loquesolandecir:Puestoquetienedoscoronas,ciertamente eshijodeCorocote.yestolotenancertsimo.Estecemlo tuvo luego otro cacique, llamado guatabanex, y su lugar se llamabaJacagua. Capitulo XXII: Del otro Cemi, que se Llamaba Opiyelguobirn, y lo Tena un Hombre Principal, que se Llamaba Sabananiobabo, que Tenia Muchos Vasallos Bajo su Mando Elcualcemopiyelguobirndicenquetienecuatropies, comodeperro,yesdemadera,yquemuchasvecesporlanoche saladecasayseibaalasselvas.Allibanabuscarlo,yvuelto a casa lo ataban con cuerdas; pero l se volva a las selvas. y cuandoloscristianosllegaronaladichaislaEspaola,cuentan queesteescapysefueaunalaguna;yqueaquelloslosiguieron hastaallporsushuellas,peroquenuncamaslovieron,nisaben nadadel.Comolocompr,astambinlovendo.
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes Capitulo XXIII: Del otro Cem que se Llamaba Guabancex Este cem guabancex estaba en un pas de un gran cacique de los principales, llamado Aumatex. El cual cem es mujer, y dicen que hay otros dos en su compaa; el uno es pregonero y el otro recogedor y gobernador de las aguas. y dicen que cuando guabancex se encoleriza hace mover el vientoyelaguayechaportierralascasasyarrancalosrboles. Estecemdicenqueesmujer,yestahechodepiedrasdeaquel pas;ylosotrosdoscemesqueestnensucompaasellaman elunoguataba,yespregonerooheraldo,quepormandato de guabancex ordena que todos los otros cemes de aquella provincia ayuden a hacer mucho viento y lluvia. El otro se llama Coatrisquie, el cual dicen que recoge las aguas de los valles entre las montaas, y despus las deja correr para que destruyanelpas.yestolotienenellosporcierto.
XXIV. Their Beliefs Conceming the Cemi Named Faraguvaol Thiscemiisanidolwhobelongstoaprincipal cacique of the island of Espaola and goes by various names. He was found in a manner that I shall now relate. Theysaythat one day in the past, before the island was discovered [by the Spaniards B.K.], but they do not know how longago,someIndianswhilehuntingfoundan animal which they pursued; it threw itself into aditch,andwhentheylookedforit,theysawa logthatseemedalive.Atsightof thisthehunter immediately ran to his lord, who was a cacique andthefatherof guarayonel,andtoldhimwhat hehadseen.Theywentthereandfoundittobe asthehunterhadsaid,sotheytookthatlogand built a house for it. They say the cemi left that houseseveraltimesandreturnedtoaplacenear that place whence they had brought him. The aforesaidlordorhissonguarayonelsentmento searchforthecemi,andtheyfoundhimhiding; they tied him up again and put him in a sack; yet,tiedashewas,hegotawayasbefore.These ignorantpeopleholdthistobemostcertaintruth. XXV. Concerning What Is Alleged to Have Been Said by Two Principal Caciques of the Island of Espaola, One of them Cacivaquel, Father of the Aforesaid Guarayonel, and the Other, Gamanacoel Thegreatlordwhotheybelieveisinheaven (asIwroteatthebeginningof thisbook)ordered Cacivaquel to fast, which they all generally do, staying in seclusion six or seven days at a time without eating or drinking anything except the juice of the herbs with which they also wash themselves.Whenthefastingperiodisfinished, theybegintotakenourishment.duringthetime of their fast their bodily and mental weakness causes them to see things that they perhaps wanted to see. They all fast in honor of their cemes,inordertolearnfromthemif theywill gain a victory over their enemies, to acquire riches,ortosatisfysomeotherdesire.Andthey say this cacique claimed to have spoken with yiocavugama,whohadannouncedtothecacique that those who succeeded to his power would enjoy it only a short time because there would come to his country a people wearing clothes whowouldconquerandkilltheIndians,andthat theywoulddiefromhunger.Atfirsttheythought hereferredtothecannibals;later,reflectingthat the cannibals only robbed and then went away,

Capitulo XXIV: De lo que Creen de otro Cem, que se Llama Baraguabael EstecemesdeuncaciqueprincipaldelaislaEspaola, y es un dolo, y le atribuyen diversos nombres, y fue hallado delmodoqueahoraoiris.dicenqueunda,antesdequela isla fuese descubierta, en el tiempo pasado, no saben cuanto tiempohace,andandodecaza,hallaronunciertoanimal,tras delcualcorrieron,ylhuyaunhoyo;ymirandoporl,vieron unleoqueparecacosaviva.dedondeelcazador,alveresto, corriasuseor,queeracaciqueypadredeguaraionel,yle dijoloquehabavisto.Luegofueronallyencontraronlacosa comoelcazadordeca;ycogidoaqueltronco,leedificaronuna casa. dicen que de aquella casa salio varias veces, y se iba al lugardedondelohabantrado,peronoyaalmismolugar,sino cerca.Porlocualelseorsobredicho,osuhijoguaraionel,lo mandabuscarylohallaronescondido;yloatarondenuevoy lometieronenunsaco.ycontodoesto,asatado,seibacomo antes.yestotieneporcosaciertsimaaquellagenteignorante.

Capitulo XXV: De las Cosas que Afirman Haber Dicho dos Caciques Principales de la Isla Espaola, Uno Llamado Cacibaquel, Padre del Mencionado Guarionex, y el Otro Guamanacoel yaaquelgranseor,quedicenestenelcielo,segnesta escritoenelprincipiodeestelibro,hizoCicihuunayuno,elcual
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they decided he must have meant some other people. That is why they now believe that the idolprophesiedthecomingof theAdmiraland thepeoplewhocamewithhim.NowIshalltell what I have seen and experienced. When I and otherbrotherswereabouttodepartforCastile, I, Fray Ram6n, a poor anchorite [was ordered B.K.]toremain,andIwenttothefortressof La Magdalena,whichwasbuiltbydonChristopher Columbus,Admiral,viceroy,andgovernorof the islandsandmainlandof theIndies,byorderof KingFerdinandandQueenIsabellaourmasters. While I was in that fort, in the company of its captain, Arteaga, god was pleased to enlighten withthelightof theHolyCatholicFaiththeentire householdof theprincipalchief of theprovince in which stands the fortress of Magdalena. This province was called Macorix, and its lord is named guavaoconel, which means son of guavaenequn.Inthathousewerehisservants andfavorites,whoarecalledyahunaboriu;there were sixteen persons in all, all relations of his, including five grown brothers. one of them died, and the other four received the water of holybaptism,andIbelievetheydiedmartyrs,as isshownbytheirconstancyandthemannerof their death. The first to be killed after baptism was an Indian named guaticav, who received the baptismal name of Juan. He was the first Christiantosufferacrueldeath,andcertainamI thathediedamartyrsdeath.Ilearnedfromsome whowerepresentwhenhediedthatherepeatedly said,diosnaboriadaca,diosnaboriadaca,which means,Iamtheservantof god.Hisbrother Antonioandanotherwhowaswithhimdiedin thesamemanner,utteringthesamewords.The peopleof thishouseholdalwayswereattentiveto mywishes.Allthosewhohavesurvivedarestill Christians, thanks to the work of the aforesaid ChristopherColumbus,viceroyandgovernorof theIndies;andnow,throughgodsfavor,there aremanymoreChristians. NowIshalltellwhathappenedinthefortress of La Magdalena. While I was there, the Lord AdmiralcametorelieveArteagaandsomeother Christians who were besieged by their enemies, the subjects of a principal cacique named Caonab.AtthattimetheLordAdmiraltoldme that the province of Magdalena had a language that was different from any other and was not understood elsewhere on the island, and that I shouldgotolivewithanotherprincipalcacique named guarionex, a lord over many vassals, as his language was understood throughout the country. By his order, then, I went to live with

hacencomnmentetodosellos.Paraloqueestnrecluidosseis osietedassincomercosaalguna,exceptojugodelashierbas conquetambinselavan.Acabadoestetiempo.Comienzana comeralgunacosaquelesdasustento.yeneltiempoquehan estadosincomer,porladebilidadquesientenenelcuerpoyen lacabeza,dicenhabervistoalgunacosaquizdeseadaporellos. Porlocualtodoshacenaquelayunoenhonordeloscemes quetienen,parasabersialcanzaranvictoriadesusenemigos, paraadquirirriquezasoporcualquierotracosaquedesean. y dicen que este cacique afirm haber hablado con yucahuguam,quienlehabadichoquecuantosdespusdesu muertequedasenvivos,gozaranpocotiempodesudominio, porquevendraasupasunagentevestida,queloshabrade dominar y matar, y que se moriran de hambre. Pero ellos pensaronprimeroqueestoshabrandeserloscanbales,mas luego, considerando que estos no hacan sino robar y huir, creyeronqueotragentehabradeseraquellaquedecaelcem. dedondeahoracreenquesetratadelAlmiranteydelagente quellevaconsigo. Ahoraquierocontarloquehevistoypasado,cuandoyoy otroshermanosbamosairaCastilla.yyo,frayRamn,pobre ermitao,mequede,yfuialaMagdalena,aunafortalezaquehizo construirdonCristbalColn,almirante,virreyygobernador delasIslasydelaTierraFirmedelasIndias,pormandatodel reydonFernandoydelareinadoaIsabel,nuestrosseores. Estandoyo,pues,enaquellafortalezaencompaadeArteaga, capitn de ella, por mandato del susodicho gobernador don CristbalColn,plugoadiosiluminarconlaluzdelasanta fecatlicatodaunacasadelagenteprincipaldelasobredicha provinciadeMagdalena,cuyaprovinciasellamabayaMacors, yelseordeellasellamaguanaoboconel,quequieredecirhijo deguanaoboconel,quequieredecirhijodeguanaobocn.En dichacasaestabansusservidoresyfavoritos,quesonllamados naboras;yeranentotaldiecisispersonas,todosparientes,entre loscualeshabacincohermanosvarones.deestosmuriuno, ylosotroscuatrorecibieronelaguadelsantobautismo;ycreo quemurieronmrtires,porloqueensumuerteyconstancia se vio. El primero que recibi la muerte, y el agua del santo bautismo,fueunindiollamadoguaticaba,quedespustuvo el nombre de Juan. Este fue el primer cristiano que padeci muertecruel,ytengociertoquetuvomuertedemrtir.Porque hesabidoporalgunosqueestuvieronpresentesasumuerte, quedeca:diosnaboradaca,diosnaboradaca,quequiere deciryosoysiervodedios.yasmurisuhermanoAntn, y con el otro, diciendo lo mismo que el. Los de esta casa y
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes gentetodosestuvieronenmicompaaparahacercuantome agradaba. Los que quedaron vivos y todava viven hoy, son cristianosporobradelsusodichodonCristbalColn,virrey ygobernadordelasIndias;yahorahaymuchosmascristianos porlagraciadedios. digamos ahora lo que nos sucedi en la Provincia de Magdalena. Hallndome en la mencionada Magdalena, vino eldichoseorAlmiranteensocorrodeArteagaydealgunos cristianosasediadosporlosenemigos,sbditosdeuncacique principal llamado Canoabo. El seor Almirante me dijo entonces que la provincia de Magdalena (o) Macors tena lenguadistintadelaotra,yquenoseentendasuhablaportodo elpas.Peroqueyomefueseavivirconotrocaciqueprincipal, llamadoguarionex,seordemuchagente,pueslalenguade este se entenda por toda la tierra. As, por su mandato, me fui a vivir con el dicho guarionex. y bien es verdad que le dijealseorgobernadordonCristbalColon:Seor.?Como quierevuestraSeoraqueyovayaavivirconguarionex,no sabiendomaslenguaqueladeMacors?dmelicenciavuestra Seora para que venga conmigo alguno de los de Nuhuirey, que despus fueron cristianos, y saban ambas lenguas. Lo cualmeconcedi,ymedijoquellevaseconmigoaquienmas meagradase.ydiosporsubondadmedioporcompaaal mejordelosindios,yelmsentendidoenlasantafecatlica;y despusmeloquito.Alabadoseadiosquemelodioyluegome loquito.verdaderamenteyoloteniaporbuenhijoyhermano; eraguatcanabu,quedespusfuecristianoysellamoJuan. de las cosas que all nos pasaron, yo, pobre ermitao, diralguna,ydecmosalimosyoyguatcabanuyfuimosala Isabela,yallesperamosalseorAlmirantehastaquevolvidel socorroquedioalamagdalena.ytanprontocomollego,nos fuimos adonde el seor gobernador nos haba mandado, en compaadeunoquesellamabaJuandeAyala,quetuvoasu cargounafortalezaquedichogobernadordonCristbalColn hizofabricaramedialeguadellugardondenosotroshabamos deresidir.yelseorAlmirantemandoadichoJuandeAyala quenosdiesedecomerdetodoloquehabaenlafortaleza, lacualfortalezasellamabaConcepcin.Nosotrosestuvimos porconsiguienteconaquelcaciqueguarionexcasidosaos, ensendolesiemprenuestrasantafeylascostumbresdelos cristianos.Alprincipiomostrbuenavoluntadydioesperanza dehacercuantonosotrosquisiramosydequerersercristiano, diciendo que le ensesemos el Padre Nuestro, el Ave Maria yelCredoyetodaslasotrasoracionesycosaspropiasdeun cristiano.yasaprendielPadreNuestroyelAveMariayel
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guarionex. However, I said to the governor, donChristopherColumbus,Sir,howcanyour Lordship ask me to stay with guarionex, when the only language I know is that of Macorix? LetyourLordshippermittocomewithmeone of the Nuhuirci (these people later became Christians) who know both languages. He granted my wish, and said I might take along anyone I wished. And god was pleased to give me for companion the best of all the Indians, and the best instructed in the Holy Catholic Faith;afterwardsHetookhimfromme:Praised be god who gave him to me and then took him away. Truly I looked upon him as my own goodsonandbrother.Hewasguaicavan,who afterwardsbecameaChristianunderthenameof Juan. I, a poor anchorite, shall tell some of the thingsthatbefellusthere,beginningwithhowI and guaicavan departed for Isabela and there waitedfortheLordAdmiraluntilhisreturnfrom therelief of Magdalena.Assoonashereturned, wesetoutfortheplacewheretheLordgovernor hadsentus,accompaniedbyJuandeAyala,who hadcommandof thefortressof LaConcepci6n that the governor Christopher Columbus had built half a league from the place where we weregoingtoreside.TheLordAdmiralordered JuandeAyalatoprovideuswithfoodfromthe storesof thefortress.Westayedwiththecacique guarionex almost two years, during which time we instructed him in our holy faith and the customs of the Christians. At first he appeared well disposed toward us, causing us to believe that he would do all we wished and wanted to becomeaChristian,forheaskedustoteachhim thePaterNoster,theAveMaria,theCredo,and all the other prayers and things that are proper for a Christian to know. He learned the Pater Noster, the Ave Maria, and the Credo, as did many other persons of his household; he said hisprayerseverymorningandmadethepeople of his household say them twice a day. But he later grew angry with us and backslid from his goodpurposesonaccountof theprincipalmen of thatcountry,whoscoldedhimforobeyingthe Christianlaw.TheysaidtheChristianswerecruel andhadtakentheirlandsawaybyforce;therefore theyadvisedhimtopaynoheedtotheChristians; instead they should take counsel together how they might best kill the Christians, since these wereinsatiableandtherewasnowayof placating them. So he gave up his good ways and we, seeing that he was drawing away from us and abandoning our teachings, decided to go where we might have more success in indoctrinating

LaprimeracrnicareligiosadelCaribe
theIndiansinourholyfaith.Soweleftforthe countryof anotherprincipalchief whoseemed well disposed toward us and said he wanted to beaChristian.ThiscaciquewasnamedMaviatu. Howwedepartedforthecountryof Maviatu, beingI,FrayRamnPane,apooranchorite,Fray Juan de Borgoa, of the order of St. Francis, and Juan Matthew, who was the first to receive baptismontheislandof Espaola.Thedayafter weleftthevillageanddwellingof guarionexfor thelandof thecaciqueMaviatu,thepeopleof guarionexbuiltahutnexttothechapel,wherewe hadleftsomeimagesbeforewhichtheneophytes could kneel and pray and I find comfort; these neophyteswerethemother,brothers,andrelatives of Juan Matthew; afterwards seven others joined them. Eventually all the members of his householdbecameChristiansandremainedloyal toourholyfaith,keepingwatchoverthatchapel andsomefieldsthatIhadcausedtobetilled.on theseconddayafterourdepartureforMaviatus village,byordersof guarionexsixmencameto thechapelandtoldthesevenneophyteswhohad itinchargetotakethesacredimagesthatIhad leftintheircareanddestroythem,becauseFray Ramnandhiscompanionshadgoneawayand would not know who I had done it. The seven boys who guarded the chapel tried to prevent themfromentering;buttheyforcedtheirwayin, tookthesacredimages,andcarriedthemaway. XXVI. What Happened to the Images, and of the Miracle That God Caused to Pass in Order to Show His Power Afterleavingthechapelthosementhrewthe images to the ground, heaped earth on them, and pissed on top, saying, Now will you yield goodandabundantfruit;theyofferedthisinsult because they had buried the images in a tilled field. Seeing this, the lads who watched over the chapel ran to their elders, who were in the fields,andtoldthemthatguarionexspeoplehad desecrated the images and had jeered at them. The Indians immediately left what they were doingandrancryingtotellwhathadhappened todonBartholomewColumbus,thengoverning forhisbrothertheAdmiral,whohadsailedfor Castile.Astheviceroyslieutenantandgovernor of theislands,hebroughtthosewickedmento trial,andtheircrimehavingbeenestablished,he causedthemtobepubliclyburnedatthestake. However,guarionexandhispeoplepersistedin theirevildesignof killingalltheChristiansonthe

Credo, y lo mismo aprendieron muchos de su casa; y todas las maanas deca sus oraciones y hacia que las dijesen dos vecesaldalosdesucasa.Perodespusseenojoyabandono su buen propsito, por culpa de otros principales de aquella tierra,loscualeslereprendanporquedeseabaobedecerlaley de los cristianos, siendo as que los cristianos eran malvados y se haban apoderado de sus tierras por la fuerza. Por eso le aconsejaban que no se ocupara ms de las cosas de los cristianos,sinoqueseconcertasenyconjurasenparamatarlos, puestoquenopodansatisfacerlosyhabanresueltonohacer enmodoalgunoloqueellosquieren.debidoaqueseapartode subuenpropsito,nosotros,viendoqueseapartabaydejabalo quelehabamosenseado,resolvimosmarcharnoseirdonde mejor fruto pudiramos obtener, enseando a los indios y adoctrinndolosenlascosasdelafe.yasnosfuimosaotro caciqueprincipal,quenosmostrababuenavoluntaddiciendo quequerasercristiano.ElcualcaciquesellamabaMabiatu.

Capitulo XXV {BIS}: Como Partimos para Ir al Pas de Dicho Mabiatu, Esto Es, Yo, Fray Ramn Pan, Pobre Ermitao, Fray Juan de Borgoa, de la Orden de San Francisco, y Juan Mateo, el Primero que Recibi El Agua del Santo Bautismo en la Isla Espaola Alsegundodaquepartimosdelpuebloyresidenciade guarionexparairaotrocaciquellamadoMabiatu,lagentede guarionexedificabaunacasajuntoaladoratorio,elcualdejamos algunasimgenesantelascualessearrodillasenyorasenyse consolasenloscatecmenos,queeranlamadre,loshermanos ylosparientesdelmencionadoJuanMateo,elprimercristiano, a los que se juntaron otros siete; y despus todos los de su casasehicieroncristianos,ypreservaronensubuenpropsito segnnuestrafe.demodoquetodalareferidafamiliaquedaba para guardar dicho adoratorio y algunas heredades que yo haba labrado o hecho labrar. y, habiendo quedado aquellos encustodiadedichoadoratorio,alsegundodadespusdeque hubimos partido para ir al sobredicho Mabiatu, fueron seis hombres al adoratorio, que dichos catecmenos, en numero de siete, tenan bajo custodia, y por mandato de guarionex les dijeron que tomasen aquellas imgenes que fray Ramn haba dejado al cuidado de los sobredichos catecmenos, las destrozasenyrompiesen,puesfrayRamnysuscompaeros sehabanmarchado,ynosabranquienlohabahecho.Porque losseiscriadosdeguarionexquefueronall,encontraronalos seismuchachosquecustodiabaneloratorio,temiendoloque
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Lourdesdomnguez,LuizEstevamdeoliveiraFernandes despus sucedi. y los muchachos, as adoctrinados, dijeron quenoqueranqueentrasen;masellosentraronalafuerza,y tomaronlasimgenesyselasllevaron.

dayassignedforthemtopaytheirtributeof gold. Theconspiracybeingdiscovered,theyweremade prisonersontheverydaysetfortheirrevolt.yet someperseveredintheirdesign,killingfourmen andJuanMatthew,thechief clerk,andhisbrother Antonio, who had been baptized. Then those rebels ran to the place where they had hidden the images and broke them to pieces. Several dayslatertheownerof thefieldwenttodigup someyams(whicharerootsthatlookliketurnips or radishes), and in the place where the images had been buried two or three yams had grown togetherintheshapeof across.Thiscrosswas foundbythemotherof guarionex--theworst womanIeverknewinthoseparts.Sheregarded itasagreatmiracle,sayingtothegovernorof the fortof Concepcin,godcausedthiswonderto appearintheplacewheretheimageswerefound, forreasonsknownonlytoHimself. Let me now tell how the first Indians to receivebaptismweremadeChristians,andwhat isrequiredtomakethemallChristians.Truly,this aislandhasgreatneedof menwhowillpunish thoseIndianlordswhowillnotlettheirpeople receive instruction in the Holy Catholic Faith; forthosepeoplecannotstanduptotheirlords.I speakwithauthority,forIhavewornmyself out inseekingtolearnthetruthaboutthismatter.But allthisisclearfromwhatIhavealreadysaid:A wordtothewiseissufficient.ThefirstChristians onEspaola,then,werethoseIhavementioned, namely,yavauvariandseventeenpersonsof his household,allof whombecameChristiansmerely bybeingtaughtthattherewasagodwhomade all things and created Heaven and earth. There wasnoneedforfurtherdiscussionorinstruction, sowelldisposedweretheytothefaith.Butwith others force and craft are necessary, for we are notallof thesamenature.WhereasthoseIspoke of madeagoodbeginningandabetterend,there areotherswhobeginwellandafterwardsmock what was taught them: Such require the use of forceandpunishment. The first Indian to receive baptism on Espaola was Juan Matthew, baptized on the feast day of St. Matthew the Evangelist in the year of 1496, and followed in baptism by all the members of his household. More progress would be made if there were clergy to instruct them in the Holy Catholic Faith, and people to hold them in check. And if I am asked why I think this business so easy, I shall say that I know it by experience, especially in the person of the principal cacique, named Mahuviativir, who for three years now has continued to be a

Capitulo XXVI: De lo que Sucedi con las Imgenes, y del Milagro que Hizo Dios para Mostrar Su Poder Salidos aqullos del adoratorio, tiraron las imgenes al suelo y las cubrieron de tierra y despus orinaron encima, diciendo: Ahora sern buenos y grandes tus frutos. y esto porquelasenterraronenuncampodelabranza,diciendoque seriabuenoelfrutoqueallsehabaplantado;ytodoestopor vituperio. Lo cual visto por los muchachos que guardaban el adoratorio, por orden de los susodichos catecmenos, corrieron a sus mayores, que estaban en sus heredades, y les dijeron que la gente de guarionex haba destrozado y escarnecido las imgenes. Lo cual sabido de ellos, dejaron lo que hacan y corrieron gritando a darle conocimiento a don BartolomColon,queteniaaquelgobiernoporelAlmirantesu hermano,quesehabaidoaCastilla.Este,comolugarteniente delvirreyygobernadordelasislas,formoprocesocontralos malhechoresy,sabidalaverdad,loshizoquemarpblicamente. Pero con esto guarionex y sus vasallos no se apartaron del mal propsito que tenan de matar a los cristianos en el da designadoparallevarleseltributodeoroquepagaban.Perosu conjuracinfuedescubierta,yasfueronpresosaquelmismo da que queran llevarla a efecto. y no obstante todo esto, perseveraronensuperversopropsito,yponindoloporobra mataronacuatrohombres,yaJuanMateo,principalcristiano, yasuhermanoAntn,quehabarecibidoelsantobautismo.y corrieronadondehabanescondidolasimgenesylashicieron pedazos.Pasadosalgunosdas,elseordeaquelcampofuea sacarlosajes,loscualesajessonciertasracessemejantesalos nabos,yotrasparecidasarbanos;yenellugardondehaban estadoenterradaslasimgenes,habannacidodosotresajes, comosihubiesenpuestoelunopormediodelotro,enforma de cruz. No era posible que nadie encontrase tal cruz, y sin embargolahallolamadredeguarionex,queeslapeormujer queheconocidoenaquellaspartes,lacualtuvoestoporgran milagro,ydijoalalcaldedelafortalezadelaConcepcin:Este milagrohasidomostradopordiosdndefueronhalladaslas imgenes.diossabeporque. digamosahoracomosehicieroncristianoslosprimeros que recibieron el santo bautismo y lo que es necesario hacer para quesehagantodoscristianos.yverdaderamentequela
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goodChristian,keepingonlyonewife,although theIndiansareaccustomedtohavetwoorthree wives, and the principal men up to ten, fifteen, andtwenty. ThisiswhatIhavebeenabletolearnthrough diligentinquiryof thecustomsandritesof the Indiansof Espaola,andIseekneitherspiritual nor temporal benefit from it. If it redound to thepraiseandserviceof ourLord,mayHebe pleasedtogivemestrengthtopersevere;if not, mayHedeprivemeof myunderstanding. Endof theworkof thepooranchoriteRamn Pane.
Translation: Peter Bakewell

isla tiene gran necesidad de gente para castigar a los seores cuandosonmerecedoresdeello(y)daraconoceraaquellos pueblos cosas de la santa fe catlica y adoctrinarlos en ella; porquenopuedenynosabenoponerse.yyopuedodecirlo converdad,puesmehefatigadoparasabertodoesto,yestoy cierto de que se habr comprendido por lo que hasta ahora hemosdicho;yabuenentendedor,bastanpocaspalabras. Los primeros cristianos en la isla Espaola fueron, pues, los que arriba hemos dicho, a saber, Nabora, en cuya casahabadiecisietepersonas,quetodassehicieroncristianas, con darles solo a conocer que hay un dios, que ha hecho todaslascosas,ycreoelcieloylatierra,sinqueotracosase discutieseniselesdieseaentender,porqueeranpropensosa creerfcilmente.Pedroconlosotroshaynecesidaddefuerzay deingenio,porquenotodossomosdeunamismanaturaleza. Comoaquellostuvieronbuenprincipioymejorfin,habrotros quecomenzaranbienysereirndespusdelosqueselesha enseado;conloscualeshaynecesidaddefuerzaycastigo. El primero que recibi el santo bautismo en la isla EspaolafueJuanMateo,elcualsebautizoeldadeevangelista SanMateoelao1496,ydespustodasucasa,enlaquehubo muchos cristianos. y ms adelante se ira, si hubiese quien losadoctrinaseylesenseaselasantafecatlica,ygenteque los refrenase. y si alguien me preguntase por que yo creo tan fcil estenegocio, dir quelo he visto por experiencia, y especialmenteenuncaciqueprincipalllamadoMahubiatbire, el cual hace ya tres aos que continua con buena voluntad, diciendo que quiere ser cristiano, y que no quiere tener ms queunamujer,aunquesuelentenerdosotres,ylosprincipales diez,quinceyveinte. Estoesloqueyohepodidosaberyentenderacercade las costumbres y los ritos de los indios de la Espaola, por la diligencia que en ellos he puesto. En lo cual no pretendo ningunautilidadespiritualnitemporal.PlegueaNuestroSeor, siestoredundaenbeneficioyserviciosuyo,darmegraciapara poderperseverar;ysihadeserdeotramanera,quemequiteel entendimiento. FindelaobradelpobreermitaoRamnPan.

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