Santo Domingo | Page 3

a House with the Products of the Palm-tree
Room in "Casino de la Juventud," Santo Domingo City
A Holiday Gathering, Santo Domingo City
Ruins of San Francisco Church, Santo Domingo City
A "Calvario" in the Road
Road Scene: A Mudhole
Wharf and Harbor of San Pedro de Macoris
Entrance to Cathedral of Santo Domingo
"House of Columbus," Ruins of Diego Columbus' Palace
The "Tower of Homage," the oldest fortification erected by white men
in America: View from mouth of Ozama River View from within fort
Puerto Plata Scene: Milkmen
Puerto Plata Scene: The Ox as a Riding Animal
Sanctuary of Santo Domingo Cathedral
Diagram of Sanctuary of Cathedral

Lead Box found in 1877 with Remains of Columbus
Inscription on Lid of Lead Box
Obverse Side of Silver Plate
Reverse Side of Silver Plate
The Bane of Santo Domingo: Intrenchment at Puerta del Conde during
a revolution
Independence Plaza, Santo Domingo City
Cathedral Plaza, Santo Domingo City
SANTO DOMINGO

CHAPTER I
HISTORICAL SKETCH.--DAYS OF THE CONQUEST.--1492 to
1533
Aborigines.--Discovery.--Founding of Isabela.--Disaffection of the
colonists.--Indian wars.--Oppression of the Indians.--Founding of Santo
Domingo City.--Roldan's insurrection.--Humiliation of
Columbus,--Ovando's administration.--Extermination of the
natives.--Administrations of Diego Columbus.--Treaty with Indian
survivors.
When Columbus, in December, 1492, sailed along the northern coast of
the island of Haiti or Santo Domingo, he was more enchanted with
what he saw than he had been with any of his previous discoveries.
Giant mountains, covered with verdant forests, seemed to rise
precipitately from the blue waters and lift their heads to the very clouds.
Beautiful rivers watered fertile valleys, luscious fruits hung from the
trees, fragrant flowers carpeted the ground, and the air was filled with
the songs of birds of gay plumage. There were scenes of nature's
magnificence such as are found only in the tropics. Columbus, as he
gazed upon them in admiration, little thought that this beautiful island
was to witness his greatest sorrows, that it was to be his final resting
place, and that it was in later generations to become the theater of long
years of war and carnage.
At the time of its discovery the island of Santo Domingo was thickly

inhabited. The native Indians were Arawaks belonging to the same race
as those who occupied the other larger West India Islands. Unlike the
fierce Caribs who inhabited some of the smaller Antilles, the Arawaks
were of a gentle and meek disposition. They were inclined to idleness
and sensuality. Columbus lauded their kindliness and generosity; the
possession of these traits, however, did not prevent them from fighting
bravely when exasperated.
Living in the stone age, they knew none of the useful metals, but gold
ornaments were used for adornment. Older men and married women
wore short aprons of cotton or feathers; all other persons went entirely
nude. Their favorite amusements were ball games and savage dances
with weird, monotonous music; their religion was the worship of a
great spirit and of subordinate deities represented by idols, called
"zemis," carved of wood and stone in grotesque form, and of which
some are still occasionally found in caverns or tombs. They dwelt in
rude palm-thatched huts, the principal article of furniture being the
hammock. Simple agriculture, hunting and fishing provided their
means of livelihood.
The natives called the island Haiti, signifying "high ground," but the
western portion was also called Babeque or Bohio, meaning "land of
gold" and the eastern part Quisqueya, meaning "mother of the earth."
The name Quisqueya is the one by which Dominican poets now refer to
their country. The inhabitants lived in communities ruled by local
caciques, and the country was divided into five principal regions, each
under an absolute chief cacique, as follows:
Magua, signifying "watered plain," the northeastern part of the island
and comprising most of what is to-day known as the Cibao--that part of
the Dominican Republic lying north of the central mountain-range. The
chief was Guarionex.
Marien, or Mariel, comprised the northwestern portion of the island and
was ruled by Guacanagari.
Jaragua comprised the southwestern part, its chief being Bohechio, the
oldest of the caciques.

Maguana extended from the center of the island to the south coast near
Azua and was ruled by the proud Caonabo.
Higuey, or Higuayagua, the most bellicose portion of the country,
comprised the entire southeast and was ruled by Cayacoa.
Columbus happened upon the island on his first voyage. After
discovering Guanahani on October 12, 1492, and vainly searching for
Japan among the Bahama Islands, he discovered Cuba and while
skirting along the north shore of what he supposed to be the mainland
heard of an island said to be rich in gold, lying to the east. Taking an
easterly course, he was abandoned by the Pinta, one of his caravels,
whose captain, disregarding the admiral's signals, sailed away to seek
his fortune alone. Continuing with his