The Diary of Christopher Columbus

Most people know that one of the sad but true facts about Christopher Columbus’s voyage of discovery is that the natives were wiped out within a few decades after Columbus’s first arrival. This was partly due to diseases brought by the Spaniards for which the natives had no immunity; and partly due to the Spaniards lust for gold and spices, which led to armed battles in which the natives had no chance. What I didn’t know was that Columbus himself spoke glowingly and admiringly of the natives he met. In his diary, he offers high praise for the natives’ physical appearance, culture, manners, gentility, cleanliness and agriculture. He offers a very fond description of the great cacique (chief or king) Guacanagari. The Admiral left strict instructions for his men not to disturb native villages, nor should they take any native belongings.

… they should greatly respect King Guacanagari and his chiefs and principal men, or nitaynos, and other inferior chiefs. And they should avoid as they would death annoying or tormenting the Indians, bearing in mind how much they owe these people, and why it is necessary to keep them content, since they are remaining in Indian land and under Indian dominion. They should strive, by their honest and gentle speech, to gain the good will of the Indians, keeping their friendship and love, so that our relationship with them will be as friendly and pleasant, and more so, when I return.

Sadly, the men left by Columbus at La Navidad on Hispañola, the first fort made by Europeans in the New World, ignored these instructions and all perished, as did many natives. It was the beginning of the end for the Taino culture.