FIRST YEARS IN THE NEW WORLD.
"PAPA dear," said Maria, one evening not long after this, "why did our
people ever leave Spain and come here to make a home for themselves? Of
course, they had heard what a beautiful island it is, but was that the
only reason?"
"They had indeed heard this, my child, but they also believed they
could become rich by raising sugar-cane or tobacco. Great fortunes were
made in the old days on the plantations here. My own grandfather was a
very wealthy man.
"But you know the story of Cuba since then. The heavy taxes and the
cruel laws of Spain caused my relatives, as well as thousands of other
families, to lose their fortunes. We have tried to free ourselves many
times but have not succeeded yet."
"Well, don't be sad, papa dear; the good time is coming quickly now,
you know. We have not had as hard a time as the poor savages Columbus
found here, anyway. How I do pity them!" said Maria, with her eyes full
of tears.
"Yes, they had a sad time of it indeed," her father went on. "They
thought at first the white men were angels and the boats they sailed
in were beautiful birds that had brought the visitors straight from
heaven. But they soon changed their minds.
"Columbus was greatly excited when he looked upon the plants and trees
so different from any he had ever seen. He said: 'I will call this
place the "Pearl of the Antilles,"' and so it has been called to this
day. He also wrote of it, 'It is as much more grand and beautiful than
any other land as the day is brighter than the night.'
"I suppose you know, Maria, that Columbus visited Cuba four times, and
yet he never discovered that it was an island."
"I wish you would tell me more about the savages he found here," Maria
said. "Of course, I know there is not a trace of them left in the land.
Their hard work in the mines and the cruel treatment of the Spaniards
soon killed them off. Oh, it is a wicked, wicked shame!"
"Their skins were bronze in colour, like the Indians of North America;
but they did not know where their own people came from. Once they were
asked this question by one of the white strangers. They only answered
by pointing their hands upward. It was as much as to say, 'From heaven!'
"The women had long and beautiful hair, but the men had no beards
whatever. They painted their bodies with the red earth so common on
the island, and adorned their heads with the feathers of brilliant
birds.
"They lived mostly in the open air, and slept in hammocks under the
trees. They made their hammocks out of the wild cotton you have seen
growing in the fields. The women spun and wove this into the only cloth
they ever used.
"They had no gardens. They had no need to plough and plant, for nature
gave them all they needed. There were many fruits growing wild then,
as now. They picked the delicious mangoes, bananas, and custard-apples
which were so plentiful. They gathered the yams and maize which also
grew wild all over the island. What more could they wish?"
"I should think they would have liked a little meat once in awhile,"
said Maria, who had been very much interested in everything her father
said.
[Illustration: "'IT IS LIKE A BIG LIZARD'"]
"Certainly," he replied, "these savages liked hunting, and often
brought home game to be roasted. They were very fond of the meat of the
iguana. You have often seen this reptile, Maria."
"Oh, I know," she replied; "Ramon shot one only the other day. It is
like a big lizard."
"Yes, that is true. The Indians also hunted the voiceless dog, as we
sometimes call the creature even now. I hardly know why the Spaniards
gave it such a name. It is more like a rabbit than any other animal.
There were great numbers on the island in the old times."
"You said the Indians slept mostly in hammocks," said Maria. "Didn't
they have any houses?"
"Oh, yes, but they stayed in them very little, except during the
rains. They built them of wood and palm leaves. They were clustered
together in villages. Sometimes there were two or three hundred houses
in one settlement, while several families used one house in common."
"How did they defend themselves?" Maria asked, as her father stopped
speaking.
"They had lances pointed with sea shells, and wooden swords," he
replied. "These were more for show than for use, for you know they
were a sober, peaceful people. Such weapons would have been of little
use if they had tried to fight with the Spaniards. The easiest thing
would have been for them to leave the island and seek a new home. But
they were not wise enough for that, although they had large canoes in
which they might have travelled to some distance. They dug them out of
the trunks of trees. Some of them were large enough to hold fifty men.
Their oars were well shaped, but they used them only as paddles. They
had no row-locks.
"They were a happy people, although quiet and serious in most of their
ways. They used to dance and sing at their merry-makings, and their
music was quite sweet."
"Papa dear, if you are not too tired, won't you tell me again about the
great Spaniard who was entertained by the Indians? It was before they
learned to fear the white strangers, and they still believed they were
friends."
"Let me see, little daughter. Oh, yes, now I know whom you mean. I told
you that story long ago. I am surprised you should remember it.
"It was Bartholomew Columbus, who was sent to act as governor during
the admiral's absence. He passed from one place to another on the
island to collect tribute from the chiefs. These chiefs had already
learned how eager the Spaniards were for gold; so they gave it to the
governor freely and cheerfully. That is, of course, those who had it.
But if they could not give this they presented the white man with
quantities of the wild cotton.
"There was one chief who prepared a grand entertainment in honour of
his visitors. A procession of women came out to meet them, each one
bearing a branch of the palm-tree. This was a sign of submission. After
the women, came a train of young girls with their long hair hanging
over their graceful shoulders.
"A great feast was spread in the chief's palace and the visitors were
entertained with music and dancing. When night came, a cotton hammock
was given to each to sleep in.
"For four days the feasting and games and dancing were kept up. Then
the visitors were loaded with presents and their dark-coloured hosts
kept them company for quite a distance as they journeyed onward to the
next stopping-place.
"Could any people do more to show themselves friendly than these poor,
gentle savages? Ah! how sadly they were repaid for their trust in the
white men!
"But come, we have thought enough about the past. Let us return to the
present and the great things that are daily happening around us."