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[Illustration: Map of Porto Rico]
PORTO RICO.
Its History, Products
And Possibilities.
BY
A. D. HALL,
Author of "Cuba" and "The Philippines."
NEW YORK
STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS
81 FULTON STREET
Copyrighted 1898
BY
STREET & SMITH.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I--The Aborigines of Porto Rico 7
II--Struggles of the Past 18
III--Topography and Climate 27
IV--Population and Towns 36
V--Resources 42
VI--Manners and Customs 53
VII--The Dawn of Freedom 69
VIII--Naval Lessons Taught by the War 77
IX--What Our Army Achieved 88
X--How the Porto Ricans Received Us 104
XI--Our Claim to Porto Rico 128
XII--What the Possession of Porto Rico Will Mean 143
PORTO RICO.
CHAPTER I.
THE ABORIGINES OF PORTO RICO.
Porto Rico, or Puerto Rico, as it is sometimes called, has lately become
of the first importance in the eyes of the world. To Americans it has
assumed special interest, as it is now practically in the possession of
the United States, and sooner or later will be represented by a new star
in our beautiful flag, that flag which recently, by the magnificent
exploits of our navy and army, has assumed a greater importance than
ever among the standards of the universe.
Uncle Sam will certainly find this beautiful and fertile island a most
valuable possession, every foot of which he could sell at a large
substantial price, if he chose to do so.
Until recently there has been an impression in the United States that
Porto Rico did not amount to much, that Cuba was the only island in the
West Indies which was of any especial value. But this is the most
grievous error, as we shall endeavor to show in the course of this
little book.
The island, without much exaggeration, can really be called the garden
spot of the world, and there is no doubt but that when the Stars and
Stripes wave permanently over it, and there is an influx of American
enterprise and wealth, there will be a marvelous increase in values of
all kinds.
Like all Spanish colonies, Porto Rico has been wofully mismanaged. The
Spaniards have looked upon it in the light of a more or less valuable
cow from which every drop of milk must be squeezed. But now, under more
fortuitous circumstances, under a more beneficent rule, the charming
little island will undoubtedly "blossom as a rose"; for those who have
looked into the subject have declared that more can be raised on an acre
of land in Porto Rico than in any other portion of the globe. Later on
we shall examine in detail the truth or falsehood of this statement.
Porto Rico is older than the United States, for it was discovered by
Columbus on November 16, 1493, during his second voyage to America. The
great discoverer remained there only two days in the port of Aquadilla,
but he did not come in contact with any of the ingenuous natives, for
they fled in terror when they saw his ship.
During their subsequent conquests in the West Indies, the Spaniards paid
no attention to Porto Rico until 1509. At this time Ponce de Leon, then
governor of Hispaniola, afterward known as Hayti, determined to extend
his dominion. With the idea of obtaining fresh supplies of gold, he went
to Porto Rico and made a long visit to the chief of the natives, by whom
he was received and entertained with the greatest kindness and
hospitality. The chief willingly pointed out to his Spanish guests all
the great resources of the island, and when, with the greed which has
ever distinguished the men of their country, they asked for gold, he
took them to streams where the sands were loaded with the precious
metal.
Ponce de Leon was so delighted with the beauty and fertility of the
island that he imagined he could find there the fountain of perpetual
youth for which he so long sought in vain. In this chimerical idea,
however, as in Florida, he was doomed to disappointment.
The original name of the island is said to have been Borinquen, and the
population of the natives, who were of the same race as the inhabitants
of the other islands of the Greater Antilles, has been estimated at six
hundred thousand.
Dr. C. T. Bedwell, recently British consul at Porto Rico, has published
a most interesting report in regard to the aborigines, and from this
report we have obtained considerable of the information which follows.
Among the Sibaros, or sallow people of to-day, one rarely sees a
physical trace of Indian descent, although in their mode of living much
of Indian character exists. Fray Inigo Abbad, who wrote a work on Porto
Rico, published in Madrid in 1878, says that when the Spaniards first
came to Porto Rico "it was as thickly populated as a beehive, and so
beautiful that it resembled a garden." Fray Inigo says that the color of
the Indians of Porto Rico was the copper color known to the aborigines
of America, though they were of a sallow and somewhat darker complexion.
They were shorter in stature than the Spaniards, stout and
well-proportioned. They had flat noses with wide nostrils, bad teeth and
narrow foreheads. Their heads were flat, both in front and at the back,
"because," says the author, "they were pressed into this shape at the
time of their birth." They had long, thin, coarse hair, and, according
to Fray Inigo, they were without hair on their face or on other parts of
their body. This, however, is disputed by some writers.
The small quantity and little substance of the food they used, the
facility with which they supplied material wants without labor, the
excessive heat of the climate, and the absence of quadrupeds for the
exercise of hunting, caused them, he says, to be weak and indolent, and
averse to labor of all kinds. Anything that was not necessary to satisfy
the pangs of hunger, or that did not afford amusement, such as hunting
or fishing, was regarded with indifference. Neither the hope of reward
nor the fear of punishment would tempt them to seek the one or to avoid
the other.
Fray Inigo admits, however, that there were some exceptions among them,
and says that some of the Indians displayed much bravery and strength in
the contests with the Spanish soldiers.
Their forms were light and free, and there were no cripples among them.
They were governed by Caciques, whose eldest sons inherited the
succession. In the absence of a son the chief was succeeded by the
eldest son of his sister, that there might be no doubt as to true
descent.
The tutelary deity was Cerni, who was made to speak by the Buhitis or
medicine men, who were at the same time the priests. The Buhites hid
themselves behind the statue of Cerni and declared war or peace,
arranged the seasons, granted sunshine or rain, or whatever was
required, according to the will of the Cacique. When announcements were
not fulfilled the Buhites declared that the Cerni had changed his mind
for wise reasons of his own, "without on this account," says Fray Inigo,
"the power or credit of the pretended deity, or his mendacious ministers
being doubted, such being the simplicity and ignorance of the Indians."
The chiefdoms were divided into small provinces, which for the most part
only comprised the inhabitants of a valley; but all were subject to the
head Cacique, who at the time of the conquest was Aqueynoba. He was
actually governor-in-chief, the others being his lieutenants, who
carried out his orders in their respective districts.
Men and unmarried women wore no clothing, but painted their bodies
abundantly, and with much skill, drawing upon them many varieties of
figures with the ores, gums and resins which they extracted from trees
and plants. In this uniform they presented themselves in their military
expeditious, public balls, and other assemblies. To be well painted was
to be well dressed, and they learned from experience besides that the
resinous matter and vegetable oils with which they painted their bodies
served to preserve them from excessive heat and superabundant
perspiration. The paint also served to protect them from the changes of
atmosphere, the dampness of climate, and the plague of the numerous
varieties of mosquitoes and other insects, which, without this
precaution, constantly annoyed them. They wore headdresses made of
feathers with exquisite colors. They put small plates of gold on their
cheeks, and hung shells, precious stones and relics from their ears and
noses, and the image of their god Cerni was never forgotten. The chiefs
used as a distinctive emblem a large golden plate worn on their breasts.
Married women wore an apron which descended to about half their leg; but
no clothing was worn on the rest of the body. The wives of the Caciques
wore their aprons to their ankles except at the national game of ball,
when they also wore short ones.
The men took two, three or more wives, according to their ability to
support them. The chiefs possessed a larger number of wives than their
subjects, but one of them was generally preferred over all others. The
women, besides their domestic duties, had charge of the agricultural
pursuits and worked in the fields. Those best loved were buried alive
with their husband on his demise. The men did not intermarry with
relatives of the first degree, from a belief that such marriages
resulted in a bad death.
Their huts were similar in structure and in character to those of the
North American Indians.
The hammock was the chief article of furniture of the aborigines, and
the calabash shell their only cooking utensil.
Their arms were a bow and arrow, in the use of which they were very
skilful. They had canoes both for fishing and sea voyages. These were
hewn out of the timber of enormous trees, the like of which, owing to
fires and seasons of drouth, no longer exist upon the island. Some of
the canoes were large enough to hold forty or fifty men.
When the Indians saw that the sick were near to death they suffocated
them. Even the chiefs did not escape.
After death they opened and dried the body by fire, and buried it in a
large cave, in which were interred also some live women, the arms of the
deceased and provisions for the journey to the other world. Sticks and
branches of trees were then placed on the top, and the whole was covered
with earth, which was thus kept from the bodies of those interred.
They were accustomed to perform a national dance which was called the
areito. At the conclusion of this dance, all became intoxicated with
drinks made by the women of fruit, maize and other ingredients, and with
the smoke of tobacco which they inhaled in their nostrils.
As has been said, at the time of the conquest the name of the native
chief was Aqueynoba. He was friendly to the Spaniards at first and lived
peaceably with them for some time.
There is no doubt but that the aborigines were confiding, generous and
peaceful. But, like all savages, they were very superstitious. They
worshipped a vast quantity of idols, but believed in one superior
deity. With the exception of the Caribs, who occupied the eastern part
of the island, they were not cannibals. They were in the habit of
practicing quite a large number of domestic arts, such as the
cultivation of the soil, the carving in wood and stone, and the
manufacture of pottery and furniture.
The Spaniards have ever been treacherous, selfish and a nation of
money-grubbers.
Now followed an instance which is only one of many to prove the truth of
this statement.
After Ponce de Leon had won the confidence and had been the recipient of
boundless hospitality from the islanders, he returned to Hayti and at
once commenced to fit out an expedition for the invasion and subjugation
of Porto Rico. From a purely selfish point of view, this was a most
senseless proceeding on his part. He could have done much better without
having any recourse to force, for at first the natives regarded the
Spaniards as immortal visitors from Heaven, as superior beings whom they
could not kill.
But they speedily recognized their mistake and discovered the abominable
character of the invaders.
De Leon killed off all the natives that he could and made the rest
slaves to work in the gold mines of Hayti.
When any one resisted he was killed, and if he attempted to escape he
was hunted down by bloodhounds.
It is related that Ponce de Leon had a dog which became noted as a slave
catcher. So valuable was he in this respect that his name was actually
carried on the army payroll for the benefit of his master.
When the natives found that they were being slain or deprived of their
liberty they naturally became exasperated and turned against their
dastardly oppressors. But from their point of view it was absolutely
necessary to find out if the Spaniards were mortal. If they were not, it
would be an act of impiety to resist them.
This vital question must be settled, and therefore one of the native
chiefs was detailed to try if he could kill a Spaniard. The trial was
eminently successful. A young man named Salzedo was found alone and was
drowned by the natives.
The action is thus related in the words of a competent authority:
"The guides conducted Salzedo to the bank of a small river through which
they must pass, and to prevent his being exposed to the water one of the
Indians kindly offered to take him on his shoulders and carry him over.
Salzedo mounted to his high seat and was borne into the middle of the
stream, when the Indian and his burden fell into the water. The other
Indians immediately rushed into the river with the apparent purpose of
rescuing their guest, but contrived, while professing to offer him
assistance, to keep his head continually under water. The result of this
practical biological experiment, so adroitly conducted, brought hope and
joy to the despairing natives. The body was kept immersed until long
after every sign of life had gone, but they still feared animation might
return. Carrying the body to the bank, a new farce was acted; they
lamented over him, they begged his pardon for the accident, and they
protested their innocence of any design. In every way they provided
themselves with a plausible defense in case he should recover or they
should be suspected. After several days, putrefaction happily settled
all their doubts about the mortality of their conquerors, and the glad
news was communicated to their people."
The natives then at once commenced to massacre the Spaniards. But this
did not last long. Ponce de Leon immediately sent for reinforcements,
and the Indians believed that these newcomers were the resurrected
bodies of those they had killed. This idea caused them to lose all hope
and courage, and they fell an easy prey to their enemies. It was not
many years before the aboriginal population, large as it was originally,
was completely exterminated.
The Spaniards now began to colonize the island and the town of Capana
was the first one settled by them. Its site was found, however, to be
too high and inaccessible. It was therefore abandoned and in 1511 the
present city of San Juan was founded.
In this city Ponce de Leon built the governor's palace called Casa
Blanca, a structure which is still in use.
After de Leon's unsuccessful expedition to Florida, where he received a
mortal wound at the hands of the Indians, his remains were brought to
Porto Rico and interred in the Dominican church.
The inscription upon his monument reads as follows:
_Mole sub hac fortis requiescunt ossa Leonis Qui vicit factis nomina
magna suis._
These words may be translated into English as follows:
"This narrow grave contains the remains of a man who was a Lion by name,
and much more so by his deeds."
His cruel treatment of the gentle natives, inspired though it may have
been and probably was by the home government, by no means causes him to
deserve so flattering an epitaph.