Preface

Translated by Joseph Niver ’19

This third book tells of the war waged by the Christians, led by captain Alonso de Hojeda, in the name of Admiral Christopher Columbus against King Caonabo, and of his subsequent capture and death; the victories achieved by the adelantado Bartholomew Columbus, brother of the admiral, against King Guarionex and fourteen other caciques or kings that joined him; and of the insubordination of Roldan Ximenez, who with some Christians who shared his opinion refused the command of the admiral and the adelantado. It will also tell of the first admiral’s third voyage and discoveries, when he found and discovered part of the great coast of the Spanish Main and found Pearl Island, called Cubagua. The admiral’s governance will also be discussed; what kings and principal lords existed on the island; the great lake of Xaragua, and another lake, found amongst the island’s highest mountains and peaks; how and with what arms the Indians fought; and what peoples make up the Caribs and flecheros [archers]. It will tell of the miraculous and most devoted cross of la Vega and of the arrival of Commissioner Fransisco de Bobadilla, who sent the admiral and his brothers, adelantado Bartholomew and don Diego Columbus, to Spain in chains. The book will recount by what causes the many Indians who lived in this island of Hispaniola perished, and tell of the arrival of the lord commissioner of Alcántara, Frey Nicolás de Ovando, the departure of Commissioner Bobadilla, who drowned in the sea with many sailors, peoples, and much gold, and of the good governance of the lord commander. It will also tell of how the former and first admiral, Christopher Columbus, made his fourth voyage and discovery in these Indies, when he discovered Veragua and other provinces of the mainland, and of his death later in Spain. Finally, I will recount how the city of Santo Domingo was moved to where it now stands, the nobility and particularities of this city and island, and of the cities, towns and other things related to and necessary for the pursuit of this very Natural History, as it will be seen more particularly in the following chapters.