Spaniards were known to feed their dogs, when short of meat, by chopping off a native’s arm and throwing it to them; and a few fed their dogs exclusively upon native-meat.  We have the authority of Las Casas for the fact, which he took care to have well attested from various sources, that a Spaniard would borrow a quarter of native from a friend for his hounds, promising to return it at a favorable opportunity.  Somebody asked one of these generous livers how his housekeeping flourished.  “Well enough,” was the reply; “I have killed twenty of these rascally Indians, and now, thank God, my dogs have something to eat.”

The Spaniards paid their gambling debts in natives.  If a governor lost heavily at cards, he would give the winner an order upon some cacique for a corresponding amount of gold, or natives in default of the metal, knowing that the gold could no longer be procured.  Sometimes the lucky gambler made the levy without applying to the cacique.  The stakes were not unfrequently for three and four hundred Indians in the early days of the colonies, when natives were so plenty that one could be bought for a cheese, or an arroba of vinegar, wine, or lard.  Eighty natives were swapped for a mare, and a hundred for a lame horse.  When it began to be difficult to lay hands upon them, it was only necessary to send for a missionary, who would gradually collect them for purposes of instruction and worship.  When the habit of attending a chapel was pretty well confirmed, the building was surrounded, the young and stout ones were seized and branded, and carried away, with the most attractive females, for further indoctrination in the Christian arts.

A device of the caciques which was practised in Nicaragua might easily have been pursued in Hayti.  But the account of Las Casas refers to the former province.  When a demand was made upon one cacique to supply laborers, he would repair to another, and say, “The devil who has me in his power wants so many men and women.  I have no doubt that your devil will say the same thing to you.  Let us arrange the matter.  Give me the facility of procuring my quota in your tribe, and you shall take yours from my tribe.”  “It is agreed; for my devil has just made a similar demand of me.”  Each cacique would then swear to the Commanders, who were very nice upon the technicality so long as slaves were plenty, that the men furnished came from his own district, thus saving his life and his credit with his people.  This was a great convenience; for in all savage exigencies and dire perils men must study how they can best arrange with the inevitable.