The Images in the Field

Et dicono, questo Cacique hauere affermato di hauer parlato con Giocauuaghama, il qual gli haueua detto, che qualunque dopò la sua morte fosse restato viuo haurebbe goduto poco tempo il loro Dominio; percioche nel lor paese verrebbe vna gente vestita, la quale hauea a dominarli, & vcciderli, & che si morrebbono della fame. Ma eglino pensarono prima, che questi douessero essere i Canibali: i quali considerando poi che non faceuano altro che pigliare, & fuggire, credettero, che altra gente hauesse ad esser quella, che il Cimi diceua. La onde hora credono, questi esser l'Ammiraglio, & la gente, che mena seco.

And they say this Cacique affirmed that he had spoken with Giocauuaghama, who had told him that whoever after his death should have remained alive would have enjoyed their dominion [for] little time; because into their country would come a clothed people, who were to rule them and kill them, and that they would die of hunger. But they thought at first that these must be the Cannibals; [but] considering afterward that they did nothing but seize and flee, they believed that another people must be the one that the Cimi spoke of. Wherefore now they believe these to be the Admiral and the people that he brings with him.

They say that this cacique1 claimed he had spoken with Giocauuaghama.2 Giocauuaghama told him that whoever was still alive after his death would not enjoy their rule for long. A clothed people would come to their land who would rule them and kill them, and they would die of hunger. At first they thought these must be the Cannibals.3 But then they considered that the Cannibals only seized people and ran away. So they decided that the cemí4 must have meant some other people. And so now they believe these are the Admiral [Columbus] and the people he brings with him.

1. A cacique was a Taíno chief. This one is Cazziuaquel, whom Pané names at the start of the chapter as the father of “Guarionel.”
2. Apparently the great being in the sky whom Pané names at the start of his account, there spelled Iocahuuague.
3. The Spaniards' name for the Caribs, peoples of the islands to the south who raided the Taíno. The index of the 1571 edition says “the Caribs are the Cannibals.”
4. Pané's Cimi, usually written cemí: a Taíno sacred being, and the image of wood or stone in which it was kept and honored.

Noi adunque stemmo con quel Cacique Garionex quasi due anni, insegnandogli sempre la nostra Santa Fede, & i costumi de' Christiani. Nel principio mostrò buona volontà, & diede speranza di douer fare ogni cosa, che noi volessimo, & di volere esser Christiano; dicendo, che noi gl'insegnassimo il Pater Noster, & l'Aue Maria, & il Credo, & tutte quelle altre orationi, & cose, che al Christiano si appartengono. Et così imparò il Pater Noster, & l'Aue Maria, & il Credo; & il medesimo impararono molti di casa sua: & egli ogni matina diceua le sue orationi; & faceua, che le dicessero due volte il dì quelli di casa sua.

We therefore stayed with that Cacique Garionex almost two years, teaching him always our Holy Faith and the customs of the Christians. In the beginning he showed good will, and gave hope of being about to do everything that we wished, and of wanting to be a Christian; saying that we should teach him the Pater Noster and the Ave Maria and the Credo, and all those other prayers and things that belong to the Christian. And so he learned the Pater Noster and the Ave Maria and the Credo; and the same [prayers] many of his house learned; and he every morning said his prayers, and made those of his house say them twice a day.

So we stayed with that cacique, Garionex, for almost two years, always teaching him our Holy Faith and the customs of Christians. At first he showed good will. He gave us hope that he would do everything we wanted and that he wished to be a Christian. He asked us to teach him the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Creed, and all the other prayers and things that belong to a Christian. And so he learned the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Creed, and many of his household learned them too. Every morning he said his prayers, and he had his household say them twice a day.

Ma poi si sdegnò, & lasciò questo suo buon proposito per colpa d'altri de' principali di quella terra, i quali lo riprendeuano, perche ei volea vbidire alla legge Christiana; essendo che i Christiani fossero tristi, & gli tenessero delle sue terre per forza. Però lo consigliauano a non curar piu cosa alcuna de' Christiani; ma che si accordassero, & congiurassero insieme per amazzarli: percioche non poteuano sodisfar loro, & haueano deliberato di non volere in alcuna guisa fare a lor modo. Perche egli si distolse dal suo buon proposito: & noi, vedendo, che si distoglieua, & lasciaua quel, che gli haueuamo insegnato, deliberammo di partirci, & andarcene doue più frutto potessimo fare, insegnando a gl'Indiani, & ammaestrandoli nelle cose della Santa Fede. Et cosi ce ne andammo ad vn'altro Cacique principale, il qual ci mostraua buona volontà, dicendo di volere esser Christiano: il qual Cacique si chiamaua Mauiatuè.

But then he became indignant, and left this his good purpose through the fault of others of the chief men of that land, who rebuked him because he wanted to obey the Christian law, it being that the Christians were wicked and held [some] of his lands by force. Therefore they advised him to care no more for anything of the Christians, but that they should agree and conspire together to kill them; because they could not satisfy them [who could not satisfy whom?], and they had resolved not to want in any way to do as they wished. Wherefore he turned away from his good purpose; and we, seeing that he was turning away and leaving what we had taught him, resolved to depart and go where we could make more fruit, teaching the Indians and instructing them in the things of the Holy Faith. And so we went to another principal Cacique, who showed us good will, saying he wanted to be a Christian; which Cacique was called Mauiatuè.

But then he grew angry and gave up this good purpose. It was the fault of other leading men of that land. They scolded him for wanting to obey the Christian law, since the Christians were wicked and had taken his lands by force. So they advised him to care no more for anything to do with the Christians. Instead, they should all agree and plot together to kill them, because they could never satisfy them.5 They had decided not to do as the Christians wished in any way. So he turned away from his good purpose. When we saw him turning away and abandoning what we had taught him, we decided to leave. We would go where we could bear more fruit, teaching the Indians and instructing them in the Holy Faith. So we went to another leading cacique, named Mauiatuè, who showed us good will and said he wanted to be a Christian.

5. Or “because they [the Taíno] could never satisfy them”: the Italian does not make clear who could not satisfy whom.

Come noi partimmo per andare al paese del detto Mauiatuè, cioè io frate Roman Pane, pouero Eremita, & frate Giouan Borgognone dell'ordine di S. Francesco, & Giouan Matteo il primo, che riceuè l'acqua del Santo Battesimo nell'Isola Spagnuola. Nel secondo dì, che partimmo dalla popolatione, & habitatione di Guarionex, per andare all'altro Cacique, detto Mauiatuè, la gente di Guariones fabricaua vna casa presso alla casa di Oratione, nella qual lasciammo alcune imagini, dinanzi alle quali s'inginocchiassero, & orassero, & si consolassero i Catecumini, i quali erano la madre, i fratelli, & i parenti del sopradetto Giouan Matteo, primo Christiano; a cui si aggiunsero altri sette; e poi tutti quelli di casa sua si fecero Christiani, & perseuerauano nel loro buon proposito, secondo la nostra Fede: di modo che tutta la sopradetta casa restaua in guardia di detta casa di Oratione, & alcune possessioni, che io haueua lauorate, & fatto lauorare.

How we departed to go to the country of the said Mauiatuè, that is, I, Friar Roman Pane, poor Hermit, and Friar Giouan Borgognone of the order of St. Francis, and Giouan Matteo, the first who received the water of Holy Baptism in the Island Spagnuola. On the second day that we departed from the settlement and dwelling of Guarionex to go to the other Cacique, called Mauiatuè, the people of Guarionex were building a house near the house of Prayer, in which we left some images, before which the Catechumens might kneel and pray and be comforted; who were the mother, the brothers, and the relatives of the aforesaid Giouan Matteo, first Christian; to whom were added seven others; and then all those of his house became Christians, and persevered in their good purpose according to our Faith; so that the whole aforesaid household remained in guard of the said house of Prayer and [of] some lands that I had worked and had [others] work.

This is how we set out for the land of Mauiatuè: I, Friar Ramón Pané, a poor hermit, with Friar Juan the Burgundian, of the Order of St. Francis, and Juan Mateo, the first to receive the water of Holy Baptism on the island of Hispaniola.6 On the second day after we left Guarionex's settlement for the other cacique, Mauiatuè, Guarionex's people were building a house near the house of prayer. In the house of prayer we had left some images. Before them the catechumens7 could kneel, pray, and find comfort. These were the mother, brothers, and relatives of Juan Mateo, the first Christian. Seven others joined them, and then his whole household became Christian. They held to their good purpose, according to our Faith. So that whole household stayed behind to guard the house of prayer, and some fields that I had worked and had others work.

6. Pané says Juan Mateo was the first person baptized on Hispaniola, on St. Matthew's Day (September 21), 1496.
7. People being taught the Christian faith before baptism.

Et, essendo restati costoro in guardia di detta casa, il secondo giorno, poi che fummo partiti per lo sopradetto Mauiatue, andarono sei huomini nella casa di Oratione, che i detti Catecumini, i quali erano sette, haueuano in custodia, & per commandamento di Guarionex loro dissero, che, prese quelle imagini, le quali frate Romano hauea lasciate in gouerno a' sopradetti Catecumini, le squarciassero, & rompessero: poi che frate Roman, & i suoi compagni erano partiti, & non haurebbono saputo, chi ciò hauesse fatto. Perche quei sei seruitori di Guarionex iui andarono, e trouarono sei fanciulli, che faceuano la guardia alla detta casa di Oratione, temendo quel, che poi auuenne: & i fanciulli, cosi ammaestrati, dissero non voler, che vi entrassero. ma eglino per forza vi entrarono, & tolsero le imagini, & le portarono via.

And, these having remained in guard of the said house, the second day after we had departed for the aforesaid Mauiatue, six men went to the house of Prayer, which the said Catechumens, who were seven, had in custody; and by command of Guarionex [someone] told them that, having taken those images which Friar Romano had left in the charge of the aforesaid Catechumens, they should tear them and break them, since Friar Roman and his companions had departed and would not have known who had done it. So those six servants of Guarionex went there, and found six boys who were keeping guard at the said house of Prayer, fearing what afterward happened; and the boys, so instructed, said they did not want them to enter there. But they entered there by force, and took the images, and carried them away.

These people stayed behind to guard the house. On the second day after we had left for Mauiatuè, six men went to the house of prayer, which the seven catechumens had in their keeping. By Guarionex's command they had been told to take the images that Friar Ramón had left in the catechumens' care, and to tear them up and break them. Friar Ramón and his companions were gone, so no one would know who had done it. So those six servants of Guarionex went there. They found six boys keeping guard at the house of prayer, who feared what in fact happened next. The boys, as they had been taught, said they would not let them in. But the men forced their way in, took the images, and carried them away.

Vsciti costoro della casa di Oratione, gittarono le imagini in terra, & le coprirono col terreno, & poi vi pisciarono sopra, dicendo, Hor saranno buoni, & grandi i tuoi frutti: & questo, percioche le sepelirono in vn campo lauorato, dicendo, che sarebbe buono il frutto, che vi si era piantato. & questo tutto per vituperio. Il che veduto da' fanciulli, che erano alla guardia della detta casa di Oratione, per commandamento de' sopradetti Catecumini, corsero a' maggiori, i quali erano alle loro possessioni, & lor dissero, che la gente di Guarionex haueua stratiate, & vituperate le imagini. La qual cosa intesa da loro, lasciarono quel, che faceuano, & corsero gridando a farlo intendere a Don Bartolomeo Colombo, il quale era in quel gouerno per l'Ammiraglio suo fratello, che se n'era andato in Castiglia. Questi, come luogotenente del Vicerè, & Gouernatore delle Isole, formò processo contra i malfattori: &, saputa la verità, gli fece abbruciar publicamente.

These having gone out of the house of Prayer, they threw the images on the ground and covered them with earth, and then pissed on them, saying, “Now your fruits will be good and great”; and this, because they buried them in a worked field, saying that the fruit that had been planted there would be good; and all this as an insult. Which [being] seen by the boys who were at the guard of the said house of Prayer by command of the aforesaid Catechumens, they ran to the elders, who were at their lands, and told them that the people of Guarionex had mangled and insulted the images. Which thing [being] heard by them, they left what they were doing and ran shouting to make it known to Don Bartolomeo Colombo, who was in that government for the Admiral his brother, who had gone away to Castile. He, as lieutenant of the Viceroy and Governor of the Islands, made a trial against the evildoers, and, the truth being known, had them burned publicly.

When the men came out of the house of prayer, they threw the images on the ground and covered them with earth. Then they urinated on them, saying, “Now your crops will be good and big.” They said this because they had buried the images in a planted field, and they said the crop planted there would be good. All this was done as an insult. The boys guarding the house of prayer for the catechumens saw this. They ran to the elders, who were out in their fields, and told them that Guarionex's people had mangled and insulted the images. When the elders heard this, they dropped what they were doing. They ran, shouting, to report it to Don Bartolomé Columbus.8 He was governing there for his brother the Admiral, who had gone to Castile. As lieutenant of the Viceroy and Governor of the Islands, he put the wrongdoers on trial. When he had learned the truth, he had them burned in public.

8. Bartolomé Columbus, Christopher's brother, who governed Hispaniola while the Admiral was in Spain.

Ma con tutto ciò il Guarinex, & i suoi sudditi non si rimossero dal mal'animo, che haueuano di amazzare i Christiani in vn giorno, deputato a portar loro il tributo dell'oro, che essi pagauano. Ma cotal lor congiura fu discoperta: et cosi furono presi in quello stesso giorno, che voleuano far l'effetto. & con tutto ciò perseuerarono nel lor rio proposito; &, mettendolo in opera, amazzarono quattro huomini, e Giouan Matteo, principal scriuano, & Antonio suo fratello, i quali haueuano riceuuto il Santo Battesimo: et corsero, doue haueuano ascose le imagini, & le gittarono in pezzi. Passati alquanti di andò a cauar gli Agi il Signor di quel campo, i quali Agi sono alcune radici, simili a' nauoni, et altre simili a' rafani; & nel luogo, oue le imagini erano state sepolte, eran nati due, e tre Agi, come se fosse stato posto l'vno per mezo l'altro, in forma di croce: ne era possibile, che huomo trouasse tal Croce, & pur la trouò la madre di Guarionex, che è la piu pessima donna, che io conobbi in quelle bande: la quale stimò ciò gran miracolo, & disse al Castellano della Fortezza della Concettione; Questo miracolo è stato mostrato da Dio, oue le imagini furono trouate. Dio sà perche.

But with all that, Guarinex and his subjects did not move from the ill will that they had of killing the Christians on a day appointed for bringing them the tribute of gold that they paid. But such conspiracy of theirs was discovered, and so they were taken on that same day on which they wanted to carry it out. And with all that they persevered in their wicked purpose; and, putting it into action, they killed four men, and Giouan Matteo, chief scribe [?], and Antonio his brother, who had received Holy Baptism; and they ran to where they had hidden the images and threw them [to] pieces. Some days having passed, the lord of that field went to dig the Agi, which Agi are some roots similar to turnips, and others similar to radishes; and in the place where the images had been buried there had grown two and three Agi, as if one had been placed through the middle of the other, in the form of a cross. Nor was it possible that a man should find such a Cross [by looking for it?], and yet the mother of Guarionex found it, who is the most wicked woman that I knew in those parts; who judged it a great miracle and said to the Castellan of the Fortress of the Concettione: “This miracle has been shown by God where the images were found.” God knows why.

But even so, Guarionex and his subjects did not give up their plan to kill the Christians. They meant to do it on a day set for bringing them the tribute of gold that they paid. But their plot was discovered, and they were captured on the very day they meant to carry it out. Even so, they held to their wicked purpose and put it into action. They killed four men, along with Juan Mateo, the chief scribe,9 and his brother Antonio, both of whom had received Holy Baptism. Then they ran to where they had hidden the images and smashed them to pieces. A few days later, the owner of that field went to dig up his ajes.10 These are roots, some like turnips and others like radishes. In the spot where the images had been buried, two or three ajes had grown, one set across the other in the shape of a cross. No one could have found such a cross by looking for it. And yet Guarionex's mother found it, the very worst woman I knew in those parts. She judged it a great miracle. She said to the commander of the fortress of La Concepción, “God has shown this miracle where the images were found.” God knows why.

9. So the Italian. A “scribe” is an odd title in a society without writing; the word may be a slip in the translation.
10. Agi in the Italian: ajes, a Taíno root crop that the index of the 1571 edition counts among the islanders' chief foods.