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"They... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned... They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features... They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane... They would make fine servants... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want."

"As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts."

"Let us in the name of the Holy Trinity go on sending all the slaves that can be sold."

-- Christopher Columbus


"Las Casas tells how the Spaniards 'grew more conceited every day' and after a while refused to walk any distance. They 'rode the backs of Indians if they were in a hurry' or were carried on hammocks by Indians running in relays. 'In this case they also had Indians carry large leaves to shade them from the sun and others to fan them with goose wings.'

"Total control led to total cruelty. The Spaniards 'thought nothing of knifing Indians by tens and twenties and of cutting slices off them to test the sharpness of their blades.' Las Casas tells how 'two of these so-called Christians met two Indian boys one day, each carrying a parrot; they took the parrots and for fun beheaded the boys."

-- Howard Zinn, A People's History Of The United States


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