426
LIFE
AND
VOYAGES
OF
[BOOK X V I I .
and when Ovando was sent out to supersede Bobadilla, in 1502, the natives were pronounced free ; they immediately refused to labor in the mines. Ovando represented to the Spanish sovereigns, in 1503, that ruinous consequences resulted to the colony from this entire lib erty granted to the Indians. He stated that the tribute could not be collected, for the Indians were lazy and improvident ; that they could only be kept from vices and irregularities by occupa tion ; that they now kept aloof from the Spaniards, and from all instruction in the Christian faith. The last representation had an influence with Isabella, and drew a letter from the sovereigns to Ovando in 1503, in which he was ordered to spare no pains to attach the natives to the Spanish nation and the Catholic religion. To make them labor moderately, if absolutely essential to their own good ; but to temper authority with persuasion and kindness. To pay them regularly and fairly for their labor, and to have them instructed in religion on certain days. Ovando availed himself of the powers given him by this let ter, to their fullest extent. He assigned to each Castilian a cer tain number of Indians, according to the quality of the applicant, the nature of the application, or his own pleasure. It was ar ranged in the form of an order on a cacique for a certain number of Indians, who were to be paid by their employer, and instructed in the Catholic faith. The pay was so small as to be little better than nominal ; the instruction was little more than the mere cere mony of baptism ; and the term of labor was at first six months, and then eight months in the year. Under cover of this hired labor, intended for the good both of their bodies and their souls, more intolerable toil was exacted from them, and more horrible