VOYAGES
270
AND
D I S C O V E R I E S OF
C H A P T E R IV. CONSPIRACY
OF
THE
CACIQUES.
FATE
OF
SOTOMAYOR.
T H E prime mover of the conspiracy among the natives was Agueybanà, brother and successor to the hospitable cacique of the same name, who had first welcomed the Spaniards to the island, and who had fortunately closed his eyes in peace, before his native groves were made the scenes of violence and oppres sion.
The present cacique had fallen within the repartimiento
of Don Christoval de Sotomayor, and, though treated by that cavalier with kindness, could never reconcile his proud spirit to the yoke of vassalage. Agueybanà held secret councils with his confederate caciques, in which they concerted a plan of operations.
As the Spaniards
were scattered about in different places, it was agreed that, at a certain time, each cacique should dispatch those within his prov ince.
In arranging the massacre of those within his own domains,
Agueybanà assigned to one of his inferior caciques the task of surprising the village of Sotomayor, giving him 3000 warriors for the purpose.
He was to assail the village in the dead of the
night, to set fire to the houses, and to slaughter all the inhabit ants.
He proudly, however, reserved to himself the honor of
killing Don Christoval with his own hand. Don Christoval had an unsuspected friend in the very midst of his enemies.
Being a cavalier of gallant appearance and
amiable and courteous manners, he had won the affections of an In dian princess, the sister of the cacique Agueybanà.
She had over
heard enough of the war-council of her brother and his warriors