1582

I have been conducting scholarly research for the last two years, seeking answers to the profound issues affecting my beautiful island of Puerto Rico. We, as hardworking people, cherish our culture in indescribable ways, possibly contributing to the challenge of resolving the political status of the island. My primary focus is on the topic of leadership, and I believe history holds the answers. My goal is to find the connection between our current problems and how leaders throughout the centuries have negatively contributed to the lack of progress in Boriquén, as our ancestors used to call our island.

On that note, I am currently reading the book, “The History of Puerto Rico – From the Spanish Discovery to the American Occupation,” originally published in 1903 by R.A. Van Middeldyk. The author was a librarian in San Juan during the transition from U.S. military control after the Spanish-American War to civilian governance. He had access to data and records kept during the Spanish rule.

In every history book that I read, the part that discusses how our Taínos, the indigenous people of Puerto Rico, were destroyed, killed, and vanished from our island always deeply affects me. Strong emotions surface after reading these historical accounts. Here is a portion of the narrative in this book, recounting the fate of the last natives in Puerto Rico.

““The Indians are dying out!” This is the melancholy refrain of all official communications from 1530 to 1536. The emperor made a last effort to save the remnant in 1538, and decreed that all those who still have Indians in their possession should construct stone or adobe houses for them under penalty of losing them. In 1543 it was ordained by an Order in Council that all Indians still alive in Cuba, La Española, and Puerto Rico, were as free as the Spaniards themselves, and they should be permitted to loiter and be idle, “that they might increase and multiply.” 

Bishop Rodrigo Bastidas, who was charged to see to the execution of this order in Puerto Rico, still found 80 Indians to liberate. Notwithstanding these terminant orders, so powerless were they to abolish the abuses resulting from the iniquitous system, that as late as 1550 the Indians were still treated as slaves. In that year Governor Vallejo wrote to the emperor: “I found great irregularity in the treatment of these few Indians,… they were being secretly sold as slaves, etc.”

Finally, in 1582, Presbyter Ponce de Leon and Bachelor-at-Law Santa Clara, in a communication to the authorities, stated: “At the time when this island was taken there were found here and distributed 5,500 Indians, without counting those who would not submit, and to-day there is not one left, excepting 12 or 15, who have been brought from the continent. They died of disease, sarampion, rheum, smallpox, and ill-usage, or escaped to other islands with the Caribs. The few that remain are scattered here and there among the Spaniards on their little plantations. Some serve as soldiers. They do not speak their language, because they are mostly born in the island, and they are good Christians.” This is the last we read of the Boriquén Indians.”1      

Note: The island was “discovered” in 1493 but it wasn’t until 1505 that Spain gave authorization to colonize the island.2 The estimated population in 1509 was about 60,000 and was reduced to 14,636 by 1515.3 

  1. R.A. Van Middeldyk, The History of Puerto Rico – From the Spanish Discovery to the American Occupation. (P. 90-91). Philadelphia: Public Domain, 1903 ↩︎
  2. Olga Jimenez de Wagenheim, Puerto Rico An Interpretive History from Pre-Columbian Times to 1900. (P. 41). Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers, 2006  ↩︎
  3. Olga Jimenez de Wagenheim, Puerto Rico An Interpretive History from Pre-Columbian Times to 1900. (P. 46). Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers, 2006 ↩︎

31 thoughts on “1582”

  4. Today I’m able to read all and comment, hurrah. Glad you are researching your beloved Borinquen. I read a study that the Taino are more present than previously thought, at least genetically. Sad loss of culture and humanity definitely.

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    1. Correct. We were discussing the possibility back when I was in college. Some Spaniards had Taino concubines, so it’s definitely a possibility. Maybe I’ll do a DNA test one of these days to find out what percentage I have. Glad that you were able to read it. 👍

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        1. My plan is to start with an article, hoping it gets published in a journal, and go from there. I was thinking about pursuing a PhD, but I’m probably getting too old for that, and there’s not enough time to recoup that kind of investment.

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            1. Actually, it’s about leadership (or the lack of it in Puerto Rico) and the effects on governance over the centuries. I believe history is going to highlight the decisions made by Puerto Ricans over time that are impacting the way we govern now. I’m still need to flush that out a bit but that is what I’m think. This book said something that is making me think more about the issue. It says, “The people are stoically content. Such, at least, was the condition in 1898.”

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              1. Stoically Content; could be a good title! Does it still apply as much as I think it does? About publishing, a widely published poet friend of mine cautioned me to save poems to publish them in magazines first, then publish them on my site. I look forward to reading your article!

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  5. The glory of some is indeed the devastation of others, especially if there are intentions of domination. Forceful invasions hardly lead to harmonious living of all involved. A sad reality that accompanied the desire for new lands and expansion of kingdoms/states. So much destruction, of people and culture, undoubtedly affects our minds and hearts. It’s important to remember and honor those who were, unjustifiable and unfairly, erased from the home land…

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    1. So true, Susana. Your comment reminded me of the current conflict in Ukraine. The desire to expand, not just land, but influence, without regard for who gets destroyed in the process. Thank you for sharing your thoughts my friend.

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    1. Yes, it was. There are some archaeological sites in Puerto Rico, and we have learned a lot from their culture, but not enough to fully understand their connections to North and South American indigenous people. They were gone too soon.

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  9. So many horrific stories of what has been to all the indigenous peoples in the Americas, and continues to happen to this day. The more light that can be shone on more cases, the better. Best wishes for success with your research, Edward.

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