PRE-COLUMBIAN PERIOD - BEFORE 1492 (BEFORE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS LANDED IN THE AMERICAS)
For all practical purposes, there was no known history of Hispaniola and subsequently of the MARIEN or of this land that will become Jean-Rabel. This is the reason that we chose to talk of the Tainos/Indians after Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola.
HISPANIOLA (The Spanish Period)
"I found very many islands filled with people without number and all of them I have taken possession for their Highnesses... 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 on whatever there is in these parts" CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
October 12, 1492: The first voyage, the controversial Bahamas landfall
From Palos, Spain Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta landed to the Canary Island then to the Carribean (Bahamas???) Santa Maria and Nina went toward Hispaniola and Pinta toward Inagua...
December 5-6, 1492: The first Española contact
On December 5-6, 1492 a fateful wind led Christopher Columbus to an island that he named Española (Hispaniola) thinking that it looked like Spain. The kingdom where Columbus landed was called the MARIEN. The cacique, Guacanagaric, of the Marien in the northern part of the island (Mole Saint Nicolas), warmly welcomed Columbus. He thought the inhabitants (Indians? Taino (good), or Arawaks?) looked coward and could easily be defeated and enslaved.
" They...brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things...They would make fine servants...With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want." CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
Kiskeya or Hispaniola
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS LOG BOOK ENTRIES FROM THE MARIEN
According to Columbus Log Book, he came to the Hispaniola island after discovering Cuba. From the southern tip of Cuba, he sailed on a South-East direction and landed on the North-Western tip of Hispaniola ( Española, Ayiti, Kiskeya, or Bohio). The point of landing (San Nicholas or Mole St Nicolas) is now part of the Republic of Haiti the country that shares the Island with the Dominican Republic.
On Thursday, December 6, 1492 " At the hour of vespers (Sunset hour of Evening Prayer), we entered a harbor that I named Puerto de San Nicholas in honor of San Nicholas (St. Nicholas) because it was his feast day. As I approached the entrance of this harbor, I marveled at its beauty and excellence. Although I have praised the harbors of Cuba greatly, this one is even superior, and none of them is similar to it...I hope to God that I can have some good trade in gold before I return to Spain."
On Friday, December 7, 1492, Columbus left the port of San Nicholas and sailed to the North-East. On this course, he discovered a harbor which he named Puerto de la Conception. The present name of the Puerto de la Conception, which is now part of the Republic of Haiti (1st Section of Jean-Rabel), is Port à L'écu. (Was it Baie des Moustiques or Mosquito Bay as reported by some history book?). "The harbor, Puerto de la Conception, Columbus wrote, is 1000 paces wide at the mouth, which is equal to three quarters of a mile. In it there are no banks or shoals, but rather the bottom can barely be found until you go toward shore. Inside, it is 3000 paces long; clear of rocks, and with a sandy bottom. Any ship whatsoever can anchor in it without fear and can enter without danger. At the Head of the Harbor the mouth of two rivers discharge a small quantity of water. Opposite there are some of the most beautiful plant in the world, almost like the lands of Castile, only better. Because of this, I have named the island: La Isla Española.
On Saturday, December 8, 1492...No Report
On Sunday, December 9, 1492, the name la Española appeared on the log book. The first Catholic ceremony was held in the New World.
On Monday, December 10, 1492 " The wind blew hard from the North-East and caused the anchors to drag half the length of their lines. This surprised me, but it must have been because I am anchored quite near land and the wind blew toward it. Since the wind was contrary for me to depart, I sent six-armed men ashore, with orders to go 6 to 9 miles inland to see if they could find anybody. They went and returned without finding any people or houses. They did find a few huts, some very wide roads, and places where many fires had been built. They saw some of the best land in the world and found many mastic trees. They brought some of it and said that there was a great deal, but now it is not the time to gather it, for it is not ready to form into gum."
On Tuesday, December 11, 1492...No Report
On Wednesday, December 12, 1492 After landing in which a cross had been erected, three sailors went inland, pursuing the Indians. They captured a young woman whom they brought to the fleet. She wore a large ring of gold in her nose. She was able to understand the other Indians whom they had on board. Columbus dressed her, gave her some imitation pearls, rings and other finery, and then put her on shore with three Indians and three of his own men. The men returned the next day without going to the Indian village. Columbus then sent out nine men, with an Indian, who found a town of a thousand huts about four and a half leagues from the ship. They thought the population was three thousand. The village in Cuba is spoken of as having twenty people to a house. Here the houses were smaller or the count of the numbers extravagant. The people approached the explorers carefully, and with tokens of respect. Soon they gained confidence and brought out food for them. Fish and bread made from roots, "which tasted exactly as if it was made of chestnuts." In the midst of this festival, the woman, who had been sent back from the ship so graciously, appeared borne on the shoulders of men who were led by her husband. The Spaniards thought these natives of Española much whiter than those of the other islands. Columbus says that two fo the women, if dressed in Castilian costume, would be counted to be Spaniards. He says that the heat of the country is intense, and that if these people lived in a cooler region they would be of lighter color.
