How Early Explorers Viewed Native Americans

Within the personal writings of Christopher Columbus, Alavar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and Bartolome de las Casas, the authors ruminate extensively on, among other subjects, colonization and the treatment of Native Americans. What these explorers discovered in the "new world" was much more than the untamed free land and abundance of resources they expected to find. Most of this unsettled land was already populated by thousands of Native Americans, and the aforementioned colonization of the Americas proved to be a ruinous, oftentimes deadly experience for them. Within their writings, each of the authors cited expressed a unique and personally influenced account of the varying treatment of, and attitudes toward the Native Americans.

Christopher Columbus was a Spanish-sponsored explorer who has, a bit indiscriminately, been credited with discovering America. During the end of the 15th century, the desire to find new sea routes to the east became prioritized by European monarchs. This aspiration led to the voyage of Columbus, who had inadvertently "discovered" the Americas while searching for a western route to the east. This revolutionary finding caused a subsequent influx of colonization in the Americas by the Spanish, French, English and Portuguese.

In 1493, Columbus wrote his "Letter to Luis de Sant' Angel", in which he corresponds with one of his foremost supporters in the Spanish court. Columbus wished not only to describe the islands, but also to explain how he'd taken possession of the island from the Natives, and proclaimed the land in the name of the King and Queen. Columbus wrote this letter to portray himself as a hero for Spain, and to ingratiate himself to the ruling monarchs. When he speaks of claiming the land from the "inhabitants beyond number" (Columbus, 1493), Columbus states that he did so without being "gainsaid", or rather, without protest from the Native people. This begins a tangent of thought that the Native Americans were a timid, apprehensive race. Columbus writes that they possessed no real weaponry, and neither should they have, as the Native's fearful nature would not be well served by bloodshed.

Columbus also explains, self-servingly, how the Native Americans revered him and his crewmen as Gods. He exaggerates for the purpose of creating an aura of grandeur around himself. At first it does seem that Columbus holds little respect for the Native Americans, based on his portrayal of them being timid and unduly impressed by the mere presence of mortal European men. However, he also writes that the Natives are "...men of very subtle wit...who give a marvelously good account of everything..." (Columbus, 1493), and perceptively explains that the Natives fear him and his crew only because the Europeans look and sound so dissimilar to them- which is an innate human response. He also speaks favorably, and ardently, of the Native American's philanthropy. "...they are artless and generous with what they have, to such a degree as no one would believe but him who had seen it" (Columbus, 1493). Based on these sentiments, it is fair to hypothesize that although Columbus considered the Native Americans to be a slightly more primitive race than his honored Europeans, he also held them in high regard, and was grateful for the assistance they offered.

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was part of Spanish explorer Panfilio de Navarez's crew that became stranded and enslaved by coastal peoples in 1528 Florida. He managed to escape and made a journey through the southwest. An excerpt from his 1528-1536 journal, "Indians of the Rio Grande" describes the Natives he encountered along his trip. He speaks of the Native Americans as being a "...very merry people..." (de Vaca, 1528), who dance and celebrate even through hardships. He also articulates, quite warmly, his thoughts on the Native Americans' versatility, usefulness and resilience.

Additionally, similar to what Columbus described, but not in as much detail, de Vaca portrays the Natives as admiring him and his company. This is found in the line "...[the Natives] said that verily we were children of the sun" (de Vaca, 1528), as well with the statement that the Natives wished for de Vaca to bless their food. De Vaca states that at one point, he and his company became pressured into acting as medicine men for the Natives that revered them so. The men only administered medicinal "cures" for the purpose of humoring the Natives. Perhaps this gesture was done in good faith, but in retrospect it seems uncouth to callously dispense medical advice. However, he also explicates the generosity exemplified by the Natives, just as Columbus does. It also provides some insight when de Vaca writes of the stunned look on the Christians' faces when they see him traveling with the Natives. Apparently, it was neither common nor proper to see a Spaniard cohabitating with and wearing the clothes of Native Americans. Through all of this, de Vaca looks at the Native Americans quite fondly, although it must be said that an air of cold nonchalance escapes through his writings.

Bartolome de las Casas was a sixteenth century cleric who wrote his speech "Of the Island of Hispaniola" as a condemnation of Spanish colonization. He wrote this document in 1542 to be read at a forum on the same topic. In this document, las Casas speaks of the Native Americans in glowing terms, saying that they are "...most faithful to their natural lords...humble...patient...most peaceful and calm..." (las Casas, 1542). He states that the concepts of hate and revenge are more foreign to these Natives than to anyone else in the world. Las Casas then goes into gratuitously gory detail of how Spanish colonists, and indeed the Christians, ravaged the Native Americans, slaying them for no reason but the thrill of doing so. He compares the Spaniards to rabid wolves who had been starving for blood. If las Casas' account of the Spanish treatment of the Native Americans is indeed true, and not simply overblown imagery designed to frighten the public, then this passage shows just how much the native Americans were denigrated in this time period. It is disturbing to imagine that the Spaniards could think so little of the Natives, and that they could feel no remorse over slaughtering them. It definitely displays the extreme and horrifyingly callous behavior exhibited toward the Native Americans.

In conclusion, there were definite similarities in each document, primarily in the idea that the Native Americans were a moralistic, generous people who were willing to help the incoming Europeans. It appears that la Casa's account of the Natives might be a bit idealized, for the purpose of making a strong comparison against the Spanish colonists, whom he wished to portray as being quite bestial. Also, it can be theorized that Columbus portrayed The Native Americans as a bit more doting than what was factual, if only to make himself appear greater or more heroic. Ultimately, however, the reason for this unanimous opinion of the Native American's generosity is most likely that they actually did behave in such genial fashion.

In the end, although de Vaca's writing is a bit distant, his could very well be the most realistic portrayal, for with his simple journal, he really had nothing to gain by making extensive elaborations. Based on this, I believe that if I had been a Native American during this time period, I would rather not encounter any of these men. While each man has a relatively decent view of the Native Americans, any of them would jump at the chance to use the Natives to increase their social status, to help make an argument, or to simply utilize their food and shelter. The Native Americans were so generous in nature that none of this especially bothered them, but simply because I know the retrospective historical facts, I would have tried to avoid these men at any cost. I would want nothing more than to continue living my life the way I had since birth, free of the presence of European life, and away from the men who would wish to take advantage of me.

Sources:

The "Letter to Luis de Sant' Angel", Christopher Columbus, 1493

"Indians of the Rio Grande" A Journal, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, 1528

"Of the Island of Hispaniola" A Speech, Bartolome de las Casas, 1542