Pathfinder: Taino Society

 

 

Primary Sources

                                    Chanca, Dr. “The Letter Written by Dr. Chanca.” The Four Voyages.Ed. JM Cohen.

                                                London: Penguin, 1969.  This first-person narrative relates experiences with

                                                the Carib Indians during Columbus’ Second Voyage.  Dr. Chanca’s ethno-

                                                centric reactions to the Indians opens a fascinating window into the Spanish

                                                mind during the Contact Period.  There is no index.

 

                                    Columbus, Christopher.  “Columbus’ Letter on his Firs Voyage.” The Four Voyages. Ed.

                                                JM Cohen.  London: Penguin, 1969.  This is a general account of Columbus’ First

                                                Voyage.  In his own words, Columbus makes false claims about large quantities of

                                                gold and describes the Tainos as he saw them. There is no index.

 

                                    Colon, Hernando.  “the Life of the Admiral by his Son.” The Four Voyages. Ed JM Cohen.

                                                London: Penguin, 1969.  This lengthy account draws a heroic image of Columbus. 

                                                The many details cast light on events of Columbus’ Second Voyage.  There is no index.

           

                                    Las Casas, Bartolome de. A Short Account of the Destruction of theIndies. London:

                                                Penguin: Penguin Group, 1992.  An excellent source on the brutality of the Conquest.

                                                The Taino world is covered in the first three sections, with details of the five principal

                                                kings and one queen, who were killed by the Spaniards.

 

                                    Pane, Fray Ramon. “Relacion of Fray Ramon Pane.” Southern Methodist University

                                                Faculty Homepage. 2005.  SMU.  16 April 2005 <http://faculty.SMU.edu/

                                                Bakewell/BAKEWELL/texts/panerelacion/html>  This interesting account has a

                                                few typographical errors, no index, and no page numbers.  Pane’s subject matter

                                                is conveyed from an ethnocentric viewpoint.  This is the main source of information

                                                on Taino religion.

                       

Secondary Sources

 

                                    Columbus, Chistopher.  “Digest of Columbus’ Log Book Transcribed by Bartolome

                                                de Las Casas.” The Four Voyages. Ed. JM Cohen. London: Penguin, 1969.

                                                This is the best known source of Columbus’ own thoughts, though the

                                                original (in Columbus’ own hand) was lost.  What remains is Las Casas’ transcribed

                                                version, which is written in extended quotes attributed to Columbus.  There is no index,

                                                thus fact-finding is a chore.

 

                                    Deagan, Kathleen, and Cruxent, Jose. Columbus’ Outpost Among the Tainos. New

                                                Haven: Yale University Press, 2002.  This archeological and historical study recounts

                                                The history of La Isabela from 1493-1498.  Chapter 3, “Reluctant Hosts,” is a wealth

                                                Of information on the Tainos.  There is an index and extensive list of references.

 

                                    Miller, Susan. “The High Price of Sugar.” Newsweek 9 Jan. 1991: 70. Academic Search

                                                Premier. EBSCO.  Austin Community Coll. Lib, Austin, TX. 2 Feb. 2005 <http://

                                                http://www.eptnet/. com>.  This article details the history of how people were imported

                                                from Africa to Hispaniola to work as slaves for the sugar industry.  There are a few

                                                facts about the Tainos’ extinction contained within it.

                       

                                    Rouse, Irving.The Tainos. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1992.  This anthropological

                                                study traces the Tainos back to their prehistoric ancestors, recounts their cultural development,

                                                and relates an overview of Columbus’ four voyages and the resulting “Columbian Exchange.”

                                                This is an indispensable resource for the study of anything Taino.  It contains a thorough

                                                index, glossary, and list of references.

 

                                    Sale, Kirkpatrick. The Conquest of Paradise: Chistopher Columbus and the Columbian

                                                Legacy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990.  A well-written, well-researched narrative

                                                of Columbus’ four voyages with erudite analysis by the author.  It contains a thorough

                                                index.

                                   

                                    Torrens, James S. “Las Casas: Defender of the Indians.” America 167.2 (1992): 30-33. This

                                                article presents an interview of Helen Rand Parish, Las Casas’ biographer, outlining

                                                the main events of Las Casas’ life and the main points of his philosophy.

 

                                    Wilson, Samuel M. “The Admiral and the Chief.’ Natural History March, 1991: 14.

                                                Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Austin Community Coll.Lib, Asutin, TX.

                                                8 Feb 2005.  http://www.epnet.com/.  This article argues that the cacique Guacanagari

                                                and Columbus found themselves “on common ground.” It gives an overview of the

                                                history between them.

 

                                    Wilson, Samuel M. “Columbus, my Enemy.” Natural History Dec 1990. 44. Academic

                                                Search Premier. EBSCO. Austin Community Coll.Lib, Austin, TX. 11 Feb. 2005

                                                http://www.epnet.com/.  This article gives a brief, dramatic account (with a couple of

                                                factual errors) of Columbus and the Tainos.  It also describes Guarionex and the uprising

                                                in La Vega Real.