72 EARLY HISTORY OF JAMAICA (1511-1536) January demand of Castilla del Oro and Trinidad for its produce, meat, and those simple crops (' ajes ', ' yuca ', maize) and almost as simple finished products (' cacabi ' bread, hammocks), which the Christians found in plenty 1 on the island when they arrived. This demand from the continent, and, in lesser degree, from Cuba, was met in large part by the Crown's two estates, 2 which were early developed. The continent paid in Indian slaves, who were sold for cash in Santo Domingo. To take account of these interests of the king's, the admiral reported that he had sent officials 3 to Jamaica. Negro slaves were introduced into Jamaica early ; on 5 June 1513 Esquivel was authorized to import three, provided they were Christians. 4 Meanwhile, the aborigines were being assigned to settlers, in lots of 150, 200, and doubtless more, under the usual stipulations of ' vecindad ' and ' encomienda '. 5 It was said 6 that as many as 1,500 ' encomendados ' worked the estates of the admiral and of his lieutenant : 7 probably the Crown's plantations were approximately as populous. This was a period of general prosperity. There were two settlements in the island, Oristan and Seville, 8 the more important being the port of Seville. There was a semblance, 9 at least, of a fortress at Seville, and a semblance, too, of municipal government, in 4 alcaldes ' l0 and a council, at this time appointed by the admiral's lieutenant. 11 Since the admiral had also named the officials, who in turn named their successors, it would appear that he absolutely controlled the island. The Crown decided to break this control. The king was suspicious of Colon, especially at this time. It is even possible that he believed the admiral to intend to throw off allegiance to the Spanish Crown and set up a kingdom of his own in the Indies. 12 On the other hand, Ferdinand had 1 No. xv, below. 2 Nos. xv, xvii, below. Arch, de Ind. 139, 1, 6, viii, f o. 126, 203, 352 n. ; 109, 1, 6, vi, fo. 1 8 Nos. xii, xv, below. ' The officials ' (' los oficiales reales ') were treasurer, accoun- tant, and, usually, factor.
- Arch, de Ind. 139, 1, 5, iv, fo. 167.
5 Doubtless Esquivel assigned ' encomiendas ', with or without authority to do so. The earliest documents concerning such allotments are ' cedulas ' dated September 1514, ordering Indians to be given to Rodrigo de Villareal, Alonso de Buica, Anton Serrano de Cardona (Arch, de Ind. 41, 6, 1/24, fo. 13 v seqq.). It would appear from document no. xvi that Garay and Macueko were to make these effective in a reassignment of the aborigines they undertook in 1515. 6 No. xv, below. 7 Arch, de Ind. 139, 1, 5, v, fo. 193. 8 Nos. xvi, xviii, below. 9 Nos. vii, xv, xvi, below. 10 The two 'alcaldes' (first and second) were the principal municipal authorities; they were primarily judges. 11 No. xv, below. 12 See document no. xv, below. This alone would be insufficient evidence to support this statement, but among the documents at Seville there is much more of greater weight.
