Ovando, on obtaining his new instructions, followed
the model set by his predecessors. He enrolled and
classed the natives in divisions, called repartimientos :
from these he assigned to the Spanish proprietors a
specified number of labourers, by grants, which, with
most detestable hypocrisy, were denominated enco-
miendas. "^^^Di^i^ilA^ty t^mmmnda signifies recom-



GOVERNMENT OF NICOLAS OVANDO. 23

mendation, and the employer to whom the Indian was
consigned was to have the reputation of being his
patron. The encomienda was conceived in the
following terms : "I recommend to A. B. such and
such Indians (listed by name), the subjects of such
cacique ; and he is to take care to have them in-
structed in the principles of our holy faith".
Under the enforcement of the encomiendas, the
natives were again dragged to the mines ; and many
of these unfortunate wretches were kept by their hard
employers under ground for six months together.
With the labour, and grief at being again doomed
to slavery, they sank -so rapidly that it suggested
to the murderous proprietors of the mines the having
recourse to Africa for slaves. Ovando, after sm^
experience of this practice, endeavoured to oppose
it as dangerous, the Africans frequently escaping from
their masters and finding concealment among the
natives, in whom they excited some spirit of resistance.
The ill use made by the Grand Commander of the
powers with which he had been trusted appears to
have reached the court early, for in 1 503 he received
fresh orders, enjoining him not to allow, on any pre-
text, the natives to be employed in labour against
their own will, either in the mines or elsewhere.
