In fourteen ninety two Columbus sailed the ocean blue. He originally called the island Hispaniola. Columbus’ log captured his thoughts about the island. In his journal he wrote “a beautiful island paradise with high forested mountains and large river valleys.”
The island was inhabited by what was approximated at 600,000 Taino Indians. Initially the natives were very easy to live with. They were hospitable and non-violent.
The discovery of gold in the rivers changed everything. The Taino Indians were put into slavery and eventually wiped out. It wasn’t long until there were all kinds of European settlements on the island.
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