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Columbus' letter, announcing the discovery of the New World
En conclusión, a fablar desto solamente que se ha fecho este viage que fué así de corrida, que pueden ver Sus Altezas que yo les daré oro cuanto hobieren menester (12), con muy poquita ayuda que sus altezas me darán: agora especería y algodon cuanto Sus Altezas mandaran cargar, y almastiga (13) cuanto mandaran cargar; é de la cual fasta hoy no se ha fallado salvo en Grecia y en la isla de Xio, y el Señorio la vendo como quiere, y lignaloe (14) cuanto mandaran cargar, y esclavos cuantos mandaran cargar, é serán de los idólatras; y creo haber fallado ruibarbo (15) y canela, e otras mil cosas de sustancia (16) fallaré, que habrán fallado la gente que allá dejo;

In conclusion, ... Hour Highnesses can see that I shall give you all the gold you may need, with very little help from Your Highnesses: as much of spices and cotton as Your Highnesses demmand; ... and as many slaves as you demand, taken from the idolaters...

Sorry, I'm not really up to translating 15th century Spanish... But the point is, Columbus' intention was quite clear from the outset.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Dec 9th, 2005 at 11:03:19 AM EST
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