Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/513

487 grants. SPANISH COLONIAL POLICY. 487 ute to its nourishment and permanent prosperity.^ chapter Through their provident attention, in a verj few '- — years after its discovery, the island of Hispaniola was in possession of the most important domestic animals, as well as fruits and vegetables of the old world, some of which have since continued to fur- nish the staple of a far more lucrative commerce than was ever anticipated from its gold mines.^ Emigration to the new countries was encouraged Liberal by the liberal tenor of the royal ordinances passed from time to time. The settlers in Hispaniola were to have their passage free ; to be excused from taxes ; to have the absolute property of such plan- tations on the island as they should engage to culti- vate for four years ; and they were furnished with a gratuitous supply of grain and stock for their farms. All exports and imports were exempted from duty ; a striking contrast to the narrow policy of later ages. Five hundred persons, including scientific men and artisans of every description, were sent out and maintained at the expense of government. To provide for the greater security and quiet of the island, Ovando was authorized to 1 See, in particular, a letter to ^ Abundant evidence of this is Columbus, dated August, 1494 ; furnished by the long enumeration (apud Navarrete, Coleccion de Via- of articles subjected to tithes, con- ges, torn, ii.. Doc. Dipl., no. 79.) tained in an ordinance dated Octo- also an elaborate memorial present- ber 5th, 1501, showing with what ed by the admiral in the same year, indiscriminate severity this heavy setting forth the various necessities burden was imposed from the first of the colony, every item of which on the most important products of is particularly answered by the sov- human industry. Recopilacion de ereigns, in a manner showing how Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias, attentively they considered his sug- (Madrid, 1774,) tom. i. lib. 1, tit. gestions. — Ibid., tom. i. pp. 226- 16, ley 2. 241,