HISTORY  OF ST.  DOMINGO.
31
thousand ; this privilege being sold to some Genoese merchants,   chap. i.
proved the first formation of a regular trade for supplying the      15n-
island, which has continued to increase through the whole Archi-
pelago.
Even the farther introduction of other Slaves produced so
small a change in the Colony, that the invention of Las Casas
was directed to other substitutes; and with a more plausible
view, it occurred to him, that if Labourers could be induced
to emigrate from the Mother Country, their habits of life would
enable them to bear the effects of the climate under agricultu-
ral operations; and that they might, by soon becoming opu-
lent citizens, introduce habits of industry, and a promotion of vir-
tue :—but, though countenanced by the ministry, his laudable plan
was defeated by an ecclesiastic, who had long opposed him, the
Bishop of Burgos. Thus deprived, of all his hopes with regard to
his favourite Island, this extraordinary man turned his attention to'
the Continent, and his schemes to the prevention of similar abuses
in that part of the new world, which was yet but little explored.
After many unsuccessful applications in behalf of this colony of
labourers, he at length obtained permission to form one in Cuma-
na; but with such opposition, that the number of colonists whom
he could persuade to accompany him did not exceed two hundred.
It is not within our plan to follow this unfortunate party through
their various distresses, occasioned by the bewildered cruelty of
their countrymen :—prevented from arriving at their destined
country by the detestation which was every where excited against
the Spanish name, and unpopular with Spaniards as the followers
4    -                                            of
1518.