On October 12, 1492, the first day he encountered the native people of the Americas, Columbus wrote in his journal. They should be good servants. I, our Lord being pleased, will take hence, at the time of my departure, six natives for your Highness. These captives were later paraded through the streets of Barcelona and Seville when Columbus returned to Spain.

From his very first contact with native people, Columbus had their domination in mind. For example, on October 14, 1492, Columbus wrote in his journal, with fifty men they can all be subjugated and made to do what is required of them. These were not mere words: after his second voyage, Columbus sent back a consignment of natives to be sold as slaves.

Yet in April 1493, a letter to Luis Santangel (a patron who helped fund the first voyage), Columbus made clear that the people he encountered had done nothing to deserve ill-treatment.