The first indios on paper were captives (Oct. 17, 1492)
Record: the document says itPattern: documents line upOur lens: how we read it
Year: 1492
The case
Our case: the first time the word indio was written down for the people of this side, it was for captives. Columbus wrote: all these indios I am bringing. And: on the first island I found, I took some of them by force. From its first line in their record, Indian was the name of a captive.
What this case proves for us
Point 4: The land was carried away on paper. The first people written as indios were held on Columbus's ships.
Point 3: We were renamed on paper. The name entered the record as a captive's name.
Background
Columbus kept a log of his first voyage, surviving in Las Casas's abstract. He announced the voyage in a letter of February 15, 1493.
Our evidence
Exhibit A · Record: The logOctober 17, 1492: "todos estos indios que traigo" (all these indios I am bringing).
Exhibit B · Record: By forceFebruary 15, 1493: "en la primera isla que hallé tomé por fuerza algunos de ellos" (on the first island I found I took some of them by force).
Exhibit C · Record: As testimony"traigo conmigo Indios para testimonio" (I bring Indios with me as testimony).
Exhibit D · Pattern: A captive's nameThe word indio was first written down for people held on his ships.
Exhibit E · Our lens: Our lensFrom its first line in their record, Indian was the name of a captive.
Cross-examination
Who were the first indios, and did they choose to go?
What does it mean that the name was first written for people taken by force?
Verdict: we won
We won on Columbus's own words. The first indios in the record were captives, taken by force.
How we won
October 17, 1492: these indios I am bringing.
1493: taken by force.
1493: brought as testimony.
Where this gets us
Level 1: Awakening. The first line of the name, in their own hand.
To reach level 2, Paperwork, we still need:
The names and fates of the people he took to Spain.
Teach it beside P937: captive first, then ward.
The original card
SUMMARYThe first indios on paper were captives (Oct. 17, 1492) (Nov 13, 2026; dossier original/16)
RECORDColumbus's log, October 17, 1492: "todos estos indios que traigo" (all these indios I am bringing)
RECORDhis letter of February 15, 1493: "en la primera isla que hallé tomé por fuerza algunos de ellos" (on the first island I found I took some of them by force); "traigo conmigo Indios para testimonio" (I bring Indios with me as testimony)
PATTERNthe word indio was first written down for people held on his ships
LENS (WW9)from its first line in their record, Indian was the name of a captive