Note 45 — Front matter

Las Casas knew Pane personally, and gives his name correctly (not Roman, as all the printed authorities have it). He described him as “hombre simple y de buena intencion;” “fuese Catalan de nacion y no habla del todo bien nuestra lengua Castellana.” Ramon came to Haiti four or five years before Las Casas, and the latter speaks of him in a disparaging tone. “Este Fray Ramon escudrino lo que pudó, segun lo que alcanzo de las lenguas que fueron tres, las que habia en esta ysia: pero no supo sino la una de una chica provincia, que arriba dejimos llamarse Macaria de abajo, y aquella no perfectamente. (Historia Apologetica, MSS. cap. 120, see also cap. 162). This statement is not quite true, as according to Las Casas’ own admission Pane dwelt two years in the province of Guarinoex, where the lengua universal was spoken, and there collected these traditions.