Histories of Puerto Rico have been few; in fact, aside from a few wholly inadequate ones by natives, the present volume has but one predecessor, and that Friar Inigo Abbad’s “Historia de la Isla San Juan Bautista,” written in 1782. Rudolph Adams Van Middeldyk (born in 1832) was librarian of the free public library of San Juan and had access to all the data obtainable in the island in writing his 1909 book "The History of Puerto Rico." He has portrayed the salient characteristics of the life of the island, described the acts of the reigning government and pointed out the evils of colonial rule, and the book enables the reader to form a fairly accurate idea of the past and present state of Puerto Rico. Social, educational and political conditions improved rapidly during the four years of American occupancy, and the author was optimistic in his prophecies for the future. The chapters on finance, commerce and agriculture will not prove of practical value to the American money-getter, as the latest statistics given are those of 1830. Contents PART I HISTORICAL I THE DEPARTURE II. THE DISCOVERY 1493 III. PONCE AND CERON 1500-1511 IV. FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF INDIANS. "REPARTIMIENTOS" 1510 V. THE REBELLION 1511 VI. THE REBELLION (continued) 1511 VII. NUMBER OF ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS AND SECOND DISTRIBUTION OF INDIANS 1511-1515 VIII. LAWS AND ORDINANCES 1511-1515 IX. THE RETURN OF CERON AND DIAZ—PONCE'S FIRST EXPEDITION TO FLORIDA 1511-1515 X. DISSENSIONS—TRANSFER OF THE CAPITAL 1515-1520 XI. CALAMITIES—PONCE'S SECOND EXPEDITION TO FLORIDA AND DEATH 1520-1537 XII. INCURSIONS OF FUGITIVE BORIQUÉN INDIANS AND CARIBS 1530-1582 XIII. DEPOPULATION OF THE ISLAND—PREVENTIVE MEASURES—INTRODUCTION OF NEGRO SLAVES 1515-1534 XIV. ATTACKS BY FRENCH PRIVATEERS—CAUSE OF THE WAR WITH FRANCE—CHARLES V.—RUIN OF THE ISLAND 1520-1556 XV. SEDEÑO—CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT 1534-1555 XVI. DEFENSELESS CONDITION OF THE ISLAND—CONSTRUCTION OF FORTIFICATIONS AND CIRCUMVALLATION OF SAN JUAN 1555-1641 XVII. DRAKE'S ATTACK ON SAN JUAN 1595 XVIII. OCCUPATION AND EVACUATION OF SAN JUAN BY LORD GEORGE CUMBERLAND—CONDITION OF THE ISLAND AT THE END OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY XIX. ATTACK ON SAN JUAN BY THE HOLLANDERS UNDER BOWDOIN 1625 XX. DECLINE OF SPAIN'S POWER—BUCCANEERS AND FILIBUSTERS 1625-1780 XXI. BRITISH ATTACKS ON PUERTO RICO—SIEGE OF SAN JUAN BY SIR RALPH ABERCROMBIE 1678-1797 XXII. BRITISH ATTACKS ON PUERTO RICO (continued)—INVASIONS BY COLOMBIAN INSURGENTS 1797-1829 XXIII. REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN PUERTO RICO AND THE POLITICAL EVENTS IN SPAIN FROM 1765 TO 1820 XXIV. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE ISLAND FROM 1815 TO 1833 XXV. POLITICAL EVENTS IN SPAIN AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON AFFAIRS IN PUERTO RICO 1833-1874 XXVI. GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE ISLAND—THE DAWN OF FREEDOM 1874-1898 PART II. THE PEOPLE AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS XXVII. SITUATION AND GENERAL APPEARANCE OF PUERTO RICO XXVIII. ORIGIN, CHARACTER, AND CUSTOMS OF THE PRIMITIVE INHABITANTS OF BORIQUÉN XXIX. THE "JÍBARO," OR PUERTO RICAN PEASANT XXX. ORIGIN AND CHARACTER OF THE MODERN INHABITANTS OF PUERTO RICO XXXI. NEGRO SLAVERY IN PUERTO RICO XXXII. INCREASE OF POPULATION XXXIII. AGRICULTURE IN PUERTO RICO XXXIV. COMMERCE AND FINANCES XXXV. EDUCATION IN PUERTO RICO XXXVI. LIBRARIES AND THE PRESS XXXVII. THE REGULAR AND SECULAR CLERGY XXXVIII. THE INQUISITION 1520-1813 XXXIX.