Cabildo members are content in the early…
1540 CE to 1683 CE
Those who expect to enrich themselves from Cuba's mineral resources are greatly disappointed.
The island does not enjoy the large deposits of gold and other minerals that are later found in Mexico and South America.
Gold found in the river banks does not represent any great wealth, although washing the gold does require a large labor supply as well as costly equipment.
A handful of Spanish entrepreneurs controls the business and uses natives as a labor supply.
The crown is also involved from the earliest times in controlling mining operations.
The Spanish monarchs take one-fifth of all production as a tax for the right of mining, especially when natives in an encomienda arrangement do the mining.
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West Indies
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