Final answer:
The Aucas warmly received the missionaries with trades and friendly gestures, showing attachment to the missionaries who used gentle means for potential conversion. Historical records show a complex relationship between Europeans and indigenous people, including patterns of warm interactions and harsh conquests.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the missionaries established themselves on the beach, they were warmly received by the Aucas, who displayed friendly and non-aggressive attitudes. The Aucas welcomed the newcomers with items like parrots, balls of cotton thread, and javelins, which they traded for trifles such as red caps, beads, and little bells. The missionaries perceived that the Aucas could be easily converted to Christianity through gentle means rather than force, as they were delighted by the small gifts and showed attachment and good will towards the missionaries. Despite this warm welcome, the history between Europeans and indigenous people also includes dark periods of brutal conquest and exploitation, as evidenced by the experiences recorded by Columbus and later by Bartholomew de las Casas.