The squadron encounters fearful storms--Returns to Veragua--The
Adelantado visits the cacique Quibian--Vessels nearly lost by a bore in
the river--The Adelantado sets off for the gold-mines--During a second
excursion collects much gold--Columbus resolves to form a colony--The
vessels prevented from crossing the bar--Eighty men engaged in building
a fort--Diego Mendez goes on a scouting expedition, and discovers the
treacherous designs of Quibian--Visits the village of the cacique--The
Adelantado undertakes to capture Quibian--He succeeds--The cacique
escapes on his way down the river--Is supposed to be lost--Columbus
prepares to sail--Indians attack the settlement--Driven off--Tristan
goes up the river for water--He and his party destroyed by the Indians--
Settlement again attacked--The Spaniards entrench themselves--No
communication possible with the ships--Fearful tragedy on board--Gallant
conduct of Ledesma--The settlement abandoned--The ships, pierced by the
teredo, unseaworthy--One abandoned at Puerto Bello--Stands across to
Cuba--A tempest--Narrow escape--In vain endeavouring to get westward,
steers for Jamaica--The caravels run on shore and prepared for defence--
Diego Mendez obtains provisions--Crosses in a canoe to Hispaniola--
Mutiny of Porras and others--They put to sea in canoes--Driven back by a
storm--Misconduct on shore--Instigate the Indians to withhold
provisions--Columbus predicts an eclipse of the moon--A second mutiny--
Arrival of Escobar--Refuses to take Columbus away--Adventures of
Mendez--Porras persists in his rebellion--Porras captured by the
Adelantado--Vessels arrive--Columbus reaches San Domingo--Reaction in
his favour--Returns with his brother to Spain--His last illness and
death.
The vessels put into Puerto Bello, then once more stood westward; but
the wind, again heading them, began to blow with such terrible violence,
that they were obliged once more to run back towards the port they had
left; but before they could reach it, they were driven out to sea by a
terrific gale. Here for days they were tossed about, while the rain
poured down in a perfect deluge, and to add to the terror of the seamen
a waterspout was seen approaching, from which they narrowly escaped.
For a short time the tempest ceased, but again raged with greater fury
than before. No serious damage, however, having occurred, the vessels
at length, on the 3rd of February, 1503, came to an anchor off the river
Yebra, which was within a league of another river known as the Veragua,
running through the country said to abound in gold-mines.
Both rivers were sounded, and the Yebra, or Belen as Columbus called it,
being somewhat the deepest, the caravels entered it at high tide. At
first the natives assumed a menacing attitude, but assured by the guides
of the pacific intentions of the Spaniards, they received them in a
friendly way. Besides a quantity of fish and provisions, they brought
also numerous golden ornaments,--objects delighting the greedy eyes of
the Spaniards. The Adelantado lost no time in ascending the river in a
well-armed boat to the residence of Quibian, the principal cacique of
the country.
The chief, a tall powerful warrior, received him in a friendly manner,
and presented him with various golden ornaments. The following day
Quibian visited the Admiral, by whom he was hospitably entertained.
Suddenly, on the 24th of January, a vast mass of water came rushing down
the river, forcing the ships from their anchors, and dashing them
against each other with such violence that the foremast of the Admiral's
vessel was carried away, and the squadron placed in great danger; a
furious storm and the heavy surf on the bar preventing them from running
out to sea.
When the weather moderated, the Adelantado paid another visit up the
river to Quibian, who came down to meet him with a large train of his
subjects unarmed, making signs of peace. The chief was naked, and
painted after the fashion of the country. Seated on a stone, he
received the Adelantado with great courtesy, and acceding to his wishes
to visit the interior of his dominions, supplied him with three guides
to conduct him to the mines.
Leaving a party to guard the boats, the Adelantado set off on foot with
the remainder, sleeping one night on the road. After travelling about
six leagues, they entered a forest, where the guides informed them the
mines were situated. The whole soil indeed seemed to be impregnated
with gold, and in the space of two hours each Spaniard had collected a
considerable quantity from among the roots of the trees.
Reaching the top of a hill, the guides pointed out to the Adelantado a
wide forest region, which they assured him, for a distance of twenty
leagues, abounded with gold. It appeared, however, that by the
directions of Quibian they had deceived him, and taken him to the mines
of a neighbouring cacique, with whom he was at war, and that the real
mines of Veragua were nearer and far more wealthy.
After this the indefatigable Adelantado made another exploring
expedition along the coast and through the interior, from which he
returned well laden with gold. Columbus, satisfied that the mines of
Veragua and those of the Aurea Chersonesus were identical, considered
that this would be a suitable place to found a colony and establish a
mart which should become the emporium of a vast tract of mines. The
Adelantado agreed with him, and offered to remain with the greater part
of the people while the Admiral should return to Spain for
reinforcements and supplies.
Eighty men were selected to remain, and they immediately set about
building dwellings and a store-house within bowshot of the river Belen.
Columbus endeavoured to conciliate the good-will of the Indians, that
they might bring provisions to the colony, and he made many presents to
Quibian to reconcile him to this intrusion into his territories.
When an attempt was made, however, to carry the vessels over the bar, it
was found there was not sufficient water for them. They had to wait for
the periodical swelling of the river before this could be accomplished.
Columbus was satisfied with the good disposition of the natives, but the
chief notary, Diego Mendez, his attached friend, had some doubts about
the matter, and offered to sally forth and visit a large Indian camp
which it was discovered had been formed in the neighbourhood.
Rowing up the river in a strongly-armed boat, he suddenly came upon a
thousand or more Indians evidently on a warlike expedition. Landing
alone, he offered to accompany them. This proposition was received in a
suspicious manner, and he returned to his boat. Watching narrowly
during the night, he perceived that they went back to Veragua.
Hastening to the Admiral, he expressed his opinion that the Indians
intended to surprise the settlement. Further to ascertain the
intentions of Quibian, he undertook to penetrate to his head-quarters.
Accompanied by one Rodrigo Escobar, he made his way to the mouth of the
Veragua, where he induced two Indians to convey him and his companion up
the river.
On reaching the village of the chief, the two Spaniards observed a
bustle of warlike preparation, and heard that Quibian was confined to
his house by a wound. Mendez on this announced that he was a surgeon,
and offered to cure the chief of his wound. Making his way towards the
chief's residence, he came upon an open space where he saw raised on
posts the heads of three hundred enemies of the tribe slain in battle.
As he approached the house, a powerful Indian--son of the cacique--
rushed out and struck him a blow; but Mendez producing a box of
ointment, pacified him. Though unable to gain access to the cacique, he
escaped without further injury to the boat, and he and his companion
made their way down to the harbour.
It was evident that the natives intended hostilities, and from an Indian
who had become attached to the Spaniards they learned that Quibian
intended to surprise the Spaniards by night, to burn the vessels and
houses, and make a general massacre. To prevent him carrying out his
plan, the Adelantado offered to go up the river and capture him and his
principal chiefs and family during the night, and to bring them in
chains on board.
Taking Diego Mendez, with seventy men and an interpreter, he set off on
the 30th of March. Reaching the neighbourhood of the village, he left
the rest of his people, and, accompanied by Diego Mendez and four
others, went forward. The remainder, two and two, climbed the hill. It
was arranged that upon the discharge of an arquebus they were to
surround the dwelling and suffer no one to escape.
As the Adelantado approached, Quibian came out to meet him, and seated
himself in the porch; Don Bartholomew telling Mendez and his companions
to remain at a little distance, and that when they should see him take
the cacique by the arm, to rush immediately to his assistance.
He then advanced with his Indian interpreter, and after a short
conversation, pretending to examine the cacique's wound, he took him by
the arm.
At the concerted signal four of the Spaniards rushed forward, the fifth
discharged his arquebus. The cacique attempted to get loose, but was
held firm in the iron grasp of the Adelantado. A violent struggle
ensued, but Diego Mendez and the rest coming up, Quibian was bound hand
and foot; and at the report of the arquebus the main body of the
Spaniards surrounded the house and seized all who were within, the wives
and children of Quibian included. When the savages saw their chief a
captive, with loud cries they implored his liberty, offering a rich
treasure as his ransom.
The Adelantado, deaf to their entreaties, carried off Quibian and the
other prisoners to the boat, committing them to the charge of Juan
Sanchez, the principal pilot, while he remained on shore with part of
his men to secure the Indians who had escaped.
The night was dark, and as the boats proceeded down the river Quibian
pretended that the cord which bound him to a bench hurt his limbs, and
the pilot loosed it.
The wily Indian, watching his opportunity, plunged into the water, and
in the darkness and confusion it was not known whether he sank or
reached the bank. Sanchez, crestfallen, returned in the boats to the
ships.
The next morning the Adelantado, seeing from the nature of the country
that it would be impossible to overtake the fugitives, contented himself
with carrying off all the coronets, necklaces, and plates of gold found
in the cacique's mansion, to the value of three hundred ducats, and got
safely on board.
Columbus, believing that Quibian had perished and that the vigorous
measures of the Adelantado had succeeded in quelling the natives, made
preparations for sailing. The river having swollen, he got three of the
caravels over the bar by landing their cargoes, but left the fourth for
the use of the settlement. Taking leave of his brother, and making his
final arrangements, he set sail. The wind, however, continued adverse,
and on the 6th of April, wishing to communicate with his brother, he
sent a boat on shore under the command of Diego Tristan, captain of one
of the caravels.
As Tristan approached the shore he found his countrymen, some on board
the caravel, some on the sea-shore looking at the ships, and others
scattered about the houses, when suddenly a vast number of Indians
rushed forward with yells and howls, launching their javelins through
the windows and roofs, or thrusting them through the crevices of the
woodwork, wounding some of those who were within.
At the first alarm the Adelantado, seizing a lance, sallied forth with
seven or eight men, and being joined by Diego Mendez and others, they
drove the enemy into the forest, killing and wounding many of them. In
spite of their furious sallies the savages could not withstand the keen
edge of the Spanish swords and the attacks of a fierce bloodhound, and
fled howling through the forest, leaving a number dead on the field,
having, however, killed one Spaniard and wounded eight, among the latter
of whom was the Adelantado.
Tristan had been afraid to approach the land lest his countrymen should
spring on board and sink the boat, and when the Indians had been put to
flight he proceeded up the river in quest of fresh water, disregarding
the warnings of his friends on shore. He had get up some way, and was
passing through a narrow channel between high, rocky, and wooded banks,
when he was suddenly assailed by showers of darts and arrows. As the
crew, losing all presence of mind, made no attempt to row away, only
covering themselves with their bucklers, in a short time he and the
whole of them, with the exception of one man, were massacred. The
survivor, springing overboard, gained the bank of the river unperceived,
and made his way down to the settlement with the tidings of the death of
his captain and comrades.
The Spaniards were dismayed. They were few in number in the midst of
exasperated savages. The Admiral, ignorant of their misfortunes, they
said, would sail away, and leave them to perish. In vain the Adelantado
remonstrated. They insisted on embarking in the caravel and following
Columbus. The water, however, had fallen, and she could not be got over
the bar. They attempted to put off in the boat, but a heavy surf
rolling on the shore made this impossible.
In the meantime the Indians, instigated by Quibian, who had escaped,
again attacked the Spaniards, rushing out from their coverts in the
woods, and hurling their javelins and darts. As the huts were so near
the woods that they might at any moment be surprised, a spot was chosen
on the shore, where a breastwork was thrown up formed of the boats,
casks, and cases, in the embrasures of which were placed two small
pieces of artillery. Here, when the Indians came on, they were received
with so warm a fire from the arquebuses and guns that they quickly took
to flight. The little garrison knew, however, that before long their
ammunition would fail and their provisions be exhausted, and that they
could anticipate nothing but destruction in the end.
Columbus all this time was not aware what was taking place on shore. He
became anxious, however, at the non-appearance of Diego Tristan and his
party, but as there was one boat only remaining, he was afraid of
sending her off lest she should be overwhelmed by the surf breaking on
the beach.
A fearful circumstance now occurred. The prisoners were confined at
night in the forecastle of the caravel, the hatchway of which was
generally secured by a strong chain and padlock. Several of the crew
slept on this hatchway, and as it was so high as to be considered out of
the reach of those beneath, they neglected to fasten the chain.
The Indians, discovering their negligence, made a heap of stones from
the ballast directly under the hatchway. Several of their most powerful
warriors then mounting on the top, and bending their backs, by a sudden
effort forced up the hatch. In an instant the greater part of the
Indians sprang forth, some plunging into the sea and swimming for the
shore. Several were seized and forced back into the forecastle, when
the hatchway was chained down and a guard was set for the remainder of
the night.
In the morning the Spaniards, on lifting the hatch, found to their
horror that their captives were all dead. Some had hanged themselves
with the ends of ropes, their knees touching the floor, while others lay
strangled, having drawn the ropes tight with their feet. Columbus,
fearing that the prisoners who had escaped would stimulate their
countrymen to some act of vengeance, was anxious to communicate with his
brother. It still seemed impossible for the boat to reach the shore,
when Pedro Ledesma, a pilot of Seville, volunteered to swim to the beach
if the boat would carry him outside the breakers and wait his return.
Stripping himself, he plunged into the sea, and buffeting the surges,
reached the shore. He here found the intended settlers verging on
despair, and also heard the fate of Diego Tristan.
With a message from the Adelantado, the brave pilot made his way back to
the boat. Columbus, on receiving the alarming intelligence brought by
the pilot, was thrown into a state of the greatest anxiety. Rather than
allow the settlement to be broken up, he would have joined the
Adelantado with all his people; but how, then, could he send tidings of
his important discovery to the sovereigns? After much trouble of mind
he resolved to embark the people and abandon the settlement.
Bad weather and a heavy sea rendered this for a long time impossible.
At length the wind going down, the sea became calm, and he was able to
send the boat on shore. Every exertion was at once made to bring off
the people. The zealous Diego Mendez had been actively employed in
making sacks to hold the biscuit. He also constructed a raft, which
greatly facilitated the conveyance of the stores, arms, and ammunition.
The caravel was also dismantled. Her provisions and stores were got
off, so that nothing remained but her hull. The joy of the Spaniards
when they found themselves safe on board was unbounded, and the Admiral,
as a reward for his services, gave the command of the caravel, vacant by
the death of the unfortunate Diego Tristan, to the zealous Diego Mendez.
By the end of April, with a favourable wind, Columbus left the
disastrous shores of Veragua; but his ships, honeycombed by the teredo,
could with difficulty be kept afloat. To the surprise of his pilots,
instead of standing northwards towards Hispaniola, he steered due east,
knowing that the the current, which has a strong set into the Caribbean
Sea, would have swept him far away out of his intended course.
He continued on to Puerto Bello, where he found that one of his caravels
was so pierced by the teredo that he was compelled to leave her behind,
and to divide her crew between the two remaining vessels. He then
proceeded on as far as what is now known as the Gulf of Darien.
Having struggled in vain against contrary winds and currents, he on the
ist of May stood northward in quest of Hispaniola. As the wind was
easterly, with a strong current setting to the west, he kept as near the
wind as possible. So ignorant were the pilots that they fancied all
this time that they were to the east of the Caribbean Islands, whereas
the Admiral feared truly that he should fall to the westward of
Hispaniola.
Sailing across the Caribbean Sea, he at length sighted two small islands
to the north-west of Hispaniola, which he called the Tortugas, from the
quantity of turtles seen about them, though now known as the Caymans.
Passing west of these, he found himself among the islands to the south
of Cuba which he had called the Queen's Gardens. Here he cast anchor.
His crews were almost worn out, and the only provisions left were a
little biscuit, oil, and vinegar, while they were obliged to labour
incessantly at the pumps.
Suddenly a tempest burst upon them. Three of their anchors were lost,
and the vessels, driving together, nearly knocked each other to pieces.
With the greatest difficulty they were separated, and the Admiral's ship
anchored with his sole remaining cable, which in the morning was found
nearly worn asunder. At the end of six days, the weather moderating, he
sailed eastwards for Hispaniola.
Contrary winds, however, compelled him at length to stand across for
Jamaica, where, on the 23rd of June, the caravels put into Puerto Bueno,
now called Dry Harbour. No natives being found, the following day they
sailed eastward, and entered another harbour, called Porta Santa Gloria.
Here, at length, Columbus was compelled to give up his arduous struggle
against the elements; his ships, reduced to mere wrecks, could no longer
be kept afloat, and he ordered them to be run aground within bowshot of
the shore, and fastened side by side. Here they soon filled with water
to the deck. Cabins were therefore erected at the bow and stern, for
the accommodation of the crews, and the vessels were placed in the best
possible state of defence against any sudden attack of the natives.
To prevent his men roving about the neighbourhood, he ordered that no
one should go on shore without a special licence, and every other
possible precaution was taken to prevent giving offence to the Indians.
Scarcely had these arrangements been made, than the natives appeared in
vast numbers, bringing provisions to barter. That no disputes might
arise, two persons were appointed to superintend all such trading
transactions. It was feared, however, that the food thus furnished
would soon fall short, in which case the Spaniards would be reduced to
famine. In this emergency, Diego Mendez, with his accustomed zeal,
offered to set off with three men on a foraging expedition. He was
everywhere treated with the utmost kindness by the natives, who supplied
him and his companions with meat and drink; and he made arrangements
with the cacique of a numerous tribe that his subjects should hunt and
fish, and bring cassava bread every day to the harbour. They were to
receive, in exchange, various articles which they most valued.
This arrangement being made, Mendez dispatched a message to apprise the
Admiral, and then proceeded upon his journey, during which he visited
three different caciques, who all agreed to his proposals.
Having now sent back his companions, Mendez made his way to the eastern
end of the island, where he found a powerful cacique, named Ameyro. He
won over this chief by his ingratiating manner, and, having purchased a
canoe, induced him to send six Indians to navigate it. He made a
successful trip, and when he rejoined the Admiral, he found that the
canoes of the friendly chief had already arrived with abundance of
provisions.
The great desire of Columbus was now to get from the island. But his
ships were like sieves, and he had but one small boat. The idea
occurred to him that he might send Diego Mendez, in the canoe lately
obtained, to Hispaniola. He broached the subject to his worthy
follower, who at once agreed to perform the hazardous voyage, provided
no better man was to be found to undertake it.
All were perfectly ready to let Mendez go. He accordingly embarked, the
Admiral's despatches being ready, with one Spaniard and six Indians.
The brave officer at first paddled to the east end of the island, where
he remained waiting for calm weather. When here, he and his men were
seized by a party of savages, who were about to kill them, when Mendez,
making his escape, reached his canoe and got back to the harbour. Still
undaunted, he resolved to make another attempt, and being joined by
Bartholomew Fiesco, a Genoese devoted to the Admiral, in another canoe,
he and his associates set off, escorted by the Adelantado, to the east
end of the island, with an armed party to prevent the savages from
molesting them. The weather being serene, they once more set off,
hoping to reach Hispaniola in four or five days.
Soon after this sickness broke out among the crews of the two caravels,
while many bitterly blamed the Admiral, considering that all their
misfortunes were owing to him.
Week after week went by, and no ships appearing, Columbus, with too much
reason, feared that his friends had perished.
It had been arranged that Mendez, as soon as he could send off a vessel,
was to proceed on to Spain with the Admiral's despatches giving an
account of his new discoveries, and that Fiesco was to return in a
vessel to take him and his companions off from Jamacia.
Meantime, two brothers, Porras by name, the eldest of whom was a captain
of one of the caravels, had concocted a vile plot to seize Columbus,
capture the largest Indian canoes to be found, and go on in them to
Hispaniola.
The Admiral was in his cabin, confined to his bed by gout, when, on the
2nd of January, 1504, Francisco de Porras entered, and, uttering bitter
complaints, accused him of having no intention of returning to Spain.
Columbus maintained his calmness, and suggested that the officers should
meet together, and decide what measures should be pursued. Porras,
however, replied that there was no time for further consultations, and
told the Admiral that he must either embark, or remain by himself. He
then shouted, "I am for Castile! Those who choose may follow me!"
"I will follow you, and I, and I!" answered the crew, brandishing their
weapons.
Columbus leapt from his bed, but fell. A few of his faithful adherents
gathered round him, while the Adelantado sallied forth, lance in hand,
to take the whole brunt of the assault. Columbus entreated that no
blood might be shed, and told the mutineers that they might depart
peaceably.
Hearing this, they at once prepared for embarking in ten canoes, which
had been purchased of the Indians. Many who had not taken part in the
mutiny joined the deserters, and the whole set off along the coast. As
they proceeded they landed and committed outrages upon the Indians,
robbing them of their provisions and whatever else they coveted. As
they did so they told the Indians that Columbus would pay them, and
advised them to kill him if he did not.
Reaching the eastern end of the island they put off, intending to stand
across the gulf; but a heavy sea arose, and fearing that their light
canoes would be swamped, they threw the helpless Indians, whom they had
taken to paddle them, overboard. When some of the natives attempted to
seize the gunwales and save themselves, the barbarians cut off their
hands and stabbed them with their swords.
The deserters, on reaching land, took up their abode in an Indian
village, the inhabitants of which they treated in their usual tyrannical
manner. They then wandered from village to village, a dissolute gang,
supporting themselves by robbery, and passing like a pestilence through
the island.
Columbus, meantime, supported by conscious rectitude, devoted himself to
relieving the sufferings of his sick companions who remained with him.
The good faith with which he had ever acted towards the natives now
produced a beneficial effect, and supplies of provisions were brought
from time to time, which were scrupulously paid for. As, however, the
trinkets lost their value, the supplies fell off, and at length entirely
ceased. Every day the difficulty of procuring food increased, and when
any was brought, a ten times higher price than formerly was asked for
it. The atrocities committed by Porras and his party had produced an
injurious effect on the minds of the natives, even against the Admiral,
and they hoped that, by withholding provisions, either to starve him and
his people, or to drive them from the island.
At this juncture Columbus ascertained that there would be a total
eclipse of the moon in the early part of the night, and he, in
consequence, conceived a device, which, according to the erroneous
notions of those days, he probably considered a pious and excusable
fraud. To make the natives believe in his superior powers, he invited
the principal cacique and his followers to a conference, when he told
them that the white men worshipped a great divinity, who would be
displeased if his votaries were allowed to starve; and, lest they should
despise his warning, the moon would be ordered to change its colour and
gradually lose its light that _very_ night. Many of the Indians were
alarmed, others treated the prediction with derision.
When, however, they saw a dark shadow steal over the moon, seized with
terror, they hurried to the ships, and entreated Columbus to intercede
for them. He promised to do so, and, retiring to his cabin, waited
until he saw that the eclipse was about to diminish, when, coming forth,
he assured them that they would be pardoned, provided they fulfilled
their promise, in sign of which he would withdraw the darkness from the
moon.
The Indians once more seeing the planet shining brightly? came with all
reverence to Columbus to propitiate him with gifts, and from that time
forward there was no lack of provisions.
Many months went by, and at length more of his followers became
desperate, and another conspiracy was formed by an apothecary Bernado,
who, with two confederates, designed seizing the remaining canoes, and
making their way to Hispaniola.
The mutiny was on the point of breaking out, when, just eight months
after the arrival of the two shattered barks in the harbour, a vessel
was seen in the offing. She stood in and a boat approached, in which
was Diego de Escobar, a wretch who had been condemned to death by
Columbus and pardoned by Bobadilla.
Putting a letter on board for the Admiral from Ovando, he then withdrew
to a distance, and shouted out that he had been sent by the Governor to
express his concern for the sufferings of Columbus, and his regret that
he had no vessel of sufficient size to bring him off, but would send one
as soon as possible.
This was the first intimation that Columbus had received of the safe
voyage of Mendez and Fiesco. In writing an answer to Ovando, he vividly
depicted the dangers of his situation, and recommended Mendez and Fiesco
to his favour, assuring him that they were only sent to apply for
succour. Escobar receiving the letter, returned on board, and making
all sail, was soon lost to sight.
Columbus well knew that jealousy was the cause of Ovando's cruel
conduct, and that he had sent Escobar as one who would have no sympathy
with his sufferings. Diego Mendez and his companions had nearly
perished on their voyage across the channel, but he had at length
reached the western end of Hispaniola, from whence he set off to coast
in his canoe one hundred and thirty leagues to San Domingo. After
proceeding eighty leagues against adverse currents and in danger from
hostile tribes, he was informed on landing that the Governor was at
Xaragua, fifty leagues away.
Undaunted by difficulties, he proceeded on foot through forests and over
mountains, until he arrived at Xaragua, having achieved one of the most
perilous expeditions ever undertaken by a devoted follower for the
safety of his commander.
Ovando received him kindly, but kept him seven months under various
pretexts, until he at length had permission to go to San Domingo, where
he hoped to purchase a vessel to go to the rescue of his beloved
commander.
When left in doubt, after the appearance of Escobar, as to whether
assistance would really be sent, Columbus endeavoured by kind measures
to win back Porras and his rebel crew to their allegiance.
Porras, however, who had formed a plan to attack and plunder the
stranded caravels and make the Admiral prisoner, persuaded his men to
hold out. On this the sturdy Adelantado resolved to try the effect of
force, and taking with him fifty followers, he set out for the camp of
the traitor.
On approaching he sent two messengers, who had before accepted the offer
of pardon, to treat with Porras; but he would not permit them to
approach, and he and his men, brandishing their weapons, defied the
Adelantado, six of them vowing that they would put him to death. Two of
the strongest of their number, however, quickly fell beneath his
flashing sword; and many others lay killed or wounded, when Porras,
rushing forward, struck at the Adelantado's shield, in which his sword
remained fixed. Before he could withdraw it, several of the
Adelantado's party closing on him, made him prisoner. His followers,
seeing this, fled, and Don Bartholomew returned in triumph with his
prisoner to the Admiral.
Next day the fugitives sent a petition, couched in abject terms, for
pardon, swearing that they would for ever afterwards remain faithful.
At length, after a year of alternate hope and despondency, the Spaniards
saw two vessels approaching the harbour. One had been fitted out by
Diego Mendez, and the other was sent by Ovando, placed under the command
of Salcedo, the Admiral's agent at San Domingo.
Joy filled the hearts of the exiles as they approached. Columbus nobly
forgave the rebels, and all were received on board, Porras alone being
still kept a prisoner, while the Indians wept when they beheld the
departure of their guests, having experienced nothing but just and
gentle treatment from Columbus.
The vessel set sail on the 28th of June for San Domingo. Adverse winds
and currents still opposed his progress, and it was not until the 3rd of
August that Columbus reached the little island of Beata, on the coast of
Hispaniola, and not, in consequence of the same cause, until the 13th
that he anchored in the harbour of San Domingo. Here a strong reaction
in his favour took place, and many of those who had jeered as he was led
away a prisoner in chains, now came forward to welcome him with every
mark of respect. He was lodged in the house of Ovando, who, however,
set at liberty the traitor Porras, and even talked of punishing the
Admiral's followers for having, in the fray at Jamaica, killed several
of the mutineers.
Columbus had much cause for grief when he saw the desolation brought
upon the island by the cruel treatment of the natives, and heard of the
horrible massacres which had been perpetrated by Ovando and his agents.
He was eager to depart, and as soon as the vessels which had brought him
from Jamaica could be repaired, he put one under charge of the
Adelantado, while he, with his son and domestics, embarked on board the
other.
Most of his late crew remained at San Domingo, and even the most violent
of the rebels were helped from his purse. Scarcely had he left the
harbour than the mast of his vessel was carried away; so sending her
back, he embarked on board that commanded by the Adelantado.
The caravel continued her voyage, sorely buffeted by storms, during
which one of her masts was sprung, he all the time lying prostrated by
sickness in his cabin. It was not until the end of several weeks that
the tempest-tossed barks anchored, on the 7th of November, in the
harbour of San Lucar.
Thus ended the last voyage undertaken by the great navigator. From San
Lucar he was conveyed to Seville, where he hoped to obtain rest after
all his toils; but on arriving there he found his affairs in confusion,
as they had been ever since his property had been seized by Bobadilla.
His great anxiety was to get to Court to defend himself from the
malignant accusations of his enemies; but his patroness, the magnanimous
Isabella, fell ill and died. Ferdinand, though he treated him with
respect, made constant excuses for not attending to his requests.
At length King Philip with Juana arrived from Flanders to take
possession of their throne of Castile, and the Admiral, trusting that in
the daughter of Isabella he would once more find a patroness, being too
ill to leave his bed, sent his brother the Adelantado to petition for
the restoration of his honours and estates.
It was the last time he was to see his gallant brother. Before the
return of Don Bartholomew, feeling his end approaching, leaving his
eldest son Don Diego his heir, he made his dying bequests in the
presence of his faithful followers, Mendez and Fiesco, and on the 20th
of May, 1506, at the age of seventy years, he yielded up his dauntless
spirit to his Maker.