Ovando Calls the Audacious Bobadilla to Account—Columbus Undertakes his
Fourth Voyage in 1502
Never had so strong a fleet been sent to the West Indies as that
consigned to Ovando, the new governor. While he was sailing away with
his thirty-two vessels and two thousand five hundred men, Columbus had
to remain at home with the mortification of seeing another reap what he
had sown with so many inexpressible hardships. Soon after Ovando’s
departure a terrible storm arose which dispersed his vessels. The news
reached Spain that the fleet was lost. The King, overcome with distress
at this new misfortune which had consigned so many of his best and
bravest subjects to a watery grave, secluded himself in his palace
several days. Fortunately, however, the report proved untrue. The fleet
outrode the storm. Only one vessel was lost and the others reached their
destination at the right time.
Ovando arrived at Hispaniola just at the right time. Had he been delayed
longer the new colony might have been ruined by Bobadilla’s foolish and
unjust administration. He had hoped to establish himself in secure
possession by pandering to the rabble in every unlawful way. To
accomplish this end he revoked all of Columbus’ wise regulations and
permitted every one to conduct himself in the most unlicensed manner.
His predecessor had striven to protect the poor Indians from Spanish
outrages, but he left them exposed to violence of every kind. He divided
them among his covetous followers as slaves and the poor creatures were
assigned to tasks far beyond their strength. The burden of this labor
and the cruel severity which they had to endure at the hands of their
taskmasters killed many of these naturally weak creatures and threatened
to destroy them all.
The first act of Ovando was the removal of Bobadilla, who was sent to
Spain, together with Roldan, to give an account of his misconduct. By
royal command he did away with slavery by declaring all the Indians
free. The unlicensed manner of life followed by the Spaniards was
checked by new and rigid laws. Permission was given for the mining of
gold but upon condition that half the product should belong to the King
or the master of the island.
Meanwhile Columbus, bowed down by the weight of his troubles, appeared
from time to time at the Court, which continued to turn a deaf ear to
his complaints. He did not plead for grace but for justice. With the
royal contract in his hands, he implored the fulfilment of the promise
made to him that he should be the vice-sovereign of the newly discovered
regions. He was convinced that on his last voyage he had found the coast
of the mainland. His former supposition that this land was a part of
India, if not entirely removed, was greatly weakened. He now conjectured
that between the mainland and India there might be a great ocean
separating one from the other. He further thought it possible that in
the region of the Isthmus of Darien there might be a strait through
which a passage could be found into this ocean and thence to the Indies.
It seemed to him a matter of the highest importance to ascertain whether
there was such a passage. If so, how much easier and more direct it
would be to sail for the Indies in that direction than by the passage
discovered by the Portuguese around Africa! Great as was the injury done
to him by the King, his desire to benefit the world by fresh discoveries
was still greater, greater even than his indignation at being superseded
and refused his rights. He magnanimously resolved to forget all that had
been done to him and in his old age to risk once more the dangers and
hardships of a new voyage. He announced his purpose to the Court, which
was only too delighted at the opportunity of ridding itself of his
troublesome presence. The sight of this deserving and greatly maligned
man was a daily reproach to the King and Queen and they were only too
glad to be free from it. Hence they willingly accepted his offer. They
also cherished a belief that his voyage might have fortunate results for
them. The order to fit out an expedition was promptly issued.
What an apology for a fleet! Four wretched little vessels, the largest
of which was not half as large as an ordinary freight vessel,
constituted all the material entrusted to him for so great an
undertaking. With this little fleet he must navigate a far-distant
unknown ocean and find a way to those East Indies from which he had
promised to bring rich treasures. What a wretched outfit for the
accomplishment of so vast an undertaking! Any other man would have
abandoned such a seemingly impossible project, but Columbus thought of
his first voyage and had no hesitation in trusting his life this time to
vessels as weak as those were with which he first crossed the ocean
between Europe and the West Indies. He went on board courageously,
accompanied by his brother Bartolomeo and his thirteen-year-old second
son, Ferdinand, who afterward wrote the history of his life.
On the ninth of May, 1502, ten years after his first voyage, the
gray-haired navigator set sail from Cadiz and steered for the Canary
Islands. The voyage thus far was very fortunate, except that one of his
vessels, the largest one, was such a slow sailer that it was very
difficult to keep up with the others. He therefore first directed his
course to Hispaniola that he might exchange this useless vessel for
another. As soon as he reached the island he sent a messenger to Ovando,
acquainting him with the reasons for his arrival and asking permission
to enter the harbor. The governor, however, did not believe he had the
right to grant this request as a different course had been laid out for
him, and he had been forbidden to go to Hispaniola. So the Admiral had
to submit to a humiliation which he must have expected. Notwithstanding
his indignation he called the attention of Ovando to the fact, of which
he was certain from long experience, that a violent storm was
approaching. He begged for permission therefore to enter the harbor and
remain there until the storm subsided. The governor at this time was
about to send a considerable fleet to Spain. Columbus’ proposal,
however, was disregarded. His petition was rejected, his advice spurned,
and his warning was laughed at as the fancy of a conceited, knavish
weather prophet. Meanwhile the Spanish homeward-bound fleet set sail.
But the Heavens avenged the slight which had been put upon Columbus. The
storm which he had foreseen came in all its fury. Columbus saved himself
by keeping close in to shore and his vessels escaped. Ovando’s richly
laden fleet, however, on its way to Spain, became the prey of the storm.
Roldan and Bobadilla paid the penalty of their treachery to Columbus and
perished in the waters. When the Admiral learned later that they were
among the drowned, he had no doubt that an overruling Power had thus
punished these traitors. With righteous indignation Columbus left the
island, which he had discovered and which had been refused him as a
shelter from a terrible storm, and sailed westward for the mainland. He
was beset by many dangers on this voyage but finally had the good
fortune to reach an island called Guanaja, lying not far from the main
coast of Honduras. As soon as he had come to anchor he sent his brother
Bartolomeo with some armed men ashore to make investigations. As
Bartolomeo approached the beach he met a large Indian boat much more
skilfully built than any he had ever seen before in that region. It was
of considerable length, eight feet wide, and covered in the middle with
a roof of palm leaves which gave it the appearance of a large gondola.
The wives and children of the Indians were on board, besides twenty-five
men. As soon as they were overtaken they gave themselves up as
prisoners, without resistance, although they were armed. Their cargo was
examined and found to consist of woollen stuffs, some pieces of
clothing, and great bands of cloth which served as draperies for the
women, large wooden swords sharpened on both sides, besides copper
hatchets and some other articles made of metal. Their food was of the
same kind as that in Hispaniola except that they had a drink made of
maize, resembling beer, and a small stock of cocoa beans of which they
were very fond and which also served for money. These were the first
beans of the kind ever seen by Europeans. Another remarkable thing about
these savages was the modest manner in which they attired themselves.
The Admiral was delighted to have these natives in his power, as he
hoped to learn from them much that he wished to know. He treated them
generously, exchanged European articles for their own, and gave them to
understand they could go back with their boat whenever it pleased them.
One old man, who seemed to be the most distinguished among them,
remained on board a long time and much useful knowledge was gained from
him which was of service in further communications with the natives.
Columbus learned from this old man that there was a great region farther
to the west which produced gold in abundance. The people in that region
wore golden circlets on their heads and heavy gold rings on their
fingers, arms, and ankles. They had tables, chairs, and chests of gold;
and corals, spices, and other valuable articles could be found there in
great quantities. This region was no other than the rich Mexico. But
great as was the Admiral’s desire to secure these treasures, his desire
to effect the purpose of his voyage by discovering the straits, which he
hoped to find not far away, was still greater. After much consideration
he abandoned the idea of obtaining these treasures which he was assured
were so near. Without paying heed to the complaints of his companions he
directed his course along the shore of the mainland toward the east.