ght with them golden masks, one for the Admiral and another for
one of the captains who had been with him on the first voyage, probably
Vicente Yanez Pinzon. Such masks were much valued among the Indians,
and are thought to have been meant to put upon idols, so that they were
given to the Spaniards as tokens of great respect. The Indian party
remained on board for three hours, conversing with the Admiral and
apparently very glad to see him again. When they were asked about the
colonists of La Navidad, they said that they were all well, but that
some of them had died from sickness, and that others had been killed
in quarrels among themselves. Their own cacique, Guacanagari, had been
attacked by two other chiefs, Caonabo and Mayreni. They had burned his
village, and he had been wounded in the leg, so that he could not come
to meet the Spaniards that night. As the Indians went away, however,
they promised that they would bring him to visit them the next day. So
the explorers remained "consoled for that night."

Next day, however, events were less reassuring. None of last night's
party came back and nothing was seen of the cacique. The Spaniards,
however, thought that the Indians might have been accidentally
overturned in their canoe, as it was a small one, and as wine had been
given them several times during their visit.

While he was still waiting for them, the Admiral sent some of his men
to the place where La Navidad had stood. They found that the strong fort
with a palisade was burned down and demolished. They also found some
cloaks and other clothes which had been carried off by the Indians, who
seemed uneasy, and at first would not come near the party.

"This did not appear well" to the Spaniards, as the Admiral had told
them how many canoes had come out to visit him in that very place on
the other voyage. They tried to make friends, however, threw out to
them some bells, beads and other presents, and finally a relation of the
cacique and three others ventured to the boat, and were taken on board
ship.

These men frankly admitted that the "christians" were all dead. The
Spaniards had been told so the night before by their Indian interpreter,
but they had refused to believe him. They were now told that the King of
Canoaboa(*) and the King Mayreni had killed them and burned the village.

(*) "Canoaboa" was thought to mean "Land of Gold."

They said, as the others had done, that Guacanagari was wounded in the