which the Spaniards were
taking away from them.

At the moment when Columbus landed, there was an instant of tranquility.
But the natives, whom he remembered only six years ago as so happy and
cheerful and hospitable, had fled as far as they could. They showed
in every way their distrust of those who were trying to become their
masters. On the other hand, soldiers and emigrants were eager to leave
the island if they could. They were near starvation, or if they did
not starve they were using food to which they were not accustomed. The
eagerness with which, in 1493, men had wished to rush to this land of
promise, was succeeded by an equal eagerness, in 1498, to go home from
it.

As soon as he arrived, Columbus issued a proclamation, approving of the
measures of his brother in his absence, and denouncing the rebels with
whom Bartholomew had been contending. He found the difficulties which
surrounded him were of the most serious character. He had not force
enough to take up arms against the rebels of different names. He offered
pardon to them in the name of the sovereigns, and that they refused.

Columbus was obliged, in order to maintain any show of authority, to
propose to the sovereigns that they should arbitrate between his brother
and Roldan, who was the chief of the rebel party. He called to the minds
of Ferdinand and Isabella his own eager desire to return to San Domingo
sooner, and ascribed the difficulties which had arisen, in large
measure, to his long delay. He said he should send home the more
worthless men by every ship.

He asked that preachers might be sent out to convert the Indians and to
reform the dissolute Spaniards. He asked for officers of revenue, and
for a learned judge. He begged at the same time that, for two years
longer, the colony might be permitted to employ the Indians as slaves,
but he promised they would only use such as they captured in war and
insurrections.

By the same vessel the rebels sent out letters charging Columbus and his
brother with the grossest oppression and injustice. All these letters
came to court by one messenger. Columbus was then left to manage as
best he could, in the months which must pass, before he could receive an
answer.

He was not wholly without success. That is to say, no actual battles
took place between the parties before the answer returned. But when it
returned, it proved to be written by his worst enemy, Fonseca. It was
a genuine Spanish answer to a