the magnitude of this supposed first instalment of the riches
of the newly found gold mines, that it turned out that this Nino was
merely a miserable maker of jokes, and that the "gold in bars" was only
represented by the Indians who composed his cargo, whose present captivity
was secured by "bars," and whose future sale was to furnish gold. This
absurdity naturally caused Columbus and his friends no slight
mortification, and added a fresh weapon to the shafts of ridicule which
his enemies wore for ever launching at his extravagant theories and his
expensive projects.

CHAPTER VIII.

During the two years that elapsed from the Admiral's leaving Hispaniola in
1496 to his return there in 1498, many things happened on both sides the
Atlantic, which need recording. In 1496 we find, that Don Bartholomew
Columbus sent to Spain three hundred slaves from Hispaniola. He had
previously informed the Sovereigns that certain caciques were killing the
Castilians, and their Highnesses had given orders in reply, that all those
who should be found guilty should be sent to Spain. If this meant the
common Indians as well as the caciques, then it seems probable that the
question about selling them with a safe conscience was already decided.

CRIMINALS SENT TO THE INDIES.

In 1497, two very injudicious edicts were published by the Catholic
Sovereigns, upon the advice, as we are told, of Columbus; one, authorizing
the judges to transport criminals to the Indies; the other, giving an
indulgence to all those who had committed any crime (with certain
exceptions, among which heresy, lese majeste, and treason, find a place)
to go out at their own expense to Hispaniola, and to serve for a certain
time under the orders of the admiral. The remembrance of this advice on
his part, might well have shamed Columbus from saying, as he did three
years afterwards, in his most emphatic manner, "I swear that numbers of
men have gone to the Indies who did not deserve water from God or man." It
is but fair, however, to mention, that Las Casas, speaking of the
colonists who went out under these conditions, says, "I have known some of
them in these islands, even of those who had lost their ears, whom I
always found sufficiently honest men."

"REPARTIMIENTOS."

In 1497, letters patent were issued from the Sovereigns to the admiral,
authorizing him to grant repartimientos of the lands in the Indies to the
Spaniards. It is noticeable that in this