after taking a cordial farewell of his native friends.  He had shown extraordinary talent in his government of the native population, and his rule had been a complete success.  Always moderate in victory, he had suppressed the insurrections without bloodshed, and had conciliated the people by his moderation.  He had made long and difficult marches, had subdued opposition by his readiness of resource and energy, and had administered the native affairs with humanity and excellent judgment.

Unfortunately his power was insufficient to cope successfully with the insubordinate Spaniards.  The ringleader of the mutineers was Francisco Roldan, a man whom Columbus had raised from the dust.  He had been a servant; and the admiral, noting his ability, had intrusted him with some judicial functions.  When he sailed for Spain he appointed Roldan chief justice of the colony.  This ungrateful miscreant fostered discontent and mutiny by every art of persuasion and calumny at his command, and soon had a large band of worthless and idle ruffians ready to follow his lead.  His first plan was to murder the Adelantado and seize the government, but he lacked the courage or the opportunity to put it into execution.  His next step was to march into the Vega Real with seventy armed mutineers, and attempt to surprise Fort Concepcion.  The garrison was commanded by a loyal soldier named Miguel Ballester, who closed the gates and defied the rebels, sending to the Adelantado for help.  Bartolome at once hastened to his assistance, and on his arrival at Fort Concepcion he sent a messenger to Roldan, remonstrating with him, and urging him to return to his duty.  But Roldan found his force increasing by the adhesion of all the discontented men in the colony, and his insolence increased with his power.  All would probably have been lost but for the opportune arrival of Pedro Hernandez Coronel in February, 1498, who had been despatched from San Lucar by the admiral in the end of the previous year with reenforcements.  He also brought out the confirmation of Bartolome’s rank as Adelantado.

The Adelantado was thus enabled to leave Fort Concepcion and establish his head-quarters at Santo Domingo.  He sent Coronel as an envoy to Roldan, to endeavor to persuade him to return to his duty; but the mutineer feared to submit, believing that he had gone too far for forgiveness.  He marched into the province of Xaragua, where he allowed his dissolute followers to abandon themselves to every kind of excess.  The three caravels which had been despatched from Gomera by the admiral unfortunately made a bad landfall, and appeared off Xaragua.  Roldan concealed the fact that he was a leader of mutineers, and, receiving the captains in his official capacity, induced them to supply him with stores and provisions, while his followers busily endeavored to seduce the crews, and succeeded to some extent.  When Roldan’s true character was discovered, the caravels put to sea with the loyal part of their crews, while Alonzo Sanchez de Carbajal, a loyal and thoroughly honest man, who was zealous for the good of the colony, remained behind to endeavor to persuade Roldan to submit to the admiral’s authority.  He only succeeded in obtaining from him a promise to enter into negotiations with a view to the termination of the deplorable state of affairs he had created, and with this Carbajal proceeded to Santo Domingo.