The party halted at the bottom of this pass, and the pioneers were sent on to clear the way:  And as the people were not yet reconciled to the food used by the natives, some pack-horses were sent back under an escort to Isabella to bring provisions.  Having gained the top of the pass, they again enjoyed a delightful prospect of the Royal Plain.  From this place they entered the district or province of Cibao, which is a rugged uncouth country, full of high rocky mountains, whence it derives its name, Ciba, signifying a stone in the language of the natives.  Cibao is everywhere intersected by rivers and brooks, all of which yield gold; but it has few trees, and little verdure, the land being very barren, unless in the bottoms near the rivers.  It abounds however in tall spreading pines, which resemble the olive trees of Axarafe near Seville.  This province is very healthy, having a temperate air, and excellent wholesome water.  Small grains of gold were found in every brook, and sometimes large pieces are got, but not often.  From every town the natives came out, offering provisions, and when they found the admiral was desirous of gold, they brought him such grains as they had gathered.  He was now eighteen leagues from Isabella, and discovered several gold mines, besides one of copper, one of azure, and another of amber; these two last being only in small quantities.  To protect his workmen at the mines, and to keep the province under subjection, the admiral made choice of a convenient situation for a redoubt or small fortress, on a hill which was almost encompassed by a river called Zanique.  The ramparts of this fort were constructed of earth and timber, and these were defended by a trench at the gorge where not inclosed by the river.  He named this Fort St Thomas, because of the incredulity of the Spaniards, who would not believe that the country produced gold till they saw and touched it.  In digging the foundations of this fort, several nests of straw were found, in each of which three or four round stones were found, as large as oranges, instead of eggs.

Having established all things to his mind, the admiral left Don Peter Margarite, a gentleman of Catalonia, as governor of the fort, with a garrison of fifty-six men, and returned himself to Isabella, where he arrived on the 29th of March.  He here found matters much worse than at his departure, only seventeen days before.  Many of the colonists were dead, and great numbers sick, while those who were still in health were quite disheartened at the prospect of following the fate of their companions.  The provisions which had been brought from Spain were growing extremely scarce, owing to a great quantity of them being spoiled through the negligence of the sea captains, while such as had been landed in good condition would not keep long, on account of the dampness and heat of the climate.  All were therefore on short allowance, and the flour they had still in store being near spent, it became