From this point the Admiral put his fleet about, and returned over his course, for he could no longer battle against the contrary currents.[10] Moreover, his ships were rotting from day to day, their hulks being eaten into by the sharp points of worms engendered by the sun from the waters of these regions situated near the equator.  The Venetians call these worms bissa, and quantities of them come into life in both the ports of Alexandria, in Egypt.  These worms, which are a cubit long and sometimes more, and never thicker than your little finger, undermine the solidity of ships which lie too long at anchor.  The Spanish sailors call this pest broma.  It was therefore because he feared the bromas and was wearied out with struggling against the currents that the Admiral allowed his ships to be carried by the ocean towards the west.  Two leagues distant from Veragua he sailed up the river Hiebra, since it was navigable for the largest vessels.  Though it is less important, yet the Veragua gives its name to the country, since the ruler of that region, which is watered by both rivers, has his residence on the bank of the Veragua.

[Note 10:  Columbus describes the storms which prevailed during that entire month of December as the most formidable he had ever experienced; on the thirteenth his vessels had the narrowest possible escape from a waterspout.]

Let us now relate the good and ill fortune they there encountered.  Columbus established himself on the banks of the Hiebra, sending his brother Bartholomew Columbus, Adelantado of Hispaniola, in command of sixty-eight men in ships’ boats to Veragua.  The cacique of the country came down the river with a fleet of canoes to meet the Adelantado.  This man was naked and unarmed, and was accompanied by a numerous following.  Hardly had a few words been exchanged when the followers of the cacique, fearing that he might weary himself or forget his royal dignity by standing while he talked, carried a stone from the neighbouring bank, and after washing and polishing it with care, respectfully tendered it to their chief to serve as a chair.  When seated, the cacique seemed to convey by signs to the Spaniards that he permitted them to sail on the rivers of his territory.

The sixth of the ides of February the Adelantado marched along the banks of the river Veragua, leaving his boats behind.  He came to the Duraba, a stream richer in gold than the Hiebra or the Veragua; moreover, in all these regions gold is found amongst the roots of the trees, along the banks and amongst the rocks and stones left by the torrents.  Wherever they dug a palm deep, gold was found mingled with the earth turned out.  This decided the attempt to found a colony, but the natives opposed this project, for they foresaw their own prompt destruction.  They armed themselves, and, uttering horrible cries, they attacked our men who were engaged in building cabins.  This first attack was, with difficulty, repelled.