Columbus answered such questions by saying that the men he had taken with him thought more of sleeping and taking their ease than about work, and they preferred fighting and rebellion to peace and tranquillity.  The greater part of these men deserted him.  To establish uncontested authority over the island, it was necessary to conquer the islanders and to break their power.  The Spaniards have indeed pretended that they could not endure the cruelty and hardship of the Admiral’s orders, and they have formulated many accusations against him.  It is in consequence of these difficulties that he has not so far thought about covering the expenses of the expeditions.  I will nevertheless observe that in this same year, 1501, in which I am writing to you, the Spaniards have gathered 1200 pounds of gold in two months.

But let us return to our narrative.  At the proper time I will describe to you in detail what I have only just touched upon in this digression.

The Admiral was perfectly aware of the alarm and disturbance that prevailed amongst the islanders, but he was unable to prevent the violence and rapacity of his men, whenever they came into contact with the natives.  A number of the principal caciques of the frontier regions assembled to beg Columbus to forbid the Spaniards to wander about the island because, under the pretext of hunting for gold or other local products, they left nothing uninjured or undefiled.  Moreover, all the natives between the ages of fourteen and seventy years bound themselves to pay him tribute in the products of the country at so much per head, promising to fulfil their engagement.  Some of the conditions of this agreement were as follows:  The mountaineers of Cibao were to bring to the town every three months a specified measure filled with gold.  They reckon by the moon and call the months moons.  The islanders who cultivated the lands which spontaneously produced spices and cotton, were pledged to pay a fixed sum per head.  This pact suited both parties, and it would have been observed by both sides as had been agreed, save that the famine nullified their resolutions.  The natives had hardly strength to hunt food in the forests and for a long time they contented themselves with roots, herbs, and wild fruits.  Nevertheless the majority of the caciques, aided by their followers, did bring part of the established tribute.  They begged as a favour of the Admiral to have pity on their misery, and to exempt them till such time as the island might recover its former prosperity.  They bound themselves then to pay double what was for the moment failing.

Owing to the famine, which had affected them more cruelly than the others, very few of the mountaineers of Cibao paid tribute.  These mountaineers did not differ in their customs and language from the people of the plain more than do the mountaineers of other countries differ from those who live in the capital.  There exist amongst them, however, some points of resemblance, since they lead the same kind of simple, open-air life.