He was expected to send home gold to Spain with every vessel; he knew perfectly well that Spain was clamoring with indignation because he did not succeed in doing so.  But on the island itself he had to meet, from day to day, conspiracies of Spaniards and what are called insurrections of natives.  These insurrections consisted simply in their assertion of such rights as they had to the beautiful land which the Spaniards were taking away from them.

At the moment when Columbus landed, there was an instant of tranquility.  But the natives, whom he remembered only six years ago as so happy and cheerful and hospitable, had fled as far as they could.  They showed in every way their distrust of those who were trying to become their masters.  On the other hand, soldiers and emigrants were eager to leave the island if they could.  They were near starvation, or if they did not starve they were using food to which they were not accustomed.  The eagerness with which, in 1493, men had wished to rush to this land of promise, was succeeded by an equal eagerness, in 1498, to go home from it.

As soon as he arrived, Columbus issued a proclamation, approving of the measures of his brother in his absence, and denouncing the rebels with whom Bartholomew had been contending.  He found the difficulties which surrounded him were of the most serious character.  He had not force enough to take up arms against the rebels of different names.  He offered pardon to them in the name of the sovereigns, and that they refused.

Columbus was obliged, in order to maintain any show of authority, to propose to the sovereigns that they should arbitrate between his brother and Roldan, who was the chief of the rebel party.  He called to the minds of Ferdinand and Isabella his own eager desire to return to San Domingo sooner, and ascribed the difficulties which had arisen, in large measure, to his long delay.  He said he should send home the more worthless men by every ship.

He asked that preachers might be sent out to convert the Indians and to reform the dissolute Spaniards.  He asked for officers of revenue, and for a learned judge.  He begged at the same time that, for two years longer, the colony might be permitted to employ the Indians as slaves, but he promised they would only use such as they captured in war and insurrections.

By the same vessel the rebels sent out letters charging Columbus and his brother with the grossest oppression and injustice.  All these letters came to court by one messenger.  Columbus was then left to manage as best he could, in the months which must pass, before he could receive an answer.

He was not wholly without success.  That is to say, no actual battles took place between the parties before the answer returned.  But when it returned, it proved to be written by his worst enemy, Fonseca.  It was a genuine Spanish answer to a letter which required immediate decision.  That is to say, Columbus was simply told that the whole matter must be left in suspense till the sovereigns could make such an investigation as they wished.  The hope, therefore, of some help from home was wholly disappointed.