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y the Indians； who seemed uneasy； and at first would not come near the party。
〃This did not appear well〃 to the Spaniards； as the Admiral had told them how many canoes had come out to visit him in that very place on the other voyage。 They tried to make friends； however； threw out to them some bells； beads and other presents； and finally a relation of the cacique and three others ventured to the boat； and were taken on board ship。
These men frankly admitted that the 〃christians〃 were all dead。 The Spaniards had been told so the night before by their Indian interpreter； but they had refused to believe him。 They were now told that the King of Canoaboa＇*＇ and the King Mayreni had killed them and burned the village。
＇*＇ 〃Canoaboa〃 was thought to mean 〃Land of Gold。〃
They said； as the others had done； that Guacanagari was wounded in the thigh and they； like the others； said they would go and summon him。 The Spaniards made them some presents； and they； too； disappeared。
Early the next morning the Admiral himself； with a party； including Dr。 Chanca； went ashore。
〃And we went where the town used to be； which we saw all burnt； and the clothes of the christians were found on the grass there。 At that time we saw no dead body。 There were among us many different opinions； some suspecting that Guacanagari himself was （concerned） in the betrayal or death of the christians； and to others it did not appear so； as his town was burnt； so that the thing was very doubtful。〃
The Admiral directed the whole place to be searched for gold； as he had left orders that if any quantity of it were found； it should be buried。 While this search was being made； he and a few others went to look for a suitable place for a new settlement。 They arrived at a village of seven or eight houses； which the inhabitants deserted at once。 Here they found many things belonging to the christians； such as stockings； pieces of cloth； and 〃a very pretty mantle which had not been unfolded since it was brought from Castile。〃 These； the Spaniards thought； could not have been obtained by barter。 There was also one of the anchors of the ship which had gone ashore on the first voyage。
When they returned to the site of La Navidad they found many Indians； who had become bold enough to come to barter gold。 They had shown the place where the bodies of eleven Spaniards lay 〃covered already by the grass which had grown over them。〃 They all 〃with one voice〃 said that Canoaboa and Mayreni had killed them。 But as； at the same time； they complained that some of the christians had taken three Indian wives； and some four； it seemed likely that a just resentment on the part of the islanders had had something to do with their death。
The next day the Admiral sent out a caravel to seek for a suitable place for a town； and he himself went out to look for one in a different direction。 He found a secure harbor and a good place for a settlement； But he thought it too far from the place where he expected to find a gold mine。 On his return； he found the caravel he had sent out。 As it was coasting along the island； a canoe had come out to it； with two Indians on board； one of whom was a brother of Guacanagari。 This man begged the party to come and visit the cacique。 The 〃principal men〃 accordingly went on shore； and found him in bed； apparently suffering from his wounded thigh； which he showed them in bandages。 They judged from appearances that he was telling them the truth。
He said to them； 〃by signs as best be could；〃 that since he was thus wounded； they were to invite the Admiral to come to visit him。 As they were going away； he gave each of them a golden jewel； as each 〃appeared to him to deserve it。〃 〃This gold；〃 says Dr。 Chanca； 〃is made in very delicate sheets； like our gold leaf； because they use it for making masks and to plate upon bitumen。 They also wear it on the head and for earrings and nose…rings； and therefore they beat it very thin as they only wear it for its beauty and not for its value。〃
The Admiral decided to go to the cacique on the next day。 He was visited early in the day by his brother； who hurried on the visit。
The Admiral went on shore and all the best people （gente de pro） with him； handsomely dressed； as would be suitable in a capital city。〃 They carried presents。 with them； as they had already received gold from him。
〃When we arrived； we found him lying in his bed； according to their custom； hanging in the air； the bed being made of cotton like a net。 He did not rise； but from the bed made a semblance of courtesy； as best he knew how。 He showed much feeling； with tears in his eyes； at the death of the christians； and began to talk of it； showing； as best he could； how some died of sickness； and how others had gone to Canoaboa to seek for the gold mine； and that they had been killed there； and how the others had been killed in their town。〃
He presented to the Admiral some gold and precious stones。 One of the accounts says that there were eight hundred beads of a stone called ciba； one hundred of gold； a golden coronet； and three small calabashes filled with gold dust。 Columbus； in return； made him a present。
〃I and a navy surgeon were there；〃 says Dr。 Chanca。 〃The Admiral now said that we were learned in the infirmities of men； and asked if he would show us the wound。 He replied that it pleased him to do so。 I said that it would be necessary； if he could； for him to go out of the house； since with the multitudes of people it was dark； and we could not see well。 He did it immediately； as I believe； more from timidity than from choice。 The surgeon came to him and began to take off the bandage。 Then he said to the Admiral that the injury was caused by ciba； that is； by a stone。 When it was unbandaged we managed to examine it。 It is certain that he was no more injured in that leg than in the other； although he pretended that it was very painful。〃
The Spaniards did not know what to believe。 But it seemed certain that an attack of some enemy upon these Indians had taken place； and the Admiral determined to continue upon good terms with them。 Nor did he change this policy toward Guacanagari。 How far that chief had tried to prevent the massacre will never be known。 The detail of the story was never fully drawn from the natives。 The Spaniards had been cruel and licentious in their dealing with the Indians。 They had quarrelled among themselves； and the indignant natives； in revenge； had destroyed them all。
CHAPTER IX。 THE NEW COLONYEXPEDITIONS OF DISCOVERYGUACANAGARI SEARCH FOR GOLDMUTINY IN THE COLONYTHE VESSELS SENT HOMECOLUMBUS MARCHES INLANDCOLLECTION OF GOLDFORTRESS OF ST。 THOMASA NEW VOYAGE OF DISCOVERYJAMAICA VISITEDTHE SOUTH SHORE OF CUBA EXPLOREDRETURN EVANGELISTA DISCOVEREDCOLUMBUS FALLS SICKRETURN TO ISABELLA。
Columbus had hoped； with reason； to send back a part of the vessels which made up his large squadron； with gold collected in the year by the colonists at La Navidad。 In truth； when； in 1501； the system of gold…washing…had been developed； the colony yielded twelve hundred pounds of gold in one year。 The search for gold； from the beginning； broke up all intelligent plans for geographical discovery or for colonization。