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It was executed in a bay at the extreme southwestern corner of Cuba。 It has been remarked by Munoz； that at that moment； in that place； a ship boy at the masthead could have looked over the group of low islands and seen the open sea； which would have shown that Cuba was an island。
The facts； which were controlling； were these； that the vessels were leaky and the crews sick and discontented。 On the thirteenth of June； Columbus stood to the southeast。 He discovered the island now known as the Island of Pines。 He called it Evangelista。 He anchored here and took in water。 In an interview； not unlike that described； in which the old Cuban expressed his desire to return with Columbus； it is said that an Evangelistan chief made the same offer； but was withheld by the remonstrances； of his wife and children。 A similar incident is reported in the visit to Jamaica； which soon followed。 Columbus made a careful examination of that island。 Then he crossed to Hispaniola； where； from the Indians； he received such accounts from the new town of Isabella as assured him that all was well there。
With his own indomitable zeal； he determined now to go to the Carib islands and administer to them the vengeance he had ready。 But his own frame was not strong enough for his will。 He sank exhausted； in a sort of lethargy。 The officers of his ship； supposing he was dying； put about the vessels and the little squadron arrived； none too soon as it proved； at Isabella。
He was as resolute as ever in his determination to crush the Caribs； and prevent their incursions upon those innocent islanders to whom he had made so many promises of protection。 But he fell ill； and for a short time at least was wholly unconscious。 The officers in command took occasion of his illness； and of their right to manage the vessels； to turn back to the city of Isabella。 He arrived there 〃as one half dead；〃 and his explorations and discoveries for this voyage were thus brought to an end。 To his great delight he found there his brother Bartholomew； whom he had not seen for eight years。 Bartholomew had accompanied Diaz in the famous voyage in which he discovered the Cape of Good Hope。 Returning to Europe in 1488 he had gone to England； with a message from Christopher Columbus； asking King Henry the Seventh to interest himself in the great adventure he proposed。
The authorities differ as to the reception which Henry gave to this great proposal。 Up to the present time； no notice has been found of his visit in the English archives。 The earliest notice of America； in the papers preserved there； is a note of a present of ten pounds 〃to hym that found the new land；〃 who was Cabot； after his first voyage。 Bartholomew Columbus was in England on the tenth of February； 1488； how much later is not known。 Returning from England he staid in France； in the service of Madama de Bourbon。 This was either Anne of Beaujeu； or the widow of the Admiral Louis de Bourbon。 Bartholomew was living in Paris when he heard of his brother's great discovery。
He had now been appointed by the Spanish sovereigns to command a fleet of three vessels； which had been sent out to provision the new colony。 He had sailed from Cadiz on the thirtieth of April； 1494； and he arrived at Isabella on St。 John's Day of the same year。
Columbus welcomed him with delight； and immediately made him his first…lieutenant in command of the colony。 There needed a strong hand for the management of the colony； for the quarrels which had existed before Columbus went on his Cuban voyage had not diminished in his absence。 Pedro Margarita and Father Boil are spoken of as those who had made the most trouble。 They had come determined to make a fortune rapidly； and they did not propose to give up such a hope to the slow processes of ordinary colonization。 Columbus knew very well that those who had returned to Spain had carried with them complaints as to his own course。 He would have been glad on some accounts to return； himself； at once； but he did not think that the natives of the islands were sufficiently under the power of the new colony to be left in safety。
First of all he sent back four caravels； which had recently arrived from Europe； with five hundred Indians whom he had taken as slaves。 He consigned them to Juan de Fonseca's care。 He was eager himself to say that he sent them out that they might be converted； to Christianity； and that they might learn the Spanish language and be of use as interpreters。 But； at the same time； he pointed out how easy it would be to make a source of revenue to the Crown from such involuntary emigration。 To Isabella's credit it is to be said； that she protested against the whole thing immediately； and so far as appears； no further shipments were made in exactly the same way。 But these poor wretches were not sent back to the islands； as she perhaps thought they were。 Fonseca did not hesitate to sell them； or apprentice them； to use our modern phrase； and it is said by Bernaldez that they all died。 His bitter phrase is that Fonseca took no more care of them than if they had been wild animals。
Columbus did not recover his health； so as to take a very active part in affairs for five months after his arrival at San Domingo。 He was well aware that the Indians were vigorously organized； with the intention of driving his people from the island； or treating the colony as they had treated the colony of Navidad。 He called the chief of the Cipangi； named Guarionexius； for consultation。 The interpreter Didacus； who had served them so faithfully； married the king's sister； and it was hoped that this would be a bond of amity between the two nations。
Columbus sent Ojeda into the gold mountains with fifty armed men to make an alliance with Canabao。 Canabao met this party with a good deal of perplexity。 He undoubtedly knew that he had given the Spaniards good reason for doubting him。 It is said that he had put to death twenty Spaniards by treasonable means； but it is to be remembered that this is the statement of his enemies。 He； however； came to Columbus with a large body of his people； all armed。 When he was asked why he brought so large a force with him； he said that so great a king as he； could not go anywhere without a fitting military escort。 But Ojeda did not hesitate to take him prisoner and carry him into Isabella； bound。 As has been said； he was eventually sent to Spain； but he died on the passage。
Columbus made another fortress； or tower； on the border of King Guarionexius's country； between his kingdom and Cipango。 He gave to this post the name of the 〃Tower of the Conception；〃 and meant it to be a rallying point for the miners and others； in case of any uprising of the natives against them。 This proved to be an important centre for mining operations。 From this place； what we should call a nugget of gold； which one of the chiefs brought in； was sent to Spain。 It weighed twenty ounces。 A good deal of interest attached also to the discovery of amber； one mass of which weighed three hundred pounds。 Such discoveries renewed the interest and hope which had been excited in Spain by the first accounts of Hispaniola。
Columbus satisfied himself that he left the island really subdued； and in this