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Young readers； at least； will be specially interested to remember that it was in this region that Robinson Crusoe's island was placed by Defoe； and if they will carefully read his life they will find discussions there of the flow of the 〃great River Orinoco。〃 Crossing this gulf； Columbus had touched upon the coast of Paria； and thus became the first discoverer of South America。 It is determined； by careful geographers； that the discovery of the continent of North America； had been made before this time by the Cabots； sailing under the orders of England。
Columbus was greatly encouraged by the discovery of fine pearls among the natives of Paria。 Here he found one more proof that he was on the eastern coast of Asia； from which coast pearls had been brought by the caravans on which； till now； Europe had depended for its Asiatic supplies。 He gave the name 〃Gulf of Pearls〃 to the estuary which makes the mouth of the River Paria。
He would gladly have spent more time in exploring this region； but the sea…stores of his vessel were exhausted； he was suffering from a difficulty with his eyes； caused by overwatching； and was also a cripple from gout。 He resisted the temptation； therefore； to make further explorations on the coast of Paria； and passed westward and northwestward。 He made many discoveries of islands in the Caribbean Sea as he went northwest； and he arrived at the colony of San Domingo； on the thirtieth of August。 He had hoped for rest after his difficult voyage； but he found the island in confusion which seemed hopeless。
His brother Bartholomew； from all the accounts we have； would seem to have administered its affairs with justice and decision； but the problem he had in hand was one which could not be solved so as to satisfy all the critics。 Close around him he had a body of adventurers； almost all of whom were nothing but adventurers。 With the help of these adventurers； he had to repress Indian hostilities； and to keep in order the natives who had been insulted and injured in every conceivable way by the settlers。
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。
Roldan； the chief of the rebels； was encouraged by this news to take higher ground than even he had ventured on before。 He now proposed that he should send fifteen of his company to Spain； also that those who remained should not only be pardoned； but should have lands granted them； third； that a public proclamation should be made that all charges against him had been false； and fourth； that he should hold the office of chief judge； which he had held before the rebellion。
Columbus was obliged to accede to terms as insolent as these； and the rebels even added a stipulation； that if he should fail in fulfilling either of these articles； they might compel him to comply； by force or any other means。 Thus was he hampered in the very position where； by the king's orders； and indeed； one would say； by the right of discovery； he was the supreme master。
For himself； he determined to return with Bartholomew to Spain； and he made some preparations to do so。 But at this time he learned； from the western part of the island； that four strange ships had arrived there。 He could not feel that it was safe to leave the colony in such a condition of latent rebellion as he knew it to be in； he wrote again to the sovereigns； and said directly that his capitulation with the rebels had been extorted by force； and that he did not consider that the sovereigns； or that he himself； were bound by it。 He pressed some of the requests which he had made before； and asked that his son Diego； who was no longer a boy； might be sent out to him。
It proved that the ships which had arrived at the west of the island were under the command of Ojeda； who will be remembered as a bold cavalier in the adventures of the second voyage。 Acting under a general permission which had been given for private adventurers； Ojeda had brought out this squadron； and； when Columbus communicated with him； was engaged in cutting dye…woods and shipping slaves。
Columbus sent Roldan； who had been the head of the rebels； to inquire on what ground he was there。 Ojeda produced a l