[Works] . was ex-ceedingly tenacious of the prerogatives of theCrown, and considered dignities of this rankand importance as only to be conferred by royalmandate.* Columbus however was not actu-ated in this appointment by a mere desire toaggrandize his family. He felt the importanceof his brothers assistance in the present criti-cal state of the colony, but that this co-opera-tion would be inefficient unless it bore thestamp of high official authority. In fact,during the few months that he had been ab-sent, the whole island had become a scene ofdiscord and violence in consequence of theneglect
[Works] . was ex-ceedingly tenacious of the prerogatives of theCrown, and considered dignities of this rankand importance as only to be conferred by royalmandate.* Columbus however was not actu-ated in this appointment by a mere desire toaggrandize his family. He felt the importanceof his brothers assistance in the present criti-cal state of the colony, but that this co-opera-tion would be inefficient unless it bore thestamp of high official authority. In fact,during the few months that he had been ab-sent, the whole island had become a scene ofdiscord and violence in consequence of theneglect, or rather the flagrant violation, ofthose rules which he had prescribed for themaintenance of its tranquillity. A brief retro-spect of the recent affairs of the colony is herenecessary to explain their present will exhibit one of the many instances inwhich Columbus was doomed to reap the fruitsof the evil seed sown by his adversaries. * Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib., i. cap. loi. VOL. 11.—16. Cbapter Iff. MISCONDUCT OP DON PEDRO MARGARITE AND HISDEPARTURE FROM THE ISIVAND. [I494-] IT will be recollected that before departingon Ws voyage, Columbus had given thecommand of the army to Don PedroMargarite, with orders to make a militarytour of the island, awing the natives by a dis-play of military force, but conciliating theirgood-will by equitable and amicable island was at this time divided into fivedomains, each governed by a cacique, of abso-lute and hereditary power, to whom a greatnumber of inferior caciques yield tributaryallegiance. The first or most important do-main comprised the middle part of the RoyalVega. It was a rich, lovely country, partlycultivated after the imperfect manner of thenatives, partly covered with noble forests,studded with Indian towns, and watered by242 Cbristopber Columbus. 243 numerous rivers, many of which, rolling downfrom the mountains of Caibo on its southernfrontier, had gold-dust mingled with theirsands. The name
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