The story of Columbus . was poor, and could not afford aloneto push Spanish discoveries very far. So a license hadbeen granted for Spaniards to fit out ships at their ownexpense. In this way the crown was sure of a sharein the profits without taking a share in the expense,though the rights of Columbus were left out of theaccount. The result had been that there were several expedi-tions sent out to the New World after Columbus sentword of the discovery of pearls. In these voyagessailed those who had been old captains under Columbus,such as the Pinzons, and pilots who had been with himon his dif
The story of Columbus . was poor, and could not afford aloneto push Spanish discoveries very far. So a license hadbeen granted for Spaniards to fit out ships at their ownexpense. In this way the crown was sure of a sharein the profits without taking a share in the expense,though the rights of Columbus were left out of theaccount. The result had been that there were several expedi-tions sent out to the New World after Columbus sentword of the discovery of pearls. In these voyagessailed those who had been old captains under Columbus,such as the Pinzons, and pilots who had been with himon his different voyages. One at least of these shipsbrought back a rich load of gold and pearls. King Ferdinand probably thought that Columbuswas not a good governor. Perhaps the plans which hecherished for the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre and COLUMBUS UNDER A CLOUD. 231 the notions he held about the Garden of Eden and themines of Solomon made him seem to the king a vision-ary. At any rate, Ferdinand appears to have been sorry. RUINS OF ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH, SANTO DOMINGO. that lie had given Columbus privileges so vast, and hewas resolved to evade these obligations of his when itwas possible. Bobadilla had managed as badly as possible at His-paniola. Under the privileges which he had rashlygranted when he first landed, the colonists gave them-17 232 THE STORY OF COLUMBUS. selves up to all sorts of disorders. As he had allowedthem to gather gold and pay only one eleventh to thecrown, he was anxious that as much gold should begathered as possible, in order that the crown should notlose by it. So the Indian chiefs were made to furnishslaves to w^ork in the mines and in the fields. Theseeds of slavery which had been planted in the days ofColumbus were growing fast. The Indians were cru-elly treated, and as they were not a liardy race they diedoff rapidly. Worthless Spaniards, who had been crimi-nals at home, took on the airs of grand they traveled they were carried by Indian
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