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.