Columbus himself, seeing the fortifications of the city well begun, undertook, in March, an exploration, of the island, with a force of five hundred men.
It was in the course of this exploration that one of the natives brought in a gold-bearing stone which weighed an ounce.

He was satisfied with a little bell in exchange.

He was surprised at the wonder expressed by the Spaniards, and showing a stone as large as a pomegranate, he said that he had nuggets of gold as large as this at his home.

Other Indians brought in gold-bearing stones which weighed more than an ounce.

At their homes, also, but not in sight, alas, was a block of gold as large as an infant's head.
Columbus himself thought it best to take as many men as he could into the mountain region.