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.