The sea was so light that everything on board the Santa Maria was removed safely.

Then it was that Columbus, tempted by the beauty of the place, by the friendship of the natives, and by the evident wishes of his men, determined to leave a colony, which should be supported by the stores of the Santa Maria, until the rest of the party could go back to Spain and bring or send reinforcements.

The king was well pleased with this suggestion, and promised all assistance for the plan.

A vault was dug and built, in which the stores could be placed, and on this a house was built for the home of the colonists, so far as they cared to live within doors.
The chief sent a canoe in search of Martin Pinzon and the Pinta, to tell them of the disaster.

But the messengers returned without finding them.
At the camp, which was to be a city, all was industriously pressed, with the assistance of the friendly natives.