The military governor
who had deserted the colony did the same thing, adding, "There is no
gold in the Indies of Antilla, and all the Admiral said about his
discoveries was mere sham and banter."
We have already mentioned that, from the moment Columbus started on this
second voyage, enemies at home began to do him harm. When, therefore,
all these tales reached Spain, they fell on ready ears. Even Queen
Isabella, who had always championed Columbus, had grown to see that his
discretion and general common sense fell very far short of his courage
and his navigating ability. The royal pair, therefore, decided that the
whole matter must be investigated.
A man who had accompanied Columbus on his first voyage was appointed by
the monarchs to go as Royal Commissioner to Haiti and question Columbus
about the condition of the colony. This man was selected because of his
supposed kindly feelings to the Admiral, the latter having recommended
him to the queen for excellent conduct on that trying first voyage. The
queen, we see, thus endeavored to make the inquiry as easy and friendly
as possible for the great navigator. But the Royal Commissioner, Don
Juan Agnado, acted like many another man suddenly vested with authority;
he carried it with a higher hand than kings themselves! Arriving at
Isabella at the moment when the Admiral was trying to capture the chief
Caonabo in the interior of the island, Agnado snubbed Bartholomew
Columbus, threw several officials into prison, put himself at the head
of the garrison, and announced that he was going inland after the
Admiral!
On his making this show of insolent power, every one believed that he
was to be the new governor, and that he had been authorized even to put
Columbus to death.
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