This new governor,
whose name was Nicolas de Ovando, was specially instructed to protect
Columbus's profits in the colony, if profits there should ever be.
Orders were given that the property of Columbus and his brothers, which
Bobadilla had confiscated, was to be restored; and whenever gold was
found and smelted, Columbus's share was to be put aside for him. This
proved that the sovereigns intended to be just to Columbus, but the
latter was nevertheless much depressed over his lost dignities.
The Comendador Ovando, of the famous religious order called the Knights
of Alcantara, was appointed to succeed Bobadilla, and began his
preparations with certain definite and practical ideas on the subject of
colonizing. He was the first to see that respectable married men with
their wives and children were needed to give the settlement character;
so he offered, or asked the sovereigns to offer, proper inducement to
married men. He also secured as many trained workers as possible--
artisans and craftsmen. His other measures appear less wise; that is, he
felt he must go in state and dignity, else the people would not regard
his authority; so he took many body servants and house servants, and
rich priestly robes, for he relied a great deal on the appearance of
power.
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