A letter was found in Bernal Diaz's hand, and if
therein any ill was left unsaid of the Admiral and Viceroy,
I know not what it might be! The "Italian", the "Lowborn",
the "madly arrogant and ambitious", the "cruel"
and "violent", the "tyrant" acted. Bernal Diaz was made
and kept prisoner on Vicente Pinzon's ship. Of his following
one out of ten lay in prison for a month. Of the seamen
concerned three were flogged and all had their pay
estopped.
One might say that Isabella was builded. Columbus himself
stood and moved in better health. Now he would go
discovering on dry land, to Alonso de Ojeda's glee, glee indeed
of many. The mountains of Cibao, where might be
the gold,--and gold must be had!
And we might find Caonabo, and what peoples were behind
our own mountains, and perhaps come upon Guacanagari.
We went, four hundred men and more, an army with
banners. We wished to impress, and we took any and all
things that might help in that wise. Drum and trumpet
beat and sang. Father Buil was not with us. But three of
his missionaries accompanied us, and they carried a great
crucifix. There were twenty horses, and terrible were these
to this land as the elephants of the Persians to the Greeks.
And much we marveled that Cuba and Hayti had no memory
nor idea of elephants. A throng of Indians would go with
us, and in much they carried our supplies.
Pages:
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274