CHAPTER IX.

_Third voyage of Columbus――Fresh troubles._

Columbus left Spain, on his third voyage, in May, 1498. During this voyage, he and his men suffered greatly in being becalmed, in the middle of summer, within the tropics. For eight days, they could make no progress, but lay motionless upon the water, under the heat of a scorching sun. So intense was the heat that they could scarcely breathe. Their meat spoiled, and they lost nearly all their wine and water.

At length, they were enabled to proceed, and, on the 31st of July, to their inexpressible joy, they discovered the island of Trinidad. At this time, they had but one cask of water remaining in the ship. On the 30th of August, Columbus arrived at Hispaniola. During this voyage, he had suffered greatly from watching and fatigue, from fever and gout. Yet he indulged the hope that his constitution, which had been uncommonly good, would recover itself after his arrival. But Columbus was destined to new toils and new trials. He found the colony in a sad state. The Spaniards had experienced troubles during his absence. They had had wars with the natives, difficulties with one another, indolence had prevailed, and a famine had almost ensued.

We must pass over many interesting particulars, and content ourselves with letting our readers know, in general, that, after the return of Columbus, affairs proceeded still very badly. Many of the Spaniards in the new world were hostile to Columbus, resisted his authority, formed conspiracies against his government, and continued to send home complaints against him to Spain.

It was unfortunate for Columbus that the expectations of the people in Spain had been raised so high, respecting the wealth of the new world. They expected, from the accounts which had been received about the gold found there, that Spain would become rich in consequence of this discovery.

Even Ferdinand and Isabella had their hopes greatly raised. But, at length, they found that they were obliged to be at continual expense for the support of the Spaniards in the new world. This tended to lessen their gratification at the discovery, and prepared them to listen, with less reluctance, to complaints against Columbus.

For a time, they continued to regard him with kindness, and were unwilling to admit the truth of complaints which were made against him. But they were so numerous, so often repeated, so confidently asserted, that, at length, they began to doubt whether all was right on the part of Columbus.

His enemies were now about triumphant. The king and queen appointed a man, by the name of Bobadilla, to repair to Hispaniola; as governor, to assume the administration; and, at the same time, they required Columbus to surrender everything into his hands. Having made an examination, if Columbus and his brothers were found to have abused their authority, their power was to be taken from them altogether.