found in their country. It was finally settled that Bohechio should pay
tribute in cotton and cazabi-bread. He acceded to this agreement very
willingly; and the Adelantado and this cacique parted on the most friendly
terms.

Don Bartholomew then returned to Isabella, where he found that about three
hundred men had died from disease, and that there was great dearth of
provisions. He distributed the sick men in his fortresses, and in the
adjacent Indian villages, and afterwards set out on a journey to his new
fort of St. Domingo, collecting tribute by the way. In all these rapid and
energetic proceedings of the Adelantado, and still more from causes over
which he had no control, the Spaniards must have suffered much; and,
doubtless, those complaints on their part, which were soon to break
out very menacingly, were not unheard at the present time.

If the Spaniards, however, complained of the labours which Don Bartholomew
imposed upon them, the Indians complained still more, and far more justly,
of the tribute imposed upon them. Several of the minor chiefs, upon this
occasion of collecting tribute, complained to the great Cacique Guarionex,
and suggested a rising of the Indians. This cacique seems to have been a
peaceful, prudent man, and well aware of the power of the Spaniards. But
he now consented to place himself at the head of an insurrection, which,
however, the lieutenant-governor, soon made aware of it, quelled at once
by a battle in which he was victorious over Guarionex, taking him and
other principal persons captive. The chief movers of the revolt were put
to death; but Guarionex was delivered up to his people, who flocked by
thousands to his place of imprisonment, clamouring for his restitution.


DISCONTENT OF THE SPANISIH COLONISTS.