Degradation - 1

Towards The Sunset
Degradation   - 1

The first things seen by Francisco de Bobadilla when he entered the harbour of San
Domingo on the morning of the 23rd of August 1500 were the bodies of several
Spaniards, hanging from a gibbet near the water-side—a grim confirmation of what he
had heard about the troubled state of the island. While he was waiting for the tide so that
he might enter the harbour a boat put off from shore to ascertain who was on board the
caravels; and it was thus informally that Bobadilla first announced that he had come to
examine into the state of the island. Columbus was not at San Domingo, but was
occupied in settling the affairs of the Vega Real; Bartholomew also was absent, stamping
out the last smouldering embers of rebellion in Xaragua; and only James was in
command to deal with this awkward situation.
Bobadilla did not go ashore the first day, but remained on board his ship receiving the
visits of various discontented colonists who, getting early wind of the purpose of his visit,
lost no time in currying favour with him, Probably he heard enough that first day to have
damned the administration of a dozen islands; but also we must allow him some interest
in the wonderful and strange sights that he was seeing; for Espanola, which has perhaps
grown wearisome to us, was new to him. He had brought with him an armed body-guard
of twenty-five men, and in the other caravel were the returned slaves, babies and all,
under the charge of six friars. On the day following his arrival Bobadilla landed and
heard mass in state, afterwards reading out his commission to the assembled people.
Evidently he had received a shocking impression of the state of affairs in the island; that
is the only explanation of the action suddenly taken by him, for his first public act was to
demand from James the release of all the prisoners in the fortress, in order that they and
their accusers should appear before him.
James is in a difficulty; and, mule-like, since he does not know which way to turn, stands
stock still. He can do nothing, he says, without the Admiral's consent. The next day
Bobadilla, again hearing mass in state, causes further documents to be read showing that
a still greater degree of power had been entrusted to his hands. Mule-like, James still
stands stock still; the greatest power on earth known to him is his eldest brother, and he
will not, positively dare not, be moved by anything less than that. He refuses to give up
the prisoners on any grounds whatsoever, and Bobadilla has to take the fortress by
assault—an easy enough matter since the resistance is but formal.
The next act of Bobadilla's is not quite so easy to understand. He quartered himself in
Columbus's house; that perhaps was reasonable enough since there may not have been
another house in the settlement fit to receive him; but he also, we are told, took
possession of all his papers, public and private, and also seized the Admiral's store of
money and began to pay his debts with it for him, greatly to the satisfaction of San
Domingo. There is an element of the comic in this interpretation of a commissioner's
powers; and it seemed as though he meant to wind up the whole Columbus business,
lock, stock, and barrel. It would not be in accordance with our modern ideas of honour
that a man's private papers should be seized unless he were suspected of treachery or
some criminal act; but apparently Bobadilla regarded it as necessary. We must remember
that although he had only heard one side of the case it was evidently so positive, and the
fruits of misgovernment were there so visibly before his eyes, that no amount of evidence
in favour of Columbus would make him change his mind as to his fitness to govern. Poor
James, witnessing these things and unable to do anything to prevent them, finds himself
suddenly relieved from the tension of the situation. Since inaction is his note, he shall be
indulged in it; and he is clapped in irons and cast into prison. James can hardly believe
the evidence of his senses. He has been studying theology lately, it appears, with a view
to entering the Church and perhaps being some day made Bishop of Espanola, but this
new turn of affairs looks as though there were to be an end of all careers for him, military
and ecclesiastical alike.
Christopher at Fort Concepcion had early news of the arrival of Bobadilla, but in the hazy
state of his mind he did not regard it as an event of sufficient importance to make his
immediate presence at San Domingo advisable. The name of Bobadilla conveyed nothing
to him; and when he heard that he had come to investigate, he thought that he came to set
right some disputed questions between the Admiral and other navigators as to the right of
visiting Espanola and the Paria coast. As the days went on, however, he heard more
disquieting rumours; grew at last uneasy, and moved to a fort nearer San Domingo in
case it should be necessary for him to go there. An officer met him on the road bearing
the proclamations issued by Bobadilla, but not the message from the Sovereigns requiring
the Admiral's obedience to the commissioner. Columbus wrote to the commissioner a
curious letter, which is not preserved, in which he sought to gain time; excusing himself
from responsibility for the condition of the island, and assuring Bobadilla that, as he
intended to return to Spain almost immediately, he (Bobadilla) would have ample
opportunity for exercising his command in his absence. He also wrote to the Franciscan
friars who had accompanied Bobadilla asking them to use their influence—the Admiral
having some vague connection with the Franciscan order since his days at La Rabida.