The Earthly Paradise Revisited - 5

The Earthly Paradise Revisited - 5

 ["Their Highnesses are well informed in regard to this matter, and suitable provision will

be made for everything.]

"Item. You will tell their Highnesses of the situation of this city, and the beauty of the

surrounding province as you saw and understood it, and how I made you its Alcade, by

the powers which I have for same from their Highnesses: whom I humbly entreat to hold

the said provision in part satisfaction of your services, as I hope from their Highnesses.

["It pleases their Highnesses that you shall be Alcade.]

"Item. Because Mosen Pedro Margarite, servant of their Highnesses, has done good

service, and I hope he will do the same henceforward in matters which are entrusted to

him, I have been pleased to have him remain here, and also Gaspar and Beltran, because

they are recognised servants of their Highnesses, in order to intrust them with matters of

confidence. You will specialty entreat their Highnesses in regard to the said Mosen

Pedro, who is married and has children, to provide him with some charge in the order of

Santiago, whose habit he wears, that his wife and children may have the wherewith to

live. In the same manner you will relate how well and diligently Juan Aguado, servant of

their Highnesses, has rendered service in everything which he has been ordered to do, and

that I supplicate their Highnesses to have him and the aforesaid persons in their charge

and to reward them.

["Their Highnesses order 30,000 maravedis to be assigned to Mosen Pedro each year, and

to Gaspar and Beltran, to each one, 15,000 maravedis each year, from the present, August

15, 1494, henceforward: and thus the Admiral shall cause to be paid to them whatever

must be paid yonder in the Indies, and Don Juan de Fonseca whatever must be paid here:

and in regard to Juan Iguado, their Highnesses will hold him in remembrance.]

"Item. You will tell their Highnesses of the labour performed by Dr. Chanca, confronted

with so many invalids, and still more because of the lack of provisions and nevertheless,

he acts with great diligence and charity in everything pertaining to his office. And as their

Highnesses referred to me the salary which he was to receive here, because, being here, it

is certain that he cannot take or receive anything from any one, nor earn money by his

office as he earned it in Castile, or would be able to earn it being at his ease and living in

a different manner from the way he lives here; therefore, notwithstanding he swears that

he earned more there, besides the salary which their Highnesses gave him, I did not wish

to allow more than 50,000 maravedis each year for the work he performs here while he

remains here. This I entreat their Highnesses to order allowed to him with the salary from

here, and that, because he says and affirms that all the physicians of their Highnesses who

are employed in Royal affairs or things similar to this, are accustomed to have by right

one day's wages in all the year from all the people. Nevertheless, I have been informed

and they tell me, that however this may be, the custom is to give them a certain sum,

fixed according to the will and command of their Highnesses in compensation for that

day's wages. You will entreat their Highnesses to order provision made as well in the

matter of the salary as of this custom, in such manner that the said Dr. Chanca may have

reason to be satisfied.

["Their Highnesses are pleased in regard to this matter of Dr. Chanca, and that he shall be

paid what the Admiral has assigned him, together with his salary. "In regard to the day's

wages of the physicians, they are not accustomed to receive it, save where the King, our

Lord, may be in persona.]

"Item. You will say to their Highnesses that Coronel is a man for the service of their

Highnesses in many things, and how much service he has rendered up to the present in all

the most necessary matters, and the need we feel of him now that he is sick; and that

rendering service in such a manner, it is reasonable that he should receive the fruit of his

service, not only in future favours, but in his present salary, so that he and those who are

here may feel that their service profits them; because, so great is the labour which must

be performed here in gathering the gold that the persons who are so diligent are not to be

held in small consideration; and as, for his skill, he was provided here by me with the

office of Alguacil Mayor of these Indies; and since in the provision the salary is left

blank, you will say that I supplicate their Highnesses to order it filled in with as large an

amount as they may think right, considering his services, confirming to him the provision

I have given him here, and assuring it to him annually.

["Their Highnesses order that 15,000 maravedis more than his salary shall be assigned

him each year, and that it shall be paid to him with his salary.]

"In the same manner you will tell their Highnesses how the lawyer Gil Garcia came here

for Alcalde Mayor and no salary has been named or assigned to him; and he is a capable

person, well educated and diligent, and is very necessary here; that I entreat their

Highnesses to order his salary named and assigned, so that he can sustain himself, and

that it may be paid from the money allowed for salaries here.

"[Their Highnesses order 20,000 maravedis besides his salary assigned to him each year,

as long as he remains yonder, and that it shall be paid him when his salary is paid.]

"Item. You will say to their Highnesses, although it is already written in the letters, that I

do not think it will be possible to go to make discoveries this year, until these rivers in

which gold is found are placed in the most suitable condition for the service of their

Highnesses, as afterwards it can be done much better. Because it is a thing which no one

can do without my presence, according to my will or for the service of their Highnesses,

however well it may be done, as it is doubtful what will be satisfactory to a man unless he

is present.

["Let him endeavour that the amount of this gold may be known as precisely as possible.]

"Item. You will say to their Highnesses that the Squires who came from Granada showed

good horses in the review which took place at Seville, and afterward at the embarkation I

did not see them because I was slightly unwell, and they replaced them with such horses

that the best of them do not appear to be worth 2000 maravedis, as they sold the others

and bought these; and this was done in the same way to many people as I very well saw

yonder, in the reviews at Seville. It appears that Juan de Soria, after he had been given the

money for the wages, for some interest of his own substituted others in place of those I

expected to find here, and I found people whom I had never seen. In this matter he was

guilty of great wickedness, so that I do not know if I should complain of him alone. On

this account, having seen that the expenses of these Squires have been defrayed until

now, besides their wages and also wages for their horses, and it is now being done: and

they are persons who, when they are sick or when they do not desire to do so, will not

allow any use to be made of their horses save by themselves: and their, Highnesses do not

desire that these horses should be purchased of them, but that they should be used in the

service of their Highnesses: and it does not appear to them that they should do anything

or render any service except on horseback, which at the present time is not much to the

purpose: on this account, it seems that it would be better to buy the horses from them,

since they are of so little value, and not have these disagreements with them every day.

Therefore their Highnesses may determine this as will best serve them.

["Their Highnesses order Don Juan de Fonseca to inform himself in regard to this matter

of the horses, and if it shall be found true that this fraud was committed, those persons

shall be sent to their Highnesses to be punished: and also he is to inform himself in regard

to what is said of the other people, and send the result in the examination to their

Highnesses; and in regard to these Squires, their Highnesses command that they remain

there and render service, since they belong to the guards and servants of their Highnesses:

and their Highnesses order the Squires to give up the horses each time it is necessary and

the Admiral orders it, and if the horses receive any injury through others using them, their

Highnesses order that the damage shall be paid to them by means of the Admiral.]

"Item. You will say to their Highnesses that more than 200 persons have come here

without wages, and there are some of them who render good service. And as it is ordered

that the others rendering similar service should be paid: and as for these first three years it

would be of great benefit to have 1000 men here to settle, and place this island and the

rivers of gold in very great security, and even though there were 100 horsemen nothing

would be lost, but rather it seems necessary, although their Highnesses will be able to do

without these horsemen until gold is sent: nevertheless, their Highnesses must send to say

whether wages shall be paid to these 200 persons, the same as to the others rendering

good service, because they are certainly necessary, as I have said in the beginning of this

memorandum.

["In regard to these 200 persons, who are here said to have gone without wages, their

Highnesses order that they shall take the places of those who went for wages, who have

failed or shall fail to fulfil their engagements, if they are skilful and satisfactory to the

Admiral. And their Highnesses order the Purser (Contador) to enrol them in place of

those who fail to fulfil their engagements, as the Admiral shall instruct him.]

"Item. As the cost of these people can be in some degree lightened and the better part of

the expense could be avoided by the same means employed by other Princes in other

places: it appears, that it would be well to order brought in the ships, besides the other

things which are for the common maintenance and the medicines, shoes and the skins

from which to order the shoes made, common shirts and others, jackets, linen, sack-coats,

trowsers and cloths suitable for wearing apparel, at reasonable prices: and other things

like conserves which are not included in rations and are for the preservation of health,

which things all the people here would willingly receive to apply on their wages and if

these were purchased yonder in Spain by faithful Ministers who would act for the

advantage of their Highnesses, something would be saved. Therefore you will learn the

will of their Highnesses about this matter, and if it appears to them to be of benefit to

them, then it must be placed in operation.

["This arrangement is to be in abeyance until the Admiral writes more fully, and at

another time they will send to order Don Juan de Fonseca with Jimeno de Bribiesca to

make provision for the same.]

"Item. You will say to their Highnesses that inasmuch as yesterday in the review people

were found who were without arms, which I think happened in part by that exchange

which took place yonder in Seville, or in the harbour when those who presented

themselves armed were left, and others were taken who gave something to those who

made the exchange, it seems that it would be well to order 200 cuirasses sent, and 100

muskets and 100 crossbows, and a large quantity of arsenal supplies, which is what we

need most, and all these arms can be given to those who are unarmed.

"Already Don Juan de Fonseca has been written to make provision for this.]

"Item. Inasmuch as some artisans who came here, such as masons and other workmen,

are married and have wives yonder in Spain, and would like to have what is owing them

from their wages given to their wives or to the persons to whom they will send their

requirements in order that they may buy for them the things which they need here I

supplicate their Highnesses to order it paid to them, because it is for their benefit to have

these persons provided for here.

["Their Highnesses have already sent orders to Don Juan de Fonseca to make provision

for this matter.]

"Item. Because, besides the other things which are asked for there according to the

memoranda which you are carrying signed by my hand, for the maintenance of the

persons in good health as well as for the sick ones, it would be very well to have fifty

casks of molasses (miel de azucar) from the island of Madeira, as it is the best sustenance

in the world and the most healthful, and it does not usually cost more than two ducats per

cask, without the cask: and if their Highnesses order some caravel to stop there in

returning, it can be purchased and also ten cases of sugar, which is very necessary; as this

is the best season of the year to obtain it, I say between the present time and the month of

April, and to obtain it at a reasonable price. If their Highnesses command it, the order

could be given, and it would not be known there for what place it is wanted.

["Let Don Juan de Fonseca make provision for this matter.]

"Item. You will say to their Highnesses that although the rivers contain gold in the

quantity related by those who have seen it, yet it is certain that the gold is not engendered

in the rivers but rather on the land, the waters of the rivers which flow by the mines

bringing it enveloped in the sands: and as among these rivers which have been discovered

there are some very large ones, there are others so small that they are fountains rather

than rivers, which are not more than two fingers of water in depth, and then the source

from which they spring may be found: for this reason not only labourers to gather it in the

sand will be profitable, but others to dig for it in the earth, which will be the most

particular operation and produce a great quantity. And for this, it will be well for their

Highnesses to send labourers, and from among those who work yonder in Spain in the

mines of Almaden, that the work may be done in both ways. Although we will not await

them here, as with the labourers we have here we hope, with the aid of God, once the

people are in good health, to amass a good quantity of gold to be sent on the first caravels

which return.

["This will be fully provided for in another manner. In the meantime their Highnesses

order Don Yuan de Fonseca to send the best miners he can obtain; and to write to

Almaden to have the greatest possible number taken from there and sent.]

"Item. You will entreat their Highnesses very humbly on my part, to consider Villacorta

as speedily recommended to them, who, as their Highnesses know, has rendered great

service in this business, and with a very good will, and as I know him, he is a diligent

person and very devoted to their service: it will be a favour to me if he is given some

confidential charge for which he is fitted, and where he can show his desire to serve them

and his diligence: and this you will obtain in such a way that Villacorta may know by the

result, that what he has done for me when I needed him profits him in this manner.

["It will be done thus.]

"Item. That the said Mosen Pedro and Gaspar and Beltran and others who have remained

here gave up the captainship of caravels, which have now returned, and are not receiving

wages: but because they are persons who must be employed in important matters and of

confidence, their compensation, which must be different from the others, has not been

determined. You will entreat their Highnesses on my part to determine what is to be

given them each year, or by the month, according to their service.

"Done in the city of Isabella, January 30, 1494.

["This has already been replied to above, but as it is stated in the said item that they enjoy

their salary, from the present time their Highnesses order that their wages shall be paid to

all of them from the time they left their captainships."]

This document is worth studying, written as it was in circumstances that at one moment

looked desperate and at another were all hope. Columbus was struggling manfully with

difficulties that were already beginning to be too much for him. The Man from Genoa,

with his guiding star of faith in some shore beyond the mist and radiance of the West—

see into what strange places and to what strange occupations this star has led him! The

blue visionary eyes, given to seeing things immediately beyond the present horizon, must

fix themselves on accounts and requisitions, on the needs of idle, aristocratic, grumbling

Spaniards; must fix themselves also on that blank void in the bellies of his returning

ships, where the gold ought to have been. The letter has its practical side; the requisitions

are made with good sense and a grasp of the economic situation; but they have a deeper

significance than that. All this talk about little ewe lambs, wine and bacon (better than the

last lot, if it please your Highnesses), little yearling calves, and fifty casks of molasses

that can be bought a ducat or two cheaper in Madeira in the months of April and May

than at any other time or place, is only half real. Columbus fills his Sovereigns' ears with

this clamour so that he shall not hear those embarrassing questions that will inevitably be

asked about the gold and the spices. He boldly begins his letter with the old story about

"indications of spices" and gold "in incredible quantities," with a great deal of

"moreover" and "besides," and a bold, pompous, pathetic "I will undertake"; and then he

gets away from that subject by wordy deviations, so that to one reading his letter it really

might seem as though the true business of the expedition was to provide Coronel, Mosen

Pedro, Gaspar, Beltran, Gil Garcia, and the rest of them with work and wages. Everything

that occurs to him, great or little, that makes it seem as though things were humming in

the new settlement, he stuffs into this document, shovelling words into the empty hulls of

the ships, and trying to fill those bottomless pits with a stream of talk. A system of

slavery is boldly and bluntly sketched; the writer, in the hurry and stress of the moment,

giving to its economic advantages rather greater prominence than to its religious glories.

The memorandum, for all its courageous attempt to be very cool and orderly and

practical, gives us, if ever a human document did, a picture of a man struggling with an

impossible situation which he will not squarely