The time of those who were well was entirely occupied with the care of those who were sick, and all productive work was at a standstill.

The reeking virgin soil had produced crops in an incredibly short time, and the sowings of January were ready for reaping in the beginning of April.

But there was no one to reap them, and the further cultivation of the ground had necessarily been neglected.
The faint-hearted Spaniards, who never could meet any trouble without grumbling, were now in the depths of despair and angry discontent; and it had not pleased them to be put on a short allowance of even the unwholesome provisions that remained from the original store.

A couple of rude hand-mills had been erected for the making of flour, and as food was the first necessity Columbus immediately put all the able-bodied men in the colony, whatever their rank, to the elementary manual work of grinding.

Friar Buil and the twelve Benedictine brothers who were with him thought this a wise order, assuming of course that as clerics they would not be asked to work.