Some of them took situations with the other settlers, more fell victims to the climate of the island and their own imprudences and distresses; and a thousand of them had died within two years.
Ovando had revived the enthusiasm for mining by two enactments.

He reduced the share of discovered gold payable to the Crown, and he developed Columbus's system of forced labour to such an extent that the mines were entirely worked by it.

To each Spaniard, whether mining or farming, so many natives were allotted.

It was not called slavery; the natives were supposed to be paid a minute sum, and their employers were also expected to teach them the Christian religion.

That was the plan.
The way in which it worked was that, a body of native men being allotted to a Spanish settler for a period, say, of six or eight months--for the enactment was precise in putting a period to the term of slavery--the natives would be marched off, probably many days' journey from their homes and families, and set to work under a Spanish foreman.