The fatigues and discomforts of a long sea voyage were not the best preparations for hard physical labour.

The number of men which the admiral had brought out with him was disproportionate to his means of sustaining them.

Provisions and medicines began to fail.

And, worst of all, none of the golden dreams were realized, under the influence of which they had left Spain.

Only small samples of the precious metal could be procured from the natives, and the vaguely indicated gold mines of Cibao had not been reached.