In this case, it was almost too clear that there was nothing but bad news to send back to Spain.

Columbus went forward, however, as well as he could, with the establishment of a new colony, and with the search for gold.
He sent out expeditions of discovery to open relations with the natives, and to find the best places for washing and mining for gold.
Melchior Meldonado commanded three hundred men, in the first of these expeditions.

They came to a good harbor at the mouth of a river, where they saw a fine house, which they supposed might be the home of Guacanagari.

They met an armed party of one hundred Indians; but these men put away their weapons when signals of peace were made, and brought presents in token of good-will.
The house to which they went was round, with a hemispherical roof or dome.

It was thirty-two paces in diameter, divided by wicker work into different rooms.