It was at this juncture, when the natives were becoming more and more unfriendly, that Columbus justified himself by the tyrant's plea of necessity, and made use of his astronomical science, to obtain a supernatural power over his unfriendly allies.
He sent his interpreter to summon the principal caciques to a conference.

For this conference he appointed a day when he knew that a total eclipse of the moon would take place.

The chiefs met as they were requested.

He told them that he and his followers worshipped a God who lived in the heavens; that that God favored such as did well, but punished all who displeased him.
He asked them to remember how this God had protected Mendez and his companions in their voyage, because they went obedient to the orders which had been given them by their chief.

He asked them to remember that the same God had punished Porras and his companions with all sorts of affliction, because they were rebels.