By New Year’s Day, Columbus selected almost forty crewmen—roughly equivalent in number to the sunken Santa María’s crew—to be left behind when he departed for Spain. Selection wasn’t difficult because many volunteered, enticed by the gold pieces they had traded for and envisioning the discovery of gold mines. Those remaining would be provisioned with bread, barrels of wine, the expedition’s store of crop seed, most of the weapons and ammunition, and the merchandise intended for trade with the Grand Khan of Cathay, which could be traded for gold. They would keep the Santa María’s launch to explore for gold and find a better harbor for Española’s first permanent settlement.
Bartolomé de Las Casas’s Historia de Las Indias, rather than Columbus’s Journal, provides an account of Columbus’s final prayers, advice, and orders to these men, designed to impart his sternest warning on their conduct.
Columbus commanded that they respect and revere the lord King Guacanagarí and his nitaínos (noblemen) and not displease them—for they owed much to Guacanagarí, who was their host in his own land—and that they avoid as death angering Guacanagarí. He cautioned that he expected them to deal sweetly and honestly, earning Guacanagarí’s goodwill, so that on Columbus’s return Guacanagarí would remain favorable to their relationship. He exhorted that they not commit insults or violence to the Indians or their property, admonishing scandals against the women that would defame Christians.
Envisioning reprisals, Columbus directed that they not separate into small parties vulnerable to attack, travel inland unless all together, or leave Guacanagarí’s kingdom. He promised to seek special compensation for those remaining from Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.