THE
C O M P A N I O N S OF C O L U M B U S .
51
SECOND VOYAGE OF ALONZO DE OJEDA. [1502.]
T H E first voyage of Alonzo de Ojeda to the coast of Paria, and its meagre termination in June, 1500, has been related.
He
gained nothing in wealth by that expedition, but he added to his celebrity as a bold and skillful adventurer.
His youthful fire, his
sanguine and swelling spirit, and the wonderful stories told of his activity and prowess, made him extremely popular, so that his patron the Bishop Fonseca found it an easy matter to secure for him the royal favor.
In consideration of his past services and of
others expected from him, a grant was made to him of six leagues of land on the southern part of Hispaniola, and the government of the province of Coquibacoa which he had discovered.
He
was, furthermore, authorized to fit out any number of ships, not exceeding ten, at his own expense, and to prosecute the discovery of the coast of Terra Firma.
He was not to touch or traffic on
the pearl coast of Paria ; extending as far as a bay in the vicinity of the island of Margarita.
Beyond this he had a right to trade
in all kinds of merchandise, whether of pearls, jewels, metals, or precious stones ; paying one-fifth of the profits to the crown, and abstaining from making slaves of the Indians without a special license from the sovereigns.
He was to colonize Coquibacoa, and,
as a recompense, was to enjoy one-half of the proceeds of his ter-
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