 The Indians had been provoked to attack the settlement of the monks because of the repeated slave raids by Spaniards operating from Cubagua.As Ocampo's ships began returning with slaves from the land Las Casas had been granted, he went to Hispaniola to complain to the Audiencia.After several months of negotiations Las Casas set sail alone; the peasants he had brought had deserted, and he arrived in his colony already ravaged by Spaniards.