After a slow start, the conquest of Cuba accelerated dramatically in 1513 when Velásquez organized three expeditions to proceed west, explore the island, and establish a Spanish presence. Narvaez led a force through the interior of the country while Velásquez and a lieutenant proceeded along the south and north coasts respectively. Near the south coast, Narvaez soon met with a force of 2,500 Tainos led by their chief, Caguax. The Spanish struck first, before they could be attacked by the Natives defending their land, defeating Caguex and killing some one hundred Tainos. This was the last significant resistance faced by the Spanish and thereafter they proceeded relatively unchallenged in their colonization and search for gold.