DISCOVERED THE WEST INDIES, OCTOBER 12, 1492.

DISCOVERED SOUTH AMERICA, AUGUST 1. 1498; DIED MAY 20, 1806

"POR CASTILLA Y POR LEON

NUEVO MUNDO HALLO COLON."*

Throughout Europe, the intelligence of his wonderful achievement was received with the highest rapture and exultation-nor could a spirit like his have desired a fitter reward than in the generous tears of joy and enthusiasm which men of learning and eminence are reported to have shed on hearing of the wonderful result. In England, says a contemporary, at the court of Henry VII., the whole affair was commonly considered "a thing rather divine than human." The real grandeur and importance of the discovery, indeed, as yet, were not even conjectured, and all this exultation appears to have been founded on the practical demonstration of the roundness of the earth, and the fact that its complete survey and connection were within the compass of the means of civilization.

The court of Spain exhibited unwonted eagerness and activity in the task of securing and extending its new possession. The pope, at the instance of his faithful allies, the Sovereigns, issued a bull, confirming to them full possession of all the territories which they might discover any where beyond a hundred leagues westward from the Azores. The Portuguese, by a previous instrument, were already invested with unlimited right of discovery and conquest to the eastward; and too persevering a search in the allotted directions, in due time, brought the rival nations into contact on the opposite side of the globe. John, indeed, at this very time, had fitted out a powerful armament, intended to anticipate Spain in the seizure of the new Indies; but negotiation finally appeared his better policy, and after an infinity of intrigue and attempted circumvention, the matter was settled for a time by removing the line of partition to three hundred and seventy leagues west of the Azores.

Columbus, aided by a royal commission, was now intently engaged in fitting out a second expedition, on a scale commensurate with the importance of the discoveries already made, and the sanguine antici pation of achievements still more brilliant and successful. For this purpose, he was invested with almost unlimited control over the persons and property of the subjects. But this arbitrary enforcement, which had well-nigh proved fruitless, when the first grand enterprise depended on its efficiency, was now needless for the furtherance of

an undertaking already so prosperously begun. The only difficulty was in selecting from the host of ardent volunteers, who, moved by cupidity for, wealth, ambition for fame, or zeal for conversion, thronged eagerly to join their fortunes to the enterprise. "Hereupon," says Galvano, "there grewe such a common desire of trauaile among the Spanyards that they were ready to leape into the sea to swim, if it had been possible, to those new found parts."

With remarkable promptitude, seventeen vessels were equipped, and loaded with materials for the foundation of a colony. Twelve pious ecclesiastics were provided for the conversion of the nativesan object deeply at heart with the benevolent Isabella. It had been intended that only a thousand persons should embark in the expedition; but by stealth, importunity, or favour, at least fifteen hundred got on board. The multitudes of disappointed applicants who thronged the shores and watched the departing sails, regarded them as the most fortunate of mortals. On the 25th of September, 1493, with all his honours confirmed and augmented, and with the happiest auspices of success, Columbus set sail, with favourable breezes from the harbour of Cadiz. The commencement of this voyage, and the busy days which preceded it, were undoubtedly the happiest of his life. For one brief interval, the brilliant sunshine of prosperity shone fairly on a life clouded, almost throughout its duration, by persecution, misfortune, or neglect.

At the Canary islands, with a provident forethought, which added greatly to the future wealth and comforts of the New World, the admiral took on board a variety of live stock, and a quantity of the most useful plants and seeds; and then, on the 13th of October, once more launched forth into the Atlantic, now by his genius and boidness for ever divested of its ancient imaginary terrors. The wind was propitious and the fleet sped rapidly westward-keeping a course, however, rather more to the southward than in the former voyage, with a view to effecting fresh discoveries on its way. On Sunday, the 3d of November, the lofty peaks of Dominica (so named in honour of its discovery on the Lord's Day,) were hailed with shouts of exultation. With a gentle breeze, the fleet swept onward into that splendid archipelago, whose summer islands unite every beauty and variety of tropical and mountainous scenery. One of these, at which the admiral touched, is still called Marigalante, after the name of his ship.

On the 4th, he landed at Guadaloupe, where the natives fled in alarm

from the footsteps of the white men, leaving their villages deserted. In their huts, which were neat and comfortable, the Spaniards found various ingenious implements, and to secure the good-will of the fugitives, bound hawk's-bells and other trinkets upon the children, which, in their hasty flight, had been left behind. The visitors, however, ere long, were horrified at discovering numerous human remains, such as skulls converted into drinking vessels and other domestic utensils. "Our men," says a contemporary, "found in their houses all kinds of earthen vessels, not much vnlike unto ours. They found also in their kytchens, mans flesh, duckes flesh, & goose Яesh, all in one pot, and other on the spits ready to be layd to the fire. Entring into their inner lodginges, they found faggottes of the bones of mens armes and legges, which they reserue to make heades for their arrowes, because they lack iron, the other bones they cast away when they have eaten the flesh. They found likewise the head of a yong man fastened to a post, and yet bleeding." These people were the Caribs, a fierce race of cannibals, of whom the Spaniards had heard on the former voyage, and from whom the islands and the adjacent sea still take their name. The accounts of their enormities were received with lively interest in Europe, as confirming the reality of cannibalism, which by many had been supposed a mere figment of poetry, engendered in the lively imaginations of the ancient Greek writers.

At this island the fleet was detained for several days, awaiting the return of nine mariners, who had straggled into the woods, and did not regain the ships until half starved. Weighing anchor on the 10th, the admiral stood for Hispaniola, discovering numerous islands on the way. At Santa Cruz, some of his people became engaged in a fight with a party of Caribs, who, in a canoe, defended themselves with the utmost desperation, killing one of their assailants. The chief person was an Indian queen, of extraordinary courage and fierceness, who, with her son, ("a young man strongly made, of a terrible and frowning countenance, and a Lion's face,") was finally made prisoner. "When they were brought into the admirall's shippe," proceeds the old narrative, "they did no more put off their fiercenes and cruell countenances than do the Lions of Lybia when they perceiue themselues to bee bound in chaynes. There is no man able to behold them, but he shall feele his bowells grate with a certayne horrour, nature hath endued them with so terrible menacing and cruell aspect."