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was received with open arms by the worthy prior of the convent of La Rabida, and was his guest during his sojourn at Palos. There was extreme dread of the undertaking, even in this maritime community, and great difficulty was experienced in procuring vessels and seamen. At length Martin Alonzo Pinzon and his brother Vincent Yañez Pinzon, navigators of distinction, who possessed vessels and had seamen in their employ, took a decided and personal interest in the expedition; and through their exertions the vessels were ready for sea by the beginning of August. They were three in number, all small and only one of of them decked. Columbus hoisted his flag on the largest called the Santa Maria. The others were commanded each by one of the Pinzons. There were on board the three, one hundred and twenty persons in all.*

*Irving's Columbus, vol 1, p. 71 to 79.

CHAPTER III.

Of the first Voyage of Columbus to the West; his departure on the 3d of August 1492; discovery of land in the West Indias on the 12th of October in that year; and return to Spain in March 1493.

It was on Friday, the 3d of August 1492,* early in the morning, that Columbus set sail from the bar of Saltes, a small island formed by the arms of the Odril, in front of the town of Huelva. He steered for the Canary islands, whence it was his intention to sail due west until he should arrive at the Indias, when he was to proceed to deliver the letters given him for the Grand Khan of Tartary. On the 9th he came in sight of the Canaries, where he was detained upwards of three weeks, during which time two of the vessels underwent some repairs. He sailed from Gomera on the 6th of September, and on the 9th beheld Fuso, the last of the Canaries. On the 13th, about two hundred leagues from Fuso, he noticed for the first time the variation of the needle: instead of pointing to the north star, it varied at night fall about half a point, or between five and six degrees to the northwest, and still more on the following morning: the variation increased as he advanced. On the 14th the voyagers were rejoiced by the sight of a heron and a tropical bird called the Rabo de Janco, harbingers of land. Now they began to see herbs and weeds drifting from

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 71 to 79.

the west, and increasing in quantity as they advanced. But several weeks still elapsed without seeing any land. Columbus having now come more than seven hundred leagues since leaving the Canaries, Martin Alonzo Pinzon began to lose confidence in the course west, and proposed that they should stand more to the southward. Columbus observing great flights of small birds going southwest, determined on the evening of the 7th of October, to alter his course to the west southwest, the direction in which the birds generally flew. For three days they stood in this direction, and the signs were encouraging. But when on the evening of the third day the sun went down upon a shoreless horizon, the crews broke forth into turbulent clamour. They insisted on turning homeward, and abandoning the voyage as hopeless. Columbus notwithstanding declared his purpose to persevere until he should accomplish the enterprise. At open defiance with his crew, his situation would have been desperate, had not the manifestations of land been such on the following day (the 11th,) as no longer to admit of doubt. That night not an eye was closed. Columbus took his station on the top of the castle or cabin on the high poop of his vessel, and maintained an unremitting watch. Once or twice during the night he saw a light which he considered as a sign of land, and that it was inhabited. At two in the morning a gun from the Pinta (commanded by Martin Alonzo Pinzon,) gave the joyful signal. The land was now clearly seen about two leagues distant: they took in sail, and laid to, waiting impatiently for the dawn.*

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 82 to 101.

When, as the morning dawned, objects gradually became visible, Columbus beheld before him a level and beautiful island, several leagues in extent, the inhabitants of which were seen naked, running to the shore to gaze at the ships. The boats were soon manned, and a landing effected. Columbus knelt and offered up a prayer of thanksgiving, in which the rest joined. Then rising and drawing his sword, he took possession in the name of the Castilian sovereigns. It has been generally supposed that one of the Bahama islands, called by the natives Guanahani, and since called San Salvador, and also known as Cat island, was the spot where Columbus first set foot upon the new world. Don Martin Navarette, in the introduction to his "Collection of Spanish Voyages and Discoveries," published at Madrid in 1826, having endeavoured to shew that the place must have been Turk's island, Mr. Irving examined this opinion, and came to the conclusion that the world may remain in its old hereditary belief that the present island of San Salvador is the spot.*

It was on Friday, the 12th of October, that this landing took place. The crew thronged around the admiral in their overflowing zeal.

"Some" (continues Mr. Irving,†) "embraced him, others kissed his hands. Those who had been most mutinous and turbulent during the voyage, were now most devoted and enthusiastic. Some begged favours of him, as of a man who had already wealth and honours in his gift. Many abject spirits, who had outraged him by their inso

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 102, 3; vol. 2, p. 280 to 288, Appendix No. 17.
† Id. vol. 1, p. 103 to 105.

lence, now crouched as it were at his feet, begging pardon for all the trouble they had caused him, and offering for the future the blindest obedience to his commands.*

"The natives of the island, when, at the dawn of day, they had beheld the ships, with their sails set, hovering on their coast, had supposed them some monsters which had issued from the deep during the night. They had crowded to the beach, and watched their movements with awful anxiety. Their veering about, apparently without effort; the shifting and furling of their sails, resembling huge wings, filled them with astonishment. When they beheld the boats approach the shore, and a number of strange beings clad in glittering steel, or raiment of various colours, landing upon the beach, they fled in affright to their woods. Finding, however, that there was no attempt to pursue, or molest them, they gradually recovered from their terror, and approached the Spaniards with great awe; frequently prostrating themselves on the earth, and making signs of adoration. During the ceremonies of taking possession, they remained gazing in timid admiration at the complexion, the beards, the shining armour and splendid dresses of the Spaniards. The admiral particularly attracted their attention, from his commanding height, his air of authority, his dress of scarlet, and the deference which was paid him by his companions; all which pointed him out to be the commander. When they had still further recovered from their fears, they approached the Spaniards, touched their beards, and examined their hands and faces, admiring their whiteness. Columbus, pleased with their simplicity, their gentleness, and the confidence they reposed in beings who must have appeared to them so strange and formidable, suffered their scrutiny with perfect acquiescence. The wondering savages were won by this benignity; they now supposed

* Oviedo, L. 1, cap. 6. Las Casas, Hist. Ind. L. 1, c. 40. Las Casas, ubi sup.

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