that the ships had sailed out of the crystal firmament which bounded their horizon, or that they had descended from above on their ample wings, and that these marvellous beings were inhabitants of the skies.*

"The natives of the island were no less objects of curiosity to the Spaniards, differing as they did from any race of men they had ever seen. Their appearance gave no promise of either wealth or civilization, for they were entirely naked, and painted with a variety of colours. With some it was confined merely to a part of the face, the nose, or around the eyes; with others it extended to the whole body, and gave them a wild and fantastic appearance. Their complexion was of a tawny or copper hue, and they were entirely destitute of beards. Their hair was not crisped like the recently discovered tribes of the African coast, under the same latitude, but straight and coarse, partly cut short above the ears, but some locks left long behind, and falling upon their shoulders. Their features, though obscured and disfigured by paint, were agreeable; they had lofty foreheads and remarkably fine eyes. They were of moderate stature, and well shaped; most of them appeared to be under thirty years of age; there was but one female with them, quite young, naked like her companions, and beautifully formed.

"As Columbus supposed himself to have landed on an island at the extremity of India, he called the natives by the general appellation of Indians, which was universally adopted, before the true nature of his discovery was known, and has ever since been extended to all the aboriginals of the new world.”

The idea that the white men came from heaven was universally entertained by the inhabitants of the new world. When in the course of subsequent voyages, the Spaniards conversed with the Cacique

Nicaragua, he inquired how they came down from the skies, whether flying, or whether they descended on clouds. Herrera, Decad. 3, L. 4, c. 5.

Columbus, after reconnoitering San Salvador, cruised among others of the Bahama islands. To one he gave the name of Santa Maria de la Conception; to another the name of Fernandina, this is now called Exuma. Then he went to an island called Isabella by him, and since called Isla Larga and Exumeta. Afterwards he touched at a group of seven or eight small islands, which he called Isles de Arena, supposed to be the present Mucaras islands, and crossing the Bahama bank and channel, arrived on the morning of the 28th of October in sight of the island of Cuba. The part which he first discovered is supposed to be the coast to the west of Nuevitas del Principe. He anchored in a beautiful river, to which he gave the name of San Salvador; and to the island he gave the name of Juana, in honour of Prince Juan. Landing occasionally, he visited several villages, particularly one on the banks of a large river, to which he gave the name of Rio de Mares. It is now called Savannah la Mar. After standing to the northwest, he came in sight of a headland, to which, from the groves with which it was covered, he gave the name of the Cape of Palms. It forms the eastern entrance to what is now known as Laguna de Moron. Afterwards he put back to the Rio de Mares, and sent two Spaniards (with two Indians as guides) on a mission to the chieftain, in the interior of the island.*

"On their way back, they, for the first time, witnessed the use of a weed, which the ingenious caprice of man has since converted into an universal luxury, in defiance of the

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 105 to 122.

opposition of the senses. They beheld several of the natives going about with fire-brands in their hands, and certain dried herbs, which they rolled up in a leaf, and lighting one end, put the other end in their mouths, and continued exhaling and puffing out the smoke. A roll of this kind they called a tobacco, a name since transferred to the plant of which the rolls were made. The Spaniards, although prepared to meet with wonders, were struck with astonishment at their singular and apparently nauseous indulgence."*

On the 12th of November Columbus, taking several of the natives of both sexes to carry with him to Spain, turned his course to the east southeast. He gave to a cape which he passed, the name of Cape Cuba, and anchored in a harbour which he called Puerto del Principe. He passed a few days exploring an archipelago of small but beautiful islands, since known as El Jardin del Rey, or the King's Garden; and named the gulf, studded with them, the sea of Nuestra Senora. On the 19th, he again put to sea, but the wind blowing from the quarter to which he wished to steer, and the sea being rough, he determined to return to Cuba, and made signals to his companions to do the same. The Pinta, commanded by Martin Alonzo Pinzon, had by this time worked a considerable distance to the eastward. It failed to attend to his signals, and the next morning was out of sight. Columbus was exceedingly indignant at this apparent desertion, but not knowing what course Pinzon would steer, went back with the remaining ships. On the 24th, he regained Point Cuba, and anchored

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 122.

in a harbour formed by the mouth of a river, to which he gave the name of St. Catharine. He continued for several days coasting the residue of Cuba, and reached its eastern end the 5th of December.*

east.

While steering at large, beyond the eastern extremity of Cuba, Columbus descried land to the southThe beautiful island of Hayti revealed itself to the eye. In the evening of the 6th of December, Columbus entered a harbour at the western end of the island, to which he gave the name of St. Nicholas, by which it is still called. Leaving this harbour on the 7th, he coasted along the northern side of the island. For several days he was detained in a harbour which he called Fort Conception. The admiral fancied the features of the surrounding country resembled those of the more beautiful provinces of Spain, and named the island Hispaniola. He visited an island lying opposite the harbour of Conception, to which, from its abounding in turtle, he gave the name of Tortugas. To one of its valleys, he gave the name of Valle de Pariso, or the vale of Paradise; and he called a fine stream the Guadalquiver. Setting sail on the 16th of December, at midnight, he steered again for Hispaniola, and anchored near a village on its coast, at present known as Puerto de Paz. On the evening of the 20th, he anchored in a fine harbour, to which he gave the name of St. Thomas, supposed to be what at present is called the Bay of Acúl. On the 22d, a message was received from a grand cacique, named Guacanagari, begging that the ships might come opposite to his residence. The wind prevent

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 122 to 129.

ing an immediate compliance, the admiral sent the notary, with several of the crew, to visit him at his residence, in a town then called Puerta Santa, now Point Honorata. They were received with great honour, and brought back many presents to the admiral.*

On the morning of the 24th of December, Columbus steered to the eastward, with the intention of anchoring at the harbour of this cacique. On the way, owing to neglect of duty of the steersman, his vessel was shipwrecked in the night, and the admiral and his men took refuge on board the caravel of Vicente Yañez Pinzon. When the cacique heard of this misfortune, he immediately sent all his people with all the canoes, large and small, that could be mustered; and so active were they, in their assistance, that in a little while the vessel was unloaded. Never, in any civilized country, were the vaunted rights of hospitality more scrupulously observed than by this uncultured savage. Men of the present day, who inhabit the Atlantic coast of North America, with all the aid that Christianity gives them, may be improved by following his example. All the effects landed from the ship were deposited near his dwelling, and an armed guard surrounded them all night, until houses could be prepared, in which to store them. Yet there seemed, even among the common people, no disposition to take advantage of the misfortune of the strangers. Without going through the Christian form of prayer, the conduct of these people to Columbus, enabled

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 129 to 137.