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patched hence a letter to the king and queen at Barcelona, and soon after departed for Seville to await their orders, taking with him six of the natives whom he had brought from the new world. One had died at sea, and three were left ill at Palos. It is a singular coincidence, that on the very evening of the arrival of Columbus at Palos, the Pinta likewise entered the river. After her separation from the admiral, she had been driven into the bay of Biscay, and made the port of Bayonne. Anxious to secure the favourable prepossessions of the court and the public, Martin Alonzo Pinzon had immediately written to the sovereigns, giving information of the discovery he had made. When on entering the harbour of Palos, he beheld the vessel of the admiral riding at anchor, and learnt the enthusiasm with which he had been received, the heart of Pinzon died within him. In a few days he sank into the grave.*

The letter of Columbus to the Spanish monarchs announcing his discovery, had produced the greatest sensation at court. Shortly after arriving in Seville, Columbus received a letter from them, expressing their great delight, and requesting him to repair immediately to court to concert plans for a second and more extensive expedition. He set out soon for Barcelona, taking with him the six Indians and other curiosities brought from the new world. His journey was like that of a sovereign. About the middle of April he arrived at Barcelona, and there had a most gratifying reception both from the court and the people. Notwithstanding the universal enthusiasm,

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 169 to 176.

however, no one was yet aware of the real importance of the discovery. It was still supposed that Cuba was the end of the Asiatic continent, and that the adjacent islands were in the Indian seas; and therefore the lands which he had visited were called the West Indias: yet as he seemed to have entered upon a vast region of unexplored countries, existing in a state of nature, the whole received the comprehensive appellation of "The New World."*

Next to the countenance shewn Columbus by the king and queen, may be mentioned that of Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza, the first subject of the realm; a man whose elevated character gave value to his favours. He invited Columbus to a feast, where he assigned him the most honourable place at table. At this repast is said to have occurred the anecdote of the egg. A courtier present, impatient perhaps of the honours paid to Columbus, asked him whether he thought that in case he had not discovered the Indias, there were not other men in Spain who would have been capable of the enterprise? Columbus made no immediate reply, but, taking an egg, invited the company to make it stand upon one end. Every one attempted it, but in vain. Whereupon Columbus struck the egg upon the table so as to break the end, and left it standing on the broken part; illustrating in this simple manner, that when he had once shewn the way to the new world, nothing was easier than to follow it.t

The six Indians whom Columbus had brought to Barcelona, were baptized with great state and cere

*Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 177 to 182. † Id. p. 183, 4.

mony; the king, the queen and Prince Juan officiating as sponsors. Great hopes were entertained that on their return to their native country they would facilitate the introduction of christianity among their countrymen. One of them, at the request of Prince Juan, remained in his household, but died not long afterwards. A Spanish historian remarks, that according to what is called christian belief, he was the first of his nation that entered Heaven ?*

During the year 1493, three editions were printed of the letter of Columbus to Gabriel Sanchez, treasurer of Spain, giving an account of his discovery. The general interest which it excited is strongly evidenced by this fact. Another example of a work printed three times in the same year, can scarcely be found in the fifteenth century.

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 190.

CHAPTER IV.

Of the second Voyage of Columbus; discovery of other isles in 1493 and 1494; settlement at La Navidad destroyed; and City of Isabella built.

After receiving every mark of honour and regard, Columbus took leave of the sovereigns on the 28th of May 1493. He arrived at Seville the beginning of June, and proceeded with all diligence to fit out the armament. On the 25th of September, the bay of Cadiz was whitened by his fleet, consisting of three large ships of heavy burthen and fourteen caravels. The two sons of Columbus, Diego and Fernando, witnessed the departure of their father.*

Columbus arrived at the Canaries on the 1st of October. By the 24th he had made four hundred and fifty leagues west of Gomera. On the morning of the 3d of November, a lofty island was descried to the west, to which he gave the name of Dominica, from its being discovered on Sunday. Other islands rose into sight, one after another. These were a part of the beautiful cluster, called by some the Antilles, which sweep almost in a semi-circle, from the eastern end of Porto Rico to the coast of Paria, on the southern continent, forming a kind of barrier between the main ocean and the Caribbean sea. To one of these islands he gave the name of his ship,

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 191 to 202.

Marigalante; to another the name of Guadaloupe. On this the Spaniards landed the 4th of November, and met for the first time with the delicious pine apple.*

Continuing along this beautiful archipelago, Columbus gave names to its islands as they successively rose to view; Montserrat, Santa Maria la Redonda, Santa Maria la Antigua and San Martin. Other lands to the north he forbore to visit. On the 14th of November he anchored at an island which the Indians called Ayay, and to which he gave the name of Santa Cruz. Here there was a skirmish with the natives. Pursuing his voyage, Columbus soon came in sight of a great cluster of islands: to the largest he gave the name of Santa Ursula; and he called the others the Eleven Thousand Virgins. He arrived afterwards at a great island called by the natives Boriquen to this he gave the name of St. Juan Bautista; it is since known by the name of Porto Rico. After remaining here two days, Columbus sailed for Hispaniola.†

On the 22d of November the fleet arrived at the eastern extremity of this island. At the gulf of Samana he set on shore one of the young Indians who had been to Spain. Favourable effects were anticipated from his representations to his countrymen, but he was neither seen nor heard of again. One Indian of those who had been to Spain remained in the fleet; a native of the island of Guanahani, named after the admiral's brother, Diego Colon. He continued faithful to the Spaniards. Columbus anchored

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 1, p. 202 to 210. † Id. 211 to 215.

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