The Tortugas--Returns to Hispaniola--Picks up an Indian in a canoe on
the way--The Indian's report induces a cacique to visit the ships--
Friendly intercourse with other caciques--Farther along the coast, an
envoy from the great cacique Guacanagari visits the ships--The notary
sent to the cacique--His large, clean village--The Spaniards treated as
superior beings--Cibao, mistaken for Cipango, heard of--The ship of
Columbus wrecked--Guacanagari's generous behaviour--Terror of the
Indians at hearing a cannon discharged--Delighted with hawks' bells--
Stores from the wreck saved--A fort built with the assistance of the
natives, and called La Natividad--The cacique's friendship for
Columbus--Abundance of gold obtained--A garrison of thirty men left in
the fort, with strict rules for their government--Guacanagari sheds
tears at parting with the Admiral--The _Nina_ sails eastward--The
_Pinta_ rejoins him--Pinzon excuses himself--His treachery discovered--
In consequence of it Columbus resolves to return to Spain--Pinzon's ill
treatment of the natives--Fierce natives met with--First native blood
shed--The Indians notwithstanding visit the ship--Columbus steers for
Spain--Contrary winds--A fearful storm--The device of Columbus for
preserving the knowledge of his discoveries--The Azores reached--
Castaneda, Governor of Saint Mary's--Crew perform a pilgrimage to the
Virgin's shrine--Seized by the Governor--Caravel driven out to sea--
Matters settled with Castaneda--Sails--Another tempest--Nearly lost--
Enters the Tagus--Courteously received by the King of Portugal--Reaches
Palos 15th of March, 1493--Enthusiastic reception at Palos--Pinzon in
the _Pinta_ arrives--Dies of shame and grief--Columbus received with due
honour by Ferdinand and Isabella--Triumphal entrance into Barcelona--His
discovery excites the enterprise of the English.
After a brief stay among the happy and simple-minded natives, the
weather becoming favourable, Columbus again attempted to discover the
island of Babique. On his way he fell in with an island, to which, on
account of the number of turtles seen there, he gave the name of
Tortugas. Meeting with contrary winds, he returned to Hispaniola, and
on the way fell in with an Indian in a canoe. Having taken the man and
his frail barque on board, he treated him kindly and set him on shore at
Hispaniola, near a river known as Puerto de Paz.
The Indian gave so favourable a report of the treatment he had received,
that a cacique in the neighbourhood, and some of his people, visited the
ships. They were handsomer than any yet met with, and of a gentle and
peaceable disposition. Several of them wore ornaments of gold, which
they readily exchanged for trifles.
Another young cacique shortly afterwards appeared, carried on a litter
borne by four men, and attended by two hundred of his subjects. He was
received on board, and, Columbus being at dinner, he came down with two
of his councillors, who seated themselves at his feet. He merely tasted
whatever was given to him, and then sent it to his followers.
Dinner being over, he presented to the Admiral two pieces of gold, and a
curiously-worked belt, evidently the wampum still employed by the North
American Indians as a token of peace. Columbus, in return, gave him a
piece of cloth, several amber beads, coloured shoes, and, showing him a
Spanish coin with the heads of the King and Queen, endeavoured to
explain to him the power and grandeur of his sovereigns, as well as the
standard of the cross; but these apparently failed to have any effect on
the mind of the savage chieftain. Columbus also had a large cross
erected in the centre of the village, and, from the respect the Indians
paid to it, he argued that it would be easy to convert them to
Christianity.
Again sailing on the 20th of December, the expedition anchored in the
Bay of Acul. Here the inhabitants received them with the greatest
frankness. They appeared to have no idea of traffic, but freely gave
everything they possessed, though Columbus ordered that articles should
be given in exchange for all received.
Several caciques came off, inviting the Spaniards to their villages.
Among them came an envoy from an important chief named Guacanagari,
ruling over all that part of the island. Having presented a broad belt
of wampum and a wooden mask, the eyes, nose, and tongue of which were of
gold, he requested that the ships would come off the town where the
cacique resided. As this was impossible, owing to a contrary wind,
Columbus sent the notary of the squadron, with several attendants. The
town was the largest and best built they had yet seen. The cacique
received them in a large, clean square, and presented to each a robe of
cotton, while the inhabitants brought fruits and provisions of various
sorts. The seamen were also received into their houses, and presented
with cotton garments and anything they seemed to admire; while the
articles given in return were treasured up as sacred relics.
Several caciques had in the meantime visited the ships. They mentioned
a region, evidently the interior, called Cibao, which Columbus thought
must be a corruption of Cipango, and whose chief he understood had
banners of wrought gold, and was probably the magnificent prince
mentioned by Marco Polo.
As soon as the wind was fair, Columbus visited the chief, Guacanagari,
the coast having been surveyed by boats the previous day. Feeling
perfectly secure, although so near the coast, he retired to his cabin.
The helmsman handed over his charge to one of the ship's boys, and
failed to notice that breakers were ahead. Suddenly the ship struck;
the master and crew rushed on deck. Columbus, calm as usual, ordered
the pilot to carry out an anchor astern. Instead of so doing, in his
fright, he rowed off to the other caravel, about half a league to
windward. Her commander instantly went to the assistance of his chief.
The ship had meantime been drifting more and more on the reef, the shock
having opened several of her seams. The weather continued fine, or she
must at once have gone to pieces.
The Admiral, having gone on board the caravel, sent envoys to
Guacanagari, informing him of his intended visit and his disastrous
shipwreck. When the cacique, who lived a league and a half off, heard
of the misfortune, he shed tears, and sent a fleet of canoes to render
assistance. With their help the vessel was unloaded, the chief taking
care that none of the effects should be pilfered. Not an article was
taken; indeed, the people exhibited the greatest sympathy with their
guests, who were treated with the utmost hospitality.
Two days afterwards Guacanagari came on board the _Nina_ to visit the
Admiral, and, with tears in his eyes, offered him all he possessed.
While he was on board a canoe arrived with pieces of gold, and, on
observing his countenance light up, the cacique told him there was a
place not far off, among the mountains, where it could be procured in
the greatest abundance. He called the place Cibao, which Columbus still
confounded with that of Cipango.
Guacanagari, after dining on board, where he exhibited the utmost
frankness, invited Columbus to his village. Here he had prepared an
abundant banquet, consisting of coneys, fish, roots, and various fruits.
He afterwards conducted the Admiral to some beautiful groves, where a
thousand natives were collected to perform their national games and
dances.
In return, the Admiral sent on board for a Castilian accustomed to the
use of the Moorish bow and arrows. The cacique was greatly surprised at
the skill with which the Castilian used his weapon, and told him that
the Caribs, who made frequent descents on his territory, were also armed
with bows and arrows.
Columbus promised his protection, and, to show his host the powerful
means at his disposal, ordered a heavy cannon and an arquebus to be
discharged. At the report the Indians fell to the ground, as if they
had been struck by a thunderbolt. As they saw the shot shivering a
tree, they were filled with dismay, until Columbus assured them that
these weapons should be turned against their enemies.
The cacique now presented Columbus with a wooden mask, the eyes, ears,
and other parts, of gold; and he also placed a golden crown on his head,
and hung plates of gold round his neck. The natives, though willing to
receive anything in exchange for gold, were chiefly delighted with the
hawks' bells, dancing and playing a dozen antics as they listened to the
sound. An Indian gave even a handful of gold for one of the toys, and
then bounded away, fearing that the stranger might repent having parted
so cheaply with such an inestimable a treasure. The shipwrecked
Spaniards, delighted with their idle life on shore, expressed their wish
to remain on the island. This, with the friendly behaviour of the
natives, induced Columbus to agree to their proposal. He considered
that they might explore the island, learn the language and manners of
the natives, and procure by traffic a large amount of gold. He resolved
also to build a fortress for their defence, to be armed with the guns
saved from the wreck. With his usual promptness he had the work
commenced.
When Guacanagari heard that some of the Spaniards were to be left on the
island for its defence from the Caribs, he was overjoyed, as were his
subjects, who eagerly lent their assistance in building the fortress,
little dreaming that they were assisting to place on their necks the
galling yoke of slavery.
While the work of the fortress was rapidly going on, Guacanagari treated
the Admiral with princely generosity. As Columbus, on one occasion, was
landing, the cacique met him, accompanied by five tributary chiefs, each
carrying a coronet of gold. On arriving at his house, Guacanagari took
off his own crown and placed it on the head of the Admiral. Columbus
presented, in return, a collar of fine coloured beads, his mantle of
cloth, a pair of coloured boots, and placed on his finger a large ring
of silver, which the Indians valued far more than gold. The cacique
also exerted himself to procure a great quantity of gold.
Columbus, by misunderstanding names and descriptions, formed the most
magnificent idea of the wealth of the interior of the island, and even
in the red pepper which abounded he fancied that he traced Oriental
spices. He was thus led to believe that the shipwreck was providential,
as, had he sailed away, he should not have heard of its vast wealth.
What in some spirits would have awakened a grasping and sordid cupidity
to accumulate, immediately filled his vivid imagination with plans of
magnificent expenditure.
To the fortress, which was of some size, and sufficiently strong to
repulse a naked and unwarlike people, Columbus gave the name of La
Navidad, in memory of having escaped shipwreck on Christmas Day. He
considered it very likely to prove most useful in keeping the garrison
themselves in order, and to prevent them wandering about and committing
acts of licentiousness among the natives.
Of the numbers who volunteered he selected thirty-nine in all, among
whom was a physician, a ship's carpenter, a cooper, a tailor, and a
gunner; the command being given to Diego de Arana, notary and alguazil
of the armament, with Pedro Gutierrez and Rodrigo de Escobedo as his
lieutenants, directing them to obtain all the information in their
power. He charged the garrison to be especially circumspect in their
intercourse with the natives,--to treat them with gentleness and
justice,--to be highly discreet in their conduct towards the Indian
females, and, moreover, not to scatter themselves, or on any account
stray beyond the friendly territory of Guacanagari.
On the 2nd of January, 1493, Columbus bade farewell to the generous
cacique and his chieftains, commending those he left behind to their
care. To impress the Indians with an idea of the warlike prowess of the
white man, after a banquet he had given at his house, he ordered them to
engage in mock fights with swords, bucklers, crossbows, arquebuses, and
cannon.
Guacanagari shed tears as he parted with Columbus, who, returning on
board, two days afterwards set sail, the garrison on shore answering the
cheers of their comrades who were about to return to their native land.
The ship, being towed out of the harbour, they stood to the eastward,
but were detained for two days by a contrary wind.
On the 6th, a seaman aloft cried out that he saw the _Pinta_. The
certainty that he was right cheered the heart of the Admiral and his
crew. In a short time she approached, and, as the wind was contrary,
Columbus put back to a little bay west of Monte Cristo, where he was
followed by the _Pinta_.
Pinzon endeavoured to excuse himself, but Columbus discovered that he
had purposely separated, and had gone to Hispaniola, where he had
remained trading with the natives; collecting a considerable quantity of
gold, the greater part of which he retained, and the rest divided among
the men to secure his secret.
Columbus, however, knowing the number of friends the Pinzons had on
board, repressed his indignation; but so much was his confidence in his
confederates impaired, that, instead of continuing his explorations, as
he hoped to have done when he first saw the _Pinta_, he resolved at once
to sail for Spain.
While obtaining wood and water for the voyage at a river flowing into
the bay, so much gold was perceived in the sand at its mouth that the
name of Rio del Oro, or the Golden River, was given to it. At present
it is called the Santiago. Turtles of large size were found here, and,
as a proof how so sagacious a man as Columbus might deceive himself, he
states that he here saw three mermaids, who were very far from lovely,
although they had traces of human countenances. They were undoubtedly
manatees or sea-cows.
Putting into the river where Pinzon had been trading, some of the
natives complained that he had violently carried off four men and two
girls to be sold as slaves in Spain.
Discovering that such was the case, Columbus ordered that they should be
restored immediately to their homes, and, giving them numerous presents
and clothing, he sent them on shore.
Proceeding on, they anchored in a deep gulf a little way beyond Cape
Cabron. The natives were found to be of a ferocious aspect, hideously
painted. Their hair was long, tied behind, and decorated with coloured
feathers; some were armed with war-clubs; others had bows as long as
those used by English archers, with slender reed arrows pointed with
bone or the teeth of a fish. Their swords were of palm wood, as hard
and heavy as iron, not sharp, but broad, and capable, with one blow, of
cleaving through a helmet.
Columbus fancied that they must be Caribs, but an Indian on board
assured him that the Caribbean Islands were much farther off. They made
no attempt, however, at first, to molest the Spaniards. One of them
came on board the Admiral's ship. Various presents having been given
him, he was sent again on shore in one of the boats.
As she approached, upwards of fifty savages, armed with bows, arrows,
war-clubs, and javelins, were seen lurking among the trees. The Indian,
however, speaking to them, they laid by their arms, and parted with two
of their bows to the Spaniards. Suddenly, however, mistrusting their
visitors, they rushed back to where they had left their weapons, and
returned with cords as if to bind the Spaniards. The latter on this
immediately attacked them, wounded two, and put the rest to flight, and
would have pursued them had they not been restrained by the commander of
the boat.
This was the first time native blood, soon to flow so freely, was shed
by the white man in the New World. It greatly grieved Columbus thus to
see his efforts to maintain a friendly intercourse frustrated.
Next day, notwithstanding the above occurrence, when a large party went
on shore, the cacique who ruled over the neighbourhood came down to meet
them, and sent a wampum belt as a token of amity. The cacique, with
only three attendants, without fear entered the boat, and was conveyed
on board the caravel. Columbus highly appreciated this frank, confiding
conduct, and, having placed biscuits and honey and other food before his
guests, shown them round the ship, and made them several presents, he
sent them back to the land highly gratified. No other interruption
occurred to their friendly intercourse. Four young Indians who came on
board gave such glowing accounts of the islands to the east, that
Columbus prevailed on them to accompany him as guides. He also wished
to visit two islands which he fancied to exist,--one inhabited by
Amazons, and the other by men; but a favourable breeze springing up for
Spain, and observing the gloom in the countenances of the seamen,--
knowing as he did also their insubordinate spirit, and the leaky state
of the ships, and that, should they founder, his glorious discovery
would be lost to the civilised world,--he deemed it wise to steer
directly homewards. The favourable breeze, however, soon died away, and
for the remainder of the voyage light winds from the eastward prevailed.
The _Pinta_ also sailed badly, her foremast being so defective that it
could carry but little sail. In the early part of February, having run
to about the thirty-eighth degree of north latitude, they got out of the
track of the trade winds, and once more were able to steer a direct
course. The pilots, by the changes of their courses, at length got
perplexed; but Columbus kept so careful a reckoning that he felt sure of
their position. The two principal pilots made out that they were one
hundred and fifty leagues nearer Spain than he knew to be the case. He,
however, allowed them to remain in their error, that he alone might
possess a knowledge of the route to the newly-discovered countries. By
his calculation they were not far off from the Azores. On the 12th of
February a strong gale with a heavy sea got up, and the next day the
wind and swell so increased that Columbus was aware that a heavy tempest
was approaching. It soon burst upon them with frightful violence,
increasing still more on the 14th, the waves threatening every moment to
overwhelm their battered barks. After laying to for three hours they
were compelled to scud before the wind. During the darkness of the
night the _Pinta_ was lost sight of. The Admiral steered as well as he
could to the north-east to approach the coast of Spain, showing lights
to the _Pinta_; but no answering signals were seen, and fears were
entertained that she had foundered. The following day the tempest raged
as furiously as before on the helpless bark. During the storm the
ignorant and superstitious crew cast lots as to who should perform
pilgrimages to their respective saints, in which the Admiral, no less
superstitious than his men, joined. Two of the lots fell on him. Each
man also made his private vow to perform some pilgrimage, or other
penitential rite.
The heavens, however, were deaf to their vows. The storm increased, and
the crew gave themselves up for lost. The Admiral took the wisest steps
to preserve the ship, by ordering that the empty casks should be filled
with water, to ballast her better. His mind all the time was a prey to
the most painful anxiety. His fear was that the _Pinta_ had already
foundered, and that his vessel would also go to the bottom.
An expedient occurred to him at this time by which, though he and his
ships should perish, the glory of his achievement might survive to his
name, and its advantages be secured to his sovereigns. He wrote on a
parchment a brief account of his voyage and discovery; then, having
sealed and directed it to the King and Queen, he wrapped it in a waxed
cloth, which he placed in the centre of a piece of wax, and, enclosing
the whole in a large cask, threw it into the sea. He also enclosed a
copy in a similar manner, placing the cask on the poop so that it might
float off should the vessel sink.
These precautions somewhat mitigated his anxiety. Towards sunset a
streak of clear sky appeared in the west, the sign of finer weather. It
came, though the sea ran so high that little sail could be carried.
At daybreak on the morning of the 15th the cry of "Land!" was raised.
The transports of the crew equalled those exhibited on first beholding
the New World. Various conjectures were offered as to what land it was.
Some thought it the rock of Cintra, others the island of Madeira,
others a portion of Spain. Columbus, however, knew that it was one of
the Azores, in possession of the Portuguese.
On the evening of the 17th of February the vessel dropped her anchor off
the island of Saint Mary's, the most southern of the Azores, and at
length the great navigator was enabled to enjoy the first moments of
sleep he had taken for many a day.
Next morning the inhabitants were astonished, on seeing the battered
vessel, that she had been able to live through the gale, which had, with
unexampled fury, raged for fifteen days. Three seamen who had landed
were persuaded to remain and give an account of their adventures.
After some time the Governor, Juan de Castaneda, who claimed an
acquaintance with Columbus, sent off fowls, bread, and various
refreshments, apologising for not coming himself, on account of the
lateness of the hour.
On the following morning Columbus reminded his people of their vows, to
go in procession to the shrine of the Virgin at the first place where
they should land. The messengers who had been kept on board were sent
to make preparations, and a priest arrived at a small chapel dedicated
to the Virgin some little distance off. One-half of the crew then
landed and walked in procession, barefooted and in their shirts, to the
chapel, while the Admiral waited their return to perform the same
ceremony with the remainder.
Scarcely, however, had the first party begun their prayers than they
were surrounded by a gang of horse and foot from the village, and made
prisoners.
As the hermitage could not be seen from the caravel, not being aware of
what had taken place, the Admiral feared that his boat had been wrecked,
and accordingly, weighing anchor, he stood in a direction to command a
view of the chapel.
He now caught sight of a number of armed horsemen, who, dismounting,
entered the boat, and came towards the caravel. He accordingly got
ready to give them a warm reception, but they approached in a pacific
manner, and Castaneda himself, who was in the boat, asked leave to come
on board.
Columbus reproached him for his perfidy, to which he replied that he was
only acting in accordance with the orders of his sovereigns, so that
Columbus began to fear that a war had broken out between the two
countries during his absence. He had no time to ascertain the truth
before another heavy gale coming on, he was driven from his anchorage,
and compelled to stand out to sea.
For two days the vessel remained in the greatest peril, short-handed as
she was, being unable to return to her anchorage at Saint Mary's.
As soon as she dropped anchor, a notary and two priests came off
demanding to see his papers on the part of Castaneda, who had sent them
to assure him that if it should be found that he really sailed in the
service of the Spanish sovereigns, he would render him every assistance
in his power.
The notary and priest were satisfied with his letters of commission, and
the following morning the boat and seamen were sent back. From the
latter Columbus learnt the cause of Castaneda's conduct. The
inhabitants had told them that the King of Portugal, jealous lest his
expedition should interfere with his discoveries in India, had directed
his governors of islands and distant ports to seize and detain him
wherever he should be met with.
Having been detained two days longer at Saint Mary's in an endeavour to
take in wood and ballast, but being prevented by the heavy surf which
broke upon the shore, he set sail on the 24th of February. After a fine
run of two days the weather again became tempestuous, and there appeared
every probability of the ship foundering.
On the 3rd of March land was descried, and it was with the greatest
difficulty that the ship could be kept off the shore. At daylight on
the 4th the voyagers found themselves off the rock of Cintra, a few
miles from Lisbon. Rather than risk another night at sea, Columbus
determined to hazard the chance of falling into the hands of the
Portuguese. The ship was accordingly steered in and brought up opposite
Rastello, at the mouth of the river Tagus.
The oldest mariners who came off assured Columbus that they had never
known so temptestuous a winter, and had been watching his vessel with
the greatest anxiety since she had first been seen. He immediately
dispatched a courier to the King and Queen of Spain with the tidings of
his discovery, and requested permission of the King of Portugal to go up
to Lisbon, fearing that the inhabitants of Rastello, when they heard of
her rich freight, might be tempted to rob her.
The King of Portugal, who was some distance from the capital, at once
invited Columbus to visit him. During the interview which ensued he
endeavoured to conceal his vexation at having refused the proposals
which had been made him by the navigator.
His Court tried to persuade him that Columbus had visited countries over
which, according to the Pope's bull, he had the right to rule. Some had
the baseness to hint that Columbus should be assassinated, and suggested
that he should be embroiled in a quarrel, during which the project might
be accomplished.
The King, happily, had too much magnanimity to agree to so nefarious a
measure. He treated Columbus with the greatest courtesy, and a large
party of cavaliers escorted him back to his ship.
By the time Columbus reached her the weather had moderated, and, again
setting sail, on the 15th of March, A.D. 1493, he entered the port of
Palos, whence he had sailed on the 3rd of August of the preceding year,
having taken not quite seven months and a half to accomplish this
momentous maritime enterprise.
The enthusiastic reception he met with from the inhabitants of Palos can
be imagined. They had given him and his companions up for lost. Bells
were rung and the shops shut; all business was suspended; and the
inhabitants came thronging to the ship to ascertain the fate of their
friends. On landing, he went to the principal church, accompanied by a
concourse of people, to return thanks to God for the accomplishment of
his enterprise.
As the Court was at Barcelona, he felt inclined to go there in his
caravel, but, considering her condition, he finally resolved to proceed
by land. That very evening, while the bells were sending forth their
peals of triumph, the _Pinta_, commanded by Martin Alonzo Pinzon,
entered the river.
Pinzon had been driven by the gale into the Bay of Biscay, and had
reached the port of Bayonne. Fancying that Columbus had perished, he
had written to the sovereigns claiming credit to himself for the
accomplishment of the undertaking. On hearing that Columbus had arrived
before him, his heart sank within him. He made his way unobserved to
his own house, and, on receiving a reproachful letter from Ferdinand and
Isabella, he took to his bed, and in a short time died of deep chagrin
on seeing Columbus receive all the honours he had himself hoped to
obtain.
Columbus, having performed the journey to Barcelona in safety, was
received with the greatest possible respect by Ferdinand and Isabella,
whose nobles and courtiers vied with each other in endeavouring to do
him honour. His entrance into the city was like a Roman triumph. The
courtiers and hidalgos, and a vast concourse of people, came forth to
meet him. Before him were paraded the Indians, decked out according to
their savage fashion, and after these were borne various kinds of live
parrots, stuffed birds and animals, and rare plants; while there was a
conspicuous display of Indian coronets, bracelets, and other decorations
of gold.
Columbus followed on horseback, accompanied by a brilliant cavalcade of
Spanish chivalry. The windows and balconies were crowded with the fair;
the very roofs were covered with spectators.
The King and the kind Queen awaited his arrival seated on a throne, in a
vast and splendid saloon, under a rich canopy of brocade of gold. They
raised him as he attempted to kneel, and had a seat placed for him near
them,--a rare honour in so punctilious a Court. He here narrated his
adventures, to which they listened with wrapt attention; and, when he
retired from the royal presence, he was attended by the whole Court to
his residence.
Ferdinand and Isabella setting the example for many days, all the nobles
of the land exerted themselves to do him honour. He modestly received
all the attentions paid to him. Though his mind was teeming with
magnificent schemes for the future, he did not forget that for the
deliverance of the Holy Sepulchre, and believing that ere long vast
wealth would accrue to him, he made a vow to furnish, within seven
years, an army of four thousand horse and fifty thousand foot, for the
rescue of the Holy Sepulchre, and a similar force within the five
following years.
Not only Spain, but all the civilised nations of the earth rejoiced at
the important discovery achieved by Columbus. In England especially it
excited that spirit of discovery which was ere long to add so greatly to
her wealth and renown.
During his sojourn at Barcelona the sovereigns took every occasion to
bestow on Columbus personal marks of their high consideration.
Frequently the King appeared on horseback, with Prince Juan on one side
and Columbus on the other.
To perpetuate in his family the glory of his achievement, a coat of arms
was assigned him, in which the royal arms--the castle and lion--were
quartered with his proper bearings, which were a group of islands
surrounded by waves. To these arms were added the words--
"A Castella y a Leon Nuevo Mundo dio Colon."
"To Castile and Leon Columbus gave a new world."