Columbus Discovers Several Islands, among them Guanahani, Cuba, and
Haiti—Traffic with the Natives
Columbus first landed upon one of the islands commonly known as the
Bahamas.[15] One of them is called Guanahani, and this is the one first
discovered. Columbus named it San Salvador, the Island of Deliverance,
but it is no longer known by that name. The delighted mariners stood for
some time and gazed with astonished eyes at a part of the world they had
never seen before, now brightly illuminated by the rising sun. They
could hardly satisfy themselves with the sight of this smiling, fruitful
land, interspersed with beautiful forests and gracefully winding
streams. Columbus ordered the boats lowered and, stepping into one, was
rowed ashore, with banners flying, to the sound of martial music,
followed by his leaders and an armed force. As they neared the shore
they observed a great crowd of natives, who gazed with surprise at the
European vessels lying together off the beach. When they reached land,
Columbus, richly clad, with drawn sword in hand, was the first to step
upon the soil of the New World discovered by him. His companions knelt,
kissed the ground, and, still kneeling, vowed obedience to their great
leader, now Vice-king of the new country. After this expression of their
joy they set up a crucifix on the shore and, kneeling before it, offered
thanks to God for His mercy. Then with the customary ceremonial they
took possession in the name of the King and Queen of Spain.
[Illustration: _LANDING OF COLUMBUS_]
During these ceremonies the natives crowded around the Spaniards, gazing
in mute astonishment now upon the vessels and again upon the
extraordinary beings who had come from them. They saw but knew not what
they were seeing, for of all the ceremonies going on before their eyes
they understood not one. Had these poor creatures known what was in
store for them they would have filled the air with lamentations or have
shed their innocent blood in defending themselves against these
strangers whom they now regarded with admiration and awe. The longer
they stood and gazed the more incomprehensible was everything they saw
and heard. The white faces of the Europeans, their beards, their
costume, their weapons, and their actions were strange to them. As they
heard the roar of cannon and rattle of musketry they huddled together as
if seeking shelter from a thunder storm. They thought that these
strangers, armed with thunder and lightning, were not human but
superhuman beings, children of their divinity, the sun, who had
condescended to visit the earth. Some of them regarded the sun, the
all-animating, mighty, and beneficent orb, as God himself. Others
believed in many deities with human figures, and the rest were so weak
mentally that they had no idea of the origin of the world and no
knowledge of its daily phenomena. These poor creatures knew nothing of a
God and lived in ignorance of whence they came or of what was to become
of them. The Spaniards in their turn were as greatly astonished at what
they beheld as the natives. The shrubs, plants, and trees were totally
unlike those of Europe. The natives seemed to be of an entirely
different race from them in their physical appearance and manner of
life. They were of a dark copper color, their hair was black and long,
their chins beardless, their stature medium, their features strange and
peculiar, their manner gentle, and their bodies strangely marked and
painted. Some were almost—others completely—naked, except that they wore
ornaments of feathers, shells, and disks of gold in their ears and noses
and upon their heads. At first they were afraid, but after a little,
when they were given presents of beads, ribbons, and other trifles, they
felt so much confidence in their celestial guests that toward evening,
when the Spaniards returned to their vessels, many of them accompanied
them in little canoes, hollowed out of the trunks of trees, some to
gratify their curiosity still further, others to exchange gifts. They
gave the Spaniards cotton yarn, which they were skilled in making,
arrows with tips made of fish bone, fruits, and parrots of various
kinds. They were so eager to get the European trifles that they gathered
the pieces of broken knick-knacks lying upon the deck and gladly
exchanged twenty-five pounds of cotton yarn for a couple of copper coins
which were of no use to them. The novelty of these articles and the fact
that they belonged to the white people invested them with great value in
their esteem.
On the next day Columbus went ashore again, everywhere followed by the
natives. He was specially anxious to find out where the gold came from.
They assured him it was not on their island but farther south. He
decided to act upon this information, for he had assured the King of
Spain and his avaricious Court that his discoveries would enrich them.
Consequently he went on board again, took seven natives with him as
guides, and sailed southward. He observed several new islands but
visited only the three largest, which he named Santa Maria del
Concepcion, Ferdinand, and Isabella. But he found no gold there. Every
one he asked declared it could be found farther south, so he remained
there no longer but sailed south again. After a comparatively short
voyage he discerned a country different from any he had yet seen, not
only in size but in general character. It was not level like the others
but had many mountains and valleys, forests, brooks, and rivers. He was
in doubt whether it was part of the mainland or a large island. After
several days’ observations he was convinced it was an island, called by
the natives Cuba. He came to anchor at the mouth of a large river, as he
was anxious to get a near view of the people and their country. All of
them fled to the mountains at sight of the vessels, leaving their cabins
empty. Only one of them had the courage to row out in a small skiff and
go aboard. After his confidence had been secured by some little gifts,
Columbus sent two Spaniards and one of the natives of Guanahani whom he
had taken with him to learn something about the region and conciliate
the natives, for he was very anxious they should not flee every time
they saw the vessels. The two Spaniards proceeded inland about twelve
miles and upon their return submitted the following report to the
Admiral:
“We found a great part of the country under cultivation and exceedingly
productive. Indian corn or maize and a kind of root, which, when baked,
tastes like bread, grows in the fields. We came at last to a village of
at least fifty wooden dwellings and about a thousand people. The leaders
came out to meet us and when they heard we had natives on board and what
kind of people we were, they embraced us and conducted us to their
largest house. We sat upon chairs shaped like an animal, its tail
serving for the back and its eyes and ears fashioned of gold. When we
were seated the natives sat near us on the floor, kissed our hands and
feet, and paid us such homage it was easy to see they thought we were
superhuman and celestial beings. They gave us to eat of their baked
root, which had the flavor of chestnuts. We noticed that all who waited
upon us were men. After a little they withdrew and several women
entered, who bestowed the same marks of homage as the men. When at last
we made ready to return, many of the natives asked permission to
accompany us, but we declined, taking with us only the King and his son,
who have come with us as a special mark of honor.”
The Admiral expressed his gratitude to the two and entertained them on
board his vessel most hospitably. In reply to inquiries as to the
locality of the gold country they pointed to the east, but could not
understand why white men should be so eager to find a metal which to
them was valueless except as an ornament. The whites wondered still more
at the simplicity of these people. Columbus shortened his stay, as he
was anxious to start in the direction they had indicated and search for
the much coveted gold in a country which was called Haiti by the
natives.
Columbus left Cuba November 19 and took twelve of the natives with him
with the intention of carrying them to Spain when he returned. They left
their fatherland without much regret, for he had left nothing undone to
make their condition agreeable. As the winds were contrary and Columbus’
large vessel could make only slow progress, Alonzo Pinzon, captain of
the _Pinta_, having the swiftest of the ships, determined to slip away
from the Admiral, get to the gold country first, and fill his sacks
before the rest got there. Columbus knew Pinzon’s purpose and signalled
him to wait, but Pinzon paid no heed and sailed away as fast as he could
to satisfy his greed for gold.
The Admiral had to submit to what he could not change but, as it soon
became so stormy that it was dangerous to keep out to sea, he was forced
to return to Cuba and anchor again in a secure harbor. He passed the
time in making closer observations of the country and the natives. He
noticed one peculiarity in their eating, which at first disgusted the
Spaniards. They were particularly fond of a kind of large spider, worms
which they found in rotting wood, and half cooked fish, which they ate
ravenously. After a little some of the Spaniards tried to eat them but
had to abandon the experiment. As soon as the weather favored, Columbus
started anew to seek for Haiti and his faithless comrade, Pinzon. He had
but sixteen miles to go and was soon there. He arrived at Haiti December
6, and named the island Hispaniola, or Little Spain. Upon his arrival
the natives fled to the woods and nothing was seen or heard of the
_Pinta_. The Admiral shortly left the harbor into which he had run and
began a cruise along the coast to the north. He soon reached another
harbor and there his desire to get acquainted with the natives was
gratified. In general appearance and habits they resembled the natives
of Guanahani and Cuba. They went unclad, were copper colored, and were
simple, gentle, and ignorant like the others. They also thought the
Spaniards were not human but celestial beings. They wore more gold
ornaments than the others and cared so little for gold that they
willingly exchanged it for beads, pins, bells, and other trifles. But
when Columbus inquired for the place where it was to be found, they
pointed to the east, so once more he set sail in the hope of finding the
source of this inexhaustible treasure.