Wretched Condition of the Colony—Vasco da Gama Sails around the Cape of
Good Hope to the East Indies—Ojeda’s Undertaking—Cabral Discovers Brazil
The time for rest and recovery had not yet come for poor Columbus.
Unforeseen blows, new difficulties, new anxieties, new labors and
dangers, so great that they would have tested the endurance of a well
man and exhausted any man not worn down with trouble, were awaiting him.
His noble brother, Bartolomeo, during his absence had conducted an
expedition to a favorable and not far distant region and had begun the
erection of a new city, which he named San Domingo in honor of his
father, Domenico. This city, which still flourishes, has been for a long
time one of the most important in the West Indies and the whole island
has gradually come to take its name. While laying out the new city,
Bartolomeo, with a part of his men, advanced into parts of the island
where Columbus had never been, leaving behind him the captain-general
Roldan in command of those remaining. This evil-disposed man betrayed
the confidence reposed in him and proved himself guilty of blackest
ingratitude.
Roldan had long waited an opportunity to overthrow the Columbus family
and make himself ruler of the island. The departure of Bartolomeo and
the absence of his great brother seemed to offer just that opportunity.
He improved it to the utmost of his ability, sought to turn the
Spaniards left behind against Bartolomeo and his younger brother, Diego,
and succeeded so well that most of them came over to his side. They
chose him for their leader, took up arms against the _adelantado_, his
plan being to seize all the supplies and take the fort at San Domingo by
storm. This plan, however, was fortunately thwarted by the vigilance of
some of the officers who had been left to protect the fort, and the
leaders were forced to retreat to another part of the island. There they
strove to win the natives to their side and so far succeeded that in a
short time the whole island was in the throes of revolution.
Such was the desperate condition of the spot where Columbus had planned
to rest! Still further to aggravate his troubles, he learned that the
three vessels sent by him with supplies from the Canaries had not
arrived. It seemed certain to him that they had been lost by some
disaster or another upon the ocean. For a time everything seemed as good
as hopeless for Columbus. Storms and ocean currents had driven these
vessels out of their prescribed course and, after being tossed about in
unknown regions of the ocean, they at last reached Hispaniola, but upon
that coast where Roldan and his followers had settled. The cunning
Roldan concealed his seditious undertaking from the captains of the
three vessels and induced them to send a part of their crews on shore,
whom he agreed to conduct to San Domingo. These men, the offscourings of
the Spanish prisons, gladly enlisted under his banner, as it would give
them a chance to rob and plunder. This was the first unpleasant result
of the course which Columbus had inconsiderately taken.
Several days after the Admiral’s arrival the three vessels appeared at
San Domingo but without bringing the men he so much needed. Most of them
had gone and most of the supplies had been consumed. Roldan, the
ingrate, chuckled over Columbus’ weakness and boasted of his own
authority. Columbus’ soul was filled with deep and bitter indignation.
He magnanimously decided, however, not to pay any attention to the
injury done him but rather to arrange an interview and see if the
thankless Roldan and his erring followers could not be induced through
kindness to return to their duties. To accomplish this he announced that
all who were sorry for their offences should be forgiven as soon as they
returned to their allegiance. Besides this he made the same promise to
Roldan and assured him he should be restored to his former dignity. By
this kindly condescension and after many urgent communications, he
carried out his purpose and had the satisfaction of quelling this
dangerous outbreak without shedding a drop of blood.
Thereupon he sent a vessel to Spain to inform the Court of his discovery
of the mainland and of his suppression of the uprising, with the
evidences of the products which he had found there, consisting of
pearls, gold, and a great quantity of many-colored cloths, besides
finely woven fabrics. He sent his diary, in which he had kept the course
of his vessels and all the important events which had occurred. Roldan,
on the contrary, as well as his accomplices, did not fail to send
information to the King of a nature to calumniate the Admiral and to
justify his own shameless conduct. Unfortunately the King was unjust
enough to put more credence in his statements than in those of the brave
Admiral, notwithstanding the one uttered the truth and the other
shameful calumnies.
In the meantime the King of Portugal, deeply regretting that he had so
mistaken Columbus and rejected his proposals, resolved to spare no cost
in discovering the long-sought passage to the East Indies. To retrieve
his mistake he fitted out an expedition and entrusted its command to the
skilful and experienced mariner, Vasco da Gama.
Difficulties which appeared insurmountable confronted this undertaking,
but fortunately Da Gama had the same stamp of greatness as Columbus. No
difficulties, however great, could deter him from the execution of a
purpose once formed. It mattered not to him that the African coasts were
unknown, that they abounded in rocks and sand bars, that the sun beat
down with heat so fierce as to threaten the burning of the vessels, that
storms raged and menaced them. He met all these obstacles with an
unconquerable spirit, kept resolutely on, and at last reached the
southernmost point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope. That was only the
starting-point for such an ambitious spirit as Vasco da Gama. He pushed
farther ahead, sailed around to the other side of Africa, and at last
reached the city of Melinda, upon the coast of Zanzibar. He was greatly
surprised to find, in place of barbarians such as he had encountered all
along the African coast, a highly civilized nation resembling in some
respects the Asiatics. They carried on an extensive trade with
foreigners, were Mohammedan in religion, and were acquainted with many
of the arts of civilization. Eager to accomplish the real purpose of his
expedition, he still sailed on and, on the twentieth of May, 1498, had
the good fortune to reach the coast of India. He landed at the city of
Calicut, in the Malabar district, on the Indian Ocean. He was no more
surprised at the richness of the country and the value of its products
than at its orderly administration and the polished manners of its
people. Unfortunately he had nothing on his vessel which he could
exchange for these valuable products, for the mere trifles which the
savages prized so highly were of little account to these people. He did
not remain there long, therefore, but turned back to inform the King of
the fortunate outcome of his undertaking.
Thus, at about the same time Columbus discovered the New World, another
world, though known already, but of little practical advantage, was
brought into close communication with Europe by navigation. From this
time on wealth poured in great streams into little Portugal. It was not
without envy that the Spaniards observed the rich treasure their
neighbors were enjoying while they had not yet been able to pay the
expenses of discovering their new possessions. The enthusiasm for making
discoveries now spread more and more. Kings and republicans, nobles and
burghers sought to make fortunes, to fit out expeditions, and gain
adventures either for themselves or others. Among these the chevalier
Ojeda, who had accompanied Columbus on his second voyage, persuaded some
merchants of Seville to equip four vessels and despatch them on voyages
of discovery under his command. He obtained permission to make these
voyages, and a contract which violated the provisions of the one which
the Court had made with Columbus. The Bishop of Badajos, who, as Prime
Minister, had charge of all West Indian affairs, was a sworn enemy of
Columbus and took advantage of his sickness to give Ojeda his diary and
charts, to be used on the voyage. This Ojeda was accompanied by a
well-known Italian nobleman, Amerigo Vespucci, or, in Latin, Americus
Vespucius. With the help of the diary of Columbus, Ojeda reached the
island of Trinidad, and, after many adventures, arrived at Hispaniola,
where he made common cause with Roldan, but returned to Spain after he
had been betrayed by him. Ojeda’s voyage, though it was of little
importance, brings Americus Vespucius into notice. In what capacity he
accompanied Ojeda is not clear. He himself maintains he made the voyage
in the service of the Crown. In his description of it he is not always
truthful. He overestimates his own importance, and yet it is evident
from his writings that he was very fond of adventure and natural beauty.
Americus Vespucius did not propose that the newly discovered country
should be named for him. He was not so foolish as that. The name was
first given to it after his death, because it was first made well known
in his writings.
Realizing the important gains to be made from the passage discovered by
Da Gama, the King of Portugal fitted out a great fleet which was loaded
with European goods with which to carry on a lucrative business, and a
man named Cabral was appointed its commander. As he knew how unsafe it
was to sail along the African coast, he steered, as soon as he was on
the other side of the equator, to the west, and, after keeping in that
direction for some time, suddenly and much to his astonishment found
himself on the coast of a great country. By accident he had discovered
the rich Brazil. He took possession of it in the name of the King and
sent one of his vessels back with the agreeable news. In this way was
one part of America after another discovered, demonstrating more and
more how correct were the grounds upon which Columbus’ conjectures
rested.