Columbus Abandons the Hope of Discovering a Passage to the Pacific and
Returns to Jamaica, where his Vessels are Exposed to Great Danger—Two
Boats are Sent to Haiti for Help
Before Columbus could reach the gold region of Veragua he was forced by
a gale to come to anchor for a shorter or longer time at different
places to weather the storms. At one of these places he beheld a curious
sight. The natives did not live on the ground like other people but in
houses in the air, built among the branches of trees. In reality it
seemed as if they lived like the birds. They chose this mode of living
to protect themselves from floods, wild animals, and their enemies. They
reached their habitations by ladders and, once they were at home, drew
them up, so that all access to them was cut off.
At last they reached Veragua, with expectations of rich booty, and came
to anchor at the mouth of a river which Columbus named Belen. They
shortly became acquainted with some of the natives and, learning from
them that at the distance of a few days’ journey up the stream there was
the city of a prince named Quibia, Columbus determined to sail up the
river. Having done so, he sent his brother, Bartolomeo, ashore to give
this Indian prince a fitting welcome. He had already been informed of
the arrival of the whites, came to meet Bartolomeo, and they greeted one
another with becoming friendliness. On the next day the prince visited
the Admiral, who received him in a manner befitting his rank, and
speedily made him his friend by a gift of some European trifles.
Bartolomeo in the meantime had made careful inquiries about the gold
mines and, learning their whereabouts, went to them. When the Spaniards
reached the spot they found some pure gold lying at the roots of a tree,
which was considered a sure sign that there must be an abundance of the
metal in the soil. After picking up the pieces lying about they
returned, bringing the news of their fortunate discovery to the Admiral,
who at once decided to establish a colony there and ordered the erection
of houses at the mouth of the river Belen. Work was begun
enthusiastically and in a short time wooden houses, covered with palm
leaves, were built. Columbus selected eighty men for colonists and made
his brother Bartolomeo their leader. They were provided with all the
tools and materials necessary to make life comfortable and safe. He also
left much fishing tackle with them as the waters in that region abounded
in excellent fish. Among others there was a kind of anchovy, which the
natives caught in a curious way. These fish when they were pursued by
others would leap out of the water upon the dry land. The Indians would
cover their canoes with a great quantity of palm leaves and row about
the river splashing their oars, and the fish, mistaking the foliage on
the canoes for land, would spring into them, where they were captured.
When all his arrangements had been completed and the Admiral was ready
to make his return voyage to Spain, he learned to his great surprise
that Prince Quibia, jealous at the settlement of Europeans in his
country, had planned to fire the houses of the colonists. He counselled
with his brother how to prevent this calamity, and both decided that it
was absolutely necessary to get the start of him by seizing the Prince
in person. Bartolomeo undertook to carry out their plan. Accompanied by
a strong force, he marched directly to the city of Veragua, where the
Prince’s dwelling stood upon a solitary eminence. When they had reached
it Quibia requested Bartolomeo not to come to his house as he would come
out to meet them. Bartolomeo took only five men with him and ordered the
rest to follow at a little distance and, as soon as he gave the signal
with a musket shot, to rush forward and seize the house and allow no one
to escape. The Prince came forward but at the very instant he was about
to receive his guest he found himself a prisoner. Thereupon the signal
was given, the Spaniards surrounded the house, and all who were in it
were taken prisoners without resistance. This deed was accomplished
quickly, but a new succession of reverses began for Columbus, which
lasted to the end of his life.
The Prince was taken to the vessel, bound hand and foot. It was night
when the boat was pushed off. The prisoner, who was fastened to it by
ropes, complained of severe pain in his hands because they were tied too
tightly. His humane captors loosened the rope but kept hold of it.
Waiting his opportunity the Prince suddenly jumped overboard. They
attempted in vain to drag him out again. His dexterity in swimming and
the darkness of the night enabled him to escape. Quibia at once laid his
plans to take a terrible revenge. He attacked the colony before it was
aware by stealing through the dense forests with his men. They rushed on
with wild cries and poured a shower of burning arrows upon the palm leaf
roofs of the new houses, hoping to pierce and burn them. The distance,
however, was too great. Thereupon ensued a desperate struggle which
would have resulted in the destruction of the colony if it had not been
saved by the courage of Bartolomeo, who charged into the very midst of
the enemy with a few men so furiously that at last they gave way after
some had been killed and some wounded. Among the latter was Bartolomeo
himself, who was wounded in the breast by an arrow, but not fatally.
They hoped that the Prince would be deterred by this victory from
further acts of hostility but they were disappointed. He sought revenge
more furiously than ever and undoubtedly the colony would have been the
victim of his wrath had not the colonists, who clearly saw the danger
enveloping them, decided to trust themselves to the mercy of the waves
on the worm-eaten, crazy vessels rather than expose themselves daily to
the fury of the savages. The Admiral, when informed of their decision,
realized that it was necessary, and took them on board his vessels in
canoes lashed together.
There was no resort left for the Admiral except to reach Hispaniola with
his crazy vessels, for it was impossible to go to Spain with them, but
the elements seemed to be in a conspiracy to thwart his purpose. A
fearful hurricane and thunder storm swept the ocean to its very depths
and hurled the vessels about so violently that the crews lost all
courage. Vainly Columbus sought to apply all those precautionary
measures which experience had taught him. They did not listen to his
commands and even if they had listened they were too terrified,
confused, and exhausted to execute them. One of his vessels was lost as
it approached the coast of the mainland and the others leaked so badly
that the united exertions of all on board barely availed to keep them
from sinking. In these desperate conditions Columbus steered for Cuba,
hoping that he might be able to make the necessary repairs there. But
this hope was denied him. A new and terrible storm drove him from the
coast with irresistible fury out to sea and dashed the two vessels
together so violently that all thought their last moment had come. But
Providence preserved Columbus’ life. His virtue was yet to be tried by
harder tests. The joints of his vessels withstood the strain and, in the
meantime having reached the coast of Jamaica, he ran them ashore to
prevent them from sinking. Then he rescued himself and his companions by
stranding them. Repairing them was no longer to be thought of for they
were utterly worthless. It was fortunate from the Admiral’s point of
view that they were not destroyed, as he had two reasons for preferring
that he and his companions should live upon the wrecks rather than
ashore. In the first place they would be more secure from attack by the
natives than on land, and in the second place he could prevent them from
acts of hostility caused by the outrages of his own people. He propped
up the stranded vessels as securely as he could, roofed over the decks,
and forbade his men to go ashore.
The natives soon discovered the vessels and in pursuance of the orders
of Columbus were greeted in a friendly manner. The result was that they
also displayed a friendly spirit and brought a profusion of articles of
food to exchange for the trifles which the Spaniards always carried.
They willingly exchanged two geese for a bit of tinsel, a loaf of their
bread for a glass bead, and for bells the most valuable things they had
for barter. Columbus in the meantime counselled with his friends as to
the best way of leaving the island. Only one course seemed feasible and
that was to request the governor of Hispaniola to send a vessel to take
them off. Then the question arose how to get in communication with him.
They had not a single boat left and Hispaniola was thirty miles distant
from Jamaica. At last a way was found. By his humane and friendly
attitude toward the natives Columbus so ingratiated himself that they
were willing to sell him one or more of their canoes. They were wretched
affairs, hardly deserving the name of boat, for they were hollowed out
of tree trunks and were shapeless, poorly made things which they could
hardly row ashore. The least gust of wind would upset them and the
smallest waves wash over them.
But notwithstanding the danger to life which seemed inevitable in
undertaking a long sea journey in one of these wretched affairs, two
daring men were found in Columbus’ crew willing to risk their lives in
an effort to rescue the Admiral and his men. One was named Mendez, the
other Fiesko; the one a Spaniard, the other a Genoese. Each had a canoe
of his own, and was accompanied by six Spaniards and some natives who
were to do the rowing. It was arranged that as soon as they were
fortunate enough to reach Hispaniola, Fiesko should return and inform
the Admiral, while Mendez should go to San Domingo and execute the duty
assigned him by Columbus. The daring navigators sailed away accompanied
by the blessings and good wishes of their companions left behind. After
they had been rowing continuously for two days and nights, exposed to
intolerable heat, they began to fear that they had lost their way and
were going by Hispaniola out into the open ocean. Their distress was
great for their stock of water was exhausted and they were suffering
horribly from heat, thirst, and exhaustion. Some of the natives dropped
dead at their oars and all the others dreaded a similar fate. The only
restorative they had was sea-water held in the mouth to cool the tongue.
At last their dreadful condition was relieved by a ray of hope. It was
night and, as the moon rose above the horizon, they observed at the
place of its rising an elevation which they recognized as a cliff. This
raised their hopes that they were near an island and encouraged them to
attempt rowing to it with all their strength. When they reached it they
found only a barren rock upon which apparently there was neither food
nor drink. But they jumped out of the canoes and wandered despairingly
about the rocky islet. In the clefts of the rocks they found an abundant
store of rain-water which was as pure and clear as the water of a
cistern. Unfortunately in their joy at finding this treasure they forgot
the wise rule of moderation. They drank, and drank too much. Some of
them paid the penalty with their lives, others with impaired health.
The most pressing necessity of our adventurers having been removed, a
still more serious question presented itself. What was to be done next?
Fortunately they found upon the shore of the island some fish washed up
by the sea, and as these sufficed for their immediate wants, both the
leaders decided to remain in the desolate place during the heat of the
day and start away again toward evening in their search for land. As
soon as evening came the unfortunates resumed their course, rowing all
night by moonlight. At daybreak—to their unspeakable joy—they reached
the west coast of Hispaniola.