WE were in a throng of islands. We might drop all for a little while,
then from masthead “Land ho!” None were great islands, many far smaller
than San Salvador. At night we lay to, not knowing currents and shoals;
then broke the day and we flung out sail.
We had with us upon the _Santa Maria_ three San Salvador men. They
had come willingly, two young, fearless men, and one old man with a
wrinkled, wise, interested face. Assiduous to gain their tongue and
impart our own, the Admiral, beside his own effort, told off for
especial teachers and scholars Luis Torres and Juan Lepe. We did gain
knowledge, but as yet everything was imperfect, without fine shading,
and subject to all miscomprehension. But like the rest of us, the
Admiral guessed in accordance with his wishes and his previous belief.
All these islands lay flat or almost flat upon the sea. All showed ivory
beach, vivid wood, surrounding water, transparent and heavenly blue,
inhabited by magically colored fish. When we dropped anchor, took boat
and landed, it was to find the same astonished folk, naked, harmless,
holding us for gods, bringing all they had, eager for our toys which
were to them king’s treasures and holy relics. Every island the Admiral
named; he gave them goodly names! Over and over the Indians pointed
south and west. We understood great lands, clothed men, much gold. But
when we next came to anchor, like small island, like men, women and
children. We traded for a few more knobs of gold, but they were few.
Toscanelli’s map and the Admiral’s map lay on cabin table. “Islands in
the Sea of Chin--Polo and Mandeville alike say thousands--all grades
then of advance. Beyond any manner of doubt, persevering west or west by
south, we shall come to main Asia.” So long as he ruled, there would be
perseverance!
At Santa Maria de la Concepcion a solitary large canoe crowded with
Indians was rowing toward us. One of the San Salvador young men aboard
us fancied some slight, experienced some fear, or may even,--who
knows?--have wearied of the gods. Springing upon the rail he threw
himself into sea and made off with great strokes toward the canoe. Pedro
behind him shouted “Escape!” There was a rush to the side to observe.
Fernando bawled, “Come back! or we’ll let fly an arrow.”
He swam, the dark, naked fellow, like a fish. Reaching the canoe, the
Indians there took him in; he seemed to have a tale to tell, they all
broke into talk, the canoe went round, they rowed fast back to land. The
_Nina_, lying near us, had her boat filling to go ashore. Her men had
seen the leap overboard and the swimmer. Now they put after, rowing hard
for the canoe, that having the start came first to beach. The Indians
sprang out, the San Salvador man with them. Leaving canoe, they ran
across sand into wood. The _Nina’s_ men took the canoe and brought it to
the _Santa Maria_. In it were balls of cotton and calabashes filled with
fruit and a chattering parrot. It was the first thing of this kind that
had happened, and the Admiral’s face was wrathful. He had a simple,
kindly heart, and though he could be vexed or irritated, he rarely broke
into furious anger. But first and last he desired peaceful absorption,
if by any means that were possible, of these countries. We absorbing
them, they absorbing us; both the gainers! And he had warm feeling of
romance-love for all this that he was finding. He saw all his enterprise
milk-white, rose-bright. And his pride was touched that the Indian who
had seemed contented had not truly been so, and that the _Nina_‘s men
had disobeyed strict commands for friendliness. He would restore that
content if possible, and he would have no more unordered chasing of
canoes. The Nina’s men got anger and rebuke, Captain Cristoforo Colombo
mounting up in the Admiral.
He would let nothing in the canoe be touched. Instead he had placed
aboard a pot of honey and a flask of wine and three pieces of cloth,
then with a strong shove it was sent landward, and the tide making in,
it came to shore. We saw two venture from the wood and draw it up on
beach.
In a little while came around a point of shore a canoe with one Indian
who made toward us, using his oar very dexterously, and when he entered
our shadow holding up cotton and fruit. It was to be seen that he had
had no communication with the men of the large canoe.
The Admiral himself called out encouragingly and snatching the first
small thing at hand held it up. The Indian scrambled on board. He stood,
as fine a piece of bronze as any might see, before the Genoese, as great
a figure as might be found in all Italy--all Spain--all Europe.
The elder touched the younger, the white man the red man, as a king, a
father, might have touched a prince, a son. He himself took the youth
over our ship, showing him this, showing him that, had the music play
for him, brought him to Fray Ignatio who talked of Christ, pointing oft
to heaven. (To my thinking this action, often repeated, was one of the
things that for so long made them certain we had come from the skies.)
In the cabin he gave the Indian a cup of wine and a biscuit dipped in
honey. He gave him a silken cap with a tassel and himself put round his
throat one of our best strings of beads, and into his hand not one but
three of the much-coveted hawk bells. He was kinder than rain after
drought. First and last, he could well lend himself to the policy of
kindness, for it was not lending. Kindness was his nature.
In an hour this Indian, returned to his canoe, was rowing toward shore
with a swelling heart and a determined loyalty. He touched the island,
and we could trust him to be missionary, preaching with all fervor of
heaven and the gods.
Ay, me!
Whatever the other’s defection, he more than covered it, the return of
the canoe aiding. Santa Maria de la Concepcion became again friendly.
But the Admiral that evening gave emphatic instruction to Martin and
Vicente Pinzon and all the gathered Spaniards. Just here, I think, began
the rift between him and many. Many would have by prompt taking, as they
take in war. Were not all these heathen and given? But he would have
another way round, though often he compromised with war; never wanting
war but forced by his time and his companions. Sometimes, in the future,
forced by the people we came among, but far oftener forced by greed and
lust and violence of our own. Alas, again! Alas, again and again!
After Santa Maria de la Concepcion, Fernandina, and after Fernandina
the most beautiful of islands, Isabella, where we lay three days. People
upon this island seemed to us more civilized than the Salvador folk.
The cotton was woven, loin cloths were worn, they had greater variety of
calabashes, the huts were larger, the villages more regular. They slept
in “hamacs” which are stout and wide cotton nets slung between posts,
two or three feet above earth. Light, space-giving, easy of removal,
these beds greatly took our fancy.
Here we sought determinedly for spice-giving trees and medicinal herbs
and roots. It was not a spicery such as Europe depended upon, but still
certain things seemed valuable! We gathered here and gathered there what
might be taken to Spain. There grew an emulation to find. The Admiral
offered prizes for such and such a commodity come upon.
We sailed from Isabella and after three days came to Cuba.