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WITH
Tift-je..
THE' KAATERSKILL EDITION.
LIFE AND WORKS
OF
•^if: ■■II:-
WASHINGTON IRVING,
EMBRACING THE FOLLOWING VOLUMES:
THE LIFE AND VOYAGES OF CHRlSTOPIIEli COLUMDUS.— ASTORIA : OR, AXEC-
DOTES OF AN EXTERPRISE BEYOXD THE ROCKY MOUXTAIXS.— TOUR
ON THE PRAIRIES.— ADBOTSEORD.—XEWSTEAD AnilEY.—UFE
OF MAHOMET AND HIS Si'CCESSORS.—LIFE OF OLIVER
GOLDSMITH. — BOXXEVILLE'S ADVENTURES IN
THE FAR WEST.— THE CRAYON PAPERS,
AND MOORISH CHRONICLES.
TWO VOLUMES IN ONE.
COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED.
SECOND SERIES.
WITH SIXTEEN FULL-PAGE ILI.r?TR.\TIONS PRINTED IN COLORS FROM PESIGXS MADE EXPRESSLY
rOR THIS EDITION BV JOSEPH LAfBER.
\E\V YORK
POLLARD & MOSS. PUBLISHERS,
i" JOHN STREET,
•/,. />////>. -•. t*'.i
.?.vo
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year iS=i,by
POLLARD \- MOSS.
In tnc Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
6'C^.
//
CONTENTS.
voLUMi'. riiRi:i:.
COLUMBUS.
Preface
BOOK I.
Chap. I.— ninh, Parentage, and early Life of
rolunibiis .......
Ci!,vi', 11.— Karlv V'nyaRcs of Columbus .
Cii AT, III.— l'ri);,'rc'ss (jf Discovery under Prince
llci\iy of PurlUfral
CiiAi'. iV. — Residence of Columbus at Lirfhon.
— Ideas conctTninjj Islands in tlic Ocean
CllAl'. v. — Grounds on which Columluis found-
ed his Belief of the cxisicncc of Undiscovered
Lands in the West ......
Cii\r. V'l. — Correspondence of Columbus with
Paulo Toscanelli. — Events in Portugal rela-
tive to Discoveries. — Proposition of (>oluni-
Inistothe Portuguese Court. — Departure from
Portugal
IJOOK II.
Chai'. I. — Proceedings of Columbus after Icav-
iriU Portugal. — Ilis Applications in Spain. —
Characters of lerdinand am' Isabella
Ciiai'. 1 1. — Columbus at the Court of Spain
Chai', III. — Columbus before the Council of
Salamanca .......
Ciiai'. IV. — Further Applications at the Court
of Castile. — Columbus follows the Court in its
Campaigns .......
Chap. V. — Columbus at the Convent of La Ra-
bida
CiiA!'. VI.— Application to the Court at the time
of tlie Surrender of Granada ....
CllAl'. VII. — .\rrangemeiit with the S;)anish Sove-
reigns. — Preparations for the Expedition at
the Port of Palor.
C;iiAi'. \'I1I.— Columbus at the Port of Palos. —
Preparations for the Voyage of Discovery
BOOK III.
r.\r.E
I J
Departure of Columbus on his first
First
Chap. I
\''iyai;e
Chap. II. — Continuation of the Voyage
Notice of the Variation of the Needle
Chap. Ill — Continuation of the X'oyage. — Vari-
ous Terrors of the Seamen . .
Chap. IV. — Continuation of the Vovagc.— Dis-
covery of Land ......
LOOK IV.
CitAP. I.— First Landing of Columbus in the
New World
Chap. II. — Cruise among the Bahaina Islands .
Chap. Ill, — Discovery and Coasting of t^uba
Chap IV. — Further t'oasiiug of Cuba
Chap. V. — Search after tiie su|i;iosed Island of
Ii.ibe(|ue. — Desertion of the Pinta .
f^HAP. \'l. — Discovery of Ilispaniola
Chap. VII. — (,"o:is;ing of Ilispaniola
Chap. VUI. Shipvv-reck
8
9
10
12
lO
2t
23
24
29
30
32
33
35
37
39
-14
45
CI
r -
5^
FAOB
Chap. IX. — Transactions with the Natives . 57
Chap. X. - Huilding of the Fortress of La .S'avi-
dad 59
Chai'. .\ I. ^Regulation of the Fortress of La
Navidad. — Departure of Columbus lor Spain . 60
BOOK V.
Chap. I. Coasting towards the Eastern End of
Ilispaniola. — .Meeting with Piii/un. — .Affair
v.'ith the Natives at the (iulf of Sa(ii.it\a . . 62
Chap. II. — Return Voyage. — Violent Storms. —
.Arrival at the A /.ores 04
Chap. Ill — Transactions at the Island of St.
.>Iaiy's . . 66
Ch.\p. I\'. — .Arrival at Portugal. — Visit to the
(^ourt 67
Chap. V. — Reception of Columbus at Palos . (»)
Chap. \'I. — Reception of Ci4iimbus by thu
Spanish Court at Harrelona . . . .70
Chap. VI 1. — Sojourn ol Coin mbu'; at H.ircelona.
— Attenlicms paid him by the Sovereigns ami
Courtiers ........ 73
Chap. VI 11. —Papal Bull of Partition.— P. epara-
tions Icir a Second \'oyagc (,l (.'oliur.bus . 73
Chap. i.\. — Diplomatic Negotiations b>nveen
the Courts of Spain and Poitugal with resi>ect
to the New Discoveries ..... 76
Chap. .\. — Furilier iiieparaiions for the Second
X'oyage. — Character of .Alonso de Ojeda. —
Dilferencc of Columbus with Sori-i an4 Fon-
scci 77
BOOK VI.
Ch \p. I. — Departure of Columbus on his Second
Voyage. — Discovery of the Caribbee Islands . Jq
Chap. II. — Transactions at the Island of C-uada-
loupc .'...... 80
Chap. III. — (.bruise among tha "^aribbec
Islands 32
Chap IV. — .\rrival at the Ilaiborof La Navid id.
— Di'juster of the Fortress . . . . Sj
Chai'. \'. — TraiisactiiiTis with the Natives. Sus-
picious Conduct of (jiiacan.'.'.iri . . . £fi
Chai'. \'1. — Founding of the City of Lsabella. —
.Maladies of the Spaniards . . . 8S
Chap. \"I1. — Expedition of .Alon/o dc Ojeda to
Explore the Interior of the Inland. — Dispatch
ot the Ships to Spain Sq
Chap \'III. - I) sconlenis at IsaLella. — .Mutiny
of Denial Dia dc Pisa 51
Ch.vp. I.\. — Expedition of Columbus to the
.Mountains of Cibao ,, ... 9:2
Chap. .\. — Excursion of Juan do I.iixan among
the .Mountains. — Custom-^ .-'.nd ClKiiactcristics
of the .Natives. — C.jliunln'.s return;; to Isa-
bcil.i . ....... r)'
Ci:.\p. .\l— Ariival of r.duiiibusat Isabella.—
Sickni'-;s of the C'olonv . . . . ■ 0?
CiiAP. .\ 1 1 --Distribution <jf tb.e Spanish Forces
ill the liiterior. — Prep.^r.ilions fj; a V^iyage to
Cuba . ....... Ic-
»v
CONTENTS.
nooK vn.
TiiAi' I --\'o\ng'' to the I'.ast F.n'l of rut,, i , loi
CliAl' II — f)is( iiviry 111 |atiiai<::i . . . 103
CiiAr. 1 1 1. — Return 10 Cuiia --Navigation among
till Islands ralli'il tlic (Jiiicn's Hardens , 104
CllAi'. I\'. — (?(j.iMing ol ini: Suulluin sidi: of
('ul)a 105
CiiAi. v.— Ilrtiirii of ('uliiinbus alon(;ihc South.
erii f'oast of ("uIm ...... inS
CllAi. \'I— Coasiiiij,' X'oyago alon^; the South
sidf of lainaii.a . . . . . .no
Cll.vr. \'ll. — \'oy.ii,'i' aloiiK the South side of
lli^; .iniul.i, and ictiiru to Isabrila . , III
nooK vni.
Ciia;'. 1. — .\irival of the Admiral at FsahctliL —
C.'liarai (IT ol I'.irlliolorMiw ("oliiiiitius . 112
CllAl' II. — .Mi'.ronduriot Don I'idro .Marn-nilc,
and his Di-parlurc fioni tin- Island . . 114
Cii \i . 1 1 1. — 'I'l'iiililcs Willi thf N.itivfs.— Alonzo
de Oji'da I'l sii-iM d liy ( aonalii) . . . 115
ClIAi'. I\'. — McMsiircs of (■iiliiml)iis to ristorc
the (Jiiicl of ihi; Island. — IC.xpcditioii of Ojeda
to surprise CaoiialM) . . . . .117
ClIAl.W — .\rriv,il of .\ntonio de Torres with
four .Sliijis Itoni .^paiii.— His rt;tiirii with In-
di.m Slavi's . . . . . . . j ti;
CliAr. \'l. — lixprdition of Cnhimlnis !ij,'ainst the
Indi.ins (if tlic \'i"j,M. — Hattk; .... I20
Chat. N'II. — Su!.juK;ilion of the Natives. — lin-
jiosition of Tritnite ...... 122
C'iiai'. \'I 1 1. — Intrigufs aRaliist Coluinlius In tho
('(UKl of Spain. — .Agiiado sent to iiivi'stiiiatc
tho AlV.iirs of Ilispaiiiola .... I2.t
CllAi'. IX. — .\rrival of .Aijuado at Isalnlla. —1 lis
arro^;.l1lt ('onduct. — 'I'l'iiipest in the 1 lailior . 126
CllAl. ,\. — Discovery of the Mines ul i;,iyna . 127
1500K IX.
CllAr. I. — Return of ('olumhu". to Spain with
Af;uado 12.S
CllAT. II. — I)erlini' of the Popularity of rohini-
biis in Siiain. — His Reieption by the Sove-
reit'iis at Uurgos. — lie proposes a tliird Voy-
age 130
CliAr. III. — Preparations for a Third Voyage. —
Disapi<uiiitiiieius and Delays .... 132
BOOK X.
Cii \; . I. — Df^parturc of rolumljiis from Spain
on hi"; Tliiid Voyage. — Discovery of Trinidad 13;
CilAP. II. — X'oyaei; through the Gulf of Paria . 137
Chat. Ill — Conlinuation of the X'oyagc through
the (julf of Paria. — Return to llisianiol.i . 140
ClIAf. IV. — Speculations ol Columbus concern-
iug the Coast of Paria 142
BOOK XI.
Chap. T. — .\dministration of the Adclantado. —
Expedition to the Province ol Xaragua . . 144
CliAi. II. — I'.stahlishnii nt of a Chain of Military j
I'osts. — Insurrection of Guarione.x. the Caciijue (
of the N'eaa 14') i
CllAi. III. — The .\deIantado repairs to X.iragua j
to receive Tril/ute ...... 14S
CllAi'. I\'. — Conspiracy of r^oUlan . . . 150
CliAi'. V. — The .VdelaiitaiJo repairs to the Vega
in relief of Fort Conce[)t:oii. — His Inicivievv
with I'oldan 151
CllAi'. \T — Second Inrnrrection of Oiiarionex,
and his I'lighl to tho Mountains of Cigiiav . 153
CllAi'. VII. — v'aiiipaign of the .\delaiiIaJo in the
Moumaigns of Ciguay l;4
r.ooK XII.
ChaI'. I — Confusion in the Island. — Proceed-
ini-s of the Rebels at Xaragua . . .156
Cli \r. II.— NcRoiiatinn fif the Adniital with the
Kelii'ls. • Dipattiire of Ships lor Sp.iin . . 157
CiiAi'. III.— .Nt'giitiatiuiisand Ariangctiicnis witii
the Rebels 159
ClIAl'. IV. (iranis made to Roldanaiid liis Fol-
lowiTS. — Departure ol seveial ol the Ktbels
for Spain ... .... 162
CllAl'. V. — .Arrival of Ojeda with a Sipiadion at
the Wesleiii [lait of the Island.-— Uoldan sent
to iiieei him ....... Ifi4
Cii.M'. \T.- .M.inouvres of Roldan and ( ijida . id?
CllAl'. \'n. — Conspiracy of (liuvar.i and Mo.^ita Idd
BOOK XIII.
Cil.M'. I. — Representations al Court again";! Co-
liiiiilitis.— Itiibaddla ciii[>o\vered to (Xaniine
into his Conduct ......
CllAr. 1 1. — Arrival of Hobadilla al San Domingo.
His violent Assumption ol the Coinni.inJ .
CllAl'. III.- Columbus sum moneil to appear be-
fore liob.idilla
CllAl'. I v. — (,'olunibus and his Urolheis arrested
and sent to Sjiain in Chains ....
BOOK XIV.
Cii\r. I. — Scns.ilion in Spain on the arriv.il of
Columbus in Irons. — His .Appear.ince at Court
C|i\r. II. (.'oii;em|iorary \'oyages ol Dis-
covcry ........
CllAl'. III. — .N'iihiilas de Ovanilo appointed to
supersede Hobadilla .....
CllAl'. 1\'. — Proposition of Columbus iilalive
to the Recovery of the Ilo'v SepuUliri; .
CllAl'. V. — Prep.irations of Columbus for a
rouilh Voyage of Discovery ...
BOOK XV.
CllAr. I. — Departure of Colunibiison his Fourth
X'ovage. — Refused .-Xdiuission to the Haibor
of S.m Domingo. — Ex[josed to a violent Tem-
l"=t
CllAl'. II. — Voyage along the Coast of Ilon-
diir.is . . ......
CllAl'. III. — Voyage along the Moscpiito Coast,
and Transactions al Cariari ....
Cii.M'. IV. — \'oyai;e along Coast Rica. — Specu-
lations concerning the Isthmus at Wragiia
CllAl'. v. — Discovery of Puerto liello and I'l
Reticle. — Cohinibus abandons the search alter
the Straight
CllAl'. \'l. — Kcturn to \'eragua. — The Adclan-
tado exidores the Country . . . .
CllAl'. \'II. — Commencenient of a Settlement on
the river Helen. — Conspiracy of the N.itives.
— K.xpetliiion of the Adelantado to suiprise
(jiiibian ........
CllAl'. VIII. — Disasters of the Setllen:ent
CllAl'. I.\. — Distress of the Admiral on board ol
his Ship. — ritimate Relief ol the Seiilement .
CilAl'. X. — -Departure from the Coast ol Verauua.
— Arrival at Jam.iica. — Slraiiding of the Ships
BOOK XVI.
CllAr. I. — .Arrangement of Diego Mendez with
tile Caciipies for Sii|)plies of Provisions. — Sent
to San Domingo by Columbus in quest of Re-
lief
CiiAi'. II. Mutiny of Porras . . . .
("11 \r. HI. — Scarcity of Provisions. — Stralaprm
of Columbus to obtain Supplies from the Na-
tives
CllAl'. IV. — Mission of Diego de Escobar to the
Admiral ........
CllAl'. V. — Vovagc of Diego Mendez and Har-
lliolomew I'iesco in a Canoe to Hispaniola .
CllAl'. \T. — Overlures of Columbus to il.e Muti-
neers. — H.itile of the Adelantado wiili Porras
and his Followers
if)i)
J71
173
173
176
177
I7'J
1.S2
1S3
1S5
i?7
I Si,
lO'j
192
103
196
19 j
199
201
202
205
2J7
203
209
O T -
S ClIA
I ol.
i '^:;
Cii\
ClIA
1.
CllAl
mi
Cl
I'll
111
CllAl
i
•f
C()Nti:nts.
tiiii.il wiih tlio
S|i.nii . 157
i({iiufnts Willi
• t'y)
II niid Ilis Fill.
i| llic ki'lit'ls
. 163
I Si|ii,i(li<in at
-Uoidiin Mill
. if'A
and Ojfil.i . i()5
a aiiii .Mu^iicn lOO
rl aH.-iin"!! Co-
I to (xnininu
. If")
San Domingo,
(^oninianij . 17I
to appiiir 1)0-
• 173
ithcis aiicstfd
. 173
llie :irriv:il of
r.iiu'c :il (diirt 176
HCS 1)1 Uis-
• 177
nin'ointiil 10
• 17';
iil/us iihilivu
iiK-liic; . . 1S2
nnibus for a
. . . . i33
>on liis Fourth
I the Ihiiljor
violent Tcni-
. 1S3
asi of IIoii-
. 1S7
s(niito Conft,
. . 1S9
\irn. — Spccu-
I \\ rn^ua . l<jo
!<llo anil I-:i
ic bL-aitli aliir
. 192
The Adclan-
■ 193
cttlemcnt on
ihc N.ilivc?.
10 siuj-rise
. 196
llen:cnt . I9S
I on l.onrd o(
^L'ltji iniMit . 199
I 01 \'tr.-ii;na.
u( llic ^liips 301
ktondoz with
Isioiis. — Si'iit
quLst of Ue-
. 202
. 205
I — Stratagem
|roin the N'a-
. 2J7
icobar to the
. 203
:z and Har-
ispaniola . 209
lloil.c Mnti-
Iwiih I'orras
. 21:
V. OK WII.
CilAI'. I. AdininiHiration of < )vando it» Ilispanl-
„|.,._()j,|,ic>i<inn ol till- Salivis
CiiAi'. 11— Massacre at Xaragua.— Faicof Ana-
ruona ........
CiiM'. (II.- W.ir with the N.illvf^ of I!i«iuy .
('KM'. IV -Close I'f till' War with lll,i{Ufy.—
lalti u( Cotahan.tin.i
PAOIt
21 1
SI?
2 I "
219
321
ihu
IJOOK .Will.
Cll.M'. I— ni'pariiiri; "I Coliinihiis for San Dr
niinKo— Ills Ktiurn to Spam
CllAi'. II. — lilni'ss III (-'I'liinilius al Sfvillr. — .\p.
plication to the ("lown fur a Uoliliilion of his
Honors. — Di'iilh of Is. ilii-lla ....
(Ji.vf. Ill — Ciiliiniliiis aiiucs at Cnuit. — rriiit-
Ifss .Aiipli'-ailon to ihr KiiiK hir Kidress
ClIAl'. IV'. — Death of ColuiMhiis ...
Cll \l'. V. Ohsei v.itions on the Character of
Culuuihus SS'^
lii-l
i'h the Suiiis
hciii rciiiii-LiJ
22
225
01^
A r V 1: N IJ I X .
1). I — Transportation of the Kcnialns of Col.
ninliiis lioiii Si. |)()niinj;o to the Ilavan.i
o. II. Notice of ihc Utsccndaiits of Coluni-
liiis
(I. III.— Firnanilo riilumluis . . . .
11. IV. — .Vkc of {'oliiinlnis . . . .
o. v.- I.iiicam' of ("oliiinlms . . . .
n. \'l — Hirilipl.ice 1)1 (,'olninl)US
o. \'ll. — Ihu Colomlios
o. \'lll. — E.ipcilition of John of AnjoM .
o. I.\.— (-apl'.iti- of the Venetian (Jallcys by
Colombo the Vounner .
!ij. X. — .\iiieiii;o X'c'spuccI
Jo. XI— .Martin Alon,!o rinEoii
2-,^
241
241
242
24.1
24;
240
24'.
'-M7
253
I'
N". .\II — Rnitinr of llir Pilot ".lid toliavodied
in Ihe llniisi' of ColiinilniA . , . .
No. XIII. M.iriiii Ml hi 111 . . . .
.\o Xl\'. — \in.ii;i's cl the Srandin.ivians
No. X V. — Circuinnavijjalioii of .\fiita ly
AiiriiMits
.No. \\'\. — Of the ships (if Coliiiiibiis
No .WII. — UoLiie of C'oliliiibiis ill his
\'o\aiic .......
No. .Will. — I'riniipbs upon >v
niinlioiu'd in this Wuik l.uve
into mo lerii Ciiiieniv
No. .\ I \.- I'ri'sicr Ii'lin .
X\— Marco Polo
NX I. -The Work of Mar.o
XXII. — Sir lohii MaiuliMlIc
XXIII.— Tlic /ones .
XXIV. — 01 iIk' Atalantis ot I
.N .\ \'. — I hr Iniaf;iiiaty Islaiii
in . .......
.NX VI. — The Island of ihc Srvcn Cilies
No. .\ .WII. — Disiiivi'M 111 the Ul.ind ol .Madeira
Nil. XXVIII.-l.asC.tsis
No. XXIX. — IVicr Marnr . . . .
No. .\X\.-()viedo . '
No. .\ .N .\ I — Ciir.i d(! I.os P.ilai-ios
No. .K.N.XII. — " .NaviRationo ili-l Uo
dil Isiilc (• Pacsi' Niiovanii'iite I
" Navi;;alio Christopliori Coloiidji."
No. .X.X.N I II.— .\ntoiiio de Ilcrrcia .
.No. .\ .X.X l\'. — Hisliop Fonsei a
.No. .N.N.W. — (Jl ihf situation of the Ternstii.i
Paradise
.No. .\.\Xyi.— WillofCohimbiis
Nil. X.N.WII. — Signature uf Columbus
iMil.'i
PAi.k
2M
2'7
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No
(h
No.
:.ito
1.1 Si.
liran-
If Casiiglia
itiovate.
2(>\
2().»
204
2fi7
2(lS
2'.)
2(10
270
27^
272
274
270
27''
27S
270
270
2i)0
a:-i
2S5
ASTORIA.
Introiuctio.n',
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER I.
Dbjcrts of Ametican enterprise — S"U\ hiintinjj
and fur tr.idiiif,' — iheir eflert on colonization -
early French Canadian settlers — Oitowa and
Huron hunters — an Indian tradini; ciini) —
couriers des hois, or rangers of the woods —
their roaiiiinij life— their revels and excesses —
licensed traders — missionaries — tradinj.; posts
— primitive French Canadian men liani — his
establishment and dependants — Hritish ("a-
nadian fur merchant — orij;in of the .Norih-
west Company — its consliliilion — its in-
ternal trade — a candidate for the company
--privations in the wilderness — northwest
clerks — northwest partners — a northwest nabob
— feudal notions in the forest — the lords of the
lakes — Fort William — its parlianuntarv hall
and baiKiueting room — was sailing in the wil-
derness, ....,,.. 30:
CHAPTER II.
Rise of the Mackinaw Company — attempt of the
.American Kovornment to counteract foreign
inllucnce over the Indian tribes — lohn lacol)
Astor — his birth-plarc — his arrival in the
L'nited Slates — what hrsi turned his attention
to the fur trade — his character, enterprises, and
success — his communications with the .Vmeri-
c. in government— origin of the American Fur
Company 305
Fur trade in the Pacific — .Nmeriran coasting voy-
ai^cs — Russian onter[irises— discoverv of the.
Columbia River — Car\er's project to found a
settlement there — M.ickciizii's expedition —
Lewis and Clarke's journey arross the Rocky
Mounlains -- Mr. .Asior's grand coniiuercial
scheme -- his correspondence on the subject
with Mr. lerterson — his negotiations witli the
.Northwest Company — his steps to carry his
scheme into etlect, ...... 307
CHAPTER IV.
Two expeditions set on foot— the Tonquin and
her crew — Captain Thorn, his character — the
partners and clerks - - Canadian vovageurs,
their habits, employments, diess. chaiacter,
songs — e.\pedition of a Canadian boat and its
crew by land and water — arrival at .New V :rk
-preparations lor a sea vo\age — northwest
braggarts — underhand precautions — letter of
instructions, 31a
CHAPTER V.
Sailing of the Tompiin — a rigid commandi-r and
a reckless crew — landsmen on shipboard —
fre^h water sailors at sea — lubber nests — ship
fare — a Labrador veteran — lilerary clerks —
curious travellers — Robinson Crusoe's Island
— ipiarter-deck fjuarrels — Falkl.ind Islands —
a wild goose 1 hase — Port Egmont — epitapli
hunting — Old Mortality — penguin shouting -
fONTICNTS.
313
3'5
319
321
^fioriimcn Icfi in the Inrrh — .t h.irl pull
luiilici alirri .itiuii» — utrival nt Owylii'i;, ,
CIIAPrr.U VI.
Ovvliic - S,itiil«lr|i Nl.iiiilcrs - • lliilr tiaiiliiiil
l.ileiit> - r.iiii;Mliiii.iali- liis ii.ivy Ins ih';;ii|i,i.
lions — views of Mr. .\slor wilh ri'si.ii 1 lu llii;
S.iiidwicli Isl.iii'ls l\.ii.ik.il<ota— roy.il iiiono|)-
olv 0( pDl k - ill ,ril|r|IOIl of lIlC ISl.llllltTS —
VMytlics on sliiirr LlitDiiiclcr of llic isl.iiiil —
ipjacf where Ciiiaiii Cook was kiiltO — J ilin
S'oiiiiK, a iiaiiii'.il novi'rnor — liis notv —
Wailili — a loyal lesiiliMiri; — a royal visit —
/.jiand Cfrtiiionials — close dciliiin -a loyal
|»jik iiiL'ii liaiil- ^rit'vaiR'vs ul a iiialiei-ul lad
iiiai
CIlAl'TI-.R VII.
Di'iarmrc from the Siu'lwiih Islands niisim-
dersiaiidm^s— nnsene* of a suspicions man —
arriv.il at lln; <(il'.inil)i.i -(laiij;cr<.as service —
gloomy a[)pr( lieiiMons -hars and lireaker* —
perils of iIk' ship — disasters of a buai's crew ■
iiuual ul a Sandwuh Islander, • . •
CIIAI'TI.R VIII.
Month of the Cohmilii.i — the n.ilive Irihes — their
lishinn - their canoes — bold iiavij;:itors i(|nes-
irian Indi.ins and piscatoiy Indians, ililleienco
in their physical oi^ani/ation - - seaiih for a
trading; sue - expedition of M'Otnixal and
David Stewart — Coinconilv, the one-eyed
cliiufi.iin — inlhicnce of wealth in savage life —
{•lavery amonn the natives — an arisiocracv of
Klatlieads — hospitality ninung the (hiiiooks —
Cuincuiuly's dau)^htur — her cominest, .
ClIAPTEU IX.
Point Cieorcc -- found inij of Astori.i -- Indian
visitors — their rect ption — the captain lalioos
the ship — dep.iiture of the 'roni|nni--cuiTiiiienis
on the Conduct of Captain Thorn, . . . 322
CIIAPTKR X.
DiRqiiietinfT rumors from the interior rec innoi-
tcrmg pally picparations fur a tradin;^' post —
an une.xpccted arrival — a spy in the camp
cxi>pdrtion into the interior shoies of the
Columhia — Mount Coflin — Indian Sepulchre ■
the land of spirits — Columliian valley Van-
couver's Point- — falls and rapids — a great
fishing mart— the village of Wish-ram— dill'er-
cnce between tishinj; Indians and huntin).;
Indians — elh'cts of h.ibits of trade on the In-
dian charactei — pobt established al the Dakin-
agan 323
CIIAPTLR XI.
Alarm at Astoria — rumor of Indian hostilities —
preparations for defence — tragical late of the
ToiKiuin, ........ 326
CHAPTER XII.
Gloom at Astoria — an ingenious stratagem — the
.smallpox chief— launching of the Dolly -an
arrival — a Canadian trapper — a freeman of the
forest— an Iroipiois hut 'or — winter on the
Columbia — festivities of N nv Year, . . 329
CHAPTER XIII.
Expedition by land — Wilson P. Hunt — his char-
acter — Uonald M'Kenzic — recruiting service
among the voyagcurs — a bark canoe — cli.ipel
of St. Anne — votive ofl'erings — pious carousals
— a ragged regiment — Mackinaw — picture of a
Uadin^; post — frolicking voyageurs — swells
rAr.i
and dwaaccrcr!! — Indlart foxcombi — n mnn o(
tlie tiodh — jorkeyshJI) (if Voyageurs— im tliracy
of gold-weight ol a fi.itlitr .Mr. I\am^dy
Crooks— his characicr— liii riski« anionK thu
Indi.ins l.iH warning concerning the Siuux
and HIackleel rnd>aikalioii of reciuits--| .irt-
iim scenes between biolhers, c<JUsili», wivct,
Nwevthearis and pot cuinpaiiioii», . , • 33'
CIIAPTKR XIV,
St. I. mils — its fiiiiaiion- moili'v population—
l"reiich Cieolc liaders and their (ieprnd.inis—
Missouri I'ur < ompany — Mi. M.inuel |,i<a —
.Mississippi iioatmeii — vagiant Indians -Ken-
lucky hunters— old Freiii li mansion liddliiiK
— billiards — Mr. Josejdi Miller — his 1 liaiai ler —
recruits — voyage up the .Missouii -dillieullio
of llie river — merits ol Canadian voy.igeurs —
arrival al the Noilowa-Mr. Koherl .Nl'Lellan
joins the paitv lohn Day, a Virginia hiinler
— desciipliun of hull— .Mr. Hunt icliiins to Si.
Louis, .... . .
, (
333
CHAPTF.R XV.
OppO!«it!nn of the Missouri Fur Company —
lil.ickfeet Indians-- Pierre Dorion.a half-liteeii
interpreter — old Motion and his hvbriti
progeny —family i|uatrels--cross purposes be-
tween Dorion and Lisa — renegadoes from
Nodowa — perplexities of a commander —
Messrs, Hradbury and .Suttall join the expedi-
tion legal embarrassments of Pierre Dorion —
departure from St. Louis--conjugal discipline
of a half-breeil — annu.il swelling of the rivers
Daniel lioon, the jiatriarch ol Kentucky—
John l^olter — his adventures among the In-
ilians- -rumors of danger ahead — Fori ( )sage —
an Indian warfeasi — troubles in the Dorion
(amily — Uullalocs and tuikey-biizzatds, .
CHAPTER XVI.
Return of spring — appearance of snakes — great
llighis of wild pigeons — renewal of the voyage
— night encampments — Platte River — cere-
monials on passing it — signs of Indian war
parlies — magnificent prospect at Papilllon
Creek — desertion of two hunters — an irruption
into thu camp of Indian desperadoes — village
(if ihc Omahas — anecdotes of the tribe — feudal
wars of the Indians— story of blackbird, iho
famous Umahu chief,
CHAPTER XVIL
Rumors of danger from the Sioux Tetons — ruth-
less character of tliosc savaijcs— pirates of the
Missouri — their alVair with Crooks and M'LeU
lan — a trading expedition broken up- M'Lcl-
lan's vow of vengeance — uneasiness in the
camp — desertions — departure Iroin the (Jm.iha
village — meetinjf with Jones and Carson, two
adventurous trappers — .scientific pursuits of
Messrs. Hradbury and Nuttall — zeal of a
botanist— adventure of Mr. Hradbury wilh a
Ponca Indian — expedient of the pocket coin-
jiass and microscope — a messemjer Irom Lisa
— motives for pressing forward,
CHAPTER XVIII.
Camp gossip — deserters — recruits — Kentucky
hunters — a veteran woodman — tidings of Mr.
Henry — danger from the Hlackftel alteration
of plans — scenery of the river — buli.ilo roads —
iron ore — country of the Sioux — a land of dan-
ger — apprehensions of the voyageurs — Indian
scouts — threatened hostilities — a council of
war — an array if battle — a parley — the pipe of
peace — speech-making, , . ,
335
I
320
3-12
Th.
.M
P'
CI
r.T
PI
L
ol
cl
Feat
an
D.
tl
ri\
M:i
its
col
Li
get
cm
343
CONTI-NTS.
ffl
iiiiti«— a rn.iii o(
■iirt-- iiK Ili'-Miv
Mr. Kiiiiisjy
>k» ;iMii>iit( iliu
ilti|{ (III: SluilX
rtciiui"* — I .iri.
c»u!tiii», wivci,
33'
ipiil.iiion—
\
Y pi)p\ii.iiion—
r iii'j>»'ii(l,iiils —
M.iiiuil l,i«n —
liuliaiis--l\cii.
ii>i<in InlilliiiK
-liis( li:ii;iri(i —
nil -(lilliriiltius
;iii voy.i^ti'urs —
dIuti Ni'I.tllan
^'iri;iiiia liinilcr
It icliiilis III St.
333
V.
r f'Dttipnny —
on,.i liall-liiL'i'iJ
il liis hvbiitl
iS piirposfs he-
lu'u.idoes Iroin
rdiiimaiiikT —
join llii- cxpi'ili-
'lerrc Dorioii —
ii^al discipline
1;.' of llic rivirs
(il Kcntiirky--
niiKinjj llic III-
— Fori ( IsMj^f —
in tlie l)uciun
iiidzarJs, . . 335
nakcs — fjreat
of tlie voyayu
River — cere-
Indian war
at I'apilliori
i — an irtiipllon
idocs — village
ttibf— feudal
BlacitbirU, tlio
• 33'J
Tctons — ruih-
-piiaifs of ilie
and M'Lel-
up- M'Lcl-
sin^-ss in llie
)ui iliu (Jniaha
Carson, two
|)ursuits of
— zeal of a
dbury with a
pocket com-
;r from Lisa
34=
I.
1 — Kentucky
diii>,'s of Mr.
L't alteration
iir.do roads —
land of dan-
eurs — Indian
■ a council of
-tlic pipe of
343
rilAPTI R .\I.\. f^„,
Thp srcat lund of ihe Missouri— Trook* and
M'Lellan meet willi two of their Indian op.
poneiil* w.inlon oulran" of a white man the
LMU»e of Indian liosidilies-danKers and pre-
cautions .111 Indian w.ir party -- dan^'Muus
sinialiDii >>l .Mr, Hunt— a Irieinlly em aiiminenl
— U.isiini; .ind d.ini-inK— appro. i< li ol .\l.inu(l
Lua and Ins patty — a uriiii nieeliny lielwecii
old iiv.d* I'ltirc Uorion in a fury— a burstlof
cliivalrv 3-1'^
CII.M'TKR NX.
Fcituron of ihc wilderness— herds of biifl'.ilo —
antelopes-' ilieir varielies and habits Jidin
I)ay — his bunling straiaBeni — interview with
three Arickaras — ncnotiatuins benvei n the
riv.il pal lies — the I. ell-handed and Iho Ili^f
Man. nvi) .Vrickara thiefs— .\rick;ua villnne —
its iidi.iliii.inis— ccietiionials on landini!— a
council Indue — grand conlcrence— s|iee(h of
Lisa — ne(;otiation for horser. — shrewd sny-
gestion of (iiay Lyes, an .Atii.kara chief—
cncauipnient of the trading paities, . . 350
CH.\PTF.R X.\I.
An Indian horse fair — love of the Indians for
horses sreiies in the Arickara village — Indian
hospitality — duties of Iiulian women— ({anic
liabits of the men— their indolence — love of
gossiping; — rumors of luikin>{ enemies
scouts— an alatm--a sallying forth — Indian
dogs — return of a Iiorse-siealina party — an In-
dian depniition— fresh alarms return of a
successful war party — dress of the Arirkiras
— Indi.m toilet — triumphal entry of the war
Jiarly — meetinns of relations and friends —
ndian sensibility— meeting of a wounded
wniriur and his mother -festivities and lamen-
tations, 352
CIlAPrr.R X.N II.
Wilderness of the Far West — ;;reat American
desert — parched seasons — Mlack Hills —
Rocky Mountains — wandering and prf^datory
hordes— speculations on what may be the
future population — apprehended dangers — a
plot to desert — Rose the interpreter — his sin-
ister character — departure from tho Arickara
village, 335
CHAPTER XXIIL
Summer weather of the prairies — purity of the
atmosphere — Canadians on the march— sick-
ness in the camp — Hig River — vuli»ar nomen-
clature — suKJ-'eslions about the original In-
dian names — camp of (^hcyennes — tr.tde for
horses — character of the Cheyemies — their
horsemanship — historical anecdotes of tlie
tribe, 357
CHAPTER XXIV.
New distribution of horses — secret information
of treason in the camp — Rose the interpreter
— his perf.ilious character — his plots— anec-
dotes ol the Crow Indians — notorious horse-
stealers — some account of Rose — a desperado
of the frontier, ... . . 33S
CHAPTER XXV.
Subslilule for fuel on the prairies — fossil tree? —
fierceness of llie bullaloes when in heat— llireo
hunters inissiniLt — sij;nal fires and smokes —
uneasiness conccrniiiR the lost men — a plan
to foresiall a rogue — new arrangement with
Rose — return of t!ic wanderers, . . . 359
rilAPTF.R XXVI.
The niack Moiiniain!i--haiinl» of pinlalorv In
dians' llieir wild and broken appearaini—
siipersiiiion concerninK them -ilui'idei spmigi
rintfiil.ir noisis m the inouni.iins sirivt
mines-hiiUlcii ii<' mures iiioiiiil.nnt in l.ibor
- -siieniihi e.xpl.inaiion- imp.i>.'.,iMe diii.is— ■
bl.ick tailed deei — the biKlmin 01 alis.diia —
prospect Irom a Infiy Ini^in - pl.iin with lieidn
ol liuff.ilo^disianl peaks ol the Roi ky Moiin*
t.liiis — .ilarnis in the r.imp -n.ic ks oi n\\//\y
bears — dan>{eri)iis n.iliiie ol this .iiiini.il--.ii|.
veniiires ol Wiili.ini (aiinuii and John Day
with gtuiily bears,
rAni
360
CHAPTER XXVII.
Indian trail- ron;'h nioiini.iiii travi lliii;,'--«uirer.
iniis lioiii hun;;er and lhii'>l Pouilei Rivei —
name iii abiiiid.iii e — .1 hliiiler-. p,lladl^e -
inount.on pe.ik seen at a ^'e.il disi.iia e--ono
of the II14 Horn chain- - l\oi k \ .Mniiiitains —
e.xleiit appeal. mce-lieiyhl -the yii.it .\iiieii» .
cm deseit -■ various cliai.u lei isin . ol ilia
moiinl.iiiis- Indi.in siipeislilions loncrtning
them - land of souls- towns ol llie lieu and
gencrou* spirits — happy huiiiinf{ gri.unds, . 363
CHAPrER XXVII'.
Refiionof the Crow Indi.ins — scouts on the lof)k-
out--visit from a crew of h.iid ii'leis — a Ciow
camp- presents to the Crow c hiel--ti iru.nniiik,'
— Crow bullies — Rose anion).; his Iiulian
friends — parting willi llie t'lows — peiple.xi-
lies among the momiiains — inoie ol llio
Crows — C(|uebtrian childien -- si aich alter
stragglers, 364
CHAPTER XXIX.
Mountain glens — wandering band of savages —
anecdotes of Shoshonies and I'lallie.iils-root
diggers — their solitary luri.ii.g habits —
gnomes of the mountains — Wind River —
scarcity of food— alteration of loiite — the Pdot
Knobs or Tetons — branch of the Colorado —
hunting camp 5t.5
CliAI'TER XXX.
.\ plentiful hunting camp — Slioshonie hunters--
lloback's River -- Mad River - - oik .iinpnient
near the Pilot Knobs — a consult.ilioii prepa-
rations lor a perilous voy.ige 3(^7
CHAPTER XXXI.
•A consultation whether to proreel 1 y land or
water — preparations b^r boat-luiildiiii; — an • x-
ploriiig i'arty — a party of tiappers di t.iched —
two Snake visitors — their repoit concerning
the fiver — confirmed by the exfjloting p.irty
--Mad River abandoned— arriv.il .U Henrys
Fort — detachment of Robinson, Hoback .-inii
Re/.ncr to irap--Mr. Miller resolves to ac-
company them — their depariuie, . . . 368
CHAPTER XXXII.
Scantv fare -a mendicant Snake— embarkation
on Henry River — joy of the vo\aL;i-iirs--.iriival
at Snake River — rapids and breakeis— begin-
ning of misfortunes — Snake eiH.inipnients -
parlcv with a savage — a second disaster — loss
of a boatman — the Caldron Linn, . . . 37Q
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Gloomy council — exploring panic — disroiirag-
iiig reports — disastrous experiment — del.nli-
nients in ijiiest of succor — cac'nes, how inado
— re:urn u( one of the detachments — unsuc-
VIU
CONTEXTS.
ccssfiil— fiirtlur disappointments — the Devil's
Scuttle Ilulc 372
C HA ITER XXXIV.
Delcrminatiori of tlie |iariy '-J pronod on foot —
drc'irv (iisLTIs liclwccii Snake River and the
('oliimhia--(lisii iliiition of fllecls pri'i •iraliny
to a in.iri:l> -clivision of tin: party — rii);>,'cd
Diarcli alonir tin: r ^cr — wild and hrokcn scene-
rv— SliDsliDiiics — alarm of a Snake encamp-
mint — interi Diirsi; willi tlic Snakes — li-irsc-
dealing — value of a tin kettle — snUirint^s from
tliirsi — alioi.se reclaimed— fortitude of an In-
dj.in woman — scarcilv of food — dof>'s tiesli a
dainiy— news of Mr. Crooks and his party —
fjandnl travi llinu amoii},' the mountains— snow-
siorms— .1 dreary mountain prospect — a bi-
voiiar dniinj; a wintry night — return to the
river bank, 374
CII.M'TER XXXV.
An nnexiicrted meeting — navij^ation in a skin
canoe- strariiic fe.irs of sulFcMng men — liaid-
ships of .Ml. (^rooks and his comrades — lid-
inyi; of MLellan — a rc^ro^jade match — a wil-
hnv rafl--e.\lreiiie siiHeni'.j; of some of the
party--illness of Mr. (brooks — imp.ilience of
some ot the men — necessity of leaving the lag-
gards behind, 377
Cn.\PTER XXXVI.
Mr. Hunt overtakes the advance<l partv — Pierre
Dorion, an i his sl-elelon horse — a Sho^llonie
camp — a jusiili.thle .mirage — feaslint; on horse
llesh — Mr. Crooks biought to the camp — un-
dertakes to relieve his men — the skin lerry-
boat — frenzy of i'revost — his mclamholv late
— enfeebled slate of |ohn Dav — Mr. ('rooks
ai,Min left behiiul — ilu arty enierjje from
among the mountains — interview wiih Sho-
slionies — a guide procured to conduct the
parly acrossa mounl.iin — ferriage across Snake
River — reunion with Mr. Crooks's men — final
departure from the river, .... 37S
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Departure from the Snake River — niounla.ns to
trie north —wayworn travellers — an inciease of
the Dorion family — a camp of Shoshonies— a
New-Ve.ir festival among the .Snakes — a win-
try march through the mountains — a sunny
))rospect anil milder climale — lndi:Mi horse-
tracks — grassy valleys — a camp of Si i.itoixas —
jov of the travellers — dangers of abundance —
habits of tlie Scialogas — fate of Cairiere -ihe
Umalalla— .irrival at the banks of the Coluiii-
l)ia — tidings of ilie sr.ittered members of the
expeilition--srenery on the Columbia — tidings
of -Astoria— arrival at the falls,
3='
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The village of Wishram — roguery of the inhabi-
tants — their habitalions — tidings of Astoria
— ofthe Tonquin massacre — thieves about the
camp — a band of braggarts — embarkation-
arrival at Astoria — a joyful rcceiilion — old
roiiirades — adventures of Reed, M'Lellan, .ind
M'Kenzie among the .Snake River Mountains
— rejoicing at Astoria, .....
CII.M'TER XXXIX.
Scanty fare during the winter — a poor hunting
ground — the return of the fishing season —
the uthlecan or smelt — its cpialities — vast
shoLds of it — sturgeon — Indi.in modes of tak-
ing it — the salmon — difl'erent species — nature
3^3
PACK
of the country ahnut the roast — forests and
forest trees — .1 rem.trkable llowering vine —
animals — birds — reptiles — climate west of the
mountaiiis-- mildness of temperature — soil of
the coast and the interior, .... 3^5
CHAPTER XL.
Natives in the neighborhood of Astoria — their
peisons ;ind characteristics — causes of de-
Inniiiiy — their diess — their contempt of beards
— ornaments — ainior and weapons — mode of
ll.illening the head — extent ofthe custom — re-
ligious belief — the two great spirits ol the air
and of the lire — priests or medicine men — the
rival idols — polygamy a cause of greatness —
peliy warfari — music, dancing, gambling —
thieving a virlue— keen traders- intrusive
h.i!)it>i — abhorrence of drunkenness^anecdote
ot Conicomly, 366
CHAPTER XLI.
S;iring arrangements at Astoria — various expedi-
tions set out — the Long Narrows — pillering
Indians — thievish tribe at Wish-ram — jiortage
at the falls — portage by moonlight — an attack,
a rout, and a robtjery — Indian cure for cow-
ardice—a parley and compromise— the dis-
patch larty turn back — meet Cro(d;sand John
Day — their sullerings — Indian perlidy — airival
at Astoria, . . . . . . . 3S3
CHAPTER XLH.
Comprehensive views — to supply ihc Russian
fill ' sl.iblishniijiit an agent sent 10 Russia — •
project of an annual ship the Heaver lilted
out — her C(|uipinent and crew— insiructions to
the captain — the Sandwich Islands — rumors of
the fate of the Tonquin — preraulions on leach-
ing the mouth of the Columbia, . . . 3'jl
ciiapti;r xlih.
Active operations at .\sloria — various expedi-
tions htted out — Robert Stuart and a party
destined for New Yen k— singular conduct of
John Day — his late — piratical [lass and h.i/.ard-
oiis portage — rattlesnakes — their abhorrence
ol tobacco — arrival among the Wallah-Wallahs
— ]nirchase ol hcjrses— dejiaitute ol Stuart and
his band for the mountains.
I
yj-
CIIAPTER XLIV.
Rome of Mr. Stuart — dreary wilds— thirsty travel-
ling a grove and stre.inilct — the Blue Moun-
tains--a fertile plain with rivulets— Mil phur
spring — route a!ong»Sn,ike River--riiiiiois of
white men — the Snake and his horse — a Snake
guide — a midnight decampment — unex['ecled
meeting with old comrades — story of trapjiers'
hardships — Salmon Kails — a great lisliery —
mode of spearing salmon — arrival at the ("al-
droii I.inn — slate of the caches — new tesrjiution
of the tluee Keiilurky trappers, , , . 2')4
CHAE'TER XI.V.
The Snake River deserts — scanty fare — bewil-
dered travellers — prowling Indi.ans — a giant
Crow chiel — i bully rebuked — Ir.dian signals
-smoke on Ihc mountains — .M;icl River — an
alarm — an Indian foray — a scamper— a rude
Indian joke — a sharp-shooter balked of his
shot, ......... 3g3
CHAPTER XLVI.
Travellers nnliorsed — |)Cileslrian (ireiiaiations —
l^rving spies — bonfire of bagj;agi---a man h on
foot — raiting a river — the wounded elk — Indian
tr;l
Hen
111'
call
fori
alij
mah
imr
all I
CONTENTS.
!x
St — fdrcsis ami
iwcriiig vine —
ale west of tliu
L'l.iUirc — S(jil of
3S5
Astoria — their
causes of dc-
;cnipl of lii'ards
[ions — iDodf of
lie cust<jiii — rc-
;Hrits ol (lie air
icinc men — the
of greatness —
^r, franihlini,'—
ilers--iiilriisive
less— anecdote
3a6
,1.
I'arious expcdi-
ows — |iillerinj{
i-rani — portayc
^lit — an attack,
cure for cow-
iiiisc-tlie dis-
uoks and John
icrlidy — ai rival
3S3
y the Russian
lit 10 Russia —
; Heaver fitted
■iiistriiclions to
ids — riiiiiors of
ilions on leach-
3'Ji
iiious cxpcdi-
and a party
lar conduct of
iss and liazard-
|ir abhorrence
illah-Wallahs
ol Stuart and
3'J2
l-tliiisty Iravcl-
Hliie Monn-
lets — Mil pliur
IIIIIOIS of
—a Snake
-unexpected
|y of trappers'
L'at lisliery —
111 at tlio ("al-
jw resolution
fare — bewil-
jaiis — a (iiaiit
diaii sijinals
I River — an
pel — a rude
Iked of his
;'j4
39S
.'liaiatinns — ■
a man h on
Iclk — Indian
trails— wilful rondiui of Mr. M'Lellan — trrand
[irospect Irom a iiioiintaiii — distant crateis o'l
volcanoes— illness of Mr. Crooks, . . .4""
CIIAPTF.R XLVII.
Hen Jones and a Kri//.Iy hear— rocky lieights—
mountain torrents — traces of M'Lellan — vol-
canic niiiaiiis— mineral earllis— |uciiliar clay
for poticiy "'lisinal plight of M'Lellan— starv-
ation — slioiknig proposition of a ilesperaic
man— a liroken-ilown IjiiII — a ravenous meal —
Indian gia'.es — hospitable biiakes— a lorlorn
alliunce, ...... . . 4'-'-
CIIAPTKR XLVIII.
T scenery — trial of Crow Indians —
S
nish Kivc
a snow-storni— a rousin;; lire and a hiilialo
least — a plain of salt — cliiiiliint» a niounlaiii^
volcanic su mm it— extinguished cr.nei — marine
shells — eiic.impiiient on a pi.iu ie — siiccessliil
hunting — f;i''l cheer — romantic sceneiy—
rocky deliic— loaniing rapids — the lieiy nar-
rows, ...... ...
CIIAI'TKR .Xl.l.X.
V.'intry stornis — a halt and council — cantonment
for the winter— line liiiiuing coiinlry — i^anie ol
the moiinlainii and plains — succes--lul liiiiiling
— Mr. ( lo'iks and a grizzly bear — the wit;-
waiu — bigliom ;iiid blacktails— beef and vtni-
son — go. id ipiarters and good cheer — an al.irm
— an inn nsioii — unwelcome guests — desol.ni jii
of the larder-gorinaiuliziiiL; cxploilsol hun-
gry savages — good (piartets abandoned, ,
CIIAI'TKR L.
Rouprh winlrv travelling — hills and plains — snow
and ice — lisapjii arance of game — .1 vast die.iry
jilain — a second halt for the winter — another
wigwam — New Year's feast — bullalo humps,
tongues, and marrow bones — return ol spring
— l.iiincli of canoes— bad navigation — peili s-
trian niaicli— vast prairies — deserted camps —
I'awme sjii.iws — an Otto Indian — newsof war
— vovage down the Platte and the Missouri —
405
ing of an Indian — arrival of the wintering
partners at Astoria 414
CIIAI'TKR I. IV.
The partners ilis[ileasec| w;lh M' Doiigal — cipiivo-
cal (diiiluci ol that gentleman — p.irlners agree
i to ab.iiidon .^slol'ia — sale of goods to .M'T.ivish
— arrangi'iiients lor the year — manileslo signed
by the |iaitiieis — dej);iriiire ol M'Tavisli lor the
I interior, ........ 417
I CHAPTER I.V.
, .\nxielies of Mr. Astor — memorial of the North-
west Conipany — tidings ol a Hiitish naval ex-
pediti ill agaist .Vstori.i — .Mr. .Asioi applies to
government lor protrclion — the Irigale .Adams
ordered to be fitted out — bright news Irom .As-
toria — sunslii:ie suddenly overclouded, . . 41.-)
CIIAI'TKR lAI.
Ali'airs of stale at .Astoria — .M'Uoiig.il proposes
lor the hand of an Indian princess — matri-
40^
rccepliuii at Korl Osage — arrival at St. Louis, 409 1 'l''ain;i il
CIIAI'TKR LI.
Agreement between Mr. .Astor and the Russian
moni.il ciubassy to (^ouicomiv -matrimonial
notions among the Chinooks — settbuieiii> and
idn-money — the bringing home ol the bndi — a
managing (.ither-in-l.iw— arri'.al of .Mr. Hunt
at .\stotia, ........ 4i'j
chai'Ti:r lvh.
Vovage of the Hciver to New Aichangel — a Riis- .
siaii governor — loystering riiie-the tyranny
of the table — hard drinking b.irgains- -vovage
to Kanischalka — se.il-c. itch ing estabiislimeiit
at St. Paul's— storms at sea — .Mi. Hunt left at
the Sandwich Islands-— transactions of the
Heaver at C.inton — return ol Mr. Hum to .As-
loiia, 420
CIIAPIKR LVIII.
Arrangements among the partners — Mr. Hunt
sails in the .Albatross — arrives a' the .Manpies.is
— newsof the frigate Phoebe — .Mr. Hunt [iro-
ceeds to the Sandwich Islands — voyage of the
Lark — her shipwreck transactions with the
itives of the Saiidwieh islands — toiiducl of
CIIAPIKR LIX.
Kur Compaiiv — war between
the V
iiileil Stales
Arrival of M'Tavisli at Astoria — conduct of h
id C
real
iritian — instructions to Capiani
foil.
negotiations o
f M'l).
d
Sowleoflhe Heaver— fitting out of the Laik —
new.s of the airival of Mr. Sluait, .
411
M' lavish — bargain lor till! Iranskrol .Astoria
doubts entertained of the lovallvot .MTJoii-
424
CIIAI'TKR Lll.
iJaiiks of til
\",i
-Walhi
■departure o
r David Smart for the (Jakiiiag.m Mr. Clarke's
^^ route up Ltnvis River — Chipiiiinish, or Pick ed-
I no>e Indi.ins their character.'appeaiance, and
'i habits thi(;vish habits- l.iying up of the boats
— post at Pointed Heart and Sp okan Rivers —
, his route up the Camoeniini — bands
chapti:r lx.
.Arrival of a strange s.iil — agitation at .Astoria-
warlike oiler of Comcoinlv — Astoria taki
possession o
f by the Hritish — indignation of
M'Ki
of t
ravelling
Ind
lans — ex pedition
R
dveiitutes of wandering voya-
tlie caciie
geurs an I liappers,
ciiapti;r Lii.
Dcpaitiire nf Mr. Hunt in the Heaver — prerai:
tionsat the lactorv— detachment to the WalLi
Comcouily at the conduct of his son in-law, 425
ciiapti;r lxl
Arrival of the brig Pedlir ;it .\sioria^breaking
up ol the establishment — dep.irtuie
412
jf th
e conipany — tragn.
story told by the
sipiaw of PieriL Dorioii — fate> of i\eed .and his
companions -attempts of Mr. .Astor to leiiew
his enterprise — di.'appointiiient — cjiicluding
observations and lelleciions
42;
III lit
M'Ki
appreh
— air.iirs at SI
giooiiiv
arrival of
i.ihapt.in — news of war
>f .M'Doiigal — delerniination to
.Ib.indoa Astoria — departure o( .M'Kenzie for
the inn
the lullians of \V
meetni;;
at the
inination of the wint
ir— adventure at the rai>ids — \ isil tc
I'-n-raiii — a perilous siluation-
ai'1'i;ndi.\.
Draught of a petition to (.'ongresS, sent by Mr.
.Astor III 1S12, . . . . . . 430
Letter from Mr. (jallatin to Mr. Astor, . 430
g Willi .M'Tavisli an'' his partv — arrival
Shaliaptan plunde.ed cailies— deter-
Not i
ic<'S of the piesmit .-^i
'te ol the 1 iir Tr.idi
chirily extracted (lom an article jmblished in
lim.iii s iiiiin.i
for I-.
eriug partners not to le.ive
laiy, 1-34,
the coiiniiv— .arrival ol C;iarke among the .\i
Perces the all'air of the .silver goblet— ham
Height ol the Rocky 'ilountaiiis,
Suggestions with resjiect to the Indian tribes, atiJ
the protection of oin trade, , , ,
431
4.) J
433
CONTENTS.
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
INTRODVCTIOV.
TAGE
• 437
CHAPTER I.
The Pawnee hunting t^roinuls — travelhng compan-
ions — a commissioner — a virtuoso — a fceker of
aiiventures — a Gil lUasofthe frontier — a young
man's anticiijations of pleasure, . . . 437
CHAPTER II.
Anticipations clisappointcd — new plans — prepara-
tions to join an exi)loring party — dcpartine from
Eort (liljson — fording; of tlic Verdigris — an Indian
cavalier, 4jS
CHAPTER HI.
An Indian agency — rillcnicn — Osages, Creeks, trap-
pers, dogs, horses, half-breeds — Deatte, the
Imntsman, 439
CHAPTER IV.
The departure, 440
CHAPTER V.
Frontier scenes — aEj^urgus of the border— Lynch's
law — the danger of linding a hurse — the young
Osage, t
CHAPTER VI.
Trail of the Osage hunters — dcpartine of the Count
and his parly — a descried war camp — a vagrant
dog — the encampment, .....
CHAPTER VII.
News of the rangers — the Count and his Indian
fcjuire — halt in the woods — woodland scene —
(.)sage village — ( )sagc visitt)rs at our evening
camp 443
44'
442
CHAPTER VIII.
The honey camp,
A bee hunt.
CHAPTER I.\.
CHAPTER X.
44S
445
Amusements in the camp — consultations — hunters'
fare an<l feasting— evening scenes — camp melody
— the fate of an amateur owl 446
CHAPTER XI.
Ereaking up of the encampment — picturesque march
— game — camp scenes — triumph of a young hunter
— ill success of an old luinter — foul murtler of a
polecat, 44S
CHAPTER XII.
The crossing of the Arkansas, .... 450
CHAPTER XIII.
The camp of the glen — caniii go^si]) — Pawnees and
their habits— a hunter's adventine — horses found
and men lost, ....... 450
CHAPTER XIV.
Deer shooting — life c ■ the prairies — beautiful en-
campment — hunter's luck — anecdotes of the Del-
awares and their superstitions, , , . 452
TM.r
> 454
CHAPTER XV,
The search for the elk — Pawnee stories, .
CHAPTER XVI.
A sick camp — the m.i: vh — the disabled horse — old
Ryan and the stragglers — symptoms of change of
weather and change of humors, . . . 456
CHAPTER XVII.
Thunder-storm on the prairies — the storm encamp-
ment — night scene — Indian stories — a frightened
horse, 457
CHAPTER XVIII.
A grand prairie — Cliff Castle — buffalo tracks — deer
hunted by wolves— Cross Timber, . . . 45S
CHAPTER XIX.
Hunters' anticipations — the rugged ford — a wild
horse 459
CHAPTER XX.
Tlie camp of the wild horse — hunters' stories — habits
of the wild horse — the half-breed and his prize — a
horse chase — a wild spirit tamed, . . . 461
CHAPTER XXI.
The fording of the Red Fork- — the dreary forests of
the "Cross Timber " — l)uffalo ! . , . 4G2
CHAPTER XXH.
The alarm camp,
. 463
CHAPTER XXHI.
I'lCarer dam — buffalo and horse tracks — a Pawnee
trail — wiltl lior-,es — the young hunter and the be.ar
— change of route, . ..... 465
CHAPTER XXIV.
Scarcity of bread — rencTntrc with buffaloes — wild
turkeys — fall of a bulfalo bull, . , . 467
CHAPTER XXV.
Ringing the wild horse, ..... 467
CHAPTER XXVI.
Fording of the North Fork — dreary scenery of the
Cross Timber — scamper of horses in tlie night —
( )sage war party — eliocts of a pcac! harangue —
buffalo— wild horse, . . .... 469
CHAPTER XXVH.
Foul weather encampment — anecdotes of bear hunt-
ing — Indian notions a!)ont omens — scruples re-
specting the dead, ...... 470
CHAPTER XXVIII.
.\ secret expedition — deer bleating — magic balls, . 472
CHAPTER XXIX.
The grand prairie — a bulTalo hunt, . , , 473
CHAPTER XXX.
\ comrade lo^t — a searcli for the camp— the com-
mi-sioner, tiie wild horse, and the buffalo — a wolf
serenade, 476
Ah
Ar<
CONTEXTS.
3.
XVI.
disabled liorse— old
|)toms of change of
^» • . . 456
^VII,
the storm ciicimp-
ories— a frightened
CHAPTER XXXr,
A hunt for a lost comrade, .
CHAPTER XXXH.
A republic of prairie dogs, . •
PAGE
■ 477
47S
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A council in the camp— reasons for facing home-
ward— horses lost— departure with a detachment
SI
rAGE
on the homeward route— swamp— wild horse—'
camp scenes by night— the owl, harbinger of dawn, 479
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Old Creek encampment— scarcity of provisions—
oad weather— weary mardiing-a hunter's bridge, 4S1
CHAPTER XXXV.
A look-out for I.ind-hard travelling and hun-ry
iiiltmg— a frontier farmhouse— arrival at the '-"ir-
"'"" " . 4S2
457
4SS
459
:viii.
ufTalo tracks— deer
'er, .
*vIX.
ged ford— a wild
• • •
2rs' stories— habits Wg
•d and Jiis prize — a '^
'i • . . 461
-■ i
e dreary forests of
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
Historical Notice, .
Arrival at the Abbey, .
The Abbey Garden,
Plough Monday, .
Old Servants,
Superstitions of tlie Abbey,
*CII.
:iii.
. 462
• 4O3
•racks— a Pawnee
uucr and tlic boar
i
Abuotsfokd,
• 4C5
:rv.
1 bufT;\!oes— wild
■ 4C7
:v.
. 467
VI.
y scenery of tlie
s in tJK- night —
-at-: harangue —
. 469
'II.
tcsof berirhunt-
iis — scruples re-
. 470
III.
•magic balls, . 473
• 473
I'AGP
4S5
4S7
4S9
491
492
493
Annesley Hall, . . , .
The Lake, .
Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest,
The Rook Cell, . . . '.
Tlie Little Wliite Lady, '. [
ABBOTSFORD.
PAGB
495
501
501
504
505
TAGK
amp— the com-
buiT.iIo— a wolf
• . 476
PREFACE.
I
Betno at Bordeaux, in the winter of 1825-6, I
received a letter from Mr. Alexander Everett,
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at
Madrid, informing me of a work then in the press,
edited hy Don Martin Fernandez de Navarrcte,
Secretary of the Royal Academy of History, etc.,
etc., containing a collection of documents relative
to tile voyages of Columbus, among which were
many of a highly important nature, recently dis-
covered. Mr. Everett, at the same time, expressed
an opinion that a version of the work into English,
by one of our own country, would be peculiarly
desirable. I concurred with him in the opinion ;
and, having for some time intended a visit to
Madrid, I shortly afterward set off for that capital,
with an idea of undertaking, while there, the
translation of the work.
Soon after my arrival, the publication of M.
Navarrete made its appearance. I found it to
contain many documents, hitherto unknown,
which threw additional lights on the discovery of
the New World, and which reflected the greatest
credit on the industry and activity of the learned
editor. Still the whole presented rather a mass
of rich materials for history, than a history itself.
And invaluable as such stores may be to the labo-
rious inquirer, the sight of disconnected papers
and official documents is apt to be repulsive to the
general reader, who seeks for clear and continued
narrative. These circumstances made me hesi-
tate in my proposed undertaking ; yet the subject
was of so interesting and national a kind, that I
could not willingly abandon it.
On considering the matter more maturely, I
perceived that, although there were many books,
in various languages, relative to Columbus, they
all contained limited and incomplete accounts of
his lile and voyages ; while numerous valuable
tracts on the subject existed only in manuscript or
in the form of letters, journals, and public muni-
ments. It appeared to me that a hi.story, faithfully
digested from these various materials, was a de-
sideratum in literature, and would be a more sat-
isfactory occupation to myself, and a more accept-
able work to my country, than the translation I
had contemplated.
I was encouraged to undertake such a work, by
the great facilities which I found within my reach
at Madrid. I was resident under the roof of the
Irving's Lire of Columbut. (j
American Consul, O. Rich, Esq., one of the most
indefatigable bibliographers in Europe, who, for
several years, had made particular researches
after every document relative to the early history
of America. In his extensive and curious library,
I found one of the best collections extant of Span-
ish colonial history, containing many documents
for which I might search elsewhere in vain. This
he put at my absolute command, with a frankness
and unreserve seldom to be met with among the
possessors of such rare and valuable works ; and
his library has been my main resource throughout
the whole of my labors.
I found also the Royal Library of Madrid, and
the library of the Jesuits' College of .San Isidro,
two noble and extensive collections, open to ac-
cess, and conducted with great order and liber-
ality. From Don Martin Fernandez de Navarrete,
who communicated various valuable and curious
pieces of information, discovered in the course
of his researches, I received the most obliging
assistance ; nor can I refrain from testifying my
admiration of the self-sustained zeal of iliat es-
timable man, one of the last veterans of .Spanish
literature, who is almost alone, yet indefatigable
in his labors, in a country where, at present, liter-
ary exertion meets with but little excitement or
reward.
I must acknov.'ledge, also, the liberality of the
Duke of Veraguas, the descendant and rejjresent-
ative of Columbus, who submitted the archives of
his family to my inspection, and took a personal
interest in cxhit)iting the treasures they contained.
Nor, lastly, must I omit my deep obligations to
my excellent friend Don Antonio de Uguina,
treasurer of the Prince Francisco, a gentleman of
talents and erudition, and particularly versed in
the history of his country and its dependencies.
To his unwearied investigations, and silent and
unavowed contributions, the world is indebted for
much of the accurate information, recently im-
parted, on points of early colonial history. In the
possession of this gentleman are most of the
papers of his deceased friend, the late historian
Munos, who was cut off in the midst of his val-
uable labors. These, and various other docu-
ments, have been imparted to me by Don Antonio,
with a kindness and urbanity which greatly ii>
creased, yet lightened the obligation.
PREFACE.
With these, and other aids incidentally afforded
me by my local situation, 1 have endeavored, to
the best of my abilities, and making the most of
the time which I could allow myself during a so-
journ in a foreign country, to construct this his-
tory. I have diligently collated all the works that
1 could find relative to my subject, in print and
manuscript ; comparing them, as far as in my
power, with original documents, those sure lights
of historic research ; endeavoring to ascertain the
truth amid those contradictions which will inevi-
tably occur, where several persons have recorded
the same facts, viewing them from different points,
and under the influence of different interests and
feelings.
In the execution of this work I have avoided in-
dulging in mere speculations or general reflec-
tions, excepting such as rose naturally out of the
subject, preferring to give a minute and circum-
stantial narrative, omitting no particular that
ap|)eare<l characteristic of the persons, the events,
or the times ; and endeavoring to place every fact
in such a point of view, that the reader might
perceive its merits, and draw his own maxims
and conclusions.
As many points of the history required explana-
tions, drawn from contemporary events and the
literature of the times, I have preferred, instead
of incumbering the narrative, to give detached
illustrations at the end of the work. This also
enabled me to indulge in greater latitude of de-
tail, where the subject was of a curious or in-
teresting nature, and the sources of information
such as not to be within the common course of
reading.
After all, the work is presented to the public
with extreme diffidence. All that I can safely
claim 's, an earnest desire to state the truth, an
absence from prejudices respecting the nations
mentioned in my history, a strong interest in my
subject, and a zeal to make up by assiduity for
many deficiencies of which I am conscious.
Washington Irving.
Madrid, 1827.
P.S. — I have been surprised at finding myself
accused by some American writer of not giving
sufficient credit to Uon Martin Fernandez de
Navarrete for the aid I had derived from his col-
lection of documents. I had thought I had
sufficiently shown, in the preceding preface, which
ajipeared with my first edition, that his collection
first prompted my work and subsequently fur-
nished its principal materials ; and that I had
illustratefl this by citations at the foot of almost
every page. In preparing this revised edition, I
have carefully and conscientiously examined into
the mattei, but find nothing to add to the ac-
knowledgments already made.
To show the feelings and opinions of M.
Navarrete himself with respect to my work and
myself, I subjoin an extract from a letter received
from that excellent man, and a passage from the
introduction to the third volume of his collection.
Nothing but the desire to vindicate myself on this
head would induce me to publish extracts so
laudatory.
From a letter dated Madrid, April \st, 1831.
I congratulate myself that the documents and
notices which I published in my collection about
the first occurrences in the history of America,
have fallen into hanils so able to appreciate their
authenticity, to examine them critically, and to
circulate them in all directions ; establishing
fundamental truths which hitherto have been
adulterated by partial or systematic writers.
Yo me complazeo en que los documentos y
noticias que publico en mi coleccion sohre los
primeros acontecimientos de la historia de
America, hayan recaido en manos tan habiles
para apreciar su autenticidad, para examinar las
con critica y propagarlas por todos partes
echando los fundamentos de la verdad que hasta
ahora ha sido tan adulterada par los escri tores
parciales 6 sistemiticos.
In the introduction to the third volume of his
Collection of Spanish \'oyages, Mr. Navarrete
cites various testimonials he has received since
the publication of his two first volumes of the
utility of his work to the republic of letters.
" A signal proof of this," he continues, " is just
given us by Mr. Washington Irving in the History
of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus,
which he has published with a success as general
as it is well merited. We said in our introduc-
tion that we did not propose to write the history
of the admiral, but to publish notes and materials
that it might be written with veracity ; and it is
fortunate that the first person to profit by them
should be a literary man, judicious and erudite,
already known in his own country and in Kurope
by other works of merit. Resident in Madrid,
exempt from the rivalries which have influenced
some European natives with respect to Columbus
and his discoveries ; having an opportunity to
examine excellent books and precious mai'U-
scripts ; to converse with persons instructed iti
these matters, and having always at hand the
authentic documents which we had just published,
he has been enaiiled to give to his history that
fulness, impartiality, and exactness, which make
it much superior to those of the writers who pre-
ceded him. To this he adds his regular method,
and convenient distribution ; his style animated,
pure, and elegant ; the notice of various j)erson-
ages who mingled in the concerns of Columbus ;
and the examination of various questions, in
which always shine sound criticism, erudition,
and good taste."
Irl
el Si
VidI
pub I
bier
(I
escrl
licaij
con
que
juicil
Euro
en NI
inadJ
4
I
from a letter received
i a passage from the
ime of his collection,
ulicate myself on this
publish extracts so
Id, April \st, 1 83 1.
the documents and
my collection about
history of America,
e to appreciate their
m critically, and to
ctions ; estal)lishing
hitherto have been
tematic writers.
e los documcntos y
coleccion sobre los
cle la historia de
manos tan luibiles
i, para examinar las
por tod OS partes
la verdad que hasta
1 par los escri tores
third volume of his
ges, Mr. Navarrete
: has received since
[first volumes of the
blic of letters.
continues, " is just
rvingin the History
slopher Columbus,
success as general
d in our introduc-
to write the history
notes and materials
veracity ; and it is
to profit by them
cious and erudite,
ntry and in Kurope
esident in Madrid,
:h have influenced
espect to Columbus
an opportunity to
d precious mai u-
sons instructed in
ways at hand the
had just published,
to his history that
tness, which make
e writers who pre-
is regular method,
is style animated,
of various person-
?rns of Columbus ;
ious questions, in
iticism, erudition,
1
PREFACE.
Insigne prueba de esto mismo acaba de darnos
el Seftor Washington Irving en la Historia de la
Vida y de los Viages de Crist6bal Colon que ha
publicado con una ac«ptacion tan general como
bien merecida. Diginos en nuestra introduccion
(I \ 56 pag. Ixxxii.) que no nos proponiamos
escribir la historia de aqu.il alinirante, sino pub-
licar noticias y materiales para (|ue se escribiese
con veracidad, y es una fortuna que el primero
que se haya aprovechado de ellas sea un literate
juicioso y erudito, conocido ya en su patria y en
Europa por otras obras apreciables. Colocado
en Madrid, exento de las rivalidades que han dom-
inado entrc algunas naciones Kuropeas sobre
Colon y sus descubrimientos ; con la proporcion
de examinar excelentes libros y preciosos manu-
scritos, de tratar k personas instruidas en estas
materias, y teniendo siempre a la mano los
autenticos documentos que acabamosde publican,
ha logrado dar 'a. su historia aquella extension
imparcialidad y exactitud que la haccn muy
superior A las de losescritores que le precedieron,
Agrtfgase A esto su metftdico arreglo y conveniente
distribucion ; su estilo animado, puro y elegante ;
ia noticia de varios personages que intervenieron
en los sucesos de Colon, y el examen de varias
cuestiones en que luce siempre la mas sana critica,
la erudicion y buen gusto. — l^ologo al tomo j*.
c
W>:
I'l
THE
LIFE AND VOYAGES
or
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
Venient annU
SzcuIa %en%, quihns, ( )ccanus
Vincula rerum laxet, ct Ingcni
Patcat telliiH, Typhisqiie novos
Dctcgat Orbes ncc sit tcrris
Ultima Thule.
Shneca: Affdfa,
AUTHOR'S REVISED EDITION.
BOOK I.
Whethf.R in old times, lipyonci the reach of his-
tory or tradition, and in some remote period of
civili/iation, when, as some imafrine, the arts may
have flourished to a ilej^ree unknown to those
whom we term the Ancients, there existed an in-
tercourse between tlio opposite sliorcs of the At-
lantic ; whellierthe K;j:yptian legend, narrated by
I'lato, resjH'ctinfj the island of Atalanlis was in-
deed no faille, but the obscure tradition of some
vast country, enj^ulfed by one of those mighty
convulsions of our j;lo!)e, which have left traces
of the ocean on the summits of lofty mountains,
must ever remain matters of vacfue and visionary
speculation. As far as authenticated history ex-
tends, nothin}^ was known of terra firma, and the
islands of the western hemisphere, until their dis-
covery toward the close of the lifteenth century. A
wanderinjr bark may occasionally have lost sifjht
of the landmarks ot the old continents, and been
driven by tempests across the wilderness of
waters long before the invention of the compass,
but never returned to reveal the secrets of the
ocean. And though, from time to time, some
document has lloaled to the shores of the old
world, giving t:) its v.ondcring inhabitants evi-
dences of land far beyond their waterv hori/on ;
yet no one ventured to spread a sail, and seek that
land enveloped in mystery and peril. Or if the
legends of the Scandin.ivian voyagers be correct,
and their mysterious \"inland was the coast of
Labrador, or the shore of Newfoundland, they harl
but transient glimpses of the new world, leading
to no certain or permanent knowledge, and in a
little time lost again to mankind.* Certain it is
that at tlie beginning of the fifteenth centurv,
when the most intelligent minds were seeking in
every direction for the scattered lights of geo-
* See illustrations in Appendi.x at the end of this
work, article " Scandinavian Discoveries,"
graphical knowledge, a profound ignorance pre-
vailed among the learned as to the western re-
gions of the Atlantic ; its vast waters were re-
garded with awe and wonder, seeming to bound
the world as with a chaos, into which conjecture
could not penetrate, and enterprise feared to ad-
venture. We need no greater proofs of tiiis than
the description given of the .\tlaiitic by Xerif al
lulrisi, surnamed the Nubian, an eminent Ara-
bian writer, whose countrymen, vvere the boldest
navigators of the middle ages, and possessed all
tliat was then known of geograjihy.
" The ocean," he observes, " encircles the ul-
timate bounds of the inhabited earth, and all be-
yonrl it is unknown. No one has been able to
veritv anything concerning it, on account of its
flitlicult and perilous navigation, its great obscu-
rity, its ]irofound depth, and frequent tempests ;
through fear of its mighty fishes, and its haughty
winds ; yet there are many islands in it, some
[Kopled, others uninhai)ited. There is no mar-
iner who dares to enter into its deep waters ; or
if anv have done so, they have merely kept along
its coasts, fearful of departing from them. The
waves of this ocean, although they roll as high as
mountains, yet maintain theiTiselves without
bieaking ; for if they broke, it would be impossi-
ble for ship to plough them."*
It is the object ot the following work, to relate
the deeds and fortunes ot the mariner who first
had the judgment to divine, and tlie intrepidity to
br.ive the mysteries of this perilous deep ; and who,
by his hardy genius, his inflexible constancy, and
his heroic courage, brought the ends of the earth
into communication with each other. The nar-
rative ot his troubled life is the link which connects
the history of the old world with that of the new.
* Description of Spain, by Xerif al Edrisi ; Conde's
Spanish translation. Madrid, 1799.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COI.UMUUS.
1.11
CHAPTKR I.
BIRTH, PARFNTAOr., AND EARLY I.IFK OF
CUI.U.MHL'S.
Christoi'IIF.r Coi.UMiirs, or Colombo, as the
ntime is written in Italian,* was Ixirn in the city
of (lenoa, about In* yiar 1435- "'" was the son
of Dominico Coloniljo, a wool comiier, and Su-
sannah Fontanarossa, his witc, and it wouki seem
that his ancestor, had toilowed the same handi-
craft for several j,'ener.itions in (ienoa. Attempts
have been made to prove him of illustrious de-
scent, and several nolile houses have laid claim
to him since his name has become so renowned
as to confer rather than receive distinction. It is
possible some of ihem may be in the rij;lu, for
the feu Is in Italy in those ajjes had broken down
an<l scattered many of the noblest f.imilies, and
■while some branches remained in the lordly her-
itajje of castles and domains, others were con-
founded with the humblest populalicjn of the cit-
ies. The fact, however, is not material to his
fame ; and it is a hijjher proof of merit to be the
ot)ject of contention amonjj various noble fami-
lies, than to be able to substantiate the most illus-
trious lineajfe. His son Fernando had a true
feeling on the subject. " I am of opinion," says
he, " that I should derive less dignity from any
nobility of ancestry, than from heinjj the son of
such a father."!
Columbus was the oldest of four children ; hav-
ing two brothers, Bartholomew and (liacomo, or
James (written Diego in Spanish), and one sister,
of whom nothing is known but that she was mar-
ried to a person in obscure life called Ciiacomo
Havarello. At a very early age Columbus evinced
a decided inclination for the sea ; his education,
therefore, was mainly directed to fit him for mar-
itime life, but was as general as the narrow
means of his father would permit. IJesides the
ordinary branches of reailing, writing, grammar,
and arithmetic, he was instructed in the Latin
tongue, and made some proticieiicy in drawing
and design. For a short time, also, he was sent
to the university of I'avia, where he studied ge-
ometry, geography, astronomy, and navigation.
He then returned to (.^.enoa, where, according to
a contemporary historian, he assisted his father
in his trade of wool combing. J This assertion is
indignantly contradicted by his son Fernando,
though there is nothing in it improbable, and he
gives us no information of his father's occupation
to supply its place. He could not, however, have
remained long in this employment, as, according
to his own account, he entered upon a nautical
life when but fourteen years of age. J
* CoUimbus latinized his name in his letters accord-
ing to the usage of the time, whew Latin was the
language of learned correspondence. In subsequent
life when in Spain he recurred to what was supposed
to be the original Roman name of the family, Colo-
nus, which he abbreviated to Colon, to adapt it to the
Castilian tongue. Hence he is known in Spanish his-
tory as Christoval Colon. In the present work the
name will be written Columbus, being the one by
which he is most known throughout the world.
f The reader will find the vexed questions about
the age, birthplace, and lineage of Columbus severally
discussed in the Appendix.
t Agostino Giustiniani, Ann. de Genova. His
assertion has been echoed by other historians, viz.,
Anton Gallo de Navigatione Colombi, etc., Muratori,
torn, xxiii. ; Barta Senaraga, de rebus Genuensibus,
Muratori, torn. 24.
§ Hist, del Almirante, cap, 4,
In tracing the early history of a man like Co.
lumbus, whose actions have had a v.isl ellect on
human aff.iirs, it is interesting to notice how
much has been owing to external influences, how
much to an inborn |)ro|)cnsity oi the genius. In
the latter jj.irt of his iile, when, imprcsseil with
the sublime events brought about through his
agency, Columbus looked b.u k upon iiis career
with a solemn and superstitious feeling, he attnli-
uted his early and irresistd)le inclin.ition for the
se.i, and his passion tor geographical studies, to
an impulse from the Deity jireparing him for the
high (lecrees he was choosen to accom|)lish.*
The nautical propensity, however, evinced l>y
Columbus in early lite, is common to boys of en-
terprising spirit and lively imagination brought
U|) in maritime cities ; to whom the sea is the
high road to .-ulventure and the region ot ro-
mance. Cieiioa, too, walled in and straitened on
the land side by rugged mount. lins, yielded but
little scope lor enterprise on shore, while an opu-
lent and widely extended commerce, visiting'
every country, .and a roving ni.irine, battling in
every sea, naturally led torih her children upon
the waves, as their propitious element. Many,
too, were induced to emigrate by the violent tac-
tions whiih r.iged within the bosom of the citv,
and often dyed its streets with blood. A histori-
an of Cieiio.i laments this proneness of its youth
to w.mder. They go, said he, with the intention
of returning when they shall have actjuired the
means ot living comfortably and honorably in
their native |)lace ; but we know from long expe-
rience, that ot twenty who thus depart scarce two
return ; either dying abroad, or taking to them-
selves foreign wives, or being loath to expose them-
selves to the tempest of civil discords which dis-
tract the republic!
The strong passion for geographical knowledge,
also, felt In' Columbus in early lite, and which in-
spired his aiier career, was incident to the age in
which he lived. Geographical discovery was the
brilliant path of light which was forever to dis-
tinguish the tlfteeiiih century. During a long
night of monkish bigotry and false learning, geo-
graphy, with the other sciences, had been lost to
the Eurojiean nations. Fortunately it had not
been lost to mankind : it had taken refuge in the
bosom of Africa. While the jjedantic scnoolmen
of the cloisters were wasting time and talent, and
confounding erudition by idle reveries and sophist-
ical dialectics, the Arabian sages, assembled at
.Sen.iar, were taking the measurement ot a degree
of latitude, :ind calculating the circumference of
the earth, on the vast i)lains of Meso|)otamia.
True knowledge, thus happily preserved, was
now making its way back to F^urope. The revi-
val of science accompanied the revival of letters.
Among the \arious authors which the awakening
zeal for ancient literature had once more brought
into notice, were I'liny, Pomponius Mela, and
Strabo. From these was regained a fund of geo-
graphical knowledge, which had long faded from
the public mind. Curiosity was aroused to pur-
sue this forgotten path, thus suddeidy reopened.
A translation of the work of IHolemy had been
made into Latin, at the commencement of the
century, by Emanuel Chrysoleras, a noble and
learned Greek, and had thus been rentlered more
familiar to the Italian students. Another transla-
tion had followed, by James Angel de Scarpiaria,
of which fair and beautiful coi)ies became com-
* Letter to the Castilian Sovereigns, 1501.
f Foglieta, Istoria de Genova, lib. ii.
4
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
7 of a man likf Co.
had a v.ist etlcit on
<liiij^ to nolici; how
•iiial iiiMufncfs, how
y ol the Kt'iiiiis, In
,lu'ii, inipifs'ifil with
al)out thi'oii^li his
a<k u|)on his carter
JUS ffflinx, he attrib-
ilt; iiulinalion for the
ijjraphical studit's, to
ircparinj; him (or the
to aci-omplish,*
however, evinced by
mmoii to boys of en-
inia^ination brought
wlioin the sea is the
d the region ot ro-
in and straitened on
uunt.iins, yielded but
sliore, wiiile an opii-
rommi'rce, visiting
f marine, liattiin}; in
ih her children upon
lus eiement. Many,
ite l)y the violent fac-
ie bosom of the city,
th l)l()()d. A histori-
roncness of its youth
le, with tiu; intention
11 have acquired the
y and honorably in
now from long expe-
lus depart scarce two
, or taking to ihcm-
loath to expose theni-
discords which (lis-
rajihical knowledge,
lite, and which in-
cident to the age in
discovery was the
was forever to dis-
During a long
false learning, geo-
es, had i)een lost to
unately it had not
taken refuge in the
)edantic schoolmen
me and talent, and
reveries and sophist-
iges, assembled at
inx-ment of a degree
he circumference of
Mesopotamia.
pily preserved, was
"•Europe. The revi-
■ revival of letters.
hich the awakening
once more brought
iiponius Mela, and
ined a fund of geo-
ad long faded from
ivas aroused to pur-
suddenly reopened.
I'tolemy had been
imencement of the
eras, a noble and
)een rendered more
Another transla-
ngel de .Scarpiaria,
opies became com-
eigns, 1501,
lib. ii.
al
t
til
!•:
mon in the Italian libraries.* The writings also
liegaii to be sought alter of Averroes, Allrag.tnus,
and other .Ar.ibian sages, who b.id kept the sacred
tire ot St lence alive, (luring the interval ot Luro-
pean darkness.
The knowledge thus reviving was limited and
imperfect ; yet, like the return of morning light,
it seemed to rail a new creation into existence,
and broke, with all the charm of wonder, upon
imaginative minds. They were surprised at
their- own ignor.mce of the world around ihem.
Kverv stepw.ts discovery, for every region beyond
their n.itive country was in a manner terra incog-
nit.i.
.Such was the state of information and feeling
with respect to this interesting science, in the
early p.irt of the lilteenth century. An interest
still inore intense w,is .iw.ikened by the discover-
ies which beg. in to be made along the .Atlantic
coasts ot Alric.i ; and must have t)eeii particularly
felt aiming a m.iritime and commercial people
like the (lenoese. To these circumstances may
we ascribe the enthusiastic devotion which Co-
lumbus imbibed in his childhood tor cosmogr.iph-
ical studies, and which influenced all his .itter
fortunes,
The short time passefl by him at the university
of I'.ivia w.is barely sutticient to give him the ru-
diments ot the necess.iry sciences ; the familiar
acquaintance with them, which he evinced in
after life, must have been the result of diligent
self-schooling, in casual hours of study ;imi(l the
cares and vicissitudes of a rugged and wandering
life. Me was one of those men of strong natural
genius, who. from having to contend at their very
outset with privations ;ind impediments, acquire
an intrepidity in encountering and a facility in
van(|uisliing dit'ficuliies, throughout their career.
.Such men learn to effect great pur]K)ses with
small means, sui)plying this deficiency by the re-
sources of their own energy and invention. This,
from his earliest commencement, throughout the
whole of his life, was one of the remarkat)le
features in the history of Columbus. In every
undertaking, the scantiness and a|)parent insuffi-
ciency of liis means enhance the grandeur ot his
achievements.
CHAPTER II.
EARLY VOYAGES OK COI.U.MBUS.
Coi.UMliU.s, as has been observed, commenced
his nautical career when about fourteen years of
age. Mis first voyages were made with a dist.int
relative named Colombo, a hardy veteran of the
seas, who had risen to some distinction by his
bravery, and is occasionally mentioned in old
chronicles ; sometimes as commanding a stjuad-
ron ot his own, sometimes as an admiral in the
Cienoese service. He appears to have been bold
and adventurous ; ready to fight in anv cause,
and to seek quarrel wherever it might lawfully be
found.
The seafaring life of the Mediterranean in thr e
days w,is hazardous and daring. A commercial
expedition resembled a warlike cruise, and the
maritime merchant had often to fight his way
*rom port to port. Piracy was almost legalized.
The frequent feuds between the Italian states ;
the cruisings of the Catalonians ; the armadas
fitted out by private noblemen, who exercised a
* Andres, Hist. B. Let,, lib. iii. cap. a.
kind of sovereignty in tlirir own domains, and
kept petty .irmies and n.tvies in their pay ; the
roving snips and s(|uadr()ns ot private .idveii-
turer:., a kind ot naval Condottieri, sometimes
employed by hostile govirnments, sometimes
scouring thi; seas in search ot lawless booty ;
these, with the holy w.irs waged against the .Ma-
hometan powers, rendered the n.irrow seas, to
which navigation svas principally conlined, scenes
of hardy encounters and trying reverses.
.Such was the rugged school in which Columbus
was reared, and it would h,i\e been deeply inter-
esting to have marked the e.irly develo|imeiit of
his geniu.i amid its stern adversities. All this
instructive er.i of his history, however, is covererl
with darkness. His son Fernando, who could
have l)est elucidated it, h.is left it in obscuritv, or
has now and then per|)lexed us with cross lights ;
perh:i|)S unwilling, from .1 priiui|ile of mist.ikeu
pride, to reveal the indigence and obscurity from
which bis father so gloriously emerged.
Tlie first voyage in which we have any .iccount
of his being engaged was a naval expediiioii,
fitted out in (lenoa in 1459 l)y John ot Anjou,
Duke of Calabria, to make a descent upon
.Naples, in the bo|)e of recovering tii.it king-
dom for his father King Reinier, or Kenatii,
otherwise called Rent', Count of Provence. The
re|)ul)lic of (lenoa aided him with ships and
money. The brilliant nature cd the enterprise at-
tr.icted the attention of daring and restless spirits.
The chiv.ilrous noblem.m, the soldier ot fortune,
the hardy corsair, the desperate iidventurer, the
mercenary p.irtisan. all hastened to enlist under
the banner of Anjou. The veteran Colombo took
a |)art in this expedition, either with galleys ot his
own, or as a commanderof theClenoese s(|U.idri)n,
and with him embarked his youthful relative, the
future discoverer.
The struggle of John of Anjou for the crown of
Naples lasted about four years, with v.iried for-
tune, but was tin.illy unsuccessful. Tin- n.ival
part of the expedition, in which Columbus was
engaged, signalized itself by acts of intrepidity ;
and at one time, when the duke was reduced to
take refuge in the island of Ischia, a handful of
galleys scoured and controlled the bay of .\.i|)les.*
In the course of this g.iUant but ill-fated enter-
prise, Columt)US was (let;iched on a perilous
cruise, to cut out a galley from the harbor of
Tunis. This is incident.illy mentioned by himself
in a letter written many years .afterward. It h.ip-
pened to me, he says, that King Reinier (whom
Clod has taken to himself) sent me to Tunis, to
capture the galley Fern.iiulin.i, .and when I ar-
rived off the island of St. Pedro, in Sardinia, I was
informed that there were two shijis and a cirr.ick
with the galley ; by which intelligence my crew
were so troubled that they determined to ])roceed
no further, t)ut to return to Marseilles for .mother
vessel and more people ; as I could not by any
means compel them, f assented .'ip|);irentiy to
their wishes, altering the point of the comp.iss and
spreading all sail. It w.is then evening, and next
morning we were within the Cape of Carthagena,
while all were firmly of oi)inion that they were
sailing toward Marseilles. t
VVe have no further record of this bold cruise
into the harbor of Tunis ; but in the foregoing
p.irticulars we behold early indications <it that
resolute and persevering spirit which insured him
* Colenuccio, Istoria dc Nap. lib. vii, cap. 17.
t Letter of Columbus to the Catholic sovereigns,
vide Hist, del Almirante, cap. 4.
10
Liri-: AND VOYAGES OF COLUMDL'S.
•tirrrns in his nvnr impon.int iindcrt.ikin^s. His
p\|)'ilii-iit to hf^jiiilc a (liMontciitiMJ ( rcw int<i a
rontmu.ttiuii ol die rtilfrprisr, i)y dcci-ivinj,' ihrm
Willi rfs|ir( I lo thr slii|)\ i oiirsi', uill hv loiinij m
unisiiii witli a stral.i^'i'in ul altcnii^; llic rci kiiiiiii;,',
.iKUJinli lie It. 1(1 rctourii: lit In-, lii^il \c)y,ijrc ul
(liii (iNcry.
I)iiniij( an interval of many yi-ars wr liavt- but
oni' 'p|' iwi) shailowy tr.iccs dl (niurnlius. He is
sii|i|)ii>ii(| to have Iktii |prim ipally ••n^amMl on tin-
Mediterranean and u|) the I.ev.tnt ; sunietitnes in
foiiiiiiereial voya^'e-. ; sometimes in the warlike
ronlests between the Italian slates ; sometimes in
|)iinis and predatory expeditions a|,Minst the Inti-
(lels. 1 listorians liavi' made liim in 1474 eaptain
of se\'eial (ienoese ships, in the service ot Louis
XI. ol France, and I'ndan^jerin^j the peace between
that country and Sp.iin by runniiijr down and
capturiM;,' Spanish \'essels at sea, on his own re-
sponsibility, as a reprisal for an irruption ot the
Spaniards into Koussillon.* A^ain, m 1475, he
is represent'-d as brushinj^ with his Cieiioise
s<|iiadron in rultliii^f bravado b) a \'enetian li.et
statioiie<l otf the island ot Cyprus, shoutin;,' " \iva
San < leorj,'ii) I" the old war-cry of (leiioa, ilni-.
endeavoring; to pi(pi(; the jealous pride ol the
Veiutiaiis and jirovoke a combat, tliouj,di the rival
republics were at peace at the time.
'riie.se transactions, liowevi r, lia\i' been irrone-
ouslv attributed to Cobimbus. i'liey were the
<leeils, or misdeeds, eiilnr ot his rt lalive the old
(ienoese .idmiral, or of a nephew ot the same, ot
kindred spirit, called Colombo the Voun;rer, to
clistinLjuish him from his uncle. They both ap-
pear to h.ive Ix'cn l.nid of rou^jh encounters, and
not very scrupulmis as to ilic mode ot brin^iii},^ iheiii
about. l''eni.indot.'iilu minis describes thist 'olumbc
the Younirer as a l.imous ccnsair, so terrible lur his
deeds .ij^-.iinst the Inridels, that the .Moorish mothers
use.l to IriKhten their unruly children with his
n.ime. Columbus s.iiled with him occasioriallv,
as he had done with liis uncle, ,ind, acco .liiiLT to
l''erii.iiido's account, lonimaiided a vessel in his
scpiadroii on an eventlul occasion.
(-olombo the N'ouiiHcr, liavinj,' heard that four
\*uneti,in (;alleys richly l.'iilen were on their return
voyatje Irom I'landers, laid in wait for them <jn
tlie l'ortu:,fuese coast, between Lisbon and Cape
St. X'incent. A desperate en^Mj,'ement took
])l.ice : the vessels .L,nMppled each other, and the
crews fouijlit hand to li.iiid, and fro'n slii|) to shi|).
'I'he b.ittle lasted Irom inornin;,^ until evenin^f,
with ;.;reat c.irna^fe on both sides. I'lie vessel
comm.inded by Columbus was eni^ajfed with a
Inv^f \'eneti.in ;,Mllev. They threw hand-ijre-
nades and other tiery missiles, and the j^alley was
wr.ipped in ll.imes. 1 he vessels were taslened
to^'ether by chains aii'l },''rappliii;;- irons, an ' lould
not be se|)arati"d ; both were iiuolved in one ^on-
liajrr.itinn, ;md soon became a mere blazing mass.
The crews threw themselves into the sea ; Colum-
)ius seized an oar, which wis lloatinj,' within
re.ich, ,ind beiiijr ,-in expt'rt swimmer, .attained the
shori', though lull two leanaies disl.int. It ple.ised
Ciod, says his son I'ern.mdo, to ijive him slreiiL;tli,
that he mij,dit preserve him for greater lhiiii,''s.
Alter recoveriii;.;' Irnin his I'xhauslion he rep lired to
Lisbon, where he found m.iiiv ot his (Ienoese coun-
trymen, and was induced to t.ike up his residence. t
'• Cliaufcpic Siip[)!. to liaylc, vol, ii, ; article
" Cokiinljus."
] Hist, del Almirante, cap. 5. See Illustrations at
the end of thts work, article " Capture of ihe \'cnc-
tian Galleys."
Such is the arroiint jjivrn by Fernando of hii
f.ither's lirst .irriv.d in i'ortn^Ml ; and it has been
currentiv .nlopted by modern historians ; but mi
examining various historii's of the tunes, the b.tt.
tie here dcsi ribed .ippe.irs to h.i\f li.ippened sev-
eral ye.irs alter the d.ite ot thearriv.il ot Columbui
in that country. l hat he wascn^,M^;ed in the con-
test IS not improbal)le ; but he had previously re-
sideil tor some lime in I'ortiin.il. In t.ict, on re-
ferring to the hisiory ol tli.it kin^jihnn, we sli.ill
lind, in the ^reat maritime enterjirises in whii h it
w.is at til, It time en^a),'ed, ample .ittractions lor a
person ot his im liii.iiioiis and pursuits ; and we
shall be led to (oik bide, th.it his lirst \isit to Le>-
bon w.is not the lortuitous result ot a desperati'
adventure, liut w.is undert.ikeii in a spirit ot lili-
eral curiosity, and in the pursuit ot huiioral)lt:
turiunu.
CUAI'TKK Iir.
I'ROilKKSS Ol' DISCOVKKV fNDI-.R I'KINCK IIKNRY
ot I'okllUl.M,.
Till-: career of modern discovery li.id com-
menced shortly before the lime ot Columbus, ami
at the period ol which we are trealiiij; was prose-
cuted w ith ^reat activity by l'oriui,Ml. Some have
.Utributed Its ori^fin to a nnn.intic incident in lliu
toiirieeiuh ( eiitury. An l'!n>,disliman ot the n.inif
ot .M.ich.im, llyin),f to 1" ranee with a l.idy ot whom
lie was enamoieii, w.is driven t.ir out ol si^lit ot
land by stress ot weather, and alter wanderiii;;
about the hi),di seas, arrived at .111 unknown ami
uniiihabiieil isl.iiid, covered with beautdiil loresis,
which was .ilterward called .M.ideir.i. * Others
h.i\e treated this iccouht as a table, and have
pronounced the Caii.iries to be the tlr.st Iruits ol
modern discovery. 'I'his famous ^{rou|), the For-
tunate Islands of the ancitnts, in which liny
pl.iced iheir ;; irdeii ol the I k-sperides, and wheiu c
I'lolemy commenced to count the l(ni;;iiude, hail
been lonn' lost to the world. There are vajfue ac-
counts, it is true, ot 'heir having' received cisu.,!
visits, at wide' intervals, durinjr the obscure .i^es,
from the wandering,' b.irk of some .Arabian, .Nor-
man, or Cienoese .idvenlurer ; but all this w.is in-
volved in uncert.iiiuy, and led to no benetlcial re-
sult. It was not until the fourteenth century th.it
they were efleclually rediscovered, and restin-ed
to mankind. I'roin thai time they were occasion-
ally visited by the h.irdy iiavi;,Mlors ol various
countries. The (greatest benetit |)ro(hlced by their
discovery was, th.it the Ireipieiu expeditions m.idc
to them emboldened mariners I'l venture tar U|)(m
the Atlantic, and familiarized ihem, in some de-
cree, to its dan^rers.
The j;r, 111(1 impulse to discovery was not ffiveii
by chance, but was the deeply meditated effort ol
one master mind. This was I'rince Henry of
I'ortu^^U, son of John the First, surnamed the
Aveiif^er, and I'hilippa, of Lancaster, sister of
Henry the I'ourlh (jl Fn^fland. The character of
this illustrious 111, 111, Irom whose enterprises the
);eiiiusol Columbus took excitement, deserves par-
ticular mention.
Havini,' accompanied his father into Africa, in
an exiiedilion a;;-,iinst the Moors ;it Ceuta he re-
ceived much intormation concerning; the coast ot
(lUinea, and oilier re^nons in the interior, hitherto
unknown to Europeans, and conceived an idea
* See illustrations, article '' Discovery of Ma-
deira."'
I
LIFK AND VOYAOKS OF COIA'MIUS.
11
by Fernando ol IiIh
^.il : an<l It hat been
I biitori.itis ; luit on
)l ilif limfi, ibf li.it.
I b.ivc li.ippcMccI M'v-
• aniv.il i)t Ciilumbus
i!> cnj,M^;f(l in llii: con-
tit- bail |>rfvii!usly re-
u^al. (n t.K t, (III re-
u kin),'ilnm, \sf shall
nttr|iriscs in wliiili it
ii|)li' .uiratiiDHs lur a
III iiur.'tiiits ; and \se
his first visit to Lis<
rt'sull ot a dtspcrate
u-i\ in a sjiirit nt lib-
lursuit ot hoiiiirable
iir.
SDI K PKINrr. IIINRY
lAI,.
(lisrovcry iiad cuni-
nu' lit L'lilunilius, and
V tnatiuj; was prose-
'iiriuijal. Sdini' have
iiaiuic iiiiidc'it in the
^'lishinaii (it the name
with a lady nt wluim
•n l,ir nut (it si^;ht uf
and alter w.imlerin;;
at an iiiiUnown ami
uith beauntul lorests,
1 Madeira.* Others
is a table, and have
) In- tlu: first triiits ot
pious j;r(iup, the Fnr-
•nts, in which tluy
ksperides, and wlieiu e
It the lon^ilude, hail
'I'here are va>{Ue ac-
liviii)^ received casu.il
1^ the iibsiurc .lue"*.
Slime Arabian, Nnr-
; but all this was iii-
1 to no beiieliri.d n-
irleeiith I'cntury that
i\i'red, and restored
• they were occasion-
i\i;4.itiirs ot various
lit produced by their
lit expeditions made
to venture tar uixm
I them, in some de-
bvery was not j^iveii
|y meditated ellort o!
lis Triiice Henry oi
•"ir:it, surnanied the
l-ancaster, sister of
The character ot
■lose enterprises the
pment, deserves par-
llher into Africa, in
Tiors at Ceuta he re-
lernin'r the coast ot
Ihe interior, hitherto
conceived an idea
I'' Discovery of Ma-
■I
tliat important diHrovrrics were to l)e made liy
navl;,'.Hlll^,' aloaj,' Ihe western mast ot Atrn a. < )n
returning lo i'ortu^jal, tins idea became his rullll^{
thou^jhi. \\ iihilr.iwm^ from tie tumult ot a court
Id a countrv nticat in the Al^'arves, ne.ir Sa^'res,
in the nei^diborhood ot Cain- St. \ inceiit, and in
tult view of tlie ocean, be drew .iround him men
rmiiunt in s( icnce, and prosecuted the study ot
those br.iiuhes of knowledge (diinected witli the
maritime arts. He was an aide mathematician,
and made himself master ot all the astrononiy
known to i!ie Arabi.ms ot Spain.
On stiUiMii'.; Ihe works of the ancients, he found
what lie > onsidered abund.int proo's that Atric.i
was ciri iiiiin.ivi^Mtile. laidoxus ot Cy/icus w.is
g.iid to lia\c s.ided from tlie Ked Sea into the
oce.m, and to li.ive contiiuieil on to (libraltar;
and Haniio the L'artli.i^ini.in, s.lllin^; from (iibral-
t.ir with a fleet ut si.xty ships, and following; the
Atrii ,111 coast, was said to h.ive .e.iched the
.shores ot .Arabia.* It is true these V(ly.l^;es h.id
been discreclited by sever.il .im lent writers, ;iiid
the possibility ot circumn.ivij,Mlinj,r Atric.i, .itter
liein^' for a ion;; time admitted by ;,'eo;;r.iiihers,
was denied by I tipp.ircbus, who considered e.i(h
se.i shut up .iiid land-bound in its peculiar b.isin ;
and lh.it .\lrica was a continent ((intinuin^fonw.ird
to the south pole, and surroiindiiiL; the Indian Sea,
so ai to j'lin Asia lieyond the ( i.iiij^'es. 'I'his opin-
ion h '(I been ii lopted by I'loleniy, whose works,
in the time ot i'riiice Henry, were the hi).;hest au-
thority in K''";;i''P''y ""-■ I'rinie, however, ilun;;
to the ancient belief, th.it Africa w.is circumiiavi-
ffalile, ;ind found his oiiinioii s.inctioned by vari-
ous learned men ot more modern date. 'I'o settle
this (pies'.ion, and aihieve the circumn.ivi^fation
ot .Atric.i, w.is an object worthy tlie .imliition ot a
prince, iind his mind was tired with the idea ot
the vast lunelits that would .arise to his country
should it be accomplished by I'ortu^fuese enter-
|irise.
ihe li.ili.ms, or I.oinb.irds. .is they were c.illed
in tlie north ol lairope, had lon;^ monopoli/ed the
tr.ide of .Asia. 'I'hey had lormed commercial es-
tablishments .It Coiistaiitinoiile and in the illack
Sea, where they received the rich produce ot the
S|)ice Isl.iiids, lyin^f near the e(|U.itor ; and the
silks, the ;;iims, the perfumes, the precious stones,
and other Insurious conimodilies of Il),'ypt and
souihern Asia, and distributed them over the
whole ot iMirope. The ri'iuiblics of X'enice and
(ienoa rose to opulence and power in conse(|Uence
Of this trade. 'I'hey h.id laclories in the most re-
mole p.iris, even in the frozen re^jioiis of Moscovy
and Norway. Their merchams emul.iled the
niairnificence of princes. All lairope was tribu-
tary to their commerce. Yet this trade had to
p.iss tlirou);!) v.irious iiuerme(li.ite hands, subject
to the (leLiys and ch.irtfes of interna! .iavij,'ation,
and the tedious and uncertain jo'irneys of the
car.ivan. I'dr a lon^r time the merchandise of
India was conveyed by the (lull of I'ersi.i, die l.u-
phrates, the Indus, and the Oxus, to the Caspian
an.l the Mediterranean seas ; thence to take a
new destination tor the various marts ot Europe.
Alter the Soldan of l'j.;ypt had conquered the
Aiatis, and restored trade to its ancient channel,
it W.IS still alteiuled with jjreat cost and delay,
its precious commodities had to be conveyed by
the Red Sea ; thence on the backs of camels to
the banks ot the Nile, whence they were trans-
ported lo Kgypt to meet the Italian merchants.
* See illustrations, article " Circumnavigation of
Africa by die Ancients."
TluM, while the opulent trafllrof ihe K.i^t wad rn-
j;rosse(l liy itiese .idvenluioiis moiiopolisl'i, the
price ot every .irlule w.is i nil. meed by the jjre.it
expense ot tr.insporl.ilioii.
It W.IS the ;;r.ind idci of I'muc Henry, by cir-
cunin.iv i;,Mlin;; Africa to open .idireit .md e.isy
route to the source ot this i oniinen c, to turn it in
a >;iilden tide upon liis (ountry. He was, how-
ever, before the a),'e in tliou;;lit, .md h.id lo coun-
teract i^jnor.inie .ind |iiiiudi( c, .iiid tn endure tlic
didays to whii li vivid ,iiid peiietr.ilin^ tninds art?
subjected, from the l.irdy i n-oper.itioiis of the dull
and the doubltul. Ttie n.iv ij;.ition ot the Atl.mtic
was yet in its inl.incy. M.iriners lonkeil with dis-
trust upon a liiiisterous ex|i.inse, wliii h appe.ireij
lo h.ive no oppipsite shore, .'Hid te.ired lo venture
out ot si^^lu ot tlie l.indm.irks. livery liold lie. id-
land, and far-stretchiii;,' promontory w.is i\ wall to
b.ir their pro^jress. 1 hey crept tiiiioroiisly alon>j
the il.irbary slior( s, and llioii;;ht ihev had accom-
|)lished a wdiideilul expedition when they had
ventured a tew (Kurees beyoinl the Straits of (lib-
r.iltar. Cape N'mi w.is lonj^ the limit of their (hir-
ing ; they liesit.ited to double its rocky point,
beaten by winds .md vv.ives, and thre.iteiiinj{ lo
thrust them forth upon the '''inbi;; (l(c|).
Independent ot these v,i;;iie fears, lliey had
others, s.iiii tioiied by philosdphy itself. Tluy still
thou^fht that the earth, at the e(|ii,itor, w.is ;;irt|led
by a torrid /one, over w hii h the sun held his ver-
tical and hery course, se|i.ir.ainvj tin- hi inispheres
bv a rej^ion ot im|)assive heal. I Icy f.mcieil
C.ipe I'lojador the uiiiKist bound, iry nt secure en-
terjirise. and had a superstitious belitt that who-
ever doubled it would never return.* They
looked with dism.iy ujion the r.ipid currents of its
iiei;,diliorhood, and the turious surt which beats
uiion its arid coast. They ini.i;,dncd that lieyond
it l.iy the tri;;litlul re;;ioii ot the torrid /one,
scorched liy a bla/in^'' sun ; ,i re;;ioii ot lire, where
the very waves, which beat upon the shores,
boiled under the intoler.ible fervor ol the heavens.
1 o dispel these errors, .md to ;;ive a scope to
navi;;ation, equ.il to the ;;raiiileur ot Ids desi).;iis,
I'rince Henry established a naval college, and
erected .ill observatory at .S.1|,m'cs, and he invited
thither the mosl eminent prolessorsot the n.uuical
faculties ; appointinj^ as president J.iliies of M.il-
lorca, a man learned in ii.iv i;;ation, and skilful in
makiii);' charts and instrumeiiis.
'fill-' elfrcts of this est.ililishiiieiU were soon ap-
|);irent. All that w.is known rel.itivc to f^co^jra-
|iliy and nav i^Mtioii w.is ;;.ilhered to;,^ether and
rcduied lo system. A v.ist im]n-(ivclileiit to(d<
pl.ice in maps. 'I'lie ( (inip.iss was .dso liroii;r|it
into niori' ^^ciieral use, especially anion;,' the I'or-
tu;;uese, rciideriii;,'' tlii^ mariner liM.-e bold and
venturous, by eii.-iblin;;- him to iiavij^.ite in tliu
mo-.t ;;liiomy day and in the darkest iiiijht. I-ai-
cour.i;rcd by these advanta;;es, ;ind stimulated by
the munificeiice of I'rince Henry, the l'ortu;;uese
marine became si;;n,di/:ed tor the li.u'dihood ot its
eiiter]irise.s .md the extent of its discoveries.
Cape 15oj.idor wms doiible 1 ; the rcj^ion of the
tro])ics peiietr.ited, :iiid divested of its fancied ter-
rors ; the greater part of the Afric.m coast, from
Cape 151aiico to Cape de Verde, explored ; and
the CajK' de X'erde and .A/ore islands, which l.iy
three hundred lea^fues distant from the continent,
were rescued from the oblivious empire of the
oce.m.
'i'o secure the quii^t i)..iS(.(Ution and full enjoy,
ment of his discoveries, lit nry obt. lined the [iro-
'"' Mariana. Hist. Esp., lib. ii. cap. 22.
12
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
I
m
::if
ill
tection of a papal bull, pranlinjj to the crown of
I'ortuj^ai sovcrti>;ii autliority over all the lands it
might discovfr in ilic Atlantic, to India inclusivf ,
with plenary indulgence lo all who should die in
these expeditions ; at the same time menacinjf,
with the terrors of the church, all who should
interfere in these Christi.m con(|uests.*
Henry died on the ijlh ot November, 1473,
without acconiplishinjr the j^rcat object of his am-
bition. It was not until many years afterward
that Vasco de ("lania, pursuinj^ with a I'ortujjuese
fleet the track he had |)((inted out, realized his
anticipations by douhliuL,^ the Cape of (iood Hope,
sailinjj along the southern coast of India, and thus
opening a highway for commerce to the o])ulent
regions of the East. Henry, however, lived long
enougli to reap some ot the richest rewards of a
great and good mind. He beheki, through his
means, his native country in a gr.md and active
career of prosperity. The discoveries of the I'or-
tuguese were; the wonder and ,i(l niration of the
tifteenlh century, and I'oriugal, i im being one
of the least among n.itions, sutldeidy rose to be
one of the most iin|)ortant.
All this w.is ellected, not by arms, but by arts ;
not by the stratagems of .1 cabinet, but by the wis-
dom of a college. It was the gre ;t achievement
of a i)rince, who li.is well lieen described " full of
thoughts of lofty enter])rise, and acts of generous
spirit ;" one wh.o bore for his device the mag-
nanimous motto, "The talent to do good," the
only talent worthy the ambition of princes. f
Henry, at his de.ith, left it in charge to his
country lo ])rosecute the route to India. He had
formed com])anies and associations, by which
commercial zeal was enlisted in the cause, and it
was made a matter of interest and com|)etition to
enler])rising individuals. J; from time to time Lis-
bon was thrown into a tumult of excitement by
the launching forth ot some new exjiedition, or the
return of a s(pi,i(lnm with .accounts of new tr.rts
explored and new kingdoms visited. Kverythine
was conlulent promise ami sanguine anticipatio
The miserable honks of the African coast weri-
magnitied mto |iowerful nations, and the vovagers
continually heard of opulent coimtries farther on.
It was ah yet the tw iliglit of geogra])hic knowl-
edge ; imagin.iiion went hand in hand with dis-
covery, and as the l.ittt'r groped its slow and c.ui-
tious w'ay, the former peopled all beyond with
wonders. The fame of the I'ortuguese discover-
ies, and of the e\|e(litions (ontinually setting out,
drew the attention of the world. Strangers from
all p.irts, the learned, the curious, and tlie adven-
turous, resorted to I.islxm to in(|uire into the par-
ticulars or to ])articipate in the advantages of
these enterprises. .'Xniong these was Christopher
Columbus, whellu'r thrown there, as has been as-
serted, by the fortuitous result of a desperate ad-
venture, or drawn thither by liberal curiosity and
the pursuit of honorable lt)rtune.{(
C!IAI'TI:R IV.
RrSlDENCK f)l' CDilMlUS AT T.ISUON — Wl'AR
t()NCi;i<MN(i 1S1..\N1)S IN TIIK. OfKAN.
CoLU.Ml'.L's .arrived at Lisbon about the year
1470. He was at that time in the iull vigor of
manhood, and of an engaging presence. Minute
* Vasronrclos, Hist, do Juan II.
f loam (le Harros, Asia, decad. i.
t Lafilau, Conqiiitcs des I'ortugais, torn. 1. lib. i.
^ Herrcra, dccad, i. lib. i.
descriptions are given of his person by his son
Fernando, by Las Casas, anti others ot his con-
temporaries.* According to these accounts, he
was tall, well-formeil, muscular, and of an ele-
vated and ilignilied demeanor. His visage was
long, anci neither fidl nor meagre ; his complexion
fair and freckled and inclined to ruddy ; his nose
a(|uiline ; his cheek-bones were rather high, hist
eyes light gray, and apt to enkindle ; his whole
countenance had an air of .luthority. His hair,
in his youthful days, was of a light color ; but
care and trouble, according to Las C.isas, soon
turned it gray, and at thirty years of age it was
(|uite white. He was moderate and simple in iliet
and api)arel, ehuiuent in discourse, engaging .and
affable with str.mgers, and his amiableness and
suavity in domestic life strongly attached his
household to his person. His temper was natu-
rally irritable ; t but he subdued it by the mag-
nanimity ot his s|)irit, comporting himself with a
courteous <ind gentle gravity, .md never indulging
in ;iny intemperance of langu.ige. Througluiut
his lite he was noted for strict attention to the
offices of religion, observing rigorously the fasts
and ceremonies of the church ; nor did his piety
consist in mere forms, but partook of that lofty
an<l solemn entausiasm with which his whole
character was strongly tinctured.
While at Lisbiin, he was accuston)ed to attend
religious service at the chapel of the convent of
All .Saints. In this convent were cert.iin ladies
of rank, either resident as boarders, or in some
religious capacity. With one of these, Columbus
became ac(|uainted. .She was I)oi^,l Felipa,
daughter of liartolomeo MotTis de I'erestrello. an
Italian cavalier, lately deceased, who had been
one of the most distinguished n.ivigators under
Triiice Henry, and had coloni/ed and governed
the island ot I'orto Santo. The ac(|uaintance soon
ri|)i'ned into .itt.uhment, and ended in marriage.
1' .ijipears to have been .1 match of mere affection,
as the lady was destitute ot fortune.
The newly m.irried C(niple resided with the
mother of the bride. The latter, perceiving the
interest which Columbus took in all matters con-
cerning the sea, rel.ited to him .ill she knewot the
voy.>ges and ex|)editions ot her late husband, and
brought him all his ])a|)ers, charts, journals, and
memorandums. I In this way he became ac-
cpiainted with the routes of the I'ortuguese, their
])lans and concc])tions ; and having, liy his mar-
riage anil rcsidenci'v become n.iturali/'ed in Por-
tugal, he sailed occasionally in tlie expeditions to
the coast of Ciuinea. When on shore, he su])port-
ed his family by making maps and charts. Hi?
narrow circumstances obliged him to obse.'ve a
strict economy ; yet wc are told that he appropri-
ated a ])art ot his scanty means to the succor of
his .iged father at (Jenoa.j! and to the education
of his younger brothers. ||
The coiisiruction ot a correct map or chart, in
those ilays, recpiired a degree of knowledge and
ex|)erience sutlicient to entitle the possessor to
distinction. (ieography was bu' just emerging
from the darkness which had enveloped it for
ages. Ptolemy was still a st.mdard authority.
The maps of the tilteenth century displ.iy a mix-
ture of truth and error, in which tacts handed
• Hist, del Almirante, cap. 3.
Ind. lib. i. cap. 2, .vs.
Las Casas, HisL
+ lUescas, Hist. Pontifical, lit), vi.
i Ovifdo, Cronica de las Indias, lib. ii. cap. 2,
S5 Ibid.
( Muuoz Hist, del, N. Mundo ^^ it.
dow
cent
and
whei
ing
knov
Colu
the
wou
We
resid
Tosc
men
intlue
dert;i
Wl
to a
culia
favor
com I
ress
ceive
and
His (
had f
this
time
Sant(
erly,
a son,
broug
disco\
Corrc<
been j
togeth
lite, tf
discov
Africa
to Ind
known
In t
been t
and fr
the sti
i
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
13
person by his son
;l others ot his con-
these accounts, he
liar, and of an ele-
;)r. His visajje was
ffre ; his coni|)lexi()n
to ruddy ; liis nose
ere rather liijfh, his I
t:nl<iiulle ; his whole
utliority. His hair,
a iisht color ; liut
to Las C.isas, soon
years of ajje it was
le and siiii|)le in diet
Durse, enj^ajjinjj and
(lis aniiahleness and
)ngiy attached his
is temper was natu-
ued it by the majj-
rtinj,"- himself with a
and never induljfinjf
u.ij(e. 'l'hrouj;hiiut
ict attention to the
ri};()roiisly the fasts
I ; nor did his piety
artook ot that lotty
1 whicii his whole
red.
:custonied to attend
•I of the convent of
were cert. tin ladies
jarders, or in some
of these. Columbus
was Doi^.i l''elipa,
s de I'ere.'itrello. an
sed, who had i)een
d navifr.itors under
ii/ed and jjoverned
e ac(|uaintance soon
ended in niarriajfe.
h ot mere affection,
rtune.
resided with the
itter, perceiving; the
in all m.ilters con-
all she knew ot the
r late husband, and
harts, journals, and
ly he beiame ac-
I'ortUfjuese, their
ivinj;, by his mar-
n;iturali/c(l in I'or-
tlie expeditions to
shore, he su])port-
and charts. Hi?
him to observe a
that he appropri-
s to the succor of
d to the education
ct map or chart, in
of knowledj;e and
the possessor to
t)u* just emerjrinj;
;l enveloped it for
t.mdard authority.
tury display a mix-
liich facts handed
Las Casas, Hist.
vi.
;, lib. ii. cap. 2.
^1- ii.
down f'om antiquity, and others revealed by re-
cent discoveries, are' confused with popular fables
and extrava^MMt conjectures. At such a period,
when the passion tor m.iritime discovery was seek-
ing every aid to facilitate its enterprises, the
knowledjje and skill ot an al)le cosmo^jrapher like
Columl)us would be properly appreciated, and
the superior correciness of his maps and charts
would f^ive him notoriety amonj; men of science.*
VVe accordinj^'ly find him, .U an early |)erio(l of bis
residence in Lisbon, in correspondence wth I'aulo
Toscinelli, of h'lorence, one ol the most scientific
men ot the day. whc.se communications had j^'reat
influence in insijirilinj; him to his subsecjuent un-
dertakiniT.s.
While liis fjeoj^raphical labors thus elevated him
to a communion with the le.irned, they were |)e-
culiarly c.dcul.Heil to foster a tr.iin of thoujjhts
favorable to n.uitical enierpris(,'. From constantly
comparin^f mips ard ch.irts, and notinjr ine projj-
ress and direction ot discovery, he was led to ])er-
ceive how nuicli ol tliC world remained unknown,
and to meditate on the means of explorinjr it.
His domestic concerns, and the connections he
had formed by marriajfe, were all in unison with
this vein ot specul.ition. He resided tor some
time at tile reicntly discovered isl.md of I'orto
.Santo, where bis wife had iidierited some jjrop-
ertv, and duriiij.;' his ri'sideiice there she bore him
a son, whom he named Diej^o. This residence
broujjiu him. as it were, on the very frontier of
discovery. His wile's sister was married to I'edro
Correo, a navij^ator of note, who had at one time
been jroxirnor ot I'orto .S.iiito. Hein^ fre(|uentl\'
tojrether ill the t.miili.ir intercourse of domestic
lite, their coincrs.ilion naturally turned epon the
discoveries |)rosccuiinj^ in their vicinity alon^ the
African co.tst.-i ; upon the loiij;- soujjht tor route
to India ; and upon the possioility ot some un-
known Kinds existing in the west.
In their isl.md n-si(lcnc(', too, they must have
been frei|U('iuly visited liv the voy;ij.;;<-rs j.;oinjj to
and from duiiiea. l.ivinj;^ thus, surrounded bv
the stir .iinl bu .tie of discoverv, < ommuninjj^ with
persons who hie I risen bv it to tortune and honor,
and voy.i.tjini; in the verv tracks of its recent tri-
umphs, the ardent mind ol C'oluml)us kindled up to
entiiusi.ism in the cause. It w;is a period of j;en-
eral excitement to ,ill who were connected with
maritime lite, or who re^idecl in the vicinity ot the
oce.in. 'I"he recent discoveries had intlanied their
imafjinations, and had lilted them with visions ot
other islands, ot j^reater wcilth and be.iuty, yet
to l)e discovered in the boundless w.istes of the
Atlantic. The o|)inions and t.mcies of the an-
* The importance wliicli l)es,in to be attached to
cosmogrdphical knowleiljje is evident from tlie dis-
tinction which Mauro, ;in Italian friar, obtained from
having projec'.ed an universal m.tp, esteemed the most
accurate of the time. A facsimile of this map, upon
the s,ime scale as the oriiijinal, is nowdepositeil \n tlic
British Museum, and it has Ixcn published, with a
Reograpliical commentary, tiy tlie Learned Zurla. The
Venetians struck a medal in honor of him, on whicli
they (lenomin.iled him CdSinoKnipjais incomparabilis
(Collinc del Mussol. Naiit. p. 2, <:. 5). Yet Raniusio,
who had seen this map in the monastery of San
Michele de Murano, consiilcrs it merely an improved
copy of a map lirouuht from C.itliav l/y NLirco Polo
(R,imusio, t. ii. p. r;, Ld. Venct. Kiirfj). We are told
that Amcricus Vespucius p:ii(l one hundred and thirty
ducats (equivalent to five hundred and fifty-five dol-
lars In our time) for a map of sea and land, made at
Mallorca, in i43(), by Gal)r!el de Valseca (Harros, D.
L i. c. 15. Derroto por Tofino, Introd. p. 35).
cients on the stibjert were .ipain put in circula-
tion. The story ot Antilla, a ^re-it island in the
ocean, discovered by the C'artli,i,s;mi.ins, was tre-
(juently cited, and I'lalo's imaj,nn,iry At.ilantisonce
more fouiul firm believers. .M.iiiy ihounht that
the Canaries ami A/ores were but wrecks which
had survived its submersion, and that other and
larj^er frafrmeuls ot that drowned land mijrht yet
exist, ill remoter p.uts ot tlie .Atlantic.
One of the stroii).;('st symptoms ot the excited
state of the poiJtilar mind at this eventful era, was
the prevalence of rumors respecliu).; unknown
islands casually seen in the ocean. Ahiny ol these
were mere f.ibles, labricated to teed the preilomi-
nant humor of the |)ublic ; m.my had their origin
in the heated ima>,nnations ot \(ivacrers, t)eholclinfj
islands in those summer clouds which lie .ilonj;
the horizon, and often beguile the s.iilor with the
iilea of distant l.iiuls.
On such airy basis, most |)iob.ibly, was founded
the story told to Columbus by one Antonio Leone,
an inh:'l)ilant ol .Madeira, who alfirmed ih.it sail-
inj.' iHence westward one hundred lea^^^ues, he had
seen three islands at ;i disi.inct'. But the tales of
the kind most positively adv.im ed and /e.ilously
maintained, were those rel.ited by the people of
the Canaries, who were Ion;; under a siiij;ular
optical delusion. They ima^rined that, Irom time
to time, they beheld a vast island to tin; westward,
with lofty mount. tins ,'iiid deep valleys. Nor was
it seen in cloudy and dubious we.ither, but in
those clear days common to tropical climat<'S, and
with all the di^liiulness with which distant objects
may be discerned in their pure, tr,iiis|)arent at-
mos|)here. 'I'he island, it is true, w.is only seen
at intervals ; whiU' at other times, and in the
clearest weather, not a vestige ol it was to be de-
scried. When it did .-^jpear, however, it w.as
always in the s.ime place, .iiid under the same
form. .So persuaded wire the iidi.iliitaiits ol the
Canaries ot its re.ility, th.it .iiiplii .ilioii w.is made
to the Kin^ ot I'oitii^al lor permission to discover
and take possession ot it ; and it .u tually became
the object ot several expeiliiions. The island,
however, w.is never to be found, thouj^h it still
continued occasionally to 1 he, it the eye. There
were ;ill kinds ot wild and tanlastic notions con-
cerning this imajriiiaiv land. .Some sup|)ose(l it
to be the Antill.i mentioned by Aristotle ; others,
the Island ot .Seven Cities, so i alle(l Irom an an-
cient legend ol st-ven bishops, who, with a multi-
tude of followers, lied Irom .Spain at the time of its
coiKjuest by the Moors, .ind, j;uided by Heaven to
some unknown island in the 01 e.iii. touiided on it
seven splendid cities. While some considered it
another legendary island, on which, it was said,
a Scottish priest <d the ii.ime of .St. Ib-and.m had
landed, in the sixth century. This last legend
|)assed into current beliel. Th" taiu ied island
was calle<l by the naiiu' ot Si, rir.md.in, or St.
liorondon, ;'nd long coiitiiuieil ii be .iciually laid
down in maps tar to the west ot tlu' t'aiuiries.*
The same w.is done with the tabulous isl.ind of
.Antilla ; and these erroneous maps ;iiid ph.iiitom
islands have given rise ,il v.irioiis limes 10 asser-
tions that the New W.irld had been known prior
to the |)eriod of its geiier.ilK reputed dis< 'vei-y.
Columbus, however, considers .ill these appear-
ances of l.iiul ,is mere illusions, I It su|iposes that
they may have been caused by rocks lying in the
ocean, which, seen at a distance, under cert.iin
atmospherical intluences, may have asse.iied the
appearance of islands ; or that they may have
* Sec illustrations, article " Island of St. Brandan."
'
14
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
! I
II
■ill
been floatinpf islands, such as arc mentioned by
I'liny and Scncia and Dtlicrs, formed of twisted
roots, or of a lij(lit and porous stone, and covered
with trees, and whicli may iiave iieen driven aliout
tile ocean iiy llie winds.
Tlie islands of St. Hrandan, of Antilla, and of the
Seven Cities, ha\e lon;^ since ])rove(l to be fabu-
lous tales or almosplicrical delusions. "S'et the
rumors concerning- lluin derive interest, from
showinj,^ the state of public thouf^ht with respect
to the Atlantic, while its western rej^ions were yet
unknown. 'I'hey were all noted down with curi-
ous care by Columbus, and may have had some
influence over hi^> imaginaiion. .Still, thoutjh of a
visionary spirit, his pcnetralinLj j^^enius soujrht in
deeper sources for tlie aliment of its meditations.
Aroused by the impulse of jiassiny events, he
turned anew, says his son Fernando, to study the
geographical authors which he had read before,
and to consider the astronomical reasons which
might corroborate the theory gradually forming
in (lis mind. He made himself acquainted witli
ail th.it had been written by the ancients, or dis-
covered by the mo.lerns, relative to geography.
His own voyages enabled him to correct many of
their errors, and apjireciate ni.my of their theo-
ries. His genius having thus taken its decided
bent, it is interesting to notice from what a mass
of acknowledged t.icts, ration.d liy|)olheses, fanci-
ful narrations, and popul.ir rumors, his gr.ind
jiroject of discovery w.is wrought out by tlie strong
workings of his vigcjrous mind.
CHAITKI-l V.
GROrNIiS (IX WHICH COl.lMlifS FOCNDrH HIS
iii;i.ir,!- (If iiii; kxistkn'ck or vndiscovi-.rkd
l..-\NliS IN rilK WKS'I'.
It has been atlemiitcd, in the preceding chap-
ters, to sliow how Columbus w,is gradu.Uly kin-
dled up to his grand design by the sjiirit and
events of the times in which he lived. His son
Fernando, howe\tr, undertakes to furnish the
precise 'l.ila on which his lather's plan of discoverv
was founded.* " He does this," he observes, " to
show fr(.'m wl-.it slender argument so great a
scheme w,\s laliricaie(.l and biDught to light ; and
for the purpose of satisfying those who may desire
to know distin' tlv the ciriumstances and motives
which led his I iilier to umleriake this enterprise."
As this st.Uenu-ni was formed from notes and
documents lotnid ;imong his lather's p.-ipers, it is
too curious and inleresting not to deserve ])articu-
lar mention. In tliis memorandum he arranged
the foundation of his l.ither's theory under three
heads; i. The nature of things. 2. 'l"l .■ authoritv
of learned writers, j. 'I'he reports of navigators.
L'nder the first head he set down as a funda-
mental princi|i!e th.it the earth was a terr;i((ueous
sphere or giolu', which might be travelled round
from east to west, .ind that men stood foot to toot
when on opposite points. The circumference
from e.ist to west, at the efpiator, Columbus
divided, according to I'tnlemy, into twenty-tour
hours ol hlteeii degrees e.ich, making three hun-
dred and sixty degcees. Of these he imagined,
comparing the giol.e of I'loleniy with the earlier
map of .Marinus of 'I'yre, that fifteen hours had
lieen known to the ancients, extending from the
Straits of Ciibraltar, (.<r rather from the Canarv
Islands, to the city of TIiuul' in Asia, a place set
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 6, 7, 8.
down as at the eastern limits of the known world.
The Portuguese had adv.uiced the wi'Stern frontier
one hour more by the discovery of the Azores and
Cape de Verde Islands. There rem.iined, then,
according to the estimation of Columbus, eight
hours, or one third of the circumference of the
earth, unknow^n and unex|)lured. 'I'his s])ace
miglit, in a great measure, be filled up by the
eastern regions of Asia, which might extend so far
as nearly to surround the globe, and to approach
the western sliores of Furojie and Africa. The
tract of ocean intervening lietween these coun-
tries, he observes, would lie less than might at
hrst lie sujiposed, if die ojiinion of Allraganus, the
Arabian, were admitted, who, by diminishing the
size of the degrees, gave to the earth a smaller
circumference than did other cosmogra|)hers ; a
theory to which Columlius seems at times to have
given faith. Granting these ])remises, it was
manifest that, by pursuing a direct course from
east to west, a n.ivigator would arrive at the ex-
tremity of Asia, and discover any intervening land,
Under the second head are n.imed the authors
whose writings had weight in convincing him that
the intervening ocean could be but of moderate
expanse, and easy to be traversed. Among these,
he cites the opinion ot Aristotle, Seneca, and
I'liny, that one might jiass from Cadi/, to the In-
dies in a few days ; ot .Strabo, also, who observes,
that the ocean surrounds the earth, bathing on
the east the shores ot Indi.i ; on the west, tlie
coasts of Spain and .Mauritania ; so that it is easy
to navii, te from one to the other on the same
parallel. '
In corroboration of the idea that Asia, or, as
he always terms it, India, stretched tar to the
east, so as to occupy the greater part ot the unex-
plored space, the narrati\es are cited of Marco
fold and John .Mandeville. These travellers had
visited, in the thirteenth and tourteeiitli centuries,
the remote |)arts of Asi ■, tar lieyond the regions
laid down by I'tolemy ; and their accounts ot the
extent of that continent to the eastward had a
gre.it effect in convincing Columbus that a vov-
age to the west, of no long dur.ition, would l)ring
liim to its shores, or to the extensive and wealthy
islands which lie adjacent. The information con-
cerning .Marco Polo is ))robal.>ly derived from
Paulo foscanelli, a celebrated doctor ol l'"loreiice,
already mentioned, with whom Columbus corre-
sponded ill 1474, and who tr.insmittcd to him a
copy of a letter which he h.id previously written to
I'ernando Martinez, a learned canon of Lisbon.
1 his letter maintains the lacility of arrix ing at In-
dia liy a western course, asserting the distance to
he but lour thousand miles, in ,1 direct line from
Lisbon to the province of Mangi, lU'ar Cathav,
since determined to be the northern coast of
China. Of this country he gives a magnilicent
description, drawn from the work ol Marco
Polo. He adds, that in the route l.iy the isl.inds
of .\ntilla and Cipango, distant Irom e.ich other
only two hundred and twcnty-lise leagues,
.•ibouiiding in riches, and offering con\'eiiient
places tor slii])s to touch at, and olit^iin sujiplies
on the voy.ige.
Under the third head are enumerated various
indications of land in the west, which li.id floated
to the shores of the known world. It is curious
to observe, how, when once the mind of Colum-
bus had become heated in the inquiry, it attracted
to it every corroborating circumstance, however
vague and trivial. He appears to hiive been par-
* Strab. Cos. lib. i. ii.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
15
)f the known world,
lliL' Wfstc-rii frontier
V ot the Azores and
;re rcmainctl, tlien,
ot CuliMiibus, eight
rcunilereiice of the
ired. 'I'liis sjjace
le tilled up by the
might extend so far
)e, and to approach
; anil Africa. The
Hween these coun-
less than might at
1 of Altiaganus, the
by diminishing the
the earth a smaller
cosmographers ; a
lis at times to have
preniises, it was
tlirect course from
jld arrive at the e.\-
ny intervening land,
named the authors
:onvincing him that
e but ot moderate
it'll. .Among these,
itoile, .Seneca, and
oni C.idu to the In-
also, who observes,
• earth, bathing on
; on the west, the
a ; so that it is easy
other on the same
■a. that Asia, or, as
retched tar to the
pr part ot the unex-
[ire cited of Marco
se tra\ellers had
leenlb centuries,
yond the regions
■ aicdUiits ot the
castwartl had a
ihus that a voy-
.iiion, would bring
■nsive and wealthy
intormation con-
l.dy derived from
dor ol I'lorence,
Columbus corre-
isinilird to him a
viously \\ rilten to
aiuin of Lisbon.
lit arri\ ing at In-
ng the distance to
direct line from
;i, mar Cathay,
irihern coast of
a magnificent
work ot Marco
le l.iv the islands
irniu each other
ily-li\e leagues.
ring convenient
(ibUun supplies
iincratcd various
hich liad floated
(1. It is curious
mind of Colum-
uiry, it attracted
isUince, however
o have been par-
ticularly attentive to the gleams of information
derived from veteran mariners, who had been
employed in the recent voyages to the African
coasts ; and also from the inhabitants of lately
discovered islands, placed, in a manner, on the
frontier posts of geograjihical knowledge. All
these are carefully noted down among his mem-
orandums, to be collocated with the facts and
opinions already stored up in his mind.
Such, for instance, is the circumstance related
to him by Martin Vicenti, a pilot in the service of
the king of Portugal ; that, after sailing four hun-
'Ired and fifty leagues to the west of Cape St.
Vincent, he had taken from the water a piece of
carved wood, which evidently had not been labor-
ed with an iron instrument. As the winds had
drifted it from the west, it might have come from
some unknown land in that direction.
I'edro Correo, brother-in-law of Columbus, is
likewise cited, as having seen, on the island of
Porto Santo, a similar piece of wood, which had
drifted from the same ([uarter. He had heard
also from the king of I'ortugal, that reeds of an
immense size had floated to some of those islands
from the west, in the descrijition of which, Co-
lumbus thought he recognized the immense reeds
said by Ptolemy lo grow in India.
Information is likewise noted, given him by the
inhabitants of the Azores, of trunks of huge
pine trees, of a kind that did not grow upon any
of the islands, wafted to their shores by the west-
erly winds ; but especially of the bodies of two
dead men, cast upon the island of Flores, whose
features differed from those of any known race of
people.
To these is added the re])ort of a mariner of the
port of St. Mary, who asserted that, in the course
of a vovage to Ireland, he had seen land to the
west, wliicli the ship's coni])any took for sr me ex-
treme part of Tarl.iry. Other stories, of a similar
kind, are noted, as well as rumors concerning the
fancied islands of St. Hrandan, and of the Seven
Cities, to which, as has already been observed,
Columbus gave but little faith.
Such is an abstract of the grounds, on which,
according to P'ernando, his father proceeded from
one position to another until he came to the con-
clusion, that there was undiscovered land in the
western ])art of the ocean ; that it was attaina-
ble ; that it was fertile ; and finally, that it was
inh.ibited.
It is evident that several of the facts herein enu-
merated must have liecome known to Columbus
after he had formed his opinion, and merely serv-
ed to strengthen it ; still, everything that throws
any light upon the jirocess of thought, which led
to so great an event, is of the highest interest ;
and the chain of deductions here furnished, though
not perhaps the most logical ir. its concatenation,
yet, being extracted from the papers of Colum-
bus hinise!!, remains one of the most interesting
documents in the history of the human mind.
On considering this statement attentively, it is
apparent that the grand argument which induced
Columbus to his enterprise was that placed under
the first head, namely, that the most eastern part
of Asi.i known to the ancients could not he sepa-
rated from the -Azores by more than a third of the
circumferen-e of the globe ; that the intervening
space must, in a great measure, be filled up by
the unknown residue of .Asia ; and that, if the cir-
cumference of the world w.is, as he believed, less
than was generally supjiosed, the Asiatic shores
could easily be attained by a moderate voyage to
the west.
It is singular how much the success of this
great undertaking deiiended upon two hapjjy er-
rors, the imaginary extent of Asia to the east, and
the sujiposed smallness of the earth ; both errors
of the most learned and profound philosophers,
but without which Columbus would hardly have
ventured upon his enterprise. As to the idea of
finding land by sailing directly to the west, it is
at present so familiar to our minds, as in some
measure to diminish the merits of the first concep-
tion, and the hardihood of the first attempt ; but
in those days, as has well been observed, the cir-
cumference of the earth was yet unknown ; no
one could tell whether the ocean were not of im-
mense extent, ini|)ossible to be traverseil ; nor
were the laws of specific gr.ivity and of central
gravitation ascert.iined, by which, granting the
rotundity of the e rih, the possibility of m.iking
the tour of it woulu he mamfest.* 'Plie practica-
bility, therefore, of finding land by sailing to the
west, was one of those mysteries of nature which
are considered incredible while matters of mere
speculation, but the sini])lest things imaginable
when they have once been .iscert.iined.
When Columl)us had formed his theory, it be-
came fixed in his mind with singular firmness,
and influenced his entire character and conduct.
He never s|)oke in doubt or hesitation, but with
as much certainty as if his eyes had beheld the
promised land. No trial nor dis;i])pointment
could divert him from the steady pursuit of his
object. A deep religious sentiment mingled
with his meditations, and gave them at times a
tinge of superstition, but it was of a sublime and
lofty kind ; he looked upon himself as standing in
the hand of Heaven, chosen from among men for
the accomplishment of its high ])urpose ; he read,
:is he supposed, his coiUem|)lale(l discovery hire-
told in Holy Writ, and shadowed forth darkly in
the mystic revelations of the ])roi)hets. The ends
of the earth were to be brought together, and all
nations and tongues and languages united under
the banners of the Redeemer. This was to be the
triumphant consummation of his enterjirise, bring-
ing the remote and unknown regions ol the earth
into communion with Christian Murope ; carry-
ing me light of the true faith into benighted and
jiagan lands, and gathering their countless na-
tions under the holy dominion of the church.
The enthusiastic nature of his conceptions gave
an elevation to his s])irit, and a dignity and lofti-
ness to his whole demeanor. He conferred with
sovereigns almost with a feeling of ei|u;ility. His
views were princely a?id unbounded ; his projiosed
discovery was of empires ; his conditions were
proportionally magnificent ; nor would he ever,
even after long delays, rejieated disa|)|)ointments,
and under the pressure of actual penury, abate
what appeared to be extravagant (iem.uids for a
mere possible discovery.
Those who could not conceive how an ardent
and comprehensive genius could arrive, by pre-
sumptive evidence, at so firm .i con\iction, sought
for other modes of accounting for it. When the
glorious result had established thtr correctness of
the opinion of Columbus, attemiits were made to
prove that he had obtained previous inforrnatitm
of the lands which he pretended to discover.
Among these, was an idle tale of a tempest-tossed
pilot, said to have died in his house, be(|ue;ithing
him written accounts of an unknown Kind in the
west, upon which he had been driven by adverse
* Malte-Rrun, Geographic Universelle, torn, xiv.
Note sur le DOcouverte de I'Amferique.
16
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
winds. Tliis story, according to Fernando Co-
lumbus, had no oiliir foundation than one of tlie
Ijopular talcs al)out the shailowy island of St.
irandan, winch a I'ortuguese ca|)tain, returning
from (luinca, fancied lie liad beheld beyond Ma-
deira. It circulated tor a lime in idle rumor, al-
tered and sha|)e(l to suit tlieir pur|)oses, fjy such
as sou;,flil to t.uni'.h ilic glory of Columbus. At
length it ioimd its way into print, and has been
echoed !)y various historians, varying with every
narration, and full of contradictions and improb-
abilities.*
An assertion has also been made, that Colum-
bus was ])recede(l in his discoveries by Martin
Hehem, a contemporary cosmographer, who, it
was said, had landed accidentally on the coast of
South America, in the course of an African expe-
dition ; and that it was with the assistance of a
map or globe, projected by Ik'liem, on which
was laid down th.e newly-discovereil country, that
Columbus made his voyage. This rumor origina-
ted in an absurd misconstruction of a Latin man-
uscript, and was uiisu])porte(l by any documents ;
yet it has hiid its circulation, and has even been
revived not many years since, with more zeal
than discretion ; but is now completely refuted
and put to rest. The land visited by Uenem was
the coast of Africa beyond the ecjuator ; the globe
he projected was finished in 1492, while Columbus
was alisent on his first voyage : it contains no
trace of the New Wor'd, and thus furnishes con-
clusive |)roof that its existence was yet unknown
to Ikhem.t
There is a certain meddlesome spirit, which, in
the garb of learned research, goes prying about
the traces of history, casting down is monuments,
and marring and mutilating its fairest trophies.
Care should be taken to vindicate great names
from such jiernicious erudition, ft defeats one of
the most s.ilutary jjurposes of history, that of fur-
nishing examples of what human genius and
laudable enterprise may accomplish. For this
purpose some jjains have l)een taken in the pre-
ceding chapters to trace the rise and progress of
this grand idea in the mind of Columbus ; to show
that it was the conception of his genius, quicken-
ed by the im])ulse of the age, and aided l)y those
scattered gleams of knowledge which fell ineffect-
ually upon ordinary minds.
CHAPTER VI.
CORRERPONPENCF, OF COLUMBUS WITH PAULO
TOSCANKI.I.I — F.VI'.NTS IN PORTUGAL RELATIVE
TO DISCOVKRIKS — PROl'OSl'iTO.V OF COLUMBUS
TO THE I'ORTUtiUESK COURT— DEPARTURE FROM
PORTUGAL.
It is impossible to determine the precise time
when Columbus first conceivetl the design of seek-
ing a western route to India. It is certain, how-
ever, that he meditated it as early as the year
1474, though as yet it lay crude and unmatured
in his mind. This fact, which is of some impor-
tance, is sufliciently established by the correspond-
ence already mentioned with the learned Tosca-
nelli of Florence, which took place in the summer
of that year. The letter of Toscanelli is in reply
to one from Columbus, and applauds the design
which he had expressed of making a voyage to
* See illustrations, article " Rumor concerning
the Pilot who died in the House of Columbus,"
f See illustrations, article " Behem."
the west. To demonstrate more clearly the facil.
ity of arriving at India in that direction, he sent
him a map, projected partly according to I'toU
emy, and partly according to the descrijitions of
Marco Polo, the Venetian. The eastern coast of
Asia was depicted in front of the western coasts
of Africa and Europe, with a moderate space of
ocean between llicin, in which weie placed at
convenient distances Cipango, Antilla, and the
other islands.* Columbus was greatly animated
by the letter and chart of Toscanelli, who was
considered one of the ablest cosniographers of the
day. He appears to have |)rocured the work of
Marco Polo, which had been translated into va-
rious languages, and existed in manuscript in
most libraries. This author gi\-es marvellous ac-
counts of the riches of the realms ot Cathay and
Mangi, or Mangu, since ascertained to be North-
ern and Southern China, on the coast of which,
according to the map of Toscanelli, a voyager
sailing directly west would be sure to arrive. He
describes in unmeasured terms the power and
grandeur of the sovereign of these countries, the
Cireat Khan of Tartary, and the splendor and
magnitude of his capitals of Cambalu and (juinsai,
and the wonders of the island of Cijiango or Zi-
pangi, supposed to be Jajian. This island he
places opposite Cathay, live liundred leagues in
the ocean. He represents it as abounding in
gold, precious stones, and other choice objects of
commerce, with a monarch whose jialace was
roofed with plates of gold instead of lead. The
narrations of this traveller were by many consid-
ered fabulous ; but though full of what ap|)ear to
be S])lendid exaggt.'rations, they have since been
found substantially correct. They are thus par-
ticularly noted, from the influence they had over
the imagination of Columbus. The work of Mar-
co Polo is a key to many parts of his history. In
his applications to the various courts, he repre-
sented the countries he expected to discover as
those regions of inexhaustible wealth which the
Venetian had described. The territories of the
Grand Khan were the objects of inquiry in all his
voyages; and in his cruisings among the Antilles
he was continually flattering himself with the
hopes of arriving at the opulent island of Cipango,
and the coasts of Mangi and Cathay. +
While the design of attempting the discovery in
the west was maturing in the mind of Columbus,
he made a voyage to the north of Europe. Of
this we have no other memorial than the follow-
ing passage, extracted by his son from one of his
letters : " In the year 1477, in February, I navi-
gated one hundred leagues beyond Thule, the
southern part of which is seventy-three degrees
distant from the equator, and not sixt\-three, as
some pretend ; neither is it situated within the
line which includes the west of Ptolemy, but is
much more westerly. The English, jjrincipally
those of Hristol, go with their merchandise to this
island, which is as large as England. When I
was there the sea was not frozen, and the tides
were so great as to rise and fall twenty-six
fathom. "J
* This map, by which Columbus sailed on his first
voyage of discovery. Las Casas (lib. i. cap. 12) says
he had in his possession at the time of writing his his
tory. It is greatly to be regretted that so interesting
a document should be lost. It may yet exist among
the chaotic lumber of the Spanish archives. Few doc-
uments of mere curiosity would be more precious.
t A more particular account of Marco Polo and his
writings is given among the illustrations.
i Hist, del Almirante, cap. 4.
«
lore clearly the facil.
at (lirfctiiin, he sent
I acLordinjr to I'lol-
the descriptions ot
The eastern coast of
)l the wfslern coasts
a moderate space of
iiich weie placed at
JO, Antilla, and the
as greatly animated
'I'oscanelli, who was
:osnioj,rra pliers of the
procured the work of
n translated into va-
sd in nianuscri|)t in
gives marvellous ac-
calms ot Cathay and
L-rtaineil to he North-
1 the coast of which,
"oscanelli, a voyager
c sure to arrive. He
crms the power and
f ihese countries, the
id the s|)lendor and
-"anibahi and (juinsai,
and of Cipango or Zi-
lan. This island he
hundred leagues in
it as abounding in
iher choice objects of
1 whose palace was
nstead of lead. The
vere by many consid-
full of what appear to
ihey have since been
They are tiius par-
fluence they had over
i. The work of Mar-
ts of his history. In
ous courts, he reprc-
pected to discover as
wealth which the
he territories of the
of inquiry in ail his
s among the Antilles
himself with the
lit island of Cipango,
Cathay. t
)ting the discovery in
mind of Columbus,
orth of Europe. Of
al than the follow-
son from one of his
in February, I navi-
beyond Thule, the
vetity-three degrees
1 not sixty-three, as
situated within the
it of I'tolemy, but is
English, principally
merchandise to this
England. When I
rozen, and the tides
and fall twenty-six
Ibus sailed on his first
l(lib. i. cap. 12) says
lime of writing his his
led that so interesting
Imay yet exist among
Ih archives. Few doc-
Ibe more precious.
If Marco Polo and bis
Itrations,
s
PART OK A TERRESTRIAL GLOBE MADE AT NUREMBERG IN THE YEAR 149J nv Martin Bkhem.
The terrestrial globe, of which a segment is given above, was made at Nurcmben; in the year 1492,
the very year on which Columbus departed on his first i-oyage of discovery. .Martin Hehem, the
inventor, was one of the most learned cosmographers of the time, and, having resided at Lisbon in the
employ of the king of Portugal, he had probably seen the map of Toscanelli, and the documents
submitted by Columbus to the consideration of the Portuguese government. Ilis globe may, there-
fore, be presumed illustrative of the idea entertained by Columbus of the islands in the ocean near the
extremity of Asia, at the time he undertook his discovery.
I I 'I
1 II
ll
w
Th
.p()SL'(
west
di)\\ I
Se-
ed el
tlu
(IuIdm
uiuk'
wliic
ht! m
is iiss
suL'h
and I
tie nee
the 1
WIS 1
in tl
Spin
the (H
prises
also
taking'
aK<'s I
island
IT ore
■ with II
tured t,
Uisc<
Afrua,
the sou
they ut
the pro
the mil
visional
would I
balloon
distaiu
The I
extend
propitio
The reci
men to
ideas a
from nil
jarly to
of inh)r
costly II
Icept ou
obscure
Vas hei
edife, nc
advance
and wid
forms,
again 1j
eyes to
they COL
on, disp
the dilfu
I At th
I the thro
Alphons
of ills at;
from his
rei;;n all
to build
Coast of
in that
llaves.
The 1
f
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
19
The island thus mentioned is jjeneraily siip-
.posL'd to have been leeland, which is tar to the
west ol the ritima I'hiile nt the ancients, as laid
down in the ni.ip ol I'tolenn.
Several more years elapsed, without any derid-
ed elforts on the |)art ol CdliinibLis lu carry his
design into execution. He was loo |)oor to tit out
the armament necessary tor so im|)ortantan exjie-
dition. Indeed it was an enterprise only to he
undert.iken in the em|)loyof some so\erei^;n state,
whicli could assume dommion over the territories
he m\'^\n discover, and reward him with di^jnities
flnci iirivile^is commensurate to his services. It
is asserted ili.it he ,it one lime endeavored to en-
gajfe hi- native country, denoa, in the undertak-
iii;.^, hut without success. No record remains ot
such an .illcmpl, tlioujrli it is f^enerally believed,
and has stroi;^ prol),ibility in its lavor. His resi-
dence in i'orui^,Ml placed him at hand to solicit
the patronaLje oi that power, but Alphonso, who
was then on the throne, w.is too much ellj^rossed
in the latter part ot his reign with a war with
Spain, tor the succession of the I'rincess Ju.ina to
the crown ol C.isiile, to cn;;a>4e in pe.iceful enter-
prises ol an expensive n.iturc. The juiblic mind,
also, was not |)rep.ired lor so jierilous an under-
takin.if. .\otwithiiandini,r the many recent voy-
ages to the coast ot .Alric.i and the adjacent
Islands, .ind the intro:lu<'tion of the compass into
irare gener.d use, navigation w.is still shackled
with impediments, and the mariner rarely ven-
tured lar out ol sight ot l.iiid.
Discovery advanced slowly along the coasts of
Africa, an 1 the mariners le.ired to cruise t.ir into
the southern liemisphere, with the stars of which
they were tot.illy uiiacduainted. To such men,
the project ot .i voyage directly westward, into
the midst ot that boundless waste, to seek somi?
vision.iry land, appeared as extravagant as it
would be at the present day to launch forth in a
balloon into the regions of space in (juest of some
dist.inl star.
The time, however, was at hand, that was to
extend the sphere ot n.ivigation. The era was
propitious to the (|uick advanct'inent ot knowledge.
The recent inveiiiioii of the artot printing enabled
men to communicate rapidly and extensively their
ideas and discoveries. It drew forth learning
from librarit's and convents, and brought it f.imil-
jarly to the reading-desk ol the student. \'olumes
of inlonn.ition, which bctore had existed only in
costly m.muscripis, ciretully treasured up, and
ke])t out ot the re.ich ot the iiivligeiU scholar and
obscure artist, were now in every h.ind. There
was henceiorth to be no retrogression in knowl-
edge, nor any p.iuse in its career. I'.very step in
advance, was immediately, and simultaneously,
and widely iironuilgaled, recoriled in a thousand
forms, and tixed tore\er. Tiiere could never
again be a dark age ; nations might shut their
eyes to the light, .and sit in wilful darkness, but
tfiey could not trample it out ; it would still shine
on, dispensed to lia|)pier jiarts of the world, by
the diffusive ])owers of the press.
At this juncture, in 1401, a monarch ascended
the throne of I'oriugal, ot different ambition from
Alphonso. John II., then in the twenty-tifth year
of his age, had imbibed the p.ission for discovery
from his grand-uncle, I'rince' fienry, and with his
reign all its activity revived. His first care was
^o build a fori at St. C.eorge de la Mina, on the
ttoast of Cuinea, to protect the trade carried on
'^In that neighborhood for gold dust, ivorv, and
|laves.
The African discoveries had conferred great
glory upon Portugal, but as yet tliry had bceri
expensive rather than protitable. The ai complish-
mint ot tile route to liidi.i, however, it was ex-
pected would repay all cost and tod, .ind open ,1
source ot iiK .ilcul.ible wealth to the n.ition. The
|)roiect of I'rince Henry, which h.id now been
tardily prosecuted for lialf a century, h.id excited
a curiosity about the reniott' |)arts ot Asi.i, ;ind
revived all the accounts, true .md t.dmlnus, of
travellers.
liesides the work lA Marco I'olo, .ilrcadv men-
tioned, there was the narrative of K.ibbi lienj.imin
ben Jonah, of Tudela, a Spanish Jew, who set
out from Saragoss.i in 1173, to visit the sc.ittered
remnants of the Heiirew tribes. W.indeniig with
unwearied zeal on this |)i<ius crr.md, nvt r most
jiarts of the known world, he penetr.iteil China,
and passed thence to the southern islands of
Asia.* There were .also the n.irratives of C'.irpiiii
and Aseelin, two fri.irs, <lisp,itche(l, the oiu; in
I2^f), tlie other in 1247, by I'ope Innocent iV., as
apostolic .imb.iss.uloi's, tor the purpiscof cfmvert-
ing the ( "ir.ind Khan ot 'I'art.iry ; and the journ.d
ot William Kubru(|uis (or Ruysbroek), .1 cele-
br.ited Cordelier, sent on a simil.ir err.ind in 1253,
by l.ouis l.\. of France, then on his unlortun.ite
crusade into i'.ilesline. These pious but chimcric.d
missions had |)roved abortive ; but the n.irr.itives
of them being revived in the lifticnth centurv,
served to inll.ime the |)ublic curiosity res|)ccting
' the remote parts of Asia.
I In these narr.Uives we first I'md mention m.ide
I of the renowned I'rester John, a ('hiisiiaii king,
[ said to hold svv.iy in a remote; p.irt ot the li.ist,
i who was long .111 object ot curiosity and resean h,
t but whose kingdom seemed to shilt its situ.iti(jn
i in the tale of every traveller, and to vanish from
! the search as effectually as the unsubsi.intial
I island ot .St. lirandan. All the speculations con-
; cerning this potentate and his ( Oriental realm were
again i)ut in circulation. It was fancied that
traces of his empire were discovered in the inte-
rior of .Africa, lo the east of lienin, where there
was a i)ovverful prince, who used a cross among
the insignia of royalty. John 11. partook Largely
of the popular excitement pnxluced by thc^e n.ir-
rations. In the early ])art of his reign he actually
sent missions in (|Uest of I'rester John, to visit
whose dominions became the rom.mtic desire of
many a religious enthusiast. t The ni.igniticent
idea he had formed of the remote p iris ot the
I'.ast made him extremely anxious th.it the splen-
tlid project of I'rince Henry should be re.ili/ed,
and the Portuguese tl.ig penetr.ite to the; Indian
seas. Ini|)atienl of the slowness with which his
discoveries ;idv:'.nced along the co.ist ot .\tric.i,
and of the impediments whicli every cipe and
promontory presented to n.iutical enter]irise, he
called in the aid of science to devise some me".ns
by which greater scope and cert.iinty might be
given to navigation. His two physicians, Rod-
erigo ancl Josejih, the latter a Jew, the most able
astronomers and cosmographers of his kingdom,
together with the celebr.ited Martin ISehem, en-
tered into a learned consult.ition on the subject.
The result of their conferences and Labors was the
apjilication of the astrolabe to navig.ition, ena-
bling the Seaman, by the altitude of liie sun, to as-
* RerRcron, Voyages en Asie, torn. I. Tfio work
of Htnjaniin of Tudela, originally written in Hebrew,
was so much in repute, that the translation went
through sixteen editions. Andres, Hist. B. Let., ii.
cap. 6.
t See illustrations, article " Prestcr John."
20
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
certain his distnncp from tiic rf|iintor.* This in-
slruini'iU h.is since Ix'en improved and modilud
inlD the niddern (juadrant, ot wiiicii, t-vcn at its
lirst introduction, it jjosscsscd all the tssLiUiai
advantatjcs.
It is nnpossihlc to describe the effect produced
upon na\i),r,ition hythis invention. It cast it loose
at once troni its ionj,' honda^je to tiie land, and set
it Iree to rove tlie deep. Tne mariner now, in-
stead ot co.islinj^ tlu; shores like liu; ancient navi-
}|aiors, .md, it driven from the land, j;ropinjr his
way hack in douht and ajjprehension hy the un-
certain j,'ui(lanie of the stars, mij,dil .'idventure
boldly into iniknown seas, conlidenl ot bein^ able
to tr.ice his course by means ot the compass and
the astrolabe.
It was shortly after this event, which had pre-
pared ;(uides tor discovery across the tr.ickless
ocean, that Columbus made the tirst attempt, of
wliich w(; have any clear and indis|iutalile record,
to |)rocure roy.il patrona^fe for his enterprise.
The court ot I'ortu^jal had shown extraordinary
liberality in rewarding nautical discovery. Most
ot those who had succet-ded in her service had
been a()p()inled to the j;overnment of the islands
and countries they had discovered, although many
of them were foreij,rners by birth. Kncouraj^ed
l)y this liberality, and by the anxiety evince<l by
Kin}^ John II. to accom|)lish a [jassaj^^e by sea to
India, Columbus obtained an audience of that
monarch, ,ind ])ropose(l, in case the kinjr would
furnish him with shi|W and men, to undertake a
shorter and mori^ direct route than that alonj^ the
coast ot .Africa. His plan w.is to strike directly
to the west, across the Atlantic. He then unfold-
ed his hypotliesis with respect to the extent of
Asia, describiiii,'' .also the immense riches ot the
island ot Ci|).in^o, the tirst land at which he ex-
pected to ;irrive. Of this audience we have two
accounts, written in somewhat ot an opposite
sjiirit ; one by his son Fernando, the other by
Joam de Harros, the I'ortu^mese hist()riof,'-ra|)her.
It is curious to notice the different views taken of
the same transaction by the enthusiastic son, and
by the cool, perhaps prejudiced, hist(MMan.
The kinjr, .iccordinj^ to Fernando, listened to
his father with <{reat attt;ntion, but was discour-
ajjed from eiii^.i^inir in any nev,- scheme ot the
kind, by the cost and trouble already sustained
in explorinjr the route by the African coast, which
as yet remained unaccomplished. His father,
however, supported his proposition by such excel-
lent reasons, that the kinjr was induced to j^ive his
consent. The only ditViculty that remained was
the terms ; for Columbus, heinj^ ,i man of lofty
and noble sentiments, demanded hij^h and honor-
able titles anri rewards, to the end, says Fernan-
do, that he niii,'-ht leave behind him a name and
family worthy of his deeds and merits. t
JJarros, on the other hand, attributes the scem-
inji^ ac(|uiescence of the kinp, merely to the im-
portunities of Columbus. He considered him,
says the histori.iii, a vainji^lorious man, fond of
dis])layinjj his abilities, and j^^jven to fantastic
fancies, such as th.it respectinf^ the island of Ci-
panjro.j: Hut in fact, this idea of Columbus being
vain, was taken up by the Portug-uese writers in
after y('ars ; and as to 'he island of Cipanjfo, it
was far from beiniif considered chimtfrical by the
king, who, as has been shown by his mission in
* Barros, decad
p. 6 and 7
I, lib. iv. cap. 2. Mafifei, lib. vi.
t Hist, del Almirante, cap. 10.
^ Barros, Asia, decad. i, lib. iii. cap. 2.
search of Prester John, was a ready believ;r in
thes(' travellers' talcs concerning the I'!ast. The
reasoning of Colunibiis must h.ive produced ,in
iffect on the mind ot the monarch, since it is rtr.
t.iin that he relerred the proposition to a le.irnti;
junto, ch.irged with .ill matters relating to man-
lime discovery.
This junto was composed ol two.ibic cosmngr.i.
nhers, masters Roderigo and Joseph, and thi;
king's contessor, Diego Ortiz de C.i/adilla, bislinr
of Ceiita, a man greatly reputed for his le.irnin^;,
a Castilian by birth, .iiid generally called C.i/;i.
dilla, from the n.iine ot his n.itive jilace. 'I'Uh
scientilic body treated the project as extravngam
and vision.iry.
.Still the king does not appear to have been sal-
istied. According to his liistori.in \'asconcelos.'
he convoked his council, con.posi'd ot prelates and
persons ot the greatest le.irning in the kingdom,
and asked their .advice, whether to .idopt this new
route of discovery, or to jjursue that which they
had already o|)enetl.
It may not he deemed s(ii)ertluous to notice
brielly the discussion ot the council on this gre.i!
(|uestion. \'asconcelos reports ;i sp<cch ot the
Bishop of Ceut.i, in which he not only objected in
the ]iropose(l enterprise, as destitute ot reason,
but even discounten.inced ,iny further prosecution
of tilt African discoveries. " They tended," in-
said, " to distract the attention, drain the re-
sources, and divide the power of the nation,
already too much weakened by recent war and
pestilence. While their forces were tluis scattered
abroad on remote and unprolitable expeditions,
they ex|)osed themselves to attack Irom their ar-
live enemy the King ot Castile. The greatness (■•
nionarchs," he continued, " did not arise so nuicii
from the extent ot their dominions, as from the
wisdom and ability with which they governed.
In the Portuguese nation it would be madness to
launch into enterprises without tirst considerinj;
them in connection with its me. ins. The king had
already suflicient undertakings in hand of certair,
advantage, without eiig.iging in others of a wild,
chimerical nature. It lie wished employment tor
the active valor of the nation, the war in which he
was eng.iged against the Moors ot ll.irb.iry was
sufilicient, wherein his triumphs were of solid ad-
vant.ige, tending to cripjili; and enfeeble those
neighboring foes, who had jiroved themselves so
elangerous when possessed of power. "
This cool and cautious s])eecli of the Bishop of
Ceuta, directed against enterprises which were
the glory of the Portuguese, touched the nation.d
pride of Don Pedro de Meiuses, Count of \'ill,i
Heal, and drew from him a lofty and patriotic
reply. It has been s.iid by an historian that this
reply was in sujiport of the proposition of Colum-
bus ; but that does not clearly ap|)ear. He mav
have treated the proposal with respect, but his
elociiience was employed for those enterprises in
which the Portuguese were already eng.iged.
" Portugal," lie observ(-d, "was not in its in-
fancy, nor were its ))rinces so ]ioor as to lack
means to engage in discoveries. Fveii grantin;^
that those pro|)osecl by Columbus were conjec-
tural, why sliould they .ibandon those commenced
by their hate Prince Henry, on such solid founda-
tions, and prosecuted witli such happv jirospects ;
Crowns," he observed, "enriched themselves liy
commerce, fortihed themselves by alliance, anil
ac(|uired empires by conquest. The views of .1
nation could not always be the same ; they e.v
•ei
w.i
h.K
till
P(
h<:
oth
wo
inti
iha
the
iroi
ace
itse
we I
wei
mil'
C(
m.it
faitl
* Vasconcelos, Vida del Rey Don Juan II., lib, iv.
.J
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
!il
iT? a ready hfliev;r in
rrninp tlu! I\;isl. The
list iiave produced an
lon.Lrch, since it is ctr-
iropnsiiion to a Ic.-irntii
liters relatinj; to iiiari-
I ol two alile cosmoffra-
and jiiscpli, and the
liz dc Ca/adilla, l)isli(ir
|)iit<'d lor his lenrniri),',
j^encrally called Ca/a-
lis native place. This
project as extravagani
)pear to have been sat-
listorian X'asconcelos.'
in.poscd ot prelates and
irninj,^ in the kinjjdom,
ither to adopt this new
ursue that which tlity
siiperlluous to notice
le council on this jjrcat
rports a speech ot the
he not only objected lo
as destiiiile ot reason,
any turther |)rosecution
I. " 'i'hey tended," he
tention, drain the re-
power ot the nation,
led by recent war and
ces were tluis scattertd
II profitable expeditions,
o attack Irom their ar-
stile. The jj;reatness li
" did not arise so niiicii
loininions, as from the
which they f^overned,
would be madness tp
thout first considerinj;
means. The kin<j had
f,rs in hand of certair.
in others of a wild.
?>hed employment tor
the war in which he
Moors ot liarbary was
phs were of solid ad-
le and enfeeble those
roved themselves so
of power. "
h ot the Bishop oi
erprises which were
touched the national
neses, Count of \'ill,i
I lofty and ])atriotic
an historian that this
roposition of Colum-
riy ap])ear. He may
with respect, l)Ut his
■ those enterprises in
heady en<;ajfed.
" was not in its in-
so poor as to lack
ries. M\'en jrrantin;'
lumbus were conjec-
on those commenced
n such solid founda-
uch hajipv prospects:
riched themselves hy
\'es by alliance, and
est. The views of a
the same ; they e.v
Don Juan II., lib. iv.
tended with its opulence and prosperity. PortURal
was at peace with all the princes ot I'.urope. It
had nuthiiiK to tear Irom en>;.it,nn),' in .m extensive
enterprise. It would be the Kie.itest K'lory for
l'ortU),'Uese valor to penetrate into the secrets and
horrors ol the ocean sea, so formidable to the
other nations of the world. Thus occupied,
would escape the idleness enjjendered in a lonjj
interval ot j)eace— idleness, that source ot vice,
that silent tile, which, little by little, wore aw.iy
the stren;,'lh and valor ot a nation. It was an al-
front," he added," to the I'ortuyuese n.ime to men-
ace it with inia.Lfinary perils, wlieii it h,ul proved
itself so intrei)id in encountering those which
were most fert.iin and tremendous. (Ireat souls
were lormed tor great enterprises. He wondered
much that a prelate, -so religious as the liishop ot
Ceuta, sh.ould oppose this undertaking ; the ulti-
m.ite object ol which w.is to augment tluC.itholic
faith, and sjjre.id it from pole lo pole ; retlecting
glory on the I'orluguese nation, ;ind yielding em-
pire and lasting I. line to its princes." He con-
cluded by declaring that, " although a soldier, he
d.'irrd to prognosticate, with a voice and spirit as
if (lom he.iveii, to wh.itever jnince should achieve
this enterprise, more h.ippy success and durable
renown th.in had ever been obtained by so\ereign
the most v.ilorous and fortunate." * The warm
;in(l generous eloi|uence of the count overpowered
the cold-spirited reasonings ot the bishop asf.iras
the project ot cinumnavig.uing .Africa was con-
cerned, which was |)rosecuted with new ardor
and triumphant success : the nrojiosition of Co-
lumbus, however, was generally condemned by
the council.
Seeing that King John still manifested an incli-
nation for the enter|)rise, it was suggested to him
l)y the liishop of Ceuta that Columbus might be
kept in suspense while a \essel secretly dispatched
in the direction he should point out might ascer-
tain whether there were any foundation for his
theory. I!y this means all its advantages might
t)e secured, without committing the dignity of the
crown by formal negotiations about what might
prove .1 mere chimera. King John, in an evil
hour, had the weakness to permit a stratagem so
inconsistent with his usual justice and m.igna-
nimity. Columbus w, is reciuired to furnish tor the
consider.ition ot the council ,'i det.iiled |)lan ot his
jiroposed voyage, with the charts and doi uments
according to which he intended to sh.ijie his
(C)urse. These being procured, a car.ivel was
dispatched with the ostensible design ot c.irryin^
provisions to the C.ipe de \'erde islands, but with
private instructions lo pursue the design.ited
route. Dep.irting from those islands the caravel
stood westward tor sever.il days, until the weather
bec.ime stormy ; when the pilots, seeing nothing
but an imme.isur.ible waste ot wild, tumbling
waves still extending bi-fore them, lost all courage
and put b; ck, ridiculing ihe project ot Columbus
as e.xtravagaiu and irrational.*
This unworthy attem|)t to defraud him of his
enterprise roused the indignation ot Columlius,
and he ileclined all otters ot King John to renew
the negotiation. 'l"he ilealh ot his wit»-. which
had occurred some time previouslv, had dissolved
the dimieslic tie which bound him to I'ortugal ;
he determined, therefore, to ab.indon a country
w here he had been treated with so little faith, .iml
to look elsewhere for patronage. lietore his de-
parture, he engaged his brother liartliolomew to
carry proposals lo the King of Ijigland, though
he does not ap|)ear lo have entertained gre.it hope
Irom that (piarter ; Kngland by no means possess-
ing at the time the spirit of naulic.il enterprise
which has since distinguished her. The gre.it re-
liance of Columbus was on his own personal exer-
tions.
It was toward the end of 1484 that he lelt Lis-
bon, taking with him his son Diego. His depart-
ure had to be conducted with secrecy, lest, .is
some assert, it should be jjrevented by King John ;
but lest, as others surmise, it should be prevented
by his creditors.! Like m.iny other great projec-
tors, while engaged upon schemes ot v. 1st benetit
to mankind, he had suffered his own affairs to go
to ruin, and was reduced to struggle h.ird with
])overty ; nor is it one of the least interesting cir-
cumstances in his eventful life, that he had, in a
ni.inner, to beg his way from court to court, lo
offer to princes the discovery of a world.
BOOK II.
CHAPTER I.
PROCEF.DING.S Ol' COI.U.MHUS AI'Ti:R l.K.WINO TOli-
rUCAI. — HIS API'I.IC.MION.S IN SI' \1N — CH AKAC-
TKI-IS OK KERUINANU AXIJ ISAUICLLA.
['485.]
Thf. immedi.-ite movements of Columbus on
leaving Portugal are involved in uncertainty. It
is said that about this time he made a i)ropi)sition
oi his enterprise, in person, as he had formerly
done by letter, to the government of C.enoa. The
re[)ublic, however, was in a languishing decline,
and embarrassed by a foreign war. Caffa, her
great deposit in the Crimea, h.ad fallen into the
hands of the Turks, and her Hag was on the point
of being driven from the Archipelago. Her spirit
was broken with her fortunes ; for with nations.
* V<-isconceIos, lib. iv.
lib. xiii. torn. iii.
La Clede, Hist. Portugal,
as with individuals, enterprise is the child of pros-
])erity, and is apt lo languish in evil dajs when
there is most need ot its exertion. Thus (leiioa,
disheartened by her reverses, shut her ears to the
])roposition ot Columbus, which might h.ive ele-
vated her to tenlold s|)lendor, and perpetuated
within her grasj) the golden wand of commerce.
While at Cienoa, Cohiinbus is said to ha\e made
arrangements out of his scanty means lor the com-
fort of his aged father. It is ,ilso affirmed that
about this time he carried his proposal lo \'enice,
where it w.is declined on account ot the critical
state of national affairs. This, however, is
* Hist, del Almiranle, cap. 8. Herrcra, decad. 1,
lib. i. cip 7.
\ This surmise is founded on a letter from King
Joiin to Columbus, written some years afterward, in-
viting him to return to Portugal, and insuring hiin
against arrest on account of any process, civil or crim-
inal, which might be pending against him. See N'uv-
arrcte, CoUec. torn. ii. doc. 3.
i'i
LiriC AND VOVAdl'S OF COM'MHUS.
fei
I
niiTcly tnrlitional, niid tiiisiipporti'd by ducii-
nu'nt.iry cvidi-nci'. 'I'lu- lir^l lirm mikI inilis|)m,i-
l)lt' tr,n (• wi' li;ivi' of (.'iiliimbiis alter liMxiiiK I'oi-
Iii^,mI is in the ^()lllh ot S|)aili, in 14S5, where we
tuul linn scfkin;^ his Imtune aniimj; the Sp.mish
rni)l)l(s, ^(•ver,ll (plwliiini h.ul \.>st iinNsessions, and
cxerii>ei| alni()-.t independent si)vereij;iUy in iheir
(li)niain^.
Koremost ainonj^ tliese were the Dukes of N!e-
(lina Sidonia and Medina Celi, who had estates
like |)rinrip ilities lyin:;' alonj; the sea-eoasl, with
jxirts and shippiny;^ and hosts of retainers at their
command. They ser\'ed the crown in its Moor-
ish wars more as allied princes than is vassals,
l)rin:;in)f armies into the field led iiy themselves,
or h\ laptains ot their own appointment. 'I'heir
domestic eslahlishments were on almost a rcj^al
scale ; their p.ilaces were tilled with persons ot
merit, and younjj c.iv.iliers of noble hirlh, to be
reared under iheir auspices, in the exercise ol
arts and .irnis.
Columl)iis had many interviews with the Duke
ot Medina .Sidoni.i, who w.is tempted tor a time
by the splendid prospects held out ; but their very
splendor threw a coloring (d improbabilitv over
the enterprise, and he tin. illy reiecteil it as die
dre.im of .111 It.ili.in vision, irv.
'I'he Duke of Medina Celi w.is likewise f.iviii-
Jible at the outset, lie entert. lined Coliinduis lor
some time in his house, .iiid w.is actually on the
iioint ot •'r.intm^ him three or tour ear.neis which
I.iy re, Illy tor sea in his h.irbor of I'ort .St. .M.iry,
opposite Cadi/, wlu'ii he sudilenly eh.inj^ed his
mind, det<rred by the consideralion th.il the en-
ter|)ris(", if successful, would iiniilve discoveries
too import, mt to be j^^r.isped by any but a sov-
ereijrii power, and tliat the Spanish ifovernm'.-iu
mitjiu be disple.ised at his undertakin).j it on his
own account. Kindinjj, however, that Colum-
bus inti'iided to m.ike his next apjilication to the
Kin^ d 1'" ranee, and loath that an enterprise ot
such importance should be lost to Spain, llie duke
wrote to (Hieen Isabella recommending it strong-
ly to her .ittention. 'I'he ipieen m.ide a laxorable
reply, and re(|uested that Columbus mi j,dit be sent
to her. lie accordinijly set out tor the .Spanish
court, then at C(U'dova, bearinj;' a letter to the
(lucen from the duke, solicitiiij; that, in case the
expedition shoukl ln' carried into effect, he mi^dit
have .1 share in it, and the tittin;;' out ot the arm.i-
inent from his port of St. Mary, as .1 recompense
tor h.iviiij; w, lived the enter])rise in f.nor of the
crown.*
The time when Columbus thus souj^ht his for-
tunes at the court of Spain coincided with oiu- ot
the most brilliant ]ieriods of the Spanish mon-
archy. The union of the kiiiLjdoms of .Vrraj^on
and Castile, by the marriaj,'e of I'erdin.ind and
Isabella, had consolidated the Christian |)ower in
the I'eninsula, and ]nit an end to those internal
feuds which had so lonij distracted the country,
and insured the domination of the Moslems. The
* Letter of tlie Duke of Medln.i Cell to the grand
caniln.il. N'avarretc, Collect, vol. ii p. 20.
N'.M. — In the previous etlitions of diis work, the
first trace we have of Couiiiiluis in Spain is at the
gate of the convent of La Kabida, in Andalusia. SuIj-
seqiient investigations have induced me to confortii to
the opinion of the indefatiijalile and accurate Navai-
rete. piven in his third volume of documents, that
the first trace of Columlius in Spain was his applica-
tion to the Dukes of Medina Sidunia and Medina
Celi, and that his visit to the convent of La Rabida
was some few years subsequent.
whole force of uiiite(l Spain was now exerted in
the ihiv.ibou'. enter|)rise (d the Moorish imi.
(piest. Tlie Moors, who had once spread over the
whole (iiunlry like ,m inundation, were now pent
up within the mountain bound. tries of the kiii'.^'.
doin ot ( iraii.id.i. I'he victorious .irmies ol l''eiili-
11. mil ,ind Is.ibell.i were coiiliiiu,ill\ ,id\ ,1111 iiit;,
.ind |)res-,in^' this tierce |)eople witiiin narrower
limits. I'lider these so\erei).;ns, the v.irious petty
kingdoms (d .Sp,un liej,Mn to teed ,ind act as one
nation, and to rise to eminence in ;irts as well ,is
arms. l''erdin,ind and is.ibell.i, it h.is bet 11 re-
marked, lived to^;elher not like man and wile,
whose estates are common, under the orders nt
the liusb,ind, but like two monarchs strictly
allied.* Thi-y had separate claims to soverei^jnlv,
in virtue id their respective kin^jiloms ; tliey had
se]), irate coimcils, and were olten distant from
e.ich other in dilterent p.irls of their empire, eai h
exercisiii;; the roy.ll authiU'ity. ^'^l they were so
happily united by common \iews, common inter-
ests, ,ind a j;re.it detereiice tor e.ich other, tli.it
this doubli- .idminisir.ition never preveiiti'd a
Uiiity ot purpose ;iiul ol action. All acts ot sov-
erei);nty were executed in both their names ; ;d|
]niblic writinj;s wi're subscrilied with both their
sii^ni.ituri'S ; their likenesses were st.imped tn-
;;iiher on the public coin ; and the roval se.il dis-
played the uniti'd arms ot C.istile and Arraj^on.
Ferdinand w.is o\ the miildle stature, well pro-
portioned, and hardy .iiid .iitive troni athletic ex-
ercise. His c>irriaj;e was tree, ereit, and majts-
tic. lie had a char, serene forehead, which .ip-
|>e,ire(l more lofty from his lie.id beiiiir partly
ii.ild. His eyebrows were l.irj^e and parted, and,
like his hair, ot a brij^du chestnut ; his eyes weii'
i dear and animated ; his complexion was some-
what ruddy, and seori hed by the toils ot war ; his
mouth moder.ile, well formed, and >i;|-;ieious in its
expression ; his teeth white, thouj;h sm.ill and ir-
re|;ular ; his voice sharp ; his speech (|uiik ami
lluent. His jrenius w.is clear and comprehen-
sive ; his iudj,Miient j^'rave and cert.iin. lie was
simple in dress and diet, eipiable in his tem])er,
devout in his relij;ion, and so indefati^-.ible in busi-
ness, that it was s.iid he seemed to repose hini-
srlf by workinj;-. He was .1 ^n'e.it observer .-iiul
judLjf of men, and uniiaralleled in the scii'nce of
tile cabinet. Suidi is the picture ^iven ui him hv
the .Sp.inish historians of h.is lime. It has been
added, however, that he had more of bi};-otry than
relii;ion ; that his ambition w.is eravini; rather
than m,iL;n,inimous ; that he made war less like
a p.iladin than a prince, less' for j,dory than tor
mere dominion ; and that his |iolicv w;is cold,
sellish, and arltul. He w.'is called the wise and
prudent in Spain ; in Italy, the ])ious ; in France
and Ijiijl.ind, the ambitious and pertidious.f He
certainly was one of the most subtle statesmen,
but one of the most thorough egotists that ever
s it upon a throne.
While giving his jiicture, it may not be deemed
im])ertinent to sketch the fortunes of a monarch
wh')se ])olicy had such an effect upon the history
ol Cidumbus and the destinies of the New World.
.Success allendeil all his measures. Though a
younger son, he h.id ascended the throne ot .\r-
r.igon t)y inheritance ; Castile he obtained by
marri.ige ; (iranada and Naples by coniiuest ;
and he seized upon Navarre as appertaining to
any one who could lake possession of it, when
Pope Julius II, excommunicated its sovereigns,
lu.
tirs
aiu
Til
A 1
nv
the
sort
th,'
sill'
(pi,
the
ion-,
w ,ir
tiu:i
sill
C
the
tllill
HUH
Sh.
or.
iiu I
wit!
* Voltaire, Essai sur les Moeurs, etc.
t Ibid., ch. 14.
4
LIFK AND VOYAGKS OF COLUMBUS.
88
n was now everted m
it li.e Mimn^h eon-
uiur s|iie.i(l over tlii;
Mtioii. were iiiiw pent
iiiiul.iriei (it llie tiiin;.
iDiis .uniii's III t'Ciiii-
iiUiiui.illy ads.Mieui!;,
)|)le wiihin ri.irrdwi-r
L,'ns, tile v.iridU'^ petly
,o tei'l jinil ;iet :is one
nee in arts as well as
lella, it has |)ei i\ re-
lil<e man anil wile,
, under the ordi'rs ot
1) nionarehs strictly
l.iinis to sovereij;iil\-,
kin','donis ; they h.il
I' olten distant troni
ot their enipire, eaeh
y, ^'l t they were s(i
kiews, eonunon inter-
tor I'aeh other, th.it
never nrevented ,i
ion. All aets ol snv-
)oth their names ; ,ill
ril)ed with both tluir
■i were stamped lo-
ud the royal seal di^
istile and Arra^iin.
lie st.itiire, well pro-
live trom athletie e\-
ee, ereit, ami majrs-
,• torehe.id, whieh ap-
s head beiiiir p.iillv
ir;;e and p.irted, and,
■SI nut ; his eyes were
implexion was soiiie-
the toils ot war ; hi^
ind j^rracious in its
houj;h small and ir-
is sjieeeh cpiick and
,ir and eomprehen-
ul certain. I le w.i:i
ii.dile in liis temper,
ndefati^able in 1)11^1-
med to repose Idni-
^reat observer and
il in the scii'iice (if
lire ^Mveii ot him by
tinu'. It has beca
more ot bij;dtry than
w.is cravuif,^ rather
made war less like
s' lor ).jlory than tor
is poliev w;is cold,
called the wise and
c pious ; in Fraiui;
nd ])ertidious.t I li;
st sul)tle statesmen,
h egotists that ever
may not l)e deemeil
tunes of a monarch
ct upon the liistory
of the \ew World',
isures. Though a
d the throne ot Ar-
ile he obtained by
iples l)y coniiuest ;
is appertaining ti)
isession of it, when
ted its sovereigns,
rs, etc.
Iiian and ("at. din. i. and gave their throne to the
iirst o((Upaiit.* Up sent hi.s (one^ into Alrii.i,
and subjug.iled or redmed to vass.d. ige, Tiini^,
'I'ripoli, Algiers, and most ot tin: li.irb.uy powers.
A new world w.is.iKo gi\en to him, without cost,
Dy the disco\iries ot C'(diiinbus, tor the expense ol
tlie enterprise was tiorne e\i hisively by his Kin-
sort Is.ilii 11.1. lie liad three objects at he.irt trom
the mmmeiucmeiit ot liis reign, which lie pur-
sue.! with bigoted .md persei uling /e.il : the eon-
(|Ue-.t ot the .Moors, the expulsion ot the Jews, and
the est.ililishment ot the lii(|uisitioii in his domin-
ion-., lie aciiimpli->hed them all, and w.is re-
w.irded liv I'ope Innocent \'lll. with the .ippell.i-
tioii ot .\iosl t.'.itliolie .Majesty - .1 title whiih his
suii'e-iMirs h.ive teii.n iously ret.iiiu'd.
(_'iintempor.iry wnter-i h.ive been t ntluisi.istic in
their description-! ot Is.ibella, tint time lias s.inc-
tione I their eulogies She i;. one ot the purest and
nuir.t he.iutiliil ( h.iraclers in the pages ol history.
She w.ii well lormeil, ol the middle si/e, with
gre.il dignity .ind graceliilnes-, ol deportment,
and .1 inmgled giMVity ,ind sweetness ot deme.in-
(ir. I ler 1 omple\ion W.IS t.iir ; her li.iir auburn,
ilK liiniig to red ; her eyes wefe of a clear blue,
with .1 benign expression, and there was a singu-
l.ir mo.lesty in iier eoimteii.ince, gr. icing, as it
(lid, .1 wiiiderlul t'iiinne-.s ol purpose ,ind iMriUMt-
ness of :.pirit. 'I'lunigh strongly att.iched to her
luisband and stud (UIn ol Ins t.ime, yet she alw.iys
maim. lined her di^tlnct rights as .m .illied priiu c
.She exceeded him ill lie.iuty, ill persdii.d dignity,
in .iciitciiess ot genius, and in gr.indeiir ol soul.t
Combining the active and resolute (pi.ililies ot
man with the softer (diarities ot Wdm.iii, she
mingled in the warlike councils of her luisband,
L-ng.iged person.illy in his enterprises,]; and in
some inst.iiices .lurpassed him in the lirmness and
intrepidity of her measures ; while, being ins|iired
with ,1 truer ide.i ot glor\ , she inliised a more
lotty and generous temper into his subtle and cal-
culating polii'y.
It is in the ci\il history of their reign, however,
that the ch.iracter ot Is.ibella shines most illus-
trious. Her lostering and maternal care w.is
continually directed to reform tlie l.iws, ami lie.il
the ills engeiidereil by a long course of intern, il
w.irs. She loved her people, and while diligeiulv
seeking their good, she mitigated, as much as
possiliie, the h.irsh mea^ures of her lui.-.b.iii(l. di-
rected to the s.ime end, bufinllamed by ;i mist.i-
keii /e.il. 'I'hus. though almost bigoted in her
piety, and perh.ips too much under the influence
ot ghostly advisers, still she was hostile to e\ery
me.iuire c.ilcul.ited to .idvance religion .it the ex-
pense ot humanity. She strenuouslv opposed the
expulsion of the Jews and the est.iblishment of the
ln(|ui-.iti;iii, thdiigh, unfortunately tor Sp.iin, her
repugnance w.is slowly vaiupiished by her con-
fessors. Shi- was always an advocate for clem-
ency to the Moors, although she was the soul of
the war ag.iinsl Ciran.ida. She considered that
war essential to |)roteet the Christian faith, .md to
relie\c her subjects from fierce and tormid.ible
enemies. While all her public thoughts and acts
* I'edro Silazar di Mendoza, Monarq. de Ksp. lib.
lii. cap. 5. (Madrid, 1770, torn. i. p. 402.) Gonzalo
de lijcsras. Hist. Pontif. lit), vi. cap. 23. ^3.
f (i.iribay. Hist, de Espana, torn. ii. lib. .wiii.
cap I,
X Se^'cral suits of :\Tmnr caf-.d/'i/, worn bv Isabella,
and still preserved in the royal arsenal at Madrid,
sliow ttiat she was exposed ly' personal danger in her
campaigns.
were princtdy and august, her priv.ile h.iliits were
simjile, tiug.il, .ind unosteiit.itious. In the mter-
\m1s ot st.ite business, she as>.embled round lief
the , lilies' men in litei.iture .md st lem c, .ind di>
reeled heisidt bv their iiiiinsels, in promoting let-
ters .md ,iits. I'lirough her p.itron.igi , S. il, 1111, 111-
iM rose to th.it height which it .issunied .inumj'
the le.irned iiistitutions ot the age. .She promoled
the disti iliutioii ol honors .iml rew.irds loi the pro-
mulg.itlon ot knowledge; she fostered the .11 1 of
printing recently invented, and I'liiiiur.iged llu;
est.iblishment ol presses m cM'ry |).irt ol the king-
dom ; books were .iilmitte(l trei' ot all duly, .ind
more, we are told, were printed in Spam, .it tli.it
e.irly period ul the art, tli.iii in the present lilei.iiy
.lge.»
It is wonderlul how ir.iu h the destinies ol coun-
tries (k'peiid .It times upon the virtues ot individ-
u.ils, .md how it is given to gre.it spirits b\ ( din-
biniiig, exciting, and directing tlu' laleni powers
(d .1 li.llioll, to St. imp it. .IS It were, with their owl)
greatness. Such beings re. ili/i' the idcml gu.ird-
i.iti angtds, appointed by ile.iMii to w.itt hover
the destinies ol empires. .Sm h h.id been i'rincu
Henry lor the kingdom ol I'ortug.il ; .iikI sik It
was now tor .S|)ain the illustrious IsaLicU.i.
CilAI'lf.K II.
conMiifs Af Till'; (dtur of si'.xi.v.
Wlll.V Columbus arrived at Cordo\-.i he was
given in (h.irge to .Alon/o de ' Juinl.inill.i. i (imp-
troller of the treasury ot Castile, but wis dis.ip-
jiointed in his expectation ot receiving immediiite
.audience from the ipieen. lie tmmd the city in
.ill the bustle ot military iirep.ir.ition. It was a
critic.il jum lure ot the w.ir. The ri\;il kings of
(ir.in.ida, .Mtiley. Ilo.ibdi! the iim le, .and Moii.im-
med lio.ibdil the nephew, had just lormcd a ( (i ili-
tion, and their league called tor prompt .md vig-
orous measures.
.Ml the chivalry of S|).iin h.id lieen summoned
to the ti(dd ; the streets ot Cordo\a e( hoed to the
tramp of steed and sound ot irumpet, as d.ay liy
d.iy the nobles .arrived with their ret.iiners, vyinjf
with e.K h other in the number of tlieir troops and
the splendor of their appointments. The court
was like a military c.amp ; the king and cpieen
were surrounded liy the llower ot Sp.inisli ( hiv-
.ilry ; liy those veteran cavaliers who li.id distin-
guished themselves in so many li.irdv conllicts with
the Moms, ,111(1 by the prel.ites and fri.irs who
mingled in m.irti.il council, ami took deep iiiter;'st
and agency in this w.ir of the Faith.
'i'his w.is .an unpropitious moment to urge .1
suit like that id C(diiml)iis. Intact the so\ereigns
had not ;i moment ot leisure throughout this event-
ful ye.ir. I'".arly in the spring, the king m,irche(|
ctf to Lay siege to the Moor'sh city ot l.ox.i ; .and
though tlie tpieen rt'm.iined ,at Cordov.i. she was
continually employed in forw.irding troops and
su])|)lies to the army, and, ,at the same time, .it-
temling to the multipliefl exigencies ot civil gov-
ernment. < >n the I2th of June she rep.aireil to
tlie camp, then eng.iged in the siege ot Moclin,
and both sovereigns rem.ained for s(nne time in
the \'eg,i of Ciranad.i, prosecuting the war with
unremitting vigor. They had barely returi ed to
Cordova to celebrate their victories by public re-
* Elotiio de la Reina Catholica, por Diega Clemen*
cin. Madrid, tS2i.
S4
UVl'. AND VOVAdKS OF COLUMBUS.
*!
:1f
I!
i) ^
Jti;
I
joirinps, whrn thrv were olilijjivl to %vt out for
('..illu i.i, til >iU|)pri-ss a n-ljcllnm of the t'lmiit nl
l.>-in(is. Thfiuf till') rcpairi'il to Salain.iia.i for
tllC WlllllT.
Diinii^,' tlu* siiinnu'r and .uiiiiniii of ttiis year
C'ohiniliiii ri'inaiiicd at (.'ordma, a ^juc^t m tlw
hou-if oi Alon/o dc ( )iimlaiidla, who proved a
warm ad\oi .itf of Ins theory. Throunh his means
he lurame ai(|U.imted with Antonio (ieralchni,
th
e pope s n
iintio, and his brother Ale\an(hT ( ler-
rthlini, prei cptor
to th
e yollii(,'ir eliildreii o
t I'er.
dinand and isahella ; both valuable trienrls about
rt. \\'liere\er he obtained a
<l h
in UK
from intelli^,'<-nt auditors, the di^jiiily ot his maii-
ners, his earnest sineerity, the elevation of his
views, ,ind the practnal shrewdness ot his dem-
onstrations, (■( ■ '
imm.mded respei t e\iii where tin
fail.
to pr iduce loiun tioii.
While thus lin^crin^; in i<l!e suspense in C'or-
(lov.i, he bee, line attaclied to a lady of the eily,
r.e.itriN I'.urii|Uf/ by name, of a noble family,
thou^jh in reduced eireunistances. 'I'heir con-
lUTtion was not sanetioned by marri,i;;e ; yet
he cherished sentiments ot respect and tender-
ness for h<T to his <lyin;{ ilay. Slu; was the
niotlier of his second son, Kernando, fiorn in
tin- follow ill); year (14871, whom he always treat-
ed on terms ot perfect ecpiality with lus legiti-
mate son Diej^o, aiui who, alter liis lieatli, be-
came his historian.
In the winter Cohiml)iis followed the (ourt to
Salam.inci. Here his zealous friend, Alon/o di'
(Juint.inilla, exerted his intluence to obtain for
him the countenance of the celebr.ited I'edro
(■|on/,iliv de .Meiido/a, Archbisho]) ot 'I'oledo, and
(Irand Cardinal ot Sp.iin. 'I'his w.is the most im-
port. int person, in;c about tlu; i ourt ; and was fa-
cetiously c.illed by i'eter Martyr, the " third kinj;
of .Si)ain." 'I"he kin^; ,ind {|Ueen liad him ;ilwa)s
liy tiieir sidi; in pe.ice and war. He aci nmpanied
tliem in their cami)ai^ns, and they never tool; any
measure o( conse(|uencc without consulting him.
lie w.is a m.tn ot sound judy;ment and ipiiik intel-
lect. elo(|Uent in comers. ition, and able in the dis-
patch ot business. His appear.mce was lot!) and
venerable ; he was simple \et curiously nicein his
app.irel, and of j,'racious and ffeiitle deportment.
'rhouj,di an elejr.uu sehol.ir, yet, like many learn-
ed nun ot his day, he w.is t)Ut little skilled in cos-
moj{r.ii)hy. W'lien the theory ot Columbus w.is
first mentioned to him, it struck him as iinolvin^f
heterodox opinions, incomp.itible with the tiu'm of
the earth as described in the S.icrod Scriptures.
P'urther explanations had their force with a man
of his (|uick a|)prehension and sound sense. He
perceived that at any rate 'lure could be nothin^r
irreli;rious in atlempiinjj to extend the bounds ot
human knowledge, and to as( ert.iin the works ot
creation ; his scruples once removeil, he permitted
Columbus to be introduced to him, and K^ave him
a courteous reception. The hitter knew the im-
|)ortanceof his .luditor, and that a conference with
the ^rand cardinal was almost e{|ui\alent to a
communic.ition with the throne ; he exerted him-
self to the utmost, therefore, to expl.iin and
clenionstr.ite fiis proposition. The clear-headed
c.irdina! listened with protound attention. He
was ple;is(.-d with the noble and e.irnest manner
of Colundius, which showed him to be no com-
mon schemer ; he felt tile j,'ran<leur, and, .it tlie
same time, the simplicity of his theory, and the
force of niany of the ary^uments by which it was
supported. He determined th.it it w.is a matter
hiijhiv worthy of the consideration of the sov-
ereigns, and through his representations Colum-
hus at Ii'nj;th otit.iincfi .idmission tn tlip royal
preseni ('.•
\N'e li.ive but sc.inty p.irtii iil.irs of tfiis .uidi-
elice, nor i.m we ascert.iin whetller nueell Is,|.
I w.iH present on the occasion
I
seems to be most t)rob,i!ilv the c.ise,
ti
le coiitr.uv
(
olumhtM
.ippe,ire(i HI the rov.il prisence with modestv. yet
selt-po-,s< ssion, neither d,i//leil nor d.iunted liy
tlx' splendor ol tlu' court or tlie .iwlul ULijesly (if
Is pi. in w ith i'lo(|Ueiii'i!
the throne. I le untolded h
and /e.d. tor he felt liiinselt, .is lie .itlerw.ird ili
k
nulled as with
tire
colisulelei
I h
If the
It ell
Iroin on Ingh, .mil
oseii
to ai'complish Its gr.md designs. +
n by 1
le.lMH
enlmaiul w.is too keen .1 judge <if men not to
.ippreci.iti' the char.icter of folumbus. Ileper-
( lived th.it. however so.iring mi;;ht be his im.igi-
n.ition, ;ind v.ist .and visioii.iry his views, in-,
scheme li.id scieiititic .ind pr.iciical found. ition.
I lis ambition was excited by the possibility of dis-
coveries f.ir nuire import, int than those vvhidi ii.id
shed sui h glory upon i'ortiig.d ; and peril. ips it
was not the Ic.ist recommend. ition of the ciiler-
prise to this subtle and gr.isping mon.in h, tli.it,
if successlul, it would eii.iiile liim to forest. ill that
riv.'il nation in the fruits ol their long and arduous
struggle, aixl by opening .1 direct course to Inili.i
across the oce.in, to be.ir off from tluin the iro-
nopoly of oriental commerce.
.Still as usual, Kerdin.md was cool .ind wary,
and would imi trust his own judgment in.i m.itur
th.it involved so many principles of science, lie
determined to take tlie opinion ot the most learned
men in the kingdom, and to be guided by their
decision. Fernando de T.il.iver.i, prior of the
monastery of I'r.ido and contt -sor of the i|Ueen,
one of the most ( riidite men of Spain, and high in
the idval (ont'idence, was commanded to assem-
ble the mo' t le.irned astronomers .and cosmogra-
phers lor tlie purpose ot holding a coiitercnce wiih
(.'olumbus, and examining him .is to the grouiuls
on which he founded his proposition. .Alter ihey
h.id inlormed themselves tully on tlu: subject, they
were to consult together and make a re|)orl to the
sovereign of their collective opinion. ;[
CHAI'Tr.K III.
COLUMBUS UKl-OKl> Tlir, COUNCIL AT SALA-
.MANIA.
[14S6.]
TuF. interesting conference relative to the
proposition of Columbus took place in Salam.anca.
the great se.it of learning in Sp;\in. It was held
in the Dominican convent of St. Stephen, in which
he w.'is lodged and entert.iined with gre.it hospi-
tality during the course ot the examination. >(
Religion and science were at th.at time, .-iiid
more espei'ially in that countrv. closely .associated.
The treasures ot le.irning were immured in mon-
.isteries, and the |)rotessors' chairs were e\< lu-
sively tilled from the cloister. The domin.ition ot
the clergy I'Xlended over the state .is well ;is the
church, and posts ot honor .and inlliieiice .it court,
with the exception of hereditary nobles, were
almost entirely confined to ecclesiastics. It was
* Ovicdo, lib. ii. cap. 4. Salazar, Cron. G. Cardi-
nal, lib. i. cap. 62.
f Letler to the Sovereigns in 1501.
X Hist, del Almirantc. cap. xi.
g Hist, de Chiapa pur Kcinesal, lib. ii. cap. 27.
ce,
even
helm
crosie
Ian
The
Ing.
le.il
ChiiMj
Iiwpii
doll),
ni.ide
tion.
Siu |i
•.lyes
St. St.
Iuinbu|
troll.
tarif
this
•ell to I
had
and th'
t\:i\.i
I
Liri' AND VOYAC.KS OF COIA'.MIIUS.
M
nimion to till* r()),il
iiul.irs (if this .iikIi-
whether <Uieen K.i
lasidii ; tlie ciinir.iiv
the iMse, ColiiiiiliiH
If with nioilistv , yii
h-(l Hill' il.itmtfil h^
the .luliil in.ijisly (i|
pl.lll with lln(|l|tnrc
.IS he iitlerw.ird ilc
■e lri)in (Ml lii^h. ,iiii|
I ehnseii hy lle.ucn
I1S.+
iiiilj,'e (if men not to
(-'(iliiinliiis. lie |)ti.
ini^;ht he his iin.ini-
K(iy his vii'ws, hii
r.ictiial funiuj.itidn.
ihe possibility ot (lis.
h.iii those \\hi( li h,i(|
H.il ; and |ierh.i|)s it
(l.itii)ll (it the fnter-
.jiin;; inon.iii h, ih.it,
liiin to torist.ill that
■ir lull); and ardiiniis
irect ((Hii'se to India
troni lluiu the n-o-
vas cool and wary,
iidj^nient in ,i niatitT
)lei ol science. lie
1 of the most hanicd
he ;,'ilided liy their
a\-era, prior ol the
It ''-.(ir ol the Ipleen,
I Spain, and \]\^U in
nmanded to assein-
lers and cosmoj^ra-
ii a ronterence \\\ih
as to the grounds
sition. .Alter they
111 the sidiject, they
il<e a report lo the
uon.:J;
H.
I .veil. AT .SAI.A-
relative to the
i.ice in .S.il.im.inca,
p.iin. It was held
Stephen, in which
with ;;re,it hospi-
x.imination.ji
at th.it time, and
closely .associated,
immured in mon-
hairs were exclii-
The (lomin.ition of
ate ,is well as ihi;
iiUlucnce at com't,
ary iiohles, were
Icsiastics. It was
ir, Cron. G. Cardi-
)i.
lib. ii. cap. 27.
eveti intnmon to find cardinal* and bishops in
helm and mrselel .it the head ol .irinies ; tor the
cro-iier h.id been (icciMoii.illy thrown by lor the
laiue, during the liolv w,ir a^.tinst the .Moori.
The er.l u.is distini;in-hed h'r the revival ol le.iril-
Ihk'. hut still inoi. Iir the prev.ileme ot relivJioili
le.ii, an I sp iia -.urp.issed .ill other idiintnes ol
Chiisien l'i:n m the |er\-or ot her devotion. 'Ihe
Inipn-iilioii h.id just been e-.t.ildislied in th.il kiiii;-
doin. and every opinion that s.ivored ol heresy
ni ide Its owner (diiioxiou, to odium and perseiu-
tion.
Sui h w.is the period w hen a ( mini 11 ol cleric. il
•a^es W.IS (cinvelied in the colli j;i.ite eoiivi lit ot
St. Stephen, lo investin.ili- the new theory ot Cu-
luinhui. It was coniposed ol prolessors ot a.s-
troiiomy, iffi'v{i'''l'''yi "lathem.itus, and otlit"'
br.mches III s( unci', tonether with v.irious di^;ni-
taries lit the church, an 1 le.irned fri.irs. IKIore
this eru.lite .isscinlily, Columbus presented liim-
•l'II to piopoun I and ilctend his conclusions, lie
had been scolle I .it .is a visionary by the vul^j.ir
and the iK'iinr.int ; but lie was coiiviiued that he
only nipiire I a bo l\ of enli^;htened men to listen
disp issioii.Uely to Ins re.isoiimns, to insure trium-
ph. iiit conviction.
The ^,'re.iler part ol this le.irned junto, it is very
prob.ible, c.iiii" inepos.essed .i;;.iinst him, as men
111 place .111 1 di>,'iiity are a|.t to be a.i;.iinst poor
applic, lilts. Iheie is .ilw.iys a proni'iiess to con-
sider .1 111 in un ler e\.imin.ilion as a kind ot delin-
quent, or Impostor, whose l.iulls and errors are to
be detected and exposed. Columbus, too, ap-
pe.ired in ,1 mo .t uiilavor.ible li;jflit belore a
schol.istic holy ; an obscure n.ivi^'.itor, a member
ot no le.irned institution, destitute ot all the tr.ip-
piil^s an I circiKiiitances which .sometimes ^ive
or.icul.ir aulliorily to dullness, and depeiidiii).;
U|H)n the mere toiie ol natur.il (,'enius. Some ot
the junto entcrt.iine I the popiil.ir notion tli.it he
was an .idventurer, or at beil .1 vision. iry ; and
others had ih.it inarlil I imp.itieiice iil any inno-
vation upon est.ibli-ihed doctrine, which is apt to
grow up.)n dull and pedantic men in cloistered
lite.
Wh.it .1 strikin;j spect.icle must the hall of the
old coineiit li.ive presented .it this memor.ible
conference 1 A :>imple mariner, st.mdiii); lortli in
the midst of an iniposiiif; .irr.iy ot protessi.rs,
friars, and lij^nitaries ot the church ; maintainiii;,'
his theory 'villi n.itural eloipience, and, as it were,
pleadin),f the ciuse of the new world. We are
told tli.it when he beH;.in to sl.ite the fjrounds ot
his heliel, the fri.irs of St. Stephen alone ji.iid
atieiilioa to him ; * that convent beinj^ more
leariRvl in the sciences than the rest ot the uni-
versity. The others appear to have intrenched
themselves behin 1 one do^^red position that, alter
so many prolound philosophers and cosino;,MM-
pliers h.id been stu lyin^^ the lorm of the world,
and so m.iny able n.iviuf.Uors h.iil been sadin^r
about it tor several tllousan I ye.irs, it w.is jrre.il
liresumption in an ordinary man to suppose lh.it
there rem, lined such a v.ist discovery ior him to
make.
Sever.il of the objections [imposed by this
learned bo:ly have been handed down to us, ;rid
have provoked in any a sneer at the expense of the
univer.iity ot S.il.inianci ; but they are |)roofs. not
so much of the peculiar deliciency of that institu-
tion, as ot the imperfect state of science at the
time, and the manner in which knowledge, though
rapidly extending, was still imjieded in its prog-
♦ Remesal, Hist, de Chiapa, lib. xi. cap. 7.
re^* l>y monaniic l)i(jniry. All Hubject* wi re still
contempl.ile.l tlirou^h the obsi iire ineilium ot
those .iges when the lights ot .iiiliipiity were Ir.ini-
pled out and I. nth w.n lelt to till the jil.u e of
iiit|uiry. Ihw dill red in a iii.ui; ni religiou.i ion-
iroversy. m.iiiLind h id retr.iced tli'ir steps, ami
receded troiii the bound. iry line ot .im itiit knowl-
edge. Thus, .It the Miy ihreshoj 1 ut llie disi u ,-
sioii, iiiste.id ol geogr.iphic.il oliiections, Colum-
bus W.IS ass.iiled witn cit.itions bom the llible.ind
the Test. imeiit ; the book ot (li iie-.is, the ps.ilni 1
(d U.ivid, t!le propliets, the epi->l!es, .Hid the gos-
pels. 'I'll tlie-.i' were .idded the expoiitioii-i of
V.irious s.iinli and revereml lomnieiil.itor 1 ; St.
Chry loslom .ind St. .\iigusline, St. Jerome ami
.St. (Iregory, .Si. IJi.il .iiid St. .\mliroie, .md I..ic-
t.intiui I' irmi.inu ), .1 icloubte I 1 h.impion of the
I. nth. l)ociriii.il jioiiiti were iiiixe 1 up with pliil-
opliical discus>ioiis, and am.itlieiii.itic.il demon-
stration was ;illow('d no weig'.it, it u .ippe, red li)
cl.ishwith a I 'I ot Scripture or .1 i ominenl.iry
of one ol the t.ithers. Thus t!ie po-1-.ibility id anti-
podes, in the southern hemi .pliere, .in opinion sn
geiier. illy in. lint. lined by the wisest ol the ancient I
as to be pronounced by I'liny the gre.it c mtest be-
tween the Icirned and the igiior.int, becinie a
stumbling-block w ith some ot the s.iges ol .Sala-
ni.uici. Several of them stoutly tontr.idicted tlii<
tii'id.imeiit.il position id Columbus, supporting
ihemsehes by ipiot.ilions trom |..icl,intiiii and .St.
Augustine, who were considerc I in those days an
almost e\ .ingelic.il authority. Hut, though ihesf!
writers were men (d coiiiumm.iie erudilion, and
two of the gre.itest Inmin.iries ot wh.it h.is been
cilled the golden ageol eccle-.i.islii .il le.irning. yet
their writings were c.ili ul.iled to perpetu.ile il.irk-
ness in respect to the sciences.
Ihe p.iss.ige cited trom I. 11 t.intiii s to confute
Columbus is in a str.iin <>\ gi'0-.s ridicule, un-
worthy ol so gra\e .1 theidogi.iii. " Is there any
one so loolish," he .iiks, " as to believe th.it there
;ire antijiodes willi their teet oppo>,ite to ours :
people who walk with their heels ll|)ward, and
their heads hanging down ? Tli.it there is a jiart
01 the world in which all things ,ire topsy-liirvy :
where the trees grow with tiieir branches down-
ward, and where it rains, hails, and snows u|)-
w.ird .■' 'I'he ide.i ot the roundness (d the e.irth,"
he adds, " w.is the cause ot inventing this fabli;
ot the antipodes, with their heels in the .air ; l.ir
these philosophers, having once erred, go on in
their .absurdities, defending one with another."
Dbieclions ot .igra\er n.iture were adv. meed on
the authority ot ,*st. .Xiigiistine. He pronounces
the doctrine of .antipodes to be incomp.itible with
the hisloric.il toundatioiis id mir t litli ; since, to
assert that there were inhabited l.iiids on the oj)-
posite side ot the globe would be lom.iiiitain that
there were nations not descended trom Adam, it
being impossible for them to have p.issed the in-
tervening oce.in. Tins would be, therefore, to
discredit the liible, which expressly declares that
all men are descended from one common parent.
.Such were the unlooked lor pre|udices which
Columbus had to encounter at liie very outset of
his contcrence, and which certainly relish mon;
of the convent than the university. To his sim-
plest proposition, the spherical lorm of t)ie earth,
were opposed hgurative texts of Scripture. They
observed that in the I's.ilms the he.iveiis are said
to be extended like abide,* that is, .according to
commentators, the curtain or covering of a tent,
* Extendens Cfclum sicut pcllem. Psalm 103. In
the English translation it is Psalm 104, vcr. 3.
2G
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
,!
i
whicli, .iinon;,' tlic ancieiU pastoral nations, was
{orincil ui tiiL- hides of animals ; ami that St.
I'aul, in his I'.pi^lle to iho lluijrcwK, compares the
lu'avens in a taliernacle, or tent, extended over
the earth, whii h they thence interred must he Hat.
Colunihiis, who was a devoutly reli),M()US man,
found that hi- was in danj^er ot bein^ convicted
not mmly ot error, but ot heterodoxy. Others
more' versi'd in science admitted tile (globular form
of the earth, and the possiliility of an o|)posite and
hal)itabl.: liemispliere ; but they brouj^ht U|) the
chimera ol tlie ancients, and maiptained that it
would be impossible to arrive there, in conse-
4iC|uence of the insu])portable lieat of the torrid
zone. l'.\en j;rantin;r ihis could be passetl, tliey
observe I that the circumference of the earth nnisl
be so j^reat as to require at least three years to
the vov.i^e, and those who should undertake it
must |)erish ol hunj,rer aii(l thirst, from the im|)()s-
sil)il;iyof carryiiijr jn-ovisions for so lonj; a period.
lie was told, on tlie authority of I'',picurus, that
admitlin.ij the earth to be si)lierical, it was only
inhabitable in the no'ihern hemisphere, and in
that section only was cano[)ied by the heavens ;
that the opi)osiie half was a chaos, a jjulf, or a
mere waste of water. Not the least absurd objec-
tion advanced was, that sliouUl a ship even suc-
ceed in reachin^''_ ji^ this way, the extremity of
India, she coidd never {(et back aj.(ain ; for the
rotundity ol the ^lobe would ])resent a kind of
mountain, up which it would be im|)ossible lor
her to sail with the most favorable wind.-'
Such are specimens of the errors and ])rejudiccs,
the minL,fled i_L;'norance and erudition, and the
pedantic bi^ron-y, with which Columbus IkuI to
contenil throughout the examination of his theory.
Can we wonchr at the ditliculties and delays which
he expcrieiiced at courts, when such vaj;ue and
crude notions were entertained by the learned
men of a university .•' We must not suppose, how-
ever, because the objections here cited are all
which remain on record, that they are all which
were advanced ; these only have been |ierpetuated
on account of their superior absurdity. They
were |)robalily advanced by but few, and those
persons imnn r-.' ,1 in theological studii'S, in clois-
tered retirement, where the erroneous opinions
derived irom books had little o|)|)ortunity of bein;.,'
corrected by the experii-nce of the day.
There were no doubt objections advanced more
coffent in their nature, and more worthy of ih.it
distinj^uished university. It is but justice to add,
also, that the replies of Columbus had great wei.ifht
with many of his learned examiners. In answer
to the scriptural objections, he submitted that the
ins])ired writers were not s|ieakin_Lj technically as
cosmoj;raplurs, but figuratively, in language ad-
tlressecl to all comprehensions. The commenta-
ries of the fathers he treated with deference as
pious homilies, but not as philoso])hical pro|)osi-
tions which it was necessary either to admit or
refute. The objeclioriS draw .1 from ancient phi-
losophers he met boldly and ably upon eipial
terms ; for he was deeply studied on all points of
cosmography. I le showed that the most illustri-
ou- ot those sages believed both hemispheres to be
inhabit.ible, though thev imagined that the torriil
zone |)rei'luded communication ; and he ob\iated
conclusi\el\- that diriiculty ; for he had voy.iged
to St. ('leorge la Mina in ("lUinea, almost under the
t'(|uinociial line, and h.id found that region not
merely traversable, but abounding in population,
in fruits and pasturage,
Hist, del Almirante, cap. 11.
When Columbus took ids stand before thii
learned body, he had ap|)e,ired the plain and sini-
pie navigator ; somewhat daunted, |)erha|)s, by
the greatness of his t.ask and the august n.iturec!
his auditory. Hut he had a degree of religious
feeling which, gave him a conlidence in the execu- ^
tion of what he conceived his great errand, and
he was of an ardent temperament that became
heated in action by its own generous tires. Las
Casas, and others of his conti-m|)(M'aries, have
spoken of his ct)mnianding person, his elevated
demeanor, his air ol authority, his kindling eve,
and the persuasive inton.uions of his voice. How
must they have given majesty and force to his
words, as, casting aside his nia]is aral charts, and
discarding for a time his practical and scientitic
lore, his visionary spirit took lire at the doctrinal
objections of his opponenls, and he met them
u|)on their own ground, |)oui'ing torth those majj-
nificent texts ol .Scrip'ure, .and those mysterious
predictions of the prophets, which, in his enthiisi.
astic moments, he considered as types and an-
nunciations ot the sublime discovery which he
[)ro])osed I
Am(}ng he number who were convinced by the
reasoning, and warmed by the elo(|Uence of Co-
lundius, was Diego de De/.i, a worthy and learned
Iriar of the ordt-r of Si. Dominick. at that time
professor of theology in the convent ol .St. .Ste])hen,
but who became atterward Archbishoji of Seville,
the second ecclesiastical dignitary of .Spain. This
able and erudite divine was .1 man whose mind
was above the narrow bigotry ol bookish lore ;
one who could a|)preciate the value ol wisdom
even when uttereil by unlearned lips. lie was
not a mere ])assive auditor : he took a gene.ous
interest in the cause, ai.d by seconding Colundius
with all his ])owers, calmed the blind /e.d of his
more bigoted bretliren so as to obtain for him a
dis|)assionate, if not an unprejudiced, hearing.
By their united efforts, it is said, they brought
over the most learned nit'ii of the schools.* One
great difticulty w,>s to reconcile the plan of Co-
lund)us with the cosmographv of I'tolemv, to w hich
all sclu)lars vieldetl iniplicit faith. How would
the most enlightened of those s.igt's have been as-
tonished, hail ;iny one apprised them that the
man, Copernicus, was then in existence, whose
solar system should |-(;verse the grand theory ot
I'tolemv, which stationed the earth in the centre
of the universe 1
Notwithstanding every exer'ion, however, there
was a preponderating m.'ss ol inert bigotry and
learned pri'.'e in this erudite body, which refused
to yield, to the liemonstrations of an obscure for-
eigner, -.vithout fortune or connections, or any
academic honors. " It was recpusite," s'ys Las
Casas, " belore Columbus could make his solu-
tions and reasonings understood, that he siiould
remove from his auditors those erroneous ])rinci-
ples on which their objections wen- lounded ; .1
task always more dit'<icult than that of teachiiv^
the doctrine." Occasional conferences took place,
but without producing any decision. Th^ igno-
rant, or what is worse, tiie |)'-eju<licefl, remained
obstinate in their opposition, with the dogged
perseverance ot dull men ; the more liberal and
intelligen; felt little interest in discussions weari-
some in themselves, and tin-eign to their ordinary
pursuits ; even those wlio listt'Hed with approba-
tion to the pl.ui, I'egarded it only as a delighthll
vision, lull ot probability and jiromise, but one
which never could be realized. Fern mdo de
* Rcraesal, Hist, de Chiap- lib. xi. cap. 7.
Talal
trust!
.niucf
concj
the ill
and
FCRTI
Till
c;.\i
Till
early]
tiova,"
agaiiii
Bish
ConleJ
in the!
the !)([
event,
deci.-.!
kept
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
S7
ills staml hffoR! thi?
ii'cd the plain and sitn-
daunted, perhaps, by
id lilt' au^just n.iturew
a flej^Tcc c)t iL-lij^Moiis
Jiilideiite in the execu- ^
his );i-fat eiraiul, and
ieianu-nt that became
n j;eneri)us tires. Las
C()ntem])()raries, have
; person, his elevattd
irity, his kindling eye,
ms of his voice. How
iesly and torce to his
maps and charts, and
)ractical and scientific
;)k lire at the cioclrinal
s, and he met them
iring forth tliose mafj-
and those mysterious
which, in his enlhusi-
red as tyjies and an-
: discovery which lie
ivere convinced I)y the
the eUxiiience oi Co-
, a worthy and learned
•oniinick. at that time
■oiivent ol .St. .Stephen,
Archbishop ol .Seville,
nitary ol Sp.iin. This
as ,L man whose mind
:otry ol bookish lore ;
the value of wisdom
:arned lips. He was
: he took a "jenc.ous
r seconding Columbus
the blind /e.il of his
is to obtain lor him a
)rciudiced, heariiifj.
said, they brought
the schools.^ One
uile the plan of Co-
I'tolemy, to which
laith. ll'ow would
sages have been as-
isi'(l them that the
in existence, whose
the grand theory of
earth in the centre
'ion, however, there
ol inert bigotry and
body, which reftised
IS (it an obscure for-
iiineclions, or any
i(i|iiisiie," s'lys Las
mid makc> his soki-
ood, that he should
erroneous ))rinci-
ueri- lounded ; a ;>
in that of teaching I'
Ureiices took piare, B
i-cision. '111., igno- P
i'l'judi.ed, remained
with the dogged
more liberal and
discussions weari-
;n to their ordinary
■ned with approba-
only as a deliglithll
promise, but one
Ijci. Fern mdo de
xi. cap. 7.
•Talavera, to whom the matter was especially in-
trusted, had too little esteem tor it, and was too
.much occupied with the stir and bustle of public
concern^, to press it to a conclusion ; and thus
the in(|uirv experienced continual procrastination
and neglect.
' CIl.M'TKR IV.
FURTHF.R APPriCAl IONS AT TUl-. COURT OV CAS-
■iii,i.;_((ii rMiirs rni.i.ows iiii: c-ihut i.\ us
CAMl'AIciNS.
Till'. Castilian court departed from Salamanca
early in the s|)ring of 1487 and repaired to Cor-
dova, to prepare lor the memorable cami)aigii
against Malaga. I'ernando de T.ilavera, now
Bishop ol Avila, accompanied the (|ucen as her
confessor, and as one of her spiritual counsellors
in the concerns ol the w;ir. The consultations of
the board at .Salamanca were interrupted by this
event, before that learned body could come to a
decision, and lor a long time Columbus was
kept in sus|)ense, vainly awaiting the report that
^\•as to decide the f.ite of his application.
It has generally been su|)|)osed that the sever.il
year;i wliicli he wasted in irksome solicitation
Were spent in the drowsy and monotonous attend-
ance of antechambers ; but it appears, on the
Contrarv, that they were ollen passed ainid scenes
of peril .•in I adventure, and that, in following
up his suit, he w.is led into some of the most
striking situaiions of this wild, rugged, and
mount, iiii)Ui war. St'wral iiines he was s'.inv
moned to attend conlerences in the vicinity of the
sovi'reigni, when besieging cities in the very heart
of the .Mo>'ri.->h dominions ; but the tem|)est of
warlike affairs which hurried the court from |)lace
to place ;in 1 gave it all the bustle and contusion
of a camp, prexenied those conlerences from tak-
ing |)!ace, and swept awav all concerns that were
not immediately connected with the war. When-
ever the court had an interval of leisure and re-
pose, there would a,gain be manitested a disposi-
tion to consider his proposal, but the hurrv and
tempest would again return and the (juestion be
again swept away.
The spring campaign of 14S7, which took place
shortly after the conterence at .Salai ia-a'a, was
full of incident ami peril. I\in,g Kerdinanil had
nearly been sur|)rised and cut off i)y the old
Moorisli monarch belore \'e!e/ .Malaga, and the
queen and all the court at Cordov.i were lor a
time in an agony of terror and suspense until as-
sured of his salety.
When the sovereigns were subsequentlv en-
campe 1 b.dore the city of Malaga, |)ressing iis
memorable siege, Columbus was summoned to
the court. He touiid it drawn up in its silken pa-
vilions on a rising ground, coniman(li"g the fer-
tile valU-y of Malaga ; the encampments ot the
.'Warlike nobility of Spain extended in a semicircle
s on each side, to the shores of the sea, stronglv
foriilied, glittering with the martial pomp of that
chivalrou.-, age and nation, and closely investing
that important cite.
'I he siege was pri'vacted fi)r several months,
but the vigorous delem e ot the Moors, their nu-
merous stratagems, and fierce and lrec|uent sal-
lies, allowe I but little leisure in the camp. In
the course of this siege, the applleation of Co-
lumbus to the sovereigns was nearly brought to a
viilent close ; a fanatic .Moor having ;itte-npled
to ass.is.-iinale Ferd -land and Isabella, Mistak-
I ing one of the gorgeous pavilions of thf nobility
tor the royal tent, he attacked Don .\lvaro de
Portugal, and DoTia lieatrix de llobadill.i, Mar-
i hioness ot Moya. instead ot the king .iiul (jUeen.
.vtter WvHinding \)v:, .AU'aro dangerously, he w.is
li.iled i!". a blow aimed at the marchioness, and
immediately I'Ut to pieces by the .itteiidants.*
The lady here nientiimed was of I'Xtraordinarv
merit and force ot character. She eventually t(H)l:
a great interest in tlv suit of Columbus, and had
null h inlluence in recommending it to the (pieen,
with whom she was a i)arlicular favorite. f
Malag.i surrendere(l on the iSth ot .August,
1487. There appears to have been no time dur-
ing its stormy siege to attend to the (|Uesii()n of
Columbus, though Fernando de Talavera, the
Bishop of Avila, w,;s |)reseiu, as ajipears by bis
entering the captured city in solemn and religious
triumph. The c.im|)ai.gn being ended, the court
returned to Cordov.i, but was almoit imniedi;Uely
driven Irom that city by the pestilence.
For ujjward of a year the court was in a state
of continual migration ; part ol the time in .Sar.i-
gossa, ])art of the time inv.iding the Moorish ter-
ritories by the way of Murcia, ;ind part ol the time
in X'alladolid and Medina ilel Cam|)o. Colum-
bus attended it in some ..f its movements, but it
was vain to seek a (piiet and attenti\e hearinor
from a court surrounded by the din of arms ana
continually on the march. Wearie-d and discour-
aged by these delays, he beg.in to think ot ajiply-
mg elsewhere for |)atroiiage, and ;ippears to h.ive
commenced negotiations \\ith Kin,g John II. for
a return to Portugal. He wrote to that monarch
on the subject, and received a letter in reply dated
20th of .March, 1488, inviting him to return to his
cm.rt, and assuring him of ])roiection Irom any
suits of i'it!-ier a <'ivil or criminal nature, that might
be pending against him. He received also a let-
ter Irom lienry \TI. of I'.n.gland, nniting him to
that country, and holding out [iromises ol encour-
agement.
There must h.ave i)eeii stron.g hopes, authori/ed
about this lime by the conduct ot the Spanish
sovereigns, to induce Columbus to neglect these
invitations ; and we liiid ground lor such a sup-
position in a memorandum of a sum ot money
paid to him by the treasurer C.on/ale/, to enable
him to comply with a summons to attend the Cas-
tilian court. ISy the date of this memorandum,
the payment must have been made immediately
after Columbus had ri'ceived the letter of the
King ot Portugal. It would seem to h.ave been
the aim ot King Ferdinand to prevent his carry-
ing his proposition to another and a rival mon-
arch, and to keep tlie matter in sus|)ense, until
he >h()uld have leisure to examine it, and,
visable, to carry it into operation.
In the spring of 14K9 the long-adjourned
tigation appeared to be on the eve of taking
Columbus was summoned to attend a lonterence
ot learned mtMi, to be held in the city of Seville ;
a royal order was issued for lodgings to be pro-
vided for him there ; and the magistrates of all
cities and towns tlirough whi' h he might pass, on
his way, were commantled to furnish accommo-
dations gratis for himself and his attendants. A
])rovision of the kind was n:-cessary in tho^i; days,
when even the present wretcherl establishments,
called posad.-.s, for the reception ot travellers,
were scarcely known.
The city of Seville com|ilied with the royal
* Pulsar, Cron^ra, rap. 87. P. Martyr.
t Retralo del Ducn Vassallo, lib. il. cap. 16.
if ad-
i lives-
place.
J
28
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
Sr
M
command, I)ut as usual the appointed conference
was post])(;iif<l, beiiijj intLMTupted Ijy the openinjj
of a cainpai^^n, " in which," says an old chroni-
cler of the |)l.ice, " the same Columbus was found
fljrluin};, ^iv iii;^ piools of the distiiifjuished valor
which accom|)anied his wisdom and iiis lofty de-
sires."*
The campaign in whiili Colujnhus is here said
to have hoiiie so honorable a ])art was one of the
most glorious of tlie war of tlranada. Oueen Is-
abella attended with all hrr court, includinjr as
usual a stately tr.iin of prelates and friars, amonjj
whom is particularly mentioned the procraslinat-
injjf aibilc;' ,:f the iiretcnsions of Columbus, Fer-
nando de 'I'alavt-ra. Much of the success of the
cam|)ai<,fn is ascribed to the presence and counsel
ol Isabella. The city of liaza, which was closely
besiejred and had rciisied valiantly for U[)ward of
six nionlhs, surrendereil soon alter her arrival ;
and on the 22d of Decembei , Columbus beheld
Muley IJoabdil, the elder of the two rival kinpfs,
of dranada, surrender in person all his remaininij^
possessions, and his rij^ht to the crown, to the
Spanish sovenij^ns.
Durin^r this sie^r^. a circumstance took place
which a|)pcars to have made a deep impression
on the devout and enthusiastic spirit of Colum-
Ijus. Two reverend liiars arrived one day at the
Spanish camp, and recpiesied admission to the
SoverfM^ns on business of }4reat moment. They
were Iwn ol the brethren of the 'onvent estal)lish-
ed at the holy sepulchre at Jtrus.ilem. They
broujjlu a messaj^e Irom the drand Soldan of
F.jjyj)t, threatening,'- to put to death all the Chris-
tians in his dominions, to lay waste their convents
and cliurches, and to destroy the sepulchre, if the
sovereij,rns did not desist Irom the war aj^ainst
Granacia. 'I'he men.ice had no effect in alterinj4-
the purpose of the sovereii^ns, but Isabella jjrant-
ed a yearly and i)erpetual sum of one thousand
ducats in j^old.t for the support of the monks who
had charfTc of the sepulchre ; and sent a veil em-
broideret! with her own hands to be hun;r up at
its shrine. +
The rejiresiMitations of these friars of the suffer-
ings and ini!i;;nities to which Christians were
subjected in the Holy I^and, toijether with the
arrogant threat of the Soldan, roused the pious
indignation of the Spanish cavaliers, and many
burned with ardent zeal once more to revive the
contests of the faith on the s.icred jjjains of Pales-
tine. It was |)robibly fron^ conversation with
thesi; friars, and from the pious and chivalrous
zeal thus awake'vd in the warrior throng around
hin', tliat Ci'amhus first conceived an enthusias-
tic idea, or rather m.ide a kind of mental vow,
which rem.iined more or less preseiU to his minrl
until the very day of his death. lie determined
that, should his jirojected enterprise be success-
ful, he would de\-ote h-- protits arising from his
anticipated discoveries to a crus.ide tor the res-
cue of the holy se[)ulchre from the power of the
infidels.
If the bustle and turm )il of this campaign pre-
vented the intended conlerence, the concerns of
Columbus hired no better during the subse(iuent
rejoicings. Ferdinand and Is.ibella entered Sev-
ille in February, 1490, with great pomp and tri-
umph. 'I'here were then preparations made for
* IjIpro Ortiz dc /uriij;a, Ann. de Scvdia, lib.
sii., anno 148;), p. 404.
+ Or 1423 dollars, equivalent to 4269 dollars in our
time.
I Garabav, Cumpcnd. Hist. lib. xviii. cap. 36.
the marriage of their eldest daughter, the Princess
Isabella, with the I'rince Don Alonzo, heir appar-
ent of Portugal. The nu])tials were celebrated in
the month of April, with extraordinary splendor.
Throughout the whole winter and spring the
court was in a continu.il tumult ol parade and
pleasure, and nothing was to be seen at Seville
but feasts, tournaineiiis, and tore blight proces-
sions. What chance had Colciubus of beinj;
heard amid these alternate uproars of war ami
festivity .''
During this long course of solicitation he sup-
]iorted himself, in part, by making maps and
charts, and was occasionally assisted by the purst
of the worthy friar Diego de Deza. It is due to
the sovereigns to say, also, that whenever he w.ns
summoned to follow the movements ol the court,
or to attend any a|)])ointed consultation, he was
attached to the roy.il suite, and lodgings were
provided for him and sums issued to defray his
expenses. Memorandums of several of these
sums still exist in the- book ol accounts (>t the roy-
al treasurer, Francisco ( ionz.ilez, ol .Seville, which
has lately been found in the an hives of Simancas;
and it is from these minutes that we have been
enabled, in some degree, to follow the movements
of Columbus during his attendance ii|)on this
rambling and w.irlike court.
During all tiis time he w.is exposed to contin-
ual scoffs and indignities, being ridiculed by the
light and ignorant as a nn.'re dre.imer, and stigm.-i-
tized by the illiber.d ;is an adventurer. The very
children, it is said, |)ointed to their toreheads as he
])assed, l)eing taugiu to reg.ird him as a kind oi
madman.
The summer of I4<p jjassed away, but still Co-
lumbus was kejit in tantalizing and tormenting;
suspense. The subsetpient winter was not more
pro])iti()us. He w,is lingering at Cordova in a
state of irrit.ating anxiety, when he learnt that the
sovereigns were ])re|iaring to (le])art on a cam-
jiaign in the \'ega of (H'anada, with i determina-
tion never to raise their camp Irom belore th.it city
until their victorious banners should lloat upon its
towers.
Columbus was aware that when once the cam-
paign w;is opened and the soven igns were in the
tiehi, it would bt' in v.iin to expect any attention
to his suit. He was wearied, it not incensed, at
the repeated posti)onem('nts he had experienced,
by which several years had been consumed. He
now pressed for a decisive reply with an earnest-
ness that wouhl not admit of t'vasion. I't'rnando
de Talavera, therefore, was called ni)on by the
sovereigns to hold a definitive conference with the
scientitic men to whom the ])roject had been re-
ferred, ;ind to make a report ol their decision.
The bishop tardily complied, and at length re-
ported to their r,iajesties, as the general opinion
of the Junto, that the jjroposed sciieme was v.iin
and im|)ossible, and that it did not become sui.ii
great princes to engage in an enterprise of the
kind on ..nch weak grounds as had been ad-
vanced.*
Notwithstanding this unfavorable rei>ort, the
sovereigns were unwilling to close the door ujion
a project which might be |)rodiictive of such im-
portant advantages. Many of the learned mem-
l)ers of the Junto also were in its lavor, particu-
larly Fray Diego de Deza, tutor to I'rince Juan,
who from his situation and clerical character h.iil
access to the royal ear, ;ind exerlefl himselt stren-
uously in counteract. ng the decision of the board.
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 2.
Ade
grow
men,
tome
there
Vhii
and
for
prise
Wouh
him
Tl
in.'inv
tion,
to rei
court
the
same,
the
when
War.
Co I
ment
por'ui
Sition-
by th
Renoi
vague
pointii
from t
indigii
cut of
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
29
; dauglUiT, the Princess
)()n Aloiuo, heir appar.
lials Wert: t'elehrale'l in
•xUaurdiiiary s|)len(l()r.
inter and spiin}^ the
tumult ol parade and
IS to he seen at Sevilk
and ton hlii;ht proccs-
li Colunihus ot heing
ic uproars oi war and
3 of solicitation he sup.
by nialNinjj ntajjs and
iy assisted hy the |Hirsc
> de iJe/a. It is due to
that whenever he was
lovements ol the court,
:d consultation, he was
te, and lod.ujini^s were
ns issued to delray his
s of several ot these
ol accounts (,t the rov-
1/alez, ol Seville, which
' arc hives ol Simancas;
utes that we ha\e been
) tollow the movements
attendance ii|)oii this
t.
k.is ex|)nsed to contin-
)ein<c ridiculed hy the
■e dreamer, and sti}:;nia-
adventurer. 'I'he \iTv
to their toreheads as he
j},Mrd liim as a kind ci
sed away, but still Co-
di/inj( and lornientini;
: winter was not more
rinj^r ;u Cordova in a
vhen he learnt that the
to depart on a cam-
da, with i determina-
Ironi belore that city
should tloat ujwn its
when mice the cam-
ivert igns were in the
expect any attention
I, it not incensed, ai
he had experienced.
)ecn consumed. lie
.■|)ly with an earnest-
t evasion, l-'ernando
s called upon by the
e conterence with the
]>roiect had been re-
)ort ol their decision,
d, and at lentjth re-
s the j^eneral o|)inion
>rd scheme was vain
did not become such
an enterprise of the
s as had been ad-
f.uorable re|x)rt, the
) close the door upon
rodnctive ot such ini-
ot the learned meni-
n its t.ivor, jiarticu-
tutor to Prince Juan,
leric.il character had
■xertcfl himself stren-
lecision ot the i)oard.
A degree of consideration, also, had pradualiy
grown up at court for the enterprise, and many
men, distinguished for rank and merit, had f)e-
tome its advocates. Fernando de Talavera,
therefore, was commanded to inform Columbus,
V-1ki was still at Cordova, that the great cares
«nd exjit nse-. of the wars rendered it impossilde
for the .sc -..cit^MS to engage in any new enter-
arise ; bu; that when the war was concluded they
^«vould ha\e both time and inclination to treat with
him about what he |iro])osed.*
This w.is but ;i starved reply to receive after so
many days ot w.-ary attendance, .mxious expecta-
tion, anddeterred hope ; Columbus was unwilling
to receive it ot second hand, and rejjaired to the
court at .Seville to learn his fate from the lips of
the sovereigns. Their reply was virtually I'-.c
•anie, declining to engage in the enterprise tor
the prcscrt, but holding out ho|)es of patronage
when relieved from the cares and expenses of the
war.
Coluin!)US looked u|)on this indefinite postpone-
ment as a mere courtly mode of evading his im-
portunitN, and supposed that the favorable dispo-
sitions ol the sovereigns had been counteracted
by the objections of the ignorant and bigoted.
Renouncing ail further confidence, therefore, in
vague promises, which had so often led to disap-
J (ointment, .and giving up all hopes of countenance
rom the throne, he turned his back U|)on Seville,
Indignant ;>' the thoughts of having been beguiled
out ot so many precious years of waning existence.
CHAPTER V.
COI.U.MIIUS AT THE CONVKNT OK LA RABIUA.
Aliol'T half a league from the little seaport of
Palos 'le Moguer in Andalusia there stood, and
continues to stantl at the present day, an ancient
convent ol Franciscan fri.trs, dedicated to .S.inta
■M.iria de Kabida. One day a str.ingeron foot, in
humble guise but of a distinguished air, accom-
panied by a small boy, stopjied at the gate of the
convent, and asked of the porter a little bread and
Water for hU child. W'liile receiving this hum-
ble retreshment, the prior of the convent, Juan
Perez de Marchena, h.ippening 'o pass by, was
Struck with the appearance of the stranger, and
observing from his air and accent that he w.is a
foreigner, entered into conversation with him, and
Boon learned the particulars ot his story. Th.it
Strang'-r was Columbus. t He w.is on his way t )
the neighboring town of Iluelv.i, to seek his
brother-in-law, who had married a sister of his
dece.ised v'ife.J
The prior was a man of extensive inforriation.
His .iltention had been turned in some mv: sure to
feograpliic.il and nautical science, probably from
is vicniiiy to Palos, the inhabitants of whicl'i were
* Hi'.i. rlel Almiiante, cap. 2.
• + " i-o dichn .Mmirante Colon venienuo.-i la Rabida.
«iue es un monuslerio <le frailes en esta villa, el qu«l
.demarido ;i la porteria que le diesen para aquel
nink(j, que era nino, pan i a^ua que beblese. " The
testimony of (i.ircia Fernancicz exists In manuscript
"BiiionR the nmltifarious writin^js of the Pleito or lavv-
Buit, vvlii. h .ire preserved at .Seville. I have made
,|ise of an authenticated extract, copied for the late
historian, Juan Baut. MuHoz.
I Probably Pedro Correo, alreadym entionerl, from
Whom he had received information of signs of land in
the west, observed near Puerto Santo.
among the most enterprising navigators of .Spain,
and made fre(|Uent voyages to the recently discov-
ered islands and countries on the African coast.
He was greatly interested by the cc-nversation of
Columbus, and struck with the grandeur of his
views. It was a remark.ible occurrence in the
monotonous life of the cloister, to have a man of
such singular chaiaciir, intent on so extraordi-
nary an enterprise, appiv ing for bread ;iiu] water
at the g.ite ot his convent.
When he found, howcvei', that the voyager was
on the point of al),indi)iiiiig Spain to seek |)atron-
age in il-.e court ot I'" ranee, and that so imixirtant
.in enter|)rise was about to lu; lost toiever to the
country, the patriotism ot the good iriar took the
alarm, tie det.iined Columlnis as his guest, and,
ditlident of his own ji;dgmeiit, sent lor a scientific
friend to converse with him. 'I'h.it triend was
(larcia l''ern.indez, ;i ])hysiii.in resident in Palos,
the same who furnishes this interesting testimony.
Fern.indez was eqii.ill/ struck with the .ippear-
ance and conversation ol the stranger ; sever.il
conferences took ])lace at the convent, at ^vhich
several of the veteran mariners of Palos were
present. Among these was Martin Alon/o Pinzon,
the head of a family of wealthy and experienced
navigators of the place, celebrated lor their ad-
venturous expeditions. I'.icts were rtdated by
some of these n.ivig.itors in support of the theory
of Columbus. In a word, his ])roject was eateil
with a deference in the (juiet cloisters ol I,a
Kabida, and among tl.e seat.iring men of Palos,
which had been sought in vain among llu; sages
.111(1 philoso|)hers ot the lourt. .M.irtiii .Monzo
Pinzon especi.illy was so convinced ot its feasibil-
ity that he offered to eng.ige in it witli purse ,ind
person, and to bear the ex|ienses of Columbus in
a renewed application to the court.
Friar Juan Perez w.is conllrmcd in his faith by
the concurrence of those learned and ])ractical
councillors. He had once been contessor to the
(|Ueen, and knew that she was alw.iys .accessible
to persons of his sacred calling, lie ])roposed to
wriie to her immedi.itely on the subject, .and en-
treated Columbus to delay his journey until an
answer could be received. The latter was easily
jiersuaded, tor ht felt as if, in leaving Sp.iin, he
was ag.iin ab.indoning his home, lie was also
reluctant to renew, in another court, the vexations
.md disap])ointmeiUs experienced in Spain and
Portug.il.
'l"he little council at tlie convent of I.,i I^abida
now cast round tlieir eyes lor an .i;nl).issador to
dep.irt upon this moim'iuou.i mission. They
chose one Sebastian Kodrigue/, a pilot of Lepe,
one of the most shrewd and import.int |iersonages
in this maritime ncij^hborhoixl. 'I'he (pieen was
at this time at Sant.i \-\'\ the military city which
had been built in tin; \'eg.i before (Iran.ida, after
the conll.igralion of the roy.il cini,.. 'I'he honest
pilot ac(|uitted himself tiitldullv, expeditiouslv,
and successiully, in l-.is embassv. lie found ac-
cess to the ber.ignant princess, and delivered the
epistle of the fri.ir. Isabella had always been fa-
vorably disposed to the jiropositioii ot (Jolumbus.
She wrote in reply to ju.in Perez, tli.mking him
for h' timely services, .and reipiesting that he
would rep.iir immedi.itely to the court, leaving
Christopher Columbus in C(nitklent hope ui'iil he
should he.ir further troni her. This rov.il letter
W.IS brought b.ick by the pilot at the end of four-
teen d.tys, and spread great [oy in the little junto
at the convent. No sooner (bd the warm-hearted
friar receive it, than he saddled his luile, and fle-
partcd privately, before midnight, for llie court.
if
80
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
,! ,.
n
'■
1
m
He journeyed throir^h the conquered countries ot
the Moois, and rode into the newly-erected city ot
Santa Fe, wjieie the s()verei;;ns were superintend-
inj( the close investment ot the capital ot (Iranada.
The sacred ollice ot Juan I'erez j^ained him a
ready entrance in a court distinguished for relij^-
ious zeal ; and, once admitted to the presence of
the (|ueen, his former relation, as father confessor,
gave liini great liiedom ot counsel. He pleaded
the cause ol Columbus with characteristic enthu-
siasm, speaking from .actual knowledge of his
honor.ihle motives, his professional knowledge
and experience, and his perfect capacity to fullil
the undertaking ; he represented the solid princi-
ples upon which the enterprise was founded, the
advant.ige th.it must attend its success, and the
glory it must shed upon the .Sp.inish crown. It is
probable th.it Isabella had ne\'er heard the propo-
sition urged with such honest zeal and im|)ressive
elo(|uence. ISeing n.iturally more sanguine and
susceptible tli;in the king, and more open to warm
and generous im|)ulses, she was moved by the
rei)resenl.itions of Ju.in I'erez, which were w.irmly
seconded by her laNorite, the .Marchioness of
Moy.'i, who entered into theaff.iir with a woman's
disinteresti'd enthusi.ism.* The queen reciuested
that Columbus might be .again sent to her, and,
with the kind considfr.ileness which characterized
her, bethinking herself ot his poverty, and his
humble plight, ordered that twenty thousand
maravediesf in llorins should be forwarded ti)
liim, to bear his tr.i\elling expenses, to ])rovide
him with a mule for his journey, and to furnish
him with decent raiment, that he might make a
res|)ectable a|)pe,irance .at the court.
The worthy friar lost no time in communicat-
ing the result of his mission ; he transmitted tho
money, and a letter, by the hands of an inh.ib-
itant of I'alos, to the physician Ciarcia Fernandez,
who delivered them to Columbus. The latter
complied with the instructions conveyed in the
epistle. He exchanged his threadbare garb foi
one more suited to the sphere of a court, .ind,
purch.ising a mule, set out once more, reanima-
ted by hopes, for the camp before Granada.]:
Cn.M'lKIi VI.
APPi-ic.Aiinx ■]■() riii; corur ,\t tmi; time oi'
rili: SLRKK.MIKR (JF tlKANAUA.
1>49^-1
Whkn Columbus arrived at the c lUrt, he ex-
perienced a tavoial)le reception, and was gi\en in
hos|)itable ch.irge to his ste.idy friend Alon/o de
Quint.-inilla, the accountant-general. The mo-
ment, however, w.is too eventful for his business
to receive immediate ailention. Hj arrived in
time to witness the memorable surrender of Cira-
nada to the .Spanish arms. He beheld lioabdil,
the last of the Moorish kings, s.ally forth fi,<m tlie
Alhambra, and yield up the keys of that favorite
seatot Moorish power ; while the king and <|ueen,
with all the chivalry .md rank and magnihcence
of Spain, moved forw.ird in proud and solemn
* Retrato del Uiicn X'ass.illn. lib. ii. cap. if).
f Or 72 (lolKirs, and equivalent to 2i0 dollars of
the present tlay.
I Most of the p.irticulars of this visit of CoUimlius
to the convent of l,a Rnbida are from the testimony
rendercil by Garcia I'ernandcz in llie laws-jit between
Diego, the son of Columbus, and the crown.
procession, to receive this token of sid)mission.
It was one of the most brilliant triumphs in Span-
ish history. After near eight hundred ye.irsoi
painful struggle, the crescent was completely l i.,;
down, the cross e.xaltc'd in its jihice, and the stand-
ard of .Sp.iin w.is seen floating on the highei,:
tower of the Alhambra. The whole court ant
army were abandoned to jubilee. The ;iir rt-
sounded with shouts of joy, with songs of triuinpii,
and hymns of thanksgiving. On every side were
beheld milit.iry rejoicings and religious obl.itions;
for it was considered a triumph, not merely 0:
arms, but of Christianity. The king and queer,
moved in the midst, in more than common ni.ii;.
niticence, while every eye regarded them as ninre
than mortal ; as if sent by Heaven for the salva-
tion and building up of Sjiain.* The court was
thronged by the most illustrious of that warlike
country, and stirring era ; by the flower of its
nobility, by the most dignified of its ])relacy, by
bards and minstrels, and all the retinue of a ro-
mantic and i)icturesque ;ige. There was notliin;
but the glittering of .arms, the rustling of rohts,
the sound of music .md festi\ity.
Do we want a |)ii ture of our navig.itor during
this brilliant and triumphant scene ? It is fur-
nished by a Spanish writer. " A man obscure
.and but little known followed at this time the
court. Confounded in the crowd of importunate
ap|)licants, feeding his imagination in the corners
of antechambers with the pompous project ot dis-
covering a world, melancholy and dejected in the
midst ot the gener.il rejoicing, he beheld with in-
difference, and almost with contemiU, the coniju-
sion of a concjuest which swelled all bosoms with
jubilee, and seemed to have reached the Mtninst
bounds of desire. Tiiat man was Christoplicr
Columbus." t
The moment had now arrived, however, when
the mon.irchs stood pledged to attend to his pro-
posals. The war with the Moors w;is ;it an end.
.Spain was delivered from its intruders, and its
sovereigns might securely turn their vi(;ws to for-
eign enterprise. They kept their word with Co-
lumbus. Persons of confidence were appointed to
negotiate with him, among whom w.is I'ern.uuio
de Talavera, who, by the recent coiujuest, li.ad
risen to be .-Vrchbisliop of (ir.mada. At the verv
outset of their negotiation, however, unexpected
difliculties arose. .So fully imbued w;is Columbus
with the grandeur of his enterprise, that he would
listen to none but princely conditions. His prin-
cip.al stipulation was, that he should be invested
with the titles and p';i\'ileges of .admiral and vice-
roy over the countries he should discovcT, with
one tenth of all gains, either by trade or coiujucsi.
The courtit^rs who treated with him were indii;-
nant at such a dem.ind. Their pride was shocked
to see one, whom they had considered as .1 nct'dv
adventurer, aspiring to rank and dignities supe-
rior to their own. One (d)serve(l with a sneer
that it was a shrewd arrangement which he jiro-
posed, whereby he was secure, at all events, 1:
the honor of a command, and h.id nothing to ln--
in case of failure. To this Columbus uroniiJtA
replied, by offering to furnish one eight'i of the
cost, on condition of enjoving an eiglu'i of th
jirotits. To do this, he no doubt c.dcul.ited on tlie
Droffered assistance of Martin Alonzo I'inzon, the|
wealthy navigator of I'alos.
His terms, however, were pronounced inadmissi-^-
f)le. Fernando de Talavera hail always considers:
* Mariana, Hist, de Espafla, lil). xxv. cap. i.S.
f Clemencin, Elogio de la Reina Catolica, p. 20.
-^
5 token of submission.
iaiit triumplis in S|)an-
:ij^lu luindrfd vtiirsoi
•nt was coinplfttfly i is:
IS [)l;icf , and the slaiid-
oatiii^ on the hifjhcs!
The whole court and
) jubilee. The air re-
, with songs of triumph,
f. On every side were
md relifjious oblations:
riuniph, not merely o:
The kinfj and queer,
re than common niai;-
refrartled them as more
,■ Heaven for the salva-
ijiain.* The court was
strious of that warlike
; by the tlower of its
nitied of its |)relacy, by
all the retinue of a ro-
e. There was noihin;
;, the rustling;- ol rohes
tivity.
)t our na\'ij;alor diirins;
lant scene ? It is tur-
ter. " A man obscure
owed at this lime the
•i crowd of importuiiait
affiliation in the corners
pompous project of (lis-
loly and dejected in the
infr, lit; fieheld with in-
II contem|)t, the coiirlu-
swelled all bosoms with
ave reached the utiimst
man was Christopher
irrived, however, when
to attend to his pro-
Moors was at an end,
its intruders, and its
rn their vittws to for-
their word with Co-
nce were appointed to
whom w.is I'ernando
recent conquest, had
ranada. ,At the very
however, unex|)ectc(.
mbued was Columbus
terprise, that he would
onditions. His prin-
he should be invested
of admiral and vice-
liould discover, with
by trade or coiujuesi
with him were iiidig-
eir pride was shocked
nsidered as a needy
and difjiiities supe-
iserved with a sneer
ement which he pro-
lire, at all events, f!
il had nothing' to ln«
Columbus iiroinptly
isli one eight'i of the
ntf an eiglu'i of thi
lubt calculated on tlv:
n Alonzo I'inzon, the
ironounced inadmiss;-
uul always considered
lib. x\v. cap. iS.
leina Catolica, p. 20. ^2
Wt ^AATERSKILl IRVf.Ne
COpyr,(jht taai ty PO-LAROaMOSS
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
31
olumbus a dreaminp speculator, or a needy ap-
licant for liread ; but to see this man, who had
Jr years been an indifjent and threadbare solicit-
in his antechamber, assuminj^f so lofty a tone,
id claiminjj an otfice that approached to the
viu\ dijjnily of the throne, excited the astonish-
lent as well as the indifjrvation of the prelate,
|e represented to Isabella that it would be de-
j-adinfr to the dijjnity of so illustrious a crown to
ivish such distinjruished honors upon a nameless
Iranger. Such terms, he observed, even in case
I success, would be exorbitant ; but in case of
lilure, would be cited with ridicule, as evidence
1 the t^ross credulity of the Spanish monarchs.
[lsai)eila was always attentive to the opinions of
6r Kbosliy advisers, and the archbishop being
er confessor, had peculiar influence. His suij-
^stions checked her dawning favor. She thought
proi)osed advantages might be purchased at
tOD great a price. More moderate conditions
l»!ere offered to Columbus, and such as appeared
Ughly honorable and advantageous. It was all
' ^vain : he would not cede one point of his de-
inds, and the negotiation was broken off.
It is impossible not to admire the great con-
Incy of purpose and loftiness of spirit displayed
Columbus, ever since he had conceived the
_^ lime idea of his discovery. More than eigh-
i|en years had elapsed since his correspondence
KiSthFaulo Toscanelli of Florence, wherein he
laid announced his design. The greatest part of
tkat time had been consumed in applications at
inirious courts. During that period, what pov-
^y, neglect, ridicule, contumely, and disappoint-
IBent had he no. suffered ! Nothing, however,
could shake his perseverance, nor make him de-
Send to terms which he considered beneath the
gnity of his enterprise. In all his negotiations
lie forgot his present obscurity ; he forgot his
Sesent indigence ; his ardent imagination realized
e magnitude of his contemplated discoveries,
id he felt himself negotiating about empire.
Though so large a portion of his life had worn
»way in fruitless solicitings ; though there was no
Certainty that the same weary career was not to
^ entered U])on at any other court ; yet so indig-
nant was he at the repeated disappointments he
1(1 experienced in Spain, that he determined to
bandon it forever, rather than compromise his
emands. Taking leave of his friends, therefore,
mounted his mule, and sallied forth from Santa
in the beginning of February, 1492, on his way
Corilova, wiience he intended to depart imme-
lately for France.
When the few friends who were zealous believ-
in the theory of Columbus saw him really on
le point of abandoning the country, they were
lied with distress, considering his departure an
repara!)le loss to the nation. Among the num-
er was Luis de St. Angel, receiver of the ecclesi-
ttical revenues in Arragon. Determined if pos-
|bie to avert the evil, he obtained an immediate
iidience of the queen, accomi)anied by Alonzo de
jintanilla. The exigency of the moment gave
Im courage and eloquence. He did not confine
Iniself to entreaties, but almost mingled re-
foaches, expressing astonishment that a queen
tio had evinced the spirit to undertake so many
:at and perilous enterprises, should hesitate at
|je where the loss coulcl be so trifling, v.-hile the
^in might be incalculable. He reminded her
(>w much might be done for the glory of God,
exaltation of the church, and the extension of
tr own power and dominion. What cause of
jret to herself, of triumph to ner enemies, of
sorrow to her friends, should this enterprise, thus
rejected by her, be accomjilishcd by some other
power ! He reminded her what fame and domin-
ion other princes had a((|uired by their discover-
ies ; here was an opportunity to surpass them all.
lie entreated her majesty not to he misled by
the assertions of learned men, that the project
was the dream of a visionary. He vindic.ited the
judgment of Columbus, and the soundness and
practicability of his plans. Neither would even
his failure rellect disgrace upon the crown. It
was worth the trouble and expense to clear up
even a doubt upon a m.itter of such importance,
for it belonged to enlightened and magn.mimous
princes to investigate (piestions of the kind, and
to explore the wonders and secrets of the universe.
He stated the liberal offer of Colundius to bear an
eighth of the expense, and informed her tiiat all
the requisites for this great eiUeriirise consisted
but of two vessels and about three thousand
crowns.
These and many more arguments were urged
with that persuasive jiower which honest zeal im-
parts, and it is said the Marchioness of Moya,
who was present, exerted her elociuence to per-
suade the queen. The generous spirit of Isabella
was enkindled. It seemed as if, for the first time,
the subject broke upon her mind in its real gran-
deur, and she <leclared her resolution to under-
take the enterprise.
There was still a moment's hesitation. The
king looked coldly on the affair, and the royal
tinances were absolutely drained by the war.
Some time must be given to replenish them.
How could she draw on an exhausted treasury for
a measure to which the king was adverse ! St.
Angel watched this suspense with trembling anxi-
ety. The next moment reassured him. With an
enthusiasm worthy of herself and of the cause,
Isabella exclaimecl, " I undertake the enterjirise
for my own crown of Castile, and will jiledge my
jewels to raise the necessary funds." This was
the jiroudest moment in the life of Isabella ; it
stamped her renown forever as the patroness of
the discovery of the New World.
St. Angel, ea^er to secure this noble impulse,
assured her majesty that there would be no need
of pledging her jewels, as he was ready to advance
the necessary funds. His offer was gladly ac-
cepted ; the funds really came from the coffers of
Arragon ; seventeen thousand llorins were ad-
vanced by the accountant of .St. Angel out or the
treasury of King Ferdinand. That prudent mon-
arch, however, took care to have his kingdom in-
demnified somefewyears afterward ; for in remu-
neration of this loan, a part of the first gold
brought by Columbus from the New World, was
employed in gilding the vaults and ceilings of the
royal saloon in the grand palace of .Saragoza, in
Arragon, anciently the Aljateria, or abode of the
Moorish kings.*
Columbus had pursued his lonely journey across
the \'ega and reached the bridge of I'inos, about
two leagues from Granada, at the foot of the
mount lin of Elvira, a jiass famous in the Moor-
ish wars for many a desperate encounter between
the Christians and infidels. Here he was over-
tpken by a courier from the queen, spurring in all
speed, who summoned him to return to .Santa F^.
He hesitated for a moment, being loath to subject
himself again to the delays and eciuivocations of
the court ; when informed, however, of the sud-
den zeal for the enterprise excited in the mind of
* Argensola Anales de Arragon, lib. i. cap. 10.
89
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
, ■ !
lil'^
the queen, and the positive promise she had given
to underlai<e it, he no longer felt a douht, but,
turning the reins of his mule, hastened back, with
joyful alacrity Ic Santa Fe confiding in the noble
probity of that princess.
CHAPTER VII.
ARRANOF.MF.NT WITH THE SPANISH SOVEREIGNS
—PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION AT THE
PORT OF PAI.OS,
1 1492.]
On arriving at Santa F^, Columbus had an im-
mediate audience of tlic queen, and the benignity
with which she received him atoned for all past
neglect. Through deference to the zeal she thus
suddenly displayed, the king yielded his tardy con-
currence, i)ut Isabella was the soul of this j^rand
enterprise. She was prompted by lofty and gen-
erous enthusiasm, wiiile the king proved cold and
calculating in tiiis as in all his other undertak-
ings.
A perfect understanding being thus effected
with the sovereigns, articles of agreement were
ordered to be drawn out by Juan de Coloma,
the royal secretary. They were to the following
effect :
1. That Columbus siiould have, for himself dur-
ing his life, and his heirs and successors forever,
the ofilice of admiral in all the lands and conti-
nents which he might discover or acquire in the
ocean, with similar honors and prerogatives to
those enjoyed by the high admiral ot Castile in
his district.
2. That he shouUI he viceroy and governor-gen-
eral over all the said lands and continents, with
the privilege of nominating thiee candidates for
the government of each island or province, one of
whom should be selected i)y the sovereigns.
3. That he should i)e entitled to reserve for him-
self one tenth of all pearls, precious stones, gold,
silver, spices, and all other articles and merchan-
dises, in whatever manner found, bought, bar-
tered, or gained within his admiralty, the costs
being first deducted.
4. That he, or his lieutenant, should be the sole
judge in all causes and disputes arising out of
traffic betv.een those countries and Spain, |)rovided
the high admiral of Castile had similar jurisdic-
tion in his district.
5. That he might then, and at all after times,
contribute an eighth part of the expense in fitting
out vessels to sail on this enterprise, and receive
an eighth part of the ])rofits.
The last sti|)ulation, which admits Columbus to
hear an eighth of the enterprise, was made in con-
sequence of his indignant proffer, on being re-
proached with demanding ample emoluments
while incurring no portion of the charge. He
fulfilled this engagement, through the assistance
of the I'inzons of I'alos, and added a third vessel
to the armament. Thus one eighth of the ex-
pense attendant on this grand expedition, under-
taken by a powerful nation, was actually borne by
the individual who conceived it, and who likewise
risked his life on it*, success.
The capitulations were signed by Ferdinand
and Isabella, at the city of Santa F^, in the Vega
or plain of Granada, on the 17th of April, 1492.
A letter of privilege, or commission to Columbus,
of similar purport, was drawn out in form, ar,(
issued by the sovereigns in the city of ('>rana(la
on the thirtieth of the same month. In this, t.^t
dignities and jjrerogativesot viceioyand governov
were made hereditary in his family ; and he an(
his heirs were authorized to prefix the title of I)o[
to their names ; a distinction accorded in thoy
days only to jiersons of rank and estate, thoufjh:
has since lost all value, from being universaii
used in Spain.
All the royal documents issued on this occasio!
Ijore eciually the signatures of Ferdinand ant
Isabella, but her separate crown of Castile dt
frayed all the expense ; and, during her life, fei
persons, except Castilians, were permitted to et
tablish themselves in the new territories.*
The |K)rt of Falos de Moguer was fixed uponi
the place where the armament was to be tut«
out, Columbus calculating, no doubt, on the w
o|)eration of Martin Alon<o I'inzon, resident therr
and on the assistance of his zealous friend ib
prior of the convent of La Kabida. Hefore goir,,
into the business details of this great enterprise,
is due to the character of the illustrious man \vh
conceived and conducted it, most especially ;
notice the elevated, even though visionary spin
by which he was actuated. One of his principi
objects was undoubtedly the propagation of ih
Christian faith. He exjjected to arrive at the e\
tremity of Asia, and to open a direct and eas;
communication with the vast and magnificent eir
pire ot the Grand Khan. The conversion of th;
neathen potentate had, in former times, been .
favorite aim of various pontiffs and |)i.)us sove:
eigns, and various missions had been sent to in
remote regions of the East for that purpose. Cc-
lumbus now considered himself about to effec
this great work : to spread the light o[ revelatic:
to the very ends of the earth, and thus to be ih
instrument of accomplishing one of the subliir,:
predictions of Holy Writ Ferdinand listenr;
with complacency to these enthusiastic anticipa
tions. With him, however, religion was suhst:
vient to interest ; and he had found, in the recer
conquest of Granacla, that extending the swayc
the church might lie made a laudable means c
extending his own dominions. According to ifci
doctrines of the day, every nation that refused;:
acknowledge the truths of Christianity, was fa-
spoil for a Christian invader ; and it is probabii
that Ferdinand was more stimulated by the .ic-
counts given of the wealth of Mangi, Cathay, ac:
other provinces belonging to the Grand Khar,
than by any anxiety for the conversion of him aci
his semi-barbarous subjects.
Isabella had nobler inducements : she was fillti
with a pious zeal at the idea of effecting such;
great work of salvation. From different motivfi
therefore, both of the sovereigns accorded wi'.'
the views of Columbus in this particular, an.
when he afterward departed on his voyage, letten
were actually given him for the Grand Khanc
Tartary.
The ardent enthusiasm of Columbus did nc
stop here. Anticipating boundless wealth fro-
his discoveries, he suggested that the treasure
thus acquired should be consecrated to the piou:
|)urpose of rescuing the holy sepulchre of Jerusi
lem from the jjower of the infidels. The sove:
eigns smiled at this sally of the imagination, bi
expressed themselves well pleased with it, ar,.
assured him that even without the funds he an!
cipated, they should be well disposed to that hoi
* Charlevoix, Hist. S. Domingo, lib. i. p. 79.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMDUS.
drawn out in form, anil
in the city of Ciranada'
lame month. In this, iht
;s of viceioyand governoi, 3
1 his family ; and he ani '^
1 to prefix the titlu- of Dot
nction accorded in thoy *|
■anl< and estate, thoujjhr
:, from lx:ing universale
its issued on this occasioci;
tures of F"erdinand am '
ate crown of Castile dt-
and, during her life, fen
ns, were permitted to et
; new territories.*
Moguer was ti.\cd uponi
mament was to be Iuik
ng, no doubt, on the o
n/.o f'inzon, resident therr
of his zealous friend ir
La Rabida. IJefore goir,,
of this great enterprise,
if the illustrious man wr
ed it, most especially '
;n though visionary spir
ted. One of his principi
ly the propagation of tr;
lected to arrive at the ev
) open a direct and eas'
vast and magnificent cir
1. The conversion of ihi
in former times, been .
pontiffs and |)i.>us sovtr
iions had been sent to th
ist for that purpose, tc
] himself about to effec
ad the light ol revelatic:
larth, and thus to be itt
ihing one of the subliit!
rit l'"erdinand listenf.
se enthusiastic anlicipi
er, religion was subst:
had found, in the recer
at extending the swayc
ade a laudable means (
ions. According to t»
ry nation that refused;:
of Christianity, was fa:
ader ; and it is probata
re stimulated by the ac
h of Mangi, Cathay, ar.
to the Grand Khar
e conversion of him ar.i
ts.
ucements : she was fillci
idea of effecting such;
From different motive;
vereigns accorded wt
in this particular, ac;
ted on his voyage, letten
for the Grand Khant
I of Columbus did nc
boundless wealth fro:
ested that the treasure
consecrated to the pioif
loly sepulchre of Jerusi
he infidels. The sovr
■ of the imagination, bi
ell pleased with it, an.
ithout the funds he ant
'ell disposed to that hoJ
omingo, lib. i. p. 79.
"J?
iindcrtaking.* What the king and queen, how-
ever, may have considered a mere sally of mo-
nentary excitement, was a deep and cherished
design of Columbus. It is a curious and charac-
teristic fact, which has never been particularly
noticed, that the recovery of the holy sepulchre
vas one of the great objects of his ambition, medi-
ated tiiroughout liie remainder of his life, and
olemnlv provided for in his will. In fact, he sub-
tequently considered it the m.iin work for which
Be was chosen by heaven as an agent, and that
his great discovery was l/j' a preparatory dispen-
liation of Providence to furnun means for its ac-
Bomplishment.
A hoine-telt mark of favor, characteristic of the
Jtind and considerate heart of Isabella, was ac-
jporded to Columlius liefore his departure from the
fourt. An albala, or letter-patent, was issued by
|he queen on the 8lh of May, appointing his son
iJiego page to Prince Juan, the heir apparent, with
an allowance for his support ; an honor granted
pnly to the sons ot persons of ilistinguished rank.f
Thus gratilied in his dearest wishes, after a
lourse ol delays and disappointments sufficient to
^ave reduced any ordinary man to despair, Colum-
bus took leave ot the court on the 12th of May,
knd set out joyfully for I'alos. I^et those who are
Sisposed to faint under diificulties, in the prosecu-
tion ot any great and worthy undertaking, re-
nembiT that eighteen years elapsed after the time
hat Columbus conceived his enterprise, before he
jvas enabled to carry it into effect ; that the
rreater part of that time was passed in almost
^opeless solicitation, amid poverty, neglect, and
■taunting ridicule ; that the jirime of his life had
Wasted away in the struggle, and that when his
perseverance was finally crowned with success,
he was about his fifty-sixth year. His example
should encourage the enterprising never to de-
spair.
CHAPTi:f< VIII.
ICOLUMHUS AT THK PORT OK I'AI.OS— PREPAR.'V-
TIONS FDR THK VOVAUK OF UISCOVERY.
On arriving at Palos, Columbus repaired im-
linediately to the neighboring convent of La Ra-
jida, where he was received with open arms by
|the worthy prior, I-"ray Juan I'ere?, and again be-
icame his guest. J: The ])ort of I'alos, for some
Imisdemeanor, had been condemned by the royal
Icouncil to serve the crown for oiie year with two
irmed caravels ; and these were destined to form
part of the armament ot Columbus, who was fur-
bished with the necessary papers and vouchers to
lenforce obedience in all matters necessary for his
lexpedition.
On the following morning, the 23d of May, Co-
llumbus, accompanied by Fray Juan Perez, whose
Icharacter and station gave him great importance in
Ithe neighborhood, i)roceeded to the church of St.
jGeorge in Palos, where the alcalde, the regidors,
land many ot the inhabitants of the place had
Ibeen notified to attend. Here, in presence of
Ithem all, in the |)orch ot the church, a royal
jrder was read by a notary public, commanding
* Protestc a vuestras Altezas que toda la ganancia
desta mi empresa se Rastase en la conquista de Jeru-
salem, y vuestras Altezas se rieron, y dijeron que les
placia, y que sin cste tenian aquella gana. Primer
/iagi; (ie Colon, Navarrete, tom. i. p. 117.
JNavarrete, Colcc. de Viages, tom. ii. doc. n.
Oviedo, Cronica ds las Indias, lib. ii. cap. 5.
ihe authorities of Palos to have two caravels
ready for sea within ten days after this notice,
and to place them and their crews at the disposal
of Columbus. The latter was likewise empower-
ed to procure and lit out a third vessel. The crews
of all three were to receive the ordinary wages of
seamen employed in armed vessels, and to be
paid four months in advance. They were to sail
m such direction as Colundius, under tin; royal
authority, should command, and were to obey
him in all things, with merely one stijiulation,
that neither he nor they were to go to .St. George la
Mina, on the coast of Guinea, nor any other 01 the
lately discovered possessions of Portugal. A cer-
tificate of their good conduct, signed by Colum-
bus, was to be the discharge of their obligation to
the crown.*
Orders were likewise read, addressed to the
public authorities, and the people ot all ranks and
conditions, in the maritime i)orders of Andalusia,
commantling them to furnish supjilies and assist-
ance of all kinds, at reasonable prices, for the
fitting out of the vessels ; and ])enalties were
denounced on such as should cause any impedi-
ment. No duties were to be exacted for any
articles furnished to the vessels ; and all criminal
processes against the |)erson or property of any
mdividual engaged in the expedition was to be
suspended during his absence, and for two months
after his return.!
With these orders the authorities promised im-
plicit compliance ; but when the nature of the
mtended expedition came to be known, astonish-
ment and dismay fell upon the little community.
The ships and crews demanded for such a des-
perate service were regarded in the liglit of sacri-
fices. The owners of vessels refused to furnish
them ; the boldest seamen shraid< from such a
wild and chimerical cruise into the wilderness of
the ocean. All kinds of frightlul tales and fables
were conjured up copcerning the unknown re-
gions of the deep ; and nothing can be a stronger
evidence of tlie boldness of tliis undertaking than
the extreme dread ot it in a conimunity composed
of some of the most acUeiUurous navigators of the
age.
Weeks elapsed without a vessel being procured,
or anything else being done in fulfilment of the
royal orders. Further mandates were therefore
issued by the sovereigns, ordering the magistrates
of the coast of Andalusia to press into the service
any vessels they might think proper, belonging to
.Spanish subjects, and to oblige the masters and
crews to sail with Columbus in whatever direc-
tion he should be sent by roy.il command. Juan
de Pefialosa, an officer ot the royal household,
was sent to see that this order was properly com-
plied with, receiving two hundred maravedis a
day as long as he was occupied in the business,
which sum, together with other penalties express-
ed in the mandate, was to be exacted from such
as should l)e disobedient and de!in(|uent. This
letter was acted upon by Columbus in Palos and
the neighboring town of Moguer, hut apparently
with as little success as the preceding. The
communities of those places were thrown into
complete confusion ; tumults took place ; but
nothing of conse(|uence was effected. At length
Martin Alonzo Pinzon stepped forward, with nis
brother Vicente YaHez Pinzon, both navigators
of great courage and ability, owners of vessels,
and having seamen in their employ. They were
* Navarrete, Colec. de Viages, tom. ii, doc. 6.
t Ibid., doc. 8, 9.
1
I'i
34
LIFE AND VOYAGES OV COLUMDUS.
related, also, to ruatiy of the seafarinp inhal)itants
ot I'alos and Mo);uiT, and had Kreat inHueniL-
tlirounhmit tlic iRi^^diborliood. They t'tiKasfd to
sail on the i-xpi'dition, .and turnislu'd one ot the ves-
sels re<|uircd. ( >lh(is, with their owners and crews,
were pressed into the service by the magistrates
under the arbitrary ni.mdate ot the sovereijjns ;
and it is a strikin^j instance of the despotic au-
thority exercised over commerce in those times,
that respectable individuals should thus i)e com-
pelled to en(,Mf,'e, with persons and ships, in what
appeared toiheni a m. mil (les|)erate enterprise.
During the ecpiipment ol the vessels, troubles and
dilticuliies arose among the seamen who had been
compelled t(j embark, 'i'hese were fomented and
kejjt up by dome/ Kascon and Christoval (juin-
tero, owners ot the I'into, one of the ships pressed
into the service. All kinds of obstacles were
thrown in the way, by these ])eople and their
friends, to retard ordefeat the voyage. The calk-
ers employed ujxju the vessels did tiieir work in a
»;areless and imjierfect manner, and on being
command(;d to do it over again absconded.*
Some ot the seamen who had enlisted willingly re-
l)ented of their hardihood, or were dissuaded by
their relatives, and sought to retract ; otliers de-
serted and conceale<l themselves. Everything
had to he effected by the most harsh and arbitrary
measures, and in defiance of |)opular prejudice
and op|)osiiion.
The inlluence and example of the Pinzons had
a great effect in allaying this opposition, and in-
ducing many ot their triends and relatives to em-
hark. It is supposed that they had furnished
Columbus with funds to pay the eighth part of the
ex|)ense which he was bound to advance. It is
also said that Martin Alonzo I'inzon was to divide
with him his share of the profits. As no imme-
diate prol'it, however, resulted from this exjiedi-
tion, no claim ol the kind was ever brought for-
ward. It is certain, however, that the assistance
of the I'in/ons was all-important, if not indispen-
sable, in fitting out and launching the expedition. t
After the great dilViculties made by various
courts in patronizing this enterprise, it is surpris-
ing how inconsiderable ;in armament was re-
quired. It is evident that Columbus had reduced
his requisitions to the narrowest limits, lest any
great expense should cause impediment. Three
small vessels were apjiarently all that he had re-
quested. Two of them were light barks, called
caravels, not superior to river and coasting craft
of more modern days. Representations of this
class of vessels exist in old prints and paintings. J
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind. lib. i. cap. 77, Ms.
f These facts concerning the Pinzons are mostly
taken from the testimony given, many years after-
ward, in a suit between Don Diego, the son of Colum-
bus, and the crown.
X See illustrations, article " Shipi of Columbus."
on board of this
The second, call-
by .Martin Alon?o
)rother Krancisro
called the Nifl.i.
They are delineated as open, and without deck
in tlie centre, but built up high at the prow anil
stern, with forec.islles and cabins lor the accnni.
modation of the crew. Peter Martyr, the learntd
contemporary of Columbus, says that only one (,:
the three vessels was decked. The sm.illnessdi
the vessels was considered ,in advant.ige tiy Cr.
lumbus, in a voyage ot discovery, enal)ling him
to run close to the shores, and to enter shalln'v
rivers and harbors. In his third voy.ige, when
co.isting the (iulf of Pari.i, he comi)lained ot the
size of his ship, being nearly a huiulred Uinr, bur-
den. 'Jut that such long and perilous expedi.
tions, into unknown seas, should be undertaken
in vessels without decks, and that they should live
through the violent tempests, by which they were
frKjuently assailed, remain among the singular
circumstances of these daring voyages.
At length, l<y the beginning of August, even'
difhcuity was vancjuished, and tiie vessels were
ready for sea. The largest, which ImkI been pre-
pared expressly for the voyage, .and w.is decked,
was called the Santa Maria ;
ship Columbus hoisted his llag.
ed the Pinta, was ctmimanded
Pinzon, accomjianied by his
.Martin, as pilot. The third,
had latine sails, and w.is comm.inded by the third
of the brothers, Vicente YaHez Pinzon. There
were three other pilots, .S.incho Ruiz, Pedro
Alonzo Niflo, and IJartolomeo Roldan. Roderi-
go Sanchez of Segovia was inspector-general 01
the armament, and Diego de Aran.i, a native ot
Cordova, chief alguazil. Rodi'rigo de Kscoh.ir
went as a royal notary, an officer alw.iys sent in
the armaments of the crown, to take olTicial notes
of all transactions There were also a physici.m
and a surgeon, together with various |irivate ;ul-
venturers, several servants, and ninety mariners:
making in all one hundred and twenty persons.*
The sc(uadron being ready to put to sea, Colur •
bus, impressed with the solemnity of his und r-
t.iking, confessed himself to the Friar Juan Peiez,
and jjartook of the sacrament of the communion.
His example was followed by his oflicers nnc
crew, and they entered upon their enteriirise fui!
of awe, and with the most devout and affectin;;
ceremonials, committing themselves to the especi;L
guidance and protection of Ile.iven. .\ <lee|)gloon'
was spread over the whole community of Palos .1!
their departure, for almost every one had some
relative or friend on board of the sciuadnm. The
s])irits of the seamen, already depressed by their
own fears, were still more cast down at the afflic-
tion of those they left behind, who took leave oi
them with tears and lamentations and disn1.1l
forebodings, as of men they were never to behold
again.
* Charlevoix, Hist. St. Domingo, lib. i. Mufio:,
Hist. Nuevo Mundo, lib. ii.
W
Wii
Vovag
Vlto
Like
Jfe|)ly
rlemi
as
Conim
^nddv
■et
4xp< (Ii
'■»■'■
,11 i
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
33
^n, and without deck
lii^rh at tlu' prow and
c:il)iiiK tor lliL- accDHv
•r Martyr, tin- Ifarnid
says that only one i,:
•(I. 'I'lic sinalliu'ss (ii
an advaiiia^i' by Cr.
icovfry, i'n,il)lin),' liim
, and to enter shalUvv
s third voyajff, wlun
, W. co'iijilained of the
y a hunclrcd tons iiur-
and ju-rilous expcdi-
sliouid lie undertaken
(1 that they should live
s, by which tiiey were
I among the singular
n^ vovajjes.
ninj,' of Au(,nist, every
and the vessels were
t, whieh had been pre-
v:if;e, and was decked,
Via ; on board of this
lav,'. The second, call.
(led by Martin Alon/o
his brother Francisco
lird, called the NiRa,
immanded by the third
Yafle/. Pini-on. There
Sancho Ruiz, I'edro
imeo Koldan. Roderi-
as insiiector-fjeneral ni
de Arana, a native oi
Roderigo de Kscohar
1 officer always sent in
,n, to take official notes
' were also a physician
ith various private ad-
and ninety mariners:
and twenty persons.*
:ly to put to sea, Colur-
'enmity of his undjr-
the Friar Juan Teiez,
ent of the communion,
■d by his ofhcers and
DM their enterprise full
I devout and atiectinj
emselves to the especial
Heaven. Adeepf.doon'
community of Fa'los ai
t every one had some
of the scjuadron. The
jady depressed by their
least down at the afflic
ind, who look leave oi
entations and dismal
ly were never to behold
lomingo,
lib.
Muno!,
1
BOOK III.
CHAPTER I.
bEPARTURE 3F COI.f MIIUS ON HIS FIRST VOYAGE.
[1492.]
WllKN Columbus set sail on this memorable
Voyage, he commenced a regular journal, intend-
l^d'tor the inspection of the Spanish sovereigns.
iike all his other fansactions, it evinces how
leeply he w.is impressed with the grandeur and
leinnily of his enterj)r:se. He ])ropoiied to keej)
as he iturward observed, in the manner of the
fommentariesof Ca-sar. It onened with a stately
prologue, wherein, in the following words, were
let lorth the motives and views which led to his
^Xpi'ditimi.
■♦ " in nomine I). \. Jesu Christi. Whereas most
ijhristi.iii, most high, most excellent and most
oweriiil princes, king and (pieen of the Sjiains,
nd of the islands of the sea, our sovereigns, in
fe presiiil year of I4<)2, after your highnesses
id put :in end to the war with the Moors who
■ lied in lairope, and had concluded that warfare
, t the great city of Ciranada, where, on the sec-
nd of (anu.iry, of this iiresent year, I saw the
I oy.il banners of your hignnesses jilaced by force
, farms on the towers of the Alhambra, which is
le fortress of that city, and beheld the Moorish
ing s.illy fortli from tlie gates of the city, and
iss the royal hands of your highnesses and of my
»rd the prince ; and immediately in that same
Jonlh, in coiisecpience of the information which I
id given to your highnesses of the lands of In-
|i.a, anil of a ])rince who is called the (Irand
khan, which is to say in our language, king of
Ingi ; how that many times he and his jiredeces-
)rs had S'jnt to Rome to entreat for doctors of our
ly faith, to instruct him in the same ; and that the
)ly father had never jirovided hini with them, and
Uis so many people were lost, believing in idola-
Hes, and imbibing doctrines of perdition ; there-
)re your highnesses, as Catholic Christians and
rinces, lovers and promoters of the holy Chris-
m faith, and enemies of the sect of Mahomet,
id of all idolatries and heresies, determined to
tnd me, Christopher Columbus, to the said parts
India, to see the said prince-", and the peojilu
id lands, and discover the nature and disposi-
)n of them all, and the means to be taken for
ke conversion of them to our holy faith ; and or-
:red th.it 1 should not go by land to the east, by
|hich it is the custom to go, but by a voyage to
|e west, by which course, unto the present time,
do not know for certain that any one hath
issed. Your highnesses, therefore, after hav-
lgex])elled all the Jews from your kingdoms and
rritories, commanded me, in the same month of
knuary, to proceed with a sufficient armament to
ie said p.irts of India ; and for this purpose be-
)we(l groat favors upon me, ennobling me, that
;nceforward I might style myself Don, appoint-
me high admiral of the Ocean sea, and per-
Ftual viceroy and governor of all the islands and
Intinents I should discover and gain, and which
inceforward may he discovered and gained in
Ocean sea ; and that my eldest son should
:ceed me, and so on from generation to gener-
|on for ever. I departed, therefore, from the
of Granada, on Saturday, the I2th of May, of
the same year 1492, to Palos, a seaport, where I
armed three ships, well c.ilcul.ited for such ser-
vice, and sailed from that port well furnished with
provisions and with many seamen, on I'nday, the
3d of August, of the same year, half ;in hour before
sinirise, and took the route tor the Canary Isl.ituls
ot your highnesses, to steer my course thence, and
navig.ite imtil 1 should arrive at the Indies, and
deliver the embassy of your highnesses to those
princes, and accomplish that which you had com-
manded. For this purpost; I intend to write dur-
ing this voyage, very punctually from day to day,
all that I may do, and see, and exjierietice, as will
hereafter be seen. Also, my sovereign princes,
besides describing each night all that has oc-
curred in the day, and in the day the navigation
of the night, I propose to make ii chart in winch I
will set down the waters and lands of the Oce.in
sea in their proper situations under their bear-
ings ; and further, to comi)ose a book, and illus-
trate the whole in picture by latitude from the
e(piinoctiaI, and longitude from the west ; and
upon the whole it will be essential that I shoidd
forget sleej) and attend closely to the n.ivigation
to accomplish these things, which will be a great
labor."*
Thus are formally and expressly stated by Co-
lumbus the objects of this extraordinary voyage.
The material facts still extant of his joiirn.il will
be found incori)orated in the i)resent work.f
It was on Friday, the 3d of August, 1492, early
in the morning, that Coluir.bus set sail from tlie
bar of Saltes, a small island formed by the arms
of the Odiel, in front of the town of Huelva, steer-
ing in a south-westerly direction for the Canary
Islands, whence it was his intention to strike flue
west. As a ,';uide by which to sail, he had |)re-
pared a map or chart, improved upon that sent
him by I'aulo Toscanelli. Neither of those now
exist, but the globe or planisjiherc finished by
Martin Hehem in this year of the admiral's first
voy.ige is still extant, and furnishes an idea of
what the chart of Columbus must have been. It
exhibits the coasts of Europe and Africa from the
south of Ireland to the end of C.uinea, and oppo-
site to them, on the other side of the Atlantic, the
extremity of Asia, or, as it was termed, India.
Between them is placed the island of Cipango, or
* Navarrcte, Colec. Viag., torn. i. p. I.
f An abstract of this jou/nal, made by Las Casas,
lias recently been discovered, and is publisfied in the
first volume of the collection of SeOor Xavarrete.
Many passages of this abstract had been previously
inserted by Las Casas in his History of the Indies,
and the same journal had been copiously used liy
Fernando Columbus in the history of his father. In
the present account of this voyage, the author has
made use of the journal contained in the work of
SeHor Navarrete, the manuscript history of Las Casas,
the History of the Indies by Herrera, the Life of the
Admiral by his son, the Chronicle of the Indies by
Oviedo, the manuscript history of Ferdinand and
Isabella by Andres Bernaldes, curate of Los Palacios,
and the Letters and Decades of the Ocean Sea, by
Peter Martyr ; all of whom, with the exception of
Herrera, were contemporaries and acquaintances of
Columbus. These are the principal authorities which
have been consulted, though scattered lights hav«
occasionally been obtained from other sources.
»"•;
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
i:
fl
j
.1
■ :l \
u
uiill
Jnpnn, which, nrrnrflin^; to M.ircn Polo, l.iv t'lltccn
hundrt'd injh's (li>t,int Irmu the Asiatl<' i'o,ist. In
his ('oiii|iui.ili<>ns ('oiiiinl)Us .iilv.inccd tliis isl.uwl
itlxxit ;i lho;is,iii(l li'.i^iU's too miik h to the ciist,
su|)|iosi(i); it to Ix' iiliout thi siiii.ition ot I'Mor-
ida ;* aiiij at this isl.md hr liopcd lir-it to anixc.
Th" exult. ilioi) ol C'olunihus ,it rinding; liimscll,
nitii so mariy ycirs ol haltlcd hopt', I lirly l.iuiuh-
«'d on his ),'raiid ciitcrorisf, was chucked l)y his
want ot contifleiiCL- in tlie resolution and persever-
ance' ol his crews. As i<iii^ as he remained with-
in re.ich ol iiurope, there was no security that, in
a moment ot ri-pcnt.ince and alarm, they mij;ht
not renounce.' the prosecution ot the voyage, and
insist on a return. .Sym|)tonv, soon iippeared to
w.irrant his a|)prehensi()ns. On the third d.iy the
I'inla ni.ule si^nial ot distress ; her rudder was
discovered to he hroken and uiduniK. This
Columbus surmised to lie done throU),di the con-
trivance ot the owners of the caravel, dome/
Hascon and C'hristoval (jinntero, to disaliie their
vessel, and c.iuse her to he lelt hehind. As lias
already lieen ohserved, they h.id heen j)ressed into
tlie servii I' j;reatiy a).f.iinst their will, and their
caravel seized upon for the expedition, in conform-
ity to the roy.d orders.
Columhus was much disturbed :it this occur-
rence. It f,Mve him a foretaste of further ditli-
rulties to he apprehended from crews p.irtly en-
listed on com|)ulsion, and all full ot doubt and
forebodinjj. Trivial obstacles mij,dit, in the
present critic.il state of his voy;ij(e, spre.id panic
and mutiny through his ships, and entirely defeat
the expedition.
The wind was l)low'in}; stronjjly at the time, so
that he could not render assistance without endan-
jerinjj his own vessel. Fortunately, M.irtin Alon/o
' in/on commanded the I'inta, and beinjfan adroit
and .ihle seaman, succeeded in securing the rud-
der with cords, so as to bring the vessel into m;in-
agement. This, however, was but a temporary
and inade(|uate expedient ; the f.istenings gave
way again on tlut following day, and the other
ships were obliged to shorten sail until the rudder
could be secured.
This damage. I state of the I'inta, as well as her
being in a leaky condition, determined the ad-
miral to touch at the Canary Islands, and seek a
vessel to replace her. He considered himself not
far from those islands, though a different opinion
was entertained by the pilots ot the sfpiadron.
The event nroved his superiority in taking obser-
vations and keeping reckonings, for they came in
sight of the Canaries on the morning of the 9th.
They were detained upward of three weeks
among these islands, seeking in vain another ves-
sel. They were obliged, therefore, to make a
new rudder for the I'inta, and repair her for the
voyage. The latine sails of the Nif^a were also
altered into square sails, that she might work
more steadily and securely, and be able to keep
company with the other vessels.
While sailing among these islands, the crew
were terrified at beholding the lofty peak of Ten-
eriffe sending forth volumes of flame and smoke,
being ready to take alarm at any extraordinary
phenomenon, and to construe it into ;i disastrous
portent. Columbus took great pains to dispel their
apprehensions, explaining the natural causes of
those volcanic tires, and verifying his explanations
by citing Mount Una and other well-known vol-
canoes.
f
* Malte-Brun, Geograph. Universelle, torn. ii. p.
283.
Whilr t, iking in wood and wafrr and provisions
in the isl.ind of ( iomer.i, a vessel .iirived Irmi,
I't'rro, whii h reported th.it llirer I'ortuguese 1 .ir-
avids had been seen hovering off that island, with
tlu' intention, it w.is s.iid, ot < .ipturing ( 'cdumllll^,
The admiral suspected some hostile sir.itagein 11
the part ol the Kingot i'ortugal, in revenge lor li
having embarked in the service of Spain; '
thendore lost no time i-i putting to se.i, anxim.,
to get l.ir from those isl.inds, .ind out ol the tr.nk
ot navig.ition, trembling lest some'thiii;; niiglu m.
cur to defe.it his expedition, commenced under
such inauspicious circumstances.
CMAI'TKK II.
CONTINUATION ol'- Till', VoVAOK— FIRST NOTICt
OK THK VAKIAIIn.V (IK IHK NKKlJl.K.
I 1493.1
Karly in the morning ol the fith of Septcmlur
Columbus set s.iil from the isl.ind of Oomera, an.i
now might be s.aid llrst to strike into the icgioiiij;
discovery ; t.iking le.ive ol these frontier isLiiu:.
of the Old World, and steering westward for ili
unknown parts of the Atlantic. l''or three <lav\
however, a profound calm kept the vessels loiter-
ing with flagging sails, within .a short ilistanccd
the l.ind. 'I'his was a tantalizing dehiy to Coliiiv,-
bus, who was im|)atient to hnd himself t.ir oiiti;
sight of either land or sail ; which, in the piir:
iitmospheres of these latitudes, may be descritn
atanimmer.se distance. On the following .Sun-
day, the 9th of .September, at daybreak, he behuiil
I-'erro, the last ot the Canary Islands, .ibout nil:;
leagues distiint. This was the island whence the
I'ortuguese caravels had been seen ; he was thcri-
fore in the very neighborhood of danger, for-
tunately, a breeze sprang up with the sun, tlitir
sails were once more tilled, an<l in the course ci
the day the heights of Ferro gradually faded from
the horizon.
On losing sight of this last trace? e)f land, the
hearts of the crews failed them. The'v seenin!
liter.iUy to have taken leave e)f the WDrld. lie-
hind them was everything dear to the heart c:
man ; country, family, friends, life itself ; bctore ;
them everything was chaos, mystery, and |)tnl.
In the perturbation of the moment, they despairei:
of ever more seeing their homes. Many ot th:
rugged seamen shed tears, and some breike im
le)ud lamentations. The admiral trieel in ever,
w.'iy to soothe their distress, and to inspire the:^
with hise)wn glorious anticipations. He describji
to them the magnificent countries to whie^h he vv,.;
about to conduct them : the islands of the Indi.m
seas teeming with gold and precious stones ; t!e
regions of Mangi and Cathay, with their citi«
of unrivalled wealth and splendor. He promise'
them land and riches, and everything that coii'ii
arouse their cupidity or inflame their imagina-
tions, nor were these promises made for j)urpose-
of mere dece|)tion ; he certainly believed that he ^
shoukl realize them all.
He now issued orders to the commanilcrs of the
other vessels, that, in the event of sejjaration ly
any accident, they should continue directly west-
ward ; but that after sailing seven hundrti.
leagues, they should lay by from midnight uiiiJ
daylight, as at about that distance he contideniy
"vpected to find land. In the mean time, as he j
thought it possible he might not discover land'l
within the distance thus assigned, and as he fore-
LIFK AND VOYAGES OF COLl'Mni'S.
37
I wntrr and prox isioM
[I vessel arnvfil Irmi,
lliriT I'orliimu'sr ( .ir-
1^' (ill lliat island, with
t ( M|>iiirinv,' (cilumliuv
V lidstilc siiala^;i'in ni
iijjal, ill ri'Mn>.;c lor li ■
siivicf III Spain ; '
)Uttin>f ti) SIM, an\iui.,
s, and out (p| the Ir.iu
si somctliin;,' niijjht m.
DM, commenced undir
anci.'s.
K II.
DVAdK— FIRST NOTICt
L)K THE NKKIJI.K.
)t the ^)th of St'ptcnilicr
island of (iomcra, ami
strike into the lejjion ui
)t these frontier island;
■rinv; westward for llv
anlie. For three day\
kept the vessels loiter-
thin a short distante i!
■ day
iself
which, in the \m-:
tali/.in^j d(day to Coliim-
) find himself f.ir oiiti:
ai
;udes, may he descruu
On the following Sim-
at dayhreak, he hehiiil
ary Islands, .ihout nine
s the island whence the
en seen ; he was theri-
hood of danger. I'nr-
uj) with the sun, thtir
(1, and in the comseoi
o gradually faded from
last trace of land, the
(I them. They seemu
lave of the world, lie-
L' dear to the heart c:
Inds, life itself ; betore.;
ios, mystery, and pen!
[iiomeiit, they despairo.
'r homes. Many of th;
}, and some broke im
admiral tried in ever,
|s, and to inspire llies
:ipations. He descril'ei
luntries to which he w:..-^
le islands of the Indianj
tl precious stones ; the I
[thay, with their citid
[plendor. He promisei.;
everything that cou'.il.
linrtame their imagiiu"
lises made for purjiosei
[tainly believed that In
Ithe commanders of tb
jcvent of se|)aration I)
Iconlinue directly wts;-
lading seven hundm:
ly from midnight unt.i
llistance he confidenlivi
Ii the mean time, as h; ,
|ght not discover land!
[signed, and as he forev^
,^a\v that the vnfjur terrors already awakened
'ninong the si'.imen woidd iticr<Mse with the sp.ice
^^lm h intervened between them and their homes,
'|he lonimenced a sir.tt.igem which he ( iintiiuied
'^throughout the voyage, lie kept two rei iMinings ;
tone correct, in which the true way<it the ship was
noted, ami which w.is retained in secret lo,- his
own government ; in the other, whii h w.is open
^to gcner.il inspection, a number of leagues was
.*'tlaily subir;'.( led trom the sailing ol the ship, so
■'.ith.it the I rews were kept in ignorance of the real
|dist.iMce they h.id .ulvanced.*
/' On the iith of .September, when about one
^hundred .ind (illy leagues west of Kerro, they lell
lin with p. Hi 111 .1 mast, which from its si/e appear-
led to li.iM' belonged lo a vessel of about a hun-
«lred and twenty tons burden, antl which had ev-
lideiuly been a long time in tin; water. The
crews, tremblingly alix'c to everything that could
BM ile their hopes or fe.irs, looked with rueful eye
jpon this wreck of some unfortunate voyager,
•llritiiMg ominously at the entrance of those un-
^lunui seas.
On the 13th of Sentember, in the evening, being
UliDiit two hundred leagues from the islaiul of
■"erro, Columbus lor the first time noticed the
^ari.ilion<d the needle, a phenomenon which h.id
[ie\er liclore been remarked. He perceived .ibout
liglitldl that the needle, instead of pointing to
klie Morlh star, varied about halt a |)oint, or be-
tween live and six degrees, to the north-west, and
Ktill nuireon the following morning. Struck with
this circumstance, he observed it : U'ntively for
three days, .iiul found that the variaiion increased
is he adv.inced. He at first made no mention of
Ithis phenomenon, knowing how ready his |)eople
Jwere to take alarm, but it soon attracted the at-
jteiition of the pilots, and tilled them with conster-
ation. It seemed as if the very l.iws of n.ature
Ivere changing, as they advanced, and that they
rtere entering another world, subject to unknown
fnlluences.t They apprehended that the com-
pass was ;il)out to lose its mysterious virtues, and,
Jvvitluuil this guide, what was to become of them
■in a vast ;ind trackless ocean ?
Columbus tasked his science and ingenuity for
reasons with which to allay their terror. He oh-
Ir.erved that the direction of the needle was not to
iiie |)ular star, but to some fixed and" in visible
point. The variation, therefore, was not caused
by any fallacy in the compass, but by the move-
ment of the north star itself, which, like the other
heavenly bodies, had its changes and revolutions,
md every day described a circle round the pole.
Ihe high opinion which the pilots entertained of
."olumlius as a i)rofound astronomer gave weight
jlo this theory, and their alarm subsided. As yet
the sol, ir system of Copernicus was unknown ; the
txplanation of Columbus, therefore, was highly
lausible and ingenious, and it shows the vivacity
at his mind, ever ready to meet the emergency of
Ithe moment. The theory may at first have been ad-
^i^ced merely to satisfy the minds of others, but
Zoluinhus appears subsequently to have remained
It has been erroneously stated that Columbus
kept two journals. It was merely in the reckoning,
nr log-book, that he deceived the crew. His journal
vas entirely private, and intended for his own use
^nd the perusal o( the sovereigns. In a letter written
from Granada, in 1503, to Pope Alexander VII., he
Bays that he had kept an account of his voyages, in
Ihe style of the Commentaries of Caesar, which be in-
fended to submit to his holiness.
t Las Casus, Hist Ind., lib. i. cap. 6.
satislied with it himself. The phrnomrnor^ has
now become l.imiliar to us, but we still continue
ignor.int of its ciuse. It is one of those myslerif*
ol n.ilure, open lo daily observ.ition and exiieri-
meiil, .ind .ipp.ireiilly simple Irom their l.imili.ir-
iiv, but which on investig.iiion make the luim.in
niind c onscious ol its limits . b.iltling the evperi-
en( e of the |)raclicul, .iixl humbling; the pride of
science.
CHAI'TKR III. 4
CONTINUATION OK Till' VOYAC.K— VARIOUS TIvR-
KOKS Ot rilK SKAMKN.
I'4y2.|
On the 14th of September the voyagers were re-
joiced by the sight of wli.it they considered har-
bingers of l.'ind. A heron, .ind a iropic.il bird
c.illed the Kabo de Jimco,* neither id which are
supposed to venture t.ir to sea, hovered about the
ships. Or the following night they were struck
with awe at beholding a meteor, or, as Columbus
calls it in his journal, a great tiame ol fire, which
seemed to fail from the sky into the sea, about
four or five leagues dist.inl. These meteors, com-
mon in warm ilimates, and especially under the
tropics, .ire ;iKvays seen in the serene ;i/ure sky
of those latitudes, falling as it were Irom the
heavens, but never beneath a cloud. In the trans-
parent atmosphere of one of those beaulitftl nights,
where every star shines with the purest lustre,
they often leave a luminous train behind them
which lasts hir twelve or fifteen seconds, and may
well be compared to a tlaine.
The wind had hitherto been f.ivor.ible, with oc-
casional though transii'iit clouds and showers.
They had made great progress each day, though
Columbus, according to his stcret pl.in, contrived
to sup|)ress several leagues in the ilaily reckoning
left o|)en to the crew.
They had now .arrive^ within the influence ot
the tr.ide wind, which, Tollowiiig the sun, blows
steadily from east to west between the troi)ics,
and swee|)s over a few adjoining degrees of oce.m.
With this propitious breeze directly att, they were
wafted gently but sjieedily over a tr.'in(|uil sea, so
that for many days they did not shift a sail. Co-
lumbus perpetually recurs to the bland and tem-
per.'ite serenity ol the weather, which in this tract
of the ocean is soft and refreshing without being
cool. In his artless and expressive language he
compares the |)ure and balmy mornings to those
of April in Andalusia, and observes that they
wanted but the song of the iiighting.ile to com-
plete the illusion. " He had reason to s;iy so,"
observes the venerable Las Casas ; " for it is
marvellous the suavity which we experience when
half way toward these Indies ; and the more the
ships approach the lands so much more do they
perceive the temjierance and softness of the ;iir,
the clearness of the sky, and the amenity and Ir.i-
grance sent forth from the groves and forests ;
much more certainly than in April in .Andalu-
sia." +
They now began to see large jiatches of herbs
and weeds drifting from the west, and increasing
in quantity as they advanced. Some ot these
weeds were such as grow about rocks, others such
.IS are produced in rivers ; some were yellow and
withered, others so green as to have apparently
* The water-wagtail.
f Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 36, MS.
38
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
¥i
P>
Wi^
Kit
i
1
,
1!
l)ecn recently washed from land. On one of these
])atches was a live crab, which Columbus care-
fully preserved. They saw also a white tropical
bird, of a kind which never sleeps upon the sea.
Tunny tish also played about the sni|)s, one of
which was killed by the crew of the NiRa. Co-
luntbus now called to mind the account given by
Aristotle of certain shii)s of Cadi/, which, coasting
the shores outside of the .Straits of Gibraltar, were
driven westward by an impetuous east wind, until
they reached a part of the ocean covered with vast
fiekls of weeds, resembling sunken islands, among
which they beheld many tunny tish. He supposed
himself arrived in this weedy sea, as it had been
called, from which the ancient mariners had
turned back in dismay, but which he regarded
with animated hope, as indicating the vicinity of
land. Not that he had yet any idea of reaching
the object of his search, the eastern end of Asia ;
for, according to his computation, he had come
but three hundred and sixty leagues* since leav-
ing ;he Canary Islands, and he ])laced the main
land of India much farther on.
On the i8lh of .Septen^lier the same weather con-
tinued ; a si'ft steaJy breeze from the east tilled
every sail, -."hile, to use the words of Columbus,
the sea was as calm as the Guadalquiver at .Sev-
ille. He fancied that the water of the sea grew
fresher as he advanced, and noticed this as a jiruof
of die superior sweetness and purity of the air.f
The crews were all in high spirits , each ship
strove to get in the advance, and every seaman
was eagerly on the look-out ; for the sovereigns
had promised a pension of ten thousand mara-
vedis to him who should first discover land. Mar-
tin .Monzo I'inzon crowded all canvas, ai.d, as the
Finla was a fast sailer, he generally kept the lead.
In the af.ernoon he hailed the admiral and in-
formed him that, from the tlight of a great num-
ber of birds and from the apjiearance of the
northern horizon, be thought there was land in
that direction.
There was in fact a floudiness in tl'e north,
such as often hangs over land ; and at sunset it
assumed such shapes and masses that many fan-
cied they beheld islands. There was a universal
wish, therefore, to steer for that quarter. Colum-
bus, however, was persuaded that they were mere
illusions. Kvery one who has made a sea voyage
must have witnessed the decejitions caused bv
clouds resting upon the horizon, especially about
sunset and sunrise ; which the eye, assisted by
the imagination and desire, easily converts into
the wished-for land. This is particularly the
case within the tro])ics, where the clouds at sun-
set assiime the most singular appearances.
On the following day there were drizzling show-
ers, unaccompanied by wind, which Colu.nbus
considered favorable signs ; two boobies also flew
(in hoard the shijis, birds which, he observed,
seldom tly twenty leagues from land. He sound-
ed, therefore, with p line of two hundred fathoms,
hut found no bottom. He supposed he might
he passing between islands, lying to the north
and south, but was unwilling to waste the pres-
ent favoring breeze by going in search of them ;
besides, he had e'lntidently affirmed that land was
to be found by kt 'oing steadfastly to the west ;
his whole expedition i,..;! been founded on such a
presumption ; he should, therefore, risk all credit
and authority with his people were he to appear
■■* Of twenty to the degree of latitude, the unity of
distance used throughout this work.
f Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 36.
to doubt and waver, and to go groping blindly
from point to point of the comjiass. He resolvecl,
therefore, to keep one bold course always west-
ward, until he should reach the coast of Indi.i ;
and afterward, if advisable, to seek these islands
on his return.*
Notwithstanding his precaution to keep the peo-
ple ignorant of the distance they had sailed, they
were now growing extremely uneasy at the length
of the voyage. They had advanced much farther
west than ever man had sailed before, and though
already beyond the reach of succor, still they
continued daily leaving vast tracts of ocean behind
them, and pressing onward and onward into »hat
ap])arently boundless abyss. It is true they had
been flattered by various indications of land, and
still others were occurring ; but all mocked them
with \ain hopes : after being hailed with a tran-
sient joy, ihey passed away, one after another,
and the same interminable expanse of sea and skv
continued to extend before them. Even the bland
and gentle breeze, uniformly aft, was now conjured
by their ingenious fears into a cause of alarm ; for
they began to imagine that the wind, in these
sea.s, might always jirevail from the east, and if
so. would never ])ermii their return to Sjiain.
Columbus endeavored to dispel these gloomy
presages, sometimes by argument and expostula-
tion, sometimes by awakening fresh hopes, and
jjointing out new signs of land. On the 20th oi
September the wiiui veered, with light breezes
from the south-west. These, though adverse to
their progress, had a cheering effect upon the peo-
]) ?, as they proved that the wind did not always
])revail from the east.f Several birds also visited
the shijis ; u..ee, of a small kind which keep about
groves and orchards, came singing in the morn-
ing, and flew away again in the evening. 'Their
song cheered the hearts of thedismayeil mariners,
who hailed it as the \oice of land. The larger
fowl, they observed, were strong of wing, and
might venture far to sea , hut such small birds
were too feeble to fly far, and their singing showed
that they were not exhausted by their flight.
On the following day there was either a pro-
found calm or light winds from the south-west.
The sea, as f.ir as the eye could reach, was cov
ered with weeds ; a phenomenon, often observed
in this part of the ocean, which has sometimes the
appearance of a vast inundated meadow. This
has been attributed to immense quantities of sub-
marine i)lants, which grow at the bottom of the
sea until ripe, when they are detached by the mo-
tion of the waves and currents, and rise to the
surface. J These fields of weeds were at first re-
garded with great satisfaction, but at length they
became, in many places, so dense and matted as
in some degree to impede the sailing of the ships,
which must have been under very little headway.
The crews now called to mind some tale about
the frozen ocean, where ships were said to be some-
times I'xed immovable. They endeavored, there-
fore, to avoid as much as possible these floalin;,'
masses, lest some disastc'of the kind might happen
to them; elves. 5 Others consitlered these weeds as
proof that the sea was growing shallower, and
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 20. Extracts from
Journal of Columb. Navarrete, ; i. p. 16.
f Mucho me fue necesario esie viento contrario,
porque mi gente andaban muy estimulados, que pen-
saban que no ventaban estos mares vientos pnra vol-
ver h Espana. Primer Viage de Colon. NavaiTcte,
torn. i. p. 12.
^ Humboldt, Personal Narrative, book i. cap. i.
^ Hist, del Abnuoute, c^p. i3.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
8»
1 fro groping Mindly
inciiy
Ivetl,
mpass. He resoh
course always west-
h the coast of India ;
, to seek these islan<ls
aiition to keep the peo-
■ they had sailed, they
,' uneasy at the length
(Ivanced much farther
led before, and thoujjh
of succor, still they
tracts of ocean hehinil
and onward into that
5. It is true they had
idications of land, and
but all mocked them
ng hailed with a trnn-
ly, one after another,
expanse of sea and sky
hem. Kven the hiaiid
,■ alt, was now conjured
J a cause of alarm ; for
at the wind, in these
1 from the east, and if
ir return to Spain.
) disjiel these gloomy
rument and expostui.-i-
ning fresh hopes, and
land. On llie 2oth oi
;d, with light breezes
ese, though adverse to
ing effect upon the peo-
he wind did not always
veral birds also visited
kind which keep about
e singing in tlie morn-
in the evning. Their
the dismayed mariners,
of land. The larger
strong of wing, and
hut such small birds
fid their singing showed
■d by their flight,
[lere was either a pro-
froin the south-west.
could reach, was cov-
jmenon, often observed
iiich has sometimes the
.dated meadow. This
ense quantities of sub-
at the bottom of the
e detached by the nio-
Irrents, and rise to the
weeds were at tirst re-
ion, but at length thty
dense and matted ns
[he sailing of the ships,
r very little headway,
mind some tale about
)S were said to be sonie-
|hey endeavored, there-
possible these tloatins
the kind might happen
Isidered tliese weeds as
owing shallower, and
). 20. Extracts from
, :, i. p. i6.
este viento contrano,
• estimulados, que pen-
Imares vientos pnra vol
1 de Colon. Navairete,
[■ative, book i. cap. I.
i8.
;rtDtgai to talk of luiking rocks, and shoals, and
Areacherous quicksands ; and of the danger of
Running aground, as it were, in the midst of the
Socean, where their vessels might rot and fall to
•^pieces, far out of the track of human aid, and
■Avithoiit any shore whe e the crews might take
irefuge. They f ad evidently some confused no-
ttion of the ancient story of the sunken island of
Atalantis, and feared that they were arriving at
'"that part of the ocean where navig, ;ion was said
L'.o be obstructed by drowned lands, and the ruins
''lof an engulfed country.
To dispel these fears, the admiral had frequent
recourse to the lead ; but though he sounded with
Jija deep-sea line, he still found no bottom. The
t4ir>inds of the crews, however, had gradually be-
:lconie diseased. They were full of vague terrors
:^n(l superstitious fancies : they construed every-
hing into a cause of ;Jarm, and harassed their
.jommaniler by incessant murmurs.
"i For three days there was a continuance of light
sluninier airs from the southward and westward,
md the sea was as smooth as a mirror. A whale
ras seen heaving uj) its huge form at a distance,
,,;hich Columbus immediately pointed out as a
favorable indication, affirmingthat these fish were
renerally in the neighborhood of land. The
irews, however, became uneasy at the calmuL-ss
th.e weather. They observed that the contriry
irids whi( h they experienced were transient and
insteady, and so light as not to ruffle the surface
)f the sea, which maintained a sluggish calm like
ake of dead water. Everything differed, they
said, in these strange regions from the world to
diich they had been accustomed. The only
.;inds whi^ii ])revailed with any constancy and
force, were from the east, and they hail not jrower
to disturb the torpid stillness of the ocean ; there
ivas a risk, therefore, either ol perishing amiil
itajijnant and shoreless waters, or of being pre-
sented, by contrary winds, from ever returning to
ir native cou" ;ry.
Columbus continued with admirable patience to
reason with these fancies ; observing that the
ralmness of the sea must undoubtedly be caused
jy the vicinity of land in the cju.irter whence the
•ind blew, which, therefore, had not space sutfi-
:ient to act upon the surface and heave up large
. aves. Terror, however, multiplies and varies
Ihe forms of ideal danger a thousand times faster
Ihan the most active wisdom can dispel them,
'he more Columbus argueti, the more boisterous
)ecame the murmurs of his crew, until, on Sun-
lay, the 25ih of September, there came on a hea\y
►well of the sea, unaccompanied by wind. This
)henomenon often occurs in the broad ocean ;
)eing either the exjjiring undulations of some jiast
le, or the movement given to the sea by some
listant current of wind ; it was, nevertheless, re-
garded with astonishment by the mariners, .and
lispelled the imaginary terrors occasioned by th'.
calm.
Columbus, who as
inder the immediate
leaven in this solemn enterprise, intimates in his
nrn.il that this swelling of the sea seemed provi-
Itn.ially ordered to allay the rising clamors of
iis crew ; comjjaring it to that which so miracu-
jusly aided Moses when conducting the childrer,
tt Israel out of the captivity of Egypt.*
.wenti
?|lhcir
usual considered himsel'
eve and guardianship of
CHAPTER IV.
CONTINUATION OF THF. VOYAGE — DISCOVF.RY OF
I.ANI).
[I492-]
Thf. ^ituation of Columbus was daily l^ccoming
more and more critical. In proportion as he ap-
proached the regions where he expected to find
land, the impatience of his crews augmented.
The favorable signs which increased his confi-
dence, were de ided by them as delusive ; and
then- was danger of their rebelling, and obliging
him to turn back, when on the point of realizing
the object of all his labors. They beheld them-
selves .»ith dismay still wafted onwa'd, over the
boundless wastes of what appeared to them a
mere watery desert, surrounding the habitable
world. What was to become of them should their
provi..ions fail ? Their ships were too weak and
defective even for the great voyage they had
already made, but if they were still to press for-
ward, adding at every moment to the immense
expanse behind them, how should they ever be
able to return, h iving no intervening ])ort where
they might victual and refit.
In this way they fed each other's discontents,
gathering together in little knots, and fomenting
a spirit of mutinous opjjosition ; and when we
consider the natural fire of the Spanish tempera-
ment and its impatience of control ; and that a
great part of these men were sailing on compul-
sion, we cannot wonder that there was iinminent
danger of their breaking forth into open rebellion
■ind compelling Columbus to turn back. In their
secret conferences they exclaimed against him as
a desperado, bent, in a mad phantasy, upon doing
something extravagant to render himself notorious.
What were their sufferings and dangers to one
evidently content to sacrihce his own life for the
charce of distinction ? What obligations bound
them lO continue on with him ; or when were the
terms of their agreement to be considered as ful-
filled ? They had already penetrated unknown
seas, untraversed by a sail, far beyond where man
had ever before ventured. They had done cnougli
to gain themselves a character for courage and
hardihood in undertaking such an enterprise and
])ersisting in it so far. How much farther were
they to go in (|uest of a merely conjectured land ?
Were thiy to sail on until they perished, or until
all r?turn became impossible ? In such case they
would he the authors of their own destruction.
On the other hand, should they consult their
safety, and turn back before too late, who would
bl.ime them ? Any complaints made by Colum-
bus would be of no weight ; he was a foreigner,
without friends or influence ; his schemes had
been condemned by the learned, and discounte-
naired by ])eople of all ranks. He harl no ]iarty
.,j uphold him, and a host of opponents whose
pride of opinion would be gratified by his failure.
Or, as an effectual means of preventing his com-
plaints, they might throw him into the sea, and
ijive out that he had fallen overboard while busy
with his instruments contemplating the stars ; a
report which no one would have eitherthe inclin.i
tion or the means to controvert.*
Cotno la mar estuviese mansa y liana mur-
nuraba la gente diciendo que, pues por alii no habia
Bar grande que nunca ventaria para volver a Espaflci ,
ero despues alz6se mucho la mar y sin vienlo, que
los asomhraba ; por lo cual dice aqui el Almirante ;
i)ii i/iif fitly tifffsiin'o tiif /"«/ /-i i/uir alta, ijut no
/;irin\<, .uikv el tiempo de los Judios cuaitdo fnlieron d:
F.i^ipto contfii Movses que los sacnlni de capth-erio." —
Journal of Columb. Navarrete, torn. i. p. 12.
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 19, Herrera, Hist
Ind., dccad. i. lib. i. cap. 10.
v?>^
■ ''ii '
'I
40
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
Columbus was not ignorant of the mutinous dis-
position of his crew, but he still maintained a
serene and steady countenance ; soothing some
with gentle wortls ; endeavoring to stimulate the
pride or avarice '>f others, and openly menacing
the refractory ' i signal punishment, should they
do anything ti. ...ptcle the voyage.
On the 25th of September the wind again be-
came favoral)le, and they were able to resume
their course directly to the west. The airs being
light and the sea calm, the vessels sailed near to
each other, and Columbus had much conversation
with Martin Alonzo Pinzon on the subject of a
chart which the former had sent three days before
on board of the Pinta. Pinzon thought that, ac-
cording to the indications of the map, they ought
to be in the neighborhood of Cipango, and the
other islands which the admiral had therein de-
lineated. Columbus partly entertained the same
idea, but thought it possible that the ships might
have been borne out of their track by the ))reva-
lent currents, or that they had not come so far as
the pilots had reckoned. He desired that the
chart might be returned, and Pinzon tying it to
the end of a cord, Hung it on board to him. While
Columbus, his pilot, and several of his exi)crienced
mariners were studying the map, and endeavor-
ing to make out from it their actual position, they
heard a shout from the Pinta, and looking up,
beheld Martin Alonzo Pinzon mounted on the
stern of his vessel crying " Land ! land I Seflor, I
claim my reward !" He pointed at the same time
to the south-west, where there was indeed an a])-
pearance of land at about twenty-five leagues'
distance. Upon this Columbus threw himself on
his knees and returned thanks to God ; and Martin
Alonzo repeated the Gloria in c.vcelsis, in wi.'.ch
he was joined by his own crev; and that of the
admiral.*
The seamen now mounted to the masthead or
climbed about the rigging, straining their eyes in
the direction pointed out. The conviction became
so general of land in that quarter, aiid the joy of
the i)eoj)le so ungovernable, that Columbus found
it necessary to vary from his usual course, and
stand all night io the south-west. The morning
light, however, put an end to all their hopes, as
to a dream. The fancied land proved to be noth-
ing but an evening cloud, and had vanished in
the night. With dejected hearts they once more
resumed their western course, from which Colum-
bus would never have varied, but in compliance
with their clamorous wishes.
For several days they continued on with the
s,.me propitious breeze, tranquil sea, and mild,
de ightful weather. The water was so calm that
thi ~ailors amused themselves with swimming
about 'he vessel. Dolphins began to abound, anti
flying t'ish, darting into the air, fell ujion the
decks. The continued signs of land diverted the
attention of the crews, and insensibly beguiled
them onward.
On the 1st of October, according to the reckon-
ing of tile pilot of the admiral's ship, they had
come five hundred anil eighty leagues west since
leaving tile Canary Islands. The reckoning which
Columiius showed the crew was five hundred and
eighty-four, but the reckoning which he kept pri-
vately was seven hundred and seven. f On the
following day tlie weeds floated from east to west ;
and on the third day no birds were to be seen.
* Journal of Columb. , Primer Viage, Navarrete,
torn. i.
f Navarrete, torn. i. p. 16.
The crews now began to fear that they had
passed between islands, from one to the other 0'
which the birds had been flying. Columbus liai
also some doubts of the kind, but refused to alter
his westward course. The people again utteri,
murmurs and menaces ; but on the following cLu
they were visited by such flights of birds, and tU
various indications of land became so numerous
that from a state of despondency they passed i,
one of confident expectation.
Eager to obtain the promised pension, the sea-
men were continually giving the cry of land, or,
the least appearance of the kind. To put a sid;
to these fa se alarms, which produced continuii,
disappointments, Columbus declared that slioulc
any one give such notice, and land not be dis-
covered v.ithin three days afterward, he shouiL
thenceforth forfeit all claim to the reward.
On the evening of the 6th of October, Martir
Alonzo Pinzon began tc lose confidence in their
present course, and proposed that they shoul;
stand more to the southward. Columbus, how-
ever, still persisted in steering directly west.*
Observing this difference of opinion in a person
so important in his squadron as Pinzon, and fear-
i'lg that chance or design might scatter the ships
he ordered that, should either of the caravt'3 li;
separated from him, it should sund to the west
and endeavor as soon as possiI)le to join con;-
pany again ; he directed, also, that the vesse.-
should keep near to him at sunrise and sunset, a^
at these times the state of the atmosphere is moy
favorable to the discovery of distant land.
On the morning of the 7th of October, at sun-
rise, several of the admiral's crew thought they
beheld land in the west, but so indistinctly thx
no o- i; ventured to ])rocIaim it, lest he should I:
rnisi.iken, and forfeit all chance of the reward
the Nifla, however, being a good sailer, presse;
forward to ascertain the fact. In a little while:
flag was hoisted at her masthead, and a gun d:;.
charged, being the preconcerted signals for Ian:
New joy was awakened throughout the liii:
squadron, and every eye was turned to the we^:
As they advanced, however, their cloud-bu:
hopes faded away, and before evening the fancit
land had again nicited into air.f
The crews now sank into a degree of dejectii
proportioned to their recent excitement ; but ik
circumstances occurred to arouse them. Colur
Ijus, having observed great flights of small tiel
birds going toward the south-west, concluded th.
must i)e secure of some neighboring land, wlu:
they would find food and a resting-place- i'
knew the importance which the Portuguese vi
agers attached to t'le (light of birds, by follow; ,
which they had d covered most of their islan
He had now come seven hundred and ti:
leagues, the distance at which he had compuk
to find the island of Cipango ; as there was no a:
|)earance of it, he might have missed it tlirou^'
some misti'ke in the latitude. He dete; mint-
therefore, on the evening of the 7th of October.:;
alter his course to the west-south-west, the dirt:-;
tion in which the birds generally flew, and cor^
tinue that direction for at least two days. .Attti
all, it .'as no great deviation from his main cours:
and Wi .dd meet the wishes of the Pinzoiis, i
well as be inspiriting to his followers generally-
For three days they stood in this direction, ar-,«
the further they went the more frequent and tt|
bou
floa
1
huu
and
A
as s
"■'%
■ f
siru
day
hori
Hi
■■*
fate
1
i;iais
:'\
the
J
to ])
larg<
crca;
He t
1
])e(lit
the I
,:.
mine
he sh
* Journ. of Columbus, Navarrete, torn. i. p. i?.
f Hist, del Almlrante, cap. ao. Journ. of Colue-
bus, Navarete, torn. i.
^y^
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
41
to fear that they had
om one to the other o:
tlyinf^. Columbus haii
ind, !)Ut refused to alt«
le people a^ain uttenc
ut on the following day
flights of birds, and tht
1 became so numerous
)ondency they passed k
m.
mised pension, the sea-
'ins the cry of land, o:;
be kind. To put a sUr,
ich produced conlinua.
js declared that shouM
;, and land not be dis-
s afterward, he shouk
m to the reward.
: 6th of October, Martir
lose confidence in the,!
posed that they shoul^;
,vard. Columbus, how-
iring directly west.*
:e of opinion in a person
ron as Pinzon, and fear-
1 might scatter the ships
either of the caravth he
ihould siand to the west
IS possible to join coni-
1, also, that the vessel
at sunrise and sunset, a:
f the atmosphere is mos:
y of distant land,
e 7th of October, at sun-
iral's crew thought they
t, but so indistinctly liu:
aim it, lest he should h
1 chance of the reward
ig a good sailer, pressc.
fact. In a little while;
..asthead, and a gun dh.
incerted signals for lane
:l throughout the liiup
was turned to the wes'J
Lvever, their cloud-bui
jefore evening the fancic.
to air.f
to a degree of dejectioJ
nt excitement ; but net
o arouse them. Coiun:
.at Hights of small tiek
lUth-west, concluded the
lieighboring land, wher:^^
id a resting-place. K:-
lich the Portuguese vo,
ht of birds, by foUowi;;,
d most of their islami'
ven hundred and tir.
|\vhich he had compuk
igo ; as there \%as no a:
have missed it throu,"
itude. He detevminc ;
of the 7th of Ociober. ;>
Ist-south-west, the dire:-
generally flew, and co'
least two days. .MitJ
lion from his main courst
Ishes of the Pinzons, i
is followers generally,
[od in this direction, ar-,
more frequent and t:
tavarrete, torn. i. p. !?■ ,
\p, 20. Journ. of Colutv^
couraging were the signs of land. Flights of
small birds of various •:olors, some of them such
as sing in the tields, came flying .about the ships,
and then contmued toward the south-west, and
others were heard also flying by in the night.
Tunny fish played about the smooth sea, and a
heron, a pelican, and a duck were seen, all
bound in the same direction. Theherb.age which
floated l)v was fresh and green, as if recently from
land, and the air, Columbus observes, was sweet
and fragrant as April breezes in Seville.
All these, however, were regarded by the crews
.is so many delusions beguiling them on to de-
struction ; and when on the evening of the third
day thev beheld th'.- sun go down upon a shoreless
hoiizoni they broke forth into turbulent clamor.
ThdV declaimed against this obstinacy in tempting
tale by continuing on into a boundless sea. They
insisted upon turning homeward, and abandoning
the voyage as hopeless. Columbus endeavored
to pacily them by gentle words and promises of
large rewards ; but finding that they only in-
creased in clamor, he assumed a decided tone.
He told them it was useless to murmur, the ex-
])edition had been sent by the sovereigns to seek
the Indies, and, happen what might, he was deter-
mined to |)ersevere, until, by the blessing of God,
he should accomplish the enterprise.*
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 20. Las Casas, lih. i.
joiunal of Columb., Navarrete, Colec. torn. 1. •,!. 19.
It has been asserted by various historians, that
Columbus, a day or two previous to coming in sight
of the New World, capitulated with his mutinous
crew, promising, if he did not discover land within
three days, to .ibandon the voyage. There is no
authority for such an assertion, either in the history of
his son FernaiiJo or that of the Bl'-hop Las Casas,
each of whom had the admiral's ; apers before him.
There is no mention of such a circumstance in the ex-
tracts made from the journal by Las Casas, which
have recently been brought to light ; nor is it asserted
by either Petjr Martyr or the Curate of Los Palacios,
both contemporaries and acquaintances of Columbus,
and who could scarcely have failed to mention so
striking a fact, • if true. It rests merely upoi; the
aulhority of Oviedo, who is of inferior credit to either
of the authors above cited, and was grossly misled as
to many of the particulars of this voyage by a pilot of
the nnrae ol Hernan Perez Matheo, wfio was hostile
to Columbus. In the manuscript process of the
memorable lavvsuit between Don Diego, son of the ad-
miral, and the fisc 1 of the crown, is the evidence of
one Pedro de Bilbao, who testifies that he heard many
times that some ol the pilots and mariners wished to
turn back, but that the admiral promised them pres-
ents, and entreated them to wait two or three days,
before which time he should discover land. (" Pedro
dc Bilbao oyo muchas veces que algunos pilotus y
marineros querian volverse sino fuera por el Almi-
rante que les prometio donos, les rogo esperasen dos
o tres dias i que antes del terminodcstubrieralierra.")
This, if true, implies no capitulation to relinquish the
enterprise.
On the other hand, it was asserted by some of the
witnesses in the above-mentioned suit, that Colum-
bus, after having proceeded some few hundred leagues
without findini; land, lost confidence and wished to
turn back ; but was persuaded and even piqued to
continue by the Pinzons. This assertion carries false-
hood on its very face. It is in total contradiction to
that persevering constancy and undaunted resolution
displayed by Columbus, not merely in the present
voyage, but from lirst to last of his diflieult and dan-
gerous career. This testimony was given by some of
the mjtinous men, anxious to exaggerate the merits
of the Pinzons, and to depreciate that of Columbus.
Fortunately, the extracts from the journal of the lat-
Columbus was now at open defiance with his
crew, and his situation became des|)erate. For-
tunately the manifestations of the vicinity of land
were such on the following day as no longer to
admit a doubt. Besides a (|uantity of fresh weeds,
such as grow in river's, they saw a green fish of a
kind which keeps about rocks ; then a branch of
thorn with berries on it, and recently separated
from the tree, floated by them ; then they picked
up a reed, a small board, and, above a
y picke
I, a sta
ff
artificially carved. Aii gloom and mutiny now
gave way to sanguine ex|)ect.ition ; and through-
out the day each one was eagerly on the watch,
in hopes of being the first to discover the long-
s^^ught-for land.
In the evening, when, according to invariable
custom on board of the admiral's ship, the mar-
iners had sung the "Salve Regina," cr vesper
hymn to the Virgin, he made an impressive ad-
dress to his crew. He pnMited out the goodness
of (iod in thus conducting lOem by soft and favor-
ing bree/.es across a tranquil ocean, cheering their
hopes continually with fresh signs, increasing as
their fears augmented, and thus leading and
guiding them to a promiseil land. He now re-
minded them of the orders he had given on leav-
ing the Canaries, that, after sailing westward
seven hundred leagues, they should not make sail
after midniifht. Present ap|)earances authorized
such a precaution. He thought it probable they
would make land that very night ; he otderetl,
therefore, a vigilant look-out to lie kept irom the
forecastle, promising to whomsoever should make
the discovery, a doublet of velvet, in addition to
the pension to be given by the sovereigns.*
The breeze had been fresh all day, with more
sea than usual, and they had made great progress.
At sunset they had stood again to the west, and
were ploughing the waves at a rapid rate, the Pinta
keeping the lead, from her superior sailing. The
greatest animation prevailed throughout the
ships ; not an eye was closed that night. As the
evening darkened, Columbus took his station on
the top of the castle or cabin on the high poop of
his vessel, ranging his eye along the dusky hori-
zon, and maintaining an intense and unremitting
watch. About ten o'clock he thought he behehl a
light glimmering at a great distance. I'"earing his
eager hopes might deceive him, he calleil to Pe-
dro Gutierrez, gentleman of the king's bedcham-
ber, and inquired whether he saw such a light ;
the latter replied in the affirmative. Doul>ttul
whether it might not yet be some delusion of the
lancy, ColumbuS called Rodrigo .Sanchez of Se-
govia, and made the same incjuiry. By the time
the latter had ascended the round-house the light
had disappeared. They saw it once or twice after-
ward in sudden and passing gleams ; as it it were
a torch in the bark of a lisherman, rising and
sinking with the waves ; or in the hand ol some
|)erson on shore, borne up and down as he walked
from house to house. So transient and uncertain
were these gleams that few attached any impor-
tance to them ; Columbus, however, considered
them as c tain signs of land, and, moreover, that
the land was inhabited.
They continued their course until two in the
morning, when a gun from the Pinta gave the
ter, written from day to day, with guileless iiniplicily,
and all the air of truth, disprove these fables, and
show that on the very day previous to his discovery,
he expressed a peremptory determination to perse,
vere- in defiance of ail dangers and ditficulties.
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 21.
1 1
!.:
I 1
i i
43
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
joyful signal of land. It \va.- first descried by a
mariner named Rodrigo de Triana ; but the re-
ward was afterward adjudged to the admiral, for
having previously perceived the light. The land
was now clearly seen about two leagues distant,
whereupon they took in sail and laid to, waiting
impatiently for the dawn.
The thoughts and feelings of Columbus in this
little space of time must have been tumultuous
and intense. At length, in spite of every diffi-
culty and danger he had accomplished his object.
The great mystery of the ocean was revealed ; his
theory, which had been the scoff of sages, was tri-
umphantly established ; he had secured to himself
a glory durable as the world itself.
It is ditlicult to conceive the feelings of such a
man, at such a moment; or the conjectures which
must have thronged upon his mind, as to the
land before him, covered with darkness. That
it was fruitful, was evident from the vegetables
which floated from its shores. He thought, too,
that he perceived the fragrance of aromatic
groves. The moving light he had beheld proved
it the residence of man. Hut what were its in-
habitants .' Were they like those of the other
parts of the globe ; or were they some strange
and monstrous race, such as the imagination was
prone in those times to give to all remote and un-
known regions ? Had he come upon some wild
island far in the Indian sea ; or was this the famed
Cipango itself, the object of his golden fancies ?
A thousand speculations of the kind must have
swarmed upon him, as, with his anxious crews,
he waited for the night to pass away, wondering
whether the morning light would reveal a savage
wilderness, or dawn upon spicy groves, and glit-
tering fanes, and gilded cities, and all the splen-
dor of oriental civilization.
BOOK IV.
CHAPTER I.
FIRST LANDING OF COLU.MBUS IN THE NEW
WORLD.
It was on Friday morning, the I2th of October,
that Columbus first beheld the New World. As
the day dawned he saw before him a level island,
several leagues in extent, and covered with trees
like a continual orchard. Though ap|)arently
uncultivated, it was populous, for the inhabitants
were seen issuing from all parts of the woods
and running to the shore. They were perfectly
Baked, and, as they stood gazing at the ships,
appeared by their attitudes and gestures to be lost
in astoiMshment. Columbus made signal for the
ships to cast anchor, and the boats to be manned
and arme;l. He entered his own boat, richly at-
tired in s:arlet, and holding the royal standard ;
while Martin Alon/.o Pinzon and Vincent Jafiez his
brother, put off in company in their boats, each
with a banner of the enter|)rise emblazoned with
a green cross, having on either side the letters F.
and Y., the initials of theCastilian monarchs Fer-
nando and Ysabel, surmounted by crowns.
As he approached the shore, Columbus, who was
disposed for all kinds of .agreeable impressions,
was deligiited with the purity and suavity of the
atmosphere, the crystal transparency of the sea,
and the extraordinary beauty of the vegetation.
He beheld, also, fruits of an unknown kind upon
the trees which overhung the shores. On landing
he threw himself on his knees, kissed the earth,
and returned thanks to God with tears of joy. His
example was followed by the rest, whose hearts
indeed overllowed with the same feelings of grati-
tude. Columbus then rising drew his sword, dis-
played the royal standard, and assembling round
him tiie two captains, with Rodrigo de Escobedo,
notary of the armament, Rodrigo Sanchez, and
the rest who had landed, he took solemn posses-
sion in the name of the Castilian sovereigns, giv-
ing the island the name of .San Salvador. H.u-
ing complied witii the rec|uisite forms and cere-
monies, he called upon all present to take the
oath of obedience to him, as admiral and viceroy,
representing the persons of the sovereigns,*
* In the Tablas Chronologicas of Padre Claudio
The feelings of the crew now burst forth in the
most extravagant transports. They had recently
considered themselves devoted men, hurrying for-
ward to destruction ; they now looked upon them-
selves as favorites of fortune, and gave themselves
up to the most unbounded joy. They thronged
around the admiral with overtiowing zeal, some
embracing him, others kissing his hands. Those
who had been most mutinous and turbulent dur-
ing the voyage, were now most devoted and en-
thusiastic. Some begged favors of him, as if he
had already wealtli and honors in his gift. Many
abject s])irits, who had outraged him by their inso-
lence, now crouched at his feet, begging pardon
for all the trouble they had caused him, and prom-
ising the blindest obedience for the future.*
The natives of the island, when, at the dawn of
dnv, they had beheld the ships hovering on their
coast, had supposed them monsters which had is-
sued from the deep during the night. They had
crowded to the beach and watched their move-
ments with awful anxiety. Their veering about,
ap]Kirently without effort, and the shifting and
furling of their sails, resembling huge wings, filled
them with astonishment. When they beheld their
boats approach the shore, and a number of strange
beings clad in glittering steel, or raiment of va-
rious colors, landing upon the beach, they fled in
affright to the woods. Finding, however, that
there was no attempt to pursue nor molest them,
they gradually recovered from their terror, and
approached the Spaniards with great awe ; fre-
quently prostrating themselves on the earth, and
making signs of adoration. During the cere-
Clemente, is conserved a form of prayer, said to have
been used by Columbus on this occasion, and which,
by order of the Castilian sovereigns, was afterward
used by Balboa, Cortez, and Pizarro in their discov-
eries. " Domiiie Deus a;terne ct omnipotens. sacro
tuo verbo coelum, et terram, ct mare creasti ; benedi-
catur el Rlorificetur nomen tuum, laudetur tua majes-
tas, qu.T: dignita est per humilem servnm tuum, ut
ejus sacrum nomen agnoscatur, et prjedicetur in hac
altera mundi parte." Tab, Chron, de los Descub.,
decad. i. Valencia, 1689.
* Oviedo, lib. i. cap, 6. Las Casas, Hist. Ind.,
lib. i, cap. 40.
mom
i'>«
bear(
■i the S
ledtj
s his
defer
ions ;
mand
from
touch
and f;
was
simpli
feet ai
They
of the
zon, 01
wings
habita
The
curios
from
appear
civiliza
paintet
was CO
or aroi
whole
appear
or cop
beards.
cently-<
der tht
partly
were 1(
shoulde
disfigut
lofty fo!
were ol
of then
.age ; tf
young,
formed.
As C
on an is
the nati
which 1
nature (
been ex
World.
Thei:
i only an
fire, or
of a tish
i they api
;j when a
y unguarc
Colun
glass l)e
as the I
:^ among
■^ They r
round t
with tht
The Sp;
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
43
from the vegetables
s. He thought, too,
igrance of aromatio
ie had beheld proved
[Jut what were its in-
e those of the other
re they some strange
; the imagination was
to all remote and un-
:ome upon some wild
or was this the famed
[ his golden fancies ?
E the kind must have
th his anxious crews,
)ass away, wondering
i'ould reveal a savage
picy groves, and glit-
es, and all the splen-
low burst forth in the
s. They had recently
ted men, hurrying for-
ow looked upon them-
;, and gave themselves
I joy. They thronged
I'ertlowing zeal, some
ing his hands. Those ,^
us and turbulent dur-
most devoted and en-
vors of him, as if he
ors in his gift. Many
ged him by their inso-
feet, begging pardon ;
aused him, and prom- '
for the future.*
when, at the dawn of ;
ips hovering on their
onsters which had is-
the night. They had
watched their move-
Their veering about,
|and the shifting and
ing huge wir.gs, filled '
hen they beheld their
I a number of strange
el, or raiment of va-
|he beach, they fled in
ding, however, that
sue nor molest them,
om their terror, and
,vith great awe ; fre-
es on the earth, and
During the cere-
|of prayer, said to have
occasion, and which.
Ireigns, was afterward
lizarro in their discov-
ct omnipotens. sacro
1 mare creasti ; benedi-
laudetur tua majes-
llem servum tuum, ut
I, et prjedicetur in hac
Von. de los Descub,,
las Casas, Hist. Ind.,
J
monies of taking possession, they remamed gaz-
ing in timid admiration at the comule.xion, the
beards, the shining armor, and splendid dress of
the Spaniards. The admiral particularly attract-
ed their attention, from bis commanding height,
his air of authority, his dress of scarlet, and the
deference which was paid him by his compan-
ions ; all which pointed him out to be the com-
mander.* When they had still further recovered
from their fears, they apjiroached the Spaniards,
touched their beards, and examined their hands
and faces, admiring their whiteness. Columbus
was pleased with their gentleness and contiding
simplicity, and suffered their scrutiny with per-
fect acquiescence, winning them by his benignity.
They now su[)j)ose(l that the ships had sailed out
of the crystal lirmament which bounded their hori-
zon, or had descended from above on their ample
wings, and that these marvellous beings were in-
habitants of the skies. t
The natives of the island were no less objects of
curiosity to the .Spaniards, differing, as they did,
from any race of men they had ever seen. Their
appearance gave no promise of either wealth or
civilization, for they were entirely naked, and
painted with a variety of colors. With some it
was confined merely to a part of the face, the nose,
or around the eyes ; with others it extended to the
whole body, and gave them a wild and fantastic
appearance. Their complexion was of a tawny
or copper hue, and they were entirely destitute of
beards. Their hair was not crisped, like the re-
cently-discovered tribes of the African coast, un-
der the same latitude, but straight and coarse,
pardy cut short above the ears, but some locks
were left long behind and falling upon their
shoulders. Their features, though obscured and
disfigured by paint, were agreeable ; they had
lofty foreheads and remarkably fine eyes. They
were of moderate stature and well-shaped ; most
of them appeared to be under thirty years of
age ; there was but one female with them, quite
young, naked like her companions, and beautifully
formed.
As Columbus supposed himself to have landed
on an island at the extremity of India, he called
the natives by the general appellation of Indians,
which was universally adopted before the true
nature of his discovery was known, and has since
been extended to all the aboriginals of the New
World.
The islanders were friendly and gentle. Their
only arms were lances, hardened at the end by
fire, or pointed with a flint, or the teeth or bone
of a fish. There was no iron to be seen, nor did
they appear ac((uainted with its properties ; for,
when a drawn sword was presented to them, they
unguardedly took it by the edge.
Columbus distributed among them colored caps,
glass beads, hawks' bells, and other trifles, such
as the Portuguese were accustomed to trade with
among the nations of the gold coast of Africa.
They received them eagerly, hung the beads
round their necks, and were wonderfully pleased
with their finery, and with the sound of the bells.
The Spaniards rf-ma.ned all day on shore refresh-
* Las Casas, ubi sup.
f The idea that the white men came from heaven
was universally entertained by the Inhabitants of the
New World. When in the course of subsequent voy-
ages the Spaniards conversed with the cacique Nica-
ragua, he inquired how they came down from the
skies, whether flying or whether they descended on
clouds, ilcrrera, decad. ii\ lib. iv. cap. 5.
ing themselves after their anxious voyage amid
the beautiful groves of the island, and returned
on board late in the evening, delighted with all
they had seen.
t)n the following morning at break of day, the
shore was thronged with the natives ; some swam
o'' lO the shi|)s, others came in light barks w'hich
iney called canoes, formed of a single tree, hol-
lowed, and ca|)able of holding from one man to
the number of forty or fifty. Tliese they managed
dexterously with paddles, and, if overturned,
swam about in the water with perfect unconcern,
as if in their natural element, righting their canoes
with great facility, and baling them with cala-
bashes.*
They were eager to procure more toys and
trinkets, not, apparently, from any idea of their
intrinsic value, but because everything from the
hands of the strangers jiossessed a supernatural
virtue in their eyes, as having been brought from
heaven ; they even picked up fragments of glass
and earthenware as valuable prizes. They had
but few objects to offer in return, except parrots,
of which great numbers were domesticated among
them, and cotton yarn, of which they bad abun-
dance, and would exchange large balls of five and
twenty pounds' weight for the merest trifle. They
brought also cakes of a kind of bread called cas-
sava, which constituted a ])rincipal part of their
food, and was afterward an important article of
provisions with the Spaniards. It was formed
from a great root called yuca, which they culti-
vated in fields. This they cut into small morsels,
which they grated or scraped, and strained in a
press, making a broad thin cake, which was after-
ward dried hard, and would keep for a long time,
being steeped in water when eaten. It was in-
sipid, but nourishing, though the water strained
from it in the preparation was a deadly ])oison.
There was another kind of yuca destitute of this
poisonous quality, which was eaten in the root,
either boiled or roasted. t
The avarice of the discoverers was (juickly ex-
cited by the sight of small ornaments of gold,
worn by some of the natives in their noses. These
the latter gladly exchanged for glass beads and
hawks' bells ; and both parties exulted in the
bargain, no doubt admiring each other's sim-
|)licily. As gold, however, was an object of royal
monopoly in all enterprises of discovery, Colum-
bus forbade any traffic in it without his express
sanction ; and he |)ut the same prohibition on the
traffic for cotton, reserving to the crown all trade
for it, wherever it should be found in any quan-
tity.
He inquired of ihe natives where this gold was
procured. They answered him by signs, jjointing
to the south, where, he understood them, dwelt a
king of such wealth that be was served in vessels
of wrought gold. He understood, also, that there
was land to the soutli, the south-west, and the
north-west, and that the i)eoi)le from the last men-
tioned quarter frecpiently jiroceeded to the south-
west in quest of gold and |)recious stones, making
in their way descents u|)on the islands, and carry-
ing off the inhabitants. .Several of the natives
showed him scars of wounds received in battles
with these invaders. It is evident that a great
part of this fancied intelligence was self-delusion
* The calabashes of the Indians, which served the
purposes of glass and earthenware, supplying them
with all sorts of domestic utensils, were produced on
stately trees of the size of elms.
f Acosta, Hist. Ind., lib. iv. cap. 17.
u
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
' iii
U'
on the part of Columbus ; for he was under a s|)ell
of the imajrination, which gave its own siiiujes
and colors to every ohiect. He was ])ersua(lecl
that he had arrived among the islands described
by Marco Polo as lying opposite Cathay, in the
Chinese sea, and he construed everything to ac-
cord with the account given of those o|>ulent re-
gions. Thus the enemies which the natives spoke
of as coming from the north-west, he concluded to
be the people of the main-land of Asia, the sub-
jects of the great Khan of Tartary, who were rep-
resented by the V'enetian traveller as accustomed
to make war ujjon the islands, and to enslave
their inhr.bitants. The country to the south,
abounding in gold, could be no other than the
famous island of Cipango ; and the king who was
served out of vessels of gold must be tiie monarch
whose magniticent city and gorgeous palace, cov-
ered with plates of gold, had bee.i extolled in such
splendid terms by Marco Polo.
The island where Columl)us had thus, for the
first time, set his foot upon the New World, was
called by the natives C.uanahan^. It still retains
the name of San Salvador, wiiich he gave to it,
though called by the English Cat Island.* The
light whicii he had seen the evening previous to
his making land, may have been on Watling's
Island, whicii lies a few leagues to the east. San
Salvador is one of the great cluster of the Lucayos,
or IJahama Islands, which stretch south-east and
north-west, from the coast of I'lorida to His-
paniola, covering tiie northern coast of Cuba.
On the morning of the 14th of October the atl-
miral set off at daybreak with the boats of the
ships to '■econnoitre the island, directing his course
to the north-east. The coast was surrounded by a
reef of rocks, within whicii there was depth of
water and sufficient harbor to receive all the ships
in Chiistendom. The entrance was very narrow ;
within there were several sand-banks, but the
water was as still as in a pool.f
The island a])peared liiroughout to be well
wooded, with streams of water, and a large lake
in the centre. As tiie boats jiroceeded, they
passed two or three villages, the inhabitants of
which, men as well as women, ran to the shores,
throwing themselves on the ground, lifting up
their hands and eyes, eitiier giving thanks to
heaven, or worshijjping the Spaniards as super-
natural beings. Tiiey ran along jjarallel to the
boats, calling after the Spaniards, and inviting
them by signs to land, offering them various fruits
and vessels of water. Finding, however, that the
boats continued on their course, many threw
themselves into the sea and swam after them, and
others followed in canoes. The admiral received
them all with kindness, giving them glass beads
and other trilles, which were received with trans-
port as Celestial presents, for the invariable idea
of tile savages was, that the white men had come
from the skies.
In this way thev pursued their course, until they
came to a small piminsula, whicii with two or
three days' labor might be separated from the
main-land and surrounded with water, and was
therefore specified by Columbus as an excellent
situation for a fortress. On this were six Indian
cabins, surrounded by groves and gardens as
* Some dispute having recently arisen as to the
island on which Columbus first landed, the reader is
referred for a discussion of this question to the illus-
trations of the work, article " First Landing of Co-
lumbus."
f Primer Viage de Colon. Navarrete, torn. i.
beautiful as those of Castile. The sailors being |
wearied with rowing, and the island not appear,
ing to the admiral of sufficient in-portance to in-'
duce colonization, he returned to tlie shi|)s, takiri"
seven ol the natives with him, that they might ac°
quire the Spanish language and serve as inter-
preters.
Having taken in a supply of wood and water,
they left the island of San Salvador the same even-
ing, the admiral being im|)atient to arrive at iht
wealthy country to the south, which he llattcR-l
himself would prove the famous island of Cipangu.
CHAPTER II.
CRUISE AMONG THE llAHAMA ISLANDS.
[1492.1
On leaving San Salvador Columbus was at ,•
loss which way to direct his course. A gre.r
number of islands, green and level and fertile-
invited him in different directions. Tlie Indiaii-
on board of his >essel intimated by signs th;i;
they were innumeral)le, well peopled, and at war
with one another. They mentioneil the names 0:
above a hundred. Columbus now had no longer
a doubt that lie was among the isl.uids descril)e(!
by Marco Polo as studding the vast sea of Chin,
or China, and lying at a great distance from the
main-land. These, according to the Venetian,
amounted to between seven and eight thousand,
and abounded with drugs and sjiices and odorifer-
ous trees, together with gold and silver and many
other precious objects of commerce.*
Animated by the idea of exploring this opulen;
archijjelago, he selected the largest island in sigh;
for his next visit ; it appeared to lie about tut
leagues' distance, and he understood from hi>
Indians that the natives were richer than thos:
of San Salvador, wearing bracelets and anklets
and other ornaments of massive gold.
The night coming on, Columbus ordered thai
the shijis should lie to, as the navigati(jn was diffi-|
cult and dangerous among these unknown islands,
and he feared to venture upon a strange coast in |
the dark. In the morning they again made sail, |
l)ut meeting with counter-currents it was not u:Ui!
sunset that they anchored at the island. The
next morning (16th) they went on shore, arid Co-
lumbus took solemn jiossession, giving the island
the name of Santa Maria de la Conce[)cion. The|
same scene occurred with the inhal)ilants as wit"
those of San Salvador. They manifested thesanif
astonishment and awe, the same gentleness and
sini])licity, and the same nakedness and absenct
of all wealth. Columbus looked in vain for brace
lets and anklets of gold, or for any otiier precimii
articles : they had been either fictions of his In-
dian guides, or l.is own misinterpretations.
Returning on board, he prepared to make sail,
when one of the Indians of San Salvador, who w.is
on board of the Nina, jilunged into the sea, and
swam to a large canoe filled with natives. The
boat of the caravel put off in pursuit, but the In-
dians managed in their light hark with too much
velocity to be overtaken, and, reaching the land,
fled to the woods. The sailors took the canoe as
a prize, and returned on board the caravel.
Shortly afterward a small canoe appioached one
of the ships from a different part of the island,
with
a ba
lie p
ente
sea i
C(
stati
capt
with
a gii
benij
cap
his
derm
the
joved
had
* Marco Polo, book
by W. Marsden.
iii. chap. 4 ; Eng. translation i
isirnul
He h:
calabi
paint,
when
such ;i
\a(lor,
probal
notice
hood I
tensivt
was St
anil hi:
he tre;
him 1)1
The w
the isl;
ot cutt
tliese i
time tl
grouni
taiice I
canoe <
storing;
fully a:
rival, \
This
l3 lives SI
I the nif^
I water
^ tririinsi-
J came ^
Lane
islanci
king ;
llie in
those (I
apjiear
the wo
i)ut foi
Their I
n pavi
trees, (
very cl
ing tre
tended
a namt
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
10
le. The sailors being
the island not appear-
iunt in'portance to in-
led to iJie sliips, takin;;
m, that they mi<;ht ac-
jL- and serve as inter-
ily of wood and water,
alvadurthe same even-
)atient to arrive at tht
uth, which he flatttrei!
nous island of Cipango, 3
;r II.
ll.\HAMA ISLANDS.
or Columbus was at a
his course. A great
and level and fertile,
rections. The Indians ;
Uimated by signs tlimi
ell ijuopled, and at war'
nentioned the names o:|
)us now had no longer
r the islands described j
; the vast sea of Chin,
real distance from the"
•ding to the Venetian,
en and eight thousand,
ind spices and odorifer-i
lid and silver and many:
ommerce.*
f exploring this opulen::
e largest island in si^^ht
eared to be about hve'
understood from hi:
vere richer than tliosti
bracelets and anklets j
ssive gold,
olumhus ordered tliaij
|he navigation was dirti-i
these unknown islands,
pou a strange coast in;
they again made sail,
urrents it was not umi!
at the island, Thej
cnt on shore, artd Co-
ision, giving the island
la Concepcion. The)
he iniiabitants as with
ey manifested the same
same gentleness and j
iikedness and absence!
boked in vain for brace- ^
for any otiier precious |
ther fictions of his In-^
interpretations,
prepared to make sail,
ian Salvador, who \vas|
ged into the sea, and
led with natives. The|
in pursuit, but the In-
lit bark with too mucii
lid, reaching the land,
ors took the canoe as ';
board the caravel-
anoe appioached onej
nt part of the island, \
ap. 4 ; Eng. translation '
with a single Indian on board, who came to offer
a ball of cotton in exchange lor hawks' bells. As
lie paused when close to the vessel, and feared to
enter, several sailors threw themselves into the
sea and took him i)risoner.
Columbus having seen all that passed from his
station on the high poop of the vessel, ordered the
cajitive to be brought to him ; he came trembling
with fear, and humbly offered his ball of cotton as
a gilt. Thi .'"iiniral ■^■ceived him with the utmost
bc-nigni'v, .mkI declining his offering, put a colored
caj) upoi h s head, strings of green beads around
his arms, and hawks' bells in his ears, then or-
dering him and his ball of cotton to Iv replaced in
the canoe, dismissed him, astonis'ied and over-
joyed. He ordered that the canoe, also, which
had been seized and was fastened to the Niila,
should be cast loose, to be regaii'.'ul by its pro-
iirietors. When the Indian reache(. the shore,
liis countrymen thronged round him, examining
and admiring his tinery, and listening to his ac-
count ot the kind treatment he experienced.
.Sucii were the gentle and sage precautions con-
tinually taken by Columbus to impress the natives
iavorably. Another instance of the kind occurred
after lea\ ing the island of Concepcion, when the
varavels stood for the larger island, several
leagues to the west. Midway between the two
isiaiuls they overtook a single Indian in a canoe.
He had a mere morsel of cassava bread and a
calabash of water for sea-stores, and a little red
])aint, like dragons' blood, for personal decoration
when he should land. A string of glass beads,
such as had been given to the natives of San Sal-
vador, showed that he had come thence, and was
probably passing from island to island, to give
notice ot the ships. Columbus admired the hardi-
hood ot this simple navigator, making such an ex-
tensive voyage in so frail a bark. As the island
was still distant, he ordered that both the Indian
and his canoe should be taken on board, where
he treated him with the greatest kindness, giving
him bread and honey to eat, and wine to drink.
The weather being very calm, they did not reach
the island until too dark to anchor, through fear
ot cutting their cables with rocks. The sea about
these islands was so transparent that in the day-
time they could see the bottom and choose their
ground ; and so deep, that at two gun-shot dis-
tance there was no anchorage. Hoisting out the
caiioe ot their Indian voyager, therefore, and re-
storing to him all his effects, they sent him joy-
fully ashore, to prepare the natives for their ar-
rival, while the ships lay to until morning.
This kindness had the desired effect. The na-
tives surrounded the ships in their canoes during
the night, bringing fruits and roots, and the |)ure
water ot their springs. Columbus distributed
trilling |)resents among them, and to those vlio
came on board he gave sugar and honey.
Landing the next morning, he gave '.o this
island the name ot Fernandina, in honor of the
king ; it 's the same at present called Exuma.
The inluiliitants were similar in every respect to
those ot the preceding islands, excepting that they
appeared more ingenious and intellig'.;nt. Some of
the women wore mantles and aprons of cotton,
hiit tor the most part they were entirely naked.
Their habitations were constructed in the form of
" pavilion or high circular tent, of branches ot
trees, ot reeds, and palm leaves. They were kept
very clean and neat, and sheltered uncler spread-
ing trees. For beds they had nets of cotton ex-
tended from two posts, which they called haiiiiics,
a name since in universal use among seam'n.
In endeavoring to circumnavigate the island,
Columbus found, within two leagues ol the north-
west cape, a noble harbor, suliicient to hold a
hundred ships, with two entrances iormed by an
island which lay in the mouth ot it. Here, while
the men landed with the casks in search of water,
he reposed under the shade of the groves, which
he says were more beautitul than any he had ever
beheld ; " the country was as fresh and green as
in the month ot May in Andalusia ; the trees, the
fruits, the herbs, the tlowers, the very stones for
the most part, as different from those ot Spain as
night from clay."* The inhabitants gave the
same proofs as the other islanders, of being totally
unaccustomed to the sight of civili/ed man. They
regarded the Sjjaniards with awe and admiration,
a])proache ■ them with propitiatory offerings ot
whatever tiieir |)overty, or rather their simple and
natural mode of life, afforded ; the fruits of their
tields and groves, the cotton, which was their arti-
cle of greatest value, and their domesticated par-
rots. They took those who were in search of
water to the coolest springs, the sweetest and
freshest runs, tilling their casks, and rolling them
to the boats ; thus seeking in every way to gratify
their celestial '.isUors.
However jjleasing this state of primeval ])overty
might be to the imagination of a poet, it was a
source of continual disapi)ointment to the Span-
iards, whose avarice had been whetted to the
quick by scanty specimens ot gold, and by the in-
formation of golden islands continually given by
the Indians.
Leaving Fernandina, on the 19th of October,
they steered to the south-east in ([uest ot an island
called Saometo, where Columbus understood,
from the signs of the guides, there was a mine of
gold, and a king, the sovereign of all the surround-
ing islands, who dwelt in a large city and pos-
sessed great treasures, wearing rich clothing and
jewels ot gold. They fountl the island, but
neither the monarch nor the mine ; either Colum-
bus had misunderstood the natives, or they,
measuring things by their own poverty, had ex-
aggerated the paltry state and trivial ornaments
of some savage chieftain. Delightful as the other
islands had ap|)eared, Columbus declared that
this surpassed them all. Like those it w.is covere^l
with trees and shrubs and herbs ot unknown kind.
The climate had the same soft temperature ; the
air was delicate and balmy ; the land was higher,
with a tine verdant hill ; the coast ot a tine sand,
gently laved by tians])arent billows.
At the south-west end ot the island he found fine
lakes of fresh water, overhung witii groves, and
surroundetl by banks covered witii herbage.
Here he ordered all the casks of the ships to be
filled. " Here are large lakes," says he, in his
journal, " and the groves about them are marvel-
lous, and here and in all the island everything is
green, as in April in Andalusia. The singing ot
the birds is such, that it seems as it one would
never desire to depart hence. There are llocks 0/
parrots which obscure the sun, and other birds,
large and small, of so many kinds all ditferi-nt
from ours, that it is wonderful ; and besides there
are trees of a thousand species, each having its
jiarticular fruit and all ot marxellous flavor, so
that I am in the greatest trouble in the world not
io know them, tor i am very certain that they are
each ot great value. I shall bring home some ot
them as specimens, and also some of the herbs."
To this beautiful island he gave the name ot his
* Pi.imer Viage de Colon. Navarrete, lib. i.
I
:lil
,,
;
..1
i'
f
1'
i •
i'
13
4(1
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
royal patroness, Isabella ; it is the same at present
called Isia l.ar^a and Ivxumeta. Columbus was
intent on discovi-rinj^ the dru^s and s|)ices of the
Kast, and on approachinfj this island, had fancied
he perceived in the air the s|)icy odors said to be
wafted from the islands oi the Indian seas. " As
I arrived at this caiv," says he, "there came
thence a traj,'rance so j(ood and soft of the llowers
or trees ot the land, that it was the sweetest thing
in the world. 1 believe there are here many herbs
and trees which would be of jjreat price in Spain
for tinctures, medicines, and spices, but I know
nothing ol them, which gives me great concern."*
The tisli, which abounded in these seas, partook
of the noNclty which characterized most ot the ob-
jects in this new world. They rivalled the birds
in tropical brillianj)' of color, the scales of some
of them glancing back the rays of light like [ire-
cious stones ; as ihey sported about the ships,
they flashed gleams of gold and S'lver through
the clear waves ; and the dolphins, taken oi t of
their element, delighted the eye \vith the ( \anges
of colors ascribed in fable to the chameleon.
No inim:.ls were seen in these islands, except-
ing a species of dr)g which never barked, a kind
of cone) or -abbit called " utia" by the natives,
together with numerous lizards and guanas. The
last were regarded with disgust and horror by
the .S[)aniards, suppo-.ing them to be fierce and
noxious serpents ; but they were found afi"r\vaTd
to be perlectly harmless, and their flesh to be es-
teemed a gre.it delicacy by the Indians.
For several days Coluni' us hovered about this
island, seeking in vain to lind its imaginary mon-
arch, or to esiablish a communijalion with him,
until, at length, he reluctantly became convinced
of his error. No sooner, however, did one delu-
sion fade away, than another succeeded. In reply
to the continual in(|uiries made by the Spaniards,
after the source \vhence they procured tht ir gold,
the r itives uniformly jjointed to the south. Co-
lumbus now began to hear of an island in that
direction, called Cuba, but all that he could col-
lect concerning it from the signs of the natives
was colored by his imagination. He understood
it to be of great e\tent, abounding in gold, and
pearls, and s])ices, and carrying on an extensive
commerce in those precious articles ; and that
large merclr>nt ships came to trade with its in-
habitants.
Comparing these misinterpreted accounts with
the coast ot Asia, as laid down on his m.''|i, .iftet
the descriptions of Marco Polo, he concludei! tl .u
this island must be Cipango, and the merch.mt
ships raeniioneil must be those of the Crand Khan,
vho maiiuained an extensive commerce in fliese
seas. He formed his plan accordi'>gly, deterni'n-
ing to sail immediately for this island, .in: mike
himself acquainted with its norts, Cities, and pro-
ductions, for the [)ur|)ose of establishing relations
ot traffic. Me would then seek ancther great
island called Hohio, of which the natives gave
likewise marvellous accounts. His sojourn in
those islands would depend upon the quantities ot
gold, spices, precious stones, and other objects of
(Oriental trade which he shou'-' find there. After
this he would proceed to the main-land of India,
which mus, be within ten day;.' sail, seek ihe city
Quins li, wl'.ich, according to Mar..o i'olo, was one
ot the most magniticent Ci'pitais in the world ; he
would there deliver in person the letters of the
Castilian sovereigi's to the Grand Khan, and,
when he receivecl his reply, return triumphantly
to Spain with this document, to prove that he
had accomplished the great object of his voyage.*
Such was the splendid scheme with which Colum-
bus fed his imagination, when about to leave the
Uahamas in quest of the island of Cuba,
Primer Viagc de Colon. Navarrete, cap. i.
CHAPTER III.
DISCOVERY AND COASTING OF CUIiA.
[1492.]
For several days the departure of Columbus
was delayed by contrary winds and calms, attend-
ed by hea\y showers, which last had prevailed,
more or less, since his arrival among the islands.
It was the season lA the autumnal rains, which in
those to.rid climates succeed the |)arching he-ts
ol summer, commencing about the decrease ot
the .Viigiist moon, and lasting until the month of
November.
At length, at midnight, October 24th, he set
sail from tiie island ot Isabella, but was nearly
becalmed until midday ; a gentle wind then
sprang up, and, as he observes, bt;g;in to blow
most amorously. Kvery sail was sj)read, and he
stoor' toward the w'esi-south-west, the direction in
which he was lold the land of Cuba lay from Isa-
beda. After three days' navigation, in the course
of which he touched at a group of seven or eight
small islands, which he called Islas de Aren.i,
supposed to be the present Mucaras isl.mds, anil
having crossed the Hahania bank and channel, he
arrived, on the morning of the 28th of October, in
sight of Cub. I. The ])art which he first discov-
ered is sufjposed to he the coast to the west ot
Nuevitas del Principe.
As he approached this noble i.sland, he was
struck with its magnitude, and the grandeur of its
leatures ; its high ;ind airy mount.iins, which re-
minded him of those of Sicily ; ii.; fcitile v.illevs,
and long sweeping ])lains watered by noble riv-
ers ; its stately forests ; its bold i)romontories
and stretching headlands, which melted away in-
to the remotest distance. He anchored in a beau-
tiful river, of transparent clearness, ii^,: from
rocks and shoals, its banks overhung with trees.
Here, binding, and taking ])ossess:on of the island,
he gave it the name of Juana, in honor of Prince
Juan, and to the river the name of San Salvador.
On the arrival ot the ships, two canoes put off
from the shore, but tied on seeing the boat ap-
proacii to sound the river for anchor.ige. The
admiral visited two cabins abandc>ned by liieir in-
habitants, riiey contained but a few ,1 ts made
of the fibres ot the ])alm-tref , hooks ;ind harpoons
of bone, and souic other fishing implements, and
one of the kind of .'logs he had met with on th°
smaller islands, which never bark. I'e ordered
that nothing should be taken away or der.inged.
Returning, to his boat, he proceeded for some
distance up the river, n.)re and mTe enchanted
with the beauty of the coc.itry. The banks were
coven d with high and wide-spreading trees;
some hearing f uits, others flowers, while in some
both fruit and Hower were mingled, bespeaking a
iierpetual round of fertili;;y ; among then were
many ])a'ms, but tlifferent from those ot .Spain and
Africa ; with the gr.-at leaves of these the natives
•hatched their cabins.
The continual eulogies made by Columbus on
the beauty of the country were warranted by the
Journal of Columbus. Navarrete, torn. i.
i'.
m
5.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
47
lumcnt, to prove that he
reat object of his voyajfe.*
chcme with which Colum-
, when ahout to leave the
.• island of Cuba.
TKK III.
COASTING OF CUBA.
492O
le departure of Columliiis
y winds and calms, attend-
which last had prevailed,
arrival .'imonjf the islands.
• autumnal rains, which in
iucceed the parchinjr he:'.ts
njr about the decrease of
lastinjr until the month of
jrht, October 24th, he set
t Isabella, but was nearly
ay ; a jrentle wind then
observes, bejr.in to blow
ry sail was sj)rea(l, and he
south-west, the direction in
land of Cutia lay from Isa-
s' navig-ation, in the course
t a group of seven or eij^ht
ie called Islas de Aren.i,
s'.-nt Mucaras islands, and
lani.i bank and channel, he
^ of the 28th of October, in
part which he first discov-
e the coast to the west of
this noble island, he was
dc, and tlie j^randeur of its
airy mountains, which re-
Sicily ; ii;; fci tile v.Uleys,
tins watered by noble riv-
its bold promontories
|ds, which melted away in-
Ile anchored in a beau-
rent clearness, 11 uC from
inks overhunjr with trees.
tiir possession of the island,
juana, in honor of Prince
le name of San Salvador.
■ ships, two canoes i)Ut off
(I on seein^f the boat ap- ;
iver for anchorage. The .'
|ins ab.mdiMied by liieir in- :
ir.ed I'u; .-i few .; S made \
iref , hooks and harjjoons ;
r fishing implements, and
|rs he had met with on lb.'.
never bark. I'e ordered
ikeii away or deranged,
t, he proceeded for some
)re and m-^re enchanted
ou.itry. The banks were
1 wide-spreading trees ;
•rs flowers, while in some
re mingled, bespeaking a
iliiy ; among then were
t from those of Sjiain and
aves of these the natives
fs made fiy Columbus on
Iry were warranted by the
Navarrete, torn. i.
kind of scenery he was beholding. There is a
wonderful s|)len(lor, vuriety, and luxuriance in tlv
k-egetalion of those quick and ardent climates.
The verdure of the groves and the colors of the
iowers and blossoms derive a vividness from the
transparent luirityof the air and the deep serenity
&t the a/ure heavens. The for^'^'s, loo, are full of
llife, swarming with birds ot irilliaiit i)lumage
I'ainted varieties of parrots and woodpeckers cre-
ate a glitter amid the verdure of the grove, and
humming-birds rove from flower to flower, re-
!sembling, as has well been saiil, animated parti-
cles ot a rainbow. The scarlet flamingoes, too,
seen sometimes through an opening of a forest in
a distant savanna, have the appearance of sol-
diers drawn u|) in battalion, with an advanced
scout on the alert, to give notice of a|)proaching
danger. Nor is the least beautiful part of ani-
mated nature the various tribes of insects peopling
every plant, and disiilaying brilliant coats of mail,
which sparkle like precious gems.*
Such is the splendor of animal and vegetable
creation in these tropical climates, where an
anient sun imparts its own lustre to every' object,
and quickens nature into exuberant fecundity. The
birds, in general, are not remarkable for their
notes, for it has been observed that in the feather-
ed race sweetness of song rarely accompanies
hrilliancv of plumage. Columbus remarks, how-
ever, th.it there were various kinds which sang
sweetly among the trees, and he frequently de-
ceived himself in fancying that he heard the voice
ot the nightingale, a bird unknown in these coun-
tries, fie was, in fact, in a mood to see every-
thing through a favoring medium. His heart
\v,is full to overllowing, tor he was enjoying the
fuUilnv-:it of his hopes, and the hard-earned but
glorious rcw.ird of his toils and perils. Every-
tliing round him was beheld with the enamored
and exulting eye of a discoverer, where triumph
mingles with admiration ; and it is difficult to
conceive the rapturous state of his feelings, while
thus exploring the charms of a virgin world, won
by his enterprise and valor.
From his continual remarks on the beauty of
scenery, and from his evident delight in rural
sounds and olijects, he appears to have been ex-
tremely open to those happy inlluences, exercised
over some s])irits, by the graces and wonders of
nature. He gives utterance to these feelings with
characteristic eiuhusi.asm, and at the same time
with the artlessness and simplicity of ci'ction of a
cliild. When speaking of some lovely scene
Tniong the groves, or along the llowery shores of
these hivored islands, he says, " one could live
there for ever." Cuba broke upon him like an
elysium. " It is the most beautiful island," he
s;'\s, " that eyes ever beheld, full of excellent
jiorls and profound rivers." The climate was
more lenii)erate here than in the other islands, the
nijrhts being neither hot nor cold, while the birds
and crickets sang all night long. Indeed there is
a heauty in a tropical night, in the depth of the
dark blue sky, the lambent purity of the stars, and
the resplendent clearness of the moon, that spreads
over the rich landscape and the balmy groves a
charm more captivating than the splendor of the
day.
In the sweet smell of the woods and the odor
of the flowers Columbus fancied he perceived
the fragrance of oriental spices ; and along the
* The ladies of Havana, on gala occasions, wear
I in their hair numbers of those insects, which have a
I brilliancy equal to rubies, sappliires, or diamonds.
shores he found shells of the kind of oyster which
produces pearls. P'rom the grass growing to the
very edge of the water, he inferreil tbi; jjeaceful-
ness of the ocean which bathes these isl.inds,
never lashing the shores with angry surges. Ever
since his arrival among these Antilles he had
ex|ierieiicecl nothing but soft and gentle weather,
and he concluded that a i)er|)etual serenity reign-
ed over these liaj.py seas. He was little suspi-
cious of the occasional bursts of fury to which they
are liable. Charlevoix, s])eaking from actual ob-
servation, remarks, " The sea of those islands is
commonly more tranquil than ours ; but, like cer-
tain people who are excited with dilliculty, anil
whose trans[)orts of passion are as \iolent as they
are rare, so when the sea becomes irritated, it is
terrible. It breaks all bounds, overflows the coun-
try, sweeps away all things that oppose it, antl
leaves frightful ravages behind, to mark the ex-
tent of its inundations. It is after these tempests,
known by the name of hurricanes, that the shores
are covered with marine shells, which greatly sur-
pass in lustre and beauty those of the European
seas."* It is a singular fact, however, that the
hurricanes, which almost annually dev.istate the
IJahainas, and other islands in the im.nediate vi-
cinity of Cuba, have been seldom known to extend
their influence to this favored land. It would seem
as if the very elements were charmed into gentle-
ness as they approached it.
In a kind of riot of the imagination, Columbus
finds at every step something to corroborate the
information he had received, or fancied he had
received, from the natives. He had conclusive
proofs, as he thought, that Cuba possessed mines
of gold, and groves of sjjices, and th.it its shores
abounded with pearls. He no longer doubted
that it was the island of Cipango, and weighing
anchor, coasted along westward, in which (iirec-
tion, according to the signs of his interpreters, the
magnificent city of its king was situated. In the
course of his voyage he landed occasionally, and
visited several villages ; particularly one on the
banks of a large river, to which he gave the name
of Rio de los .Mares. f The houses were neatly
built of branches of palm-trees in the shape of pa-
vilions ; not laid out in regular streets, but scat-
tered here and there, among the groves, and un-
der the shade of broad spreading trees, like tents
in a camp ; as is still the case in many of the
.Spanish settlements, and in the villages in the
interior of Cuba. The inhabitants lied to the
mountains, or hid themselves in the woods. Co-
lumbus carefully noted the architecture and fur-
niture of their dwellings. The houses were bet-
ter built than those he had hitherto seen, and
were kept extremely clean. He found in them
rude statues, and wooden masks, carved with
considerable ingenuity. All these were indica-
tions of more art and civilization than he had ob-
served in the smaller islanrls, and he supposed
they would go on increasing as he approached
terra firma. Finding in all the cabins imple-
ments for fishing, he concluded that these coasts
were inhabited merely by fishermen, who carried
their fish to the cities in the interior. He thought
also he had found the skulls of cows, which proved
that there were cattle in the island ; thougti these
are supposed to have been skulls of the manati or
sea-calf found on this coast.
After standing to the north-west for some dis'
* Charlevoix, Hist. St. Domingo, lib. i. p. 20.
Paris, 1730.
f Now called Savannah la Mer.
48
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
■! •■!
lanrp, Coliimhiis camp in sijfht of .1 ^jri-at lu-ad-
lancl, to which, trom the ^^rovfs with which it was
rovrri-(l, he ^jave the name ot tlu* Cape ol I'aiins,
and which lorms tht- eastern entrance to what is
now known as l.ajjuna de Moron. Mere three In-
dians, natives ot the Island of (luanahani, who
were on board ot the I'int.i, informed tlie roni-
niaiider, Martin Aloii/o I'inzon, tliat i)eliind the
cape there was a ri\ir, whence it was imt four
days' journey to Cuhanacan, a phice aixiundinj,'
in },'ohl. liy tliis they desij^nated a province situ-
ated in the centre ot Cul)a ; iincitii, in tiieir lan-
tjuaj^e, sijrnityiii^r tlie midst. I'in/on, however,
had siudicd intently the mapof Toscmelli, and had
iml)il)ed trom Columbus all iiis ideas respectinj^
the coast of Asia, lie c(mclu<led, theretore, that
the Indians were talkin(,M)f Cublai Khan, tlie Tar-
tar sovereijjn, and ot certain parts f)f his df)mini.;ns
described by Marco I'olo.* He understood from
them that Cuba was not an island, but terra
tlrm.i, extending; ;i v.ist distance to the north, and
that the kin;,^ wlio reijjned in this vicinity was at
war with the Cire.it Khan.
This tissue ot errors and misconceptions he
immediately communicated to Columbus. It put
an end to the delusion in which the admiral lia<l
hitherto induljjed, that this was the isl.ind of
Cipanjjo ; but it sulistituted another no less aj^^ree-
ahle. lie concluded that lie must have reached
the main-land of Asia, or as he termed it, India,
and if so, he could not be any f;r'..'at dist.mce from
Manjji and Cathay, the ultimate destin.ition of his
voyage. The prince in c|Uestion, who reifjned
over this neighboring country, miiit bo some
oriental ])otentate of consecpience ; he resolved,
therefore, to seek the river beyon(l the Cape of
Palms, and dispatch a present to the mon.uch,
with one of the letters of recommendation from
the Castilian sovereigns ; and after visiting his
dominions he would proceed to tlie cajiital of Ca-
thay, the residence of the Cirand Khan.
Every attempt to reach the river in (]uestion,
however, proved ineffectual. Cape stretched be-
yond cape ; there w.is no good anchorage ; the
wind became contrary, and the ajipcarance of the
heavens threatening rough weather, he put back
to the Rio de los Mares.
On the 1st of November, at sunrise, he sent the
l)oats on siiore to visit several houses, but the
inhabitants tied to the woods. He supposed that
they must mistake his armament for one of the
scouring exjieditions sent iiy the Grand Khan to
make ])risoners and slaves. He sent the boat on
shore again in the afternoon, with an Indian inter-
preter, who was instructeil to assure the people of
the peaceable and beneficent intentions of the
S|)aniar(ls, and that they had no connection with
the (irand Khan. After the Indian had proclaimed
this from the boat to the savages U])on the beach,
part of it, no doubt, to their great perplexity, he
threw himself into the water and swam to shore.
He was well received by the natives, and succeed-
ed so effectually in calming theirfears, that before
evening there were more than sixteen canoes
about the ships, bringing cotton yarn and other
simple articles of traffic. Columbus forbade all
trading tor anything but gold, that the natives
might be tempted to produce the real riches of
their country. They had none to offer ; all were
destitute of ornaments of the ]irecious metals, ex-
cepting one, who wore in his nose a piece of
wrought silver. Columbus understood this man to
say that the king lived about the distance of four
* Las Casas, lib. i. cap. 44, MS.
(lays' journey in the interior ; that many nu-j.
sengcrs had \n:v\\ dispatched to give him lidiii^'s
ot the arrival ot the strangers upon the coast;
and that in less than three (lays' time messengers
might be (expected trom bin) in return, ainl m.uiy
merchants trom the interior, to trade with il,c
ships. It is curious to observe how ingeniously
the im.igination ot Columbus deceived him ;it
every step, and how he wove everything into ,\
uniform web of false conclusions. I'oring over
the map ot Toscanelli, referring to the reckon iiijjs
of his voyage, and musing on the misint(ri)retiM|
words of' the Indians, he imagined that he muM
be on the borders ot Cath.iy, and about one hun-
dred leagues from the capital ot the Cir.ind Khan,
Anxious to arrive there, and to delay as little as
possible in the territories ot an iiderior prince, he
determined not to await the arrival ot the nits-
sengcrs and merch.ints, but ' .jispatch two en-
voys to seek the neighbor*. i^ monarch at lus resi-
dence.
For this mission he chose two .Spaniards, Rod-
rigo de Jere/. and l.uis de Torres ; the latter ;i
converted Jew, who knew Hebrew and Chaldaic,
.ind even something ot Arabic, one or other ul
which Columbus supposed might be known to this I
oriental prince. Two Indians were sent with |
them as f^uides, one a native of Ciuanahani, and
the other an iidiabitant of the hamlet on the bank !
of the river. The ambassadors were furnished |
with strings of beads and other trinkets for trav-
elling expenses. Instructions were given them to i
inlorm the king that Columbus had been sent by
the Castilian sovereigns, a bearer ot letters and ,1
])resent, which he was to deliver personally, tor |
the |)urpose of establishing an amicable inter-
course between the powers, 'fhey were likewise
to inform themselves accurately about the situa-
tion and distances ot certain provinces, polls, and |
rivers, which the admiral specilied by name from i
the descriptions which he had of the coast of
Asia. They were moreover i)ro\ide(l with s|)eci- 1
mens of spices antl drugs, for the purpose of
.iscertaining whether any articles of the kind
abounded in the country. With these jirovisions I
and instructions the ambassadors departed, six j
days being allowed them to go and return. Many,
at the present day, will smile at this embas.sy to .1
naked savage chieftain in the interior ot Cuba, in
mistake for an Asiatic monarch; but such was |
the singular nature of this voyage, a continual
series of golden dreams, and all interpreted hy |
the deluding volume of Marco I'olo.
CHAPTER IV.
FURTHER COASTING OF CUBA.
Whii v. awaiting the return of his ambassadors,]
the admiral ordered the ships to he careened
and re|)aired, and employed himself in collectinj;|
information concerning the country. On the day [
after their departure, he ascended the river in j
twats for the distance of two leagues, until he
came to fresh water. Here landing, he climhi-d |
a hill to obtain a view of the interior. His view,
however, was shut in by thick and lofty forests,
of wild but beautiful luxuriance. Among the I
trees were some which he considered linaloes;]
many were odoriferous, and he' doubted not pos-
sessed valuable aromatic (lualities. There was a I
general eagerness among the voyagers to tiiid the
precious articles of commerce which grow in the |
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
40
(r ; that many mej.
I tu ^'ivi; him ti(hi)^'s
ers u|i()ii Ihf coasi ;
lys' tinu! nu'Nsc'UKirs
ill return, ami m.iiiy
r, to tradi- sviih tl.c
L-rve lu)\v inj{fniously
us lU'ifivt'd liim ai
ve L'VfrythinK into ;i
Lisions. roriuf^ ovur
in^f to the rcrkoniiiKs
on the miiiinitrprutiMl
lanincd that hi- nuht
and about oni- luin-
1 ot the Cirand Khan,
1 lo (h'iay as little as
an inferior piincu, lie
le arrival ol tin' nits-
' viispaleh two en-
monarch at his rebi-
two .Spaniards, Rod-
Torres ; the latter ,i
iehrew and Chaldaic,
ahii", one or other ol
li^fht he known to this
ians were sent with
,e of Ciuan.'ihani, and
le hamlet on the hank
adors were furnished
ther trinkets tor trav-
is were ^iven them lo I
d)us had been sent by
)earer ot letters and a
lelixer personally, fur
r an amicable inter-
'fhey were likewise |
falely about the situa-
provinces, ports, and
)ecitied iiy name from
had of the coast ci
])n)vided with si)tci-
for the i)urpose of
articles of the kind
Vith these provisions I
isadors departed, sis |
ro and return. Many,
at this embassy to .i I
e interior ot Lut)a, in
ir.rch ; but such was |
voyage, a continual
all interpreted l)y|
:o I'olo.
IV.
OF cunA.
of his ambassadors,
ips to be careened
himself in collectinj;
■ountry. On the d.iy
icended the river in 1
AO leagues, until he
landing, he climhtd
interior. His view, I
ck and lofty forests,
iance. Among the
considered linaioes;
he' doubted not pos-
ilities. There was a
voyagers to find the
; which grow in the
ided I ) keen up the per-
ong the valu;u)le coasts
Invorcd climes of the East, and their imaginations
vere conlinu.dlv deceived by their hopes.
Kor two or three days tlie admir.il was excited
t)v reports of < innamon-trees, and nutmegs, nm\
Huibarh ; but on examination they all prove<l lal-
JaciiHis. He sho\\cd the natives s|)ecimens of
Ihuse and various other spices, and drugs, and un-
Jerhtood from tliem that those .irticlcs .abounded
|o the south-east. He showed them gold and
pearls .also, and s-veral ohl Indians spoke of a
country where the natives wore ornaments of
them round their necks, arms, , and ankles. They
re|)eate(lly mentioned the word Hohio, which Co-
iunihus s'ujiposed to be the name of the |)lace in
juestion, and that it was some rich district or
[island. They mingled, however, great extr.iva-
jances with their imperfect accounts, describing
nations at a distance who. had but one eye ; othiTS
jwho had the heads of dogs, ,ind who were canni-
Ibals— cutting the throats of their prisoners and
Bucking their blood.*
All these reports of gold, and pearls, and
spices, m.my ot which were nrobalily fabrications
lo |)le.ise the admiral, tended i )
■suasion that he w.is among
land isl.mds of the Mast. On making a tire lo he.it
the tar for careening the ships, the seamen tound
that the wood they burnt sent forth a powerful
Dclor, and, on examining it, declared that it was
Iriastic. 'I'he wood abounded in the neighboring
Iforests, insomuch that Columt)us flattered himself
la thousand (piint.ds ot this ])recious gum might
Ibe collected every ye.ir, and a more abundant
■supply procured than th.it furnished by Scios and
■other islands of tlie y\rchi|ielago. In the course
|of their researches in the vegetal)le kingdom, in
quest of the luxuries of commerce, they met with
he potato, a humblt; root, little valued at the
Itime, hut a more precious accjuisition to man than
lall the spices of the I''.ast.
On the 6th of November, the two ambassadors
Ireturncd, and every one crowded to hear tidings
lof the interior of the country, and of tlu; |)rince to
Iwhose capit.il they had been sent. After pene-
Itrating twelve leagues, they had come to a village
■of titty houses, built similarly to those of the coast,
Ibut larger ; the whole village containing at least
la thousand inhabit.ints. The natives received
Ithcni with great solemnity, conducted them to the
Ihest house, and placed them in what appeared to
Ibe intended for chairs of state, being wrought out
lof single |)ieces of wood, into the forms of ciuadru-
Ipeds. They then offerefl them fruits and vege-
Itahles. Having complied with the laws of sav.age
|courte.sy and hosi)it.ility, they seated themselves
Ion the ground around their visitors, and waited
|to hear what they had to communicate.
The Israelite, Luis de Torres found his He-
Ibrew, Chaldaic, and Arabic of no avail, and tlie
iLucayen interjireter had to be the orator. He
Iriade a regul.ir speech, after the Indian manner,
jin which lie extolled the power, the wealth, the
|mi|niticence of the white men. When he had
Ifinished the Indi.ms crowded round these won-
[derful beings, whom, as usual, they considered
Imore than human. Some touched them, ^am-
lining their skin and raiment, others kissed their
Ihands and feet, in token of submission or adora-
jtion. In a little while the men withdrew, .and
jwere succeeded by the women, and the same cer-
jemonies were repeated. Some of the women had
la slight covering of netted cotton round the mid-
Idle, but in general both sexes were entirely naked.
* Primer Viage de Colon. Navarrete, Ixxi. p. 48.
There seemed to be ranks .ind orders of society
iimong them, and a chieftain of some autliority ;
whereas .among all the natives they b.id previously
met with a complete e(|u.iiit\ .eemcd to prevail.
There was no appearanci- ut gold or other pre-
cious articles, and when they showed 'ipecimens
of cinnamon, pepper, and other spices, the inhab-
it.ints tolil them tliey were not to be tunj. ' in that
neighborhood, but (.ir otf to the south-west.
The envoys determined, therelore, to return to
the ships. The n.itives would l.iin have induced
them to remain forseveral days ; but seeing theni
bent on departing, a gre.it number were .inxious to
accomp.iny them, im.igining they were about to
return to the skies. 'I'hey took with them, how-
ever, only one ot the priiuip.il men, with his son,
who were atteiuled bv
(1 oy
On their w.iy back, they
lomestic.
[or th(? first time wit-
nessed the use of a weed, which the ingenious
caprice of man has sim c converted into an uni-
versal luxury, in defiance ot the ojiposition of tiie
senses. They beheld sever.il ot the natives go-
ing about with firebrands in their h.inds, and cer-
tain dried herbs which they rolled uj) in a leaf,
and lighting {)ne en<l, put the other in tluir mouths,
and conliiUK'd exh.aling .and imtling out tin; smoke.
A roll of this kind they called .1 tobacco, ,1
name since transferred to the plant of which the
rolls were made. The .S|)aniards, .although pre-
jiared to meet with wonders, were struck with .as-
tonishment at this singular and apparently nau-
seous indulgence.*
On their return to th(! ships they gave f.iN'or-
able accounts ot the beauty and fertili'v of the
country. They had met with many h.i dets of
four or five houses, well peopled, embowered
among trees, laden with unknown fruits of tem|it-
ing hue and delightful tl.ivor. Around them were
fields, cultivated with the agi or sweet peiiiicr,
potatoes, m.ii/e or Indian corn, a species of lupin
or pulse, and yuca, whereof they made their cas-
s.iva bread. These, with the fruits of the groves,
formed their principal food. 'I'here were vast
tpiantities of cotton, some just sown, some in full
growth. There w;is great store of it also in their
houses, some wrought into y.irn, or into nets, of
which they made their h.immocks. They h.ul
seen many birds of rare iilumage, but unknown
s])ecies ; many ducks ; several small |).artridges ;
and they heard the song of a bird which they had
mistaken for the nighting.ile. All that they had
seen, however, tietokened a primitive and simple
state of society. The wonder with which they
had been regarded showed clearly that the peo[)le
were strangers to civilized man, nor couki they
hear of any inland city superior to the one they
had visited.
The report of the envoys put an end to many
splendid fancies of Columbus, about the barb.iric
prince and his capital. He was cruising, how-
ever, in a region of enchantment, in which pleas-
* Primer Viage de Colon. Navarrete, toni. i. p. 51.
" Hallaron por el c.imino raucha gcnlc que airave-
saban a sus pueblos niui,'eres y hombres : sicmpre los
hombres con un tison en las manos y cierlcs yerbas
par; .mar sus sahumerios, que son unas yerbas secas
met. as en una cierta hoja seca tambien a manera de
inosquete herho dc papel de los que hacon los
muctiachos la I'ascua del Kspiritu Santo, y encondido
por una parte de el. por la otra chupan 1') sorbant 6
recibcn con el resuello por adcntro aquel liumo ; con
el qual se adormecen las carnes y ruasi emborracho,
y as! diz que no sienten el daasancio. Estos mosque-
tos, 6 como los llam&remas, llamen ellos tabacos."—
Las Casas, Hist. Gen. Ind. lib. i. cap. 46.
! 1 1
CO
LIFK AND VOVAOKS OF COI.UMnUS.
I
1 : !
,.M
* ;
injj chimeras started up at rvery strp, cxercisinj;
liy liiriis ;i pouiT ovi-r liis iin.ininalii)ii. Duriiijj
till- ;il)s('tuf (it the cniissiirifs, the Indians had in-
iDiincd hini, liy si^ns, of .i place to the oastsvard,
wlitTi' the pciipic <i)llc(lcd ^r(,|(| aionj^ the river
banks liy tiiril)lij{ht, ami aiierward \vr(iii>{ht it
inld liars with liainniers. In speaking; (it this
place tluya^;aiii useil the Wdrds llalie(|U(! and Itd-
liid, whicii lie, as usual, suppdsed t(i lie the jirdper
names ot islands or cduntries. Tlie true mean-
ing dt these words has lieen \aridUsly e\|ilained.
It IS said that they were applied liy the Indians to
the coast dl terra lirma, called also hy them L'ari-
talia.* It is .ilso said that llohio means a hduse,
and was ditin used liy the Indians to signify tlu;
iiopuldusness ol an isand. Hence it was lre(pient-
ly applied lo llispiniola, as well as the more ),'en-
cral name ot ll.iyli, which means hi^h land, and
occasidually (^iiis(piey.i (/.(•. the whole), on ac-
count ot its extent.
The misapprehension of these, and other words,
was a source ol |ier|ietual error to Cohimlius.
Sometimes he supposed lialie(|ue and lidhio to
signity the sanitr islands ; sometimes to lie differ-
ent places or islands ; and (.)uis(|ueya he sup-
pdsed to mean (^uis.ii or Ouinsai {i.e. the celes-
tial city) mentioned liy Marco I'olo.
His jjreat oliject w.is to arrive at some opui.ent
and civili/ed country ol the I'',ast, with which
he mi},d)t estalilish commercial relations, and
whence he nii^fht carry home a (piantity ot ori-
ental merchandise as a rich tropin ot his discov-
ery. The season was adiancinj; ; the cool nijjhts
g.ive hints of .ipiiroaching winter ; he resolved,
theretore, not to proceed farther to the north, nor
to linger aliout uncivilized places, which, at pres-
ent, he had not the means of colonizing, liut lo
return to the east-south-east, in ([uest ot lJal)e(pie,
which he trusted might prove some rich and civ-
ilized isl.md on the coast of Asia.
Uetore leaving the river, to which he had given
the name of Kio de Mares, he took several of the
natives to carry with him to Spain, tor the jiur-
pose of teaching them the language, that, in fu-
ture voyages, they might serve as interpreters.
He took them of both sexes, having learned from
the Portuguese discoverers that the men were
always more contented on the voyage, and service-
able on their return, when accompanied by fe-
males. With the religious feeling ot the day, he
anticipated great triumphs to the faith and glory
to the crown, from the conversion ot these savage
nations, through the means of the natives thus
instructed. He imagined th.it the Indians had
no system of religion, but a (lis|)osition to receive
its impressions ; as they regarded with great rev-
erence and attention the religious ceremonies of
the Spaniards, soon repeating by rote any jjrayer
taught them, and making the sign of the cross
with the most edifying devotion. They had an
idea of a future state, but limited and confused.
"They confess the soul to be immortal," says
Peter Martyr, " and having put off the bodily
clothing, they imagine it goes forth to the woods
and the mountains, and that it liveth there per-
petually in caves ; nor do they exemjit it from
eating and drinking, hut that it should be fed
there. Th" answering voices heard from caves
and hollows, which the Latines call echoes, they
suppose to be the souls ot the departed, wander-
ing through those places." f
From the natural tendeticy to devotion which
Columbus thought he discovered among them.
Irom their gentle natures, and their ignorance ot
all w.irlike arts, he prdnounces it an easy matter
td m.ike themdeVdUt members of the, church .iiid
loyal subjects of the crown. He concludes hi<
speculations upon the a(K'antages t(i be derived
from the coloni/alion ot these p.irts by antici.
pating a great trade for gold, which must abourul
m the interior ; tor pearls and precious sldiies, ot
which, though he had seen none, he had receivf(l
lre(|Uent accounts ; tor gums and spices, of whi' h
he thought he had found indubitable traces ; and
for the cotton, which grew w ild in vast (piantities.
Many ot these articles, he observes, would proli.i-
Illy find a nearer market than Spain, in the ports
and cities of the (Ireat Khan, at which he had nu
doubt ol soon arriving,*
* Mufloz, Hist. N. Mundo, cap. 3.
+ P. Martyr, decad, viii, cap. 9 ; M. Lock's trans-
lation, 1612.
CHAPTKR V.
SI'.ARCM AFTKR TIIK Sf I'I'dSKll ISLAND OK HA-
lIKgUK— UKSKKTION (IF TIIK I'lNlA.
['492.]
On the 12th of November, Columbus turned his
course to the east-south-east, to follow back the
direction of the co.ist. This may be considered
another critical change in his voyage, which had
a great effect upon his subsetpient discoveries.
He had jiroceeded far within what is called the
old channel, between Cuba atid the llahamas. In
two or three days more he would have discovered
his mistake in supjiosing Cuba a part of terra
firma ; an error in which he ( (intiiuud to the d.ny
of his death. He might have had intimation also
ot the vicinity of the continent, and have st()(i(l
for the coast of I'"liirida, or have been carried
thither by the gulf stream, or, continuing along
Culi.i where it bends to the south-west, might have
struck over to the ojjposite coast of Yucatan, and
have realized his most s.anguine anticipations in
becoming the discoverer of Mexico. It was sulTi-
cient glory tor Columbus, however, to have dis-
covered a new world. Its more golden regions
were reserved to give splendor to succeeding en-
terjirises.
He now ran along the coast for two or three
days without stojiping to explore it, as no popu-
lous towns or cities were to be seen. Passing tiy
a great cape, to which he gave the name of Cape
Cuba, he struck eastward in search of Babeque,
but on the i4lh a head wind and boisterous sea
obliged him tojiut back and anchor in a deep and
secure harbor, to which he gave tht! name of Pu-
erto del Principe. Here he erected a cross on a
neighboring height, in token of jiossession. A
few days were ])assed in exploring with his boats
an archipelago of small but beautiful islands in
the vicinity, since known as Kl jiirtlin del Rey,
or the king's garden. The gulf, studded with
these islands, he named the sea of NuestraSe-
fiora ; in modern days it has been a lurking-place
for])irates, who have found secure shelter and con-
cealment among the channels and solitary harbors
of this archipelago. These islands were covered
with noble trees, among which the Spaniards
thought they discovered mastic and aloes.
On the 19th Columbus again put to sea, and for |
two days made ineffectual attempts, against head
winds, to reach an island directly east, about
* Primer Viage de Colon. Navarrete, torn. i.
liii^
LIFE AND VOYAr.F.S f)F COMIMBUS.
51
icy to rlrvntion which
(ivcri'd nmoiiK tlu-m,
mil llii'ir i^'nof.mce ot
icfs it Mil f.isy riKitttr
ITS of thi; iluirch and
r>. Hi' (oiuUkIl's hi»
anta^jfi to In- (Icrivcd
licsf |i,iils l)y iintid.
il, whiih must aljoutul
11(1 ]iri'i iDii'i stoiii's, ot
nolle, he had rccfivcil
IS and sniifs, of whiih
duhitalilc traces ; and
vihl ill \ast (|uantitits,
iliserves, wiiuiii jiroha-
laii Spain, in tlie ports
11, at which lie had nu
R V.
)Si:|) ISLAND OK
OK TlIK I'INTA.
HA-
]
r, Columbus turned his
ast, to follow back the
his may lie considered
his voyajfc, which had
iil)se(picnt discoveries.
thin what is called the
and the Uahamas. In
would have discovered
Cuba a part of terra
e continued to the day
ve had intimation also
lineiit, and have stoix'
or have been carried
or, contiiiiiinjj aloni;
iouth-west, mijjht have
coast ot N'ucatan, and I
jriiinc! anticipations in fi
Mexico. It was suiti- ?
owever, to have (lis- |
more ^jolden regions ?;
or to succeeding en
:oast for two or three i^
plore it, as no pojiu-
11 1
)e seen. Passing My
ive the name of Cape i-
11 search of Habeque,
d and boisterous sea
anchor in a deep and
gave the name of I'u- ^
erected a cross on a £
en of |)ossession. A {;
ploring with his boats |
beautiful islands in I
is AY jardin del Rf\\
gulf, studded with
e sea of Nuestra Se-
been a lurking-jilace
ecure shelter and con-
and solitary harbors
islands were covered
,vhich the Spaniards
tic and aloes,
in put to sea, and for
tempts, against head
directly east, about
Navarrele, torn. i.
\ty miles distant, which he supposed to be Ha-
ei|ue. The wind continuing obstinately adverse
the sea rough, he put Ins ship alyiut toward
iiig of the juth. 111. iking signals lor the other
leMils to lollow him. Ills Mgn.ds wiTe uiialtend-
I Id hy liie I'iiita, whiih was coiisider.ibly to the
.islw.ird. Columbus reiiiMted (he signals, but
liry were sldl un.itteiided to. Night toiiiing on,
e -.hortelied s.iil and hoisled signal lights to the
i.islhead, thinking I'in/on would yet join him.
,\lii( h he could easily do, having the wind astern ;
)iit when the morning dawned the Tinta was no
onuer to be seen.*
I (lUimbus was dis(|uieted by this circunist.ince.
'm/oii was a veteran navigator, .".ccustoiiied to
idd a high rank among his nautical associates.
he squadron had in .i gre.it measure been
i.iiiiii- I and lilted out through his intlueiiie and
xcrtiiins ; he could ill brook subordination there-
ore to Columbus, whom he nerhaps did not coii-
jiler his superior in skill and Knowle<lge, and who
,id been heiulitted by his purse. .Several mis-
nlerst mdiiigs and disputes had accordingly oc-
iirre I between them in the course of the voyage,
III when Columbus saw riii/on thus parting
Dinpany, without any .ippointed rendezvous, he
usptMted either th.it he intended to take upon
inis; II a separate command and prosecute the
iiterprise in his own ii.ime, or h.isten b.u k
o Sp.iiii and be.ir off the glory of the dis-
Dvery. To attempt to seek him, however, was
ruitleiis ; he was f.ir out of sight ; his vessel
,vas a superior sailer, and it was im|)ossil)le
I) say what course he had steered. Colum-
ns stood back, therefore, for Cuba, to liiiish
lie exploring ot its coast ; but he no longer pos-
essi'd his usual serenity of mind and unity of
nrpose, and was embarrassed in the prosecution
t his discoveries by doubts ot the designs of
'in/,i)n.
On the 24th of November he regained I'oint
uh.i, and anchored in a line harbor formed
jy the mouth of a river, to which he gave the
name ol St. Catherine. It was bordered by rich
nealows ; the neighboring mountains were well
\V()i) leil, having pines tall enough to make masts
or the riiiest ships, and noble oaks. In the
hcd 1)1 the river were found stones veined with
B..M.
Ciihinibus continued for several days coasting
residue ot Cuba, extolling the magnificence.
th
rfshiu'ss, and verdure ot the scenery, the jiurity
pI the rivers, and the number and commodious-
iifss ol tliC h.'irbors. Speaking in his letters to
the sovereigns of one place, to which he gave the
name ol Puerto Santo, he says, in his artless but
entluisiastic language, " Tlie amenity of this
river, and the clearness of the w 'ter, through
\vhicli the sand at the bottom may he seen ; the
jmuliULi.leof |)alm-treesof various forms, the high-
^t and most be.iutitul that I have met with, and
an iiniiiity of other great and green trees ; the
lir Is ill rich plumage and the verdure of the
tiilds, render this country, most serene princes,
[ol siuli marvellous beauty, that it surpasses all
lOiluTs in chari.i -nd graces, as the day doth the
ni;;lu in lustre, i-'or which reason I often say to
,niy people, that, much as I endeavor to give a
;ci)inplcte account of it to your majesties, my
ton^riie cannot express the whole truth, nor my
pen describe it ; and I have been so overwhelmed
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., torn. i. cap. 27. Hist, del
lAlmirame, cap. 29. Journal of Columbus. Navar-
Ireie, torn. i.
at the sight of so much beauty, that I have nul
known how to relate it."»
1 he ir.insp.ireiuy of the water, which Colum-
bus attributed to the (lurity of tht rivers, is tlio
property ol the ore. m in these l.ititudes. So cie.ir
IS the se,i ill the neighborhood of some ol these
isl.inds, that in still weather the bottom m.iy be
seen, as in ,1 ( ry-^t.d fountain ; and the iiih.ibi-
taiits (live down tour or ti\e lathoms in se.irch ot
coiichs, and other shell-tish, which are visible
liom tlie surl.iic. The delicate air anil pure
waters ot ihesic itilands arc umung their greatest
ch.trms.
As :i proof of the gigantic veget.ition, Colum-
bus mentions the enormous si/e ot the i ,uioe!>
lormed from single trunks of trees. One tli.it he
saw was cipable of cont. lining one hundred .mil
titty persons. Among other articles lound in the
liKli.m dwellings w.is a cake of wax, which he
took to |)resenl to the C.istilian sovereigns, " tor
where there is wax," said he, " there must be .1
thousand other good things. "t It is since sup-
posed to have been brought from Yucatan, as the
inhabitants ot Cuba were not accustomed to
gather wax.|
On the 5tli of December he reached the eastern
end ot Cuba, which he supposed to be the eastern
extremity of Asia ; he gave it, therefore, the
name of Alpha and Omega, the beginning .iiul
the end. He was now greatly perplexed wh.it
course to take. It he kept along the co.ist .is it
bent to the south-west, it might bring him to the
more civili/ed and opulent jiarts of liidi.i ; but it
he took this course, he must abandon all hone of
tiiidiiig the island ot Habeipie, which the Indi.ms
now said lay to the north-east, and ot which they
still continued to give the most marvellous ,ic-
couiits. It was a state ot embarrassiiienl char-
acteristic ot this extraordinary voyage, to h.ive
.1 new and unknown world thus spread out to
the choice of the explorer, where wonders and
beauties invited him on every side ; but where,
whichever way he turned, he might leave the true
region of profit and delight behind.
CHAPTER \T.
DISCOVERY OK HISPANIOLA.
['492-]
le
,. ,,^,,w.v.i..j^ it, exclaimed /lo/iio, the
name by which Columbus understood them to
designate some country which abounded in gold.
When they saw him standing in th;t
....- ^j f, lat direction,
they showed great signs of terror, imjiloring him
not to visit it, assuring him, by signs, that the in-
habitants were tierce and cruel, that they had but
one eye, and were cannibals. The wind being
unfavor.ible, and the nights long, during which
they did not dare to make s.iil in these unknown
seas, they were a great part of two days working
up to the island.
In the transparent atmosphere of the tropics,
* Hist, del Alinirante, cap. 2g.
\ Journal of Columbus. Navarrete, torn, i,
X Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad. L
' r i
59
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
ohjccts nre descried at .1 great distance, and the
j)urily of the air and serenity of tlie deep blue slcy
give a magical effect to the scenery. Under these
advantages, tlie beautiful island ot Hayti revealed
itself to the eye as they approached. Its moun-
tains were higher and more rocky than those of
the other islands ; but the rocks rose from among
rich forests. The mountains swept down into
luxuriant plains and green savannas ; while the
aiijjcarance of cultivated t";elds, of numerous fires
at night, and columns of smoke by day, showed
it to be populous. It rose before them in all the
sp' 'n(l(,r of tropical vegetation, one of the most
beautiful islands in the world, and doomed to be
one of the most unfortunate.
In the evening of the 6th of December, Colum-
bus er'fred a harbor at the western end of the
island, to which he gave the name of St. Nicho-
las, by which it is called at the present day. The
harbor was spacious and deej), surrounded with
large trees, many of them loaded with fruit ;
while a beautiful plain extcTuled in front of the
])ort, traversed by a fine stream of water. From
the number of canoes .seen in various |)arts, there
were evidently large villages in the neighborhood,
but the natives haci fled with terror at sight of the
ships.
Leaving the harbor of Si, Nicholas on the 7th,
they coasted along the northern side of the
island. It was lofty and mountainous, but with
green savannas and long sweeping plains. At
one place they caught a view up a rich and smil-
ing valley that ran var into the interior, between
two mountains, and appeared to be in a high
state of cultivation.
l'"or several d.iys they w, 're detained in a harbor
which they called Port Conception ; * a small
river emptii'd into it, after winding through a de-
lightful country. The coast abounded with fish,
some ot which even leaped into their boats. They
cast their nets, therefore, and caught great (|'ian-
tilies, and among thein several kinds similar to
those of Spain — the first fish they had met with
resembling those of their own country. The notes
of the biru which they mistooi< for llu- nightingale,
and of several others to v.liich they were accus-
tomed, reminded them strongly of the groves of
their distant Andalusia, 'fhey fancied the features
of the surrounding country resembled those of the
more beauiilul ])rovinces ot ,S])ain, and, in conse-
qui'iice, the admiral n.imed the islanrl llispaniola.
Desirous ot establishing some intercourse with
the natives, who had abandoned the coast on his
arrival, he disp.itched six men, well armed, into
liie interior. 'I'hey found several culti\at>,\i lii^lds,
and traces of roads, and |)laces whf. e fires had
l)een made, but the inhabitants ha'.i tied with ter-
ror to the mountains.
Though the whole country was solitary and
deserted, Columbus console.) himself with the
ide.i that there must be jopulous towns in the
interior, where the jieople tiad t'.ken refuge, and
that the fires he had i)eheld had been signal tires,
like those lighted up on t'le mountains of Sp.iin,
in the times ot Moorish .var, to gi\e the alarm
when there was any invasion ot the seaboard.
* Now known by the name of the Bay of Moustique.
NoiK. — Tlie author h. ; rcceivi.d very obliginK -uul
intcrcstinR letfrs, dated in iS»t7, from i.Z. Heneken,
Fs<|., many yeai.'' a resident of S;. Domingo, Riiini-
names, localities, and otiier particulars connected vith
the ttansat lions of Columbus in that island. Tliese
will be thankfully made use of and duly cited in the
course of the work.
On the 1 2th of December Columbus with griat
solemnity erected a cross on a commanding en,;
nence, at Uie entrance of the harbor, in sign ,::
having taken possession. As three sailors wi;
rambling about the vicinity they beheld a l.ir.;
number ot the ntitives, who i"imediately in
rtight ; out the sailors pursued theni, and ir
tured a young female, whom they brought to t:
ships. She was jierfectly naked, a hail omen , .
to the civilization of the island, but an ornaiiK:
of gold in the ncj^e ; ';.'■.•, e hope of the |)re( iir
metal. The admiral soon sootherl her ternji- i
his kindness, .and by presents of beads, hr,:-.
rings, hawks' bells, and other trinkets, and, li,r
ing had her clothed, sent her on shore aciMn
panied by several ot the crew and three of the I;
dian interpreters. .So well pleased was she w,'
her finery, :'.'.id with the kind treatment shell;:
experienced, that she would gladly have remain. :
with the Indian women whom she loiMuf on hoar;
The party sent with her returned on boanl late;
the night, wiiliout venturing to her village, whi'
was far inland. Confident ol the favorable i;v
pressioii which the report given by the woni,,
must produce, the admiral on the following (i
dispatched nine stout-hearted, well-armeil im
to seek the village, .accompanied by a nati\r
Cuba as an inter])reter. They found it aliir
four and a half leagues to the south-e.ist, in a tin;
valley, on the banks of a beautiful river.* 1:1
contained one thousand houses, but the inhabi-l
tants fled as they appro.iched. The interprettrj
overtook the'", and assured them of the goodnessl
of these strangers, who had descended from the!
skies, and went about the world making prcciDuJ
and beautiful |)reseiits. Thus assured, the n.ilivfij
ventured iiack to the number of two thousanii.j
They approached the Spaniards with slow ;ini!j
trembling steps, olten jiausing and putting tht:ri
hands upon their heads, in token ot protoiin:!
re\'erence and submission. They u\.i"e a wd
formed race fairer and h.unlsomer than the ivi-l
lives of the other islands. t While the S|)aniar(!5
were conversing with them by means of their ir. I
terpreter, another multitude aopro.iched, lieadc!;
by the husband ot the female captive. Ths
brought her in triumph on their shoulders, ;i;;
the husband was proluse in his gratitude tor tl
kindness with which she had been trealeil, ai;;
the magnilicenl presents which had been bestowi.
u|)on her.
The Indians now conducted the Sp.mi.irds :
their houses, and set helore them cassava l)i\ 1
fish, ro{3ts, and fruits of v.crious kinds. Tli
brought aiso gre.at numbers of (lomestii:ated pi ■
rots, :ind indeed offered freely whate\'er they p -
sessed. Tiie great river tlowing through this \ .
ley was bordered with noble forests, among wlih
were palms, bananas, and many trees comt
with fruit anri llov ers. The air was mild ,i^
April ; the birds sang all day long, and s"';
were even hea-tl in the idght. The .Spania;
had not learnec' as yet to account tor the liiil
enoe of seasons i 1 this opposite part of the l;!'!'
they were astoi'.ished to hear the voice of this t:
posed nighting. le singing in the midst of I) 1
her, and considered it a proof tl.at there w ^^
wint'-r in tin', happy climate. They retuii.f I
the shiiis e'lraptiired with the beautv vi the . ■>
* This village was formerly known by the n cm •
Gros Morne, situated on the l)anks of the i;.(r
" Trois Rivieres," which empties itself half a 11:
west of Port de Paix. Navarrete, torn. i.
f Las Casas, lib. i. cap. 53, Ms,
'Columbus with great!
1 a commandin}; cm;.
ihf harbor, in t.igii «
As three sailors wcr-
y they beheld a lar^'il
,h() i'^nnietliately tii(i:;j
•sued tiieni, ami t:i].
n liiey In'ought to th-
iiaki.d, a bad omen :ii
ar.d, but an oniamen;!
hope of the i)recioMjj
soothed her terror by
:sents of beads, hrasil
her trinkets, and, hav-
her on shore accoin-l
ew and three of the in.{
])leased was she with
:ind treatment she liadl
il (gladly have remaindl
om she i'oiMul on hoard!
turned on board laleinl
i<^ to her viliajjc, whichl
It ol the favorai)le im-f
t given by the woniasi
1 on the lol'.owintj (!ny
rted, well-armed nien.i
npanied by a native o:
Tliey found it aho'"
the south-east, in a tim|
a beautiful river.* 1;
lou.ses, but the inhabj.
iched. The iiUerpreir
(1 them of the f^dodiicsij
ad deseended from ihej
world makinj^ precioiiij
rinis assured, the nativi-i
nibi-r of two thousand]
anianls with slow an!
using and ])ultiiiLr th:
in token t)l prc-l'iui;
n. They w..re a wiv
handsomer than the n.A
t While the Spaiiian!'
m by means of tliein:'
de approached, heailc.
female captive. Thri
11 their shoultlers, x.
in his gratitude lor \'.\]
had been treated, an:i
hich had been bestuwt.;
lucted the S|)aniar(ls ;
]re ttuni cassava hrtM.
v:.rious kinds. Th-
Irs ol clomestieated pr,
leely whate\-er they p -
lowing through this \ -
le forests, among \vh,r
|1 many trees cmrr;
he air was miid a^
Il day long, and ^""
Inight. The Spani.cr.:
accriunt for the liiil
|osite part of the gh'h
ar the voice ol this -i:
in the midst of 1) c,'
oof tl'.at there wis '
lite, 'l^hey retun.nl ■
Ihe beautv of the mj
ly known by the ii.i'H"
banks of the i:'<r
1 plies itself hall a '.v.i
Irrete, lorn. i.
MS.
It
i\
tl
r>-, -
ain
|\vas I
native
[dwell
|ers, o
re
the
Ithat s
.some
most
blessi
wants
of the
antl s(
the ut
to hei
was g
thus
all the
them a
was no
cors
9 his ow
St. An
. felt con
'SO libel
!> not he
l-anvthin
but rati
amity a
whet he I
■they w
jtiirn.
i\.me that
ftheygiv
women
have nc
possess
I whateve
all articl
One o
h.ioitant
tyr, who
sations
says he,
common
and thin
iwith the
in so lar
' an sea
oklen V
intn
jor deteiK
another,
[judges.
bus man
lanother ;
Wes, yet
such roc
itemed w
ipreservet
Much
|imagiiKit
emporai
eiiting 1
nhe'g
nder thi
f their c
* Charl
f Lette
rrete, toi
t P. Ml
jEden, 155
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
try, surpass'.npr, as they said, even the luxuriant
jplains of Cordova. All that they complained of
Iwas that they saw no signs of riches among the
Inalives. And here it is impossible to refrain from
Idwelling on the picture given hy the first discover
ers, of the state of manners in this eventful island
Ibefore the arrival of the white men. According
Jto their accounts, the people of Hayti existed in
Ithat state of iirimitive and savage simplicity which
Isome philosophers have fondly pictured as the
linost enviable on earth ; surrounded by natural
Iblessings, without even a knowledge of artificial
Iwants. The fertile earth produced the chief part
of their food almost without culture ; their rivers
land sea-coast abounded with fish, and they caught
Ithe utia, the guana, and a variety of birds. This,
Ito beings of their frugal and temperate habits,
Iwas great abundance, and what nature furnished
[thus spontaneously they willingly shared with
lall the world. Hospitality, we are told, was with
ithem a law of nature universally observed ; there
Iwas no need of being known to receive its suc-
Icors ; every house was as open to the stranger as
Ihis own.* Columbus, too, in a letter to Luis de
ISt. Angel, ol)serves, " True it is that after they
jielt contitlence, and lost their fear of us, they were
ISO liberal with what they possessed, that it would
Ijiot be believed by those who h.-id not seen it. If
Kinything was asked of them, they never said no,
Ibut rather gave it cheerfully, and showed as much
lamity as if they gave their very hearts ; and
Iwhether the thing were of value, or of little price,
Ithey were content with whatever was given in re-
|turii. ... In all these islands it appears to
Ime that the men are all content with one wife, but
Ithey give twenty to their chieftain or km:^. The
Iwomen seem to work more than the men ; and I
|have not been al)le to understand whether they
Ipossess individual property ; but rather think that
|\vhatever one has all the rest share, especially in
|all articles of provisions." f
One of the most pleasing descri|)tions of the in-
|hai)itants of this island is given by old Feter Mar-
Ityr, who gathered it, as he says, from the conver-
|sations of the admiral himself. " It is certain,"
|says he, " that the land among these people is as
|common as the sun and water ; and that ' mine
land thine,' the seeds of all mischief, have no place
Iwith them. They are content with so little, that
lin so large a country they have rather superfluitv
than scarceness ; so that they seem to live in the
joklen world, without toil, living in open gardens ;
Jnot intrenched with dykes, divided with hedges,
lor defended with walls. They deal truly one with
|aiiother, wiiliout laws, without books, and without
judges. They take him for an evil and mischiev-
Dus man, who taketh pleasure in doing hurt to
mother ; and albeit they delight not in supertlui-
Jties, yet they make jirovision for the increas,()l
■such roots whereof they make their bread, coii-
Iteiued with such simple diet, whereby health is
preserved and disease avoided." J
Much of this |iictiire may be overcolored by the
limaijjiiialion, hut it is generally confirmed by con-
Jtcmporary historians. They all concur in repre-
keiiting the life of these islanders as approaching
^0 the golden state of jioetical felicity ; living
Juder tile absolute but ])atriarchal and easy rule
of their caci((ues, tree from pride, with few wants,
* Charlevoix. Hist. St. Domingo, lib. i.
f Letter of Columbus to Luis de St, Angel. Nav-
arrete, torn. i. p. 167.
t P. Martyr, decad. i. lib. iii. Transl. of Richard
•Ellen, ic:;s.
an abundant country, a happily-tempered climate,
and a natural disposition to careless and indolent
enjoyment.
CHAPTER VH,
COASTING OF HISPANIOI.A.
[1492.]
When the weather became favorable, Colum-
bus made another attempt, on the 14th of Decem-
ber, to find the island of IJabecjue, hut was again
baffled by adverse winds. In the course of this
attempt he visited an island lying opposite to the
harbor of Conception, to which, from its abound-
ing in turtle, he gave the name of Tortugas.*
The natives had fled to the rocks and forests, and
alarm fires blazed along the heights. The coun-
try was so beautiful that he gave to one of the val-
leys the name of Valle de Paraiso, or the Vale of
Paradise, and called a fine stream the ("ruadalquiv-
er, after that renowned riverwhich Hows through
some of the fairest provinces of .Spain. t
Setting sail on the 16th of December at mid-
night, Columbus steered again for Hispaniola.
When half way across the gulf which separates
the islands, he jierceived a canoe navigated by a
single Indian, and, as on a former occasion, was
astonished at his hardihood in venturing so far
from land in so frail a bark, and at his adroitness
in kee])ing it above water, as the wind was fresh,
and there was some sea running. He ordered
both him and his canoe to be taken on board ; and
having anchored near a village on the coast of
His])aniola, at present known at Puerto de Paz, he
sent h.im on shore well regaled and enriched with
various jjresents.
In the early intercourse with these ]ieople, kind-
ness never seems to have failed in its effect. The
favorable accounts given by this Indian, and f)y
those with whom the Spaniards had communi-
cated in their ]irevious landings, dispelled the
fears of the islanders. A friendly intercourse soon
took place, and the ships were \isited by a
cacique of the rieighborhood. From this chieftain
and his counsellors, Columbus had further infor-
mation of the island of liahe(|ue, which was
described as lying at no great distance. No men-
tion is afterward made of this island, nor does it
appear that he made any further attempt to seek
it. No such island exists in the ancient charts,
and it is jirobable that this was one of the numer-
ous misinterpretations of Indian words, w hich led
the first discoverers into so many fruitless re-
searches. The people of Hisjianiola appeared
handsomer to Columluis than any he harl yet met
witli, and of a gentle and peaceable disposition.
.Some of them had ornaments of gold, which they
readily gave away or e.xchanged for any triple.
The country was finely diversified with lofty
mountains and green valle\s, which stretched
away inland as far as the eye could reach. The
nnouiUains were of such easy as<'ent that the
highest of them might be ploughed with oxen, and
the luxuriant growth of the forests manifested the
fertility of the soil. The valleys were watered by
numerous clear and beautitul stre.ims ; they ap-
peared to be cultivated in many places, .and to be
fitted for grain, for orchards, ami ])astura;;e.
* This island in after times became the headquar-
ters of the famous Ruccaneers.
f Journal of Columbus, Navarrete, Colcc, torn. i.
P- 91- . .
5G
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
m-
While detained at this harbor by contrary
winds, Coluiiil)u.s was visited i)y a young caci(|iie,
who came borne by four men on a sort of litter,
and attended by two iumdred of his subjects.
The admiral bein;.; at dinner when he arrived, the
younjf chiettain ordered his followers to remain
without, and entering the cabin, took his seat
beside Columbus, not |)ermitting him to rise or
use any ceremony. Oidy two old men entered with
him, who appeared to be his counsellors, and who
seated themselves at his feet. Jf "nything were
given him to eat or drink, he merely tasted it,
and sent it to his followers, maintaining an air of
great gravity and dignity. He spoke but little,
his two counsellors watching his lips, and catch-
ing and communicating his ideas. After dinner
he presented tlie admiral with a belt curiously
wrought, and two pieces of gold. Columbus gave
him a piece of cloth, several amber beads, colored
shoes, and a llask of orange-flower water ; he
showed him a S|)anish coin, on which were the
likenesses of the king and queen, and endeavored
to explain to hhn the power and grandeur of those
sovereigns ; he displayed also the royal banners
and the standard of the cross ; but it was all in
vain to attem[)t to convey any clear idea by these
.symbols ; the caci(|ue could not be made to be-
lieve that there was a region on the earth which
produced tlii'se wonderful people and wonderful
things ; he joined in the common idea that the
Spaniards were more than mortal, and that the
country and so\ereigns they talked of must exist
somewhere in t!ie skies.
In the evening the cacique was sent on shore
in the boat with great ceremony, and a salute
tired in honor t)f him. He departed in the state
in which he liad come, carried on a litter, accom-
panied by a great concourse of his subjects ; not
far behind him was his son, borne and escorted
in like manner, and his brother on foot, supported
by two attendants. The presents which he had
received from the admiral were carried triumph-
antly before him.
They procured but little gold in this place,
though whatever ornaments the natives possessed
they readily gave away. The region of i)romise
lay still further on, and one of the old counsellors
of the cacique told Columbus that he would soon
arrive at islands rich in the precious ore. Before
leaving this place, the admiral caused a large
cross to be erected in the centre of the village,
and from the readiness with which the Indians
assisted, and their implicit imitation of the Span-
iards in their acts of devotion, he inferred that it
would be an easy matter to convert them all to
Christianity.
On the igth of December they made sail before
daylight, but with an unfavorable wind, and on
the evening of the 20th they anchored in a fine
harbor, to which Columbus gave the name of St.
Thomas, supposed to be what at present is c;il!cu
the Hay of Aciil. It was surrounded by a beauti-
ful and well-jjeopled country. The inhabitants
came off, some in canoes, some swimming, bring-
ing fruits of various unknown kinds, of great fra-
grance and flavor. These they gave freely with
whatever else they possessed, especially their
golden ornaments, which they saw were particu-
larly coveted by the strangers. There was a re-
markable frankness and generosity about these
|)e()ple ; they had no idea of tratlic, but gave away
everything with spontaneous liberality. Colum-
bus would not permit his people, however, to take
advantage of this free disposition, but ordered
that something should always be give.i in e.\-
ciiango. Several of the neighboring caciques vis
ited the ships, bringing presents, and inviting th
Spaniards to their villages, where, on going i
land, they were most hospitably enti'rtained.
On the 22(1 of December .'i large canoe tille.
with natives came on a mission from a grar,
cacique named (iuacanagari, who commanded ;i;
that part of the island. A jirincipal servant i;
the chieltaiii came in the canoe, bringing the ad-
miral a present of a broad belt, wrought ingcn:-
ously with colored beads and bones, andawoodt:
mask, the eyes, nose, and tongue of which wcr:
of gold. He delivered also a message from the
cacique, begging that the ships might come onpi
site to his residence, which was on a part of th-
coast a little farther to the eastward. The win
preventing an immediate compliance with thi; in-
vitation, the admiral sent the notary of the S(iuad-
ron, with several of the crew, to visit the caci(|Ue
He resided in a town situated on ;i river, at wh.r
they called I'unta Santa, at present (irande K:
viere. It was the largest and best built tow;
they h.ad yet seen. The cacicjue received them i:
a kind of public square, which had been swir
and prejjared for the occasion, and treated tlier
with great honor, giving to each a dress of cotton
The iidiabitants crowded round them, bringin,
provisions and refreshments of various kinds
The seamen were received into their houses a!
distinguished guests ; they g.ive them garmLP.',!
of cotton, and whatever else ;ip|)e;'.red to hni-
value in their eyes, asking nothing in return, ti:
it anything were given appearing to treasure it i::
as a sacred relic.
The cacique would have detained them ,->.
night, but their orders obliged them to return
On parting with them he gave them jiresents '
parrots and pieces of gold for the admiral, an:
they were attended to their boats by a crowd r
the natives, carrying the presents for them, ar.
vying with each other in renflering them service
During their absence the admiral had htt
visited by a great number of canoes and sever::
inferior cacicjues : all assured hini that the islan.
abounded with wealth ; they talked, especiallv
of Cibao, a region in the interior, farther to th-
east, the cacique of which, as f:ir as they con:
be understood, had banners of wrought gold. Co
lumbus, deceiving himself as usual, fancied thi:
this name Cibao must be a corruption of Cip.inf;f
and that this chieftain with golden banners mu;
be identical with the magnificent prince of tha: ,
island, mentioned by Marco Polo.*
CHAPTER VIII.
SHirWUI'.CK.
[1492.]
On the morning of the 24th of December Co
lumbus set sail from Port St. Thomas before siir
rise, and steered to the eastward, with an inter
tion of anchoring at the harbor of the caciqi;:
(Iuacanagari. The wind was from the land, be
so light as scarcely to till the sails, and the ship
made but little progress. At eleven o'clock :.
night, being Christmas eve, they were within .
league or a league and a h.ilt of the residence r
the cacique ; and Columbus, who had hithcri:
' Journal of Columb. Navarretc, Colec. , torn. 1
H t. del Almirante, cap. 32. Herrera, decad. i. lib.
cap. 15, lO.
I ' I
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
57
iphhorinfj caciques vis
'sciUs, .ukI invitiiiff ih
s, wiiLTi', on ^foinjj i
tai)ly fntcrtaiiicd.
r a larf^c canoe fillf,
mission from a fjrar.
ri, who commandfd ;i.
\ principal servant r
anoc, l)rin|^injr tli(. ;„;.
1 belt, wroujrht inf^'cn;.
1(1 bones, and a wooder
ton^rue of which wur
so a message from the
.liips mi^ht come o])|k
1 was on a part of thi
; eastward. The nii;
omjjliance with thi: in-
he notary of the S(|ua(I-
w, to visit the caci(|Ue
ted on a river, at whs:
at present (irantie Hi-
and i)est iiuilt towr
ici([ue received them ir
,vhich iiad been swtr
sion, and treated tlu-r
) eacii a dress of cotton
round them, brin(,nn,
nts of various kinds
■d into their iiouses a?
y pave them frarmcR!!
jise appeared to ha\^
■ noliiinsr in return, hi:
learing to treasure it u;
ve detained them a;
i)lifjed them to returr
f^ave tiiem presents "■
d for tiie admiral, an:
■ir boats by a crowd r
presents for them, ar.
endering them service
the admiral had hti
• of canoes and sevcra
red him that the islar,.
hey talked, especiall;.
nierior, farther to th-
, as far as they con:
f wrought gold. O:
as usual, fancied tha:
orruption of Cipaiipo
golden banners mu-'
iiiticent prince of tha:,
o Polo.*
vni.
KCK.
:4th of December Co
t. Thomas before siir
itward, with an inter
harbor of the caciqi-
as from the land, be
he sails, and the shifi;
At eleven o'clock a'
e, they were within .
lalt of the residence I
us, who had hilheri:
ivarretc, Colec, torn. '
Herrera, decaii. i. lib-
kept watch, finding the sea calm and smooth, and
the shij) almost motionless, retired to rest, not
■Ihaving slept the preceding night. He was, in
:fgeneral, extremely wakeful on his coasting voy-
■ages, passing whole nights upon deck in all
weathers ; never trusting to the watchtulness of
others, where there was any dit'liculty or danger
to he provided against. In the present instance
ihe felt perfectly secure ; not merely on account
■ of the profound calm, but because the boats on
> the preceding day, in their visit to the cacique,
■ihad reconnoitred the coast, and had reported that
J tin re were neither rocks nor shoals in their course.
\ No sooner had he retired than the steersman
>gave the helm in charge to one of the shi|)-boys,
■and went to sleej). This was in direct violation
of an invariable order of the admiral, that the
helm should never be intrusted to the boys. The
rest of the mariners who had the watch took like
; advantage of the absence of Columbus, and in a
'little wliile the whole crew was buried in sleep. In
tthe mean time the treacherous currents which run
i swiftly along this coast carried the vessel quietly,
I hiu with force, upon a sand-bank. The heedless
,,| hoy had not noticed the breakers, although they
4 made a roaring that might have been heard a
ile.igue. Xo sooner, however, did he feel the rud-
,3(ler strike, and hear the tumult of the rushing sea,
|tlian he began to cry for aid. Columbus, whose
.1 careful thoughts never permitted him to sleep pro-
ifountlly, was the first on deck. The masterof the
ishi|), whose duty it was to have been on watch,
f next made his apjjearance, followed by others of
a the crew, half awake. The admiral ordered them
Ito take the boat and carry out an anchor astern,
to warp the vessel off. The master and the sailors
spr.ing into the boat ; but, confused, as men are
apt to be when sutldenly awakened by an alarm,
instead of obeying the commands of Columbus,
they rowed off to the other caravel, about half a
i league to windward.
I In the mean time the master had reached the
a caravel, and made known the perilous state in
1 which he had left the vessel. He was re|)roached
I with his pusillanimous desertion ; the commander
I of the caravel manned his boat and hastened to
I the relief of the admiral, followed by the recreant
•; master, covered with shame and confusion.
It was too late to save the shi|), the current hav-
1 ing set her more upon the bank. The admiral,
I seeing that his boat had deserted him, that the
■| ship had swung across the stream, and that the
■"f water was continually gaining upon her, ordered
tin: niast to be cut away, in the h(jpe of lightening
her sufficiently to lloal her off. Kvery effort was
? ill vain. The keel was firmly bedded in the sand ;
? tile shock had opened several seams ; while the
■J swell of the breakers, striking her broadside, ic-lt
I her each moment more and more aground, un-
4 til she fell over on one side. F'ortunately the
;: weather continued calm, otherwise the ship must
have gine to jiieces, and the whole crew might
i have jjerished amid the currents and breakers.
I The admiral and her men took refuge on board
I the caravel. Diego de Arana, chief judge of the
I armament, and Pedro Gutierrez, the king's butler,
i Were ininieilialely sent on shore as envoys to the
.1 cacique (luacanagari, to inform him of the intend-
I cd visit of the admiral, and of his disastrous ship-
} wreck. In the mean time, as a light wind had
sprung u^) from shore, and the admiral was igno-
r.uit of hiK situation, and of the rocks and banks
that might be lurking around him, he lay to until
daylight.
The habitation of the cacique was about a
league and a half from the wreck. When he
hearti of the misfortune of his guest, he mani-
fested the utmost affliction, and even shed tears.
He immediately sent all his people, with all the
canoes, l.irge and small, that could be mustered ;
and so active were they in their assistance, that
in a little while the vessel was unloaded. The
caci(|ue himself, and his brothers and relatives,
rendered all the aid in their power, both on sea
and land, keeping vigilant guard that everything
should be conducted with order, and the property
secured from injury or theft. From time to time
he sent S(mie one of his family, or some principal
person of his attendants to console and cheer the
admiral, assuring him that everything he possessed
should be at his disposal.
Never, in a civilized country, were the vaunted
rites of hospitality more scrupulously (observed
than by this uncultivated savage. All the effects
landed from the ships were de|K)siled near his
dwelling, and an armed guard surrounded tliein
all night, until houses could be prepared in which
to store them. There seemed, nowever, even
am 'ig the common people, no disposition to lake
advantage of the misfortune of the stranger. Al-
though they belielcl what must in their eyes have
been inestimable treasures, cast, as it were, upon
their shores, and ojien to dejiredation, yet there
was not the least attemj)! to pilfer, nor, in trans-
])orting the effects from the ships, had they appro-
priated the most trilling article. On the contrary,
a general sympathy was visible .n their counte-
nances and actions ; and to have -vitnessed their
concern, one would have sup|)os .'d the misfortiuie
to have hapjiened to themselves.*
" So loving, so tractable, so peaceable are these
|)eople," says Columbus in his journal, " that I
swear to your majesties, there is not in the worUh
a better n.ition, nor a better land. They love
their neighbors as themselves ; and their dis-
course is ever sweet and gentle, and accom|)anie(l
with a smile ; and though it is true that they are
naked, yet their manners are decorous and praise-
worthy."
CHAPTER IX.
TRANSACTIONS WITH THE NATIVES.
[1492.]
On the 26th of December Guacanagari came
on board of the caravel NiRa to visit the admiral,
and observing him to be very much dejected was
moved to tears. He repeated the message which
he had sent, entreating Columbus not to be cast
down by his misfortune, and offering everything
he possessed, that might render him aid or con-
solation. He had already gi\en three houses to
shelter the Spaniarils, and to receive the effects
landed from the wreck, and he offered to furnish
more if necessary.
While they were conversing, a canoe arrived
from another jiart of the island, bringing pieces
of gold to be exchanged lor hawks' bells. There
was nothing ujion which the natives set so much
value as iqion these toys. The Indians were ex-
travag.ntly fond of the dance, which they per-
formed to the cadence of certain songs, accom-
panied by the sound of a kind of drum, made from
the trunk of a tree, and the rattling of hollow bits
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 32. Las Casas, lib, L
cap. 9.
58
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
i
H':
S '1
of wnofl ; hut when they hiinj^ tlic hawks' 1)L'11s
ahout their persons, iinil heard the cU-ar musical
souncl respondinjr to the moxenietits of the (Uince,
iiolliin^^ could exceed their wild deli^jht.
'I'he sailors who came troni tiie shore informed
• the admiral that considerable ([uantities ot i,'old
had belli brought to barter, and iarj^e jiieces were
easterly ^'ivcn lor the merest tritle. This intorma-
tion had a cheering effect U|)on Columbus. 'I"he
attentive caci(|Ue, perceiving the lighting up of
liis countenance, asked what the sailors had com-
municated. When he learned its purport, and
found that 'he admiral was I'xtremelv desirous ot
procLirvig gold, he assured him by signs, tliat
there was a i)la( e not far off, among the moun-
tains, where it aliounded to such a degree as to
1)e held in little v.ilue, and promised to procure
him thence as much as he desired. The jilace to
Avhich he alluded, and which he called Cibao, was
it\ fact a mountainous region afterward found to
contain valuable mines ; but Columbus still con-
founded tlie name with that of Cipango.*'
C.uacanagari dined on board of the caravel with
the admiral, after which he invited him to \isit
liis residence. Mere he had prepared a collation,
as choice and abundant as his simple mt^ins
afforded, consisting ol utias, or ciinevs, fish, roots,
and various Iruits. ! le did evervthing in his ])ower
to hoiu)r his guest, and cheer him under his mis-
fortune, sliowing a warmth ot symp.ilhy yet deli-
cacv ol attention, which could not have been ex-
pected from his sav.ige st.ile. Indeed there was a
degree of innate dignity and refinement dis|)layed
in his manners, that often surprised the Sp.m-
iards. I le was remark.ably nice and decorous in
his mode ot eating, which w.is slow and with
moliM-aiion, washing his hands when he had fin-
ished, ;iiid rubbing them with sweet and odorifer-
ous herbs, which Cokimbus su]iposed was done to
])reserve their delicacy and softness. He was
served wiih great deference by his sulijects, and
conducted himself toward them with a gracious
and prince-like majesty. His whole deportment, in
the enthusiastic eyes ot Columbus, betokened the
inborn grace and dignity ol lofty line.ige.t
In tact, the sovereignty among the jieople of tins
island was hereditary, and tht;y had a simpL- but
sag.acious mode of maintaining, in some degree,
the verity of descent. On the death ot a cacitpie
without children, his autlnu-ity passed to those of
his sisters, in pri'lerence to those ot his brothers,
fieing considered most likely to be ot his blood ;
for they observed, that a brother's reputed chil-
dren m.ay by accident have no consanguinity with
their uncle ; but those of his sister must certainly
he the children of their mother. 'I'he form of gov-
ernment was com])letely despotic ; the caci(|ues
fiad tiitire control o\er tlu^ lives, the propertv,
and even the religion ot their subjects. They had
few laws, and ruled according to their jutlgment
and their will ; but they ruled mildly, and were
implicitly and cheerfully obeyed. Throughout
the lourse of the dis.islrous history of these
islanders, alter their discovery by the luiropeans,
there are continual proofs ot their affectionate and
tievoted fidelity to their ciciepies.
Alter the collation, ("ruacanagari conducted Co-
lumbus to the beautiful groves which surrouncled
liis residence. They were attended by upward ot
a thousaiul of the n.atives, ;dl perfectly naked, who
peiiormed se\'(.'ral nation.d g.imes and dances,
* Primer Vjap;o de Colon, Kavarrcte, torn, i. p. 114.
+ I. as Casiis, lib. i cap. 70, Ms. Primer Viage de
Color,. Navarretc, torn, i, p. 114.
which Ciuacanagari had ordered, to amuse th'
melancholy of his guest.
When the Indians had finished their games, Cd
lumbu.i gave them an entertainment in returr,,
calculate<l at the same time to impress them withj
a t<n'mi(lable idea ot the military power of the
.Spaniards. He sent on lK)ard the caravel for,i|
^ioorish bow and a(|uiver ot arrows, ,uid a Castil.f
ian who had served in the wars of dr.inad.i, luy •
was skilful in the use of them. When the ca( i(|u
beheld the accuracy with which this man used hi.
weapons, he was greatly sur|)rise(l, being hinise:
ot an unwarlike ciiaracter, and little accustonii
to the use ot arms. lie told the admiral that il
Caribs, who often made ilesceiits upon his tern-
tory, and carried off his subjects, were likewisf
armed with bows .and arrows. Columbus assure,
him of the ])rotection ot the Castilian monarclb
who would destroy the Caribs, tor he let him kn(p\
that he had we.>|)ons hir more tremendous, agaiih-
which there was no defence. In \nooi of thI^
he ordere<l a Lomb.ird or heavy cannon, and ,.
1 anpiebus, to be discharged.
I On hearing the report the Indians fell to tlv:
I ground, as though they had been .struck hv ,;
, thunderbolt ; and when they saw the elfect ot [\y,
I ball, rending and shi\-ering the trees like a slrok-
j of lightning, they were filled with dism.iy. liiiiv,
I t(>ld, however, that the Spaniards would (lel(!i
; them with these arms against their dreaded eiir-
I mies the Caribs, their alarm was changed iiv.
j exultation, considering ihemsidves under the pn'-
! lection ot the sons of heaven, who had come h'i)~
I the skies armed with thunder and lightning.
The caci(|Ue now presented Columbus with ,
' mask carved of wood, with the eyes, ears, and var;-
j ous other parts ot gold ; he hung |)l;ites ot the saiii'
metal round his neck, and pl.iced a kind ol goidi':
j coronet U|)on his he.id. lie dispensed ])res(ii;-
also among the followers of the admir.il ; ;u(|ui!-
ting himself in all things with a munificence th ■:
would ha\e done honor to an accomplished priii :
in civilized life.
Whatever trilles Columbus gave in return \vt'
regarded with reverence as celestial gills. Ti.-.
Indians, in admiring the articles ot luiropca:
manufacture, continually repeated the word /ifirv
which in their l.ingu.ige signifies heaven. Thi.
[iretended to distinguish the different (pialilies l:
gold by the smell ; in the same way, when an;.
article ol tin, ot silver, or other white melal \va'
given them, to which they were unaccustom (!
they smelt it and declared it " turey," ot excel!'!':
(|ualily ; giving in exchange pieces of the ti^a■^;
gold. luerything, in lact, from the hantls ol liv
.S|)aniards, even a rusty ])iece of iron, an end ot ;
sir.!)), or a he.ad of a nail, had an occult am
su|)ernatur;il value, and smelt ot turi'y. ll.iwk-
bells, howe\-er, were sought by them with a mam.
only e(|ualled by that ot the .Spani.irds tor g(i!i'
They could not contain their ecst.asies at li"
sound, d.incing and pl.aying a thousand anti(<
(^n one occasion an Indian gave halt a handhil 1
gold dust ill exchange for one of these toys, an
no sooner was he in possession ot it th.iii Iv
bounderl away to the woods, looking often b( liin'.
him, tearing the Sp.aniards might re|)vjnt ot hav-
ing p.irted so cheaply with such an inestiniaii;'-
jewel.-
The extriMne kindness of the cacique, the gen-
tleness ot his people, the cpiantities ot gold whir'
were daily brought to be exchanged tor the veriix
trifles, and the information continually received 0:
Las Casas, lib. i, cap. 70, Ms.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
59
rdered, to amuse th'J
ished their ^ames, Co- ■■,
ertainmcnt in ri-tuii;. ■,
to impress tlicni wic
military power ot i!>
oard tin- caravel lor
t arrows, and a Ca^ii .
wars (it Ciraiiada, ,ii,
m. Wiien the lai i(|u
hich this man used lii.
rprised, heinj; llim^c:
and little accusidnii
d the admiral thai il
•seents ujjon his icrr;-
lubjeets, were lil<e\vi>,f
vs. Columbus assiiii-.
ie C'astilian monarrlb
hs, for he let him kiKu
)re tremendous, aj^fainv
ice. In proof of tin-
heavy cannon, and i
1.
the Indians lell to tlv
lad been struck by >;
■v saw the effect <it th^
;• the trees like a strcikfr
(1 with dismay. Hi-in.;
laniards would deltvii
linst iheir dreaded eni-
irm was changed in;
mselves under the pr.i-
•n, who had come trun
ier and lij^htnin}^.
nled Columbus with :•
the eyes, ears, and van-
luinfj plates of thesani'
pl.iced a kind ot <:;<)Ukr.
Ill- dispensed presciil-
f the admiral ; acquit-
,vith a munificence iIki: .;|
fin accom[)lished ]>riii':''
us sjfave in return wc
|is celestial frills. Tiv.
irticles ot ICuropc.ir,
peated the word /nr.}
ij.;nilies heaven. Thi'.
|ie dilferent (|ualilies i:
same way, when an;.
lolher white metal was
were unaccustoni •(!
It " turey," ot exccll'r;
.je pieces ot the lira-:
from the hands ot ih.
|ce ot iron, an end (it
1, had an occult aiv
lelt ot turey. Hawk-
by them with a mam.
e Sjianiards for golil ■
[heir ecstasies at ih
^ a thousand antir-;
lljave halt a handliil c
ne of these toys, an
Isession ot it th.m li:
lookinj^ often bcliim.
mi,',du rei)cnt ot hav-
such an inestimable
the caci(iue, the i,'i';'-
InUities of (fold whir
Ihanfjcd tor the verii-'-
tontinually received c:
MS.
;8
[sources of we.alth in the interior of this island, all
contributed to console the admiral tor his misfor-
The shipwrecked crew, also, became fascinated
with their easv and idle mode ot lite. Kxempted
bv their simjiiicity from the cares and toils which
civili/'ed man inflicts upon himself by his many
artiticial wants, the existence ot these islanders
set-nied to the Spaniards like a pleasant dream.
They dis(|uieled themselves about nothing,'. A few
fields, cultivated almost without labor, furnished
the roots and ve^fetables which formed a ^^reat
part ot their diet. Their rivers and coasts
aboundcrl with tish ; their trees were laden with
fruits ot j,n)lilen or blushinj^ hue, and hei},ditene(l
by. I tropical sun to delicious flavor and fraf^rance.
.Siiliened by the indulgence ot nature, and by a
viiluptuoiis climate, a j^reat part ot their day was
passed in indolent repose, and in the evenings
tlu-v d.inced in their fra^'r.int {proves, to their na-
tioii.d souths, or the sound of their sylvan drums.
Such w.is the indolent and holiday lite ot these
simple pcii|de ; which, it it had not the jjreat
scope ot enjoyment, nor the hi^h-seasoned
])oi;.,Miancv ot pleasure which attend civilization,
wa.i certainlv destitute ot most of its artiticial
iiiiserit-s. The venerable Las Casas, speakinjr of
their perfect n;d<edness, observes, it seemed
■| almost .IS if they were existiii'.,'- in the sl.ite of
]aiin('v.ii innocence of our first parents, before
[their fall brought sin into the world. He mi<rht
have added, that they seemed exempt likewise
i from tile |)enalty inflicted on the children of
.Ad.im, that they should cat their bread by the
I sweat <it their brow.
When the Spanish mariners looked b.-ick U]ion
[their own toilsome and ])aiiiful life, and reflected
ion the cares and hardshijis th.at must still be their
[lot if they returned to luiro|)e, it is no wonder
that they re,!,^ir(le(l with a wistful eye the easy and
[idle existence of these Indians. Wherever they
[went they met with caressinj^ hospitality. The
men were simiile, frank, and cordial ; the women
lloviiifT ;uid compliant, and prompt to form those
; connections which anchor the most waiuleriiiL;'
heart. They saw j^'old ^litteriniif around them, to
[he had without labor, and every enjoyment to be
(procured without cost. Captivated by these ad-
|vaiit,ii;es, many of the seamen re|iresented to the
|ii(lniira! the dilliculties and sufferin<rs they must
jencoiinter on ,i return vovatfe, where so many
Iwnuld be crowded in a small caravel, and en-
i treated permission to remain in the isfaiul.
CHAI'TKR X.
i^riLDiNG OF Tin; r(,iivrRKss ov l.-v n.-wtp.-^d.
[149^.]
TnF. solicitude expressed by many of his people
to he lett b(diind, added to the friendly and pa-
citic ch.inicter ot the natives, now suiro-ested to
Columlius the idea of forminL,"- the .nerm of a fu-
ture colony. The wreck of the caravel would a!
for. I materials to construct a fortress, which
liii'jfht he (hdeiided by her fjuns and supjilied
|viili l;ir .inimuiiition ; ;md he could spare ])ro-
|vi<ioii-i (ii(iu<,h to maintain a small tjarrison for a
*}i-u-. The people who thus remained on the
jiaiand rouhf explore it, .and make themselves ac-
|(iuaiiue(l with its mines, and other sources of
I * Primer Viagede Colon. Navarrete, torn. i. p. iiC.
wealth ; they might, at the same time, procure
by tr.alfic a hirj^e (|u,intity ol j^old from the na-
tives ; they could learn their l.inj^iiaj,'-e, .md .accus-
tom theniselves to their habits .ind manners, so
.as to be ot f^^reat use in future intercnurse. In
the mean time the .idmiral could return to Sp.iin,
report the success ot his enter[)rise, and briiij;- out
reinforcements.
No sooner did this idea bre.ik U|ion the mind
of Columbus than he set .iliout accomplishin},^ it
with his accustomed promptness and celerity.
The wreck w.is broken up ;iiid broui^dit pieceme.d
to shore ; and a site chosen, and prepar.itions
made for th(; erection ot a tower. Win n ( lu.ican-
agari was informed ot the intention of the .idmiral
to leave a part of his men lor the defence ot the
island from the Caribs, while he returned to his
country for more, he w.is j.jreatly overjoved. His
subjects manifested e(pial didij^dii ,it tlie idea of
retainins,^ these wonderful peojile ;imi)ni^ them,
and at the prospect ol the future ;iriiv,il ot the
•admir.il, with shijis Iridjriiteil with h.iwks' bells
and other precious articles. Thcv eagerly lent
their assistance in luiildini; the fortress, little
dreaming'' that they were assisting,'' to pl.ace on
their necks the fj.illini,^ yoke ol perpetual and toil-
some shivery.
The preparations for the (oriress were scarcely
commenced when certain Indi.ins, arri\inf,'' at
the h.irbor, broU},rht a re[)ort tli.it ;i ^ri'at vessel,
like those ot the admir.il, li.id ftnchored in a river
at the eastern end of the island. These tidinj,rs,
for a time, disptdh-cl a thous.ind une.isy conjec-
tures which had h.irassed the mind of Columbus,
for of course this \i'ssel could be no other tli.an
the I'iiita. He inimedi.itely |)rocured a canoe
from (iuacan,i<rari, with se\eral Indi.ins to n.ivi-
fifate it, and disp.it( bed a .Sp;ini;ird with ;i letter
to I'in/on, couched in amicaiile tern>s. la.ikini;' no
complaints of his desertion, but ur^in;.^' him to
join comp.my iinniedi;it(dy.
After three days' .absence the c.inoe returned.
The Spani.ird reported that he h.id pursued the
coast for twenty le.i^ues, but h.id neither seen nor
heard aiiythinij of the I'int.i ; he coiihidered the
report, therefore, ,'is incdircct. Other rumors,
however, were imniedialtd)' alterw.iid cinulated
at the harbor of this lar^e vessel to the e.istw.ird ;
but, on investi^^Mtion, they ap|)e,'ired to Columbus
to be e(|U,illy uiideservinj^df credit. He relaps(\l,
therefore, into his doubts and .mxielies in res|)ect
to I'iii/on. Since the shipwreck of his vessel, the
desertion of that cunim.mdei h.id become a mat-
ter of still more serious monii-nt, and h.id olili^^refl
him to alter all his plans. Sliould tlie I'inta be
lost, as w ;is \'ery possilile in a vi)y.i,i;e ot such extent
and exposed to so many uncommon perils, there
would then be but one .-liip surviving of the three
which h.id set sail from P.ilos, and th.it one an
indifferent s.ailer. On the |)rec;irious return of
that cra/y bark, across ;in immense expanse of
ocean, would depend ihe ultim.ite mui ess of the
(expedition. .Should tli.it one likewisi' perish,
(-•very record of this ;_;real discoverv would be
sw.allowed up with it ; the name oi Columbus
would only be remembered as th.il of a m;i(l .id-
venturer, who, despisin.Lj the opinions ol the learn-
ed and the counsels of the wise, li.ad de[)arted
into the wilds of the ocean never to return ; the
obscurity of his fate, and its im,i,i;in'-d horrors,
mi|4ht deter all future enterprise, and tlius the new-
world mif^ht remain, as heretofore, unknown to
civilized man. These consider.itioiis determined
Columbus to ah.iii'ion all lurther ]irosecuiion of
his \-oyajje ; to leave unexplored the ma^rniticent
00
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
'Il'
( I
regions wliirh wore in\itin},' liim on every hand ;
to ^'ivc u|) ,ill liii|)f tor the prc-iciil of lindirij,' his
way to the (JDniiiiitins ol tlic (ir,in(' Khan, and to
lose no time in rLlurnin;,'^ to Spain and rejjorting
his discover)-.
While tlie fortress was l)nihhnj(, he continued
to receive every <lay new jjroots ol tlie amity and
kindness of ( iuac anajrari. Whenever he went on
sliore to superintend llie works, he was entertain-
ed in the most hos|)iial)le manner i)y tliat cliiet-
tain. lie iiad the lar^'esi lioiise in the jilace pre-
pared for liis ri'ieption, strewed or carpeted with
nalm-leaves, and furnisiied wil'i low stools of a
l)lack and shininj^ wood tiiat l()ok<'d like jet.
idmiral.
isity, I-
'■'i, oi '
wa
■.1
;Uways in
round his
im so nil
t him on his
jiqnes, each
liey CO!.'' led hun
When he received the
a style of princely jren
neck some '<'\\ '1 of j:;
present of s "ilar vali't
On one occasion, he uUi
landinjr, attended I ; live ; ,'■
carryinj,r ;i coronet of );oki , .._^
witii >;:re;it (ielerence to th(r house aii ,,v, ■ men-
tioned, where, seatinjr him in one of the ciiairs,
(luacana^ari took off his own coronet of fjold and
placed ilupon his head : Columbus in return took
from his neck.i collar of tine-colored heads, which
he put round that of the caci(|ue ; he investeil him
with his own mantle of tine cloih, j.rave him .i pair
of colored hoots, an<l put on his tinj^er a larfje
silver rin;r, upon which metal the Indians set a
great value, it not heiiif,'- found in their isl.ind.
The caci(|ue exerted himself to the utmost to
procure a <^reat (|uantity of f;old for the admiral
before his departure tor. Spain. The supplies thus
furnishi'l, and the v.ague accounts collected
throu^^li the medium of siijns ami imperfect inter-
pretations, ga\e Columbus magniticeiu ideas of
the we.ilth in the interior of this island. The
names of caci(|Ues, mount.iins, and provinces,
were confused toirether in his imaj^ination, and
su|)pose(l lo mean various places where ^reat
treasure was to be found ; above all, the name of
Cibao continually occurred, tlie f,n3lden rej^ion
among the mount.iins, whence the natives |)ro-
cured mostot the ore for their ornaments. In the
pimento or red jiepper which abounded in the
island, he fancied lie tound a trace of oriental
spices, .ind he thought he had met with speci-
mens of rhubarb.
Passing, with his usual excitability, from a
state of doubt and anxietv' to one of sanguine
anticip.ition, he now considered his shipwreck as
a jirovideiiti.il event mysteriously ordained i\v
Heaven to work out the success of his enterprise.
Without this seeming dis.ister, he should never
have remained to tind out the secret wealth of
the island, but should merely have touched at
various parts of the co.ist, .'uul passed on. As a
prool that the parlicul.ir hand of Providence was
exertetl in it, he cites the circumstance of his hav-
ing been wrecked in a perfect calm, without wind
or wave, and the desertion of the pilot and mar-
iners, v.hen sent to carry out an anchor astern,
for, had they performed his orders, the vessel
wo. lid have been hauled off, they would have
pursued their voyage, and the treasures of the
island would have remained .i secret. Hut now
he looked forward to glorious fruits to be reaped
from this seeming e\il ; " for he hoped," he said,
" that when he returned from Spain, he should
find ;i ton of gold collected in tr.ilhc by those
whom he had left behind, .and mines and spices
disco\ered in such (luanlilies ih.it the sovereigns,
before three years, would be .able to undertake a
crusade tor the deliverance of the holy sepulchre ;"
the grand object to which he h.nd proposed ;'
they shoul:! (iedicite the fruits of this eiili rpriM
Such 'v.is the visionary, yet generou-,, entin
asm of Columbus, the moment that prospects :
v.ist wealth broke upon his mind. \V hat in sonit
s|)irits would h.ive .isv.ikened a grasping and sor-
ditl avidit)- lo accumulate, immediately tilled hi,
imagination with ])lans of niagniliccnl expendi-
ture. Hut how V un are our attempts to internn
the inscrutable decree^ of I'rovidei.ce 1 The ship.
wreck, which Columbus considered an act of di-
vine f.ivor, to reveal to him the secrets of the
land, sh.ickled and limited all his • Iter discov-
eries. It linked his fortunes, for 'he renia'nder
of his life, to this i.i.md, wii>ii »vas (loomed lo
be to him .i source of c.ires and troubles, to in-
voh-e l.ini in a thousand perplexities, and to hi-
cloud his declining years with humiliation and
disappointment.
CHAPTER XI.
REGULATION OF TIIK I-OKIkKSS Of I..\ N'.WID.M)
— I)K1'.\K1LRK OI' C:OI.lIMItUS KOK Sl'.AIN.
.So great was the activity of the SjianLirds ir,
the construction ot their fortress, ami so .imiilt
the assist.ince rendered by the natives, that in ttr.
days it w.is sul'ticiently com])lete for service. A
large vault had been m.ide, over which wasereci-
ed a strong wooden tower, and the whole w.i;
surrounded by ;i wide ditch. It was stored wit
all the ammunition saved from the wreck, or th;;!
could l)e sp.ired from the caravel ; .and the gur;
being mounted, the whole h.iel a formidable ,i-
pect, sut'ticient to overawe and re|)ulse this nakt.
and unwarlike jieople. Indeed Columbus was i:
oi)inion that but little force was necess.iry to sii''
jugate the whole island. Ht? considered a for
tres';, and the restrictions ot a garrison, iik'
.((uisite to keep the Sp.miards themselves
order, and prevent their wandering about, .ir,>
committing acts ot licentiousness among the n.i-
tives.
The fortress being finished, he gave it, as we!
as the adjacent village and the harbor, the n.ur.:
ot La N.ividail, or the Nativity, in memori.ili;
their having escaped from the sliii)wreck .:
Christmas day. .Many volunteered to remain o:
the island, from whom he selected thirty-ninu c
the most ai)le and exemplary, and among them :
phvsician, ship-carpenter, calker, cooper, tailor
;in(t gunner, all exjiert at their several calling>
The command was given to Diego de .\ran.i. .;
native ot Cordova, and notary and alguazil to li^
armament, who was to retain all the powers vi'-;
ed in him by the Catholic sovereigns. In case i
his death, Pedro (Gutierrez was to comni.md, ai.r
he dying, Rodrigo de I'.scobedo. The boat of the
wreck w.is left with them, to he used in fishing
a variety of seeds to sow, and a large ([uantity:
articles' for traffic, that they might ])rocure .
much gold as possible against the admiral's r,
turn.*
As the time drew nigh for his departure, Coliin"
bus .assembled those who were to remain in i;
island, and made them an earnest address, ch.ir,
ing them, in the name of the sovereigns, to !
obedient to the officer left in command ; to mar-
tain the utmost respect and reverence for the a-
cique tiuacanagari and his chieftains, recollectin.
I
how (In
aii'i II"
■thiir \\i
.?ourse
'r.-.iting
lid, .lb
I >ward
\ 'spcct
• isaster.
le war
selves ..
.afety ;
*itory (
dAr.in.-i,
.iknowleii
.'island,
/elniig till
the pres
;gerous,
^fiitrance
; On tin
;*o ;ake
chieftain:
p.-ive thei
•Ilis use,
.men will
Arana, 1
do, his
■■■when hi
ahiiiid.'ini
'lOr his pel
•Jagari slio
ip.iiture.
rein.'iiiied
-sidiis, am
( luce IV
<iof the wa
Ijbus eansi
'■imock-tigh
flows, an
■vvere nstu
.and at tli
:*ar(|uelHisc
^rthe heavy
-fortress, w
•jiiig the t(
I the trees '
fill those t
] however, '
tioii, they
'Ciril) won
The test
lemhraced
j;aiid took a
/tears ; for
■fled (leme.i
siipcrhuiii;
;l)y the bt:
. parting sc
* Primer Viage de Colon,
del Almiranlc, cap. 33.
Navarrete, torn. i. Hisi-
iij
^^,
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMRCS.
61
he had proposed that
ts of this rnlrrprisc.
ft fTfuc-roiK, ciulvb:-
(•111 that i)i'()si)L-i:ls ' :
niiul. What in sijn>
1 ;i j;ras|)inn and sor-
miiu'diatcly tilled his
ma^jnilict 111 cxpcmli-
•tti-nipts Id iiUcrnrt
rovidciice 1 Thi; sliip-
nsidiTcd an act oi di-
m the secrets of liie
all his Iter discov-
es, for thf remn'nder
vi '.> !i »vas (loomed to
I's and troubles, to in-
erplexitics, and to In-
with humilialioa ami
< XI.
■KESH OF I.A XAVIDAD
IMHUS FOR Sl'AlN.
ly of the Spaniards in
orlress, and so amiik
he natives, that in tir,
nplete for service. .\
over which was erect-
r, and the whole \v,.>
I. It was stored wit"
-om the wrecU, or th.r.
caravel ; :ind thi, j,nir:-
had a foniiidahle av
ind repulse this nakii.
leed Columbus wasi:
was necessary to su'
lie consideri'd a lur
of a jrarrison, nv'
niards themselves
indering about, ar„
sness among the nv
1, he gave it, as we!
the harl)or, the iiamt
itivity, in memorial <:
the shipwreck or,
nteered to remain or.
selected thirty-nine c;^
ry, and among ihemi
dker, cooper, tailor
their several callings ■
to Diego de .-Xrana. s
ry and algua/il to the
n all the powers vest
overeigns. In case c
■as to command, aiii!
edo. The boat of the
to be used in fishiiif;
nd a large ipiantityi
cy might procure .:
inst the admiral's re
4>ow deeplv they were indebted to hi ; goodness,
And how important a continuance of it was to
^heir welfare. To be circumspei t in their inler-
.-ourse with the n.itives, avoid'-ig disputes, and
T'Mting them always with genlN'ness .and justice ;
li I, above all, be'm,: discreet i.. their conduct
, >ward the Indian women, misconduct in this
V siHCt being tlie lre(|i..nt source of troubles and
'■■h isasters in the intercourse with savage natio .
.le warned them, moreover, not to scatter tl.em-
wlves i. inder, but to keep together, lor mutual
iafety ; and not to stray beyond the Tiendly ter-
jjjitory ol (luac.inagari. He enjoined it upon
■lAraiia, and the > 'he'- . i command, to acquire a
.%nowleu^c' ol the productions and mines of the
.^island, to procure gohl and sjiices, and to seek
ioloiig the co.ist a 'etter situation lor a settlement,
the present harbor being iiuoiivenient and d.in-
igerous, Irom the rocks and shoals which beset its
entrance.
? On the 2(1 of Janu.iry, I49,';, Columbus landed
ho 'ake afaiew(dl ol the generous cacicpie and his
cliiettains, intending the ne.xt d.iy to set sail. He
g.ive them a parting feast at the house devoted to
jfiis use, .111(1 commended to their kindness the
Inien who were to rem.iin, es|)ecially Diego de
Arana, I'edro ("lUtierrez, and Kodrigo de Escobe-
dn, his lieulen.mts, assuring the caci(|Ue that
when he iciunied Irom Castile he would bring
abundance ot i( wcis more precious than any he
,:or his jieople had yet seen. The worthy CiU.icin-
:agari showed great concern at tiie idea ot his de-
Iparlure, and assured him that, as to those who
vreniained, he should lurnish them with provi-
,sions, and render them e\ery service in his |)ower.
(•lice more to impress the Indians with an itlea
^•cf the warlike jirowess ot tli(,' white men, Colum-
■vbus caused the crews to perlorm skirmishes and
iiiiock-tights, with swords, bucklers, lances, cross-
fbows, anpiebuses, and cannon. The Indians
.^•were astonished at the keenness ot the swords,
Sand at the deadly power ol the cross-bows and
:iar(iuel)uses ; but they were struck with awe when
;^the heavy Lombards were discharged Irom the
llorlress, wrap|)iiig it in wre.aths ot smoke, shak-
(ing the forests with their report, and shivering
[the trees with the balls ot stone used in artillery
in those times. As these tremendous powers,
{however, were all to be employed tor their protec-
:fti()n, they rejoiced while they trembled, since no
liCarib would now dare to invade their island.*
The festivities ot the day being over, Columbus
[embraced the cacique and his principal chieftains,
land took a tin.il leave ot them, (iuacanagari shed
[tears ; lor while he had been ;iwed by the digni-
jfiecl demeanor of the admiral, and the idea of his
(superhuman nature, he had been completely won
[by the benignity of his manners. Indeed, the
[parting scene was sorrowful on all sides. The
arriv.il of the sliips had been an event of wondet
and excitement to the isl.iiiders, who had as yet
known nothing but the good (pialities of their
guests, and had been enriched by tlu ir lelesti.il
gilts ; while the rude seamen had been ll.ittcred
by the blind deference paid them, and captivated
by the kindness and unlimited indulgence witfi
which they had been treated.
The sorest parting w.is between the .S])aniard«
who embarked and those who remained behind,
Irom the strong sym|).itliy caused by companion-
ship in |)erils and adventures. The little garri-
son, however, evinced a stout lie.irt, looking for-
ward to the return of the admir.il from Sp.iin with
large reiiilorcemeiits, when they promised to give
him a good account ot all things in the island.
The caravel was detained a day longer by the
absence of some ol the Indians whom they were
to take to .Spain. At length the sign.il-gun was
fired ; the crew gave a p.irting cheer to the hand-
lul of comrades thus left in th" wilderness ot an
unknown world, who echoef' '- cheerinu as
they ga/ed wistlully alter ti, 'i f. the beach,
but who were destined iie> r lo • 'jme their
return.
/<
f.r-
I . S. . lilt All, l:.\q.
wn :i I ailed Guariro.
I can gather, it was sit-
'<e beach, where the vil-
i vhich is about two
* Primer Viage de Colon. Navarrete, torn. i. p. I2i.
No IK iilwiil tlie localities in
liaclid from the I. Iter ,
Guacanagari's cni)ilal I'
From the best inforiiiatioe
uatcd a short distance (re
lagc of Petit An=e now ;
miles south-east of Cajie H.
Oviedo says that Colinnl)us look in water for his
homeward voyage from a small stream to the north-
west of the anchoraRc ; and presuming; him to have
been at anchor off I'e'it Ansc, this stream presents
itself falling from the I'icolet mountain, crossing the
present town of Cape llayticn, and emptying into the
bay near the Arsenal.
The stream which sup lied Columbus with water
was dammed up at the foot of the mountain by the
French when in possession of the country, and its
water now feeds a number of public fountains.
Punta Santa could be no other than the present
Point Picolet.
Heating up from St. XicholasMole along an almost
precipitous and iron-t)ound coast, a prospect of un-
rivalled splendor breaks upon the view on turning
this point ; the spacious bay, the extensive plains,
and the distant cordillcras of the Cibao mountains,
impose upon the mind an impression of vastncss,
fertility, and beauty.
The fort of La Navidad must have been erected
near Haul du Cap, as it could be ap[)roached in boats
by rowing up the river, and there is no other river in
the vicinity that admits a passage for boats.
The locality of the towm of Guacanagari has always
been known by the name of C.uarico. The French
first settled at Petit Anse ; Kubsc(iuently they removed
to the opposite side of the bay and founded the town
of Cape Francois, now Cape Haytien : but the old
Indian name Guarico continues in use among all lf>e
Spanish inhabitants of the vicinily.
his departure, CohiiT.
,vere to remain in ih'
cirnest address, chari;
the sovereigns, to h
command ; to niair,-
reverence tor the cr.
:hieftains, recollectinj
Navarrete, torn, i
Hist.
68
I
:
LIFE AND VOVACIHS OK COLUMBUS.
BOOK V.
CHAPTER I.
COASTINT, TmvAki) lilt; i AsiruN i-nd of his-
I'AMDI.A — MI.I.I \SC, W nil I'lNZON — Al-KAIR
Willi I III; NMIVI..-, Al nil; (ill.K ()!■ SAMANA.
I '493 -I
It was on ihc 4th of January that Columbus set
sail frfim I a Navidad on liis return to Spain.
The wind ixin;,' lin'it, it was ncci-ssarv to tow llu'
caravel out ot the harbor, and clear ot the reels.
They then stood eastward, toward a lotty proinon-
torv desiituti' ot trees, but covered with jj[rass,
and shaped like a tent, havin^f at a distaiue the
appe;iranre ot a toweriiiL,' island, bein^r connected
with Ili>paniol,i by a low neck of land. To this
promontory (.'ohmibus ^ave the name of .Monte
Christi, by which it is still known. The country in
the immedi.iie neiLfhborhood was li'vel, but f;ir-
ther inland rf>se a hi;;li ran^n' of mountains, well
wooded, with bro.id, fruitful valleys between
them, w.itered by abundant streams. The wind
beiny contrary, they were det.iined for two days
in a lar:;e b.iy to tlie west of the promontory. <')n
the 6lh they .ij^mih m.ide sail uilh a land bree;!e,
and we.'.tlurini;- the cape, advanced ten lea;,nies,
when tile wiml aj;,iin turned to blow freshly Irom
the east. ,\t this time :i sailor, stationed at the
masthe:id to look out for rocks, cried out that he
beheld the I'iiila at a dist.ince. 'J'he certaintv of
the f.ii t jiladdened the he.irt of the admir.il, ;ind
had an .animating;- effect throu;;hout the shi|) ; for
it was ,1 joylul e\enl to the mariners once niore
to meet with lluir comrades, and to have a com-
panion bark in their voya;4e throu,L;h these lonely
seas.
The I'inta cime sweepiiiL;' toward them, direcllv
liefore the wind. 'I'he admiral was desirous of
haviiijr a conversation with Martin Alon/o I'in-
zon, and sieiiiL;' that all attempt was fruitless from
the obstinacy ol the .idverse wind, aixl ih.U there
was no sate anchoraj;-e in the nei,i;hl)orhood, he
put back to the bay a little west of Monte Christi,
whither he was followed by the I'inta. On their
first interview, I'in/oii endea\ored to e\i:use his
desertion, alle;;iii^'- thai he h;id been compelled to
part comp.my by stress of weather, and had ever
since been seekiii},'- to rejoin tlu' admiral. Colum-
bus listened passively but dubiously to his ajiolo-
g'lea ; aiul tlie susjiicions he h.id concei\ed ap-
peared to be warranted by su!)secpient inform;i-
tion. He was told that I'in/on had been excited
by accounts ^nven him by one of the Indians on
board ot his vessel of ;i ret^ion to the eastward,
aboundin;^- in j;old. Takini^ advantaj^fe, there-
fore, of the superior sailiiii;- of his vessel, he had
worked to wiiidward, when the other ships had
l)een oblii^'ed to jjut b.ick, .-ind had sought to be
the first to discover and enjoy this golden reL;ion.
After separatini,r Irom his companions he had been
entanj^led torse\cral cl.ays a moni;- a cluster of small
islands, sujjposi-d to h.ive been the Caicos, but
had at leiii^th been i^uidrd by the Indians to Ilis-
paniola. Here h.' ren-, lined ihi'ee weeks, tradinur
whh the natives in the river .alreadv mentioned.
and collected a considerable cpiantitv of j^old, one
half of whiidi he retained as captain, the rest he
divided amont; his men tosecure their fidelity and
sccrecv.
Such were tlip particulars privately related'
Colund)iis ; who, however, repressed his iiuh^n
tion at this llaj,'rant bre;i( h of duty, beiii),' uiiui!
inj,' to disturb the remainder of his \()\;ij;e \vi'
any altercations with I'm/on, who h id a jiowtrtL
n.irty ot relatives ;»nd townsmen in the ,irm,iniu:'
I'o such a dejjree, however, was his c(inli<l<'M(c
his conlederates imp.iirefl, th.it he determiiud •
return torthw ith to Sn.iiii, though, under other 1 •■
cumsiances, he would h.nc been tempted toc'
plore the co.'ist in hopes ot freij^htiii;; his shi|.
with treasure.*
The boats were accordinj^^dv disp.itched to .
Iart,'e riviT in the neij^hborhoml, to |>rocure a siri
ply of wood and water tor the vovi^je, 'I'h;
river, called by the n.itives thi' N'acpii, llows fro-
the mountains (j1 the inli'iaor and throws iiM.;
into the b.iy, receivin;; in its course; the contr.-
butions of \arious minor streams. Many part>
cles ol ),^old were perceived amolij; the s.ands at i'i
mouth, .and others were found adherin|,r to ti:
hoops ot llu; water-ciisks.-j- Columbus j^'avc 1:
therefore, the name of Rio del ( iro, or the (lol.lj-
River ; it is at |)resent callecl the Santiaj^o.
In this neighborhood were turtles of i;reat si/'
Columbus also mentions in his journal that :,
saw three mermaids, which ele\'.ited themseh'i:
.ibove the surface of the sea, and he observes ih.::
he had betore seen such on the coasts of Afriti
He iidds that they were by no means the beautili.
beiiiLjs they had been rci)resented, althou;,di thf.
possessed some traces ot the human counten.iiict
it is supposed that these must h.ive been man;;:
or sea-cdves, seen indistinctly .and at .'i distain'r
and th.it tlie ini,\),nnation ot Columbus, disposed lit
f^ive a wonderful ch.-ira( ter to ever\thin;r jn (li:;|
new world, had identiried these missh.ipeii aniiii.V;
with the sirens of ancient story.
(In the eveniiijT of the (;th ot Januarv they ai,'i:-
made sail, and on the lollowinj;- d.iy ;irri\ed at l.-
river where I'inzon had been trading,', to wliic',
Columbus jjave the name ot Rio di; ( Iracia ; I)'.;
it look the ;ippell;ition ot its original discover'^r '
and loni^' continued to be known as the ri\er :
M.irtin Aloiuo.J The n,iti\-es ol this place coiiv^
pl.iined that I'inzon, on his previous \isit, h: '4
\ iolently carried off four men and two ^irls. Ti'tS
.■idivinil, lindin^r they were retained on board i':*
the riin.i to be carried to Sp.-iin .-ind sold as slavi- .
ordered them to be immedl.itelv restored to t!;c:: -
homes, with many |)reseins, .ind well clothed,!:
atone tor the wroiit^' they h.id experienced. Th-
restitution was made with g'rcit unwillin;,MK::
and many hij^h words on the part ot I'in/on.
■file wind bein^r favorable, for in these refjio-i;
the tr.ide wind is often .alternated flurinjj auiuir.'
and winter by north-westerly breezes, they coiitir-
ued coastiiiLf the island until they came to a hi;;
and beautilul headl.ind, to which lliev i;'ave tl:
name ot C.qio del I'-namoratlo, or the Lover;
■•■ Hist, del Almirante. cap. 34.
f l.as Ca^as suR,i;csts tti.it these may have bcc.
[i.arlicies of marcasite, ivhirli almimds in this rive
and in the other Flrcams whicli f.ijl froni the nimi;-
tains of Cibao. Las Casas. Hist. Ind. lib. i. rap. 7
I It is now called Porto Caliallo, tmt the sun our. /
inn r>lain is called the Savanna of Martin Alonzo.— T.
S. Ill.NLKE.N.
'npe, I)Ut wl
iron. .\ litil
)a\ , or r.illier
Ixtendm^; ^o
lUpposed It .111
il.i Iroiii some
ihe native-i ipi
iltic people I
"hey Were ot
lainted. Tlu'
lecorated witi
lirds ol K.'H'ly
f.ir-clu')-. ; oil
jsed hy the
lleiul ■( reed-.,
^ vith boiii' or
I vere ot p.ihn-
'■ tot sharp, bin
\vo rni;.;rr-,, .in
; n^' tliroii;,di ,1 1
> hu> prep, lied
O moiesl the
lold them two
,rr.)ws, .Old oiii
;o on liii.ird ol t
Columbus w,
looks and li.iid
iirrior, lli.it lu
iilioii ol C.iril)
:he>e se.l1, and I
;hi)ied imiht In
[nun Hi-.p.iiiiol.i
ver, he still |io
lere l.iy the C;
an isLuul, ca
ancied him to s;
i vlu) receive>l the
"'"' or the s.ike ot (I
land. All the
;Uch visits were
nale reni;iined w
This .\in,izoni;
n the course ol
mother ot his s
ho work ot Mart
wo islands near
iolely by vvome:
vhich a similar
umhus, siipposin
interpreted the •
ith the descripti
Having'- re^;-.ile,
'HIS preseius, if
io|)es, iliroui^h hi
r ^(old with hi
niache I the l.iiu
ith hows and ;
fere seen lurkin
•om the liulian v
leir arms and ca
'lie killer, accor
iral, endeavorei
'■eapoiis, to i.ike
larled with two o
:eivin,i( some dis
|hi> h,in Itul of sir
'■IV ihry h,i(| If
i|>. an 1 returned
■).ini,ii-,U. •[■ju;
^•ai. wounded t
uuld h;ive pursu
I * Las Casas, Hii
I + M.ir. o I'olo, h
Lirr: and voyagks or columul's.
69
fnpe, liut wIiilIi at jircM
Iron.
httlr
lit IS kiKiw II as Caiu: Cx-
\(piul tills they aiii'lujifil ill a
or iMtlit-r null, iliirc Ici^tics
ii) hicadth, a
ml
atfly rciatnl ■
icd his iiuii;;!)
y, lic'int,' uiiwi
his \i)ya^;i; w;
h:i(l a piiucrl.
I liur arin.iMiu!;
lis conlKlcnrt; ;
(• (Iclfrniiiuil •
UIKJrr otllLT I.:-.
tfni|iti'(l to cv
;luiiii;- iiis ship
[lispati'ht'd to ;
I) ]ir()rurc a sny
: Vny:i;,'f, Thi
i(|iii, lliiws fror
111 throws itsi:
ursc llu; coiur.
-;. Many par,,-
; the sands at '
adlu-riiifr to th>
iinihiis j^ave i;
1), or tiic (jo!i!e:
Saiitiaj^o.
I's of j^ivat size
journal that !.:
ali'd llnMiisclvri
111' olisi'rvus thj.
;:oasts of Africa
ms iht! hcaiilili.
illhoii},di thf,
an counti-'naiKc
i\c l)(.'i-n man:;'
at a distance
hus, disposiMJ
icry'.hiri;;' in t
sslia|)L-n anima
h:i;l'
.1
ary tlu-y ;v^rr
arrived ai i,,-
lin;4, to wiiic:;
Ic ( Iracia ; hc'
iial (lisi'ovtTur
IS llic ri\cr ::
his place coiiv;
us \isit, h.
ivo ^irls. Tr;
(I (111 hoanl i;
sold as shtvc-
ston.'d to t!;c::
rll clothed,'.:
rirnced. T!
unwillinjjnc-'i
I i'in/on.
1 these rej^iiii
hirinjj aiiiuiiv
s, lliry coiui::
':iiiie to a liii,
they i;-avc li
ir tiic Lovcri
may have bee
s in this river
iim the ninur.'
hb. i. cap. 7'
it the surroun:-
tin Alonzo.— T.
jxtriuhiiK so l.ir iiil.ind that Columhus at Inst
fu|i|)oscd It .111 .inn 111 the se.i, sep.iratiiiK' liispaiii-
0|.i Irolii some other land. < Mi landing;- they lound
|hr native^ ipiite ilillerent irom the j;eiitle and pa-
lilic iiLiiplf hitherto nut with on this isl.iml.
a")!! V \sere ot a lei'ocious aspect, and hideously
tainted. 'I'hiMr h.iir w.is ionj;', lifd behind, ami
IcMirated with the leathers ot parrots and other
Jirds III K.iK'ly phiin.ine. Some were armed with
A'.u-cUllis ; others had liowsot the lelijith ot those
,' ised by li)e Kn^rjish archers, with arrows ol
,S ileiid T reeds, pointed with hard wood, or tipped
vith hone or the tooth ot ,i lisli. Their swords
Vere ot p.ilm-wooil, as h.ird .ind he. ivy as iron ;
lot sharp, but bio. id, ne.irly of the thickness of
wo liii;.;eis, .ind < .ip.ible, with one blow, ot cle.i\-
nj; thr(iu;,'li .i helmet to the very brains.* 'I'hounh
,hu> prep.ired lor conib.it, they mailc no attempt
moil si the Sp.iniards ; on the contrary, they
lold them two ot their bows and sever.d of tluir
Lrr.)ws, and one of them was prevailed upon to
[() on bo.ird ot the admir.il's ship.
Columbus w.is persU.ided, Irom the ferocious
looks and hardy, undaunted m. inner of this wild
;arrior, th.it lu and his comp.mions were of the
Ration ol L'aribs, so much dreaded throujrjiout
[hese se.is, and th.it the j^iili in which lie u.is an-
chored must be .1 strait sep.iratin^;' their island
[rum Ilisp.iniola. On iiupiii iii;,'-of the Indi.m, how-
iver, he still pointed to the e.ist as the ipi.irter
there lay the CariUbe.m Isl.uids. lie spoke also
if an isl.Kul, called .M:uuinino, which Columbus
iicied him to say w,is |)i-opied merely by women,
lio received the Carib-i amoiij^r them once a ye.ir,
lor the s;ike ol continuin^j the population of their
„land. .Ml the m:ile proi^eny resultiii),^ from
luch visits wi;re delivered to the fathers ; the fe-
ale rem:iiiied with the mothers.
This .\m,i/,onian isl.ind is repeatedly mentioned
In the course ol the voyajres of Columbus, ;ind is
knother ot his sell-delusions, to be e.xplained by
he work ot Marco I'olo. 'I'll. it traveller described
jwo islands near the co:isl of Asia, one inhabited
tolely by women, the other by men, between
f/hicli a similar intercourse subsisted ;l ami Co
Uinhus, su|)i)osin^ himself in that vicinity, easily
Interpreted the sijfiis ot the Indians to coincide
I'ith the descriptions of the Veneti.iii.
Having'- ri:};,ile.l the w.arrior, and made him va-
ioiis presents, the .idmiral sent him on shore, in
lopes, tlinui;.;li his mediation, of ojieninjr ;i trade
or j^old with liis comp.inions. As the boat ap-
miached the l.iiid, upwaid of fifty savai^^es, armed
ilh hows and .arrows, war-clubs, and i;ivelins,
ere seen lurking amon;^ the trees. On a word
Irom the lii.li:in who was in the boat, they l.iid by
[hfirarais and came forth to meet the Spaniards.
lie l.uier. according to directions from the ;id-
liral, eiide.ivored to purch.ise several of their
feapons, to take as curiosities to S|).iiii. They
larted witliiwo of their bows ; but, suddenly coii-
ieivin|,r some distrust, or tliiiikin^f to overpower
[his h.inlful of str.ini,a'rs, they rushed to the pi. ice
iuTe they h,ad left their weapons, sn.ilclied them
jp. an I returned with cords, as if to l)ind the
ipaniards. The latter immediately attacked
lem, wounded two, put the rest to'llit^ht, and
■oukl have pursued lliem, but were restrained by
* I,.is Casas, Hist. Ind., Ill), i. cap. 77, .MS.
+ M.ino Polo, boolc iii. chap. 34; Eng. edit, of
.arsJcii.
ihu pilot wlio commanded the IAmit. This wai
the lirst contest with the Indi.ms, and the lir-it lime
th.it n.itue blood w.is shed by the while men in
liimbus w.is vjiieved to see all
the new world. Ci
his exertions to ni.imt.iin an ,11111c. ilile intercouise
vain ; he consoled himself with the ide.i, however,
that it these were Ciribs, or Iroiitii'r Indi.ms ot
w.irlike ch.ir.utc'r, lluy v.ould be inspired with a
(Ire. id ot the tiirce and weapons ot the while men,
and be deterred trom molestin;; the little ^;.irrison
ot I'Orl .Nativity. 'I he t.ut w.is, that these were
ot a bold and h.irdy race, inh.ibitinn .1 mount. liii-
ous district called Cixuay, e\teiidm;r live and
twenty le.i;,'Ues aloni;' the co.ist, and several
lea^;ues into the interior. They dilleicd in Ian-
;;Uii>;e, look, and manners from the other ii.itives of
the island, and had the rude but independent and
\ ij;orous cliarai ter of mount, lineers.
I'lieir frank and bolil snirit was eviiu cd on the
(l.iy .ifter the skirmish, when a multitude appe.ir-
inj,f on the beach, the admir.il sent ;i larj,'e p.irty,
well .armed, on shore in the bo.it. Theii.iiives ,ip-
iiroached ,is treely and conlideiitly as it nothing;
ii.id happened ; neither did they betray, throuj;h-
out their subsequent intercourse, any sij^iis ot
lurking' fear or enmity. The caciipie who ruled
over the nei).,diborin;.,f ( (luiitry was on the shore.
He sent to the lio.it a stiiiii; ol beads formed of
small stones, or r.ither ot the hard part ot shells,
which the .Spani.irds understood to he a token and
.assurance of amity ; but they were not jet aware
of the lull me.inin;,' of this symbol, tlie w.impuin
belt, the pledjfc ol peace, held sacred .1111011;,' the
Indi.ms. The i hiclt.iin loUowcd shortly alter, and
entering,' the boat with only three attend. mis, was
conveyed on bo.iid ol the caravel.
This frank and coiilidiii;;- conduct, so iiidic.iti\e
of a brave and ^eiuaous n.iture, w.is |irupeiiy ap-
prei:iated by Columbus ; he received the caci(]ue
cordi.dly, set before him a collation siuli as the
car.ivel afforded, p:irticul.irly biscuits and honey,
which were j,rre.it dainties with the Indians, .and
alter showinj; him the wonders of the vessel, and
m.ikin^f him and his attfiulants m.iny jiresents,
sent them to land hi^^hly ^r.ililied. The residence
of the cacique was at such a distance that he could
not re|)e:it his visit ; but, as a token of hijjh re-
gard, he sent to the admiral his coronet ol ^(>U\.
In speakinjr of these incidents, the historians of
Columbus have ni.ido no mention of the name of
this mount.ain chic'f ; ho w.is doubtless the same
who, a few ye.irs atterward, .appears in the history
of the island umler the n.ame ol Mayon.ibex, ca-
ciipie ot the Ci^uayans, .md will be touiiil acipiit-
tin;4' himself with \alor, tr.iiikness, and ma^nianim-
ity, under the most tryiiij,' circiimst.mces.
Columbus remained a d.iy or two lonj^cr in the
bay, during; which lime the most friendly inter-
course |)re\',iiled with the natives, who lirou^ht
cotton, and wirious fruits and ve^^et.ibles, but still
maintained their warrior character, beinj^ .always
armed with bows .and arrows. I'our youii)^ In-
dians ;jfave such intereslin^r .iccouius ol the islands
situated to the e.asl that Columbus determined to
touch there on his way to .Spain, .and prevailed on
them to accompany him as j^aiides. Takinjf ad-
v.anl.a.Lje of a t.avorable wind, therehire, he sailed
before daylight on the i6th ot J.iiuiary from this
bay, to which, in conse(|Ueiice ot the skirmish
with the natives, he j^ave the name ot (lolfo de las
I'lechas, or the Ciulf of Arrows, but which is now
known liy the name of the Cuilf ot S.am.ana.
On leavinj; the bay, Columbus .il first steered to
the north-east, in which direction the vouiip Indians
assured him he would find the island of the Ca-
64
I, UK AND VOYAGES OF COI.rMIU'S.
riliH, and that of Mantiiiitio, llic ali()<lc ol llu- Ama-
zniis ; It lifiii^; lii-> (Iciin' to l.tkv several ot the na-
tives ot eacli, to ideselU to llie S|i.injsli SDVtrei^fDs.
Alter sailiilK aliijilt si\t(ili le,i^;ilfs, h.tuevei. his
IiKJiaii ){iii(lrs ( liati){<'(l tlieir ojiiiiion, and poi' u-d
to tlie Milltlicast.
riiis ^sou!d ha\c l)rou;lit hii
to I'orlo Kiid, Nsliieli, ill lact, was kiioMi aiiuin^
the iiidi.iii-i as ll:e isl.iiid iit Cinl). llu; admiral
lis (liree-
iinniediatt'ly shillcd sail, and stoiK
tioii, lie had not |inii ecded two
in tl
e had not |)nn ecded two lea;;il<s, how
ever, when a most tavi
hn
spraiiL; up lor
tlu' vo\a^;e to Spain, lie oliserved a kIooiii ;,'.itl
crinjf on the couiitenanits ol the sailors, as they
(liveried trom the homeward route. Kellectin;;
ii|)on the little hold hi' had upon the fi'elini^s and
alleetions <il the-,e men, the insubordinate spirit
they had repeatedly I'viiieed, the uik crt.iinty of
the ^food taith u\ I'in/on, ami the leaky londiiion
ot Ills ships, he was suddenly l)(-oii),dit to ;■. paiis(
s lon^; as he protracted his return, the whoU
A
ot h
<i)ntin''encie
IS (iiscoverv wa
dai
late
s .It the mercy ot a ihou'nnd
1 .iiherse airident iniir
htl
iimsi
II, h
Hirv
/\' h.irks, and all the records ol h
K
Vi)ya;re lorevcr in the ocean. Kepressinj,', there-
lore, the stroll),' iiiclin.ilion to seek liirlher disc
cries, am'
I d( tt rmiiifd to place what he li.id
ready maile lievmul the reach of accident, h
e once
more shillcd s.iil, to tlic <^r
resumed hib cuiir.iu lor .Sp
at loyot his crews, and
CII.M'TI'K II.
RIJUUN VdV.VC.I, \|ii|,|N|- SIOKMS— AIUtlVAI.
.•\r I 111; A/.iiUKs.
Till', trade-winds whi( h had tieen so propitious
to Coluniluis on his outward vo\a;ife, were e(|Ually
adverse to him on his return. The f.ivorahle
l).'ee/e soon diecl aw.iy, and throU),diout the re-
mainder ol January tht.Me w;is a prev.dence ot
lijjht winds troin the eastward, which ])revented
any (,'reat proj;res:i. lie was tre(|ucntly detained
also l)y the bad sailing;- ol the I'inta, the toremast
of whi( h w.is .so delective that it could carry but
little sail. The we.uher continued mild and |)le.is-
ant, and the sea so calm, ih.it the Indians whom
they were takin;^' toSjiain would fre(iuently plnn;,',.
into the water .iiid swim .ibout the ships. They
s;iw many tunny lish, oiu: ol which they killed, as
likewise ,i l;ir)(e shark ; these J,^•lve them a tem-
porary supply ot provisions, of which the\' soon
beLfan to st.ind in need, their sea stock Ihmiii; re-
duced to bread and wine .iiid A);i jieppers, which
last they had learnt trom llu' Indians to use as an
important article of food.
In the e.irly |>.irt of I'ebruary, h.avinp run to
about the thirty-eii^-hth de^jree of north latitude,
and j;'ot out ol the track swi'pt by the trade-winds,
they had more lavorable breezes, and were ena-
bled to steer ilirect lor .Si)ain. From the fre(pient
chan.i,res (d their course, the jiilots became perplex-
efl in their reckonini;s, diflerin;^ widely amon^f
themselve.., i\n<\ still more widely from the truth.
Columbus, besides keepin<j a careful reckoning,
was a vijjilant observer of those indications fur-
nished by the sea, the air, and the sky ; the fate of
himself and his ships in the unknown regions
* Journal of Columb. Navarrete, tom. i. Las
Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap, 77. Hist, del Al-
mirantc, cap. 34, 35.
wliicli he traversed olteii dep"nded upon lli('<(r nKj
servations ; and the s.ig.n iiy ,it wliii h he .irrivei!
in deciphering the signs ot the elements, w.is Irinkj
g,i/
If no. I
ed upon by the common se.imeii M something
most supern.itur.d. In the present Inst. nice, I
liced where the j^reat binds ol llo.iling wi-edsi
menced, and where they linished
anil III cnic
ing from
them, I iilu hided hiinseil to h
'■«
about the s. line degree (d longitude .iswiun he tn
(ountered them on Ins oiitw
ird
voy.ige
that
to say, .ibout two hundred anil sixty leagues \\pv|
ot I'eiro. On the luth ol l'( liruary, X'icenic V;,
fit
in/on, a
nd th
lilots Kui/ and M.irtol
onntl
Kold.m, who were on board ot the admir.il's slii
ex.imined the ( h.irts and iump.ired their reckorj
ings to dtteriniiie their situation, but could ni/l
come to .any agreement. They all supposed tht'iii-
selves. It liiastoiie hundred ;iiid tilty leagues iicirt:!
S|),iin th.ui what Columbus belieM'd to lie the truj
reekoning, ami in the latitude ol .Maileira, wlic
as he knew them to b
nearly in a dire( tioii
lie sulfered them, howcM'r, to
the .\/ori
m.iin in their error, and even added to their jut. ;
plexity, that they might retain but a i onlused iilr;
"' the voyage, anil he .done possess ,1 clear kniiu,.
edge of the route to the new I) -di.-.c<i\-ercd cour, «^
tries.*
( >n the I2th ol I'ebru.iry, as they were ll.itterin.
themselv(;s with soon coming in sight ot l.iiid, ti;r
wind came on to blow violently, with a heavy sii
course to the east, but wi;:
they still kept their
gre.it l.ibor and peril,
1)11 il
lolloWinL' (I.I
sunset, the wind and swell mcre.ised
there ww
"hree
II
islies ot lightning m the north-nort
I
considered by Columbus as signals ot
hing tempest. It soon burst upon
llllT.?3
with trigluiul violence ; their small and era/y vcvifj
sels, open and without decks, were little fitted li'
the wild storms id the Atlantic; all night the
were obliged to scud under bare jioles. As tl-
morning dawned of the 14th, there was a tr.ir-
sient pause, and they made a little s.iil ; liut tr-'
wind rose again from tlie south wiili redmihlfiij,,?
vehemence!, r.iging throughout the day, and iri '
creasing in liiry in the night ; while the vesst'-i
labored terribly in ,1 cross sea, the broken waviiij
of whii h thrciteiied at each moment to o\erwhelrr
them or dash them to pieces. l''or three hour-
they I'.y to, with just sail enough to keep thett
above l\v- waves ; but the ti'liipest still .•lugim-n;-
ing, they were obliged again to scud belore tl-
wind. The I'inta was soon lost sight ot in li:
darkness of the night. The;idmiral kept ;is niuc ,^
as jinssible to the north-east, to ap])roa(di the roavj.s
ol Sp.ain, and ni.ide signal lights at the mjistluac
tor the I'inta to do tlu; s.ime, and to kee|i in coir
jLiny. The l.itter, liowever, from the weakness (:j;j
lier foremast, could not hold the wind, and ws
iibliged to scud before it directly north. Fi
some time sIk; replied to the signals of the ;i(
miral, but her lights gleamed more and mc:
distant, until they ceased entirely, and nothin
more was seen ot her.
Columbus continued to scud all night, full <f-
forebodings of the t.ite id his own vessel, and 1
tears tor the safety of tli.at of I'in^on. As the (la
dawned, the sea presented .a frighltul waste f"
wild broken waves, lashed into fury by the gale
he looked round anxiously for the I'inta, but sh
was now here to be seen, lie now made a little s.i .
to keep his vessel ahead ot the sea, lest its hu!;!|
waves should brt.'ak over her. ,\s the sun rose.trr;
wind and the waves rose uith it, and throughout-; i
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 70.
LIFH AND VOYAdlCS OF COIX'MHUS.
68
ll|)nM lliCM' oK
lu li hf .irrivei'
IflltS, W.IH llXik^
t SDIlU'tllillJJ ,1,.
iistalK f, he iiii.
iiij,' weeds ( uir
and ii) vmi'rjj
tlililM'll to l)f r
as win- II lu' cr,.
iiiyajrt; ; that i ■ *<
ty IcaKUcs wpv';^^
ry. \'iifHtL' V.. i;
liid llai'toliiniii
adinifal's sliif
(I tticir rcikdr
, luit inuld m
-.ii|)lii>->i'd tlifiT
\ liM}.;Uf-> licarr
il 1(1 111' tlu; Iri-
dadcira, wlicr^
1 a dirt'itidi) III'
hiiwcvcr, to ft'
It'd tn their |nr-
a eonluied idi
-s a clear know ■
i.scovered com
,' '.vere tlatteriiif?
i^ht i)t land, li;:
ilh a lieavy sii
le east, liut wii;
[iwin^; day, alir'<
sed ; tlR'i'f WIT' .>J
uiith-noith-L'iis:
;nals tit an :\[
irst updH ihcr
II and era/v Vf
u little titti'd II
; ;dl ni^du tin-
pdles. As II
IC \V,1S .1 U'M-f
sail ; hut ir'-'
\\ nil redolihlfi .
day, and ir
ile the vesst'
hrokeii wavr
I to overwlicir
If three houi'
to keep till-;:
.still au.i^MH'ii;-,
ud helore th
si^ht ot ill t::
kept as niUi'
1 iiaeh thec(i:i'
I the iiiastlua.
o keep in cmr-
weakness (
wind, and wi
north. Fi'
nals of the.nc-
ore and ninri
uul nothin;
I
thi
nio-ht, full
n vessel, and
111
As theil
Infill wastt' ' •
rv 1)\- the '^a'x
'I'in'ta, huts'r;
\(l(>a little s,i;
I, lest its hill'::
he sun rose.li:;
ihroughouU;.
70.
jdrpary <\.\\ lln' htdplcss hark \v;is<lrivpn alonjj iiy
Ithe tiiVv III the tempest.
Seen >{ ill human skill haftled .and eonlounded,
Ic'diiiinhus endeavored to propiti.ite he.iven hy sol-
le-inn viius .md arts ol penanee. Itv his orderr a
niiinher ol heans, eipi.il to the number ot persons
Ion hi). ml, were put into a cap, on one ol which
|v,i, cut tin; si;;n ot ihi-iross. I'^.ich ot the crew
Iniide a \ou- th.it shoulii he flr.iw torth the marked
1 111, 111 lie wduld ni.iKe a i)il),'nm.i;{e to the shrine
()t .Si'it.i Maria de ( lu.id.iliipe, he.irin^; a wax t.iper
[ol live piiiiiids' weinhl. The admir.il was the lirst
Iti) put in his h. mil, and the lot tell upon him.
'iiniu ihat nionit'iil he conside.'ed himselt a pil-
ii;riin, hinind to jierlorm the vow. .Anotlier hit
W.I-. c.i-.t ill the same w.iy, tor a pilgrim. i},'e to the
(cli.ipi'l I'f "Ur l.ady ot I.oretio, whnh tell upon a
ise.iiu.in n.iiiu'd I'edro de \ill.i. and the .•idmir.il
cn^ja^jed to l)L'ar the espeiiies ot his jiiiirney. A
'third lot w.is also cast lor a pil;;riin,i^''e to S.inta
C'l.ira de .Mo'.,'iier, to prrlorm a solemn mass, and
to w.ili h all iiij;ht in the chapel, and this likewise
1 lell upon (.'iiiumhus.
The tempest still r.iHiii;,^ w itli iin.ih.ited violence,
1 tlu- ,iilniiial and all the m.iriners made avow,
Itli.it, il sp.ired, wherever they I'lrst l.inded, they
\vmild xo iu iirocession h.iri'looted and in iheir
shirts, to oiler up pr,i)ers and th.mksj^ivin^s in
I some cluinh dedicated to the Holy \irj;in. l!e-
sides these ;.;eneral acts ot propitiation, e.ich one
made his jirivate vow, hindiii;,' hiniiell to some
|)ilj{rini i.ije, or vi^ril, or other riteol penitence and
tll.inks^fivin^at his lavorite shrine. The he.ivens,
however, seemed deal to their vows ; the storm
jjrew siill more wild and frijrhtful, and eaih man
jj.ive hinisell up lor lost. 'I'lie danj,'er ot the ship
was au;rmeiiteil hy the w.tnt of ballast, the con-
samptioii ol the water and |)rovisions lia\injf
lij;liteiied In-r so much tli.il she rolled and tosseii
aliout .11 the mercy ol the w.ives. To remed)' this,
and to render her more steady, the .idmir.ii order-
ed th.it all the emjity casks should he filled with
se.i-w.iter, which in some measure ^(.ive relict.
During thi'i lonjr and awful conllict of the ele-
ments, the mind ol Columbus was .1 |)rey to the
mist distiessinjr anxiety. Ile feared thai the I'in-
ta had linindeied in the storm. In siu h case the
whole history ot his discovery, the secret (d the
New World, depended upon his own leeble bark,
anil one surj;e ot ilu' oce.m mijrht bury it forever
in ohlivion. The tumult of his thoui;hls may be
juili,'i;.| troni his own letter to the so\eri'i^ns. " I
could have supported this evil hirtune with less
j>Tief," s.iid he, " had my person alone been in
ji'o|)ai(ly, since I am a deluor hir my lite to the
sii|iieine Creator, ,iiid ha> at other times been
within a step of death. IKi, t was a cause of in-
liiiite sorrow and troulile to i,-ink that, alter hav-
iiij,' lic'-n illumiii.ited from on hi^h with faith and
Certainty to undertake this em rprise, after h.iv-
iii}( victoriiiii-,ly achieved it, and w hen on the point
ot cimviiicin^r my opponents, and securinjj to your
hi^.,diiu-sses j^reat fflory .'iiul vast increase ol do-
minions, it should please the divine .Majesty to
* 'ir'i'.it all by my de.ith. It would have been more
^ I ipurt.ible also, had I not been accompanied by
uLiRiswho had been dr.iwn on by my iiersu.isions,
ami will), in their distress, cursed not only the
Ivnir ot their comin^r, but the fe;ir inspired by my
4 words which jjrevented their turninjr back, ;is they
I h.ul at various times determined. .Above all, my
I f;rief was doubletl when I thoujjluof my two sons,
a \\honi 1 had left at school in Cordova, ilestitiite,
^ ill a stranije land, without any testimony ol tlit;
services rendered by their 'father, which, if
known, mit;ht have inclined your hi^Jhne»SM to
bidrieiid them, .\nd .dthoii|^di, on the our hand,
I W.IS conilorted by laith lli.it llii' liiity would not
permit .1 work ol sin h j;re.it e\.dlalioii to his
church, wrou;;lit throii;;!) so m.iiiy trcnibles and
contr.idictioiis, to reiii.iin ini|u'rlect , yet, on the
other hand, I retlected on my sins, as ,1 punish-
ment lor whii'h he mi^;hl intend lh,il 1 should be
deprived ot the ^lory which would redouml to me
111 this world." '
In till! midst ol these Kloumy .ippicheiisions, an
e\pedient suKvtcsted itsell, by whii'h, thou^;h he
and his ship-, should |)i'rish, the ^jlory ol his
achievement mij,dit surM\c to his name, and its
adv,mt.l^,'es be secureil to his so'.ereinns. Ilf
wrote on parchment a tiriet account ot his voyajju
and discoverv, .'ind ol his luuin;;' taken po .session
ot the newly louiid l.iiids in the n.iiih' (d their
C.ilholic m.ijeslies. This he se.iled .ilid directed
to the kin^f and (pneii ; superscribing .1 promise
of a thousand dm its to whomsoever should de-
liver the p. icket unopened, lie then w ripped it
in a w.ixed cloth, whii h he placed in the ( ,iiire of
;i cake ot wax, .■iiid inclosiii;.f the whole 111 a larjje
b.irrel, threw it into the scLi^iv Iiilj his men to sup-
)ose he was |)ertormiiin' sonic relij;ioin vow.
.est this niemori.il should never rcac h the land,
he inclosed a copy in a simii.ir niiiiiier, and
|)laced it upon the poop, so th.it, should the car.i-
vel be sw.illoweil up by the waves, the b.irn I niij^dit
llo.it off .'iiid siirv i\ r.
Thesi' preciiltions in suine measure niili.i,Mted
his anxiety, and he was still more relii'\id when,
alter heavy showers, there appeared at sunset a
stre.'ik of cle.ir sky in the vvest, Ki^'Ui^; hop<'S that
the wind was about to shilt to th.it ipi.irter.
These hopes were i tinlirm.d ; a lavor.ible bree/u
succeeded, but the sea still r.iti so hi;di .ind tll-
nuiltuously that lillle sail could be c.irrnd during
the iii^jht.
On the morniii,i;iif the i^jili. at d.iybreil;, tlu* cry
of l.ind w.is f^isen by kiii (l.irci.i, a 111. inner in the
maintop. The transports id the crew, at once
more fr.iininj,' si;(lit ot the 1 )ld Wurld, weie almost
ecpial to those experienced on lirsi beliohliiiyi the
.New. The land bore east-norih-e.ist, directly over
the prow of the c.ira\'el ; and the usual diversity
ofoiiinion concernin;;' it arose .iiilonL;' tiie pilots.
( )ne thou>rht it rhe island ot .Madi'ir.i ; another the
rock ot Ciiitr.i near Lisbon ; the most p.irt, de-
ceived by their ardent wishes, placed it near
.Spain. Columbus, howeser, troni his private
reckonintrs and observations, unicluded it to be
one of the A/ores. .\ ne.ii'er approach proved it
to be an islan.l ; it was but ti\e lea;;ue-i distant,
and the voyatjers were coii;;i'.itiilatinj; themselves
upon the assur.ince ol speedily hi iiitr in port,
when the wind veered ai.(ain to the east-iioith-e;ist,
blowing directly irom tiie land, wiiile a heavy sea
kept roUin).; from the west.
For two days they hovered in s\^h> ;d the
island, vainly strivin;,' to re.ich it, or to .iri,ve .U
another i.sland ot which they caiij^ht j^liinpses oc-
casionally tliroU).;h the mist ;iiul rai : ol the teni-
pest. On the e\eninj^ ot the I /til they aii'proach-
ed so near the Inst isl.uul as to cast anilior, but
partinjr their cable, had to put to sen -.i^iin, wheic
they remained beating about until vli.- followin;^
morniiiff, when they am hored under shelter of its
northern side, h'or several d.iys Columbus h.id
been in such a st.ite of a'fitation .■inc. ,. .ixiety as
scarcely to take food or repose. .■\lth(juL;li suffer-
injr greatly from a j^oiuy affection to w hich he
* Hist, del Almirantc, cap. 36.
!l
66
LIFE AND VOVAC3ES OF COLUMBIJS.
II
^1
wns siil)i(H-t, Vft l-.o had niaintainfc! his watihlul
post on (Itrk, L-x])cist'(l to wintry niid, to tiu' pt-it-
111}^ o( liiu ^>t()|•n1. and tht' dicnihin}^ surt^cs ol ihc
sea. ll was n( . ^.niil the ni^lu ol Uu- i/lh that hv
j^'ot a iittlt' slci-p, iiMir lioni thi' (.•xiiaiistion of na-
ti re til. in Ironi .iiu tr,nu|inllity ol mind. Siicii
WLTc the liiliiiiiltics and perils whieh attended his
return to I'.iirope ; h.id one tenth p.irt ot iheni he-
set liis oiilw.iid \oy,n,^e, ilis timid and tactions
crew would h,ue risen in ,irms a^Minsl the enter-
prise, ;ind he ne\er would have discovered 'he
New World.
CII.M'll'.K 111.
TRANSAC'IIONS AI' iHl'. l.-^IAND Of .ST. MAKV'S.
[I4';3-I
0\ sendinj;- tin* boat to l.md, Columbus ascer-
tained tb.e isLmd to he St. Mary's, the nio-^t
southern ot the A/nrcs, ami ,i possession ot the
crown ot l'ortn;4,d. 'I'iu' inh.diitants, when thev
beheld llii' lii^lu cir.ucl ridinj;' at anchor, wt're
astonished th.it it h.id been .ihle to li\e ilirou^h
the g. lie, which h.ul r.ii;cd lor I'llteeii da\s with un-
exanipU'd tur\ ; luit wlicn tiny heard irom the
boat's cri v. tli.it this ii'inpi st-tossed vessel l)roui;ht
ti(lin,i;s ol ,1 str,,n;^"e counti'v bevond tlu- ocean.
vlicN' wi'ic liUed with wondei' and curiositv. To
the ini|uiiics about .i pl.ice where the cara\el
Hiinht anchor securely, they replied by pointin^^
out a h.irhor in the \iciniiy, but jirevailed on
three ot the mariner.-i to i-em.iin on shore, ,ind
g'r.itify them with hirilicr p.iriiculars ot this un-
[lar.dlelei' vo\.i;;e.
In the e\enin;4' three men ot the island h.ailed
the caravt'l, and ,i bo.it Ueinij; sent tor them, lhe\-
l)rou,i;lit on bo.ird jowls, bre.id, .md v.irious relresh-
ments, Irom Ju.in di^' C'.ist.ii"ied.i, governor ot the
island, who claimed an acciuainlance with Colum-
!rjs, and sent him many compliments and con-
jjr.itul.nions. lie apolo;.;i.a'd tor not cominj;' in
])erson, owini;- to the l.iteiiess of the hour and the
ilistance ot his residence, but |iromised to \isil the
caravel the next morniuL;', brini;in|4 turther refresh-
ments, and the three men, whom he still kept with
him to s.itisty h.is extreme curiosity res])ectini;' the
voyatje. As there were no houses on the neii;h-
borin;,^ shore, t!ie messeiij^ei's remained on bo.ird
all nii;ht.
C)n the foUowint;- morniu;.; ■'"olumbus reminded
his peo|)le ot their vow to iiertorni a pious ]iroces-
sion at the i'lrst place where they should land. On
the nei.;;hho|-ini^ shoi'e. .it no i^reat distance from
the sea. was.ism.dl hermitai;'" or ch.ipel dedicated
to the \"irt;in. ,ind he m.ide immediate arran^^^e-
r.ients for the |)erform.ince of the rite. The three
messengers, oii reiurninuf to ihe villa^^.^ sent a
jjriest to piMlorm m.i>s, ,ind one half ot the crew
iaiuliiii;-. w, liked in procession, barefootetl, and in
their shirts, to the ch.ipel ; while the ailmiral
awaited their I'eturn, to pertorm the same cere-
mony with the remainder.
.An ungenerous reception, however, .awaited the
poor tempest-tossed mariners on their tlrs* return
to 'he abode ot civili/e.l men, f,ir ditferent fron-: the
symjiathy ami hos;-,itality they had experienced
anions^ ti't- sav.ii,M'-i of the New World. .Scarcely
had they bei^im dieir prayers and thanksf,nvini,'-s,
when the iMbble of the xill.ii^e, horse and foot,
he.ided by the jjovernor, sur'-ouiuled the hermitajje
and took them all prisoners.
As an inter\enin'i; point ot land hid the hei'niit-
ai,'e from the view of the car.ivel, the .idnnr.il r^
111. lined in i),fnorai'ce of this trans, iction. Win-
eleven ci'clock arrix'ed without the return ot ti,c
pilgrims, he bei.;;.ii'. to U\,r th.it they were detain^
l)y the I'ortuj^ue;.!. , or that the boat had been sh.r..
tered upon the siirf-iieaten rocks which boidcici
the isl.ind. Weii;l)ir;j4' anchor, therelore, he sidn'
in a diri'ction '.o comni.md .i \iew ot the ch.i;,,
and theadj.iceiil shore ; whence lie bi-held .i nu:;;.
bi'r ol armed horsemen, who, dismounting^, i -,.
tered ihe boat ;uid made tor the car.ivel. 'Ihi',-,
miral's .incient suspicions of l'orlii,L;uese ho.^iii;'
toward himself .ind his enterpri/es wi'i'e imiiu-i.;.
ately revived, .md he orderetl ilis men to .n;;
themselves, but to keep out of si^lit, re.uly eiiiii:
to delend the vessel or surprise the bo.it. i;
hitter, however, appro. idled in a p-icil'ic niann'-'-
the governor ol the isl.ind was on bo.ird, and, mi;
inn' within hail, deni.iiided assur.mce ot perr^ui',
satety in case he shoeld enter the 'mimvcI. fi;;.
the .idmiral ri'.idily ua\e, but the I'oitu^uese ^I:,
continued at a w.iry ilistance. The iiidii^natinn c
Columbus now broke lort'i ; he lepro.iclicil i-
l^overnor with his jierlidy, and with the -.vroiiL;::
did, not merely to the .Spanish moii.irchs, bin i.
his own sovereii;ii, bv such a dishonorable uu;-
r.ii^e. lie intormed him of his \)wn rank .mil di;;-
iiity ; displayed his letters patent, sealed with ir-
roy.il seal of Castile, and threatened him with tir
veiijreance of his ^•overnnieiU. C.istaneda repln-t
in a vein of coniem|U and ileii.ince, decl.iriiij;- t!„r
all he had tlone w.is in contorniit)' to the cu:'i
m.iiuls ot the kin>; his sovereign.
After an uii|)rorital)le altercition, the boat re-
turned to shore, le.ivin^; Columbia much iierplexo
by thus unexpected hostility, aiul fe.irtul that „
I war nii^lil have broken out l)elwceii Sp.iin ,iiit
: I'ortuij.il duriiiij^ his absence. The next day li>
we.ither bec.ime so tempe-ituous that they wirr
I driven from their anchor. i)j;e, and oblined to st,i;.i.
I to sea toward the island ol St. Mich.iel. I'or iv.
I (lavs the ship continued be.itinjr about in i,nt.:
! peril, h.ilf ol her cri-w bein^- delaiiU'd mi sluirr
and the j;reater p.irt ot tho-.e on board he;i,,
landsmen and Indians, alnio.-.t ei|iially useless ,',
dillicult navi);-.ition. l'"(n-tunately, allhou^li l;.:
waves ran hi^h, there were none ol liui-ie clll^•
seas w liicli had rt'Ceiitly prevailed, otherwise, he r.^'
so teebly maii'ied, the car.ivel could scircely li.n;
lived throu^rli the storm.
On the eveiiin;;- ol the 22(1, the we.ither haviii;
moderated, Cokimbus returned to his anchor,;;;:
at St. M.iry's. Shortly after his arriv.al, a lui.i;
came off, brin.<;in^ two |)riesis and a no'.jrv
.After a cautious jiarley and an as^ur.iii' c ot s.ih'.
thev c.ime on board, and recplested a si^ht ol '
p.ipers of Columbus, on the |)art ol C.ist.ineil.i, -i-
surinj;- him that it was the disposition ol the ;.;.
eriior to render him every service in his ]w\\r
provided he really sailed in service of the Sp.in;-
sovereigns. Columbus supposed it .i m.UKfUv::
of Castafied.-l to cover a retreat Irom the lui>ti:?
position he h.i'l assumed ; restr.iininj;- his inilinn--
tion, howevei lad expressinji' his tli.inks lor li;
friendly disposition of the frovernor, he showr.
his letters ot commission, which satistieil l'.
priests and the notary. On the lollowini;' iii"'
injr the bor.t and m.iriners were liherati'd. i'
lattir, during'- their detention, h.id collecte.l in:
matioii from the inh.ibitaiits wliicli elucid.itcii : :
conduct ot Castai'iedii.
The Kiiv^'ot l'orlUi,'-,i|, jcilous lest the expedif^
of Columbus mii.;ht interfere with his own (lis-
coveries had sent orders to his coiiim .iidei^ ''■
islands and distant [lorts to seii^e and detain !;•-
.'lerever he sh
il!i these on
line, hoped t
111, tailin,:,^ in
Mil in his |)ow
y lindiii.Lf him
feception of til
JVorlil, an e.irn
Irliich he w.is I
ne lit the ^ri
rrcil upon his
^KKIVAI, AT l'(
< Cdi.fMiu's ri-
IbI.uuI ot St, ,Nh
And h.'illast, but
Ik'hicli broke u]
|o the south, an
Anchor olt the -si
Spain, he set s
lad pleas.iiil we.i
•ithiii one luind
^ape St. \'iiicent
jales am! a boi
[c.ircely proof a
vhicli appeared
iriiiched his honi
tP'ri •' conipl.iint a
l|f trmii the verv d
: (1 the rude stiirm
I if the old world, \
.-' eas, and h.almy \^
! etually lo preva
iscovered. " W.
■ leiiloi^ians and s;
: errestrial jiaradis
; i the Kast, lor it
• ;ioiis."
' After ex|ierienc
;(lverse we.ither, :
d ot .March, the c
ind which rent
o\v with resisilef
iider hare jioles,
itli (lestiuction.
leril, the crew a.^rai
'lit was cast tor
ilK'rimayfe to the
.lu-vaiii Huelva, a
himliu^. There i
teiiiiTeiice of this
Vcmly ((insiders it
to the adinira! tha
fccdiint, to humlili
tOK'aliii;i; to himsell
i'as the work ol C.i
Bteii rhdsen as an
\ ariiiiis sij;ns a
ylliih they supposi
*'>l ; die temiiest,
jt,:,uee that they
i'oiild survive to f.
Jiile a vow, in c
fesi updii hreail an
Hist, del Almir
lifi-. lii). i. rap. 72.
t LasCasas, Hist
LIFE AND VOYAGKS OF COLUM13US.
r;r
lie a<li"iiMl r".
ictiiin. Whr:
1 return (it ti.;
Wfrc ili'l.iiin'i. . .
liad ln'i'ii sh.i',-
vliiih liurdfii'i.
(•lore, lu" stiKji.
V lit tin: cli,i|ic.
bi-lu'ld a luiai-
wnoimiinir, n.
•avcl. 'I'lu' .11,. ,,,
s wfrt' iinnu'd;. ■
I nu'ii 111 .1!;:
It, rc.uly ciiik:
he boat. '11:
acit'if nianii'.r
ti.ird, and, mi:
u'c ot |)(;rs(in.i,
■ M ravel. Thi>
l'o;tii^iu-se >l:.
L' indii;iiati(in i:
ri'prii.irhfd ti-
ll tliL- -A riiiij; ; r
onarclis, bin ;,
^iKiiiurablc uir,-
II ranU .uid ilii;.
st-aU-d with \\\'
■d idiii with llr
istai-K'da ri'plia
, dci'l.irm;.;- t!,a:
iit\- to llu: cum.
on, tiic boat r-
nundi |)er|)k'\ii
I Icarlul that ,.
iVfcn .Spain am.
,1L- next day tr^
that thry wi;-
oblij^i'd to sl,i;,:.
ch.K'l. I'or tv.
about in i,nc.;;
lined on sluirc.
III board heir;
ually useless ;■
, althoti.v;!! !:•
■ (it tiUlT." (Ill"
illierwise, he:r.;.:
|ld scarcely h.n;
[weather havin;
|i his ancluir.;;;:
arriv.'il, ;i hii.i:
and a no'.-ir;,
lir.ni' (■ (it s.iU'.
ll a si<;ht ot : '
L',islaned.i, .r
lition (it tlie j;i
■ in Ids pd'vvc
(it the Span:-
lit ,1 niancrinr:
Ironi the luisU.^
[in^- hisindi;;!;-
thanks lor v.-
Iior, he shdNM-
ll satisfied '. '
illowini;- Mill'
lliberated. I
■oUecte.l inl'
ll elueidateil ii
It the fxpedi'.;
|h his own d:^
■onini -ndiTi '
l.uid detain h;:
.■'u-rever he should be met with.* In compliance
se orders, Ca.stafleda h.ul, in the lirst iii-
laiue. iioped to surprise Columbus in the chapel,
lid t.iilinij in that attempt, had intended to ^et
iiii' ill his' power by .str.itaH:em, but was deterred
,• tiiidiii,^' him on his j;uard. Such w.is the lirst
-ception' of the admiral on his return to the ( Md
Vorld, an earnest (it the crosses and troubles with
...ch'lie w.is to be re(|uited tlirou.i;houl lile, for
ne ot the ;;reatest lienetits that ever man con-
rred upon his lellow-beings.
rtiK
^ CHAl'TKR IV.
ikKUlV.VL At I'OKTUHAl.— Vl.SIf T(J THE COURT.
[■493]
i' Cdl.tMlifS remained two days longer n'. the
fcl.iml of St. .Mary's, endeavnrinjr to take in wood
tnd liallast. Iiut w.is jirevented by the heavy surf
%\w\\ liroke upon the shore. The wind veering
to tlie south, .and being dangerous for vessels ,it
Inclior (lit the -sland, but tavoraiile tor the voyage
Npiiii. lie set s.ul on the 24th of I''ebruary, and
lad pleasant we.ither until the 27th, when, being
I'idiiM (Hu; hundred and twenty-live leagues of
tape St. \'ineent. he again encountered contrary
fales and a boisterous sea. His fortitude was
Icarcely ])roof ag.ainst these perils and del.iys,
fliich .ippe.ired to increase, the nearer he a])-
^riKiched his home ; and he could not help iitter-
a complaint at thus being repulsed, as it were,
hiiiii the verv doorof the house." He contr.ist-
id tile rude storms which raged about the co.ists
if the old world, with the genial .lirs, the trancpiil
eis, ,uid lialmy weather which he sup|)osed jier
iftuallv to prevail about the countries he had
.isciivered. " Well," says he, " may the sacred
beiilogians and sage philosophers declare that the
rrestrial ])aradise is in the uttermost extremity
if the Hast, tor it is the most temperate ot re-
inns."
.Alter experiencing several days of stormy and
idverse we.ither, about midnight on Saturday, ihe
1(1 ot .March, the caravel was struck by ,1 scpi.tll of
iiul wiiicli rent all her sails, and, continuing to
iiw with resistless violence, obliged her to scud
iider li.irj poles, threatening her each moment
illi (lestiuction. In this hour of d.irkness .and
leril, the crew again called upon the aid ot I le.iven.
(It was cast lor the ]ierformance of a barefooted
iili^riiaage to the shrine of -Santa M.iria de la
fucva 111 iluelv.i, and, as usual, the lot fell upon Co-
Jiiiilius. There was something singular in the
teiinrence of this circumstance. Las Casas de-
tcudy considers it as an intimation from the Deity
f) the admiral that these storms were all on his
ccdum, to luimble his jiride, and prevent his .ar-
lro,L;.uiiig to himself the glory of a discovery which
»\is the work of Ciod, and for which he had merely
keen chosen as an instrument. t
\'.irious signs appeared of the vicinity of land,
Vhkli tluy su]iposed must be the coast of I'ortu-
fal ; the tempest, however, increased to such a
fli^'ite tii.it they doubted whether any of them
*" lid survive to reach a port. The whole crew
•i 1 le a vow, in case their lives were spared, to
fcii upon lireail and water the tallowing Salurdav.
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 3(j. Las Casas, Hist.
in<i., lib. i. cap. 72.
\ Las Casas, Hist. Ind., HI), i. cap. 73.
The turbidence of the element.^ was -^till greater
in the course of the following night. The se.i was
broken, wild, and mount, linous ; at one moment
the liglit caravel was tossed high in the air, and
the next moment seemed sinking in .1 yawning
abyss. The r.iin at times fell in torrents, ami
the lightning llashed and thunder |iealed lium
various p.irls of the heavens.
In the lirst w.itch of this teartul night the se.i-
men gave the usu.illy welcome cry ot l.iiid, but it
How only increased the gener.il alarm. 'i'liey
knew not whert' they were, nor when; to look tor
a h.irbor ; they dre.ided being driven on shore, or
dashed upon rocks ; ;ind thus the \cr\- l.iiid they
had so earnestly desired '.cas a terror to tluiu.
T.iking in s.iil, tlieretore, they kept to sea as iiuu h
as iiossible, and w.iitcd .anxiously lor the morning
light.
At d.iybre.ik on the 4lh of M.irih they t nmd
ihemstdves off the roc k of Cintra, at the mouth ot
the Tagus. Though entert.iining a strong distrust
of the good-will of I'ortug.il, the still pre\ailing
tempest left Columbus no .iliernative but t 1 iiin
in tor shelter ; he accordingly anchored, .iliout
three o'clock, o])posite to Kaslello, to the great
joy of the crew, who returned thanks to Cio(l lor
their escape from so many jierils.
The inhabit.mts came off from various ])arts of
the shore, congratulating them u|)on what they
consid';red a miraculous |ireser\:ition. They had
been watching the vessel the wdiide morning with
great .anxiety, and ])ulting up prayers for her sate-
tv. The oldest mariners of the place assureil Co-
lutiibus they had never known so tempestuous a
winter ; manv vessels had remained for months in
port, we.ither-bound, and .here had been numer-
ous shipwrei ks.
Immedi.itely on his arrival Columbus dis-
patched a courier lo the King and (^ueenot Sp.iin,
with tidings of his disco\ery. He wrote also \.o
the King of I'ortug.il. then .it V'aljiaraiso, re(|uest-
ing i)ermission lo go with his vessel to Lisbon ;
for a re])orl iiad gone .abroad that his caravel was
laden with gold, and he felt insecure in the mo'ith
of the Tagus, in the neighborhood of a pi. ice 'ike
Rastello, scantily jieopled by needy and adveiuur-
ous inhabitants. To prevent any misunilerstiind-
ing as lo the nature of his vc/y;ige, he assured the
king that he had not been on the coast of (a.ine.i,
nor to any other ot the I'orluguese colonies, but
h.id come from Cipango, aiul the extreaiity of
India, w ch he had discovered by sailii.g to the
west.
On the following day, Don Alonzo tie AcuRa,
the c.iptain of a large Portuguese man-of-war
stationed at Rastello, summoned Columbus on
board his ship, to gi\e an account of himself and
his vessel. The latter asserted his rights and
dignities as admiral of the Castilian so\ereigns,
ami refused to leave his vessel, or to send any one
in his place. \o sooner, however, did the com-
mander learn his rank, and the extraordinary
n.iture of his voyage, than he came to the car.ivel
with great sound of drums, fifes, and trumpets,
manitesting the courtesy of a brave and gener-
ous spirit, and making the fullest offer of his ser-
vices.
When the tidings reached Lisbon of this won-
derful bark, anchored in the Tagus, freightel with
the peo|)le and productions ot a newly-discovered
world, the effect may be more easily conceived
than clescrilied. Lisbon, for nearly a century, had
derived its chief glory from its maritime discov-
eries, but here was an achievement that ecliijsed
them all. Curiosity could scarcely have beeu
i
68
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
1' :
II'
more cxrited had thn vessel come freighted with
the wonders ol another planet. For several days
tile Ta;;us presented a jifay and movinj^ ])icture,
eov'.-re(l with harges and boats of every l<ind,
swarniinj,'' round tlie caravel. From mornin}; till
nijjht the vessel was thronged with visitors,
amonjr whom were cavaliers ot high distinction,
and various officers ot the crown. All hung with
rapt attention upon the accounts given by Co-
lumbus and his crew, of the events of their vov-
ag(\ and of the New World they had disco^iTed ;
and gazed with insatiable curiosity upon the speci-
mens <d unknown plants ;>nd animals, but above
all upon the Indians, so dilfer'-nt from any race of
men hitherto known. Some were tilled with gen-
erous entluhiasm at tht; idea of a discovijrv, so
suiilimc and so benet'icial to mankind ; the avarice
of others was iiillamed by the description of wild,
imap|)ropriated regions teeming with gold, with
])earls and spices ; while ;)thers repined at the in-
credidity of the king and his councillors, by which
so immense an ac<[uisition had been forever lost
to I'ortug.il.
On the 8th of March a cavalier, called Don
Martin de Xorofia, came with a letter from King
John, congratulating Columbus on his aTi\al, and
in\ itmg lum to the court, which was then at \'al-
p.'.riso, about nine leagues from Lisbon. The
king, with his usual magnificence, issued orders
;it the same time that everything which the ad-
miral re<|uired for himself, his crew, or his vessel,
should be furnished promptly and abundantly,
without cost.
Columbus would gladly have declined the royal
invitation, feeling distrust of the good faith of the
king; but tempestuous weather had placed him in
his power, and he thought it prudent to avoid all
appearance of suspicion. He set forth, therefore,
that very evening for V'al])ariso accompanied by
his pilot. The lirst night he slept at Sacamben,
where preparations '■ i-i i^een made for his honor-
ablt^ entertainmcn. ' r,e weather being rainy, he
ilid not reach X'alpariso until the following night.
On approaching the royal residence, the ])rincipal
cavaliers of the king's household came forth to
meet h'.ii, and attended him witit great ceremony
to the palace. His recejnion by the monarch was
worthy ot an enlightened prince. He ordered him
to seat himself in his presence, an honor only
granted to ])ersons of royai dignity ; and after
many congratid.itions on the result of his enter-
prise, assured him that everything in his kingdom
that could be of service to his sovereigns or h'.m-
selt was at his command.
A long conversation ensued, in which Colum-
bus gave an account of his voyage, and of the
countries he had discovered. The king listened
with much seeming pleasure, but with secret grief
and mortitiiation ; rejecting that this splendid en-
terprise had once been offered to himself, and had
been rejected. A casual observation showed what
was passing in his thoughts. He exjiressed a
doubt whether the discovery did not really apper-
tain to the crown of Portugal, according to the
capitulations of the treaty ot 1479 witii the Castil-
ian sovereigns. Columbus replied that h,e had
;iever seen those capitulations, nor kn('W anything
of their nature ; his orders had been not to go to
La Mina, nor the coast ot (iuinea, which orders he
hati carekilly obscTved. The king made a gra-
cious reply, expressing himself satishetl that he
hatI acted correctly, and persuaded that these mat-
t'.'rs would be readily adjusted between the two
powers, without the need ot um])ires. On dismiss-
ing Columbus toi the night, he gave him in
charge as guest to the prior of Crato, the principajl
personage jiresent, by whom he was lionoraDlvl
and hospitably entertained.
On the following day the king made many m;.!
nute in([uiries as to the soil, productions, and peij.
pie of the newly-discovered countries, and ih;i
route taken in the voyage ; to all which Columbujj
gave the fullest replies, endeavoring to show;;
the clearest manner that these were regions hertf
tofore undiscovered and unapprojiriated by ar
Christian i-,.)wer. Still the king was uneasy lestti;..
vast and undefined discovery should in sonir w
iiUertere with his own newly-ac(|uired territoni-
He doubted whether Columbus harl not fouim ,
short way to those very countries which wen \--
ol)ject ot his own ex[)eilitio]is, and which w-:
compreliended in the papal bull, granting tn ■,:
crown ot Portugal all the lands which itsJKj;. ,
discover from Cape N"on to the Indi(;s.
On suggesting these doubts to his councillor:
they eagerly confirmed them. Some of (In.:;
were the very |)ersons who had once derided ih:
enter[)rise, and scoffed at Columbus as a dre.im-
To them its success w.is a source of contu~,i. :.
and the return of Columbus, covered with glur
a dee|) humiliation. Inc.a[)able of conceiving !■;
high and generous thoughts which ele\at(.'(l I;,;
at that mnment above all mean consider.uio: .
they attributed to all his actions the most ])i.:
ami ignoble motives. His rational exultation \v_
construed into an insulting triumjih, and they,;.
cused him ot assuming a boistful aiul vainglori(
tone, when talking with the king of his iliscowr
as if he would revenge himself upon the nionar,
for having rejected his jiroijosilions.* With li:
greatest eagerness, therefore, they sought to t ■
ter the doul)ls which had sprung up in the m. .
mind. Some who had seen the natives broughi
the caravel, declared that their color, hair, ,.:
manners agreed with the descriptions of the;;
])le of that part of India which lay within the n/,.:
of the Portuguese discoveries, and which had In:
included in the ]).i|)al bull. (Others observe 1 t: .
there was but little dist.ince between the Tcii •
Islands and those '.'.ich Columbus had dis.
ered, and that the latter, therefore, clearly apj
tallied to Portugal. Seeing the king much ;
turbed in spirit, some even went so tar as to ] ■
pose, as a means of impeding the prosecuti'V.
these enterprises, that Columbus should be :im .
sinaled ; declaring that he deserved death {<:.
tempting to dectdve and emliroil the tv>o n.i;:
by his pretended discoveries. It was suggi -.
th.it his assas.iinalion might easily be ace -
])lished without incurring any odium ; adv.int;,
might be taken of his lofty deportment t^) pi,
his pride, jircn-oke him into an altercation, ,.
then dispatch him as if in casual and h'Mni..
encounter.
It is dillicult to believe that such n-ckc!
dastardly counsel could have been ])ro', i?.ii'
monarch .•>() upright as John II., but tht ';
asserted by various historians, PortUiUese 1
* Vasconcelos, Villa de n. Juixn 11., li'>. vi. "
Portuguese historians in general ch.argo tToliiiiV.
with having conducted himself loitily, and talkc I
vaiiiitinR terms of his discoveries, in hi,-> conversui; '
with the kinK- It is evident their iiiformati'ui n:.
have been derived from prejudiced courtiers. F..'
y Souza, in his ' Europa Portupuesa' ' (Parte iii. i :
4^, goes so f.ar as to say that Colunlms cnteri'l :
the port of Rastello merely : , inake PortiiRal sen?
by the sight of the trophies ot h:- discovery, ^
much she had loi.t by not actepiing his propositions
IS Spanish,*
idvice formerl
[0 Columbus.
;oiirts, which i:
laseness ; and
ite the grosses
[roni person.d <
ll.ippily, the I
idopt the iniqu
justice to the
red him as a
iiid ; and he
riiice, to protei
fortune to his
fi'^lcd a more
hey advised th
Jo return to Sp;
but a second
ihould be dispat
'ortiiguese mari
niral, to take pi
iinintry ; posses;
■ynd an appeal
iiig so doubtful
This counsel,
if coiir.ige and
ng, and he n
|o put it in ext
fiscn de Almeid
(I capt.iins of tl
ion.t
; In the mean tin
Aviih distingiiishc'
. lis slii|) by Don >
, )u.s train of cava
,i mnided for hims
t'^himi the king 1
linas, or ducats o
' tupped at the mo
; a I'ranca, to visii
1 m earnest wish to
: erpri.sing man, w
. if e\ery tongue,
it !)('r t.ivorite lac
fl.itlering receptioi
h'j- the jirincipal
icrilie the countrii
fr ladies hung wi
:itii)n. That nigf
. II the point of ik
i';. U of the king ar
j'er, it he jirelerri
iii'l to ])rovide he
I-; might stand in
.veather, ho\
' icrred returnin
Jn. iht ,cfore, un
i :< iy ,it the bar o
fi i at mid-dav t
*}h<-ncv he had'sai
piVKiJiiig year, h
111 '■nils and a h;ilf
ii It lUo of ,ill mar
V.isroncelos, \'l
f-inii (II- Resendc
jP'-"^''-^. Hist. Ind., lil
i ^ \ isctiiicelos, ill)
i ' Tu-cniy eight ik
jnl o'luiv.ilent to sev
»fpreri,,iion of ihe p
' Works generally
'•'■^■iS Hist. Ind. lib.
,f^P. 39. 40, 41 i Jo
torn. 1,
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLT'MBUS.
G!)
,o, the prinripj'Jf
was honorai);,
made many nv-
:ti()ns, and pc ■
trit'S, and li: •
,-hich Columh;,:/
injf Id sliiiw-
t; ri'^jions h( ri-
prialud liy ar
uiiuasy k'Stth;^
1(1 in sonu: w.;,
Liired li'rritnriii
had not fmiiui ,
which wen ;::
nd \vhi( h «■•;
jri-anliii;; to •::
which it shou,.
lies.
his counriUon.
Some of du:;
incc derided th,;
us as a drcaiivc:
;e of cuntusii,-
M'ed with j,diir,
if conceiving i:-.
ich elevated \;-.
1 consideralio!'.:,
s th(; most pi';
al exultation w^
i])h, and they ,;,
and vainj^lniii _
of his iliscovi:r,
)on the moiia:-.
ons.* Wuli ;:.
;y soujjht to ! ■
up in the in..
atives broUL^hi;
color, hair, ?.:.
)lions of the ]h
within the; ri'V:
which had In;
observe I i:.^
■en tlie Tercr.
us had disc
clfiriy apii-
kin^;- much ; •
o tar as to |':
prosecuti'i.'.
houltl be a^:,.
ed death fur.:
the tv>-o nali':
was sugjjo.i:.
sily be ace <
urn ; ad\:uit:.
tment to pi',
dtercation, .^
ind b'Moi,:
luch w'cked ..
i\\ pro'j isec' ,
but the fact
iriuf 'uese as v
:i., lii'. vi. T
r-harRS tZoluml
and talkci'
hi.-> conversali'"'
information mt'
rourtiers. F.r
" (I'arto iii.
tiiss cntercil
I'ortURal sens
discovery,
his proposiiiow
ts Spanish,* and it accords with the perfidious
idvice formerly fjiven to the monarch in respect
(o Cohniibus. There is a sinirious loyalty about
:oiirts, which is often jirone to jirove it's zeal by its
aieness ; and it is the weaknes ' kinjjs to toler-
it(' the tjrossest faults when thi , ear to arise
from perst)nal devotion.
appiiy, tliekintj had too much majjnanimity to
ulopt the inic|uitous measure ])ro|)osed. He did
lustiie to the ^freat merit ot Columbus, and hon-
ired liini as a (listiii};uisht-(l benefactor of nian-
;iiul ; and he felt it his duty, as a fjenerous
Iferiiue, to ])rolect .ill stranj,a'rs driven by adverse
fortune to his ])orts. (">th(;rs of his council suj^-
fc-.tid a more bold and martial line of ])olicy.
lu\ advised that Columbus should be i)ermitled
\o return to Spain ; but thai before he could fit
)iil a second expedition, a jjowerful armament
should be dispatched, under the j,fuidance of two
^)rlu;4uese mariners who had sailed with the ad-
iral, to take ])ossession of the newly-discovered
;oiinlry ; possession beinjr after all the best title,
^nd an ajipe.al to arms the clearest mode of set-
Tliiij,"^ so doubtftd a cpiestion.
"his counsel, in which there was a mixture
)f couraLje and craft, was more relished i)y the
liiiL,', and he resolved jirivately, but ])romptly,
lo put it in execution, fixinj,^ ujion Don Fran-
;isc() de .Mmeida, one of the most disting-uish-
;(1 ca|)tains of the age, to command the expedi-
tion. +
i In the mean time Columlnis, after being treated
ividi distinguished attention, was escorted b.ack to
*is shi]i by Don .Martin de .Xorofia, and a numer-
)us train of cavaliers of the court, a mule being
irovided for himself, and .another tor his pilot, to
•honi the king made a present of twenty espa-
linas, or ducats ot gold. J On his w.iy Ccdumbus
(topped at the monastery of San Antonio, at \'il-
la I'ranca, to visit the cjueen, who had expressed
: m earnest wish to see this extraordin.iry and tni-
erprising man, whose achievement was the theme
j )f every tongue. He found her attended by a tew
i if !ier tavorite l.ulies, and ex|)erienced the most
latteriiig rece])tion. Her majesty made him re-
; all' the jirincipal events of his voyage, and de-
icrihe the countries he had found ; and she and
; ILT ladies hung with eager curiosity upon his nar-
■ntion. That night he slept at LLandra, and being
; )n the point of dep.irting in the morning a ser-
■ T.U of the king arrived, lo attend him to the tron-
•] 'xr, it he ])relerred to return to S|)ain !)y land,
/ md to |)rovide horses, lodgings, and everything
; le might stand in need ot, at the royal expense.
'5' J weather, however, having moderated, he
■ icrred returtiing in his car.ivel. Putting to
Jta, thciefore, on the 13th ot March, he arrived
Iricly at the bar of Saltes on sunrise of the 15th,
^nil ,it mid-day entered the harbor of I'alos ;
vhence he had sailed on the 3d of August in the
priaeiiing year, having taken not (piite seven
loiiths and a half to accomplish this most mo-
Utiuous of cdl maritime enterprises. J
Vasronce'.os, Vida del Rei, Don Juan II., lib. vi.
rarcii di; Resende, vida do Dom Joam II. Las
^as.is, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 74, .\is.
t Vasconcelos, lit), vi.
1 Twenty eight dollars in gold of the present day,
[nil equivalent to sevc ity-founiollars, considering the
lepreci.ition of the precious metals.
> Works generally consulted in this chapter . Las
•asas. Hist. Ind. lib. i. cap. 17 ; Hist, del .\lmirante,
tap. 3r), 40, 41 ; Journal of Coluinb, Navarrcte,
torn. i.
CHAPTER V.
RECEPTION OF COI.U.MUU.S AT P.\LOS.
['493-1
The triumphant return of Columbus was a pro-
digious event in the history of the littU; port of
I'alos, where (;verybody w.is more or less interest-
ed in the fate of his exjjedition. The most impor-
tant and wealthy sea-capt.iins of the ])lare had en-
gaged in it, .and scarcely a f.imi'y but h.id some
rel.itive or friend .among the n.ivigators. The de-
parture of the shijis U|)on what .appeared a chimer-
ical and (lt'S|)erate cruise, had sjiread gloom ;>.n(l
dism.ay over the jilace ; and the storms which h.ad
rageil througliout the winter h.ad heightened the
public despondency. M.ui)- lamented their friends
as lost, while imagination lent mysterious horrors
to their fate, picturing them as driven .about over
wild and desert wastes ot water without a shore,
or as ])erishing amid rocks and (piicksands .and
wliirlpools ; or a prey to those monsters of the
deep, with which credulity peopled every distant
and unfreepiented sea. Tiiere was something
more awfid in such a mysterious late than in de.ath
itself, un(li;r any defined and ordinary form.*
Great was the agitation of the inh.aliit.ants, there-
fore, when they beheld one ot the ships sl.anding up
the river ; but when thev learned that she returned
in triumph from tb.e ([isco\ery of a world, the
whole community broke forth into trans])orts of
joy. The bells were rung, the shops shut, all
business w.as suspended : f:)r a time there was
nothing but hurry and tumult. Some were anxious
to know the fate of a r(dative, others of a friend,
and all U) le.arn the p.irticulars of so wonderful a
voy.age. When Columbus landed, the multitude
thronged to see and welcome him, and a grand
])rocession w.as lormecl to the ])rincipal church, to
return thanks to dod for so signal a discovery
m.ide by the people of th.at place — fcjrgctting, in
their exultation, the thousand ditliculties they had
thrown in the way of the enter|)rise. Wherever
Columbus ])asse(', he was hailed with shouts and
acclam.ations. What a contrast to his dep.arture
a tew months before, followed by murmurs .and
execrations ; or, rather, what a contrast to his first
arrival at I'alos, ,1 poor pedestrian, craving bread
and water for his child at the gate ot a convent !
Understanding that the court was at 15arcelona,
he felt disposed to proceed thither immediatel\- in
his cara\el ; refiecting, however, on the changers
and 'isasters he had already experienced on the
seas, he resolved to proceed by Land. He dis-
patched a letter to the king anti ([ueen, informing
them of his arriv.il, .and soon afterward departed
for .Seville to await their orders, t.aking with him
six of the natives whom he had brought from the
-New World. Onu had died at sea, and three
were left ill at Talos.
It is a singular coincidence, which appears to
be well authenticated, that on the very evening ot
the .arriv.al cf Columl)US at I'alos, and while tiic
peais ot triumph were still ringing from its towe.s,
the I'inta, commanded by .Martin Alon/o I'in/on,
likewise entered the river. After her sepaiM-
* In the maps and charts of those times, and even
in those of a much later date, the variety of formidable
and hicleoiis monsters depicted in all remote parts of
the ocean evince the terrors and dangers with which
the imagina ion clothed it. The same ni.iy also l)e
said of distant and unknown lands ; the remote parts
of .Asia and .\frica have monsters depicted !■ ihetn
which ii would be difficult to trace to any origuii.. ,11
natural history.
70
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
■'■: r
li
( i."
',> M
mm
tion from the adn 'ral in the storm, she had been
driven before the jjale into the Hay ot liis-
cay, and liad made the port of liayonne. Doubt-
inj^ whether Cokimbus had survived llie teni-
pest, Pinzon liad immethately written to the
sovereifjjns j^ivin;^ information of tiie discovery
he liad made, and had requested permission
to come to court and communicate the particu-
lars in person. As soon as the weather per-
mitted, he iiad again set sail, anticipatiiitf a tri-
umphant reception in liis native port ot I'alos.
When, on enterinj^ liie liari)or, he t)elield the ves-
sel of the admiral ridinjj at anchor, and learnt
the entiuisiasm with wiiich he had been received,
the heart of I'inzon died within him. It is said
that he feared to meet Columbus in this hour of his
triumph, lest he should i)Ut him under arrest for
his desertion on the coast of Cuba ; but he was a
man ot too much resolution to induljje in such a
fear. It is more jirobable that a consciousness of
his misconduct made him unwilling to ap])ear be-
fore the public in the midst of their enthusiasm for
Columbus, and perhaps he sickened at the hon-
ors hea|)ed upon a man w:;ose su|)erif)rity he had
been so unwilling to acknowledge. Cietting into
his boat, tiierefort', he landed ])rivately and !:e])t
out of sight until he heard of the admiral's de|iart-
ure. He then returned to his home, broken in
health and deeply dejected, considering all the
honors and eulogiums hea]ied upon Columbus as
so many re|)roache!j on himself. The rejily of the
sovereigns to his letter at length arrived. It was
of a reproaciiful tenor, and loi'bade his appearance
ai court. This letter completed his humiliation ;
the anguish of his feelings gave virulence to his
bodily malady, and in a few days he died, a victim
to ''(X'p chagrin.*
Let no one, however, indulge in harsh censures
over the grave of Pinzon ! His merits and ser-
vices-are entitled to the highest ])raise ; his errors
should be regarded with indulgence. He was one
of the foremost in Spain to appreciate the project
of Columlius, animating him by his concurrence
and aiding him with his purse, when poor and
unknown at Palos. He afterward cnal)led him to
procure and fit oat ships, when even the mandates
of the sovereigns were ineffectual ; and finally
embarked in the e.xiiedition with his brothers and
his friends, staking life, jjroperty, everything upon
the event. He thus entitled himself to participate
largely in the glory of this immortal enter|jrisc ;
but \mlortunately, forgetting for a moment the
grandeur ot the cause, and the implicit obedience
clu( to his commander, he yielded t j ihe incite-
ments of self-interest, and committed that act of
insubordination which has cast a shade upon his
name. In extenuation of his fault, however, may
be alleged his habits of command, which rendered
him im])atient of control ; his consciousness of
having rendered great services to the ex])edition,
..-\(i of possessing ])roperty in the ships. That he
V' .-is a man of great professional merit is admitted
h\ :. ] 'li- > oeu'mporaries ; that he naturally pos-
se.ssLi' p. .erous ;<' uiments and an honorable am-
bition :-; 1 idcnt Irom the poignancy with which
I' his miscon-
[aflen a vic-
d' c . A ;neai. man would n^t have
tiiii u sf>lf-i.'pl)rai'ling Sr havini- heen convicted
rf a ..K'^iV .u'iion. Hiii story shovvb how one lapse
irom d'it\- mav r-junterbalam," the merits of a
■ li! ',1'=,. ' i! s.^rvices ; how one moi i ;nt of weakness
may nv • tl •., I.'^.'uiiV ot ' whole Hie of virtue ; and
* Jiii..', l'.\k N. .Mundo, lib, iv. § 14, Charle-
voix, Hisi "5i. fJomin. lib. ii.
how important it 's for a man, under all circurn-l
stanc'.'s, to be irue not merely to others, but tj;
himself.*
CHAPTER VI.
RECEPTION OF COI.U.Mlil.S liY THE .SP.AMSH COIR:
AT r..\RCEI,ON.\.
The letter of Columbus to the Spanish mon-
archs had produced the greatest sensation ,r
court. The event he announced was consideie;
the most extraordinary of their pros])erou i reif,fr
and following so close U])on the c;on{[uest of Cr..
nada, was ])ronounced a sigriul mark of divine i^
vor for that trium|)h achieved in the cause of li..
true faith. The sovereigns themselves were Im •
tim.e dazzled by this sudden and easy ac(|ui^itii-
of a new empire, of indefinite extent, and ap|K!r.
ently boundless wealth ; and their first idea w,^
to se.ure it beyo'id the reach of dispute. Sliori;,
after his arrival in .Seville, Columbus received :
letter from them exjiressing their great deii^'h;
and requesting him to repair immediately ;
court, to concert i)lans for a second and more r\-
tensive ex|)edition. As the summer, the time tr-
vorable for a \oyage, was approaching, they (';:;
sired him to make ;iny arrangements at Seville r
elsewhere that might hasten the ex])edition, ar;
to inform them, by the return ot the cnuricr
what was to be done on their ,jart. This let',-.:
* After a lapse of years, the descendartS of th
Pinzons made strenuous representations to the crow:
of the merits and services of their family, endcavr:
ing to prove, among other things, that but for ih
aid and encouragement of Martin Alonzo and h
brothers, Columbus would never have made his (b
covery. Some of the testimony rendered on this an
another occasion was rather exii ivagant and nbsur;
as will be sliown in another part of this work.f Tht
I'mperor Charles V'., however, taking into consider..
tion the real services of the brothers in the first voyage
and the subsequent expeditions and discoveries oi ih;:
able and intrepid navigaliir, Vincente Yai'iez Pinzor,
granted to the family the well-merited rank and priv;
leges of I/idiil^iiia, a ilegree of nobility which cnn>::
tuted them noble hidalgos, with the right of prefix;!:;
the title of Don to their names. A coat of arms Ha-
also given them, emblematical of their services as i::;
coverers. These privileges and arms are carefa i;
preserved by the family at the present day.
The PInzons at present reside principally in 1-:
little city of Moguer, about a league from Palos. ar.
possess vineyards and estates about the neighborl-i-' :
They are in easy, if not affluent circumstances, ar:
inhabit the best houses in Moguer. Here they Iw:
continued, from generation to generation, since 1:;
time of the discovery, filling places of public trust ar:
dignity, enjoying Ihe good opinion and good w''l
their fellow - citizens, and flourishing in nearly tfer
same state in which they were found by Columbu!
on his first visit to Palos. It is rare indeed to fin!:
family, in this thictuating world, so little changed '■
the revolutions of nearly three <;enturies and a halt.
Whatever Palos may have been in the tin.c
Columbus, it is now a paltry village of about four Ir..'
dred inhabitants, who subsist chiefly by laboririK' '
the fields and vineyards. The convent of La R.ili
still exists, but is inhabited merely by two friar--, « :
a novitiate and a lay brother. It is situated on a 1;
surrounded by a scattere<l forest of pine trees, an:
overlooks the low sandy country of the sea-coast, aci
Ihe windings of the river by which Columbus sail
forth upon the ocean.
t Vide Illustrations, article " Martin Alonzo Pinzon."
hv.is addressed to
toplier Coliiml)u?
Land viceroy and j;
I' fin the Indies ;" a
). ; still turlher rew;
; c(iiiiplying with tl
He sent a mi'int
miHiitions retpiisi
siiions at Seville
;out for Harcelon;
iilians, and the \at
' brougiu from the
The fame of
throughout the
through several c
qirovinces of Spain
: progress of a sove
country poured ft
the road and thro
windows, and bal
v.ith eager specta
vclam.itions. His j
by the multitude
and of the Indian
much astonishmen
.'mother planet. 1
cr.uing curiosity ■
tenil.uits at eveiy
ticiiis ; popular rur
the truth, and had
with all kinils of w(
.•Xbfuit tlie midilh
liarcelon.i, where
made to give him
ception. 'i'hp beat
in that genial seas
trihmed to give sph
mony. As he drc
youthful courtiers .-
v:ist coucourse of
meet and welcome
■nohle city has been
umphs u-hich the :
decree to conquero
Indians, painted act
i"n, ,ind decorated \
PLiTidd. After thesi
live p.irrots, togethe
nialsot unknown s[)e
to he of precious qu
t:it<en to make a cons
on-jts, bracelets, anc
Wiiich might give ;
ri-'.viy-disco\ered re
Ciianilius on horsel
lam cavalcade of Sp
^ver^• .almost impassa
tiult ; the windows
^vith the fair ; the \
ispeciators. It seeim
Inot be .sate:l with g
inaknown world ; or
> "11 it had been di:
!■■! "y in this event tl
^^'^ i the public joy.
•>"'! siL;n.i| dispensatii
I' ' the piety of the
f;' ! Venerable appea
<• :! rent from the yo
it\ii<cied from roving
'"}■ with the gra
icnievenient.
, T'l receive him wit!
,:''0'i,llie sovereigns h,
ipliiced in public und
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
71
all circum-
hers, but lol
NISH COUR-,
jpanish ninn-
sensation ;r
LS consitlLTc;
perou . rci^;n
:iuest ot (ir,.
: of (liviiu- 1:.-
L' cause (it th-
•es were tnr..
sy aciiuisiiii-
it, and ajipar.
first idea w,.-
nite. Sliort;.
)us receixL'il .
jrreat deli;,'!'.:
iniediately ;
and more t\-
r, the time h-
hin<i, they (';.■
s at .Se\ille r
xjiedilion, ar;
t the eiiurii-r
t. This let'.-,:
endar..s of t'rr
ns to the crow;
mily, endcavf:
lat but for !:;
ilonzo and hi;
made his d:'
red on this an.
lint and absur;
lis work.f 'It;
into consiilcN-
:he first voyai;e
;coveries of th;:
Yancz rin/.K
rank and priv,
ly which cons;;
,ht of pretixir:
|:it of arms wi
services as a
\s are carefu .;■ .
I day. \
Incipally in li;|
■om I'alos. ar.
neighborl-i'c:
mstances. ar,;
|4erc they hit'
.tion, since '.'•■
lublic trust £-:
[id good w'H
in nearly t
by CoUimh-
Indeed to fin:;
tie changerl '.'
s and a hall.
In the time
„bout four hu:
iby laboring ;;
It of La K;ili'H
,w() friars «
.uatcil on a '■
line trees, ;
sea-coast, ;
ilumbus sai
was addressed to him by the title of " Don Chris-
topher Columhus, our admiral of the ocean sea,
and viceroy and ,t,roveriior ot the islands discovered
in the Indies ;" at the same time he was promised
Still further rewards. Columbus lost no time in
comiilyin^' with the commands ot the so\ereis,ms.
He sent a memorandum of the ships, men, and
nninitions recpiisite, .nd havinjr maile such dispo-
s;iiiins ;it Seville as circumstances jiermitted, set
out tor I5arcelona, taking with him the six Jn-
ili;ins, and the \arious curiosities and productions
bniui;!)! trom the New World.
Tlie fame ot his discovery had resountled
throu^diout the nation, and as his route lay
thrdUtjh several ot the finest and most jiopulous
provinces of Spain, his journey appeared like the
pr.i;.,n'ess of a sovereign. Wherever he passed the
country jioured forth its inhabitants, who lined
the road and thron^jed the/villai^es. The streets,
windows, and balconies of the towns were filled
',ith ea;^er spectators, wiio rent the air with ac-
ci.im.itions. 1 lis journey was continually impeded
bv the multitude ])ressini; to ,^^iin a sitjht of him
;uk1 ot the Indians, who were reaj'arded with as
much astonishment as if they had been natives of
another ])lanet. It was impossible to satisfy the
cr.ivin},^ curiosity which assailed him and his .-it-
tc!ul;ints at every staife with innumerable cpies-
tions ; popular rumor, as usual, had exa'jjijerated
the truth, and liaci filled the newly-founcl country
witii all kinds of wonder.;.
.■\l)oiit the middle of April Columbus arri\-e;l at
IS.ucelona, where every preparation h;ul been
m.i'le tf i^^ive him a solemn and magnificent re-
ctpuon. 'I'he beauty and serenity of the weather
in that jrenial season and favorerl climate con-
tniiiited to tjive splendor to this memorable cere-
monv. As he drew near the place, many of the
vo'.uhful courtiers and hitlalgos, together with a
v.ist coiicourse of the po|iulace, came forth to
meet and welcome him.. His entrance into this
■ntili'.e city has been compared to one of those tri-
umphs which the Romans were accustomed to
decree to con(|uerors. First were paraded the
;lnili:ins, painted according to their savag.' fash-
h'n. ;uid decoratetl with their national oi r.aments
C't ;^'iild. After these were borne various kiuds of
live parrots, together with stuffed birds and ani-
/nilsot unknown species, and r.ire plants supposed
to he of precious cpialities ; while great care was
t:iken to make acbns])icuous display of Indian cor-
onets, bracelets, and other decorations of gold,
|which might give an idea of the wealth of the
r,e\vly-disc()\ered regions. After this, followed
Colunibus on horseback, surrounded by a brill-
li.int civalcade of Spanish chivalry. The streets
rwerc almost impassable from the countless multi-
tude ; the windows and balconies were crowded
.nvith the fair ; the very roots were covered with
;spcct;itors. it seeined as if the public eye could
no', he sated with gazing on these trophies of an
vaknown world ; or on the remarkable man by
>: 'Ml it had been discovered. There was a sub-
l:;nity in this event that mingled ;i solemn feeling
iWitii the jiublic joy. It w.as looked upon as a vast
anil signal dispensation of Providence, in reward
jiur the ])iety of the monarchs ; .and the majestic
'aiiil venerable appearance of the discoverer, so
;<li:ti:rent from the youth and buoyancy generally
e^jHcied from roving enterprise, seemed in har-
'f'lny with the grandeur and dignity ot his
^aci;ievemeiU.
To receive him with suitalile pomp and distinc-
tion, the sovereigns iiad ordered their throne to be
,K:iced in [jublic under a rich canojj»of brocade
of gold, in a vast and splendid saloon. Here the
king and (|ueen awaited his arriv.il, seated in
stale, with the ])rince Juan beside them, and at-
tended by the dignitaries of their court, and the
l)rincipal nobility of Castile, \'a!enti.i, Cat.ilonia,
and .XrragoM, all im()atient to behold the man
who had conterretl so incalculable a benetit upon
the nation. At length Columbus entered the
hall, surrounded liy a brilliant crowd of ca\aliers,
among v'vhom, says La Casas, he was cons[)icuous
for his stately and comm;indiiig ])erson, which
with his countenance, rendered venerable by tils
gray hairs, gave him the august a|)])earanct; ul a
senator (jf Rome ; a modest smile lighted U|) his
features, showing that he enjoyed the state ;iiul
glory in which be came ;* and certainly nothing
could be more deeply moving to a mind intlamed
by noble ambition, and conscious of havin^r
gre.itly (leser\ed, than these testimonials of the
a.dmiration and gr.ititude of a nation, or rather of
a w(,>rl(l. As Columbus approached the sover-
eigns rose, as if receiving :i pers(m of the highest
rank. Bending iiis knees, he offeree! to kiss their
hands ; but there was some hesitation on tlieir
part to permit this act of homage. R;iising him in
the most gracious manner, they ordere(l him to
seat himself in their presence ; .a rare honor in
this proud and punctilious court. f
At their recpiest, he now gave an account oi
the most striking events of his voyage, and a de-
scription of the islands discovered. He displ.iyed
specimens of unknown birds and other animals ;
ot rare j)lants of medicinal and aromatic virtues ;
of native gold in dust, in crude masses, or labored
into barbaric ornaments ; and, above all, the na-
tives of these countries, who were objects of in-
tense and inexhaustil)le interest. All these he
])ronounced mere harbingers of greater discover-
ies yet to be made, which would add re ilms of
incalculable wealth to the domininns of the ir maj-
esties, and whole nations of proseutes to the true
faith.
When he had finished, the sovereigns sank on
their knees, and raising their clasped hands to
heaven, their eyes filled with tears ot joy and grat-
itude, poured forth thanks and prai 'S to God for
so great a providence ; all present
example ; a deep and solemn enthu
that splendid assembly, and pre\ eii
acclamations of triumph. The ai
IdUchiinus, chanted by the choir of ;
with the accomp.iniment of instrum;
full body of sacred h.-irmony , '
were, the feelings and thoughts
heaven, " so that," snys the \ei
" it seemed as if in that hour ti)e'
with '-ele.stial delights." Si :i
llowed their
m pervaded
dl common
•m 'If Deuiii
royal cha|)el,
■nts, rose in a
iring up, as it
:he auditors to
.'lie Las Casas,
communicated
was the solemn
and pious manner in which t. •■ lirilliant court of
Spain celebrated this sublime cvtnt; offering up
a grateful tribute of melody and [iraise, and giv-
ing glory to (iod lor the discovery ot anotlier
world.
When Columbus retired from the royal pres-
ence, he was attended to his residence by all the
court, and followed by the shouting popidace.
For many days he was tlie object of universal curi-
osity, and wherever he appearcl \, i.s surrounded
by an admiring multitude.
While his mind was teeming with glorious an-
ticipations, his pious scheme fo'" the deliverance
of the holy sepulchre was not forgotten. Jc has
* Las Casas, Hist. Iml., lib. i. cap. yS, iMS
f Las Casas, Hist Ind., lib, i. cap. 78. Hist, del
Alniirantc, cap. Sr.
ill
n
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
been shown that he suppfpstcd it to the Spanish
soverci^^ns at the time ot tirst mai<i:iK' his jjropo-
silions, holcHng- it torlh as tiie gri-at oljject to hv
elfciled hythc |)rotits ot iiis (iiscovcrics. Flushed
wilh the idea ot the vast wealtii now to accrue to
liiniselt, he made a sow to furnish witiiin seven
years an army, consistiii^j of lour tiiousand horse
and titty tiiousand toot, tor tlie rescue ot the lioly
sepulciire, and ;i similar force within the live fol-
lowiiijf ye.irs. This vow was recorded !n one ol
his letters to the soscreifrns, to which he refers,
fjLit whicli is no lonfrcr extant ; nor is it certain
whether it was made at the end ot his tirst voy-
aj^c or at a suhseciuent date, when the maj^nitude
and wealthy result of his discoveries became more
lully manifest. He often alludes to it vaj^uely in
his writinjrs, and he refers to it expressly in a let-
ter to l'o|)e Alexander V'l., written in 1502, in
which he accounts also for its non-fulhlment. It
is essenti.i! to a full com])rehension of the char-
acti'r and motives ot Colunilnis, that this visionary
])roject should he borne in recollection. It will
l)e iound to have entwined itself in his mind with
his enterprise ot discovery, and that a holy cru-
sade was to be the consummation ot thost? divine
purposes, for which he considered himself selected
by Heaven as an agent. It shows how much his
mind was elevated above selfish and mercenary
views — how it was tilled with those (le\()ut and
lieroio scliemes, which in the time of the Crusades
liad inflamed the thouj^lus and directeil the enter-
prises of the bravest warriors and most illustrious
princes.
CHArTER vir.
SOJOt'RX OF COI.UMnUS AT llARCIU.fJNA — ATTF.N'-
TIOXS PAID HIM BY THE SOVERICIGNS AND
COURTIERS.
The joy occasioned by the great discovery of
Columbus was not ccntined to .S|)ain ; the tidings
were sjiread far and wide by the communications
of ambassadors, the correspondence of the learn-
ed, the negotiations ot merchants, and the re])orts
of travellers, and the whole civilized world was
tilled wilh wonder and delight. How gratifying
would it have been, had the |ire .; at that time, as
at present, poured forth its daily tide of specula-
tion on every ]iassing occurrence ! With what
eagerness should we seek to know the tirst ideas
and emotions of the public, on an I'vent so un-
looked for and sublime ! Even the first .innounce-
ni(MUs ot it by contemporary writers, thcnigh brief
and incidental, derive interest from being written
at the time ; and from showing the casual way in
which such great tidings were conveyed about
the world. Allegretlf) .Allegretti, in his annals ot
Sienna for 1493, mentions it as just made known
there by the letters of their merchants who were
in Spain, and by the mouths of various travellers.*'
The news was brought to Genoa by the return of
her ambassadors rr.incisco Marchesi and Gio-
vanni .Antonio Grimaldi, and was recorded
among the trium|5hant e\ents of the year;t for
the republic, though she m.iy have slighted the
opportunity of making herself mistress of the dis-
coxery, has ever since been tenacious of the glory
of h.aving giveti birth to the discoverer. The
tidings were soon carried to England, which as
yet was but a maritime power of inferior iinpor-
* Diarj Senesi de Alleg. Allegretti. Muratorl,
Jial Script., torn, exiii.
f Foglieta, Istoria de Geneva, Jib, ti.
lance. They caused, however, much wonder inl
London, and gre.it t.ilk .and admiration in ih([
court of Henry \TI., where the discovery was
pronounced " a thing more divine than luinian,"
\\'e h.ive this on the authority ot Sebastian Calm:
himself, the future discoverer of the northern con-
tii'ent of America, who w.is in l^oiidon at the
time, and was ins|)ired by the event with a gener-
ous spirit of emulation.*
I'Aery member ol civilized society, in fact, iv
joiced in the occurrence, as oiu; in which he \v,i.
more or less interested. To some it opened,
new and unbounded held ot iiupiiry ; to other-
of enterprise ; ,ind ever)' one aw.uted wilh inti-n-t
eagerness the further devi-lopnieiit of this un-
known world, still covered with niystery, the jiiir-
tial glim])ses of which were so full ol wonder,
We have ;i brief testimony of the emotions of the
learned in a letter, written at the lime, by I'ett:
Martyr to his friend l'om|)onius I. actus. " Yn;
tell me, my ami.ible l'om|)onius," he write-^,
" th;it you leaped for joy, and th;it your deli;.;!,:
was mingled with tears, when you read my epi--
tie, certifying to you the hitherto hidden world n:
the anti|)odes. You ha\'e felt and acted as becim-
a man eminent for learning, for 1 can conceive
no aliment more delicious than such tidings Kj •
cultivated and ingenuous mind. I feel a wonder-
ful exultation of spirits when I converse with iiiti!-
ligent men who have returned troni these regioiis
It is like an accession of wealth to a miser. ();.:
minds, soiled and debased by the comnion enr,-
cerns of life .and the vices of society, become ek--
vated and anielior.Ued by contemplating sui'ii i;!u-
rious events."!
Notwithstanding this universal enthusiasm,
however, no one w;is aware of the real impor-
tance of the discovery. No one had an ide.i tha:
this was a totally distinct |)onion of the globe
sejiarated by oceans from the ancient world.
The opinion of Columl.nis was universally adop:-
ed, that Cuba was the end of the Asiatic coii::-
nent, antl that the adjacent islands were in the I;-
dian se;is. This agreed with the opinions of ih:
ancients, heretofore cited, about the moderate dis-
tance from Spain to the extrernity of India, sailing
westwardly. The parrots were also thought v
resemble those described by Pliny, as abounding
in the reniote p:irts of vVsia. The lands, ther ■
fore, which Columbus had visited were called the
West Indies ; and as he seemed to have enterrf
u])on a vast region of uncx|)lored countries, exi^:-
ing in a state of nature, the whole recei\'e(l th:
comprehensive appellation of " The New World,
Durip.g the whole of his sojourn at Barcelon!
the sovereigns took every occasion to bestow e:
Columbus [lersoiial marks of their high consider,-
tion. He was ,'id;iiiited at all times to the roy,t
presence, and the (pieen delighted to conver^r
with him on the subject of his enterprises. Th-
king, too, a])peared occasionally on horseljaiK
with Prince Juan on one side, and Colunilnis e::
the other. Te perpetuate in his fan'iily tiie glor
of his achievernent, a coat of ariiis w 'is assigni
him, in which the royal arms, the cast >. and lii.i::,
were quartered with his proper bearings, whi''
were a group of islands surrounded by waves. '1
these arms was afterward anne.xed the motto ;
A Castilla y d Leon,
Nuevo mundo die Colon.
(To Castile and Leon
Columbus gave a new \. J.)
''^ Hackluyt, Collect. Voyages, vol. iii. p. 7.
^ Letters of P. Martvi', lev 153.
discover land, v
having first see
said that the st
was so incensed
' ■ /:eived his m
liis country and
turned .Mtis.-iulm
merely on t.'ie a
tremely incorrect
aiul inserts many
ntie.s of the admi
It in.iy at lirst
with the acki-.ow
I bus, to have born
I sailor, hut this \\
I amliition was in
y proud of the honi
'i erer of the land
j ])rise.
I Next to the c
? king ;ind (jueen 1
i (ioii/alez de i\Iei
I .Sp.iiii, and tirst
i whose elevated ch
i high prince-like (ji
I fa\ors. He iiuite
[ he .issigned him
I tahle, and had hii
; wliicli in those |)
■ toward sovereigns
occurred the well-l
, shallow courtier
■ jiaid to Columbus
I a foreigner, abrii
I thought that, in c
' Indies, there were
; would have been c
, this Colli 111 l)us mad
iiig an cgi^, invited
on o;ie end. Ever)
whereupon he stru
bi'e.;k the f^nd, and
pan ; illu.,Lrating
when he had once
^Vorl(l nothing was
The favor showr
in-iured him for a
if) ; for in a court
l)ur ill lavishing aiti
the king delighteth
all these caresses ar
riodest)', though he
f.ivtion in the idea t
it were, from the n
SeveraiKe. One ca
dividual thus made I
the theme of genei"
s-uiie obscure stran
fiM'ehad been a com
cinirt, derided by s
!''iiucd at by ot'he
1'-k1 treated him wi
course of solicitatit
remembrance of it
P
Oviedo, Cronico (
t This anecdote res
li'slorian I-ienzoni (lib
It has been condcinm
cif tl.e reproof cnnstiti
JClerisiii; of ihe practi
'Jniversal popularity
ff.erit,
■'- ?
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
Q'd
1 wonder in I
ilion in the!
sccivery wa? I
ail human.'
astian Caho'.l
Drllu-rn cnn-
11(1(111 at tlif!
vitli a i^vnc:-
-, in fact, I';.
vliicli lit- \v,i.
it opened „
y ; to oilier-
with illtelbi:
oi this 111,.
tcry, the |);ir-
1 ol WOlldlT.
lotions ot tic
inu', liy i'l-ii:
c-tus. '" V. ;
' he wriii-,
t your dflii;:.-
read my (■p;-
iduii world n;
L'd as l)i.'( -.m-
caii conceiv;
li tidinjrs t(j,!
(.-el a wonder-
rsi; with iiut-;-
tlit'st; rt'gioiii
1 misi-r. ();,:
common cnr-
■, i.K:C(jnif I'll-
ting such ;-;!i)-
enthusia-,;-!.
c real inipnr-
[d an idea tl!.;:;
ot the j^lotic, I
ent wiiiid.
rsally adop;-
sialic con;:-
re in the In-
iiions ot th;
oilerate di--
iidia, sailir;
thought •.
aboiindir,;
uuls, the
re called ihr
ive eiiteri'C
iil|-ies, exis:-
received the
ew World.'
U llarcclnni
o Ix'Stowe:.
h eonsider.i-
to the r(.iy,i
to converge
prises. Th;
'lor'ieback,
Coluinlniii!:
ily tne ;,dor;
w IS assigiit-
St '. and lion,
rings, whic
)y waves. '1
e motto ;
J.)
p. 7.
1)1
^r(
The pension which had been decreed Iiy the
sovercij,'!'^ to him who in the first voyaj^e should
(lisiover land, was adjiid>,'e(l to Coliimiius, lor
ha.iii},' first seen the li^ht on the shore. It is
said that tiie seaman who lirst descried the land
was so incensed at beiii^^ disapiiointed of what he
'.eived Ids merited reward, that he reiioiinceil
his country and his taith, and K<'i"}i into Africa
turned Miis.-^idman ; an anecdote which rests
mcrc'h- on l!ie authority of Oviedo,* who is e.\-
treiiiely incorrect in his narration of this voya^^e,
and inserts many falsehoods told him by the ene-
nre.s ot the admiral.
It may at lirst sij;ht ajjpear but little accordant
with the ackr.owled);ed mag-nanimity of Colum-
1)11'^, to have borne away the prize from this |)oar
h.iilor, but this was a subject in which his whole
aiiihiiion was involved, and he w.is doubtless
iiiiiml of the honor of beiiijr personally the tliscov-
erer of the land as well as projector of the ciiter-
pii ■-(.'.
.XcNt to the countenance shown him by the
kini,' and cpieeii may be mentioned that of I'ediX)
(ion/alex de Mendoza, the tlraiid Cardinal of
,S|i,iiii, and first subject of tlie realm ; a man
wlmse elevated character for piety, learning', and
lii'4li prince-like cpialities, gave signal v.due to his
fa\ors. lie invited Columbus to a banquet, where
he a^s'gned him the most honorable place at
t,r.)le, an:l had him served with the ceremonials
which in those punctilious times were observLHl
tuward sovereigns. At this repast is said to have
occurred the well-know-n anecdote of the egg. A
sliillow caiurtier present, impatient of the honors
paid to Columbus, and meanly jealous <jf him as
a foreigner, abruptly asked him whether he
thought that, in case he had not discoveretl the
Iiulies, there were not other men in S]);iin who
would have been capable of the enterprise ? To
thi.-; Columbus made no iminediate reply, but, tak-
ing an fcgg, invited the comjjany to m.ike it stand
on one end. Everyone attenii)icd it, but in vain ;
whereupon he struck it u|)on the table so as to
hreak the i-^nd, and left it standing on the broken
part ; illu.,Lratiiig in this simple manner that
uhen he h.id once shown the way to the New
World nothing was easier than to follow it.f
The iavor shown C(dumbus by the sovereigns
in-iured him for a time the caresses of the nobil-
ity; for in a court every one vies wdtli hi.-j neigh-
l)or ill lavishing aucntions upon the .man " wliom
the king delighteth to honor." Columbus bore
, all these caresses and distinctions with becoming
modesty, though he must have felt a proutl satis-
faction in tl'.e idea that they had been wrested, as
it Were, from the nation by his courage and per-
severance. One can hardly recognize in the in-
dividual thus made the companion of princes, and
tile theme of general wonder and admiration, the
same obscure stranger wdio but a short time be-
fiirehad iieen a common scoff and jest in this very
cinirt, derided by some a.s an adventurer, and
jwinted at by others as a madman. Those who
,' nad treated him with contumely during his long
course of solicitation, now sought to efface the
I remembrance of it by adulations. Every one
* Oviiido, Cronico de las Intlias, lib. ii. cap. 2.
+ This anecdote rests on the authority of the Italian
ti'slnriaii ]-ienzonr (lib. i. p. 12, ed. Vcnetia, 1572).
it has tieen condemned as trivial, but the simplicity
('! tl.e reproof constitutes its severity, and was char-
-icterisiic of ihe practical sagacity of Columbus. The
■inU'ersal popularity of the aneciiote is a proof of its
n'.erit,
I wdio had given liim a little cold countcnancie, or
;i few courtly smiles, now arrogated to liimsidt the
credit of having been a patron and id having ])ro-
nioted the disi'overy of the New World. Scarce
a great 111, in about the court but has been enroll-
ed by his historian or biographer among the bene-
factors (d Columbus; though, had one tenth part
of this boasted jiatroiKige been really t\erted, he
would never have bad to linger seven ye.irs solicit-"
ing for an armament of three caravels. Columbus
knew well the weakness of the patronage that h.id
been given him. The only friends iiuiuio'ied by
him with gratitude, in his after letters, as having
been really zealous and effective were those two
worthy friars, Diego de Deza, atterw.ird llishopof
Palencia and Seville, and Juan Perez, the prior of
the convent of l.a Rabida.
Thus honored by the sovereigns, courted by the
gre.it, itlolized by the jieople, Columbus, tor a
lime, drank the honeyed draught of popul.'.rity,
belore enmity and detraction had time to drug
it with bitterness. His discov.'ry bur si with sucli
sudden splendor upon the world as to da/zie envy
itself, and to call forth the geiier.il accl.'.mations
of mankind. Wcdl would it be for the honor o£
human nature, could history, like romance^ close
with the consummation of the liero's wishes ; wii
should then leave Columbus in the full fruition of
great aiid wel'-merited pros|)erity. iut bis his-
tory is destined to furnish another pro. f, it vroof
be w.mting, of the inconstancy of ]Hibli<: f.ivor,
even when won by distinguished services. .No
greatness was ever a'- u. ;(1 by more incontest,..-
l)le, unalloyed, and i .dt. ' jenelits rendered to
mankind, \et none d. ■• -irew on its possessor
more unremitting jealousy and defamation ; or
involved him in more linnierited. distress and diffi-
culty. Thus it is with illustrious merit: it^ very
effulgence draws forth the rancorous passions of
low and grovelling minds, which too otten have a
tem|)orary iiitluence in obscuring it to the world ;
as the sun emerging with full splendor into the
heavens, calls up, by the very fervor ot its rays, the
rank and noxious vapors, which, for a time, be-
cloud its glory.
CHATTER Vlir.
PAVAI. EUU, OF PARTITION-— PREPARATIONS FOR
A SECOND VOY.A.C.E Ot'' COLUMULS.
[I493-]
In the midst of their rejoicings the Spani.sh
sovereigns lost no time in taking every measure
necessary to secure their new accunsiiniris. Al-
though it w;is supposed that the countries just dis-
covered were part of the territories of the (irand
Khan, and of otlier Oriental princes considerably
advanced in civilization, yet there (loes not appear
to have been the least doubt of the right ot their
Catliolic majesties to take ])ossession of tin ni.
Duri.ig the Crusades a doctrine had been <»>4ab-
lished among Christian ])rinccs e.Ntremely favor-
able to their ambitious designs. According to this,
they had the right to invade, ravage, and seize
upon the territories of a'l infidel nations, under
the ])lca of defeating the enemies ot Christ, and
extending the sway of his church on earth. In
conformity to the same doctrine, the pope, front
his supreme authority over all temporal things,
was considored as empowered to dispose of all
heathen I. nds to such potentates as would engage
to reduce them to thedondnioa of t!;e church, and
<^
vtlTr
74
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
to prop.ipnte the true faith atnoriK thi-ir licnijfhtcd
inhabitants. It was in virtue lA this powtT that
Tope Martin \'. anil his succi'ssors liaci cdnct-dt'd
to the crown of I'orttiif.ii ail thf lands it nii^ht dis-
cover trom Cape liojador to the Indies ; and the
CathoHc sovereiv,nis, in a treaty concluded in 1479
with llie J'ortu^aiese monarch, had en^jaj^'ed them-
selves to respect the territorial rij^hts thus ac-
t|uirecl. It was to this treaty that John II. alluded,
in his conversation with L'oliimhus, wherein he
su^r^ested his title to the newly-iliscovered coun-
tries.
On the lirst intelligence received from the ad-
miral of his success, therehire, the Spanish sover-
eij,''ns t(U)l< the immediate precaution to secure the
sanction of the pojje. Alexander VI. had recently
lieen elevated to the holy chair ; a pontiff whom
some historians have stijjmatizod with every vice
and criint' th.it could disjjrace humanity, hut
whom all have rei)n.'Si!nted as eminently able and
])olitic. lie was a native of Valencia, and being
l)orn a Hid)ject of the crown of Arrajjoti, it mij^lu
be iiderred, was f,i\r)rably disposed to Ferdinand ;
l)ut in certain (piestions which had come before
him, he had already shown a disposition not the
most cordial toward the Catholic monarch. At
all events, Ferdinand was well aware of his
worldly and perfidious character, and enileavorrd
to m.inn).;e him accordinfjly. He dispatched am-
bassadors, therefore, to the court of Rome, an-
nt)imcinf^ tlu; new discovery as an extraordinary
triumph of the faith ; and setting forth the great
glory and gain which must redound to [hi: church
from the dissemination of Christianity throughout
th se vast and heathen lands. Care was alr.o
1 'i!:'.n to state that '.he present discovery dirl not in
the least interfere witi) the possessions ceded by
the holy chair to Portugal, all which had been
sedulously avoided. Ferdinand, who was at least
as p,olitic as he was pious, insinuated a hint at the
same t'ine by which the |)ope might perceive that
he was determine (1 at all events, to maintain his
important accjuis^iMUS. "is ambassadors were
instructed to statt hat, ii. the opinion of many
learned men, these newly-discovered lands having
been t.iken |)ossessi(m of by the Catholic sover-
eigns, their title to the same did not require the
])a|)al sanction ; still, as pious princes, obedient
to the holy chair, they supplicated his holiness to
issue a bull, making a concession of them, and of
such others as might be discovered, to the crown
c* Castile.
The tidings of the discovery were receiveil, in
fact, with great astonishment and no less exulta-
tion by the court of Rome. The Sjianish sover-
eigns had already elevated themselves to high con-
sefpience in the eyes of the c hurch, liy their war
ag.iinst the Moors of S[)ain, which had been con-
sidered in the light of a pious crusade ; and
though richly repaid by the acquisition of the
kiiigcjom of (iranada, it w.is thought to entitle
them to the gratitude of all Christendom. The
]iresent discovervwas a still greater achievement ;
it was the fult'ilment of one of the sublime prom-
ises to tht! (hurch ; it was giving to it " the heathen
for an inheritance, and the uttermost p.irts of the
earth for a possession." No dililiculty, therefore,
was made in granting what was considered but a
modest re(|uest for so important a service ; though
it is probable that the acquiescence of the worldly-
minded pontiff was quickened by the insimiations
of the po'.iiic monarch,
.A bull was accordingly issued, dated lay 2d,
1493, Ceding to the Spanish sovereigns the same
rights, privuogcs, and indultjencco, 1.. respect to
the newly-discovered regions, as had been acrord.
ed to the Portuguese with regard to their Africa
discoveries, under the same londition of |)laiiiin>j,
and i)ropag.iling tin Catholic taitli. To prevtrit K^
any lonilicting claims, however, between thetuo< '
powers in the wide range of their discoverit
another bull was issued on the following day, con.SS
taining the famous line ol demarcation, by whiiT.f •]
their territories were thought to be clearly am!
permanently defined. This w.is ;m ideal line
drawn from the north to the south pole, a hmidrti;
le.igues to the west of the .A/ores, and lheCa|)e(l^
\(M-de Islands. All land di.ico\-eri-d by the Sp.in-
ish navigators to the west of this line, and \vhi(!i
had nut been taken possession ot bv any Chri>ti,i;,
power before the preceding Christmas, was to h,.
long to the Spanish crown ; all land discmcrt:;
in the contr.iry direction was to belong to I'diii;.
gal. It seems never to have occurred to the pun.
tiff, that, by pushing their opposite careers of dis-
covery, they might some day or other come aj^Mir.
in collision, and renew the (|uestion ot territiii!,i,
right at the antipodes.
in the mean time, without waiting for the sanc-
tion of the court of Rome, the utmost exertion;
were made bv the sovereigns to tit out a secoiii;
ex|iedition. 'fo insure regularity aiul disp.itch ;;;
the affairs relative to the New World, they were
placed under the superintendence of Juan 'Rodri-
guez de Fonseca, archdeacon of Se\'ille, who was
successi\-ely i)romoted to the sees ot ISajadc/,
Palencia, and Burgos, and tiiiallv appointed p.iiri-
;irch of the Indies. Me was a man of family ,im:
intluence ; his brothers Alonzo and Antonio wcr;
seniors, or lords, of Coca anil Alaejos, .anil ihclai-
ter wiis comptroller-general of Castile. Juan koi!.
riguez de Fonseca is represented by Las Casas .i-
a worldly man, mor^ calculated for temporal tha-
spiritu.al conci-rns, and well adapted to tin; hus-
tling occupation of fitting out and manning arnii-
(las. Xotwithstaniling the high ecclesi.istical di^'-
nities to wliich he rose, his worldly em|)loynKii:i
seem never to have been considered incompaiiMt
with liis sacred functions. ICnjoying the per-
petual, though unmerited, favor of the sovei(iL,'ns,
he i.iaintained tiie control of Indian alfaiis Ir,
about thirty years. He must undoubtedly hav;
possessed talents !)r business, to insure him siicnj
a perpetuity of office ; but he was malignant aii;;
vindictive ; and in the gratification ot his |)ri\aic
resentments not only heajjed wrongs and sono'.vs
upon the most illustrious of the early discoverers,
hut freciueiitly impeded the ])rogressof their eiittr-
prises, to the great detriment of the crown. 'I'his
he was enabletl lo do privately and securely by his
official situation. His perfidious coniluct is re-
peatedl\- alluded to, but in guarded terms, by i.nn-
tem])orary writers of weight and credit, such as
the curate of Los Palacios, and the bishop Lis
C.isas ; but they evidently w-ere fearful of exprcsv
ing the fulness of their feelings. Subse(;U''n:
Spanish historians, always more or less contri/iicd
by ecclesiastical supervision, h.ive likewise dci.i
too favorably with this .'lase-minded man. He
deserves to be held u[) as a w.irmng example 1!
those perfidious beings in office, who too olteii lie
like worms at the root of honor.ible enterprise,
Idighting, by their unseen intluence, thelruitsfl:
glorious action, and disappointing the hopes nl
nations.
To .assist Fonseca in his '■'uties, Francisco Piiifio
was associated with bin. as treasuri;r, and him
de Syria as contador, or com|)tioller. Their
office, for the transaction of Indian affairs, was-
fixed at Seville ; extendinij' its vigil.ance at ih?
Lime time to the
louse was estabi
atmii. Such w
|(Uise, which aft
1.1(1 imii'irtance.
'dcrcil to be inst
[(direction of the a
'■iiterch.mge regi:
|r.iiinitii)ii of each
^(,ith it. All per^
nils upon the twc
Imiiiisters ol the
hv.ts to he at all
jto receive .all the
'I'lie most minul
'lie exacted of al
^liKist vigil.aiit caul
|eni|)lo>ed in the
'lands. .No one w
ho trade or to fori
•pies?, license from
or from Fonseca,
1 he ignorance
;0f L'dninierce, and
in respect to their
cited in excuse of
here ni.uiifested ;
fliieiiced the policy
lalicins.
.Another instanc
fained liy the crow
■i;i A royal order, tli
dalusi.i, with theii
shcjulcl be held in
dition. Columbus
to freight or |)urcl
r.iif(!ii think pro])er
retiised, even thoug
otier persons, [)ayii
rcasiinahle price.
i/ed to take the n
ainiminition, from
tiiey might l)e four
owners ; and they 11
Hers, hut any office
whatever, whom tli
the service, to emb;
pay and s.alary. Tl
S'jns of rank and ;
tirnder all requisiti
nieiit, and w.arned
ment, 'Jiider penalti
•fiscation of est.ate.
To provide for 1
iw royal revenue ;:
'church-tithes was
I'nuio ; and other f
graceful source— fri
hies, the se(|ueslrati
J'-ws, hinished fron
h';;oled edict of the
siiurces were still ii
•i^'.d to supply the d
:tions were likewise
1-iiids, as well as f(
:mecs, corselets, i
;^veapon, notwithsta
arms, was still prefe
jand considered mo
'■i other ha\'ing to
|l'f:ri£j so heavy as
l!i::i!ary stores wl.ic
P''' Willi the Moors
r-n of tliese supplit
K .:fti-.s were issued
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
75
liocn nrenn!'
llicir Atrir.inJ
n of pl.'iiitiii^
To prcMi,;
^vucn till- {\u,
r (lisi:<)Vfin.,,
liii^ (lay. 'III..
ion, by \\ i,i.
u: cliMfiS .,;,.
in idral ;;:•
)lf, a luiiulri!.
(1 the Cape i|-
liy iIkj .Sp.ir.-
lie, and wh-.
any Cliii-.t;,:.
as, was lo ! ..
nd di.sco'.t .■•
[)I1^ t(i I'oi' ..
:•(! to llu |iiii;.
careers ot (l>.
L-r come a;.;,L'.
1 of terriloi;.!,
f for the sanC'
Host exertidn-
I out a sei'oii,
lid di.spatch ;;;
rid, they wiTt
>f Juan Koiln.
ville, wlio wiii
i ot liajadii/.
ipointfd |Mir;-
ot f.imily am:
Antonio were
'>s, and tlielat-
e. Juan Rod-
,' I. as Casas .;.
lenijioral thar.
id to tin; bus-
lanniiij.^ armi-
ijsiastical di^'-
jmploynu-ir.i
inconi])ali!ili:
incf tin; per-
soverciLJiij.
alfaii'S !ii;
luhtedly hav;
lie him sucn
^■nant ai^;
)i his private
and sorio'.vi
discoverer?,
if their eiu-r-
rown. This
eurely by hi)
induct is re-
.■rnis, by con-
redit, such a;
bishop Las
.il of express-
Subseepicr'.!
[^ss contriillei!
ikewise dealt
man. He
r example il
U)0 oltrii lit
e enterprise,
the truiiio:
.he hopes u;
ncisco I'incio
r.'r, and Unn
.Her. Their
affairs, was
lance at the
i.imc time to tlip port of Cadi/ where .i rustom-
hnuse was esl.djiished for this new branch of n.ivi-
Vaiiun. Such was the fjerin ot the Koyal India
lildiise, which afterward rose to sueii great power
la 111 niip'irtance. .'\ correspondent otii( c was or-
'iijered ID be instituted in Hisp.miola, under the
■((liici tiiin of the admiral. These officers were to
>'i!t(ichantfe re^^isters of the carjjoes, crews, .md
liiiiiiliiin of each ship, by accountants who s.iiled
•,Mih It. .Ml persons thus employed weredepend-
•anis iipim the two tomptrollers-f,a-nerai, superior
fniiiiisters ol the royal revenue ; sinci; the crown
•S\.h to be ;it all the expenses of the colony, and
hii reeeive all the emoluments.
1 he most minute and rijrorous account was to
lie exacted of all exjienses and jiroceeds, and the
imi-it vi^'ilaiit caution observed as to the jiersons
tni|ili)\ed in the concerns of the newly-discovered
l.,ii Is No one was permitted to ^fo there, either
to trade or to form an estalilisii'ment, without ex-
press license from the soverei^fiis, from CoUimlius,
or fniiii f'"onseca, under the heaviest pen.ilties,
'1 he. ifjiiiirance of the aj,fe as to enlar^^ed princijiles
of commerce, and the example of the Tortu^niese
ill respect to their African possessions, have been
citeil in excuse of the narrow and jealous s])irit
hoe manifested ; but it always more or less in-
thieiKcd the policy of .Sjiain in her colonial regu-
lations.
.Viuilher instance of the despotic sway main-
tained iiy the crown over commerce, is m.initesled
ill a royal order, that all shi|)s in the [lorts of .Aii-
(lalusi.i, with their cajitains, pilots, and crews,
siunilcl be held in readiness to serve in this exjie-
ditioii. Columbus and l'"onseca were authorized
to treitfht or purchase any of those vessels they
raijjht think proper, and to take them by force, it
retused, even liiouj.jh they had beer, frepjj'hted by
otiicr Jiersons, paying- what they should conceive a
. reasonable jirice. They were furthermore author-
ized to take the requisite provisions, arms, and
aiiiiminition, from any place or vessel in which
tiiey iiiiirlu be found, payinjj- a fair price to the
(uviiers ; and they mi<^ht compel, not merely mari-
rers, hut any officer holding- any rank or station
whatever, whom they should deem necessary to
the service, to embark in the tleet on a reasonable
pay and s.ilary. The civil authorities, and all jjer-
s ms of rank and standing, were called upon to
rcndeM' all recjuisite aid in expediting the arma-
ment, and w.irned against creating .my impedi-
ment, under pentiltyot privation ot office and coii-
ti.ir.atiiin of estate.
To provide for the expenses of the expedition
the loyal revenue arising from two thirds of the
ch.urcli-tithes was ])laced at the disposition of
I'liielo ; and other funds were drawn from a (lis-
gr.icefiil source— fiviin the jewels and other valua-
bles, the seciuestrated jiroperty of the unfortunate
Jews, banished from the kingdom, according to a
'l)ip;ole(l edict of the jireceding year. As these re-
smirces were still inadequate, j'inelo was author-
iad to suppiv the deficiency by a loan. Kequisi-
tions were likewise made for jirovisions of all
knuls, as well as for artillery, powder, muskets,
lances, corselets, and cro.-s-bows. 'This latter
Weapon, notwithstanding th ; introduction of fire-
arms, was still preferred liy nany to the arquebus,
and rousidered more fi.rmi lalile and destructive,
it ■• other having to be used with a match-lock, and
liiiif so heavy as to require an iron rest. 'I'lie
iiaiiit.iry stores wl.lch had accumulated during the
V. I' with the Moors of Granada furnished a great
't ot these supplies, .'\lniost all the preceding
^fcis were issued by the 2jd of May, while Co-
lunihus was yet at liarcelona. Rarely has there
been witnessed su( h a scene of activity in the dila-
tory offices of Spain.
As the conversion of the heathens was professed
to be the grand object of these discoscries, twtd\e
/e.ilous ,ind able ecclesiastics were chosen for the
jiurpose, to accomii.iny the expedition, .'\mong
these was liernardo lluyl or Iio\le, a ISenedictine
monk, of talent and reputed s.inctity, but one ot
those subtle politicians of the cloister, who in
those flay-, glided into all temporal concerns, lie
had .icipiitted himself with success in recent nego-
ti;it'ons with I'"r.ince, relative to the restitution of
Rousillon. ISefore the sailing (d the fleet, he was
ajipointed by the ]io|)e his .ipostolii al vicar fur the
.\ew World. ,iiid placed as superior over his eccle-
siastical brethren. This ])ious mission was pro-
vided with all things necessary for the dignified
performance of its functions ; tluKpieen sup|)l\ing
from her own chapel the ornaments and vestments
to be used in all Sfdemn ceremonies. Isabella,
from the tirst, took the most warm and compas-
sionate interest in the wadlareof the Indians. Won
liy the accounts given l.iy Columbus of their gen-
tleness .ind simplicity, and hiokiiig upon them as
committed bylle.iven to her esjieci.il care, her
heart was filled with concern al their destitute
and ignorant condition. She orderetl that great
care should be t.ikeii of their religious instruction ;
that they should be treated with the utmost kind-
ness ; and enjoined C<dumlius to inflict signal
punishment on all Sp.iniards who should be guilty
of outr.ige or injustice toward them.
liy way, it was said, of offering to Heaven the
first-fruits of these pagan nations, the six Indians
whom Columbus h.id brought to Barcelona were
b.iptized with great state and ceremony ; the king,
the (|Ueen, and I'rince Ju.in ofTiciaiing as s|)onsors.
(jreat hopes were entertained that, on their return
to their native country, they would facilitate the
introduction of Christianity among their country-
men. One of them, at the reipiest of I'rince Juan,
remained in his household, but died not l<jng after-
ward ; a Spanish historian remarked th.it, accord-
ing to what ought to be our pious belief, he was
the tirst of his nation that entered heaven.*
Before the departure of Columbus from Barce-
lona, the provisional agreement nunle at Santa V6
was confirmed, granting him the titles, emolu-
ments, and prerogatives of admiral, viceroy, and
governor of all the countries he had discovered, or
might discover. He was intrusted also with the
royal seal, with authority to use the name of their
majesties in granting letters jiatent and commis-
sions within the hounds of his jurisdiction ; with
the right also, in case of absence, to appoint a
jierson in his place, and to invest him, for the
time, with the same powers.
It had been premised in the agreement that for
all vac.int offices in the government of the islands
and main-land, he should nominate three candi-
dates, out of which number the sovereign should
make a choice ; but now, to sa\e time, and to
show their confidence in Columbus, they empow-
ered him to appoint at once such persons as he
thought ])roper, who were to hoM their offices dur-
ing the royal pleasure. He had likewise the ti'.le
and command of captain-gener-il of the armament
about to sail, with unqualified powers as to the
government of the crews, the esiaf)lishments to be
formed in the New World, and the ulterior dis-
coveries to be undertaken.
This was the honeymoon of royal favor, during
* Hcrrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. ii. cap. £.
V
w
LIFE AND VOYAGES OE COLUMBUS,
which Cohimhiis rnjnyrd the iinhoundt'd aiul wcll-
ni(;ritc(| ( untidciu't: ol his .sovereigns, helore etni-
ous minds h.ul dared to insinuate .i d()id)t ot Ids
intejrrity. Alter receivirtjj every mark nt piiblii:
honor and private rt'^^.ird, lie took lea\f ot the sov-
erei^{ns on i\n- 2.Sih ot May. Tiie whole court ac-
companied him from the palace to his dwelling,
and atttndetl, also, to pay him farewell honors on
his departure Irom llarcelona tor Seville.
CIIAl'TKR I\.
DIPLOMATIC Nr.C.nTIAIloNS IIF.TWF.KX Tlir.
c()i;rts of si'ain ani> I'ori iuiai, with ki;-
Sl'lCCr to TlIK NKW DlhCOVKKHiS.
I '493. 1
Till", anxiety if the Sp.inish moiiarchv for the
speedy dep.irture of the ex|)e(lition was hei);hteiied
l)y the proceed i nj^rs ot the court of I'ortuj^al. John
II. had untorlunalely .imonf; his councillors certain
jxiliticians ot that short-sij;hled class, who mis-
take craft for wisdom, lly adopting- their perlidi-
ous policy he had lost the New Worhl when it was
anoi)ject id honorable enterprise ; in compliance
with their advice, he now souj^ht to retrieve it hy
stratapem. Me had accordinj^dy prepared a lai^e
armament, the avowed idiject of which was an ex-
pedition to .\lrica, hut its real destination to seize
upon the newly-discovered countries. To lull
.suspicion, Don Kuy (It; .S.inde was sent ambassa-
dor to tlie Spanish court, reipiestintf pernussion to
procure certain iirohibiled .ulicles from Spain lor
' this African voyage, lie required also that the
Spanish sovereigns should forl)id their subjects to
fish beyond Cijie lioj.-idor, until the pcjssessions of
the two nations should be properly detlni'd. The
discovery of Columfjus, the real object of solici-
tude, was triMtetl as an incidental affair. 'I'he
manner uf his arrival ,ind reception in I'ortujral
was mentioned ; the conij;ratulations of Kinj; John
on the hajipy result of his voNMj^e ; his salistaction
at t'mdin;^' that the admiral had been instructed to
Steer wesiw.-ird Irom the Canary Islands, and his
hope that the Casiilian soverei),(ns would continue
to enjoin a similar tr.ick on their navit,fat()rs— all
to the south of those islands being- granted by |)a-
pal l)ull to the crown of Portugal. He concluded
l)y inlin-iaiing the entire confidence of King Johi-i,
that should any of the newly-discovered islands
appertain by right to Portugal, the matter would
be adjusted in that spirit of amity which existed
between the two crowns.
Ferdinand was too wary a ])olitician to be easi-
ly deceivc(l. Me had received early intelligence
of the ri-.d designs of King John, and bc^fore the
arrival of his ambass.-alor had himself dis|)atchea
Don Lope de Merrera to the Portuguese court,
furnished with double instructions, and with two
letters of widely (opposite tenor. The first was
couched in affc^ctionate terms, acknowledging the
hospitality .mtl kindness shown to Colunibus, and
communicating the nature of his disco\-eries ; re-
questing at the same lime th;ii the Portuguese
iiavig;'*ors might be prohibited from visiting those
newiy-i.iscovered landl, in the sanie nianner that
the Spanisli soveieigns had |)roiiibited their sub-
jects from interfering- with the African posses-
sions of Portugal.
In case, however, the ambassador should find
that King John had either sent, or was abcnit to
send, vessels to the New World, he was to with-
hold the amicable le.tler, and present the other,
couched in stern and peremptory terms, and for.
bidding any enterprise of the kind.* A koen ili|i. ^
lomatic game ensued between the two sovcrei^'ii, •'j
IHTplexing to any snectator not ,ic(|uainted wiii; &
the secret ot tlieir play. Keseiule, m his hisiorv*
ol King John II,, iidoiin:. us that the Piulugiici: '
mon,ir( h, bv large presents, or rather hi ibes. hci,
cert.im of the contidenti.il members ot the L.istii.
ian cabinet in his interest, who inlormed him m
the most se( ret couiuils of tlieir court. Hi
r(jads w-ere thrringed with couriers ; scarce \v,i,
an intention expre.-.setl by j-erdm.ind to his mins-
ters, but it was coiucyed to his ri\al mon.iic
The result w.is thai the Spanish sovereigns set nu .
as if under the iiitlueiite tit some cnchaiilnn i.
King John anticipated ,ill their moMineiits, ,ii,(;
ap|ie,iretl to dive into their \<'ry llu)Ughts, Tlu :
ambassatlors wt're crossed on tlur road by Pmi ,.
guese amtiassadors, empowered to stutle the \ir.
points about which they were going to maki- i.
monstrances. i''ret|Uently, when |-'t:rdin.iii(l |iii
posed ,-i suiltlen and perplexing (piestion tti tlu-i-
voys at his iiiurt, which ajipareiuly would re(|Ui;
'esh instructions from the sovereigns, he win;,,
be astonished by .i prompt and positive re|ii,
most of the tpiestions wliu h were likely to lati,:
having, through secret inlorn-i.ilion, been forest i-i
and jirovitletl tor. As a surmise ot treachery in ll;
cabinet might naturally arise. King John, \\lii,t
he rewarded his .agents in secret, endeavored ii
divert suspicions from them upon others, m.ikir,,
rich presents of jewels to the Mukede Inf.uit.K,
and other Spanisli graiulees uf im tirruptible i:,
tegritv,t
Sutdi is the intriguing diplomatic craft whit"
too olteii |)asses for relineil policy, and is exltillt
as the wisdwUi of the cabinet ; but all corrupt ;ii':i,
disingenuous measures are unworlhy of an i.'i,'
lighteiietl |)olitici.in and a niagn.inimous priiuf,
'i'he grand principles of right anil wrong m ' r„>
in the s.ime way between nations as betwn i i
ilividuals ; fair and o|>en conduct, and iinioki:,:
l.iitli, howe\er they may appear ad\-erse to prcM;
purposes, are the only kind ol policy that w ill .;:■
sure ultimate and honorable success.
King John, having receixt^d intelligence in li'i
furtive manner th.it has been mentioned, ot tn;
ilouble instructions furnished to Don Lope i.:
Merrera, received him in such a manner as tc
'I'
|dep;irUire of Col
|in li>iiK diploiiiati
{(IMptii.lls, he (lis
).m (i.irti.i
liavsy to Portug.
w.irii p.iiiip .111(1
nmity, but the ul
i)>i>t' III submit tl
risen hetwti'n the
ot Kiinif, This s
cuiniiig slowness,
nih.iMi e to appi
jiiii.ii li, in ortlei
tiuinii .itions.
King John uml
|jci-t tit the einb.is
iiiiiling him. Tlu
iiiid titliveretl the
iiiitl t:eremony,
I'lice, lie looketl
"This en-ib.issy
" u-.ints both he. id
ch,irat:ifr both ot
Don (i.irtia de Cai
anil Dun Pedro de
In the lieiglit ol 1
JS.iiil to have helii t
iiitiMUitins, taking
vent any resort to his peremptory letter. He hf
already dispatched an extra einoy to the Sp.iiii>"
court to keep it in good humor, and he nt)w;i!-
pointed Doctor Pero Diaz and Don Ruy de I't-r.
an-ibassadors to the S|)aiiish sovereigns, to adju-:
all quesiions rel.itive to the new discoveries, ;»,,
]ironiised that no vessel should be permitted;
sail on a voyage of discoxery within sixty ila;;
alter their arrival .'it Barcelona.
These ambassadors wttre instructed to propft;
as a mode of effectually settling all claims, .' it-
line should be drawn from the Canaries due wCii
all lands and seas north of it to appertain to if:
Castilian court; all south to the crow n of Pont-
gal, excepting any islands already in possession
either powers, J
l''erdin;uid had now the vantage-ground ; h
object was to gain time for the preparation ai.
-* Hcrrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. ii. Ziir;;
Analcs de .\r.igon, HI), i. cap. 2?,
f Kcsende, Vitla del Rey Dom Joam II., cap. iv
Fariu y Sauza, Europa Fortuguesa, torn. il. cap. :
P- 3.
; Zurita, lib. i. cap. 25. Herrera, decad. i. lib, 1
cap. 5.
(lisitiver him revie
laiiiliiguoui words
bf ciiiisi riled into st
'flif tinfi.issy retui
a .'.ta!'- iif ])erplexit'
n',:;;lit |-je his chai.
liiiii fioiii coming
S cue li<i|)t:s of int
]i ipt:, to whom lie 11
in;' ol I he pretendei
a^ mlniiging the tt
by papil bull, ;ind
Here, .IS li,is been si
bi't'ii l)eloreh;iiiil w
osiiiii to he foiled.
(I'lr ri:ct.ived, was a
tion troin pole to |
h;)liness.i) Such w;
^i.icy, where the par
>;<iiscovered world.
fent, and had craft'
■^all his moves ; but'
P'llicy was required.
CH
rrRTHRR PREPARA
VOVA(-,l-.--CHAUAC
-lilKFI'IKE.N-CE OK
fO.\.,t;CA.
: DlSJ RUSTFUT, of J
Jji-tiif^al to interfere
5ii.ini.sii sovereigns, i
ti'ia.s, wrote repeated
t' 'i,i,ti;!i his departu
f' il" incitement ; ini
y.isconcelos, Don
t V,-iscon(;elos, lib. v
t..p, ;.
} V'asconcelus, lib. v
S Hcrrera, decad. i.,
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
77
•ms, and (or.
;\ kcfll llij).
L) sovcri-i^'ns,
Uiiiiiuil wiih
11 l\i?> lllllOR
(• I'diUi^juesc
r Imlii's, held
ol ihf C.istJl.
.irmrd linn . :
L'durl. I,',
; scaicf w.ii
to his iniiiiv
v;il miin.iii
I'ij^llS SCCIIH .
(.•n(.h;mlini I,
NfllU'llt'), :ii .
.1^,'lils. 'llii:
iiiid by I'dilu-
■.(•ale ihf vir,
^f lO lllilkc !(■
'I'dliiaiul {iri.
liun to till- 1 ' ■
would rvi\\\\i.
;lis, ht: win; .
ositivc ri|ii.
uUfly to mil-
lu'i'ii toiciur,
I'.K luM'V ill ti-
j; John, will,;
'lulcivorfd '
ilhcrs, lu.ikni;'
f (li; Inl.miai,
■orruptiljlc !:■
,ic craft whii^
and is cMdlli.
dl corrupt ;ir,i.
iliy of an t'li-
linious priiue.
wronj^ (i| '-r:!:!
IS l)t:l\V(.l :i !■
and in\iol:n^:
rse- to prcw:.:
:y that will .r.'
Illi^tnce in ti.;
Honed, ol \k
|l)un Lope t.:
|incr as to pit-
Iter. Ill' h,i'
|t() tliL- Spam-'
id he now .1;
liuy dc IVr,
);ns,' to adju-
COVlM'if-i. ^Il'
.^ pormitiiC. :
Ihin sixty i'-;
;'d to propfi:-
aims, .' ii
|-iiis due wcn
li|)frtain to ii
low n of I'otu-
possession'
-ground ; !''
leparalion ar.>
b. ii. Zur::
II., cap. p:
|m. ii. cap. ■
lecad. i. lib- 1
Idepartiire of Ccdumluis, hy <'ntan^,diM(T Kin;; John
lin loiiK iliploniatii: nc^'oliations,* In reply to itis
Iprnpo-'aN, he disp. Itched Don I'edro di- A).da ,itid
Jjj„i, (;.ir( ia Lope/ de (.'aravajal on a solemn en>-
Iba^sv to l'orti:Kal, in whi( li there was v;re,it mit-
Iw.ird pomp and |).ii.ide, and many protessions of
laiiiils, hut the whole |)urport of which w.is to pro-
Ino-ic't" submit the territori.il (piestions which iiad
friMii liitwcin tiiem to arbitration or to the c ourt
jot Konu'. This stattdy enib.issy moved with be-
Ic'iiniii;,' slowness, but a spi'cial envo)- w.is sent in
:nib.uice to apprise the kill}; ot I'ortu^.il of its .ip-
pio.i' h, in order to keep iiini w.iitin;; lor its com-
liiiinir.itions.
Kiiii; lohn understood the whoh; n,itun;;uul ub-
■J! it (il the einb.issy, .uid felt that I'ddinand w.is
liiliiij,' him. The ambass.idors at leii);th arrived,
and delivered their credenli.ils with t;re.il form
■ami lereinony. As they retired from his pres-
'ini-e, lie looked alter them coiiteniptuously :
" Tills embassy from our cousin," said he,
" w.uus both lie.ifl and feet." He alluded to tlie
cli.iiacter both of the mission and the eiuoys.
Don (J.ircia de Caravajal was v.iin and frivo'ous,
and U'Hi I'edro de Ayala was lame of one lej;.!
111 the lieijflu of his vexation. Kin;; John is e\en
,s;iid to have held out some v.igue show of hostile
iiitciuions, taking; occasion to let the ambassadors
(lisi liver him reviewing his eav.dry and dro|)ping
ainliih'iii"! ' words in their hearing, whiidi might
be (iiiistnied into sfunething of nien.uing im|ioit.|
'liu' embassy returned to Castile, leaving him in
asia'cit perplexity and irritation ; but whaiex'er
mi;,dit he his chagrin, his discretion prevented
Turn trom coming to an open rupture. He hid
' s riu' hopi'S of interference on the jiart oi the
iiipe, t'.iwhom lie had sent an embassy, com|)lain-
'li!;,M)t tlie pretended discoveries of the .Spani.u'ils,
;a-. inlniiging the territories granted to I'ortugal
bv papal bull, and earnestly imploring redress,
liiire, .IS h.as been shown, his wary ant. igonist h.id
li'L'ii helorehand with him, ;inii he was floomeil
asain to be foilecL The only reply his amb.i-^sa-
(lir received, was a reference to the line of parti-
tion from pole to pole, so sagely devised by his
hiiliiiess.ii Such was this royal game of diplo-
iii.icy, where the parties were playinv.; for a newly-
tiiscovered world. John H. was able and intelli-
gent, .Old had crafty councillors to atlvise him in
all his moves ; but whenever deep and subtle
P'ilicy was required, Ferdinand was master of the
•g:imL'.
CHAPTER X.
tTRTllKR PRF.P.\RATlONS FOR THK Sl.(..0>fD
VilV.VC.l''. — CIt.VKAClFR .'F .M-D.^SO \>K i ijF.D.A
-lilFKKRENCE OF COI.UMl'.US Willi .SORI.\ A.M-
F0.\-,-5i;CA.
[U93-] I
DtsiRUSTFUl, of some attempt on the part of !
■Kirliic^al to interfere wdth their discoveries, the j
^■Sp.inish sovereigns, in the course of their negotia- |
-tioiis, wrote rejieatedly to Colun.'uis, urging him i
■tihii^ten his departure. His zeal, however, need
fl no incitement ; immediately on arriving at -Se
* Vasconcelos, Don Juan II., lib. vi.
f V.-isc'oicelos, lib. vi, Barros, Asia, d.
c.p. 2.
} Vnscoiicelos, lib. vi.
i Hcrrera, dec.id. i., lib. ii. cap. 5,
lib.
villc, in the lieginning of June, lie prorccded with
all diligence to lit out the armanunt, m. iking use
ot the powers given him to put in rii|uisition llie
ships and crews which were in the h.irbors of
Aiid.ilusi.i. lie W.IS joined soon alter by I'onsec.a
and .Sori.i, who had rem. lined lor ,1 time at ILtne-
lona ; and with their united exertions, ,1 tieet of
Seventeen vessels, large and small, w.is soon in a
sl.ite ol iirep.iration. The best pilots were ihoseii
for the service, and the crews wert: mustered 111
presence of Sori.i the comptroller. A number of
skillul husb.indmeii, miners, c.irpenters, .mil other
mechanics were eiig.iged lor the proiicted colony.
1 lorses.both lor military purposes ,ind lor stocking
the country, cattle, and dmiu'stic aiiim.ds ot .ill
kinds, w ere likewise provided. ( ii on, seeds ot vari-
ous |)l.ints,\iiies, sug.ir-c.ines, grafts, and s.ipbngs,
were emb.arked, together with a gre.it i|U.inliiy ot
merchandise, consisting ot trinkets, be, ids, li.iwks'
liells, louking-gl.isses, and other showy trilles,
calculated I ir tralficking with the natives. Nor
was tlieiHf wanting an abundant sui)|)ly of pro\i-
sionsol ,ill sorts, munitions of w.ir, and medicines
and refreshment-, tor the sick.
' An extraordin.iry degree of excitement prevailed
respecting this expedition. The most extrav.igaiit
I. nicies were eiitert. lined with re.nect to the New
World. The .111 ouiits given liy tiie voyagers who
had visited it were full ol exaggeration ; tin' in f.ict
they li.id nothing but vague .uid cijiilused notions
concerning it, like the recollection of a dream,
.iiul it has been shown th.U Coluini>us himself had
behidd everyth | through the mo.st delusive me-
dium. 'i"he MN.icity of his descriptions, and the
sanguine .inticipations of his ardent sp^irit, while
they roused the |)ublic to a wi)n(li'rful degree of
enthusiasm, prepared the way for liitter tiisap-
pointment. The cupidity ol the a\aricious was
inllamed with the idea ot regions of unappropn-
;ited wealth, \vliere the rivers rolled over goldi n
sands, and ilie mountains teemerl with gems and
precious metals ; where the groves prodnceij
spices .md jjerfumes, and the shores ot the oce.in
were sown with pearl. Others had coiueiv(;d vis-
ions of a loftier kind. It was a romantic and stir-
ring age, and the wars with the .Moors being o\er,
and hostilities with the French suspended, the
bold and restless spirits of the ii.ition, impatient of
the monot 'Mv of jieaceful lite, were eager for em-
ployment, i'o these the New World |)reseiited a
vast til Id for wild eiiterjirise .and e.xtr.aordinary ad-
venture, so congenial to the .Spani.sii character in
th.it period of its nieridi.m fervor and brilliancy.
,\Liny hidalgos ot high r.tuk, olViccrs of the royal
household, and Andalusi.in cavaliers, schooled in
arms, and inspired with a |)assii)n for hardy
achievements by the romantic w.irsof Granada,
pressed into the expedition, some in the roy.al ser-
vice, others ;it their own cost. 'I'o tluni it was the
Commencement of .1 new series of crusades, sur-
passing in extent and splendor the chiv.alrous en-
terprises lu the Holy Land. They pictured to
themselves vast and bc.uitifiil i.ilandsof the ocean
to be overrun and sulidued ; their nteriial won-
ders to be explored, and the b.iniiei uf the cross
ti) be planted on the walls of the cities they were
.s:ip|)osetl to contain. Thence the were to make
their way to the shores ot India, or rather .Asia,
penetrate into Mangi and Cuhay, coinert, or wh.it
was the s.ime thing, concpier the Grand Khan,
ami thus o];en a glorious career of arms amoncf the
splendid countries and semi-barbarous nations of
the East. Thus, no one had any dctinite idea of
the object or natuie of the sor\ice on wdiich he
was embarking, or the situation and character ot
,.r,..
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U
78
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
and sinj^ular rxploils. He was of a ^inn\ family,
coiisin-^'frniMii lo tlif Vfiicraljle Father Alonso de
the ropion to which li(> wn? 'lound. Indeed, dur-
inj^ this tcviT of tin- iniajfin.ition, had sober farts
and cold reahtics been |)reseiited, they would have
been rejected with (hsd.iin ; for there is nothinjj
of which the iJiihlic is more impatient than of be-
injj disturbed in the indulj^ence of any of its gold-
en dreams.
Amonj,' the noted persnnafjes who engaged in
the e.\, (edition was a voung cavalier of the name
of Don Alonso de ( ijeda, celebrated for his ex-
traordinary personal endowments and his daring
spirit : and who distinguished himself among the
early disco\erers by many perilous expeditions
I family
lonso dt
Ojeda, Imiuisiior <il Spain ; had been brought up
under the jialronage ot the Duke of Medina Celi,
and had served in the wars against the Moors.
He was of small stature, but vigorous make, well
proportioned, d.irk complexioned, of handsome,
animated counten.mce, and incredible strength
and agility. Expert at all kinds of weapons, ac-
complished in all manly ;ind warlike exercises, an
admir.ible lioisem.in, and a jiartisan soldier of the
highest order ; bold of heart, free of spirit, open
of hand ; 'lerce in light, (piick in brawl, but
ready to forgive and prone to forget an injury ; he
was for a long time ilu- idol of the rash and roving
youth who engaged ii\ the early expeditions to the
New World, ;ind has been made the hero of many
wonderful tales. On introducing him to histori-
cal notice, Las Casas gives an anecdote of one of
his exploits, wliith would be unworthy ot record,
but that it exhibits the singular character of the
man.
Uueen Isabella being in the tower of the cathe-
dral of Seville, belter known as the diralda, ( )je-
tl.i. to entertain her majesty, atul to give jiroofs of
his courage and agility, mounted on a great beain
which projected in the air, twenty feet from the
tower, at such an immense height from the
ground, that the peo|ile below looked like thvarfs,
and it was enough to make ( )jeda himself shud-
der to look down. Along diis be.im he walked
briskly, and with as much confidence as though
he had been payng his chamber. When arrived
at th end, he stood on one leg, lifting the other
in the air ; then turning nimbly round, he return-
ed in the same way to the tower, unaffected by
the giddy height, whence the least false step
would ha\e |)recipitale(l him and dashed him to
])ieces. He afterward stood with one foot on the
be;;m, and placing the other against the w.ill of
the building, threw an orange to the summit of
the tower, a proof, says Las Cisas, of immense
muscular strength. Such was Alonso de Ojeda,
who soon became conspicuous among the follow-
ers of Columbus, and was always foremost in
every enterprise of an .adventurous nature ; who
coi:rted jieril ,is if for the very love of danger, and
seemed to fight more for the pleasure of fighting
t'la. tor the s.ike ot distinction.*
The number of persons permitted to embark in
the expedition had been limited to one thousand ;
bet such w.is the urgent application of volunteers
'o l)e .allowed to enlist without pay, that the num-
ber had increased to twelve hundred. ^Lany more
were refused tor want of room in the ships for
their accommodation, but some contrived to get
admitted by ste.Uth, so that eventually about fif-
teen hundred set sail in the tleet. As Columbus,
in his laudable zeal tor the welfare of the enter-
* Las Casas, lib. i., Ms. Pizarro, Varones lUiisires,
Herreru, Hist. Ind., dccad. i. lib. ii. cap. 5.
prise, provided everything that might be necess.nrv
in v.irious possible emergencies, the exjienses .';
the outfit exceeded what had been anticip.itti!
This gave rise to occasional demurs unthe p.irir;
the cominroller, Juan de Soria, who sometimes !■-.■
fused to sign the accounts of the admiral, and r
the course of their transactions seemed to h,i\^
forgotten the deference due both to his chanutt-
and station. For this he received repeated ,in^
severe re|)rimands from the sovereigns, who eiv.j;
phatically commanded that Columbus should ';
treated with the gre.itest respect, and everythin'
done to facilitate his plans and yield him satisl,,.-
tion. FVom similar injunctions inserted in t •;
royal letters to Fonseca, the archdeacon of St:\ il -
it is probable that he .also had occasionallv ;-■
dulged in the captious exercise of his oliu:;
powers. He ajipears ".;< have demurred to vari(i,;
refjuisitions of Columbus, particularly one lor lui;.
men and other domestics for his immediate m:.
vice, to form his household and retinue as adiiiir'
and viceroy ; a demand which was considir:-
superfluous l)y the ])relate, as all who embarkc;
in the expedition were at his command. In rep!
the sovereigns ordered that he should be alloui
ten rsrudiros dc a pic, or footmen, and iwcir
])ersons in other domestic cajjacities, and reinir ;■
ed Fonseca ot their charge that, both in the nati:::
and mode of his transactions with the admir.il. •.
shoidd stufiy to give him content ; observing il,.:
as the whole armament was intrusted to his tor.-
m.md, it was hut reasonable that his wishes slm,;
be consulted, and no one embarrass him wr
punctilios and difficulties.*
These trivial differences are worthy of particu!.!
notice, from the effect they appear to have had ' '
the mind of Fonseca, for from them we must ili f
the rise of that singular hostility which iie K\-\i
afterward m.mitested toward Colund)US ; whi.
every ye.ir increased in rancor, and which \
gratified in the most invidious manner, by secrt
ly multiplying impediments and vexations in :
l)ath.
While the ex|)edition was yet lingering in p; •■
intelligence was leceive ! that a Portuguese lar.
vel hat! set sail from Madeira and steered lor ;■
west. .Suspicions were immediately aw.akt:;
th.it slie was bound for the lately-discovered Ian:-
Columbus wrote an account of it to the s(n.'
eigns, and proposed to dispatch a part of his lit
in pursuit ot her. His proposition was appnnt:
but not carried into effect. On remonstraiiai
being made to the court ot Lisbon, King John i':
dared that the vessel had sailed without his pi
mission, .and that he would send three caravels:
bring her back. This only served to increase t::
jealousy of the Spanish monarchs, who eonsidtrr
the whole a deep-laid stratagem, and that it w
intenfled the vessels should join their forces, ,r
pursue their course together to the New W'nr!
Columbus was urged, therefore, to depart withi
an hour's delay, ami instructed to steer wide
Cipe St. Vincent, and entirely avoid the Port.'
guese coasts and islands, for fear of molestatif
If he met with any vessels in the se.is he had tij
plored, he was to seize them, and inllict rigoro
[)unishment on the crews. Fonseca was .also 1
dered to he on the alert, and in case any evpt-:
tion sailed from Portugal to send double the lor
.'liter it. These precautions, however, pro\edi:
necessary. Whether such caravels actually i
sail, and whether they were sent with siuis'-l
* Navarrete,
62-66.
Colec, torn. ii. Documentos, N'l
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
79
thatinijjhl be necesMrvj
^encies. ihc expenses
, had lifcn anticiiiatKl !
lal (lemurs on the iKiri(;J
Sofia, who suimtinus r^:
i (){ the admiral, and
iactions seemed Id ii;i',-<,|
ue both to his iharacu-
le received repeated a:,;
[he siiverei^;iis, who (•:;:.
lat Columlius shiailij \'. .
respect, and everylhin,;
IS and yield him satisl,,.
imciions inserted in t •.
the archdeacon ol St\ ilr
ilso had occasionally ;-•
exercise of his ol'lii:;:
have demurred to vario.i
, particularly one tor ti«v
:s for his immediate >t:-
)kl and retinue as admin
;1 which was considir-
ilc, as all who embarkc.
his command. In ri;i;
Lhat he should be allDWc
, or footmen, and twtr;
ic capacities, and remii:.,
ire that, both in the nam::
tions with the admiral, ::
\ content ; observinjr ih,,:
was intrusted to his c(0
able that bis wishes sliui;-
one embarrass him w;:.:
s.*
es are worthy of particii'.,::
hey ai)i)ear to have hadd
r from them we must il.iM
ir hostility which lie evtif
oward Columbus ; whi.l
rancor, and which I'.ij
ious manner, by secreJ
nts and vexations in k|
was yet liiiKerinR in po;
! that a I'ortuj^uese c.J
ideira and steered lor ;
e immediately awake;
he latelv-discovered Ian;
■count of it to the sen •
■lispatch a part of his tV
proposition was appmv
ffect. On remonsiiaii'.
ot Lisbon, Kin}; John I'r
lad sailed without his ]x-
uld send three caravels
-inly served to increase tr
iioiiarchs, who consider:
tratajjem, and lhat it «i|
uld join their forces, a
ether to the New Wor
ereiore, to depart wilhi'.
structed to steer wide
ntirely avoid the I'on-
tor fear of molestaiif
eis in the seas he had «
:hem, and indict ri;,rorp
•s. Konscca was .also ; ']
, and in case any v\\i(-
d to send double the tor
lons, however, jirovcd f'
ich caravels actually '
were sent with sir.isy
nntivcs liy Tortupal, does not appear ; nothing
-.1, either seen or heard of them by Columbus in
course ot his voyajre.
]t may he as well, for the sake of distinctness, to
iiuiLipaie, in this plac;, the regular course ot iiis-
lorv, and mention the manner in which this terri-
lori.il (|ue-.tion was finally settled between the
rival sii'.ir>i;Mis. It was impossible for Kinjr John
repr(->s his dis(|uiet at the indetinile enterprises
liu: .Spanish munarchs ; he did not know how
ar tluv mifrht extend, and whether they mijjht
hdi fi)re.slall him in all his anticipated discoveries
Jn Iiiili.i. I'"indin>(, however, all a'templs fruitless
|o train by strata^'em an advantajje over his wary
Vid skilful antajjonist, and despairinjr of any fur-
Uier assistance from the court of Rome, he had
lecourse, at last, to fair and amicable negotiations,
liul toun<l, as is generally the case with those who
lurii aside into the inviting but crooked jjaths ot
fralt, that had iie kept to the line of frank and open
policv. he would have saved himself a world ot
heiplexitv, and have arrived sooner at his object.
■ offered to leave to the Spanish sovereigns the
Irce picnecution of their western discovery, and
|o CDntorm to the jjlap of partition bv a meridian
line ; but he represented that this line had not been
tnwn far enough to the west ; that while it left
wide ocean free to the range of Spanish enter-
bnse, his navigators could not venture more than
lundred leagues west ot his possessions, and
pad no scope or sea-room for their southern voy-
.\fter much difficulty and discussion, this nio-
nciUous dispute was adjusted by deputies from
the two crowns, who met at Tordc'sillas in Old
Castile, in the following year, and on the 7th of
June, 1494, signed a treaty by which the jiapal line
of partition was moved to three hundred and
seventy leagues west ot the Cajie de \erde Islands.
It was agreed tliat within six months an ecjual
number of caravels and mariners, on the part of
the two nations, should rendezvous at the island
ot the (irand Canary, i)rovi(led with men learned
in astronomy and navigation. They were to i)ro-
ceed thence to the Ca|)e de \'erde Islands, and
thence westward three hundred and seventy
leagues, and determine the jjroposed line from
pole to pole, dividing the ocean i)etween the two
nations.* Kach of the two jiowers engaged sol-
emnly to observe the bounds thus jirescribed,
and to prosecute no enterprise beyond its pro|)er
limits ; though it was agreed that the Spanish
navigators might traverse freely the eastern parts
of the ocean in ])rosecuting their riglnttil voyages.
\'arious circumstances impeded the proposed ex-
pedition to determine the line, but the treaty re-
mained in force, and prevented all further dis'cus-
sions.
Thus, says Vasconcelos, this great ([Uestion, the
greatest ever agitated between the two crowns, for
it was the partition of a new world, was amicably
settled by the jirudeiicd and address of two of the
most politic monarchs ihat ever sw.iyed the scep-
tre. It was arranged to the satistaclion of both
parties, each holding himself entitled to the vast
countries that might l)e iliscovered within his
boundary, without any regard to the rights of the
native inhabitants.
BOOK VI.
cm. il. Documcntos,
CHAPTER I.
)F.rAUTfRF. OF COI.UMnCS ON' TILS SF.CONT) VOY-
.u;k— niscuvKRY ok the cariuukl i.sl.\nds.
['493-]
Thf. departure of Columbus on his second voy-
i ,f;e of discovery presented a brilliant contrast to
3 lis S^looniy embarkation at Palos. t)n the 25th of
3 ieptc-mher, at the dawn of day, the Hay of Cadiz
"■; las whitened l)y his fleet. There were three large
hips (it heavy burden,* and fourteen caravels,
litering with Hajiping sails, and awaiting the sig-
lal to get under way. The harbor resounded with
V' weli-kn(jwn note of the sailor, hoisting sail or
;ei}jhing anchor ; a motley crowd were hurrying
in hoard, and taking leave of their friends in the
lontuleiice of a prosperoiis voyage and triumj)hant
;turn. There was the high-s|)irited cavalier,
louiid on romantic enterprise ; the hardy navi-
ptor, ambitious of acquiring laurels in these un-
known seas ; the roving adventurer, seeking
lovehy and excitement ; the keen, calculating
jpeculator, eager to profit by the ignorance of sav-
k't-' tribes ; and the pale missionary from the
' Peter Martyr says they wert carracks (a large
Ipecies ot merchant vessel, principally used in coast-
al! trade), of one hundred tons burden, and that two
If the caravels were much larger than the rest, and
Vre c.ipable of bea-ing decks from the size of their
Basts,— Uccad. i, lib. i.
cloister, anxious to extend the dominion of the
church, or devoutly zealous tor the iirojiagation
of the faith. All were full of animation and lively
ho|)e. Instead of l)eing regarded by tlie populace
as devoted men, bound upon a d.irk and desperate
enterprise, they were contemplated with envy, as
favored mortals, bound to golden regions 'and
hai)|)v climes, where nothing but wealth and
wonder and delights awaited them. Columbus,
consjjicuous for his height and his commanding
appearance, was attended by his two sons Diego
and Fernando, the eldest but a stripling, who had
come to witness his departure, + both proud of the
glory of their father. ' \Vhere\er he passed, every
eye followed him with admiration, and every
tongue praised and blessed him. Ilefore sunrise
the whole fleet was under way ; the weather was
serene and jiropitious, and as tin' popul.ice watched
their parting sails brightening in the morning
beams, they looked forward to their joyful return
fallen with the treasures of the New World.
According to the instructions of the sovereigns,
Columbus steered wide of the coasts of Portugal
and of its islands, standing to the south-west of the
Canaries, where he arrived on the ist ot October.
After touching at the Grand Canary, he anchored
on the 5th at (Jomera, to take in a supply of wood
.md water. Here also he purchased calves, goats,
* Zurita, Hist, del Rey Fernand., lib, i. cap. 29.
Vasconcelos, lib. vi.
f Hist, del Alcnirante, cap. 44.
80
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
u '1 ■'
! H\
%
' 1
and sheep, to stock the island of Hispaniola ; and
eifjht ho^fs, from which, according- to Las Casas,
the intiiiitf ninnhcr of swine was propagated, with
which the Sjianish settlements in the New World
suhse(|Uently ahouniled. A numher of domestic
fowls were likewise jiurchased, which were the
orij^in of the species in the New World ; and the
same mijj[ht he said of the seeds of oranges,
lemons, hcrjjamots, melons, and v.irious orchard
fruits,* which were thus first introduced into the
islands of the west, from the Hesperides or Fortu-
nate Islands of the Old World .f
On the 7th, when ahout to sail, Columhus gave
to the comniander of each vessel a sealed letter of
instructions, in which was specified his route to
the harhor of N.itivity, the residence of the cacicjue
(lUac.magari. This was only to he opened in case
of heing separated hy accident, as he wished to
make a mystery, as long as possilile, of the exact
route to the newly-discovered country, lest adven-
turers of other nations, and particularly the Por-
tuguese, should follow in his track, and interfere
with his enterjirises.J
After making sail from Gomera, they were be-
calmed for a few days among the Canaries, until,
on the 13th of October, a fair breeze sprang up
from the east, which soon carried them out of
sight ol the island of Ferro. Columhus held his
course to the south-west, intending to keep con-
siderably more to the southward than in his tirst
voyage, in hopes of falling in with the islands of
the Caribs, of which he had received such vague
and wonderful accounts from the Indians. J Being
in the region of the tnide-winds, the breeze con-
tinued fair and steady, with a quiet sea and pleas-
ant weather, and by the 24th they had made four
hundred and hfty leagues west of Gomera, without
seeing any of tiiose fields of sea-weeds encoun-
tered within a much less distance on their first
voyage. At that time their appearance was im-
portant, and almost providential, inspiring con-
tinual ho])e, and enticing them forward in their
dubious enterprise. Now they needed no such
signals, being full of confidence and lively antici-
pation, and on seeing a swallow circling about
the ships, and being visited occasionally by sud-
den showers, they began to look out cheerily for
land.
Toward the latter part of October they had in
the night a gust of heavy rain, accompanied by
the severe thunder and lightning of the trojiics.
It lasted for four hours, and they considered them-
selves in nuicii peril, until they beheld several of
those lambent llames jilaying about the tops of the
masts, and gliding along the ringing, which have
always been ohiectsof superstitious fancies among
sailors. Fernando Columiius makes remarks on
them strongly characteristic of the age in wiiich
he lived. "On the same Saturday, in the night,
was seen St. Klmo, with seven lighted tapers
at the topmast : there was much rain and
great thunder ; I mean to say, that those lights
were seen, which mariners affirm to be the body
of St. Elmo, on beholding which they chant
litanies and orisons, holding it for certain, that in
the tempest in which he appears, no one is in rl.-
ger. He that as it may, I leave the matter ■
them ; but if we may believe I'liny, similar li;;h
have sometimes appeared to the Roman ni.iriiiri
during tempests at sea, which they said wiru C..
tor and Pollux, of which likewise Seneca m;uj
mention."*
On the evening of Saturday, the 2d of Novtrl
her, Columbus was convinced, from the color
the sea, the nature of the waves, and the varia'
winds and frecpient showers, that they must r.
near to land ; he gave orders, therefore, to take
sail, and to maintain a vigilant watch thr(juji;hi.|
the night. He had jutlged with his usual sag.icr
In the morning a lofty island was descried to v-tji
west, at the sight of which there were shouts
joy throughout the fleet. Columbus gave to r;3
island the name of Dominica, from having (liscy
ered it on Sunday. As the ships moved gitr.
onward, other islands rose to sight, covered vv;:
forests, while flights of parrots and other troj
cal birds passed from one to the other.
The crews were now assembled on the decks
the several shi])S, to return thanks to God ffir the;
prosperous voyage, and their hapjiy discovery.:
land, chanting the Sa/rw 7\'i\i,^i>ta and oihtT a-
thems. Such was the solemn manner in vvh;:-
Columbus celebrated all his discoveries, a-.
which, in fact, was generally observed by tr;
Spanish and Portuguese voyagers.
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind,, lib. i. cap. 83.
f Humboldt is of opinion that there were wild
oranges, small and l)itter, as well as wild lemons, in
the New World, prior to the discovery. CaldcleuKh
also mentions that the Krazilians consider the small
flitter wild orange of native origin. — Humboldt, Essai
Politique sur I'lsle de Cuba, lom. i. p. 63.
t Las Casas, hi. Sup.
§ Letter of Dr. Chanca,
TR.\NS/\CTION.S
CHAPTER II.
AT THF, ISLAND
LOUl'K.
OF GUADA-
[U93-]
Thf. islands among which Columbus Imd .r-
rived were a part of that beautiful cluster ci',;-
by some the Antilles, which sweep almost in .
semicircle from the eastern end of Porto Ricd'
the coast of Paria on the southern continent, lorr
ing a kind of barrier between the main ocean ar
the Caribbean Sea.
During the first day that he entered this arch-
pelago, Columbus saw no less than six islands':
different magnitude. They were clothed in tni::-
cal vegetation, and the breezes from them wer:
sweetened by the fragrance of their forests.
After seeking in vain for good anchorage ;:
Dominica, he stood for another of tjie group, i;
which he gave the name of his ship, ^Larigala:l'.e
Here he landed, displayed the royal b.inner, a:;.
took possession of the archipelago in the name :
his sovereigns. The island ap])eared to be uni'-
habited ; a rich and dense forest overspread 1::
some of the trees were in blossom, others lade"
with unknown fruits, others ])ossessing spip
odors^among which ^^■as one with the leaf of tr(
laurel and the fragrance of the clove.
Hence they made sail for an island of lari,'er
size, with a remarkable mountain ; one ])t;
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 45. A similar mcnti«
is made of this nautical superstition in the voyaK<= ''■
Magellan. " During these great storms, they saii
that St. Elmo appeared at the topmast with a lightc-
candle, and sometimes with two, upon whitli iht
people shed tears of joy, receiving great consolatior
and saluted him according to the custom of mariners.
He remained visible for a quarter of an hour, ari|
then disappeared, with a great flash of lightnini
which blinded the people." — Herrer.'i, decad. ii. lil^
iv, cap. 10,
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
81
appears, no one is in di:
y, I leave the niaUer •
fieve I'liny, similar li;;!"|
(I to the Roman ni.iriiirj
,\ hich they said w i-ii- C:
h likewise Seneca m,u,\
iturday, the 2(1 of Nnvi-
ivinced, from the rolor |
e waves, and the vari^i •
(uvers, that they niusi :•
rders, therefore, to take
I'ij^ilant watch thrcjujjhc
ed with his usual sa^jacr
sland was ilescried to :
hich there were shouts
it. Columl)Us j4a\e to i:;i
linica, from havinj^ disco ?
s the ships nio\ ed \^m
ose to sight, covered w
[ parrots and other trop '1
ne to the other,
assembled on the decks
jrn thanks to Ciod for iht.: 5
1 their happy discovery.
vt' Iii\i^iita and other w
solemn manner in whic:
all his discoveries, ar
generally observed hy thi
t voyagers.
i'TER II.
IHF. ISLAND OF GUADA-
)U1'K.
493-]
which Columlvjs had x-
lat f)eautiful cluster calli";
which sweep almost in;;
tern end of I'orto Hico'J
southern continent, lonr;!
tween the main ocean an;*
Ithat he entered this arch-
no less than six islands':
"hey were clothed in tni;;-;
breezes from them wer;,
ince of their forests.
[n for good anchorage a:'
|r another of tjie group,;:
of his ship, Marigala.w
/ed the royal banner, a:;
Jrchipelago in the name:
and appeared to be urn-
;nse forest overspread ::
in blossom, others lad '
others possessing .s]i:
lis one with the leaf ol ' :
of the clove,
lil for an island of l.av, '
le mountain ; one piu
tap. 45. A similar moniio'
Iperstition in the voyage 0:
le great storms, they saii
[the topmast with a lifihif
Irith two, upon whitli t'-
tcceiving great consola'.ior
1 to the custom of mariners
quarter of an hour, an;
I great flash of lightnin;,
■■ -Herrer.'i, decad. ii. '■-
ivhich proved afterward to l)e the crater of a vol-
aiio, rose to a great height, with streams of water
u^hing from it. As they approached within
hrce leagues they heheUf a cataract of such
fight that, to use the words of the narrator, it
ecnied to be tailing from the sky. As it broke into
am in its descent, many at first fjelieved it to be
nirelv a stratum of white rock.* To this island,
hich' was called by the Indians Turu(iueira,t the
(Imiral gave the name of (luadaloupe, having
romised the monks of our Lady of C.uadaloupe in
sir-jniadura to call some newly-discovered place
iter their convent.
Landing here on the 4lh, they visited a village
ear the shore, the inhabitants of which tied, some
ven leaving their children behind in their terror
nd confusion. These the Spaniards soothed with
aresses, binding hawks' bells and other trinkets
•ound their arms. This village, like most of
hose of the island, consisted of twenty or thirty
oases, built round a public place or .square. The
oases were constructed of trunks and trees inter-
ivoven with reeds and branches, and thatched
ftiih i).ilni-leaves. They were sciuare, not circular
ike those of the other islands, J and each had its
ortico or shelter from the sun. One of the porti-
os was decor.ated with images of serpents tolera-
y carved in wood. For furniture they had ham-
ocks of cotton net, and utensils formed of cala-
ashes or earthenware, equal to the best of those
t Hisjianiola. There were large (luantities of
otton ; some in the wool, some in yarn, and some
rought into cloth of very tolerable texture ; and
anv bows and arrows, the latter tipped with
harp bones. Provisions seemed to abound,
here were many domesticated geese like those
f Kurope, and parrots as targe as household
lowls, with blue, green, white, ancl scarlet plumage,
leing the splendid species called guacamayos.
ere also the Spaniards first met with the anana,
r pineapple, the flavor and fragrance of which
stonished and delighted them. In one of the
louses they were surprised to find a pan or other
teiisil of iron, not having ever met with that
netal in the New World. Fernando Colon sup-
loses that it was formed of a certain kind of heavy
itone found among those islands, which, when
)urnt, has the appearance of shining iron ; or it
night have been some utensil brought by the In-
lians from Hispaniola. Certain it is, that no na-
ive iron was ever found among tlie people of
,hese islands.
In another house was the stern-post of a vessel.
o\v had it reached these shores, which appeared
ever to have been visited by the ships of civilized
an ? Was it the wreck of some vessel from the
ore enlightened countries of Asia, which they
upposed to lie somewhere in this direction ? Or
p;irt of the caravel which Columbus had lost at
JliL- island of Hispaniola during his first voyage ?
Or a fragment of some European ship which had
drilled across the Atlantic ? The latter was most
jpr ohahly the case. The constan. current which
Itis over froin the coast of Africa, produced by
^iii; steady prevalence of the trade-winds,, must oc-
casionally bring wrecks from the Old World to
'le New ; an.d long before the discovery of Colum-
ns the savages of the islands and the coasts may
lave gazed with wonder at fragments of European
arks which have floated to their shores.
* Letter of Dr. Chanca.
t Letter of Dr. Chanca. Peter Martyr calls it Caru-
ueira or Queraquiera, decad. i. lib. ii.
t Hist, del Almirante, cap. 62.
What struck the Spaniards with horror was
the sight of liuman bones, vestiges, as they sup-
posed, of unnatural repasts ; and skulls, ajijiar-
ently used as vases and other liousehold uten-
sils. These dismal objects convinced them that
they were now in the abodes of the Cannibals,
or Caribs, whose predatory expeditions and ruth-
less character rendered them the terror of these
seas.
The boat having returned on board, Columbus
proceeded upward of two leagues, until he an-
chored, late in the evening, in a convenient port.
The island on this side extentled for the distance
of five and twenty leagues, diversitied with lofty
mountains and broad ])lains. Along the coast
were small villages and hamlets, the inhabitants
of which lied in affright. On the following day
the boats landed, and succeeded in taking and
bringing off a boy and several wookmi. The in-
formation gathered from them contirmed Colum-
bus in his idea that this was one of the islands of
the Caribs. He learnt that the inhabitants were
in league with two neighboring islainls, but made
war upon all the rest. They even went on ]jreda-
tory enterprises, in canoes made from the hollow-
ed trunks 01 trees, to the distance of (jnc hundred
and fifty leagues. Their arms were bows and
arrows pointed with the bones of tishes or shells
of tortoises, and poisoned with the juice of a cer-
tain herb. They made descents upon the islands,
ravaged the villages, carried off the youngest and
handsomest of the wome.., whom they ri'tained as
servants or companions, and made jirisoners of
the men, to be killed and eaten.
After hearing such accounts of the natives of
this island, Columbus was extremely uneasy at
finding, in the evening, that Diego Marque, a
captain of one of the caravels, and eiglu men were
missing. They had landed early in the morning
without leave, and straying into the woods, had not
since been seen or heard of. The night ])asse(l
away without their return. On the following day
parties were sent in various directions in quest of
them, each with a trumpeter to sound calls and
signals. Guns were fired from the ships, and
ai(|uebuses on shore, but all to no jjurpose, and
the iiarties returned in the evening, \ve:iried with
a fruitless search. In several hamlets they had
met with jjroofsof the cannibal ])ropeiisities of the
natives. Human limbs were suspended to the
beams of the houses, as if curing for ])rovisions ;
the head of a young man recently killed was yet
bleeding ; some parts of his body were roasting
before the fire, others boiling with the llesh of
geese and ])arrots.*
Several of the n.itives, in the course of the day,
had been seen on the shore, gazing with wonder
at the ships, but when the boats approached, they
fled to the woods and mountains. .Se\er,d women
came off to the Spaniards for refuge, being cap-
tives from other islands. Columbus ordered that
they should be decorated with hawks' bells and
strings of beads and bugles, and sent on shore,
in hopes of enticiwg off some of the men. They
soon returned to the boats stripped of their
ornaments, and imploring to be taken on board
the ships. The admiral learnt from them that
most of the men of the island were absent,
the king having sailed some time before with
ten canoes and three hundred warriors, on a
cruise in quest of prisoners and booty. When
the men went forth on these expediiions, the
* P. Martyr, Letter 147, to Pomponio La:to. Idem,
decad. i, lib. ii.
V/'
1:/
|!':i -0
■i I !
i I '
i:
.1, .
82
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
women remained to defend their sliores from in-
vasion, 'I'licy were expert arciiers, pnrtalcin^r of
the warrior spirit of tlieir husiiands, and almost
t'quailin}r them in force and intrepidity.*
Tile continued al)sence of the wanderers per-
plexed Colunil)us extremely. He was impatient
to arrive at llis|>aniola, but unwillinjf to sail while
there was a possibility of their heinjj alive and
bi'in^f recovered. In this t meryency Alonso de
Ojeda, the same younjr cavalier whose exploit on
the tower of the cathedral at Seville has been
mentioned, volunteered to scour the island with
forty men in (luest of them. He departed accord-
ingly, and durinj^ his absence the ships took in
wood and water, ;uul ])art of the crews were per-
mitted to land, wash their clothes, and recreate
themselves.
Ojeda and his followers pushed far into the in-
terior, firing off ar(|uebuses and sounding trum-
pets in the valleys and from the summits of cliffs
and ])recipices, but were only answered by their
own echoes. The tropical luxuriance and density
of the forests rendered them almost impenetra-
l)le ; and it was necessary to wade a great many
rivers, or probably the windings and doublings of
the same stream. The island ani)eared to be nat-
urally fertile in the extreme. The forests abound-
ed with aromatic trees and shrubs, among which
Ojeda fancied he jierceived the odor of precious
gums and s|)ices. There was honey in hollow
trees and in the clefts of rocks ; abundance of fruit
also ; for, according to I'eter Martyr, the Caribs,
in their predatory cruisings, were accustomed to
bring home the seeds and roots of all kinds of
plants from the distant islands and countries
which they overran.
Ojeda returned without any tidings of the strag-
glers. Several days had now elai)sed since their
disappearance. They were given up for lost, and
the lleet was about sailing when, to the universal
joy, a signal was made by them from the shore.
When they came on board their haggard and ex-
hausted looks bespoke what they had suffered.
For several days they had been jjcrplexed in track-
less forests, so dense as almost to exclude the light
of day. They had clambered rocks, waded riv-
ers, and struggled through briers and thickets.
Some, who were exjierienced seamen climbed the
trees to get a sight of the stars, by which to gov-
ern their course ; but the spreading branches and
thick foliage shut out all view of the heavens.
They were harassed with the fear, that the ad-
miral, thinking them dead, might set sail and
leave them in this wilderness, cut off forever from
their homes and the abodes of civilized man. At
length, when almost reduced to despair, they
had arrived at the sea-shore, and following it
for some time, behekl, to their great joy, the
ilret riding (|i.iietly at anchor. They l)rouglit
with them several Indian women and boys ; but
in all their wanderings they had not met with
any man ; the greater ])art of the warriors, as
has been said, being fortunately absent on an ex-
pedition.
.I'otwitlistanding the hardships they had endur-
ed, and his joy at their return, Columbus i)Ut the
captain under arrest, and stop|)ed part of the ra-
tions of the men, for having strayed away without
l)ermission, for in a service of such a critical na-
ture it was necessary to punish every breach of
discipline. t
46.
* Peter M.irtyr, decad.
t Dr. Chancu's Letter.
il. lib. ix.
Hist, del Almirante, cap.
CHAPTER III.
CRiriSE A.MOXG THE CARIIIDF.E I.SLAXD.'J.
['493-]
Weighint. anchor on the loth of November,
Colund)us steered toward the north-west, .ilun?
this beautiful archipelago; giving names to iht
islands as they rose to view ; such as Montserra;
Santa Maria la Redonda, Santa Maria la Aiui),'u,i, •
and San Martin. \'arious other islands, lul;,'
and well-wooded, appeared to the north, sou;^!. "*'
west, and south-east ; but he forbore to vis,;
them. The weather proving boisterous, I;
anchored on the 14th at an island called AyayLv
the Indians, but to which he gave the narriec:
Santa Cru/. A boat well manned was sent 0:
shore to get water and procure inforniatior.
They found a village deserted by the men, lit;
secured a few women and boys, most of thtr.il
captives from other islands. They soon had a:
instance of Carib courage and ferocity. \Vhilea;
the village they beheld a canoe from a disiar,;
part of the island come round a point of land :iri
arrive in view of the shijis. The Indians in th;
canoe, two of whom were females, remained ^n.
ing in mute amazement at the ships, and wirtr>;
entranced that the boat stole close U|)on them ir
lore they ])erceived it. Seizing their paddks iht;
attempted to escape, but the boat being betwtH
them and the land, cut off their retreat. Tlr.
now caught u|) their bows and arrows and iiiic.
them with amazing vigor and rapidity. T::
Spaniards covered themselves with their bucklcri
but two of them were quickly wounded. JtA
women fought as fiercely as the men, and one:
them sent an arrow with such force that it passe:
through and through a buckler.
The Spaniards now ran their boat against th(
canoe and overturned it ; some of the savngs
got upon sunken rocks, others discharged tlit:
arrows while swimming, as dexterously as ihonf
they had been u|)on tirm land. It was with in
utmost difhculty they could be overcome ari
taken ; one of them, who had been transfixed wii
a lance, died soon after being brought aboard t:i
shins. One of the women, from the obedii-nct
and deference paid to her, ai)peared to be ikT
([ueen. She was accompanied by her son, a your.;
man strongly made, with a frowning brow ad
lion's face. He had been wounded in the contlictj
The hair of these saxages was long and coarse
their eyes were encircled with paint, s'o as to kiv:|
them a hideous expression ; and bands of colic
were bound firmly above and below the musculij
])arts of the arms and legs, so as to cause them
swell to a ilispro|)ortioned size ; a custom prev
lent among various tribes of the New \Vorli|
Though captives in chains, and in the power;
their enemies, they still retained a frowning liro
and an air of defiance. Peter Martyr, who olie:
went to see them in .Spain, declares, from his iwJ
experience, and that of others who accompanir:
him, that it was impossible to look at them wiir-
out a sensation of horror, so menacing and tcrnr
ble was their asjiect. The sensation was doufej
less caused in a great measure by the idea of thei:
t)eing cannibals. In this skirmish, accordini;!:
the same writer, the Indians used poisoned arrows
and one of the Sjianiards died within a tew days
of a wound received from one of the females.*
de
Ml.
* P. Martyr, decad. i. lib. ii. Hist, del AlmiranKl
cap. 47. Las Casas, Hist. Ind,, cap, 85, Ms. Lcucif
of Dr. Chanca.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
83
:r hi.
;ARn!r.F.F. island:!
!•]
the loth of November,!
I the norlli-wesl
) ; K'^'''^i? nanu's to iliti
w' ; such as Montserra;
■iaiUa Maria la AiuijTu,i,
us other islands, lulu
retl to the north, sout!-i.|
)ut he forbore to vis;
proving boisterous, h;
in island called Ayayh
;h he gave the nanic «
;11 manned was sent o-.
:1 procure information,
serted by the men, hu ^
and bovs, most of thcr,^
nds. They soon h.i(lar, '
; and ferocity. \Vhilea;
a canoe from a cliitan;
ound a point of land .m,
tiips. The Indians in ih;
ti females, remained ^n-
at the ships, and wcrc-j;
stole close upon them tier
Seizing their paddles tht;;,
t the boat being belwcty
off their retreat. Thr.
nws and arrows and i)litc:
,ror and rapidity. Tr.!;
selves with their buckkrU
quickly wounded. Hi
ly as the men, and one if
\ such force that it passt
buckler,
an their lioat against t'r,t
it ; some of the savage
, others discharged tlit
as dexterously as {\vwf
m land. It was witlur.i
could be overcome ani
|) had been transfi.ved wii:
)eing brought abonrdt:
Imen, from the obedicnct
her, appeared to he tk;;|
knied by her son, a your.;
ih a frowning brow anC
n wounded in the contlial
es was long and coarsf
with ])aint, so as to ffy\
ion ; and bands of coitc;
and below the musculij
|;s, so as to cause ihcm
ed size ; a custom prevs
Ibes of the New WmV
|iins, and in the powers
•etained a frowning hrw
I'eter Martyr, who otieJ
|n, declares, from hiso«'J
others who acconipanir:
hie to look at them wii:
|r, so menacing and tern'
['he sensation was dmib';
asure bv the idea ot the?
is skirm'ish, according!
ns used poisoned arrows
,s died within a few day
\\ one ot the females.*
ii Hist, del Almiraniel
ind., cap. 85, MS. Lciief
Pursuing his voyage, Columbus soon came in
iglil ot a great cluster ot islands, some verdant
Ind covered with forests, but the greater part
[akeil and sterile, rising into craggy mountains ;
,jtl, lock:, ot a bright a,!ure color, and some ot a
lli^tering white. These, with his usual vivacity
f imagination, he supposed to contain mines ot
kli metals and precious stones. 'I'he islands ly-
ig ilo^e together, with the sea lieating roughly
,i the narrow channels which divided them, ren-
leri'd it dangerous to enter among them with the
rge sliijjs. Columbus sent in a small caravel
itii latiiie sails, to reconnoitre, which returned
itii the report that there were upward ot tilty
lands, a|)parenlly inhabi'ed. To the Largest ol
is gnui|) he gave the name of Santa Ursula, and
ltd the others the Kleven Thousand X'irgins.*
Cnnlinuing his course, he arrived one evening
>\"\\i 1)1 a great island covered with beautitui
r(■^ts, and indented with fine havens. It was
1 l)v the nati\es Horic|uem, but he g.ive it the
.me ot San Juan Hautista ; it is the same since
uiDWii by the name ot I'orto Rico. This was the
Litive island ot most ol the captives who had lied
he ships lor retuge from the Caribs. Accord-
ij; to ihelr accounts it was lertile and r)0])ulous,
1 uiuler the dominion of a single cacuiue. Its
lahilanls were not given to rove, and |)ossessed
ui lew canoes. They were subject to tretjuent
iva^il)n^ Irom the Caribs, who were their imjila-
l!)le eiu inies. They had become w.irriors, theri'-
in their own <lelence, using the bow and ar-
i\v and ilu- war-club ; and in their contests with
iiir cannibal Iocs they retorted ujjon them their
ivii atrocities, devouring their |)risoners in re-
:iigc.
.•\tter running for a whole day along the be.iuti-
1 coast ol this island, they anchored in bay at
c west end, abounding in tish. t)n landing,
tv lounil an Indian village, constructed as usual
I'and a<'iinnion s(|uare, like a market-place, with
U' iaigc' and well-built house. A spacious road
d tluiKc to the seaside, having fences on each
de, ol interwoven reeds, inclosing fruitful gar-
;iis. .\t the end of the road was a kind ol ler-
iie, or look-out, Cv)nstructed ot reeds and over-
iiv^ing the water. 'I'he whole ])lace had an air
nealnes^.ind ingenuity, superior to the ordinary
Isidences ol the natives, and api)eared to be the
lode ol some important chiettain. All, how-
fer, wa:, silent and deserted. Not a huni.in be-
jg was til be seen during the time they remained,
the pl.ice. The natives had concealed iheni-
vcs at the sight ot the scpiadron. Alter remain-
heve two (lavs, Columbus made sail, and stood
Ir the island ot Ilispaniola. Thus ended his
fuise among the Caribbee islands, the account ot
lose tierce and savage people was received with
[JLT curiosity by the learned ot Iuiro|)e, and con-
..red a-, settling one dark and doubtfid (|ues-
'iitd the disadvantage ot human nature. I'eter
aityr, in his letter to I'omponius I.a-tus, an-
uiicfs the tact with teartul solemnity. " The
ies ol the l.estrigonians and ot I'olyphemus,
10 ted (in humati llesh, are no longer doubttul I
1, hut beware, lest thy hair bristle with
That iii.iny of the i)ictures given us of this e\-
liiirdin.iry race of p .yple have been colored !)y
; tears ot the Indiaii.^ and the i)rejudices ot the
►aniards, is highly ])robable. They were con-
"tly the terror ot the former, and the brave and
Isiiiiate opponents ot the latter. The evidences
' I'. Martyr, decad. i. lib. ii. Letter of Dr. Chanca.
I adduced of their cannibal propensities must be
received with large allowances for the careless
.and inaccurate observ.itions of seataring men,
and the preconceived belie! of the tact, which eX'
isted in the minds ot the Spaniards. It v.as a cus.
toin among the natives ot manyot the islands, and
ol other parts ot the New World, to jiresfrve the
lemains ol their deceased relatives and friends ;
sometimes the entire body ; sometiMu:s only the
head, or some ot the limbs, dried ,it the lire ;
sonietinu'S the mere bones. These, when lonnd in
the dw(dlings ot the natives ot I lisp.miola, against
whom no |)reiu(lice ot the kind existed, were cor-
rectly reg.irded as relics ot the deceased, preserve<l
through affection or reverence ; but any remains
ol the kind found among the Caribs were looked
upon with horror as prools ot cannibalism.
'I'he w.irlike and unyielding character of these
peo])le, so different from th.it of the ])usillanimous
n.itions around them, and the wide scojie ol tneir
enterprises and wanderi!>gs, like those ot the no-
mad tribes ot the Old World, entitle them to dis-
tinguished .attention. They were trained to war
from their intancy. As soon ;is they could walk,
their intrepid mothers ])Ut in dieir haiuls the bow
,ind arrow, and prepared them to take .an e.uly
part in the hardy eiitei prises of their fathers.
Their distant roamings by sea made them obser-
v.uit and intelligent. The natives ol the other
islands only knew how to diviile time bv day .md
night, by the sun .md moon ; wiiereas these had
acquired some knowledge of the stars, by which
to calculate the tinus and se.isons.*
The traditional .iccouiUs ot their origin, though
of course I'Xtreniely vague, are yet capable ol be-
ing verilied to a great ilegree by geograjdiical
f.icts, and open one ot the rich veins ol curious in-
(|uiry and specul.ition which abound in the New
World. Tliey are said to have migrated from
the remote valleys embosomed in the Apalachian
mountains. The earliest accounts we have of
tlu'm represent them with wea|')(jns in their hands,
continually engaged in wars, winning their way
and shitting thidr aboile, until in the course of
lime they tound themselves at the extremity of
riorida. Here, ab.mdoning the northern conti-
nent, they passed over to the Lucayos, and thence
gradually, in the jirocess of years, from island to
island of that vast and verdant chain, which links,
as it were, the end of I''U)ricla to the coast of
I'aria, on the southern continent. The archipela-
go extending from I'orto Rico to Tobago was their
stronghold, .uul the island of (kiadaloupe in a
manner their citadel. Hence they made their ex-
|)ediiions, and s|)read the terror of their name
ilirough ,ill the surrounding countries. Swarms
ol them landed upon the southern continent, and
overran s(jme parts ot terra tirma. Tr.ices of
them have been discovered tar in the interior of
that v.ist country through wliieh llows the Oroo-
noko. Tin: Dutch touiui colonies ot them on the
banks of the Ikoutekii, which empties into the
Surinam ; along the Ms(|uibi, the Maroni, and
other rivers of Ciuayana ; and in the country
watered by the windings of the Cayenne ; and it
would appe.ir that they extended their wanderings
to the shores ot the southern ocean, where, among
the aboriginals of Brazil, were some who called
themselves Card)s, distinguished Irom the sur-
rounding Indians bv their superior hardihood,
suiitlely, and enterprise.!
* Mist, del Almirante, cap. C2.
f Rorhefort, Hist. Nat. des Isles Antilles ; Rotter-
dam, 1 06 5.
r I
.^'..i,^
i ■■ 'm
84
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMni'S.
To trarc the footsteps of this roving tril)c
throughout its wide mij^rations troin the Apal.i-
chiaii mountains ot the northern continent, alonj;
the (lusters of islands which stud theduit ot Mex-
ico and the Carihhean Sea to the shores of I'aria,
and so across the vast regions ot (luayanaand
Ania/onia to the remote coast of lira/d, would lu'
one ot the most curious researches in aliori^^inal
history, and throw nnich lij^ht upon the mysteri-
ous (luestion of the population of the New World.
CHAPTKR IV.
ARRIVAL AT Till'. IIAKIiOR OF I. A NA'-'DAD—
UISASIKR Ol' TlIK lORTKESS.
[1493- J
On the 22(1 of Novemt)er th(? fleet arrived off
what was soon ascertained to lie the eastern ex-
tremity of Hayti, or, as the admiral bid named it,
Ilisp.'iniola, Tlie greatest excitement |)revailed
throufjhout the armada, at the thoughts ot soon
arrivinj,' at the end of their voy.ij^e. Those who
had been here in the ])recedin^j voya(,'e remem-
bered the ple.isant (lays they had jjassed amon^,^ the
jjroves of Hayti ; and the rest loo' -d torward with
eajrerness to scenes painted to them with the cap-
tivatinj^ illusions of the ifolden aj^e.
As the Ik'Ct swept with e.isysaif alonjj the jjfreen
shore, a i)oat was sent to land to bury .i Hisciy.in
:;ailor, who had died ot the wound of an arrow
received in the late skirmish. Two lij;ht caravels
hovered near the shore to guard the Ixiat's crew,
while the funer.il ceremony w.is performed on the
beach, under the trees. .Several natives came off
to the ship, with a message to the admir.il from
the cacique of the neighborhood, inviting him
to land, and promising great (pLintilies of gold ;
.anxious, however,, to arrive at I.a N'avidad, Co-
lumbus dismissed them with ])resents and con-
tinued his course. Arriving ;it the gulf of Las
Flechas, or, as it is now called, the gulf of .Se-
mana, the place where, in his ])receding voy.ige,
a skirmish had occurre(l with the natives, he set on
shore one of the young Indians of the |)lace, who
had accompanied him toS])ain, and had been con-
verted to Christianity. He dismissed him finely
apparelled and loaded with trinkets, antici|)ating
favorable effects fnjm his accounts to his country-
men of the wonders he had seen, and the kind
treatment he had ex|)erienced. The young Indian
made many fair promises, but either forgot them
all, on regaining his liberty and his native moun-
tains, or fell a victim to envy caused l)y his wealth
and finery. Nothing was seen or heard ot him
more.* Only one Indian of those who hacl been
to Spain now remained in the lleet ; a young Lu-
cay.in, native of the island of (".uanahani, who had
been baptized at Harcelona, and had been named
after the admiral's brother, Diego Colon. He
continued always faithful and devoted to the .Span-
iards.
On the 25th Columbus anchored in the harbor
of Monte Christi ; anxious to tix upon a pl.ice
for a settlement in the neighborhood of the
stream to which, in his hrst voyage, he had given
the name of the Rio del Oro, or the Oolden
River. As sevend of the mariners were ranging
the coast, they found, on the green and moist
banks of a rivulet, the bodies ot a man and boy ;
the former with a cord of Spanish grass about his
Ilerrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. ii. cap. 9.
neck, and his arms extended an. I tied hv :
wrists to a slake in the form ol a cross. Tin'!,
ies were in such a state ot dec.iy that it w,l^;
possible to ascertain whether they were lndi,•ln^l
l!uropeans. Sinister (loid)ts, however, weretnirl
t.iined, whidi were contirmed on the lollou;'
day ; tor on revisiting the shore, they lounil
some distance from the tormer, two other Ikh!;.
one ot which, having a beard, was e\ identK 1
corpse ot a white m.iii.
'1 he pleasant anticip.itions of Columbus on f|
a|ipro.ich to I.a Navidad were now overcast w:
gloomy forebodings. The experience rerin!
had ot the ferocity of some ot the inliabit.iii:
these islands, made him doubllul of the amii,
others, and he beg.in to fe.ir that somemistcni
might have betallen Ar.ma and his g.irrisoii.
The trank ;ind le.irless manner, however
which a number of the natives came oM in
ships, and their unembarrassed demeainir.
some measure .allayed his suspicions; tor ii
not appear probable th.it they would venture:'
conhdenlly among the white men, with lln'
sciousness of h.iving recently shed the blm.;
their comi)anions.
On the evening of the 27th, he arrived (i|ipii.
the h.irbor ot La Navidad, and cast anchor. i'
;i league from the l.ind, not d.iring to ei.tci- i:
dark on .account ot the dangerous reels. Ii };
too late to distinguish objects. Impatient to s;ii |j
his doubts, therelore, he ordered two cannon t ^(
fired. The report echoed .along the shore, 'h
there was no reply from the f irt. Lvery lyfj'
now directed to catch the gleam ot some sil;J
light ; every ear listened to he.ir some trie t '
shout ; but there w.is neither light nor shout, {
( any other sign of life ; all was darkness and d
like silence.*
Several hours were passed in disni.il suspi'
and everyone longed f<jr the morning light, in
an end to his uncertainty. About midnight .1
noe approached the fleet ; when within a cii; I
I distance, it jiaused, and the Indians who vircl
I it, hailing one of the vessels, asked for thir,
j miral. \Vhen directed to his si ipthey drew m|
'. but would not venture on board until they sawi
lumtius. He showed liimself at the side 0!
vessel, and a light tieing held up, his ..ouiULnij
and commanding |)erson were not to be mist:!K-
They now entered the ship without hesitation. 1
of them w.is .1 cousin of the c,ici(iue Ouaciiin;]
;ind brought a jjresent from him of tw(. mask
namented with gold. Columbus iiKpiiied :i
the .Spaniards who had rem.iined on the isi,!l
The information which the native gave was sii:|
wh.'it contused, or i)erha|)s was im|ierleclly um ]
stooci, as the only Indian interpreter on board
the young Lucayan, Diego Colon, whose ita:j
language was different from that ot ll.iyti.
told Columbus that several of the Spaniards'
died of sickness ; oth !rs had fallen in a ([i.'
among themselves, and others had removi'il:
different jiart of the island, where they had i.i-
to themselves Indian wives. That Ciuacanai'l
had l)een ass.iiled tiy Caonabo, the fierce cacicl
ot the golden mountains of ("ibao, who had wotf
ed him in battle, and burnt his village ; and
he remained ill of his wound in .1 neighl'i'']
h.imlet, or he would have hastened in jiers
welcome the admiral. f
* Lett'-T of Dr. Chanca. Navarretc, Coltc j
Vlage, torn. i.
f Dr. Chaiica's Letter, Hist, del Almirante.
43. Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. i. cap. i>
LIFI' AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBL'S.
!S5
•ndfd and tied by ■
111 ol a (TOSS. 'I'lic 1)
(it di'iay lli:>l it \v,i> :
licrthcy vviTc lluli;l^^
t)lS, lloWf VtT, Wflf lll'.t
irmt'd oi) ll"" IdIIdw"
he siiorr. lllfV lolinil
,)rnn-r, two utini' linii-
heard, was cvidciitK :
ions of {.'oUimlnis on'
were now oViMxasl w
riif fxi)ericii(i" reccr
imc ot thf inli;d)il,in!-
douhtlul of liif aiiiii;.
[car that sonic niisloit
iia and liis ^jarrisoii.
ss manner, liowtvir
• natives came o't in
liarrassed demeanor,
his suspicions ; fur it
they would ventunv
white men, witli tin'
•cenlly siied the hlui.';
27th, he arrived oppi-
d, and cast anehii'.' ai
not daring; to eiiler iir
(hm^^erous reefs. U
ijects. !ni|)atient to sa;
ordered two cannon 1
)e(i aionj^ liie siiore, [
1 the f )rt. I'.very eye v
the jrleam of some m;''
led to hear some Irii'
-ither li^jht nor sliovit.
ill was darkness and dc.
lassed in dismal suspt:
r the morning; li^ht. to:
ty. About niidni},du .1
el : when within a cci:
the Indians wiio wirt
.essels, asked for tlir ,
[in his st ipthey drew m
]n board until they saw I
liimself at the side (•:
lield up, his counleiir
1 were not to be mist.'.s:
ip without hesitation. 1
the caci(|ue (Uiacana;
om him ot iw(. ni.isk-
lolumbus in(|uired a'
remained on l!ie i^i^
Ithe native j^ave w .is v '
jis was ini|)erleclly iH''
|i interpreter on boarci
ej^o Colon, whose na
from that of ll.iyti.
■cral of the Spaniards
■s had fallen in a qi..-
others had removed
d, where they had t,-
ives. That C.uacaiia:
.onabo, the tune cai'.
of Cibao, who li.ul w"":'
lUrnt his village ; and:
wound in a neighbor
,ve hastened in perso:
ca. Navarrctc, Coltc
Hist, del Almirante,
Idecail. i. lib. i. cap. ')■
Melancholy ns were these tidings, they reliever]
Odmnbus li-om a dark and dismal surmise.
\\liate\cr dis.istersh.id oxcrwlielmed his j^.irrison,
it had not t.illen .1 sacrifice to the pertidy oi the
ii.ilives ; bis ),'ood opinion oi the j;entleness and
kindness ol these people h.id not been misplaced ;
nor liad llieir cicicpiif torleited the admir.ition in-
),|)ired by bis benevolent hospitality. Thus the
most cdirodin^; c.ire was dismisseil from bis
niind ; lor, to a j(enerous spirit, there is notbin}r
.so (li^iiearteiiinK .is to discover treachery wIkmc it
has reposed contidence and friendship. It would
seem also that some of the |,Mrrison were yet
alive, tbouK^h scattered .about the isl.md ; they
would doubtless soon he.ir of his arrival, and
would li.islen to rejoin him, w<-ll (pialilied to fjive
intorniation of the interior.
.Satislied ot the friendly disposition of the n.i-
tives, the cheerfulness ot the crews was in a j^reat
incisure restored. The iiidi.ms who h.id come
on liDard were well entertained, .md departed in
tile iiiKlit gratitied with various pri'sents, proniis-
iiii; to return in the morning' with the caci(|ue
Ciii.uan.ijfari. 'I'be mariners now .awaited the
(l.iwn ot d.iv with reassured sjiirits, expectinj.; that
the cordial intercourse and pleasant scenes ot the
lirst vova;;e would be renewed.
'I'lie inorninj; dawned .and |i.issed away, and the
(lay .Kbanced and bej^.m to decline, without the
promised visit from the cacicpie. Some a()preben-
Miins were now enterl.iined tb.it the Indians who
had visited them the precedinj.^ ni^jbt mij,dit be
drowned, ,is they had p.irtaken treely of wine, .and
their sni.ill canoe was e.isy to be overset. 'I'here
w.is a silence and .in air ot desertion .about the
whole nei;rhborhood extremelv suspicious. On
their precedinjr visit the harbor bad been a scene
ol coiuinua! anini.ition ; canoes jjlidinj,' over the
clear waters, Indians in ^^roups on the shores, or
under the trees, or swimminjf off to the caravel.
Now. not .1 canoe was to be seen, not an Indian
hailed them from ti e land ; nor was there any
smoke risinjj from am )n>^the j,rroves to give a sij^n
ot habit.iiion.
.Alter waitin<.( for a lonj^ time in vain, Columbus
sent ,1 bo.it to the shore to reconnoitre. On laiid-
ini;, the crew hastened .and sou^jlit the fortress. It
was a ruin ; the palis.idoes were beaten down, and
the whole presented the .ip|)earance of havinfj been
isacked, burnt, and destroyed. Here and there
Were broken chests, s|)oile(l provisions, and the
rajTfjed remains of European j^arments. Not an
liuiian ajiproacbed them. They cauo-bt sight ot
two or three lurking .at a distance among the
|trt-ts. and ajiparently watching them ; but tlie\-
vanished into the woods on finding themselves
observed. .Meeting no one to explain the melan-
kholy scene before them, they returned with de-
cited hearts to the shijis, aiid related to the ad-
mir.il what they had seen.
Columbus was greatly troubled in mind at this
jinii'lliijjence, and the tleet having now anchored in
the harbor, he went himself to shore on the fol-
llinving morning. Rejiairing to the ruins of the
rtress, he found everything as had been de-
irih'jd, and searched in vain for the remains ot
cad bodies. No tr.ices ot the garrison were to
lliesten, but broken utensils, and torn vestments,
^altered here and there among the grass. Tliere
|Vfreniany surmises and conjectures. If the tort-
Ttss had been sacked, some of the garrison might
"ct survive, and might either have tied from the
[[!^c>t,dd)()rhood, or tieen carried into captivity.
annon and arquebuses were discharged, in
opes, if any of the survivors were hid among
rocks and thickets, they might he.ir them .ind
come forth ; but no one made liis .ippear.mce. A
niournlul .and lifeless silence reigned over tlie
|)lace. The suspicion ot ireacliery on the part cd
(iuacanagari was again revived, but Columbus
was unwilling to indulge it. ( »n looking turtlier
the village ot that caciijue was tound .1 mere be.ip
ot burnt ruins, which showed tb.tt be had been
involved in the dis.ister ol the garrison.
C(dumbus had left orders with Aran.i .and the
other olVicers to bury all the treasure they migbl
iirocure, or, in case of sudden danger, to throw
It into the well ot the fortress. He ordered e\c:i-
N.itions to be made, therefore, among the ruins,
and the well to be cleared out. While this search
w.as making, be proceeded with the boats to ex-
plore the neighborhood, partly in hopes ot g, lining
intelligence ot any scattered survivors (d the gar-
rison, and partly to look out lor a better situation
tor ;i fortress. After proceeding about a. league
he came to a hamlet, the inhabitants ot whicli b.id
lied, taking whatever they could with them and
hiding the rest in the grass. In the bouses were
I'.uro|)e.in articles, which evidently bad not been
procured by t)arter, such .as stockings, pieces of
cloth, .m anchor of the caravtd which bad been
wrecked, and a beautitui Moorish robe, tidded in
the form in which it had been brought from
Spain.*
Il.iving passed some time in eontempl.iting
these scattered documents of a disastrous story,
Columbus returned to the ruins of the fortress,
'ihe excavations and search in the well bad jiroved
fruitless ; no treasure was to be tound. Not tar
from the tort, however, they bad discovered the
bodies of eleven men, buried in different places,
;ind which were known by their clotbing to be
Ku'- ,pe.ins. They had evidently been for some
time in the ground, the grass having grown upon
their graves.
In the course of the day a number of the Indians
m.ide their ap|)earance, hovering timidly at .1 dis-
tance. Their apprehensions were gr.idu.illy dis-
pelled until they became iierfectly communicative.
.Some ot them could spe.ik a few words ot .Spanish,
and knew the names ot all the men who bad re-
mained with Arana. Hy this means, and by the
aid of the interjireter, the story of the garrison
was in some measure ascertained.
It is curious to note this first footprint of civiliza-
tion in the New World. Those whom C'llumbus
had left behind, s.iys Oviedo, w ilb the exception
ot the commander, Don Diego .\ran.i, and oiu- or
two others, were but little calculated to tollow the
precepts of so prudent a jierson, or to discbarge
the critical duties enjoined u|)on them. They
were principally men of the lowest order, or mar-
iners who knew not bow to conduct themselves
with restraint or sobriety on shore. t No sooner
bad the .admiral departed, than all his counsels
and Cvjmmands died away from their minds.
Though a mere handful of men, surrouni I 'ly
savage tribes and dependent upon their own pru-
dence .and good conduct, and upon the good-will
of the natives, for very existence, yet they soon
began to indulge in the most wanton abuses.
Some were jirompted by rapacious av.irice, and
sought to |)ossess themselves, by all kinds of wrong-
ful means, of the golden ornaments and other val-
uable jjroperty of the natives. Others were grossly
sensual, and not content with two or three wives
* Letter of Dr. Chanca. Cura debs Palacios, cap,
I20.
f Oviedo, Hist. Ind., lib. ii. cap. 12.
80
i.iii'. AND V()V.\(;i;s oi" (.outmiius.
.\l III well 1(1 (Ml li |tv(".ii.ii'.m.ij;.il i, set 1 1 II I'd llu- \vi\ cs
.IMil cl.Ul^hll'l'^ ol till' lllcll.lll->.
Iiiiii- 1)1 ,u\ U ensiled .iiiiDM^; then) .ilniiil llieii
ill i;(illiil spiilK .mil llie I. mils iil llie liiili.in
wmuen : .mil the li.itnes hehelil uilli .isIdiusIi
meiit till' beings \\luimtlle\ ll.iil \Mii slii|i|)ei|, ,is
ile>i eiuleil lioni the skies, .ili.imliineil In llii' K'"''''
est lit e.irtliU )i.issi(iiis. ,iiul r.i^;mj; .i^;.imsl e.u li
ntlief Willi wnise th.iii luiit.il Irim il\.
Mill these ilisseitsiniis mi^hl iinl li,i\e lieeii ver\
1 1, mi; ell Ills ii.id the\ olisel \ed one nl the miimetiniis
lit ( iiliimlnis, .md kept t(i(;eliu'i in the Inrtress,
in.imi.inuii^ milit.UA M);il,iiHe ; Inil ,ill pree.iiitiuii
111 the kind w.is sunn lui^ntten. In v.iin did |)iiii
I'iei^o lie .\r.in.i mterpuse his iiiuhiu ity ; iiiN.iin
did e\t'iy indiieement present itsell \\ hiih euiilil
Imid in. in ,mil in, in tnmther in ,i tnieiijn kind.
.MI nidei', .ill siilinidin.itiiin, .ill lin.miniity w.is .it
.in end. M.iiu .ili.indnned the liHticss. .mil lived
e.ileli'ssly .mil .it I'.mdoni .iIkhU (he neijjhlior-
hund ; e\er\ one w.is tnr hiniselt, or .issiui.itetl
with snme little knot ol innleder.ites tii injure ,md
desiiiiil (he rest. I'hus t.iitinns hrnke mil amonj;
them, until .imhitinn .nose ti) lomplete tlu' di-
sti 111 thin (it their miinii' empire. I'eilru ( 'lUtierre/
.md l\iiiliii;(i lie I'-senliedn, w hum rdhmiluis h.id
let; .Is lii'Uteli.mts to the eDliiin.mdei , to siu ceed
til him in e.lse nt .leeident, lunk .idv.mt.i>;e nl these
dwnrders .md .ispiied tn .m ei|ii.il sh.ire m the ,iii-
thdiity, it luit to the supreme (•ontrol. ^ \iiileiit
atlr.iys suieeedni, in whiih .i .Sp.ini.iri! n. lined
I.u'omo w.ts kilU'd. 1 Living l.iiled in their ohjeel,
liillierre/ ,md I-.seohedo w ithdiew trom the tort-
ie-.s with nine ot their .ulherents .md .i number ol
their W(imen, .mil turned their th(iiij;hts on dis-
t.int enterprise, ll.iviiii;- he.ird m.irvellnus ae-
eounts (it llie mines ol C'ib.io, .md thei;olden s.inils
(i! its nuumt.iin rivers, they set oil tor ih.it distriet,
tlu^he.l with the thoughts ol am.issinn immense
IiiMsiue. riuis they ilisiej;.iiile(l .mother stronj;
iniuiution ot (."olumbus, which w.is to keep within
the Iriendly territories ol 1 'lUae.inajj.iri. The re-
giiiii to whieh thev rep.iired w.is in the interior ot
ti'.;' isl.ind, within the provinee of M.i^juana, ruled
by llie t.imous C'.ion.ibo, ealled by the Spani.irds
tiie Lord ot the (."lolden House. This renowned
el'.ieti.un w.is a Cirib by birth, and possessed the
liereeiu'ss .iiul enter]irise ot his nation. lie h. id
eonic an aiUeiUurer to His|i.iniola, and by his
courai;e .md address, and his warlike exploits,
h.ul m.ide himselt the most potent ot its eaeiqlles.
rh.e inhabitants imivers.illy stood in awe ot him
t'.iim his C.irib orii;in, and he was the hero ol the
is'..iiul, when the shijis ot the white men suddenly
.i|-|HMred U]ion its shores. 'The wnmlertul .le-
I'ounts Ol tlieir power .md prowess had re.ielu'd
limi .inioni; his mountains, and he h.ul the shrewd-
ness to pereeive that his i-onsei|uenee nuist deelino
Intore sui'li tormid.ible intruders. The dep.irture
o: Columbus ij.ue him hopes that their intrusion
would be but tempor.iry. The diseorc's and ex-
cesses ot those who remained, while they moved
his detestation, inspired him with increasing con-
t'ulence. No sooner did CiUtierrez and I'scobedo,
with tlieir companions, take refuse in his domin-
ions, t,han he put them to death. He then formed
.-. ■.•.M.LTiie with the c.icique of Marien, whose terri-
t(.iries adjoined those of Ciuacanaijari on the west,
and concerteil a sudden att.ick ujion the fortress.
I'nierj;in;4 with his warriors from amon,ij the
ir. ouiuains, and traversiiiij threat tracts ot forest
w.iii proiound secrecy, he arrived in the vicinity
ot t.'ie villatjc without beini; discovered. The
.Sp.ini.irds. niiilidin^ in the gentle .md p.ieilic n
line ol the Indi.ins, li,id ne^le( led .ill milit.iiA pir
( unions. Iliii ten men lem.iiiied in the tiiiin,,
W' I .Ai.m.i, ,iiid these do nol ,ippe.ii In luti-
m.linl, lined .my Jjll.lld, The test wele (pi.irlcr.i
in liiiiises in llie nii^liboi hood. In the de.iil i,'
the ni>.;hl, wliell .ill were wr.ipjied in sleep, ( ,i„.
n.iliii .md Ins w.iiiiois burst upon llie pl.newni
lrij;lllllll \ells, j;ot possession nl the lorlK ~,s lie
lore Its inin.iles eiillld pill lhem'.el\i's upon thru
delence, .mil surrounded .mil set lire to the hi>iis.'>
111 whiill llie rest ot the while ineli were slei|iiii-
l!ij;lll ot the .Sp.ini.irds lied to the se.iside piiiMi,
by the s,u,i);i's, ,inil, nisliinj; into the w.ixes, nn
diouiied ; the lest wi're m.iss.nred. < "lll.ll■.lll.l^."
anll his silbjeiis loii^ht l.lithllllU in deleiK (
their ;;uesls, but nol iieinj; ot .i w.ii like cli.iiu in
wi're e.isily routed.; the e.iiiipie vs. is vvounilcill
the h.ind ot t'.ioii.ibo, and his m1I.ij;c vv.is luiriitiij
the ^•roiind.*
Such w.is the liislorv nt the lirsl IliiKipe.m est.ili-
i lishmeiit in the New World. It pn siiits in ,i
i diininiitive cnmp.iss ,m epitome ot the |;i(iss viiY(
I which degrade civ ill/. ilioii. and thef^i.md pnlilici
I errors which sometimes subvert the mi^htiesi ii'
pires. .Ml l.ivv .md nrder bem;; rel.ixed bv i ■
luption .md liceiilioilsiiess. piibin ^ooil w.is s.h
i liceil 1(1 priv.ile interest and p.issioii. the ((Hiiiii
j nity was convulsed bv divers l.iclions and iIismii-
sinns, until the vvlmle vv.is sh.ikeii .isimder In \\y
•ispirini;' ileiii.ij;-oj;iies. ambilious ol the cninm.i!'
nt .1 petty tnitress in a vvilderness, and the sj
pre, lie control ol eij^ht-.md-thirly men.
Ovicdo, Hist, Ind., lib. ii. cap. 12
CH.M'IKR V.
TK.\N.~i.\rriiiNs Willi niK .-.Mivi'.r^ - sfsiMcini^
(.ONDIt r Ol' lilAC.\N.\i;.\Kl.
tlie ll.illlr - . ,
\.Mi "'tii'v
he
l> )1
i
TlIK tra).jical story of the fortress, as jj.itliin
from the Indi.ins at the h.ii bor. received conliniij
lion trom .mother (pLirler. ( )ne of the eapi;iin>
Melehor Maldonadn, cnastinj; In ihe east Willi h>
c. navel in search nt some more favorable silu.ili''
tor a settlement, was bo.irded by a canoe in vvhu"
were two Indians. One of them was the biollu-
ot ("lUacaii.iijari, .ind entre.ited him, in
of the caciipie, to visit him at the villa<;e wliei
l.iv ill of his wound. Maldonadn immedi.iti'
went to shnre with two or three of his cnnip.i;'.
inns. They tnuiiil Ciuacana.ijari cnnlined by l.iiri
ness to his h.immnck, surrniinded by seven o! h
wives. The caci([ue expressed j^reat rei^ret at ::
beinj; able to visit the admiral. He related v;ir
ous iiarticulars cnncerninj;' the disasters nt ti'
garrison, and the p.irt which he and his suhji'i'-i
had taken in its delence, showing his wiuinila
leg tiound up. His story agreed with that alre;v:
related, .-\tter treating the Sjianiards with his a.
customed hos]iitality, he jiresented to each of tliir|
at ]iarting a golden ornanient.
On the following morning, Columbus repairf.
in ]ierson to visit the caci(|ue. To impress h;:
with an ide.i of his present ])ovverand iiii])nrt,'.:.i;
he a|)]ieared with a numerous train of otlicers, :■■
richlv dressed or in glittering armor. They tour .|
(iuacanagari reclining in a hammock ot coti
* Herrcra, Hist. Ind.. decad. I. lib. li. cap.
Letter of Dr. Chanca. Peter Martyr, decad. i. 1
ii. Hist, del Almirante, cap. \q. Cura de los Pai'|
cios, cap. 120, MS. Munoz, Hist. N. Mundo, lib.
tic .1
tiMlll
tM (I
Iil I IK
UK r
|uli|i'(
tiillle
Viiiiai
Cih
Ifliu.
briMi
il
|(ii I
lib.
'hr
ll'll.llll
ki,i;l'lv
rulili II
('ith
niiiiiih
l,l,s
Ini.ill
rl.il l>
(ill. 11.
P\ ,1 s|i'
hiiiiiil I
bn'M'iii.
KdUIld
Klin vvli
linn- h.t
priiisc 11
ti'iii.iiiie
Vlh. h.K
vitllc..sc
|ai'ii|m',
|hi' vvlin
iiiiii'cal 1
vv:i;
ninil In
am. Ci
ilill'i'rei
tii;.;lil li.i
■I'tllM'd ll
nils III
e.ircil till
'\.i,;',i;erai
VlUllllls II
mil the
iroiils to
is
ri.ir,
mil, he (I
I' CHullI
iiilt was
■ iri'i.' at
iii^tilitV,
1 tlu'ir in
;<eneiMl
" the isl
IS o|iinii
ni; the ii
ake Ihe s
10 cum i nil
.■\l the
ih'iUijh sti
'i'":i)|i.in
elKiil vv
ihe white
lith two s
* Letter
* Letter
;2o.
{ Hist, d
Mil' AND V()YA(;i:S OF COI-l'MMlS.
■sr
IC )^flltlc .Hill |i,irilh '
•^lii iiil .ill n\ilii.ii\ |ii.
irm.imrd in llif lorlii-,
(III iioi .iiUH'.ir 111 lm\.
I he U'sl \\v\r (|U,irln'.
il'liiMiil. Id the dr. III.
\MM|t|iril ill sl(r|i. ( .i..
lirst upiiM llic pl.ii (■ Wi''
.Slllll 111 lilt' lllllll s~. Ill
I llirlilM'lM-i Upiin llii •
111(1 M-t lilr 111 llif liiiiiM.
Illtf illtll will- --Iriliili;;
II 111 lIlC M'.lsifll' |llllMlli
ilij; mill llic W.IM'S, ui r.
ii.lss.Hicil. « 'ill.ir.iii.|i;,ir
t.iilliliilK ill tliliiiii
g III .1 w.ii liki' ell. II, II ll-
lM(l(|IU' vs. IS Wllllllllcil 1
1 his vilLi^f w.is liiirm \
llii' lust I'.iiiiipi-.ni imV
^iiild. ll piisciils 111
liliMiic (it the HlKss Ml"
I, and llic );iMiid pnlilu.
iiilncri llic iiiivjhlicsi in
Icr liciiijf relaxed In in-
,s, public uddd w.is s.ii I
Hid passidii, the ciHiinii
\crs i.iclidiis and iIism"
IS sli.iken .iMilidei- In in
nhilidiis (it the Cdiiiin.i:'
wilderness, and the ^"
ul-lhiitv men.
IKK V.
111--. .s.\Tivr.
;i'.\C',\N.vl-.\KI.
-sfsi'kiiu
ic fortress, as jj.iiIuti
rlior, received Cdiiliriii
IT. One (it the capl.iir.
.tini;- to the east with h
more tavorahle sitii.iii'
(led hyacaiKie in \\h''
t theni was the hroihi-
rc.Ued him, in the iim':
m at the villaj;e wluic!;
Maldonado immeili.itf
or three of his i;(ini|u;;
naijari cdiitined by l.iii'i
•niimded by seven nl !'■
•ssed j;real rei^ret :il iv
ndral. He related v;ir I
n^ the disasters of ih
hich he and his suhja'.i
showinj;- his woumln
ij^reed with that ahe.i
heSjiamards with his a.-
iresented to each ot tin:
nent.
ling, Colunibiis repairt
.-icpie. To impress h;:
t power and imiioni'.iiie
rous train of otliceis, a
ring armor. 'I'hey lnu;
1 a hammock ot coti '
lie exhibited grcil emotion on beholding
iiliiiii.il, .ind iiiiliK di.ilely .idvciled to llie
ii'.illi III llic .Sp.ini.irds. .As he nl.ited the dis.is
■ i\ 111 die g.irnson he shed ni.iiiv te.ils, bill dwell
ililK lll.ulv on llif I'll't Ix' ll'id t.ikell III the de
'll,,- lit Ins guests, pointing; mil sevcr.d ol Ins
[iili|c( ts present who li.id km iived wounds in the
i.iUlc ll ^^■''' ••videllt llom the si. us ih.il llic
'(lllllll < li.ld been rei eived tiolll Indi.in we.ipolis.
Cihiinbus w.is re.idilv s.ilislied ol the good I. nth
I (ai. II .111. IK"'- ^^'ll<•n he rellci li-d on llie iii.iiiy
iiiMits 111 .III open .iH|l geiicidiis n.iliire, wlin h he
ijkI eucn .It the linic ot his sliipw r(-( k, he could
,iit hilieve linn c.ipable ol so d.irk .in .k I ol per
i(|\. .\n i'X(-|i.iiige ol preseiils now look pl.ice.
'Ill- ( .11 iipic gave him eight hiindreil be. ids ol ,i
t-il.iiii stone e.illed cib.i, wliii h llii-y ( oiisidered
i|ih' preiioiis, .ind one hundred ol gold, .i
ilil, II I'liiiiiK-l, and tliri-e sm.dl c.ilab.ishes Idled
kith i.^ild (lust, and thoiight himsell outdone in
miiiilii eiii-c wlit-ii presented with a iiumlu-r ol
.i,s be. ids, li.nvks' bills, knives, pins, needles,
111. ill mirrors, and orii.uiients of copper, which
nil.il he sceineil to preler to gold.*
till. ic. Ill, ig.iri's Itg had been violently bruised
IV ,1 siiiiie. At the reipiest ot (■(ilumlnis, he pcr-
liiiltil it to be examiiK-d bv a surgt-on who was
Mi-M-iil. On removing the ii.indage no signs of ,i
liHiiiil were to be seen, alllidugh he shrunk with
laiii uliciiever tlur limb was handled. I .As some
iiiii- li.iil i-hilised since the battle, the exlerii.d
iriiisi- iniKhl li.ive (lisapjiearcd, while a U-iiderncss
i-iii.iiiii-il 111 the part. .Si'veral present, however,
vIm h.id not been in the first voyage, and had
vitiic-ised iiiilliiiig ol the generous conduct ot tli<!
;iii iqiu-, liiiiki-il u])on his l.uiK-ni-ss as leigned, and
111- whole story ol the battle a fabrication, to
Idiiicil liis real iierlidy. Kather lioyle espcci.dly,
villi W.IS ol a vindiclive spirit, advised tiie ad-
■ nir.il III make ;in immediate example ol the chiel-
' xiiii. (.■iiluiiibiis, however, \iewe(l the matter in
' I (lilfc rent light. Whatever prepossessions he
■ nii;hi li.ive wi-re in favor of lhecaci(|ue ; his heart
'(.-liiM-il to believe in his criminality. 'I'hough eoii-
: lions III innocence, ("lUacaiiagari might have
eared the suspiiioiis of the white men, and have
ixaij^jcr.ited the elfecls of his wound ; but the
viiiiiiiis ot his subjects made by Indian weapons,
'. iiiil the destruction of his village, were strong
iroiils 111 Columbus of the truth of his story. To
; laiislvliis more sus])icious followers, and to pacify
: 111' tri.ir, without gratifying his love tor persecu-
!^ inn, 111- observed that true policy dict.ited amica-
ili- cimhict toward Ciuacanagari, at least until his
[uill was fully ascert.-iined. They had too great
nil' at present to apprehend anything from his
ililily, but violent measures in this early stage
it llii'ir intercourse with the natives niiglu spread
^'I'ner.d panic, and impede all their oiieralions
III the island. Most of his officers concurred in
[his opinion ; so it was determined, notwilhstand-
IPl; till,' iiu|uisitorial suggestions of the friar, to
pki' thi,' story of the Indians for current truth, and
(0 continue to treat them with friendship.
.\t the invitation of Columbus, the caci(|ue,
h'iUL;h still apiiarently in pain from his wound, +
■'liiip.iiiied him to the ships that very evening.
Iiail wondered at the power and grandeur of
Ihc white men when the\- first visited his shores
itii two small caravels ; his wonder was intinitely
decad. i. lib. ii. cap. J
■ter Martyr, decad. i.
p. to. Cura de los ?i'M
Hist. N. Mundo, liu.
* Letter of Dr. Chanca.
♦ Letter ot Dr. Chanca,
|:o.
i Hist, del Almirante, cap. 89.
Navarrete, Colec. , torn. i.
Cura de los Palacios, cap.
increiseil on beholding .1 lleei riding .it .ini hor in
the h.ii bill , .1 lid on lulling on In 1,11 1 1 nl llic .idiiiii ,d s
ship, wliii ll W.IS . I M'sscI III lii-.ivy burden. Ilcri-
lii- bchchi llii- (■.illb plisoliers. So gli-.il w. is the
lb'-. Ill 111 lli(-ni .inioiig llie iimid iiili.ibilints nl
ll.nll, lll.ll llicy I iililrllipl.ili'd lllllll uilli ll .11 .iiid
shiiddci 111)^', i-vi-il though in ih.iliis.' I b.il the
.idmir.d li.id daicd lo iiu.idi- ihesc Icnibh- li(-iiig •
III their vcrv isl.ind, .ind b.nl dl.iggcd lliiiii .is
It were Iriiin tlii-ir siiiiiigholds, w.is, pi-ih.ips,
OIK- III till- ^ie,ili-st pliiiils to llie Inill.llis nl llie
ii lesisiible prowcs'. iit llii- uliili- men.
('iibinibus Innk till- I .11 iipic ihinii^h liu- ship.
The \,iiiiius \Mirks nl .111 , llie pl.iiits .mil Iriiils nl
lli(-()ld W'oild , dniiii-slii Inwlsnl dillcleiit kind.,
(.iltle, slii-(-p, swine, .mil ollii-i aiiim.ils, binii^lit
lo sloi k llie island, .ill were wonders In him ; but
wli.it most siriK k him with ama/e'iieiil w.is the
lidises. He had never seen any but llie most
diminutive ipiadrupeds, .iiid w.is aslonished at
their si/e, their great streiiglli, Icrnrh .ippe.ii.iin e,
set peril! I dd(ilily.| lb; looked upon .ill these
eNlr.iordiii.iry objecis as so m.iny wonders bmiiglil
Irom he.iveii, which he still beb(-V(-d to be llie
liati\'e home ol the white men.
(In board of the ship wire ten nl lln- wniiu'ii
delivered Irom (.'.irib i .ipliMly. They wen- 1 hull)
natives (it llie island ol llnriipicn, or I'orin Kii n.
TIk-si- soon altracl(-(l llie imtii e ol the ( .11 npie,
who is ri-pn-si-nted to have been ol an amorous
< omplexinii. He eiili-red into 1 onversation willi
them ; lor though the isl.inders spoki- dillcK lit
l.iligii,ig(-s, or rather, .is is more prob.ible, dilh 1
('III dialects of the s.inie l.iiigilage, they were .ib!e,
in g(-lu-r.il, to undersl.iiid e.u h olher. .Ammig
these wdineii w.is one distinguished .iboM- hi r
comp.'inions by a cert.iin loltmess nl air .ind m. in-
ner ; she had been mm h nnliied and .idmui'd by
the .S|).iiiiar(ls, who li.id given lit-r tin- ii.iiik- ol
C.il.dina. The ( .n icpjc spoke to her ri-pciledly
with great g(-iitleness ol tmie .mil manner, jiiiy in
.'ill probability being mingh.-d with his .idmir.i-
tion ; tor though rescued from the hands nl the
Caribs, she and her compaiiii lis were in .1 111, inner
captives on board ol the ship.
A collation V IS now spread before the chitdtain,
and Columbus ende.isored in every w.iy to re\ive
their lornnir cordial inlercinirse. He tre.iled his
guest with every m.inifest.ition ot iiertcct coiili-
dence, and talked ot coming to live with him in
his present residence, ;ind ol building houses in
the vicinity. The caciijue expressi-d much satis-
f.iction at the idea, but observed th.it tlu; situ.iiion
ot the pl.ice was unhe.iltliy, which w.is indeed ilie
c.ise. Notw'ithst.inding every demonstr.itinn ot
friendship, however, the c.ici(|ue w.is I'videiitly ill
at e.ise. The charm of mutual r-niilidem c w.is
broken. It was evident th.it the gross liceiitiou-.-
ness ot the garrison h.id greatly imp.iired the \>';i-
eration of tlie Indi.ins for their licavcn-boiii vis-
itors. Kven the reverence tor the symbols ot the
Christi.m faith, which Columbus ende.ivorerl to
inculcate, was frustr.ited by the prollig.icy ot it .
votaries. Though fond ol ornaments, it w.is with
the greatest ditticultv the caci(|ue could be pre-
v.iiled upon by the admir.d to suspend an im.ige
of the Virgin about his neck, when he understooj
it to be an object of Christi.m adoration. J
The suspicions of the chieftain's guilt g.iiiu-d
ground with many ot the Spaniards. Father
* Peter Martyr, Letter 153 to Pomponius L;eius,
t Hist, del Almirante, ubi sup. Letter of Dr.
Chanca.
^ Hist, del Almirante, cap. 49.
HS
LIFE AM) VOYAGES OF COH'MHUS.
1 '■
I . ' 1
i >
llDylo, in parlirular, n'^^ardfcl liim with an vv\\
eyv, and |)iivatfly advised the admiral, ni)W thai
he had him on hiiard, to <ictaiii liim prisiint-r ; hut
Ci)liimhii-> rcji'dcd the loiinsri nt the cratty triar,
a:^ I iiiitiary to snund pnliry and hi)niirahlf laith.
Il i-i ihtlii idt, hnwfvtT. ti) (((iicfal hirl<in^{ ill-will.
Till' ra(i(|iu', acciistiinu'd, in his lormcr ii\tLT-
tiMiisc with the Spanianls, to meet with laces
helming with (gratitude and Iricndship, could not
hut pcicciM' their .dtcrcd looks. Notwithstanding,'
the Irank and cordial hospitality ot the admiral,
lIuTcloiv, he suoii bejf^fd perinis!>iun to returi) to
l.md.*
The nc\t morning there was a mysterious move-
miMit .imoii'T the n.ilives on shore. A messen^'er
troin the c.ii iipie iiKpiired ol tlie admiral how ioiij;
111- intended to remain at the harbor, .ind was in-
lormed that he should s.iil on the tolloumn day.
In the evening,' the brother ot ( luacan,a>,Mri came
on board, uiuier pretext ot barterinjf a (pi.intity ot
jfold ; he was oi)served to converse in private with
the hidi.ii) women, and particularly with (."atalin.i,
the one whose distinj^uished appear.mce had at-
tracted the .ittentioii ot Ciuacanaj^ari. Atter re-
maining' some time on board, he returne<l to the
shore, it would seem, trom subse(pient events,
th.it the (acicjue had been touched by the situation
ot this indi.'in be.iuty, or captivated by her charms,
and had undertaken to deliver her from bonda^a-.
.\t midnij;ht, wlien the crew were buried in
their tirst slee|), Citalina aw,ikene<l her compan-
ions. The ship was anchored tull three miles
tniin the shore, .ind the sea was rou;.jh ; but they
let themselves down trom the sid-; ot the vessel,
and swam bravely for the shore. With all their
precautions they were overheard by the watch,
ami the .d.irm w.is ),'iven. The boats were liastily
m.inned, and ^ave chase in the direction ot a lif^dit
bla/int;- on the shore, an evident l)eacon tor the
tu,i;iti\es. .Such was the vij^orot these sea-nymphs
that they reached the land in satety ; tour were
retaken on the beach, but the heroic L'atalina with
the rest ot her companions made jjood their es-
cajjc into the forest.
When the day dawned, Coluint)us sent to Gua-
canaj,'-ari to demand the fujjitives ; or if they were
not in his possession, that he would have search
made for them. The residence ot the caciiiue,
however, was silent and deserted ; not ,'n bi(lian
was to be seen. Mither conscious of the suspi-
cions of the Spaniards, and apjjrehensive of their
hostility, or desirous to enjoy his prize unmolest-
ed, the caci(|ue had removed with all his effects,
his household, and his followers, and had taken
relujfe with his islaiui beauty in the interior. This
sudden and mysterious desertion jjave redoubled
force to the doubts heretofore entertained, and
(iuacanaij^^ari wasf,a'nerally stij^mati/ed as a traitor
to the w hite men, and the perfidious destroyer of
ihe garrison. f
FOUNDING
CHAPTER \T.
OF TUF. CITV OF ISABELLA-
DIES OF THF. SPANIARDS.
MALA-
['493.]
Thf. misfortunes of the Spaniards both by sea
and land, in the vicinity of this harlior, threw a
gloom rountl the neighborhood. The ruins of the
* Peter Martyr, decad i. lib. ii.
■f Peter Martyr, decad. 1. lib. ii. Letter of Dr.
Chanca. Cura de los Palacios, cap. 120, Ms.
foriri'ss, ,inil the graves of their niiirdcrcd mm.
tryinen, were conlinu.illy before ihi'ir eyes, .iri
the forests no longer looked luiuidiil '.vhile tlicr-
was an idea that treachery might be lurkiii-
tlieir shades. The silence and dre.innes-,, .u,
caused by the desertion ot the n.ili\es, ga\i ,
sinister appearaiK e to the pi. ice. Il beg, in tn ',
considered by the credulous m.trineis as uiidt
some baneful iiilluemc or malignant »l,ir, i'hi..
were sufficient objections to disiouragc i;
founding of a settlement, but there were otlier^ •
a more so!i<l nature. The ^ind in the \iciii,;
was low, moist, and unhealthy, and there \\.\.
no stone lor buihling ; Columbus detenniin'.
therefore, to abandon the |)lace altogether, ai,
tiumd his projected colony in some more tavor.ili.
situation. No time w.is to be lost ; the aninii,
on board the ships were suffering trom loiigin-
lineinent ; and the multitude ot persons, iin.i
( ustoined to the sea, and jient up in the titr
l.inguished tor the relreshmeiit ot the land. 1'
liglVler c.iravels, therdnre, scoured the co.isi
each direition, entering the rivers and harhon
in se.irch ot an advantageous site. They wcrt
instructed also .to m.ike iiKpiiries atter (ai.itan*
gari, ot whom Columbus, notwithstanding even
suspicious ap|)earance, still retained a tavorali-
opinion. 'I'he expeditions returned atter raiij;i!;
:\ considerable extent ot <'oast without sMrn>.
Tliere were hue rivers .ind secure poi-ts, but'
co.Lst was low and marshy, ami del'icieiit in stn:
The country was gi'iierally des'^rted, or it .my i
tives were seen, they tied immediately tu i
woods. Melchor Maldonado had procecdtil ■
the eastward, until tie came to the dominiiiii> ^ ■
cacitiue, who at tirst issued forth at the head d ;
warriors, with menacing aspect, but was re, 1 :
conciliated. From him he learned that (iu.ii
nagari iiad retired to the mountains. Anmh'-
party discovered an Indian concealed near a h;r
let, having fieen disabled by a wound rmi.'
from a lance when hghting against Caonabo. II
account of the destruction ot the fortress a;;ii
with that of the Indians at the harbor, and 1 ■
curreil to vindicate the caci((ue from the cluir>;i
treachery. Thus the Sjjaniards continued i.iir.-
tain as to the real i)er|)etrators ot this dark .i'
dismal tragedy.
I5eing convinced that there was no place in 1
part of the island f.ivorable for a settlement. {
lumbus weighed anchor on the 7th ot Deceiiilrl
with the intention ot seeking the port of La I'Li; •
In conseiiuence of adverse weatlier, howevci, ,1
was obliged to put into a harbor about ten le.ii;: I
east of Monte Chrisli ; and on consideriiiij ;
])lace, was struck with its advantages.
The harbor was spacious, .and commanded b
point of land ])rotecte(l on one side by ;i n.itir
rampart of rocks, an<l on another by an inipc;
ous forest, presenting a strong jiosition tor ,1 1 '
ress. There were two rivers, one large ami 1
other small, watering a green and beautiful p!'.
and offering advantageous situations for m;:
About a t)ow-shot from the sea, on the b. ink-
one ot the rivers, was an Indian village. The -
apjieared to be fertile, the waters to jibouiu-
e.xcellent h'^h, and the climate to be temperair ,
genial ; for the trees were in leaf, the shiuli-
flower, and the birds in song, though it \\as :
middle ot December. They had not vet btin-
familiarized with the temperature of this l.ivtJi
island, where the rigors ot winter are unkiimv
where there is a perjietual succession, and iv
intermixture ot fruit and flower, and where sir
iiig verdure reigns throughout the year.
1
■ .Ann
^■rni 1'
^Kini
^BkUIII.
wtn
^Bre,
^Kvnr.il
^BuDjIS
^Krvicc
^■e tiiip
^Vovi^ii'
^■011 li)i
^■ere III
Hvi'
fteuel'
HlU'MH'll
jHriii
^■t'lds.
Jill ol III
Bid
^Ktivity.
Hty lit' t
He nan.
1
BIU'S.-..
lA plan
|i ted.
1 crci til
!>idcii( I
lllllC, ll
Mii;l, pi
KI-VllCV
lllr v\i
Ml.
.M.iI.kIk
CilMiilll
DIllilU-llH
)r ,i leiig
[{(.l, ,IIU
Kpii-.lire
|e Iniili f(
iuit .'Hid
uniid \j
. Iini' tun
Ewre iri
nd highl
f litiildii
IMi.irds,
(iiif with
, ItiT tossi
f ivl.ixaii
Tile m.i
f the bml
iirkc-d ill
laiilic ex
oldi-ii rc'.^
'CIC to ,1
IIhts ;i re
elij^hts :
, )ri,Mllaiit
Hiai then
i
1
1
t.Vl■^ imil
C,i^.|;■,| 1
tr:;:^lev.
^i.iiMllU {1,
(iinlort'by
'a^ hnuig
n sni.dj (|i
lire 1 nniv
lt'>e dis;ip
ifir ^pirit^
"■iy, ,ind
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLl'MULS.
s'J
)f thfir miinlprrd murJ
hctiirr llii'ii' <'\fs, .ir,:'
;c(l li.MUtllul '.vlulf lluT-
c ai\il (Irciriiu'S!,, uU
()( ihf natiM'S, n.i\f ,
' lihuc. It Ix-^.m Id ',
Ions in;iriii('is ai undt ^
• iiialiKi>'>"' *<•*''. 'rhi--I
us III (liMi)uranr i'
l)Ul llu'lc WtTc nlliii ,
he i;in(l ill tln' m(ii,
hc.illliy, ami ihcrr v,
Cdluinlius (IrtiTmiii-
II- Jjiaci' ailn^jclllrr, ,i'
y ill siniif miiif laMir.i'
1(1 III' lust ; ihf aiiinii
sultcrinn' Inim limn i .■
iliidi' III pfrsoiis, mil
111 |ifiit vi|) ill till' 111-
hini'iit lit the laiiil. I
ri', sriiuii'il till' III. Ill
tin- liviTs and liarli'ir,
\^;i'i)Us siti'. 'I'liiy «i •
iii(|uirii's attrr <'iu,ii ,i:
s, iiiitwitlistaiuliii^ iw
ilill ri'laiiu'il a la\iir.i!i
is reUirncil atti-r iMM;;r,
t riiasl wilhiiul s^lln^.
mil SL'iurf |iii'-ls, lull v
ly, and lU't'icicnl in sin;;
lly di'S'Tlfd, iir it .my i.,
li'd ininifdiatuly to i:
mado had prorfi iliil '
imi- til till' iliiniinion-i i:
L'd lortli at tliL' huail iil lb
^ aspect, but was ri'adi
liL' k'arni'd that (iu.i^
^hc niountains. Aimti-
m conccalfd lu'ar a h.v
I liy a wiiuiid in li'.'
tj aj,'ainst Caonalm. li
lit the lortri'ss aijn
. It llu' harbor, ami >
aciiiue imm the ihai>;i
iniards cdiUinuL'd i.iii •
irators ot this dark .i:
ere was no plai'f i" !■ ;
L- for a SL'ttlfnu'ni, (
llu- 7lh lit Di'i-iMil
n>r the port ot l.a I'L
se weatlier, howeviT,
harbor about ten li'.i,i;ut t
ind on consideriii;; ; !
advantages,
us, and coinmandfil b
on one side by a n.iui'
n another by an iiuper.
trong jiosition tor a t''
ivers, one larjje ami f
reen and beautiful pli'
us situations tor nii'.^
the sea, on the banks
Indian village. 'I'lu' >■
he waters to abouii*'
nate to be teinperalf a'
re in leaf, the shrubs
song, though it was f;
lev had not vet bfcop
leVature ot this favord
)t winter are unknow
al succession, and fw
flower, and where sii'
;hout the year.
.\iuithcr gmnd inducfnient to lorm liieir stltle-
lelil Ml tlii-> plai e was the iiiloi iiialion liielM'd
oni till' inihiif< "I tl"' adi.irt'Ht village, th.il the
loiiiii.iiiii "' *-i'''"'' vsliire the gold niims were
joiiiii.iii'"' '" "• ' ■•- M ; ',
ItU.itrd, lay at no gre.il dist.inri', and almost
illil to till' harbor, it w.is detirniineil, tliire-
iri', ill. It tliere muld not be a silu.ituin more
[Vi)r,ilili' I'lr their i olony
An
iiiiin.itid SI em' now coninieiu ed. 'I"he
^tiiiiis and v.iriiHis persoiu belnngiiig to the l.uid-
Brviii', .iml the \.irioiis hilmrers .mil .iitilicers lo
rllipliived ill building, were disi'inb.ii ked. Thi'
iviiiiiii-", iriiiles 1)1 trallii', guns and aninuiiii-
loii liir tli'leiue, and implements ot every kind,
k'le liriiiiglil to shore, as were also the tattle ,ind
vr still k, which had suffered excessively from
^iig re-.tr. lint, especi.illy the horses, 'riiere was
griural jiiv ill escaping troiu the irksome con-
ImiiHiit III tlie 'iliiiis, .mil once more treading the
rill t.irth, and breathing the sweetness ol the
•Ids. An eiicampnu'iit was tormed on the m.ir-
ihi' |il.iiii, .iri.und a basin o • sheet ot water,
11 ,1 little while the whole pl.ue was in
.tuiiy. i'luis w.is founded the first Christian
l\ ot tlie New World, to wiiicli Columbus g.ivc
ir iiaiivj lit l.iabella, in honor ot Ins royal p.it-
DlU'S.i.
A pl.iii w, IS formed, .mil streets ;inil siiuares pro-
liteil. i'lii' greatest diligence w.is then exerted
1 erecting .i church, a jiublic storeiiouse, .mil a
isiileiue lor the admiral. 'I'lu'se were built of
;iiiu', the priv.ite houses were constructed ot
fdiid, |i|,isier, reeds, or such inateri.ils as the
Ki^jeiicy III the case permitted, anil lor a short
nic every one exerted himself with the utmost
Ml.
.Maladies, however, soon broke out. Many, un-
CiiMiiiiud to the sea, had sulfered gre.illy troin
Dnliiicniriii and sea-sickness, and Irom subsisting
1 )i a Icnglli III lime on salt provisions much dam-
■ Kc.l. .iiul mouldy biscuit. They suffered great
Kjiu-iurr on ihe land, also, helore houses could
t liiiilt tor their rception ; lor the exh.dations of
hill ,iml moist climate, and a new, rank soil, the
umid vapors from rivers, and the stagnant air ot
■ line toresls, render the \wlilerness a nlace ot
■ :\tre iri.d to constitutions accustomed to old
nil highly-cultivated countries. The labor also
[ huililiiig houses, clearing fields, setting out
rcharils, and planting gardens, ha\ing all to be
one with gr .it haste, bore hard upon men who,
IliT tlls^ing so long ujion the ocean, stood in need
f relax, ilioii ,ind repose.
The Ml, il, lilies of the mind mingled with those
i ihe l)od\'. .Many, as has been shown, had ei.i-
arkd ill die expedition with visionary and ro-
• liiiuic lApi'ct.iliiins. Some had anticip.ited the
]oliltn ie'.,diinsot Cipangoand Cathay, wht're they
fcrc III .iin.iss wealth without toil or trouble ;
lers .1 region of .\siatic luxury, ibounding with
i},du-. ; .iiiil others a splendid and open career
irij.dlaiii .idventures and chivalrous enterprises.
i'liai then W.IS their disa|)|)i)intment to tind them-
Ives inntined to the margin of an island ; sur-
mnilid by impr.iclicible forests ; doomed to
TUjj^dc Willi the rudeness ot .i wilderness ; to toil
laiiiiiilly lor mere subsistence, and to att.iin every
inliirt liy the severest e.xcrtion. As to golil, it
Ni-> hrmight to them from various (juarters, but
im.ill i|ii,iiitities, and it was evidently to be pro-
ri'il only by patient and i)ersevering labor. All
icse ilisappoiiUmeiUs sank deep into their hearts ;
nil' spirits flagged as their golden dreams melteil
Iw.ty. ,iiid the gloom of desj)oiulcncy aided the
■'oi.'s ul disease.
Columbus himself did not iscipc llie prevalent
inal.idii'^. rile ,irdiiou-i n.itiue ol Ins iiilcrprise,
the rcspoiisibiliis uiidir winch he lound Iiiiii'm It,
not merely to his lollowers .ind Ins soMieigiis. but
to the World .it l.irge, h.id kept Ins mind in con-
tinu.d .igit.itioii. i he cire-. ot so l.irge .i si|U.id-
roll ; the incessant vigil. nice reipiircil, not only
.ig.iiiist the lurking d.iiigi'i-> ot these imkiioAii
sets, but .against the p.issions .md lolliei ul Ins
liillowiTs ; ihe disiress he h.iil sullered Irom the
Lite III his mill. lend g.irriMUi, and his tiiu iMLiiiity
.IS to till' coiidui I ol the b.irb, irons tribes by whii h
he W.IS surriiu..i|id ; .ill these h.id h.ii.issed his
mind and broken his rest while on bo.ird the ship ;
since 1. Hiding new c.ires and toils h.id crowded
upon him, wiiicli, added to the exposures im ideiit
to his situation in this new climate, i omplelely
overpowered his strength. .Still, though conrmed
tor sever. d weeks to Ills bed by si'\ere illness, nis
energetic mind rose superior lo die sulleriiigs ot
the body, ,iiid he loniinued to giM' direi lions
.ibout the budding ol the city, .iiid to superiiUeiid
the geiier.d concerns ol the expi ilitiun.*
CIl.M'ri'.R VII.
KXI'KIUTION or AI.ONSli HI'. OJKHA TO KXPI.OKK.
iiii.; iNrK.Kiou (11- nil. isl.wh nisi'Miii ok
TIIK SUM'S m SI'.MN.
l'+>3'l
Till-; ships having disi h.irged their cargoes, it
was necess.iry to send the gre.iler p.irt ol them
b.ick to Sp.iin. Here new anxielns pres.ieil
upon the mind id Columbus. He h.id hoped lo
liiid tre.isures ol gold and precious men li.mdise
.iccumulated liv liie men lell beliind on the lirst
voy.ige ; or al least the sources ot we.iltliy Iratlic
ascertained, by which speedily to fi eight his ves-
sels. The destruction ol the g.irrison had deleal-
eil all those hopes. He was aw. ire ot l!u' extrava-
gant expectations entertained by the .sivereigii'i
and the nation. W'h.it would be their dis.i|ipiiiiit-
nieiit when the returning ships brought nothing
but a tale of disaster ! Something must be done,
betore the vessels s.iiled, to keep up the fame of
his discoveries, and juslily his own magnilicent
represenl.uioiis.
As yet he knew nothing of the interior of the
island. If it were re.illy the isl.md of Cipango, it
must contain populous cities, existing prob.ibly in
some more cultivali'd region, beyond ihe lolly
miiuntailis with which it w.is intersected. .Ml the
Indians concurred in menlioning Cibao .as the
tract of country whence they derived their gold.
The very name of its cacique, Caonabii, signitying
" The Lord of the (iolden House," seemed to in-
dicate the wealth of his dominions. The tracts
where the mines were said to .ibiiund lay at a
distance of but three or four il.iys' journey, di-
rectly ill the interior ; Columbus determined,
therefore, to send .in expedition to explore it, pre-
vious to the s.iiling ol the ships. It the result
should confirm his hopes, he would then be able
to send home the lleet with confidence, bearing-
tidings of the iliscovery of the golden mountains
of Cibao. t
The person he chose for this enterprise was
* Hist, del Almirante, rap. 50. Hcrrera, Hist.
Ind., ilerad. i. lib. ii. cap. 10. Pcler Martyr, dccatl
i. lib. ii. Letter of Dr. Chanca, etc.
f Hcrrera, Hist. Ind., dec. i. lib. ii. cap. 10.
m
|i'::i
;5 -> -i.
m
00
iii'i-; AND vovAdi'S or c'oi.UAinrs.
Aldiisd <lc ()|!il,i. till" s.imc iMv.ihcr who li.\s lufii
aliciilv iiiitiK'il III! Ins (I. II 111^ spiiii .mil ),m('.i(
liiuliK I
(Hi I' .lilil ,i^;llilv.
I Ji'liphliiu; III .il
III .1 h.i/.iriliiii'. .111(1 .iilM'iiliiriiiis ii.itiiic, t i{('il,i w.is
the IDiHC stiliuil.ilcil til tlll'< ('\|i('i|it.(ili ll'oni llir
liiriniiLihh' i li.ii.u in ni iln' niniiiii.iiM i .k ii|iii',
I'.iiHi.iliii, whose (liiiniiiKiii^ he w.is In iiincU.ilc.
Ill- scl (Mil lioin ihi' li.iiliiH, r.iilv M linil.iiy.
I.|ii|, .i('((iin|i. nurd li\ .i sin. ill liircc oi well .iiincil
ami (|< III iniiu'il incn si'vci.il ol them \iinn^ .mil
spirilcd (,u,ilu'is like hiinscll. Ilcstiiuk iliicillv
sdiithw.iid
Ihc
III) ll
ic miciiiii.
!■■
-I.iv
III. Ill h w.is liiilsiiiiii'
llif two liisl
,mil il'llicult,
Ihruii^li .1 riiiiiitrv .ili.miliincil liy its mh.iliit.mts
liir li-i 11
•I llir
Sii.mi.inls rvli iiilci
o.isl . I 'n llir si'
l.mj;i' 111 inniinl,
iiiu
llir SIM
1 mill cv ciiiii
\\
hull ll
ll
i('\ ( .line III .1
|i>ll\
nv .isi (111
li'il
I>V
hull. Ill ii.ith. u II
up .1 siccti .mil 11.11 1 iiw di'lili'
.nil
1 1
i(\
■|,tl
iir llic Miulil ,il ihc sinimnl. ! In
Ihc iicM mm intii', lh(\ licliih
ll
lie,
IC sun use Willi
j^ic.il );li)l\ (ivci .1 \.isl .mil dclii imis
eicd wilh niiblc Vnc.ls, sluddcd willi '. il
il.iin,
I iinlcl'
.mil iiili\cncil
Ih
w.ilds 111
(In
Dc
SI ( iidiiif; iiilii ihis |ihiiii, • >icil.i ,mil his i om
i.nnons linldU riilcicd ihc Inili.m vill.u
|-
mh.iliil.mls, 1.11 limn Ikihi; hosidc, m ii w helmed
ihem Willi hn.pil.iliU , .md, m t.nl, im|iedeil iheir
iiiuini\ |i\ iheii kliiiliiess. 'Thev h.id ,ils(i In Imd
in.iin iiMis 111 n.ivcism:; tins iil.iiii, so ih.il thev
III I I'.ii'iiiiit; ihr I h.im <>l
weie. the
\\ 1 ' I C 1 1 \ I •
inmml.im''
ihi, h h
ip
gulden leL;imi nl I'lliiii. I'licN |ii ni 1 1 .ileil illli) this
dlsluil. wilhuul ineelm^ Willi .mv ullu r nhsl.nlcs
th.in tliiise |iresenle(l by ihe rude ii.ilure ot llie
emmlr\. (".imi.ilu), so icdoulil.ililc tor Ins
1 h
ot his
then
1111,11
■im
loi'iu , must h.ivc liecn m smnc di l.i U p.iil
lev er .i|i|ie.iied lo (li;-.|uile
liimmiiins.
i|'
I'll
e li.iliN es reeeued
ll
icm Willi
llie\ were n.ikei
nut uiu i\ ili.'cil
the olhei inh.iliil.mis ot ll
le IS
l.ini
nor were llicre
.in\ tl.iees o
t Ih
e impoil.ml eilics which ill
a.niii.itioiis h.id once picuired toiih. Thev s.iw,
liowevcr. .iiiiple si^iis ol n.iliir.il wc.illh. I'lu
s.inds ot the mount. mi sire. mis L;litteied with p.ii-
tu 1(
ol
itives would skiltiilU
ep.n.iic, .md ^U'" to the .Sp.ini.irds, wilhoni e\-
pcitniL; .1 reconipcnsc.
In some pi. tecs lluv iiu
■iincns ot xiriiin ore Iroin ilu
kc.l
it
promise ot these nuumt.iins.
th
e n.ime ot r.orv.il.m, who had lie
en (lisii.i
teh
ed
at ih
had
e s.mie time on .i similar expedition, and who
ex'ilored .i diftercnt tr.ut ()( countrv, returned
with -simil.ir reports
T
lese
ll.itti
rmy; .iccounts
ser\ed lor .i time to re.imm.ite ttie droopiiiL
and
4les|Hindins;- colonists, .mil iiuluced (."olumlnis to
believe th.it it was only nccess.irv to explore the
it Cih.io. to open inexhaustible sources ot
.IS soon as his health
II
e determined
WiUild permit, to repair in pt:rson to the moun-
'•' Pcicr Martyr, liccad. i. lib. ii.
tains, ;inil seek :i 1,'iviiralile site (or ,i miiiiii(>rJ
l.ililishinenl. '*
riie se.ison was now propitious lor the reliim
I he lleet, and (oliimlius lost no lime m disp.iii hj
twelve ot the ships under the i iimm.ind ot /Niiiim
dc I'lil res, rc(.iinin>; only live Im ihe sei \ ice ul i'
1 iiliiny.
It\ this opporlimily h<' sent limiie '.pei linens
the ^old loiinil ainmi^r the mounl.im . .md im
ol ( iliaii, and all such liiiits ,mi| pi, mis .e, an
ciirimis, or apjieati'd lo be v,du. ible. lie \vh>!.
in ihe iniisl s.'m),;iline terms ol the evpedilinii,,:;
t tjeil.i and ( lorval.in, the l.ist ol w lioin reliiiin
lo .Sp.iiii in llie lleet, lie reiiciled his eoiiluli:
the loirenls. .md stones strc.ikcd .md riclilv iin-
prej;nated with it. Peter M.irtyr altirms th.it he
saw .1 m.iss ot rude j;old weivjiiinij nine ounces,
whiih Cjed.i hiniselt li.ul lound in one ot the
brooks. '^
All these were considered as mere supertu'i.il
w.ishmi^s of the soil, belr,iyini;^ the hidden tre.is-
ures luikini; in the deep veins .md rockv bosoms
(it the nuumt.iins. and only reiiuirini;- the h.iiid of
i.ibor to brini;; tlieiii to light. ,\s the object of his
expedition w.is meielv to ascert.iin the ii.iture of
tile (duniry. t'jed.i led b.uk his little b.iiui to the
harbor, full of eniluisi.istic .iccounts of the iroklen
voiiiiir c.iv.ilier of
inlii Mi.ilioiis ol soon
beii
1^;' .iiii
to in, ike .iliiiiii
shipments ol );olil, ol prei imis diii^js, ,iiii| spu
the ■.eaieli lor ihein bem^; dcl.iyed lor the pn
by Ihf sickness ol
and
c.ires and l.ibors leiiuiied in bmldiii); the iiil.ir
city. Ill" (lesclil)e(l the lie.iuty .iiid leililily nl n.
slam!
Its i.ilif^e
iiolile mount. mis , ii'.
,ibuii(|,int pi, nils, waHied by be.mtitul livers
ipiii k lei imdily ol the soil, evinced inllielu\ii
j^iowth ol the sugar cine, and ol y,iiioir-i);
,md vegi'l. lilies bronghl liom liirope,
\s It woiili
l.ik
Mime lime
llOVVCVll , lo lllll
piovisions lidin llieir lields .mil g.ildrii ., .iinh
produce ol their live stock, adeipi. lie to the .i
sislcnce ol the (oloiiy, which (diisisled ot aliniil
tlions,inil sonis
md
III
ey ( (lUld not ,11 ( iWi
M
ihems'lves III the tood ot the natives, ( oliini''
KMpiesled |ilesenl supplies lloin .Sp.im.
provisions were .ilreidy growi ig scmiv.
ot their wine had been lost, lr( in the b.idi
11.
till
.md Ihe 1 1
ilonists, in their inlirin si.ii
it he. lllll, sulleled gre.illy Irom the vv.iiil ot llir||
icciislomed diet
■I'll
W.IS an Miimcili.ile iir }?
ssily ol medicines, clothing, and ,iiins. Ilnrv
were rt'ciiiiied
lor nil
lit,
ir llie I
iiililic worl
,11:
iry s( rvice
beliu
■le.ll llir'
111 awing the n.ilives, who had Itic iitmos
lliose ,iniin,ils.
lie r
(•(inesled
ai immDer o
I workmen and mei
li.in
I ill!
lllllll'
lUlltv:
rder ol St. j.igo, who li.id .i wile and cliiliirt
provided tor, .md who, tor his j^ood seivur
skilled in mining ,ind m smelting .md |
ore. lie recommended various persons li
notice and l.iyor ot {]w soverei^^ns. among v\
W.IS I'edro M.irgerile, an .\rr.i};om.m i ,
the o
lo 1
I olumbus begged might be appointed lo ,i ' ■
m.md in the order to which he belonj^ed. In ■
m. inner he entreated patron. ige tor Ju.m .\giM
who was .iboiit lo return in the lleel. inakii.^, |
licul ir mention ot his merits, hrom both ol ilu-;
men he was destined to expcrieiut' the mosl v;
nal ingratitude.
In these ships he sent also the nun, wnnu
and children taken in the C"aribbee IskindN, if
ommending th.it they should be eareliilly insliik
ed in the Spanish langii.ige and the (hiistu: ■
taith. From the roving and adyenliirous ii.iii ■
ot these luople, and tiieir gcneial ;u(|uaini.i
ith thi
|uople,
various languages ol this great arcliii"
reli.i;!-
liw
th;i
iht be rendered eminently service.ible .is inlcrl
go. he thought that, when the prei epts o
aiul the usages ol eivili/.ition had retormei
sav.ige manners and c.mnibal propi nsiti"s
preters, and as means ot
trines of C'hristi.mitv.
ipag.ilmg itie
iloci
.Among the many sound and salutary siiij^'ei-
a most pi'mi'l
sl.ikeu view I
tions in this letter, there is one
cious tendencv, written in that
n.itiir
al rights prevalent at the day, but Iruittul
Hist, del Aliniranic, cap. 50.
T.iFF. AND V()YAr,i:s OF c:()i-i'Muns.
01
r;il)lf site (or ,i ininii\i;<i,
„iiili wnni;; .mil misciy in tin' wmld. ( oir.iilfr
'li;; ill. It llicCn .il^T till' muihIht mI llicsc r.iiinilKil
),i)',iMs 11.111. Ill rcil Id till' C.iiIkiIm soil 1(1 S|i,im,
i'ic'l'IciIi-i WMiililbc iIic lllimlirr III siillls |iut 111
111' u.iy i>l •..ilv.illnli, he |)li)|Mtsc(l l<i rsl.ihli'.li .ill
Mil, 111^1' "I 'I" '" •'' ""l''^'"'. ••»;■""■'' ''^''' '•'"' l<. I"
„ jinillslli'l I'V llirli ll.llll'. Ill llir ((ildliy. 'I'll'-
hill-. In 111 im; .Mill Sim k wi'iT 111 I. mil iiiiwlirrr liiil
I ill,' I'.' mil ill I'.iilii'll.i. wlinr llir < mi ili i .i|ilivi">
,,iiil,| lie iciily till' ili'livny. A iliily w.is in In-
II hr v.iln.ilili'. Ill- "I"' [^KcMcd mi imi li sl.ivr Inr lln' lii'lirlil iit llir my.il
Clins <il llir r\|ii'ililinii, .jj^,,, ..mir In ilu', w.iv ill'' inlmiv wmilil lif liir-
.isliid Willi .ill l<mil . m li\<' '•l<»<'l< III'"' "I I'sprilM' ;
jw Mc.ii I'liil I'.l.iii'ii'i'. wmilil 111- iicnl Inim w.ir
ike .mil iiilmiii.iii ihm^IiIiiiis ; llir my;il liiMsiiiy
.mild 111' i^ii iilv rmii linl ; ;mil :i v.i'.i iiiimlii-r nl
mills wniilil 111- sii.ililic'd liiiin |iciililii)ii, .mil i .ii-
ifil, ,is ll \M ic, liV 111,1111 lull (• In hi'.IVi'll. Sill h IS
,lu' ■i.li.mK"' •i'l''"''"y ''V ^^I'l' I' iijiiik'i' ""'" '"''V
imclllilis (In I'lVi' llli'insclvr .. ( nlilliilills li'.ilrd
IC ills.i|i|inllllini'lll 1)1 lllf siivi'll'i)nt'. Ill icspi'il In
he iiiiiillirl 111 Ins riili'i |il isr ,, ;iiii| w.is ,ili\l(ills In
('Vise smni' ninilc ol li^jlitcniM^ llicir ('\|H'iisi",
Mill III' rniilil iipi'ii siiinc ;illl|)lc snlliTc nl lii'nlil.
Ill- 1 (iiivcisinii III iiiliilrls, liy hiir mi-.-i)'i nr Iniil,
)V iii-lsiLisiiiii 111 lunr, \v:i'. nlic nl I lir |in|iiil,i|-
^iii'is III llii' <l.i\ : .mil m ri-i-niiiininiiiii^ tin- i-ii
Living III llii- < .iiilis, ('i)liiiiil>iis lliiiii(,;lil lli.il lii-
.v.i-, iibi \ 111).; llir (III I, lies III his rnlisi ii-liic, wlirii
u.is III ir.ilily lislrniii^; In llic ilKilcliiciil'. nl
lis lillrir^l. ll IS 1)111 just 111 .iilil, lll.il the '.nvc-
'i'il^iis (IhI iinl .11 (Old willi his idc.is, ln|i (irdcrril
;|l, It llir ( .11 ills should hr (diurilid like llir H",l
11 Inst, III 111 llir li.uliir^^ ' 3I llu- isl.iiiili-i-, ; ,1 (-oiiim.iiiil wliiili (-lii.ilMird
onisls. ill llirir iiiliriii -'tis, : iniii llir mrnilul lii'.iit ot Is.ilirll.i, wlin I'vcr
I'.itly lidlil till- \v;iiil ol llu-? '^ iliinvril lirrsrll thr ht'lUKii lUDlcrtir ,s nl the lli-
rr W.IS an '.iiiiiKili.ili- m- :Sii.iii'>.
■j'lir llicl |uit In sea on till! :;d ol l''rl)ril.iry, I.(ij4.
riiiiiiKdi ll hiiMifjIi! h.iik no wr.illh lo S|i,iin, \('l
\|H'i|,ilinii w.is ki'|)l alive hy till- s,in;^illiir Ictlrl-
hn had the iitiiiosi ilii ^ Dt I 'nliiiiiliiis, .iiiil tlir spci imrns ol f;old which hr
liirslrd also an.idihii- triiisinillrd ; Ins i.ivoi-.ihlr .-i(-( ..tnits were (orroli-
iiid mt'i li.iiiiis, .iiiil 11 Diiiid I IV let t CIS liom I' riir IJoylr, Dm lo|-( 'h.iiii a,
ill smelting; .iiid |)iiiil\; ,' ' [tinl ntlirr pri'-.oiis ol ci-cililiility, .iiid liy the prr-
iiMi.il icporls ol (Inrv.il.in. 'liic sordid 1 .ili nl.i-
li.ms ol pi'ttv spirits were as yi-l overruled liy thr
En'husiasin ol i;('iirroiis minds, (-a|)tiv.-il('d liy \hf
oliv ii;ilii|-cnl these enterprises. There w.is sniiie-
;lniij,f wniiderlully j,fraiid in the ide.-i ot thus iiilrn-
propitiolis Inr the letiini
lost no lime in dispali Im
r the ( iiiimi.md ol Aiilnii
ly live Inr ihc sci \ K e nl t
le sent linllie '.pci mirii,
the niniiiil.iiiis .iiid nvi
I Iriiits .111(1 pi, lilts .1', ac
le l.ist III w hum leliiin. ^
I le repelled 111'- riiiilnl'
111^ .iliir to ni.ikr .iliiiinl
irei lolls drills, ,iiiil spill
II1J4 drl.iyrd Inr the plcr'.-i
iiisell and propir, .iml li.,,'
iird in liiiildii^; the inl.r:;
' lic.iiitv and lei iihly "I 11'*]
inlile lli(Hllll,ims , Its uiikH
I'd liy lie.iiitilnl I ucrs ; ih
oil, evinced in the liixiin.i:
•,iiie, and nl \ ,11 mn - ];r,ii;
I lidin |-,iiiiipe.
lie liiiie, liowcMi, 111 iilil-
tii'lds .111(1 j;.ilili'n ., ,iiul \
stnik, adeipMle to tin- .1 '
whlili (-(insisted nl ahm;' <
s they ( nllld nnl ,11 1 ii^l •
I nl the natives, ( nlllin'. :
iplies liiiiii Spam. Hi
ilv K'"^^ ' 'K ''i''mi\'- ^1" '
illiiii^;, and .11 ins. I ims-
lor llie pnliln- works, ,ii;,'j;
m^ Iniiiid (ll j;ie.it illi-'^t
,1
various persons In ;
sovcreij^ns, .11110111; wli "'
111 .\rr.i^;oiii.m 1 .iv.ilin
(1 h.id .1 w ilr ,mil ( liilii'
who, lor his ^ond s(-l Mu-
ll he appiiinlrd In .1 1 "'
leh hr lu'loiii^nl. In Iv.
lidiia};!' Inr Juan .\y,\iv
n in the Heel, niakn.,.., |k!'
erits. Kroni both ot ilu-,
lo experieiue tlie moi '-;
,-iU also the men, wiinii--^
the t'arilitiee Iskinds, if
iiild be careliillv iiisliiu.
i,i;-iiaj;r and the Clinsti:
i>; and adveiilindus 11, m;
Sjiiriiiir iirw i.ii-rs (it /mim.ils .iiid |)Iants, ol liiiild-
.lii^ rilirs, ( xtriidinj; Colonies, ,'md sowinij the
i iiriU (ll 1 i\ili/.,iiioii and ol ei-ihijhtened empire in
;lll^ hriiiiilul liiil sav.iije woild. ll struck the
Diimls 111 |r ii'iirij .iihI cl.issic.il inen wilh a(h)-iir;i
linii, lillin:; iliriii wilh pl(':is.-int (lre;in-is and reve-
rn->, and st-riiiiiij,; to rcili/r the porlic.il piiturcs
Dl the (ildrii tinir. " ('olumbiis, ' s,iys old I'rirr
l.irtyr, " has lir;;im to Iniild ,1 (ily, ;is hr li;is
Ui'ly vvritirn to iiir, and to so-\V our set-ds ;iiid
i-ii|i.ij;,iir our ,-inim,-ils I Who of \'^ sh,-ill ikhv
|".ik Willi wonder nf S;itiirn, Ceres, and 'I'riiitol-
irir ^;(ric.al aci|iiaiiilai;i:t,ftimis, iravellin^- about the e.-irth to sprcid new
rs ol this i;real all liipi -^Miucntioiis ,imiiii};- m.mkind ? Or nf the I'liu'iii-
eii liie prei epls ol rrli,;;' ■Bftiiiiis wlin hiiili 'I'yre or Sidon ? Or of ihe 'i'yrians
i/,itioii h,id relornii-d liic'^Blu'ii-iscKi',. who-ie rovinjr desires led them to
mnibal pr(ipi-nsiti"s, tho^Biiiirnie into lorei;;!! I.inds, lo build new cities,
rntiv si'i-\ icr.iblr as intc'-^fciiil t.'st,-iblish new (dn-\nuinilies ?"*
ot (lidiia^.iliie^ llu' iloC'HB Such were th.e comments of eilli^^^l-itened and
I'lii'viilciit men, who hailed with entluisi.ism the
imd and salutary siii,'j,''*-|Wi''i'"^(-i'y "I the New World, not for th(' wcdth it
e is one ol a most pt-ri-.-Mfcoulil hmv^ to I-airope, but for the held il would
in ihal mist.iken view ■^Pjicn fur |,dorious ,-iiid beiievolenl enterprise, and
It the day, lull IruiituuBBlu' lilcssiiv^i's and impruveiiK'tus ut civilised lite,
whi( h il would widely dispense lli|-iiii(',li b irli.irolis
and iin(-iilliv,iled rej^ioii',.
NO! I-.
tsaliclla at llir presnil d.iv i'l i|iiile ovrrijrown vvilli
fnri'sl, III llic iiiidsl nf wIikIi ,irc slill I" In' si rii. parlly
sl.iiiilliit;, llie pilliiis nf ilif I liiin ll, •iniiic irtnaini nf
III!' kiiii;'s slnielKiiiscs, and p,irl nf the i(',iil('iii c id
('nlllilllilis, all limit (if lii'VVii stniic. I lie small fnrlK 'S
is alsn a priiiiiiiiciit rum ; and a lllllr icilli nl il Is ,1
( IK iilar pill.ir almiil icii feel lii^li .iiid .1. iiiiii li in
ili:iiii('|i-r, (d sniiil iii.isiiniy, niaily ciiiiir , wIik li :\\i
pears In li,ivr had a wnndcii t;alli-ry nr li.iltli'iixiil
roilild till' tup lor till' ( niivi iiiciii e nl riniii. ,iiid in llic
iTiilre of wliii ti was pl.iiitid llic (l.it; l,ilf Having
discovered ilic reinaiiis ol an iron cl.inip iiii'i<-ddi'il in
the stone, wliii ll served In seiure llic llu;. I. ill ilHcIf,
I Inrc it mil, and now '(insi)',ii lo ynii this iiirioim
relii (if llic llihl fnnliinld id 1 ivdi/.ilinii in llii- New
Wnrld, alter il liai licii c,\pi)srd lo the > I' iin ills iiraily
three liiindred and Idly ycirs. /■/('/// ///■■ I rlla r/ /'.
.v. //iiiikiii, i'.ii/.
(.•IIAI'I'.K \lll.
DISCliN'TKNTS A|- IsAllMI \ MlllWur ril.KNAI.
DIAZ hi. I'l .,\.
iM-nl
'rni', einhryo city ol I .aln-ll 1 w.i . r.ipidly .-is-,iim-
in;j a form. A dry '.tniir w.dl .111 loiiinh-d 11, in
prolci 1 It lldlil ,iliv sudden ,ill,i( k ol llu iliIiv .,
alllinii^^h the must tiicndly deposit 1011 w.i , i'\-ini 'd
bv ihc Indians of llie vicinity, who liri>ii;;hl ',iip-
plies of iheir simple arliilis nl lood, iiid ;;aV(;
iheni in e\cli.iii);r lor l-.iiidjir.iii liilh-,. On th«;
d.iy of the |''.pipli,iny, tin- ^th nl I ibriiary, the
( liiiri h bciii).; siiltii inilly roinpleti-d, hi;;li mass w.is
crlebr.itcd with ^^re.it pninp and 1 1 irnmiiv, by l'"ri,-ir
IJovIr and the twcKc e( ( le-,ia-,l n ,, 'Ihc .iff.-iirs
ol tile sellleineiit bem^ thus ,ip|),ir(-litly in .1 I'l'^n-
l,-ir tr,iili, (oliiinbiis, Ihon^li '>lill ( onrmi-d by iiulis-
position, lie^',-in lo m,ike .irran •rmnil-i lor hi-. ' nii-
lemplaled expedilioil to the nioiinl.im -, nl f ibio,
when .111 imi-<|)e(-ted distiirb.iiK c in \\\\ liltlr i om-
munity lor .1 lime eiifjrossed his allenlion,
'llic s.iilin^ ot llic lleel I'll S|i.illl li.id been ,-i
mel.-meholy sijjht In m.iny '.'. Im .r irriii . ol rnli'-l-
nienl ((impelled ihrm I'l ri-maiii on thr isl.-iiul.
I )is,ipp(iintcd in llieir c-<pci t,iti',n , nl immedi.ite
wealth, dis;^iislcd with ihr j.ibni . iinpo.rd on
them, .-iii'l ,-ipp,-illef| by the rii.il.idic , prr',.i|i.nt
throuj^dioiit the (ommunlty, ihiy b'-;; iii to look
with horror upon the siirroiiii'lin;; -a lideriicss, ,is
destinc'd to lie the ;;r,-ive ot tlii :r Impi", .inij of
ihemsrlvrs. When tl
,isl sail (|l'..-||i|ie ireil
Ihi
cap. 50.
Letter 153 10 I'dinponius Lxtus.
fell ;is it (dinplctely severed from iheir ( oimlry ;
and the tender rcrollei ti..i. , ot home, whiih liail
been ( hc( ked tor ,1 lime bv the iin' 'I'y .•iiid bustle
.•irou'MJ tlieni, rushed wilh sudden lone Ujion tfieir
minds. To return in Spam b'-( .itne their riilm;{
ide.i, and the s.ime w,int nl relin tinii which had
hurried them into thr enterprisr, witliout in'|iiir-
in^ into ils re;il n.ilure, now prnmptrd them to
exlricilc themseU-'-s from it, liy .iiiy m'-uis how-
ever desper.ite.
Where |)opul;ir disronteiUs |)ri-vail tl-'.-re is sel-
dom w.-mtin;,' some d.ii-m^'- spirit to j,'ive them y
'.Ulcerous dire(-tion. One liernard Die/ de I'isa, a
.,-i,in ot some inip,ortan( e, who h;i(| held a i isil
ollice about the (ourt, ha'l come out with the ex-
])e(lition as com|)troller ; he s(;ems to have pre-
sumed upon his nllici.1l (lowers, and to have ha'l
early differences with the admir.il. Disgusted
with liis employment in llic colony, he b'jon made
*■,
Wii
02
LIFE AND VOYAGCS OF COLUMBUS.
a f.Ktion aniniif^f the discontcnled, and proposud
thai they should take advaiilaj^e of the iiidis])()si-
tion ot L'()liiinl)us, to sci/e upon soint; or all ol the
the ships in the harbor, and return in tht'ni to
Si)ain. It would he easy to justify their clandes-
tine return, hy jirelerrinj; a conijjlaint ajjainst the
admiral, re|)resentinj( the tallacy ot iiis enler-
])rises, and a'Ciisint^ him of jjross dece|)tions and
exaj^i^erations in his accounts of tiie countries he
had discoxered. It is probable that some ol these
Ijcojile really considered him cul])al)le of the
charj^es thus fabricated aj;ainst iiim ; for in the
disappointment ol their a\aricious hopes, they
overlooked the real value ol those fertile islands,
which were to enrich nations by the i)roduce ot
their soil. livery country was sterile and unprofit-
able in their eyes that did not immediaiely teem
with f^old. Thoui^h they hatl continual proofs in
the specimens l)rouj,dn liy the natives to the set-
tlement, or furnished 'o tijeda and (iorvalan, that
the rivers and mountains in the interior abounded
with ore, yet even these daily proofs were talsitied
in their eyes. ( )ne I'ermin C'eclo, a wronj^-heacletl
and obstinate man, who had come out as assayer
and purifier of metals, had imbibed the same pre-
jutlice a^rainst the exjiedilion with liernal Diaz.
Me |)ertinaciously insisted that there was no j.jokl
in the island ; or at least that it was found in such
inconsiderable (piantilies as not to repay the
searcli. He declared that the larjje grains of vir-
gin ore brought by the natives liad l)een melted ;
that they h.id been tlieslow accumulation of many
years, having remained a long time in the families
ot the India'is, and hantled down from generation
to generation ; which in many instances was prol)-
ably the case. Other s|)ecimens of a large size he
pronounced of a very inlerior (piality, and debased
with brass by the natives. The words of this
man outweighed the evidence of facts, and many
joined him in the belief that the island was really
destitute of gold. It was not until some time
afterward that the leal character of Fermin Cedo
was ascertained, and the discovery made that his
ignorance was at least ecpial to his obsiinacy and
l)resum])tion ; (pialiiies ajjt to enter largely into
the compound oi a medtllesome and mischievous
man.*
lincou raged by such substantial co-o|)eration, a
numl)er of turbulent spirits concerted to take im-
mediate possession of the shi])s and make sail for
Euro[)e. The influence of liernal Diaz de Pisa at
court would obtain for them a favorable hearing,
and they trusted to their unanimous representa-
tions, to prejudice Columbus in the opinion of the
public, ever tickle in its smiles, and most ready to
turn suddenly and capriciously from the favorites
it has most idolized.
Fortunately this mutiny was discovered before
it proceeded to action. Columbus immediately
onlered the ringleaders to be arrested. On mak-
ing investigations, a memorial or information
against himself, full of slanders and misrepresent-
ations, was found conceak'd in the buoy of one of
the slii|)s. It was in the handwriting of Hernal
Diaz. The admiral condiicte<l himself with great
moderation. Out of respect to the rank and sta-
tion of Diaz, he forbore to inflict anv ;)unishmeiU ;
but confined him on board one of the shi])s, to be
sent to Spain lor trial, together with the process
or investigation ot his oltence, and the seditious
memorial which had been discovered. Several of
the inferior muiineers were punishetl a..cording to
the degree of their cul|)al)ility, but not with the
* Cura de los I'alacios, cap. 120, 122, MS.
severity which their offence deserved. To guar:
against any recurrence of a similar attein))!, Cj-
lumbus ordered that all the guns and naval nui!;,.
tions should be taken out ot four ot the vessii- Jfi
and ])ul into the principal ship, which was givt:
in charge to persons in whom he could |)lace m;.
plicit conlidence.*
This was the first time Columbus exercised ti;r
right of jiunishing delin(|Uents in his lu .v goven..
ment, and it immediately awakened the most vio-
lent animadversions. FJis measures, though iici.
essary for the general salety, anil characteri/t.
by the greatest lenity, were censured as arl)itr;ir,
and vindictive. Already the disadvantage of Ijt.
ing a foreigner among the |)eo|)le he was to ^'d,.
ern was clearly manifested. He had national pit.
udices to encounter, cf all others the most gem;i,i.
and illiberal. He had no natural friends to rai!,
round him ; whereas the mutineers had coniitrc.
lions in Spain, friends in the colony, and mei vvii-
sympathy in every discontented mind. An earr,
hostility w;is thus engendered against Colunibui.
which continued to increase throughout his Hit
and the seeds were sown of a series of factior,i
and mutinies which afterward distracted i:.;
island.
CHAPTER IX.
EXPEDITION OF COLf.MliU.S TO
OF ClliAO.
THE -MOUNTAIN! 1
rqii
iaii'
rra;
ml
crij>
IIIN
ir ;
Vt'MI
fa
Th.
imlal
s it
'hell
IK'
rake
on I
ser
le^'cs
troi
hi- 111
n adv.
tiimiL
if IIIk
oail t
;alle(l
nt-n's
ittfi'tfi
1)11
V(
tin
[1494- 1
Having at length recovered froin his long ill-
ness, and the mutiny at the settlement being etftc;-
ually checked, Columbus prepared for his inMv.t-
diate departure for Cibao. He intrusted the con;-
maiul of the city and the ships, during his aS
sence, to his l)rother Don Diego, appointing ah.:
persons to counsel and assist him. l)on Diego ;:;
represenletl by Las Casas, who knew him per-;
sonally, as a nian of great merit and discreiio::
of a gentle and ))acitic dis])osition, and iiior;
characterized by simplicity th.ui shrewdness, li:
was sober in his attire, wearing almost the drtv
of an ecclesiastic, and Las Casas thinks he h...
secret hopes of preferment in the church ;t inikt.
Columbus intimates as much when he mcntiu:.:
him in Ids will.
As the admiral intended to build a fortress ■
the niountains, and to form an establishment li:
working the mines, he took with him the ncri-
sary artificers, workmen, miners, muiutions, a:..
imiilements. He was also about to enter the tcr
ritoriesof the redoutable Caonabo ; it was inipn'-
tant, therefore, to take with him a lorcethat slmu!-
not only secure him against any warlike oi)|)o>:'
lion, but should spread through the country a in:
midable idea of the jiower ot the white men, a:;
deter the Indians from any luiure violence, eiihc:
toward communities or wandering individuais.r
I'.very healthy person, therefore, who could tx
spared from the settlement, was put in reqinsilior.
together with all the cavalry that could be imi--
tered ; and every arrangement w. is made to strikri
the savages with the disi)lay of military spleiulu:
On the 12th of .March Ccilumbus set out at iht
head of about four hundred men wt-ll armed an:
equipped, with shining helmets and corselets ; vv;;.'
* Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. ii. cap- nj
Hist, del Almirante, cap. 50.
f Las Casas, Hist. Ind,, lib, i. cap. S2, MS.
tcep
llllUllt.'
at proii
^ he .s.ii
tiifda .
i-licioil
i-ith al'
rile m,
leaiity
nly to
ijjioiis
owcreJ
iatje.
ly miiii
n'^Lj tlin
viiile v
miungt
it the n
Ills p(l|l
:; 1(1 a. t,i
: nu-lt
,. ipaniari
, UptllDtl:
, dcas (I
; tack V
i * Hist
It .\lgo,
listinciic
lobody-
t Las
'.xliwf i
Sam
^ The ro
|rom I sal
|ts priiiiii
still tf
ui'k? aiK
iWe il.
Y "loant
rass nl J
^f this lii
the .\i
A^
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
93
;nce deserved. To^u.irdj
of ;i similar atlernpi, Cjf
liif ^uns and naval iiuiiii.
)Ut ot tour i)t ihe vessii- I
)al slii|), which was j,fi\i:,
whom he could place in;.
le Columbus exercised ii>
[|ueiits in his n< ,v j^ovi-n;-
V awakehed the must viu-
lis measures, though lui-
salely, anil characteri/c.
ere censured .'is arhiuar;
y the dinadvantaj^e of be-l
the peo|)le he was to ^ov-l
ed. lie had national \)\r-
\\\ others the most ^HMicri.'
no natural friends to ral';,'
he mutineers i>ad coniicc-
II the colony, and niei wiir,'^
ontented mind. An early
ntlered .'itjainst Columbus,
crease thruuj(hout his lite,
)wn of a series of factioiii
afterward distracted li,:
TER IX.
liUS TO
CIHAO.
THE .MOUNTAINS
494. I
ecovered from his long i'.!.
the settlement heinj;' etfec.
.IS prepared lor his mvvx-
10. He intrusted the con..
the ships, durin<f his aS
n Diej^o, ;ij)pointini( all!:
issist him. Don l)ie^"i:!
IS, who knew him |>rr
eat merit and discreii^'
ic disposition, and m r:
ty th.in shrewdness. !;:
earing almost the (In-:
I, as Casas thinks he h.;^
t in the church ; t iinKc.
much when he mcntiu;.;
mil
U
Is
ed to build a fortress
jrm an establishment li
look with him the ncu
miners, mimitions, a;
so aliout to enter thi' ir
Caonabo ; it was ini]'
th him a force that sIkh:
ainsl any warlike o|)i)o>:-
through the country a io'-
wer ot the white men, a: :
ny future violence, eitl.'.:
wandering individu.i.;
therefore, who coulil ''■
nt, was put ill requisiliur
valry that could be nv.:-
ement w,is made to sii>
)lav of military spleiulu:
C(')lumhus set out at l!c
red men well arme<l an.
Imets and corselets ; w.'.'
decad. i. lib. ii. c.ip. H
50.
lib. i. cap. Ss, MS.
Iik:
rquehuses, lances, swords, and cross-bows, and
owed by a multitude of the neighboring In-
ians. They sallied from the city in martial
rrav, with banners flying, and sound of drum
^nd'triimpet. Their march for the lirst day \vas
,cross the plain between the sea and the nioun-
' ins, fording two rivers, and jjassing through a
ir and verdant country. They encamped in the
ivcning, in the midst of pleasant fields, at the foot
,( a wild and rocky pass of the mountains.
The ascent of this rugged defile presented for-
ihle dlHii ulties to the little army, incumbered
it was with various im|)lements and munitions,
'here was nothing but an Indian footpath, wind-
ing among rot ks and ])recipices, or through
rakes and thiikets, entangled by the rich vegeta-
011 ot a tropical forest. A number of high-spir-
ed voung cav.iliers volunteered to open a route
r the army. They h.id probably learnt this kind
if service iii the Moorish wars, where it was often
ecessary oil a sudden too|)en roads for the march
f tri)o|)s, and the conveyance of artillery across
- inoiiiilainsof (iranada. Throwing themselves
advaiu e v.ith laborers and jjioneers, whom they
tiimilatt ;l by their e.\ample, as well as by promises
ilieral reward, they soon constructed the Hrst
id formed in the New World, and which was
ailed I'.l Puerto de los Hidalgos, or The Cieiitle-
cii's I'ass, in honor of the gallant cavaliers who
ifttrled it.*
On the following day the army toiled U]) this
itccp detile, and arrived where the gore of the
iiuiit.iin opened into the interior. Here a land
promise suddenly burst upon their view. It w.is
L' same glorious |)rospect which had delightetl
cda and his comjianions. Below lay a vast and
litious plain, p.iinted and enamelled, as it were,
til ,dl the rich variety of tropical vegetation.
le magiiiticent forests jiresented that mingled
lautv an(' majesty of vegetable forms known
mlv io these generous climates. I'alms of i)ro-
i;;ious height, ;ind spreading mahogany trees,
towered trom amid a wilderness of variegated lo-
liai;e. Freshness and verdure were maintained
by numerous stre.ims, which meaiulered gleani-
iii:; througii the deep bosom of the woodland ;
iile v.irious villages and hamlets, ])eei)iiig trom
iiiim;,' the trees, and the smoke ot others rising out
t the midst ot the forests, gave signs of a Humer-
us population. The lu.xuriaiU landscape exteiul-
td as lar as the eye could reach, until it appeared
iiK-lt aw.iy and mingle with the horizon. The
paiiiards gazed with ra])ture upon this soft, vo-
Jupuious country, which seemed to realize their
tkas of a terrestrial paradise ; ,ind Columbus,
It ak with its vast e.xtent, gave it the name of the
W-a Real, or Royal I'lain.f
k
j
^' * Hist, del Almirante, cap. 50. Hidalgo, i.t.. Hijo
|e .\Igo, literally, " a son of somebody," in contra-
iisiinciion to an obscure and low-born man, a son of
imliodv.
t Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 90, Ms.
(■x'.rttci of a I.clter from T. S. Ihuckoi, Es,;., lUiUd
Santia-^oi^Sl. Doiniir^c), 201 h Scftemhe>\ 1 847.
The route over which Columbus traced his course
Irom Isatiflla to the mountains of Cibao exists in all
:s priiiiitive rudeness. The Puerto de los Hidalgos
still the narrow rugged footpath winding among
iks AwA precipices, leading through the only prac-
liialile ilftfde which traverses the Monte Christi range
if iiioiintains in this vicinity, at present called the
^ass of Niamey ; and it is somewhat surprising that,
if this first ami remarkable foctprint of the white man
the New World, there docs not at the present day
Having descended the rugged jiass, the army
issued ui)on the plain, in marii.il st\le, with great
ilangor ot warlike instruments. \\ hen the In-
dians beheld this shining band ol warriors, glitter-
ing in steel, emerging trom the motiiil.iins with
lirancing steeds aiui Haunting banners, and
heard, tor the tirst time, their rocks ,ind lorests
echoing to the din of drum and triini|)et, they
might well have taken such a wonderliil pageant
for a su|)ernatural vision.
In this way Columbus disposed ol his forces
whenever he approached a populous \ iU.ige, plac-
ing the cavalry in front, for the horses inspired a
mingled terror and admiration among the nati\es.
Las Casas observes that at lirst they Mipjiosed the
rider and his horse to be one animal, and nothing
could exceed their astonishment at seeing the
horsemen dismount, .i circumstance which shows
that the alleged origin ot the ancient l.ible ot the
centaurs is at least fount'ed in nature. On the
approach of the army the Indians generally lleil
with terror, and took refuge in their houses. Such
was their simplicity, that, they meiely put up a
slight barrier of reeds at the pmlal, and seemed to
consider themselves pertectly secure. Columbus,
jileaseil to meet with such artlessness, ordered
that these frail barriers should be scrupulously re-
spected, and the inhabitants allowed to remain in
their fancied security.* liy degrees their tears
were allayed through the mediation ol inter|)ret-
ers and the distribution ot trilling presents.
Their kindness and gratitude could not then be
exceeded, and the march of the armv was contin-
ually retarded by the hospitality ot the numerous
villages through which it passed. Such was the
frank communion among these ])eii|)le that the
Indians who accompanied the army entered with-
out ceremony into the houses, liel|)ing themseUes
to .inything of which they stood in luid, without
exciting sur|)rise or anger in the inhabitants ; the
latter offered to do the same with respect to the
Spaniards, and seemed astonished when they met a
repulse. This, it is prob.ible, was the case merely
with resjiect to articles of food ; for we are told
that the Indians were not careless in their notions
of property, and the crime of ihelt was one ot the
few which were punished among them with great
severity. Food, however, is gener.illy open to
free partici])ation in savage lile, and is rarely
made an object of barter, unti
and IS
labils ot trade
exist the least tradition of its former name or impor-
tance.
The spring of cool and delightful water met with in
the gorge, in a deep dark glen overshadowed by palm
and mahogany trees, near the outlet where the mag-
nificent Vega breaks upon the view, still cniuinues to
quench the thirst of the weary traveller. When 1 drank
from this lonely little fountain. 1 could lia-'dly realize
the fact that Columl)us must likewise have partaken
of its sparkling waters, when at the heiglitof his glory,
surroun<led by cavaliers attired in the gorgeous cos-
tumes of the age, and warriors recently from the
Moorish wars.
Judging by the distance stated to have been travelled
over the plain, Columbus must have crossed the Yaqui
near or at I'onlon ; which very likely received its
name from the rafts or pontoons cmpioyeii to cross
the river. Atmndance of reeds grow along its banks,
and the remains of an Indian village arc still very dis-
tinctly to be ir.iced in the vicinity, liy this route he
avoided two large rivers, the Amina .and the Mar,
which discharge their waters into the Yaipii opposite
Espcranza.
The toad from Ponton to the River Ilanique passes
through the defiles of La Cuesta and Nicayagua,
* Las Casas, lib. sup. li, cap. 00.
94
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
have been introduced by the wliite niei). The un-
tutored sa\;i};e in ahiiost every part of the world
scorns t(j make a tiallic ot hospitality.
Alter a march of live leaj^ues across the plain,
they arrived at the banks ot a larj;e and beautiful
stream, called by the natives ^'a^ui,but to which
the admiral ^^ave the name ot the River ot Reeds,
lie was nut aware that it was the same stream,
which, .liter windinjr throuj^h the \'ej{a, tails into
the sea near .Monte Chrisli, and which, in his first
voyajfe, he had named the River ot (iold. On its
fjreen banks the army encamped for the ni^ht,
animated and delij^hted with the beautiful scenes
through which they had i)assed. They bathed
and sijorted in the waters ot the Yagui, enjt)yinjr
the amenity of the surroundinjr landscape, and
the (lelij^htlul bree/es which jjrevail in that j^enial
sea-ion. " For though there is but little differ-
ence," observes Las Casas, " from one month to
an(jther in all the year in this island, and in most
])arts ot these Indias, yet in the jieriod from Sep-
tember to May, it is like living in parailise."*
t)n the tollowing morning they crossed this
stream by the aid of canoes and rafts, swimming
the horses over. l'"or two days they continued
their maich through the same kind ot rich level
country, diversified by noble forests and watered
by abundant streams, several of which descended
from the mountains of Cibao, and were said to
bring down gold dust mingled with their sand ..
To one ui these, the limpici waters ot which ran
over a bed of smooth round pebbles, Columbus
gave the nameot Rio \erde, orCireen River, from
the verdure and freshness of its banks. Its Indian
name was Xicayagua, which it still retains. t In
the course of this march they passefl through nu-
merous villages, where they experienced generally
the same reception. The inhabitants fled at their
approach, putting u|) their slight barricadoes of
reeds, but, as belore, they were easily wt)n to
familiarity, and tasked their limited means to en-
tertain the strangers.
Thus penetrating into the midst of this great
island, where every scene presented the wild lu.v-
uriance ot beautiful but uncivilized nature, they
arrived on the evening of the second day at a
chain of lotiy and rugged mountains, forming a
kind of b.irrier to the \'ega. These Colun^.bus was
told were the golden mountains ot Cibao, whose
region commenced at their rocky summits. The
country now beginning to grow rough and dilli-
cult, and the people being wayworn, they en-
camped tor the night at the foot of a sleep defile,
which led up into the mountains, and jjicjneers
were sent in advance to open a road tor the army.
From this place they sent back mules for a sup|)ly
ot bread and wine, their provisions beginning to
grow scanty, for they had not as yet accustomed
themselvi'S to the food of the natives, which was
afterward found to be of that light digestible kintl
suitable to the climate.
On the next morning they resumed their march
up a narrow and steep glen, winding among
craggy rocks, where they were obliged to lead the
horses. Arrived ;U the summit, they once more
enjoyed a pros|)ect ot the delicious \'ega, which
here presented a still grander apjiearance, stretch-
ing tar and wide on either hand, like a vast ver-
d.int lake. This noble plain, according to Las
Casas, is eigliiy leagues in length, and from
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. go. MS.
f The name of Rio Verde was afterward given to a
small stream which crosses the road from Santiago to
La V'gga, a branch of the River Yuna.
twenty to thirty in breadth, and of incomparab:!
beauty.
They now entered Cibao, the famous region <
gold, which, as it nature delighted in conirar;^
ties, displayed a miser-like jioverty of exterior,
projjortion to its hidden treasures. Instead ot th
soft luxuriant landscape of the \'eg,i, they hulu;,
chains of rocky and sterile mountains, scanti
clothed with lofty jjines. The trees in the v.ill,-;
also, instead of jiossessing the rich tulted tolia;.
coniinon to other ])arts ot the island, were nua;;.,
and dwartish, excepting such ;is grew on i:.
banks ot streams. The very name of the i oiiiiir
bespoke the nature ot the soil — Cibao, in the la',
guage of the natives, signifying a sione. .Sti
however, there w ere deep glens and sh.idy lavii.t
.imong the mountains, watered by limpid riviili;.
where the green herbage and strips of wondhr
were the more delightful 1 ) the eye Ironi I:
neighboring sterility. iJut what consoled u-
Spaniards lor the asjierity of the soil, was lo (>
serve among the sands of those crystal strenir
glittering particles of gold, which, though scai-
in c|uantity, were regarded as earnests nl H;
wealth locked up withm the mountains.
The natives having been jireviolisly visiteil hyt^:
exploring jiartv uncler Ojeda, came forth to nii-
them with griat alacrity, bringing lood, ai"
above all, grains and particles ol gold colli i led •
the brooks and torrents. From the (|uaiUitHM
gold dust in ever\- stream, Columbus was coiiviiv
ed there must be several mines in the vicinity. H:
had met with s|)ecimensof amber and la|)i;> ia/ii;
though in very small quantities, and thought thv
he had discovered a mine of co])|)cr. He was m
about eighteen leagues from the settlemeni ; tf-
rugged nature of the mountains maile a coiiiiir.
niiation, even from this distance, laborious. 11:
gave uj) the idea, therefore, ol penetrating larilr
into the countr\-, anti determined to establish.
fortified jiost in this neighborhood, with a lar-
number of men, as well to work the mines as:;
explore the rest of the ])rovince. He accoidin;;
selected a ])leasant situation on an emiiuiKe,.-
most entirely surrountled by a small river call-,
the Yani(iue,' the waters of which were as |)urttf
if distilled, and the sound ot its current mu^icaly
the ear. In its bed were found curious stenesi
various colors, large masses of beautiful niarl)>
and pieces ot pure jasper. From the hiot iit ir:
height extended one of those graceful and venl.i':
plains, called savannas, which was freshened a;:
iertili/ed by the river.*
On this eminence Columbus ordered a stiw;
fortress of wood to be erected, capable ol (ltfi':K:
against any attack of the natives, and protected!
,1 deep ditch on the side which the river <l](l ii'
secure. To this fortress he gave the name of y
Thomas, intended as a pleasant, though jiinus, •:
proof of the incredulity of Firmin Cedo and ■
doubting adherents, who obstinately refused:
believe that the island produced gold, until ihr
beheld it with their eyes and touched it w ilh the'
hands. t
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. ()0, MS.
t Ibid.
/>•<>/« //if I.i-//i-y of T. S. HciicK\n. Esq.. \^\;.
Traces of the old fortress of St. Thomas slill exis:
though, as has happened to the I'uerta de los Hidi
gos, all tradition concerning it has long been lost.
ilaving visited a small Spanish village known H|
the name of Hanique, situated on the banks of tbf
stream, I heard bv accident the name of a farm atcj
great distance, called La Fortaleza. This e.xcitcd ir'
Idi;
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
05
dth, and of incomparah!;|
lao, the famous rcj^'ion
e (Iflifjlilfd in coiurar
ike ])()vcrly ot cxlfiior, •
trt-asurt's. liisicad ot ir,i
of the \'i'Ka, thty liclv
criie moimtaiiis, s( aiv.i
The trees ill tin- vallc
ing the rich lulled ti)lKi,-:5^
if the ishinci, were nu-air..i'
g such as '^vvw on iS
: very name ot liie iiiiimr
lie sliil— Ciiiao, in the hr,
ii(;nityin}j a sione. Stil
■)) jrje'ns and siiady raviiiK
watered by linijiid riviiK-;^
e and strips ot wondia-- ^
dul t ) the eye ironi liiai
liut what consoled ih(
ritv of the soil, was to nK
s of lliose crystal strean-.
old, which, thoUKh scar,
rded as earnests ot i;:
1 the mountains,
en |)reviously visited liy'.-t
Ojeda, came forth to inir:
rity, l)rinj;inj( food, am:
irticles ot j^old codec id : ,
s. From the (|uaiU:tHM;
m, Colund)us was coinin:
1 mines in the vicinity. H-
sof amber ami lapis ia/ii
uantilies, and thuii.i;ht ihv
ne ot copper, lie was iii
s from the selllemeiii ; !r
mountains made a coninv.
s distance, laborious. H:
tore, ot penetralinn' l.irtb-
determined to esl,\l)lish.
|iei>;hborhood, with a lar;,t
U) work tile mines as;}
Province.
He according;
nation on an emineiKc,
lied 1)V a small river cal.
of which were as juirc,
id of its current niusica!':
e found curious stcMicsij
asses ot beautiful iiiadi.-j
ler. I'"roni the hiol otir:
[those jjraceful ami \enlj':
which was freshened :c:
Llumbus ord(!red a stmr;
Irected, capable ot dcfwc
natives, and protected ■
which the ri\er did iv
IS he !j;ave the name of ^'
Ipleasant, thouj;h pious,:;'
of Kirmin Cedo and ■
|h() obslinatelv refused :
produced ;4oid, until it
and touched it with the
., lib. i. cap. ()0, MS.
.V. //nu-k.-n. Esq., I?47
is of St. Thomas still ex!'
fo the I'uerta de los 11 1:-
Ing it has lonjj; been lo?l.
1 Spanish vilUiRC known:
^ated on the lianks of i..
It the name of a farm atr=
rortaleza. This excited c
I The n.itives, h.ivinR heard nf the arrival of the
banianls in their vicinity, came tlockinj.j from
irious parts, anxious to obtain Kuropean trink-
5 The admiral sijrnitied to them that anythiufr
Buld be K'\L'ii in exchange for jjold ; upon hear-
|g this some of them ran to a nei^jhborinjif river,
>il ir.iiheriii^r and siftinjr its sands, returned in a
[lie while with considerable quantities of gold
ust. One old man brought two pieces of virgin
re weit^hing an ounce, and thought himself
ilv rep7iid when he received a hawk's bell. On
Hiia'rkiiig that the admiral was struck with the
zc ot ile.'se specimens, he affected to treat them
lith ciiitcnipt, as insignificant, intimating by
Igns that in his country, which lay within h.df a
jv's jiiurney, they lound pieces of g(dd as big as
Orange. Other Indians brought grains of gold
|ei"-hing ten and twelve drachms, and declared
Vit"in the country whence they got them, there
(ere masses of ore as large as the head of a
Jiilcl.* .As usual, however, these golden tracts
|ere .iKvays in some remote valley, or along some
V'jrcd ,111(1 secjuestered stream ; and the wealthi-
tt spot was sure to be at the greatest distance —
Ir the land ot promise is ever beyond the moun-
kiii.
CHAPTER X.
KCIRSION ol' JUAN DE I.UX.W AMONT, THK
MDrM'AINS— CUSTO.MS AN!> CHARACTKRISTICS
OF THK N.VnVES— COI.U.MHLS KliTUKXS T(J
IS.Mltl.l.A.
[•494-]
Wmi F, the admiral remained among the nioun-
ins, suiierintending the building of the fortress,
;iiispauhed a young cavalier of Madrid, named
iriosity, "nd I proceeded to the spot, a short dis-
nee up the river ; yet nothing could be learned from
le intiabitants ; it was only by ranging the river's
knits, itirouKh a dense and lu.\uriant forest, that I by
icidcnt stum!)le(l upon the site of the fortress.
The rtiiKukable turn in the river ; the ditch, still
ry perfci t ; ttie entrance and the covert ways on
icii side tor descending to the river, with a fine
iplanadc of beautiful short grass in front, complete
le picuirc described t)y Las Casas.
The s(|iiare occupied by the fort is now completely
ivered witli forest trees, undistinguishable Irom
lose of tlie surrounding country ; wliich corresponds
this day exactly with the description given almve,
ree centuries since, by Columbus, Ojeda, and Juan
I Luxan.
The only change to notice is, that the neat little
idian villages, swarming with an innocent and happy
)pulation, have totally disappeared ; there being at
resent only .i few scattered huts of indigent Spaniards
I be met with buried in the gloom of the mountains.
The tr.iccs of those villages are rarely to be discov-
«d at the present day. The situation of one near
onton w.is well chosen for defence, being built on a
gh hank between deep and precipitous ravines. A
ri;e square occupied the centre ; in the rear of each
■iwellini; were thrown the sweepings of the apartments
«i'l the ashes from the fires, which form a line of
•ound>, mixed up with broken Indian utensils. As
glays in the direct road from Isabella, Cibao, and La
feija. and commands the best fording place in the
jjeiiihljorhood for crossing the River Yaqui in dry sea-
^ns, it must, no doubt, have been a place of consid-
Italile resort at the time of the d'scovery — most likely
^ pontoon or large canoe was stationed here for the
ility of communication between St. Thomas and
bella, whence it derived its name.
?i* Peter .Martyr, decad. i. lib, iii.
Juan de Luxan, with a small band of armed men,
to range about the country, and explore the whole
of the province, which, from the reports of the
Indiaiis, a|)peared to be equal in extent to the
kingdom of I'ortugal. • Luxan returned, after a
few days' absence, with the most satisfactory ac-
counts. He had traversed a great part of Cibao,
which he found more capable of cultivation than
had at first been imagined. It was generally
mountainous, and the soil covered with large
round jiebbles of a blue color, yet there was good
pasturage in many of the valleys. The mountains,
also, being watered by frequent showers, produced
grass ot surprisingly (|uick and luxuriant growth,
often reaching to the saddles of the horses. The
forests seemed to Luxan to be full of valuable
spices; he being deceived by the odors emitted by
those aromatic ])laiits aiul herbs which abound in
the woodlands ot the tropics. There were great
vines also, climbing to the very summits of the
trees, and bearing clusters of grapes entirely ripe,
full of juice, .111(1 ot a pleasant llavor. Every val-
ley aiicl glen ])ossessed its stream, large or small,
.according to thesi/eof the neighboring mountain,
and all yielding more or less gold, in small ])ar-
ticles. Luxan was sup|)osed, likewise, to have
learned from the Indians many of the secrets of
their mountains ; to li.ive been shown the parts
where the greatest (piantity of ore was found, and
to have been taken to the richest stre.inis. ()\\ all
these points, however, he obser\ed a discreet
mystery, communicating the [larticulars to no one
but the admiral.*
The fortress of .St. Thomas being nearly com-
l)leted, Cidumbus gave it in command to I'edro
.Margarile, the same cavalier whom he had recom-
mended to the favor of the sovereigns ; and lie
lett with him a g.irrison of hfty-six men. He then
set out on his return to Isabella. ( )n arriving at
the banks of the ]<io \'erde, or Nicayagua, in the
Koy.d X'ega, he found a number of S|)aniards on
their way to the fortress with supplies. He re-
mained, therehire, a few days in the neighbor-
hood, searching for the best fording ])lace ot the
river, and esi.iblishing a route between the for-
tress and the harbor. During this time he resided
in the Indian villages, ende.ivoring to accustom
his people to the food of the nalivi'S, as well as to
inspire the latter with a mingled feeling of good
will ami reverence for the white men.
From the rejiort of Luxan, ColumbiLi had de-
rived some information concerning the character
and customs ot the natives, and he :'C(|uired still
more from his own observations, in th.e course of
his sojourn among the tribes ot the mouiit;ans and
the plains. .\nd here a brief notice of a few of
the characteristics and customs of these peo])le
may be interesting. They are given, not merely
as (d)served by the admiral and hisollicers during
this expedition, but as recorded some lime after-
ward, in a crude disserlati(m, by a friar of the
name (d Koniaii ; a poor hermit, as he styled him-
self, of the order of the leronimiles, who w.is one
of the colleagues of Father Boyle, and resided for
some time in the X'ega as a missionary.
Columbus had already discovered the error of
one of his opinions concerning these islanders,
hirnied during his first \oyage. They were not
so entirely pacific, nor so ignorant of w.irlike arts
as he had imagined. He had been deceived by
the enthusiasm of his own feelings, and by the
.gentleness ot (luacanagari and his subjects. The
casual descents ot the Caribs had compelled the
* Peter Martyr, decad. i. lib. iii.
h,i'
90
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
inhabitants of tlic sea-shore to acquaint thfin-
SL-ivfS willi the use ot arms. .Soiiu' ot liie moun-
tain triliL's ncir thu coast, narticuiarly thost' on llie
side which looked toward the Carihhee Islands,
were ot a more h.irdy and warlike cliaracter liian
those of the pl.ains. Caonalio, ;dso, tile Carl!)
chieftain, liad introduced somethin)^ of liis own
warrior spiiit into tli<.' centre of tlie island. Yet,
jrenerally speakinjr, the habits ot the |)eople were
mild and j,rcntlc. if wars sometimes occurred
anionjr tiicni, they were of short dur.ition, .md un-
accomi)ani(;(l by any jfreat effusion ot blood ; and,
in jjeneral, they minyled amicably and hos|)ital)ly
with each otlier.
Columbus had also at first indulijed in the error
that the natives ot llayli were destitute of .ill no-
tions of reli},'ion, ;ind he had conse(|uently llattered
himself that it would be the easier to introduce
into their minds the doctrines of Christi.uiily ; not
aw.ire that it is more dillicult to li^fht u|) the tire
of devotion in tlie cold he.irt of an allieist, ih.in to
direct the tlanie to anewoi)ject, when il is alre.idy
enkindled, 'lliere are few beinj^s, however, so
destitute of rcllcction as not to be impressed with
the conviction ot ;ui overrulinj^ deity. A nation
of atheists never existed. It was soon discovered
that these islanilers Ji.id their creed, though of a
vaj,rue and simple nature. They believed in one
supreme beintr, inhabitin>j the sky, who was im-
mortal, ()mni|)otent, and invisible ; to whon: they
ascribed an origin, who had a mother, but no
father.* 'I'hey never addressed their worship di-
rectly to him, but employed inferior deities, called
Zemes, as messengers and mediators. Kach
caciijue h.id his tutel.ir deity of this order, whoni
he invoked .and pretended to consult in .ill his
]niblic undertakings, and who was reverenced by
his ])eople. lie had a house aji.irt, as a temple to
this deity, in which was an imai^e of his Zemi,
carved of wood or stone, or shaped of clav or
cotton, and j^enerally of some monstrous and
hideous form. Kach family .and each individu.il
had likewise a particular Zemi, or ])rotectin}j
yenius, like the I, ares and Pen.ites of the an-
cients. They were placed in every part of their
houses, or ca.ved on their furniture; some had
them of a si.iall size, and bound them about
their forehe.ids when they went to battle. They
believed their Zemes to be transferable, with .ill
their powers, ;ind often stole them from each other.
When the Sp.ini.irds came amoni^ them, they often
hid their idols, Itfst they should be taken aw.iy.
They believed that these Zemes jjresided over every
object in nature, each having a p.articular chari^^e
or ^'overnment. They intluenced the s-jasons and
the elements, causing sterile or abundant years ;
excilir.jr hurricanes and whirlwinds, and tem])ests
of rain and thunder, orsendinjj sweet and tem])er-
ale bree/es ,ind fruitful showers. They froxerned
the se.is and forests, the sprinj^s and fountains ;
like the Nereids, the Drvads, and Satyrs of .in-
ti(|uity. They gave success in hinting and tish-
Uv' ; ihi'y guided the waters of the mountains into
safe channels, and led them down to wander
through the plains, in gentle brooks and peaceful
rivers ; or, it incensed, they caused them to burst
forth into rushing torrents and overwhelming
floods, inundating and laying waste the valleys.
The n.iti\es had their Hutios, or jiriests, who
pretended to hold communion with these Zemes.
They ])r,ictise(l rigorous fasts and ablutions, and
inhaled the ])owder, or drank the infusion ot a cer-
tain herb, which produced a temporary intoxica-
tion or delirium. In the course of this proct<;j
they professed to h.ive trances and visions, ;ir ]
that the Zemes revealed to them future events,
instructed them in the treatment of m.-ikidit j
They were, in general, great herbalists, and w.
aciiuainted with the meilicinal ])roperties ol it^.
and vegetables. They cured iliseases ihrou,?..]
their knowledge of sim|)les, but always with nii i
mysterious rites and ceremonies, and su|)|yii<': '
charms ; chanting and burning a light in the i h.i:
ber of the |).itient, and pretending to exorcist- 1
malady, to expel it from the mansion, and to sr
it to the sea or to the mountain.*
Their bodies were |)ainted or tattooed with r,
ures of the Zemes, which were regarded witli hi
ror by the .Si)aniai(ls, as so many rc|)res(nt,u;i
ot the devil ; and the lUitios, esteemed .iss.iiiit!,
the natives, were abhorred i)y the former as iilh-
mancers. These liutios otten assisted the caci(|i,:
in practising deceptions upon their subjects, spi,;
ing oracularly through the Zemes, by means oiL
low tubes ; ins[)iriting the Indi.ins to battle l]V|-
dieting success, or dealing forth such proniisii »
men.aces as might suit the purposes ot the i hicli.i
There is but one of their solenui religious i.-
monies of which any record exists. 'l"lu: ck ii .:
])rocl;iimed ;i day when a kind ol testiv.d \\;i,
be held in honor ot his Zemes. His subji'rt> [
sembled from all ]);irts, and formed a solciiiii |:j'
cession ; the married men and women deion;;:|
with their most precious ornaments, the yni;:|
females i-ntirely naked. The caci(|ue, or the prf
ci])al |)erson;ige, marched at their he.id, beatiii^
kind of drum. In this way they proceeded lu;
consecrated house or temple, in which were set
the im.iges ot the Zemes. .Arrived at the door,;
cacitpie seated himself on the outside, conlinu-
to beat his drum while the ])rocession enteicd,:
females carrying b.isketsof cakes orn.iniented u
tlowers, and singing as they advanced. The
offerings were received by the IJulios with Ifi.
cries, or rather bowlings. They broke the cake
after they had been offered to the Zemes, aiuh.
tributed the jiortions to the heads of families, v,
jireserved them carefully throughout the vtar,
jireveniive ot all adverse accidents. This di'
the females danced, at a given signal, siii);;
songs in honor of the Zemes, or in praise tit;
heroic actions of their ancient cacitpies. 1
whole ceremony finished by invoking the Zemes
watch over and protect the nation. t
Hesides the Zemes, each caci([ue had thiveiii
or talismans, which were mere stones, but \vh
were held in great reverence liy themselves.!
their subjects. One they sujiposed had the poi
to produce abundant harvests, another to iliVi
all ])ain from women in travail, and the thin;
call forth rain or sunshine. Three of these uc
sent home by Columbus to the sovereigns.*
The ideas of the natives with respect to ilif o:
tion were v.igue and undefined. Thev ga\L'i;
own island of Hayti priority of existence over
others, and believed that the sun and moon nr
nally issued out ot a cavern in the island lo,
light to the world. This cavern still exists, ah'
seven or eight leagues from Ca]H' Francois, r
C.ipe Haytien, and is known by the name nt
\'oute ii Minguet. Il is about one hundndi
fifty feet in depth, and nearly the s.ime in hi:!;
but very narrow. It receives no light but In
the entrance, and from a round hole in there
* Escritura de Fr. Roman. Hist, del Almirante.
* Oviedo, Cronic, lib. v. cap. i.
J Charlevoix, Hist. St. Domingo, lib. i. p 56.
Hist, del Almirante, cap. 61.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBrS.
97
course of this procts;
ances antl visions, ,i-
I ihem tiiturt; uvints,
treatmciU ot ni.iladic
eat hLTl)alists, and \v
:inai i)r()]>fitiL's oi irc
cured diseases thrut,
s, l)Ut always will) nn
eiiionies, and su|i|.(i>
riling i'li^'it in the i h.i;
etendinj,^ to exon isl- ;
he mansion, and lo m-
nitain.*
ted or tattooed w iih r,
were regarded with h.
so many rcpresciu.u;!
ios, esteenu-d as s.iiiih
d by tlie former as mr
itten assisted the t;ii u,,.
pon their sul)iects, hpt,,
e Zemes, hy means nl!,
i Indians to battle In |-
ijr forth sueh pronll^^.■^
ipurjiosesof the chiclla-
Mr solemn reli^^'imis a-:
ord exists. The ciin..
a kind ot festival u:b
Zemes. His sul)jfcis.
ind formed a solemn ]:
:n and women deionr.
lis ornaments, the you:
The caei(|ue, or the pr
:d at their head, t)e:uiii^
vav thev ])roeeede(l tul
nple, in which were sit
,, Arrived at the door,;
jn the outside, continu;:
he jM'ocession entered,!:
;of cakes ornamented w
s they advanced. Tic
by the Hutio.s withh'
Is. They broke the c:iiv:
etl to the Zemes, audi.
Ithe heads of families, v.
V throuj.diout the year,
|se accidents. Thisdu
a given signal, siiij;:
ernes, or in praise of;-
ancient cacicjues. T:
by invoking the Zemes
he nation.!
,:h caci(|ue had three id
|e mere stones, but wh
rence by themselves,!
/ sujiposed had the po'-
rvests, another to renv.
\^ travail, and the thin;
ne. Three ot theses;
to the sovereigns.!
s with resjject to the or:
;lefined. They gaveti-
irity of existence over
the sun and moon n'.
rn in the island Mi.
cavern still exists, ill"
|rom Cajie Francois, r
own by the name ot
about one hundred',
[early the same in huii;:
ceives no light hm 1'-
i round hole in the r.
. cap. I.
)omingo, lib. i. p 5^'
ap. 6i.
ivhcncc it was said the sun and moon issued forth
take their pl.ict;s in the sky. The vault was so
[air and regul.ir, that it appeared a work ot art
' iher than of nature, in the time of Charlevoix
he ligLires of various Zemes were still to be seen
ut in the rocks, and there were the remains of
iihes. as il to receive statues. This cavern was
elil in great \eneration. It was jijiinted, and
(lorned widi green branches, and other simple
ecoralions. 'I'here were in it two images or
ernes. When there was a want of rain, the
atives madi; pilgrimages and i)rocessions to it,
ivilh songs and dances, bearing offerings of fruits
nd flowers.*
Thev believed that mankind issued from another
avern, the large men from a great aperture, the
mall men from a little cri'.nny. Tliey were tor a
on" time destitute of women, but wandering on
oncMiccasion near a 'mall lake, they saw certain
animals among the branches of the trees, w hich
proved to bti women. On attem|)ting to catch
thein, however, they were found to be as slip])ery
s eels, so that it was impossible to hold them.
At length they employed certain men, whose hands
were rendered rough by a kind of leprosy. These
ucceidcd in securing four of these slip]K'ry fe-
males, from whom the world was jieopled.
While the men inhabited this cavern, they dared
onlv venture forth at night, for the sight of the sun
ivas fatal to them, turning them into trees and
tones. A cacicpie, named \'agoniona, sent one
of his men forth from the cave to fish, who lingc.'r-
nff at his sport until the sun had risen, was turn-
id into a bird of melodious note, the same which
[Tolumbiis mistook for the nightingale. T'hey add-
ed, thatvearly about the time he had suffered this
r.ansformation, he came in the night with a
mournful song, liewailing his misfortune ; which
ivas the cause why that bird always sang in the
lii},dn season.!
Like most savage nations, they had a tradition
;oncerning the universal deluge, e(|ually fanciful
R'ith most of the jireceding ; for it is singular how
the human mind, in its natural state, is apt to ac-
count, by trivial and familiar causes, for great
vents. They said that there once lived in the
island a mighty caci(|ue, who slew his only son
:or conspiring against him. He afterward collect-
d and picked his bones, and preserved them in a
ourd, as was the custom of the natives with the
elics of their friends. On a subsequent day, the
acique and his wife o|)ened the gourd to contem-
iLite the bones of their son, when, to their aston-
ishment, sever.d fish, great and small, leajied out.
pon this the caci(|ue closed the gourtl, and
ilaced it on the to|) of his house, l)oasting that he
ad the sea shut up within it, and could liave fish
whenever he pleased. Four fjrothers, however,
ivho had been b^rn at the same birth, and were
urious intermeddlers, hearing of this gourd,
ame during the absence of the cacicpie to peep
nto it. In their carelessness they suffered it to
all upon the ground, where it was dashed to
ieces ; when, lo 1 to their astonishment and dis-
ay, there issued forth a mighty flood, with dol-
hins, and sharks, and tumbling |)orpoises, and
reat spouting whales ; and the water spread, un-
:il it overflowed the earth, and formed the ocean,
caving only the tops of i le mountains uncovered,
hich are the present islands. J
* Churlevoi.x, Hist, dc St. Domingo, lib. i
+ Fray Roman. Hist, del Almirante. P
Pecad. i! lib. ix.
t Escritura de Fray Roman, pobre Heremito
p. 6o.
Martyr,
They had singular modes of treating the dying
aiul the dead. When the life of ;i caci(|ue was dt-
spaired of, they strangled him out of a |)rinciple
of respect, rather th.in sutbr him to die like the
vulgar. Common peojile were extendeil in their
hammocks, l)read and water placed ;it their he.ul,
and they were then ab.indoned to die in solitude.
.Sometimes they were carried to the i .uiciue, .md
if he jiermitted them the distinction, they were
strangled. After death the body of a c:ici(|ue w.is
opened, dried at a tire, aiul presiTved ; of others
the head only was treasured up as a memori.d, or
occasionally a limb. .Sometimes the whole bodv
was interred in a cave, with a calab.ish of water
and a loaf of t)read ; sometimes it was consumed
with tire in the house of the deceased.
TTiey had confused and uncertain notions of the
existence of the soul when separ.itnl from the
body. They believed in the- .apparitions ot the
departed at night, or by daylight in solitary
])laces, to lonely individuals ; sometimes advanc-
ing as it to attack then), but upon the traveller's
striking at them they vanished, and he struck
mercdy against trees or rocks. Sometimes thev
mingled among the living, and were oidy to be
known by having no n.avels. TTie Indi.uis, fe.irful
of meeting with these apparitions, disliked to go
about alone, and in the d.irk.
They had an idea of a j)laceof rt;ward, to which
the spirits of good men repaired after death,
where they were reunited to the sjiirits of those
they had most loved during life, and to all their
ancestors. Here they enjoyed uninterru|)tedlv,
and in perfection, those ple.isures which consii-
tuteil their felicity on earth. They li\-ed in shadv
and blooming bowers, with beautiful women, and
b;uu|Ueted on delicious fruits. The paradise ot
these happy spirits w.is variously placed, almost
every tribe assigning some favorite sjiot in their
native province. ^iany, however, concurred in
describing this region as being ne.ir ;i lake in the
western part of the island, in the be.uititul ])rov-
ince of Xaragua. Here there were delightful val-
leys, covereti with a delicate fruit c.dled the m:i-
mey, .about the size of an ai)ricot. Thev imaginecl
that the souls of the deceased remained concealed
among the .dry and in.accessible cliffs of the moun-
tains (luring the day, but descended at night into
these ha|)py valleys, to reg.ile on this consecrated
fruit. The living were si)aring, tlurifore, in cit-
ing it, lest the souls of their friends should suffer
from want of their favorite nourishment.*'
The dances to which the n.itives seeme.l so im-
moderately addicted, and which had been at first
considered by the Spaniards, mcri' idle p.istimes,
were found to be often ceremoni.als ot a serious
and mystic character. They form indeed a singu-
lar and important feature throughout the customs
ot the aboriginals of the New World. In these
are typehed, t)y signs well underst'vid by the initi-
ated, and, as it were, by hieroglyphic action, their
historical events, their projected enter|)rises, their
hunting, their ambuscades, .-md their b.utles, re-
sembling in some res])ects the I'yrrhic d.mces of
the ancients. Si)eaking of the prevalence- of these
dances among the natives of Ilayti, I'eter Martyr
observes th.at they jierformed them to the chant of
certain metres and ball.ads, handerl down from
generation to generation, in which were rehearsed
the deeds ot their ancestors. " These rhymes or
ballads," he adtis, "they c.ill areytos ; and as
our minstrels are accustometl to sing to the harp
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 6i. Peter Martyr, de-
cad, i. lib. i.x. Charlevoix, Hist. St. Uomingo lib. i.
ys
LIl'K AND VOYAGES OF COLUMHUS.
It'
i:1
and lute, so do tlipy in like manner sinfj these
son^js, aiul danci' to llif same, playing; on timbrels
made (it sliills ot cirtain lislies. These timbrels
they call iiiamiev. Tlu'y have also soiij^s ami bal-
lads of love, and others of laiiUMU.itioii or iiiourii-
iii^ ; some .also to eiiioiira(,^e them to the wars,
all siinj,' to tunes 'i),'reeable to the matter." it
was lor these daiuis, ;ts has been already observ-
ed, that till y were so eaj,'er to procure hawks'
bells, suspending; tiiem .ibout their persons, and
keepiii},' time with their sound to the cadence ot
the siii^,'ers. This mode of danciiiff to a ballad
h;is iieen ( iimp.ired to the dances ot the peasants
in Flanders durin^Mhe sumnur, and to those prev-
alent throujrhout Sjiain to the sound of the casti-
nets, ;iiul the wild |)ii|nilar (ii.iiUs said to be de-
rived from the Moors ; but which, in l.ict, existeil
before their invasion, amoiij^' tlie (loths v.Ikj o\er-
r.ill the peninsula.*
The earliest history of .almost all n.itioiis has
^ener.illy bein ])rescrved by rude heroic rhymes
and ballads, and by the l.iys ot the minstrels ; and
such was the case with the areylos of the Indians.
"When .1 caci(|uc died," says Oviedo, "they
sanjr ill dirj^es Ins liti- and actions, and all the
fjood that he had done w.is recollected. Thus
they formed the ball.ids or areylos which consti-
tuted their liisiory."t Some of these ballads were
ot a sacred char.uter, containim,' their traditional
notions of theolo;(y, and tlie su|)erstitions and fa-
l)le.= which comprised their relijrious creeds.
None were permitted to sinj^ these but th- sons
of caci(|ues, who were instructed in them b their
liuiios. They were chanted behire the peojile on
solemn festivals, like those already described, ac-
comjianied by the sound of a kind of drum, made
from a hollow tree. J
.S,.ch .1 are few ot the characteristics remainin;,'^
on ri cord of these simjile people, who perished
from the [.ice of the e.irth before their customs
and creeds were thouj^ht of sulhcient importance
to be invesliLjated. 'I'he present work does not
])rofess to enter into detailed accounts of the coun-
tries and people discovered by Columbus, other-
wise than as they may be useful for the illustration
of his history ; .ind perhaps the toref^oinjr are car-
ried to ;ui uniiec-ssary leiij^th, but they may serve
to j'i\e greater interest to the sul)se(iuent transac-
tions of the island.
Many of these particulars, as has been observed,
were collected by the admiral and hisoflkers, dur-
inj^ their excursion .iinon^' the mountains and their
sojourn in the ])l;'.in. The natives ajipe.ired to
them :i siii;j;ularly idle and improvident race, in-
diffeieiit to most of the olijects of human anxiety
and toil. They were imp.itient of all kinds of la-
bor, scarcely f^ivin^- themselves the trouble to cul-
tivate the yuca root, the maize, and the |)otato,
which hirmed the main articles of subsistence.
Tor the rest, tiieir streams abounded with fish ;
they cauffht the uiia or coney, the jfuana, and va-
rious birds ; anil they had a perpetual baiu|uet
from the fruits spontaneously produced by their
proves. 'I'hou^ii the air was sometimes cold
iimontj the mountains, yet they jireferred submit-
ting to a little temjiorary suffering rather than
take the trouble to weave g.irments from the gos-
sampine cotton which abounded in their forests.
Thus they loitered away existence in vacant in-
■" Mariana. Hist. Esp., lil). v. cap. i.
f Oviedo, Cron. tie las Indlas, lib. v. cap. 3.
i Fray Roman. Hist, del Almirante, cap. 61. P.
Martyr, decad. ", Hb. ix. Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad.
i. lib. iii. cap. 4. Oviedo, lib. v. cap. i.
activity, under the sliade of their trees, or amiii.l
iiig tliemstdves occasionally with v.irious gamcil
and <laiices.
In tact, they were destitute of powerful nioiivtj
to toil, being Iree trom most ot tlioic wants whu
doom mankind in civili/ed liie, or in less geiia
climes, to incessant labor. 'I'hev had no sii-rii;
winter to jirovide against, particularly in tlu-vi'
leys and the pl.iins, where, according U> !'i;.-
Martyr, " the island enjoyed perpetu.il spring iim
and w;.'S blessed with coiUinu.d summer and l.,!:.
vest. The trees preserved tlu'ir le.ives throti); .
out the year, and the meadows cuiilinued aUv.i ,
gri'en. I'lu're is no ])rovinci', luir any P:-]
gion," he ag.iin observes, " which is not reiimr
able for the majesty of its mount.iins, the Iriiitli;.
ness of its vales, the pleasantness ot its hills, ,ii;,
delightful plains, wiiii abundance' of fair rivr;
running through them. There never was ,111.
noisome animal found in it, nor yet any r.iveiiin;,'
four-footed beast ; no lion, nor bear ; no tirr
tigers, nor crafty foxes, nor devouring wolves, ii^
all things blessed and fortunate."*
In the soft region of the \'ega, the circling s.-,.
sons brought »-ach its store ot fruits ; and wh;-.
some were g.itliered in full maturity, others \\cr:j;_
ripening on the boughs, and buds and blossun;.}
gave jiromise of still future abundance. ^VlJ
need was there of garnering up and anxiniiv.j
providing for coming days, to men who lived im
perjietual h.irvest ? W'h.it need, too, of toiltui!,
spinning or laboring ;il the loom, where a gen:j
temperature prevailed throughout the ye.ir, ,11,.
neitiier nature nor custom jirescribed the neces^i',;
of clothing ?
The hospitality which characterizes men in .sue,
a simple and e.isy mode ot existence, was eviiu;:
toward Columbus and his followers during tlui;
sojourn in the .'ega. W'tierever they went it \v;b;
continu.d scene of festivity and ri'joicing. The
natives hastened trom all parts, bearing iireseii'.-
and laying the treasures of their groves, ;ir..
streams, and mountains, at the feet of beings whu::
they still considereil as descended from the sk;ti
to bring blessings to their island.
Having .accomplished the |)urposes of his rtv
dence in the \'ega, Columbus, at the end of a tc 1
days, took leave of its hos])itable inliabitants, :ir;
resumed his march for the harbor, returning wr;
his little army through the lofty and rugged '^in;-i
of the mountains calU^d the I'ass (d the liidali^io
.\s we accom])any him in imagination over iht
rocky height, whence the \'ega first broke upo:
the eye of the I'^uropeans, we cannot hel|) paiisir,;
to cast back a look of mingled pity and ad mi rati :
over this beautiful but devoted region. Thedrcc.
of natural liberty, of ignorant content, and loite;l
ing idleness, was as yet unbroken, but the llat h:
gone forth ; the white man had jienetrated in;|
the land ; avarice, and pride, and ambition, a;
pining care, and sordid labor, and withering |Hr..
erty, were soon to follow, and tlie indolent par-l
disc of the Indian was about to disappear forcvc:'
CHAPTER XI.
.\RKIVAI, DF COI.UMIil'.S AT TSAIlI.t.I.A— SICKNi --I
Ot' TIIIC COI.DNV.
[1 494-]
Ox the 29th of March Columbis arrived :
Isabella, highly satislied with his expedition in::
* Peter Martyr, decad. iii. lib. ix., translated bvRl
Eden. London, 1555.
'M I,,
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
W
■)l ihcir trees, or amm.
ly wilh various j;amcii
lie of powcrlul nioUvf. ^.^
.it ol ihii.ic \Nai>l.s wliii. !s(
(1 lilo, or ill less j;cii;a
. 'I'lu'S luiil IK) stcrit
parlii ularly in llii; va,.
rt', acitirdinj^ *'' i'f't'
(1 perpetual sprin^'-lim
liiuial Slimmer and lia:-
(I llieir liMves throng;
idows toiiliiiued alw.i ;
proviiiie, nor any r-|;''
" whieli is not reniar,:
mountains, the fruiilu-
salilness ot its liills, an:.
hundaiUL' of lair rivci
Tliere never was an, _^
it, nor yet any ravtMiin^fi;
in, nor bear ; no tur.:
ir devourinj; wolves, li^
lunate."* ;
e \'eK'>. tlie circling s«-
lore (it Iruils ; and v.\\i: .
.ill maturity, others were :J|
, and buds and blossoir ' -
lure abundance. \Vh
erini^ up and anxii)ii>
vs, to men who lived iiii
\ai need, too, of toiitui,;,
ihe loom, where a j;en,i,
hrouH:h()Ut the year, ar.,
n prescribed the iiecesa;;,
characterizes men in sue
ot existence, was eviiic:-:
[lis followers during tlu;: '
creverlhey went it wasa
,ily and i'ei"icinK. 'I'h;
' parts, bearing prescii;;
,s of their groves, as.
;U the feet of beings whu::
■ seended from the sk;:i
Li island,
the purjioses of his rev
iibus, at tlie end of a k ,
.pitable inhabitants, ar;
le harbor, returning vr:
le loftv and rugged gur;;
,ie I'a'ss of the llidal^.:
in imagination over ire
ic \'ega first broke upo"
we cannot help paii.si:,;
igled pitvand adminiU.:^
,oted re,i;ion. The drcc
irant content, and loiie:-
.nbroUen, but the fiat h:.;|
irian had penetrated iiiv
iride, and ambition, a'
abor, and withering ^V'
\-, and the indolent par:
lOUt to disappear forcvc
i:r XL
Iat is.\r.Ki.i..\— sicknf-'I
IcclI.ONY.
ph Columbis arrived
with his expedition m
\\. lib. ix., translated by R
111' interior. The appearance of everything in the
Iciiiiiv I't itie harbor was calculated to increase
aiiiicip.itions of prosjierity. The jilants and
tiiis (it the Old World, which he was endeavor-
ktr to introduce into the island, gave promise of
njil imrease. The orchards, tields, and gardens
Jere in a gre.it state ot forwardness The seeds
various truits had produce ' young plants ; the
il,r,ir-( aiie liad prospered ■ .ceedingly ; a native
liie, triiiimed and dressed with care, had yielded
|)'cs (It t()leral)le llavor, and cuttings from
luw|it'an vines alre.idy l)egan to form their clus-
|rs. On tliejotjjof March a husbaiiiiman brought
Cdhinilius ears ot wheat which had been sown
the latter part ot January. Tlie smaller kind
jr.irileii herbs c.ime to maturity in sixteen days,
1(1 tlie larger kind, such as melons, gourds,
»ni|)ii)iis, and cucumbers, were fit for the table
itiiiii a month after the seed had tieen put into
le jjrduii'i. The soil, moistened by brooks and
,-cis and tre(|Uent showers, and stimulated by
arilciit sun, possessed those principles of «|uick
1(1 proilig.il fecundity which surpri.se the slran-
ir, accusidined to less vigorous climates.
|The adiniril had scarcely returned to Isabella
leii a iiuiseiiger arrived from I'edro Margarite,.
comni, Inderal fort .St. Thomas, informing him
It iIk; indi.ins of the vicinity had manifested un-
lenilly feelings, abandoning their villages and
luniiiiig all intercourse with the white men ; and
u C.ion.ibo was a'sembling his warriors, and
sparing to attack the fortress. The fact was,
It the iiiomeiit the admiral had departed, the
laniards, no longer awed liy his presence, had,
Uiual, listened only to their pass'ons, and exas-
lv,!te;l the natives bv wresting from them their
jid, and wronging them with respect to their
mien. Caoiiabo also had seen with impatience
(if detested intruders, planting their standard
|the very midst of his mountains, and he knew
tl he had nothing to expect from them but ven-
ince.
he tidings from Margarite, however, caused
It little solicitude in the mind of Columbus.
im wh.Ll he had seen of the Indians in the in-
[ior, he had no .apprehensions from their hostil-
lle knew their weakness and their awe ot
|ile men, and al)ove all, he confided in their ter-
of the horses, which they regarded as fero-
ius beasts of prey, obedient to the .Spaniards,
ready to devour their enemies. He contented
iselt, therefore, with sending Margarite a re-
ircement of twenty men, with a supply of pro-
ions and ammunition, and detacning thirty
jn t(j open a road between the fortress and the
ri,
i'hat gave Columbus real and deep anxiety was
sickness, the discontent, and dejection which
itinued to increase in the settlement. The same
iciples of heat and humidity which gave such
indity to the tields were fatal to the people.
exhalations from undrained marshes, and a vast
itinuity of forest, and the action of a tiurning
upon a reeking vegetable soil, produced inter-
Itfiit fevers, and various other of the maladies
trying to European constitutions in the unculti-
:(1 couiuries of the tropics. Many of the Span-
suffered also under the torments of a disease
icrtu unknown to them, the scourge, as was
Iposed, of their licentious intercourse wilh the
pan females ; but the origin of v.hich, whether
]erican or European, has been a subject of
It dispute. Thus the greater part of the colo-
were either continecl by positive illness or
iced to great debility. The stock of medi-
cines was soon exhausted ; there was a l.irk of
medical aid, and of the watchful attend. mce which
is even more important than medicine to the sick.
Every one who was well, was either engrossed by
the public labors, or by his own wants or cares ;
having to pertorm all menial offices tor himself,
even to the co(jkingof his |)rovisioiis. The pulilic
works, theretore, languished, and it was impossi-
l>le to cultivate the soil in .i sulficienl ilegree to
produce a sjpply of the fruits ot the earth. Pro-
visions began to fail, much of the stores brought
from Europe had been wasted on board shij), or
suffered to siioil through carelessness, and much
had perished on shore from the warmth and hu-
midity of the climate. It seemed impossible tor
the colonists to accommodate themselves to the
food of the natives ; and their inlirm condition re-
tjuired the aliments to which they had been accus-
tomed. To avert an absolute f.imiiie, therefore, it
was r essary to jiut the peojile on a short allow-
ance, even of the damaged and unhe.iltiiy jirovi-
sions which remained. This immediately caused
loud and factious murmurs, in wliicli many of
those in office, who ought to have supported Colum-
bus in his measures tor the common s.ifety, took
a leading part ; among those was I''alher iiovle,
a jiriest as lurtiulent as he was crafty. He had
been irritated, it is said, by the rigid iniparlial-
ity of Columbus, who, in enforcing his s.iluiary
measures, made no distinction of rank or jicr-
sons, and ])Ut the fri.ir and his house-hold on a
short allowance as well as the rest of the com-
munity.
In the midst of this general discontent, the
bread began to grow scarce. The stock ol tlour
was exhausted, a. id there was no mode ot grinding
corn but by tlie tedious and toilsome process of
the hand-mill. It became necessary, therefore, to
erect a mill immediately, and other works were
required equally imiiortant to the welfare of the
settlement. Many ot the workmen, however,
were ill, some feigning greater sickness than they
really suffered ; fijr there was a general disincli-
nation to all kind of labor which was not to jiroduce
immediate wealth. In this emergency, Columbus
put every healthy ])erson in re(|uisition ; and ;ls
the cavaliers and gentlemen of rank re(|uired food
as well as the lower orders, they were called upon
to take their share in the common labor. This
was considered a cruel degradation by many
youthful hidalgos of high blood and haughty spirit,
and they refused to obey the summons. Colum-
bus, however, was a strict disciplinarian, and felt
the im|)ortance of making his authority respected.
He resorted, therefore, to strong and compulsory
measures, and enforced their obedience. This
was another cause of the deep and lasting hostili-
ties that sprang up against him. It aroused the
immediate indignation of every ^lerson of birth
and rank in the colony, and drew upon him the
resentment of several of the proud families of
S[)ain. He was inveighed against as an arrogant
and upstart foreigner, who, inflated with a sudden
acquisition of power, and consulting only his own
wealth and aggrandizement, was trampling upon
the rights anddignitiesof Spanish gentlemen, and
insulting the honor of the nation.
Columbus may have been too strict and indis-
criminate in his regulations. There are cases in
which even justice may become opjiressive, and
where the severity of the law should be temjiered
with indulgence. What was mere toilsome labor
to a common man, became humiliation and dis-
grace when forced upon a. Spanish cavalier. Many
of these young men had come out, not in the pur-
I I
>■ ii ^
In ill!
\1 14:
■I ■
100
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
suit of wcnltli, but with romantir dreams inspirt'fl
bv liis own rcprfscntations ; hopiii^j, no tloulit, to
clistinjjuish thcmsclvt's hy heroic achifvemunts
and (■hivalroiis adventure, and to eontinue in the
Indies the career ot arms which they had com-
menceii in the retcnt wars of (iranr.da. Others
had been hr lujjht U|) in soft, luxurious indulj{ence,
in the midst ot opulent families, and were little
calculated tor the rude perils of the; seas, the
fatijfues of the land, and the hardships, the ex-
posures, and dejiriv-.-itioiis which attend a new set-
tlement in tin- wilderness. When tbey fell ill,
their case soon became incurable. The ailments
of the body were increased by sickness of the
heart. Thev suffered under the irritation of
wounded pride, and the morbid melancholy of
disappointed hope ; their sick-bed was destitute
of all the tender ca^-e and soothinjf attention to
which they had been accustomed ; and they
sank into the jjrave in all the suUenness of de-
spair, cursinjr the day of their departure from
their country.
The venerable Las Casas, and Herrcra after
him, record, with much solemnity, a popular be-
lief current in the island at the time of his resi-
dence there, and conneclecl with the untimely
fate of these cav.iliers.
In after years, when the scat of the colony was
removed from Isabella on account of its unhealthy
situation, the city fell to ruin, and was abandoned.
Like all decayed and deserted places, it soon be-
came an object of awe and superstition to the com-
mon people, and no one ventured to enter its
gates. Those who passed near it, or hunted the
wild swine which abounded in the neighborhood,
declared they heard aijpallinj,'- voices issue from
within its walls by nij^ht and d.iy. The laborers
became fearful, therefore, of cultivatin(j the adja-
cent tields. The story went, adds Las Casas, that
two Spaniards hap|)ened one day to wander amonjj
the ruined edifices ot the jjlace. f)n enterinj.f one
of the solitary streets, they beheld two rows ot
men, evidently from their stately demeanor, hidal-
gos of noble blood, and cavaliers of the court.
They were richly attired in the old Castilian mode,
with rapiers by their sides, and broad travelling
hats, such as were worn at the time. The two
men were astonished to behold persons of their
rank and apjiearance ajiparently inhabiting that
desolate place, unknown to the people of the
island. They saluted them, and int(uired whence
they came and when they had arrived. The cava-
liers maintained a gloomy silence, but courteously
returned the salutation by raising their hands to
their sombreros or hats, in taking off which their
heads came off also, and their bodies stood de-
capitated. The whole phantom assemblage then
vanished. So great was the astonishment and
horror of the beholders, that they had nearly
fallen dead, and remained stupefied for several
days.*
The foregoing legend is curious, as illustrating
the superstitious character of the age, and espe-
cially of the people with whom Columbus had to
act. It shows, also, the deep and gloomy impres-
sion made u|)on the minds of the common people
by the death of these cavaliers, which operated
materially to increase the unpopularity of Colum-
bus ; as it was mischievously represented, that
they had been seduced from their homes by his
delusive promises, and sacrificed to his private
interests.
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. g2,
Herrcra, Hist, Ind., decad. i. lib. ii. cap. 12.
MS.
CHAPTER ,\Tr.
DISTKIIIUTKIN OK THK SI'ANISlt lOKCK.S IN Ti-'
I.NIKKIOK— I'RKI'AkAllD.NS K)K AV()YA(Jt:'l
CLIIA.
['494]
Tui". increasing discontents of the mf)tl( y pi,
lation of Isabella and the rapid consuiiipiim
the scanty stores which remained, were cuim^
great anxiety to Columbus. He w.is (Ici^iriiii.
proceeding on another voyag(' of discoveiv, |i
was indisi)ensal)le, before sailing, to pl.ni
affairs of the island in such a stati: as u> m-.
tran<|uillity. He determined, there' .re, in <••
all the men that could be sp.ired from N.iln
into the interior ; with orders to visit tlic ir
tories ot the different caci(|Ues, and e\pl(ir(
island, liy this means they would be roiiMi!
animated ; they would become accustomeil [n
climate and to the diet ot the natives, an<l m)
force would be displayed as to over.iwe tin 111,1,
nations of Caonabo or any other hostile c ui
In pursuance ot this plan, every healthy ijcrsnp,
absolutely necessary to the concerns ot the m,
the care of the sick, was put under arms, aii
little army mustered, consisting of two luim!'
and fifty cross-bow men, one hunrlred and ten
(piebusiers, sixteen horsemen, and twenty ntii,--
The general command ot the forces was iiurii,-
to I'edro Margarite, in whom Columbus had),"
confidence as a noble Catalonian, and a knij;i:
the order of Santiago. Alonso tie Ojeila u r
conduct the army to the fortress of St. Thciii
where he was to succee<l Margarite in the r?
mand ; and the latter was to proceed with tliin. «|
body of the troops on a military tour, in wli:r
was jiarticularly to ex|)lore the province (it (.V:
anfl sul)se<|Uently the other parts of the island
Columbus wrote a long and earnest Ictti n
struclions to Margarite, by which to govern 1
in a service recpiiring such great circunisp,
He charged him above all tilings to olis(i\i
greatest justice and discretion in respect tn r
(bans, ])rotecting them from all wrong and
and treating them in such a manner as tn -
their confidence and friendship. Atthes,ni,i
they were to be made to resjiect the i)r()|)ir;j
the white men, and all thefts were to Ije surj
punished. Whatever provisions were m\:\
from them for the subsistence of the army,
to be fairly ])urchased by persons whom tht
miral .appointed for that purpose ; the purcr.|
were to be made in the presence of the aj,v|
the comptroller. If the Indians refused to sfi:|
necessary provisions, then Margarite was tniri
fere and comjiel them to do so, acting, liourj
with all possible gentleness, and sooihini,^ rj
by kindness and caresses. No trafiic was ;
allowed between individuals and the nainfil
being displeasing to the sovereigns and in;i;rl
to the service ; and it was always to he keri
mind that their majesties were more dcsinvd
the conversion of the natives than of any ric^
be derived from them.
A strict discipline was to be maintained irj
army, all breach of orders to be severely pimij
the men to be kept together and not siifltrf|
wander from the main body, either sinjjiy
small parties, lest they should be cut olf Ij
natives ; for though these |)eople were pus'
mous, there were no people so apt to be pcrncj
and cruel as cowards.*
* Letter of Columbus.
Document No. 72.
Navarrete, Colec, i^'A
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COlJJMBUS.
101
?:r XII.
il'ANISlI rOKCKS IN Ti'^
i)Ni H)R A VtlVA(.L ;
94-1
tents of the motlfv po
he rapid coiisumiitior
remaliu'd, witc raiisi
(US. Ik' was (Ic^lidii
;)ya^;(! of discovci y, In
ir'c sailing. '" I'''"' "
such a stall! as to sir.-
iiini'd, ihi-rf .ri-, lo ^- •
l)c spared troin Is.ihr.
orders to visit the If
rai:i(iues, ami eNpiorc .
they would he nmsciK^-
)ecome accuslomed [»■■
[)t the native^. and mi
d as to over.iwe tin iin
any other hostile i u.i
1, every healthy inisui/
the concerns ot the iii,
as put under arms, ai
■onsistin^ "* two hum!-
1, one hundred anil ten.
semen, and twenty ntii:--
of the forci!S was iiitrii--
whomColumlius had );■
:atalonian, and a kni^;l: •
Alonso de Ojeda w,.-
he fortress of St. 'IIk'hv
■ed Mar^jarite in the vr.
as to proceed with tlun!.»<
a militarv tour, in \vh;c'
ilnre the 'province ot (J'i
kher parts ot the inland
Injf and earnest letter i>:
liy which to j;overn lim-
such Rreat circunis|Hri.
all ihiiiKS to oliM-rvc
retion in respect tmlt
from all wront; and i"|
ch a manner as tosi'
ndship. At the same:
to resjiect the pro|ier
thefts were to be sorj
iThfse judicious instructions, which, if followed
/ht have preserved an aniicahle intercourse
h tlie n.itives, are more es|)ecially deservinj,'
niilicc, because Marj{arite disrc^jarded them
.111(1 by his disubcdiencc broujjhl trouble on
colony, oblo(|uy on the naticjn, destruction
tl.c inilians, and unmerited censure on Colum-
is.
In aihlilion to the foregoing orders, there were
riK III, ir directions for the suprising and .sccur-
tlie persons of Caon.ibo and his brothers,
c warlike character of that chieftain, his artful
n V, extensi\e power, and impl.icable hostility,
dtifd him a danj^erous enemy. The measures
idsed were not the most open and chivalrous,
It L(duinl)us thought himself justitiet! in oppos-
htr.itagein lo stratagem with a subtle and san-
iiiary loe.
Tin- (^th of April, Alonso de Ojeda sallied forth
in N.ibill.i at the head of tlie forces, amounting
lu'.irly lour hundred men. (.)n arriving .il the
o del ( iro ill the Koyal \'ega, he le.irnt that
|rcf .Spaniards coming from the fortress of .St.
loinas h.ul been robbed of their effects by live
•ins, whom a neighboring caciijue had sent to
ist them in fording the river ; and that the
:i(jiie, instead of jjunishing the thieves, had
unii'iianci'd them and shared their booty. Ojeda
IS a (juick, impetuous soldier, whose ideas of
M[islaliiMi were all of a military kind. Having
ujjiu one of the thieves, he caused his ears to
cut off in the |)ublic square of the village ; he
n seized the cacitjue, his son, and nephew, and
nt them in chains to the admiral, after which he
rsued his inarch to the fortress.
Ill the mean time the prisoners arrived at Isa-
lla ill deep dejection. They were accompanied
1 neighboring cacique, who, relying ujjon the
Erit ot various acts of kindness which he had
own lo the S|)aniards, came to plead for their
•giveness. His intercessions ajipeared to be of
avail. Columbus felt tht: importance of strik-
ing awe into the minds ot tlie natives with respect
to the property ot the while men. He urderid,
therefore, th.it the prisoners sliould bel.ikea to the
public s(|uare with their hands lied behind thcni,
their crime and punishment jirocl. timed by the
cier, and their heads slruik olf. Nor w.is this a
|iunisliiiieiil disproportioneil to their own idi-.i^ of
lustice, for We are told th.ii the crime ot ilutt w.is
held in such abhorrence .imoiig them, lh.it, ihougli
not otherwise sanguinary in their l.iws, they pun-
ished it with inipalemei'il.* I', is not probable,
however, th.it Cidumbus really me.iiit t" < .ury the
sentence into effect. At the place (;f eMcutioii the
pr.iyers and tear.-, of the irieiidly c.icii|Ue wi re re-
doubled, pledging himsi'lt that there should be no
repetition ol the offence. The ailniiral at length
made a merit ot yielding lo his eiiire.ilies, and
released the prisoners. Ju-.t at this juiu ture a
horseman arrived from the fortress, who, in pass-
ing by the village of the captive lacique, had lound
live Sp.iiiiards in the power ot the Indians. The
sight of his horse h.ul put the multitude to lliglit,
though iipw.ird of tour luiiidred in number. He
had pursued th.e fugitives, wounding se\er.il with
his lance, and had brought otf his countrymen ia
triumph.
Convinced tiy this circumstance that nothing
was to beaoprehended Irom ihe hostilities ot these
timid people as long as his orders were obeved,
and conl'idiiig in the distribution he li.id ni.iJe of
his forces, both for the tranquillity ot the colony
and the island, Columbus prep.ired to dei)ari on the
prosecution of his discoveries. To direct the
affairs ot the isl.md during his absence, he formed
a junta, of which his brother IJoii Diego was presi-
dent, and Father Hoylu, I'edro I'ernaiulez Coronet,
Alon/.o Saiiche/! Caravajal, and Juan de Luxan,
were councillors. He left his two largest ships in
the harbor, being of too great a size and draught
of water to explore unknown roasts and rivers,
and he look with him three caravels, the Niila or
Santa Clara, the San Juan, and the Cordcra.
wen; rci;
provisions weie ii'i-l
isistence of the army,»
I by persons whom tht
It purpose ; the \wra:i
presence of the aj;c'
Indians refused to sc;
en Margarite w.-istoi'l
to do so, .acting, howel
eness, and soothini; I'l
ses. No trafiic was ;:]
duals and the nativs|
sovereigns and inj'i^
was always to be kfi
.ies were more desirojj
atives than of any ric'M
BOOK VII.
ti
le
k-.is to be m.-iintaincdirj
fers to be severely pu'^'T
rether and not sutterel
in bodv, either sin^'ly'
;y should be cut oil I'
hese iieople were l)ii*'^
leople so apt lo be pcrr.'-l
Navarrete, Colec, t35|
CHAPTER I.
VOYAGE TO THE EAST END OF CUBA.
" t'494.]
Thf. expedition of Columbus, which we are now
out to record, mav appear of minor importance
Ithe present day, leading as it did to no grand
Koverv, and merely extending along the coasts
'islands with which the reader is sufficiently
liar. Some may feel imp.atient at the develop-
knt of opinions and conjectures which have long
kce been proved to he fallacious, and the detail
lexploring enterprises, undertaken in error, and
Tiich they know must end in disappointment.
pt lo feel these voyages properly, we must, in a
pnner, divest ourselves occasionally of the infor-
Blion we possess, relative to the countries visit-
I; we must transport ourselves to the time, and
ptify ourselves with Columbus, thus fearlessly
linching into seas, where as yet a civilized sail
Id never been unfurled. We must accompany
. step by step, in his cautious but bold ad-
ticcs along the bays and channels of an un-
known coast, ignorant of the dangers which might
lurk around or which might await him in the iix-
terminable region ot mystery that still kejit break-
ing ujion his view. We must, as it were, consult
with him as to each new reach of shadowy land,
and long line of promontorv, that we see faintly
emerging from the ocean an([ stretching along the
distant horizon. We must watch with him each
light canoe that comes skimming the billows, to
gather from the looks, the ornaments, and the im-
perfect communications of its wandering crew,
whether those unkno.vn lands are also savage and
uncultivated, whether they are islands in the
ocean, untrodden as yet by civilized man, or tracts
of the old continent of Asia, and wild frontiers of
its populous and splendid emjiires. We must enter
into his very thoughts and fancies, find out the
data that assisted his judgment, and the hints that
e.xcited his conjectures, and for ,i time clothe the
regions through which we are accompanying him
with the gorgeous coloring of his own imagina-
tion. In this way we may delude ourselves into
* Oviedo, Hist. Ind., lib. v. cap. 3.
I
1M
LIFE AND VOVAGKS OF CUIX'MHL'S.
•
i :.
! .
p.'irliripalion nf the dcli^'lit of cxplorin;^ iinkiinwn
aiwl m;i^;niti(i'nl l.itwls, svlirrc ni'W ssiindcrs and
111', mill's liri'.ilv iipciii us at every sli'|), and \vr may
ultinialily lie .ilile, as it were, trom mir own tanuli.ir
ai (jiiaintani e, to tnrm an (i|iiniiin iil tlie eharailer
(it tills e\iraiirdinary man, and ol liie nature ul his
enterprises,
'I'he |il,in (it the present cxntditinn of Columlms
\v;(s til revisit liieiiiast ol CJilia at the point where
he h.id .'ili.indiined it on his tirst \iiyaj;e, .md
thence In explire it en the southern side. As has
alre:i(ly lieen oliserved, he supposed it to lit: a
rontineni, and the extreme end ol Asi.i, ,ind it so,
liy liiljiiwiii^; its shores in the proposed direition
lie must CM'ntually arri\e at Catli.iy and those
other ri( h and eommercial thoU),;h seiiiidiarliarous
countries duscrilied liy Mandeville and M.irco
I'oh).*
He set sail with his little sciuadron from the
harlior of Isabella on the 24th of April, and steer-
ed to the westw.ird. After toiH'hin>{ at Monte
Christi, he .inihorcd on the s.ime d.iv .it the dis.is-
trous li,irlior lit I.;i N.ividad, His olijeet in re\is-
itinj.j this mel.iiichiily siene was to ulit.iin an in-
terview with CiU.ie.ina^j.iri, who, he understood,
had returned to liis tnrnier ritsideiice. He could
not lie persuaded ot the perlidv of that raciipie, so
deep w.is the impression m.ule upon his heait liy
p.ist kindness ; he trusted, theretore, that a frank
c\pl,'in.itiiin would remove .ill |)aintul doiilits, .ind
restore a friendly intercourse, whiili would lie
hijrjily adv.intaj^eiius t.i the Spani.irds, in their
jireseiit time ot scircity and sufferin^^ I'lUacana-
eari, howe\er, still maint.iined his e(pii\(nMl con-
duct, ;ili iciindinj4' ;it the si^;ht of the shi|is ; .iiul
thoujrh sever.il of liis subjects assured Columbus
that the c.icirpie would soon make him .1 \isit, he
tlid not think it advis.ible to delay his \oyayi; on
such an uncertainty.
I'lirsuin^'^ his course, imjieded occasionally by
contrary winds, he arrived on the 3(ith at the [lort
(if .St. Nicholas, whence lie lieheUI the extreme
jioiiU ol Cuba, to which in his iirecediii}; voya^je
lie had ^riven the name uf Alpha and ( )me^fa, but
which was called by the natives riayati(piiri, and
is now known as I'oiiit Maysi. Having crossed
the ch.'innel, which is about ei^fliteen leaj^^ues
wide, he sailed alon},j the southern coast of Cuba,
lor the distance of twenty leajjues, when he
anchored in a harbor, to which, from its size, he
jjave the name ot I'lierto C.rande, at present called
tluantanamo. The entr.ince was narrow and
vindini^, though deep ; the harbor expanded with-
in like a be.iulitul lake, in the bosom of a wild
and mountainous country, covered with trees,
some of them in blossom, others bearing; fruit.
Not far from the shore were two cottaj^es built ot
reeds, and several fires blazinfj in various parts ot
the beach gave signs ot inhaliitants. Columbus
landed, therefore, attended tiy se\eral men well
armed, and by the young Indi.m interpreter Diego
Colon, the native of the island of (luan.ihani who
had been baptized in S])ain. On arriving at the
cott.iges, he found them deserted ; the tires also
were abandoned, and there was not a human be-
ing to be seen. 'I'he Indians had all tied to the
woods ;ind mountains. The sudden arri\al of the
ships liad spread a panic throughout the neighbor-
hood, and ajiparently interrupted the pre|)arations
for a rude but plentiful banipiet. There were
gre.it ipiantilies ot fish, ulias, and guanas ; some
suspended to the branches of the trees, others
roasting on wooden spits before the tires.
* Cura de los Palacios, cap. 123, ms.
The .Sii.ini.irds, accustomed of Lite to slrn
fare, tell wittmut (cremony on this boiiiU'
liMsi, tluis sore. id for them, as it were, in tin- ,
derness. 'I hey alist, lined, however, Irniii
gu.in.is, whii li itiey still reg.irded w ith (lisgii>i ;
species ot serpent, though they were coiisnlin
delic.ite .1 loud by the s.iv.iges, th.it, accoiiliii,
I'eter .M.irt)!, it w.is no more l.iwlul tor tin .
nmn people to e.it ol them, than ol peacock) ,1
|ilie. IS. lilts in Spain.*
Atler their repast, as the Spani.irds were in,
.ibout the vicinity, they beheld alinut sivini,
the natives i oIUm ted on the top ol .1 liili\ 1
,'iiid looking down upon them with gre.it ,iui
amazement. On attcinpling to ap|ii'ii.ii li i'
they iiist.intly disappeared among the wninl,
cletts ot the mount. lin. One, however, imni' h
or more curious th.m the rest, lingeiiil m
brow ot the precipice, g.i/ing woh timid un
at the Sp.uii.irds. p.irtly eiuour.iged by ;
friendly signs, but ready in an instant to li".
away .ifter liis companions.
liy order ol Columbus the young Lucayan i",'
preler adv.mced and accosted him. 'I'he i\;
sions of trieiidship, in his own language, snon
pelted liis ,ip|irehensions. He c.ime to nui;
interpreter, ;uid being inlormed liy him ot llir t
intentions of the Sp.miards, hastened to luir
nicate the intelligence to his comrades. In :i r
while they were seen descending trom theiriM
and issuing trom their forests, appio.iclun,'
str.mgers with great gentleness and venciMi
'through the means of the interpreter, Cnliin
le.irntthat they had been sent to the coast by;
caciipie, to procure lish tor a solemn b.im,
which he was about to give to a neiglih,:
chieftain, and ih.it they roasted the tish to pn
it trom spoiling in the tr.insportation. Tlu y m
ed to be of the s.ime gentle and p.icilic ch.iii
with the n.itives ot Ilayti. The ravages tli.it
been m.ule among t'eir jirovisions by the liii:,
Spaniards g.ive them no concern, for they ihim;
that one night's tishing would replace all tin
Columbus, however, in his usual spirit ol jii-'
ordered that.tmiile com|)ensation should he 11
ti:em, ;iiul, shaking hands, they parted niuii..
well-ple.ised.t
Leaving this harbor on the 1st of May, tin.
iniral continued to the westward, along a iiii.
tainous coast, adorned by beautiful rivers, am;
dented by those commodious harbors fur w
this island is so remarkable. As he advancciL
country grew more fertile and |)opulous. 'I'l.c
tives crowded to the shores, man, woman
child, gazing with astonishment at the s
whicii glided gently along ;it no great disM
They held up fruits and provisions, inviiiii;,'
Spaniards to land ; others came off in c.ii;
bringing cassava bread, lish, and calahaslui
water, not tor sale, but as offerings to the si::
gers, whom, as usual, they considered celesli:ii
ings descended trom the skies. ColumbusdiN
uted the customary presents among them, «
were received with trans|)ortsof joy and grain.
After continuing some distance along the f
he came to another gulf or deep bay, n:irro
the entrance and expanding within, surrou;:
by a rich and beautiful country. There were,
mountains sweeping up trom the sea, bui
shores were enlivened by numerous villa,i,as,
cultivated to such a degiee as to resenililt:'
dens and orchards. In this harbor, which
■1
* P. Martyr, decad. i. lib. iii.
f Peter Martyr, ubi sup.
LIFK AND VOVAfJKS OT COr.l'MHrS.
m
e
lomeil of late to s\n\
nciny on tl"'* buiiiUi ,
•in, as it wiTf, in llit ,\
ICll, llDWCVlT, tinlll
rt^j.irili'd \villuli'»^;uM ,
;1) tln'yNviTi"i:i)iisi(li II
ivani'v »I>.»1. ati'iiriliii,
mull- lasvtul Idt lln .
icin, ll>an ot |UM' m k> ,
tho Spani.inls witc m.
• lu'hild alxiul !if\(iu,
I) tlu' U)i) 1)1 a li>ti\ r
tlitiu Willi K""''-'' •'^^'
uiiliiiK ti) a|)i)ni.ul\ r
ihmI amonn llu' wniuU
( )iu'. liowivt'f, inciii ;
ihf ii"il, 1mm Ti'l "1,
j;a/inK \^i'l> liniiil un
rily flic miiM>;i'(l li> ;
.(ly ill an in^iiaiit i" I'
ons.
IS till- youiiK' l.ucayaii i:;
Liidstt'il liiin. riif fv'i •■
lis own laiiK";>K<'c ^"""
ns. lit" t anil' to imi'
niormcti liy liiniol ihc t
liards, liastiiu'd ti) i mii
ti) liis ((iniradts. In a i
IcscfndiiiKti'oin tlifirrn>
ir tort'sls, aitproailiin^
^rfiillcncss and vinci.ii
it the inliTiirutcr, Ccluii
L-n si-nt to the coast In;
lish lor a solemn ham,.
[ lo ^rive to a lU'iK'liI"'
■y roastt'd tlu- t'ish to pn
'transportation . Tluy ^^
cntlu and pacific cliar.i.- |
iiyli. The ravages lliaf
ir provisiiins by the lui-
concern, (or they uii'-i'
would replace all tin
his usual spirit ol ji^'
iiipeiisatioii should be n
,nds, they parted nun..
on the 1st of May, tin
westward, alonK '^ "' ■
, by beautitul rivers, and
aodious harbors tor \v^|
.able. As he advanail,
•tile and populous. The
shores, man, woman
slonishment at the ^
■ong at no j;reat dbU
md provisions, inviiin;,'
ithers came off in en
ad, lish, and calaba>h"
t as offerinj^s to tlu'M'j
they considered celeslui |
he skies. Columbus div!
esenls amonjf them, «■
nsjiorts of joy and ^ralii-
e distance along ihei
rulf or deep bay, narro»l
^ndinjr within, surrour.
llcountrv. There were
up from the sea, Inn
by numerous vilUii;c>.-
Llej^iee as to resemble ;j
In this harbor, which.
. lib. iii.
up.
mli.iMe w.is the samr .it present c.illcd St. Jaj;o
fCuh.i, Colunilius anihored ;iiid ^)asM•d ;i iiij,'ht,
L,.rwhfliiied, as usual, with the simple hospital-
fc, , I the natives.* , , ,
Mill in(|Uiriii>{ ol the proiile ot tins diast aller
1)1(1, tbiy UMitormly pointed to the south, and, as
Ir as tliev could be utuliTstood, intim.ited tli,it it
iiunded' in a jjreat isl.ind which lay in that di-
Idiiiii, The .idniiral, in the course of his tirst
h\,i^;r, h,id recei\-ed information of sudi ;in
Uaiiil, whidi some ot his followers had thoujjht
Ij^.'hl be M,il»'(iue, the object of so much anxious
irrrli and chimerical expectation. lie had felt a
■r.iii',' iiuliiialion to (li\erge from his course and
l 111" (piest of it, and this desire increased with
T-rv new report. On the followiiij; d.iy, there-
in' the vl ot .May, alter st.indinj; westward to ,i
|j;li iipe, he turned his prow directly south, and
iiiiilimin;,' lor a time the co.isl of Cuba, steereij
iivo the broad sea, in <iuest of this reported
mill.
s
CHAPTER II.
DISCOVERY OK JAMAICA.
['494.]
Cm I'Mlifs had not sailed many lpa(,jues liefore
' Uic summits of a vast and lofty isl.ind at a
re.U distance, be^f.m to rise like clouds above the
iri/on. It was two days ;ind nij,dits, however,
— 'din, he re.iched its shores, filled with admir.i-
111, as lie j^radually drew near, at the beauty of
moimlains, the majesty of its forests, the tertil-
•dt its v.illeys, ,ind the great number of villages
th which the whole face of the country was ani-
m
es
1 approaching the land, at least seventy ca-
,, lilled with savages gayly p.-iinted and deco-
(1 with fe.ithers, sallied forth more than a
i;,'Uc f;iim the shore. They .idvanced in war-
arriv, uttering loud yells, ;ind brandish-
laiices of pointed wood. The mediatiun of
c interpreter, and a fi'W presents to tlu: crew of
\v III the cinoes, which ventured nearer ih.iii
je rest, soothed this angry armad.i, ;ind the
tiadrun ])ursued its course unmilesled. Colum-
is .inchored in ;i harbor .■.bout the centre of the
and, to which, from the great beauty of the siir-
indini; country, he gave the name of Santa
joria.t
fin the following morning he weighed anchor
d.iyhrcik, and co.isted westward in search of a
elUTod harbor, where his ship could be carei-n-
and lalktd, ;is it leaked consideraf)ly. After
iec(lin;.f ,i few leagues, he found one apnarent-
[suit.dilf tor the purpose. On sending a l)oat to
nd tlif entrance, two large canoes, lilled with
jan?, issued forth, hurling their lances, but
im such distance as to fall short of the .Span-
ds. Wishing to avoid any act of hostility that
IkIu pri've !t future intercourse, Columbus
itri'd the boat to return on board, and finding
;ri' was sulticient depth of water for his shin,
ttred and anchored in the harbor. Immediately
whole !)•.•. ich was covered with Indians painted
ii a variety ot colors, but chielly black, some
Inly clotheil with palm-leaves, and all wearing
is ami coronets of feathers. Unlike the hosjji-
ile islanders of Cuba and Hayti, they appeared
Curade los Palacios, cap. 124, MS,
K ■ I
[ IbiJ,
cap. 125.
to p.irl.ike of the warlike char.irtrr nf thr Taribs,
hurling their j.iM'lins at the shijis, .ind m,ikin({
the shores resound with tlair sells .md wur«
whoops.
The admir.il rellected th.it further forbe.ir.ince
might be mist.ikeii lor cow.irdice. It v,,is iii'ces-
sary to c.ireeii his shiji, and to send men on shore
lor ,1 supply ot u.iter, but pre\ioUsly it w.is advis-
able to strike an awt- Into the s.u.igis, tli.it might
|irevent any molest. ition Irom them. ,\s the c.ir.i-
vehi could not aiiiiro.u h sullicieiilly iie.ir to the
beach where the Indi.ms were collected, he dis-
n.ilchid the boats well m.inned and armed,
I'hrse, row ill;; close to the shore, let llv a \ollcy
of .irrows from their cross-bous, by which several
liidi.ins were wounded, and the rest thrown iiiti)
conhision. The Sp.iriiards then sprang on shore,
.iiiil put 'he wholr multitude to lliglit ; ;;i\ing
another (list h.irge with their cross-bows, .md Ki-
ting loose upon them a dog, who pursued iliem
with sanguinary fury.» This is the first iiistami?
of the use of dogs .igaiiist the nati\es, which were
aflerw,ird employed v'.itli sui b cruel elfect by tlu:
Spaniards in their Indi.ui w.irs. Columbus now
l.mded .and took form.il possession ol the islnul,
to which he g.i\e the 11. line ol S.iiiti.igo ; but it
has retained its luiginal Indian name ot I.im.iir.i,
The harbor, from its commodiousiifss, he called
Puerto Ikieiio ; it was in the form ot a horseshoe,
and a river eiitercil die se.i in its \ii inity .-f
During the rest ol the day the neighborhood re-
mained silent iuid deserted. < Mi the lollowing
morning, however, before sunrise, si.'* Indians
were seen on the shore, making signs of amity.
They proved to be envoys sent by the caiitples
with proffers of peace and friendship. These were
cordially returned by the admiral ; ])reseiits of
trinkets were sent to the chieltains ; ;inil in a little
while the harbor again sw.irmed with the naked
and painted multitude, bringing .ibuiidaiice of
provisions, similar in kind, but sui)erior in i|U.d-
iiy, to those of the other islands.
During three days that the ships rem.iined in
this harbor, the most amicable intercourse w.is
kept up with the natives. They ap|ie,ired lo be
more ingenious, as well as more warlike, ihaii
their neighbors of Cuba and llayti. Their canoes
were belter constructed, being ornamented with
c.irving and painting .it the bow and stern. M.iiiy
were ot great si/e, though fiuMued ot the trunks ot
singletrees, often froiii a species of the ni.ihogany.
Columbus nu'.isured one, which was ninety-six
f'-et long, and eight broad, J hollowed out ot one
of those m.ignitiient trees which rise like verdant
towers amidst t!ie rich forests of the tropics.
Kvery caciijue jirided himself on possessing a
l.irge c.moe of the kind, which he seemed to re-
.rard as his ship of stale. It is curious lo remark
the apparently innate difference ln'twien these
island tribes. The n.itives of Porto Rico, though
surrounded by ;idi.icenl islands, and subbed to Ire-
quent incursions of the Caribs, were of a p.icilic
character, and possessed very few canoes ; while
Jamaica, sei)ar.ited by distance from intercourse
with other islands, protected in the same way
from the dangers of invasion, ;ind embosomed, as
it were, in a pe.iceful Mediterranean .Sea, was in-
habitecl by a warlike r.ice, and surpassed all the
other islands in its m.iritime .'irm.iments.
His ship being repaired, and .1 suppiv of water
taken in, Columbus made sail, and coiilinued
* Cura de los Palacios, cap. 125,
+ Hist, del Almirante, ubi sup.
I Curade los Palacios, cap. 124.
104
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
along the coast to the westward, so close to the
short; that the little squad run was continually
surrounded by the canoes ot the nati\es, who
came off from c\ery hay, and river, and headland,
no lon<^er manifestinjj hostility, hut anxious to ex-
chanj^e anytiiinj; they possessed for Kuropean tri-
fles. After |)roceedinjj about twenty-lour leaj^ues,
they approached the western extremity ot the
islantl, where the coast bending to the south, the
wind became unfavorable for tlieir further jiroj;;-
ress alonj; the shore. Heinj; disappointed in his
hopes of lindinjr jrold in Jamaica, and the breeze
bein;j fair for Cuba, Columbus determined to re-
turn liiither, and not to leave it until he had ex-
plored its coast to a sulTicient distance to deter-
mine the question whether it were terra tirma or
an island.* Totiie last jilace at which lie touciuil
in Jamaica, he ;;ave the name of the (iulf of Ikieii-
tiemjio «or Fair Weatlier), on account of the pre
])itious wind whiiji blew for Cuba. Just as h
was about to sail, a youni;- Indian came off to the
ship, and bejjfged the Spaniards would take him to
their country. He was fol'owed by his relatives
and iriends, who endeavoretl by the nKjst affect-
inrf sup])lications to dissu.'de him from his pur-
pose. For some time lie was ilistraeu;' bei'veen
concern for the distress of iiis famil\-, anil an ardent
desire to see tiie home of tlic!;e wonilerful stran-
};ers. Curiosity, and the youtliful jiropensity to
rove, ])revaiied ; he tore himself from tile embraces
of his friends, and, tiiat he miijht not iiehold the
tears ot his sisters, hid himself in .i secret part of
the siiip. Touched hytiiis scene of natural affec-
tion, and ])leased witii tiie enterprisin>j and con-
fi(linj.r spirit of tlie youth, Columbus ^ave orders
that he should be treateil with esjiecial kinilness.f
It would have been interestinj; to have known
somethinjjf more of the fortunes of this curious
sava^'e, and of tiie impressions made upon so live-
ly a mind by a first sijjlit ot tlie wonders of civili-
z..tion — whether the land of the white men
e(|ualled his hojies ; whether, as is usual with
savaj^es, lie pined amid the splendors of cities for
his native forests, and whether he e\er returned
to tile arms of his family. The early Sjianish his-
torians seem never to lia\e interested themselves
in the feelings or fortunes of tiiese first visitors
from the New to the Old World. No further men-
tion is made of this youthful adventurer.
CHAPTER in.
RETt'RN TO Cfli.X — XAVIC.MlnN- AMnNT, THE
ISI..\NDS CAI.I.l-.D THE (JTEKN's (lARDF.NS.
['494j
Sfttint, sail from the Gulf of Buentiempo, the
squadron once more steered for the ishuid of
Cuba, and on the iSth of May arrived at a g-reat
cape, to which Columbus jjave the name of Cabo
de la Cruz, which it still retains. Here, landing
at a larji[e village, he was well received and enter-
tained by the cacitiue and his subjects, who had
long since heard of him and his ships. In fact.
Columiuis found, from the report of this chieftain,
that tlie numerous Indian'-, wiio had \isited his
ships during his cruise along the northern coast
in his first voyage, had sjiread the story far and
near of these wonderful visitors who had descend-
ed from the sky, and had tilled the whole island
Hist, del Almirante, cap. 54.
t Ibid.
with rumors and astonishment.* The admiral e-
deavored to ascertain from this cacicjue and 1-
jieople, whether Cuba was an island or a cos;
nent. They all replied 'hat it was an island, 1,
of infinite extent; for they declared that no,
had ever seen the end ot it. This rejily, win'
manifested their ignorance of the nature of ac
tinent, left the (piestion still in doubt and olisc.-
ty. The Indian name of this jirovince ol Ci
was Macaca.
Resuming his course to the west on the fo!'
ing day, Columbus came to where the coasi >;.
denly swept away to the north-east tor n\,-
leagues, and then curved around again to
west, forming an immense bay, or rather ^',
Here he was assailec' by a violent storm, ;u\,-
paiiied by awful thunder and lightning, wlii(h
these latitudes seem to rend the very lieavr
Fortuiuitely the storm was not of long diirai;
or his situation would nave been perilous in;-
extreme ; for he tound the navigation reiidi'-
difticult by numerous f keys and saiid-li.i;
These increased as he advanced, until their.
ncr stationed at the masthead beheld the si 1
far as the eye could reach, co:.ipletely suid
with small islands ; some were low, iiaki d, .■
sandy, others covered witii verdure, and uiS
tufted with lofty and beautiful forests. Tluy w:
ot v;irious sizes, from one to four leagues, ,.
were generally the more fertile and elevatid, ;
nearer they were to Cuba. Finding them 1 ■
cre.ise in number, so as to render it imiiossil,!.
give names to each, the admiral gave the «'
labyrinth of islands, which in a manner enaiiii!
the face of the ocean with variegated verdiirt, ■
name of the (Queen's (lardens. He thouffh;
tirst of lea\ing this archipelago on his right..
standing farther out to sea ; but he called to :i;
th;;'. Sir 'olin .Mandeville and Marco I'oId :
mentioned that the coast of Asia w;is fringed v
islands t<' ' amount of several thousand.
])ersuaded himself that he was among that cliiy-
and resohed not to lose sight of the main-'..;'
by following which, if it were really Asi.i.
must soon arrive at the dominions of the Cts
Khan.
Faltering among these islands, therefore, ''
lumbus soon became entangled in the most;
plexed navigation, in which he was expusti;
continual perils and difficulties from sand-l),ii;>
counter currents, and sunken rocks. The A
were compelled, in a man ler, to grope their v
with men stationed at the masthead, and tliu ir
continually going. Sometimes they were oh!,'
to shift their course, within the hour, to .ill p'
of the compass ; sometimes they were straiten;!
a narrow channel, where it was necessary tol'ii
all sail, and tow the vessels out, lest tiiey sh
run aground ; notwithstanding all which |)rt\
tions they freciuently touched ujion saiiii-lnr
and were extricated with great difficulty. T'
variableness of the weather added to the cm'-j
rassment of the n.ivigation ; though after a 1
while it began to assume some method in itsu
caprices. In the morning the wind rose in'l
east with the sun, and following hi course tlini';
the day, died away at sunset in the west. Hi-
cloiids gatherc'i with the aiijiroach of cvci.i'
sending hirtli sneetsof lightning, and ilistaiit|t
of tliuiider, and menacing a furious temijcsl : '
as the moon rose, the whole mass broke a.^.i
rt ni
iirec.
Tlui
^ouii'li
il lie
ihijis ^
vhich
lilii'en
roiii 11
.lltl tlu
•atlier
lus
inimg
)rii-ni,
liiiiilia
lOUfVl
' 111 t In-
ly the I
iriiiiip
Hi.inl
:ii
!!'
* Cura de los P.alacios, cap. 126.
f Keys, from Cayos. rocks which occasionally fj'
small islands on the coast of America.
iiid llu
if tiirtd
•ots, ai;
Ici.ijs, w
IS ,111 .ir
[a\c the
111 the
11 a ctiiK
ids, (K'C
5ht siiigi
mall tis
ith nun
iu tiriiil)
•athcr tl
[real lei
i('riiiiUf(
f.ir the
iri-y, uhi
ly the sii
liidiT shi
trey until
ind taken
, ards wit
; iiiiise sizi
■ K himsel
\ UT nil tht
XHTiihor.i
tors ; and
,'ni|)l(iyeil
fanihii|ue,
ICtll (ll)S(
avc iH-ve
iffer the 11
IXlTcisillg
licii came
icr. The
)f fish, ai
ivcrylhiiij;
|uiries cm
ica was til
ivcst, Init ;
iVL'stward
Having,
'luinhus
island nf
ft h fro he
unc. He
ind amity
'ulia, wh'o
Ts for the
cry anim
Humbc
jloni. i. J), y
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
105
iment.* Tlie admiral .;•
-oni this caciciuc ami ■
^as an island or a t( -
liat it was an island, \
icy declared tlial nn
t It. This reply, whi'v
ce of the nature of a i
still in doulit and obsc.-.
of this province ut Ci ;
to thr west on the fn!'
e to where the coast >.
the north-east tor m,i'
ed aroinul a^ain to ;
L-nse bay, or rather ^'.
ly a violent storm, an -
.■r and ligiUninjf, whii:
rend the \ery iieav ■
was not of lon^- durai;
liave been perilous in ■
1 the naviijation ri-ndr-
t keys and saml-li,;;
advanced, until the n.
isthead beheld the sii
reach, completely siml.
ime were low, naked, ,.
with verdure, anil oiN
autiful tiirests. They u;
one to four leaj;;uts, ..
ire fertile and elevated, ■
uba. Finding; tlieni t
i to render it impossil,'.
le admiral gave the w'
Hch in a manner enaiiic
ith variegated venkirc,
(-.ardens. He thou<;h;
:hipelago on his rij.
I sea ; but he called to :r
ille and Marco I'olo :
St
of several thousaii
le was among that iliiv
sight of the main-l;
f it were really Asi.i
tlominions of the tlr
►art melting in a shower, and part dispersing by
I'lirci/e which spranjj up from the land.
Tin re was much in the character of the sur-
oimding scenery to favor the idea of Columbus,
h.it lie was in the Asiatic archipelago. As the
hips glided along the smooth and glassy canals
diicirseparated these verdant islands, the mag-
ilueiue of their vegetation, the soft odors wafted
nim lldwers, and blossoms, and aromatic shrubs,
iiid the sjileiulid plumage of the scarlet cranes, or
.ntlur llamingoes, which abounded in the mead-
iws, and ot other trojiical birds which fluttered
iniiing the groves, resembled what is described ot
)ritiu.il climes. These islands were generally
iiiinhahiled. Thev found a considerable village,
lowever, on one f)f the largest, where they landed
111 the ::d of May. The houses were abandoned
)v their inhabitants, who appeared to d<?pend
)ri:uipally on the sea for their subsistence. Large
luaiitiiies iif fish were found in their dwellings,
md the .idj.icent shore was covered with the shells
)[ tiirtoises. There were also domesticated par-
■ots, and scarlet cranes, and a number ot dumb
loj^'s, which it was afterward found they fattened
is an article ot fooil. To this island the admiral
rave the name ot .Santa Marta.
ill the course of his \oyage among these islands,
riihimiius beheld one day a number of the natives
n a ratine on the still surface of one of the chan-
u!s, (iti'iipied in tisliing, and was struck with
he singular means they employed. They had a
I ' nii.ill tish, the Hat head of which was furnished
vilh niuiierous suckers, by which it attached itself
ki tninly to any object, as to be torn in pieces
^ ailier than aiiandon its hold. Tying a line of
1 [rtat IcMigth to the tail of this fish, the Indians
jcrinitted it to swim at large ; it generally kept
- UMr the suiface of the water until it jierceived its
; )rcy, when, darling down swiftly, it attached itself
;♦ )y the suckers to the throat of a tish or to the
ijiiuhr shell of a tortoise, nor did it relinquish its
ircy until both were drawn up by the fisherman
iiul taken out of the water. In this way the Spaii-
"■■■'s witnessed the taking of a tortoise of im
^\
h
se islands, therefore,
ntangled in the most ;
ivhich he was exposed i
liculties from sand-lix|
unken rocks. The -^'
IP ler, to grope tliein'.
masthead, and their.
netimes they were M:\
thin the hour, to all li-
mes they were straiten; :
e it was necessary tol"
ssels out, lest they sh .|
aniling all which prif
uclied upon saiKl-h:i'i
th great difficulty. Tl
.ther added to the em'
tion ; though after a 1;;
• some method in itsv;
ng the wind rose i:i
lowing hi course thiot|
unset in the west. Hi
_ie ajjiiroach of cvcni
ightning, and distant]
ig a furious tempest :
whole mass broke a«-I
cap. 126.
cks which occasionally U
1 of America.
W' — h -
mnse si/e, and Fernando Columbus atfinns that
ic himself saw a shark caught in the same man-
..r on the coast of \'eragua. The fact has been
xirrohorated by the accounts of various naviga-
;ors ; and the same mode of fishing is n.iid to be
mployed on the eastern coast ot Africa, at Mo-
!amhi(|iie, and at Madagascar. " Thus," it has
lecn observed, " savage people, who probably
ave never liehl communication with each other,
iffcr the most striking analogi ;s in their modes of 1
.xi-rcising empire over animals." * These fislier-
iiiii came on board of the ships in a fearless mau-
ler. They furnished the .Spaniards with a sujjply
if fish, and would cheerfully have given them
Jveryihing they possessed. To the admiral's in-
juirii-s cdiicerning those ])arts, they said that the
ica was tuU of islands to the south and to the
West, hut as to Cuba, it continued running to the
ivestward without any termination.
Having extricated himself from this archipelago,
dunihus steered for a mountainous part ot the
Island of Cuba about fourteen leagues distant,
where he landed at a large village on the 3d of
luiie. Here he was received with that kindness
ml amity which distinguished the inhabitants of
•uha, whom he extolled above all the other island-
» fur their mild and pacific character. Their
cry animals, he said, were tamer, ;is well as
MiKiiboldt, Essal Politique sur I'lle de Cuba,
Horn. i. I). 3C4.
larger and better, than those of the other islands.
Among the various articles of food which the na-
tives brought with joyful alacrity from all ])arts,
were stock-doves of uncommon size and llavor ;
perceiving something peculiar in their taste, Co-
lumbus ordered the crops of several newly killed
to be opened, in which were found sweet spices.
While the crews of the boats were procuring
water and jiiovisions, Columbus sought to gather
information .fom the venerable caciiiue, and sev-
eral of the old men of the village. They told hini
that the name ot their province was Ornotay ; that
farther to the westward the se.i was again covered
with innumerable islands, and had but little depth.
As to Cuba, none of them had ever heard that it
had an er,il to the westward ; forty moons would
not suffice to reach to its extremity ; in fact, they
considered it interminr>'!ie. They observed, how-
ever, that the admiral would receive more ample
information from the inhabitants o*' Mangon, an
adjacent province, which lay toward the west.
The (|uick ajipreliension (>f Columbus was struck
with the sound of this name ; it ri'sembled that of
Mangi, the richest province ot the Cirand Khan,
bordering on the ocean. He made further in(|ui-
ries concerning the region of Mangon, and under-
stood the Indians to say that it was inhabited by
people who had tails like animals, and wore gar-
ments to conceal them. Me recollected that Sir
John Mandeville, in his account of the remote
|)arts of the East, had recorded a story ot the same
Kind as current among certain naked tribes of
Asia, ami told by them in ridicule of the garments
of their ^ivili/.ed neiglibors, which they could only
conceive useful as concealing some bodily defect.*
He became, therefore, more contideiit than ever
that, by keeping along the coast to the westw.ird,
lie should eventually arrive at the civili/ed realms
of Asia. He flattered himself with the hojies of
finding this region of Mangon to be the rich prov-
ince ot Mangi, and its jieople with tails and gar-
ments, the long-robed inhabitants ot the empire of
Tartary.
CHAPTER IV.
CO.VSTING OF THE SOrTHKR>f SIDK OF CUli.V.
['494]
Anim.VTKI) by one of the ])leasing illusions of
his anient ini.igination, Columbus |>ursued his
voyage, with .1 jirosperous bree/e, along the sup-
posed continent of Asia. He was now o|)|io.sile
that part of the southern side of Cuba, where, tor
nearly thirty-fi\e leagues, the navigation is unem-
barrassed bv banks and islands. To his Kit w.is
the broad and ojien sea, the dark blue color of
which ga\e token i)f amph' depth , to his right
extended the richly-wooded province of Ornotay,
gradually sweeping up into a range of interior
mountains ; the verdant coast watered by imui-
meribie streams, and studded with Indian vil-
lages. The appearance of the ships spread won-
der and joy along the sea-coast. The natives
h.uled with acclamations the arrival of these won-
derful beings whose fame had circul.ited more or
less throughout the island, ;ind who brought with
them the blessings of heaven. They ( ame off
swimming, or in their canoes, to offer the fruits
and jiroductions of the land, and regarded the
white men almost with adoration. .After the usual
* Cura dc los Palacios, cap. 137.
IOC
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
i
■\\i
it ■ '
I'
evening shower, when the breeze lilew from the
shore and l)r()iij,'ht off the sweetness of the land,
it bore with it also the distant sonjji of the natives
and the sound of their rude nuisu. , as they were
])rol>ably eelebratinf^, with their national chants
and dances, the arrival of the white men. So fle-
lij^htful were these spicy odors and cheerful sounds
to ("oluniluis, who was at present open to all pleas-
uranle influences, that he declared the night
l)assed away as a single hour.*
It is imjiossible to resist noticing the striking
contrasts which are sometimes presented by the
lapse of time. The coast here described, so po])U-
lous and animated, rejoicing in the visit of the
discoverers, is the same that extends westward of
the city of Trinidad, along the Ciulf of Xagua.
All is now silent and deserted : civilization, which
has co\ered some parts of Cuba with glittering
cities, has rendered this a solitude. The whole
race of Indians has long since passed away, pining
and perishing beneath the domination of the stran-
gers whom they welcomed so joyfully to their
shores. IJefore me lies the account of a night re-
cently passed on this very coast, by a celebrated
traveller ; but with what different feelings from
those of Columbus ! " I passed," says he, " a
great part of the night upon the deck. What de-
serted coasts I not a light to announce the cabin
of a tisherman. From Hatabano to Trinidad, a
distance of fifty leagues, there does not exist a vil-
lage. Yet in the time of Columbus this land was
inhal)ited even along the margin of the sea. When
pits are digged in the soil, or the torrents plough
open the surface of the earth, there are often found
hatchets of stone and vessels of cojiper, relics of
the ancient inhabitants of the island." t
For the greater part of two days the ships swept
along this open part of the coast, traversing the
wide (iulf of Xagua. At length they came to
where the sea became suddenly as white as milk,
and perfectly turbid, as though flour had been
mingled with it. This is caused by tine sand, or
calcareous ])articles, raised from the bottom at
certain depths by the agitation of the wa\es and
currents. It spread great alarm through the
shi|)s, which was heightened by their soon tinding
themselves surrounded by banks and keys, and in
shallow water. The farther they jiroceeded, the
more jierilous became their situation. They were
in a narrow channel, where they had no room to
turn, and to beat out ; where there was no hold
for their atichors, and v>herc they were violently
tossed about by the winds, and in danger of being
stranrled. At length they came to a small island,
where they found tolerai)le anchorage. Here they
remained for the night in great anxiety ; many
were for abandoning all further prosecution of the
enterprise, thinking that they might esteem them-
selves fortunate should they lie able to return from
whence they came. Columbus, however, could
not consent to relincpiish his voyage, now th,U he
thought himself in the route for a brilliant dis-
covery. The next morning he dispatched the
smallest caravel to explore this new labyrinth of
islands, and to penetrate to the main-land in quest
of fresh water, of which the ships were in great
reed. The caravel returned with a report that
the canals and keys of this group were as numer-
ous and intricate as those of the ("lardens of the
Queen ; that the main-land was bordered by deep
marshes and a muddy coast, where the mangrove
trees grew within the water, and so close together
* Cura de los Palacios.
t Humboldt, Essal Pol. sur Cuba, torn. ii. p. 25.
that they formed, as it were, an impenetrable wa"
that witliin, the land appearefl fertile and niof
tainous ; and columns of smoke, rising Irom vy
ous parts, gave signs of numerous iidiabiiaiii-'l
Underthe guidance of this caravel, C(iluni!)iis r,f,[
ventured to penetrate this littlr archii)el;ii; |
working his way with great caution, toil, ,1, 2
peril, among the narrow channels which sepanii. f-
the sand-banks ,ind islands, and tre(|uently gi|!:' [
aground. At length he reached a low pom;
Cuba, to which he gave the name ol I'oini Sir..
fm ; within which the coast swejit olf to tlv i
forming so deep a bay that hf; could nots^ci:;
land at the bottom. To the north, I' )wever, tlu-:
were mountains afar off, an(i the internudi.v:
space was clear and o|ien ; the islands in .si;'-,
lying to the south and west ; a description wli: ;
agrees with that of the great H,iy ot llMt.il),i;,
Columbus now steered for these mountains, w;;
a fair wind and three fathoms of water and on ;:
following d;iy anchored on the coast near a l)e;iii;i
ful grove of jjalm-trees.
^^ere a party was sent on shore for wood :•:,
water; and they found two living springs i:i ;■•
midst of the grove. While they w ere eniplo\ii|
cutting wood and fdling their waler-cisks,
archer strayed into the forest with his <;ross-lv
in search of game, but soon returned, flying w:
great terror, and calling loudly upon his coinp,]
ions for aid. He declared that he had nut \v.
ceeded far, when he suddenly es|iied, throuj;h
opening glade, a man in a long white dress, so like;
friar of the order of St ' lary of Mercy, that at tir>
sight he took him for llu: cha])lani of the adniiri
Two others followed in white tunics reachiiij,' •
their knees, and the three were of as fair ro?
plexions as Europeans. Behind these a])|R';ire
many more, to the number of thirty, armed wi;;
clubs and lances. They made no signs of hostilitv
but remained quiet, the man in the long wh;
dress alone advancing to accost him ; but hew.
so alarmed at their number that he had lied '■
stantly to seek the aid of his companioi-.s. I!
latter, howe\er, were so daunted by the rLpoi-.t:!
number of armed natives, that they had not cour-
age to seek them nor to wait their coming, 1;;;
hurried with all speed to the shijis.
When Columbus heard this story he was gre,r,..|
rejoiced, for he concluded that these must he ih;
clothed inhabitants of Mangon, of whom he h.'l
recently hear<l, and that he had at length arrivtll
at the confines of a civilized country, it not wilhi".!
the very borders of the rich pro\'ince of Mani;:[
On the following day he dispatched a ])aity :
armed men in ipiest of these peo|)le clad in whi'.e.
with orders to i)enetrate, if necessary, torty niilfil
into the interior, until they met with some (if t"'
inhabitants ; for he thought the i)opulous and n'-.-
ti\ated parts might he distant from the sea, .mi
that there might be towns and cities beyond tl;e|
woods and mountains of the co.ist. The ivirrf
])enetrated through a l)elt of thick forests whiij
girdled the shore, and then entered upon a giv.J
plain or sa\anna, covered with rank grass ar.^T
herbage as tall as ripe corn, and destiiule of .i:v|
ro.ul or footjiath. Here they were so enlan^'lcil
and fettered, as it were, by matted grass a:-|
creeping vegetation, that it was with the uum-
ditficultv they could penetrate the distanrc ot it
mile, when they had to abandon the altenipi, ar.l|
return weary and exhausted to the shijis.
Another |)arty w;is sent on the succeeding il.r I
to penetrate in a different direction. They lu*|
il
* Cura de los Palacios, cap. 128.
:4.>:
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
lor
!re, tin im|icnetra!)Ie wai'
pcarcfl Icrlile and niof
i smoke, risiiifT Irom v;'
f niimerous inlial)ii;ini'
is caravel, Coliimliii^ r.t,.-
this little archipchii;
(Treat caution, toil, ;i.
channels which sep.ira'.
ids, and tre(|ucntly j;'t'.::,
; reached a low pom;
the nanuf ot I'oint .Str,i
laSt Swejlt oil to tlv i-;;.;
that he could not s,i- 1 ;
the north, •' iwever, ili>-:
iff, and the intermedia';
pen ; the islands in si';-'
est ; a description \vl, ■
■ (jreat Hay ot llat.ili.'i;.
or these mountains, wi;-
horns of water and on t^:
jn the coast near a beau;;.
Ot proceeded far from the coast, when they be-
1(1 the foot-prints of some larj^e animal with
j^^aws, which some supposed the tracks of a lion,
\ thers of a griffon,* but which were probably
ade !)>' tlit^ alligators which abound in that
icinity. Dismayed at the sight, they^hastened
ack toward the sea-side. In their way they
assfd through a forest, with lawns and meadows
pciiing in various ])arts of it, in which were
ocks of cranes, twice the size ot those of Kuro|)e.
laiiv of the trees and shrubs sent forth those aro-
lalic odors which were continually deceiving
lein with the hope of linding Oriental sjiices.
hc'V saw also abundance of grape-vines, that
eaiitiful feature in the vegetation of the New
^'orld. Many of these crept to the summits of
le highest trees, overwhelming them with ft)li-
twisting themselves from branch to branch,
ge,
it on shore for wood ,ir.:
two li\ing s|)rings i:i ;!':
lilelhey were employeil -
ig their water-casks, r.i
forest with his cross-li\
soon returned, flying wx:
■ loudly upon Iiis conipr.
ircd that he had not prc-
Idenly espied, through::
■I long whiti: dress, so like;
!ary of .Mercy, that at iwi
c chajjlain of the adniiii!
white tunics reachiii;; :
liree were of as fair curi
liehind these appcare
her of thirty, armed \vi:',
made no sigiis of hosiilitv,
; man in the long \vh;;:
) accost him ; hut he w.i
ber that he had lied '-•
|of his companior.s. T:-.
daunted by the rei)or'.t:
,, that they had not cou:-
to wait their coming, bt!
the ships.
1 this story he was grc,i::;i
'd that these must he \\'\
aiigon, ot whom he h,.^
he had at length arrivei
|zed country, it not withi".
rich ])rovince of Manc'.
e disijatched a jiarty :
ese ))eo|)le clad in whi'e.
if necessary, forty nwV^
ey met with some of tl"^
ht the populous and ii:.-
stant from the sea, anJ
is and cities beyond tlif
f the coast, 'file iKirv.'
It of thick forests wlikh
en entered upon a grc.;:
d with rank grass ar;
jrn, and destitute of .rv
they were so entaiig.c'-!
by matted grass a;..
it was with the uim(«
tr.ite the distance ot i
landon the attem|)t, ar-l
led to the shi|)S.
lit on the succeeding il.i;
It direction. They lu*
jndt
nd nearing ponderous clusters ot juicy grapes.
'1r- party returned to the ships equally unsuccess-
il with their jiredecessors, and |)ronouncecl the
ountrywild and imjienetrable, though exceeding-
,' fertile. As a proof of its abundance, they
rought great clusters of the wild gra|)es, which
[olumhus afterward transmitted to the sovereigns,
[)iji'lherwithas])ecimen of the water of the White
ea through which he had passed.
.•\s no tribe of Indians was ever discovered in
luba wearing clothing, it is |)robal)le that the
toryof the men in white originated in some error
i the archer, who, full of the idea ot the myste-
ioiis inhabitants of Mangon, may have been
tartled in the course of his lonely wandering in
le forest, by one of those llocks of cranes which
seems abounded in the neighborhood. These
s irds, like the iL'imingoes, feed in company, with
ne stationed at a disiance as sentinel. When
en through the openings of the woodlands,
anding in rows along a smooth savanna, or in a
assy pool ot water, their height and erectness
ive them, at the first glance, the semblance of
umaii figures. Whether the story originated in
trrororin falsehood, it made a deep impression on
jiL'iiiindof Columbus, who was predisposed to be
"ecfived, and to believe everything that favored
e illusion of his Ljing in the vicinity of a civil-
:cd country.
.Vlter he had explored the deep bay to the cast,
ind ascertained that it was not an arniof the sea,
le continued westward, and i)roceeding about nine
affiles came to an inhabited shore, where he had
mnninications with several of the natives.
hey were naked as usual ; but that he attributed
their being mere fishermen inhabiting a savage
iist ; he presumed the civilized regions to lie in
.'interior. As his Lucayan interi)reter did not
inderstand the language, or rather dialect, of this
ri of Cuba, all the information which he could
ibiain from the natives was necessarily received
rough the erroneous medium of signs and ges-
iculations. Deluded by his own favorite hypothe-
he understood from them that, among certain
jiuuntains which he saw far off to the west, there
|(as a powerful king, who reigned in greiLi state
lap.
laS.
I * Cardinal Pierre de Aliaco. a favorite author with
jolumbus, speaks repeatedly, in his Imago Mundi,
fihe existence of grilTons in India; and Glanvillc,
|hnse work, De Proprictatibus Kerum, was familiar
» Columbus, describes them as having the body and
pivs of a lion, and the head and wing? of an eagle,
Vi!l as infesting the mountains which abounded with
pit] and precious stones, so as to render the access
lliem extremely perilous, — JDe Propnetat, Kcyum,
llixviii. cap. 150.
over many populous jirovinces ; that he wore \
white garment which swept the ground ; that he
w.as called a saint ;* that he never spoke, but com-
nninicatetl his orders to his subjects by signs,
which were implicitly obe\ed.t In all this we see
the busy imagination of the admir;d interpreting
everything into unison with his ])reconceivea
ideas. Las Casas assures us that there was no
caci(|ue ever known in the island who wore gar-
ments, or answered in other respects to this de-
scription. This king, with a s;iinily title, was [)rob-
ably nothing more than a rillected ini.ige haunting,
the mind of Columbus, of that mysterious poten-
tate, I'rester John, who h.id long figured in the
narrations of all eastern tra\ellers, sometimes as
a monarch, sometimes as a priest, the situation ot
whose empire and court was alwa\s a matter of
doubt ami contradiction, and h.id rei ently become
again an object of curious inipiiry.
The information derived f''om these people con-
cerning the coast to the westward w;is entirely va-
gue. They said that it continued lor at least twenty
(lays' journey, but whether it terminated there they
did not know. They appe.ired but little informed of
anything out of their imnu'diate neighborhood.
Taking an Indian from this place as ;i guide, Co-
lumbus steered for the distant mountains said to
be inhabited by this cacicjue in white ra'ment,
ho])ing they might jirove the confines of a more
civilized country. He h.id not gone far before he
was involved in the usual per|)Iexities ot keys,
shelves, and sand-banks. The vessels tre([uently
stirred up the sand and slime from the bottom of
the sea ; at other times they were almost imbed-
ded in narrow channels, where there was no room
to tack, and it was necessary to haul them for-
ward by means of the capstan, to their great in-
jury. At one time ti-,''v came to where the sea
was almost covered with tortoises ; at another
time flights of cormorants and wood-|)igeons dark-
ened the sun, and one d.iy the whole ,iir was filled
with clouds of g.iudy butterflies, until dis[)elled by
the evening shower.
When they approached the mount.iinous regions,
they found the coast bordered by drowntd lands or
morasses, and beset by such thick forests that it
was impossible to penetr.ite to the interior. They
were several days seeking iresh water, of which
they were in great w.mt. At length they found a
s|M-ing in a grove of ])alm-trees, and near it shells
of the ])earl oyster, from which Cokimbus thought
there might be a valuable pearl-tishery in the
neighborhood.
While thus cut off from all intercourse with the
interitir by a belt of swamp and forests, the coun-
try appeared to be well peopled. Columns of
smoke ascended from v.irious parts, which grew
more fre(|uent as the vessels advanced, until they
rose from every rock and woody height. The
.Spaniards were at a loss to determine whether
these arose from villages and towns, or whether
from signal fires, to give notice of the approach
of the shijis, and to alarm the country, such as
were usu.il on I-".uropean sea-shores, when an en-
emy was descried hovering in the vicinity.
For several days Colunibus continuetl exploring
this per|)lexed and lonelv coast, whose intricate
channels are seldom \isiie(t, e\en at the present
day, excepting by the solitary and lurking bark of
the smuggler. As he proceedetl, however, he
* Que Ic Llamaban santo e que traia tunica blanca
que le arastra per el suelo. — Cttra de los /'•T.'atins, cap.
12S.
f Herrcra, Hist. Ind., dec. i. lib. ii. cap. 14.
lt)8
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
I I ' '■'.
found that the coast took a general bend to tlie
south-west. This accorded precisely with the de-
scri|)tioiis jfjven hy Marco I'oh) of the remote coast
of Asia, lie now hecame fully assured that he
was on that part of the Asiatic co'UineiU which is
beyond the bound.iries of the C)U1 World as laid
down by I'loleniy. Let him but continue this coast,
he ihoujrhl, and he must surely arrive to the |)oint
where this ranj^e of coast terminated in the Au-
rea Chersonesus of the ancients.*
The ardent imajjination of Columbus was al-
ways sallyinj^ in the advance, and suj^gestinjj
some splendiil track of enterprise. Combininjr
his present conjectures as to his situation with the
imperfect lij^hts of j^eojijraphy, he conceived a tri-
umph.int route for his return to Spain. Doubling
the Aurea Chersonesus, he should emerj^e into the
seas fre(|uenle(l by the ancients, anil bordered by
liie luxurious nations of the East. Stretchin^r
across tlie (iulf of the (lanj^es, he might pass by
Taprobana, and continuing on to the straits of
Labelmandel, arrive on the shores of the Red Sea.
Thence he might make his way by land to Jerusa-
lem, take shi|)])ing at Joppa, and traverse the
Mediterranean lo .Spain. Or should the route from
Ethiopia to Jerusalem be deemed too perilous
Irom savage and warlike tribes, or should he not
clioose lo separ.ite from his vessels, he might sail
round the whole coast of Africa, pass triumphantly
by the I'orluguese, in their midway groping along
the shores of (uiinea, and after having thus cir-
cumnavigated the globe, furl his adventurous sails
at the Pillars of Hercules, the nc plus ultra of the
ancient world ! Such was the soaring meditation
of Columbus, as recorded by one of his intimate
associates;! nor is there anything surprising in
his ignorance of the real magnitude of our glol)e.
The mechanical admeasurement of a known jjart
of its circle has rendered its circumference a fa-
miliar fact in our day ; but in his time it still re-
mained a problem with the most profound philos-
ophers.
CMAI'IIiR V.
RETURN OF COI.fMRl^S AI-ONO THE SOUTHERN
COAST OK CUIJA.
['494.]
The opinion of Columbus, that he was coasting
the continent of .Asia, and approaching the con-
fines of eastern civilization, was shared i)y all his
fellow-voyagers, among whom were several able
and ex])erienced n.ivigators. They were far, ho\v-
ever, from sharing his enthusiasm. They were to
derive no glory from the success of the enterprise,
and they shrunk from its increasing dil'ticulties anil
perils. The shi|)s were strained anil crazed by the
various iniuries they had received, in running fre-
quently aground. Their cables and rigging were
worn, their provisions were growing scanty, a
great part of the biscuit was spoiled by the sea-
water, which oozed in through innumerable leaks.
The crews were worn out by incessant labor, and
dishearteneil at the apjjearance of the sea before
them, which continued to exhibit a mere wilder-
ness of isl.mds. They remonstrated, therefore,
against jiersisting any longer in this voyage.
They had alread\- followed the coast far enough to
satisfy their minds tha it was a continent, and
* The present peninsula of Malacca,
f Cura de los I^alacios, cap. 123, Ms.
though they doubted not that civilized regions laJ
in the route they were pursuing, yet their pro;,!
sions might be exhausted, and their vessels (1:>|
ableil, before they could arrive at them.
Columbus, as his imagination cooled, w,is hi:
self aware of the inadequacy of his vessels to t;J
contemi)lated voyage ; but felt it of importanct.:
his fame and to the popularity of his entcTpribfl
to furnish satisfactory ])root3 that the land he I
discovered was a continent. He therefore |)ur!>;-;J
ed four days longer in exploring the coast, ail
bent to the south-west, until every one (licLirr,!
there could no longer be a doubt on the siihjtrT
for it was impossible so vast a continuity of Ja:;|
should belong to a mere island. The .idnii:
was determined, however, that the f.ict should r/j
rest on his own assertion merely, lia\ ing had ij
cent proofs of a ilisjiosilion to gainsay his st,i;J
menis, and depreciate his discoveries. He scj
round, therefore, a |)ublic notary, Fernand I'erw ■
Luna, to each of the vessels, accompanied by lu:J
witnesses, who demanded formally of every pirs
on board, from the captain to the ship-boy, whttrti
he had any doubt that the land before him \\A
continent, the beginning and end of the Indies, :|
which any one might return overland to Sp,i; I
and by pursuing the coast of which, they cui
soon arrive among civilized j)eople. If anycj
entertained a doubt, he was called upon to (
press it, that it might be removed. (Jn boar(i;|
the vessels, as has been observed, were sevr.
experienced navigators and men well versed ind
geographical knowledge of the limes. Tlifyt:|
amined their maps and charts, and the reckoninj|
and journals of the voyage, and after deliberai;;
maturely, declared, under oath, that they liadr.l
doubt upon the subject. They grounded tht|
lielief principally upon their having coasted
three hundred and thirty-five leagues,* an exttJ
unheard of as appertaining to an island, \vh;J
the land continued to stretch forward inttrmirJ
bly, bendingtoward the south, conformably to "I
description of the remote coasts of India.
Lest they should subsequently, out of malice :i
caprice, contradict the opinion thus solemnly avoif
ed, it was proclaimeii by the notary, that whocv;!
should offend in such manner, if an oHicer, siiouJ
pay a penalty of ten thousand maravedies ; ifash;:f
boyor i)erson of like rank, he should rcceiveahcf
dred lashes, and have his tongue cut out.
formal statement was afterward drawn upbyl.'il
notary, including the depositions and names
every individual ; which document still exisb
This singular i)rocess took place near that dtti
bay called by some the Hay of I'hilipina, by (illif
of Cortes. At this very time, as has been reniarJ
ed, a ship-boy from the masthe.id might haj
overlooked the group of islands lo the south, .1
beheltl the open sea beyond.]: Two (jr thne da]
further sail would h.ive carried Columbus rou:]
the extremity of Cuba ; would have dispelkd.i
illusion, and might have given an entirely iliK-'l
ent course to his subsequent discoveries. In:
present conviction he lived and died ; believiri|
lo his last hour, that Cuba was the extremity 0:;
Asiatic continent.
Relinquishing all further investigation of ;;|
* This calcnl^tion evidently includes all the conrs
of the ships in their various tacks alonf? the coi'l
Columlius could hardly have made such an error f
to have given this extent to the southern side of 1:^
island, even including the intfections of the coast.
f Navarrete, Colec, torn. ii.
j Mufloz, Hist. N. Mundo, lib. v. p. 217.
c
io.ist, he stood to
iuiie, and soon cat
,,iih mountains ris
lalivrinth of little ke
)f Kvaii^'clista. Ills
if I'iiU'S, and is ce
rjgam-.
fieri- he anchored
m\ water. He iher
ihores of the islaiul
irn extremity lo tin
ispaniola, and int
jnj( the southern ;
iroccfded far before
lo he a channel, opei
jvaiiKciista and son
lerin;; lur some ilisla
lell inclosed in a d
ijijuanca, wl.iih pen
Observing dismay
;re\v at finding the
jlmost destitute of p
Iheiii with encouragi
tricate himself fron
rtiraciii.g his course
l.n^jooii, therefore, he
in^' place, and set sai
avijfaiing back thro
Iweeii Lvangelisla an
[he White Sea, whi
)eople. Here he ex
inxieties, ])erils, and
lis adv.uice along I
armed by the freq
Ihe water, somelimt
ack, .It other time
lime they fancied thei
another the sea
Kink. On the 30th ol
round with such vi(
|ury. K\'ery effort to
inchors astern was ii
,uy to cirag her over
Icnjjth they emerged
Mlied the Jardins ar
Ihe open ])art of the
ince more sailed alt
jrovince of Ornofay,
iili fragrant and he
land. .Among the r
fancied he could pen
|n;,r from the smoke of
Here Columbus sou
fthere he might proci
lo V his crews to en jo;
if the land ; for they
:ii emaciated by th
'\\:i;(c. For nearly
itrii(,rjr|ing with perpe
Ian 1 siilft-ring from
(\moi)^' these uninh
ihores, their su|)plies
jrecaridus and at wi
Iresh provisions thus
Inim the heat and hui
Jthc same case with ai
c^'tch, so that thev h;
!"'» their daily alio
^vhich was reduced I
111(1 a small portion o
* Humboldt (in his
Itpeaks of the fragrance
Itxhales from this same
|fo a considerable distan
* i.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
100
tii/atiou ot
fconst, lie stood to the south-east on the 13th of
luiie.'and soon came in sight of a hiijre ishind
•ith'uKiuntains rising majestically among tnis
■aiivrintii of little keys. To this he gave the name
bf Kvaivehsta. It is at jiresent known as the Islam!
bf I'incs, and is celebrated for its excellent ma-
Here he anchored, and took in a supply of wood
Ld water. He then stood to the south, along the
fhores uf the island, hoping by uirning its south-
ern extremity to find an open route eastward for
iispanioja, and intending, on his way, to run
lloiij; tlie southern side of Jamaica. He had not
broceeded far before he came to what he supposed
■0 he aciiannel, opening to the south-east between
Rvaiijjeiista and some o])posite island. After en-
Jeriiig lor some distance, however, he found him-
Iclf inclosed in a deep bay, being the Lagoon of
Biiruaiica, wl.iih penetrates far into the isl.md.
Olwerving dismay i)ainted on the faces ot his
Irew at tinding themselves thus land-locked and
Silniost destitute of provisions, Columbus cheered
fhem with encouraging words, and resolved to ex-
Iriiate himself from this ])erplexing maze by
ftiraciiig ills course along Cuba. Leaving the
I.Toon, therefore, he returned to his last anclior-
|n';|)liee, and set sail thence on the 25th ot June,
lavijratiiig back through the groups ot islands be-
Iwci-n Kvangelista and Cuba, and across a tr.ictof
[he White .Sea, which had so much appalled his
bcople. Here he experienced a repetition of the
finxicties, perils, and toils which had beset him in
adv.ince along the coast. The crews were
ilarmed by the frequent changes in liie color of
llie water, sometimes green, sometimes almost
"black, .It other times as white as milk ; at one
lime thev fancied themselves surrounded by rocl.s,
\{ another the sea appeared to l)e a vast sand-
bank. (In the 30th of June the admiral's ship ran
L'lound with such violence as to sustain great in-
lun-. luery effort to extricate her by seiuling out
jnchors astern was ineffectual, and it was neces-
S.iiv to drag her over the shoal by the i>row. At
j|en},'th thev emerged from the clusters of islands
C.ilied the Jardins and Jardinelles, and came to
Ihe open ]);ut of the coast of Cuba. Here they
once more sailed along the beautiful and fertile
province of Ornofay, and were again delighted
iih fragrant and honeyed airs wafted from the
lanil. .Among the mingled odors, the admiral
lancied he could perceive that of storax proceed-
Jii;' from die smoke of fires bla/ingon the shores. •'■■
Here Columbus sought some convenient harbor
kvhere he might ])rocure wood and water, and al-
io v his crews to enjoy repose and the recreations
bf the land ; for they were exceedingly enfeebled
emaciated by the toils and privations of the
vnyaijf. I'or nearly two months tiiey had been
ktru},'}jling with perpetual difficulties and ilangers.
Bill sulifring from a scarcity of ])rovisions.
\mon^' these uninhabited keys and drowned
iliurcs, their supi)lies from the natives had been
precarious and at wide intervals ; nor could the
irtbh provisions thus furnished last above a day,
priim the heat and humidity of the climate. It was
he same case with any fish they might chance to
c.itch, so that they had to depend almost entirely
iji'in their daily allowance of ships' ])rovisions,
hvhich was reduced to a |)ound of mouldy bread
Biul a small portion of wine. \Vith joy, therefore,
Humboldt (in his Essai Polit., torn. ii. p. 24)
itpeaks of the fragrance of flowers and honey whicfi
l*xhalfs from this same coast, and wtiich is perceptible
Ito a considerable distance at sea.
they anchored on the 7th of July in the mouth of a
tine river, in this genial and abundant region.
The cacitiue of the neighborhood, who reigned
over an extensive territory, received the admiral
with demonstrations of mingled joy and rever-
ence, and his subjects came laden with whatever
their country afforded — utias, birds of various
kinds, particularly large pigeons, cassava bread,
and fruits of a rich and aromatic flavor.
It was a custom with Columbus, in all remark-
able places which he visited, to erect crosses in
cons|)icuous situations, to denote the discovery of
the country, and its subjugation to the true faith.
He ordered a large cross of wood, therefore, to
be elevated on the bank of this river. This was
done on a Sunday morning with great ceremony,
and the celebration of a solemn mass. When he
disembarked for this purpose, he w.is met uijoa
the shore by the cacique and his principal favorite,
a venerable Indian, fourscore years of age, of
grave and dignified deiiortment. The old man
brought a string of beads, of a kind to which the
Indians attached a mystic value, and a calabash
of a delicate kind of fruit ; these he presented to the
admiral in token of amity. He and the cacicjue
then each took him by the hand and i)roceecled
with him to the grove, where prep.iralions had
been made for the celebration of the mass ; a
multitude of the natives followed. While mass
was performing in this natural tem|)le, the Indians
looked on with awe and revcieiice, jierceiving
from the tones and gesticulations ot the priest, the
lighted tapers, the smoking incense, and the de-
votion of the Spaniards, that it must be a cere-
mony of a sacred and mysterious nature. When
the service was ended, the old man of fourscore,
who had contem|)lated it with ])rolound attention,
approached Columbus, and made him an oration
in the Indian manner.
"This which thou hast been doing," said he,
" is well, for it appears to be thy manner of giving
thanks to (iod. I am told that thou hast lately
come to these lands with a mighty force, and
subdued many countries, s])reatliiig great fear
among the people ; but be not, therefore, vain-
glorious. Know that, according to our belief, the
souls of men have two journeys to perform after
they have departed from the body. One to a
l)lace, dismal, and foul, and covered with dark-
ness, prepared for those who have been unjust
and cruel to their fellow-men ; the other pleasant
and full of delight, for such as have promoted
peace on earth. If, then, thou art mortal and dost
ex]iect to die, and dost believe that each one shall
be rewarded according to his deeds, beware that
thou wrongfully hurt no man, nor do harm to
those who have done no harm to thee." * The
admiral, to whom this speech was exjilained by
his Lucayan interpreter, Diego Colon, was greatly
moved by the sim)ile eloquence of this untutored
savage. He told him in reply th.it he rejoiced to
hear his doctrine resjiecting the future state of the
soul, having supposed that no beliel of the kind
existed among the inhabitants of these countries.
That he had been sent among ihcm by his sover-
eigns, to teach them the true religion ; to jirotect
them from harm and injury ; and (.'specially to
subdue and punish their enemies and |)ersecutors,
the cannibals. That, therefore, all innocent and
peaceable men might look up to him with confi-
dence, as an assured friend and protector.
* Herrera, decad. i. lib. xi. cap. 14.
Almirante, cap. 57. Peter Martyr, uecad.
Cura de los Palacios, cap. 130.
Hist,
i. lib.
del
ill.
110
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMRUS.
till
■ -1
V
■1
,1
■'i
r. i: r
The old man was overjoyed at these words, hut
was c(|i,ally astonislicd to lu.irn that the admiral,
wliom he considered so jjreat and powerful, was
yet hut a subject. His wonder increased wheri
the interpreter told him of the riches, and splen-
dor, and ])owcr of tiie Spanish monarclis, and of
the wonderful tiiinj^s he had heheld on his visit to
Spain. Findin^r liiinself listened to with eaj,fer
curiosity by the multitude, the interpreter went on
to descrii)e the objects which had most struck his
mind in tlie cuiuitr) of the white men. The splen-
did cities, the vast churches, the troops of horse-
men, the f^reat animals of various kinds, the
pompous festivals and tournaments of the court,
the (riitlerin;;- armies, and, above all, the bull-
fights. The Indians all listened in mute amaze-
ment, but the old man was ])articularly excited.
He was of a curious and wanderinjj disposition,
and had been a {^reat voyajjfer, having, accordinjif
to his account, visited Jamaica, and Mispaniola,
and the remoti; i)arts of Cuba.* A sudden desire
now seized him to behold the j,dorious country
thus described, and, old as he was, he offered to
embark with the admiral. His wife and children,
however, beset him with such lamentations and
remonstrances, tiiat he was obliged to abandon
the intention, thou;^h he did it with jjfreat reluc-
tance, askin-^ rept'aiedly if the land they s|)oke of
Were not heaven, loi' it seemed to him impossible
that earth could jjroduce such woiulerlul beings. f
CHAPTER VI.
COASTING VOYAGE ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF
JAMAICA.
[1494.]
Coi.VMiu.'S remained for several days at anchor
in the river, to which, from the mass ])erformed
on its banks, he ^ave the name of Kio de la .Misa.
At length, on the 16th of July, he took leave of the
friendlv ca(i(|ue and his ancient counsellor, who
beheld his departure with sorrowful countenances.
He took a younjj Indian with him from this jilace,
whom he atti'rward sent to the .S]ianish sover-
eif^ns. Leaving to the left the ()ueen's Csardens,
he steered south tor the broad open sea and deep
blue water, until haxinij;^ ;i f ree navigation he could
stand eastward lor Hispaniola. He had scarcely
got clear of the islands, however, when he was
assailed by furious gusts of wind and rain, which
for two (lavs pelted his crazy vessels, and harassed
his enfeebled crews. At length, as he ajiproached
Cajie Cruz, a violent squall struck the ships, and
nearly threw them on their beam ends. Fortu-
nately they were alile to take in sail immediately,
and, letting go their largest anchors, rode out the
transient gale. The adiniral's shi|) was so
strained bv the injuries receivetl among the
islands, that she leaked at every seam, and the ut-
most exertions of the weary crew could not pre-
vent the water from gaining on her. .At length
they were enabled to reach Cape Cruz, where they
anchort-fl on the 18th of Jul), and remained three
days, receiving the same hospitable succor from
the nati\es that they had experienced on their for-
mer visit. The wind continuing contrary for the
return to Hispaniola, Columbus, on the 22d Jidy,
stood across tor Jainaica, to complete the circum-
navigation of that island. For nearly a month
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 57.
f Peter Martyr, dccad. i. lib. iii.
he continued beating to the eastward along
southern coast, experiencing just such variaVJ
witidsand e\ening showers as had |)revailed alor.l
the shores of Cuba. Every evening he \\A
t)l)ligcd to anchor under the l.ind, often at near;]
the same place whence he h.ul sailed in the mor-
ing. The natives no longer manifested hostili;,
but followed the ships in their canoes, brin(,'i''|
supplies (jf jirovisions. Columbus was so mu.;
delighted with the verdure, freshness, and ferti;:;,
of this noble isl.ind, that, had the state of his vcC|
sels and crews permitted, he would gladly li,v;
remained to explore the interior. He spoke v.;::
.idmiralion of its frecjuent and excellent harliurJ
but was particularly pleased with a great b,,
containing seven islands, and surrounded l)vr.
merous villages.* Anchoring here one eveiiii,|;
he w.is visited by a caci(|ue who resided in a lar,(|
village, situated on an eminence of the hjfiiest .ir-.f
most fertile of the islands. He c.ime altenilwl- |
.1 luunerous train, bearing refreshments, a:
manifested great curiosity in his inciuiries c,
cerning the Spaniards, their ships, and the rcijii
whence they came. The admiral made his cui.|
tomary reply, setting forth the great power ar.
tlie benign intentions of the Spanish soverei^'r;
The Lucayan interjjreter .again enlarged upoiitril
wonders lie had beheld in S|)ain, the prowess
the Spaniards, the countries they had visited a:,
subjugated, and, above all, their having niadct-.j
scents on the islands of the Caribs, roiued tht."
formidable inhabitants, and carried several
them into cai)tivity. To these accounts ;:
caci((ue and his followers remaine<l listening ;:|
jirotound attention until the night was advanced
The next morning the ships were under wayar.J
standing along the coast with a light wind ar.:|
easy sail, when they beheld three canoes issiii-
from among the islands of the bay. They ;i>l
pro.iched in regular order ; one, which was vcrl
large and handsomely carved and ])ainied, w.is:-.!
the centre, a little in advance of the two othtr-J
which apjieared to attend and guard it.
In this was seated the cacicpie and his fanii!;,
coiisisting of his wife, two daughters, two sor,<
and t"ive brothers. One of the daughters \v;;|
eighteen years of age, beautiful in form and cir;;
tenance ; her sister was somewh.it younger ; l)'::|
were naked, according to the cust(jm of tht-tf
islands, but were of modest demeanor. In
])row of the canoe stood the standard-beanr :|
the cacique, clad in a mantle of variegatc;|
, feathers, with a tuft of gay plumes on his Ilea;
anil bearing in his hand a fluttering white ban;; :|
Two Indians with caps or helmets of feathers :
uniform sh;i])e and color, and their faces |)aiiv,::
in a similar manner, beat upon tabors ; ia:!
others, with hats curiously wrought of grce:l
fe.ithers, held trumjiets of r. fine black wood, :'■[
geniously carved ; there were six others, in l.ir,:|
hats of while feathers, who appeared to be ijuar:i
to the cacieiue.
Having arrived alongside of the admiral's sh:"|
the cacique entered on board with all his tra:!.|
He appeared in full regalia. Arounil his heJ
was a b.'ind of small stones of various colors, !' 1
principally green, symmetrically arranged, "J
large while stones at intervals, and connected
front by a large jewel of gold. Two plates of },''>
were suspended to his ears by rings of very snu-
green stones. To a necklace of white beads, o:i|
|fOV.\GE ALONG THE I
AND RETU
* From the description, this must he the prcat h|
east of Portland Point, at the bottom of which is 0!^
Harbor,
■>A I..
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
Ill
\-nr(\ along ;;;
such van.i;,;
)ruv;iiU'il alo-j
-■nin^r he w«|
olu-n at near;;
:(1 in the mur,
[I'stfd lio-iiil]-,
iiKiu's, briiij;!'''
was so niK;
ss, and fcriii;:.
tatL- of hiM vt-.
1<1 Kladlylw,
I Ic spoke V.;:.:
:i'lieiU harhup,
> a jrreat b.v,,
ouiidtd hyr,;.
c one evenir,
sided in a lar.
theidftiesi ,i:
nic attended '
L'shnients, a:
in(|uiries n.
and tile re;;;.
made his laf-l
reat |)o\verar,.
isll soverei;;::;
ar^ed upun ■.:.:
tile prowess ;
lad visited a:.
aviii^ made (.'.■
I)S, routed ih;.:
■icd several ::
ae'counts ;:;
led listeniiii,';:]
was advancol,
■ under way ar,.
lijrht wind ar.;|
canoes issiii-;-
)ay. They d
.vhieh was vcn
jjainted, was:-.
the two otht.'i,
d it.
and his fanii',;.
ters, two sor.;
laujjhters \vj|
)rm and co
ounj;er ; 1)'"
t(jni of the>t|
leanor. In i.'.
idard-heartr;
of varieija::
on his ht-.
wiiite ban;;.:
of feathers .:
faces |)aiir.:.
tabors ; t.i;
,rlit of grrt:
ack wood, :'.
thers, in l.ir;
d to be gu,ir:i
:idmirars sli:!
all his tra:r
unti his hi-
)us colors, '' ■
rran;^ed, w -
ronnecti'd '
plates of },'' >
; of very snu-
ite lieads, cli
e the great h:
of which is 0.
;jn(i deemed precious by them, was suspended a
iP'e plate, in the form of a tleur-dedis, u\ ^u.uiin,
inmferior species of jjohl ; and a jrirdle of varie-
rtteil sl'ines, similar to those round his head,
L„|ilfiel liis rejjai decorations. Mis wife was
jdorned in a siniihir manner, havinj; also a very
iniall apron of cotton, and bands of the same
lunil her arms and lejfs. The dauj,diters were
nthouKHiianients, exceptinjj the eldest and hand-
.—ymest, who hatl a fjirille of small stones, from
^■hieh w.is suspended a tablet, the size of an ivy
e.it, composed of various colored stones, embroi-
icred on network of cotton.
When the caci(|ue entered on board the shi,),
le distributed jjresents of the productions of his
land amoMjf the officers and men. The admiral
■as at this time in his cabin, enj^aj^ed in his
norning devotions. When he appeared on deck,
It' ihieti.iin hastened to meet him with an ani-
„:Utd countenance. " My friend," said he, " I
lavc determined to leave my country, and to ac-
:nni|)anv thee. I have heard from these indi.ms
areWith thee of the irresistible power of thy
loverei),nis, and of the many nations thou hast
iu'j.lued in their name. Whoever refuses (diedi-
ipce to thee is sure to suffer. Thou hast destroyed
Iht? canoes and dwellinfrs of the Caribs, slayinj^
[heir warriors, and carryinjif into cajnivity their
ivcs and children. All the islands are in dread
tliee ; for who can withstand thee now that thou
[li'iuest tlie secrets of the land, and the we.ikness
tlie people. Rather, therefore, than thou
ihojldst take away my tlominions, I will emb.irk
,,th all my household in thy ships, and will ^n) to
lo homai^e to thy kinff ar.tl cpieen, and to behold
Ihcir country, of which thy Indians relate such
onders." When this speech was explained to
t'oiunihus, and he liehekl the wife, the sons and
laughters of the cacique, and thouirht U]ion the
mares to which their ijjnorance and simplicity
•oukl he e\|)osed, he was touched with comi)as-
lion, and determined not to take them from their
.live huul. lie re|)lied to the cacitiue, therefore,
Ihat he received him under his protection as a
rassal of his sovereijjns, but havini^ many laiuls
:et to visit before he returned to his country, he
■oukl at some future time fulfil his desire. Then
[aking le.ne with many expressions of amity, the
."icitiue, with his wife and daujrhters, and all his
etinue, re-embarked in the canoes, returning re-
u:tantly to their island, and the ships continued
in ihuir course.*
CHAPTER Vir.
■OV.\GE .\I.O\G THE SOUTH SIDE OF HISP.\XIOL.\,
.\ND RETURN TO IS.VBELLA.
['494-]
Ox the 19th of August Columbus lost sight of
he eastern extremity of Jamaica, to which he
:ive the name of Cape Farol, at present called
jiat Morant. Steering eastward, he beheld, on
he following day, that long peninsula of Hispan-
* Hitherto, in narrating the voyage of Columbus
long the coast of Cuba, I have been guided princi-
ally by the manuscript history of the curate de los
'alacios. His account is the most clear and satisfac-
ory as to names, dates, and routes, and contains
BJny characteristic pai'tlculars not inserted in any
iiticr history. His sources of information were of the
'iighest kind. Columbus was his guest after his re-
nin to Spain in 1496, and left with him manuscripts,
iol.i, known by the name of Cape Tiburon, but to
which he gave the name ot Cape San Miguel. He?
w.is not aware that it was a p.irt ot the island of
H.'iyti, until, coasting along its southern side, a
caciiiue cameoff on the 23d of .\ugust, and called
him by his title, addressing him with several
words of Castilian. The sound ot these words
spread joy through the ship, and the weary sea-
men heard with delight that they were on the
southern coast of Hispaniola. They had still,
however, many toilsome days before iheni. 'I he
weather w.is boisterous, the wind contrary and
cai)ricious, and the ships were separated from
each other. .About the end oi .August C(jlumbus
anchorecl at a small island, or ratiier rock, which
rises singly out of the sea opjjosite to a long cape,
stretching southw.ird from the centre of the
island, to which he gave the name (d Cape lieata.
The rock at which he anchored had ihe a|)pear-
.mce, at a distance, of a tall shi|) under sail, from
which circumstance the admir.il called it " Alto
Velo." Several seamen were ordered to climb to
the top of the island, wdiich coimn.inded a great
extent of ocean, and to look out for the other
ships. Nothing of them was to \k: seen. On
their return the sailors killed eight se.i-wolves,
which were sleeping on the sands ; they also
knocked down many pigeons and other birds with
sticks, and took others with the hand ; lor in this
untre(|uented isl.md, the animah, seemed to have
none of that wildness and timidity jjroduced by
the hostility of man.
Ik'ing rejoined by the two caravels, he contin-
ued along the coast, passing the beautiful country
watered by the br.mches of the -Neyv.i, where a
fertile plain, covered with villages and gnjves,
extended into the interior. After |)roceeding
some distance farther to the east, the .admiral
learnt from the natives who came off to the ships
that several S|)aniards from the settlement had
lienetrated to their province. From all that he
could learn from these ])eople, everything appear-
ed to be going on well in the island, luicouraged
by the trantjuillity of the interior, he landed nine
men here, with orders to traverse the island, and
give tidings of his safe arrival on the coast.
Continuing to the eastward, he sent a boat on
shore for water near a large village in a plain.
The inhabitants issued forth with bows and ar-
rows to give battle, while others were jirovided
with cords to bind prisoners. These were the
natives of Higuey, the eastern |)ro\ince of Hisjian-
iola. They were the most warlilie peo|)le of the
island, having been inured to arms from the fre-
(|uent descent of the Caribs. They were said also
to make use of poisoned arrows. In the ])resent
instance, their hostility was but in appearance.
When the crew landed, they threw by their weap-
ons, and brought various articles of food, and
asked for the admiral, wli(;.;e tame had spread
throughout the island, and in whose justice and
magnanimity all a])peared to repose confidence.
.After leaving this jilace, the weather, which had
been so long variable and adverse, assumed a
threatening appearance. A huge fish, as large as
journals, and memorandums ; from these he made
extracts, collating them with the letters of Doctor
Chanca, and other persons of note who had accompa-
nied the admiral.
I have examined two copies of the MS. of the curate
de los Palacios, both in the possession of O. Rich,
Esq. One written in an ancient handwriting, in the
early part of the sixteenth century, varies from the
other, but only in a few trivial particulars.
113
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
\l
iim
Mir"-
a moderate-sized whale, raised itself out of the
water one day, havintj a shell on its neck like that
ot a t(jrtoise, two ^jreat tins like winjjs, and a tail
like that ot a tunny lish. At sijjht ot this tlsh and
at the indications ol the clouds and sky, Coluni-
l)us anticipated an approachin^r storm, and souj,dU
for some secure harbor.* fie found a channcd
openin^r between llispaniola and a small island,
called by the Indians Adamaney, but to which he
j^ave the name ol Saona ; here he took retuj^e,
anchorinj,' beside a key or islet in the midtlle ot
the channel. On the niyht ot his arrival there was
an eclipse ot tin; moon, and takinj^an observation,
he found the dilfen-nce of loii^jilude between
Saona and Cadiz to be live hours and iwfnty-threc
minutes. t 'f'his is upward of eijjhteen dej^rees
more than the true longitude ; an error which
must have resulted from tlie incorrectness of his
table of eclipses.];
For eijrhi days the admiral's ship remained
weather-bound in this channel, durinjj which lime
he suffered great anxiety for the fate ot the other
vessels, which remained at sea, exjiosed to the
violence of the storm. They escaped, however,
uninjured, and once more rejoined him when the
weather had moderated.
Leavintf th(; channel of Saona, they reached, on
tiie 24th of .September, the eastern e.xtremity of
Hispaniola, to which Columbus jjave the name of
Cape San Kafael, at present known as Cape I'-nya-
fio. Hence they stood to the south-east, touchinj^
at the island ot .\Iona, or, as the Indians called it,
Amona, situated between I'orto Rico and Hispan-
iola. It was the intention of Columbus, notwith-
standinj^ the condition of the ships, to continue
farther eastward, and to com|)lete the discovery ot
the Caribbee Islands, but his physical strength did
* Herrcra, Hist. Itid.
Hist, del Almirante, cap
f Ilerrera, ubi su|
decad. i. lib. ii. cap. 15.
5<J-
, , . Hist. Almirante, ubi sup.
i Five hours twenty- five minutes are equal to
45 ; whereas the true longitude of Saona is 62^
west of Cadiz.
80'
20'
not correspond to the efforts of his lofty spin'
The extraordinary fatigues, both of mind ,,
body, during an anxious and harassing voyaK^
live months, h.ul preyed upon his frame. Her,
shared in all the hardships and privations ol:
commonest seaman. He had put himsclt upDir,
same scanty allowance, and exposed hiihst,;
the same buffetlngsof wind and weather. Ilm
had other cares and trials from which hi-, \)w,
were exempt. When the sailor, worn mit «.
the labors ot his watch, slept soundly amid
howling of the st(jrm, the anxious connnaiii
maintained his painful vigil, through long .sjef:
less nights, amid the pelting of the tempest ,r
the drenching surges of the sea. ihe salctv
his ships deiJiMided U|)on his watchtulncss ; I/.;
al)ove all, he felt that a jealous nation and ■.m-,
peeling workl were anxiously awaiting the rc>.
of his enterprise. During a great i)arl ol ;:i
l)resent voyage he had been excited bythecf
slant hope of soon arriving at the known jiaiij
India, and by the anticipation of ;i triiiniph.i:
return to Spain, through the regions of the I'.a;;
after circumnavigating the globe. When di;
|)ointed in these exjiectations he was yet stiir.
lated by a contlicl with incessant h.irdsliips ,i-
jierils, as he made his way back against contra'
winds and storms. The moment he was relie\r
from all solicitude, and beheld himself in a kiiui
and tran(|uil sea, the excitement suddenly ccait^
and minil and body sank exhausted by almost >••
perhuman exertions. The very day on which ttl
sailed from Mona he was struck with a suddd
malaily, w hich de])rived him of memory, o( sighJ
anil all his faculties. He fell into a deep lelhar^
reseinbling tiealh itself. His crew, alarnu-d
this profound torpor, feared that death was rca!
at hand. They abandoned, theretore, all furtljti
])rosecution of the voyage, anil sjjreading the.:j
sails to the east wind so prevalent in those scad
bore Columbus back, in a state of com|)lete instr.
sibililv, to the harbor of Isabella.
* Mui'ioz, Hist. N. Mundo, lib. v. sec. 22.
BOOK VIII.
CHAPTER I.
ARRIV.M, OF THK .ADMIRAL AT ISADF.I.LA— CHAR-
ACTER OV BARTHOLOMEW COLUMbUS.
[t494. Sept. 4.]
The sight of the little squadron of Columlius
standing once more into the harbor was hailed
with joy by such ot the inhabitants of Isabella as
remained faithful to him. The long time that had
elapsed since his departure on this adventurous
voyage, without any tidings arriving from him,
had given rise to the most serious appveheiisions
for his safety ; and it began to be feared that he
had fallen a victim to his enterprising spirit in
some remote part of these unknown seas.
A )oyful and heartfelt surprise awaited the ad-
miral on his arrival, in finding at his bedside his
lirother Hartholomow, the companion of his youth,
his confidential coadjutor, and in a manner his
second self, from whom he had been separated for
several years. It will be recollected that, about
the lime of the admiral's departure from Pnrluga!.
he had commissioned Harlholomew to repair.:
Kngland, and propose his project of discovery
King Henry \'1I. Of this application to the l>
lish crurl no precise iiariiculars are known. I'l
nando Columbus stales thai his uncle, in t'i
course of his voyage, was captured and |)luiuler;
by a corsair, and reduced to such poverty, tliatb
had for a long lime to struggle for a mere suhsi!:
ence by making sea-charts ; so that some yea:
elapsed before he made his application to the IX-
lish monarch. Las Casas thinks that he did n
immediately proceed to I-'.ngland, having loinid
memorandum in his handwriting, by which :
would appear that he accompanied Bartholome'i
Diaz in i486, in his voyage along the cna.sto
Africa, in the service of the King of Fortufjal, !
the course of which voyage was discovered tk
Cape of Good Hope.*
• Tlie memorandum cited by Las Casas (Hist. Ind
It is but justir
lav that when tin
o'liim it met
roni any other s(
uallvm'ade with
.f the enterprise,
n search of his
irst recei\ed the
nvpry w.is aire;
■etnriu'il to Spai
he .S|)aiiish cou
liiri'ssed by the
)lc The glory
ipon his fatuily,
inimi'diately a
nticcd by the
ivho, iMulerstand
ished him with
xpenses of his
cville just .IS his
nd voyage. Bar
;o the court, then
is two nc|)liews.
lib. i. cap. 7) is cui
y» thru he founi
liristopher Columl
le Aliaco. It was
n the form of the
;holomew Columbu
lasas, as he had mi
he memorandum v
nd Spanish, and to
In the year 14SS
lartholomew Diaz,
he King of I'ortuf
rought accounts th
leagues of territory
lOUth and one bun
amed by him the C
;he astrolabe he four
quinoctial line. Tf
irom Lisbun ; the w
loivn, league by leaf
lentcd by h:n. to
hich, adds the wri
libus interfui).
Las Casas express
rrote this note for
rother, but infers t
pedition. The infer
to Harthoiomew. bu
tied, was at the Span
Las Casas account
;he foregoing memoi
voyage ; the former
year '3S, the latter 'I
because some begin I
c'.hersat the first of Ji
about the end of Au>
her, 'S;, after an abs
No I r..— Since put
wrk, the author b(
searches in the Bil)
Ksen by Fernando (
t;iy. he came accidei
copy of the work of
to be the same by fi
ilum written on the
lae tract called " Ii
Me in folio, bouni
sfier the invention ol
i: Latin of astronoi
01 Pedro (or Peter)
Iray and Cardinal, i
Psdro de Aliaco was
to some, in 1416, at
*K the author ol d
IlLw
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBL'S.
113
his lofty spin:
;h of niiiid ,-,:
assinjr voyji^r^
lr;imc. Ikr.
privation-, i,|'i-
liimsflt uiMjii;:
|)()sc(l hiiustli:
-vi-alluT. liui
wliicii his |K-i,[,,
, worn (Hit M
(undiy amid :■,
loiis comni,-iiv;:
)Ugll lolij; .sli-;,
llic tcnipL'sta
,. 'I'liu salciy
Uclitulncss ; I,.
latioii anil ;iii-
vaitinj; llu: ii-.
;rcat pail ol •,;:
cited hy tiic tt-
e known pans
of a triniiiph,'.
jions of tile r,;i
u. WJH'n (lis,;
: was yet sliiT.r
It lianLships ,i
aj^ainsl I'oiurj'
t liL' was r(.'lie\r.|
nisclf in a kntivl
suddenly cuax:
ted hy ainiosi s,
day on which rJ
:k witli a suddt:
nemory, of s\m
> a dcup jfthiuj^
rcw, alarmed i;|
death was rca
eioi'e, all tunti
sjjreadin^' llid
it in those stsil
complete insd
,1,. 'I'he jflory
ipon his family,
nimi'dialely a |
KiticiMl hy the
r. sec. 22.
from Poriugi'-
ew to repair;:!
of discnvery'.j
ion to the Kr;
e known. Yo
uncle, ill I'l
an<l pluiulcre:
poverty, ih.ni ^
a mere siihsis:
that some yea
tionlo the V.'\
that he did n
having foiinil
by whicii
d Bartholomew
r\jr the co.ist
of Foi-ti:;,Ml.
discovered till
-asas(Hist. Ind
It is hilt justice to the memory of Henry VII. to
av that when the proposition was eventually made
him it met with a more ready attention than
rom aiiv other soverei^jn. An agreement was ac-
luiillv made with Hartholomew tor the prosecution
if the enterprise, and the latter departed for .Spain
In search of his brother. On reaching I'aris, he
rsl received the joyful intelligence that the dis-
overv was aln^ady made ; that his brother had
turned to .Spain in triumph, and was actually at
he Sjianish court, honored by the sovereigns,
aressed by the nobility, and idolized by the peo-
of Columbus .already shed its rays
and Hartholomew found himself
lerson of importance. He was
French monarch, Charles VIH.,
jvho, iHulerstanding that he was low in purse, fur-
nished him with one hundred crowns to defray the
txpeiises of his journey to Spain. He reached
Seville just as his brother had departed on his sec-
)iul voyage. Hartholomew immediately repaired
lo the court, then at Valladolid, taking with him
lis two lupliews, Diego and Fernando, who were
lib. i. cap. 7) is curious, though not conclusive. He
jay» that he found it in an old tjook belonginR to
liristopher Columbus, containing the works of Pedro
lie Aliaco. It was written in the margin of a treatise
n the form of the globe, in the handwriting of Har-
holomew Columbus, which was well known to Las
!asas, as he had many of his letters in his possession.
he memorandum was in a barbarous mixture of Latin
,nJ Spanish, and to the following effect ;
In the year 14SS, in December, arrived at Lisbon
lartholomcw Diaz, captain of three caravels, which
;he King of Portugal sent to discover Guinea, and
rouKht accounts that he had discovered six hundred
leagues of territory, four hundred and fifty to the
iouth and one hundred and fifty north, to a cape,
amed by him the Cape of Good Hope ; and that by
;he astrolabe he found the cape 45 degrees beyond the
quinoctial line. This cape was 3100 leagues distant
Irom Lisbon ; the which the said captain says he set
down, league by league, in a chart of navigation pre-
sented by h:n. to the King of Portugal ; in all
which, adds the writer, I was present (in quibus om-
nibus interfui).
Las Casas expresses a doubt whether Bartholomew
wrote this note for himself or on the part of his
Ibrother, but infers that one, or both, were in this ex-
pedition. The inference may be correct with respect
to Hartholomew. but Christopher, at the time speci-
fied, was at the Spanish court.
Las Casas accounts for a difference in date between
;he foregoing memorandum and the chronicles of the
[voyage ; the former making the return of Diaz in the
ear '3S, the latter '87. This, he observes, might be
because some begin to count the year after Christmas,
:c',hi:rs at the first of January ; and the expedition sailed
wout the end of August, "86, and returned in Deceni-
[icr, 'S;, after an absence of seventeen months.
So ir..— Since publishing the first edition of this
Iwrk, the author being in Seville, and making re-
|t!arches in the Bil)liotheca Columbina, the library
giien by Fernando Columbus to the cathedral of that
:ly, he came accidentally upon the above-mentioned
opy of the work of Pedro Aliaco. He ascertained it
|lo be the same by finding the above-cited memoran-
jdum written on the margin, at the eighth chapter of
tiis tract called " Imago Mundi." It is an old vol-
IMe in folio, bound in parchment, published soon
'terthe invention of printing, containing a collection
: Latin of astrononncal and cosmographical tracts
i"! Pedro (or Peter) de Aliaco, Archbishop of Cam-
bay and Cardinal, and of his disciple, Jofin Gerson.
Pedro de Aliaco was born in 1340, and died, according
jt» some, in 1416, according to others in 1425. He
*as the author oi many works, and one of the most
to serve in quality of pages to Prince Juan.* He
was received with distinguished favor by the sov-
ereigns ; who, finding hiin to be an able and ac-
complished navigator, gave bim the command u{
three ships freighted v :h supplies tor the colony,
and sent him to aid his brother in his enterprises.
He had again arrived too l.ate ; reaching Is.ibell.i
just after the departure of the admiral tor the cu.ist
of Cuba.
The sight of this brother was an inexpressible
relief to Columbus, overwiudmed as he was by
cares, and surrounded by strangers. His chief
dependence tor symjiathy and assist.i ice had hith-
erto been on his brother Don Diego ; but his mild
and peaceable disposition renderc I him little ca-
pable of managing the concerns of ;i factious
colony. Bartholomew was of aililfereiit and more
efficient character. He w;is prompt, active, de-
cided, and of a fearless spirit ; whatever he deter-
mined, he carried into instant exeiuiion, without
regard to difficulty or danger. His person corre-
s|)oiided to his mind ; it wast.ill, muscular, vigor-
ous, and commanding. He had an air of great
authority, but somewhat stern, w.mting that
sweetness and benignity which tempered the au-
thoritative demeanor of tluf admiral. Indeeef,
there was a certain asperity in his temper, and a
dryness and abruptness in his ni.mners, which
made him many enemies ; yvA. notwithstanding
these external defects, he was oi a generous dis-
position, free from all arrogance or malevolence,
and as ])lacal)le as he was brave.
He was a thorough seam.in, understanding both
the theory and jiractice of his ])rotessi()n ; having
been formed, in a great measure, under the eye of
the admiral, and being but little interior to him in
science. He was sui)erior to him in the exercise
of the pen, according to Las Casas, who had let-
learned and scientific men of his day. Las Casas is
of opinion that his writings had more effect in stimu-
lating Columbus to his enterprise than those of any
other author. " His work was so familiar to Colum-
bus, that he had filled its whole margin with Latin
notes in his handwriting ; citing many things which
he had read and gathered elsewhere. This book,
which was very old," continues Las Casas, " I had
many times in my hands ; and I drew some things
from it, written in Latin by the said admiral, Christo-
pher Columbus, to verify certain points appertaining
to his history, of which I before was in doubt."
(Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 1 1.)
It was a great satisfaction to the author, therefore,
to discover this identical volume, this I'lii/,' Mi\um of
Columbus, in a state of good preservation. [It is in
the cathedral library, Y. Ci, Tab. 17S, No. 21. J The
notes and citations mentioned by Las Casas are in
Latin, with many abbreviations, written in a very
small, but neat and distinct hand, and run throughout
the volume ; calling attention to the most striking pas-
sages, or to those which bear most upon the theories
of Columbus ; occasionally containing brief comments
or citing the opinions of other authors, ancient and
modern, either in support or contradiction of the text.
The memorandum particularly cited by Las Casas,
mentioning the voyage of Hartholomew Diaz to the
Cape of Good Hope, is to disprove an opinion in the
text, that the torrid zone was uninhabitable. This
volume is a most curious and interesting document,
the only one that remains of Columbus prior to his
discovery. It illustrates his researches and in a man-
ner the current of his thoughts, while as yet his great
enterprise existed but in idea, and while he was seek-
ing means to convince the world of its practicability.
It will be found also to contain the grounds of many
of his opinions and speculations on a variety of sut>«
jects.
* Hist, del Alrairante, cap. 60.
114
LII-K AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBL'S.
m
tcr? and maniiscrijjts of both in his possession,
lie was a((|uaiiiti'(( with Latin, i)ut does not ap-
pear to ha\<' l)ccn liiKlily educated ; his knowi-
edj{e, iiki; tiiat ol ids liroiner, i)einjf(-ldedy derived
from a lonj; loiirseoi varied experience and atten-
tive ohservation. I!(|iially vi(rorous an(f peiielrat-
inj;- in intellect witli tlie adniiral, l)Ul less enttnisi-
astic in spirit and soarinj,' in iniaj^ination, an<l
with le^is siniplicily ot iieart, lie surpassed him in
tile subtle and adroit mana^(ement of business,
was more attentive to his inierests, and had more
ot that worldly wisdom which is so im|)ortant in
the ordinary concerns of life. His {genius mijjLr
never i)a\-e enkindled him to the sublime specula-
tion which ended in the iliscovery of a world, but
Ids practical saj;acity was calculated to turn that
tliscovery to advantaijc. Such is the description
of llartliolomew Columbus, as furnished by the
vener.ible I„is Casas Irom jjersonal oliserv.ition ;*
and it will be found to accord with Ids actions
throughout the remainin),' lustory of the adndral,
in the events of which he takes ,icons|)icuous part.
Anxious to relieve himself from the |)ressure of
jniblic fjusiness, which weij^hed he.ivily U])on him
(lurinjr his present malady, Columbus immediately
invested Ids brotlur ISartliolomew with the title
and authority of Adelantado, an oflice ec|uivalent
to that of lieulen,int-j;overnor. He considered
himself entitled to do so from the articles of his
arranjrement with the sovereijjns, l)ut it was
looked ujion by Kinj,^ Kerdinand as an undue as-
suni|)tion of power, and fjave j^reat offence to that
jealous nion.irch, who was exceedinjrfy tenacious
of tlie prenifiatives of the crown, and considered
dignities of this rank.ind importance as only to be
conferred by royal ni.indate.t Colund)us, how-
ever, was not actuated in this appointment by a
mere ('esire to .lii^j^r.indize his family. He felt the
impcu'tance ot his brother's assistance in the pres-
ent criiic.il stale of tl.^ colony, but that this co-
operation wfuild be ineflicient unless it bore the
stam|) of ldj,di official authority. In fact, durinj^
the few months that he h.id been absent, the whole
island had become a sctMie of discord and vio-
lence, in consecpieiKe of the ne^dect, or rather the
flagrant violation, of those rules which he had pre-
scribed for the maintenance of its tran{|uillily. A
brief retrospect of the recent affairs of the colony
is liere necessary to ex|)lain their present confu-
sion. It will exhibit one of the many instances in
which Colundius was doomed to rea|) the truits ot
the evil seed sown by his atlversaries.
CHAPTER II.
MiscoN'nrcT ov don pkuro maucaritf,, and
HIS DKI'ARTUklJ I'KO.M THE ISLAND.
['494.]
It will be recollected, that before departing on
his voyage, Columbus had given the command ot
the army to Oon I'edro .Margarite, with orders to
make a military tour of the island, awing the na-
tives by a display of military force, but conciliat-
ing their good-will by ecjuitable and amicable
treatment.
The island was at this time divided into five
domains, each governed by a cacique, of absolute
and hereditary jjower, to whom a great number
ol inferior caciques yielded tributary allegiance,
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib, i, cap, 39.
f Ibid., cap. loi.
The first or most important domain comprised i>.|
ridddle jjart cd the rojal \'ega. It w.is a n..
lovely country, partly cultiv.itetl alter the impr
feci manner ot the natives, partly covered u,-
noble forests, studded with Indian towns, xft
watered by numerous rivers, many of which, ri
ing down from the mountains (d Cibao, on
soutliern frontier, h.id gold-dust mingled w,
their sands. The name n[ the caci(pie \\as (;,
rionex, whose ancestors had long ruled oM.r;:
|)rovince.
The second, called Marien, was under the ^A
of liuac.inagari, on whose coast Columbus I,
been wrecked in his first voyage. It was a l.ir^.i
and fertile territory, extending along the norilur:!
coast from Cape St. Nicholas at the western «.!
tremity ot the island, to the great rixer \'.ij;ii:,,
afterward called .Monte Christi, and includinj; irJ
northern part id the royal \'ega, since called lii
plain of Cape Fran(,'ois, now Cape Haytien.
The thircl bore the n.ime (d .Maguana. he
tended along the southern coast from the ri\r:
Ozema to the lakes, 'ind comprised the chiet|,:-
of the centre of the island lying .ilong the siuiil.c:
t.ice ot the mountains of Cibao, the ndiurnl (1%
trict of Hayti. It was under the dominion ut ;!:
Carib caci(|ue Caon.ibo, the most tierce and |iu,.
sanl of the savage chieftains, and the invetera;;|
enemy of the white men.
The fourth took its name from Xaragua, a iiirffl
lake, and was the most populous and extensive cf
all. It comprised the whole western coast, incluc.l
ing the long promontory of Cape Tiburon, ;iri;|
extended for a considerable distance along ihl
southern side of the island. The inhabitants ut.tl
finely formed, had a noble air, a more agrecalij
elocution, and more soft and graceful niannirir
than the natives of the other parts ot the islantj
The sovereign was named I'.ehechio ; his sisicr,
Anacaona, celebrated throughout the islar.d liil
her beauty, was the favorite wife of the neiglilior-[
ing caci(|ue Caonat)o.
The tifth domain was Higuey, and orcui)itdtS
whole eastern part of the island, being hoiindi.
on the north by the liay of Samana and jiart ot :h
ri\er Yuna, and on the west l)y the (Izema. T!;l
inhabit.mts were the most active and warlike I'ti--
pie ot the island, having learneil tl.e use of tie!
l)ow and arrow from the Caribs, who made fre-
quent descents upon their coasts ; they weresaiiij
also to make use ot poisoned weajjons. Thi;rl
bravery, however, w.is but comparative, and wiil
found eventually ot little avail against the terrirl
of l'Airoi)ean arms. They were governed by j|
cacicpie named Cotul)anama.*
Such were the five territorial divisions ot \h\
island at the time ai its discovery. The ammir:
of its ])o|)ulation has never been clearly ascT-
tained ; some have stated it at a million of s(iu!>,
though this is considered an exaggeration. 1:
must, however, have been very numeious, ar..
sutticient, in case of any general hostility, to t:-
danger the safety ot a handful of Europeans. C ■
lumbus trusted for safety partly to the avvu in-
s])ired by the weapons and horses oi the Sp.'-I
iards, and the idea of their superhuman naiurr f
but chiedy to the measures he had taken to ci :■
ciliate the good-will of the Indians by gentle a;-.:
fjeneticent treatment. ,
Margarite set forth on his expedition witlii'"!|
greater part of the forces, leaving Aloiuo de Ojcal
in command of the fortress of St. Thomas. In-
stead, however, ot commencing by exploring the I
* Charlevoix, Hist, St. Domingo, lib. i. p. 69.
LIFK AND V()VAGi;S OF COLCMHrS.
ii:»
(Inmnin roniprisnl f
\fj,'.i. U Nvas a rit
v.-itid alter llif im|ir
s, partly coviivil w,:
ih Indian towns, ,1,-
s, many ol whiili, rn .
ilains ot Cihao, on
l(l-iliist minnliil wr
the caeiiliie was (,u
ad loH}i ruled o\er;:
L-n, Nvas under tlii' •> s
:: coast Coluinliiis 1,
ioya^jc. It was a la;;,
linj{ alun^j the iKirtln
lolas at the westm, .
the j-reat river \ .,
risti, and including
1 \ej{a, siiue calkil i;:
iw Cape Ilaylien.
ne (it Ma^uana. he
•n coast Irom the rut
om prised the eliiet |,:-
Ivinj; alonj; the sumlr
Ciiiao, the mineral i':,
ler the dominion nt ;t
le most tierce and |)'j
ains, and tiie inveur,'.
le from Xaragua, a larc]
ipulous and exlensivt i:
lie western coast, iiichii;.
; of Cajie Tiburon, arc
d)le distance alonj; ih
1. The inhabitants \\n
le air, a more a^jreealu
and ^^racelul manmri
ther parts of the islanc
■d llehechio ; his sisic:
ou^hout the island Ici
[itc wile ol the nei},diliof'|
lifjuey, and nccnpieil !!■(
island, bein>^ boiindrc
. Samana and part ot !h
_-st by the (Izema. T!;
active and warlike fi ■
learned ll.e use (it tit
Caribs, w ho made t:e-
coasts ; they were bau:
Isoned weapons. Tlu.i
]l comjjarative, and was
avail ajrainst the tcru;
•y were go\erne(l by s
ha.*
Iritorial divisions oi tht
liscovery. The amour:
■er bet'n clearly avc:-
it at a million ot s(a:.>,
ll an exaK'^eratiiin. I:
In verv numerous, aK
jreneral hostility, to i;r.-
pful of r.uropeans. Co-
parllv to the awe i'-
Id horses of the S|)..>
-ir superhuman naiurf.
fs he had taken to con-l
Indians by gentle aia;
Ihis expedition with w
leavinj; Alonzo de O'p'.i
Is of St. Thomas, Ir-
licing by exploring l.e
Itningo, lib. i. p. (")•
hiiL'h niniintiins of Tibao, as he had been com-
lanilcd, lie (l(si'eiidc(l into the feriili; re^jion nf
If \'i"M. Here he lin^'e|-ei| .imony; llle populous
hinpilalile Indian vdlages, lorxellul ot llie oli-
>i ,it lii-> conimand, and ot the mslruclions left
Ipi hv the adniir.il. .A comni.inder who lapses
bin iliiiv liimselt is little caleulate(| to entorce
I'liline. The sensual indidgences ot .Marj^arile
he in\il ilc'i liv his followers, and his arm\' soon
|( mil' little better than a crew of riotous ma-
il: I < is. Thi! Indians, tor a time, supplied them
iriivisioiis with thrir wonted hospitality, but
t , iiitv stores of those aiistemious yet improvi-
iiii I pie wer(! soon exhausted by the .Spaii-
jd^ils ; one of whom they decl.ired woidd consume
111(1 ill a day th.in would support an Indi.m lor ;i
nil til. It provisions were withheld, or sc.mtily
rni^he'l, tliey were t.iken with violence ; nor
h aiiv riinpensation gi\'en to the natives, nor
an-, t. (kill to soothi! their irritation. 'l"he ;i\id-
tiir i;iild aisc, led to a ihousand acts ot in-
(tVi' ,iiid oppressi(Ui ; but above all the .Span-
fd^ imlr:e.,'ed tlie dearest t('elings of llie n.itives,
ihcir liceiuious conduct with respect to the
imcn. In f.ict, instead of guests, they soon as-
nc I the tone of imperious m.isters ; inste.id nf
lucneil beiu't.ictors, they hecaiue sordid ;iiul
lal oppressors,
liiii;-, ot tlie^e excesses, .ind of the disgust
inip.itience they were awakening among the
PCS, soon reached Don Diego Columbus.
jth the concurrence of the couiuil, he wi'ote to
ir^Mrite, reprehending his conduct, and re(piest-
liiin to proceeil on the military tour, according
[the comnnnds ot the admir.il. The pride ot
Ir^jnrite. took lire at this reproof ; he considered,
atluT pretended to consider himself indepeiid-
iii his command, and above all responsil)ility
'.• louiicil for his conduct, lieing of an an-
_.i f.unily, also, and ;i t.ivorite of tlie king, he
|f.t.' I 10 look down with contempt u|)on the
^' i.-r i^iicl niiliilit\- ot Diego Columbus. His
IS ill rejily to tlu; orders of the president and
Incil were couched in a tone either of haugluy
itiiiiu-iy or of military deliance. He continued
his lollowers ipiartereil in ihe \'ega, ])ersist-
i!i a coiirM- ot oiuragesand o])])ressioiis fatal
Ih'- tiMni|uilli;v ot the island.
If was supported in his .arrogant detlance of
riiy hv the cavaliers and .adventurers of 110-
hirth who weie in the colony, and who had
(lt.';-p!v wounded in the proud punctilio so
'.hly glial iled bv ;i Spaniard. They could not
[ft ii'ir lorgive thesiern e(piity exercised by the
iiral in ;i lime ot emergency, in m.iking ihem
Jiil loilie priv.itions ;ind share the labors ot the
ar. .Still less could they brook the authority of
brntivr Diego, destitute ot his high jiersontd
111 to distinction. They formed, iheretore, a
1; aristocr.itic.d faction in the colony ; affect-
In ciinsider Columbus and his family as mere
:cnary and upstart foreigners, building uyi
ii.vn toriuiies at the expense of the toils and
:r;n;^'s o! ilie community, and the dc.;radation
lni^ 'lilihigos ;ind cavaliers.
, aiMition to these jiartisans, Margarita had
kt'i'iil aiiy ill his lellow-countryman, I'riar
|e, tile he. id nf the religious fraternity, one of
iiilici-s nt the council, and apostolical vicar
[e Ni-w World. It is not easy to ascertain the
liiil cause of the hostility of this holy Iriar to
I'imiral, who was never w.anting in resi)ect to
'fiLjv. \'.irinus altercations, however, had
fi place between them. Some say tiiat the
ira-orlei-ed in respect to the strict measures
deemeij necess.irv by the admiral for the security of
the ( iilony ; others that he revolted the t.iiu led
indignity ottered to himself and his household, in
putting them on the samt; slnut allow. iiuc with
tli(.' commoii ])eople. He apiiears, howcM-r, to
have been generally disappointed .ui'l disgusted
with the s|)liere ot action alforded by the inloiiv,
and to have looke(l b.ick with regret to the < »i(l
World. He had none ot that eiilhusi.istic /e,d and
|)erse\fring selt-devoti(M), which induced so many
ol the Sp.inish missionaries to br.ive ;'.ll the h.ird-
ships and privations of the .New World, in the
hope ot (inserting its pag.iii inhabilants.
IviUiuiraged and forlitied by such powerful p.ir-
tis.ins, M.irgarite really began to consider himself
above the tempor.iry autlKuities ot tlie isl.iiid.
W'lienever he came to Is.ibell.i, he took no notice of
D(m !)iego Columbus, nor p.iid any respect to the
: council, hut acted as if he h.id p.ir.iinount com-
m.ind. He formed .1 c.ibal of most ol those who
wi'r(; dii.itfected to Columbus, and disroniented
with their abode in the colony. Among these the
leading agitator was I'riar iloyle. It w.is C(m-
C( rted .imongthem to take possession ot the ship:i
which h.id brought out Don IS.irthnlomew Colum-
bus, and to return in them to Sp.iin. lioth Mar-
g.irite and lioyle possessed the ta\or ol ih'' king,
and they deemed it would Ik! an easy m.itter to
■ justify their .iliandonmenl of their milit.iry and
religious commands by a pretended /e,il
liublic good ; hurrying home to re|)resent tin
dis.istrous sl.ite of the country, through the tyr
anny and ojipression ot its rulers. .Some h;i\e as-
cribed the abrupt departure ot M.irg.irile to his
tear of a severe military it.vestigation of his con-
duct on the return ot the admir.il ; others, to his
having, in the courst' of his lii fiitious .imours, con-
tracted a malady at that time new and unknown,
and which he attributed to the clim.ate, and liojied
to cure by medical assist.ince in .Sp.iiii. W'hat-
e\'er may have been the cause, his measures wer(!
taken with great jirecipitancy, without anyconsul-
t.ition ot the proper authorities, or any reg.ard to
the conseijuences of his departure. Accomp.mied
by a band ot m.ilcontents, he a:id Fri.ir ISoyle
took possession of some shi|)s in the harbor, and
set sail for .Sp.iin ; the tirst gelier.il and apostle of
the New World tlius setting tl'.e ll.igr.int examjile
ot unauthori/ed abandonment ol their posts.
ch.\i'ti:r iir.
TRdUIU.l'.S Writt Till'. NAI'IVI'.S — .M.ON'ZO lU'. OJI'I'-V
I!i:,si!;(;l;i) i;v c.\u.\ai:i).
[1 494- J
Till-; departure of I'edro Margarite left the army
without a he.id, and put an end to wli.it little re-
straint or disci])line remained. 'I'here is no rab-
ble so licentious as soldiery left to their own direc-
tion in a defenceless country. 'I'hey now roved,
about in bands or singly, according to tlieir ca-
price, scattering themselves among the Indian
villages, and indulging in all kinds ot excesses,
either as |irompted by avarice or sensuality. 'I'he
n.itives, indignant at having their hos|)ii:dity thus
recpiited, refused any longer to furnish them with
h)od. In a little while the Spaniards liegan to ex-
perience the jiressure of hunger, and seized u|)on
provisions wherever they could be found, accom-
p.inying these seizures with acts ot wanton vio-
lence. At length, by a series ot ll.igi .iiit oiitr.iges,
the gentle and pacific nature of this pcijple was
i<'< u.
1 1
t!i
ii<;
MFi: AM) VOYAGKS OF COI.LMBU9.
rouscil to ii'.ciutnciit, and from coMrulin^; ami lios-
|)lt,ll)li' liosli tlifV WiTf toincrlnl ilUo MIKtiitivf
iMirmio. /\11 ilii' |iri'( aiitiDiis I'MJoiiifil hy Culuni-
lius li.iMii^; liri'ii ni'^k-ctfil, the i-vils he had ap-
prclu'iiilcd iMiiif III na^iS, 'riioii),'li ihc Indian'*,
iialin-,illy liniid, d iicd iiol ronUMid willi llif S|)an-
iard-i \\\uW tiifv ki'pt up any coiiihiiu'd and iIimi-
|ilniiil lorif, yft they took sanj^uinaiy vfn^jf.im c
on thcni whiMU'vcr llu'y incl with small paitii's
or MailiTfd indiMiluals, ro\in^{ about in iiucst ot
lood, I'.m oura;;ti| by these petty triumphs, and
the impiinits uliii h seemed to attenil tl\em, their
hoslililie-i j;rew more and more alarminj;. (luati-
^uana, eaiicpie ot a lar^e town on tlu' banks ot
till' Cirand Ri\er, in the dominions ul (luarion("<,
S(tvt'|i'i^;n ol the \ f^a, put to death ten Span-
iar<ls, who had (piartered ihemseUts in his tow n
and (nilraf;ei| the iidiabitants by their li<entiolls-
ness, lie loliowed up tliis massaere by settin^f
liru to a hou^e in which tort)-si\ Spaniar<ls were
lodj;ed. I'lusjied liy this success, he threatened
to alt.K l< a small tmlress ealleil Mandaleiia, whieh
liad reeently been built in his neit;hborhood in
thi; \'en;a ; so that the commander, laiis de Arri-
aj;.i, having; iiul a ieeble (garrison, was obliged to
remain shut up witliin its walls until rebel should
arrive licmi Isabella.
'I'lu' most lorniidablc enemy ol the Spaniards,
however, was Caonabo, the drib eaciipie ot Ma),'-
uana. With natural talents for war, and intelli-
pt'iue superior to the onlinary ranj;e ot sava(,'e
intellect, he had a proud and darini; s|)irit to urj,'e
him on, three valiant brothers to assist him, and
a numerous tribe at his command. t He had al-
ways felt je.ilousot the intrusion ol the white men
into the isl.incl ; but |)arti(:ularly exasjierated by
the establishinenl ot the fortress ot St. Thomas,
erected in the \ery centre ot his dominions. As
lonjf .is the army lay within call in the \'v)^d he
w.is deterred from .my attack ; but when, on the
departure ot .M.u\'.irite, it became dismembered
and dispersed, the time for strikinj;- a si;,rnal blow
.seemed arrived. The fortress remained isolated,
with a ^Mirison ot only titty men. \W a sudden
and secret movement, he mi};ht overwhelm it with
his forces, and repeat the horrors which he had
\vreake<l upon La Navidad.
The wily cacicjue, however, had a clifferent kind
ol enemy to de.il with in the commander of St.
Thomas. Aloiiz-o de Ojed.i h.ul been schooled in
^Joorish wartare. He was versed in all kinds of
feints, strata^rems, lurkinjj ambuscades, and wilil
assaults. No man was more titled, therefore, to
cope with Indian warriors. He had a headlonjf
fouraj^e, arising partly from the natural heat and
violence ot liis disposition, and, in a ^reat meas-
ure, from relijrious superstition. He had been
t.'n};.i|fed in wars with Moors and Indians, in pub-
lic battles and priv.ite combats, in t'tjifhts, feuds,
and encounters of all kinds, to which he had been
promised by a rash and fiery spirit, and a love of
adventure ; vet he had never been wounded, nor
lost a droji ot blood. He bejjan to doubt whether
any weapon h.id power to harm him, and to con-
sider himselt under the special protection of the
Holy X'irj^in. As a kind of religious talisman, he
had a small I'leniish paintinjj of the \"irgin, given
him bv his patron, I'onseca, Bishop of Hadajoz.
This he constantly carried with him in city, camp,
or tleld, making it the object of his frequent orisons
and invocations. In garrison or encampment, it
was susiieiuled in his chamber or his tent ; in his
* Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. ii. cap. i6.
t Ibid.
rough expeditions in ihe wilderness hecirr.
in his knapsack, anil whenever leisure periiir,'
wiitiid take It out, tis it against a tree, aim ,
dress his jirayers to this military ii,iIiiiiu<,h,»
a word, he swore by the N'lrgin, he iinukiV
\'irgm whether in brawl or battle, and iimli-
l.iMir of the \'irgin he was read) lor anyi'
prise or adventure. Such was this .Moii/
t»jeil.i; bigoted in his devotion, reckli ■^s n
lite, tearle-is in his spirit, like main ol ihe \.
•Spanish cavaliers ot those d.iys. rhiiii;;|i .
in si/e, he w.is .i prodigy ol stren^;ih ,inil |iri.,>
and the i hronii lers ol the I'.irly disco\ern-, rt |
m.irvels ot his v.ilor .md lAploiis.
ll.i\iiig reconnintred the tin Iress, CioiihIk
sembled ten thous.md w.irriors, armed wiih
clubs, bows aiul .irrows, and lances IliiiIium |
the tire ; and m. iking his w.iy secretly ilun.i;''
lorests, c.ime suddeiilv in the in '^;hl!iJiliiiiiil
iiecling to surprise the garrison in .1 st.iie ii
less security. He touiid (ijeihi's lories, liuui
drawn up w.irily within his lower, which, It
built upon an .ilmost insnl.iteil height, with .1
nearly surrounding it, and the lem.iiinn^r .
traversed by .1 deep ditch, set at deli.iiii e ,111 ,1:.
by naked warriors.
Foiled in his attempt, Caon.ibo now iiii|'t
reduce it by lamine. h'or this piir|)ose, he ilh
uted his warriors through the adiaceiu Inr
and w.iylaid every pass, so as to intercept My
plies brought by the natives, and to ciilniij
toraging party trom the fortress. This siege !■
vesiineni Listed lor th.irty days.f and reihiin:
garrison to great distress. There is a Iriiili;
anecdote, wiiich Oviedo relates ot I'eilro .Mi'
rite, the lormer commander ot this lorllT^^
which may with more |)rol)abilily be a^crlh■,
Alonzo de ( )jeda, as having oci lined ihiriii;; j
sie^e. At a time when the garrison \v;i
|)ri ssed by Limine, an Indian j;, lined at rcs>
tort, bringing a couple ot woiidpim'nii'i |i |
table ot the commander. The l.itier w,h
apartment ot the tower suriouniled by si\i .|
his otlicers. Seeing them regard the hinS
the wistful eyes of tamishing men, " It is;i|
said he, "that ' e is not enough to givi' ..•
a meal ; I cannot consent to least while thi-
ol you are st.irving ;" so s.iying, he tiiiiad
the pigeons trom a window ot tlie tower.
I)uring the siege, Ojeda disjilayeil lhi;j
est activity ot s|)irit and lertility ol n>
He baffled all the arts of the L'iirib chit]
concerting stratagems of various kinds :
lieve the garrison and annoy the foe. lies
forth wlienever the enemy a|)i)eared in any;j
leading the van with that lieadlong v.iii:'
which he was noted ; m.iking great slaii},'lui:r
his single arm, and, as usual, escapiiij; u]
from amidst showers ot darts and arrows.
Caonabo saw many ol his bravest warriors-
His forces were diniinishing, for the liiili,in>
used to any ])rotracted o|)erations ot vv;ir :
weary of tfiis siege, and returned daily :i,
hers to their homes. He gave up all tun-
tempt, therefore, on the fortress, and nnrcii.'
with admiration of the jirowess and achiiuri
ot Ojeda. +
The restless chieftain was not disri)iir.i,:|
the failure of this enterprise, but im
schemes of a bolder and more e.xtensivc r.
viii. (4
* Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib
Pizarro Varonese lllustres, cap. 8.
t P. Martyr, decad. i. lit), iv.
j Oviedo, Cronica de las Indias, lib. iii. cap
' """-era, Hist. Ind., d
1,IFK AND VOYAOF.S OF COLUMIU'S.
iir
HH he rarrifj
sun- iH-rmi'l
,'t tiff, aim .
ll.ltKllUsi •
lie iincikfil
, ,111(1 lllxlr
\ Itir .iii\ I
itiis .Aliiiu
ri'ckll'ss in
ny (it lilt' ii
''llinllj;!! •'
ill ,illil |ilo.'
lisxiM'iU'.i rt I
CSS, (_',ioii;il« .
iiniifil Willi
111 cs Ii.ikIciimI
iflly llini,!;;'
■'^llllOI lllHIll
II ;i slatf (i| .
tort (■•>, luiwi
icr, wliifll. It
■i^lU, witli .1
iclii.niiinn ■
Icti.iiK (• AH .r .
1)() now liiiji
iirpoM', 111' 'li' 1
ailiacfiil liii"
iiitcri r|>t aiU'l
111(1 t(i fill ""'
. 'I'liissiinf''
|- and rcilmii.
iTc is a liiuli'
ot red 10 M-
1 Uiis tm-licv
lity lie aM-rilv
< uVicil (iiiiiii;,; I
irrison \v;i
led a( it'S>'.'
)li'^C()llS ti
•rowliinj in secret in the vicinity "f Is.iln-ll,», he
oit'ililif ciitiflilcd state (jf the >.citlfni(iil.* Many
I thf iiih.iliilanis were MiKcrinj; iiiidir various
rt.ihuiii'-', ,ind iiuisi (it the niei) ia|i.il)lc cil licarinjf
Irni-. \ure disiriliulcd ahmit the couniiA He
Lu iiHiifued the iiroicct <d a Kiiier.il lea(,'ue
Tiiiiiiu ''"•■ (•'■K i'l^"-"'' '"' !»ur|)rise and ii\ rrwheim
[ic ■.lUlriiii'iit, and ni.issacre the Sp.iiiiaKis wher-
Vi'r ilii'V iiuiid he found. Tins h.iinltul ot iiitru-
iiiiii' exteiniinated, tie trusted llie isl.ind
■iiui'l lie (ii'hvered Iroin all lurther molest, ition of
[if kiiiil . little dieaniilijj ot the ho|)eless nalure
■ llif loMli'st. and lli.it where the eivill/ed ni.m
|il,iiiis his tool, the power ot the savaj{e is
one liiri-v'cr.
|Ki|iiits of the prolli^j.ite conduct ot the Span
liuer \va>
!ed liy sc»"
(1 the' hi^l^
:-n, " It is;il
inh to ^ivc -
^l while till- 1
he tuir.ul
e lower.
ayed llu'SJ
(lily ot rrv
Ciiril) due
)us kinds ;
toe. Hts
a red in any:
idloii^; v;i!i:|
eat slauj^liltr
escapln}; '•']
(1 arrows,
est waning
,r the liuli.ir.'
ons of ".If
ned daily h
e U)) all tur"-|
, and n IHi''- ■'
and achirur!
lot discoiir.iC"
[e, but 111'''
extensive-
i. lib. viii.
lib. iii. cap
. tliein, nor suttered from their
CaiMl.ilio lound three ot the so\ereij;ii
Irih II. Ill spread throU|;hout the isl.ind, .iiid in-
biiil liilicd and hostility even anions trilies win
ncicr lieliel
Ibilcr... - - „..
ii|Ui> UK lined to eo-oper.ite with him, lhoU);li
n|iii'.>->eil with deep awe ot the superit.itur.il
bui-riil the .Sii.mi.irds, .iiid of their terrilic .irnis
' ,1111111, lis. The le.i^jue, liowever, met with iin-
li|iirti'il opposition in the titth c.ici(|Ue, (lu.ic.ma-
hii, ilu' so\erei)rn ot .Marien. His eonduct in
Ih tune of d.in^fr completely m.inifested the iii-
Liiii' (it the suspicions which had heeii enler-
liiu.l of hill) hy the .Sp.miards. He refused to
liii ihc Dtlier eacicpit's with his forces, or to vio-
Itc iImm' l.iws ot hospitality l)y which lu; had con-
intl liiiiiself liound to protect and aid the while
■ei, ever since they li.id heen shipwrecked on his
J.i^t lie remained (|iiielly in his dominions, en-
lrii;iiiiij; at his own e\pense a hundred of the
IIltiii;,' soldiery, and suiiplyinj^ all their wants
jilh Ins ucuslomed j;enerosily. This conduct
lev iipipii liim the odium and hostility of his fel-
V ciciipies, particularly of the tierce Carili,
luiKiliii, and his hrother-in-law, Itehechio. They
lie iiTUpiioiis into his territories, .ind inllicleil
hiiii v.uioiis iniiiries and indijrnities. lUdiechio
Ic I one ot his wives, and Caoiiaho carried
.ihIrt aw.iy c.iptive.t .\()thin>|, however, could
■ake t!ie devotion ot CiUacan.ijr.iri to the Span-
ami as his dominions lay immediately iid-
fctiii 111 the settlement, and those of some of the
pitr iMciipies were very remote, the want of his
ii|iir.iii()n imjieded tor some time the hostile
Ivl;iis of his confederates. J
I.Siuliwas the critical state to which the affairs
llhr ciilony h.id heen reduced, and such the liit-
' hiintility enjrendered amon^f the people of the
liiiil. (hiriiijr the absence of Columhus, and
Itrcly in coiise(|ueiice of violatinjr all his rejjula-
Inv .Mar^rarile and Friar Hoyle had hastened
|S|Miii to make false representations of the mis-
It-, of tile island. Had they remained faithtullv
jtluir posts, and discharjjfc'd zealously the trust
IniiilfJ 10 them, those miseries mij^hthave been
Isily remedied, if not entirely prevented.
CHAPTER IV.
tA-^lRFS OF COI.UMIIUS TO RF.STORF. TIIF.
I<,il IKr (IK IHK 1SI..\NI)— EXI'EUniON OF OJKUA
I"!'! sUKl'RISK CAONADO.
['494.]
pM\iirii.\Ti:i.Y after the return of Columbus from
Pi, while he was yet confined to his bed by in-
Hist. del Almirante, cap. 6o.
' Ibid.
Herrera, Hist. Ind., (iecad. i. lib. ii. cap. i6.
disposition, he was j;r.itit'ied by ,n voliint.iry \isit
from (iu.ic.ina^'.iri. who iii.initesled the j;re.ilest
concern .it Ins illness, lor he appe.irs lo li.ive
.dways enlerl. lined an attei tion.ite revcreiu c t.ir
tlie admiral. He .i;;.iin spoke wilhte.irsot the
m.iss.K re ot l-'ort .N.itivity, dwelling on the tNcr-
tions he h.ui m.ide in deteiice ot the Sp.ini.irds.
He now informed t'ldiimbus of the sei ret le.i^,'iie
foriiiin^ .imon^ the ( .k kjucs ; ot Ins <ip|i(i-.iiiiiii to
It. and the coiiseipieiit persecution he h.id siif.
lered ; ot the murder of one of his wi\i's, and the
c.iptiire of another. He ur^jed the .idmir.il to be
on his j;u.ird a),Minst the designs ot C.ioii.ilio, and
offered lo le.id Ins sutiicits to ihf tiild, lo fiHht by
the side of the Sp.ini.irds. as well out of trieiidship
tor them .IS in reiciijic of his own iiiiiiries.*
(/olumbus h.id always rel.iiiicd .i deep sense of
the .incieiit kindness of ( iu.K .iii.i^;.iri, .ind w.is re-
joiced to lia\t- .ill suspK ion ot his ^^rnud l.iiili thus
elfeclu.dly dispelled. Their tornier ami( .ililt iii-
teridUrse was renewed, with this differeiu c, lli.il
the man wlioin ( 'iiiac.iii.ij,Mri h.id oiu c relieved
and succored as a sliipwre( ked slranj,'er, h.id sud-
denly licKime the arbiter of the t.ile ol himself .ind
all his i ouiilrymeii.
'I'he in, inner in which this peaceful islaiid h.id
been exasperated .ind embroiled hy the licentious
conduct of the luiropeans. w.is a rnatler ot deep
concern to Columbus. He s.iw all his |il.ins of
derivin^f .in immediate revenue to the sovcrei^nis
completely impeded. To restore the isl.ind to
traiupiilliiy recjuired skilful m.ina;;emeiit. His
forces were but sni.ill, and the awe in whii h the
natives had stood ot the white men, as super-
n.'itur.'il bein^js, had been in some de;,'ree dis-
pelled. He was loo ill to t.ike a person, il sh.ire in
any warlike enterprise; his brother Dienowas
not of a military char.icter, .ind li.irihohimew was
yet a stran;,'er amoii^j ihe Spaniards, and re-
j;arded by the leadiiij,^ men with jealousy. Still
Columbus considered tlitr ihre.iiencd comfiiiialion
of the caci(|ues as hut impi'rteiily toriiied ; he
trusted to their wain of skill .iiiii e\|ierieni e in
warfare, and conceived that by jirompi measures,
by iiroceedinjr in detail, punishin^r some, concili-
atiii); others, and uniiinjr force, jfeiilleness, and
slratafjem, he mi),du succeed in dispellinj,^ the
threatened slorm.
His first c.ire w.is to send a body of .irnied men
to the relict of I-'orl Ma.ifd.ilen.i, menaced with de-
struction by Cuatij^uan 1, the caciipie ot the C.r.ind
Kiver, who had mass.icred the Spaniards ipi.tr-
tered in his town. Havin^j relieved the fortress,
the troops overran the territory ot (;uali>,ni,iiia,
killinjr m.iny of his warriors, and carrvin;; others
off captives : the chieftain himself made his es-
cape.} He was tributary to (lUarionex, sovereijjn
c.ici(|ue of the Royal '\'e>,M. As this Indi.m
rei^jned over a ^rre.il and populous extent of coun-
try, his friendship was hi^'hly imixirt.inl tor the
|)rosperity of the colony, while there was immi-
nent risk of his hostility, from the unbridled ex-
cesses of the Spaniards' who had been (|Uarlered
in his dominions. Columbus sent tor him, there-
fore, ;ind explained lo him thatthi'se exc( -ises had
been in viol.ition of his orders, .ind contrary to his
^ood intentions toward the n.itives, whom it was
his wish in every way to please and lienetlt. He
explained, likewise, that the expedition a^^^inst
C.uatijruan.i was an act of mere individual punish-
ment, not of hostility aj^ainst the terri lories of
Cuarione.x. The cacique was of a (juiet and
* Herrera. Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib, ii. cap. lO.
t Ibid.
lis
LIFE AND VOVAGi:S OF COLUMI3US.
placable disposition, andwhatrvcr atifjcr he mifjlit
have lek was uasil)' sdolhrd. 'I'o link iiini in some
(lei^ree In the Spanish inlercsl, Ciilunihus pre-
vailed on him to j;ive his daiij^diter in niarriaye
III llie Indian iiiterpretef, Diej^'o Colon.* As a
; stronj^cr preeaiilion aj,Minst any hostility on the
part ot the caciciue, and to insure tran(|iiillity in
the i!npt)rlanl rejjion of tlu- \'e;;a, he ordereil a
fortress to he erected in the midst ol his territories,
which he named l'"ort Com eption. The easy ca-
ri(Hie aj,rreed without hesitation to a measure
traii|;lu with ruin to himselt, and future sl.iverv to
his suhjecls.
I'lie most formidable enemy remained to he dis-
posed of— Caonabo. His territories lay in the cen-
tral and mountainous jiartsot the island, rendered
(lillicult of access by rut;<,rc(| rocks, entanj^led for-
ests, and frecpient rivers. To make war upon this
sid)tle and ferocious chieftain, in the depths of his
wild woodland territory, and amon^^ the tastnesses
ot his mountains, wliere at e\erystep there would
he dauLjer ot ambush, woukl be a work of time,
]ieri!, :ind uncertain issue. In the meanwhile the
settlements woidd never be secure from his secret
and daring enleriirises, and the workintj of the
mini s would l-.e subject to fre(|Uent interruption.
While ptM'plexed on this subjei't, Columbus w.is
relieved by an offer ol .Mon/o de Ojeda, to take
the Carib chieftain by strala^cm, anci deliver him
alive into his hanils. The proiect was wild, haz-
ardous, and romantic, ch.iracieristic ot t ijeda, who
was tond ot (listint;uisliin,L;' himscll by extravagant
ex|)loits .and feats ot desperate bra\ery.
Choosinjr ten bold and hardy followers, well
armed and well mounted, and invokin;.; the jiro-
tection of his patroness the XMrj^in, whose imajje
as usual he bore with him as a safeguard, ( ijeda
liknigeil into the forest, and made his way ab ,ve
sixty leaj^ues into the wild territories of C.ionabo,
whom he found in one of his most popidous towns,
the same now called .Maf^uana, near the town ot
San Juan. Apijro.ichint;- the caeiipie wit'i j^reat
(!■ 'rence as a soveri'ij;n ])rince, he jirotessed to
Conic on .1 friendly embassy from the admiral who
v.-.is Ciuamiipiina, or chief ot the Siianiartls, and
who had sent him an invaluable i)rcsent.
Caenabo had tried Ojeda m battle ; he had wit-
nessed his llery |ir;i\vess, and had conceived a
warrior's atlmiration of him. He receix'ed him
with a decree of chiwdroiis coiu'tesv, if such a
])hrase may a|)ply to the s,iva.L;;e state and rude
hospitality ot a wild warrior of the forest. The
tree, tearless depoitnient, the jjreat |)ersonal
s'rt n;.;ih, ,ind the suiprising airiliiy and adroit-
ness ot ()jedain all manly exercises, and in the
use of all kinds ot weapons, were calculated to
del il; lit a savai^e, and he soon became a great
favorite with Caonabo.
,. ;i
garding with superstition all thinpfs ronnor;^
with the .Spaniards, tlu'V looked U])on this In,'.; J
something supernatural, anil in tliiar iisu.al i)hr.:i.|
s.iid it had come from " 'I'urey," or the ski J
Caonabo had heard the bell at a distance, in ]J
(irowlings al)<)Ut the settlement, and h.ad |iin,4
to see it ; but when it was iiroffered loiiim,
present of peace, he foinul it im|)ossiblL' to i(..j
the tempt. ition. He agreed, therefore, to.ti
for Isabella ; but when the lime came to ij,:
Ojeda beheld with surprise a ])owerlul li)i\v
warriors .assembled ;ind ready to m.irch. i
asked the meaning of taking such an arniv r
mere friendly visit ; the cicicpie |)roudly n|.-|
that it did not betit a great prince like I'.iins
go tV)rth scantily attended. Ojeda w.as little .s.nj
tied with this re|)ly ; he knew the w.irlike ch.id
ter of Caonalx), and his deep subtlety ; he \a:-i
some sinister design — a surjirise of the foitii>-f
Isal)ella, or an attempt upon the person ot il;t ,
miral. He knew also th.it it was thi- wish o! [
lunibus either to make peace with the c,ici(ii;-
to gi-t possession of his |)erson without tlic :i!ii-
ti\'e of open warfare. He had recourse to .1 m;
gem, therefore, which has ;tn air of fable an;-
niance, but which is recorded by all tin- ci!::
porary historians with trivial variaii(iii>, ,
which. Las Casas assures us, was in cunriii
cidaiion in the island when he arri\i(l 1'
about six ye.irs after the event. It acconi, ■
with the adventurous and extravagant cl\ir
of the man, and with the wild stratagem^ ..
\aimting exploits incident to Indian wait. ire.
In the course of their march, ha.ving ha.lin!'
the Little Vagui, a consider.able brancli i!
Neyba, Ojed.a one day protluced ?. set of ni.,;:.i
of polished steel, so highly burnished that ;
looked like silver. 'Lliese he assured Cm-
were royal orn.iments which had come :
heaven, or the Tiu-ey of liiscay ; * th.al they
worn by the monarchsof Castile on solemn il,
and other h.igh festivities, and wcTe iiiiiiiiii
presents to the cacicpie. He |)roposi'il tli.r. i
n.ibo shoidd go to the ri\er and ba.th.e, alii.i'v
he shoidd be decorated with these oni.iii. '
mounU'd on tlie horse of ( )je(la, and shmiii
turn in the state of a Spanish monarch, to .•■
ish his sulijects. The cacicpie w.i.i da//lc>l
the glitter of the manacles, and flattered ui;:
ide.i of bestriding" one of those trenieniliui-
m.ils so dreaded by his countrymen, lie r-,
to the river, .and having bathed, was .i^-i-:
mount behind Ojed.i, and the shackles we;
justed. Ojeda made several circuits ,
space, followed by his btile ba^d ot horseir,!:'
Indians shrinking back fvom the pr.aneiiiL;' :''■■■
.\t length he made a wide swee|) into lie:
until the trees concealed him Irom the sigiii
army. His followers then closed round hiiVi
drawing their swords, threatened Caon.ilin '
instant death if he made the least noise oir:'
ance. Ihnding him with cords to Ojed.i i'
\ent his hilling or effecting an escaije, ilic
Ojeda now used all his intluence to iirevail
upon the I'.iciipu! to re|iair to Isabella, for the
purpose of making a treaty with Columbus, an<l
becoming the ally and friend of the Spaniards.
It is s.iid that he' ottered him, as a lure, the bell
III the chapel of Isabella. This bell was the won- ,
der ot the island. When the Iiulians heard it' niaile off thiough the woods with their p;i
ringing for mass, and beheld the S|)aniarils
hastening toward the chapel, thev imagined th.it
it talketl, aid that the white men'obeve'd it. Re-
spurs to their liorses, dashed .across the rivi:
* I'. M.irtyr, ilecaii. i. lit), iv. Gio. li.utista Spo-
tTH .. in Ills Memoir of Colnniluis, lias lieen leri into
an ei'or by the nameot this Imlian. and oliservcs that
CoUanbus had a t Ulicr iiained ^)ic^;o, of whom lie
sci'iiied to l)e ashamed, and wlium he married to the
daughter of an Indian diicf.
" Tlic prinripal iron manufactories of Spain 1:
t.ddislied in liiscay, where the ore is found in-
dance.
+ Tliis romantic exploit of Ojeda is rccowl
lar<e In' I-as Casas ; tjy his copyisi llcrrtr.t .■■'<■■
lib. ii. cap. I'll ; \)j I'ernando I'i/.arro, in li;^\-:
lllustres del N'ucvo .Mundo ; and liy Charlev"i< '
History of St. DominKO. Peter M.anyr anJ
have given it more concisely, alluding to, lut ''•
i^eriing its romantic details.
, I.aCa^,,,
f UsCisa
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
110
1 nil thinK'^ roiirnT.:
(lokfd iipiin ihi-^ ln-'.::;|
11(1 in llu'ir usual iihr.J
' 'I'urcy," 111- llu- ski-:
.■11 at a (lislancr, in h
fim'nt, and had I'lr-
IS priiffiTi'd to him :;-
1 it impiissilili' 1" V
■I'd, lluTt'lclT, l'> ■!'.
he linn- caiiif M •'■'
•isf a powt'i'lul li'i\
ready to manli.
^il1}^ such an army
i-aciciuf proudly r^
■at prim'c lil<^: V.uv.^
1. Ojcda was liltlr -
;ne\v llu' warlikr < : ,.
(K-i^p subtlety ; hr lr„
uirjirise ot iIh' f;>iir> •
pou the person (il li
at it was the wisl; o'
)eace with the can','
erson without the :\'.u
eiiad recourse to a M; •
as an air of hd'le ,u, ■
orded by all the ('«!.■■
trivial varialinn\
cs us, was in cnrn-i;!
when he arrived r
le event. It accmiK :
ind extravat;ant clar ■
the wild slral:!,i;•enl^ .
nt to Indian warl arc.
march, having; halia!:
msiderable branch V.
iroduced a set of ni.,ii;i:
^dily burnished thai ;
hcs'e he assurt'd Cau-
; which had conic r
lliscay ;* thaiihcvv
f Castile on soleuui il.:;
es, and were inunili.
'lie jiroposed \hM(
liver and bathe, aturv/
d with these ornaii
of Ojeda, and sh.iii.;
lanish monarch, ui .•'
cacujue
was da//!i'''.
[les, and llatlcr.'d wi:
of those treniendiHh
counirvmen. He rv['
;■ liathed, was as:.'.va I
md the shackles wrft ]
several circuits .
li'.ile i.:"'^d ot horstir.;'
f'-om the pran^/nv^-.-v
[vide sweep into tl'f 1
him from the si:4lii
lien closed round Im'-.
1 threatened Caonalu'
ihe least noise orr.
[ith cords to Ojeda I'j
Ictinjj: an escajje, iIk';'
lashed across the nv^ ■
Idods with their piiA.
lanufactorics of Sp-nii.^
ic the ore is (ouivl i".-
l)it of Ojeda is rcior:::
liis copvisL llerrtiM •' ■
Imdo l'i/.arn>, in l'^^ ^ "
llo ; and by CharU'V"i>^
Peter Slariyr an..
sclv, alluding i", l-"' '■
Us.'
Tluy liad now fifty or sixty ]ea{,nies of wilder-
hess til traverse on their way homeward, with here
End there iar^^i- Indian towns. They had borne
[if then' c.i|)tive far beyond the jiursuit of his sub-
ects ; but liie utmost vi^'ilance was requisite to
IjrcveiU his escape during' this lonij and toilsome
Diirnev, and loavoiil excitinjj tlu' hostilities of any
kill!'/ Irralc caci(|Ue. 'I'liey liad to slum the popu-
L)\], Mill-, ol the country tlierelore, or to pass
|lir.};!j;Ii the Indian towns at full j^allop. 'I'liey
liiv I ,L;re.itly Irom fatij^ue, liun^^er, and watch-
H,,!!-,, ;' ciK-ounterin,^ many i)erils, fordins; and
iiiiim,:; the numerous ri\ers ot the plains, toil-
iliiMU^h the deep tangled forests, and clam- |
iiil; liver the hi^h and rocky mountains. 'I'liey
cnph^heil .ill in safety, and I ijeda entered Isa-
a 111 iriuni|il'i from this most darin;^ and char-
k(li•n^^i ■ eiUerpi'ise, with his wild Indian bound
bi-i'iin I.
LiiiMuDus could not refrain from e\pre-.sintj his
It saI;■^l.lctlon when this danj^erous loe was de-
li, rcl into his hands. The haughty Carib met
[11 wiiii .1 lofty and unsubdued air, disdainiui;
,!i;',riliate him by submission, or to de|)rec.ite
lb vciiL,'ciii('e lor the hiood of white men which
iia.l i.K- 1. He never bowed his spirit to caj)-
',:\- : III! the contrary, thou;.rh compiettdy ;it the
■ii'v ot the .Spaniards, he displayed that boastin;.;'
Iriianre which is a part of Indian heroism, ami
iiiii till' savajje maint.iiiis toward his tor-
■at'irs, even amid the ai^onies ot the faj^ot and
•>tikc. He vaunted his achievement in sur-
|I■l^in.; and burniiii^ the fortress of Xaliviiy, and
|laii.;iUeriML,'' its garrison, and declaivd that he
l^■^■rclly reconnoitred Isabella, with an iiUen-
l(i!i 111 urcak;n^' upon it the same desolation.
C.iitnnlui-., thuuija struck with the heroism of
!)■.■ I liietlain, considered him .1 daiit^erous enemy,
I'h.mi. Iiir iha pe.ice ol the isl.ind, it was ad\'isa-
)lf 10 > ■!! I to .Spain ; in the meantime he ordered
la; Iv.' s!imild be treated with kindness and re-
l, .la I 111 |oe,| hip.i in a part of his own dweli-
. wii rr, however, he kept him a prisoner in
Ihajii'. This precaution must have been neces-
ary, Ir.iai the insecurity ot his prison ; for Las
I'aM-- oliicrves that the admiral's house not
s|ii iDiis, nor havin^r niany chambers, the
|a>ii.a'i l)\ 111 the strt^et couiil see the captive ehiet-
\:\ iroai the portal.-' [
1 Cionalio .il-.vays maintained a h,injj;lity deport- i
^■.■iU loiv.ird Columbus, while he iie\er evinced i
il' i^t airinosity .■io;.iinst Ojeda. He r.uher ad- j
!■ I tile 1. liter as a consummate warrior, l.ir |
■il 1 1^ pounced upon him and borne him off in
pi^ liiwk-like manner from the \ery midst ul his
,Miiii;4-iiu'n.
[Wiicii Ci)!um!)iis entered the .apartment where
iim'i.i was ( ontined, .all present rose, according;
nb'oiii, ,md p.iid him reverence ; the caci(|ue
P'lir iieillicr moved nor took any notice of lii!ii.
]ii tl.r contrary, when ( )ieda entered, thouoh
|iii!l ill |k-rsiin and without external st.ile. Cao-
iiiros-.inl saluted him with profouiul respect.
|ii iifiii^r asked the reason ot this, Columbus beinj^r
|iiani'i|uin.i, or o-re;it chief over all, and < )jeda but
V '4 Ins subjects, the proud Carib replied that
^i.lniiral h.id never dared to come person.illy
!!!>, house and seize him ; 't was only throuiWi
■iilorol Ojed.i he w.is li's prisoner ; to Ojeda
fir''!oR'. lie owerl reverence, not to the admiral t
!"• r.iplivity of Caonabo was deeply lelt bv his
I'l-^. lor the iiaii\es ot this island seem yen-
l.aCas.i-;, Hist. Ind., lib. I. cap. io2.
L Las Casus, ubi sup., cap. I02.
erally to have been extremely loyal, and strongly
attached to their caciques. One of the brothers
ot Caonabo, a warrior ot j^reat coura;,^' ami ad-
dress, and very po|)ular amonj.f the Indians, as-
sembled an army of nuire th.a'i seven thous.ind
men anil letl them seciclly to the neij^hbohood ol
St. Thomas, where Ojeda was aoain in command.
His intention was to surprise a number id S|),in-
iards, in hopes ot (d)tainin^ his brother in ex-
chan;j;e for them. Ojeda, as usual, had notii • ot
the desii^n, but was not to be a;;ain shut u|) in his
fortress. Havinjj been reiiiiorceil by a del.ich-
inent sent by the .Vdclantado, he lelt a silllicient
force in j,Mriason, and with the remainder, and his
little troop ot horse, set off boldly to meet the s.iv-
ages. The brother ot Caonabo, when he saw the
S|).iiiiar(ls approaching', showed some military
skill, disposinj;- his ,irmy in t'lve battalions. The
im|ietuous .itt.ick ol Ojeda, however, with his
handful of horsemen, threw the Indian w.irriors
into sudden p.inic. At the furious onset ot these
steel-cl.id beinj,fs, wieldino- their tlashinj;- weajions,
;ind bestriding; what appc. red to be ferocious
beasts of i>rey, they threw down their weapons and
look to llijjht • many were slain, more were taken
jirisoners, and amoii^ the latter was the brother
ot Caonabo. bravely lighting in a righteous yet
desperate cause.*
CH.M'TKR V.
.■\RRIV.\I, OF ANTdNt ) UK T.)KR1'.S Willi rofR
SHIPS 1 RDM .SPAIN — Ills RKTLR.N Willi IMilAN
SLAVICS.
['W-1
TllK colony was still suffering greatly from
w.int of provi..iions ; the European stock w.is ne.ir-
Iv exhausted, and such was the idleness a id im-
pro\idence of the colonists, or the conlusion into
which they had been thrown by the hostilities of
the natives, or such was their exclusive e.iger-
ness alter the precious metals, that they seciu to
have neglected the true wealth of the i'slaiul, its
(piick and productive soil, and to have been in
constant d.inger of f.imine, though in the midst of
tertility.
At lengt.i they were relieved by the arrival of
four ships coiiimanded by Antcnio Torres, which
brougiit an ample sup|)i/ ot |)ro\isions. There
Wire also a jihysician and an apothec.iiw w liost
aid w.is gre.illy needed in the sickly st.iie ot the
colony ; but .ibove all, there were mechanics,
millers, lishermeii, g.irdeners, and husbandmen —
ihr true kind ot popuLition ' r a colony.
Torres brought letters Irom tlv,' ' sovereigns
I'd.ated August lOtb, 14941 ot the most gr.itilying
kind, expressing the highest s.itisf.iclion ,it the ac-
counts sent home by the adniir.il, .and .acknowl-
edging that e\frything in the course of his discov-
eries had turned out as he had |)re(licied. They
evinced the liveliest interest in ll-'' affairs ot llic
colony, and ;i desire of receiving frecp.ient intelli-
gence as to his situation, projiosing that a car.ivel
should s.iil i^.ich month Irom Isabell.i aiul S|!,iiii.
They informed him that .all differences wich I'or-
iugal were amicably adjusted, .md acqu.iiiUed
him with the conventional .agreement with that
power relative to a geographical line, sep.ir.iting
their 'lewly-discovered possessions : re(|uesting
* Oviedo, Cronica dc los Indlas, lil
Charlevoix, Hist. St, Damingo, lib. ii. \!
III. rap.
iji-
120
LIFK AND VOVAGKS OF COLUMBUS.
him to respect this njjrci-m'. !it in tin." course
ol his (hscoVL-rios. As iii ailjiistiii^ tiic arranj;i:-
nu'iU with I'oriiifral, aiul in ilrawin^; iht- jiruposcil
line, it was ini|)ortant to have tiic best advice, ti;e
sovereigns re(|Ueste(l Colmnhus to return and be
presiiit at tin; convention ; or, in case that sliould
l)e inconvenient, to send liis lirotiier liartholoini'w,
or any otlur person whom lie should consiiier
fully competent, lurnished with such maps, charts,
anil ilesigns as niiglil be ol service in the negt^'.i-
ation.*
There was .-mother letter, addressed generally
to llu: inhabitants ot the coh>'n-, and It) all who
should |)roceed on vov.iges ot discovery, com-
manding them tj obey Columbus as implicitly .is
they wiiuld llv sovereigns themselves, under |).un
ot their high d .-.pleasure .\nd a line ot ten thousand
m.ir.ivedies tcr each ottence.
Such was II. e well-meriletl confidence reposed
at this momeiii by the so\ereigns in Columbus,
but which was soon to be blighteil by the insid-
ious reports ot vorthless men. I le w.is alre.uly
aw.ue ot the complaints and misri'|)resentations
which had been sent home trom the colony, and
which would be enlorced by M.irgarite and l-'riar
lioyle. lie was aware that his standing in .S|)ain
was i)f th.it uncertain kind which a str.mger al-
w.ivs possesses in the service of a toreign country,
where he has no friends nor connections to sup-
port him, .ind where even his very merits increase
the e.igernessot envv to c.ist him dow n. His efforts
to promote the working ot the mines, and to ex-
plore the resources of the-isl.ind, hail lieeii im-
l)eded by the misconduct ot .Margarite and the dis-
oiderlv iife of the Spaniards in general, yet he a])-
preiu'iided th.it the \ery evils which they had pro-
duced would be alleged against him, and tlie
want of prolitable returns be cited to discredit and
emb.irr.iss his ex|)editions.
To counteract anv misrepresentations of the
kind, Columbus h.istened the return of the ships,
anil would have returneil with them, not merely
to com|)ly with the wishes t)t the sovereigns in be-
ing present at the settlement of the geographic.il
line, lu!' to \indic.ite himself and his enterprises
irom the as|.e'-sioiis of his enemies. The malady,
however, which contined him to tiis bed prevented
his de])arlure ; and his brother li.irtholomew was
reipiireil to aiil, with his ])ractical good sense
and his resolute spirit, in regulating the disordered
aff.iirs of the isl.md. It was determined, there-
fore, to Send home his brother Diego, to attend to
the wishes ot the sovereigns, and ti) take care of
his interests at court. At the '■■mie time he exert-
ed himself to the utmost to send by the ships s.it-
"sf.ictory proofs of the value of his discoveries. He
remitted by them all the gold th.it he coulil col-
lect, with specimens of other metals, ;inil of \ari-
ous fruits and wiUi.ible ])l,iiits. which In had col-
lected either in Ilispaniol.i or in the course ol his
voyage. In his eagerness to produce immediate
prollt, and to indemnify the sovereigns for those
expenses which liore hard upon the roy-d treas-
ury, he sent, likewise, above five hundred Indian
prisoners, who, he suggested, might be sold as
sl.ives at .Sevil'e.
It is painfui to t"md the brilliant renown of Co-
lumbus sullied by so foul a stain. The customs
of the times, however, must be ])leaded in his
aiiology. The precedent had been given long '•"-
fore, l)y both .Spani.irds and Portuguese, in their
African discoveries, wherein the traffic in slaves
had formed one of the greatest sources of profit.
* llcrrera, decad. i. lib. ii. cap, t';.
In fact, the ])ractice had Iieen s.iiictioiied hv
church itself, and the most learned tluoluj^i
had |)ronouiiced all barbarous and infidel u.unr.i
who shut their ears to tlu' truths ot Clui^li.n,
fail objects ot war and rapine, of capiivii\ ,
slavt'ry. If Columbus neeiled any practlciliJiJ
tr.iiion ot this doctrine, he had it in the ( (in(l':{
ot I'erdin.iiid hinisell, in his late wars widi
.Moors of (iran.id.i, in which he had alwavsl,:!
surriuinded by a crowd ot ghostly advisers,
had professed to ilo everything lor the glory .,r,,;|
advancement ot the faith. In this holy war, .u [
was termed, it was a common practice to m,i,J
inroads into the Moorish tirritories and c.n r, c[
(■(fr'i;/:,'Vf(/(M', not merely ol tloiks and herds, I.-
ot lium.in beings, and those not warriors t.i;,.
with we.ipons in their hands, luit cpiiel \ill, ,;;.■.
laboring ])eas.intrv, and helpless women ;iiiili; .
drill. These were carried to the mart at Si\i ti
or to other populous towns, and sold into s\.r.,:
The capture of .Mal.iga was a menuuahle iiisUii
where, as a punishment for an obstiiialc ,:
brave defence, which should have excited ain .|
tion rather than revenge, eleven thousaiiil \m''
of both sexes, and of all ranks and ages, iii.n.i
them highly cultiwited and delicately reared, \\c
suddenly torn from their homes, severed Im-
each other, and swept into menial slavery, r.-
though halt of their riinsoms had been i',,.
These circumstances are not advancetl to \;ri
cate. but to iialliate the conduct ot Coluniiil
He acted but in conformity to the custiaii.s ol ;
tinu'S, and was sanctioned by the exani|)le ot ;
sovereign under whom he ser\ed. I. .is C.l^a^, ;
zealous and eiitlnisi.istic advocate ol the lmi;,r
who suffers no opportunity to escape him n! t
cl. liming in \ehenie;U terms against their si.m:
spe.iks with indulgence ot Columbus on llu^ ii,.;|
It those pious and learned men, he ulistr.iT
whom the sovereigns took tor guide-, aiul
structors, were so ignorant ot the injiisiirc oi :
practice, it is no wonder that the uaieiuin.
mir.il should not be conscious ot its imniiiiiiK:
CHAPTER Vr.
KXPl-.niTION OF COI.UMIU'.S AG.MNST THl-; IMil.U|
Ol' Till-: viio.A— li.vni.K.
[■494-]
XoiWllHSTANniNC. the defeat of the lu:
bv Ojeda, thev still retained hostile inliii'.
against the Spaniards. The idea ot their c.u >
being a prisoner and in cli;iins enraged tU :
tives of Maguan.i ; and the general s\:ii|
manifested bv other tribes of the island > '
how widely that intelligent sa\.ige h.id iM'.:.
his influence, and how gr'-atly he was adir,,:
Hi: had still .ictive and powerlul relatives ivn.
ing, to attempt his rescue, or re\enge his :
One of his brothers, M.inicaotex by name, ;i Ci
b(dd .ind warlike .as himself, succeeded in '
sw.iv over his suljects. His favorite wile ■
.Xnacaona, so famous tor her charms, li.id i:
inlluence over her brother Hehecio, caci(|iiL (■ •
|)opulous province ot Xaragua. Througii i
nu'ans a \ioleiU and general hostility to thi' >:
iards was excited throughout the island, air:
formidable league ot the caciques, which Cii:.
'' Las Casas, Hist. Ind., torn, i, cap. 122, m^.
ill in vain .Tttem
frj;;', \vas product
an, llic caciip
lifiully to the S|);
Irmati'iii o! the g
Iki'lhc fiehl with t
|Thf iii'oir.icled il
'ss jf his inililai y
lie cidoiiists in
I scarcity l'> g;rea
diui'd liim to try
(1 str.ilagein to
acv. lie had at
1(1 his followers
il iiivigor.ited by
i|)s. .\t this tiiiit
at the allied caci
(Tical t(ii-i-e in I
aivh III Isahell.i, w
;!iiT,d iissaillt U|)o
luiiiiiiig it by nuin
kc llie field at oiii
If lerrilories of the
he hi'dtight to his I
The whole sou'id
iilil imi-.ter, in tlu
loiiy, did not exce
i'lity horse. T'hey
ivorils, lances, and i
si'S, uhicli ill thos
d siiinetimes mom
rmiilahlc we.ipons,
lur.i, cased in steel
iTf alilc to cope w
They had aid
iisisting of twenty I
' lt•^s terrible to the
iliiiili'ly more t.it.il.
niiioiis ; iiotiiing d;
once seized upoi
mpcl them to reliii(|
'ics o'^ the Indi.in^
ii'ir attacks. 'Pliey
liii to the e.irth, ,'.iu
The adinir.il w;is .-ic
IV his hroilier llartlu
liil he suiight on all
iirdy great |)ersonal
e, hill .also .-i decid
ri icui.igari ;ilsa broii
leilhi-r he luu' his sii
■iriike ch.ir.tcter, not
jistaine. The cliiel
ion was, th.it it comp
Itlii-r 1- iii(|iies, ;iii 1
liiiiM'll and his subjei
e present int.int st.il
irity depended upon
■ivii among the ii.iliv
On the 27th of .M.u
rth tniin Isabell.i w
need hy marches o
ihe enemy. He ai
in-pass ot the Cava
'l^eil down upon the
tlin;;s did he now co
i^nsi.t [he white men
Nliii,:,', he.iuiiful, ;in(
'jl region, into a la
' frever the smoke (i
Kan^r the trees, it mi
"ifiiiies, .md the di
'"niied with lurkinj.
'^•A his imaginai.on
lid inoffensive nature
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMIiUS.
U>1
U'tioiud liy !
(.'(.I llli-nlii^i,;'
illl'uU'l li;uiiii,|
l>t CliriMli.iii,;,
t i:;i|)livilv ,;i
|)r;u'tu,irn.L.|
in ilu' ( iiiic:
wars Willi ':
;nl alwiiy-, \-<:
)■ advisiTS, „;
iV llic j^Uiiy ,,]
luily war, ,p
raclKf Ui 111,;
s anil larr, i
and lui(U, i
warridih i.ik
l|Uifl Vlll.i^.-.|
.(inu-n and i\.
marl ai St-viitl
lid inln sl.i'.ir
iirahli.' iiist.ii. :|
olistinale ,.r
fxeilcd aJni,:.
Juiusand |nii; :
d aj;'i'S, ni.nA .
fly rfari'd, v.il
1, scvi'ricl l:r|
al slavery, f.t|
lad luiii
vaiuitl U) MisJ
I ot ClllllllliL'l
.■ fusUiin.-. ii!
i'xani|)lf III
Las Casas,
e ot tlic liuli.j'l
scape liini n! vl
|sl llicir ^l.m-;
us on llii-. \i.^:
, lie iibsir.i'
guides ami
iiiiilsUcc c'l ;:
■ iin'ulUud , I
ts imiimiHK';
~r Till-; iNHi.'.^:
i.i:.
(.( tlu' li'.i:
-,tllc illlili!
it lilt ir iMi 1
■nraj^cil ili
irral s\:ri|'
island > '
had t\Ui:'
was ai'iu ;:
■!ali\cs IV!;.
■\rn^r llii '
iianu-, a C-
.(■(■I'llcd 1(1 ■
iirite \\\W •■■
irnis, liail i;'
aciqiii "' '
'rhnnit;ii i'
ilV to till' M
island, an :
which Caul!.
122, M^.
caci(|ucs were .ictually assembled
in the V'e^a, witnin two d.iys'
(1 in vain attempted to accomplish when at
'nr.., was priidiiced hy his caplivily. (iuac.ina-
' the caciipie ot Marien, alone remaini'd
ifiiilly to the .S|)ani.irds, ^fivinj;- lliem timely in-
irinalioii of the i;alherin^ storm and oltering U>
lie the field with them as ,i laillitid ally.
Thr prolr.Kled illness ot Columbus, ilie sca'iti-
•ss )[ hi-, niilil.iry force, .and the w ch.'d st.ite
.le ciilonists in jjencral, ri'diic ;i by si'kness
Ll scarcilv lo ^real bodily weakness, h.id hiiherlo
liliued luni lo try every me.ms ot concili.uion
bil str.ilaf^'em to .avert and dissoUe the con.'ed-
|-;uv. lb' lia<i al lenj^th rtiovered his heailh,
id his followers were in some dej^ree relreiihed
invii;'iraled by the sui)plies bri>iij,dil by the
hips. M this time- he received the intelligence
jiat tin- allied
|rrcal lo''ce
laii'li ot Isabella, with an intention of making a
biicral assault upon the setllenient, .-ind over-
IhclmiiitJ it I'V numbers. Columi)US resolved to
Iki- tlic lield at once .md to carrv the war into
St tiTi'ilories of the enemy, rather lli.m suffer it
lie liriiii^lil lo liis own >.oor.
[The whole sou'ul and effective force ili.it he
mild niii-.ter. in tin; presenl iiitirm sl.ile of the
plony, did not exceed two hundred inlantry and
ticiity liiirse. 'I'liey were armed with cross-bows,
ftorils, lances, and espin^ardas, or heavy ;ir(|ue-
uses, which in those days were used with rests,
siiiiictinus mounted on wheels. With these
Lrmidalilc weapons, a lianillul ot h'.iiropean war-
jurs, cisi'd in steel .and covered with bucklers,
Icrc able lo cope with thousands ot naked sav-
They had ;iid of another kind, however,
mslsliii;.,' ol twenty bloodhounds, .animals sc.irco
li'ss terrible to the Indi.ms than the horses, and
hlinilcly more fat.il. Tlu'y were fe.irli'ss and
krocioiis ; nolhinfr d.iunled them, nor when they
once sei/eil u|)on their prey could .anythinif
om|)cl them lo reliii(|uish their hold. The n.iked
s o' llie Indians offered no defence .it^amsl
ptir altai'ks. T'hev spr.in;^ on them, drai^j^ed
jltiii to liie e.irlh, ;.iid lore tnem lo pieces.
Tlif admir.il was ;!ccoinp.inicd in the expe<lilion
|y his hrollier ISartholomew, whose counsel and
■ soti^dii on all occasions, and who had not
btivly yreal |)ersonal force and und;;,!nled co'ir-
gf, lull also a decidedly military turn of mind.
ill iciiiaj^ari .also brought his people into the liekl ;
leiiluT lu' nor his subiecls, iiowever, were ot a
[f.irlike char.icler, nor calculated lo render much
Isjist.iiire. The child adwinlaj^e ot his co-oper;i-
■011 w,is, ih.it it completely severed him from the
lllur iici(|iies, an I insure.! the dependence of
fiiisclt ,iiid his subjects upon the .Spaniards. In
Jlc prcsciil int.mt stale of the colony its chief se-
|uruy (IcpeiKJed upon jealousies and dissensions
own aiiiiiii^r the n.itive powers of the isl.and.
I On the 27lh of M.irch, 1495, Colunibus issued
prth tnim Isabell.i with his little army, and ad-
aiK'i'd hy m.irchcs ot ten leajrues a day in (|uest
it liiij enemy, lie .ascended attain to the moun-
kiiifass ot the Cavaliers, whence he h.ad tirst
pikfd down upon the \'e|.,r,i. With what different
|feliii^;s did he now contemplate it. The vile pas-
Ions iit the white men had already converted this
milin^f, he.iuliful, .and once pe.icetul and hospil.a-
reo'ion, into a land of wr.alh and hostility.
Uitrever the smoke of an Indian town rose friMii
JriMn;,' the trees, it marked .1 horde ot ex.isperat-
iMicniies, and the deep rich forests below him
panned with lurkinjj warriors. In the i)icture
piich his iinai;in.u.on had drawn of the peaceful
nd inoffensive nature ot this people, he had flat-
tered himself with the idea of ruling over tliem as
a patron and benelactor, but now lie loiiiid liiniselt
compelled lo assume ihe odious char. icier ot a
i oni|Ueror.
The Indians had notice by their scouts of his
.approach, but ihou^jh they had .ilre.idy hail some
slij^ht experience ot the warlare of the white men,
they were conlident trom the \ ;sl superiority of
their numbers, which, it is s;ii;l, amounleil to one
hundred thousand men.* This is probably an
ex.ijroeration ; as Indians never dr.iw out into the
open lield in order ot battle, but lurk .inion;^- the
forests, it is dillicull to .iscert.iin ilieir lorce, and
their rapid movements and sudden s.illies and re-
treats from v.irious jiarts, to;;eilu-r wiili the wild
shouts .and \idls trom o|;posiie (|ii,incis ol ilie
woodlands, are c.di'il.ited to j^ive an e\.i,i;;.;er;'ted
iile.a of their number. The .iiiiiy must, iiowever,
have been j^reat, as il consisted ol the coiiibiiied
lorces ot several cacii|ues ot this populous island.
Il w.as conim.inded by .Manicaole\, the brolhcr of
Caonabo. The Indians, who were little skilled in
numeration and inca|).ible of reckoning; beyond
ten, had a simple mode of ascerl.iiiiini; and de-
scribing,'' the force ot an enemy, by couiiiini,^ out ;i
>,'rain of m.iize or Indian corn tor ecrry w.inior.
When, therelore, the spies, who had w.ili lied trom
rocks and thickets the march ol Columbus, came
back with a mere handful ot corn as the amount
ot his army, the caciipies scoffed .il the ide.i ot so
scanty .1 number making" head a^.iiiisi tlit-ir count-
less multitude. t
Columbus drew ne.ir lo the enemy .about the
place whc.X' the town of .St. J.if^o h,i-> since been
l)uill. The Indian army, under .Maiiic.iotex, was
posted on a plain interspersed with clusters of
forest trees, now known as the .S.iv.mna ot Ma-
tanza. Havinir ascerl.iined the (;re.at tone ot t!ie
enemy, Don liariliolomew advised th.il their little
army should be divided into del.ichments, and
should ati.ick the Indians .it the s.ime moment
from .'^everal ciuarlers ; this plan was adopted.
The int.anlry, sep.iralinjc into dilfennl bodies,
.uivanced suddenly trom various direciidiis with
f^re.at din of drums and trumpets, ,uid .1 destruc-
tive disch.irije of lirearms Irom llie (overt ot the
trees. The Indians were thrown into c( n|)lete
confusion. An army set;med jiressin^ upon them
from "Very (|uarter, their tillow-warriors to be
l.lid low with thunder and linhlnin^r trom the for-
ests. W'i.ile driven to^'cther .and contouniled by
these att.icks, Alonzo de())e!la charj^ed their main
body impetuously with his troop ol civ.ilry, cut-
tinif his way with Lance .and s.ibre. The horses
bore down the terrified Indians, while their riders
de.ilt their blows on all sides unop|)osed. 'i'he
bloodhounds at the same time rushefl upon the
naked savaj.jes, seizini^^ them by the throat, drajr.
^Miiir them to the earth, .and tearinj^ cmt their
bowels. The Indians, unaccustomed to l.ir;,fe and
tierce t|ua(lru[)eds of .any kind, were struck with
horror when assailed by these ferocious .animals.
They thouj^ht the horses eipudly tierce .and de-
vouring-. The contest, it sucii it might be c.iUed,
w.as of short duration.
The Indi.ans tied in every direilioii with yells
and bowlings ; some clamlu mI to the top of
rocks and precijiices, whence they made piteous
supplications, .and offers ot complete submission ;
m.uiy were killed, Uiany made prison-rs, and the
confederacy was lor the time com[)li;iely broken
up and dis|)ersed.
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 104, .MS.
f Las Casas, ubi sup.
132
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
' 4
!!'
Guacan.'i^rari had accompanied tlie Spaniards
into llic liclil according to his i)roniisc, i)iit he
was little more than a spectator ot tiiis battle or
rather rout. He was not of a martial spirit, and
])oth he and his subjects must have shrunk with
awe at this unusual and terrihc burst ot war, even
though on tl;e part ot their allies. His participa-
tion in the hostilities ot the while men was never
forffiven by the other caci(|ues, anil lie returned
to ills dominions, lollowed by the liatred and exe-
crations ot all the islanders.
CH.M'TKR VII.
SL'njUC.ATIoN OF Till'. NAllVi:S-
TK II it; IK.
-I.MPOSITIOX OF
['494.]
Coi.UMl'.is followed up ills victory by makinj; a
military tour ihrouj^h various parts ot tiie island,
and reducinij them to obedience. The natives
made occasional attempts at opposition, but were
easily chcckeil. Ojeda's troo]) ot cavalry was ot
great eliiiacy trom the rapidity ot its movements,
the active intrepidity of its commander, and the
terror insi)ircd by the horses. There was no ser-
vice too wild .inii hazardous forOjeda. !t any ap-
pearance ol war arose in a distant part ot the
country, lie would penetrate with his little sipiad-
ron of c.a\alry through the de|)ths of the lorests,
and fall like a thunderbolt U])on the enemy, dis-
conceriinj^ all their combinations and entorciny;
im|)licit sui)mission.
The Royal \"ega was soon broug-ht into subjec-
tion, liciiii;- an immense plain, perfectly level, it
was easily oserrun by the horsemen, whose ap-
jiearance overawed tiie most jiopulous villaj^es.
(;uari(_)nex, its sovereign caci(|ue, was ot a mild
and placable character, and though he had been
roused to war by the instigation ot the neighbor-
ing chieftains, he readily submittetl to the domina-
tion ot the .Spaniards Manicaotex, the brother
of Caonabo, was also obliged to sue tor peace ;
and being the prime mover of the confederacy,
the other cacitpies toilowed his example. ISehe-
chio alon.', the caci(|ue of Xaragua, and brother-
in-law ol L'aiinabo, made no overtures ot submis-
sion. His territories lay remote from Isabella, at
the western extremity of the island, around the
deep bay called the liight of Leogan, and the long
])eninsuia c.illed Cape 'I'iburon. They were ditli-
cult of access, and had not as yet been \isited by
the while men. He retired into his domains, tak-
ing with him his sister, the beautiful .Anacaona,
wife of Caonabo, whom he cherished with frater-
nal affection under her misfortunes, who S()on ac-
(|uired almost e(|ual sway over his subjects with
himselt, and was destined subseiiuenlly to make
some tlguri' in the events of the island.
Having been forced to take the field by the con-
federacy of the cacitpies, Columbus now asserted
the right ol a coiujueror, and considered now he
might turn his concjuest to most proht. His con-
stant anxiety was to make wealthv returns to
Spain, tor the purpose of indemnitving the sover-
eigns tor their great expenses ; ot meeting the
pidilic expectations, s) extravagantly excited ; and
above all ot sileneing the calumnies ot those who
had gone home determined to make the most dis-
couraging representations of his discoveries. He
endeavored, jierefore, to raise a large and imme-
diate revenue by imposing heavy tributes on the
subjected provinces. In those of the \'ega, Ci'i..
and all the region of the mines, each iiulivic J
above the age ot fourteen years was reiniirc^i
jKiy, every three months, the measure of a Ki;r
ish hawk's-bell ot gold dust.* The ca('i(|ULb|J
to pay a much larger amount tor their persd:
tribute. Manicaotex, the brother ot Caoiialjo.wj
obliged individually to render in, every thr-
months, halt a calabash ot gold, amoumiii"
one hundred and fitly jiesos. In those disin:
which were distant trom the mines, and ]in)(lu::,
no gold, each individual was recpiired to luri:,v
an arroba (twenty-live pounds) of cotUm t\A
three months. Each Indian, on reiideriiij,' :|
tribute, received a copper medal as a curiiiic-;
ot payment, which he was to wear siisinncf
round his neck ; those who were found with
such documents were liable to arrest and |juni::|
nient.
'I'he taxes and tributes thus imposed bore hrJ
upon the si)irit of the natives, accustomed to :|
but lightly taxed by their caci(|ues ; and tliec;]
cicpies themselves found ihe exactions inlolurai [
grievous. CiUarionex, the sovereign ot the Ri.
Vega, represented to Colum!)Us the ditliciihv
had in complying w ilh the terms ot his tribuj
His richly fertile plain yielded no gold;
though the mountains on his borders C()iu,iii;J
mines, and their brooks and torrents washed doiJ
gold dust into the sands ot the ri\ers, yet liisMi:!
jects were not skilled in the art ot colle('iiii« .,
He proffered, therelore, instead ot the trihuic!:!
c|uired, to cultivate with grain a band of cuun.-l
biretching across the island from sea to y
enough, says Las Casas, to h.ive furnished
Castile with bread tor ten years. f .
His offer was rejected. Columbus kn;:\v ihj
gold alone would satisfy the avaricious (lie.ijJ
exciteil in Spain, and insure the popularity ar:[
success of his enterprises. Seeing, liowevt-r, .-l
dilliculiy that many ol the Indians had in kiiiv:'!
ing the amount ot gold dust rei|iiirtd, lie lii-.\e:r]
the demand to the measure of one halt ui
hawk's-bell.
To enforce the ]):iymint of these tributes, v
to maintain the subjection ot the island, Cm:\
bus put the fortress already built in a stroii;.;- s':J
ol defence, and erected others. ISesides ihiiscci
Isabella, and ot St. 't'homas, in the mmimaiiiv,:
Cibao, there were now the fortress of Magd.ik:.;|
in tile R(jyal X'ega, near tiie siie ot the old tH'
ot .Santi.igo, on the river Jahupia, two lL;i;;t
from the place where the lU'W town was atterwi'J
built ; another called Santa Catalina, the site:!
whi' h is near the h'.stencia \'a(|ui ; another ia.?J
Ksperanza, on the banks ot the river ^'a(|ui, Lu:
llie outlet of the mountain pass La I'uerta de :
Hidalgos, now the ])ass ot .M.iniey ; but tlu; niKi
im|)ortant ot those recently enacted was Fort Co'
ception, in one ot tlit' most Iruitlul and heaun:.!
parts ot the \'ega, about lilteen U'agues to tliftii;
ot 1-^speraiiza, controlling the extensive and i)o;i|
lous doni..ins of ('iUarionex.;|:
In this way wa.i the yoke of servitude fixed uii
* A hawk's-bcll, according to Las Casas (Hist. IKI
lib. t. cap. 105), contain: al)out three raslcllaiKis' wiii'J
of golit dust, e(iual to t'ivn dollars, and in cstim,i;ir.i|
the superior value of gold in thv)se tiays, equivalem'"
fifteen dollars of our time. A nuantity of ynlil vn'M
one hutulrcil and lifty c.islellanos was e'|iiivali.r.'.-f
seven hundred and ninety-eight dollars ot the prcseti
day.
t Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib, i. cap. los
I Las Casas, ubi sup., cap. no.
i
LIFE AND VOYAOnS OF COLUMBUS.
i-;;3
le Vufra, CibJ
;ach individj
-•as re(|uiredT
iure of a |"i;J
L- caci(|Uu3t,,r
■ ihfir pirsoj
f Cai)iial)(),'.\J
II, fMTy t!,'.
amoiimiii^'
tllosu (lisU;:
, and priiilu::!
lircd lo tun.J
i COlldll t\;-f
n-ndLTiiin
as a curiihc;;:
car siisiicni:-
! iouiid will;; J
ust and puni-,
osud bore
;ustoniL-il to ;i
;s ; and ihtaj
ons intoltral
;n i)t llic Ro,;
he dillicultv:
ol liis irilj;;;-.!
no jfold ;
"(U'l's I'oiuaintJ
ts washed (lo.i-j
.•rs, yd hisst:!
)t colh'iiiiv^
the ti'ihint; !:l
land ot cuurr.-j
ini sea lu x\
e lurnishud
ihus kin;\v ih]
iriiious (h'ea::
]H)|)uhirily ,i::]
hdwevi-r,
111 in kiriii!']
(I, he liiwerrj
lie luill i: .
iribiites, ::\
island, Coitr.
a strong' s'u'
L'sides ihiistol
nuiiinl;iiiiMl
)f ?\lai;(lalc:.;|
ihc old Hit'
two l(';';;i:-|
was ,ittcr«"';(
na, the ^ik'
aiiiilher ca,
N'a(|ui. t.u::
I'lieria (If -
lull lluMl'i
was I'duO
and heaul::.
ues lo llu-ci
-iive and po;'.
_i(le fixed U[cJ
sas (Hist, Ini I
lellanos'wii
in cslimali:.;|
s, equivaii'ntB
of i,'(iM Hni;:|
ct|iiivalti"'
ol ihc lircst'.j
105.
he island, and its thralldnm effectually insured,
peep despair now fell Ujioii the natives when they
bund a perpetual task inllieled U])()n them, en-
hrced at st.ili'd an ' tre(|Uently reeurrinj^ periods.
I'eak and indolent by nature, unused to labor of
nv kind, and broiii^hl up in the untaskeii idleness
their soft climate and their fruitful .proves,
leaili itself seemed preferable lo a life of toil ami
Invii'tv. They saw no end to this liarassinir evil,
^hioh h id so'suddenly lalleii upon them ; no es-
troin its all-pervading- intluenee ; no pros-
ect of reuirn to that rovin!.j independence and
niple leisure, so dear to the wild inhabitants of
jif tiirest. The pleasant life of the island was at
end : the dream in the shade by clay ; the
lumber duriuLf the sultry noontide heat by the
luiiiain or the stream, or luuler the spreadinir
aim-tree ; and the sonj,^, the dance, and the
ame ill the mellow cvenini,'-, when summoned to
heir siinpi' annisemenls by the rutie Indian
^■um. Thev were now oblij^ed to f^rope day by
av, with bending body and .anxious eye, alon;^
lie borders of their rivers, sifiinjjf the sands for
|ie;(raiii-> of j(old whiidi every day ^^rew more
taiilv ; I'l' to labor in their lields beneath the fer-
broi a tropical sun, to raise food for their task-
laslers, or to produce the vejretable tribute im-
seil upon them. 'I'hey sank to sleep weary and
lihaiistcd at tui;!it, with the certainty that the
p\l (lav was but to be a re|)etition of the same
and sulTerin^'. Or if they occasionally in-
[jed in their nation.il dances, the ball.ids to
Ihich they kept time were of a melancholy and
laiiilive character. They spoke of the limes that
lire past before the while men had introduced
prrow, and slavery, and weary labor amonj^
kern ; and they reht'.irsed pretended jirophecies,
jainied ikiwn Irom their aiuestors, foretellinj^r the
iMsion (it the Spaniards ; that strangers should
bme into their island, clothed in apparel, with
Ivonls cip.ible of cleaving' a man asunder at a
low, under whose yoke thidr posterity should be
I'llue.l. 'I'hese b.allads, or areytos, they s.ini^
li'.ii mmirnlul tunes and doleful voices, bewailinjr
le 'jiss iii their liberty, and their painful servi-
iTheyhad llattered themselves, for a time, th.at
Ic visit III the str.in-;ers would be but temporary,
1! that, spreadinic their .ample sails, their ships
louiil oai (• more bear them back to their home in
lesky. In their simplicity, 'hey had repeatedly
|(|i:ire(l when they intended to return to Turev,
tile heavens. 'I'licy now beheld them takini,''
to;, aj it were, in the isl.ind. The\ ''cheld their
ksicls Kill};' idle .and r.iitinf,^ in the h.irbor, while
Ic crews, scattered about the country, were
piitiiiiL; habitations and fortresses, the solid con-
IriUiin III which, unlike their own slight cabins,
bve eviileiice of perm.uient .abode. t
jriiiilinL,'- how vain was all attempt to deliver
Icnisei es by warlike means from these invinci-
Itmtruders, they m^.v concerted a forlorn and
(operate mode of annoyance. They perceived
lit the sc-ttlenient suffered greatly from shortness
provisions, and dejiended, in a considcn-able
vve. upon the supplies lurnished by the na-
i>. The fortresses in the intericn-, also, and the
piniards (|uartered in the villaj^res, looked almost
'''Ti'ly to them for subsistence. They a'^rfffd
'■:; themselves, thercdore, not to cultiv.ite the
*i:'s, the roots, and niai/.e, their chief articles of
I' Peter Martyr, derad. iii. lib. ix.
If LasCaS^is, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 106.
food, and to destroy those alre.idy fjrowini,'- ; hop-
in^f, by iiroducinj; a famine, to st.irve the stran-
iicvii from the isl.md. 'I'hey little knew, observes
l,as Casas, one ot the char.icteristics ot the .Sp.m-
iards, who the more luin|.jry they are, the more in-
dexible they become, and the more hardened to
endure- sulferinj;. * They carried their plan gen-
erally into effect, abandonint,'- their h.abiiations,
layin^^ waste tludr fields and j,'roves, and retiring
to the mountains, where there: were roots and
herbs and abund.ince ot uti.is tor iheirsubsistence.
This measure did indeed produce much distress
amoiiLj the Spani.irds, but they had torcii;n re-
sources, and were enablc:d to endure it by luis-
liandin},^ the ])artial supplies brou;;ht by their
ships ; the most disastrous cdfects tcdl u|)on the
n.uives themselves. 'I'he Spani.irds stationed in
the various fortresses, lindiiij^' that there was not
only no ho|)e of tribute, l.iut a d.iiigerottamine from
this w.inton waste and sudden desertion, pursued
tlie natives to their retreats, to compcdtliem to re-
turn to labor. The Indians took relu;.je in the most
sterile and dreary hei^'hts ; lly in;^ Irom one w ild re-
treat to another, the wc)r,ien with their ciiildren in
their arms or at their backs, and all wurn out
with fatigue and hun^fer, and harassed by per-
petual alarms. In every noise ol the forest or the
mountain they fancied they heard the sound of
their pursuers ; they hid theniselces in damp and
dismal caverns, or in tlie rocky b.inks ,ind niar-
i,rins of the torrents, and not il.irinir id hunt, or
tish, or even to venture forth in iiuest of nourish-
\u'^ roots and vej^etables, they had to satists- their
r,i};in<,r hun^rfr with unwholesome food, in this
way many thousands ot them peii-.lu.d miscrablv,
throuj^h famine, fatigue, terror, and \ariiius con-
ta^^ious maladies eiiLfendered by their sutferiiiijs.
All spirit of ()p|)(>siiion was at length completely
C|Uelled. 'I'he survi\iiv.,r Indi.ins returned in cie-
spair to their h.ibiiations, and submitted humbly
to the yoke. So dee|) ;in awe did thev conceive
of their C(>n(|Uer(jrs, that it is s.iid a Sp.miard
mi^ht ^o sins^ly and securely all over the island,
and tiie natives would even transport him from
|)lace lo place on their shoulders. t
litdore p.issini;' on to other events, it niav be
proper here to notice the late of ( luacan.i^Mri, as
he makes no further appearance in the course of
this history. His lriendshi|) lor tlic .Spaniards liad
severed him from his countrymen, init did not ex-
onerate him Irom the geiier.il woes ot the i-.land.
His territories, like those ot the; other c.ii i(|Ues,
were subjected to a tribute, which his peojile, with
the common re|)ii^^n;ince to labor, tound it elit'ti-
cult 'o pay. Columbus, who knew his worth, and
could have protected him, was lon^r absent either
in the interior of the isl.ind, or detained in I'.uroj)e
by ids own wroiii^s. in the interval, the Sp.in-
iards forijot the lios|)it.dity .and services of (lua-
canaijari, and his tribute w.is h.irshly exacted.
He found himself overwhelmed with o|)priil)rium
from his countrymen at lar<,fe, and assailed by the
clamors and lameni.itions of his suffering;' sub-
jects. The str,ini,fers whom he had succored in
distress, and take'ii as it were to the bosom id his
native isl.ind, had become its tyr.ants ,ind ojipres-
sors. Care, and toil, and poverty, and sirong-
* N'o conociendo la propricd.ad de los Esp.inoles,
ios cuales cuanto mas hamtirirntos, tanto ni.iyor teson
tienen y mas duros son de safrir y para sufrir. Las
Casas, Hist. Ind.. lib. i. rap, loO.
f Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. c. 106. Hist, del
Almirante, cap. Co.
lU
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
■ ' f '
iii;,
handed vinlcnrp, lirul spread their nirses over the
land, and he lelt as it lie had invoked them on liis
race. L'nahlc lo hear the hostilities of his leiiow
caciciues, the woes ot his sid)iects, and the extor-
tions ot liis iMifrratelul allies, he look refu^je at last
in the nioiniiains, where he died ohscurely and in
misery.*
An atlenij)l I-.. is been made hyHviedo to defame
the character ol tiiis Indian ])rince : it is not lor
S|)aniards, howmer, to excuse their own ingrati-
tude hy castinjr a sti^jnia on his name. He ap-
pears to have always nianilested toward them
that true friendship which shines hrijrhtest in the
dark days ol adversity, lie mi^dit have ])layed a
nobler |)art, in making;- a stand, with his brother
caci((Ues, to drive these intriiders Irom his native
soil ; but he appears to ha\e been fascinated by
his ailiniration of the str;uiLfers, and his personal
attachmrnt to Columbus. lie was bountitid,
hospitable, affectionate, and kind-he;irte(l ; com-
])etent to rule a penile and inuvarlike peo|>le in
the h.ip|iier days of the island, but imlltted,
through the soilness ol his nature, for the stern
turmod which followed the arrival of the white
men.
CHAl'TF.R VIII.
i.\tric;it:s aci.mn.nI' coi.fMnus ix the cnrur
Ol' SPAIN--- -.\i;iAI)() SINTKJ 1NVEST1UATI-; TllIC
AIIAIKS 1)1 llISl'ANIOI.A.
['495-1
Wllli.K Columbus was endeavoring to remedv
the evils produced by the misconduct ot Mar^a-
rite, thi'.t recreant commander and his political
coadjutor, Kriar ISoyle, were busily underminin}r
ids reputation in the court of Castile. They .ac-
cused himol deceivinL,'- the soverei<jfns and the ])ub-
lic by extravaifant descriptions ot the countries he
had discovered ; they pronounced the island of
Hispaniola a source ot expense rather than proth,
and they drew a dismal picture of the sid'ferinj4S
ot till' colony, oil .isioned, as they said, by the op-
pressions ot Columbus and his brothers. They
charjred them w ith tasking; the community with
excessive labor durini;- ,i lime of f^eneral sickness
and debilily ; with sti)p|)injr the rations of indi-
viduals on the most trillinjr pretext, to the j^reat
detriment of their health ; with wantonly intlictini,''
severe c(jrporal jjunishments on the common peo-
ple, and with heaping indignities on Spanish gen-
tleiTien ot rank. They said nothing, however, of
the exigencies which iiad cdled for unusu.il labor;
nor of tlie idleness and prolligacy which re(|uire(l
coercion and chastisement ; nor of the seditious
cabals ol the .Spanish cavaliers, who had been
treated with indulgence rather than severity. In
addition to these complaints, they represented the
state of ronlusion of the island, in conse(|uence ot
the absence of the admiral, and the uncert.iinty
which prev.iiled concerning his fate, intimating
the pr ibiliiy of his having perished in his tool-
hardy attempts lo ixplore unknown seas and dis-
cover unprolitable lands.
The--e piejudiied .and exaggerated rc'presi'nta-
tions derived much weight Irom the ofticial situa-
tions of .M,irgarile and Friar Huyle. They were
suppiirteci liy the testimony of many discontented
and factious idlers, who had returned with them
* Charlevoix, Hist, de St. Domingo, lib. ii.
to Spain. Some of these persons had connecti-
of rank, who were ready to resent, with Sp.ir,,
haughtiness, what they considered the aridr,,
■assumptions of ,in ignoble foreigner. Thiih ;
poi)ularity of Columbus received a vital blnw, a
immediately beg.in to decline. The conlidcnct
the sovereigns also \>. i im|)aired, .and pricj.
tio; s were ailopted which savor stroi.glyuf'
cauiious and suspicious policy ol Ferdinand.
It w.is determincil to send some jierson of ir
and contulence, who should take upon hiiusclt!
government of the island in case ot the coiitir/jr
absence of the .admiral .md who, even in
event of his return, should in<iuire into the ^
leged evils and ;d)uses, and remedy such
should ajjpear really in existence. 'ihe per;
l)ro])osed fortius dillicMlt olfuewas DiegoC.ir;,
a commander ol ;i military order ; bulashcv
not immediately prepared lo s.iil with the Ikr,
c'.ravels jibriit lo (lei)art with supplies, the ..
ereigns wrote to l-'onseca, the superinlendcr.i
Indian affairs, to send some trusty person v.
the vesstds, to take charge ot the provisions v.
which they were Ireighted. These he wastoi,
tribute among the colonists, under the supervis;,
of the admiral, or, in case ot his absence, in |,rt
eiice ot those in authority. lie was also to culit:
inlorm.ition concerning the manner in which;
island had been governed, the conduct of i.trsci
in oltice, the causes and authors ot existing j;r;;
ances, and the measures by which they ui-rt:
be remedied. 1 laving collected siii h inlormaii •
he was to return and make report to the sw;
eigns ; but in case tie should tind the adinira!
the island, everything was to remain sulijcc;
his control.
There was another measure ado|)ted by tlics
ereigns about this time, which likewise shows::
declining lavor ot Columbus. On the loih
April, 1495, a proclamation was issued, i,nv.'
general permission to native-born subjects to-:
tie in the island of Hispaniola, and togooiip:
vale vovages of discovery and irallic lothe.N:
\\'(nid. 'Ihis was granted, subject to certain c:
diiions.
All vessels were to sail exclusi\-el\- from llif f:
of Cadi/, and under the ins|)ection of orin'crs.::
pointed by the crown. Those who enib,irki-i;:
His|)aniola without ]).iy and at their own expiT-.
were to have lands assigned to them, ami lo
provisioned for one year, with a right lo rt:,
such lands, and all houses they might ei fit i:r
them. Of all gold which they might colleil, r
were to retain one third for themselves, nwl;
two thirds to the crown. Ot all other articio
merchandise, the produce ol the island, theywr'
to p;iy merely one tenth lo the crown. Tlieirpl
chases were to be made in the presence ol nirAr
a])pointed by the sovereigns, and the r03.1l 'if.
paid intt) the hands ot the king's receiver.
ICach ship s.iiling on private enterprise w.iri
take one or two jiersons n.imed by the roy;ii
cers at Cadiz. ( )ne tenth ot the tonnage n;
ship was to be at the service ol the crown, fit
charge. One tenth of whale\er such ships .shi
procure in the newly-discovered countries \v„
l)e paid lo the crown on their reliirn. ThcM'
Illations included private ships trading to lli>i
tola with i)rovisioiis.
I'"or every vessel thus titled out on |)i"'m'-''
\enture, Columbus, in consideration ot liisj"
lege of an eighth ot tonnage, was to have tlu' r-
to freight one on his own account.
'J'his general license for voyages of disco
LIFK AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
155
lad ronnecii •
t, with Spar,,'
(1 the arnijjj- m
lu-r. 'I'lui!, •
vital hlciw, ,
ic conruU-iii;
tl, ami jin
htri)!.;.;!) ul ■
•"LTdiiiaiul.
• p'.Tson III ;-
i|)(in lihiiMv:
)l llic ClIlUll..-
(), even ill ■
ire iiUt) ilie .
.•meily >ud
V. 'i'lir |)i:-
s 1 )ic;4i) Cir
; l)Ul as 111-
willi liic lie;
ll|)l)liL-S, llit ■
i|)ci"iiUcii(lti,;
sly i)ei's(iii V.
|)n)visi()iis V,
,1,' lie was lui,
■ the suiK-rvi},
ihsencj, in \--,
as also tn iiui,:.
iier in which;:
uluet of i.cK-
it existinj,' i;r::
ich tlii-y were'
uch inloriiiali.'
lort to tllL- SUV;
mI the ailniir.Y
iniain snhjcc;
,)|)le(l by tliL's:
ewisc shows::
t)n the loih
s issued, i;iv:'
1 siibiecls lO"
ind to ^;ii "n;i
allic to ilu' N:
;l to ceitaiiu.
cly Ironi the r'
11 (it ollu'tTS
lo endjarkfi!
ii- own eNpcr.-:]
them, ami tu
ri-ht lu rt;.
;ht erci'i i:r
;h't collcL-l, w
I'selves, aniln|
other ariiclt--
,laiul, thcy«-'
wn. Th'jirr.'
■seiice ot otlK;
tlie royal 'lu;;
■ceiver.
lUerprise w.i>
l)v the roy;ii''
tonnage i)i.
e row 11, fr«
nil ships sli'-
•oiinlries Wa?
in. These rd
din;;- to lli>i-'-|
t on jir' '■■■'(•'•
ion of hispr.'
o have thf r.-]
es of tliscu"
f
■as m;iilL' in consequence of the earnest applica-
o„.s ot \incent Yafies I'inzon. and other able and
htrepid iiavifjators, more of whom had s;iiled with
okimljus. They offered to make voya^jcs at their
wn tii-,t and hazard. The offer was templini,'
11,1 uflllimed. The ),n)vernment was poor, the
xpediiioiis of Columbus were expensive, yet their
b]ei:t i\ is lo>) iiiiportanl to be he>;leeted. Here
MS ,in opportunity of attainin},^ all the ends pro-
n,c 1, not merely without expense, but with a cer-
aimv oi '^Ain. The permission, therefore, w.is
ianiril, without consulting; the opinion or the
,-ishc^ ol the :tdmiral. It was loudly complained
)\- him, as an infrinfrenient of his prixileires,
nil as ilisturhinfj the career of rei,'ular and well-
fraiii/cd discovery, by the licentious and some-
iiiifs pi-i' latory enterprises of reckless adven-
Linrs. Dout'tless, much of the odium th.it has
ttiu'lii' 1 itself to the Sijanish discoveries in the
Jew World has arisen from the j^raspinjj avidity
pri\.iU' individuals.
just ,it this juncture, in the early part of April,
ih\k tin- interests ot Columbus were in such ;i
riiic;il situation, the ships comm;inde;l by Torres
rrivL-d in Si)aiii. They broui^-lit intelli^enct; ot
e sate return of the admiral to Hisivmiola, from
is voviijrc alonjr the southern co;ist of Cub:i, with
e evidence which he had collected to prove th;it
was tile extremity of the Asiatic continent, an:l
at he had penetrated to the borders ot the
■calthii'-.t countries ot the ICast. Specimens were
ktfwisi; lin)u;j;ht ot the fjfold, and the various ani-
al anil vejretable curiosities, wdiich he had pro-
:ure.l in tlie course of his voyage, /.'o arrival
iouiil !iave heen more timely. It at once rem:)ve:l
II (loniiis respecting;- his safety, and obviated the
lecessiiyot jiart of the precautionary measures tlien
III the point of beinif t.ikeii. The supposed discov-
rv o! the rich coast of .Asia also threw a teni-
lorary splendor about his expedition, and ;ij4;iin
iwakeiu I the f^^ratilude of the sovereiirns. The
ft'i't w;is imme liately ap|)arent in their nie;is-
rt's. Insie:id of leaviiv^- it to the discrt-tion of
uan Ko Iri^uez de Fonseca to appoint whom he
'(•as. I lo the commission of in(|uiry about to be
iK, they retr;icled that power, and nomi-
;nei Ju.m A<>-u;ido.
He was chosen, because, on returninfr from
isp;ini()la, he had been stronj^ly recommende 1
royal favor by Columbus. It was iiUende I,
rctore, as a mark of consitleration to the lat-
r, to appoint as commissioner a person of whom
ic ha. I expressed so hi),^h an opinion, ;ind wdio, it
fas to he presumed, entertained lor him a j;r;ite-
' rc;;,iril.
FonseiM, in virtue of his TfTici;il station as su-
Itriiuendeiit of the affairs ot the Indies, and prob-
b!y to t^rraiify his jrrowinjr animosity for CoUku-
us, had det:iine;l a qu:intily ot j^old whiidi Don
■ (•;"!, brother to the admind, had brouj.;ht on
;> oAii priv.ate account. The sovereij^iis wrote
him repeatedly, orderiu}; him not to demand
-Lj'ilil, or if he had seized it, to return it imme-
i.i'.'-iy, v.iih satisf:ictory ex|)lan;itions, and to
nk- to Columbus in terms calculated to soothe
iiy;iiii(ry feelings which he mi.i.;ht have excited.
" w;is ordered, also, to consult the persons re-
u!y arrived from Ilispaniola, in what manner
■''i;ild yield satisfaction to the admiral, and to
irtaiconlinj^dy. Fonseca thus suffered one of the
if'iTcst humiliations ot an arro^r.int spirit, that
; 'ii-iii^r ()|)ijjr(.(l to niake atonement for its .arro-
''ii;i-. It ()uickened, however, the malice which
<■■ had conceived against the admiral and his
family. I'nfortunately his ofTicial situation, and
the royal conhdence which he enjoyed, j.jave him
opportunities of gratilyint; it sul)se(|uently in a
thous;ind insidious w;iys.
While the so\e reigns thus em le.ivori'd to. i void any
ait which nii^'lit ^Mve umbr.i^'e to Columbus, they
took cert:un me;isures to provi;le for the ti;ini|uil-
lily of the colony. In a letter to the admiral they
directed th;U the nundier ot persons in llie settle-
ment should be limited to li\f hundred, ;i ^^reater
ninnber bein^ considered iMiiie(ess;iry tor the ser-
vice of the island, and a luirdeiisoiiie expense to
the crown. To prevent lurther discontents about
|)rovisions, they onlered th;it the r.uions of indi-
viduals should be de;ilt out in portions every lif-
teen days, and that all |)unisliment by short al-
lowance, or the stopp;ii;e of r;itioiis, should be
discontinued, as teruiinL;- to injure the health of
the colonists, who reipnred every .issi.si.ince of
nourishini;' diet to loriily them a.i;;niist the mala-
dies incident to a str.mj^e climate.
An .able and experienced metallur^;ist, named
I'ablo Helvis, was sent out in pi. ice ot the wrou'.,'-
headed Firniin Cedo. He w.is furnished with all
the necessary en;.;ines ;ind implements for minintf,
assayinjr, and purityinj,^ the precious metals, and
with liberal ])ay and ijrivilei^cs. I'A'clesiastics
were also sent to supply the place of l"ri;ir Boyle,
and of certain ot his brethren who desired to
le;ive the island. The instruction and conversion
of the natives awakened more and more tlu; solici-
tude of the (pieen. In the ships ot Torres ;i larj.;e
number of Indians arrive<l, who h:id been cap-
tured in the recent w:irs with the cicicpies. Roy-
al orders had been issued, th:it they should be
sold as slaves in the m;irk(isof .■\nd;ilusia. as had
been the custom with respect to neni-oes taken on
the coast of Africa, and to Moorish |)risoners
captured in the w.ir with ( iran.id.i. Is;ibell,i, how-
ever, had been deeply interested by th<.' accounts
jjiveii of the <i;entle ;ind hos|)ii;ibie ch:ir,icter of
these islanders, and ot their ifreat docility. The
discovery had been m.ide under her immediate
ausjiices ; she looked upon these people .is under
her peculiar care, and she anticip;iiel with jiious
enthusiasm the kIoi")' of leading- them from dark-
ness into the ])aths of lij;ht. Her comp;issionate
spirit revolted at the ide.a of tre.itin,i.j them as
slaves, even thou^'-h sanctioned by the customs of
the time. Within t"ive days after the royal order
for the sale, a letter w;is written by the so\erei,<(ns
to Mishop Fonseca, suspendinL,'' tli.it order, until
they could iiujuire into the ( .iiise lor which the
Indians h.id been ni;iile ])risoners, .ind consult
le;ii'ned and pious t!ieoloj;i;ins, whether their sale
would hi; justiti;ible in the eyes of ("lod."' .Much
difference of opinion took ])l;ice .inion^r divines
on this import.an; (lueslion ; the (|Ueen ewntu.iUy
decided it ;iccordin^- to the dict;ites ot her own
pu.'e conscience and ch;irit;ible heart. She order-
ed that the Indians should be sent back to their
n.itive country, and enjoined that the ishinders
should be conciliated by the ^rcntlest mi%ins, in-
ste;ul of bein;4' treiited with severity. I'nf.jrtu-
n;itely her orders cime too l;ite to IIisp;iniol.i to
h.ave the desired effect. The scenes ot warfare
and violence, jiroduceil by the b;id passions of the
colonists and the ven^ -ance of the n;iti\es, were
not to be forgotten, ;ind mutual distrust and rank-
liiif.; animosity had .^rown up between them,
which no after exertions could eradicate.
* Letter of the Sovereigns to Fonseca.
CoUcccion de los Viages, i. ii, Doc. 92.
Navarrete,
1-^C
LIII': AND VOYAGI'S OV COLUMIU'S.
)•
.11 tH.;
t
•ill
ft
CIIArTI.K IX.
AKKivM, or .\(;r\iii> a r HAiii.i.i \ — iiis akuo-
liANr li>MH( 1 IIMIM.M IN I'llK IIAUIIIIK.
1'495.|
Jl'AN Act'Aiid set s.iil from Spain tcnvard tlic
end ul Aiii^iisl, with lour caiaM'is, well Irci^^lutd
with siipplu's ol all kinils. Don Dicj^o ('oliiinl)iis
rt'Uiriu'il in lliis s(|U:iili()n lo liispaniola, and ar-
rived at Isahflla in llir nioiuh ol October, \\'liilf
the admiral was absent, oeeupied in re-establish-
in^'' the tr.nupiillity of the interior. Agii.ulo, as
has alre.idy been >iho\\n, was under ol)li;;alions
to Columbus, who h.id distinj^iiished him Irom
anion);' his eompanions, and h.ul recommended
liini to the l.iMir ol the so\creij;iis. lie w.'is, how-
ever, one ol tho^e weak men whose heads are
turnetl by the KmnI ele\'ation. I'uffed up bv .'i lit-
tle tempor.uy ]Hiwer, he lost sij;'hl, not mei'civ ol
the respt i ,ind i;r,itilude due to Columbus, but ol
the nature ,ind extent of his own commission.
Instead ol .icvin;4' as an ai;ent employed to i-ollect
inlorm.ilion, he assumed .i tone of authorit\', as
thouj^h the reins ol i;'overnment hail been li'.ins-
lerred into his hands. lie inierlered in public
all.iirs ; ordered \'arious persons to be arrested ;
called lo .uenuiit the ollieers emploved bv the ad-
miral ; and paid tio resp 'ct to l>on liartiioloinew
Columbus, who rem. lined in comm.ind durini;' the
absence ol his biother. The .Adelant.ido, a^ton-
isheil at this presumption, demanded a si;.;'nt ol
the commission under which he acted ; but .-Xj^iia-
do tre.iled hini witli j^'re.il haULi'htiness, re|)lyinj;'
tii.it he would show ii only lo the admiral. On
second ihouj^lus, however, li'sl there should be
doubts in the |)ublic mind of his rij^'ht lo inierlere
in the aff.nrs ol the colony, he oriiereil his letier
of cre;ience Irom the soveri'i^'iis lo be pompouslv
proi'l.iim;'(l by sound ol trumpet, liwas briel but
comprehensive, to the lollowini;' purpiorl ; " Ca\'-
aliers, e-.ipiii'es, ,ind other pi'rsons, wiio bv our
orders are in tlie Indies, we send lo vou [uan
Ai;'iiado. our j^room ol the chambers, who will
spe.ik to you on our part. We command you lo
give him t.'itli .md ci'edit."
The re])orl now circul.i'.ed that the downfall of
Columbus and his l.imily was al hand, and that
an auditor h.id .trrixeil. empowered to hear and lo
redress ih.e L;'i'ie\'.inces ol the |)ublic. This rumor
ori^Ljinated with .\j;'u,iilo himself, who threw out
menace.-; ol ri^id invesiii;aiions and sii^nal punish-
ments, li w.is a lime ol jubilee for offenders.
Kvery culprit .started up into an accuser ; e\erv
one who by ne^rli^ence or crime had incurred the
wholesome jienallies of the l.iws, was loud in his
clamors against tlie o])pression of Columbus,
There were ills enoUi,rh in llie colony, some in<i-
dent lo its situation, others produced In' the mis-
tleeds of llie colonists, but all were ascrihed U) the
mal-ailministration of the admiral. He was niade
resiionsiiile .dikj for the evils produceil by others
and for his own siern remedies. All the old
comiilaints were reiter.ited aii;ainst him and his
hroliiers, and the usual and illiberal cause j,ri\i.|i
tor llieir oppressions, ihal they were foreiirners,
who sou;,du merely their own inleresls and a:,''-
jj^randi/enu-iU. .11 the expense of th.e suffering's and
the indl;4'nilies of ,S|)aiiiards.
Destitute of discrimin.iti'in lo pe''ceive wh.U
was true and what f.iise in these com])lainis, and
an.xious only to conde:iin, .\;.,''uado saw in every-
thiiiiT conclusive tesiir.iony of the culpabililv of
Columbus. He iniim.'ited, and |)erha])s ihouj^ht,
thai the admirrd was keepinif al a distance from i * Hcrrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. ii. cap. iS.
Isabell.i, tlirou^;h fear of encounleriii); his iiut, |
>;alions. In the lulness ol his presuinpiinn
even set out w ith a body of liiMse to j;o in 11,
ol him. A v. Mil .uid weak m.in in power Is tir
to em|)loy satellites ol his own di'scriptioii. ]
arroi;,inl and boastiiij; followers ot .A^r^,
wlu-rever they went, spre.id rumors animi;; ;
natives (d the iiii^;hl.ind iniptM't.mce ol linn li-
• ind ol the puiiishmenl he inleiideil to inlhi t i.
('(duinbus. In a little while llie report tn, u;,;.
throu^jhlhe isl.uid ih.il ,1 new admiral h.id .,11,
to .idminister the j;'overnnienl, and th.il llie i(,;:
one was lo be put lo death.
The news ol the arriv.il and of the insok lu ,
duel ol .Amiado reached Columbus in the mi,;
ol the isl.md ; he immediately h.isteiied lo L ,I„
lo !;ive him a nieelin^. Aj;uado, heariii;; u!
appro. iidi, also returned there. As eviiy
knew the lolly s|)iril ol Columbus, his liij;li mi
ol his services, and his jealous m.untenaiu r ul
ollici.d dignity, a violent explosion was antui|i.i::J
al the inipeiidinj;' iiilerv iew. Aguado also iajh ■
ed something; id tl e kind, but, secure in his u..^
letter ol crt'dt'nce, he looked lorw.ird witliii.v;
nor. ml audacity ol a little mind lo the result. '['\
se(pi(d showed how dillicult it is lor pettv >|iir'J
lo anticipate the conduct <d ,1 man like Coiiiin'
in an extraordinar)' situation. His natur.ili,
and ini|)eluo.sily had been subdued by a lilcul-.;
als ; he had learned lo bring his passions iiitd ^i:
jeclion to his judgmenl ; he had loo true :'ii(.:|
iii.\te of his own digiiilv to I'liter into ,ii 1;:
with a shallow boasU'r like .Agiiado ; aiiuvr
he had a profound resjiect lor the authoiilv ui
sovereigns ; for in his enthusiastic s|)irit, prnr,
ileep leeling's ol reverence, his loyalty was 11. ir;
only to his religion. He received Aguailn. {'.:
lore, with gr.ive and punctilious courtesy ;
rt'torted upon him his own ostentatious i- r'
ni.d, ordering that the letter of credeiue siin il ;
ag.iin proclaimed by sound ol trumpet in pre-
ol the populace, lie listtiied to il with siu-
delerence, and assuri'd ,\gu,ido ol his re;iilii;c-|
lo accpiiesce in wh.ilevfr might be the ple.isurr.
his sovereigns.
This unexpected mocli'r.ition, while il ,•lsll):li^
the beholders, lolled and disappointed .Ai^H.i. I
He had come pre])ared lor a scene ot aluriaii'
and had hoped that Colunibus, in the he.il..:;
impatience of the nuniieiil, would have s.iiil
done something th.it might be construed iiumi.i
respect for the authority of the sovereigns, ii:
endeavored, in fad, some months afterw.inl, :
procure from the ])ul)lic notaries present, a pri .•
dicial statement ol ihe interview; but the iL'r'-
enceot the admir.'il for the royal letter ol credtr..:
had been too marked to be disputed ; aiulall'.':
leslimoiiials were highly in his lavor.'*
.Agu.ulo continued to inlermeddle in puK:
rdfairs, and the respi'ci .md lorbearaiice w"
which he w';is uniformly treated by Colunili'.'|
and the niildness ol the latter in all his nu:i>i:'
to appease the disct)!ileiils of the colony, wei'i"
garded as proofs of his loss of moral ('oiii'.i;:|
He was looked upon as a declining man....
.Aguado haileil ;is the lord of the ascend.nit. !.■
ery dastard spirit who had anv lurking ill-«
any real or imaginary c.iuse of compiaim, n
^ hastened lo give it utter.uice ; perceiv'ing ti-ii ■
: gratifying Ills m.ilice, he was promoting hi.- n:'
I est, ;ind that in vilifying the admiral he w.isi;.''
1 ing the friendshi|) of .Agu.ulo.
I The poor Indians, too, harassed by the domir.:j
':j4ii^-i. i
LIKi': AND VOYA(ii:S OF COLrMIilS.
187
itcnn^r Ills iiivf,
|)rcsum|iii,]ii,
)rsi' to );o III ,|,.
in power U |i-
(li'si. riptidii. i
^•(■I's (it A'^u.i
miors aiiKiiii; ;
iiuf 1)1 tlinr ij ,
It'll Id IiiIIn I !;■
■ rciiort (II. u;,'
Inilr.il h,i(l ;,ri\
111 tll.ll tile I,,;-
I the iiisiiliiii ,
Ixis in thr ii;iir
islciicil to N,,l„
(I, lu'iuill;; u!
As cxiiv
lis, Ills liii;h SCI,,.
i.iintcniiih I' I.I
111 w;is iiiiiii i|,,,:
;ii.i(l() also v\\)t
fciii'c in li:» ru,.|
■w.ini Willi iln-
II ihc" rcsiili. 1
is l(ir |)cU\ spiro
an like Cuiiiin:,.
I lis nalur.il i.:
(•(I by a I ill' 111;-
|iassi(ins iiUo m:
(I loo iriic ;iii K
liT into a iiini-
;iia(l() ; ali(A\-.
(■ aulluirily ul
;ic spiril, |:i..; .
lyally w ;is ii.;'
il Af^uailii, lui:;
IS (■(Hlltcsy ; ,i:
riiiatioii^ I ' Ii"
(l(.-iK'i' sill. Ill :
mpct 111 |iiih:,
il will) s.i!ir,
(ll liis |-c:iilini::
)u iIk' pleasure,
lik- it ;isto:iishc;|
loilltCll Al^llJ...!
ic ol allcrcili."!
ill llio lii'.il,,:
iild have s.iiil;
ll.stllH-(l illlOlLiJ
siiVlTci^llS. H;|
IS altcruanl. :
prcSL'iil, a pre'.
hut Ur- lit-'c:
(•llcr ol CRdlT..:!
U'd ; and .ill:./
vor.*
•(Idle in piii' J
irhcaraiu'i.' v,,::;
I by Ciiluiiili'-'
all his nKM>i:"-'
(■olony, wcic::
nior.il iii'M,..:
Iinin_ij ir.;in, ...
ascendant, i
liirUinj; iii-w
coinpi.iiiu, !'
rcfi
■in-
ll-.al
noting his i"'-
i-al 1
IL- \V
IS i;.'
by
the (
loiiiir.
b. ii
cap.
iS.
)n (if i'h' wliili' men, rejoiced in the iHospect of
■hani,'e of rulers, vainly hoping; that it ini;;bl
Liliu-f a miliij.itinn ol their siillerinj;s. M.iiiy
ill,- r.ii'iipies who had pidiniscd allej;iance to
V- adinir.il idler their d( leal in tht- \'eK'<'. ""W
.iiiiililc I al the house ol M.uiicaotex, the brother
CiKiial)'!, near the river Va,i,Mii, where they
line. I ill .1 lormal coinpl.iint a,i;ainst C'oliimbns,
[h.iiil iIh'V colisidereil the cause of all the e\ ils
[hiih hid spriii'K' from the disobedience ;ind the
Icis 1)1 his lollowers,
.\irii.ii|ii MOW considered the j;reat object of his
i^sl.iii lultilled. lie had collected inlorinalion
jlliiiiiil, .IS he thoii),rlil, to insure the ruin ol the
Imir.il .111 I his brolhers, .iiid he prepared lo re-
1111 111 Spain. Coliinibus resoKcd lo do llie
,„,,., II-. Ii'lt that it was time to .ippe.ir at
jurt, in I dispel the cloud of calumny ^.ilheriiij^f
.liiist lein. lie had activ(; eneniies, of sl.indiii;,^
iailiic'ii'e, who were seekini;' every decision lo
ini'.v ilisi ri'dil upon himself ,iiid his enterprises ;
I, s'.r.iiiK^er an. I lorei;;ner ,is he w.is, he li.id no
ciive Iriciids at court lo oppose their m.ichina-
loiis. He lea re I lh.it they mi;;lit evenliially pro-
[uif an elfect U|)on the roy.il mind l.ilal lo llie
(ri^^rcss lit discovery ; he was .in\ious to return,
Tlfii'liiii'. and explain the real c.iuscs ol the re-
leilc I ilis.ippoinimcnls wiili rcsjicct to prolils an-
icipitc I Inim his enter|)rises. it is not one of
kMsi siii;,ful.ir traits in this history th.it, alter
laviii,' been s ) many years in |iersii.idini;' m.m-
|iii I lli.it there was a new world to be discovered,
|e liail ah.ijst e(iu.il trouble in proviii<; to them
lie ailvaiil.iire ot its discovery.
Whfii tilt ships were ready to depart, i terrible
ItMin S'.vept the island. It was one of those aw-
whii'lwiii l.i which occasionally raj^e within the
rnpifs, aii:| were called by th(.' li'.di.ins " luri-
faius," or "uricans," a name they still ret.iiu
f'.ih iri'liii^- vari.iii.in. .\biuit middav a furious
spiMiijf up from the east, driving;' belor(' il
lc:!siM.i:uiiu.'S ol cloud .ind v.ipur. l'',ncounleriii,L,''
Inolhcr tempest ol wind trom the west, il ajipcir-
\i as it a viiileni conllicl ensued. The clouds
•i' relit by incessant tl.isiies, or rather slre.ims
H iijfhtiiin;;-. ,-\l onj lime they were piled iij)
j;,'h ill the sky, at anolher tliev swe|)l to the
lanli, lilliiiL,' the .lir with ,i bileful darkness mon?
lisiii.il ill m the obscurity ol niidniirht. \Vherever
[he whirl wind pisH'd, whole tr.icls of forests were
Ihiveivd and stripped of their Icives and br.inchfs ;
Ihoie lit ;;i.iiaiitic si/e, which resisted the bl.isl,
i'.:/rc l.irii up by the rois, .iii-l hurle.l to a ^n-e:it
lisiaiii c. Ciroves were rent trom the mount.ain
prt'cipi,;es, witii v.isi m.isscs ot earth and rock,
|u:ni)iiii^r imo li),. v.illevs with territic noise, and
vikiiv^- the cour.-M' of n\crs. The fe.arful sounds
In lilt; air aiil on llie eaiili, the piMlin;; thunder,
klieviviil lijrhinjnn-, iln- hnwlin.;- nf the wind, tlii;
pnsh (it t.dtiie^- treis .ml rocks, t'llled every one
J'ith alfi-Ji^lit ; and iii.iiiy thoii^-lit that the end of
|he world was at h.ind. .Some lied to caverns for
Biitety, tur their frail houses were blown down, and
iw air was tilled with the trunks and branches of
''•es, ;md even with fr:n,niients of rocks, carried
•»Vf by the fury of the tem|iest. When the hur-
|r:M:if reached 'the harbor, it whirled the shijis
|r'.'iiil as tiiey lay at an( hor, sn.ipped their cables,
i! sank three of them, with all wdio were on
5uid. Others were driven about, dashed a^.-iinst i
leich mher, and tossed mere wrecks upon the !
|s''i iiv by the swellinij;- siir^fes of the sea, wdiich in
S'mc pi, ices rolled lor three or four miles upon
It.'; kiiul. The tempest lasted for three hours,
IWnen it had passfil away, and the sun again ap-
pe.ireil, the Indi.ins reij.irde(| e.nh other in nuite
aslonishnieiit .im! disni.iy. Never in ihcir mem-
ory, nor in the traditions ot lludr ancestors, had
tlndr island been visCed b)' siK di ,i slorm. They
li(die\ed tli.it the I )eil\' hid miiI ihis I.MrtuI i ilin
I'l punish the cruellies .ind i niiirs nl the while
men, .and deidared lli.it this people hid nio\ed
the very air, iIk; waier, and llie e.iiili. In disiurb
tludr tranipii! lile, and In dc. ol.ilc their i.jlaii(l.''
CHAP 11 K .\.
DLSCOVKKY (Jl I III', MINI,. i»l 1I.\V\,\.
[l-l'A
I\ the rerent luirrie.ine the fnir (.ir.ivels of
;\;;iiado had been deslioyed, lordlier with two
olhers wliiidi were in the hailior. The only ves-
s( I whii h survixed w,is the Nini, and that in a
very sh.iiiered condilion. ('o'limbiis i;.i\'e orders
to have tier immeiliatily rep.iiied, ,iii I .iiiother
c;irav(d constructed out ol the \s reck ol lliose
wliiidi li.id been destroyed. While wailiii;; iiiilil
they should Ik; re.ldv lor se.i, he w.is cheered by
lidiiij;s ol ri(di mines in the interior ot ihe island,
the discovery ot which is .itliibulid t" .I'l incidi'iit
ot ;i somewhat romanlic ii.iliiie.f A yoiin^( Ar-
rajjonian, n.amed .Mi;;iiil Di.i.', in the service of
the /\(l(d.inla(lo, haviiii; a (pi,irr(d wilh another
Sp.uiiard, louifht with him and wounded him <\:\n-
^erously. I''earful (d the ciilise(|UenceS, he tied
from the settlement, ai eomp.ini'.'d by live or six
comrades who had (dllier been en};'.ij^ed in the af-
trav, or were ]H'rs(in.illy .iti.iched to liim. W'an-
deriii;^r .about the island, they i .inir to .iii Indian vil-
laj^e on th(; southern cnasi, iir.ir llie itiniilh ol the
river ( )zem;i, where the ( ilv ot Sm lloinin^d is .at
present situated. They were received with kind-
ness by the n.itives, and resiilnl lor some time
.amonj^ them. The vill.i^e w.is j^fivmii'd by ;i to
male e.ici(pie, who sonn conceivid a slron<( ;it-
t.uhment for the youn^^ Arr.i^Muii.in. Dia-; w.is
not insensible to her tenderness ; .i i niinection w.is
lormed belvv(;en them, and they lived for some
time verv liappil)' toLjithcr.
The recollection ol his country .and his friends
bei^an at leii;;th to steal upon the tliou^lits of the
vouiu'' S|).'iniai"d. It \c.is a nu l.iiu hulv lot lo be
e.\ile(i trom civili/e(l lile, .and .in outc.ist liom
amon;^' his countrymen. lie liiii;;eil to relurn lo
the settlement, but ilrcidcd the iiuiiisbnieiit tli.at
await" 1 him, from the "jstere justice ol ihe .Adc'-
l.int.uto. His Fndi.in bride, observing- him tre-
(piently melancholy and lost in thought, pene-
trated the cause, with the quick intelligence ot
female affection, l-'e.irlul that he would abandon
her, and return to his countrymen, she ende.ivored
to devise some means ol drawing the Sp.iniards to
that p.irt ot the isl.ind. Knowdnj; that j^uld was
their sovereijifn attr.iction, she informed Di.iz of
cerl.ain ri(di mines in the n(d;.;hborli(iiid, and urffisi
him to persuade his criui;li-vmen to .abandon the
compar.atively sterile and unhe.dihy vicinity of Isa-
bella, and settle upon the fertile b.mks ot the
f)/em:i, proniisiiiij;' they should be received with
the utmost kindness and hos|)itality by her n.ation,
Striuk with the siiL^^'estion, Di.i/ made jiarticu-
lar in(|uiries about the mines,
and
was convinced
* Ramusio, torn. iii. p. ~. Peter Martyr, decad. i,
lib, iv.
f Oviedo, Cronica de los Indias, lib. ii, cap. 13.
lis
LIFK AND VOVACl'S or COLUMBUS.
m
i \
\v
that tliry ril)nuii(lp(l ill fjfild. lie notirrd tht' su-
perior hiiitliiliit ^s ;iiui l)c,iuty i)t tlu; i'<uiiilry, llu;
exculiiMu i; ot llu; river, ami the secinily dI the
harbor at its eiitraiue, lU; tlallered hiinsell that
th • rnMimuiiieaticiii o( sueii valual)le intellij^eiu e
%s(iuM make his peace at Is.iiielhi, and uhtain his
t)arihiii Irciin ihe Adelaiilado. I'"uii ol these
lopes, lie proi iircd f;llides Irom anioli;f the na-
tives, and lalvini; a temporary leave ot his In-
dian bride, set out with his eonirades throuj,d) the
wiUh'rness lor llie settlement, whieh was about
filty lean;iies disl.int. Arrivinj,' there ■'•relly, lie
learnt to his j^'re.il joy ih.U the man whi.m he had
wounded had reiovercd. lie now presented liim-
selt boldly belore the Adelantado, relyinj; that
liis tidings Wdulil e.irn his tor^jiveness. He was
not mistaken. No news could have come more;
opportunely. 'The admiral had been anxious to
remove the settliMueat to ,i more healthy and ad-
vantafj<'ous situation. He was desirous also of
carryini,' honu'some conclusive? proof of the riches
of the island, as the most effectual means of si-
lencin^f the < a\ils of his enemies. It the repre-
sentatiiins of Miguel Di.i/ were correct, here v.as.'.
means ot ellectiiivf both these purposes. Measures
Were immeiliately taken to ascertain the truth.
The Adelantado si't lorlh in jjcrson to visit the
river O/em.i, aiconip.inied by Mi;,niel Diaz, I'ran-
cisco (le C.ar.iy, and the Iiulian ^,fui(les, aiiil attend-
ed by a number of men well armed. 'I'hey pro-
ceeded Irom Isabell.i to Maj.jdalena, and thenctt
across the l\o\-,d \'e^a to the fortress of Concep-
tion. Coniinuini,'- on to the south, they came to a
ranfje of mount, tins, whiih they traversed by a
(lelile two h-.e^ui-s in len^rth, and descended into
another be.iutilul plain, which was called lionao.
Proceeding hence for some distance, they cann- to
a f^reat river c.illed Hayn.i, runninj^ throu;rh a
fertile coutitry, .all the streams of which abounded
in jrold. On the western bank of this river, and
about eig-ht leai,''uis frt)ni its mouth, they found
gold in j^reater (|U.intities and in I.irirer particles
than had yet been met with in any p.irt of the
island, not eveti exceptinjjf the province of Cibao.
They made experimetUs in various places within
the compass of six miles, and always with suc-
cess. The soil seemed to be generally impreg-
nated with that metal, so that a common laborer,
with little trouble, might find the amount of three
drachms in the course of a day.* In sever.d
places they observed deep excavations in the form
ot pits, which looked as if the mines had been
worked in ancient times, ,t rirnimsfanrp «)
caused much speiulatiot) among the Sp.mia-
the n.itivi's having no idea ot mining, hui ,
tenting themselves with the |)arlicles In
on the sun. ice of the soil, or in the beil>i,|
rivers.
The IiKJiatis of the neighborhood re( ciu-il
while men with their promised lrifnds',ii|i, .,i(
e\ery respect the representations <it Mi;^iii||
wen- fully justitied. 1 le was lujl only paidoiiid ■
received into great lavor, and was subst(|i:ii
employed in various capacities in the i.^Lm:
all which he ac(|Uitted himself with great l.iii
He kept his faith with his Indian biide, by wii
.icconiing to Ovii'do, he had two children, Ci
levoix supposes that they were regularly iii.irr'
as the female cati(|ue appears to have I iin !,,
ti/ed, being always mentioned by the Cliiui.
name of Cat.ilina,*
When the Adelantado returned with this l.ivr
able report, and with specimens of ore, tliL-jr
ious heart of the admiral w.is greatly cl.ited, ii
gave orders th.il a fortress should be immcdi.r.t
ereited on the banks of the ll.ivna, in the \iciii
of the mines, and that they should bi; ililijjM,;
worked. The fancied traces ol .incient e\(,v,.
tions gave rise to one of his usii.il veins ol ^v\i
coniectures. He had already surmised ili, it 11
p.iniola might be the ancient Ophir. llu i>
llaitered himself that he had discoxered tlie iilt
tical mines whence King .Solomon had piniurc,
his gold for the building of the Temple ol JtrU'
lein. He supposed that his shi|)s must have s;ii!
by the (lulf of I'ersia, and round Trapobaii uri
island, t wliich, according to his ide.i, lay o|i|)(i;
to the extreme end of yXsia, ft)r such he tiniil) t
lieved the islantl of Cuba.
It is probable that Columbus gave free licer.
to his imagination in these conjectures, vk.c
tended to throw a splendor about his enterpri-t.
and to revive the languishing interest ol the fn:
lie. (iranting, however, the correctness ol r
opinion, that he was in the vicinity of .Asia,.
error by no means surprising in the iniiiurk.
state oi geogr.i|)hical knowledge, .'dl his lui;!;
(|ueiu suppositions were far Irom extrav.ig.ii:
'ihe ancient Ophir was believed to lie somt-wiu:
in the Mast, but its situatif)n was a matter of a:
troversy among the learned, and remains one
those conjectural t|uestions about which too mu:
has been written tor it ever to be satisfactorily:!
cided.
BOOK IX.
? J
CHAPTER I.
RETURN OF COLUMIIUS TO SPAIN WITH AGUADO.
[1496.]
Thk new rar.-'vei, the .Santa Cruz, being finish-
ed, and the Nii'^a rep.iired, Columbus made every
arr.ingement tor immediate departure, anxious to
be freed from the growing arrogance of .Agiiado,
and to relieve the colony from a crew of factious
and discontented men. He a])])ointed his brother,
Don IJartholomew, to the command of the island,
* Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. 11. cap. l8.
Peter Martyr, decad. i. lib. iv.
witli tl-.c title, wliich he had already given him,::!
.Adelantado; in case of his death, ne was to :|
succeeded by his brother I Jon Diego.
On the loth of March the two caravels set sa I
for Spain, in one of which Columbus emh.irkttj
and in the other Aguado. In conse(|Uence of 1
orders of the sovereigns, all those who coulil
S|)ared from the island, and some who had wivs|
and relatives in Spain whom they wished to viv
returned in these caravels, which were crowdecl
with two hundred and twenty-five passengers, i-f
* Oviedo, Cronica de los Indias, lib, ii. cap. i.i|
Charlevoix. Hist. St. DominRO, lib. ii. p. 146.
f Peter Martyr, decad, i. lib. iv.
"->iL- ..:.
Line AND \v)v.\r.i:s or coi.r.Mnrs.
IJO
(Kid ri'ccived'
|-i<-n(lshi|i, ,,nc
i (it Miguel li,
ily piirildiici! ■;
ivas sulisf(|iiir
in the i.-,l,iii(;
til Kn-ai iiilf,
1)1 idc, liy wli-
(•liildltii'. Cr
jjularly in.irr.r
> l^avtf hffii
l)y the Clirijj,.
with this l;iv(.
of ore, ihcai
'atly clalcd, i;
lif ininu'di.iit
a, in till' \inr,
uld ht; (niij,'ir,;
aiuicMU CM,,;
1 veins nl j^nii
rniisfd ihai li
Iphir. Ill: I
•ovcrcd d;c i(';
n liad |)iiiiii-:
i'ni|)le (it Jfrfc,
must havi- •;,['.■
rra|nil);iii lu:
ilea, lay (i|i|:i,-
ich he tiniily i
,'ave free licer.:
jfcturi's, \\k.
his entfi|)ri>t
•rest (/I the |iL
rrt'cliu-ss iit ■
[)ity of Asia,.
the inipcnt.
all his lui':
fxtrav.ig.ir:
lie sonicwht:'
matter of n:
remains one
.vhich too mt.
atisfactoriiyi
given him,
ne was to;
ijik, tin' idle, thf prnfli^f.itc, and the fa( tioiis.
ivtr 'lid a nmre nii.tralde and dis.ipiointed
ruw ri'turn from a lann ot pidinise.
Thfie ^vffe thirty Indians also on l)o,ird of the
aravi Is. anionj; whom w<'re the oiuc redouiitalile
aiicjUf Caon.dx), one ol his liiDthers, and a
fiilK-w. Tlie iiir.iti ol I.os I'al.icios observes
hat C'liiinninis iiad ;iromise(l the c:ati(|ue and his
nillur to restore tiiem to their ountry and tluir
inwiT, alter he had taken them to visit the Kin^
ml (liieen ot Castile,* It is jjrohahle that by
ind iV' .unient and by a displ.iy ol the wonders
of .S|),iiii and the jjrandeiir and nii^dit of its so\-
ertiK'ii'^. '"■ h"|"-''' '" ''"n<)uer tluir enmity to the
S|),ini,'rds, and convert lliem into import. mt in-
siriimnil-. tow.ird obtaining ,i secure and peace-
able (I'lininioii over the island. Caor..il)o, h!)W-
evur, uas ot that proud nature, of wild but \i^;or-
oiis (,'rowtli, wliiih can never b;: tamed, lie re-
mained .1 moody .and dejected captive. He had
t(i') miirli iiuelli^;cnce not to perceive that his
[viwi r w.is lor ever blasted, but he retained his
:iauj;hliiiess, even in tlie midst of his despair.
Itiiiiij as vet but little experienced in the |ia\i-
atioii (it tliese seas, Coluniluis, instead of worlviii};'
lip t(i the iiorttiw.ird, so as to fall in with the ir.ict
ot westerly winds, took an easterly course on
Icavin^r tlie isl.and. Tlie eonsetiuence w.as that
almiisi ilie whole ol his voya^^e was a toilsome and
tiilimis siru^;,di! a^,Miiist tlie trade-winds and
ciliiis uhieli prev.iil between the tro|)ics. On the
Ctli of .April he found himself still in the vicinity
of the C.iribhee Islands, witii his crews fatij^^ued
and sickly, and his provisions rapidly climinisliin^^r.
lie hore aw.ay to tlie souihwartl, therefore, to
Jtmich .at the most important ot those islands, in
Search of supplies.
On .Saturday, the rjth, he anchored at Marij^a-
lante, wlieiice, (Hi the tollowiiif,'' d.iy, he made sail
for (iii.ad.doupe. It was contr.ary to the custom
o! Col'.iiiibus to weiffh anchor on .Sunday when
ill jiort. but the people murmured, and observed
that wlieii in (|uesi fit loorl it was no time to stand
on scruple.-, .as to holy d.iys.t
.Anchiiriiiir off the island ot (iuad.iloupe, the
boat was sent on shore well .armed. Helore it
rould re.icli the land, a laij^e number ot females
issued from the woods, arme.l with bows and ar-
rows, and decorate I with tufts of feathers, prep.ir-
in;,' to oppose any descent upon tlu^ir shores. As the
seaw.issoinewli.al rouf^li, an.l a surf broke upon the
tieach, tiie boats remaine.l at a distance, and two
of the Indi.ans from 1 Iis|)ani(jl,i swam to shore.
Haviiijr explained to these Amazons that the Span-
iards oiil_\ souj^ht provisions, in exchanj^i' for
which they would j^ive articles of irpeat value, the
women referred them to their husbands, who were
at the iirrtherii end of the isl.ind. As the l)oat.s
proceeded tliither, numbers of the natives were
seen on ihe beach, who manifested pfreat ferocity,
siioutin;r, ami yellinjj, and discharj^ing Hi^jhts of
.arrows, wliicli, howe\er, fell farshoriin the water.
Seeint; the boats ap])roach the land, they hid
tlieniselves in the adj.acent forest, and rushed forth
with hideous cries as the Sp.ini.irds were landing.
A disch,ari,re of firearms clrove them to the woods
and niouiitains, and the bo. us met with no fur-
ther opposition. I'^ntering the deserted habita-
tions, the Spaniards began to plunder and destroy,
contrary to the invariable injunctions of the ad-
miral. Among other articles found in these
houses were honey and wax, which Herrera sup-
* Cura de Ids Palacios, cap. 131.
t Hist, del Almirante, cap. 62.
poses li.id been brought from Trrr.i rirtn.T, .t«
these ro\ing Jieuple (iilltc ted the prudurlioiis of
(list. lilt regions in the coiirse ol their expeiblions.
I'ei n.iiidi) Colunitiiis mentions likewise th.it there
were h.itilietsot iron in llieir houses ; these, how-
ever, must h.ive been made of a species of hard
and he. ivy stone, already mt ntioind, uliich re-
sembled iron ; or ihi'y must hive been |Mdcure(l
from places whii h the Sp.iniards had previously
visited, as it is liilly admiiteil that no iron was in
use among the ii.itives jirior to the discovery,
'Ihe sailors also reported that in one of the houses
they found the arm of ,1 in. in ro.islingon a spit be-
lore a tire ; but these l.icti, so repugnant to hu-
manity, require more solid authority to be cred-
ited ; the sailors h.ad lomniitted wanton dev.ista-
tions in these dwellings. ,ind may have sought ii
pretext with which to justify their ni.irauilings to
ttie admiral.
While some of the people were getting waiod
and water, and making eass.iva bread. Cdlumbus
(lisp.ilched forty men, wall armed, to explore the
interior of the island. 'I'liey returned on the fol-
lowing (lay with ten women and three boys. 'Ihe
women were of Large and powerlul form, yet of
great agility. 'I'liey were naked, and v.Dre their
long hair flowing loose ujion their shoulders ;
some decorated their lu ads -.vilh plumes of vari-
ous colors. Among tlieiii w.as the wile ot a c.i-
ci(|ue, a woman ol great strength and i>i(iud spirit.
On the approach of theSp.mi.ards, sl;e had tied with
an .agility which soon hit .ill her pursuei's far be-
hind, excejiting a native ot the Canary Islands re-
ni.arkable lor swittness ot tool. She would
have esca|ied even trom him, but perceiving that
he was alone, and lar trom his coiiipanions, she
turned suddenly upon him, sei/.ed him with aston-
ishing force, and would lia\e str.mgli'd him, had
not tlie Spaniards .arrived and taken her ent.ingled
like a h.iwk with, her prey. The warlike spirit of
these Carib women, and the cirvumstance of find-
ing them in armed bands, defending their shores,
during the absence ot their husbands, led Coli;m-
bu.s lepeatedly into the erronecus idea, that cer-
tain ot these islands were inhabiiid entirely by
women ; for which error, as has already been ob-
seived, he w.as |)re])are(l by the stories ot .Marco
l'(do concerning an island of Ama/ons near the
coast ot Asia.
Having remained sever.il d.ays at the island,
and jirejiared three \veeks' supply of bread, Co-
lumbus prepared to make s.iil. .As ( ".uadaloujie
wa ■ the most important of thtf Caribbee Islands,
and in a manner the port.al or entrance to all the
rest, he wished to secure the friendsliip of the in-
habitants. He t smissed, therefore, .lU the ])ris-
oners, with many presents, to compensate tor the
spoil and injury which had been done. The fe-
male cacicjue, however, declined going on shore,
preferring to remain and accompany the natives
ot Hispaniola who were on bo.ird, keeping with
her also a young daughter. She liad conceived a
passion for Caonabo. ha\i!ig found out that he
was a native ot the Caribbee Islands. His char-
acter and story, gathered from the other Indians,
had won the sympathy and admiration of this in-
trepid woman.*
Leaving duadaloupe on the 20th of .A|)ril, and
keeping in about the twenty-second degree of lati-
tude, tlie caravels ag.ain worked their way against
the whole current of the trade-winds, insomuch
that, on t'lp "Jth ot May, after a month of great
fatigue and toil, they had yet a great part ot their
Hist, del Alniirante, cap. 63.
ISO
Liri- AND VOVACnS OF COLUMBUS.
voyapi' \r> maK't'. T'lir pr )visi()ns wprr already so
ri'duciMl ili;a I'olumlius li.nl to |iiit cvrry '"ic on
a daily .illuwanrf nl ^i\ (iimcis of lirf.irl .mil ii
pint .111(1 a IimII ot \^ ilcr ; as llicy ;idvaiicfd, the
hcari ilv nicw incur .ind nioif scvcif, and 'vas
rfndfird niorc appallini,' Inim the uncertainly
which prcv.iiliij (III liciard the xcsscis as to their
sitii.itiiMi, 'I'hrre were several pilots in the car.i-
\els ; luit lieiii^;' ( hicMy accustomed to the lia\ i-
jfation (il the .Medili'iraiwan, (M' the Atlantic coasts,
they \\( re iiilcrly iiintounded, ami lost all reckon-
iiij; whi'ii traversiii),' the broad oce.in. livery one
had a separate opinion, and none heetled th.it ol
the adniir.d. I!y the hevjinniiiL;' ot June there w.is
an alisohili' lainine mi Imard ot the ships. In the
exireniiu ot their siillc rin^s, while de.ah stared
Iheni In the I. ice, it was proposed hy some ot the
.Spaniards, as a de-.perate alternative, thai they
.should kill and eat their Indi.in prisoners ; others
suj;>fested that they should throw them into the
sea, I'ls so m.iiiy expensive and useless mouths.
Nothini,' Inn the ahsoUite authority ot Colundxis
nreveiiied this last counsel trom liein^f iidoiiti'd.
lie reiwi'senied that the Indians were their tellow-
hein^fs, some ot tlu'ni Christians like themselves,
aiicl all (iitilled to similar treatment. lie exhort-
ed them to a little patience, assurinj^ them that
they would soon make land, tor that, according,' to
his reikoninf,r, they were not f.ir trom Cape St. Vin-
cent. ,\t this all scotted, tor they l)elie\e<l them-
sel\es yet I ir from their desired haven ; some
atVirmiiu,^ th.it they were in the I'Ji^lish Channel,
others lliat they \\ci-e ajiproacliini;- (i.illicia ; when
Columl'U., therelorc, < oniideiit in his opinion, or-
dered tli It s.iil
uih
taken in at nivjht, lest
tlu'y should come upon the land in the dark, thei'e
was a ^riicral murmur ; the men exclaimin;^ that
il was lieiter to he ( isl <in shore lh;in to siar\e at
sea. The lU'xt niornin.n-, howeviT, to their };real
joy, they came in si^^^dil ol the very land which Co-
lumbus h.id pn-dicicd. I'rom this time, lie w.is
rej;;ir(l( i| by the seamen as dee|)ly versed in the
mysteni's ot the ocean, and almost oracul.ir in
luatter-i ot navij^ation. '■'■
On the iith ot June the vesstds ;inchored in the
li.iy ot Cadi/, .'dler a we.irv voya^^^e of about three
months. In the course ot this Noy.ijje the unlor-
tunate C.ionabo expired. It is by the mere casual
mention ot conli'inporary writers that we have
any notice ot this circumstaJice, which .appears to
have belli passed over as a m.atter of but little
moment, lie mainlailled his haiifrhtv nature to
the last, lo|- his death is principallv ascribed to the
morbid melancholy ot a proud but broken si)irit.T
He was ,in extraordinary character in sav.aj^-e life.
From ln'iiiL;- .1 simjile Carib warrior he had risen,
by his entcriu-ise and courai;e, to be the most
powerful caci(|ue, and the domin.int spirit ot tiie
])opulous island ot llayti. lie was the only chief-
tain that appeared to have had s.-ii^acity sullicient
to foresee the fatal effects of .S|),inisli ascendency,
or military talent to c(Hiibiiie any resistance to its
inroads. Had his warriors been of his own in-
trepid n.itiiie, the war which he raised would have
been lonniilable in the extreme. His fate fur-
nishes, oil a narrow scale, a lesson to hum.m
■^ Hist, ilel .Mjiiir.wite, rap. 63;
f Cura lie los I'aI.eios, rap. 131. Peter Martyr,
decad. i. lil). iv. Soiiu- liave allimied that Caonabo
perislied in one of the car.ivels vvhich foundorcil in the
iiarlior of Isabella ilnrini; the hurricane, but the
uniteil testimony of the curaic of Los I'alacios, Peter
Martyr, .ami I'ernaniJo Co!iiiiil)us, proves that he sailed
with the admiral in liis return voyage.
prpatnpss. When the Sp.ini.irds first arrivn!
iht! coast ot ll.isti, their iin.ii;iii itioiis wcn
11. lined with rumors ot a maj^nilnent prime m
interior, the lord ot the Cioldeii House, the Si, .
ei^;ll ol the mines of (.'ibao, who reigned iiisii, !
did st.ite amoii).; the mmmt.iiM>; but aslmrti
had elapsed, .mil this t.incied potentate nt •
I!ast, stripped of every illusion, s(,.is a naked ;,-|
dejected prisoner on tne di el; ol (ilie of tl.eir r,r|
\ lis, with none but one oi his own wililn.i
heroines to sympathi/e in his mislortiines,
his iiii|)ortance \amslied with histrcedom ; vir |
any mention is made ol him ilurin;^^ his t .'i|)ii\ '
and with innate (pi.ilities ot ;i hii;li ,ind heruii '
tiire, he pcribhcd with the obscurity ot one (jt;,|
vulgar.
CHAI'TKR II.
HWI.INF. OK Till'. I'Opfl.MMl V OF COI.fMIli; ;i|
M'.MN— HIS Kicii'iiiiN i;v Till'. mivi:km.\
Af liL'R(;os— III; i'Uui'o-«i,-, .V iiiiiiii viiv.\m
I'.NVV and m.ilice h.id |.i m but too siiiTrs.;,
in underminiiij,'- the popul.arity ol Columluis. :
is impossible to keep up ;i state ot exciteliieiit ;
any leii^>th of tinu-, even li\' miracles. The wori:
,it first, is ])rom|)t and l.i\ish in its admir.itii-
but soon ^frows cool, distnists its late eniluisi.iHrd
• iiid lancies il h.is been delralided of what it
slowed with such proili;;ality. It is then than -I
cav.ilier who had been silenced by the |.,'ener;il ,;■
|il,iuse, puts in his insidious suj^^eslion, delra ■
Irom the merit of the declininL,^ lavm'ite, anil si:
leeils in ret lerin^ him an object ot douht,i:i
censure, it not ot alisolute tnirsion. In tli '•
short ye.irs the public h.id beiome lamiliarw ■
the stupendous wondi'r ol ,1 newlv-dismviT'.
world, and was now open to e\er\' insiiui;it ■
(leroi^ratory to the l.ime ol the discoverer anil ut
importance of his enti'rprises.
The circumstances whicli attended the pn-sir;
arrival of Columbus were little calculatcil '.)
diminish the ^;row ini;' pii'iudices of ihe i;opiil,iceL
When the motley crowil o| mariners ;ind ,i(l\rl
turers who bad endi.irked \\itli such saiv^aiiiU' iv[
pectjitions l;inded Irom tl;e vessels in the port :
C'.idi/, instead ot a joyous crew, bounilin'.^ on shorv,
llushed with success, ;ind laihn with the s|)lll!^;:
the eoldcn Indies, :i feebh,' train <d wretched ni'"
I raw led lorth, emaci.iled by the diseases el tl-:|
colony and the liardshi|)S ot the \i)\a;;e, whoc;ir-[
ried in their yellow counteiiam es, says an ti'A
wriU'r, a mockery of that ^old whiedi h;id Ihc
the oliject ot their search, .iiiil who h.id noihiii;';
relate ot the New Wiuiil but tales ol sickiu--,
poverty, and disappointment. .
Columbus endeasored, .i-. much ;is jiossihie, to
counteract these unta\-ora!iie apjie.ir.iiua'S, and n
revive the l.im;uishini;- er.lhusi.ism (d the public,
1 le dwelt upon the importance of liis recent liiv
coveries alon;.^r t|-n; coast of Cuba, where, as hel
sup|)oseil, he had arrived neai'ly to the AiirrtI
Chersoiiesus of the ancients, borderiie^ on son;;
ot the richi'st ])roviiices of .Asia, .\bove all. !'H
bo.isted of his discovery of the abumlant mines on
the south side of liisp.'iniola, which he pcTsuadeu
himself were those of the ancient ()|)hir. Ti;t:
public listened to these accounts with sneerind
incredulity ; or if for a moment a little excitemcn; |
was occasioned, it w.is (piickly destroyeil I';'
};loomy pictures diawii by disappointed advuii-
Hirers.
|ln the h.irbor of
}«i^h
MFK ANO X'OYAOnS OF COH'Mm'S.
131
rst nrnvci'
inns Wri'
I |inni'i' III
1st', tllC M,
;iiim| in s|
t a shdrt I
fiit.iti' lit
' .1 n.iki'il
• lit il I'lr.
in wild 111'
luriuncs.
t'lliiiii ; ■«
; liii 1 .ipin
mill lu-nui
' l)t (IIIU ot
\m
rni I'Miir-
■. MINI. 1^1!
IIMI VipVAm
too siicci ■^
t'ohimlnis,
UMiU'lliriU : ■
■s. 'I'lu; wuri:
its adiniriitii"
tc intliiisi.i."
ol what It -.
s llu-n tliai'.-'
ihc j^'cncnil ,i'-
■siioii, (Icini-v
■orili', and s\:.
I III (Imibt ii:'
Ion, In th;v-
laniiliar \\-
V'-diil'IIVl!' ,
in-.iiui;u ■
m-r anil ;;r
the pri'Si:.;
alrnlatt'il '.)■
Ill- popiilart
anil ailvi-'
saiiLjuinffvl
III the piirt :
in '4 on slior':,
llu' spiiiK':
,\ rilciu'd iii-i
SlMSl-S ot !h-
i:;!.', who c,ir-|
^ays an «■•'.
uh had Ih-('
id nothiii;';
111 sii'kiii—
i)ossii)le, \')\
inri-s, anil 1^1
t till' public,
I'lH'cnt iliv
lirrc, iis '-
till' Aiir-,-;
|in;4 on sun;; I
ihovti all. !'.(
lint inini-si'S
persuade-'. I
, tphir.
ith sncennq
cxciU'nur.-. |
Icstroyed I'"
lituJ advcii-
In the h.irlior of Cadiz Columl)U» found thirc
iviN, I ommandcd liy IVdm Alon/n Nifto, on
n,,int "t >.iilin^j with supplii-s tor thf lolony.
iiK ,1 \rir had I'l.ipsi'il without any rrlitt ol the
I tuiir r.iravids whn h h.nl s.iili'ij in the prc-
iln'i l.iiui.iry having hi-cn lost on the lo.ist of
|'riiiii-.ul.i.* Having' road thi' roy.il li'ltcrsand
,ii,hr, of whirh Nino was the hearer, and
m ' mlnrnu'd ol the wishes ot the soverei^'us, ,is
lit till' st.ite ot the pulilii: mind, Coliimlius
i\ tills opporiimiiy, urj;in;; the Adel.mt.ulo
M\, ir, liy eM'ry means, to hriii^' the island
„ ,1 pi' mini and produi live state, appeasing' all
riiiiii'iUi .I'll commotions, and sei^inn; and
i.lini; I I Sp.iin all i',ui(|ues, or their subjects,
, shdilld he cornel lied in the dr.iths ol any of
Miluiii^ls. lie reiomniended the most unre-
tl'ii"' ilili^;i'nce in e\|ilorinj; and workinj^j the
iiTiiitly discovered on theriM'r ll.iyn.i, and
dlii' pl.ue should he chosen in the nei);hl)or-
ligii in, I .1 si'aport tounded. I'edro Alon/o NiAo
(gill \ulli the three c. travels on the 17th ol June.
^ lint;> III the arrival ot Columlius having'
niiS.I the sovereijfns, he received
fiilr
,'1.1
I ^r.uioi s
tnn them, dated at /Mmazen, 12th July,
^lln^;r,ltulatin^' him on his sate return, and
niii;; him to col ri when he should have recov-
t(| Inun the fali^,aies ot his voyage. 'I'he kind
ni in which this letter was couched were cal-
ijtt' 1 1 1 re isiiire the heart ot Columhiis, who,
r>,iiiri' the mission of the .irroj^.mt A^jiiado,
iMniidrri'd himselt out of favor with liie sov-
iij;:!-;, ,iiid l.illen into disj;race. As ;i proot of
ili'ii'' '.i'lii ot his spirits, we are told that when
madf his .ippearame this time in Spain, he was
in ,1 luiinhli! f,Mrl), resemhlin^f in form and
r till- haliit ot a Kranciscan monk. sini|)ly
I'll with a cord, and that he had suffered his
nl '.II 1,'r'nv like the brethren of th.it order, f
is was priihahly in tullllnient of siuiie peniten-
vim i)i:ide in a moment of danger or despond-
!y-a iii-.tom prevalent in those days, ,'ind
luntly oli-ierved hy Columbus. It betokened,
fvi'r, much Inmiility and depression ot spirit,
.iffiirded a strikinj; contrast to his appear.ince
his lornier triumphant return. lie was
imed, in l.icl, to yield repeated exam]iles of the
rscs to wiiich those a re subject who have once
ched tinm the safe shores ot obscurity on the
tu.itiii},' w.ives of |)o|)ular o])inion.
'dwcvcr indifferent Columbus might be to his
pfrsiin;d .ippearance, ho was anxious to keep
le the interest in his discoveries, fearing con-
ally that the indifference awakening toward
niijjht ini])ede their acconiplishmeiU. On his
til lUirgiis, therefore, where the .sovereigns
t cvjircli'd, he made a studious display ot the
'(i>itiis and treasures which he had brought
the .New World. Among these were collars,
tli'ts, anklets, and coronets ot gold, the spoils
riiiiis c ici(|iies, and which were considered ;is
lilies wun Irom b.-irbaric ])rinces of the rich
its ot Asia, or the islands of the Indian seas.
.'i pniiit ot th.e petty standard by which the
imi; discovery of Columbus was already esti-
pl, th;it he had to resort to this management
ark the ;ross perceiiUons of the multitude
kniere ghire of gold.
iccirried with him several Indians also, deco-
•iftertheir savage fashion, and glittering with
It'll ornaments ; among whom were the brother
JMunoz, Hist. N. Mundo, lib. vi.
ICura de los Palacios, cap. 131. Oviedo, lib. ii.
V3.
and nephew of C,»on;iho, the formrr about thirty
ve.irs of age, the l.itter only ten. They were
l)rought merely to \\s\\. the king and (|iieen, th.il
they might be impressed with .111 ide.i of the
gr.indeiir .ind power ot the Sp.wiish soM-reigns,
alter which they were to In; restored in s.ileiy lo
their countrv. Whenever they p.issed through
any principal place, Columbus put .1 m. issue col-
l.ir and ch.iin ol gold upon the brother ot Caona-
1)1), as being c.u iijue ot the golden (ounlryof
Cib.'io. The curate of I.os I'.d.icioi, who entei-
t.iined the disco\erer and his Indi in (.ipti\''s lor
several days in his house, savs th.it he h.id iliis
ch.iin of gold in his li.mds, ami tli.it it weighed six
hundred cisiellanos.* 'i'he worthy cur.ile like-
wise 111. ikes mi'iitioii of v.irioiis Indi, in m.isks .iiid
im.iges ot \M)oil or cotton, wrought with l.mi.istic
faces of animals, ;ill of which he supposed were
representations of the devil, who he corn luiles
must be the object ot ador.ition ol these isl.inders.t
The reception ot Columbus by the sovereigns
w.is different Irom what he h.id anticipated ; tor
he w.is treated with distinguisheii l.ivor, nor w.ch
any mention made either of the complaints of
.Marg.irilo and lioyle, or the judicial in(|iiiries
coiKlucted by Aguado. However these may h.ive
had a tr.insieiil eflect on the minds ot the sover-
eigns, they were too conscious ol the great desert.s
ot Columbus, ;iiul the extraordiii.iry dillicullies of
his situ.ition, not to tolerate what they may have
considered errors on his jiart.
I'aicoiir i^ed by the favor.ible countenance he
experieii' d, and by the interest with which the
sovereigns listened to his account of his recent
voy.ige along the coast ot Cuba, ,ind the discox'ery
ot the mines of ll.iyiia, which he t.iiled not to rep-
resent as the t tphir of the ancients, Columbus
now proposed a turther enter|)rise, by which he
promised to make yet more extensive discoMiies,
.mil to annex Terr.i l''irm.'i to their dominions.
l''or lliis piirjiose he asked eight ships : two to be
dispatched to the islaiul ot 1 lisp.iniula with sup-
plies, the remaining six to be put under his com-
mand lor .1 voyage of discovery. The sovereigns
readily promised to comply with his rei|uest, and
were probably sincere in their intentions to do so,
but in the ])ertormance of their promise Columbus
was dot)med to meet with intolerable delay ;
p.irtly in conseiiiience of the oper ilion of public
events, i)arlly in conse(|uence of the intrigues of
men of otlice, the two great intluences which are
( ontinually iliverting and defeating the designs of
princes.
The resources of .Sp.iin were, at this moment,
tasked lo the utniost by the ambition ot l-'erdi-
nand, who lavished all his r 'Veiuies in warlike ex-
penses and in subsidies. While maintaining rt
contest of deep .iiid artful policy with l'"r.ince,
with the ultimate aim of gr.isping the sce|)tre of
Naples, he was l.iying the louiuiation of a wide
and |)i)werful connection by the m.irriages of the
royal children, who were now maturing in ye.-irs.
.At this time arose that family alliance, which
afterward consolidated such an immense empire
under his grandson .ind successor, Charles \'.
While a large army was maintained in It.ily,
under Cionsalvo of Cordova, to assist tlie King of
Naples in recovering his throne, of which he h.id
been .suildenly (lis|)ossessed by Ch.irles \'III. ot
I'" ranee, other armies were reijuired on the fron-
tiers uf .Spain, which were menaced with a French
* F.quivalent to the value of three thousand one hun-
dred and ninety-five dollars of the present time,
f Cura de los Palacios, cap. 131.
132
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
I?
i.l
li;
invasion. Squadrons also had to lie employed (or
the salejjuanl of the Mediterranean and Atlantic
coasts ot the Teninsula, wliile a niaj^nilicent ar-
mada of ujiward of a hundred ships na\in^ on
hoard twenty thousand persons, many of tlieni of
the tirst nobility, was dispatched to convoy the
I'rincess Juana to Flanders, to he married to
Philip, Archduke of Austria, and to hrinj;- hack
his sifter Margarita, the destined bride ol I'rince
luan.
These widely-extended oper.itions, both of war
and amity, jiut all the land and naval forces into
reijuisition. They drained the royal treasury, and
enj^rossed *'ie thouj,rhts of the sovereiijnr., obliginj^
;hem also to journey from place to place in tiieir
dominions. With such cares of an immediate and
homefelt nature ])ressin;^f upon their minds, the
distant enterprises of Columbus were easily neg-
lected or postijoned. They had hitherto been
sources of expense instead of profit ; and there
ivere artful counsellors ever ready to whiS|)er in
the royal ear ll^at they were likely to conti uie so.
What, in the ambitious eyes of ['"erdinard, was
the acquisition of a nuniber ot wild, nncukivated,
and i.istiint islands, to that of th'i bril.iant tlomain
of \a])les ; or the intercourse with naked and
barbaric i)rinces, to tiiat of an alliance with the
most potent s(n'ereigns of Christendom ? Colum-
bus had the mortilication, therefore, to see armies
levied and squadrons employed in idle contests
about a little point of territory in laiiope, arid a
vast armada (it upward of a hundred sail destined
to the ostentatious serxiie ot convoying a rt)\ al
bride ; while he vainly solicited a few caraxels to
])rosecute his discovery of a world.
At length, in the autumn, six millions of mara-
vcdies were ordered to be advanced to Columbus
for the e.-piipment of 1ms jiromised squadron.* Just
as the sum was about to be delivered, a letter was
received from I'edro Alonzo Nino, wiio had ar-
rivetl at Cadiz witli his three caravels, on his re-
turn from the island of Hispnniola. Instead of
proceiiling to court in person, or forwarding the
dispatches of the Adelanl.ido, he had gone to visit
his family ;it Huelva, taking the disjiatches with
him, and merely writing, in a vaunting style, that
he had a great amount of gold on lioard of his
ships. t
'fhis was triumphant intelligence to Columbus,
who immediately concluded that the new mines
were in operation, and the treasui'es of Ophir
about to be reali/.ed. The letter or Xifio, liow-
ever, was fateil to have a most injurious effect on
his concerns.
The king at that moment was in immediate
want of money, to re|)air the fortress of Sal/a, in
lioussillon, which had been sacked by the l'"rench ;
the six millions of maravedii's about to be ad-
\anced to Columbus were forthwith appriqiriated
to patch up the shattered castle, and an order was
given f(jr the amount to be paid out of the gold
brought by Nino. It was not until the end of De-
cember, when Nino arrived at court, and deliv-
ered the dispatches of the Adtd.mtado, that his
b(>ast of gold was discovered to be a mere figure
(if s|)eech, and that his caravels were, in fact,
freighted with Indi.m prisoners, from the sale of
whom the \aunted gold was i'^ arise.
it is dillicult to descrilie the .--xatious effects of
this absurd hyperbole. The hopes of Columbus,
ot great and immediate protit from the mines,
v.ere suddenly cast down ; the zeal of h.is few ad-
* Equivalent to 86,956 dollars of the present day.
f Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 123, ms.
vocates was cooled ; an air of empty exagger.r,'
was given to his enterprises ; and his l-ik-:
pointed with scor" and ridicule to the wni^
cargoes of the caravels, as the boasted tieast
of the New Workl. The re])ort brought liv N
and his crew rejjresented the colony ,i> ni ,,
astrous condition, and the disi)atches ot ilic .\
lantado jjointed out ilie iniixirtance of inuiuni:
supplies ; but i". proporiion as the necessi:,
the case was urgent, the measure of relict
tardy. All the unfavorable representations h ;;
to made seemed corroborated, and the iinn:
cry of " great cost and little gain" v.as rcvivt;
those politicians of pet'y sagacity and miii(i>,
eye, who, in all great undertakings, can (hs ,
the immediate expense, without having aco!,.
vision to embrace the future prollt.
CHAPTEK III.
I'^EPARATIOXS FOR A THIRn VOVAC;!'.— DH
I'OINT.MENIS ANU DELAYS.
['497.]
It was not until the following spring nt i.
that the concerns of Columbus and ot iIk' '
World began to receive serious ;ittention tmr
sovereigns. The fleet had returned trmu !
ders with the Princess Margarita ol .Xustri,!.
nu])ti.ils with Prince Juan, the heir-app;iii;i'
been celebrated at Hurgos, the capital ol oiiU
tile, v.iih extraordinary sjilendor. All the :;•
dees, the dignitaries, and cliivalry ot .S| .
.ogether with ambassadors from the I'.rii; ■
potentates of Christendoui, were assem!)l( >! 1
occasion. Hurgos was for some time a sa:.
chivalrous pageant and courtly revel, mv] ■
whole kingdom celebrated with great fijnii;
this powerful alliance, which seemed to ii'.sur:
the .Sjianish sovereigns a continuaiice ot their:!
'.raordinary |)ros])erity.
In the mi(lst of these festi\ities, Isabella, v,:
maternal heart had recently been engmssi:
the marriages of her children, now that slu-
relieved from these concerns of a tender ar.l
mestic nature, entered into the affairs ol \rx'S-\
World with a spirit that showed she wasiir:
mined to place them ujion a substantial tii;::
tion, as well as clearly to detme the powrrs
reward the services of Columbus. To l.ii;
tecting zeal all the provisions in favor nl ij
bus must be tittributed ; for the king \'<'C\
look coldly on hitri, and the royal counsellii!>
had most inlluence in the affairs of the!:.
were his enemies.
Wirious royal ordinances dated about tlii-^:"!
manifest the generous and considerate (li>i'>'-:
ot thc(|ueen. The rights, jn-ivileges, and (l;.^'"■
granted to Columbus at Satita FiS wcr;' K
confirmed; a tract of land in Ilispanj il.i. :
le.igues in length md twenty-t"iv(^ in briMiit:..
offered to him with the title of duke or m.ir;,:-i
This, however, Columbus had the iirhciiMiii;!
decline ; he observed that it would only iiu' |
the envy which was already so virulent .1,'
him, and would c.iuse new misre])restn!,i:
as he shiudd be accused ol paying niori .iiu'
to the settlement and impros'ement ot hisi v:';
sessions than of any other ji.art ot the isl,in;l"
As the expenses of the expeditions h.ul h"'
far exceeiled the returns, Columbus had ivx':
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 123.
!ht rather than r
1(1 been permitted
[veil, therefore, f
lull part of the c(
Ipting tlie sum w
tirst voyage ; a
IS not to claim
Jo lieeii brought
jsiiini; years he u
;'ri)ss proceeds o
in:n tenth after t
[icrtlif expir.ition
•Ills ot agreement
;j;ratil'' his ho
|r|)!'iu,ite in his t.in
illustriiuis deeds,
:al>lisliiiig a mayo
tsi.ues, so that th
lilies of nobility,
led in a solemn tes
early part of I4()S
tes to his own ma
jure to the male
nd in (lel.iult of ma
lint -:i .
Ik'ir was alw
airal, to seal with
•I', .md in signing,
insiiii|)ly " The Adi
In he given liim b
other occasions.
Ih which he valuet
|n this testament h
liidther, the Ade
iiis brother Don
Bill. lies, li.id a (h'siri
lie ordered that
>:: from the may(
lus.iii I ciiarit.dile pi
br persons of Ids lint
pile guing of marri
lies ot his family.
•son ot bis kindred
live city of (".enoa, si
l»iii|)etence and resj
a donilcil for the
Inled whoever shou
lays to do everything
l.iiierity, and iiicreasi
lei it should not be
lihiireh and theinte
'!';' various other
fcm'ily provides for l'
icry ot the holy sepi
h<>. or whoever else
Vt b-onitiine to time
^rf, in stock in the h.i
'111! a permanent
Jil ready at any tin
rill the coiKpiestof
""t 'inclertake sui
It'.iiMs have .accumul,
■; "11 loot ;i crusai
1" lii'pes that, seei
tere:.;nis mav be ind
|eitil;ing or to auth
ir 'i.mie.
I'-^ides this special un
'"■ I'liarges his h
9^ Illy sidiism in th
P'l'inij its prosperity
'• ''"' po;)e, and de'
' ' <lvlen(l the churcl
""■i- Next to the sc
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
i;33
ml liis tiler.:
[o the wi'tu J
)aslc(l U'f.hi.:-!
rou^hl hy N;|
jny as m ,
les ot tlu.'
e of imnu'.l
.he ncccssiiv
u ot rv\'w\
.■Illations hj;:.:l
1(1 the inviiL,
' was ri'virti;
uul inicr(i>.
ii;s, can (li>..|
laving bco;,.-
t.
VnYAOl-.— Ijl-
[,AVS.
ami ol lliL' N
Itention h-om'
vncd liom i;.
of Austria.
L'ir-api)ai\'!ii,
ipiuil o! <»1(1C.|
•. All the -r;i
valry ot Sj:
m t'hc iirin:
assciiib'.nl ic.
c tinu' a sci:-.:|
revel, iiivl
.;reat vr].>ic
med to ;;;!.i:r-l
:ipce ol thc;r:i
en
Isabella, v.-
enj^iiissi ;
)\v ih.il >!"'!■
tender ar.^1
airs ol i'''f H
she was i: :■
stantial lor.:
the ])o\\rrs
VIS. To l-.i'i;'
ivor of CV!.
kin^' lii';,'r.
counsel'.'V-
rs ot the I:..
(1 about thi^:'
ieralc dispos*;
.;es, and d;;,':'.'
\-\\ wi a;' ■:
llispaniii!.!, :
in bre.ulll'..
like or ni.in,'.;:
ic /irbe.ir.ii'.i';
uld only iii<'-|
virulent .^i'
<re|ireseii!.i'''
n- tUOI'l ,lt'a'
I'lt ol hisi v;r
the islaivl.;
Ions h.ul li''
[us had iiKi::
[ip. 123-
[bt rather than reaped profit from thp share he
1(1 been permitted to take in them ; he was re-
ived, therefore, from his oblijjation to bear an
BJuli' p.ut ot the cost of the past enterprises, ex-
fc)iiii'4 the sum whi(h he had avKanced toward
' lirst vova^e ; at the same time, howeve , he
., not to claim any share of wh .t had nith-
(1 been hrou^dit from the island. For three
isaiii" vears he wa.; to be allowed an ei|rluh of
niss' proceeds of every voya^'e, and an addi-
iiiai tenth after th'_' costs had t)een deducted.
tcrthe expiration of the three years, the original
[lis ot agreement were to be resumed.
rati!'' ids honoiable ambition also, and to
irnetii.Ue ill Ids family the distinction gained by
illustrious deeds, he was allowed the right of
ilili'iliiiig a mayora/go, or perpetual ent.iil of
tM.ites.so that they might always descend with
lilies of nobility. This he shortly after e>;er-
(i^f I ill a sidemii tes'ament executed at Seville in
tfceirly part of 1498, by which he devised his es-
Sts to his own male descendants, and on their
lure ti) the male descendants of his brothers,
^(1 111 (let.uilt of male heirs to the females of his
lieir was always to bear the arms of the
niir.il.to seal with them, to sign with his sign.i-
fe, and in signing, never to use any other title
111 simply " The .Vdmirid," whatever other titles
An be given idm by the king, and used by Idm
(itlier occasions. Such was the noble pride
llli wliich he valued this title vl his real great-
\n this testament he made amjile jirovision for
imuher, the .Adelantado, his son Fernando,
his hmther Don Diego, the last of whom, he
Biii.ites, h.ul a desire t(> enter into ecclesiastic. d
lie ordered that a lenth jiart of the revenues
pii,:;' h'din the mavorazgo should be devoted to
lus.iii I ('.larilable purposes, ;ind in relieving all
Ir pers'iiis of his lineage, lie made jirovisions
[the i;'^'".^ "f marriage-]iortions t' '.he poor fe-
Ics (i| his family. He ordered that a married
hull (if his kindred, who had been born in his
live citv of (icnoa, should be m.iintained there
iiii|ieteiice and resjiectability, by way of keep-
,1 ihiniicil for the familv there ; and he com-
Inled whoever should iniierit the mayorazgo,
Vivs tndo everything in his power for the honor,
Isiieiity, and incre.ise of the city of (lenoa, pro-
le I it shmild not be contrarv to the service ot
lelniivli and the interests ot tiie Spanish crown.
11; various other ]irovisions m this will, he
tiiinly jirovides for his tjivorite scheme, the re-
Icry of the holy sepulchre. He orders his son
.'1. or \vhoe\er else may inherit his estate, to
^; troiii time to time as much money as he can
Ire. Ill stock in the bank of St. deorge .at Ceno.i,
Tftirm a permanent fund with which he is to
ready at any time to follow and serve the
: ill the contpiest of Jerusalem. ( )r should the
not 'iiidertake such enter|)rise, then, when
It.mishave accumulated to sut'licieiit .imount,
jse! (in tout a crusade at his own (diarge and
J. Ill hopes that, seeing his determination, the
fh''.'^nf, may be induced either to .adopt the
(tit, iking or to authorize him to ])ursue it in
i.illle.
pe^iiles this special undertaking for the Catholic
e eliirges his heir in case there should
fe ny schism in the church, or any violence
i.uinj; its prosperity, to throw himself at the
'! the piv)(_', and devote his |)erson and prop-
iiileteiid the church from all insult and s])o-
poii. Next to the service ot God, he enjoins
loyalty to the throne ; rommandinff him at all
times to serve the soveidgns and their heirs,
faithfully and zealously, even to the loss of life and
estate. To insure the const.int remembr.ince ot
this testament, he orders his heir that, before he
confesses, he shall give it '.o his father confessor to
read, who is to examine liim upon his faithful ful-
filment of its conditions.*
As Columbus had felt aggrieved by the gener.d
lice se granted in Ajiril, I4()5, to make disco\cries
in the New World, consideri ig it a.> interteriiig
with his prerogatives, a roval "diet was issued on
the 2(1 ot June, I4(;7, retracting whatever might be
]>reiudicial to his interests, or to tlie previous
grants m.ide him by the c 'own. " It ne\-er w.is
our intention," said the sovereigns in their edict,
" in any way to affect the rights of the s.iid Don
Christopher Columbus, nor to allow the conven-
tions, ])rivileges, and favo's which we have grant-
ed him to be encroached u|;(in or viidated ; but on
the contrary, in conse(|uence of the services which
he has rendered us, we intend to confer still fur-
ther favors on h.im." Such, there is every re.ison
to believe, was the sincere intentioii ot the mag-
nanimous Isabella ; but the stream oi her rov.il
bounty was jioisoned or diverted by the base
channels through which it th.iwed.
The f.ivor sliown to Columbus was extended
likewise to his family. The titles and preroga-
tives of Adelantado, with which he had imcsted
his brother Don Harthidomew, had at first awaken-
ed the dis|)leasure of the king, who je.ihuislv re-
served all high dignities ot the kind to be gr.inted
exclusively by the crown, liy ;i roval letter the
office was now conferred upon Don ll.irtholotiK \v,
as it tnrough spontaneous f.ivor ot the sovereigns,
no .illusion being made to his ha\ing previouslv
enjoyed it.
While all these measures were taken for the
immediate gratihcation o Columbus, others were
adopted for the interests vt the colonv. Permis-
sion was granted him to take out three hundred
and thirty persons in royal p.iv, ot whom tortv
were to lit; escuderos, or servants, one hundred
foot-soldiers, thirty sailors, thirty ship-bovs,
twenty miners, fifty husb.indmen, ten g.irdeners,
twenty mechanics td \arious kinds. iukI thirty fe-
males. He was subsetpiently permitted to incrcise
the number, if he thought proper, to five hundred ;
but the .iddition.d individu.ils vvere to be p.iid out
of the ])roduce ,111(1 merchandise of the colony. He
was likewise authorized to grant lands to all such
as were disposed to cultivate vinevards, orchards,
sugar |daiit;itions, or to form any other rural est.ib-
lislinKMits, on condition that they should reside ,as
householders on the island for tiuir years after
su(di grant, and tli.it ;ill the br.izil-wood and pre-
cious metals found on th(dr l.inds should be re-
served to the crown.
Xor were the in'-- ^.is of the unh,i|)py n.itives
forgotten by the .'omiiassionate heart ot Is.ilndl.i.
-Notwithst.inding tie sophisms bv whi( h their sub-
jection ;in(l servil 'ile were m.ide matters ot ci\il
and divine right, ;ii 1 s.mctioned by the piditic.il
prelates of the dav, I'.iindl.i alwavs consenteil with
the greatest r(duct,inc! to the shucry even of those
who were taken in iipeii \>arf.ire ; while her ut-
most solicitude w.is ext rt('(l to protect the unof-
fending jiart of this iKdjiless .uul devoted race.
She iirdered th.it ilv greatest care should bet.iken
ot their r(digious i,',:.:!Uction, and the greatest le-
niency shown in collecting the tributes imposed
* This testament is inserted at large in the Appen-
dix.
I
^^
134
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
V i
upon them, with all possible induljjence to tlcfal-
cators. In fact, tho injunctions jjiven with re-
si)i;ct to the treatment both of Indians and Span-
iards, are the only indications in the royal edicts
of any impression havinj^ been Tiade by the com-
plaints aj^ainst Columbus of rity in his }rovern-
ment. It was jjenerally rec( i ...leiuled by the sov-
erei^Mis that, whenever the public safety did not
re(|uire stern measures, there should be mani-
iesled a disposition to lenity and easy rule.
When every intention was thus shown on the
part ot the crown to dispatch the ex|)edition to the
colony, unexpected dit'ticulties arose on the partot
the public. The chaiai was dispelled which in
the prt'cedinfj voyage had made every adventurer
crowd into the service of Ccilumbus. An odium
had been industriously thrown upon his enter-
prises ; and his new-lound w:)rlr|, instead of a re-
gion of wealth and delight, was considered a land
ot i)overty and disaster. There was a ditfuulty in
procuring either ships or men for the voyage. To
remedy the first of tiuse deficiencies, one of those
arbitrary orders was issued, so opposite to our
present ideas of commercial |)olicy, empowering
the officers of the crown to press into the service
whatever ships they might judge suitable for the
lHiri)ose(l ex|)ediiion, together with their masters
and pilots ; and to fix such price for their remuner-
ation as the officers should deem just and reason-
able. To supply the want of voluntary reci uits,
a measure was adopted at the suggestion of Co-
lumbus,* which shows the desperate alternatives
to which he was reiluced by the great reaction of
])ul)lic sentiment. This was to commute the sen-
tences of criminals condemned to banishment, to
the galleys, or to the mines, into transportation
to the new settlements, where they were to labor
in the public service- without pay. Those whose
sentence was banishment for life, to be transport-
ed for ten years ; those banished for a specific
term, to be iransjiorted for half that time. A gen-
eral jjardon w;is ])ui)nshed for all malefactors at
large, who within a certain time shoulil surrender
themselves to the admiral and embark for the
colonies ; those who had comipitted offences mer-
iting death, to serve for two ears, those whose
misdeeds were of a lighter nature to serve lor one
year.f Those only were excepted from this indul-
gence who had crmmilted lieresy, treason, coin-
ing, murder, and certain other s])ecilic crimes.
This |)ernicious measure, calculated to poison the
])opulation of an infant community at its very
source, was a fruitful cause of tioulile to Colum-
bus, and ot misery and detriment to the colony. It
has been frecpiently adopted by various nations,
whose superior e:;;ierience should have taught them
belter, and has |)roved the bane of many a rising
settlement. It is assuredly as unnatural tor a
metropolis to cast forth its crimes and vices upon
its coloTiies, as it would be for a parent wilfully
to engraft disease upon his children. In both in-
sianies the obligation of nature is vitiated ; nor
should it be matter of surprise, if the seeds of evil
thus sown should bring fotth bitter retribution.
Notwithstanding all these violent exjiedients,
there was still a ruinous delay in fitting out the
expedition. This is partly accounted for by changes
which took place in the |)ersons .appointed to su-
perintend the affairs of the Indies. These con-
cerns had tor a time been consigned to Antonio
(le Torres, in whose name, conjointly with that of
Columbus, many of the official ilocuments had
* Lns Casas, Hist. Ind., lib, i. cap. 112, MS,
f Murtoz, lib. vi. § 19.
been made out. In consequence of high nivl
reasonable demands on the part of Torres, ho '
removed from office, and Juan Rodriguez ik K
seca, Hishop of liadajos, reinstated. The- p.v
hafi, therefore, to be made out anew, and ir^,
contracts formed. While these concerns v..
tardily attended to, the queen was suddenly i,.-
whelmed with affliction by the death of her-
son, I'rince Juan, whose nuptials had been ct
brated with such splendor in the spring, hv,
the first of a series of domestic calamiiifs w;
assailed her affectionate heart, and overwini:::
ln';- with affliction for the rem.iinder ot iierdj;
In the midst of her distress, however, she -:
thought ot Columbus. In conseciuence othis.
gent representations of the misery to which ::
colony must be reduced, two ships were dispai:
ed in the beginning of 1498, under the coninu;
ot Pedro Fernandez Coronel, freighted with-.
plies. The necessary funds were advanced liv
(|ueen herself, out ot the moneys intc-ndud to i
the endowment of her daughter Isabella, ilu-n
frothed to Kmanuel, King of I'ortug.il. .\n
stance of her kind feeling toward Coluiiil)Ui
also evinced in the time ot her affliction ; hi^:
sons, Diego and Fernando, had been ]);igLSty.
deceasetl prince ; the (|ueen now took then
the s.une capacity, into her own service.
With all this zealous dis|)osition on liie p,;:
the (|ueen, Columbus still met with the \mw.
jurious and discouraging delays in jireparin^
six remaining vessels for his voyage. His :
blooded enemy Fonsec.i, having tlie superin! •
ence of Indian affairs, was enabled to impede ■
retard all his ])lans. The various petty otiiciMs
agents emploved in the concerns ot the arm,';:
were m..ny ot tht 1 minions of the bishop,
knew that they \\> le gratifying him in aniiny:-,
Columl)us. They looked ui)on the latter as a r
declining in ])opularity, who might be offi;:
with impunity ; they scrupled not, theretorir,
throw all kinds of difficulties in his path, an
treat him occasionally with that arrogance w:
])elty and ignoble men in place are prone to
ercise.
It seems almost incredible at the ])reseni'
that such im])ortant aiul gloiious enur|ir;s
should have bet^ii subject to such despicahltr:
leslations. Columbus bore them all with si::
indignation. He was a stranger inthekir.i.
was benehting ; he felt that the jiopular tide
setting against him, and that it was neces.^an
tolerate many present grievances for the sake
effecting his gretit ])ur])oses. Sowe.iried anJ-:
heartened, however, did he become by the iro:
imeiits artfully thrown in his \ ay, and so i
gusted by the ])rejudices of tlu ickle public, t:
he at one time thought of abandoning his dijc
eries .altogather. He was chiefly iiuluced 10
severe by his gr.Uetul attachment to the que:
.ind his desire to acliie\e something tiiatii.:i
cheer and animate her under her ;ifflictions.'*
At length, after all kinds ot irritating dti;
the six vessels were fitted for sea, though ii«
im])ossible to coiupier the ]iopular repugn<iii:f
the service, sufficiently to enlist the .alloltLdr..
ber of men. In addition to the persons in civ.:
already enumerated, a ])hvsician, surgeon.
ajjothecary were sent out tor the relief ot the
ony, and several priests to rei)lace Friar H
and certain ot his discontented bretlireii ; wlv
numlier of musicians wiM'e embarked by llic
miral to cheer and enliven the colonists.
he insolence wl
mi the minions of
traded time of
last moment of
ivcd him to the vei
rthless hirelings
St noisy .-ind jjres
sea, treasurer or
snot an old Chris
iS Casas ; by whi
was eitlier a Je\
itholic faith. He I
hridled tongue, an
patron the bishoi)
the admiral and hi
^tn the s(|ua<lron w
chor, Colund)us w
this .\inieno, eithe
Jhark, or on board
tcred. In the hur
usual self-comma
repressed, suddenl
spicable mini(,n to
pcatedly, venting i
ucumulated grit
[i;j rankled in his m
Nothing could dem
lumbus had previi
inations of unwort
* Letter of Columbus to the nurse of Prince m
CHA
^PAinURF, OF COLt
TH1"D VOY.VGE— IJ
[On the 30th of Ma
om the port of San
Is squadron of six ves
Isfovery. The route
Ifferent from that pur
|e intended to d"m:
lands, sailing to the
pnie under the equine
ctly westward, with tl
hti! he should arrive
Itlonjjitude of Hispa
7)ns induced him to
tccding voyage, wh(
kit of Cuba, 'under tht
mi !)f Asia, he had
|war(l the south Fr
bni information gath
le Carihbee Islantls,
liiiajTrtMi tract of the
nhccMuntrits he had
hll.of I'or.ugal aji
Imilar idea ; as Hen
f«swl by that monan
V" in the southern
p. it was supposetl
fiionnshe approach(
Tills discoveries to cl
pthe torrid influence
[*UC.-isas, Hist. Ind
llMrera, Hist. Ind.,
=4 1.
^^7^
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
135
— ihe insolence which Columbus had suffered
ini the minions of Fonseca throughout this ' ong
otractcil time of preparation harassed him to
™|nst moment of his sojourn in Spain, and fol-
■RL-a him to tiie very water's edge. Among the
irihless hirelings who had annoyed him, the
ist noisy :ind presuming was one Ximeno }5re-
•sc.i, tit-asiircr or acc(juntant of Fonseca. He
Vnol an old Christian, observes the venerable
IS Casas ; by which it is to be understood tliat
was eitlier a Jew or a Moor converted to the
itholic faith. He had an impudent front and an
briilleii tongue, and, echoing the sentiments of
% patron the hishop, had been loud in his abuse
thu admiral and his enterprises. The very day
an llic s(|uadron was on the point of weighing
chor, Columbus was assailed by the insolence
this Ximeno, either on the shore when about to
flbark, or on board of his ship where he had just
tcreci. In the hurry of the moment he forgot
i usual self-command ; his indignation, hither-
reprt'sseil, suddenly burst forth ; he struck the
'spicable mini(/i to the ground, and kicked him
laiedly, venting in this unguarded paroxysm
accumulated griefs and vexations which had
yr rankled in his mind.*
(Nothing could demonstrate more strongly what
hlumbus had previously suffered from the ma-
binations of unworthy men, than this transport
of p-ission, so unusual in his well-governed temper.
He deeply regretted it, and in a letter written
some time afterward to the sovereigns, he en-
deavored to obviate the injury it might do him in
their opinion, through the exaggeration and false
coloring of his enemies. Hisapprehension< were
not ill-founded, lor Las Casas attributes th(' hu-
miliating measures shortly after adopted by the
sovereigns toward Columl)Us, to the indavorable
imjjression [)roduced by this affair. It h.id haj)-
jiened near at hotne, as it were, under the very
eye of the sovereigns ; it spoke, therefore, more
(juickly to their feelings than more ini|)ortant al-
legations from a distance. 'I'he personal castiga-
tioii of a ])ublic officer was represented as a tla-
grant instance of the vindictive temper of Colum-
bus, and a corroboration ot the charges (;f cruelty
and oppression sent from the colony. As Ximeno
was a creature of the invidious Fonseca, the affair
was represented to the sovereigns in the n'"'t
odious point ot view. Thus the generous int>-ii-
tions of princes, and the exalted services ot their
subjects, are apt to be defeated by the interven-
tion ot cold and crafty men in jjlace. By his im-
placable hostility to Columbus, and the secret ob-
structions which he threw in the way of the most
illusttious of human enterprises, Fonseca has in-
sured perpetuity to his name, coupled with the con-
tempt of every generous mind.
BOOK X.
CHAPTER I.
fePAUTURE OF COLUMBUS FROM SP.\IN ON HIS
IHl.'D VOYAGE— DISCOVERY OF TRINIDAD.
[1498.]
lOs the jOth of May, 1498, Columbus set sail
om the |K)rt of San Lucar de Harrameda, with
Issciuadruii of six vessels, on his third voyage of
Isfovery. The route he proposed to take was
IffLTent from that pursued in his former voyages.
|t intended to depart from the Cape de Verde
lands, sailing to the south-west, until he should
pme under the equinoctial line, then to steer di-
cily westward, with the favor of the trade-winds,
litil he should arrive at land, or find himself in
It lonLjitude of Hispaniola. X'arious considera-
fiis induced him to adopt this course. In his
leci'ding voyage, when he coasted the southern
(it uf Cuba, under the belief that it was the con-
'fifM !^i .Asia, he had observed that it swept off
Jward the south From this circumstance, and
)ni information gathered among the natives of
If Caribbce Islands, he was induced to believe
Vu i;.,Teat tract of the main-land lay to the south
liiiL loiiiurits he had already discovered. King
bh^ II. of I'or.ugal appears to have entertained a
bii.ir idfa ; as Herrera records an opinion ex-
rissed by that monarch, that there was a conti-
ru in the southern ocean. t If this were the
p, it was supposed by Columbus that, in pro-
Pfii'mashe apjiroaclied the e(|u;itor, and extend-
liis discoveries to climates more and more un-
|tr llie torrid inlluence of the sun, he should find
I of Prince Juil
j* l.as Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 126, MS.
t Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. iii. tap. 9.
the productions of nature sublimated by its n.ys
to more perfect and precious (|ualities. He was
strengthened in this belief by a letter written to
him at the command of the (pieen, by one Jayne
Ferrer, an eminent and learned lapidary, who, in
the course of his trading for precious stones and
metals, had been in the Levant and in various
parts of the East ; had conversed with the mer-
chants of the remote parts of Asia and Africa,
and the natives of India, Arabia, and Ethiopia,
and was considered deeply versed in geography
generally, but especially in the natural histories of
those countries whence the valuable merchandise
in which he dealt was jjrocured. In this letter
Ferrer assured Columbus that, according to his
experience, the rarest objects of coiutnerce, such
as gold, precious stones, drugs, and s|)ices, were
chiefly to be found in the regions about the e(nii-
noctial line, where the inhaUitanls were black, or
darkly colored ; anci that until the adnnr.il should
arrive among people of such coni|)lexions he di^l
'.■.ol think he would find those articles in gre.it
.abundance.*
Columbus expected to I'ind such people more to
the south. He recollected that the natives ol Ilis-
jianiola had spoken of black men who had once
come to their island from tin soiuh and south-
east, the heads of whose javelins were of a sort of
metal which they called CiUanin. They had given
the admiral specimens of this metal, which on be-
ing assayed in -Spain, jiroved to be a mixture
Ol eighteen p.irts gold, six silver, and eight cop-
per, a ]iroof of valu.ible mines in the country
whence they came. Charlevoix conjectures th.it
these black people may have come from the Ca^
* Navarrcte, Colcc, torn. ii. doc. 68.
i:3(>
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
if
narics, or tlic western coast of Africa, and been
driven l)y tempest to the shores of Hispaniola.* It
is ])r()i)al)le, liowever, that Columbus had been
misinformed as to their color, or had misunder-
stood his informants. It is ditficult to believe that
the natives of Africa, or the Canaries, could have
jicrtormed a voyage of such magnitude, in the
trail and scantily provided barks they were ac-
customed to use.
It was to ascertain the truth of all these supjio-
silions, ;ind if correct, to arrive at the favored and
o])ulent countries about the etiuator, inhabited by
pi'oplf of similar complexions with those of the
Africans under the line, that Columbus in his
present voyage to the New World took a course
nuu'h f.irther to the south than that which he had
hiilierto pursued.
Having heard that a French stjuadron was
cruising off Ca|)e St. Vincent, he stood to the
S'Uith-west after leaving .St. I. near, touching at the
islands of I'orto Santo and Madeira, where he re-
mained a few days taking in wood and water and
other supplies, and then continued his course to
the Canary Islands. On the 19th of June he ar-
rived at Cioniara, where there lay at anchor a
Frencli cruiser with two .Spanish jjrizes. On see-
ing the squadron of Columbus standing into the
harbor, the ca|)tain of the jirivateer yiut to sea in
all haste, followed by his ])ri/es ; one of which, in
the hurry of the moment, left part of her crew on
shore, making sail with only four of her arma-
ment and six S|)anish prisoners. The admiral at
first mistook them for merchant ships alarmed by
his warlike appearance ; when informed of the
truth, however, he sent three of his vessels in pur-
suit, but they were too distant to l)e overtaken.
Tlie six Spaniards, however, on board of one of
the jnizes, seeing assistance at hand, rose on their
captors, and the admiral's vessel coming up, the
jMize was retaken, and brought back in triumph
to the ])ort. 'I I-.',- admiral relin(|uislied the ship to
the captain, and g.Tve up the prisoners to the gov-
erni/r of the island, to be exchangetl for six Span-
iards carried off by the cruiser.f
Leaving Comara on the 21st of June, Columbus
divided his S(|uadron off the island of Ferro : three
of the ships he dispatched direct for IUsi)aniola,
to carry supplies to the colony. One of these ships
was commanded by Alonzo Sanchez tie Caravajal,
a native of Baeza, a man of much worth and integ-
rity ; the second by I'edro de Arana of Cordova,
brother of Dofia Heatri.x Henri(|uez, the mother of
the admiral's second son Fernando. He was
cousin also of the unfortunate officer who com-
manded the fortress of La N'avidad at the tinie of
the iiiassacre. The third was commanded by
Juan Antonio Columbus ,'or Colombo), a denoese,
related to the admiral, and a man of much judg-
ment and ca|)acity. These ca|)tains were alter-
nately to have the command, and bear the signal
light .1 week at a time. The admiral carefully
pointed out their course. When they came in
sight of I lispaniola they were to steer for the south
side, tor the new port and town, which he sup-
])osed to t)e by this time estalilished in the mouth
of the ( )zema, according to royal orders sent out
by Coronet. With the three remaining vessels
the admir.d prosecuted his voyage toward the
Cape de X'erde Islands. The ship in which he
sailed was ilecked, the other two were merchanL
caravels. J As he advanced witliin the tropics
♦ Charlevoix, Ili.st. .St. Domingo, lib. iii. p,
f Hist, dei Almirante, cap. 65,
I P. Martyr, decad. i, lib, vi.
162,
the change of climate and the close and sc J
weather tirought on a severe attack of tht.- -
followed by a violent fever. Notwithstandini"'
painful illness, he enjoyed the full |)C)ssessi(j-|
ills faculites, and continued to keep his rccko'j
and make his ol)servations with his usual
lance and minuteness.
On the 27th of June he arrived among theC;j
de Verde Islands, which, instead of the fresh--
and verdure which their name would l)irio,j
])resented an aspect of the most cheerless btir:
He remained among these islands tint a vtrv;-
days, tieing flisa])pointed in his expectation 0;
taining goats' tlesh lor ships' provisions, and :;
tie for stock tor the island of Hispaniola. Ti-
cure them would re(|uire some delav ; in;
mean time the health of himself antl ot his pi-
suffered under the inlluence of the weather. [
atmosphert! was loaded with clouds and v.i], •
neither sun nor star was to be seen ; a siiltrv.
])ressing temperature ])revailed ; and the i:
looks of the inhabitants bore witness to he ir;
lubriiy of the climate.*
Leaving the island of IJuena Vista on the 5;-
July, Columbus stood to the south-west, iiucn.:
to continue on until he found himself uiidcr-.l
ecpiinoctial line. The currents, however, \vh
lan to the north and north-west amoiif,'- ihrj
islands imjieded his progress, and kejjt hin. :
two days in sight of the Island del Fuego, T
volcanic summit of this island, which, seen al,i
tance, resembled a church with a lofty steeple,
which was said at times to emit smoke and tl,i~:
was the last point discerned of the Old WorliL
Continuing to the south-west about one ''::
dred and twenty leagues, he found himself, or,-
13th of July, according to his ol)servations, ir,
titth degree of north latitude. He had entereiij
region which extends for eight or ten de;;;iet-
each side of the line, and is known among sia::
by the name of the calm latitudes. The [u\
winds from the south-east and north-east, ir-
ing in the neighborhood of the e([uator, neutr^t
each other, and a steady calmness of the elei;:!:
is produced The whole sea is like a mirnir, ;
vessels remain almost motionless, with tlapr
s.'iils ; the cn-ws panting under the heat ot ;r
tical sun, unmitigated by any refreshing hrcr,;
Weeks are sometimes employed in crossing';
torpid tract of the ocean.
The weather for some time past had been ci".
and oppressive ; t)ut on the 13th there «.i
l)right and burning sun. The wind suddenly::
and a dead sultry calm commenced, which Li':
for eight days. The air was like a furnace:
tar melted, the seams of the ship yawned::
salt meat became putrid ; the wheat was p:ir:'
as if with fire; the hoops shrank from the (
and water casks, some ot whicii leaked, and or:
burst; while the heat in the holds ot the vo-:
was so suffocating tliat no one could rema:;;
low a sutificient time to prevent the daiiia;,^:
was taking ])late. The mariners lost all ."lUi:',
and spirits, and sank under t'^e op|)ressive r.:4
It seemed as if the old fable of the torrid zont
.ihout to be n-alized ; anil th.it they wen
proaching .a fiery region, wdiere it would In
possible to exist. It is true the heavens wert
a great |);irt ot the time, overcast, and there v.:
drizzling showers ; but the atmosphere \v:\si
and stilling, and there was that combinaii''
heat and moisture which relaxes all the ener:^
of the human frame.
It
I
I
Hist, del .^imirante, cap. 65.
During this time
torn the gout, but, a
iei'dilencd bv his
lenl-e nor repose.
the ocean, where
|j.,'ilance and sag:
i-aiching the phen
,l;ing out for sig
jintoler.ible, he al
1 the souili-west, h
Iture further on, e\
had observed
Itier sailing westw:
■ .Azores, a wonde
ea and sky, both
|n:l the air teni|)erat
jied ih;it a peculia
tailed over a great t
lorth to s:Kith, into
rom e.ist to west,
Irossing a line. Th
Iheory, lor alter maki
lime to the westward
Ind calm-:, with a nil
Ihips all at once em(
Pleasant, cooling brei
lie sea. and gently ti
IriHling clouds brok
]ene and clear, and
Its splen lor, but no 1
' C'uliinibus had inte
«rate ir.ict, to have i
Ind then we-stwarc
lad opened the scan
icni to leak excessiv(
)seek a harbor as
hij;ht he refitted. ^
\\M spoiled, and the v
lept on ihe-re'lore dir
Ironi the tlights of bir(
lations, he should soo
■ay p:issed away wit
tealized. The distres
jiimally more urgent ;
lelt in the longitude
»()rc a\v:iy toward tl
llem,"'
On the 31st of Jul
lask o( water remai
ilwut midday, a marii
:sum:nits'of three
Bori^on, and gave the
Jhips drew nearer it
aiiis were united at tl
[er;iiincd to give the
[he name of the Tr
Ihese three mountain?
a singular coincic
[eciins^ "f devotion, h
1 Li Trinidad, which
CHA
VOV,\(;f. THROUCil
[
SH.triNT, his courst
llppruached its eastei
fcave the name of I'uni
I the sea, wdiich rese
* Hist, del Almirante
t Ibid., ubi sup.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
137
During tliis time the admiral suffered extremely
torn the gout, but, as usual, the activity of his mind,
lei^htcncd by his anxiety, allowed him no indul-
leiRt' nor repose. He was in an unknown part
It the ocean, where everythinjj depended upon his
Ij.tihmce and sagacity ; and was continually
.lilchin"- the phenomena of the elements, and
,l;in" out for sij^ns of lanil. Findinjr the heat
J iiuokr.ible, he altered his course, and steered
I the sDUth-west, hopin]:{ to tind a milder temi)er-
llurs knther on, even under the same i)arallel.
it hail observed, in his previous voyajres, that
Itier s.iiliM!,' westward a hundred leajfues from
he Azores, a wonderful chanjrt; took ])lace in the
jea and sky, l)oth becomiiij^ serene and bland,
|ii;| the air tem|)erate and refreshing, lleimag-
that a peculiar mildness and suavity ])re-
lailcd over a great tract of ocean extending from
lorth to south, into which the navigator, sailing
Voni east to west, would suddenly enter, as it
Iroisini,'' a line. The event seemed to justify his
henry, tor after making their way slowly for some
Ome io the westward, through an ordeal of heats
Inil calms, with a murky, stilling atm()S|ihere, the
[hips all at once emerged into a genial region, a
lleasant, (.oijling breeze |)layed over the surlace of
he si-a. and gently tilled their sails, the close and
lriz?.lin„r clouds broke away, the sky became sc-
ene aii^l clear, ami the sun shone forth with all
its s|)len lor, but no longer with a burning heat.
Columbus had intended, on reaching this tem-
lerate tract, to have stood once more to the south
Ind then westward ; but the late parching weather
lal opeiu'd the seams of his ships, and caused
cm to leak excessively, so that it was necessary
) seek a harbor as soon as possible, where they
'ht be retUted. Much of the provisions also
bs spoiled, and the waternearly exhausted. He
lept on therefore directly to the west, trusting,
jroni the llights of birds and other favorable indi-
|.ilii)iis, he should soon arrive at land. IJay after
Ma\ passed away without his expectations being
|eali/ed. The distresses of his men became con-
liiiually more urgent ; wherefore, supjiosing him-
|elt in the longitude of the Caribbee Islands, he
ore away toward the northward in search of
Hem."
On the 31st of July there was not above one
ask of water remaining in each ship, when,
jibouiniidd.iy, a mariner at the masthead behekl
le summits of three mountains rising above the
lionzoii. and gave the joyful cry of land. As the
lips drew nearer it was seen that these moun-
ains were tniited at tlie b.ise. Columbus had de-
lerniined to give the first land he should behold
he name of the Trinity. The aj^pearance of
'ese three mountains united into one struck him
a singular coincidence ; and, with a solemn
rling (if dfvotion, he gave the island the name
kl La Trinidad, which it bears at the present day.f
CHAPTER n.
VOYAGE THROUGH THE GULF OF P.\RI.\.
[1498.]
Sh.vpinc; his course for the island, Columbus
jlppruached its eastern extremity, to which he
give the name of i'unta de la (ial'era, from a rock
ithese.i, which resembled a galley under sail.
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 67,
♦ Ibid., ubi sup.
He was obliged to coast for five leagues along
the southern shore before he could find safe an-
chorage. On the following day (.August I), he con-
tinued co.isting westward, in sear.h of water and
a convenient harbor where the vessels might be
careened. He was snr|)|-ise'.l a*, the verdure and
fertility of the coun ^y, h.iving exjiected 10 find it
more ])arched aiui sterile as he ajiproached the
e(|uator ; whereas he beheld groves of palm-trees
;ind luxuriant forests, sweeping down to the sea-
side, with fountains and running streams. The
shores were low and uninhabited, but the country
rose in the interior, was cultivated in many places,
and enliveneil by hamlets and scattered h.ihila-
tions. In a word, the softness and purity of the
climate, and the verdure, freshness, and sweet-
ness of the country, ajipeared to him to ecjual the
delights of early sjiring in the beautiful province
of \alencia.*
Anchoring at a point to which he gave the
name of I'unta de la I'laya, he sent the l)oats on
shore for water. They found an abundant and
limi)id brook, at which they filled their casks, but
there was no safe harbor for the vessels, nor could
they meet with any of the islanders, though they
found prints of footsteps, and various I'lshing im-
])lements, left behind in the hurry of the llight.
There were tracks also of animals, which they
su[)posed to be goats, but which must h.ive been
deer, with which, as it was afterward ascertained,
the island abounded.
While coasting the island Columbus beheld
land to the soiuh, stretching to the distance of
more than twenty leagues. It was that low tract
of coast intersected by the numerous branches of
the Oronoco, hut the admiral, sup|)i)sing it to be
an island, gave it the name of La Isl.i Saiit.i ; lit-
tle imagining that he now for the first time be-
held that continent, that Terra Firma, which had
been the object of his earnest search.
Un the 2d of August he continued on to the
south-west i)oint of Trinidad, which he called
I'oint Arena!. It stretched toward a corres]/ond-
ing point of Terra Firtiia, making a narrow pass,
with a high rock in the centre, to which he gave
the name of Kl (lallo. Near this ])ass the siiips
cast anchor. As they were ajiiiroaching this
])lace, a large canoe with five and twenty Indians
put off from the shore, but paused on coming
within bow-shot, and hailetl the ships in a language
which no one on board understood. Columbus
tried to allure the sav.iges on board, by friendly
signs, by the disjilay of looking-glasses, b.isins of
polished metal, and various glittering trinkets,
but all in vain. They remained gazing in mute
wonder for above two hours, with their paddles in
their hands, ready to take to fiight on the least at-
tempt to ajiproach them. They were all young
men, well formed, and naked, exce[)ting bands
and fillets of cotton about tht;ir heads, and col-
ored cloths of the same about their loins. They
were armed with bows ;ind arrows, the latter
feathered and tipped with bone, and they had buck-
lers, an article of armor seen for the first time
among the inh.ibitants of the N;»w World.
Finding all other means to atfact them in-
effectu.il, Columbiis now tried the power of music.
He knew the fondness of the Indians for d.inces
performed to the sound of their rude drums .ind
the chant of their traditional l)allads. He ordered
sometliing similar to be executed on the deck of
his ship, where, while one man sang to the beat
* Letter of Columbus to the Sovereigns from His-
paniola, Xavarrcte Colec, loni. i.
If:
111
ilit
m
! 1
138
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
of the tabor, and the sound of other musical in-
slrunu'iils, the ship-boys danced, after tlie popular
Spanish fashion. No sooner, however, did this
syni|)iioiiy strike up, liiaii tiie Indians, niisiakinj^
it for .1 signal of liostiHties, put their bucklers on
their arms, seized their bows, and let lly a shower
of arrows. 'I'his rude salutation w.is immediately
answered by the discharge of a coui)le of cross-
bows, which put the auditors to tlight, and con-
cluded this sinjrular entertainment.
'I'hou(,di thiis shy of the admiral's vessel, they
api>roached one of the caravels without hesitation,
and, running under the stern, had a parley with
the pilot, who j^ave a c.ip and a mantle to the one
who .ipjjeared to be the chieftain. He received
the |)resenis with j^reat delight, invitinjr the pilot
l)y si^ns to come to land, where he should be well
enteriained, ;uul receive j^re.it presents in return.
On his appearing to consent, ihey went to shore
to wait for him. The jjilot i)Ut off in the boat of
the car.ivel to ask iiermission of the admiral ; hut
the Indians, seeing him go on bo.ird of the hostile
ship, suspected some treachery, and springing
into their canoe, darted away, nor was anything
more seen of them.*
The complexion and other |)hysical characteris-
tics of these savages caused much surprise and
speculation in the mind of Columbus. .Sujjposing
himself in the seventh degree of latitude, though
actually in the tenth, he expected to fmd the in-
habitants similar to the natives of Africa under
the same par.illel, who were black and ill-shaped,
with cris|)ed hair, or rather wool ; whereas these
were well formed, had long hair, and were even
fairer than those more distant from the ecjuator.
The climate, also, instead of being hotter as he ap-
proached the equinoctial, appe.ired more temper-
ate. He w;is now in the dog-d.iys, yet the nights
and mornings were so cool that it was necessary
to use C()\-eri!',g as in winter. This is the case in
many parts of the torrid zone, especially in calm
weather, when there is no wind, for nature, by
heavy dews, in the long nights of those l.ilitudes,
cools and refreshes the earth after the gre.it heats
of the day. Columbus was at first gre.-iily per-
plexed by these contradictions to the course of n<i-
ture, as observed in the Old World ; they were
in o|)|)05iiion also to the ex])ectati()ns he had
founded on the theory of Ferrer the lapidary, but
they gradually contributed to the formation ol .i
theory which was springing up in his .ictive im-
agination, and which will be presently shown.
After anchoring at I'oint Arenal, the crews
were permitted to land and refresh themselves.
There were no runs of water, but by sinking pUs
in the sand they soon obtained sufficient to till
the casks. The anchorage at this place, however,
was extremely insecure. A ra|)id current set from
the eastward through the .strait formed by the
main-land and the island of Trinidad, tlowing, as
Columbus observed, night and day, with as much
fury as the Ou.idalquiver, when swollen bv llofxls.
In the pass between I'oint Arenal and its corre-
spondent point, the cont'med current boiled and
raged to such a degree th.it he thought it w.is
crossed by a reef of rocks and sho.ils, preventing
all entr.ince, with others extending beyond, over
which the w.iters roared like breakers on a rocky
shore. To this pass, from its angr\ and danger-
ous appearance, he gave the name of Boca del
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 8S. P. Martyr, decad.
i. lil). vi. Las C'asas, Hist. Ind., lil). i. cap. 138.
MS. Letter of Columbus to the Castilian Sovereigns,
'avarrete Colec, torn, i,
Sierpe (the Mouth of the Serpent). He thus \m:\
himself placed between two difficulties. Tlu'Cj-j
tinual current from the east seemed to prevcm
return, while the rocks which a])peared tn heJ
the pass threatened destruction if he should r,rj
ceed. Heing on board of his shij), late at nij;?'
kept awake i)y painful illness and an anxidiisa-
watchful spirit, he heard a terrible roanii^rtr,-
the south, and beheld the sea hea|)ed up, ;l^
were, into a great ridge or hill, the height (il;-
ship, covered with foam, and rolling toward h;-
with a tremendous uproar. As this furious surji
approached, rendered more terrible in appearai::
by the obscurity of night, he trembled for fi
safety of his vessels. His own ship was suddtr;
lifted up to such a height that he dreaded l«:
should be overturned or cast upon the mu-
while another of the ships was torn vif)lcntly trc-
her anchorage. The crews were for a time '
great consternation, fearing they shoidd he s\vi.|
lowed up ; but the mountainous surgi- p;issedc-
and gradually subsided, after a violent cdii'f.
with the counter-current of the strait.* This >;:.|
den rush of water, it is supposed, was causcil
the swelling of one of the rivers which llow i'
the Ciulf of I'aria, and which were as yet uiiknor
to Columbus.
Anxious to extricate himself from this daiigf
ous neighborhood, he sent the boats on the tolloil
ing morning to sound the depth of water at'.-!|
Boca del Sierpe, and to ascertain whether it «;i
possible for ships to pass through to the northwar:
To his great joy, they returned with a repiirtt'-;!
there were several fathoms of water, and curren
and eddies setting both ways, either to enter''
return. A favoral)le breeze prevailing, he inin|
diately made sail, and ]iassing through the k-
midable strait in safety, found himself inntrj:!
(|uil ex|)anse beyond.
Ht; was now on the inner side of Trinidad, T
his left spread the broad gulf since known by;:;
name of Baria, which he su])posed to be the oir
sea, but was surprised, on lasting it, to find in
water fresh. He continued northward, touar(::|
mountain at the north-west ])oint of the isl.ir
about fourteen leagues from I'oint Arenal, He
he beheld two lofty capes ojipusite each other, o'fl
on the island of Trinidad, the other to the we';
on the long promontory of I'aria, which stietch:
from the main-land and forms the northern sidti
the gulf, but which Columbus mistook for :'
ishuul, and named Isla de (iracia.
Between these cajies there was another ]h«[
which apjieared even more dangerous than tsl
Iioca del Sierjie, being .beset with rocks, aiiKS
whiidi the current forced its w;iy with ro.irinj,' ;;:
bulence. To this pass Columbus gave the nncj
of Boca del Dragon. Not choosing to eiHOun'el
its apparent dangers, he turned northward, cfl
Sunday, the 5th of .August, and steered ;ilon!,".i'f|
inner side of the supposed island of (irai'ia,
tending to kee|) <in until he came to the end oi
and then to strike northward into the treeM'.l
o|ien ocean, and sha])e his course tor His|)anioa
It was a fair ;ind beautiful coast, indented «::|
fine harbors lying close to each other ; the ck
trv cultivated in many places, in others covcrcL|
with fruit trees and stately forests, and waterK
by frequent streams. What greatly astoiiisht.
Columbus was still to find the water fresh, x:
that it grew more and more so the farther he pK-l
* Letter of Columbus to the Castilian Sovereigrsl
N'avaircte, Colec., torn. i. Herrera, Hist. Ind., (if|
cad, 1. lib. iii. cap. 10. Hist, del Almirante, cap. ('J
(led ; it being tl
lariotis rivers wliicl
re swollen by r.ii
ties of liesli watei
icocwin. Hewa;
the sea, which ;
me vast harbor,
lekinK a port to a
.As yet he had
unic'ation with the
■(irid. The shore
.cisiunaliy cultivai
,nd, excepting the
'oint .Areii.d, he ha
Iter .sailing seveni
chored, on .Mond
ace where there
sent the boats
aces 01
|)eople,
but
en. The coast w
1 Iruitkil groves,
biuinuiiig larther
T was more level,
'immediately a can
me off to the car:
aptain of which, p
ny them to land, ..
rned it, ;iiul, with I
icured the Indians
I'hen brought to t
ads, hawks' bells,
lighly gr.'.titied on
untrymen were ai
lent had the usual e
d canoes came off
■ntidence. They 1
Tilled, and free and
li'jir hair was long
t short, but none 0!
stom among the n;
ere armed with boM
en wore cotton ck
ins, heautituUy wro'
it a dist.ince to lou
rere entirely naked.
d other eatables, w
e, some white, ma
mj; heer, and other
d expressed from v;
iudi;e ol everylhin
ler.i examine objc
hen they a|)proach
(1 then io the peo
iin;,' that w;is given
t litll(! value upon b
iik'lited with hawks'
iil,;,Mi estimation ;
iiii; extremely gratt
iied it Turey, signi
ie.-.,''
From these Indians
le name of their ci
rilicrio the west I
lus. T.iking several
id mediators, he pre
lard to a point whi
wdie. llerehearr
»n\\y^. WluMi the
with the lieautv of
Bled
in
.,i„
many |
Ifirned with niagnih
h'<^ liilerhjiersed aim
llowers ; grape-
j* Herrera, Hist. Ind
■•m i.
LIFE AND VOYAGKS OF COLUMBUS.
139
He thus four
Ities. The «■.
(1 to prt-vcni,
pcai-(.'(| to hei,|
he sluiulil j::
|), latL' at ml;:
an an\i(uis,T
It: roarin^rir,
;a|K'(l up, ;n
lU lu'ii^llt (il^
iiifj; toward t
is luri(]U- Sl|r;:|
It-' in ai)|)L';ir,i
emhic-fi tor :;.|
p was sii(l(lc-,;|
: dreaded Ii-n;'
poll the rijui
n violently fro-.
-■ for a time •
should he y.\,,
urjre ])assi-iiN-,
violent am-
lit.* 'I'hisscr.
was causcil •
which llowi-
as yet uiikiiu/
im this dniip'
ts on the tnlSiyi
of water at'.:
whether it «:
D the northwrir
ith a re|)(irt !":
er, and ( urn-:
her to enter
lilin}!^, lie iiiir'
irouj^rh the I
mselt in a tn:
Trinidad. Ti
known by;
o he the Mrl
it, to tiii(lir:|
ird, towariij
of the islar.';!
Arenal. Ht-|
icli other, 0'!
ler
to the \vt-:|
hieii stretrh«|
rtherii sidti
stook for ;
another pa-'
irons than trtl
rocks, anicsil
ill roariii.ijiff
jra\e the ikieI
to eiHOUiKt:!
lorthwanl. ('\
■red al()iii,".'c!|
of dracia,
the end ol :'.|
the ireear.El
- HispanidaJ
indented »::
er ; the cok
thers covcrtcl
and watcrtcl
Iv astoiiishtj
ter fresh, ar;
irther he jwl
an Sovcreigrsl
list. lnd„ *|
Irante, cap. ('I
jceded ; it heinfj that season of the year when the
laritius rivers which empty themselves into this >rulf
Ire swollen hy rains, and pour forth such tpian-
Itiesof tresh water as to contjuer the saltness of
he oaaii. He was also surpri-sed at the placidity
i the sea, which ai)peared as tran(|uil anil safe as
|ne vast harbor, so that there was no need of
ekiii(( a port to anchor in.
.As vet he had not been able to hold any com-
uiiication with the people of thi' parte' the New
,irl(l. 'I'lie shores which he had visited, thou^di
caMDiKilly cultivated, were .'ilenl and deserted,
iiiil, excepiinj^ the iu^'itive party in the canoe at
'oiiit .Areii.d, he had seen nothinjf of the natives,
Itersailinj^ several leagues along the coast, he
ehored, on .Monday, the 6th of August, at a
.ace where there apjieared signs of cultivation,
li sent the boats on shore. 'Fhey found recent
ace.s iif jieople, but not an individual was to be
ECU. The coast was hilly, coveretl with beautiful
;;, nd truitful groves, and abounding with monkeys.
lontiiiuiiig tarther westward, to where the cuun-
r\ was more level, Columbus anchored in a river.
'Immediately a canoe, with three or tour Indians,
ame off to the caravel nearest to the shore, the
aptain of which, pretending a desire to accom-
aiiy them to land, o|)rang into their canoe, over-
jrned it, and, with the assistance of his seamen,
Ecured the Indians as they were swimming.
fhen hrought to the admiral, he gave them
eads, hawks' bells, and sugar, and sent them
ighly gr,' titled on shore, where many of their
Buiitrymen were assembled. This kind treat-
leiit had the usual effect. Such of the natives as
ad canoes came off to the ships with the fullest
ontidence. They were tall of stature, finely
irnied, and free and graceful in their movements.
'h'.ir hair was long and straight ; some wore it
ut short, hut none of them braided it, as was the
ustom among the natives of Hispani(da. They
fere armed with bows, arrows, and targets ; the
lea wore cotton cloths about their heads and
(ins, heauiitully wrought with various colors, so
it a dist.mce to look like silk ; but the women
'ere entirely naked. They brought bread, maize,
other eatables, with different kinds of bever-
e, some white, maile from maize, and resein-
1^,' heer, and others green, of a vinous llavor,
I CM pressed from various fruits. They appeared
iiud,i,a' ot everything by the sense of smell, as
llhers e.xainine objects by the sight or touch.
I'hen they ap|)roached a boat, they smelt to it,
1 then to the ])eople. In like manner every-
liin;; that w;is gixen them was tried. They set
ut htile value upon beads, but were e.xtravagantly
ilifjhted with hawks' bells. Brass was also held
iiii,di estimation ; they appeared to tind some-
piiii,' extriiiiely grateful in the smell of it, and
died it Turev, signifying that it was from the
(tie.-..*
From these Indians Columbus understood that
It name of their country was I'aria, and that
Irthcr to the west he would find it more ])opu-
|ii5. Taking several of them to serve as guitles
hdmediatiirs, he proceeded eight leagues west-
lard to a point which he called Aguja or the
Itedie. Hire he arrived at three o'clock in the
|ondni(. When the day dawned he was delight-
l with the beauty of the country. It was culti-
pted ill many jrlaces, highly populous, and
liiinicd with magnilicent vegetation ; habitations
fi^fe iriterspersed among groves laden with fruits
lluwers ; gra|)e-\ines entwined themselves
I* Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad. i. lib. iii. cap. ii.
among the frees, and birds of brilliant plumage
lluttered from branch to branch. The air was
temperate and bland, and sweetened by the fra-
grance of llowers and blossoms ; and numerous
fountains and limpid streams k<'pt uj) a universal
verdure and freshness. Columbus was so much
charmed with the be.iuty and amenity of this part
ot the coast that he gave it the name of The
(iardens.
T'he natives came off in great luimbers, in
canoes, of superior construi'tion to tho.-,e hitherto
seen, being very large and li.glit, with a cabin in
the centre for the accommodation of the owner
an'', his family. They invited Colunibus, in the
n.me of their king, io i ome to land. .Many of
t'lem had collars and burnished plates about their
'lecks, ot that inferior kind ■. ' gold called by the
li.-lians tiiianin. They said mat it came from a
high land, which they iioinlcd out, at no great
distance, to the west, but intimated that it was
d.ingerous to go there, either because the inhabi-
tants were cannibals, or the ])lace infested by
venomous animals.* ISut wliat aroi'sed the atten-
tion and awakened the cu])i(lity of the Spaniards,
was the sight of strings of jiearls rouiiii the arms
of some ot the natives. Tiiese, they informed Co-
lumbus, were procured on the sea-coast, on the
norihern side nf Paria, which he still supposed to
be an island ; and they showed the mother-of-
pearl shells whence they had been taken. An.iious
lor further information, and to jirocure specimens
ot these |)earls to send to Spain, he tlispaiched the
boats to shore. A multitude of the natives came
to the beach to receive them, headed by the chief
cacicpie antl his son. They treated the Spaniards
with profound reverence, as beings descended
from heaven, and conducleil them to a sjiacious
house, the residence of the caciipie, where they
were regaled with bre.ul and various fruits of e.\-
cellent Ihnor, and the ditfereiit kinds ot be\'erage
already mentioned. While they were in the
house, the men remained together at one end of
it, and the women at the other. After they had
tinisiied their collation at the houseot the cacique,
they were taken to that ot his son, where a like
repast was set before them. These people were
remarkably affable, though, at the same time,
they jKissessed a more intrepid and martial air
aiul spirit than the natives of Cuba and llis-
paniola. They were fairer, Columbus observes,
than any he had yet seen, though so near to the
ecpiinociial line, where he had expected to tind
them ot the color of ICthiopians. Many ornaments
ot gidd were seen among them, but all ot an in-
terior (|uality ; one Indian h.ul a piece ot the size
ot an a])|)le. They had various kinds oi domesti-
cated parrots, one ot a light green color, with a
yellow neck, and the tips ot the wings ot a liright
red ; others (^f the size ol domestic fowls, and ot a
vivid scarh. c. exce|)liiig some azure leathers in the
wings. Tliese they readily gave to the Spaniards ;
but wlv.L the latter most coveted were the pearls,
ot which thev saw many necklaces and bracelets
among the Indian woiiu-n. T'he latter gladly gave
them in exchange tor hawks' bells or any article
of lirass, and several s|)ecimensof tine pearls were
jirocuretl for the admiral to send to the sover-
eigns. f
The kindness and amity of this people were
heightened by an intelligent diiiieanor and a mar-
* Letter of Columbus to ttie Castilian Sovereigns,
Navarrete Colec, torn. i. p. 252.
t Letter of Columbus. Herrera, Hist. Ind., decad.
i. lib. iii. c.'.p. II. Hist, del Almirante, cap. 70,
110
LIFi-: AND VOYAC.F.S OF COI.UMnUS.
tial frankness. Tlicy seemed worlhy of the he.ui-
tiliil country they inli.ihited. ll was a eaiise of
jjreat eoneeiii l)oih to them anil the S|)aniar(ls,
that they I'oiild not unih'rstand L'aeh other's hm-
^;u i);e. 'I'luy ((invi'rsed, h'.\ve\'er, by si^rns ;
mutual ^ood-will made tlieir intercourse easy an<l
jileasant ; .ind at the luuir of vespers the Si),ini:ir(ls
returned on board of their .sltips, hij^hly gratilied
with llieir enlertainnienl.
ciiArri.R 111.
C(1NTT\tAri(l\ dl' niK \■(1VA(•.1^ TlllUlfCir Tllf.
(.lUl.l' HI' I'ARIA Ul.ll'KN TO lllSl'A.NK >1.A,
rill". (|nantiiy oi tine luarls found amonjr the
natives ol I'aria was sut'lieient to arouse I'le s:\n
};uine anticipations of Coiumiius. ll appe.ired to
corroborate th' tlteory ot i'crrer, tiie learned
jeweller, tliat, as he :ip|)ro.H'hed the ecpiator lie
wouUI tinil the most r.ue and precious productions
ot n: tiire. His active .ma^;in.ition, with its intui-
tive r.ipidilv, sei/ed upon every circumstance in
unison with liis wishes, and, combinin;; theai,
(Iri'w thence the most brilliant inlerences. lb-
had reail in I'liny th.U pearls are f;ciu'r,itcd from
drops ot dew which fall into the mouths of oys-
ters ; it so, what place could be ni' .e propituais
to their ^M'owth and nuiltiplicatiori than ; he coast
of I'.iria ? 'I'lie dew in those parts was li-a\y and
,il)iindaiit, anil tlie oysters were .so plertiful that
thev clusicicd aluiut the roots and pend.uit
branches of the manj^rove trees, which i;rcw
within the mar;,;in ot the lr.ui(|uil sea. When a
branc' which had drooped tor a time in the water
was diawn touh, it was tound covt-red with ovs-
ters. Las C.isas, noticing; this sauj^aiine conclu-
sion ot Columbus, oliserves, that the shell-lish
here spoUeri c)t .ire not ot the kind which ]iroiluce
pc.irl, tor ill, It those by a n.uural instinct, as if
conscious ot llieir precious ch.u'Lje, hide iluni-
selves in the dee|)esl water.'*
Siill im.ij,nninir the coast of I'aria to be ,in
island, and anxious lo circumnavij^fale it, and ar-
rive at the pi. ice where these pearls were said by
•lie Indians to abound, Columbus left the Cianlens
on the loih of August, and con'iaued coasiint;'
westward within the gulf, in se.irch of an outlet
to the north. He obserx'ed portions of Terra
Kirm.i a;v)carin.;' tow.ird the bottom of ihe gulf,
which he supposed to be islaiuls, and called llieni
Isabela and ■rr.uiioniana, and fancied that the de-
sired outlet to the sea must lie between them. .\^
h^ ailvanced, iiowever, he found the w.iter con-
tinuallv growing shallower and fresher, until he
did not dare to venture any farther with his ship,
w hich, he obserxed, was of too great a size foi ex-
])ecliiions ot this kind, being ot an hundred tons
Inirden, and reiniiring three talhnms of w.iter.
He came to anchor, therefore, and sent a liglU
caravel cj.lijd ifie Correo, to ascert..:n whether
there was an outlet to the ocean between the sup-
posed islaiub. The caravel return"d on the fol-
lowing day, leporting that at the western end of
the gulf theie was an opening oS two leagues,
which led into an inner and circular ,guli, ;;ur-
rounded by 'our opening."., apparently smaller
gulfs, t".' rather mouths of rivers, from which
flowed the gre.il iiuantity of fresii wat^;r that
sweetened the neii'liboring sea. In fact, from one
of these mouths issued the great river the C{m>.
pari, or, as it is now called, the I'.iri i. IVi*
inner and circular gull Columbus gave the n,
(it the Cildl ot I'earls, through a mislakrii ,
that they .iboiinded in its w.iters, though niMii
l.ict, ,ire toiMul there. He still im.igined ihr :
tour o|)enings of w hich the mariners spoke, n |
be inter\'.ils between islands, though tlirv .illii ■ [
that all the land he saw was connected. * \.
was impossible to ])roceed turllier westw.nd
his ships, lie had no .ilternative but to reir.u. j
course, and seek an exit to the north by tin |; f
del Dragon. He wnuhl gladly have coniint-.
for some time to c\|)lore this co.ist, tor he kih-
cri'd himself in one ol those opulent regions-
scribed as the most favored upon earth, and \\!
incrc.ise in riclu's toward the e(|U.itor. Ini|nr:.
consider.itioiis, however, compelled him to shrir,:
his voy.ige, ,ind hasten to San Domingo, TIh'
:. tores ot his sliijis were almost exhausted, ,ini|;--
v.irious su,)|)lies for the colony, with which i
were treighted, were in (Linger of S|ioiling. F
w.is siiftering, also, extrirnely in his lieallli. I
sides the gout, which had rendered him a di;
for the greater part of the voy.ige, he was ahli
by a complai it in his eyes, caused by t.itigUf
ovcr-w;it( i'ing, which almost deprived him
vight. I".ven the voyage along the coast ot (i:
he observes, in which he w.is three and ihi!
lavs almost without slee|), had not so injiinil'
eyes and disordered his fr.ime, or caused him
much painful suffering as the present. t
On the Iltli ot August, theretore, he sit >
e.istward hir the lioc.'i del Dr.agon, and w.is br
along with gre.it velocity by the currents, whii
howe\cr, prexented him from landing agaiii.il'
f.ivorite spot, the Ci.irdeiis, ( )n Sund.iy, the i;'
he anchored ne.ir to the iSoc.i, in a tine haiiinr.
which he gave the name ot Puerto de Ciatos, ir
.1 species ot monkey called g.ito ])aulo, wu!i "1:
the neighborhood .abounded. ( )n the m.n-'^K
the sea he perceived many trees which, .is '
thought, |)ro(luce(l the mirabolane, a tiiiil '
found in the countries of the l'",;ist. Tlieii «-
great numbers .also ot mangroves growing v.r
the water, with oysters clinging tot'ieir l)r;inih((|
their mouths open, as he siipp.osed. to rectui'"
dew, which was afterwaril to be transtdrnicd
pearls, t.
On tlie following morning, the 14th of .AufJ
to v;' i-(l noon the slii|)s .apiiro.iched the I!ih';ii
Dragon, and preii.ired to\enture through th.ii:
miihible ])ass. The distance Irom Cajie I'"
the en'l of Paria, ;in(l Cape Lapa ihe e^tr Miuiy
'J rinidad, is about five leagues ; but 'n the in;;:
.■al there were two islands, which Coliim'r:
named Caracol.md Delphin. 'I'll" impetumisi
of fresh water which tiows through the gulf. ^
ticulaiiy in the rainy months of July and .\ul;.
is cont'ined at ihi! narrow outlets between I'
islands, where it c.iuses a turbule it se.i, foin"
and roaring ,is if breaking over r.<cks, and rf
dering the entr.mce and exit of the gult eMrenii
dangerous. The horror^ antl perils ol such pl.u'!
are alwa\'s tenfold to discoverers, who liiivc 'i
chart. 11 : • pilot, nor advice of |)re\'ioiis voy.i,':i
to guide them. Columbus, at first, apiirehcii.'
sunken rocks and shoals ; bi.t on attentively c"
sidering the commotion of the str.iit, he attril'B
it to the contlicl between the [irodigious
llO'lVI
>■
* Las Casus, Hist. Ind , cap 136.
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 7S. _ 1
f Lelter of Columbus to the Sover^iigns, N'avarr!^
torn. i. p. 252.
I Herrera, Hist. Ind., dread. !. lib. iii. cap. i>'
rcsh water sett
ling lor .111 oiitli
ling to enter.
niii the le.irhil c
lul they were il
hniuii upon the
icsli vv.iler, how
If, I them s.ileh
lire more s.ili'
iniM'll upon his
i\hiili, he obser
Idiltll ol the Dr.i
lie now stood
fit' outer CO, 1st
Lsl. 111(1, .llld illtcll
ivhich he iin.igine
;o the -'I. I le w
re.it body ol Ires
,s the crew ol ihi
[or it .ipjicired to
f mere islands, ,1
lands, could liirni
Iter.
On If.niiig the
nri!i-e.ist, iii.any
ich he called .Vss
hiy those now kiio\
is course along 1
law several other
irhors, to some
cy h.ive ceased i
5th he discovered
'iih.ij^ii.i, ,dierw,ir(
'he 1,1.111(1 of .M.irg
ii;f|li ,111(1 six in br
tile isl. 111(1 of Cub
lin-i. 111(1, and oid
Iter, w,is dry .inc .
ish water, but po;
;p|)r(i,i(hing this is
luniher ol indi.ins
rtlu- l.ind. A bo.i
ith iliein, one o( tlu
|KarIs round the
"'■ III Wilenci.a wai
In 1 v.irnislied with f;
vsfiiii.'d the pieces
lave him in exchan
jei pi'.irls. These hi
nmcli.iicly .sent per
ith \',ilenci,in plate:
a little time I1" pi
'tik'!.t of pearl;;, .soi
' si/e, and were :
ycreigns as sped mi
There was great tei
filch the Inilian.s n
'iris. The coast i
iiiilin.ir to the westw;
:ii-'h, rising into a r.i
'''hi,^' e\,iniination
',3;'iii to think, i' w'as
">. Columbus was
th ihe greatest relu
t(;ri-,ting investigatii
'hi- maladv ot his e
l"th,it he could no
*!' '\ 1 lokout, but h
■ I'lliits and marim
"■'•hir Hispaniola,
"' die toils of his
■''■•h. while he sho
Herrera, Hist. Ind.
Hhidevoix, Hist. Si
LIFIi AND V()VA(ii:s OF COH'MHrS.
141
:vv the Tii;
I 'aril, rti-
};avf tlu' II .-
niislakiMi
i()il;.;ll imnr
ai;iiicil i!i n ■
I's spokr. IV .
;h ll\ry allii'
nfclcil." .\>
west wan I w
It tl) n-llMir
rtli l)y llif I'i
havi' idnii;
, lor lie ( I'I,-
lent |-c^!iiii>
■arlli, ami w
tiir. Iiiijiii
(1 liim 111 s!i";'
mill;;'!). 'I'hr.
haustfil. .nil! ■
with wliii h 1 ■
i\ s|inilini;. ';•
his iicallh. :■
■(! him a rii!
, In- was .il!!i«'-
il by tatitjvif ,
(■|ii-ivf(l linn
u- I'liasl III C'lr
[lircc ami t! ■
ot so miiiiTil'
nr causfd him
■scnt.t
.'fore, ill' Sft i
n, and was ii.n
i-uriTnls, whir
idin^ a^;aiinf
Sunday, llu' l.V
I a liiii- iiaiiior,
dc (iatos, irl
lulo, wiih ■■•
the niari,'ir. I
wliiili, .!>
ic, a Iriiit '
St. 'I'luTc »-1
rowin^j v.ir
) ihfir hraniWl
, to l-Cl'tUf '-l
iransloniirt'
fresh w Mill- stttinjr thrniipfh tlic ),ailf and struj,'-
jlinjj tcir an millet, and llir lidr iil s,ilt w.itiT strii^.'-
1,1 filter. The ships
■iiiiK
h.'i
rir
jdigious I'll-;
sciicely velUiired
niii llie leailiil eh.iiiiiel when the wind died aw.iy,
lul ihiv were in daiij^er every nionient ot '•■•mi^^
hrowiiiipiin llie rocks or sands. The eiirnr it oi
psli u.iier, however, j,Min<d the victory, .ind car-
ihciu s.ilely ihroiif^ii. 'I'lie .idniir.il, when
)jue imire s.ile' in liie open se.i, connralnlated
iiiiiselt iipiiii his esc,i|ie tidin this perilous str.iit,
vhirli, lie observes, niiyhl well be e.dlcd tin:
ihiulli "I the |)r.it,n>ii.*
ill' iiiiw stood to the westw.ird, niniiinjj .'ilon^f
111' (iiiirr (d.ist ol I'.iria, still supposiiij,-- it an
.si. mil. Hid inlendinj,' to visit the ( iulf ol I'e.irls,
vliiili lie iiii.iuined to be at the end ot it, opening-
ihc-'.i. lie wished to ascertain whether this
fii'.it hiiilv ol Iresli water jiroceeded from rivers,
Is the crew of the caravel Correo li.id altirmi'd ;
liir it .ippcaied to him impossible that the streams
incic islands, as he supposed tlu' surroundin),'
laiiils, could tiirnish such .i prodij^ious volume ot
Mll-l'.
Oil Ir.ixiiii,'' the llor.'i dtd i)r;i;;dn, he saw to the
hiirlli-cist, in.iny leagues disi.int, two isl.mds,
•hicli he called Assumption and Conception ; pnd)-
lilvlliiHc now known as Tobaj,'o and ( iran.id.i. In
lis course alon),^ the northern co.ist ot I'.iri.i he
law several other small isl.inds and in.iny line
Virbiii-', to some of whiidi he j^avc' ii.imes, but
hey li.ive ceased to be known by thi'm. On the
5iii 111' discovered the islands ol .M,ir).j;irita and
tul)a(,ai.i, aflcrw.ird lamous tor their pe.irl hshery.
llie l.>l.iml of .Marj^-irita, aiiout fifteen lea^nies in
|ii'.,'tli mil si\ in bre tdth, was well peojiled. 'I'he
Itlie isl.ind of C'ub.ijifua, \y\u\^ between il ,ind the
i:iin-l.md, and only about tour le.ij^ues from the
jiUcr, w,is dry and sterile, vvithout either wood or
rtsli water, but |)()ssessiii]f ;i j^ood harbor. On
IppriiachiMjj this island 'he admiral beheld ;i
lumlicr ot I ml i, ins fishing for pearls, who made
prthe land. A boat Ikiw^ si'iit to comnumicate
J(itli tluMn, one of the sailors noticed many slrinj,^s
If ptarls round the neck of a female, llavin),^ a
III \'.ilenci,i ware, a kind of porcelain ]);iiiued
|nl winiished with gaudy colors, he broke it, and
i-SL'iili.il the pieces to the Indian woman, who
lave him in exchanjre a considerable number ot
|e; pearls. 'I'hese he carried to the admiral, who
nincli.iiely sent persons on shore, well jirovided
Irilh Wilencian plates and h.iwks' bells, for whicdi
II little time h" procured about three ])oun(ls'
peif;I,t of |)earh., some of which were of a very
■ si/e, and w-re sent by iiim afterward to the
pvc.-i ijjns as specimens. t
Tiitrc was ^rreat teniptation to visit other spots,
hich the Indians mentioned as aboundinj^ in
JE.iri-,. The coast of I'aria also continued e.\-
IriliiiL,' to the westward as far as the eye could
lacli, risinj.;- into a ranj^e of ir.ountains, and ]iro-
Kin.^' ex.iininaiion to ascertain whether, as he
|e,;':in tn think, i'. was a part of the .Asiatic conti-
'!U. Columbus was compelled, however, though
|i'A IJK! j^reatest reluctance, to forego this most
pristing investigation.
11 lie malady ot his eyes had now grown so viru-
'''tlh.it he could no longer take oiiservations or
ftp a hiiikout, but had to trust to the reports of
|c pilots and mariners. He bore away, there-
Jf". Iiir llispaiiiola, intending to rejjose there
fii the toils of his voyage, and to recruit his
Nlh, while lie should send his l)rother, the
■cigns,
Kavarr;!
lb. iii. cap.
Herrera, Hist. Ind., decar'. i. lib. iii. cap. ir.
[Khjricvoi.x, Hist. St. Domi;go, lib. iii. p. i6c}.
Adid.int.ido, to complete the (lisco\erv of litis im-
I portanl (oiinlry. .Alter sailing lor live days to
the north-west, he ni.ide the inland ol llispaiiiola
on the I()lh of .\ugilst, lilty leagues to the west-
ward ol llie river ( )/enia, the place ol his destill,!-
tioii ; ,111(1 , UK bored on uie iollow iiij; morning
under the little island ol !>e.ita.
He wa-. .istonished to lind himsell so misl.iken
in his cilculations, and so tar tielow In . destined
port ; but he attributed it correclly to the furic ot
the current setting out ol the iioiaihl Dr.igon,
which, while lie had lain to ,it nights, to ,i\oid
running on rocks ,ind sho.ils, h.id boine his ship
insensibly to the wi'st. This i iiiieiii which sets
across the Caribbean Sea, .and the cuiiiinu.ition ot
which now bears the name ot thediilt Mream, w;is
so rapid, that on the 15th, thoiijfli the wind was
but moderate, the ships h.id iii.nlr se\(iity-t'ive
le.igiies in lour ,'ind twenty hours. Colimibiis .at-
tributed to the violence ot this ciirnnt the lorm.i-
tion ot that |)ass called the lioi .1 del Hr.igoii,
wlieri' he supposed it h,id forced its \\,iv ihrmigh
a n.irrow isthmus tli.it lornierly coiiiinii-d Trini-
<lad with the eMremity of I'.iria. lie imagined,
;ih,o, that its coiist.int operation had worn .iw.iy
and iiuind.iled the borders ol llie niaiii-l.ind, grad-
ually |)rodiicing thai fringe of islands which
stretihes from Trinid.id lo the l.in.iyos or I!a-
ham,is, and which, according to his idea, h.id
originally been p.irt of the solid conlineiit. In
corroboration of this opinion, he notices the form
of those isl.mds : narrow from north to south, and
extending in length Irom east to west, in the di-
rection ol the currt-nt.*
The isl.ind ot l!e,ita, where he h.id ;mchored, 's
about thirty le.igues to the west ot the river Oze-
ma, where he expected to find the new se.i|iort
wliich liis l)rother had been instructed to estab-
lish. The .strong and steady current from tlu;
east, iiowe\er, and the prevalence ol winds Irom
that (|uarter, might detain him lor a long time at
the isl.ind, .and render the remainder ol his voy-
age slow and precarious. He sent ,1 boat on
shore, therefore, to procure an Indi.in messenger
to t.ikc; ;i letter to liis brother, the Adel.mtado.
.Six of the natives came off to th ■ sliips, one of
whom was armed with .a Spanish en. .-liow. The
.admiral w.is .-ilarmed at seeing a wc. ''on of the
kind in the possession of an Indian. Ii was not
an .article of tr.iftic, .and he feared could only h.avc
fallen into his h.inds by the de.illi ol some .Sp.an-
iard.t He apprehended lh.it further evils li.ad
befallen the settlement during his long absence,
and that there li.ad again been troubles with the
nati\'es.
Having dis|)atched his messenger, he made
sail, and arrived off the mouth of the river on the
30th of August. He w.as met on the w.iy by a car-
avel, on bo.ard of wliich was the .Adrl.int.ido, who,
ha\ing received his letter, h.ad liar.ti-ned forth
with affection.ate ardor to welcome his arriv.al.
The meeting of the brothers was a cause of mu-
tual joy ; they were strongly attached to each
other, each had had his trials and sufferings dur-
ing their long separation, and e.u h looked with
contidence to the other for comhjrt rin<l relief.
Don Bartholomew appears to have always had
great deference tor the brilliant genius, the en-
larged mind, and the comm.mding reputation of
his brother ; while the latter placed gre.it reliance
in times of ditfirulty, on the worldly knowledge,
* Letter to t'le King and Queen, Kavarrete Colcc,
torn. i.
f Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 14S.
i
i,
■'M
i%. 1
I'
I
.•r.2i)| i
Hi::'
^11
1 11
f:j'
MM
W
143
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
the indcf.uij^ahlf activity, and the lion-iicartccl
cimra^jf nl the .\ilt'l;iiil.iili>.
Columliii^ ai"ri\i(l .ihiuist tht; wreck of liimsflf.
His V()ya).;is ucic always ol a natuii: to wear out
the huniaii liaiiU', h.iviiiK to navi(,'att' amid iiii-
isiiiivMi (laiit^rcis, and to i<i'i'p anxious watch, at all
hours, and ni all wealliurs. As aj,^i' and iiilirinily
incrcasi.'d upon him, tlusu trials lii-canu' the more
severe. ills {OMslitution must ori},nnall\' iiave
hern wonderlully vigorous ; hut co.islitulions ot
this powiTlul kind, II exposed to severe iiardships
at an adv meed period tit lile, when the Irame h.is
become somewh.il ri),'id and unaeconlmodalinJ,^
are apt to he suddenly broken up, ami to be a
prey to violent aches and mal.idies. In this last
V()\a;,'e C'oUimbus had been parched anil consum-
ed by te\ri-, racked by j4out, an<l his whole system
disordered by nicessanl walchlulness ; he came
into port ha^'|,Mrd, emaci.ited, and almost blind.
His spirit, however, was, as usual, superior to all
i)odily .ilMiclion or decay, and he looked forward
with m.ii;nilicent anticipations to the result ot his
recent ciis(ci\erii-s, v,hich he intended should be
immedi.iti ly pr i.-)ecuted Jjy ids hardy and enler-
prisiny brolher.
CIIAl'TER IV.
SPECULATIONS or COMMIJIS CONCEKXING THE
COASf ol' I'ARIA.
[1498.]
The natural phenomen.i of ;i fjrcat and striking
nature |)re.sented to the ardent ndnd of Colund)us
in the course ot this voyaj(e, led to certain sound
tleduclions .and iniai,nnali\e speculations. The
immense body of fresh w.iter llowint,'- into the
Ciulf ot I'aria, and thence rushin^MiUo the ocean,
was too vast to be produced by ;in island or by
islands. It must lie the con^rej,raled streams of a
great extent ot country pouring h)rth in one
mighty ri\er, and the land necessary to furnish
such a river must be .a continent. He now sup-
posed that most ot the tracts of land which he had
seen about the ( lulf w.-re connected ; th.'il the coast
of I'aria extended westward tar beyond a ch.iin ot
mountains which he h.ul beheld afar off from M;ir-
garita ; and that the land opposite to Trinidad,
instead of being an isl.and, continued to the south,
far beyond the eepiator, into that hemisjihere
hitherto unknown to civilized man. He consider-
ed all this an extension of tlie Asiatic continent ;
thus presuming that the greater jiart of the sur-
face ot the globe was tlrm land. \n this last opinion
hei.iund himsiir sup])orted by authors of the high-
est nameb'iili ancient and modern ; among whom
lie cites Aristotle and Seneca, St. .Augustine .and
Cardinal I'edro de Alliaco. He lays |)articular
stress also on the assertion of the apocryjihal I-".s-
dras, that of seven parts of the world, six are dry
land, and one part only is co\ered with w.iter.
The land, ilierefore, surrounding the (iulf of
Paria, was but the border of an almost boundless
continent, siren lung far to the west and to the
south, including the most precious regions of the
earth, lying under the most auspicious stars .and
benignaiu skies, but as yet unknown ami uncivil-
ized, free to be discovered and appro]iriated by
any Christian nation. " May it ])lease our l^ord,"
lie excl.dnis in ids letter to the sovereigns, " to
give long life and health to your highnesses, that
you may prosecute this noble enterprise, in which,
methinkti. C.od will receive jjreat service, Spain
vast increase of grandeur, and all Chris'i-
much consolation and delight, since the 11, m,
our Saviour will be divulged throughrut ih.^
lands.''
Thus far the deductions of Columbus, il: .;.■
sanguine, .admit of little cavil; but lu' 1,11
them still farther, until they ended in whu 1;
.appear to some mere ( himerical reveries. Ii
letter to the sovereigns he st.iteil that 011 l.h : ■
mer voyages, when he steered westw.ird hniir
A/ores, he had observed, after sailing iljii,,:
hundred leagues,.' sudden and gre.it (li,in;;c •
the sky r.nd the stars, the temperature ot die ,,
.and the calmness of the 01 can. It seemed ,1,,:
line ran from north to south, beyond whu li tvi-
thing became different. The needle \\hn!i',
previv-Msly inclined toward the north-e 1^'. i
varietl a whole i)oint to the norih-we • I'hi—
hitherto clear, was covered with weeds sn (If
that in his lirst voyage he h;ul exneiledinr
aground upon sho.ils. A universal tr.iii(|UL
reigned throughout the elements, and the 1 !iiii,
was Uiild and geni.d whethei in summer m- «•
ter. l)n taking his astronomical observ.itunh
night, after crossing that imagin.ary line.
north star appeared to him to describe a iliur.
circle in the heaveiis, of five degrees in (li.uin;:-
On his present voyage he had varieil his n ,
and had run southward from the C.ipe de \'
Isl.inds for the etpiinoctial line. Uefore rcj;
it, however, the he.it had become insupprnti :
■and a wind springing up from the east, W h.
been induced to strike westward, when in ■•;
parallel of .Sierra Leone in (luinea. For sivc.
days he hati been almost consumed by scoiTh:-,
.and stilling heal under a sultry yet < louileil v
.111(1 in a diizzling atmosphere, until he .irrivii;
the ide.il line already mentionetl, extendiiiijlr ■
north to south. Here suddenly, to his gn.a-;
lief, he h.id emerged into serene we.ithrr, wi;:;
clear blue sky an(l a sweet and temperate iiiii -
phere. The farther he h.ul ])roceeded winI, ;
more pure and geni.d lie had found the ( liiv,.;:
the sea tranquil, the breezes soft and babiiy.
these phenomena coincided with those he h.iiir:
marked at the same line, though fartluT Mint!;.'
his former voyages ; excepting that here llu-ivvi
no herbage in the sea, and the movements eS;'
were different. The polar star ajipeared \'i':'
here to describe a diurnal circle of ten dciirr;
instead of live ; an augmentation which >t;;i
him with astonishment, but which, he s.iys, :
ascert.iined by observations taken in dilliic
nights, with his ([uadrant. Its greatest al'.iti:
at the former ])lace, in the parallel ol the .\/"r:'
he had found to be ten degrees, and in the piii;
place fifteen.
From these and other circumst.inces, li;' '
inclined to doubt I'.e received theory widi i<-i'
to the form of Me earth. riiiloso|)liers li.:(! ^
scribed it as spherical ; but they knew nndiinc
the |)art of the \\orld wdiicli he h.id dis(■ll^t'■.
The ancient part, known to them, he h I'i
doubt was spherical, but he now supposed ::
real form of the earth to be that of a pe.ir, i'
part much more elevated th.an the rest, and i.i|':'
ing upward toward the skies. This ]n\n lie >i^-
|)osed to be in the interior of this newly lnu".:
continent, and immedi.ately under the e(|U.i;:
All the plienomena which he h.id previoibly'
ticed, appeared to corroborate thir theory. 1'
vari.itions which he had observed in p.isslng''
imaginary line running from north tosoiiih.'
concluded to be caused by the ships havinj,''
ri.ed at this supposed swelling of the earth, v.he:
fy hiX-^n gently t
purer .iiid more
ri.iiiiin of ilie n
U,,., lieliig .dfecl
iSidI the ( liniate
oporti'in .is the s
ciit.t So .ilso
I the circle it de
1(1 lie gri'.iter, in
tidin .1 gre.iler
r.ui^;h a purer 1
t>c |iluii(iinen.i v
ore liie ii.ivig.itor
c still increasing
nh.
He luillced .also t
tiDil. ,111(1 people (
111 llidse under
hiTc the lie.it w.is
iiiil sterile, Ih
i-.|H"l wdiil, ill-sli
1(1 liriii.d in their
arv. .ilthdiigli tilt
KUltlde lie.it modt
jT-, lre-.li and cool
iiid covered wit'
ircr even than tlios
•td tiirtlier north,
uportldiied and g
ciiiirageous tlls]
di: s(i ne.ir to the
nTKir .iltitude of
liich It u.is raised i
■ ;iir. < 'n turning
I'.iria, he had foun
ith star ag.ilii to d
1.1 .'ilsii Increased ii
IS already been re
mtiiuiit. and produ
on the adjacent isl.ai
riiiatiiiii of the ide;
juiluvard, and desi
'.ird.
I .\ri.-.t(itle had imaj:
ic fartii, and neares
Utarttlc pole. Othe
was iiiuler the arct
lat hdtli conceived
lore elevated, and
eavtiis th.in the rest
]iin(.-n(.'c being und
;rvcii Cdlunibus, bi
nowleilge of this hen
ctirftie.illy ;ind fron
.•\s ibual, he assistt
Th(; sun, when Gt
was In the lirst poi
ight w.is there." T
'ta, must be here, i
I* Peter Martyr ment
lat, (rom the climate r
fr, he had ascended tl
pcenJing a high mou
[ lib. vi.
i ♦ Columbus, in his at
lion of the needle, su|
fssed the quality of tl
pwisc the loadstone
buchcj with one part c
pt, with another wesi
JD'ls. those who prepa
P«r the loadstone w
j»'t only remains out ;
Nes?es the virtue of
P north. Hist, del A
■iHii, i..
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
143
all Christiv
ice till' II ill
iroii>;li' '.it li ;,
luniliiis, il: ,; ■
l)Ut lie 1 '
fil ill wh/i ;:
■f\crii'S. |i;
lliat (III Kh! •
stw ard li^.iii :
sailjn;; ,iliii'..:
^,'rf,it (li.iii^'c ■
Uirc lit iln' :;
I sfcnu'il ,h.:
11(1 wliii ll CW
cdK' whii ';
ii()rlli-( 1^', :
wi- ' I'llr "
weeds sn 'I-
fXIH'i led I'l ■ ■
rsal llMn(|u:
and the i lui;,
Miiiinier (■!■ u-
()l)servalilln^
iiiary liiif, ;■
scribe a diur.
ees in di.imi;-'
i'arie(l lli^ 1' ,,:
• Cape (le \ ■■'
Before rciii ,
L! insupiKirti -:
lie east, In- \:\
(1, when in ;•
M. For ^fvi;
ed by scDrc!'
yet (doiidcii -
til lie arrive:.
extendint; !r '
to liis ^'icitr:
weather, wii:
■niperate atiivi
ee(ied we^t, ':
I the eliiii.,::
iid balmy, k
lose he had::
rllier n(iit!i,
here there?:
cinents ol st.r
)|H'ared in ''
)t ten (Ic'^rr;
which Stic
he says, :
en in dilk'rr
realest altiti:
ol the A/orc
in the prof
• iiices, 111' '■':
try with rcsp
i|)liers h.ide
new niiihinc
.1(1 discdvi-rr.
tm, he ll. '■'.!■
suppijscd '.:
ol a pear, t'
rest, and tap::
is ])arl he ill:
is newly lnu'
r the e'(|U.U'':
previously r
theory. T:
in ]);ishin,£;i'
th to south,:
lips having •■
le earth, v.'tii-
y I)Cf,Mn gently to mount toward the skies into
purer and more celestial atniosnhere.* The
riatiiin nl the needle he ascribed to the same
usf, heinj{ alfected by the cooln- .-.s and nuld-
ssiil the (liniale ; varying,' to thi north-west in
(V)orli'in .is the ships continued onward in their
c'lit.t So .dso the altitude of ti." north st.ir,
1(1 tlie liicle it described in the he.ivens, appear-
to lie ure.iter, in coiise(iuence of beiii^; re>,Mr<l-
tniin a jjre.iter elevation, less obliipiely, and
r,iii"h a purer medium of atmosphere ; and
e.sc |ilieii()iiien.» would be found to incre.ise the
ore liie na\ it,':itor .ipproa( lied the e(|ualor, Irom
e still increasiii},' eminence of this part of the
rth.
lllc luitieed ,ilso the difference of climate, ve^je-
tioii. .Mid jieople of this part ol the New World
am ihiise under the s.ime paralltd in Africa.
Iiiie the he.it w.is insupport.ible, the Liiid p.irch-
I and sterile, the inhabit.ints were black, with
'i,|ied wool, ill-sh,ii)en ill their fm-ms, and dull
1(1 |init,d in their natures. Here, on the con-
arv, .iltliiiUK:l> 'I"' ^^"i ^^'-'^ '" '-*-■", 'i^' fouiu. the
)()iit;de lie.it motler.ite, the mornings .and even-
gs Iresli .111(1 cool, the country ),freen .ind fruit-
1, .111(1 c()vere(l with beaiilitul lorests, the iieople
ircreveii than those in the Kinds he h.id discov-
nl farther north, having loii).^ h.iir, with well-
•u|i()rli(iiie(l and ^jr.icelul forms, lively minds,
111 tiiuraj,rcous dispositions. All this in a l.iti-
(II' SI) near to the eipiator, he attributed to the
iperior .altitude of this part of the world, by
hieh ;l was r.iised into a more celestial rej^ion of
fair. I'll turniiii; northward, throuj^h the Ciult
I'aria, he had louiid the circle described by the
)nh st:ir ai,Min to diminish. The current of the
;a aUii increased in velocity, we.irin).f awav, as
IS already been remarked, the borders of the
)ntineiit, and producin^^ by its incess:iiit opera-
on the .idjaceiit islands. This was a further con-
rmatiiiii of the ide.i th;it he asceii(k:d in K^'ii'i^T
lulhward, and descended in returning; iiorth-
'ard,
.Aristotle had imajrined that the lii|fbest part of
j' le earth, and nearest to the skies, was under the
llarclic iiole, (_)ther satjes had maintained tli.it
was under the arctic. Hence it was .apparent
Wt both conceived one jiart of the earth to be
lore elevated, and noble, and nearer to the
:avciis than the rest. They did not think of this
iiinence heiiiij under the equinocti.il line, ob-
irvfil CoUinibiis, because they had no certain
i iiowleilj,'e of this hemis|)here, but only s|)oke of it
edretic.illy ;iii(l from conjecture.
.As Usual, he assisted his theory by Holy Writ,
The sun, when God created it,'' he observes,
w.is in the tlrst point of the Orient, or the first
ht wa.s there." That place, according to his
ca, must be here, in the remotest part of the
Peter Martyr mentions that the admiral told him,
pt, from the climate of great heat and unwholesome
lr, he had ascended the back of the sea, as it were
Bcending a high mountain toward heaven. Decad.
I lib. vi.
M Cuhirnbus, in his attempts to account for the vari-
lion (if the needle, supposed that the north star pos-
psc(i the ([uality of the four cardinal points, as did
ikewise the loadstone. That if the needle were
pacheJ with one part of the loadstone, it would point
fist, with aiioiher west, and so on. Wherefore, he
pds, those who prepare or magnetize the needles,
P«r the loadstone with a cloth, so that the north
prt only remains out ; that is to say, tlie part which
Nesses the virtue of causing the needle to point to
pe north. Hist, del Almirante, cap. 66.
M.ist, where the oce.iii and the CNtreme p.irt of In-
di.i meet under the etpiinoetial line, and where
the hi),di<'st point ol the earth is sitii.ileil.
He siipi)ose(| this apex ot the world, thouj^dl of
immense height, to be neither ru^^^'d nor i)recipi-
tous, but that the laiul rose to it by j,;eiitle and im-
perceptible dei^rees. The beauiilul .iiid fertile
shores of I'ari.i were situ,.te(l on its remote bor-
ders, abdundin;,' of course with those precious
articles whiih are conjjenial with the most t.ivoreil
,ind excellent (limates. .As one peiii'ir.ited the
interior , and };r.uhially ascended, the land would be
found to increase in be.auty.md lu\iiriani c, and in
the exiiuisite nature of its priMliieiions, until one
.irrived at the summit under the eipi.itor. This
he iiiM^jiiied t( be the noblest and most perfect
place on earth, enjoyiiij,^ trom its position, an
etpiality ot ni^,dits and days, .md a uiiilnrmity of
seasons ; .ind beinji; elevated into ,i serene and
heavenly temperature, above the he. its and colds,
the clouds and vapors, the storms and tempests
which deform .ind disturb the lower rcj^ions. In
a word, here he sui)|iosed to be silirited the orij;!-
nal abode of our tirst jiarents, the |)riiiiitive se.it
of human innoeeiice .uid bliss, the li.irderi of
Kdeii, or terrestrial jiaradise I
He im.ij;iiied this place, .iccnrdiiij; to the opin-
ion ot the most eminent tallu'i's ot tlie cliurch, to
be still tlourishiiifj, possessed ot .ill its blissful de-
li},dits, but in.iccessible to mor;.d feet, excepting
by divine permission, l'"rom this ludglit he pre-
sumed, tliouoh of course from a ;;r(.it distance,
jiroceeded the mi;;hty stream of Iresli w.itur which
filled the (Uilf ot I'aria, and sweetened the salt
ocean in its vicinity, being s applied by the loun-
tain mentioned in ('icnesis, a;i springing trom the
tree of lite in the (larden ot Fdeii.
Such was the singul.ir speciiLitinii of Columbus,
which he details at full length in a letter to the
Castilian sovereigns,* citing vari(nis .luthorities
for his opinions, among which wen; St. Augus-
tine, St. Isidor, and St. Ambrosius, and lortifying
his theory with much of that curious and specul.i-
tive erudition in which he w.is dee|ily \-ei'sed.t It
shows how his ardent mind was In ated by the
magnit'iceiice of his discoverie'S. .Sh.rewd men, in
the coolness .ind cpiietude of ordin.iry lite, and in
these modern ilays of cautious and sober l.ict, may
smile at such a reverie, but it w.is countenanced
by the speculations of the most sage .iiid learned
of those times ; and it this had not been the case,
could we wonder at .any sally of the iiii.igination
in a man placed in the sitiialinn nt Cnlumbus .'
He beheld a vast world, rising, as it were, into ex-
istence before him, its nature and extent unknown
and undefined, as yet a mere region inv conjec-
ture. I-'.very day displayed some iic'w feature of
beauty and sublimity ; island after island, where
the rocks, he was told, were veined with gold, the
groves teemed with spices, or the shores abounded
with pearls. Interminable ranges ot coast, prom-
* Navarrete, Colec. de Viages, torn. i. p. 242.
f See Illustrations, article " Situation of the Ter-
restrial Paradise,"
Noli:.— A great rTt of these speculations appear
to have Ijecn foun( ■ on the treatise of the C.irdinal
Pedro de Aliaro, in which Columbus found a compen-
dium of thte opinions of various eminent authors on
the subject ; though it is very prolialile he consulted
many of their works likewise. In the volume of Pe-
dro tie Aliaco, existing in the library of the Cathedral
at Seville, I have traced the germs of these ideas in
various passages of the text, opposite to which mar-
ginal notPS have been made in the handwriting of Co-
lumbus.
144
LII'K ANH VOYACr-S OF COLUMUl'S.
mi
ill
I'
nntory litynnd promontory, strrtchinjj as f.ir as
the rye i mild reach ; hixuriant valleys sweepiii^j
away into a vast iiileri(ir, whose distant nioiin-
t.iiiis, he was Injd, roneealed still happier lands,
;ind realms of ^re.iter opulenc<'. When he looked
upon .ill tliii revjion ot ^;olden promise, it was with
the ^,'lonoiis ronviclion that his jjeiiiiis had called
it into existence ; he rej,'arde(l it with the iiiumph-
ant eye ot a discoverer. Mad not Columhiis heen
capahh' ol these enthusiastic soarinj;s ot the im-
a^'ination, he mi^hl, with other sa^es, have lea-
sonecl calmly and coldly in his closet about the
prohahility of a continent existin^f in the west ;
nut he would never havt; liad the darinf,' enter-
jirise to .-uUentiire in search ot it into the unknown
realms ot o(can.
Still, in the midst of his lancilul speculations.
We liiid ihal s.i^jacity which lorme(l the liasis ot
his iharacier. The (oncliision which he <lrew
trom the j^reat tlow t)t the t^roiioco, that it nuist
lie ttif outpourinjj of a rontinent, was acute a-;
strikinjj. A learneil Spanish historian lias ;i;,
in^fenioiisly excused other parts o| his ilunr,
" lie suspected," oliserves he, " a certain clr,
tion of the ^jlolie at one p.irt (it the e(|ii,ii ;
philosoi)hers have since delermineil the wurll'
lie a spheroi<l, slightly elevated in its e(|u,Uiir
circiunterenic. He siisiiecled thai the liiviM'
of temperatures inlluenced the needle, inu Iki;
able to penetrate the cause ot its inconstant van.
tions ; the siucessive series ol voya>;es and cvpf,
ments have made this inconstancy more iiiinili.'
and havi' shown that extreme cold somelimts,,
vests the needle ot all its virtue, i'lrh.ips in,
observations may justify the surmise ol (..'oliiinhyi
liven his error coiuermn^j the einle discrilinl i,
the pol.ir st.ir, which he thouj,du au^jinenteil In r
optical illusion in proporiion as the observer,!'.
proaclied the eipiiiiox, manitesis liim a iiliilns,.
pher superior tu the time in which he lived."*
BOOK XL
CHAPTER I.
AnMIMsrK.XTlnV OF TIIK AIlKI,.\\ fADO— FXPE-
DiriU.N TO THE PROVINC'K OV XARAlil'A.
[1498.]
CiM.i;MltfS had anticip.ited repose from his toils
on arrivin^f at llisp.miol.i, but a new scene of
trouble and anxiety opened upon him, ilesiined to
impede the prosecution of his enterprises, .and to
affect all his future fortunes. To expl.iin this, it
is necess.iry to relate the occurrences ot the island
tluriiifr his lonjr detention in Spain.
When he sailed for luirope in March, 149(1, his
brother, Don liariholomew, who rem.iined as
AclelaiU.ulo, took the earliest measures to execute
his directions with respect to the mines recently
discovered by Mi^'uel Diaz on the south side of
the island. Leaving Don Diej^o Columbus in
command at Is.iliella, he repaired with a larj^e
force to the neighborhood of the mines, and,
choosing ,1 favorable situation in a place most
abounding'' in ore, built a fortress, to which he
jjave the n.ime of San Christoval. The workmen,
however, finding,' ^niins of jjold amon|.f the earth
and stone employed in its construction, j^ave it
the n.ime ot the Ciolden Tower.*
The Adcl.intado rem.iined here three months,
superintending'^ the buildinfj of the fortress, and
niakin^r the necess.iry preparations for working
the mines and ])urifyin^ the ore. The projjress of
the work, however, was jjreatly impeded by
scarcity of jirovisions, havinjj frecpiently to detach
a part of the men about the country in (piest of
sup])!ies. The former hos]iitality of the island was
at an end. The Indians no lonjjer j^^ave their pro-
visions freely ; they had learneil from the white
men to profit by the necessities of the stranger,
anil to exact a price for bre.ul. Their scanty
stores, also, were soon exhausted, for their fruj^al
habits, and their natural indolence and improvi-
dence, seldom |)ermitleil them to have more jiro-
visions on h.md than was requisite for present
supi)ort.t The Adehintado found it difficult.
* Peter Martyr, decad. i. lib. iv.
t Ibid., lib. V.
therefore, to maint.iin so larj^e a force in 1'
nei(,diborhood, until they should h.ive time ten .
tivate the e.irth, and raise live-stock, orshniijilr
ceive supplies trom Sp.iin. Le.ivin^; ten iiuii
guard the fortress, with ;i dog to assist thiM'
catching iitias, he m.irched with the rest nt :
men, about tour himdred in number, to I'ort ('
ception, in the .ibund.int country of th'- \r:
lie passed the whole month of June collei tin;;'
quarterly tribute, being supplied with IohI
Ciuarionex .inil his subordinate cacicpies. In:
following month 'July, 141/)), the three ( ir.r.
comm.-iniled by Nifio arrived trom Spain, lin'
ing a reinforcement of men, and, what w.i^ -
more needed, a supplv of provisions. 'I lie 1 1 :
was quickly distributed .iniong the hiiiiL; i\ '
nists, but unlortunately a gre.it part had l"i:i
jiired during the vov.ige. This was a serious;:
fortune in a community where the least srun
produced murmur and sedition.
15y these ships the .Vdelantado received I'jl'.';';
from his brother directing him to found a ton:
and seaport at the mouth ot the O/em.i, ncir';!
the new mines. He requested him, also, to si
prisoners to .Sp.iin such of the caciques aiul th •
subjects as had been concerned in the ile.ith;:
any of the colonists; that being consiilerL'(l,i'
sutlicient ground, by many of the ablest jiiriiii
and theologi.ms of Spain, for selling them :•
slaves. On the return of the caravels, the .\il(-
lantailo dispatched three hundred Indi.m \nm
ers, ;ind three caciipies. These forined the 1 ■
starred cargoes about which XiHo h.ul made si;'
absurd vaunting, as though the ships were l:u:e'
with treasures, and which li.ad caused such mo:-
litlcation, disa|ipointment, and del.iy to C'olui:.-
bus.
Having obtained by this arrival a supply ot ]ir|
visions, the Adelantado returned to the icirtrt.'ssi:i
.S.in Christoval, and thence |)roceede(l to the O/fivi
to choose a site tor the projiosed se.ipoil. Atter-
careful examination, he chose the eastern hank':
a natur.al h.aven at the mouth ot the river. It«'i
easy of access, of sutficient depth, and good aiidio:'
age. The river ran through a beautiful aiul h
* Muiloz, Hist. N. Mundo, lib. vi. § 32.
:*i.t<-i..Li,i
LIFE AM) VOYAGHS OF COH'MIU'S.
14d
\v;)s aciitea-l
torian h.is ;i,i
ot liis ihcnr.
a ctTlain df,,
it the i(|un :
I'll the worM'
n ils c(|ii,uiif
.It the (livcr>r
I'filli', nm heir,
li'iiMstaiit v.ir
l^l'S .llnl fv||,.
iniiri' iii.ini!r.'
il siiinctinics ,,
I'lM'll.lpS 11...
sc 111 (..'11111111111;,
|r ilrsiTlliiil
ii^;nu'iUfi| ii\ !-
lie ol)St'l'V(.T ,r.
him .-i philii,,
111' livuil." •
a forri- in !'
lavc lilllf In r:
;-k, ()rshiii:lil ri
.■iii^f ti'M niiMi:
u assist them;
tlu; ri'sl 111 ■;:
ItT. lu Kurt Cm'
•y of Ihr \'r:
lu I'olliTliiii; ;
I witli loml '
i(|in,'S. hi 1':
thri'i- c:ir;ivr'.
S|);iiii, hrir;
wliat \v.is.>;:
Tiic l.iK'-
hiinj.;ry c^
had hccii ■■
a scrimis mii-
least scarci;;
rccfivi'd Ifi'.':''
Iiiiiiul .1 to'
)/:fina, iiu:ir'
iLsd, to scr:
(Hies ami the'
the dcuh:
I'Ollslth'IX'll .1:
.•ilijfst jiiriv
ill'^- I hem ::
vrls, th(' ,\(lr
iidian pris"'
)riiic(l t!ie 1.
h.id ni.'idf sii;
)S wi-ri' laii:'
scd siii'h nit;
;iV til Colli-
,e 11
Ill
supply ot iir'l
till' tMiiri.'^'i'^'
:1 luihcO/diu
ipcirl. Alter.
'astern hank :
river. Itw'.i
I (^rood anchor'
LitituI and k'
32.
lerountry ; its waters were pure .md s.iliilMiiiiis,
III well stdiked with tish ; its l),iiiks were eov-
eil with trees heariiijjlhi! liiie fruits ol the isl.nid,
jthatin s.idiiij; ahin^', the triiils and llowers
|),|,'l I,,, plueked with the hand tinm the hraiuhes
liiih iiverhuiiK the stream.* This <lelinlittul
Initv w.is the <lwellin^;-place <it the teniale la-
lU' wli" h.id eoneeived an atfei tiiiii tor the
(iini! .Sp.miar.l MiKU*'l l^ia/, and had iiiduifd
nitiitiitiie his ei)Uiilrymen to that part ot the
anil. The promise she had ^iven ot a Iriendly
i-,.|,liiiii (III the pari ot her tribe was iailhlully
Ttdlllieil.
Oil .1 (iiiiim.iiiilin^ l).ink of the harbor Don Mar-
oliiniew eieiled .1 tortress, whii h at Mrst w .is eall-
S.ihill.i, but .dti'rward San !)oniiii),'o. and w.is
(iri^jin 111 the eily which still be.irs th.it n.ime.
Ailel.iiit.idii was ot an aetive .and inilefati^Mble
rit. Nil sooner was the fortress eompleted th.m
let! Ill II .1 garrison ot twenty men, and w ilh the
still Ills tones set out to visit the donrnions ol
ehiiliiii, one of the principal chiett.iins ol the
land, I'liis caritiue, as has already been nien-
Bned, rti^;iied over Xara^jua, a ])rovinei' eomiiris-
iralliiost the whole co.ist at the west end ot the
land, imliidinj,' Cape Tiburon, and extendiiit;-
oiij,^ llie siiiilh side as tar as I'oinl Ajjuida, or
t sill. ill island of Heata. It was one ot the most
jpiiloiis and lertile districts, with a delij,dutiil eli-
ate ; anil its inh.ibitants were solter and more
•accfiil ill their manners tli.m the rest ot the
andcrs. lieinjj so remote troni all the for-
Esscs, the caiiiiue, althou^jh he had t.iken a part
the cniiihin.ition ot the chieftains, had hitherto
m.iiiKil bee from the incursions and exactions
the white men.
With this c.iciiiue resided Anacaona, widow of
le kite liirniid.ible C.aonabo. She w.is sister to
hecliiii, and had taken refujje with her brother
Iter the capture of her husb.uid. Sht; was one of
le nidst beautiful females of the island ; her
me ill the Indi.m lan^(uaf;e sifrnit'ied " The
ileii IMowir." She possessed a genius supe-
iortii the j,'enerality of her race, and was said to
Ijicel in ciiniposinj,r tliose little lef^endary ballads,
areyliis, which thi' n.itives chanted as they per-
rmed their national dances. All the Spanish
Titers :\p\'i^ in describinir her as possessin;^ ,1
'iiral (lit,'iiity ;ind }j;race hardly to be credited in
r i),niiir,iiit and savaj^e comlition. Notwith-
ndui); the ruin with which her husband h.icl
en iiverwhelmed by the hostility of the white
icn, she apiiears to have entertained no vindic-
fe feeliii^r toward them, knowinjc that he had
evoked their venjjfe.ince by his own voluntary
faifare. She regarded the Sjianiards with ad-
iiratiiin as almost superhuman Ihmiijjs, and her
itellifjenl mind perceived the futility and impolicy
any attempt to resist their superiority in arts
d arms. Ilaviiifj ^reat intUience over her broth-
liLliechio, she counselled him to take warn-
ighythe Lite of her husband, and to conciliate
le friendship of the Spaniards ; and it issujiposed
at a knii\vle(lj;e ot the friendly sentiments and
wertiil iiilluence of this ])r'i>ci'ss, in a great
icasure prompted the Adelantau./ to his present
peilitioii.f
In passiiijr throuj;h those parts of the island
hich had hitherto been unvisited by luiropeans,
e Adekuuatlo adopted the same imposinj';' meas-
'cs which the admiral had used on a former oc-
Peter Martyr, decad. i. lib. v.
: t Charlevoi.v, Hist. St. Domingo, lib.
jluiioz, Hist. N. Mundo, lib. vi. § vi.
11. p. 147.
I .ision ; he put his c.i\ dry in the adv.incr, and
chtered all the Indi.in town-, in martial arr.iy, with
st.ind.irds displayed, and the smind ot drum and
trumpet.
After proceedinjj about thirty lea^jiies, he came
to the ri\er Neyva, which, is^-iiiiij,' Irom the moun-
t.iins of Cib.io, diviiles the southern side of the
island. Crossing; this stre.iin, he ilispatched two
p.irlies of ten men each alon^,' the seacoast in
se.irch of brazil-wood. 'I'liey tnund >;re.it (|uanti-
ties, and telled many trees, wlmh liny stored in
the Indian cabins, until tfiey »niild be t.iken away
by se.i.
Iiieliniiif,' with his m.iin lnrce to the right, the
, .Adi lant.uio met, not tar Irom the river, the ca-
ciijue lieliichio, with a gre.it army ol his subjects,
.iriiied with bows ;ind arrows and lames. If he
had come forth with the inleiuion ot opposing the
inroad into his toresl dom.iins, he w.is prob.ibly
daunted by the tormid.ible appear.ince ot the
.Spaniards. Laying .iside his wcapoiis, he ad-
N.iiiced .and aicosted the Adi l.intado \ery aniica-
bly, proh'ssing that he was thus in arms for the
purpose ol subieiting cert.iin villages .ilong the
river, .ind in(|iiiriiig, at the same time, the object
ot this incursion ot the S|),iiii.ir(ls. The Adelan-
tado .assured him thatlu'C.ime uii .1 pe.iielld visit,
to pass a little time in friendly interiouise ,it Xara-
gua. He succeided so wtdl in .ill.iyiiig the appre-
hensions of the caci(iue, that the latter dismissed
his army, .and sent swill messengers to order prep-
arations for the suitable rei eption of so distin-
guished ,1 guest. As the Spani.irds ;i(lv;inced into
, the territories of the i hiettain, .iiid passid through
• the districts of his interior caci(|ues, the latter
! brought forth cassav.i bread, hemp, cotton, and
various other jiroductions of the land. At length
they drew ne.ir to the residence of liehechio,
which was a large town situ.ited in ;i beautiful
jKirt of the country ne.ir the coast, at the bottom
of that deep bay, called at present the Ijight of
Leogan.
The Spaniards had heard m.iny accounts of the
sott and delightful region of .X.iragua, in one part
ot which Indi.in tr.iditioiis pl.iced tlirir I'-lysi.in
fields. They h.id heard mm h, ;ilso, ol tin: beauty
and urbanity ot the inh.abitanis : the mode of their
reception was calculated to ci.iit'irm their favorable
lirepossessions. As they .approached the ])lace,
' thirty females of the cacique's household came
' torth to meet them, singing their areylos, or tradi-
tion.iry ballads, and dancing and wa\ing palm
br.inches. The m.irried females wore aprons of
i embroidered cotton, reaching half w.iv to the
knee ; the young women were entirely naked,
with merely a fillet round the lnrehe.id. their hair
filling upon their shoulders. They were beauti-
.ully ]iropiirtioned, their skin smootli .and deli-
I cale, and their com|)li-xioii of a cle.ir, .agreeable
'' brown. According to old I'eter Martyr, the Span-
i.irds when they beheld them issuing torth from
their green woods, almost im.igiiied they beheld
the fabled dryads, or native nymphs ;iiid fairies of
the fountains, sung by the ancient poets. •■ When
they came before Don IS.irthiilnmew, they knell
and gracefully presented him the green br.inches,
I After these came the female cacique .\iiacaona,
reclining on a kind of light litter borne by six In-
I dians. Like the other females, she had no other
covering than an a|)ron of various-coloied cotton.
j She wore round her head a fr.igr.mt ga.rland of
j red and white tlowers, .and wreaths ot the same
1 round her neck and arms. She received the Ade-
I * Peter Martyr, decad. i. lib. v.
146
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
,1'''
IW V'
lantado rmrl his followers with that natural grace
and courtesy tor which she was celebrated ;
manifesting no hostility toward them tor the fate
her husband had ex|)erienced at their hands.
The Adelantado and his oflicers were conduct-
ed to tile hcnise of Ilehecliio, where a bantjuet was
served up of utias, a great variety of sea and river
fish, with roots and fruits of excellent cjuality.
Here first the .Spaniards con(|uered 'heir rejiug-
nance to tne guana, the favorite delicacy of the
Indians, but which I'm; former had regarded with
disfi^ast, as a • ;u-cics of serpent. The .Adelantado,
wil.ing to accustom himself to the usages of the
country, was the tirst to taste this animal, being
kindly pressed thereto by Anacaona. flis fol-
lowers imitated his example, they found it to be
highly palatable and delicate ; and from that time
forward, the guana was held in repute among
Spanish epicures.*
The i)an(|uet being over, Don Bartholomew
with six of his princijial cavaliers were lodged in
the dwelling of liehechio ; the rest were distrib-
uted in the liouses of the inferior cacic[ues, where
they slept in hammocks of matted cotton, the
Usual beds of the natives.
J'^or two days they remained with the hospitable
Behcchio, entertained with various Inlian games
and festivities, among which the most remarkable
was the representation of a battle. 1 wo s(|uad-
rons of naked Indians, armed with bows and ar-
rows, sallied suddenly into the public scjuare and
began to skirmish in a m.mr.er similar to the
Moorish pl.iy of canes, or tilting reeds, lly de-
grees they became excited, and fought ,vitli such
c 'rnestness, that four were slain, and many
wounded, v.hicli S(;enied to increase the interest
and pleasure of the spec'ators. The contest would
have continued longer, and might have been still
more bloody, had not the Adelantado and the
other cavaliers interfered and
game might cease. t
When the festivities were over, and familiar in-
tercourse h.ad promoted mutual confidence, the
Adelantado addressed the caciejue and .Anacaona
on the re.d object of his visit. He informed hiir:
that his brother, the admiral, had been Sf-nt to
this island by the sovereigns of Castile, who were
great and mighty potentates, with many king(h)ms
under their sway. That the admiral iiad returned
to a|)i)rise his sovereigns hov,- many tributary ca-
ciques there were in the island, leaving him in
command, and that he had come to receive lie-
hechio under the protection of these mighty sov-
ereigns, ,."1 to arrange a tribute to be ])aid by
hiin, in such manner as should be most conven-
ient and sitisfactory to himself.J
The caci(|ue was greatly embairassed by tiiir.
demand, knowing the sufferings inllictei' on the
■■■' " These serpentes arc lykeunto croc<5f'.iles, saving
in bygness ; tliey call them guanas. L'r.to that day
none of owre men durste adventure to taste of them,
by reason of ihcyre horrible I'.eforniilic and loth-
sonmes. Yet the Adelantado being en.ysed by the
pleasantnes of the king's sister, Anacaon.i, determin-
ed to taste [lie serpentes. Hut when he fei'.e the llcsh
thereof to be so delycate to his tongue, he fel to
amaync uithmit al feare. The which thyng his com-
panions perceiving, were not behynd hym in freedy-
nesse : insomuche that they had now none other taikc
than of the sweetncsse of these serpentes, which they
affirm to le of more pleasant taste, than eyther our
phesantes oi partriches. " Peter Martyr, decad. i.
book v. r",den's I'lng. Trans.
■f Las C.Asas. Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 113.
i Ibid., cap. 114.
legged that the
other parts of the island by the avidity of ■;-
Sjianiards tor gold. He replied that he had ht^-
apjirised that gold was the great object for wh;.
the white men had come to their island, and ih;|
a tribute was paid in it by some of his telle
ciques ; but that in no jjart of his territories « I
gold to be found ; and his subjects li irdly khv
what it was. To this the .Adelantado r;pl' Jd «
great adroitness, that nothing was l.ir'.iier fr-
the intention or wish of his sovei,''giis ih.ui to::.
cpiire a tribute in things not ])roduced in his, .
minions, but that it might be ))aid in cotu/
hemp, and cassava bread, with which thu sc-
rounding country appeared to abound. 'l"i,c i.n:-.
tenance of the cacique brightened at this iiuiir.;.
tion ; he promised cheerful compliance, and ■.
stantly sent orders to all his subordinate c;u:i(|.:i
to sow abundance of cotton for the lirst pavn-:
of the stipulated tribute. Having made all :■:
requisite arrangements, the Adelantado idni; .
most friendly leave of I5ehechio and his sb:;:
and set out tor Isabella.
Thus by amicable and sagacious mans;:-
ment, one of the most extensive provinces ol;:;
island was brought into cheerlul subjection, s-;
had not the wise ])olicy of the .Adelantadi) bt:-
defeated by the excesses of worthless and uir:..
lent men, a large revenue might have been e
lected, without any recourse to violence or uppr*?
sion. In all instances these simple people a|)|ic:
to have been extremely tractable, and meeklv.r;
even cheerfully to have resigned their rij,'hu;
the white men, when treated with geiuleness r..
humanity.
CHAPTER II.
EST.\nLISHMF.\T OF A CH.MN OF MILITARY PiV
— INSL-RRi:CTION OF GU.VRIONEX, THE CACI(.'i:|
OF THE VEG.\.
[1496.]
On arriving at Isabella, Don riartholoir-'
found it, as usual, a scene of misery .-ind repiiii:.
M.my had died during his absence ; most were :'.
Those who were healthy comjilained of these;:
city of food, and those who were ill, of the wj-
ol medicines. The ])rovisions distributed aiiif
them, from the supply brought out a few nioir,
before by Pedro Alonzo N'ifio, had been c'
sumed. Partly from sickness, and ])ardy Iron^
repugnance to labtir, they nad neglected to cu.:
vate the surrouii'ling countr/, and the Indians,
whom they chielly depended, outr.igt^d by ih:
oppressions, had abandone.l the vicinity, and li'-
to the mountains ; choosing rather to subsist:
roots and herbs, in their rugged retreats, than::
niain in the luxuriant i^laiis, subject to the wror;
and cruelties of the white i.ien. The history
this island jtresents continiinl ])ictures of their;
eries, the actu.il want and j)c)\ertv produccil
the gras|)ing avidity of goU . It had rendered::
.Spaniards heedless of all the less obvious, '"■
more certain and '.alubri.ius sources of u\.';i,;:
All labor seemed lost that was to produce pr."
by a circuitous proce;,s. Instead of cidtivat:'
the luxurian.t s'lil around them, and derivinj; r^:
treasures fr(>;n its surf:icc, they wasted theiri:"
in seeking for mines ,ind golden streams, .'1:
were st:ir\ing in the midst of lertilitv.
No sooner were the provisions exh.austed wii:
had bien brought out by .\if\o than the colon.^
began to break forth in their accustomed mi.
M^' M.irtvr, decad. i.
>'ne.\, whidi must ha'
F"": least vestige can b
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
147
avidity of
It liL- had I)
jcct for \vl
;l;in(l, and \^--l
f Ills tclir- .-•
tcl'I'ltoriL'S \v;i
,s lianlly kntJ
;'.o i-L-|)lv-d \v;J
s tar'.iier frc;l
f-iis than tnr-.^
uvvd in h'o
laid in eir;
iviiirli llif -
inci. Til'- 1
at lliis iin;
diancc, an.: .
Jinatc (;a(ii|.
•i lirst |)ayn>
r made all ;.■;[
antado tool; J
and liis sis'ie:|
cioiis niana;*-!
irovincfs d! :
SUl)j(,-Cli(i|l,
(Icdantadi) ' ■
less and lu: .
iiavc bi-cn l
ciicc 01" oppr:
e jicople :;]'■'■
and nu'eklv ,
I their ri.niv,-
gcullentba .:
irs. They represented themselves as neglertcd
Columbus, wlio, amid tlie l)laiulishmeius and
irlus ii! a court, ihoujrhl little of their suffer-
They considered themselves equally for-
iteii l)v i^overnment ; while, havinj; no vessel
'ijie harbor, they were destitute of all means of
iiiL' home intelli^jence of their disastrous situ-
fo
caraw
tJMi^l.tncl. 1(
aU iiitdfss an(
I
[ILITARV VO-
THE CAClvi;
BartholoiTie-
y and repinir,
most wt-re : -
I'd of the s^.:-
, of tht- V,::
nhuted i\nv.
a few nioii;::
lad hi'LMi c '■
])ardy fron-:
fcted to ci:.:
the Indians, :'
ra^ed by t-
cinity, anil li
r to suiisisl :
treats, thaiu:
t to the wrorjl
The history
ires of llien-
V produi'ti.
rendered ;
obvious, :-■-
ces of w.';ii;'
jiroduce pro"
of ci'ltiva;;';
id derivin,i,'r.i
steii their li':
streams, a:;
lausted \vi'i"|
1 the colon;:
ustomed nitf
anil iniplorinj;- relief.
remove this last cause of discontent, and
h some object for their hopes and thouj,'hts
V round, the Adelantado ordered that two
hould be built at Isabella, for the use of
To relieve the settlement, also, from
(1 rcpininj^ individuals, durinjf this
t id searcity, he distributed such as were too
to l:'I)or, or to bear arms, into the interior,
re ihev would have the benefit of a better cli-
e, and more abundant sujjply of Indian jiro-
|ons. He at the same time completed and {yar-
ned the chain of military posts established by
hrollier in the [jrecedinj; year, consistinjj of
forlilied houses, each surrounded by its de-
dent iiamlet. The first of these was about
e ii'a;,'ues from Isabella, and was called la Ks-
nrfa;i/a. Six ieaj,'ues beyond was Santa Catalina.
E<^rlea,UKS and a half further was Magdal'.'na,
■ re the first lown of Santiaj^o was afterward
lied ; and live leagues farther Fort Concep-
- whieh was fortified with great care, being
mjlie vast and i)()])ulous \'ega, and within half a
]^»: from the residence of its cacique, (iuari-
OBix.* lla\iiig thus relieved Isabella of all its
Vjfk^-, population, and left none but such as were
too id to he removed, or were rec[uired for the
;iep:> e and ]irotection of the ])lace, and the con-
iltnii'.ion (d the caravels, the Adelantado returned,
ith a laiL^e body of the most effective men, to
lortresn of San Domingo.
he milu.iry [Kists, thus established, succeeded
,1 lime in overawing the natives ; but fresh
li'.i'.ies were soon manifested, excited by a dit-
lu enu-~e fron^ the preceding. Among the mis-
aries who had accomjianied Friar lioyle to
inland, were two of far greater zeal than their
rior. When he returned to Spain, they re-
ned, earnestly bent upon the fulfilment of
r niisidon. (Jne was called Roman Pane, a
rl'.erniit, as he styled himself, of the order of
;(ieroninio ; the other was Juan BorgoRon, a
neiseaii. They resided for some time among
Indian ; of the Vega, strenuously endeavoring
iiake euiiverts, and had succeeded with one
ily, of sixteen persons, the chief of which, on
bapii/ed, took the name of Juan Mateo.
)nversion of the cacique ("lUarione.x, how-
was dieir main object. The extent of his
essiuns made his conversion of great impor-
e 10 the interests of the colony, ;uul was con-
red by the zealous fathers a means of bring-
his minierous subjects under the dominion of
church. For some time he lent a willing ear ;
iearnt ;he Pater Xoster, the Ave Maria, and
*-ree;l, and made his whole family repe.it
ily. The other cacicpies of the \'ega and
e provinces of Cibao, however, scoffed at him
tan!;,- conforming to the laws and customs
raiii,'' !s, usurpers of his ilomains, and o|)-
isor-, -: lijs nation. The friars com|)l;iined
in I insecjuence of these evil communiea-
. their eiiiivert sudtlenly relapsed into infulel-
iiut .mother and more ;rrievous cause is as-
" Martyr, decad. i. lib. v. Of the residence of
ncx, which must have been a considerable town,
east vestige can be discovered at present.
signed for his recantation. His favorite wife was
seduced or treated with outrage by a Sp.miard of
authority ; and the cacique renounced all faith in
a relii';ior., which, as he supposed, admitted of
such arocities. Losing all hope of effecting his
conve."sion, the missionaries remove<l to the terri-
tories ui another cacii|ue, taking with tluni Juan
Mateo, their Indian convert. IJefore their depart-
ure, they erected a small chapel, and furnished
it with an altar, crucifix, and images, for the use
of the family of Mateo.
Scarcely had they departed, when several In-
dians entered the chapel, broke the images in
pieces, trampled them under foot, and buried
them in a neigh!)oring field. This, it was said,
was done by order of (".uarionex, in conteni[)t of
the religion from which he had apostatized. A
comi)laint of this enormity was carried to the
Adelantado, who ordered a suit to be immedi-
ately instituted, and those who were found culpa-
ble, to be pi nished according to law. It was a
])eriod of great rigor in ecclesiastical law, es-
pecially among the S|)aniards. In Siiain .all here-
sies in religion, all recantations from the faith, and
all acts of sacrilegi, either by Moor or Jew, were
punished with fire and fagot. Such was tb.e I.Ue
of the poor ignorant Indians, convicted of this out-
rage on the church. It is questionable whether
Ciuarionex had any hanfl in this offence, and it is
])robable that the whole affair was exaggerated.
A proof jf the credit due to the evidence hiuuglu
forward, may he judged by one of the lact.s re-
corded by Roman Pane, "the poor hermit." The
field in wdiich the holy images were buried was
jdanted, he says, with certain roots shaped like a
turnip, or radish, several of which coming up in
the neighborhood of the images, were loiind to have
grown most miraculously in the form of a cross.*
The cruel punishment inllicteil on these In-
dians, instead of daunting their countrymen, filled
them with horror and indignation. L'naceustom-
ed to such stern rule and vindictive justice, .and
having no clear ideas :u)r jiowerful sentiments
with respect to religion of any kind, they could
not comi)rehend the nature nor extent of the crime
committed. I-ven Ciuarionex, a man natur.dlv
moderate and pacific, was highly incensed witd
the assumption of power within his territories,
.and the inhuman death inflicted on !iis subjects.
The other caciipies perceived his irritation, and
endeavored to induce him to unitt; in a sud(kMi in-
surrection, that by one vigorous and gener.il ef-
fort, they might break the yoke of th.eir ojjpress-
ors. CiUarionex wavered for some time. He
knew the martial skill and prowess of the Sp.aii-
iards ; he stood in awe of their ca. .dry, and he
had before him the disastrous fate of Caon.ibo ;
but he was rendered bold by despair, and he be-
held in the domination of these strangers the as-
sured ruin of his race. The early w riters speak
of .1 tradition current among the inhabitants of
the isl.uul, respecting this ("lUarionex. He w.is of
an ancient line of hereditary caciques. His father,
in times long jjreceding the discovery, having
lasted for five days, according to their supersti-
tions ol)servances, ap|)lied to his zemi, or h()U~,r-
hokl deity, for information of things to come. He
received lor answer that within a tew years there
should come to the island a nation covered with
clothing, which should destroy all their cuitoms
and ceremonies, a. id slay their children or reduce
them to painful servitude'.! The tradition w.is prob-
•\
I I
|(h<:
■■■ Escritura de Fr. Roman, Hist, del Almiraiue.
f Peter Martyr, decad. i. lib. ix.
i'l
{'
W ',,■1
.;f'
148
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
ably invent :^I by the Rutio'i, or priests, after the
Spiiniards h.icl bej^un to exercise their severities.
W'lietiicr their prediction had an effect in dispos-
injr the mind of Ciuarionex to hostilities is uncer-
tain. .Some have asserted that he was com|)elle(l
to take up arms by his subjects, who threatened,
in case of his refusal, to choose some other chief-
tain ; others have alleged the outrage committed
upon his favorite wife, as the principal cause of
his irritation.* It was probably these things
combined, which at length induced him to enter
into the consjiiracy. A secret consultation was
held among the caciques, wherein it was concert-
ed, that on the clay of payment of their quarterly
tril)ute, when a great number could assemble
without causing susjiicinn, they should suddenly
rise u])on the Spaniards and massacre them.f
liy some means the g.irrison at Fort Conception
received intimation of this .conspiracy, licingbut
a handful of men, and surrounded by hostile
tribes, they wrote a letter to the Adelantado, at
•San Domingo, imploring immediate aid. As this
letter might be taken from their Indian messen-
ger, the natives having discovered that these let-
ters had a wonderful power of communicating in-
telligence, and fancying they could talk, it was
inclose<l in a reed, to be used as a staff. The
messenger was, in fact, intercepted ; but, affect-
ing to be dunil) and lame, and intimating by signs
that he was returning home, was permiitefl to
limp forward on his journey. When out of sight
he resumed his speed, and bore the letter safely
and expeditiously to San Domingo. J
The Adelantado, with his characteristic prompt-
ness and activity, set out immediately with a body
of troops for the fortress ; and though his men
were much enfeebled by scanty fare, hard ser-
vice, and long marches, hurried them rajiidly for-
ward. Xe\er did aid arrive more opportunely.
The Indians were assembled on the |)lain, to the
amount of many thousands, armed after their
manner, and waiting for the appointed time to
strike the blow. After consulting with the com-
mantk'r of tlie fortress and his officers, the Ade-
lantado concerted a mode of proceeding. Ascer-
t.iining the places in which the various cacicpies
had distributed their forces, he appointed an offi-
cer with a body of men to each cacicpie, with or-
ders, at an apijointed hour of the night, to rush
into the villages, sur|)rise them aslee]) and unarm-
ed, bind the caciepies, and bring them off jirison-
ers. As (lUarionex was the most important per-
sonage, and his ca])ture would prolfibly be at-
tended with most difticulty and danger, the Ade-
lantado took the charge of it upon himself, at the
head ol one hundred men.
This stratagem, founded upon a knowledge of
the attachment of the Indians to their chieftains,
and calculated to sjiare a great effusion of blor :
was completely successful. The villages having
no w.dls nor other defences, were (piietly entered
at midniglit, ;ind the Sp.iniards, rushing suddenly
into tile houses where the cacicpies were <|uarter-
ed, seized and bound them, to the number of four-
teen, and hurried them off to the fortress, before
any i^ffort could be made for their defence or res-
cue. The Indians, struck with teiror, made no
resistance, nor any showot hostility ; surrounding
the fortress in great multitudes, but without weap-
ons, they tilled the air with doleful bowlings and
■* I. as Casus, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. iCi.
\ llerrera, Uecad. i. lib. iii. cap. 65. Feter Martyr,
dci'ad. vi. lib. v.
I llcrrcra, Hist, Ind., decad. I, lib, iii. cap. 7,
lamentations, imploring the release of their
tains. The Ailelantaflo com|)leted his eiucr:-
with the spirit, sagacity, and moderation
which he had hitherto conducterl it. He nhu-
information of the causes of this conspirarv,
the individuals most culiiable. Two caciciuc,
principal movers of the insuriection, and wh'i-
most wrought upon the easy nature of Ciinri -.
were put to death. As to that imfon '.a;-
cicpie, the Adelantado, considering ihe ;,
wrongs he had suffered, and the slow ness
which he had been jirovoked to revenge, mi.-
imously [)arcloned him; nay, accordingly';
Casas, he proceeded with stern justice ag.iin,';:
Spaniard whose outrage on his wife h.id sur.s
tleeply in his heart. He extended his liiiit,
to the remaining chieft.ains of the cousp::;
promisinggreat favors aiid rewards, if tluys'r
continue firm in their lo- alty ; but terril)'i-r
ishmenls should they again be found in rehti
The heart of (aiarionex was subdued hv th;;
expected clemency
jieople setting forth
made a speci h 1.
He
the irresistible niij;!.t ,
valor of the Spaniards ; their grc.t Il-IiJiv
offenders, and their generosity to sucli :h v-
faithful ; and he earnestly exhorted them hr
forth to cultivate their friendshi]). The In!-
listt'ued to him with attention ; his praist:>
the white men were confirmed by their tr:
ment of himself; when he had concliulcd, ••
took him up on their shoulders, bore him tj ,
habitation with songs and shouts of joy, ,in;:
some time the tranquillity of the Vega was-
stored.*
CHAPTER III.
THE ADEL.\NT.M10 RICI'.MRS TO X.\U.\GIA
RECEIVE TRUiUTE.
[>497.]
With all his energy and discretion, ilie.V]
lantado found it diflicult to manage the proud .
turbulent spirit of the colonists. They chu :
brook the sway of a foreigner, who, when H
were restive, curbed them with an iron hr|
Don Bartholomew had not the same leijiti'
authority in their e^• .'s as his brother. The
mir.il was the disccerer of the country, aiui
authorized representative of the sover(ii,'ns:'
even him they with difficulty lirought ihen'sr
to obey. The Adelantado, on the contraiy. ■
regarded by many as a mere intruder, assu"
high command without authority from the cr ■
and shouldering himself into ]K)wer o" the nc'l
and services of his brother. They s, ^kc with
patience and indignation, .also, of the long ;il'>-
of the admiral, and his fancied inatlentidii tors
wants ; little aw.ire of the incess.int an\iiniir-i
was suffering on their account, during hisdr
tion in Sjiain. The sagacious measure 0!
.\delantado in building the canivels, for ^
time diverted their attention. They watched q
progress with solicitude, looking upon them;
me.uis either of obtaining relief or ot ahatidn"
the island. Aware that repining and (h^rnnte"i
men should never be lelt in idleness, Don ''I
omew kept them continually in moveincn!
intleed a state of const.int activity was ron:-'
to his own vigorous spirit. About thistiiiu:'
leptahle in the pres
* Peter Martyr, decad. 1. lib, v.
Ind., decad. i. lib. iii. cap. 6.
Hcrrcra,
'*4
(-' ,.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
149
ie of their i-
•d his L-mcr;;
noilfralion ';
it. Ilc()!it:,J
conspirarv, -I
.vo c;ici(iuts
m, and wliM
ru of C.inriM'
imton ■'■.;ilrj
L-rinj,^ the
! slfl\VllL-SS u|
rcordiii^f in
sticf ai;ainsr|
\\k- hail sursj
(1 Ids Iciiiiv:
the conspiryl
Is, if ihcysh
)Ut ti.Tril)k-;
jiid in rehci:;::
tilled, by thi;-
a sjuvi!! t'i
tiblc nii;;ht .'I
}|rL.it k'hity ;
o such as v.;
Led them lit::
p. The hvli,
; his praiso
l)y tlieir '.:::
conciiuU'i!, ■■
, tiore him to I
ts of joy, am:
le \'etr;i W'i5 '
) X.VRAGUA :
retion, ilieA
ihf prom!.;
They foi! :
^(1, when r
an iron hr
ame le^'itir
tlier. Tlic;;
ouiitry, ami"
sovcnij^ns;'
^;hl dieiv,--:
contrary,
udcr, as-.ii~
r.ini tlie cr
r D" the ivc
s, ^Ke wit'.
he'lonj; n!'*-
tlenlinii to;-
mt anxieiii'
irinjj; liisdc'
measure i'!
iveis, for '
watched :
11 1 Kin thiin,
r ot .ih.indii;
lul diM-ontc-
ss, Don IVt"'
loveineiu
was roiv.'f'
t this tinu' ■'
Herrera,
leers arrived from Bchechio, cacique of Xara-
iiilorniini; him that he had hir),^^ quantities
toiloii. .md other articles, -n which his tribute
i tu he jiaid, ready tor delivery. The Adelan-
|o immediately set forth with a numerous train,
ttvisit this fruitful and happy region. He was
In received with songs .uul dances, and all the
llonal deinoiislralions of respect and amity by
Vtihio and his sister Anacaona. The latter ap-
bred to be highly popular among the natives,
1 10 have almost as much sway in Xaragua as
brother. Her natural ease, and the graceful
Inity ot her manners, more and more won the
nirati'm ot the SjKmiards.
he Adelantado found thirty-two inferior ca-
lucs assembled in the house of IJehechio, await-
his arrival with their respective tributes,
cotton they had brought was enough to fill
• of their houses. Having delivered this, they
Ituitously offered the Adelantado as much cas-
ta hiead' as he desired. The offer was most
leptable in the present necessitous state of the
'pnv ; ■uul Don Hartholoniew sent lo Isabella
Iciie of the caravels, which was nearly linished,
;(lisj).uchi'(l as soon as possible to Xaragua,
be freighted with bre.id and cotton.
In the mean lime the natives brought from all
Tiriers large supplies of provisions, and enter-
heil their guests with continual festivity and
[iqikting. The early .Sp.'inish writers, whose im-
Inations, heated by the accounts of the voy-
Irs, could not form an idea of the simpl' :ity of
ta.s;e lite, especially in these newly discovered
limries, which were su|)posed to border upon
, often s|)eak in terms of Oriental niagnih-
..JiC'j ot the entertainments of the natives, the
jpalaiLiof tlie caciques, and the lords and ladies
W,thiir courts, as if they were describing the
)ilis ot .Asiatic potentates. The accounts given
ara^'ua, however, have a different character ;
»d:<!ve a picture of savage life, in its perfection
,i(l.e and ignorant enjoyment. The troubles
ici'i distracted the other parts of devoted Hayti
"not readied the inhabitants of this ])leasant
[idii. Living among beautiful and fruitful
Ives, on the borders of a sea, apparently forever
|i(|uil and uinexed by storms ; having few
and those readily supplied, they ap|)eared
indpated from the common lot ot labor, and
Jass their lives in one uninterruiUed holiday.
Itn the .Spaniards regarded the tertilily and
KtiiCbS of this country, the gentleness of its
Ipie, anil the beauty of its women, they pro-
\v.KVi\ it a perfect paradise.
|kt luiifr'Ji the caravel arrived which was to he
Igiitcii with the articles ot tribute. It anchored
|u; six miles from the residence of IJehechio,
I Anacaona jjroposed to her brother that thev
|imI t;o together to behold what she called the
at canoe of the while men. On their w.iy lo
loast, the .Adelantado was lodged one night
viiiajre, in a house where Anacaona treasured
"■"jsc articles which she esteemed most rare
precious. Tiiey consisted of various manu-
lures of cotton, ingeniously wrought ; ot ves-
«f clay, moulded into different forms ; of
Wi lal)les, and like articles of furniture,
led ot ebony and other kinds of wood, and
fed with various devices — all evincing great
and ingenuity in a people wh.o had no iron
' '') work with. .Such were the simple tre.is-
'! this Indian princess, of which she made
(lero'is presents to her guest.
nothing could exceed the wonder and delight
of this intelligent woman when she first belield
the ship. Her l)rolher, who treated her with a
fr.Uernal fondness and respectful attention, worthy
of civilized life, l',,.d prepared two canoes, gayly
painted and decorated, one to convc}' her and her
alien. lants, and the other for him'self ;ind iiis
chieftains. Anacaon.i, however, preferred to em-
bark with her ;Utendanls in the ship's bo.it with
the Adelantado. As they a|)])roached the caramel,
a s.dute was tired. At the report of the cannon,
;ind the sigiit of the smoke, Anacaona, overcome
with dismay, fell into the arms ot the Adel.antado,
and her attendants would ha\e leaped overboard,
but the laughter and the cheerful words ot Don
liartholomew s|)eedily reassured them. As they
drew nearer lo the vessel, several instruments of
martial music struck up, with which they were
greatly delighted. Their .idmir.ition increased on
entering on board. Accustomed only to their sim-
[)le and slight canoes, e\erything here apjjeared
wonderfully vast and complicated. liut w hen the
anchor was weighed, the sails were s])read, and,
aitled by a gentle breeze, they beheld this v.ist
mass, moving a])parently by its own volition,
veering from side to side, and playing like a huge
monster in the deep, the brother and sister re-
mained gazing at each other in mute astoaish-
ment.* Nothing seems lo have tilled the mind of
the most stoical savage w ith more wonder tlian
that sul)lime and beautiful trium[)h of genius, a
ship under sail.
flaving freighted and dispatched the caravel,
the Adelant;idi) made many |)rescnts to liehechio,
I'lis sister, and their atteiul'ants, and took le.ive of
them, to return by land with his troops to Isa-
l)ella. Anacaona showed great affliction at their
parting, entreating him lo remain some time
longer with them, and ap|)earing fearful that they
had failed in their humble .iltempt lo jjlease him.
.She even offered to follow him to the settlement,
nor would slie be consoled until he had prop.iised
to return again to Xaragua. f
\\'e cannot hut remark the ability shown by the
Adelantado in the course ot his tr.insient govern-
ment of the island. Wonderfully alert and .ac-
tive, he made repealed marches of great extent,
from one remote province lo another, and was
always at the i)ost of ilanger at the critical mo-
ment. IJy skilful management, with a handful of
men he deleated a formidable insurrection with-
out any effusion of blood. He conciliated the
most inveterate enemies among the natives by
great moderation, while he tleterred all wanton
hostilities by the inlliction of signal |ninishmenls.
He had made tlrin friends of the most important
chieftains, brouglu their <lominions under clieer-
ful tribute, opened new sources ot supplies for the
colony, ami |)rocured relief from its immedi.ite
wants. Had his judicious measures been second-
ed by those uiuler his command, the whole coun-
try would have been a scene of irancjuil ])ros-
perity, and would have produced great revenues
to the criiwn, without cruelty lo the natives ; but,
like liis broth.jr the admiral, his good intenliuns
and judicious arrangements were constantly
thwarted by the vile ]iassiuns and perverse con-
duct ot otiiers. While he was absent from Isa-
bella, new mischiefs had been fomented there,
w hich were soon to throw the whole island into
contusion.
* Peter Martyr, decad. i. lib. v.
i. lit), iii. cap. 6.
f Raniusio, vol. iii. p. 9.
Ilerrcra, dccadt
rf
■I 'i'
M
Ijiiii
is
150
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
CHAPTER IV.
CONSPIRACY OK ROI.DAN.
[•497-]
The prime mover of tlie present mischief was
one Francisco Roldan, a man under tlie deepest
oblijjations to the admiral. Raised by iiini Irom
poverty and obscurity, he had l)een eni|)l()yed at
first in menial capacities ; hut, showinjr stronjj
natural talents and great assiduity, he had been
made ordinary alcalde, ecjuivalent to justice of the
peace. The able manner in which he ac(iuitted
himself in this situation, and the persuasion of his
great fidelity and gratitude, induced Columbus, on
(le|)artingfor Spain, to appoint him alcalde mayor,
or chief judge of the island. It is true he was an
uneducated man, but, as there were as yet no in-
tricacies of law in the colony, the ofhce recjuired
little else than shrewd good sense and upright
princi])les for its discharge.*
Roldan was one of those base spirits which grow
venomous in the sunshine of prosperity, His
benefactor had returned to Spain ap|)arenlly un-
der a cloud of disgrace ; a long interval had
elapsed without tidings from him ; he considered
him a fallen man, and began to devise how he
might profit by his downfall. He was intrusted
with an ofiice inferior only to that of the Adelan-
tado ; the brothers of Columbus were highly un-
po|)ular ; he imagined it possible to ruin them,
both with the colonists and with the government
at home, and by dexterous cunning and bustling
activity, to work his way into the command of the
colony. The vigorn.s and somewhat austere
character of the Adelantado for some time ke])t him
in awe ; but when he was absent from the settle-
ment, Roldan was able to carry on his machina-
tions with contidence. Don Hiego, who then
commanded at Isabella, was an upright and
worthy man, but deficient in energy. Roldan felt
himself his sujierior in talent and spirit, and his
self-conceit was wounded at l)eing inferior to him
in authOiity. He soon made a party among the
daring and dissolute of the community, and se-
cretly loosened the ties of order and good govern-
ment by listening to and encouraging the discon-
tents of the common ])eonle, and directing them
against the character and conduct of Columbus
and his brothers. He had heretofore been em-
ployed as sui)erintendentof various public works ;
this brought him into familiar communication
with workmen, sailors, and others of the lower
order. His originally vulgar character enabled
him to adapt himself to their intellects antl man-
ners, while his |)resent station gave him conse-
(pience in their eyes. Finding them full of mur-
murs about hard treatment, severe toil, and the
long absence of the admiral, he affected to be
mo\ed by their distresses. He threw out sugges-
tions that the admiral might never return, being
disgraced and ruined in consef|uence of the repre-
sentations of Aguado. He sympathizeil with the
hard treatment they experienced from the Adelan-
tado and his brother Don Diego, who, being for-
eigners, could take no interest in their welfare,
nor leel a jirojier respect for the pride of a .Span-
iard ; init who used them merely as slaves, to
build houses and fortresses for them, or to swell
tlieir state and secure their power, as they
marched about the island enriching themselves
with the spoils of the cacicpies. liy these sugges-
tions he exasperated their feelings to such a
* Herrera, dccad. i. lib. iii. cap. i.
height, that they had at one time formed n cv
spiracy to take away the life of the .Xdcaii;...
as the only means of delivering themselves li.|
an odious tyrant. The time and place forihcpfl
petration of the act were concerted. The .Adt ,
tado had condemned to death a .Spani.ird ul
name of ISerahoii.i, a friend of Roldan, ■,\r,,[
several of the cons|)iralors. What was his ufli:; . j
not positively stated, but from a passage in 1
Casas,* there is reason to believe that he- \va
very .Si)aniard who had \'i(ilaled the favorite v
of Guarionex, the cacique of the X'ega. ]\
Adelantado would be present at the execution.
was arranged, therefore, that when the jiupii;;:]
had assembled, a tumult should be made asi: [
accitlent, and in the confusion of the monieiull
Uartholomew should be dis|)atched with a p.:]
iard. P'ortunately for the Adelantado, he
(l(jned the criminal, the assemblage did notij
jilace, and the plan of the conspirators was
concerted.!
When Don Bartholomew was absent coIIll;!
the tribute in Xaragua, l^oldan thouglit it w;:
favorable time to bring affairs to a crisis. He'J
sounded the feelings of the colonists, and aic:|
lained that there was a large ])arty dis|)ost.(l:
open sedition. His ])lan was to create a |)o|)j
tumult, to interpose in his official character I
alcakle mayor, to throw the blame u])on tlieopprj
sion and injustice of Don Diego and his hr(iir:f
and, while he usurped the reins of authorl
t(j ajjpear as if actuated only by zeal lor thepei-T
and prosperity of the island, and the interes!!]
the sovereigns.
A ])retext soon presented itself for the propoiJ
tumult. When the caravel returned from .XaJ
gua laden with the Indian tributes, and the ci J
was discharged, Don Diego had the vessel draT
up on the land, to jjrotect it from accider.ts.J
from any sinister designs of the disaffected ct
nists. Roldan immediately pointed this circ:
stance out to his partisans. He secretly invcijhJ
against the hardshii) of having this vessel draij
on shore, instead of being left afloat for the I
fit of the colony, or sent to S])ain to make bcj
their distresses. He hinted that tlie true re:ii
was the fear of the Adelantado and his bro'.i':
lest accounts should be carried to Si)ain oftrJ
misconduct, and he affirmed that they wishedf
remain u.ulisturbed masters of the island, J
keep the Sjianiards there as subjects, or rather!
slaves. The jieople took hre at these sugj:
tions. They had long looked forward to theci
|)letion of the caravels as their only chance;|
relief ; they now insisted that the vessel shoiilill
launched and sent to Spain hir supplies. 1^1
Diego endea\ore(l to convince them of thefiii'ij
their demand, the \-essel not being rigjjed :
equipped *or ■; ch a voyage ; but the nioreheJ
tempted to jiacify them, the more unreasond
and turbulent they became. Roldan, also, |
came more bold ;uid explicit in his iiistijjati'f
He advisetl them to launch and take [jossessiorf
the caravel, as the only mode of regaiiiini;!--!
inde|)endeiu'e. They might then tlirow off
tyranny of these ujistart strangers, eneniii-|
their hearts to Spaniards, and might lead a 1;::
ease and pleasure; sharing efpially all thai'
might gain by barter in the island, em|)loyii;c I
Indians as slaves to work for them, and eii;i
unrestrained indulgence with respect to the In
women. I
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. iiS.
f Hist, del Almiraate, cap. 73. | !^-|
I formed a c- J
.he Ade.ant;..!
.h em selves !
Uice for thc-jfi
,1. TheAdt'
Spaniard ot:;
Roldaii, ami
vas liis uffc;,:-
passage in I
that lu: wav
llie lavoriic.
le \'e^a. \\
ic execiuion,
jil liie l)upu',;:
l)e made asi: i
he moment 1.-
(;d with a r ■
[iiUaclo, he- ;;
[gc did niitL.
)iralors was J
ibsent colltci:|
thoujrht it\v:J
1 crisis. He -J
nists, aiul asul
arty disposed;!
create a popai
ial character '
111)011 tl'itopprJ
and his hnnh:
lis of author:!
;eal tor tlie pe;i
,1 the iiitercsisi
for the proposs
rued from Xa:
ps, and tile carj
the vessel driij
0111 accider.ls,!
disaffected Cf I
ited tiiis circrl
ecretly invcigbj
,s vessel drai
at for the !r
to make kiii |
tl'.e true ife.l
and his \w:.\
to Spain o! ;':r
they wishtii
he island, d
ts, or rathe: J
these siigj:]
ird to the c '
only chance:
essel should 1
supplies. Pl
m of the foil;
no- ri^-dUl
the more he:]
. _ unreason;
old an, also,
his insti[,'at''1
;e possessiorj
re;4aiiiinj,'^:
n til row I'fi-
_rs, enemiti
L^-lit lead a M
ly all thatvf
emiiloyinc'
.1, and ell'-:
ict to the I
t
t
1'^?^^
i^iijb^
J/r /y^/// /////////// //
//.
//////
lis
\ H
f
i
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
151
Don Diego received information of what was
rnH'nlin^"among the peojjle, vet feared to ronie
an o|)"n rupture with Kofdan in tlie present
utinons state of the colony. lie suddenly de-
iched him, therefore, with forty men, to the \'ef,M,
(ler pretest of overawinjf certain of the n.itives
ho had refused to pay their tril)Ute, and liad
lowii a disposition to revolt. Roldan ni.ide use
is opportunity to stren(,nhen his faction. Me
larlc Inends and partisans amonfj the discontent-
iciqiH'S, secretly justifyin),' them in their re-
t.incf to the imposition of tribute, and promis-
ig iheni redress. He secured the devotion of his
ivn soldiers by grcM acts of indulj^aMice, disarm-
,g and dismissin'T such as refused full participa-
n in his plans, and returned with his little band
Nalicdla, where he felt secure of a strong party
[iDiij,' the common people.
u' .Adelantado had by this time returned from
aiaiaia ; but Koldan, feelin<f himself at the head
a sironj( taction, and arro).(atin}r to himself fjreat
nlmrily tmm his official station, now o])enly de-
an Kd that the caravel should be lainiched, or
rniissioM ^nven to himself and his followers to
uiicii it. The Adelantado ])eremjnorily refused,
t-rvinjf that neither he nor his comp.inions
•ere mariners, nor was the caravel furnished and
[Uipped tor sea, and that neither the s.ifetyof the
SM.-I nor of the |)eople should be endangered
M- ilK'ir attem])! to navij^ate her.
Roldan perceived that his motives were suspect-
, and telt that the Adelantado was too forniida-
ie an adversary to contend with in any open
idition .11 Is.ibella. He determined, iheretore,
cirrv his jjlans into operation in some more
Ivorahle |iart of the island, always trustin^j to
;cuse anv open rebellion aj^ainst the authority of
II liariholomew, t)y representing it as a patri-
c opposition to his tyranny over Sp.miards. Me
(1 seventy well-armed and determined men
(Icr his command, and he trusted, on erectinjj
standard, to be joined by all the disaffected
iruu.:,diout the island. He set off suddenly,
ierctore, lor the Ves(a, intending to surprise the
Irticss of Conception, and by ^a^tting command
that post and the rich country adjacent, to set
|e .AdelaiU.ido at defiance.
He stoppeil on his way at v.irious Indian vil-
es in which the Spaniards were distributed,
i(liavorin;r to enlist the latter in his p.irty, by
nijr out |)roniises of great gain and free liv-
lle attempted also to seduce the natives
m their allegiance, by promising them freedom
ni all tribute. Those cacicpies with whom he
id maintained a previous understanding, receiv-
im with open arms ; p.irticularly one who had
rn the name of Diego Marcpie, whose village
made his headtpiarters, being .ibout two leagues
a Fort Conception. He was disajipointed in
hopes of sur|)rising the fortress. Its com-
n.ler, Migiitd Hallester, was an old and stanch
Idler, hoth resolute and wary. He drew bim-
if into his stronghold on the ap])roach of Kol-
11, and closed his gates. His garrison was
all, hut the tortillcation, situated on the side of
with a river running at its foot, was proof
[amst any assault. Roldan had still some hopes
t hallester might be disaffected to government,
1(1 nii;.rht he gradually brought into his plans, or
"t the !;arrison would be disposed to desert,
pted hy the licentious lite which he permitted
im'^ his followers. In the neighborhood w.is
town inhabited by ("lU.irionex. Here were
laru'red thirty soldiers, under the command of
iptain Garcia de Barrantes. Roldan repaired
thither with his armed force, hoping to enlist nar-
rantes ;ind ids p.irty ; but the capt.iin shut hims(df
up with his men in a fortified house, refusing to
permit them to hold any communication with
Roldan, The latter threatened to set lire to the
house ; but after ;i little consideration, contented
himself with seizing their store of jirovisions, ,incl
then marched toward Fort Conceptioii, whicli was
not quite half a league distant,*
CHAPTER V.
THE AnKi..\NT.\no rf.p.mrs to the vkoa i\
Ki:i.lKr OK FUKT CONCEl'llON — MLS INTKRVM.W
WITH KULUAN.
['497.1
The Adelantado had received intelligence of
the tlagitous proceedings of Roldan, yet hesitated
for a time to set out in pursuit of him. He had
lost all confidence in the loyalty of the peojile
around him, and fcnew not how far the conspiracy
extended, nor on whom he could rely. Diego du
I\!scobar, alcayde of the fortress of La Madeleiia,
together with Adrian de Moxica and I'edro de
X'aldivieso, all princii)al men, were in league with
Roldan. He feared that the commander of Fort
Conception might likewise be in the plot, and the
whole island in arms against him. He was reas-
sured, hov.ever, by tidings from Miguel liallasier.
'I'hat loyal veteran wrote to him iiressing letters
for succor, rei)resenting the weakness of his gar-
rison, and the increasing forces of the rebels.
Don ]!;nlholomew hastened to his assistance
with his accustomed |)rominness, and threw him-
self with a reinforcement into the fortress, lieing
ignorant of the force of the rebels, and doubtful of
the loyalty of his own followers, he determined to
adopt miid measures. L'nderstanding that Rol-
dan was quartered at a village but half a league
distant, he sent a message to him, remonstrating
on the tiagiant irregularity of his conduct, the in-
" Herrera, decad. i. lib. iii. cap. 7. Hist, del AI-
inirante, cap. 74.
Extyact of a letter from T. 5. Heneken, F.sa., 1847.
Fort Conception is situated at the foot of a hill now
called Santo Cerro. It is constructed of bricks, and
is almost as entire at the present day as when just
finished. It stands in the gloom of an exuberant for-
est which has invaded the scene of former bustle and
activity ; a spot once considered of great importance,
and surrounded by swarms of intelligent beings.
What has become of the countless multitudes this
fortress was intended to awe? Not a trace ut Hum
remains excepting in the records of history. The si-
lence of the tomb prevails where their habitations re-
sponded to their songs and dances. A few indigent
Spaniards, living in miserable hovels, scattered widely
apart in the bosom of the forest, are now the sole (oc-
cupants of this once fruitful and beautiful region.
A Spanish town gradually grew up round the for-
tress, the ruins of which extend to a consideralde
distance. It was destroyed by an earthquake, at nine
o'clock of the morning of Saturday, 20in April, ij'q,
during the celebration of mass. Part of the massive
walls of a handsome church still remain, as well as
those of a very large convent or hospital, supposed to
have been constructed in pursuance of the testament-
ary dispositions of Columbus. The inhabitants who
survived the catastrophe retired to a small chapel, on
the banks of a river, about a league distant, where iha
new town of La Vega was afterward built.
t
m
152
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
1
I::
:j'i
til
jury it w.is calrulatrd lo prndMrc in the island,
aiuJ the ciTtain ruin it must l)iiiitf upon liinist-lf,
and suninioniuj; liini to ajiprar at ilu- tortrcss,
pledging liis word tor liis personal sakny. Roldan
ripairi'd accordinj^ly to I'orl Conct-ption, where
the Adelantado held a parley with him from a
witidow, deniandin^f liie ri'ason ot his apjieariny
inarms, in oi)i)osilioii lo royal authority. Roldan
replied holdly, that he was in the service of his
.S')vereif,rns, detendinf,^ their subjects from iIk; op-
pression of mtMi who souj,'ht their destruction.
The .Adel.intado ordered him to surrender liis staff
ot otiice, as alcalde mayor, and to submit nea'e-
ably to superior authority. Roldan refused to re-
sii;n his ollice, or to jiut himself in the power of
Don liarthohimew, whom he char),red with seek-
inj,r his lite, lie refused also to submit to vny
trial, unless commanded by t' • kiny. i ete. •;!-
'H', however, to make ni resi ; ve t" ■cm -
lie e\ rcisc of aui'i. ru. , h' 'Ivrec. Ujgu'Viii
his loUowers, and res.ue at any ]''.-.rx (he '. delan-
tado might api)oint. The lat'-r iini'U-dcid'l) des-
i^jiialed the \illage of the caciCjue '>ii};o C.i'o-,
the same native ot the Lucayos Islaais who !.
l)een baptized in Spain, and had since marriiu a
dauj,rhter of (aiarionex. i\oldan objected, ])re-
tendinjf there were not sufficient jirovisiuns to l)e
had there lor the subsistence of his meri, and de-
parted, declarinjf that he would seek a more eli-
gible residence elsewhere.*
He now ])roposed to his followers to take ])os-
.session of the remote jirovince of Xarai^ua. 'I'he
Spaniards who had returned thence j^Mve onlicinj;
.•iccounis of the lite they iia<l led there ; of the fer-
tility of the soil, the sweetness of tlie climate, the
hospitality and g-entleness of the iiople, their
feasts, dances, and various amusements, and,
above all, the beauty of the women ; for thev h.id
been ca])tivat(Ml by the naked charms ot the danc-
inj;- nymphs of .Xaragu.i. In this delis4htful re>;ion,
emancipated from the iron rule of the .Adelantado,
and lelieved from tht; necessity of irksome labor,
they miifhl lead a life of jierfect freedom and in-
dulj;ence, and have a world of beauty at their
command. In short, Roldan drew a jiicture of
loose sensual enjoyment, such as he knew to he
irresistible with men of idle and dissolute habits.
His followers acceded with joy to his i)ro])osition.
.Some ])repar;itions, however, were necess.ary to
carry it into effect. Takinjf advantage of the ab-
sence of the Adelantado, he suddenly marched
with his band to Isabella, and entering it in a
maimer by surjjrise, endeavored to launch the
cara\i'l, with which they might sail to Xaragua.
Don Diego Columbus, hearing the tumult, issued
forth with se\eral cavaliers ; hut such was the
force of the mutineers and their menacing conduct,
that he was obliged to withdraw, w ith his adher-
ents, into the fortress. Roldan held several p;ir-
leys with him, and ot'fered to sidimit to his com-
m.ind, jirovided he would set hiniselt U|i in opposi-
tion to his brother the Adelantado. His proposition
was 'reated with scorn. The fortress was too
strong to be assailed with success ; he found it
imiiossibli.' to launch the caravel, and feared the
Adelantatio might return, and he be inclosed be-
tween two fiirces. He proceeded, therefore, in
all h.iste to make provisions for the pro]iosed expe-
(lition to Xaragua. Still pretending to act in his
ufticial capacity, and to do everything from loyal
moli\'es, for the |irotection and su]i]iort ot the op-
pressed subjects of the crown, he broke open the
* Herrera, decad. i. lib. iii. cap. 7. Hist, del Al-
miraiue, cap. 74.
royal wareiiouse, with shouts of " Long liv<
king I" suppli' d Ins followers with arms, .u
nition, clothing, aiul whatever they desired >
the public stores ; proceeded to the iiiclo,.]
where the cattle :iiu\ other fairopean aninuilvj
kept to breed, 'onk such .as he thought ncic,
lor his intended establishment, and periiiiu'r
followers to kill such ot the remainder ,l^•
might want for present supply. Having (im ,
tell this wasttdui ravage, he marched in trmr.
out of Isabell.l.* Reflecting, however, on
prompt and \igorous character ot the Adelair
lie felt that his situation would be but little v,
with such an active enemy behind him ; who.
extricating himself from jiresent ])er|)k-xi!,
would not fail to pursue U'w\< to his proposed p-|
disc of Xaragua. He deteriitined. t'lep'l
march again to the \'ega, ,1; a ende.uor eiiht-
get po;. .ession of 'he person of the Adelam.io
lo strike som.; blow, in his present crippled s:
that should disable him from offering tunhtrrj
lestation. Returning, theretore, to the viciiiiiv;
Kort Concciition, he endeavored in every wav,
the means of subtle emissaries, to seduce iht ■,
rison to desertion, or to excite it to revolt.
The Adelantado dared not lake the ticld ,^
his hirces, having no contidence in their tidt •
He knew that they listened wistfully lo tlut:
saries of Roldan, and contrasteil the meajjrt:;!
and stern disciplint; ot the garrison, with :
abund.uit cheer and easy misrule that prenJ
among the rebels. To counteract these st
lions, he relaxed from his usual strictness, tn j
his men with ;;real indulgence, and prom;-:
them large rewards. liy these means ht '
enabled to m.iintain some degree of inv,
amongst his forces, his service ha\ing the ;ii!
tage over that of Roldan, of being on tlicb;.:
go\ernment and law.
Finding his attenijiis tocorrujit the garriso
successful, and fearing some sudden sally v
the vigorous .Adelantado, Roklan di'ew oi;
distance, and sought liy insidious nit-ai,-
strengthen his own power and wiaken tliain: :
gover''i,ient. He asserted ecpial right to iiurj
the affairs of the island with tlu' Adelantado, i|
])retende(l lo h.ive se|)araled from him on ac
of his being passionate and ^■indictive in ihftj
cise of his aulhorily. He represented him.i!:
tyrant of the Spaniards, the ojipressor ot thfii
dians. For hiniself, lie assumed the chanir.t
a redresser of grievances and champion (itti'.ej
jured. He ])retended to feel a patriotic imid
tion at the affronts heaped ufion .Spaniards p I
family of obscure and arrog.mt ff)reigncrs: .J
profes.sed to free the natives from tributes urj
from them by these ra])acious men for thtiri
enrichment, and contrary to the beneticeiUi:;;;
tions of the Sjianish monarchs. He com:-:.::
himself cl()sely \vith the Carib cacique .MmJ
otex. brother of the late Caonalio, whose son.|
nephew were in his ])ossession as liosla>rrt
payment of tributes. This warlike cliietta::!
conciliated liy presents and caresses, beslo\vH!i;.|
him the appellation of iirother.-t- The unk'A
natives, deceivetl by his ]irofessions, and ovtrl
ed at the iilea of having a jirotector in arii!>J
their defence, submitted cheerfully to a tluwi-
impositions, sujiplying his followers with
sions in al.umdance, and bringing to Roiilj"
the gold the)' could collect ; voluii'.arily vie- j
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 74. Herrcra, dec
lib. iii. cap. 7.
t Las Casus, Hist. Ind. lib. i. cap. Ii5.
■ill hca cr trdiu
Iflundi-d lo liee t
iTIie aif.iirs of iIk
sUilalion. Th
|i,,ii]ii-, .unong ll
■ die iimtecticn 1
1 allegiance < V
a dial nice I -
ase wlio u e n
je .\(lel,uUado, '.i
|in the r irien 'si
olilati's facli
11,'ed insjlc'i y .
anil wer', i])
|re,s ; while ''.m .S|
Inrii;^ conspiratae
icp luidcr shelter
puiis uliicli they
(1)111 ni:i!i.iei's
liiiK of slights an
jMieis ami from
lera to sedition Iv,
muiiifions of
dcltnjc, were ra
aiit iif ill su|)plie
nkii);,'' the spirits .
pm Iciicy. Tlie Ad
oil' I'ption, in daily
bsii'jicil by Koldai.
|at means ucre tak
sue from the walls
I Such was the des
jiy was reduced, in
Iniii'ii of C lumbus
lems throw 11 in th(
le lii'iietit ot the isl,
lid the chic.iner}' ot
It t!iis critic. ll juiicti:
ppliaiil, and the coh
dinijs were hroliglit
iii.li'/ Coronal li.ad
omiiigo, with two si
nds, and a strong n
CHA
^COXn IX.SURRECTIC
FLIGHT 10 THE i
ITmk arrival of Cot
h third of Februar
)li);!y. 'I'lie re in for
(ipphes of a!l kinds,
on Hartholoniew. '1
fk' and authority as .•
lilnilns as to the lej
le tidings that the at
luri, and would soc
liiadron, struck const
Jierd into the re be 11
■shaving fallen into <
]Ttie AdeLintado no
liis fortress, but se
omiiijr,, ^viih a p;irl
Inch superior rebel
r '■.u-ii|iR' Cuarionex
Ifi.'l^in fdUowed slow
Ftv, anxious to asce
S*LasCasas, Hist. Im
■ tLasCasas. Hcrrer
LIFE AND VOYAGLS OF COLUMBUS.
153
Ini hea.'er tributes than lliose from which he
Liunded to lu-c thfm.
fThe .ill.iirs of tiie island were now in a lanuMit-
vtiKition. The Iinhans, pcrci'ivin^r the dis-
1 iiiuini,' the white men, and entourafred
prottnlii'ii of Koldan, Ix'j,^ in to throw off
the jroverniujiit. The cacitiues
cd to send in their tiil)Utes, an'
in the vicinity were excusid liy
■ ihc
alieKiaiue
a dial.iiu-e ( -
lose will) w •
|e Adclnitadi)
|in ihi' r irieii
ililaii's faiii
Hjed insokiu
and wer'.
lat l>y indulgence 1 - might re-
ship m this time of danger,
daily gaineu strength ; they
y and ' large in the open coun-
__ _ ipportec: by the misguided na-
fesT ^^'I'l'i-' '"^ Spaniards who remained loyal,
larir!' ioii';|Mracies among the nativ ,, hail to
tei) under shelter of ''.e fi'i, or m the strong
nc
In
H^n -.
usts which they had erected in the villages.
c.inim:i!i.iers were obliged to palliate all
ijf blights and ladi.r ntics, both from their
Ji,-,s and Ironi ihe Indians, fearful of driving
ler.i to sedition by any severity. The clothing
I munitions of all k'n'ds, either for maintenance
fen.e, were rap'dly w.isting away, and the
(Icien.e
■am of .'d!
|nkin,i( the
),):i k-nry.
oil' i-plion,
fcsifjjcd i)y
supplies or tidings from S[)ain w.is
spirits ef the well-affected into (h;-
The Adelantado was shut up in Fort
in daily exi)ectation of being openly
koldai., and was secretly informed
lat means were taken to destroy tiim, should he
ue from the walls of the fortress.*
Such was the desperate state to which the col-
was reduced, in consec|Uence of the long de-
inticM of C Uniibus
ems llirouii in the
le hi-iK-ru of the island by the delays of cahinets
the ciiicuiery of I^'onseca and his satellites.
t this critical juncture, when faction reigned tri-
nphant, and the colony was on the brink of ruin,
in^'s wcrr brought to' the Vega that Pedro I-'er-
iiikv C'liimal had arrived at the |)ort of '-'an
mingo, with two ships, bringing supplies of all
da, and a strong reinforcement of troops. f
in Spain, and the impedi-
way of all his measures for
CHAPTER VI.
^CO\D IXSURRF.CTION OF GU.\RIONF,X, AND }11S
FLIGHT to THE MOUNTAINS OF CIGUAV.
[1498.]
IThk, arrival of Coronal, wdiich took place on
\e third of February, was the salvation of the
)lony. The reinforcements (jf troojjs, and of
tpulii'S of a!l kinds, strengthened the hands of
liariholomew. The royal confirmation of his
kk- ,ui(l authority as Adelantado at once dispelled
llibuhts as to the legitimacy of his power ; and
le tidings that the adn-iral was in high favor at
lurt, and would soon arrive with a powerful
buadron, struck consternation into those who had
liciicl into the rebellion on the presumption of
having fallen into disgrace.
[Tlie .Vilelantado no longer remained mewed up
iiis fortress, hut set out immediately for San
ominjr,3 wiUi a part of his troops, although a
Itifh superior relief force was at the village of
|ti'aci(|ue Ciuarionex, at a very short distance.
dan followed slowly and gloomily with his
[iny, anxious to ascertain the truth of these ti-
I* LasCasas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. lit).
U Las Casus, llerrera. Hist, del Almirante.
I dings, to m.ike partisans, if possible, among those
who had newly arriveil, and to take ad\antage of
every circumstance that might befriend his rash
and hazardous projects. 'I'he Adel.intado left
strong guarils on the ])asses of the roads to pre-
ven* his near approach to .San Domingo, but Kol-
dan paused within a few leagues of the |)lace.
W'lien tie .Adelantado found hiniselt secure in
.San Domingo with this augmentation of force, and
the jirospect of a still greater reinforcement at
hand, his ignanimity jirevailed over his indig-
nation, . nd he sinight by gentle means to allay
the popular seditions that the isl.md might be re-
'.ored to tran([uillity before his brother's arrival.
He considered that the colonists h.id suffered
greatly from the want of supplies ; that their dis-
contents had been heightened by the severities he
had been comjielled to inflict ; and that many had
been led to rebellion by doubts of the legitimacy of
his .authority. While therefore he proclaimed the
royal .act sanctioning his title and |)owers, he
promised amnesty for all past offences, on condi-
tion of immediate return to allegiance. He-'-ing
that Roldan was within five le.igues of S- ,, ■-
mingo with his band, he sent Pedro Fer. nde :
Coronal, who had been appointed by the so', e. e;g!i'
alguazil mayor of the island, to exhort im i«'
obedience, promising him oblivion of !;e uit.
He trusted that the representations i' 'isc ^t
and honorable man like Coronal, win, na ' ' 'jp
witness of the favor in which his bro'hei oou
in Spain, would convince the rebels c the hope-
lessness of their course.
R(ddan, however, conscious of his ;i . and
doubtful of the clemency of Don P)artholoniew ,
feared to venture within his power ; he cletermin-
ed also to prevent his followers from comnnmica-
ting willi Coronal, lest they should be seduced
from him by the ]iromise of |)ardon. When th.it
emissary, therefore, approached the encampment
of the rebels, he was o|jposed in a narrow pass by
a body of archers, with their cross-bows levelled.
" Halt there I traitor 1" cried Kold.in ; " had you
arrived eight days later, we should all have been
united as one man."*
In vain Coronal endeavored by fair reasoning
and earnest entreaty to win this [)er\erse and tur-
bulent man from his career. Koldan answered
with hardihood and detiance, professing to oppose
only the tyranny and misrule ol the Adelantado,
but to be ready to submit to the admir.il on his
arri\al. He and several of his principal confed-
erates wrote letters to the s.ime effect to their
friends in S.in Domingo, urging them to plead
their cause with the admiral when he should .ar-
rive, and to assure him of their disposition to ac-
knowdedge his authority.
When Coronal returned with accounts of Rol-
dan's contumacy, the Adelantado jjroclaimed him
and his followers traitors. That shrewd rebel,
however, did not suffer his men to remain within
either the seduction of promise or the terror of
menace ; he immediately set out on his march for
his jiromised land of Xaragua, trusting to impair
every honest ])rinciple .md virtuous tie of his mis-
j guided followers by a life of indolence and liber-
tinage.
In the mean time the niischievous effects of his
intrigues among the caciciues became more antl
more apparent. .No sooner had the .Xdelantado
left Fort Conception than a conspiracy was lorm-
ed among the n.itives to sur|)rise it. (lu.irionex
was at the head of this conspiracy, moved by the
* Herrera, decad. i. lib. iii. cap. S.
1 1
11
154
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF C0LUML5US.
^ if
instifjations nf Rolclan, who had promised him
jirotcitioii and a^sistaiirt', and led on l)y the tor
lorn hope, in this distracti'd state of the Si)anish
lorces, lit reiievln^,' liis paternal domains Irom the
intoierahh- dondnation ot usurping' strangers.
Hohhn),' serret conimunieations with his trihut.iry
»;u'ii|iies, it was concerted that tliey should all
rise simult Mieoiisly and massacre the soldiery
(|Uartered in small |)arties in their villages ; while
he, with a chosen lorce, should surprise the ior-
tress o{ Conception, The night ot the lull moon
was t'lxed upon tor the insurrection.
One o( the principal cacicpies, however, not he-
ing a correct observer ot the heavenly bodies, took
up arms before the appointed night, and was re-
pulsed by thir soldiers ([uartered in his village.
The .darni was given, and the .Spaniards were all
put on the alert. The cacique lied to ( luarionex
lor protection, but liie chieftain, enraged at his
fatal blunder, j)Ut him to death upon the spot,
No sooner did the .Vdel.intado near of this fresh
conspiracy th.in he put himself on the m.irch tor
the \'eg;i with a strong body of men. Ciuarionex
tlid not aw.dt liis coming. He saw that every at-
ti Mipl was fruitless to shake off these strangers,
who had settled like a curse upon his territories.
He had lound their very triendshij) withering and
destruttive, and he now dreaded their vengeance.
Abandoning, therefore, his rightful domain, the
onc(.- hajjpy Vega, he lied with his family and a
small band' of faithfid followers to the mo'imt.iins
of Ciguay. This is a lofty chain, extending along
the north side of the island, between the \'eg.i and
the sea. The inhabitants were the most robust
and hardy tribe of the island, and far more
formid.ible than the mild inhabitants of the
l^l.'iins. it was a part of this tribe which display-
ed hostility to the Spaniards in the course of the
first voyage of Columbus, and in a skirmish with
them ill theCiulf of S.amana thetirst drop of native
blood had been sherl in th<' New World. The
re.-ider may remember the frank and confiding
conduct ol these jx'oplethe day after the skirmish,
and the intrepid faith with which their cacique
trusted liimsc'lf on board of the cara\-el of the ad-
miral, and in the power of the Spaniards. It was
to this same cacicpK;, named Mayobanex, that the
fugitive chieftain of the \'cga now applied tor ref-
uge. He came t(j his residence at an Indian town
near Cape Calirfin, about forty leagues east of
Isabella, and imjilorerl shelter for his wife and chil-
dren, and his handful of loyal followers. The no-
ble-minded caci(|ue of the mountains recei\ed him
with o|ien arms. He not only g.ive an asylum
to his family, f)ut engaged to stand by him in his
distress, to defend his cause, and share his des-
)ier.Ue fortunes.* Men in civili/efl life le.irn mag-
nanimity from [)rccept, but their most generous
actions are often rivalled by the deeds of untutored
savages, who act only from natural impulse.
CHAPTER Vn.
CAMP.MGN OF Till', .^r)Fr..AVTAnn IN THE MOtJN-
TAINS UI" ClUUAY.
[1498.]
Ainrn by his mountain ally, and bv liands of
hardy Cigii.iy.ms, (uiarionex made sever.al de-
scents into the plain, cutting off straggling parties
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., cap. 121, Ms. Peter Mar-
tyr, dead. i. cap. 5.
of the Spaniards, layitig waste the \illagps
nati\es whiili continued in allegianie to ir,,
and destroying the fruits of the earth. The,;
lantado nut a speedy stoji to these molesi.i'jc
but he (letirmined to root out so lorniiiliili!t
ad\ersary from the neighborhood. Slini,,
Irom no danger nor fatigue, and leaving ndu
to be done by others which he could dn liu,,,,
he set forth in the spring with a band (,| nr
men, a tew cavalry, anil a body of liuliiir,,
penetrate the Ciguay mount.iins.
After passing a sleep delili-, rendered hit
impracticable for troops by rugged rocks imd
uberant vegetation, he desi ended into a luau'
v.dley or jilain, extending along tlie uiiisi,,
embraced by amis of the mountains wliid;.
proached the sea. His advance into the ((nr
was watched by the keen eyes ot liidi.ui sn..
who lurked among rocks .iiid thi( k<-ts. ,\s'
.Spaniards were seeking the loiil ol a river atv
entrance of the pla:n, two (d thesir spies (l.in
from among the bushes on its bank. ()iul!i,
himself iieadlong into the water, and swiiiiir
.across the mouth of the ri\er e.wa|u(l ; tlu !••
l)eing taken, gave inlormation that six tliim-;'
Indians lay in ambush on the opposite sK'
waiting to attack them as they crossid.
'{"he Adelantado advanced with caution, ,v
fiiuling a shallow jilace, entered the river ui'h'
troops. They were scarcely midwav in tlu- My,
when the sa\ages, hideously painii-d, and \vi:,:
more like fiends than men, burst Irom lliiir
cealment. The forest rang with their xclU
howlmgs. They discharged a shc>wir <4 .iir-
and lances, by which, notwithstanding the pi i'-
tion of their targets, many of the Spaniards v,t
wounded. The Adelantado, liowcver, Uircii; •
way across the river, and the Indians tm^
lllght. Some were killed, but their switim-
foot, their knowledge of the forest, and tlu'in
terity in winding through the most tangled ili
ets, eiialiled the greater number to ehiile tin 1
suit of the Spaniards, who were incunilimi
armor, targets, cross-bows, and lances.
Iiy the advice of one of his Indian guides
Adelantado pressed forward along the v.ilii
reach the residence of Mayobanex, at Caliidii.
the way he had several skirmishes willi ilu-
ti\es, who would suddenly rush forth widi fur;
war-cries from aml)uscades among the Inwc
discharge their weajions, anil take refuge ;ii;,i!r,
the fastnesses of their rocks and forests, iiKu::
sible to the .Spaniards.
Ha\ing taken several jirisoners, the Ailt-lanij
sent one accomjianied by an Indian of a trim
tribe, as a messenger to Mayobanex, deni.ii;i'
the surrender of (iu.irionex ; promising tritm!v
and protection in case of com])liance, but ihm:*
ing, in case of refusal, to lay waste his tirr!;i
with t"ire and sword. The cacique listi-iicdiit',::
tively to the messenger : " Tell tlie Spaiiiarfe
said he in reply, " tliat they are bad nitn, it.
and tyrannical ; usurpers of the territoiib
others, and shedders of innocent blood. I (!c
not the friendship of such men; C.uarioiiex :^
good man, he is my friend, he is my guest, lit'
tied to me for refuge, I ha\-e iiromised to pK
him, and I will keep my word,"
This magnanimous re|)ly, or rather detiM'j
coininced the Adelantado that nothing wasU'
gained by friendly overtures. When severii;. »
requiretl, he could be astern soUlier. Ik- in;'
cliately ordered the village in which heli.id'r
quartered, and several others in the nei;;ii
hood, to be set on tire. He then sent iun:
Jfsscngcrs to Mayi
L he (If live red up
ln-,inions should I
Id he would see 1
smoke and I
Barmi-d at this in
Eiivans surrounded
IS l.iincni.itions, ci
1 taken retuge an
loiiM lif given up 1
The generous
Immilcd them ot tli
III the sacred (lain
((I ilfclared he woi
J sliiiiild ever he s
|i ^'lll'St,
jTne (icople retire
lecliieltaiii, sunimi
|cf, again pledgei
ni;;h it should ci
|m no reply to the
less.igfs might teni
pl.uc'l men in am
jtssi-iiger who mig
[in ill wait long bet
mcing through tlu
iplive Cigu.iyan, an
le .S|),ini.irds, The
|lii' .\ilc'laiitado wa^
inii", v.ith only ten
leii. When he touii
till' lorest path, tr.
Tilly cN.isperated,
isly with this oils
lereloie, with all 1
|ayi)!Miie\- and his a
ipm.irh the interio
Its lied, o\'erconie
in liii;,' himself thus
!tii,^'(' with his fami
lounl.iins. Sever.al
uaiiiinex, to kill hirr
ili.iiDrviilfermg, but
e w.indered about al
Isolate places.
The density of the f
le moiiiitains render
linfiil and laborious
le liniL- that the .Ad
is men sutfered, m
iiijfer. The native
ins ; tlu'ir villages
ite , rJl the provisior
cassava bread, ar
ieir Indian allies ci
iw and then afewut
their dugs. They
■otind, in the open r
the heavy dew whii
in:c niontlis they w
liiis, until almost wi
iri'. M.my of them
lod of l'"ort Concept
intion ; they, there
ln« the Indians wen
iturn to their abodes
he .\(lelaiitado g
ns, and an allowan
Ircad which remain
ten, he residved wit
I cavern of the mr
le two caciques, I
■.T.etheni ill such aw
g'.ve a clue to their
was abaiuloned.
LIFE AND VOYAGI'S OF COLUMBUS.
155
<• villn^fps (/
i;i.ini f tu II,,
.irlli. 'Ihe.i
ir liuilot.i'jc
) litnuiilali:,.
iixl. Shni,.
Diild do hnv,,
I liMlid (4 irr:
y ot liidi.ir,
rfiidcriMl ;i,ii,
fd nii'ks iiiiil
I into a lieaui'
[ till- Itiasl.i;
ilaiiis wliich.:
illtd th(.' (diir-
it Indiiin si(
iiickt'ts. A-
ol a river r
fsi; spies I','
lank. ('lie I':
•, and .swinii;
;a)ic(l ; Uik-t
lat six lliei!-;-
(i))|)(isite i,rc
DSSl'd.
til caution. ,v
lie fiver wv'r
kav in llic ^1-1,
lied, and Iik.'
t tr(ini lliiir,
li tlu-ir \flU .
luiwi'r (it ain'i
m\\uj^ the piC'
' Sjiaiiiards v,f
vcver, liircei; •
'ndians un.'i
iL'ir swiltiH-N-
it, and tiieirc
ist tanj^led ti
lo I'lnde till 1
incnndii ri(.
ini'cs.
di.in ^iiiilfs,
nj;- tile vallry
, at Calirdii.
cs with ilir
rtli willi fiini
11},' tlu- Ini-f
rcliigf ajj.it
lurcsts, iliac;:
the AdelaiVv
an of a Irirri
iu\, deniar.ii
isiiiji trieiK'-
<■(■, but lliir.:-'
te his le
• listened ,r,:'
tlic Si)aiiiari;>
bad iiKil, I'-
li-rritoi'it)
l)U)i)(l. I(!t'
("iiiarioiRA ■
iiy };ue>l, he
nisuil tu pre-'
rather deti.iK
)lhinjj waste
icn se\erit.
lier. Ili-nr
ich he had '-
the neii,'iv
■len sent lur.:
sscn^crs to Mayobanrx, warninj,' him that, un-
^ he delivered U|) the tilLMlive ea(i(|Uc, his whidc
ciidd he l.iiil waste in like manner ;
iniiinons sii , . . , ,
1(1 he would sec notliui},' in every direction tint
smoke and tlanies of huriiiii},' villaj^es.
armed at this impeiidin}; destruction, the Ci-
avans surroiindeii their chieltain with clamor-
i'laineiitations, ciirsiiif; the d.iy that (liiarionex
I taken relunc' anion;,' them, and iirj^nnjr that he
oiild lie ^'wf'n up for tlu; salv.ition of the coun-
Tlie jifiieroiis cari(pie was intlexilile. lie
minded iheiii of the many virtues of (niarioncx,
(I the s.K red (lainis he had on th(;ir hospitality,
il ileclared he would abide all evils rather th.m
shmilil ever he said M.iyobanex had betrayed
|s ^'iiest.
Tiie pe(i|)le retired with sorrowful hearts, anrl
jerhii'ltain, sur.inionin;( ("lUarionex into his pres-
lie, a),Min pledged his word to jirotect him,
lou'di it should cost him his dominions, lie
ni'iio reply to the Adel.intado, and lest further
esvi;,'es iiii^jht teni|)t the Inhdity of his subjects,
|)iu(d men in .inibush, with orders to slay any
tssen;,'er who nii^jht apjiroac h. They had not
in ill w.iit loll},' before they beheld two men ad-
liuiii}( lhi()U},'h thi' forest, one of whom w,is a
ipiive Ciiju.iy.in, .and the oilier an Indian ally of
e Sii.uiiards. They were iiotli instantly slain,
hi' .\(lelaiit,ido was following- at no ).jreat dis-
nie, v.itli only ten foot soldiers and four horse-
fii. When he toiind his niessen},'ers lyin}f de.id
the iDrest path, tr.msl'ixefl with arrows, he was
I'ltly exasperated, and reso'ved to deal rijjor-
slv with this obstinate tribe. He advanced,
leretore, with all his force to Cabron, where
avoliaiiex and his army were tiuartered. At his
|iio,-i<h the interior caciiiues and their adher-
ts lied, overcome by terror of the Spaniards.
indiii}; himself thus deserted, Mayobanex tO(d<
ifii^fc with his family in a secret part ot the
louniauis. .Several of the Ci^ju.iyans sou},dit tor
uaiionex, to kill him or deliver him up as a pro-
itialDivolferint;, but he lied to the liei}jhts, wdiere
e wandered about alone, in the most savage and
Esolale places.
The density of the forests and the ruggedness of
le nioiiiitaiiis rendered this expedition excessively
aintiil and laborious, and protracted it far beyond
le linu- that the .Adelantado had contem]ilated.
is men siitfered, not merely from fatigue, but
flitter. The natives had all tied {a the nioun-
lins ; their villages remained emjity and deso-
ite , all the provisions of the .Sp.aniards consisted
cassava brearl, ;uul such roots and herbs as
leir Indian allies could gather for them, with
wand theiiafewutias taken with the assistance
ihfir d().;s. They slejit almost always on tin;
ouiid, ill the open air, under the trees, exposed
the luMvy dew which f.alls in this climate. For
no niDiitlis they were thus ranging the nioun-
liiis, until almost worn out with toil and hard
re. Many ot them had farms in the neighbor-
od of Fort Conception, which required their at-
mtion ; they, therefore, entreated permission,
ince the Indians were terrified and dispersed, to
"turn to their abodes in the Vega.
llie .\(lelaiitado granted many of them pass-
ris, and an allowance out of the scanty stock of
■(.'ad which remained. Retaining only thirty
en, he resolved with these to search every den
d cavern of the mountains until he should find
le two cicicpies. It was ('itVicult, however, to
nee them in such a wilderness. There was no one
K'^'e a (hie to their retreat, for the whole coun-
1 was abaiuloned. There were the habitations
of men, but not a human bring to be Sfrn ; or if,
by ch.ince, they (aught some wrclilird Indian
stc.ding l(jrth from the mount. liiis iii(pirst(d loud,
he alw.iys professed utter igiior.uice ot the hid-
ing-pl.ice ot the c.ici(|ues.
It h.ippeiH'd, one day, however, that several
.Sp.iniards, while hunting utias, c.iijiurcd two of
the tidlowers of .Mayobanex, who were (.in their
way to .1 distant village in seaicli ot bread. They
were taken to the Adelantado, who compelled
them to betray the place of concealment ot their
( liiett.iin, and to act as guides. Twelve .Sp,in-
iards \iilimteered to go in (|Uesl of him. .Strip-
ping themselves naked, staining .ind |i;iiiuiiig their
liodifs so as to look like Imiiaiis, .iiul coverinjj
their swords with p.ilmdeavcs, they were conduct-
ed by the guides to the retreat ot the unfortunate
.M.iyob.iiiex. They c;ime secretly U|ioii him, anil
toiiiid liim surrounded by his wile and ( hildreil
and .1 few ot his household, totally uiisus])icious
of danger. Dr.iwing their swords, the Spaniards
rusheii upon them and made them all prisoners.
When they were brought to tlu' Adelintado, he
g.ive up ail turtlur search after (lu.irionex, and
returned to Fort L'once|itioii.
Among the prisoners thus taken w.is the sister of
M.iyobane';. .She was the w ite ot another cai i(|ue
of the mountains, whose territories h.id never yet
been \isited liy the Spaniards ; and she was re-
jniied to be one of the most bcaiitiliil women of
the island. 'I'cnderly .attaclu'd to her brother,
she had abandoned the security of her own domin-
ions, and had followed him among rocks and
preci|)ices, participating in all his hardshins, and
comforting him with a wdiiian's symp.itny and
kindness. When her luisb.ind heard of her cap-
tivity, he hastened to the Adelant.ido and offered
to submit himself and all his possessions to his
sw.iy, if his wife might be restored to him. The
Ad(dantailo accepted his otter of allcgi.ince, and
rele.ised his wife and several of his subjects who
had been captured. The caci(|Ue, tailhtul to his
word, became a firm and valuable ally of the
.S|)aniards, cultivating large tracts ot land, and
supplying them with gre.il (|U,intilies ut bread and
other provisions.
Kindness ap|)ears never to liav(' been lost upon
the people (d this island. When this act of clem-
ency real hed the Ciguayans, they came in mul-
titudes to the fortress, bringing presents of various
kinds, promising allegiance, ,ind iniidoring the
release of M.avobanex and his laniily. The Ade-
lant.ido gr.mted their prayers in jiart, releasing
the wile and household of tiie c.ici(|ue, but still de-
t.iining him prisoner to insure the lidelity ot his
subjects.
In tlie mean lime the unfortunate ( "lU.irionex,
who had been hiding in the wildest parts ot the
mountains, was driven by hunger to venture down
occasionallv into the ])laiii in (piest (d food. The
Ciguayans looking upon him as the c.iuse of their
misloriunes, and perhaps hoping by his s.icritice
to procure the release of their ciiiettain, betrayed
his haunts to the Adelantado. A party was dis-
])at(died to secure him. They lay in wait in the
path by which he usually returned to the moun-
tains. As the unhappy caci(|ue, after one ot his
f.imishetl excursions, w.is returning to his den
among the cliffs, he was surprised by the lurking
.Spaniards, and brought in chains to Fort Concep-
tion. After his repeated insurrections, and the
extraordinary zeal and perseverance displayed in
his pursuit, (aiarionex expected nothing less than
de.'tth from the venge.ince ot the Adelantado
Dun liartholomcw, however, though stern in his
150
LIFE AND VOVAGl'S OF COLUMBUS.
policy, was nriiluT vindictive nor criu'l in lii^ na-
ture III- ('onslilcrcd ilic ii';in(|uillily ot tlu- \'t'^;i
MiMii icntly siriiicil liy llif iMplivity ol tin- i.i-
ci({iii- ; :ini|, oi'iit red hnn to j)c di't.uncd .i |ii'i>>iinri'
and lic)^t.i;;(' in ilic lortri'ss. IJu' Indi.in liitstili-
ti<'s in (Ills iiii|jiiit.int part ot the isi.ind licin^ tluis
brnn^lit to ,1 ((Mu lu^iKin, and prci aution^ tal^cn to
privciii tiicir rtiurrt'nii', Don Il.irtliolonu'W re-
turned to llic city ol San Uoniin^o, wlu'rc, sliorily
alter his arrival, \\v liail the h.tppiness ol reeei\in^
hi-. Iirother, the adndrai, alter nearly two years
and six months' alisenee.*
Siich was tile active, intrepid, and saj;acious,
but liirhultnl and disastrous adnunistr.Uion ol the
;\di"lanlado, in whii h we find evidences ol the
^,'reat e,i|)a( ity, the mental and hodily vi>;or ol this
sell-lormed and almost .sell-lau>,dit man. He
imiled, in a sin^uLir dej,n-ee, the sailor, the sol-
dier, and the K^islalor. Like his hrolher, the
adnural, his mind and manners rose immediately
to the levi 1 ol his situation, sliowin^; no arro^;.mce
iiur Ublcntatiun, and cxct'ciiiing thu bway ut .sudden
and rxtraordmary power, with the sohriitv v
modcr.ition ol one who h.id heen horn in ruli'. ;
has heen lU ( used ol severity m Ins j;o\criiii,,-
hut no insi.mi e .ippe.irs ol a cruel or wj-.
aliiise ol .luthority. II lit; was stern low.iril
t.ictious Spam.irds, he w.is just ; the disasin,
his .idministr.ilion were not |)ro(lueed hy hh
rifjor, hut hy the perxirse p.issions ol oihei^.
callcil lor its exercise ; and the admiral, \\\„
more suavity (d m.uuier and lienevoUiu e di i
was not more linnun.ite in cont ili.iiiM); tlic ,
will ,ind insuring the ohedu'uce ol the coliin,,'
The merits (.! IJon Itartholomew do not ,i|i|n,'
haxe heen sntliciently ;ij)pre( i.ited hy tin; w,
Ills portrait has been sullered to rein.iin id., ;
in the sh.ule ; it is worthy ol beiiij; liriiin;ii
the \\n\u, as a comp.mion to th.it ul his iIIim
brother. Less ami,d)le .iiid en(;.i^;iii^, |iir:
I in its line.imeiits, and less char.icieri/'ed In •
I nanimity, its traits are iwverthek's s hold, ^i
I ous, ami heroic, and stamped with iimi :,■
' ness.
BOOK XII.
CHAPTER I.
CONTU.SION IN 'IMF. ISLAND— I'KOCK.F.niNGS OK
Tin; Ki:i!Ki,s at xauauia.
[.August 30, 1498.]
Cm.l'MlUs arrived at .San Dominjjo, wearied by
,1 lonj:j and .arduous voy.i^je, and worn down by in-
tirniities ; both mind and hiidy craved repose, but
Iroin the time he lirsi entered into public lite he
had been doomed never a^;ain to taste tlu; sweets
ol traixpiillity. The isl;iiid ol I lis|)aniola, the la-
vorite child, .is it were, ol his hopes, was destined
to iiiv()l\ • him in perpetual troubles, to letter his
lorlunes, impede his enter|)rises, and imbitter the
concUision o! his lilc. What a sc>'ne ol poverty
and sutttrinif had this opulent and lovely island
been nndered by the b.'id passions ot a lew des-
j)ii"able men ! Tlie wars with the natives and the
seditions amnnj^- the colonists had jiut a sto|) to
the labors ol tlie mines, .and all hopes ol we.dth
were ;U an end. The horrors ol lamiiie had suc-
ceeded to those ol war. The culii\ation ol the
earth had been j^'eiierally nej,dected ; se\eral ol
the jirovinces had been desolated durin;,^ the late
troubles ; .1 j;re,it part ol the Indi.ms IkhI lied to
the mouni.iins, .ind those who remained h.id lost
all heart to labor, seeinj,'- the produce ol their toils
li.ible to be wrested from them by ruthless str.m-
gers. It is true, the \'ega was once more tr.iii-
(|uil, but it w;is a desolate trancpiillity. That
bcautilul re!;ion, which the .Spaniards but lour
years belore had found so populous and happy,
seeming to inclose in its luxuriant bosom all the
sweets of nature, and to exclude all the cares and
sorrows ol the world, was now a scene of wretch-
edness and repining. Many of those Indian towns,
wiicre the Spani.irds had been detained by genial
hospitality, .ind almost worshipped ;is beneficent
deities, were now silent and tleserted. Some of
* The particul.irsof this chapter are chiefly from P.
Martyr, dccail. i. lib. vi.; the manuscript history of
Las CaKas, lib. 1 can. 121 ; and Herrera, Hist. Ind.,
(iccad. i. lib. iii. cap. S, 9,
their late inliabitants were lurking aninn^; r:
and caverns ; scnne were reduced to ^l.nr-
many had perished with hunger, ami ni„iii
t.dlen by the sword. It seems almost imrti.
that so small .a number ol men, restrained i..
well-meaning governors, could in so short ,1 ij,
ol time have produced such wide-spre.idin); :
erics. liut tlie principles of evil have a l.it.i,,
tivity. With e\ery exertion, the best ol mfii.
ill) but a moderate amount ol good ; but it mt:
in the |)ower ol the most contem|)tible iiulivii;.
to do incalcul.ible mischief.
'i'he evil |)assions ol the white nun ulii.'
inllicted such calamities U|)on this inninciii
pie. h.id insured likewise a ineriteil return i;-
iering to themselves. In no jiart w. is this n
truly exem|)lit"ied than anu)ng the inhahit.ii;::
Isabella, the most idle, lactioiis, and disMilui:
the island. The public woiks were uiihiii>rt
the garilens ;.! .1 fields they h.id begun to mi;
lay neglected ; tl ey had dri' en the nalivf.i::
their vicinity by extortion .and cruelly, ar.d :
rendered the country around them a solit;irv ■
ilerness. Too idle to labor, and destitute n; 1
resources with which to occu|)y their imlnltr:
they ijuarrelled among themselves, mut;r:,
.ig.ainst their rulers, and wasted their time in a!;:
nate riot aiul despondeiuy. .Main oi the solt
(piartered about the island had sullered troii
he. illh during the late troubles, being shmt:!
Indian villages where they could take no exirr
and obliged to subsist on food to which tlieyi.
not accustom themselves. Those actively :"|
jiloyed had been worn down by hard servicci.j
marches, and scanty food. Manv ot tlnm 'i-'
broken in constitution, and many hail ])erisli(
disease. Then; was a universal desire to ir;
the island, and escape from miseries crcalic-
themselves. Yet this was the t.ivored anil fri:-"|
l.md to which the eyes of p!iiloso|)hers ami 1
in Europe were Iniully turned, as reali/ini;
pictures ot the gokh.'n .ige. So true it is ih:i'.'
fairest Elysium fancy ever devised would lie;'-'|
ed into a purgatory by the jiassions of bad nif
One of the first measures ol Columbus or.:
■*
)i'.
iv.ll W.IS to Issll
ihe imMsures ol
Kuld.in and h
n h id t.ikeii pos
(Hy received by I
tjli'jwers to li
i^r is he.iutilu
; , iiiiiy .mil Its I
.iiilir-. .iiul their
■rn,i!i, to their kii
inibiM, which till I
,il strcii^jtheneil th
\ i^ciiTiiig on til
,1M\1 ,-. ,ll .1 (list. Ill
|lr.|ll: llteil p.llt I
d:i Irr jiid .d.irm.
.tail' III .iiichor
bi I, lev were vess
till, knltl.in, liiiv
ujs hiild, siirini
,i| u iiidel'ed Iroin
ilir westward b\
U-.I 111' l^llOIMIlt ol
HI I. f.iiioiniiig SI
),imI, iirrieiuliiig to
jrhiiii I tor tlie purp
ii'ii/e, .and colli
ji'i .1-. 1(1 the vessel
I, 111, llie three car
111 liis s({U.idri):i at
|)));if. Ill the colon
ihf •'irciigth of the
it L',iiil)!ir,iii Se.i, h,-
111. I iliiir reckoning
le cii.iit ol .\,ir.igu.i.
Kiiiilan ki'jit his si
iii^' ciiasiilereil a il
hurity, tile c,iptain|
his ri(|iiests lorsu|:
I'cs. rni.ss-bows, a
lie lih iiiL'n disperse
ic iiasy .imoiig ll'
nin.iiis, representinf
1st-. It .Sail b.jiningo,
ic!i lacy p.issed the
till' cicws li.id been
le.i liiiir.d's ill-judge
fimiiKil punishments
):iy. They were vaj
ioAiis, .and culprit
le very men, thereto
nil lf|)l-eseiit.itioiis, ;
tile liist opportunit)
Il w.is nut until the
ie/(K: Cirvajal, the 1
pi.iiiis, discovered th
hail ;ulniitled so fre
w.is tlien to.) late ;
|c .till his lellow-ca
invi.T-.,iiiim.s with Ri
.>||i; liim Irom his d;
|gni ir .lutlcirity. Th
"^actii.illy on his w,
iial liirce-i aiul aug
lcUii-()ii:^rly on his
ly iii'i.-ii iiuimated,
"1"1:;m to ple.id his i
my liim tli.it he had
"I'li'.tice and opp
wi-. iv.idy to sulini
'; (-'arvajal jierceiv
■fl.ui and ol sf\'era
*s W.IS sh.iken, and
|CM I remain some li
"ii^iu succeed in i
LIKE AND VOVAGKS OF COLUMHUS.
157
IP Robrii'tv !•
lorn ti( rul'f ;.
ll!i UDMTIIIl,,:
rUl'l t)|- \\,iv
x'fii tduanl
the (lls.lsli;.
if«'il liy 111,,
111 (Illicit, V,
Imnal, \\U ,
olliK V (il I ■
i.ilin),' the ^^
II llll' Kllll!,,
III liiil .i|i|iij'
(I liy tilt; ui,
I'liiaili 1(1(1 II,.
UK lir(iii>;hi
ll Ins illiMr
.iKiii«, jiiTlr
■tcri/i'd liy i.
I's > lidlil, ^1
Willi iron I,;:
ri-il to >i.\\f
', .111(1 111. .Ill
must iiurfil
•fsliMiiicd i(,i
so sluirt ,1 ,];
i'-s|)i"f;i(linj; :
ll liavf a l.it.ii;!
1 hi'Sl (ll iiii'ii .
Iiul it Mr-
lilik' iiulu.,.
men which:
iiininHMit
I ruliiriu:-
was tills r
inlialiit.iii/
ml (lisMlil-'.r
re uiitiiii>i..
un til ( III'. ■
r lialivtj:;
ui-lty, aw! ::
1 a siilitarv -
(.•StitUlL'l,; :
heir imlnlr:
\i'S, iiiu'.;:-l
V linu- iii.i.-'
(ll ilic sdi;;:'
ulffrcil I fur. 1
filler sliult:
ikf lUI tXlTi>:
liih ihfvc
• .-iciivi'ly :
rd stTvicc,..
of tlu'llVA
1.1(1 ])lTishl
lU-sirc til 1'
rii'S crcaici.
ruil anil frt"
ihi'i's and ]-■
irali/iiii;'
ic it is di:i'-
would lit' ■'-'
of bad r.'.v'
olumbub u:.
iv.ii u.is ti) issiii' it |)iu( I.im.itioii ,i|ipiiiviii^; 111
ihC iiKMsurt's i)( the Ailid.iiil.itli), .iml dcmuiiR-
Kui'l.iii ^iii'l I'i'* assocLilcs. 'I'll. It turlnili-iit
n had t.ilxfii |)ossr:*sioii of Xar,i>,'ii,i, ami Ix-i-ii
Iv riiiivcii liy llii; natives. Hi- li.nl |iiiiiiitttil
|)li'>wi'is to if. Ill an idlr anil lurntious lilc
iijii r ll, liiMUiitiil sicufs, ni.ikiiin till' siiriouml-
17 , ,uiiir> .mil Its iiili.il)ii.intM siil)si'i\ lent to tlii-ir
c,i,iir( ^ .iiiii tlii'ir p.issioiis. An fvi-iii lia|i|icm'(l
fvi.i'i, 1(1 thru- knowlfiljji; of llu; .iriiv.il ol Co-
pvii', wimli tliirw supplies into lludr li.mils
1(1 >iuiinili'-'mil tludr |iowcr. As liny witi- oik.'
n iiiiiiiiii),' on I'l^' sf.i-slioiL', llu'y lit lu'lil tliiff
i,i\(i, .ii.i ilist.mi'f, tin; sinlu ol wliitli, in this
llni|ir iili'd |iiil "' l'"' odMll, rillt;il them with
Oil Icr.iiid .il.iini. 'i'ht; ships appro. uluil llif lanil
1,1 (.line to .1111 lior. Tlir rclnds apprtdu'iulfil at
»t liicv will' vessels ilisp.itt'liid ill pursuit ot
tin. kold.iii. liowi'VtT, who w.is s.ij,Mtious as
I UMS IkiIiI, surmised tlit'in to l)f ships wliiih
tij w iiwltrt'il Irom their iduise, and liifii lioriif
the wciward by the currents, ami ihal lliey
ibi In- i^iior.iiit ot the recent occurrences ol the
j|],, I I, l.iiioiniii;,^ secrecy on his men he went on
hoi I. |ir''U'iidiiix to be stationed in lli.it iiei^^h-
boiiM.i I tor the purpose ot keepiiij| the n.itives ill
jbi licn.e, and collecting tribute. His coiijec-
(llir-, ,1, to the vessels were correct. 'I'liey were,
Jjliii, llu.' three c.iravels delacheil by Columbus
ill Ins sipiadroa at tlie Canary Isl.imis, to brinj^
i|)]);n', ll) tlie colonies. The canlains, ijrnor.iiii
[liif ili(ii,:.;th of the currents, which set through
It L'linblie.m Se.i, had been carried west l.ir be-
Vi.l tluir reckoning unlil lliey had waiulerud to
|t (O.i-.t ot .X.ir.in'ua.
Ikoiiliii kept his secret closely for lliree day.*?.
fill;; loiisidered a man in im|):)rtant trust and
Jliliiirily, tlie captains did not hesitate to ^r-'i't
II Ins rti|iit!sis lor supplies. He i)rocured swords,
CCS, cross-bows, and various milit.iry stores ;
lilc his men tlispersetl through the three vessels,
[re hiisy anions the crews, secretly makiiij,^
^riisaiis, represeiuinjr the hard lite ot the colu-
jtsat.S.iii l)omin^{o, and the ease ami revelry in
ioh they |).issed their lime at Xar.i^jua. M.my
[the crews ll, id been shi|)|)ei.l in com|)li.inct; with
le.i hnir.il's ill-judged proposition, to commute
liiiiiii.il punishments into transportation to the
liny. Tiiey were vaf;.il)oiids, the refuse of Span-
iii.viis, .111(1 culprits Irom Spanish (km^;eiins ;
very men, therefore, to be wrought upon by
Itii rcpiesent.itioiis, aiul they promised to desert
lilt' liist opportunity and join the rebels,
lit w, IS not until the third d.iy that Alonzo .San-
ke/ llu C.irvajal, the most intelligent of the three
|pi,iins, (lisco\'ered the re.il ch.iracter of the guests
I h.iil ulmitted so freely on board ol I, vessels.
was then to i late ; the mischief was fleeted.
It an 1 his fellow-captains had m.my i .irnesl
|nvi;rs,iti()iis with Roldan, endeavoring to per-
ladc' him from his dangerous opjjosition in the
ful.ir anth'jrity. The certainty lh.it Columbus
JjaiUi.illy on his way to the island, with addi-
Jnal toiccs and augmented authority, had op-
■ 'I strongly on his mind. He had, as has al-
auy ;iuiii intimated, jirepared his friends at .San
Jmiii^M t(i plu.id his cause with the ;ulmir;il, as-
^riiij,' liim that he had only acted in oiiposition to
iiiiiisiice and oppression of the Adel.intado,
w.H ready to submit to Columbus on his ;irri-
11. Carvaj.il perceivetl th.it the resolution of
al.m and of several of his principal confeder-
pi was shaken, and Haltered himself th.it, if he
lerr t I nnii.iin some little time among the rebels,
""niit succeed in drawing them back to their
tiiity. Contr.iry winds rendered il impossible for
the sliip> to work up ag.iiiist the I urreiiis to S.in
I)oniiiigo. It W.IS arranged .imoiig the i .iptaiiis,
therefore, that a laige number ol the people on
1)0. ird, .irtiticers ami ollieis most imiMrt.iiit to the
ser\ice 111 the colony, sIkhiIiI proceed to the settle-
iiieiit by l.ind. They were to be coiidiicttjil by
Ju.in Antonio Colombo, c.ipt.iiii ol one ol the c.ir-
avels, a relative of the .idmir.il, and /e.ilously ile-
Miled to his interests. Ar.in.i w.islo proceetl with
llie ships, when the wind would pirmil, and C.ir-
N.ijal Volunteered to rem.iin on shore to elide. ivor
to bring the rebels to their allegi.imc.
( >ii the following moriuiig Ju.iii .Xntonio Colom-
bo l.inded \sitli forty nun well armed with cross-
bows, swonls, and l.iiices, but w.is astniiished to
lind himself suddenly deserted by all his party ex-
cepting eight. i'lle deserters went oil t(i the reb-
els, will) reteived with exult. itmii this import. ml
reinloii cnieiit ot kindreil spirits. Ju.m .\iitoni(> eli-
de. iMired ill v.iiii by reiiionstraiices and threats to
bring them li.ick to their duty. Tin y were most
ol them convicted culprits, atcuslomi-d to iletest
onler, .ind to set l.iw .it del). nice. It w.is t(|u.illy
in vain that he appe.iled to Kold.iii, and remiiidtd
him of his professKiiis (it luy.ilty to the gijveriimeiit.
The l.itler replied that he had no me. ins ot enlorc-
iiig olit'dieiice ; his was a mere " .Moii.istery of
OI)ser\,ition," where every one was at liberty to
adopt the h.ibit of the order. Such w.is the lirsi of
a long tr.iin of evils, which sprang Innii this most
ill-judged ex|)edient ot peopling a colony with
crimin.ils, and thus miiighiig vict; and villainy
with the fountain-head ot its popul.itioii.
Juan Antonio, grieved and iliscom erted, re-
turned on board with the few who rem, lined f.iith-
ful. Ke.iriiig further desertions, the two capt.iins
immediaii ly put to sea, leaving Carvaj.il on shore
to prosei lite liir, alTempt at retorming the rebels.
It was not without gre.il diHit iilly ami delay that
the vessels reached San Uomingo ; the ship of
Carvaj.il having struck on a s.iiul-baiik, and sus-
tained great injury. Uy the time of llu:ir arrival,
the gre.iter part ot the provisions with which they
had been freighted was either exhausted or dam-
aged. .Moii/o Sanchez de C.irv.ij.il ariived shortly
alterw.ird by land, having been escorted to within
six leagues of the iilacc by several ol the insurgents,
to protect him from the Indians, lb l.iiled in his
attempt to persuade the h.iml to imineiliate sub-
mission ; but Roh'aii had promised that the mo-
ment he lie.inl ol the arrival of Columbus he
would rejiair to the lungliborhond ot San Do-
mingo, to be at hand to sl.ite hi-, griev.mces, and
the reasons ot his past conduct, and to enter into
a negotiation for the atljustmelit of all differences.
Carvajal brought a letter from him to the admir.il
to the same purport, and expres^eil a conliderit
opinion, from .ill that he observed of the retiels,
that they might easily be brought b.ick to their
allegiance by an assurance uf amnesty.*
CHAI'TKR II.
NEGOTIATION- or 'IHI-. .MiMIKAI, WITH IIIl- RF.BF.I,''
— UEPAKrUKl-, OF Sllll'.S I'( IK .SPAIN.
[.4i;8.1
XoTWiTMsTANDiNc. the favorablc represent.'i-
lions of Carvaj.il, Columbus was greatly troubled
by the late event at Xaragua. He saw that the
: * Las Casas, lib. i. cap. J40. i|;o. Herrcra, decad.
[ i. lib, iii. cap. 12, Hist, del Almiranle, caj). 77.
;i
158
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
insolenre of the ri'hcls and tlieir conficlcnce in
their strciiKlii nnist Ik- j.;rfatly incn.'a.st-d by the
accession oi sucii a lartje number of weii-arniec!
aiul ilespeiMte i iMifcdcrales. 'I'iie proposition of
Kohlan to aiiproaiii .., the neigiiborliooci of San
Doniinj^o startled him. lie doubted the sincerity
of his pr ilesiions, and apprehended ^M'eat evils
and dangers troni so artful, darinj^, and turbulent
.1 leader, with a rash and devoted crt'W at his
command. 'I'he example of this Lawless horde,
roving at large about the i:dand, and living in
loose revel and open prolligaey, coidd not but
liave a dangerous effect upon the colonists newly
arrived ; .and when they were close at '-.and, to
carry on secret intrigues, and to held out a camp
of refuge to .dl m.aUontents, the loyal » of the
whole colony might be s.ipped and undernMiied.
St)me measures were immedi.itely necessary
to fortify the lidelity of the jieople against such se-
ductions. He was aware of a vehement desire
among m.iny to return to Sp.ain ; and of an asser-
tion industriously propagated by the seditious,
th.it he .and his brothers wished to detain the col-
onists o?i the island through motives of self-inter-
est. On the I2lh of .September, therefore, he is-
sued a proclam.ilion, offering free pass.age and
]irovisions lor tin; Noyage to all who wished to re-
turn to .S])ain, in Ihe vessels nearly ready to put
to sea. He hoped by this me.ans to relie\'e the
colony from the idle and disaffected ; to we.iken
the ji.irtyof RuUl.in, and to ret.iin none about him
but su._ii ,is were sound-he.irted and well-(lis|iose<l.
He wrote at the s.ime time to Miguel Ii.illester,
the stanch and widl-tried veter.an who comm.mded
the fortress of Conce])tion, advising him to be
u|)on his gu.ud, ;is the jebels were coming into
his neighhiirhiiod. He em])owered him also to
h;ive an inter\iLW' with Roldaft ; to offer him par-
don and oblivion of the past, on condition of his
immedi.ite return to duly ; and to invite him to
repair to .San Domingo to have an interview with
the admiral under a solemn, and, if retpiired, a
written assur.-.nce from the latter, of personal
safety. Columbus was sincere in his intentions.
He was of a benevolent and placable disposition,
and singul.arly free from all vindictive feeling
toward the m.u'y wi)rthless and wicked men vvho
heaped sorrow on his head.
ISallester had scarcely received this letter when
the rebels beg in to arrive at the village' of r.on.io.
This w.is situated in a beautilul valley, or \'ega,
bearing the s.ime n.ime, about ten leagues from
Fort Conception, and about twenty from .San
Domingo, in a well-]ieoplcd and r.'.undant coun-
try. Here Pedro Re(|Uelme, one of the ringlead-
ers of the sedition, had barge possessions, and his
residence became the hea(l(piarters ot the rebels.
Adrian dc Moxica, ;i m.in of turbulent and mis-
chie\-ous charactt-r, brought his detachment of
dissolute ruffi.ins to this pl.ace of rende/voi!s.
Roldae. and others of the conspirators drew to-
gether there by di.'ferent routes.
No sooner did the veteran Miguel liallester
hear ot the arrival ot Roldan than he set forth to
meet him. liallester was a venerable man, gray-
headecl, and of a soldier-like demeanor, l.oy.il.
frank, and \irluous, of a serious disposition, .and
great siniiilicity f)f heart, he was well chosen as ;>
nieiliaior with r.ish. and protlig.ate men ; being
cab ulated lo cdm their pissions by his sobriety ;
to disarm th(.'ir petulanc ( by his age ; to win their
contidenre bv (lis artit ss jirobity ; and to awe
th;^ir licentiousness by !iis spotless virtue.*
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 153.
Ballester found Roldan in company will,].
Requelme, Pedro de Ciamez, and Adrian dt';
ica, three ot liis ])rincip;'i contederates. |';i;,
with .a lontidence of his ])resent strength, K
treated the proflered pardon with conlrnii,;
daring that he did not come there to trc
peace, but to demand thi' release of ren„;r
dians captured unjustifi.aoly, .and aboin ;,,
ship])ed to S|)ain as sl.aves, notwithstandiiio i; .,
in his ca]),icity of alcalde m.iyor, had |ile(i,-,
word tor their protection. He decl.ired (!!.,•
til thi,-se Indians were given up, he would I:,;.-
no terms of ct)mpact ; throwing out ,111 ii,j.
intim.ition at the s.ime time, that he held ilt
miral and his fortunes in his hand, to ni.ikt
m;ir them as he |)leased.
The Indians here alluded to were cert,i):;,
jects of CiU.irionex, who had been incited IvS;
dan to resist the exaction of tribute, and wlv
der the sanction of his su]iposed .autlioriv,
engaged in the insurrection', of the \'eg,i. I
dan knew th.at the enslavement of the India:.*
an unpopid.ir feature in the govern nu:it 1:
i'-land, especially with the (pieen ; and the ■-
character of this man is evinced in hisgiv::;'
opposition to Columbus the .aiijiearance oliiv
cation of the rights of the sulfering isl ;: -
Other dem.inds were made ot ;i hignly v..-
nature, and the rebels declared that, in .ill ;ur.
negotiations, they wouUl tre.it with no otiurir
medi.ite agent th.an Carwijal, ha\ing had pi":
his fairness and im|iartialitv in tlie course nii
late commimications with him at Xaragiu,
This ;irrr)gant reply lo his proffer ol panii'
totally different from what the admiral lia'!
led to expect, and pl.icecl him in an emlMi;.;-
situation. He seemed surround'/d by tn-.i::
.and falsehood. He knew that Roldan had Ir-
and secret jiartisans even among those «'
fessed to remain faithful; and he knew 11. ::
f.ir th.e ramifications of the cons|)iracy mii;r;
tend. A circumstance soon occurred to shm
justice of his apju'ehensions. He ordered iliv:
ol .San Domingo to apjiear under arm., !h;
might .ascertain the force with which h- i..
take the field in case of nece.isity. A repun
immediately circulated that they were to hi' It;
Pxinao ag.ainst the rebels. Not above sevi-ntyr
a]ipeired under .arms, and of these not luiiy..
to be reliecl upon. One affected to be ! '
.another ill ; some had relations, and oir.r;-
friends among the followers ot Rold.an ; ,.!:
all were disaffected to the service.*
Colimibus saw that a resort to arms wcuii.
tray his own weakness and the power ot tit '
'•Is. and completely prostrate the dignity a",!
thority ot government. It was necessary [''.:
pori/e, therek)re, however humiliating sia i'.
duet might be deemed. He had detained tii;:
ships tor eighteen d.iys in ])ort, hopin;,( i;i>'
way to have put an end to this rebellion, ^^ ■:
send home fa\'orable accounts ot the island ',■
sovereigns. The jirovisions of the ships. '
ever, were wasting The Indi.an pri^m-ri
board were sufferi' and perishing ; scvr.
them threw themselves overboard, or were s;'
cated with heat in the holds of the vesstl.-.
w.is anxious also that as many ol the disconte'
'■olonists as ]iossible should m.ake s.ail tor^f
betin-e any commotion should take place.
On the '18th ot October, therefore, the siii|'!
to se.a.+ Columbus wrote to the sovereiijii'
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. 7S.
t In one of these ships sailed the father of the ^
impany uiii-, p.
ml Acli-ian (!•>
L-ilcraii-s. l;i^.
It .strfii;;t!i, k'
with coiiicnii,;
!(• iluM-c to In
k-asc (il I i;;,
and alidiu ;,,
ithstandiii;;!
jr, had |i1ii!;-m
declared t! ,,•
, he would !:,■.■
1^- out an II,,
hat he held i!(
liaiul, to iiMki-
) were ceil,!;- ,
en iiicitid !vi
l)iite, and u!,
sed aiuhoriiv,
d llu- Ve;;a.' !
oi tlu' India;:*
govern nu:it i:
en ; and [W ,.,■
-(I in his >';\;:;'
)earanee (it a v
ulferinj^f isl:;..;
a iii^nlv i;.-
that, in iill y.:\
ivith no olhrri-
uin^r had ]>;
the eoiiiM- I'll
at Xara^^ii,!.
;)ffer o\ |),i;il ■■
!■ admiral li.n!
in an eiubarr,!,-.
nded by trc.i-
Roldan h,i(! ;r
in^ those \0i'
;1 he i<new W:\-
ns])ira('y iiii^ :
iirred U\ s! ,.
e ordered ll:-, :
der anil.,.',:.:
wiiich I'l- .
were to 1 1' !t.
hove seveii'ivr
ese not lortw
■ted t.i lif :
IS, and (Ur.i:-;
Roldan : ,.!:
to arms \\\-v.:.
power (it ',: i ■
di^nily ii'::
necessary li^:
iatin^' suiv.
1 detaine(l I'::'
t, h()pin;..( i;l^
rehi'llioii, s" ■:
the islan^l;/
the ships, t
lan ])risoiirr.'
sliiiij.;- ; si'v •.
rd, or well -.'
tlie vessel.-*.
! the discniue:
ike sail fur^i-
:e place.
ii-e, the siiip.'
le soverei;,'""
e father oflliC''
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
lo9
tv.
le
oiir.t (if the lebellion, and of his proffered par-
1 belli,;.;' '■'.dii.si.d. As Ro!dan pretended that it
I iiuTi: (iiiarro' between him and the Adelan-
out which the adniiral was not an impariial
lie latter entreated that Roldan niij^ht lie
niimiii'd to Spain, where the sovereigns niij;!!!
his 111 Ircs ; or ihat an investi},Mtiun niij,dit take
ce ill presence ot AIoiko Sanchez de L'arvajal,
w.ii friendly to Roldan, and ot .Migniel lial-
tcr, as witness on the jiart ol the Adelantado.
at'triliated, in a great measure, the troubles of
i i:,l:i'ul to his own long detention in Spain, and
(Iclavs thrown in his way by those apjiointed
b^i->i liiiii, who had retarded the de|)arture ol
i,hi|;^ with supplies, until the colony had been
uce 1 to the greatest scarcity. Hence had
stii (liscoiiteiit, murmuring, and finally rebel-
le entreated the sovereigns, in the most
issiii;; manner, that the affairs ot the colony
jlu n )t be neglected, and those at Seville, who
!(lnr:,'e ol its concerns, might be Instructed at
St not to devise impedinients instead ot assist-
:i'. He alluded to his chastisement ot the con-
t iptiiile Xinieno IJreviesca, the insolent miiii(jn
H Toiisna, and entreated that neither that nor
,; yoihi'i- circumstance might be ■.llowed to prej-
ite him in the roy.i! tavor, through the misrep-
ieiil:itii)ns ot designing men. He assured them
t the natural resources of the island re(|uired
thing hut gold management to supply all the
nts (.t the colonists ; but that the lattei were
ulent and proihgate. He jiroposed to send
me by every ship, as in the jiresent instance, a
im!)er ut the discontented and worthless, to be
ated by sober and induiitrious men. He
;recl also that ecclesiastics might be sent out
iiie instruction and conversion of the Indians ;
Id, wh.it was e(|U,illy necess.ary, for the reforma-
in of ilvj dissol'Ue Spaniards. He ie(|uired also
all le.inied in the law to ot'liciate as judge over
island, togetlier with several oflicers of the
al rtveiuie. Nothing could surpass the souiid-
s ai! 1 ]H)licy of these sugge.itions ; but uidor-
alely one clause marred the moral be.iuty ol
is exceilent letter. He re(|uested th.it for two
rs longer the Spaniards might be permitted to
pljy itie Indians ;is slaves ; only making use ol
jell, hiiAi.'ver, as were captured in wars and in-
irrections. Columbus had the usage ot the age
excuse tor this suggestion ; but it is at variance
ith his Usual benignity ot feeling, and his paler-
1 coiuluct toward these unfortunate jieojile.
At tlie same time he wrote another letter, giv-
an account of his recent voyage, accompanied
a :h.irt, and by siiecimensot the gold, and jiar-
:ulariy ot the pearls found in the (iulf of I'aria.
ralleJ especial attention to the latter as being
first specimens of pearls found in the New
'odd. It was in this letter that he described the
:\vly (l;.-.covered continent in such enthusiastic
nis as the most favored part of the East, the
|Uixe of inexhaustible treasures, the supposed
tol the terrestrial paradise; and he promised
prosecute the discovery of its glorious realms
itli the three remaining ships as soon as the af-
■rs(jt the island shouk'l jieriiiit.
.liythis o|)portunily Roldan and his friends like-
isi Sent letters to Spain, endeavoring to justify
"T rebellion by charging Ccdumbus and his
■oiiiers with oppression and injustice, and paint-
their wli(de ctmiluct in tlu; blackes; colors. It
•able historian, Las Casas, from whom he derived
■«ny of the facts of his history. Las Casas, lib. i.
would naturally be sufiposed that the re[)resenta-
tions ot such men would have little weight in the
balance against the tried merits and e.xalied ser-
\ices of Columbus ; but they had luinierous
friends and relatives in Sjiaiii ; they had the popu-
lar prejudice on their side, .and there wiu'e design-
ing persons in the contldence ot the sovereigil.s
ready to advocate their cause. Columbus, to use
his own simple but affecting word.T, was " absent,
envied, and a stranger." *
CHAPTER III.
NKGOTI.XTION'S AND AUR.WCIKMKXT.S Willi TIIF.
KKIIKL.S.
[1498.]
Thk ships lieing (lis|)atched, Culunibus resunuil
his negoli.ilioii with the rebels, ditcrniined ,it
.any s;icrit"ice to put an end t(j a sedition which dis-
tr.icted the island and interrupted all his plans of
discovery. His three remaining ships lay idle in
the harbor, though a region (d apparently bound-
less wealth w.is to be explored, lie li,i(l intended
to send his brother on tilt; disco\ery, but the ;ic-
tive and military spirit (d the .Adelantado rendered
his presence indispensable, in case the rebels
should conn: to violence. Sucli were the ditlicul-
ties encountered at every step of his generous and
ni.ignanimous enterprises ; impeded at one time
by the insitlious intrigues of cralty men in pl:ice,
and checked at .another by the insuleiU turbulence
of a h.indful of ruftians.
Ill his consultations with the ir.ost inijiortaiu
])ersons about him, Columbus touiid tli;it much ot
the i)o])ul-ir discontent wa.; attributed to the strict
rule oi: his brother, who was accused ot dc-aling
out justice with a rigorous hand. I.:is Casas,
however, wdio saw the whole of the testimony e(d-
lected from v.arious sources with respe i to the
conduct of the .Adelantado, acc[uits him of all
ch.irges of the kind, and allirms that, with respect
to Roldan in particular, lie had eNcrted great for-
bearance, lie this as it may, Columbus now, by
the advice of his counsellors, resolved t(j try the
I'.lternative of extreme lenity. He wrote a letter
to Roldan, dated the 2otl'. (d ()ct(d)er, couched in
the most coneilia.ting terms, c.dling to mind jiast
kindnesses, and expressing dpep concern for the
feud existing betwee him and the .Vdelant.ido.
He entreated him, for the common good, ;in(l lor
the sake of his own reputation, which stood well
with the sovereigns, not to persist in his present
insubordin.ation, .iiid re|)eated tlv,- as^iiiMiice, that
he and his companions might come to him, under
the f.iitli of his word for the imiol.ibility of their
persons.
There was a difficulty as to who should be the
hearer of this letter. The rebels had decl.ired
that they would receive no one as mediator hut
.Alonzo Sanchez tie C.arvajal. Strong doubts, how-
ever, existed ill the minds of those about Colum-
bus as to the integrity of that officer. They ob-
served that he had suffered R(ddan to remain two
d.'ivs on board of his car.ivel at .Xaragua ; had fur-
nished him with weapons and stores ; b.id neglect-
e(l to detain him on board, when he knew him to
be a rebel ; had not exerted himself to retake the
deserters ; h.ul been escorted on his way to San
Domingo fiy the rebels, and IkuI sent refreshments
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 157.
Uitiifci;^
1^^
r
!.i i
«l
V
ill!
IGO
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
to them fit Ronao. It was allt'jred, moreover, that
he had j^^iven liiinsclf out as a colleaf^iie ol Cohim-
hiis, appointed liy government to have a watch
and control over his conduct. It was suggested,
that, in advising tlie rebels to approach San Do-
mingo, he had intended, in case the admiral did
not arrive, to unite his jireteiuled authority as col-
league, to that of Koldan, as chief judge, and to
seize iijion the reins of government. Finally, the
desire of the rebels to have him sent to them as
an agent, was cited as proof that he was to join
them as a leader, and that the standard of rebel-
lien was to be hoisted at IJon.io.* These circum-
stances, tor some lime, ])erplexed Columbus ; hut
he reflected that Carv.ijal, as far as he had ob-
served his conduct, had behaved like a man of in-
tegrity : most of the circumst.ances alleged against
him admitted of a construction in his ta\or ; the
rest were mere rumors, and he had uniorlunately
experienced, in his own case, how easily the fair-
est actions and the fairt'St characters may be
falsified by runior. He discarded, therefore, all
sus[)icion, and determined to conlide implicitly in
Carvaj.il ; nor had he ever any reason to repent
of his contldrnce.
The admir.d had scarcely dispatclied this letter,
when he received one from the leaders of the
rebels, written several days previously. In this
they not merely vindicated themselves from the
charge of rebellion, hut claimed great merit, as
having dissu.aded their followers from a resolution
to kill the .^(hjlantado, in re\enge of his oppres-
sions, jirevailing upon them to await ]iatieiitly for
redress from the admiral. A month had elapsed
since his .arrival, during which they had waited
anxiously for his orders, but he had m.anifested
nothing l)ut irritation .against them. Consider.i-
tions ol honor and safety, therefore, obliged iheni
to withdr.iw trom his service, and thev according-
ly demanded their dischai.;e. This letter was
dated from lionao, the 17;. i.' October, and signed
by Francisco Ruldan, Adrian de Moxica, Pedro de
Gamez, and Diego fie Escobar. t
In the mean time Carv.ijal .arrived at Boano, ac-
com|ianied by .Miguel iSallester. They found the
rebels lull of arrogance and ]iresumption. The
conciliating letter of the admiral, however, en-
forced by the earnest ]iersuasions of Carvajal and
the admonitions of the veteran B.illester, had a
favorable effect on several of the leaders, who had
n^ore intellect than their brutal followers. R'ol-
dan, damez, l!scohar, and two or three others,
actually mounted their horses to repair to the ad-
mir.al, but were detained by the clamorous o|ipo-
sition of their men ; too infatuated with their itile,
lic'-ntious mode of life, to relish the idea of a
return to l.dior and discipline. These insisted
that it was ,1 matter which concerned them all ;
whatever arrangement was to he made, therefore,
should bt; made in ])ublic, in writing, and subject
to their ajiprobation or dissent. A day or two
elapsed before this clamor could be appeased.
Roldan then wrote to the admiral, that his fol-
lowers objected to his coming, unless a written
assur.mce, or ]iassport, were sent, protecting the
persons :il himself an<l such as shovdd accompany
liim. .Miguel liallester wrote, at the same time,
to the .admiral, urging him to agree to whatex'er
terms the ri.bels might demand. Me represented
their forces as continually augmenting, the sol-
diers of his garrison daily deserting to them ; un-
* Hist, (lei Almitante, cap. 78.
f Ibid., cap. 79, llorrera decad. i. lib. iii.
cap.
I '.
less, therefore, some compromise were sn?; I
effected, and the rebels ship|)ed off to S|i;i;r
fe.ired th.it, not merely the authority, but cvh-
person of the admir.d would be in d.ir.i'cr ,
though the Hidalgos and the officers andscrvj-l
immediately .about him would, doubtless, I'A
his service, the common people were but l;'.:..j
be depended upon,*
Columbus felt the increasing urgenrv 0!
case, and sent the recjuired p.iss|)ort. K(;/
came to San Doiningo ; but, from his cor.dur;
appeared as if his object was to m.ikc parii^;-
and gain deserters, rather than to cltect a rtrl
ciliation. He had several convers.itions \v<k':
adiniral, .uid several letters passed betwecnir'J
He made many complaints, and numi-rii;;; -J
mands ; Columbus made large concesN'iii;^ ■
some of the pretensions were too arr(.;;,!m ■ ,
adinitted.t Nothing tletinite was ;irraiigri|, p
dan de|iarted under the pretext of conleriwi^' v
his peo|)le, promising to send his terms iii i\-
ing. The admiral sent his mayordomo, Dji •
Salamanca, to treat in his behalf, J;
On the 6th of November Roldan wroii^aiT
from Bonao, containing his terms, and rciiiits;-
that a reply might be sent to him to Coiictp;;!!
as scarcity of provisions obliged him to !e:^
Bonao. He .added that he should wail fe
rejily until the following Monday (the ir,-|
There was an insolent menace im|)lieil in
note, accomjianied as it was by in.-)(;!eiit ('tnurc|
The .admiral found it impossible to complv
the latter ; but to manifest his lenient disp(hi
and to take from the rebels all ple.i of y\'^v::\
had a proclamation alVixed for thirty day^ai:
gate of the fortress, prtmTising full indiilgiii't?
complete oblivion of the past to Roldan .ii-'-
followers, on condition of their i)resentin;.,'tl-f
selves before him and returning to their ;il!c;;:,r
to the crown within a month ; together with I'J
conveyance for all such as wished to retiirrj
.Spain ; but threatening to execute rigcjrotis ;iid
iijion those who should not ajipear w it bin thi'i:r|
ed time. A copy of this pa|>er he sent t(' Mil
by Carvajal, with a letter, stating the ini|i()ssi!r
of compliance with his terms, but offering to, id
to any com]iact drawn up with the ai)[)rol)alitv.{!
Carv.ajal and Sal.imanca.
When Carv.ajal arrived, he found the viM
Ballester actually besieged in his fortress ot C;|
ception by Roldan, under pretext of clainiii:;;'
liis official char.icter of alcalde mayor, .1 lujl
who had taken refuge 'here from justice, fir
cut off the sup])ly of water from the lort, hy
of distressing it into a surrender. When Can:.!!
posted U]) tl'ie iiroclamation of the .admir.il wi'.'J
gate of the fortress, the rebels scoffed at :f
proffered amnesty, saying th.it, in a liitlf w:
they would oblige the admiral to ask the saxtJ
their hands. The earnest intercessions ot Ca^il
jal, however, brought the leaders at len,;tl
j flection, and through his mediation arii'
{ c.a|iitulation were drawn up. By these
I agreed that Rokian ;inr| his followers sliiuiVlf:]
bark for Spain from the port of Xar.agiia iii ■;:
ships, to be fitteil out ard victualled witi^i'Ui
days. That they should each receive tiDn:
admiral a certificate of good conduct, aivl
order tor the amount of th' ir pay, up to ihi; :iii-
d.ate. That slaves shoulrl h, given to 'heiii.:i>"]
been given to others, in consiilera''0!i ( i ;
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib i. cap, 15..
t Ibid., :ap. 158.
\ Hist, del Almirante, csp. 79.
eit
).in(
tl
krformed ; and as
fives, natives of th
Ihad lately been d
M them, if willini
fiat satisfaction s!i
Jnie of the com pan
, and for live stoc
Js'cf) Koldan. The
jdinij tor the secu
las stipulated that,
jese terms within ei
bi<!.*
JThis agrei'inent w
|ni[ianioii^ at I'"ort '
)m!)fr, and by the
;ist. .At the sa
(er act of grace, pt
lin in the island e
i|il enter into the
jaiiv part of the i
kr, to tollo'.v the
irti.'il with his b.i
arr il of the ships
sent by the
hp.iratioiis tor their
|Culuni!)us was dee
:teil enterprise to Tt
Intemptihle obstacle-
Ive borne liis brothe
Intinent devoted to t
(rthless ral)!)le. Ht
Ith the rellection
\A so Ions; been _
js he at once shippe(
inj restored to ore
[dercci every exertio
)tthe ships in read
ira;Tua ; but the sc;
ficulty ol completing
|foya;;e in the disorcle
fed their dep.irture
le. Feeling that hi
it of (leceptioa tow
[nincate of good cor
followers, lie wrote ,
kiimstances under \
|en in a manner wr
land from utter confu
.!el the re.il ch.arac
;ii ; how they had rel)
evented the Indians
fed the island ; poss
iantities of gold, and
Isfvei.il of •'. • aciqui
Hlhcy s'loi. . be se
iasure taken from t
•s p: jperlv inves
lis;''d to ,' cjn^identia'
)' the shi])s.+
t-V rebels having 1
■ff.'.'.s of San Dot
cjrity, Co'umbus put
S^;: rary command, a
»U'!o on ,1 lour of ;
ti'jussaiiins, and re
file tivo caravels (h
hcls sailed from S,i
OJI the end of Febn
ileni storm, were obi
rbrs ot the island,
|t;l the end of March
^e compelled to
I* Hist, del Almirante.
llHerrera, Hi^t. Ind.,
*i:
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
IGl
• were spe;-!
off ID Spain f
ty, hut evf
in cl.-ir.jrjr
.■rs and scrvrj
nii!)ilc.ss, (!.|
k'crc but 1
lir;,fcnry o' ■
sport. Kiv
1 his ronriur.l
nial<(: partisi-
) clti'Ct a rt:?
nations \v'h',
I lietwi-i-ntrti
lUimiMTHIS '
•oncess'op.s, ''
3 ai"r(ii;antv
arranj,'i/il. R-l
conlfrriii^'
s tfrms in v\
clonio, Dill"
n wniti; a ;•
, and nciiiw;-
II to CollCt]'
d him to id
jiild wail
day I'tlif ii'
iniphed in '
.-lO'.cnt (Icniacol
to complv \
lii'nt dis|:(isii:"j
jilca of rifjur,':
hirty davMa::
1 iiidtilf^iivej
Roldaii .ir.;'
|)rcscntiii;4!i-.r-|
thfirrdlc;:
tlu-r uiih'-J
(I to rctiir:')
i^oroiis 'lis
thin till' i::
sent to Role:
inip.ossil'i'
jlfcrin^ loarJ
ap|)rol).ii,ie:,j
(1 tlu- V
n'tn^ss (it U!|
t riainiiii;;,!
ivor, a 111
stirc. Vv-'i
tort, l-.v
Wli..-n Car,
adinir.il i''-
scolfiil a!
a liitlf w:
sk the >a:^'(^
ions o! •-':;:
It lcn;4tlilo?
on arti'.lrt'*
thi-se it
(M-s slii)u''!f:j
ara^nia 'ii
h:d witi'.inf^
civ.' \ri)":
mhKl, M''
]) to thi; ::'■'■•
le
*hi'm,
')n ('
It
received to
tep
rformed ; and as several of their company had
ves natives of the isKmd, who were prej^mant,
haii iateiv been dehvered, they mi>rht take them
itii'theni, 'if wiilin;; to go, in place of tlie i '-fs.
at satisfaction slioidd l)e made for prof. ■ jf
nit- ot tlie company which had been se(|i..-strat-
aiid tor live stock which had belonged to Fran-
Ism Rcildan. There were other conditions, pro-
djivr tor the security ot their persons ; am'
s stipulated that, if no reply w " -
lesj terms within eight days, the whole should be
ii!.'
Tliis agreement was signed l)y Roldan and his
nipanion-i ,it I'ort Conception on the i6th of \o-
iml)er, and bv the admiral at San Domingo on
.--St'- At the same time, he proclaimed a fur-
ler act of grace, permitting such as chose to re-
n in theisl.ind either to come to San Domingo,
1(1 enter into the royal service, or to hold lands
any part of the island. They prefeired, how-
.r, to follow the fortunes of Koldan, who de-
rtt;(l with his band tor Xaragu.i, to await the
rival of the ships, accompani(-d by Miguel lial-
tt-r, sent by the athniral to superintend the
rations for their enibarkation.
;CoUini!'Us was dee])ly grieved to have his pro-
tetl enterprise to Terra Firma imjieded by such
inteiiiptihle obstacles, and thi; ships which should
,ve borne liis brother toe>;plore that newiy-found
ntiiient devoted to the use of this lUrhulent and
rthless ral)!)le. He consoled himself, however,
th the rellection, that all the mischief wliich
1(1 so loii^f been lurking in the island, would
s be at once shipped off, and thenceforth every-
ng restored to order and traiKpiillity. He
ered every e.xertion to be made, therefore, to
tthe ships in readiness to be sent round to
rajfiia ; but the scarcity of =ea-store.s, and the
cully of completing the arrangements for such
rovaj;c in the disordered state of the colony, de-
tlieir departure tar beyond the stipulated
Feeling that he had been compelled to a
of deception toward the sovereigns, in the
iriiricate of good conduct given to lioldan and
followers, he wrote a letter to them, stating the
'cumstances under which that certificate had
len in a manner wrung from him to save the
an 1 from utter confusion and ruin. He repre-
|n'.t_-l ilie real character and conduct of those
n ; how they had rebelled against his authority ;
vented tlie Indians from paying tribute ; pil-
ed the island ; possessed tiiemstdves of large
antities of gold, and carried off the daughters
Sfvc.il of ■'■ ■ aricjues. He advised, therefore,
tthcy s'lo;. i be seized, and their slaves and
i.niire taken from them, until their conduct
. 'e p: iperU' investigated. This letter he in-
'■\ to ;• cjntidential person, wlio was to go in
)' the ships. +
■ '\' r'jDels having left the neighliorhood, and
it':;'.s of San Domingo being in a state of
iirity, Co'umbus put his brother Don Diego in
;; rary comman(l, and departed with the Ade-
ti'io on a tour of several months to visit the
fiouss.iiims, and restore the island to order.
[Tlie tivo caravels destined for the use of the
I's sailed from San Domingo for Xaragua
it the end of I'etiruary ; but, encoimtering a
cut storm, were obliged to put into one of the
urs of the islaiul, where they were detained
It'ihe end ot March. One was so disabled as
ciimpelled to return to San Ijomingo.
li";!, del .Mmirante, cap. 8o.
ft iierrera, Ili-^t. InU., decad, i. lib. iii. cap. l6.
.Another vessel was dispatch'*d to supply its place,
in which the indefatigable Carvajal set sail, to ex-
pedite the embarkation ot the rebels. He was
eleven (lays in making the voyage, and found the
other caravel a*. Xaragua.
The followers of Roldan h;id in tlie mean time
changed their minds, and now retusi d to em-
bark ; as usual, they threw all the blame on Co-
lumbus, at'lirming that he had ])urpo>ely delaved
the ships far beyond the stii)ulated time ; that he
had sent them in a state not seaworthy, and short
of provisions, with many (Uher charges, artfully
foimded on circumstances over which they knew
he could have no control. Carvajal made a formal
protest before a notary who had ai companied
him, and finding that the ships were suffering
great injury trom the teredo or worm, and their
provisions failing, he sent them back to San Do-
mingo, and set out on his return by land. Kol-
dan accom|)anied him a little distance on horse-
back, evidently disturbed in mind. He feared to
return to Spain, yet was shrewd enough to i;nov/
the insecurity o' his ])reseni situation at tlv' head
of a band of .issolute men, acting in deliance of
authority. \\ hat tie had he u|)on their fidelity
stronger thn' the sacred obligations which they
had violated ^ After riding thoiighitully tor some
distance, he paused, and re(|iiesied some priv.ite
conversatiim with Carv.ijal before they jiarted.
They alighted under the shade ot a tree. Here
Kol(lan made further ])rofessi()ns ot the lovalty ot
his intentions, and linally declared, that if the ad-
miral would once more send him a written se-
curity for his ]5erson, with the guarantee also of
the principal persons about him, he would come
to treat with him, and trusted that the whole matter
would be arranged on terms satisfactory to both
parties. This offer, however, he added, must be
kept secret from his followers.
Carvajal, overjoyed at this prospect of a final
arrangement, lost no time in conveying the propo-
sition of Roldan to the admiral, 'i lie latter im-
mediately forwarded the rec| lired passport or se-
curity, sealed with the royal seal, accoiiM)anied by
a letter written in amicable terms, e.shorting his
{[uiet obedience to the authority of the sovereigns.
Se\'eral of the ])rinci|)al ju-rsons also, who were
with the admiral, wrote, at his re(|Ue.--t, a letttrof
security to Roldan, |iledging themselves for the
safety of himself and his followers during the ne-
gotiation, provided they did nothing hostile to the
ro\al .luthority oi its representative.
While Columbus was thus, willi ui'\\earied as-
siduity and loyal zeal, endeav'oring to bring the
island back to its obedience, he received ,i repiv
trom Sp;iin, to the earnest representations made
by him, in the (ireceding autumn, ot the distradeti
state of the colony and the outrages cf these law-
less men, and his prayers tor ro\,il roimtenance
and suii[)ort. Tht; letter was writun by his in-
vidious enemy, the liishop Fonseci, superintend-
ent ot Indian affairs. It acknowledged the re-
ceipt of his statement of the alleged insurrection
ot Roldan, but obsi-rved that this matter must be
suffered to remain in suspense, as tlie sovereigns
would investigate and remedy it presently.*
This cold reply had a dishe.irteniiig ettect upon
Columl)iis. He saw that his compl.iint- h.ad little
weight with the government ; In- te.ired that his
enemies were prejudicing him with tin; sover-
eigns ; and he anticipated redoubled insolence on
the part ot the rebels, when tlnw should discover
how little influence he possessed in Spain. I'lill of
Lii J 1 !
_t.- - J
Hcrrera, decud, i, lib. iii. cap. i(>.
1G2
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
zeal, however, for the .iuccess of his undertaking,
and of tklelily to the interests of the so\ereijrns,
lie resolved to spare no personal saeritlce of com-
fort or dignity in appeasing the troubles of the
island, l.agi^- to expedite the negotiation with
Koldan, therefore, he sailed in the latter part of
August with two caravels to tiie ])ort of Azua,
west of San Uomingo, and much nearer to Xara-
gua. He was accompanied by several of the most
important personages of the colony. Koldan re-
|)aired thither likewise, with the turi)ulenl Adrian
de Moxica, and a number of his band. The con-
cessions ai.'eady obtained had increased his pre-
sumption ; and he had, (loui)lless, received intel-
ligence of the cold manner in which the com-
])laints of the admiral had been received in S|iain.
lie conducted himself more like a conqueror, ex-
acting triumphant terms, than a delin(|uent seek-
ing to procure jjarilon by atonement. He came
on boartl of the caravel, and with his usual effront-
ery, pro])ounded the preliminaries u]ion which he
and his companions were disjjosed to negotiate.
I'irst, that he should be jjermilted to send sev-
eral of his company, to the number of fdteen, to
Spain, in the vessels which were at .San Domingo.
Secoitdly, that those who remained should have
lands granted them, in place of ro\al pay. Third-
ly, that it should be proclaimed that everything
charged against him and his party had been
grounded upv)n false testimony, and the machina-
tions of persons disaffected to the royal ser\ice.
Fourthly, that he should be reinstated in his office
of al.alde mayor, or chief judge.*
Thej.;^ were hard and insolent conditions to
commence with, but they were granted. Roldan
then went on shore, and comn.unicated them to
his cop-.panions. At the end of two days the in-
surgents sent their ca])itulations, drawn up in
form, and couched in arrogant language, includ-
ing all the stii)ulations granted at l-"ort Concep-
tion, with those recently demanded by lioldan,
and concluding with one, more insolent than all
the rest, namely, that if the admiral should fail
in the fultilmeiit of any of these articles, they
should have a right to assemble together, and
compel his performance of them by force, or by
any other means they might think ])roper.t The
consjjirators thus sought not merely exculpation
of the past, but a pretext for future rebellion.
The mind grows wearied ami imiiatient with
recording, ,ind the heart of the generous reader
must burn with indign.iiion at perusing, this pro-
tractei.1 ami ineffectual struggle of a man of the
exalted nn-rits and matchless services of Colum-
bus, in the toils of such miscreants. Surrounded
by doubt and danger; a foreigner among a jeal-
ous peo|)Ie : an unpopular commander in a mu-
tinous island ; distrusted and slighted by the gov-
ernment he was seeking to serve ; and creating
suspicion by his very services ; he knew not where
to lo.Mx for faithful advice, e'licieiit aid, or candid
jut';:,iai-' '11'' vi'iv ground on which he stood
seemed , i..- 'v ly iiii'l 'r him, for he was told of
seilitious sy ii:>! 'ms anu.ig his own people. See-
ing the impu.ii. with which the rebels rioted in
the pj.v-: • ..; ne l' 'he finest i)art of the
isl'.;id, 1;l' '>i/gaii 'o!.U'< .nviong thi nis'-lv ■ of fol-
io vin;,' the apVjile, ot al),i:i loning i. standard
of the tdii rai. •■iid s-./i ig uijon the province of
Higui > . at t^i' easteri' extremity ot ie island,
which '■, if ^, ill) rontJ'.in \aluahle miii .'s of gold.
Thus criii. 'Ay s.n.ai J, d'-. :garding every con-
* Herrei . ■K-
t it)id. u;-
iJ, . 'b. iii. cap. i6.
J:t .' imiranu:, cap. 38.
sideration of personal pride and dignity, anl.
lermined, at any individual sacrifice, to stci.-
the interests of an ungrateful sovereign, Col.-
bus forced himself to sign this most humili.r
capitulation. Hetrustetl that afterward, uiui
coold gain (juiet access to the royal ear, lie she.
be able to convince the king and iiueen that 11,.
been compulsory, and forced from hiai hyikt:
traordinary ditficulties in which he had i-
|)laced, and the imminent perils of the coic
Before signing it, however, he inserted a sti|ii, J
tion, that the commands of the so\ereigiis, of h:
self, and of the justices appointed by him, bht,
be punctually obeyed.*
CHAPTER IV.
GR.\NTS M.^'>E TO ROI.DAX AND TIIS Fnl.UiW
— I)i;PAKi JRE OF SEVERAL Ol' THE kLLi.
EOK SPAIN.
[1 499-1
When Roldan resumed his office of alc:
niayor, or chief judge, he displayed all lln.'..-,
gance to be expected from one who had imriit.
himself into ])ower by jn'olligate means. .At;:
city ot San Domingo he was always sunoi;r;i>
by his faction ; communed only with the (lisso.J
and disaffected ; and, having all the turbult:
and des|)erate men of the community at his hr
was enabled to intimidate the (|uiel and loy.i
his frowns. He bore an im|)udent tront ana
the authority even of Columbus himselt, dis.h.::;
ing from othce one Rodrigcj I'erez, a lieuifna:;;
the admiral, declaring that none but such ;i5:|
appointed should hear a staff of office in
island. t Columbus had a ditlicult and pai
task in bearing with the insolence if this n:u:,|
and of the shameless r.ibble which h ul riuii;>(
under his auspices, to the settlements. Hetacr.
|/erniitted many abuses ; endea\oring hy n;uJ
iiess and indulgence to allay the jealousies ,1:..
prejudices awakened against him, and i)y vari.j
concessions to lure the lactious to the pfilo::.'
ance of their duty. To such of tin.' co!oniit'i;;r:'
erally as preferred to remain in the island, h.
fered a choice of either royal |)ay or p(iri:oi>
lands, with a number of Indians, some free, oih:
as slaves, to assist in the cultivation. The l.r,;:
was generally preferred; aiul grants were ir;.
out, in wliich he endeavored as much as poss,,
to combine the benefit of the individual wiih.
interests ot the colony.
Roldan presented a memorial signed h;' iip'.vj'.|
of one hundred of his late followers, demain:
grants of lands and licenses to settle, and choo!;,
.\aragua f^a' their ])lace of .'djode. Theadir.:
feared to trust such a numerous body of liici;r
partisans in so remote a province ; he coiuriv:
therefore, to distribute them in various par',-
the island ; some at lionao, where their sc:
ir.ent gave origin to the town of that nan;
others on the bank of the Rio Verde, or (.itr'
River, in the \'ega ; others about six lea]
thence, at St. Jago. He a.^signed to tliem libf-
portions of land, and numerous Indian slay
taken in the wars. He made an .arrangement, a«
by which the caci(|ues in their vicinity, iiisttau.:
paving tribute, should hirnish i)artitsof ihcirs-j
jeits, free Indians, to assist the colonists in'
* Herrera, Hist, Ind., decad. i. lib. iii. cap. 16.
t Ibid.
iltivation of their
:e, which was the
(Iii, i'nitions of f
Ists, .afterward gent
iDM'd, t!ir(nighout
lurcf i>t iiiuilerabl
the unhappy native
led to eMerininate
miol.i.* Columbus
■ht of a coniiuere
nselt all the rights
the sovereigns lor
his (Minp.iiiioiis in
take part in the
tjhiish themselves tli
tbt natives to the con
tlii> was an arrange
htsniiLiinal intention
Ian !!ie>s, as jieaceful
l|l Wi-. plans h.id heel
liej>iires torced upoi
tini > .and the violen
fOiuw I a captain with
of p.iiiee, with order
(Aii/i- the Indians to
if: t!ie ((mduct of t
isi appearance of m
|Havinti' sought and
ins for his lollowers,
n m,il<iiig dem.md
•tain lanls in the \n.
llon^'edti) liini before
■ni, i-alle:i La ICsper:
|d devoted to the rea
|mii-,il granted him w
ciihivation of the f.i
pi'' who.ie ears had
lela in his first mi
:j;a. Ko'dan receivJ
ira^'11,1, ,111(1 a v.ariety
and other animals
lest jjraius were m
|til the pleasure of
iwn ;§ lor Columbu5
Id understand tlit
essions had been e
I'lers of the rebels wc
ti;eir ill-gotten poss
Tite ! piiiii.-,hment.
"iildan JMviiig now e
Ipts, re(;aeste(l jiermi
l.inds. This was :
Ice. lie 'inmedi.atelj
|(l stoppiii- ;it lionai
le I'edro Rcc|iielm(
ileilerates, alcalde, o
power lit arresting
liieni prisoners to
le-e he reserved to hi
lliem. 'fhis was
'i'^lc I in his otlice,
|luml)us. Other circi
''■Mils o( tiirther tro
'^- I'edlo KccpiLdni
^ t:\imi;ig buildings h
lU'in Mrong edifice o
>>.rted into a foiini
'vhi>pere(l, was dor
Way of Securing a st
f^i'in the neighborhc
' Herrera, decad. i. lib
'^'ufloz. Hist. N. Mur
hist, del .Mmirante, 1
1 Herrera, decad. i. lib,
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
]C3
Allivatinn of their lands : a kind of feudal ser-
Icc uliiih was the origin of the lepartiniicntos,
U'i^ jhiiiions of free Indians amonj,' the rolo-
Ists. 'aftfrwardj,a'nerally adopted, and shanictuily
hi'.vd, i':iroii.i,di()Ut the Spanish colonics ; a
luiLfdt iiuolerahle liardsliips and ojipressions
Jllif unhappv natives, and which jfrcatiy coi-.tril)-
led to cxu-rininate thcin ironi the island of His-
liii'ila.* Columlius considered the island in the
Iht (it a conipiered country, and arro},'ated to
Lsi'lt all the rif^hts of a concpieror, in the name
[the sovcrcij^ns for whom he foujjht. Of course
;>, companions in the enterprise were entitled
i:ikc |iait in the accpiired territory, and to es-
tihlNh themselves there as feudal lords, reducin^^
tbt niiive-i to the condition of villains or vassals. +
till was an arranj,rement widely different from
his 'iiiijinal intention of treat'n;^ the natives with
IHii 1 It >s. as pe.iceful subjects of the crown. IJut
all i.i^ plans had been subverted, and his present
^,i>iiivs torced upon him by the exij^ency of the
tfhv ^ and the violence of lawless men. He ap-
noi;:;r 1 a captain with an armed band, as a kind
oJ lulirf, with orders to rani^e the provinces;
;i- the Indians to pay their tributes ; watch
•e;- the ((iiuluct of the colonists ; and check the
1st appcar.ince of muiiny or insurrection.*
jUaviiiL;' .lOiiLjht and obtained such ample provi-
^s for his lollowers, Rold.m was not more mod-
tin niakini.;' dem.uids for hr.iself. He claimed
Jriain lands in the vicinity of Is.ibella, as having''
|l(int,'('(l ID him before his rebellion ; also a royal
Ini, r.ille 1 I.a l-;^peranza, situ.ited on the \'ej.;a,
Id (Icvotr 1 to the rearinj.^ of poultry. These the
Iniiral tjranted him with permission to emjiloy, in
ciilliv.ition of the farm, the subjects of the ca •
hii'.' whii-ie ears had been cutoff by Alonso de
It la in his first military expeilition into the
j;.i. Kij'dan received also grants of land in
ra;;iia, and a variety of live stock from the cat-
aiiil other animals belonj^inj^ to the crown.
ne>e jjrants were made to him provis;.)nallv,
Itil the pleasure of the sovereifjfiis should be
|o'An ;«) tor Columbus yet trustee, that when they
)ul(l iiii'lersland the manner iti which these
Hci-ssions had been e.xtorted from him, the riii'^'-
Bilirs of the rebels would not merely be strip[)ed
titeir ill-t;dtten possessions, but receive well-
britei ptiiiishment.
toMan hiving- now enriched himself beyond his
Ipes, rcdaested permission of Columbus to \isit
lands, fhis was j^nanted with tjreat reluct-
te. He 'inmediately de])ai-ted hir the X'etja,
stoppiii- at Honao, his late heaikiuarters,
lie I'eilto Recpielme one of his most active
piwlcrafs, alcalde, or ']ud'^e of the place, with
'; power of arrestin;jf .all delinquents, .and seiul-
i!ieni prisoners to the ft)rtress of Conception,
fe-e he reserved to himself the rij;ht of sentenc-
theni. This was an assumption of jiowers
tvistc 1 i;i his office, and }^ave ^'re.it offence to
lltimhus. Other circumstances created appre-
■■Miis oi kirther troubles from the late insur-
'•■^ Pedro Re<|uelme, under pretext of erect-
[tarniin..r luiildjnjrs for his cattle, (lejjan to con-
|i!' t a siniiijj eriitice on a hill, capable of bein.u'
V'.rted into a formidable fortress. This, it
ls'vhi^pe^ed, was done in concert with Rold.m,
[wav of securin^r a stroni;hol<l in case of ucei\.
;in the neighborhood of the \'ega, where so
Herrera, decad. i. lib. Hi. cap. i6.
Munnz, Hist. N. Mundo, lib. vi. § 50.
hist, del .Mmirante, cap. 84.
Hcrrcru, decad. i. lib. iii. cap. 16.
many of their late partisan,? were settled, it would
form ;i daiif^erous rallying pl.ice for any new se-
dition. 'I'he designs of Re(|Uelme were sus|)ected
,ind his proceedings opposed by I'edro de Arana,
a loy.il and honorable man, who was on the spot.
Representations were ir.ade by both parlies to ilte
.idmir.il, who |)rohibiled Re(|Uelme from ])roceed-
ing with the construction of his edit'ice.*
Columbus h.id jirepared to return, with hi.s
brother, Don Il.irtiiolomew, to Sjiain, where he
felt that his presence was of the utmost impor-
l.ince to ])lace the Kite eve-nts of the island in a
proper light ; h.iving found that his letters of ex-
]d.ination were liable to be counteracted by the
misrepresentations of malevolent enemies. The
island, however, w.is still in a feverish state. He
was not not well assured of the Tidtdity of the late
rebels, though so dearly ])urchased ; there was .1
rumor of a threatened descent into the \'ega, by
the mountain tribes of Ciguay, to attempt the res-
cue of their cacicpie Mayobanex, still iletained a
prisoner in the fortress of Conce])tion. 'lidings
were brought alunit the s.ame time from the west-
ern ]i;irts of the island, that four strange shi[)s
had arri\'ed at the coast, under supicious ap])ear-
ances. Thesis circumst.inces obliged him to post-
pone his departure, and ludd him involved in the
affairs of this favorite but fatal isl.md.
The two caravels were dis|)alched h)r Spain in
the beginning of October, taking su(h ot the col-
onists as cho.ieto return, and among tlu'iii a lumi-
ber ot Roldan's jiartisans. Some of these took
with them slaves, others carried a\say the
daughters of caci(|ues whom tluy luid beguiled
from their families and homes. .Atthese inicjuities,
no less than at many others which e(|ually grii'\ed
his spirit, the admiral was obliged to connive. He
w.is conscious, at the same time, that he was
sending home a reinforcement of enemies and
false witnesses, to flefame his character an^' tra-
duce his comUicl, but he had no altern.itive. To
counteract, as much as ])ossil)le, their misnpre-
seni.itions, lie sent by the same caravel the loyal
and upright veteran .Miguel Ijallester, together
with tlarcia de ISarrantes, em|)owered to atii-nd
t> his affairs at court, and furnished with th( p-
ositi(jns t.iken relative to the conduct of R a
and his accomplices.
In his letters to the sovereigns he ent; .ed
them to iiupiire into the truth of the late tr, ac-
tions. He stated his (jpinion that his c;ipitu',.i .luns
with the rebels were null and void, for \.irious
11 by
rcise
^ rel-
- hav-
n the
^ their
reasons — viz., they h;ul been extorted from
violence, and at sea, where he did not
the office of viceroy ; there h.id been twot:
ative to the insurrection, and the insur
ing been coiulen'iiied as traitors, it wa
power ot the admiral to abs(jlve them 1
crimin.dity ; the capilul.ations treated ot in.iiters
touching the royal revenue, over which he hid no
control, without the intervention of the uoper
officers; lastly, Francisco Roldan and lii- com-
panions, on leaving Sp.ain, nad taken an o.uh to
be faithful to the so\ereigns, and to the admiral
in their name, whicdi o.ith they h.id viol.ited. I"or
these ,ind similar reasons, sonie just, others rather
sophistical, he urged the sovereigns not .i on-
sider themselves bound to rtuify the com)- iLsory
terms cctled to these |)rolligate men, but to iiupiire
into their offences, and treat them accordingly.!
He repeated the re([uest made in a former let-
* Herrer.-i, dccad. i. lil;. iii. cap. 16. Hist, del Al-
mirante, cap. 83. .'-.(.
f Herrtra, dccad, i, lib, iii. cap. 16.
,;
t^
1
;
1
1^
11
104
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
tcr, tliat .1 Icnrned judpe miRht be sent out to ad-
nimisifr the laws in the island, since he himself
had been charged wilh rij^or, allhoujjjh cciiseious
ot having,' .ilways ()l)ser\t'd a j^^uarded clenuMicy.
He re(|Uested also that discreet persons should be
sent out to lorni a council, and others for certain
liscal eni|)loynients, enlre.itin},^, however, that
their powers should be so limited and detined, as
not to inierlere with liis diKnily and privilcffes.
lie Ixne slronj^ly on this point ; as his prero>,'a-
Li\'es on former occasions had been j,'rievnusly in-
\aded. It appeared to him, he said, that princes
ouj,du to show much conlklence in their ^'overn-
ors ; (or without the royal favor to give them
stren;,ah ;ind consecplence, e\erylhin^ went to ruin
under their command ; a sound maxim, forced
from the admiral b_\' his recent e\])erience, in ivhicli
much (it his own per|)le\ilies, and the triumph of
tlu! rebels, had been caused by the distrust of the
crown, and its inattiMUion to his remonstrances.
i-"inflinjr ai^e and inl'irniity ( reei)iny upon him,
and his health much impaired by his last voyajre,
he be};an to think of his son Dieifo, as an active
coadjutor ; who, bein^ desiined as his successor,
mi;rht gain experience under his eye, for the fu-
ture discharge ot his high <luties. Diego, though
still serving as a jiage at th'- court, was grown to
man's estate, and ca|)al)leot entering into the im-
portant concerns of lite. Columbus entreated,
therefore, that he might be sent out to assist him,
as he lelt himself inlirm in health and broken in
constitution, and less capable of exertion than
formerly.*
CHAi'TEI-l V.
ARRIV.M, OF njF.KA WITH A SQrADRON AT THK
WKSTF.UN I'AUr (W THK ISLAND — KOLDAX
SKNT TO .MF.ET HIM.
['499- J
Among the causes which induced Columbus to
postpone his departure for Spain, has been men-
tioncfl the arrival of fcnir ships at the western jiart
of the island. Thc'se iiad .mchored on th(^ jth of
.September in a harbor a little below J ciiuemel,
apparently with the design of cutting dyewoods,
which abound in that neighborhood, and ot carry-
ing off the n.atives for slaves. l'"urther reports in-
formed him tli:it they were commanded bv Alonso
de Ojeda, the same hot-headed and bold-hearted
cavalier who had distinguished himself on various
occasions in the previous voyages of discoverv,
and ]iarlicularly in the cajjture of the cacicpie
Caonabo. Knowing the daring and adventurous
spirit of this man, Columbus telt much disturbed
at his visiting the island in this clandestine man-
ner, on wliat ai)j)eared to be little belter than a
freebooting expedition. To call him to account,
and oppose his aggressions, re(|uired an agent of
spirit anil address. \o one seemi-d bettei titled
for the |)urpose than Koldan. He was as daring as
Ojeda, and of a more cr.ifiy cliaracter. An expe-
ditu)n ot the kind would occupy the attention ot
himsell and his pai'tisans, and divert them from
any schemes ot mischief. The large concessions
recently m.ide to them would, he trusted, secure
(heir |)ri-sent lidclity, rcjidering it more protitable
for them to be loxal th.in rel)ellious.
Kold.in readily undertook the enterprise. He
had nothing further to gain by sedition, and was
Hcrrcra, decad. i, lib. iii. cap. i6.
anxious to secure his ill-govten possessions;
atone lor past offences fiy public services,
was vain as well as active, and took a |)ri(lf
ac(|uitting himself well in an expedition wf, ■
calli'd for both courage and shrewdncis. 1)1';,-,
ing from .San Domingo with two caravels, he ■
ri\ed on the 29tli ot September within two |i;ij.« ,
of the harbor where the ships of Ojeda :-.
anchored. Here he landed wilh the and twr
resolute followers, well armed, and accustn
to range the forests. He sent I'lve scouts to-J
connoitre. They brought word that ( ijeda
several leagues distant from his ships, wiiho-
ntteen men, em|)loyed in m.iking cassava iirr
in an Indian village. Koldan threw him^ii!.
Iween them and the ships, thinking lo take li-rl
by surprise. They were apprised, however
his appro.ich by the Indians, with whom thci-:
name of Rcddan inspired terror, from his Liii .
cesses in Xaragua. Ojeda saw his (lani,'cr;
supposed Koldan had been sent in pursuit oti;:
and he found himself cut f)ff from his sh,-.;|
Wilh his usu.d intre|)idily he inimediatelv |p.|
senled himself before Kold.m, attended nuTfivJ
half a dozen followers, 'fhe latter craltily btj:
by conversing on general loi)ics. lie then
(|uired into his moti\es tor landing on the isLirii
particularly on that remote and lonely parr, w;^
out tirst reporting his arrival to the .iilmirj
Ojeda replied that he had been on ,i voya;;
discovery, and had ]nit in there in distress, lorJ
pair his shi|)S and jirocure jiroxisions. Kiiii::,!
then demanded, in the name ot the governnie:!!i[
sight of the license under which he s.iiled. (I'ri;
who knew the resolute character ot the ni,r.-:
had to de.il with, restr.iined his natiM'al iiri|it:.,
osity, and replied that his papers were on iiw;!
of his ship. He declared his intention, on dcfa"-
ing thence, to go to San Domingo, and pay is
homage to the admiral, having many tliin^Tjl
tell him which were for his private ear alone. Hf
intimated lo Koldan that the admiral was iiud
plete disgrace at court ; that there was a taik
taking from him his command, and that ;
([ueen, his patroness, was ill beyond ail Impn
recovery. This intimation, it is presumed,..,
referred lo by Roldan in his dispatches to the.;
miral, wherein he mentioned that certain tlv.il
had been communicated to him by Ojeda, wf::
he did not think it safe to confide to a letter
Rold.in now repaired to the ships, flctoj"!
several persons on board with whom he wa^ :|
(|u,iinled, and who had already been in t;
p.iniola. They confirmed the truth ot whaid-
liad said, .and showed a license signed hy "
Bishop of Fonseca, as superintendent of thean.ll
of the Indi.is, authorizing him to sail on a v"y.:,T
ot discovery. ■■■
It appeared, fnim the report of Ojidaanil'
followers, that the glowing accounts sent IhhiI
by Colund)us of his late discoveries ontlu'ioi*
of I'aria, his m.agnilicent speculations with rvmm
to ihe riches of the newly-foiiiid country, aiulrif
specimen ot jie.iris transmitt.'d to the soveri ;'"!|
had ind.imed the cupidity o[ various adventu ||
Ojeda h.ip])ened lo be at that lime in Spain. ^^
was a favorite of the Hishop ot I'^onseca, Mili
tained ;i sight of the letler writu.m by the .idi!''-|
to the sovereigns, and the charts and ni.ips
route by whiidi it was accomp.inied. Ojeihi kr.t'l
Columbus lo be embarrassed by the sc(litii'!'<
Hispaniola ; he found, by his convers,itii)n5 v.
Fonseca and other of the admiral's enemies, f
* Hcrrcra, dccad. i. lib. iv. cap. ?
■rnns,' donbls .nnd j
; the king with re
|isa|)|)roaching do\
file idea of I
Liiistances struck (
Jriu-, he hiip"'l to
leaiih ot the,,^ ne
iminniiicated his p
Ihf latter w.is but
ii;,rht (lete.il the pi
)ium!)Us ; and it i
piout'd himself mo
fcnarv adventurers tl
ien. He granted (
Ijr him with copie
oiumliiis, hy \\hic
burse, and ,i letter
kme, tluHigh not w
li.s. It w.is stipul.ite
nv I. mil lieloiiging
hv that h,id been d
1495. The last ])
Itilice of Fonseca,
jlaml.s free to the
fccn discovered b\' ( '
fcsiijnated year. 'Flu
J the charges of the
lopiirtion ot the pnx
; riMidered to the cro
iFiulcr this license (
(ville, assisted hy
icciilators. Among
|aifd Amerigo \'espi
til anniainted with
he princip.d |)il()t of
|Gi.sa, a mariner id
admiral, whom h
fst voyage ot (lisco\-|
luihi-rn coast ot Cub
Imaica. There were s
^d D.irtholomew Rol
1,1(1 been with (
jiri,i.- .Such was the
blar train ot circun; ,t
Inif (it this Florentine
li\i, to the whole of I
iThis evpivlition had
Iveiitiirers li.arl arrivec
Id r,iiin;e(| along its
Wucseast of the Oro:
Jlidd by the charts
Isv I tiirough this g
IbiMjron, and had lit
■i Vela, visiting th
Mdiacent continent,
iVeiRvuel.i. Thev h,'
eCirihbee Islands, w
: fierce natives, ;md 1
intention of selling 1
ISpain. Thence, beir
P sailed to Hispanio
Ts' f>;tensive vovage
Vcsot the .Xew'Wor
■Havinjr c(;ilected all
il'idhtain concerning;
Intiires and designs, a
li'ili'ieila, that he si
>eiit himself hi the ,
[^•111 Domingo to rei
lin.
Us Casus.
Pderrera, llipt. Ind,
F3^ Hist. N. Mundo.
LIFK AND VOYAGKS OP' COLUMBUS.
lo;
nsscssions ;
' stTvices. ri
,)()k a priilf M
:iiecliii()n \\|,,
liu-,s. 1X-|),.-J
:arav(_'ls, hrij
lin two lc;ijt'..
Ol OJLMla \\r.
live and uvrr
1(1 aci-usidn-J
VL- scouts totJ
hat ( ijcda ij
;hips, wiilu
cassava iirej
rcw liiiiiM'!!-.!
1^ lo lakeiht:|
•d, howtvtrr,
whom the It:
roiii his laitt
his (laii^'cr:
]Hirsiiit oth,;-|
rom his shr
\mc(lialL'ly p
iiiif!! nu'R-iV'
• craltily \k^.
i. Ill- tlien
t( on lliL' i.iM-
iiu'ly parr, w'/l
L) iht admuj
on a voya,:;;q
\ distress, to:
isions, Ki.;,
(' j^ovcninitrr.
e saiU'd. H'cf
• of tin; mar.
natural im|)t;J
s were on intq
Uion, on di-j ,
'(), and pay :
many ihiiigi
■ oar alone. HJ
ral was in cd
re was a talk '
, and that :i
ind ail iKipo'J
Ijrt'siuiifd. iil
chfS to thejJ
t certain tin?,'!
)V ( )jcda, ur:
(') a Ictttf!-,
ips. Ilfji?
loin lie W.I-
)rrn ill ii
1 ot \sh,Uii-;|
si;4nfd hv "
lit (d the all.
ail on a v".
Ojrila ai'.ii'
lints sfiil Ihi'iI
If!', on the ai4
Ins with nsiit.;
l)nmiy. .iii'
he soM'i'i ;'i
lis adventi. ^|
lin .Sp.iin.
fcnscc.i, ami
Ihy the adiv::
|nd maps of 'J
1. Ojcdiik'':
|hu scdili'ir.s-
•ursations V.
L-nciiiies, ;■
Ironi,' dniihts and jealousies existed in the mind
\ the kint( with respect to his conduct, and that
Bsapproai'liinj,' downfall was conlidently predict-
TliL' idea of takinj^ advantage ot these cir-
jnisiaiices .struck Ojeda, and, by a |)rivate eiiter-
jise, he hnp"d to he the first in f,rathering the
leailii i)t the.,^ newly-discovered rcj^'ions. He
Immiiiiicated his i)roject to his patron, I'"onseca.
the latter w.is hut too ready for ainthinf,^ that
Vjrht defeat the plans and obscure the ^\(>vy of
jolumhus ; and it may he added that he always
Koweil himself more disposed to patronize mer-
Inarv .idveiuurers than uprij,du and high-minded
Lii. lle^jranted Ojeda every facility; furnish-
[g him with copies of the ]iapers and charts of
blumhus, hy which to direct himself in his
purse, and a letter of license sij,nied with his own
pme, thouj,di not with that of the sovereisrns. In
lis, it was stipulated that he should not touch at
hv land heloni^MHir to the Kinj;^ of l'ortu>i;.il, nor
hv that had been discovered by Columbus prior
1405. The last i)rovision shows the iierlidious
.lili.e of Fonseca, as it left I'aria and the I'earl
llamls free to the visits of Ojeda, they having
ten discovered by Columbus subserpient to the
bi^'iiated vear. The shi|)S were to be fitted out
jlhe eliari^es of the adventurers, anrl a certain
ropnrlion ot the products of the voyage were to
iiiidered to tile crown.
[liider this license Ojeda fitted out tour ships at
fviile, assisted by many eairer and wealthy
rulatoi's. Among the number was the cele-
lated ,\inerigo \'es|)ucci, a Florentine meridiant,
at'(|uaiiUed with geography ami navigation.
...principal pilot ot the expedition was Juan de
lOisa, a mariner of great repute, a disc iple of
K admiral, whom he had accompanied in his
ht voyage of discovery, and in that along the
ludiern coast of Cuba, and round the island of
Jiiaira. 'I'here were several also of the mariners,
1(1 ii.irtholomew Roldan, a distinguished pilot,
"I'l had been with Columbus in his voyage to
kn.i.* Such was the expedition which, hy a sin-
lar train of circun; ,t'nces, eventually gave the
kiiie lit this I'lorentine merchant, Aimerigo \'es-
Icci, to the whole of the Xew^ World'.
iThis exjiedition had sailed in May, 1499. The
IviMitiirers had arrived on the southern contini'iit,
Bilrinnjed along its coast, from two luindreil
Bi;i:i's east of the Oronoco, to the C.ulf of I'aria.
led hy the charts ot Columbus, they had
M' I through this gulf, and through the Roca
II Drilfon, ail'.! had kept along westward to ("ape
la \ela, visiting the island of Margarita and
jeadiacent continent, and (lisco\ering the (lulf
hene/iiela. 'I'liey had subse(|ueiulv touched at
.Cirihhee Islands, wdiere they had fought with
Mieree natives, ;ind made many captives, with
: intention of selling them in the slave-markets
|S|)ain. Thence, being in need of supplies, they
isaiied to Ilispaniola, having perlormed the
bst extensive \(>vage hitherto made along the
lore.ot the Xew 'World. +
iHavinir ccilected all the information that he
uliolitain concerning these voyagers, their ad-
Inuiris and designs, and trusting to the declara-
tion ijeda, that he should proceed forthwith to
fseiit himself to the admiral, Roldan returned
IS.iii Domingo to reiuler a report of his mis-
^ l-as Casas.
Hhrrera, Jlist. Ind., decad. i. lib. iv. rap. 4.
"'^' ', Hist. X. Mundo, part in MS. unpublished.
CHAPTER \ I.
M.VN(KL"VRi;.S or KOI. DAN' ,\ND OJI'.D.X.
[1500.]
WHKN inttdligence was brought to Columbus c
the nature of the expedition ot Ojeda, and tli(
license under which he sailed, he considered him
self deeply aggrieved, it being a direct infraction
of his most iiii|)ur(ant prerogatives, and sanctioned
by authority which ought to have held them
sacred. He awaited jiatiently, however, the prom-
ised visit of Alonso de Ojeda to obtain fuller ex-
planations. Nothing was farther from the inten-
tion cd that r(jviiig commander than to kee|) siu I;
pro'iiise he had made it merely to elude the vig-
ilance of Roldan. As soon as lie had refitted In:
Vessels and olitained ;i supjily A provisions. In
s.iiled round to the coast of Xaragua, where lu
arrived in February. Here he w.is well received
by the Spaniards resident in that province, whc
su|)plied all his wants, .\mong them were m,in\
of the late comrades o' Roldan ; loose, randoii.
characters, impatient ot order and restraint, anil
burning with .animosity ag.iinst the a.dmiral, for
having again brought them under the wholesome
authority of the laws.
Knowing the rash and fearless character t
Ojeda, and tlnding that there were jealousies be-
tween him and the admiral, they hailed him as a
new lender, come to redress their fancied griev-
ances, in place of Roldan, whun" die considered
as having deserted them. They m.al. . lamorou:-
complaints lo Ojeda of the inju 'i-.t: ,)i the ad-
miral, whom they ch.irged with withholding Iroiri
I them the arrears of their |)av.
I Oieda was a hot-headed man, with somewhat ol
j a Vaunting spirit, and immediately set himself up
for a redri'sser of grievances. It is said also thai
he gave himself out as authorized by government,
j in conjunction with Carvajal, to ,ict as counsel-
I lors, or rather supervisors of ihe admir.il ; and
I that one of the lirst measures they were to take,
! was to enforce the p.iyinent of all salaries due to
I the servants of the crown. ■•■ It is (piestionable,
however, w hether ( )ieda made any prt tension o'
the kind, which could so readily be disproved, and
j would li.i\e teiuied lo disgrace him with the gov-
ernment. It is probable tiiat he was encouraged
in his iiUeinieddling, chiefly by his knowledge ot
j the tottering state of the admiral's favor at court,
and of his own security in the powerful protection
I of Fonseca. He may have imbdied also the opni-
i ion, diligently fosteretl by those with whom he
I ha<l chielly cummunicated in .Sjiain, just before
his dep.irture, that these peo|)le h;id been driven
j to extremities by the o|)pression of the adniir.il
; and his I'.rothers. Some feeling of generosity,
therehjre, may have mingled with his usu.i' lo-.e
I of action and enterprise, wdien he jiroposi'd to re-
I dress all their wrongs, [lul himself at their he.id,
j march at once to San Domingo, and oblige the ad-
miral to p:iy them on the spot, or expel him from
I the island.
I The proposition of Ojeda was received with ;u-
I clamations of transport by some of the rebels ;
others made objections. (Quarrels arose : a
ruITi iiily s> ene of violence and braw: ensued, in
wliicb several were killed and wounded on both
sides ; but the ]):irty f(,r the expedition to San
iJomingo remained triumph. iiit,
* Hist, del Almirantc, tap. 84.
jl \-i't^?. :'. r . '} .^ :i'i
fmi'
100
LIFli AND VOYAGIiS OF C0I,1:M13US.
i
US' '
Ij
I'oitun.itcly for tlic peace aiul s.iiity of tlic ail-
mii-.il, Hold, 111 arrivcil in tlit* lu'ijjiibuiliuoil ju^i
at this Liitii-'.il juiu tore, .iitoiidcd by .i i row ol
rcholiitL' tfiluws. llf ii.id Ik'i'II ili.spatilied 1)V Cti-
limilms to watch the movciiuMUs ut Djcda, nn
licinn}^ ol his aniv.d on tlie coast ol Xaia^ua.
Appnscil ot the violent scenes whiih were taking'
place, Koldan. when cin the way, sent to his olii
conleilerate, Die^jo do Ivscobar, to tollow him with
all the triistv lorcc lie could col'ect. 'riicN-
reached Xar.iijua within a da\ of e.uli other. An
instance ot the b.id taith iisu.d between had men
w.is now evinced. I'he lormcr p.iriis.ins ol Rol-
dan, hiidin;;- him cirnest ni his intention ol sei\'-
InLJ the i;iivernnient, .uul lh.it there w.is no hope
ot enj^aijin},' him in tlieir new sedition, sou^lii
to w.iylay and destroy him on his march, but Ins
vii;il.iiice and celerity prevented tlu-m."'
( >jeil.i, when he hc.ird ol the .ipproach ol Roldan
and Msc</b.ir, retired on hoard ol his ships.
Though ol a d.irin;,^ spirit, ho had no inclination,
in the present inst.iiice, to come to blows, where
there W.IS a certainty ot des|)er,ite ti},ditinj.j, and
no K.iin ; and where fie must raise his arm aj^ainst
^(ivernmeiit. KoliLm now issued such rem.ai-
str.inces ,is had otten been inel'tectually addressed
to himselt. IK; wrote to Ojeda. reasoning with
iiim on his conduct, .ind the confusion he was
|)roducini( in the island, and invitiuj.^ him on shore
to an amiciblc arranLrement ol all allej;ed ^n'iev-
ances. (>je(l.i, knowing- the cr.ilty, \iolent char-
acter ol Koldan, disregarded his re[)e.itetl nies-
sa>^es, and refuse I to \enture within his ])ower.
He even seized (Mie <if his messen;,'-crs, l)ie};o de
Tri<\i'Io, and l.indiiii,' suddenly at Xaraj;ua, car-
ried oil another ot his followers, nameil Tdi-ibio
de I.enares, both of whom he retained in irons,
(111 board ot his vessel, as hostaj^'es tor a certain
Juan i'iiuor. a one-armed sailor, who had desert-
ed, threateiiini^ to ham;- tlieiii it the deserter was
I'.ot ij'ivcn ap,+
\';'.rious mancviivr; took jilace ht-tween these
two well-matched <ip ii neuts each wary ot the
address and ]irowess 'u the other. Ojeda made
sail, ami stood twelve icai^ues to the northwartl,
to the |irovince ot Caliay, laie of the most beauti-
ful .uul lertile ])arts of the counti-y, and inhabited
by a kind and jji-ntle jieople. Here he landed
with forty men, sei/inir upon whatever he could
tnvl of the provisions of the natives. Roldan and
Escobar followed aloiv..j shore, and were soon at
Ills nc"!s. Roldan th.en dispatched Escobar in a
li<:^lU canoe, paddled swiftly by Indians, who ap-
]iroachi.i,u;' within hail of the ship, informed (JJeiLi
that, since he wouUl not trust himself on shore,
Hold in would come and confer with him on
iioard. it he would send a boat tor him.
(;)ie{la now thouj;ht himselt secure of his enemy ;
he immediatel)- dispatched a boat within a short
distance ot the shore, where the crew lay on their
oirs, reiiui.injr Roldan to come to them. " How
many m.iy .locomii.iny me ?" demanded the hitter.
" ' )nlv live or six," was the reply. Upon this
Piejfo tie Escobar and tour others wadei! to the
boat. The crew retused to admit more. Roldan
then ordereil one man to carry him to the barjre,
and another to walk bv his side, and assist him.
Bv this stratagem, his party was eii(lu strong.
The instant he entered the boat, he ordered the
oarsmen to r iw to shore. On their rettisiiig, he
and his companions attacked them swortl in hand,
wounde i sevvral, ,ind made all prisoners, except-
* Hist, del Almirante, ubi sup.
t Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 169, Ma.
ing an Indian archer, who, plunging under
w.iter, es( .ip(;d by swimming.
This W.IS an impoi't.int triumph lur KoiiJ.l
Ojed.i, anxious lur the recovery ol his boat, w; I
was indispensable lur the serMce ul the ship j j
made overtures ol peace. He approac Imj •■
shore in his rem. lining boat ol small si/i, ;,|,
with him his i^riiu ip.il |)ilot, an aiipiebiisicr , '|
four oarsmen. Kolilaii entered the bn.u j, i
just ca|itured, with seven rowers and lilicci] f,.
ing nii'n, i.iusing tiltt'cii others to be riaiK ,!
shore to embark in a l.irge canoe, in case (;| n,..
\ ch.ir.icteristic interview took place !ii;,u.
these doughty antagonists, each keeping; , ,,• i
on his guard. Their coiilerence was cirriMfl
.It ,1 di-.tance. Oji'da lustit'ied his hostile niir.
meiits by .illeging tli.it Rold.in had conic vm;i,
.irnied lorce to seize him. This the l.illci |,ii.
tividy deiiieil, promising him tlu' most iiini.ii.
reception from the admiral, in case he vviJii.i;-.
pair to .San Domingo. An arr.ingemeiu u.js ,
length effected ; the boat was restored, ami r,]
tu.il restitution ot the men took |)lace, wilii ;:;
exception ot ju.in rintor, the one-armed (Kv;:^-
who hail .ibsconded ; and on the loHiiwiiiu 1,
Ojeili, according to agreement, set sail lu j-.,;
the isl.ind, threatening, however, to reiiiiii ,,:,|
luture time with more ships and men.*
Ko'd.m waiteil in the .leighliorhood, (Imil;-
the truth of his deiiarture. In the course ii! ,i-:
days word w,is brought that t)ieda hail !,ti;i-
on a distant part of the coast. He iniiiU'il:,.'
pursued him with eighty men, in c.inoes, siii,
scouts by land. ISetori' he .irrived at tlu'|i,,i-
Ojeda h. id ag.iiii made sail, and Roldan s.iw , •
liearil no more ol him. Las Casas assi rts, I,
ever, that Ojeda departed either to some niiy
district ot llisp.iniiila. or to the island ol b-
Rico, where he ni.ide up what he called his (;■
j itli^di/it, or drove ot slaves, carrying oil iiumiir
ol the unhappy natives, whom he sold in iht aiiV:
market ol Cadiz. f
CHAI'Tf.R VII.
CON.SflKACV HI ■,tK,VAE<.V AND MOXICA.
[ I 500. 1
WHF.N men have been ;iccustomed to actl.iiif I
they take great merit to themselves for an cNtr,:!
of common honesty. The followers ot Kok:;!
were loud in trumpeting forth their iiiivvi'iv
loyalty, and the great services they had rcinlcr!
to government in ilriving t)jrda from the i.iiar:!
, Like all reformed knaves, they expected thai;!;:
good conduct would be amply rewarded, l.oii
ing upon their leatler as having everything,' in •■I
gilt, .111(1 being well ])leased with the iK-l:,!,"'::-
, jirovince ot Cahay, they requested him tu sl'd
I the land among them, that they might «■;;:
there. Roldan would have had no hesiLitiori'
I granting their request, had \ been made i:ur'.'
I his treebooting career ; but he was now aiivu
I to establish a character for adherence to tlu-Iaai
He declined, therefore, acceding to their w.in
until s.mctioned by the admir.il. Knovviiii,'. Iw*
ever, that lie had fostered a spirit anmiif;' itel
men which it was daiigeious to contratl;it..''i|
I that their r.ipacity, by long indulgence, d' '
I ailmit ot del.iy, he shared among them icr;;!
' * Letter of Colu-.nbus to the Nurse of Prince
( t Las Casas, lib. i. cap. 169.
ni.^'ht be put on his
LIFE AND VOVAGKS OF COLI'MIU'S.
1G7
VI) MOXICA.
nds of liis own, in tlic Icirilory of his imciciit
tui,. to :lu' ;iilniir.il for ptTmissKiii to ndirn to
In Dnini '.>,'(), anri ni'i'ivcd a letter in ii'ply, j;iv
r him I'lanv lhani<s ami ciimmendalions iKr tlx
Lri-iu'i' aiui adflress which hr had maiiilested,
lit'"'rc<|iu-'tiii;,' lii"> '" fiiiaiii t(ir .i time in \ara-
Irslvtjeda should lie > et hovering,'' al)oilt llic
j;i,l ,11111 disposed to ni.ike ,iiiotlicr <ies<cnt in
■nt |iro\iiice.
'he 'nitililes of the island \MTe not yet .it an
|(l, liiit were destined attain to t)reak forth, ;ind
bni somewhat of a ronianlie cause, 'i'iiere .ir-
jvnl ;ihoiit this time, at Xara;,nia, a youii^^ cav,i-
,il iKihle family, n.imed Hon liernando de
itvir.i. lie possessed an .ij^M'ecible person and
|ji;!iiii',,' m.inners, hut w,is he.idslronj,'' in his ]);is-
ms ,111(1 dissolute in his principles. He w.is
|)iiMii to .\dri.in de Moxiea, one of the most ,ic-
1 liii.nli'.iders in the late rebellion of Kold.in,
1(1 li.iil conducted himself with such licentious-
!ss ,il S.m Doiiiin;;') th.'it (-olin)il)us ha<l h.mish-
' him h'om the island. There hein^'- no other
mh.irkiiij^;. lie had been sent to
of
)|iiiruiiiiiy of el „.
Iai;ii,'ii'i, to return to Spain in one ot the ships
|iV:l.i, liiit arrived .ifter lh<-ir departure. Kold.in
'ccivcd liini t,ivorably, on account of his old com-
'x-, .\ilrian de Moxiea, ;ind permitted him to
Kwisi- some pl,ice of resiih nee uiuil further or-
!rs coiiceniini,' liini should arrive from the ad-
ir.il. lie chose the province of C;iliay, at the
iiif wlure Kold.in had ciptured the bo.it of
|fil,i. ll was ,1 delii,rhlful part of th.at be.mtitul
/isl ; but the re.ison why CiUevar.i chose it, was
If vicinity to Xara^ai,i. While at the hitter pl.icc,
Cdiiseqiieiice of the indulo;ence of Kohl, in, he
Ws favorably received at the house of Anaciona,
ir widow of C.tonabo, ;ind sister of the eaci(|ue
ciiio. I'IkU reni.irkable woman still ret.iined
ii.iiiiility to the S|)ani;irds, notwithst,indinj^
le disi,'raieful scenes which had passed before
lercMs ; and the native di^Miity of her ch;ir,icter
h,ld rommaiuled the respect even (,f the <lissolute
lie wliicb infested her province. Hy her late
iu>.:i,iml, the ciciijue Caon.ibo, she had a d.iU};hter
laiii.d lli;4iieiiamot.i, just "Tfovvn up, and jjre.itly
idiiiiird lor her beauty, (nievara, l)eiii<; often in
i'omp.iiiy with her, a mutual atl.ichnient ensued.
t WIS to he near her tliat he chose Cahay as a
isidciice, at a jil.ice where Ids cousin .-Vdri.m de
Iiixica kept a number of doifs .tnd li.twks, to be
|ii!;i'iiiycil ill the chase, (iuevara delayed his de-
ritiic. Kold.in discovered the reason, ;ind '.varn-
hiiii to desist from his ])retensions and le.ave
leprDviiice. I, .is C.is.is intimati-s ih.il Koldan was
limsclt .ittached to the youri;.;;- Indi.in beautv, and
luus of lier preference of his rival. .AnacaoiKi,
niiidier, pleased with the •,^all.lnt a|)pear;ince
Ind iii;.,M-ati.itin,!,r manners of the youthful cavalier,
ivortil his attachment, especially as he soU),''lu
krdaii^dUer in marriaj^e. Notwithstandinfif tfie
[rlirs ut Roidan, (Uievara still lingered in Xara-
I, ill the house of Anacaon.i ; ;ui<l sending; for
priist, desired him to baptize his inteiuled
iride.
Hiarini,r of this Roidan sent fo, Guevara, and
i'aKfd him sharjily for remainirtj at Xarajjua,
inl a;ii.-m|)iiii:r to deceive a fXTsoi of the inipor-
•y.t^ 'li .\nacaona, by ensnarin<,f t.ie .affections of
r liau.ifhter. (Juevara avowed the streiij^th ot
In passiuii, and his correct intentions, and en-
pated permission to rem.iin Koldan w.is inflex-
ible, H^. alli.jrfd that some evil construction
ht be put on his conduct by the admiral ; but
it is prnb.ible his true motive was a desire to send
,iway a riv.il, who intertereil with his own amor-
ous desi),'ns. (luevar.i obeyed; but h.id scarce
been three d.iys ,it C.ili.iy, vvlien lin.ible to re-
i-iain loiif^'er absent from the object of tiis p,issioii,
he retiirncil to .\.ir,ij;u.i, ,iccon)p.inied by four or
I'lve friends, an<l com faled himself in tin' dwelling.;
ot Anaciona. koldan, who was at lh.it time i on-
lined by ;i mal.ady in his eyis, bein^^ .apprised of
fiis return, sent orders lor tiim to depart iii-.t.iiilly
to C'.ihay. The younj^ cav.ilier .issumed .i tone ot
{leri.uice. He warned Kold.in not to make l<ies
when hi' had such ^rcit need ot friends ; lor to
his cert.iin knowledj^e, the admir.il intended to
belxad him. rponitiis, Kold.in romm.indid him
to ipiit th.it |)art of the island, and rep.iir to San
l)ijinin;(o, to present liiinsell betorethe.idmir.il.
'I'he Ihou^^hts of bein;,f banished entirely from the
vicinity ot his Indi.in beauty idiecked the vehe-
iiieme of the youth. He ch;Mij,'ed his tone ot
li.ui;.;hty deti.iiice into one ot humbli' supplication ;
,111(1 Kohlan, appe,ised by this submission, per-
miited him to remain tor tlie prcM-nt in the nei);b-
borhood.
Kohlan h.ul instilled wilfulness and violence
into the hearts of his late followers, and now w.is
doomed to experience the effects. ("lUevar.i, in-
censed ,it his opposition to his |).ission, medit.ited
reven^'e. He soon made- ;i p.irly amon^' the old
comrades of Koldan, who detested, as .i maj^'is-
tr.ite, the m.m they h.ul idolized ,is ;i le.ider. It
was concerted to rise suddenly upon him, .and
either to kill him or put out his eyes. Koldan
was Jijiprised ol the plot, and proceeded with his
usual promptness. (Iuevara was seized in the
(Iwelliiiir of An.iciona, in the |)resence of ids in-
tended bride ; seven of his accom))lices were like-
wise arrested. Koldan immediately sent an .ic-
cotint of the affair to the admir.il, prolessinij, .it
present, to do nolhinjf without Ids authority, .iml
declarin;.,' himself not ci)m|)eleiU to jud^je inip.ir-
tially in the case. Columbus, who w.is .at ih.il
time at Fort Conception, in the \'ej,M, ordered tlie
prisoner to be conducted to the fortress ot .San
Dominijo.
'I'he vij'orous incisures of Kold.in aj^r.iinst his
old comr.'.des prodiucd commotions in the island.
When Adrian de .Moxiea heard that his cousin
CiUevar.i w.is a ]irisoner, and ih.it, too, by coin-
m.uid of his former confederate, he w.is highly
ex.ispei.ited, .and resolved on veiij^rcmce. Hasleii-
inj,^ to Bon.io, the old h.iunt of rebellion, he ob-
tained the co-operation ot I'cdro Ke(|Uel!iie, the
recently .appointed .ilcilde. Tiiey went round
amoiifr their late companions in rebellion, vvtio
had received lands .and settled in various parts ot
the \'e^i-.i, workin^r u|)on tlieir ready p.issions, and
enlisting- their teelini,rs in the cause of an old com-
r.ule. These men seemed to have had an irresist-
ible ])njpensity to sedition. (Iuevara was a favor-
ite with them ,ill ; thecharmsot the Indian beauty
had probably their inlluence ; and the conduct of
Koldan w.is pronounced .i tyrannic.il interference,
to prevent a marria;,^' aj,'reeable to .ill parties, and
beneticial to the colonv. There is no beiiio so
odious to his former associates as a reformed roh-
t)er, or a rel)el, enlisted in the service of justice.
The old scenes of faction were renrvved ; trie
we.ipons which h.id scarce been hunc,'^ v.\> from the
recent rebellions, were aj,'^ain snatched down from
the walls, .and rash preparations were made \or
action. Moxiea soon ^aw .i body of d.irinj,^ and
reckless men ready, with horse and weapon, i,)
follow Ilim on any desperate enterprise, iiliiuled
■ I
I
1G8
LIFK AND VOVAGKS OF COLUMBUS.
i'
I
,;i
!.*!<
liy the impunity wliiili h.ul aUtiulfd liicir foinu-r
oullM^it-., Iir MOW llin.ilciuil ai Is ol j^rcatLT atioi-
ity, int'ditaiin^', imi nu rely liu' its( uc ot ills
cousin, iiiit till' (It. all ol Kol(lai) and l\\v. admiral.
Coiiinihus w.is .It iorl Conception, witii an in-
iDnsid'i'.ililc toriu, when tins dinneidiis plot was
lOMicrlid in Ins very iieij,diliuiliood. Not dre. mi-
inn "' ''">■ 'iirtluT liostduits troni men on wiiom
lie ii.id la\islied l.ivors, lie would doulitk'ss liave
t.dlen into llieir |)ower, liad not inieili^cnii' lieen
l)iouj,'hi Inm ot llie plot hy a desertir liom tlie
e()ns|)ii-.itois. Ill' saw at a ),d,in(:e the perils liy
wliieli he w.is surrounded, ami the storm about
to hurst upon the isl.ind. It was no lonj^er a time
lor leniunt measures ; he determined to strike a
l)low which should crush the \ery head ot rehel-
liiin.
I'akinj,' with him hut six or seven trusty ser-
v.ints, and three es(iuires, all well-armed, lie set
out in the nielli lor the |)l.ice where the rin),'lead-
ers were (juartifred. Conlidinj; probably in tlie
secrecy ol their plot, and the late passiveness ot
the aiimir.il, they appear to have been perh'etly
un^juardcd. Colimibus c.inie upon them by sur-
prise, seized Moxii.a and several of his jirincipal
L )nte(lerates, and bore them oil to Kort Ci)nce|)-
tion. 'I'he moment was critiial ; the Xe^a was
ripe for ;i revolt ; he had the tomenter ol the eon-
.s|)iracy in his power, and an ex,im|)le was called
tor, tli.it shoidd strike terror into the tactions.
He ordei-eil Moxic.i to be h.in^ed on the to|) of the
fortress. The latter entreated to be allowed to
confess himself jjrevious to execution. A priest
W.IS summoned. 'I'he miserable Moxic.i, who
h.xl been so arrojjaiu in rebellion, lost all courai^'e
at the near ap])roach of death, lie delayed to
I unless, bej,'^innintj and pausin^j, and reconunenc-
ini,', and aj;ain hesit.Uinjf, as it he hoped, by whil-
injj; ;iway time, to ]<;\\t: a ch.uice for rescue. In-
stead ot confessing- his own sins, he accused others
ot eriminality, who were known to be innocent ;
until Colimibus, inctMised at this falsehood anil
treacfiery, and losin^r all patience, in his min^ded
indij,rnation and scorn, ordered the dastard wretch
to be swun^j- off from the battlements.*
This sudden act of severity was jiromptly fol-
lowed up. Sexeral of the accomjilices ol Moxica
were condemned to death and thrown in irons to
await their fate. lieforethe consijirators had time
to recover Irom their astonishment, I'edro Reijuel-
nie w.is taken, with several of his compeers, in
his rultian den at Hon.io, and conveyed to the
fortress ot .San Doniiiij;o ; where was .also conluied
the orij^inal mo\er of this second rebellion, Her-
nando tie Cuevar.a, the lover of the younif Indian
princess. These unexpected acts of rij^^or, pro-
ceedinH^ from a tpiarter which had been lon^r so
lenient, had the tlesired effect. The conspirators
tletl for the most part to Xaraj^ua, their old anil
favorite retreat. They were not suffered to con-
fi;re;,rati' there aj^^ain, aiul concert new setlitioiis.
The Aflelantado, seconded by Roldan, pursued
them w ith his characteristic ra|)idity ot movement
anil vijji'or of arm. It has been said that he car-
rietl a priest with him, in ortler that, as he arrest-
ed tleliiKjuents, they minlu be confessed anil
hanj^retl iipo the spot ; but the more prob.ible ac-
count is that he transmitted them prisoners to
San DomiiiL;!). lie h.ul seventeen ot them atone
time confined in one common dungeon, awaitiny
* Herrera, decad. i. lib. iv. cap. 5.
their tri.d, while he continued in imlcf,,,,
pursuit ol the remainder.*
These were prompt .ilid severe lile.isiii, ,
when we consider how loii^ Columbus li.iij
with these men ; how much he had nd,,
s.'icriliced to them ; how he li.id been iiiinr,
in all his j^nat uiidertakin^js, and the U( '
the colony destroyed by their conteiiihn', .
seditious brawls ; how (hey had abused Ins ,
delied his authority, and at length atliini ;.
life we i:annot wonder th.it he should ,11 ,,.
tall the sword ol justice, which he li.ul 1,1;
heltl sus|iendetl.
The power of faction was now conipliti!,
(lued, anil the good eflei ts ot the \,inuuV;;
ures taken by Columbus, since his last ,111;,,, ,
the beiielit of the islanil, began to appe.ir. ;j
Inilians, seeing the inellicacy ot resist. uin.
mitteil to the yoke. Many gave signs ol 1 u
tion, h.iving, in some instances, adopieil ci,:
and eiiUiraced Christianity Assisted hy il„ •
bors the Sp.uiiards now cultivated their l;iiul,,.
geiiiK and there was every ai)pear,ince ut st::J
anu regular prosperit\'. 1
Columbus consitlered all this happ\- tluii^.l
brought about by the especial iiiterveiilii,;;
Ilea\eli. In a letter to Dolla Ju.ma tie l,i lur-rj
lady ol distinction, ay.i or nurse ol I'riiui' ;.
he gives an iiisi.mce ot those visionary l.iini..
which he was subject in times of illness and ,;
iety. In the preceding winter, he says, ahrju;
testiv.d ot Christmas, when menaced hv In j
war and domestic rebellion, when di>.lnM;.i
those around him ami apprehensi\e ot (1:^;;:.|
at court, he sank for a lime into c(im|iK:i- .1
spoiidenc)-. In this hour ol gloom, wlun ,;,;
doiieil to despair, he heard in tlie nigiit a Vdiu.
dressing him in words ot comfort, "(J 111, iiu:
tie faith I why art thou cast down ? I'cir;;
iiig, 1 will |)ro\ide for tfiee. The seven yiMr'i
the term of goltl ,ire not expired ; in tli.it] ;ii;.
all other things, 1 will take care ul thee." L
Tile seven years term ol gold liere niwitirJ
alludes to a vow made by Columbus on ilivj
ing the New World, and recorded by lii:ii ,
letter to the sovereigns, that within scm 11 .:.■!
he would lurnish, from the profits of his divj,
ies, tilty thousaiitl loot and live thous.ind liniv,
the deliver. nice of the holy se|)ulchre, and .1:.
dition.il force ot like amount, within livi; ;,:.
aflerwaril.
The comforting assurance given him In .
voice was corroborated, he says, that very u
by intelligence receivetl of tlie iliscovery ul .11^:
tract ol country rich in mines. + This im;i<;i'j|
promise of divine aid thus mysteriously jjiviii,.!
jieared to him at ])reseni instill greater pr.icJ
ol tultilmeiit. The troubles and ilangirso:
island had been succeeded by tr.mquillily. ■
now anticipated the i)ros|)erous proseciUioii >:
t.ivorite enter|)rise, so long interrupted— l!it J
jiloring ol the regions of I'.iria, ami the e.-il.i: '
nieiit of a fishery in the (kill of Pearls, il-
lusive were his hopes I At this inoiiie|U tv;
were maturing wliicli were to overwhelm ;i
with distress, strip him ot his honors, aiiilrirl
him comparati\ely a wreck for the reiiiaiiiiif
his tlays 1
* Las Casas, Hist. Intl., lib. i. cap. 170, MS, i.;
rera, decad. i. lib. iv. cap. 7.
t Letter of Columbus to the N'urse of Prince j--|
Hist, del Alniirante, cap. 84.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLL'MUl'S.
BOOK XIII.
109
CHAI'IKR I.
kl'Rr>^>>' \""^'^ ^'' <^' »''>*■•' AC.AINST COI.UMIIUS
DiiliAlHIIV i;.\II'(t\VKKIU T(J KXAMINK INTO
iii> ((iMiicr,
[I5CX..]
Wmii Coliinihus was iiivnlvod in a sorios of
Uiilinillii'^ ill tlif t.u'tioiis island ot His|),iiiii)la, liis
Cni'iiiici vvcif l)iit too siicccsstui in iindci'niinin),^
|ii> ri'|uii itiiiii in the I ourt ot Spain. 'I'lu' report
|)rnui,'lit l>\ ()|i'd.i ot Ills anticipated disj^racc w.is
L; ciilirelv unloinided ; tlie event was considered
[li.ir at hind, and every ])erlidious esertmn was
iiilc to neelerate it. I'^Nery vessel Irom tlie New
IVdiiil (Mini' trei^dited witll complaints, represent-
fn^' Colindui-. and his brothers as new nvi\, nn-
Voiislomed Id coinni.md, inli.ited b\' their itidcjen
fiv trmii ol)S( iirity ; arro;(,int .and insulting tow-
brd men ot l)irlh and lotty spirit ; oppi'essue ot
Ihu I.0I11111OII people, and crnel in tlicir Ire.itinent
hi the n.illves. 'I'lie insidious and illiheral insin-
Ltion was continually urj,'ed, that they were for-
fi;'nt'rs, who could ha\e no inten'st in the j.,dory
I.S|i,iin, or the prosperity ot S]).iniar(ls ; and con-
lenipliliif .IS this plea may seem, it had a power-
ui clteit. ('olLniil)Us was even accused ot a de-
lij;n 10 iMsi (itf all .allegiance to Spain, and either
i;iki' liiniselt sovereif^n ot the countries lie h.id
(iisccvered, or yield tlleni into the liands of soim;
btlur power : a slander, which, however e.xtr.iva-
[,iiu, was cilcuiated to startle the jealous mind of
rerilinand.
It is true that by e\ery sliip Columbus likewise
lilt home statements, written with tht? frankness
tiiil ciier^'y ot truth, settinjf forth tlie real cause
piiil nature of the distr.ictions of ttie island, and
hdintin;^' out .and implorinjc remerlies. which, if
pnipcriy applied, might have l)ee?i t'I'fic.acious.
letters, however, arrivin^f at distant inler\als,
iiilc hut sinifle and transient impressions ' n the
(•Dial mind, which were sjierdily t'ff.iced i.y the
Intlucnce ot d.iily and aiti\( misrepresentation.
lis iMieniies ;it court, liaving; continual k less to
lltlL' suverei;^iis, were enabled to phice ever\ thinir
Ur;,'t'd a^jiinst him in the strongest point of view,
fcviiile tlu-y secretly neutr.ilized the force of his
B'iinlications, They used a i)lausil)le logic to
brove either bad m.m.igenient ov bad faith on his
part. 'I'liere was an incessant drain upon the
inlhfr country tor the support of the colon\.
W',(s this coni])atil)le with tlie extrav.igaiH pictul■e^
pi' had (Iriwii of the wealth of the island, ind its j
liukn iiiount.iins, in wliich he had jiretended to
find the Ophir of anc ent days, the source of all
Ihe riches ot Solomon ? They interred that he
pad cither deceived the sovereigns liy designing
pa;,'i(t'ratioiis, or grossly wronged them by mal-
practices, or was totally incapatile of the duties of
Bovcrniiient.
The (lisa|)p()intnient of Ferdin.and, .n finding
ll;s ne\vly-(liscov( red possessions a source of ex-
)''ise instead ot [irotit, was known to jiress sorely
111 his mind. The wars, dictated by his ambition',
"; straiii-iu'd his resources, .and invoUed him in
pfrpk'xities. lie had looked with contidence to
ithe Ni'w World for relief, anil tor .aniple means
pto pursue his triumphs ; and grew im|)atient .at
pthi: repeated deniands which it occasioned on his
!,S mty treasury. For the i)urpose of irritating his
feelings ,ind heightening W\% resentment, every
(lisappointe(l ;ind repining m,in who returnefl
from the colony w.is encouraged bv the hostile t;ic-
(ion, U) put in I laims tor p.iy withheld b\ ('idum-
bus, nr losses sustained in his ser\ ice. This w.is
especi.illy the case with the ilisorderly rulli.ins
shipped off to tree the isl.ind from sedition. I'ind-
ing tlieirway to the court at (Iran.id.i, tliey folU>w-
ed the king when he rode out, tilling the .lir with
thiir compl.iints, and clamoring tor their pav. .At
one time about titty of these x.ig.ibonds found
their way into the inner court of the Alh.imbr.i,
under tlie royal '.i|)artments ; holding up bunclies
ot gr.ipes as the meagre diet hit them by their
poverty, .and r.iiling .doud .at the deceits ot Colum-
bus and the cruel neglect of gd\ernment. The
two bons ot Columlxi who were pages to tht-
i,ueen, happi'niiig to pass by, they followed them
with imprecations, exclaiming, " 'I'here go the
sons of tile .idmir.il, the whel])s of him wlio dis-
co\ered the laiul of vanity and delusion, the gr,i\e
ot .Spanish hidalgos,"*
'I'iie incess.int ri'petition of talseliood will grad-
ually wear its w.iy into the mosti.indid mind. Is-
abell.a herself began to eiiterl.iin dout)ts respect-
ing the conduct of Columbus. Where there was
such univers.d and in. . ..ant com|il.iint, it seemed
reasonable to I'onclude th.it there must exist some
fault. If Colunilius .and his brotliers were up-
right, they might he injudicious ; ,ied, in go\ern-
ment, mischief is olteiur i)roduced itiroiigii error
of judgment th.in iniipiity of design. 'I'lii' letters
written by Columbus himself presented a l.iment-
alile picture of the confusion ot tlie isl.ind.
Might not this arise Irom the we.ikness and inca-
|)acity of the rulers .' Fven gr.inting tliat the |)rev-
aient abuses arose in .i great measure from the
enmit)' of the jieople to the admiral and his broth-
ers, and their prejudices ag.iinsl them as foreign-
ers, W.IS it s.ife to intrust so important and distant
a command to persons so unpopular with the
community .'
'I'hese consider 'ions had much weight in the
candid mind of Is.i Ua, but ttiey were all-power-
ful with the ( .uitious and jealous I'erdinami. He
had never reg.irded Columbus with re.il cordiali-
ty ; and ever since he had ascer' dned the impor-
tance of his discoveries, had re;; retted the exten-
sive powers vested in his hands. The excessive
clamors whu h had .arisen during the tiriet .admin-
istration ot the Adelantado and the breaking out
of the t.iction of Roldan at length determined the
king lo send out some person ot conseipience and
abil»;;v «o investigate the atl.iirs of the colony, and
if necessary, for its safety, to take ui)on himself
the command. 'I'liis important .and critical meas-
ure it appears had been decided ujxin, and the
papers and powers .ictu.illy drawn out. n the
spring of 1499. It was not carried into effect, how-
ever, imiil the tollowing year. \'arious reasons
have been assigned for this delay. 'I'lie impor-
tant Services rendered t)y Columbus in the discov-
ery of I'aria .and the Pearl Islands may have had
some effect on the roy.il mind. The necessity of
fitting out an armament ^ust at that moment, to
co-operate with the \'enetians against the Turks ;
the menacing movements of the new king ot
* Hist, del Almirantc, cap. S5.
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ITO
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
;H'i
iMl
fti'
'I*
I; •,\fL
y r.»
Franrf, Louis XII.; the rebellion of the Moors of
the Alpuxarr.i niountains, in the l.itclv to .Hiered
kinj((l()iii of ("iranada— all these have l)een alleetd
as reasons for i)osti)oninjf a measure which called
for much consideration, and mijjhthave im|)orlarit
cfferls upon the newly discovered ])ossessions.*
The most probable reason, however, was the
stronjj disinclination of Isabella to take so harsh a
step ajjainst a man for whom she entertained such
ardent j^ratitude and high admiration.
At length tlie arrival of the shipj with the late
followers of Holdan, according to their ca|)itula-
tion, brought matters to a crisis. It is true that
IJallester and Harrantes came in these ships, to
jilace the affairs of the island in a jjrojjcr light ;
but they brought out a host of witnesses in favor
of Koldan, and letters writtei\ by himself and his
confederates, attributing all their late conduct to
the tyranny of Columbus and hiS brothers. Un-
fortunately the testimony of the rebels had the
greatest weight with Ferdinand ; and there was a
circumstance \n the case which suspended for a
time the friendship of Isabella, hitherto the great-
est dependence of Columbus.
Having a maternal interest in the welfare of the
natives, the (|ueen had been repeatedly offended
by what appeared to her | i-rtinacity on the part
of Columbus, in continuing to make slaves of
those taken in warfare, in contradiction to her
known wishes. The same ships which brought
home the companions of Roldan, brought likewise
a great number of slaves. Some, Columbus had
been ol)liged to grant to these men by the articles
of capitulation ; others they had brought away
clandestinely. Among them were several daugh-
ters of ('aci(iues, seduced away from their families
and their native island by these profligates. Some
of these were in a state of pregnancy, others had
new-born infants, The gifts and transfers of
these unha|)py beings were all ascriiied to the will
of Columbus, and re|)resented to Isabella in the
darkest colors. Her sensibility as a woman, and
her dignity as a queen, were instantly in arms.
" What power," exclaimed she indignantly, " has
the .admiral to give away my vassals .'" t Deter-
mined, by one decided and jjeremptory act, to
show her abhorrence of these outrages upon hu-
manity, she ordered r. ; the Indians to be restored
to their country and friends. Nay, more ; her
measure was retrospective. .She commanded that
those formerly sent to Spain by the admiral
should be sought out and sent back to His|)aniola.
L'nfortunately for Columbus, at this very juncture,
in one of his letters he advised the continuance
of Indian slavery for some time longer, as a meas-
ure imjiortant for the welfare of the colony. This
contributed to heighten the indignation of Isa-
bella, and induced her no longer to opjiose the
sending out of a commission to investigate his
conduct, and, if necessary, to sujiersede him in
command.
Ferdinand was exceedingly embarrassed in ap-
pointing this commission, between his sense of what
w.isdueto the char.uter and services of Columbus,
and his anxiety to retract with delicacy the powers
vested in him. A pretext at length was furnished
by the re.> it recpiest of the admiral ih.it a person
of talent^ and probity, learned in tlie law, might
be sent out to act as chief judge ; and that an
imparti il utnpire might be appoint d, to tlecide
in the .'.I'faii between himself and Roldan. Fer-
dinand jiroposed to consult his wishes, but to
* Munnz. Hist. N. Mundo, part unpublished.
f Las Casas, lib. i.
unite those two officers in one ; and as the ptr^J
he appointed would have to decide in matters lot ..
ing the highest functions of the admiral ami
brothers, he was empowered, should he tiiuli-.-l
cul|)al)le, to supersede them in the govcninuni
singular mode of insuring |)artiality I
'i'he person chosen for this momentous .uult-
cafe office was Don Francisco de lioliadiHa .
officer of the royal household, and a comniarrJ
of the military and religious order of Ciiatr;,
Oviedo pronounces him a very honest and rt
ious man ; * but he is represented by otiiers.ai
his actions corroborate the description, asiiftrl
passionate, and ambitious— three powt rlul (jli> J
tions to his exercising the rights of ji<dic:'Uirci
case requiring the utmost patience, candor,;
circumspection, and where the judge wasioi.tj
rive wealth and power from the ccniction ut f.
of the parties.
The authority vested in Holjadilla is delineilj
letters from the sovereigns still extant, and wh:;!
deserve to be noticed chroiiologicallv ; tor ;:.
royal intentions appear to have varied with iinj
and circumstances. The first was dattd on r:
2ist of .March, 1499, and mentions the 1 onipi, ■;
of the admiral, that an alcalde, and cenaino;:;:
|)ersons had risen in rebellion against hi:.
" Wherefore," adds the letter, " we ordt-i yuu;
inform yourself of the truth of the foicgdiiii;:::
ascertain who antl what jiersons they were v,-;
rose against the said admiral and our m.i^n.strac
and for what cause ; and what robhcnt-s ,.;,:
other injuries they have committed ; ami turth;|
more, to extend your intpiiries to all other niaurt|
relating to the jiremises ; and the information ^
tained, anil the truth known, whomsoever \'.i|
lind cul|)al)le, arri'st their persons, and sq-iA
trate their ejfects ; and thus taken, proctfl
against them and the absent, both civilly ,r;
criminally, and impose and inflict such fines ar;|
punishments as you may think tit." To carryr.;
into effect, liobadilla was authorized, in case u|
necessity, to call in the assistance of the admir..
and of all other |)ersons in authority.
The powers here given are manifestly (iirecKl
merely against the rebels, and in conse(|!ience ;il
the com|)laints of Columbus. Another IdW,"
dated on the 21st of May, two monilis su
(juently, is of quite different purport. It iiial;tjr:)|
mention of Columbus, but is addressed lotlievirT
ous functionaries and men of property of rJ
islands and Term Firma, informing tluni ut ;:.i|
aijpointnieiil of Hob.ulilla to the governiiKiU. «:-
full civil and criminal jurisdiction. Anioni,' ;!:!|
powers specified, is the lollowing : " It isour wi.J
that if the said commander, Francisco de lioiil
dilla, should think it necess.iry for our serviccaiil
the ])urposes of justice, that any cavaliers, cj
other persons who are at ])resent in those islanui
or may arrive there, should le.ave them, and r.KJ
return and reside in them, and that tliey siioiiiJ
come and ])reseiU tiiemselves before us, he ml
command it in our name, and oblige them 10 ct|
part ; and whon>soever he thus commands
hereby order, that immediately, without \v,iili:i!|
to inquire or consult us, or to receive from iisrl
other letter or command, and without iiUerpusir'?!
appeal or supplication, they obey whatever
shall say and order, under the penalties whiitiJil
shall imiiose on our part," etc., etc.
Another letter, dated likewise on the :istf'l
May, in which Columbus is styled simply"'
miral of the ocean sea," orders him and
* Oviedo, Cronica, lib. iii. cap. 6.
ITS.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
171
rs in one ; and as the pirJ
ivc todi'cidu in ma tic is tut-.
ions of the admiral ami
lowered, should he tindi:,.^
:• them in the jjovernnitm
irinjj jiartiality I
for this momentous .iiKJii.
Francisco de Ik)l)a(lill,i ,1
lousehold, and a (•onim,ir,-.|
eliKious order of Calatn, .
lim a very honest and n ,
s represented liy oliitrs.,,:
te the description, .isiittcl
tious — three powirdil oli;t;.
( the rijrhts of iutlic;nureni|
itmost patience, c.iiulor, aj
where the jud);e wasioitF
:r from the ct,-"viction ot cj|
ed in HoDadilla is (lelincijii
•eigns still extant, am! \\r 1
ed chronologically ; lor ;•.
ar to have varieil with <m.-i
The first was dated on trtl
and mentions the compi?;!
in alcalde, and cen.iin oir;|
in rehellion against h;:.
the letter, " we order yuu
e truth of the forcgninj;; ,
kvhat persons they were \v;|
admiral and our niaj^isir;i(;[
: ; and what rohlu rit-s .,:
ive committed ; and lurtrf|
inipiiries to all other niiiUtsI
ses ; and the intorniati(iiio>|
th known, whomsofver y.,|
t their persons, ar.a sifui-
and thus taken, procrr:|
he ahsent, both civilly .v
se and inflict such tints .v.
ly think fit." To carry;:^
was authorized, in ca5i; :
e assistance of the admir. |
s in authority,
veil are manifestly dmc-i
)els, and in conse(|;ii-nce.:|
lumbus. Another kik:]
May, two months si
ffereni purport. It niaktirjl
but is addressed to the virf
men of ])ropfrty ni rtj
ma, informing tluin ut ;:
la to the government, *::
jurisdiction. Among "•■\
ollowing : " It isourwii,
iiander, I'"rancisco de \>(>:&
lecessary for our service, a:.£|
ce, that any cavaliers,
at jiresenl in those islaii(.i|
hould leave them, and '
them, and that they bhoii.;j
mselves before us, he n-'
me, and oblige them to i;t|
er he thus commands,
mediately, without \\M-'i\
IS, or to receive from H'' '';
nd, and without iiilerpos:'<'
n, thev obey whaievcr ■<
luler the penalties which rt]
irt," etc., etc.
ed likewise on the 2\iV]
il)us is styled simply "■
sea," orders him and f'^l
b. iii. cap. 6.
3f
le h
1
jthers to surrrndcr the fortress, ships, houses,
lis amnninition, c.itile, and all other royal
inprtv, mU) the hands of Hobadilla, as govern-
\, ,.ler penalty ot incurring the ininishments
JVliich those subject themselves who p-fuse to
Irriiiiler tirtresses and other trusts, when com-
Lided bv their sovereigns.
|a fourth htter, datetl on the 2fith of May, ant!
Idressed to Columbus, simi)ly f)y the title of ad-
■ral, is a mere letter of credence, ordering him
give taiih and obedience to whatever IJobadilla
lid impart,
riie second and third of these letters were evi-
milv provisional, and only to be produced, if,
J examination, there should ajipear such delin-
lencv on the part of Columbus and his brothers
1 to warrant their being divested of command.
]rhis heavy blow, as has been shown, reiiiained
Lpended h)r a year ; vet, that it was whisjiered
but, and triumphantly anticipated by the ene-
es nl Colunil)US, is evident from the assertions
Djcda, who sailed from Spain about the time of
sifjnature of those letters, and had intimate
-nnuinications with Bishop Fonseca, who was
Bsidered instrumental in producing this meas-
The very license granted by the bishop to
fcda to sail on a voyage ot discovery in coinra-
htion of the ])rerogatives of the admiral, has the
[of being given on a presumjJtion of his speedy
Riifall ; and the same |)resumption, as has
.eady been observed, must have encouraged
pda in his turbulent conduct at Xaragua.
At length the long-projected measure was car-
Id into effect. Ifobadilla set sail for San l)o-
hj,'o about the middle of July, 1500, with two
lavels, in which were twenty-tive men, enlisted
a year, to serve as a kind of guard. There
Ire six Iriars likewise, who had charge of a num-
' ot Indians sent back to their country. IJeside.;
letters patent, liobadilla was authorized, by
tal order, to ascertain and discharge all arrears
j.iy due to persons in the service of the crown,
J to oblige the admiral to pay what was due on
[part, " so that those people might receive what
) owing to them, and there might be no more
inphiints," In addition to all these powers,
bndiHa was furnished with many blank letters
Bled by the sovereigns, to be filled up by him in
Ih manner, and directed to such ])ersons, as he
fcht think .idvisable, in relation to the mission
|h which he was intrusted.*
CHAPTER II.
RIVAL OF rinn.^nii.i...v at s.\n domingo— his
|VIULENT .\SSU.Ml>riO\ UK THE COMMAND.
[1500.1
loi.iMius was still at Fort Concei)tion, regu-
|n},'ihe altairs of the Vega, after the catastro-
' "t the sedition of Moxica ; his brother, the
laiuado, .u'comiianied by Roldan, was luirsu-
land arresting the fugitive rebels in Xaragu.i ;
1 Uiin l)iego Columbus remained in temponiry
Jiiiiuid at San Domingo. I'"actioii had worn
III out; the insurgents had brought down ruin
F'tlieiiiselves ; and the island appeared deliv-
Ifroin the domination of violent and lawless
jurh was the state of public affairs, when, on
' llcrrcra, dccad. i. lib. iv. cap. 7.
w.is inlormed of the
of the rebels, he \vas
week, and five more
the morning of the 23d of .August, two caravels
were descried off the harbor ot San Domingo,
about a le.igue ;it sea. They were standing off
and on, w;iitiiig until the sea bri'e/e, which gener-
.illy prev.iils about ten o'( lock, should carry them
into port. Don Diego Columbus su|)j)()sed them
to be ships sent from Spain with supplies, and
hi)|)ed to find on bo.ird his nephew Diego, whom
the admiral had recpiested might be sent out to
assist him in his various concerns. .\ canoe was
immediately dispatched to obtain inlormation ;
which, a|iproacliiiig the caravels, iiu|uired what
news they brought, and whether Diego, the son of
the admiral, was on bo.ird. liobadill.i bin. self
replied from the princip.il vessel, announcing
himself as a commissioner sent out to investig.'ite
the Lite rebellion. 'i'lie master ot the c.iravel
then iiuiuired about the news of the isl.ind. and
I'eceiit transactions. .Seven
told, had been h.inged th.at
were in the fortress of San
Domingo, condemned to suffer the same fate.
Among these were I'edro Re(|ueliii'j .ind Fernan-
do tie (luevara, the young cav.iiier whose |iassion
for the daughter of An.ic.iona li.id been the origi-
nal cause of the rebellion. I'"urther conversation
passed, in the course of whit h liobadilla ascer-
tained that the admiral and thi; Ade'aiUado were
absent, and Don Diego Columbus in command.
When the canoe returned to the city with the
news th.it a comniissiont^r had arrived to make in-
rpiisition into the late troubles, there was a great
stir and agitation tliroughout the community.
Knots of whisperers g.itiiered at e\'ery corner ;
those who were conscious of malpractices were
filled with consternation ; while those who had
grievances, real or imaginary, to complain of, es-
|)ecially those whose pay was in arrear, appeared
with joyful counten.inces."
As the vessels entered the river, liobadilla be-
held on either b.ink ;i gibbet with the body of a
Spaniard hanging on it, .ippiuxuly but lately ex-
ecuted. He considered these as conclusive jiroofs
of the alleged cruelty ot Columbus. Many boats
came off to the shij), e\-ery one being anxious to
pay early court to this |)ut)'ic censor. 15obadill.a
remained on l)oard all d.iy, in the course of which
he collected much of the rumorsof the place ; and
as those who sought to secure his favor were
those who had most to fear from his investig.i-
lions, it is evident that the ii.iture of the rumors
must generally have been unfavorable to Colum-
bus. In f;ict, before fjob.idilla l.imled, it not be-
fore he arrivi'd, the culpability ot the admiral was
decided in his mind.
The next morning he l.uided, with all his fol-
lowers, and went to the church to attend mass,
where he found Don Diego (."olumbus, Rodrigo
Perez, the lieutenant of the admiral, and other jier-
sons of note. Mass being ended, and those ])er-
sons, with a multitude of the jiopuLice, being as-
sembled at the door t)f the church, liobadilla
ordered his letters patent to be read, authori-ing
him to investigate the rebellion, seize the persons
and setjuestrale the pro|Krty ot delinquents, and
proceed .ig.iinst them with the utmost rigor of the
law ; commanding also the admir.il, and ;ill
others in authority, to assist him in the discharge
ot his duties. The letter being read, he demaiul-
ed of Don Diego and the alcaldes to surrender
to him the persons ot Fernando (aiev.ir.i, Pedro
Requelme, and the other prisoners, with the dep-
* Lar. Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. i6(j. Hist, Ind.,
decad, i. lib. iv, cap. 8.
178
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
Mi
\:.7 'il.-:
! fi
11 -If 111
<\', n.
; I . jii.
ositions taken rnnrorninj^ them ; and ordered
that the parlies by whom they were necusetl, and
those by whose command they had been taken,
should appear lieforc him.
Don Dief^^o replied, that the proceedings had
eman;ited Irom the orders of the admiral, who held
su[)erior powers to any Hobadilla could possess,
and without whose authority he could do nothinjr.
He re(iuesled, at the same time, a copy of the let-
ter (j.itent, that he mijrju send it to his b her, to
whom ;done the matter appertained. This lioba-
(lilla relused, observinj; that, it Don iJiego had
power to do nothinj^, it was useless to ),Mve him a
copy. He added, ih.it since th-; ollice and au-
thority he had jjiix iaimed appeared to have no
\veij,'ht, he would try what power and consetjuence
there was in tin- name of jjovernor, .'mil wi uld
show them that he h.id command, not merely over
them, but over the admir.il himself.
The little community remained in breathless sus-
fiense, aw.iitin;^ the portentous movements of H(j-
)a(lilla. 'I'he next inorninj,'' he appeared ;it mass,
resolved on assuminif those powers which were
only to have been produced after full investiga-
tion, and am])le jjroof of the mal-conduct of Co-
lumbus. When mass was over, and the e.iger
pojiulace had jr.ithered round the door of the
church, Hobadilla, in pr(-sence f)f Don Diej^o and
Rodrijjo I'ere/, ordered his other royal patent to
he read, investing him with the government of tlie
islands, and of Terra I'"irma.
The patent being read, ISohadilla took the cus-
tomary oath, and then claimed the obedience of
Don Diego, Kodrigo I'erez, and all ])resent, to
this royal instrument ; on the authority of which
he again demanded the prisoners conlined in the
fortress. In i"e|)ly, they professed the utmost def-
erence to the letter of the sovereigns, but again
observed tli.itthey liekl the prisoners in obedience
to the admiral, to whom the sovereigns hatl granted
letters of a higher n.iture.
The self-importance of IJohadiUa was incensed
at this non-compliance, es])ecially as he saw it had
some effect upon the po])ulace, who appeared to
doubt his .luthority. He now ])roduced the third
mandate of the crown, ordering Columbus and
his brothers to deliver up all fortresses, ships, and
other royal property. To win the jjublic coni-
])letely to his side, he read also the additional
mandate, issued on the 30th of May, of the same
year, ordering him to |)ay the arrears of wages
due to all |)ersons in the rov.il service, and to C(jm-
pel the admiral to pay the arrears of those to
whom he w.is accountable.
This last document was received with shouts by
the multitude, many having long arrears due to
them in consecpience of the [loverty of the treas-
ury. Flushed with his growing importance, lio-
badiUa .igain demanded the prisoners ; threaten-
ing, if relused, to lake them by lorce. Meeting
with the same reply, he re|)aired to the fortress to
execute his threats. This ])ost was comniandetl
by Miguel Diaz, the same Arragonian cavalier
who had once taken refuge among the Indians on
the banks of t'le < )zema, won the affections of the
female cacicpie Calalina, received from her infor-
mation of the neighboring gold mines, and induced
his countrymen to remove to those jiarts.
When Hobadilla c.ime before the fortress, he
lound the g.ites closed, and the alcayde, Miguel
Diaz, upon the baitlements. He ordered his let-
ters i)atent t(j be read with a loud voice, the signa-
tures and seals to be held u|) to view, aiul then
demandetl the surrender of the prisoners. Diaz
requested a copy of the letters ; but this Hobadilla
refused, alleging that there was no time for :
the prisoners being under sentence of (leai-
liable at any moment to be executed. Ilfi,'
ened at the same time, that if they were iiui^-
up, he would proceed to extremities, -.ml
should be answerable for the LonsequeiK tv,
wary alcayde .again re(|uired time to reply.:-
copy of the letters, saying that he held ir-
tress for the king by the command ol ilif .m;;
his lord, who had gained these territorns
islands, and that when the latter ariut.
should obey his orders.*
The whole sjiirit of Hobadilla was nmsidw
him, at the refusal of the alcayde. Asscu'
;dl the |)eople he had brought Irom Sp.iin, t;i;;>
with the sailors of the ships and the rahlilti,;
|)lace, he exhorted them to aid him in |,Hiiini;:
session of the prisoners, but to harm no Dii.nr
incase of resistance. The mob slunilf I ,i.
for Hob.idilla was already the idol ol ihc r
tude. About the hour of vespers he set duij:
head of this motley army, to storm a lorirfij
titute of a garrison, and formidable only in 11:
bt'ing calculated to withstand only a iKikti!;
slightly-armed people. The accounis ot tliMrJ
action ha\e something in them bordi rinf;ii
ludicrous, and give it the air of alisurd rlimli:
t.ide. Hobadilla assailed the portal wiih;
impetuosity, the frail bolts and lo( ks ot v
ga\e way at the first shock, and allowed hinuj
admission. In the mean time, howe>er, hiss
ous myrmidons a|)plied ladders to die wai'.j,
about to carry the place by assault, ami tof\:|
ence a desperate defence. The alcaytlf, .M.-
Diaz, and Don Diego de Alvarado, alone a|ipr;j
on the battlements ; they had drawn swur(l^
offered no resistance. .Hobadilla entered I'lrl
tress in triumjih, and without molesiaiim,
prisoners were found in a chamber in iniiis,
ordered that they should be brought up t)!--
the top ot the fortress, where, having put ;
(|uestions to them, as a matter ot torm, he ■
them in charge to an alguazil named Juj-
Kspinosa.t
Such was the arrogant and precipii.ite eif.
into olfice of Francisco cle Hobadilla. lltb.
versed the order ot his written instructiDns
ing seized upon the government befoie he hi
vestigated the conduct of Columbus, lie
tinued his career in the same spirit, actin^l
the case had been prejudged in Spain, aiidhef
been sent out merely to degrade the ailiiiir,L'
his em|)loyments, not to ascertain the 111.11.'
which he had fuHilled them. He took up hb
dence in the house of Columbus, seized ui"'l
arms, gold, plate, jewels, horses, io;.;t'tliir
his letters, and various manuscripts, both p:
and jirivate, even to his most secret papers
gave no account of the pro|)erty thus seizp;
which he no doubt considered already coniij-
to the crown, excejjting that he i)aid out "!
wages of those to whom the admiral was
rears. J To increase his favor with the peopj
proclaimed, on the second day of his assun'f
of power, a general license for the teniiuM'i
years, to seek tor gold, paying merely one I'it'^
to government, instead of a third as licretfl
At the same time he spoke in the most c
spectful and uiu|ualitied terms of ColuniliU'
ing that he was empowered to send him li.'
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. 1. cap. I7().
+ Las Casas, ubi sup. Herrera, ubi slip.
I Hist del Almirante, cap. 85.
rera, ubi sup.
Las Casas.
us.
[ there was no time ford;
uiultr SL-nliMice of death J
t to he cxfculfcl. Heth'J
le, thiU it llu'y were iu,i;.
c(l to fxtri'iiiiliis, iiiiil
e tor the Lonsetiiuiu iv
reiiuireil time to nply. ;•
s;iyin>? lh;U he litld tr-
the tommanil ot il;e ;»::
iriiined these ternlon.-,
whei\ the latter arinc
ers.*
)t HohatliUa was roused «•
ot the aU-ayde. Asscr
1 Ijrou^ht Iroin Spain, ii;-
lie ships and the ndilikiH
hem to aid him in v;eUini;;
lers, huttoiiarm no (in.nr
ce. The mol> siioulr '
iiireadv the idol ol ilu- r .
our o[ vespers he^ttimu
army, to storm a lorirns
, ;ind formidal)le only in:.;
[) withstand only a n;iktii
)lc. Tile aecounis ol thbK^
hin^ in ihem hordtriii);!;
• it the air ot absurd rhnilurJ
iissailed the l)<)rlal wilh;]
rail holts and loiks of v
•St shoek, and allowed hini:
; mean time, however, his.-J
plied ladders to the ualis,
place by assault, amllotr-l
defence. The ahayile, M;
■iro de Alvarado, alone .^yirA
s • thev had drawn swunM
ice. 'iohadilla enurnl r.:J
land without nioleslali >n
ind in a chamber in imis
Ishould hehroUKlunpMf-l
tress, where, havmi; \m
li, as a matter ot form, hf
|o' an alj^uazil name I U
TOL'ant and precipitate eid
risco de IJobadilla. He n-l
It his written insiruelwm /
e government belore lie i
Induct ot Columbus. Hv
in the same spirit, atii'.;
inrejudned in Spain, and kj
Lly to dej^rade the a.lniir.i.1
not to ascertain the m."-]
,,cd them. He tookujihx
;e of Columbus, sei/.ed u?'
, jewels, horses, loijetlur
I'rious manuscripts, both P-
to his most secret papers
of the property thus vi/r-l
I considered al ready conm
ptin^Mhathe paid out.i.
whom the admiral w,i>
ise his favor wilh tlie pf"! -I
e second dav of his assurj
\x\ license for the term "tt'l
rold, paving merely one ei^l
Istead of a third as hereto
f he spoke in the nwi\<-^
lalitied terms of CoUiml'U^J
npowered to send hiin "
It. Ind., lib. i. cap. WO-
Isup. Herrera, ubi sup.
Vanie, cap. 85. Las Casas
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
Ih,iins and that neither he nor any of liis lineage
llouid'ever again be permitted to govern in llie
Jam!.*
CHAPTER III.
COLIMI'.L-.S SU.MMONKD TO APPEAR BEFORE
HOIi.\UII.tA.
[1500.]
Whi N" the tidings re.iched Columi)US at Fort
loneeptioii el the high-handed proceedings of
Bh.Klilla, he considered them the ur.autlion/ed
(it Mime r.isli adventurer like Ojeda. Since
Bveiiiment had apparently thrown ojien the door
I priv.ite enterprise, he m'ight expect to have his
dth Kintinii.dlv crossed, and his jurisdiction in-
iiii.red hy liold' intermeddlers, feigning or fancy-
g'^them'seives authorized to interfere in the af-
iis (it the colony. Since the departure of Ojeda
other s(iu,ul roil' had touched upon the coast, and
•oliuera transient alarm, being an exjjedition
der one of the I'inzons, licensed by the sover-
n^ to m.ike discoveries. There had also been
rmiior ol another s(|U.ulron hovering about th':
land, which proved, however, to be unfounded. +
[The conchut of 15obadilla bore all the appear-
bce oi a lawless usurpation of some intruder of
|e kind. He had jwssessed himself forcibly of
le loriress, and consequently of the town. He
1(1 issued extravagant licenses injurious to the
ivcriiment, and apparently intended only to
ke partisans among the people ; and had
■eatened to throw Columbus himself in irons.
M this man could really be sanctioned by gov-
imenl in such intemperate measures was repug-
u 10 belief. The admiral'.s consciousness of
own services, the re|)ealed assurances he had
eived of high consideration on the part of the
|verei;,Mis and the perpetual prerogatives granted
him mider their hand and seal, with all the
llehiniiy that a com|)act could possess, all for-
idc liiiii to consider the transactions at San
mmj,") otherwise than as outrages on his au-
rity liy some daring or misguitled individual.
|To lie nearer to San Domingo, and obtain more
irrei t inloriii.ition, he proceeded to llonao,
ic!i \v,is now beginning to assume the appear-
ice ot a settlement, several Sjjaniards h.iving
cteJ lioMses there, and cultivated the adjacent
iiiry. He hail scarcely reached the place
leii an alcalde, bearing a staff of ol'lice, arrived
re from San Domingo, jjroclaiming the aj)-
lunuiit of Bobadilla to the government, and
rinj,' copies of his letters patent. There was no
ccial letter or message sent to the admiral,
[r were any of the common forms of courtesy
' ceremony observed in superseding him in tjie
im.md ; all the proceedings of Bobadilla tow-
hini were abrupt and insulting.
iolunibus was exceedingly embarrassed how to
t was evident that Bobadilla was intrusted
ih extensive jiowers by the sovereigns, l)Ut that
could have exercised such a sudden, unmer-
;uid ajiparently cajjricious act of severity, as
t ot divesting him of all his commands, he
Id not believe. He endeavored to jjersuade
self that Hohadilla was some |)erson sent out
xereise the fuctions of chief judge, according
the recpiest he had written home to the sover-
'. and that they had intrusted him likewise
1 etter of Columbus to the Nurse of Prince Juan.
luiil.
with provisional powers to make an inquest into
the late troubles of the island. .All beyond these
powers he tried to believe were mere .issumptions
and exagger.iti(jns ot authority, as in the case ot
.Xguado. At all events, he was determined to act
upon such |)resuin|)tion, and to endeavor to gain
time. If the monarchs had really t,ikt-n any harsh
measures with respect to him, it must have been
in consequence of misrepresentations. The least
delay might give them an opportunity of ascer-
taining their error, and making the necessary
amends.
He wrote to Bobadilhi, therefore, in guarded
terms, welcoming him to the island ; c.iutioning
him against jirecipitate measures, especially in
granting licenses to collect gold ; inhirniing him
that he was on the point of going to S|)ain, and in
a little time would le.ue him in commaiul, with
everything fully and clearly explained, lie wrote at
the same time to the like purport to Kirtain monks
who had come out with Ijobadilla, though he ob-
serves that these letters were only written to gain
time.* He received no rejilies ; but while an in-
sulting silence was observed toward him, Boba-
dilla tilled uj) .several of the blank letters, ot which
he had a number signed by the sovereigns, and
sent them to Roldan, and other ot the admiral's
enemies, the very men whom he had been sent
out to judge. These letters were full of civilities
and |)romises ot favor. t
To ])revent ,iny mischief which might .arise from
the licenses and indulgences so jirodigally granted
hy Bobadilla, Columbus iiublished in word and
letter that the j)owers assumed by him could not
be valid, nor his licenses availing, as he himself
held su|)erior ]iowers granted to him in perjietuity
by the crown, which could no UKU'e be superseded
in this instance than they had been in that of
Aguado.
For some time Columbus remained in this anx-
ious and ])er|)lexed state of mind, uncertain what
line of conduct to jiursue in so singul.ir and uii-
looked-lor a conjuncture. He was soon brought to
a decision. Francisco \'elas(|Ue/, deputy treas-
urer, and Juan de Trasierra, a Franciscan tri.ir,
arrived at Bonao, and delivered to him the royal
letter of credence, signed by the sovereigns on the
26th ot May, 1499, commanding him to give im-
plicit faith and obedience to ISobadilla ; and they
delivered, at the s.ime lime, a summons from the
latter to appear immediately belore him.
This laconic letter from the sovereigns struck
at once at the root of all his dignity and |)ower.
He no longer made hesitation or drimir, but com-
l)lying wilh the |)eremptory summons ol Bob.i-
dilla, departed, almost alone and unattended, lor
San Domiiigo.J
CHAPTFR IV.
COLU.MBUS AND HIS lilJO IIIKUS ARKr.STED AND
SENT TO SPAIN IN LTIAINS.
[1500.]
Thf. tidings that a new governor h.id arrived,
and that Columbus was in disgrace, .ind to be sent
home in chains, circulated r.ipidly through the
\'ega, and the colonists hastened from all jiarts to
San Domingo to make interest with 15obadilla. It
* Letter of Columbus to the Nurse of Prince Juan,
f Ibid. Hertera, decad. i. lib.
X Herrera, decad. i. lib. iv. cap. 9. Letter to the
Nurse of Prince Juan.
m
;t :i
t;!-
r f
f £
174
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
was noon perceived that there was no surer way
than that ot vililying his predecessor. Itoijadiila
felt that he liad i iken a rash step in seiziiif( upon
ti)e ffoveniniciit, and that his own safety rec|uired
tile C()nvi<'ti(jn ot Columbus. He listened eaijerly,
iherelore, to all accusations, public or priwite ;
and welcome was he who could brinjf any charjjfe,
however e\travaj,Mnt, a^ijainst the admiral and fiis
t)roiliers.
llearii-.},r that tin; admiral was on his way to the
city, he niidc a bustle of |)reparalii)n, and armed
the troopi, alte'iin^ to believe a rumor that Co-
lumbus hafi called upon the caci(|Ues ot the V'ej^a
to ,'iid him will) their subjects in a resistance to
the commands ol j^overnnient. No },n-oun<ls ap-
])ear for this .jbsurd re|)ort, which was proijably
invented to '^\\v a lolorin^ of |)rec.uition to subse-
{[uent measures ot violence and insult. The ad-
miral's brother, Don l)ie;^o, was seized, thrown in
irons, and contiiied on board of ,'i caravel, without
any reason hcin^ assiirned for his imprisonment.
In the me.m time Columbus i)ursued his journey
to San Domingo, travellinj; in a lonely manner,
without guards or retinue. Most of his |)eople
were with the Adi-lantado, and lie had declined
beinj.j attended \>y the remainder. He had heard
of the rumors of the hostile intentions of lioba-
dilla ; aad althou^Hi he knew that violence was
threatened to hi,~. |)erson, he came in this un|)re-
tendinj^ manner to manifest his pacific feelings,
and to remove all suspicion.*
No sooner did liobadilla hear of his arrival
than he .L,Mve orders to put him in irons, and con-
fine him in the lortress. This outra^je t(j a jierson
of such (li;.,niilicd and venerable ;i|)pearance and
such eminent merit, seemed for the time to shock
even his enemies. When the irons were brouj^dit,
every one present shrank from the task of putting
them on l.im, either from a sentiment of comjjas-
sion at so great a reverse of fortune, or out of
habitual reverence for his person. To fill the
measure of ingratilud-- meted out to him, it was
one ot his own domesi cs, " a graceless and
shameless cook," says Las Casas, " who, with un-
washed front, riveted the fetters with as much
readiness and .alacrity as though he were serving
him with choice and savory vi.inds. I knew the fel-
low," adds the venerable historian, "and 1 think
his name w.is l-;s|Mnos,i."t
Columbus conducted himself with characteristic
magnanimity tuider the injuries hea]ied upon him.
There is a noble scorn which swells and supports
the heart, and silences the tongue of the truly
great, when en<luring the insults of the unworthy.
Columbus could not stoop to deprecate the arro-
gance ol a wr.ik and violent man like Mohadilla.
He loo' I beyond this shallow agent and all his
petty tyranny to the sovereigns who h.ul employed
liim. 'I'lu'ir injustice or ingratitude ak)ne could
wound his sjiirit ; and he felt assured that when
the truth cime to be known, they would blush to
find how greatly they had wronged him. With
this proud .issurance he bore all present indigni-
ties in silence.
lioli.uliila, although lie had the admiral and
Don Diego ii; his jwwer, and had secured the
venal populace, felt anxious .and ill at ease. The
Adelantado, with an armed force under his com-
niand, was still in tne distant province of Xara-
gua, ill pursuit of the rebels. Knowing his sol-
(iier-like and determined spirit, he feared he
might take some violent measure when he should
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. l8o.
f Ibid., lib, i, cap. iSo.
hear of the ignominious treatment and iinprjj
ment of iiis brothers. He doubled uhcih.-
order from himself would have any t tin i, ,,•
to exasperate the stern Don llartlioloii! ,', ..
sent a demand, therefore, to Cohniibus, ;ii .J
to his brother, recpiesting him to repair |)i,i.-,;l
to San Domingo, and forbidding him to e\f u;, J
persons lie hcdd in conthiemeni ; (.'oIumiI.ik ■. 1
1'^ - "^
ily complied. He exhorted his brother ti.
Huietly to the authority of his soveicigii-,,
endure all jiresent wrongs and indigniiiis
the confidence that when they arrived :ii( ,.1
everything would be explained and redic,-,.,;*]
On receiving this letter, Don Martliolnrntw
mediately complied. l<elin(|uisliuig Ins ■,,
mand, he haste .ed peacetidly to San Doni-J
and on arriving experienced the s.ime trt.:i!iT'^
with his brothers, being |)Ut in irons and
on board of a caravel. They wt-re kept siiv.ri
from each other, and no communication pcnr::
between them. liob.idilla did not see then;
self, nor did he allow others to visit llnm. |
ke|)t them in igufirance ot the c.iusc (jf thi;r{
|)risonment, the crimes with which thiv J
charged, and the process that was |,'()in;;
against them.t
It has been (|Ucstioned whether Hobadill.irt
iiad authority for the arrest and imprisiniir' .
the admiral and his brothers, + and whciln: ..I
violence and indignity was in any cisc o.;;-
plated by the sovereigns. He may have !,:•
himself empowered by the clause in the IcXr-
instructions, dated March 2ist, \M)'), iii«tl
speaking of the rebellion of Roldan, " luij
thorized to srici' the persons and seijuc^bwu
property of those who appeared to br cul|.i
and then to proceed against them and a^',nr,v
absent, with the highest Cr.il and criiniii.ii |:f.^
ties." 'I'his evidently had retereme tnthcrJ
sons of Roldan and his followers, who wiiv
* Peter Martyr mentions a vulgar riimcir
day, that the admiral, not knowing wfiat mi;^J
pen, wrote a letter in cipher to ifie Adulant.uii. J
in({ him to come with arms in his hands in previr,;;^
violence that might be contrived against hin
the Adelantado advanced, in effect, with his ar:
force, but having the imprudence to procceilsiraeJ
tance ahead of it, was surprised liy the govcrni:|
fore his men could come to his succor, ami ihij
letter in cipher had been sent to Spain. Ttiis :j
have been one of the groundless rumnis of itita
circulated to prejudice the public niiiul. .Noilinil
the kind appears among the charges in iln.'.nti
made by Hobadilla, and which was seen, an<l fcJ
made from it, by Las Casas, for his history. lul
fact, in total contradiction to the statenieii'.i
Casas, Herrcra, and Fernando Columbus.
+ Charlevoix, in his History of San Domini!)]
iii. p. 199), states, that the suit against ColurrUs^
conducted in writing ; that written charges wtrfiJ
to him, to which he replied in the same way Ts'l
contrary to the statements of Las Casas. lletrcra
Fernando Columbus. The admiral himself, inli'
ter to the Nurse of Prince Juan, after rcl.iiir:
manner in which he and his brothers ha<l hcciii
into irons, and confined separately, witlioui V\
visited by Robadilla, or permitted to sec any «l
persons, expressly adds, " I make oath ihatllc<
knov; for what I am imprisoned." Ag.iin, in afj
written, some time afterward from jamaici, lit'l
" I was taken and thrown with two of my t)ri)iliw|
a ship, loaded with irons, with little clothing anl
ill-treatment, without being summoned or tini'l
by justice."
X Herrera, decad. i. lib. iv. cap. 10. Oviedo, C-j
ca, lib. iii. cap. 6.
l.\
JUS.
ious treatment and iinprj;
rs. He (loul)lf(l wht'ih'-
wo'ilil liavc any rlk( i, i'(-,
Ifrn Don HaillioloMicw.
•rclort, to Coiunihus. \u\A
i'slin)f liini to iii)air |h,u>J
il t(irl)i(klin;(hini Ui txt- uki
icHilincnu'nl ; CuliniiliK -•
fxliorlwl liis hrolliiT li ■.■
OritV nf his SOVt'lcii;!'.^, ; l;
wrongs and in(lij;MUii s .k
wln-n lliev arrived Mi,.-
e I'Xjdaincd and ndit-iMi!,']
) leltcr, Don ISarliiolnmrA •
(I. Kclinqiiislunj; h:,
I ]ieact'tully to San !>(,n
<l)frifiufd lliu sanu- in-nirJ
)L'inK put in irons and icrr-l
ivui. TIk'V went ki|n si-ji,r;'
id nocomnumiratioii \K-n\::
jhadilla did not sic tlui>:-|
How others to visit lluiii
rancc i>\ the caiisc (it thrr:
rimes willi whicii tliuy j
])roccss that was jjoir,-
tinned whether Hohadilli r-
:he arrest and inipriMiiin' •
IS brothers,]; and whcilnr-
^nity was in any lasc nr:-'!
ereijrns. He may ha\tt,'
d iiy the clause in liif K:r-
1 March 2ist, 1499. i" ^f I
ehellion of Koldan, " l.r d
fic persons itiii/ ■u-(/iir^/i\i:::
who appeared to \k cu', .
fd a;rainst theni and ai;,i:;:~
ghest c.-.il and criniin.n |:
•ntly had reterenee to tic
I his followers, who wiiv :
■nentions a vulvar rumor '•
not knowing what mv:'r: :i
cipher to the AdulanLui > :^
arms in his hands to prevc
be contrived anainsl hiri
unced, in effect, with his a
imprudence to proccedsoritJ
IS surprised by the govern; ; i
ome to his succor, ami \\'>.\
been sent to Spain. This rj
le groundless rumoisofi'rf:
ce the public miiul. NoiI.eiI
niong the charges in iheinci
and which was seen, and fx;i
.. Casas, for his history.
idiction to the statemt.ii'.st:.
Fernando Columbus,
jis History of San Domir.;'
at the suit against Colurr.'.aij
; that written charKcs v.f^'i
replied in the same way 1wl
ments of I.as Casas, Ilerrcr^
The admiral himself. ini>
. Prince Juan, after ril.itir:
and his brothers had liceiii.il
fined separately, wilhcu :<l
or permitted to sec am sf
.dds, " I make oath that 1 -I
imprisoned." Again, in ^4
afterward from Jamaica, m^l
rown with two of my hnmt^M
■ons, with litdeclothinRaiilr
being summoned or onn-l
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
175
krm and against whom Columbus had sent
nc ooiiiplainls ; and this, l)y a violent construc-
|;o'),ulilla seems to have'wresled into an au-
^jtv tor sci/inj; the person of the admiral him-
lii t.ict, in tile whole course of his proceetl-
lif reversed and conlounileil the onler of his
Iruiiion-.. His first step should have been to
ff,l atjainst the rebels ; this he made the last,
last >t'ep should have been, in case of ample
Heiue ai;.iinst the admiral, to have superseded
liiioitice ; an. I this he made the first, without
|lin;r tor evicK'nce. Havinj,' predetermined,
The very outset, that Columbus was in the
hnij. I)y the same rule he had to presume that
\|if opposite p.irties were in the ri^^ht. It be-
L HI lispcMsahle to his own justification to in-
baio llic .ulmiral and his brothers ; and the reb-
li.il been sent to iiti\iit: became, by this
Iful.ir perversion of rule, necessary and cherish-
leviilcmes, to criminate those ajjainst whom
• had reliflled.
fhe inientions of the crown, however, are not to
[vindicili-l at the exjiense of its miseral)le
In'.. II jiroper respect had been felt for the
Jib ,i!i Idi^jnilies of Columbus, IJobadilla would
|er hive been intrusted with powers so exten-
unili'fnu-.l, .Mid discretion.iry ; nor would he
led.iivd to pro'.eed to such lenjjths, with such
eii:ss,:nd prccipit.ition, had he not felt assured
Il uoiiiil not bj displeasing to the jealous-
kdfl KeuliM.md.
fhe old srcnesot the time of Aguado were now
ewfil with tenfold virulence, and the old
irjifs revive. I, with others still more extrava-
It. From the early and never-to-t)e-forj.(otteii
|ra;,'f upon Castilian i)ride, of compelling hi-
iii time ot emergency, to labor in the con-
Iction ot works necessary to the |)ublic s.ifety,
in to the iCLcnt charge of levying war ag.iinst
jgovfriMiv.MU. there was not a hardship, abuse,
]sfi|iiion ill the island, that was not imputed to
Iniisdec Is of Columbus and his brothers, lie-
; the ii^u.il accusations of inflicting op|)ressive
pr. iiaiiccessary tasks, iiainful restrictions,
[rt alluwaiirei of food, and cruel punishments
In the Spa-iiards, and waging unjust wars
linit thf natives, they were now charged with
KfiuiiiiT the conversion of the latter, that they
|hi send them slave-> to .Spain, and profit by
|r sale. This last charge, so contrary to the
1 IfcliMi^s of th<; admiral, was founded on his
[ins; ohiected to the baptism of certain Indians
nauire .n;e, until they could be instructed in
Jdoiiiiins of Cliristianity ; justly considering it
|al)uu' 01 that holy sacrament to administer it
liiiiidiv.*
to!uini)us v,as charged, also, with having se-
le 1 pe.irls, and other precious articles, collect-
In his voyage along the coast of I'aria, and with
piiii; the sovereigns in ignorance of the nature
his discoveries there, in order to exact new
>iii-i;estrom them ; yet it was notorious that he
Still home specimens of the pearls and jour-
i'li 1 charts of his voyage, by which others
e-n enabled to pursue his track.
fviii tl'.e kite tumults, now that the rebels were
flitted as evidence, were all turned into matters
|cousuion. They were represented as spirited
'"v.il resistances to tyranny exerci'ed upon
Icoioiiists and the natives. The wel'-merited
lishmeiits inflicted upon certain of the ring-
Birs were cited as proofs of a cruel and re-
gclul disposition, and a secret hatred ot Span-
i. lib. iv. cap. 10. Oviedo, CH Mufioz, Hist. N. Mundo, part unpublished.
iards. llobadilla lielievod, or .iffcrted to believe,
all these charges. He had, in a manner, made
the rebels his confederates in the ruin ot Colum-
bus. It w.is become a common caii.->e with them.
He could no longer, therefore, coiuhnt himself
toward them as a judge, (luev.ira. Ke(|uelme,
and their fellow-convicts, were discharged almost
without the torni of a trial, .and it is even said
were received into favor and countenance. Kol-
dan, trom the very first, h.id been treated with
confidence by liobadilla, and honored with his
correspondence. All the others, whosi: conduct
had rendereil them liabl(! to justice, received
either a special ac(|uitt.il or a general jijirdon. It
was enough to have been opposed in any way to
Columbus, to obtain full justilication in the eyes of
IJobadilla.
The latter had nov,' collected a weight of testi-
mony, and produced a crowd of witnesses, suf-
ficient, as he conceived, to insure the condemn.i-
tion of the prisoners, .and his own continuance in
command. He determined, therefore, to send the
admiral an<l his brothers home in chains, in the
vessels ready for se.i, transmitting at the same
time the iiupiest t.iken in their case, and writing
private letters, enforcing the charges made against
them, and advising th.at Columbus should on no
account be restored to the coniniaiid, which he
had so shamefully abused.
San Domingo now swarmed with miscreants
just delivered from the dungeon .uid the gibbet.
It was a perfect jubilee of triumphant \ill,iiny and
dast.ird malice. Mvery b.ise s|)iiit, which had
been awed into obsequiousness by Columbus and
his brothers when in power, now started up to
revenge itself upon them when in < h.iins. The
most injurious slanders were loudly iiroel.iimed in
the streets ; insulting p.isqulnades and inll.imma-
tory libels were posted up ;U every coi ner ; and
horns were blown in the neiglil)orho(i(l of their
prisons, to taunt them with the exuliings of the
rabble.* When these rejoicings ot his enemies
reached him in his dungeon, and Columbus re-
flected on the inconsiderate violence already ex-
hibited by Hobadilla, he knew not how far his
rashness and confidence might carry him, and be-
gan to entertain apprehensions for his life.
The vessels being ready to m.ike s.iil, Alon.-:o
de X'illejo was appointed to take charge of the
prisoners, and carry them to Spain. This officer
had been brought up by an uncle ot I'onseca, was
in the em|)ioy of that bisho]), and had come out
with r>obadilla. The latter instructed him, on
arriving .it Cadi^, to deliver his prisoners into the
hands ot Konseca, or of his uncle, ihinking there-
by to give the malignant ]irelale a triumphant
gratification. This circumstance •^avc weight
with many to a report that Hobadilki was secretly
insfig.ited and encouraged in his violent measures
by Fonseca, and was promised iiis ])rotection and
influence at court, in case of any complaints of his
conduct.!
Villejo undertook the officp assigned him, but
he discharged it in a more generous m.inner than
was intended. "This Alonzo de X'illejo," says
the worthy Las Casas, " was a hidalgo of honor-
able character, and my particular friend." He
certainly showed himself superior to the low ma-
lignity of his i)atrons. When he arrived with ?.
guarti to conduct the admiral froni the prison to
the ship, he found him in chains in a state of si-
lent despondency. So violently had he been
* Hist, del Almirante, cap. G6.
f Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib, i. cap. iSo, MS,
11Q
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
trentrd, nnrl sn savapp were the jiassions let loostr
against hitn, that he tcari'd he sliuuld l)t' sacritict-d
without ail opportunity ot hcinj^ heard, and his
name ),'n down sullied and disiionored to posterity.
When he helieid the ortiter enter with the Kuaril,
he th()U),dit it was to conduct him to the scaffold.
" V'illejo," s.aid he, mourntully, " whither are you
takinff me ? I'o the ship, your Kxceliency, to
emh.irk," replied the other. " To emhark I" re-
peated the .idniiral, earnestly ; " X'illejo, do you
speak the truth ?" " l!y the life of your Excel-
ler.ey," replied the honest otiicer, " it is true 1"
Witfi thesi! words the admir.d w;is comforted, and
felt as one restored from death to life. Nothinjf
t:\n l)e more touchinj^ and expressive than this
little collo<piy, recorded hy the venerahle Las
fasas, who dOubtless had it from the lips of his
friend X'illejo.
The c.ii'.ivels set sail early in Ortolier, l)earinjj
off Columbus shackled like the vilest ot culprits,
amid the sc-o!fs and shouts ot ;i miscreant r.ihhie,
who took a brutal joy in he.ipinj^ insults on his
venerable head, and bent curses after him from
the shores of the island he had sn riirentlv r
to the civilized world. Fortun.itely tlvW
was favorable, and of but nu-derate duration,
WIS rendered less disaj^reeable by the < (iiiilur J
those to whom fie was ^'iven in cusindv
worthy X'illeio, thoujjh in the service ot rmn-
fe't deeply moved at the treatment ot Lnlmr,
'1 he master of the car.'ivcl, Andreas .Martin.
e(|ually j^rieved ; they tioth treated the .nlir-j
with proiouiul respect and assiduous .iiiin:"
They would have taken off his irons, Imt irj^
lie would not consent. " No," s.iid he prritfi
" their m.ijesties commanded me by lelttrto-.I
mit to whatever ISobadilla should order in iv
name ; by their authority he lias jnu upon •
these ch.iins ; 1 will we.ir them until tlic, c
order them to be taken off, and I will prtv
them .afterward ;is relics and memori.iU ()lirt>|
w.ird of my services." *
" He did s(»," adds his son Fernando ; '
them alw.iys haiij^in^f in his cabinet, and h;>
([uested that when he tlied they mij^lit be !;'jr;
with him 1" t
BOOK XIV.
iiii
li
CHAPTKR I.
REN'S.\Tin>J IV KPA]\ ON THE ARRIVAL OF roi.l'M-
liCS IN IRONS— HIS AI'I'KARANCK AT COIRT.
[IJOO.J
The arrival of Columbus at Cadiz, a prisoner
and in chains, produced almost as jjreat a sensa-
tion as his triumphant return from his first voy-
age. It was one ot those strikinjr and obvious
facts which speak to the teeliiiKS of the multitude,
and jireclude the necessity of reflection. No one
sto|)pe(l to in(|uire into the case. It was sutlicient
to be told thai Columbus was broujjht home in
irons from the world he hatl discovered. There
was a jreneral burst of indignation in Cadiz, and
in the powerful and ojiulent .Seville, which was
echoed throughout all S])ain. If the ruin of Co-
lumbus had been the intention of his enemies, they
had defe.'iled their ohject hy their own violence.
One of tho:^e reactions look jilace, so frequent in
the public mind, when persecution is pushed to an
unguarded length. Those ot the populace who
ha I receinlv been loud in their clamor against
Columbus weri' now as loud in their reprobation
of his tre.itmeiit, and a strong sympathy was
expressed, .ig.iinst which it would have been odious
for the go\eriinieiit to contend.
The tidmgs of his arrival, .and of the ignomini-
ous manner in which he had been brought,
re.iclied the court at Ciran.ida, and tilled the halls
ot the Alliambr.i with murmurs of astonishment.
Columbus, full of his wrongs, but ignorant how
far thev had been authorized by the sovereigns,
had forborne to write to them. In the course of
his vovage, however, he had jienned a long letter
to DoOa Juana de la Torre, the aya ot Prince
Juan, a lady high in favor with (^ueen Isabella.
This letter, on his arrival at Cadiz, Andreas Mar-
tin, the captain of the caravel, permitted him to
send off privately by express. It arrived, there-
fore, before the protocol of the proceedings insti-
tuted by Uobadilla, and from this document the
sovereigns derived their tirst intimation of his
treatment. t It contained a statement of v.r'A
irans.ictions of the island, and of the \vr(mi;i{
had suffered, written with his usual artlrsi't
and energy. 'I'o specify the contents wnii'
but to recapitulate circumstances already rr
ed. .Some expressions, however, which i
from him in the wair.vh of his feelings, arc wp?
ot being noted. " The slanders ot unrih"
men," says he, " have done me more iniiin,!'
.ill my services have profited me." SptMk;",'^
the misrepresentations to which he w.ismiii'
ed, he observes ; " Such is the evil name w'v;
have ac(|uired, that it I were to build ^lo^|':
and churches, they would be called dens c: :
bers." .After relating in indignant tiriiis tne J
duct of liobadill.i, in seeking testimony rcspec!!
his adminislr.uion from the very men who'
rebelled against him, and throwing hini>('i:
his brothers in irons, without letting tl.iiii t
the offences with which they were ch;iri,'f(i,
have been much aggrieved," he ;ukls. " in tki'l
person should be sent out to investigate mycl
duct, who knew that if the evidence uhicr.
could send home should appear to be ot a stra
n.ature, he would remain in the govcrnmr:
He complains that, in forming an opiiiini', ci
administration, allowances had not been WMxi
the extraordinary difficulties with which licK.fi
contend, and the wild state ot the coiiiiiryi
which he hatl to rule. " I was judged," heelwr/
" as a governor who had been sent to t:ikf > "^
of a well-regulated city, under the doming'
well-established laws, where there w.is no <'J';
of everything running to disorder and ruin ; ^-i
ought to he judged as a captain, sent Id suiiii'
numerous and hostile people, ot manners .ini!'
ligion opposite to ours, living not in ngulartOJl
but in forests and mountains. It ought Ui!)f.
sidered that I have brought all tlieie umk'4
jection to their m.ajesties, giving ilieni ihmi\
cap.
iSO, M-i
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. 1.
t Hist, del Alniirante, cap. S6.
\ Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 1S2
BUS.
ind he had so n.Tcnily ,v'
rUI. Foriimiitfly the \f,,
t)f l)«t DK/dfralc (luralicn.,
lisajj;rcL'al)lt; liy tlic ((iiHluf
was j(iveti in cilslddy '
i^h in the scrvicf ot lum-
It the trealmfnt of (.'filuiT.
caravel, Andreas Martm
hey l)oth treated the .niir-l
)ect and assichious aikn,'
aken off his irons, tiut vr
.■nt. " No," said lie proci|
mmanded me by Utter to.,\
)l)adilla should order in
ithority he has put ii]mir ■
II wear them until tlnv -■
taken off, and I will pn^-
relies and memori.Us o| ut
^." *
ds Ills son Fernando ; "h
inji in his cabinet, and k
he died they mijjlu be LurJ
LIFE AND VOYAGI'S OF COM'MBUS.
177
itained a statement of t r
:; island, and of the \vni:i;>
ten with his usual artlcw
sjiecity the contents wiu'
circumstances already re
ssions, however, wliiih
iim'h of his ieelinijs, anu"-
" The slanders ot \\'<rt4
lave done me more inHiry!
ve profited me." Spe.iki";]
ions to which he was siili'
Such is the evil name ws;
It if I were to build liiw
would be called (Uns ni :
in^ in indi^jnant terms ti'c
II seeking testimony ic.mh;:
from the very men w!"'
lim, and throwm;,^ hiiiisf,:
ns, without letlinj,' tl-.iiiu'1
which they were ch.ivijfl.
.jgrieved," he adds, "inthi'
""nt out to invesli};ate myc!|
|hat if the evidence whicr
iioiild appear to be ot a str'
remain in the jjovtrnnir-J
|t, in formin;^ an opinim'f'
wances had not been iii.'-
itticulties with which lif i~'
ivild Slate ot the country"
. " I was judged," hedlw:
lo had been sent to lake (Ml
city, under the (loiiiinff i
|vs, where there was ni' (-
ng to disorder and ruin ;
as a captain, sent to s.i
lile people, of maf.neis .>i
lirs, living not in regular wn
iiountains. It ouglu IoIk'-
brought all these under >.
Ljesties, giving them donun^
Ind., lib. i. cap. iSo, MS
Inte, cap. S6,
Ind., lib. i. cap. 1S2.
re 1"
ir .molhcr world, by which Spain, heretofore
|r has suddenly bei onie rich. Whatever er-
1 1 ;nav li ive t.illen into, they were not with an
intciilioM ; and I believe their majesties will
j,t what I say. I ha\e known ihem lo be mer-
|\i, [hose who have willuUy done them disser-
■ ,im convinced th.it they will h.ive still
iiiilul''i'iu'e lor me, who have erred inno-
lllv. (ir In compulsion, as they will herealier bi;
fully inlornied ; and 1 trust they will con-
fcr mv 1,'riMt services, the advani.iges ot which
(everv lay more and more .ipp.irenl."
hen tills letter was read to the noble-minded
.iiid she found how grossly Columbus
hern wronged .ind the royal authority .abused,
Ihca't w.is tilled with mingled sympathy and
■I'liati'in. file tidings were conlirmed by .1
Vtmni tlie alcalde or corregidor ot C.idiz, i'nlo
Le hands Columbus .md his brothers had been
Ivcivd. until the pleasure of the sovereigns
111 lie known ; * and by .inother letter from
|n/ii de \'illeio, expressed in terms .iccord.mt
iliisluiniane ;ind honorable conduct low.ird
liilibiriinis prisoner.
In.cviT Ferdinand might have secretly felt
Kf I aijaiiist Colund)us, the momentary tide
piihlic tcfliiig was not to be resisted. Hi;
lei uitli Ills generous (|ueen in her reprobation
;• trcitiiieiit ot the admiral, and both sover-
, hastened to give evidence to the world that
I imprisonment had been without their au-
titv, and contrary to their wishes. Without
liiij; to receiv'e .any documents th.it might ,ir-
Itroni liobidill I, they sent orders to Culi/, that
j prisoners should be instantly set at liberty,
treated with all distinction. They wrote a
Ir to Colunihus, couched in terms of gratitude
laftfction, expressing their grief at all that he
Isiittired, and inviting hir.i to court. They or-
at tile same time, that two thousand ducats
iiii lie advanced to defray his expenses.!
he loyal heart of Columbus was again cheered
his declaration of his sovereigns. He felt con-
b of his integrity, and .anticipated an imme-
rt'stituiion of all his rights and dignities.
Appeared , It court in (iranada on the 17th of
itnibir, not as a man ruined and disgraced,
mchly dressed, .'ind attended i)y an honorable
fcue. He was received by the sovereigns with
laliticd tav(U- and distinction. When the
kn lichckl this venerable man approach, and
ght 1)11 all be had deserved and all he h.id
Ireil, she w.is moved to tears. Columbus had
le up linnly .igainst the rude conllicts of the
hi— he li.id emlured with lofty scorn the in-
iaiid insults of ignoble men ; but he jios-
I strong ,ind (piick sensibility. When he
hiiiiselt thus kindly received by his sover-
, and beheld le.irs in the benign eyes of Is.i-
k. his long-suppressed feelings burst forth : he
himselt on his knees, and for some time
I lun utter a word for the violence of his tears
Jsiiiihiiigs.]:
rdinand and I.sahella raised him from the
1, and endeavored to encourage him by the
(,'iacious expressions. As soon as he re-
I self-possession he entered into an elo(|uent
fiigh-minded vindication of his loyalty, and the
Pviedo, Cronica, lib. iii. cap. 6.
Us Casas, lib. i. cap. 182. Two thousand duc-
F two thousand eight hundred and forty-six dol-
[fquivalent to eight thousand five hundred and
Might dolLirs of tJie present day.
Hnrera, decad. i. lib. iv, cap. 10.
zeal he iiad ever lelt for the glory an<l adv.nntage
of the Sjianish crown, dei l.iring tli.it it at anv time
hi' h.id erri'd, it li.id been throiigli ine\peri<'iu c in
government, and the extr.ionlm.iry (biticulties by
which lie li.id been surrounded.
There needed no vindii .itioii on his |).irt. 'I'he
intemper.mce cd his enemies h.id been his best
aiboc.ile. He stooil in presence ol Ins sovereigns
a deeply-injured m.m, ;ind it rein.iined tor them
to vindic.ile themselves to the world Iroin the
charge ot mgralilude tow.ird their most deserving
subject. They espresseil their indigntition .it the
proceedings of llobadilla, wliicli they dis.ivoAed,
;is coiitr.iry to their instructions, and decl.ired thiit
he shouhl be immediattdy dismissed from his com-
mand.
in f.ict, no luiblic notice w.is taken ot the
charges sent home by liob.idilla, nor of the letters
written in supjiort of them. The sovereigns took
every occ.ision to tre.it Columbus with tavor and
distinction, assuring him that his grievamts
should be redressed, his properly restored, and
be reinst.'iled in all his privileges and dignities.
It W.IS on the latter point tb.it Cidumbus was
chielly solicitous. Merceii.iry coiisiilerations ha I
scarcely any weight in his mind, (ilory had beei\
the gre.it object ot his ambition, .ind he telt th.'t,
.IS long as he rem.iined susjiended from his employ-
ments, a tacit censure rested on his name. He ex-
pected, therefore, th.it the moment the sovereigiiS
should be s.iiislied of the riciitude of his conduct,
they would be e.iger to 111, ikc him .imenils ; that ;i
restitution ot his viceroyalty would immediate ly
take place, and he should return in triuiiipb toS.in
Domingo. Here, however, he was doomed to ex-
perience a disappoin'.ment which threw a gloom
over the remainder of his days. To .iccount tor
this flagrant want of justice .ind gratitude in the
crown, it is expedient to notice a variety of eveiiir>
which had materi.illy affected the inti'rests of Co-
lumbus in the eyes of the politic Fcrdinanil,
CIIAl'TF.R Il.x
CONTEMPORARY VOY.VC.l'.S OI" msCOVF.RV.
TllK general license granted by the Spanisli
sovereigns in 1405, to undert.ike voy.iges ot dis-
covery, had given rise to v.irious expeditions by
enterprising individuals, chielly persons who h;i;l
sailid with Columbus in his lirst voyages. The
government, unable to lit out niany .irm.iments
itself, was pletised to have its territories thus ex-
tended, free ot cost, and its treasury at the same
time benetited by the sli.ire ot thi; jiroceeds of
these voy.iges, ri'served ,is a kind of duty to the
crown. Tliese ex|)ediiions had chielly taken pl.ice
while Columbus w.is in ])artial disgr.ice with the
sovereigns. His own charts and jouni.il serve!
.IS guides to the adventurers ; and his m.ignilicent
accounts of I'.iria and the adj.iceiu eo.ists b.ad
chiefly excited their cu|)idity.
Besides the expedition of Ojed.i, already noticed,
in the course of which he touched ,il .Xar.igua,
one h.id been undertaken at the same time l-.y
I'edro Alonzo Nif^o, native ot Moguer, an able
pilot, who had l)een with Columbus in the voy.iges
to Cuba and I'aria. Having obt.iined ;i license,
he interestecl a rich merchant of Seville in the un-
dertaking, who fitted out a caravel ot fifty tons
burden, under condition that his brother Chris-
toval (iuevra should have the command. They
sailed from the bar ot Saltes, a few days after .
178
I.IFIi AND VOYACKS OF COLUMBUS.
(ljr:la had snilivl from Culi/, in tli< spiiii); nf i4o<),
anil arri\in>,' (in llir coast ol Tfria hirnia, to the
S')ulh ot I'.iii.i, ran alonjr ji (or sonic ilistancc,
|)as-,f<l thi()ii>;h tlic (lull, and tluhd' winl one
liundifd anil lliiil\ Ica^jiir-. alonjr the shore ot llu:
|)r('-.i;nt rr|iu')lii ol C'olonihia, visilinj^ wh.it was
aliorward ( allrd the I'lMrl Coast. 'I'lify landed in
varioil. plaies ; disposed ot their lairope.in Irilles
t') inimeu'^e iirolil, and relnrnel with a lar^e store
ot );'old and pearls ; h.ivin^r made, in their dindnu-
ti\e hark, one ol the most extensive and lucrative
voyajffs yet ai coniplisiied.
Ahont liie sani(! time the I'in/ons, that family
of hold and opulent n.ui^ators, titled out an arma-
nu'iit ot tour caravels .it I'alos, manne(l in a ^;reat
measure liv their own rcl.iiions and Irieiids. Sev-
er.d espeneiiced pilots emharked in it wIkj had
heen with Cohimluis to I'.iri.i, and il w.is com-
manded hy \'iccnle N'.ine/, |'in/on, who had hecn
c.iptain (d a car.ivel in the S(|uadrun ot the ad-
miral on his lirst voy.i.ne.
I'iiuon was a hardy and experienced se.iman,
and did not, like the others, lollow closely in the
tr.ick ol L'olumluis. S.iilin;.,'- in Decemliii, l4i;o,
he passed the Can iry .iiul Cape de \'erde Islands,
slandiilj; south-wesl uiilil he lost si);lil ot the pol.ir
sl.ir. llere In: encountered .i terrible storm, and
w.is exceedin;;ly iierplexed and coiitounded by the
new asptcl ot the heavens. Nothing; was yet
known ot the soulhern hemisphere, nor ot the
beautiful constellation of the cross, which in those
rejrions has since supplied to mariners the |il;ice
ot the north star. 'I'hc voyaj;ers h.id expected to
timl at the south pole a .star correspondent to that
ot the nonh. They were dismayed at bcholdiiij,'-
no j^uide of the kind, and tli'jU),dU there must be
some prominent swellinj; of the earth, which hid
the pole from their view.*
I'in/on (dntinued on, however, with jjreat intre-
pidity. Oil the 2Cith of January, I5CX3, he saw, at
a distance, a jfreat he.idl.ind, which he called
Cape Santa M.iri.i de la Consolacion, but whiih
his since been named Cape .St. .\u^nistine. lie
landed and took possession of the country in the
name of their Calliolic m.ijesties ; beintj a jiart of
the territoriis since calU'd the ISra/ils. St:\ndiiii,r
thence westward, he discovered the Maraj^non,
since calli'd the Kivcr of the Ama/ons ; traversed
the (lulf ot I'aria, ;ind coiUiiuied across the Carib-
bean Sea ,'ind the Ciulf ot .Mexico, until he found
himself amoiij; the PjalLimas, where he lost two
ot his vessels on the rocks, near the island of
Jumeto. He returned to I'alos in Septtniber, hav-
infjf added to his former )j;lory that of beiii^ the
hrsi lluropean who had t rossed the equinoctial line
in the western ocean, and of having discovered
tlie famous kinj,^dom of lira.-il, from its commence-
ment at the River .Maraj,Mion tu its most eastern
point. As a reward hir his achievements, jiower
was jjranted to him to colonize and govern the
lands which he had discovered, and which extend-
ed southward from a little beyond the River of
Marai^non to Cajie St. Au^fustine.f
The little port of I'alos, which had been so slow
in furmshiiiir the I'lrst s(iua(lroii tor Columbus,
v.'.is now ciintiiuially ai.;itated by the ])assion for
discovery. Shortly alter the sailin)r of I'inzon,
another expedition was titted out there, by Diej^o
Lepe, a ii.itive ot the place, and manned by his
adventurous townsmen. He sailed in the same
direction with I'in/.on, but discovered more ot the
* Peter Muttyr, dccad. i. lib. \x.
I lierrcr.i, ilecad. i. lib. iv. cap. 12.
N. Muado, part unpublistieil.
MuOoz, Hist.
southern continent than any other voynjjcr <,:
d.iy, or lor twelve ye.irs atterw.trd. Iled.n.
Capi! .St. Augustine, and .isciTtained th.n
coast beyond ran to the south-west. Hf l.inj
,'ind perlormed the usu.il ceremonies of t.iliJ
possession in the name ot the Sp.inish sovcri -J
and 111 one pl.ice c.irved their n. lines on am,!--
tent tree, ot such enormous m.ij^niiiide th.n ,
eiitetMi men with their h.inds joined could iii,|,.
brace tlu; trunk. W'li.it cnliam ed the incriii' ,
discoveries was, that he had never s.iiliil un; ;
liimbus. lie had with him, however, sevir,ii>,
fid pilots, who had ai loinpanied the ailiinr.,
his voya>{e.*
Another expedition of two vessels s.iiliil ;..
Cadiz, in ( ictober, 1500, under the i mnin.ii,-:
Rodrij,'o Il.istides ot Seville. He lAp'dml
coast ot Terr.i Kirma, p.issinj; Cape ilc l.i'i:
the western limits (d the presious disi iivtrir,
the main-land, continuiii); on to a port simci,
The Retreat, where atlerw.ird w.is loiindiil
seajiort of N'ombre de Ihos. His vessels If
nearly destroveil by the teriilo, or wuriii u:
abounds in tliose se.is, he li.ul ^rcit (lifliui!;.
reachin'.f .\.iraj;ua in llisp.iniola, where he
his two laravels, and proceeded with liis irtd
land to S.in l)ominj;o. Here he w.is sei/ciLJ
imprisoned by llobidilla, under pretevt iha; 1
had treated for ^,'old with the n.itives ol ,\ari,'.
Such was the sw.irm ot Sp.inish exptditioii.
mediately resultiiiK from the enterprises nh,
lumbus ; but others were also underl.ik'
forei).jn nations. In the year 1497, .Sihjvj
Cabot, son of a X'eiielian inerch.int residri;
liristol, sailing in the service ot Henry Vli J
laijrland, navij^^ated to the northern seasui
New World. Adoptinjf the idea ot Columl)i;-,:j
sailed in (pKst ot the shores ot Cath.iy, and
to tlnd a north-west passage to India. In 1:11.,
aj,'e he discovered Newfoundland, coasted L-
dor to the hfty-sixth dej^ree of north l.iiitiuiv,
then returninjr, ran down southwest to ihc F
lias, when, his jirovisions be^inninj; to tail, icJ
turned to Kngland.J liut \a^ue and sc;in'.yi|
counts of this voyajfe exist, which w.is inipurJ
as including the lirst discovery of the nur;..:l
continent ot the .New World.
The iliscoveries ot rival nations, houed
which most excited the attention and leaLit).
the .Sp.inish crown, were those ot the l'ortii);:J
\'asco de Ci.ima, a man of rank and tonsuiiwi
talent and intrepiclity, had, at lenjfth, accoiuM
ed the ^jreat design ot the late i'riiice lieiirj
l'ortU}(al, and by iloublinj,^ the Cajie ol 1 (
Hope in the year 1497, hail opened the
sou^ht-for route to India.
Immediately after Ciama's return a lleetof JJ
teen sail was fitted out to visit the maj;ni"'f
countries of which he brouj^ht accounts.
expedition sailed on the 9th of March, ijoo.l
Calicut, under the command of I'edro .Ahawl
Cabral. Having passed the Cape de Wiilfhla
he souf^lit to a\-oid the calms i)revalcnt mil
coast ot (iuinea, by stretching far to the »|
Suddenly, on the 25th of Ajiril, he came
ot land unknown to .any one in his S(|ua(lniii:l
.'IS yet, they had not heard of the discovcrtf
I'inzon and Lepe. He at first sup|)(ised it;ij
some j.; real island; but after co.istiiiijit tariJ
time he Ijecame persuaded that it must bepj
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind. , lib. il. cap. 2. M:l|
part unpublisticd.
; Hakluyt's Collection o( Voyages, vol. iii. ?1
s.
LIFK AND VOVAGI'S OF COLrMIU'S.
i;'.)
1 any other von-.-ik't ''
■', ,iticrwar<l. lli' dn
;iiul asi tTlaiiRil Ih.ii ,
lie somli-wist. Ml- U^.
Ml.ll I frcllKlllitS ol l.iiij
:• ol till' Spanish siivcrt:-]
(I ihi'ir iiaincs on am.ii;'
iinous maKiiiuidi: lli.ii ,1
liaiuls joiiiid (duld 111,1-1
lit t'liliam I'll ll»' MUTiii:
If liad lU'Vcr hailed uil; J
1 him, liowi'vrr, sl'Vi i-,il.,|
ciomp. lined the iiiln.i:
joo, uiuhr tlu- I (1111111,11,,
a, jiassing <-'ape ilr i.i V-
liie pifviiius dlsdivornv
linKoii I" '' P"""^ sinn 1,.,
aliiTwanl was Imimliil
dc l)i<is. His vtsselsl,!
ihu tureiU), or worm u;
as, lie liad Rieal dilVuu'.:
1 llispaiiiola, wlicre lit
1 proicfdcd witli his in*
1). Here he was sci/eiL
i.iiUa, unchT pri'icU ih.i;
Willi ihu natives ol \:irn.
■m ol Spanish e\pfdiliiffl-
from the enteipiiM's i-t
s were also imdcil.ik.'
n the vcar 1497. ^t^''"'
iietian inerch.mi rcsuir:
ihe service ot Henry Mi
to the nortliern se.isu:
iliiijr the idea ol Columk-
e shores ot Cathay, and b
lljassa^e to India, liitiin
• wfmuuUand, eiKi^leil L
ejrree of north liiiimi'--,
down southwest In ihi' ■
ions he^{innin^ to tail, l::j
lUil va^jue and sciinx
exist, which was impor.
'st discovery of llic nur;..:
World. ,
ol rival nations, hom^
the attention and iciiWi
■ere those ot tlie rortu;;a
an of rank and tonsum;
had, at len^jth, acconipi
of the late I'lince Ueiu,
.ouhlinjr the Cape ot i
I4y7, had opened the
ndia. , .,
Cama's return a lleeto.-
out to visit the ma-n,-
he l)routrht accuuiits.
1 Iheolh of March, i;oo
,mmand of I'cdro .\h,iK
■d the Cai)e de N'enlt bi.rj
ihe calms prev.ilfiU or.
stretchinjj far to ll""
hot April, lie came in=i
anyone in his s(|U.uiron j
t lieard of the di:,covt:r-
He at first supposed H -I
but after coastin;4 itt''f>f
uaded that it must Ik l«
Lnncnt. HavinRranRrd nlonj; it somrwh.nt hc-
I'lli,, Ijllnnlli deijrce ot soiittiern l.itiludc, he
li Ird ,a a li.ulior which lie c.ilh d I'orlo Sccuro,
liikinil p,)^se>-<innot the coimlry for the crown
||,„|.hi.mI, (lis|).itclic(| a ship to Lisbon with the
Lirt.int iiilmus,* In tliis w.iy did the llta/ils
nr into ll"' |)o-.sission ot I'orliijfal, l)(•in^,' to tlu;
btwani ot the conventional line settled with
am as the boundaries ot their respective lerri-
fjis Dr. Ko'iirtson, in recordin;,^ this vovajjc
ICdir.tl, concludes with one ol Ids just and ele-
tit remarks :
►•Liiiiniilm-^'s discovery of the New World
L' hcolnerves, " thee'lfortof an active jjenius,
liilrl 1)V evjii'iience. and acting? upon a rejjiilar
n executed with no less couras.;e than persever
:,.. liiitlroin this adventure ot the I'ortuj^iiese,
,irs that ch.ince niinlil lia\e accomplished
ini>
Ind., lib. ii. cap. 2.
MJ
L.Tcat de-.ij,Mi, which it is now the pride ot hu-
InaMsoii 10 li.ive formed and perlecled. if the
l;i,m of Coliiinhus h.id not conducted mankind
[Amcrici, Cabr.d, by a fortunate accident,
»ht have led them, a few ye.irs later, to the
owlcilgc of th.it extensive continent. "f
CHM'TKR HI.
tiioi..\.s DK ov.wiio .\ri'i)iNn;i) to supkrsede
liOli.VDIl.I.A.
[I SOI.]
IIK mimerous discoveries briefly noticed in the
iccdnijj chapter had produced a powerful effect
»n the niind ot I'erdinand. His ambition, his
Iri'c, ;iiid his jealousy were e{|ually inflamed.
lichekl hmindless regions, teeming with all
nf riches, daily openinjj before the enter-
^tsot his siil)jects ; but he lielield at the same
other nations launchiii}:f forth into com|)eti-
cmulous for a share of the fjolden world
Icli he was eajfer to monopolize. The expedi-
Isof the IJijjhsh and the accidental discovery
lihc brazils by the I'ortujjuese caused him
Vh iiniMsiiies,'-,. To secure his possession of
Icontinent, he determined to establish local ffov-
nenis or commands in the most imiu/rtant
f(\ all to be subject to a jjeneral fjovernment,
klilished at San Dominjjo, which was to be the
ropiilis.
Ifith these considerations, the government,
Itlot'ire granted to Columbus, had risen vastly
niiiirtaiice ; and w'lile the restitution ot it was
|more desirable in his eyes, it became more
I more a matter of repugnance to the selfish
■e.nlous monarch. He had lonj; repented hav-
ive>tL-(l such fjreat powers and prerogatives in
[siih'i'ct, p.iriicularly in a foreigner. At the
lot '^'ranting them he had no anticipation of
bouiulless countries to be jdaced under his
im.iiid. He appeared almost to consider him-
Icutwiitcd by Columbus in the arrangement ;
'every succeeding discovery, instead of in-
isiiijjliis grateful sense of the obligation, only
iim repine the more at the growing niagni-
lol the reward. At length, however, the af-
|o! lirihachlla had effected a temporary exclu-
|"t Cuhimbus from his high office, and that
any odium to the crown, and the wary
1 secretly determined that the door thus
lion of Voyages, vol.
iii. ?■ 1
Ij-afiteau, Conquetes des Portugais,
|i(obertson, Hist. America, book ii.
lib. ii.
closed between him and his dignities •should never
ag.iin be opened.
Perhaps t'Crdinand may really have enterl, lined
doubts as to the innocence ot Columbus, witli re-
spect to the v.inous charges ni.ide .ig.iinst liim.
He may ii.ive jloubled also the sincerity of hi;
lovaltN', being a sir.iiiger, when be should find
himself strong in his i onimand, .it a gre,it dis-
t.ini e from the |).irent < ountry, with immense ;ind
opulent regions under his control. Columbiii
himselt, ill his letters, alluiles to reports circuhitefl
tiy his enemies, ih.it he intended either to set Up
,in iiHlependeiit so\ creignty, or to drlivcr his dis-
coveries into the hands of other potentates ; .'ind
he .ippe.irs to le.ir that these sl.mdcrs might have
made some impression on the mind o( I'erdinaiiit.
Hut there was one other consider, itioii whii h h.id
no less force with the mon.irih in withholiling ihi:;
gre.it ;ict of justice Columbus w.is no longer in-
(iispensalile to him. He had m.idi his great dis-
covery ; lie h.id struck out the route to the New
World, and now any (uie could follow it. A num-
ber (d able navig.itors had sprung up under hi;i
auspices, and ai<piired e\i)erieiice in his voyages.
Thev were d.iily besieging the throne witli offers
to tit out evpeditioiis at their own cost, and to
yield a share ot the ])r')tUs to the crown. Why
should he, therefore, confer princely dignities ;ind
prerogatives for that which men were daily offer-
ing to pcrloini gr.ituitously ?
Such, from his ;ifier conduct, appears to h.ive
been the jealous jmd selfish |)olicy which actuated
Ferdinand in torliearing to reinstate (/olumbus in
those dignities and privileges so solemnly granted
to him by treaty, and which it was ;u kiiowledged
he had never forfeited by misconduct.
This deprivation, however, was declared to be
but temporary ; and plausible reasons wert' given
lor the delav in his reappointment. It was ob-
served that the elements ot those violent factions,
recently in arms against him, yi t existed in th<:
island ; his immediate return might ])ro(luce fresh
exas|)eration ; his personal s.'ifety might be endan-
gered, and the island again thrown into confusion.
Though ilobadilla, therefore, was to be immedi-
ately dismissed from command, it was deemeil
advisable to send out some officer of talent and
discretion to supersede him, who might dispas-
sionately investigate the recent disorders, remedy
the .ibuses which had arisen, and expel all disso-
lute and factious persons from the colony. He
should hold the government for two years, by
which time it w;is trusted that all .ingiy jiassions
would be ;illayed, and turbulent individuals re-
moved ; Columbus might then resume the com-
mand with comfort to himself and advantage to
the crown. With these reasons, and the ])romise
which accompanied- them, Columbus w:is obliged
to content himself. There can be no iloubt that
they were sincere on the ])artof Isabella, and that
it was her intention to reinstate him in the full en-
joyment of his rights and dignities, after his aji-
parently necessary suspension. Ferdinand, how-
ever, by his subseciuent conduct, has forfeited all
claim to any favorable opinion of the kind.
The person chosen to supersede ISobadilla war.
Don Nicholas de Ovando, commander of I. ares,
of the order of Alcantara. He is described as of
the middle size, fair complexioned, with a red
beard, and a modest look, yet a tone of authority.
He was fluent in speech, and gracious and court-
eous in his manners. A man of great prudence,
says Las Casus, and capable of governing many
people, but not of governing the Indians, on
whom he inflicted incalculable injuries. He poj-
IM
MFK AND V()VA(.i:S OF COLUMBUS.
1 •
Hi
Rrsscd fjrr.-xt vfnrralinn for iusiirr, was an rncinv
tf) avarirc. sober in his niodcot living, .ind ol siii li
hiiniilily ill. It vslu-n lii' rose atli-rward to he jjraiul
( oinniandfi ol the order ol Alc.mlara, he woiilil
n<'\cr allow liiniscll lo Uc aiidrcsscd l)y tlic title ot
rrspei t attacheil to it.* Such istlie |)iriure drawn
nt liim by historians ; hut his fomliiit in several
i!U|ioilant iiisianiesis in tlireit i-ontr.idietion to it.
lie .i|i|iears In have been pl.iusible and subtle, as
Well as llilenl and rotirieous ; his luiniility eon-
ee.iled a Ki''at love ol eoniniand, and in his ir.ins-
a tions with I'olumbiis he w.is eertainly both ui\-
]; u'roiis and unjust.
Tlie N.irioiis arranjjenients to be made, according;;
I I t!ie new pi, in ol lolonial j;overnnient, delayed
I ir soiiu! time the dep.irtuii' ot ( )vand(). In the
nu'.in time every arriv.il liroii);ht intellijience of
tlie dis,»stroiis state ol the island under ihtr ni.il-
.ndininistration ol llobadilla. lie had commenced
his career by an onjiosite policy to that of Colum-
Inii. linaKininjr tlial rij^oroiis rule had been the
rock on which his predecessors h.id sniit, hi-
f.ni^'ht to conciliate the public by all kinds dI in-
duljjence. Ilavinj,' at the very outset relaxed the
reins of justice and moralitv, he lost all comm.ind
over the community ; and such disorder and li-
centiousnesi ensuecl that m.iiiy, even of the op-
ponents of Columbus, looked b.ick with re(.jril
upon thi; strict but wholesome rule ot himselt and
the .Adelantado.
liob.idilla was not so much a b.id as an impru-
dent and a weak man. lie had not considereil
the danjTi-rou i excesses to which his |)olicy would
lea I. Rash in j;raspinjr autliorit)', he was feeble
and tempori/^injj in the exercise of it ; he could not
look beyond the present exi).;ency. One danj^erous
indnljjeiue jrranted to the colonists called for
■".nother ; each was ceded in its turn, and thus he
went on from error to error -showinj^ that in j^ov-
ernment there is as much d.inj^er to be ap|)re-
liended from a weak as from a bad m.m.
lie had sold the farms and estates of the crovn
nt low prices, observinjj that it was not the wish
of the monarchs to enrich themselves by them,
but that thev should redound to the protU of their
.sii:,jecls. ile jjranted universal |)ermission to
work the mines, exacting only an eleventh of the
])roducc for the crown. To jirevent any diminu-
tion in the revenue, it became necessary, of
course, to increase the quantity of gold collected.
He obliged the cacicjues, therefore, to furnish
eai h .Spaniard with Indians, to assist him both in
the labors of the field and of the mine. To carry
this into more complete effect, he made an enu-
meration of the natives of the island, reduced
them into classes, and distributed them, accor<l-
ing to his favor or caprice, among the colonists.
The latter, at his suggestion, associated them-
selves in partni^rships of two persons each, who
were to assist one another with their respective
capitals and Indians, one superintending the la-
bors of the field, and the other the search tor gold.
The only injunction of IJobadilla was to produce
large (piantities of ore. He had one saying con-
tinually in his mouth, which shows the pernicious
and temporizing principle upon which he acted :
"Make the most of your time," he would say ;
" there is no knowing how long it will last," al-
I'.iding to the jiossibility of his being speedily re-
called. The colonists acted up to his advice, and
•-,0 hard did they drive the poor natives that the
eleventh yielded more revenue to the crown than
had ever been produced by the third under the
government of ruliimbus. In thr nio.m tr
unh.i|)py n.itiM'-. siiltiinl under all 1<iiuImi'
tics tiom their inhum.in t.iskmasieis. {.mi,
to l.ibor, leeble ol constitution, and .11 (■iisioff,!
their be.intiltil .ind Uuuri.int i-d.ind lo ,1 |i|,.„i,
and Ireedom, thev s.ink under the IdiImi^^^
upon them, and the severities by \\hi(|it|,f,
enlorced. I,.is C.is.is gives an indign.int piiti
the capricious tyranny exercised omt ihd
by worthless .Spaniards, m.iny ol uhimil,,
tr.ins|)orted convicts Irom the dungi'iiiisnt 1 .,,■]
These wretches, who in their ow 11 loiinuMj
been the \ilest among the vile, here asMiiiin,!
tone of grand c.ualiers. Thev insisled iipoi;
.'itteiided by tr.iins of ser\.ints. They ii,i,J
i d.iughters and fem.ile relations ot
c;ii|(|iird
'"' Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. it. cap. 3.
their domestics, or rather lor their inn. im
nor did they limit themselves in nuinlicr. \\i
they travelled, instead of using the Iuhms
miilci with which they were pio\ iileil, tlini.i |
the n.itives to transport them u|)oii their shwiij
in litters, or hammocks, with others aUi'iiilir(|
hold umbrell.is of palm-leaves over ilu-ir 1i-4ih|
keep off the sun, and lans nt tealliers \di\
them ; and l..is C'.isas allirms that he liasswpj
backs and shoulders ot die unlorliiii.iic Ir
who bore these litters, raw and blee(liii|; i;,
task. When these arrogant iip'>t.irls .irr'
;in Indian village they lonsiinied and 1.:,
away the provisions ot tlur inhabit. iius, .1
upon whatever pleased their caprice, .mil ii|i
the caci(|ue and his subjects to d.ince liehiir
lor their amusement. Their very plr.i'<iin<
attended with cruelty. They never adilic-M
natives but in the most degrading teiiiiv ..rri
the least offence, or the least Ireak ot illhwi
inflicted blows and lashes, and e\en (leiiih ,
.Such is but a faint jiicture ot the evils >i'|
sprang up under the leeble rule of lioli;i(li!i,i i
are sorrowfully described by Las CaNas, truirj
tu.d observation, as he visitetl the island niMiil
close of his administration. Jiobadilla liai! ;■
to the immense amount of goUl, wriiiif; trnit^
miseries of the natives, to alone tor all vmn
secure favor with the sovereigns ; but lie hatj
tally mistaken his course. The abuses iif hi
eminent soon reached the royal ear, anil abcrJ
the wrongs of the natives reached the l)i'iirio4
heart of Isabella. Nothing was more c^'.loui!
to arouse her indignation, antl she iir(;ii!!
speedy departure ot Ovando, to put a slo|ilij;^
enormities.
In conformity to the plan already mentionfi!
government of Ovando extended over the l^
and Terra Firma, of whicli Hispaniola \v,is:f|
the metropolis. He was to enter upon tiieri
cise of his powers immediately upon his ami
by ])rocuration, sending home Hobadilla bvf
return of the tleet. He was instructed to ind
diligently into the late abuses, punishing ll^tl
lincpients without favor or partiality, and reV
ing all worthless persons froin the islam!.
was to revoke immediately the license j;rant«^
liob.adilla for the general search after gold, n*'
ing been given without royal authority. He*
to require, for the crown, .t third ot what «ail
ready collected, and one half ot all that shouiiij
collected in future. He was empowered to M
towns, granting them the privileges enjnyrtj
municipal corporations of Spain, and 'il'iifl
the Spaniards, and particularly the soldicr^j
reside in them, instead of scattering themse^
over the island. Among many sage provii
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. ii. cap. i, ms.
^vpre nthff* inji
krisii' '>! •'" •'«'■
Kf »iTL' Imt lull'-' u
iiiiiii-d hySp.iiii loll
Liv irdcil iliein .IS
Viiiiiril tinifs. T
, ,,| tlic cidonies.
|i„., there (111 111
ar »i'> a|i|"Miited,
.„lit,iini>l iiiiipliesi
kii n-scrvc I to ilse
iiii till.' mines, but ii
let, lit eMr.iordiii.ir)
No SlIMllgl'I'S,
[jfus, were pcnnitti
Vc hlanil, nor to go
ui'i'i' siiaie ot ll
[cli.Spain iinpo-.ed U|i.
[t.illdwcil up l)> otli
Jnii.iii.ll policy has
; Imt m.iy not tl
. iin|iosi'd by the ni
ihv till! wonder and
Cili'll.iw.ii p.iriicul.ii
jkiiid treatment ol t
leri'J t.i asseiiilile the
Ml till- sovereigns
IuiiIlT llu'ir isjieci.i
|tn to p.iy tribute '
11, .mil it w.is lo be
jjni-is .iiiil gi'iitlene-.-.
til III tlii'ir religious
!>!■ twelve Fr.iiicis
a pri'l.ili.' n.inie 1 .\
bir .iirl |iKUis man.
il;ii:lK)ii ot the Fraiu
Ill ilii-se precautions \
|t; di'liMlcil by one u
niticil tli.it llie India
|k 111 tlie mines, am
Illii-. w.is limited to I
td l)f eii^.tged as
|lv |Mi<l. This provi'
ii|i|iii'ssii)iis, ,111(1 wa;
Ivin ,is could have he
|ut, with that inconsi;
lliRt, while the soven
^m liir the relief of 1
.1 jjruis invasion ot
jtliir r.ice of human
|iou> decrees on this (
kciil ik'|;n) shivery in
niittfd tl) carry lo the
pii^; Christians ; f that
lilic and other jiarts o
piii.laiits of natives b
|Si ot .Mrica, where :
i liccii carried on by
Be. There ;ire sigiui
ory, which sometime
Ipiir.il judjrinenls. It
)ii ih.it Hispaniola, '
ntsiiiaffaiiist nature ,
|iui;c;l into the New
shibii an awful retril
imiil the various con
intiiiii of the sovcreigi
]wi.Ti.' not lorgoiten.
•iiiiie into all his ace
tl) pay them off.
l-asCisas, Hist. Ind.
iHcrrcra, Hist. Ind., d
T.IFE AND VOYAGKS OF COU'MIU'S.
161
the mc.in tlit,j
•ill klndsoi
''i<'is. I.iii;.
>"'l ■ii'iiiMon>,|
iiul Id .ihtn
tli<' IimIs in-til
'V w Inch ll.r ,1
uliUii.itu |) -J
.1 "MM lllf||,|;"
III W ImmiI I,.;,;
lltK'"llll''lltl,iJ
i)\\ n counirM
IH'I'C .•ISStlllifi^
isihlfd ii|)(ii 1
'I'lll'V I.,(,J
s fit riu:i(|Ufij
tlu'ir fminih
1 miinlicr \\4
a I hi' li(ir.(
\ulcfl, tlii'V'i ,,
Kill llinr >|,(ii,(J
llicrs allciHirtj
)\»'r llicir li'dcj
: (eat hers lofL
lal lie li.is srtri
itorlniiiiK' InfJ
lilccdilH; l:,iTJ
DU'll ,111(1 I,:,
iliahit.iiUs. 'f
iricc, ,111(1 !•]>
ikincc lic!(,:r
•ry |)lc.isiirc<
•viT ii(l(lrc-Mi j
lin)i terms, „rr|
iTak ol ill-h
(•\ en (Iciili :■
ol llic evils '1'
of Itlilllldlli,!
s Casas, tidir, I
V island msuii
ladilla hMllr.^
nil I); \rm\
r all eiT(irvi
; Init he hitj
iiises (if b.<
, and alii'.rJ
the l)i'ni-\pij
more ciilrua
she iirijdi
t a stop to'!
y nicntionfil i
over the ivi^
laniola \v,istfl
er upon therJ
upon hisarrif
ioliadilla tei
ructed to int^
iinishinglht^
ility, and ra
the isliind.
cense i^raiilrtl
(fter j^iikl, il^
ihority. He«
ot what w2i(
that sliou:i!J
powered loM
ejjes enjirteifj
n, and nhiifj
the soklieM
erinp thrmstj
sage pioviiij
p. I, MS.
;v(TP othrM injurious and illilicral, rh,\r-
fhtu lit •111 ''K"' wlieii th:- principles oi com-
f were hut lull'" uiulerstiiod. Iiut wlin h were
,|.i,l,.,| l)v Spain liilij; •liter the rest ol the wmlil
filiv irdi'd iliein .IS the errors ol (l,irk ,tn(i un-
Biiiiicil tunes. The crown inonop(di/e(l tlie
„l iiie (dlnnies. No one could carry iiier-
,.li,.', there (III liis own account. A roy,il
m »ai .ippiiinted, ihroii);!) whom .done wire
toliiaiiiel sUlMili'"*"' •■.iii'M'«'''ii artiiles. 'I'he
III reserve i to itself not only e\clusive prop-
J 111 llie mines, lint in precious stones, and like
bell 111 extr.uinlin.iry \,ilue, and also in d>c-
N'li str.injjers, ;ind al)o\<' ,ill, no Moors
Ijeus. were jierinitted to e-.t.dilish themselves
V'hl^ind, niir to jjo upon \dy,ij{es of (lis( overv.
|h ucre some ot tlu: restrictions upon tr.ule
.1^11,1111 iinpiiscd upon her colonies, and which
:l,illii\ved lip li) others e(pi,dly illiberal. Her
Inim 111 piilny has been the scoff of modern
iiiit m.i) not the present restrictions on
|c liiiliosed liy the most intellincnl n.ilions, lie
\\;\ the wonder ,ui(l the jest ot luture ,•l^,'es .'
i,i!i;il,i\v.is p.irticul.irly careful in providiK}; f(jr
ikiiiil treatment ol the Indians. 0\an(lo was
Wd 111 assemhie the caci()Ues, and declare to
hilliat the soverei;(ns took them ,ind their peo-
fuivler tlieir (speci,il protection. They were
\t,\ tj pav irilHile like other subjects of the
mi, iiid it w.is to be collected with the utmost
liiuss .iiiil Kenlleness. (ireat pains were to be
kii 111 ilieir religious instruction ; for which
• twelve I'r.iiuisc.in Iriars were sent out,
a prelate n. line 1 .\ntonio de lispin.d, ;i ven-
)li' iii'l pious man. I his w.is the first lorm.il
iJ'iition ot the l-'iMticisi an order into the New-
id.'
Lli these prec. unions with resjiect to the n.itives
It (kte.ited by one unwary provision. It w,is
liiiiied th.it the Indians mi^ht be compelled to
n III the mines, and in other em|)loyments ;
llhis was limited to the roy.il service. They
I'l lie eiij^.ijred as hired laborers, and i)unc-
, paid. I his provision led to y;n.-:i\. al)U.ses
iippressions, and was ultim.itely as fatal to the
|vis, IS could have been the most absolute sla-
lui, wiih that inconsistency frecpient in buriian
duct, while the sovereijjiis were making re;{u-
biis tor the relief of the Indians, they encoiir-
la;;ri)ss invasion of the rij;hts and welfare of
Itliir r.ue of human beinj;s. Amon^ their
lous decrees on this occ.ision, we find the first
pol iu';,'r() shiver)- in the New World. It was
liit'.iil to carry to the colony nej^ro slaves t)orn
pi;; Christians ; f that is to'say, slaves tiorn in
ilic and other parts of Spain, the chiklren and
Id-ii lams of natives broujjlu from the Atlantic
Isi (il .Mrica, \»-here such tratlic had for some
liifii carried on by the Sjianiards and I'orlu-
i:. There ;ire sijrnal events in the course of
ory, which sometimes bear the appearance of
(P'lral jud^riiiL-nts. It is a fact worthy of obser-
)!i th.it llispaniola, the place where this lla-
i sin ,ijrainst nature and lium.inity was tirst in-
Pui:c I into the New World, has been the lirst
piliitan awful retribution.
IniKJ the various concerns which claimed the
In'.iiin of the sovi-reijrns, the interests of Colum-
Miri' not lorjrotten. Ovando was ordered to
liiini- into all his accounts, without undertak-
lu pay them off. He was to ascertain the
[LasCisas, Hist. Ind., lib. ii. cap. 3, MS.
Hcrrera, Hist. Ind., dccad. i. lib. iv. cap. 12.
damages he liad KUKtaincil f)y hin imprinnnment,
the interruption ot his privilc^^es, ami the ( (iiilis-
coition of his effects. All the pro|ierly conlisciicd
b\ llob.idiU.i w,is to be restored ; or il it h.id been
sold, to be m.ide ^ood. It It h.id been eniplnvc |
in the ro\.ll ser\lic, C'ldumblis W.is to be indem-
lulled out ot the ire.isur) ; it llob.idill.i h.id appro-
prMted it to his out) use, he w.is to k ( nunt lor
It out ol his |)ri\atc purse. l-'.(pi,il c.ire w.is to be
taken to indemnilv the brothers of the .idmir.il lor
the losses they h.id wron){tully sutleriMl b) their
arrest.
Columbus W.IS likewise to receive the .irreirs of
Ins re\cnues, and the s.iiik; were to be ptiin tu.illy
paid Id him in luture. He was permitted In have
;i l.ictor resident in the isl.md, to be present .it the
meltinfj and markinj; ol the j,'old. to collect his
dues, and in short to attend to all his all.iirs. To
this otiice he .ippointed Alon/o S.ini he/ de C.irv.i-
jal ; and the so\crei^;ns comm.mded that his .iL;(iit
should be treated with j,'reat respect.
Thir licet appointed to convey t )\ando to Ids
jjovernment was the larj^est th.it had yet sailed to
the New- World. It consisted ol thirty s.iil, {\vv
of them from ninety to one hundred .ind lifts- tons
burden, twenty-lour car.-iv(ds fnmi thirty to ninety,
.111(1 one bark of twenty-five tons.* The number
of souls emb.irked in this fleet was .iboiit twctity-
ti\-e hundred ; m.iny of them persons ol r.mk .iiid
distinction, with their f.imilies.
That ( )v.in(lo mi^fht appe.ir with di;jnity in his
new otiice, he was .illowed to use silks, brocade-;,
|)recious stones, and other .irticles ol sumiitiious
attire, iirohibited .it that time in Sp.iin, in coiise-
(pience of tin- ruinous ostentation of the nobility.
He was permitted to have seventy-two es(piircs as
his bo(ly-}.juard, ten ui whom were horsemen.
With this expedition sailed I)on Alo;izo Maldo-
nado, .-ipnointed as .•ilj,'ua/il mayor, or chiet jus-
tice, in pl.ice of Koldan, who w,is to lie sent to
.Sp.iin. There w-ere artisans of various kinds : to
these were Jidded a physici.m, sur^;eon, .ind
apotheciry ; and seventy-three m.irried men f
with their families, all or respectable char.icter,
destined to be distritiuted in four towns, .ind to
enjoy peculiar privilej^^es, that they mifjht form the
basis of a sound and useful ])opul,-ilion. They
were to displace an e(|ual number ot the idle and
dissolute who were to be sent from the isl.ind :
this excellent measure h.-id been especially urj^ed
and entreated by Columbus. There was also live
stock, artillery, arms, munitions of all kinds ;
everything-, in short, that was recjuired for the
supply of the island.
Such W.IS the style in which Ovandn, a f.ivorite
of l-'erdinand, and .'i native subject of rank, w.is
tilted out to enter upon the jjovernment withheld
from Columbus. The fleet jiut to se,-i on the thir-
teenth of February, 1502. In the early p.irt of the
voya^re it was encountered by a terrible storm ;
One of the ships founilered, with one hundred and
tw-enty passen^jcrs ; the others were; oblif^tvl to
throw overboard e\-erythinjj on deck, and were
completely scattered. The shores of Spain were
strewed with articles from the tleet, and .1 rumor
spread hat all the ships had perished. When this
reached the soverei^^ns, they were so overcome
with f,nief that they shut themselves up for eitjlit
d.iys, and admitted no one to their presence. The
ruinor proved to be incorrect : but ore ship was
* Mufloz, part inedit. Las Casas says the fleet con-
sisted of thirty-two sail. He states from memory, how-
ever ; Mufloz from documents.
f Munoz, H. N. Mundo, part inedit.
183
E AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
lost. Tho others ns5cml)lp(l apain nt the island of
Ciomcri in the Canaries, and pursuii';^ their voy-
ajjfe, arrived at San Domingo on the 15th of
April.*
!!l]
CHAPTER IV.
I'Koi'osiTinN oi- coi.i;miii:s rf.i.ativf. to tiik
KIX\. .KRY OF THK IIOI.Y StP'JLCHKK.
[1500 I 50 1.]
Coi.UMnus remained in the city of Gran.ula up-
ward (jf nine months, endeavoriniv to exlricale his
affairs from the confusion into x.hicji they iiad
been thrown l)y the rasli condiu t of Hoii.uiill.i,
and S(!licitinjj tiie restoration of his ol'lices aiul
dignities. Durinj; tiiis timt- he c onslantiy experi-
enced tile smiles and attentions of tiie sovereij^ns,
and promises were rejieatedly made him that lie
shouhl ultimately he rei.istateil iri all his honors.
He had lon^ ince, however, ascertained tiie jjreat
interval tliat may e.xist hetween jjromise and per-
form.mce in .1 court. Had he been of a morbid
and repininjr s]iirit, he had ample food for niisan-
thropy. He beheld the career of >;lory which he
had opened, th.ronged by favored adventurers ; he
witni. 1 prepar.itions making; to convey with un-
usu.il pomp a successor to that {government from
which he had been so wronj^ffully and rudely eject-
ed ; in the meanwhile his own car<;er was inter-
rupted and as far as public emi)loy is a >jau;;e of
roy.il favor, he remained ai)|).irently in disf^^race.
His santjuine temperament was not Ion:; to be
(lepiessed ; if checked in one direction it broke
l(i;lh in another. His visionary imaj^ination was
an intern.il lij,'ht, which, in the darkest times, re-
pelled all outward jjloom, and tilled his mind with
splendid imajri's and jrlorious .s])ecul,itions. In
this tiir.e of evil, his vow to furnish, within seven
ye.irs from the time of his discovery, llily thousand
toot soldiers, and five thousand horse, for the re-
covery of the holy sei)ulchre, rc'curred to his
memory with peculiar force. The time had
elajised, but the vowrem.'iined unfullilled, and the
nu-.ins to perform it had failed him. The New
World, witi ill its treasures, had as yet jiroduced
expense insie.ul of profit ; and so far from beinjr
in a situation to set armies on fool by his own
contributions, he found himself without property,
withcuit power, and without em])loy.
Destitute of the means of accomplishini; his
])ious intentions, he considered it his duty to incite
the sovereifjns to the enterprise ; and he felt em-
i)oldened to do so, from havinj; orij^'intdly ])ro-
posed it as the great object to which the |)rotits of
his discoveries should be dedicated. He set to
work, therefore, with his accustomeil zeai, to pre-
ytdvv arguments for the |)urpose. During ilie in-
terv.ils of business, he sought into the pro|)liecies
of the holy .Scriptures, the writings of the fathers,
and all kinds of sacred and speculative sources,
for mystic |)ortents and revelations which might
be construed to bear U])on the discovery of the
New World, the coMversion of the (ientiles, and
the recovery of the holy se|)ulchre : three great
events which he su])])osed to be jiredestinel to
succeed each other. These passages, with the
assi-^tance of a Carlhii'^ian friar, he aiTanged in
oiJer, illustrated by poetry, and collected into u
'' I.3S Casas, Hist. Indi, lib. ii, cap. 3, Ms.
manuscript volume, to be delivered tntleiJ
eigns. He preparer], at the same time, ;i |ri»,]
ter, written with his usual fervor of spirit, .p.'
plicity of heart. It is one of those hm.nji,f,.
posit';ns which lay ojien the visionary njn,
character, and show the mystic and spatt
reading with which he was accustomed tu i
his solemn and soaring imagination.
In this letter he urged the sovereigns n^f I
foot a crusade for the deliverance of Jca.T
from the power of the unbelievers, llcii.f.j
them not to reject his present advice as tv-
gant and impracticable, nor to heed the lii^f.^
that might be cast upon it by others; rcn'is
them that his great scheme of discovery had J
inally been treated with similar eominin;.
avowed in the fullest manner his pcr.sii;iM(,|,
from his earliest infancy, he had been ( i ,.
Heaven for the accomplishment ol those twinJ
designs, the discovery of the .New World,
rescue of the holy sepulchre. For this | j-.j
in his tender years, he had been gimlcl
divine impulse to embrace the protessidiif,;
se.i, a mode of life, he observes, which \tn:]
an inclination to in(|uire into the mvsteriis <
lure ; and he had been gifted with .iciirimis.;:
to read all kinds of chronicles, geographiai
jses, and works of |)hiloso|)iiy. In nu-ij:;
u])on these, his understanding had heeii »:;«
by the Deity, " as with a palpable hand,"
discover the navigation to the Indies, andliri
been inllamed with ardor to undertake \\\f f]
prise. " Animated as by a hea\"ii!v i:r:-
adds, " I came to your highnesses : all\Uiii'
of my enterprise nKJcked at it; all the S' ic'>:
had ac(|uired profiled me 'uithing ; sew
did ' pass in your royal court, dispuiini; iha
with persons of great authority and leiniud!;
the arts, and in the end they ilccided that .1.
vain. In your highnesses alone remains! iJ
and constancy. Who will doubt that this i J
was from the holy Scriptures, illumining
well as myself with rays of marvellous lir;
ness ?"
These ideas, so repeatedly, and soleiv.nlv
artlessly expresseil, by a man of the lervcn;
of Columbus, show how truly his discovery ;
from the working of his own mind, and wkA
information furnished by others. He nmsitti
it a divine intimation, a light from llcuv';!
the fulfilment of what hacl been foretold i:
S,ivi(;ur and the jirophets. Still he rf;;iri
but as a minor event, |)re|)aratorv to the ;.,'rc';;'
ter])rise, the recovery of the holy sepiilrhre '
pronounced it a mirach; effected by llcavfl
animate himself and others to that holy uiiileq
ing ; and he assured the sovereigns that,
had faith in his present as in his iornitr pr :
tion, they would assuredly be rewanlcil »1
ecpially triumphant success. He conjured rl
not to heed the sneers of such as niifjht sis:|
him as one unlearned,, as an ignorant iiiarirt
worldly man ; reminding them that the llolv>^
works not merely in the learned, but .ds)'
ignorant ; nay, that it reveals things to niii-
merely by rational beings, but by prodicsj
animals, and by mystic signs in the air ami
heavens.
The enterjirise here suggested by Colui^'l
however idle and extrav.igant it may appcarr
l)resent day, was in unison with the temper"
times, and of the court to which it waspro|'i<
The vein of mystic erudition by which it «3il
forced, likewise, was suited to an age whKj
MBUS.
c, to be rlclivcred totlieJ
retl, at the same linip, a ],■
lis usual tfrvor iit spirit ;,;,
It is one of those Miv^'uiir-.
y open the visionary ii.in-
ow the mystic ami spLitJ
h he was accustomeil lu :
arinjc iinaijina'.ion.
urged the sovereifjiis tii,!
r the cluliveraiiee nt JlTu,;!
the unl)eiie\ers. lleciii:'
: his present advire as .-v-
cabie, nor to heed the i.-J
upon it by others ; viiv
It scheme ol discovcrv hi,;
;(1 witii similar coiuiirir,
est manner his prrsuasmii '
infancy, he had been dn,;
:omplishment ol those two;
very of the New World, , in
y se|nilchre. For this | jr-,J
irs, he had f)een ^u'uM
embrace the protrssin!,
e, he observes, which |r'.
n(|uire into ihe mysteries
been irifted with ;i ciiriiPii,^:!
if chronicles, fjeoj,na|ih;
of |)hilosophy. In mii:::,.]
iiderstandiiijr had ht-cn n;:
with a palpable hand," mi,
;ation to the bidies, nnd hr
h ardor to undertake tin- r-
ed as by a heavnly lire
your hiijjhnesses : all uln
mocked at it ; all the S' i
ifited me !ioihint( ; sfvii
■ royal court, dispiuiiii; li;::!
eat authority and leaniii!::|
e end they decided that ,i,
ghnesses alone remaiiiiii
Who will doubt that ths
Scriptures, ilhiiiiinin^ i
th rays of marvellous lir.i
repeatedly, and soU'irau
by a man of the tervtnt;
how truly his disciiverv'
f his own mind, and tvyA
ed by others. Her(.ns:.,*4
ion, a li.t^ht from IIlmvii
hat had been foretold li;
prophets. Still he rf;;,ir':*.|
nt, preparatory to llH";r;:.:f
ry of the holy sepuK'hre
nirach; effected hy llcavr
d others to that huly iiKil;'
ed the sovereigns ihal, iM
esent as in his fornier pr TJ
assuredly be rewanlt-;! <
success. He coniurci!;'
:'ers of such as niii^lu s''
led.as an ignorant niarirr'i
nding them that the liolv^j
in the learned, but also;-j
t it reveals things to ciw.f.i
beings, but hy prodi;"r;|
\stic signs in the air ami
here suggested by Coluir.^
aravagant it may appcan:
unison with the tem|Hri':j
)urt to which it was prop
erudition i)y which it «iij
;is suited to an age whe:
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS,
1S3
Urie-iof the cloister still controlled the opera-
sol ilic cahinet and the camp. The s|)irit of
crusades had not yet passed away. In the
ISf ,,| ilie <hurch, and at the instigation of its
Uiaiifi. fveiy cavalier was ready to draw hi;
fcrd ; aiui religion mingled a glowing and de
UiU'iulmsiaMn ' ' ' ' . / '
rdiiKUul was a religious bigot ; and
rtai'c.
avalier was ready to draw his
^..m mingled a glowing and de-
with the ordinary excitement of
Kcnl
|(lc.iiiion ot Isabella went as near to bigotry as
IliluTal mind and magnanimous spirit would
nil. iioth the sovereigns were under the in-
Inie ot ecclesiastical politicians, constantly
iaii their enterprises in a direction to redoimd
oral |)ower and glory ot the church.
. renin ii)iu|Uest of (iranad.i had been con-
Ire I a lAiri)|)ean crusatle, and had gained to
rsiverclKOs the epithet of Catholic. It was
lirai t'l tliink of extending their sacred victories
fliiiihcr, and retaliating u|)on the infidels their
nation of .Spain and their long triumphs over
■cro-s. In tact, the Duke of .Medina Sidonia
1 ma 1l' a recent inroad into Uarbary, in the
I which he had taken the city ot Melilla,
expedition had been pronounced a re-
the liolv wars against th: inlidels in
■r>c »i
A KOfRTH
I'm ol
lea.'
[here was nothing, tiierefore in the j)roposition
lo.umliiis that could be regarded as preposter-
L eiiasiilering the period and circumstances in
|cii It w.is made, though it strongly illustrates
a eiiiluisiasiic and visionary charactc. It
it lie ivcollected that it was meditated in the
Ens I)! the .Alhanihra, among the splendid re-
Jn^ III Moorish grandeur, where, but a few
s iielore, he had beheld the standard of the
I elevated in triumph above the symbols of
Be.ity. It appears to ha\e been the offspring
liie ii; tluisi' moods of high excitement, when,
h'eii oliierved, his soul was elevated by the
ii])..i;ion ot his great and glorious ol'iice ;
ill iie considered himself under ilivine inspira-
I, ::ii;iailiiig the will of Heaven, and fulfilling
Ihi^i and holy purposes tor which he he had
liiedeslineil.v
Irurihav, Hist. Espana, lib. xi-s. cap. 6. Among
tions t.xistinK in the library of ihe late Prince
^sii.m, there is a folio wfiich, amonj; other things,
.1 jiapfr or letter, in which is a calculation of
br luiile expenses of an army of twenty thousand
I, iTihe roriqiiest of the Holy Land, h is dated
iJUKir 1510, and the handwritin.i; appears to be of
«.ii!ie time.
|C.'i.aiil,us w.-.<- ,int singular in this belief it was
|rt:i;a, I liy many of his ze.dous and learned ad-
Irs The erudif; lapidary, J.iyme Kerrcr in the
wriuen to Columbus in 149?, at the command
pe sovereigns, ohservcs : " 1 see in this a. great
tlic ilivine and inf.illilile Providence sent
great St. Thomas from the west into the east, to
litest in India our holy and Catholic faith ; and
l>eiuir. he sent in an opposite direction, from the
lima the west, until you have arrived in the Ori-
liiiM llie extrenv part of Upper India, that the pco-
Ini.^y hear (hat which their ancestors neglected of
Ir-achiiic; of .St. Thomas. Thus shall fjc accom-
P'l ivh.it was written, in ciinitin tcn-ain cxilit
*' ■ '" ' . . . And again, "The olVice
>aii hold. Scnor, places you in die ligtit of
Ipistle and ambassador of Cod. sent by his di-
ruli;ment, to make known his holy name in un-
»n lands."— I.etra de Mossen Jayme Ferrer, Na-
pi! Ciileecion, loni. ii. decad.'6S. See also the
pon expressed bv Agostino tiinstiniani, his con-
owry, in his Polyglot Psalter.
CHAPTKR V.
PREPARATIONS OF COI.UMP.l'S FOR
VOVAOli Ol' Ul.SCOVERV.
[1501-1502.]
Thf. speculation relative to the recovery of the
holy sepulchre held but a temporary sway over
the mind of Columbus. His thoughts soon re-
turned, with renewed ardor, to their wonted
channel. He became impatient of inaction, aiul
soon conceived a leading object for another enter-
prise ot discovery. The achievement of \'asco de
Ciama, (d the long-attempted navigation to India
by the Cape of Cood Hope, was one ot the signal
events (d the day. I'edro Alvarez. Cabral, lollop-
ing in his track, had m;ide a most successful voy-
age, and returned with his vessels laden with the
precious conimoilities of the Fast. The riches of
C.ilicul were now the theme of every tongue, and
I the si)leiulid trade now opened in diamonds and
precious stones from the mines of Hindostan ; in
! pearls, gold, silver, amber, ivory, and porcelain ;
I in silken stuffs, costly woods, gums, aromalics,
I ami spices ot all kinds. The discoveries of the
savage regions of the New World, as yet, brought
little rewiiue to Si)ain ; but this route, suddenly
opened to the luxurious countries of the East, was
])ouring immediate wealth into Portugal.
Columbus was roused to emulation by these ac-
counts. He now concei\ed the idea ot a voyage,
in which, with his usual enthusiasm, he hopecl to
surpass not merely the discovery of \'asco de
(i.ima, but even those of his own previous expedi-
tions. According to his own observations in his
voyage to Paria, and the reports of other naviga-
tors, who had pursued the same route to a greater
distance, it appeared that the coast ot Terra Firina
stretched t.ir to the west. The southern coast of
Cuba, which he considered a part of the Asiatic
continent, stretched onwarti toward the same
point. The currents of the Caribbean Sea must
jia.s;; between those lands. He was iier.-uiaded,
theiehire, that there must be a strait existing
soniewhcre thereabout, opening into the Indian
sea. Till' situation in w hich he placed his conjec-
tural strait was somewhere about what at |)'esent
is called the Isthmus of Harien.* Could he but
discover such a pass.ige, and thus link the New
World he hatl {lisco\ered, with the opulent ori-
ental regions of the old, lie felt that he should
make a magnilicent close to his labors, and con-
summate this great object of his existence.
When he tinlolded his plan to the sovereigns, it
was listened to with great attention. Certain of
the royal council, it is said, endeavored to throw
I dilliculties in the way, observing that the variou.s
(.'xigenries (d the times, and the low state ol the
royal iriMsuiy, rendered any new exjiedition
highly inexpedient. They intiniated also that Co-
I lunibus 'lught not to be employed until his good
j conduct in Hispaniola was satisf.ictoriiy eslablish-
I ed by letters from Ovaiulo. These narrow-minded
I suggestions f.iiled in their aim ; Isabella had im-
j plicit conliileiice in the integrity of Columbus. .\s
to the ex|)ense, she felt that while furnishing so
powerful a fleet and splendid retinue to Ov.indo,
to l.ike possession ol his government, it would be
; ungenerous and ungrateful to retiise a few ships
to the ilisco\ererot the NewWorUl, to enable him
to prosecute his illuj rious enlerjjrises. As to
* Las Casas, lib. ii. cap. 4. Las Casas specifics the
vicinity of Nombrc de Dios as the place.
184
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
' ,f
.■■■I'!
'':
^! '■■}]
m
'1'
Ferdinand, his rupidity was roused at llip idea of
huinjf soon put m possession ot a more direct and
safe route to those countries with which the crown
of I'ortu^ja' was oijeninfj so lucrative a trade.
Tile |)rojecl also would occupy the admiral for a
considerable time, and, while it diverted him Ironi
claims of an inconvenient nature, would em|)loy
his talents in a way most henelicial to the crown.
However the king nii};ht doubt his abilities as a
lej;islator, he had the hij^hest opinion ot his skill
and judgment as a navigator. If such a str.iit as
the one sujiposed were really in existence, Colum-
bus was, of all men in the world, the one to dis-
cover it. His ])roin)sition, therefore, was promptly
acceded to ; he was authorized to fit out .an arma-
ment immediately ; and reii.nred to .Seville in the
autumn ot 1501, to make the necessary prepara-
tions.
'riioUifh this substantial enterprise diverted his
attention from his romantic expedition for the re-
covery of the holy sepulchre, it still coiuiiuied to
haunt his mind. He left his manuscript collec-
tion of researches amonjj the prophecies, in the
hands of a devout friar of the nameot daspar (ior-
ricio, who .assisted to complete it. In February,
also, he wrote a letter to I'ope Alexander \'ll., in
which he apoloj^izes on account of indispensable
occu|)ations, tor not h.avinir repaired to f^ome, ac-
cordinjr to his orif^inal intention, to give an ac-
count of his granci discoveries. After briefly re-
lating them, he adds that his enterprises had been
undertaken with intent of dedicating the gains to
the recovery ot the holy se])ulchre. He mentions
his vow to furnish, within seven years, fifty thou-
sand foot ,111(1 live thousand horse tor the ])ur|)ose,
and another of like force within five succeeding
years. This pious intention, he laments, had been
im])eded by the arts of the devil, and he feared,
without divine aid, would be entirely frustrated,
as the government which had been granted to him
in perpetuity had been taken from him. He in-
forms his Holiness ot his being about to embark on
another voyage, and promises solemnly, on his re-
turn, to repair to I^ome, without delay, to relate
everything by word ot mouth, as well as to pre-
sent him with an account ot his voyages, which he
had kept from the commencement to tlie ]iresent
time, in the style of the Commentaries ot Ca'sar.'-
It w.is about this time, also, that he sent his
letter on the sutiject ot the sepulchre to the sov-
ereigns, together with the collection ot prophe-
cies. + We have no account ot the numner in
* N'uvarrctc, Coler. Viag., toni. ii. p. 145.
f A manuscript volume containinij a copy of tliis
letter and of the collection of prophecies, is in the
Columbian Library, in the Cathedral <;f Seville, where
the author of this work has seen and examined it,
since publishing the first edition. The title anil some
of the early pa^es of the work are in the handwriting
of FernaniU) Columbus, the main body of the work is
by a strange hand, proljably by the Friar Caspar Gor-
ricio, or some brother of his Convent. Tfiere are
trifling miirginal notes or corrections, and one or two
trivial additions in the handwriting of Columbus, es-
pecially a passage added after his return from his fourth
voyage and shortly before his death, alluding to an
eclipse of the moon which took place during his so-
journ in tli' island of Jamaica. The handwriting of
this last i).i>>.ige, like most of the manuscript of Co-
lumbus, which the author has seen, is small and deli-
cate, but wants the firmness and distinctness of his
earlier writing, his hand having doubtless become un-
steady by age and infirmity.
This document is extremely curious as containing
all the passages of Scripture and of the works of the
fathers which had so powerful an influence on the en-
which the proposition was received. Fcr!-J
with all his bigotry, was a shrewd aii(l>l,,1
jjrince. Instead of a chiv.ilrous crusade;, ]
Jerusalem, he preferred making a p.icitic .ir't]
mcnt with the (Irand Soldan of I'.gypt, w 1
menaced the destruction of the sacred ediS j
dispatched, theretore, the learned I'eterM
distinguished tor his historical wriiiiij^'s
bassador to the Soldan, by whom all
grievances between the two powers weres,;,!
torily adjusted, ami arrangenients madi- :
conser\ation of the holy sepulchre, and ih, i-
tion of all Christian pilgrims resorting to i
In the meantime Columbus went on ,.
pre])arations for his contemplated voya;;c :
but slowly, owing, .is Charlevoix iiuini.-nis-
artifices and delays of Fonseca and his,
He craved i)ermission to touch ;it the;- -I
Ilispaniola for supplies on his ouiward , |
This, however, the so\-c'reigns forbade, I,:
that he had many enemies in the isl.mil, ,t:,i
the ])lace would be in great agitation Imnit-
rival of Ovando and the removal ot ll./i ,
They consented, howe\er, that he shuuii!
ther.) brielly on his return, by which lii;;.
hopeil the island would be restored to iraiK,:
He was ])erniitted to take with hiin, in ih:>ti
dition, his brother the Adelantado, and h.-f
I'\rnando, then in his fourteenth year ; .lis
or three persons learned in .Arabic, tosi'r\V;J
terpreters, in case he should .arrive attbi't-
ions ot the Gr.md Kh.in, or of anyntlui'
prince where that language might be spni
])arti;illy known. In re])ly to letters rc!;i;sl
the ultimate restoration of his rights, and;
ters concerning his tamily, the soverei^'P.s
him a letter, dated March 14th, 1502, tiuiiiV;
cia de Torre, in which they again solcn;',
sured him that their ca])itulations with h:i;i-;:J
be fulfilled to the letter, and the digiiiti;>
ceded enjoyed by him, and his children ai'.i:"
and if it should be necessary to contirn' vj
anew, they would do so, and secure iIim;:
son. ISesides which, they expressed their di-
tion to bestow turlher hoiuu-s and rew.ini-.J
himself, his broliiers, and his idiiidren. T:'
treated him, theretore, to depart in pi.;-
cimhdence, ;iiid to leave all his conceriii in
to the management ot his son Diego."'
This was the last letter that Coluinlnisr
from the sovereigns, and llu^ ;is^uranns
tained were as ample and absolute as i
desire. Recent circumstances, howi'Vcr, '
p.irently rendered him dubious ot the '
During the time that he p.issed in Seviiir,!
vious to his departure, lie took measures l'>
his fame, and ]n-eserve tiu- claims of his l;i"
]ilacing them under the gu.irdianship ot l.:i':
country. He had copies of all the letter^, r
and ])rivileges from the sovereigns, appoin;::;
admiral, viceroy, and gcn-ernor of the Indi.v
led and authenticated before the alcaKliv:
ville. Two sets of these were transcri:)i-
gether with his letter to the nurse ut I'ria'f.'
containing a circumstantial .and e!o(]Uc:Uv"
tion of his righ.ts ; and two letters to tl;i':..'
thiisiaslic mind of Colunihus, and v,-crc coiiftraj
him into mysterious prophecies and rcvcl.iii™^'
volume is in gocd preservation, cxccptini; llut'l
pages have been cut in;t. The writin.^. llioinhc:!
beginning ol the lifieenUi century, is very dis
legible. The library mark of the book is LsIj:;:|
Tab. 13S, No. 25.
■■* Las Casas, Hist. Iiid., lib. ii. cap. 4.
Gforgc, at C,en(
irtvcniies, to be
L, (in corn and
Lidit and patru
let of the poor o
[docunielits '
I his triend, Due
Ibassadur from
kr.\RTVRF. 01- roi
i;i:-Ki,nsi;n ai
5AN IKl.MlNOO— F
|Ph>l.
Act; was rapidly i
jibus when he u
b!,a' of discovery,
jiiv-six years, and
(re and trouble, in
ftime. His consti
EiAtrenie, had bet
piisurcs in every cl
r the sufferings ot
Iwrrtul and comm:
aacf of strength ai
^s vet crazed by ir
jsms of excrucia
Irccb alone ret:iine(
prompting hii
h[ men seek repos
[dur on the most
jpcditions,
IHis s(|iiadron for 1
If'iiir caravels, the
|e lartfcst not excei
Hoiiiitiiig in ;dl tt
fith this little arma
111 the venerable di;
Iter .1 strait, which,
111) the most remott
Irc'jmiiavigation of
JIn this arduous
lithlul counsellor, r
|i,vliut(ir, in his bro
i yi)ijn;,'er son Fe
Btctionate svmpath
leiikh cDintorts, ti
pi ^tr:in;;er, surrou
BHUs enemies,
I The sqiradron sai
lay, and p.issed 01
lor.n'co, where it a
landinij that the I'o
les:f^'e;lin the torlr
;;reat |)eril. Coin
leri', and render al
iiire his .arrival t
ptxnvernur lay ill
•i.iiilt, Ccdumbus
li'.'i, his son Ferna
Snivels on shore,
ptli e\pressi(nis ol
prsof the service!
Nil message gave
paliers were sent
•jtiti'j
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
185
Gfor-'c, at Hcnoa, assigning to it the tenth of
r'cvcmics, to he employed in diminishing the
L, (It) corn and other provisions— a truly he-
tuliiit and patriotic donation, intentled tor the
Lf of the poor of his native city. These two
ii)f (iociimenls he sent by liiffeniU individuals
j'his friend, Doctor Nicolo Oiierigo, formerly
ibassaclur ironi Genoa ty the court ot Spain,
requesting him to preserve them in some safe
de|)osit, and to apprise his son Diego of the same.
His dissatisfaction at the conduct of the Sjjanish
court may have been the cause of this precaution-
ary measure, that an ajipeal to the world, or to
l)osterity, might be in tlie ))ower ot his descend-
ants, in case ne should perish in the course of his
voyage,*
BOOK XV.
CHAPTER r.
PARTURF. OF COI.UMIIUS ON IMS FOURTH VOY-
;i:— KIHSKD ADMISSION TO THF. H.\KIiOR OF
SAN DO.MlNCiO— F.XI'OSKO TO A VIOI.KNT TK.M-
[1502.]
,r,K was rapidly making its advances upon Co-
nhus when he undertook his fourth and last
|\ai;u of (liHcovery. He had already numbered
[tv-six years, and they were years filled with
Iri and troulile, in which age outstrips the march
Itime. His constitution, originally vigorous in
extreme, had been impaired by hardshi])s and
Ipusuris ill every clime, and silently jjrcyed upon
the siifft-riiigs ot the mind. His frame, once
Jwcrtul and loinmanding, and retaining a sem-
aiKc of strength .md majesty even in its decay,
ivclcnizedby infirmities and subject to i)ar-
ysnis of excruciating parn. His intellectual
Irccs alone retr.ined their wonted health and en-
H, prompting him, at a period of life when
jost men .seek repose, to sally forth with youthful
\i>r on the most toilsome and adventurous of
bcdiiions.
[His s(|u;i<lron for the present voyage consisted
jf'iur canivels, the smallest of fitly tons burden,
leiari;t!.t not exce(fding seventy, and the crews
nouiuiiii,' in all to one hundred and fifty men.
Jfitinhis little armament and these slender barks
Id the venerable discoverer undertake the search
Jter a strait, which, if found, must conduct him
») the most remote seas, antl lead to a complete
Irciimnavig.iiion of ihu globe.
Iln this arduous voyage, however, he had a
lithlul counsellor, and an intrepid and vigorous
pljuliir, in his brother Don ISanholomew, while
i yoiin;,H'r son I^'ernando cheered him with his
ntctionale sympathy. He had k'arnt to ajipreci-
lesiiih comforts, from being too often an isol.i-
istraiiLjer, surrounded by false friends and per-
JDious enemies.
iThe smi.idron sailed from CmW/. on the 9th of
lay, anti p.issed over to Ilrcilla, on the co:<st of
poriicco, where it anchored on the 13th. I'nder-
amlini; tliiit the Portuguese garrison was closely
|ts;e^'e;lin the fortress bytheMoors, and exposed
;;reat peril, Columbus was ordered to touch
lire, and render all the assistance in his ])ower.
Ift'ire his ;irrival the siege had been r;iised, but
p^'nvernor lay ill, having been wounded in an
piiill. Columbus sent his brother, the Adelan-
li! I, his son Fernando, and the captains of the
pivels on shore, to wait upon the governor,
|iih expressions of friendship and civility, and
RiTMil the services of his sfpi.idron. Their visit
^ilniess.ige g.ive high satisfaction, and several
^lalieri were sent to wait upon the admiral in
return, some of whom were relatives of his de-
ceased wife, Dofla Felippa .Mufloz. After this ex-
change of civdities, the .ulmiral made sail on the
same day, and continued his voy.ige.f On the
25th of May he arrived at the (iraiid Canary, and
remained at that and the adjacent islands for a
few days, taking in wood and water. On the even-
ing of the 25th he took his departure for the New
World. The trade winds were so favorable that
the little squadron swept gently on its course,
without shifting a sail, anil arrived on the 15th of
June at one of the Caribbee Islands, called by the
natives Mantinino.J After stopjiing nere lor three
days, to take in wood and water, and allow the
seamen time to wash their clothes, the sepiadron
passed to the west of the island, and s.iiled to Do-
minica, about ten leagues distant.? Columbus
continued hence along the inside of the Antilles,
to Santa Cruz, then along the south side of Porto
Rico, and steered for .San Domingo. This was
contrary to the original plan of the admiral, who
had intended to steer to Jamaica, || and thence to
take a departure for the continent, and exjjlore its
coasts in search of the supposed strait. It was
contrary to the orders of the sovereigns also, pro-
hibiting him on his outward voyage to touch at
Hispaniola. His excuse was that his ])rinci|)al
vessel sailed extremely ill, could not carry any
ranvas, and continually embarrassed and delayed
"he rest of the squadron.'! He wished, therefore,
to exchange it for one of the fleet which had re-
* These documents lay unknown in the Odcrigo
family until if)7o, when Lorenzo Oderi^o presented
them to the government of Genoa, and they were de-
posited in ihe archives. In ihe disturbances and re%-o-
lutions of after times, one of these copies was taken
to Paris, and the other disappeared. In iSifi the latter
was discovered in the library of the deceased Count
Michel Angelo Cambiaso, a senator of (ienoa. It was
procured liy the "^ ins of .Sardinia, then soverei};" of
tienoa, and given up by him to the city of Genoa in
1S21. A custodia, or monument, was erected in that
city for its preservation, consisting of a marble column
supporting an urn, surmounted by a bust of Colum-
1ms. The documents were deposited in the urn.
These papers have been published, tngetlicr with an
histurical memoir of Columbus, by D. Gio. Hattista
Spotorno, Professor of Eloquence, etc., in the Univer-
sity of Genoa.
{ Hist, del Almirante, cap. 8S.
i Sefior Navarrete supposes this island to be the
same at present called Santa Lucia. From the dis-
tance between it and Dominica, as slated by Fernando
Columbus, it was more probably the present Mar-
tinica.
>; Hist, del Almirante, cap. 8.S.
I Letter of Columbus from Jamaica. Journal of
Porras, Navarrete, torn. i.
*,i Hist, del Almirante, cap. S3. Las Casas, lib. ii.
cap. 5.
ii;
186
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
i I
•.ii, S;
J' M
'1 !'
s ■
' *
^ .
:>■■
^
^:
-^ 4
l>l!
ccntly convrvfd Ovantlo to his government, or to
purchase some other vessel at San Doniinj^o ; and
he was persuaded that lie would not lie blamed
for (le|)artinj; from his orders, in acase of such im-
portance to the salety and success of his ex|iedition.
It is necessary to state the siluati(3n of the island
at this monu'nt. Ovando had reached San Do-
mingo on the 15th of April, lie had been received
with the accustomed ceremony on the shore, by
15()badill:i, .iccompanied by the princijjal inhabi-
tants ot the town, lie was escortetl to the fortress,
where his commission was read in form, in ])res-
cnce of all the authorities. The usual oaths were
taken, and ceiemonials observed ; and the new
governor was hailed with great demonstrations of
obedience and satisfaction. Ovando entered ujion
the duties of his office with coolness and pru-
dence, and treated ISobadilla with a courtesy to-
tally opposite to the rudeness with which the latter
had superseded Columbus. The emptiness of
mere official r.uik, when unsustained by merit,
was shown in the case of liobadilla. The mo-
ment his authority was at an end all his impor-
tance vanished. Me found himself a solitary and
neglected man, deserted by those whom he had
most favored, and he ex|)erienced the worthless-
ness of the popularity gained by courting the jirej-
udices and passions of the multitude. Still there
is no record of any suit having been instituted
against him ; and Las Casas, who was on the
spot, declares that he never heard any harsh thing
spoken of him by the colonists,*
The conduct of Koldari and his accomjiliccs,
however, underwent a strict investigation, and
many were; arrested to be sent to Spain for trial.
They appeared undismayed, trusting to the inllu-
ence of their friends in Spain to i)rolect them, and
many relying on the well-known disposition of the
liishop of Konseca to favor all who had been oj)-
posed to Columbus.
The fleet which had brought out Ovando was
now ready for sea ; and was to take out a number
ot the principal (lelin(|uents, and many of the idlers
and ])rof1igates of the island. Bobadilla was to
embark in tin; principal ship, on board of which
he pi t an immense amount of gold, the revenu#
collected for tlie crown during his government,
and which he confidently expected would atone
for all his faidts. There was one solid mass of
virgin gold on board of this ship, which is famous
in the old Spanish chronicles. It had been found
by a female Indian in a brook, on the estate of
Francisco de Ciaray and Miguel Diaz, and had
been taken 'by HolSadilla to send to the king,
making the owners a suitable com|)ensaiion. It
was saiil to weigh three thousand six hundred
castellanos.t
Large epi.-intities of gold were likewise shipped
in the fleet, by the followers of Roldan, and other
adventurers, the wealth gained by the sufferings
of the unhapjiy natives. Among the various per-
sons who were to sail in the jirincipal shi|) was
the unfortunate (iuarionex, the once powerful ca-
cique of the \'ega. He had been contined in Fort
Conception ever since his capture after the war
of Higuey, and was now to be sent a cajitive in
chains to Spain. In one of the shijis, Aionzo
Sanchez de Caravjal, the agent of Columbus, had
t)Ut four thousand pieces of gold, to be remitted to
liim, being part of his pro|)erty, either recently
collected or recovered from the hands of Boba-
dilla.J
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. il. cap. 3,
f Ibid., cap. 5.
t Ibid.
The preparation.? were all made, .nndthe'
was ready to put to sea, when, on the :,-
June, the s(|uadron ot Columbus arrivi'd'ai.
mouth of the riv('r. He immediately seiuj'
de Terreros, captain of one ot the car.ivdi
shore to wait on Ovando, and explain toiiin-l
the ])urpose of his coming was to procure a, J
in exchange for one of his caravels, whii^vl
extremely defective. He recpiested perm,,
also to shelcer his scpiadron in the harbor ;ii
apiirehended, from various indications, ,iV
l)roaching storm. This reipiest was refu*:
Ovando. Las Casas thinks it probable iha;-
had instructions from the sovereigns not to a";
Columbus, and that he was further swavwi-
prudent considerations, as San Doinini;o v.J
that moment crowded with the most viriilir,i-l
mies of the admiral, many of them in a hi^
ot exasperation, from recent inoceediiigi .i- j
had taken place against them.*
When tlie ungracious refusal of Ovando
brought to Columbus, and he foiuid all bht;!
denied him, he sought at least to a\ert thed:,
of the fleet, which was about to sail, lit-;.]
back the officer, therefore, to the goveriinr,
treating him not to permit the- fleet to pm;,
for several days, assuring hint that there
indubitable signs of an impending tempest. Tl
second recpiest was ec|ually fruitless with tht"::!
The weather, to an inexiierienced eye, was : J
and tranci'il ; the pilots and seamen were ijJ
tient to de|)art. They scoffed at the prediciii-
the admiral, ridiculing him as a false pri)|,''
and they persuaded Ovando not to iletain thtr'
on so unsubstantial a |)ret!;\t.
It was hard treatment of Columbus, thiisiu:!
denied the relict which the state of his ship;
(juired, and to be excluded in timeot distress::
the very harbor he had discovered. He rit.-l
froni the river full ot grief and indignation. \'i
crew murmured loudly at being shut out In;
port of their own nation, where even straii,rJ
under similar circumstances, would be adm;::.|
They repined at having embarked with ao-
mander liable to such treatment, and anticipa;;
nothing but evil from a voyage, in which r;|
were exposed to the dangers ot the sea, am;-
pulsed from the ])rotection ot the land.
Being confident, from his observations n!:-
naiural phenomena in which he was deeply >v -
that the anticipated storm could not he d'-'.r.l
and expecting it from the land side, Colunrf
ke]it his feel)le sepiadron close to the shoa,:;:!
sought tor secure anchorage in some wild !
river of the island.
In the mean time the fleet of liobadilla sc:^'|
from San Domingo, and stood out contidcit
sea. Within two days the jjredictions of Cj!-'-I
bus were verified. One of those tremeii(louM'.:|
ricanes, which sometimes sweep those l.itiuidr
had gradually gathered up. The baletul ap;ci|
ance of the heavens, the wild look ot the occ;:
the rising murmur of the winds, all gave noiii; ]
its a])proach. The Heet had scarcely rea< hid : !|
eastern point of Hispaniola when the tempest'
o\er it with awful fury, involving everythiiii; 'I
wreck and ruin. The ship on board of which wtif
Bobadilla, Roldan, and a number of the most iriv;
crate enemies of Columbus, was swallowed u|)«:.|
all its crew, and with the celebrated massotfi'^
and the principal part of the ill-gottt:n trcasel
gained by the miseries ot the Indians. Maii):^
the ships were entirely lost, some returned to,^^|
* Las Casas, ubi sup.
m
us.
were all made, and the g
I stM, when, on the ;
A Columl)ii.s arrival ;v-m
He immeciialely sent Ivf
of one of llic caravtl,
i(lo, and exi)lain to hjn;-
iiinjr was to l)rocurea ,;,
of his caravels, which'
He reciuestcd pLTm;;,
iiadron in the harbor; ,.^
arious indications, iv.
his rec|ncst was rclux
thinks it prohaijle ihv
the sovereijrns not to,-,::
he was further sw;ui(:
IS, as San Doniiniju v,:;.
I with the most viriiler.i.
iiany of them in a hifjh.;
I recent iJroceedinj^r^ -y
1st them.*
ous refusal of Ovando
s, and he toinid all iU.
t at least to avert thedr.r,
las about to sail. Ili,.|
efore, to the ^jovcriKir,
)ermit the fleet to puttij
iUrinjr jiini that then;
n iiiijiendinfr tempest. T-J
jually fruitless with ilit-
ine.\i)erienced eye, \v,is :.l
lots and seamen Wfre:r
»■ scoffed at the predict:!-
iij; him as a false prn;-
K'ando not to detain iht-::
pretuvt.
eiit of Cohimhiis, thus:
ich the state of his sliiis-;|
uded in time of distress;:
lad discovered. He re;.-:
j^rief and indij^nation. !;J
ly at f)eiiitr sluil (lut Ip:,|
tion, where even stranL;'
tances, would he .-idmirf.!
n<; embarked with lu
treatment, and aiuicip;:;!
a voyajre, in which i::
danjjfers of the sea, a!ii;:?|
tron of the lanil.
his oliservations n[;r -
wiiich he was deeply sk; :
orm could not he (li-;r
the land side, Coiun:;,
■on close to the shore, :;
lorage in some wild h,v,
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
In:
he fleet of Hobadilla 5e:-i|
nd stood out confideniv
tile |)re(lictions of Co!;'
of those tremendous r..:l
mes sweep those latiiuic]
up. The lialehd appc;
the wild look of the oa.-i
u- winds, all j;ave iiol:i
t had scarcely reachd ■.jI
lola when the teni|H'st''
y, invohiii^ everylhin
lip on board of which '.
I nuniberof the most in.:;|
)us, was sw;dlowedu|)»'.J
le celebrated mass ot
of the ill-tjotlen trc.M?.|
of the Indians. Mam i
lost, some returned to >"
L^iP^o, in shattered condition, and only one
L ^.nabled t'l continue her voyage to Spain.
Lione according,' to Fernando Columbus, was
"ueakest ol the fleet, and had on board the four
bu Jnd pieces ot gold, the projierty of the ad-
)iiriii|; the early part of this storm the little
,|ij,„ III (^dumbus remained tolerably well
Iclu-rcd hy ihc land. On the second d.-iy the
t iiicre.ised in violence, and the night com-
',,■1 with unusual darkness, the ships lost sight
each otlur aii<l were sejiarated. The admiral
111 kept clo-ie to the shore, and sustained no
Inii'c. The others, fearful of the land in such
llarkaiul boisterous night, ran out for sea-room,
1(1 eiicduntcred the whole fury of the elements.
;evcral d.ivs they were driven about at tlii'
Ircv of wind .uid wave, fearful each moment of
in.vrcck, and giving up each other as lost. T'he
ci;iin,ido, who commanded the slii|) already
fcir.ioiicd as being scircely seaworthy, ran the
imniiiieiit lia/ard, and nothing but his con-
►iiniate sc.uuanship enabled him to keej) iier
Oat. .-Vt length, alter v;irious vicissitudes, they
arrived sale at I'ort Ilermoso, to the west of
In Diiniiiigo. T'hc Adelantado had lost his long-
at ; and .dl the vessels, with the exception of
hint ilie admiral, had sustained more or less in-
n\n>:n Coluinbus learnt the signal destruction
kt h.id overwhelmed his enemies, almost before
iv\cs, he w;is dee|)ly impressed with awe, and
■ik-ii'd bis own preservation as little less than
ImcuIous. lioth his son i'"eriiaiido and the ven-
ilc histori.ui l-.'is Casas looked upon the event
[v'.\c of tlio^e awful judgments which seem at
jii, to de.d tenth temporal relribulion. They
llicc the circumstance, that while the enemies of
MJniind were swallowed u|) by the raging sea,
ilv ship of the tieet which was enabled to
Ir.iuc her voyage, and reach her port ot destina-
In. was the frail bark freighted with the proji-
lyof CoUiiiibus. The evil, however, in this, as
[must circumst.uices, overwhelmed the innocent
Iv.cll , -IS the guilty. In the ship with Bobadilla
|dl<uld.-ni, perished the captive (iuarione,\, the
Iturluiiate cacic|ue of the Vega.*
CIIAl'TKR II.
IvnVACK AI.OXO I'lIK CO.VST OF tlONDURAS.
["502.]
'or sevcr.d d.iys Columbus remained in I'ort
tniioso, to re|).iir his vessels and permit his
rvs to repose and refresh thems(dves after the
tempest. He had scarcely left this harbor
Bca he w.-is (diliged to take shelter from another
pm in l,ic(piemel, or as it was called by the
|an;,ir(ls, I'ort llra/il. Hence he s.iiled on the
llh of hily, steering fiu' Terra Firni;i. The
l.v.:irr falling perfeiUly calm, he was borne away
7 I'll' curreius until he found himself in the vi-
J:t; of some little islands near Jamaica, t desti-
Itof springs, but where the seamen obtained a
Pp'y »t \\,iti-r bv digging holes in the sand on
iirach.
Ihecalm continuing, he was swept away to the
1-3? Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. ii. cap. 5. Hist, del
i^rante. cap. SS.
I -Supposed to be the Morant Keys.
group of small i.slands, or kcy.=i, on tlin southern
coast of Cld)a, to which, in 1494, he had given the
name of The (iardens. He had scan ely touched
there, however, when the nind sprang up irom a
favorable quarter, and ho was enabled to make
sail on his destined course. He now stood to the
south-west, and alter a few days discovered, on
the 30th of July, a small but' e!e\ ated island,
agreeable to the eye from the variety of trees with
which it w;is covered. Among these was a great
number ot lofty pines, from which i ircumst;uice
Columbus named it Isl;i de I'inos. It has always,
however, retainetl its Indian name of CiU.-inaja,*
which has been extended to :i number of suialler
islands surrounding it. This group is within .-i
few leagues of the coast of Iloniluras, to the east
of tlir' great b;iy or gulf of that name.
The Ad(danlado, with two l.iuiuhes full of ]K'o-
ple, landed on the ])riiicip,-il island, which was ex-
tremely verdant and fertile. The inhabitants re-
sembled those of other islands, excepting thi.t
their foreheads were n;irrower. \\liile the .-Xde-
laiitado was on shore, he beheld a great canoe ar-
riving, as from a distant and iniporlaiit voy.-ige.
He was struck with its magnitude and con-
tents. It was eight feet wide, and as long ,is
a g.dley, though formed of the trunk ot a sin-
gle tree. In the centre was a kind of awn-
ing or cabin ot palm-leaves, alter the ma;;-
ner ot those in the gondolas of \'enice, aiul
sulliciently close to exclude both sun and rain.
I'nder this sat a cacitpie with his wives and
children. Twenty-five Indians rowed the e.inoe,
rmd it was Idled with all kinds of articles of the
m.-inufacture and natural jiroductioii ot the adja-
cent countries. It is supposed that this bark h.'.d
come from the province of Yucatan, which is
about forty leagues distant from this island.
The Indians in the canoe appeared to have no
fear of the Spaniards, and readily went alongside
of the admiral's caravel. Columbus was over-
joyed at thus h;iving brought to him at once, with-
out troidile or danger, a collection ot specimens
of all the important articles ot this partot the New
World. He examined with great cuiiosity and
interest the contents of the canoe. .-Vniong vari-
ous utensils and weapons similar to those aire.uly
found among tlie n.-itives, he |)erceiveil others ol
a much superior kind. There were hatchets for
cutting wood, formed not of stone but cojiper ;
wooden swords, with channels on e.icli side ot the
blade, in which sharp Hints were t'lrmly fixed by
cords m;icle of the intestines of fishes ; being the
same kind of weapon afterward found among the
Mexicans. There were copjier bells, and other
articles of the same metal, together with a rude
kind of crucible in which to melt it ; v.irious ves-
sels and utensils neatly tormed of clay, of marble,
•and of hard wood ; sheets and mantles ot cotton,
worked and dyed with various colors ; great
cpiantilies of cacao, a fruit :is yet uid<nown to the
Spaniards, but which, as they soon lound, the na-
tives held in great estim.-ition, u-.ing it both as
food and money. There was a beverage also ex-
tracted from maize or Indian corn, resembling
beer. Their provisions consisterl ol bre.id made
ot maize, and roots of v,-irious kinds, similar to
those of Hispaniola. l'"rom among these articles
Columbus collected such ;is were important to
send as specimens to Siiain, giving the natives
I-Airopean trinkets in exclian;ge, with which they
were highly s.itistl-d. They appeared to mani-
fest neither astonish meiii nor alarm when on
* Called in some of the English maps Uonacea,
188
LIFE AND VOYAGKS OF COLUMBUS.
!:!!;
hoard of the vessels, and surrounded by people
who must h.ivi; hcen so slranjje and wonderful to
them. The women wore mantles, with which
tlu'y wrapped themselves, like the female Moors
of Ciranaila, and iht; men had cloths of cotton
round their loins. ISoth sexes appeared more par-
ticular .about these coverinj^s, and to have a
(juicker sense of person.il modesty than any In-
(li.ins Columlnis h.id yet disovered.
These (-ircumst.inces, tof^ether with the superi-
ority of their imi)lements and manufactures, were
l)el(l by the admiral ;is indic.itions that he was a|)-
pro.ichin;,' n>ore civilized nations, fie endeavored
to >;.iin particular information from these Indians
about the surrounding^ countries ; but as they
spoke a diff;-rent lan,t,maj^e from that of his inter-
preters, he coidd underst.md them but im|)erfect-
ly. 'i'hey inlornicd him that they had just .arrived
from a country, rii-h, culli\ated, and industrious,
silii.itcd to the west. 'I'hey endeavored to im])ress
hini with ;in idea of the wealth and m.it^niticence
ol the rc^rion ;, and the people in that cpiarler, and
un^ed hun to steer in that direction. Well would
it ha\e been lor Columbus had he followed their
advii e. Within a day or two he would h.ive ar-
rived at Yucatan ; the (lisco\ery of Mexico .and the
otlu'r opulent countries ot .New Sp.iin would have
necessarily followeil ; the .Southern Ocean would
have been disclosi-d to him, and a succession of
splendid discoveries would have shed fresh t;lory
on his del linini^' :vj;i\ instead of its sinking amidst
gloom, ncf^Iect, and dis.ippointment.
The admiral's whole mind, however, was at
present intent upon discoverin<r the strait. As
the countries described by the Indians lay to the
west, he supposed that he could easilv visit them
at some future time, by running,'- with the trade-
winds alon^the coast of Cuba, which he ima^jined
must continue on, so as to join them. At ])resent
he w.is determined to seek the m.iin-land, the
mountains of which were visible to the south, and
app.irenlly not m.my leaj^ues distant ;" by keeping
alouLf It stcidf.astly to the east, he must at length
arrive to where he sujijiosed it to be severed from
the coast ot I'.iria by an intervening strait ; and
])assing throu;,;h 'his, he shoidd soon make his
w.iy to the Spice Isl.mds and the richest parts of
India. t
He w.is encouraged the more to persist in his
eastern course by intormation from ilie Indians,
that there were many ])!.ices in th.it direction
which .abounded with gold. Much ot the infor-
mation which he g.ithered among these peoi)le
w;is derived Irom an old man more intelligent than
the rest, who appeared to be .an ancient navigator
of these seas. Columbus retained him to serve as
a guide along the coast, and dismissed his com-
])anions with many presents.
Leaving the island of Ciuanaja, he stood south-
wardly tor the m.iin-land, and after sailing a few-
leagues disiovered a ca])e, to which he gave the
name of Caxinas, from its being covered with
fruit trees, so called by the natives. It is at pres-
ent known as Cane Honduras. Here, on Sunday
the 14th of .August, the .Adelantado landed with
the captains of the caravels and many of the sea-
men, to attend mass, which was jierformed under
the trees on the sea-shore, according to the jiious
custom ot the admiral, whenever circumstances
would permit. On the 17th the .Adel.mtado again
landed at a river about litteen miles from the
* Tournal of I'orras, N'avarrete, torn. i.
+ i.as Casus, lib. ii. cap. 2o. Letter of Columbus
from Jamaica,
point, on the batik of which I'le displayed iLe,
ners of Castile, taking possession ot the t j ■
in the name ot their Catholic Majcstits; ••
which circumstances he named this ilii; Ri,' ]
Possession.*
At this place they found upw.ird of a hunJ
Indians assembleil, laden with bread and rr.ij
llsh and fowl, vegetaliles, and fruits of vji
kinds. These they laid down as prisem> iuj
the Adelantado and his |).iriy, and diewLji
a distance without speaking .1 word. Thf.v>
lantado distributed among tliem various tr;uj
with which they were well ple.ised, and ap'.c.J
the next day in the same pl.ice, in gre.iitr'
bers, with still more abundant supplies ol-;
sions.
The natives of this neighborhooil, and ;
considerable distance eastward, li.id liij,'lnr:J
heads than those ot the islands. 1 hey wrtl
different languages, .and varied Irom <'.Kh dihri
their decorations. Some were eniiridy n,uJ
and their bodies were marked by iiR'ans.;
with the figures of various animals. .Sunu: ,
coverings about the loins ; others short ,
jerkins without sleeves ; some wore trc'ssusi:
in front. The chieftains had caps of while ;;
ored cotton. When .arrayed lor any tcsiiv.i
painted their faces black, or with stripes d;
ous colors, or with circles round tin- eyes.
old Ind'an guide assured the admiral tli.it irr
them were cannibals. In one part ot ihcuiivj
natives had their ears bored, and hi(leoU:.\
tended; which c.iused the .Sjianiards to 1,1:,
region /a Costa dc la Oreja, or " The Coast-;
i:,ar."t
From the Ri.'er of I'ossession, Coliimlii;;
ceeded along what is at ])resent called ihi
of flonduras, beating against contrary \\in(l>, i
struggling with currents, which swept tru;i.J
east like the constant stream of a river. Iki
lost in one t.acl. what he h.id laboriously:;!,
in two, frequently making but two k'aj;uc- J
day, and never more than five. At night;
chored under the laiul, through fetir ot jiidit
along an unknown coast in the dark, hi;
often forced out to sea by the \ iolcnct; ol li:
rents. + In all this tim he experienced iIumJ
kind of weather th.it had prevailed on tluinir;
Ilispaniola, .and htid attended him more or
for upward of sixty days. There was, he >
almost an incessant tempest ot the heavens '1
heavy rains, and such thunder ;ind liglilnii;;'
it S(temed as if the end ot tlu: world was at;.
'fh.ose who know anything of the diciu-hin^'r
and rending thunder of the iropics will nut;
his description of the storms exaggeralcd
vessels were strained so that their seams (i]i;'*:|
the sails and ringing were rent, .and the |irii.:>
were damtigeii by the rain and byllu;leu^i
The sailors were e.xhausled with labor :inii"4
assed with terror. They many times ror.tri;|
their sins to each other, and prepared tor liri]
"I have seen many tempests," s.iys Coluiit t
" but none so violent or ot such long dura!
He alludes to the whole series ol storms It:]
ward of two months, since he had hei'ii rc;.>
shelter at San Domingo. During a grtMi 1
this time he had sulfered extremely frum
gout, aggravated by his walchlulness and ai;*-'
His illness did not prevent his atleiulini; t
* Journal of Porras, Navarrctc, Coler.. tnm
+ Las Casas, lib. ii. cap. 2r. llist. del .\li'a:-'|
rap. qo.
\ Hist, dc! Alinirantc, cap. So.
IBUS.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
180
of wliich ne (lispl.iyt-d lu,-
killfj poSSl'S.sioll lit lIlL' (.,,
heir Catholic Majcsijcs ; ;
CCS liu named this iliu K, L]
icy fouiul ii|)\varil of a lnj; J
I, ladiMi with IjiTad anil;i,,I
ijelahles, and triiiis o| \ •
y hiid down as |)ii?.cnti i,,
xl Ids party, and (hew in ,
It spuakin^r a word. Tli ,',
d anion^r iht-m various u.iJ
ere well pleased, and ■d\i',tA
lie same jilace, in ),frL'aicr'
ire alnmdant sup|)hes ol ':1
this neijjldjorhood, and
nee eastward, had liifrhrr
of llii; islands. 'fhcy a^-.j
s, and \aried Irom cieii i
Some were entirely n.:,:-,!
wero marked hy niean>.:;;
[ various animals. Suiiit: ,i.
he loins ; others short ,
eves ; some wore ln■ssL■^l:
L'ttains had caps ol while ir
-Ml arrayed lor any lestiwi ■
i blaek, or with stripes ■ ;
h circles round tin- cyis.
ssured the admiral that ii ,,•
ds. In one part ot the n.,,;
ears hored, and hideouri
lused the S|)aniards to i ,,. ■
/ii Orcjii, or " 'J'he Cua^t :
r of I'ossessioM, Cdliniilic;
It is at present called tin
n^' aj^ainst contrary \vin(l>
urrents, which swept tiu;;
ml stream of a river. He
Kit he h.id hihorioii.'ily ;i
making' hut two leajjuc-
ore than five. At ni);h; ;;t
nil, thr(iiij,di fear of pnnca
n coast in the dark, hui '
sea by the \iolenie ol the,
lim he exp<'rienee(l thcjid
t had ju'evailed on the (n.-:
attended him more i-r
ty days, 'fhere was, he ^;
t tempest ol the heaveiiv ij
ich thunder and lightnin;':
end of the world was ai :..
nythiuLj of the drcneliiii,': '
er of the H'opics will lui; :
the storms e\a,L;;.;eraleil. .■
:d so that their si'anis (i])'.:.|
;.r were rent, and the pro.,'
the rain and hy the \k\<
■\hausted with labor an:
'i'hey many times ch::::
)iher, and pre|)ared fun-
y tempests," says Coium >
•lit or of such loii^f (lur,i!:
whole series ot storms lor .1
since he liad been \CA
iin;j;(). Durinj,'' a ^n'eal l ;']
suffered extremely fn'"' '
his watchlulness and an^'
t prevent his alteiulin;,' '■
s, N.-ivarrcto, Colce., torn. ■
cap. 21. Hist, del Aim:--
rite, cap. So,
litj..;' lie had .1 small cabin or chamber con-
LiVd on the stern, whence, even when confined
fhis bed, he could keep a look-out and regulate
I ,,j|jn.r of the ships. Many times he was so
>i,itlie thouiiht his end apiiroachin);. His an.\-
iiiiiil \^';''* distressed about his brother the
|,|..',iiU.ulo, whom he had persuaded aj^ainst his
111 I) come on this expedition, and who was in
L V jrst vessel of the squadron. He lamented
Isj hiving' hrou^jht with him his son Fernando.
l,i,iv iiim at so tender an af,a' to such perils
L'j hardships, althouffli the youth bore them with
le ej'.ira',fe and fortitude of a veteran. Often,
lo his ilu)'J:,dus reverted to his son Diejjo, and
L ci-rs and perplexities into which his death
li'hi pluii^^- him.* At lenfTih, after strut^K'linfr
FupAird ot forty days since leavinfj the Cape of
loii.iM^. to make a distance of about seventy
.j'le-., they arrived on the 14th of September at
Iciii- where the coast, makinjj an anjjle, turiied
Ircily south, so as to ^'ive them an easy wind
Jllirej ii.ivi|;ation. Doublinjj the ])oint, they
L';r. off with (lowing sails and hearts tilled with
Iv; an 1 the admiral, to commemorate this sud-
c:i relief from toil and peril, ^Mve to the Cape
Ic iiaaie of Gracias a Dios, or Thanks to God.f
CHAPTl.R in.
|ov.w;i: Ai.nxr, the mosquito coast, and
TRANSACITONS AT CARIAKI.
['503-]
.VrtFR doubling^ Cape Gracias a Dios, Colum-
Ui sailed directly south, alon<r what is at present
the Mosquito shore. The land was of
character, sometimes ru^'};ed, with cra^rj(y
rnmiatoriesand points stretcliiiifr into the sea, at
khr places verdant and fertile, and watered by
111 Liiit streams. In the rivers jrrew immense
fc;li. stiai 'iinv.;iof the thickness of aman'sthijjh :
[ieva'iijii le I with fish and tortoises, and allijja-
)rsl)isl<el on the banks. At one place Columbus
•.el a cliHter of twelve small islands, on which
|rc.va fruit resemblin;r the lemon, on which ac-
BJ'i! he calle 1 them the Limonares. J
.\;ter sailin;j about sixty-two leaj^ues along this
Ju;, i)ei:i.( ;,^really in wiint of wood and water,
5 I'll Iron anchored 0:1 the i6lh of September,
iracopio^js river, up which the boats were sent
nrjurethe requisite supjilies. As they were
[e'.raiii^ to their shijjs, a sudden swellinjj of the
.ru,!i:n„f in an 1 encounterinjc the rapid current
Ml- rivor, caused a violent commotion, in which
n: (i! til;; boats was swallowed up, and all on
pirl perished. This melancholy event had a
111. etf^.vt upon the crews, already disjiirited
arew.irii from the hardships they had endured,
Ca'.unihus, shariuff their dejection, gave the
Jlffini ilie sinister ni\me oi El rio del Dosas ire,
fr'.:i^ River of Disaster.!)
■uiii;; this unlucky neighborhood, they con-
(fJ-.l tor several days along the coast, until find-
' I."ttcr from Jamalc.. Navarrete, Colcc , torn. i.
i ' Lis Casas, lib. ii. cap. 21. Hist, del AI irante,
ia? ')!.
' 1' Martyr, decad. iii. lil). iv. These may have
*°^ the lime, a small and extremely acid species of
*■- lemon.
> I..1S Casas, lib. ii. cap. 21. Hist, del Almirante,
^?^ iji. Journal of Porras.
ing both his ships and his jicople nearly disabled
by the buffetings ot the tempests, Columbus, on
the 25th of September, cist am hor between a
small island and the main-land, in what appeared
a commodious and delighttul situ.ition. The island
was covered with groves ol p.ilm-trcis, coc('aiiut-
trees, bananas, and a delicate and Iragr.int Iruit,
which the admiral continually mistook tor the
mirabolane of the I'.ast Indies. The fruits and
flowers and odoriferous shrubs of the island sent
forth grateful jierfumes, so tli.it Columbus gave it
the name of La Huerta, or The Ciardeii. It was
called by the natives, (Uiiribiri. Immediately op-
])osite, ;it a short league's (list, nice, w.is an Indian
village, named Cariari, situated on the b.ink of a
beautiful river. The country armmd was fresh
and verdant, linely diversitied by noble hills and
forests, with trees of such height that Las Casas
savs they ajipcircd to reach the skies.
When' the inh.ibitants beheld the ships, tiiey
gathered together on the coast, armed with bows
;ind arrows, war clubs, and lances, and prepared
to defend their shores. The Spaniards, however,
made no altemjit to land (luring tli.it or the suc-
ceeding d.iv, but remained (|uittly on bo.ird re-
pairing tne'shiiis, airing and drying the damaged
provisicjns, or reposing troiii the t.itigues ot the
voyage. When the sa\ag(s percii\e;l that these
wonderful beings, who had arrive, I in this strange
manner on their co.ist, were ])erfeclly p.icilic, and
made no movement lo molest tln'iii, ilieir hostility
ceased, and curiosity iiredomin.ited. They madi;
various pacific signals, waving their m;'ntles like
banners, and inviting the Spani.irds to land.
Crowing still more bold, they swam lo the ships,
bringing off mantles .uid tunics of cotton, and
ornaments of the inferior sort of gold called
guanin, which they wore about tlieir necks.
These they offered to the Spaniards. The ad-
! miral, however, forbade all tral'tic, making them
j ])resenls, but taking nothing in exidiange, wishing
I to impress them with a favorable idea ol the liber-
' alityand disinterestedness id the white men. The
i ])ride of the savages was touched at the relus.il of
their proffered gitls, and this supposed contempt
I for their m.inutactures and iiroductions. They
; endeavored to ret.iliate, by ])releii(liiig like in-
I difference. On returning to shore, they tied
together all the F.uropean articles which hail been
i given them, without retaining the le.isi trille, and
j left them lying on the str.ind, where th.e Sjianiards
I found them on a subse(|ueiil d.iy.
' Finding the strangers still declined lo come on
I shore, the n.uives tried in every way lo gain their
conliilence, and dispel the disirust which their
'■ hostile demonstrations niiglil have caused. A
bo.it approaching the shore cautiously one day, in
(juest ot some sate place to jirocure w.iter, an an-
; cieiit Indian, of venerable demeanor, issued from
■ among the iri'cs, bearing a white b.inner on the
end ot a staff, and leading two girls, one about
fourteen years of age, the other about eight, hav-
, ing jewels of guanin about their necks. 'Idiese he
brought to the boat and delivered lo the Spaniards,
making signs that they were lo be detained as
hostages while the strangers should be on shon_>.
I'pon this the Spaniards sallied forth with conti-
dence and filled their water-casks, the Indians
remaining at a distance, and observing the strict-
est care, neither by word nor movement to cause
any new distrust. WIh'II the boats were about to
return to the shijis, the old Indian made signs that
the young girls should be taken on board, nor
would he admit of any denial. On entering the
ships the girls showed no signs of grief nor alarm,
mo
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
; I-
:'!.
'■k
V A
tlioii;.;li siirrounflcfl l)y Nvh;it to them must have
liei'ii uruoiill'i .111(1 ((Hini(l:il)li' hi'injjs. Columbus
was cart'lul that the CDiirKltince thus placed in him
should not l)f al)us<'(l. Alter feastinjr the younj;
lemales, and ordtiinj,^ them to he clothed and
adorned with various ornaments, he sent them on
shore. 'I'he ni^lit, however, had lallen, and tin;
coast w.is deserted, 'i'hey had to return to the
shij), where they remained .ill ni^lu under the
carefid protection ot the admiral. The nextmorn-
inj^ he re.itored tlu-m to their friends. 'I'he {dd
Indi.ui rtcei\fd tluin with joy, and manifested a
jfr.itelid sense of the kind treatment they had ex-
perienced. In the eveiiinj,r, however, when the
l)oats went on shore, the younj,' j^irls .appeared,
accompanied by .i nuiliitiidf of their friends, and
returned all thi' pre^icnls they h.id received, nor
tould they be iirev.iiled upon to retain ;uiyoi them,
;dthoiif,'h they must iiave been precious in llu'ir
eyes ; so >rre,illy w.is the prid(' ol these s.iv.ij^'es
piqiU'd ,il Iiavinj4- their trills refused.
On the followin;;' day, as the Adelantado ap-
jiroached the shore, two of tlie principal inliai)it-
ants, enterinj^^ the water, took him out of the boat
in their arms, and c.irryinjr jiini to l.md, se.ited
him with jrre.it ceremony on a {^r-issy bank. Don
Bartholomew endeavored to colled information
from them respectinif the country, aiidorilered the
notary of the sijuadron to write down their replies.
The latter imniedi.iicly prep.ired pen, ink, and
l)aper, and proceeded to write ; but no sooner did
the Indians behold this strange and mysteriojs
jirocess, than mist.ikin^r it for some necromantic
spell, inti-nded to be wrought upon them, they lied
with terror. After some time they returned, cau-
tiously scatteriiiLj a fr.i;fr.inl powder in the air, and
burninj^r some of it in such ;i direction that the
smoke should be b'>nie toward the S|ianiards by
the wind. This was ,iii|i.irentlv intended to counter-
act any baleful spi'll, I iv tluy ref,'-arded the sti'anj^fers
as beini^s of a nnsterious and supernatural order.
The sailors looked upon these counter-charms
of the Indians with equ.il distrust, and apprehend-
ed soniethinL;df mat;ic ; nay, l-'ernaiulo Columbus,
who was |)rrMeiit, and records the scene, appears
to doubt whetlu'r tliese Indians were not versed in
sorcery, and thus led to suspct it in others.*
Indeed, not to conceal a foible, which was more
char.icteristic of tin; superstition of the age than
of the man, Columbus himsi;lf entertained an idea
of the kind, ;ind assures the sovereif;ns, in his let-
ter from Jamaica, that the people of Cariari and
its vicinity are threat enchanters, and he intimates
that the two Indi.m j^^irls who had visited his shi])
had m.ii^rjc powder concealed about their ])ers()ns.
He adds, that the sailors attributed all tin; delays
and harilships ex|)erienced on that coast to their
beinijf imder the inlluence of some evil spell,
worked by the witchcr.ift of the natives, and that
they still remained in that belief-f
* Hist, del Almiraiito, cap. 91.
f Letter from Jamaica.
N'ori;. — We tirul instances of the same kind of su-
perstition in the work of Marco Polo, and as Colum-
bus considered himself in the vicinity of the countries
described liy tliat traveller, he may have been inllu-
cnccd in this respect by liis narrations. Speaking of
the island of Soccotera (Socotra), Marco Polo ob-
serves : " The inhabitants deal more in sorcery and
witcticraft than any other people, although forbidden
by their archbishop, who excommunicates and anathe-
matizes them for the sin. Of this, however, they
make little account, and if any vessel belonRing to a
pirate should injure one of theirs, they do not fail to
lay him under a spell, so that h- cannot proceed on
For several days the squadron remained ,11. ;,|
])lace, during which time the ships were l'v,iii;>I
and re])aired, and the crews enjoyed repihc,'
the recie.ition of the land. The Adel.ini.idii ['.
a band (d armed men, made excursions (jn ,,,,^
to collect iidormation. There was no |)urc
to be met with here, , ill their ornanuiits v.Jr '
guanin ; but the natives assured the .Adt:,,!;!,.,
that, in |)roceeding along the coast, the ,/
would soon arrive at a country where gold u,i,.
great abundance.
In examining one of the vill.'iges, the .Adi'Iitv .
h)und, in a large house, several sepuUlirt^. i-,
contained a hum. in body endialmed : in -.nw:-
there were two bodies wrap|)ed in cotton, ,,;,
preserved as to be free frimt any disiij;rt,,;;.
odor. They were adorned with the (iiii.in.-,
most jirecious to them when living ; and tlif-c.l
chres were decorated with rude carviiij;s
paintings re])resenting various animals, aii(|M.,,|
limes wh.it ap|)e,ireil to be inti'iuled lor purr,. ,
of the deceased."' 'J'hroughout most ot tlu^.i i^.l
tribes there appears to have been gre.it viiit;..!
lion lor the dead, and an anxiety to i>reserviMtfi|
remains undisturbed.
When about to sail, Columbus seized sever.ai
the people, two of whom, apiiarently the ni(ii,iij.|
telligeiit, he selected to serve as guides ; lher(s|
lie suffered to depart. His late guide he liadd
missed with presents at Cape Cracias ,1 Dml
The inhabitants of Cari.iri manifested umisua
sibility at this seizure of their countrymen. TrtJ
throng d the shore, and sent off four ot ilniri
cipal n vn with presents to the ships, iniplor-l
the release of the i)risoners.
The admiral assured them that he only tnokiirj
companions .is guides, for a short distaiuc ,i!(.'
the coast, and would reston; them soon in xC'.
to their homes. He ordered various presinii
be given to the ambassadors ; but neithi-r '
promises nor gifts could soothe the griet ,iiiili:-|
prehension ot the natives at beholding their tritffil
carried away by beings of whom they had seal
mysterious apprehensions. f
CHAPTER IV.
V0YAC;F, along COSTA KICA — SPF.CUI..\TKd
CONCKRNINU THE ISTHMUS AT VKRAGLA.
[1502.]
On' the jlh of October the scjuadron dep.ineil
from C.ari iri, ;ind sailed along what is at prLr:".!
c'llled Costa Rica lor the Rich Coast, tn)iii;;J
gold ;ind silver mines h)und in after years .inn','
its mountains. After sailing about twc:ity;i:|
leagues the ships anchored in a great bay, .il!'-'
si.x leagues in length and three on breadth, full;:
his cruise until he has m.ade satisfaction for the dati
.a.cfe ; and even although he should have a lairi:;|
leailing wind, they have the power of causing 1:;:
change, and thereby obliging him, in spite nf fcr.|
self, to return to the island They can in like in.inr.rl
cause the sea to become c.ilm, and at their will si
raise tempests, occasion shipwrecks, ami prcltal
many other extraordinary effects that need not t(l
particularized. — Marco Polo, book iii. cap. 35. -'if
translation by W. Marsden.
* Las Casas, lib. ii. cap. 21. Hist, del .Mmiraritj
cap. f)i.
f Las Casas, lib. ii. cap. 21. Hist, del Almiw.-I
cap. (}i. Letter of Columbus from Jamaii;u
.^1
■^^M^:
■"'"SBSKltl ICVINO
/// //^y^/,
rrmaincil x4
> wtTt,' vuu\:A
■lyed rc|iiht
Vil<'l:iiilaili,, "
iirsioiis oil ,],..■
IS no puii. ^ '
iianu'ius v.rV
tin; Adcl.ui;,
■iiast, ihi: ., ,
IITC gull] \vi, I
, the Adol.r,,
t'puU Inc.,. i.,|
fil ; in iiiii)'
n collon, ar.c.J
ny (lisatjift,,!^
the (iril.:ii,::.
; and il:i-~t;..
.' carvings ^
mals, jindvv'..
(led l(ir |,i)r;r,; ,
OSl ot tlU'saii-;
■n {^rcat vrntrJ
to pix-strvcihtl
i s('i/f(l scver,(i|
nily tli(' nl()sll^l
);uidus ; tl.ersl
uidc lie liadiiivl
(iracias a Itiii
itcd iiiuisuai.:-
ntrynifii. Trt
)ur of tluiri'::
ships, iniplurrji
le only tnokih
'l distance aV-
m soon in sjit'
■ions prestnii:';!
liiit neilliLT hil
j(l'ift anils;.
mj^ iheirtrittcil
ihuy had se]
IMW^^^^i^^^^
m^^
-4
■> •
1/-^
■'»■
Li
• SPIXn.ATInS'l
VKRAGUA.
ad roil (Icpaneil
It is at prrttJ
last', tnimil
T yL'ars aiv,v-;|
out t\vu:Uy-;..:
cat bay, a!v:;|
hrcadth, lul'.J
on for the (1j:|
have a lairi-.;!
of causing i":|
n spite of l^t'l
1 in like inanr.;'.
at their wills
atiil pto.lE:!|
It iiri-il not ;<|
cap. 35, -"if
■*x.ri
1^^-
/*
fi^-
— ''
.. s^i-JJ*^^.i^I*ifi^?a.
m^m^:^'^
tMj#.«
del Almiran».^J«wiBs;;[7;^7;;jj-
del Almirr.::
maica.
' ■■■•"n>;v;*
;;.i>t».^'*J*.v.'--
'^''ft»^'«i<v'^-.;-:
CopvriQHt I9fll byPOLLAHO AMOSS.
V ////////^// ^/ ///^ , V/X/////
^/^////' ^// /////////
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til |irrsriit line
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I' \I,'irt\r, ilcrrur
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J'.) I
Ills, uidi ilwiiinrU oprniii;; liilsv«'i'n llum, so
It, [iri'Mii
(l|,.i| In ihc ii.itivi's
I tliici' or tour ciitr.mic^.
It
binlt'ii
Cirili.iiii,* ,it)(l li.iil lircM
,,iii '•> till- ii.tlivi's 111 Ctri.in .IS iilciiiilul
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si'Vi'Mtiin plati'S of jjiild, uiiith (iMc liiiiiiliid imd
lilty dm. Its, lnr a Irw tos i .iml trillr-,,
\\ hill till' Sp. mi, lids n'tiiiiicd the ni\t d.iy tit
riiirw tlirir tiMllii-, tlii'v liiiind tin' liiili.iiis rr-
l.ipsi d iiitu iMisiiiiiy, Miiinilih;^ tin ir drums ;ind
Ihc isl,inM- \M'H' iH'.iuliliilly will, lilt, civiTi'il sinll,, iiul nwlnii^' torw.inl tn iitl.u k tin- l)(i,its.
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in>l liortiT-' I 111" < liaiiiii'ls liftwri'M tliiiii Will' ! Ill lliiiu 111 the .irm, i luikrd tlii'ir luiy, ,iiid lui ll;i!
») iiiM'ii .iiid Iri'.' ti 'Ml nil ks tli.it till' ships s.iiii'd disili.iij^r,. i,» a 1 iiuiciii liny ll.'d with Inror.
^ I. * I. ... ii... .1 ._ ..* ...I..
tliiii" tlu'in, I-" il :" ' ■iii'il'' III I'l'" slifi'ts ul .. I ity.
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"till. Ins III till' Uri-< Alti'f aiuliitniiK. llu- linals
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III' iifi'S. Ill-Ill^ cm iiuiM^'id l>y llir IuiImiis ul
mi. in, wim ,u 1 iiinp,iiiii-d itn' .S|i.iiii.irds, ihiy
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ami c.dliii;;;!!!!!- tluiii. riii\ ihiiw iliiw 11 tlii'ir wra-
piilis and r.llllr, .iwr slnirk, .Hid ;',i lltli' .'is l.Hlllis,
li|-iliy;iii;,f tlncr plilr. 111 '^..Id, .Hid liiri'kly and
tli.iiiklull)' rf(ri\liij; w li.iii \ ir wi-, ni^i'ii in i\-
I li.iii'.;i'.
<''iiiiiniiiii;; .ildii'^ till' lu.i'.i. the admif.il ai'.rliDi--
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Irsi li'tii' I'll iliii 111. 1st, till' S|i.iiii.irds iiii't Willi I lli'ri' likrwisr tin- snund nl ilniin-. and iniirhi
?(• iDU'ii^ 'il jiiin' (s'i'lil ; t'i«' ii.ilivrs ui'.iriiii; ' Inuii aiiioii^; thi- turi-^ls '^wr iiniii ,• iji.u tjic uar-
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ton-in icinis tlu'V li.id uriiainiiits likrwisi- nl 1 with lun Imli.ins, wim, allrr im li,Hi^;iii'^f ,1 liw
pi. 11111, rudely sli.iprd liki' I. i^lf^. ' •!"' "I tluiii ' winds w iih thr iiitrrpntiis. iiiirnd ilir .idiniral'.s
tlti!i"nl .1 jil.ili' nt Hi'ld, I'ljll.d in \.ilui' to ti'll 1 ship with tt'.irli'>-.. iiilllidrlH r ; and liriiij,'- s.itistiril
ciis, till diiiT hawks' lu'lls.t | id llic Iriiiidly iiiti'iiliniis nt ihr ■-ir.iii'^i'rs, rc-
Dii ilif liilliiwiiiu (l:i\' till' linils iiroii'tdi'd to luriii'd to tliiir r.iriiiiu' wiili.i l,i\or,dili' riimit.
«'
II' nv
COuntrv
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.•^p.iiM.irils wiTi' kinilly
i Ir W.IS ii.iki'd liki' his
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ml liv a
trilh
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lull iilii'^rd t'l |i.irl w ith tliiin
I.
r^'i' pi. Ill' 1.
8p.i'<..ii'K liii'ii;,dit l\Mi nt tiniii t.i thr .idniir.il to rh.iii^r, .itid juriiiitti d hi-, pi'ij
ier\r ,1-. l;iiiiIi'>. i >n(; li.id .1 pl.ili' nl ]iiin' j.;old ' Niiuii-rn pLitnid |iiiri' i^nld wn
woriii t:HiHi'i-ii iluf.its, aimthir an I'l'-ic \Mirtli
ill
li 111' IT. Mills j;.iM' in i'\-
li' to dn till' samr.
r |ilnrlirrd .It tllis
till' iHst tililr in till- .Nrw W'nrlil,
tWiiitv-I'Vi) illlr.UH
Si'i'illi; ill'
' I rat \ .liik' w hii
h till' Sji. 1111. iiiK iiir iwilh si'^ii-^ 111 MMid .•inliiti'ctiiri'
he ''ir.iiij,'i-rs M'l upnn lliw nn-t.il, thry .issun'd lindiiij;- .1 i;iiMt lll.l•>^ nt stiirin, Inrnud nl stunt;
thfiii It u.is 111 he hid ill aliund.ini'r within thr .iiid liiiir, .1 pin r nt wlinh w.l^ iii.iiiuil lis' ihc
di:
si.iiin' nt iwii d.ivs' jiiuriu'N
il
and ini'iuioiii-d adniir.il a-, ,1 snt i inu'ii
Tarimis pi. ins .ilon^ thr m.ist wlu'in'i' it w.i-. Imn nt lii'i .ipprn.irh to rniiiitnrs \\ Iuti' thr arts
insidrrin.^ it ,'iii iiiilir
th
roi urn
p.iriii ul.i
riv \
ri.iLUi.i, wlui'h w.is .iliout wm
Ittciil; livr Icimirs ilist.iiit.i!
ill
in .1 hiv;hi'r st.itr id iiiUu'.it
d t
111:1.
titi'.l,
i !• t lijiiiliu 111 till' Sp.mi.iri
s w-.is ^
rr.ilK
V h.id inliiidrd tn \iMt nihir rnrrs .dun;;- this
inasi, liiit thr wind inliiiiiL;' mi 1,1 liiuw tirshiv, he
ba
nil I ihiy wnilld j;l iillv h.i\r rrm.iinrd tn r.iii lirtorr it, p.issini;- in s!u;ht nt li\ r inw ii>, w hrrc
r'' r, but till- adniii-.il duinuiM''ril all di
his intrrprrtrrs assuird him lir iiiii;lit proiiin;
tloii 111 III!' kind. Ilr li.irrlv Miii|^du tn rnlln t ^i''''' i|il.inlitirs ol !.;tild. < 'nr th'".' |inintrd lUlt
ipiTiiiirii-, .iiid mfiirm.ilion lit thr rirhrsnl tin
'11,1, \\liirl\ has siiii r ''im 11 il~, n.inir tn thr
C01li;tr\. .iiid thru prrssrd lorw.ird in ipirst nt thr whnir prnMlli r. I Ir rr, tl'i\ s.iul, wrir thr lirh-
gftM', iilrii t n! Ins riitrrpnsr, tlu; im.ij^in.iry r^t iiiinrs, and hnr nin-^t nt thr |)l.nr-. ul i;iild
ttruii
i.iiiiii'f ii'i
j wrrr l.ilirii.itrd. ( iii thr tnllnwiiiL; il.iy tliry
till' [7tli nt Oiinliir, frnni this li.is. ' rivi'd iippii->itr a vill.i;;r r.illrd ('iiliij,M, ,iml h
tirrc
or r.iilur i.;iilt, he lirtj.ui tn mast tins rri;inii nl ( 'nliiiiilni-. \s'.is inlmnird tli.it tlir r. miitry 11
repirril W'lllh, sim-r lallrd thr rn.ist nl \'rr.ii;il.l : trnilin,itrd.+ ilr irsnlvrd Iml In rrUirn tn rxplnrr
»n(l .illri N.iililin .ilintit twrUr liML/llrs arrivrd .it it, roiisidrrill'^ it .1-.1I1
« la
Gu.i
abiii
,a' I urr, w
huh hi-.
s .11111 I'rrn.inilo rails thr 1 iiin
to tl
rlrl, ,l!lil lis niiiir-. sr-
ir rrnw n, .1111 1 luiii'' .iii\imi-, i.i ;irri\r at
lli'ir, nil thr 1)11. Its lirini;' sriit to l.uid. thr snpjinM-d slr.iit, wlnrli hr ll,i;irird h.iinsrlt
t '.'Ml luindrrd liiiii.ins .ippr.irrd on thr i niijd lir ,a no .v;ri'.it ili-.l.iiii
shnir. .irmr 1 uit'i 1 in!
IS, l.Hli'r--, .Hid swnnis nl
In l.nt. iliiiHK
lis w hnir \ in a''!' ainii
tlu-
pall!,
'1
ir tnr.'sls i-i linrd with thr sound ; rn.ist, hr li.id brril uild'T t!'i iiiHiiriirr nl one of
^'iiiili'i ilniMis, .Hid thr hl.ists nl
fir u>ii.ii war
rmii'h-shrlls
his trrijiirnt drlusimis.
sijfnuls.
ilpl'i llu'ir waists, hr.ind
'I'hrv riishril iiitn thr sr.i I with ;il thr isl.md nt CiU.iiiaj.i, jusi ariivrd trotn
1- rmii ihr Indi.ins iiirt
1 trr
isIhiil; tlirir wrapmis.
•plii^ii'ii'^' tlu: watrr ,11 thr Sp.ini.mls in tokrn ot I and, as t.ir .is hr
Wti.ini'i- , JHii wrrr soon pai itird hv rriitlr siirn>, 1 limi in thr intrrmr.
anil il ■ - ' ■ "^ ^ -
.ind ! ^'lu•,ll.Hl, hr h.id irrrivrd .uronnts of smiir irrr.it,
nulil iiiiilrrst.inil, rivi
Tl
lis iiiiiin.itmn li.ul hrrn
li/ril
I 1)
Will
ir nitiTvi'titiiiii nt tl
i'i|,'ly haittrrd aw.'.y ilirir uri
mil ipirtrrs, an
i.iinriUs, riviiu.
-'-* 1
Jink'
Colu
n '•i.iiH' laiHJisii maps this hay is r.illnl Al
T L.irii.ili
111) li.i
W)iumi.il-, rllkTnl is hti
Orthf \l,i:i.lu,ftlic Ailm.
.I'nirn.il of i'nrras. N
ly. 1 111' cli.i
allril I!
rorrohnr.itiil
as
hr nil, 11:1111"
ly tlu' yarious
■1 Al
:i;iraiile,
*:
I' \I
'1 (-uluiil.
irlyr. (Icr:iil. iii. lij, v.
lyarrclr, Inni. 1.
s l.< tlrr froi'.i J.iiiiaii
trilirs with wliirli hr li.id siiur rmiiniUniratrd.
In a slllisii|llrlU Ir'.trr In llu' sn\rl"ri^llS he in-
tninis thrill that all thr Indi.ins nt tiiis roast roii-
i urrrd in r\tnllin^ thr iii.i|^iiiliiriu'r nt thr rinin-
liy 111 Cij^u.irr, ^itu.itril at trnikns' journry, by
l.md. to the wrst. I'he people ot ill, it rej^ioii wore
crowns, and bracelets, and anklels ol gokl, aiul
Hist, del Almirar.lG, tap. 92
t Ibid.
m ':\i
' ' ■ rs
m
m
Til i: AM) \nv\(;i:s ov coF.rMiu's.
J!li
tiiiiill
' I
If
ft
3'.'
jit
i't
p.irmrntsrmlu'o.ilinil V. itliit. 'i'licv iisid it fm-.tll
lliiir <li)inf.(ii' |uii|i(> t •<, I'VJii to llir iiiii.miiMtiM;4
.'Mill iMuluwMiiK 111 iliiir siMts .mil lalili's. ( in In -
in>; slmwii hpimI, lii • imliaiis ili'il.iii'il ili.il tin'
viimrii lit «. i>;u.iii' Willi- I'.ii.ils III it .ilimit llnii
luMiU ;iiul nil k>. i'r|i|iir .iml tilhrr s|iii i-> linn;;
.slliiwil llli'in, Will' ti|ll.iii\ .s.ml til iilmuitil tlirli'.
'I'lii y •If'iiiliril ii .!•' .1 iiiimti y nt i nimiuii i-, witli
fjir.il t.iirs .iiiil M.i|i<iil>.. Ill wlii.h ships arrivfil
arnuti willi r.iMiinii. I'lii" |)rii|ili' \u ii' ss.iiiiki'
alsi), ;irmnl likr ilic Sp.iiii, mis with sutinls, luii k-
liTS, i-||ilMi-.(S, .illil rrnss-liiiws, ami tiny nmii'
niiiimtril nil Imi-i -.. Alit'Sf all, ful'iinliiis umli i-
stiioil Irum iliiin ili.il ihr mm i iiiuiiiiu'il ruiiiul in
CiHuari', .'.nil till! till t!a\s licwiml it w.i'i ll'.c
Ci.uiKfs,
'I'lu'si' ni.iy Imii' lu'i'ii \aj,'iif .iiid waiiiii iin;,' lU-
niors I dill triiiiij; tlu' ilistanl kin;;iliiiii-. nl Mcnuh
;;nil i'lTii, .nul iiiaiis nl tlif di'tails may l-,a\f lutii
lillt'd lip hy till' im.iniiiatidii ul L'liimulius. 1 luy
mailf, hdWi'ViT, .1 striiii)^ imprt'ssinii mi his iniiui.
Ill- siippDscd that C'lmi.iri' imist lie somr prmiiui.'
lii'liinjjiii;^ to l!if (iraiid Khali, nr sunii' dllur r,i>l-
irn piiii'iU.iU', and .is thi' mm rc.u jit'il it, he imi-
ihalfd it w.i-i (in tin iip|uisiti' sidf nl a pnimsul.i,
lu'.innj; tlir s.inif pu linn with rc.>pfrt tn \ tiM^;u.i
th.it loiu.ir ilii.i i! MS with 'rmt«i>.i in .Sinin, nr
I'is.i with Wiiiif ill 1; .ly. I'ly pniifcdiii;,' l.irilur
c.istward, tin ir;.iic. !,f niiisl mhhi .iiiim' at ,i str.iil,
like lli.it lit I i'.lii'.ili.ir, iluini;;h w huh hi' iniilil p.iss
iiUt) anollur sr.i, aa ! \ ...it lliisiuiiutry ul (.'i^;ii.iic,
and, of CDUisr, arruc at thr li.iiiks nt thf (i.m^;l•^.
lie .u'l-mmiid for tin' lin iiiiisi.mrf ut hi^ h.iMii'^
.'irrivi'd so mar M l!i,il ri\iT, hy thr idea wlm h l.c
had Imij,' ciiiiri.imrd, ih.ii ^;i ii;,Ma|)lirrs win- mis-
t;ikrii as to thf riiriimtcrfnci' ul thf j^lnhc ; that
it Wiis sm.diir th.ui w.is (^riirr.ilK iin.i;,'iiird, .iiid
that .1 dt'j;rir nt llic fijiiimii U.d Imi; was lait lili;,-
six niilfs and iwu ihirds. ■■
With llii'M- idi-as Ciiliimlnis dclirminfd In pios
fiirw.ird, If, ami;; ihi: rich miimry nt \ tTai,'iia i;n-
cxpliircd. Niiihin^ rciuld rvmcr ninri- rli-.irls- liis
ijuni'rmis .•imliilimi, llian hurruii;; m iln^ lui'-l
manntT almij; .i i oast wlurc wi.uth wa-. lu lif
galht-rrd .'it cM'ry step, lor the purpose ul Mckii;;;
a stniit whiili, Ihiwivit it mi;,'ln prndm c \.i^t
hfiH'tit til ni.mkind. i uiild yii'ld little tibc tu lunisi It
.than thf j;li'ry ut ilic disc'uMry.
CliAril'R V.
T ISroVFRY (ir I'll KTii niMo AMI II Kl IKI IK
- ((III'MIIIS AllAMiiiSS nil. SIAKllI AllIK
1111. S IK All.
il502 ]
On thf 2d (if Xnvcmlifr ihe S(|iiadr(in am hnrfd
in a sjiacious :{ni\ < nmnindimis haihnr, where the
Vfssfls could appro.ich i hise to the shore wiihuiil
(lani^er. It w,i> siirrmiiuifd hy an i-lfv.iifd coun-
try ; open .md < iillivated, w illi hduscs wnliin Ixiw-
shot (it eai li nlher. surrounded liv trmi-trees,
jjriives of p.i]m>. ,ind helds pniducin)!; ni.ii/e, \i ;;-
t't.'ihles, and the dtlicKuis pineapple, so tli.it the
whole nei^^hliorhood had ihe min;;le<i ajijif aram f
of orchard and ;;arden. Columluis was so plcasfd
with the I'xctdlem t -,1 ilie harbor and the sweet-
ness (it the snirinMiihn;; coimtrv that lie >;a\i; it
the name ot I'm no Ikllu.t It 'is one ot llie tew
* Letter of Columbus from Jamaica. Nnvarrctc
Coler., torn. i.
t Las Casus, lib. ii. cap. 23. Ilisi. del Alinirunic. I
pl.ufS ;don(j thi-* roast wlurhrn.iln llic,,p|,
^IVell In tllf llluslliiills lllsinvfier, ll
ic^'rcltid lh.it lh(> h.ise so ^;tiier.dly hen
tlliiud, ,ls this Wiie sii nllfii leiitrd, nj ..
in;;s, .mil ol I III mii-.t.iiices allemlm;,' il.
II > ,
lor scMll d.i\ i this we If del.imcil in -
liy hi'.ivv iMin .tml slmiiiy wt.itlirr. Ih, '
np.iiifii Irntu all ipi. liters ni i.mois. ,1
Irmts .Hill Mn«t. lilies .iml li.dls ol i uti.m, 1 1|. •"
w.is Mil li)ii);i r gold iilleri'il 111 tr.illii I j , .
ami si'M'ii III Ills piimip.il chiett.tms 1, .
pl.ites 111 j;o|,l li.in^;mn 111 their nose,, lu,> ;
III the n.ltlMs .ippi.ir to li.ive lieen liisut: ,
urn. imciits ol till kind. They wite^iiui,
ked .111(1 p. Hilled led ; the i .u lijUe .ilnlie \t .
eil lilaik.'
S.illill^ ilelli e, on ihe t^th ot Numdi ,'
proceeded linlit le.i;;ms In ihe e.islw.ii.; ■
hoiiil since known as .Nniulire de Dins, I
inn liriNfii li.i'i k lor soiiu- ilisiaiue, tlii\ .•
Ill .1 harliiir 111 the vicinity ul three sin, ill
'Ihese, Willi the .id|.ii cut country ol the iim
were luliu.iiiil Willi III Ids nt' Inili.m .-
s.iiious Iruil:. and ve^eUililts, wheiuii..
I .died the h.irlior I'm rto de ll.istnnenids
ot rniMsi'iiis. Here tlie\ lem.iim d m.iii ;
emle.iM)riii),j til n |i,iir their xi'sseU, wliii:
excessively. 'Ihiv were pierced in .ill p.ii',
teiedii or worm which alioimds m ihi ■
SI .IS. It is ot llie si/e ot .1 111. ill's liii^iT, . .
tlllull^;h the stoutest pi. inks .iiid liinlir- •
soon 1 > destroy ,ii'\ vessel ill. it is not wei ,
cd, Alur le.iMn^ this jiort liny U>\u ■
.iinillu r I .died l lm;;.i, w lieie .ilmve tliur ,,
ot the natives appealed on ihe shore, >' •
provisions, and some with ^'nldeii m: .
w hii ll (liey oftered in li.ii li r. \Viilioul in, ..
si.iv, howevi r, llie .idmii.il urjjed his u.i, : ,.
hut rnunh .111(1 .liUerse winds .i;;,im uh ;■
to t. ike shelter in .1 sm.ill port, wiih.iiii,
(r.llice, not .ihove Iwelil) p.n es wiilc, !■-<
e.ii h side willi it its nl im ks, the sli.ilp ,"
which rose .ilio\c llie surt. ice. Wilhin, 1
not room lor more ih.m live or six ships
port w.ls so deep th.it tliey luid no H'"" '
.i|;e, unless lhi\ .ippi ip.ii lied near jmhu;;, .
l.md till .1 m.in lo le.ip mi shore.
I'roiii ihe sm. illness ol the h.iilior, ' •
n.i\e it the n. line ol /■./ /i'< //(•/(■, or lli' '•
lie h.id hcen lietr.ncd into this incoiai 1
d.iii;;erous port hy the luisrepreseiiUili' ii'-'.;
SI .imeii sent to ex. inline it, who were .ii\\. .m.'
to come to .inchor .md li.ive tommui.u ,.
the shore. t
ihe adj. Kent comilry was lew! .uul
Covered with helli.i;;e, Iml with lewli'
p'lrt w.ls inlesiiil Willi .illij;.itors, whiil '■■»'
the sunshine on the lie.ich, tilling; tin 1 ■ •'
powtrtui .md musky odor. 'I'liev were i: '•
.111(1 lied on hcin^i- all. n ked, hut the iliih.ii-i •."'
id ill. It it they luund a m.iii sleeping; ci'.'' •
they would sei/e and dr.iK lii"' I"'" ■'•'■*'■'■
These alligators Columlms pror.omn 'd '''"
s.ime .IS the ( rocodiles ol the Nile, 1 Cl 'i:v,MiM|
the s(|uadron was del. lined in this pi'iH;;^'-
liestmms we.ither. The natives ot ihi- i.,.i>i'«-|
t.ill. well pro|)oi Honed, and j;rai elu' , "! C ' ■
.•ind friendly ni.inne;s, a]\(.\ t)r(iii;;hi wh.itc'"
possessed to eX(li,in;;e tor iMirope.m iriMKir
As lonj; as the .idmii.il had control u\i:'"-'
* F'etcr .Martyr, decad. iii. lib. iv.
f Las Casus. 'lib. li. cap. 23. llisl del .\;niirJ«
cap. ij2.
A..'
ijrK AND vovA(ii;s ur (oi.lmhis.
i;':|
%)<]■ 'l( III'- 1
ICIllllC
i!ir IikIi Ills \M'ri' irriicd wnli
t
si I (• .Mil
I kiiuliu"'''. ■•II'
tllllll
TIk' VI, I
ilhiiiit
\Mllt DM ,1111
t\\
iilly lit ihr •'lillM t" I.iihI, 111
h
lilt
|lll)U' lljll.ll tci 111-, lll)|)(-<, III' WcHllll ll.lVC U llClf-
Willi. il til Kiiiiii to .S|i.iiiMii iriunipli. .iiiil Silt 111 (•
tl
ir rtllln
lilt (iii'iiiK't, rwii
tllMU
«ll
sIkiuIiI t.iil III tilt' It.iiliii^ iili|i'i I III Ills t'X|ii'ilitiiiii,
isf. I lif iMliM's rt'i fivfil tliiin j llrri', tlwii, ciuliil thf lull) .iiitii iiMtuiii^ wliu li
luillini;' witli il"'"" iiffiistimu'i
111) .|i
I"
t
(ml ill-' i-'iiuh .nlvrniiiriTs. ii\>,li(,Mlt(l Ity
III. I,
ill ( luniiiittcd ••\tfssfs that
I Ihfii K"
ihi'iT \\i'
I I'l. (I.lll\
iifr<ni-> hosts lo rf\'i'tijjf
I
vti\
II' 111 i\sls .mil IikIiI'' "h sliiiif, .iml
I on lioili sii|i">. I'lii' iiiiinlit'i ol till'
li.iil clfv.ili'il (.Dhinilitis .tliiivf all tiu'ii I'li.ii \ iiittr-
I'sts ; wliii II liail madf linn ii-;^.iiilli'ss ol liaiij-
sliip
Mllps .lint ptrils, .iii'i ^;i\i 11 .1
II IniMic iliaiMitiT tl
iii^iiif'i
h il h
irru.ils troin ilif in-
I'r.llllf IllOlf |MI\Mlllll .Hill tl.itilin
x.isnt'rati-il ; ami siiiiij;
Ihi
JK'i.inii- ituiif I
th.i' itii' y't'ssfls
lav I lost' III thf short', .i|i|i
hid
1 iiiinin
It iiiiiUiiii'lf III .ill,n k iht'in.
.iilinr.il iliiiiinlit at first to (lisjifrsf llu'in
II without li.ill, lull thi'v wi'ri'
ii';;,irilin)^ it as a
u'\ rfjilu'il to il liy
iLirjiiii; ' .iiiiiiiii
l.ilid U) till" s(
iIhiikIi r.
lUllil,
,it n,iriui'-si
itlN aii'l li(iA!in|i^, hfalin^r lliiir l.uu I's ami
» .1 ...1 1... I... :., (...•...... ....
hil.
I till' lii'i's anil hiislii'-. in furious int'n.ni-.
tiMllDll el llli' slu|is so ilosi' to the short'
I'd ilu'iii I" .iss.iulls, ,111(1 111. nil' till- hosiihlv
ii.ilivi's niiiisii.illv
llv t.
nnnl.ilili'
( olniiili
It'll .1 sllii; or two, tin ii lore', to lif illsrli.ir^;i'i|
llii'iii. Wlii'ii tht'\ s.iw till' li.ivoi' in.iilf,
hi , :lf(l 111 ici 111!'. ,iii<l otftTt'il no fnrtht'r hostility. *
I IV I iintinu.iiii !• Ill slormv wimls Iroiii llit' t'.ist
iiiirlli I'.isi 111 .iililition to thf I oiisiaiit oppo-
Oil
Illr'
coil
ion-
s:
em
llir
r I nrri-iiis, ili-,hf.irtf iiid thf i iiiii|i.inioiis
thf f.irly p.ut ol this xoy.i^'f, it is iriif, lif li.nl
ht'i'i) III piHsiiit III ,1 nifrf ( liinifr.i, Inil it w.is llu-
I liiiiif r.i III .1 s|i|fiiilii| iin.i^iii.itioii .iml a |ifiif-
ti'i'iiiK imlK""iii It hf w.is ilr-..i|i|ioiiiii'il in his
fxpi'i l.ition III liiiiliii)^ a str.tii iliroii^;li tin- hthmiis
ot D.iiifii, It w.f, lifi.iiisf n.iturf lifr.flt li.nl liftn
is.tppointfil, tor slif iippt'.irs to li,i\f atlfni|itiil
to lll.lkc llllf
liut t
) li.iM' .iiifiiipl''!l It 111 v.im.
CIIAri IK \I.
KI.ICRN TO \l K A'.l \
III
MM I AN I ADO y\.
I'l OKI -. I III t ol NIKS,
IsOj
I)i'ii'mlii'i ('oliiml)iis s.iilfd hdni
rfiiiiiiiiisiiiii'
us I ouiNf to thf
<)\ thf sti
Kl Kttiftf, I
f.'sl, ifUiiiifd v.fstw.iid, in sf ,ui li o! tlu' K*'''l
iiiiiifs ot \'t'ra);u.i, i >n ihr saiiif t'Vfiiiiij; hf
am liori'd in I'liiTto 11
limit tfii li'.iLUifs dis-
!i:iiliiii, .111 I ilit'v lirn.in to nuinmir ,i);.iin'>i j I'lm ; \\
.iilicr |ii(i .i-i iilion ol
th
f \o\,ij(i
•jh
drp.irtiii^; on thf sinrffdin;; d.iy,
i!ii'ii;;!il lli.il smiif hostilf spfll w.is opi'r.it-
,i!i:| iiif I oinni.iiulir-. rfiiioiisir.ttfd aj,Miiist
iniiij; I'l tone llu ir w.iy in spitf ot thf flf-
ind worm-f.itfii, and
wilh
nips 11,1/1
I
thf \siiid suddenly wiTi'd to ihf wist, and l)i'^,Mn
to lilovs tliifftly aihfisf to the iiiu iiuirsf hf h.id
adoptfd, l''or thrt'f iiiontlis lu' li.id lii'fii lonj;in;^
in \,iiii tor su
ill a wind, and now it i .uiif nuTflv
to rontiadnt hini. Ilfir w.is .i it iiipt.iiion to rf-
llll.lllV 111 ill'''!
1 ol
ifp.iir
!••
fw ol Ills loniii.in-
sunif Ins routf to till' f.isi,
.iiipiihif with ('ohiinl)iis in his /fal tru.l to thf i ontinu.iiu i
III
lull
thf
iImI i.ot ilarc
,hich.
in
ITC .II-.1 .iMTV.
TlifV wfif ,11 ni.itfd l)v niorr tlus" p,irts, ap|)f,irfd hut siltloni to Mow troin
ill liKiluf,. .Hid lookfd li.ii k Willi li';;rft on
Il 1,1st 1 1
ini:iL'ui.ir\ ■,
hit 1)1' liiiiil, to ^o 111
inli
ir,m. It IS proli.dilf tliU C'o-
. hiiii-,1'11 !K';;.in to donlit thf ohjfi i ol his
isf II In kiii'A ihf lift, Ills ol till- rfifiit
inu-.t li.iM' hffii aw,in' tli.it
li.lsll
.nri'.fl Inini ,in oppo-,itf ipi.irlfr to about
th.it ipi.irtfr. lif rfsohfd, ihfif toll , to kff|) on
ill thf pri'M'iit dnfftion, tnisliiii; ih.u the hiff/u
would soon 1 h.iii;;!' a;;,iin t > thf f.istward.
il
1 a lull
wliili' thf wi
lifLMii to blow with
tlri'.idlul
\ lOlf Illf
iiiaiiin r as to b.ii'
il:
1 lo shilt .ibout in hui 11
I'nablf lo
all sf.ini.iiislii|).
ri'.u
h \fr.iL;u,i, the ships wrrt' obli^fd to put
■lie wiicif III, 11 nai iii.itor s
f\plol|n^r Viiv,lj;i
li.nk to rmrto 11
fro' , ilie i'.i>i h.id tfrniin.itfd ; i onsf(|iii'iitl\ th.il ' inlfrfd th.it h.irboi
,ind wlifii tlifS' would li,ivt'
Id.
fur
■>\;is lull littif pioli,ibiliiy ol tlu: i-visti
;rait 111' h.id iin.i^infd.t
.111 I'viiit-,, lif dfli i niiiifd t
rin^; til llic );.
o ri'liniiuisli thf
'T iiriHi'iiiliin ot Ills \oy,i);f c.islw.ird lor thf '. po,-,fd to tin
prirju, ami u, rfiiirn to thf lo.iNt id \\-i:\v.
inu
'i,f niiiif. 111 w iiiih
u.i, t,
ird SI
t I ilio\f thfiii Iroiii tin- l.iiul. Tor niiif d.iys llify
i wfi'f blown ,ind tiis-,fil .ibont. at tin- nii'ifv ol ,i
hinons ifnipt'St, in ,in iiiikiioun .sc':i, .ind otu-n f\-
ll is
I ami
,lul
nffils ol ,1 Iff-siiorf,
liil open \fisf
wondfilul ih.ii SI
dfiMVfd, fould oullKf sill 11 ,1 run
so era/ft
iiiiotion ot the
1 .mil SITU so ni,inv iiidii-.itions. .SIhmiUI tlifv I flfniinis.
.'owhiTf is ,1 siorni --o awlul as I
I. lis (_'
taf
1^,1'*, liij, II. i:a
P- '-'3'
Hist, ill
twffii thf tropii
I'
if-
if sf.i. ,ui'ordin'i' to ihf ilf-
siription ot Columluis, bojlfd
,il linifs likf a cal-
ilroii
4 1;
at othi-r iini-., It niii in mountain w.ixi-s,
,ipp(;,irs ,|.nilitful whethi-r C'oliimhiis
Willi lo.im.
.\l
iiiij^ht Ihf r.f'inij' billows
Sun iit'ii with lilt' cxiut p.iriii III, irs of ,1^.^^ vov,ine, as ■ risfiiililfd ;;rf,U sur^fs of ihinif
ic. riiui.t Si ,,, ,.i,. I, ,, „ ,,.,,,i,..,i c.,,.;., ..,»..■.....!.,.. ! I,,,.,;,,,,,,.; f ;..i..^ ,, i,,,i, I
I
iil'Isi iro'lv li.ni' ri-acliL-d S
lint;.
OWlll'.
to ill
osf
ly H'l'Miiiikt
'ii'lis li.iil lifcn si'i/
iiri prpv
II
Iv t'
luminous p.ntiflfs whuli io\i'r thf surl,u t- of thf
Off'
w,is oil liiMril of tliat vi'ry tli'fl
ispanioj.i i w.itiT I
111 l)i
IS vvre, kl ,1 .it iIk- limr thai Columluis ,
d
III' isi.ipfij ihc fatf that atlcti'lt'd
'"1 I'ls it.inii.inioiis and returned to Spain, where
'*'i.^ r.'iv.inli'il t'v dii;
Th .i^h
tio< 1.) tl,,
«r;i. nlf
tra
■f h.
.i-rci^jMs for his ciilirprlM'.
s sf.iMR'n had riarliod Sp
iin prc-
f s,iil.iiL;,if Colmntnis, .nul h.-id j;iven a Ren-
iiL,'!*, it is donlufiil whether lie h;id
ih
'•'^"imi'il liis p.ipers and rharls.
Oiir.iil of till' vtiv
orras, in his
1 at [lie
trr
Itriii
toii.i'.l sill
.ilje (1
f (•
ilumbiis, stales ili,il tliev
n.itcil
lil.ice wlure the liisioveries of Mastide's
Init this infiirnial
isciiuerilly al San Domingo
ion he may have ol-
ronr-,f o
11 th
t ti
I'Sf Sf.lS,
If ( 'lUlt Stn
.nil
thi
rouijdiout tin: whole
thf lifa\fns j;io\\ id
s.int tlashfs ol liuhtn
1. I-
tnni
Ol- a ii.i
V and iiij'hl
itli the iiufs-
; w Inlf ihf loud rl.\|)S of
thundfr Wfif otttii iiii-.i.ilvin b\ the ,iftrii,ditfd
•nils ol distifis from tliiir
tii.iniifis tor sn'ii.il
iundfrinj.j I'oiiip.inioiis.
i)u
I III;
thf whole tmif
s.iss Colnir.
il poured down tioni the skies,
not r.iiii, but .Is It were a seiond dflutjf.
rht
M'aiiifii wfif ainiosi di
,nfd
in thfir open ves-
sfls, lla},rj^,iril w illi toil .iiiii affrij^iit, sonif j^ave
themselves over tor lost ; thev loiifessed their
sins to e,ich other, according to the rites ot the
I »
I
1 f
l'J-4
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
I'.uholit- it'lii^ion, ami iir('|i,u\'il tlK'niMlNcs lor
death : main in their ih-speiaticin. ealleil iipmi
death a> a w eleiillie rehet tioin .siieh overwliehn-
iiii;- hiiiTors. li\ the midst of this wiki tiiimilt i>l
the eh'iiieiits, they liehekl .1 new iilijeet ot alarm.
The iHcin in one plaee beeaiiie stranj^ely aj^itated
Tlu' water was whiiied up into a kind ot ]iyramid
(ir eone, \\hile a h\id cluiul, taperini;- to a point,
hent down to meet it. ioinuv^ to<;ether, they
tormed a v.ist ■ iiliimn, which rapiilly approaehed
tlie ships, spinning; alontj the siirlaee ot the lU'ep,
.md drawin,;; up the waters with a rushinij sound.
Tile altrii;hu'il m.inners. when they beheld this
w.uer-^pom ad\'. iiu'ini;- toward tliem, de-^paired ot
,ill luinian me. ins to a\ert it, and l)e;^an to re|ie.it
p.i-^s.i'^es trom St. John the i'.\'.inL,'<'list. The water-
spout p.iM>ed I lo->e liv the ^iiip> w itlioiil iiiiiiriiiL;'
tiieiii. .ind tile treml>lin;4 mariner> .illrilniled their
e-.iMpe to the nil I'.u'ulous crfu'.UA 'it t lieir iplola-
tioii-^ troin tlie Seriptiires. '■
In tlll^ s.ime iiii^llt they lost >i,;,dit ot one ot tlu'
eara\els, and lor three d.irk and slormv davs j,'a\'e
it ii|) tor lo>t. .\t leiii^ah, to tin ir i;reat rcliet, il
rejoiiU'd the scpi.idron, haviiii; lo-.t its Ixiat. ami
t)een ol)lii;ed to eiit its eahle, in an attempt to
anchor on a boisterous eo.i>t, and Ii.iniiil; siikc
iH'en dri\en to aiul tio hv the storm, l-dr oiir or
twoda\s theii- w,l^ ,111 mteiv.d ot e.dm, .md ll',,'
Iempe^l-to^-.ei| ni.iriiiers h.id time to bie,i;he.
Tiiev lo'keii upon tins tr.imjuillitv. however, .i--
(leeeittiil, ,md 111 llieir ;;loomy mo i,l beheld e\er\-
tliiiiLj with a doiibttiil and torebodin^r e\c. (ire.ii
numbers ot siiarks, so abiiml.int ;;ni| r,i\enoiisin
tliese kititudes, were seen about the ships. Thi.s
WMs eoiistriiid into .in e\il omen ; for amoiin; the
sliperslition^ ot the se.is it is l)elie\-eil that these
\oraeioiis !ish > a:\ smell de.id boilies ,it .i dist,-.n(e :
til, It th.'v h,i\e a kind ot preseiilinn'iit ot tlieir
|irey, .md !ue,. iboiit vessels whuh h.i^e si< k
|K'rsoiis on liM.iru, or wliith .ire in d.inL;er ol
beiilij w reeked. Sever.il ot these lish thev > aiis^lu,
iNiii'.^ iai'.;e hooks Listened tn eh.iins, ,iiii| some-
times b,iited nirirly with a pie. e ot 'dloreil (loth.
I'rom the m,iw ot one they look out ,i living tortoise,
t:om til, It ot .mother the he, id ot a sh.irk, ree,-ntly
t.'irown trmii .iiie ot the ships ; siieh is the indis-
enmiii.ite vora. ity of thesi' terrors of tln' ore.m.
Notwithsiamlin.,' their su|)erstitious lam ies, the
SI' imen wen s^Lid to use .i part ot these sh.irks tor
|:i''.l. beiii;.; very short of provisions. The length
ot the \ov.i;4c li.ul eonsiimed tl; • .^re.itet p.irt ot
tlieir sea-stor' s ; the heat .111(1 iiumiditv of thi
(lim.ite .iiid the h-.d^.i^r,. ,,| ,h,. ships had d.im
aL;cd the rem.iimlcr. .md tin ir biseuii w,is so tilled
with wiu-ms ih.,t, notwithst,indin;j; their liun;4i'r,
they were obli-ed to c.it it in the (I. irk, lest their
stom.nhs should revolt ,it its ippciramc.*-
At len:.4ih, on the 171I1, thev were enabled to
enter .1 port rc^endilin- .1 j;reat e;in,il, where they
enjo\ed tlirec il i\ s ol repose. The n.ilives ot tins
viiinitv built their e.ibins in trees, on st.ikes (u'
poles laid from one br.in. h to .mother. The
Sp.ini.irds siipp.ised this to be tlirouj,rh the te.ir ot
wild b'Msts, ,,r ot siiipris.ds IrMin' iiei';hboriii^r
tribes ; tlie ditleivill ILttiollS oi these coasts b-iiv-
(Aireinely ho^iilr to one :mother. It m.iy lia\e
k"'en ,1 |)ri- , union i-.imst iiuiml.itions ( ,iiiS'-(! by
Hoods tidin the nioMMt.iins. .After Iciviii^j th.'s
pMrt ihry were drivii b.ickward .iml forward by
tlie 1 li.in','(Mlile and tcm|K"-tuous winds until the
d.iy .(Iter Cliristm.is, when thes sheltered tliem-
* [...^. Casas, lit, ii. cap. 24. Hist, del .Mmirante.
cap. .,.1.
t Hist, del Almiranic, cap. (^4,
seKcs in ,inolller port, where they reili.e- ,.
the .^1 ot j.imi.iry, 150?, rep.uriiij; due .i| 1^ ,J
V(ds, .111(1 procurme wood, w.iier, ,iih| ,, s;;u
m,ii/e or Indi.in (orii. These nie.isiin,'! .1
com|ile!ed, they .n^.iin put to se,i, ,iii,| |,^ .|,^
ol i-.piph.iiu, to their L;re.it joy. .iin luir,-,' ',. J
moiitli ot .1 ruer c.llled l)\ l"lu' 11, itivc^ '.,.,[
wilhiii a le.i.^iie or two ot the ii\(i- \ it,|..,;
Ill the colinliv s,ii(l to be so jiih in nv
this ii\cr, tidiii .i|-ii\inj.; Vil u ,,:\ || ,
I'.piph.iiu , C'oluiiiluis ^,i\c the ll.iiiu (il '
I'lellileliem.
i'or iie.irly .1 month lie h.id endcivdicii •
complisli the Xdy.ii^c troiii I'lierto lle'.Ki •,,\.!.|
^Mi.i, a (list. Mice ot .ibout ihirlv h .i:;!!,-,, ,;.:,
eiu-ountered so m,inv troubles ,iiiil ,ii|m-.
Irom ch,!iiL;i .ible w inds .md currenis. .ind 1. ...|
oils tcmp( st-,, lh,,l he ^M\c this ihtiriiKV,
ol se.ibo.ird the n,ime (d /../ i\'y/,i ,i.
hitstiw, or tli t'o.ist ot ('ontr.idiiiKiiis *
foliimbus immedi.ilelv ordered ijic 11:1, •,;,
the ludeii, .ind ol its neij^hborine mcii.l \-n.l
);u,i, to be sounded. 'I'lie l.illei |M()Vci1 tin.'.
low to admit liis vessels, but tlie He'i 11 \ci-..t
wli.it dee|)er, an<l it w.is thought ll'e\ iir.^i ■ ■-.
i; v.dli s,itet\. .Seeinj; ,1 \ il!.ii;e on :|;il :,.
the lielen. the admir.d sent the bo.,', en ,:,•:
|>iM(iire inhHiii.itioii. ( »n tlieir .ipp'e.ii ii :i» •.
h.ibil, lilts issued liMth \v illi we.ipons 111 li.ii.d :i. ,
]iosc their Lindiiifi, but were le.idiiv p.ic lini \-.
siemed imwilliiii^' to >;i\e ,iii\ m'lelliMi nc.i .
llie edld mines; but. on bein^ inipiirtiiiicd '•
(l.ired that tiiey l.iv in the \icinitv it ilic rv
\'er,ij;ua. To tli.it ii\er the bo, it, •.\f'c \
]i.itehed <in the followmj.; d,i\ . I'hex met u '.' ■■
rece])tion so fieijueiit .ilon;; this 1 e.i^t '.■,'••
m.in\ ot the tribes were lieiic.md v,,tiKf,-
,ire supposed to h,i\e been ol ( ,ir:|i (ir'^;''
the bo. Its entered the ii\er, the iliIiv ■ • ■
torth ill their ciiioes, and o'hers .issiirl'i
men,i( in^; st\le on the sli., . The .'^i ■ .r •
however, 1 1.1(1 brought w illi them ,111 !ii(li,i!i ,' •
i'i,ist, who put .III end to this slmw i.t hii~n ' ' I
.issurin;; Ills i-oUlltlN 111(11 tll.lt ll:e sImI'l;!:-
oiiU to Ir.iltic with them.
The \,irioUs .11 1 oUIltsol the in hesol llr.'-dj'-
.ip|)e.ii((l to be loiilirmed b\ wh.il the '"i-r ■-
s.l'A .ilid hcird .imon;^' these peopir. I i
(ilieil in e\ili,inL;e lor the \eiiisi ii;!''-" •
pi, lies ol ;;o!d, with scxer.il pipe-- ct l!'-"-
niet.d, ,ind ( rude ni,isses ot ore. I i e Iih
loriiK d thrm th.ii the mines l,iv .iiiuir.L,
niounl.iins ; ,ind th.it when tlie\ w(i:tMi
It liiev Were (ililjeed to pl.iitlie i'L;iir"i:-
.111(1 (imtiiiem e.f
The l.u'orable report brotinlil bv '.he '
lermiiied the .idniir.il to rem. 1111 m tie '' .,
hooii. The ri\er Helen h,i\iiii; the i;rc,iii '<.'■"
lAo ol the ( .ir,i\ els eiiteri d 1 1 on I hi otli n! j;'-
ar\-, .iml the two other-, on the toll(i',Mii_:
hil^h tide, winch on th.it co.isi does rut r
* llist. did Ainiirnnte. rap. ()4.
f A siipcrslUioiis notion wiih respci t le Ci' -
pe.irs to liavc liecn very prevalent iiii(iii< tlu: n.i;.."' 1
The Indians of llispanioLi ohserwd tlu- Siiiiif p' •
tions when they s(iiij;ht for it. alist.iiiiin^; Iniin ' *-
and from sexual intercourse. Coliiiiiluis, wliii '««•
to loiik upon vt'ild .is one of tlies.icrel an I m''
treasures of the e.irlh, wisticd to ciiidui.igr *" ■
oliservani cs .-iiiioiij; th<; Spaniards ; exliorlini; ''if'
purify themselves for Ilic rcscan h of itii' """'■
fasting, pr.iyi-r, ami (h.islily, it is s' .irct'ly "'''■ I
sary to add.'th.it his a(lvi( e was liut little attendcii"|
by liis rapacious and scnsuai followers.
IHPM ■, eiidly inaniie
ill, ,, Willi whicii I
pu-li; also ^'(ildcii
niMiu'd 111 allirni
leiii :'u' iM'i wis p
Ti - Adekint.iiiu. ^^
Hrji
set i)lf i'!i ll
well MC I, III asi eml
and
twn
atte
wa.-
Ik
ciqiir
oni.i:
nifio
ill, to the re-'i
u'n . riie I 111
.1 liaii iic.ir
I hv his suhii
11! pi)Wi'rtiil Ir
xvxw was e\
iV>eilU'cl the .
■It- wluih he
iiiescnl-. a lev
Birir I iiuilii.llly wel
dlY 1 1 11,111 Vl.ilted It
|ljtii:i , (iiiertaiiicd b
Qlly . Miiuaiiu .lie by
ms '■•' t '. u'lliirii am
terv ■ ' was not ot
Tiail -n scicr.il pre
aci • exrh.lll^e ' II
am , ■ :le>, :ind < »'iil
oerti , 1 '■'. , ll' hi'' hi"i>
I ■ :4;iiiit I, ma,
ing ' Mf r;\cr. i'lii
tJK i '.ar Ilia* a v,
fore I iMiii dieir an
sHr, ill Invell .l;4.iiM
|, of til , laiir.d's ve^^el
whu ijii.iiiran W.IS 1
wrei Willie espiise
thti -w preiented li
viOi' ilalill. .iDii l)\
tipii; VIC li.ir. 'I'hls
Colli IN .llliillllted
am.) . ':ii' r,iiii;e ol 1
ht !i s^iven the 11. ill
Chr ...ll. The hi-h
tr.' I ■ !■ ;i!i' ( liniils.t
T .\e.idicr coiitini
levc .liv.. .\t len;
thf - i:::;;;- loieraht
tWii ay si\ty-ei,i;!it
is I:: 1 I, its to e\pliii'j
Wpi iiiiiics. W'hc
dre ir u> tiie vill
the - 1; ,1 liili. the
ban i iii-'t hiiii, w,
^1- :i;.iraie !. and
' "■ I-. 11. iked. ,1
i;iiiti\, ( iii(
~'.a:,.- oiii (,; [j
It c.irelully,
1 'asell .Is |||)i
' i.iiaadii with ).
■ -'. •iiiil ir(>ii tor
111' I'l .ir.d CO
■1 U' ,ilh| ies|
:i| ii\ lio'.vevei
■ W l^ .IW.lkell
'^ lllti) Ills |(
't iny open .
i I die wishi
' '''^il the iiiti
'I li-l .\!mir.nti
' ^.1S.IS, lllj.il.
ml)
teal
tile
t
of I
insi'
Th,
Mr,,
♦ •'■■'■r M.irtvr,
deca
•si a
LirE AND VOVAGKS OK COLUMBUS,
105
to th
til
[a f.illi'im.* Hie nativi->. lanu- to them m the
_gttnciiaiv maniuM, hiinj-inj,' ^n\a <iuantilics
Ifls'i. \vim wiiH-ii tliat liver .ibximtled. '1 hey
L. ill il-'C (^tilili'ii Din.imcnts to tr.illic, l)ut
Kti'iiiH';! 10 allMiii ih.il Wimku.i w.is the pl.iie
leiur tin: oif w.i.s i)rinureil.
The Adel.iiii.Kli). wilh liis M-.iial aitivily and en-
j,p,.,,J ,,'t cilt I'll lilt-- third day, with the ho lis
well .iii;u- 1, ill as. fiid '.he X'era^nia aboul a Ici^-iic
and .1 iiill. I" l'^'' if-i'li-iue c)l ( juiliiaii. the pniui-
pil I u (j'.if. riic (lufltaiii, heariii'; ot his inten-
Son, met hiin iKar tin: entrance ol the river,
tHemlM 1)V liis subject-, in scM-ral ^■an(lt■^. lie
wasi.iil.i)'|)i)vverliii traiue, and warlike demeaiior ;
the "lUiva ^\ was fviremely aniicable. The ca-
ciqiif ]iri'-t!iii'il till' Adflaiit.ido with the >;i)ldei)
Otn.iiiiriU- wlmli In- wore, and received as inaj^.
iciii'. pii'Sfiii-. a lew lairopean trinkets. They
rtcl muiu.illv well i)leased. On the tollowin^f
f I till!)!. Ill vi.iiled ilie .slii|)s, where he w.is hos-
jb'y cniiTtaiiuii In the .iiiiiiiral. They couhl
lyciKiiiiiaiiK.ite by .si^iis, and as the ( I'lielt.iin
iot a ihiliirn and i .mtioiis character, the m-
xkw w.H ii'it o! loni; duration. Cohiinbiis
|ili- lii;n si'icr.il pn'^ciu.s ; the lolloweis ot the
I ||Cii|'.ic e\. h.iii;.^'' ' luaiiv jewels ot yold lor the
BBij' irillf-^, and iHiibi.in returned, without much
eer(.'inii:u . lo ins home.
0.1 III'- :4lii i>! |, Hillary there w.is a sudden swell-
iililu' ri\fr. I'iie waters came rusbiiiL; Iroiii
inici;iir lil>e .i v.ist torrent ; the ships were
jcpil tiaiii llieir anchors, tossed Iroin side to
le, and driven .iij.unst each other ; the lorem.isi
Ithi' .lilaiiiMl'.-, \c^--el w.is (Mriieij aw,i\, ,iiid the
lo'.c .-(I'Miiroii WIS 111 imminent dan);er ot ship-
le^^, While e\|i)-.cd to this peril in the liver,
lifiey wt'ie |)re\ented lioai running- out to se.i bv .i
jlfiil ^Iiiiii, .111:1 by the bre.ikeis which be. it
|on uif li.ir. '{'Ill-, sudden riiiii;.;- ut the ruer
ilu:ir)iN .iiinbuted to some he.ivv tall ot r.iin
Uloii..' nil- r.iiiLje ot (list. ml mount. ims, to which
hehil t;;\eii t'le n.une ot the mount. iiii-. ol S. in
ChrbMv.ii. Tliehi^lie.t ol tlie.-.e ro^e to
lir .i;)j\i' ;iiL' ( loiuK. I
Til.' wt.illier coiitiiuied evticnielv boisterou-; lor
leveiM.us. .\t leii'^ih, (in the Oth ol Febru.irv,
thf >-i hciiv^r loler.ibly c.iliii, the .Adel.inl.ido, .it-
: tpldrthv M\iy-ei,:;!il men well .irmed, proceed. -d
:iii'.-. !(i expi.iie ibe \'er,inua, .md seek its
iHpii'' I iiiahi. \\ lull he .i-,cended the river ,ind
'^" ''' 'I' 1" liic vill.iire ot (.Hiibi.in, situated on
'^'' '■ '■ a lull, the c.ic i(|ue c.iiiK- down to the
nk ; 1 ni-i hini, with ,i |;reat tr.iiii ot hi> ,ul)-
fcti. iiii.iraifd. and m.ikmi,'- sii;iis ot pe.ice.
m in WIS n.iked, ,ind paintrd .liter the t.isliion
111" caiimiy. One ot hi-, attend. nits drew a
■i: sl'i:;- diit o! the river, ,ind washed ,uid
loi' d II cirelully, upon which the chielt.iin
«ai ;Hi laselt a-, upon a throne. t lie receiveii
Ue.ilrl.ii!:,,,!,. wiili).ie.iteourtesv ; lor the loliv,
^f" ni-i, .,;,d ir.Mi torm ot the latter, and his lo.ik
I mc.'i ,i;-,i cmm.md, were calculated to
wsp' .ive ,uid lespect in ,in iiidi.m w.irrior.
*«>■•' -I'l^iae. liie.vever, was warvaiid iiolitic. ills
"">i'V w.is awakened bv the mirusi.ui ot these
?'i'-!i'r^ into his territories ; but he s.iw the
'""yit any open attempt to resist them, lie
•f'lH 1.. ihe wishes of the .Xilelant ido. tli.-re-
'■'" ''sit the interior ot his dominions, .md
lh-;i U-l .Mmirante, cap. 95.
t•a^ U1S.1.S, |,b. ii. cap. 25. Hist, d'-l Alrairante,
'VaT M.irtyr. Jecad i;i. l,b. iv.
pe.ik
at
■ lurni-^hed him with three guides to conduct liim
to the mines.
I l.e.iviiij^ .1 number of his men to >;u.ird the
I boats, the .\del.int,ido dep.irted on toot with the
I rem.iinder. .\lter penelratin.i.( into the interior
j about lour Ici^tues .md .1 h.ill, they slept tor lli«
first iii};ht on the banks ot a river, wliiili seemed
I to w.iter the whole i ountry w itii its wmdiiij;s, ,is
j they li.id crossed it uiiw.ird ol toity times. On
I the second d.iy they proceeded a lea)4tie .and .1
li.ilt l.irther, and arrived .Miion^^ thick lorests,
I where their ijuides intormed them the mine-, were
j situated. Ill l.ict, the whole sod .ippe.ired to be
j impre^nateil with |;old. They j^.ithered it Irom
I .inioiij; the iiiot-. ot the tree-,, which were ol .111
immense luii^lu .iiid majjnit'icent ioli.i;>;e. In tlu!
I sp.ice ol two liours e.icli 1,1. in h.ul colh.-cted .1 little
I qu. unity ol j4old. <,Mthered Irom tile surt.ue ot the
I e.irlh. Hence tilt; j;uides took the .Vd-l.uu.ido to
I the xiimnut ol a hiy;li lull, .md showing limi ,tii i'\-
I lent ot iDuntry .l^. t.ir ,is the eye could re.uii, as-
! sure, I him th.it tin- whole of it, to the dist.M-.,e of
! twenty d.iy-.' journey wf-,tw.iid, .iboiiaded in
! jjold. iniiimg to him sever, il ol the priiici|),il
I pi, u <■-..* The .\del, lilt, ido ^M/ed with eiir.ipturevi
J eye over ,1 va-.t wildeine>> ot I'ontiiuietl forest.
I where only here and there .1 brij^ht column of
smoke Irom .imid the trees g.ive sit;n ol some
I s.u-.ij;e h. unlet, or solit.iry wigw.im, .md the wild,
I nil. ippr.ipii, lied a-,pccl ol this j^oldcii countrv de-
} li;^lued him moi"e th.in il he li.id iielield it cineied
' with towns ,iiid cities, anil adorned with .ill the
^;r.icfs ol cultiv.iti()ii. lie reiurned with hi-,
p.iriy, ill lii>;li spirits, to the ship-,, and rejoiced
I the admir.il with the taxorable report ot his c.vjje-
dition. It W.IS soon disco\-eir(|, however, tli.it
the jiolilic 'Uiibi.in li.id deceived them. Ills
guides, by 111-. Illstructiolli. luid t.lkell llie .S]),lll-
i.inU to the males ol .1 iieii^hboniiL; 1 .11 iipie, with
whom he w.is .it w.ir, hopiiii; to di\crt llu-m inio
the territories ot iiis eneiiu . The re.ii mines of
\ er, 1:^11.1, it w.is saiil, were ne.irer .md nuich more
we.iltn\ .
The unlet, itii;ab'e Adel.mt.ido set lorth a^'.im
on the nail ot I'ebru.irv. with .in .irmeil b.md of
tittv-iime men, m.irchin^ alon;,^ the co.i-,t we-.t-
w.ird, .1 bolt with fourteen men krepiii;; p.ici;
with him. In llus excursion he esploird .111 ex-
tensive iiMCt ol country, and \i>iied the dominions
(d \.ir;ous ciciipies, by whom he w.is lio-ipit.ibly
eiiieit. lined. He met continu.illy with pmotsof
abund.ince id ^old ; the n.iti\es ^eiieralK wc.iriiijr
.Hie.il pi. lie-, ot It sii-^pendcii louinl th.eir necks
by cotton iiird-.. I'liere wci" tr.icts ot l.iiiil,
.ilso, cuiiiv.ited with liuii.m lorii —one of which
continued tor the extent ol six le.i^ues ; and the
country aboimdeil with excellent tiiiii^. lie ;i^Min
he. nil ol .1 n.ition in the interior, ,ul\Miici:d in ,irls
.md arm-,, we.iriiij; clothiiiL;', .md belli;;" armed
like the .Sp.ini.irds. I'.ither ihe.e were we^ue .md
ex.ijij^er.ited rumors concerning; the i^re.it em|)ire
ot I'eru, or the .Adel.ini.ido h id misuiKlersiood
the si);ns ot Ins intorni.ints. He returned, .ilter
;in absence ol -,e\ei.'i d.iys, with .1 ijrc.it ipiainily
ot K'old, and with .mim.itini; .ucoimts ot the
countrv. He li.id tound no port, howe\er, eipi.il
to the ii\er ol Helen,. iiid w,is ( oiuinced tli.U L^old
W.I-. nowhere to be met with in such .ibund.uice
.IS ill the district ot \'eragu.i.j
* Letter of the Admiral from Jamaica,
f I.as (.lasas, lib. ii. cap. 25. Hisl. del Almirante,
cap. 93.
'i^ iiij
::i!l- !'.!
ill
'.:■■:.
li't il ('. -
19G
LIFE AND VOVACtKS OF COLUMBUS.
«
CHAPTKR \II.
COMMF.NCF.MF.NT or A SKTI'IIMKNT 0\ TIU'
RIVKR IIKI i:\ -t'l)N--I'IR.\CV dl' lUr. N.MIVKS
— KXPIDI riON Ol" IHK ADKI-ANTADO TO STU-
}'H\>\. i.iril;lAN.
f' 503-1
TilK reports l)iinij;nt to Cohinihus, from every
side, ut the wealth of tlie neighborhood ; tlie
jToldeii tr.u-t ot tueiity d.ns' journey in e\t(i)t,
siKiwii til his hrotiier from tlie nioimtain ; the
niinors ot a rich and civih/ed country at no j;real
distance, all convinced Www that he h.id reached
one ot the niosi favored parts of the Asiatic con-
tinent. Ayain his ardent mind i<ind!ed up with
jTlowin;:^ .mticipalions. He t.mcied himself ar-
rived at a toiintain-liead of riclies, at one of the
sources of tlie uni)ounded we.dth of Knii; Solo-
mo!i. josephus, in his work on the .inluiinties of
the Jews, had evpressed .in opinion tli.it the j^old
for the liuildin^ of the temple of jeriis.dem h.id
been |)!-ocured troiii tlie iiiines of the .Aiirea
(.'hersone-.u>. Columbu^ supjiosed the mines of
\'er,ii;u,i to he the same They l.iy, ,is he ob-
ser\-ed, " within the s.ime distance troin the ])oie
and from the line ;" and it the iidormaiion which
he fancied he h.ul ri'Ceived from the Indi.ins w.is
!i) be depended on, they were situ.Ued .diout th.e
same distance from the ("lani^es.*
Here, then, it appeared to him, was a pl.uc at
which to found .i colony, and establish a m.ut
that should become the eminirium ot a \ast tract
ot mines. Within the two lir^t d.iv-i .iltei- his .ir-
rival in the t\)Untrv. .is he wrote to the so\'ereii;ns.
he had seen more sii^ns of ^;old th.m in Ilispamola
durinj^ four vcars. That i>l.ind. so lonjr the o|)-
jei't ot his pride and hopes, h.id been t.iken from
him, and w.is a scene of contusion ; tlie pearl
coa-.' ol i'.iri.i w.is r.ivatjed by mere adventuicrs ;
all his pians concerning- both had In-en dete.Ued ;
i)ut lu-re w.is a t.ir more we.ilthv re,i;ion than
either, and one calcul.ued to c(m~.ole him for all
his wron;.;'s .md dejiriv.itions.
Dn, consuliiiij; with his brother, therefore, he
resolved immediately to commence .in t-st.iblish-
nunt here, tor the purpose of seturint^ the posses-
sion ot the country, and exploring; anil wotkinif the
mines. The .Adelant.ido .ij^rreed to rem.iin with
the (greater |iart of the people while the .idiinr.il
bliould return to Sp.iin for reinforcements .md
supplii-s. 'i'he i;re,itest dis[).itch was emploved l\\
c.irryin;,^ this ])l,in into immedi.ite oper.ation.
I-jj4hty men were seleited to rem.iin. Thev were
sep.ir.ited into p.irties of about ten each, .md com-
menced building houses on a sni.ill t-minence,
situated oi' the l)ank ot a creek, .ilwuit a bow-shot
within the mouth of the river lielen. Tin- houses
Wert' of wood, tliatched with the le.ives of palm-
trees. ( )ne larj^er than the rest w.is to serve .is a
m.ij,M/ine, to ri-ceive thtar ammunition, .irtillers-,
and a |)art of tlieir provisions. The priiK ipal p.irt
w.is stored, for j^M'e.iter security, on bo.ird of one
of the c.iravi-ls. which was to l)e left tor the use ot
tlie col')ny. It was true they had but a scanty
.supply ol l-airo|)erui stores remainiiij,'. consisting.'
fhu-lly ot bis(-iiii, ( licese, pulse, wine, oil, .'ii-.d
viiu-Ljar ; luit the country producrd b.m.in.is,
lilain.iins, i)iiu-,ipples, coio.inuts, and other fruit.
There was also m.ii/i- in .ibund.ince, toj^i-ther
with varioa-. ro us, smh as were found in llis-
p.miola. 'I he ruers and sen o.ist atiounded with
tish. The natives, too, made beverages oi vari-
♦ LfUcr of Columbus from Jamaica. "^
or.s kinds. (Ine from the juice of tlu- iiini'ji--',
ha\in!,r a vinous flavor ; .mother Iroiii in:iu. .i
semblinj; beer; .md another from the Injr. ^l',
species ot palm-tree.* 'I'lu-re a|)pe,ire(l ; j !j..,|
d.inj.;er, therefore, ot sutteriiij; troin 1,1111:;^. VJ
lumluis took p.iiiis to concili.ile the j.;,}n(l.,v ■,,
the Indi.nis. tli.it they might supply the w.ifj.
the colony durin_^ his absence, ,md he ai.ilr r-.i'j
present-, to ( Hnbi.in, by w.iy ol iiciiaci.iir-' ■
this intrusion into his territories. +
'I'he necessary arraiigenunts b:-': ^'^ -
the oilony, ami a number ot the hu^l^■•^
rooted, and sutficiently linished tor n , i: '
the .-idmir.il prep.iied for his ilep.irtiai- r-.
an unlooked-ior obstacle pvi-seiited it^i-ii, '\
he. ivy ^.lin^l which liad so loiii,' distre:,>ed Ivi -.
ing this t-xj)edition had recently ce.ised, i ■
rents from tlie moimt. litis were o\t-r. ; ;
river, which h.id once put him to such ii-,-: ;■ jl
sudden swclliiitj, li.id now beconu- sn mi.;;
lh.it there was not above hall .1 l.iil'Din \v.!!rrii|
the bar. Thou^jh his vessels wcir sni 1'', i^-i
impossible to draw them over tiie -.ir ,s \ ;
choked the mouth of the river, lor ilui;-\\.;ij
swell rolling and tumbling ii|ioii tl'ciii, ciini-; -J
d.ish his worm-e.iten b.irks to pit-rt-s. lit 5
obliged, therrfore. to w.iil witii p.ilieiii '-. .r.ii :-j|
tor the return ot tho-,e r.iiiis whicli lu ..,■.>. ,...^
deplored.
ill tht' uie.ni time (hiibi.m bi-lu-lil, niii ••-•;
je.ilousy and indignation, these str.inmTM-'.-;."
liabit.Uions and m.initesting .111 inieimo'-. ./>•/.
lishing themselves in his territoiics. .;■«.:••:;
bold and warlike spirit, and had ,1 i^rc..'. ;.i',i-i
w.irricirs at his comm.md ; and beiiii; iL;i'ii rr
the \Mst Miperi(M-ity ot the l-airopeaii^ in •,!;i:j-.:|
w.ir. thought it e.isy. by a welbcoiiceili-;; .if n
to overwhelm and destroy thriii. lit- v-'r>f|
sengers round, and ordereil all hi> ti;;;.I: ; la
to assemble at his resitleiice on the rivt-r \ r ,;..i
under |)rete\t of m. iking w.ir upon a m-v! 1« ;;
province. Numbers ot the w.irrior^. iii !'>•"■;
to hi-^ heatl-quarters. p.issed by the |-.aiii 'r. M
hUs|)ici()ns ot their re.il de-.igii wt-ii- eii;irt.:'!l!
bv Columbus or hisoftict-rs ; but tlitir iiip iir'j
attr.icled the .itteiitioii ot the ihiet iioi.cv !i-.'i
.Mendez, a man ot ashrt-wi! .md pr\ ;'ig 1 h.irj.x
aiitl /e.ilouslv devoted 10 tht- .ulmii.i.. |ii":i.:ri
some trt-.icherv, he commuiin .lieil his mh'- -'.>;i
Columbus, anil ottereil to i oast aloni; ; 1 .1: .'"•;
tio.it to the river X'eragu.i, .and rt-i,i'i i. ■-
Indi.m camp. His offi-r w.e> accc|i; d . <; -
s;illi(-d Ironi the ri\t-r .h coriling') -' ••
sc.ircelv ;id\anced a IcigU'- w l;i'ii lieilivi.r..
large force ol liidi.ins on the shore. '■■i-''i
alone, and ordering lint tht- boat sluir 1! - -■'
afloat, he (-nteiid among them. 'Iit-.f -
about a thous.ind. .irmi-tl .md supph'-'l » ;r"t-
visions, as il lor an exiieditmn. | |e ctt'-iiMio'-
comp.iny them with iiis armed bo.it ; liisr"'';^
dec Imi-d, with evident signs ot itiipiHO'" i**
turning to his boat, he ki-pt w .itrli iipi'ti -^f""
night, until seeing thev were vigiianii\ '■'■•'r.
they returned to X'eramia.
.Mendtv hastened back to the admiral .- .''•
it as his opinion thai the Indi.ins hail '■"'■' ^■
tliiir -vv.iv t ) siir[)rise the .Sp.inianls. 1 ;• ■" ' "
was loath to believe in such treacherv,
desirous ot obt. lining t le.irer inforiiiatu
he look .mv step th.il might intt-rnipt "' ''*■
ently good uiiderst. Hiding th.it e\i-'i''! -■
iiati\es. Mende/ now undertook, wit. 1 ■'-•••
* I list, del Alinirante, rap. <)t,
f Letter from Jamaica.
.^ii«
LIFE AND VOYAGKS OF C:OLUMlJi;S.
157
kiriunion, to pcnrtiatf bvl.uul to the lu-ad <|u..r-
Vs l)'l "iiilji.in, ;iiul ciuliMvor to asi (.-rlain his m-
Itions" Accoiiip.inicdliyone Rodnj^u do I'.mo-
Ir hi' priK-ft'dfil nil loot .ilonj; tlu- si-.il)(),ii(l, lu
loia tlio uncled toiu.-,lh, .md aniviiiK ;.l tlw
lOiith .)( ihc \ iTi^Hi'. touiui two I .mots willi lii-
Bi,', wii'tm ik- (Jifv.iik-d on. Iiy prcMiUs, to con-
hlm and Ins uimpanioit lo llu- \dlaf,'e ot ihe
IriKif li •^'■'■' on iIh' t)ank o( tlic river ; the
Lv.s \v>T.' 'Iria. iK'd and mter.-.i)cT.si-d anion;;
Li riica- w,i^ a hustk: cd warlike |)rei)a;-,ilin;i
flhc pi.i.c. .iiid tlic arrival ol the two Spaniards
■ jfidruK •.■\' i'"'' surprise and uneasiness. The
. Bsi>iciia' 111 tin: .:aci(|UC was larKer than the
LaihiMs, and siliiait-d on a hill which rose tnini tlu:
Blt'i's fili;e. (Uiil)i.in was coiilnied to the house
nntlisp;)-!li''ii.'liavin;; heeii wounded in tile lej;'
|m!1 ariM.v Meiule/ j,mvi' hiniselt out as a sui-
feoii o)'iic 10 curt- till- wound : with K''<-'at dilli-
ilivaiul hy lorre ol |ireseiils lieobtained perniis-
pn U) pi'iVee I. (h\ the eresl of the hill and in
pnt ul tilt- .aiii, tie's dwelling was a broad,
_Jvcl, opi^n iilace, round wliii li, on posts, were the
he.ii> ot thri-e lunulred enemies slain in battle.
Un.i ^m.ivi'd i)v till- disiii.il ,irray, Meiide/. and his
COiiiiiiiiiii'i I I" '^■■ed the pl.iee toward the den dI
, this .^run warrijr. A number id' women .md
fhil.irtii alioiit the door tied into the house with
^eviii;; crie-i. A voun^f and powerful Indi.in,
■nof Uif cacicpu-, sallied lortli in .i violent ra;;e,
pchuuck Meiidi'.; .i blow whuli lu.uie him rL-euil
Iver.il paces, fhe l.iliei |),tcilied luin by pri-
nts and a-isiir.iiices th.it he e.ime to cure hi-^
Ithcr s wound, in proid ol which he jirdducLd a
^x lit oinimeiu. it w.is impi)>.-,ible, howc\i'r, to
JBiii .icce^s U) the cacKpie, and Meiide/. retui'iici
jitll all ll.i^te lo die harbor ic.) report to the ad-
lir.i; what hf li.id ^eeii and 1<-. lined. It wa,-. e. i-
leiv ihcif \\ai ,1 d,in;;eii)U-> |)li)t impending dver
ie ^paai.ird.i, and a> l.ir .is .Meiide/. coiihl le.un
ro:".i u.: Indian-, who h.i I l.iken him up tin- rivrr
11 ;:ii'ir c.iaoe. the b.i K ut .i lh(ju,->,uid w.irriois
|Hi:.!i h-,: li.id siea .in his previous reconiKnterin.;
IspdiiKin li 1 1 ,1 til. illy been on .i hostile eiuer-
Irh-a^'ain^t ih' h.irlior. but li.ul j;iveii it upon
ndi!!^ iIk-mimUo ub^t-rved.
pTnii iiikirin.ition w.is coiilirmed bv.m Ind.,in nl
n;'|i;'iharli,i i,l, who li.ul become .iit.uiird lo
leS]i.iiii:inls .ri 1 .icii'il ,is iiUerprctci . lie la.-
•'■■i t'l llu- .admir.d the de-.i^n^ ot his eouatrv-
:". iviii.h iif !i 1(1 overlie ird. (.Miibi.m iiiti-adrd
MirpriMe the li.uhoi .it iu,:;ht wiih a j;re.U t.jr. .-,
1 'h:- ship, .md hou-,1 ■,, .md
la-'HT. d'iuis
.md make a ^laiera
ioifw.inir 1, (.'olunibiis immedi
He . Nfi a <1 liihic w.iu h upon tlu'
!■*! Mrs spirit ,,| llu
,i on till' harbor.
.\:K-l,mt,i lo
1
ne
ll'.i l'a•1^ Ui-i.iycil l)v III-, woiini
liiii- hi v.ould inaiiit.iin tlu
■ill
F»n
sembl.ince
I lie .\ Itl.int.idi) drtcrmined to
ini- re,ideiire, c.ipuue
If' 1 p.ii u.inior-., send
md in the nie.m
'■■■■■■• .d Iriend-
ni.irch at
um. hi-, l.imil'/, .md
them pri-.onfri lo .Sp.iin,
*ii':;.-'.' p:»^r,M„ii ol his vill.iu.-.
*^'''i'; III ■ .\dcl.iiu.ido, lo conceive a pl.tii was to
;t^'' ' .' ':uii iminedi.ite evecuiion, and. in l.ict,
W mipi-uhii;; d,iii-<-r .idmilled ol no dchiv.
'•'>ii;;\viih iiiiii si-vfiitv-toiir men, well .inned,
ini.i;. v.mini was Dn-^o .Meiide/. and heme ac-
'■''■li''iiie 1 hv the Indi.in
.'fii'l tin- pliH. h(
Ifi iial^, lo tlur moum Ol iiu- \it.i..ii:i •i<,,.iiii,.(|
^,"1! iry .■spirit ol the .\dc-l,mt,clo ■,u--c,'a.i .i
5*0 I'TcxpciliiMU. 'Idle iu>^lile.pl.m ol ( Hiibian w.is
U'l iC,.... . I,. ;,...., 1 I... 1.: 1 ... I :":. .L
n iiUerpreier wlio h.id re
. . . he .set ot( on the 50tli ot .Man ii.
'" "al\ to Uur mouth ot the \'er.i-ua, ,i-,cende(
Prajmh^, ,ind h,-to,f ihc Indi.ms i ould have uo-
jjf'-ai h:s niovrmtnls, l.inded at the tool ot the
ni'|"i"hKh th,. house ot Ouibi.m w.is situated.
■ ^tbi ihc lacKjiie should "take alarm .md llv at
the si;.;lit ot .i huge iorce, in- ;isciiule(l the lull, ac-
iiMiip, lined b\, onl\' ti\c men, among whom w.i:*
iJiego .Meiidez ; urdiring the rest lo eoine on, wilii
gre.il caution ami seerei \', two .it a lime, and ;it
.1 disi.iiu I- triuii e.icii ollui . < iii the disch.irge of
an .ir(|Urbuse, lliey werr to suiruuiul ihe dwelliuy
and sillier no one lo esi..ipe.
As the .\del.mt.ido drew ne.ir to tiic house,
( Uidu.iii lame forth, and se.iling hinisidf in llm
poil.il, (lesireil the .Ailel. lilt, ido lo ajipi'LU h singly.
1 )oii r>.iriluiIoniew now ordered I)iego Meiide/ .incl
his tour conip.mions lo lem.iin al .i little (list. nice,
and wlieii the) should see him Like the caciipie by
the arm. to lUsh iinmediateU' lo hisassistanci-. lie
then .idv.mced with Ids Indian interpreter, through
whom .1 shorl com ers.ition look place, itl.ilive to
tlie surrounding eouniis. 'l'!i<' Adelaiit.ido then
.id\'erted to tlu- wound of the c.iciipie, and pre-
tending to e\aiiiine it, totd-; him b\- the arm. .\t
llie ( oiii cried sign.d four ot the Sp.ini.irds rushed
toiw.ird, the litili disch.trged the ar(iuelHise. '1 lie
cKUcpie aitemiited to get loose, liul w.is lirml/
held in the iron gr.isp ot the Adelani.ido. iSeing
liolli men ot g:e,it niii-i ular power, a violent
struggle ensued. I)oii ilnrtholomew , however,
m.iilU.iilK (1 the in.isleiN , and I )iego Mende/ and
his comp.mioiis eomiiig to his assist.mce, niiibiaii
W.IS i)ound h.iud .ind to.ii. Al the report ot tiie
.iriiuebiisi-, the main bod\- ot the .Sp.mi.irds sur-
rounded the house, .and seized most ot tiiose wlio
were within, I onsi;,iing ol titty persons, (dd .nnd
\oUii;;. Among these were the wi\eS and ( hil-
dieii o! (Uiibi.m, ,ind si-\er.il id his ]uincipal sub-
jects. No (ii'.e W.IS wounded, lor there w.is no
resisLince. and the .Xdel.int.ido iie\er permiUed
w.mtoii bloii(l-,hed. W hen the |!o:)r s.uages s.iw
their priiue .1 i',ipli\e, they Idled the air with
i.iment.itions, imploring his release, and oflering
tor his r.insiun .i gie.ii ire.isure. \\ huh lluy said
l.i) 1 oni'e.ded in a neighboriiig lori--.t.
Ihe .Adel.mt.ulo w.is de.lt to their sU]>plic.llionS
,md tiu'ir .liters. lUiibi.m was loo d.mgerous a
toe to lie ■-! [ .It liberty ; as a prismu-r he would
be .1 host.ige I ir the securit) ot the seillemeiit.
AnvioUs to SI line his prize, he di'termiiied lo send
llie I'.iciijUe .md iilher jirisoneis on bo.ird ot ilie
l)o,its, wiiile lie rem. lined nn shore wilh a part of
his men to puisne the Indi.ms who h.id I'scaped.
Ju.iii .S.im he/, tile priiiei]),d pilot td the sipi.idron,
.1 poweilul ,md spirited ni.iii, volunteered lo lake
1. li.iige ot the c.ipiue-.. ( 'n commilting llu' chitd-
l.iin lo his I. ire, tile .\ilel.iiit.uio w.irned him lo be
on his gu.ird .ig.imsl ,iny .ilteinpt al rescue or es-
e.ipe. I'iie suird\ pilot replied lli.it il the c.iciipie
got out ot his h.mds, lie would gi\e them le.ive to
pluck mil his be. lid, li.iir by li.iir ; with tliis '.aunt
lie de|).iried, be.iring idf (}uibi,m biuiiid h,.nd .md
toot. ( )n .irrixiie; ,ii the bo, it, he secured him by
.1 sirong .Old to one (d the beiudu-s. it was a
dark night. As the bo.it proceeded down tlie
ri\er, the c.iciiple comp.. lined piteoiisly ol ihe
p.iintiilne-^ ot his bonds, 'idle rough he.irl ot the
pilot w.i^ tinii hed with com[i.issioii, .md lie
loosened the cord by which Ouibi.m w.is lied to
the bcm !i, keeping the end ol il in his lumd. 1 he
\\\\\ indi.in watched his oppoilimity, and when
.Sanche/ was looking another w.iy plunged mio
the w.Uer .md dis.ippeared. .So sudden and vio-
lent W.IS his plunge thai the pilot had to let go
the cord lest he should he dr.iuii in alter him.
'idle darkness ot the night .md the bustle which
took |)l.ii e in preventing the esc.ipe ot the other
prisoners rendered il impossible lo ]nirsue theca-
ci(pie, or e\in to ascerl.iin iiis fate. Juan Sanchej
ha ,teiufl to the ships with the residue of the c.ip»
:-d
l;'i 11'
! 1,1
'I ;!'■*
\'''M
!l!
m
■ i - H
", i
; t-
198
LIFE AND VOVAGKS OF COLUMBL'S.
vt
lives, (Ircply mortified .U Ikmii;; tliiis outwiucd by I t Icmciit. I'lunj^mi; to liir hoiioii
r
I
ft s.i\Mj;c.
The Adi'lant.uio ri-ni. lined nil nii;ht on shore.
The lollowin;^- morniiij;, wiu'ii he beheld the wild,
broken, .md iiKunitaiiious n.uiirc ot the eountry,
and the se.utered silii.ition ot the liabitatioi-.s
jK-rehed on ilittereiU heij;hts, he .i;.i\e up the search
;ilter the bidia:is, and returned to the ships with
the sjiods ot the eaeii|iie's mansion. These eon-
sisted ol bracelets, .-inklels, and massive plates ot
jjold, such as were wurn round the n<'ck, toj;elher
witii two i^olden coronets, The wliole amounted
to the \alue ut three hunilred dui-.its.* ( 'ne litih
nt the booty was set ap.irt tor the crown. The
residue w.is share(l anion;,.; those concerned in the
cnterpris'' To the Ailel.intado (Mie ot the c oro-
nels waa ■isieui;d, as a iiophv ul his e.\i)!oil.t
CII.\riKR VIII.
Ms.\.STKRS ni' TUF, .^K 1 -II.li.Mr.NT.
['503.J
It was hojied by Colunibus tli.nt the \'isr>rous
measure o! the Adel.intado would strike terror
into the Indians ot the nei,i;hi)orhooil, ami prexnit
any turther desi^nis upon the settleini-ni. (^uibian
iiad probably perished. It he survived, he must
be (lishe.iit'-ned by the ca|)ti\ity ol his tamily, and
scNeral I't his ]irincipal subjects, and te.irlul ot
their beii\i; made res|)onsil)le toi- .inv .icl ot vio-
lence on his part. The hea\\- r.iins, theretore,
wtdrh t.iil so frf(|uently alnon^; the moiuUains of
this i^tl'.nius, having; aj;ain swelled the river, Co-
lum!)us in.ide his tinal arran,i;ements tor the man-
agement (it the colony, ami h.nini;- tjiven much
whoiesdine i-,iiinst;l to the .S|)ani,irds \sho were to
remain, an;l t.ikeii an affectionate le,i\e of iiis
brother, ;;oi uiuler wei^h with three of the c.ir.i-
Vels, le.um^- the fourth tor tlie use of the settle-
ment. As the w.iter wa> still sh.illow ;it the h.ir.
the ships were liyhti'iied of a s^re.it p.irt ot their
cargoes, .uiil towed out by the- lio.its i;: cilni
weather grounding repeatedly. When fairlv re-
leased from the river, and tiieir c.irg.ies reship-
ped, they anchored witk.in a league ol the shore,
to await a f.ivorable wind. It w is the intention
of the .idmiral to touch at Hisp.uiiola. on his wav
to .Sp,.in, ;ind send thence supplies and ninlorce-
ments. The wind coiuiiuiing ad\'erse, la' sent .1
bo.-it on sliorc on the 0th ot .April, under the loin-
mand ol l.'iego Tristan, capt.nn ol one of the ear-
a\eis, to ])rocure wood and water, and m.ike
sonv.' eonimunic.itions to the Adel.intado. The
experlition of this boat proved tat.il t'j its crew,
but was ])rovidential to the settlement.
The cacicpie I Hiibi.m h.id not iierished as some
had su|iiK)-.ed. Though botli hamls ami feet wer.-
bound, yet in the w.iter he w.is ,is in Ins n.itural
* Equivalent to one thousand two hundred and
eighty one dnljars at the present day.
j Hist, del Almirante. rap. oS. I. as Casas, lib. ii.
cap. 27. Many ot the particulars of this chapter are
from a short narrative t,dven bv Die^o Mendez, and
inserted in his last will ,ind testament. It is written in
a strain of simple cKtaism, as ho represents himself as
the prim ipal and al.oiost the sole actor in .very aftair.
The la'ls, however, have all the air of veracity, and
bcinn niven on such a sokmn oecasion, the dociiinent
is eniitied to hiuli credit, lie will be found to distin-
guish himself on another ha/ irdous and important oc-
tas.on 111 the course of this history.— V'iJc Navarrete,
Colec, torn, i.
low the surf. ice until sullicicntly dist.ini •, '
(d \iew in thed.iikness ot the ni;;lii, ..•,,,'
emerging made his way to shore. I IumIi-,ijx..
(d his home, and the c.ipttire ol Ins \\i\.-, *
children tilled him with aiigiush ; Imt v.;,- ]
saw thi- vessels in which the\ were lui.i :
iiig ttie ri\er, and be.iring them oil, 1., , ,,,
ported with fury and desp.iir, beteiir.;
signil \enge.mce, in' assemiileil a ^re.i' ■
id his w.irriors, and came .secretU iipun 'j ;
ment. The thick woods by wliieh a \.
roundel! ell. ibled the indi.ins to .ippiuii ,
within ten p. ices. 'I'he Spani.iids, ilm:,,
enemy completely discomllted .iiul (Iis|h;~i
|)riti'i-tly ott tlu'ir gii.ird. Some h.a! Mr,;,
tln' se.i-shore to t.ike .1 tarewell look .a iinV ;,
some were lui board (d the car.ucl iniiii;:..
others were scattered about iiie hmiM',; ;
sudden the indi.ins rushed from tiu'ir in:,,:,
ment with yells ,ind huwliiigs, l.iiiMthfi, ..;;
i.nelins through the roots ot palmieaves. i,,,.:a
them in at the windows, or thrust ilieia i:jrv..-;|
the crevices of tlu' logs which compi/seil ihc ,\j.,..|
.\s the bouses were small several ol liic :;
t.ints were wounded. (In the liist al.uin 1
el.ilU.ido seized a lance and s.ilbei! iu:'
se\-en or eight (d lii-< men. lie w.is miih;;;
go .Nlendiv and scxcImI id hi-. C(aii|i.ii;h
they drove the eiieiiu into the l^)^e^l, I,:.
wounding se\er,il (d them. TIa- liu;i,ii,> ,.-,
a brisk t'lre id d.irts .mil arrows li.,iii ii:i.;,
trees, and made lurious s.illies will, 11,1 ,r
club-,; but iheie w.is no w ithstaiidiiii; t.'.i
edge ot the Sp.inish we.ipolis, and .1 tuc :
hound being let loose upon them 1 oinpir:.
terror. 'I'hev lied howling throiii;h liii :
le.iving a number dead on the lield. li.c:;.,,
one .Sp.ini.ird and wounded eigl;t, .\;r',:,,
latter w.is tile .Adel.ml.ido, w ho reiciMril .. -
tiiriist (d a i.i\eKn in the bre.ist.
l)iego Trist.in .arrived in bi-> bo. it I'li-;":
eiinlest. but le.ired to Jipproai h the l.iiiil. ■;-
Sp.mi.irds should rush on board in siiiiiii::
.IS to sink him. When the Indi.iris h.id hn 1; 1
thi^ht he ]iroceeiK'd U|) the rixer in (Hir-.t
water, disreg.irding the w.irnings ol tli'isr, ;
th.it he might be cut ott by the eiiiM.
canoes.
'l"he ri\cr w.is deep ;ind n.uiow', shut :!i '■
banks ,ind overhanging trees. Tin • : -
e.uli side were thick and iiiipeneli.iti!( .
there W.IS no l.mding-pl.iee excepli! .; I
there wliei'e a tiiot|).ith wound dowiii '-.
ing-groun.l, or some place where the 1. c, •
their canoes.
'I'iie boat h.id ascended .ibout .iK igt c.,:
village, to a part ot the' river w here it \ci^
)ile;rJv o\ er-.h,i(lo'Ai'(l bv lott\' banks ami
ing trees. .SuddeiiK \ells and w:u-wii'''
bl.isis ot conch-shells rose on ivery -^'dr.
c.iiioes darted torth in c\er\ dire, ii.iii i: '
liolliiws ;ind overhanging thn kels e.u 11 '•
\y man.iged by a single s.i\age. while oiI.l:! •
up br.uulishing and hurling their lances. '.
swre 1, mm bed also from the b.mks ol i
ami the br. inches o! the trees. 'I'luTi' ■^i^'^ '
s.iilois in the boat, and thri-e soldieis. '.'.
and Wounded bv d.irts and arrows, cnnl"- 1^*|
b\ the yells and bl.ists ot conchs and tlu- !>•
\\liieh thu keiied from every side, th.'} "~
presence (d mind, neglected to use iitiicri..;
tire.irms. aiifl onl) .sought to shidter thcin't^l
with their bucklers. Diego 'I'Tistan h.d ' '^ ';'
several wounds, but t>tiU displayed i, rc.it .5"
in,l was en-'
I j ivelin pier
,,il. I'he c. in
^rncrai iii.i'.s.ic
,d, iiKinde %■)■■
OM'tliinrd in
11 the hottolil,
jik ol il)c n\e
1 \n ;n ihe set
,,s-.i,re .it his t',
' S|i.-iiiiar.N wer
; nnnix'r. s'-v'c
1,1 ;-!'V were nt ihe
|v<'.;
Ihni
lir m.ire net
iln-y had i)"en
in,' r.^ii.tiMiit .■)! tf
y. vMti-')tit yi"i'lin
ilii, IM- hdt t ) -111
Ifi • >' h.irliT.v.i . 1 1
- inho-ipitaMc
line I 1.1 I. ike 1
• 1 them, and .il
I'l.iatado r-m.
.; wTiliI ciini -n
■nv. Il-re a
(Ir i I i-ir
iKivnvj
,', . Ill I it wa>
■M"- t:;i- h.ir.
ii'.vl Id hear ti
■ !, :i!i I iinplo'f
lit I'; ' wiad w 1-. h <\-
in 1 I h".iv\- siirt
le ill. Kii .il til:' rivt
pttii:.; 'i';t. fl )rri)rs
^ai'i;:!' I li idi''-> ot I.
In'" ;1 1 ;iiiig down
tiif nirhor, witi
irnvi h:r,|s, tfediii;;
irriiiii'ii;, .md hglilii
Irkii'i >;),uii irds i;i)ii
liui.l'riiii; ; it ajjpe.i
ttt.
fin til'- inc. in time tht
nph ./'."r the crew
psi:;i!jis. Whoops
(ftht-r l;)in v irious p
The ij.i 11, li sound ill i .
|i|eep n-jm.it the woo
1 t!.;'flUinv w.is ( rV.I
oui I rush lorth oci
Brti-sjI.Spani.iids, at
ti iij'i>es. It was c
Air .111 ,;i til- si".tlen
WrDiii I !t !)finga .
Af'-'in. The .\del
^1' ;'..cf 01) thesiiori
Ol' 1 Here tie . .lUs
Silf )• die boat nt
fm^^ .cid .,iniiiar arti
pen I, "mbrisiires
&";'•■"! I.i'i t-,, or
m I iiKiiiii.-r ,is to cr
ill", little fortress
^'^■^■<i|); its walls we
oil the (iar-, and ,
lO-.ly tllev depended
fU'i'l nl .vhich SI rue
IP'''!| '•) ulien thev
I'""' -11"; .iiid i-eiidir
N ruiviii.,^ h.Uiir Ir
ai^'.V";-,. imis |.;,.|„ ||.
plfiivl iioni \,.n;iirii
panMnis, tvh.iiisied
rf^-.;ini al.irins, .ml
■"•■n liieir .iniinuiiiiir
^
]AVK ASD VOVACI'S C)V COM'.MIU'S.
109
Air..;,
ridiiv in,l wns (Mv'cnv'irin;; to ,iiiim;iU' Ins men
Wh.!i .-i livcl ' ' ' ' '■
kill'
IT'
«S
ill
di.
th.
Iiii pifiit-il hi'- ii.i,^lit (■>•<• .iiul struck
Icji'l. riuMiinofs now i loscd upnii tin- ImmI,
''erfraima>s,i.-i-fr)siif.l. lint onr Spiiiii.inl
•r,!, ItMiiilf Nova, aiMopiTot Seville. Having;
OMTlio.inl ill till- mi.Kt ot tlie ai tion, he
10 ihi' liDtliim. swam iiiuler water, j^ained
Milk ot the ri\ei iiiipeneiveil, anil made his
^;a i.nvn ;o die s.-ttleiiieiit. hrinniii),' ti(linj,'s nl
*f I .isvun' •'( ins caiitam and .nmradrs.
ri" S|);ini:ir.is were coiiipleteiy disn\ayed, were
.V ,11 pumiicr, several ot them were wounded,
1,1 : -i-v were in the midst oi tribes ot e\as|)ir,ited
■ •s. hrniore tieree ,ind w.irlike than those to
: thfV ha^l o'en ai • iistomed. 'l"he .•idmir.al,
' i'^'ii.iraiit of th"ir mis! irtiiiies, wonhl sail
," \utr,')tit yi'i'linfj them assi.-,taiu c, and they
iif h'tt 1) "ink b-'iUMth the overw helmiiii,'
)t JKirinrra . I )"s, or to perish witii liun^,'-er
.< inhi)^pita')le ■ >ast. In their despair they
iini' I 1.1 take the e.iravel whirh had been
::i liu'in. ind al)an(l(in the place alto^'ether.
.\ii'.l.i!Uado r-monsirated with them in v.iin ;
: ^'wiujil Clint -nt them bnt to |)ut to sea im-
rr]\. jjiTe a new ,ilann .iwaited them.
ii'ii;-- liavini; siibsi<led. the rixiT was .ij.,Min
i,\. .ml it U..S inijvissihle tor the c. travel to
pa" 'VC" til'" har. 'I'hey now took the bo.it nt
ih- '. ri'.il to hear tidinjjs ot their daie^er to the
ad'- I il, an I nnplore him not to .ili.mdon tliem ;
bi;; ."w;!i;l \v i-, I) )isteroiM, .i lii^'h se,i w.is ri)ll-
inu ml I h'.MV\- surf, tumbhitjr .unl brcakimj .it
th-j n. r.ii .)l tiif river, pri-\enieil the bo, it trom
get; ■:.; .)',:i. H-)rrors incre ised upon them. The
nii'i.lc'l h)(lies ot DifLjo 'Prist, m .iiid his men
eaiv- lliitiiii; down tile stre.im, and drilling
abo'- <iv '.u'bor, witii lli<.;hts ot crows, and otiier
car: v.] h;ri|s. tt-i-din.,,' on them, .iiul hovi-riiii;, .iiid
»■.■■
Wil-'
bf;
|\v-
wo:.
fol
on
it'
Itli
Th'
no;
ni!"
Tlv
•cr-
for
sh:j
fa'.r
]■
ho-
Otlv
■;,...-
B th"
m. Of-
-;■'■<■■'•'
H «','
It \\.i^
H^ "'^
s :iiiii •'
H^'Ca^
-Ul''. •
B ^~
,m!.-, .
^m coi.
,,11 1: .::.
^m ill'
ii 11 <i--\"
■ In
i.'.i.ci--
B: It'
ttici siiouid
tood.*
hi\en lortli by hunger to ^eel; lor
'iii'i'.^. ,ind fi^htin'4 about their piT\. 'jhe
■1 sp.ini irdr) ciimempl.ited tins si ene with
!■ i::i.; . it .inpe.ired ominous (jI their own
nif.in time the Indi.ins. elated bv their tri-
,rT the crew ot the bo, it, renewed their
s. WhcioMs jnd \clls ,iiiswerei! e.iih
nil \iiii)us p.irts lit the nei^hborliood.
Thf M.-. 11. i', sound ol comhs ;ind \s.ir-di iiins in the
iet I noniol the woods showed th.ii the inimber
Bi • liuiiiv W.IS ( oi-.iiim.iilv au^.jnvntin^'-. Tiu-v
*o:. 1 rush torth occasion, illy ii|)on str;i(.(i;lin,i;
p-i: "sj!. Spam, on--. ,ind make p.irtial att.icks upon
th:: !,H^es, It \.,-,iv, c msidered no longer sate to
ftn- . :i ,;i til- si'Uli-mcni, the close forest which
Wf i:i,ir,| !t Ijfiii;; a covert tor the ajiproaches of
•■m. Tlie .Adel.iiu.iclo clio-^e. liieretore, ,in
1.1' <• on till- .shore, .it some di^t.ince from the
Here he I aused a kind ut biilw;trk to be
)* the ho.it ot the c.ir.ivel, and ot chests,
■I'l'i .>iniilar articles. Two pi. ices were lelt
1^ "mhr iMires, in which were pl.iceil .i
•"* l.ilioic'N, or sm.ill pii'ces of ariiller\-. in
' iii:imifr .is to comm.ind the iieiL^hborhood.
•^ little fortress the Spaniards shut them-
'ip ; iis walls were siitlicit nt to screen them
"O-' tht; (i.ws ,„ul arrows nt the Indians, but
'»•' ■ V tiii-v ilependeij upon thnr tire.irms, ilie
•"'"i nf .vhicli struck dism.iv into the savages,
»!' mA Hlu-n they s.iw the elfeci ol the balls,
»P" •i-ii'^ .111,1 rendini; the trees around them,
»« ■•irivino h.nor to such a distance. The In-
IN'.V";-,- tnus kept ill check lor the pn-sent, and I
ileiTcl !rniii venturing; imm the forest ; but the !
''' i"l;i, exhausted bv constant walchiiv^' and i
'-.Til .il.irms. anticipated .ill kinds .of evil I
hmn 'iior .iniinunition should be exh.iusted, or i
in:
rn.M'Ti-.K IX.
KlSTKIs-.; OF lllK \IiMlk\I, ON ItO.VKD or HIS
SHll'- 11,1 I.il.MI. KM. in- OK rilK si 1 11 I Mi N I .
Willi. K the ,\del,uit,iilo ,ini! his men were ex-
posed to such imminent peril on shore, ^riMi an.\-
iety presided on bo, in! nl the ships. ij,i\ Jitter
(l.iy el.ipsi'd without the teinrn ot l)ie;,oi Tii-,t,iii
.■Hid his p,irty, ,iimI it w.is Icired some d ^.ister hail
betalli-n tin-m. (olumbiis ssouid h.i\e si ni on
shore to make ini|Uii"ie>, bm there \\,is oiii\ one
bo.it remainiii;,' tnr the sei\ueot tin- siju.idroi),
,inil he (hired not ri-^k it in the nui^di sc i .nul
lie,i\y surl. A dism.il circumstance oci in nd to
incre, ise the L;loom .mil uiie,isine-.s ol the crews.
< 'n bo.ird ol one ot the c.ir.ivels were conlined the
t.imil)- and household ot the c.ici(|Ue (Uiibl.in. It
W.IS the intention ol Columbus to c.irrv them to
Sp.iin, Inistiiii^f th.it as Imi^ .is tliev n-m.iiind in
tlie power ot the S])ani. nils their tribe would be
deterred frmn further hostilities. Tlii\' wen- shut
up .at niijllt in the forei .istle of the i .ira\el, the
h.itchway ot which w,is secured bv a strong i h,iin
,ind p.iilloi k. .\s several ot the crew slept u])oi\
the h.iti h, ,ind it was so hi;^h as to be cfmsidereil
out c)l reach ot the prisoners, they nej^lected to
tasteii the ch.iin. The Indi.ins discovered their
nei^li^'cnce. Collectiii};' ,i qu.intitv ol stones tioni
the b.ill.ist ot the vessi-l, ihev made a ;;r( :U hcip
directly under the h.itidiway. Se\er.il ot tin- most
powertul w.irriors mounted upon the top, ,iiul
beiulinj.; their b.n ks, bv a sudilen and simultine-
(His e'tort, forced up the hatch, tlin<;^inj; the sea-
men who slept upon it to the opposite side ot the
shi|i. In ;in iiist.mt the;,Meater partol thelndi.ms
sjir.!!!;; torth, plum;i'd into the sea, and swam tor
shore. .Sever. il, howiwer, were ])reviiited tioiu
s.illyin^f torth ; others \s ere seized on the deck and
forced b.ick into the torecisile ; the h.itcluv.iy
w.is ciretullv ch. lined down, and a ;^ni,ird w.is set
for the rest ot tin- niu;!il. In the morniii;;', w hen
the Sp,ini;ir(ls went to e\. inline the captives, they
were all found (le,id. Sunie li.id h.uiLjed them-
sidves with the ends of ropes, their knees tonch-
inif the tloor ; others li:iil str.m^led ihem-elves by
sIiMiniiiL; the cords ii.:;hl with their teet. Such
was the tien e, unconqiler.ible spirit o| these peo-
ple, ,111(1 their h.orror ot the while nlen.^
The escipe ot the prisoners (ucisioned i^M'eat
.inxielv to the admir.il, tcirinir they would stiniu-
l.ite their countrvmen to some violent ;ict oi \cn-
j^^Miice, and he trembled lor the satety o| his
brother. .Still this |i,iinlul nusteiy reii^ned cuer
the I. mil. The bo, it ot I)ie;;o Trist.in did not re-
turn, and the r,i;;ini;- surl iire\-ente(l .ill comimiiii-
cation. .Vt len;,;th, one I'edio I.edesm.i, .i |ii.oi ot
.Se\-ille, ,1 m,iii ot about lorty-ti\c years o! ,il;(.',
■iiiil ot ^re.it stren;4th ot body and mind, olleied,
it the bo.it would t.ike him to the edi;c o; liie
sill f, to swim to shore, and briiij; off news, lie
h.id lieell pi(|Ued by the .ichievement ot the Indi.in
captives, in swimmiiij^ to l.md at a leaeue's dis-
t.ince, in deliaiice ol se:i .mil surl, " .Surelv," he
■* Hist, del Almirante, cap, 11"^. I,.as Casas. \'.\i. il.
Letter of Colurr'nis from Jamaica. Relation ol 111-
ci;o Mendez, N.ivarrete, torn. i. Journal of I'urras,
N'avarrete, torn. i.
f llisi. del .\lmirautc, cap. <)<).
•i K.
i?Wii
•it 1 'Cf!,)!!
liT i
it) <
100
I.IFI' AND VOVAGF.S OF COIJ'MBrS.
sniil. " if tiuv dare vt'ntmr so nuuli to pnuiiic
lihiriifs, 1 otij;ht to brivt- .it
tlu'ii' indiMilu.il
lij>t ,1 part III tlu- ilaii),uT, to save
thf li\
.t s,.
Ii.irdships, nnri iiiodiictMl a fever nf t'
wliiili lif was Milled liv one ot those
illations deemed Itv liini iiivst
nil!!'
inaiiv eiiin|)aiu(ms
ilis otfcT was ifladly ae- | natural. In a It-tter to tin' soven
erioils ,!;■
I'JIl-i
eeiiU
l>v tlle
Iniiral, and was hoidlv aceoni- | sulemn arcoiint nt a kind ot \ isimi liv w^ ,
,.li
d. Tl
le l).>at a|ipi(ia('heil with him as near was eo
mkirted in a dismal
,du.
" hen
tl) the siirl as satetv would permit, where it was < (les]ion<len(y and tossiiv^ on a Cdueh nl
to aw
ait his rett
lere. strippiiiij himsi
■If, he
l)li'.iij;ed into the sea. a
nd .liter huftelini;' tor some
tune with liu*
1)1-,
thi
akers, sometimes risini;- upon
t
leir suij^es, sometimes hiiiieil t)eneath them aiii
W
shiml)
eiried .mu si^;hin^r, s.us he
I
)er,when I he, nil .i piteous vdu'c s;i\;;'.
,ind slow lo believe .md serve llivd
is the Ciod ot all ! What did he
more tor Md
(i.ished upon the sand, he sueeeeileti in le.Klim^; | lor his serv,int D.ivid, th.in he ha-- ('oiic i(,
tl
le shoro.
He lou
lis eounlr\nien shut up in their
r for-
I'lom the time ot tiiv birth he ii.\
under h
lorn tortress, l)ele.ii;Uere(
I 1
IS pel tiliar care. When lu* s,
s ever ii,i(ii>l
iw tl-.
I\' s
n'.»i;(
oes.
le.irnt the ira.Ljie.ii l.iliMjt Die^^o Trist.in and his
comp.mions. M.iny ot the .Sp.miards, in theii
lioriiir .md desp.iir, h.id tiirown otf
littin.i,' ,n;e he made thy n,ime to resoiiml
suhonlin.i-
lousU tl'rou'Mimit till
e.irtl
.ind ihi,
()l)eveil in m,iny lands, and didst .uiniJiv j-ir,.,
le t.ime amon^- Christi.ins. CI the ^aw-
th
erate
to the sh
the 1>
when the wea
1
the
slioi
lid
IllOl
at ot the caravel bem;r too sma
'lelivereil
thee the
tlie
tiuii, letuseil to assist in ,uiy measure tlial had in deean .Se,i, shut up witli siieli mi^diiv rl
view .1 loniinu.mee in this |)l.iei', nnd tlioiii;lit of
iiinhin_L; but ese.ipe. When tliey beheld l.edeima,
i\ niessenijer trom the ships, they surrounded him
with tr.mtie e.ij^erness, urt^iiiL; him lo implore the
ailniii.il to t.ike ihein on l)o.ird, and not ab.in-
(lon them on a eu.ist where tlieir di'striu tion w.is
inivit.ible. The\ were prej)arinif eanoes to t.ike
weallliy re;,Mons ot the world, lie '^.wc ■
thine o\\ n, and em|)ow cred thee to (lispuM-i ;
to others, .leeordmi; to thy |)le,isure. W
lie more tor the >^vv^\l people ot Israel w her Pr si
them torth trom l-'^'yiit ? (trior D.imi! ^
trom l'em;4 a sheplierd, he ni,nle .i ,,■< _
|ude;i ? 'lurn to him, then, and :u k; ,
thine error ; his mercy is inliiiiir
uul
swure iii.it, it the .idmir.il refused to take them ara! \;ist inheritances vet in r
i'ser\f.
on I'o.ird. tiiev would embark in tl
souii as !l I ou.d !)e extrici
ted t
u' c.ir.ne
loni the ri\er.
as 1 to set
k tl
lell).
Vh
d ! t
me .ii;!' sli.ill he i.o in',|ic
abandon tiiemselves to the mert\ ot tlie se.is, I hundred ve.irs when
o ;u'.\ <'r<Mt undert.iUinij'.
Ill'
Abr
iii.im \v,i~ ,1
rather than rem.iin upon th.it t.d.il eo.ist.
.Sarah vou
II
la I to
IVIIlLT he. 11'
1-d
th.it
ioi-h
irn ii)uiur\nien i suci or.
thtul
Answ
■I
imi lllu'est ill"
|)eni:i|'i;
■r I w ho h.itli .iftiii !ril e
iv, and eommunieated with the Adel,
m-
mu
eh, nnd so nianv times ?— Ciod, or tin
tailo and his otiicen
,edi-sma set out on Ins |
I'he ])ri\ ileiies and priMiiises w hii
he
iliiUi return. He ,i'Min br.ned the surt and the i thee he hath never broken ; neither halli !•
b
ireakers, r
liim, .md was co
e. Hilled the iio.it which w.is w.iilin<; lor j alter havinj,' recei\'ed thy services, that
Ih
dis.istidus luiiiiQs from the kind tilled the heart ot
liveved back to the si
the
admir.'il wini ''riel
.ini
1 al,
irm.
■1^
le.i\ e
Ills
l)rothi r on shore would be to ex])Mse him to the
nuitiiu' ol his own men and the terocits' ot t
sa\ai
;es. He could sp.ire no reii
the
the
,t T
e crews hein^'^ so much we.ikeiied
le
meat triMii
• bv
was ditterent, ,ind to be understood
eni sense. He nertorms to the \er\ lii;.
lultil
tli.il he pron
.iml with ir
.Sui h is his custom. I h.i\e sk.own tket
Cri .*ilor hath done lor tin
Tl
P
and wh.it he ci
•nt is the rew.ird ot tlie i;
ristan .•mil Ills eom|i,iiiions,
Katlu
■itlemt
illOllll
hroken ui
dlv
lis peoiia'
li.ive ;oilu-d tlie
but in such i .i
lel.iiit.ido with .'ill
low could inlelli-
periis thou hast endured in serviii;^
he.ird ;dl this," adds (.'olumbus, " :!s i
de.id. and had no power to repl\ to \uii
evceptintj to weep tor niv errors. \\ I;m
tli.it si), ike If) me, tinislied bv s.ismij,
«:'•'" '■
e I'oll'.fNed lo tile soM-reiLI'lls ot this iin- I ColirKle
All these tribukilions ai.
jioitaiu d:s(_o\er\', ,ind
t. lined tron
tlVl
Spam
how could siijiplics lit' ob
"lleie .ippcired no allem.i-
m.irble, ,ind not without cause.'
Such is the sinu'iikir statement w li
llierrtore. 1)11' to i-mb.nk ail the people, I i^AVv to the sovereigns ol his supposeil v
;ib,iii(lon the seitlenuiit tor the ]iiesint, .mil re- ' has been sui;s;esttil that ihis
was .1 men
turn al some fu'.i
d;
will
to Like
.St. Ill
secure |)i)ssession ot
1 a lorce com|)t.tent . tiction, adroitly devised b\ him to cuini
th
e (ounlrv.'* 'I'h
.» th
weather lenderei
th.
praelu .it)i
lit\
to his jinnre
but
ith 1
lis cli.ir.icier.
Ill
«'Ven ol this pl.m (loubltul. 'I'he wind i ontiiuied
li
an Kit .1
w.is too i!
With rt \ 'O
the se.i roU"li,
no ho.ii could
ii.iss
be-
tween the s(|u.iilroii .ind the I. mi
■Jlv
tl
le sill IIS w.is 1
Iselt
f siuiation
a ni.ittrr ot extreme solici-
lurle.
readv to
I eiiiv m.aiiiie
t.dl 11
cra/ei
tl
1 I
)v storms, and
|iiici ^ Ironi the r.i\,iL:i's ot thi- te-
redo, thi \- wen- ,nii liored on .i lee stion with a
1
w ith awe ot the I )eiiv, .in
so\ ereij^fii, to m.'ike use ot sui h an .ii'i
iken t
o liim liv the sii
words iiere sp
• ire trutlis which dwelt upon his m:
his s|)irit durin;,' his w.ikin^ hours.
th.it thev should r
hi> I
ecur
everish die.ims
,ind in ill .1
, 1.1 .
llM'.,
loistiioiis wind and se.i, in a dim. ite subject t.) iiv.; a dre.im one is uiiconsciousK apt
teirpesls. ,.nd where the le.isl ;iusfnieiil.ilioii ot the
weather miL;hl drive them amon'r the breakers.
hit!
cotierelli V.
i;
emu beliet th.it he w;
Colimilu'.s i
s .1 [lecilli.ir in-''!
'.very hour mrrt-.tsed ihe .iiixietv oi ('olumbus tor ' the hands of I'rovidem e, which, t
.Iher, 1
Us Iji-opii
d h
Is ships, .md eai
deep tin;4e ot superstition common I . t
lour .ippe.in-d to render the impemlmi; d,in;;ers ' nijide him prone to mist.ike every *■
^iriK I';
lllnri
and niLili
ts u
consiuiition
liiieiit. Days ot const. ml peiiiirb.iiion ' lor .i revelation. He is not to b
f
iroke
slei ijless
.inxiitv pieyid upon .i , s.ime st.itid.ard with ordmarv nun u' "''
'>•
'e, bv m.d.idies,
.uu
eiri unisiances.
It
IS (
lilticull lor the niinili' ''-
I.eiier of Columbus from J.imaica.
i/e his silii;ition, .md to conceive ll
ot spirit lo which he must li.ive In
.11 mh
iilli'ss manner in
ivriri^nis, lie mint;!
Lull, 111 Ills iin.i.nui.i
(uiul iir.'Chcal oliM-rv
itli.i Miul ol scni'ii
I.e. IS iilie III
oii,.r. ,1 ili.iiM''tcr ri.
_l.irv .1 I'l .ipiiai'ciitly
^■lnvii'lMti'\ .liter ll
uliir.i; '!■' «'! ''Ill'' ''
Jh'ti'- k 'i"-' ■^'■' '"''''
|iti,.):i with til" l.md
npi
t.) extric.
hut t
,:„ [;i. river
ir;!i,4 i:' 'i''' l«'"l"'- ■'
hou.il '<■ .1 return oi
ter'.i.)!!- a; tiie .■e.iKni
em.y e I'li'-ni. "■' i'
Crin'i; I I.- ,lich an t i
lUi"I( ;.1C cal.ivel, lie
lie iiis.iia. He I.ished
.]).ir->. s.) tli.il tl
'tlif '.v.ive-, and nui
■e .ll Miii.i.iini;,' a i;
\i[ '. 11 l.uliil rejieal
ml ninuiii.tiiiii. wnic
nd wiiii the turiiituri
ntiifA ilism. Hilled.
tvVL':| I).' tile ho.it to
bibt.iiu .111.1 sU'eple
KO il.iv,. .ilinosi evei
Driiil all l)i).ird the ■■
hail till' liiill ot ihe
ni! Ml', ll,-,' in the rive
tniii'd t:ii' vvh.ile ein
latcntn'iiii'-is ,in;! .u liv
bns, ul-i'v ill'.' I.isi ll
pi i.i;,'' i .It their peril. J
he ai);:un;,' with llie 1
N.itiiiii;;' could ei|U.d
fctrib. niieii iliev lound
o.irl a! the ship.-., ant
l^\n tiieai .'ilid thus
Ki-iiln; ilotined to 1)
th; r .'iiinrailes seemet
111 ihi- |)i-nls ,iiiil liar,
kd Ik- 'a Were tor^fotti
ir.itiri.!;;.iii,, I'lu .ulii
fcilii a M use ol the
Dii';;) M' lule/. lliroiit;
ail'l .ii^.;-.lrr, lll.il he
the .Mr.ui.l. .'.11 Mill by
Dk'^i '! visi.iii.'
CII.N
Dnvi'icur, ik.iM T
am; IV VI, VT I.A.M,
Thi- ■vilii|.itl,-n;;tli
blN M-l s.1,1, l,)\\.||,| ih
asiri„i>. I. us;,, I \rl.i-
Ot-.ii. -M'ps, the elllee
^"'' " 'I' .t\ .i| provisii
til'-' I'll 111 his vv.iv to
relit Iiis',-,M-U,m,| pi
tortile v.iv.i-e Id Kui'i
Bib
Hist, ilel ..\Iniiraii
1. ^.»p, ;i|. RtLicii
"I < 'luinhiis from [ar
»aui:n,', eoitc, lorn.' i.
LIFE AND VOYACiHS OF COLUMBUS.
SOI
n . uilfis ni.rint'r in wtiiih, in liis IctUT to tiic
"viVhmis. he min(;lcs up tin- rhiipsodics and
■,"01 ins ini.i,i,nii.iti()n, with sinipii- l.ii.ts, :ini|
fc.un
Uii.i |.r,.('lic;il ol.^i'iv.iliuns, pouring' tlu-ni lorth
li ,1 kiiul cil >(rii'iiii,il suli-nmiiy and poetry oi
In.irv
ini i:ii
t.\f
ac:
pa:
»•:■
t
ta:.
an
an
en'
to
tO'l
tv
pnr
Ih.,
ID'
if.)
«.
io'
ail
thi
iai
b..
tu
«tl
th'
an
M
g'
ft;
1).
ai.
th
in.Mi'ii'i" IS .MIC i)l tlif "><>■'' ^t|■'l^lnK illnsiia-
"" * 1 ih.ir.i'-lcr nciiiv lonipdundfd ot cMi.ior-
ii| ,,')ii,iiijiuly ((MUr.uluioiy I'lfnu-iits.
l;r,',i • li 111 A ■itiiT liiiN .siippiiM'd vision, and alter
,1 ,,,,; u:i ti! 'inic (lays, tlie Imisierous vveallier
[I),,].- 1, till! SIM iH'cainf c.ilm, and the coinnuini-
11 11 With the land was restored. It was loiind
I'f to cslrKaie the reniaininj; eai-.ivel
iner ; l)ut every exertion w.is ni.ide t(j
r ):tini' people and the properly belore ilierc
',1 ir .1 return ol had weatiier. In this, the
in- Dl tile /imIdiis I)ie;;o Mellde/ wcreenii-
, (• luii'ilt. He liad heen lor some ilays pre-
;; I ir siK-h an eineri^eney. CiUlinj,' up the
.' : i.' I navel, lie made ^'re,U sacks to reieixu
,.,i;i, lie I. lulled two Indian e.inoes ti)^;ether
■ Iiiiy so til It they eould not he overturned
• A,nr<, and made a pl.ittorin on iheni e.ipa-
1 Mist.i.nin^ ;i i;reat hurdeii. 'I'liis kind of
.1-, l.ulen repeatedly with the stores, arms,
I u:miiiiiii)n. wimli had heen lelt on shore,
' ith thi' tiunitiMe ot the <."ar.ivel, which was
V 'iisniaiulcd. When well Ireij^hted, it w.is
: 111 tile liDiit to llie .ships. Ill this wiiy, liy
iiu iiiid sleepless exertions, in the sp.'ee ot
iiv-., almost everythiii).;; ot v.iliK- w.is tr.ms-
1 nil lio.ird the sipiadron, and little else kdt
liif liiill 1)1 till' caravel, stranded, decayed,
111 ii,L,Mii the river. iJiejjo Meiuie,^ siiperiii-
I 111' wh.ile emharkation with unwtMried
iuliii'is ,iri:| ,uii\itv. He and tivi- C()ni|i.iii-
ui-re tlv' l.i-il to le.ive the shore, reinainiiij^
;' 1 .It their perilous post, ;iii(| enilMrkiii); in
1 liiiiiii; Willi the List c.ir^o ot eliects.
i iiii^- loiilil ec|U.il tile triiiisports ol the Sp.in-
niieil thev louiid themselves once nmre on
0' ihe ship-., and s.iw .1 sp.ice ol oce.in he-
I Hill ,111.1 those forests which h.id latelv
: ile^lined to 'u- their j^'r.ues. 'I'he joy ot
o:iir.i(l(s si eiiie.l little inferior to thrir ow 11,
• ."-Ills .mil lianlslii|)s which \et surn>und-
.1 Aeic lorfrotteii lor ;i time in niutu.il 011-
:'•'■ 111^ The .idniir.il was so nuicli impressed
1 s' use ol the hi>;h services rendered by
M Mile/, tiiroiij^hout the l.iie timeol d,ini;er
ii^iitT, tliiit he );.i\e him the i omm.uul ol
i!.i\ii, .-.u uit hy the death ut the uiiloriunatc
■ 1 ri-ii.in.'
J)!i
1 1
Dii- ■
a-
0:
t'
tii
rr
1(. •
111-
0'
CII.M'II.K X.
^•:'K1 IKiM llli: tOASf OK VKkACtlA-
l;i\ \l^ AT .lA.MAK.A ^ STKANDI.M; OF 1 111'.
1! 1'.'.
l'5o.)-]
■1 ntMl.itlrn^'lIi hecomin^r f.ivor.ilile, Cuhim-
•'. s.i.l.iow.iidlhe end ol .\pril, Irom the dis-
iMo.isi,,! \ei.i-ii.i. The wretched condition
"ll'jis, the enleeltled st.lte ol the i rews, ;illd
irr.tyot provisions determined him to m.ike
■ ^tot his u.iy to llisp.iniola, where he nuKlu
IIS ■ t-,^el^ ,1,1(1 procure the iiecess.iry supplies
■' 'ov.ii,re 1,1 llurupe. To the surprise ol his
'•!"' 'Ifl .Mmiranle, cap. og, 100. Lus ("asas,
■•My--'). KeKuidii pur DicjTo .Memlez. Letter
'^m >iis from l.iniaica. Journal ot I'orras, Na-
•i-a', Coiec, loin. i.
pilot .111(1 crews, however, on makin;; sail, he
stood ii|;,iin .ilonj; the coast to the eastward, iii-
ste.id ol steering'- north, which they considered the
direct route to llisp.iniola. 'I'hey l.incied that lit*
intended to proceed immediately lor Spain, .iiui
miirimired loudly at the madness of attemiitino so
loii^ ;i voyaj^c, with sliljjs destitute of stores ,iiid
(oiisumed liy the worms. Columluis .iiid his
hrother, howcvir, h.id studied the navi^Mtion of
those se.is with ;i niort; ohserwint and experienced
eye. They considered it .advisable to >,'•''" '' '"H*
sider.ible distance to the east, before standing
■across tor I lisii.miol.i, to avoid beiiio swejit away,
l.ir below their destined ])ort, by the siron;j cur-
rents SLttiiiK constantly to tin- west.* The ad-
miral, however, did not ini|i.iit his re.isons to the
pilots, beiiif,'' anxious to keep the knowledoe ot his
routes as nun h to himself as possible, seeiiii,'' that
there were so m. my adventurers crowding intothe
field, .111(1 ready to follow 011 his tr.ick. llee\eii
took from tlu' m.iriiiers their charts,! and boasts,
j in a letter to the soverei^Mis, that none ol his piloti
would be .able to retr.u e the route toand Irom
\'era;iua, nor to describe where it was situated.
nisrej^ardinj; the nuirnuirs ol his men, there-
fori', he continued alono; the 10 ist e.istw.ird as far
as I'uerto liello. Here he w.is o'tiioi-d to leave
one of the c.ir.nels, bein^f so pierced by worms that
it W.IS imiiossible to keep her atloat. .All the crews
were now i rowded into two i'.ira\els, and these
were little better than mere wrecks. Tiic utmost
exertions were necess.iry to keep them Iree Irom
water ; while the incess.mt l.ibor ot the pumps
bore li.ird on men eiiteebled by s. .iiity diet and
dejected by various h.iriishipi. CoiUiiuiinj;' on-
ward, they passed I'ort Kelicte, and ,1 number ot
islands to which the ■idmir.il j;.i\( llv n.ime ol Las
IJ.irb.is, now termed tint .Mulatas, a liule besoiid
I'oint 111. IS. Here he supposed th.it he h.id ar-
ri\'e(l .It the iinnince ot .M.in^i in the territories of
the t'lr.ind Kh.iii, described by M.irco i'olo as .id-
ioiniii;;- to Cith.iy.i lie coiuiiuied oil .iboui ten
le.ij;Ues t.irlher, until hi' a|)pio.ii hed the elitr.ince
of wli.il is at prestnt c, died the ( iult ot D.irien.
Here he h.id .1 lonsultatioii with his c.ipt.uns and
j)ilots, ssho icnioiistiMteil .It his peisisiini; in this
stiii.i;i;le .i>;,iiiisi contr.ii'y winds .iiui i urreiits,
re|)resentilij.J the l.imeiit.ible pli,i;!il ot the slii|)S
and the inlirm slate of the crews. ;( lliddiiii; t. ire-
well, iheretore, to the ni.iin-l.ind, he stood norih-
w.ird on the isi ol M.iy, in (past ot llispaniola.
.As tlu- wind W.IS e.isU rl\ , u ith a strong; current
setting; to the west, he kept as ne.ir the w ind as
piMsible. .So little did his pilots know ol their
situ.ition, tliiit they supposed themseht'S to the;
e.lst ol the C'.iribliee Isl.uids, \vhere.is the admiral
le,ire(l ih.it, with .ill his t xertious, li.' shouhl lall
to the wcstw.ird ot 1 1 isp.miol.i. His apprehen-
sions |)ro\cd 10 be well luuiided ; foi. on the loth
nf the monlli. he c.ime in sii^'ht ol t^\o sr.i.ill low
islands to ilie north-west ot Hisp.ini.ila, to which,
fr.im the ;.;ie.it (pi. unities of tortoises seen .about
them, he^;.i\c the iiameol the Tortui;;is ; they .ire
now known .is the C.iym.iiis. I'.issini; wide ot these,
and continuing; directly north, he tound himself,
on the ;,otli ot M. IV, ar.ioiio- ihe cluster ot islands
on the south side ot t'uli.i, to which he li.id iornier-
1) ;.;U(ii tlie n.iiiu: ot the ( Uleeli'-S li.irdens ; hav-
* 1 1 ist. del .Mniirante. Letter from bini.iiiM
I [oiiriuil ol I'orras, Navarretc, Colec, torn. i.
* Letter from I.miiiica.
i Toslinuiny ot Pedro de Ledesma. Pleito de los
C'oliines.
; Letter from lamaic.-v.
ill" i;
Mil ■
i^:
203
LIFE AND VOVAGKS OF COLUMN'S.
in^' I't'pn rnrried hctwrpn fi,:,'lit and nin(Mlf),'rccs
wisi ot his ilfstlncd purl. Wvw he cast ;iiK-|uir
nf.iroiu' (it the keys, idK'Ut ten ItM^jiu-s taini the
main island. His trews Wfre suttcnii^,' i'\cfs-
sivclv tliroU),di SI aiuy picivisitinsand ^yv.a tati.i;iif ;
nothing; was Ictt ot tlif sca-stori'S luit a liltif ins-
ruit, od, and viru'i;ar ; and tln'V wvw ojili^cd to
lahor inci'ssantly .it tlic pumps tn keep the M'ssrls
atloat. ThfV iiad scani'ly antluiii'd at liu'si-
islands wlun' thtiv c.inu! on, at midni^fhl, a sud-
den tempest, vi such violeme that, aeeordinj^ to
the struiij; exprissum ot C'dliunhiis, it seemed as
it ti.e world would dissohi'.* They lost three ot
their ant hors almost immediately, ami the earavil
liernuida was driven with sueh violeiuc upon the
shi|) ot the .ulmiral th.ii the l)ow ot the one and
the stern ot the other were ^M-eally sluillereil.
The sea running' hij^h, and the wind bem^; lnuster-
ous, the \essels eliated and injured eaeh other
(Ire.idtiilly, and it was with ^real ditlieulty that
tliey were separated. One ancluu- only reni.uneti
to the ailmiral's ship, and this saved him tnuu
bein;4 dri\i'n ujion the rocks ; hut at daylii;ht the
cable was tiHind nearly worn asunder. II.ul the
darkness continueti an hour lon^ir, he could
scarcely ha\'e esc.ipeil shi|)wreck.t
At the end ot six days, the weather liavinij
moderated, he resumed his course, st.milini,' east-
ward tt>r His|),ini'il.i ; " his peciple," as he s.ivs,
" dismayed and dt)wn-hearted ; almost all his
anchors lost, and his vessels liored as lull o( holes
as a hoiieycomti." Alter stru^^j^lin^' as,Minst con-
trary winds and the usual currents trom the ea>t,
he reached Cape Cru/, and anchtired at ;i villa,t,re
in tin; province ot Macac.i,J where he had touched
in I4t)4, in his voya;^e alon^' the southern coast i>t
Cuba. Here he w.is detained by head winds tor
sever, d da\s, during which he was su|iplied with
cass.iva bread by the natives. M.-ikini; sail a|,f,iin,
he endeavored to beat up lo Hibpauiola ; but every
elfort was in v,\in. The wiini; .ukI ( nrrc-
tinuetl aihi'rse ; the le.iks t t)iuinu,dl\ i;,ii'', ■
his \essels, lhouj;h the pumps wtiV l,i ■ i ., I
. s.intly K"i'iK. J>'"' '''»' seamen vww liaile.l uiv*!
out Willi but kets and kettles. Tlie .uinir . I
1 ' ' I dl Fit 1 B
I stottd, in desp.iir, lor the island ot JaiiMi. .i 'f^,. I
[ some secure \)ov{ ; tor there \vas iininni :i; ii,. I
j ol tounderiiij^- ,it sea. On the e\f ol M. |,.i:r ...I
:;,d ol June, they put into Tueri > lUnnu
I called Dry Harbor, but met with iKnc .,1 nl-
tivi's tnmi wht)m they lould obtain pi-i\M„ii,
was there .my Iresh w.iter to be li,i(| i;i ih.- , .
borhotul. .Sutlenii;.; Irom huiii;ir isul lliir,-! :-fl
s.iileil eastward, on the ttillow iii,n' d.iv, tn .isfcj
h.irbor, tti whuh llie atlmir.d tiii hi-. Ium >iv;'i
the isl.md h.; I ^iven the li.ime ol I'.ri >, ,
I don. I,
Here, al l.'ist, Colundiiis li.itl In ;;ive ui' ■:,., ,
and artlutius slriiy;j;le a)i;.iinst ihe unrihiUM';; -f.
secution ol the eli'meiits. Ills ship^. ii, n,.^ .j
mere wret ks, could no loni.;er keep llu'v.i jj
were ready to sink even in port, lie m -•.•
tlu-Mi, theretorc, tt) lie run a^'rcumd, \\ niiin .' ;.,.
shot ot the shiM'e, .and Listened toxetlifr. M.lrt
side. 'I'hey soon tilled with \v, iter to liic .'.-,1
Thatcheil cabins were then erected .it ilirirjj
and stern (or the .u fommod.ition nt the cr-:,^
and the wreid< was pi. iced in tin lii^! !■ ^. .
state ot detence. Tluis castled m i; . - ,; .
trusted to be able to reptl any sudtltii ,i" u^i
the n.itives, and ;it the same time to ki i [. h,^ ifj
irom rovinj( about the nei}^hbt>rhoo.| .u.il i;;.;;;.
111;.; in their usu.il excesses. No one \\,ii .ilmj!
. to j;o on shtire without especl.d lit tii.^c. oj'.'t
utmost prec. union was taken to prevent ,in\ "!;«;(!
beilii; j,nveii to the Imliins. .\i;y ex.isjiir.i'.i.D'i
them might be tatal to the Sp.tni.irds in thuirp-s.
ent torlorn situation. A tirebr.iiul ilirow" ::;
, their wooden loriress mi,L;l.t wr.ip itiii tli:,.!- •;
' leave them ilelencelesb aimJ hosule llijua.ii.-,>
BOOK X\l.
CHAPTER I.
riiit;(> MiMu-/ wnii -nil-
■ I'KfivisioNs — m;m
ARRANT-.tMINT OF
C.\tltjll.s IllR sll'I'I,II> (IK ........,.,.., „,,.,.
1(1 SA.V liO.MlM.tl llV COl.U.MIil'S I.\ (JL'KST i^V
KKI.ILI-.
[ ' 5«3
l)r(;\
ing among the ,., .,,... ^,
happy effect in promoting .i peaceful intercourse.
The stores thus lurnished, howe\-er, coming from
;i limited ni-ighliorhood of improvident beings,
were not sullicier.t tor the necessities ot the Sii.in-
iards, ;ind \\fre i^n irrcgul.ir;is olteii lo lca\f them
in pint.hing want, 'i'hey teareil, Kjo, that the
'■^ Letter (rom I.imuica.
+ Iliv*. (iel .Mrnir.iiitt;, cap. loo. Letter uf tiolum-
f'us frurn l.imiiiia.
^ H.sl. ilt'l -Mrnir.inte. Journal of T'orras.
iieinldKirhood might soon be rxhaiHted. in v.f
case they should be retluced lo t.ilniin' 1"'
emergency, I )iego Meiide/ st(|>ped t.irw.inl "i I
!iis .accustomed /e.il, .ind \ njuiueeir.l tnv.:'
with three men, on a tor.iging ('vp.Miiuei. .. ■
the islaml. His otter being ghidl) ■■''
the .atlmir.d, he de|).irted witn his ioair.,i!'
.'iriiied, He w.is ex'ervwhere tre.itti' Ail!, ll'.' "
most kiiitliiess b\ til" nati\cs. Tlu\ i»<k :i'''
their houses, set me it and drink bi-|.irt I'.iin i^H I
his comp.iniotis. and perlmaned all il.c I'l""''
s.iN.igf hoipit,'dit\'. NIendtv iii.Kie .ii. .irM'.'
tiient with the t acicpie ot a luimertui-- 'r;'ii
hi-, siibiects should hunt .iiul tish, and iii.ii." ' '-
\.i lire, id, ,ind bring a (|U.intil\' (>l jirtn I'-h'II'-i "'
d.iy to the h.trbor. Thev were lo rei^eio
ch.inge knives, combs, be.itis, li--li-ho .ks. I'.'.''^
bells, .ind tither arlicles. from .i S|iiiii.ii'i.
wai to reside ;imolig them tor th.il |iuii"'-i'. ' •
.•igreemeiit being m.itle, Mendtv thsp.itt n'"! on:"
liis comrailes lo apprise the atlmir.il. H'' ■"'
pursilfi! his inurney three leagues hirlliM. "-Ij
lie m.ide a simihir ;irr,^iigemeiit, and (iis|i..i''™
•.\-i
.•mother of his comnanitins to the aihnir.il.
Yd.
ceedilig onward, about thirteen le.lJ;la•^ ti'|''''' '•
ships, he .arrived at the residence ol aiinti''' i-
ciijue, called Huaico, where lie was gcnci'*'
i^trcmui
nUTLuned. Thr ra<
le,;,!,,' p.iKl hi'" ^"'
leiib ti'i- ■> I'l^'; "';
l,,u.-lu-a Ins <l'i'''
the tulmiral. r^V^
■rriii nii^lii tie ^-f"
wiii.ir lU'iiveries ol
rMfHile: u.H II"" '
(■mer|inM- ili.u
He (.■qiirste.l >it the
Oiiiii.inv liiiii t" ''>"
jrrv lii'^ pmvisnin-
anim.H'. or calttm i.
eiiv; ^'r.i'iteil, he
MoiiiJ iIk' '■»:•"' ""'
ol j.lllllhM,
lie ii.iau'
|Uin-.uii stiiritv gi'iMl
|l,riiur with the >a\
,ecinu' Kre.it triem
ikml.it liike'-. ot br
ai;M nun to tiirn.sh
lin liui'^'ir. an excell
ji'trli lie ^,Mve .1 sp
.Oik'ir c.i^-'ock. and
orni'.' i liis stiK'k ot h
him with M\ Indi.ms
jhc.' iiiirtf.l 'iitiiu.iUy
lo.i^li: I hi-, w.iy b ic
\\rf^ wliiTi" he h.id
Oiinl the Sp.iiiish ,ig'
O.iili' I iii-i 1 itioe will
|rnim|ili to the hark
^'i\'.\ .11 . l.iai.ititiiis h
ppen .It 111' by the a
DMi^lu were .1 inos
)i;i ,irii were absi
joi'AMnl liidi.iiis.irrivi
f'm.iMvA'iuh lie li.id !■'
'W•^:u^ 111 Ills people
luiini' reviilved, m 1
ol s""'i"ri hum this
yon I ihr p.^sibilitv
mnr ■)'. .lav tiiinrt-
th'' -ii ri'- ol .1 s.iv.ig
sei Tile iiio^i hkeh
|,6fi 1 lialh e ijl Ins siti
or it .s.i.i l)i»!niiigo,
'•^-|•l !i) his rebel.
Ito PI- lonvese I .' I'l
lanl lli'i> iieol.i w.as
S\vf;)i ()v I'oair.u'y cii
f''*ol '; iiii|))i;ing a ni
■C.i:i !'■ . Ill liie s.iv.ige
S(i .M doa- a vov.i)
iS'J I I'Mi y I at' ule.i (
yaw lie ii 1 1 rf'-enilv
Ithi' Miiiid o; I'ohinib
liiri'ii.ilitv o Mea h
|bv iMv ll.l'.ir.l )iise\]
flivx' hccldresvd hi
tov.iinil.i'.e his zeal
(Ir ir'ii,i'!t gives an
fei'.i'i^ I Olivers. itioii,
1);|'J>0 NU'iultv,
[admiral, " uoiii-ot t
|sU!ll ihe i;ie,t! p.-i
ceptitiL; voa anti nn
[«'i4ihise i.iv.ige 1
I ami irniahle iiatur
ttlifv may throw M
[coiiMitiie IIS 111 on
RlUcicjii por Di
it^i
LIFE AND VOVAGKS OF COM'M15US.
'M3
blcriuned. The rnritiuc onlcrcd liis siil>|i'. ts to
Ljp,,'., large qii. milts «'i |)ru\ isioiis, loi ulii. h
■eii(kv p.iid 111'" on the sjiot, and iii.kIc .iir.m;;c-
lents Itir .» l'l<'' ^ui'l'lV -'l stati-cl inliTvals. Ik-
IsDiuhtil lus tliini ((iiiip.inion with this .siipply
, tiir admiral, rfi|m'slinK', as usual, that an
ofiii niij;lii '«' ^'''" '" '■fii'ivo and |).iy k)r the
taiiLii (loiivcrifs (.1 piovisions.
f . Mcnilf,: vv.is now k'tt alone, liiit he \v,is lond ot
t,|n cniiMiirise that ^avc iMdivuliial (lislinctioii.
|ij,; i,.;|,i,-,'i-(l III the ia(i(|iif two Inili.ins to .ir-
^iiin.my liiin to the end ol the isLiiid ; one to
{ arrv his provisions am! the other to he.ir the
amm.ii'. or CDltiiii net in which he slept. 'I'liese
Tifceiii" "r.iiUeil, he pushed resolutely forward
. ,^i;):i'f the I'o.ist until heieatlied the eastern e\-
triMUH ()t JaniiiiM. Mere he tound .1 powerlul
^tii|i|i' (it the name of Ameyro. .Meiide/. h.id
luovani spiritv ^nMt addre-.s, and an in^;rati,itiM.t;
haiMUT with the sav.t^fes. lie and the e.i(i(|Ue
lee iMU' great Ineiids. e\eh,uiL,'ed n.inies, whiili is
i-jlv'i;|i>l inker, ol brotherhood, and Meiide/ en-
''■*ai;i'l mm to tiirn.sli pioM->ions to tlu- ships. He
' Ihci liiugh; .111 exielleiit ( .iiioe ot the 1 aenjue, for
»ii' !i he g.ive a splendid hr.iss h.isin, .1 j.hort
iro, k (ir r.issoc'k. and one of the two shirts which
yoiai'.'l his stock ot linen. The eacii|Ue furnished
Kim Willi si\ Indians to n.ivi^jate his h.irk, and
jShi. pir^c I 'iraiii.illy well pleased. Die^^o Mende/
^jtoi'.i'l '11^ w.iy hack, touchiiij,' at the v.uious
^OpLn--. wIktc he had m.ade his .irr.in^^enu-iUs. lie
t join I the Spanish a;;enls ,ilre.id\- arrived at them,
rJoi ii' I ins ( aiioe with provisions, and returned in
|- tri'.:m|ili to the harbor, where he was recei\'ed
jV:' 1 .iiil.iinatioiis bv his comrades, .and willi
■ e|)(-i anii^ by the admiral. The provisions he
bni^lu were ,1 most se.ison.ible suppiv, tor the
iSpci.irds wiTc absolutely t.istin).j ; .iiul iheiice-
,ior,\,ird Indians .irrived daily, widl l.ideii, from the
iiniiihwaicli he h.id est iblished.* The iinmedi.ite
Wc:ii^ 1(1 Ins |)eople bein^j thus iJro\'ided t(H', l"o-
luii i:i> ie\-.iive I, in his anxious mind, the me.ms
0: .(Ming tnnu this island. His ships were be-
V)'il the po-,->ibihiv of rep.iir, .ind there was no
h'lir ill .iny chilli (• s.iil ,irri\ inj^ to his ndiet, on
tl!- -!i)iis ol ,1 s.iv.ige isl.ind, in an untre(|uented
Sti I'hf mo^t likelv nuMsure .ippe.iied lo he to
Sr 1 1 miiue ol his situation to ( )\.iiulo, the ^fovcrn-
or .1' .S.ia D.inungo, entre.iiiiiir bi.n to disp.itih
a-s-rl to !i!i relief. Kut how was this messa},^'
M ic i.)'ue\e I .' The distaiHar between J. 1111. lie, 1
am III, [1,11 1)1,1 w,i> lorlv lea^,nies, .icros'i .1 ^\.i\\
Sivrjii 'ly i-o:iir.iry 1 iirreiits ; there were no me.ms
0! ': iiis|))riiiig ,1 mes-,eii^er, except in the lij;ht
'■'i"'^ o! llie s.iv.ii-e-, ; ,mi| who would undeit.ike
:«;i'M d.ius a vov.i-<- m a Ir.iil bark cd the kind ?
iiiili'iiy til.- ulc.i of Dici^r,, .Mriide/, :ind the ca-
I'"' lit' had iventiv |)iir(h,isei|, prcrsented iisidf to
n:iid h; Ciliiiiibiis. lie knew the .ardor .icd
' liiv M Mea le/, ,ind his love ol distinclioti
H ii.i'.inl Ills exploit. T.ikiiii,' him aside, there-
■K:a I'IrcsM-d him in .a manner calciil.ited both
"iiyec his /eal .ind (latter his sell-love, .Men-
•I 'iiv! jfives an .irtless account ot this inter-
-; "iiivcrsation, whi(di is full ot character.
^''■i^'iMeiKle/, my son." .s.iid the veiier.ilde
''"'■'■■ ■■ aonrot those whom I have here under-
■■ 'line gre.ii peril m which we are pl.iced. ex-
' ;■ '!'-; yoa and myself. We are few in number.
» I "ie,e sav.ige Indians are many, and ot hckle
;'/' irrilahle ii.itures. On the le;ist provocation
|:i
tl
> Con
■■"" "'iiiiies. oil tne least provocation
■ may throw hrebr.inds from the shore, .am
'^•mie (is 111 our slr.iw-thatched c.itiins. Thi
* Rclacion por Diego Mendcz. Navarrctc, torn. i.
arr.in^jemeiit whit li )()U have m.ide with them for
proviMoii-,, aed wliuh at present they lullil so
I heertully, to-morrow they may bre.ik 111 their ca-
)rief, ami in.iy reluse to briii}; us .111;, thiii^ ; nur
lave WL' the iiu-.ins to (i)in|)el tlnm b\ louc, but
arc I'Mlirely at llieir pleasiiie I h.ive tlioU),du of
a remedy, If it meets with jour mias. In ihj.s
c.iiioe, wlii( h you have purch.ised, iiiie one m.iy
p.iss ()\»-r lo llis|)anJola, and procure a shij), by
wIikIi we m.iy .ill be (hdivcicd Irom this j.;reat
pi III into whiili we have t.ilieii. Tell nievour
opinion oil the 111. liter."
"To this," says Die^o Mende/, "I replied:
' .Sefior. the d,iii;;er in which we are pi, iced, I
well know, is t ir j^re.iter ih.m is e.isily 1 uiiccivei!.
As to passing' froiii this island to Hisp.uiiul.i, in jo
small a \essel as a cinoe, I bold it not iiierel)' dilii-
( (lit, but impossible ; since It is lucess.iry to '■ IV-
< ise ,1 ^ull ol lorly leagues, and between isl.llllis
where the se.a is extremely iiiiprUiou-. ,iiid selilotn
in repose. I know not wholhiie is would ad-
venture upon so extreme ,1 peril.'
C'oluinbus made no rejnv, but troiii his looks
and the ii.iture of his silence, Meiiihv |d.iilily piT-
ceived hinisill to be the person whom the admiral
h.nl in view; " \\diereu|KHi," tdiitiinie-, he, "I
added : ' .Sei'ior, I h.ave 111. iny time-, pir. m\ lite in
peril of de.ith to s.ive \o(i and .ill iho^e who are
iieie, and ( iod h.is hithi iio preserved me in a nii-
r.uuloiis m, inner. Tlieie.ire. nevertheless, imir-
muiers. whos.iylh.it your l'..xiellency intrusts to
me all .lit. lirs w herein honor is to be ^^.lined, while
there .iri' others in your coin[).iny wlm vMuihl e\e-
( lite them .is well as I ilo. Tluietoie 1 bei,^ th.it
yi'U would summon .all the peo|ile, ,ind pro|io.-,e
this enterprise lo them, to see it ,11111111;.; tlieiu
there is anv one who will uiiileii.ike ii. wiiuli I
doubt. If .ill decline it, 1 will iheii ci.iiie tnrw.ird
and risk my lite in your service, as I 111. my times
h.ive done.' "''
The admir.il j;ladly humoreil the wi-^hes ot tlie
wairihy Mende/, for never w.is simple i';;oiisiTi
.accompanied by more ;;eneroiis .iiid di vuied loy-
,ilty. ( >n tin; loilowiiin' moininj; the crew w.is
.assembled, and the proposition ])ubl:ciy nia>le.
I'Aerv one drew b.iik at the thoiiv;lus c,| it, jiro-
noiincini; it the height ot r,isline-.s, I'pon this,
l)iej;o Meiule/ stepped lorw.ild. "Si nor," s.iid
he, " I have but OIU' llle to lose, \et 1 .illl wiiilll;,;'
lo venliM'e it lor vour service .iiul tnr ihe ^ooil i.it
.ill here pie>enl. and 1 liiisl 111 the plMteclmn iif
(lod. vvhhh 1 li.ive experience 1 oil s^ 1 111. lliy other
occasion-,."
Columbus embr.iceil this /e.iliuis lnllovver. who
immedi.itelv set about preii.ii iiii; tor his ex])e(li-
tion. Drawini^ his canoe on shore, he ])iii on a
t.ilse keel, n.iileil w e.illler-bo.irds .iloiii; the bow
and siein, to prevent the se.i from bre.ikin^ over
it ; p.ivi-d ii with a en. it ot lar ; liirnislied it with
;i m.isl and s.iil ; .ind iiui in provisions tor him-
self, a Spanish comrade, and six hnli.ms.
In the mean time Columbus wrote letters to
()v,iiiilo, reipiestim^ th.it a .ship mi^lu be immedi-
ately sent to briiii; him and his men to Hisp.mi-
ola. He wrote a letter likew isi' to llu' soverei!;iis ;
lor, .after liiliilliiif,^ his mission at .San Domingo,
l)ieL;o Mende/ was to proceed to Siiaiu on the ,id-
nvral's atf.iirs. In the letter to the sovereii,;iis
Columbus depicted his deploialde situation, .and
etitre.ited th.it a vessel mieht be (!is|). itched to
I lisp.iniol.i, to convey hinisell and his crew to
Sp.un. I le j^.ive ,1 compii. I'.eiisive account ot his
* Relacioii por Diego MenJcz. Xavarrcte, Culcc.
ti.ni. 1.
r I'f'
I I'
;'M
;M!rfI|||n
■Hr-V/
'I i;
204
LIFE AND VOVACKS OF COLUMBUS.
1
» i
i •
m.
'
W
rv
voyajjr, mnsf parliriilars of wliiili have alri'.uly
l)c(.ii iiuoi iJinalcd 111 lliis liisliiiy, and lie iiiMilcd
j;ifall\ on the inipoilaiui' ol llu- iliscoNciy I't \'f-
raj,'Ua! lie ^mm' it a-, his upinmn, tliat hcii' Wfie
the niiiifs 1)1 thr Auiim Chcisoiu'Mis, wlicmi' Sol-
onion hail ik-rivfil muIi wrahh tor tin- huiUhii); nl
thf Tcmph". Ill' intn-ati'il that this j;oUlcn Kiast
nii);lu not, like othiT i)lai'i'S which In- had discox •
eii'il, hi- ab.iiuluiifd U) ailvi-ntuiiTs, or plai rd iin-
(Ilt till- >,'i)\frnnu-iit ot nu-ii who li-lt no intt-ii-sl in
iht' caiisi-. "This is mil a ihild," hi- .idds, "Id
he aliaiuJiiDi-il to a slrii-mutlu-r. I iu-\i-r lliiiik nl
lli.ilianiola and r.iria wilhmil \vi-i'|)in>;. 'I'lR-ir
case is ile>i)tiaii" and past iiire ; 1 hope tlu-ir ex-
ample m.is i aiise this lej^ion to lie treated in a
tlilleient manner." His ima^;inatioii l)eeoim-s
lieati-il. lie mai;mties the supposed import. Hue
ot X'era^iia, as lianxendinj; all his lormer dl^-
coveries ; and he alludes to his lavoritc projei t
lor the (lrli\t-iaiu(- ol the I loly Sepulehre : "Jeru-
salem." he sa\i, " and Mount Sum aie to he ir-
l)uilt hy the hand nt a (.'liristian. \\ ho is he to
lie? (lod, liy the mouth ot the I'loplut, in liu-
iourteeiith I'salm, ih-t lares it. The aldioi jo-
aehinV^ s.iys ih.it he is to eome out ol S|),iin "
His thought-, tlirii revert to tin- aiuiiiil story ot
the Cir.md Kh.m. who had reipiested th.it s,i;;e-.
Iiiii;ht Ik- sent to in-^triu t him in the C'hri.-iti.iii
l.iilh. Columhu'i. thinking' lh.it he li.iil been iii
the very vu iiiity ot {'.ilh.iy, exel.iims. with sudden
7e.il, " Wlio will oiler hiniM-H lor this t.isk .' It
our Lord in-rmit nu- to return to .S|i.im, I ein;,i^'e
to t.ike him there, ( Jod heliiin;;, in s,iltt\."
Nothiiii; ii mori- i ii.ir;u terisiie ot (.'olumlnis
than his e.irnest. .irtless, at times eloi|UeiU, and .it
times almost iiuohereiU letters. \\'h.it an inst.iiu'e
of soarintf enthiisi.iiin and irrepre.-.silile eiiter-
jirise is liere exhiliitil ! At the lime th.il he w.is
mdulijinj,'' in these \isions, .'ind propo^inj; new .iiul
romaniie enierpri^es, he was broken i,.)uii l.v .i^;e
cTiul inllrmities, r.ukeil b\- |i,iin, eontined to In-.
lied, and shut uji in ,i wrei k on the ^•o.l^t ot a n-
niole and -^.iv.ine i-.l.ind. No stroii^'er pietun- i ,iii
he friven ot his situ.ilion, ih.m iji.il which slioitU
lollows tlii> tr.msient \iU>\\ nl e\. iti-iiieiU ; ulieii
with one ot his sudden ir.msitions nl ihou;;ht, he
aw.ikens. .IS it Were, to his .ictual condition.
Hitherto," s.iys he, " 1 h.ive wept tor others ;
l)Ul now, ha\'e piiy upon nie, he.ueii, .ind wtip
tor Die, () e.irih 1 In my lempor.il com ems.
without a t.irlhiii;..; to offer tor .i m.iss ; c.ist .iw.iy
here in the Indies ; surrouiicU-d b\ cruel .ind |u)s-
tile s.^-.i^c ; i^ol,lted, intirm, eN|)ei lini.j e.ich d.iv
will be my list : in spiriuial concerns, se|).ir,it((l
from the fioly s.icraments ot thecluinh, so th.il
my soul, it p. tried here from iii\- bi"K. mu4 be
iore\er lo.it I Weip |,)i- me, whoever h.is ch.irit\-,
truth, and ju-^tice '. 1 came not on this voyage io
* Jnachim. native of the tnir^fi of Celiro, nr-ar Co-
zenz.i, tr.ivelled in the Ib.ly I. .ind. Returniru; to Cu-
l.il)riii, he tool; ilip luiliit of the Cistercians in ttie mon-
astery of Ciira/zo, ol whiili he Ijecamc prior and
abbot, and aiu-rwanl rose to higher monastic impor-
tance. He diccf in rjo2. havim; .ittained sevenlv-
two years ot aye, lea\in(r a nre.it number of works ;
amoni; the most known are commentaries on Isaiali.
Jcremi.ih, and the .Aporalypse. There are also
prophecies Ijv him, " whirh" isays the Dictionnaire
Historiquei. " diirin)T lijs life, ni.-'idc him to be ad-
mired by fools and despised by men of sense ; at
p'-sent the l.ilter s..niiirunl prevails. He w.is either
V. ly weak or very presumptuous, to Halter himself
that he had tlie keys of things of which God reserves
the knowledge to himself."— Diet. Hist. loin. ■;, Caen,
1705.
j;.iin lionor or est.iti", that is most ceri.i [i
hope ol the kliui w.is alle.idy tie, id willi;:i '
c.mu- lo serve voiir in,i]estii>, with ,1 M.m,.
lion .Hid .III honest /i-.il, .mil I ,pe.ik 110 1 ,:
It it should ple.ise ( iod lo ili liver iii.' '
humbly siippbc.iie \inir m.ijesiies u> prn,
rep.iir lo Kome, .iiul perloiin olher ph>;i,ii
The disp.ilches belli); n-.id), .mil i|i(. |
lions ot the c.moe conuileled, i )ie>;ii Mi :,.
b, irked, vMll) his ,S|).iiiish i oini.ide .mil 1, ■
ill. Ills, .111(1 dep.irieil .lloll^ the lo.i.t n, '
w.ird. Tilt- vov.i^i- W.IS loilMime .mil ;i
They li.id to m.ike lluir w.iy .i^.un^i ^ll.
rents. ( )iice they wen- lakin by ruvaij; ,
Indi.iiis, but m.ide their i-si,i|)e, i.iid ,11 ii
lived ,11 the end ot the isl.ind. a (lisi.irn i 1'
lour le, lollies liom the li.irboi . Here lliev
cd vv.iilini; lor i.iliu we.iiher loventu;eii
bro.id ijull, wlii-n llu-y wen- Middenlv >iii 1
.md l.iken prisoners by .1 nundier ot 1.'
ill. Ills, who c.inied them ult .1 disiancrii
ic.i;;nes, wlieie tliev deleiniined in k;.i '.,.:.|
•Some ills|)iiie . I rose about the div isioii ot ihe-'kil
l.ikeii IriMii the Sp. 1111. 11 lis. whereupon tin ....(.jj
.ij;reed to sellle it by a ^.'.ime ot i h.ui. c i\ ,(l
they vvi-re thus enj^.ij^eil, iJiego Miiidi-.' im,.;-i,|
louiid his w.iy to liis cinoe, emb.ii Led ,;, ■; .,.1
returned alone to the h.ilbor attei ti!u 1 1: 1,., ; I
.ibsence. W h.il bee. line ot his i ciiip.ii; ( i,, d
dots not inciition, bi-iiij; seUloni .ipi in -;i,.,i:
'■■■* '■■ '' This .1(1 (lUiu ii '.ui
.01) person but hiniselt ..,,.,.,,
trom the ii.irrative inserteil in his l.isi will .ii.i, '.c
t.inient.
l.'(j|unibus. though ^Micvcd at tin- l.nii:!' 1
-•- ^ •' --il .It the esi .ipe ol tile :.:..,„.
nothing; d.iuiiteil hv lu ;<::•
nies-.ij.;(-, W.IS ri'ioui
Meiule/. The l.lllt
.Mcniie/. uie i.iuer. iioiiun^; ii.iuiiieii iiv iu;<r:-
lis .mil h.irdships he li.ul lllidei ;;o;ii-. olleni;' e-
p.irl immedi.ilely on a senmil .ilteinpl, jrin. cl
lie (diiiil h.ivi |)ersims to .K I imip.iiu liiiii .',.!
end ot the isl.iiid, ,iiul protect him irun> i;,f t-
lives. This the .Xdel.iiitadi) ottered to iiin'cri.,.;
with a l.ir;.;e p.irty well .iinu-d. i'.aithdh'nc,', t-
es((), .1 liciuic^e, who li.iil been ( ap'..iai 11! 1 lit',
the c.u .ivcls. w.is .issoi i.ited with .Miidi'
s(-(ond t-\|)e(lition. He was a ni.inol i;i'.
strongly .iii.u lii-il to llu; adinir.d. .mil nin.-
, t( ciiu d bv liim. ImU h h.id a l.irge ( .ami- . i^f
Ills coinm.inil. in vshuli wen- si\ ^| .ii, .' 1 ■
tell hull. Ills llu- l.ilti-l wen- to sel v e .i> i..:-
! The (.inoes were to keep ill (oiiip.iiiy. <';.'.....■
ing ilisp.iniola, l-'iesii) was lo leiurii iiiuiuil:.''-;
to J.im.iica. to relieve the anxietv ol the.iiii.'.
ami his ( rew, by tidings ot the ^..t!(■ .in iv.il 1 ■ ' ;'
uii'ssciitM-r In till* mi'. 01 toiw I lircn M» !,i
iiu-sseiigcr. In the nie.iii nine .... ., • ■
lo piiKi-ed to .San l)oliiingo. tlclivei iii-> .: -
t 'v.mdo. |)ro( lire and disp.iti h ,1 slap, .iiiu ■
dep.irl lor .Sp.nii -.vith a letter to the suvin '^■
.All .irr.iiigemelits being iii.ide. d.c h'
plaied in the c.inoes llu-ir Irug.il p-in isioji ■ .
sava bread, and e.ich his calab.ish ol w.iM
.Sp.-mi.irds, besides their bre.id, h.id a siippa '■
tlcsli ot utias, and each his swonl .mil t.ii:-:i''
this way they launched torth upon their imis,
l)crilous \-o\age, tullowed by the pi.ivci'^ i'' ■
( ouiitrynien.
The .Xdel.inlado. with his armeil I .1: ''
pace with them .(long the co. 1st. 1 hi n- '■\■■
att(-mpl ol the natives to moiest iheiii. .'M '
arriv(-d in satety .it the end id the isi.nid
they lemaiiiefl ihrcf (l.ivs helorc the sci v^.i^
cii-nl Iv r:iliii Inr them In vi'iilnir tiirlh r
( ieiitly c.dni tor ihein to venture
feeble h.irks. At length •' '
serene, they hade t.iievsc
' rninmittcd themst-lves to tlie
i Adelaiuado rem. lined watching them
tiirlh
-\l length, the we.dher hi in;,":
lo their 1 ollir.id'^
iro.id sea.
UlU.i
Laiiu- mere specks
■^ ,1, 111 lioii> I""' ^"
I;,, niurii to tia
I, ..II llie w.iy
J'e'go.Klvwll"' il'c
lA uH,
T.iriC AM) VOVAC.liS or COLUMHUS.
Ii05
IrinunuMT spicks on till' o.cin. and tlir vKvnm^
!,rm In.m his vu'W. Tlw iirxt .!..> h.- sd .ml
lii^ riuirii to iIh- h.iilupr, stn|.|)m« ,u v.uinii,
llii-H, ,,;i 111.' w.iv, and riukM\tjrmi; to cuDliiin
CIIAITIK II.
MIIINV "I I'liUKAS.
1 1 W I
i:Irmi'4!it have lii'cii tiioiii;lit that titf advcrsf
fcrtj:n,'''.\liirh had so loiivj iMT-.f<-iitcd ColtimUiK
Waiivrvi-Nhaii'tcd. The envy sslm h had mu c
^dxwA .It hi-, yloiy and iirosptrily cDuid m arci'-
ly I .vf li'visct! tor liiMi a moif ti)rh)rn luTilat,'i' in
lie \v, II 1.1 hi; had (hsi "Vi'icd. TIil- tenant id a
Ifn k 11.5 .1 s.iv ijif roast, ui an untravfi'srd uci'.m,
iH',1' ni r. y ot n.iihaton-. hurdcs, who, in .i nio-
lifi'.i, ti I II |.i-r(ari(ius tricnds, Mli^ilt In; tr.ins-
ifcrim' I i;ito tfinriou-. ineniies ; .iflhrlcd, too, iiy
xnai.iiii;,' maladies which conlined iiim in his
11' I. .11. 1 h\ die pains and intliiniliei whieli li.ird-
ihi.i a;i I aVsiety h.ui lieapcd uimn his adv.iiuin;;
Ig/ ,;;i: li- h.id n.it yet e\hau-.led hiseiij) ol hii-
r-r-.-.. lie I'.id yet lo t'\perieni<' an f\il wm^e
an sn;in, or shipwreck, or bodily an;;uish, or
r viilieiceul sav.i'^e horde^i — the peilidy ut ti\o-.t'
in " 'Kiiii he cinrided.
Mrii.Kv and i''iesc.) h.id not Ion;; dep.irted when
thi Spam iiiU in the wrei'k l)ej,Mn to j^row sickly,
{:ii'!v !nin the toils and exposures ot the recent
0. !;.,'(■. [i.n'tlv iroin \)v\n'^ crowded m n.ircow
qu!;!i'r^in a in oi-it :\nd sultry climate, aiul jLirily
^r,':ii w.iiit oltheir accustomed tood, lor they could
o; inliit'.l.Uc themselves to the vegetable diet ol
iiili HIS. Their ni.d.idies were rt'iulered more
In- !p]VM't.il)le hv ment.d suffei in^; bs ih.it suspen-.e
*ii;-ii tret", the spirit, and th.ii hope delerreil whiili
toiiodrsthe he.irt. Accustomed lo a lite ol bustle
viii'ty, iluy hid tiow notliin^'' to do but loiter
i; the (Ire.iry hulk, lo.ik out upon tlu: se.i,
h t ir 'he .'.llliie lit l-'iesco, wonder .11 its prn-
■ I .I'l.eii e, ,ind d.iubt its return. A Ioiil;
el ;ll^e;l, mucli more th.m sutliLieiU tor tin;
;,"•, i.at n nhiie.,' w.is seen or he.ini ol the
■■■. I'car.^ were enti-rt, lined th.it their mes-
Si:;>T h.ul peri-.hid, II so. how lonj,j were ihes'
to -iii.c!! here, v.iinly looking lor relict which w.is
r Id .irri'.e ? Sonu' s.mk into deep ile-.pi)nd-
, lUlurs h.'caine peevish ;inil inip.itieiit. Mur-
> '')ii)Ke torih, and, as usu,,l with nun in dis-
. imirnuirs uf the most unre.ison.ible kind.
••.;i ol sym|)ithi/anti with their aL;ed ,ind in-
d.r.
0'
V
1>
0'
t
!■
c
t
t!
v.:
C
|>iir!ii conim.nidei, who was involved in the .s.ime
^Ciicnity, who 111 suffering transcended them .ill.
ail! \i-i wii) w,is incess.inily studious ot their wel-
iti-v he--aii to rail ,ij;',iinsi him .e> the c.iu-,e
I ih-ir miitortuiies.
"'• I.I timis leeliii^- ot an imreason.ible nudtilude
'! 1 h- ot little importance it lelt to itselt, ':;d
■''■■■■ I in i.lu. ( l.imor ; it is the indiuiry ot
If !v. :' evil s'pirits which >,rt.|K-r.illy direct.-, it
■ i'>i •c;, and m, ikes it mischievou.s. Anions;
""'.'■r, ,,t (.'.iliiinbns were two lirnilu-rs, l''ran-
I'l I'li-L^.j .If I'nrr.is. They were rel.ited to
1''^ il lree,i.rer Mor.iles, who li.nl m.irried
■'■""'■'■• ami h.id made interest w itli the ad-
■I '■■' -.[^y diem siinie employment in the e\pe-
) i^raiilvtln- treasurer, he had appuint-
in.-
cd I'r.im isco df I'orras (•.■ipl.iinot one of the c'lra-
vels, and Ii.kI obt.imed tor his brother l)ie^ci tin;
iitu.iiion (d not.iry .ind .n count. mt'^'ciier.U ol tht-
sipi.idron. lie had Ire.iled them, .ii be dii Lire-.,
with the kindne-is ol ri l.ilucs, though both i)ri)eei|
incompiieiu to their situ.itnms. The) were v.iin
;ind indolent men, .mil, like in, my nihers whom
Colundius li.id beneliied, rei|uued lii.i kindnesb
with bl.ick iiij,'ralitiidc.*
These men, tlndm^ the t ommon people in .1
hij,dily iinp.ilicnl and discontenteij state, \vrini;;ht
upon them with si'ditioiis in-.inu.ilions, .[^.suriii^
them th.il .ill hope ol ndiet ihrou^^h the .n^^ency ot
Meiidc/f was idle ; it beiii;,' a iiuri' (h liisioii ol the
admir.d to keep them ipiiel, .Hid render them sub-
serweiil lo his purposes. He h.ul no desire nor
inteniion to reHirn to Spain ; .mil in l.i't w.is
b.mislied thence. 1 Iis|),iiuol,i \\,i-, ei|'a.illy ilosed
to him, as iiad been proved by the e\clu->ion ot his
sliips troin its harbor in a time ol peril. To him,
.It |iresi'iit, all pl.ici's well' alike, ,iiid he w.is con-
tent to rem.iin in Jamaic.i until ili.^ liiends could
111. ike interest :it court, and |)rocin • his rec.ill
from b.inishniciit. As to .Meiiile/ .md l'ie-.( o,
they had been sent to Sp.iiii liy tjolumbus on his
own priv.ite .iff.iirs. not to procure .i ship tor the
rcliet ot his lidlower-.. It this were iint the case.
why did not the shi|).-. arrive, or sshy did not !• i-
csco return, . as had been proini,!d? *»ril the
canoes h.id re.illy been sent lor succor, the lonj.;
time ttial had fl.ipsed without tidiiij^s ot them
j^.ivi: re.ison to beliese they h.ul |)eri.-.hed by the
w.iv. In such c.ise. their only alternative would
be lo take the c.inoes ot the Indians ,uid ende.i\or
to re.ich I li-.i).iniol,i. There w.is no hope, how-
ever, 1)1 persuadinj; the admir.'.l to siu h .m under-
taking ; he was too old, and loo helpless trom
the K"iit, to expose hmiselt lo the hardships ot
such a voy.iKf. W hat then ? were they to he s.ic-
riliced lo his intensis or his iniirmilie.s .'—to jL;i\e
lip their only chanie tor escape, .ind lin;;er and
l)eri-.li with him in this desolate wreck ? II they
sill ceeded in re.icliinj,^ liisp.miol.i. they would be
til.' liiiii r received tor h.iviiii.; li.it y\,x- .idinir.il be-
hind. t)\aiido was secretly liosiile lo him, te.ir-
in^ til, It he would rei;.un the ^overnmeiil ot llu:
isl.ind ; on their arriv.il in ;-ip.iiii, tie.- liishoj)
FoiiM'c.i. trom his eiimit) to (.'oiumbus, would be
sure to I, ike their jiart ; ihe brothers i'orr.is had
|)owi'rlu! tiiiialsand rel,ili\ es .it onrl, lo counter-
act .my represent. itions that mi;;ht be iii.ide by the
.idmiral ; and they eiied the c.ise ol Rold.m's re-
bellion, to show ih.il the preiu.iices o! the |)ubiic
and of men in power \',iuild .i!wa\.i lie a;;,iiiist
him. N.iv, ihey insinuated liiat the soverei,!;ns,
who, on ih,U occasion, h,.d depri\cd him ut |)art
ot his (lii.;nities and pri\ ile;.;es. wmiid lejoice at a
pieteM tor stripping him ot llie rein. under. +
Columbus W.IS aw. ire lh.it the min.ls ol his peo-
ple were emhittered aj^.iinsl him. lb h.id repe.U-
edly been treated with iiisoK nl impatience, and
repro.iched with bein),^ the ciuse ot their dis.islers.
Aci iisiiimed. however, to the unre.isonableness uf
men 111 aihersii\, ,ind e\erci-.t.'d. bv many tri.ils,
in the ni.istery of his pas.-.iiins. lie bore with their
petul.ince. soothed their iriilalion, and endeavor-
ed lo cheer their spirits by the hopes ot siieedy
succor. A little wdiile loii;,^cr, and he trusted that
l-'iesco would .irrive with i;()od lidiie^s. wdien the
cerl.iinlv ot reliel would put an end lo all these
!'M
1, .
III. '
'i •,!
I 'i. 'I
m
i 1 1 1
\ h 11 .1
i 1
jh-'. ikl .A'ir.ir.inte, cap. loi.
t Ibi'l.. r.u,. i,jj.
* Letter of Columbus lo his son Diego. Navarnftc,
Cnlcc.
t llisi. del Ahnirantc, cap. 102.
I.
W4
Jot]
T.IIM- AM) VOVAGI'S OF CDH'MIU'S.
ii.in) M's.
Tl
inisi-i\
hi.f. 1
inWi'MT, VV.Is (Ii'cprr
th.in III' ;i|i|in liciulfd ; .i iiHuplrti' imiiiny li.ul
mil il, tlicy \MUil(l (li.iw npnii tlicnu,!
\i ii'sl niiiiishmcMt tiiiin ilir MiMTfi''ii>
iH'i'ii cir^j.iiu.'t
Ih
11 •iiiU.itiiiiis niitilt Mtfi
« >u the :!il (it jimiary, l>04. I'l" ^^•'•' '" I""* sin. ill i li'mc nl ilu- iuuIuu'its, .md tlu-y iin\s i
r;il)in, iM) tlif •>tirn III Ins \t'>M'l. liiMii^ tmiiiiu'il til In i.iriy thfir pLms mlu caci iiukh |
his IumI liv llu- umit, wlm h had now H'ihUtimI hii\) imiidoi, which tin- .uliuii.ii li.ui piiiili,i.
a I'limplfti' riipplf. While lumm.iliiiK' on his
tli>.islioli-. silii.iiion, Kr,iin.ls( () ilr I'nriMs siultlili-
ly I'ntiTfil. Ills ,il>!upt .mil a^it.ittd manner lif-
traved the evil nature ol his visit, lie h.id the
lit ,1 m.in iliiiiil tl) iieiiH-irate
tliirned iinniidi
Indians, ihev emli.irkeil in them uii
nil
ultatmn as it iiti.iin i>t imnudi.iiiK
tl
le '•Mures ••
t Spai
n. < MluMs. who
eiim lined in the miitms , seeiiij; r,ii i,,
ilep.iitiPj;, mil te.irin^; tn rem.iiii lulm;.
reiUuei
1 in
iiiimhe
h.islilv 1 (illiilnl t
d ellti iPd likew IM' illtn the I'.ilii
II
an o|ien eiiiiie. Ilie.ikmv; Inrlli int>i Inller eniii-
pl.linls. al thi'l' 111 111^; kepi, week .itliT week, ,ind
ninnih .liter mnnih, to peri-.h piecenie.il m lli.ii j t'irtv li^ht .ili.indoneil the admir.il.
lieMil.iit' pi lee, he .uiiised the .idmii .il ut h.tvinj; , thn-ii' uiiii reni.iiind were unly di i.iii i .
ness, tor h.id they heen well, mn->t ni |i .
limp. lined llu- deserters t Tin
no inteiitiiui tn retin'n li> Sp.iiii. I uliinilni". siis-
peeled sumelhinj; sinister trnm his uniiMi.il .iir.i- h.ue ,i
H.mie ; lie ni.iint.uiuil
liuw
ever, his i.iimiieis,
■m. lined t.iithtnl to the admir.d
and, r.iisnij; hintselt in his hed, ende.ivureil in ' whnirawlid fnrlh tnini their e.iliiiis,
re.iMin with IVirr.is. He pmiHed nut the imiin-M- p.irtiire o| the mutineers with te.irs .i
liilily nf deii.irtin^ until those whi h.id j^nnc tn ' tmns. K'\i"K' themselves \iji tnr li «:
His|i,iniiil.i shntili! send them vessels, lie repre- j stindini,' his m.iladv , (nhimlius leli ii
sented how mnih mnre iir^jeiit must he his di-sire ^hii^; .mmn^ thnse who were Inv.il,.
til ilep.iri, siiue ne
h.id not nierelv his nwn s.itelv ' th ^se whn were ill, cnde.ivnrm
III pliividi' Inr, but W,IS .uinunt.ilile tndod.md , iheer .liul iniuhirt them.
II
e enii iM
li.ll!
his sovereiLrns tnr the well. ire nl .ill whn h.ul heen ' their trust
in
dnd,
w hn wiiiilil \et n II'
enmmitted t'l his ehar^;e. He reminded I'nrr.is ' and he prnmised, on his return tn Sp.u
that he hid .ilw i\s ennsulled with them .ill, ,is in j himself .it the teil nt the i|Uiin, iip
ihe me.isiins t.i l)e t.ikeii tnr the eommnii s,i
fetv
lnv,iltv ,md 1 (insi.iiuv'. and olit.r.ii 1.
and ill, It wii.ii he h.id dmie had ln'cn with the w.'uds th.u shuuld emnpens.ite tnr .ill
j,'ener.il .ipprnli.itinn ; siill, it any other measure i
appe.irei
I ,id
vis. line.
IL' reeommciidi'd th.it thev
slmuld assemlile tnj;eiher, and loiisult upnn it,
and .idopl vvh.Uever cour.sc .i|)pe.ired must judi-
ciiuis.
In till' me.in time
I
r.im isi-n lie
]'■
iillciwers, I
I) then siHi.idinii ot i anin s.
islam! tn the eastv
• I, t.
Inwiliv: tlie ri/.ll'
liv Meiiile/ ,111(1 I'ieseo. Where
riie nil isurrs nf riirr,is ,ind hisenmr.iilis, hnvv- I thev i nmmitted oiitr.-ij^es upon the li
liMij; them lit their prov isioiis, .11,(1 III V.I
ever, were alre.i u iDiuerteil, a
ml
w hen men .ire
determined on nuitiiiy they are de.it m re.is.iu
He hUiMllv replied th.it there vv.is nn time Inr tnr
itiniis. " limli.irk immediatelv nr re
ther
eon
-uli
mam in ( )<
s n.ime, were the niilv altern.itives.
■nr mv I). lit,
s.nil
ne
Uirninj^ his haek Ujion
the admir.il, and elevalini,; his voice sn ili.ii it
United of their i ftecls. I hey eiiilr .\ • i '
in.ikf their own i iimes redound tn ilie |i:-x,
nl c'l'lumtuis, pretending tn act under lii> ..,:;-
iiy, .mil attirnun^j th.it he would pay \'>\ <■.-
tliiiin liiey took. If he refused, they In
al
souniled
tiiose whn
iiT the vessel, " 1 .im tnr C.istile
tivi-
imp!. 11', L
tn kill him. Thev represented I.
lie toe In the Indi.ms
Li-^e 111. IV fiillnw me
Slunits .irnse
imnu'diaielv Imm .i
11
tvr.mnued over other isl.iiiils.
;is HIT
'siMi; 1
sales.
I will tnl
n\v \iiu
an
d ile.itli of the n.itives, ,llii! wlinnliK
and 1 I and I :" .Numhers of the crew spi.injj t j; im i sw.iy h<-re Inr the puijiose ot mil;'
Uixiii the most cnnspiruniis parts nf the shii)
hr
milislim^j vveapuns,
d
I .il.imities.
tnre.ils all!
utiermj; mmj.
H.
nl rehellinn. Some called
IV mi; re. II
hed ih
e.istern e\tri-iii
unnn
d, thev w.iiled until the we.ithn ^!
I'orr.is lor nnhrs wh.u to do ; others shoiile 1 pi itei tlv i .dm hetnre they ventured t'l
■ ' ' Hein^; unskilled in the man.iK'nin
thev nrniured sever. d Indi.ins in ,i' i
T'l) C.istile ! In Castile
w
hii
e, .imu
the
jell-
erU uproar, the vo
Mill.
le.iri
I ni
Mces ot some ilesper.ulnes w ere
en.icin'f the life of t!
le .Kimir.
d.
Columbus, liearini,' the tumult, leaped fn
them.
r
lieiH'
at
•IIL'lh llll.le
d, ill
and iiitirm as he was, and tottered nut
tliiy set t'lrth upon their vny.i^i'. .'si ai
tlie cahm, stumliliii'''
lopin)^-
bv 1
lis iires'
,ind fallin;; in the e\ertin;i,
iiieers.
tins lirnceeileil
line or four nl his f.uthfui
eiice tn pacify the mut
I ontr.irv vvi
SW e
ml
tnlir
arose
Iciunes tn
m l.iiiil w't"
anil
the w.ivi-
Thev turned immedi.ilelv tor s|i n'
fearih;; some v iolelice mijr|,t be offered him, line
ullu-reius, however, i .nines, from their \\^\n strui lure,
lil'l t»;
u-mselves betvven him .md the thr')!)'', and t,ik-
tl
in
to his caliiii
The .\i
11'-. II Iv rnuiul .ind w
Ithnlll keels. wiMe
iiirhc'
.nul rcdUired
tn
le i.irelnlU
hi
111 in llieir arms lompullud him to return Ihev were now deeply frei,i;hled 1
)V ir.i li I"
,int II
dill'-rent n:nii'
ikew isf
e pl.inti-'l hi
Inrth, hut
mself.
111 ,1
with l.iiii (■
custiimed tn them, .iml
(juentlv Irt in the w.iter.
le SIM liiM'
lie Sp.iMi.iri'
I t'i
.il.inni
.1. and endeavored to li>,dit' n ll:''
111 hand, in a situ.iiiDn to take the whole brunt nl thrnwin^^ overboard evervthin;; th il
the ass.iuU. Il was with the Kfeatest diriicuhy th.u spind ; ni, lining; only their arms .mi
pe.ise • their provisinus. The danj^er au^;
si-ver.il ol t!:e loy.il part nt tlie i
revv could 111
tui\
we.ij/nii,
id pl-e\-,n| upnn liim tn relnupiisli
retire to tlie c.
liev now eiiTeMled Vnr
part I
)f
t\H
d. T'h
ev now compeiiei
ue mil. I'll «
I he
Ins hroiher.
r.is .and his i nmp.nnniis t.i
le u e.iDiv, since no one souirht to o
them. .\ ) advanla.Lfe could be j,m
Aim
ciice ; hut should lliev
nied
DV VI')-
I.as Casa<;, Hist. Ii
ir.'inte, cap. in2.
lib. ii. cap. 32.
y cause the dciUi ul tlie a
+ Ili-t. del Almirante. raj). 102.
1 Las Cas.is,
ib. ii. cap. 2--
tn liii I till- MM, e\
h ,.'a'.v,ryton.
nut. I. tlx'V 'I'-'V
»,. ,,! lllf svvnril.
Unnv - h'" il"' ''
tiKii' sir'i>>!>'V ,
|r,i,):v, ;.ikitu h'«id
L..-;.i-.||"l """^
Itiiili''! till' h."l-«i'^
n^T- i llii'ir ovi-iiu
^ir 111'''!-' ■""' ''"■''''
Sinu' ui"l I'v the IV
glff, ttiTC rdl.lU'.ti
Jvi."-. '.I"'^ luhlei'i
jjiii-i- ilic c.iiini
^Vn:'ll till' ^1'''"' '
^ni'il:. .l''i''C .IS 1
X.SU.'. ^'!''C Wrl'
Siiii.il i-i.iiii '!"• ^^'
fu.,,i; ili'.'V iiiiKhl '■
ll,-|i,iiU')Li, i"h'
kji 1 ,iM.l iii.iki' till
\( tr 1:11 iiim vvh II I
Iviii; ihpi.vii .iliivi'-t
tir i.ilc il.iiii;ei. ' '
|li;it ! I CI'Dis nvcr
y,l dlUlllI heC'MIll
■'Tir- 1 1^1 .I'lvicc w e
;,i Ih iinh ,it .in In I
iiiil 11: the isl.illd, llv
Sltn,^. an I tre.itin^'
Id ' i|irn'ii)iis 111 nil
fil'liiT l)i'.,lllie seie
i]i'. 'ill wre .14.1
[in I,. l.'Mini; .ill I
fc.ii ^, lit til'' inter
ill . ml Miurned
, i.i vill,i«e, a I
|p|i''!in^ tlieiliselve
r,l.;i:; !■< they met vv
■1:1^ like .1 pesllleli
(Tl '
JC' l;V n| I'KiiVl
I !l;; - M .UUAl
^ '■ 1. I' ivra- .nil
,*r '.iKll ilrsper.lle
!*h ; iiiru'ls the .d
hill 1!^ iH'eseilteil the
to !■ '^ iiul In 11
'kn: .\\i- .i;i'| (iillicil
■: ■ 1 h, the he.il
, 1: r.>'iii, he ever
;i".!i:' iiitirm at
. "'il. ke,;,'.ir(ll(
v- .' is Diily alt
Th lew who
1 1' iii'iunt ^1
111" . ' k ; tiien
■■. I'll'.' si 1 up
1)
:%
to;
fe
, dii-
vi>
Co ' I 1 t !:iaillt.iiiiei|
tlv
Ot ,
til)
tai'
'lid II. nv their
I'isioiis were h
. whiili he pu
'11')--! p.ll.il.iblc
lii'it. ilei Almirai
:.^
TJIK AND VOYAC.KS OF COKl'MIirS.
207
,p Ini. tlK' M... rx.-rplmK' n>" l> •'- nv-I'' ..1. -n
uiiK I thrv''li'>v<- Ihi'in oNftlln.inl wilh the
X 't ihf ;w.'nl. 'I tu- Imlt.iiiH wnr skiltiil
iJniW ■' l"ll the ili-.li'li'«' l>> I.IM.I \v.»^ Uui j;l.Mt
r >iitiint'i. riu'V kf|)t .ilimit till' r.iiini's.
kri.ir.' ukiii; hold ol iluMii luiasiim.illy l<i ri-.t
...!■-, ana rf.(i\fr hir.ilh. As llu-ir Wfi>;ht
(he li.il.iiui' I't ill'' imhoi-^, ami ru-
in Tfitlifir .ncitiiriiiiii,'. ilif ,Si..ini.inN ( lit ntf
ihfH lu.i.K ;ui.| -.i.iUlitMl Ui.MU \Mtli tlwir swi.r.K.
Stni iiiMi liy till' vvtM|iMiis (it tluM' iiuil incii,
««), -s ui'if .■di.iii''ti''l ami sank lii-ncith tin-
, t^Ms; iluu ii.'htfcn iiiiishrd iniscr.ililv, .md
:g|lir s'll-k'IVfJ lillt sill ll .IS ll.lil hcfll Ul.dlicii I')
(iliit^;f llii' iMiiiH'-i.
.A\'ifii llu' S|i.iniaii|s ^'ol li.uk to l.iml, dilfrrcnt
Mill 111- ii'iHc as h) what loiirsc the) sliniild iiiM
Xv>i.', Suae wi'ii' liir iTossin^; to Cuba, Ini
fill, :i i'>i in I ilif wind was tavoialilt-. it was
A)ii,.ii ilv.'V niij^ht easily i-ntss llu-mi' to tlu' iiid
ll lh^|Miiiiii 1. < ithiTs advised tiiat tlicy slidiild
ntii: 1 .ml niaki' tlicir |ir,iic with tl>«' adiiiir.d, nr
ilkr tram liim ^\liil rt'iii.iiiifd nt .irms and sioii'-,,
fc|i,:i^f llinivn alniDsl cviT) tiiinj; (PVfrbn.inl diinii)^
the i.itf il.iam'i. Others (•niiii-.ellrd annther .it-
Kri,i! ti I'i'iis ovr to llisp.iiiidia, as sunn as
ftc >'',i ^h•llllll hefumr tr.ini|uil.
Til!-. Ii^l .idvu'c w as adojited. 'riiey remained
br .1 111 iiiih .11 .111 indi.iii vilia^je near tlie e.istern
join; "I I'll' ••'land, living' on tlie siihst.incc nl the
Mti.i'v aiil treating' ihein in the iiiosi arhiir.iry
Uiii i',i|incums Milliner. When ,it leiii;tli llie
tt'.iiiei' lii'-.ilne serene, lhe\- ni.idi- >\ set mik! .at-
ft;n;i', Iril \vie a^f.iiii driven i)a( k liy adverse
fill I.. l.oHini; ,dl |i,itieiue, therelnre, .mil de-
h 1^ iif th" enterprise, they aii.inilonrd ilieir
1 it >, 111'! reiurned we?>lw.ird, w.mdeiin^; linin
la^.' la vill.ijjf, a dissolute and lawless ^;,lll^^
iniirtm^' thiniselves l)v lair nie.ins or loiil, ae-
ci ii;,' i> lluy met with kindness or hostility, and
pav'iij; :iki ,1 pe-iiileiKe through the island.*
«•!■
«■',
lu:;
to
h;i:
■•toi
■fer.,
. dii-
h
WP'
t Vi>
ico'i
:1k-
Ilinic
iTi„-
ClI M'TI'.K III.
ll\' n| rkMVl>|(iNS- STKATAfj-.M (if n i-
■llil - lo iilUAlN .Sl'I'IM.IK.S lUDM nil. N.,-
. I>.
('504.1
:'!'.K I'lrr.i- .mil his crew were rai^iiv^' about
tll.lt ilr-,|M T.ile ,iiid joyless lieelltiousness
'. atlni'k the .ili.inilonnieiit of prineiple, Co-
in iiri'M'nteil the oppniiie |iii'ture ot a in, in true
'^ler^ and to hinuell, :in(l .suiiported, ,-iniid
i':ii|i> .md diHieuliies, by consiioiis reetitude.
'tf i 111 llie liealihtid .uul vij^oroiis iiortion ot
,'iir.^nii, !i,. everted hiniselt to sonihe ,iild ell-
■.;i"'i uiiiini .iiiil des|)ondiii)^ reiiiiiaiit whii li
' "'I Ke,^,irdless ot his own painful niala-
'ii;' 1^ iiniy attentive to relieve' their sufter-
lai: h-w who were fit for servire were re-
'■ ' ' ' nvmni ^ii.ini on the wreek nr attend
"1" . ' k ; tiiere were none to tor.iL;"e for pro-
'•■^- III'.' sirupuloiis ^ood t.iith and .imie.ible
iii't Maintained by Cohimhiis tow.iid the n.i-
■ ii.i.l n.nv iheir elfeet. Consider. ible supplies
"i'.i--iiMis weie brou)rht bv them tron". lime to
^^liiiii he purch.-e,ed at a re.isouable ratt
■tap. y:
p.il.it.il)le and nourishing; ot these, lo-
'i^'t. ilei Almirante, cap. i02. Las Casas, lib. ii.
^elher VMlll the Mllall sloi k ol I llinpran bi-^rilit
lll.ll reinailied, lie iirdeli'd tn III .ippiMpi i.ited to
the ^ll'.iteli.ilii e ot the lllllllll. Knowing liow"
j MUK 111 the bmly is .ittetted t)\ the Ojielatlons lit tlu'
I niiiii!, lie elide. iMired to rouse the spirits anil an-
I JUl.ite the hopes of the droopiiij; sutft lers. Con*
I cimIiiik liis own anxiety, he in.iini.iined a sen no
I ami even eheerliil i uiiiitename, tin oiir.i^jiin; lii*
iiieii liy kind words, ,iiid holding torlli > oimdent
.iiitii ip.itioiis of speedy relief. Ii) hi,-. Iiiendly and
e.iretul tre.illiienl, he soun reilUlled butll the
[ he.iltll .111(1 spirits ot hi", people, .Hid briilli,'lit ihein
I into .1 (oiidition to i Dhtribute to the eoiiimoii
s.itety. Jiidii lous refill. itions, ( .iliids bill liniily
eiilon ed, ni.iintaineil everylhiii).; in older. 'Ihu
men bee. line sensible of tile adv i lit.l^^es ol whole-
' some dis< ipline, and pi'reeived tii.il the restraints
imposed ujion tluin by their eoiiim imhr \vei'e tor
their own nooil, and ultini.ilely pru-Uietive ul their
own comlort.
C(dunibus h,i(| thus sueceedeil in ^u,irdiii;f
a^^.iiiist intern. d ilK, when al.iriiun;^' evii> be>,'aii
to iiieiiate from SMthoiit. The liidi.ms, unused to
l.i\ iij) .my stoek of provision^, .iml unwilliti;; to
subject thellisidvi's to evtr.l l.lbur, lullliil it dltlieult
I to furnish the ipi. unity ol food d.nly ri iiiiired lor
I so many liuii>;ry men. '1 he iaiiiipe.ui trinkets,
I iinre so precious, lost their \ahie in proportion as
they bee, line more common. I he import. nice of
: the .idmir.d li.id been j^re.uly diminished by the
desertion of so many ol his loll.iwer.i, ami the
m.ili^n.int instij;.itioiis of the rebtds had .iswikeiieil
jealousy and eiimily in sever.il ol the vill,i;.;es,
I which had been .iccustoiiied to turnisli pro\i-.ions.
I |i\ de^nees, therelnre, the SUpplle-. tell ott. 'I'he
1 arr.inv;ements for the d.iily delnery of cert.iin
(|U,ilitltieS, ni.lde by lliem) Mellde/, were iire;;U-
. l.irly attended to, and at lenj^ih ce.istd entirely.
j The Imli.iiis no longer throiij^'ed to il-e h.irbor
I with pro\asi(ms, and idieii retiised tlifin when
applied lor. The .Sn.illi.irds were nl)il;;ed to tor-
;i;;e about the nei^jhoorhood lor their il.iily lood,
but found more and more ditia uliy in inorurimr
it ; thus, ill addition to their other causes tor ile-
spoiideni'v, thev beg. in to I'lUerl.iin horrible appre-
hensions ot tainine.
'i'he admir.il lle.ird theii' melanehol;,- lonboil-
ings, and beheld the growing evil, but w.is at a
loss tor .1 remedy, 'i'o resort to In. e was an ;d-
terii,iti\e lull ot danger, and ol hut tempor.iry elli-
c.icy. It would reipiiri' all tiio-.e who were well
I'liough to bear .arms to sally loiih, while he .md
the rest ol the mt'irm would be left iletem rle^-i on
board ol the wreck, exposed t i the \ eiigcuicc ot
the il.itives.
In the mean time the siMrcity d.uK incre.ist-il.
'i'he Indians perceived the wants oi the white
men, and liad le.irnt from them the .in ol ni. iking
b.irgains. 'i'bey asked ten tinu s the toriner iiu.in-
tity ot I'.uro])e.in articles lor .ir.y amouiu n! pro-
visions, and brought their suppliers in mmiU) (|U,ui-
tities, to eiih.ince the e.igeriio-. ot the hungry
Spaniards. .\t length even this nliet m .ised, and
there was an absolute distress lor t.io.l. 'I'he jeal-
ousy of the natives h.id been imiver^. illy roused by
i'or'r.is and his followers, and they withheld all
provisions, in hopes either of st.irving the .admiral
.mil his people, or ot driving them from the island.
in this extremitv ;'. toriun.ite idt.i presented it-
self to Columbus. From his knowK'dge ot as-
tronomv, he as'ertained lh.it, within tlivee days,
there would he .i tot.il eclipse ot the moon in thu
e.irlv p. Ill of the night, lie sent, iheref'sre, an
Indian ot Hispaniola, who served as his interpret-
er, to bummon the principal caciques to a grand
1 '" t
hilii
208
LIFE AND VOVAGi:S OF COLUMnrS,
I ■
>«!
ii
confori'tirr. npiviiiiMnix ("i" if the clay cf t!ii> I
eclipse. When ,ili were asx'iiihlcd hi- tulil tlu-in
by lii^ iiitfi-prflrr. th.it lie aiul his (oliowtTS were
•.V(>rshi|ipcrs ot a I'rUy who dwelt in the skies ;
whii tavorc i such as did well, but punislied all
traiisi^fessi'is. That, as they niiist .ill havi' no-
ticed, he had protected I >ie^M) Mendez ;md his
coiiip.inidns in liieir vi)y.ij;e, i)ecaiise they went in
obedience i-i t!'e urders of tiu'ir conuii.inders,
but had visited I'urra.s and his c()nii)anii)ns with
all kinds c f ;;!"!lictions, in consei|uence of their
rebellion. 'I'lii-. ijre.it Deity, he .added was in-
censed a,:j,i:n>l ti:e Indians who refused to furnish
liis laith!'.)! \\(ir>iiipi" Ts witii provisions, and in- |
tended to ch.istise tl. -in with I. inline .and pesti- '
Icnce. I.e.-.: they should disbelieve this w.irnin,^'.
,". siL;:ial would be i;i\'n ;hat ni^^ht. They would
behold the moon ch,\nt;e its color aivl ^r.ulu.illy
lo-.L' its lij^ht ; a token ot the tearful punishment
wliich aw.n'icd them.
M.my ot tlse Indi.ins wi're alarmed ;it the pre-
diction, ot!iivs ire.ited it with derision -all, how-
ever, awa'.ifd witli solicitude the coming ot the !
nij;ht. W'!-.' '•, tlie;, betield .1 dark shadow sle.abrj;
over the n. mr, thev bej;.in to tremble; with the
proj^ress of tlie eclipse their fe.irs incre.ised, and :
when they s.iw a nusterious darkness coverinj,'
th.'' whc>le f.ice of ii.i'ure, there were no bounds to
tluir terror. Si i.'in::;' ujion whatever provisions !
were .it h.'..id, lliey hurried to the ships, threw i
theniseb.es .1 the feet of Columbus, and implored
him to intercede with his Ciod to withhold the ,
threatened c.,!.iniities, ;issurin<,r him they would
du'iiceforth bv\'\)j; him wh.Uever he reepiired. Co-
limibus s'uit hini.^elf up in his cabin, as it to com- '
iTione wr'i i'v.- Ijeitv, ,ind remained there duriii}^ '
the incrc, ■ of tb.e ecli|)se, the forests and shores
all the V. iic n'soundin;.^' with tlu; bowlines .and
.'-■upplications of the sav,i;jes. When th<; ecii])se
was about to (iin-.iai:;!. he c.ime forth and intormeil
the nnli\(.s that his Cod had deij^ned to p.irdon
them, on c.n I'ti- n . if their fullillin;^ their pr mi- '
is''s ; in ■ ini ,,| wli'.ch lie would withdr.aw the
da.-kne-'-. Ii i; tj- ■ -v >n.
When the liid: 'is s,i\v th.it planet restored to
its liri^ditm -.s. , •■ ' n ■'.iini; in all its be.auty thro:i_;!i
the lirm.iniint, lliey overwlielmed the' adniir..;
wi;h til. inks t • 1 , intercession, and rep.iired to
their home-,. ■ pylid .it ii.ivim.,'' escaped such j;re.it
dis.isters. i<: i^.irdiii;,' Columbus with .awe and rev-
ert' ' •' ■ I in;in i:) the jieculiar t.ivor a.nd coiiti-
(lei e 1.' 'he Deity, since he knew upon I'.irlh
w'-.,ii W'. ]i.issin,i,' i;i the heavens, they hastened
to i)ro[> Mte him wiili ;;ifts ; supplies a^.iin .ir-
rivfd d.i ' .-it the iiarliur. .iiid from th.it time for-
ward tin n- \v,;s no w.int o! provisions.*
' iiAI'll.K IV,
m;ss.i.n (ii miiat iii-, kscmkak lo'inr. aiimik.m..
[ ' 504- :
F.Ii;nr niontlis had now el,i|)sed since the de-
parture ot Mriidez ,111(1 I- lesco, without .any tidin^'s
of their t.ite. For .1 loiij,' time the .Spani.irds h.id
kept a uistliil look-out upon the ocean, thitterin^-
themselves ili.it every ln(li,in -anoe, {(lidin^r .^ a
distance, inijjiit be the ii.irbin^^er of deliver.ince.
The hrjpes of the most saii^,niine were now fast
sinking' into desiiondency. What thousand perils
* Hist, del Almirantc, cap. 103. Las Casas, Hist.
Ind., lib. ii. cap. 33,
aw.iitcd such frail b.irks, and so wcik ;, •
an ixpedition ot the kind 1 J''.ither iii ■ iiij,.
lieeii swallowed up by iioisterous \vavl^ ,;■;
\erse currents, or theircrevvs li.ui perisiiMi; ^^
the ruj;>;ed mountains and sava;.;e inlrs •
p.iniola. To increase their desponiji',
were iniormed that a vessel iiad bi en ,
tom uiiw.ird, drittiiij; with the curreiii^,,
lo.isls ot jamaici. This nii_i;ht be ilii'i.,,^'
to their relief ; ,ind if so, all tlieir 1iii|H's v r,
wrecked with it. This rumor, it is.ilii'".
invented and circiibited in the isl.iml hvt'. '^
th.it it iiii).jlit re.ach the earsof those whi.r, v
t.iithful to the admiral, .ind reduciil the;, |
sp.iir.* It no doubt h.id itseffia t. I.n.:'^
ot .aid from a ilist.ince, and coiisii;!:'
selves abandoned and for).jottcn hy t'u ■.
m.inv s,Me\v wild and i]es|)er.ite in tj,, ■ :
Another conspir.icy w.is formed b\ mu' 1,-;
.111 aiiothecary of \'alenci,i, with two CiMii'-;
.Aloii.o de Z.imor.i .iiul I'edro de Xilkiio.
(hsii^'ned to sei/e upon the nni.iiiiiiii,' i :
siek their way to Hisp.miol.i.f
The mutiny w.is on llie very |ioint 1'
out, when one eveniiiL;, tow,ird dusk. . •
seen st.indin;; tovv.ird the h.irbor. T!i'- ;;■.:,.
ot the poor Sp.mi.irds 111. ly be more c ,ilv •■
ill. in dccribed. The vessel was ;it ^ii;.,
kejil out to se.i, but sent its bo, it to viiii ;
lAery eye w,is ea^'crly bent to hail ll c
n.inces of Christians .ind d.-Ii.erers. .\^i v
.appro. idled, they descrit'd in it Diej.;i' ile 1 -
.1 ni.in who had been one of the nmsi .vs.-:
feder.atesof RoUlan in his rebellion, vvlie !• ,1'
condemneil to death under tlu- adinii!- -v
Columbus, and p.irdoiied by his siu .'l^- 1
dilla. There w.is bad omen in such a ir ■^-l
Comiiij; .ilonj^side of the ships, 1'.m.:.c
letter on bo.ird from Ov.indo, ^uvtrinr •
p.miola, together with ;i b.irrel ot wiiu-.i'i.
ot b.icon, sent .as presents to the aihini,.
then drew off, and t.ilked with Coliiinl ' - ::
dist.in.e. lie told him that he w.is- '
^'overnor to e\|)ress Ins j^reat com ( re ,
fortunes, and his rej,'ret at not h.r.ii.
v■e^sel of siilfici<'nt si/e to brini; ott I ;";•' '
people, buttli.it he would send one.-.-
si!)!e. I'scobar gave the .idmir.il .i'~--i:''.
wise th.it his concerns in Ilisp.iiiiol . I
taitlitiilly .attelldeil to. lie reqilesteii I ■
h id .inv letter to write to the j^roverii'T i"
,:;ive it to hini as soon .is possilile, .i^ !.i '
return iinmedi.itely.
There was soniethiiiL; evtremely s:':^ :
this mission, but there w;is no tinieloii ■ ' '•
Fscob.ir was urgent to dep.irl. > i r' -i
hastened, therefore, to write ,1 repK i' < -'
dejiicting the dangers and distresse-, i ; : - 'i'»i-
tion, increased .is they were by the n <r '.i,:i:
I'orr.is, but ex|)ressiiig his reliance on h;-rMi!Si
to send him relief, coiilidim; in wliicli :> 5"i.'-;<
rem, nil p.itiently on bo.ird ol his ^vr;-l^. -
reconriiended Diego Meiule/ and liar.)' i"T*'
Fiesco to his favor, ,issuriiig him iliu r<' '••"'■I
not sent to San Domingo withaiiv iri!iii ■■."'
Inn sini|)ly to represent his perilous ■^iiii,!;.
to .apply for siua-or. ^ When Fscob.ir
this letter, he returned imniedi.itely 1"
his vessel, which made all sail, and s''
|)e.ired in the gathering gloom of tlie 111.1,1 '•
If the Sp.iniards had h.iili'd the .nrn.i; '! ■■■''
* llist. del .Mmirante, cap. lo.}.
■f Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. ii. cap- 33
I Ibid., ca]). 34.
fc5«! with tr.uispo
lie mvsierioiis cniul
Ion K- • •II"' '"""''''
am .ill coiiinuiiiic.i
Lir-.! in ihci' ^^••"
,rtun.s. uilniid.i
(l„.;-,.,l ill their i
insiv,icm-cs. lie
sn-l'ihcirsii-^aicio
iili tin- ciiininunic.
,1 .isMiniiK' diem tl
ti..i-ilniii ;i!l aw
11,1, he h.ul d.'cliii
-.uisc Ins vessel w
Ireicnnir '" '■'''"•"
It, cvl ici'l disp.it
jiat no half iiiigiit ''
m
rhe>c
.11 ini-ir situation
iriTcl the he.irts
Min revived, am
er oiillie point o
• ilsiunccrted.
Ill H'Cict, however
1
t i
l^di^'i.iiit ,it the coil
' 'lim I'lr m:iiiy months
•er, iiid nio^i ihstre;
,f no^tililics ol the
en. .cul the suggcs
laL .it ieii.ijth, sent a
m 111 kiiKvvii to be
ii!i a iiii'siMit ot (001
leiviH'il intend'' 1 to n
Ciilunilius Delievei
,ei;'ri'lc(l hull. Iiopiii
fisli'i I. h'Miig aiijirehi
fln^.iN'.y. lie would
~ (■]■ 111 llis[iaiiiol,i
iTr;v as ;i spy sent
I' .iiiil his crew, .11
:s:~',tii'a'. Lis C.isj
i;i.;(i, I'vpresses si
pth:!', llsriihai' vv.is c
Iter: 111! th.il, from at
Jno -', iiip.i'hv tor the
(Ir : not I'l i;o 011
1,1 Hi-alier W.IS \v
ar '•' llic I lew, nor
th ■ ot the admiral
n; ■ ^rnilt to collect
' 1 .:ii h.ive ascrih
to ■ irllle c. union.
ti' '.'■iliiiniiiis. irrit;
(1 ., i,i'. ^ hv the coiu
f^' -1 ilevvlv di-.covi
0: ^ ii.UiM repub
jPi ,. : .Such r niioi
their recent circ
lu i'S in Ins letter se
iJi'-i I'.v. The inosi
■tli.c. 'tv.iivid W.IS ah
in'-riiH, occupied i
Ith.i; ihiTc were no s
Icii'iu aiirdeii to t.ik
ISpnn. ll" ni ly h,
jcomi- iiMvsiile hir ai
^''Jeii'ii I- the a hiiiral w
. .iorcit.n-.ivur to ni.iki
pHn I ■lll^o(|llence of tl
iSli;; resiiiiMit there,
ftur'iuleiii'f might Iv
' I"isC.vs.as, Hist,
Almirante, rap. 103.
, t t..- '".asas, ubi si
«4i i.. t
LIFE AND VOVAGKS OF COLUMBUS.
209
.esc! with tr.iii^port, its siuUlfii departure and
be niv^lt-riou. idikIucI ot Ksfohar inspired no less
Lidr- ami roiistern.ition. lie had kept aloot
0111 ill (iininuiiiiiMtion with them, as it he tell no
L-rtst 111 their weltare. or svmp.uhy m their niis-
tum-v UiUimbiis saw the -loom that had
tatli<-ic(i ill their counteii.iiues, and feared the
'on-n!;i(*iHi"^- He ea^;erly sout;ht. theretore, to
'ihi-ii- sii^;iu'ions, professing hiniselt satished
bjih the faiiiiiuini.Mtioiis received tnim < )van(lo,
nd asMiriiij,' tliem that vessels would soon arrive
Hake ihim all awav. In eontidenre of this, he
he had dei-lined to depart with Mseohar,
eraiisc his vessel was too small to take the whole,
e'lLTiiiij; to remain with them and siiare their
Kt, and hail dispatrhed the caravel in such haste
Hat Ml) time niiijht he lost in expediting the iieees-
arv ships. These assurances, and the certainty
haitht'ir situation was known in San Dommgo,
hecreil the hearts of the people. Their hopes
run revived, and the consiiiracy, which h.id
Set!' III! the iiomlot iireaking forth, was comiilele-
jj (Isrimii rird.
I, liihccit't, however, Colunihus was e\ceedin,;,;ly
rdiLjiiant .It the conduct of Dvando. lie li.id left
ftim tor maiiv months in ;i state of the utmost dan-
kei, ami mo^t distressing uncert.iinty, exposed to
tht hostilities ot the n.itives, the seditions of his
me I, and the suggestions of his own desp.iir. He
hi I, .It ienijtii, si'iii a mere taiitali/iiig message, by
8 11111! known to he one of his bitterest enemies,
gdhilli a present of fond, which, from its scantiness,
ee'iied inteivh' 1 to nioi k their necessities.
Cdluailnis iielieved th.it Ov.iiido had iiurposidv
ne.,ierled hiiii, hoping that he might perish on tlii;
isliiil. Iviiig .ippreheiisive that, should he reluen
inviN'.v.he wmild he rein'".'ated in the govern-
nit r (it llisjiaiiiol.i ; ,in d he considered Ivscob.ir
Hi ely as a spy sent to ascertain the st.ite ot liim-
itl' ,ind his crew, and whether they were yet in
|\-'.eiiee. l.is Cis.is, who was then at S.ui Do-
ni i:,'o, expresses simil.ir suspicions. lie s.ns
th t Ksrohar w.is chosen because Ov.indo w.is
r nil that, from ancient enmity, he would have
r viiip.uhy tor the admir.il. 'Tli.it he was or-
<l I "Ot I) go on ho.ird of the vessels, nor to
ii ', neither W.IS he to hold conversation with
(it the I rew. nor to receive an\ letters, e>;cciu
~eot t!ie .adinir.d. la a word', th.it he w.is .i
'• sroiit to collect intijrm.ition.*
);liers have .iscribed the long neglect ot ( 'van lo
^ireiiie ciuiioii. There was a rumor prev.dciii
. 0)luiiii)iis, irritated at the sus|ieiisioii ot his
;'iiiii. ^ h\ till- court of Spain, intended lo tr.iiis-
nis neuiy (li-,ciivi-red '-ountries into the li.iii 1-.
IS native republic (ienoa, or of some otier
|: P'lxr, .Such r iniors had long been current, .i:i I
pto
■li
t: .
l;
t' :
r
,s
t ■
(I
ir
s;
tf
■II
the situation of Columbus in Jamaica, while it dis-
posed of him «)uietly until vessels should arrive
from Sp.ain, could not, he may have thought, be
haz.irdous. He had sutticieiil tone and arms i(jr
defence, and he had made amicable arr.ingements
with the n.itives lor the supjily ot pro\isions, as
Diego Mendez, who h.id made those arrange-
ments, had no doutit informed him. Stuh m.iy
have been the re.isoning by which ( J'.ando, i.ndcr
the re.d inlUieiice ot his interest, may h,•l^■J recon-
ciled his cons( iioK e to .i measure which excited
the strong reprobation ot liis contemporaries, and
li.is continued to draw ujiou him the suspicions of
mankind.
■iiir recent circulation Columbus himsell
s in his letter sent to the sovereigns bv Diego
' hv. The most plausiiile apologv given i^:,
'Ivan'lo w.e, .iliseni for s-.-veral months in the
■■■w, occupied in wars with the natives, .and
'here were no shins at San Domingo ot suTti-
' ''^liMen t(. t.ike Coiumbus and his crew to
'■ il" II'. I y h.ive 'e.ired that, should tliev
•■ I'l leshle lor .inv length of time on the isl.ind',
nhealniiral would mierterein public .itf.iirs,
■''''■■'■■or t > make a party in his f.iv. r ; (ir that,
'nsecjiiepce of the numtier of his old enemies
rpKlint there, former scenes of faction and
'J.ence might he revived.! In the mean time
' I .cs C.is.as, Hist. Ind.Jil^. ii. cap. 33, Mist, del
A'mirante, ,ap. 103. ^
. ' '- ^asas, ubi sup. Hist, del Alrairante, ubi sup.
CHAl'Ti:ii V.
VOVAf.F. CtV TilIC.il MlNDi:/ .AND 11 AK IIKILOMEW
IIRSCO I.V .\ C.V.Ndi: 10 11ISI'AN1()1,,\.
['504-]
Ir is proper to give here some account of the
mission ot Diego Mendez ;ind llanli domew Fi-
esco, and ot the circumst.inces N'vli.ch prevented
the latter from returning to Jam.iica. Having
t.iken le.tveot the Adelant,ido;it the e.ist end ot the
isl.md, they continued all day in a direct course,
anim.itiiig the Indi.uis wlio n.ivig.Ued their canoes,
.and who tre(|Uently p.iused at tiicir l.ilior. There
was no wind, the sky was willioul .1 cloud, .and
the se.i jierfectly calm ; the lie.it wa.s intolerable,
and the r.ays ot the sun retlected from the surt.ice
of the ocean seemed to sidrc!i thrir very eyes.
'I'lie Indians, exh.uisted by In-, it .iiul toil, would
otten le.ip into the water tocf.ni and icliesh them-
sel\es, and, after rem. lining there a short lime,
\sould return with new \igiir to iluir labors. At
the going down ot the sun they lost sight ot land.
During the night the Indians look liiriis, one halt
to row while the others sle|n. The Sp.iniards, in
like manner, dixided their forces ; while one half
took repose the others kept guai'l w ii!i their wcip-
ons in hand, ready to defend themselves in case
of any perl'idyon the part ot their s.iwigc compan-
ions.
W. Itching ;iiid toiling in this \\a\- througii the
night, tliev ssere exceeclingly l.iligued at the return
ot d.iy. Nothingwas lo be seen lull se.i .and skv.
'I'heir trail canoes, liLMviiig up .nil down with the
swelling and sinking v\ the ocean, seem'.'d sc.irce-
!)• c.ip.ible of sustaining the broad undula'ions of
,1 c.ilm ; how would they be able to li\e .iniid
w;i\es and surges, should the wind ari^.e ? The
conini.inders did ,ill they cmi!!! to keep up the
ihigging spirits of the men. Som; nmes they jier-
mitted them .1 respite ; .11 other L: e-, ihey took
the p.iddles and shared their toils. Ikil labor and
t.iligue were soon forgotten in ;i new source of
sutlermg. During the precefling sultry d.w .incl
night, the Indians, ji.irched and fatigued, h.uj
drunk up all the water. They now beg.m to ex-
jierieiice the lornieiits o'i thirst. In proportion
as the d.iy ;ul\aiiced, their thirst increastd ; the
calm, which favored die na\ igation ot the canoes,
rendered this misery the more intense, 'fhere
w.i-^ not ;i brec/'e to t.in the air, nor counteract
the .' (hilt r.iys of a tropical sun. Tlu-ir sufferings
were irritated by the prospect .around tliem- noth-
ing hut water, while they were perishing with
thirst. At nii'l-dav their strength t.iiled them,
.111(1 they could worix .,0 longer. I'orlun.ilely, .it
this time the commanders of the c mocs found, or
l)re •nded la tiiul, two small kegs ol water, which
I* i|.
i^'i
im
m
^\i.
t|i
;J
210
LIFE AND VOVAGKS OF C0LUM13US.
Il ^^f
thev had peilinps 'Jccnnly rpservc^d for siirli nn ex-
tremitv. Administfnnj,' tlie piciioiis coiili'ius
Irom lime lo tinu-, in spaiini; niouthUds to tiicir
coni|);inions, and iiarticularly to tlit- laboring:, In- |
dians, thcv i'nal)l(.'d ilicm to rt'sume tlu-ir tods, j
TIk'v clH'Jivd them with tlic liopi's ol soon airiv- j
iiij; at a small island calli'd Navasa, which lay
directly in tlu'ir way, and wis only i-i_;;lit IcajjiifS
irom riis])ar.iola. Hen ilicy woiddbeable to pio- ^
cure water, and niii;ht take repose.
For the rest ot tlie ilay they continued l.iintly j
and wearily laborinj^ lorward, aiul keepini; an
anxious look-out lor the island. The day jiassed
away, the sun went down, yet there w.is no sij,n\ j
ot land, not even a cloud on the hori/un that niii;lit
deceive them into a hope. According to their cal- j
cidations, they had certainly come the ilist.ince
irom Jamaica at which Nav.is, l.iy. They be;,Mn
to tear that they had devi.it' il troin their lourse.
I! so, thev shouKl miss the island eiuirely, .mil
perish with thirst betore they coidd reach llis-
paniola.
The niL^ht closed upon tlicm without any sii;ht
of the island, 'ihey now des|iaired ot touching; at
it, for it was so small and low that, even it they
were to ])ass ne.ir, they would sc.ircely be able to
perceive it in the dark. One of tlie Indi.tns s.mk
and died, under the accumulated sutfermijs ot
labor, heat, and raiding thirst. His body was
tnrown into the sea. < Uhers lay panting and
gasi)ing at the bottom of the canc.es. 'I'heir com-
paiiions. iroul)lcd in spirit, and exhausted in
strength, feebly contiruieil their toils. Sometimes
they endeavored to cool their jjarclied |ialates by
tciking sea-w.iter in their mouths, but its brinv
acrimony rather ini reused their thirst. Now .md
then, but ver_\' sparinglv, they were allowed a drop
of water from the kegs ; but this w.ts only in c, i-.es
ol the utmost extremity, and princi|),dly to tlm^e
who were employed in rowing. 'I'he night h.id l.ir
advaneeil, but those whose turn il was to take re-
pose v.ere un il)le to slee]). from the inteiisitv ol their
thirst ; or it they slejjt, it w.is but to be t.intab'ed
l)y dreams of coo! hiuni.uns and running bmoks,
and to .'iw.ikrn in redoubled t'irment. The last
drop of water h.id bio!i dealt out to the Indi.m
rowers, but it only served to irnt.it.- iheir suttcr-
ings. They .>i;ari;e could move their paddles ; one
after another ',^.i\-i^ up, and it seemed imi)ossil)le
they siiould live to reach nis]),iniola.
The comiii.inders, by admir.ible man.igcment,
had I itheri ) ke|it up this weary struggle with
sulfering nn.l desp.iir : they now, too, l)egan lo
despond. D'ego MtMnhv s.it watching the bori/on,
whiiri W.IS gi.iilually lighting no with those t.iiiu
rays which precede the rising of tin- moon. .\s
that jilai ft nse, he perceived it to emerge from be-
hind .some d.irk mass elevated above the h'V.l of
the r/ce;.n. lie immedi.iiely gave the anim.uing
CIA of " l.ind '." His almost expiring comp.inious
were roused hy it to new lite. Il proved to In- the
island ot N.r.- is.i. but so small, .and low, and d's-
tanl, th.it li.i i it noi been thus reve.ded by the ris-
ing ot the ill: 11, they would never have discov-
ered a. 1 I' rror in their reckoning with respect
to the islan I li.id arisen from misi .ih ul.iting the
rate of s.iilmg ot the canoes, .anrl trom not m.iking
sulticienl .illow.ince tor the fatigue of the rowers
and the o|)p.i>'tioii o| the current.
New vigor W.IS iK)w diltused throughout the
crews. They exerted themselves with feverish
impatience ; by the dawn ot day they reached the
land, ;ind, springing on shore, returned th.mks to
Clod tor siK h signal deiivi-ranci'. 'I'he isl.im' was
a mere m.iss of rocks halt a league in circuit.
'Ihere was neither tree, nor shrub, nor hfrl>
nor stream, nor loum.im. 1 lurrving nbdm .*"
ever, with anxious scare h, they touiul lo i,- !|
abuntiance ot rain-water in the luillnws.''
rocks. M.igerly scooping it up, with iln -
bashes, they cjueiniied their burning tleisiiA
moderate dr.iughis. In v.ain the nmrc |ir']|,t,,i
w.irned the others ol their danger. 1 i^. v
i.irds were in some <legree restiaiind ; Im;
p.ior Indians, whose toils had increased tiir ;.|,|
ot their thirst, gave way to a kind ot Iraiuiuri;-!
gence. Sc\cral died ujion the spot, .uul u^.J
li-U d.mgerously ill."
Having allaye<l their thirst, they mw ';i,oj(,|
about in search of food. A tew .sli( I: lis!- \,c,l
found along the shori', and Diego Mi nilc, ji- 1
ing a light, and gathering drilt-wrjiid, iluvvt
enal)led to boil ihem, and lo make ,i iKixiwjl
b.iiKpiet. All day they remained reposing- 'r,:.
shade of the rocks, refreshing tlieniseUi.s .;-,-;
their intolerable sutferings, and ^''''ii'k' ii|ii"!i;i.
|i,iniola, whose mnuntains rose above ilu-iiiir;/.-
at eight le.igues' (list. nice.
In the ("Old of the evening they once iim'' t-.l
barked, invigorated by repose, and .inuc;',,:;
.It L'a|)e Tiburon on the tollowing d.iy, liu :r.r'
since their departure tidin Jamai(.\. lliTt :■;;
l.inded on the b.inks ot a be.amilul river ■, •■
they were kindly received and treated h'. ■ .
ti\(s. .Such are the p.irtii iilars. ici'i '■
diltereiit sources, of this ad\entuim;. ,
teresting \o\.ige, on the precarious yr .r^
ot wl'.uh ilepended the deliveraiu c ot C'!::::..
bus and his crtws.t Tlie vo\.i);eis iciri;.-'.
tor two d.ivs among the hospitable ii.Ur.;?.]!
the I). inks of the ri\er to iflicsh thcir.ic'.
1- lescd would have returned to J.ini.m ,i, ■
ing to promise, to gi\e assuraiuc in :
miral and his lomp.inions ot ihe s.de.uri ;|
their messenger : bui both Spaniards .iiid i:'i. ri
h.id suttered so much tluring the \.i\,i:;f. ;■:;
nothing could induce them to eiicuunter lit- it:..i|
. nt a return in the c.moes.
Parting with his comp.anions, Dn^n M;'::
took six Indi.ms of the isl.iml, and set ott !> ':■■
i 1\- lo CO, 1st in his canoe one lumdrei! .iiu; ir;
I leagues to San Domingo. Alter pniciiili, .:;:
: eighty le.igues, \vith inlinite toil, aiw.ivi i'..-^'
I the currents, and siibiecl to perils timii tii-i,,',.;
inbrs lie \\,i.s informed th.it tlx' goM inor r..ii.i;;'
p.irted tor X.ir.igu.i, titty leagues disi.im ^..
, und.iunteii by t.iligues .md dillicuilies. In .; '"•
j doned his canoe, and pioceedeil .ainiie .ii'i! .i
toot through torests and over mount. iins, iiiit;."!
arri\cd at Naragu.i, achieving one nl I'' i'*^'
perilous expeditions e\'er undertaken \'\ .i '-^^^^'^''■
iollower tor the s.iletv ot his c omniaiii:f-.
• i\,indo rei'eived him with gre.u kimiin'v ii'
prr.sing the utmost concern at t':e iintiir"'-''i'"
! situ.ition ol Columbus. He made m.iiiv |ii"i; *!^*
ot sending immediate relief, but sultirii! I'.h
week .itler week, and even month alt; r ..' nr
I el. i|);)', without carrying his iiromise-. m'l i'!''-
I He was at that lime completely .-ngrooiil l\ -i'^
; with the n.ilis'es. .-md had a read) plr.i thi'. '>■ "
I were no ships of sutlu ienl burden at Sail l-'"""'';''
* Not f.ir from tho is'and of Navas.i ili'-io ;;:;-"'•
' up in lh( ea a pure (ountain of fresti w.iH' '■
j sweetens tlie surface foi soil)',' distance ; tlv- I'l -'^
i stance was ';f i oiirse unknown to tlic Sp.uiian.s j
tiiiie. (O\ic(io, Croiiira, lit), vi. Ciip. l -' ' ,
1 f Hist, del Almirante, cap. lo;. I.i^* '•*"',
ii. cap. 31. Testament of Diego Mcndc/. N.c.if"
lorn. i.
ad lu> felt n pmiier
ianri:ihl<''L'>hiiiil
6,1,11, cif^ht nu.iuhs,
[not ot dehversig
bst ol conveying
U >il]iplli-s.
[TIu- l.'.ilhtill Mend
iN.ir.iK'i''!. '''■'•"'"^''
'ov.ind'i. who w.'
orced loS.m Dona
iini ins li.ivav^' so
oyed 111 ^>'''-'' ■':■;'■'
[from a desire t > tl
his oiitaiiiir.g the
(j.iil.v impiiriiinits
[,) Sell |ioniiie.,'c
jin sliijis wiiicli wi
hscd t.i purchase
liriil. lleinine'di
Srvelliy le.lgll' -
■in:; lia^'Ugh ticesl
BU.l bv hostile
as iiliv r ins ilep.i!
ke i.u ivei coniin:
)nci<\,r: ea duit si
hicli. in li'e eyes ot
jerr MOiihng cx]iei
leiitn;, .
(11.
luAli: \ Ol IllK
[ami 111^ inl.lnwv:
jWiiiv C'lliimii.is
lie':'. ■! : 1^ ail r. at the
nd Ml Id-n de|).irtur
\\\<-\\ the e\cnl tl
leht-;- lit- knew tht
BeMi.dde niisere's ai
lltf iili- ; tli.it 111. my
id IjLlUt p.illi ot dui
an! st-eiiii; how he
\o:v^ t!.'- luilives li
|ar ills idiiinate tri
leaiiif, .V t.aviirabl
OW ;ir'jsenl''(l 11 p I.iki
111; in i;ii,tli- iiie.iii
yii;:.ii;. e. I li' SI III
M-r • iiHi-.t iiiiiiii
th: ■ ; ■. ir li-i rllt .1
ft ' .c l'iii\eriior (
a- !y deliver.iiue
fti ilree p.irdiin, k
V'' iiii Ml liieexpec
iir :;,i; • reiuni li
tiv: u! ihr .lined
P-i ; tae h.ico'i wl
' !llr .!pp;- l.lCIl
CI- 'f l'.i:-i:is c ;imi
P'' ' s .Irly bv .1
■P-' lie Ului^Ule
p' ■'- '.I ■;!-> linm th
ol ■' ■■■w heaig he.ir
I ^^" m t'leir diss. I
V' : i he likely tod.
-it 'id'i'i. li.ivin^;
0^ ' ii'is liriiii^hl b
C' ■ li'llli.il eo'idede
''V ' 'I I'l itidioii
'iti tit'.
LIFK AND VOYAGIiS OF COLUMUUS.
211
ad he felt .1 pminT z<m1, Iidwcvit, for the safety
ni,,i:i likcColumhus. It would have lu-t-n t-asy.
a ni.ii
thill oi^lil inoiilhs, to
n,,t n\ (IflinT'iii,' hiin
to liiiii ample rcintorc eiiK'iUs
have ik'Visoil some means,
from liis situation, at
or seven months
various pretexts
■Will-'
th,
fr
a-
h
in \
ti>,
. 1
uo!i which ii.ul iieeii lirou^hl liy lls-
rp''
*|'iM !„• hki'lv to (le-,ert hini (.n the least i
*'■ : ir-'"i. liaMiii-
St cil colivevin
,(! .Mlpplies.
Tlu't.iithtiil Memle/ remami'd
X.inu'U.i, ilrl.iiiie.l thire uiuU
Ov.in'ii. \\l'o \''-''* unwiUinjr that he shouUI
c'lJ to San Don.in^n) ; partly, as is intimate'.
Dm his hiiviiii,' some jealousy of his hein^^ em-
lovri ill M'eni'a.L,^er,cy for the admiral, and p.irt-
rtiMir. a diMie I I throw im|)ediments in the way
i.iit.iiiiii .; the re(|uired relief. At lenj^nh,
(Lilly importtimiv, he obtained permission to
t.i Sui |)iiniitit(o and await the arrival of rer-
un ships wiiiiii were expected, of which he pro-
bsi-d t.i piircii.ise one on the .leeount of tin: ;id-
liral. He iiiiiiicdiately set out on foot a <list:!nee
suvciuy leaijiifs, part of Ins toilsome jinirney
lin" thr>'ii.i,di to'ests .iiul amoni,^ mountaias 'w-
aW'i I'V hosiiie and exasjierated indi.ins. it
as ;iltir Ills il'-pariure that Ovando iiispatched
|e uiiiMl coinin.mded by the paidoii'-ii lehel
Ibcobar, (la that sin.uular and e(|' , vocal visit,
tiich, HI the eves ot C'climihus, had the air of a
lerc MOiitiM,:;' expedition to spy into the ^anip ot
I cneiii , .
(11 AI'TIIR VI.
riKirKi- (II c.'i.rMr.rs lo tiik MfTi\r:r,Rs - ■
I:An!I ol illK API I..\N TAIK) Willi I'OKKAS
M ANii 111> inl.l.uWEKS.
['503]
C'liiiinii'is had soothed tlii' dis.ippoint-
;i:'. '! : I-. aii r. at the brief and uns.itislacttu'v \isit
il su-hlrn departure ot I'.scoliar, he endeavored
larii the event to S'liiie .ulv.mtai^-e with the
bi'U He kiu-w them to be dishe.irlened by the
ptnii.ihle inisei!"s altendmj^ i lawless and disso-
iiti" lite; tli.U in.iin Iciiiijed to r<turn to the sate
an iiUict |(ath ot ilulv ; and that the most m.ili^-
fla' ■ sfeiiit; how he h.id foiled al! their intriL^ues
»n; :i;.; t!/- luitivi'S to produce .1 tamine, be.i,Ml' lo
ills iiliiiii.uc trium]ih and eonsei|uenl ven-
eanrr A ta'.nraiile op|)ortuni'y, he thought,
OH jilL-.! iil"d in lake ,ld\ .mtaj,re I t these leelm^S.
^1.: i)\ f;i iitlc mean-, to briii^ them bai k to their
',i»lu\;',ii!i e. llr Milt two ot his people, llierel(ni',
ver ■ aiiist iniini.ite with the rebels, to inl(H-m
e! ; u- 111 fill arriv.il ot l-^scob.ir wilh letters
l:.f ii.ivtrii.ir lit liispanioLi, promisiiii; him
■'• !y (leliver.uice Iroiii the island. I le now ot-
..ititr p.irdon. kind tre.umeiu, and .i passaj^e
'mil 111 tile expected ships, on ( ondition ol their
niiudia; ■ rctuiii to obc-dience. '1'
lo conviiui' I
pa:' ot tac
Co I-,
''"■ •'•|'|''.'i,ieii ot these .imbass.idors. l'"r,in-
f^^i 'i'e i,i;ias ( aiiie forth to meet them, .ucom-
anii'.l ;,,;,1\ l,y a \^.^y ,,( the rin^le.iders ol his
!'•■"■'• lie ini.i^iiifd tii.it there mi^ht he some
"iM'.i ,as lioiii the .admiral, and he was leartul
.at 'heir hciii;; heard by the mass ot his |)eoi)le.
■Wi; ia tiicir dissatislied .md repentant mood,
irosjiect
„ isteiud to the tidin^fs and
0^'■r''lP ^ l,r,,ii-hl bv the nu .^eii^rers, lie and his
tO'i;i iiitKil c(.nleder.iies consulted for some time
lo^'-tiHT t'ertidiou^ in their o'
suspected the sincerity of the admiral ; and con-
scious ot the extent ot their olfeiicis, doidited his
haviii)^ the magnanimity to jiardon Ihem. Deter-
mined, therelore, not to contide in his proffered
amnesty, they replied to the messen},'ers that they
h.id no wish to return to the ships, but prtderred
liviiiL; at larj;c about the isl.md. 'I'hey olfercil lo
eiii.;ai;e. however, to conduct themselves peace-
ably ,ind amieabl), on rcceivin^f a solemn promise
from the admiral, that should two vessels arrive,
tli.'-y should li.ive one to ilepart in ; should but
one arrive, th.il halt of it should be ^r.mled to
them ; and that, moreover, the admiral ^.houlll
sh.iri' wilh them the stores .md articles of Indian
ralfi.- remainin),( in the ships ; bavin;,'' lost .ill that
tiuy h;id, in the sea. These deinaiuls were jiro-
nounced exlr.iva^f.mt and in idmissible, u|)on
■which they replied insolently tli.it. it they were
not peaceably loiiceded, they would take iht.'m by
force; and with this nieiKico they dismissed the
ambass.idius.*
This conference w.is not conduited so jirivately
but that the ri'Stot the ri'bels learnt the purport of
the niission ; .md the (jffer of pardon and deliv-
erance occasioned ^reat tumult an<l .limitation,
''orra;.. fearlul ot their ilesertion, assured them
that these offers of the admiral were all deciitlul ;
th.it he w.is n.itur.dly cruel and vindictive, ;in<l only
sought to ^et llu'in into his power to wreak on
ihem his veiij^'eance. Ileexhoited them to pi'rsist
m their opposition to his tyranin ; reiiiindin^
them that those who had fornu'rly done so in llis-
p.iniol.i had eventually triumphed, and sent liim
iioine in irons ; he ;issiired them that they miL;ht
do the s.inie. and .'i^.iin made vaunting' |)roniises
ot pi'oteciion in Sp.iin, throuj^h the iiilluence of
his rel.itives. ilut the lioldLStot his assertions was
with respect to the c.iravel of Mscobar. It shows
the ii,nu)rance ol the ajjje, and the superstitious
awe which the common peo])le entert.iined with
respe<'t lo Columbus .•>iid his .istronomical knowl-
edge. I'orr.is assured tluni lh.it no ri';il cai.ivel
had arrived, luii a mere phant.asni conjuii'd up by
the admiral, who was deeply versi'd in necro-
m.iiu'v. In proof ol this he adverted to its .-irriv-
in,!,r in the dii-.k ol the eveniii)^' ; its holdin;;' coni-
munic.ition with no oiii' but the admiral, .iiid its
sudden disap|)e.ir.ince in the nitjht. Il.id it been
a re.d carave', the crew would have SMU:;ht lc>
talk with tlu'ir c mittrymen ; the admir.d. Ins son,
and brother. wm:Ul have eaj;erly emb. irked on
bo.ird. and it would .'it ;uiy rate h.ivc rem.iiiud a
little while in pert, and not have v.mished so sud-
(! •Illy and mysteriously. t
llv these and similar delusions I'orras suc-
ceeded in Wiukiiii;' upon the teelini;s .iiid ii'i'dulity
ot his followers. l^'earlul. however, /th.it tliey
mi.Lcht yiidd to after reiki lion, .uid lo turther otters
trom the admiral, he determined to involve them
in some .ictol violence which wi.^'.ld commit tluin
! bevoiid .ill hopes ot fori;iveness. lie marched
I them, therelore, to an Indian vilhe^e c.dled
\ Maima.j .iboui a i|U.irter ot .1 le.ii^u,- trom thi!
' ships, intendiiij,' l'> plunder the stores rem.imini^
on board the wreck, and to take the .ulmii.d pris-
oner. i>
Columbus had notice ot the desii^n^ t the reb-
; contined by
els, .'iiid ot their .ippro.ich. 1)
)wn nature, they
* I. .as C.isas, lit), il. rap. 35. Hist, del Almirnnte,
cap. 10(1.
t Hist, del .Xlmirantc, rap. lof). Las Casas, lib. ik
cap. 3?.
{ At present Mammee Bay.
•^ llisi. del Alrniruntc, ubi sup.
1 , I
!i
''' If
II
:ii:::-i:'
■y i;-!!
010
/v 1 ^
urn AND VOYAGKS OF COLUMHrS.
his inliniiilics, lie sent liis Ijtotlicr to cinleavor w illi
mild Wdnis to lu'i^iiailc liu in troin tl rir pinpo.sc,
aiul 'Mil t'u^ni to ohi'difiur ; hut with .siilluiciU
toiii; to nsist any violincf. The AiU-laiitailo.
\sho w.is a man rather ot dreils than ol word^,
took with hini littv lollowcrs, iiu-n ol tried re?<olu-
tioii. and ready to li,:;lit in any eaiise. Tliey were
well aimed and lull of eouraf,'e, thoui;!) many
Wire pale and dfl)ilitated troni ri'eenl siekiies^,
and Irom loiij;' eonlinemeiit to the ^hips. .\rii\-
inij on the Mde ot a hill, within a how-siiot o\
the \illai;-e. the Adelantaihi diseuvered the i\ hels,
and di^i ateheil the same two messenj^eis to treat
with them, who had already enrried them the
(liter ot panlon. I'orras ami his h'llow-leaders,
howtver, woidd nut permit them to a|)])roaeli.
'I'luy eonhded in the superiority ot their luim-
Inrs, and in their nv.'U l>ein^', for the most part,
hardv sailors, rendered rolnist and viijorous l>y
the rovmi; lile tiiey h.id been leading; in the toresis
.md the open ,iir. 'I'hey knew that many ot those
who were witli tln' Adei, int. ido were men liroiii;lu
up in a softer mode of lite Thev jiointed to their
p.ile eounten.mees, ,ind per>ua(h'd their lolli)\ve.-s
that thiv were mere household men, t.iir-we.ither
troo])s, who eould never stand helore them.
I'hev did not retleet that, with such nuii. pride
,111(1 loit\ s|)irit ohrn m<)r(> th.in supply the place
(il lindiK turct', and thev for^'ot tli.it their adx'er-
saries had the incalculahlc ,ul\-.int.ii,'e ot justii'e
and l.iw u])on their side. lleluded l>\- their
words, their followers were excited to .i transient
i;low ot cour.ijji', .and lirnndishin^ their we.iiions,
refused to listen to tlie messenj(ers.
Six of the stoutest rebels m.iiiea lenj^ue to st.iiid
liy one .mother and att.ick the Adelaiit.ido ; tor,
he lieinL; killed, the rest would he easily dclc.ited.
'I'lie m.iin body formed ihemsebes into :i sipi.id-
ron, (Ir.iv.intr their swords and shakini/ tlu-ir
l.mces. Thi'v did not wait to be .issjul
Init,
utieriiiL; shouts .ind men.ices, rushed n|)on the
enemv. I'lltv were -^o well received, however,
that at the first shock tour or ll\f were kiili-d.
most ot them the confedrr.itc- whoh.id le,iL,'Ued [u
.itt.iek the Adelantado. The latter with his own
!i;ind, killed Ju.in Sanclu-/, tin- same powtitul
m.iriaer who h.id carrieil off tlu- c.ici(iue < hiibi-
.'111 : and Jii.tn liarber .dso. w lio had hrst drawn
.a sword ;ii;-ainst the admir. 1 in this rebellion.
The .\dil.iiit,ido witli his usu.d vi^or and iiuira;^e
w.is dciliiiLl his blows about him in the thu kest
of the alfr.i\-. where several lav killed ,ind wound-
ed, wlii-n he w.is .iss.iilcd Iw J- r.im isco dc I'orr.is.
'Idle rebel with a blow of liisswurd cleft the bui'k-
ler ot Don Ilartholomew, and woundi-d the h;iiid
whi( h v:rasped it. The sword remained wi-dtr,.,]
m the shiVld, and brtore I'orr.is could witlidriw
it till.' .•\d<.'l.mt,i(lo closed upon him, ^'r,ip|)li(|
him, .md, bcint;- assisted bv others, .iltcr a severe
stru^;,de took him prisoner.-
When the rebels beheld their li.ider ,i captive,
their tr.-iiisieiit cour.a^'e w.is .it .-in emi, and they
tied in contusion, 'i'lie Adel.mt.ido woiiM h.ive
pursued them, but w.is persu.ided to let them es-
c.ap.- with the pnni^hmi lit tlu'v h.id re( ii\ed ; cs-
|ieci;illy .as it w.is iiecess.ny tu ^ii.ird .ii;.iin^i the
possiliility ot .111 ait.ii k tron'i tlie Indi.ans.
riie Latter h.id taken .iim, .and dr.awn up in
battle ;irr,iy. t;a/in^r \\\{\i .e-tonishnient it tins
tl-ht between while men. but witlviul t.iklll,;,^ |,:iit
on eiih. r side. When the baltl'- w .is over, they
appro.icJud the liehl, ;;a/in;,f ujioii tlie de.id bod'-
* Ili-^t. del Almirant-:, Ciip. 107. Las Cusas, Hist.
Ind., lib. ii. cap. 35.
ies of the beini^s they h.id once f.itii icd ;ii,;r -
They were curious in e.xaminini.; the \\»]'
made by the thnstian weapons. .\iii„...
wounded insur;.;i-nts was I'edio j.cilivi, "
s.ime pilot who so bra\'ely sw.iiu .ishnif n V"
j;u.i, to prccuii' tnlin^s of the coloiu. ][■ ,',
m.m ot prodij;ioi.is nuiseul.ir loree ainl ,. 1 „
deep voice. As the Indians, who iIkhi. "^
dead, w ere inspectin.i,' the wounds wnii vm,;
was liter.ally eoNcied, he suddeiilv liti.;.
ej.iculation in his tremendous voiu. ..t ; .,
of whiih the s.iv.ij;es lied in ilism.iy 1 .-
Ii.ivinj4' fallen into a cleft or r.iviiu , ,■ ,
lovered by the while nun iiind tine
the loUowinjr (la\', havinj;- remained ,il, ,: .;
witluuit .1 ilrop of water. The luiinl,;-! .;■,:
\eiiiy ol the wounds he is said to l,,ivi- nvr:'
would seem incredible, hut thev ;irc im-;,:; ;
by l''ernando Columbus, who w.is an cm.-.
and by l.;is Casas, wT.o had the a(M.:.'-::
I.edesma himself, i-dr w.iiit ol prnpi ; a- .•
his wounds wi're tre,ited in ti.e roaiji.t-^ ii,,r-|
yet. through the aid ot a vij^mous ioiim ;;•.;
C(Mn])lettdy recovered. I-.is C'.isas idiuirvi.
him several ve.irs afterward .it Sevilli' v. r
(d)iaiiu'd tr<uii him v.irious ])articiil.irs n ■ .•
this vov.e^i' ot t'olumbus. Some ft u e. ■.
this coiners. iiion, l.owe\a'r, l;e he. nil i:.r,
desma h.id l.iUen under the kiiite ol .iii .-.,-
The .Adtd.inl.ido returned in ir.nir.i: •
sh.ips, where he was recei\ed b\ lla' .iiir.v-
th<' most .ille( tionate 111. inner ; th.mkii:^ '
his delivt ler. lb' broiij^ht I'orr.is .ir.d •■:.'■
his tollowiis ]aisoners. < )| his cv.n •.,■■.
two h.id been wounded ; himsell in li.e l.i /,
till' admiral's stew.ird, who had re.n.n .
p.ireiulv sliij;ht wound with .1 l.iiuf. m| ,.1! ■
ot till- most iiisij^iiilicant ol those with \w
desma w.is covered; yet. in s|)ile i! ^
til .itment. he died.
< )n the next d,i\ . the
sent .1 |>elilion to the
tlieir names. Ill which,
tessed .ill their misdeeds .md i rlK■l!H■^ ..u.-
iiitentKiiis. snpplic.atini^ the .idmir.d i-^ : ■■ '
on them .md p.irdon tlieni tor their nli.. "
whiili (iod h.id already ]'unished thiiii !•
ottered to rettirn to their oliediellce. .1111! ■ -.■'
him t.iilhtulU- m tutiire, m.ikint; .ai ■ i''
th.it effect upiin .1 ( ross .and .1 niis^.n, '
p.mied b\ an imprecation wortl.\' n' <•' .
coriled : "'I'hev laiped, slaaild il ev !i:i,k •
oath, tli.ii no priest nor other ('hr;-!i. n 'i .
e\cr (olltess tlie'il ; th.ai repentance n, ' •
no a\Mil ; tli.it t'lev mij;ht be deprived c''
s.acranieiits e! the chun h ; th.it ,it i'; "'
thev mis,dit nceni- no beiieiit Irom I ■ ..■ ''
dulj^'ences : th.it their bodies nii;^hl I- '■'
into the I'ndds, like those ol Iv letcs ,; 1' i
^^ldoes, inste.id ot lieinj^ buried in ln'l'. lT' ■
.mil that thev mi^^dit not receive ahsnlu'Mi. "
the ])ope, nor from .irdin.ils, nor .'iru-i'^
nor bishops, nor anv oilu-r C'hnsii.in ;i,m'-
Such were the .awful imprecations hy v\l'!i ;
men endeavored to add validit\ to .111 ■ ■"' •
worthlessness ol .1 man's wnrcl 1,1. iv !■ ' •'■'
known bv the extr.iv.iLj.ml means |icii-'>;
tori e It.
The admir, il saw, Ir, the abject ii.i'i:!!''
petition, how complelelv the spirit ol tlir^'"
jruided men was broken; with his vniitr'l"'
n.animity. he re.adilv granted their jir.ivcr .I'.i' ;■
* Las C.isns, Hist. Ind., lilj. ii. rap. ?5
t lljid., cap. 32.
20th fd May. i!.e
adr;,ir.il, si'^tiei
S.IVS 1„IS ( .IS, IS '
,,l„nd di'ir oflem
tl, I iiii.i;c,idei, I-
a ' !i..)iH'i'.
i, it was dillii I
01; ..iiril I't '•"■ ■'''
nn I iictvveeil per
a; jius, Culuiidu
r,, , .Killer the -uni
„, .. ind-ivaii;
|Kii .mil les liir
„■ : r ll.ltlVes, illl
,s: 1 I iliiiil the I'M
,V. Icllj,flli, ill'-''
ah I I'npiiiidciii V .
■\\ - iiiviiiily il'-'i"
1,1 ; ill i; into till-
C.I I, id ,iiid wi
tl. laiiiMl. by ill
c- . Mciulr/ , the
fr-,1 out bv Ov.m
(J
ALi.MIN'IsI'li.VMfiN
(il'i'Ki:ss|(
hiiMki: rcl.itin;;
11,-" iiii'.i.i, it is pr>
Ii'' 1! ir. 'iiai'lices 'V
li:< i 'r liu- ;;iivel!lllli
0' . hriiturers ol \
tl ' i-.i;.;cr specul.
I) < ;-ii-..li)VVH ^ellll
a -vjH-'iMi; lo eiir
1- -III A Here ;4oal
s;:,; Tl- lit the Mill I
I) 1 i:-,^. 1 iiev h.i
( ..l>. V.llll .ICCOIl
r . .'11 liurned 1
''.'■ .'.k-i ihsl.llli e.
1' ,- -iviili .ube'itiii
h ; ; :i;-. kii.ips.n k s
''i ■. 'iiiiij; iiiipleii
• i.;a^. Ill' >;i'iuli
c \ till a bili'ilens
a ' lii'kv vv.i^ lie
1 , !ii' .viUild be
i ' ! .it irci-^aie.
' , -! whii ^h'lUid
'. ^lll,i; tliey h.id 1
I ■ <■■■: ru lies ;
• I-, " that L;old
■ ' r'MiliU ,is Iriii
'■ -i, liDiVi-vi-r,
' iliat it vv.i.^ I
I lawi'ls lit die
"' ' i'.-:ii h.id lu'vi-r
' ''-■! e\iierieni'e ,
' '■'■ : III. It. Ill f,u
'•'' '^ e\ci-ediiiL;lv
' I' I' .111(1 much
' it iiiicert.imtv
' '■, Inn toiiiul
' w liy their im
'1 ri.-tin-iiei| u
llii-ir labor, " s
'4
.«*.* .,
I.IKI': AND VOVAdKS OV COLUMBUS.
213
Hnncil llK'ir nffcncos . hut on one roiulitinn, that
ilK-iiiinj,'.'''"''i. Ki-.iiuisa) I'on-.is, should nin.iin
a pris.mri-.
' A', it \M-> 'lilli'iilt '" '"•I'l"'"" ''" '"•'">■ l"''^i'i>'^
bn iKunI ol lla' sliips, iiul .IS (luarrcls miKlit tal«-
hluv lu-twi'rii |nTsons who I. ad so recently liciii
ftt'hious C.Uinihus iKil the late lolUiwers ot I'or-
^tisin4r'r ihe .■oniinuiil ot a disereet and laithdil
mm' ui.lui^'i'J^''"'"^ > li.ii-,;e a (Hiantityot I-airo-
"pean •II'"''"' lor tin- imipose ot purdiasui^; tood
bf ilii ii.itivis. (hreiliil hint to foia^je ahout the
j|,„iil iinlil till' e\])r.-te(l vessels should arrive.
Al lcii;,'ili, ilKi' ■' I""'-; yearot alternate hope
anil I ■■-.li'iii'li'ii' '• ''!'■ '1 'n'i<^ "' ''"■ Spanianis
•^vciv iivliilly ilis'pelled hy the si^d\t ot two vessels
•5,;,i„|,,j, 1111,1 ih.' h irho'r. Hue proved to he a
sluii iiavJ .Hid well vielualled, at the expense ot
'tlv.'.itliiur.il. In the taitliiiil and indetati^jahle Di-
Vi'ii MiMiili''' , the other had heen suhsefpiently
lltcil out by Ovaiidu, and put under the conimand
I of Die^jo de Saleedo, the adniiral's aj^ent emplny-
I eil lo ( olleit his rents in San lJomin;;o.
riie hnit; neglect ol Ovaildo to attend to the re-
liet (it (oluniluis had, it seems, roused the puhlu
indignation, insoniueh that aniniaiKersions had
been made u|)on hisionduct even in the jiulpils,
I'his is attirmetl liy Las Casas, who was al Sai)
Domiiij^^o at the time. It the j^overnor had realh
: t'litertaiiied liopes that, (iurinj^ the delay ot reliet,
Columhus mi^dit perish in the island, the report
lirouj;l;t h.u k hy i;s<-ol)ar must liave completely
disaiipomled him. .No time was to he lost it he
\\ished to cl.iim any merit in his deliver.ini c, oi
to avoid the disj.jrace ot haxiiiLj tniallv nej,decte(l
him. He e\;erte.l himselt, theieloie, at the elev-
enth hour, and dispatc hed a caravel at the sanu
time with the ship s( nt hy Die^o Mende/. The
latter havin^j faithtuUy discharged this pari ot his
i mission, and seen the ships depart, proceeded lo
; .Spain on the further conccrnii of the admiral.*
I
BOOK XVII.
■
CHAPTF.R I.
AD.M1N'I>I'RAII'>N "f OVASli') IN' I1ISP.\N10I.,V —
lil'l'KI s.lON UK I III-: .N.MIVKS.
liKloRK relitiiiL: the return ot Columhus lo
HisiMiiii.Li, it is iiroperto nuiice someot the prm-
cipil nil urrences 'vhicli took pl.ici- in tli.il isl.ind
tiii(|i-r the ^rovermneiu ot Ovando. A ^reat crowd
,0\ .1 1,1-iuiirfrs ol various r.iiiks had thnmj^ed his
flivt ii;.;'er speculators, credulous dreamers, ,ind
l)r'iKf;i-.lo\vii nfiulemen ot desper.ite lortnnes ;
.'i'.! i'\|)i';:l!aj; to eiirjrh themselves suddeiiK in .in
I--'. 111(1 w Mere ijoid .\,is lo l)i; jiicked up Iroiii the
surlier (it ihc -^oil or gathered from the mo.iiit.iin
1): i'i:-.>. I iicy li.id si'.ircelv l.mded. sa\s l.js
C.i.i.i^. v.lio accDinp.inied the expedition, when
tVv .'li liiirried lilt t.) the mines, .ihout eij;ht
ifi;riu-> (hsl.inii', 'I'he ro.ids sw.irmed like , nu-
ll:, iS, wiih .Khe'itiircrs ot .ill cl.isses. l-",\-ery one
h,i I ill', kii.ips.nk stored with biscuit -r tlour, .md
h - i.'iiiiiiL; iiii|ileinents on his shoulders. 'l'lio,e
hiM.i^ii-. (ir i;ciitlenieii, who h.ul no serv.in' > lo
c,iir\ llK ',1 liiir.iens, hore them on their own 1> i. ks,
a'l I lurkv \\,i^ he who had a horse tor Uie joiir-
II-.; !ii' Ao'.hd In- .ilile to lirini^ h.ick the ^re.iier
lnl.il •iici-^are. 'I'liev ill set out in hii;h spirits,
'■'■ri \\ii" should tirst re.ich tlu; j;i.lden l.ind ;
'.1. iikiii;.; iliey had hut to .irrive .ii the mines and
'■Ici; ndies ; 'tor they l.incied," .s.iys l„is
• :>.i'. " that i,'ol(l w.is i.'i l)e ij.ithereri as e.isilv
■i.l n-.uhlj .is Iruit tiom the tn'-es." When they
■I '''•'■■'i. lu)»vcM-r, they discovered, to their dis-
"'■i^ !i):it it u.is necessary to dii; p.iintullv into
tilt :iiuvcls (il ilie earth- -a labor' to which' most
"' 111' 111 ill. I iiev'T heen acci-Momed ; th.it it re-
<| I I'M (.•\|)c|-icn(-,. .111,1 sa;r,-i,ity to detect the \cins
"''■'-': tiwit. Ill t.iit, the whole |)rocess ot mining;
^^i-i L-xccnliiiL^lv toilsome, demanded vast p,i-
L' .111(1 much experience, .md, .after ,ill, w.is
't iiiK eri.nntv. d'hev di^^L;-ed e.i^;erlv lor a
t|iiif, 1)111 toimd no (ir(-.' 'fhev grew i'luiij^rv,
':'tw liy ilten- im|ilenicius, sal ilown to e.it, aiid
|;i;^ii ix'tin-ned to wurk. It was all in v.iin.
ll'iiii- l.ilioi," says f..is C.isas, "g.ive litem a
I'-ii,
1
keen appetite and (piick dii^ostion, but no gold."
'I'hey soon consumed their provisions, exhausted
their ]).itience, cursed their inhituation, and in
* Some l)ricf notice of tlic furtlicr fortunes (.f Diego
Menifez m.iv lie iiUere.stIng lo the renter. When Kin)^
l'"er(lin.in(i heard of his faitliful services, says ( )vie(l(i,
he tiestmved rewards upon Mendez, and jiermilteil
liiin loheara canoe in his coat of arms, as a ineincnto
of his loyally. He oiuiniied devolcdiy alt.ichetf to
th(? admir.d, servim; liini ze.ilously after his return t(i
.Sp.iin, and durinj; Ins last illness. Columluis retained
the most Rr.iteful and affectionate sense of liis tiilel
ity. C)n his de.uh l)ed he promised .Mendez lh.it. in
rew.ird for his services, lie should he a|)poiiited prin-
cip.il altjiMzil of the island of Hispaniohi, an eni;aRe-
nienl wtiich the adiniral's son, Don Die.ijo, who was
present, cheerfully undertook to perforin. A few years
.ifterw.ird, wlien the latter succeeded to ihe ollice ol
liis fattier, Mendez reminded him of ll«; promise. Init
Doll DicKO informed him th.it he had ^;i\en ttie otfue
to tiis uncle Don Uartholoinew ; lie .issured liiin, liow-
ever, th.it lie sliouUl receive sotnethinu; e(|uivaleiil.
,Men(Jez shrewdly refilled, thai the e(iuiv,iient li.id bel-
ter be Kiven to Don H.irtlioloniew, and the ollice to
himself, accordini; to av;reeinetu. i'he promise, liow
ever, remaiiu-d imperfornied, an 1 Dieijo Mendez un
rew.irded. He was aderwan.! eti.n.i^ed on voyai;es of
discovery in vessels of his own but met willi m.iny
vicissitudes, .ind appears to tiive died in iinpov-
erislied circumstances. His List will, Irom which these
o.irticul.irs are princip.illy ^'.utiered, was dated in
\'aIl.idoliil, the ii;th of June, isjO, by whidi it is evi-
dent tic must have liceii in ttie prime of life at the
time of Ills vovaL;e with the admir.il. In this will he
re(|ilesl<:d that the reward wtii,-|i ti.id licen promised lo
liim sliould be p.iid to his ctiildren, by maUini; tiis eld-
est son princ ip.d altjuazil for life of the city of San
Domingo, .md his other son lieutenant to the .admiral
for the s.inie cuy. It does nol appear wliettier this
re(|uesl w.is complied witli under llie successors of
Don Diego.
In another clause of his will he desired th.it a l.irge
stone sliould lie pi. iced upon liis sepuUhre, on which
slioull be engrave, 1. " Here lies the lionorable C.iva-
lier Diego Mendez, who served greativ the royal
crown of Spain, in the conciuesl of llie Indies, willi
the .idmiral Don Christopher CoUimlius of glorious
memory, wlio made the discovery : and afterward l)y
himself, with ships al his own cost. He died, etc.
i !
:'■ f};.
:i'r'f
.i-il.k
214
LIFE AND VOYAGKS OF COLUMBrS.
Vk
■\ ;
. I "
eiSir
iilil
if f-
cii;tU (lays sit off dronrily (in t!icir rfturii aloiii;
the roacU tlu'V liatl l.iti'ly tnnl so cMiltinnly.
Thcv arrived at San niiiiiini;() witlunit an oiiui c
(it j;ol(l, halt-taniishcd, downcast, and dcsnaii-
Imj;.* Suidi is tcio olttii llu' case of tiiosc who
ikjiiorantiy t'n;,M};i' in nuninLj nt all s|HTnlations
tnc most brilliant, ])roinisins;, and t.dlacious.
I'oMTly soon Icll upon tlu-sc niis,L;iiidcd nvn.
Thcs txliaiistrd the lutlc property lirciiij^lu Iroin
S|iain. M.inv ^iillercd eNtrenu-ly from luini;('r,
and were ohli|,^ed to exchange even their a|)p,irel
for hread. Some tornied connections with the
old settlers ot the island ; hut the j;reatir \i.\\{.
were like men lost and bewildered, and just
awakeneil trom a dream. The miseries dt the
mind, as usual, heightened the sufferings dt the
body. Some wasted .aw.iy and died brokeii-
liearted ; others were hurried off by raging le-
vers, so that there soon perished upward of ,i
thousand mm.
tU.iiido w,is reputed a m,in of gre.it |)rudence
and sagacity, anil he cert.iinly took si'\eral judi-
cious nu-asures tor the regul.itidn of the isl.md
.■\ni| the relief of the colonists. He ni.ide arr.nige-
ment-^ tor distributing t!ie m,ii-iied persons .md
till t.imilies which h.id come out in his fleet, in
tour towns in the interior, granting them impor-
tant privileges, lie r(\i\fd tile drooping /e.il lor
mining, by reducing the loy.d share ol the prod-
uct trom one half lo .i third, and shorth atlei- to
a lifth ; hut he em|)owereil the .Spani.irds to avail
themsi'lves, in the most oppri'ssixc manner, ol tin;
labor ot the unhappy n.itives in working the
niines. Tile charge ol treating the n.tlive-, with
severity had been one ol those chietlv urged
against Columbus. It i-. iiro|)er, therefore, to
notice in this respei-t the conduct ot his succes-
sor, .1 man chosen lor his jirudeiu e and his sup-
posed ca]iacity to goM-rn,
It will be recollected that when Columbus w.is
in a m. inner compelleil to assign lands to the re-
beiliou.-. followers of I''r.uuisco Roldan, in l-H)'.),
he had made an arringemeiu th.it the c.ici(|ues
in their vicinity should, in lieu ot tribute, turnir,!i
a number ot iluir suliieds to assist them m culti-
vating their estates. Thi-,, as has been obii-rved,
was the comniencemein ol the disastrous sssiein
o; repartimienio,, or distributions of Indian-,.
When liob.idill.i .idministered the government, he
constrained thecaciipies lolurnish a certain nuin-
lier ot Indi.ans to e.ich S]ianianl, tor the purpose
ol working the mines, wheie they w»-re employed
like beasts ol burden. Ik: made ,in enumer.itioii
cir. Ifestow in charity a Palcnioster, and an Ave
Maria."
He iir:lcied that in the midst of thi? stoiir there
should he carvcit an Indian raiioc, as jjiveii limi by
the kinc; for armorial (jearinKs in nicniori.il of his voy"
aije from Jamaica to I iisp.miol.i. .mil above it shnuld
\)c. entjr.ived. in huxc letters, the word " C.WOA."
Ho enjoined upon Ids heirs to he loyal lo the admiral
(Don IJicno Columbus), and his lady, and g.ivc them
mu'h ghostly counsel, mingled with pious hcneilii -
tions. .Xs an heir-loom in his family, he hcquealhed
his library, consisting of - few vniiimes, which ac-
I impanied him in his wancii-rinRS— vi/ : " The ,\rt of
Holy Dyinn, by I'.r.istmis ; .A Sermon of the s.imc
author, in Sp.inish ; The I.iri;,'iia ami the Colloi|uies
ol the same; The History of losephus ; The Mor.il
Philosophy of Aristotle;' The Hook of the Holy
Land ; A Mook railed the Cor.t(.-nipl.ition of the I'.is-
sion of our Saviour ; A Tract on the \'enne.inre of
the Death of A),'anieinnon, ami several other short
tie.itises." This ( uriotis ami char.icterislic testament
is in ihe archives of the Duke ol \'cra,.;ua in Madrid.
* Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib, ii. cap. d.
of the n.ilives, to i>re\i'nt evasion ; rnhi ..i
into cl.isses, .111(1 distributed them aninr
Sp.inish inh.ibil, lilts. 'I'he enorm.ni', imnrpC,,,. I
which ensued h,l\e been lloticeil, i'lm :„ V
the indignation (d Is.ibell.i ; and when'iiii.i.
was sent out to supersede l!(d),idil|.i. in i;t ■
natives were pronounced free ; the\ inii'ii
refused to l.ibor in the miiK-s.
( K.indo represented t(. the Sp lllisii ,(iv( r.-'i
in 1303, th.it ruiiii 'is coi!se(|Uen( es rcMriirri in-,
C(dony trom this entire liberty granted to tl.,.u,
di.ins. He sl.ited that the triiuue 1 milil n-iA |
collected, lor the I nib, ins were \a/\ .iikI inim
dent; th.it they could only be kept lri:ii\;^|
,ind irreguharities b\' occupation ; th;ii tlnv ;•»
kept aloof from the Sii;ini.irds, ;iiid hn:'
struction in the Christian faith.
The hist represent, ition h.id ;in iiilknii'i- \ii:! I
Is;ibella, ;ind drew ;i letter from the sdvi-vitnj
to ()v.imlo, in 1503,111 which he w.is iiri!(rvi:;i |
sp;ire no |) lins to .itt.e h th.e n,ui\-es to li, >■
ish n.itioii ,iiid the Catholic religion. !•■
them labor iiioder.iteiy, if absolutelv es^ : : ,
their own good ; but to temper autlioril\ >.\ ■.'
su.ision .111(1 kindnesr,. To p.iv them it,;.
and f;iirly lor their l.ibor, ;ind to li,i\c i:,,:.-
structed in religion on cert.iin d.iys,
Ov.indo ;i\.iiled himselt ot the pcwu .
him bv this letter to their tidiest cMcin. I:
signed to e;ich Cistili.in ;i cert.un nii::i!n 1
di.ans, ;iccording to the (pi;ility of the :iji|i:;. r;
tlu' iKiture of the ap|dic,ition, or his own \t .<■:
It w.is .irr.ingcd in the term ol .111 order u,; ,; .•
ciipie tor ,1 i eit.iin number ol Indi.iiis. w ■ .,-
to be |),iid by their employer, iind ni>irii.;M;
the C.ithobc i.iith. 'I'he ]):iy \v.is si)Mii!,.>:
be little belli'r than noinin.il ; the in-.lriii li : > ■
little more tluin the mere cereiiior.y oMm ii.-
;ind the term ol l.ibor w.is ,it liist ^i\ lno;l:l.^, .
then eight moiul.s ill the ye.ir. I'lidrr' ■■
thii hired l.ibor, intended tor the goml ; :
their bodies ,md their souls, more iniolir.i'i..'
w;is e\:icted froni them, .ind more horiih!'' ".•
tici wvw intlicted, th;in in the worst d.u > ■ ■ n
;idi!l.i. Thi'\ were sep.'UMted olleii thci! -'i
ot sever.il d.i\s' journe) trom their \m\c, c
drill, ,ind ilooiiu-d to intoler.iblc 1 ih'r
kinds, extorted bv the cruel intlictioii ni '.Ir .;■
I'or lood they h.id the c,iss.iv;i bri .id, .111 :>.
stanti.il su|)port for men obliged to l.ih.n . ^ :
times :i sciiity ])ortioil ot pork w.is ill-.!; ':.'
among a gre.it number of them, sc.irce .1 ;:'.i- ■
lul to e;ich. \Vhen the Spani.irds wIujm:;"'
tended the mines were ;it their r( pi^l •■ ■- '■
C.is.is, the himi.ihed Indi;ins scramliled iii' :•;■.•
lablr, like dot;s, for any bone thrown ',11 ;::f
Alter they li.nl giKiwed ;iiiil siu kcd i'. ■■ ■
])ounded it bilweeii stones .mil mixed ilv.r.ii;'
iMss;i\.i bir.ul, tluit nothing ol so |)rii Mil'.-. '- '" '
sel might be lost. .\s to those w.l'o l.tli. ■■
the fiehls, thev ne\er t.l-^^l■d either lli ..i e'' '■" ■
little c.iss.uM liread and ,1 lew roots were thr:r .'.i:-
))ori. While the Sp;inKirds thus wiiiilin'i '•
nourishment necessary to sustain their lic.iit' i"
sti'ciigth, they ex.icted a degree of l.ibol siiil ' ^ ■'
to bre;ik down the most vigorous man 1'''
Indi.ms lied from this incessant toil am! 'r ■
ous coercion, .iiid took refuge in the iin''" • "
they were hunted out like wild be:isti. m ' '~'
111 the most iiihum.in m, inner, .md ladin '•*■■
( hiills to |)re\ent ;i secoild esi-.lpe. .M.my 1 ' '''
ed long bidore their term ot labor had I'V
Tliosr \slio sui'\iveil their term ol si\ ci •!>
months were permitted to return to their I. "
until the next term coiiin.eiu cd. Lut thvir 1: '•'
Ur, (liter. Iciiv. '^i''
fh,, i'.i.l nnthingl
I,,,. Mit ;. tew i|
„,ivd'|-''.l'l- W'
ar(Mil|'^ ■■vl'"'!' M
„,.„o;.ii- 111 --iistaij
iiviioMii the lo'-irl
hv'ilu' wav . - mic
[j, |..|- I he sh.ide ot i
\\ ir ^lielier tro'ii t|
je,i,l 111 th'Toad, '
,,. iimlcr the tree^
lentil, liindvciTiiig|
»•!,,> iiMclicil their
h,..,: ilcsiil.ae. I'J
jjii 'M-i'ii .ihsen'
lith.T iirri^lu'il 01 \^
ihii', llvv ilep'.-ti'ii-
L,.],. :inl iKillini;]
lovMi, exhausted anl
hroii-'M lit their h i|
It ;, iii)i)ossii)le i|
lire ilrnvii hy the
L-h..; liL- hill he.ird,
iur;' I'l 1 hain.inity
if
S't:'
ill-
a-
ki
Oc
51;
a
f;..
e:'
tint, so 11
: 1,;-, mllicied i;
' . e, th.lt thev
• AiTc, Iroin I'
, liiciiiselvtS Ii
.line the power
, d the inlants
:, 1)1 wretchedii
IV, 1 since the di^
iiiiii.lreil tiiou,
iienslie I, miser
■;.i' ol the while
CF
n:\--\cui: .vr x.\i
II K siilterings o
. Ill Ov.indo ha
ii to '^nve ,1 con
.'■. Ill this conr,
;• e.uiy luston.i
•• .1 purtion <i
1 1 \\\\\ he rei ou
• ntiiiu-s ot ( 'o!
lorDii'^di suhiu
(s\;,|, e\t''rnnii.itioi
[All i lii-,t, we must
|lte,i;iiit;il pruviiii e 1
\Ui'-\\'. the rehlge ol
ot li'.e Lite ul lilt
ioihe liie ])rule ot
{fr:i"i I ot white inei
lii'hi'ihiu. liie ;in
[he'll',; ilf.nl, .\n.ic.i
Id I U' Doverninriu,
slie ii:ice manliest
[Rr'Tiv we.ikened
I proliKeJ in her c
;Ri V lA.iihite.i in
the !r/.:.'nvers ol I
lthcli)Vi->ot her hi
I with the young S
' has Casas, Hi-
i I'jid., libi sup.
A*%JA,- ■',
LIFK AND VOYAGI'S OF COLUMBl'S.
ai5
Ifer'
(ilicr,
fditv, sixty, and ci^^tUy lf.ii;ucs distant. [ liad alsd causrd her ^(rral aflliclion ; and, finally,
flu", h.iii iiiiliiiii.w' '" ■''
isi.iin thciii iluoiinii till
burnr'
In.t
;i ti'w mots or .i^\
)c|)|)cis, or a
littl(
s-,iv,i iiriMii
ariWii|is, w
hc.ipi!>l(' "'
lionii
Wiiin (louii liy Idii)^ tdil and cruci
huh their IccMf i(m-.tiliitii)ns witc
siistnmiiij,',
any h.id not slmi^^ili
hi' loiiriicy, 1)111 sank down and dici
Ijv {]][■ wav . Si line
l)V till- side in
i
ivl-r 1
iH'sha.li' ot a iri'i', whtrt-
a l)r()i)k, others
tlu'V h.id rrawl-
.hi'iicr
trivii till- sun. " 1 have loiiiul many
HtMil III lIl'Til.l
savs
IS C.as.is,
)liicrs
KMsp-
IfC ihf tifi's, and others in the |i.in^;s o
d
tlie \anous and enilurmj.; hardships inihrted
on lii'r oiue liappy sMl)|e( Is by the ;.;rindilii( sys-
tems ot l.ihor eiiloixed l)\ iioli
iiad at
idilla am
I ()\
eiij^'tli, It is said, coiuertcd her triem
Isl
111)
nil'
Ivcrvinti lliin,t;er I hmij,'er
Th
into ahsohile detest, ili
'I'iiis (hs;{ust w.is kept alive and a^^Mav.iled i)y
the S|).im,inls who lived in her immedi.itt; nei;,Mi'-
horhood, and h.id obtained grants ot land there ;
.1 remnant ot the rebel t.iction ot Kohl. in, who re-
t, lined the ;.;russ lii enlioiisness ailii open protli-
leeii indul},'ed under the
;;.ii'y m whieh they hai
jiio iv.ichnl dien-
honi
es most I iimmonlv loum
hem ik'siiL.tv.
Diirin'r the eivht months tluv
■ad liri-n .ihsent. duir wives and eluldreii
had
lith'.T pfrislifd or wanderei
iw.iv ; the fields on
•-^-hic'i they depfii
led lor loud were overrun with
lose misrule ot th.it rommander.
and will) made
themselves
lious to the inleriur etc
aiK
UjUl
'1' '
i'xaitini,'- servKcs tyr.iiinnally
under the b,inetul system ot rep.iriimientos.
1 he Indi.ins ot lias proviiue were unitor
by
isly
miv
epresented as a more intelligent, polite, and ^vn-
.'iiiit no
thin^ w.is left them but to lie I eious-s|iirui'd r.ue th.m ,iny others ot the islands
lo«n. fxhaiisted ;ind despairing.
d ill
It ll
le
h|■^■^^^lill
t ihfir ha
bilatii
rsue anv farther the pi
Th
.■re thi
ne to feel and resent ll
l! IS iinjiDssihle to pu
■,ture 'iriwii bv ihe veiier.ible l.,is C.is.is, not ot | the ciiiipies and tlu
overbearini,' tre.ilmeiit to which ihey were sub-
jected, (hi.irrels sometimes took pi,
ice t let ween
wh.u he h.iil Ikmi'iI, hut ot wh.it he h.ul seen ; n,i-
tiii;' I'l I hiiniamtv revolt at tlie d(
t.iils
Sullii
itM -
8iitt-r!'
ill" r.ic
lit, so iiUoler.i
Ilk
were the toils and
iiitlicled upon this weak and unolteml-
th.it thev s.iiil
der them, dissolvi
t uxTf. Ironi
the
)t th
e e.irlh. M.mv
kiiii 1 ihfitiselves in despair, and even mothers
ime the powerful instinct of nature, and de-
il their breasts, to spare them
welve years had not
over
str'n..-(!
the
iiilants
ir opjiressors.
Tl
lese were
immedi.itely rejinrted In the j^roveiiior as d.m^ar-
ous mulinies, and ,i resistance to any capricious
.ind extortuin.ite exaction was m;i<;nil"ied into a
reb(dlious resistance to the authority ot f^'overn-
meiit.
ompl.unts o
f tl
lis
kind
were contmu.illv
pourinir in upon l)\-.indo, until he w;is nersu.ided
l)y some .al.irmist, or some desij^nmj; misi
hiet-
mak(
thit there w.is
tl
-laid
conspiracv
a ii!f III \vreii'iie(niess.
fl.ipv
inil
and sev-
I siiue the discovery of the isl
iiii.lii'd thousand ot its native inhabit. ints
1. |lL■l•l^!u• I, iniser.ible victims to the grasping
among the Indians ot this pioMiice to rise u|
the Sp.miards.
Dv.-mdo immedi.itely set out for X.iragu.i at the
lieail of three hundred tnoi-soldiers, ,irmed with
av^rici'
ol ll
e while men.
Cil.M'TKR II.
.-v\CI;K XV \.\RAi;tA -1-ATI-: of A\.\C.\()N.\.
!>5o3l
I'llK suttering.i of the n.itives under the civil
iv-;. iilitvanilo have been brielly shown ; it re-
;:h '.') "ive ,1 conii
A th
se view ol the miiit.irv oner
IS comm.inder, so lauded b
swords, ,iri]uehuses, ami cross-liows, .ind seventy
llorsemeii, with cuirasses, bucklers.
ll h
He pretended that he w,is going on a mere \isil
of triendship to An.ic.iona, and lo make arr.inge-
meiits about the payment ot tribute.
\V
A
n.icaon.i he.ird ot tlie intiiu
led
\i.-iit,
she summonei
al
her tributary cai
iijue-
principal subjects, to .issemble at her chief town,
th.il they might rec
en e
th
e commander o
f ihe
.Sp.mi.irds w iih I
leroming luimasre and ilisiinction.
;'u' i-arlv historians tor I
y cert.iin > tem.ih
As ( ly.indo. al the he. id ol his little armv, ap-
pro, iched, she went forth lo meet him, according
to the custom of her nation, .ittended bv ,i great
train ot her most l.li^tinguislu•d subiecls, \nA\v .tiul
puriion
till
lis prudence.
Hv tl
,h
li.is been lietoie obser\cil.
•nttui
isuirv ot this
■al willbe recounted which is connect
lUiiu-i of Columbus
d which
ed with
cnmiirises
noted tor superior trrace ani.1
oe.iuis'.
Tl
ceiveil the Spaniards with iheir popul.ir arcvtos,
their nation.ii soii^js ; the youn;>- wiimen waviiiLT
:i'irmi<,di subjugation, and, it may almost
ii.ilm lir.inches .im
I (I
inciii'./ before them, in
th
'.'vti'ninn.ition of tht
native mh.ibitants.
way that h,id so much charmed the followers ot
lii-^l. we must irr.ii ot the disasters of tin
Uu
AiU
.in
t.ido, on his tirsl visit to the iirnviiu
"''■li i>nivmcc lit X.ir.igua, tlie se.it of hos
mac. ion, I ire.ited the irovernor \\itli thai nat-
iMf rcliiife ot the
I.Ut'
-It ll
suffering Spini.irds
pi- I ur.il gr.iciousiiess
.mil
disjniU' for which she w:
f Uie
tI ot
liride ot the i
le female cacicpie. A
lebr.itei.1. She g.ive him the largest house in
Willie men.
sland, and the generous
la, ] the place tor his residence, and his
■•ii'iiiiu. iiie
■iiu. iiie ancient 'Mciipie of this province,
;'i'-.id, .\n.itaoiM. his sister, had succeeded
i^,i;i)ienimriu. The marked partiality which
'.•"■'• manitesied lor ihe Spaniards h.id bee
(pi.irlereil m
tl
the I
louses adioinm}.
peop
For
ll
eniert. lined with alf ihe
afforded. N.i-
davs the Sp.mi.irds une
ii.itural luxuries that the province
lional songs .and dances .iiid g.imes weic pci-
tormed lor their amusement, .incf th' u- was meiy
'V WfMkened by th
outward demonstration o
t th
le same luispiialitv,
I hired
e gener.il misery they h.id [ the same .imity, that Anac.ion.i had unitormi
111 lier country, and by the I
irutai
irolli- ; shown to while men.
^;^_^'nme.l in her immediate dominions by I Noi wiih->t.indinir all this k
'.vers o
I Kold
.1 I
unh
indness.
and
>•
not-
Ul.'
HT bt-autitul iLiii'-hter II
VliUll;
S|),iniard llern.imki de (luev.ir.
ppy story ot withst.indm
i''uen.imola, .n
uniform inii
nly ot coiuluct.
.,is (.
'•Jill., ubi .'jui
''sas. Hist. Ind.
jp. 14, .MS
111 open gi'iuMosity ol ch.ir.icler, < ivamlo was
■rsuided that Anac.ion.i was secretly meditating
icre ot himself and his fiillnwer-
IlisloM-
ans tell us nothing ot the grounds for such a be
lief, ll W.IS too ))robal)ly produced by the nusrep
.Iti
2 It'.
MFK AND VOYAGKS OF COLUMBUS.
rcscntatioiis of llic mi])! :ui iplcti advciuurcis who
inlotfil lilt' pniviiu-f. Kvando shoiilii li.ivi'
paiiM'il and Vfllft tcil ln'toic lie acU-d iiiniii it. Hi-
sliiuild liavc 1 iin^idi'ii'd the impnibalnlily ol stirti
ail aUi'inpl l>y ii.ikcd Indians ai;ainst so lar^,'f a
1 in (■ lit >t('fl il.id troops, arnu'd with I'.iiiopc ii,
\\ca|)oiis ; and lii- slunild have rclk-ilcd upon llu'
};fni'ral liiaraiUT and londiiit ot Anaiaoiia. At
anv iMtc, tlif fvaniple sfl icpcalfdly by t'oliinihiis
anil his hrolluT llu' Adi'laniailo should have (on-
\iincd liiin that it was a sulliticnt satf^;uaid
;i).jainst the iiiai'hiiiations ot llic nativt's, to sti/c
ii|ion tii<-ii" caiitiUfs anil detain tlicni as liosta^jt's.
'l"hf pi)lu-v ot (K.iiido, lio\vi-\i'r, was ol a more
rash and sanguinary naluif ; lie ailrd upon hus-
pii iiiii as upon coiuution. lie dcttrniint'd to an-
tiiipatc the allcj;ed plot hy a eounter artilii'e, and
to overwiielni this deteiu'eless people in an indis-
iiiminate and bloody venj^jeanee.
A-. the Indians had enlerlained their ),Miists with
various national jjaines, Ov.mdo invited them in
rrturii to witness certain i;.unes ot li:-^ louii-
tiy. Anmni; these was a tdtini; niateli or lousi
withrerds; a ohi\Mlrous j;anie whuh the Span-
iards luid learnt troni the Moors ot dranada. The
Spaiiisli eav.ilry, in those days, wire as reiiiark.i-
ii!e tor the skiltul nianai;enient as tor the osteii-
tatiou^ rap ■ i'lsnii nt their horses, Aliioni;' the
trooi)s brouj^hi out troin S|),nn by < >\-,indo, one
horseman had disciplineii his horse to pranie and
curvet in time to the music ot a viol.* 'The joust
was a|)poinled to take iihue ot a Snnd.iy alter
dinner, in the i)ublic sciuare, betore the house
where ( »vando was (piartered. The c.ivalry and
loot-s,)ldicrs had their secret instructions. 'I'he
t inner were to p.irade, not inerelv with reeds or
blunted tiltinjr lances, but with wea|)oiis ot a
iiiiire de.idly character. Tin- loot-soldiers were
to come apparentiv as mere spectators, but like-
wise armed and re.ulv t.ir .ution at a concerted
sij^nal.
-At the ap])oiiUed time the s(ju.ire was crowded
with the Indians, waitinii; to see this military
spectacle. 'I'he cu i(|Ues were assembled in the
hou->e ot I iv.indo, which looked U|)on the sipiare.
None were armed ; an unreserved coiitideiice
prev.'iiled amon^ them, totally incom])atil>le with
the tiark treachery ot which they were accused.
'I'o prevent all suspicion, and t.ike ott all ajipear-
ance of sinister desij^n, ( >vando, alter dinner, was
])layin;4" at (juoits w itii some ol his princip.il cilticers,
when the cavalry having arrived in the s(|uare,
the caciques bej^j^ed the j.jovernor to order the
joust to commence. + Anacaon.i, and her lir.iuti-
tul d.iU!,diter Hij^ueiiamot.i, withse\er;d ot lur te-
niale attendants, wen present and joined in the
re(iue-it.
< 'wnido lett his ;^Mme and came forward to a
cons))icui)Us place. When he s.iw that everv-
tliint,'- was disposed ;iccordin^' to his orders, he
^M\e the tat.il sitjnal. Some sav it was bv t.ikiii^
hold of a |)iece of j^^old which was suspended
a!)out his neck .X others by lavin^^ his h. mil on the
cross ot Alcantara, which w,is embroidered on
his habit.;! A trumpet was immediateh' sounded.
'1 h(' house in whii h An.icaona, and all the princi-
|).il caci(pies were assembled was surrounded by
sohlicry, commanded bv I)iet,''n \'elasc|Ue/ and
Kodri;^''o Mexiatrillo, ,ind no one was permitted to
escape. They entered, .uul sei/iiij.; upon tlu; ca-
* I.as Casas, Hist. Ind., lit), ii. cap. q.
+ ( Ivieilo. Cronica lie his Indias, lil). iii. cap. I2.
I I.as Casas, Hist. Ind., lili. ii. cap. c|.
■J Cliarlevoi.x, Hist. San Uomiiigu, lilj. xxiv. p. 235.
I cupies. bound them to the posts which Minp,>,|
j tile root. An.ic.nm.t w,is led tortli ,i |,i„„i|j.''
The unliappv c.icii|ues were then put to h.irri;,!
I tortures, mud some ol them, in tlu' e\i|. :„-,
.iiii^uish, were made to accuse their i|ii r.iivl
tliemselM-s ot the plot with whiili tn, , ,,
, ch,il|;ed. When this cruel IlKukeiv 0! ji,
i torm h.ld been exi'i Uleil, inste.ld ol in.,..
1 them tor atter-e\.imiiiation, lire w.i> s,i;,
j house, and .ill the cacuiucs peii>hed iiiki r.iii,,;|
' the ll, lines.
' While these b.irb. nines wile pr.i, ti-, ; ;
i the chietl.iins, .1 horrible m.iss.icre i,,,,^ j
amoni; the popiil.ice. .At the si>;n d nl tn,, ,,i I
the horsemen ruslu d into the inidsi di i|„ i.^jjl
.md defenceless throng;, tram|ilini; lliiin i,r,;.;|
the hoots ol their steeds, cultllii; them (li.vii i:;;J
their swords, and tr.iiisli.xmL; them w.iii t-'
spe.irs. No mercy w.is shown to ,i^f iimj,;
w,is .1 s,i\,ij;e and indiscrimin.ilc buiiiuiv. .\ ,
, ind then .1 .Sp.inish liorsetn. in, either ihioiij;!;!:
emotion of pit\ (ir .111 impulse ot a\ .irnr, ..ly;-
up ,1 child, to bcir It ott in s.ilrt\ , l)u;i!»ij|
b.irli.irouslv inerced by the iaincs o' las . ,'n'i;:iv
ions. llumanitv turns wiih .iori..| tii.in ,,;■
atrocities, and would t.iiii discredit tiuai,:.;
they are circuiiist.iiitially and still more mini,'.t,, |
recorded bv the venerable bishop I. a C.l^,l^,,:
was resident in the island at the tunc, .iiii' cr
\ersant with the principal ai tors 111 tins ir.i^:.!
He niav have colored tlii' picture stionniy.ii :
1 Usual iiidij.jnalii)n when the wronj;s ol tlu- hidaj |
are in question; yet, from all i oiu urr.'^; ,.
counts, and from many jirecise t.u ts wKii:. Mr.>
' for theinseUes, the scene must li.ivc Imii ;■,•
s.iiii^uinary and atrocious. ( )viedo, wlin n ,.
I in extolliii},^ the justice, anil devotion, .iiid ui,!,-,:.
i ,uid meekness ot ( >\ando, and his kind trir.r.t
I of the Indians, ,ind wlio visited the jirnM.u .
I X.iraj^'ua a few \ears afterward, recnriU •••,.':.
I ot the precedinjr circumstances; (■■•pci i.i. » '
j cold-blooded ^.ime ot ipioits pl.iyed hy ;:.••;
I ernor on the \cij;eot siuh a horrible mii:i-,.".
! the bnriiin;;- ol the (.niipK>. to the lUiiii'n;
' s.iss, ot more th.in forty. lJ:i'i;o Mcii'K,', '•■
w,is .it .\.ir,ij;u.l .It the time, ,llid (louhl!i-^ j':-
; ent on such an import. iiit oi'i .isioii, s.i,^ ::. ■
\ dent.illv. in his List will and testament, th.'.' V:
were eighty-tour caciques ei'lier burnt or 1.1;.'-
I,as f.is.is says tli.it there were eighty v.i-.' I'li;.'
I ed the lioiisi' with .An.icaona. Tlie sl.uLit:-
' the multitude must h.i\e been ^n'e.it , 'M '
! w.is intlicted on an unarmed and up.'^i>i
thronj;. .Several who esc.iped from the :''.ivM
fled in their i .moes to .111 isl.md alu '-i'. ' -
le.i;,nies ilist.oit, c.illed ( 'lU.in.ibo. 1'-. -
pursued .mil taken, .md condemned m ^ .u:.
As to the |)riiicess An.ic.Kma, she w.'- J
in ch.iins to .S.m l)omin,L,'o. The inini.''!'
trial w.'.s j^iven her, in which she w.is toisn': v
on the confessions wrun;; by torti.res li'i
subjects, .Old on the testimony of their )>u;- ■
and she w.is i^nommiously hanijed in '.■'■:'■
eiice of the iieoplewhoin she h.ld so lo'i'., in: '
si^jnally belriended.+ Oviedo h.is s.ii..;i'.
throw .1 stin'm.i on the ch.ir.icter ot thi^ i.ii'^
n.ite princess, acciisintr her ot ^real li' Al-
ness ; but lie was |)roiie to itimm.iii ''"
;icler ol the ii.iti\e princes, who tell \i'!.''~
tlie in^;r,ilitude and injustice ot his ciicinn :'•
bnu'iiipornry wriil
nil, 111 red m rcpr-f
Jl,, . ,r lier M.itne
l.ircii hv h< 1'
'till
iiiiiiin over
hr.idicr ; she
„ii.'4 tin- in-
i!i'i;i am'. Ill
S 1
IC'i'
ml '
iM lining; ll'''
nin.n'kcil .111
r.illiy ll.ld 111
i Ihi
lOlb
ICPt
If '
i.ink and h."
siv:i,;e and t
spirii W.IS CI
(li llu' while
r.uf t .loil.lbo
th
be
iiii!- ; and ■!
:i|ic,lti'illy 111
ill
n ■, ■
laini'llnlis.
,•',1 ill s.ite I'l
viriini to the
■ ,l,llllSt I'll
,,1 men, seven
Sir
n; '.'< have ■-'
k;
ill. Ills.
r tlic iii.iss.ic
til"
,: It-, inh.ihit.iir
it.
;,llr\V !■! .\ll
'.,1 llril to the
liMsi. until '
h.l ,
1. I'nr si\ !•
Ui
11!
' iv.v^in^' llic 1
: ni\-tr\t ot '
.;'■!■ tile attri;4
ti-.'
:-sji,iir. lirrdin
la
ssis n| the 1110
111
■,L-nil)liiij,' ill ■"
li.iviii.ij :it 111
re ■
.:ts, destroyed 1
v -
Ui tile must d
s;:
:^slllll. th.i whi
w.-
nnslilrrcl .IS
in
nauiiKir.ition (
f. .■
iiil .1 town ne;i
S
1 .M.iii.i lie la
;:
i'riii- I'iMcc).*
h IS the tragic
1;
1
'! .\, 11, 1411.1, .itl
■-■i)le. '.\ pla
i.va ,1'i'Hint,
V
:;, }:\ ilic'ir vi
: iii.l ilesol.Uic
* Nehicion hecha por Don Die^o Mendc/.
rele. Col . toin. i. p. 31.}.
1 Ovifilo. I'ruiiica de las Indias, lili. ii'-
Las L'asas, Hist. Ind., lib. ii. cap. 9.
S'a
cap
CF
WAR Willi I 1
T:iK siil.iu;;ation
ll' • 'it llispaiiiol.i,
s C; iijties, have bei
ai iiinistr.itioii of (
tl. a<mnt,dl nl 11
[""icni dis'rii Is .
|'!-i-il ihi- eastern 1
I'm- \'i;ny\i- ot 1
s;:!;i tLin iliii^e i
ll iiu-il tlu- ellcctl
fi'iut-in contests w
\v rr jjiivi-riied by
Ll C.is.is dcicribe
* OvIedo, Croiiici
''■'A dk
LIFK AND VOVAGl'S OF COLI'MIU'S.
J17
()nii-mpf'"ry
Oiirtirrfi
Be I "■
las.i'liirfi
^ritfrs ol ^,'rc;it ;inllH)iily li:iv
I iii n |iri-i<''iti"K An.iiMoti.i a.-, icm.iik
CI- ii,ili\i' (.mpiifty and dignity
I |,v 111 r si)li|f.'ts, SI) as
to \\
She
kind
,|,;iiii!i:.ir. ii*''i"
[hi; liMlliiT ; s
tlicni cviii (liirin),' the liti-iinic
111' IS said to have lift-n skMlcd in
bmi
iHlli!
the .ircNlos, or k-jji'ndaiy
ball.
n.iii'i!!. .nil'
may
I iiiuliucd nun
h u
im
liinnj,' that suiicrinr ilt
i;iit' iif rclini'
ilii",! ri'iu.irki'i
.iiiiiiii^,'
r i)i'ii|)if
I III- Kf
iiciiiiy h.nl miiii' I"''' minwiird thnuij^jinm
sl.iiv.i. .Mill li'iii I'Xtiti'il the .idniiiMlKin hiilli
thi'
If ihr sivi^i- .1
Both shinl w.is I'MMi CI
ml thi- Sp.miai
11
t-r 111. mil, mi-
I iM hiT anui-.iJilf iriMi-
tll'lU II
1 til!' wliitf nii'n, .il
lIlI'llL
h Ml
1° liiisliand,
thi- I
ir.uc t- ii'ii.iiiii. Ii:i(i pt-rislifd a prisniicr in
III
.lliil ilrliMiri'lcs> I
I
i.irtics nt tlicin
ivpr.iti'illy III liff powiT, and lurd .it 1.
lions. .AliiT liaviii^' lor scxcr.ii yi'ai''
'!■«'•
jit-r il'inii
leL'Inir
s.itf iippnrtiinitics i)t vi'ii^cini't", she
viriiin to tlu- alisiinl i h.ii-|;i' ot li.niii!,'
piri'
,1'iiiist .■Ml ariiu'
d I
loilv o
I iic.irU'
ivfiitv lit lIu'iM horsmifn ; .i lorcc
luiiilri-'i iiu'ii. si
|ui;i.!-Mt ',11 h.ivc siihiiiijMtfd Lu'l;!' armii'-
id liuli.iiis
>l 11,1-
.\!iir tlir in.i.i.-i.n'rL' u
f \ai-
u'll.i the dc-.trui
Ion (it Its iiili.iliitaiits still con
timicd. Tlu' t.i\iir-
Be i-.q
hrw
•111.
.\l
Lic.inii.i, the c,uii|iH' ( iii.ior
■ hki-
il 1.1 the mmmt.iins, w.i^, luinirc
VI, .1 i'L-as'i
until
was
lakci
and
iki
lai;;
•I.
■nr >i\ niniit
iis the Spaniards coiitin
pe.l r.i\.i''iiiLr the count rv wi
th I
lorsc and
loot,
pmlir ]ii\-tr\t 111
liicll
in;r .insurrt'ctioiis
111 re
vtT the alliij,ditc.' n.itivcs took ri'tiij,;f in
jjhcirilt^ji.iir, hiTiliii'^nn disin.d c;ivfrii.s and in tin;
si;ii'Ssts "I llic miuint.iins, they wi'i't; rcprt'sci
ted
ts i^-ii'iiiiiliii'' III arms to m.ikc .a lie. id ot relic
lie
.ii
•ni^dli luintcil tlicni out ol their
iei:i-.its. ilesir.iveit manv, aiu
I redi
Itie siir\ I-
Irors 1(1 ti
II..1-.1 diplor.uik' misery
.'ind
ali|ect
lU.'inissiiiii, th. whole ot tli.it jiart ot the isl.md
w.ii consHlcre.
or.ler ; .ind
in (.niiiieMioriitiDii lit this ^rc.it triumph ( K.indo
fc:n(lc.| .1 t.iwn i
.is r. ■^tored to ^i
th
lear to the
S.I
.M.
ke. which 11.' c.iiicd
.1 I'.i/. (St. M.irv ot
th' Trill- IV. u CI. '
■^.ich IS the tra^jic.il history of the (Iclitjhtful re-
C :Mit .\.ii.i.;ii.i, .ind ot its aniiahlc and liospil.i-
w:;.h, l.v il
.\ place wliicii the Kuro|H'a
,v:i .!• i.iiim, loiind a jxTlect par.idi-
ii->,
Mir \ne
' 1!!.! iltsnlation.
passions, they tilU'd
liiit
:ith
CliAl'TI'-.l^ III.
WAR WITH IIIK .SATTVKS (H' IIIC.UKV.
I'lf ■illl.iij.Mtion oft.
1504-1
ur of the Indi.in soverei^n-
llisp.niiol.i, and the dis.iitrous f;ite ol their
^'ilies, have lieeii alre.idy rel.lted. I'mlerthi'
iiiiiisliMtii.n ot ( ivaiido \s;is also accoinnlished
^lownhill ,i|
'iiiit hstrii u
li^,niev, till' last (if those indi
I'i-ihI th.- e.l-,
s;:r;l ti
■ 1 tertile province wliicli loni-
crii e\ti-.-iimv of the isl.ind.
pi'.ipi
.t II
luiies were of a more wai
Il 'IICll ill,
.in ;iiii-,c ot the other provi
nces,
fi.
a-ciu.il Use (
if tl
'|i'('inc,iiiie,i, wiihth.'irCa.ril
leir w('a|H)ns, troiii
1 mvadrrs.
T
:i('v
L„L-
Ll'iVenie.
IV .1 I ai iiHie named C'ot.ili,in,im,i.
'■-•is ilccrilu-s this chieftain In
om actual oh
Ovii-iiu, (.;
ruiiica dc las Indias, lib. iii
cap
sir\.itioii, and dr.iws the picture of ,t n.nlivc hero,
lie w.is, he sa\s, the stroli};est ot his tlihe, and
more perfectly toriiu'd than one in. in m .1 tlioii-
s.ind, ot any n.nion whatever, lie sv.is taller ill
stature ih.in the t.illesl ol liis countrymen, .1 \,ir(|
in liri'.idtli tioin shoulder to shoulder, and tlu;
rest of his liiidy in admirahlc proportion. His
aspei t W.IS not h.indsome, hut ;;rave and cmir-
ayjeotis. His how W.is not e.isily in nt liv a com-
mon man ; his arrows were three pronj,'e(l, tipped
with the hones ol lislies, ,ind his weapons appe.ir-
ed to he intended tor a t;i.int. In a word, In- was
pioporlioned ,is to be
th
e admiration
III
lards
|'.1\
even ot till
While Columbus w.is en^Mj,M(l in his iourtli
\oy.it,'e, .111(1 shortly alter the .iccession ot (ivando
itlice
there
was .'in insurrection ol this c.ici(|uo
A sh.iUop, with eii^lit Spani.irds,
as surin ised at the small island id Saoii.i. .idj.i-
iis iieoiili'
w
cent to
II:
;iiev,
and .'ill the cr
cw sl.iiij,ditere
This w.is ill ie\eiiL;e lor the (le.ith ot a c.n upie,
torn to jiieces by a dot; w .iiitonls' set iijion him by
a Sp.ini.iril, and tor wliu h the ii.ilui s li.id in \aiii
sued tor redress.
<)\.indo ininieiliately (iisp.ilc ind ju.in de llsipii-
bel, .1 cour.ij,'eous otliier, at the lu .id ot t.iiir luiii-
dred men, Ivt ipiell the insurrection and ininisli
tlie massacre. Col. ib, in. una
is'^eniiiied his war-
d
liir \\:
iiroiis
resistance,
i.ini.irds, the
1 listrusttul ol the mercy o| ihe S]
chiettain rejected .ill overtures ol pe.ice, and the
war was iirosecuted with some aih'.iiu.ij^e to tlu;
natives.
1 tie
li
nil. ins h.id now o', ercome ilieir
su|ieistitious awe ot the white men .is supernat-
ural l)eiiii,fs,
tht
ind tl
.1 I
loUijIl tliev CO
uld
w ithstand
e superiority ot I'airope.iii arms, they manitested
;i cour.ij,fe and dexterity that rendered them ene-
mies not to be despised
L.
IS Cas.is and other
lisiori.ms relate a bold and roni.iniic e
between ;i sin;;l
U'rs n.inu'i
ncounler
Indian .ind two mounted cavi-
ewdr.i, in which
I Wilteiubro and I'ori
the Indian, tliou;^h pierced tliroui;li the body by
the l.inces and swords of both his .issailanis, re-
t. lined his tierceness, and continued the combat
mil he fell dead in the
u
we.ipons.
possession ol
al
their
Tl
ns ^Mllant action, says
Las C;
was puhlic and notorious.
The Indians were soon defeated and driven tr
their mount. iin retreats.
The Spani.irds pursued
them into their recesses, discovered their wives
.mil
■hild
re 11, wrea
ked
on
th
eir. the n.ost indis-
imin.iie sLumhter, and committed their chiet-
l.iins to the tlimc'
Al
1 .11
;ed female c.ic
uiue o
gre.it distinction, named Ilii;u.uiama, beiiii;
tak
en
prisoner, w.is h;illj;e(
det.iclinu'iU w.is sent in a caravel to the
for
si. ind ot .S.iona, to t.ike ]).irtic
the de
struction of the shallop
ular \en;;('ance
;iiul its crew.
Tht
Tl
le
ii.itives made a desper.ite detence .ind lied,
isl.ind W.IS mountainous .and full of c.iverns, in
w hie
or se\'en
h the Indians v.iinly souujht for refuse. Six
hundred were imprisoned
111 a iiweiiin<r
111(1 all put 10 the sword or poniardi
T
losi- o
habitants who were
the 111
as slaves, .ind tl
ired
were c. lined olt
si. ind
lelt
.ite
and
deserted
f Hi!,''uey were driven to des]
The n.itives o
seeiii}.; th.it lliere w.is 110 esca|)c
the bowels ot the e.irtli ; t thev sued tor pe.ice,
lair,
or them even in
h was ^r.inted them, .ind protei timi pn
Iti ■
)in-
i->ed on condition oi ttieir cultiv.uiii)^' a Lirj^e tract
ot l.iml. .Uld p.iyin^ a j^re.it iju. unity ot bread in
* I. as Casas, Hist. Ind.
f Ibid., ubi sup.
ib. ii. cap. S.
I •<
vvy
ii'-rf'\
i
i
If
M\
i
1:
,11
118
LIFl' AM) VOYAGI'S OF COLl'Mni'S.
tril)Ut>'. Tlio pi-aiT l)i'lnj; CDiuludi'd. Ciit.ih.i-
nam.i visiicil thf Spanish caini), where his ^ji-
ijanlii- prii|)(irtii)ns and mailial deineaiinr maile
nini an ohjeit dt euriositv and admiration, lie
was rtii'iM'd with i;ri'at (iistiiutiun In- I'.sipnhcl,
and llu'v i'\i-hanj;eii names, an Indian ie ij;m' nt
tr.iternity and pnpeiiial trieniNlnp. 'I'lie natives
thenii torward eailed the oacupie Juan de I'.s-
(pnhil, and the Sp.mish eonimander (Utalia-
naina. l^scpiihel then luiili a wnoiU'ii tiirtrt ss \n
an Inihan \ill.ii;c near llu' sea, and h'lt ni it nnie
men, with a captain, named Martin de \illaman.
Alter this the tripojjs dispersed, every man return-
int; hiiiue, with ins proportion of sl.ives i;,\ineil in
this expedition.
The p.ieiriiation was not of loii),'' continii.inei*.
About the time that siiecors were sent '.ti C'ohunluis,
to rescue liim trmn tlie wrecks of his \cssi'ls at J i-
maic.i, a lU'U revolt liroke out in liij,jiiey, in con-
se(|uence of tlie o|)pressions ot tlie Si).iniards. .ind
a violation ol the tre.ity m.ide bs ISipiibel. Mar-
tin de X'lll.iman demanded that the n. Hives should
not only r.iise the j;raiii stipiil.ited lor by the
tiiatv, but cniucv It to San !)ominf,'o, ;iml he
tre.itcd them with the ^^reatest severilv on tin ir
rtlus.il. lie connived als) at the liceniious con-
duct ol liis men toward the Indi.m women ; the
Spani.irds often t.ikiiiL; from the natives their
(!.ui.i;luer.-i and sisters, and even their wives. "
'I"he liidians, rousi'd at last to ftirv, rose <)n their
tyrants, slauLjhtered thetn, and luiriu their wood-
en I irtress to the ;,'round. • >nlv one ol the Span-
i.irds ex'.iped, .iiul bore the tidinjjs of this c.itas-
irophe to the tity of S.m I)oniinj,'o.
( KmikIo )^.ive immi'iliate ordi-rs to carry fire .and
r.word into the province of lli^uev. The S|)anish
foops mustered from various cpi.irters on the
conlines ot that province, when Ju.in de I'.scpiibel
took the' comm.md, .and had a j^-reat number of
fnilians with him as .allies. The towns ot Ilii^'Uey
were ^'riifrally built .•imonir the moiini.iins.
Those inoLint.iins rose in terr.ices from ten to t"if-
teen le.ii,'Ues in leni,nh and breadth ; rou>;h .ind
roiky, interspersed with Ljleiis of ;i reel soil, re-
m.irk.iblv fertile, where ihev raised their cassav.i
bread. The ascent from terrai e to terrace w,is
;ib:iut t".fty feet ; steej) and prei ipitous, forme(l ot
the livin^^ rock, and resembliiv.; ,i w.dl wrought
with touls into rou^h di.imond points. l'..ich vil-
l.i.ije had four wide streets, a stone's tlirovv in
K'n^uh, formin;.^ a cross, the trees lieiii;,' cleared
avv.iy trom them, and from a public si|uare in the
Cl'lltre.
Wli n the Spanish troops arrived on the fron-
tiers, .il.irm tires .ilonj^ the mount. lins and col-
umns ot smoke spread the intellii^a-nce by ni^dii
and (lay. The old men, the women, and chil-
dren, were sent off to the forests and c.iverns, .ami
the w.irriors iirejjared for battle. The Cistili.ins
jjaiised in one of the plains clear of forests, where
their horses could be of use. 'I'hev m.ide |)rison-
ers 111 several of tile n.itives, ami tried to le.irn
trom thent the plans and forces of the enemv.
■fliey .ijiplieil Kjrtures for the pur]iosc, but in vain,
so devoted w.is the loy.ihy of these jjeople to their
c.u iijiies. 'fhc Sp.mi.ards peiietiMted into iht- in-
ti'rior. 'fluy tound the w.irriors ot several towns
.issenihled m one, and dr.ivvn up in the streets
with ih.-ir bows and arrows, but jierfectly n.iked,
ainl without lietensive armor. Tliev uttered trc-
mi-iidous yells, and disi h.iri^ed ,i shower of ar-
rows ; but ti-om su( h .i distance that thry hll
bh(.!rt ot their toe. The Sp.mi.irds rejilicd willi
* Las Cusas, ubi sup.
tlu'ir crossbows, .and with two or tin,
buses, tor at this time they had but |i\\ lir, |f,j
Whin the Indians s.iw sever. d ot tlinr .
t.lll ilead, tliev took to lll^lit, raie'y v\ , •
the att.ick witli ssvor<is ; sonie ol tin u, „
whose boilies the arrows from the c^o^v .
penelr.ited to the very le.ltller. drew lllr'u ■ i'
their h.mils, bioke them with their lei'ii, |.. >
in^ them at the Sp.ini.irds with i:r]i. ;,
tell de.ld upon till* spot.
The whide lorce ot the indi.ms w.is n,
dispersed ; e.ich l.miily, or band ol nnj;li!
•ts own dirvction, and conce.iltd \\-~< .\
f.istness ot llu: motintains. The Sii.ini.'>
sued them, but tound the chase liillin,
the close forests, and the broken .i;i ;
hei),dUs. They took several prisoners .!>, r, ,„ 1
.111(1 inllicted incredible torments en in,:;;
compil them to heir.iy their ( (luntrvnii", i:,h|
drove them before them, secured bv mr ]-. !„>!(■.
ed rmind their ne( ks ; and soineni lian, ,i,;:t;
|),issed .ilon^j the brinks ol precipiKS, m, itlirr
threw themselves hcidloli).; down, iii \ "',,i:< i;
dr.i),'^i,'inv; alter them the Sp.mi.irds. \\:.r:,i
length the pursuers c.une U|j(in the iiii!i.i|,n l;.
dians in tluir i inicealmenis, they s|', ned i'.i:;r.;:
.i^'e nor sex ; even pr«'>;nant wonitn, .md ;iiui::tn I
with inf.mts in tluir arms, l»dl beiuath tlnirr-;:.
ciless swords. The i old-blooded .icts el act:;.
whiih followed tliis tirst slaii^ht' r vviual ;•
sho( kinj; to rebate.
Hence l-'.sipiibel marched to atle k ihc' ! v.-
where C'ot.ib.inam.i lesidecl, ami where lin; n.
' cicpie liad (ullected a K'''''^ foria' to i' ;ii>'. ;,;:
1 le |iro( eeded direct for the pl.ace .dull;,,' |I,ih,
I co.i.st, and came to where two id.n's l.-cl ;i;i: .
mount.iin to the town, t >ne ot \\,r im.,. •
open aiul inviting' ; lint br.iiu lies ot the ir,>
iii^'^ lopped, and all tlie underwood clciic. .n
Here the iniii.ins h.ul stationed .m .iiniuiM.c.c'
take the Sp.mi.irds in the re.ir. llu- eilurr i
was almost closed up i)y trees and lKi^i.!>.-;
dcnvn .and thrown ai ross each ollu r. I v.. i.
was w.irv .and distrustlul ; he suspe(li(l f,' j':.'
.11,'em, and ihose the encumbered in.il. F.
town W.IS about a !e.i>;ue and a h.ilt trcim li.c.'r.
'I'l.e Spaniards m.ide tiieir way wiiii i;r-,i'. u?
( ulty for the t'lrst halt iea^'ue. The it-: .it r
ro.ad was free from all embarrassnuiu «'.-
conlirmed their suspicion ot .i str.it i,;iiii. ! .<
now advanced with ).jre.il r.ipiditv, ui'i. i''' -
.irnved near the vlll.ij^e, stiddenly luriu 'i ii- ' ■
other road, took tlie party in .imiiusii bv -u::,-
.iiid made j,na-at h.ivoo amonj.; them wj': "■
( ross-l)ovvs.
The w.irriors now sallied trom I'.cri''
melit, otilers rushecl out ol the iioUscs nil'.
streets, and disi h.ir^'ed lii;,dits o! .utiav--.
from sucli a dist.iiic e as gi nerallv '.'
less. ■ ■ ■
stones
the Use of slinks. Insle.id of bein^ clis.'.wt''
seeini.; tlieir companions l.ill, it r.i'.li'-r i''"'''
their fury. .An irregular b.ittle. luoh.i' '. '
else tlian wild skirmishin;,' and bush li;,'hl. .,■ '
ke|)t up trom two o'clock in the .dtci;^ '■''^'
nii^ht. I.as C'asas was present on the "^ '^^
:'.iid, from liis account, the indi.ms iiuiV> -■
shown inst.uKcsot ^rc'at pi rson.il br.ivcry, 'i' '-
the inleriontv cjI tin ir weapons, .md llic '•*-'■'
.ill deteiisive armor, reiideiicl their v.ili-r ''■<'■'
ineffectu.il. As the evening' shut in, their h'^''
ties ;,n-adually ceased, and the\ disaiipe.inii '■'i'
prolound gloom anil close ihickets ol 'i''
njuiulmjr forest. A deep silence suc-cccil-'i'
They then approacln^d ne.iier, .ml ' -'
. Willi their hands, bein^' unac|U,i;:ac - '^^
Lr veils .in'l w.i|
L\u 'du- Spoiiarl
B,s .siua (..t ilic c I
fi\- il'.c ni'>rnii :.,
^,is In he SClll l|
hill, t'litahanain i,
hi-1'
UVCSs 111 t'x'
»,.■
-ntcst 111 ilcsp.i
Ti
s;i.ini.iril-. '-CI
u
1 iluni with ill
\.,s t(i s' l.'i- ihe
iIm
laill.i I'IhV '■'
e;i'
1 |u;hs Ici'liiv^
li-
a^niVi's h.ld
c-.uiti.ius an 1
re,!!
lajj, trcidlii^' 1
;Ti-iitv vviiuld n
■V
hi. ■
acppiii^; so li.;
:_;,■ ; vet there
11^ liichaiis th.i'
uirn 111 .1 with
tracks cil a llio
■■\' ciuiltl scent
whic-h tl'r hi
!, ,ind thus ih
111'
■111.,; se. ret ll.HI
;|,U-
'l.ivvii .1 sir,ij,'v;li
laicii'.s. 'a bet
fe
,iimi>iis, hmiliii'.;
1 ,1^. .1 jjlliclc W
Hf '.
•^f ]llai es ot rel
Phf
i.lirin, with leeb
i'ir
they ra.is-.,icrei
fcn '■
1 to inspire ter
■"'
■.,'hlen llv whole
Wir
:l tlie h.iiids ol
a;
:v, ,iiid s-iit I
til
as I'.iurs t) 1
SI
■ !cr. Niimbe
C
^ nhcisi- li.mds
\J iv.aiiv ot tilt
'. •■;.■, thmu^h an
'
■ •■ 1 ii!lc:',;; v.irs d
a
'i:;ciuijus c riifl
I
'■\[\\\ ilivir bl')
1'
h
'- ImiL;' .111(1 l
1 .
■"'.i;. I'l.ev h.li
c, s.iys till' iinlii
e
■ I'liir .111 1 tile
', ^'
'.s were slls])t
: I:
■1 i'ic,n with
S!'
ji'a (ii liicir .irn
, 0,
Til' V wr.cppei
tl.
. 'ire 1 ) i(. inn
■■ta;;.,nv
.
1 i^i uT' i-.iirril
■0'
laJic'.'s s'iil m
; 1,1
■ 1 riUMi a iiui.i
; *'
MI'll-s-,. !!,■ VV
; C"
■ ' iiit-m in his ;
;'■ th
-,>." s lid the V
.1
' '1!!'.; i'l hiini.ii
'• . .Hid iijw 1
44
T.IFK ANT) VOYACF-S OF COI.rMHrs.
219
lioir veils .iiu
1 \v,ir-vvliiio|is. .■itnl tliioiii'iiii'.!! till- ' sc.irif lulicv inj^' myself, or ulicilur t li.uc not
ijlfhi ;lu- S|
> nil. wis
ri in.iMR'il in indistiirlitd driMiiit tlicm
.■>iio
1 ut ihc \ill.i^;i
CL'-f.
(■HAITI, K IV
,1. iHi \v\K Wiril IIKU'KV— lATK i^F
Ciil AI'WAMA.
I ;,(i4.
Tin -.1' (let. Ills wnlilij li.i\r liicn witlilii Id Irom
till' |ircstiil worl; ,is (li^^r.icihil to h'iin;iii ii.iturr,
.ind ficiin an iiiiw illm),'iii s-i to .idv.mi c .in\ tliinj'
iliifli iiii^;lit ruiiNcy ,i sli;,'m.i iijioii a lMa\c .u
n
j^cinToiis nation, lint it would \h- a (Icp.irtnrc
tnun historir.d vcr.ii ily, ha\inj^ the doiiinitiits
Ix'lori' my eyes, to p. is-, siliiitly over tr.uisai tions
so ati'oi'ioiis, and vouclifd lor liy wiincsu's hcu'iKJ
.ill sii-.|iiiion of l.ilscliood. Su( li (K I iinciucs
sliow tlif I Atrcinitv lo ulm h l.iim.ui i i in-lts' in.iv
(•\tcnd, wlun stjiiiul.itiMJ In .i\i(li!\ of
•in, !)V .1
5:5 OS the nvirninj; .i
UMS 111 In- M Til
fiiT the li.ittli' not an Indian , I'l I'l"' M'>ly
ihii-it of vcni^tMinc, iir r\(n liy ,1 |iiT\<Ttf<| /cal
cuisc o
t nil
i;v
Khulin^' tint even their yjrM m turn furnished prools ot this di^^^r.u etui trut
erv M.ilion h.is
chul, Cotali.iti.iin.i, w.is in
.ililf of \ viiiji uill
.As in tli(
present instanec, tiiey .ire 1 oinnioiily
he pnuM'Jis I
t ilie white niiMi, they h,id\'iven up I 'he erimes i.f induiduils r.ither th.m ol th
Be on
test ill ili'sp.iir, .ind lied to the mount. lin^. | |
N't t it l)ehoo\e'
.11 Miiient> to krip a vij;-
.S|i,ini,inl>. seiiariliii'^ into small ii.irlies, ] il.mt e\e ujion those to ulmm they dele- Ue power
their oh- in remote and helpless colonies, h is the impe-
unlfd iliim with the utmost (lili;;enet
let n.i") Id sei/i'
ih
|ll),in;im;i. Tlicy explor
e e.ii iipies, am
ed all the
I, above .ill, Co- rious duty of the hi-.lori.in to plaee tliev- m.itl'-T-;
•Mens :\\M] eon-
uiion rerun
I, th.;l ll
eaifa p.i
he lu^,'itiv>-,
lerc c.uiti'iiis
hs liadillL: into thi- wild reeesses where heacons to futun> ^;riier.ition
■V in.iy serve ,is warning
I, id t.ikeii relii'.
The Indi.ins
.and ste.ilthv in their mode of n--
Junn <le I'.sipiiliil found that, with
111 Ills se\'er-
ities, it w.iulil lie impoisihle to sulijuuMte the
eating', tri.uliii;,' in e.ich' other's footprints, so I tribe of lli;.;uev.ii loiij,' .is the laii (iie Cotaha-
hat twfiitv wniild make no more ir.nk than om
n.ama was ,it l.iive
I'll. It
eliiejt.iui had retired to
In:' slcppiiij,' so h^lilly as si-.irre to de
he:'!},'!'; vet there were Sp. mi. irds so skilled in j the coisi ol
uMiiii; liu'li.ins th.it thev nuild trace them even ' .'imid ;i l.ibyriiith of
~h
Mirb tlu' ' the little isl.ind of S.ion.i, about two lea;;ties troin
ili^'Ues, 111 ll;e celilre of wjliill,
|0(
.111
I h
>l-
lie
h.KJ
lyi'n- tiii'iml .1 wi
then'
d le.it, .Old .imoiiL! the coii-
tr.uk
,1 tlioiis.md .num. lis.
Tlv
I'V ciuilii see
nt al.ir off .also the smoke (
it till
■(•■; whuh tiu' Iiidi.ins ni.ide wheiie\-er tin
ih'.J, ,inil tluis thev \M)uld come upon them i
t.ik( n .shellfr, with his w ile .iiid < liildi fa. in .1 \\;st
cavern.
.\ c.ir.nad, recently arrived Irom the city of S.in
I )om;ni;o w itli supplies lor the c.imp, w .is employ-
ed bv l.sijUibi 1 to elltr.ip I:
le ciCKiU^
He kl
%
111 iiU'Sl SCI nt li.uints. .Sometimes thev would 1 th.it the l.itler ke|it ,1 viijil.iiit look-out, stationing;
huR! tluun .1 sti.i;;i;liiii,f Indi.in, and compid him,
bv iiirmcnts. i.i betr.iy the hidini^-iil.ice ol his
lomp.iiiioiis, hnuliii'.; him and dri\iiij;' him before , by muhl. tlier
scouls upon the lolly rocks of his island to watcii
the movements of the c.ir.ivid. I'.sijiiibi I dep.arteil
ollow-
ire, in the vessel, with I'lttv f
nen a.s .1 j;iiiiie.
ftl'
When'ver thev discovered one , crs, ,iiid keeping; under the (let p sh.idows cast fiy
use |llilres o
t nhi;;e, filled with tl
llic infirin, with leehle women .and helpl
d .and I the land, .arrived at .Saon.i uniiercei\ed, at the
t niornin''. Here he .aiu'hored (lose in
ess cliil-
(I.IWII o
flr-.thev n.iss.icred the
ithout
mercv.
Thev with the
simre, liK
I liv its cliffs and forest
s, aiK
'»i-'nl to inspire termr thnni^hout the land, :\\u\ l.inded luriy men, before the spiesol Cot.dianama
tri;'liUMi the whole irihe into submission. Thev had t.iken I'lu ir si.ition. Two of these were sur-
lui ni'f the ii.iinls ol those whom thev took rmini;
It Mr^'f, ,ind sent liii-m,
as th
ev s.iid, to (leliver
Ik-
' .IS I'.tters to their friends, demandinj;- their
r'vlcr. Numb'iiess wa're those, savs I. .is
is. niinsr !;,mdi were .imputati-d in this nian-
d died bv
:i"..l i--..iin-
.1 tl
lem s.ink dov
'Ih' '.,•",•, thpiu'jh ;iii''iiish and los.s of blo^
(• coiuii:!
.li'.;elllou-, cruellii
delij^hted in cxercisinj; stranj^e
liev mingled
It ■ uiiii their blnoii-thirsiiiiess. Tl
horril
Ti-
led
111(1 low, so th.it the feet of the sut-
lev erei
rised .and brought to l'.s(piibei, who, li.ivin
.iriit Irom th.em that the c.iiiipie w.is .it li.iiid.
pom.arded one of the spies, a
m.ikimj' him serve as "iiide.
nd luiuad tiie otlcr,
A number o| Spam. nils ran in
.ailv.mce. e.ic
niMoiis to sit;iia!i/e himsell liy the capture
the
I iciijUe.
h
lev came lo Iwd id.ails, .1111
l>.
d the wl
party pursued th.ii t.) t!ie 11 ;iit. cm e|ilinj.j nnv
liian l.op.e/, a powiTlul m.n skiltui m Indian
W'.irf.ire. lie jiroceeded in a iootpath lo the lett,
windiii!,' amonj,'' little hi
Is. so thick'v w(
' rir.',,'.
I ihe ^q-ound, and their (hath be th.it it w.is imjiossible to s' e aii\- one .it the ilis-
■ 1. Suddeiilv, in .1 n.irrow
ie\ li.iii''i-il iliirteen to;'cther, in rev-
t.ince ot
,llt .1 Dow-slio
; V' ■!•.
if! -"ihiiir .iiid the twelve
'the in(lii;i),int L.is Casas, of our bless I p.iss, (uershadowed by rocks .iiid trees, he en
istles. While their I » ounteled Iwelvi
Ind
V; :n
d slill ll
s \vere suspended,
■1 lIUiH with their
^l:i<ii liira .inns and the edee of tlieii
ds, t
they
liows .111(1 arrows
(1 with
oliowiiu: each other 111
lan w.irriois. .nnu
o prove the
weap-
II' '. W r.ippei
til .' !
th
II''' 1 ' it. lennin.ited i|
^1 i\:'n\:\-.
em in dry str.ivv, .an 1 set-
leir e\isience bv tl'.e
ornlile ilelai
s, vel a veil IS ilr.avvn
ih
..!l„-
s",i more delest.ibl
tev' wiiae-
LC(i;
They .ire re-
s, v\ ho W.IS .111
le w.as vtnin'r at the lime, but re-
i''Hni.i iiuiallv bv Las C.is.a
' iiieiii 111 hi-, advanceil vear'
All ll
■ na ilie veiier.il
le bisluip. ' .nul others
hit
onliii'j' tl) ilieir castom.
The In-
di.ins Wire lonlolliuletl .11 the si:
■h! of I.
im.ii;iiiin;4 that there must be .1 p.nty ol soldiers
btdiind liii
r
■V niii'lu re.ulilv li.ivf trans
tixeil
lim with iheir arrows, but they had lost all pres-
•iice ol mind
le ilemaivlfil their t
hitdl;
Tht
replied ih.il he w.is behind, .iiid opining;" to let
him p.iss, I.oiuv. beheld th' c.iciipie ill the rear
At
It ot the .S|
iniard Col.ib.inama bent his
;i)^Mniic bow, and was on the poiiii ot l.iun
it his three proiiL;t'i
I .irr
OVVS. l)Ul l^o
iL
's i I liMiii.in ii.iuire, dill mv own eves bt
"»1 ii^w 1 alinu^jt le.ir lu' repe.it' them,
)[KU rustic
Las Casus, lib. ii. cap. 17, Ms.
sir"'
•■ 'if:
Mm
1 111
ii: II
M:
Z'iO
Mil': AND \()V.\c,i:s or e'oM'Murs.
uii.'ii liini .ui.l WDim.Iril Iiini \s, .1 lii'i >»\\ii|il. 'I'lif ■ |ili .1 nl its iiiiKiii.il mli.iliii.ints, ,inc! nvfij
Oilu'i hull, Ills, Nlriiik uilh I'.mK, h. Ill .ilii. Ill) ill il. m.uiinliil MilimiNsimi .iiul imiir iIi-im,.- >^|,
Cot.ili.m.im.i, iliMu.iMil .It tlif kifiinf.> nl ilir upMH ilir m .miv uiiinaiit lli.il Mir\ui,|
.swunl, iiiiii nut ih.il iu' u.is Jii.iii ill! l'.-.t|iiilHl, >Mii li \N.is \\\f iiillilf>s ss!iltiii \Oiii .1 !,.i!
cl.iiininj; iiipi 1 1 ,!■> h.i\ iiij; I si li.iii);i'il iiainrs w itli imi-iuiil, ihii m^; the .iliiciui' n| i!ic
till .S|i.iiusli I 'imm.uulir. \.o\n-' »ii/nl luiii vsilli llw i .ir.iii.iniiir lU.iiiiln; lln . inn
oiu- li.iml l>y tlif li.iir, .iikI uilh iIt iillu I .iimiil |iiiiilih.c .iinl inmlii.itinii, \s Im w.i-,
a lIuiiMt .It Ills Im(K ; liut ilif vMi nine ^iiiu k iliiwii hum iIh' .iIhim"» i>t llw i-.i,iiii|. ai|il .iim
i: n
thf swiinl with lu> li.iiiij, .mil, v,'im|)|'1iiik nmiIi
lllll !■■.%
lIu' wiiiii;;-. Ill the n.ilni s. I'j
iini.iniiiu>l, tlirt \v liim uitli lii>. li.u k u|miii tlu' ol (iilumlui^ m,i\ li.i\r luiriic li.inl ijk
nil ks. As tlu'y wrw jmili mm ut (;iimi )i(i\\ir, ili.in-., Imrii .iiul luuu^lil U|> iii iimiskul
til
f stril;;;^li' w.is Inn;; .llul Molclit.
ill
r NWnIc
Ilia It W.IS iirMT riiu'l imr •<,in;;iiin,wv
W.IS lifiif. nil thiiii, lull (.'ill. ill. in. im. I, .-.ri/ui^; tin- llu ifil tin w.intuM iiiiiss.urrs iim viniiiii
,S|).mi.iiil In llu' lliiii.il with his mi^litv li.inii, ,it i>luiu'iils ; hi-, ili'sii-f m is In iIk iish .u, |
lcin|iti'il to ^tl.ul;;l^• liim, I'lic miuihI nl till' lllll- ilif hull. Ills, .mil In rcmliT tluni iim !iil „i
ti'sl. lil(iu,;;llt tin- nllur .S|i,mi,llils tn the s|int. lint In n|i|ili's.,, .mil liilsft lltf, .mil i|; -.1
II 1.1 U,
TIli'V jiiunil tlu'ir i'()lll|Mlllnli WlltlllllLJ .lllll '.;. IS))- W'lu'Il In- lululil thiMlrsnl.iluili ih.a ll.iilsw
iii^j. '.lllll .ilniiist lie. Ill, in ihf j;ii|u- ul llif ;;i(;.iniii' Imm the l.iiul iliinii); lii<. Mispi nsmn iinin ,,;;;
huli.iii 'I'luy si-i/iil the 1 .11 ii|iH', liniiiul hiiii, .mil , ii>, hf iniilil luil ii sir.iiii the siinii;; . v|ii' n,i'v
iMliicil him r.i|)ti\(.' Ill .1 ilisrrlt'il hiili.iii \ill.i;;r hi-, hclin^s. In .i iiltcr w ritli n In tl.r ki ,.
in tlu" vji iiiiiy. 'I'liry Imiiiil ihc \\.i\ in his m'i rci 1
C.i\i', Init his will' .mil rhiMii'ii li,i\in;; iii I'ucil the siili|ril
111 irllll II In .S|i,iill. hf Ihu - i\|iri
rill' hull. Ills III II
i^ii 111.
iiului' i)t his iMpiiin- liy the lu;;iti\i' hiili.iiw, h.iil .mil .iic llu' rii Ins ut ihr isl.iiul ; I >! ir i, r;,,.> ■
l.iki'ii rilu;;r ill annihcr |i.irt nl llu' isl.iiul In llic iiiUi\.iii' .mil luikr ihr liii'.ul .iiul ll
i.r.
cni'i'ii w.is tniiiul ilu' ill, nil \Mtli whiih .i luiiiiln'i' Inr ihf lliiisiii
)l Inili.m iMiiiiM'-. h.iil hci'ii hniinil, wlm h.ul ii-.in
lis ; \\ 111) ill^
,iiii| |i>'i liirm .ill till' nil
Ih.
ll 1 s , lllll I 1^
trn
upon .111(1 si, nil tliii'i' S|i.mi.inls who h.ul ilicm m n| nun .in. I hcisls, I .iiii intniiiu'l lli.ii. v:
ill. ir^', .iiidli. 1(1 111, iilc tliiir c.-M'.!!)!' ti) tins ill, mil. Kit this i-,l,mil, >i\ |i.iits mil nl .i \iii nt th.
TliiTt; wi'i'c alsi) the swonli of ihi- s.iiiic S|).ni- , tiu-. .iic ili'.ul ; .ill tliiniinh ill Hi .iiiurm y.,
i. nils, wliicli llu'y h, 1(1 liroii^lU nlf .is trnphiis m himi.mily ; snmi' In tin- sAoid, ni'u i.s l.y!
lliiir
c;u'U|U(
r
ni.m.ult' Cm. ili.in. 1111,1
11' ill. nil vs.is llnw iiuplnu'il In .lllll cnii'l lls.i^f, (itliiis tlirnll'^h ;.',|i|';i';
;ri'.iiir p.irt li.nc piTish
I'll 111 llir lllll. Ill'
Thf .Sn.iniaiils iufp.iif I In fSfOUtf llu- i!-,ift- ^Kiis. whither lliiy h.ul lliil, liniii 'm! 1
H'Dl-'
t.iiii on tlif spnt, 111 Itif ifiitrf I
I thi
li'-'orti'il \ 1
1- In Ml]
linrt lllf
!•
ur tins pni'pn-.f ,i pyre w.is hui
it nl ln;;s ll
II' mipnsfd llpnii n.i'ni.
IIS own p.nt, 111' .iilili'il
.tlthlillj^h I;
u w
ut wood lai'l rinssw ,i\-., in tnini nl a j;i'iilirnn, mi ni.niy liuli.iiis tn Sp.nn tn he snM, n
.hirll llf W.ls In hf slnwly lilnilfil In (li'.ith. < 'll W Itll .1 \lf W tn llliir lie ill;; niitl'lli Ir I ill llli I;
furtl
IT tnnsiilt.itinii, linsM'Vf r, thfv wci'f iiiilui 111 ti.in (.litli, and in ( i\ili/fil .nt
ti) tori'!
'() the
I'LM-h.
plf.isiiii' nt this liiiniblf .-..u iiih f. .iltf rw.ird sent h.uk In tliiir isl,
s .11.. I IW. !»,■■■
lllll I.I .l.1^i1t ;
IJls tlU'V tlinll;;lll thf iMiKlllf tnn im]ii)lt,mt ,l lll.'lll;,' thiir inUlUry lllf ll.
iHTsunagf to lie cxfciilfd tlui:> oli-^i'iiicly. I'.r.int- 'I'lif hiul \ifw that li.is liccn ;;
in;; liini, thfrcfni-f, a liMiisient ifpiic\f, ihry inn- nf ( iv.iiuln on i-crtain iinint-. mi
urn 1. 1 tl:.'
w ,1. h I.r.
\fyfil hiin tn lllf (MiMVil and siiii liini, limiiid with w,i^ ifiisuicd, may eii.ilih' thf n.niii ti
hf.ivv chains, to San liomiii'M. (»\.mdns,iw him mnic inri'fi il\- o| ihf iniuliu t nl tin !.iil' r.
in ll
us iiowfr, .111(1 una
harm ; hut In- li.id not tl
a t.iUfii f llf 111',, whosf onlv rrinu' w.i;, the
ot his ii.itiw
p.llllf (it dnlll;; turllur li'il In lie nifasUlfil hv lllf si nid ml III r:^
f m.i;;n.iiiimily in lnr:^'i\f wmiiv; fst.ililiT.hfil in the presf nl mnri-iiili;
W
f nuist foiisii
Ifr I
mil 111 inllllt'i 'I' 11
,md liwlul If rrilnrs . I Ic onK
thf cr.i 111 will! ll llf liM'il
fil linii In 111' plliilliiv ll.ill;;i'(
V
I lik
f a iDiiimnii fill- nif.isiirfs wi
th ll
iy ciiini'.ir;'';.
iiiNf men ut Ins ow :i liiiu'^ ; r.
ril.* Ill this i^noiuiii
Li<)Uf Colah.ni.im.i f .\fi iitc
inii^ iii.iiiiifr W.IS lllf 1 .1- Inr thiir \ irtiic-. .nid .iliihtifs, pi, u til iii pi
(1, the
la-,1 III thf li
Ins own sitii.iiioii, .mil pl.u fil lli'if ix|'
soVfrfi;;ii priiii'fs ot llayli. His dciih w.istnl- inrri-il his I. mil.-., \\f sh.ill lir llu- hiUii
Inwfd liv lllf
1 nmiilftf sul);uL;.itiiin ot
lis pfojilf, ni.l;,;i- linw \ iiuinu-.l\' .md wi-.i'ly un.Ii r t
.mil se.ilfd thf last stru;;',ijlf n| thf ii.iii\r,i .i;^.im-,i i.ir i iri iiiiist.nn cs ot thf c.isf, hf iiuiy hi'
their opprfs^.or-.. The isl.md w.ir. aliiin-.t unpi-o- fred in lia\f ;;ii\f riicd.
* Las Cisa.s, Hist hid., lib.
II. cap. li.
* Las Casas. llisi. hu!., Ill), ii.
cap. 311.
ifr.iafsi" <'f'
III
[Tin :iii'n H
iiiiiii.iii'l
't ' Hi
b
!|| l|l,' .1111 it
. 1' iHi' «n ' '^
,'il, aad l.'.i-
-.iiili.', Ii ll I""
,MP' "'!.■■ II 1
iiilitin;; li".\
iiiiiiii
tv ut .1 11'
i|. 1, iillil wiin ii,.
. I'hi' ;;i'iif ; '
vi'ii;;i' 111 till'
Is iiohlf s.iti
,i'ii \, iili r.s (
ii'M-i' li:li.'ily,
;nrll ; hi' I'i'.is'
"Ml they h.id
,1 iiiilv Illllill'
Jir.i, 1''. l.iiniU ''"
i ili'ir nrics-.ii
; 'linl |.l Sp lili
.iiiisl) r.'iiiiii'
t|. i;;iis. Fr.iiii
If! 1' r. '■•> ill' trii'l
[tr
n -I., .isiliri's Us
;ii lull! lllf i|i'|i.i
[C'l ■, li'r;ri',,'llu:ii ,1-. I
! Ill iiiiur.ri. It Is iriif
; ii , II 'iNt , lllll ;;i'i
ib' 1!- ; ,1.1 1 till.' all'
V 'I'li' Ki;'..', Ill.lllit
: ll..' r. il[isf. 111
; b i> iiimi' ill, 111 I
i B' i.iii-, lo tlii'ir :sl
Ili' ll.r. .1 l.iwli'ss ;;
■ I; • lin 11 i.iii;;:!!;;
^1.1 . v.i!.!i.iur);i\ in;.;
fill : li'li.irtUlr.
" llu- :Sili lit I '111
'I) 'i-.i. Thi' ai
i V '; III I'lipuM' 1 (
l S' ' I IA|ir,lll||.|l Ml
A ,1 wi'iry sir
r "I n'l lllf ;,d
I'l lilr I I) l-,t I
1:1 I S 111 i iiuii
' ll \''s^i l> .iri'
f r . '1 snllirii hi win
' s n Ill-Ill f I 'ill
I '..1 < Kllidii. I.i
la: ;ii Ti'iuir. .■ 1 m
V -v villi ll JK ha
I* ■■l.Ii'lt:ii|..i- I hy I
E^' i'. in il,|. |.,|.in.
': r'liii.fs. In il
■.'. ll A iiinih ai
jbii .ii-'iv.r.iMi I', u In
[S" !■ 1 .' :irii\,il III
P ::.i'l -ii.iiM-lv hi
I'll! I'.iri'ly timi- lo
Nihil- '.viiul sprin
iiini^
i U, .. ; ».
LiKi; AM) \»)V.\(;i.s (»i coMMms.
HOOK Will
SSI
nil vKirn
( HAITI K I.
|,- nh" (111 I Mlil^ I'lK >-AN lio.MIXf.l)
III. Kl II k.N h» -I'M.N.
lU.nlr s.ill, air
ill till' Imi'Iiiii' Cit S.in I )iiiiiii
■ II the I ;ili "f Au;;u.i,
iii'il
' ll It Is till' Ini 1)1 |iiip-.|ii I ily l'> au.iki n iiwy ,ini|
I'M ill' ilctiMi tiipii, ll I, I i'it,iiiii\ till' I'lt III mi'iliir-
liiiif tn .itinu' Inr a iiiultinnli' lit t.uilts. San l)ii»
111 iiru I
, , mil. 1. Ill
1 :a l.iiiiaii .1 lit tMo twi) vrssils iituliT iiiiiiv;n hail luiii th>' M rv
hnt-hril
irllltMIl
TrfM'
(,, ,i'.ur I'll' "lit
I .i| S.lin-ili
I li.t'l I aiitcil ,t jus III! ic
III ihr aula
Ijiniili
ft ■ ic ■«IM|>.^
|l,i-V UlTi'
11 list t 'ip|iiiiiliu>^ ill llir (lay oi Ills I (i.M |- ; he ha^l
liiiii ,iKiihiiiiliii!i. lie liasli'iH'ij I lii'<ii Iniiiiiil Innii it m it;iiiiiiiiiiiuiis i liains,
k Ml wlm ll III' liail luTli Ml iiiiiK' I '"""' ''"■ ^l"""'' 'iiiil laiiiit-t lit .lu' li luiuphaiil
ii'Mrii III iilir r.ilililf ; lir liaij In-Ill I'Mlllijr.l tinm its hailinr
I Imisliiii; Ills Hay; III!
I, ll IS ll llii lait'ir ot «'ntii|piisi.' an
I I wl
It'll, as 1
!iiiiiaiii|i I' lit a '.iniailinii, lii- iTasci
>.i:isii
tl'Hll
• t'. Ml' ■>'"!'''
iiiiifi' ii|ii'n to liiin. I'lii; lati- ' slultn Innii .\\\ iinpi luliii;; 1. iii|ii ,1 ; liiU now
, wliiii llii'S III' 11(1 lit llii- arrival ' lli'H ln' arruiil in iis wati'ts, a hniiMn ilown ami
lliil ami aliiri t to the liar- slii|i>v rnki' I man, ail past liosiiliiy was (i\ criidW -
11)11' \Ms
i.lai'' li.iA lar ilu'V miKli
I triisi to till' iiril In till' iiiipiilar si'iis,' nt liis |,iu- (li,ast
rr-
■ t\.\ 'ii.Hiim
ill iiv I,
IV lit a in 111 \sliiiiii tlii\ liaM so k'''''
ail
Illy
■|1
icri' was a iiMininlarv Inn A
iitliusiasiii in
Hill Will
1 hail now ,\n ip|i|iortuni!v ot vcn- i nis ta\or ; what hail licin lU'iui'il li his inrrit was
rill' ^ciir; Ills iniinl, Iihwcm
r, never liar- ' ;;iantei! to his inislnrinni
Mill f\\:\ till' elU I'ltis,
\i-iiL;r III the hoiii III riiiirnin>; iirosiicrity ; ' ajipeaseil liy Ins prcseiu n-versci, seiini Iti
*iir tnls iii.lile s,iii-.lai lion in sharai;; lis happi
liiin liir lia\ iri'f mu e hei'ii s'> triumph int.
»i- fi
■11 V, illl Its elli'
mil's. C'oluniliiis loivot, in j 'I'lu' >;iivi'rn.n- anl |)rini ipal inlialiit. mis came
that lie hail siillercii Irom < (nth to meet him, ami rei eivnl
lih 'iri'v'iii liilii'ily, al
tli. -',' men ; he ee.i,->eil ti
til ih.il iliiy lial lost the power to injure ; a
Inni
ith siy;nal
) (onsiiler tlnni (.'nemies,
istini lion.
II
r W ,IS |oi
l;;eil
IS ,1 i^lli si la llie l.iUlsl!
m
I lit (ivamlo, who iie.iii'ii hiin uiili tic utmost
he iiu Hilly hillilleil all th.il he hail promised [ i oiirtcsy ami atlentmn. 'I
o'.eniiir u ll
l.ikiML' llielll
ili.'ir nil essi
on lio.inl the ships, Init n
hrif w nirn
ties liiiin his iiwn luirse, tiiilil ier ; lint tin
shrewil ,iiii| ilisi reel m.in, .iiiil iiuii h ot .i i ourt-
rc WCi ■ c.Ulses lit jea'.iillsv ami ills-
MS|
Mill ; .mil .ilterw.inl lonU iinwe.i-
triisi lietwceii him iiil Cnhimlin^ i
«\rni.;ll>
iiisii rii iiiiinieiiil Ihem lo llie Ihhiii
i\ (it the I mil 111 lunliil inteiiiiur*>i'. 'I he
■p to per-
.iiiiiiii ii .imi 111-4
■ r.iiii isei
) I'lirr.is alone I i-ntiiiiieil a son Ki-riLimlo always pronimiueil t
ivilitv of
fcriMiinr, iM ill- tneil liy the irilmn.ils ol liisiuiin- 1 Ov.milo uverstr.iineil ami hypornii' .il ; intemleil
to iililiii-r.ite till- reiiu-mlir.im e it ii-t ip ''lei t,
.issures Us
th.il the Imli.ins went whe
ll t
mil til I 111
n imI hirkiiij; enmity.
W
ii,e 111- Miiless
tiv. ill
llie ili'p.irture 111 the Sp.mianls ; still : eil tin- utmusi In
»0i ilili-rili'.^'lhein ,1S l)emj;strom the skies. I'
leliilililp alil symjia
il.v tor till!
Imir.il, he set .it lilierlv the tr.iiliir I'liriMs, who
iii-.iilimr.ii, It is true, lliev li.n
1 e\
pilieneeil liolh- w.is s
bg kit JMst .mil M,.|itl(. ii'i-.iiiiu'iit, .ami lonlinn.il II
Knrlil'- ; ,iii I tin; all- 1 ot his imnieiliate lull
till a p
inr, to lie i.ikeii to Sii.iin tor tri.il
1. like I (it punishini;' ih
miral s pi npie w in
I h.nl t.iki :i .111
i| tlu' .111-
11-1 ill his ile-
k'itnlii- Del'.V, lil.mitesteil un the inellliir.ilile (lee.l- telire, .iml ill the .llfras .it J.il
nail a ii.ii
lit ll-
ei iipse. 111.
Ii.ive 111 nil- Iheiii eiiiisii
Ier sever.il ot the imililleiTs. 'I'll
kllle.l
1 ill liinst.imes
.1' iiiiii' 111. Ill Inim.m, .iml In- pii-.i-iue a-
■le lomllv eompl.iim-il of hv (,'oliim!
hut. ii\
pfi -iii'ri;> |.) l;irir
mil
tint ll ii mil e,is\ 111 In
I.H I, theV lose 111
It of ,1 question III iuiisilii
lion I
)('■
l.iwlessj; 111;; jike lll.lt ot I'orr.lS loulil I'.Veell llimalul the ^^oVerilnr. 'riiell p iWiTs Were
ir months .inunn,^ their \il- su iiiKleliiii .1 as to i lash with e.u h olher. ami they
;ii.r. ,1
Illl a lali-'iiiL
V, itliiiu! ■J,i\
.lf|i.;rlii;i.
iiie :S|li III j'liie ihe v
ir the ^;reatesl Joy .ll vvere Imni ills
poscil to lie exlrellli ly pum'lilioll
( 'v.imlii .issumeil a rii;ht to t.ike i iii;ni/.inei' i
esseis
t.ill
thi
he .iilverse wiiuls ami cnrrenis
set s.iil fill- San ir.iiis.n liiiiis al J. mi. ma ; .is ti.i|ipe:i;n:; wiiliin the
the
limits
i\(,-rnmeiil, wliieh im Imliil .il
'Ppiise I (.■(iliimbus tliroiij;hiiut this ill- isl.im
■ lit
It'll siill lontiiuieil lo h.ir.iss liim.
Is .iml 'I'err.i I'liina. Ciilumlui., mi the ullier
rieil the .ilisiiliiie iiiinm.iiil, .mil the
ll.llUl, .ISSl
wiiry sliu;^i;le
if sever,
ll Wi-(
tin- vl ot A
ks he lurisiliction both i ivil .iml i rimih.ii j;i\intohitn
Ul'll^t, the lltlle isl.iml o
'H nil- eo.isl III
I 111 I 111
111
lisp.miol.i.
111!
t liy th
e soverei;;!
■r .ill 1
lersiil'.s Wilis llie
ween
ihis his e\|Hiliti.>n. from the lime of ilep.iiinre nniil
■ jiro.luit'il
inm;;o ihe t 111 rent-, .ire so VIM- their iiiiirn t-i Sp.im. 1 u prove llu
1 U ,ire iitlen (|i-l,
iineil nionihs. w.iii
■Iter ft iiistruileiii-
p. 'M -.iriii, 1,1, t wind t.i enable llu-m 111 stem the him uilh ^re.it lourtesy and a smilin-- eounte-
d'h
I
i\'elilor
he.iril
i:n lieiMt- r,
'.1 I'l 11, I... I.
Ill I'-lliu
oilinilius (lisp.ilelied .i letter bv ii.ime
luit
th It tile letierwt iiist nnlions
1 mtorin him ot his .iiipro.n h.
Ins
IVe
.iiithorilv within till
iiiinls 1
if his
■ri.iiii ibsurd suspiiions ot
d I
'rnmeiit. He re!int|iiislieil ilu- ii|.-,i, h.u
'"■i" ll 111 had le.iriu trom S.iliedt
-re evt-r, ot investe^.iun^' the eo
'•I t'-ilaii;f I hy llu' |;iivernor ; who te.iretl his ufColnniluis
an. I seiii I urr.i-
ml'.nt ot ihi- followers
to Si' liii. tu be e\-
in tlu- isl.ind miiiht produee t.n turns .iml
th
ho.Uil W
hiel
I li.nl I iLii'Lie t
it tlu
'ir'i III. t-
n till.-. It-tier he e.\|ires.st
i^ii^iiil A iiiiuh and simplieily, the joy h
Willi alf.iirs of the Indies.
HlMirMV r
i\ Illl h \v.
'■ ' "• .irMv.il (ll 1)1
It at
so I'll-. It, he s.i\s, lli.it.
r
le soiouri
1 of Columbus at .S, in I i(i!nin''o w.is
lull llllle (
.ill 111. lied to \ It
Id I
lim s iiislii'iiiiii.
Ik
h
■wl MMrii-K- 1
tie .S.ilei-dii with siii'ior. w.is ^ih-m
It ihe desohition of llu; isl.ind bv the
i-i-n .ible tn slei-j).
d'!
■Her
IVDl
'■|';liely lull,- t,, pic, (tie the writer, hir. .1 t.l-
■iVilul
Letter of Columliiis to liis son Die},'o, Seville,
sprinyin- up, ll
le Vessels a;
.liu Nov. 21, 1504. Nav.irrete, Colec, loni.
■!:(.:
rr-ti
M
LIFK AM) VOVAC.HS OF COM'MIU'S.
onprcii-.ivc' trcatnicn
t i.f tl
ic Il,\tl\rs. .1
;i(l tlic hur-
nlilc massMiTc whirh h.iil lu-cii pn pcUMiccI \>y
( K.iiuli) ;i!iil his .iL;rm>
li.id tiiiulls' luiju'd
;it line liiiu', t > uiicicr the ii.itivo ii\ili/iil, iiuliis-
tihi'.is, .;iul irilnii.irv Mil)icil?» to tlif i vw n, .iiu! to
(Utivc trum liuir vMll-ri-^iilalrd l.i
D.ir
;rc,il .UK
su- i.ly i\'\iiuif. !lii\v (hiliTi'iil h.iil Ixiii lIu-
i\tlil 1 riu- li\f j;ic.il ll'ilics whicll jifdiilcil tlu'
vs .It till' limi' ol thi' (li->-
tul
nioiim.iiiis .111(1 ilK- valk'
coviM'v, .ni'l IT
nilfi'
t(i
1)V their nim>!k(l towns .i
vi!l.ii;fs .i:ul tr.uis nt iiiltu'.ilKHi, the ru'h Icvfls
(it the vfL;,is s ) m.iiiy " ii.iintfil j^.irdcns," liad .li-
fter
in inters. d 'it .iliimi tmir \e.ns i- '
111
.1
indiii'eil t)\ (illier eirciiinst.inic-.
d t
1) 11
ro|iiti.ite tlie nidiLUi
tru(
eiuic troni th>' island.
'I'he (otitimi.il r,iisiiii(lerst,in(hnL;s In -
adinir.d .ind tlie ^overiuir, lhoti;^li ,ilu.i\^
llie part (d tlie latter widi t;i
dliced I'dluillliUS to h.lstel
(Ml
his departure tr'im the isla
he h.id retiiriii
1 .is Iiiiin
ml
II
lltlei
iilil,
riieii troin J.ini.iiia \s
and |uit under 1
ic ^ll.l
ulelaiit.Kln
iiiiither V
le inn',n;
essel w.is ii,
nidst .u
.iw.iv, and tne ii.ilive princes li.ul
\\
hieh ('idumluis eniliarked willi In-,
eri >!lci
■h
iv \ KileiU or I'MUinuiiKUis de.itlis. ddiiiestics.
Tl
;re.iler
|i.irt ,it li
iinduN r. '.jar. led tlie .illairs ot tlie isl.in.l with i reni.aiiied .it San I)diiiiiiiMi ; .is iIhv u
.1 i;i!tirelU r\c !|ii;n ( l\ .Uldd.
II
e ll.id .1 p.itern.il i pm-eity, lie relie\cd ttier iiei esMin , in;,, |,
feelili;^' In:' its |iriispe: it\-, .ind hi-; tnitiiiirs were ! juirsr, and .uhaneed the liinds ni
lir.jilhMte.
('diiiiil.iin.
ei,'.. II
ill su!ise(|Uellt letters to the Sd\-
i;i lis jLiduidiis r.i.iiiayi-ni
\(pV.l'j;e hdHie (it thdse wild cluise In ii'i
tl
Ills relle\i-(l
l.v I
lis <reller(isitv li.iil 111!
ih.ii .ill thi
nuIiiU"
.ill. Ills were ll
eim-
lUlti:d
til. It tne lire ciilleete
:1 !,
.i''\re (Hi.intiiies in lioiises s!
i\ uii'' u.inled in
litiv
Imilt
d
the tlV'st \ldlent dt the .•(•liels
( )n the I :ih dt Septeiiilier
le Si t s I
scarce I V
lett tlu-
.irhdr
wlieii. in !
ihalched, iiu itiili;' di ])
iinpdpul.ir, lae |ii-dpie \\ ( re (
red.itidii ; ih.it t^v. null w.is ■ the 'mast dt
Ills sliip w.is c.irrird .w
.ilel\' wmi wiih In
s tamil
V ell
prdp'riv dl tlie i row n .mi
\V
iitinu.d ris
tl
k fn
lissiiliile, .111.1 tllf I
the secu'-ilv dl the \essel cdinin.inded U\- the Adel.iiil h
i.i^cd ship Id poll,
inumlidiit the Mn.i
ini nuitii \ and sedition.
ii.tT h.ick the da';
e lie ',i\v .ill this, tie h.id no piwer to inter- Ins cdiirse
It
tele, .iiul .iii\- d!iser\'atidn iir leaiotisir.ince on Ins
li.irt -.x.is ll! receiM'd hv
th(
dV( riior.
( 111 ed tlie Ilidsl tellipeslUdiis wc.illi.
siorir. tile ni imni.ist w.is siiriiiie; in
1 le loiiii.
ediitiisidii.
!iis d\\ !i iminei
hat
c collet riis in j;re,ii
is I'enls .iiid (lues were either nu-
ll
e W.IS eiintined to his tied at llli- Ii
out
111,- Ins ailMce, howcxei, .iiii
I V
collecte;
he; could not olit.iin .i i 'e.ir .iccniint tl..' .Adel.iiit
iild, the {l.ainat
w.is si.inii.
(1 a f
ud lii|Uid.itii)n of them.
Wh.'tever
lie
ih
st was shortened ; the '.\r.ii, r
CoU
of tl
ll cdilei't \\.u .ipjirdpri.iied to the titling; mit tdriitied hv wdml t.ikeii troin ih,
which wei'e t'l ion\''V hiiiiselt an
h th
le \ <'ssels in tlldse
..is crews 1,1 Sp.iin.
siihseciiient U-tte
H
e accuses < H-.indd, in his
ins, w I'll
npuv .mil stern ; and the >\ In
iM
dt liavilV' nt"'!ecte;
it n it s.ic
'V cdrus.
r
lev were stil
riliced, his inteia-sts duriiv.
t h,
ivin;j- impede 1 thus
Ins loll;; alisiiice, an. I , suci eedin;,;- tempest, m wlm h I
o
attend to
•jrounds tor tl,
wli'i w el''
.S ( iilU'erils.
T
ipji'
ited I') f
drem.ist. Ill tins irqipled st.ile iluv
I. It
,1'Veii hunilreil iea'-iies c
it :\
se i oni]il. lints \\ dUid .ippe.ir tioin l-orlMiie conliiuied to jiersei ule ( o iiir:'!,''ii:
two letters still ext.iiii.-i- written l>v(Hieen Is.ihell.i en
.1 till-
ast .mil nidst dis.is;r
to ' >\;mi
n tl
■ll
wrncli ,sl.e ailorms liim
1 d
if tl
1 .\
o\em!ier, 150
3",>.
Ill
tide
!■
or se\cr.il Weeks lie w.is triai r-:
le comp
■ lint of .Alon/o MilteriiV' .it the same time tl
Sanclie.^ de C.irsMJ.il, tii.il he w.is impede. I in col- ii.iins from his m.ikxiv
le. t
until
le miisl 1 \i 111'
11 till- -I',' '
iiiLT the rents
comm.inils
< iv,m,
if ti
to d!)si-rv(
ie adnnr.il
a.l expresslv of N'dVemlier, his ( r.i/v ami sh.itli
thi
C ( .l|l|tUl.ltlo|ls
chored in ttie li.ii tiop o
.S.iii l.u. ir.
j^r.mted to Cohmiliiis ; to res])ei-t his .i-eius, .ind himself coii\-e\ed t" Seville.
to facilitale, iiisle.id of olisiiui liji;,^- his ( iiiict rns. eiiMiv repuse dt mind and body, ,iii-
1 'u se letii-r-), while they imply uii;.;eiierous 1 on- he.ilth atur siieli .1 loii;^ series ol
duct on the '.cirt ot the
trioiis Jilt de.-essi.r, i'\ ince !ike-Aise llie |iei-son,il
overnot to-,\,ir'l his illiis
eti
es, .md h.irilship
iiUen-si t.iken hv Is iiiella in tne att.iirs of (
)us, (lur.
ins .iDselice.
Sht; had, in t.
OlUIll- I
Iiei
'ic-
ier disple.isure at his lieiii';- excluded trom
CIIAI'TI.K
p'lrt (I, .s.in
I),
imuiL
'ir sill 1 III- I,)]- Ins squadi-dii.
.im
•11 h
I tl
e apiiliei
th
.-I stdrin, .11
1 1
I re
shelter trom
ii.i.NKs.s OF riii.t.Mr.rs \i si \ u
u-
i.id it'iisured < K. I IK to 111 r 11. it t.ikiii
Ins ,iil\-ii 1- .mil delainiii'' the 11
t ot 1;
vviiicn It
And h.-r.
,i| ii.rve (S, .iped Its ili-
il.iv he oiis,|-\ed tli.it th
li.iilill.i, l.y
strous t,ite.+
e s,inj,juin.iry
.•icts of ( i\- indo luNv.ird the n.ilise-,, in |i.irticiil.i'
I'll I !IK rkoWN I 1 iK A Ul'Sl I Ii ' I' N
llD.Nul^s - in A I ll > <{■ IsAI'.l I 1 A.
[1504.]
IlUuKlN hv a',re and inlMinitn-s, an I '•
tlu; m.i-,-,,icie ,
the uiitonnn.ih
rm- .ind iiidi;.;n.iiii 11 in Is.ihell
,ira;.;ii.i .-iiid thi-
ll.
exei lltion of
ly ih.e tolls .-md h.irdship
his It
n ll .loii.i, .-iw.ikeiied ei|iial hor- I'olumlnis h.id looked torw-.iri
111'"' on 111
aili-l)t 1
I ; sr.e w.is l.in^^Miisli-
lell she receivfd the intel-
I to >( '
.iven ot rest, where he mii;lit repos- 1
his trouliles. ("are .ind sorro\\-, howesii
' itli her d\ iii'i hrea'li si
le ex.icled
iim hv se.-i .-mil
ml. in v.ir\ iin; h
promise lioai Kir, l; Ferdin.ind th.it ' 'v.iiido should hut v.-iried the ii.iture of his disln
imniedi.it. i\-
li-( .ille.l
'11
It
promise w.is i.irdilv .-md relua.inilv tul'illed,
his ^liveriiiiient. sdine d.ivs .ind nights" were .ipp'H!
or tlie n-iii. under of his iilt
;iii of his ''i.ise was destin
mil i!^;-vr-vi
ei
1 to h
str vi
I.etl'T -if ( oiunilius tr
illf, y[ I),
iv.irretc, ( '
+ N
{ llcrrer.i, Hist. Ind,
o Ins snii I)ief;n, li.ued Sev-
|. .Nnvarrclc, tnni, i. p. 341.
ilor,, loin, ii., (Iccad. ici, i;2.
thorns.
i, lit
), V, c.ip. 12.
Ind.
Hist, del .Minir.iiitc, rap. loS, i
111), ii. t.ip. 3(1.
i'c! ,!! ll.r midst I
I w.L, ni-.n- solicii
ftni; ll l!l.iii ol lllllls
:'.|iv ;o t!ie SI
. '.: llii'ir arif.i
■ .1'. 1 ouil, to
111- ;i'i 1;," s
.tils since ll
r.hinil iiiliiu
!.v:,iii,ilile tiili
' 1 ^ive til, ink
iiliiii;- hi-, l;
kill Av st-\er
; r.,iy. that
ll- disposed
'Uil W.IS tl
l^ii IS Mr^ivinj;- (In
ff Till >,iiii,. /cai, ;d:
hei;: -, ^viiitli had
I'nv ' I ■'Will his ol
|pi 'ilrl, 111 his 1
ii it the roy
ill. si: iiion c
irc l,i\ ini|)ri)
^'1 'i.iliii In ik'iireii
'1. .i:iii (inr w
^
■ki..!
Lll'Ii: AXn VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
'■■I'S, ,111 I ,
: lor ( I ,
1. Uy :„„,■
[Ua'.v...,
I'i'.it , i,':i
' iniiiii ,,
Thr ,1.,,
VV.IS I; I
.'.IS li, ^
th liK .,1
.'t Ins ;.,■
lhl-» u, ;■,.
111 , rss,!-,
(■ III ri 1|;;'
lull 111,.,
Si I s I''
II .1 Mll'll"
■<l ;l^^ ,y.
y I'll h. ,.;
nil. nil', .I'l.
Mirt, !•■;,:.
^cilh' w
I.l;' ill I r;;;
:it ihf l;!l'.
nd I'll' .,
is sl,il!i.
.(• ^\l■.l^ I ;:
he 1 ,,-.!! >
I vs • r
IV il,.:;: „-
.■.!:,;_.
llilV ii.i'l
M v;.,!-ii;',
C'li llll-.!.
S.1--II' ..'
l'Iillr«'. ■
list I \. !
Ilir M,^
til-;--.;
li ■
I'l- I
111'! • ■
i| ;.'.• . ::•
inc"
inth..
Jf ,■,
(SStn:
»- -
" ' the s.
;mi I A
ii' 1
1 .'M ' !
IS-,- f. ,
Wf, 1 I
I" I'
.a.; (-
'isiiin. KvLT J-iiKc 'ii' li.ui Ih'cii sent home
, troiii Snii Doinin^c), wlnii his hou.c .iiui
i,iil lici'ii t''l<ii> imsscssion <>t by Hnha-
i^ rciiis :inil dues hail never iieen pnipiTly
,1 ,,,|,| sill h as hail been ijalhered had
i.ii'iu-ii III ihe liaiids ol the ^'(nernor Ovan-
I n.ue much a-xatioii from the go verier,"
,- in .1 ierUT tu his son Die^i).* " All t(dl
. I h.ne there eleven or twelve thoiisaiid
!i;.s : and 1 have not received a (|iiarti>.
I know wi'l that, since my departure
,i have rrieuid Upward ol live tliou-
, ,!i llanos." He entreated thai a letter
,- wniteii by the kin^', fommandin^' the
t et these arrears without delay ; tor his
vol ill iioi \eiiture even to speak to t )vandi)
i! II t, uiiliss empowered by a letter trom
bluiai'iis w.is not ot a merrenary spirit ; but
rank .'nd sitiiatioi. re(|iiired large e.\|)enditiire.
...nriil ih, night hini in the possession ol
,r^•^^ (4 nie\haiistili!e wealth ; but as yet those
rci . had liirnished him init precarious and
int\ itie.i'iis. His last voyage h.id exhausted
tin.iiuf.^. .nil! invoUed him m perplexities.
thai he had breii .dile to collect ot the money
to liiin 111 llis|)anii)la, to the amouiU of twelve
(hv'i rasielhiiDS had been expended in bring-
huiiii 11 ,iii\ -! I'lis l.i'e crew, who were in dis-
,s : and tiT ihi. grt.iter jiart ot the sum the
iwn liiiiaiiied his debtor. Wl.-'.e struggling to
111 ill-; nure pecuniary dues, he w,is ab.soliite-
SiiitiiiiiL;- a digree ot penury. He repe.itediy
■(:- till- h \essit\ ot econoinv to his son 1 )iego,
.11 !ii' i.iii (liit.iiii I restitution ot his pfo|)ertv,
till" p.ivnient o\ his arrears. " I receive iio'ii-
(i: thi' n v'-iiue due to me," says he, in one
ler , "I ii\r by borrowing." " I.iuie have 1
ititi'^l," i r adds. 111 .mother, " bv twenty years
:Si:r\i; I. Willi such tolls and perils; since, at
cut. I 111 lint own a root in S|).u' It 1 di'sire
'ea; nr sin |i, I h.ive no resort but an inn ; and,
tile 111 1--1 tunes, h.i^e not wherewitii.ii to pav mv
iHl."
;i.;Yctiii the midst of these personal distresses
|tt wi3 111-. re solicitous for the |iavment of his
||imi;ii ih.in 111 liiinsell. He wrote strongly and
_lMliili\' io till
dlarL.'.- o! ll.fir ar
whn w.is a; 1 mi It
"Th;v ail- jio i: ,'
thru: K-lls sine:
havf iiiihin-il iniiiiii,-
,|riii;' mv;,iiial;ie tidings, tor which' iheir majesties
, Iglit !-) ^;iv ih.ink.s to Cod and rejoice." Not-
'liilaM.iiuliiig iii-, generous solicitude tor these
Ben, I,- kiu-\-, se\er.il o! t!icm to have been Ins
Blena-s ; ii.iy. that some ot them were .it this
Wr\ lam- dispo.sed to do him h.irm r.ither tli.in
Joiii! ; ^'icli w.is the m.ign.inimitv ot his spirit
•ii'l tils liir^iving disiiosition.
Till- s.iiiie zeal, also, for the interests of his sov-
«:ei;,'i;s, wiiicli had ever actii.ited his loval mind,
%'itil with his other causes of solicitude. He
pi •s.-iiii-l, 111 his letter to the king, the misman-
1 ill Ml il the roy.il rents in llispaniola, under
('-aliniiiisii ition ot Ovando. Inimeiise qu.uui-
MS lit ore lay unprotected in slightly built houses,
* - li-dik 111 depied-itions. U required a person
--■'I- and one \\ho had an iiidividu.il interest
'•<-•' beviile, 13 Dec, 1504. N'avarrcie, v. i. p.
sovenioiis, entreating the (Its-
Mrs, ,ind uigi'd Ills sou Diego,
to exert himselt in their ludi.iU.
s lid he. " and it is iio,v liearK'
tiiev lelt tiieir ht'ines. TlieN
tods and perils. ,ind th 'X
in the ])ro|)erty of the island, to restore its affairs
to order, and draw trom it the immense re\inues
which it W.IS c.ipable ot yieliling ; and Columbus
|)lainly intimated that he vas tlii; proper person.
In tact, as to himselt, it w.is not so much pecu-
ni.iry indiMunit'ication that he sought, as the res-
toration ot his t)ttlces and dignities. He regarded
them as the trophies of Ids illustrious achieve-
ments ; he had received the ro\al |)romise th.it he
should be reinst.ited in theni ; and he hit lh.it ;is
Ion-' as they were witldudd, a tacit (ensure rested
upon l-.is n.ime. H.id he not been iiroudly impa-
tient, on this subject he would havi- bjlied the lolt-
iest part ot his cliarac'er ; tor he who can be
indiftertiU to the wreath ot triumph is del'icienl
in the noble ambition which incites to glorious
deeds.
The uns.itisf.utory replies rec(-ived to his letters
dis(|uieted his mind. He knewlh.it lie had active
enemies at court re.idy to turn all things to his dis-
advant.ige, and felt the imiiortance ol being there
in person to deteat tlu'ir machination-^ ; but his
inlirmities detained him at .Seville. He i^i.ule an
attempt to set forth on the journew but the se-
verity of the winter ;in;l the virule:;. e ot his m.il-
ady obliged hiii to rtdinipiish it in despair. All
that he could do was to reiter.ite his letters to the
sovereigns, and to entreat the intervention of his
few buttaithtul friends. He feared the disastrous
occurrences ot the last vovage might be repre-
seiUi-d to his jirejudice. The gre.it (>bject ot the
expedition, the tlisco\-ery of a strait ojiening trom
till- Caribbean to a southern S"a, h.id tiiled. 'I'he
second.iry object, the acquisition ot gold, h.id nut
Iveen completed. lie had disco\eiid the !.'^>1(1
minis of \iT.igua, it is true ; but he had tin. light
home no tre.isure ; because, as he said, in one of
his letters, " 1 would not rob nor outrage the
countrv ; since reason re(|uires th.it it should lie
settled, .ind then the gol! ma)' be |)rocui td w ithout
violence."
He w.is especially apprehensive that the violent
scenes in the isl.inii ol Jamaica might, by the per-
versitv of his enemies and the etfroiitery of the
deliiupieiUs, l)e wresteil into m. titers of accusa-
tion ag.iinst him. as had Jieen ihe c,;se \sith the
ridiellion (;t Rold.in. I'orr.is, the rinile.ider of
the l.ile f.ictinn, h.id been sent home b\ ( Ivando,
the bo.ird ot tin- ladies, but
seitiii.- torth the
to a|)pear belore
without an\ written proi ess,
offences ch.irged .igaii st him. W iiilr .it j.iinaica
("olumbus h.id orilered an inquest ol the .itl.iir to
l.iken ; but the not.iry ot ilie sqii.idrou who
)k it. and llie p.n>"rs whirh he dn-w up. were
the ship in wliicli the .idmir.il h.id
h.id luit back
bi
took it, am
on boari
sailed trom Hisp.mi.)
dism.isted. No I'ogni/ance (d the c.ise, therelon
of th
but which
w.is taken bv the I'ouncil of the Indies ; and I'or-
:irmed with the |)ower and the
t. Heing lel.ited to .Mo-
had .iccess to people
(it enlisting their
nd iirejudices on his side, (olumbus
r.is went at large
disposition to do mischie
r.iles. the mv.il treasurer, h
in pi. ice. and an o|)portunity
opinions and prejudices on h
wrote to Morales iiu'losing a copy ot the petition
' the ridiels had sent to him when in j.i-
which tuey acknowledged their ciilp.i-
I. ,.-.,. i I.I.; (.,i-..;.-..i...^t ■ (iiii I),. i.|i.
which the
m.iica, in
bilitv, and implored his forgiveness ;
tre.ited the treasurer not to be swa\ed by the rep-
resent.itions ot 'vs relative, nor to |)ronoiince .m
opinion unt.ivoi.ible to him, until he h.id an op-
portunity (d being heard.
The taithtul and indefatigable I )iego .Mende,;
was .it this time at the court, as well .is .\loii/o
S.mchez de Carsajal, and an active trieiul of Cu-
I
5 -I :'■;
ill l!l
] I t!1
! i;
it III:
ul:i:i.Milf
; :!5
r
:,i f;
lUaiS
>i a
! I-
OOl
Lin- AND VOYAGi:S OF COLUMIU'S.
lumhus nnmeil doronimo. Tlu-v I'ould hear llu-
most ini|)i>rt,uU ti^tiinciiy as to his coiKluct, and
he wrote to his son Diego to rail ii|)on ihein lor
their goi.d oliiees. " 1 trust," said lie, " that
thi' truth and dilit^enee of Dietjo Mende/ will he
ot as nuu'h avail as the lies of I'orras." Nothinj;-
can surp.iss the alfeetini^ e.iri'e ness and sim-
plicity ot the ijeneral deel.ira ol loy.iliy, con-
tained in one ot lii^ letters. " 1 nave served their
majesties," sa\s he. " with .is imich /e.d ;uul dil-
ijjence as it it h.id heeii to },Miti I'.ir.idise ; .ind it
1 have taileil in anyihiiiL;, it has heiii hecause my
kno\vled;;c and powers went no turther. "
While reading these touching .iiipe.ds we can
scarcely realize the tact tli,\t the dejected individ-
ual thus we.irily .iiid vainly applying tor uii(|Ues-
tion.ihh' rigl'.l^, and ple.uiiiig .ilnmst like a cul-
prit, in ( Mses wherein he had heen ll.igr.intly in-
jured, w.'.s tlie same who hut a tew ye.irs pre-
viouslv had heen received at tlds v;ry court with
almost reg.d honors, and idolized as a national
henet.ictcir ; that this, in a word, w.is t'oluinhus,
the discoverer ot the New World ; hmkeii in
health, and iin|io\er:shed in his old d.iy^ h\ his
very discoveries.
At length the cai-.i\-el hringing the ullici.il pro-
ceedings rel.itivet) the hrotlurs i'<irras .iriivtd at
the Alg.irves, in I'orlugal, and (.'oliinihus looked
forward with hojie that all matters would soon
tie placed in a jiroper light. His anxiety to gei i-i
court hec imr everv day more intense. .\ litter
w.is |)ro\ided to convey him thither, and w.is act-
ually at the door, hut the inclemency ot the
weather ind his incre.ising 'iilirmitiis oliliged
him again to ahandon the journev. 11 is resource
ot letter-writing heg.in to f.iil h.im ; he c mid only
write at night, tor in the das time tlie S'\i-niy ol
his mal.ii'v deprived liiin of the use ot his ii.iiids.
The tidings trom the couit weri' ever\ div more
and more adverse to his hopes ; the intriguer ot
his enemies were prev.iiling : the cold-he, irteti
Ferdinand treated ,ill his a]ipli( .itions with indil-
ference ; the generous I-.,\liell,i l.i\ d.ingerously
ill. < »n her jnstice and magn.mimitv he still re-
lied tor the full restoration ot his 'ighis, and the
ri'dress ot ,i!l his grievances. " M,iv it nie.i',,
the llolv I'niiilw" s,iy> he, " to ri's'.ore oi.ir so\'-
ereigii ipuen to hr.ilih : tor h\' her will i\cr\-
thing he ,i(''Usted vvhi -h is now in contusion. '
Alas I while writing th.it letter, his nolile heiie-
f.ictress was .i corpse '
The he.ilth ot Is.diell.i hid long luin under-
mined l)v the shoe ks ot rejieated domestic c.il, un-
ities. 'I'he death ol her only son, the I'rinee jn.in ;
of her helo\e(l (l.iughter and hoscmi Irieiid, tlu-
I'rincess Is.ihelia ; and of her gr.iivUon .and pros-
pective I.eir, the rniici Migucd, h.nl been three
cruel wo'iie's to a he.iri t.ill ot the tenderest seii-
sihility. To these was ailded the const. int griet
caused hv the evi lent iiitirmitv ot intelleet other
daughter |u in I, .ind tin- domestic uiih.ippiness ot
th.it prim es-, with In r hiish.ind, tl'ie ,ircli(luke
I'hilip. The desolation whnh w.ilks through
ji.alaces .admits not the f.niiiliMr svmp.ithies ami
sweet consol.itions w hich ,ille\i.ite the sorrows ol
common lite. Isahell.i pined in st.ite, ,imidst
the ol)se(piious honi.'iges of a (niiri, surroundeil
by the trophies ot ,i glorious .and siu cesstill reign,
.•ind placed at the summit ol e.irlhlv grandeur.
A dee|) .111(1 inciiralile inel.iiK holv settled upon
her, which undermined her i onstitution, ,ind
g.a\(' .1 f.il.d .iciiti'ness to her hoiliU- III ll.ulies.
Alter tour months ot iMinss she (IIimI, n]\ tlie 2'iih
ot .No\emher, 15CJ4, at .Mediii.i del C.impu, in the
fifty-fourth year of her age; hni !nr,.i J
eyes closed upon the world, lur he iri io|, ^^
on .ill its pomps .and v.anities. " Lit iin 1,^,
s.iid she in her will, " he interred in ihr hm,; , .J
of .San Francisco, whicli is in the .Mh.mi r.i'y J
city ot dranada, in a low sepulchre, w '■•„;;■.
iiKuiument except .a plain stone, with lliviiij--.
tion cut on it. Hut I <lesire and c.nni.i.n f,.'
it the king, my lord, should choose a mi ;,, -r.
,iny church or monastery in anv cilir r
pi, ice ot these my kingdoms, nu Ikm'v :,•;-,.;
ported thither, and huricd heside the iim:; •
liighness ; so th.it the union \\i li.ivfi!'.
while li\ing, and which, through ilu- ;■,:,■'-,
(iod, we hope oursouls will experii nci
111. IV he repriseiited by our hodies in 1
ll r,:!'
Such W.IS one of sever.il pass.iges ivi
this admir.ihle woman, which hespukc ii.c c .|
teiled humilitv of her he.irl ; and in \\liii;i ,s ,
heen ^vell oliserved, the atleiiimis .,: rr\
love were delicately entwined with |ii( u. ..;,j',
the most tender mel.incli(dy.+ Sin \v,i> -ir,,:
juirest spirits that ever ruled o\ir the csii-.i^
a n.ilion. ll.id she heen spared, lar '•!;;■
vigilance wiiuld have prevented ni.invi.-
horror in the coloni/ation of tin New Win.
might li.ne softened the lot ot lis n.ii.\i :;
t. lilts. .As it is, her t.iir n.iiiie will i\i:.
w ith C( lesti.il radiance in the d.iw uiiil; n: ;-
torv.
i'he news of the death of Isahell.i nMih-i
lumhus when hew.is writing ,1 lettrrtnii
I liego. I le notici'S it ill a ])ostscript or ;i.i'i,-.
dum, written in the haste .and hie\itv 't iii.
meiil, hut 111 he.uititullv touching .iiu! n.or
terms. " .\ mciiiori d," he writes, " 1 r :
mv clear s.iii |)iego of wh.it is .itinrMn;:
done. Tile |)riiicip.ii thing is to ( oinim i.ii ,:
tioilatelv, .Hid with great dex'olioii. thi --"ii ■
(piecn our sovereign to (iod. Her lit- .(•■
w.ivs c.iiliolic .and liolv, .and prompt In.di;'
111 his hulv serxice ; for this re isnii wr !ii,i\
.issured th.it she is receiwd into his gl.iiv, r.
\i)nd t!ie c.ires (d this rough and we. in »
!'he next thing is tow.itch and l.iher ii >':
tea's lor the ser\ ice of our soM'relg" i: • ^l',
to endeavor to alle\ i.ite his griek Hi' '■'■'■'-•'
the lieacl of Christendom. Keiieiii'irr ','••:
erh which s.us, when Itie he. id siil!':-' ■■
nieniheis sutler. Tlieia tore, all '^ in;! I !.rs'.
should pr.iv for his he.ilth and 1 irg h!i . ;i
who .are in his em|ilov <iuglit liioie ilii!;i;e
do this w itti all studv anil diligein v.' ]
It is impossihle to read tins nanniitii: '
without heiiig moved hv the siiii|i' t 'uiy
artless l.mgu.ige in which Coin ''iis •'•■'■
his tenderness fiU' the memory ol In 1 lu I'.i'-''
his weariness under the gatherae.; >>;;■-'
ot lite, ,ilid
low.ird the
neglecting
I oiilidenti.il
lumhus.
Ills peisiwering .iiiii
sovereign who w.i^
lim. It IS in die.
leiii IS th.ii we re, I
ij'iiiii ^
.so ir ,ri'
Vlli-llill:'
(I the
■"' Tlie ilyiiiLj roinin.uid of Js.iliell.i has ! <
The author of tjiis wo, ., lias seen her 1
ro\.if ( hapel of the Calh .iral of (iraii.i'
ler reinauis arc interred with those ot
'{"heir etrijiies, si ulptiired in white in. irl'ii.
si.le on a inaRniti'cnt sepulchre. 1 1 "
ch.iprl is adorned willi W.is-reliels ri'| n
< oiuniesl .in<l surrender of (iranaila
f ldoi;i() ,|e la Reina ( atoliia I"'i
meiichi. Illuslralion Ii).
; Letter to his yon Diego, Dec. 3. lr"4
1.! -n
lir.:
llIU
I). III.
COlIMlU's Al^KIM'
:;;c.\TioS T"
T:! il.'.itli ot ls.l
j,,.. |.,,s ot Coliiiiih|
ev, ;!-!nK le anticP
■m
iier ri.u.ird
,,;• his sia-\i'i|
di.v :,ter. Wii'i h|
(SI- i.ul laiigiii-lic''
jell lilt' justice .inj
II ,,'ig llic reiiiai!|
of; spring he '"il
Sai: ■/? illness, audi
r,'. Irein the ^:ovei|
His ii'iiher the .Ad
vrii i'.i.s acciisini'ii
thp ..:li ;ill his irrilsj
to ■ 1 lite rests I ik
yo;: , r snll k t ni.l
te< The killer, il
ed' ;:iin'seiits 10 I.
it: iiulmg in:] C'la
ijiv, lis : .lad iiniil
Iti'i :iir.i-m, allndiiig
But -t llliise slliliily
ore -iiiiin which st.iiii
I'T I tliy hrotlur >
'Jro :.i.r sliouM unti
;-itl r'-, and I pr.iise I '<
ho ■ 'lii'il llecil. Tei
na: Inr lllee. .N
jrif i to riLtlii or hli,
.. "Hi; t'le [KTsoiis
at I-. llMle in his
Ar :,:;a Wspiiici.
«\i ■. Iiiil iiiitoriiiii.ii
ii ii as he deserv
vl: .ill alwavs heen
Til His object ill
k ''Cill III prove
m ■■111 la' ha.l ]ur]\
thi '-w W aid ; \'es
,,pp , tile s.iii.e I i.ist,
!':'■ ciiiailllst.mi a-
III i a git .1111 11! ho
[l"';ily |)rns|Hrls. i
itiie lime hisho
Ut urt. This W.IS
|ia : iiilod Iniii 1 1 ,11
1^ I of le.iiiie I inei
fli'' i liiin .villi Ids
|)lo ,1 til tile Sp.inis
or ' li".l and 111. eh-
llv ;,ijl yet liei ll in
Ml! 's his s "A 1 ),ei.
fth' .vnrtli, piekite^
': 'lire |iarn ul.ir ;
ftl' I'll'. ■:, ,\|l,, 1, II
jlii: ; inii.. riling me
p.Jlhl.: lllshnpnt I':
at their higliiiesse
pli-'S, wlia indu.ed
"11 till- ro.id t )
fk .^■^: '■ 11 the lii-
;.«r -ulil arrivi', tell
J ''it'll hy Ills pro
|;h knl-r with liis i
'•t'^i-r et Deccmli
'nit tit-lj
iiMin 'II, fXi
! ■ I '
\) lit.
"4
LlFi: AND V()VA(',i:S OF C0LUMI5US.
oor.
fnAI'TKR III.
hn'MIUS AKI:l\r>!
AT ciiiK I — I KTi ri.r.ss .\I'-
1505. j
liiK Kl HKl-ss.
nril invilc iiii'. for we imist return to Oiir anriL-nt
tr.iii'iii.il iilti-ciiuii."
TliL' inccs-iiiiit .iiiplicitioiis (if ('Dhuriljus, Ixitli
bv letter ami hv the iiiler\(lUii)li ol Irielids. ,ip-
P
■ar to have
•n listened to with cool inditft
iTiii- fl'''
til c:
a w.is a latal blow to the
Irtuiu's (i:
( C'eliimluis.
W
llle .sMe lived
enec. No <'oni|)lia!ice w.is yielded to his re(jii(.sts,
and no detereiue w.is |i.iid to his oiiinions, on va-
rious points, concernin;^- xvhiih he intirest^d hinv
•jOSlli
tudi'
tliiiiir te ;iiitii'i|).ite troin
her 1
H'di sense ol
It. .\
ew mstruetions were sent out to Ovando,
iiiT r:\i.n
1 lor her roval wonl, her ^r.it
{ but not a word ol their purport \v,is mentioned to
11., services.
d her admir.ition ot his
the admiral. It w.is innposed to send out three
bar.u'tcr
\Vit!i her illness, however, his in
^ , Inshops, and he entreated in \,iin to he he.inl pre
li,iil l.in.^'ilislied, and whei
',0 tlu' iiislice ,ind ^jeiierosity
she died he w.is
ot I'erdinaiiil 1
\ious to their eleclKin.
In short, he w.is not in
iDunni;- tlic icin.iindcr ol the winter and a p.irt
]thf>|ii
mlinued ,it Seville, liet, lined b\
.iiKl jiide
vorinir to oht.tiii re
Jiiihil illiic
CSS fnun llic i;'i\ eminent by ineffectu.il k'lters.
hrdilin- ill'' .Adel.iiilado, who supjiorled him
devotion
Ith lii^
a(ciisiiinuHi
Is
hiiulness
.im
aiu' w.i\- consulted in tho ;ill:iirs of the New
Wdrlil. lie felt dei'ply lliis ii(L;iect, ;ind bec.ime
e\'ery d iv more im|i,iticnt ot Ins .ibseiicc from
(iiiirt. To enable hmisell to jierlorm the journey
with more e.ise, he a])plied tor iiermission to use
.1 mule, ;i rov.d ordinamtr h.iviiiL,'' |irohil)ited the
ose anim.ds under the saddle, in
ilo\iiieiit of th
|roiit;li all liis iri.ils. \
proceeded to lolirt
to itti'iid ci)iise<iuence ot their iini\irs.il use h.i\ini( ooci-
hh interests tikin;; wiih him the admir.d's
fcuii'^T smi l-'cni.mdo, iheii at:ed about seveii-
ioned .1 decline in the breed ol horses. .A roval
perm
ission was .u'cori
lin-K
■r.iiued to C'olum-
Jen.
Ilv I
lie l.itlfr, I.-
itfection.ite f.ither I'epe.it-
('|in'sciits to his smi
1)
lei/o .IS .1 in, 111 in un-
hus
;ncap,ui
in lonsiiieration th.it his .u,'e and mlirmities
t.ited him from ridinir on horseb.ick ; but
|rst;iiuliii,L,f iii;l conduct, thouj^h but ,1 stripling-
irs : .1:1.1 iiiciilc.iies the stronj;est tr.itern.ii
aii.i. iiii'.riil, .illn hiii;' to his own brethren with
one 111 ilidsf siiii,ilv elo(|Uent and ,iffeclinj| e\-
nre-.Moiis wliicii si. imp Ins heart upon his leiler'
it w.is a consider.ible limt; before the state of hi
he.i
ith
1.
WOl
lid permit him ti
ail himselt ot that
privilei^fi
■|-
le l(n'<'''oin''- p.irticiii.ir-
ii'ane<
if C'oluml
His receii
Ilv (I
IsCMVert
I trom letters
how the real
{T(i til
Hdlller Ci
induct th.-sidt as the elder
st.iti' of his atf.iirs, and the mein.il
d bodil-v
Other should unto the youn^LT. Thou hast no
LT, anil I pr.iise dod tliat this is such a one ,is
I (IdSl
'Vvi\ brothers wiiuhl not be too
attliction sust lined by him durini;' his winter's res-
idenci- at Seville, on his return ti'din his last dis-
lle li.is eeiier.illv been repre-
.istrous \()vaio'
ail\' lor ihee. .\e\er h.i\e I found a belter
S(
I'.ted .IS reposin'j- iliei'i' liiiin his toils and trm
Bend 1(1 riLjIit or It
It, tl
i.in ms'
brotli
ers.
lit
N
[AiiKini;
this h!
tile jicrsons whom v.oluinhus emploved
lu- 111 his missions to the i (Uirt was
ever w.is
ited, more desirt-d.
llMU
iblt
reiiuse more nier-
enio\e(
1' was not until the month of .Ma\ th.it he w
\'i
fspllCl-l.
lb
ilescr.lie-
him .as .1
m companv with Ins
r.inliut iiiit.Mluii.ite in.m, whdh.id not prolited ''"• '',' •"■'"mpbsh his 1
imiitii
Iho
IS lie (leser\C(l bv his uinU
•rtakii
ILTS. ,ind
time htdd at Sei
Is
brother the .\delant.i-
ourne\' to idurt, at th.it
w ho but a tew vears
10 li.Ki always Incn disposed to lender him sei-
Ict., Ills (ihiei-l ill ein|ilovinj^ him ajipears to
Vi- lifcll to jirove tl
belt
h.id entered the ( ;i\- (d H.ircelona in tri
iiniph, .itteiided by the nohility an
hivalrv ut
hd ih.u
le v.ilue ot his List vow
Sp.iin, ,ind h.iiled with i.i|itiire by llie multitiuk
In- iMil llceil m
|ie .New W'lrld ; \'espiic. 1
Kin the s.iiiii: c i.ist, in .1 vov.iet
the most (ipuleiU jKirts ol
now ariiN'ed within tr.e
Se^(i\l,l, a \».iv-
ti.ivin'i' since touihed
i^i' with
111!
(-■ circi.mstin. e (.cc\, rred .it this time w'ii( !i
wdiii, melanchoU', and iiei^lecled m in ; oppressed
more bv sorrow than e\cii b\- his year-^ .ind inlirm-
ilies. \\lien he presented himself ,it court he
I ■ .1 nut with mine of th.it distinguished .itteiiiion.
lonso lie
led a j^U.iii
(loimi) |ir(is]if( I-,
1 (i! hope ,ind consolation o\-er his
tli.it cordial kindness, that i herishmi; sympatl
l)i(
!)e.
lad hceii
or line uine bishop u\ I'.ilenci.i, w.is expected
hd
mrt.
iidcd I
Ills was the same wairtlU'
tl i.ir w ho
paid (if IcMiiic I 1;
iini I I .idviH .lie iiis theorv ludore tin
which hi'
suflerin;^s
dhe .s'e
ser\"i('es,
ilhded services aixl his recent
i had merited.*
llish l-'enlin.ind h id lost siidit of his past
in wli.it appeal!
,1 lo I
len .11 S.d.im.inc.i, an
pri'senl ile:n,ind
iiin .villi lii.s purse when iiiakin;,' his pn
■•3 to tile S
d
i.iiiisu t iiur
t. lie had
St b
lii
'f''i(iiu!| and iii.ule .\i,hbishop t
'■ 'wt yet bet 11 installed in otl"n
if Se
:s h
•, liut
( 'olumbus
till- woril
is s '11 liicno to iiiirusl his interests
iiin tl;e inconven-
I Ic rci fi\etl hint
with m.inv ]irofessions ol kindnes-. ; but with
those cold, ineffectua! smiles v.liith p.lss like
wintry sunshine o\cr the couiUrn.ince. .mil ton-
\''V '"1 w .irrith to the hcari.
The , idmir.il now i;.i\e a p.irtitul.ir .u coum of
IV prel.d'
T
tl
iinijs,
s.i\s lie
his Lit
e \(i\ aijc. (
lesci iliiiiLj the ere.it tr.ict of 'I'er-
:-tl
' iiiirc |i.ii-i, til.ir attention.
' |llf'M. wh,
ascertain \>. helher
liow w itli ( 'lod, h.is said .iiu -
(dill criipi^ me in her tesi.mient, .lud stim-
.i!( IK i.i, he who W.IS the c.iUse
r.i I'lrm.i, whu h he had
ot the p!o\in<'e ol \(a,ii;
dis.istia' suslaine '
e\ploreil, .iinl the riches
so I he
le rel.l
te.l al
in the islai
.im.iica ; the
|air tia
at t!„.|r h,.j'
kdi
■pol
messes oht.iinc
iiisurrei
lion ol tht
.ind their o.iiu
possession 01
the o'.lu r I' riels and troubles o| ihis uiitorlun.ite
I'-'SwIn iiidii.-ed ne to reiii.iin in Cast
f-'^'iil lla- i.i.nl t
It
1 iea\c It.
! .s.i\'.s :
^ iiulil iiiriM
He when
n .mother Utter
evpeiluiou.
ill the kill;
lie 1
l.id
lul a t iilil-he.irtial auditor
and the lii.niL'nant Is.i
liell
I was n.)
ghMifil l.y hi
lo'J"
llu; Ilishop ol I'aKaici.i h.is arrived,
tell him how mill h I
s .inisiientv, and tli.it if 1
:i,i\i.' iHcii
more .11 li.md to soo
liess or .1 te.ir ol ^.\ mp.illu'.
liie hiin \\ ilh .1 smiie ot kind-
llie \aaier.l
l.lel.
as C
IS. IS.
1 know not.
wli.it coultl cause
ith h
IS ^(r.ice, even thoU;;h he slioiil
dik
e .ml this w.iiit ol priiu'elv laiunu n.uu'e
' cltcr (if Dcicinlicr 21, iftq. N'.iv.irrele, li
\.
C'.isas, liist. Ind.. Uh. ii. cap.
llerrera,
Hist. I nil., dccaii. i. lib. vi. cap. i.
i
f!l W
S36
in the ki
LIFE AND VOVAGI'>: OF COLUMBUS.
toward nm> wlio li.id rciuliTcil liim
siicl' iiri'-iniiiu'iit bnnlits
inltss it was iliat his
niiiul was swayid by llu' false trstimoiiics wlucli
liad bi-i'H liiMUL;ht a''ainst the achiiira
hi'fi) cnahlcd to li'arn
I havi
sons niiuli in l.i\cir with thf soxrrcii^ns.
ot which
soini'thinL; Iron) pcr-
Attcr
S SlMt 111
a lew il 1
hi
he had
\s h id claiisi-d (.'olunilnis lUf^fd
t; ol all that
n promised him
u-nuiunnj;- tlie km
all that had bee
under the rnval wonl and seal, and siipplieatiiij.
tliat the restiuiiinns and indenmitiiations whieh
had been so Irrqueiitly st)li(ite(!, niij;ht l)e awari'
eil to him
(levo
vailing solicitation, during' whii h lu^ ronin,|...,
rei\'i\e oiilward demoiisiralions ot rcsin-i" •
the kini^, and due .mention Irom ( ,ipliii;i| v.
nes, Arehbishop ot 'I'oiedo, ,ind hiIht nnl
])erson,ii;es ; but he li.id h-arned to
i'tiiii
(listriist tlu' ho
were ri'teired t{
How
eivihties ol .1 rdini, \\:
tnb
dl<
ot th
e disi'harij'i'S ol the ronsrienc
ceased tineen, .ind of the l<
ol tribunal commonly know n h\ tlic i
junta de Descarj^os, lomposed ol
ilfcriiiLr in return to serve his majestv ! complishmeiit ot the last w
ited bv tl
riii:
i.ini- ■
piTMii;. I -
le soverei;;n, to siipeniit, -kI ili-
.1
teilh- lor tlu' short time
h,
111 \et to hve
d il
Ttl!;
le iliscM.iri
ot
lis (lelils.
and trustiii'', Irom wiiat he lelt within him, and | tioiis were held b\' this body, but I'oih.
from what
rend
tl
iou'J:ht he knew with cert.imlv, to termiiied
er servici s w
ad yet jierlormed
Inch should surpass all that In
he wishes ol the kii;;' WiTr
viiow 11 \r he thwart'ij
It
was
a hundred-lold. T
le kini;, in
I.asC
isas,
that il the ki
I'llKVC'l
Ulll h.
reply, acknowledj;cd the greatness ol his merits, : with ,i s.ite conscience, and witlauit ilc!'-
and the import.mce of his services, but oltserved
ih U, tor the more satisf.ictor\- adjustment ol
his lame, he would have respccti
tile iiri\ile};es which he and the ijii'
claims, It woul
be ,iil\ isahle to rclcr .il
Muini-i m
ded to the admir.d.
i!isi)Ute to the decision of some disi
Ic I justlv merited.
5L'rson.
Th
arbiter his iriend tlu-
e .iilmir.il immediately |iropi)-,eii as
t
olumlnis stil
tint
.hbish
>t .Sevil
I).
b
ered Inmsclt th.a,
il such import.ince, .and tone
I)
iej;;o lie
He
men about tl
le
th
e contidence ot tin
le of the most able anil upii,:;ht , of sovereii^nty, tin- .idjustment ot ll
liiijh 111 only |iostponeil by the kin;.,' until Ic
ourt, cle\oteillv Ion.iI
-illlL,
.111 1 one svlio 11
. take
II ^re.ii inti'rest ill the .ili.iirs ol the Ni
ad al- ! wath his d.iu^hter |iiar,.i, w
i-r mother as ' Hieeii o
h.o h
t Cislili
World. The kiiin consented tu the .irbitration, , daily exju'Cted Irom l"l.inders w ii!'. lu-r hi
hut artfulK' iNteiuled it to (luestions which he Ki'iK' I'lnlij). lie indeaxiUTd, tlvn-tniv.
^ould iicviM' be put at i.^siie by Columbus ; his delay-' with p.itieiice ; but he IlkI
111'
amonj;
ilVi
tht
as his cl.iini to the restor.ition ot his the plnsical streiii;th and j^lur
loas aiiiii'iii,;
olVicc of vicer.)v. To this C'llumlnis objected with ! which once sust.iined him throiij;li hi-. In
becoming spirit, as comprouiisins^r j rii;ht which cation at this court.
was too cleirlv ditiiu'd and soleinnlv est.iblislied
l.il
e ilsell \\;,s i!:
,1 close
t'j be put lor .1 moment in dispute. Il was the
HUeslion ol reins .and revenues alone, he ol)ser\f'l,
II
e w as once mo
ro confined to l;is hi-il i
e was williiiL;' to suhmit l'
which h
a learned in.in, net ih.it ot tlu
Indi':fs. .'
em!)rai:in;
the d
Hinir att.ick of the ^;out, a^
1 di
ecision ol sorrows. and di-,.ippointment
'ii\ernmi nt ol tin'
his heart. !■'
tile nii.'l.ircli iieisi
.ted, I
iiiwcver. 111 ilresseil one nior
boln i|uesi:'ins m tlie .iibilr.ition, tin.
II
p'.'oposec. me.isuie w.is i e\er ciriiei
1 into effect.
e no loni;t r |ietitioiiec
th
e .ipjie.d to the
I for h
'hi.h
ot .1!;
iiMi'-
•e.ltth
'I; :!•
Ills son
P
NiU' did he dwell iliieil
It was. in fact, on tlv. subied ot his diijiiiiie'
iii.irv (lues; It W.IS the noiior.a
lb!e tl
alone that Columbus v.-.i
matters he (■oiisidered oi
a con\ers.ition with the k
S teriai lolls ; .i;l
minor import. un
ill''' lie .ibsiplute-l
'tiler
services w
in his f.u
niiLdu be
voweil all wish ot entering; into anv ^.uit or |)lead- meiit of which
hi( h ' '■ wished to set lire ,i;vl :>
lib . 1 le entreated th.it la.
ijipninted, in his pl.ice, in tl:
h.ld been so \'. l"! ■.
inn' as to I. IS jieiamiary
offered to put all 1
on tiu^ contr.irs', lu-
lls privi
le.j
the
the dues .irisiii'' ii'iin tin in, w
d.
T
,1111
aaiuls o
t hi
writini,rs into
s sovereisjn, and to receive out of
^<1V
hall
mi.i^ht tliiiik jir-
concerns my hnn
ni.ijestv m.av tliiid
t t
as to .ill the rea,
propi r ; va r or v
IS maiestv ; m.iv be most t u" \iiur iiUiaa'st, .im
11 .iw .ird
1 d
ithoiu (pi.iiiiii .iti'iii cr reserve, were his otli- this .dt.iir is the jirincipal c.
M.llle:
d t'.l
ma iiiuler the ro\.i| se.il
111 t!
solemnit\
ed
c:a
with
at all
be li
dilate ot nnser.ible suspense, ,iiul enabled to retire
th.it he i l.UIll- : tent, I believe the .llixietv c.Ulsed 1 vl'^il'
m\
<t .1 tre.ltv.
II.
entn-.ited
I .\ petition to tlie same purpose v\ is |
II
le s.inie iiiiie
I)
leiro. I'llc!
events, th.at these matters
ini
eht
Speedily
llh
lim such piasons lor coiins
ecided, so th.at he mi'dit be rele.ised irom a
■.hoiild
Th
I
ippoint, .tint tl
lie Ki
iU-A
ese petitions wan.' treated
liv l-'i rr
to some (p!i"i corner, in scan h "f that tr.impiillity ' his usual protessions .and ev.ision
' i lati-ues and his in- ' .ap|)licalions were ni.ide to him,'
and reiio
lirmities.
,irv t-
o this Ir.mk ;ipp -.ll t.) his juslii e .and ;;cneri)S-
.1
w nil iii.inv laiurlt uis ex-
pressions.
ad with tl
Cas.is, "the miii'e l.unr.ilily did !>'' '' 1
still he di'l.iyed, hojiim,', by' e\k oislm- !
tience, to indiiic them to \v,ive t'.ea p.'
ose j^eiua'.
ises which bej^ruile the ear of tl
but cunvev no conilnrt t i las In
ev .isiv e
ourt
•i-(av.
nul
ipplicant, I C.istil
.\s f.ir as the ki
.accept 111 pl.ice tliereii
t tit'
(
olumlnis reji
cted
actions Went,
olpservc.T
1.
IS C.as.i
the
kin
lid with iiidij;n.ition.
111. Ill"
iim no siL'iis ot l.ivor, but, on
mm as much ,as
not mereiy showai
the contr.iry, discounteiiaiu ei
possible ; yet he was never w.aniini; in coniplimi nt-
ary ex|)ressions. "
.\I
my moiitir, w. re passed by f.nlumbusin una-
Las Casas, Hist. Iiul., lih,
up, 37, .Ml,.
promise those tnleS
his .achievt-mi tits,
furth
which well- tic
I le s:iw, l.'i.'i ■'
er hope ol redress Irolil
rom the
d to which he w.is < iii!i:i-'
tliessed .1 leiler to his constant liui
l>e.M, e\|)ressive ot his llesp.lir.
i 1),-
Las Casas, Hist. Ind., 1
ll). 11. c::
that his m.ajcstv
^hiri liC' \^'l'' •''
;«rainiM-il iiH' h^' \''
{ml liir the ' oat
the uiiul, I ii'i^
\t:\\c llH' !■• '^t ;o
•rojiiiii'i'^ '" mc '
„ Tnr C'lld 'Hid ' I
illii^Tiiuis 111.111 sn
jjei-iuciied by th.ii
ihc :i'.',irt sick."
Bli'!' 'lisappoiiiliiu
of ;:.;ratitiulc, ,inil
ll'eii;.! ilMSe to lie. I
Jro:a the just cl.iilii
ip ii.isin^' to he us-
hav become imjio
(.
PI- \ri!l
b '.lie midst 111 i;
bof, iilv .mil iKil"'
Cc'i'iiiius, ,1 new
\ih'-'\ lip fur tin: nil
pr ill' lu ird \vi'
li'.ij) .ill'l i]ueen
Dm fhiivlers ij t
[Cisli!.-, Inlheil
lici niari- to find a ;
er.iai.iml .mil all t!
Ii'fi.r t!r. vnlltlilul
ll '■, lia','- d'i'v ll
i '3 iieil hy a si
eiti ar 111 his p,iiiilul
!il,:j)011Se with the
Jii;,'), His hmllier
|s ;■,' I'll (lepemliai
: til rt present bin
|l(I cun^jr.itiil.itions.
' "rvv kin^aiid (pif
in;, ; ■laa'liled hy illii
ai.k'.st Ills devotiol
I [•wvxv:^ the tiiosi I
»p.'-s,i| ,1 liiipe ih
in i^ the i-estitiiti.ii
|d .ii^are I till 111 tl
'■M-at liy dise.i
!tn,: r ihem services
«!-■ witnessed.
. '"- ll w.as tin: l.is
iiiiUHTahle spiiil
|ifl iniirmiiies, and
:';n:|lls, s|i'ike t
iianleaee ii,' Vi
,.;rt .I'r r enievpr
: ".Is lite h-jere
til- ol his 'irotlit r
-1^.1111. aii'l set I
\^' -V-- lb- eNI
;«;'!'■. Tiieilai:
'"'' ''.:i 'J re. I', .men
yU' :. aiiilil.itienii--
1 -isjiei-inis terir,
ilic iiie.in time
j.w- 1^ ■■•! re (jr.ivvin
m ill- 'vliiJi had
lljl'',' i'Cil hvaccunii
IJC alter ilu,. (lepa
"" ■■' iniaeased m
Nav,arrc'lc Colcc.
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
2-11
I his majesty docs not tliink fit to fulfil th.it
ioM lif wilirthc (|iufn, wiu) is now in kIoit,
nuMd'nii- I'v won! .iixi simI. Vvr iiu- to con-
(1 i„r the ' oiitr.iiv would be to coiUcrKl with
le uiiul. i li.ivt' done .di t!i;it 1 cdidd do. I
llif rest io liod, wlioin 1 iiavc fvcr louful
■op.iuiiis t(, MU' ni my ii.cfssitii'S."* , , , , .
Thf i-'ild and oiili-id.ilini; I'cnimand hidudd tins
lusirioiis m.in smkiiv^ uikKt iiiliniiity ot body,
huiK'd I'V that drlcri-fd hoju' wliirh " inakflli
le hi'.irt sK'k." A little niori' dt lay, a liltU'
ioidlisa|ipniiitniont, and a liltli- loiij^rr iiilliction
iii';r;itiiiKlr, and this loyal and },rciuToiis heart
iul?l ii-ase ti) heal ; he should then he delivered
mtiic i^l^'t claims ot a well-irieil servant, who,
a.isitif; to he useful. w,is considered by him to
W hcconie iniportun.ile.
■4
CHAI'ri.R IV.
PI- \I H (IF Cdl.r.MI'.fS,
IIn tlip midu iif ilhu'ss and (K".|if)iidenry, when
llth lilv ,iiul luipe were e\|)iriii^ in the hosoni of
)li!iiiim-;, a new j^li'ain w.is awakened and
la/ivl i!p f"r the nionienl with characli'ristie fer-
Br ilc luird wiih joy of the landini^ of Kinjf
hi'iip and ijiieeii Juana, who had just arrive<l
bm ri.uvlers tu lake ])ossession of their throne
IC.i^liK'. In the daughter ol Isab-'lla he trusted
Icc niiirf t'l find a jiatroness ,ind a tri'-nd. Kin^^
inlin.uid and all liie court rei)air<d to Laredo to
Iceiic th'. yoiithliil soverei^nis. Cohinibus would
lil'y ha\" don-' the s.mie, but \v was confined
hi3 iunl hy a severe return of his nial.idv ;
lluT in his painful ,ind hrl|ilcss situation could
i(l;-poi!sc with the aid .ami niinisii'v of his son
le!,'a. His hnithrr, the .\drl,intado, therefore,
h v.r.un dcpcndnvr i'l a.ll eniern'cncies, w.is
Int '.a rcpre^ciu hini, and to present his honiai;e
id cnn;;ratul.itions. t'ohunbus wruic by him to
|e iii'w kin^.'.nd (pieeii expressing; hisLjrief .at be-
f prevented liv illness f|-om commi; in person to
ar.ili^t liis (le\c)tiiin, but bci^^^inj^- to be cniisider-
J?:iii'i'4 the niii^i l.iithfid of their subjerts. lie
iprc-<.il ,! li:,|ie tiiat h- should receive .at their
m\<\-, liic n-stuutiun of his honors .iiicl istates,
|d .isvuiv I thein iliat, though cruelly tortured
: prt-hcni !)y dise.ise, he wmdd vel be aide to
|ndfrilnni services, the like of which h.ul nexaa"
Kl! witMfsseil.
ISui-h was the last sally of hi-, s.mijuinc and
Jcotupacr.dtle spirit ; which, d;sreL;,,'rdinj,'- a:;c
Id niliimities, ;i;i(| all p.ist soia'ow , ,ind 'dis.ip-
lin'aiuius, spiike from his ilvni^^ bed with .dl
le iM.Uidince n; yiiulhful liope ; .irid talked ot
s'n.ii'.r enterprises. , IS it he h.ul 'a lonj^- and
CniMus li!,' h,.f,.re him. The Adel.uit.ido t.)ok
lavr of liir. 'iroiher, whom he was never to be-
""■ .i;,'.ini. and set out on his mission to the new
|BUTtiL;ii,. 11,. esperiencetl the most j,r.u ious
fta ''' ' '''" ' ''"""•'^ "' ''i'' ;idmiral were tre.it-
m ''M'.:i ;.;reai .iitention by the vouni,^ kine- .uid
|e'H. Miiilll.itlerin-- hopes were f^'iven of .i speedy
|(l |ii 'siiei-'iu- lernvwiation {•, his suit.
I'ii i:ic mean tune the car-, and troubles of ("..-
|nio_ib-.,en- dr.iwin;; to a clos". Phe numient-
. "le whkh had n-.inim.ited him w.is soon
en'-.-.cd hy ac, unuil.itinj( infirmities. Immeili-
1*1} ■il'.er the departure of t!ie .\del,iut.ido, his
m;,^ UKre.ised HI violence. flis last voyage
j N"av.irictc t'olcc, tor
had shattered beyond repaira frame already worn
and wasted by a life ol liardsfiip ; and continual
an.xielies robbed him ot that sweet repose so nec-
ess.iry to recruit the weariness and debility ot
aj,re, 'I'he cold inj^ratitude of hi.s sovereij;n chill-
ed his he.irt. 'Ihe continued suspension ot his
honcMs, and the enmity and del.imatiun experi-
enced at every turn eeni'. d to tlirow a sh.tdow
over that f^lory wl-.irii had been the '/jvaI object
of his ambition. 'I'his shadow, it is true, could
be but (d transient dur.ition ; but ii is dilliculi tor
the most illustrious man to look bi'yond the pres-
ent cloud whii h m.iy obscute his t.ime, ,ind antici-
pate its perm.anent lustre i:i t!;e .admiration ot
posterity.
Heinj;- admonished bv f.iiliiiL;' stren,;th and in-
ereasiiiL;- sufterintfs that his end wa > ,ip|)roa(diini4',
he prepared to le.ive his alf.iirs in order tor thu
beiielit ol his successors.
It is s.aid that on t!ie .^th of M.iy he wrote an
intorm.al test.iment.iry codicil on the bl.ink \r.i'^c
of a little brevi.iry, t,Mven him by Pope .Mexanderr
\T. In this he beciuealhed th.it book to the Re-
piiblir of ('ienf)a, wdiich he .also apj);)inted success-
or to his privilcLjes and di^tiiii''s, on the extinc-
tion ot his male line, lie directed likewise the
erection of an hospital in tluit city with the prod-
uce ot his possessions in Italv. Thi- authenticity
ot this document is (]UcstioiKd, and lias become a
point ot w.arm contest .imor.j.,'- coinmentaioi's. It
is not, however, ot much imponance. T.ie pa-
per'is such as mii,''ht re.iililv ha\e been written
i>y a person like L'idumiius in the paroxysm of
disease, when he im.aifined his end suildenK' ap-
proaidiini.j, .and shows the aft\'<'lion with w hich his
thoujrhts were fient on his ii,iti\a' cily. It is
termed amoiiL; commentators a military codicil,
bec.iuse test.imentary disiiositions if tliis kind are
I exeiaited b\ the soldier at the jjoint of death,
I without the usu.il form.ilities recpi;rt\l by the civil
' law. .About two weeks afterward, on the eve of
: his death, he executed .i liiial and re^ul.irly au-
j thenticatt'tl codicil, in which he beciue.ilhed hi.s
!dii;iiilies .and estates with beltt'r judejiiu-nt.
! In these last and .awful moments, when the
: soul h.is but a biatd space in whudi to m.ake up
its .aciMunts between he.i\eii and I'.irlh, .all dis-
simul.ition is at an end. ami we re, id uneciuivocal
' evidem i-i of character. The last codicil of Co-
lumbus, madi' at the vary \erL;e ol the i;rave, is
I st.amped w ith his rulim;' ]),issiiin .an 1 his benieiK.nt
! virtues. lie repe.its and c'nfirv'es sever.al cl.iuses
ol his orii^in.il test.inient, cop.stituiim,'' liis son
j nie;.;o liis univers.al heir. 'Idu- eiU.iiled inherit, uice,
or mavora/;^ ), in c.ise he died without m.ile issue,
W.IS to;^i) to his brother I)oi\ I'ern.mdo, and from
him, in like case, to pass to his uncle I )on li.irtholo-
niew. desi ending' alw.iys to the ik .iresl male heir ;
1 in i.iilure of whiidi it w.is to p.iss to the fem.ile
I ne.irest in iiiuxu^e to the .idmir.d. lie enjoined
upon \'. hoe\-er should inherit his est.iie never to
.ilii'n.ite or diminish it, but to eiide.uor by .ill
nu'.ans t > .ailment its prosperity ,',nd im|iortam-e.
lie likewise taijoineil upon his l-eiis to be prmnpt
.md devoted at all times, with pei'sin .and estate,
to serve their sovereii^n and promote the Christian
f.uth. He ordered that Don Die;;!! should devote
one tenth id the ri'venues which nii^ht .irise from
his est, lie. when il c.mie to ft.- j':-oducti\ e. to iho
la'lk'l of ind:^c•nt rel.ilives, and ot other |iersons
111 nei essiiv ; til, it, out ol the remainder he
should \ield ciaiain ye.irlv prii|)i>rtions to his
brother l)on P'ern.indo, .imi his uncles Don llar-
thohmiew .and Don l)iei;o ; and th.il the p.art al-
lotted to Don I'ern.mdo should bo settled upon
fs!
:';irf iil
%T'\'r:
"ii<fi!i!;
a ::..
■^m
i (
838
LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS.
if.
I
if
I- m
n 'r\
,i
f
him and liis niali- hrirs in an ontaiicd and una-
licnahk- inherit. unf. llavni^ tiuis i)i(ni(U'd tor
till.' niaintcnar,.i' .uul |Ki|ii'tuily ot his ianiily and
(Uj;nilifs, lie oidiMcd thai Don l)ii');i), when his
e^.l.Ufs siioul<l lie sutliiienlly prodik live, shmUd
erect a eha|iel in the island ot Hisjianiola, whn h
(iod had >;iven lo him so ni.uvellonsly, -'t the
town ot Cun(ei)lion, in liie \'e);.i, where ni.issis
should i)e ilaily nerloimed lor the repose ol ijie
souls of hiniselt, his taiher, Ins mother, his wite.
•inii of all wiio dieil in the tailh. Another el.iuse
reconinuMuls u the care ot Don Diejfo, Uealrix
Knriciiie/, the mother of liis nauiral son Fernan-
do. His connection with her had never been
sanctioned l.y m.itrimony, and either this circum-
stance, or some nej^lect ot her. seems to h.ive
awakened deep compunction in Ids dyin^^ mo-
ments, lie orders Don Diigo to proxiile tor iu.r
resjiectalile m.unten.uii-i- ; " .iiul let tins he
done," lie adds, " for the discharge of my con-
science, for it weii;hs he. ivy on my soul." * I'i-
n.dly he noted with his own h.uid several nunute
sums, to be i).nil to jjcrsons at liifferent and dis-
tant pi. ices, without their bein^ told whence they
received them. These appe.ir to h.ive been trivial
debts of conscience, or rew.uiK tor petty services
received in times loni; ji.iMt. .\mon^ ihein is one
of half a m.iik of silver to .i poor Jew, who lived
at the i^.ite of the Jewry, in the city ot Lisbon.
Tiu'se miiuiti: pro\isions I'vince the scrupulous
attention to justice in all his dealinijs, .uid th.it
love of |)unctiKility in the fullilmeiit ot duties, tor
which he was rem, irked. In llie same spirit he
j^ave much advice to his stin Diej^o, as to the con-
iluct of his aff.iirs, enjoining u|)on him to t.ike
every moniii .m .iccount with his own h.md ot the
ex|)enses ot hi> iKUNehold, and to si^ii it with his
name ; tor ,i w.iiu ot rrj^iil.irity in this, he ob-
served, lost both jiroperty .iiul servants, and turn-
ed the la.it into enemies. t I lis dyin^ beiiiiests
were made in ])resence of a few faithful followers
anil serv. lilts, and anioiii; them we liiul the name
ot li.irtholomeo FicMO, who had acc-omp.iiiied
DicLjo .Meiide/. in the perilous voyaj^^e in a c uvje
from Jam.iica to llis|),iniol,i.
Havini;' thus si rupuUjUsly attended to all the
claims of .'.'fection, loyalty, and jiNiiiH' upon
earth, Colundnis turned his thouj,dUs to he.iveii ;
and ii.ivinj; receive<l the holy sacrament. ;ind per-
formed all the jiious ollices of a devout Christian,
he e\|)ireil with j^re.it resignation, on the day ot
Ascension, the 2oth of May, i joT), beiii;4 about
seventy ve.irs of ai;e.:[; His l.isl \\ M'ds were,
" /;; iihiiiu< /iids li,'iuiiu\ iomincndo spiiituni
vititni :" Into thy hands, t) Lord, 1 comiiioul
my spirit.?
His body v.as deposited in the convent of St.
Francisco, and liii obst'quies were celebr.iied
with funereal pomp at \"all.idolid, in the parochi.il
church ol S.iiii.i Nlaria de l.i Antii(u.i. His re-
m.iiii-> wi-ii.' tiMu^porteil .itlerward, in 151.). to the
* Dic^jo, the soil (if the admiral, notes in his own
testament lliis heiie.est of his fallier, ami s.iys, that he
w.is ch.iri^'cil liy liiin to pay Hcalrix Lnriiiiic/ lo.ooi)
maraveilis a year, whiili fur some time he hail faith-
fully pcrforme'l ; but as he helievcs that for three or
four ye.irs previous to her de.ith he had ncRleried to
do so. he orders ih.il the detiriciirv shall be ascer-
tained An<l paid to her heirs. Memorial liuslailo so-
lire la prcjprieilad del niayorazgo que fondu D. Christ.
Colon. ^ 245.
f .Memorial ajuslado, ;i 24S.
i Ciira d(- los i'alai ios, cap. I2(.
■^ L.isCasas, Hist. Iiid., lib. ii. cap. 3S. Hist, liel
Almiranic, caii. lo'^.
Carthiisi.m mon.istery of I.a.s Cuevas u! Sr, 'e
the ch.ipel of St. .Ann or of SaiUo (.n. ,
whiih ch.i|)id were likewise de|)oMte(l iIukJ'
son Don Die^'o, wlio died in the vill.ij/f ui V
.ilb.in, on the 2.}d ot I'ebruarv, 15:1.. ]-'
ye.ir I5,?f) the bodies ol Columlms .null,.,,
l)ie>,'o were removed to Hi-,p,ini(ila, .iml ,;',itr
ill the priiicip.il ch,i|Hd ot the iMlhedr.il ,,; i
ot S.iii Doiiiiii).;!) ; but even here the) ilnl r.^i -
in ipiiet, h.iviiij; since been aj^aiii diMi.jc-rtl^
conveyed to the H.iv.ma, in the isl.iiiil ut (.'i.';,
We are told that I''erdiii.ind, .ilierihi- la;
Colundius, showed a sense ot hi-, merits livi; '
injj a monumriit to be erected to Ins iiiciiM;
which wa-. inscribed the motto alrc.idv c;
which hail lornurly been ^;ranted lo hiin In'ihcs
erei^,Mls ; .\ ("asIIIIA V A Ll.uN M|-Viimi\
Ido t.'i ii.( )\ ( I'o Cas/iir iiihf /.i.'ii ( \>/iiii:r;i. ^
ti >ii-7i' 7i'(v/,/i. Howevi-r >;rf.it .in hminr ;i;:',
mint m.iy be for ;i subject to ii cei^r. 1; .
l.iinl)- but ,1 cheap reward tor .1 suvnc^- -.
stow. .As to the motto inscribed ii|.(.ii i;, ■
mains en^;r.ived in the memory ot maiiivinii, •
indelibly th.in in brass or m.irblr : .nxuro; ■
f^re.lt debt of ^'r.ltltude due to the dix.-i::
which the iiinn.irili li.id so taillilessK ik^iic..,.
discharge.
.Attempts have l)ecn mad. in recer.t il.iv-
loy.d .Spanish writers, to vindic.iir the . nniiv
F'erdin.ind tow.ird Coliimluis. 'I'lu-y wire ik
less Well intended, but they h.i\e been U:i;'.v
is their f.iiliiie to be rei^retted. Ti s' lu:. ■.
injustice in so emiiient.i ch.ir.u tc r linmiLi- ■
batioii ol iii.inkind is to (h|)ri\e liist'iii i-;
ol its most import. lilt Uses. Let ilieiii.;r.i;,;ii..
l-'erdinand st.iiid recorded in i's lull e\u;,;
(.■ndure throui;hout all time. 'I'lu il.uk >."..
which it cists ii|ion his brilli.uu reiiiA:. ■■ ,
. I less 111 1(1 ,ill rulers, te. idling them v\''..i! ;•
|)orlaiu t'l their own tame in tiieir uc. ■.;;;;
illustrious ineii.
CHArTi;K W
(ii:si.inA 11. i\s (iN mi c iiakai iirou
j In 11,1 rr.it iie.^ the storv of Cobimluis .' : ,-
t!ie endiM\ or ot the .on In ir to pi:ii e Iiim ;;. .1 i»
and f.imiliir point ot view; t.ir thi< |i!ir;M-
h.is r<-jected no i irciinisiaiice, lioweu-i ;; ■
which aiipe.ired to cMilve s'lmc |iiiii/. 1! ■
.liter; .11). 1 he ll.is soU;;lil all klluN "' o '■
tacts which mi;^du. tlirow li^dit upon li:s \ ■ *•
, motives. With this view ,ilso l.e !:.!•• 'ic'.
m.iiiy t:ii ts hitherto p.isseil o\i-r in sJ't..
v.i;^iiclv iiiiti.ed bv historians, ]iro!i.iM\ !■'.■
they niinlit be deemeil instaiu '-s 111 eniMv''
conduct on the p, 11 tot ((ilumbiis , I'U! . "
paints ;i j^'re.it m.in merely in ^le.i! li;' ' '
traits, though he m.iy jiroduce .1 tine rir.u'.
never present a f;iithful jiortraii. ( lie 11 "•':' -
compounds of ^n:\i ;md little (pi.iiilic^- ' ■
nuii'li of their };reatiiess arises troin t! c i ''■'■'
o\cr the imperh-ctions of their iiiln'c. •"
noblest .u'tions .ii"e sometimes siriiil< loir "'
collision ot their merits .iiid their dele I-
In Columbii-. were sin^ularU 1 i.ini'i;.''!!
])r,ictical ,ind the poetic. il. His mind Im * '.'
ed .ill kinds of knowle(l;,'e, whether |)'"''' '
study or obsi rv.itimi, which bore ii|"'n '•
ories ; imp.itieiit ot the si anty ;ilimeiil "'■ '"'
"his impetuous .irdor," as h.is wcil '"''
served, "threw iiim into the study c4 tin- !■'■ ■'
if the (luirrh ; th
lei,; ^-...ij^r.iphers
fjg senilis, luirsim
Jien.i;. horc hiin
Jjtciic'lii;'!^'!'''"" '■
^ 1,,, ciinclusions
lia-i nK't'inniis .'un
iq|[, i h'lim the cl
g(,n,i,ir path of
^t-. iiiIikIi'i'"''''
"Jciiiicciurc to cci
Irknr^swilh whici
8'''
In !:i'' pn),i(rcss
Kni.ikcil lor the e\'
ibl, •iisiiicss with
BOiii: Ki of the exti
fer I'l.iance, nt ten
tjon • • currents, tin
fai!_: one ol the
fti- , \Mn, the tern I
irili: rie (list. 111! e lo
JKfi(:c:nc ot iiicrid
BOn.< ill, .is tln-y bn
mrilii AcHiilcrliil quill
tor ' trihulc iliipor!
gt!',! \il kimuledi^e.
qtiii ', I iiinertiltility
nii>: liiin fnnn the
Bnv cnier()rise, iii^oi
inj; inlor 1)1 his iiii.e.
has ^icrii aili))ir,ibl\
^ut^' III ri'tlection.
it -1.^ hcfii s.iid ill
Willi iiic .uiihitiDii ol
(da: M> with llie S|
ava;. imis. 'I'he 1 li.i
jasi, lie ainie.l .11
jaiii- jilly spirit in
the. .1 re to he part
mei ;, .i;ii! |i,ilp.ible ei
We;- ;ii .irise trmn ti
: COV' ■. mil he .oinmi
con ■;i.iii ('(.mill be nn
oi 1' >.iviTeii;ns but
' hei .;iril ti) j;ive thei
siiiri tile ui'.,';\it
; Sh'i I ill iiii ( .luntr
Till ■ '.illv wiiuld be
- .ilimlld he pre
1: pniduce Do t
i:cs iilliiD.ilelv
I'le lll.l;;iii|j( rlii
' ti; the C.istili
lint rejoice to
but he did
■:ill .1 (lis;ippoint
■'■ , on his nil
; iriiy iimli nook
iiilliilors. ai tn.
''I'lic- ch.ir^e (it t
" 'V ni I, lit, this
lira ileal in, in i
■or, which en.il
iri;,!-, ini,, ,|t^.^■
tn;
lie
wl-
in:;
SO'
nil
mi 'he pel am
,.,MVf le,isil)ilit\
il t 1 (hid the
I'!"- k'.uiis th;i
res he Intel
'"" piinccly .mil |,ii
'le'l. 'llcconti
heiiev'ileiici
Humboldt. L:
LIFK AND VOYAOES OF COLUMBUS.
229
»\w. I.-;
'' (
I-,:. \ ■
III -ii'
( Hi'!
u:i'. •"
k ''Mr
1 .11 ' t ;
i-i !i.. -
iip"n :
III-: I''
\ { 11 .'1
the iliiirrh ; the Arrihian Jews, and tlic ;ni-
^„, ,„r,i|)li<Ts ;■' wIliU- his darinj; hut irrcKH-
irilmi" biirsiiiii,' fn.ni tin- limits ut inipcrlo t
lencc iHiri- linn m lonilusions tar hL-yond liic
KelloUial vision ol liis i-()ntcin|)i)rarifs
^ ^ II some
iiis i.iiuhisions well' crionfoiis, they wen; at
Lst riL'tiiimis and splendid ; and tlifir error ri'-
llu.l lioin ihf clouds wlii.h slill juiii.i; over ids
ciili.n- p.ith tif fiiifrprisf. Iiis own discov-
(iestnliuliti'iifd the i^Mioranrc of the a;;c ; «uid-
JcoiiiiTUnv to <iii nniv, and di'-;;ulifd 'hat very
|rknrss\\ilh'.\huii he had liccnidjliged to slrii;;-
lii till' nn)i,'ress of ins discovt-rifs lie has het'ii
iii.irl>e(l liir tiie evtrenu- haj,'arity and liic adiuir-
(le uistness uitii wiiieh he sei/ed upon the phe-
|nie:i;i of the exterior world. 'I'lic variations,
.•in^iaiire, III terrestrial nia^nietism, the direc-
jlnd! airreiits, tiie ijroupuiLj.s ot marine plants,
h[r\'i one ol the j,'iaiid climaileric divisions ot
-:l|ie •^|.■.lll. die temperatures eiian,L;in^,' not solely
' |th tliu liist.nue lo ihe e.piator, Init also with tiie
Rereiicc ot meridians : tiiese and siniil.ir jdu-
Jnii'iia. .IS ihev Inolxe upon idni were discerned
:*;Kiilh wonderliil (|iiickness ot iii-riaptioii, ,ind made
• lilcinirihiite important principles to the stock (d
' Itniial kiiouieilj^c. J'his lucidity of spirit, this
|ick ((invertiliility ol tacts to principles, disiin-
lisli linn h'oiii the dawn to the (lose ot ids siih-
ni" enli'r|irise, iii-.mtuich tli.it, witii all the s.illy-
inliirol his iiiiai;iii.ilion, Iiis ultim.ite success
jTs III''!! .iiiinir.ihK (di.iracteri/ed as a " con-
jje.si ol retlei'tion."*
lit iiiis hceii said di.it mercenary \-iews mini,'led
Itii the .inihiiion ot Columbus, and tli.it iiis stip-
l8atioii> witii tile .Sp.misii court were selii-,li .iinl
Iraiifiii'js. The cii.ir^fe IS inconsiderate ,iiid uii-
^t. lie ainie.l ,it dit(nity .and we.ilth in the
Imr i'ltly spnil in which lie soui;lU reimwii ;
ht\ neii' lo he part ami p.ircel ol his ai liie\'e-
: fflciu, r.v\ |i,ilpaliie e\ideiii-e ot its success ; tiiey
Wen III ,iiise Irnin tlie ternlnries lu- should dis-
COVi r, mil he .'omnieiisur.ite in import. nice. .No
• con. i'jiiiii could lie more ni>t. He asked notiiiiiL;
[ t' ■ >jvereit;i).s Inn .i comm.ind of the countries,
eiijifd to i;ive them, anil ,i sh.ire of the profit:,
: tOs'ii'ii 'M the o,'.;ailv ot his coiiuiiand. it there
[ikvu'.i 1)1 no (.luntry disco\ered. Ins sti|)ulated
|:Tici'ri\,illy would he of no .iv.iil ; .iild if llo rev-
;:«1U:^ .should he pnulueed, ins l.dior and jieril
'vroiii.i produce no <^a'\\\. It his command and
^viinies ultim.iiely proved ni.iniiili'.-eiit, it w.is
~l)m the m.i(;nili( erne of tlie rejourns he li.id at-
lfl';'l lo the (.'.isiiIliii crown. Wh.it nion.irch
|fOiii(i not rejoice to ;,,Mm empire lui such condi-
|;ton>:- lUit he did not risk merely a loss ol la-
^wr, aiul .1 (hsappointnient ot amlntion, in the eii-
Sllinv . - on hi, motives hem:; (|Uestioued, he
Wiii'i.irily uiideriook, and, with tlie assistance ot
iWs >n,idmi„r,, .utu.div detr.ived one ei-luh ot
m; vhoiech,ii-,Mil the' first cNp.-dition.
'''^'■:v infut, tins r. re union .die.idv noticed,
j"'''!' I'lMi Ileal m,\n ot hnsmesv, witli the iioeticil
;l"f" 'iiT wiiiih en.d)le<l inm lo c.irrv his vjr.md
feim< '!iri;,rs into dtecl throuoh so ni.iiiy diilictd-
fc" 'nil 'he pecuni;iry c.ilcul.itions .I'lid cares,
"I*' 1 ^'.ivr le.isiliilitv lo his schemes, were never
:«'H«.-d to (hid the i^h.winjr aspir.itiims of his
i;M'J . The grains il,;u promised to arise from his
fOiSHV,p,.s he intended to .ippropri.ite in the
t«"'n'iii'iely ,111.1 pious spirit in whiili tliev were
MiiMiuled. Ilecontempl.ited works and .ichieve-
pf"ts.,t henevoleiice and reli^non ; vast conlri-
F' >' Ihiniljoldt.
Examcn Critique.
Initions for the ndief of the poor of his native
( ity ; the toiind.itions of ciuirrlies, where iii.isses
sli(nild l)f s.iid for the souls of tht; de|)arted ; and
armies tor the recovery ot tlie holy sepuh lire in
I'. destine. Thus his aiiihitioii was trulv noble
and lofty ; instinct with hi^ii tli()iif,dit and prone
to ^en(;rous i\vv(\.
In the dis( harf;e of his ottice he ni.iintainefl the
st.ite and eerennnii.il ot a viceroy, and w.is teti.i-
cioiis (d ids r.aiik ,iiid ]irivilej;es ; not from .i mere
vulj^Mr love ot titles, but beciuse he |)rized them
.as testiiiKUii.iis ;ind trophies of his achievements :
these he jealously cherished as his ^neat rew.irds.
In his rejieated applications to the kin^;', lie insist-
e(l .iierel)' on the restitution of his dignities. As
to his peeuni.iry dues .iiid .all (piestions relative to
ir<'re revenue, he offered to leave them to ,'irlii-
t.'atioii or even to the .ibsoh .e disposition of the
moi, nail ; but not so his otVici.d dignities : "these
thill),'..," said lie nobly, " aflecl m\- honor." In
his test.mient, he enjoined on his son Diej^o, .and
whoever after him sliould inherit his estates,
wh,ite\( r dionities and titles mioju .dterward be
j^r.mted by tiie kin^,', aiw.iys to sij;;i iiinistdf sim-
ply " tiut admiral," iiy way ot perpetuatiii;^ in the
taiiiily its re.d source of ^'.ealnes.-,.
His ((induct W.IS characterized by tlie i;r.indeur
of his views and tiie ni.ij^n.inimit) of liis spirit.
Instead ot scourintj the newly-found countries,
like .1 Kras|iin!^ aihcntiirer eaj^'er only tor imme-
di.ite },Min, as was too j^ener.illy the c.ise witii
contemporary (lisco\erers, he souj^ht lo .isceriain
tludr soil and iiroductions, their rivers .ind har-
bors : he was desirous of coloni.<ini; ;iiid cidtiva-
WWf!; tlieiii ; of (aincili.ilinir and civili/ino' the n.i-
lives ; ot buddiii)^ ( ities ; introducino- tiie useful
,irts ; subjectiiii,' e\ er\ liiiii);; to the (untro! of l.iw,
order, .mil r(dioiiiii ; and thus of foundiii:; reiju-
l.ir ar.il |irosperous eiiijiires. In this ;;lorious
plan he w.is const. intly defeated !))• the di.ssidute
r.ibliie which it was his iiiisforlUP.e lo comm.i'id ;
witii whom all law was tyranny, and all order re-
str.iint. They intcrupted all us(dnl works by
their seditions ; provoked tile peacelul Indians to
hostility ; ,ind alter tlie\' ii.id thus drawn down
misery .ind w.irtare upon their own iie.ids, .and
overwhelmed Columbus witii tiie ruins ol the edi-
t'ue lie W.IS buddinj;, they ( h.iroed liini with be-
injr tile cause ot the contusion.
\\'(dl would it h.ive been tor Sp.iin ii.id those
who tollowe;l in the track of Columbus possessed
his sound policv and liberal \iews. The .\e\v
World, in such c.ises, would ha\c iiceii settled by
pai ilic (olonists, and civilized bv (ailiL;htened lej,r-
islators ; inste.ad of beinj^ (werrun lis desper.ite
adventurers, and desolated by avarici.'us (Oii-
(pierors.
Columbus was a man of (juick sensibilit\\ li.i-
ble lo i;re..l excitement, to sudden .and strono jni-
pressions, ,ind powerful impulses. He w.is n.it-
ur.dlv Irrit d)le .and impetuous, and keenly sensi-
ble lo inj'.iry .ind injustice ; yet the ipiii kncss of
ids telll|ier W.IS counter.n ti. d bv liu' bene\olence
.ind j;enerosit\- ot Iiis iieart. Tiie iii.i^n.ininiily
ol his n.iture siione loith throui^h all the troul)le.J
ot iiis stormy career. Tiioui;ii contiiui.diy out-
r.ii;('d in Ins di^iiity, and bra\'ed in the exercise
ol his command ; thouj^h toiled in his pl.ins. and
cnd.inLicred in \v.s person by tiie seditions ol tur-
bulent .ind worthless men, and th.it ton at times
will II sulleriiij.; under .mxiety of mind and .mo^uisii
of i)od\' surticient to exasperate the most i)atient,
'.lined his \aiiaiit and iiidi ' '"
vet lie
iL;ii.int siiirit,
bv tiie stroiii; |iowers ot his mind, and brouolit
hiinsclt lo forije.ir, aiul reason, and even to sup-
^tmw
'^m
.m:.
1 . " .'
'.;! ■ i1
Ik
)\
= &
!v
ff-i
:#t}
130
I.irF' AM) VOYAGES OF COLUMIU'S.
plir.Uc ; nor should we (ail to imt
(•'• now iri'i' Ml'
ii'^cil (or their coiivcrsii
n, .111(1 the
was froni ,ill ii'flni),' ot rt'\t'nj,'c, iiow rc.uly to tor- I |nini->litiiciiis inllii ti-d upon ihcii' (il)siii<,,,,
jfi\i' and lor^'ct, on tlir I'Mit si;^Mis ol if|u iilancf i iiidict. In llii-. spirit ot hiujotrN hr ,■,,;•
u
skill 111 (.diitrolliinj oilier-
111(1 atolU'liU'lil. lie has been extolleil lor his
nil tar ^jreater jiraise
is due to him tor liis tii iiiiu^s in j;overniny him-
selt.
Ill
all kill
hiiiisell insiilied in inakiiii^ caplmsdi
and tr.in-,portin^; them to Spain la
taiK'ht the doitriiies ot L'hri^tia
niiv, :ii>.i!>
lH); them lor sla\-es il they liretended in
IS natural l)eni;;nity made Imii acee-.sihle to ' inv.isions. In so doin;^ he simi(
(Is ot pleasurable sensations troin external I natural ,i;oodiie>s ol his iharaitei, an
" • lett •■ '
objeits. In his letters and |ournals, instead ot i leelini^s whii h he h.id ori;;inallv eiiicri.ni;
(letailiivj; ciroumstanees with the tei hniial pr<'ci- evpreN'^ed toward this ^anile and |i
ospit.il
sioii ol a mere n.u ij^ator, he notices the beautu"^ ot ] pie ; but he was goaded on bv the nicii i ii,;r
nature with the enthusiasm ol a poet or a painter. ; tieiice oi the crown, and li\ tlieMieiiS(
As he ci.ists the shores ol tin- New World, the i mies .it the unprotit.ible result ol his ii
r.achr participates in the enjos nieiU w iili which It i' but justice to his idiar.icter tn dIiv
he describes, in his iniperlect but pii tiires(pie the eii>la\ cnient ol the Indians tliiN tai,
Spanis
h, tl
le varied oDiei ts .irouiul nun ; tlu'
biandnr
tie w.is ,U lirsl tipenly countcnaiii I (I In ihc
it tile temper. ilure, the purity ol the and that, when the ipiestion ol riijhl ( .iiin-
almosiihere, tlu' li'aj^rance ol the ,iir, " lull ot (liscusr,ed .it the entre.ity ol I
(lew a
nd
sweetness," thi' \irdure ol the lorcst-
le i|U''t'll, u'i
the m i;ri.lt'icence of tin t
he most disiin^uished )urist> .in
1 thi
re( s. the ;;iandelir ot the \iic.ited the pr.'<'tic,'; so tl'.a! the (|iic,i
mount, lins, ,md the limpi(lit\- .and Inshness ot the tin. My settled in I. nor ol the Indi.ms si
running; streams. New (lelij;ln
in t'very sceiu'. II' extols c.icl
more beaut ilul than tlu
beautiiul in 'he world
earnestness, he tells the ; ,i\("-eiL;!is th.it.
spniv's up lo. iiiin luim.miiv ol Isabell.i
As t
le VeiuT.il
exto.s c.ich ic.'W disc'i)\ery .i ■
and e.ich .is the mo-,;
l..lsC
ll.ive (
is. IS iihsi
rvi'S, where tile niosl
loubtcd, it is not surjirisiiiij ih.it .iii l-
iint!l, with his simp.e ed m. inner should err.
spoken s(i II
th.it th(
;hl
n;i\ mil:
vol the precr<|int'- i-,|.in<!s, he le.ir,'
1
u se rem. irks, in p.illi.i' i'la
I'
( 'uliimliiis, are re(|uire(
tlic
'i\ C.llli
will not credit hiir.
. lien r.e (.ecl.irr
I 1
iw him n ( (iiinection .Mth tl
th.it the on
e he IS actuallv ill -^ci iliiii''- snip. issr
th
em .ill in excilleiu e.
Ill the s.ime .irdcnt and unstudied w.i\- he ex-
!ie liV'd.
colisi.lcrei
ir.t, atio'i (
\fM Hie errors o
1 ,is his individu,
I II
!(■ lint!
iiill-
Mh
ithor, how( V
h
er. t'l jiisi.
|5re.'
[fecti
or indijfnation.
,1
his emotions (111 v.arious occ.isin,, ,, icnlib i)ii-.i>n .i point \\ here ii is iiiexi us.dilc in ii;
In' impulses ol
ov or uri-d, lit
\\
pie isuie It rein. nil .i blnl on his llluslriolls ii.ilin
len surroundeil .imi o\ci-
whelmed b',- the ini/ratiiude and \i(i!ence ot wmi
idler-
We 1
live .1 lesson trom it.
ess men, he olteii, in the ret
iremeiit ol
I
i.ive alre.idy hinted .il .i priii.
1 \.irieil
fjavc wav
to 1
Hirsts ot sorrow. ;i
111 rehiM
Ills ricli an
eiilhusi.isiic im.ii'in.ition winch tliiru
ch.iiMct r ; I'l.il ir
I,
t)Vei1.i(len heart bv siirlis .ind ;:rii.in
returiii
Cll.llIlS t)
iireseiice ol Isabell.i, instead ol
lollv
d hi-
len he celKT i>\cl his whole course ol llii'ilijlU.
Spain, and cinie iiiin lie iiiiim.ites tli.it he li.id .i ti'eni Inr jn
W
I intinnni;,, -.U • some slight tr.ices ol it ,ire mi !•■ mil n;
pride with whicli he had hiiheiM sii,; inr 1 ol prophei-ir-. \'. Iin h he preseiiied toll:
Ins in)iiries, lie was touched with •.■riej .ind ten
s i\ eleiiMls.
(leri-e.-s .It her sympathy, and biiisi luth into subs « i raible throui^hoiu all his w riiiii.,;s .am
liul Ills poilii il tem|ier.ir,ii
1 h
and tv.irs.
.ntion -
t spread a j^olileii .iih
lie was devmuly pious: relii^ion min^^le 1 w iiii armind him, and tin;.'.cd e\ervtliiii;,' \m:I
the whoie course ot his t)ii)Ui,dits ,iiid .ictions, .and
.shone forth in Ids mo .1 jiriv.ite and uiisiudiel
orijeuis colors.
It betr.ucd liiiii 111'
writiiv's.
cr\ . he
Wh
enever lie maile .iiu' 'rrcit di-
le voice ot
Tl
from h
\Vorl;l.
c-k brated it b\ solemn thanks l<i Cud
speeul.aiolis, which subjecteil l.llii In
il men ol i oolcr .imi
.mil cav.ilaij,
more I'l'ic. elim''- mimls.
Suil
I \'. iTl' 111
pr.iver and ineloih' o
lijis when tln-y tiisi beheld the New
in;; wis (.
(1
lormed on ilie cu.ist ol I'.o i
■ irlh, .1'
tlu
>iiu.iti'in o! tin-
Old his tirst .action on l.md
.iboiit liie mines III I '|ihir C' c
prostr.ite iii'i-.sidf uivm the eanli and ri-iirai o!.i. .m' I the .\urc.i ClierMinesii, m \ >
th
:inksi/n iims.
i:\
erv e\cnin
Ike
S.i/;:
J,'/;/!? and other \esper 1
nniiis Well' ehaiite
.i-i ill" Ik roil
I
■me ol .1 'I.
\i IV ol tlie liolv sepulchre
t mil .
nis crew, and m.isses
titnl
heat
K roves
1(11 land
bordi
were perlornied in the be.m- his relijioii, .111 I tilled his mini wit'
ihi
.\11 h
sliore (I
IS j(re.il eiitci|'r ,es
Were lill-
Vlsloti irv lllei
Scripture,, ,11
lit.it
id t
ions on ni\ ^i;
)e sli.idow^
irolillecies. It ex. died Ins iiltice lii
(lert.iken in the n.tme ot the Holy Triiiitv
p.-irtook of the communion previous to emb.uka- m.ide Idni i uueive himseil
ticn
II
e w.is a t'irm believ( r in t
vo'\s anr! penances .and pilgrim e^es
to th' m in tinvs ol (.illicidiv .iiid d-nver. '! he ji\
le ellic 11 y ot llpon . I sublime .nd.iwiul missiiill. aUM'
1 re-,iirie I pulses .nid siiiieri'atnral intimatiniis In n
reli^^ioii thus deeiilv
SlKil .1-, tl
se.ited in his
sol
llllu-
volee wi"ch he llll.i^l"
! ill'
,vhiil
)er (lii^Miitv .111(1 beiii'Mi composure o er hi'
e demi'anor.
II
•ru.i rdc'
m! free I
IS laiv'-u.it'-e w .1
s pni'
rem all imprec.ition-., o.itii-
I 1 liini in conii(M-t .imidst the irn'.ihlcs u!
ola ,.lid in tlie silence ol tiie m;.dil en ''
trulls co.ist of X'er.i^ua.
11.
W .Is del idedlv .1 \-ision,ir\ . hUi
.11(1 oilier irrev'icni expressium
a .111 uncommon and succi
dul kinik I'
t '-.1111101 be denied, however, ih.at his pieiv m-r in whiidi his ardeiil, inia-in.iiiv
\va , iiiiii'^led with super-ilii
He.
biiidtrv ol the ,i
loll, .111(1 (larkeiied o\ rial n.iture w.is coi
a roll
e\ nil
■ml
\' 1 olli 111 1 1
i
I'd bv .1 I
1. 1\\ iTilll
in the opiniun. that all n.Uio'is which' did not ,ii - I m
nieiit, am
1 .1
I recti-
Ule s.r^ H:
know'edea. the Chrisii.m l.iitli wa-
ry le.iture in his i luiradif-
re destitute ot
natural rights ; that the s'x-rnust measures miidit ' it
ost (Xtraorilinary
iverned, his im.i^jinaiion, instiii! '>
sell m itik- IliLdns, lent aid to his ju
l-m-'it
ialilc'l liii"'"'"'
Cnds iMiilil i"'\^
|U1(1 Mill pi'liCIV^
",) Ins iiucllci
|e si;;l|s ni llic
ptiiii-^ .ind re I CI
,111 iiiikiiiiAii \-
r,-iil |iivili.iiii
yeiili lii'i" 'II*' \-
j)jcrvi-s .1 .Spini
Be 111 uiiii'li k'' Ii
jre.ii i-iiti rpris;' e
jiVl'll lisC to Ml
V' iii'i>ti-iv 111 hi-
Wilh all the MS
Mildest (Ire. I II
[icil ill l,;;lliir,IIICl
pvir\, I'litil 111
if.] ill It lie li.i.l 1.
1* Cl.iik-iv.. hive:
LIFE AND VOYAGnS OF COLUMBUS.
231
1 1' I
III ;'!'
,1 {■! ■
.ih'i ■
,nv t::.
,1 .llur,:
.f I'p •
lill- ,'-
\.i '.
I ■ 1 ,; -.1
l:i li.^ 1
1 i:'-
1 , ^it ■ '
iiii.il;''
■ill c.;i r
i\ '■, •'■'
N.i;4 1' ;■'■
ll.lIMiiif 1
,1 ,,l vsh-
■, judjlli'
aliini liim to hirni comliiMons ,it wliiili idtnmon
L|s..Kiklm'ViT h.iVf .irnvi'il, n,.y, uhuh lluy
UM iml IHMVnVC wIk'H |)l.|llll'(l (.III,
r, ins inuni'ilu.il visum il sv.is ^(ivcn to rci.l
s|.iis ot till' times. .111(1 to tiMCf, m the coii-
tiir(->.iiul lOfiifS of past URi'S, the iiulio.iti..ii^
,.|i, unknown wrld ; .is sootlisayi-rs wiTc s,ii(l
rri.l |)rc(lictioii-> ill '!"■ ^'•'i''^. '""' '" ''"'i-"' ■;■
m, ir.mi the Msioii.-. ul tlu; iiikIu. " His soul,"
siivcs.i S|)iiii'ili writer. " was superior to the
e 'I wiiiih !if livi'il. I'or him w.is reserved the
e.i: i:U( rprisf lit liaveisini; that sea wliiili hail
viii ii-.e to so mail) l.iliies, and ol (h'l ipheriii^;
i- !n,4civ "f Ills lime."*
\' , all tile visiii'i.iry fervor ot his iiii,ij,Mn.iti(in.
, lest (JriMn'" leli short of the reality. lie
, . i;,^ii(ir,iii(( 'il the leal grandeur ol hi> di-.-
I'lilil his List hre, till he entertained the
I I'lii lie had iiiereK opened a new w.iy to lilt,-
'itliiv. Idvcsligaciones hijtotias, p. ^3.
old resorts of opulent rnmmorcp, and h.id di.scov-
e;ed some ol the wild rei^ions ot the l'.;ist. lie
supposed 1 l.sp.iniol.i to lie the .inticnt < )phir which
hid been visited liy tin; ships ol .Solomon, and
th.it L'uh.i .111(1 'lerr.i {•'irma were liut rcniote
ii.irts ot .Asia. \\ hat virions of ^jlory would h.ivt;
lirokeii upon his mind could lie lia\e known that
lie h.id indeed distovcred a new continent, e(|u;il
to the whole of the Old World in inaKniitucie, and
sep.ir.ited by two vast oceans from all the e.irtli
hitherto known by rivili/ed man I And how
would his niaj^nanimou-. s|)irit have been 1 on-
soled, .imidst the .iltliciions of a^^e ,ind the i ares
ol penury, the nej^lecl ot a tickle jiublic and the
iniiisii(\' of an un;;iMtelul kinj;, could he have an-
ticili.ited the splendid empires which were to
siire.id o\er the be.iutilul world he had discov-
ered ; ,111(1 the n.itions, and tonj^ues, and lan-
;;u.i;,'es which were to till its lands with his re-
nown. ,111(1 revere .md bless his luime to the latest
posterity I
«;■ - :f
APPENDIX:
CONTAINING
ILLUSTRATIONS AND DOCUMENTS.
M
V III. ' m .1.
'.iiyiLjJii i
'1 -g 5:
P : 'i:
njk
,'^
m
IK"M Ml, H'
A, til!' tcrtniti.iti
Span m I?)";, all
lilaiil •'( lll)^|>anl(>Ki
^ -.iiW-'y c'f llic tl'
Kti ii,|',.''liiiu'nt of
was .li'iMiclifil I'l
comnMii^lt'il !')■ 1 1(111
inlv'i'n'T il !■( ihi- 1"\
cem 'ir. 17)5, lli.ii n
thai in 1 ijiniTiinr, .
St |i ini'nj!'\ th.it, I
Ol I'll' filftiral;''! .-I'lr
lijr ill ihc i.ii1i('c|imI I
oa him a-i a S|i.ifiiai^
hit iiii|i">i\'s s.|ii,iili
tfinslatii'!! (i| till' iis
CbIm. wliiih li.i.l lik'
tnd ivIiiTc he li.id 11
cross He rxprcssci
done ntlii-i.illy. ailil \
(hat i; iris'lit r.nt rciti.i
acaiflo* iraiispnrta:
lose .1 relic (niiilLM-|r
lhein">'l Hliiiimis ci.i
itmikihl 'ii- Hi inifi'stci
^ iMi»'il''^iamliii;4 the I
[(Drall hcnois I.) the
idvcnltirciis f;i'iii'ral 1
thfin when llr- \,irio
the >; .iiiisli ilmriiniDti,
he h 1 1 iml liin-, w:lh<i
5olt I'ie suvcrc'yii on I
the 1: ivcrnnr, ,is rny
hopi!,.; lllat his solii jt'a
reiTM'Hdf Ihc ailiniril
Ulaii ' 'i( Ciiha, in the :
T.V- ^rncrn;is wishc!
Iliei iviih warm nmiu
wnii- lie liifnrmc'l
Ver.^iKis. liiie.i! si|i-ic
tn\': : iliL' sa-iie si.jici
that ■ u: iifiv>m.-irv im
";: aivl liiil ,it II
" lioni'N ( f tho .-
'"■i, shoiil I iilicv
;;"iiis to i,L- put
He ''ie.l,that;.lthoiii;
on iV Mihi-t. v.-i til
»mu:!liiliem.i;vlnllc(>
""e' 1^ with the roncn
'III, he w.is real
111.
''"aitn.iivi.mt i;c
' ' 'iillitiiini(-;itloi
"'irn.inlo I'onin,
>■!! the , irv ,,( s
i'"''iian. .■ anil ai
reply of the arc
■■" coiirii-sv invviit
'•'■vercncc f,ir the
■I a zeal in rcn-
, '"^pci t to the rei
|^llrh:r,rthcKh,rvof||
■ !'<'rsons cmpowe
^ il'f venerable i
expr:;-
that i::
Coluii;
lns(
the
txeu.;
Ani ;
Doi-
Was I
his.
of h:.
deep ;
prts<
and :
BUrl:
Tir
ftgUa
A1MM-:\1)IX
v.>. r.
fUNsI HUll'N flK llIK UI'MAlSi oK <ul.l.Ml;r,
|K"M M. 1"IMI>''" 1" ■""■ HAVANA.
f^y 111!' t'Tfniii.ili'in rt ;i war ticiwi-fn Franre ari'l
Snin I" iT'i'. "" ''"' ^i'anisti pnssi'Hsions in the
ijlinil 1 ( lli«|ianiiil,i wen- (odcl in Franti-, l>y tlio
iJniiiii' I'f llii'liiMiy I'f pi-aro, 'I'l) assist in llu-
JJjnnil I'-liiiu'iit iif iliis (■(•»sii»ii, a Sp.mish scuiadnm
^ (|,«i>,ailicil t<i llif island at tin- a|>i"imlcd time,
linir.,,11 l!''l ly I'oii Cialiricl i\v Aristi/adal, litiiiiii
mt-tii-nTil (( ihi' r"Val arniad.i. On the iiihotDi'
eun^.n i;)?, lli.it lonitnandtT wmtf tn the ruld-mar-
ikil mil i;ov>rii(ir. i'lm Iiia<|iiin (larcia, ri'sidcnt .it
Si, piini nj^M, that, I'cnm' infurnu'il that tiu" remains
lit the 1 1 K-lirat'.'d admiral D.in C'liristophiT tOhiinlms
lljf in thr i.illicilial iif ihal (ity, Ik- (idt it incinnlicnt
Olhimiia S|i iiuard, and as cdniniandi-r-in rtiici (if
hh nuii'-iii's si|iiadtiin of opcration-j, in snlii it tlio
tnn«.l.i;.":i nf ilu' asln-s (if that hoio tn the island id
Cuba, uliiih li.id liktnvisp hcon disc ovcrcd by liini,
Ud iilirri' he had first pi inled the standard of the
Cfoss III' rs;ir('ss('i| a ili'sirr that this shmilil lie
done iillit i.ilU , aii.j with tjrcat cart! and formality,
that i I M'i^'lit t.i't remain in the power of any one. hy
ncarili "' traiis;iur(ation of thrsf honored rein,iins. to
loie .1 n'ic (iiiuicitrd with .m event wlti' h formed
thenT'-t nlotinus epoch of Spanish tiistory, ,ind th.it
itniii;hi ''(! manifested to all n.ilions tli.it Sp,ini,irds,
IW«wUt'M,lii(!in;; Ihf lapse of .i.i;es, never te.ised to
piyall inaims lo the remains of that " worthv and
idvcnl'ircus j;ener.il of the seas ;" nor ah andoned
Iktm. when 111- \,irioiis puhlie hodies, rcpreseiuinK
lkS]uni<h (Inininiiin, emi^r.ited from the isl.md. As
IWhal rv.it liiii'', without );rc,it mconvenieiu e, to ron-
laltthe suvcri'jjn on this suliject, he had recourse to
the K'-'Tiior. as roy.il vire p.itron of the isl.md,
hopiti- i!iat h'.'i solii italion iiii^ht he granted, and the
!Wn.-irH i| the adiniril exhumed and < (inveyed tu the
illati't nl i'nW.i, in the ship S.m I.oren/o.
Thf,.iiicMas wishes o( thi^ hi|,;h minded Sp.mi.inl
meiwiiii w.irin coniiirrenie on tlie part of the f;ov-
wnnr. lie informed him, in rejily, th,it the Duke of
ye^a^'l^l^ lined siiaessor of Colmnlnis, had mani-
talcil liie sa'iie solicitude, ,in<l had sent directions
Hut 111.' ni'cess.irv measures shniiUl lie taken at his
ttpfibt : and li id at the same lime expressed a wish
ft»t III • liOiH's (f the Adel.iniado, !),,n H.irtholomew
Coluiiinis, shoii' 1 likewise he exhumed ; transmitting;
TOcrijitions to |,e put up'in the sepulchres of bolh.
Headk'il, thai .ilthoui{h the kirn; h.id t,'iveii no orders
OB Ih" '.iil)|-, t. vet the proposition heini; so accord-
«twiiht!iei.|,,t:..fi,||,.,.|ini;sot the Spanish n.ition, and
meetiiv.; wuh the cnrurrence of all the authorities of
twiMiil, he w.is re.idv on his pan to carry it into
ttecutiiii.
The rn|„n,,„„i,i„t j,,,„cr.al Aristi/.,,,.il then made a
OTli„e .MMinunicatmn to the ar< hhishop of Cuba,
^n h,-,:,,,nio I'ortill,, v 'lorres, whose metropolis
ws then the , ity of St. Domintjo, hoping to receive
n» OHinLcan.,' and aid in this pious iindertakini;,
in. rrjiiy nf the ;.r. hbishop was cou. hed in terms
w nuh r.imtesv inward the Kall.mt comm.inder. and
«ep r^vrrcii, r for the memory of Columbus, .and ex-
:JJ«^'I a it'll in rendering this tribute of Rralitude
1 XiT'"^'.' '" ''"^ "'"lains of one who had done so
I (""f • '^'^ 'he Klorv of the nation.
' 1 ■ If rsnns empowered to act for the Puke of Vc-
"gua.-,, U.e venerable dean and chapter of the cathe-
dr.il, and all tli** f titer p'-rsons and authorities to
whom lion (i.il)riel de Arisii/.ib.d m.ide simil.ir i om-
niunii .itions, m.inifisled the s.mie ea^;erness to assist
in the pel lorni.iih e of ilns solemn .md atteciiiiK rite.
I'he wi'iihy I omm.mdrr .Arisn/.ib.il, ti.iviiiK t.ikcn
all these |irep,ir.itoty steps with nie.it form and pimc-
tilm, so ,is that the lerciiiotiy should be perloniied in
a public .md striking m.inin r, suitable to the fame ni
Columbus, the whole was i .irried into ellid with 1 e-
((iniinjj [lump and solemnity.
On the 2(itli of |)ccember, i;'/^. the most distin-
j;iiishi'd persons of the pi, ice, tlie <ti^,'nii.iries of ihe
I huti h, and civil and military olhcers, ,isset!ibled m
the metropolitan i athedral. In the prescni r of lhi»
aii^just assemblane, a sm.ill v.iult w,is ojieni d ;il ovp
the (h.iniel, in the princip.d w.ill on the rijjht side of
the IiIkIi .illar. Within were found the fragments of
a Ici'len »o|1in, .a number of liones. and a ipi.inlily of
mould, evidently the rem.iins of a hum. in body.
These were larefully (olleiled and |iut into .i c.ise 'f
gilded le,id, about h.ilf an ell in U ti^th and breadth,
and a tiiird in hei);ht, s<'(ured by an iron loik, the
key of which was delivered to the an hbishop. The
case was inclosed in a cidlin <iivcti(l with bl.uk vil-
vet, and ornamented with I. ice and frim;e of k''I'I
The whole w,is then pl.iied in a tcmpor.iry lomli or
m.iusoleum,
On the following; day there was .ntiotlier Kr-i'"'
((invocation .it the calfiedr.il, when the viv;ils .ind
m.isses for ihe dead were sob tnnlv ( h.mled by the
ari'hbishop, aci ompaiiied by the ( cmmanil.int Ki-'ncr.d
of the .11 m. id. I, the Doniinii.m ,ind Fr. incise. m fri.irs,
and the fri.iis of Ihe Order of .\I( n y, loKvlher with
ihe rest of the diflinmiished ass< nil l.ifje .Alter this
a funeral sermon w.is pre.iched by the aichl i-.hop.
t)n the s.ime d.iy, ,it four <)'( lock in the alternoon,
the (iillin w.is transported to the ship with the utmost
st.ile and (eremony, with a civil, religious, and mili-
tary priaession, b.inners wrapped in iiioiiininK,
chants and rcs[)onses and discharges of artillery.
The most distinnnished persons of the sever.d orders
took turn In support the colhn. The key w.is l.iken
with ^;reat formality from the hands of the ,in hbisl.op
by the governor, and ^;iven into the h,inds nf ihe com-
m.inder of Ihe .irm.id.i, to be delivered by him lo the
^;overnor ot the li.iv.m.i, lo be hi Id in depiisit until
the ple.isure of the kin^; should be kn<'Wti. The ccllin
w.is received on bo.ird of a briKanliiie (.illtd the Dis-
(overer, which, with all ihe oilier shipping', displayed
mourning; si^;nals, ami s.iUited the rtmains with the
honors p.iid to an admiral.
From the port of St. Doniintjo the i oilin was con-
veyed to the bay of 0( (la .ind there iranslerred lo the
sliip San Lorenzo. It was accomp.uiied by a (:orlrait
of COIumbiis, sent from Spain by the Duke of \'era-
fjuas, to be suspended close by the pl.ice where the
rem.iins of his illustrious .mcesior should be deposited.
The ship immediately m.ide s.iil, and atrived at 11a-
van. I, in Cuba, on Ihe ijlhof J.inuary, iTo'i. Here
the s.ime deep feelini; oi reverence to the memory of
the discoverer was evinced. The priiui|'al authori-
ties rep.iired on board of the shi(), accompanied by
the superior naval and military oflicers. I'lvery-
lliint; was conducted with the s.ime circumstantial
and solemn ceremonial. The remains were re-
moved with gre.it reverence, and placed in .a felucca,
in which tliev were conveyed to land in the miilst
of a procession of three columns of felucc.is and boats
in the royal service, all properly decorated, contain-
I i'l
V'f
.u;
I 1-i.i
^'30
Ari'Exnix.
ini; (listinf^iiislu-d niilit.-irv aiiil ministerial olTu-i rs.
Twd (ciuc( MS (olldv I'd, ill (Mu- of which w.is a in.iri'ic
guard of honor, wiih inouriiiiijj liaiiiit-rs and nuitticti
drums ; and in iho otIicT wer'' inc idiimiandaiu-j^cn-
cral, ihi- piiiuijial minister of mariiu-, and the mili-
tary staff. In passiiiL,' the vessels of \v,ir in the li.ir-
bor, ilicv all |i.iid the honors ilue to an admir,d .md
c.iptain-t;ener.il of the navy. On arriving' at the
mole the reni,iins were met by the >,'ovcrnor of thi!
isl.md, ai ronip.iiiied liy the j^enerals and the mililaiy
staff. The (olhn was then coiueyed, between fdes of
soldiery which li ud the streets, to the" olieiisl., in the
place of arms, where it was received in a iicarse prc-
pired for the purpose, lijietho remains were for-
mally ilcT 'ered to 'ic j;overnor and capt.iin general
(if the isi.inil, the key given up to him, the colliti
opened .md ex.imined, and the s.de transportation of
its contents authenticated. 'I'his ccrenionv being i(in-
cluded, it w.is convcvv' in grand procession .md
witli the utmost pomp to llie cathedral. Masses and
the solemn ceremotiics of the dead were performed
by the liishop, .md the mort.il remains of Columbus
deposited with gre:it reverence in t!;e w.dl on the
right siiie of the gr.itid altar. " .-Ml these honors and
ceremonies, ' says the document, from whence this
notice is iligested,* " were attendeil by the ccclesi.is-
licd and secular ilignitaries. the public bodies and all
the nobility and gentry of liuvan '. in proof of the
high estimation and respectful reniemlirance in which
they held the hero who had discovered the New
World, and hail been the first to jilant the standard of
the cross on that island."
This is the last occasion th.it the Spanish nation
has h.id to testify its feelings toward the memory of
Columbus, aii.l it is with ileep s.uisf 'ciion that the
author of this worK has been able to cite at large a
ceremonial so solemn, affecting, and noule in its ilc-
tails, and so hdiior.ible to the iniional character.
Wheu we re. I 1 uf the rem.iins of Columbus, th is con-
veyed from the jxirt of St. i)(jniingo, after an interv.il ol
nearly three hundred ye..rs, as .lacred national reli(s.
with civic and military pomp, .and high religious cerc-
moni.il ; the most dignitied .md illustrious men striv-
ing who must shouid p.iv them reverence, we canimt
but rellect lli.it it w.is fmin this very jiort he was car-
ied (jIT lo.iiied with ignuinmious chains, bl.isted ap-
parently in f.^nie and fortune, and followecl by the
revilings of the r.ibble. Sui h honors, it is true, aic
nothing to the de.id, nor can they atone to the he.irt,
now dust .-md ashes, fur ail the wrongs and sorro',.s
it may have sullcred ; but they speak volumes of
(uinfort to the li'.iisirious, yet slandered and pi'rse-
cuted living, cncour.igiiig them liravely to bear witn
present injuries, by showing them how true merit
outlives all ilumny, ;ind receives its glorious reward
in the adinir.ition of after ages.
I
No. II. i
NOTicr. OK Tiir. I'TxiMiANrs or roi.i^'.Mnus.
'•s the death of Columbus his son Diego succrcdcd i
to his rights, as viceroy and governor of the New i
W'orlil, acccjrding to the ex[)ress cupitulations be- j
tween the sovereigns and his f.ilher. lie ajipears by |
the general '.onseiit of historians to have Ijeea a man |
of gre.it integrity, of rcspcct.ible t.ilcnts, and of a I
frank and generous nature. I ierrera speaks repeatedly
if the gi-nileness .iiul urbanity of Ins m.inne.-s, and
pninounces him of a noble disposition, and wlliout
deceit. This absence of all guile frequently laid him
open to the siral.igenis of crafty men, gown old in
<leception, who rendered his life .i (onlinued series ot
embarrassments ; init the probity of his char.u ter,
with the irresistible power of truth, bore him through
dilliculties in whii h more politic ami suljtlo men
would have been entangled and cumplctcly lost.
♦ .Vivarreti', Colcc. loin. ii. p. ^''ij.
Immediately after the death of the .mIit,, , ■
Diego came forward as lineal siicccssiir, a^r!,
the restitution of the f.imily oihi is .mij r,,,j ,'
which had been suspended during llie Lin,., ^'^S'
his f.ither's life. If the cold and w.uy hny'.
however, could forget his obligations "| 'j.r^i|.J,,.'
justice to Columbus, he h.id less dillitnliy ;ri. ... |
a deaf ear to the solicitations of his suii | •
ye.irs Don Diego jiressed his suit wiih fruulesi
i;ence. lie felt the app.irent distrust ot the a'.
the more sensibly, from having been bruaj ' i
under his eye, as a page in the royal lunisclioy ., .V
his character ought to be well knovMiaiiuaprrtf .
At length, on the return ol Ferdm.iiul hiimNa;V
150S, he put to him a direct (lucsiioii, w;thihoh-|
ness attributed to his char.icter. He ilem.indei
his majesty would not grant to him as al.ivf;
whiih was his light, and why he hcsit.itcil in c -
in the hdelilv of one who had been re.ire.i •■I
house." Kerdinan.l replied '.Mat he could (jllv ^L
fide in him, but could not repose so grc.it .iirus;;;- 1
venture in his children and successors Tuihih^
Diego rejoined, that it was contr.iry lo .ill xi\v(^}
reason to .nake him suffer for the sins oi li;jcr..;,'']
who might never be born.*
Still, though he had reason and justice on kiss;
the young admiral found it impo-sihle tubrini;!
wary monar h to .a compli.mte. I'iiidinK ail mA
to all his ide.is of eijuity or senlimenis of nentK?
In vain, he solicited permission to pursue hiSfiir:
tlie ordinary course of law. The king fiiulJr.,;:i
fuse so reasonable a reijucst, and Dm iJieso:;-,!
menced a process against King Ferdinaml btlofc::
council of the Indies, founded on the rcpeaidK
lations between the crown and his t.ul'.iT.anccr.-il
ing all the dignities and immunities ceiltil bylitr
One grounil of opposition to these cUims iv.is,-;
if the capitulation, made by the sovereigns in m,;-.;
granted a perjietual viceroyaltv to the :; linir.„a-,.:i|
heirs, suih gr.int could not st.md ; hciiii; tmrni
the interest of the state, and to an express Iwk>|
mulg.ited in Toledo in 14^0 ; wherein itw.isordKl
that no oliicc, inv<dving the administration ol p;;
should be given In perpetuity; lli.i'. thcrdV", '.;i
viceroyalty granted to tlie admir.il ■ nuU rr... ...i
been tor his life ; and that even, during llulitr:,.
h.id justly been taken from him for his niscoa,,;!
That such concessions were contr.irv 10 the .nb'sl
prerog.itives of the crown, of whirh Uie ^uvernT':
iDilld not divest itself. Totals D 'ii Dit'Koiei. .. |
that as to the validity of the capitul.uioii :i •";■
binding contract, and notie of its privileges ijii:;.
be restrii.tcd. That as by royal si he.liilfSCi:' '
\'llla I'ranca, June 2d, 1 506, and .Mm.i/an. .i-.
2.^th, lyi;, it had 1/een ordered ih.it lie, I ion If:.
should receive the tenths, so eipialiy oiii;h; liie '
privileges to be accorded to him. .\s lo llu: .iliegiiij
that his f:.ther had been deprived ol his viccriyi/vli'l
bis demerits. It was cotilr.iry l) .dl Iru'h
been aud.icity on the part (/f ijobadiil.i U) seniicij
nrisoner to Spaiii In I5ik), and contr.iry l.ii!ir«i|
and command of the sovc'e'gns, a:-' was iri't -ll
their letter, dated from \'alencia de 1 1 hirreiiuiil
in wdiich ihey expressed grief at his trrest, anilaS'-isI
him that it should be redressed, lui'i lii<H""'*"|
gu.irded entire to himself and I is .hi! Irenf
This menuralile suit vi.in conu iciii ed in ''"""I
continued for sever.d years, l-i the inufJi;"'' '"'I
claims of Don Diego were dr. puled, liktwisi. "•'■''I
plea tli.it his f.ilher w.is n.it the ongiiu' ili'""*"""'j
Terra rirma, but only siib'-c'i|iiently of u'rii.n P*i
tions of It. This, ho.vever, w,,.? i oiniilfltly '''«''*|
verted by cTrwhelmim; lestinionv 11"' dai'iii«I
Don Diego wen. <i\i;iutcly discussed .iiid ri<i;.>"'|
amineci, ..r.d the unanimous decision ul llic t»*j
of the Indies in his f.ivor, while il rclUi leil li« 'j|
the justice and independence of that iju'lv, >*"'
• Ilenera, I list. Iiid., ilec.id. 11 hb vii. cMi 4
♦ llxir ids froin the iniiiutes of llio pron-^a UW"^'" I
liibti'ii.ii, .\Iuiiui!, M.S.
pRnily (if \icerov, i
riiinaml !)t;o:fji|
Borec nf Dufia , , i i
nd" ilf^ Ttilciiii. gr.wA i omniandcr o( Leon, and
Lre i(i Don la'lrii|uc Toledo, the celebrated Duke of
in chiei (avorile o( the kmj;. This was aspirinR
a liii;li count ttion. The father anil uncle of tiie
dv wiTC the inr U iDweiful Rrandees of the proud
n'^dom ol Spain, and cousins ^erman to Ferdinand.
Lei;!;irv, lunvcvcr, which (■(ilunilius had left l)ehind,
ateil upon his children, and the claims of Don Die-
p rpcp:niy ronfirmed ■■')■ the council, involved di>,'-
ll'iesan.l wealth sulhcienl lo raise him to a level with
|o!lii«t .illiancc. He found no ddhculty in obtain-
itu- hand (.f thr lady, and thus was the foreif.;n
nilv ol I olumhus .uRratted or. one of the proudest
ices of Sp.iin The naluial con.setiuences followed.
litgfl had sccund th.it magical power called " con-
tlions ." and the favor of l-'erdinand, wliich had
tn so ionn withheld from him, as the son of Colum-
ns, shone upon liiin, though coldly, as the nephew
't'hel'uke of .Mva. 'I'he father and uncle of tiis
tide siacccLleil, though with ^reat dilhculty, in con-
heriin; the repuK'naiue of the monarch, ami after all
(but ,i;r.uUod in iiart the justice ti.ey required, lie
fcded 1" lion Dic^o merely the dinniiies and powers
Bjoyt'd by Nicholas de Ovando. who was recalled,
Who cautiously withheld the title ol viceroy,
flhc rcc.ill ol Ovando was noi. merely a measure to
lake roiin! for Don Dieno : it was thetar<ly peiform-
jDceol a proniire made to Isabella on her death bed.
hecxpirinR (|ueen h.id demanded it as a punishment
fcr the massacre of her poor Indian subjects at Xara-
|ia, and the cruel -ind ijjnominious execution of the
nalc laciqiu; .Anacaona. Thus retribution was ton-
inu.illv K'lini; its rounds in the checkered dest'nies of
^is island, wliich has ever presented a little epitome
[human hislorv ; its errors and crimes, and conse-
beni disasicrs.
i In Kiniplyiiih with the reijucst of the queen, how-
tr, 1 cntinand was favoralile toward Ovando. He
lid rot led ilie same ^;eneri)us sympathies with his
cinsort, and, however ( )vand() hail sinned
lainst humanity in his treatment of the Indiarrs, he
I been a vigilant otlicer, and his very oppressions
1 in ;;cnfral proved profit. ible to the irown. l''er-
Itoa.id di reeled tli.it the licet which took out the new
pvcrncir should retu'-n under the command of Ovan-
, and dial he should retaiir undisturbed enjoyiuent
(any properly or Indian slaves that IIli^;ht be found
this jiiissession. Some have represented ( )vando as
[man lar from mercenary ; that the wealth wriini;
om iho niiseiies of the natives was lor his sovereign,
Ot for himself , and it is intimated that one secret
use of his dis(;race was his having; made an enemy
Itliea.l powcrlul .in.l unforRivuif; Fonseca.+
i Thi' new admiral embarked at St. l.ucar, lune (|th,
ISO), with his wif;', his brother Don Keriiando, who
tsiiiiw gruwn to man's estate, and had lieen well
flucaltd, and his two uncles, Don Martholomew and
on ilii.'ivi I hey were accompanied liv a numerous
lavaliers, with their wives, and of youiii;
flics o| 1 .III; 'ii,,! (i„||||y_ more distinguished, it is
Mmed, It hiijh Mouil tliaii lar^e fortune, and who
tre c,r.! „M to find wealthy husbands in the Nesv
Uorld ; '
Ihc.iiq'i ■ho kiinj had not j^ranted Don Diei^o the
Mnilv uf viceroy, the title was nener.illy >;iven to
liir bv Cdi.rtesy, and his wife was universally ad-
wsscl by that of vice-queen.
U'ln DiPi;., romnieiiced his nil- with a dcRree of
T.irt!;,
cii'tdim,. i„ Anierigo Ves|.iu'n.
I ..ailevdix, HI supra, v i p. 273 id. 1-4
' Ui tasas, lib. 11. cap. 4^ Ms.
state ol ociety hitherto destitute (;f the salutary re-
straint and pleasing decorum jiroduced by female in-
lluence.
Don Diego had considered his apfiointment in the
light of a viceroyalty, but the K.iig soon took meas-
ures which showed that he admitted of no such pre-
tension. Without any reference to Don Diego, he
divided the coast of Darien into two ^;reat provinces,
separated by an imaginary line running through the
(iulf of Uralia, appointing AUuiso de ('uda governor
of the eastern prov nee, wliich he (allid New Anda-
lusia, and Diego de Nicuessa, governor of the west-
ern province, which included llie rii h ( oast of \'ea-
gua, and which he < ailed C'astilia del Oro, or (iolden
t'astile. Had the monarih been swaved by principles
of justice and gratitude, the settlement of this coast
would have be-n given lo the Adel.iiilado, Don Bar-
tholomew t'olunil)US, who had assisteil in the discov-
ery of the cinintry, and, together with his brother the
admiral, had suffered so greatly in the enterprise.
I'.ven his superirjr abilities lor the task should have
pointed him out to the policy of the monarr h ; but the
cautious anil calcul.iting i'erdinand knew the lofty
spirit of the Adehinlado, and that he would lie dis-
posed to demand liigh and dignified terms. He passed
liim by, therefore, and preferred more eager and ac-
c o 111 moda ling ad venturers.
Don Diego was greatly aggrieved at this measure,
thus adopted without his pattii ip.ition or knowledge.
He justly considered it an infringement of the rapiiu-
lations granted and re|>catedly conhrnied to his father
and his heirs. He had further ve.\atiiiiis and dilhcul-
lies with resi)ect to the government of the island of
.St. Juan, or I'orto Kico, which was conquered and
settled about this time ; but after a variety of cross
purposes, the oliirers whom he a|ipointed were ulti-
mately recognized by the crown.
Like his father, he had to conteinl wiih malignant
factions in his government ; for the enemies of the
father transferred their eiir.iity to the son. There was
one Miguel I'.isamoiite, the king s treasurer, who be-
came his avowed enemv, under the support and
chiefly at the instig.ition of the Hislio]) Konseca, who
continued to the son the implacable hostility which he
had manifested to the father. .V variety of trivial cir-
cumst.uices contributed to embridl him with some of
the petty officers of the cidony, and there w.is a rem-
nant of the followers of Roidan who arrayed them-
selves against him.*'
Two factions soon arose in the isl.iml ; mie of the
admir.il, the oilier <d' the tre.isurer I'as.imonte. The
latter affected to call themselves the parly of the king.
Tliey g.ive all possible niolestatioi; to Don Diego,
and sent home the most \ irulent and absurd misrepre-
sentations of his conduct .Xnioiig oilir s, they re|)rc-
sented a large house with many wiii.ows which he
w.is building, as intetnled for a lortrcss, and asserted
th.il he had a design to make himself sovereign of the
island. King I'erdinand, wli > was now advancing in
years, had ilevidved the alf.iirs of the Indies in a great
measure on l'onseia,+ who had su|Krintended them
from the lirst, and he was greativ guided by the ad-
vice of th.it prel.ite, wliich w.is not likely to be favor-
able to the descend, lilts of Columbus. The < omplainis
from the colonies were so artfully enforced, theie-
lore, that he est.iblished in 1510a sovereign court at
St. Domingo, called the royal audience, to which an
appeal might be 111. ide from all senlenres of the ad-
mir.il, even in i.ises reserved hilherto exclusively for
the crown. Don Diego considered this a suspicious
* Ilcu'-r 1, decad. i. hi), vii. cap, u.
t Ibid.
mi'
1^'
H'^
ijr
1
'
m
: J ;
m
:<!■
1-
«:
Al'Pl'NDIX.
ari'l injurious mcnsiiro inteiideil to
(IclTll
his au-
thority.
rank, opcti, am
isuspiiious, the youii); ailniiral
was not foriiu li for a mntost witli tlic cr.ilty pi
iliti-
cians arravt'il a^.i;tist Mini, wlio w
iTC rcadv ami adroit
in scizim; upon h'S sliylitcst rrrors
measure would have liecn tanen .it an o.irli'
I)/'
was now too late
Illness i)ri\i'iit((
mow from CNeiiilint,' the entirprisi'. and
ami toilsome life was dr.iwini; to a cKisc
Many calumnies li.ivin^; lieen seiii Imm
" lUniK,
ami
matjnilviMi; j liy I'asamonte and other enemies of l)i,
them into erimes. Diilieullies were multiplied m his I various measures lieinj; taken by ^over
patli whiih it was out of liis powei to overcome, lie ! he ronceivcd deroijatory to Ins di>;nii
time;-
h
lu eniere
1 up
a oliire full of m.ii;n.inimous inten
to
hi;^
privileges, he teiiuestcd
tions, determined to put an enO. to oppressior
ind
correct
ill
II good men therefore had re-
joiced at his .ippoinlmeiu ; hut he s
oon loun
th.it
he had overrated his strength, and underv.ilue.l the
dithi'ullies .iwaitint; h
V, ai:i!
iM.iir,;'.
Mon to repair to louit, tli.it he might e.vi
vindicate his conduct.
lie
-'p. tried.
tpnl ci
th, i=;ii;, leavini; the Adelaiit.i',!
II Ult.l
I cpi
een Dofi.i M.iria. lie was received wiili i
1 le calculated from his own : by the kini;, .ind he merited such a rec
i;oo.l he.irt. but he h.id no ide.i of the wicke
d h
rts of i had succeedeil in cverv enterpri
•1,1:
Others.
11
e w.i
dians, th.it source of al
s opposed to the rep.irtimiento», t
<f 1 1
he li.iil i,:i
kill'
>f
or directed. The pearl lisherv had been s
nhuinanity ; but he established on the co.ist of Cub.ii;u.i ; ih
III I'tsS:
found all the men of ive.ilth in the colony, and most Cub.i and of I.im.iic.i h.i.l been subiectiil
ot the import. iiit persons of the Tourf, interested in
ler (ulti\ation without blotxlsheil , his
•ini. L!i.;
in.iint.iininij them, lie perceived that the attempt to i;overnor h. id been upright ; and he h.ul (nih c»:
abnlisli thetn would be cl.iULierous, and the result Ihe representations maiic a^;ainst him. bv en,. ^^v
(juestionable ; at the s.imc time this abuse w.is a
source of immense prolit to himself. Self-interest,
therefore, combine. 1 with other consider.itions, and
what at Mrst appeared dillb lilt, seemed presenth'
prartK'.i
ble
r
le reji.irtimieiitos continued in the st.Ue
Ihe representations iiKidc a^jainst him. bv en
to lessen the o])|)ression oi the n.iiivc^. !
ordered tli.it all processes against him in the
i'l
|)c.il and elsewhere, for d.i
m;if!es ilom- it
lis in rcKul.itin^; the repartimientos. sin
iiui the c.ises sent to liiinseil k
!■■[.,
contmuei
in which he found them, e.xceptini; that he removed tion. lUit with .ill these f.ivors, as the aJiirr.i.;',ir:
such of the sup..'riiiU'ndents as had been cruel and op- I a sh.ire of the [irolits of the prfivinces of f.i-;,i..
pressive. and substituted men of his own a[)pointnient, ! < 'ro, saying; th.it it w.is disc(>vered by liis l.illxr ii ■
who probably proved equ.illy worthless. His frier
I'ere disappointed, his enemies ei
ir.ii;ed ; a hi:
ind crv was r.iised aiiainst him bv the Iriemls oi tliose
ames of its jihices, such .is Konibre de Du
Hello, .indtl Ketrete, pl.iinly proved, the kiii:;
that interrotralories shiuild be m.ide MiiiDn^ ■
he h.id displ.ici
d it was even said th.iL if ( )v.ini
iiers who h.id sailed with C'hristi
iplicr t.'ulu::
had not died about this time, he would have been sent the hop" of provini; that he had not ilisrovi-rc:
out to siipiilanl 1 )on D.ei; ).
co.istof D.irien nor the (Julf of I'r.ib,
Thu-
The subjui^ition and settlement of the isl.md of I lerrer.i, " Don Die^o w.is always
Cuba, in l^lo, W.IS a fortun.ite event in the
tr.ilion of the jiresent ail
iral. He con^r.itulated Ki
rerdinan.l on iLivini; ,ic<|uired the largest
,d
beautiful
tions with the lisc.d, so that he minht truly s.i
W.IS lieir to the troubles of his f.ither "''
Not lon^; after the departure of I)i!ii Die:;
the w.irld without losim; .i single ; Domingo, his uncle, i)on M.irtholomew, iiilc;
m.in. The intelligence was highly accept. iblo to the ' tive .ind laborious life. No particul.iis arei;n
king : but it was ajcompanied by a great number of
death, nor is there mention made ol
coniiilaints again>t the a iiiiiral. Little alfection as must h.ive been advanced. King I'enlin.iri
Kenlinand fell lor D.m Diego, he w.is still aware th.it have e.\jiressed great concern at the event
most of these repn.'sentations were false, and h.id .i high opinion of the ch.irai ter and t.i
their origin in the lealousy and envy of his enemies. [ .\del.int.uli
He judged it expe.Heiu, however.
a m.m," says I lerrci.i,
; 12, to send out , wjrth than his brother the admir.il, an.i iv;;
D in H.irtholomew (.'olumljus with minute instructions had been e
mploveil, won
Id h.
to his nephew the admiral.
Dim H.irtholomew still retained the ofiice of Ade-
ive given great it-
it ; for lie was an excellent se.imin, vaii,i:;
gre.it he, irt."f Charlevoix attributes the in
l.int.ido of the Indies , although l-'erdin.md. t'lroiigli '■ which Don iJ.irtholomew had been siiflcrvii i ■ :t::
selfish motives, det.iine.l him in Sp.iin, while he em- for sever.il years, to the je.iloiisy anil pdrMiv^:
[>li)yed inferior men in voyages oi discovery. He now the king. He found the house alre.idy U'o \f'K
a.ided to his ap|)ointmenls the |)roperty and govern- ' and the .\del.iiitado, h.id he discovered Mc
tnent of the little
)f .Mona during life, and
m.in to ni.ike as good conditions as h.id bctnirj.
the ailmii.il his broilier. { It was s.iid, olistn.::
signed him a rep.irtimietito of two hundred Indi.ii
with the superintendence "i the mines which might rera, that the king rather preferred to eiiijiiii
be discovered in Cuba; an oili.,e which proved very | his I'.urope.iii all.iirs, though it could onlvh.ic
lucrative. ■' ! to divert him from other objects. <)n li:s •.fa.
.Among the instru'-tions given by the king to D m king resumed to himself the island of .Mim;.i. «:.;
Diego, he directed that, in corisei)uence oi the re|.r''- h.id given to him lor life, and tr.mstcrroil usi--;
sentations of the Dominican friars, the labor of the mienio of t.vo hundred Indi.ms to the \ice!i.i. : '
natives should he reduced to one third ; lh.it negro
•s should be jirocurtd from ('(uiiie.i as a relief to
.M.
the 1 1
is.f a
iiil that(,"arib sl.ives should be branded
W 'lile the admiral Don Diego w.is pressir.c
audience in his vindicatiuil at couit. Kini;
the leg, to prevent other Indians from being con- j died, on the 23d of l.mu.iry, 1 5 1 d. Ili>i;!
iiii.l-
founded with them an. I sulijected to h.iish tre.itment
successor, I'rince Ch.iiks, alterward llr
The two governors, (Jjeda and .Nicuessa, whom '.he ! Charles \'., w,is in Ibmdirs. The
i,;ri-
their unlert.ikin
the
king h.id appointed t.) 1 oloni/e and command at the ; for a time with Cardinal Ximencs, who »
Isthmus of D.irien, in Ti rr.i rirni.i, having billed in \ undertake to deride on the rei>resent.itions,i;
of the admiral. It w.is not until 1520 ili.a hi- 1
fiom the I'.mperor Ch.irlt s \'. a recov;iiii" " '"■
noi.eni e of all the ( harges .ig.iinst him.
his pailV
in
.ivereign, in 1=114, wrote to
Hisjianiola, permuting the .\del.intado, Don li.irthi
mew. i(so
;)f \
d, to takech.irge of settling the co.ist
er.igu.i, and to govern that country unde
r the
niiral Don Dirgo coiitonnably to Ins privileges Had
t!ie king consulted hi.-, own interest, and the ilefeiem e
due to the talents and services of the .\deUntado, this
.•(■t;
linding that wh.it I'as.mionte and his ti.iiivt''
ten were notorious cdumnies, ordered Uo" ''
resume Ins charge, although the process with !'■
isstill ]jendiiig^ ,
it I'.is,iinontebhnun.
' f:ii;
11. -1. St. I
1 inungi), p. 321.
t llern-i.i, Ili.l. Ind., dec.id. 1. lib. l.\. e.ip. q.
;ibid.
• lb'
t li.id., «l.
1. Ili-t Ind , decad.
hi
d. 1. hi
I. II. i.i|'. ,
). X. lap H
, I li.ulev.jix, lli-.t. St. De
lib
AIMM'NDIX.
p.nst pas«if)ns aiv
-enucHintr hiiv. to forK'ct
■.rrrc m.l to PfH^^r i">'> ■iniuuhlc rcliUons Willi
n„.-o' "iiiuin.' other aas <>l indcinnilnatioii Ik'
Vlnnl Ins riglil to exercise his ollire (il vlic-
Ihi'
islui'l of llisp.iiiiola, aiiil in
lallier.* His amliDiily
nn I -nvcriior III
p-„[s .jisiovfrrl liy In
'• - piurli (iiniinislicl by new nvmilatioiis,
ippoiiiU'il over him with the ri^ht
, however.
Igiw- I
lorinat'.'ii to the (omuil aijainst him, I'lit
[hiKM.llur powi-rs. Don I)iei;o sailed in iho lie-
Iniiwoi S.'pleml)tT, l^iio, and on his arrival at St.
,„,,,;,,., linilin,.; that several of the Kovcrnnrs, pre-
iii \iti liis long al)senic, had arrnijated to them-
csln lepen.lLMire, and had aliased Ih^ir powers, he
cliJtilv S'-'iit |icrsons to snpersed<; them, and dc-
Inde'l "li accoiml of their ailmiiiistration. This
Ide hi-' .ihost of active and powerliil enemies both
hhei.il'-iiies and in Spain.
toiKi li-nihlc thanses hid taken place in t!ie island
iHiV'.iniola. ihirinu the absence of the admiral. I'lie
Ines'li.i'l l.illeii into r.ei4!''cl, the r ultivation <>{ the
jrarc.iiie li.'.vini,' been found a more ceitain source
fn-wllii. It he.ame a by-word in Spain that the
(rpifKCiU palaces erected by Charles \'. at M.adrid
Tiiltlo wore built of the smjar of Ilisp.miol.i.
fveslii! heen imported in i>reat minibers from Af-
_, bci:i(j found more serviceable in the culture of
(cane tliau the feeble Indians, The treatment of the
or iKvrous was cruel in the extreme ; and they
jsm Id have had no advocates even amon.i.j the lui-
kn?. The slavery e,f the Indians had been founded
jlhc r;.:ht of the strong ; but it was ihouglit that the
■■»r"vs. Irom tlieir color, were liorn to slavery ; and
fcitlrnm luiiig lKnii,'ht and sold in their own country,
Iwasliieir natural condition. Though a patient and
lduii!'< ra'c, tlie barbarilies inflicted on them at
hgth r usril ihcni tn revenge, ami on the ■J7th(i' I)e-
|ni';!'r. K-'J. there w.is the first African revolt in
llsp.iiu i„i. It bc.;,iii in a sug.ir plantation of the Ad-
lira' liin Diego, where about twenty slaves, joined
XI p'jii.il number from a neighboring plantation,
bt po^'-ssioii of arms, rose on their suiierinlendent-^,
^syaiT"! them, .and sallied forth ii[v>n the countiy.
I w.i> thi'ir intention lo |iill.ige certain plantations, to
llltiic tthilcs, reinfori'c tliemselves by freeing their
bunlrvmen, and either t > possess themselves uf the
van '-if .\gu I, or to escape to the mounlains.
iD'Hi iKego set out from St. Dotiiiiigo in search of
jlf rf!!e!s, li. lowed by several of the [iriilcip.il inh.dii-
Jnis Oil the sc on I dav ho stopjied on the banks of
|c Ui\er Ni/ao lo rc^t his parly .and suffer rcinforce-
lent'! i(j overlalie him. Here one Melchor de C.as-
0, ivhi accijnip,mied the admiral, leaniril tli.it the
[egr Its ii.id rav.iged his pl.intati on, sacked his house,
•'lie "f Ins ni. n, and carried off his Indian
Bav's. Without asking ie.ive of the admiral, lie de
■ •:'■ i:' the iiiglit with two ( omp.mions, visited his
Ban„i'.Mii. Imml ;i;| jn eonfusion, and pursuing tlie
Ttgro-.'s. ?,.|it lo i',e .-idniiial f.ir aid. laglit h>rse-
licn were hastily dis[i:ii( h-, I to his assistaiiie, armed
litli lji:.:
lers and l.uKes.
h.iving six of the inf. in
■ moirui-d behlii.l ilieni. De C'.istro had three horse
llei :>;•■ !cs this reinlorcement. ;;nd at the he. id of this
In: un-; overlook the negroes ,it bre.ik of day. The
^s,-gent< pill iheiuselves in b.iiile array, arnieil with
'11 1 Indian spears, ,uid uttering lean! shouts
nu 'i'lilcra's. liie Sp.inish lioisemen braced their
pck;ers, con li.-.l ti,eir i.inces, .and charged theni at
HNpe^'l I lie negroe.-i were soon nailed, and lied
!■!'' r ks, le.iving si,x dead and sever. d wouniled.
Oi'' ..siri.ils,, ivas wounded in liie arm. The adrnir.d
I- Cii- vs. i.;i, a'isisie.i in ih^. pursuit of the fugitives. As
■■ !'cv Were taken they were hanged on the
pc.ci'-t livox and reniaine I suspended as spect.icies
-it'T lo III, ir (i„„urvnien. This prompt severity
">■■ -'■■'} ..;i furilier attempts at revolt among the Af-
ti.
'■' '"• ni'Mii liaie ihe
-1 III,'
! 'e.ul.
In. I,, .1,.
1. 1:1). IV
various enemies wliom Don
I'l ii. l.b. i\. e.ip. ;.
e.ip. y.
Diego had created, both in Ihe rolonies anil in Spain,
were actively and successfully employed. His old an-
t.igonisl. the treasuri'r I'.is.iiTiont'-. had chargeil him
Willi usurping almost all the powers of the royal au-
dience, and with having given to the roy.il dei lar.i-
lion, re establishing him in his oIIk <• of \iceroy. an e.N-
tent never intended by the sovereign. These repre-
senl.ilions li.id weight at < mirt, and in I =2", Don I)i<go
received a most severe letter from the ('(Uiru il of Ihe
Indies, ( h.irging' him witii the various abuses ;md e;-
cesses .alleged against him, and comin.'inding him, r-n
p.iin of forfeiting all his priviU-ges and lilks. lo r(,v(jke
the innovations he had made, and restore things lo
ihcir former slate. To prevent .my plea of ignorance
of this riKinda.te, the royal audieni'e w.is enjoined to
promulgate it and to call upon all j'ersoris to conform
lo it, and to see that it was properly obeyecl. The .ad-
mir.d received also a letter from the conned, inlorin-
iiig him that his presence was nei < ssary in S|i,iin. to
give inform.ition of the foregoing matieis, and advice
relative to the reformation of various .abuses, and to
the treatment ami preservation of the Indians ; he was
requested, therefore, to repair to (duil without wait-
ing for further orders.*
Don Diego understood this lo lie a peremptory re-
call, and obeyed accordingly. ( hi his arrival in Spain,
he immediately presented himself before the i ourt at
\'ictoria, with the frank and fearless spirit of an up-
right man, and pleaded his cause so well that the
sovereign and council ac knowledgeil his innocence on
all the ])oints of accus.ation. He convinced them,
moreover, of the exactitude with which lie had dis-
ch.irged his duties ; of his zeal for the public good,
and the glory of the crown • and that ad ihe represen-
tations ag.iinst him rose from ihi- jealousy and enmity
of I'.isamonte and other roy.il ciiircis in the colonics,
who were impatient of any st:peri.ir aulli iriiy in the
island to restrain ihein.
Having completely estab'lislv.'d his innocence. :iid
exposed the calumnies f)f Irs eivmies, Don Diego
trusted tliat he would soon obtain justice as to all his
cl.iims. ;\s tlic^e, linwevcr, involved a \iatlicipalion
in the protits of vast and richly produciive provinces.
he eNperienced the del.iys and di'Viiuilies usual with
such dem.inds, for it is only v.lien justice <'osts noth-
ing that it is readily rendered. His earnest soliciia-
lions at length ot)t. lined an order from the emperor.
th.it a ccuiinii'-ision should be formed, c omposed of the
gr.iivl chancellor, the Friar I.oyas.i, confessor to the
emperor, atui president of the royal C'oum ii of the In-
dies, and a number of other dislinguished personages.
They were to inipiire into the v.irious points in dis-
pute between the admiral and ihe lisc.il, and into the
proi-eedings which had taken jibicc! in the Council i f
the Indies, with the power of determining v.liat jus-
tice re juired in the c.ise.
The affair, tiowever, was protracted l osiicli alen;;lh,
and accompanied by so m.my ti'ils, yexalioiis, and
dis.ippoinlmenls, that the uulortuii.ile Diego like his
father, died in the pursuit. lortwo ye.irs he hail fol-
lowed the court from <ity M liiy. during its migr.i-
lions from N'iclori.i to lUirgos, \'all ulolid. .Madiid.ana
Toledo In tlie winter ot !>j;, the emiieror set cut
from Toledo for Seville. The admiral undertook lo
follow iiim, though his constitution was biokt n by
I.itigue and vexation, and he was w.isling under the
attai k of a slow fever. ( )vicdo, the historian, saw him
at Toledo two days before his dep.irture, and j-iined
with his friends in ende.ivoring in dissuade him Irom
.1 journey in sm h a st.iic of In ,nili, and at such a
se.ison. Their petsiMsioiis were in \-.iin. Don Diego
w,is not jiware of the extef.l of his inal.idy : he loKl
them th,it he should repiir to S^'vdle by the church of
our I.ady of C"iuad.i!o',ip', t > ilfer up his devotions at
tli.il shrini- : and he triiste.l, t'lrougli the intercession
of the mother of (Jod, soon to be restored to health, t^
He accurdinglv left Toledo in a lilUr on llie-lslol
l-'ehruary, isjo, having previously tuiifessej and
" Ib'irer.i. Hi-t Ind , dec, id. Id), v c.iji. 4,
t C'li,iilcvii|> , llibl. M. 1 lonnugo, lib. \i.
i I
^1
I \ ^ h'
■. >
'i i'i',if''
m
240
ArPF.XDIX.
! , - 1
' )
taken the roniniiinlon, aikI nrrived the same day at
Montalvan, distant alunil six leagues. There his ill-
ness increascil l" siuh a tlei;ree that he saw his end
approachiiii;, lli' eniploye<l the followinK day in ar-
rani;iiii,' tin- affairs <>\ his con-iiienc-e, and cxi)ircd on
Fcbruarv 23d, beiiv;; little incire than fifty years of ai{e,
liis premature death haviiit; been hastened by the
>»riefs and troubles he had e\pericnted. " lie was
worn out," says llerrera, "by followiiif; up his
rlainis, and detcndint; himself from the talumnics of
liis competitors, who, with many stratai;ems and do
vices, so.ii;hi to obscure the glory uf llie f.iihcr ami
the virtue of ih? son."'*'
We h.ive seen how the discovery of the New World
rendered the residue of the life of Columbus a tissue
of wronj;s, h.irdsliips .nid attlictions, and how the
jealousy and enmilv he liail aw.ikened were inherited
bv his son. It remains to show iirietly in what dci;ree
the aiuicipatiotis of perpetuity, wealth, and iionor to
his f.imiiy were tulf'iUed.
When Don 1 >ii-t:o Colunilius died, his wife and fam-
ily were .it St. Domiujio. He left two sons, Luis anil
Cliristopher, and three daughters— M.iri.i, who after-
w.ird m. in led I) ui Sancho de (.'ardono ; Juina, v,ho
married l).)n l.uis de ("ueva ; and Is.ibella, wlio mar-
ried I >on (ieorge of Portugal, Couiu of Ijelves. He
had .also a natur.il son named C'lirislopher.f
.\fler the death of Don Diego, his noble spirited
vice-(]ueen, left with a numl)er of young chiUlren, en-
deavored to .issert and ni.untain the rights of the fam-
ily. I'nderstanding th.it, according lo the privileges
accorded to Christopher Columbus, they h.ui .'i just
tl.iim to the viccrov.iliv of the province of \'eragua,
as having been discovered liy him, she demanded a
license from the royal an lience of 1 iisp.miola. to re-
cruit men .md tit out an arm id.i tocoloiiue that coun-
try. This the .ludience refused, and sent inlorm.itioii
of the demand to ihc etni)eror. lie repliedth.it the
vicc-t;ueeii sho;;!d be kept in suspense until the jus-
(ice of her claim could be .iscert. lined ; as, .ihhoiigh he
liad at various times given commissions to different
persons to ex imine the doubts and objections wliiih
had been opposed by the liscal, no decision liad ever
been made,| 1 iie enterprise thus cmitemplated by
the vice-queen was never cirried into effect.
Shortly alliTWar.l she sailed for .Sp.iin, to protect
the cl.iim of her el !e>i son, Don Luis, then six ve.irs
of age. Ciiarlc.s \ . was absent, but she w.is most gr.i-
cioiisly received by the empress. The title of admiral
o| the Indies w.is immc-ili.itely conferred on her son,
Don Luis, au 1 the emperor augmented his revenues,
and conlerreil other lavors on the family. Charles V..
however, coul! never be prev.iiled on to give Don
Luis the title of viceroy, although th.it dignity h.id
been decreed to his f.ither, a few years previous to liis
death, as an hereditary right. ^
In 153S the young admir.il. Dm Luis, then .about
eighteen ye.irs of age, was at court h.uing instituted
proceedings before the pr.iper tribun.ils for the re-
covery of the vicerov.ilty. Two ye.irs aflerw.ird the
suit was si'ttled by .irbitralion, his uncle Don Ter-
nando and C.ir.lin il Lovasa. ()residcnl of the coum il
of the Lidies. being umpires. ]\y ;i compromise Don
Luis W.IS declare 1 i' ipt.iin-general of 1 1 isp.imol.i, but
with such liinil.uioas th.it it w.is little better th.m .1
bare title. I ).ai I.us sailed for llisp.miol.i, but did
not rem.iin tlPTe long. lie found his dignities md
privileg'.s mere -ouri rsof vex.ition, and fin illy (•ntered
into a conipri'iiiise, wliii h relieved himself and grali
" Il'-rn I c (I ■' .1 1 iii. Ill), \ I'i. c.ip. 15.
t .\li'iniir..d ^irisiKJo >ol le rl e^t.ll!o (!(? Vrr.Tgun.
CI) irii'voix iii.'iiMoii-. .miiilii-r Mill cilli-d Diego, and c.llls
one nf tile il.iiii;l.fts I'iailipiniv Spo'oriio s.n-. th.il (!.•■
d.uighter .\I,iria look i\f Vf\\ , 1 linfoniidiiig l,.-r « illi a iiM 1 ••
■| liese Af trivial t-rrnri. iin'rcly noticiil lo .ivoid llii- mipu
ta'ioii of inaccuraiv. '\')\f arcmint of Ihe dcs< cmj.inis of
r. Iiimbns liere gi\ ••11, a' 1 ords with .1 gt-nr. ilneii.il tree of
th>' l.iinily, prodiii rd b.'fnf Ihi- eouniil cil lln- |nr|ies, m a
g'c.it l.iwMiit f'.r dii- cslalis
; HiMT'-r.i, dc'Mil. iv lib. li. cap. 6.
S Charlevoix, Mist. St. Dumiiigo, lib \i. p .^^.
fied the ctnperor. He Rave up all prptcnM^^ns ■, ,
viceroyalty of the New World, reieiviiii; Im isW
the titles of Duke of \'er.igu>i ami .M^ird;.; ,,^'
inaiea.* He comimited .ilso the claim in ih,' i,,,.'
the produce of the Indies (or a pension ui n,,.!.'
s.md iloubloons of Roldt "
Don Luis dill not long enjoy the siilistiti:;. .
cert.iin. though moderate, revenue for .1 ni,„;ciii,.
but unproductive claim. He died slmrtlv aiirV.
le.iving no other m.ilc issue than an ille>;ii.ni.!;ei-
n, lined Christopher. lie left two il.iiinhur. ,.
wife. DoM.i .M.iri.i dc .\los(|uer.i, one ii.imi' I i .'
.uul the other .Marhi, whicli List bcc.ime j m ;,
convcnl of St. {Juirce. al Willadolid.
Don Luis Inning no legiiim.ile son, w.is sucw"
by his nephew Diego, son to his brother tlir<in;-..
.■\ litig.ition took place between this younc ::■■ i-
his cousin i'hilli|)p.i, d.uighter of the laic IHr.L.i
The convent of St. yuirce also put in a chmr. ;i"v
li.ill of its inmate. Dona M.iria. who h.ul Ukt! -
veil. Christopher, natural son to Don Liis, .;;:
became a prosecutor in the suit, but was t; u ..
aicount of his illegitimacy. Don Diego iiiitl h -c ,
I'hillippa soon thought it better to join cl,iims,.rc-
sons in wedlock, than to pursue a tcilioi/; -•[ .
They were married, and their union w.i; ^j
though not fruilful. Diego died without issin •■ ■
and with him the legitimate male line 0! ''..■■.
became extinct.
(.)ne of the most imiiortant l.iwsuils ili.i; ; •j
h.is ever witnessed now arose for the estaiiN ■ .
nilies ilescended from the great disc nvcrcr li-;
ego had two sisters, Francisca .and Mari.i. th : •■
of whom, and the ihildren of the l.itur, adva' o;
several claims. To tliese p.irties w.is ailile 1 i;.:-
Colonibo of Cogfileto, w ho cl.iimed as liiica! .eve
.lilt from H.irtholomew Columbus, the .\ li .in;;.
brother to the discoverer. He was, hcivt',:,
nounced ineligible, as the Adelantailo hail r." .. „•:
edged, and certainly no legitimate offspring
Hald.iss.ir, or li.ilth.i/.ir Colombo, ui the V,>
Cuccaro and Con/.ano, in the dukedom of >!■•„■■
in I'ieilmont, was an .ictive ;ind persevcrint ^.L,,::
He came from Italy into S|i.iiii. where h; ;;'
himself for many ye.irs to the proseculiuii m ih:*' .
He produced . I gene.ilogical tree of his tani;iv. ma
W.IS cont.iined one Donienico Colombo, l.>i:i 'I.
c.iro, whom he m.iintaineil 10 le the iiitnt; .1, l;':
of Christopher Columbus, thi' .idniiral. II;: pr;..
that this Domenico was living at the re'|iiis Uir. .
produced 111. my witnesses who h.id he.inl lii.C'.'.'
g.itor W.IS born in the cistle of C ucc .iru h er,
was added, he and his two brothef- had tl;.;-:
early age. and h.id never returned ; .\ iiu i.» -
menlioned among the witnesses, who iii.ii!i' ijir, .
Christopher and his brothers were born iiiii'.:'*'<
of Cuccaro. This testimonv was aftetu.ir.l « in.'-"
by the prosecutor ; as it was finind ihat I'le iiif-'
recollection niiisl li.ive extended back n^p-jr.
upw.iid of a century. i I he cl.iiin of Il.il'.".;^"-:
negatived His prools th.it ChristopherCr'li.:i:ii'«
.1 ii.itive of Cucc.iro were reiected, .is onlv hi..:'-
tr.iditiotiary evidence. His .mcestor [)oim: '
pe.ired from his own sh iwing. died in M-^' '•'■''
It was established di.ii Domeniio. the \a\\x: '
admiral, w.is living upward of thirty year^ .":-■
d.ite.
The cause w.is finallv deciiled bv the ("i.i.
Indies. f)n the 2d of December, idos. Fli ' "
w.'.silci hired to be extinct. Don NuiToor NiK'' '' ■■
de I'ortugallo w.is put in possession, ami I"'. >'■ c •'■>'
of \'er.igii.i. He was grandson 10 Isabi' ■' "'■
daughter of Don Diego (son of the discnvi :■: !'• i
vice-queen, Dofla Maria ile Toledo. The il'"' f''-"'M
of the two elder sisters o| Is.ibella had a p' ' : '
but their lilies bei.ime extinct previous to tl.^ '■'<
* f 'h.irlcvoix. Hist. St. Domirgo. lorn 1 'ih. >: P "
t spotoino. Misl, ('olom.. p. \2\.
I Hnssl, Hist, ('oloil)ll. l>is>eti.. p. f'p.
i Ibid , Dissi-rl, oil llie (.'ouiitrv of l.'oliiin'.'ii- ■ ''•
■^tlv suit. The Is.il
kCharlcvoix,"ili>';'
L\ iiilo a hr.iiich
uraii/a, eslahlishe;
the!
np;
JOcr
to s >
ikoih.ll
bra
ttili
:. *>n
'.: -fdiiu '••'.y
,.,;{„( l;.ill!ui/ai
..rnler I'irce diK
lies . ami his
, under the Ic^.'
..■i.iliciis, u.is aN
h,ul .isscnic.l
v.hcrc 111' ii'id r<
ililssuil. Hi"*
■, aliilily oi his 1 1.
.. lUslicr in S|
, keep those digi
but he i;.ivc oi,
■ 1 (ii.til '00ns 01
larlie? Spolorm
ni, a learned 1 .11
, to tiiver his d(
', poverly.
,aii'.tain I'u'ir rit
,r the intr-.iory of
li ; and tr.ivellcr'
in i'ieilin"nl win
1 die ilisuHiier
I ii;s.\s
Fi .\AN-;>i' Cl rMl;r
Jpair. llie n.ilur.i! so
wa? ; Til ill Cdidova.
thciA.iCt time of his 1
,>; have l'(-cii on 1
: ICCi f l:ni; to li's origii
tear, nf the dihedral t
1 i.y Don Diego
V, it wi'iild ,ii)pe^
I, I.p7. His nil
,1 11 ^|ici '.,lMr f.lll
:;iir.il, as ins bcci
Ihat
Aui,
the,
>f
(jet-
'Bar,
i- in ' I
wiih lli-
iioniew. lo enter
Fern;
Icr br
oar.: inuinew. in viul-i
of i.i-i' to the I hi nee II
diiKi:. I ,111(1 Is.iht lla. 1
ihi-; -;;ii,il,'in until the 1
■«tr.' lakcn by liueeii 1
fhiir ediuMt
IfV,
llilcil 111. ami Feriiani
pini,' ,1 learned ai.m.
Ir. tlie year I "02, at
urii'cn years, Fernai
i (lurth vuyage o! 1
, . '■•■Kiil.ir and v.irinl
' is I r.ii'iK'd V iih 1 r,
: Kir I
.'ci T the ileaili of 1
Fern in'!..i made two vi
Kf iiipaniiMl ilip F.ni|
FluniiTs, and I'l'.'riii.i
(An.'.i'S lie Sevdle de
"iUL/pc ami a p.irt of
[leiUs, jud^jnient, am
Srenot lost u;ii.ii Inn
lliun in gei)gi,qp'',y.
[ini; f.f a stmlious
tmnl a selei t, vd
leiiiy ihi-'us.m : \oliii
>Vii! the sail' li. n <
tr
t
n
•I. Si.
'UM (.
^ii'iluiiio, p. ij;.
liiiii:
APPENDIX.
241
■( -n,,. Isabell.i iust named had married
"Gcor.TOi I'ortu^.il. Camn of C.clvcs. •■ Thus."
Inrk'vui^ ■■ ilic iliKiiiliis aiul wealth of ( ohimbiis
Ltd into :i '"■""•'' "' ''"^ i'orlii«iiese house of
r ,1 estabhsiuM in Spain, ol which the iicirs are
Efi'.jVv l\'i!ir^<lUi\ Ou\>ii. Pulr ii,- l',ni-i,,i, M'"-
,)/ ■■ •'!amri.<i. V l/miniii/r <u- las /iidins."*
rk'e j.'iH' of llallha-^ar Colombo of Cucraro was re-
*,1 iimlcr I'lri-e (liffcri'nt forms, by the Council of
Irdics ami his application for an allowance <.>{
loprl iiniicr iho legacy of Columbus, in favor of
Ir relations, was also refused ; although the other
. |^,n] iisscnicd 111 ibe demand.} He died in
ijn'whi'rciic hail ri-.sided many years in prosecu-
lofihlssu:'- His son relumed to Italy persisting
he validity ol his i laini he said that it was iti vain
lieck luslHi- ill Spam ; they were too much inter-
Jto keep iliose dignities and estates amijng them-
Ces'. but 111- i;ivc out that he had received twelve
lus.in'l (liiul 'iK)ns of gold in compromise from the
ler |wrtie.= Spctorno, under sanction ol Igtiazio de
Ivaiiiii, a learned (.iiion, treats this assertion as .i
Ivailt , ID ciiver his dele.il, being contradicted by his
■dent poverty. + The f.imily of Cuicaro, however,
11 maiiuain ihfir riyhl, ami e.xpress great venera-
I [or ihe mer.iorv of their illustrious ancestor, the
; and travellers occasion. dly visit their old
file in i'ieilniniu wirn gicat reverence, as the birth-
bee oi die diicoicier ol the New World.
No. III.
HUNANlio 1 1)1 f.MllUS.
f ( Ff.KN'.\'>'';'o Ci.i iMKi's (or '^'iilon, as ho is c.dlcd in
■^"iiii the naliir.il sun and historian of the admiral,
lorn in ('oidnva. There is an uncertainty about
exact time of his birth. According to his epit.iph,
mus! have been on the 2r>\\\ September, 14JS : but
;nrdini; to li's original papers preserved in the li-
taarv of ihc calhedral of Seville, and which were e.\-
ir.ci !iv Don Diego Drti/. de /iinig.i, hislori.m of
.tti;y, it wi'iiil ,ij)pcar to have been on the 2i)tli of
igiist, i-v;. ills mother, Dofwi Ho.itri.x lMiri(|ue/,
S"i a II ■^pcl table f.iinily, but was never married to
le ,; iniir.d, as h.is been st.ited by some of liis biog-
lapLiv
E.ir'.y in H'l.) Fern.indo was carried to court, to-
Ithtmii!! Ills elder brother Diego, by his uncle Don
rlholoniew. lo enter the roy.d liousehold in ipLiliiy
el pi:;!' lo the I'lince Don Juan, son and heir to I'er-
li.l and l>.il;(il.i. lie and his hrother rem, lined in
issiii.ibim until the dealli of the prince, when they
K taken by < Hieeii Is.diella as p.iges into her t)Wii
'Vie. Ihiir eiliic.ition, of course, w.is well at-
iiied In. ami Fernando in afterlife g.ive proofs of
int; a learned num.
Inlhe year rroi, at the tender age of thirteen or
riien years. IVrnando ai companied his f.ither in
fs ; urlh \uy.i.io of iliscovery, and ciuounlered all
HSvijulir and v,iried h.irdships with a fortitude that
a i: "inioned i> illi i r.use and .idmiration bv the ad-
mir.
T llie de.iili of his f, liber it would apjie.ir tli.it
Fernav:.! made two vovages lo the New World. lie
Wf' niiMiiieil ihr Fniperor Cli.irles \'. also, to It.ily.
Fbi ;iTs, and UTiu.iny ; and according to Zunig.i
^n,;.is lie Sev lie de U31), No. T) travelled over .ill
Jiro|.c and a p.,rt of Alncu anil Asia. I'ossessing
lleiiN, judgment, and industry, these opportunities
(ere not lost upon him, and he aciiuired much iiifor-
»«ii'm in gein;i.ip'iy. navigation, and natur.d history.
B' ■: of a millions h.ibit, and fond ol books, he
lorr.-d ,-j Stic, (^ v,.i i-ojiious lihrary, of more th.in
™i ■yihciisan . \.)liunes, jn print and in m.muscript.
. «"i the san. li, 11 -f ihe lanperor Charles V. he
un.'M.ix, iii.t. S'. Domingo, toni. i. hb. vi, p. 447.
'^M 1 (ism: !,,•;, Ill un llie Cuunliy 01 Columbus.
""I'll"), p i;r.
undertook to establish an aradcniy and college of
mathematics at Seville ; and for this [lurpose com-
menced the ( onstruction of a sumptuous edilice, with-
out the w, ills of the city, facing tile (iuadaliiuivcr, in
the place where the monastery of San Laureano is
now situated. His constitution, however, had been
broken by the sufferings he had experienced in his
travels and voyages, and a premature death prevented
the completion of his plan of the ac;iikniy, and broke
off other useful labors. He died in Seville on the 12th
of |iily, l?ii), at the age. according to his epita|)h, of
fifty years, nine months, and fourteen days. He left
no issue, and was never married. His body was in-
terred according to his request, in the latbedral of
Seville. He beijueathed his valuable library to the
same establishment.
Don Fern.indo devoled himself nun h to letters. Ar-
( ording to the inscription on his tomli, he composed a
work in four books, or volumes, the title of which is
defaced on the nionuiiient, iind the work itself is lost.
This is much to be regretted, as. according lo ZuTiiga,
the fragments of the inscri|ition specify it to have
contained, among ;i variety of mailer, historical,
moral, and geographical notices of the countries he
had visited, but especially ol the New World, ar.d of
the voyages and discoveries of his f.ither.
His most important and perm.uienl woik, howeve/,
was a history of the ar'ii!ral, composed in Spanish. It
was iranslated into Iialian by .Monzo de I'lloa, and
from this Ilali.m translation have proceeded the edi-
tions which h.ive since ,ip|)eared in various Lmguages.
It is singular that ihe work only exists in Spanish, in
the form of a re translation from ttiat of I'llii.i. and
full of errors in the orthogr.ijihy of iiro[)er n.ir.ies. and
in dales and distances.
Don Fernando w, IS an eye-witness of some of the
fads wdiich he rel.ites, parllcul.irly of the fourth voy-
age wherein he accomp.mied bis f.ither. He bad also
the p.ipers and ch.irts of his f.ither, and recent docu-
ments of all kinds to extract from, as well as familiar
acquaint.ince with the principal personagi s who were
concerned in the events which he records. He was a
m.m (d proliitv and disceriiinenl. and wrius more dis-
passionatelv th.m could be expectei!, uben Ireatin.g of
m. liters whi h alfecled the honor, the interests, and
hajipincss of his father. It is to lie regretted, how-
ever, th.it he should have suffered tliev\holeof his
f.ither's life, |)revious 10 his discoveries l.i ]ieriod of
about lifty-si.x yearsi, to rem.iin in idiscurity. He ap-
pears lo have wished to cast a cloud over it, and only
to have iiresenied his father to the reader after he had
rendered himself illustrious by his actions, and his
history had become in a manner idenlitied with the
history of the world. His work, however, is an in-
v,iluable document, entitled to gre.il f.iith, and is the
cornerstone of the history of the .\!iieric,in Continent.
(lallcy. fr in ilic iuiiil> o( reiiKiml. l'i.',uiir iis, at Seville.
Nm. IV.
ACT. or rm rMirs.
.•\s the date I have assigned for the birth of Colum-
bus makes hiiii about ten years older th.m he is gen-
er.illy represented, at the time of his discoveries, it i«l
fiPiii
t ■!>
li-:
:l
S'ci.
O 10
aim'i:ni)1X.
■ (
propiT to statp prrrisely my niillinrity. In tlip val-
u.ilili' niaiiustript chroiiick' i>l tlii- ri'ii;ii of Ihr Catliniii'
SDVcrt'iyiis, wiiltcii I'v Atiilrcs Hcnialilcs, ihc curali-
lit l.o"; I'.il.K ins, lliiTc is .i Iimil; tract on ihc siihjccl of
the il:si ovitiis of (.■oluintnis ; it coiuiiick-s with tlicsi-
wnrils : .I/.7/;,' i 't l',i,'.\ui\''iti, il lu'i,' ,ii' l>o(i. <•/; fl nut
(/.' .!/,.•!.•, HI >.ii.:!ti.'' /'i'liii, <iV c-iUht 70 iiii,\t, /.'n' iiiiis i<
;•.■,•«.',.. ill'.' (li.il in \'alia(loli<l in the year 150(1, in
the month if M.iy, in a good olj ai;e, beinij seventy
year-i uM. a lillle more or less. 1 I'lie ruratc of I.os
Pala.'ios was a 1 onto^npor.irv, ami an intimate fiieiiil
of (.■'iliimbus, \vhi> Was occasionally a j;uesl in liis
l'.i)lise : m> one was more coniiietciU, therefore, to
form a c.-rrei-t iiea of liis aije. It is sin.u'nlar that,
v,h:le the liio.;:.i|).'iers of Colunilms have lieeii seeking
to e-ilaMish tae e|>ocli of his hirth hs' various rali'ii!a-
tiniis aiul conji'i'Uires. t!iis ilirert lestinmny of liotie^t
An. ires liernal.Ies has entirely eseapeii tiieir notice,
thniuh some of them hail his maiuisiript in their
liaiiiU. It was tnst observe. t l>v mv accurate fri< n<l
Don Antonio I'ljuiiia in the course of his exact iiives-
ti;;atiiins, aii'l has been pointeil out anil ably supporteil
by Don M.atin I'ernanilez ile Navarrete, in the intro-
i!u 'lion lo his v.iluable collection of voyages.
N'ariuus ciri iimstanccs in the life of Colmiibus will
I'O f lun.i lo curioborate the statement of the curate ;
su h, lor ex.imple, as the irureasini; inlirmilies willi
V, lii.li lie struj;i;le.l ilurini; his vovai;es, aivl whiih at
l.isl reniere I liini a crippb; and coiirmeij him to his
be i. '1 1'.e allusion to his advanced ai;e in one 01 his
letters to i.i'r soverei^^ns, wherein he relates the ("M-
sojalion !'.-■ liad received from a secret voice in the
nii;lu s-.M-' in : /"ii rw,; ;;,; imf'i-.iir.r ,1 /,;i,i (.m<i
:-.:>ii.: .l:r.!'::i.' /i^.i'a iirii iiih't <ti.iii>h> c<.';'i V(/'.' .;
/'.,;.(,■, .-.' . ('i'liy old a,i;c shall be no impediment to
any sjn .it und( rt.ikin^j, Abraham w;is above a Inm-
di'cd years i 1.1, wiien ho l'ei;at Isaac, itc 1 Thi' prr-
niission i;ranted him by the kini; thr year pre\iin.s to
Ins ileat!i to travi 1 on a mule, iiisn-.n! of a horse, cti
ai'counl of his ..-,,■ an. 1 iiilirmities ; .ml the assertion
o: ()'.:e lo. Ill, I' ,it the ti.ne of his de.ilh he w.is (juite
oM ■,:.: 1,7 ■,, , I.
This l.i' t of ill.' .adv. meed a,!;e of Columbus throws
ij:ite .a r.eiv CKorinn o'.er his ch.ir.uter an.i liistMvy.
llnw much moie extv.iordiii.iry is the ardent enthu'i.e-m
whi.h iiust. lined him through his loiiK career of solici-
tation, at: 1 tin; n:)ble pride with wliiih he refused
to descen.l from his di;,'nirie 1 dem.mds. and to barijain
about his pro;iosiiion, thou,L;h Ide w.is rijiiidy w.ist
im; in liel.iys. liow iiuich more cxtraordinarv is the
h.irdihodil with v.liii.h he undertook repealed voy-
ages into iniknown seas, amid all kinds of ptrils and
•i.ir.lships ; th.e f.irlituile with whiih he bore up
aijauis: .an .'iccumuLition of mental and bodily ailbc-
tiuns, i-noi;^h to have disheartened and destrove.l ihi'
most youthliil .in ! robust, and the irrepressiiile biioy-
aii y 0'' si>;rit ". iih wJiic h to the last he siill rrise from
under '.he ruinrd concerns anl dis.ipp.iinti-.l hope-,
an i biast'-d pKijecls of one enterpris,-, to l.iumh inlo
anoiher. still mere ditlicult an 1 perilous.
We h.ive been .iccuslomed to .idinire ad tlnsi' thintrs
in Colunibus when we consi.lered him in the full
vii,'or of his life ; bow much more are they entitle. I to
our woniKr .i^ the ;t. liievemenis of a man whom the
weight (I years and inhrmiiies w.is pressing into the
Krave.
* Spotorno, Hist. Mem,, p. 5,
J The natural de'sire to prove con^.Tncruiniiv niih,. I
! of distin,L;iiishi-d renown h. IS exi iicl Ihisriv-v?
It lias been heightened, in particular in^l.iint!; l.,
hope of sucreedim; to titles and >-ilu.iiiiiis.'i,,,]
and honor, when Ins male line of ilcs. cnilnn : '"L
1 -I'l • ■ . '"'Ill ^it.|
extinct. ihc investii;alion is involvrd m ■„,JA
I iibsi urity, as even his immedi.ile lel.iuvi s i t!.,,*!
Ii.u e been in imioranre on the subjeit. '
' Fern. mdo Columbus in his liioi;r.ip!iy ot lliciiiB-l
after a pompous prelude, in wlin h' In., atitnlw,
throw ,1 vanue and cloudy mayniliicnrc ^\,,'^..
origin of his fath'T, notiees slii;lit!y ijie ;iiicm;:
siTV.p to obsc lire his fame, by m.ikin:; liiiii .1 m',
v.irioiis small and insii;nilicant vill,n;is ; .ji.C',,
with more romp'. icency upon otlu-rs wlm nii^"..
native of pl.ires in which tlieie wer.' pcr^diHi.i -■
honor of the n.ime, and in;iny sepulchr.i! nv';,-.
will) arms ;in I <'pilaphs of the Culorn' .k, |i..,
his h.iviiuj himself |;one to the castle ni Cn^,,.
visit his two brothers of the f.imily of (""liir.: 1
were rich and noble, the vouiu;est of ul„,pi ■
above one hundred ye irs ol ae.e, an! wli 1 i-..
j heard were rel.ilives of his f.ither ; but lluy ir.'„;;^
I him no inform. ilion upon tlic subii 1 1 ; vvhiT-a;,.; .
bri'aks forth inlo his professed 1 oiiieni| l (er iht<»,
ventit'ous 1 1 liins, deelarin:^, tli.it he Ihiiiks it .e; •
content himself with d.ilini; from the i^leryn !r-,
mir.d, th.m to ^o ;iboul impiirin:.; win iher hs;.;--
" were a men h.mt, or one who kept liis l;iiv^.
since, adds he, of persons of Minil.ir purMiii. ; -
are thousands wtio die every d.iy, wli'.vi- rx- ■
i tveii am.ini; their own neii^hbnis au'i r.'L.l its ■
j islies imme.liately, wilhout its bein^' pn--.<il)Ii- .il.c.,.';
; lo .is.crtain even whether they < xiste.l.
y\ftfr this, and ,1 few more expr. >■ mhi^ -
disd.ain for these empty distinctions. \v a; ;,;,
vehement abuse of Ai,'oslino Cui'-tiiii.iiii. ■.':
calls a f.ilse histori.in, an ineonsi.li-r.iie. p.iri;,, .c-
lii^n.mt com;iatriot, for li.ivim;, in Ins |.N.iilct ir.c
his f.ilher. bv s.iviULj, that in his y'.i:';i lif!:i.
employeil in nuidianical 01 ciip.ilii-n-^.
As, .alter all this discussiiai, I'evi.uv'i 1 ..-.i; ■
fliiestion (if his f.ilhi'r's p irent ii^e in. : 'i i;> ' ' .
olisiurity, yet appe.irs irritably S( n^iiive t" ;ii.".
atory suijiieslioiis of others, his whole ei,.l-.: .,•:
lo the I'onvirlion ih.at lie r'-.illy Uiu w 1 ■:'
l,o:i.-l of in his ani-estry.
( 'i the no! I, lily an I aiui';iiily < f liie I ' I .■'
of u liiiduhe.admir.al probablv w.isa ri :i' 'r . ■ •
we have some aei ..uiit in llerrer.i " Uc ■ ■'
says. •' t!i..i ilie Ihnperor ( )lto I lie S"' "iii', c ;
tiriiieil to the <'oiiiils I'ietro, (iio^.mn:. ..n) ,\ k
Colombo, brothers, the feutl.iloiv i..:~seKM.ii •
lliey held within the lurisdiciion of bi. . ir'cs 1 :
Si\. m.i. Aste, Moiitferralo. 'I uria, \iiiii 1
Cremon.i. and Heriiamo, and .lU '.|i,, rs v. . v
held in It.ily, It appe.irs ih.il the C. I. ml << ■;
i-.iro, Ciicureo, .m.i I'i.uenti.i were ii;i ^ im •. .'
the emperor in the s:ime year, ujo. 111. i''' ' ■ ■'
the said three liroih-rs ol ti.e e.i'-lle'- •■'■ ' H' ■'
/.ino. l<osit;n.ino. and other'-, au.l ■ : li"' ' •^■''
.if Ihst.inio. whirli .appert.iined t > li:e e;:ijii;f •
• »ne of the boldest attempl•^ ol i'io-t; I ii':;r.
bent on ennoblinL; Colunibu;. has ii.-n t" ;. -i.
son of the Lord 01 Cucr.iro, .1 burv;h 1 I M "'■
I'ie.lmont, ;ind to prove that he w.is i.'ii'
f.ither s I ,is(!e at th.it jji.ue . wlv ic ■ h- y
roiheis eloped at an early ai;e, and m vei ai'
This was asserted in the course of .1 ; ; . .. •-'. ir •' ■
by a eertain ll.ildasser or |!.ilth.i/.ir C. .lomi"' f- ^'-i
n (Seno.a. but originally of Cu'i ii". ■ ' hmiiik li-'.-
.anl estates, en the de.itli of I li.'yo t .lia". I'> |'
\'er.ii;iia. in 1:7^, the K'eat-gran Ismi an I Ik' '•''■
m.ite male desi endant of ihe admn.il. I i'l-' "''''
the In lies decided ai;:iinst this 1 l.iiai ; > ri!..r ''
• l.iler.illy, i'l ll,.' (ir'!;iii 1I. '',.•;,''/■,.■■/■'.•■'■ ■'■'/;[
eoMiT. H.iwkins; w.is 111 ili.ise d.o s .in ."iii.-'i'"''''' ".
hiL;hev| el.isse.-,; and to keep hawks was aiinus: .iiis=»
llobililv.
t Ilerrera, dera.!. i. lib. i. eap. 7.
^f irrount of the
gi ,,' tlic work.
, iitianin: st(iry,|
. . ..rctit.i^!'-. i'' •'•[
L,U events ul l'i'*''1
I,f .ii-.il obscure, v, I
|,„ (,,e vvanl (ll I '""l
,..,1, s,iV> Ho.^si, li|
s-ti-' .iiifU"!^'''''''!""
B,,.. , with the ohsiil
;,is rcpriiai ll. I'Vl
e>rin.leil In'iu r
.1 lil
hiylif
nil
m
,,v;^ll.lll'> .
.1 liiin the
ren
, dti/
.fell
'.Ti .iflcreii: taiuili'''
jr .;riii aiviK''""'
-, .1:1 1 llieie is
V ;.i :hi.' s.inie i|
I c.a-. evident, hi
,t(.'lv from a
.., wliiili hail exi
r,i.iri)iiii) I'olol
■ccl by Spoloriior
vv.tli the iiUimj
iat;,i.' I.uiiily had bee
,11 pnvtriy,' hy the "
I;,ily, ill these a.i;e'
K.\ ;ii,.iiv of the mil
;:s rciiiaincd in
IB.; ; in.iias, ulhcrs wi
Ne:i I oiiiil.ilioii of the
Minili'l VI
T :■ :.F, !i,lS 1 era una
I ; ('nl'.iml lis. '11
Lil various places
Sn.l -em moiiv.'s of
EU- i;rc.i!(r lustre iij
)ii',:i '.;) ilislilii;iiishe.l
^lic'd njanion was
lus (lainis were
an 1 ill ii.itticul.ii
1 Si'ieni es and 1.'
:. In iiomin.ile I
C.irrc'-;.!. and I'i.
■toe 1 to these pn.-tensin
T;e claims nf I'iaien
|6(.', '-y I'ieini M.iri.i (
tor;, of that pl.u e. vvh
»:r .1 r.itiv.? Ill ihe viil.
leu-
bir.
^ttre:,
; tci.;
;eir\
rlnV
iSerr.
It.
: iv.ri'.
rirnbable.
f Cu nuio, i;real-i;r.inilf,
J » m.mIi iiroperly in I
fcbtc. rireivtil by Dun
|l(lfi ilii ir.itli bv his s
tBir.i .\ihiii!tiii>^ tills
|«a> 111) [ir-uii iii.ii cid
Igrar. .i.c.ncr h id ever r
I jir j;n«i.in' es ui ihe e
I. iha; ■!',-ir htinu' vv.is in
i i.'ii 111 I'iednii
r pla,.^,;.;i ly It w.is si
5*.i- III iif llie castle I
fciin,' of die l.iith 111 (
ii-sertcil, was hi-;
jl!'.i'az;ir Cnloiiiho, a
BtUlfil ;i I uvsuil bef.)
leii.lKTitaiii.e (M the
Ime c.Muv I 'I'he (
lamsi tii'ii, as is shoi
fjvi'i.inuint; the jlliisl
^tiiiclihaiDoinenico
^as ri-,.:(lfiu ill (jcn.
|ter the ileaih of this
me name.
'IJiiscrlatloii, etc.
AITKNDIX.
243
,., 1.,.
r ■
■ s uni:
■ h-
I;'""'
• i |. I'ss
illlll"'
••* 'K't
uiiiin^
\" ','J,
.,io,i. ;
„'»'' ''■
;i ! i,s
-K-
Ihc <■"
ItV' 'i
1 ril.:l
lli'"' ■
nennount of the lawsuit will lie found in another
£-'h|s'"inanli':^""'y. li'^'-' ='" "'^'■'■'* "f thf ""''iii'V
Ihis 1) ircnt.iL'c. is ,il iitti;r vari.uuc wiih llic siihsc-
fcnl Vvcnis ol his lite, his lc)i]« sirnK«ics wiih indi-
bce .iml obscuriiv. .iiid ihi- dillu iiltics he «Midurc<l
L the W'"" "' '■""''^' 'i'"'""'"""^- ""*^ '■''" '^ '"-■
Wifvnl s.,vs IfDSsi. lli.it this same man, who, in his
L and uJvcrsilirs. was iii.rssanlly laiinn;d hy his
tniits ivilh the obscuiitv ot his birth, shoiiM not re
hntliisaTniaih, ljy dcclarinK his origin, if he were
Jiv lifM cnilcd frumlhi- Lords <d Curcaro, Con/. mo,
■i 'Ko-;i;n.i»'' ? •' tirrumstanie wliii li vvoidd have
taiiud !iim th-; highest credit with llie Spanish no-
Biy.*
Jhcilillfrtii'. ^""i'i*-"'' "' ("olomho which lay li.iim
llhcurcil ii:ivi),Ml()r seem to he various hr.inihcs of
[ircc, .im1 there is little douht of his a|i|)eitainin(;
jiolciy M :hi' s.iiiie ri-si'Crlahlc stork.
Htapi'iMis evident, hmvevcr, ih.il Columhus sprani*
^iciii.ilulv from a line o( hiimlde hut indusirioiis
lizfiis. wluili had existed in (ienoa, even from the
mcol tli.ii'iiiio t'olmnlio the wool-carder, in lui,
fcniiir.cil liv S|)(il()rii() ; nor is this in any wise incom-
ItiHc w.iii the intimation of I'Crn.indo Coliimlais,
lit ihc laiiiilv h.id heeii reduced from high est.ile to
Eal p'lvcriy, hy the wars of I.oinbardy. The feuds
Jli.ily, ii tl'o.se :ii;es, had broken down and S( at-
ffcd ni.inv of the nolilcst families ; and while some
[^fan !k'S rcinaiiied in the lordly lierilai;e of rastles
{1(1 (!oni.ii:is, others were confounded with the lium-
tst |!i.);hi!.i;:oii of the cities.
Mirnii'iAi f.
VI.
"1 cnl.fMin'S.
T!iK;:r. li.is lieiii much cmitrovcrsy about the birth
icc ( i ("I'.imUis, The i;realiiess of his renown has
lira! v.irioiis places to l.iy i laiin to him as a n.itive,
1 rem motives of laudable pride, for nothini; le-
ti< i;re.iur liwre upon a city th.m to li.ive given
ii!;i !i) ili.<linKuished men. The original and long-
MUlilishC'! opinion was in favor of (ieno.i ; but sm h
ltren>..ius ihii^ns were asserted by the states of I'l.i-
Ceni;i, anl ill p.ulicul.ir of I'iedmont, that the Acad-
emy 'f Seien'es and Letters of Cienoa was induced,
in :-i2, to iioniiii.ite three of its memliers, Sigiiors
Serr.i, Cirre'.;.!, and i'iag^io, commissinners to ex.iin-
be irlo these preii-nsiniis.
Tieciaimscif I'l.iceiitia h.id bein fust advanced in
l6ti;, !,y I'ieiro .M.iri.i C.inipi, in the ecclesiastic.il his-
ton of that pl.iie, who m.iiniained that folunilnis
tas,irntiv..Mif thevill.igeol I'radello.in that vicinitv.
I'll
[■rolj.i'.de, on iiueslig.ition, ih.it iJcrtobn >
rCu 'inlK), <re;U-i,'r,indf.ither to the ailmiral, had owned
[» Mi;.ill property in IV.idello, the rent of whicli h.ul
lleer! rucived by Donienico C'olomlio of (ienoa, and
I'lftn 111, i-Mdi l.y his sons Christopher and M.irtholo
pit" .\.l:i!iu;iig tlds assertion to be correct, then-
pta> ;i,) .:n,,i tli,,i either the admiral, his f.ilher, <.r
|ra:..i,c.:ier h 111 ever resided on that estate. The very
lar. Jiihl.nucs (if the case indie. ited, on the cnntr.uv,
tthci; 'iii-ir hiiiiu" w.is ill (,i.ni);i.
I '■>ii;:nip| I'ieilniont w.is maintained with more
;Pi-..^Mrl\. It w.is shown th.it a Donienico Colombo
•• I "f the castl(! iif Cucc.iro in Moiuferrat, at tfie
1= "f die l.iiih of Christopher Cdumbus, who, it
" iisserled, was his son, and born in his castle.
Blliiazar (.nloinlio, a descendant of this person, in-
p!«cl:ilinMiii |,cf„r,.. the Council of the Indies for
li'..im!anceoi the admiral, when his male line be
lie exiin I. The ( Ouncd of the Indies decided
la'iisihiin, as is shown in an ac<-nunt of that iirocess
,•'"'.'"''""; ""' ''i'lstralions of this historv. It was
F' ilIhatDcinenicuCclotnbo, f.itherof the admir.d,
F^^ "--Ann m (,enu,i b.ith before ami manv ve.irs
pr >iie .,.Mih of this lord of Cuctaro, who bore the
line name.
■ 'IJisserlatloii, etc.
I The three commissioners appointed by the Academy
! of Science and Letters of (Jenoa to cxainine into these
; pretensions, alter a long and <ldigiiit investigation,
j g.ive a voluminous and i ircimistaiui.il report in favor
i of (ieno.i. An ample digest «d their inquest may be
hiund in the History of (Jidumbus by .Signor Hossi,
who, in an able desert. ilion on the (pieslion, lon-
lirms thi.ir opinion. It m.iy lie added, in further cor-
roboration, th.it I'eler .\Lirtyr and H.irtholomew Las
Casas, will) were edntempor.iiies and ,ii ((ii.untances ot
Columbus, and Juan de liarros, the Portuguese his-
ton. in, all ni.ike Columbus a native of the Cieiioese
, territories.
There has been a (|ucstion fruitful of discussion
among the (ieiioese themselves, whether Cidunibiis
! W.IS born in the city of (ienoa, or in some other part
of the territory. Linale, and Oneglia, and Savijiia,
towns on the Liguri.in coast to the west, Hoggiasc o,
Cogoleto, and several other towns and viU.iges, ( l.iiin
him as their own. ills family possessecl a small
property at a village or h.imlcl betwicii yuiiilo and
.\'ervi, c.illed Terra Kossa ; in L.itin, Terra Rubra ;
which h.is induced some writers to assign his liirth to
one of those |)laces. Hossi says that tin re is still a
tower between ^juinlo and Nervi whii h bears the tale
of 'T<;rre dei Colombi.* IS.irthidomew Cohinil/us,
brother to the admir.d, styled himself of 'Terr.i Rubra,
in a Latin ins.ription on a m.ip whii h he prcsentid to
I Henry \T 1. of I'.nglanil, and rerriando Columbus
; states, in his history of the admir.d, that he w.is ac-
I customed to subscribe himself in the s.ime manner be-
j fore he atl. lined to his dignities.
Cogoleto at one lime bore away the palm. The fam-
ilies there cl.iim the discoverer, and preserve ;i portrait
of him. ( )iie or l.otn of the two ailmirais named Co-
lombo, with whom he sailed, are staled to have come
from th.il ]) .ice, and to have been confounded with
liini so as to have given support to this i.lea.f
S.ivoiia, a ( ity in the (ienoese terriloiies, has
< I. limed the s.ime honor, and this cl.iim has recently
been Very strongly biought forward. .Signor (iiovanni
li.illist.i lielloid, an advocate of SaMina, has stren-
uously in.iinlaiTied this i l.iim in an ingenious disputa-
tion, d.ited M.iy i.'th, i^Jd, in foim of a letter to
the H.iion du /..u h, editor of a valu.ible astronomiial
and geogr.iphical journal, published monthly at Ge-
noa. J
Signor Helloro (dainis it as an adniilted fact, th.it
Diimeiino tcl jmbo w.is for many years a resident and
c iii/eri of S.ivon.i, in which pi. ice one Christopher
Coluiiiljiis is shown to h.ive signed a docuinent in
I 47 J.
lie st.ites tli.it a public scpiar'- in that (ity bore the
name of I'latea Columbi, toward the end of the l.(th
century ; th.it the l.igiirian government gave the name
of Jurisdi/ione di Colondd to that clistrict of the re-
public, under the persu.ision that the great n.ivigator
was a native of Savona, and that (.'oliimlius g.ue the
n.inio fd Saona to a little isl.ind adj.aent to llispani-
ol.i, among his earliest discoveries.
He cpiotes in. my S.ivonese writers, principally
poets, and various historians and poets of other coun-
tries, .md thus establishes the point ihat Columbus
W.IS held to be .i native of .Sa\iina by persons of le-
s|)ect.ible .lulhorily. He l.iys particular stress on the
testimony of the Magnitico Francisco Spinol.i. as re-
l.iteil by the le.irned prel.Ue Telippo Alberto Pollero,
St. iting th.it he h.id seen the se|)ulchre of Christojiher
Columbus in the c.ithedral at Seville, and th.it the epi-
l.iph si. lies biin expressly to lie a native of S.i\ ona ;
" llic j.icet Clirislophorus (.'olumbus S.ivoneiisis.' '^
'I'he proofs advanced by Signor lielloro show his
zeal for the honor of his native city, but clcj not au-
* H.issi
t Ibi.l
I'rench Tr.iiid.uion, I'.iris, iSj.), p. 69.
dii
I I I. HI.
; ( 'orrespoiidenrc" .\slronoiii. Ciengr.inli. etc. de Itaron
1 /.icli, vul. i.(. c.ihi'T 6, lellera 21). 1S20.
^ I'Vlijipo .Mberlo I'ollc-ro, l'.|)ielu'reni.i, cioc- breve dis-
cniso per ilife^a cli sua Jiersona c- e.irraltc re. I Uniio, per
(iio ll.ittiii.i /appuu. MCL)\CVL (read iU>5) In
u
'•■'■' I' i
"1 :l 1! f
I'rii '
iii ''''!'
u
ii'i
i':' ■■ -
" 'tin • ''-
' 1, . I
ci
I 4 • pag.
47'
I r idl
u\
APPUNniX.
I'
■^'1
til nilr.ii(> ihc (,>ft ho undertakes to c<;taMi<h. IK-
slvnv, I If.irly tli.it many rcsi>iMt.il) i- writers !iclic\cil
(.' iLiiDlnis to he a nativi- of Savoiia , Imt a far ^;r<'atcr
iiimilicr ran bo aiMiic ol. aiul matiy of tluMii conlctii-
(lorary with the admiral. somL- ol thi-m his iiitimati-
trK'niis, oilu-rs his fellow t itizctis, who st.ile him to
have lii'LMi I'orn in the city of (ieno.i. Atiiom; the
S ivonc^e writers, (liiilio Salinono, who investii;,ilfd
Ihi- siilijeit, comes ex]ir('ssly to the same com liisiim :
"(/■( //.'.•'c». <■■/.'./ n.'^'ii'issiniri. rr,i i,t /■•i.'ii,! .v C,:\ni!\'."
Sivinor Helloro appears to he correct in stating; lh.it
n imenico, the father of the admiral, was scver.il
ve irs resident in !s,ivoni. Hut it apjicirs from his own
(lls^••|^ ition, that the Chri>;to|iher who witnessed the
te^Mnient in 14-2. styled himself of Cienoa . " ('v'/,/..
t'l.'-iis Ci'iiniiin, /iiiirr/iii i/:' y.tiiiij." This iiuident
is Slated hy other writers, who presume this Chris-
1' jili'T to liaee liecn tl".e n.ivii^ator on a visit to Ins
l.iiDer, in the iiuerv.il of his early voy.iiies. In as f.ir
• IS ihe cinumst.uice hears on the point, it ; "tiporls the
i lea th.it he was born iit (icno.i.
The e; , ;il), on which .Siirn.>r '' llor > ' fe'
princip.il f.'ii.iru'c. entirely fails. '-'lirist"p'"-'- '. .1 .■ ■
b.is w.is not interreil in the c.itliedral of S , , 1 ...'
w.is any monument erected to him ii h.u '.. e.
The tomlt to which the ie.irned prelate Telippo .■> rto
i'lllero allii les m.iy h.ive been th.it of Ferii.inil.)
C.vliimbus. son to the .ulmir.il, who, as lias been .ai-
re, liv observed, was buried in the cathedral of Seville,
lo whiih he lieijueathed his noble libr.iry. The pl.ue
of his sepuiliire is ilesiL;n.ited by a br.iad slab (if white
m,irblr. iiiserte I in the p.ivcmeiit, with an insciiplion,
p.irtlv in Spinish, partly in Latin, recordimj the merits
of Fern. Ill io and tiie achievements of his f.ither. < bi
either >.ide of tin- epit.iph is eiiijr.ived an .imieiit Span-
ish tiallev. The inscription <)iir>ted by Sii^nor Heilori-
111. IV have been erroneously written from memory by
tlie M lynilico IVanrlsco Spinola, under the mist.il>;'n
i le.i that he h.i 1 beheld the sepiiKhrc ol the great di>
coverer. As rernando w.is Ijorn at C.V^r.lov.i, the term
S.uonensis mii^t have bei-ii anotlier error of memory
in the M.ij^iuI'ko ; no such word is to be foun.l in the
inscription.
This ipieslion of birlhpl.ice has als.) been invesii-
^atel with considerable tnitr.iteness, and a deci-^ion
f^iven in favor of Gcno,i, by I), (iio l{.ittist,i .SputoriM,
of the roy.il university in th.it city, in his historii al
memoir of Columbus. He shows that the f.imily I'f
the Columbi h.id Ion,; been resiih-nt in ' -eiio a. liy .111
extract from the not.irial rei;i.;icr, it appealed th.it one
(iiafonvi C'ol.inibo, a W'lol crder, resided without the
i,';ite of .-^t. .Aiiilri.i, in the year l.>il. An aKreemeiit,
.iNo, puiili-ihecl liv the acailemy of ('.etio.i, proved, Ih.u
in 14S.), Doineni. o Coloinb<j possessed a house and
shop, and ,i (garden with a well, in the street of St.
.\ndrew's ,i.;.ite, anciently witliout tlie w.ills. presumed
to h.ive been the same residence with that of (iiaconio
(■<ilom'.)0. He rented also another house from tlie
monks of St. Stephen, in the \'ia Mulcent'i, Icidiuu;
from the street of St. Andrew to the Sir.td.i (iiuli.i.''
.''iitnor Hossi states, that documents l.itely found in
the archives of the monastery of St. Stephen, present
the name of l)onieni< o (dlomb.) sever.il lin!i->, Irom
l.H^O to 1.(51), . anil de>ii;n,ae him .as son oi ( iiiiv.iiiui
t'olombo. husband of Siis.inna I'ontanarossa.md f.ither
of Christopher, U.irthol<imew, and (ii.uoiiKi.f I'T
l)ie^:o|. lie blales also that the receipts ol the c.inons
show that the List p.iyment of rent was ni.ide by Do
inenico Colombo for his dwelluiL; in l-l""), lie sur-
ini'-^es th.it the afimiral was bom in the before-men
tionei house b(diMi.;in^ to those iiionUs, in \'i.i Mill
cento, an. I that he w.is l)a|>ti/ed in the c hnrch "f St
Stephen, lie .adds that .an ancient manusciipt v.-.is
su'.mitte.l to the commissicMiers of the lienoese acad-
emy, in the m.iri;in ot whicli the notary hail state. I
til. it the name of Chrisiopher was on the re^jister of
the parish as h.iviiu; been bapti/e 1 In that church. f
' Spotorno. V.nj^. trans, p. \i. xii,
* ItosM. I'rencli Ir itr . p. 7'j.
{ 1l>: i., p. 06.
.Andres nernalde;, the rnr.ate of !,k P,,;,,, ,,.
W.IS .m intim.ite friend of Colambiis, s,i\< tl'.iK,.
of (ieno.i.* Aijostino (iiustiniini. ,1 innj, ,,,!,,
of C'olumbiis, likewise a.-^eits it in his I'o'\;
ter, pnblisheil in (feno.i, in 151(1 .Aiilnm i.i,;il,.,»
.III .iiithor of ^jieat accuracy, who, tlioiiiji 1.
tem)ior.iry, had access to the best domi'if!. ,„,.»|
ilecidedly th.it he was born in tlu- cilv u; in.
To these n. lines m.iy be added lh.it i| ,\
CFcr.ddini, brother to the niimio, an. I iii'.;;;i,;
chil.lreil of Kerdin.iiid and Isabell.i, .i m,,.: , _
frien.l of Columbus. f .\lso .Antoni" li illn.; !;j,, 1
nu'o Sen.arei.;.!,^; and I'berto I"oKli<'i.i, !' .ill
raries with the admir.il. and native.; ..,
tjether with .in anonymous writer, uli.i j.
account of his voyaije of di>;i overy at \'ciiii
It is unnec ss.iry to mention historians .
aijreeinv; in the same fart, as tlwy im:>l :
r cir iiilorm.itioii from some of these ;i ■
"he ipiestion in r<'i;.ird to the bi, il.,.i.i. .. . ■ v. _..|
bu' has been ireated th 's minulelv. hi '■■.;,*•• i; »^
,1 , and still continues to be, a point i< .- ..
Irovirsy. It m.iv be considered, hnwi vir ;- ■
ividy decided by the hi.;hest .ilithi'iily, 1!; • r;,'."
l Columbus hini'-elf. In .i test.inu-iii 1 ■ ■■-•;;(|
i , . which h.is been admitted in eviil.-iiM I'.r.-
-Sp. ■.•I .■: tiiliun.ds in certain Lawsuits .in. n;!.,.
sccndaiiis, he twice ilecl.ues tliat lit" v, i» ,1 r.; ,
the I itv of (ienoa ; " Sn'i,/.' : • it.r.i' . : 1 ■
" I beiiu; born in (ienoa.' .\iid a.i;.ilii, hrfpi;.'
assertion, as a rea-ion for enjoining rcri.iin 'cr!.!., ■
oa his heirs, which manifest thir interc-t
his n.itivc pi. ice,
I conv.n.iud the sei Ii-. -|
son, or the p'Tson who inherits the s.ii ! i;i.^
oir eiit.iiled est.4tr», th.it he m.iintain . .a."
cily of lienoa a persim of our line.uje, wit" .•; ■>
.1 house and a wifi; there, and to furnish li,;". a;-,
income on wdiich he c.m live decent iv, ,^ ,-,:;r.
connected with our f.imily, and hold f.ni! !.;:■ : :
in that city as a native ot it, so th.it ii.' 11... '
and favor in tli.it city in case i.f need, '
/ , llHi- (11!,/ thfiL' 'a\!! A'/7,'." "•'•*■
In another p.irt of his testament he e.\;'— >
self with a fili.il fondness in respei t I'lO:" .1
ominand the said Don I)iei.;n, or win".'' -:
sess the s.iid mayora/.j,"', th.it he lalmr .iii . •■:
w.iys for the honor, and welfare, and Iiutimm' '-;
city of (ienoa, .md emplov all his abiiili'-^ .11 ir'
in defendini; and aui;mentini; the well. m- .in; '
of her re|)u!ilic, in .til matters which are r ; '•'■'■•'
t.) the service nf the church of (iol, ,iail ;:.■-:
the kiiu; .md queen our sovereij^n'-, .md '. :
sors. "
.\n inform.il codicil, executed byC'Iuiri - ;'
il did. May 4th, 150^1, sixteen d.iys bc!ii"'^
IV. IS discovered .about 17S5, in the C^irs;;;: , T.'
Koiue. Il is termed a military 1 odi ■. 1' 't
m.iile in the manner whidi the civil 1 iv. .,: *
sol. Her wlio executes such an iu'^triinien; •- '
b.itlle, or in e.xpeci.ition of deatli It iv..^ ■.( ■■
the blank pa^c of .1 little brcvi.iry pri -■■;'■ ! ;
bus liy I'ope .Mexander \'II. ' '
iiook " to his behived country,
110,1.
I il- diri'i IS the erei tioii of a ho-;], it..! In
the pii'ir, with pnuision fi:r its siicpirt
* < 'lira 'il' los I'.d.iriiis, M-;. r.ip 71"
t .\lcv, ( ler.iliiiiu. Inn. ail Kei;. sub \-\:
', .Aiiionio < jallo, .Xiiale-iol (ienoa, .Miiriii"
v\ Si'ii.iri.i!i. .Miuaiori, loiii. 2.;.
II I ..i;hcl.i. i;io^,'. ( :i.ir. ).ij;iii.
• ( inni-us, .N'dv. (.)rb.
' ■ " lii-in .\l.iiiiloi-l ilirliii I )i'a I1ii-t:omil.il'
(|iii' liereil.in- >•! ilii hi) riiaMir.i/'.;o, (|ii' ('•in; 1 ^
pre en la cniil.ul de (ieM.)v.i iin.l peiiiMi.i ! ■
<pie li'llj;.! a'li c.isa i' miiijer, e le orili'iH'
pileil.i vivir honesl.iiueii'e. eonui pfr!-mi
liiiesiro lin.i.;e, v li.it,M j-ie v r.u/. I'li 1 i iM.'.i
natur.il ilell.i. por,|iie poilr.i liaber .|i- l.i '!'i I '■
e f.ivnr en l.is eo^.ib liel iiieius'er uuyo. /■''■'■ .
cii ciLi /1. 1. 1.
( 'oluailii.'-
the Iv-;-.
•hat repiil'l''- ''
,.,, ill the cvenl
- authpiitic'''-' "I •
,.fii sai.l, ih'i' '
haviii;; rcv'it
l(i-lv. iiiiii'l'i"'!
. t'l'lii'iihi'^ IV I
,, niilil.iry hic,
„ ,! iiininents .is
.,.„,. ih.it seeine
, , iisiliitc. iniisi|
, i„ Ins iltMih,
1 himself .It <• >
in the
l<ii;n
Jy Jl'ltTPIli e
l|,„(-;, SI) alTec
h( in lie alilc to wri
kip
<llCCil uUll 1"
irliiit In- W.IS iin
p.,;i,i 10 ivliich .in\
U, i 1 1'.illi'iitive. I' I
hy ;;.iv.intai;c CiHlId
"if that any
ill l-'i:. ivheu I'o'm
IS 1 ■..nil and last
tn 1 '.I' Spain, and
Is ■.:':i i!< and coninui^
gn>. aiitlicnticated I
le, ..1 He s.iine linu\
jo. a', lie I assiijn;
i.l ill that city, in din
IIP', .iiiil iitlier pr'V"
'\V!,\- shiniM Ciilun
ieii'M, hail lie been !■
lalis whuh Lave l.ii.l
|o iiil',Mtic.n t'> (i .'
rii'i piirtiiMi (if his I'.i'
lisr .iTV. iircnrilitu; l.
' rejected hy that
fiiT.M 1*0 stro'u; an ir
|e«lii 11 links till.- lie.ir
Bwcvcr he may be sep
ftmr, U'.il luiwever Iitt
fcViTS.
As'iin, Iriil Cohinil'u
pii't vill.iiics nf the lien
I'lin'. 'lira n.itive. why
qc'-is in l.ivnr of the
nr I' I'livn nr villaije '
v'l; lR'(|iK"^ts were
Sc:'.:icnt of pri'le ai
w .;• ail i)li:e.-t if n
11 'va^ at this lime eh
1; th' -aiiicct. 11 IS reii
Iv ■;! ! have siu-d ,i lusi
SI-'..- ■ ; .u:,l ihi- stniiiL;
i\..., i never have lei
I' : "le ^[K-lt, .aid iie>t
b aiiii.y. These a
1:- -a iiiiia ii.iiural 1
U. ;-M.
IV , !
[al-
bo;
fCi;;
Let.
f.li:
uliii:'-
'RiN'c the e.uly \v
■ :\'-n other iiavii
inti: rank an.l .el
-iilfd , iheir n.ini
^11'-, uiriiin the o
'■'I niiich perplex
'live siippimed
■ i"i-rnandii Coin
i y lonnections,-*
'•Iters. ■• ( :ini noi
llitse livi) were iiiii
fi'-i t-V hisinriaic
" "lit. 'li'l .-Mmirante
«4 1,
■J..
AI'I'HNniX.
24r
kf(.< flwt repuMic lii'; surrcssor in Ihr n-lmitaliy "f
l:.s,in ilwcveiii <)( his male 1i:r- I'C( niniriK <'.\
Thi- u.-hcnlKif- n( lhi« p.ipcr has l.ccn (iiicslionp.l.
l(,,v;,.ii<.ii.l, tli.it ('"-■'■'' *^'''' "" ("■"''•'iilily of <-•"-
mlu' 'i.nin,' ri-sctt t" a usasc \vith whii h he was
igc't kc^. imu'l"'''""-"''- ""■ "lM<-'<li"ns an- not
(.'iliiiiibus was acrusKimnl to iht- iicdiliari-
iiiiiluary lile, ;"' ' he r'-iicatcdly wnilc Inters
! moments as ■ raiUinn aKaiiist s(>,v-_. faial
■ ihat spcmcU iinpi'inl. '1 hi' prcscfU ciidi-
• li eii wriltcn a few i.ivs
nia , acc-oiiiit for
cs[)e<iallv as hi
ill
rnli'i!
:ni :i its (late, must "
{■(f-iio ■ III Ins ilraih, p«* naps at a innmcnt when hi-
fSri;ii;i'i .Ihiaisi'il at c<n i;ly. Th
]|iv .li'icri'iiif in thi- •' rnUvritiir-.
lit li'uci, 81) alTiT' ■ iV the « iiit m his haiuls as
I lie able In «ri, r\i-i-pt at nii,'lit. I'arlirillar
:'ic(a 'ail! 'II the signature ; luit it d"'' iiot
ipn'..iriinl III' was iinilnri.i ill rc'-..rii I" tin;, aiiu it is
..| I lint 111 vvliiih any (ine who attctnptcil a f'lruiTy
^»Win;. I i I' .illi'iuivf. It lioi'S mil appear, likewise, that
(IIV :'.':v.iiilai;e roiiM have hern chtainea liv liirnini;
lie [uiiiT. iir that any siirh w.is atternpled.
I;i l-iO, whcii ColumliiH was .iliiuil to depart <iii
tis iHi.illi and last voyage, he wrute In his Irioiid,
Diiivr N'iiiiiii Oijeriiji), liirmerly ainbassadnr frmn
Geii'i til Spain, and (nrw.irded tn liini eopies (if all
alts and tonimissions Inini the Spanish sovor-
„^,, , aialii'iilic.iled briiire the alcaldes of Seville.
He, .1 lie same lime, wrnle to the hank of San (}ior
»ii'. .,! (itiiiM assit;ninn a tenth of his revenues to lie
, pa! I In ihat i Ity, in diiniiiulion of the
::bi5
einn
limes on corn,
■fir-, ..iicl nlher privi'-.iins.
Why should Cdliiiubus teel this strnntj interest in
benn.i, liul he liccn Imrn in any of the other Italian
iaus whith liavp Uiil cl.iini to him ? lie w.is under
■o "Ma,Mlir.n In (i ina. lie h.id resided there but a
jriel piirtiiMi iif his early life ; and his proposition for
lisi'vi/ry. aii'iirilini; to some writers, h.id been srorn-
Ly rcjcrled by that republir. 'I'heie is nothinj; to
tarraiil so siroML; an interest in (ienoa but the lili.il
lewhi h links the heart of a m.m to his n.ilivc pi. lie,
Bwcvir he may la- separated from it by lime or dis-
feno', ii'.il limvrver little he m.iy be indebted to it for
M-iwi. !ii,l ( iihiinliis lieen born in .any of the towns
Ind vill.iijes of iliL- (ienoese roast whieh tiave cl.iimed
lim fur a native, why shoiil I he li.ive m.ide these be-
lui->ts in (avnr of tiie i/.'r <if (leno.i, and ir.t of his
|aini' I'lvvn or villai;e '
'Ihi'sc lif(|iifsts Were cvideiiily dii'l.ited by a mingled
lemimt.'iit III pride ,ii)d .iltn lion, wiiirli would be
►itaii;' all i)b;f.i if not ilirei ted M his native pi, ire.
He 'va> at this lime elevated above' .ill pcity pride on
W ■iii''it'a. Wis renown was so brilli.int, that it
FwiM li.ivi' shed .i liisir'- on anv h, unlet, however ob-
kure ; .ii;,l th,- stroni; love of countrv here manifested
Jtoul.j never have felt satisfied, until it liad sint;led
|ut the >pol, ,ind nestled down in the very rradle of
llsiiKMiiV. These appe.ir 10 be powerful reasons,
ta^ii iH'iii ti.if,irai feeling, for deii'liiii,' in favor of
Gfi(i.t,
te;n
N'o. VII.
riir, I iH.uMiiiis.
'■'•'">■■ ibi- e.uly part of the life of CoUmibus there
■ '-i'" 'ilher navii,'aiots, beariiiij the same name,
"n'a: .'ink and .ek-bnty, with whom he oeeasioii
■n.i-l , iheir n.imes on urrini; vaRuelv from time
";■• l'l^m^ the obscure part of his career, h.ive
■■ nui.-h perplexity to some of his biographers,
livi! siippom.,! (hat thev desi^n.ited tlie dis.ov-
iTiiand.i (.oliimbiis alFirms them to have been
; > "innenions,* and his father savs, in one of
'""S i .im not ihc first admiral nf our family."
-'s.'Uvo wen- mule and nephew : the latter bc'inu
"y liisiniians Colombo the younger (by the
'"^'■'M.Minirante, tap. i,
S[)anish historians C'olnmlio el mo/oV They were ir
the (ienoese servire, but .ire mentioned, on asion.dly
in old I hronirles ,is Krcnch eoinni iiuhrs, beriusi
(ieno.i, during a gre.it part of their lime, w,is iindei
the iiroti rlion, or rather the sovereignly of Iraiiie.
.iil'l her ships and r.ipt.iins, being engaged in the e.x
peditions of that power, were ideiilified with tin
1' rem h m.Tine.
Meii'ion is made of the elder Colombo in Zuril.i';
;\,.M,ils of .\rrag 111 (I, xi.\. p. 2(i|i, in the war be
tweeii Sp.iin and I'ortug.il. on the sniijei t of lh(
el. lim of the I'tiiU'-ss Juana to the i rowii of f.iMile
In I |7'i, the Kin 'f Portugd determined logo to thi
Mediterr.ine.iii i ..ist of I'r.mee, to im ile his ally.
I.ouis XI., to prosei ute ihi' war in the inoviiiie ol
(iuipil/'O.i
The king left Toro, says /urit.i, on the nth liiiu'
.and went by the rivet to the city of I'orio, in oriler u
aw, lit the armail I of the king of I'r.mre, the (apl.iiii
of whi( h W.IS Colon iColomboi, who was to navigale
by the str.iils of dibrall.ir lo pass to Marseilles.
After some delays Colombo arrived in the Inltet
part of July with the j-'ri'nrh arnTTid,i at Mermen, or:
ihc Id, 1st of Hisr.iy, where lie enroimtered a violeil!
storm, lost his prineipal ship, and ran to ihe roast ol
(ialiria, with .in intentinn of altarking Uibaldo. .ind
lost a great many of his men T hence he went ■.
Lisbon 1(1 receive the King of I'ortug.il, who . .•
b.irkeil in the Meet in .August with a number c' ;i-
noblemen, and look two thousand two hundrc lot
soldiers, and four hundred and seventy hi"' . ■
strengthen the I'ortuguese garrisons .ilong '• Ha^
b.iry coast. There were in the S(]uadron twi, ■• s"ips
' .md five car.ivels. .After touch ng .it Ceut.i ,hi- I.
proceeded to Colibre, where the king discml- irked ir.
the miildle of September, the weather not r.-'ijltnv.
ihem to proceed to Marseilles. (Zurita, L ' lii.
?'• '
T"his Colombo is evidently the naval commander of
I whom the follmvintj mention is m.ade by I.if|ues
I (ieorge de Ch.iiife[)ie, in his mpplemeiit to Mavie
I (vol. 'J, |i I'jo of letter Ci.
I " I do not know what dependence," says Chaufe-
i pie, " is to be jilaced on a fact repotted in the /hiai-
l!.:i:.i (I'.irt I, p, I4;i', that Colimibus was in 1474
r,ipi,iiii of several sliii's for I.ouis X I, and Ihat, as llu
Sp.iniarls had made at that time .'in irruption iiiK
Roiissillon. he thought that, for reprisal, and wiihoiii
ro'itr.ivening the pe.ice between the two crowns, he
I could run down Sp.inish vessels. Ile attacked, theie
I fore, and took two gillevs of ih.at nation, freighted 01.
the ,ii-coiint of various iiidividu.ils. On 1 omphiinls ol
this .ution being m.ele to King Ferdiii.md, he wrote
' on the subject lo I.ouis XI. ; his letter is dated the
((th December, 1474. Ferdinand terms Christ iphtt
' Colimibiis a subjei t of I.ouis; it was liecu • j, as i^
■ known. Columlms w.is a (ienoese, and I.ouis was sov-
ereign of CiiMio.i althoui^h ih.il lilv and S.ivcna wen
held of him in lief by the I Hike (d .Mil. in "
It is highly prob.ilile that it was the siiu.idron of lliis
I same Colombo of whom ihe circums;ani c is rel.iteo
by Hossi, and after him by Spotorno on the authiirity
I of ;i letter found in the archives of .Milan, and written
i in I (70 bv two illustrious Mil.inese gentlemen, 011
i th'dr return fron, |eriisalem. TTie letter slates ili 11
1 in the previous year 147;, :is the X'enetiaii fleet w.is
I stationed off Cyprus to gu.ird the island, a (ienoese
I sc|iiadron, comin.inded by one Colombo, saileil by
' ihem with ,in air of defiance, shouling " \'iva San (ii
' orgi.i !" .As the republics were then .it peace they were
I permitted to pass unmolested.
j liossi supposes tli.it the Colombo here mentioned
, was Christopher Columbus the discoverer ; but it ap-
pears r.ither to liave been the old Cicnoese admiral o!
I that name, who accoriling to Zurita was about that
! time cruising in the Mediterr;ineaii ; .md who, in .ill
|)rob,ibility, was the hero of both the preceding occur-
rences,
I The nepliew of thi> Colombo, called by the Sp.inish
j Colombo (d mu/o, commanded a lew years afterw.ird
I a sijuadroii in ttie Frcucli service, as will appear in a
itni (
iff in
• i^n
' \
Mfi
siihsp(|tii-nt illii>.tr,itic>ii. .xn
APPKNDIX.
( iiliiinbiiH Ml iv at v,iri(ui!»
tlllU'S
h.ivc \n'\'\ .m inltTinr i imim.iinl iiiulfr Imtli imi Ic
.itil m'|itifw, ami iwm present on ilie .ibovc
Ilea
No. VIII.
Ml M HON OK JOHN
ASJi
•avorinn to make their wav tiac k to ih^
|o\iiii| the passes sei/e'l and likukcil up I
Sorenio
wlin
thrin
\villi .Ire,'
pi.vn,.,,
Ttu-ir llmht tic iw heeame ilespifale ami h'-
threw iheiiisclves lioin ro( ks and prcriii;, ,
sea. aii'l hut a small purtion rei,Mmii| the si
I'he mnies' of John ot Anion l^r tlu'
sled f
our vears
or .1 l.Mie I
hini. and the prize seenii'd ahiiost vmiui
111 ill :i
lilt reverses sue i eede<
he w
IS dekMlf.l
Ar.ori the lime tiiat CoUiilllius attained his twenty- pomls ; the laetioiis nolih-s, one l,v
fourth year, his native eily was in a si ite of ^real , |,|,„_ ,,„,| iriurned to their alU'^ian c in \ >
ilarni and peril from the llueatened invasion of A
ph'tis.i \'. oi Ara^on, Kini;o( Naples, lindiiii; iise
lor) w
cak to
iiii; in vain
iiii; ilsell
ten. I sillily with sueh a foe. and h.iv
ed lor asMSt.iine Irom It.ily, it pl.ii ed |mv of Naples.* Itilh
mil the duke was tin. illy ((impelled to
isl.md of Ischi.i lleie he reniaineij lor .
yil.iriled hv ei^ht galleys, which likewisi. h
s sijii.idroii. whir
itself under the proiedioii of Charles the N'lllhof hcied to him, until he ultiin.ilelv aliaii.li
ranee.
.Anjou,
'I'h.it nion,iri h sent to its assist im
dill ol
son of Keiie or Ueii.ito, Kini;
,f N.ipl
pies, who
liiii.ile enterprise, (.Oluml'us is stated lu li.i
h.id heen dispossessed of his crown hy .Mphonsi;
John of Anion, otherwise e.illed the Duke of Cila-
i.ria.* itnme.li.iteiv took upon himself the idinmand
of the i>l.e-e. repaired its fortiliiMtions, and defeiuhil cM'it'KK oi" IIIK \IM ii\s
IX.
the entrance oi the h.irbor with slroiii; cli.ims
In the
r.le.inlime, .\lphonso h.id prep.iied .i l.iri;e l.ind force,
iMed ,in arni.imeiit of twenty ships iiiui ten
i;alley>
II A
iicona, o
n ih
c lr< ntiers
il (reiioa.
Tlu
o \1 I 1 V!i l.V
Tilt: Vol N(,| i;.
As the areount of the sea-Hijht hy whiili !
'olumhus asserts tli.it his f.illur wis lirMlh" \
(1 eminently peril the shores ol i'oitui;.il h.is licen adn|ilcrl I
ou'-. when .Mphonso suddenly fell ill of a c.ilentiire and i tespei t.ilile hislori.iiis, il is proper to ^ivc
situ.ition of the l.itter w;is consii
(lied, le.ivini; the kimjdnnis
if A
iijou and ."sii ily to his , re.isons lor discreditini,' it.
hriither John, aii.l the kingdom ol N.iples to his son
Kerdin.ui I.
I'tie (le.illi of X'.phonso. .ind the sulisiviiient divis
ion of his dominions, while they relieved the fears of
the lienocse, jj.ive rise to new hopes oil the p,irt of
rern.mdo expressly says ill. it il w.is
mentioned bv .Miirco .Antonio S,il
)k of his tenth Dec, id
leiicii. 111 i:i,,. |.
that tin- s,
h ('olumhus served was eoiiim:iii led 1".
irs.iir, c.illed C'oliimluis the \oiiiii;er ((_
111-.' house of .Anjou ; and the Duke John, encour.ii;i d iiio/ol, and ill, it an emh.issy w.is sent (ri
liV emissaries Iroin v;iriou.s poweriul pattis.ins aiiioni; Ih.iiik the Kini; of l'ortui;.il for the siicdir
tlie N'e,i()<)litan noMlitv, deterniiiK d to in. ike
d Ih
hold
e (Town.
ittcMipt upon N.ipKs for the recovery
Tie (I'lioise entered into his c.iusc with spirit, fi;r-
e.ishins' him with ships, n.illeys.
to the \'eneti.iii c.ipt.iins and erews,
t.iiiilv re( orded i
All lb
n S.ilndlicus, hut the h.illlc
l4-'5, .liter ("oliiiiiliiis h.id Ir// l'orliii;al.
and nioni'V.
Ilis his annals uf .\r.ii;on, unde
r the
late ot Vri
,.th-r.
R"
fiilrd (Kit twelve j,Mlleys fur t!iis s.ime action.
At Ih
llie c.\i)t;dition in the
arbor o
( .M
ille
lii.'ll
.f thi.
;issur.inc(! of an abiind.uU si
(1 sent li.m nallcys s.iiled from the iskiiiil ol C.ul
le for 1 hinders ; thev were !.ii!e
iipply ol nioiiev, and the roll
assisi.iiue of ttie Kin< of Frince, 'I'he brilli.int cliandise from the I.ev.int. especi.illv Irniii t'
nature of th(; enterprise attracted the attention of th
.( Si.
ly, and p.issini^ by Cap
St. V
iiiceili.
d.irini.; an ! restie'.s spirits of the limes. '1 he ihiv.il attacked by .i I'reiu h cors.iir, son of c.i; : < i
r lus nobleman, t!ie soldier of fortune, the h.ir'ly mr- (("olombol, who lia.l seven vesselsin liisar:;ir
s lir, the bold .idventurcr or ihe milit.iry p.irtis.m, en- the y.illeys were < aptiired the twent\-rn>t"t \,
sted under the banir.rs of the Duke ot C.il.ibria. Il
.\ much fuller
Hint is j;iven in ill" t'.f
.slatcil by hisloii.ins that Columtius serve. 1 in the .ir- ImIui 11. of l'orlui;al. by Ci.in i.i de Kise
r.iameat from (ieiio.i, j.i a sini.idron comiiiiui lei
of the C
I':
>mbos, his rel,iti(ais.
'>•
wise reco
rd
s It as li.ippenim; in I.)'-
fh
\'eiieli.in K-dleys were t.iki-ri .ind rohbi
e expe'lilion s.iilei
in < 'ctober. l.i?i), and arrived and the capt.iins and crews, woiiiidc'
Sfssa between the mouths o: l!ie (i,irij;li,ino and the , .iiid in, litre. ited, were turned in sin re
llurno.
The
vs of its .irriv.il was tin- sii;nal of , Here they were succored I'V D'
M
li'iiversal revolt ; the f.iclious iMrous, and their v.is- Countess of .Mons.mli
s..is. h.istened to join the st.ind.ird (d Anion, an 1 the
jke
dominions
When Kinv; John II. heard of the
saw the linest provim es of the Neapolit.m beinn nun h j^rieved that sui h ;in eveii;
riiiron mcnacei
at liis eomm.uid, iiiid with his .iriny ai
1 the city of N.iples itself
.ippelK
1 on his (o.ist, and bein^' ilispi
his Iriendship for the Republic of \'en;(e. i'
In the history of this e.xpedition we meet with one , lh.it the X'eneti.in captains should l^e liin .
ii.iz.-i
OUS
■iction of t!ie llecl in v.diic h Colur
h.id i rich r.iiment of silks and
costlv clollis
I'iii balked.
Willi horses
les, th.it lliev niii:'il
b
The .irmv of lohn of A
iijou iicin^; cl'is(..|y mve
sted
appe.irancc before him in ii style lieiitlitii;
a supeni.r lorce, was iii a perilous iiredieament al
d their i
lie receivecl them will;
l!i;; nioiilh of the S.irni
In Ih
is ( onjunclure. the c;i|'
I'ss and distinction, expressim; hinisi 1
lain of the arm. id. I l.ini'cd with his men, and scoured courtesy, both as to theniscdvcs aii'l
liie nei.4!i!)orhood. hopinjj to aw.iken in the popul.ice i X'ciiice ; and h.ivinn heard their ac, oiiiii
their former enthusiasm for the banner of .\iijou
and perhaps to tike N.iples by surprise. .\ choser
md of their deslilule situation.
sM^tC'l ll:i'.»'
l.irne sum of money to r;insoin thdr tru''
ipany of .Neapolitan infantry was sent UKainst j the IVenih cruisers. The latter look all lli' i"
them. The troops from the ileet having little of ihc
discipline of re^;ul.lr siddiery. and much of the free-
booting disposiiiun of m.iriume rov(frs. h.id sc;ittcrcd
themselves aliout the coiintrv, intent (hielly upon
sp'-'il. They were attacked by the inf.intry an.! put lo
r )i:!. with t!ie loss of in.itiv kille I and wounded. l!n-
iise on board of their sliips, but KiiiK J"lin
any of tlic spiiil from lieiiikj pun h.ised vviih.u '■'■■
niinioiis. Having; thus ^'eiierously relieve;.-;
sisted the captains, and adminislereil l^' 'i"' ' ■'
lies of their crews, he en.ibled Iheiu all t-' "'"'
their own galleys lo Venice.
Duke ofCiilalina w.is a titlr; of the licir .ipparent tu Ihe * Cloleniiccio, Hist. N'.ip.. lib. vii. cap
of \
ll)!CS.
t /iirita. ;\nales de .-Xrayuii, lib. x.\. cij). tJ4-
Knii
k
Ittc
If (HuniLirifs ii( tti
,, ih'. iiiunid''"'
,.i- .ciii a si.iK
I, prcsi'iits luid
„■„, lt.iii.ae wi
ulmMil (I'f '^'''f
i.y u'leived .ill
■ I iviih roy.il
,1,1 miiU-; will
,i.., .mil in;iiiv m'
^,, i,,,;,aviliK I-' die
ijiicli. us. ill his 111
r.uii.iiid.ili-'l'i-'""
I, .(M i-.ip'Mi'"-
,c.( Mioiiilid il I'ui.i;
lii-iioiisile. (ecc'si
..«,, il sitni I'nmi
,;, \:iiien/i'. ion '-
i;i;li iiuanlumi
,!ii.|Uistii d' opjit
. .,,-nil.il cniiiiMll
.1 luinnlia I II
.. ,vi r'lo.ile till
ji I'liiriio iiicon
.s, Mfiiiiero i
,, p.-r miiiu'ro ■
. ,. ,h;r(i il Kiiillit;
■1 ,niii!i,iltul(i '
,i 1-, jii-nhe a pei
;,ii.i. ^e non per
likt i; I'lfciiii presenii,
JiiK .l.iircci'iuoiiiiiiiiii
pti :;'. i|ll'-|l.l /nil. I I. Ill
ilcnc ijni'.iiini Dtlli
ia !,ir,il.. l.il/iill.idal I
p»cr.,iii- Ic K'^^'lh Vciie/
llVi- Di'lliii.i ill lialeie
Baal uii.i si reiideroiv
, I .t^pri) cdiillillo
[jjr;- iivi il.i prode a i
I Mill !, i <|>iali d.d ileini
[»(!:■ I "li sili'Hiio, ( he
f liaii I I irpi iiiorli fiii
|llO^; ;•■! liilii. Diiei idi
if n,. . ,1 1 .ipiLino viltur
[tar.: . ('ii/.i.ili. . . .
SBii;' . ildllc ricovilll (111
|«»i ..!i .illri eubero ;i
Itoi;: /;iiiii'. . . . Oli
Ichv . .i.ii'i iioii roinpras
[ lai.i ...1 orsiili. L.i i
{ pc : itliis-ic ia( ill;i, erai
\ da ciil'i iiiila ducali
5 Hd:: ,1 joisi dieile in
i &.',.. ,', J/iit. I'nid., I
AMI-KI
MNi. the earliest .i
ijje^^ wlyi Idll'iwcd ihc
k" \'p-pii-( i. lie ha
i tllf ;.rsl :iM overrr ol I
''|y;'i,ii;.ir c.iprice of hi
)t:/.- wiKile III the N
y in-ii<k'd, howev
l^lc of ,1 liisroveter , t
W-; 0.11- K iiy in a SI]
j*OI>'.'.,(|i' r,.in-i.i (Ic
LtM.i!. I ,\iu(ir,;o ( :.M-i
Sa!i.-;'i,:us a c()^;n(ir
«iii-(i[io('l.ii 111.- pcd.i
r* wiii a ciinii-inpor.tr
Vniioii 111 his iliM-cn-cin
tnit-ml ,,f liis iiiiivei-..!
I.1.-I liic l.ivv of 111.
'!•■: I iiihri-pn iciiMlKi'
Si.i'i;.Trti.ii(;i.< liiin wi
aim'i;ni)1x.
«47
^ i;.,,„i;,ric!< of the rrpulilir wrrr so hifililv •>pn
, „l ilr. niuiiili"-""' "11 111"' I'lft "* l^i'iK l"'"i.
lliPV «,nt a siali'lv riiili.issy I" tli.it irioiian li.
, ,„i, iiri'scntsaiicl "■.inn « Aprcssioiis <if vr.ililiKlt!.
»Olli'"''
Diii.ile w:is ( li.iici'il Willi tlii** inissiiiti, ;i
-iiiiKMil liT ItMrniiin an.l i'I<m|ii.mi. c ; I;l' was
lor li'v H'lfivi'il anil fiiicrl.iini'il l>v Kitiy l"lin ainl
ni.M'l with royal |)ri'si-rits, animii; wliidi wvtr
,|. Ill niuli's Willi MiiiiptiHiiis li.i|)|iiiii;s amlia-
|,„ih, ^Miil many m-Kt" s^ivi'S nc lily ria.l *
ii. h.i:,iiviiiK IS the airoiint of this at imii as jjivcn
aiif.lMiy in liis hiM'irv of \'fni(L- t
;r,iiM.iii'lair(|iiallrn(iali-o ilcllf ninli Martr>|iiiniilc<i
hj. ir.i i-.ii'it.ino. (JiK'Stc iiavlnainlo per rH'criio
t ..'(lailii' il |iin ni'ivaiif, iii|>iii(.- di (|iicl (cildiiilio
fcoiiK.iisili- fciL'sl iri(imln) a' Vctii/lani ili ikhic,
CfeiSM il ^.leli> I'nimiiiiliirui, clii! < liiaiiuisi or a iA\H>
Ran \ II' I'll':". '"" ''''"'• "''^' i;"''ri>itc da roiiihat-
IWf. l-i;li i|iii"tll'ii|m' ml priiiio iiicotUro avt-sst'
IlKo ilisp'i^i'i 'I' iippfiiiu.'r(' If iiavi Vciii/iaiic, si ri
|(,jni. pc'.MJ.il (•"niuallfrf slii al jfi<irn(i : Iiitlavia per
|nicr.i:;i li,itl.i>;lia |,ifi aii-niu-in ids] le sc^jiiia, liii; l<;
),ic I'fl riir>alt.' loccavaiin Ic piippf (If N'riii/iaili.
'tmiU ii I'liiriiK iiirontaiieiltf i Harhari dicdfrn I' as-
l||n. .>! MoiiiiL'Ki i N'fiil^iaiil idl')ra I' cmpiln drl
5lii„n, |«r ininuTn di iiavi f di tiMiihattciui siipf
jlR', c luri) il I'liillitto atroix" per iiiolli' nrf. Karr
He fii I 'iiiih.ituito Mintro siiiiili lUMiiiii roii i.iiiia
ici'iiiic, pcrdic a pena si cosluina d' attadarsi cuti
ntn. se nnn per on asioiif. AlTc riiiaii') alcuiii,
(vi fiiriMU) presL'iiti, cssfr inortf ik !ic ciiimn: V'cili-
Incda trti'i'iuouoinini. Allri dicoiKi flu: (ii iilfiio ;
^ori in iiurlla ztilf.i l.nrciun Miiliclf rapitalio d litla
(Icr.ic limiMiuii Dc'Hiiii), tl' allrn capilaiio fralfllo.
liirat;. lal/ulladal Ian- del ymriin Tm' ad orf vciHi,
► eriiiii, ic m'lUi \'int'zi.inf nial triltalf. la.iniala
|vi' Dcllin.i in pdtc'tc ilf' iiciuici (pi.mdo If altre ad
iBaalun.isi rcnilordno. Narraiioalcuni, clif fiiriini)
M Qu'l a^ipro conllittii parlccipi, aver lumu'raiu tifllf
S%o ii.ivi (la proilf a puppe ottanla valorosi uoniiiii
i'lllii;!i, i i|uali (la! ncnuco vcduti Id iiKissfro a ),'f iiifrt!
I'tdiri' (iiii sdcHilo, ilif cosi avfvailo V(iluU). i \'fni-
hn' I iiirpi iilorti fiirono Rcllati lud mare, c i fcrili
Bsl, iicl liilo. Oiici che riniascro vivi sfijuiroiut Cdii
inavi ii ..iiiit.ino viltoriosii sin' a I.isboiia c ivi furoiio
|lli Hion/iaii, . . . ^)uivi furorio i \'i'nt'/.iaiii lie-
gnamentc rircvuti dal Kc, (;li infcrmi fiirdiui incdi-
iti. ^li .iliri fubcro abili c dcnari seciindo la loro
jnd/'ii''. , . Okrt; (■i('i vifii'i in tuito il Rf^no,
|eu;i:iaM noit (:oin|)rassf dclla prcda \'cni/ian,', por-
ilji C'lrsali. La nuova dell' avula roviiia noii
K:oiifflisM'la( itla, cranoporduii in (|ui-ll,i riu'rcataiizia
rda' ciiM iinla duculi ; nia ii danno parlic(ilaredcnli
iBoii, lii jMisi (lifdc ina«i;i(ir allli/ionc— .lA;/.-. .hi/.
&-..,', J/ist. /■(■»(£■/., dccad. iv. lib. iii.
AMl-Kli.'i \ 1.^1 I'ccl.
■ thi; earliest and most intellit;ent of tlie voy-
ii'-.-wh" ((.llfuvedilif tradv of Columbus, was .Anic'r-
IR" \c«[m'-ii. lie has been considf^rcil liy iiianv as
.111- :st '!is((,vprri- of I'le soutliffii toiuineiit, .md' by
'»^ i.ui.ircaiiricf of (oruuif, his name has been j^ivfii
lie: whcl.; „f the N^nv World. It has bcfn slren-
y in-^i-^ic'l, hovvfVfr, thai he had no claitii to the
IJe(if,(ilisr.n-eter . that Ik; iiK^relv sailed in a subor-
W^ai.uiity in a sijuadron coinrnandod by others ;
I 0I..,.s(|.m;,iiv1,i ,1,. Rpscnif, cap. (;S. .\vor.i, l^;^!.
|T-M.ii,;j.\nuir.i() (;.„-,.i,,, l,,.|,,.r kn.Avn under the ii
-I .a.i(-„;,;ns. a to^iioinen wliKh he aHo[>ted on 1)
TOiicripociai ihe pclanli.- acidciiiv (,l I'omi|ioiiiiis 1 ■■>
^e w,i, a iMmfinpnrarv ol ( •..luniluis. and ni.ik
ifwf. i(;n iji h
'!iM-()verie.s ui the eii^lith Ixxik of ill
'■'1 "I 111'; iiiiiviT.ial hiMorv. liy .Mxiie writers 1
' ""' buv of hl^ time; oilicrs 'aeeuse him of b
■■ '"Mcpi,.s,.niali,.ns in f.ivor of Venue. 1 he .
■.'■'•'!•" .i;es 1,111, wiih veiialitv, and witli beint; sw
■ . "cliaii j-uKI.
line
■mi;
fills.
brief
enth
• is
.ein^
iilder
.lyeil
that thcirrnunt of his first voyaRP is a fabriration ; aiiij
that lie dill not visit the iiiainl.itiil mild .dter il li.nl
iK'fii disi overeil and lIl.l^ted by COlimibus As this
(pi( siioii h.is been made a ni.ilier of w.irni and volii-
niiiioiis eoiitroversy, it is projier to Like .i suminary
view of it III till- presfiii work.
AmeriRo Vi'spiiiii was born in riorem c, Mar' h
i)lli. 1 |Sl, of a noble, but not at tki.ii time a wealthy
lamily ; his f.ilhi i •< n.imc was .\ii.ist.itio , his niotliir's
was lazabctl.i Mini. He was the third of their sons,
and rfeei\(i| an I'M client (.ducation under his uik if,
(leornio .\ntonio VCsiiucii, a learned friar ol the fr.i-
lernily of .San Mario, who w.is iiislru'.lor to seveial
illlistrioilH person. iLjes ot ili.ii period.
,\nierino Vcspin i i visited Sp.iiii, ami took up liis
residfiiei.' in Seville, lo atlend to some i oiiimcr' i.d
tr.iiisaf lions on aei ount ol the f.iniily of the .Mtditi
of i'loreiKC and to repair, by his inv;enuity, the
losses .iiiil tiiisfi rtuiies id an unskilful bro'.hft.*
'I he d.ite of his arrival in Sp.iin is uiKcrl.iin, but
I from eoniparini; dates and ciri umM.iiues nicnlionid
in his letters, he imiM have been at .Sevdlf whtn
I C"(duiiibiis rttuined lioiii his liist vovatje.
I I'.idre Maiiislaiis Cmov.ii, l'rofess(a' of M.itheir.ala s
' ill I'lorenee, who has published the life and vovanis
I of Anifri>;o \'fspue('i, says that he was i ciinmissioiied
by Kim; I'erdiii. mil, .111(1 .«!eiit with ( olumiiiis in his
second voyaj,'f in l.pi3. I le states this on the .lUthi r-
ily of a passage in the C'osmo^;r.lpily ol .Selj.isti.ai
Munster, published at Hasle in l:?o;l but .Muiisti r
mentions \es|)uei i as h.ivinj; .u eoiiU'.mied t'olunibus
in his first voya^je ; the refereiuc ol C'.movai is tliete-
fore ineorreet ; .■Miil the stiKKi'stion of Minister is dis-
proved by the letleis of Vespucci, in wliitli he slates
his having been stimulated by the accounts biou^ht
of the newly disiovcrcd reijions. He never nu-iitioiis
such a voy.iK'c in any of his letters ; which he most
probably would li.ive done, or r.ither would have
made it the sublet t of a. copious Idler, h.id he act-
u.illy perforiiied it.
The first notice of a |)osilive form wliii h we have of
\'espucii, as resident in .S[),iin, is early in I4<)0. lie
appears, from (locuments in the roy.il .iri hives at
Seville, to have acted as aKcnl or factor for the house
of juanoto Herardi, a rii li [•lorentine merchant, re.si-
dent in Seville, wlio had (diilraded lo furnish the
Spanish sovereij.;iis \\ itli three sever.il armaments, of
four vessels each, for the service of the newly discov-
ereil eountries. lie may have been one of the priiici-
p.ds in this .affair, which was iraiisai led in the name
of this fslablislied house, lier.iidi died i!i December,
1.(1)5, and in the foUowiiiK J.imiaty we find .\meriKO
Vespucci alleiidini; to the concerns of the e.\(ieililions
and settlini,' with the m.islersof llie ships lor their pay
and m.iiiueiiaii' e, aciordiiiK lo ihe aureements made
between iheni and the l.ile lu.inoto lier.irdi. ( )n ihe
I2th January. l.p((i, he received on this account lo,-
(XKJ m.ir.ivedis from Hern.irdo I'ineio the royal treas-
urer, tie went on prep.iiiilg all thiii(;s lor the dis-
p.itch of four caravels to s.iil under the s.ime contract
between the sovereigns and the house of lier.irdi ai'd
sent iheni lo sc.i on the ;,(! February. i.pyO ; but on
the sill they met with a storm .md were wiecked ; tiie
crews were saved with ihi; loss of only thtee mcn.|
While lliiis employed, .Xmerigo \espuc(i. of course,
had oceasion.il op[)oitiimty ol (onversiiii; with Colum-
bus, with ahom, according lo llie expression ol the
.admiral himself, in one of his lellers lo his son
Diego, he aiipears to li.ive been always on Iriendly
terms. From these convers.ilions, .uid from his agency
ill these ( \|iedilions. he soon became excited lo visit
the newly disiDVered countries, and to p.ulicipate in
enterprises which were the theme of every tongue.
H.iviug madehimsell well aciiiMintcd wilti geogr.iphi-
cal and n.uilu .il siience, [ie prepared to launch into the
* li.indini Vila ir.\nient;o \'.'spucci.
+ ( iisin. Miiiisl . p 1 loS.
* Ih' ■'■ p.iituul.irs .ire frum la.imiscript im-nior.inil.i.
eMr.ieled liniii the roy.U .irchives, by the Lite .iccur.ile la.v
1 tun. Ill .Muiiuz.
iM ill
I:
Wi'
I I
ii I
I '
||i
>, !
i I
;i .;,it
' 'if
f II 1 ^Ta^T
l'
«ll
■^5
Hi
«
*
•,'is
Al'l'l'NDIX.
r.irccr ol (litrnvrrv. Ii wa* tml vrry li>iu; lirdirr In-
. .iriifil this ilc>ik;ii into rxn utinn.
Ill H')i I'nUltlllius, ill his Ihiril Vov.»«i', iliscuViTril
the lu.ist 111 I'.iri.i I'll Ifrr.i liriii.i . wliuh lie at ih.ii
tiiiu- im.i^iiUil l'> Ik- .1 «rr.a i«.l,iiiil. lull lli.it ,i v.ist
. .iiiiiiiiiu I, IV iiiiiiirili.iti'lv .iili.uiiil. lie MMit 111 SiMili
spi'i iiiiiiis lit jx.irls imiiiil (III tins 1 ii.i!.t, .iinl i;.ivi- tin-
iiiii't s.iii^iiiiu' ■» oiiiim-* III till- MipiMivcl ti< \n't\ til till-
t'u- Vi>y.i>;o
lit till'
till-
It IS |«rcsiniu-il th.il Vrspiliii aiili'il in lilting on
.iini.inifiii, ami itaili'il in a vessel hi'li>ii^;iiii; to mi-
lioiisi- 111 |tt'rar;li, and m tins way was I'liaMnJ tn laki-
,1 sliirt' ill till- kj.iiiis ami lossi's ut the cxpnliti'iii , lur
Nalu'lla, as iJiii'iMi <i( I'astiU'. had ri^;iiriui8ly lorlud
ikMi all stranniTs tn trade willi her traiisallaiitir pusses-
_ „. 1 .....^ ..< ii... I, I
tui' ail sir»iiiKi.is idiiaiju i^ikiiiivi ii.»ii?«.iit.iiiiM |mp:»:s»...i-
s;(iiis, nut cvi'ii exicptiii^ thf luilivcs id the kiiind"iii
I 'I AraRiiii.
This siiuadrun vislicil I'aria ami Sfvi-ral luiiidreil
tiiiio uf llif coast, wliii Ii they asccrtaiiu'd to In' Terra
' 'I'hey reltirmd in lime, H'l) ; ami cii the
\espuLri wrote an
in
iiitia. They reitirtifl in
I Mil ol July, 111 lli-it vear. Aiiuti«o
.11 rouiil of his voyage to l.oreii/inle I'ler Fr.iiif is(;> dt;
Mi'diii of Klorencf. wliirli rem. lined i oiieralcd In
.isrripi iiiuil lir.'ii^lu i<i li^hi and pulili^hwd by
i:'..iiKi«'
11,111 liiii in 174'.
Ill his aiiiiiiiil cif this voyage, and in every other
narr,ilive n| his ditlireiit expeditions, \'espiii c i never
mentmns , my other person iinnerned in the eiiler-
jifise. lie ^{ives the time ol his sailini;, .iiid si.ites lli.it
lie went with two e.iravels, wliuh were pioli.ilily his
sii.iic of the expedition, or r.itlier vessels sent liv the
l.ouse of Her.irdi. lie k;i\es .ill iiiterestmv; n.irr.itive
ol the viiy.ijje, and ol the various tr.iiisaetioiis willi
i;ie natives, which eorrespomls, in inaiiv siilist.iiitial
[H.-'nts. with the aei ounts lurnished liv i ijed.i .iiid Ins
tiiaiiners ol iheir voyage, in a lawsuit hereatter iiieii-
tioneil
In May, lf;ol, X'espiicci, having; siidden'y lelt
Sp.iin, sailed in the service o( iMiiamiel, Kiii^ of I'or
tiiKal ; in the course of which expedition he visiteil
tne coast of Mrii/il. lie ^ives an ace mint of this voy-
a^e ill .1 second letter l" l.oreii/o i|e I'lor I'raiii isco de
Medici, which al>o rein.iined in inanusi ripl imlil pii!)-
Iistied liy M.irio|o//i in \-^i).*
No record nornotiienl any such v<iy.ii;e umlert.iken
tiv .\inerino Vespucci, ,u the ronimand ol iMn.iniiel, is
to he found in the archives ol the Torre do I Ombo,
the j;eiieral archives of I'orlii^.il, which h.ive been
lepe.itedly and dilikjently sein hcd for the' purpose, h
is sin^'ular also thai his n.inie is not to lie found in
any of the l'ortut;uese historians, who in ^ener,il were
very parlii ul.ir in naniini; all luivi^ itors who held any
iMiport.mt sl.itioii anionn them, or rendered any dis-
i;iif;uished services. That Vespucci did s.iil aloni; the
i..,ists, however, is not c|iieslioned. Ilis nephew,
filter his de.ith, in the coiir-^e of evidence on some
;oinls in disjiule, (jave the crrect latitude of Cape St.
.\iit;ii-.line, wlii( h he said he liuj c.Mracled from his
iMcJe's journal.
In 1504 \'espiirci wrot'' a third lelter to the s.ime
I.oren/o de Medici. cont.iininK a more extended ac-
I lUnt of the voya^je just alliideil to in the service of
i'ortiiKal. This was the first of Ins narratives thai
ajipearcd in print. It appears to have been pub-
lish'-d in I..itin, at Str;isbiirnh, as early as I so?, umler
the title " .Xtiieritiis \'esputius de Orbe Antantic.i
per Kej^em I'ortuKallia- ])ridem invent. i "+
An edition of this letter was primed in \'i' en/, i in
1507, in an anonymous collci.tiou of vovai.;es eclitrd
* B.ir((jIo/./i, Ki-therche Ilisli.ri.o. KIreiivi-, 17K9.
t I'.iii/'er. loiii. vi. p. M. .ipud l^saiiii: (JiiiiLo, p. t,8,
t\:;iA i/ioiic I.
bv I'r.iiic.iii/io ill Montr Alboij do. an iiin,,;,.
I \ icen/.i. It was reprinieil m li.ili.m ,1 V:
Mil. in. aii'l .ilso in |..itin, in a book cfnn.,
iiiim I'oiliik.' iletisiiim. " In iii.ikiiii.; ilu'|ii>'^rrv,
tion, the ,Mil,iii edition in It.ih.in' h.is Lcin .
.iii'l also .1 |.,itin tr.insl.itioii o| it by Sinnni,
III his " Nov us ( Irbis,' published it IIkIi y, ■.
^ rel. lies entirely the lust voya^;e ol Ve»|iii.i;:,
I on to the hi,i/ils III I sn|.
i It IS Iroiii this vo\,ik;eto ili'.' llr.i/il» ih,i: \
Vespu'ci w,is lirsi lonsidered the 'Ii^hivitit i;
I'll III. 1, .ind hi* iiaiiie w.is at tirst ii|i{ii!i<>| ;
M'litluin rek;ioiis, lhiiu^;h ■illerw.Uil eMin;.,
whole lontineiil I he nierits ol his int.i .
however, ^re.illy <\,iK>^er,ited The Hr.u ,,
, previously di«coM red, and lorni.il'v t.ikfh i. .
of lor S|>.iin in iumi, b) Vmcriile \ ,ii1iv I'n,.
,ilso 111 the s,inie ve.ir, by I'niio Alv.irf,' ( ,
the p,iit of I'oitiiij.d , ) iiruilist.iiKeK uiumii
ever, to \espuici .in<l his assoi i.ili s. lii,,,,,
iii,iiiiei| in possession ol l'orlUi;.il, n 0,1
the hue ol delliartatioii iiyreed 011 iHtivui
n.itions.
VesoiiKi made a Keconil vova^e 111 ih • y
l'o|tiii;al. lie savs th.it he conmi.iii'lc I .1 . r,
I sipi.idron of SIX vessils clestmed lor the C'
' M.il.iiia, which they li.id liear'l to be thr ;■
j and ni.ina/ine o| all ihe trade liclW(.tii i:;..
ami the liilim sea. SiK h an expc ; '. -i
about this time, under the 1 tiimiiaii I 1 '
Coelho, The sipMilron sailed, ai cordiii.,'"\i
I on the loth of .M.iy, imj). It stoppt I ,it tin 1
\'crd islaiidN for refreshments, and allir«i;
by the co,ist ol Sierr.i Leone, but was ptcvc. :
l,iiidini{ liy coiitr.iry winds and a tur-i,.
( Staiiilmi,' to the southwi'st, they r.iii thr-
lea^;ues until they wiTe three de>;tees l.' l;;'
ward of the eipiiiiocti.il line, whi're ihcv -
.111 uninh.ibited island, about two lc,ii;iif :
and one in bre.idlh. Here, on the loili nl .\^
iinsmaii.iKeinent, the comm.inder of tlii.' -
r.m his vessel nn a rock and lost her. \\
other vesstds were assistim; to save the crew a
erty from the wreck, AineMi;o Nisjuiio ■
p.it' lied in his c.ir.ivel to scirch for a s.il ■ -
j the island, lie departed in his vessi I Willi" '.
i bo.it, aU'l with less th.iii h,ilf of Ilis ifw. '
havinj; >.;one in the boat to the assisMn ■
[ wreck. Vespui ( i found a h.itbor, bin w.n'.i
' for several d,iys for the arrival ol th'- shi} • -
out to se.i he met with a sohi,irv ves-.cl, ,.;i:
th.it the ship lit the (omm.iiider had >.:iii>
rest had )>roceeiled ■xiwari. In loiiipiii'
vessel he stood for tne Ura/ils, .icioruili, 1
m.ind of tlie kini;, in cast '.hat anv vovi •
p.irled from the Meet. Arr viiit; on tl''- ■ i-'
I (overe.l the f.mioiis b.iv .f -Ml S.iiiiis, »:.'
1 III. lined upw.ird of twi months, in li'i;'< •
joincil by Ihe rest of the rieet. lb' at rmVi
Ic.ii^iies l.irther south, where he leiii.in.' il
biiildin).; a fort .ind t.il.iiii.; in a cin," "I >'•' ■
Then, leaving; in the fortress a i;.irris'iii e! 1 •■ ■
t
* Tl.i-, r.ire book, ill the pii-..,esiiim i.f (>. i>
III lievi-d lo be Ihe oiliest pnnli'd iiillerl.' 11 "I '
I. ml. It h.is not Ihi- p.ii;ev in. iiibeied. lli'' >'•''' '
lii.uki-d « nil .-x li'ller ol' the .ilpluibel at 1 •!• I '
i'ii;lilli |ia>,'e. It iiilll.niis lliee.iihesl actoi.iil > I
ol i.uKiiiiliiis, ftoiii III-. Iiisl dep.irniie uniil ' '^
, < '.nil/. 111 ch.iins. dill' Idler of N'l'ipiii'' :■' '
.\leillci occupies till! Illlh book of ll:l> lli:i''»"'
sl.iti-d lo li.ive been oriHi'i.dly wiiU'ii "l ^P ^
i Ir.iiihlaled into Ilali.in by a pel .-on ol llie " <"''■' ■ ;
i .Xii e.irli'-r i-ililion i» stateil lo havf been | i.;i; '•
I by Albeiio Vercrlli'se. in I.W.p 'Ihe anil;' ' '■ '•''
1 been AiiL;elo 'Irivii^iani. sei reiary lo the \'i-ni-li '■■'■>
I (I'll 111 Sp, nil. I'lu., 1 iisii;i,iiii i)ppe,ii.s t'l II"'' ■ '
I iii.iiiy ol die pariHiil.irs of llie vov.iKesnl ' •'"•"'
the 111. iiiuxript decides of I'l-ter M.iiivr, w^ ' ''
I lays Ihe cli.m;e III llie planiarism lo .MiaM"; ' •*
I wliose vovayes are inserted in the f:iiiie ( mi"'
' book was eiiiiibd " t ibretto lii tiillu /■' ii'i'.i:-''
I i/t' y. </.;^'«j, Ui/i'u hoU c UncHi nuov^imm'.c ti. ■'■
l,':.'Til
!" -r.'i I
.■VM
;.j»'|
■fnwill. irriH.i" •
thou he unveil ["I
A,, squaili'iii .1'"'
J,.,.lnl ifllTW.i"!
• \,mM l"'>. "
Tirarl fr"'> ''"' '"'
'd !l'l I'T «''■ ""I
|l,., iv.il i'>ll>c*'l'>"l
,„, hc' V,;.. h.'.'i"
^,, |,;.-i.. il.iteJ I-
J>ainil> "I '""'•',■"■
ir,|irii:niii.' ' ■"'
tl'
"M, lii M< Si'N
,r.ii,i,.\, i*i'-' il""'
1 .iivctM I widi
whi>i;"e.> llic
(,l'.i\:Kri"ll. '""
tn.ii'V'il'i'f "'-
mi, h-i-ilH-y leasi'-
„„ ..,v ,41 inunl, an-
il.,;! M.lV U'M.it I" !•
li ,miiii .isictt.iin
tin! vvill t •■ sriviie •■
n:iv l.ctiHre reipir
ti,,'i 1.1 (|. I .ill th.it
nuvlic el a.lv.iiit.i
huiiiiy ^.ly .uid do
cpiT.ili'iii . 'Unl le"
rmtic sii>|>ci ted.
I . in s.iv imii-hini;
hill 111 dii pav I
ei. "f
,\l.iii;l tlii- liiii'-' \
fl M.itiir.iiiMlii'ii '
llliTiv.ir I IK' .lIliI \
»p[,iiMs III .111 ,itm
picc ti.ilc and to 111
bfjiT. ilitl'il Torn,
naMidlii for an o
KSiili'iU'il .•Seville."
Bvcyai;'', Mid vessels
v,i« i",'i-iuii.illy .ibai
i\ -tiil^' I'liiieriiinn
' ni wliiili It appc
;:,.illlt.'. .it ^leville, ■
ctriis III ties si|iiad
Vi'>H'!s His ( ll.iiit;ed
tl; aoiiuiils settled,
aivii' yi iHiDiiiar.ive
ritai.td tin: appoini
a:v uf 7.1,1111(1 luai.iv
p.il'' I'l Ills, es.iniil
cut I.: i,:.pci;ituiiis,
.V ■■ wi'ii' I 1 p'arsi
-Vi' li I, lie .ippe.ir
Itotii'.L' ri't.iiiied thi
lof I'cbiu.ir', . 1 51 J,
IjliVeii ,1 I'dlSKMl I
lllt.illi, iiis in'pli(;w,
Ipi^iil U:t!i ,1 s.lUl V '
Font-," j'.l ol .\I.iv,
h:.;h
ii\m'.en latioi
, ^'.-jiubii^ IS line t
lunui: Ir;-. tlio i-ii.ii t
111"?. :is It wjie i.y 1
pil« 1 oiv csp;.!!
icaiil'.'. Ills l■llmp,l^
|t'.'.:ri. l.y lliir ijii.ii
|^''y f.i;ii;Ii.ir (lii'i
jlViii.H' c. nip.uiy I
[usel!;:,. ..Iieiiivniei
[llljiiy V .y.im-s inti
fti-'h !tinu;s .is he li
Vcsiiui 1 I, dir ni
espi
/l.'-l! r 111 V
I Ctll'IV.ll
t .N'.n.irii.ii', L'uli'i
1 1'liir .\I.iit\r, lie
I wKsil^it ,'iJ-
M
Al'IMADIX.
'IIO
»
*>
III
h
»
»■
I
t;
,«i •
ni<
ftn "
h.i<
((..ir
llial
Vu
lion
Dav
■ei::
1 1. Ill
bliii '•
ttc."t
ii(h irri».in'l imniunilixn, hi- tri s til fi>r IisIpmh,
hi' iiiiu'il 111 li">''. '5"4'* nifKimin.iriilrr III
j,„!ii(ii .iml till- nthiT (I'lir t.lii|iH vvitr iicvir
,l ifiiiw.inl
;;,ii I irn nnl api'iMr in li.ivp n-rcivc I tlio rr
■I'.ll lllf KiMK III l''PllilHal lll.il hi* srfVlii"*
; liir wr till I him .It Sivilli' i-.irly in nn^. on
III till' >(llill'>l""lirt, ill 'liirnt III rtll|ilii>llillll ,
' v.n liiMtfi "I •! liitrr li'Hii t'filimii'ii> In his
-1.. I'.ilfil Ki'hiiKUV "h, whiih, while It ^in-.ikx
, oi liiiii .lit .1 iriiti.l, iiilmi.iU's his having Ihtii
,ul.' 'I 111" l.ili"Uii>: I" thf hlliT .
; , ;,Mli SiiN l>irK"« Mcllilc/ ih'|i.iltcil hilii r uii
. , ihf ihinl h( tills iiiiiiilli Allrr his ilr|i,irliiri'
r-i I wiih AniiriuM \'i'S|iiini, tin- Itcmi uf
1 I (•('I'n Illlti- (111 miiui htlMliniilinl nil ;i||,nis
^(•imm. iMitiiMi' h.is lircn iiilvcrsc in liiin .is tu
:!itis (lis l.iliMrs Imvc nut |itiititfil hull :is
,-. till V li .IS'ill.il'ly sluiillil h.lVl' ilolif. lie ^;i'rs
. „' iKiiiii, .iiiil iviili null h lU'sii'i- til ili> Miiiui'tliiiii;
I IV uM.it 111 my .nlv.ml.i^jc, if wiiiiin his |)iivvrr
, i| iMtrtain tific III ivhat I I'.iti cniiiluv hnii,
ill ! ■• sii\i< imIiIc 1.1 till', for I (Ik till know wh.it
I.- liii n- fi|iiirc'l. lli'HofS with llu! ili'lt rllllM.l•
i li ■ .ill tll.it is piissiblc for ITU- ; sec in wli.ii lur
I ,1 Iviiitai;!.- aii'l ((i-(i|icr.ilL* with him, tli.a
\ MV .iinl iii> I'vcrythiiiK, ami put his pl.tiis in
["U . .iiiil Irl .'ill he >liiiic SCI ri'lly, tli.it tie iii.iy
su>pi I ii'il. I h.i^c s.iiil L'VcrythiiiK (•> hini ih.it
...u' loiii-liirii' tile liusiiu'ss, aiiil h.ivc iiilorinoii
! I'll p.iv I ii.ivi! rLii'ivcil, ami wh.it is iliu-,
Al'iii;! tlii- liiiK' .Aiiicrit,") \'cspurri rcicivr.j lettiTs
,o( M.iliir.iiu ilinii iriiiii Kitiy Ki iilin.iiiil, .mil sli ntlv
(.iltfnv.ir I IR' .iiiil \iiufiitL' Wini'^ I'm/oii wtro ii.iini'i!
Cll{i;i.:i-. .<; .ill .irtn.i'l.i alioiit to he sent out in the
ppii'i- IM Ic .111.1 to iii.iki' ihsi ovuriL's, TiiiTf is a io\ il
Or.ir, ijiti.l Torn, iiih of y\pril. 1507, (nr ij.imio
i.ii.n-.lii lur an iHitlil lur " .\incrii n lio \'cspiirlii',
■es:>ltiit'>f .si'Villi'." I'lOp.ir.itioiis ivcri- maili- fur tins
|»oy.l^••, ;,ii.| vusmIs pmuirf.! aii'l fittcij out. luit it
iimi.illy alMiiiUiii(.-il. T'lu-rc .iic mcinor.inil.i
XiMi">; ' friiiiii; it, ilatiil in ifuii, 1507. aiiij ifo-i,
•11 will. Il It appc.its that Ann.Tiv;o \cspiini rf-
naini'l .il .Si'ville, ,ittiMulin>; to the lliictu.itini; mu-
tcnis III ilil.s si|iiailr..ii, until tlu- ilcstin.ilion of tin-
vojH'S Ho iIi.iiil;(,.i1, their i:i|uipnu'iits were soM, ,111 1
thiu.Miuiili setlle.l. During this tiiiu- lie h.i.l a s.il-
aivii' . MH,oiiiar.iveilis. < )ii the j.'l olM.in h, ifoS, he
rc.ii.i.,1 tlu; appiiiiiliiicnt of prim ip.il pilot, with a s.il-
arvi.f ;,M. II) 111,11. aeilis. Ilisrliiel ilulies \v< le to pie-
p'l'' ''i.rls. e\,uimie piluis, supei iiiteml tl'e ruiiiH;
cut u: i-.|.ii:iii(iiis, anil presrrii.e the routt! that ves-
lUTc 11 pursue in their voyai;es to the New
V.Mll,
ill- .i|ipe,irs 111 h.iec reniaineil at Seville, ami
t.^lii'.c ri't.i.iie.l this I, Hire until his ilealli. on the 2M
'■■ K-Ui;.iry, uij ||is widow, M.iria Con .m, cn-
Kveil ,1 ;,nisii,n ,,| I,,,,,,,., nuraveihs. A '.er his
0e.ilh, ,11s uvphew, juan Vespiuei. was nun. nate.l
pi't iv:ili .1 s.ii.iiy 1,1 -J. 1,1)00 ni.iraveilis, romiii. .. iiii;
'■111" -"'I III .\Liy, ijK'. I'eier .\lartvr spe.iks wiili
'■:;!i 'MPitiie'i liiion ,,f this youn« man. "Yoi.'ij;
'V'.i ■•> 1^ iMic 1.) whom Aineriius Vespiilius his
j.;.'!!.' ii:-. till.. lA.iit knnwleiliic of the m.iriner's f.uiil-
li'-s. as It w:u- i.y iiilirni.inee, alter his ileath ; lor he
|Wu. .1 u-,..- ,.^p..,t niaster in the kmiwleiln<' of his
Mfi.v. Ins i-'.ii!p.isse. ami the clev.ilion of the imle
r«t'..-rc 1.
. Ill'' liu.iilr.iiit.
-^■■'y f,i:ii;:i.i.- frieml
• III
M',;u
luse
Inian',- V
\ espiitiiis is my
iml a Willie youiii; m.iii, in
paiiy 1 taki.' nu:a ple.isure, .iiui theiefore
"- "lieiuvnies for my KUest. lie hath also maile
■""'". V'v.ines |.,i,, ihL'se i oasts, ami ililii^eiillv mneil
"■'[Itlnii^s.is 1„. l,;i,t, seen.".(
'"■I"!' ", llii- nephew, I i.iiti„,i,,l in this sitii.ilion
If',,!','"'"' ^'''sriuei 1.1 Suilrriiii or krnal.j— 1 iihl. of
|'Vi;ir,,'.,.. Cul,.,.. Vi.vi:., torn, i, p. ,si.
* '11 .M.etvr. lU'i.iil. „,. lib. v. iiileiis I';n};lii,h trails.
iliiriiifc: <hi* lifcliiiif of fnri^ciM. wiio h.ul lirt ii thr pi
Ifoii ot his mil le ami his l.iniilv, I le was ilivefitcil nl
Ills p. IV iml his t'inploy liv .1 h tier of the ( oiim il, il.tleil
the I -til ot .M.inh, It:^, slinttU alter the ilr.tlli ot tlie
lilshop. \,i further Imlii e nl Vl'K|iUCCi in In l.ic louil I
ill the an hues of llii' hulil's.
Sill h IS ,1 liiiei Mew n( 'tie r.irccr of AmeriKo \'p«.
pill I I ; It ri'iii.iiiis to iinlire the poinls of i oiitroverHy.
Slmi ily .ider his return (r-'in his I isi e>pei|iiion tn llie
Hl.Ulls. he Wlote .1 Utter i|,itei| l.ishun, |tll Septetll
her, 1511.1, < out, liinilt; .i silllllll.iry .innunt nl ,lll Ins
Vov,«f;es. 'Ihis letter is of spei i.il lllipnrt.im e tn the
m.iltets miller invesli^.tlinn, as it is the nnlv nne
kllnwil th.il rehites tn the ilisputeil vnv.i^e, will, h
wnuM est.ililish liiill ,is the ilisi nveter nl Terr.i I'irilia
It IS pri siiiniil In h.ue l.eeii Wlitlell ill l.atlll. allil W.lH
.iihlrer.'.eil |o Rene, lltikeof !. on. line, w hu .issuilicil
tin- title of Kili« III Sii il\ ,ini| Iiriisalelii.
Tin- e.irliest known dlilinn of this li in t wis puli
lisheil in I.,itiii, in IS07, ,it St llii/ in i.oir.iiiu', .\
1 npy nf it h,is lieen loutnl ill the lihr.irv of the \',ilii .in
iNo. lj(l.s^l liy the .\hlie Cini ellnri. In prep.iiini; the
present illustr.ition, ,1 rejitint of this letter in l..itii)
li.is lieen 1 nnsulleil, inseiteil ill the Nov lis Orhisnl
drill. ens, publishril at M.itli in 1532. 'llie letter 1 on-
t.iins a spirited n.irrati\c nt four vov.iL,'es which he .is-
seits tn have m.nle to the New Wurll, In the pro-
lni;ue he e\riises the liliertv of .ulilrissiiu; Knii; Keni.'
Iiv I ,illiii){ tn his rerollertiun tile am lent inlliii.uy ol
their youth, when stuilyinj^ the rinlinu iits ol si lemir
toi;etlier, miller the p.iti rn,il nni le of the Miy.ii;er .
and ,eli|s th.it if tlii' present n.iiritive shouldnot.il-
toKelher ple.ise his majesty, he iinisi pie, id tn him as
i'liny s.iid tn .Mei .en.is, that he Used liirriierly to he
amused with his trilliiii^s.
In the prnloKue tn this letter, he iiilnrms Kin^;
Keiii' lh.it .ilf.iirs of riiininerie hail Iniai^ht him to
Sp.iin, where he h.id e\pi lienred the v,irii'i;s 1 halites
ol tiiitune attend.int on siu h tiaiis.u lions, .iiid w.is in-
(lui ed to ,ilj,iiidon th.it pursuit ,iml direi t liis l.il.ors tn
ulijerls nf .1 more elev.ited and stable nature, lie
therefnre |)urpnseil tn Ltinletiipl.ite vaiious p.irts of
the world, .iiid tn behold the m.irvels whieli It eon-
l.iills. 1 o this obieit both time and pl.ii e Were f.l-
vor.ible ; lor Kim; Ferdin.ind w.is then prep.irin^ lour
vessels lor the disiovery ot iiiw Limls in the west,
.iiid appointed him amoiii; the number ot those whn
went in the e.xpedition. " We dep.irted," he .iikls,
" Iroin the port of C'.uli/, May ."oth, 141)7, t.ikmn our
loarsi' on iIk; nre.it >;ulf ol oet.iii ; in wliiih voy.iKe
we employed eighteen nuinths, ilisiuverinj.; many
binds ,iiid inmimel.ible isl.inds, diiellv inhabited, ol
wlii. li our .1111 estors m.ike no mention. "
.\ diiplicite of this letter appe.us to li.ive been sent
at the s.ime time .written, il is said, in It.ili.inl to
rieie .S.iderini, aflerw.ird ("iiinf.iloiiiir of I'lorenre,
wliii 11 was some ye.irs subsequently |)ublisheil 111 li,ily
not earlier tli.in 1510, and entitled " Lettet.i de .Amer-
igo W'spuii i delle Isole iuiov,iineiite trov.ite in (ju.itro
suoi vi.iKi,'i. ' We h.ive eonsiilted the eilition ol this
letter in Itali.m. inserted in the publication ol I'.ulre
St.inisl.ius Cmovai, already referred to.
Il h.is been sun,k;ested by an ltd, .111 writer, th.it
this letter w,is written by \espuni to Soderini only,
and the .uldress altered In Kill); Ueitij through the
ll.iltery nr mist.ike of the I. on, line oditor, without
|)erieivinv; linw unsuit.ible the reference tn former ir.-
tiiiMcy. intended lor Soberini, was, when applied tn
a snvereinn. The person nuikiiiH this rem, irk cm
hardly h.ue re, id the proloi;ut? to the L.itin edition, in
which the title of " your in.ijesty" is freiiiieiuly le
pe.ited, and tlie term " ilhistrioils kmc;" employci.
It was first published ,ilso in I.orr.im ■, the domains 01
Ueiii', and the publisher would not prob,ibly h ive pn
Slimed to t.ike such .1 liberty with his sovereii;!! >
n.ime. Il becomes .1 iiueslion, whither \'espuici ad-
dressed the same letter tn Kim; Uemi and tn j'iere
So.lerini. both of them li.uim; been eiliic.ited with
him, or whether he sent a copy of this letter to Soder-
ini, which siibsei|iiently found its w.iy into prim.
The .iddress to Soderini r.i.iy have been substituted.
i:! S'
'( 4' '
!'■!
1 .!,
m
i I «'
ii)i'
ilS •,.-.
10
Mi
m
14
I
J50
thnnish mist;il-p, \>\' the Il.il
AI'PI'NDIX.
]uil>Iishrr. N'l'illicr of | rcii/
M(
md al
so in thai tn ''
l!ic inil)lir;iliiitis rdiilil li.ivp bcci. ni.ide iiiider the Ml- I s:iys that his shi|)s, adcT liMViii^; Uit
IK-rvisioii mI Vcsjiui-ri. I'iriii.i, stiii>pci| at I lisp.miola, wh'Tt-
-"'■ '.r S'A-
Th
I' viiya).;c spc
inL-.l in this Ict'.cr a? liavini» taken ' alioiil two iiiDiiths ami a h.ill. ["crDi
placf in 14
'»7
IS the i;rcat pomt in < iiiitrcivcrsy.
It IS
hiriiii,' whicii limi',
(Ids
Micmiiuisly asserted that no siiih V()yat,'e took plaic
iroiiMes with thi- verv Christ
ne had 1
<• lU'V
11,1! M
I. ins wli
1 that the first rvpcditinii of . cspucci to the coast isl.md with (oUiniliiis, and I helicvc ilif.
aria way in the (•nl<'rpiisc (oniniandecl l>v (>ied.i,
Now it IS widl known th.it (
inla
m l.p)(^
archives
'I'lio 1 oi'';s o! ilie arni.idas existini; in the
if the Inilies at Sevide have hecn diligently
111 the western end of the island vi
'.lSS(.'i|
tii.ii.ni;
(■x.iniined, hut no rei ord of sik h voya^;e h.is heen and the Spani.irds in those parts, an. I
that serious dissensions look pi
th
f 1
ir ativ nlijri.d docunieiiis rel.itiiii; to it. Those l.y ( 'oliinihus under Koldan to keci
lilo'-t experi
in ^1
i.inisli ro
loiii.
re^ul.ilions 111-
iiioMinents.
sist th.it no roinniaiul like th.it iiretended hv
If then \'esp
oath, re.dly areonipanied < )jeda
pui-i
iduld have lieeii i;iven to a stranger, till he h.id itifer'-nce appe.irs almost irrtsisiilili
tirst rece
ived le.ters n( natiirali/ation frcin the si
lli.il
cii^ns for the kinijiloin of I'astilc, and he did not '.ili
ie the [irevious voyaije of r.pi-, 'ir '
h
lell known to ( ijeda
t.iin siu h till 1505, when they were ^r.mted to him .is sidcred \Cs|)urii as the ori^;iti.d disri.vi
preparatory to i;iviiif; him the coMim.inil in ronjuiK ■ have had no motive for deprivini,' him
lUMi wi'..i i'in/'>ii.
It, t'
ivi' it to Colunilijs, with wl
lolll t'
His
therefore, is
Hint of a voyai;e m.ide hy him m 14117
to
Ml
II' 111'!
1 f.T 1!
].ur
JIOS.
d
i.iiniim; the dlsciver) ot
111 IrnMidly terms.
t'ied.i, however, e\pressl
ir r.ithi-r it had lieen ilisiovered liv l"
lunil'
ii atiirniel that he h.is divi Inl the vov.i::e uhi'h he li.u he knew the f.ii 1. he repliecl. In-. ,,u.r- |,-.
a.tii.ill'.' lii.ide with < iierl.i, in I I'l'i. into twi
il
l.ikiii
rll.iil
d ll
le < oimlrv disrovere.
wh
i.h t
1 nnni! IT of itiridonts from Ins re.il '■oy.ii^e, alteriiii; at tlie time to the kini; a
tiieni ,1 little, ,ind en!ari;iiu; Iheni with desi-riptions of oil iinnie li.itely on a vovai;
nil (lllcell. .IIM {!'
tile countries .md pi
narrativ, wlii'h he ijives ,is
anteil.itiiiL,' his departure t. 1 (
sell .ippe.ir the tirst discoverer ot
make a plaii'-iMi'
d
kh.il
iS therein set dowi
e (.t (li>. overv,
dis: ovi re .
a ili'-liiii t Vi ly.i ;
so .!■- to 111. I
w.is ((irre
't.f
.\nother witness, I.ernal.lo ile l!,ir;"i
li.id I' -I'll with the admir.d, ;inil h
In support of this rh.ir;.;e v.irious 1 ..iiK ideni es have r. it her 1 o|iieil) a h'tter for the adinir d I' llv
been pointed out l.'-tween ins \ov.iu;e sai.
dc
sii^nalini;. 111 an
t..ken
place 111 i.p,;
an 1 th.it dc
scr;
lel'er to I. orei
lie
.M<
1 m It 10.
■II
111 Ins tirvt
lese ciiin.l
i-s .md steerinj^s and
ac( oiiip.iiu .
N liv
It I'
and ih.il this wi
dences are with ii sp^i
t to p
Mtei
trans. II tions Irom this chart others h.id liem lu.i'ie, .in
and tj.itth's with the ii.ili
di
ml the numlicr
ilKins carrieil I
Hut tin; I r.'il
a slron^'er test
ai; linsl the cr n
heir of Columl
of Ti
il.ilitv
i.iiri .iml so
lis sl.ives.
■f ,hi
Id
s voyaijt
Aion/ ) N'ini) and < >ieil.i, .111 I otiii 1
\ i--ilr.l these coiiiitries.
d 1.
een put to
1
r.mcisco ile
.M
ol.ires. (iiie
■i-ll u'lli
o| the
I', 1:
lit |-oS a suit w.is ins
titUleil of all ih,
.is, leslilied th.it h
lion |liei;o. sun .md ( oliimlius had made <
I th
e I o.e.| (.
us. lor the i;overriiiient
erra l-'.rrn.i, .md f 'r .1 ih.ire in the revenue
t ert.iin ji.til-
/■
,IH,\l I Hill! .
N
iinieroiis wiines-ses
from llii-ni, lonform.dlv to thi? lapitul.itions 111. idi' f.ict that I'.uii was lii-t
in this proci -- i--'
l.ciw
I'Tt ot fli
een .lie sovere
•I
d his f.ither. It
(!isi I ivcr'
l.v I
is till
('as IS, _who h.i
I,.
it th
rown t
the disi overv o| thi
them, sa\ s that the f.n I wi
stall
-t of I'.iri I .m i tiie t.e.irl isl.mds
("
ll'lis.
live
-u ltlles..|.s ;i
ml
i\l V e.iru itiieS'-i ■
It w.is iii.iiii; 11;
tli..t
he
vi-red ll|.-|:i trstilv .also that the- 11
.1st S'a
th III
theni. tile . laim of his li"ir with rcpci t to them th.it exiendim; wi'st ol the ii.l.ii
.1 M.i
uld I"
n the
>f m
uirse of thi
s suit, ;i |).irtii iil.ir ex.imin.ition
lo \l ni/uel.i, v.-hii h V'esp
ri d by himself in 1 p
mil ^l.Ues ll
fif witnesses took phicc- in , = i j 1 1 in the liscd (iniii. hv 1 »jeil.i, and had i
■Ion
\,.
lumdri-d other
ir .111 V other ( hri-.lian wh..
were interr'
d 'in oath ; that \ o\ .w
.\lol./o S ini he/ lie (
iri),' been the first to visit the
( ''ihutil.ii'- h.ii! leli It.
thai
i.ist of
iV it hill
r.
iiia .iiur
■ i«'-s
1
d .1
arv.ij.il s.iys
that
isciivi'iv Willi ll were Ula.le
months
irni.i. Were m a h' In' persi
h.ill -:
The- ■nterrouatorios of these witness, s .md tlie .nlmir.il, or l/eeii hciieliied liv his iii'-:r.
1^
:r replies, a'e sill
lies al Seville, ir
'.ipers lielon
extant, in the archives oi Un
kpiiL; to the
ilK kel of papers enlit
.\dmiral Itun l.iiis (ol
iireiiions, foUowiii); lle-iourse h-- ii.i!
IT I.l
I essii.i (li-l in.inieiiiiii'iil 1 f d
le ( onsiTv.iti in of his privi'eijes, Irom aim.
. I I l=o.)
i sever. ll f o
I'lie author ot tl
in-sent work h is
.\iiiii;li,i 1 1 li^p.iiiiiiia) chi- «• ipiisi.i I l.i'ili
( oIoiiiImi piii .iiini f.i, duvi- l.ii iMiii.o
hitn. One
oth'T lU.ide in
pii'S of these interro^jatories ly
inj;
I.efi
llienlo. e sIiMlllilo due llie
17 i."'ti I ;
dies :n Sev:!!<-. la I
f.i' tth.it Atneri^'o Vespie 1 i ac
Vov.ii;i' o' 141)0, a;
I. lie historian Min'io/. and ih'
111 I signed hy |)oii Jose de l.i llii;-
of the (jener.il archives of the In-
the
le course of this testiin
iiioti pi'iK oil e Ir.
ijiicsia isi.l,
I rtl..
1 1
isaf;ii loll ll nil
ill- nil
I "-t n.iMiio c i|
if \'e'|an
Coloiiil.o (
Ivlii. of I ani.i .1:
rei;iiii
ladi
1 I < 'Itlo ll) S.llll'
ihi
<l
I.l ll
ipanied ' Vr'd.i in tins iiein|
) 1 eliilil.) a
;iir.i ipic II
II I
diilii
.\.ii.
ll!
ll k
irs ni imfest, llr'-t from the
f "I
position o
wor Is of ;lie I
U i;-l( ss ll..ii|e
ird
iself
In ll
Tl
11' followin
1; ,ire llii
|i' III ipi.' h.i'ii I ilccnliiiTlo. y
vino .1 lies 11
ilirir v li.ii
IIS V ivav;i:
huh ll
.|iii- 1-1 ill. Ill) ,\|ii
ipi
lie
Mo
lots
loi.k with him In. in de !.
(
h I
( oil 11. po-);inta J
l.\
meriijo \'espaci i I ai.d oihi-r
iiidlv, from the- lomcidenci
l-.sic
.ll K.
!eviii>(i fMrivKi una lafLi i;ii''
V .. '•• .11.1 N. .v. S..S ll.
Mm
111, ll
if
,f l
le n..rr.ilivc-
if \-
espiii ( I
with
.\mom; Ihe^
parlii l.i. ill
Mriki
events II
Idem I
I thi
ipii' li.ihia li.illado. V le eiidiin o'li.u n
i.iri.i. >ii 1111 I e.ittii ihr iiiar>-ar. !■
d-.iid- li.ilii.i II
•Spl.l I I. 1
11 his
lino 111 ai
11 c'le \ la^-e i|iii'
mill de la '.'■.oa,
'eslii;i'> hi/o 'rill') (onsieo
1
lIlMIl
l" lie
l lle;Mi
ll.dl.l I
Pan
A. e i|lte «
irle se h.dii.iii ji'
iir.ilu !'•■ Iro .\loii/'i Merino (\iii
.pues li.m
Hill .1 .11
pielkls p.irli
lil.i.i. ||-
jcl'Jlo,
.More
Ui he
^ I'roi I'ss of I ) I iii-j,'o I 'i.lnii. pri-i;iiiii I 1
bii.'
Pll Iniln
M.ll,"'S Ipi
llii'ini
en 1.1 diLli.i lien. I, ivaii p>t^
toil the "■•>'■>
(laiiiH'rs I
It Wdli'
I reinuali|
a sin;j
Will'
14,,;,
ssfs m.iiiv
't|
Sljll.i
.Iron Wl
I h.ive k
Cealiiii!
.rcil ll l« '
I'le i.ise. "
liiii! lllc I'" '
Vi)- ,
fetiriidl in
till; !«•"
tr.irci.
,t jiriici.iiei
1 li.ivc h—n
Oi.i'H
.1 .-els ill
M.iiiv
cii |ircsciit 111
C.M .111'
charts
(lie
[ (",)iu:n'iii^.
, Iciriicd in n'l"!"
rv.ition^
Nut a u
fill IC'S''
111-
tOV.l^c .
Ililc
.:i every
.lie
,s tl' ic ' vc
ilicl l.iM in i
oor
comi
.\-, iil-.er Jlm;i4 ■
thi* veyinje i>. tll.it
tri.il ,11 ilefi-at the ■
Ve'Muoi si. lies the
with ihe kii'iwie ft;
aani : .t anist, tiu"
tori'-u?. \'i;siiiHii "
tjnii' ef ihe iiiiiiini
tears .I'torwanl. a
Many uf llie pi'"'-
haii'l. who J liled u
priic. If this voyaL'c
com;iic!''iy Imve s'li
Cena-'t ihe I i.isl of 1'
no ii:siaiiii;iv .ippiMr'
Ve'^piicci while liviin
•ere in.iiii-' in the hs
his se.iiiien is i roiiKdit
loiiii;. riant in lis ;ia
lion in i|is|>iile, is 1101
pain« ,irt' taken to wr
Oji-ia. u:i !i il.ikell .it
!'. i^ .1 iin 1I111-.I 111! 1
comiii'i i\'s his lirs'
15(0, 1'. liiiii .1 iiiolllll
heh.il .icluilly in.i le
lon;' -I'Mii'e, hv s.iv
Wnitiiv '.! li'iil oil
Kn'.s .i oiir.i i!i.iL;n
(os.i f. • Mi-^'-iiii I sal
dtKii I 'li ineinnri.i"
hiir '': • ui'ii tcis he
(r'.n iviii'h he h i I 1
liii'.;'.: ,- I '■.^' I'liliies
tU'Ti: ' •.: Hill. Ill ir.i (•
tgc .1 '"uli:. -1 11101
tijvt:- ; iv'i' ! .11'
llti;n,;i- thil in v.mul
to 1: 11 ikis 1. Oil
I 'l.is t i-.|i till- .-III
Ih
.'■^i'lii .lispas
the
I'c tli.l.t-. .Mill
rM,;,
■.iiul ■' I'-Sl
lla;. •
■ • ll IV i:l I'll
M'l ■
.-. \|-- i.oi h
'.he
oft I'.illl.
T-
■; c^t .11 is
diiti
.;\ '1 i..'.ii;ilii
a
li'.e Wliei
w
'1; ; 1 I. Il.il
t.i
ll I'l rl ,111 III
tl.
M,.ltl-.ll. s t II
A.
■• i l< i!.r.-ui
c,
'. ,\im:r ll
V
II' i|.'-i iil.rii
V
.1).
AIMMiNDIX.
251
Id -ip <!.u,i'' i' W'^uf\c\ I'V ni.-inv "iluT pilots ami
■, ' :. ■|r(in.Uln.n:m.l<-.xi)crirnrc-.
!■ ,;,',! !)!,■ .1 sin«ii ir i'iri:uinst:iii(:c, It tu.nc nf tbi-sc
-;,, ,', niaiiv ii( whom must li:ivc' sail. . I m tli-
V -iiM>!r'"i >vith \Lh|.urri aii>m^ this < o:,si m
fii ,;i.)i:i.! hiv known tli.it hi- had il)Si'<ivcri-i| aiwl
^' ,,'j li ;,\ , veil-.'- [ircviniisly If thai had really
j^j., . .,', ,',,sf, wii.it iiioiiv..- roiild hi- have lor loii
».' :1k' i:i'i '■ ■'" ' wliy. if ihi-y Isiit-iv it, sliouM
tc\ ! VniCMir'i It' \'':s|iiic< i Mates his voyaK'e iii
r 1 li.ive 'i"en male « ilh four caravels ; that iliey
jMu-iit'l'ii" () lo'icr. l,|or and that he saile.l ai;aiii
lilh -,v M.ira.-cisin May, i | ,■) (thedatcof Ojeda's de
e [',,,,,- M.iiiv oi liie marmers would therefore have
ei;' iifsi-iit m both voyai,Ts. Why, too, should
Op:.L ,i:id ilii-' other phois ^iiide lliemsidves l/v the
diar!-. m; C )iii:iilais. wh.ii they h,id a man on Ip.i.ird
lolcaiii'il in ua'.iliial S'\i-ui c. an! who, from his own
fecci.; ■■'is'-rvali'Ti*, w.is prai ill ally ar(|ii,iiiited with
tkc Ml? Sot a werd. iiowever, is meiuiotieil of the
Tov.i ■ ill ! i|i" 'n ery of A'espiirc i liv any of the pilots
||imi':i iviTV oi'ier voy.ii;c ,ind clisroverv is i itcd ;
jor : '• ^ i;' •!'■ ' ven i se.irnan appe.ir who has ae
©mp.iniiM l.i' 1 I'l liis as>rrted vovai;(?.
■ A'. I'.i'.iT ^trori,; iin inistaine ,iL;,iinst the realitv o(
this :• V ii;c i-, thai it w,is not l:roiiL;hl forw.^r.l in this
trial ,<i 'Icfi-al the- elaiins of the heirs of (.'olainlriis.
Vt'ii.'i stales thL- voyam! to have h^en undertaken
with 111'' kiiowielne and roiinteii.mi e i,i Kiiii; l-"eriii-
nan I : ^t iiui^t, therefore, have lieen aMnved and iiw.
tiriu.iv \'e-:anii w.is liviui,' at Seville In I'o-, ::t the
time ' ! ihe (iimtueni'emeiit of this suit. ,in t foi |, mr
{ear< .I'terward. a salaried servant of the r muii.
lar.v uf iIk; pilots and mariners must li.i\e !,irn ..!
llanl. ulio ? liled with him in his pri tended inter
prise, l! this voyaj,'!.' had onee lieen proved, it v.(.iiM
com;' '''-ly have settled the (picstion, as far as < nti-
Cernir I the 1 i.isl of i'ari.i, in favor ol iliecroun. \'i
BO t'-siaiiiiriv .ippe.irs ever to liave lieen taken from
Ve?;iiiici vvliile living ; and when the inierroij.itories
tere iii.i.le in the Used < ourt in i ; i .' i \. not oni' ot
Us se.iim'll is i.riUl.s'lit li|) to yive evidence. A v >VaL;e
loiiii:. rt.uil ill its nature, and so essential to thei^i;e>-
lion I'J '!isp;;le. Is iiMt even alluded to, wdide useless
pain- .ire lal^eii lo wrest evideiuo from the v^va^e ol
Ojcd.i. ualiil.iken .it .i sul>se(|uent period.
li i- a i:u iiMist iiH e worthv of noiii-e, that \'es|ia. , i
Comm^'i'cs ills I'lrs' letters ti l.oren/ode Medni in
I5(»', ui'.iiiii .1 mouth alter his return from thi' vov.ii e
heh.i! ,ii-!'.i.illy m.i le I') i'.iri.i, and apolo^^i/.-s f.n Ins
kn:; -:'-ii.i-. Sv s.iyiui; th.it noitiiiiL,' hel oiiiiried
»-irt;u lit i-uMil oil ( 'e i^r.iii tempo i he run lo
KriV' .! .'Ktr.! iii.cjnili/'ais.i. e non In h.i c.ms.it.) .dii.i
tos.i n- ii'-^sii,! I >,iu(i ti''n mi esserc oecorsn i.is.i
litt;:" lii iiicMiurM' I. and proceeds e.iL;erly to |r|l
bill '!;■■ wi'ii lers he h.i 1 witnessed in the evpe.tiiidii
ft"n will, li 1,,. 1, j,[ I, in ji,>;i returned. It would lie .a
8liii;'.i!ir I ...;■ ilnai.-ss to s.iv th.it notliini; haij oc
tU'ri: ! ,; ini;. irt ic e, it he ii id madi' a previous vov-
(Rf )l e'j;|,i, ,; uiotUllS .U I p)7-' to this liewlv dlS-
CO":,-: w 1' 1 , .ml It waild he aineist e,|u.i'ily
lll:.'V" ihii ii, s,i,,iiM not 111. ike lie- sli|^htesl uiiusi.,n
to ;; Ml '.l,,v ;, ;i, [
'i.is li •II till- .iiileavor of the author to ev.miine
'j' ;''^'i' II d:sp issioii.itelv ; .iiid .liter consi.lermt,'
tilt •■Me 111 I, i^ ,111.1 .iri.uments ailv.mced on either
-'"^'' '■■■ ■"II' ' I'-si.'-t ,1 . .mviction. that the vov.l^'<;
ll.i:i't : 'luv l,r..,i iiMil,. ill !.(,,•; iiiii not t.ike pi.-ue.
»ni ■i,,-. \.-^ ,., , i I, IS ||,, ,,,!,. ,,, ||„. ,jr^{ iiisciiverv of
the' >ul ..I p.uii.
Ih^ .; iv; ,,.| ,,, cMieiiielv jierplexin;; from thi-
Him-iiiu .; a.s..it;iiiiii; siilhi lent motives for s. . i,'ross
' '''"':,l,.,ri Wlieli \'.s|nii-| I Wfiile ins letters there
*' ' 1 ' Meii.une,: liiu lh.it ( ojuinlais li.id dis
"^•'■;'")"''i .■1 ,li, In, Alriiir.iiii.-. V aell.is nil. -II. i iinich.is
^'- >:■• M. ii.ii, \ , h ,. |,,,r iiiui.ii i.iii .■ inilusiri.i ih I dicho
'"■'■•"••II. iir.i„|i,ih \ a|ir,.ii,li,.r.iM. .. .,..^;ueii lo .11;°
i^ ' \l"iailll.' les haliM lii.islr.|.|.i, lilcjerilll |.ii
''•'•- ii'^ 'li'-i ul.rierun en li leTn l^'iriiia Process,
Fa:»Mi II.
I eoverei] the mainl.ind In his hrst \oy,it.;e ; Cuba tieint^
ahv.iys (imsidered the e.\treniity of Asi.i, until circum-
ii.ivii^.itel in i=oS. Vespucci ni.iy li.ive supposed Ifr.i-
zil, i'arii, .mil the rest ot that roast, p.irl of a distinct
continent, and h.ive hem .•lu.xioiis to .irroti.ite to him-
s(df the f.ime of its (lis((i\ery. It h.is hien .isseileil
that, on his return from his voy.u;e to the Hr.izils, he
prep.irc'l ;i in.iritime ch.irt, in wIih Ii Ik- i^.ive his ii.ime
to th.it part of the ni:iin l.md : but this .issertioii ilocs
not .ippi-.ir to he well suhst.intiale.j. It wnuld rather
seem th.it his name was i.;iveii to tli..! [. irt of the con-
tinent by others, as .1 Iribate p ml lu his supjK.sed
merit, in cmisequcnce of li;i\iru; re.i.l his own ;icc-oiint
of his vov.ii;es. "■
It is sinnul.ir that h'lTnaii'lo, (he smi of Columbus,
in his bioL'.raphv of his fatliet, should briiit; no chart;!'
,iL;,iinst \'espiicci of elide, ivoriiifj to su|ipl,uit thcailini
r.il in this discovery. Ilerrera has been cited as the
lust to brini; the ai cns.itinn. in his Ipsiorv <•: tht- In
dies, first pulilished in I'oi, .md has Ixcn much i riti
ciscd in consei|uence, bv the ,idvoiates i.f \'es| ueri,
I .IS m,ikimj the i hari.;e on his mere assertion. I'ut, in
f.K t. Ilerrera did but copy wli.it lu- foiitel written bv
I. IS ( ,is,i>;, who had the pro- ee'lin:;s of the lisc.il 1 inilt
Uiiii.; lief. .re him, and w,is niove.l to mdi^;nalioii
ai;.iinst V'espuci i, bv uli.a he c onsi.liri.l proofs of
L'.ieat im[iosture.
It h.is been Mitjijested that X'espi.i 1 i w.is insii^'aleji
to this deception at the time when lie u.is si-i kirii; em
plovment in the (iiloni.il seui.e of .S|, mii . .anl that
lie did it to conciliate llie liishop foiisec ,1. who w.is
desirous of anythimj that mii.;iit ii lure the interests
of Ciliimbus. Ill corroboration i.f this opinion, the
p.ilion.itje i-i cited, wliii h w.is ever shown bv Koiisec.'i
t 1 V'l^spiK ci and his f.iinily. 'I'liis is m.t, however, a
s.itislactory re.ison, since it does not .ippe.ir that the
bishop ever m.iile .'my use of the f.ibrii .ition, l'etli.i;is
some other means mi^^lit be found ( f .11 eoimtini; for tins
spurious u.irration. without imp.ii .itin^ the 1 eracity fit
\es|iuc( i. It mav have been th.- blunder of some
editor, or the interpolation if s,,[|ie book m.iker,
e.u;er, a- in the c.ise of 'I'r ivini.ini w ah the m.musi ri[Us
of I'eti^r .\I.irtvr. to gather toi;ither disjointeil m.i
teii,i|s, ,11 I f.ibricate .1 wori. to j;r.it fy thi! prcv.deiil
p.iss'on o| the rl.iy.
Ill the v.irious editions of the letters o| N'espun i.
I'le ijrossest v.iri.itions and inconsistiii. ies in d.itcs
will be foun 1, evidently the errors of h.isty tiiid i.ire-
h-' s puiilishers. Sever. il of tbesi^ li..vt- been corrected
!'V t!ie mo.lern authors who h.ive iuseitcil these letters
in itieir woil..s.| '1 he s.itne disrei^.ird to e.\.ii tness
• I !i'' fir-l sii.:i;i-s|iiiii (.f the n,iii\'' apje u . I., li.r.e t ren
ill llie i.,ltlll wolk .ilreailv i lled, pllbhslie.l III .-SI. \>\i/., in
l..iri.iiiie. Ill Is07, 111 which u.is m.s.Tteil ih'- I. 11. r ol V'es-
;iilc.| i.« 'h.\\i k. he. II .lUllior. alli^r s|,.-,, 1,1111; of li.e
.'.!l.. I line,. |i.cMs ijf til.- Wiiilil, .\si.i, Aim. .1. aril Kiir.pe,
•.•■oeiMiell.lslh.lt die Inlirlh sb.lll be (.ill. (I .\li:.'lli;.). (,r
• Vlie^l I. .1, .ill I \'' SJlIU CI. Wllo M he lll,..f;il|. .1 ll ■, ill-l ov.ler.
X.'/r /> Iht- h'r.iMil iJiluu:. i;-:.(.-1 — lliinibi. di, ai las
I v.Wli \ I !ui I li,il.'K. |iiibli .1. 'I II. I'lri-. Ill i:-.;7. sa\s ■.
■ lliivr' hi-cii si> n.ip|(V .IS I. ili-i liver, ver) oc iiliy, llie
11, line .iiid iliehi-rar\ n^liiiuiii o| ilie iii\ sK 1 loiis prr-oii,ii;e
will) (111 1507) "■'s ihe lira t. J propose the 11. line 1. 1 .Vriieri. a
I.I ■l.-SIL'll lie llir new I oil 1 1 llelll . .II-(I W hu eolicc.ueil l.uil-sclf
\ uin:er llie ( io , j iMl/eil II. I of I I V l.icoiiiy l.ls," Me then,
bv .1 lolii; ,ilid llllM-IUoils lineslin.iooli. sl..w- lIl.U li.e ;• al
II. nil.' .il lias perviii.ute -.Ni, .M.iiiiii W ,il,l .•• I'lub. r, of
IrilioiiiL; .111 eiiiiiienl c.iMiio..;i ip' i i . p.m. in/. .1 bv |.:i^lie.
jiiikrol l.oii.nii.-; who. ri.i il..iibi pni in I. is i iials li.e
I'li.-i Orel .e.l by liiiii from .\ iiiei I ._. i \.s|iu.i |(e ^;cii-
j;i.ipi |. .il uoil;s of \S .lidseeiiiiiili r. iimli r III.' .i.ssiiiin d
II. line ol I l\l,n uiiislis. h.id ,i V. ide < it ilkilioii, \wiii ilirc.ii>;h
' r.'pe.i'eil rdilM.iis' iiiiil prop.i>;.licil the ii-e ol llie ii.ili.e
.Aiii.'rica Ihroiinlioiit Ihe woild I l.rre e. im !■■ imhi to sup-
piisi- ih.il lliis apphc.ilioii of ll.i 11 line «,i . ill .iiiywiM- siiR-
I nesiei! bv .Xiiienno \'.>.,| iic, i li ajipe.irs lo li.tve been
entirely i;r.llilUoiis on ihe p.in of W.ililseeinu lei.
1 t All iiisl.in. .• .it these errors iii.iv be . iied in llii' editiuii
1.1 ihe leller ..I ,\iiieiiL;o \'..,piic. i a. kiiiji keiie. iiiserled
by ( iriii.fiis III his Noviis ( )rbi ., ii Is,j. In 11 is V'l'spuci i
Is 111, I. If In SI lie III. II lie s.llh'd ||nlll Cull/, M.iy JO,
1 M("( 'rCXCN'l I. ( 1-107). Ih.il he w.is eint.leeii iiiniilhs .ib-
l sent, .111.1 letlirileiltn (.'.nil/ Oclnber i;, .\I t "< '( '( ' X( " I .\.
I (l.|.f.i), whicii Wiiiiltl (.uiiblltuie III! absence uf ttteiit) lime
X III
I*
aimm;\I)Ix.
I
wliiili UhI Id lliL'sc
itiilcrs ni.iy li.ivc proth
Ilic
imcrpDUilioii (1
f lliis vov,i,i;i-, j;art)li'il {)iit of llu' Icltcr-i
iciitv yoars .iftcr llif first vnviiRo of C\
till- witnesses teslilicd Irnm n
)| \'espuC( i aiul the aiiciimls of (UliLT Vipy.inois. Ihis In r<'|)ly to one of the iiitcrro^;
I'olleitioii.
inenlv siinj^estcii .is .i possihlc mode of aecoiiiilim,'
(or wli.U ai
■ars so ile( idcillv to
a fabiieaticiM, vil
in of Martin Aloii/
re ill Kome with his fallier
uorics, Ar;
dr, 1,1
11;,;
wliiL'li we are loath to attrihilte lo a man of the i;ood helore the time of ll
' oiiin,.
sense
the lharac ter, and ihij reputed merit ol \'es conversations wiih a person
wlio was 111 the service of IN
le disroveiy, tluv li,
alia .
^ir.i
Alter all, this is a ipiestion more of niriosily than tliat Ihmii; in the hlit.iry ol the
;h it
o: real moment, .utlunii;!! it is one ol those petpW'xini;
I tht
punts
dioiu
I- hi I'll
j;iave men wil
iwcil them many m.iiuiscripls.
jiitiniu; to write his l.ithei leathered intim.itinii nf llu
'pi' llllllKtT.l \
il;;
weary volmiies, until tlie siilijeel ai ijuues ,i lai lilioiis iheie was .i p,iss.ij;e hy an historian a-, i ,
irtaiue from the nuuuitain of cimlroversy he.iprd nt Solomim. which sa;
\,iv
U[) )n it. It has hecdilie ,i ipiestinn of loc.il pride with
the literati of Florence : and tliey emulate e.K h otlu r
w.th patriotic zeal, to
liiiKuishcd countryma
kept within proper I
to the
i^'ile Ila \\,
if Si
sclliiii; sun. in a direction hclween luiit
until ninety live dej^rees of
This ze.il is Luidalile win n hiid the l.md ot t.'ip,inn<i, fi rtile ,iii,|
ite the tanii
if their di
am ,md liim. c i ,.;
loni;;tu!c, ,i;. 1
It it is to he rei;rctn d th.it
< ipi.i
111 U
reatness to Afric.i
ind
some of them have so lar been healed by inntroversy this writing;, he .idded, his f.itlur
as to become irascible au.iinst the verv memory o! ('
M.niK
lumbiis, and to seek to di
'liar.i^;
>;ener.il lame,
with .111 intention ol ^;oini; in scoilii.t il.
lie(| leiillv e.\iiresse
d
iicil di-li liDiii.vl;
f the ruin of it would adil anvtliiiii; lo the rcput.ition 'it win n tdlutnliis cmie to I'.ilm wiih i;,s | ,
\'espncci. This is discredit.ible to Iheir discernmeiu .in
M.iitin .\lon/o I'in/iin shmvid
their liber.illty ; it injures their cause, and shoi L> ilu' um lipi, .o.d iillim.ilcly L;,ive it to li.iu j;;--! ;
(e
e!ink;s of m.iiiKind, who vvill not willingly see a nim
l:ke ih.tl of t'oaimbus. liijluly or |ietii
ill the
It is cMienuly pro
tliese lili-r.irv contests.
It IS
h Ar
c.Misecrated in hi-tiir\, .ind is no lo
ere/ Hives
II' lli.it lliis n
vai;uc .11'.
a Cltv, or ,1 st.ite,
world.
n>;er the jiropeily recullectjciii, but wliiili he ap;ie.irs
.1 n.ilion, but of the wiiole lliiiiL,' lli.il proiiipteii t'oliimbiis t.i Ir-
w.is no I
iihrr than the wi
■A M
Neither shoul 1 those w
in
o
I of (-.,1
lo h.ive ;i proper sense ol Uie i!i,:t lime, c\i>;cd tii ni.inusciipt in nc^l
uiiibus put .my p.irt of his ureat h-imwii lilir.ines
men
at issue upon this minor '.tispute. Whether or nut In
M.irtiii Aliin/o w.is evulci.'.iv
ith the wiuk ol the X'eneti
was the dis overer ol I'.iri
It u
vas .1 (piesttoiiol interest fp.in v.iri(4is circumsl.inces, ih.il C\
to his heirs, as a sh.ireof tlie novernmenl .uid revenues ,,i it with him in his vuv.i^es, wh
of that Cdunirv depei
jpon it ; but il
portaiice to his l.imc. In f i. t. the i'aiiope.m wlui liisi bclore. h.iwevi
l!ie nianus' ii('t al o\e mcntiuiud. I' 'iiiii:;. I'-
ll,
.1 111-
re.tched the main i. mi
ol the
P'o;
iblv Sl
basti.ui t.a!:ot. a n.itive
W.
if Vi
bv aclu.il ins
1 linn, .it lr,i-.i iliroiit,li
the employ oi I.n,^l.m 1. In 14 i; Ik
lit e, s.iilin.; i.'i ence wilh 'lo^c,lnelli in I j;.). ,111 1 h,i
Listed its short s
from Lalir.idor to l'"!..riila , yet the l.ni;lisli
never set up any pretensions on hi.s account.
The Klory of ('oiamhus does not depend
he ever
whethiT th
iii,ht it W.IS capilile
to 1'
It
e VI
parts of the country he visile
aion^' which he .-.a
ir the
It cmlir.ices r
n|io
n 111-
sit of M.irliii .\!
II it .liter Ills mind h.id been he.ilt
with Columbus in the ciin\
I \-
■enl ot
'Vei V t I
the whole western worlil. With resp
ii'-uniiinv o
f Ari
[•
pucci is as
V
l^i-tide;
Hibt whether the visit w.
the crowd of
J<-
C".i'j-.|
ir to the di
SCO verv
tU'
liis tr.icl;.
led the w.
the New Woii
nJ
. Wh
mdary discoverers who fullmvei: in !■
pl ired the realms to whicli he h.
'i'lma .iciui
ino allies Hue lilc-c
1'
ere/ .ilw.ivs menlions the ni.iiu:-
achi
en I'liiu'uliii'- lir.st louched a si
e^eii thouch ,1 frontier isl.md.
in^ been im|i.irtecl in ("olunib
Ith
. ei)terpr.~- ■< ; he h.id .11 r'nn[ilishei
Itidll of plll.tl
was necess.irv to his
.ime ; the K^i-'at problem oi the
ocean w.is sulvcd, the woriil which i.iy beyond Us
western w.iters was discovered.
IVITV.
("ert.iin witnesses who were e\.iiriiic
cruwii, .Old to whom specilii iiii'ii
put, .ISS
n.<te I )
.\lon/o
.Tied,
,is h.is a!re,idy Im
oik, lh.it h.id il
m/un a
11. 1 his broth'
h.ive limu'd b,i' k for Sp.iin, .I'li r
\I.
'ht In
d
beiiiv
M \i;tin .\I
riNzo-
till lin< land, .Old dismayeil .>v th'
h
rew
Thi
s IS slalei
n \:\.
Do
th
Di
e C'lurse of the tri.d ill the tlsc.il i-nurt, between
an 1 the crown, an attempt w.is ni.ide 1.
Iiuin iii-rson.il kilowled
H<-'-
Uid bv <'lll' 1-
ll IS
d
pe> i.illv lo h.i\e 01 . I. Ill
Jeprecj.ile the ni'-rit
if (.■
lumbu«, .ite! to .i-cnbe ihr
I )clc.ber. • )n this
■iv,
acc
or.:
ii;
I
if the
Kre.it I'Dlerpiise
if dis
pvi-rv to 11
Ciliimbus, he h.i
siiiie I on .er-. il:"!i "
l<'
iii^en "e
ml .'.pint of .Martin Alon/o |'
in/'iii.
It W.IS
.Mun/.i, who W.IS anxious th.il llu-v s''i 1
the interest nf the crown lo ih) so, to iiivlly itsell
wilhhoi din;; from the heirs of Columbus the . \lenl
liis sti|.ui.ii('i| rewaril
in this 11 I ll were m.c
if
111 1!
lUlll west,
The
a Imir n r
It il very (iroh.ible th it smn!? .in;;n "
Th
e exainin.il.ons ol v. iiiiesve:
.ibsed between them.
);■ at various times and pl.ues, and
upon .1 -I'! of inii-rroi,;.ii(ine-. form.illy dr.iwti up by
order of III-; tsi.i'. '{'hey tcik iil.ice u[iwari| ol
ivi- t iken
bi IV
iC
in 111- I. -1"
liunibi's iK
Jir h
nioiiih
si'cond viiv:i
fill Insi b\
deplllUli-
ffiiirn lid!
.{f si.iiis 1 • , di'p illiire from 1 '
.^illld.i
• 11 I
(■•11 ll'i
M.iv 11, .\ICi.r(.i,\.\.'>vl.\.
respei lim; their ioute, previmls I'l '
l.md ; in one or two iiist.mces hi a
wishes and .illered his coiir'-e. bill 'i
inlle.xible in st.mdini; lo ihe wcl. I '
in ,il
prob.ibiliiy, e.xerteil llieir inlh.cn
iiie nuirmurs
if th
eir townsmen .11..
ihi
i.u.MM.I'l,.. seeoM.U,.v.i,;e prec,!.. ,,,,,^,,^^,1, when re,-,dy to rebel ..a;.ii
^, t Al' Mill, 1 iile I i.Bi ,ir iivi Oil- .... ' . ' , .
iil'l
h
ib-lllllle I yf) liir I |v), I
de hi
»1ll!d
fdi'i'i
liiiiii ihu
hr-t b
■ 'III pi
ircumsi.inces m.iv h.ivi'
,1 l'
bi'conie iii;M'
riionihs. I 'inov.ii. n
ll IS .iheti'.j lb'' il.ii" III III- hrsi rel
hi
•,viK'
'•i>;Meeii mutiiIi,').
lira I') 1 (1^',, lo
Ihe
the \.ii;ue recollei lidiis of the si .inii'ii "lin i;
liire^;iiin>; e\lr.\v.ii;.ml tesiiniuiiv, .ll^l '*" ' '*
deiitly disposed lo e\.ilt the merits hI <<■■■ !'■■'■■
j|,e evppnsc nf Coin
nrf pi. iiih'"''! ■''■'';
jrroij.iuifi^'s I'"' ''
Jie o'iivi'rs.itio'is ^
,.j;i!ul ilicriii/iMc
Jl'ey illlfiTCil WVtr\:
■'main' .ibsunhlii's
fiur'.'i Ml.- I'';';-'"
Strlicii ! :iii "■•' '■
nc.^ilii Miii|i-1 Ihi
/)■• ..■,(,''" ■''■■■" "■■'.■
cL'.)!;c.i I" I""""''
(i;saiviu'il dii-' i^''"
|:i< cVHlelll '.ill
ff -1111 i.isli. niiiu
(ihpiUfs in the e.i!
ini; imiro'iii'i' "'
(,! M.illill Meli/.i,
L,l .iVis .llld I u'
ivr.hilic.ihi'ir'il. lie
Th-.' iv;iii('ss iiiii'
poiiii- if' iiii|iiny,
Firn . : ic. a iiMii
t!:-..-\. './ i 1' iw'i'
W i< l;rsl ii; .it ,ill li
iwi'i-n ill'.- •iiiiiiu.iii
A...I1' . uriicl Cii'.uu
WIT'I. .il. 1 lll.ll I' I'
fiiiJiiU ll-' I.i" I i" 'll
th'.' IV I--; , a sMteiii
v.-ilhl.c- miimm! wI '
irr.il 1 'iiliii.i.i'ly
A. 'n/ 1, .Hid .ill "li"'
CM'S.l'.ili.l 'I liicllu .
M.irtm \'.nii,roe ."i li
U!h-ii i:k' [ihvsii I. Ill
Ihe a-ir.cis.iiiiiiis pr
tl;i' -iiiriiiin Icrs. in
s're III lliril li.ick lo !■
SLilciii' lit as the oiil
ir.;i'rtr;.i|: r;es.
riic (•vir.iv.i.;.iiil I
p.-.iis ti''vct lo li.ive
a:; I Ihr aiciinilc liisi
Ltbi'si- p 'ip; ■ ol evidc
fsuil, ll ;s iMt .leeiiieil
'v-rk .-\s ih' SI' iii.il
I -ll'- ,;ri llivrs iii lll(
I ■-■ \'.i..")n I'.uir V, il
I : :,:'!:iinilv i.| iiispcc
'. -.ii-l- : 1 111 ike dies
■ '.-I, 111 llv r.ij.;
.1 ; r 111' iii.iw M f 111
-■ ■.PL.tli t whii h 1,1
: ■ M ;; I l!iK • . .
\ ' ' .11'.' 1 irio'.i
■^' I.:. 11 vveri' rnv;
. ■ii-"'c .ill i,is m-
'■ '•> -■' :|| C ''M- 11. ni
' !• " .1 '■ 11 die V
t :-;p--' ' -<■: ;■ in,
■ '" ' istl I , •.\ 11
' ■■• ■ ii.i 1 'la ll la
ll - I.-- -s, >i\ tie
- -v: '-'. I;- w .- (.;!a
Ihis i;,.|y jv,,s Hi
i !..;■. '1 I •''iim'iiis
li-t--|., ••.-: 11,.
"•" •:. '■ .' ii^.ir. V
li-oi.'; .. |.i<pi / 1
i's-llll-l t I'ill'lll.llS
I'^hl.l 111 ':;.-. ll,. ri
I'f'"^ ".'..lllilcsllv 1 1
irul.i ',.,;i ..,. ,.,! (,i
iiien.iiuc .ui.i couii
APPENDIX.
ierf
fcu>.
Ihi'i ■■'■''•"•■'I
,,, ,,,,„,„.,> n|- Cnliimbus. They were in some mcas-
ifr-'irnpinhiU" i""'"^^"" f''l'''*"^ ''>■''"•' ^^■f""-'" '"■
m'o'k'SIhu bv (ipliTof llifliscal, whuli siH-iilicd
' WTSalions s.iid 1" luvc p.issd h-twcin Cdliiiii-
i ihcPin/oiis, ami niilivilhst.iinlitiKllicM' kuMcs
cl widi'iv in llu-ir M.ilcmcius, ami r.ni iiilo
nail' iiisuiduifs. In.i fiianiiscript riMord in piisscs-
Jior'.i :h«' l'i.i'"ii family, I luiv.- t-vt-ti read the as-
,eri'^ !■ ' an "M sfaiiian.iliat Ccdumluis, in his imi,'<t-
nev's'^i ■•iii|"'l t^"' 1'""""^ '" ""■" ''■"'^ •■' ^P'''"-
fiy.'.r II :'t'i> "■•'/■. ''111. llu-y contiiiiiinK on, lie was
ubliv'l '" lo'i"*^'' •""' ^^'i''"" '"'" 'J''V^ alU-rward
ds.ov>i.'.lllif island of llisp.anioia.
Itn (.•vi'lnii ;lii' Old .".ailor, if he really s[ioki' roii-
'scii-m; ii-h. niiiicl'''! '" his cloudy rrnR'nibr.uu e llic
(iis|)i!;r- '11 Ihi' tally jiart of llio voyauc, about altcr-
inijiii'-ri'UH't' to tin- south-H-fsi, and the dcsi-rtioii
cfM.iUMi ■'ili'ii/ 1, '■libs'-.iUfnl to the disrovcTV id the
Liir,i\ .^ Jii'l I li-'-i. "Iii'n, aftrr p,iitiiiK (uniiiaiiy
ivuhlli.-.iliiiiral, lie made the isl.ui.l ol l!is|Mni(da,
Thj u.'iM'.s-; iiiovl 1 . be liepi-iided upon as li« these
pnin:- .-: iiiqiiiiy, i^ l'"' I'hysirian oi I'.ilos, (i.mia
iVrn , ; to/, a 111,111 of iiuit alion, who s,iilcd with M.ii
tir. .a: '■./' 1' II''' "1 .isslcw.ird of his ship, and <d < oiirse
« i< ' I'M u'. .It .ill till- ■■oiUL-rs.itions wliiih passcil be-
ir.cin i;i'.- 'oMiiii.iildiTS, He trsldics tli.it Maitiil
Aioii' ' i;a'i.d I olunibiiS to sl,iiiil iiioro to the south-
Kt^t. ,1 I lll.i! ill' .idndral at lfiii;th >Mmplied, but,
fiiidia,; II.' I.iii I in thiit direclion, tlu-y l,iiii<-d a^.iin to
thcW'.-!. a st.itemriU wliii h r(riiiplciely roini ides
with 1.1; H'liiiii! ol Coluiiibus. Ue.idds th.vt the ad-
irir:ii ' iitiii.Mllv lomfcjrled and anini.ited M.irtin
Alon/ I, ,iiid .ill others 111 his eonipaiiy. i.Sieiiipre Ins
ci.i's.j'..!i.i 'I diiho .Mmirante esiorz.uidolns al ditho
M.irlm Meiizoe a todo-, los que en siii-i'inp.ini.i ib,in, i
Uhiii i;k- iihv^i' i.m was siiecilically (juestioned as to
the CI 'ivtrs.ilioiis pretendeil to iiasx- passed hetwc'en
Ibf miM.iii liTs, in which ( okinibu; expressed a de
sire to liirn li.n k to Sp.iiii, he refirred (n the prei-ediiii;
si.ctcni' lit as the only .iiiswer Ik; li.id to make to these
in'.rrri .;.it r;es.
Tlir i-vii.iv,if;aiit lesliniony before nientione 1 ap-
p,'.ii> ir'vi-r to h.ive had anv weight with llie li--c.il ;
anl the ao'iivate historian Munci/, who e\tr.i( tc d .ill
ih'^i- ]. 11'! Ill evidc'iic e from the p.n.eis cf llie l.iw
si: I. I, .■■ n.i .Iceiuc'd i.hcTii wortliv of nieiiluii in Ins
«.[< .\s ih' -e iii.itters, however, rem.iin on recmd
in •!!!• ;ir' liiv'-. I'l the In lies, and in the archives of
t' ■.' l'ir.."ici I'.iiii V, in both ot wdiich 1 li.ivc- h,icl a full
<: .'."iiiiiiilv i.| iiisciL'c linn them, ' h.ive thoii.;iil it .id-
V -.i!'!- ; ' in. eke these- lew oioervalions on the sub-
:'-: 'c-'t. Ill lie- r.ii;i- lor research, they niinht here-
■> '•■ t 1-c- ,ii.u-.ii f irlli .IS ,1 new discovery, on the
-■ irt,'.ii I which to inii'Ui;ti the merits of Ccdiunbus.
I'm h-,
F 1 ,. . ,
No. MI.
I IMK • . 1 ,.\t|i M II \\ i: I'lKD IN 1 III:
I. cii ' . ii iMr.i s.
.11" ' '.r;"'! . atti-mi-ts to iniurc- Colunibiis by
'1 were riiva-us ol his f.ime, w.is cme iiiien,lec|
■ 1 .1:1 i.s Ill-tit ,1-. ati ori^tiii.il discoverer. It
■li c ii.- II. id lec eiveil infornui.,011 of the e.sisl-
1 n 'lie ui sierii p.itts of the oce.m from .1
' ■!■ ! ;> .' t, wli.i h.id been driven there by
■ i-'i> I , -.^.iids. .iiid who, '111 Ins riMiii t >
'I'i'l.'d ill llu- ho.lso of I'oliimblis. h-.ivilli;
' f his voy.u;<-.
halt .iiid ciiurn.i.
'■ '" I '!■ ^\ ■- t;!iidei! t.> his discoverv.
I'||^ -ii IV IV..S !;i ,t noli. I'd \,y Oviedo. a Contein
r.ir-, ■ ! I '. innSii--. in his hisimv of the In. lies, piib-
I It- iiier.iii.iis it .IS ,1 rumor ciieuLitini;
", - ' •■ii;.ir. Willi. Mit lound.ition in tn.lh
I'lii.i': . |..,|i, / ,(,. ( ,,,111.0,1 first bioii^hl it lorw.ir.l
.;i:ii-M ..i,i-ii!.iis III Ills lustory id tlie Indies, pub-
l-h«.| Hi -:;_. ||,. rc-|ie,iis the rumor in the vaguest
I'.'i'v 'iLiiLli-siiv lo.m (uic-,|,,, hut without the eon-
•'"l."":i I'l' i-n to it l,y ih.ii author, lie s,i\ s ih,it
'lie name .uid couniiy ot the pilot were unknown,
some termini,' hiiii an And;ilusian, sailin;,' between the
C'.inaries ,ind Madeira ; others a Itisciy.m, tradini,' to
l''.ni;laiid and l-"rance ; and others .1 I'ortunuese, vov-
avjiiii; between Lisbon and Miiia, on the coast of
(lUiiiia. lie expresses eijual uncertainty whether the
pilot brini^ht the caravel to I'ortUKal, to .M,ideira, or
to one of the A/ores. The only point on whii h the
t irculalors of tin- rumor ;ire a>;reeci w.is. lli.it he died
in the iiouse of ('t-lumbus. (iom,ita adi!s that by this
(.-vent Cidumbiis w.is led to uiiiiertakc hii; voyage to
the new ( ouiiti ies."'-'
The other early historians who mention C cdumlus
aiicl his \oyanes, aiicl were his contc-in|ioi .iries, vi/.,
S.iliellicus, I'eler M.irlyr, (lustiniani, Heriialdez, com-
monly called the curate of los I'.dai ios, L,is Casas,
Ki-rnando, the son oi the admiral, and llie anonymous
author of a voy.i.;e of (.'olunibus, translalcd from the
Itali.m into Latin by .Madri,L;n,mo,-) are .ill sikr.t in
re),Mrd to this repoit.
lien/oni, whose history of the New World was pub-
lished in I5bj, repeats the story fioni (lomar.t, with
vhom he w.is i ontemporary ; but dii i'lt ,ly ex-
presses his opinion, lh,it (iomara had niin,i;led tip
muc h l.ilsehood with some truth, for tin- purpose of
iletra. lin;; from the faif.e of Columbus, liirouuh jeal-
ousy that any one Init a Spani.ird shoul'l enjoy the
honor c.f the cliscovery. }
.\i ostn nolices the i iiciimstancc sli.i;htly in his N.'.l-
ur.il .md .Moral History of the Indies, laiblishtd in
if.|l. and I. ikes it evidently from dom.it.i i
M.irian.i, in his history of Spain, pubiisl.ed in lfi)2,
also mentions il, but txpressis a doubt of its truth,
and derives his in formal ion manifestly fn m Honiara,]
lletri-r.i, who published his history ol li.e Indies in
H'cii, lakes no notice of the story. 1 11 i;c t notii iiiL; it,
he ni.iy Im- ( cinsidt r"il as rejectini; il ; lor hi- is disim-
.miished fcr his miniueniss, and w.is wtd ;u liUainttd
with <ioni,ira's history, which he exptessly contra-
dicts on :\ jioini of considerable interest."
(i.ircil.iso de la \ efja, a native of Cusco in Peru,
reviv(.-d the t.de with very minute parti, ul.irs, in his
t 'ommc-nl.iries of the Inias, puiiiished in 11.01). He
tells il smoollily and circmnslantially ; l;.\es liie date
of the o'-currence 14-4. "one ye.ir more or less;"
st.ites the n.inie of the unfuitunate pilot, .\1 in/i) S.in-
che/ de Iluelv.i, the destin.ilioii (d his vessel, from
the C.'an.irii-s to M.ideir.i ; and the unkmun land to
which thev w< re driven, the isl.m'l ot Ilispaniola.
The pilot, he s,i\s, l.mdid, look an allimdc, ainl
wrote an .iccount of ;ill he s.iw. and ..11 ili.it h.ul oc-
curre.l in the \nyai;e. He then took in wo. id ancl
w, iter, .md set iiul to seek Ins w.iy hoiri-. He sue -
e eeiled in returniiiL;, but ihe voy.iv;e w is lon.t; and
tempe^'uous, and twelve died of huiii^er .iii'l f.iti.t;uc,
out of seventeen, the original niiinbi r .1 the crew.
The hve survivors arrived al Teri er.i. wlure they were
hos;.it,d)ly entertaine I by t'olunibiis, but a 1 die.l in
his hcnisi' in consi-e|iience of llie lunisl-.-ps i!uy had
sust.iined . the pilot W.IS the list that die.l. le,ivin« his
host hi'ir to his pipers, t'li'.iimbus ki (.1 lln-ni [ 10-
foiindly se-i-ret, and bv pursaini; the rouie llierein pre-
si-ribeei, oht.iiiK-'l the , 'edit ol disc e.\ ; ; ;::j; the New
Woilel.*-*
Siicli are the- niateri.il points of the 1 iieumstant-al
rel.ition furnished by (i.iriil.iso de l.i \t j;,i. one lu.n-
dre.l .itil twc-iitv y.irs ,ifter llie event. In reL;,ird to
authority, he recollecls to li,ive he.inl ihe -l'>rv when
he W.IS a child, .is .1 subject id' coiiveis.ilion belweell
♦ I loin, 11,1, I l'.-r hid , 1 .ip, 14
+ N.iUf^i'io idin-ii'plioii I'leliinibi. M.i'liii;:i.ino Inler-
pri'le. Il I, ei.iii.iine.l in a 1 ullic-n m nl >.iu.i^;es c.i 1. d
NoMls Oibls k'-i;ioiiiliii, edilloil ol 15^^. b'H ^^.i"' oiI>;i-
ii.dlv piiblidieil in li.ili.in .IS wrilleii b\ .Moiii illiodcj I'l.iii-
I .iiu.uui (eir li.inc.i|i,uio de Moni.ddi.). in ,1 1 ..lli i-uoii of
\o\.ii;es enlidi-d \iic.vo Miindo. m \'iecii?.i. I'.i,-.
'. (iiiiil.iMiii I'.eti.'om, ll;-.i.di-l Nii'-vo Muihlo, lib. i fo
I J. Ill \'i-iii-n.i. 1 ;~~'.
^ P. idle- |...,-;'!i de .\e..>l.i, Hist. In.l., liti. i. I'.ip. I.).
'i 1 11 III di- \I in. in. I. 11 1-1 l-Np.in.i. lib \\\ 1. e-.ip. j.
•' Hi-roT.i. II1--I. liid, dee.id. 11. Iili i '. i- ip. I.
** Coiiiment.irios de los Inc.is, lil),i. cip. j.
. J
:. ■{
L^U':' V
'Tl
254
APPI'NUIX.
i M
%
his f.ulicr aiiil llic ni'it;liliiirs, aiul lie refers to the his
t'liies of the liiiies. liy Aeost.i and (iom.ir.i, for cnii-
(irm.ilion. As llie t onvers.ilions to which he iistcncil
must have laivoii place sixty or seventy years .ifter ihe
(late ol the nporl, there ha.l been siilTiciciU lime It
tlie vayiie minors to become airaiii;eil into a re^;iilar
narrativ, an i iliiis we have not only the name, conn-
trv. an I cl.-liii.ilion ol the iiiiot. hut also the name of
the unknown Ian. I lo which his vessel was driven.
This ac on it i;iven hv (iar<'ilaso dc la \ ej;a, has
lieen a io,)tc I liv many oM hislorians, who have felt a
ri'illi ien. '• in l:ie |ieretn|>tory manner in whi( h he re-
lates it anJ in 111" auihouties to whom he refers.*
These ha.e in'cn CLlio-.i hy others of more recent
date ; an.l lluis a weiij;lity cli.ir,,;e o! fr.iiid .md inipc.s
ture h.is !i,cn accumulated .igainsl t'olumlius,
app.irently s-.ipporti-d liy a > mwd of respect. ible ai -
eusers. Till- v^aole eh,u>;e is t.i he traced to lioin.ira.
wlio |ooscl\ rep Mted a v,i;,ur i,:ni'ir. without nolicini;
the jioiiiied conlradiction :,i\iii lo it seventeen years
before, by Oviedo, an e.ir-witii'-ss, from whose 1 ooU
he a|)pears lo have actually .U'lheieil the repoi;.
It is to iie rem. irked tliat (i iinara bears Ihe cliarai'
tcr. anioo',; hi^lori.uis. nl in, u curacy, and ul ^;re,lt
credulity in ...loptim; unloun.led stories, f
It is uniK'Cc^^ary !■) i,'ive lurthtr reful.ition to this
c'iar<e. esp( . i i.iy ,is it i~ cle.ir thai t'olimhus com-
municated li;> I'ir.M of discoverv to I'.iulo roscanelli
of I'loreni 1', in l.)7.;, ten years previous to the d.ile
assigned I'V li.ircilaso de la Veg.i for this occurrence.
\.)
M.\in;V l:l.!ll M.
Tlll^ ;d)!e i;COL;r;iplier w.is born in N'uremliuiL:, in
Gernianv. .d'out the c'lmmeiicemcnt id l!ie ve.ir n^o.
Ills ancestors were fr.ini Ihe cin Ii' of i'llsri t, in ]'• t
hemi.i, b.'-iii e !:■• is c.illed by some wrai-r^ M irtiii of
I'.ihemia, .111,1 the resembi.im i- of hi^rnvti name t j
that of the country of his ,incestors Ircjut-nilv m > ,i-
sioiis a coiifu^'in in the app<dlalion.
It has been said by some that lie studied under
Philip Herv.il le the eider, and by others un.ler loliii
Muller, ollierwis-' Ciiile 1 l^enioniont.inus, llioui;'li ll-
Marr, wli > h.is made dil;i;ent imjiiiry into his hislorv,
<iiscred its both assertions. .Xccdrclinj.; lo a i or re', pern I-
cnce between iieliem and his uni.le, discovered of l.itc
* X^iiri"-; r,f liisiori.HH w'm i-ii'ier ad :\i'f'\ il.is storv la
liel.iil Mr i'l'' • :i.ii i;.- .i;',,un'l ( '• .Minibus, di.i.wi In mi ;'. '
M-'iiiardt) .\; b.ie, .\ni. L,"U'il. id de ISp. 111.1. ati. iv. i.i,,. :-,
kj.lcri'.;'! (J.iro. .\aliv;iii-il.i !. l.!i i.i. i hi. 7..
Ii.iri de .Soiui/ ,iu), I ;d. | lie. i.jmi. 1. l.b. 1 i- :\.. -.
letii.iiiij i',.M;ro, V.iroiie, llla.-^t. del .Nu. w) Mun.i,,,
t.ip. 2,
.\i^ciSliiio l.ifiii'l. .\n:i.d, .'^.ur.. I 1:11. 1. ,rri. .Mri!
r.;i, \... .I-:.
I'e-. D.rn.ii-.' ..r |i.-Mar>.', |i|.d iv. de V.ir. lliM.. c.ip. .).
I ii.-i;.iri I ' 1 u i I ' ii;i; de 1 is lnd|. i-,. Iili. 1. . .i|i. .j^ 1.
Jii 111 d" 1 Ml |iicrii in 1. 1. .MciM.irch. bid., hh. xmii. ..ip i.
Joliii li,(pti-ii- kiccica. (;i-Mi;j.il ki-|..rMi,. lib. ai,
I o t'.ii bsl Mt u'd .iiilliM!,, iii.iy b,' ,1 ilnj 111 iiiv olli.'i , . i|
ni'.ie ri'ci';.: d.i:
+ "lo.iiHi. i. •■<■■: ih- 'Ijin:-,!. I'l.'direro, S.-vilIino,
c'criliio . .Ill .■..■■.;. I- ■ - !••.. (. .-n i |i- ' , , ,,.,, ,|,.la. Indus,
p.-r.i dev. 111.1m-.- ';.-,,ii 1 : s.is n. i.te--. ' Idii, i|.'
><-Vi ;.l, .\.lllirM|;, |, ; .1, I,.,. ^,i„|,. ,., M It,. 1 ,:,
H.lilhi l.fii 1 b-p .1, I Nn.t, ,,,, j, p. ,| 57
" l-:i l-rati. 1- ; 1. p.- ■ ■ .1 . 1 e„ ■..i t.iiiK,.; b .rro-
nes e cos.is .|i!' " , ■ 1.1, |.-, ()• |i, . ji:i |„ , ;,(, ,,..|
cliMd.iiVi.in . ■ , . :<■■■■. j. ; , . ,^ • ,|.'s|,ur 1 •!
Ooai.ira h 111 . ■ . -. ■ ii \.ie\.i INp ,11 i .
es p.)ir|.ie '••- !i I I I , ' 1 . ,.,, .. . ■ p.. .,11..: !)•.,. ' •!
Ca-<nllM, II1-.1 d'j .1 I ■ n , . .|c j.i \w,.t |;,|.,im.i. [ t\
de cap 18.
■• Teni.i 'i..iii.ri docl. V, ', , . :o r-iiipleosc
en ordiii.ir >iii dii eriinii,.'nt.i ; . i.il!.. i-. .m M.ir •...
aiileei--.(,r.'v \ di.. creij ■ , i- m , n.i sol.i l.iN.i, vin.im-
verismiile-,. ■ Jaaii B.^.r..' . V 1 .^, 11,1. x. .Mmijo,
I'rolujj.j, p. 18.
years by De Murr, it appears ihat die en v
ills life was devoted to commerce. S unc h.,,
him the ( redit of discoverini; llie isl.md u! F,
this is .III error, arisini; proli.iblv Iroin ilic, 1,- ,,.
that Joiide lliieitar, f.uiierdii l.iw ol Heliciu .
th.it isl.uid in l.piO.
lie is su|)posed lo have arrive.! ,ii rnrii; ,.
while .Mph.inso \'. w. is still on tli.- iIumi,,. , ;
t.iin that shortly afterward he w.is in lnj^n ,.
Ids science in the lourt of Lisbon. iii>i.ii,i..
w.is one of the council appointe.l by Kiia; I
improve the ,irt of n.ivi,i',.ition, and by s mii ,
( eive.l the whole credit of the memoral !.• •!•.
dereil to < ommerce by that couiicii. m tliv in;
of the astrolabe iiiio naulical use.
In I )s.4 Kim; John sent an expc.'.iii.in iii;.|
Cim, as li.irros c.dls him, C'aiio .ni i.i.Iin. 1,
ti. pi. isi -elite discoveiies aloni; the c,i.is[ ,,1 y.f
l!iis expedition Helieni s.iiled as cosr,;i..;..,| 1. :
crosse.l the (-.piinocti.d line, di>co\i-i(-d lli ■
L'onijo, adv. meed t) tweiUy-ii\o .|i-i;r..s:
minutes ol south Lililii'le." .ml en Mi. I Ik-., .
on which were eiii,'r.ive.l the arms ni |',.r:;,. ,
niouih (ii the River .'..i.L;r.i, in .Xirni. ul,;';
for s.iine time. |.M ,k ' lie ii.ime of the Kurt .,; I
I'or the ser\ i.'es rendere.i on this .111,1 .1;
occasiiins, il is said lli.it Hehem w.iv ki.;i;i:li ,|
J.ihn in i.(^s, thoui;h no mention 's ni,ii;t- ,,;
circiimsl.m. e in any id the contempcir.iiv i, •
The p'inciii.d prooi i.f his h.iviiiL; ren-,.-! ;;
ol distinctiDii, is his h.iviiii; t;i\ -n lii.ii-i.l i
his own ylobe of I iiun I u^u.-.uh:.
In i4-'ii he married at Kayal lie- .!.ii;; l.'i i ,-■
Iluerlar, an.l is suppi-sed to have n 11 ,11.. ; ;
some ye,ir-~. win-re he ii.id a son nam. .1 M iri.n
14-,). Uurim; his r<-siilence at Lisbon , in i K,.
pioli.ible the ac.|uaint.iii. e look pl.ic- b. iivi . I, :
(.."oliimbus, 111 which I lerrer.i and olla is .i ^
Ihe admir.il m.iy ii.ive he.ird Irini l!;i'i v :.
riiiii'irs circulalinn in Ihe isl.mds. o; i;. ,, ..
wi-sle'ii l.in.ls 111) itiiii; to tliLir slior..-^.
In I i.il he tetunieil to N'urembiir;; I
i'v, .ml while tliere, in I pi.;, he limsiu,! ., ;
;dobe, CMi'.siili-red a ni.i>-lerpieci- in i!i-.>.' ■'.
he h.id liil'lerl.ik(-n .11 the reijUest otllicpr.:;
i-<lr.iU s of his n.ltive 1 11 v.
In I I i! he r-tii:ne.| t.i I'iirlut;.i'. . .c'd :•
piM '-.-ill-. I ll l-'.iv.il.
In I pi I Kin^ bitin I 1.. wh" h.i.l .1 li 11.^1
hi 111. sent III 111 III |- 1, in. lei s to his i;,i:ii- ., ~ ,
(ieor.ne, Ihe inlen.li-il heir of Ins .i...i\'..
rourse of his vov.iKe lieliem w.is 1 .ipiiiriil..
I'l Lnnl.md, wiu-n- he rem-ine.l lor liii.e i
t.i;n'-.l by illru-ss Il.ivim; rec(iv(;re.!. ii- 1 .
'^e.i. b;il w-.Cs I .iplured by a curs.i.r .'.': 1
I' Mine. 1 1 i\ inn rans<inie.l hiiiisel'. li- ;■
.\iHwerp .iul HiiiLies, but relurne.l a.i.. .^' M
1 > l'..itii^.il. Nolhiti^; more is kii.iwn .. le 1
al ve.irs. diiriuL; wliii h lime it is suppM-..-.! ' '
with his f.iniilv in I'aval, too old i., 111 il>
aL,'.-s. Ill 15. .0 lie ueiil fi.rlli I1...11 I .i;..l
where he died.
The asserlion that Hehem h.i'l .lis- ..vr. !'
ein worM prewo.is to ( '.duiiil.iis. 1,-1 l!ie . -' ■
viv.iKc with (".ml, wasfoundi-d on air.; e.;-;
"f .1 p.iss.ii;e inteipil.ited 111 the c tiro 11. !( ' ■ «
S. he. lei, a contempor.irv writer. 1 > , —
ti-ins. Ihat when the vovaijers wen- n ;',-
• •.(••in 1101 f.ir from the co. 1st. an.! h e; p ■■
llii'y c;iine into aiMther hemisphere, unrn .
looki-d tow.inl the east, theii sh.i.l >ws t. , : •■
south, on their riuht h.md ; th.il le.-u t;i.-v
a new world, iinkniwn iin'.il then, m ' u !i ' '! '
years h.itl never been soui;lit e>c. i-pl I y d..- '
.111,1 by them imsiiccesslniiy
" 1 1 ii iLi'i. bono deoriim auspj 1 1. in ll'' I" ■
sulcantes, a littore iion loiu'i- ev.iL;.iiiH'',. >'i"'
< ulo c<iiiin ociiuli, in alteru..) orhem e\' 1 pi ^- ■
• V.is.
-l-is. hb.
♦ \Iiirr, N-.ii. ■■ .le '»'
ijs;- «l:inlilnis oriei:
,t<l«;nini prmineb
»ia iiliu'n I rheui h..
tiluni,"
Xhc-T imcs .:re |m;
int,^r|,l.;,lU'll h> -1 '■"'
„„i,,! „i ilu- ciirMiu
asiliatlhcv .-.re n 'I
Ijlir-i ..i t!.c b-iok lu
^e;;liO.MJer, l.p-
Itiaiencu'iv Is" die
ol ,,ic fdiillicrii heni
olihci-iKisl el -\lii'
ipp--:trcil like a il>.-^\
of V. ihi' linie.
T,l,-lr!-lleCS-,- ailu
tt5s:,il .ilte!ii;)l, wei
otr.'.i' h;-. iirother, .a;
Ant 'n::i \v,i<: ol .1 n.
left n;s cmiiurv .ui.i v,
mcii'.i'iiH'd rel.ilivc' 11
in li;-.' ('iiil)i"y I'l I'oil
of y. ,1 11:"- ■
This i;;;cMi"'-iic-l
inscrli-i iiiM die worl,
I .l.ncas SilMU-^. afit
lit 14I14, !-.ii« t'ef-ire
■isinti'rprcl.iti.ai ..f ll
Icorre. t .i'-seil;oii ll
Rfw U'uiM pri-ir l.> <
jurh a lircimislain -■
Beiicin's liiyiiii; cfe
an.l iviih.itit die wnil
so ;;ilj>iirt.i'it a-l evenl
bv '.•.ir'.iii-i ainluMS u
of tt>,"iii ti.i'l bki-ivis"
of h.i'.iiik' ''i*^''' vi-r-".i !
and I1.1I i:iv(-'i t i,. H.
p,1!!'.,' in ;ie C'lier.illy 1
vivil in die ' e ir 17
hii;:;ly ic^pi-ci..!. - ch.i
resilriit ;;; N-'u Vi':k.
Fnnkliii t ' b" siibiiiili
of I'hii.i.:"';'.'!',!. ni \\\
thf l.llf lli lt--l;el!! 1.1 I
Hi'^ nn'iiiiiir M.is pubii
AiTii-n III I'f.ilosiipiiii
aili-: •-■ N' 1. ;;. :v'i I h.e
01 ni'.'i .>; it.e 11 111. Ills
'lilC ,l':'!lolil:r- , lU .
as<i '■III 1 II..' i;eiu r.ill
pan c'v-ii Willi, at par
tio;i r..i< 1 !-.ii ill jijiiK
Din CI:ri-<! "...1 .d.idei
liii' ;;t in i ;,i ...i i,f
lin!:".;tr'ii'.. Ill- le-ili
Very y.-.ir ilic i;.,'iiinl
(li?'.i',i:fy '\\\\< i;l|,ii
pr(-i;r'.-'.- ! m I'l • li*ii.i
painiei ., ', ilic ilisi .i\
Sitii.ilol iim: ti-.-v , ,i;l
Bl.i.;;. ,i'i : i.ii; slrait'
tog4'.-r.- 1 in.iin , .11;. I
lie 1 cms .1 I'-ilunil.i
I'l'.:.. ,.1 V I -r M. (
g!"'iv. III- :.-ii.-r,d.-l . I
ent, I'lc l;!'.;.!' '1
ma:.:;:; 1 ■ ;- . uv | .In
"iil,".! i m:; alter Ihe
l>li--,c',l l!.-:,:.iii Thi
I4'i-. i"C- nm 1 ..ntaii
Jill- V(-,v Wiiril. .in.i I
n-ioiiriintcii With tilt
tehl'IIi s i;l(il)i: IS e|v
■fc-;.
■ U'<. ,|,.O.i,p ;, 111
l;a-':;-,i. 11,11-, 111,
I LaJci,!, hut-sii)^. 1
APPI'NDIX.
t^'
rn^-r ■:nnlilni"i orirntem vorMis, umbra ad nicriilicm
wLtumi proiiciflulur. Apcriurr ii,'ilm- sii.i indiis.
I ',1 rn crU-iil h.i'K-mis nobis inconnitiim ct tmiltis
ni' i' ■m'M'' '1"^"" J^iiHiC"'*'''''^. •'''■' "■ustr;i ti-inp-
ISL, l.-o .:|.' |Mit of a p;issai;c wtiirli it i> sai.l is
i,,.ri..ilea liv .laill.T.'iit han.l, in ill-' oriiiMKil maii-
«rrii)".!llii-c;ip.rii.lL'()l ^>( hfclcl. \)c Miirr assures
Mthv tHiv ;,n ti .1 I" I'c ioun.l in tin- (.crnian trans-
Uiici'inilliHMokliv (icorK.! Alt. uhirli was linishc.l
Se;-lin.i.,bLr. i.fi.r '^''l '■^•^•" '• ''"^^>' "'"''• '•'^V
«!•,.■,. nc'i-i" 1 1 ilif iliscdvcrv which lJii;,i,'o t am mailc
0( ,ic-nii'l,iTii lu_-nii-|)hiTe, previously unknown, an.l
ofjhci-nsl of Alii'-a hcyon.l the i'.)nalor. all wtiich
Uprircl !:!;:• a ii'.'W worM. ami as such was lalkc.l
gi(t!i"iinir, , , ,
IT.ii- i"'i!"cs;- aihili'l to. who hail in.Kk- an unsuc
i!;:l .liti-nipl. were
Antonio lie Nolle with liartho
jltvW:- briitlv.'i-. an.l KaphacI do Nolle his nephew,
■ Anton;:' U-.1-- III ,1 no'.ile lainiiy, and, lor some dis^nsl,
leltnisciiiuurv and wnil to Lisbon with his bcfore-
nentiom-l rol.ilivi ' m two i .ir.ivels : sadin.i,' whenri;
inlir:iiii!V'V oi I'lUliKai, they discovered the island
o(>;. ' iiT".
This K'.Seni'i'a'ed passai;e of Sehedcl w;vs likewise
juserli- 1 int) ilii- work l)e luirop.i sub Trederiio III.
hLno.i'i Siivais, allerward I'ope I'ius 11., who died
I 141.4, ln\K lief'ire the voyai;e in question. The
|isinti.ri'.rtt.itii-.ii "i tin' jiassa'^je first irave rise to the-
icorrc: t asscrtiim tli.it Hehem h.id discovered the
Kfw Wodd pnor 10 Cohmdnis ; as it it were possible
judi .1 I ircmiislaiicp roidd h.ive h.ippened without
Belicin s layiiii; I l.iiin to the K'"rv ot the discovery,
mil withmit die uotld imiiiediateiy reso'indiiiK wdth
^inr,iiiri.int a-i evcni. This error h.id been adopted
.n'.ir'iii''' .lailmrs wiliioiu di;e ex.imin.ition ; some
ofwiriia h.id I l<c»vis'.' taken from M.inellan the c redit
of h.ivi:i- ('I'^'-i ver-'d the Strait wdiieh noes by his name,
and h.i 1 i::vfi t lo |!i hem. The error w.is too pal-
yaluM^! 'I' :■• iic-.dlv pri-valent. but was suddenly re-
viviil 111 ]',<!' 'iir i7-^'i bv a I'Veneh f^enlieni.m of
biijtily !i-;'i-i!..!. ■ I h.ir.icier of the ii.inie of < >tto, then
resi'.rr.l i:i Niv Vi':k, who addressed a letter oi l>r.
Franlciiii t 1 b- siiSniilled to the I'hdosophical .Society
of i'hii.i.!!-';ia:.i. Ill whiih he undertook to est.ddish
thf ii;iiiii H'lieia in i'iedisc.'>. cry nf the New WitM.
His nii-MiiDir w.is puhiished 111 the Trans.e ti.uis ot the
Airidn .III I'laiiiMipiiical Society. V'd. d., f'lr i;-ii,
arli':''.' \' I. ;:, m 1 h.is been ci.j,iei'. into the joum.ds
OIni'i'l c l!.i' lllll'ius of I'.uropr.
Uk .i-r'iiiiii c- Micd bv M (liio in '-uppoit of his
assiri: 11 :irc L;eiur,dly f.dl.u ious, and bir the most
pattfiva vvitlii 111 p.irticul.ir spe4 ilii ation. Ilisasser-
tion h i> I '■• a ill nn iiily :ind s.itisf.u toi dy refuted by
Don ('!;:;>! •',..! . I.i.icra.)
Tiiri;raii ].\ 1..1 of .M. ( )it.i is ;i |.dol)i- which IJehem
Unf'.C'.'.ir'ii'.i III- le-i deuce in Niiremlmrt;, in 140-', the
Veryyv.ii '.'.:. c, ( ■ uiniius s'-t out on his lust voy.u;e of
:di!'i.\irv Iti,- -ii ill', aci o'lliiii; lo .M. ( Uto,' ;s still
prcsi.Tvv ! Ill i'l- liiji.irv ol Nuiembiiit;, and on it .iie
painic i .. ; llu- ilisiipveries ot Hehem, whi' li are so
»itii:il(,: iiiit t''e\ . .i;i (,c no other th.in the c.i.ist of
Btn,::; .nM i,,,- siraiis of .M.l^(dl.m. Tins authority
Itaj^LTi- 1 ai.iiu , ,u:d, il supported, would demolish
Uif :c.ni5 ■! 'MliinilMis.
i'si:... „. V It M
gl'i'i'.'. h
em TV- t;
ma,'.' ::\ p;,, ,,y j ,|,n Sihoener, professor of mathe-
"i^i'vl ' iiu:,uiertheiliM-ovcries .indde.ith of ("oluni-
'^1 lii-a.'in The re.il ^lohe ol Hidiem, m.ide in
Hf(3 .<( . nut ( nntain ativ of the islands or shores ot
ft Nfw Wiir! I. ,111 1 ihus proves th.it he was tot.dlv
, flaojiiriiiucii wiih lliem. A 1 opv, or pl.misphere, of
Bfhniib, t;l.,l„: .s _i;u'cn bv Cl.idera in his Investig.i-
It .M. t uto, ill his description of the
ii-iidc! t n ihe inspection of a corrcspoiub
1 the library of Nuremburk; was
.,■'.. ,i,.,.,„i .^ 1,1, ij ,.,,|, y I.i,l,on, iss3.
_ ;;>•■•';;: inuiic, 1 li .Inric.i^. Ma.lriil. IT,)!.'
. LiiiKt.i, Inubiiy. llisi., p. 115,
No. XIV.
VOYAC.F.S Ot' lilt-. S(AM)INAVI.\NS.
Many elaborate dissertations have been written to
prove that discmerirs were made by Ihe .Sc.in(lin,.vi-
ans on the northern c oast of Americ.i loni; indore the
er.i of Cohmibus ; but the subject appe.irs still to be
wr.qjped in much doubt and obscurity.
It h.is bren asserted that the Norwei^i.ins, as earlv
;is the niiuh century, discovered a Krcal Ir.ul of land
to the west of Iceland, which they called (irand lee-
hind ; but this has been pronounced a fabulous tra-
dition. Tiie most plausible account is one niven by
Siiorro .Siurli'soii. in his .Satja or Chronicle of Kin>^
< )l.ius. .NccordiiiL; to this writer, one liiorn of Icelanil,
•sailinu to (ireenhind in search of his faiher, from
whom he had been se|),ir,ited by a storm, was driven
by tentpestuous weather f.tr to tiie south-west, until he
c.ime in sii,du of a low country, covered with wood.
with an isl.ind in its vicinity. The weather beeomintf
f.ivorable, he turned lO the north-east without landing,
and arrived safe at I ireenl.md. 1 1 is account ol the coim-
tty he had beheld, it is said, excited the enterprise of
l.tdf, son of I'.ric Rrmd.i lor Uedheaih, the lirsl settler
of ( irecnl.ui 1. .\ vessel w.is lilted out, and Leif and
liiorn dep.irted .done in (|uest of this iiniNiunvn land.
They foimd a rocky and sterile isl.ind, to which they
i;.ive th(' n.ime of llelleland ; also ;i low s.iiidy coun-
try covered wdth wood, to which tlu'y y^vf the n.ime
of M.irkl.md ; and, two d.iys.ifterward. they observed
.1 1 I intinuance of the coast, with an isl iiid to the north
of it. This l.ibt they describ(.i| asfertd", well wooded,
prodiuinn agreeable fruits, and p.irtn ul.iily tjrapes. a
fruit with which ihev were uii.u ipiaii.i..- 1. < In beinu
informed by one of their companions, a liirm.m, of
its (|ualilii s and n.ime, they c.illi d tin- iiunlry, from
it, \i:il,iiid. I iii-y .is(ended a livei, \.i-,i scri.-,! willi
lish, p.irtn ul.irly salmon, an.l c.i:ne t • .1 Like from
which the river took its oiii;in. udnic li.cv passed itie
winK r. Tile clim.ite api'earcl to th.in mill and
p'c.is.mt ; beim; accustotncil to the li.oious c!im.il..'S
01 the noilh. On the shortest d.iy, llic s,:n w.is ei.vjht
li.iuis abo\.' tiie hori/on. Hence il i:.is been con-
clu.led th.it the country was tiboiil the .(.ah deL'rce cf
north l.itilu.le, .in. I w.is either Newf.uiiuliand. or s me
p.iit of the coast of Ninth .Americi aboui tlie (hi,; of
St. L.iwrence."" Itisadiled that the n I.itivrs cl i.eif
in.ide se\cr.d voy.ii^es to X'inland ; lii..t ihey tr.nie.l
with the natives for furs ; an. I th.it. in 1 1 .' 1 , a 1 isli.ip
n. lined I'.ric went Ironi ( ireeiil.in.l to Vinl.iad to con-
vert the inhal.it.uits to (diristi.iiiity. l-'n.m tliis l^
s.ivs I'orster, we know nothini; ol N'inLind. and ti ;
is every appe.irance tii.it the tribe w im h slii! exisi •\
the inleri.irof Newfoundl.ui.!. and wl'.ii !, is so liii; -.t
from the other s.iv.it;es of North .\!iiinc.i. I .11
their appear. mci- .in.l mode of liviiii;. .ind .i.w.i\ - a a
slate ot w.irf. ire with the l!scpiiri.ii:\ it ll:.- noi'.iitiil
co.isl. .ire ilesi en.l.inls of the .iihk lit .\oiilian-
'1 he .lUtlior of the present uo.k h.is 11..1 i the
mc.ins of tr.iriiii^ this sl.-rv ti its oiiniii..! ~ . . es.
I le i;ivcs it on the iUllhorilv of M. Malt. '
Mr. I'orster. The l.itter exti.uis 11 li oai t:
Chronicle of Siiorro, who w.is born in
wrote in ui; ; so that his .n 1 omit w.is loimeil loiif)
afler the event is said to h.iv t.ikeii ] l.ice. I'.irsler
s.ivs : " Ihe l.icts svhich we report h.ive been collected
from a i;reat number of Icel.mdic maiuisi i ipts. and
tr.insmitted tons by Torfa'us in his two woiks eiilitleil
\'eleris (irienlai .li.e Descriptio, ll.ifni.i, 1700, and
llistori.i Wml.mdi.e .\nliiiii.e. Ilalni.i. 170?." Fors-
tcr .ipiie.irs to have no doubt of the authenticity of the
t.icts. As I, ir as the author of the present wwi, has
h.id experience in tracing; these stories of ca'lydis-
( overies of portions of the New World, he has Ren-
er.illy found them very contident deductions dr.iwn
fiom very vav;ue and iiueslioii.ible f.icts. Learned
men .ire too prone to i;i\'e subsl.mce to mere shadows,
wdien they assist some [ireconccived theory. Most
.iiid
^ .-;a or
T'i. and
'fir|:r
: :!'■ .i
f : ■ J i
^1 |r
1 ' I'orster';) N'orthora Vosageb, liook ii cli.'p.
fi
JG
APPRNDIX.
of tlicsc arcoiinis, when ilivpstcd of thr orii lite dmi-
iiicnis of their editors, liave (iroved little hetter tli.iii
the ir.idition.iry (allies, notirid in another |)art of this
\iv>rk, rcspei'titii; the itn;>i;iiiary islands of St, I-i(>ron-
ilon. an 1 of the Seven t'lties.
There is no ijreat iiiiprobability, however, that sm h
eiUerpri-iin^ and ro\ mi; vovai;ers as the Scandinavians
ni i\ have wandereil to the northern shores of Aineriea.
all. UK the roast of I.alirador, or the shores of New-
loundlan 1 : and if the Ii clandie inanu-.rripts saiil to
111- ol the thirteriiih rent'.irv i an he relied ii|ion as i;en-
nine, free from modern inler|)'il,iti(iti, and correctly
i|ilo!e(l, they wonM appe.ir to prove the (act. lUlt
i;r,intini; the truth of the allei;ed disc ovei les, they led
to no in. ire result th.m would the iulerch.iniLje (jf com-
niunic.ilion hetween the il.itives of •'•reenl.md and the
IN'iuitn lus'. The knowledije of litem .appears not to
have extended hevoinl their own n.iti<Mi, and to have
been soon mxlerted and forgotten \'\ themselves.
;\nother pretension to an early discovery of the
.•\meriean continent has been set up. f(uinded on .01
alleycil ni ip atil narrative of two brothers of the
name of /euo. of \'eni<'e ; hut it seems more invalid
than those iusi mentioned. I'he followini.; is t'le su!)
stance of this claim.
Nicolo /,eno. a noble \'enctiati, is saiil to h.ive inadc
a voy.i;;e to the iKirth in ];>-'o. in a vessel tilled out at
his own I ■o'it, intendini; to visit lMii;!an<l and I'laiider-J ;
but mei'Ciiii; with a terrible tempest, "vas driven f"r
many d ivs he Knew nu whither, until lie w.is c:ist
aw.iv up Ml Kriseland. .m island niucli indKiuie anionic
j;eri;r.ip!iers. but supposed to be the arrliipel.i.i;o ot
the Kerroe isl.mds. 1 he shipwreclvcd vov.ii^eis were
assailcil bv the n ilives ; but rescued by /.iclunni. a
prince of the islands, lyini; on the south side ol ("rise
land, and diiUe of .mother district Ivini; over ai;.unst
Si-otlani|. /.eno entered into theser\ ice ot thi>; 'irini e,
and aided turn in cdiupierini; Friseiand, and oilirr
northern isl.mds. lie wassmn joined l\ h;-; I roihi r
.Antonio /eno, who nni. lined fourteen ye.irs in lho~e
countries.
Durini; his resilience in Friseland. .\ntonio Zeno
wrote to his lirother t'.irlo. in X'enice. j^ivini; .111 ac-
■ount of .'.report t rout;ht bv a < ert.iin fishermari. abdut
a land to the westwant. Accordini; t> the tale of this
m, inner, he had been one ot a party x. h<i saile I fioni
Frisel.md about twenty six vears before, in fiur
tishini>d)ii.iis. Mein^; overiaUen by a mii;fitv tempc;!,
they were driven ,tbout the se.i for in uiy davs, until
th boat cijntainini; hini-^elf and six cump.inions w.is
ca";! up in .in island calN-d I'sioMl.md. about one thmi
san I mil'--; friim I'l isd.in 1. 1 hey were t.iken b' the
inli.ibiian'.s. .ml c.iriie Ilia i.nr and popiii<ius ciiv.
where th- kina; sent for in.inv iiiter]ireters to converse
with them, but none lli.it tliey could understand, until
a m ill w.is fiun i who liad likewise been ( a>-t aw.iy
upo-i t'l'' ciM>it. and who spoke l.,it:ti. 'I'hey rem, lined
sever.d d ivs upon the iskincl, which w.is rich and
fruitful, .ilioundin:,' widi all kinds el inel.il-i, and
especi.ibv i^oM * There w.is a hiyli nioiiiitain in the
cenfe, fro 11 whit !i .'beved f uir rivers which w.iterel
Ihi- whol" luunlrv. Tie- inli.ibitants ivcre intellijjent
an 1 ac piainl 'd with llie niei hanical arts '.f l-iurope.
Thc-y cul'i'.Mli- 1 ^;rain, m.ide beer, ar,,l lived in houses
built of slo:i!-. 'I'here were Latin books in the kinj^'s
libiary. thoa-h the inh.ibit.mts had no knowledge of
that l,iii.;u i^e. They had ni.my 1 ities .and caslles,
and carrieil on a trade with (Ireenland for pitch, sul-
phur, and ji'-ltry. Though much ^iven to naviijation,
they wc-re u,'n ir.iiit of the i:se of the 1 (imp.iss, an 1
fin liiiij 'he I'rivi-l.inders .-iciiuainted with it, held them
in K''^ at esteem . .ml the kinij sent them with twelve
barks to \isi! .1 lountry lo the south, called Droijeo.
They had nearly perished in a storm, but were ( .ist
away upon the coast of Droi^eo 'I liev found the
pe'iple to be cmnibals, and were on the jioint of beiiii;
" 'Miis account js l.ikeii i.^m [!,i'kM;\l. vol. in. p i2v
'lie- p-is-atje .ilir.'i! ^ /d .mtl (i"mt iiici.iIt i, t.oi iii|,i-
f'jnnil in the oriijm.il iMiim "l kmiu-iu i-oin. 1.. p. '.■ ;',
.i.iil Ii probably .ui Interpol. ai.jii.
killed and devoured, but were sparril , ; ■
ihrir i;reat <ikill in (i^hint;.
The (isherm.m described this liroijcri ,5
countrv of vast extent, or rather a new ,v .r
the inhabit.mts were naked .and b.irh,ir..i;>
f.ir to the south-west there w.is a more (ivm .^
.and temper, lie < liniate, where the nihil.:,-,
knowledi;e of i:<ild .mil silver, lived in .ip.^
splendid temples to idols, ;ind s.icntii r.! ■ ;„
tinis to them, which thev alterw.ird di\' um
-Mler the lisheriii,in h.id resided luaiiv v ,:-
CDntinenl. durini; which time he h.nl p,,v„ : ;
service of one chieft.iin to anolhrr. lai , ;■
v.irioiis p.irts of it, certain boats ol l!>i(.|i m. ;
on the coist of Dro^'eo. The tishertn m \i
board of them, ;icted as interpreli-r. .i[i,| i,,.i, i
ir.ule between the m.iindand anil I'sloi.!,;!, , 1
time, nnti, he bei .ime very rich linn he r;
b.irk of his own, and with the iissisi.iti -r- ,• ,
the people of the isLmil, made his w.i,- '
the Ihousand inlervenitiL; miles 01 ou-,ui. „■
s.ife at l"riselc.iid I he account he e.r.i-i,! ;..(
tries, dclerniined /.iclniini, the priiii'-i' li .
send an expedition thither, and .\<\\> n:<< .'■■
command it. lust before sailini;. ll.c (;-!■;■
was to have acted as ijiiide. die.l ; 1 .,•
ners, w ho li.id accoinp.mied him Ironi I ■; ■
tikcn in his pi, ice. The rxpeilinou s n r-l .
m.ind of ZiciiniTU ; the X'eneliaii. /en., u,
con.pailied it. it w.is unsuccessfu;. .\ • •
disiovered an island cadi-d Ic.iri.i, ivh. n-.
with a rouidi reception from theiuhal 1'. •!;- .
obliyeil to withdraw, the ships wcreut .t-
to I ;ri-enl,ind. No record remains ol .itv, :„r.
icution ot the enterprise.
I he coutilrics iiienlioned in the ii • mt
were l.iid down <ui a map orii^inaliv ■■
wood. The island of I'.stoiil.ind Ims ' . , -, .
bv .NI. M.ilte lirun to be New found!. m. I , -
' ivi!i.?ed inhabit.mts the des. end.iiils ,-
n;.vi,in colonisis of \inl.ind . and the 1 .■
ihe kind's lilirar\ to be the reni.iius c| 1. ■
llie (ircenl.ind bishop, who eminr.ited !i: ' .
Ilroyeo, according; to the same ionic Uirc .v
.'-'Coll. I and .New laij^l.md. The riviii/- •! ] ■ ;
south-west, who sicriliced hum. 111 •, i'..' ■
tcmple.i he surini"es to have lieen ih'- .M'V
some ;incienl n^itioii of I'lorida. or 1 01 ;- .1,
'Ihe premises do not appear to w.ii; -r! ,1
tion. 'I he wdiolc sioi V abound > wiih iih;i'' 1
not the le.isc of whii h is the ^ u ,i;/.i'. •." '
amoti.^' the inhabit.mts; their lions, s t: s
Iv.irope.in arl--;, the lil r.iry of ilicir L:' ...
ulii. Ii were 10 be foun.l on their sul..sei.i.' c'
-irc I
''■ :i.\
T.Ml
.\»l
Not to iiieniion till- inform. uion ab'i.;
lr.ilin< ihrouijh the nu.iierous sa\.iK: i
continent. It is proper to observe 1,.:
W.IS not jiublishcl un'.il if?', loii;; a^'. :
of .Mexico. Ii w.'.s niven to the wor. 1
.M.ircolini, ;i descend. :iit of the /ci,'
menis of Iriters said to li.ive I em v, 1 ;i
/.eno 1,1 Carlo his brother, " ll i;r"
1 the editor, " tli.il the bcik, and ili.c'-
i cmcetninn these m. liters, ate m.-' '
! lein^ but . I child when tlicy c.ime t- •■
not knowin^f wh.il they were, I i"i-
them to pieces, whi'h now I . nin. : '
brancc but to iny exceeddii; K'''"-'' ^'' '
This K.irbled stalemenl by .\I,ir. ■ ' 1.
sider.iblc .luthority by beinij intr.it. i ■
( >rtelius, an able jjeojrrapher, in h - I '
i but the whole story has been con. Icmic
■ mentators as a j.'ro<s fabrication Mi
this, as an ins;. mi e of obstin .le m •:•
that it is impossible to doubt the esi-l'i-
try of whii h C.irlo, Nicolo, and .Niii'!
.IS oii^jin.il ails in the arc'iives .il \ ec
Ihe chevalier imderlouk a voyage I" '•
II.uKl'iyt. <_".".'et t. vol. i ., p.
W-
jj^hPlhcr.Anl'Miin,
(inai' wliiih he Ic
U5i', v.in-Ti' it reii
^ i;;Uil iho li""'
of (1! 'he iniih o:
Jjl«, il nii.Tclv I'li'v
ire,.; l"iis''i uiil.r
left th.il >'-'■'"■' "'
\\ u ,< cirricil I
, ^ii'l. Ml- hciir '1.1 1
jtctifiiil .in. I Mro:
^crii! ic., :i!;cr w
JVC I'C.n . nMii'Clli:
emblrs niiu ;i ilic
icnvcivol I ciluni
ii; iiii.lu.lls the I
Jl. M.i!!.: Hriin iut
IVini.ii.l m.iv hav
|m,ii:caMivii;e v
► niiii'ii' /""'■■. 1"
, in .1 1 1 iiiisli \\
mew (■(ihiiii'.us w:.'i
naps, he ill .v Ivive
anniiiriciM'.-'l \\ :
8run •.•\.iiciiici| die
KCUl.i' v, 11'-' w.iiil 1
gpoi iiice Willi r.i;:
pressf'i lii-^ iiilcnii.'
ICliv I ' llio \vi"-l. !
le I'l.i ' until ll.'
lidfiM- .if n.irilii.
tx (.'.i;;iiii'i,-i li.ii! 1!
IVrliic.il, it not
Ciannm;, thcrefoie, l
thcilubi.ms ^ll.ries of
advciiluri'S, as rci,iled
iki, th' > cviileiuly CO
, WigrcLl ciiUTprise.
ikm, liii w,is a (lire
Vin,a'ii, anil I'sl.itii.i
(C>;ijni;ii an 1 (.'itii,
ribcil.y .M.irc... IVl
dia.
pp.ci \r.-,\vi.;\i: .n i
Tip knnivlc'li^.," cf t
Waiui' .-(last <i| .\liio
lBtii;;U(irs nculi less .
(d. .iiiil it is .1 nilite
CaU;i;lli(.rily lir the I.'
bl.-. The .iHei;L-d \
|>mih> K.-.l Sea t.i
Ilin',-, I'liniji'iniiis .M,.
0(1 til'-' .is-i'.-urm iif C
Blllr.-.n: ivh.nce he .
; dor,i-js r.-,i l,v sira
Kcnin' 1.1 :'ms v< v "■('
nil.' l.iai'iu> vi)y.iirt_'
•nppi"^:-! t" li.iu''i,ike
l*''i'i' lac ("linsii.iu ei
l»3in- 1 l'i;cl an,l ,,:,,
laii.i-;, ,|..r[ ,.| Ljri.jit
,,*)mi- i' ii,,> 1 ,.,.„ p,„„
^tlte.!,-M..T;- the Gree
*'y ^::i !i. ,.l.'d It
prove.!, ii..,iVM.r. thai
toshtTi; fre.iii, t-x 11;,
2'mii-'..:.;:.tr,Ui„- ex;
Bous.i.iivii'e,; ir.ir,-.; 1
f "."V.i.l li;,. \v,.^t
ralm;i,\ a:..ui; r:v.-.,r
-M
'•"'.• will Mu- ill-
\^|'' ■ I'-nm. IliMil
:;.. II,. .. I ,„.,,
-^7'"'"!-\in.-i.,Mc.
. I" -'.'■hn. k.-.-liKr-.-ht
«>"' ■ i-. 1 .. err
S M'iii'):i,(icl.\L..ul,
AlMMiXDIX.
.)(
Ifchr:i|hcr Niiinnln, fnllowo.l Ilim ; th;it AiiK^nin trarfl
Jb,,.. w'luhhi.- hroiiijht bark ami tuiiik' up in his
tousi' v.hcri- it rfina.iu'il siil).ioc-t to public fxainina
Sn riiil 'h^' ''""* "' ••'•"■'"''"'• ■'"*•'" iii'"">t<'"*tablc
2)01 i.' 'he truth ol what he advanroil. Grantini,' all
M. a I'lrflv pU'Vcs that Antomo atid his brother
I^^^' .'l',i>,.| iihlaii.l C.ri'Ptllaii.l. 'I'hcir letters never
fcert ili.it ZctM ma le the vnyatjc to listotilan.l. I he
it u >< i:irrieil bv a tempest to lireetilaivl, after
•I »r hear '111 I!. of him ; ami his .-Ki-cuint of
lltctii.iti 1 aril liroijeo rests simply on the tale <jf the
|ierni.'\ alier wli"S(; desiTiplions his map must
[Je'rtii' •"!ii'''liiiallv projcrted. The whole story
lemlilrs mm a the fal'les einiilaled shortly after the
IcoViMViiM iiliiinbiis, to arroi;ate to othiT iiatinns
"iBd h: iivi'lu.ils the ereilit of the aehli'Vcmeiit.
M. Ml!!'.' Hniii intimates that the alleged discovery
OfViiil.."'! rn.iv have been known to I'olumlnis when
iKtn.iiii-a viiviue in the \orlh Sea in i 17V,* and that
llienMMi! /■■Ml-, beiiiK in the national lilirarv at I. on
don, ill .'. Iliiiish work, .It the time when li,iilh(do-
Btw Ci liiinnis w:.s i" that eity, eiliployeil in niakini,'
Hups, l;i' i;iiv have know') smnetliinn of it, and h ive
coinn!:'"'!'!^''! '' '■ ' bis brother. + li.id M. M.ilte-
8hin -\,iirriii'il the history of Columbus with his nsiial
ICCiir.i V, li^' w.iiil 1 have pi^rreived th.-it, in his rurre-
ipoi fii' with r.iul " Toscatielli in 1474, he had es-
press'- . iii" iiiii''"i":i 'f Peekini; India by a route i!i
BCllv I ' llii.' \vi-<l, Ilis voya;{e ti) the north di 1 n^t
ie 1'!.! ■ until three ye.irs alterw,ird. As In l!ie
lidtTi- !• "f H.irlhnlciriiew in London, it w.as iicpt mild
ler (' i.aiii' 1.-* had ni.i le his [)ro|)ositionso| diseovery
_.'rlUL;.il, it nut to the rmirts of other powers,
ttani'is'. therefore, th.il he hail subse(]iieiitly he.U'l
the ilubiniis .'•lories of \'iiil,ind, and of the lisherm.m's
Bivcnicri'S, as rci.iled by Zeno, or at least by Marcn-
: lioi, ti'.'. vviileiuly could not h.ive inllueneeil him in
hUgri ; iiitiTj rise. Ilis route had no refereme to
tkm. I '■' w.is a ilirei t western emirse, not toward
i ISn.a'i 1. ,intl l-'.-lolilaiiil, .md DroL^eo, but in se.in li
; )(Ci;unL;ii .mi (.'.itli.iy. and the other eoiintries cb'
Iribf i Ny Marco I'ulo, .is Ivin^ it the e.Mrcinilv "f
idia.
X' XV.
^RrrMNAvi.;.\[i IN 111- .\iRii \ l:v Tllf AS' ir.M -.
Ti!' k'lnwledi;',- rf the ancients with rcsjiert in tlio
illav.i. I'oast nf Africa is considered bvini'^k-rn in-
Bt.iM;i'r..; nv.uli less extensive than h.nl b'-m ini.ii;-
__jKi . .Ill it isii nibted whether they h.id anv practi-
• Cal;;;:ili!irity lir the bi-liel that Africi w.is cinnnmav
pbli , Ihe .illei^ed vi>y,it>e of I-"iulo.\us f)f C'y/ieiis,
pmih-keil Se.i to Gibraltar, thouijh reeonb-d by
Jill'.- I'linijioniiis Mei.i. ,iii(l dthers, is i;iven eiuirelv
; JBtli: .iv^rui^in of Cornelius Nepos, who does 11. .1
JIlKn!; tthi-nri; he deri\ei| his inform, ition. I'ori
_ ni'.'^ I'l'i !,y .Strabiii j^ivcs an entirely diifen-iit
£'■"'."■ '' -^ ^■' V'-K"". "nii rejects it with contempt. (
ill'- :.iiii.iii> vijy,it;e .if IKiniin. the (.'.irtha>;iiii.iii. ;■.
IPP' - i til h.ive l.iken piare .iliout a thousand ye.irs
*w.'tJiiM'liri>iiaii er.i The I'eripius ll.mnon'is n
f- Bai
fin
l^lon
m
I lii.i! ,u;.l i,:iM:ure r-'cord of this expedition,
■iicti.! yreat comment .ind lontroversy. I!v
■.|^ i ci-n priiiioiini ed a lictitious work, f.ibii-
"'"•,;4 the Greeks, but its authentiritv h.is been
' '""''■■! It .i|>pears to l.ic satisf.ictoiily
'. !ii.iivviT, that til.' voyauc of this navii;.itor
•1: i;re.iii, e.\:ii,'i;cr.iiid, and th.at he never c ir-
'"'"■■■•.:<;it^^.l ;he extreme end nf Africa. Mon.-. de
'ii.;i::'.-ilU- ; ir.ices his route to a pronmntory which
il the \V..>st lu.rn. sup, posed to be C.ipe
"■' ■ al.ini; l.vior si v: denrees north ot the e(|uinor-
wiur.it. li(. iroceeded to anoilier pronion
f lir.' '''"''■ "'^' ''•'''■'"'.' . 'o"i- i. lib. wli.
'"•'ill..; I ■lei-rseile, tmii. \iv. Note siir !.i d.'-
'• ■ -\in.^-i.pii-.
'ton, ■'■"■ ''^"'■'"•'■■■hes i-iir h f;eo);iMi.hie U-s Anciens
■ "'" ,' 1 I.: |.',-
}-"'''ii"):i,ik-l.\.--.ul. cits Inscnpi. torn. a.xvI.
tory, under the s.ime par.illid, wdiii h ho called the
South Horn, supposed to hi' C.ipe de Trcs I'unt.is.
Mons, (iosseliii, however, in his Kese.irches into the
( ieoi;ra[)liy of the Ancients itome 1, p. |fi.' etc. I, after
.1 rmid i'S.iinin,ition of the I'eripius of Il.miio, deter-
iiiiiii's that hi' had not sailed f.irther smilh than C.ipt;
Nun. I'liiiy, who makes llaiino raiiKe the whole coa?t
of .\fric,i, from the str.iits to the cimtiti'S of Arabia,
h.id never seen his I'eripius, but took his idea from
the works <if Xenoplion of l.ampsaio. The Creeks
siirchar^icd th<! iiari.ition of ilu; voyaj^er with all kin. Is
of (allies, and on their unf.iithtiil copies, Strabo
fruinded m.iny of his assertions. .\ii urdinj; to M.
(iosselin. the itineraries of II,imio, of Scvlax, I'oly-
biiis, Sl.ilius, S( Il isus and jub 1. ; the recitals of I'lato.
of ,\ristotle, of I'liny, of I'lutan h, ,ind the tables of
I'lolcmy, ,il| brim; us to the saiiu.' results, and, nr,t-
withst.indiiiL; their apparent contradictions, fix the
limit of southern n.avij^.ition .about the neijjhbortiotil
of Cape Non, or Cape Hoj.idnr.
The opinion tli.it .Africa was a peiiiiisul.i, wliii h ex-
isted aiiion.L; the Persians, the I'.i,'ypli.ins. .uid perhaps
the ( irei'ks, sever.il centuries jirior to the Christian
er.i, was not, in his opinion, founded upon any known
f.icts ; but mercdy on conjecture, from < (insideriiiL;
the imnurisity and unity of the nc<.:in ; 01 perhajis on
more .mrient traditions ; or on i.le.is ])ridiiced by tir."
C.irtlKii;inian discoveries, bevond the Straits of (iib-
i.iltar, and those of the Mijyptians beyond the (itilf of
;\r ilii.i lie thinks th.at there was a very remote
pi-riod, when K''OL;r;iphy was niM li iii'in- i I'rfect than
ill the time ol the I'henii i.ms and the Cm iks, whose
knowledge w.is but confused tr.ii es of wh.ii had pre-
viously been lieiler known.
The opinion th.ii the Indian Sea joined the ocean
was admitted anioni; the Creeks, ami in 'be school of
.\le\andri.i, until the tune of llil)]..inl •. 't seemed
authori/ed by the direction which tin .-■ 1 ! Afric.i
took .after Cape Armnata. alw.iys ter.i •,< .vcslw.ird.
.IS fir as it had b'-i-n explored by n.ivinators.
It was supposed that thi' western coast of Africa
lounded oft to meet tile eastern, anit th.it the whole
w.is bou.'iik'd bv the ocean, much to the notthw,ird of
thp e>)u.itor. Sui h W.IS the opinion of Crates, who
lived in the time of .Ab'x.iinler : of .Ar.itus, of Clcan-
llies, of Cle. 'iiiedes, of Slr.abo, of l'oi:i]">iiius Mel.i. of
M.icr<d)iu.s, and many (>tli(rs.
Ilipp.irchus limp ised a different system, and led
tb.e world into an
error, which for a
>ni.
time rc-
t.irded the maritime comnuinii ation of I'.uropo and
liidi.i. He supi>.ised that the seas were separated
into distinct b.isiiis, and th.it the e.islern shores of
.Africi made .a circuit round the Indi.ui Se.i. so as to
join those of .\si:i bevond ti.e mouth of the (iani;es.
Subsr')uent discoveries, instead of refutirii; this error,
oulv placed the junction of tin: continents ,it . greater
dist.ince. M.irinu- of Tyre, and I'lolerin-, adrined
this opinion in their works, ,iivl idustr.ited it in their
ni.ips. which for ceiiturii's controlii'd the i,eneral be-
liel ot m.mkind. and piTpetu iled th.r i le.'. that .Africa
CNieniled oiuv.ir.l to the south I'ol;., .nid th.it it was
impossible t 1 .irrive by se.i al the ciM-^ts of Iii'li.i.
Still tlu-r.' were ^eoi»raphers who Ir.iiird to the i.-oie
ancient idea ot :i ( ommuiiicati' in betuicii t'a' Indian
Sci .mil the .Atlantic Oce. in. Itb.i.l i'.s a l> "Cites in
Sp.iin, and w.is m.iintained by I'.imponius Mela, :.nd
by Isidore of Sewlle. Il w.is bd.eved also by some
if the le.irne.l in It.ilv. in tlv thirteenth, f nirteentli,
.(lid lilti'enth centurii'.. ; ami thus w.is kept alive until
it w.e- acted upon si vii;orous|y by I'rime Henry i f
I'ortiitj.il, and at bmi^th triumphantly ilenionstrateil ' v
\'as.-ii de (iama, in his cin unin.ivi!.;.iti >ii ot t!ie t.'.ipe
of Ciood Hope.
Ko. XVI.
Is rem.iikiiii; on the sir..i!bi<'ss <if the vessels with
will' h Columbus ma'le his t'lrst voyaije. Dr. KoPertson
observes that, " in the fifteenth century, the I ulk and
iliiliii:''
i ; .il' !
1 , fl: '1-
i.li 'ii
1 1 ^
¥
:M
i^
,)S
AriM'NDlX.
r.iiistnirtioii o( vr';scl<; were arcdniiiKnialcil to llip
sliurl ililil e Msy Viiy.iycs Jiloti); the iD.lst. whiill they
were airii'ii'iii'cil tn i)irli)rm " Wt- li.ivc in. my |iriH)l>,
hiuvcvcr. Il-.ii men ,in(orii>r to the lidi'ciitli iiMitury,
there well- l.iri;c ^lllps cinploycd hy tlii! .Sp.mi.irils, as
wi'il as liy ctlicr ii.iiions. In .111 oiIk t imhlislicil in
H,ir< flcjna, in l.t^t, liy I'c.Iro 1\' , rntorc iiiK vaiimis
rc.i-iii.iiiDiis f(ir till' M'linity ii( tiunnu'rri', nicniinn is
ni.i(K' (>f (.'.it.ilonian mi-rrhatu ships ut two ami three
ilciks an. I lro:n .>>o(kj to 1 j,(H)i« mnnt.ils Imrdiii.
In i-ii'i. .\!>>ii/o of .\r.ii;on hire.l several tnirihant
.sliips to tr.mspiirt .ir.illi ry, liorses, etc., (rotn li.irrelon.i
lo li.ily, .inMru; wliiili were two, each larryiiiv; oiu-
tuiivlreil aiui twenty horses, wiiirh it is iinipule.l
woiilii reiniiie a vessel of at least '100 tons.
Ill 141 .?, Iiienti Ml is inaile of a \'eiieti.iil ship of 700
t itis whiih arriviil at li.iri elona from laiKJaihl, ia.leii
v.:ih whe.it.
Ill 14)7. •' (.'.istili.iil vessel arri\'('.l there 1»-iiil; oI
12.1KV) (|iiiiuals i'Urilen. 'I'hest- arrivali im ideiu.illv
nuMUione.l .1111 >ik' others of siinil ir si/e, as h.ippeiiini,'
alone poll, show that l.tr^i- ships were in use in
Uli.se days ■■ In deed, .a llu' lime ol lilUiin outthesei-.
ond c.\pedit!on of rohiiilbus, tliere were prep.ired ill llie
p irl of Hermeo, a (".ir.u'e.i nf i .'^ ) t uis, .111. 1 luiir shi| s
o! iroiii Ij^o t 1 4?o Ions burden. Ihcir destin.iti in,
lio.vever. w.is .illered, and they were sent t 1 convoy
Muley Hoa'.idil. the last Moorish Kim,, of (ir.m.id.i,
from the Loas'. of his eonipiered territory M .Xfiii-.i |
It was not for w.uit of lar>,'e vessels in the ."sp ln■^U
pons, ther-'ljre, that those of Coluniljiis were oi so
small a si/c. He considered them best ad.ipled t)
eovapes of discovery, as they required Init littie depth
ol water, .ml therefore eouUl nioie easily .111 1 salely
1 nasi uiikiMwti shores, .md e.vplore bays .m.l rivers
I !e ha.l some purpisely constructed of .1 very smail
• for tins service , such w.is the cir.ivcl, v. hich in
ihird vovaue he ilispatclied to look out f'T .m
oiienim; In ihf se.i .it the upper p.irt of the (nilf of
I'.iri.i. when j! 1 water i;rew too t.hallovv lor his xcsil
ol (iiv; hull Ire., tons burden.
'I'lie most sinful. ir 1 in umst,m;e with re--pel ti. the
ships of Columbus is that they sli' iild be open vessels
for it seems diiii -ult to believe Ih it a voyage of sicli
extent .ml peril shoulil be .ittenip.ed in barks ol so
frail a constrsi' i;":!. This, 'ii'-.ever, is e.\pre--s;y
ineiuionelliv I'i'ler Martyr, !■. i-is l).-ades wimen
at the lime ; and mention ism.. Ic occ. ^..iii.illy, it: the
m.-moirs re ative to the voy.i^es '.ritlen by Columbus
an i his son. of ■ ertain 01 his vessels beitit; witlioui
dc.-ks. lb- s'lnetimes speaks of the same vessel .is a
ship and a c. navel. There ;i, is been some discussion
of Kite as to the precise me.ininij of the term car.ivel.
'I'hi' Chevalier Hossi. in his d.issertatioiis on Colum-
bus, observes lliat in tlrj .Nlediterraiiean caravel des-
iunaics the l.irtiest i Kiss of ships of w.ir aiuoii),' tlie
Massulm ins, mil that in rnitun.il it means a sin.iU
vessel of fnm u ) to ipi tons burden ; but C:jluaibu->
s.inielimes ,i[i[)ii;s it to a vessel if forty tons.
I)u C.iii^e, in his ^;l;iss,iry, considers it a wnr I of
It.iliiti on;,'. II. Hossi thinks :t eitiier Turkish or
Aoibic. and prob.ibly introduced into the Murope.in
.an,;ua«es liy the Moors. .\lr. ll.iward Ilverell, in .1
note to his I'lvinoiuh or.itii'u, consiilers ih.it the true
orii;in of til'; word is t.;iven in " I'err.irii < )riKiiies
I.;:i,;u.e It.ihfa'," ns follows: " Caravel, i, navi^'ii
nnnoris e.enus. I,at. Cai.ibus : Grace K.ir.ibron."
That tile word caravel w.is inteiuied to si^nilv a
vessel of .1 ~:n.ul si/e is evident from .1 nav.il id.issili-
i.i'.ijin mile tiv Kin',; .\'on/o in ihc maldle of the
thirleenlh century. In the first cl.iss he enumerates
.^ ..■,', or lari,"' ships which ^;o only wit.'i skills, some
of which lia.e two masts, and o!h"rs but one. In tlie
sei ind cKiss sm iller vessels as ( . rr.icas, J'ustas, M.il-
lenarps. I'liia/as, ('n, !•'■:■/ :,, etc In the ihinl 1 Kiss
vessels with sails and oars, as (jaUe^s, (.Jalcols, I ,ir
dantes, and .S.ielias.*
Hossi t>ivcs a ropv of a letter wnucn vi. .
to Don U.iph.ul .X.Hisis, tre.isiirir e; id,, ti".
Isp.iiii, an I'dition o! which cmms m t|i,. .,,^,11 '
at .Mihiti. With this letter he kims sevir,il 11,
of sketches made with .1 pen, which aiiiin;p.ii
letter, and which he supposes to have lifn -
h.md 01 (Dlumlius. In the:«e .ire repiocnit., ,,,
which are proli.ibly cir.ivels. The\ li.iu' I ^n
.mil sterns, with cisiles on the Kuiii ii,. ,
short masts with l.ir^;e scpi.ire sails, ii;,,. ,
besides sails, li.is benches of o.irs, ,ui I 1. i..,.
tendecl to represent .1 ^;.illev. Thev .in . ; ^
vessels of sin, ill si/e, an. I liijht coiislrin !,.,n
Ilia work c.illed " Uecherches i.ur Kr I . m
piil.ished in .\nislerd.mi, 17.10, is a pl.i'.f re 1.
.1 vessi I of the Kilter p.irt ol the liiiiciuli m.
is t.ikeii from a picture 111 theiliuiili cc. s; ,
e I'aolo in \'eni( !■. Ihe vessel be.irs 1 ,;.
biaiiie t ) those said to li,ive been skitc hi ; : ,
bus; ii has two niasts, one ol ivliiili ,< n
siimII wall a l.itini- s.iil. The ina-iiihc-i c.,.
sc|U,ire sail, 'i he vessid h.is a liiyii p'ii.;i ..i,,;
del ked .it e,ii h end, and is open 111 iKe 1 -i;!
It .ippe.irs to be the (act, iheretoic, ih.ii ;ii...
vessels with which Columbus uiiderio..!, n.s ,,
perilous voyak'es, were of this lii;lil .cad ir.iiii
lion, >ind little supeiior In llu; small iritu,,
on riveis ,incl aloiij; coasts in muderu d,.y>
* Capminv, Qaestiones Criticas.
♦ .\rcliiviv ■!<? Ind. on Sp\ ;ia.
J Cipinaiiv. QiK'it, Cm.
One t. 6.
Kc XVH
Kor 1 1; c.|.- 1 oi.rMiif , IN 111^ 1 11;
\ ' iY.\ .
Ir li.is liilherto been siipposecl TmI ■ :■.
H.ihama Isl.mds, at present be.iniu; ih ■ 1 ,■■
Silv.iilor, and wlii'di is also known ,s (' ; ;
W.IS the lirst point where Columbus ctt::- •■
wdh the New World. Nav;irrel'-, tinivi 1 r
intiodiiction to the " Ccdiectioil of >•;■ .11 s'l \
,111 1 IVisccveries, " recentiv published .it .\|;i;
end'. ivored to show th.il it niust h.oc " i' -n
UKuid, one of ihe s.ime j;rc.i:p, siiii.it" l ,i' >
l<M;;lles !o| 2.1 ;i) |!ie dcVLjreel .'■•.I', c' s.iri>.
(ire.it I .ire li.is been t.iken to eN.iiirc- i,;::;'
opinion of S.iv.irrite, 1 (imparin.i; it v.itli ;>■ ;
C.i'uirliiis, as published in the above -nun:!"-'
.end with the personal obSeTV.itioes "I liv v
this article, who lias been rr.U' li aninii:,' llir ;
C iluiiibiis des niies (lU.in-ih.ini, on »;■; iii.v.
.end to which he e.ive the name of >Mn scic.i
beinn a beautiful island, and very l.u::' .o
Ic-vel, anil covered with fore Is, ma>n i • ji ■ :
vvliirh bore fruit . as having abiiiiKiiii c ' T'-'
an I a Kirge lake in the centre ; ih.d 1: >*.i-
by a numerous popui.ition ; th.it he pi-o'i-;?:
c ons'derable distance in his boats al'.ii-: II'."
whicdi trended to the N.N'.E.. aiul a^ he | ir-'-
visile. I tiy the inhabit. mis of several Vl....:l^
Is:.ind does not answer to this desrii; ; •
I urk's Island is a low key i ompo^e . ' '.
roi ks, and lyiiii; iK^rlli and soi.lh, les- ili.c :« '
in esteiit. It is utterly destitute of wi.' i" 1 '
.1 single tree of native (growth. It h .- ■ "'"■-
the inhabit. lilts depeiidink; entirelv ■ n 'i^'.'''
c.isks in wliii h they preserve the rcir v :: '
any lake, but several s.ill pond'-, uli '■ ' ." ■
siJie procluc lion of the island. 1 nrK .l-on
be ,i|)proarhetl on the east or north ' i>'. '■■
Sequence of th' reef that surrouiiils .i. .1.' -
bor, but li.is .an open ro.icl on iKc w- -' •■'-
vessels ,11 .inchor there have to le,i\,- ic 1 I".'.
whenever the wind conies from .inv oiln r'l .a''''
th.it of the iisu.il trade bree/e "f N K »'''''
over the island , lor the shore is : > I . • "i''-'-
'.Hi
.1..:!,
■:i|
•I
* Till- author of ,..is vv^tk i^ iiuleliteil I r t'.-i ■■
aniiii Hum of the vcmte of (Viliiiubiis lo .iH ''■'■'■ '.^
11. ivy I'f ihe I 'iiited St.stes. w hci-.e liallic I e rf.tnl' ■ |
beiiii,' at liiieny to iiienliim He li.is b" n ^f''' ' .j .
Ired. Ill various [)iM.s of this history b) n.i .i'^-'''"'-'""'" I
liuiu the i.iiue iuleliigent st,.iirce.
landwnue cxrrri
Imv If-:
jir.iiidi iri ivi'ic
|cf.| |,'i:h ur"" '''
|[H'V.lils. 'lllc
in, .i: llio seiilh
((.T,. 's. riii- ''-
jlii;llle<l illiliv.i;
la !■ cv ^lll'l■il and
jtj(jf i-.i;".lilli|i!loll I
filh.riiuirtie. wlii'
3' the princip.il !•"
!.«■. il;-- riie IV
ijthc;""!iire 1. 1 li
tlie m:i;ii'im'.C"'d.
fffcr ■.{■ Kill, I. Mil I
tomni'Ti c lines not
tjdr.r.v llicir ^■.ll^:|
pcopl-
■Acii;: cvhcii i' ■
lllBlV.l- .It .1 1"SS In
ttn^hr: if i:-!.iMi|i
Tbilii' imni lurk's
irflidi i.ceiidi ■ i it,
a 'link s M.iiid'. I
net tcli us ivliu CO
Gtnii.'in.iiii to ('"11. ■
Jtc li'.ic'.ies ili-t.uii ,
(t)ltw,:s .ii;;iii;-t iiini i
tanrc 'ii'iii I ink's N
pOSfi! 1 V N'.iv.irretc l'
\m. ']'• iicarlv ilmiide.
to the W.S'.W. airont;
linr.il .'• ill ni'iiii; f'oi
Fr»ni Cenci juioii (
lich he '-.iiv nine le.u
to whr li lie .;.ue llu
JiaiMinlP I.iiics to be
than livc'ily tivi' le.i^iu
|goi:ij 1 > I itlle l:i:ii.
|S >;.iiic c'se 111 ill
Itli'- lil.clhl. III. tie o'
lirp.il. CuliiniKii-i lie
Iw-niV eiclll le,u;i
Little ln.il;ii.i has il-- t;r
aS.W three li.iii. In .
Mliil-:i.i hiis iioiliiiii; HI
~oni IVrn.indiiia C''
lla. ivhi.-li N'.iv.irreti
leri'i^s ihis i.ittii be, I
prsc i! ilerici; -.M ;rri
.\i;iiiil : t'oKimbi
pes 'H. .isl.i: 1.1 s.iv li
li'iir. i-:ilcll.i
Irty-livc ir.iijiics froii
Tcniii- Isal.ell:,, C.
ma 1.; (.lih.i, and f
Bis '•' iii^e i!r:mii In.i
|5b$Ici1 l'u;.,i aboul I
ppii-cs ih.it Coliiinb
bth "'■ ilie binieiuos,
Rli.i :i r uirsi- difie
jtk-'f: •.. ,\t;.-rs.n
ph'ii'l •■[ {\Ak\, Cilii
|Novir!!;ii:r. :n the
ll!l!;f,i ' V ■-.. IlLinv !>
court \-n , w'lere.is,
kcish'iniif! Cape V.,
W- ..r, I in. ire ih.in
'i, It can i.i.^vil IV
|.ii uiniiiis in: ,r::,i i..
'' I'rm. ipc'imt
'hic.iiii 'ri.ui i!
W!:'-s.i",.'. cvhlv
Jni.ik'ti^ le.r.,. ,,f I
^a>:i'.!'.^v>l Its .,;,
flu ;itii;tweii;v le,,i.|
piit;>, there still' i
''lifipose^ hini to I
^'■■vcnty leagues
AIMM'NDIX.
2:.o
■(•\
I V>r.iL'(' ("'ii'T' '■''"""' '" '' ' ■'""' **■'"'" '''*' "'"'"'
bfs'iH lilnH (r.im itu- l.iixl, vrsscis roinainiiiu at
'',,1, ,rs wi.i.: I Iw swiitiic iitj.iinsi llu< rdiks. or
I'l i',:;;hiipnii the sliiM-c. I'V lti<- liTril)li' smf lli.it
' ^"",,11., liuMinfrdiiH-nifil rnail <if till- Hawk's
li„. ioiiili mil ul tlic i>-lanil, is cvi-n imur'
ij,.r,i s riii- '-l.in.!. which is mU siisccpiiM.' ot
jliumf't . ulliv.ili"", tiitllishrs a si-iinly suhsislrin <•
,|HVshrfli.iii'l Imrscs, I ill- iiihaliitatlls draw all
'rr.in<lim[i!li'ti liniu ahroail. with tin- (Arfptinii of
m ,ri' mnlc, whi' 'i arc l.ikcn in almnilaniT, atvl sii|>-
I'jii princii'.il l">'l <'f I'x' ^l''^'"''* <-'n|'l"V'''l in ihi-
|l.^^Mk^ Ihc wlu'''' wi-allli of ihc islainl ronsisls
tothc!'"'!ii''i" ' I ''■'■ salt ;>i>ii(ls, an.i in the salvage
iidr'.'" ''f ''''!"■ """>■""■' '"'* "•''''' i''l«' I''"'-" '"
tke ni;i;ii'i(ir!>o"il. Turk's Islinl, thrrcforr, would
jjCfr !■ I'llmailcl ill a :.av ii;i' stale of soriply, where
{jnini'n'Mlnrs iiui exist , and where men arp obliged
td'drii'.v tlicir Milsistcii.e 'loni ilic sp.itwhiih they
Ai,Mi'; rt'lna a'"'iit t' leave diiaiiahani, Coliiiii-
his W.I- at . I less lo ehdosc which to visit of a l^re.it
irtniiitr "f is!.iiid-i Ml si.i;ht. N"W there is no land
thill, (• irom lurk's Isian.l, eNeeptin.trihe two salt ki'vs
l^idi l;i-M nih 1 II, iiid with it loriii llie :jroup known
Turks N:.ii'.I', TIk- journal "I ( oliiinluis docs
tell us ivliit I'ourse he steereil in ijoiiii; Ironi
ltnii:uwni to ('■liiiep' loM, lnit he st.ites that it was
five iMii^ifs li'-iaiil ir.'ni the tornier, atui that the i la-
tent w.s .tL;;i;r. a iiiiii 111 s.iilint; to it : wduTeas the (lis-
tanrf 'r.'m link's Island to the (iran Caieo, sup
pofi''! i V Navarrele to lie the ("oiveprion of Coliiin
bos, i^ ncarlv liolible, and the ctirreiil sets ron^latilly
k W N.W. aii'oiii; these islands, whii h would I, e
lor.il ■ ■ ill 1,'oiiii; I'liin lurk's Isl.iiid to the C'aieos.
riiii l-'iini I ;iiion ('oliinilms wiait iK'Xtto an island
lich hi' 'aw nine leagues oil in a westerly direrlion,
«!:. :i lie .;a\e the n.iaie of rernaiidina. This
IVairilc l.iUi'> 111 he latlle IiKn;ua. distant no less
III l.vc'ity Uvo le lilies fioin (Iran Cai' o. Hesidcs,
itgoiii^ 1) I illle hia^u.i. it Would lie neiessarv to
Mss i;.iiic i.ose 1(1 three islands, e uh Linger than
Ttltk'^ UI.iii.l, i:oae of whii h ;ire nieulioneii in the
jtHiriKi!. ('uliiniiius desirilies I'eni.iiidir.a a^^tretlll•
ig ivvniy eiiilil |eai;iies S.I", and \ W. . where.'is
Littlf In.iiiii.i lias ils greatest leiii;th of tour le,ii',ues in
aS.U (lirnii.Ti hi.i word, the desi-ription of 1 er
iiar'l':i:i has imdiiiiL; 111 I oniii'on with l.iitle Ina^u.i.
From I orii.iniliii.i (_'oiunibus s,ii!< d S K. to Is.i-
bflki, w!ii'-|i N'.i'.'.irrete takes to l,c dre.it Ina^ll.i ;
fllcrf:;S ihis i.itii'i l,e,ir> S.W. from Little In.itiiia, .i
prsei! ilerira; ,11 Iroiii llie one foMowed I'V foluni-
.\:;ain , rui-.im'iiis. on ll-.e _'i.||i o' Novetiilier,
pes'ii. ,isi.'n [11 say ih.it (iu.iii.ihani w.is dist.-int eii;ht
leiin N.il.ella ; where. is Tuik's Island i-
Drty-tivi- ir.,iii;cs (rniii tire.it liiaijiia.
.L(.'v;n- U.il.ell:,, ; olumljiis M.io 1 W.S.W. for till'
Maml 1.; t.ii!u. and fi'll in willi t!ic islas Aren.i'..
TlliS'-i;rsi-,ir,iv, n Iromdieat lnai;u:i w<ii-.ld meet the
BSt'il<u:,,i alioul r irl .Sijie ; where. is .N'.ivarrele
ppi'-'"i ih.ii Coaiinlms iie.M leil in with the ke\s
Ptii' '■ I'll.' |iai!.,-iu.is, ;iii,! whii h bear U'.N.W. from
Ri;.. :i r mrsi- dil'leriiii; (^ from the one steered
klhi'-'i:.. .\i;er sailiiii; |.jr. some time in the rieiidi
frhoil "f Culi.i, Columbus hnds himself, on the i.|th
[Noviri'litr. ai the se.i < f Kiiestr.i Seilora, sur-
fillile,! ! V .-M 111. my isl.uuls lliat it u,is im|iossit)le to
pm :h.-n, . w'leie.i^, on the s.iine d.iv, N'av,irrete
(ccMiiaiiif! C.\\,r M,,,i, ..vliere there is iiul "lu- Mn.ill
iBiii!. ..n 1 iii.iri' ih.in (iny leagues dist.int fruii .m;,
i pOi:;- '.ii.it can [■,ii>sil ,v aijswi-r tiie deseriiiiioi!.
^Caanliiis ^- - '
H lis ih.it San Salv.idor w.is distant
t| , I" :oil\-i"iv<.' ie.njues where.'is Turk's
«lj!i" .■ ii'.:-:..m 11',. m (lu- p,niit. suppose-l bv N'.r..irrete
»t.^ !.•■' S.IM,.- ..i,;htv Km^'UCS,
in:
'nili :|ii
Columbus remarks that
'Is' :••.■•..' ,,f Cuba,
.kavv.l IN ,.,:ist for an extent. if rjo leaKUes.
Bli:!"?; twenty lr,,i.,.es for his h.ivini; followed its
■^"1^-. tb^re St. II remain !.«). Now, Nav.irrete
' '^"Pposes l,in, to have coasted this island .in cx-
'"' ^'-'vcnty leagu<-s.
Sill h ;ire the most important difriciihies whii h tli"
theory of N.iv.irrele off ts, and which .appear msiir
iiiM'.intable. Let us tKiw lake lip the riiiile of (.'ohim-
bus as recorded in his ionrnal. and, with the best
ili;irls before us. ex. inline how it aijrers with the pop-
til. ir and tradilion.il opinion, that he hrs! I.iiided on
the i-.lanil of San S.iUador.
\\i' learn from the iournal of Columbus that, on the
I Itll of ( Ictober, \.\ )2, heeonlimied steeriiitj W. S.W.
until sunset, when he returned to bis old course of
west, the vessels runnint; at the r.ile ot three leai;iies
an hour. ,\t ten o'clock he and several of liis r rew
s.iw a liKht. which seemi.l like a torch r arried about
on land, lie continued luimiiuroii foiir hours lom;er,
• ind li.ul iii.i'le a dist.mi e ol twelve l:'.ii;ues farlhcr
west, when at two in tlie mornint; l.iiul was discovered
alie.ul, (list.mt two lc.ii;iie'.. I he twelve le.ij;ues which
they ran since im o'clock, with the two leatjues dis-
l.incf; from the l.md, form .ilot.il corresponding essen-
tiallv with the disl.'ince .iiid sitiiati<in of \V;i'.:ini;'s
Island from S.m S.ilvador ; .itid it is tin me piesumed
lli.it the lit,dit seen ;\l th'it hour was mi \\.alini;'s
Isl.ind, winch Ihev were then ]i.issini;. I Lid the li^ht
been se( n on l.md ahead, .ind ihev had kept runnini;
on four hours at the r.ite of three Ir.i^jues an hour,
tliev miisi have run liiyh ;;nd dry on shore. As the
adiiiii.d himself received the royal reu.iid lor lnvini;
seen this buhl, as the titsl dij-covery ol ! .iid, V'atlinn's
Isl.ind is believed to be tlie point for whiih this pre-
mium w.is ur, lilted.
< >n m.ikiii:; I, ind, tin- vessels were hove to until day-
li'.;ht of tin- same i.Mliof October ; they then ancliort d
off an isl.irid of t^re.it be.iuty, coveted with lorests,
and extiemidy fiopulous.
It was c.iiled ( iiian.ihaiii by the n.'itives, 1 ut Coliini-
bus u.ive it the name ol S.iii S.ilvador. I'.xploriilK its
I iMst, where it r.iti lo ilu- N.N'.M., he found a harbor
c.ip.ible of shellerin^i aiiv number of shi]is. This de-
scription corresponds mini, tely with the S. !'".. pait of
llie isl.md known ,is San S.dv.idor, or ( ,it Island, whicli
lies east anil wc--l, bending at its eastern extremity to
the N N'.L., and h.is llu! s.iiiie verd.int .-.nd tettile ap
pt'ai.ince. The vessels h.id piobably diifted into this
li.iv at the S.i'!. side of S.m .si.ilv.idor, on the mornini;
of the 1 .'ih, whili! lyiiiHto for d.ivliv;ht ; nor did Colum-
bus, while remainint; ,it the isl.ind, or when sailing
Irom it, open the I. ind so as lo discmer tli.it what lie
h.id lal.en for its whole leiiL;th wa.s but a bend at one
end <if it, .and lh.it the m.iiii body of the isl.ind lay be-
hind, sireti himj f.ir to the N.W. I'riiii ( luanaliani,
Columbus s,uv so niaiiv other isl.mds lh.it he w.is at a
I'lss which next to visit, 'i'he Indi.ins siijniiied that
tliev were innumei.ible, .ind mentifuieil the ti.imes of
alove ,1 hundred. I le determined t.i l;o to the l.iri;est
in siL;lil, which .ippeared to be about live leagues dis-
I I'lt ; smile ol the others were nearer, and some fur-
llii-r oil The i>i,iiid thus selected, it is presumed,
wis the present island of Conrepcion ; and th.it the
oih'is were that sinijul.ir belt ot small islands, known
as I,,i Ca'len.i oir the cliaint, slretchini,' past the island
of .s. ill S.dv.iuor ;ri a S. L. and N'.W. direction; the
ne.irest of the i;roup beim; nean r th.in Concepcitin,
while the test .ire timre distant.
I.e.ivini; S.m S.ilvailor in the aftcrnoiii , f the 14th
for the isl.ind thus selected, the ships l.iy by durini;
I'-.j m'uht, and did not reach it until Lite in the tollow-
ini; day, beini; lel.irded by adverse currents. Coluiii-
iiiis ^;ave this island the name rif Sant.i Mari.i do la
ConeeiH inn ; he does not mention either its bearings
from S,ii. S.ilv.Mor, or the course wlii.h he steered ia
.coins,' to it. We know that in all this ni-iuhliorhood
ihe current sets strongly and const. iiitly to the
■v\',N',\V, : (ind -nice Columbus had the current against
him, lie must li.ive been sailing in an opposite dircc-
timi, or to the L!.S I.. Besides, when tiear Conecp-
( ion, Columbus sees an<itlier island to the westward,
the l.ir,L;est he had yet seen ; but he tells us that he
aril di Ted off Conrepcion. .and did not stand for this
lar.tjer island, because he could not have sailed to the
w<-st. Ilenre it is remlired cert. lin that Columbus did
not sail westward ingoing from S.in Salvjdur ID Con-
V*
f
200
AIMMADIX.
ri-iMiiin . fiir. (nwn ihe nppimiiion of tin- wiinl. .i-;
thi'ic iDulil ]'v mi iiltiiT 4 .iiisc, hf rimld imt s.iil ti.w.inl
Ih.it i|il.uli'l. Now, nil red ii'iii »• liillu- rli.irl. Wf liii>l
llif isl.iiid .11 pu'stiil knmvii as tliiiKipiicii sliii.ticil
I'.S.i; (coin S.iii S.ilv.iildi, and at .i ii>rit.'S|n)nilmL;
di»l.incf «i| livi' li'.iKinh.
Iamvuih I'liMc ipi i.m nil till- Killi « )i I'lliri, t ■|iliinilHi>
sIi'iTi'il Inr .1 viTV latkic isl.iiid nciii In the wcslwatl
nine I(mi;iu> oil. .md wliich cxtrndrd iist-li iwciiiy i ik;lil
liMi,MH-i Ml ,1 S r; .md N W. iliroitirii llr w.is \h-
ciiiiu'd ilii'wholfd.iy, .imldid not nai h ilii: i>l.uid iinnl
Ihe toll, nviiii; inoiiijnK, iTih ( >i tolicr, IK- n.iincd it
Forn.iiidin.i. .\t noon hi; niado h.iil a«.iin. with .i
vifw to run round it. and rcicli .inoth'T isl.ind called
.S,Ainoc-t ; but the wind i'fiiik; at S.l'. iiy S , iho loiirsi;
he wiHlicd to sticr. tho nalvrs >ik;nilii'il lli.il il w niM
lit- c.i^irr to s.iil loiiiid this isl.ind liv nitiniiiK' to thf
N \V. witti .1 l.i;r wind, lie lhrrtl..n' bore up to tin-
s'. \V.. .ml h.uiiik; rim two |c.i«m- (oiiiid .i m.irvcllous
poll, with a n.irrow cntrafiif, or rathiT witli livo en-
tr.iMifi. i(ir tiifrc was an island whirh sluit it in roiii.
pliti'lv, forinmi; a nobli; li.isin within, ^aiiitii; luit u( j
this liarbor bv thi- opposite «-nlr,m( c at the .S'.W.. he
(lisrovered iliit p.irl ot the isl.md whirh runs im»i .m I
west. The u.itives si^niliid to liiiii lli.it this isl.iii I
w.is sin.iller th.in S.iinoft, .ml th.it it would l>e bcllr
lo return low.iid the i.itter. It h.id now bcioinc
ralin, but shortly alter there s|)iuiii{ up .i bree/c fi"in
W.N.W. whiih w.is .ihe.id lor the course they h. id
I'll stvrini;: so tiny bnir u|i ,md stoo.t to the
K.S.K. ill order to m-i an (/lliiik; ; lor the wi-.iilur
thre.ileiied .i storm. whi<h however dissip.ited itsrll in
r.iin. The u' xt d.iy. bein^ the i "th t ) tober, they .m-
chore.! opp isite the e\treinilv oi Kern indiii.i.
1 he wiiole o( tins descriplion .mswers mos' .i; i ii-
r.itely to the island of l',\uin.i. whikh hts soi'lli li.nii
San S.ilv.idor, .ind .s.W. by S. from foiK epi ion. I In-
only mroiisisien y is. lh.it lolumbus st.iles th.it 1 er
ii.mdin.i bore ne.irly west from Coiueprum, and w.i.
tvvciitv-eii;ht le.inues in extent. 1 his nusiai.e niusi
h.ive pro ee 1 from his h.ivini; taken the ii.ii^; i h.uii ol
keys iMiled 1..1 Culen.i for p.iri o; the sime M.xum.i .
which conimu.nis appe.ir.tiice they n.itur.illy assume
when seen Irom (oiuepi nm, for they run m the s.iine
S.i; and N W (iireclion. Their be. iriiiKS. when seen
from the sanie point, .ire llk'-wisc westerly .is well as
soutliwesteriy. As a [)ri>of th.it sui h w.is the case, U
may be oliseived ihal, alter haviiii^ .ippro.icheil these
islands, insle.nl of the extent o; I'ein.mdin.i beim; in
cre.ised to his eye. he now riin.irky that it w.is twenty
leai;ucs loiii;. whereas before it was estimated by hmi
at twenty-ei;;ht , he now ilisi overs th.it instead of one
is! iinl there were m.iiiy. and .liters his murse southerly
lo reach the oneth.it was most consjni uous.
The i.leiu.ty of the isl.m 1 here described with r.Miin.i
is irresisiiblv fori cd ui'wn the mind. The dist.m. e
from l.'oni e|)i ion, the rem.iri^.ib.e port with an isl.uid
in front of it, .I'ld farther on us roast turning; oil t'
the westward, are all so accur.ilely dehne.iled. ill. a il
would seem .is though the i h.irt had been ilr.iwn liuin
ihe descriplion of Columbus.
On the lilh October, ihe ships left Kern.in.lin.i,
steerint; S. r,. With llie wind at north. S.iilinn three
hours on this course, they discovered S.iinoit to the
cast, and steered for it, arri\inj{ at its north point be
fore noon. Here they fouinl :i little isl.md surrounded
by nil ks, with another reef of rocks lyin^' between
it and Samoet. To S.inn..el Columbus i^.ive the n.inie
of IsdijelUi, .md to the I'.iint of il opposite the liltle
island, that of Cabo del Isleo ; the c ,ipe at the S.W.
point of S.iinoet Columiius t.illed l!.ibo de I..i);im.i,
and olf this List his ships were biounlil to .iinhor.
The little isl.md lay i the direction from Kernandin.i
to Isabella, east and west. Ihe coast from the small
island lay westerly twelve le.iL;ues to a < ape, whn h
(.olumbus called Kerniosa from its beauty ; this he
believed to be an isl.md .apart fnnn Samoet or Isabella,
with another one betwei n them. I.eavimj Cape
Lacuna, where he. remained until the joth ( )iIober,
Columbus steere.l to the- Nli. toward C.ibo del Isleo,
but meeting with shoals mside the small iblainl, he
• lid not come to .iin hor until Ihe d.iv li.rmv' .
this extiiinilv ol Is.ibell.i tin \ I'miiuI ,, , . ^^*|
which the ships Were siipplieil with vv,ii r
riiis isl.md ol Is.tlicll.i, or ^. mini I.
"«"•<« • »,
r.ilelv in Its desciipiion with Ul.i l.n^i.n
e.ist ol 1x11111.1. Ih.it It IS only nil ess, irv I, nv I
the ch.iit iinloldcd lo bi-come ( onviin ul .,, i , ,,.
I Living; resolved to Visa the isl.itnl ivli,, i, ;•,.. ,
i.llled Cub. I, and described as be.iiiiii; 'A >i\ "i
Isabell.i, Columbus lilt C.ibo ih 1 l>|. „ ,.; „; .
the coniinein eiiient ol the »'.Jlh *'• InS.ii. .,;.; ..!
Ins i nurse ,ici onlm^jly lo the \V,si U . ') |„. „ ,_
Imued buht, with i.iin, until nonii, wIumI; '(..j^.
up, .md III the evininn Cape \eri;e, tl,,. .v w .,'.
ol I'em.indin.i. bore \.W. disi.iiu scvi :i lp,i,^ /
the muht bec.ime teinpeslucus. he l.i\ i,i ^;i' -,
inir. .IriltiiiK .ncordinn lo the reckiMuii; i-.i., t, ._,
On the mormiii4 ot the iiih he lu.i ;i. s.i, ,i»l.> '
W.SW., until lime ocloik, winn he h.,] • r.'
le.ii;ues ; he then steered west until i! i .•. « i- .
h.id lun eleven le.ijjues, at whiih liniii i,.:i; ,(„
loviTed, tonsistini; of seven or eii;lil knsJii^-.-
,ind south, and ilist.int live leama's n i, ;; .. .
Ilere he anchored the next d,iy, sni.ilu.i i:um. ..^.^
w bn h he 1 .died Isl.is de Areii.i ; liiiv vuii; ,.
lue or six leagues in extent,
I he dist.ii' es iiin by Coliiinbus, .wMi-
p.irime I.ikeii trnm I'ern.indma an I l!u- .;i^;.l!; tr
tliese Islands n| .Ateii.i at the lime e' li>o ui :;,.,;
a sum of thirty h.iijiies. This sui i.; i r,\ . ,.s.
.diniil three less tb.m the dist.mce Imini!, ■• .
of 1-eriiandin.i nr llxum.i, wliiine ('< -..r.
dep.iMure, to the uroup of Muc.ir.is \\!i ,
C.iyn l.obo on the >;ranil bank <•[ ll.ili i!i,.i. .r.iir.:
( orrespond to the ilesctiplii.n ol I l.iiiiiis ..
were necessarv to account (or the ilillcni .■ . ;;■"
le.iyues in a rei knninv;. where sn it.iiui .-,.::•
conjecture, it would read.ly oicur lo ,i >f ■!.,:;. :^
.in .(llowaiice of two leaj^ues for lii.t;, .;■..:» ., .
iiij^ht of blowy weatiier, is but a •••v.:: ■ ■ J
1 nurse from l.\iiin,i to lln- Mue,ir.i-- < i i. • i'
W. The Course lollowed by Coluiii i.^; • ..
Irom this, but as il w.is his inii-niieu, ^-n - .^
Icoin Is.ibidl.i. to steer W'.S.W.. .1:1; »,i. > . .,-
w,ird .illereil it to wi'si, we m.iy cn.i.u.. : -:;.t..
so in consei|ueni e of haviiii,' been 11.11 k' ; > ■'■
to ihc southw.ird, while l\mi; to 11 • i.:!.!:;.. .■
( ', /. •.'7 --.At sunrise Cohinibiis s, i ,,., : 1 .:
isies .Aren.is or Mucaras, lor .1:1 i-ic.:. .i.^.U:.
sieetint; S.S.W. At d.irk, h.ivir.i; ii:.. -'• -
le, lilies on lh.it course, he s-n\ the ,,ii. ,,i . 1:
ships to until niorniin;. ( >n the J'.:^ 1..- lij-tv
ai;.iin .It .S.S.W,. .ml ellterc'd .1 lie.iiU ':.. :•■:"■■
a liinr h.irbnr, wl-.ich he named .s.ni .s.i. .>.
journ.il in this p.nt does not desMi:, •.:,■.■ ■-•'
w ilh tiie minutenes., with which eveivi'ur .; ' i>i..i:'
been noted ; tin- text also is i:i sevei.ii ; ..■■■"•
This pfut ot .S.ui Salv.idoi ue t.il.' I" :■ '.■'
now known .is I .iravel.is dr.uiiics, >.i...it',: >•-
l-MKUes we«t of NuevilasiUI I'liiniif, 1:< ^■•■■'
.md distan-e from the .Muraris m.^i!' i\,...i'-
ihose run by Columbus; and its i.r^.i;: 1 'v''
.is far as cm be ascertained by ili.iii^. ■■ ■■■ •"■=!■
which he visited.
I) t. 2i(. --Leaving this port, C. luiii!'!.- >> •-■•'
wesl, ami having' sailed six \> .ii;..i.s i.'' 'J'*' ■
poini of the isl.md nmniiin N.W,. uhu'i v.r ijt-
be the I'unta (iord.i; ami, ten le .l;iii^ -'-'' •
other streti.hin.i; easterly, which wi:i i"' l'""''--''^
(•lie le.iKUe farther he discovered ,. sii..i. '■'•'■•;
beyond this another very l.tt^e ..ii", ; ' iv.'.!':. ''^^
the n.ime of Kio de M.ires. 1 Ins n'.ct ■■■'<i'^'.
a t'nie basin resemblini; .1 Like, .md Im^:"': '-'^'^
iranie : il had for l.indmirks n\.. O'i.iv. i""'"''*'-"
the S,\V., and to the W.N.W. a h'li |.r-H!''"_
suitable for a (ortilicalion, wliiili i'rMif.t(; ''_■-
the sea. This we t.ike to be the line lMiiH.r.i:iJ'-
situated west of Point Curi.ina , ''■' '•''''•"'.'^ '!!.l
sponds with ih.il run by (.'olumbus Ifiv. '-■''■"^^
dr.indcs, which we have supposed mI'-ii,;oi. *■••■'■,
San S.ilvador. Leaving Rio de M.iiollic/'
APPKNDIX.
^'<;i
<I.»V (i.llnw
l'illM<{ ,,
Oet
illl tt.il r
)H»:
IIHK 1, .,((1,
Dtl'
|^•>.^,,ry :., tr„,: ;,
OItt
Ml-
IVilli 1 1! Ill t ,,,,,.
ins
,111.1 isii,, !,!•,■'• ■
ol
for
!■! I>1' .1 ..I III .
|i
^''I'lNi, .,:;,5^,
V*
s.w. ii,, «.;.""'
idfi
km
•11. wluni; •[...,;,
t-'liil'. tin; >',V ..;
c«p
lit '•I'Vllllcni..,'
(«ri
I-' lll.l W S,.,' J .•-
Htir
'%*.!. .
(Oi'i'
lien he \u<, ._, .
«itl.
liiita l!:r ■'
1 I
the
11 Ikmii 1,,
[■ii;lil kn-
Ca'
Kl.r-i I.I,
C«|i'
btiv
MH.llldl I.. ...
did!
liic\ (vcie , ii :.
wh
C(VV1
lU"^. .i'l'ic ; 1 \it
Ri'
ml llir il:.;.ii; t;:-
ftOir
f !'■ Ii-i' ui r,.' ,,
bj
111 '•: 1:. il\ ,.,.(.
- with
'• Itnai ill, >,i, ;,
Ibii:
V Ci':i.ll;, U- . .■;
bU
r.!--, »h ill V ns.
Ri<i
1 r..ilM'i,i. .r;s:
0:
<'l ( l.ii;.,;.. ..
Rio
I- ilill< 1. 1 ■ '.' I ', r"
btlii
Sll 11. lull .> . .»! •
thai
11" 1" .1 .-•-■!.,:„::.
^ will
r (ii.i;. .i;.: , k .i .
the'
t a '•tv .'I ■■■ ■ '..
ha,
ir.i-. ■• I '■..: ''.i'
Rio
iii.in. u^ 1. ' •■ .--
rto,
Iliiiii, .'M ■•• .i.
Til!
, ;i!'i 1 -.'.' !■ . *.;■
Col.
r.il.i .u ,. 1' .>: .M..
ttt
1 11.11 . ..i ; :.- .^
' froi'
ll . 1. :;i; ;:: .■
lev
11- •-■ ' -1 >:
in
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rrir
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ntiu
ic , .11 1 ,ir . '1.'
: 'w
L- ;M' Ir ■li-.'i'.
■Klik'
li..iU '■„. : ^.:>-
Col.
.•-.I'l >... ..; '■'-■
Cttl
i"M i;; . :./-• >••>■■
eft'
CM I'll!'. : ^ IX ,■„.:<■.
(till..
vri.ii ; ..••'.■«•'
titt.:
t.u.' ll. :■ ■■■:^'
Gu:,
l.:r-. s.lu.il'.'l v>-
for:
„,,..•. l;<'c»v.i
'froi;.
,>.!i.il- .v.. ...<■;
Ua!
; 1..- i:,: :i -r''
jil!i\
il.iil-. .'■ ■■■' '•■-;■■'
hro
;tlKi:
li.n.i'i.- >i •'-'■
■ 0;
l;:.c- >■■• '■'■-■ •
ill 11:
A hi' '1 V.'- ;.»t"
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.1*1) •
M.110 llie i^*
MMn,
■ Ciliimlm* Rtniiii t" lltc N'.W. for fificrn
'ttliiii ll^•^■l^v .i ».i|.r, tci which h<- K.tVi- llu-
I I'.iLci .!(• I'iiliii.is. Th't, wr hflli'Vf, is the
h fiirili'' ill"' iMsliTti <iilr:iiii !• to l.amm.i ilc
Hivii'nl ilii^iiij"' w.is.i livfi, ili'-taiii, accDr'l-
ir tmiiv •-. I"iii 'lavs jiuiriiry (mm ilu' t.uMi
, C<i|llllll'l"« lli!lflllllll«'l ihtTffiiri- In 111, ike
1 • I liii t" .ill "ulit, he rc.K hfii tliL- riviT <in lln'
^t.il.ir, I'liI l<iiiiii| ihal it W.is ton sliallow to
; sltilis. This is Mi|>|>i>M.-il ID lie what is now
„ |.ii,'iiil.i ill' M'ir.Mi. MfMind this was a
riiuiiiliil liv sllii.ils, all'laiiotliiT pnijcrlfd still
.111! iii'iiV'i'M lhrs«; two I ipi's w.is a li.iy
il icn'niiiL; small vrssi'N, I lie iiU'iilitv In ic
..y ripiiiiii «iili iliecd.i.st mar I.a(,'iin,iik' Mnmn
,rrv ll' .ir. IIk- I .ipfo.isl i.f (..iijiinaile Mnrnn
s Willi <'.'il'C i'aliiias, tlitr I. abulia di; Moron
-.h'l.ii livi r ilisi rilii'il liy ('oliiml)iis ; uml in
H'lii |Miiiii ii ciiti.tin I-, with tli(.' is). mil of
; ii|i|,nsitc it, we rc(Of,'iii/L' ihi' two projt rtitij;
'■pciks of, Willi wli.il ap[i(Mrci| to lie a Imv
thrill 'I his all is a m iiiails.ililc coiiiliiii.ilji'i,
1 1)'.' t'liiMil anv'.vhfTi' lull in tin- s.mic spol
.liimlnis visit'''! atnl ilrsciilicl. I'uiiIht, llu'
n iIh' |"irt of Sill .Salv.nlor li.nl run wust !'>
.\1 ires. ,1 'list. mi !■ of seventeen leagues, aii'l
I ,1c M.iics i' h.i'l e.xleiKJeil N.W. fifteen
.1 C.iImi lie I'.ilinnK ; all of wlii' h agrees fiilU'
it li.is lici 11 here siipp'isnl. 'I lie wind li.aviiij,'
Hirth, Willi ll w.isiontrary to the iniirse Ihcy
sticrin,^, liie vi'i.scls bole: uii and rtturin'l t"
M.iii-s,
■ i.'thnf Nmenilcr i!i>' ships s.iilrij cut of
"l.iitsl" 11, in i|iiesl of li.iheiiuc, .m i-l.iiid
;,) .ili"iiii,| 111 nolil, aii'l to lie I'., by S. Ii"in
li.ivin.L; s.iiled eight le.i^;iiis with a l.ur
y ciiiic tii.i liver, in which in.iy tie recdj^ni^.d
Alii'li liis iii>t west of I'lint I (iorila. l''oiir
'..rllur tliey s.iw another, which they called
'• ■'. ll ippe.irnl very l.iiKo. I'lil they di'l not
\. inline It, as i!ie will'! w.is f.iir t'> advar.i e.
'.ike til I '■ the ri\er now known ,is Sali.in,!.
■ was ivnv reii.i' ini,' his steps, and had m.nle
•ijiics tiniii Ki') '!e M.ires, l.iit in i;oiiii; west
:t S.in S.ilv.iilnr to Ki.) de Mares, lie h.id run
■1 K'.mii s s,,,,, :-.i'\..iI'ir, iherelore, leinains
IS ea~l "f Kill ,!i 1 Si I ; aii'l, ai c'irditii;ly, I'li
• I.I III'- (li,i!!, we lind C.ir.ivelas (irailde;.
I '■nriop. Hilling; ilistai'.i '.• fr-'tli S.ili.m.i.
^ I'.iii six le.ii;i:i'S linm Kin del S"l, whi' I
1 .ill ciijhtecii ie,iL',lles fr'itn I\in de M.ires
• oiiiie 111 a 1 .ipe which ho c.illed Cal'O i|e
•I'll ly ji'iiii supposing; it to he the e\trt inilv
■ .nil. ■( ll:.i rotrespeiids precisely in distam e
il.i Ciiri.ma with the lesser isI.hi'I of (;ii.iia\a,
■■c.ir ( iili.i, and '.etweeii which and the i;re.iter
1 I 'liinil'iis iiii.isi ha\e passed in ninnmi; in
^.111 S.iU-.id' r. i;it!ier he il.,! ii,>t nnii. c it,
.illciitiii:i heini,' eni.;risseil l.v the maj;nilKeiU
' "ll' him. or, .is is alsn pnssilile, his vessel-
■ ''ecu ilrilled lhroi;^h the p,iss.ii;e, which is
fs ui ic. While h ing In the niKlit previcus i •
••ilat l'..rt .^.in .S.iU-.idor.
■ I '-ih ..! N'.veniher, h.ivini; hove to all nii;ht.
■ luiiK ti.e ships passeii a point two leaKiies
.iml llien eiitere'l iiifi :i ^iilf th.it made into
■'' . ir.ii ivlei ll Coluinluis thoin.;hl seji.iralc'l
•11 lliliio. At the lii.tlom ,i| tlie ^;'.ilf w.is .i
■ !i liciiveii tW'i niniirit.iiiis. lie roiild not
" ivlitihcr iir not ihis was ;in arm of the -ea ;
■I'ii'U: sheher ir.iMi the north wind, he put to
llrtice it W'.uld appear th.it Colimd'Us
• piitly s.ule.l r'Uiml the smaller ("".nai.iva,
'■""; I lie the extremitv of Ciitia, witlfiil
'■";>' ibat a lew hours' saii Wouhl have t.ikeii
'■■''^■•haniiel. to j'.irt .San S.ilvador, his hrst
^ 111 t^iha. and so b.id; f) the s.ime Rio di i
■""•■ nail passed the dav previous. Of tlie
•"tains seen on both sides of this eiitr.mce, the
'■ "lie corresponds with the peali called Allu
I de jiian r^.iiine, whirh lies srven IrnsiiP'* west of
1 I'litit.i de M.iieindlns. 'I he wind ioiitiniiin(j nnrth,
tie stood ra-'t Imirtei'ii leagues from (api- (uIm, w liii h
we haie supposed the lesser isl.ind nf ( iu.ij.iv.i. it in
1 here rendered sure that thepnininf little (iii.ij.iva was
believed bv him tn be tin- eMretliitV of Ciili.i ; fnr fie
speaks of the l.ind mentioned as lyini; to leew.ird of
! the above-nientioiied k;ulf as beiili; the ishind n| linliin,
and savs th.it lie discovered twenlv leagues of it iim.
j iiinK !•: Si-;, .iii'l W.N.W.
I On the t jth November, fiavinij l.iin toall ninht with
a N I'!, wind, he deteiiiiini'd to si'ek a port, and if he
foiiii'l ii'ine, to reiiini tn those whicli In- had bit in
the ishmd (if Cuba ; (or it will be retrn'inliered that
all c.isi 111 bttle Ciii.ij.iva lie suppose'l to be liohio.
lie steered V.. by S. therefore six leaniies, ;ind then
siooil in fnr the Ian I. Here he s.iw ni.ir.y [lorts .iml
isl.ind , ; but as it blew lre-,h. with a hea\ v se.i. he
dared not enter, but ran the cast down N W. bv V,'.
lor a distance of eluhtecii lea^;lles, where he saw .'\
clear entrance ;ind a port, in which hi' stood S.S.W.
.ind afterward S.I-!., the navigation b<ini,' all ( le.ir and
open. Here Coliiinbiis beheld so many islands that
it was impossible to cnunt them. T hey were very lotiy,
.iiid coveted with trees. I nlumbus railed the neinii-
boriiin se.i .\l,ir de Nueslra ."sefinr.i, and to the hatbor
ne.ir Ifie eiitranieto these isl iiids he K-ive the n.inie
of Puerto del I'rincipe This harbor lie s.iys he .o.l
not enter until the Suiul.iy (ollnwini,', w'hi< h w.is four
d.iys after, 'I'his part of the te.xt of Columbus's jour-
n.il is coniused, ,ind there are also .intieipalions, .is if
it had been written subseipiently, or iniNed together
in I'opymi;. It appe.irs evident that while lyint; to t' e
niL;ht previous, with the wind at N.h'., ihi- slii|'s li.i'l
drifted to the N'.W., .ind been i arried by the powerful
current of the ll.ih.ima i li.mncl f.ir in tlie sinu- dine
tim. When they bore up. l retore, to return t" the
potts which they had left in the isl.ind of Ciib.i. they
fill in to leew.ird of them, and now first discovered
the nuniernus «roii|i of isl.mds of whii h C.ivn Rnm.mn
is the piinciji.d. The current of this eliannel is of
itself siillii lent to h.ivi' eariied the vessels to the west-
w.iid a dist.ince of -jo leagues, which is what they had
run e.isteilv since leavlni; ( ' ipe Cub.i, or (ill.il.u.i, br
it h.i.l .11 le I iipoti them du! iiin a perio'l of thirty liours.
There c.in be no doul t ;is tn the identity of these kevs
with ihnse about Cayn Kom.mo ; for thfV aic tlie
niily on-', ill the neif;hborlioi)d cf Cubath.it are iMt of
a low an. I swampy nature, but large and lofty. '( hey
incliise ,1 free, open navin.ition, .ini! abundance of line
h.irbors, in l.ae years tlie resort of pirates, who t'.un'l
security and eoncealment l.ir themselves ;ind their
pri/res in the recesses of these lofty keys. From the
di'sciiptioii (if Columbus, the vessels must have en-
tered between the islamU ■ f liaril ami I'acedon, and
s.iiliiif^ aloni; C.iyn Romaiin on ;i S.!''. course, have
n-.ichi'l in another il.iy their i '.d eruisim; tjround in
th'' neighborhood of lesser Giiaiava. Noi only Colum-
bus 'Ines not tell us here of his havin;; (hanged his
.111' borage ani"iii'. these keys. I uthis imirnal does not
ev !i mention his h.iv ing anebored at all. until the re-
tuiii Ironi the inellei tiial se.irch after Habeipie. It is
cli.ir. troni wh.it has been said, th.it it was not in I'lrt
I'riiii ipe !'it tI.e vessels anchored in this oceas.on ;
but it eou; - i have been very (b^lant, since Colum-
bus went tiim the ships in his bo.its on th.e I'^lli No-
vember, to pi. ice a I loss ;i; its entranre. lie li.id
prob.ibly seen the enlr.inie lioni without, when s.iil-
:ng e.ist fiom (luai.iv.i on the i uli of N'ovem! • r.
The iilentity of this port with the one now known .is
Nuevitas el I 'Miicipe seems certain, from theiiesciip-
tion nf Its ei.il, nice. Cniunil'iis, it a[>pears, di.' i.ot
visit its interi'ir.
' >ii the loth N'ovember the ships s.iiled .-igun, in
i|ue-.t I'f Habe(|iie. At sunset Port Prineipe bore
S S.W. disi.mt seven leagues, and having sailed all
night at N.l'. bv N. and until ten o'clock of the iicM
d,ivi2oth .Novemlieri. they had run .idistanee of tiitecn
le.igues on th.it course. The wind blowing from
I bi.S.P., which was the ilirection in whii'h H.iheipie
I wa-s supposed tu lie, and the weather being foul,
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33 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14530
(716) 872-4503
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Colunibas (k'tcrniinnl in rotiun to Pi'it rii!i(i|)i'.
uhicti w.is tliLMi ilistaiU HVfiily-tive Iimkihs. lie did
not wish to j;o to Is.ilicll.i, (lisi.iiu only twelve Ic.iKHes.
U'st the Indians xvlioiii he had nrnuKlit lioni San Sal
VM lor, whiih lay eiL;ht leagues from Isabella, shoidd
make llieir es'-ape. Thus, in sailing N.I!, by N. from
) near I'ort I'rinciiie. ColuMibiis had approaehed wiihni
a short distance ut Isabtll i. That island was then,
aeeording to his ealculations, tliitty - s?ven leagues
lioni Port Principe ; and San Salvaclor w.is forty-five
leagues from the same point. The first diflers but
eight leagues from t!ie triilli, the latter nine ; or from
tlie actual distance of Nuevitas el Princi|)e from Isl.i
Larga and San Salvador. Again, let lis now call to
mind the course nia h by Columbus in going from
Isabella to Cuba ; it w.is lirst W.S.W., then \V., an I
afterward S.S. \V, 1 Living i onsideration for the
different dist.mces run on each, these yield a medium
course not mateti.illy different from S.W. S tiling
then S.W. from Isabella, Coimnbus h.id re.iched Pott
San Salvador, on the i c.ist of Cuba. Making .dler-
ward ,1 course of S.V.. by N. from off Port Principe,
he W.IS going in the direction of Isabella. Hence we
deduce til, It J'ort S.in Salvador, on tlie coast of Cub.i,
lay west of Port Principe, ami the whole com!:ir'..ilion
is tluis bound together and cstalilished. The two
islands seen by Columbus at ten o'clocl. of the .s.ime
2oth November, must li.ive been some cf the keys
whii h iie west of the lumeiitos. i\unning l>ack toward
Fort Principe. Columbus made it at dark, but found
that he had been c.irried to the westvv.ird liy the cur-
rents. This furnishes a sutlicient proof of tliestrengih
of tile current in the H.iliam.i ch.innel ; ]• r it will bi-
remembered that he ran over lo Cub.i with a f.iir
wind After contending for f.iur days, until tlie 24tli
No\ember, with light winds ag.iinst the force ot these
currents, he arrived at length op)>nsitethe level isl.iii'!
wdience lie h.id set out the wecl; liefore when goiiiL; lo
lialierpie.
We are thus accidenl.illy informed ihat the joint
from whiih Columbus started in seaicli of nibeipie
\v,is llie sa.Tle isKiml of (iuaj.iva the lesser, wdii' h l;es
wcsl of Nuevil IS cl Principe, rurther : at first 1: ■
d.ired not enter into the <.pen:ng lietween the two
inoi:ntains, for it seemed as lli;)Ugh the sea broke upon
them; but having sent the lio.it ah'.'ad. the vcsm. !s
followed in at S.W. .ind then W. into a fme h.irbor.
The level island lay north of it, ami wiili another
isl.iiid lorme<i a secure b.isin cipable of sheltering ab
the n. ivy of Spain. This level island rcsoUes iisi If
then ir; 1 our late Cape Cub.i, whii h we have supp isi d
lo be little (niajava, and the entrance e.ist of it be.
comes idc-ntical widi the gulf above nicmioncd wliicli
l.iy between two mountains, one of which we h.i\.'
sujjposcd the Alto de Ju.m D.iunc an I whith gulf ap-
peared to divide Cub.i from Hohio. (lurioiirse nrv.'
liecomes a pl.iin one. On the 26th of November,
CoUimbus sailed from S.mla C.italina (the luime given
by him to the port last described) at sunrise, and stood
for the cajie at llie S.IC. which hecalle I Cabo de Pirn.
Ill this it is easy tf) recognize the high peak already
spoken of as the Alto de Juan Daiine. .\rrivi' 1 olf
this he saw another cape, dist.mt fifteen le.igues, an !
still f.iriher another five leagues bevond it, whi( h he
called Caiio de C'jinpana. The first mustbeth,.t now
known ;is Point Padre, the second Point Mulas : their
dist.mces from Alto de Juan I).iune are underrated;
but it teijuires no little experience to estimate correcilv
the distances of the bold lieadl.mds o; Cuba, as seen
tlirough tile pureal:nosphere th.it surrounds the island.
I Living p.issed P:)int .Mul.is in tlie night, fin the syih
Coiu:nbus looked into the ilee[) bay tluit lies S.M. of it,
and seeing Ihe bold projecting lieadd.md th.il m.ckes
out between Port Nij." and Port Pi.mes, with tlio^e
deep b.iys on each side of it, li.; supposed it to be an
lirtii of tlie se.i dividing one 1. mil from another with .ar.
l:,l.i:i:| between them.
I Living landed at Taco for ;i short time, Columbus .ir-
lived in theevetdng of the 27th at M.iracoa, to which he
f(ave the name of I'uerto S.mta. Prom Cuho dtl Pii o
to Puerto Santo, a distance of sixty leagues, he had
-iKij
I'assed nn fewer than fiine gooil potts an'! fi.c p.,
to C'.ipe Campana, ,ind thence to Puerf) Sn-; .'x
more rivers, e.u h with .i good port ; all oi w;, *
be found on the chart between .Mio ile |ii.r
and Haraco.i. I!v keeping mar the ( o.isi h,.
.issisled to the S. P. by Ihe eddy current ■ ' ili,
channid. S, tiling from Puerto S.irilo di j!;,-
the 4lh of December, he re.iched tae extrcmm :(C|
the following day, and striking oil upon a «•;!«; i,^L
.S.l". in search of Habe(|iie, whii h lav to the \|
( ame in sight of liohio, lo which he gave th
I lisp.iniol.i.
On taking le.ive of Cub.a, Colu;nbi:s tells ;;s ;U'''> I
h.id co.isted it a distance ul 120 le.igue.s. .'ilioiviij
twenty leagues of this distance f.ir his hiuiiis ;'!
lowed the undulations of the coast, the rc!ii„;i''i.;,^, '
measured troni I'oint Maysi fall ex.icilv 11 pen C.-.irj I
Key, which we have supposed the ui-^iei:' I unciR I
of his discoveries.
The astronomical ;:''servations of Cnliin:! us i^ra j
no objection to wh.it has been here aijv.ia (.■;;,, ]
he tells us that the instrument which he iiKrii use:
to incisure the meridfin altitudes of li^i; l'.';ivc:'.t |
bodies was out of order and not I'l be d.cp; n li ; up:;
He pl.iccs his f:rst discovery, (in in.di.ini, in tlie't
tilde of I'erro, wdiich is about 27 30' north. S,ii:.v..
v. I lor we find in 24 30' and Turk';- Isl.iml in;; ;,'
both are very wide of the trudi. In it i>or!..':lt|
easier to conceive an error of three lli.iii c;;j li si |
degrees.
I, .lying aside geographical deni'-inslrai'' r
now ex. inline how historical records ^,L;iTf v.-;l: ':t I
opinion here supported, th.it the i-l.uil ■:' k j
S.il\a<ior was the hrst point wlvrc- Co'ti;i'! ■,:-■ nw
in contact with the New World. I |ern;i.i, nii' j
considered the most f.iithful and aathenli'- ..: .vj;-
ish histori.tns, wrote his History of the linh.sl'ivr; |
the ye.ir idno. In describing tin' \oy.i-" ni Ju
Ponce de Leon, made to Plorid,i in 1:12. Ii:nia«(!|
l:ie following rem. irks :■■ " l.e.iving Agu.iiLi ,;i P •
Kico, they steered lotheN.W. by N , .indin f.ve im |
arrive I at an isl.md c.dled Id Vieio, in 1 cili:'!,' ;:
y>' north. The ne.\t d.iv ihi v arrived
i'l.md of the I.ucavi
OS, e.llled C.ucos
.1 srn^..
On I'-'-clthi
day tliey am hored at another isl.md c^i'Uil \,.i;wjif i
24 , on the eighth day out fiom I'orto K;. 1. I'
they passed to the isl.md of .Manueg.i, in ..' , ' '.
on the (deveiah d.iy thev le.ichi 1 (iu.iii.ili.ir.! I'l
in 23 411' north. Tins is', iid of (iu.m.ihiiiil »..;
I.rst discovered by Columbus on his lit-t ve;,,ii,'-.
uliitli he called S.m S.ilv.idor." TliM-- ihe viiii>M5:: |
of the rem. irks of Ilerrer.i, Miid is iiiiat ly oincl:;:.;
as to the loi .ition of Sin S.dvail >r. '1 he l.iliUiH':
is true, are all \ l.ueil higher th.m we irav kr.m" '■''■■',
to be ; that of S.in S.dvador b'ing such .is'.' ''^
s]i')n I with n > oiher l.ui'l tli.in th.d now kn •\:- ■'■''
Perry Isl.m Is, wdii'h ,ire seventv Icagii"-- '!:■ -'■•"
the nearest ciastof Cuba : whcre.is C"limilii- 1';~"'
tint Sin Salvador \\J3 only fony lUe le;ii;i!C> !fK
Port Principe. Hut in thfi'se infant I'^iv." e! nai s
tioii. the instruments for measuring tlie alt. laJ" "
Ihe heavenly bodies, and the tables of d' ■ li"-'!'''''
t"r deducing the latitude, must li.ive bf en S'' ^'P'-'' "
:.s 1) place the most scienlifii- n.ivig.itor I'i i"'-' '-•
bel'jw the most inechanic.il one 'if the present
The second islaiirl arrived at by Pome ilc I.f>''' '
his northwestern course, w.is one i.f the Ciy'i" . -M
fust one, then, called F.l Viejo, must li.ive l.im k^j
Kl.md, which lies S.K. of the Cayc's. '^•'^ '",'■ '
isl.m'l tl'.ey c.ime to was prob.ddy .MaPsi i"''' ''■
f'Uirt'i, Crooked Island; ami the' fifth. M.. l.-r?'- ]
L.istly thev (.line to luianahani, the ■'in Silva''
Columbus.' If this be supposed idenli' d "''"'i' .^"^J
Isl.md, where do we fiii't the siircessi'in ct is""
toil' hcil at bv P'ln
ce (le
Leon on his way iri'iii;
Pnro
KlC') lo
S.m Salv.i'lor ;•(■ No str'/ss h.is I c 'H b:- •■■
* Il'-rrer.i. Ili-,t. In. I., dread, i. Ill), ix. c;ip. l". .
t 111 the first eliapUT of Ilerreia's deMnpnoji H'. |;^ I
I'lihi'S. .ijipi'nded to his historv, is anoi!"' ^"^'Y' lVj, 1
liali.iriui Islands, which eurroliorales the above. "'■'•8'' 1
T
,, remarks, on the ido
. rvcl t" ^■'" ^•'''■"
,.., with those give
, , 'iisas'e is of va;
i^r.ii':»"l pniif, "1 :'
,,'i..>l'.:""«''' '".'■'
1 ;;iTc lit.'ry belief I
„;,:- is the spot wf
;; ,;,, N\-w UorM.
; si; .ill,: mu he light!
, t:i.'l eiii'lit t" bi: k^'i
, '1 ;,s icrritoii.d de.
, ; ;..ii Ini.irks,"
lll.r:
[la -■'
liSr
ldis;.<
10)':;
pi:
I sail
Iwl.
[bii-
IC;
I sir.
|a.:
VI' il:.
lai:
IimIi, in hi.s " F.X'i:
I .r..>ilii.. ilii ii'Hivi
■\.',l- repeatedly
ni.l 1:1 the .iliove
I,.,.,:,, aiu: argues a:
|cli.-!ulv i;i ^uppoit of
lA;... ■■'. hi' jiri'illices .1
■anl ;li' ..n.iiiiiip'"'""'
Ibv M. V.il-'.^n.icr and hii
;,i i;.ni 1 y ill. It ai'
i,.i;;,j).inicil Cohll!
.,1 u;l!i "ihcr o! thi
li ;h- H-ucn 'le II
:,:.;; is .IS i.ii'i diiw
'.1!.- .111.1 i!i<t.in"'s )j
,111 1 ..■sl.i!>li>hes the
v.i". i,;inl ("iiianah;
:c..'l !i:i|)iiy," says
1 ;., .Icstrov tlie iiici
,t) !>v a d'lciiiiieri
.;;iuat which ceiil'i
;i .\!r. W.ishingltm
i.vt uu- liv|i.'the>cs (
Ir. i.;e [.resent revi-c
lii' itv 1" i;ive the merit
Ifr.. r.i.i'e ..f Coliiiuluis i
|ft:r,i-'.-.' i iilni .it M.i.lri'
;i •■! i.'l Ma' ki'ii/ie
[wIt x' ::. I Icslv siiriaik
ar.' • •■) .'.ilciil.ile'l to 1
si-,..' . 1: .' .'ngcii the hij.
I t... 5i,.:i.c.
I rr\. ;:;i - rr.'N wiin
: I1-. v...i::< ii.wi I
I' K.,i.\i:\.
L. ■.li'- r'-'ign e( i'er li
11. r, Hlii;h vv IS C'lU.d
<■■■.. ; i;'!.'.i into n; re.i
v., : s . .-. th.it there wi
t.! ' ivr .Among .all
ri.-.il '■ ~ nhl' li, I 'insis
si; .11 ;:■ !;,i;i, the eigli
cr,.' .uiv .:. (n ilie giil
t..^;i.„'.n,i er ./'i.-'..,; ,..',• /
Vt'i;-, .ill 1 ihe (iuca.l'i
11 I'l'J V line "f the
(i..'!!.;. I ;!i Spain il.'U
'•■ ' i>v ii, rc'liiie .
n:i"'i j'l 1 isal.ella iiil.
I'."!-. 111. i>y ; l.iit bv '
'!■ ■.■'■:■ 1 ' Veil 111, nr
¥•''•''■ 1.1'.' '. ■.' .Hid 11
''l '" ; 111" .lai'ient >
■'l' 1' I Ml. I I ,il.(U
M a'.. . . 11 ,.v known
'■' ^''- '\.:, however,
(■j.ul !;.,i'oxim,iteiv t
liiif'), "ru illur of ih..
to -1:; eiiiii-e, they ma'
;■''';'• '|.;...<ilr> fn ., ■!!
'■■ 1-. Illdllylu ii:|,l
AIMM'NDIX.
2C3
iwnmarks nn theiilcntiiyof name which has been
t .nc' t" ^111 Salvador, CoiirrpLi-in. ami I'urt
jli,u.i,„\v,llitli«WKivtn t.y toliimlnis. IhoiiKh tra-
libnli usus-e is uf vast wcIkIu in sudi nialtcrs.
feoL'Wi'imal pno(, <'l a conrliisivc ki.ul it is thoiii;hl.
lashii •.il'-i"'«''' '" i-"'''''^' "'"' "■'"'III I" remain in
cold !icr<. iil..rv lu'lii-f lliat the iiruM'nl island dl' San
ilvail'T i^ ill'' >■!"'' where t'oluniljiis (irst set (out
fepoii lii'' N'l-"' \\ '"■'''• l-^i^'I'li^'"''' opinions of llic
Taii.Mi.iiil.i mu l.c liyhlly niolesied. It is a unud old
Tile tii.it luii'lit t" lie kcfit .11 mind in curious rcscareii
_jwi" :.s tcrritoiial dealings, " l)o nut dislurlj the
|si;-ii-,;; i'H Im.trks,"
V ■■.''•'■ AV;, ■..,./ /V///i'H ,'/■ 184^.— TliP Haron dc
Ii(i:nli"ilt. in liis " Exa.nien Critiniie de rhist:iire dc
lla .'COiir.'iiii'-- ill! iiniiveaii continent," published in
i<'- i'H.'i\i' repoateiily in hiKh terms of llm aliilily
,d;>iii'.iv'-'l i'l tilt-' abnvc examination of the route of
ICi'in.'iii-., aiiii arf;iKS at ^reat length and quite con
fh.-ivdv ill >u;pi)U of the opinion <-ontained in it.
,Vm,i ..'.'. lu- [ir.iiUlces aikuumeiit hitherto unknown,
ar. '. l.'v. .;n.il iiiipoit.im c of wliii h had Ijeeii discovered
bv M. V.ii-'iiii.icr and liiinself in l.sjj, 'I'his is a inaii
;ni.i!e;:i l^m'y lli.it liile m.iriner jii.in de l.i Cosa.
tih,-. ,ii.'^::;|>.iiiii.d ('oliimliiis in his second voyage and
-sai!;'il u;Ui uihcr lit tin: discoverers. In this m.ip, of
avl, h ;!i' li.uon de Ihimiioldt fjivcs an enyr.ivin^,
th ■,>!..: .s .IS liiil down ai;ree compU'tcdy with the
tt..r,ii;- .111.1 ilistanies j,'iven in the journ.d of C'olum-
b,!-. .Ill I '>l.l'i:i-l!es die identity of S.ill S.ilv.l'lor, or
Cii l>'a': l.aii I (iiiiii.ih.ini.
' 1 Itvl !i:i|>py," s lys M. de ilunilioUlt. " to be m-
ali!' i ;•/ 'kslnu- tin iiirettiludes i\v!iicli lestr I on this
sii'.M'i' I'V .1 ilnoiaiiei'l as ancient as it is unknown ;
n I ■i;;iu:it ttliicli criilirius irrevocaMy the arguments
viiii:! Mr. \V.i>liini.;lon Irvini; li.is i;iven in his work
a:;i.i,^t llu- liyp.ilhe^cs oi the Turk's Isl.md."
ir. ii'.e prciL'iu vc\i<eil eilition the aiitlior fee's at
lii...iiv 1" ^•ive the met It oi the very m.isterly p.iper on
t'r,. r.i.i'" . (■ Coliiiiiiiii-. wiiere it is justly due. It w.is
ii.'r,i-'-"i iiim .It .Madrid by the Lite <diiini.in.li r .\lr.\-
S-!jr ■•:;'■! M, 11 kriizie, of tlle L'llited Sl.itcs n.ivy,
v.'ii M' ::, ilcstv sliriaik from allixiii;,' his n.inn- to .an
a:: • ■') 'MJc'iiUted to ,lo him (reilit, and which h.is
fir.-i'ii:.' •■iigcU the lii^h eulo;;iuiiis of men of nauti-
.//;./.( w,is worth .( |o niar.i
I'-'iui-a.:,! 3«3 maravedis.
N '. .Win.
- UlL'lt llll-: slM., MIMIoMil IS
i.Wi. l.Kl.N l;l:lFl CI 11 INfii Millil.KN
i • -i'' rrii;n "f I'er hnaii 1 aiui Isabell.i the mark of
. Mvhi.ii WIS eqiid to. > ounces or to 50 c.istillanos
■ • : V. : .; nil.) n; reds, .in I each re.il into }\ m.ir.i-
[ VI is, -, i.h.u (here were 2.'i() m.ir.ivedis in the m.irk
!^!'^'r, Amuni: .jiher silver coins there w.is the
re... c - nil, li.ionsisiini; of .-^ reals, was, within a
'i '■-■ !: ';i. the eit;hth part of a m.irk <it silver, . .r
''"■ ''•' '■ ''I llie c.ililcoins then in circnl.itioii the
i.,»:i.„!;i.i . r ,/,.•'..,(
vc.li^, ..M : till
I: '■'; Vi.ue ,.i the iii.irave.li ha.l remained m.
;i"'n-;' .:!iSp,im .j.iwn to the present d.iv, it would
"■ ' '^^ ,1" rcdii.e ,1 Mun of the lime of Ferdi-
nin-l... 1 !s.il.rl!.i i„[., ;i correspondent sum of cur-
rn. m, I .y ; i,;,t l,v i|„. m,, ,.,.s^j^.^. .Icpieciations of
■•■^.'''■■'' V'.ilni. ..r niised mel.ds. issued si. ice ih.it
;'.'■'"' ,'■'!' '■■■•""' niaiavedi of Vellon, which had
t •'"■: li'' .m.-uiit iiirencv, were reduced tovv.ird
1^' ■'•1""" I I .il...ut a third of the old ',-.;/ .111. 1
;.•'•'"'■ ""Vkiinwii ;.s the r,-,;/ an. I
■ '^'"- A\ however, t'
('HjI i| p-oxi
JI'^f'^'T.l.llar ,,| ii„. present d.iv. is likewise e.pi.il
•'■■'■"""■. tlieyuiay be considered identical In-
• "■" ' i'.''"";r *■"• " "'" ^' \\'- 'Tid runs .huwi (.. ih,.
'• 'I'o'iil'il icinecesviiy t.) ci!,. it particularly.
m.ir.u'cli .it
!u' incient piece of s reals w.is
m.ilelvi.i ih» ounce of silver, ami the
ir n| 111,.
deed, in Spanish America, the dollar, instead of beinfr
divi.ied into :;o reals, as in Sp.iiii, is divided into only
8 parts c.illcd reals, wliich evi.iently represent the
real o( the time of I'erdinaml an.! Is.ilu lla, as the dol-
lar dois the real of .s. Hut the ounce of silver was
aiK iently worth i;;'.] maravedis ; lh(.- dollar, ihercfcre.
is likewise c<iii,d to j;*.} maravedis, I'.y converting,'
then the sums mentione.l in this work into m.iravedis
they h.ive been afterward leduccd into d.)ll.irs by
dividing by 27(1^.
Then- is still, however, an.itlier lalciilation to bo
maile, before wi; can arrive at the .ictiial value of any
sum of j,old iiml silver ineiitioncd in former times.
It is necessary to notice the variation which li.is taken
place in the Value of the metals themselves. In
luirope, previous to the discovery of the New World,
an 01111. •(■ of j;olil ( iiinni.indeil an amount of food or
l.ilior which Would <iist tliree ounces at the present
il.iy ; hence an ounce of ^o\d was then estimated at
tiiiee times its present value. At the s.ime time an
ounce of silver comman.led :in anuniiit which at |)res-
ent 1 osis 4 ouni-ts of silver. It .ippears from this,
ill, It the v.iiue of gold ,iiid silver varied with respect to
iMi h other, as well as with respect to all other crjm-
modities. This is owin^ to there havini; been much
more silver brounht from the New World, with re-
spect to the !|u,iiitiiy previ.msly in circulation, than
there has been of K"ld. In the hfteenth centuiy one
ounce of .i;old w.is eiiu.il to about 12 of silver ; and
now, in the year lSj7, it is txchanRcd against 16.
I li nee L;i^ ini; an idea of the rcl.itive value of the
si. ins mentioned in this work, it has been fouml
nei-ess.iry to multiply them by three when in t;oId,
.111.1 by four when expressed in silver.*
It is expedient to a. Id th.it the doU.ir is reckoi.ed in
this work at kmj tents of the L'nited States of North
.Americ.i, tiiul four shillings and sixpence cf Ijigl.m 1.
N... .\1.\.
Il;l ^1 If J' ||IN :
Said to be derive. 1 from the I'ersicm Pri-/.\',iiii or
/'.'■<■..'/,■.;«/, wlii( h signifies apostolique ; or l'i,:u':.\ilt
(i,i:.ii>i, angel of the worl.l. It is the name of .1 potent
Christian nion.ir< h of shailowy renown, whose do-
mini. ins Were placed by writers of the middle c.ges
soiiu'limes in the remote p.irts of Asi.i and sometimes
ni .Xtric.i. and of whom such contradictory accounts
were given bv the tr.ivellers of those days that the
very existen. e either of him or his kingdom cniie t.>
be coiisi.lere.l doubtful. It now app'e.irs to be ad-
mitle.l th.a there really was such .1 potent, ite in a
reniite p.irl of .\sia. He w.is ol the Nestorian C'hris-
ti.iiis, a sect spre.el th.roughout Asi.i, an.l t. iking its
n.iine .iml oiigin from Nestorius, a Christian p.itri.iich
of Const. intinople.
Till' first v.igue reports of a Christi.in p.ilentate in
the interi.ir of Asi.i, or as it w.is then called, India,
were brought to lairope by the Crusa.lers, who it is
suppose.l gatnered them from the Syri.m ncrchanls
.vlio traded t.) the very confines of Chin.i.
Ill subse.pient .iges, when the rorluguesc in their
Ir.ivels .m.l wiy.iges discovered a Christi.in king
.iinoiig the .Mivssini.ins, ..ille.i H.ileel-Cii.in, they i on-
touii.li-.l him with the p;>tent.ile .dre.niy spoken of.
Nor w.is the blun.ler exti.iordin.iry, since the original
I'rester |ohii w.is sai.l I.) reign over a remote part of
Imlia ; .111.1 the .incients included in that name l.tliio-
pl,i .111.1 all the regions of .Xfri.'.i and .Asia bordering
.III ih'' Keil Se.i an.l on tlie < .inimen i.il route from
l\gypt to Imli.i.
Cf the I'rester lohn of liu'.i.i we hive reports tur-
nislu-il bv Willi. nil Rnysbrook, coniin nily c.illed
Uubrunuis, a l-'r.im iscan fri.ir sent by Louis l.\.,
,iboiit the mid. lie of the thirteenth century, to (onveit
th.' C.r.iiid Kh.iii. .\..iirding to him, I'rester John
w.is .irigin.illv a Nestori.m priest, who on the de.ith
* S.'.> ( '.ib.illerij I'es.i, y Modidas. J. li. Say, ICeoiioiuie
I'..lllil|lU'.
r
' 1 : ' ',
i »i I'll, ' I
i '■
::■*!
<M
Ml
If
:f- i
i m^
i
*
!>l..
I
ii
I
^b
i>(U
Ari'KNDIX.
of ihc sovcri-iRn ni.Tlc himsrlf Kint; of the N.ivtinns.
all Ncstorian ("lirisii.\ns. (.'.iipiiii. a l''r.iii'is. an iri.ir,
SITU \>\- !'i>iH- Inih>ecMl ill l-M? l" I'oiiviTt the Mciii-
^m|s of I'ersia, says that Oi'oilay, one rf tlif s.)iis of
(ihi'Mk'is Khan ni Tartary, nia'rhod with an arniv
ai;aiii-t tht' Christians of Crand Imiia. I'he lani; I'f
liiat HHinlrv, who was ralliJ IVcslcr jolin, raiiK/ to
ihfir siu-.-or. llaviiiK liad t'lHuri's '•( nu-n nia.k- of
l)roiuc, tu' hail 'Ju'iii fasli'iicil on the sailillcs ot horses,
ami ;uu tin- within, witli .i man lichinl with a bfl
l.iws. When they canu- to l>alllf these horses were
put in the ailvance. .iiul l'" nun wlio were seateil
behin 1 the ti,i,nires threw so ■■tliin.i; into ih<- lire, and
blowing' with their bellows, made such .i Miioke that
the l.irt.irs were quite rovereil \>ith it. 'I'luy then
tell on them, dispatrhed many with llicir arrows,
and put the rest to tli.:;ht.
Marco iViio 112711 pi, ices I'rcsier John near tin-
U're.it w.i'.l of C"hina, lo the north oi I'han si, in
Ten lirh, ;i populous rej^ion full cl cities nnd cistles.
M,i!i levillei I Vi^iniakes j'resicr sovereiun of I'pper
India .\siaK with four liioiis.uul islands tributary to
him
When lob.n II., of I'ortut;:il, w.is pu>hiiii,' his dis-
coveries .iloni; the Alrican co ist, he w.is iiiiornied lh.it
3fo leai,'Ucs to the cast of the kinudom of I'.cnin in the
profound depths of Alrii.i, there was a puiss,int nion
arch, called < )i;ave who h.id spiritu.il .md temporal
jurisdiction over all the surrounding kinijs.
An .\fri"an prince assured hnii. also that to the
e.ist of I';:ti!)U 'too there was a sovereign who pro-
fessed a r.dii;ion similar 10 that oi the Clirislians, and
w.is kin.; of ,1 Mosaic people.
Kini; |ohn now supposed he had found tr.i'-es of thi'
re.il I'resler John, witii whom be w.is e.icer to | inn
an alli.mce religious as well .is commercial, in 1 p;
he sent envoys by land in quest of him. < >nc wis a
ijentlem in of his househol 1, I'edro de C'ovilh i;n , []]••
otlicr. Alphous ) de I'.uv.i. They went Iv N.ip.cs lo
Rhodes, thence to Cairo, tiience to .\di-n on liie
Arabian (iull .ibove the mouth of the Kcl .'s^m.
Here lliey separated with .lit aj;ieemenl to rendez-
vous , it Ciiro. Alphonso de I'.iiv.i s.uled dircil lor
I.thiop; I : I'edro de Covilh.im lor the liulics. 'i'lie
latter II isse.l to Calicut and Co, 1 where he cmli.irki !
lor S if.ila on the eastern coast ci .Mric.i, tlience re
turn" 1 to .Vden, ami made his way b.ick lo ( ,iiro.
Here he ie.irned th.it his co.idjutor. Alphonso ih-
I'.iiv.i, ha.l died in that city. He founkl two I'ortii
i;iiese jews w.iiting for him with fresh orders from
Kim; John not to t;ive uj) bis researches alter I'restcr
John uv.lil he found him. < »ne of the jews he sent
i'.-e k with a journ.il and verb.i! accounts o! his travels.
Wrli the other he set off ai;ain for .Aden ; thi-m e |r)
< »riiKu, at the entrance oi the Culf of I'ersia, where
n,\ the rich merchandise of the Last w.is brought to be
transported thence l.'V Syria and l''.i;y|)t into iairopc.
i!aviiu' t.iken note of everyihiii'; here, he emb.irkrd
on the Red .Sea, and arrive 1 iu the i ourt ot .in
.■\byssinian [irincc namcil I'.sc.imicr (the .Nr.ibic ver-
sion of Alexander!, whom he considered the re.il
I'restcr bdiii. The prince received him n''-iciouslv,
and manifi.'stcd a disposition to favor the obiet t of
his embassy, but died su Idenly, and his successor
N'aut refused to let Covilham depart, but ke|.t liiin
for 111. my ye.irs about his person, as his prime couniil
lor, l.l\,lshin^; on him wealth and honors. .-XiU'r all,
this was not ihf real I'restcr John, who, as has bceii
observed, was an Asiatic poieiu.ite.
So. .\.\.
M.\|oo |.,,|o >
Tnr travels of Marco I'olo, or i'.iolo, furnish a key
lo many parts of the Voyages and spec ul.itions o'f
■' 111 pr.-|,.irini; Ih.- firsl ivlmon of i!,is \v.,rk foi tl,.- i,r,-ss
I'^e ,uiil,.,r h.i.l Mot ihe briH-ui of Ihe l'.ni;|i,h Iransl.inon of
M irco I'olo. published a tew years sini-.with ailiniiible
cjinuu'iilanes, bv \\ illi.iiM Maiadeii, T.k.S U,. n nle.l
Columbus, which without it would harJIv l.c ,
hensible.
M.irco I'olo W.IS ,1 nali\<.' ol \enicc. \vl;..
Ihirtecntli leiitury, iii.idc a jouincy into ij,. .
and, at th.il time, unknown regions iit thr ' .
tilled .ill ( liristeiiiloiii witli curios iv hybivj.
the countries he li.id visiteil. He \\,,s |,r",, ,
tr.ivels by his f.nher Nicliobis .md his uiii .
I'olo. These two brothers were ol .m illusi
ily in \'eiiice, .md emb.irkcd .ibout the \ ■,■
.1 I oinmerci.i! \i v.i^e to the l-..isl ll.iviii^' ;: ,
the Mediterr.ini-.in and throiii;h tlie I{i,>j,||,,.;
si' pped lor a .short tune at Ci 'iist.intiiio'p;-, •,■]
h.ici recently been wrested from the dntk-
joint .irms of l-r.iin c and N'enn e. 11m, •!
posed of their Il.ili.m men h.inibse, ,111; 1, ,
ch.ised i stock ot jewelry, departed mi ,,; ,,:.
rous expedition to trade with the wisicn b
who, li.iviiiK overrun m.iiiy parts ol ,\sia ..i
were settling; and foiinin^; cities in the mi,;,
Wol^.i. .Mter tr.iversinj; the liuxine t . .s
present Sud.ikl, a port in the Ciinie.i, the «
on, bv l.iml and w,iter, until they re.u hed l!' n;
court, or r,ither c.inip o| ,1 T.irt.ir prune, 1; i';,-
l;.di, a lies, cnibint of (iheiii;:s Kh.in.iiuitt,'
tliev conlicjei) all their iiierch.indisc 1 1 •
1 luefl.iin, while he w.is il.i//led by ll,iT|.r.
mo lities, W.IS Ibittere,! by the cnt'ie 1 oiili ,(i
lustii e m.inilested by lhe?c slr.iiiK'rs. Ii
iliein with primely niimilii I'lice. an^l IimiIi :■.'
f l.ors diirini; a ye.ir that tin y rem linel ;.; 1
.\ w,ir bre.ikini; out between their |Mti.ii;
1 ousin llii!,ii;u, i hii I of the eastern I ,irla>. .1
k.ih beiii).; ili feated, the i'olos were einlMii,.-
lo extric.ite theiiiseUes from the louMty.;;
home in safety. The road to Coiisi.iir,.:ii.
cut ofl by Ihe eneniv, tiiey took a i o ..,:
round the he.id of the C.ispi.iii Si .1. .111 1 1 1
desiTls of Transoxi.iiia. until tliev .111. .1 I .,
ol liokliar.i, where they resided for ilim su,.
While here there arrivcil ,1 I'.irl ii 11 ■!
was on .in emb.issy from the \iitorioiis IIl.i.
brother the (ir.md Kli.in. Ihe .iiiib.is^,i ■;
ai !)U.iinteil with the \'eneti,ins, and lii. ;ii...
I (■ versed in the T.irtar toiimie and y ^^'••■-
oiis .md v,i!u,ible knowledi;e, he ptc-v.ali'l ii.
1 I accomp.iiiy him to the comi oi 11:1 eiii-i'
.lied, as tliev siipposeil, at the Miv extur,
K.isi
.\!ler .1 III. in li of sever, il tlloiulis. t rii,.; ■
snow storms .md 111 imd.il ions, I hey .urn el..! ;
if Ciiblai, otherwise i.illed the llr'-.it K!- iii, n'
Tidies Kin>; tjf Kim;s, beiiiy ihesoxcn i^ii i"'.':
the T.iit.irs. This inayiiilicent pnii' e re ii\'
with ^f'-'t distini lion ; he male iinjiiir.is ,1
countries and primes of the West, ilu.r mi 1 .
il.iry ^;overiiiiient, aiiil the lii.inii'ts .ni ; > . ■■'
the I.,iiin iMtion. .\bine all, he w.is mii .>
suliiei t of the tdirisiiaii religion. He w.is •
siiiick by their replies, tli.it .libr liol.lni; -
Willi the chief persons of his kiiiLidon.. Iii ■'
the two brothers to j;o on bis p.irt ,is .illlb.e-'
the pope, to entreat him to seii.l .1 lliin !ro.
ni'ii well instructed in the tTiristi.in I. nth. 1 '
knowledge of it to the s.u;es of his t iii|i,:.. i
'■litre, ited them to brini; him a little ici l!n:;i '■
of our S.iviour, in lerusaleni, whiihheii i' -i'
li,ive ni.irvi llous virtues. It h.is lien siipi •
with yre.ii re.ison, tli.it under this loviM ■■' '
the shri-wd Tartar si)vereij;n \ii!eil motives • '
ical nature. The inliucnee of tlie pope iii p
the crus.ides h.id c.iused his power to '.'C ki
respected throughout the li.ist. it v -'S ■
moment, therefoie, to conciliate his C'od-ivi 1
i!,,i.ac
. , J
Iiinisi-lf, pilneipallv, of nn Itnlinn viTsi.m in l!'" ^'
idiiioiiof i<.iinusi.) ( i'i<y>) lie- JT'-iicli ir.iii-ii"^'
il-roii, and an old and veiv iiicirecl SimmiOi ti i''-
llauii); since prociir -d llie woi k it .\lr. M u"'' '' '
iiiide cuiiM.|erable alteralunib in thciu iiuutes
I'olo.
Eh, .iivll'"''"'"'^ '' '
;,,,l,,. prini-es nH .
■^-cUTai- '■n^:nw>' i"
kr.io'ii^ • „ 1 .,te
Uiu'i , I": 'I' ''^■'■"■•'
bi,,l,l..:)e"fl!i''l'ri""
Liv.-ivtlieiiiuitheii 11
jt(„rnislie<l:lu-ili Willi
iilgM.dtii'T"V-'V".'"l
jort ..'.^Khtol when
LviMi^s were to ..iti
|j,l, ,s,nris tiiroiii;li
L,i .,: -ili-r ilfce.^sat
|e(,ri-.i'. Kli:iii.
JXh • h.-d -'•"■'■'■ I^'""
C,y,„,,:,„ will' aicniiip
T,,,,., l,|rM|Mssp..ll 1
y ii ''ly tliiou^hout
ll, ... Tdcv ..rrivc '
Bet.- •.i.rv riveived iicw
PfleniiMt IV . at which
; \\nM .ause ilcl.i
.,; Mine ill A' re all
,.pti, o( ri.icerli
■ ihtir eiiii'.issy
:i and iiUcresl, .
• i.if a new pope,
;lu-y jirnMCUcd
;ileiini:iid in ll
C'lili'.'l, .llld.li col
■.Mlo;M V. Ill,", ;
.Ii tlKir ll, nu'sMi
'Hie Wife ol
prv.' .'ll, liil died, ill
. Icr ,:::c.l .MarM..
;. ::;,■ oMili -le 1 el'
; ;jMi im;; for tw
i|iei<ir of d .irtar
insiji.im'nieiit o
\i:r ■ lliey dele:
linn if a pope,
l!spalclu's and
Kh:i'i ... the I
;• atnev. Nicln
wiici .lileiw.ir
.»ti:;..:
:,iliV-.
-fttlM
';^i-
Thr.
■ |bc;r :
.^^R^ ■'
p.pla ■■
pp-.;
(A-
hi.'
Ih
■ 811
Gr
ir.
Ic
;r... ■
■' ^
.:::«■
ft. V
rl
1 ^■
. .u 1
■ "^
.-.: I
■ a;
. wcr" aj;a'n n
rcl.,i!lo. who,
•:. (unrshe.l ll
in will' h ill'- d
,i!!y I xji lumleil
l!ie lii'ly oil Iro
;. in S. pteniber
V, Tlicy h.al I
1 fiMll !v ine,
•1 lo the hoiy
i. . r\ X . a-.d (leer
, 'I'P. t(i- 1 ardin,
thoy e!ei ti-d .1
1 'i lias sir.i e > on
. .ir i preventiii
■ iTi' >li.iuly on ri
'■;(• d sp.ili hed .1
r -Uni. ih.it ihe l'
■\ i! ihi'V li.id 1
■ i. and weo' fu
!■ .!;. T«o rl.i(|ue
('lilliert de Tri|'
r '■■■:• '.I! i.i.l.iiii pri
5 ■■:>■!). Tile) h.K
1: .' rnisilv.irt'i !rsl
ti..- H'-:l ptiivi.led,
jcurm-v "
•".'iivinj; ill .-Xriiu
y.m'>
« iiWCv.4 -
-L.;,.
aimm:ni)Ix.
^05
,^i pnl.lgoiry nnr dpvntlon U> any iKirtirul.ir
Bih' !„'l'i.rol.al.lv'li.'|.c(l,l>y a.|o|,tin« ChriMMiiitv.
t ,.(imnu>ii laiisc iMtwi-ir- hmisrlf .iml ihi-
Itn.ili ■
(loin, ai;iiiii>it his anil Ihcir
L,u. nrim-rscl CtiristciKloin,
Vctcr,!'- viKmifS. llu.- SioM.m .'I I^KM't aii.l the
li , .iu ivriitcn U'lUTs Ki the p<i|)c in lln- 'larLir
'inKiiu'. lie 'I'liviTol thetti t.) llie Polos, .ind a].-
I'Xinii' i,''it' "f l'!>' |>rm' il'-il nohli'im-n ol his < ourt to .n -
Snip I'lVlhiMii 111 ihcirmisMo!!. On ihcir l.ikiiu; leave
A fiirni<lii'(l iliiin "ith a lahlct of K<'l(l on which was
(|igra',""l llu- r'lv.il aims : this w.is to scrvu as a p.iss-
iutt at .-i^l" "I ^^''"' " '*"■ Ri'Vernors of the various
•nviri xs v.'tr (.1 • iitfrt:iin them, to furnish them
^th <-i"fi'i tiiroui;h il.iii^'irous plaics, ami ri-mlrr
4ciii al 'illi'T iici c.-sary scTvicfS at the cxpi'iisu of
jfcel'rt.i' Kli.in.
Th' ■ h.-'l •.i.iii''" I r-irccili'd ivvciny miles, whi-n the
gnb!(v;,;in rtln' arcmiipanu'il Iliein fe!l ili, aii'l they
feri' c'Mi.;r I t'K.iv ■ liiiii. ami 1 ontimieon their roiiti'.
'Thi-ir J,'"!'!'''! |i.is>ip"tl priKiireil th<'in every attention
mil l,i ■ilily tliioiiiihoiit the ilontiiiions of the ( ".re.it
than. They ..rrivel safely at Acre, in April, i:;'").
I?trt> tiiey riveivc'l news of the rcietit death of I'ojie
Clenitiii l\' . :it whii h they «ere nun h K'i'^fd, fe.ir
Ing it ivA'..ld . .lii'-e del.iy in their mission. There was
»tt:;at time 111 A' re a legate of iheiuily ( h.iir, T'l-li.iido
di ViM"nli, III I'l.i' ••nli.i, to whiin they K-'ve an nr-
count 'f lliiir eiiiiias'-y. lie he.irl ihein with Kf'^i'
Itlcnli -n airl iiUtrest, and advised them to aw, lit the
tlfitamiif a new pope, whieh must '•■ion t.ike jil.i. e.
bel'i're they pr'i'i.eikd to Rome in their niissicm.
They licicnniiud in the intetiin to m.ike a vi'-it t 1
lhc;r(.imilii";, .ind .-u iordini;iy dep.iited for Ni'iiropmil.
jinl liicnii; 1') Vi nil '■, where preat 1 lianijcs h.ul t.ikeii
plai' in their ili nu's'ic lonrerns, ihirini; tlieir loni;
»ij'ri'c, 1 he Wife of Nil holas, whom he h.ul lelt
prLs:ia!ii. Ill I died, in i,'iuiii4 birth to a son, who h.ul
bciM! r..i:::iil Mar. n.
.\' thi- mnli -te 1 elerti 'Tl fir the IH'W Jiontilf re-
m.i 'iiil p'liiin^ I'lir two yeais, they were iine.isy, lest
the limjieiur iif '! artary shniil I i;r'iw inij)atient at so
a pii'-tpuiu'tnenl ot the < onver^mn of himself and
i.);i:e' liny di lermmed, theiefore, not to wait
icdinri if :i p ■; e, Lut to |iroi eeil to Acre, and j;et
'ii-pal'hrs ,i:id s-.i< h jjhostly ministry fur the
I Kh.iii ,... the li i>.ite 1 ould lurnish. On the
il i'linicv, Nlihol.is I'olo took with him liis son
', »h(i .illLfW.it.l wr.ile .m aiiouiit of these
ki..
:tk'
tu<
Cr
io
M.
tr.
"t\ wcr" aK'.'i'ii reeeived willi Rreat f.ivor 1 y tlie
■•■ Telia! 111. who, an.\ions for the siii 1 r--s of their
■:ii:\ (urirslied tlieni with li Iters to the lir.ind
:!i, in wiipi; l!]" ilncirines of llie ("hristi.m f.iilh
fully t\p iiiiiiU-.l. With these, and with a siip-
f thi; hely nil irMin the sepiij. hre, they onee more
'.:.■. in Sj.tnnlier. i.'7i, for the; remote parts of
■v. |!uv liail lint Uini; dep.irted, when missives
'1-1 firm K- Ml", inlorinin^; the leijate of his own
' ■""' '" 'he hi.,y (h.iir. He took the name o!
li .i'!\ \ , H. I del reed th.it in future, on the death
'-' ;"tc thv 1 ardinais should U- shut up in < on< Live
i;-' ihcy e!ei ted .1 sum essor
»; h has S!i;.e ...nlinued. eiif'
ciY';:. .ini |,r<venlin,i; intrii;ue.
Imm-Ji-.itcly on reieivin^; intelliiroivc of his <dee
fcr. he il sp,il. hcil ,1 rourier to the Kiiiti of Arnieiii.i.
rrn''!<!ini, Ih.a ii,,. ,„.,, \',.neli.ins miKht be sent li.iek
■'. il Ihivh.il nut dep.irted. They joylully re
tr
Ir
K:
a::
P'
s
c:
ti,
j''uriii>v
■^illi; ill A
M'.i
a wise re,i;ii!.ition,
itin^j a prompt <le-
' 1. and weie furnished with new letters to the
'■'"•■,, "",'■''!'!".'''" frii'fs, also, Niihi>,,is Vincent
'■i.iirri !c T'ripi)li, were sent with them, with
^■•'' "ii'i l.iin priests and bishops ami to Krar.t ah-
'• '!!■ Thev h.ul prevents of ervstal vases, ami
■ '"'Mlv aril. !,s to deliver to the (ir.iml Kh.m ; and
• »'■ Ijiriivided, they unee more set forth on their
riiienia, they r.m j.;reat risk of their
'em. ili.
lives from the war whirh was raRinp;, the soldan of
H.iliyloti h.ivins,' inv.ided thi' loimtry. They took
refuse for sonx' time with th<' superior of .1 nionasterv.
Here the two reverend fathers, losing all C()urai.;e to
proseeiite so perilous an enterprise, determineii 10 re-
m.iin, ami the \'enetians (iinliimeii their journey.
I hey were a Ioiil; time on the Way, and exposed to
L;riMl hardships ami sidferin^;s from llomls atul snow-
slorins. it lieiiii; the winter se.ison. Al length they
re.u'heil a town in the dominiotis of the Khan. That
potentate sent ollii ers to meet them at loitv davs' ilis-
t.iti' e from the imirt, .inil to provide i|Uarlers for them
(luring their journey.* He received them wi;h cre.it
Lindness, w.is highly Ljratilied with the lesull of their
missim and with the letters oi the pope, and h.ivinj;
received from them some oil from the lamp < f the
holy sepulchre, he h.ul it Imked up, and (guarded it as
a precious tre.isure.
The three \'eneti.ins, f.ilher, biothi'r. an 1 son. were
treated with such ilistini lion by the Khan, that the
courtiers w» le lilleil with jealousy. Mari osoon, ho^v-
ever, in.ide himself popul.ir, and w.is particularly is-
ti'eineil by the enipemr. He acipiired ilie four prin-
1 ip.il l.innua;4is i,f the coiintry, and was of such re-
in. trkable lap.icitv that, nolwilhstandiii'^ his youth,
llie Kh.in enipioyed him in missions ami services of
imp irtamc, in various parts of his dominions, some
to the (lisi.mce of even si.\ months' jniirney. On
these expeditions he was industrious in ^.tlherin^ all
Kinds of mlormalion respettinn th.it v.ist empire ;
.iiid from notes and minutes made for the satisf.iction
of the tirind Kh.m, he .ilterward 1 omi'osed the history
of his travels.
.•\fler about seventeen years resilience in the T.trtar
court the \'eiieli.ins felt a lon).:ini; to return to their
n.ili\ e I ountry. Their ji.itron w.is aihancc-d in .iije
.mil ( ould not survive much loader ami after his
death, their return initjht be ilillicult if not impossible.
Thev applied to the (iraml Khan fur •^lermission to
ilcp.irf, but for a time met with ,1 refus.il, aci (imp.mied
by Iriemily upbr.iidin.ns, .\t lenytli a sinful. ir train
of events oper.ite I in their f.ivor ; an emb.issy arrived
from .1 .Monul r.irt.ir piiiice. who ruled in i'ersia, and
who was i^raml-nephew to the emperor. T he nbjert
was to eiitre.it. as a spouse, a piimess of the imiieriai
line.i^je. A .L;r.m'lil.iu,i,'hter of Cublai Kh.m, sevenleen
years of aije, and if ijre.it beauty and aci omplish-
ments, w.isj^rantci! to the jirayer of the prince, an I
dep.irted lor I'ersi.i with the aiiibas^idors, and with a
-plendid reliiiue, but after travellini; for some n'.oiiths,
W.IS olili),'cd to return on ac-ount of the listracte.l
st.ite of the country.
T he ambassailors des[Mired of (onvcyint; the beau-
lifid bride to ihe arms of her expectiii.i,' liriilei;roiun,
when .M.irco I'olo leiurneil from a voyage to certain
of the Imli.in isl.imls. His representations of the
s.ifetv of a vov.ii^e in those se.is, ami Ilis (iriv.ite in-
siii;.it|iins, imiuied the ambassadors to in>;e the Orand
Kh.m for permission to lonvey the princess by sea to
the (".nil of i'etsia, and that the fhnsli.iiis nii.uht ni>
company iheni, as beinj; best exiurienced in m. if. time
al'f.iirs. ' Cubl.ii Khan 1 onseiitcd with ^reat reluctance,
.ind a splendid fleet w.is titteil out and victii.llleil for
two ye.irs, consistini; of fourteen ships of four nia;-ts,
si'im- of which h.ul tiews of two hiiii'lred ami fifty
men.
« )n parlin.L; with the N'eneti.tns the munificent Khan
i,'.ive them rich presents of jewels, and made them
liroiiiise to leturn to him after they had visited their
l.imilies. He autluin/ed them to act as his ambas-
sadors to the prim i|i.il courts of I'.urope, and. as on a
former >iii.ision. fiirnisheil them with tablets of K"i'l.
to serve, not merely as |i.isspiirls, but as otdeis upon
.ill comniaiiilers in his territories for accommodations
and supplies.
• I'..'ri;.-roii, bv bluiulcr in llu- translation frnin the orig-
in. il I, .11111, h.is si.iieil ih.ii ihe Klian sent 4o.o<.«.) men to e»-
cnri llii-ni. rill-. I1.1-. dr.iwii the iro of llie ctilie-s upon
.M.iri 11 I'olo, wliii have cited it ab one ot Ins monstrous ex-
.ii'i'eraiiuiis.
iifi
fil
ml
■;(§
■rj td'
ki.
im
AITHNDIX.
Tliov srt r..iil thpreforc in tlio fleet wit!i the oriental | son vclvrt ; tiio il.iniask dn-ssos hrlnj; i;i,i.
I'c'ss an.l !u'r .ittt-n
I. nils
tl'.c Persian .iinlMs>. I ihe doniestics,
.1 Ih
esanie was i!iPiR-.,t ||„.
rile ships swept aloni; tlic roa
ilors.
fliina, stoppiHl for three inoti
St of Coihin least willi iheir velvet rolies, when ih
ihsat a port of tiic islam
the \'eiietian ilress of tlic (lav. Il
' V a].pp,,.
le Km-Ms
if Siinialr.i near
ihe weslern enl
ranee of tin- Sirails of in .istonishnienl, ami emiM in t ((imprclKniii.,
M
ilaiia. wai
lint; for the ihanne of the iiioiis.
pass the H i>
.1 He
nU'O
'l'ra\ersini; this vast expanse Icmlaiits, M.ii
to inij of this masquer. nil
M,
II
iviiii; (lisini>.
ihev toiirhe 1 al the ishnul of (.eylon oinl then er .sse
.1 I .!r
Ihe'str.iil to liu- soiiihern pan of the ureal peninsula ' >tner.il plaees willi a
in whieli they li.nl .iii
knife
lirollf;tU f.'rih Ihr
if Inc
Then
( e s.iiiinK up t
he 1
irate eo.ist. as it is seams .iiiil liniiiL;. there tuniMeil tmi
l.lsh),!
i'.ii*;
■alleil, the lleet en
lered the I'ersi.in (iulf aiul arrived : phires, enier.
amonds, and other pre
at lliL' tainous
.■^t of Olnui/, where i
t is presumed the ' until llie whole t.il le ,i;littered with iiiesln
vova:
re termiiiale,
liter eif^htcen uionlhs spent in .uquired from the munitieeiK o of the tlr.m,! i\
tr.iversiii:
the I
n lian sc.is.
I'nforiun.ilelv for tlie roy.il I ride who was
the
d eoiiveyed in lliis porlalde form tliri
N'a,
ject of lliis splv'iidid n
ihc Moyul UinL,', h.nl di
ival cxi)cdition. In r liridei;room,
if ihi
n
onj; louriK'V.
le I omp.my,
il'serves Uanuisii
ed some lime liefore her arriv.il, wils with ama/eineiit.
■avin^ a son named (i!ia/.m, (UinnL;
who:
and now cU arlv ihtci
se minorilv ll "V had at liist douliled. that tliesi
111 verv tiLi!
Ihe KoviTiliiient was administered by his uncle K.ii- ihose lioncired and v.ili.mt ^;enllemeii Ihe 1',,
Kliaiu. Accordiiii; to the direction- oi the re^jciit. Ihe .lei ordinyiy. paid them Kre.il respei t and n-vi
piince-s w
IS delivered to the voulhful
Ihe
account I
f thi
s curious least is
lier iiileiide I spouse, lie was .it th.it time at the he.
Kamusio, on tr.iditional authorily,
hav
ol .111 armv on the borders <
■ f I'
H
c was ol a
III
,inv I Dies rel.ited bv tiie illustrinus (i
diminutive St iture but of a ^re.it soul, .md, on after |>iero, a very .inciciit j^eiillenian,
lilt; !.•■ •
aspar.. Ill
w.ird .iscendiiij; the throne,
aec
talents and v;rlues,
bride
i-ho li.;d travelle
Wli.it liecame
f,
juirccl renown for his uiiqiiestioii.dile ver.e ily, whoji.id it Imm ii . ■.[;
eil so lar in (lUest <
>f the
if a h
!.i>lern who h.id it from his KT'indlathcr, and su on
md,
t known ; but everything f.ivoralile is to be in
•d from the ch.ir.ieter of liha/an.
'Ihe P
retrent, ai
!(iS r ■iii.miei]
some lime in the court of t!
fountain liead
When the fame c.f this liamput .ind of in
the travellers ranie to lie diviil^;ed Ihri iii;li
illlhciity. noble and simple, crowded In
' v.\ Vt
id then deputed, wiili fresh l.ib'.els of ^;uld if) the extr. (ordinary imrilof the Poh
jjivcn by ih.il prince-
t!iroui;h his dominions
to eairv them in s.ilety anil honor w.is the cMesl, was admitted to ihe
As they h id to tr.lver^
1 tr
e m.inv in mistr.icy.
'Ihe voutli of tlie ( itv c.uiie ci
M.llfr
liKtmv
countries where ihe ir.iveller is exposeil to extreme \ isit and c. inverse wiili
M,
irc<
wIlli
peril, thev appi
111 their
irnevs .is 'r.irt.iis of tremelv .imi.ible .iml comnuinicativ
low con l.tion, havinij ronverted all their we.illli iiib
iiecious stones .-11111 sewn them up in the biKh ,ini
■atiable in tlnir iiriuiries about (".illi.iv .iii>; th
Kh.m, which hi
ininys of their coarse i;armenls
lilhciilt, and perilous jou
They h.id a loni;.
to 'Irebi/ond, wlieiue
iswerecl with Kre.il i nimt'
ilet.iils Willi which tlu-v were v.isllv deii:;hl-'
they pio;ee
.led U
(."onstaiilinopie, thence
to N'l
alw,i\ s spi
if tlie we.iUli of the (liMiul Ki.
•pi nt, and, fin illv to \'(-nicc, where thev arrived
I2'^5, in t;o()d h-.i
1th, and I'ter.illv l.uli-n with richc
loun 1 ir.imb-rs, tiny i;-'\e hiin the n.iini; ol
Marco .Milioni.
Some months afler llieir return, I.aiiipal' ;
M ;,.
ll.ivin,; heard ilurim; their journey of the deaili of their m.uider of the tii'iioese navy.
-ll in 1
d bene'aelor, ("iibl.ii Kh.in, thev
diploinatii. fimetions at all eiiil
insidered their of ihe isl.ind of C'lir/ol.i willi seventy i;alk-ys .\"::ei
and also that they Kaiidolo, the Veiieli,in admir.il. vv.is sent .icm-: :t.
vere absol>e-l Iruin their promise to return to his
M
ircD I'olo (omnj.iiuleil
.1 e.illev of the lli-cl i!<
ilommions.
Raniusio
in his prefac; to the n.irrative of M.in
<iial
fori
line deserted him. .Xdv.itM
Polo, ^;ives a variety of p.irtii ul.irs eoncernini; their
arrival, which h<^ compares tmhatof I'lysses. When
Ihev arrived at Venii e, thev wi
in the line with his j; illey.
d ne.t I
eini,'
mdeil, he was t.iken prisoiu-r, thnnvii ei in n^ a
irrie 1 to ( ieiio.i.
Ill
del.iiii
.1 f.ir I
%nowii bv nobi
tiiii"' in [irisoti, and .ill olTers of raiisniii nit-
) m.iny ye.irs hi'l el.ipseil since- their dep.irtlire with- imprisonment j;-'ve great une.isine^
I ut any tidings ot' ihem, th.it they were i-ither furgi.t
ten or considered dead. I!t-sidcs, their foreign g.irb.
the inlluen'-c if
which uivii ai ijiii'
le, fearin(; tlnit he might never rdurn.
selves in this imh.iiipv slate, wiih su iiu:
.ithern suns, and ihe similitude lire .uid no heirs, they consulted logelln i I
lo those among wlimii thev re
b -Ih
verv o
n ; but Nicuh
for any length of time, h.id given them the Ini k of w.is nf a'g.illi.ird coniidexion : it
r.ither th.iii It.i
The
should lake a w i
11
ill.! so
nobI
Chri
repaired I i lli-_-ir own house, which w.is .i <.| liis friends, in four ve.irs li.id thne cl
es K.i!'
Old, to tlio v-niM
pal. ice, siluale
in the street of St. (
iiovamii-
if '..I C.'orte lie li Mill
n 1 was aflerw.ird known by the
In l!
•|-h.
u- me.iii Willie
I irciil.itfd ill (ieiioa.
Ihe fame ol M.irro I'
ti.iW
Ills
iheir relatives still inhabiting ii ; but they were ^h
jiid sever.il of imwde.l with nobility, and
r
ipime:
III recollei:ting the tr
m-l k-
llh,
and
prolia
bly c.
llier
nsKlering the-n, Ironi iluir
i-vervihing ih.it cuiild cheer h:ni in iii> cmitiiK'iw:!.
A tieiioesc geiillem.m, who visited him every i^J) si
1 oarse and f-ireign attire, pour advenluiers returni'
to be a ch.irge u-|iiin Uieir fa
The p.
■iigtli prevai
had
led
up
ill him to wiite .ai ai-ccri'- 1-
w hat lie
d h
is p,
l-i IllliV
ever, took an el'le' lii.il mole of (piickcnin^; the n
iries of ilv.-ir frii-nds, and insuring themselves a
i-y invited them all lo ,i graml b,
sent lo him from \enice, and with ih:' assi>:.ini'
his friend.
or, as .come wi
llhaveit,hisfellovv-,.fivn-;'-
ing recepliiin.
Th
quel. When llieir guests arriveil, thev r
d the
produced the work which .ifter.v.in
throughout the wond.
lll.l.le m;
r,.i«
tal f.ishi.
Iressed in g.irmcnls of crimson s.itin of
The
it of Maiio I'olo at lengll
Whc
n w.iti-r h.ii
leen served f. ir tin
is liberty. I le relumed to \'enic
ureii kc
h-- ; iMii '
retire.
vv.ishing of hands, and the i <
to table the travellers, whi
.igain in still richer rolies nf cr
first dresses were cut up ,-ind disiriliuted ;i
servants, lieing of such length that ihev
his f.iliier with a house fc
11 i hildrtn \\r ll'""-
iip.iny were summoned in go<id |),irt. followed the old m m s ex un
mison damask.
ppe.iri-
aml h.id two d.inglilers,
M
orell.i .I'l
i.N- ma:-
! 1 .inf.'-i-
he
uiiong the
'I'he d.ile r,f the de.illi of .Marco I'olo
is supposed to h.ive tieen, at the tim
iiukivuv'i
lliOlil H'V
ground, which, s,-ivs Ka
pt the , years of age. On his death lii-d
IS S,ll
,1 in have
d.i
ys with dresses worn within
inusio, was the mode in those been exhorled by his friends to retr.i; t wh:il h?
course, thev at:
Aft
er l!ie first
iin retired and ( .iiiie in dresy'-d
n crim
publishe
nionlv r
or, al le.ist. lo dis.ivow those |
i,irl<
eg.irdi
.IS fictions.
lie
;-plied iiiilit'"^'-)'
,.,[;,r from having
.V,;fcflh-eslr.iordi
'V,,„.-vc-«v:lncss.
f\|,p.ii'<'lo-lii''l w,:!ii
|;^n„iiliislatlicriivilie
IJd d.-i'lf" -'•' ' \'''
ISn-!-!"'! wiiheiii I'.i.
llfyci ,:!l her l.ilher s ^
- Bbic;inl ai-=":it;i"--V
[ffice-liiiei'l die !■
niit n.iine w.is evingi
Su I) ,irc ll-c I""' •!■•"
illlall will se r.i
X„'„„is,-in r.erepp. ■'
Itroii ciTecl en mode
'kW-fthc.Mcn..J
larlir ir-riileiies liHul
L.,,-siiiili:v el bringi
bni'i-.ii . I ll'-i: <■■'""■'
hail „ii .ilic-iieiit vassa
ilni' '.iiiie-i laverite Mb
jg„',,f,..<i)f t htisieml'ii
frari vvli.iiitil'!!""'^ ''
jCiMiceir. ir.i'ilcl.
J F.-..-n .11 llic ilisl-iiM-e
|rpriM-s I'lr the d;-cove
lad-", -i" d"' '^■■"■'" '"^'
Jicsi- emote renidis c I
lelc.ml Kl.aii bi-cani
; 111 spcilli.ltive .1
Df,.' 'i tlie vivid im.u
lis V -..iufs. lie w'll be
-JDg i:;r llie Icrril 'Mi-s
,|llcr ;i> ;.isl ixiieiiitiiir
' lee. Ml Isliip*. and iiih
:h- s|i.iiiisii iiKiiian h
Jnes- • - lemlm t .my m
i«he i -liar ciiip'-roi, wi
Tlir. VVOKK
T unrk I'f M.irco
;bcr cni^iiKillv wrilien
Ipri ,1 !•-- iipiniun is ih.i
di.i '>l tlic It.ili.iii. t
It:. ,„-il .md r.ipidly
ma lUi) v.irioii- l.iiv
pri: ■ .; cil.ili'i ll a '.o
V In tl.e loursi
cc- .!■ cilili-itis, llie e-
ch :i.is been iiiiii !i v
e.v ;. i;;aii-'es ;il null
t,*ri ■ M.irio i'l'l'i is 1
Ira:,- .Mirs .111.1 piinii-r
V»;icn tile vvi-i k iTst
.is n.ide l.p ■' li
OS- jS .IsSilles l.s |ii;l
'o'li h-o 1 niuiiuicd lo I
ii<hl .aid iMiihiiiki
;cir,'->' ;i(.'rKiiii -.led a
Iroii, Willi. Ill ll.-, f.-li;
ll cvir.iv.igar.l l.ible
i-vi-r, t-xni.d iire.i
iiiui'iiiig evuienllv ;
iSl:-iiKl spleinliil ( (II
itiiipi-an wnrld. \ .
le Imie hii;lily esu
iin, aiillinr of ilu
ll a lu.in (iiiirrn .i
dfliiv. .\ili,iirisuis
vs liiatiKiiii-iii ilu- ;
nis 111 ll'.e leilKile I
si I'l-r le.iriicd nil
liiiiiiiiv M his ih.irai
;ii.
1:1.1
Jos \-.
iV-igc
t k
AIMM'NDIX.
2C7
Lt.oIirfrnnllinvinK rxacKcralcl. lie li.ul imt |.,M
ll V III tl'^''''^'r""'''"''"^ lliiiiKS of whidi ln' h.Kl
hhr",'hili>.i;iM| wllliriit niali' issue. Of ihc thrrc
•w "I Hi'* '■"I"'"' '"■"'"■ "•'■"""' "■'•'''■'•'«'■■ ""'■ ';,"'>■
'■ willu'iit I'aviiii; issue; the .l.iuuliKT in-
her l.illipr'>^ wcallli am) married into llic
,^ aii iii<'.';il;ii'^l"''' lii"i^'" "' ■|'i'-\<->'itio. ■riiiis
m;i;o l.lic "I l!lc 1'- :os (iMScd iii 1)17. and llic
ma n.iincMv,ise\im^m>......
ISuli^Tc till- I'll"' ■!'•'' iiariiiiilars knoivii of Mano
tolc iimaii will M- IM^'-ls icr a Umu. lime niadi- a
_jcat ii'iisi" i" laTi'lK". ■'"'! "''" '"" '""'"I •" ''■'^*' ''■"!
Ffcpil tiTcrl nil iiKHli'fn diMdVc-ry. His s|ili'iidid
■•cfiuiiU'f Ilic (Menl. (vcaltli, and population of ilu'
'"lari.ir toriiU'iics tilled every one with adiniralion.
Ificpns'iihllitv el liriiitjini; all lliose regions under the
oniiii'in I I ll'.t; fluinh, and rendurini; the tirand
^i Kill" "'I •'•"■■''■"' ^'•'^~'' '" '''I' iK'ly '''■'"■• was lor a
Jon-' ;ime 1 l.iverilc lo|iic .uTioni; the eiuliusiastii- mis
lioiMrivs i4 C hns-eitdoni. and there were many saints-
. irrjil who uii'li !l'ii)k to ellei I the lonvcrsiuii ol this
:iai;'iiliiTMit iiiiiiltl.
Ken .It llu' ili>t.iiice of two centuries, uhi 11 the en-
lerpri'iis ('T l!ic d ^oiivery of tin- ne'.v loute to India
, iadsft.i!! ill'- >^.iiin heads 01 h'.urope in;uldinK about
tbesf rcilKiK- renii lis (I ihp I'.asI, the conveision of
(ledr.in 1 Kl-.m heeanie aijain a p.ipidar theme ; and
Iw.is I II) jpt'uii.ilixe and roinaiilie .111 enterprise not
[-JDci'rh llie vivid iiii,i>;in.uion (d C'ldiinilius. In all
' lis viiUiifs. lie w'll he fouml lonlinu.dly to Ke seek-
Ini; iiIiT llu- ltTril:>ries I f Ihi't.rand Kh.in, and even
llur hi> List I Apedilioii. v.lieii ne.iilv worn out by
ilje, ii,ir,lsliip<. .iiid inluiiiities, In' otfere.l, in a letter
i'io!!)'; S|i.iiiisii iiKiiian li"=, writ;en Iroin a bed of siik-
aess |i; londi:! I .inv nii'-sinn.irv I ' the territories (d
Ihe r.iilar cmp-Tor, who would umlerlake Ins eon-
ver-,iiii.
N.', XXI.
Tin; 'A ■UK
M M \Ki'i) I'ol.O.
T ,;■ wnrk "< M irr.i Polo is «i.in d I v some to h.ivp
bcci orn;iiially wriii"!! ;n l..ilm.* tliouuh the most
pn raliic (i[)uunn i-s ili.it it u.is written in the X'encti.iii
diii t 01 ilic It.ili.ih. ("opies of It in HMnusenpt were
ni'.. ; piii'il and t.i|)idly ( iicul.ited : ir.insLitions were
ma'- ;iuu v.iriou* l.inKuaj!<s, until the invention of
.prinim- cn.ihlt.! It 10 l,e widely diiTiised lhroui;houi
t'J'"pd. Ill ll-.e Miiirse of llic>e transl.itiniis and sue
ces-;ve eiliti-i;i>, llie (.riijind te.\t. aeiiirdiiii,' to I'm-
ch -. h.is l)Pi-n imuli vitiated, and It is prob.ible ni.inv
e.v: iv,i;;aiK-es m luiiilUeis and nu-asuremenls with
«Ti :!: M.ir(i) i'..|.i is I !i,iri;vd iii.iy be the errors of
tru; -!,iiiir> .111.! iniiner'^.
>'icii die Hiik J'rst .ippe.ircd. it w.is eonsidercil bv
^' .IS i:i.ii|:- i.|> r fniions and e.\tr.iva>;ances, and
V" js.iv<niis lis iIkU even .itler the de.ith ot .M.ir.o
1'' 'lifMiniiuiid to he a '•ubie.t of ridieule ainoni;
I'- :<ln.'.iii| iiiiiliii.kiiii;. insoinui li III. it he w.is fre-
qu'' ;'v jiLTSnii ..led at iti.iM|Uer.iies bv some wit <.r
"I ■ . ivi„i. 111 h,., (.-ij;,,,,! ihar.ieler. leiated all kinds
J^: Mr.ivaL;.ini l.diles and adventures. I lis work,
li' ' Vfr, cxdt,-,! t're.il alleiition .iinoii^; tliiiikini; ineii,
C""ii'iiii;j evhlcnliv a fund of iiiloriiialion i oiuernint;
j'l aul vpliiuhd louMtries, before unknown to the
1-' iii-an A'nrld. \.issius assures us th.it it w.is at
:inie hii;tily rsu-. ni.-d by the learned. Trancis
1. authe.r nf iho Hrandeiiburi;li version, stvles
1 iii-m miii-n, .d.ilile t.ir his piety, prudenre. and
'V. Adi.iiiiMus Kiiiher. in liisaii ount of China,
, ^'"-'tii"!! du-.iniientsliavedeseribed the kliii.;-
Q'.i!i> (if ih- icmoie i:.ist wall in.. re e.x.i.tness. V.iii-
u-'ll-r Icirmd miii .,| p,,>,t nnies h.ive borne tes-
""^'lyiD Ins iii.,r.ii;,-|-, and most of the substanli.d
i'i-! ilus W,
Jaijes, toiii. .wvii. hb. iv, i.ip. j. I'arii,
[i.irls of his work have been aiitlienti. iled by siibse-
(pient tr.ivellers. The niost .ililc and ample vindiea-
lion id .Marro I'ido, however, is \i, be found in the
r'nidi*-)! tianslation id li's work, with eopious notes
and (omment.iries. by \\ illiani M.irsdeii, K. R S. He
has dibnenlly disc riinniated between wti.il .M.iri o I'cilo
relates Ironi his own (djsi rvation, and what he rel.iles
as ^;,lthered from others ; he |)oinls out the errors that
h.ive arl^;l•ll from misinterpret itions, omi-sions. or in-
terpretations of iransl.ilors, ,inil he i l.iinis .ill proper
.diow.iiui' lor the yupers'.ilious ((doling of parts r.f
the narr.ilive front the belief, prev.ileni anion;; llic
most wise .md le.irneil of Ins day. in niir.u les and
nianir. .\fier perusiriL; the work ol Mr. M.irsden, l''e
I h.ir.ieier of M.iri o I'olo rises in the estimation of the
re.ider. Il is evident lh.it his n.Mr.ilion, ,is far as rc-
l.iled from Ids own idiserv.ilions. is 1 (Jirec t. and that
hi- li.id re.dly traversed a ureal I'.irt fif 'Ciliary and
Chin, I, and navigated in the Indi.iti s-e.is. .Some of
the eounlries .iiid many (I the islariis. however, aic
cvidenlly ilesi rilied from aiecamls i;iven bv others,
.111 1 in these arrounls are ^ener.illy louiid Ihe labU s
whiihhave e.xtited inireiliilliy ami lidiiule. As he
loiiiposed his work after his leiuin l.onie. partly fnni
memory .iml p.irlly from memor.indums, he was
li.ibl(> to (I iiluse wdi.il he' h.id luard with wli.it he had
seen, .md thus to awf undue weight to many fables
and ex.ii;^eralions whieh he had rereived from others.
Mmh h.is been said of a in.ip broiii;ht from Calhav
bv M.iri o I'olo, which was eonserved in the convi lit
of >.i:i Miili.ilcMle Murann in the vi; iiiily of \'eniee,
,icvl in which ihe Cape id Col Hope and ihe island
of M,nl.tt;,iscar were indie^ilecl. <ouiitiies wire h the
l'.irtiiL,'iiese ( l.iiin the merit of havini; discmered two
1 ■•nluries .ifli'rward. It has been su^-ijesK d also that
Coiiiinbiis h.id visited the eonvent and e\amin<(l ihis
m.ip, whence he derived Fome of his ideas 1 one erninjj
Ihe 1 o.ist of Indi.i. .\ctordiiii; to K.imusio. howt ver,
who h.id been .it ihe fon\ent, .iml w.is well arcp.iainled
with the prior, the m.ii) preserved ihi re w.is one
copied by a friar from the ori^;inal one of M.irco i'olo,
and many alter. ilioiis an I .idditions had since been
made by oilier hands, so that for a lone; time it lost
all credit wiih judicious people, until on comp.irin^; il
with the wotk id Mano I'ido it was found in the in.iin
to ayree with his descriptions.* The Ciipe < i (lnod
Hope W.IS doubtless aniom; the additii ns made subse-
i|uent to the dis.-overies of the I'orIui;uese. i Coluili-
l)us m.ikes no mention of this map. whii h he most
piob.iMv would have done h.id he seen it. He seems
t > have been entiielv i;uid<d by the om furnished by
I'.iulo Tosc. nielli, and which was app.iienlly piojected
.cfter ihe orii^iii.il map. or ;ifter the liesi rii>lli>ns of
.M.irco I'olo anci the maps of I'lidemv.
When the altent ion of llu> world w.isluined toward
the remote p.irls u\ .Asi.i in the lifleenlli century, and
the i'orlUi;uese were niakini; th< ir a'.lenipts to i ircum-
ii.ivti;.ite .\frica, the narralion ol .Marco I'olo :igain
rose to notice. 'Ibis, with the ir.ivcis of N'icido de
Comte, the X'encti.in, and cf llieronimo da S.in
Slel.ino, .1 Cjenoese, .ire Slid to h.ive been the princi-
p.il lii;lus by which the Portuguese guided themselves
in their voy.ii;es, |
.•\bove all, tl'.e inlluenc c whii h the work of Marco
I'cdo h.id over the mind of Columbus >;ives it p.irticu-
l.ir inleiest aiiU import. nice. Il w.is evidently an
or.iiul.i- wotk withhim. He frccpienlly ([UoK s it. and
on his covajjes, supposint; liiniHelf lo be on tlie .Xsiatic
CO. 1st. he is c ontinii.dly emle.ivoiini; to discover Ihe
isl.mds .ind ni.iin Kinds liesciibe.l in it, and to lind the
f.iiiious I ip.iiii;o.
It is proper, therefore, to specify some ol lliosc
■ Kiiiciisiri, vol. ii. p. 17.
t .Mr. M.ir-.clfii, « ho h.i-' inspected a splendid I'.; ■ siniile
of llii> map pres.'rvc'd ill llie Itrilish Mu'-iiiin. oImc.Is even
l.i die hind.ciiieiil.d p.ill of it . " where," lie obsei w-. ■■ sil-
ii.iiums aie f;ivcii to pl.ues thai seem i|iule mcoiisisieiit
Willi die de^i lipiioiis ill llie travels, and caiiiiol be .itinbiiled
1.1 Ibeir aiuhcir. allliniiKh inserted on die siipposicl .iiiilior-
iiv of his «niMii;s." .\l.ir-.!cn\ M. I'olo. liiirod. p. xlii.
j llisl. lie.-, N'uyagcs, loin. xl. lib. xi. th.ip. 4.
t
'•■i'f
s. : Hi;
i:li
i-.it
Mi
' • HI 1 Ji ,s
■ i
places, am! the tnaiincr
bv a Vfiicliaii tr.ivilliT,
/PPKNDIX.
hich Ihcy are de^rriln'
that ilu' umiIlt may iiinri-
III w
il Circat Khan, wlio iliviilfil it iiUo ninr kingi!^
I)niiuin>; 1(1 iMi h a triluilaty kiUs'. He
(llllV Ulllll'tSl.lIl'
Uii" aiitinp.iliiHis w
hii !i were h.uiiit
an miiin'iiM
rcvciui
f, liir thi' cotiiurv
Jiii'ini,
'tht niinil "I ('(iliiml)U-. in lii^ voyani-s
anion
H the goKI, silver, silks, su«ar, siiitis, an. I perfimi.;
West Iniliaii islatii
Firnia.
Is, an.l aloiiK llie coast o.
l".
ZH'ANi'.r, /ll'\Ni;i;I. i<V. > ll'\-j;a.
Thi- winter nsi.lenre n
to Mario I'.il 1. was in
f the ("ireat Khan, arronlins' . l-ifi,.cn luiiulrea miles from the sin ri's ■{)[
the city of (."anil) .'.u, or "
lialii is'.noc
of Cathay,
square, a
asi-ertaiiifil to
l.e 1
'cUmi, in the province
accordnin to
M.
Polo,
.o the i;re.ii i
This
ciiv,
he sav'
till a.lniiratily Iniilt
IS twenty-four miles (^•jpann
panmi, by sonii- wrilten /.ip ini;ri, atul ly C
M
lo
ilescribes it .is nljimti,
w.is impos
lonhn.; to .\larco
Till
describe tlie v.ist aiiioaiu transiiorted out of the
III, which, however, the UiiiK scMoni jn'in:
1 variety of nierch imlise a
ml ni.uiiif.ictiires brom;
lUiiht
■| he kau; lu
there ; it won
i:iiiv.'rse.
(I.iiice the
diverse p
liiere d
II
irein
they were enou>;h to Inn
'.h the
niticent paUice
ither countries
covered with pi. lies nl |.|,
Here are to be seen in womlerliil aliiin- |^._.^|i ,,f lopiH r
the p,
I'S ,ire cdvered v. :ih shfi
'I'he li.dls and ch.illl! e
'^ •''<■■ iut]
rioiis stones
the pe
•rfuni
es o
iris, the silks, and the ,„vered with Kold. the windows. idoriuil wiili i; 1 1»
times in pl.iti-s of llie thickiu --s of n\o Mi^-irs
ftheK.ist ; scarce a day p.isser
that
I's iiDi .irnve
itii silk, of wliicli they 111. I
ke
I tlionsaiid c.iis l.iilen jsl.uid .ilso piodmes v. ist ipi. unities oi t!ic l.ircf;
irable stiill'^
thi
t pe.irls. together with a v.irii
citv.
lines
stones ; so
ly (.(
that, in f.ict, it alioiinds in ruhi
The palace of '.h.-tiri
It Khan ismaijnlticently built. ^•,f^.A\. Khan made several attempts i,
.1 four miles in circuit
It is r.iiher .i ^roup
d. but ill v.iin
I'hicli is not ti
p.ilai'
In tl
iiilerii
r it is resplendent with uold |( |, j,,. ^y^^^. \vh.it M.iro I'olo n-I.ilcs, tli.il ihf ,ri;;t..
liver ; and m it arc t;u.irilc-
the
preciiius
,in I lewels o
f th-.
tlie Kli.in for w.ir. for the chase.
if
>r v.irious festivities.
•d viri
i!i' r.».rA
LTeii;n. .Ml the appointments
t.ints had rert.im stones of a ( ha
between the skin ,ind the flesh of thci; ncn;
are iles,:rr)c.
in
iri^eoiis terms.
H'.lt til'>U^'h
.M.
,)'.o IS 111 Kiulici'til in Ins ilesc
r'pti
of the provim I"
thich. iliroi'Kti ilic powir <
endered th'-m iiiviilner.ible.
if dial.'
Thi
ISl.lliil !■..
of C'.ith ly. and its imp:
d,)es hinnell wh'.-n \\-. c.
of M in^i. Til
ern part o
!ri.il city of C'.imb.ihi, he oul-
)mes to'desc. .>e the province
)sed tobe the soiith-
iect of diliuen
t search to C'oluniiius.
.\bout the isl.mv
M Zip,
is province is sui'i)
f Ciiina. It cont.iins, he s.iys, twelve liun- i,.
tweeii 1
M.irc.
I .iiid the co.ist of M.iiii;i, the si.
(';p;iiii;ii. ,« «•
Ircd cities. riie capital (Jninsai (supposed to be the
citv of ll.ms'-cheu' w.is twenty five miles from the
I'olo, is studded with s.ii.ill i-!,ir..U In :htii.S- ]
)f seven ihous.ind four hut 'red
ihich the Rre.iter p.irt a
re 111 Kiln!
.1. I
ii:
but comim'.nicite 1 bv a river with .i po
rt situated
ihich
loes not prooiice n
|iiriler"U^UiT«
111 the
The
■a-coast, .iiid h.id Kre.it tr.ide w
ith 1 1
fume
s 111 ahum
l.ince.
C'idimibus lhoii;^lit il ■
n.inie Oninsai, according to Mircn I'
nilie- the
and e.x,ini;n-d it
o. siK-
ciiv of heaven ; he says he has been in it
tlv. and atlirms it to be the
one time ill the mid't of these isl.imls.
1 hise ire the principal places clesctiici
I- hich 1
ih
e letters .-ilid vn:\:
Jen
art
St .11 the world ; and so un.iouliledly it is if tl:
The isl.imi of Cip.iiiKo W.IS the
niJ.isureinent i
)f the tr.iveller is tt
b'- take
liter, illv.
rted to make, a
nd he
inteiiilei
■it ..
lor he ded.ires th.it it is one hun ired mdes in circuit.
the province of M.iii«i, and to set k tlicl.ri.i
K:;..'
Tills
sui
ii; ex,iK^'er,ilinn has been expl.iined
bv
itv of C'ambalu. in
the
iiuvint e I
1 I
lU him to iirMii Cliinese miles or
hich .
ess the reader can bear in mind lhe»e
'.ill
t) the It, ill. in miles in the proportion of three to
itions 1)1 M.irco 1'
I .•oiintr;is teeir
ealth. and cities where the very d"ni'
,in
eiwhl ; .md .Mr. .Marsden observes t.iat the w.ilU even ||.,n,|.,l' wnh .t;old. he will have but a l.i.nt :'U.i
3f th-' modern city,
coiisi lerably
at si.\ty
immense extent
I, ,-,ed t > havi
ri
the limits of whi' h have I
i-i)iiir,i :ted, are esiimiled hv travellers
le .in'ient i itv li.is evidentiv been ol
M'
d aiiticip.itioiis w
hich hllid ti''- in.i,;
as M.irc
I could not be siHi-
ine
as..red the walls himself. In
ibiis when he discovered
.'Xtreniity of .Asia. It was his
if soiin arriving at these (ouiitrie^
Itldc'
.iiv; f.i.,.'!"
V t.lkell the
Its nf the \'eneti,iii. tint imiuce
the
inh.ibit.u'ts
Ik
ribi
inc. rrect estim.ites dt ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^, pmniises of immedi.ite we.i.si; !•
it also as built up.iii
ittle isl.imls h
riik'c
ke Venice,
the arche-.
.ui 1 has f>velve tlious.iivl
)f which are so lijch that
ereij;ns
wdiicli c.iused so mu. h disa| p. icir."
stone b
the bir^j'-'st vessels cm p,i>s under them without ,'iwer-
iuK
brought upon him the frequent repi.... n
l.ilse hopes ami indulKin.u in wiluil cm^^
■luL.^'.l,
th.
baths. ..ill six
;r III ists
1
It h:i
itlirms. three tl
Ired thous.iiiil
unilies. iiii iudin.K
d'jniesties. It ,il) lunds with nLignilicent houses, .md
has a l.ike thrtv miles in ciri uit within its w.dls.
on
the b.inks
w
rank.
The
hi 11 are super:) pal. ices o
f peopl
e inh.ibii.itits ot < (ains.ii are verv vi
.lu|<tu-
11'. I in liilije ill .ill kinds .)( lu.xuries and deliyhts.
iiarticul.iriv the woni
en, who are extreinelv be.iutifii
Nd. \xn.
SIU J.iil.N M \M.l \ U ' I ,
.\i XI to Marco I'olo the tr.iv'ls oi
There
are m.mv merch.mts .md .irtisaiis, but the mas-
.•ille.
.mil Ills acco
uiit of the lerril .r' s .
ters do not work, ihev etnpl.iv serv.ints to de
aiior.
.\n.
,h.'
])ro . in.
.f M.m ;i was con.|iiei
1 their
.\ the
Kh.m .iloni; the co.ist
tre.isured up in the mill'
if .\m.i.
I of Coluinbii-
,t /^'
Mandeville w.is born in the citv
•h'T blund'T in ir.in-i iImm h,.^ dr.iuti ii|)iim M.nci
devoted l<
Iv Iroiii his I'll
-t .\,'.i:
lie->l .liil.lli
Pol.) Ilu- ■,ii.li..;i\.iii(>n iif I ii'ori;.- Iloriiiiis, who (ill lii< ( irii;i'i after linishiiiK Ins nener.il edm .ilion •'! !''■'
of .\iii''ti,M. IV, :;i '-.xeLiinK
Wl
■an lielieve all tli.ii
says uf llie eiiy of i,iiim.i.u • ,is for exaiiple. ih.ii it hi..
SDne liri'lij.'S t.v.-lve deni^ind imli's liifjii I ' eie. It is
)riib,ibli' til. 11 ai iiiv of iln' •■x:u'.;i'i.iii')n> in lli- a'.-cmni-, of
to medicine. Having a Kr^-it desire
Tl
Mippi
d lo be Ih.
si 111 Is
.He
I'.pr
Nl.irco I'.il.i are in f.iei the irrois of hi-, tr.iiislaturs. svlldil
Mand.-ville. sp.'akini; of this .^iineeity. wli.-h he rn'\^ ■ Chine
Caiisai. sivs ii i-i built on t'e- ,s.'.i like Venice, and h.is ' aiiii'-x
Iw.'lvi' hiiiidr'.l bii.I'.'.'S. ; t.inee
lev .ire n.iiiiei
•'II adc
I bv 111!' Chines.-, (i-p.
.1 bv ,\l,in-.i !■
ipi
d iur. snjiiifMii..; kii-U'l'i" "'
•o the 11,1
i-s of foieij^ii eiini'.'ri.-
.\-
t Sir ( ie.irye S'.iuntor, in
tiful she
t water, al
ii<; this Like asb"in^ .i lip.i
111
)f II
:.f Ch:
le nearest ii.itl
.f ihe souihein .■."'.'
Ni
I"
ii.ii' I'lr r iDc.r miles m di uneii-r
its inarniii 'irn.inienicil widi I,. .uses rind ^; miens of ni.iii-
dreil II. ill. Ill inil.'s, Mr. M.ir-il.-
not I'.i..'.
s'lpp '
!li:>il
Mil.-
darins. logeih.-r wit'i te
staling
It lo bi- I'.!.!
of
.1 an iinpenal palace.
jiiaiteries Igr the priests [ are in lie- proporiion of soiii
the luriuei.
'Iiiiii
lull iii.jre tluinoiKi
«,,„,,- iiiitiarkc.l .1 ■
J:; a'-.n,.n he ;-"
.iii.l Lower 1.
T.iiiary, ■^'"'
1 ltle^
fp;iOl
Eih'.-'l
li.-ir priti'il';' ,
(he Ilo!y 1-
i..^.iiiiiini'k! I'
lii.Ulolo''
P^hicl ;ii
pn^' liiiii'
nil cii .^■•1^
liter .111 aliscnce
;„«;..P..i, Mit I'.un.l ;.
,,hi:i;rc,iterp.ulo "
j,;s,.,livep!.icc. 11'
rto ■.i-.ii;i'.'«'''' '-"^
-a, iiK.sicr ol maii\ M
■,^,it.l 111 II'
inr e :l'.ci
ilc.l w,lii h;
ITI
,ll
Clt.v
lh.u
avc 11""
ir .■.iiucii
.yin.; '.!iU there w,i
'huiili*.'"'^""'' •
[inwi.v ..p 'II 'Ih- II"
Icwl r<-:,;iic>l trnimil
.on:;n -it, .md ilif'l ■'
' i;., ,,M.',.yof ihi'liai
,v:K're ihteluis, ii
i- s.iw his ni.'iiiin
,., ,.f ,1 man will
: ; .n.irl his lie. I
liiii; M the in, mil
Isl.tl 'll^ere w.is
|U,r,..v, and c.i'.'.iiis '^i
Itv..,- viTV pious, vc
:ioi!i. .....r. aii'l lh.u
\fh .• .'.i.rl.l he h.i'l di
;oi.o-iu -li"wc.l .il- I I
ici;. rsts winch he h
Tiic 'iscrlj-tions kI^'
hiiii, el the po.vim
a.v.'.uu. are no less •
riie roy.il p.ila
in .;r-U'li;ereni:e. T
cc..,'i.:',s.'l copper .uv
thr •■ i;'.iii.irfd i:.ousa
lanl ,.'...i; the pal.ice,
)us.iiul were eiiiphc
,n.i .-'.i-'iiIluUS .r.id "I
iir'i '.i prey. f.il'-on<
;dav- ..f f.'stival there
imt-;! '-mi.l'iye.l. The
ters Wis ■ kluiu. the
of .i'^ til'- e.itth. Hi ise
Ol!.'-is." < 'M I'.is seal
hci.-n, Kh.m upon e
M.m :li.'\ille has bee
a '.-.lu- iers ex.iiin'-'''
ct.;,:i;ri s wlm h he vi
Vfi . i.s lli.ir. Ii.id b
C I i:;. iv and the w
kc 'Vi'. il'.ose cf .M
•'.thL'iiutnbus.
, 'li' ^.-snes were i
h ..1.-11S lifidui'Mii; a
il... '.clls .111 the i;lol
"! liic tro|.ii s iii.irl
111.- o.'iui.i! leyi.i
w IS teriiu'.l tht
t'.v I"', the tropics a
' t!;..' ■■■■iqier.ue /ont
tw.-.,! ;
I'll-
t::.:'ih,.i il.ihle aivl i
trreic .I'i. The 11
P^fi..; It, imiiiedij
;h'- pol.ir '-in
rii/i'ii reijio!
APPKN'DIX.
iris ol
,| Airic.i, .11
hi icfi l-n,i;l.iii
the c.ulli, tlicn known, that is to say
III .ilidvi" .ill, I" visit Ilic
ll<'h
.iron
lU Ik-
l'p;w)
Eihi"!
I III I J.12. iiml i)assin>,' llirniiuh
M.irscilli's.
(roniiii^; In Ills
visiti'd I'liki'V, AriiK-iii.i, i:i,'V|ii,
l.iuver I.vl.ia.
T.iil.iry, AiiKi/utii
(heir ]<ritin;u
Syria, I'crsi,i, CtMliti-.i,
I aiiij llio Inilii-s. ri'siilmn
Hut iiKvt ho s.ivs lir (If-
lihi.'
he Ildlv I,.imi, uhcrc he rpiiiaiiifil tor ;i
' IIIIK'
tn^M
(X.iiiiiniPt,' il with till- uriMtcst iiiimitnicss.
v.Jiiiiii 10 t(il!i'W .ill llii- traces ()( our Saviour.
if ihirty-fiiiir ytais In- ri'liiriu'd to
I iiiiiist'll fi>rv;(>UiMi ami unki
l;.l, iMll I'lllll
; ihfj i;riMler iiarl
i.iiijiMliia'iil.ii-c
.f h
111! vincii, aii'l a str,im
IS coil
wrolf a hisliiiy of his tr.ivfls iii
ijics r.iln'ish. I'ri'iuli, and I.aliii for h
fcreo .i;ii,'ii
Iras iti.i'-UT ill main miikiii'
II
llciiMri'sscil his work
His waiulcriiins do nut seem to
a\iMr.,iili- !iiir r':hfr I'liast-il wilh tin- world at lar^f
br .'iiiicii
III! w ih his lioim-.
Ill' railed at the anc
,vini; tli.ii ilii-Tc w.is 11'! II
I'ini;
Chuicli w.i> ruiiu'i
lore virliie eM.iiit, that ihc
linionv iiP'iii
crtor prevalent aiiioii^j the lier^v .
iIk' ihi'ine , .in 1, In .i word, ih.it the
pcwl rt'^'i)
cil iriilii'l li"',L
II
tonnn ti
t, .111(1 (lid .11 l.ie^e in |.?;J
Illumed to the
I le w.is Iniri/il
llhc.iM'i'V .if the (iilliellllites, in llie siltairlis ni that
Ftily HiRTo'Diti.lius. ill his lliner.iriiim |{i'l;;i,e, s.iys
"ih-il 111- s.iiv his niDiuiiiient. mi whiili was the ellii;y.
r 1.11*
i) man wilh .t forked heard .ind his hands
; I.w.ir'i his liead liiriili.ilily folded as in jir.iyer.
;ili; 1.1 the lll.inntT o; Dill ton
lis)
on ,it
.1.1
BU.!..
If V,-.
Tlicrc w.is .111 inscription st.itini,,' his name,
iiiil c.iilinj^ ui/., professor of iiicdii Jnei, th.it
fry |iioii<
VLTV liarneil. and verv ch.iritalile
.'T. and thai after h.ivini,' tr.ivelled over the
irM lio h.id die.l .it I.ie);e. The people of the
shmvcil .il-'i his spurs, ami the housings of
IS which he hid ridden in his tr.ivels.
iM ripliims (,jiveii hy M.imlevillc ot the Cir.ind
li Ihe province of (".iih.iy, .mil tlie
niv ol
ill. .ari.' 111! less sph'iidid lli.in those of M.irco
T!ii' piy.il p.il.ii e W.IS more thin two leagues
Hi . inurnU'reiice.
le nr.mi
Mil iweiiiv lour
th:
"1 Clipper .iiii \ii
ild. T
lire were iiiori
ousand men occupied and
ih.m
luini; 111
an '. .LM.it i!ie pal.ice, of which more ih.in one luin.lrii
ih ■
[dav
I're eniplnycd in t.iki
if ten thou-
plMiUs .lad "I ;v v.isl v.iriely of other .inini.ils,
(iri-y, f.ilcon-;, p.irrots, and parioi|uei'-. < 'n
slii.il lh(
re were eicn twicL- ihe nuiiilicr of
|Ilif;i cm|il
ivei
The liil
if Ihis
hers ivi, ' Khan, the s
lent.ue in hi
on ol (io
ex. I
101:
cirlh. nrisiei of tl
I )a 1-,
ted 1
lel-
io>'.essor
lose who are mavleis (
Kh,
s seal W.IS en);raved, " (iod reigns ii
m ii|jiiii e.irih.
j,'iiii; 111
.\'.Mi.lc\iile h.is he ■nine pioverhi.il for indiil
'Mu- icr s ex,ik;j;er,ition~ : yet lus ai counts of ll
c;.:iirt.s whidi he visited li.ive heen found far more
lii.ir,
IV .mil ihe w
w 'n I..'
ll',.
lumaus.
liecn mi.i^inei
'■allhv iirmii
lis ilesi
.f M.ini.
ripu
,iL;ree
IS'.' if .M.irco I'olo, h.id .1,'reat .uulionly
N'o. .X.XllI.
\ 1,
aKin.iry binds or circles In the
: mini's were ini
•I'l'iduciiii; anelled of clim.ite on
IS iin ihe v;h)he ot ihe
'ic> 111, irk these
LUC IPi
'•'■•• ".'1111,11 li-iii,,,,, Iviiut t
irlli.
ilivisioiis.
irrespoinl-
"he pol.ir circles
'IS leriiie'l the lorrid /(
K' heiie.lth the trai
.f the
;tii' ir.
nc ; the two reijions lie-
the polar iinh.s weri' termed
■ n :lii
11 ro/i
T.iie /ones, and Ihe rrmainiiiij parts. In
P'l.ar circles anl lln
II regions ne.ir the
|iok
s. Ihe Irinid
poles Were ronsidereil
■.n..':ii,il,|,. ;,n,l iinn.iviKMlilc on account of ihe e.\-
'i'' 'I'i The hurninu Z"ne, or r.ilher the central
-: ic iiiinie.Jiatcly ah.nit the eiuiator, was coii-
yoo
sjilercd iininliahil.ililc, iinprofluciive, ,in.| impassalde
in conseipieiu (• ol the excessive heat. 1 he temper, ite
/ones, Ivin^ lietween them, were supposed Io I.e fer-
ule and s,ilulirioiis, and siiiled to llie purposes of life.
The nlolie \v,is divided into two hemispheres hy the
eiju.ilor, an iin.iKiriary line emirelini; ii at eijual ilis-
t.im e Iroin the |ioles. The whole ol ihc world known
to the ancients was contained in the teniperate /one
of the noiihern heiiiispln re.
it W.IS iiiMtjined that .'I Ihe'c should le inh,iliil,ints
III the temperate /one of tliir soiiihern hcmis|ilieie,
there couhl still IK- no i ommunii .iiion wilh ih( in on
account of the Iniriiiiii,' /one wliiili inlervened.
I',irinenides, accordinn to Slr.iho, w.is the inventor
of this theory of the live /ones. Inn he in.ide the torrid
zone extend on e.ich side of the tnu.itor levonil the
trop
.\
rislolle suppotlei
thi
(trine of the
/ones. In his time iioihini; was known of the ex-
treme norlliein parts i
f i:ii
tM|ic and .■\si;., nor of in-
ic.i, ex-
tciior I'.lhiopia and the soulhi rn pill of .-Xfr
lending leynid the tropic ot Ciprii orii to the Cape
of f,
III
Arislotle lieliived that there was
hiliitable e.irth in the soulnern licinispherc, hut th.it
il was forever divided from llic p.iit of ihe wurhl
.ilready known, by the inip.issalde /one of scorching
he. II al Ihe eipi.iH r.*
I'linv supported the opinion if .Xii'-loile concern ini;
th'' burning; /ones. " '1 he ti iiiperatiiie o| the central
' where the sun
lire. The tem-
.111 have no com-
reyioti ot the ea
rlh.
lb:
runs his course, is luirnt up as u
per.ite /ones whii h lie on ciiher sii
miinicalion wilh e.ich other in i onsii|iience of the
fervent heat ol this rei;i m.'f
Sir.ibo (lib. xi.l, in meiitionini; this tlicory. t;ives it
likewise his support ; and otiieis of llie ancient phi-
losophers, as well as the poets, miv;l-.tbe cited to show
llie K'rnei.il prevalence ol the belief.
It must be observed th.it, at llie lime when Coium-
blis defended his proposition belore llie leallied lo.ird
al S.il.iiii.ini . I, the ancient theory oi the liuinini; /one
h.id not yet been tot. illy ilisproM-d by iiioili,rn dis-
covery
witliin the t;
The l'ottU),;uesi
It l^
true, had peiielr.itecl
opll
s ; but, lliou;;li llie whole ot the sp.icc
brtween the tropic of ("aiu cr
ill common p.irl.ince, w.is termei
iiniii
ill. It of C.ip
llie torrid /one, the
h.ibitable aii'l imp.issable part.
Si I ic lly spea
kiiit;.
accordini,; to the doi trine ol tl
.incieiils.
Hllv ex-
tended .1 limited number ol ilenieis on each side of
the etjuitor. formim; about a thiol, or .it most, the
h.ilf ot the /one.
The
p roots ui
Columbus en-
de.ivored to draw therefore from the voya>;es ni.ide to
com IU-.1
ve with those
who
St. I icorije 1. 1 .Mill, I, were not
who were bijjoled to the ancient llicorv.
pi. iced this scorchini; reijion still f.irtl'.er southward
,ind immeili.itely .liiout the eipi.nof.
No. X.MV
ciK 1 III'. .\ I \I IN I [s fl II \l<>.
Tin
li.ilonue o
■ iii'l .\l.il.inlis is nu-ntioni
bv Pl.ito in his
I I'
inia-us.
Ill, the .\tlicMi.in l.iw.itiver.
IS suppose
to li.ive tr.ivelled into I'^HVpt. II
e is in an
,iiu icn
t citv on the Delt.i, the fcitile isLiml formed by
the Nile, and is lioldim; convei.-^e
.villi cerltiiii learned
priest
>n th
e antiiiui
lies of remote attes, when one
I them i^ives him .1 ilescri|itioii of the isl.ind of Ata-
l.inlis, aii.l ol its destruction, whh h he describes ;is
h.ivini; l.ikeii pi. ice before llie conll.i.^ration of the
world bv rii.ieton.
\l.ind, he w,is tol,l, h.i'l been siuiated in the
111
Western Ocean, oppos
to to tl
le Str.iit?
if (libr.di.ir.
1
lere W.IS an e
asy p.iss.ine from il to other is
which l.iy adj.icent to a l.irnc I'lntinent, exceeding in
si/e all liuiope and .\si,i. Neptune settled in this
isLiml, Iroiii whose s.m .\tlas its n.iiiio w.is derived,
.111.1 he divi.led it among his ten sons. His dcscend-
* .\ri-iol., .: Met, cap, 5.
t i'liiiy, 1.!). i. cip. 1:1.
If'
1
\
i
r
1
f
Tit
•:• ' ' ■■'.
81
il
;■ ' ■ i.)
'' ' •
!
!'[
f
^f
i
f
i
' i
1
1
<^
li
»
m
;>:o
AIM'KNDiX.
ant< rfi'jnod Ihtp in rpi,'iil.ir "s'lirpssion for in.iny .\nrs.
'I'lii'v iii.i'lc irnipli.ins iiitu litlioiic .u\<\ Afrir.i, siili-
(liiin'w; all l.vlii.i i- lir .i- K^vpt, atiij IIiuoik- U^ A-i.i
^iilll)r. 'riii-y Wire n-^isti'il, limvcvrr , liy llic Alhiiu-
atii, anil dnvii haik tn th( ir AUaiiln' icintuii«s.
Simnly alter lliis liiiTf w.is a triMiifti.iiui'* I'arllhjiiakc
ami an ovrrll u\iiu; ot lln- sira, whirli loulinui'il lor a
(lay ami a iiUlii, In ili" iniirM." of li)i» ttu- v.inI islan I
of ' Al.ilanli-i, a'l I .ill H* spU'inliil ( ;tii':- and warlike
iialioiis, were sw.illowid up. and sii'ik lo the hottoiii
of the SIM, whii li, sprialiii,ii{ Its w, Iters over the rhasiii,
lorriieil the Atl.mtie Ceeaii. For a loiiij lime, h"w-
ever, the se.i w.is not inviKaUle. on .irrmint of rm ks
and slielves, ol liuid and slliue, and of the riiuis nt
that drowned eonntry,
M.inv, in ini'lern times, havo (dnsidetcd tlii-- .i
mere fahle , others siipi)o>e ih.U I'l.ito, while in l.«\pt.
h.id re^'eivid soni" v.il;iic arediiiUs ot the C'.iti.iry
Is!. in Is, and, nn hi-, return to llrecie, lindiin; thus-
i>!.in Is so entindv unknown to his rountrvnnii, h.id
nil de them tin- S' ,il i<i Ins political and m >r.il speiu-
l.itiims. Si>me, however, li.ive been disposed lo ^;ive
(^re.iter wei^nt lo liiis story of i'l.ilo, I'hey im.iyine
th.it surh .111 i-il.m 1 m.iy really li.ive existed, (illiiii; up
a k're.it p.irl ol the .\tl.inlie, ani ihiit the eontinenl le-
y Mid il W.IS .\nieriiM, whiih, in sU'll r.ise, was not
unknown to the aiu ienis. Kirrhcr supposes it to
h.ue been an isi and eMendin^' from the C.in.iries lo
lliL' .A/ores ; tli it il w.is re.illy enj;ulfeil in one of the
convulsions of th" kIu'ic, and ih.il ihosc small isl.mds
arc nicrc sh.iUereil fragments nf it.
.\s ,1 furthit proof th.il liie New Wori I was not un-
known lo the ail' iriits. Ill my h.ive tiled ih'.' sini;ul.ir
p,iss.i;;e in the Med.vi ol Senee.i, whu h is woii.lerfuily
apposite, an 1 ■'liows. at 1 'ist. how ne.irly the w iral
inii^inatinn >'f .i \"<fi in iv ,ip]iro.ieli to ptopheiy.
The predii'tiiHU, cf the .im i-.'iil urarks wcie rarely so
unc!iuivo:;il.
\'i ,1 I'lU aiiiiis
S.e -iil.i >Ti-. i|iiiliiii Oecaniis
Vrii'll.i fruiii l.iM't, (I iiii^eiis
I'.ii'Mt le,lii>, 1 y|>his(j'ii' iinvos
Der.-u.il .I'lics, iieo Ml lorii
riniii.i Thale.
Gosselin, in hi, ii'.le resoarrli into the voyaijes of l!ie
.•aieients, sapii.i->es the .At.il.intiso! I'i.ito to h.ive been
nothiiiij more nor ,.■.., ili.m om- nf the nearest of the
Canaries, vi.:,, I" iri.ivenv.ira or l..ineeri)te.
Tin: l\i \'
N .. XXV
I •!, \Mi
l:|; \\|i \\,
i)\r of the most sini;u'uir .i;e')L;raphi(:.d illusion': oti
record is ih.-it wliiidi I or ,i Iciii,' while haunted llie im-
a;;iii.ilioiis <if liie inh.ibilanls d Vac t'.inirics. d'liey
f-ineied they beheld ,i inoiuitaiiious isl.uiil. alioiit ninetv
leaijues in ii-ni;th, Ivini; far to ihe westward. It Wis
only seen -.•i intervals, but in perlfitly i I'-.ir and
serene weather. To soau- it seeimd o:,c hundred
L'a.L;ues ilistant. to others l.irty. to (nhers (.rdy fifteen
or e::,dileen. ' i In .itfniplini; to reai h it, however, it
fonichow or otiirr elii led these.ireh. and w.is nowheie
lo be f lund. Stiil there were so ni.mv eve witnr'sis
of rredibdity wii > ( .oncurre 1 in testilvi'n^' to their liav-
ini,' seen it, and tl;e leslimony of the inh.ibitants oi
dilTerenl isl.mds .aijreel so w, 11 as to its form .uirl
p.isiiion, th.at its e.Mslenrc v.-.is i.'enerallv l)elieved. and
.yeo-raphers inserKdit in their m.ips. h is laid down
on the Hlobc of Afariin li^lur.i. ptoiocted in Ho? a':
deline.ited by .M. I )e Murr. and it will be found in
most of the maps of the lime of Columbus, place.!
commonly about two hundred le.i^'ues west of ih.-
Can.iries. Daring the time th.it Columbus was inak-
Hi;,' his proposition to the <ouit of I'oriim.il. an inhab-
itant of the Cm. iries :,,. plied t . Kim; John II. for a
vessel lo ,t;o in sean h of this island, "in the archives
* Keyjoo, I'hcatro Cri
IV. (I. 10, ij ^i).
I of the Torre (I i Tombo * ,iNo. iherc ,k f,
I coiiir.ii I lu.ide bv the crown ol I'oituir.il ivii': I
lie rinio, c.iv.ilicr ol the royal linu«ehni,| ,,
of the isl.iiiij (if Tercrr.i. wherein hi' iiiiij.n.ii,,
,lt his own expense, ill ijiH'sl ol ,111 |s|,ii,| ,,,
or leria I'irm.i, suppose, 1 lo be ihe is!, n„|„i :
Cities, on roiiilition ol h.ivmi; |uns.|iii' n
N.iiiie for hinisidl and his jitdrs, ,illowiiij; , ,
tlie revenues lo the kilii;. This Mm.,, \u„\ : ^
pedition .tbove his i ,tp, icily, >issii, Mtcil ..•),.
loilso del listreil I in the eiiler|ili»e. |,
boiin.l to be re.i.ly |.i s.iil with two i.ir.n
moiitli ik M.in 11, 11-;.^ 'Ihe l.iie o! their
i" iinkn iwii.
i be II. mil' of Si llr.in.l.in, or llor.,nd.i'i
tills iiii ii;in,iiy isl.in.l Iroiii time iinmeni. n.,
t > lie .lei Ued Irom ,1 S( oil 11 .ibbol, wh.i i: I
the sixth ceiilury. ,iiid who is c.iUcl M,iniiin
|orei;ii;nt; appeil.itions, s.inielinies St |i,.ii
St. Ml. in. I, mils. In the M.uivrolo(»v ,,1 ih.'
St. .•\ii>;ustiiie, he is s.ii.l to Imm- been thi ; ,:
lliree ihinis.ind monks, .\boul the tin hll" i
uiilury he ,i. > ..•iip.mied Ins disciple, Si \
or St. M.ilo, ill se,irch of (ctiaiii isi.nnis |
the deluhls if ii.ir.idise, wliiih Ihey Here l
in llie mi.l'-l of theoie.m, and wire iiili.i .,;
li.lels. 'lliesr most adventurous s.uni>.iri ,
deiel for a hm^' tim(! upon the oce.in. ,iii I ■
l.inded upon ,in isl.inl t .ille.l Iini. Ihr- -
loiin I the bo.ly of . I HI. ml lyiiii; in .i !.ci ;.,
resuHiitited him, .in I h.id imu h iiitrn -im,;
tioii With him. the Kiaiil iiif.irmiiii; hnii ih it ih
it. mis of ih.ii isl.m I h.i.l some notions ol iIk :
and, moreover, Kivini; liiin a KMIifynii; .i.-
lornieiils wdiH li lews ,md l'.in,ins suii^f';:
lern.il regions. I'indiiii; the Kiaiit s., .| i.Ji- ,•
.ible, St, .M.ilo esponnded |.i him tile .!... !',r
Chtisti.in religion, converti.l him, anl I .i;
by the n.ime ol Md.liim. Ihe iji.ii.t, hoivm
throiinh weariness nf life or e.iyerne«s f) cr
benelits of his c nivi-i sion, ,.ii;i;el pi'iniisv ■
en. I id 11 leeii .i.iy-, lo die ,1^.1111. which w.i>
him.
.■\ccordini,' to .ji other an .Hint, the i;i,ii:! :
he knew of an isl.in.l in the 01 e, 111, .li-ici; ,, •
id burnished noM, so resplendent tli.il I'l.'. -
crystil, but to wdiii li there w,is n.icnii.iiii
rnpiest he uii lertook to miide llieiii I 1 it. .ci :
the i-.ible (if llieir ship, threw hiniscl! :;r
lie had not proceeded f.ir, however, v,!.. i
rose, an, I obli^'sl them ,i!l to return, .in ' -!.■ ■
t'.ie Ki.iiil died. J- .\ third hxeii 1 m.ik.'^in.' ^1 -■■. fi'
lo he.iven oil I'lasti r d.iv, ih.il liiev III u '""
to fill I l.ml wliii.' they may leL-iir.itr ;'•
relii;ion with liei oiiiini,' sl.iie. .An 1-!. 111 I '■'!■'
.•ippe.irs, on wdii. Il they l.ui.l. perform .1 ■ • iMii-
and the s.ii r.iiiii i-.t of the l.mh.irist . afe r ni.ii!!.'-
emb.irkini,' an.l iii.ikiiiL; s.iil. they I i-l'. ■' • ^ '■'■'■'
astonishment tlir supposed isi.ind si;,! |. rl'. , ..'V.
the bottom of Ihe se.i, beinj,' nothini^ e!«c :li . • ". "
strous wh.il.' ;-■ When the rune r 1 iri'n'.i: : '' ^'
isl.md seen ti., 111 the C.iri.u les. win. Il .c.v.n^ •■ .-!-
llie se.trch. Ih.' l.-.;en,!s , 1 >t. lh.iiid.iii wen- . •■■'•'
..lid ,ipplie,l t'l this un.ippio.ich.iiile I ,ii! ''-•■"
til I, ,il..ii, ih.it there w.i> .1:1 an. ii nt l.iMi :;i.',-':t'
in the archives df the ( .illiedi.il 1 hiir. h . 1 "' '<:■(■■
C.m.iry. in which the .1 I'.entiites id ih--e - , '> " -
ii'coriled. Throu'^h . .irelessne'-s. hu.vi-iti, '.'•
m.mu'-i liiit h.is dis.ippe.ire.l. 1 some ii.cc .'.'-
t.linl■ll ih.it this isl.m, 1 V.MS known to iheaii' •"'■■■■''•'
W.IS the s.ime mentioned bv I'tolemy anlnii:;
tun. lie or Caii.iry Isl.m.ls, by the n.mus of .\[.i
or llie In.itcessilile ; and which, .ic.ordiiii; : ' ■'
* I. lb. iv. lie !.i I'li.inc'lari.i .!i-; K.-v Hn. J I'l'' ''
I.I
t I orre i!o Tomb.,. Lib .las Vl'i.i.. f. n.-
J I r. lirej;,)ri.i 1 i irei.i, 1 iriijeii .!,■ loi lii-l. ' ■■'
i-.io. <).
y Mi;ebi-r|.j, I'^pi.,!. ad d'lelni.ir. Abbil
f| Nunez ih' l.i iVii.i. ( 'omiuiat de 1.1 < irari .im;''.-
, I'luliiiiy, lilv. IV. lorn. IV.
[J«:t)
.'^J'-
..'•'
'4
«>tfeUn,ii
Jl,
AI'IMADIX.
I'l, |"iii inlu'il'iii'k"" i'"' I'li'.irnr.lidn f>f Clirisi.
, ,1 ii |i,,s>.i'->i'il Itif s.inic i|ii.'lily ill am ■ il
.- , ■ IrlU'lllW Illr t'>'' ■""' '"'I'lK lIM.lil.llll.ltiU- lO
,1 "( niiirt.il" • Hut wh.ilrvcr liclicl ihc an-
„ „ 1,1, V h.,u- ll.l'l "II llii" "ii")''' '. it '" < ITl.llll III, It I
i,,..li .1 ".iT'ini; 111 I'l "I' •'"' '•"''' "' •'"' "i"il''rii^ ''m-
liji'.,' ,.rcv.il<'iii r.inc U<r ili-nvrry ; iht diil it l.u k
kbuii l"i' ii'Minii'iiLiln Il'>n l<>«c|.li i\r \ icr.i v C l.ivi,Mi
.A i;iiri' iii-vir w.iH a tii '!<• <litlic lilt |Mr.ic|ii\ mmi
)ri,l -in III llir M ii'ii'i* "f «''"«ra|iliv ; siiK c lc> allirin
l,(,x|.l ■mr III 'Ills i-ilainl m I" ll.ltll|ilc- ll|inll Miilll'l
♦rM I Mti iiI'Ikiiu'iii. Ill' rras'in , antl ti> deny it iMic
*,u>' ■■'•'I' I"" "''''""" '""' •■^l""fi'''i"'. •""' Mij'l""-''
»ha; '..1 1) I" t>.'ins 111 1 f'llit liaii ti"l llii' |ir'i|>rr w-r of
The ! i!irf in llii> i'-liii'l lias i-(iiumiiiil loiiK sncf llir
limi-i f t ''iiiiil'ii"- '■ '*•'■* rf|i(Mli'illy seen, and ly
\ar' lis ; iTMiiit a', a linn-, al"ays in lln' same \<\m '•
in i "! il"' ■'•""'^ ''"■"!■ '" IS-''"" <'.x|><-ilitiiin set olf
|or th'' I .iiuriit in i|iif''t of it, i iiniiiiandi'cl liv Ict-
"fai'l '■!'■ I rova aiiil Kpriiaiiilo Alvan/. Thry i iiiis»d
Intl.f » iiii'ii (liriiiimi. luit in v. tin, and ihrir l.iilurc
Oui;l't 1' l:a^i' iinili'i I'lvccl the puhl;( " I'lu! pliati-
tasni I'l l!ii' isl.iiiil, liinvcvir," s.i\s \ iiTa, " li.nl mh h
jfcicl iiiiii.iiililifnt I'lr all whn I'dirld it, that the
pulOc I vfcrrcil doul'tiiiK tin- good rcindmt of ihc cv-
nlufirs ili.in tlicir own senses." In 15711 the appcar-
'inc* ttcir so n'(K'ali'd and < Irar thai llicri- w.is ;i
liiivirs..! (fvi r uf riiriiisity a\vakin<' I ammin ihi'
pcrijiic I'l the { an.irii-s, and it \\ is dilcrniiiicd to scml
fcilli ..::i llHT 1 \|irdiliiin.
T!:.i; llii'V (iiinlit nut appear in ait upon li:;lit
gr. nil 1-. an f\ai I investii;.i!ion was prevlciiisly lil.ule
oi..'. l!n: piTsolli ft talent and crcd:l,dity ivtiu li.id
s-'ci; I.', ■<• .ipp.iritinns of l.iiid, or who h.id iiih(r
|T'i>fs I'! iis cxisitni't'.
Aliix.'diie Kspinosa, Rnvernor of tlic ishmd of ICf' >,
af "nliii,;ly made a repnii, in wlileli nmre than uiie
hiiriiln I l\itne^^es. several ■>! them persons of the
h'^'iot r'<;peit,ihiliiy, deposed th.it they had leli. Id
llif iiiiki:',wn i<l.iiid ali'iiit forty leai;ues |{i the iiortli-
«?>•■,! retm , th.it Ihry h.id continiplated it v\illi
c.i innc>^'i ;in,l (ertaiiily, anil h.nl seen thi; sun set lie-
hi" 1 line of its |>omis.
'Ic«t:i'i')nials of stiil L;realer foni- c.inic fmni the
i> .'! Is m! |',i|ni,i and ICiurdie. There were lertain
1' r;,:i;iu's(.' wlin .iliiinied that, lieiiii; driven alnuit liy
aiir.ipi-i. iliey hid eoiin; lipHn the isl.m.l of St.
H : v.'...i. i'diro \'ello, »vhi) was the pdot of the
1 Vf<i', ..lliriiuil thai, hiivinx amhofed m a li.iy. he
liai'l:'! iviih sev< r.il of the rrew. They dr.mk fiesli
[B„l(T in a liron;.-, and I ilu Id in the s.iml the print of
[foi,Wcp<, ilouUL'the size (if those ff an ordin.iry ni.m,
[ani ihi; lisl.iiice liilween them was in pro|iortioii
f Ti^y i'laikl a crniis nailed to ,1 neinhliorinv; tree ; iiiMr
! in \hiili Were til ree stones pi.iied m lotni ol .1 tri..nj;li-.
: W!ll >IK'1S (,f r.re h.iviiii; lie< n ni.ide aiiioni,' them,
: pnluWy I I rook she'! lish. Il.ivmi; sei'ii mueli ciltle
|ai:U!i<-fi) Kra/iiii; in the neiyhboi Ikhi.I, hvo df their
p.irty.irmeil Willi I.iiim's went Inio the woods in pin-
t'Sii ; ollhcin. ■] he niidu w,isappro,ii hin^, the hea\eiis
bti;,in to lower, ,inil a haish wind arose! '1 he people
on Uwri! the ship i r.ed out that she was .lr.iKi;ini,' lu r
:'■■ iioi. 'vhereupoii Will, entered the boat and luirried
' '"Mfii. In an instant thev lost si(,'ht of l.ind, lieinK
a- il « ire swept away m liie hiiniiane. When the
Sl'ini ha.l p.issc,| aw,iv, and the sea .ind skv were
a,;.i:n serene, thev searrhrd in vain fur the ishmd ;
n':,ilr.uei)l it was to he seen, and thev had to inir-
si.i' ihcr vi)y:ii;p, l.mientrif,' the lossof their two com-
Pmiins Kilo had hcen a'l.mdoni-d in the wood.t
.■\ Icarai-ii lieentiate, Pedro Ortiz de Fiiiie/, in-
<|:.:Mliir .;f the (iraml Ciinarv, while on a visit ,-.i
unfriMr sumnmned several persons before him, who
I'Vi-no. uviiiv; seen the islaiul. Amoni; them was one
Venle
ni.in well known in those parts, lie
7"l'l.lhpo, lib. VIM f„l. 2,
'!'-<■ Isi. Can lib. i. rap. ..8
• Vl;lf, dHilVi,,,, lit,
'°"i. I. tJii. 28
Ktateil Ih.it inretiitniin; from Ikirbaiy and aiii^lm; in
the 111 inll'ioib.,(id ol the C.in.ilies. he beheld I.hhI,
whiiii, .iiiordinulo his maps ,ind « .ih iihitiotis, 1 iiidd
lint be any ■ I the known isNinds. !(>• 1 oneliided it to
the f.ir I, mud St Hotondon Ovenow d .it h.iviiiK
diMovciod this kind o| mysli'iy, hi' 1 o.isli'd aliill^J il«
spell boiin,| shores until lie ,1111 liored in .1 be.iniiful
hiroi r forined by the nioiilh of a im iiiitain ravine,
ileri' 11" l.inded with si ver,d of lis 1 rt'W. It was
now. 111- s.iid, the hniirof the Am- ,M,iri.i, or ol vi s-
pers. '1 hesiin beiriKsil, tliesh.idows be^jan to spread
over tliP l.iii'l The voy.i:;ers h.uiii'.r s<'p,iraleil, wan-
derrd ,ibiiiit ill ill'lerent ilirei I'ons, uniil out of |,i atini;
of cull other's slimits. Tliosi' oti IkmhI, seeinK Ihc
iiiKhl appro, 11 hiiiK, in.idc s'nn,d lo siimnion I'ai k ilio
WMii'lereis to the ship, Th' y re 1 int.ii k<il, intendini;
to risimie their iiiMstijr.iiiiu.s im the lollowjn^' il,iy
Si.inely were iliey nn I oard, however, whin a wliiil-
wiii>,' (.line riishiin; down the t.iviii'' v\ilh snrli viii-
lent e as to dt.iK the vessel from her .011 lior ,ind hurry
her out to sea. and lliey tiiMT saw ai'.ylaiiiL; more if
this hidden .iiiil inhospit.il Ir iskmd.
.\notlier te-tiniotiy retn.iins on ri 1 ord In manii'iiipt
of line .\breii (iaiitiilo , but wheiliei liken at this linie
di IS not ,ip()e.ir. It v.. is that 1 I ,1 Iri m h adviiitiirer,
who, III, my years before, m.ikiiii,' ,1 V'iy,ii;e amopt; the
Cmaries, w.is overi.ikiii by a \ iolenl sinrin whii h ear-
ried aw.iy his m.isls. .\t len^ih lie furious winds
dr iVf him to the shores of an iiiikiinw 11 is|,md roMred
with si. ilely trees. Here l;e kmde.l with |i,iit of his
iTew, and I hoositi;{ a tree proper fi-r ,1 ni.ist, 1 ut it
down, iind bi'L'aii to sh.ipi! it for his purpose. 'I he
i;ii,ii li.iii ])i,Mer of the isl.ind. however, reseiiti d .is
iisti.il this invasion of his fnrbi'llin shores. The
lie.ivens assumed a d.irk and ihre.ileiiiM;^ asjiei I ; the
nii;lit W.IS appro. iiliinu', and lli,' ni.irlneis. le.irini;
sDine impemiiiiK I'vil, ;d ,indoni
turni d on |jo,ird. Thev wi re
fioiii the eo.ist, and li.e iii'St d.iv arrived at the isl.md
if l',iliii,i.'
The mass ,,f testimony rollertid ly ' lVn i:il authority
in I7"ii seemed so s.ilisf.irtiiry th. t .mother fxpc-
dilion was lilted out in the s.inie le.ir in the ishinil ol
I their kibor and ri-
iirne awav as usual
I'.dm.L It WIS I
inim.iiiilei!
IV I'er'i.iiido lie X'illa-
I. cap. I. V'icra Mist. Isl. Can.
bolos, renidor of the isl.nid, but w.is eipially fiuitless
with the prei edin;;. St. Moloiidon seeini d disposed
oiilv to t.intali/e the world with ilisl.iiit and strino
i;linipses of his ide.il p.ir.idise, or to icveal it amid
storm:, to II inpest-Iossed m.iiiners. but to hide it 1 om-
pli ti'ly from th'- vuw of ,ill who ililiKenlly sought it.
Sill! the pi.iph- of i',ilir,.i alherei! to their favorite
1 himer.i. Thirty ■ four years alterward, in I'l?,
they sent another ship on ihe i]uest, i ommanili d ly
(iispar I'l re/ de .Aeosta, an an 1 iiiplished pilot, ai -
lomp.inied by the p.idre I.orer./o i'incdo, a h' ly
I'r.iiuise.in fri.ir, skilled in n.ilur.il siienre. St. llo-
rondon, however, relused lo reveal his Iskmd tn either
tnriik or m.iriner, .Mlir eruisiiit; about in every lii-
rei lion, sounding;, observim; Ihe skies, the elouds, tl e
winds, evervthini; ill, it could liiinish iudirations, ihiv
returned without h.iviiii; seen .invthini; to authorize ,1
hope,
I'pw.ird of a lentury now ikipsi d without any new
attempt to seek this f.i ry isLmd. Kvery now and then.
It is true, the publie mind was a;.;it.:led by fresh ri -
poits of ''is h.ivini; been seen. Lemons and other
Iruits, and the i;reen br.inrhes of trees whiiti lloalcd
to the shores ol I'lomer.i and Ferro, were pronouiueil
to be fioiii the em hanted proves of .St. Moronilon. At
leni;th, In 1 72 1, the publie inf.ituation a,i,;ain rose to
such i heii.;ht that a oiurth expedilii n was sent, com-
maiiiled by I)on daspar I)omiiit;ue/. a man of probily
• mil talent. .Xs this was .111 expedition of solemn ;'nd
mysterious import, he luid two holy fri.irs as .ipostol-
lc,il I h.iplains. 'i'hey made sail from the iskmd if
Teneiifle toward the end of Oi tuber, U.ivinj; the pop-
ul.iie in an indescribable state of anxious curiosity
inii.gled wiih supcrsliiion. The ship, however, le-
* Nuriez, Conquistale Gran Canaria, Vicra, Hist., etc.
•I:i
:; ::i -.1
•li
i
AIMM'NDIX.
I
?i'
ii.rnca (row it* rruine n% unMicreMful an all il* pf''"^'- '
We h.ivo no .iKuuiit c'l aiiv fxpnlitmn lirini; »inio
un.liTi.ikcn, iImuhH iIk- i>1.im.I Mill M.miiuuMi to U- .»
siiliii'il "I "I"'' iil.ili"". -i"' "•••••'-ii'ii.illv to rrviMl ilH
mIm.Iowv mMiiMl.iiiis 1.1 llio «•>■(•» .il l.i\ nrr.l iii.lu hiii.iN,
In ,1 li'ttir wiiiiiri Imin tin- inLmd nl (Mtmor.i, i:«'),
l.v .1 rr.imiv m nmiik. I-kmu- <>i liKlticn.K. In- ttl.ins
lliivmu Sli'll II U.<\\\ lllf Vlil.lKl- <il Al.lMTn.ilsIX in till-
MM.inini; "i tlw tlur.l ol M.iy. ll .ipptMri-J I" . onMst
Ml ti\>> I'idv iinniiiiiiiw, with .« 'Iffji v.illi'v lifUviTii ,
ami cin lontiMiipl.iiin^ il wlili .i ti'U->-">|)c, itic v.illi'V
or r.ivini' .ii>|'iMri'.l til 1.0 iilU- 1 with trrcv He Mini-
inoiic'l till- <ur.ii<' Anioiiio Jiisi'|)h M.iiiriijiir, .iii'l \\\>-
w.ir.l oi tort) iiilur piTMoiix, .ill ot wIumii ui-luM ii
|il.iinlv.*
Nor is iliis inlm.! ileline.iUMl im-rrly in .mrniit ni.ii'S
of (lie lime oi I oUiniliu-*. It is l.ml 'lown as one m
tlu-C.iii.irv M in Is in .i l-'ri'ivh ni.ip pulilislii'il in IT'U .
,in 1 Mons. (i.iiilHr, m a yf ).;r.iphiral rliarl, aiiniM'l
to h s Dlwcrv.ili'Mis on Natural llistorv, piil ii^llfl in
I-:;, plai-i's il Tui- ili'uri'cs t'l till' wi'st ol tll<' islaii'l ".I
l.rro, in tin- J'jtii ilc«, of N. lat iiulc.l
Smli .irL- 111 • ptiii. ip.il laits i-xistiny rclalivr lo tlu'
islan I ol St. Mraii.l 111. h> mmIu.. wa> lor a Iomk lunr
a inatti-r of I'lrin Iji'litf. h was in vain lli.it ripiMli'il
V iv.iK''s aii'l invrstijfallon-i provc^l its noii-i-Ni>unu- .
till' piililic, alter IrviiiK a!l kinds of sopliisiry, tool.
rclii:;L- in lln' MiiK-rnaliira!, to ilcfcnd llu-ir favorite
cliiiniTa. Tli'v iii.iinl.iiiii;(l th.it it was rcmli red in-
ai (-cssilili- to mortals by Divine I'rovidriK f, or hv
di.iliolii-.il ni.iui' Most nil liiu'd to the torniiT. AH
km Is of fxir.iva^.int f iif ii-s were indul^fil i nncrnini;
it.{ so!iU' r.oiiloiin Ifcl it with the f.ililo I isUn I of ihi;
Sewn Cities situ.ited s uiU'whcrc in thi- hosoni of llu'
oiMii. wlicrc in old tiinus si-vi-n liishops atul their to'-
1 iwcrs had taken rffiii;i! Iiont the Moors. Soiiii' of
tae l'ottiii;iH"- ■ ini.ii'ineil it to he the ahode oi tin ir
lost Kiiii; S ■ii.isli 111. I'he Sp.mi.irds prefn ll d that
l< I h-rii k. till' l.isioi thi'ir ( lothie kin^;s, h.nl lliil thither
Iroin tiie Moor^ itter the dis.isirons hatlle of the liii.i-
d.ilete. I Ithi'i's siinnesled that it niiyht he the se.it of
the terr<'slrial p.ir.idisr', the place where |-".iioi h .ind
l.lijih rem lined in a state of Wlessedness until the
nnal day , .tn I lh.it it w.is madi- at times app.neiit to
111" eyes, hiii invisible to the seanh of niort.ils.
I'oetry, it is siM, has owtd to this popular lieliel one
of Its liiMiitifiil I'ntions, and the n.inlen of .\niii i.i.
where KiiiaM ■ w is detained cni haiittd, an 1 wlip h
T.isso |>l.i(es ill one of the C'an.irv Islands, li.is liceii
identihe I with the ini.iKin.iry St. Horoinlon.^
The learned f.ither l-'eyjoo, has yiveii .i philoso|ih-
ii'.il Solution to '.his v,'"oi;raphif.il prolilcin. I le am ili-
lites all these ai)pe,ir lines, whirh have been so niiniei
ous and S!) Weil .lutheiuie.ited ;is not to admit ol
doubt, to eertiin atniospliei ieal deceptions, liki' th.it
of the l'".ita .\|ori;,in.i, seen at times in the str.iits of
Messiii.i, where the i ily of Ue^ijio and its surroundiiik;
country is relliTted in the air above the iieiKhboriMt.;
sea . a phpnomciion whn h h.is likewisi' been witnessed
in front of the 1 ity of .M.irsi-illes. As to the tales of
the ni.iriners who h.id landed on these forbidden
shores, .m.l JM-eii hurried thence in whirlwinds and
tempests, he (oasi.lers them as mere f.ibrii .ilions.
.\s the popiil.i'-e, however, reluctantly i;ive up .my-
thini; th.it t)arl ikes of the marvellous ,md mysterious,
and as the s inie .itmospherical phenomen.i, whii h
first n.ive birth to the illusion, m.iy still continue, it is
not iniproli.il)li- that a Ixdief in the island of St. I'.r.in-
dan m.iv still exist anionic the ignorant and creiluloiis
of the Can.iries, ,-ind lli.it they ,u times behold its f.iirv
mountains risini,' above the distant horizon ef the
Atlantic.
No. XXVI.
TIIK ISI.AMi Oi nil, ^^,VI.N < ITIF.s.
Onk of the popul.ir traditions coniernins; the ocean,
■ \'icra. I list. M, Can. loin. i. r.ip. yi. f lb,,!. : Ibid,
i Vicra, ubi blip. II 1 i.eatro Cntico, torn. iv. il, x.
which were nirrent iliiriiiR llip time o( Coluir.';.
that of the Isl.ind of the Seven Cities |nv..j,,
in an .un leiii leKeinl, lh.it .it the tunc ni ihi ,
ol Sp.iiii and l'ottUk;al hy the Moors, ttliem'
It. lilts llid 111 eveiy ilireition to esi ,ipi. (, ,, ,
seven liisliop,, lollnwed liy a uriMi mimi.cr ,
people, took shipping and aliaiidoni'd tiiiti..(
their f.ile. on the hiyh se.is, .\ltc t tn'^M!l^ ,■
some tune they l.iiideil on .m uiikiioivn ,..,.
miilst of the (lie. ill. Ileie the hishe|ii. |.|;i .
ships, to pievcni the di'sertion of their tcKu. .
(ounded seven cities \',iriiilis pi!ii:«i f| p
w.is s.iid, had reached th.lt i d.ilid at dillirr".
but h.id never reiiiined to jjive any iiif irn;.,:
>ernin< it, li.ivinn lieiii dit. lined, aicunliin;
ipient ai t ouiils, by the siii i essurs nf ijic ; ,
prevent pnisuit. ,\t length, ai ' orlirik; I'
report, at the lime tli.it I'linie Henry of P, i;,.
piosei ittin>{ his disi overics, several «. ai.e .
pirsenled llii'msidv fs one il.iy liefore liim, .n
th.it they li.i I just reliitned from a \ev..i;-
louise of vvliiih lliey h.id l.iiided upr n '.h ■
The inh.ilet, lilts, they s.iid, spoke their i.ii.- .
c.iriied llnni ininieili.ilely to ihunh. ', ■
whether they vveri" Catholics, and vvi tc r,
I'lndiiiK tlieni of tin- true l.iilh. '1 hev then iii.i ■ ,
iirpiirii's, lo know vvlietlu r the Moors »,r,'. rr •
possession (ilSp.iiii and I'ortun.il. Wli.l' ; it
crew were at cliun 11, the lesi jj.itherul s.iii :
shore tor the use <d the kit' l.rn, .iiil : i;i '
siirpiise lli.it one third of it vv.is ^M. II. i
were .in.Moiis th.it the crew should reiii.nn v.
,1 f'-w d.iys, until till- return of their kji vcf
W.IS .ibsi rit , but the ni.iri.iers, .ili.iid <>: .'
t. lined, enib.irkrd .iiid iii.ide s,iil. Siu Ii w i»
tlii'v loM to I'rince Henry, liopinii to reoui ;
lor their iiitellii;ence. '1 he prime expre>s".l .■:'.
lire at their h.isiy dep.irture lioni tin isi .-
ordered ihein to return .iiid procure liitlluT
lion ; liiit the men, apprehensive, lioiloiill.
the f.ilselioid cd their t.ile dis'ovired, ii!
escape, .mil nothing more w.is hearil of ih' n
This story h.id nun h < uricin v. The U;.,- .
Seven Cities w.is ideiilil'n-d with the isl.iii'l :r,'.r;\
I y .\tistotle as h.ivinn I'cen discovered l.v ll;;- t'.lii:
Kini.iiis, and w.is put iiovvn in the i.iily ii;.i -...ir-
thi- time of Cidunibiis, under tin.' n.iiiie of .\;-.,!..
.\t the time of the disi-overy of New S|i,i.r. r^
were brought to 1 1 isp.wiiol,i of the civili.'..'.:' 'i : '-'«
I ountry : th.il the peopU.' wore i lotliint; . ih.t'ht:
houses .md temples were solid, sp.ici.uis. an 1 .'ita
m.i^jnihcetit . andtli.it crosses were occ.isiell.i. i' ii-'-
.unon^ them. Juan de (Iriv.ilji. beiiin diM ''•*"''"| •'
explore the co.ist of Yuc.il.m, reported that i: sii.r.;
.iloiiK it he beheld, with «re.il wonder, sta-ia:
beaiitiiul cililices of lime .iiid stone,_ and iii.i:.i .';:
lowers th.i' shone ,it a distance.^ For atmvt'^e';
tr.idilion <d the Seven (■ities was revived, .in . i:...';
thought th.it they were to be found lu the s.iineri.1
of New Sp tin.
No X\\II.
IMsrovi.KY <iK 111
I. isi .\M' or m.\i>f;ka.
TiiK discovery ot .M.idrir.i hv M.icli.im n-'-;'-'-'
|i.illv upon the authoriiv of l'"raiicisco .Ai. al'M"'-'
esipiire ol I'rince Henry of l'ortui?al, who .■iiiipcw.
an ai count id it for that prince. It doesiii'i'iip'--'-
h.ive obt.iiiieil much l.iith .imonK rorliiniio^' '"■]';'
ans. No mention is made of it in M.irros !'!"■'•■'
ules th<- first discovery of the island to Jii.m l>ona.(-
and Tristr.im V.i/. who he s.iid descried iljr'm U-
Santo, resenibldiK a cbnul on the hori/ m t
The .ibbij I'rovost, however, in his i;eiicr..l I;;;.
* Ills! dri .\liiiir.ini'', c.ip. 10. Q..
* I oKiu.'in.id.i .Moiianpii.i Indiana, lih. '■••■*'•' *,, j,.
i^rn de los Indios nor l-'r. lin'sono ( i.uci.i, l.l •■ >• <■■■
I liarros, .\bia, decad. i. lib. i. tap. j.
jiti^hi''! anchor . the
Ai'i'i:\i)ix.
r,3
■Kt* vol. '>, M'rm!* Inrtinrd (o givo rrrdii K. ilic
lii .,f" \l.,ilur.iilu. • It w.i.t .om|i..M-.l,' hr
„n . ' .>l .1 ll""' >*'"'" ""■ '"'""i"" "' ''"^ plllilli
)u'lliacc<|"'<"' ''"' '''•"" •■'I'"""''' • '""' "" '""■
,,m,,r'<M.i(r'l''''l'''"' Alt.itcir.id «iviii« ,in I'X.ut
, , , I i|,i»ivciil, ^iiiirlii w.i* "( 111'* miinhcf (it
|vov
Kourt
liiM' vM a>»i"''>l •'' ""' ■•'■'""" "■-""•'■•;■ • '■•
Hrnt'v im.riiiiiu.l!v wriucii, w.in ovm li,ir«r.l uiili
f,jn,l, ,i„| initilislii'.l in I'.iriMii 1171. I li<- I ti'ii. Ii
ijn»Ui"t h.i'l nii>.ni lird ilic luii.irnrius, l,iit m rupii
luMv rcuin.- 1 I'lc l.ii IS. '! Ik- M.iry. Ip.wi-v. r, i- < lift-
iht,iiM ihc i^l.i'i'l "I M'l'liir.i, wliiTf a painliiin m
' iuvr,r,i"iit)l ili'<Hill I') tfvi-ii. 'I he /..Ilc.wm« i-,
Jeinirp'itlnMln'I'rrMi ll Ir.insl.ilioii I have nut Ikimi
•lie 10 |iri>. Ill'' itir nrii{iM,il nl Air ifor.iilif.
lii.nii! ihf f'''i;'i "I l.'lw.ini ilic '1 liinl of IjikI.hi'I,
JtM.,ih.iiii, li'll Ml Ji'VH Aiili a yiiiiK l-idy i<( ran-
Itaiil^ of III'' ii.iinc ii( Aiini; Durstt. SIk! was hi--
r .. 1 ;,.! I ..
iniriiir 111 I'lrl'l. •""' "' •'■ IT""'' -I'l'' •ili''l"< I'lli'" '•'•li-
ly : but ilic 111. lit of Ma>liaiii uaiiu'il him llic [iri'lcr-
Sici.vrt ill! liiH livals. Till' family <i( ilir ymii^
Jv. I'l prcvriil liiT lll.ikiii^' an infrriiir ailiainr, nl.-
■ll an oili |- from llio kiiiK to have Mai liatii
«
IlitU'ii an '"'HI 11" V "'"N * ' »-
im>lil ,111 I ' iiiliiif't, imlil liy arliitr.iiy means liny
jlarnc'i! In* ;iiislri'--s In a man nf i|iMlily. As somi as
the iMlptiai'- IV ire cilrlir.lli'il, llie iioliliMiiail loiiilurlcl
Ili.sLo.iiiiili'l anil .illlii ii'il liriilf to hiH scat near Hiis
|ol. Ml liaiiMVa- iinv risic ti'il III ijlicrty. Iiulinnaii'.
J". i:ie wiiiii>;'* Ih' lii'l Mil'lrrt'il, ami i i-rlain nf iIh'
iBniii'iin ('( Ills iiiistn'ss, he pri'vaiU'il ii|i(iii s"Vi'r,il
(r:t') Is 111 aJM'-t linn in a |ir(iji'ii fur the utatilii .ilimi
olhulmrit 1 his revenue. They fnllnwcil hard nn
Ihe lr;itcsii( lie lUMV-ni.irried CLiijile I'l Hrisiol. I ine nl
the iri'.'ii'ls iilit. tilled .III intriidui iioii inio ilu- family nf
IIIk' 11 'lilellLlil III ijll ililV 111 II Krniiin. lie liinild the
y(Ji.,l^ hriiU' lull 111 teiidir rci (illeclioiis of her li)\er,
;,ini ■:! ilisliki" III tlie luisli.iiid thus fnned iiimii her,
Tlirii;i^!i llie tinMiis nl this friend, M.ieham h.id •■r\-
tr.ii O'liiiriiiiiii ■.iliniis wiih her. and eoni-erted me. ins
for li.iir csiMiie In I'l.iiu e, when' they iiiinht eiijny
tht.r iiiu'.li.il I'lvc iiiiinnlested.
Wlii'il III! lliiiit;s were prep.ired, ihe yiuiiij l.idy rmle
oul niii; li.iy, .iiiiiinp.mied only by the rictilnuis uroniii,
till! r prileiii e (if tikmn iju; air. No somier were
the. iiul (if si^iil 111 llie hnuso tli.i'i tney ^;.dlii|ied In an
JpimiUcl pl.i< '■ "II llie slmre of the eli.innel, where .1
bo.u aw litcil llieiii. '1 hey were eonveyed on hoard .1
VomI, wliii h i iv with aiii Imr a lri|i ami s.iils iiiiliii led,
tcily t.i pill I'l sea. Here the lovers were om e nmre
liii:;^i!, re.irful of piitsiiil, the ship immediately
»i ,;hi'.| .iiu'lmr , they m.ide their way r.ipidly aIniiK
Blhe iii.ist nf t.'iMinv.ill, and M.iehani antiripated the
Iriunipli nf siMill l.iiviiiii; wilh his lie.inlifiil prize on the
pih(iri-i (if (jay ,111.1 jj.illan'. rr.ime. rnfoitun.itely an
ail'Tscaii I St iriiiv wind arose in the ninlit ; at il.iv-
bl' v,» ll;ry fiuiiul lliclUsel ves nut of si^llt of laild. Tlie
ro.riiuis weieii;ii(,r.ini;i|i,l inesperieined ; they knew
H' hiiii;(i| the n.inpass, .iml it w.is a time when men
iTTf uii.inustiimi d to ir.iverse the liiK'h seas. 1' ir
tii-i'TM li.ivs die lovers were diiveii aliout on .1 tein-
p'^~; ."IH iiie.iii, ,it Ihe men y o' wind and wave. The
11. live hride vv.is (iiled with' ti'rror and remorse, and
II N". I a|„,ii this uproar < f die elenK-nls as the am;er
I' dwven dirnicij .lu.iinsi her. All the elTortsnf her
I'', r touM iml remove from her mind a dismal pre-
S'U ! of siiiiie a;ipr(i.i. hinn lal.isliophe,
; -a; Icniitli the lempesi suiisided. I )n the fniirteenlh
jwy. at,|,,ivn. the mariners perceived wh.il appe.ired
I jo I' ll tuft (if Wood risinn nut of the sea. Thev inv-
[ lu„v su'cred (orii.suppo: initit tohean island. 'Thev
t Wcrci.ii mist.ik,.,, ,\s ii„,y drew near, the rising'
|!li:i5lmiicu|iuii noble forests, the trees of whieh were
;Oi^n:ii<l uiikM.nvn to them. Tli^hls of birds also
' caini iMveraii; .ilimit the ship, and perrhed upon the
y-iMs am! rii;;;iM;;. wiihniil anv si^ns of fe.ir. The
D'litwi.iispiii (in shore 10 reeimnoitre. and soon re-
"""Iwiihs'.M, .i,(„i,„ts„f the beauty of the eoim-
'!■'■■ uul .M.iohain (lelerinined to t.ike his dr()opini»
\ COm'„iiuu:i 10 llie Lmd, in hopes her health and siiirits
! mii{ht liy restored by refrrsliment and repose. They
I were mp.iiiieil nil slmie by the laitliliil friends who
h.id .issnii d III their Ib^lil, T he iiiiirincrn rcniulncil
on bo.ird 10 ktnard the ship.
The (oiintry w.is indeed deliKhlflil. The forestH
Wire si.itelv and niakiniiii eiii , ihei • wire irecn l.iden
with e\irlletit Iriiiis. others With arom.itie flowers ;
the w. Iters W( re rnni .ind limpid, ihe sky W.is ftereiU',
.iiid lluie W.IS .1 b.iliii> >-wi'eiiiess in (he .lir, 'I he aiii-
111. lis ihev nut with slmwed no si^iis of id.irin nr
fimdiv, (mm whii h llii'y rom Inded that the i.sl.md
w .is iininh.ibned, ( lit pi iuti.iliii« a lillle disiam e ihey
Iniind ,1 sjiellered llieailnv, the i;ireri bnsoin nf wliii h
w.is bordiT-'d by l.iiirids and relristnil by .1 mount. lin
111 link wliii ll r.iii sj'.irklinn iver pehbles. In the 1 <n-
ire w,is ,1 niaiesiii tri't. the wide lir.inihe'; of which
.ilfoided sli.ide from the rays of (lie sun. Here
M.ii h.iiii li.id bowers loiisiruiteil and ilelermincd to
p.isH .1 few d.iys, hnpim,' lh.it the swec lliess nf the
(iiiintryand the sereii'- Ir.ini|iiillily ol ihis delmhlfid
solitude wmil 1 reifiiit the drnopini; he.dlh.ind spirits
nf liisi ninp inimi, 1 hieeda\ s, howeu r, h.id sianely
p.issed whi'ii a vinlent storiii arose frnni the north-
I .(s|, ,iiid riije I all ni>;ht o\ cr the island ( )i; the sue
(('(din^ ninrnin^' .M,iih.iin rep.iiri d in the se.islde, but
nntliiiin nl his ship w,is In be seiii, and he I niRllided
th.it It h.id blundered in the lempesi.
Cnnsiern.itinn ft 11 iipnn the bllle I and, thus left in
.III iininh.ibited isl.md in the niidsl nl the oci .iii. The
blow tidl most severely nn the liniid and repentant
bride. She reprn.n lied herself willi I i im; the cause
of all their inislormnes, .md, Irom llie lirst, had been
h. Hinted by dism.il forel)iilini;s. She iinw ( niisidercd
them .iliiiui In be accomplished, .ind her horror w.is so
^reit as in deprive her of speei li ; she e.xpircil in
three d,ivs wilhout litlerini; a word,
M,i( liim w,is struck with despair at beholding the
irinH .ll en 1 of this lender ami be.ililifiil beinj;. He
iiplir,iided himself, in the ir.inspnris if his j;iief, with
'eiiim; her trnni her hniiie, her country, .md her
friends, topeiish upon a sav.iee coast. Ad llie el'fnrls
nf his ( omp.iiiinns to cnnsnle him wire in vain. He
died within live days, brnken l.e,irteil ; lieyi;iri^;. as a
l.isi re(|iiest. th.it Ins bndy miKlit be inleired beside
th.it nf his mislress, at the Inot of .1 rustic alt.ir whiih
tliey h.id erei ttd under the k'ti"'*' Ifc. They set u|i a
l.ir),;e wooden 1 ress on the spot, on which w.is |i!aced
an iiisi riptinii written by M.uhain himself, rel.iliiii» in
,1 few words his jiitenus ailventiire, aiei pr.iyinj; anv
(hi isti.iiis who niii;ht arrivt- there, in biiiliV a (liapel
ill Ihe pi. ice de.licited In jesus the .S.ivinlir.
.\fler ihe death nf iheir i (immaiider. his folh weis
ciiiisiilted about means 10 ex .ipe fmin the island.
'Ihe ship's bo.il rem.iined nn the shore. They re-
p.iired it and put it in a state to be.ir a vov.ijje. and
then m.ide s.iil, intendint,' in reliirn in l^nyl.mj. l^;no-
t.int (if their sitilatinil, and cariied .iliniit by Ihe winds,
thev were (.1st upon the (d.isl ol Mm
bi.it beiiii; shalter'.'d upon the rm k
lured liv the M.inrs and thrown into prison
thev underslnn.l tli.it their ship h.i '
111 n, where, their
ihev were cap-
Here
shared the same
111. * ll 11. i»- I .-.l' " .. t llt.lV I, 1^1, ,-.,,. I' ...... .-...»,^>* %••*
f.iie, li.ivinv; been driven from her anchorage in the
letnpest, and c.irried in the s.imi? inhospitable coast,
where .ill her i rew were miide piisniiers.
'I 111! prisons of Morocco were in those days filled
with (.iptives of all nations, t.ikeii I'V their 1 misers.
Here the l".ni;lish prisoners met wilh an espericnccd
pilnt, a Spam.ird of Seville, ii.imed ju.in dc .Morales,
lie listened to their story wilh nre.it interest; in-
(|iiired into the situation and (les( riptinii of the island
they h.id discnvered ; and, siilise(|iiently, on his rc-
dempiirm frnm prison, communii ated the cirtum-
sl.inces, it is s.iid. to I'rince Henrv of Portu^.d.
There is .1 dilliculty in the above narrative of Alra-
for.ido in reconciling dates. The voyage is s.iid to
h.ive l.iki n pl.ice diirini; the reikjn of Kdward 111 ,
wliiih commenced in 1327 and ended in 137s.
Mniales, to whom the I'nulish communic.ited their
voyaije, is said to have been in the service of the
Portiifjuese, in the second disc,)very of .Madeira, in
i.fir .uul 1.120, liven if the voyage .md iniprisuntiienJ
I !
Tl
M
m
J n
•Kf
■•;!
ji,d .
:;ri
S' *i:
I':
iii'n!
II
•■' ;'
I. V
•rA
AriM'NDIX.
iKi.l takei, , -0 in the List yrar of kini; F-ilwanl s
roiun. this lc-,.vfs ;i sp.uv of Itirly ve.irs.
ll.ickliiyuivis :iii.u-co.,iU <'tthc s.iiuf voyai,'!-, lakpu
fnini AnUMiH. (iaKam.. lie varies in certam paUie-
ul irs It fiai'P'iieil. he savs, in tliL- year l.m. "> H'e
lime of I'ettr IV. of Arauon. Ma.ham cast .■•■..lu.r in
a liav since ralleil after lu.'i Mactiio.
The laiiv beiim ill. he tool lier on shore, a.coni-
nuiieil liy'soi,i-of his friends, and the ships s.iilc.l
without theiii. Aitei the dvM'A of the .uly, Marhain
made ,t c.iiioe out of ,i tree, and ventured to sea in it
with his co'iipanions. Ihev were e.ist upon the .o.ist
of Africa, where the Moors, eonsiderin.i; it .i kind oi
mir.icle, . .irried him to the kinn of their country, who
sent him to the Kiin; of C.istile. In conse,)uence ol
the traditional accounts reniainin.i; of this voy-i^e.
Ilenrv II. ol C.istile sent people, in i.V)5. l"^' H'llis-
ciiver the isl.iiui.
No. X.WIII.
I. AS r\'; \s.
lURlll-il oMi \v I.\> C\>\s, Hisliop of Chiapa. so
often cited in all histories of the New World. w.i> born
at .Seville in 1474, and w.is ol Kren-h extracti'Mi. The
family name w,is C.is;,us. The lirsl of the n.ime wlio
appeared in Sp.iin served under the stand. ird of Fer-
liiiian 1 111., surname! the S.iiiU, in hi> w.irs with the
Moors of .Aihi.iUisia. lie was .it the taking of .S(_-vilIe
from the Mo(ir>. when lie w.is rewarded by llie kini;.
and re'-eived p-.-rniissi.in to csl.iblish hin'--el! there.
His descen l.inls enj.iyed the prcroi^.i'ives ot nobility,
and suppressed the letter /( in their n.ime, to accoiii-
mod.ite 1! to lie .Sp.misll loiii^uc.
.\ntoiiio, the father of H.irtll'domew. went to jlis-
p.iniola with Coluniiuis in 1403, ,ind lelurne I lich in
S -ville in I l')-^.'-' It h.is been st.ited by i"ie o! the
bio^raphiMS of 15 irtholomew Las Cas.is, tn.it he ac-
coinp.inied Coiiim.nis in his third vovat;e in M'r, and
returned witli him in l^oo.f Th.is, however, is incor-
rect, lie wis. duriiii; that lime, comp.fiimj his edii-
1 atio:i at S il.un,i:ic.i, where he was insirucied in
I, itiii. di.ik'ciirs, loi^ic, mel.iphysii s, i-thi s, and
ph\sics. after i!ie siip[i.>scl method and •-y^t m ct
.Xrlslolle. U'liil-' .it tliJ university, he hid. .!■• a scrv
.int, an Itiil..iii sl.ive. i;iven him by his f.ither. wIm
luid received h::n from Coliir.ibus. When Is.il.i-lj.i. in
her traiis^inrt o; viituous in liquation, orilered l!ie In-
dian sl.ivcs til be siiil back to their countrv. ihis one
W.IS l.ikeii from Lis C is is. 'liie youn.; m.in w.is
.iroused by the circumsl.mce. .uid. i>n cdusideriiiK tlie
n uure of ihe case, becinie inllamed with a ze.il in
l.ivor of tlie mill ippy Indi.ins, whii h ne\er cnulel
throutjlioui .1 1:111.; and active lite. It w.is escited to
lentoM fi-rvor, wiien. al abnul the ai;c <if twenty-ei;;lu
years, heac, ump.iiiied the romii;ander < )v.indo to ILs-
paniida in ifnj, .iiid was an eye witness to m.mv <pf
the cruel scenes which tonk pl.ice under his adminis-
iration. '1 he wlioie of his future life, a sp.n-o excci'd-
in.,' si,\ly years, v.-. is !i>vote I to vindic.nii-.y ihe c.iusc
anil cnde.ivorltii; to m-.dior.ite the suffLMinns of the
native^. .\s ,1 missiiinary, he ir.ivcrscil the wdrler-
ness o! tlie .N'ew World in c.irious directions, scckinjj
to convert and civilize them : as a proti'clor and
ch.ampinu, he m.ide several voy.ii,'es lo Spain, vindi-
c.ited their wrongs Iiefore courts an, I monarchs, wrote
vo.umrs in their behalf, and exhibited a zeal am! con-
st iivy an I intrepidity worthyof an apostle. He died
at the adv.iuced ai;e of iiinetv two vears, rnd was
luiried at M.idrid, in theihurchof the Dominican cun-
vcnt of AiM,h,i, III which fraternity he was a member.
.■\aenipts h.ive \wvn m.ule to deciv tlie consistency,
and (luestiiMi the real iihiLinthnipv <If L,is Cisas, ii'i
conseipiencc i.f <,iic of the expedients to whii h lie re-
sorted to relieve tlic Indians from the cruel boiid.ige
* Navnrp'i.-. ( 'olcr. \'i.ip. torn, i, Intnid. ]i. Ixx
+ '1. .\. Llureme CLuvn-:. de L^ij, C.isas, p xi I'.uis
l8i2.
imposed upon them. This occurrtd uii;i
.irr;ved in Sp.iin, on one of his niis.s-.i.iK. \,y
mcisiires in their f.ivor from the ^;nviTn:nrr'
his .irnv.il in Sp.iiii, he found C.irdiii.il Xi'ii.'nfs I
h id been left rei;ent <ui the de.ith ol Kni; Ic-Jja
too ill lo .ittend 10 his alf.iiis. 1 le n (mmo,! ;'iric„,|
to Will.idolid, where he aw.iitc.j the idnir
new 111011. irch Charles, .Archduke of .\i;>tri.i.,,:;fi-.
the I'.inperor Ch.irles V. He h.id slrmii; cpp,^,,;!
to enciuinter in v.irioiis persmis lm;h 111 „'..i|;(f|r
who. holding estates and rep.irtuiiei.i'is m :iit,5. 1
nies. were interestcil in the shivery 01 the Irti-, I
.\nionu; these, and not the le.ist anini.iU'.;, itj".
liislvp I'dfiseci, President ol tlic CoLr.r.; c; ■'■ I
Indies.
.\t length the youthful sovereign airivrt!. acpf^j... I
nied by v.irious Kleminys of hisKuirt, iiiirlrulu .
ijr.ind idiancell'ir. Do tor lu.in de Selv.inie, ,1 .tj*.'
.ml uprikjht m.in, whom he consulted ..n ,i'l aik,-,
.idinini-tr.ition ;ind iustice. L.is Cas;> si.i!; :«;-.
intim.ite with the chancellor, .uid st'ind Jr^fc j,, ;
esteem ; but so much opposit;cin aros;' on cvcni
lh.it he founil his v.irious propiisitjniis f.ir iht ii-;,
the n.itives but Idtle allended to. In his iloi;!/
.mxiety he hid now recourse loan e\;.t'..irnt »?:■
considered as justified by tl;e i in uia'-i.in.'.> c' ■■
CISC * The ch.incellor S(dv.i>;io and . ilicr r™-,-
"1
w!io li.id accomp.inieii llic youlhiiil -ovcri'ivT, ■.,
obtained from him, before quitliii;; IdaiiiU'i'. ..cft;".
to import slaves from .Nfrica to the ci.l.nic. . :.~.'..^
lire whii^h h.id recently in 151b bccri prcilu;,;?^; ...
decree of Cardin.il Ximenes wdule .c tini; .is tftr:
The rli.mcellor, who w.is a lium.'i'.e man, trfcr.; .
it to his ronsriem e by a popui.ir opniicii !,J!
nei;ro could perfortr without d.iriiiunt In li>'>,t..
the l.ibdf of several Indi.ms, a. d thai dicrcS f";,;.
a .i;re.it s.ivini; of human sulfermt;. Sm easy v; •
interest to wr.i]> itself up in pi.ui^i! 'r ,ir;jiiiiUn: '■
nii.;ht, inoieover, have thoUKht the wclf.irc e'|-.A:
cms bi:t littli' affected by the cr.iii>;e. 'Il y t
accustomed to sl.ivcry in their own cii:;:Ui;. '.■:.''.-•
were s.iid tti thrive in the New Wirld, ' l'; V:
cms," <dl^■••rves Herrera. " pr-isperc I -iiiiii'
isl, 111,1 of llispaniol.i, thai it w.is ihe .'piiii>>"iii!.>>
nc^ro should happen to be h int'ed Ic w ■,),' r
die ; for as yet nom- had been kiimvn t 1 ; ■ >3:'
inlirmily. Like oraii.L;es, they foudl :1a;.' i' 'it:'
in Ili-paniol.i, and it seemed cvrr ;.. -lu r. :;;:.:.
tliem than their n.itive taiiiie.i."!
La'- C.s.is lindini; all other me.uv -.rifiV';:.! ■
de.ivored to tuiii these interested vuw-. • f ' ■ t
I h mcellor to the benefit of the Indi.ms lie ;: ■ ■
thai the Sp.iniards, resident in the 1 i.l.iiiic ;:;,■
perinitud to procure negroes for l!i;' !.ii'"i
firms and the mines, and other f-r\:-u- t > <. »*■ :
were above the strength and deslru'tive el '.lit
of the n.itives. J He cviclently cu)--!.!. C'l l:'/ •
.Nfiicansas little letter than mere .laini.'- ."
.■icteillike others, on an arithiiuii' ..1 i.iia. i'.'
"liminishiiit; human nii'-'-ry, by subsi;li:;im; ""■'
man for three or four of fe«d)ler n i!i:! ■. 1'"
over, esteeineij the Indi.ins as a nobler .111 i :■«-■
telh I tu.il race of beings, and their pr'>servi',.'"i ;:•
' welfare of iiif;her impoit.mce to the _i;ci»r.. in'tr-i
of hum.mity.
It is this expedient of Las Casas which hi- ::"•
down severe censure upon liismenioiv. In r ■ "'
I harmed with j^ross Inconsistencv. .iiid evii ■■ ^ ■■-'
int; ori^;inale(i this inhtim.in tr;iliic in die N''« V ■:
: This last is a j^tievous i har^e ; liul hislonciila'i-^s
clales remove the original sin from hisiloi'r, .u-i
lh.it the pr.utice existed in the ( .M.n.i-. ..i;-
I * Herrera charly stales this .ts ;im . \,;i'r|(i'ni vC*
when olliers filled. " h.iilolonie de i.i-- ' ' e'|-' ^ '"'S
Ml,, eoneeplos li.ill.ilian en tod. is p.irteMliluiii!.''!. ^ '''"^^'|
opiiiioncs (jue leiiii, \M>r iniii h.i lain iiarid.Ti <1"' '''^
■■eKiiido I tit.m eri'dito cnti el (jr. 111 I 'ainlhT, iw "'
li.ilier e(eeli). if 7v/vi,i ,1 I'ltt'i cl/r.Ac'/.V. . ■'. . •
I lib ii 1 ap a.
♦ H-rrera, Hist. Ind.. lib. ii. de.wd. 111 ap.
I \ lliid , (Icead. ii. lib. ii. cap. jo.
•OV!
-Ur..
By
if'
Ov,.
I,,,.'
,il„,,r,:P,i bv royal dc
the fiiicsli""'
! a'asas iliil 1"' «
v,,\:il onliiiann
,.iniittcd to be
,rn ;ii""iii; ^''"
,, il.iicd I ^' *. \
.. the island <'i
.is that none ni
111'
fcf'
Ac
,j, the Spanish
ol iiCKto skiv
:,l 111
with llic
In
V
an;
of
or:
V
lo
I,,. t.ikenMtlii
1,1 Lfiil ui'-liii'
;^htcoiilri!'',ite i
.) Ki!!^ lei'
Hn,.,,,| weakness ol
'J,,. ; , lie sent from
,, he ordered
,,.,j (roiiil'iiine^
, taiuiiiii; ill''' ''
. :• Iniliiii'^ ;s I'
, rel.itive 1 ' 111'
..■M:<\ h-Ciise-
,. ((illMliiS. It
;,isus(,M\ehis s.,
fyy<^\. ai'.d he uainl.
lhel|.,vdy .Xfii
jdlaiis, It W.IS ad \i
If ■.line re.isoiis, by
m.-.iai.ines in the
Chs,.> were purely
pr :icous notions ol
tv., .ii.itpied ir.ii;ht
ci.:; iivuexistint; .d
p^ly rcsnrtiiii; lo ll.e '
'4al'- "lis 11 niiv be.
;^uin "c by some oi
■inr;,. fthe.ii;e,.unon,:j
•Hiir.,:irl elevated to
Izrii t'V Ki"'":"''^'' •'
icir.i itcil ; iiii|Uiries
3|l.iv,"; rii|uired, wliic'
''*in ' it'.e I'leniinns obt
tth ii ilicy aitcrwai I
Pr. Uolieilsoii, in 1
Uas' i'cuveeii tiie cm
5, an.! l!i,it of Las Cas.i
of :;!!• litter. ■■The
Jol;i:ied lo enioiir.ii
rciiiieil the |ri);iosili
iilihiy i.l rcdiiciiii; on
le «,is i:unsiiltiai;;ib
aniiihci : Sill L.is
n,:' .•.:', to men w!io
tmv.iril :, lavnrile po
disinr'i ■". In ;!u:
Air.fricins IrnMi the ;
an ' (Aiicilicut to ill!
v5a"s." ;
This lii.str/uulion (
tlyovrred. L.is
imfosint; .1 he.".vier.
lAlru.iii.s Tile l.iUi
it iaiior. and less
illiii.iiis s;;nu under
mr.s in llisp.mio!
rivivl iheie. llir
its ,1' hi-- ..iithciiity
iticii! iiiPT,' liii.iiv
inu'ius. liesa\s
.kf iu-i;r.',-s to iho
re lie, re.isiiii;. at
Ii.! all re work lli.ii
y 'e a :;ro.it den
t llol ,
t ll'i.l..
S I!ii4,,
I, kolii'ttson, II
ri. Us!, li
!. 1. lib. VI
'1.1. 111.. VI
lit.
APPKNDIX.
ucsti'in
by royal decree, Innj? before he took a part
» , rnil cnlinaiKc P'"'*^'"'' '" '?"'• "^'«''" '■'■'^■'"*
LM,-,mitticll(>l«- t:ikrii tlicff, i>r.)Vi.l(Ml ih.-y li.nl
tl^ ' ,.. .' » II.. . l..ll..r ..,r:i...., 1...
fcre'.'i-nti ■ ., „
,.rM .iiii-'iii; CliriMMiis.*
Litcil l^'M. It ;i|i|)c.irs that tlicrc wen.- luiii
Hv .1 Ifllcr wrillcii by
lUl
i\ .11 that limi'. .iml Me
Irs n I'hi' islan.i nl I li-paninla .il that lim..'. .ind hf
ltre.,h liiiit iiniie more might be inrmitltd to Ik-
iou.;lii
In i-.X'ilu- >iianish government forliade ihe mtro
iciioiml iici;n> slaves fron) the I.fvaiil, <ir th.i^^
that tidiic
muh; iij. "iih the Moors ; and stiiuihited ...
,; I (• lakrii ti ihe lolcnics but those from Si-villc,
Ihf ..- lein lii'-mi' leii ii. the Christian faith, thai
lev i;'i;iti<'"i''i'"''"' '"''"' '•""^'"■'''''"""' '*"' ''"'ians.+
fc'i; 1 K.:nj, rei'iinaitil, bein^' informed of the
Kv<!i.il w'f:il>iiess (it the hulians, ordered fifty . Afri-
InF • 1 In- <(nl Ircin Seville l" labor in the mines. J
fc i:ii he iT'lered that a yreat number slionid le
loniicii (reindiiinea, and transported to llis| .miola,
hdiT.l.iiiiii'i;,' !''•'' <""' iieijro coidd perform the work
I (oi;r liidiin'' ,i In '5 12 aixl '1 5 he simieil further
tier-- ri-l.il!ve '1 the same sidijei 1. In 1 5 ll> ('h:'.rics
;:.iiU'.il li:;cii>es to the rieiiim^,'s to import nei-roes
I iiic celeiiirs. It was not until the year i;i7 that
js (."iisas t;,i\ e Iiis sanetinn of tlie iraflie. It .dre.idy
kisle!. iird he K.iuitenauced it solely with ,1 view to
Bviti^ tie' 'i..-lv .AfiH.ins substituteil for t'ne feebU^
lldiati';. It u'.is atUoealed .it the s.ime time, and for
M s hi:.- rr.^siJim, by the ieronimile friars, who were
jiissioii.irics in l!ie eolonies. The motives of I. as
Ecisas were piirelv benevolent, though loiinded on
Jfrinuoiis ii"ti(iiis >if iiistiic, lie lhou.i;ht to prrmit
Ivil i;'..il i;iiiid iiMi;!n spring out of it; to <hoose be-
flt<-' livutxistiiij; ,diuses, and to eradicate tlii.- i;reater
Jy ri'Vifi i;^ to ll-.c lesser. His reasoniii.:;, however
llbii'iii'i It niiy be, was considered s.ilisbu lory and
luir "" hy some ol the most lo.irned and benevolent
jicr,' !;he,it;e, .uiuin^; whom was the Cardinal ,\dri,m,
jllfr.; .r : ciev.itc I to the p.ip.d ch.iir, .ind characlei-
■ed Iv Ki ritlciu'ss and hiim.mity. The tr.illic w.is
lenii lliMi ; iiii|Uirii'S were in.ide as to the nunilier <'f
paws rii|uircil, which was lin)ilcil to four lhou--,ind,
III'! the r!eniiii^;s (ibtained a n^onopoly of the Ir.ide
phiili ilii'V aitcrwai.l tanned out to the (ienoese.
j br. Uiilierlson, in noti' ni|^ tliis affair, dr.iws ,1 < on-
jrast i'tivec'i liie conduct of tlie Cardin.d Ximeiies
ini! i!i.a uf Las t.'asas, slron),;|y to the ilis.idvani.i^;e
If the Litter. " The cardinal," he observes, 'When
to enciiur.iije tins commerce, peremptorily
Kjtiteil ilu- i-rnposition, because he perceived the in-
builv t.i rcdiicini,' one race of men to sl.ivery, when
€ H.iS ((insiilii:i); about the iiuMiis of restoiin,< lilRrly
lannihci ; l.iit L.is (,"as.is, from the inecinsistcncy
lilur,.: ir> incii w!i!) huriy wuli headlonij impetuosity
l0W.ir^l ., ;,iviirite point, was ini.ipable of m.ikini; this
BisfiK!! •:■, In ihe warmth of his zeal to s.ive the
illn;e:!(Mri>.|ri>:r; the yoke, he pronouiiied it to be l.iwfi.!
Ind (vpednMii [,, impose one still heavier i.n the Afri-
ars. "
^ fi'as d;str,iiiuii>n of praise and censure is not per-
■tctiyo.rrcd. l„,s Casas lia.l no ide.. liiat he was
ainroMiii; a he.-.vier. nor so lie.ivy, a voke upon the
ijAlPi.ais. The l.iticr wcie 1 onsidered more cipable
fubor. :aul less impatient of ■•biverv. Wliile the
p'aiis v.:iil> under li.eir l.isks. and perished by thou-
^"'is in ll:sp,uiiola, the negroes, on the contrary,
Brivc, there, llirrera, to whom Dr. Uobertson re-
FS'H-i'-..iithc,iity, assigns a different motive, ai.d
■nch in.T;> I'lKine, f. r the measures of ("ardin.d
tooiKs. I i.-M\.-,th,it he ordered that no one shouM
, "'■^'"■"' '" die Indies, because, as the natives
'fro .:,. r.Msitii:. ,ui 1 it w.is known that one nei;r
|Ui.:i!cre wiirk lii.in four of them, there would prob
"'* ea^roat ,le:uan 1 lor African slaves, and a trib-
.;•":■■'■ II M. In! , (!, ii. li),. lii.
■■' . '■ I. 111'. V, . ,p. .0.
' !'" •■ 'I. •• lib. viu. ean, .,.
■ l;";l- '1 ' iih. ix. cai' s.
I i^^li'Ttiun, IIi.,i. .\incrica. p. 3,
■ap. 8.
nte rnifjht be imposed upon the trade, from which
would result profit to the royal treasury.*' This
measure was presently after earned into effect, tlioUKh
subseijuent to the death of the c.irdinal, .and licenses
were granted by the sovereign f'lr pecuniary 1 onsid-
erations. KUm hier. in his Life of Ximenes, assii;ns
another but .1 mere [".lilii-.d motive lor this prohibition,
'Ihe c.irdin.il, he says, objected to the importation
of negroes into the colonies, as he fearcil they would
corrujit the n.itikes, and by confeder.icl;s with them
render them formidable to jjovernment. I)e M.irso-
lier, aaother bio);r.ipiier (it .Ximenes, ).;ivi'S e'pi.dly
politic reasons for this prohibition. 1 Ic rites a letter
written by the cardinal on the siibje< t, in which ho
observed th,tt he knew the n.iture of the negroes ; they
were a |ieopIe I'.ipable, it was true, of ^reat fatigue,
but e.xtremely prolific ami enteri)risint; ; and that if
they h,id time to imilti; ly in .America, thev would
inf.illiljly revolt, and impose on the .'^p.mi.irds the
same chains wliirb they had compelled them to wear.t
These f.iits, while they take frc.m the measure of
th'' c.irdin.d th.it credit for e.sclusive phil.inthropy
wiM h h.is been bestowed upon it, m.inifest the clear
foresight of that able politician ; whose predii ;ions
with re-^pect to iie^^ro revolt have been so snikinf;ly
fuKilled in the island of 1 1 isp,iniola.
Cardin.d .Ximenes, in f.u t, ihounh a wise and up-
right statesman, was noi troubled with scn:ples of
conscience on thefe (piestions of natur.il right ; nor
did he |iossess more toleration than his contemporaries
tow.inl s.ivage and infiibd nations. He w.is gr.ind in-
(luisitor of .^pain. and w.is very etTicienl during the
litter yeais <if I'erdinand in making sl.ives of the re-
fr.ii torv Mo<rs of (Iran.id.i. lie authorized, by ex-
|>ress instructions, expeditions to s<''/e .and enslave
the Indians of the Caribbee islands, whom he termed
onlv siiitei! to Ldjor, enemies of the Christians, and
c.mnilials. Nor will it be considered a proof of gentle
or tolei.int poli( V, that he introduced the tribunal la'
the iiKiuisilion into the New \Vc rid. These cin im-
st.mces arc cileil not to cast repro.ich upon the ( bar-
.icter of C.irdin.d .Ximenes, but to show how itu or-
rei tiv he has been extolled at the expense of Las
C.is.is. r.oth of them must be judged in coinuition
with the I iistoius and opinions of the age in wl'.ii h
they lived.
I. .is C.isas W.IS the author <f m.my works, but few
(;f which li.ive been printed. The most import, mt is
.1 gener.il hisiorv of the Indies, from the discovery to
t:ie ve.ir if'jo. m ibrec vi>lumes. It exists only in
e.i.iiiuscript. but is the fountain from whiili llerrera,
an. I most of the other historians of the New World,
h.ive drawn l.irge supplies. The work, though pro-
lix, i.< \ ilu.ible, .is the author was an eye-witness of
r.i.my of the i.icis, h.ul others from persons who were
concerned in the tran?actioiis reconled, and posses-idl
ci'pious documents. It displays great erudition,
th( ugh somewhat crudely and ijiffusely introduced.
His history was commenced in if..:;, at tifty-lhiee
ye. us of age, and was finished in 1559, when eighty-
iue. .As many things are set down from memory,
tlieri' is occasion. d in.iccuracv, but the whole bears
the stamp ol sincerity aii I trutli. The author of the
ptesciu work, h.iving h.ul access to this valuable mati-
u- ript, has maile great use of it, drawing forth many
curious facts hitheno neglected ; but he has endeav-
ored t.) consult it with c.mtion and discrimination,
collating it with other authorities, and omitting what-
<'ver appeared to be dictated by prejudice or over-
he. ite 1 zeal.
L.is C. lis. IS li.is been accused of high coloring and
extr.iv.ig.mt del lam.ilion in those passages which re-
late to the b.irbarilies practised on the natives ; nor
is the ch.irge entirely without foumlation. Tiie s.inic
* riM|i;e coiiio ili.m fil'atido !os Iiulios i s" coiioci.i (|ue
un i.egro tr.ibaj.il).i, nia-, ipie (ni.itio. por lo (pi.il liahia i;i.in
deiii.iiid.i de ello^. [..irecia i|iie se poilia poller .dijiiii tiiluro
en l.i '-.ica. de (|ue resnlian.i provecho .i I.i Kb n.icieiid.i
llerrera, dread, ii. liti. ii. e.ip. 8.
t I le M.irMilier, Ilisl. du .\liiii?,tcro l.\udiii.il X;iiio:.cs,
lib. v:. I'ouluuse, i'->94.
-ii :M
'■ I-,
im
• -l^l
'i
sro
APPl'NDIX.
zeal '11 the caii«c of tlic Inili.ins is ocprcsscd in his
wriliiifjs th.it siiinie forth in his actions, always pure,
often vchcint'til. anil occasionally iinscasonable. Still,
however, where he errs it is on a Ki'mrous ami
rii;li!coiis side. If one tenth part of what he says lie
" witnesseii with his own eyes" be true, anil his
ver.iiity is above all iloulit, he woulil h.ue been want-
ing in the n.aur.il feeliiit;s of huni.inity h.nl he not e\-
presse.l hinisell in terms of iniiiytiation anj .ib-
liorrence.
In liie course of his work, when I..is C'.isas mentions
the ori.,;inal papers lying before him, from which he
drew many ol his facts, it makes one l.mient lh.it they
s!i.)iild be lost to the world, Uesides the journals
an 1 letters ot Colunibiis, he ^.lys he had numbers of
the letters of the Ad-.'l.int.iilo, Don Martholnmew. who
wrolL" better than his brother, and whose writings
MKisi hive been full of energy. Above ;'.ll, he had the
ni.ip, forniod from study .md conjecture, by which
Coiumbus sailed on his lirst voyage. What a precious
d icument would this be lor the worki I These writings
may stiil e.xist, nei;lecled and forgotten .iniong the
rub',)i>h of some convent in Sp.iin. I.itilehope can be
I ntci t.iined ot discovering them in the present stale
of degeneracy of ihc cUiister. The monks of .\iocha,
in .1 recent cimversation with one of therov.il princes,
Ijctr.iyed an ignorance thai this illustrious man was
buried jn ihcir convent, nor can any of the fraternity
point u.it his place of sepulture to the stranger. '•*■
The publication of this work of L.is C.isas h.is not
been permitted in Spain, where every book must have
the s.mction of a censor before it is committed to the
press. The horrible picture it exhil>itsnf the cruelties
inllicteii on the Indians would, ii was imagined, e.s-
cite .m odium ag.iinst their coiiiiuerors. L.is C isas
himsi-ii seems t,) h.ive doubled the cxpediencv of pub-
iishmg it ; for in 1500 lie made a note with'his own
hand, wliitii is preserved in the two first volumes of
the original, menti.ining th.it he left them in conli-
dcnce n the college of the order of Predicaiors of .M.
(jregorii), in X'all.idolid, begging of its prelates tli.it
no secal.ir person, nor even the collegians, shoul 1 be
permitted to read his history for the sp.ice oi fortv
years ; and that after that term it might be printeil i:
consistent with the g.iod of the Indies and ol Spain.'
Tor the foregoing reason tiie work h,is been
rauti lusly used by Sp.mish historians, p.issiiii; over in
silen -e, or with brief uutice, nianv (i.iss.iges of dis-
gr.iceful import. Th;s feeling is n.itural, if not roni-
inendabie ; for the world is not pronipi to discrimin.ilc
between iiidivi.iuals and the n.uion of whom they
are but a p.irt. The laws and regul.itions for the g(.v-
ernmeiu of the newly-discovered countries, .md the
decisi-jns of the Council of the Indies on all cotitesii- 1
points, though tiiuiured in some degree with the big-
otry of the age, were distinguished lor wisdom, jus-
tice, .md huni.inity. and do honor to the Si).'uiish
n.ition. It w.is only in the abuse of them by iiidivi.l-
uals to whom the execution of the l.iws w.is intrusted,
ih.it lhe^e atrocities were commiued. It should be
remembered, also, that the same nation wnicli g.ive
birth to the sanguinarv and rap.iciou^ adventurers
who perpetrated these cruelties, g.ive birth likewise to
tile early mission, iries, like Las Casas, who followed
l.ic sanguinary course of discovrrv, binding up the
«oun is inflicted by their countrvmen ; men who in :
truly evangelical spirit braved a'U kinds of perils ami
hardship-,, and even death itself, not through a pros-
pert of temporal g.iin or glorv, but through a desire
10 meliorate the condition and save the souls of b,ir-
b.iious and sulferintj nations. The dauntless enter-
F>nses and fearful peregnnations of manv of these
virtuous men, if properly appreci.itcd, would be fmind
to vie in rom.mnc d.inng wilh the herob .•.chievcments
* In Ihi. notire the ami, or li.,.; firr.TMonnlIv availed |,im-
sr-If o, iie,r,',r.-slini;„,..moirof M„n, j. A I.lorente pn-
t xed ,0 us .obecnon <.i i|„- work, r,| |,:,, , -..sas. rolla inr
ci,"i' d'';';:;r-' "' ' '"'""• '^"'" """'' '"^ '■'"' '"■- >"'"'
t N.ivarre:e, Colec, de Viay., torn. i. p Ixxv, I
of ( hivalry, with motives of a purer and f.ir .
altcd nature.
'•ti.
No. XXIX.
[T.TfU MXKTVI
Pi^rr.i; Mai^tii;, or Martvr, cf uhn^f ^r-,
miiili use has been made in this lii>tory iv.iii^r.
.Anghierr.i, in the territory of .Mil.m, in p, , ,',.[_
second if February, 1451:. He 1.; coni!ii<iii:v ...,,!
I'eter .Martyr of .tii!;!,->ui, fnnn the I,:itiii lune 'VJ
ii.itive pl.ii-e. He is one of the earliest lii>t r-'j^'v./
treat of Cidiimbus, a'-(l was his cn!ii,.nip,ir,..rv i- *
tiniate acquaintance. Meing at Kmiiip m i4--
li.ivmg acijiiired .1 disting'iiished rcputali -r. • • > ...
ing, lie W.IS invited by the Sp,ini-h aml..;t,; - .j!
Count de Teiidilla, to ai comp.my him I'Sr,-. jij
willingly .iccepted the iiivit.iti(in,'and w;ls],:Ur^.,
the sovereigns at Saragossa. Is.ibi !la, ^imi; '.(^t '.^
of the war with {iraii.ida, was ansioiis ler ;'ic '■'■
Icclual .idvancement of her kingdom, aiij I'.'.f.
emp'oy M.iriyr to instruct the young rn! ]::(■,■
royal household. With her (■cciihar .:e i ,,v
ever, she hrst made her confessor, Hern.in'. ; '
a\er,i, iiKpiire of Martyr in what c;ipaciiv I: • r-
to serve her. Contraiy to her especL.tio::, V
replied, " In the profi'ssimi of .imiis,' Tiif-
complii'd, and he bdlowed her in lu-r c.w: ■.■-■
one of her household and milil.uv sui:,-, 1;.; ? 1- ;
distinguishing himself, and perh.ips iviihnn iiv.-j
,iny particul.ir employ in a capaiitv sn ir.u';'i; 'i
talents. .After the surrender ot (ir,ui.vl 1, v/r ■■
w.ir W.IS ended, the ipieen, through the 111 :: '
the gr.ind caidinal of Sp.iin, prev.iiled ii;- r. ; ■
undert.ike the instruction ol the voiing iii : •-
1 (Uirt.
Martyr was actpiainted with Coluiiilni': iv; .'; -.,.
ing his application to the sovereigns, ami ui-r.'fs
.it hi
. triumphant reception by reidinanl.iii
a 1
f-/
in li.ircelon.i, on his return from his lir't vr.y.-f, H;
w.is loiuimi.illy in the royal (■.•inipdiniiii; ihc w.ri;:
t!ic' Moors, (if which his letters contain ii;.iiiy in'rw
ing particul.irs. lie was sent amb.iss.TiJi r e\;'vr->
nary l)y Ferdin.ind and Is.ibcll.i, in ifl. • ' Vcn:t,
and thence to the grand soldan of F'.ijvpl 'flu'" Iffi
ill i.pjOor I4-)I, h.id sent an emb,iss\ 1,1 •>.■' S;.f<S
sovereigns, thre.itening that, unless ilii i i::-^C
Ironi the war .ig.ainst Cran.id.i. he would ji..: ,i!i :'!
Christi.Tns in I'.gvpt and Syria to d.Mtl'., Mv,r-r, .;
their temples. ;inii destroy the hdv sciii:!il
s.ileni. Ferdinand and Isabella ]ircssi.,| i!i"\y,.r«
tenfold energy, and brought it to .1 tiiuiiip':.."'" '
sion in the next cam[)aign, wdiile tiie S'l, v.r 'va<!
c.irrying on a similar negntiatii'n v.-:di ;'i' i'
They .ifterward sent I'eter Maiivr aiii'i.is-..i: ""
sold.in to explain and justify their nie isur. Vi'
dis( barged the duties of his emb.issy with i;n ; ■>■-■
obt.iined permissiiin from the solil.m 1" n pi.r vi ; )
pi. ices at Jcriis.ileni. and an .ibolit)"n n;; 1 ...
tortious to which Christian iiilgrims ha^! •?!'
jected. While on this emb.issy. hevvroich'-"
I.egatione Habyloniia, which includes ,1 f ■:
I'.gypt in those time*;.
Oil his return to Sp.iin lie w.is r'".v,ird- ' n". ;
and pensions, ritid in 1:2. | was appouifi' i i m,
of the Council of the Iniiies. ijis priii^ i; .' «'
an account of the discoveries of the New WlI
eight decades, each cont. lining ten c|K,pir'-.
are styled Decades of the New Woili,. 1 I'' ■J-''
the Ocean, ami, like all his other w uks <\-:v''V
nally written in Latin, tlunigh since n.^ns, .;il ''■'
v.irious l.ingnages. He had fimiliir .icir'*;'f^
lers, p.ipers, journ.ils, and tiair.itivi s (•! the "..^v'::^•
coverers, ;in.l w.as person.ally ac<pi.iinicil » h !T»;'
of them, g.ithering particul.irs fror.) their .■.ii.viv<!'''
In writing his Dec.ules. he tonk gre.it ii.iin- ! ' '' ''
inform, itioii from Columbus himself, .iiid ti' ;n !'!*
his ciimp.inions.
In one of his epistles (No. 153, J.iiiu.irv, 1:-''
■[hf!
■Uim
APPI-NOIX.
Omponius
[If!
cor-
cr( : '
iluii.
LTtiisV he mentions bnvinc; just rcreivcd
r,vii'( Diunil.iis, liv wtiK h il appears he was in
.;,'!en r Willi liim,' I..1S ("asas says that ureat
, to be ^'ivcn to liim in reijard to those Vdva^es
•iilriis. iiillioiiKli lii'* Decades eontain simie in-
•V relative t(i siili--e(|iieiit events in the Indies.
,,;|(ivvs liitn ure.it < Tfdit, as an author eoiiteni-
vvrll tldlivated. in-
r.in Hilh liis KiiloeU. ^rave,
[,■,! in t!ic la.ls of uhieh he treats, and of entire
■n'.ii'w'. lie -ibserves, however, that his writini;s
used oil the spur or excitement of the
which siilisf-
|eln^■ c'w\'
BoiDMii, ollin related circunist.mccs
uen! V proved to be erroneous ; that thev were writ
*n . l,..iit iiiclho;! or care, ottenconlu-ini,'
IVCI'i
tes and
ih.it dicv must he read wiih some caution.
v,.,s III the dailv hal>it of writiiiK letters to
|jsl::...i:dicil persons, rel.itiiiK tliijjiassin.t; occurrences
[til, iisy loiirt aiiil a«e in which he lived. In
tvrr.i ''I these Coliinitnis ismentioned. and also some
If til:' 'hii'f event's 'II his voy.i^jes, as promiili,Mt( d .it
lie .rv inoinent of his return. These letleis not
eiii.; ,;ciHTaily lin<nvn or (ircul.ited, or Irecpiently
Bieil. ;l mav i'e s,itisla(tor\' to ilie reader to li.rc a
fciv n; ihe main iiassn^'es which relate' to folumliiis.
tliiv h.ivc a strixiiit; effect in cirryiii^; us Ilk k to the
trv ;.:;n; "1 the discoveries.
liioiuMi! 'lis epistles, dated li.ircelona, May 1st,
lAi)\, uiil aililressrd to C'. Horionieo, he siiys :
'\Vi;:i!n tli'se lew days a certain Christopher Colum-
ns li,i> .irrivcd Iron) the western antipo'les ; a m.in
8f l.i.;,iria, ivhoiii my sovereii;ns reluctantly inttusled
I ihri'c .>^hips. to seek that region, for they tlioui;ht
Jial tt;;.it hr said was fabulous. He li.is returned ainl
Irouih! spi'cini'.'ns (if many precious ihinns, but |)ar-
Bcul.iiiv ^old, which those countries naturally pro-
Bucc."
In :in.iilier letlei. dated likewise from H.ircelona, in
«pK-ni!fr fiillinvin^;, he j;ives a more particul.ir ac-
Bunt, It isaddressed to Count Tendil'..!, (iovernor of
firan.i ;,i. ami also to Hernando'!'. d.ivera, .Archliishop
If tli..! ii.icese, .uid thes.inie to whom the propositions
If C i!i;iiiiiu-. had been referred by the .'Spanish sove-
tk: < ' ;\roiisc your attention, an<ieiit SHpes, " s.iys
Pclcr M.irlyr in his epistle; "listen to .1 new dis-
|OV:rv Voii remember Columbus the I.i^urian, ap-
liiHoI in ihe can^p by our sovereitjns to searc h tor a
lew laiiiisphcte ol bind at the western aiilipodes.
you (u.; in to iccollect, for you had some agency in
lie ir.iiis.u tion ; nor would ihi' enterprise, as 1 tliink.
pvo t'lcn iiMilert.ikcn, without your counsel. I le has
tluriui! in s,,teiy. ;ind rel.ites tlie wonders he has dis-
OViri' V 111' exhibits uold ,is proofs of tlic mines in
IIiom' r; tiiMis : (loss.mipine lotlon, also, and .'iro-
Baii's. ;iii.l pepper more pungent th.m that from Caii-
asus. .\ll these things, to«ciher with scarlet dye-
(rooiis, ilic earth proiluces spont.meously. I'ursuim;
Bewt'Mfrn sun fr'>m (l.ides live thousami miles, ot
Hdi.itlupiisand pices, .'s he relates, tie tell in with
llir.iir\ isLinds, ami took possession of one of ther
pCPMitrcirriiii, he .asserts, than the whole of Sp 1111.
litre ;i;' fdiind a race of men livim; contented, m a
ate I naiiire, subsisting' on fruits and vecetables.
Ill 1 re,!, 1 ;, II nied from roots. . , . These people
pave k:i!i.s, s:, 111,- greater th.m <ithers. and they w.ir
>cr.Vi'i:i.iliv amonij ihi'inscdves, with bows and
ffri'.vs or lances sh.irpened aii'l h.irdened in the lire,
pei'vire c.f rcimiiiiiii.l prevails anions them, though
»ey are naked. They h.ivc wives .ilso. Wb.it they
^or.''i:ip c-x.-cpt the .livinitv of lie.iven, is not ascer-
lline.l. f
In .mother letter, cl.ited likewise in September, t.t^j.r
M alciiessed to the c.irdinal and vice cluincellor
flSc.ciiiusSicrza. he savs
>'i <reat is iiiv desire- to yive vou s.^isfactic^n,
pwricns prince, ih.u 1 c-onsi,lcril aKratifvini; occur-
^"'■i' -n the great Ihicnuitions of events, when .inv-
Bini: takes pi,ireamoiik; us, in which vou m.iv t.ike an
jwiiTcst. Ihe wonders of tnisterrestri.il Klobe, round
wliich the sun makes a rircuit in the space of four ;inf|
twenty hours, h.ive, until our time, as you are well
aware, be<n known mly in rei,'ard to one hemisphere
mercdy from the (ioldeii Chersoncsus to our Spanish
(iades. The rest has been K'ven up as unknown by
cosmoLjraphers, and if any mention of it has been
m.ide. it h.is be<'n sliv;ht .ind dubious. lUlt now, ( )
blesseil enterprise ! under the auspices ot our sovc-
rei^'ns, what has hitherto lain hidden since the tlist
origin of things, has at lenijlh benun to be clpvcloped.
The thint; h.is thus occurred — attend, illustrious ptini e :
A certain ("hristopher Columbus, a I.imirian, dis-
p.iti lied t ) those rei;ions with three vessels by my
soverei(,'ns, pursuini; the western sun above live thou-
saiicl miles from (iades, achieved his way to the an-
tipode;^. Three and thirty sue c essive davs they navi-
gated with iioiit;ht biitskvand water. Atlen^;lh from
the mast head of the largest vessfl, in which C(dum-
bi:s iiimself sailed, those on the lookout procl.iimed
ttie si^ht of land. He co.istcd along six islands, < ne
of them, as all his followers declare, bet;uiled pei-
chance by the novelty of tlic scene, is larjjer tti;.n
.Sp.iin."
.Martvr proceeds to give the usual account of the
productions of the islands, and the manners and cus-
toms of the natives, particularly the wars whii li
occurrecl .imong them ; "as it meum and tiiuiii li.id
been introduceil among them as among us. and ex-
pensive luxuries, and the desire of accumulating
wealth ; for what, you will tliink, can be the w.inls
(d n.ikecl men'."" "What further may succeed," he
adcis, " I will hereafter signify. I'.irewell.'' ■'■■
In aiiolher letter, dated \',ill.ld(diil, I'cbniary 1ft.
I. pi I. to llern.iiiclo de Tal.ivera, Archbislu p <d
(■r.inada, he (d'serves, " The king and cjiieen. on the
return of Columbus to Harcelona, from his hon(>r.iblc
enterprise, atipointed him admiral of the ocean sea.
and c aused him, on .iccount of his illustrious clecds,
to ')<; seated in their presence, an honor and a favor,
as vou know, the highest with our sovertdgns. Tlu-y
li.ive dispatc lied him again to those regions, lurnished
with a lleet of eighteen ships. There is prospect
(>f gre.it discoveries at the western antarctic an-
ti|)ocles. . . ." t
In a subsec|uent letter to I'cunponius I.xtus, dated
from ,\lc,ila de llenaies. Iieceiniicr c)th. I. pi), he
gives the lirst m-ws c,f the su' cess of this i.vpC'ii-
tion,
"Spain." fays he, "is spreading her wings,
augiiieming her empire, aiel exteiiciing her n.inie r,n 1
glorv to the antipodes, . , <d eighteen vessi Is
dispatcdiecl by my sovereigns will) the .\dniiral Colum-
bus in his sec'-ncl vovage to the western hemi'-phere,
twelve h.ive returned and have brought ticjss.im[i:nc
cotton, huge trees id dye-wood, and many other
arlicdes held willi us as precious, the n.iliiral produc-
tions of tli.it hitherto hi.lclcn woild ; and lie.^idcs all
oilier things, no sni.iU quantity <d gold. (> wonderful,
I'omj)oniiis I I'pon the surlai c of tli.il eaill; are
found rude iil.isses of native gidd, of a weight that one
is afraid to mention. Some weigh two hundred and
hftv ounces, and Ihev hope 10 discover others of a
niiic h l.irger size, ftimi wh.it the naked natives inti-
m.ite, when thev extol their gold to our |)eople. Nir
are the I.esttigonians nor I'olvphrmi, who feed on
hiinian flesh, .mv longer doubtful. Attend— f'ut bc-
w.vre I lest thev rise in horror before thee! When
he proceeded ftoni the Fortunate isl.mds, now termed
the C.m.iries. to llispaniol.i, the island on which he
first set fool, turning his prow a little tow.ird the
south, he .irrived a: innimier.ible isbciids id saviige
men, ivhoni they c;ill c.mnib.ils, or Caribbecs ; ard
these, th High n.iked. ,ire courageous w.irriors. They
hgbt skilfiillv With bows and clubs, and have boats
hcdlowed from a single tree, yet very capacious, in
which thev make fierce descents on neighboring
id.uids, inli.ibited by milder people. They attack
• (ipii< l"pi-l 1' Marlyris .A.iglerii, I'.pist, 135.
t Ibid,, i:pi.-,t. 141.
ii;!i':
■ H
m
r. '(■■I;
:i\f
I f:
i
278
APPHNDLX.
tluMr vill.iRPS. from which they rarry ofT the men and
devour thcin," etc.*
Another letter lo I'omponuis l.a-tus, on ih,- same
subject, h.is been cite.l at lar^e ,n the (mkIv of ihis
W'lrK It is true these extracts Kive n.>thinK that has
n.n been stated more at larye in the Decades of the
same author, but thev are curious, as the very tlr^l
announcements ol the .bscveries of C.dumbus. and
as shcwim; the lirst slamp of these cxtr.iordinary
events upon the mind ol one of the m.ist learncil ami
liberal men of the a,i;e.
A collection of the letters of I'eter Martyr was pub-
verbal information of a pilot named ili'rn,iii Pt«.|
Matteo, who was in the interest of tlic l'm/.^,,s .j^l
adverse to the admir.il. His wurk is not oij jidjI
depended upon iti ni.itters relative lo Cii:m«|
\\ lien he treats of a more ,idv.inci-U pi'ruHi i!Uii(\|^|
World, from his own actual observation, tit -n, I
more salislaclorv. thoui;h he is .icriKivl di ,,((,j,l
too readilv to popular f.iblcs and mi^ri'prrsf.i'iii,^!
His account of the natural jirodiictinti.s , ; 11.5 ^^1
World, and of the customs of its inhahiiani^ i.ijjl
curious particulars ; and the best narratives ij sea)
of the minor voyages which sucieedcil ihnsi;.t:Co(j, I
lished Ml i^V), under the title of Opus I'.pistolarum. I bus. are lo be found in the unpublished pj:;oia
Petri MirlvrisAnKlerii ; it is divided into thirly-einht | work.
books, eacii containing the letters of one year. 1 he
same objections have been m.ide to his letters as to
his Decades, but they bear the same slamp of candor,
probitv, and great information. They possess pe( u-
liar value from beiiijj wiitten at the moment, before
the facts they record were distorted or <liscolored by
prejudice or misrepresentation. His works abound
in iiiterestin:,' p.irticulars not to be found in any eon
teiuporarv historian. They are rich in thought, but
still ricner in tact, and are full of urbanity, and of the
liberal feelini; ol a scholar who has mingled with the
worhl. He is a fountain from which others draw,
and from which, with a little precaution, thev may
draw securely. He died in V'alladolid, in 152b.
N .. XXX.
OVIKIHI.
('■jON/..\i o Ffrnanofz 111". (Uiriio vV.miu;-;, com- |
mouly kniwn as Oviedo, was born in Madrid in 147'*, j
anil died in Valladoliil in i;;;. aged sevenlv-ninc>
years. He was of a noble Astunan family, and in his
liovhood (in I4i)<i) was appointed one of the payes to
Prince Ju.in, heir apparent of Sp.iin, the only son of
Ferdinand and Isabella. lie was in this situational
the lime of lli'.; siei;o and surrender of Oran.ida. w.is
conseiiu.-nily .it ■ ourt at the time that C'idinnlnis m.ide
his agreement with the Cilholic s-ivereiyns, and w.is
in the s.ime c.ip. icily at H.ircelona. ;ind witne-.sc<l the
triumphant eniranci; of the discoverer, atteniled by a
number of the natives of the newly found countries.
In 1513, he was sent out to the New World by
Fcrdin.in I. l 1 superintend the Kold foundries. For
many years he served there in v.irious otfic<'s of tiust
and diijnity, both under Ferdinand, and his t;ranrlson
and successor Charles \', In l^,i = . he w.is made
alcayde of the fortress of .">[. D imini;o in Hisii.miola,
and afterw.ir.l was appointed liislorio;;r.ipher of the
Indies. At the time of his death, he had served the
crown upwarilof forty years, thirty-fourof wiiich were
l)ass'..'d in the i olonies, and he had crossed, the oce.m
ci.nht times, .is he meinions in various paru of his
writini;s. lie wrote several works ; the iiKist inipoi-
tanl is the chronicle of the- Indies in fifty books, diviiled
into three p.irts. The first p.irt, containini; nineteen
bo(jks, w.is jirinted at Seville in 1=3:, and reprinted
in 1547 at .Salamanca, au(;iiicnted by a twentieth book
c()nl,.inin,;{ shipwrecks. The rem, under of the wori\
e.sisis in m.inuscript. The printinij of it was com-
menced al Valladolid in 1557. but was discontinued i;i
conseipience (jf his death. It is one of the uniui.-
l:slied treasure.s of Sp.inish coioni.il history.
He was an indel.iii^.iblo writer, laborious in coi-
iertiiif^ and reiordini; facts, and <omposed a multitude
of volumes whicli are sc.iHeied tlirouuli the Sp.mi^h
libr.iries. His vritin.ns are full of eviMits v.diich hap|)en
ci! under his own eye, or were communii ateil to him by
eye-witnesses ; but he was defuMent in jn l^;ment and
disctimin.ition. Hi; took his ta. Is without c.iution,
and often from sources unworthy rif credit. In his
account of the first voyage of Columbus, he f.dls into
several e.i;re,i;ious errors, in c(jnsei|uence of l.ikim; the
Ko. XXXI.
( tU.V I'K l.n-, l'.\l \i los.
.■\nii|;is Hikn Al 1)1 ', or llernal. i^cner.. ;,■ k
by the title of the cur.ite of /.'j J'<h\.\u'i, Imrn.'
been cur.ite of the town of Los I'al.iriiw fri!"
14SS to 1513, WMS born in the town of I'lanio.,!- . i.. !
for some lime ch.ipl.iin to Die^;o De/.i. .\rdi: > j
Seville, one of the !.;re.ilest friend-. In the 4;,; .;■
of t.'olumbus. Hern.ildes w.is well ,iu|ii:i';uc:«::
the admir.il. who w,is oci .isionally his nuf>;, ..ij • I
1411I1, left m.iny of his m.inuscripts am! joiinuis ri
him, wdiicli the curate m.ide use ol 111 a hi*; ', o;-:
reik;n of Ferdinand and Is.ibella, in which !;f .ar-
diiced an acciniiit of the voy.i^'es of C'i;i',!;',.;s. !•
the n.irr.itive of the admiral's co.islini; aloiii; '.',.;yc
ern side of Clib.i, the curate is mote inim,;i. ,.'.:;
cur, lie th.m .my other historian. Hi-* werk c, >;.ii:.;
in in.inuM ript, but is well known ti li:sii'ri,.;>. »:
have m.ide treiiuent use of it. N'othim; ciii !.: K"t
simple and artless tli.m the account whi. h lh;fc-.r«;
curate gives of his beiiii,' first moved la 1111 !'.::,u»!
(Iironicle. "' I who wrote these ch.ipters el iiv:ii.';;',
he says, " bein.g for twelve ye.irs in the h.n i; ere..
iiii; a register of my deceased gr.uidl.ithcr. ivh r
nolarv public of the town of Fueiiles, \v:iirc h'
born, I fouml therein secer.il chapters recur :in^-(:>
t.iin events and ;ic hievein. nts which li.ul Li^-if-.
in his time ; .md my grandmother Ins vvii.v, s:
w.is very idd, lie.iring me- real tliein >.i"l : r
" .\n I llioii, my son, since thou .irl imts.':.;:
wriiing, wdiy dost thou not wrile. in lliis m.i:M'.;r, :
gooa things which are h.ippening .il jirrsc:'; :■
own d.iy, lh.it those who come here.i:i-r r- ;> »:
them, .ind m.irveliing at \v!i,it they r'.v. 1 r.. .. r;:
111. inks to Cioil.'
" From ili.it time." continues he. " I ;r i •■■•
do so. and as I considered the' m.itler, 1 >c. "-
niy-elf. ' if (lod gives me life aii'l he.iii;; I v •
tii'iue lo write until 1 behold the kinu loiii e' icr
g.iined bv the t'hristi.ins ; ' and I .ibv.ivs cii'.'.r:.!.'.
. I hope of seeing it and did see it' gre.M .'i;' ■'
praises be given to our Saviour Jesus (>.:•:
because it was iinpossib'e to wrile .uoiii|ii. ;- '■'■'■■
ne( ted .iccount of all things lh.it li.ipi'eiio: ■"
during the matrimoni.il union of the kiiii; ■' ■' '
nand, and the 4ueeii Don.i Is.ibell.i, ' ' '■'
alioiit cert.iin of the most striking .111 1 :' '•*■■
ccents, of which I had correct informiti 'i- ■■ _^
liiose which I s.iw or which were pu'licai :■ •'
to all men." ■'■ . ,,.
The work of the worlliy ciir.ue, .is ei iv ' • "--
I from the foregoing slalement, isdeli. leai ::i tc^i-.'-.^
■ of |d.in ; the style is artless ami often inehviH. •'•■^_'
I abounds in f.icts not to be met wiili cl-eHii!
given in a very graphiial manner, and sti.nii;-;
lerislic of the times, .\s he w.is . ouieinr ''-'^
the events and familiar wilh many of die 1''''
his history, and as he was a man of pr)!'H>''"
of ait [iretension. his manuscript is a
high authenticity. He was much respic
liiiiiled sphere in wdiich he moved, " ;
llUli-'
uumc
s.n-"rto;
ladnvrcrs, who wrote
' ■iHn.iaiuHithe f
1,0s r.ai»i"^' and th
pllliMlMll.i""''*"!"
ana ci'
Ifroiii ihi
|s.a.el.aairt
I. history ot
^,.n..u> vilher hlsl
httmiier
,irv wiili'r
1 ,1,,. Muular coi>> c
esex.iiuitiiiii'i have
hur^l ihis work, an
rihi' tetter, have bee
•K\'.
Tr
figef
r. iBci'
■'hrc
; Hon:
iF"
Wllc.
Sue.
»'■;
I. die I
etOVt.
' ri'V
1::
Gri',
Ba-
Rct
i lla ■
fbt::
1'-
^Kcat
...VnONK VU. !•
1, I'.U.SK M"\
■ ^.wlo.Mlo '
,,i.ovearc th<' 1
, ^riiesl n.irr.itiM
,| (.'idliniblis ill. I
i-.nis ; niid there
.irdte:t. liwa-
.. ,(h1ii Fracan/.o,
:,; Mimtabaldo 1;
, ,aul VMS pii'di-.
; ,.a ol VDVages,
,:iienle Riirov.Ui
;,it Milan, in u-'
,,;;iin made by .'
,.• el llinerariiii
^iini, iK'c.nise t
■■■.,<[ l.uiKiC.ulai
:;ui,'al.
■ , olli-i'tion was a
IS w,ih other tr;
111 1533.* ''V "
,::i;m, etc. The
:; clition 111 Mila
• ,. curse of this w
irr M.irlvr (Deer
ici, under the Inst
t'tiu'" I'TtiiK.iUeiisium,
f by;! 'Like he terms C
: oia;"'-;..;'- of his book
; his ;.rst Decide of thi
> gra; 'cl copies in mat
! in ; .irl; ul.ir to ce
;■ >l,i-ur s iJec.idcs we
. Cfi-'.ii'.; liic lirsi three
SatstVi.ie
•;<'Mrr;ilivec.f the
. cc.. I'lalist.i Sj)
..iiint>ii>, .IS h.ivi
ii'jniiius.
s 1 i.mifest, frc.ii
^'^ itie author 111.
;n.ii iiscript of .N
[, 8o;.r:i>s cf irificriiiatic
Mcin Ml CiiUiinljus as
■rame. iif a ru Idy e
Boti-.jciecl from M:i
^'0 histciri.in h nl. in
picas, in itci4 ; invl '
Kqaently Kiven ol C
,f hcs SIHl,
lt;s ineligible th.i
«'..' a year afut ihi
lof tr,i.T;irv jol) work
P»gc5 puliiished at Vi
' takc.n from oral c
! given l;y S-.itic'Uii us
|lcrii.to,liy c;i' M.irt
* Uil-hcj!l.ec:a I'iiie
tn .
i of;
i ol I
th
» Opus llpisl. P. M.irtyris .\nglerii, f.pist. 1.(7.
d- 1.
'!'■
Hk itki
APPENDIX.
179
lailiii'rcrs.who wrntc a short preface to his rhron-
IH- nail iRMilhtT rcwanl than that (ii the riiracy
\.4lo^ i'.ilaiio:;. ami tho plaic of chaplain to the arch-
hoi' l'u!i Uicgi) Ueza."
Initii posscsMoii .»f O Rich, i:s(|., of Madrid, is a
,,unou-.liia"iJ«''i|'"'''f"""'^" "' ''"-" "''H" "' ''^'f"
-a„, .'111 is.il'tli.i alrcadv i|Uiilc(l 111 ihiswurk, tn.idc
ffr.iVlhis hislorvot iho . iir.ilrdf l.ns I'alacios, and
.iri.His ullicr hl!.toriaiis ol the limes, by sniiic
Pjjntfc iMiary wiilcr. In his aci-ouiit of the v•()y.l^;L•
jj C II 'IIS I"-' 'hlf'"f^ I" !<omf trivial partiriil.irs
■m i:i ■ lUiilar cdpy of the in.imisi ript of tlu- i urate.
lesc vaiiiitiiiiis liavi- l)f(/ti t.ircfuUy cxainiTu-d hy the
Jiur i)l lliis work, .ml wlicrevtr ihty ujipcar lo he
rihc Idler, have I't'-n adnplcd.
.V... X.WIl.
l|AVIi..Vli"NK I'Kl. I.I- I'l iA'HC.I.I.^ Iil-.l.IK IMII.K
1. l'.\KSi; M n\ \.MIMK 1; 1 1 U< IV ATK. "
"N.Un.AlM CIIKIs lorll'ilU I nl.uMlll."
hi; ali'ivc aro th(! titles, in Italian and in Latin,
Ihi! lariicst ri.irr.itiics uf the fust ami second viiy-
is vi t"cilanilais that .ipiicared in print. It was
inviii'His ; mill there arc smne riirious particul.irs
regard Ui it. It wasoiif;iiialiy written in It.dian liy
.l.i.'iiilu Fracan/o, <ir l"rac.in/,iiio, or hy Franca-
10 (Ic Miiiitahaldd i for wi iters differ in re(;,ird to ihc
ifi, .cikI »<'as published In Vicen/.i, in 1507, in ,-i
iilecli'ii (i( vovai^es, entillcd Mnndo Novo, e I'aese
lovinicnlc Kiiruv.ite. The collection w.is rejiuh-
.icil .1' Milan, in if 113, both in It.iliaii. and in a I. .it in
ins:.it "H maile hy .Archaimelo M.idri^;n.ino. under
title ol hiner.iriiiiii l'ortii>;alli-nsiimi ; this title
line t,'*''ii, hi'caiise the work related i liielly to the
)j'ai;f< 'if l.ui^;iCadarnoslo, a \'enetian in the service
' P(iriui,'al.
.The ii'lki'tion was afterward auKnienti'il by Simon
tin.i'iis w.lh utlicr tr.ivels, and printed in i,.ilin at
lie, ill 1533,* liy Ilervayio, entitled Novus < >rliis
!gio;;i;iii, e'c. the edition of Masle, 1555. and the
lalian t.lilioii <it .Milan, in i^n^. have been consulted
the '. mrse nf this work.
Pilcr Martyr (Dccnd 2, Cap. 7)allii<les to this piih-
■Ition. under the fust Latin title of the bonk, Ilinera-
im 1' irluijalleiisimii, ;in,l .iccuses the author, whom
miFl.ikc hi- terms C'.id.unosto, of h.ivint; stolen the
laiiTi. !s 111 his book from the three first ch.ipters of
isf.rst Deiacle of the Ocean, of whii h, he s.iys, In;
mtiil lopies in manusiript I;) sever.d persons, and
I'.ir;: iilar to certain Veneti.in .inib.issadors.
lartvr ■• iJciades were not published until 1510, e.\-
iptiiii; the lirsl three, which were putdished in I'll,
Sevi.li'
1hi«'Mrralivfof the voyages of Columbus is rcferreil
IvoM liatist.i .Sp(.ii)rno, in his historic, d memoir
I. .uiuilus, .!!> haviiii; been written bv a icimp.mion
if Cil'jniiius.
!■ ■< n iiiifpst, fn.in a [ierus,il of the narrative, th.it
n <*! IMC author m.iv li.ive helpeil himself freelv from
i,lti' :ii.c iiscript of .Martyr, he must have ha.l other
«(i;.rvs,.| infcriiialioii His description of the per-
f'" ■! I ulumlnis as a man tall of stature an<l l.irt;e of
Elr,,:; r. „f ;, rii tdy complexion and oblont; vis.i^'e. is
!"«'! from Marivr, nor from any other writer.
■' '-^I'lrun hid. in leed.precededhim, except Sabel-
■ in u.q ; and the portrait .inret s with that sub-
^'■nlly Kivrr, oi (. ohimbus in the bioi'raiihv written
■ ■ .'-oil.
Is |Mul,:i|,l,. ili.it iiii^ n.irr.ilive, whi. Ii appeared
'"•■■av.-ar.ilitr t|„. de.iih .it CoIuiiiImis, was a piece
i-.-rurv j.)l, work, written for the <<dlection of vov-
»rM'';l'llshed..tVicenM ; and that the materials wc'c
pni.;
I
In
■ I, . /""' "'■'' '""""unicaiion, from the account
K''ni)y .'■ai„.ii,jnj; .,,,,1 p.irticularlv from the manu-
f" ''"py,:i Martyrs first decade.'
^ '^lUiuil.eca Piiicllu,
No, XXXIII.
ANTiiMo UK lirUKKRA,
Antcmm IIi;i;ki i;\ m: Toiu.isii i a':, one of Ihc
.uithors most fnipienlly ( ited in this work, w;is liorn
in IsC?. of Roderick 'I ordesillas, and A^nes de Iler-
rera, his wile, lie received an e\cellcnt edu(ati(ui.
and entered into the employ of \'espasi;in (ion/atjo.
brother to the |)uke of Mantu.i, who was \'iceroy of
N'.iples t'lr l'liil;|) the Set ond of Spain. lie was for
sonic time sc( ret.iry to this st.ilesman, and intnistcil
with all his sc( r( ts. lie w.is .ifterward nr::ui\ his-
turiov;r,iplier of the Indies to Philip II., who ,idded to
th.it title a I. ir^e pension, lie wrote v.irioiis books,
but the most celebrated is a (Jeneral History of the
Indies, or .Ameriian Colonies, in four volumes, (rin-
tainiiiK ei^ht .lec.idi.-s. When he undertcudc this work
all the puljlic archives were thrown open to him, and
he tuid access to do(umenls of :dl kiiiils. He has
been charged with ^re.it pre< ipit.ition in the produc-
tion of his two tiisl Volumes, and with nei,di),'ence in
not makiiiv; sullicient use of the indisput.ilde sources
of inform. itioii thus pl.u ed within his reach. The fact
was, that he mi I wiih historic. d tracts lyinj; in manu-
script, which embr.iced a great part of' the first dis-
coveries, .in<l he contented himself with staling events
as he found them therein rei ordcd. It is certain that
a great p.irt of his work is little more th. in a transirijit
of the manusi rijit history of the Inclies by L;is Casas,
sometimes redu< ing and improving the langu.ige when
tumid ; omitting the impassioneil s.diies of the zeal-
ous father, when the wrongs of the Indi.,ns were in
iiueslioii ; and suppressing various circumstanies de-
grading t'> the cli.ir.icter of the Spanish discoverers.
The author of the present work h.is, therefore, fre-
i|uently put aside the history of llerrer.i, and consult-
ed the soun e of his information, ihc ni.imiscrii t his-
tory of L.is Cas.is.
iMunoz observes that " in ^'ener.d llerrera did little
more than join together morsels and extracts, taken
from v.irious p.irts, in the wav than ,1 writer arranges
1 hronologic.illy the materials from wdiicli he intends to
compose a history ;" he adds, that '" had iioi lb rrtra
been .1 le.iriied and judicicuis man, the preciiiilation
with which he put together these m.iteri.ils would li.ive
led to innumer.ible < rrors." The remark is just ; yet
it is to be consiilcred. th.it to select and arr.mge such
m.iteri.ils judiciously, ;ind treat them Icaiiieilly, was
no trilling merit in the lustori.in.
Ileirer,i has been accused aleo of flattering his
n.ition ; ex.illing the deeds (d his coumrynun. anil
soltening and conce.iling their excesses. There is
nothing very serious in this accusation. To illiis-trate
the glory of his n.ilion is one of the noblest oftices of
the historian ; and it is dilfii ult to speak loo highly of
the extraordin.iry enterprises and splendid .ictions of
the Sp.mi.irils in those days. In softening their ex-
cesses he tell into an amiable and panlonable error,
if it were indeed an error for a Spanish writer to en-
de.ivor to sink them in oblivion.
\'ossius passes ,1 high eiilogium on llerrer.i " .S'o
one." he savs, 'has described with gre.iler industry
,ind fidelity the magnitude and boundaries of provinces,
the tr.icts <d sea, positions of c.i[)es and isl.mds, of
(lorts and harbors, the windings of rivers .ind ilin.ef.-
sions of hikes ; the silu.itioii aii.l ]>eciiliari'.;es of re-
gions, with the appear.mce of the hciveiis, and the
designation of plai es suitable for the t st.iblishmenl of
cities." He h.is been calle.l among the S[);.niards the
prince of the historians of America, and it is added
that none have risen since his time rap.ible if <lis|nu-
iiig with him th.it title. Mu< h of this p. raise will .ap-
pear ex.iggiraled by such as cx.irnine the in.musi ii[ t
liistories from which he tr.mslerred ch.ipters and en-
tire books, with very little alteration, to his volumes ;
and a ^reat part of ihe ciilogiums passed on him for
his work on tlu? Indies, will be found really due to
Las Ciisas. who h.is too long been eclipsed by his
copyist. Still Herrcra has lelt voluminous proofs of
industrious research, extensive information, and ijreat
.: '■:^.
280
ai'im:ni)IX.
r 'I ' ! ^
I
I 1' !
; i
liicr.irv lali-iu His works boar iho ni irk of candor.
iiitcijrUv. .iiul a simorc di^sire to riTon! the truth.
ilo (ilivl in I(i2^. at sixtv vears of ai;o. a(tcr havin«
(.i.taincd from Philip IV. the promise ol the lirst
(I) nxc of secretary of state that should become vacant.
|l '
N,i .\.\.\1V.
^il^llo^ FONSK.A.
I 111', sinsjular nialcvolencc displ.iycd bv Bishop juan
Koiiriyuf/ di.' I'onscca tdW.ird I'oiumbus .tnd Ins t.mi-
iiv. and whicli w.is one ol the scrrot and prinnpal
rausfs of their niisfiirtunes, h.is been lro(iueiulv noticed
in the course of this work. It uriKin.iIed, as has lieeii
shown, in some dispute between the .idmir.d and
Konseea at Seville in i (i).1, on .ucount of the delay in
tilting out the arm.inieni for tne seiond voyage, and
in re^.iril to the miinber of iloniestus to fotm the
hiUisehold of the adinir.d. l\insei:i received ;« b iter
liom the sovereigns, t.icitly reproving him, an. I or.lei-
ini,' him to show .ill possilile attention to the wishes of
Columluis. and to se- that he w.is ire.ited with iionor
and deference. Tonsoci never forgot this alironi,
an I, what wiih iiiin was the s.inie thing, never forg.ive
ii. His spirit appe.ir.s to haiC been of th.it unlu.iUhv
kind which has none of the lialm of torgiveiiess ; ,iiid
in which, .i wound once maile, for ever r, inkles. I he
liostiliiy thus pro.luced conliniied wlih lucre. isiiig viru-
lence throughout l!ie life of Columbus, and at hls.leath
was tr.insferred to his son aiiil successor. This per-
severing animosity lias lieen ilhisirate<l in the course
ot this work by f.icts and observ.ilions, cited Irom
aulliois, some of them contempor.iry with ronsee.i.
Inil who were app.irently restr.iined by motives nl
prudence, Irom giving full vent to tlie indign.ilion
which ihc-y evidently lelt. liven at the pn-sent day. a
Spinish historian would Ik' cautious of expressing bis
teelings freely on the subject, lest they should preju-
dice his work in the eyes A the ecclesiaslii-.tl i elisors
of the press. In this w.iy Kishop Konscci h.is in a
great measure escaped the gener.il odium his conduct
merited.
This prelate had the chief supi'rintendence of Span-
ish coioni.il .'itf.iirs, l)(jth under i'erilinand and Isabill.i,
and the lunperor Charles V. lie wasanaitive .md in-
trepid, but seUi'i, overbearing, and iierfulious num.
His administrati.m bears no marks of enlaiged ami
liberal policy ; but is lull of traits of arrogance ami
ine.mness. He opposed the benevolent attempts of
Las Casas to ameliorate the condition of the Indians,
and to obt.iin the ai(olition of repartimientos ; ire.it-
ing him with perscni.il haughtiness and ,is]ierily.'
The reason assignecl is that I'onsi^ca w.is enriching
himself by those very abuses, retaining l.irge numbers
of the miserable Indians in slavery, to \v:rk on his
possessions in the colonies.
To show that his character has not ln-en judgecl
with undue severity, it is expedient to point out his in-
vidious and persecuting conduct low.ird lierii.m.lo
Cortoz. The bishop, while ready to foster r.imbling
adventurers who c.ime forward under his p.itronage.
had never the he, id or the heart to apprec iate llie
merits of illustrious comiiMuders like Columb,;s ancl
C'ciriez.
At a time when clispules arose.' between C'i;rlez and
Diego \'elazc|uez, governor of Cuba, and the latter
sought to arrest the conc|ueror of Mexico in tlie midst
of Ills brdli.mt career, Fonsei ,i, with entire disregard
of the merits of the case, look a deciclecl part in fa\or
of Velazipiez. Personal inlerest was at the bottom of
this f.ivor ; for .i marriage w,is negoti.iting between
\'el.i2que/. and a sisK'r of the bishop. t Complaints
and misre|)rescntalions had lieen sent to Spain by
\'(d.izc|uez of the conduct of Cortez, who w.is repri'-
sented as a laivless ancl unprinciplecl adveiuurcr, at-
* IlcrriT.i, dci'id. ii. lib. ii cap. •^.
t Ibid., Uist. liul., deu.id. lii. lib.'iv, cap. 3.
tempting to usurp alisolute authority in Kfu j, I
The true services ot Cortez haci iltea Iv exf:i»i;V,J
ration at court, but such was the intlui'ii.cc,: lo-'^^T
til. It. .IS in tlie case of Columbus, ho mi utr
preiudicing the mimi of the sovereign .ii'a;iiv.nr..|
the most meritorious of his subjects. I ine I jnsij^ 1
de T.ipi.i. a m.m destitute of t.ilent or cbancitf j^l
whose greatest recimimendation w,is his h,i,:r,<t(-
in the employ of the bishop,* w,is iiivcsicil iv;,ij,^|
ers simil.ir to those once given to Hohaiiiluoi.,
prejudice of Columbus. He w.is to iiic|uit.- in;;
conduct of Cortez. ancl in c.ise lie tliouiihi ii;. '1,5(3, 1
him, sequestrate his properly, and superM,:- c,,'
c omm.ind. Not conleni with the regucir c|j] ^ j.
ters furnished to r,ipM. the bishop, shortiv ..•,ti t.,
dep.irtiire, sent out ju.in Uono cU Ouc.xo » . Ij;;
letters signecl by his own liand. and with .li.rj:.
reeled to v.irious persons, ch.uging tlicni 1.1 .V;
T.ipi.i for go\crnor. and assuiirg ihcm ih.,: ir.»i-
1 cinsidered the; conduct cif Cortez as ilis'ei,,' \;;.
ing but ihe s.ig.icity and lirmness of Curtc.' ['Wetit;
this me.isure Irom icunpletely interrupting'. :! en;;,
fe.iting his enterprises ; iind he aflerw.inl clfcidri';
th.it he h.id experienced iiiore trcuil.ie ,in 1 i!:it(L'
from the menac I's .ind affronts ol the imnbttrsa;;;
king than it cost him to conijuer Mexico. +
When the dispute lietween Coite.- am! \'>,i.!:
(.ime to lie declcled upon in Spain, in 15::. llciafe
of Cortez, an;l those who hacI come Irom Nfivv;,
as his prociir,ilors, obtained permission frum Ciic.i.
.\dri.in. at that time governor of the reata, Mi:
ri ute a public accusation of the bishop. .■\ rti"..:
invesligalion took pl.ice Licfore the Ccaincil (.; Lht! ■
dies of llieir allegations ag.iinst its president, 1 ■■
ch.irged him with luiving nulrlicly dec larcil t-'H;. .
traitor and a rebel ; with iiaving interccpicd aiiu>.:
pressed his letters addressed to the kiiiR. l,c'i".:r;b
M.ijesty in ignorance of their (cmleiits and c: ise:-
liortaiit servic-es he h.id perlormed. while he c;;.i«r,;.;
forw.irded .ill letters i alculated to proiimtc '.hr inlfts
ol \'el,iz(piez , with having • reventecl the ri';;esKL.
tions of t'oitez Irom being he.ird in the Coiir. '.(!'.::
Ir.clies, declaring th.it they should never he l;i\.-:ir.;::
while he lived ; with having inierdine'l th'' i'Wir.
ing of arms, merch.milise, ami reinlorcemciit' '.iS--'
Sp.iin ; and with h.iving issued orders to ihc Scf
the indi.i House at Seville to .irrest the prcnur.itor- :
Cortez and all persons .irriving Irom liini, unc. l!-?."
and cleta',1 all gold thai they should brir.s' T'.k
and various other rliargcs of simil.ir iiauiu- wtr'rCi-
|) issionalelv inveslig.iled. Enough wtrc -.;Xi.'.-
ti.ited to convict ronsec.i of the most p.irtii.:. ptti-
sive and pprlidioiis londuit. and the car(lir,.i', cwis'-
: quenlly forb.ide him to interfere in the caii-c ie'nM
j Cortez' and Vel,izc|ue/, and revoked all the oKtr.
i which the bishop h.id issued, in the matter. 1 !iit •'■
I cli.i House of Seville. indeed S.ilazir, a S[..nisbh;i•
tori.m, says that t'onsec a was tot. illy divi-Mc': >>l f,!
.lulhority as president of Ihe council, am!"! .■'«•
irol of the affairs of New Spain, ancl .cdds ihjl ktR
so mortilied .It Ihe blow, lh.it it lir.'uglu c;:; si-
illness, which well nigh cost him his iile.J
The suit lietween Cortej: and Xelazi.'U'i «3> :'•
ferrecl to a spec i.il iribun.d, composed el l!'.-' S'-"'-
c h.mcidlor and other persons of note, .md »;e ,<•'■.•.'.
in \^i2. The intluencc ancl intrigues e: i'"*'-
being no longer of avail, a triuni|>h.int vi n;,it »'j
given in f.ivor of Corfz, which was .ilti-r'-v.:! ='
lirined by the laiiperor Charles \'., and ;'''|'';';;
honors awarded him. '1 his was an ilher 1 i"*' ''''■■
milignaiit Konseca. wlio retained his enmity aC4i!i-
C!orte/ until his last iiioment, n ndeied M'..; "■''■
r.incurous by mortihcation and disappo'iilmH"
A 1 harge .igainst Ponseca, of a still cl.irkcr r.iuf
j than any o( the preceding, may be loiiinl 1'^"'''^'^^
i the pages of lietrer.i, though so ob.^cure ic^ I" I'-J'
escaped the notice of succeeding histona'.s. '■'
* Ilr'TTc ra. clecad. ill. hb, i. cap t;.
I t Ibid.. Ilist. Ill, I., ch-c.icb 111. lib IV. r:i;i 3,
I t Sal.iz.ir. tjoiicj. dc Mexico, hb. 1. cap J.
pi„„,otiici.i^i">r
„,;i„iic.iisnMi>' ^^
Heri'..ii"l"^""'''' "
L, I'THiUcd a con-l
luilr.ircisc.' Venui
„,i,,iminiiy UM""
ta,, Lpri-.d him
C,-u'± lleatic.i.p
Ig,, IV' 'it ihei"ii>l
fcrc'i
Ini; !
,u!l
fit
\h'
th
ir,
I
c
1.,
a'
n;
tl:
f
1 W.I'
n II, line
,,,, . ,inl'c»s(d h
,;in :iii »'!'•'''•■ '''
. ivhiini lie dec
,, „,,s;i.i'U;edhy or
].. ihi' invcsUgaMon
c \-. l.i/.;ucz, this cN
■,; ,.i ciucl .Hid
.icerness to cm
,,tcif .\iv.in / dc
,.,1 til what lie
, : (Clue se 111
,ic lliiii;ti'
I
;,>iiililliciidec| ,ISS
; ,,1 his agems,
jiiant iialiire cd i,
lit th.ii s'.ic'h an
.r,.i died .11 Ihci
; ,ini] was intern
,; :;iF. Mll'.MloN
Till s-pccuLtiuns c'
Itho itrri-lrial paruili-
Ipcar, vviTC such as 1
I Iciriic i men. A sligl
Iciiricib suiijecl may
hi.iJcr. .•ml may lake
jliii.'iiic',is expressed b
Ihealiciile of our Ii
Sjctt of mxious iiicpi
|a■:K,ly^ bi;cii prone {>
lleiici'iy, '.vhete the ii
Icoar'c realities ci life
{llsuwii crtaticiu. It
liglCill, In: IS i'HlIld i
[agenatic.us, and it p
jcieii's. Idle spec ul.i
jthon.irdcii of Ldeii t
jcernuii! liii; g.inleii v
|dc::ij;l,l, wliii h th.y f
lvcri;i.' I'l Hie known
jlisheil wi'.h all the il
[vri; c;er,liiiuaKy Ion
[(ill'!. :\l ' lie lime
I Al.iLi.i. The exhu
i til; p.ircli'.'d anil -iih
I Will; ra'ii'.'.ire ; thev
[ttl.riy I'l.vver-i, .ml
[Cre'.v of a tempest ti
[ui Mi'.-.e green islaii
I L'^u^ 'sol.iti.d 111 die
g.ux' It lilt iiune 1
[6- Vrapiiii al know
111" liesjeiian g.il
I ai;r'.-.uer li^i.ince.
j 01 ih" yrciu Syrli
i Ali.i., lI'Te, afiei
ft'ira, the travclle
ccun'.ry, ivalered I
The 'iranges ami c
Kiitrc lliey were a
n..ins by dieir g
ll'rrcr.i. Hist.
• iiiui.. ucc.id. ui
AIM'KNIJIX.
.'SI
Oinl;
10 llll'
bishop as the instiKator of a (Ics|nT:it(
ntl|nlli(lliillSlIMI1
who ci)ns|)i
reel av.Minst the life of
Bfrii.iii
I')
C'lirti':'. 'rill- "■•'
soiu- Animiio ck- Xillalafia,
^(„,|,,CHiUi.ii .1 i(illS|il
I >,„., iscii Vfnliil"
1> |iMl'C.
and they llinu),'Iit ihal none hul the Kardcn of tlic
I Ifspcriilts coulil |iroilure such nlof'oiis fiuils. In
this wav the h.i| py nxioii of the am iiiits was iraiis-
porlcil Iroin pl.ii e lo place, sllll in llw icniotf and ol,-
lirotluT ill-law (il \»da/i|ii</, m iirr cxtri'iiuty of (he wi)rld. utilil it w is fabk-d to lx-
While llie Lonspiratois were wailiiiK' lor | isl in ilie ( aiiarlcs. tlicnie calkd the I'otliinale vt llie
racy to asshssiiiale C oite/,
.mmiiv 1(1 potii
i.prisf
mil o
ird Corlez, one of ihiiii, riliTU- llispcrian Isl.mds. I lure il remained, l;( caii'^c
f Ins ilaiiKtr. \'ill,ifana was , eovery advam ed no faiilu r.
dis
herause these islands
nr "I.
lit: atuiiipted to swallow a p.iper ("ni.dii- ; were so disi.inl, and so little known, as lo aUow full
)! ihc iiilispi'aturs, liul beitiK si izeil hy the latitude to the hclions of the pott.*
lart of il w.is foricil troni Ins inoiilli toni.iin- In like nianiu r the situation of ilii; terrestrial para-
dise, or garden of I\den, w.is loii)4 a sulijeet of earnest
111 ii.ime-; of persons
iniportanre.
• Ill
fe'-seil his Kuill. '"'I tortures could not ; ini|uiry and i iirious dispiitat.on, and oci upied the
111! iiii iii|iale
the persons whose names were on
hoiii lie (lei laied were ij;iior.int of the plot.
jieu.is •i.iM(,'(-<l hy order of t'orte/.. '
In thi' iiivcMiyaiinn vi the disputes between C'ortez
Mil \''.i.i''':
Idi ill',' 1 .1
lie/, this execution id V'ill.ilaiTa w.is iiia«ni-
iiinl wanton ac
t of I
lower ; and in
i.-rni'ss to crinii
nate Cortez the witnesses on
■nsiic.i'
bbi*i
uf Alvaic/ decl.ii^'d that X'illaf.iTi.i h.id lieen
1 III uh.il he had done I y letters troni Hishop
! (flue M- iiiovio a lo (|ue lii/o con cartas del
It is not proh.ilile tli.il I onsei .i
p.i! iC lilllf^O'-
kail Itvnimiiei
eii .iss.issiiiation, liut it shows the t li.ir-
bcifr 'I Ins :ii;ems
and wh.il i;iusl have been the
Ba!ii;iuinl ratlin' of Ins instrueiions, when ihi'se men
nht thai siii'li an ai t would .icconiplisli liis wishes.
Fonscia ilieil at l'.iiri;os on the ^ih of Novemhcr,
Il5;4, ailJ was iiitertetl .it Coca.
lor TilF.
X.\.\V,
iTAIIoN 'a' Till. 1 1 KKl;,^l KIAI. I'AK.M'Isr,
.iljorious altenlion of itie most learned llieidof;ians.
.Some placed it in 1'. destine or the Holy Land ; others
in .Mesopoiamia, in thai rich and he.uitilul trad of
country emhraceil liy the w.inilerin^;s cd ihc TiKii^^
and the l!n|)hr.ites ; others in Armenia, in a v.dley
surrounded hy prei ipitous .ind inaccessible i.iountains,
and imagined that Imhm li and Llijall were transported
tliillK r. out of the si^;l.i of mortals, to live in a stale
of lirresliial liliss luiid the setond coniinj.; of our
S.iviour. There were others who j;.ive il situations
widely remote, sui h as in the Tra|)ol.an of the an-
( ieiils, al present known as the isl.iiid of Ceylon ; or
in the isi.ind of hum.itra ; or in the Fortunate or
C iii.iry Islands ; (;r in one of the islands of Siinda ;
or in some favored spot under the i(|uinoclial line.
(lie. it ililhcully w.is eniountered by these sjiecula-
lois lo reconcile the allotted place with the desi tiplion
j.;iven in denesis of the garden of l.den : parlicularly
iiid whicli
I'
if the jjre.a lountain which watered
;ifterw.iid du ided itself inti
our rivers, the 1 isori or
I'h
the (iihon, the Kuphr.itis,
Those who were in favor of the lb
id the llll
Land su
L-kel.
pposei'
that the |ordan was the Kfeat ri^er wliicli afterward
' divided itself into the T'liison, liihon, Tigris, and
Till !-|)(!ciil,:tiiiiis of Columbus on the siui.il'on of T'.iiphrates, but that the s.iiids have choked up the an-
Ithi; lcrrc>lnal paradise, e.xtrav.iLj.inl as lhe_\ may ap- I i iinl beds by which ihese streams were supiilied ; that
I nitii. A slight notice of their opinions on th
icar, were such as have
[Icirih
Icuriri
licaili
llhe III
LUpied
many ^rave .ind orii;iii.illy the I'liisoii tr.iversed .Xiabia T)esetta and
.\i ibi.i l''< lix, whei
It pursued Us I
irse lo the (iuif
suiijecl may be acce|)tat/le lo the j;eneral of I'ersi.i ; ih.il the dihon bathed Norihern or stony
III. IV l.il.e from the
cas cxpre.sse
il by C-
kimbus
apparent wildness ol
.\r;ibia and fell into ilie Arabian liiiif or
ttie K
Se;
Ilk' aliiide III ininirst ii.uent
s w.is am leii
tlv ill'
sub
Iject
if iiixiuus iiuiuiry ; and indeed m.inkiiid U.
th.il the lai[)hrates and the 'I'i,i;iis p.issed by lOden to
.Assyria and Ch.ilde.i, wluni e they discharf;eil them-
selves into the I'ersian Ciulf.
jak.iyst)ccii proiie to picture some place of perfei t
■.\heie the iiiiayination. disap[)(iinted in the
n
V mo;
• t of the e.iri
V C(
iiiimei.t.. tors the River (iihon
Icoarsi- icaliiies 1,1 life, mij;ht revel in an F.lysi
litSijHii irraliiiii. It is an idea not conlined I'l
IS siipposei
lo
le the Nile. 'The source
.1 th
ligii
;l was unknown, but was evitleiuly far distant from the
its whence the 'TiKiis and the Liiphrates arise.
IS I'liiiiil ill the iiidc- creeds of the most sa\ - '1 ins dilliculty, however, was ingeniously overcome,
lagenalii.iis, .uul it prevailed Kenerallv
lcieir>
am.iiij;
till
bv Ijivillk,' it
I sill ti rr.incan course of some tiundreds
the
K.ir.
lie speciil.itions com eriiini; the situalion of of k'.l^'ues from the common fount.iin, until it issued
I M if Llll II resei
th
ose of the (i reeks con
forth lo dayliuhl in .\b)Ssinia.f In like manner, si:
Cernuiv; inc i(.:rik'ii of the llesperides; that region it terraiie.in courses were ^wvu lo the 'Tii;r
liiili iliy forever iil.iced at
Vcr.i,v,,i 111,. |<p(,iv„ world i which their
the m.'Sl remote
lliihcil iiiih aii the ch,
irms of lictii
lets embel
ifler w liii h the
Ihe
Liiphrates, p.issiiii,' under the Red Sea, until they
spr.ini,' forth in .\rmeiii,i. .is if just issuiiiK from one
ciiminon source,
li.^
thi
whi
place
d till
Wore luiUimialiy lonKin^, and which thev roiild nevi r restri.d p.iradi.-e in islands, supposed thai the rivers
fnni!. .At ■ ■ '
linic It was in the (Iraiul O.isis oi
wliicll issllei
from it, ,ind formed those heretofore
I lie exhausted travellers, after tr;
iversini;
ither tr.iversed the surf;
.f the sea,
i'ari-.i'.'il am! ultry desert, hailed this verd.int S|)ot fresh water, by its i;reatir lightness, iii.iy lloal aliove
n\)'.::rv ; thi'v
th
I'. .111 I beside its cooling' streams, as tl
einselves under its the sail ; or that they llmvei! throui;
ueh
veins and
Cri'.voi a lempest-tossed v
! Ul Jill;
I hannels of the e.irlh, as llie fountain of Arethus.i was
the
essel ri pose on the shores s.iid lo sink into the ground in f'reece, and rise in the
c k-reen island in the deep ; and from its beint;
;«'Mlul III the midst of
if .Sicilv, while the
i-T Alp!
leus pursuing; it.
I f'liv It Ih-r :i:i
an ocean o
me of tliL- Island of the HI
f sand, they but with less perseverance, rose somewhat short of
(;■ '.iniiiiiini kaonled^e incre.
sseii
tli^- 11
th
e silu.itlon III
fsperian gardens was conlinuallv removed lo
iKa-aiiT liM.mce.
it in the sea.
Some contended t'lat the delude had destroyed tile
iiid altered the whole f.ice of the
oi 111...
yri-.it Svriis
lb
It Was transferred lo the borders
Kanlen o
f I-
lien.
nil ; so th.it the rivers had cl
I lie I r bei
d
in the neinhborhi
Ml
II had l.iken different directions from those mentioned
re, alier tr.. ersiiin the frinliUul deserts ol i in (.lenesis ; ollieis. however.
Ci:'.in;
T
the traveller found h
ii; whom W.IS St.
inisidf in a f.iir and lerlile : .\u.i;usliiie
his 'onimeniary upon llie Hook of Cei
'). 'v.iiered by rivulets .irul ),;ushint; founiains. j esis, maintained lli.it the lerrestri.d p.ir.ulise still i
If 'iranjji's and citrons
«Mtr..- Ill
ri..ins by aiei
ey were a-! vei m
ir.iiisportei
II 'lie to dreece.
isted, Willi iis oriL:inal beauty ,ind delii;hts, but lh.it il
r «o|i!en beaulv and deli
in, (lelif;hled the Athe- was in.iccessilile to mortals.
bein
i; on the suininit ol .i
mountain of stupendous heii;lit. le.ichini^ into ihe third
"!•
IM
: I
rreia. IUm, l,,,!., d,
1-I-. ilccid. iii. liU
cad. iii. lib. i. c.ip. i.
IV. cap. J.
* t;
rliii. Kcclier.he.^ bur i
.1 lieoL
des .\iKii'iis, tiiii. i.
t I'evjoo, 'Iheatro Cntico, lib. va. ^ ,
in
APPENDIX.
I! '
1
region (if ilip air, .md .ipprrarhinR the moon ; I'cinK
thus pmtcilcil liy its clev.iticn fmin the ravaRes of the
ili-liik;e.
Hy some this iiuniiitaiii w.is plued iindcr the oqiii-
iioriial liiu- ; it iiiiilcr ih.il liaiul of the heavens nii-la-
phorirally lallcd by tlie am icnt> " the table of llie
sun," * (■omiirisim; the sp.ire Ixtwecn ;he troi)ics of
C'.imer and Tapri.-orn, beyond wl\iili the sun never
p.issed in his .hhumI eourse. Here woulil reiK'n a nni-
torinity of ni^Iils ,m.| d.iys and seasons, and the ele-
vation i>f the nuumlain would raise it .ib,)ve the heals
jind storms nl ihe lower regions. Others tr.insported
the garden beyond tin- eipiinoctial line, and pl.ued it in
the southern heinis|>here ; supposini; th.U the torrid
zone niiK'hl In' the tlainin^' sword apiiointcd to ilefend
its enlr.mee against mortals. They had a f.mciful
train of .iri;uinent to suppotl their theory. They ob-
served th.it the terrcstri.il par.idise must be in the
nolilest an I h.ii'piest part of the ^lobe ; th.it p.irt must
be under the noblest part of the he.ivcns , as the merits
of a pl.ice dii not so mueh depeii I upon the virtues of
thL' e.irth as iip.m the happy inlliien es of the stars and
the f.ivorable and beniiin aspec:t of the heavens.
Niiw, areordiii;; to phil isn|iliers, the world was divideil
into two heniisplieres. The southern they considered
th? head, and the n.rthern the feet, or under p.irt ;
th".' ri^lit han 1 the east, wiience i:nin:neni-ed ihe iiinve-
m"nt of the primum mobile, and Ihe lelt the we-^t,
tow.ird which it moved. This supposed, they observed
that as it w.is m.mifest th.it the he.id of all things, nat-
ur.il iind artitici.il, is alw.iys the b<-st .md noblest pait,
j^ovi^rnini; the other p.ins of the body, so the south,
bcirn; the hea i of the earth. oin;ht l.> be superior and
nobler than either east, or west, or north ; ani in ai-
ronl.mce with this, they cited the opinion of ^ irioiis
philosopliers aneint; the ancients, and more especi.illv
that of I'toleniy. that the st.irs of the southern hemi-
sphere were l.iri;er, more resplendent, more perfect,
and •' course ot greater virtue and elhcacy than th.ise
of the northern : an error universally prevalent until
dispriived by modern discovery. J fence they cmi-
tludcd that in this southern hemisphere, in this he.nl
of the earth, under this purer ,ind brighter skv, and
these more potent and ben ^ i. ml stars, was pi, iced the
terrestri.il p.ir.idise.
Various idtas were entertained as to the maijnitude
of this blissful rei,'i()n. .\s .\dani anil all his progeny
were to h.ive lived there, had he not sinned, and as
there would hace been no such thinj; .is de.ah to thin
the number of m.inkind, it was inferred th.it the ter-
restri.il par.idise must be of ^reat extent to cont.iin
them. .Siinie ij.ive it a sizeeipial to liurope or .Xfric.i ;
others ^avt it the whole southern hemisphere. St.
Aususline supposed that as mankind multiplied, num-
bers would be iransl.ited without death td lie.iven ;
the parents, perhaps, when their children h.id arrived'
at mature age ; or portiims of the human race at the
enri (if cert.iin periods, and when the popul.ition of
the terrestri.il p.iradise had attained a certain amount. +
Others supposed that m.inkind, remaining in a st.ite
of primitive innocence, would not h.ive reipiired so
mu( h sp.ice as at present. I laving no need (if re.irini;
animals for subsistence, no l.md Wuuld have been re-
quired for paslur.iKc ; and the earth not beinj,' cursed
w.lh sterility, there wcaild have been no need of ex-
tensive tr.i'is of c.iuntry to permit of fallow l.md and
the alternation of crops re<|uired in husbandry. The
spont.meous and never-failint; fruits cf the' i;.irden
would have been .abundant for the simple wants (d
man. Still, ih.it the human race mi.nht not be
crowded, but nii.,'ht have ample sp.ice for recre.ition
and enjoyment, and the charms of variety and < hauLje,
some allowed at least a hundred leagues of circum-
ference to the tjardcn.
St. Hasilius in his elo(|ucnt discourse on paradise*
Vir-. (leor;;. i. I'nmp. M,.;-,, 1,1,
* Merndot, lib.
C'l].. K>.
f S'. .-Niifiusf. 1 b. i\. cap, ',. Sup. D.-ni'sis
{ S' Itasillc.s «as (.ill.'.l il„- tjr.'ai. I!,s w„rks were read
.nrrl .idmired b.y ,i!l the world, even bv I'aiMiis. Ili-y ire
exp.iiiates with r.Tptiire on the joys of ihu ,u^
abode, elevated to the third region <if the i,t *
under the happiest skies. There a pure .im: ntp
f.iiliiiK pleasure is furnished to every scum- i,,
deli^jhts in the admirable clearmssof llie .iiir.ruM;,'
in I'le verdure and beauty of the trees, .nnl iiif j,,!
witheritiL; bloom of the llowtrs. The ear in rf»i.
with the siiiKiiiK of the birds, iIk? miuI! mtj ••]
I aromatic odors of the hind. In like niaiimr ihc ,;^^
senses have e.ich their peculi.ir eiijuyiiiir.is. ; ,.]
I the vicissituiles of the seasons are utikiioiM; .mi . j
iliin.ite unites the fruitfulness (if siiiiumr, ila- c
I .ibund.mce of autumn, ami the sweet frost-,titss .-
(piietude of sprinR. There the e.irth l^ ahv.iw;.^.
] the llowers are ever blooming, the w. iters lixriv
I didicate, not rushing in rude and turbid tdrrtn;* ;.'
I swelliiiK' up in rryst.il fountains, and wiinliiiL; m J,.
fill and silver stre.ims. There no li.:t>li iii.d l.u;s;t;-
oils winds ,ire perniilted to shake an I (lisli.rlnlif;.!
.md ravavie the beauty of the K^oves, there |)r''v,.;!-
mel.iiu holy, nor d. irksome we.ither, n(olrii'\n;ii"f •
n.ir pelting h.iil ; no forked lii.;hliuni;, nor ten:-,
and rcsoundini; thunder; no wiiiirv piiKl;!ni>ti
imr withering; .and i>.inlin)^ simimer In ,it ; iMr.iinll:-.'
else th.it can ^;ive p.iin or sorro.v (ir atiiKA.ir,.;.
all is bland and i;cntle and serene ; a piTpil;.,!, if,. :
and jiy reii^ns throughout all naturi, ami i. ('.lung >
cays .md dies.
The s.inie idea is nivcn by St. .Nnihrosius. ;') :
book on I'ar.idise,* an author likewise cdnM.lic:,.
cited by Columbus, lie wrote in the fourth crn..:
and his t uK liinj; ehxiuenre, and graceful yet vitirt .;
style, insured ure.it popul.irity to his writiiits M .
of these opinions are cited by (ilanvdie, um:.iIvi,
li.irthidnineus Anj;licus. in his work lie I'rciic:
bus Reruin ; a work with whii h t'oluniius »i« ■ •
dentlv ai qiiainted. It w.is a species of enrjilii' .
of the i;encr.il knowled,L;e rnrrent at the time. .int;v .
likely to recommend itself to a curious .iiiil iii',.:;:;
voy.iLjer. This .author cites an as-^ertien as r.w'.tu
St. M.i>^ilius and St. .■\mbrosius, th.it the w.itfr iflhf
fount. lin which proc( cds from the (i.i!dcn( i K'lpni.i'i
into a u'reat lake with such a treineni!m,s nnisc;!:/.
the inh.ibit.mts df the neii,dibi)rhood arc I'lrn in:;
.md th.it from this Like proceed the four chid n.tis
mentioned in Oenesis, f
This p.iss.i;;e, however, is not to be i'^'Mil in '.:t
Ilex.imeron of either M.isililis or .\lllliresiii5, :'■;'
wliii h it is <iuote<l ; neither is it in the oraliim c' i>
.iilise by the former, nor in the letter en the slim
subject written bv .Xmbrosius to ;\mbrosius Sabna
It must be a niisi|uotati<)n by ('d.mville. Ciaml:i.
hiiwever, appears to have bien struck «ii!i :;, ar'.
I. .IS C.isas is of opinion that he derivcl thcii' f hM»;i
til It the vast lunly of fresh w.iter whi^ h hiicil I'lc (d..!
of I. a Hallen.i or' I'ari.i, flowed from the t(ian!..;n ci
I'.ir.ilise, thouijh from a remote disi. nice ; aP'!ihat;a
this milf, whCli he sii[ipose(l in the extreme ;■;''' '•
.X'-i.i. oriijii-ated the Nile, the Tigris, the 1 uphriW
and the O.innes, which iiiii;ht be i (in iir te 1 nil l«;ht
land .md se.i by siiliterrane.in channids. to ll:i/;.'fS
where they spriii.L,' fortli on the e.irth .ludas'U'ni''.'' '
proper n. lines,
I forbear In enter inln various otlii r o! t!ie v .;
ous speculations wIm li li.ive been formed n :.il
the terrestrial jiaradise, ami perh.ips it in. iv !'''!'' •-•
I'lat I h.ive .lire. Illy said too iiiucli on so f.uK :'■'•'•''■•'■
ject ; but to ibustr.itc clearly tl'.e ih.ir.nler-' ' ■■"•
wiitleii III an elevattd and maiesiic ;l\le, «iili i:' '■ '
lUir ot ide.i. ai.d v.i^t erudition.
* Si, .\iiiljro.siiis. Opeia. I'dit. t'l'i.iji'-i"'- "'
I MDCXC.
t I'.iraihsus .auleiii in (iriente. in a!tl-^:l:l > iv ■iii' '■'
I cuius cuaiiniiie (.ideiites aipi.e, ina\i:iiinii I a!".iii '■'■'"■
que 111 siio casii l.iiiiiiiii f.iciiiul slreiiMuin el li.ii;iirciii |]i''
I nmnes iiicol.r, jiixia pr:edieniMi l.niim. ij,.^iantiT '■.ii'':> *''
I iiiiniodet.ilo soiiini sell fr iijore seiisiiin .lU'll u :ii|.ci«.'
I coinuiipeiile. ft ili^it H.iulim I'l //<•.!. /"'<•'■"'. '"";"'f'.,
./»/,'"(. I''.\ illo, lacii, vebil ex iii o loeie, liri"ci!"'^'''
I fbiiiiiii.i qiLitiior, I'l.i^oii, (|iii el (i.iii^;(!<. ••'<"i. (!"''',' -^j''
(hr;hii, el ligris ac iMiphrales. H.irt. \iii;l. il'' i r^T"''
1 t.ititm-, reiiiiii, lib. 15, cip. 112. rr.iiicufuru, 1510.
I
,1 i< nil 1"^ ■•"■^' '•'
,1; thruuli h'-' "
'.,.|iiinu'ii.i ii III''
,n,l ivhich are ol:
,.,| 111 lii« ,1 """ '
. :ike«i>c. ld<e •■
mean, lairy u
,;.,. mvMcry .md
. ihc urc.if't i'.i"
di'
.fi oimpletely
_n( ujh h.s I'leii 1 H'
K„r,<riw-i'iniiii;li'e'
Uol iivlulnllK' I"
-|h;:"itiis, the ollspr;
kr.-n ilewcvei visi
Ihn were all t;f"nub
jes^' '!i.iii (iM' 111 ir in
cn ix.imiii.ib'ii' f
jP'i :hc(iri(^s nf s.ine^
»na erudition lu the -
\vi;
h the n.ame of the
me a;ih the idea, and
to ii'i;. th.it I (')iili'. n.i
. Spun, by traversiiiK t
^toiv.Miuiiicaied to lb''
Wqiifi''"' """•' '■■''
WIT'- pleased 10 fuiiii-
ojiiifii .mil ships, .1111
the 'lU'l (ireaii, m all
itiwitiniiry line, dr.iwi
jauMS ivost of the I'
illlsoappduilitii.: nie I
rdnuneiilsand isl.i
le said line wi stw.in
!cilccl ill Ihe s.iid oil
:jrs tor ever ; and a
linKs iiiun I ill the s;
id revi'inics .irismi;
[land'; ami e\cr\thiiii^
jcorresponilinn to niy
[ovcriii'r. and all olh
i> mere fully expo
inctie'ied bv their h
;\n I it pliMsecl the
ic lh"asaiid four lu:
lisoiver the mntiner
limimi! them lli'ip.ini
llni! the Moiiii oiii;os
,Jastile 111 ilieir hu;h
(dtrtakiii;; .1 second e
[inii stu'ciiiiMil : .111
|lbe is'r.iui 111 llispaii
,Uai;uts, and 1 1 onqi
jliiil 1 .iiscov'.'K-d ni.i
anj«'vcn liuiidrtil 1
^^iih i> |,i!n:ui a, w
hur'ircl and thiitv
SOf.h In West, besit
nfi-;h, wliicli I (I'lir-o
^With ;:i.iny .-!.:iids,
mv letters, iTiemori.i
iWchiipivn (,..,1 th:
TtViT.iii; w.ll lie del
ctntiii-nt. 01 vv!ii( !i,
toni' lluMciiUi ;>.nd
tni"-u:nents spe( iCn
■ti'.ae inn-t.il. :',il 1
«i;i!leh!<afl:;u-, an
iBBic'ssiirs the
1)1 oj
Iriijhl',., Wher-dir
I tail'- 1 estate luiiivoi
[laiiis, pl.icos, and
[now priMoed to st.i
In ihc litst place
! ■a
iiiiLiiAlii
AIMMADIX.
^83
Li it i«nn''s.arv I" dm iil.iic tliM!>r voins of thnii«lit
r', ,,l,r„„i.ti his miii'l wliilc c(.nsi(|rriiinllt<' siiinu-
iri.'H'iM.nn'iia ol Ihf iinUiioun reniiMis lif w.is rxplur-
C. ,'nl A-hM-h .irr nitcil luit s|ij;litly .md vaguely <!' •
' liii III* 1 iiiriMls ami lettiTs. TlifM- spcdil.i-
Bor- 'kc«i-t-. Ike tliost.- r.mccrninK f.mric.l jsl.ii.ils
II "iMii. latty !!■* !i.ii k t' I lie liiiK", ainl lii.uk- us
•el ill' mvi'iiTy ami (niijiTliiral i harm \vlili-li U'i^jni'l
fctr itic src iti't pari d ihi- world, and havi- '.iiu''
inmiilcU'lv dispclli'd liy fTiiidcrii diM'ivrry.
Inci.^h h.s I'll''! I itrd to sli nv 111 it in h^s oliM-rva-
loH'ioi'icTiiiinciiiftfrri'sti.il |'aradi-i-, Cohimlius was
K)t I'l aiUiiis' 1" ■•iiiv f.incilul and prisurniiliious
liiii'i T.'S ill:' I'ti'-pniiK of a hiMtcd atid disor'K'icd
^rall^ iii'W"V'i visi.iiary his coniccliirrs may si-crn.
Iic\ wiTi' iiil j;'i inidcd on wrillrn opinions ludd little
J[j5i:i,iii ()t:iMilir 111 his day , and llii'V will lie found
In i-x.iininatini' !.• jic lar cNi-ccdi'd hy the sjicculalions
j)(l iliiiiricMif saijps held illii^trioivi for llicir wisdom
Oil (.■rudilioii ill the sihool and iloistcr.
No. XXXVI.
will ol'' < oI.I'MlllS.
Iv the nami' ''f the Most I ioly 'i'rinily, whii inspired
LlDf >v;ih Ihciil'.'a, and altcrvvaid inailc il perfectly < lear
inv.'. that 1 Miuji; iKU'inate and k" 1" the Indies from
fep:iin, h\ tr.iverMiit^ the oiean westwardly ; wliii li I
oirtiiuiiicaleit to the Kin^, Don l''er<linand, and to
Jic qiici'ii. I'lina Isal.ella, our sovereiiins ; and lliey
Irep' |ilfase(l Id liiiinsh ine the necessary ('(iiiipmeiit
bfnifi; anil ships, ami to ni.ike nie tlx'ir adiinr i! over
ic ':ii'l iid'aii, In all parts Iviii^j to the \ve>t of an
Bnwiiiii.iry line, drawn (roni pole to ])ole, a hundred
leai;'ai.'s wost of the I'lpi de X'i'rde and .\/ore ishinds ;
|llsii apjiiiiiilitu- me their virerov and ^jovernor over
"ininc'iilsaiid isl.imKthat 1 mii;ht discover lievond
llhes,iii| line wistw.irdly ; with tin- ri^;llt of heinj; sac-
tcil'/il ill the s.iiil olh(cs liy my eldest son and his
kelrs ior C'.'T : ami a (,'rant of the tenth (i.irt of all
"hini;s loun 1 in the said juris lirtion ; and of .all rents
na ri'vcnues ,irisiiii; from it ; ami the eighth of all the
llanJ'^iiiKl evrrMhim; else, toKelher with the s.daty
Icorrciponiliiiij to niy rank of admiral, virerov. and
|ovcrnur, an.i all other emoluments accrllin^' tiuret >.
ii-merc (i:lly espressed in the title ami agreement
ani-liii'icil hv tlicir hiyhnesses.
.\nl it pleased the Lord Almighty, that in the ye.ir
(One tli'Kin.iinl lour Immlred and ninetv-two, I shiuild
Idisonvr the continent of the Indies and manv isl.in.ls,
lumont; them lli'.p.mi )la, which the Inili.ins call .Ayte,
llinlihf .\|,,ni.oiii;,,s, C"ip.in>;o. I then letiirned to
ICasiile lu liieir highnesses, who approved of mv iin-
ldcri.iki!u:.i sriiiiul eiuerpiise lor f;irthcr discoveries
llmi s(.ll«'m.Mii : .ml ih,- I or.l ^ave me victory over
|lllcis;.ii, l(,i llispamoj.i, which extends six hnndre.l
ll<:.i:ii(s, and 1 cmpa-red it and made it trii/iit.iiv;
lam I .:iRco'.-..„.,| nt.my isl.mds inh.ihited l.v cmnilii'ls,
linJvwn hundred to th,- west of llisp.iniola, amonv;
tW^MH |..;n:ma, which we tall Saiiti.ino ; and three
inu'^rcl .ml ihiitv three leagues of roniinent from
llouih I., w.-M, i.csi.ics a hnmlrcd and seven to the
I "''-III, which I discovered in mvhrst vovaKo. toKcther
i»':!l iTi.cny .-!,., ids. as mav more cicarlv be seen bv
imv letters, tnenioriai-, and maritime charts. .And as
^C' hop,. Ml (,,,.! ihat |„.,„re hmi; a K""d and >;reat
feur.uiMv:,l|„. dv.,,v,.,| (r,„n the above isl,,n<ls and
ti-nlin-ni. ,„ vvhi.h, l,.r th.' re.isons aforesaid, bel.aii.;
I^n''M.uMenll, ,-;,„l,hp ,,i^i„i,_ „.ilh the sal.uies and
fn."iuni,.ms spe,'r„'| above: and ronsidering that
noiiu'i '"""'■ ' " ' "'''' '' '" l>'-'>l«"r for every one to
»™en..s,iti.;,,., :„„| ,„ U'aveileclared to his heirs and
1m'„T '",,'• ' l""!'<'r'.\- !"■• I'ossess.'s or mav have a
[ J'V ' """■'"re 1 havcconchided to crea'te an en-
la ,k "■"'""^ ""••'v.ir.i/i:,,i out ,,f the said einhth of the
'mv;''""'7'''"'' '"^•^•■i'i<-«. i'l llie manner which I
1" il'>-' litst place, I am to be succeeded by Don
Die^o, my son, who In e.isc nf de,itli wilhail rhildren
l-i to be siic( eeded by my other son I ( rdin.iml ; and
should (ii(d dispose of turn aKo willioiit le.uinK chil-
dren .md without my h.iviiiH any other !<on, then my
brother Don H.ntholomew is to sin -eeil , and .liter
him his el lest son ; and it (»od should (li>pose of him
wilhout heifs, he shall b-j sucieiiled bv his sons froni
one to another lor ever ; nr, in the l.iiluri' <d a son, to
lie succeeded by Don I'^crditKind, after the s.ime m.iii-
ti'T, from son to son successively ; or in their pl.K e
by my brothers ll.irtholomew and bn'Ko. .\nd should
it please the Lord th.it the estate, alter liavinj; ( (m-
tinued for some time in the line of .mv of ihe above
sm censors, slioiild st.iii I in n<'ei| of ,in immidiate .md
l.iwful m.ile heir, the sucicssion shall thill devolve to
the iie.irt st K l.itioii beini^ .i m.in of lenilim.ile biiih.
and lie.iiinj; the n.ime of Columbus derived from Ins
father and his .ince-tors. 'Ihi'; eiit.iiled estate siiail
in nowise be inherited by a woman, except in c.nsc
th.it no mile is to be found, either in this or any other
(|u.irtpr of ths world, of my real liiu .i^e, wh'isu na.mc,
as W( .IS th.it of his ancestors, shall h.ive always been
(■(diimoiis. In such an event (whiih m ly l i<id foie-
fend>. then the feni.ile of le^itiin.ite birth, most neatly
rid.ited to the prece.JiiiL; possessor of the est.ile, sh.ill
succeed to it ; and this is to be lui'ler the i onditions
herein stipiil.ited at foot, which must be midrrstood to
extend as well to Don Die^;o, mv son, ,is to the .I'ure-
s,iid and their heits. every one of them, to be fulhlleil
by them : and f.iilmt,' to do so they are to be deprived
of the succession, fur not having complied willi what
shall herein be expressed ; and the est.ite to pass to
the jierson most nearly related to the one who held
the ri^ht : and the person thus succeeding; sh.iU in like
m.inner forfeit the estate, should he also l.iil to < otn-
plv with said conditions ; and another person, the
nearest of my linen^e. shall suceeil, piovidcd he
.ibide by them, so that they may be observed for ever
in the form piesrribed This forliilureis not to I e
iiu iirred for trillint; matters, ori>;in,itiiii,' in lawsuits,
but in important cases, when the j^iory of (ioil, or my
own, or that of niy f.imily. may be lomerned, wl:i. h
supposes a perfect fulhlmeiit of all the lhiii^;s hereby
ord. lined ; all which i recommend to the i ourts of
instil e. .And I suppliiale his Holiness, who now is.
ami those that m.iy succeed in the Holy ( hunh. that
if it should h.ippen th.it this my will .md testament
his need of his holy onler and eommand for its tulfil-
ment, th.it such order be issued is virtue of obedience,
and under pi'ii.ilty of exconiiminic.ition, and that it
sh ill not be in any wise ilishi;ured .\nd 1 ab-o |ir;:y
the kim; and (pieen, our sovere'i,i I their ((lest
born. Prince Don |ii,in, our lord. ; uir sm ci ssors.
for the sake ot tlie services I h.i\> done them, and
bei .luse it is jus't. that it m.iy please thi m not to per-
tnit this n.v will.ind constitution of my enl.iiled est.ite
to be any way altered, but to lea\ • it in the form
.md manner wiiich I have ordaineil for ever, for the
Kreater Klory n.' the Almighty, ai-.d that it may b(! the
root and b.isis of my liiie.ii;e, and ;i memento of the
serviics I h.ivc rendered their hi^;llnesses ; that, beini;
born in iJeno.i. I came over to seive iliem in Castile,
.ill I discovered to the west of Tcrr.i Klrma the Indies
and isl.mds bef.ire mentioned. I accordingly pray
their highnesses to order tl.at this mv privilcfie and
testament bo held valid, and be executed summarily
and without anv opposition or di-miir, accoidini; to
the letter. I .ilso pray the L;r.inde< s of the realm .ind
the lords of the council, and all others havint; admin-
istration of justice, to be pleased not to suffer this my
will and testanu'tit to be of no avail, but to c.iuse it to
be fuUilleil as by mc ord.iined ; it bcui.i; just that a
noble, wl-.o has servecl the kini; and ([lecn. and the
kingdom, sh(/uld be resj-ecled in the disposition of his
esLite by will, testament, institution of entail or in-
tieritance. and that the same be not iiifi iii,i;ed cither
in whole or in part.
In the first pi. ice. my son Don Dietjn, and all my
siK cessors and descendants, .as well as mv brothers
It.irtholoii'.'W and Dieu;o, shall bi .ir mv am.s, such as
1 bhall leave them alter my days, without inscrtingj
Jn.'
il I-'
.!.;'-!
m
m
I'iiiiH
5;; : i^ >
J ' ■ ; I
■..■'« H im
Ill
i
OQl
any
..!.• .1 ... :.. .1 , ....
i(j cNc in tlit'iii ; .iinl llH V 'tli.ill I'f'
inin
witn.ii. I'oii iMfKii
llirlr sciil til (iiiicw inv linulic
ni.lV miR-Ill IIMX
till' iiiliiril.
now " '•
iy I'OII, IT any m
iititr wliii til (III
'1 III 1 1 1 1 ti t
..I >i... ;.,
"-•. ■Mill ,l,,,l ,-,,..
Sill
. '•
II iiiininw intii |>ii?<M«'«.>i
iin 111 I ,isf 111 ilisi
1 1 11 111 lilt- 1 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 1- 111
....I ii ^„ w I,. I... ..
i'>l.i
:c:-.,)( I
'" . m ■
111 I , ^1
I. til Mi;ii Willi
ikiiialiiri- wliii li I
• lll.lKl' ll''C IH. "111. II
llli- si .
X with an S OUT
uiM iiiii. Mil- I .!><■ i:< HI iif rriirrrii t , iiv,n.,, ■
!>*, iir nilii r nun iif lii'imr; .unl shiii.iiu,,
ri-i* ilTliiitir I 1 1 f*lll..i>l I'f ti llli'i* luilt . I >
n .M Willi a IM'I
I tlllMl ' " '
nviT it, ami iivcT til, I
t an
HI ,is ,irliili.
illU'^ aiiii 1" 'iiiiT*
,1 iiii-iu
r. is
N , with an S 11
v<r it, Willi
lis
IllT II. I
I *.
ni; viriumis .mil
"IfJ'Wi, I
my rusioin, as in.iv I
fi'ii 1\ lii'in .\il
inv simi,itiiiis. Ml Willi II 111
> tv I , ^
si'i'ii I IV lllf pu■^
I'llt nilf.
Ills ri'v<'mn' wlm li | In i.uiMih i "
i.'..r,l,., ..,.1 ..,.1 , . II • .,
iiliMiirn, [1' I I I iiui.iiii I, ,11111 1 I lllt'^,1, >|f,f
vi^rfii 111 :iiiil li>ri-iv'i'il liv* llwln ;iu t,r..„... i
111- sh.ill only writi.- the .\(iiiiir,
litk's till- kiiiK iii.iy h.ivc loniiTrci
liiiir.ii.' w
l.llcVtT nlllir till' lltil
III iiiiu irii-i\i-ii \i\ iiii III as |irrsrr,'ii«it -jf)^ ■
lir-ilii.tl (if liiiillir fiillitli! Mil. I I.. I.. I I 1. I
Lllii.:! liiv 1^1
li) liL' iiirkTMii. Ill .
liini. 'lliis is Ml
r iiiini,Miiiiii 111 ii'-iii^ i.iiuiiiii ami mv.il I'l |i,(j;,,,. I
111. ur Ills heirs, tlu'v as svoll as lluir I'lnl.i,... .. I
s tis|ifrts hi'
• siunatiiri-, l>ut nut slioiiM it ,i|
>, nil J .1-. Hill ,i?i iiirir I'liiiiirtn a m
, ii, ,1 ii..... . . < .1. . . .m
.111-
lIlIRT.llliill HI ins
I li-ncl'i it ai;
, whiih he laii tiLikf al
If .
iir.il.
hrl
iV(ir>l cir
' <'i iiU'tii, h,,
' '■ ••^' ' » K i"Vt' liinn \\\s\\
\\r\\K\\i't\\\: III t hi> t'.ifiii t v* I ir > .f i Km <..•■»..
ccilt-tl akrainst hitn in aiivthi
->['(. 111^ 'M 111-, itiiiiiit, \<\ I'l mr r>",,m'^ I iii-ij . ■
■ I l«i>*. I tv )i<*r>-l >v' tit i .1 1\( fi Mill. ■..>.«)' _ I ' I
1 11^ 7*. Ill I I
?St.lll', sill "
liiif,'!!, or 111^
'i (llllC
inhcrit'ir I'f tin-
t!l piissrss Ills' olhios ol ailniii.il i
\\i liiL;lii
i.. .
tu I hi- wcsiol an nil;
I 11 IV 11 I
I'SS III" lITfH ID DC I
iinarv line, wliii h
iirii HI iiiTii, wiii-irii) iiiii;iii iiiiiir .v s* .inil.n ,ir. 1 i. ■
iisiMiK'iit to my f.iniily, aiiil ailitrinutu tiiniVfCiiK ■
the in th;'t i asc, iintliiiii; liirtliiT shall lie ni^ni ti ;*ih P
r,i,>i ill il liiit,* I iir It' 'I n I in .._.■.... .. .L . I
r him I
1. riinniiiL; irom ikiU"
.tvs III 111* I'.iilhlnl III Ilifi'ii .111
lasiiuiHi ,i>lti(rii ■
■ I
nil" ,t lUIIIiIIf'l IC
iiiy iiMri- lii'von I '
Kiifs In voiiil the .A/iiifs, ,iiul as
; It.i
111- 1.111,11111 HI I 'll-^lI .III I III ins >Ui"lf»lk:t!, ■
.\ U i I It , W III \- I II I ,. tl 1 i. Ill II ll. ,, I I'l,. I .. ..... ^1
.|)i.' lie \ V
lie Isl.iiiils. 1
lU'cr all lliis ciiLiilcil I'sla
i> iii\ iiiii'iiiiiiii, « 111 II I iiiM :r,>l ".;>; H
1.. .K .1. . ..... '" H
I Nil II
w.is tiiiiili", hy their oilier,
their ailinir.il of
LI, ,11. I V^lll,., |. '.,,.. I'.'. -V, ..I III.IL
iliciiiiki, f,,r 111** ,il I Itti li.iitl, I
It r^t-il, 1^ 1 III III 1
the |iie-eiiiinenies lieM liy Don 1
n-
Hll.l
nil' ill f.i t'lir I if
lor lite, III iiie lentil ;i,iU ,i ;ii{;^ i
,iiliiiii,iUy lit I aslile, ami
lUUl 111 till
:uir Ko.ernor .iml vueroy pe
lev niinle nie in roniiinnior.itioii
eressiiuiis iiersiins, ,ii i li.;;!-. i; ■
..i ll,.. .\ li.ii.il, .1 1',..... 1- I
rpetii.illv ami li
ev< r.
i( nt'i i<ist 1 nir villi ill I hii^ f iiiinii
:iuv aiM I lU'iii,,. u>.-: ■
ae i.vi.iinis anil
main
•i.iinl
overeil, orti
lie
■ ' I .■..»,
lull M:i li't.1 V- will
eil, lor iiiyscii an i iieirs
I, as is mure hillv it, in
IV 11 iiy
V "
y .iml privilege as. iliove iiientin
iietl. :
I ihii or the ..... .
tilhe sli.ill 111' ii.iiil
.ISM '
I'l'VV
IS iipiiiiHii, iifiii iui|';rn;ifti;t.i
I 1. 10, ami llinse wlmni.a i"i'.ti;
HirM. I have umiUhI uuI'^; ■
iicm
f thi
ler.s.
1 lie sail
I II
I)iei;o, or any other inheritor I'irsl ll is to
. 1..,
I, .>.!..,.
la.iiii
I 'iiiii^ m
t.ile, sIMIl ilislrilaite tin
'.or. I to i^r.iiit liiiii, i
revenue v
il ll it in. IV
ri'Veniie iif llii' i*sl
I l/i l,j» >ri.'#itl ll. Ik
uii.ler tlie aiiove
pen.iltv.
nrsl— I II llie will Hi:
im oiiie of this estate, now
ll lit all times, .mil nf wh.ilever may he li.iil or coi-
cleil Irom it, he sli.ill yive the fourth part
rei ti'i
1 inci
hull' revenue i
^ ill,' in.-iintf' ,1
rsiooii in.:i tile iniiriiipait:: H
whirii I I'.ive urii.iiiici a!
[ ,1111111. illv iiierc
I ne Ki\eii ii> I'liii i i,ii uiiiiiiiiirtv, iii,',ciitit h
■■' "Me niilliiiii, iiii lihles llie Icnih ni '..v. H
if the est, lie : ami thai ,is jii |irii|iiirl:<' H
L- iiiioine of my lirottier D.m I'l.irilu ii'iii'ivs:!.. V
.ise. as il h.is tu lie ilisiouiUeil fimn liii: rr'i.sut H
my iirmtu r I ion iiirtl
mloinew {.nUiniliii,<
. .-Vileli
11-
ilifi fdiii
I tl flirt 1.1 I 111, 1
e iiisi iiuiueii iiiiiii nil: [Curigt ^m
(lO I)
1 lilt 1 II
(lies : ami tins
IS tl) ei ntinue till he sh.ill
^ ■ I
revenue shall lie e,iliu!.i
le arijuireil an imome of a niiihiiii
of 111
■,iv,iilises.
ll It I rl :l 111, 11 Ifll
,11. ll iiiit , I , I. > It 1 1. 1 1> ir.
„ •,. I ll, I,
Ills Sllpp
III will I IlIUIlllll
, anil tor the servii c
i he h.is remli leil
I i.. Ill,
i| (lie p. Ill Willi ll ivn.^ H
.. / . ll . ■
.' to
rentier to lliis ent.iiie 1 (state. ImiiIid
< lit. t.ri.'-.ii t I'' iiiraiM. iiji lilt.
liinif'll' t;)l.ill lilt ri>i-|.i l-i'i I lit- t;
IllHl'lIl U'l l' ^
iKh milieni he is to receive, as stated
ler
1° veal. as m.iv iiiiist staiul in
e.i Hv sill u iM nil
inc s.ii'i loiniii an
ve nol!iin>; else ; but it Ik
It to so much, anil tli.it h
ill li-nth if I hi-i r i ni-i
.... .1 ,
possess a p.ul or ihe s.iiiil m.irav.ulisi's
... I .
loie oi ui.ii ,1
ITMUll
rents, ihal ihencefurlli
MM itlriitilti III tilic ;. 111,1
ll l-ii I iiiiii.ii^ 1. 1 . -
iitluiilit til !:!iy '.r.i'.'
ll iinv lit liu--c i<r.u"..
ill not enj IV the s.iiil niillinn, rior.mvp.irt of it, i\- awMr.le
. , , U . . . I. . . . i . . 1 1 1 .■ . 1 I. . -. ! 1 f ! . . . I . _
IIII iiiiie III lilts aiiiniiiii, sill II ,
I tl.,.111 '.e 1 It'll i.j.i*..,,,,.: ,'liiikiiti ll
\)\ in. 11 lie sli.ill 11. IV
e in the saiil fourlli ii.irt iiiiIm ii
\* ilclerniin" :i
lO persiuis, riinseii ini lie
.., ...:,i. I \.... 1 1: r \
I quai
. :i>
of a milliiiii, if it sliiiul'l aiiinuiu to Tluis, il
nuirh ; ami .is ninth as he shall li,ive of revenue
t'.. Ill
siuc lais lourui part, \
lev er
>iim of 111. I
.I'liNl., the \\
I 111 11 1 .. ,1 1. '.l^ I.
is to lie iimler'
Doll liarlliolui...
,. 1 1, (•.. II 1 1 1, lit till.
HI I lie.;'!, 11 ll.'
tiiii III
mil, 'nil »i .1, I
Miiitt II reiK III III
I :... . ,- _
I properly or periirtu.il ollire'
the Im' .lislriliiiteil .-mil
Ol uie esi.iie . wiiuii p lui
. ... I . ....I ...
I'l i|l
IIIV ol
I rei-ii or
reveniii: Iroiu propert
tv o
• 1.1
...^tii.'tiitii ,1.11. ,111.^ lilt II. 111. t
IIIIC ill tllM lllltlllfll- I lilt.. ll
ail. I iiiii-i .1' ■■
|i;es sh.ill lie iliscounieil ; .iml from the saiil niillioii 1
n M.irlholoniew 1
r 1 ii.ue uirei ii-ii . ... . "i.-
veil wa,
lever
arri.ige pi rtion li
mav that 111 illiiiti' more
iia\e an iiii oiiii" in oiit-i
, u . 11 1... . I .... . .. I.:.., ....
eive Willi .my leuKi
he may espouse ; so ill it ! s.i
■'.s ■■■ ■■ ^ " •- •
ll iiirl llififl IliiTi Mii'iii
aicver lie n
lurlioii sh.i
ilion. liul '
reieive ill m.irri.ii;e with his wile, im ^
1 ho inuilc on tlial aiiduiit from .s,iiil wilh the two'oiher i
■ .iirl.. ,
L' Iiii til _0' 1 .n
I iiim IIII .11 "''I' ^B^H ,
. .,.. H^ li'i
llieno niV '^iiil. ill "I i' I
II [Ml:
ir whatever he in.iv ,iii|uire, or oi
1 tut. itt.i I'liii^i III i>iiii7t ttiiii 11 f :tii.tii 11
vll'ill iiicii.ii I llii. f, I'l', mute !iilil till illtt'l
t.:ir'"C' ■
have, over and .iltove his wife's dowry, aiid when
lall ple.ise (niil Ilat he or his heirs and deseeml- ,
111 I.
f till. t-,it','t1 iw* t:li:ill will
.1, .11111 M I tl
111 HI lilt: letiiiiit; mi.iii miu i . iiiiiii.i.- i" "'
itiiict ti.i.i.it:.. i 1 1 1, ic III. ml) .lire >.t itit' t il1ll!\ i
s siiaii uerive irmii ineir [
roperlv and olhci
.■s a rev- '. be fotmd i
:,i It.
It: f\r 'IIII' (lilt..
1 HI 111
le Of a million .-irisiin; from rents, iieiiher he nor
V
1 litis or anv inner (|ii.tiiei m
.., 1 I i I i ,,..fil 1 |. L..,,,,tif 111. I ' lll.l \
\\iX "'I'l. I
neirs sli.ill enjoy any l.tnt;
■r ativthiiiK from the be i),iid out of
ii.« r.t....i .t f
I li.urtli [)art oi ilu' ent.iilt'il csialt', winch ^hall r<.-
!i wilh I)r)n I)it.x<), or whoever may inlicrit it.
ttiiii . Frtuu lliL' rcvcniRs of ihc siiiil osiatt.-, or Um
'1 any t-thrr lr);inh part of it (should its amount Ik- as
.iti- tl) in, shall 1)1* pail cvltv year to my son m
|M I I 1 I t '111 ^t I I i' ■•
._. :ii ■ Ki, I. I.
iM>.loniL*w is to derive his iiiin..-,, . .......
)ii> f-lL'iMI illtfl -if-i-rMITit 'itlil ili'rlllr tl-li I
((Ul. • —
t vvh irh ti:l)rtti ll 1
nt, ana (leaui leo U'-in ii.> ■;-*'
\t -.t.wtiittt i.t tii..ii> llir n'.'dt-tS
I :irist'*i f rf nil tlii» fi i
, tllll<'l4ll(i l>' lll<'>' I >"
r|U
iliiiaiiu iwo millions, iiii such liiiu
11 amoiiiu to t\
ine
.1 I wri-evt 1(111 e III
■ lout lit p.iri. Ml, 111 It i;."'
._ ,.._ : I .,i..i si
, . - 1'-^
: as Ins revenue not be siiHirient ih.it lion i
'O millions, in the same form .-inil until his own estate noes on iiicicisin:
I'll i::>ai' i . •
nil ' -''■" ''
■ :is ill Ihe case of li,ir;liolomevv, who, as well sai
t^iiiiu mil :> iMi III*. 1 1 .1 jit'tii
1.-1 iii.ii ?*, ,11 »■ I'J iia
lilion ... , ^..v.
'I'liit <,::i ill I >( lit I 1 !<•(
lU •" I
tt II
ik Pi«
c wani
lur
m;
' I If* t )li> ■ rt )ir>ril
I M in 1 iirj^o iiiy ^"ii,
1. .. 11 ; •.( t If.
em : 1 lie s.u 1 Don l)ie;,'o
Don Ijartholoiiiew cotiscience a:
1,11,. . ll". , :-i,iiii ..|i|
I.I iiillii.r: 1.1 ...1.1.1
t the said estate, for mv broiher llic
I miKe, out o
;o, such provision :,s may enable him to Kve ik- : a-nount
iti> i 1 1-
ii:iu ttiiiiniiu\, .iiin iiK'T'L
ti>Mi-t 'ir-f. \f\ 11 V I I* I I ix J . till
1 »t 1 ' J'- ••
nctii'"
>V I M f .111. 1 1 J L A 1 1 1 1 1 i I i ' - I '
I . f' I ■ I t 1 ' • 1 tA > I fit 1 " > I I ,J I . till
(■ H'-tliu'-
ly, as Me is niy
l>rolh
t;r. to \
'•horn I assign no nar- ' r):i
lit rtf t hi. ff^it r-t tl fi
I ■ .1. ri .., ll.rrh.
cir sum. as he has allarhcd himself to the rhurrh, is
I lilt; iiiiiiiii iitiiii tviii'ii 1"-
.1. 1, 1^. ...Illii.i, 111 .1... ..I.,.:! Ill'
mat will he ^jivcn
liiin which is riuhl : and this lo i beis of ii
III. rimlli. it..
'.Ill
I. ,11 lit ' V. ■ '•
1 1 t,,..
iveii htm in a mass, and before anythim,' shall
1 '
rit wliMiii till'.- eh
at mav i<e inuiiu ii>-
,11 I....V- li.r ililiiii'MlIV
ai'i -■
1 1') '<■ 1
il'T.'.?"
,-.iuit !!•'''"■ ■
- " i:r t!* P
Aiiitiii*- 1' "'
AI'IM'NDIX.
iDicfo. r,r otlicniiifaTl.ini. U>r rc.iso.iN vvhirh may ron-
^.riillwrown wrll,.n-, or iho . n-lil aii.l hdiMmrt .-f
|chark;>' Uii-iti,
(Ml ihiir «oiiN ami mjiim itim's, not to
ld.nui ii> .'^'rV.i.iki.' il l<no.vn. rx.fpl wilh tli iisrnl
0(11 I l>i'-«" "fl"' I"'!'"'" ''"•" '"•'>■ '"""■•■■'I I'"" ■
|bm.rtilif.»l.<.V(Mitlic I.C1..U.1 in llio ni.imiLT 1 have
li'iii: In iinliTl.' ivoiil all disputes in the choice of
llhMv.^. luMnvl ri-Ulioiis who an- to art wilh Don
IDiiCMir lin hi.'ir-. I Im nliy eld t Don Hailholoni< w
Iniv'r.r'iliiT I'lr oil.', aih' Don reriMiwIo my son (or
|(hi"illHr .III 1 wliiii tliese two shall tnter li|ion lh<r
|busim->, ilii'\ sli >ll 1 lioose two oihcr persons anionj,'
IthciiM't iru-iiv, .mil nioct iHMrly relateil, ami lliisc
|ll(a.n>!i.iil i-k'it Irto ollirrs when it shall he i|licslion
|o(iiiiiii:iciii iiiK il'e lAaniinalion ; ami thus It shall he
Flll.in.«nl with itil.i;piice Ironi one to theother, as well
lin'llus.is 111 llii' oilu't ol novcriMiifnt, for llu- servlre
ami n'ory of <i<iil. I'l'l 'hi' hcnelil ol the saiil enlaili '1
lliin I .ilfo enjoin l)ii>;o, or any one that may in-
huiUhi.' (.stall', to have ani m.iintain Iti the < iiy ol'
IGenna, mie piTMiil ol our lineage to irsiile Iheri' wilh
Ihi* ivi'c, a!iil aiipiiiil him a siiliii lent revenue to cii-
'alli'hini \" live ileieiilly, as a person i losely eon-
ni'i'leil wilh llie (ainily, of whiill he is to he the root
Unl ii.isis 111 ihat lily; from whiili ^reat ^ion.l may
Itcriueln liim. iiia>MUi( Il .is I was horn there, ami
Icjnv.' fnuii iheiice.
hcin : ill'' s.iiil Dm Die^o, or whoever shall iii-
Ihciil llie islale, imist remit in hills, or in any oilier
ln.iv, .ill ''iicli sums as he may he ahle to save out of
llhi' rt'Vfiiiii' (if the (Slate, ami direi t piinii.ises to l.e
[niii'lf 111 hl< iiaiiie, o." tli.il of his heirs, in a siork in
Ilk' ii.iiik if .Si (icor^e, which nives an inleiest of six
Iper niil .iiiil ill sc lire money . ami tins sh.ill he
lilcvi/.i'il 111 the [iiirpiise I am .ilMiut to expl.iiii.
llcm .\s it liei limes every man of properly tn serve
I full, rillii r personally or hy means of his we.ilih, aiiil
|a<a;iiiiiiiiivsi|i'p(isileil Willi Si, (ieor^;e .irc ijliile safe,
[anj lienii.i IS a iinhletilv, ami powerliil hy sea, ami
asalllK." liini* ili.it 1 uiiiiertook to s( t out upon ihe
discovery (.( Ihe Iniliis, it w. is with the inlenlion ol
[luppiii'al'ii); llic kiiii; .unl iiueen, our lords, ih.il wh.il-
eviT inuncys shoul 1 he ilerived from the s.iid Indies,
jhinil.l lie iiivcsltd in the i(im|uesl of jenisalem ; .nul
[as 1 :lii| so siipplii.ite ihem ; if they do lliis, it will he
if not, at .ill events, the said [)ie^;o, or siu h
Iprrsiiii .i.s ni.iy suueed him in this trust, to eollei t
I'mti-rr all ilie iimney he laii, and aei imipany the
[kin<i.iir liiril, shnuld he ^;o to ihe ei)n(|iiest of jerusa-
li'ili. iinlsc HI) ilnTe liiinself w ih all ihe foriehe can
I ccmniaiiii ; and in pursinnij this inlenlion, it will
p'l'ase ihe Lord to ;issisl i.jward ihe ai coniplishmenl
ti: ;hc pl.m , and should he not he ahle lo el'leit the
ton |iii-si lit ilu' whole, no ijciubt he will achieve it in
PJft l.el him iherehire collect .md m.ike .i Uinl of
all his weal ih in .><t. (korne of (ienoa, and Id il mul-
I'.p.y Iherc lill sui h lime as it m.iy .-ippe.ir lo him ihat
I Siimelhin^' of 'i nsei|uence may hi- elfecleil as respects
! Ihc !'■ 'H'lt nil lenis.ilem ; ftir I iielieve that when
iHtfir liii^hiiesses sh.ill see th.it tiiis is eonl.'liiphited,
itli"v iv;,i wish 111 re.ili/e il themselves, or will alToid
^is ihtir servant and v.issal, the imrans of doinj;
i; ur ihciii.
i^tiii I ihari;e niv sun Diei^o ami mv desceiidanls,
l-|«.'iMily v,iiiH;ver iii.iy inherit this est. ile. which i on-
l^i-'s. .is.iforcsaiil, of ijic lenlh "\ wh.itsoever may he
f''"Y't '"liiul ill ihi' Indies, and the eii;hth p.irl of' the
'"'.s.iinl tents, all which, lordlier wilh mv riKdils
5''! vMMiumems as admir.il, vicerov, and governor,
a'^Mia.i to more lli.in twentv five '\wt cent ; 1 say
' 'il I iC(|iiire of him to enipluy all this reveiuu',
''» wc;i .IS his person and all the means in his
P';»'-r, in well and faithfully serving' and supi-orl-
i^:^. l.idr hii;hncsses, or iheir successors, even to
i..,',.!?^ "f 'ife and propertv ; since it was their
•■'S-wss,,.s, next lo (Jod, who first gave me ihe means
o( ({cllInK .md nciiieviii^' this propcity, althotiKh, it Is
true. ] came .iver tothese re.ilms lo invile llietn lo llie
enierprise, .iiid ihat a loii^' lime el.ipsril I elore any
provisiiiti w.ts III. nil' for (.triyini! it into extculion;
wliiih, liowever, is nut surprising', ,is this was ,in im
derlaUiii); of wliiih all the wiirhi was i(,rior, tit, and
no one h.id ,inv f.iilh In il ; wIi'mIoh- I am hy so
mm II the more indehteil lo ihein, as will as he( ,ilise
ihev h.ive siiii e .ilso niui II favoied and pionioled me.
Ilem 1 .ilso rii|iiire of Dii'Ko, or whomsoever m.iy
he In possession ol llie est.ili', ih.il in ll'.e i ise of imy
SI hism l.ikiiik! plai e in the( hurdi ol dod, or ih.il any
person 111 whatever (lass or eondilinn shi iild alli nipt
to despoil II iif iis propirly and limiors, iliey h.iM( n
to otter .It llie fe( t of his lu.hness, ihat l>, if they Hfc.
not iierelii s ( wliii h dod forhid ! Min Ir per suns, powt r,
and weallli, for Ihe purpose of Mipi':rssin(^ sin h
schism, and prevcniim; .my sjiulialion . f the lion-jr
and p'opetly of ihe ( huri h.
Ilem I lomni.iml ihe said Dle^;o, or whoever may
possess the said <state, lo lal (.r iind sinve for ihe
iioiior, welf.in , and !ij;ntandi/eni( nt of llie cily of
(ieno.i, and lo ni.iUe use (I all his power and means in
lU teiidiiii; .ind enli..m iiivi ihe ^ood aii.i i udit of that
ri'iiiihlic, ill all limits not lonir.iiy to the service of
ihe I luirch of ( iod, or the In^li di^nily ol ( ur I.Iiik and
(jiieen, our lords, and iheir sui cessois,
Item : Ihe s.iid Dietjo, or whoevir m.iy possess or
succeed to Ihe est.ite, out of the fouiili p.m i,i the
whole revenue, from which, as alotesaid, is lo he laki n
the tenili, when D'n D.iriliolomew or his heirs shiiH
h.ive saved the two niillions, or p.irt (1 ihem, and
w Inn the lime shall come of niikini; .i ilislriliiilion
anions; our r( l.ilions, shall apply ,inil invest the said
tenlli in providini; ni.irri.ij;(s lor such d.iin;hlers ol our
lliie.ine as m.iy ii(|iiire il, and in doiiii;.ill llie j;ood in
iheir poiver.
Item When a siiil.il le time shall .urivc, he shall
order .1 I huri h lo he Iniilt in the isl.iiul ol I lisp.miola,
.iiid in the most convenient spot, to he ( ailed .^.iiiia
.M.iri.i de la C'oncepcioii ; to w liii h is lo he annexed
,111 hospil.d, up III llie hest possible pl.m, like those of
ll.ilv and t'aslile, and .i (.Impel erei ted lo s.iy mass in
for the ^;o<id of my soul, and those of my ancestors
and successors wilh ureal devotion, since no doulil it
will ple.ise the l.ord lo yive us a siillii ieilt revenue lor
this and the aforemenli.ined purpi ses.
Ilem : 1 also order Dieyo my son. i r whomsoever
may inherit .'iller him, to spare no p liiis In h.ivim; .mil
m.iintainiiit; in the isl.ind ol 1 lisp.miol.i, four K'od
professors "I thi'o|i)j;y, lo the end and aim of their
siiidviiiL; .ind l.ihorini; to (oiiveit to our holy f.iilh the
inh, (hit, lilts iif the Indies; and In propmlion as, l.y
(lod's will, the revenue of ihe csl.ile shad lucre. ise, in
the li.ime il('i;ree shall the numher oi ic.u hers and de-
vout ill! rease, who are to sliive lo mike t'hrisli.ins if
Ihe natives ; in .ittainim; whii h no expunse should he
lhoui;ht loo i;reat. .And in coninu nioi.iuon of .ill lh.it
I herehv otdain. and of ihe forei;oin,y, .imonumeiU of
pi.irhle sh.ill he erected in the s.iicl ( hurch of la Con-
ci'pcion, in Ihe most C(nispicuous pl.u e, lo serve as a
n-ciird ol what 1 here enjoin on the said Dit «(>, as
Well as to other persons who niav look upon it ; which
m.irliU- shall contain an inscriplmn lo llie s.mie effect.
Item : 1 ,dso reiiuire of Diei^o ni\' son, and whoiu-
soever may succeed him In the esl.ile, lli.it every lime,
and as often .is he confesses, he Mist show this ol.li-
Kation, or a copy of it, to the confessor, prayiiiK him
to read il lhro'ai;h. th.it he may he enahled to in(|uire
respectini; its fiiililinent ; from which will redound
y,TL\il f;o()d and happiness to his soul.
S. .\. .'^.
.\. .M. Y.
r.I. .M.MlU.WTi:.
No. X.X.WII.
SlCN.Vl I'KI. Ol- I ' iirMIUs.
As everythiiii; resucctin.i; (/oluni'.ais is full of in-
terest, his sieiMlure . ,is been .i in.iuer of some dis-
il
■I ,
m
iV
iii
«80
It
p. nil
APPKNDIX.
if the pfiLinlir .itvl tiiRon-il i Xrintu*. Maria, Yo<irphii«. The .\W//i .l„
(it .\|irll, \>:~, niiijKcstn ilic'ni'
|»iiiminn,.(i,
fli.ir.iiitT III ilio ,i«i', .iii>l |Hlll.ll'^<|l III'' !>'•' iiliar ' ti.ir
arlcr i)( till.' iii.m, »vlii>, nuiMai'tiiik! Iiiiiixi'll my<irri- (<ir jiinrpliiis, Init Ihf mi««cmIimi o( S|iMtorii , „,,^,
•lutlv ili'fti'il .ml "ii't .ip.iil (I'liii .iiitiitin nu'ii lor nr- priili.ililv i nrrci t, as a iohiiudii Spiinibh
tiiii uri'.it piiipiistw, ailiipifcl ai i>rtc!»piMit!cnc Immalily " jcsiis M.iria v Jum'',"
fJ.f'UiH
ami sii|ctiiiiit\ ill ail Ins i niiccTiis, Mis slj-iiatiirr wa» it was an am u lU usanc iii Spain, ,i:i,| it (,,
as follows c
S. A. S.
X M Y.
xi'o i"i:ui:ns.
Tlu« firm half uf the si^MLitiiri- XI'O (for CIIUIS-
tirrlv K<iiic l>y. tn ,ii i onipany ilir sniiLim,,, ,,,(,'
wiirils of rrlJuiiais purport, Oiii- oiijf,t,,(
Hf
till' w.is to >liinv '.hir uriifr lo It a (.'i,,
lllHf
t»ti..R
w, IS 111 s.iini' iiiipnit.im i- HI a i oiiiiity in v.i;,iii,^
ami Miihamincil.iiis wore' prostrilu'il .hk) |,..r.,,n^|
Dull rcrilllldll, Mill to CollllTllllIN, >.|V, Hij 1,
T('t, is ill liriik Ullcrs ; thi- si-roii.l, l"l:Ul".NS, is in fallur, when In- iimk his pen in h iiiil
l.atin. Sill h wa- ll.c u»ai;r of ihosc
nicnri'il liv writing;
I'siis riiin
M
imi.iiiy [If,
III. I Pit m!iii ;
iillllil.il prf|!;ilf.l 1
al pri'scnt h'lih (ircik .iiul Knmiii Icttfrs ,ir<' iisnl In via ;" .iii'l ih',' IkmiI* whirh the
«ikiii.iluri.'S .iiiil itis.riplions in Sp.iin.
I hi- iipluis or iiiiii.ils aliovi' the sit;naiiirp arc su]
posi'il to rt]ii('siiu .1 [lions riariil.ition. 'I'o ri-.iil anil to the rcs'iir of the Imlv scpuli hri', |
then) one niiisl liryiii with ihi- lower Itltrrs, anil con- tin- s.iiiic words. Tins pr.n licp is.il.m iniii.un!
sitit to the sovirciyns, cont.iiiiiiii; the (r.iplii
vhiilihi- ronsiilprcil .is rcfrnitiL! lo liiii
irn
ncit tliciii Willi those .iliove.
SpoUirni
Sii;nor <>ii
H.itist.
inn
th
e mill, lis I
i!i*'iiir»i
11. Ills worils .iliove hissi^jiiiiiift <«
iH'i lures them to me. in either Xrisliis ] ^ives i;re.it pro'i.ilnlity to the llluilc in ivhicii i!
(Chrisliis) S lUi l.i M.iria Yosephu?, or, Salve ine, I h.ive been iKi iphereil.
: i , '• jl'
Ittm'^
It *
'^
a^u
jk'fi<i*4
1 X I) i:\.
A.
Icun.i I'"" Ali)n7o <Ip, summon* Coliimlius to Rive
in.iiv. :mi "i hiiiisiK, citi hi* ri-turn (mm ilif New
.W'lrll, I.:. . , ,
d,|„,s.' ,iM liMli.m <>( < uliii til ( (iliimhiis, im,,.
dciaii! ' "'■ iiiliMif, K'vi'" '" tliriHi(i|.ti('r l'i)limil/u»,
ftuiiHtriip.l \>) llic kiim, 133.
dn.in ill' Mi'Miii. li'
Hdnura'. llii-. ■> Htli* K'l'iti'il t') Ciilumbus ami liit ilr-
< rn Liiili. l.lj.
Alm.i, -■iMViiinliiMMviK.i'i"" "'. •'>' thr :iiic icn's, 2;;,
Akii.iIii liMM. iriiiiliiiu'liilril Co llu' Spaiiisli ( luvptli
nifiii iiv ('iiliiiiitiii>< <)!'; ii|i|iiiinii'il lllnl^ll^^i(lll<■r
ti ini)iiiri':iil''llKMiiiiiliii I ii( I iliiinlius, 1-5 ; arruis
a; Isiilitll.i. ill . 111"! irisnlciit lichavuir, ili ; his iii-
Itrvii.vv with (' iliiiiiliiis, i."'i; tlif Caciiiurs having
pr.iirii I (umiilaliilH a^jaiiisl Cniunilius, he ilcu-r
niinrviiii ri'tiinimi! in S|i.iin, i.'7.
Ali'vaiilit VI., |i(i|ic, 1 haractcT of, 74 ; f.mious laills
0; fliiivi' ii) Itic New VVorlil, ilj , lelttr oi Coluiii-
liiK [11, l''4-
iAiii I. I'cirii, ttoiK of, ii-fcrri'(| to, 113.
Alik.ii '*, tmiiiil III urea luiiiilicrs al I'licrto Hello,
1 1'.
A! Mi'ii-. li.Mdvi'iv of the I'ay of, 2.p
All i/ii. Iiiiti. Iiiir ,i|>[iar('iil <'f l'iiitii>;.il, lii> tii.irriaKC
\v.;lt !.i ■ I'riiiii-ss l>,ilii'll,i, -jH.
t Aipiii .1:; OiiR't;,!, Ilif cMri-mc point of ( uIm, ti,
Al'.i, liiikc nf, i)oii I)it',i;o ('oliiiiiliii-, marries his
il.iu,;lUft. :.<7 ; he u^^i!>ls in oNl. lining jii>li< c foi
n •, Miii-iM-l.nv, ill.
Alwirii, 1)1111, lie I'urtunal, iitt.ii k U|ioii, in lhcro\al
iiiii. -■;.
Ai'.i/'iis, ,111 i^Uiiii of sii|i|M)scil, <ij , UMtiiki- woniiii
i'lhi; {'arililiiT i>l,iilils, "3, r.' ),
Ar..!iiih., civLT i,|, iliscoviTcd Ijy \'iiciili' l''n/on, 17S.
An ii.r, •■piv liiii'tis of, .iiiioMx Uie iiioiint.iin> of CIImo,
Ai;,i ii'MM, wifi- to t\ioiialio, retires with In r bioilur
li-iu-i l.i... after llie ;;re.it li.illlc of the \'<'.i;.i. t22. n mi-
!.»-i's li-«cii(l,iry lallails, 14s ; her .ulinir.aioti of the
>;Mn;.ir.Js, ili. ; lomiM'ls Ikt liiotlicr in (oneili.ite
111" fnfii.N'iip of tile Spaniards, ilj. ; her reeeplion
'Mill' A.lviinlailo, 141.; her womier and ileli^lit at
>". n,; .1 Sp.itiisli siijp, 14.) ; her ^rief at the depart
-rt l.i llie Adtl.intailo, ili. ; her cundint in respe( t
: iiiTi'..aii;hler and (luevara, ifiy ; her ailniir.ition
<!i;ii' Spaniards turned into dtleslatioii, 215 ; re
'tacs a visit from < )vandi), 216; is seized, ili. ;
..rricl in .hains to Si. Domini;.., 11.. ; and Ikho-
nmiiiHivIv handed, il.. ; her fine character, 217.
: Av 11,1, i.r the imicapple, hrst met with, Si.
•v;:il Luis do St., his reii'onstr.iiiic witli the (pieen
rvi.i;,-,,- t'lhe prcjert (.f Columhus, 31 ; suceccds,
Ai:ii..u,, :>|,,n.! (.f, discovered, S2.
I^'-'K the. discovered, S2 ; 'taken possession of, il..
,A!'r.inl,i,ns, ide.is ol Mie Hnytians in respect to, .,7.
''r.u IJieyode. left incharKeot llispaniola, dnrim;
' r.rn ahs»-n.T of Columlnis, do; history ol the
Y'ltr which occurred to him after the dep.irturc
'■ (-"amilms, ,S|;. '
f;:., iV.iro de, commander of one of Columbus's
j-.j^'si'ii his ihird vovage, 13*^1.
"uvli'i'"'''-"' '"■" ''""^ "f s"'iJ. ("^nd in the New
"'''111, 11)1.
A'cyius, or ballads, of the Haytians. 98.
Arisiiiabal, |)on C.d.riel de, lolicitA the removal of the
remains of Coliinibiis, 215.
Arri.iKa, I, ills de, is shut up within the walls) of Mag-
d.drn.i, iifi.
Astrolabe, the, .ipplii-d to ii.iviK-'itlon. jo
,\i,tl.tnlis, I'hito!!, observ.itioMs on, 2(.<),
Audience, royal, court of, e«i,iblinhed, 237.
Aunustine. .'n., hin arKumeiUii a),',tinst the exlstcnre of
.NntipoileS, 2(
.NiiKiisline, St., Cape of, dlscovcre.! bv I'in/on, 17S.
.\iire,i ChiTSonesus, the place wheni c Solomon Is sup-
posed to h,kve h.td K<'''b I')''.
.A/ores, the. when discovered, 1 1 ; .11 rival at by
Columbus on his return fimn Ids lir?t voyage, (.5.
ii.
ll.dieipie, a supposed isKmd, Coliitribus ^jnes in search
of, !;ii, 11.3.
li.di.iin. I I^l.inds, discovery of, 41 ; cruise among
the, 44.
j H,dl.iils of the ll,iyti.ins, <)'^, 123.
ll,dlesier, Miguel, hisionduit during; the cons|iir,icy
' of KoM.ui, 151 . reieivtsa leltir fii in Coliunbus,
1;.'; his (haracter. ib. ; inter\iew with Uold.in,
ib. ; second interview, lio ; sends. idvii e to the ad-
miral, lb. ; is li'.-sieKed in ilie f. ilrcss of Ct.ncep
lion, ib, , sails lor Spain, i'>3.
H.irb.is, I.as. isl.mds of, discovetid, Ji>l.
li.irr.iiitcs, ti.iri ia de, s,iils for Sp,dn I'lj.
I'.irros, lo.iin lie, his account (.t Ccliiinbus's pr()|)<.-
sitioii to John II. Kim; of rortiii;,d, 20.
Il.isil, .St , his description of |'ar,idise, 2''2.
H.istides, Kodi.i;o, of Seville, e.Nploies the roast of
'I'eri.i I'lrina. 1 7s.
It. I/, I, surrender of, 2s.
Ile.it.i, C.ipe s.iilors if Colutnt lis (limb the rock of,
141.
I liehiin. M.irlin, his |il,inisplieie. i; . ,111 account of,
2H4 ; the assertion rtl.itivc to his li.ivinK discovereil
I the western worlil, previous to Ciduinl us considered,
i Hefie.hio assists C.ionabo, and kilN cm- of the wives of
(;ii,ic,inaKari, 117 ; the only I'.m iipie who ihes not
i sue for pe.ice, 122 ; receives a \;s;l Ironi Hartholo-
i mew Coliunbus. 145; his ri.ipn.n of liiin. 14'.;
' consents to p.iy tribute, ib. : iin lU-- llie .Aik l.ml.ido
to come and receive il, 14) ; his a^tunisliment at
visilini; .1 S[)anish ship, ib.
I'elen, river of, discovered, lo) : al omuls in fish,
ii/i ; Columbus conuiiences a selilinient on its
b.iiiks. ib.
Hell ot Isabell.i, thesiipcrsiiiious ide.isol the Il.iyti.ms
in respect to it, 1 1 s.
llelvis I'ablo, sent to Il.iyti in the pl.icc of Fcrmin
C"edi:, I2s.
I Herahoma, condemned to death for having violated
I the wife of the Cacicpie of the \ei;,i, 150; is par-
doned, ib.
Hernalde/. .\ndrez, a short account of his life and
writinv;s, 27-^.
lii-rnardo of \'alenlia. his conspiracy .it J im.iira, 2oV
liloodhounds. first use of in ihe New Worb',, 103 ; em-
I ployed by Columbus in his wars with the llayli.ms,
121.
Mol.adill.i, Don Francisco de, ch.ir^ed \.ith a com-
mission to Ilispaniol.i to inquire into the conduct of
CoKinibus, 170 : his character, ib. ; instructions
with which he is charged, ib. ; sails, ib. ; arrives
i:
1 !i 1. 1
i !'i
.lilifli
.«:;
it'l.
I !
4
!
I
i4:
he Icav
cs Ills ship, I
il). ; stdriiis ihf lor
• I 11'
siiinrs pdwrr (111 l.iiKliiii;.
siiiiK's till' 1,'iivcrniiu-iit liclnrc I
lii>lfir<> li#» I fl I'l'vt i I'.ltl'S lll<
I lisp. mini, I, 167 ,
conclui't III C'diuniliiis, ili. ; sci
'" ..... . ..^, ....
... I.;.. ...-....■
ihc rc-l)i-ls (J
f .\;
sccfL't p.i[»TS, l-tr., i!i. ,
pf.ir liulorc liim, i' \ : In
(li'Mi'c, iti ; puis |)ori I
Ci)liimlaH. i-.t : liis Ic.-ir
la'lo, ill ; pills him in
isir.ili<
his L'ovcri
M ; .1 s.iymi,' (ii riis. id.
lit liy (ivainln,
.-i'l I is Idsl. wiih .Ml his i k-w, in
*■*- ' ••••^ ••■ ••■-■. ^
iiiimiill.S ('(iluilllUIS In .Ip
Imsciiiss ill idllci liii({ cvi
ii^o ill chains, ill. ; als<
in rcspri t to the .NcIi'I.im
irnns, ill . Ins nial.Klinin
' '•■•■ ■'■ ; siipiTscilcil II
s.iils (nr 'Mi-iii
■;,.),.,.> I.,,rr
Iriki's on a s.t
VDliinlcfrs 111 fill]
1 l)lifilicilri
i
I
1
111'.
{iii'.i i!cl .Sirrjiv I "o.
{i)rL,"inoM, Iiian, I.iIhts t" riinv(
loyh-, M' rn irdn, fri.ir, .ipi
uJ ; his
liv l.iml, I - ^ ; siisp
I ;i) ; lakes a letter In
likes jiiDiii
IM ; ;il:
l.i
thi
Cam
( ';isa*
r.inu.i
iiaiiK, III. : ai
II ions eiiii'i
I * " ^ 'II .^ I . I
itailH-.l :,^;i:,
-itions troiii KnM
Hither interview Willi l<
•t'lnni.ii II) I
i( tnr 111 ( iiliiniliiis, I SI ; hi'
liscd'
I'ks. ill
very nl the i n.ist of I'
I'i'iaii, il.,
1 eviijciii r
■scriiilini
ol,
., I, IS, his ( ha
er of
11 n
iiliservatiiiii'
; Sei- 111.
III. II I.
s
riii'Ilies of II
.wo Sp.inianls, i(«
lei.iiivi- u. i
> : IMS I
L- N
Worl.l, 7H . h
iiinte'l apnstolii ,il viiar I
iili'iff* III ( f til I ni I itic ill r
Speit I')
sent honi" liy Cn
IS ,IU\ li.C I' I V. wiiiiii
an, '^ ^ . 1 omiiin
'..-. <., I fii
chui
t Is, ill
'iii ; his halrei
I
usi on
ella, il
I of (■
•ii ; I iinsei rales the fir
s ( liar.i'li r .iiiil (oinlai
..... , , ' .■ *i
ii'ile ; his .arcount of a i
ami two inoiintfd
ti.itlle in I lii;iiey, ai'i-
I e|)liiin of C'liliiinliiis
:ie ailniinistrati'iii
.11 miwi r
1 rav.iliers, I'l; :
lii't of .\I.irt;.ir
u II 1 1 ui-i I ' r . ' II' '
I I ...
seizini,' I'l irllioloineiv C
ini; to .■sp.iin, 1.). ; sets s.ii
III
• I
's sliijis am' ••■•""
in rcspfi t to the
• K I fiiiiit <if, '-'7.( ;
•.'7; ; his (liibiinip
.'o ; MIS re
liy the kii
• til
t
s'. -.ir, . l:i.
I i: 111 r f
of hiiiii.in inisi
Ills /eal in In IliI:
e.xpeilient In le^.f
■ry. II). ; tli.
Cn
H
Mii'l.m, St . iiiKit;in;
le ( oiirt oi .M,
1 r^ . II'. , 111^ <t' < ii~..iii.'
\) . I,; I ...
Hr.izils, Il
Dart ili;
ry IS
!•, iiisi iiver'-'l liy
laii'i Ol. .,
C;isl
slnry of the Indies, ili.
aneili, In. in de.
vereil ai
taken
a
Ciiltiniluis on
IS ill
i.'i :
,ihi
USi
his rei
imlui t. III.
liisUese (r;iwii hy Calir.il,
Hreviesia, .Xirm-nn de, a wn
rondui t -111 ' i.iiiii*.Vi?iwMt i
Hmklers
.1, a ( .iril). her .idn
111.
Ill
• . proposes to her
11 I.UMIM
It 111
ri-tfain tin ir i
tinieiit, 111.
IliT. III.
1 apn\ r ' 'iin
iilierty, ili . 1 >
lii...
ati
•I'll i.y llie natives 1
ion issued hy I'l
( '.llilin.l, .1 frill.ile C.li
lie.
1 ill I'lVf \vi;:i }
VI., 7).
to ihi- .New World,
1" •••■•
issiR-'i liy I'll]
. r
IS, the 1 ou
- 1*
Huv^i.
Hutios, the priests of ..._ .. ....
I'litterllies, i liuds of, seen mi
( ' ith.iv.
es 111 I l.iyiia. ili.
len
Mr I.
I roi
ilin .M.I
Ills <lf >
•rine. St..
, f
C
ilisrii\
I iverii, near t'.ipe I
< iviiians. isl.ii
ub.a, 107.
I i-fl'>. I'l-tinin, his I
if, 201.
ill I lisp.iiiioLi, ,2 ,
opinion in re
1 I, the '
o~ilioii i|
"I' lit, his .lr^;l^llents
th
In kcr
unit
liiiii
us. jij ; pro
e first tli.a '
'I J n
Visited tr.e ;ti
till .,ill< 1 < ■!
. t
to send .1 shin
MIS in siispi-nse
ji' . 1.1 .11' '
f ;
I III
nc
.1 ti.'d 1
zils, and lii
Kill;? of
("aliroM, C.i|ie
iKes pii-.-
I "•M' Ml « M
L III I ;;'- ii.iiiii*
^■.11. 1 , '
( Il HUM.
C.l
Upon. 111. ; aii'l
riiiiie |irii]"
I )r. . 1 oiihiins
I. II I'-. 1.1
rlc-.
iilais. 'il
ue .11
il . K UK of
("ara
1, first kii
' "aeiiiues.
lo 111
th
C
th
.3' I
se;/iite if I
t- .TJI.llll
tliol.iiiimv
Ch.irles V. s
I I .till 1 . Ill>
'oill
'lurieci;, in
naries. .an opii d d'
!iiiiiis .iii'i nis 01
13 ; .irnvii
i-iusiun SI
1 01 V oiu.iiMis ai. I
,.( ..:.,. _.-.
Ill I. 1 s, I I .
en l)V the pen
ill his lirst V
ins s
reriiyni/es
ill
iii'i eeds hi^
the innoii
, ai'klio'
f ( ise the
(•lines III
' olh.e (if VI
1 the claims i
e rii,'l
roy,
It 111
s I'liri-
iiiini CS rela
Doll Dieno s
,t r
live to t
III' I
h.irlevoix, his desi r
f SI,
ve
iiile
=•1,1 iri'.r • ;/••
Caonalii).
fortress
Sii.iiii iri
.at I.. I N
hi in I
I'l ; !^
ivi.I.e!. Ill
1 111.
the
IS,. I
I. 17
piioii 01 liii:
Cliailfepie. Iaii|ues (<eori;e, ii
i.lSS.ll'
hr
1- CoUmit)
val. St..
liiis. 14.) ;
lortress rii. cri
an 1 ri 1
■■, I'll ; t""-!
' u T 1^ ( u I
iri,'.irile lo sur- Cili.io, (.'olum
re-, 1 I, ; lor
i-v;rs I iieil.l, I
I ' ' . k; I > I. .1
t;a
. 117; I
1 h.i
V ; " i 1 ■ s
'1.411 ■ ■ . 1 ,\ 1 1 I I I I I I 1 . 1 L
if IfTrilf irif.L. Ill ( '.I
r tl...
,'*• II
•J ; tiie.uiini; of th
lais s e.\pi'ilitioii In llii
s( riDtii
.n (if the moll
ord C
itains o
a desmn to entrap
er 01, I 1 • ; It, '
I. iiiii'it. -. 1,1 ifi
IS visili'il III* ( li...
Coluiiilius, .an
L'
, .ani sitf- I
I, lii. . il^rei-s 01 w.iu up
\v;irrl il, • is 1 .L',.,1 !.»• t»r .
Ci>;u.iyeiis, .1 w.irlike India
Cintr.a, rorl; of, arrival at,
rid, (17.
pi
, 111. ; IS '
I2'j ; a (
lence of ( olii
liaineil. ih.
ill. ; dies o
uadiil
liU'
his 1 1
ilidiii I when
111 from the Sow World.
.1- ('ii).im'o 1
s. 11'.. eillil
riil...rL'i^ fi.i- <r. .
, I
le Cities, i^l.inii of i'i(
n, /Jliidera, I)on Christov;!
r lap.iii I, .\I.iri o Polo s .1' 1
C.iri.iri. 1
roi-ol, islari'l ol, 1 )
n ine voyai,'
e woman lalls in lovi
. I " . I r , . I '. . .
, t yj.
I. ;
III. ten l)v
ini 11
. 1)1
ltd, to II
Car
Car
11'-. K
j Colon, |)ieijo, a( ts 1
I to th'- ii.ilives of I
ItJiiee Isl.iiiili. (il
I of the C.l
as inlcrprete
'llliii, 1 in .
> <
UHliie (lUarioiie.x, 1
(
•i"s, (hiiri
to, 231.
ler 'il Ihi
' V
ailomlio. the old (k
■ 1
of I'ortui
noese anmir.ii.
Il .....I.s
lo.
K'll to the .Mei
I
on
tUK^il. 77'
lo C ilomliri, the Volll
nt;er iiicplicw oi
,,.!mir'iiis liy linli.u
j il' on his fuiirlli v
crniir '.f r.rci'ia, ili
ll'.'i'liirris 111 ilif nai
1-- ; ! Ill Is ,il (!ari.i
II :.i/i:in, I'|7 : does
ilrfii ri : ijiiiliiail
r"'jrn 1 i- , is Iin,'
! ■ '"11"-! I ;i> aii'ilh
f,T ,', , i'iii,i.eil'-i|
:. 1 h s nicn. ;:i,'i , ■•
Spiiin \\'.\h Ins III"
iir.;c llic jii'-tiie if 1
lr''llii'r 11 1 uiirt. :■,
m ih'-.inr.-.il ..: the
::" , i'- ^' fit nut I'l
i.lmi'iiisl, Ills neplii-
'' t'l till- ;,r'iii'"riy ai
. il.. , dies at S
inl'i'-;. fliristoph
■, .ill I e iuiali'i',
■ ■■11.I'. || , i'ni;.ii;i ■
N'.i|iics. I'l. , altei
' "I ilereive his 1
I'l Meiiili.Tr.iiic;
• [ji'iinti-'li ,iptai
'.i If < f l.'Hiis .\l
'ii'i; wi'li (>,|(,r
■i"'i, wlicre 111'
'iirii 1,1 Ili-, perse
i'-'S 1 n,imiired o
iri^iii, '.vliinii he inii
lis I'liiier-in law's
■ ■ ''•':'■' 111 the islan
■ 'iuainte'l with I'e
; is aiirtiali'il w
; ;;rimirls on w
• i'l'i'iiid of imilis
■1 ' lorrcsponiJcin
iM)i;x.
ysu
^'Cr:
„ riiltlia/.i!". ii' rurrnro, loses tiis cause in
, ,', I'r licirship nf (.(iluinl'Us, -.•(<..
»-_ ij.m, (■.mnantlcr of <mic o
on l!i^ iliif'l vov.inc i.i''.
.jtoli.ni:us th- ii.ivi«al<>rs, an arroiint of
f Colimiliiis's sir'
^ _ (^ ; '•'!■
'"l'un"f I'l'' Vcncliaii n-illi')";, :!.i''
'''Cnlinii'.ii-, li.irllioldnirw, udiiiiipaiiifs Harllir)li,iiu\v
D.-iV.u'ni,' ili'Mi'a.t of Africa, 1 1 -• ; an adomit <i
hi.! prnrcniitifs, II); arrives at Valhwioli.l, ih. .
5c:;! Kiiissi.t liis liroilier vvilli llirce ships, ih, ; diar-
.i(ler>if, ill . i^ invesl'-il hy ('oluiiitnis with llic til!'-
an^l .ui'tliiiriiy of Ailelaiilailii, I 14; atlemls Ins
hriiihcrin l.is cx|ie(lilioii against the Indians of tlie
\'i-K.t, 1-1 . «'"'' '" '^'' '"""'^ "' ll-'iyi-'' '-"^ '• '^ i'l-
vcvtfij wii!i the ci'iiinMii'i on the return ol ("oluin-
liU'.t')^!"!'!- i''- ; '•''^'"^ I'orras prisoner, i;','. ; sails
in liiccl 111'- • roilier. I |i ; acioiintol hisailtninistra-
ilio.i iliirin;; llic alisenre of Colutnliiis, I.|.) ; scnc.'s
.»] In:ii.ir< lo '^P'-iiti I'l he sold .as slaves, ih. ;
crTls 111'' ('Hirers of Sill lloininn", I |r ; p.ays ii
nil to HcIk'i i.i". K|<i . his rei eplioi:. ih. ; demands
a tril.illc. ill. , '"•l.'ihlishes a ( liaiii < '( inilil.iry posis,
i',. ; f;iii«i's several Indians who had hmkeri some
Clirisliaii im iijes, etc., to he liurnt, 1.(7: marches
r;;Minst ill' ('■icit|iies. who had formed a < onspirai y
r„;aiii'-l lin' Spaniards, ip; < aiises lliem to he
M .?ol, I'j. ; p.inlons most of iheni, i!'. ; a^ain
1 m;> Ik-hei tiio to receive the trihllte of (otlon, i,p( ;
',i- vli'ill in y.n-eriunct,!, ih. ; a (imspiracy lornn d
.:,;.:ii<t liiiii hv Kohl in. Mo; narrowly 01 ape.s
n^s.is'-iti.Mi'in, i;i : rep.iirs I'l ihi- \'e>;a in relief of
I .r! ('jiici-plion, ih. ; Ins iniervicw with Koldaii,
i^: ; i< sluit i;p in I'ort (.'onceplion, if); relievid
i ythf .irriv.i! of {'oriMial, ih. ; piihlishes an amiiesiv
l^ a!i I'.liii return I) their duly, ih. ; marches a^j.iinst
lii:iri''iic.\. who has lehelled, 1:4 ; his laii'p.iii^n in
i:;f nioiiiii.iins of ( iijuay, ih. ; Kdeases the wile of
ciC' ( thi- raci(|ars w lio n he h.iil l.iken with May-
rani'X, If; . f.ivcr.ihle ( onseijiierK es of this, ih. ;
h.- vit;"rtius [iroceedit.>;s aniiinst the rehcis enj;a^;ed
in the fi'ii'-pirary of ( iuev.ira and .Mo.xic.a, l'i-> ; is
tJtiinr'iiis hy jifih.idill.i, 174 ; accom|)anies Coluin-
Uwiii hi-.i fourth voya^'.e, 1^5; w.iits on the (iov-
ern'ir '.f I'rci!i.i, ih. ; takes po.'-s'-ssioii of ( '.ipe
ll',riiltir.i<; 111 llie name of the soverci^;ns of C.istile,
;■•; ; tills at (.'ariari, 1 ^v i forms a pl.iii lu seize-
U;;!ji.in, I',; ; dncs so, with his '.vives atnl elii!-
';rfn, 1:1 : (Jiiihian escapes, ib. ; and attacks in
r'turn \n. is iiii.Jly KJinpelled to remove the
; :;l'iivi I so annll.er pl.ice, Kj.) ; is in ^,'reat dan-
^rr .', . r.)ri,i.ei!>-d lo enihark with his hrother ami
:' lis men. ;:oo , sets sail from St. I)o[niMi.;o for
.'^-.lin with his hroihr-r. 'J'.'-j ; proceeds to court to
:<n the juMire .,f (l^. kinf,', 2ji; ; a' comp.iiiies his
r'.tlicr I'l riiiirt, ,1, ; j;oes to rejiresent his brother
n the aril ■.•;il ..1 the new kini; and ipieen of Castile,
:-:: i-. V nt out f> St. DoniiiiKo hy Terdinand to
'mi.nisl; !,!s nephew, lion Die^ft, s.is ; is presenteil
■' t.'i 111'- ;,r'iperly an ! i;overninenl ol .Mona for life,
<■:' , ;:.. , ihes at St l).,niinKi<, i'>. ; I'is character,
|.' .ir.M';. ( hriM.iphei, a'cnnt of his hirth, parent-
■■■'■, I elu',ili.,i:, .T ; early life of, ih. ; (us lir-t
' '^'v'-, '. . e!ii;,,irts in ihe service of keinier, Kim,'
' N-ii/.cs, i',., ,-,!ter>i the point of the compass of his
:. ".ilcK-ivi- his d.s. ontenteil rrew, ih. , t-UKaned
''•: Medilerr.inean and the I.ev.int, 10; said to
■■i;!''Mnied.aplaiiiof several (ienoese ships in thr-
f;'i 't' ! I.oiij,^ XI _ |(, . iij^ i,,,n;„u tondu. I wiicn
,-■"'•; wi'd l.olonih'i the youn|.;er, ih. ; ^oi'S to
• ''"'■', Wiiere hi- takes up his resideilie, Ki, I J ;
t-re-.t hi, person, ih. ; ,>,irlv < li.ira. ler, ih. ; he-
_'ii"S . namured ol Dona Telipa Monis d<; I'.iles.
"1''. 'vIk.mi he marries, ih. ; becomes p..ss.-ssed <l
- liinr-r-in laws charts, j.airnals, etc., ib. ; n-
■■'•^'■^ t" the island of I'orlo Santo. I 1 ; becomes
■/iuainiH with IVdro Correo, a navigator of note,
' . isaiirnai.-d wit; a wish to make diseoveri. -.
■ «r'Hiir Is on which he founds his belief of the
■Wnce of iindis-overed ..ainlries in the Wet.
< corrc-sponden-euf Columbus with I'auh, l', s
caiielli, 1^1 ; makes ;i voyai;e lo the north of I'urope,
ih. ; the asirol.ib(r h.ivinj; been jipiilied to navi^.i-
lion. Colunihus proposes a voyai'.e of diseovcrv lo
John II., Kim; of l'ortii;;al, 'Jo; this proposilion is
ref( rred to a junto ( liar(;ed with .'ill mailers relating;
to iii.irilinie discovery, ib. ; who re^arcl the project
as \ision.iry. ib. ; the kini; then refers it lo his ( oun
(il, ib. ; by wdinm u is c oiiclemii' d, ji ; a ship is
sc-( rctly sent in the direction propo',c'c|, bi:t return^,
lb. ; Columbus's inclii;n.ilion, ib. ; lo-,es his wife-.
1!). ; cjuils I'ortumal, ib. ; fjocs to < lenoa and pm-
poses his project to the j;o\ c-rnnieiit, ib. ; it is ri -
ji-cted, ib. ; visits his f.ilher, ib. ; supposed by
some iM h.ivo carriecl his plan to \'inice, 2'^ ; arrives
ill S[)aiii, and icijiiesls a little bre.icl and water at ;i
• onvenlof I'l.inciscai, friars, 2') ; the- [nior detains
him as a ^u'"'''. !''• ; '"i'l invites (lariia i'ern.indi./
to meet hiin, ib. ; ^;ivcs liim letters c,f introcliK li' ti
t') I'crnando cle 'lalaver ■., (Jueen Isabell.i's con-
fessor, lb. ; sets out forC c.rclova, 'j.; ; arriws there,
2.1 ; finds it inipc ssible 10 c,!,|:,iii a li'',irini;, ih. ;
the (|uecn's c cnlessor re-.^ards his pl.n, as impossi-
ble, ill. ; maint.iins liimsell hv dvsi^^iiiin; m.-ips and
charts, 2.S ; is received into 'he house of Alon/o ile
yuintanilla, 23 , introclui cil to tin; Ar' libishop of
Toleclo, 24 ; who (.;ives him an attentive hearini;,
ib. ; becomes his fiieii'l and procures him an audi-
ence of the kiiiK, ib. ; who desires the- prior c)f I'raclo
tc) a'.semble astronomers, etc. , tc) hold conference
with him, ib. ; Columbus .ippears before tin- assem-
bly at S.ilamani a, ib. ; ;iri;iinic-nts .•n;ainst his theory,
2; ; Ins reply, ib. ; the subject experiences procr.is-
lin.ition aiicl iic-i;lect, 2'' ; is 1 ompi-llccl |ci follow the
movements of the c durt, .'7 ; Ins pi. 111 rei 'iiiiinencjeci
ley the .Marchioness ol .Mov.i, 27. io, 31 ; receives
an invitation lo rcliiiii to l'orlui;al troni jilin II..
27 ; receives a favor, iblc- letter tiom Henry \II. of
I'!n^;land. ib. ; clistinjjuishes himself n th- (nm-
p.iiijn of l.|-c), aticl IS imptes'-c-d ilc'C'|iIv with the
arrival .irid message of twc) fri.irs Iroiu ilie Soldari
of I^i;> pt ril.ilive to the Holy L.iii'l. 2- ; deteriniiies
tc) devote- the- profits arising; from his inlenelecl dis-
( iivc-rv to ihe purpose of rescuing; the holy sepul-
I tire from the- lianels cif the: iiilidi Is ib. ; council i/f
learnc-'l men a^'.un convene d, ib ; who (iionounic
the ':i hc'iiie v.iin ami impossiPie. ib. ; rc'eives ;i
nies>.,iL;c- fioni Ihe sovereigns, ib. ; has an auelienre
ol the S"\ereiv;ns. ib. ; leaves Seville- in elis^jusl,
2c) ; forms a (cinne-ciion with iii-atri\ liiiri'|ue/.. 24 ;
applies to the- Hiike ed Mecjiiia Sii|oiii,i. who rejeds
his phiii. 22 ; applies to th'- I>ul.'- of .Me-clin.i Cell,
who is prevenlicl from acccclui:; i<< hi-, pi. in fioni a
fe.ir 'if the- c iHirt. ib. ; le tliri.s to the- • cine lit ct I., I
K.ibila. 2'); /Monzo I'lii/oii e llc-is |.i [ ..y his (.\-
(lenses in a renewed application I" Ihi- ' cairl, ib. ;
re-turns at the ih-sire- ol the 'jiiec n, ;o , wilnesses
the surrender of (ir.iiiaela lo the .Sp.mish .iriiis, ib. ;
IK ^;oti.ltioll with pi-rsi>iis appiiinled by tin- 'ovir
(•inns, il'. ; his propositions .nc- c e.nsideri 1! e.slr.iv-
;aiit.
ai'-
rom iiini e
I iiiac'missihie.
ll>.
hiwer tc-rnis an- olb-r'-d
the nc-L;oli,ilion bricken
I.uis dr St. .Aiu;e-| li-.i'-'
at l.i'^t I orseiif;, lb. ;
rec.iil Coliiinbes. ib. ;
Inni, whii h he ri-je-cts, 31 ;
ill, 1! . ; cpiits S.mt.i I-\', ib. ;
n ■. with the- eni(-en, ib. ; wlio
a nie>.sc-iiv;(-r dispatched to
le returns to Sant.i ie, 32 ;
arraIl^,'ement w-ith lie- Sp.ini'-h • en i-ri ik.Mis. ib. ; his
SOI, appc)iiite-i| p. 1^1- to I'lMii 1- III, in, 1 1 ; he reHirns
ti .'.,1 K.iliid.i, ib. ; prcp.ir.ilic.ir, .it the rort of
I'ui -s, ,inc| .ippreheiisioii^ ilieie- leliliM- to lh(-
expeclition. ib. ; not a vessel c.iii be ptoi iireil, ib. ;
thev .in- .it l.ist furnished, i!i. ; Columbus hoists his
tli^, it; sails, 3= ; |irolo.;u'- 11 his voyage, ii>. ,
an .ic count 'if the map he- ha I piepared picvious to
sailing, ib. ; ■'iHiiii!tii-s le-i;iii to arise, 3b; arrives
al ill'- ( .iii.iii's, ill ; iciuii's in siv;lit 'f .Mount
Tenpriffi-, ib. ; arrives at ( iciiner.i, ib. ; the news
whi' Il ri- ichi-cl him ihiTc-, ib. ; ,il irm of his s.iilors
on losim; all si^'hl of land, ib. ; bc-^ins to keep two
re-e koniiiKs, 37 ; fiills in with p.iit of a mast, ib. ;
notices .1 v.iriation of the ni-edic-, ib ; his opinnin
relati'. (■ to th.it phenomenon, ib. ; they .ire visited
.11 I
' i ■
■i ii
>; ;!
.Ii
290
INDI'X.
m
by two liirils, ih. ; UTrors of the seamen, il). ; sfcs
lari;c pad lies of .vceds, ib. ; his situation lie. onus
more cniiral, 3S , part of his crew ilctonninc,
should he rrfiisJ to irturn, to throw him into tlic
SLM, ■})-. I.ilsi- appt-arance of himl, ili., 40; his
crew ljCL(Mue f.\ :ocdini;ly chiniorous, 41 : Ihf as-
sertion that he capitulati-il witii tht-ni tiisprovcd,
ib. ; his ailiiross to the crt-w, ib. ; sees a li^;ht, 4-' ;
la., t (jisi-ovi-rcd, ill. , the reward for land ad nulled
to him. il:. ; l.mds on the island of St. Salv.ulor,
11). ; which he takes possession of in the name of
the Caslilian soverei,i;ns, il). ; the surprise of the
natives, ib. ; ^;old first discovered. 43 ; recon-
noitres the island, 44 ; takes seven of the inhab-
itants to te.ich them Spanish that they minht be
come interjjreters, ib. ; di.scovcrs Santa Maria de
la Conrepi ion. ib. ; discovers ICxunia. 45 ; dis
covers is.diell.i. ib. ; hears of two islaniis called
Cuba and Hohio, 4'i ; sails in seanli of the
former, ib ; discovers it, ib. ; lakes formal pos-
session, ill. : sends two .Spaiuards up the country,
41 ; coasts alon« the shore. il>. ; return of the
Spanianls with their report, 41 ; );oes in search
of the supposed island ol H.d)e(iue. ?o ; discovers
an arcliipLuino. to whirli lie tjives the name of the
King's liarden, si ; desertion ( f Aloiizo l'in/o;i.
ii). ; discovers St. C'ath.irine, in which he finds
stones veined with gold, ib, ; spec imen of his style
in description ib. ; reaches wh.it he sup[)oses to be
the eastern extremity of .\si,i, ib. ; disicners His-
paniola. ib. ; its transcendent appearance. Ji ;
enters a harbor, to which he gi\cs the name of St.
Nicholas, ib. ; a female brought to him wh.) wore
an ornament of gold in her nose, ib. ; coasts along
the sli.ires, :; ; is visitecl by a CacKpie. ib. ; re-
ceives a mess.ige from ( iuac.magari. 50; his ship
strikes up ni a sand-bank in the ni.L;lil, 57 ; some
of his crew desert in a boat, ib. ; the ship becomes
.1 wreck, .mil he takes refuL;e on bo.ird a caravel,
ib. ; re.'eives assistance from tiuacanag.iri, ib. ;
transactions with the n.itives, ili. ; is invited to the
residence of (iuacanagari, 58 ; his affec tionate re-
ception ol him, il). ; his people desire to liave
permissio:! to remain in the island, 50 ; he forms
the 1)1.111 ot a colony ,-uid the design of construe t-
ing a fortress, ib. ; and of reluming to Sp.iin for
reinforcements, ib. ; entertained in the most lios
pil.ible ni.uiner by (luacan.igari, bo : who pro
cures for hini a great (luantity of gold previous to
his departure, ib. ; his acldress to the people, ib, ;
gives a feast to the chieft.iins, M ; sails, lb. ;
coasts towarcl the eastern enil of Ilispaniola, tj2 ;
mef^ts with Pinzon, ib. ; I'ln/on's .ipologv. ib. ;
account c,i the Ciguayens, 63 the hrst n.itive blood
shed by the whites, ib. ; account of the return vov-
age. 64 ; encounters violent storms, ib. ; the c t'vv
draw lots who sli.iU perlorm pilgrimages, (,; ; two
lots fall to the adniir,il ; vows ni.ide, ib. ; commits
an account of his voy.age in a b.irrel to tl.e sea, ib. ;
land discovered, il). ; which proves to be the Azores,
ib. ; transactions at St. Mary's, fib ; receives sup-
lilies and .1 message from tht; go\ernor, ib. ; at
tempted perform.incc of thj vow made during the
iitorrn, ib. ; the seamen talien prisoners by the rali
ble. he.ided by the governor, ib. ; the governor's
disgraceful conduct, ib. ; seamen IiIjc r.ited, ib. ;
c.iuse of the governor's conduct, i'.i. ; \i:.lent gales,'
67 ; Jots for pilgrimages again cast, ib ; arrives
off Cintra. in I'.irtugal, ib. ; writes to the sovereigns
and the King of I'.irtug.il, ib. ; is summoned bv a
I'ortuguesc; admiral to give an aicounl of himself,
ib. ; effect c)f his return at Lisbon, ib. ; receives an
invitation from the King of I'ortug.d, (.S ; inter-
view withtheking, ib. ; jealousy of tlie king excited,
il), ; a proposition to the king bv some of his cc)urt
iers to .issassinate Columbus and t.d.e advantage of
his discoveries, ib. ; rejec ted by the king, (n) ; dis-
graceful plot of the king to rob Sp.iin of the newly
discoveri-d possessions, ib. ; his interview with the
(Jueen of I'crtug.d, ib. : enters the harbor of I'alos,
ib. ; account ul his reception there, ib, ; arrival of
I'inzon, ib, ; receives an invii.ai,,,! fioni ih.j..
eigns at Barcelona, 70 ; his recepti.n) r-n tne ,«*
71 , is received in a magniticeiit in.inmr bv ■'.
courtiers, lb. ; aiicj the sovereigns, '.h. ; hisvint"-
respect to the holy sepulchre, ih ; the ii.anjt, .
which his discoveries were reu'ivccl ihrciMir-,
I'.urope, 72 ; a coat of arir.s giicn \,m^ i^ ..','
m. inner in which he receives the hc'iiiiis>,|ii|;)||,.
73 ; preparations tor a seiciiid ^ oyui;i.] ;^ ^ j_j.
nieiit nuide with the soveringns, 7; , ;mi\ers » ■
which he is invested, ib, ; t,ikes le,ivc (i( ft^i-"
ereigns at li.ircidon.i, ib. ; arrives ill Scvi!> •■
prep. ires for the voyage, ib . ; ideasciiCilumiiusi-
the people rel.itive to the New Wcukl. jb,; j;,
lence of ju.m <!e Sori.i, 7S ; cordu' I i.f ['or
ib. ; dep.irture on iiis second vov. ii;o, -); ar.c'-'v
attiomer.i, .''o ; gi.-es sealed insliiu l:ciiis ,.1 ihecf.
m.mder of each vessel, ib. ; sees a nc.iilniv :
encounters a storm, ib, ; sees tl;e !:i;lilsip( !fi. E.-
ib. ; discovers tlie Caribbce Isl.iiuls, ii/. ; u,
possession of them. ib. ; discovers (iiiadilci;:
lb. ; transactions there, Si , criiisis .imor.j ;•
Caribbi'cs. S2 ; arrives at 1 iispaiiicl.i, >4; ,1; -.
(iiill of S.imaiia. ib. ; anc hors :,l .Mciuc (.r.r-
ib. ; arrives at I. a Navid.id, ib. ; ;s vi>itfc;
a cousin of the C.iciciue, ib. ; Ic ;:ri;> ,1 ciisas:-
whic h luid occurred at the fortress, 11 , ; vislisG..
cmag.iri. Sb ; aliandons l,a N.iviil.;il. ••;::i'.;.i
the cily of Isabell.i at Monte Chiisii. ■•1: uls!:;
ib. ; sends .Moii/.o de ()ied,i to espl.'ri ihc Iraer ■
o' the isl.ind. ib, ; disp.itches twelve- sh'i'S in Spr
c)o ; rec|iiesls fresh supplies, i' . : rfc;i)n".rar;;'
I'edro M.irg.irite ami Juan Aguado in tin; |mrnii,i.;
o| the government, ill. • recomnunils aciiil.'Kj.-
in respect to an exch ige of Caribs fcii live?;..
c)l ; reconimeiid.iticiii of Columbus in rintc.
the C.iribs, ib. ; his conduct in r— -jrcct 1) 'Oi.-
niuliny. <>- ', cciiiscc|uences, ib. ; scls cu.t iin arc
pedilion to the inouiiiains of I'ilr.in. lii. : i:re;L-.
iiirtress of woocl amon.g the mcuiiilaiiis. 'U. '•■
turns to Isabella, •i'^ ; receives uiiplea'iai:! a\: ■
gence from I'edro M.irgarite. c).i ; sickness ia :::
colony, ib. ; puts his people on sImiU ,i!liiwt:t.
ill. ; cpffi'uds the Hidalgos, ly ni.ikiii;.; , lem s.-r;
the common Uliors of the colcjiiv, :i'. . distnci.;:'
his fc)rc:es in the interior, loo ; givL> ihc: c-:iir.r.»r;
ol them to i'edro Margarite, io. ; his ln>m;c;io'>
that olli.cr, ib. ; instrucis .M.irg.irile li: s'.iririse/
secure Caonabo, 101 ; his con. but i:i m;;*..
ll.iyti.m thieves, ib. ; s.iils lor CuIm, i^.,'■^^
1., I Navid.id, 102 ; arrives at St. Nic lici cs. ii'. ; a'-^
at Ciuant.in.imo. ib. ; anchors at Si. \i:-\ 1 ' -•
in search of H.ibeque, ib. ; disicA is J,.r,i.iiai i
received in a hostile niaiinc 1. ib. : I -.k.-. ii';>>cij.c'.
ot the ishind, ib. ; amiialle in;. r>' i .m' «'ip :»(
natives, ib, ; leturns to Cub.i, l"i; i.!'. .^ ••' '-■'-''
de l.i Cru/, ib. ; encounteis a sl'iui. li • ^ U"'"'-
eng.iged in .1 most clillic nil n,ivig.i!ii'ii. i ■■ , c:..-;^''
an arc-hipel.igo, to which he gives tlic 11 iiiic cl"'
Oueen's (i.irdeiis, ib. ; he,irs of .1 pfViU'C Ca.."
.M.mgon. whic-li greatly excites li - ..lie".!, "i- ■ ':
cci.isis along the southern sale ci tiil.i, 1 '•■
counters a dangerous n.iviga'ion '.n .1 "••■■'• ""
lo<i ; sends p.irties to eX|ilou' the i;i;ri:'ir ■; ■■•
country, ib. ; deceives himself in n-r; vil '• "■■'■
he wishes, 107 ; fancies he l:as ..niul c " ■ -■
part of Asia v\hicli is bevond the 1 "c:a iims"; ' •
Old World, laid down by I'loleniy, 1 - . .cn'..^'^'^"
returning to Sp.iin l)y the .Au'.ca ( iii'i.- ii'';"-
■['.iprobana, the Slr.iils cif |!,ibelm.inc:ci. ciK ll" "^J-
Sea. or the co.ist of ,\frica. il : uui.n> ■■■"'«
the southern coast of Cub.i, in li; i.^^ur.mos '■•|'
Cub.i w.is the extreniily of the .'\si.it. ci;;i.M'_
ib. ; discovers the island <■( I',v.inec-;:'la, !■'■ • "".
ship runs aground, loc; ; sails .ihirii; tin' pru"-'^ • '
Oruof.iy, ib. ; erects crosses in c onsi'iinus *■;•-_
lions to denote liis discoveries, ib, ; is .c llrfS"'-^"^
an Indi.in. ib. ; l.ikes an Indi.iii ":tli 'ii'"' "
ship leaks, ib. ; leaches Saiit.i t. :...:, i' •
along the south aide c)f Jaltl.iica. ■ ' • •"
visited by a Cacicpic aiul his v.-i^cilc; [.iwi'}' -'
uho Ciller to-iccomi
yothiikinuaiicliiuc.
(■as;!
'I'i
ttt.li '"i».iiii
INUI-X.
'^U\
ii'
M
lie-
hi
HP'
;icrt" wcompanv him to Spain to do homatre
kiim .md (|wii'ii. Ill ; lie fvadus this offer,
(Uisis alonii the south side of llispaniola,
i.ikis an tr'or in rcckoiiint,'. ii'J ; arrives at
,1,.; i< suddenly depiivcd of ail Ins faciil-
, ■ Vrrivi'S at Lsaliclla. ili. ; is joinud liy his
r iurlholoiiiew. ih. . invests him willi the title
;;ilioriiy i>l Adflaiitado. 114; is visited hy
•Mi;aii, who informs him of a league forinei
iiiiM him hv the Ilaytiaii Cacicpies, 117; Ins
ic,i<;in-s ti< rc-storc ihi: (|iiiet of the island, ili. ;
l^inV (uer iiKariorii-x, an.l prevails upon him to
ive Ins ilaiii;h(i'r in uiarrLige to Uie^o Colon, iii ;
luil Is I'ort Coii('e|Uioii in the territories <d' tiuario
; CiDii.ilio is delivered into liis hands by
lOifii.i. ill. . lie puts him in chains, 1 10 ; liis interview
iffill: hull, ill- ; liis anxiety lelirveil hy the arrival
of Aiili'iii'iiie Torres, ib. , sends honu' s]ieriinens
of ->i;l, plants, eU"., and live hundred Indi.in pris-
omr'- t(i lie SuKI as slaves, ijo ; iinderlalses .ni e,\)ie
dil: .;i aK:iiiist the Indians of tlie W-^a. ib. ; a batlle
ensii's, 121 . the Indi.uis defeated, id. ; makes a
iriiil.irviiiiirthroiish various parts of the isl.ind, and
reuiM'S il M oliedience, ih. ; imposes a tribute, l:!J ;
reli;si's the "fler of duarionex to culliv.ite ^r.iin,
ins'.i-.iil 'li payiiii; in i;idd, ib. ; crei ts furls, il). ; the
nuir.os hai. 11,1; destroyed the crops, aie hunted and
compvlliil 111 return to iheir hibors, u ■, ; account
of ilic imriu'iies against Columbus in the I'ouit of
Spain. iJ.i: rliarRes brought against him, ib. ; his
pupui.riiv ilei lines in lorisi'iiuenee. ib, ; measures
lakfn in Sp.mi. ili. ; .Ai^ii.ido .irrives at Is.ibella to
Cnici.'t infurm.ition rcl.aive to the st.ile of the col-
ony, l.'ii; his dinnilied condin't at his Inst inleivieiv
wiili .\.;uaiio. ib. ; the Caciques jirefer c'lnnplaints
ag.iiist him, IJ7 ; he resolves on retuinin.:; to .Sp.ijn,
lb. a vi.ilcnl liiirrirane occurs pre\ ions to his de
p.iriiiif, which sinks si.t i-.iraveis, ib. ; pleaseii
\V!lh llie iliscmery of the ^;old mines of I l.iyna, ib ;
cuitrd .1 fort Id i.e erected, 12S ; invests his brother
will; ihc CdimiKind, ib. ; sails for Spain, ib. ; arrives
al o...id.iliHi[)c, 12') ; his politic conduct there, ib. ;
leaves (lua.i.ii.iupc. il). ; a f.iinine on board llie ships
Ij'-i : Ills la.iKii.iniinous coiuUici, ib, ; arrives in
Spu.ii, il). ; his represent. ilion of things, i!i. ; writes
iibtria linns fur ihc conluct of I l.irlliol. iniew, i!i. ;
invii" 1 ic) c.Mirt, lu ; favor.ibly received, ib. ; pt"-
po>c's a Ihi'd voyage of discovery, ib. ; the kiiij,'
pr.'ii.iscs liini ships, ib. ; del.iys and their c.inses,
il). ; refuses thr- title ,,( (hike or m.inpiess, and a
gran; ( 1 lands in I lis|i.iniula, IJJ ; terms on wdiich
he w,;- 1) sail. 151: honors bestowed upon him, ili. ;
liisrespcit.ind iove for tienoj, il). ; makes his will,
ib. ; cMiuiii ihrowii upon his enlerprisrs. 1^4; pl.m
to which he v.as compelled to result to proc uie men
fcrh:> third \;iya>!e, ib ; in consc(|uence of delays,
Ii'-iiiniist rc-.ilvi's to ^;ive up all furllier enterprise.
!■•. ; c:ia.~iises a niini.in of I'onseea, I 15 ; consequc'i-
«•• 1 ; llii> ch.istisenient, ib. ; sets s.iil, ib. ; his
opmh.a 1:1 res;.ei t ti. ;i . Diuinent in the .Suulhern
O'A'an. 1!). , .irrives at C.ciinera, i;,(. ; retakes a
Siunish ship, li,. ; is sei,red with a tit of the ^out.
;,rrivc.-,.iiii,)nw tfie Cape de Verde Isl :nds, ib. ;
^•i--> ilie isl.md \i^■\ Kucno, ib, ; arrives under the
'■I? :: ; the licit becomes intolerable, and he alters
^hiS'iiiirsc. lb. ; discovers 'I'tinidad, i;,;; discovers
jinalirma, li). ; steers alon^ the < i.ast of Tririi-
:|-''-. i,i': iillicultv in respe. t to ;i rapi.i current.
I' •yicis the (.ulf ,,f l'.,ria, ib. ; suffers from a
C'Mi:;ilaa,l in !liet\i-s, 14,,; discovers the islands of
•^i-rnarn.i .111.1 (iib.inu.i, 141; exihan).;es plates,
;t"-.l':i jicaris, ib. ; Ills i omplaint in the c)es in-
-"•^■'■-'s. il^i. ; ariiusat llispani,d,i, ib. ; his brother
sal.-' Ill ni..-i.i hiiu, ib. ; his consiiiuiiun seems to
^■•'' >iav, is.
■ 0! Pat:.
il
Ins speculations rel.itive to the coast
-a, 14: : pol.irstar augment. ition, ib. ; doubts
at- rereived theory of the earth, ib. ; acccunts for
W.ati .n„( the needle, 14.,; difference of climate.
•' ■ 11 ; iirrnes at .-ian I)(imin>,'o, i;(i; st.ile of
n,s Jii'altn ,Mi .irrivinK at llispaniola, ib. ; state
■ iK; <-ul(iny, 157; negotiates with the rebels.
il). ; offers free pass.ij^e to all who dcsiie lo return
to Spain, 15S ; oilers a pardon to Kold.in, which is
received with contempt, To. . writes lo .Sp.iin an
account of the rebellion, etc., and riipiircs a juil);e
and sonic- niissionaiies ic) be sent out, ib. : writes a
cone il;,itmn letlei to Kolilan. 151); interviews with
Uolil.in, ibo ; issues a proc l.nnation ol p.iidoii, ib ;
receives [iropo^.ils, whicli he accedes to, ibi ; (^ocs
on a tour lo visit the various slalions, ib. ; receives
a cold letter from the sovei eiL;ns, wi aicn by i'onseea,
11). : the former arranj;emc iit with K..lclaii not iiav-
in^; been c .irriecl into c If'-c t, enters into a second,
U>2 ; grants latids to Keddan's followers, ib. ; con
siders liisp.iniol.i in the linht of aionciuered coun-
try. Idi, reduces the natives lo the eeiuliticjn e.f
villains or v.iss.ds, ib. ; >;r.ints hmiis lo Kidilan, ib. ;
determines on rctiirnin« lo Spain, ib. ; I ul is pic--
venled by cire unislane c s. ib. ; vviiles to ihe sover-
eiijns, eiilreatin^j tbein to iiiijuiie into the truth of
the lale ti.iiis.ictions, ib. ; lecpiists iliul his son
l)ic^;o mi^ht be sent out lo him. 1(14 ; sencl> Koldan
to .Mon/o de Ojed.i, who l.asariivcd on _■ west-
ern c 0,1st on a voy.i^e e>t discovery, ib. ; l.is indii;-
nation at the Ire.ich ol prcio^jative iniplicil by this
voya^^e, 105 ; hears of a (onspiracy entered inlo
a^;ainst him by (iiit'var.i and Moxica, Kb; seizes
iMosica, iiis ; an ! oideis him to l:e llunj; headionn
from the baltlemcnls of Tort Cone e|)tion, ib. ; vi^C'r-
ous proceedinj;s a.L;.iinsl the rilels, ib. : beneliii.d
consecpiences, ib. ; vision. iry fancy at iiiKlit, ib. ;
representations at couit a).;.Mnst him, i(i); hi;; sons
insulted at tir.in.ida, ib. ; ihe (piecn is c ffencled at
his perlin.icity in inakiiii,' sl.ivcs of those taken in
warf.ire, ib. ; and consenis to the stndinK cait a
commission to investigate ills conduct, 170; lioba-
elilla is sent eait, io. ; and arrives at St. I)iiiiin);o,
171 ; his judgmenl fc;rmed before lie leaves his
shi[), ib. ; he seizes upon the j^ovirnmcnt belorc
he invesliKates the conclin t oi Colund us, 172;
Columbus is summoned 10 appe.ir bi lore llobadilla,
1 73 ; f^oes lo .St. ')oiiiiin;c) without );iiarc;s cr retinue,
and is put in iions and coiihned in the fortress, 17.) ,
his niaKnan,mity, ib. : charges ;:^;ainst him, 175 ;
jubilee of iniscre.ints on his de^;i,idation, ib. ; li;s
cidlocjuv with Villejo, previous to their sailing;,
lb. ; sails, ib. ; arrives at Cadiz, 170 ; sensation in
.Sp.iln on his ariiv.d in irons, ib. ; sends a letter to
Ooniia [liana de l.i Torre, with an account ct his
tre.ilmeni, ib. ; indinn.iiion of the sovereigns at rcad-
in.U this account, 177 ; is invited lo court, ib. ; his
(gracious reception there, ib. ; his emotion, ib. ; is
liromised ,1 full restitullMn of ids piivileKes and dig-
nities, ib. ; disappointed in receiving,' them, ib. ;
causes, 170; his interests ordered to be resjiecttd
in llispaniol.i by (Ivaiido. im; remembers his
vow to furnish an army wlietewith to recover the
i loly Sepulchre, iSj; endeavors lo incite the sov
ereinns to the eiitetprise, ib. ; lorais the plan for
a fourlh voyage, which is to eclipse all former
ones, l.si; writes to I'ope Alexander \'iI.,l.-^4;
manuscript copy of, ib. : t.ikes measures lo secure
his failK- by pl.icin:.; il under the Knardiansiiip ol his
native country, ib. ; sails from (.'.ubz, 1^5, ; arrives
at l':rcillo, ib. ; at the lii.uid Canary, ib. ; at St. Do-
mingo, 1 ^b . lequests permission to shelter in the
harbor, :;s he- .ipjirehends .1 storm, ib. ; ids rcc|uest
refused; a violent hurricane soon after sweeps the
se.i, in which he ami ids propel ty are p.reserved,
an. I sever,d of his ijitterest enemic's o\ erw iiclmed,
ill.; encounters .mother storm, 1.^7; discovers
liuan.i.na. ib. , a C.icicjue cc^mes on board ids ship
with a inultiludc of articles, the produce ol ihe coun-
try, ib. ; selects some to send them to Spain, il). ;
is Within two d.iys' s.iil of Ync.ilan, iSS; natives
dilferent from any he h.id yet seen, ib. ; voy.i^jes
alon>> the c o..st ol llondur.is, ib. ; eiiccjunters vio-
lent storms ol tP.imder and liKiitniiit,', ib. ; voyage
.iloiig the Moscpiito shore, loc) ; passes .1 cluster of
islands, lo which lie gives the n.ime of I,.'mionares,
ib. ; comes lo an island, to whii h he gives tiie
name of La Ilueri.i, or the Garden, ib. ; iransac-
■\ b: ;
! m-'
I b
1^ :
,11^
i;»
on-;
INDKX.
I ■ ■ !i
< /
t ons at ("iiii.iri, ib. ; voynRP alonij Costa Rica,
li)i) ; spi'iiilatitiiis (-oiin-rniiij; the istlimus of Vc
ra«iia, hii ; iliscovfiv nf PiiiTto lU-llo, kjj , itiscov-
cry of 1-1 Rctrcti', ih. : disorders of his men at
this port, and the conseiiiienccs, ili. , relin()iiishes
the furtlier prosecution of his voyage eastward, lii; ;
returns to Puerto Hello, ib. ; encounters a furious
tempest, ib. ; ne.ir beinj; lirowned l>y a walers|io«t,
i(i4 : returns to N'era^ua, il) : re^'.irds k"1<1 as one
ot the nivstic tre.isiires, il). ; is nearly lieim; wrecked
in port. ib. : ^ives his n.ime to the iniuinl.uns of
\'erai,ui.i, im=; : sends his brother In explore the
country, ib. ; which appe.irs to be inipreL;nated with
Rold, ib. ; believes that he lias reached one of the
most favored ports ol the Asi.itic conlineni, iw'i ,
commences .1 settlement on the River Helen, \\k ;
determines on reluriiinj; to Sp.iin fiir reinforce-
ments, ib. ; is stopjied by discoverinj; a ciinsiiir;icy
of the natives, ii)7 ; sends his brother to surprise
yuibian, il'. ; who is seized, ib. ; and afterward
cscajies, iti. ; disasters at the settlement stop his sail-
ing. 11^ : some ot his prisoners escape, .and others
(lestrov tlu'mselves, ii)o ; his anxiety produces de-
lirium. »;iio ; is comforted by a vision, ib. ; the
settlement is abandoned, and the Spani.irds embark
for Spain, ib. . dep.irture from the coast of X'er.i.nu.i,
20I ; sails for 11 isp.mioia, ib ; arrives at Puerto
Hello, ib. , ,it the enir.mce of the liulf of Darien,
ib. ; at the {Jncen's (i.irdens, ib. ; encounters an-
other violent tempest, 20J : arrives al Cape Cruz,
ib. ; at l.ini.iic.i, it). ; runs his ships on shore, ib. ;
arranijes with the n.itives fur supplies n! provisions,
ib. ; his conversation with I»ieijo Mondez to in
(luce him to u,'i in .1 canoe t<> .St. I)i)miii>;o, ib. ;
Memlez offers to v,'o, ib. ; Columbus writes to
Ov.indii fur a ship to take him and his crew to llis-
paniola, 203 ; writes to the sovereiijns, ib. ; Men
dez emb.irks. -'04 ; the I'orras ennatje in a mutiny,
20? ; the mutiny becomes i,'eneral. 20(1 : is cnnlined
by the Kiiut. ib, : rushes out to (|uell the niiitinv,
but is buriie back to the cabin by the few who rem.iui
faithful, ib. ; the mutineer:; embark on bo.ird ten
Indi.m canoes, ib. ; provisions become e.\cecdim;ly
S' .irce. 207 ; employs a stratagem to obtain supplies
from the natives, il). ; another conspiracy is formed,
ill. ; arnv.d iif I)iei;o de Kscob.ir from llisp.oiuila
on a mission from the i;overnor, ptoinisinij that a
shi]) shall soon be sent to his relief, ib. ; (i\ertures
of the admir.d tu the mutineers, 211 ; nut accepted,
ib. ; they send .t petitidn for pardon, 212 ; it is
granteil, ib. ; two ships arrive from 1 lisp.miuhi,
213 ; departure of Columbus, 221 ; arrives at
Heata, ib. ; anchors in 'he harbor of St. l)iimiiii;ii,
ib. ; is emhusiasticiilly rceiveil by the pople, it). ;
is urieved ;it the desolation he sees evervwhere
around him. ib. ; finds that his interests had Ijcen
disre^;,irded, 222 ; sets sail for Spain, ib. ; en-
counters several tempests, ib. ; anchors in the
harbor of St I.ucar, ib. ; finds all hisatTairs in -on-
fusion. 223 ; is compidled to live liy borrowin;;, ib ;
writes to Kins Ferdin;ind, ib. ; but, rtceivini,' im
satisfactory replies would have set out from Seville,
but is prevented by his infirmities, ili. ; death of
^jiieen Isabclia, 224 ; is left to the justice of Kerdi-
nan<l, 22|; ; employs \'espucci, ib. ; i-nes with his
1/rother to court, then hc-ld at Seijovia, ib. ; is re
ceived in a very cidd manner, ib. ; I)i,n Dieiro de
Deza is appointed arbitrator between the kin^ and
the admiral, 22') ; his daims ;ire referred tf) the
luiit.i de DcS'-ar^os, ib. ; is confined with a violent
attack ot the i;out, ib : petitions the kinj; that his
son DieKo may be a()pointed in his place, to the
Kovernment of which he li.ul been so lonj; deprived,
ib. ; his petition remains iinattendeil to, ib. ; writes
to the new Kint; .and (jiiecii of Castile, 227 ; who
promise a speedy and prosperous tcrmina'liiin to
his suit, ib. ; his last illness, ib. ; writes a testa-
mentary codicil on the blanl< pa^e o( a little bre-
viary, ib. : writes a final codicil, ib. ; receives the
sacrament, 22> ; dies, ib. ; his burial, ili. ; his re-
luains rcinuveJ to llispaniola, ib, ; disinierrcU unU
conveyed to the Ilavan.i, ib ; epit.iph, ib ,;„..
tioiis on his char.icter, ib. ; his reni.iins :'']'Z
with Rfcat ceremony to Cuba, •.'•,;. rtijjp!'.
thereon, 230 ; hislori( al .iccouiil of liK^i^jrcB^j,.^ I
ib. ; .in import, mt l.iwsuit relitivc 1" the htit!*"^ I
(in the fern, lie line) to the family lillcs.inil '^i.p,-.'
240; decided in favor of Don Nu,,,, (;'(. | ! ,
PorlUK.ill". ib. ; an .iccount of his lineajf, i,^
.an account of his birthpl.n e, 2|t . an arti'jf...
the ships h<- used, 2i;7 ; an ex.miinali(irio|i,:s,J,., I
in the first voyage, 25S : the efledni thctravti"
M.irco I'olo on his mind, 2(14; his liclieiis'^
im.ininary island of .St. Hraiidan, 270 ; .m acat-
of the earliest narratives of his first .iii^l sen r.(!vtj!
a^;es. 27c) ; liis iile.is relative to the siiii.Ki. ". .j.^ijl
terrest'^i.il par.idise, 2^2; his will, 3»; ; Us j;j,^
til re, 2S5.
'ohimbiis. Don l)ieL',o, character (if, (12; ii'v..;
wiili the comm.ind of the ships duriiii; ;h^ e<:(. 1
dition of Columbus to the mount. lins cl (.'uao,
made president of the junta, loi : reproves P(
M.iri^.irile for his irrei,'iil.irities, 11: ; ihc iiiiafi I
form :>. faction ayainsi him diirint; the .il>"i!:t
his brother, ib. ; returns to Isabella. 1 2li : .icor.<|,'ri:; I
lornied ai;ainst him by Rold.m, i:.); le!t 'n
mand ,it St. Dominno, during,' llie ii iir nt C >xrLi |
I'll : his conduct on the arriv.il ol Ifuh^iiii.ij ;
seized by onler of Hobadill.i, tluowii in ;:' r,>
confined on bo.ird of a e.iravel, 173.
— , Don Diei,'o (son to Christo|ilieri. .i])ii'iii-,'e':i;i I
to (Jiicen Isabell.i, 134 ; en'b.irks with his l.i'.htt •.
liis SCI ond e.\pedilion, I.'^4 ; left in ch.irsi' -
f.itlier's interests in Sp.iin, ib. : his iiii;r:il!!u:f'' |
Mendez, and falsitic.nion of his prnnii-.e. ;t-
ch.ir.icter. 230 ; succeeds to the rii;lits "1 !'..■ -'
as vicerov and tjovernor of the New \V> : ;
mt;es the kinj; to k''^'- hi"' those riuhis. 1'
niences a process a,i;ainst llie kini; In fi'f'.l'.vC ;::. I
ot the Indies, ib. ; the defence set lip, ib . ilit<:;|
Lists several years, ib. ; bee omesenamnrni ■
M.iri.i Toledo, ib. ; a decision, in re>|'i i
of his cKiim, raises him to i;te.it weaitli. i'l. ri:'
rirs Don.i M.iria, niece to the Duke (if .\>.M. :"
throiii;li this connection he obtains the il:(;iW;:S»'.!
]i(nvers enjoved by Nicolas de ' tvamlii. :'>. er-
barks for llispanioa, 237; keeps up i;ie,i; *». |
ib. ; becomes embroiled with some < '. his :.it-.:-
enemies, ib. ; the court d royal ,iu.!icnro effl-
lishcd as a cheik upon him ib. ; opposes ;fce :^
p irtimientos, 23s ; his viitnes n;ake him mvi-
ul.ir, if). ; subjugates and settles the isliiv! I'.Vi |
wilho-.it tlie loss of ;i single m.in. :li. : sails:
Sp.iin to vindic.ile his (oiidiKt. iti. . a «<■■'■'■
ceived, ib. ; the death of l-'erilinand, i'l. . oliits I
a recoj^nition of his innocence of aii charsL's-inat.?. |
him from Ch.irles \'., ib. : .md h.is lis rth; »:;
knowled^ed to exercise the offn c <f ucu'v ar.i.
(,'o\ernor in .ill plices discovere
d pv \v- Uhr,;:.
sails for St. DoiniiiK'o, wheie he .iirivcs. 2'i -
cullies he has to encounter, ib. ; .Aliicaii si.ivc".»i'' j
iiiK been iiitroduce(l anil most cnieny iiscd. it''^ *
volt, ib. ; are s'lbdiied, ib. ; is accused c ;i<i:'?iii
too much power, ib. ; rceei-'es in censfi.nien:! i j
severe letter from the Council of the IiicfS.^'
and is desired to repair to court to vm ■i'-''"-' [
sell. ib. ; sails, l.mds, and .appears lielnrc t':'-f «'
at X'ictoria, ib. ; clears himself, ib. : T'"''';;'
his claims, ib. ; follows the court from r:tv."-i-
ib. ; is atl.icked by a slow fever, ib ; ilics, . ' '■■'
family, 240.
• 'olumbus, Fernando (son to Chri-lnphcr'. Tu>r."i'
nies his f.ilher on his fourth >oyai;c, !"• ,,■■
l.ilher's encomium on him, 22= . eiiili.itks 1 ' '^^^■
p.oiiohi with Don DieKo. 237 ; an accnuni il •"■*■
241 ; writes a historv of Ids father, ib. ,
, Don Luis (son to Don Die,t!ii\ pr"seci:'.es-'
claims of his father and ^r.indlather, 24' '""''!"'
inises all claims for two titles aii 1 .1 pens;"". ' ■
Commeri e, despotic intUience of the Spanish i"- •
111 respect to, 75, iSi.
•C„|,-ptlo^.^:"U.'^■
|.-„ll. elected I'
loi. 15' ,
lonir.Wiiii""'*' the
lonv.cts wh.i h.iit •"
tol, in lli>p.>'>i"''''
[o|.piT h.iii.licli' -'■'^"
lorai (ound <:\ \ craL
i,rm.ir.ints i.'ri;c fb
loiCllb.1. i"7.
Wnci, I'cJro 1-ern
[ships, 134 : aff'^''-
I If, ; is sent tc pci
j duiv. ill.
^orriii.rciiro, ai..iv.
b;;s bei-dines .ictiu.i:
_^orU''. llernaiidi),
fXiK.i KliJ, t'oilHIlbll
CoM'.in.ini I, C.ii'Ki
I ei,;hi STiniards, 21
[ ib ; sues fur peai
2l^ ; .iiidllicr war
;, 1 . i.iiics shelter
lariT i.avern. ib.
> iivcrpowcrc
muisi) and h.iui:
!, nhcrc first
si'cii ill LitK''
iS).
11'
_ G'l: '
4".
, 0:. 1::.
trancs. lliii'ks iif lar^
trealiim, ideas in o
1! ivli.ins. i|ii.
Cro.'mklcs fdund .it 1
Niiii, I
Cr('-si..s eifcleil by
i Cdverics. lui).
brus.iile l» rcci'ver il
C'.liinilius. t^;
Cru;, Calii) (le li, so 1
JCub.i, isl.ind of, Co
quest of it. ib. ; di
iis appcuraiice. il
in. 4; ; hi'licf (if ;!
fii ; Coiunibiis rev
of. lo-, ; CoUinil
si !'.'. ill ; natives.
Dun l):ci;o Coli.inil
bus rciiMved to. 23
jCubaijUii. Islo (if, d
pearl fisheries on t
Cubii;a. a villai^c in
C'lld was supposed
pucimibcr'; f.rst seen
irrcnry, pnncqiles
th;< woik have bee
^.tmcs'if the Ihiytf
Darici'. (iiilf ol, 201,
De.rfand dyini;, ma
lians ,7.
Delphi:i, is'.aii 1 of. I
Dei-n,'. universal, it
m ics|ic'it to. .;7.
iDe/a Dici;.) (le, ,1
Cuiumliiis at the c
h.in witii liis purse
52? . IS chosen ;
C'l umliiis, 2211.
|Di...^ l'..(rlhoiiinieiv.
~- Miwnei, his ro
s'dM niiiies ol 11:
'■I St |)iiiniiiKi) a
his conlurt on
prisnnors, ili.
'^-'lii I'isi, inulin
t'ithe ships, (,;.
Dis-istir, river ot, 1
-»!»■ «*.r-i..i .
'-■^■ilxfc.
INDKX.
■l'J3
, Ch
fn„ .c ihP, hrnuuf't int.. more Rcneral use, ti.
.',ii,',„ \inu M.iri.i .!<• la, .lisrovtry of, 44-
j.-,„;, cr.'iti'l bv Columlnis, lin; present state
ol. '^' ,
InntMiiiti'ms, ihi- •■('•'st of, i<H. ^ , ,
tonv^cis whci h,iii .ucompanifil Columbus, ror.ihict
Hisiuniol.i, 1-''. , , ,. , ,.
Cm r li.iicli<-ls !^<•e" ■'1"""'^ '•"■ I'l'liaiis of (.iianaca,
|-"
torn; found in Vcraijua, l<)2.
toriiMMnls, l.ifKC Hiijhis of, seen on the south coast
|f)i Cuba. I"7.
loronri i'ciiro Feriianik'/. sails for llayti witli two
ish:'is,l34: arrivfs at St. Domin^jo witli supplies.
' i;i':'is"fi'"t to persiiaiJe Koldaii to return to his
jdiiiv. it>. , .
tonv. I'c'iro. .ii.avmalor ot note, with wlioni (.oluin-
b;;; 'icriiilR's .Kt|uamleil, I ^.
tony. Ilern.imlo, i:onJiict of Fonseca to, 2S0.
ii.i ki'a. fdliuiibus sails aloni; the, mo.
Coi:iMn.ini.i, C.iriinR- ef lliKUey, 114; massacres
' e'.li: Si:iniarcls, J17 ; Uvaiid.i inarches ai^aiiist him,
il) . sues l(ir [icare, ih. : visits the Sii.misli camp,
21^: .iiiolhi-T w.ir ensues, ib. ; cruelty to his tribe,
2i I ; iikt^s ^ilc■ltcr with Ins wife and children in a
Lirw '.avcrii. ib. . his rencounter witli Juan Lopez,
ill. ;.-. 'ivcrpinvcrc'd and cli, lined. 22u ; sent to St.
, [lominsii and h.inueii, ib.
ColtiMi. ivhcrc tir^t seen in the western hetiiisphere,
I 4", ; seen in larfje (jii.mtities in Cuba, 41) : tribute
; 0:. 1;:.
Princs. "li" ks nf l.irL^e, seen in Cuba, 107,
Cre:ii. I'll, ideas in ievpe(t to the, entertained by the
ilnll.in?. i|(:.
Cro.'ivliles ftiUiiil .it I'.l Kiirete similar to those of the
Xiie. I 1:,
Crosses eiecteil by ('uluiiibus to denote liis dis-
CiiV'.'ries. lui).
Crus.iile to recover the holy sepulchre proiwised bv
Ci'kinibu?. {■^2.
tru2, Cal/o (le l.i, -io named by Coiuniljus, I04.
Cub.i. isi.md of, Columbus hears o', 4(1 : sails in
quest o( it. il'. ; discovery ot, ib. ; description of
its appearance, ib. ; hurricanes seldom known
in. 4; ; belief of the inh.ibitants in a future st.ite.
fii ; Coluinbus revisits the coasts of. 104 ; natives
of. 1115 ; Columbus co.ists aloni; the southern
side. ill. : naliics, ib. ; subjuijated and settled by
Doll l):ei;o Coiuiubtis, jj-^ , the rem.iins of Colum-
bus reiniived to. L'15,
Cu'iaK'ua. isle of. discovery of, 1.(1 ; n.itives, ib. ;
pearl lishenes on the coast of, est.iblished, •J?'^.
Cubii;a. a vill,■l^'c in \'erai,'Ua where the country of
i;"ld w.as supposed to iiTiuinate, i.)i.
Cticimiljcrs t.rst seen in ILiyti, 1)11.
ICarrenry, principles on which the sums mentioned in
lh,s woik liau- been reduced to modern eurrencv,
n.
fc.Wf.'iMftlie llavtians, .);.
Dariei'. (nilf i,|, ^ni.
De,.l,inl ilyini;, manner of treating; the, tiv the llav-
iians j7.
te\[.h;.i. isiaulni, 140.
De..i!<:. universal, ideas entertained bv the llavtians
in icspect to, .)7.
|De?,i l)ii.i.„ ,l^,^ character of. jf, ; coinritles with
^o.iimbus.it the council of S.damanca, ib. ; assist>
f:an «uh nis purse. 2S ; made Archbishot) of Seville.
"=;. IS chosen arbitrator between the kitiL' ,ind
(-'I imibiis. 22t:.
IDu!. IWiholouieiv. account of Ins discoveries. 113.
I Mituei. his romantic historv, 127 ; discoversthe
s'orl mines ol llayna, 170; commands the fortress
">t I'omiuKO at the time I{ob,idilla arrives, 17-
ni*^ conJurt on b,•in^^ desired to i;ive up his
prisoners, ib, '^ '
"r^.t '',''''•"""'">' ^f' Vi ; confined on board one
1^1 ihe ships, (12.
>D^..ster, river ol, iSij.
Discovery, progress of, under Prince Henry of Portu-
VVil, 10.
I)')>,'s, dumb, found at Santa Maria, 105.
I)omin^;o, S.m, foundation of the city of, 145.
Dominic, I, isl.ind of, discovered. So.
Doves, stock, presented to Columbus liy tlie natives
of Cuba, 10;.
Dro){eo, a v. ist country, fabled to have been discovereil
by some tishermen of I'riseland, 25^1.
Drum, a spei ies of, used by the ll.iytians, 98,
Dyin^j, manner of treating the, i;7.
Kar, coast of the, 1 ss.
llden, garden of, speculation of Columlius in respect
to, 2'^2.
I-'gg, anecdote of tl;e, 73.
I'gypt, Soldan of, his message to Ferdinand, 2S.
ICImo, St., electrii:al lights seen by Columbus, -^o.
I'.iK h.mters. the n.ui\es of Ciriari taken to be, iijo,
!jirii]uez, Keatrix, her connection with Columlnis, 24;
Columbus's legacy to, 227.
Escobar, I)iegode, arrives at j.imaica on a mission
to Columbus from the governor of llispaniola,
20S ; returns to his ship immedi.itely. ib.
, Rodrigo de, chiel notary to CoUimljus's first
e.xpedition, 34.
F.scobedo, Kodrigo de, his conduct after the depart-
ure of Columbus, ^() ; death of, ib.
F.spinal, .Antonio de, the first prel.ite sent to ilie New
World, iSl.
Fisiiuibel, luan de, employed against the natives of
lliguey, 217 ; his atrocious < onduct to his prison-
ers, 2i() ; causes the natives to be liunted like
wild beasts, ib.
Kstoiiland, a supposed island on the coast of N'l rth
America, said to liave been discovered by some
tishermen of Friseland, 25(1.
I'.udo.xus, remarks on his voyage, 257.
I^vangelista, island of, discovered by Columbus, 101).
i;.\um.i. discovery of, 45 ; named Fernandina by
Ciilumbus, ib.
F.irol, Cape, at Jamaica, 111.
Ferdinand, King of Ar.igon ami Castile, character of,
2_' ; eng.igenu-nts of, on the,irrival of Columbus at
Cordova, 23 ; lays siege to the city of Lox.i, ib. :
grants an audience to Columbus, 24 : desires the
l)rior of I'rado to assemble men of science to con-
sider his pl.m, ib. ; attempt to ass.issinate him, 27 ;
t.ikes Mal.iga, ib. : forms an idliance with Henry
\11. of F.ngland. ib. ; one of the rival kings of
(ir.m.ida surrenders his pietcnsions. 2s ; receives a
message from the Sobl.ui ol F-gvpl, il). ; his mes-
sage to Columbus on learning the unfavoratile elc-
cision of the council, 29 ; refers his pl.m to per-
sons of conhilence. 30 ; his reluctance to the plan
after the ipieen has consented, 32 ; his joy on learn-
ing the success of Columbus, 70 ; his reception of
him, ib. : prepares a seiond expedition. -.\ . his
negotiations with John II. in respect 10 the new
discoveries, 7(1: listens to the i barges against
Columbus, 124 , his conduct, ib. ; his reception <>f
Columbus on his second re'.iirn. 131 : lavs the fcu:n-
dation of the power of Charles \'., ib. ; promises
Columiuis to furnish him with ships for a third voy-
age, ib. : dis.ipi'ointed ih.it his newly discovered
possessions h.ive not become a source of proht, Kki ;
assaulted by the clamors of rulhans who b.id re-
turned from llispaniola, ib. ; his ingrattiide 10
Columbus becomes evident, ib. ; listens to the
rebels who had been permitted to leturn to S[)ain,
170: sends out a commission to inquire into the
conduct of Coliiriibus, ib. ; reprobates the conduct
pursued ag.iinst Columbus, and invites him to court,
177 ; promi--es to restore him to all his rights and
privileges, ib. ; his icihuisy aw.ikened at the dis-
coveries of the l.nglish and I'ortiiguese, 170; his
ingratitude tj Columbus, ib. ; listens to the pi eject
■' 'J:' I
'l'': !
; if 51
.'til
INDI'X.
of Columlnis for a foiirlli v.iy;ii;(\ i=f' ; lii« ini;r;iti- I C.r.ina.lM, .liscr.vorv <>(. i.)i
tilde more t'vimcd on llu' ntiirn
f ('(iluinlui'i (lr.i|H-vincs, very liixiiri.int, foiiml in C
from his last voy.i^jc, 2;:i. erert-; .i iiioiuiiiu-iii , lirii'ul.iiiil, asscttiiuis ri'l.iiivc In its ihwi
over Cohiinliiis, 2JS . his loiKhut to Don l)iet,'o, | Sciiuliii ivi.iiis, js;.
ColiiMiliiis's son, 237 ; I'on
vcrv [
sents that Don Die^n ' tlranada, surrender of, 30
sliouli
unincni-e a process ae,ains
t him before the ' Iniadaloupe, islaiul of, disrovcreii. So ; h,
Council of ilie indies. 2311 ; the defence set up,
separates the Istlnmis ot D.
provinces, 2\- ; deatli, il
Fernandez, (J.irci.i, pliysician
irieii into iw.i f,'real
niture, etc.
cannib.ds.
d the
natives, ,-1
it).
C'oliinilnis revisits il, 1 .
ilescri[ition
iisfi,!
I'll-' islana, ,
1 ; women 1
>f I'.ilos, his ac
It of tiuacin.inaii, C,icii|ue of llisp.mio
iL,
a. sciuls.i
Columbus at tlie i^ate of tile convent on Ins first i to Colimil)Us, 5,0 : receives ilie .S|
itcisaj
arriv.il
in ."^iJ.un, Jo ; testiinonv <
'f, rel.itive to I'in-
U're.it courtesy,
ib.
sheds tears
Fi
, lavme, an eminen
letler to C'liliimbiis, l>.t.
t Lipid. I
suost.mce o
f his
slupwrei
if C"olumbus, ST : his assi
'.ii'.i.inii n
nil k'Jtninj ui I
Festiv.d, religious, of a llavtian Caciipie, dcycriplion
of, ()('i.
Fiesco, Bartholomew, embarks with Meiidez from
and kiiiilni'ss, ii). ; invites Columl
iMdilfc, il:
<lence.
manners o
'US fi |;;s «,
h.i
f Unld
pro'-iires a Kr''-'' qu. unity of ^
previous to his depiriure lor Sp.iin, ih.
cousin to ^reel Columbus on his so
•I'liaMy, u,
T lilC KB'-;
^onii ra
ciiiul :iir;v;.'
Jamaica l.> llisp.mio
moments of Columbus,
ous, 1 12.
.1, 2oi , attends the last his suspii'inus conduct duriiii; llic liisiMtrail
N'.ivid.iil. So ; visits C'tdumbus's si
Fish, curi
Fishiiii;, curious mrthod of, 105
Fonsec.i, |uan Kodrii,'ue/. de, appointed superinteni
If"
ent of Indi.m afi.iirs, 74
dilferc'iuc with Columbus,
of Columbus
;j ; writes a ci
1 h.ir,icter, it),
rnpedes the .ilf.iirs
lid letter to Colum-
bus, bv order of the sovereii;ns, 101
Columbus's letter
to M
Die!
"•4
liaseness fully disphiyed, Ids : supposed to h.ive in-
stil:. ited the violent measures ot li.>'.,idi!!.i, 175;
mires u captive Carib wonuin, lU. ; l;is j^-
into the interior, S,s ; his mysterious ii/iiiltc'.ti;
tinned, 102 ; refuses to partake in ihc ii,.ir ■>;:<
by Caonabo, ot exlerniinatim: the S|«ir.i,if ;>,[;•
incurs the hostility of his tellovv Ciuia-. ;:
visits Columbus duriiiL; his sickness, .iiu! ;:;;,~
him of a leai;iie foimed ajjainst liim, i' i^s5
Cnlunibus in his expedition ajjaiiist ihu In ;i,ii:(ii-.:
\'ei,M, I2t ; is present at a b.iiile. i;j, ir, hs:
haired of all the Cuiiiues. ib. : is ncvetiniltss. •
d to luive lieen the
throws impcilim"nts in the
fourth voyaiie, isj. suppos-
cause of ( )vando's ilisi;r.u'e, 2\~ : by order of Ferdi- (
nand, establishes a court, ca led the Ri.y.d Au li-
.ly of Columbus's ji'dlcil to p.iy nibule. 1 J j; t.ikes lef
t.iins
nes 111 misery. 124
I li:ii.i
11, m. I. reyardei
ith di
ii;ust by liii; S|i.iiii,r
ence, ib. ; becomes interested in
slave tr.ide, 27.1 ; his opposition to
an account of, 2
tlicy coni|uer their prejudice, 1.(0
lUinuini; the du.inij
I, di
scoverv
I..1S C
llu.iiir.i, C.iciiiue, liuiUed like a wilil ben't.
character of, ib.
'I
mdiict ' ward h,l^^;el
to C;)rte/, ib. ; accused of having loiiu'iited a cuii- > I lii.irionex, Cai i(|ue of the re
spir.icy to ass.issin.Ue Cortez. ib.
Fountain of pure water in the sei. 21' .
Frani'iscans. the order hrst introduced into the N'ei
L'ivf his ;l,'.;.,i
Columbus, and is prevailed on l'
tc Dk'k'o Coll III. the iiuerpreler. 1 i-: pcriiiilsO..
1 us to build a fortress, in.
cliar..cier n!. 1;;:
Fueg
mits to the
iinin.uion (d the .'>;
land of, seen bv C oluaibus.
pelled 10 p.iy triluite, il
oilers M (■
nil:'.
lie fu:
retusei
I, ib.
the l',ilct-:iis:ii. .\-;
till
(j.iilevs, \'etietian. capture of. by Culoi
yoiini;er, 24'i.
(jama. N'.isiiuez dc-. doubles the C.ipe of (;(>od llnpc
and oi)ens anew road Inr the tr.ide cii ilu- ['..ist, ij
M.iri.i, etc., 1.(7
1
rei,i])ses, ;i
nd till
econies incensi
for desiriyi".LJ some
ciinspirc
ed at several Indi,!ns if::
to
Ljes, lb. ; l.ikis
assassinate llie >p.i!ii;ir!
■4"
spiracv with Kolil.in
IS p.irloiun, I
b.
eiilcrs int < ;
;i)l;.uii'
■ I the .\dci
i!;l;ii:(. p;
(jarcia,
Harrantes, his condmt durnii; the con-
spiracy of Rold.iii, 151.
(i.irdens, the, coast so <:d!ed, l^'i.
puts a Caciipie to death, l~\ ; llies ii. the i;:.i,;r.U:r>
of Ciiju.iy, ib. ; is compelled tcj retire ini 1
lesi)|,ite pl.ices
ib.
L-i/eil and taki-n i"
to Fort (■
Kini.; s, isl.mds, 50.
t)iieen's. islands ol.
inception, if"
St 111 a luirr.iaiii
, the
G.ito, I'.iuh
I lesp
"4-
Ciu.iticpi.ma, .1 C,ni(|ue ol ll.iyt
I. 1
u'.s
tcr,
t > de.ith. and sets lire to a In use, I H'
eriaii, oliservations m respect to, 2si.
iiuov.ir:
Don
leriiamlo iie,
U!
I species oi monkey. 141
ji^uainota.
I
in tiic ilivi-i,
An. I
c.ion.a. 111.
.ind sent tw >aii llniiiii.;
(ieno I, Columbus shows t;reat respect
(ientlemen. the pass of, a ro.id so calle
Cieraldini, Alexandria and .-\ntonio, warmly entiT into Ciitierrez. I'edro. his ci'iiiluit .ifler the
1
t lulf Slream, i.ti.
the views of (^ilumbus, 24 ; they intrn luce
the .-Xri-hbishop ol Toledo, ib
(jold (VS'estern), discovereil lirs
t in .St. S.ilvai!
liim to
or, .\}
Ccillllllbus
specimens of virii;in ore (oiui 1 in the interior of Hi
de.itli 1.1. ill.
II.
p.miohi, <)0 : particles founi
and pieces, 1^5.
11 llie streams
94
Harnacs, used bv the natives of lAunia.
. tribute of, 122.
mine discovered in
remarks on the i'eriplns 1
n
Ins evidence rel.i
l;vc t.>;
127
in.iss 01.
'iiiperstitinus
which wei;.'hed 3'ioo casli llanos, :
notions in respect lo. 11)4; ^Mlhered friiin the roots I Hawk's bells, deliLdit of the liaytians
il.iro, Hernaldo de,
covery of the coast of i'ar.a bv Coliiinl'tis
il.iti liels of iron, said to l.e found .11 tluai"'!
»;,ir.ni.
if the trees in \'er:
(i
\<\
ii;ii 1 ]<,'
.irriv.il .it, ill
(iods of the I iaytians, .
(ioiii,ir,i. Fern irido I,'
•4. b4.
avn.i, mines
of. di
ch.iri;': relative li
of ('oiumiiU'i. 2;'
pez di-, eNaniinalion of his
pilnl's h.ivin^' died
leriry, i'rince of i'ortui;,il, projjress 1
under, lo ; account of, ib :
,f lliS.
II the house
ircumiiaviuablc
ib
conceives
siders
(he idf.ll'f !"'■
1 ill explores part of the inleriir o( His
r'turns to Spain, ili.
joiirds introduced into
paniola.
the tr.ide of the ii.ist, 11 ; est.iblishes a
It .S. litres, Ib,
|.lV.lh'.i!
.ivti.
Gracias a Dios, c
ape of, l:!ij.
')')■
j I lenry \' II . ot lvn,t;lai
writes
a f.ivor.il.i'
Columbus
Herbs, Furopean, introduced in llispaniou. ri
Ijlor'^ri. .Antonio lie. ■
«:,!llli:S. -/'I • "',
;„,, -,.n,.nUr.' '1
' 1 'I'-. :"■ . ,
H, .ce llisji."""'''
, .iH, ilcstni'ii'"',
|a;niiuii imp'"*'''.
jib., hicy cnici- 1'
thi' 'i"!"' ''-' ■
111' ,,
|iil,„o'3. 1 ompe''^';
Tla'.iiisii; liicM'tiic;
(uriviiiailion a^Ml•
[abH'na-oilnsiin't:
hi;;;..aiuiu.diii:;hler
P.imIIc:"''"'!'"'^' '
|ii^;i.iil,illl.i, •' I'-'Iual'
0\.iiul>i. -JIT. ^
|Ji(;i;i'V. iloiiiain "t.
: p, , IK.iii.los «.ii
ciMWi-lcr >'t the 1"
! (i.-iri've.l. ill. ; si:i
:i- : .md si.iiiuhii ^
tln.r iiiwiis. li - :
coiicimI ihci'isi'vi
huaicii like Wild I .
Hi),; iiCiu.. error n;,
^Hi-.cii"'-'. discover',
• '.■.o\. ■'■:; di-scri:
tr.'.' ciiuMtry. F? I '
iorui III t;iiveriiiiui
c'n.iri;c'ii(c;innon, i
(iMii.iiiis into v.hv
nii-lrcpiilis ui the >•
Un the aiuieiU '
miiulicis of the n
thtMV.iritc oi the u
jHmniiifa-. C.i[ic (li.
;.;;i.iuii,inis, lU.
iHiM'.cy :i!iil was ioiin.
{H.tm's, (uir o! the I
s;;k>1 liy then .ii d
!,-.,irk,il)le line whic
,:,i\iul, .•111.
Ih.dva, .Moiizn S,iiii
,: ril in the linuse (
kHu'ita. I..1. acli«htli
I'li.
[Hu:ii':i ^ilt. liis accnu
• i;a!u-i:i side ol l
ii,uaii:nis. :'n\.
H;.:r;' Miles, s: liloni
:.. il ll.ivl', 1J7
■lUS t 1 II, 11).
'. ..;.!. Cnhiinbu.s
..!M.Tilli|lS .(.i.ltUI
!i,i'. i.iiis. j;|i.
Iniprt'sMciciii resort
li'iii.iii-., siv t.ikeii f
'■.i.iii.. I 7 ; an
1,1111. ili:. I ilesu'es
I...4.
I iliiii, .1 p.iii 111, seel
i ls.ii;i'il.i, disc iverv
, i''ilii'ess, 111,1
[■• riii^.i". .'V
--, ijiitreii 111 .Nri
[:nHiii;cinemsol,
i'j ; repairs to
tli'Oiiie to (j,illi
tempt 10 ass,iss
nieniled ut her I
IXT .iLiuty in 111;
iM)i;x.
.'05
l||„. M Antonio (Ic. n short .uToii'it of his life ami
u" • ""ii,.n Upn lit. I:'!* iiiissicii to tlu- loutt of
Sc'c'llis|Mniiila\ clisi-oviry (if. ?i.
' -li (icstiii'iidii lit ilifir fii.iiuiLTs, cusiiims, rr-
'' ,',..,• ,,i , ilicir <h.irii(tL'r, t)> : dcfi-atfil in
'.' itlic "'It till-' ViK^i. 1-'; s-ulijilKaliHl, I2J;
.' ;iii iiii|ios<!.| U|Hiii llicMii, ill. ; llit-'ir ilfS|i.iir,
.,1 ilii'V ("liT i'"" •'" assuciatiiiTi to (Ifsliciy
[thr >ii.|s, 1"-'. ili^' <-"Vil> I'lil "I"'" llicmscivo,
bjji_.,,; ,,impelliil ai Ilayii m sli.in- the ciimtDiiii
I la! "!'• ill ih^' ^^■"'^■"" '"■'''• • <-!i'"." "•■■ "f ''"'. '"" ;
((ini' .1 1.i'!i"" :'i;'i"-l '>i»-";<" f'lliiinlnis, .Iuhii.l; llic
jai/'i:H-L' (it Ills himhcr, i K.
BiR!:..!miii. 'i "i^'"'"'' "' t-'adiialio falls in lnvc witli
floii ili-;ii.inilii ill- lim-v.iia. i^;.
gii;;i,in.iiii... i iviu.iic f.ii li|in.-, liaiujfd 1 y nnlcr iif
> Oi.i:i.;". ^I7.
Bini'v. ilmnain of. ii.( ; ili.iracttr nf its inhabitants,
i il). : (K.iIkIu's w.ir wuh the natives, 'J17 ; martial
I cKiMi.!i.r .it !lif jici'iili-, il . ; miiltiiuiU's uf them
triAt':!, ill. ; Mil' lur (iiMft'. ili. ; ai;.iin revolt,
:i-:,in.l ^i.llll;llll'■ ihcir tvraiits, ib. ; sitii.itinn ui
ihcr tfuviis, li ■ ; arc ilfft-ati'il and comiiclk'd In
coiicimI tht'tiisi iVL'S ill tlic l.istiu'sscs, ib. ; arc
hciiii-ii liki' wil.i I caj-ls, ji.).
Hi|ii,iK:ai., iTii.r 'it, m rcsiicct df Africa and Iiidi.i,
9iS|.i.'iliil.i, (lisi'fivcry nf, ft ; cause cf its bcini; so
Ciiiiol. =.' ; ili>iri|.t;(iii ol tile iiih.ibiianls, ili. ; of
thi' country, 55 , tr.insactior's with the n.ilivcs, 57 ;
form of i;iivcriiiiicnt, 5S ; al.irm created liy a dis-
ch.irijeiif cannon, ili. : nciier.il description of, i|?, ijd;
iliiiii;iiMS into which il w.is divided, it); made the
nietri'p.ilis uf the New World, ili. ; thought to li.ivc
ki'ri the ancient ("phir, ijS; ,in account ot the
niinilii'is (if the n.itives who perished, vie tints to
ihiMvaricc (li the whites, .'i? ; ceded lo the French,
floM.iiira--, C.ipe ui. discovered liy Columbus, l.--,S ;
i;;h.(UU,ints, ih,
[liiiicy :i!iil wax iiUKicI ,it Ciii.id.diiupe, .-^2. 1 .' ),
|HotM-s, fiar of the ll.iytiaus cf, (|i), Icji ; icrri.r in-
si'iiod ley thc'in .il the b.ittlc cl t!ie \'e,!;a, 1 _• t ; a re-
nt.irkiihle one which niovcil in c airvels to the music
of ;i \Hi\, :'ii,.
jHudva, AiiiM/o .S,un he/ c!e. the jMldt, f.ibied to li.ive
I ciit'd 111 the liou.-e ol I'olutuiius, j;-,,
jHui'tla. I.,i, delii;!itliil island ol, i^.j ; inhaliitaius of,
ill.
|Hum:i ^i.lt, Insaicnitit of ihr present condition of the
>^i;il!ii-i:i side' ol t 111,,!, io(. ; aci cjuiit cif the loute of
('iiii.aiiiius, J.'.',.
|Hi.rr;',incs, ^: lilcm Uru.uti ;n Cuba, .;- ; ,1 violent
.. .ill.ivt', 1:7, re:!e(lions of ihe ll.i.vtians pre-
■''..s t ) It, ,,,,
I.
• :■■•■■. (oliiiiibiis siipposecj to h.ive visited, !■) ;
•;>(-Tii..ns iil.itive to us discovery bv the Scandi-
'l-.'.i.iiis, j;;.
l-ii'rtjssi.ient resorted to on CoUmdiiis's third vov-
'^■'''ii:-, M. t.ikeii itoiii the N'cjv World ; arriv.d of in
"i"''''' ' " • ''i(-' b.ipti/ed, 75; ,in Indi.in of
i.iiM.aca desuvs Coiumbus lo lake him to Spain,
['■■11 ,. [MM ,,l. seen ,,; (iuadaloupe, St.
'^■li'i'.u, ..ISC- cverv o! ihe isLituI of, s,,.
■ r'i!i| CSS inatri.ine of, with the heir .ipparenl of
^-. l»i'fvn 1,1 Arnnon an.l C.islile, . haracter of, 2', ;
:^i!«iiicMnenlsoi, ,,n ihe arrival of Columbus in .Spain,
1 . repairs to the seat of war in (ir.m.uia, ib. ;
»■■'"■«■ to (..illicia and Salamanca, 2( ; an at
'■"'I't tc. asvissmate her, 27 ; Columbus recom-
■■"■t'c: t.i herbv the Marchioness of Mova, ib. ;
'■^'•"^Mlyni iniluary affairs. 2s ; receives' a letlcr
from the prior of L.i Raliida, 20 ; invitus Colum
litis lc> court, V) ; I.uis de St. .An^jel re.isons with
her, 31 ; si>;iiities her assent, ib. ; declares her
rfsoluiioii to pawn her jewels lo defray the ex-
penses, ib. ; her enthusiasm in the cause, ib. ; her
motives. 32 ; her joy al IcarniiiH ihe success of
Columbus, 71 : her reieplion of him, -2; her
ze.d for the welfare of the Indians, 75 ; her an.xieiy
in respei I to the conversion of the llavlians, 121^;
humaneiv prevents the llayliaii sl.ivcs from beim;
sohi lo shivery, ib. ; crders them to be sent b.a k to
llayti, ill. ; enters into the \ lews of Coluiidius m rc-
s|iccl to a third voyage, 132; her humane diiei lions,
133 ; de.ilh ol her son. Prince Juan, 134 , makes
Columbus's iwo sons her pa^;es, ib. ; lej^ins lo
doubl the conduct of Columbus, Hmj ; olfinded at
his pertiiiddty in making slaves of the Indians
taken in w.ir, 17" ; orders all those sent to Spain U>
lie restorccl to their country and friends, ib. ; ((in-
senls to the sendini; out a ccjinmissioii to invi stiijatc
his conduct, ib. ; tilled with sympathy and indi^;-
n.ilioii on re.idini; Columbus's letter to I)ori.i dc la
Toire, 170 ; invites him lo (ourl, I77 ; is moved lo
te.irs at beholding him, ib. ; her concern for the
welf.ire of the Indi.ms, iSt ; listens with com-
plac'eiK y to the (iroposiiion of Columbus for.i fourth
vc.y.iv;e, l'~3; receives the news of the sanijuiiiary
acts ot Dv.indo with horror and indiHiialion, 222 ;
exacts a promise from the kin>^ ihal he shall be
superseclcd in ihe ijovcrnnu'nt. ib, ; causes of ihe
melancholy under wliic h she labored, 224 ; her
death, ib. ; ami character, ib.
J.
).aniaic.-\ disrovcrecl by Columbus, 103 ; the natives
receive Columbus in a hosliliMiumner, 103 , Colum-
bus I. ikes possession of it, ib. ; amicable inter-
course with the natives, ib. ; their ch.ir.icler, ib. ;
iheir canoes, ib. ; subiiii;;ilej by lion I)ii'.i;o, 23s.
, Ca(ic|ue of, visits Columbus, ancl offers to ^;o
ancl do homage to the king and (pieen ol Spain, III",
this (.|"fer ev.ided by Columbus, ib.
I.ip.m (Cipangol. M.^rco l'(do's account of il, c'.^.
j.isper, specimens found among the mountains of
Cibao. c).}.
lere/, [<c)clrigo de, sent up the isl.ind of Cub.i by
Columbus, 4S ; account of his journey, 4).
jews not allowed lo establish themselves in the colo-
nies, or underl.ike voyages of discovery, 1^1.
John of .Xnjou, .111 accounl of his expedition against
Naples, 240,
II.. King cif I'ortug.d. the passion for maritime
discovery revives under. lc) ; sends missions in quest
of I'resler-lohn, ib. : receives a proiiosilion of a
vovage of discoverv trim Coliimbus, 20 ; refers it
to a juiilo and his council, who report it to be vision-
arv, lb. : consents lo use an imwarraiit.dile slrata-
gem. 21 ; desires to renew the negoli.ition with
Columbus, ib. ; who refuses, .iiid (jtiits I'orltigal, ib, ;
invites Columbus to I'orUlg.il, and promises protec-
tion, 27 : invites Columbus on his return from the
New World, b.S : his jealousy excite. 1 ib. ; his
.irniament, 76 ; his :Hgolialions wilh Kerdinaiid in
respect lo the new discoveries, ib. ; his idea in re-
spect to a continent m ihe southern ocean, ib.
Josephus. his opinion rel.ilive lo the gold used in the
Temple of jerus.ilem, lc|(i.
lu.m, I'rince.'his nupti.ds, 132 ; his death, i'',4.
'iiian.i, Oueen of Castile, ariiv.d of, 227 ; promises a
prosperous t-.-rmination to the suit of Columbus, ib.
iimladf Desc.irgos, the cl.iims ol Columbus referred
lo the. 220.
K.
Kings. Moorish, of lir.in.ul.i. one of them surrenders
his pretensions lo I'erdiiiand, 2,S ; the other sur-
renders (iran.ida, 30.
Kircher, .■\lli.ui.isius, his opinion relative to ihe ir.iv-
els of Marco I'olo. 21.7,
'■i
! I'iili
i.'
II ^iHii
H'Mifc
i'r
W Iri
mS
hi 1 ■
.!i! «1.
• ;■ '-I ••
' t."
! !i
i>
290
i\i)i:x.
• I
1 ^'ii:
Labrador. (Ii«rovproil bv Scbasii.in Cibot. 1;^.
Lactatilius. pass.iLiP <iiiotnl from, lo |>ri>\c llic mipos-
siliilUv I'l ibfrt- lifiii« .iiiti|ii>cli's, J?.
L.ipis l.i/iili. spi'cinuMis (uiiinl am. mi; lb.- iiuuiii-
t, litis of Cibao, 1)1.
UhIi-mh.i, IV.Iro, Ins gallant coivliu t, l.|.) ; involv.s
himsrll ill I'orras's iinniiiv, ami ri-icivfs a imilti-
tiiili' of woiimls, 2 1 J ; is assassinatnl, ib.
I.cpi', Dicijo (If. ilis.dvers mori- of thi.- soutlu-rii lon-
liiiciit than any voy.ik;cr of bis day. i;'^.
I.im'ai;i' of CliristophiT ('ohimbiis. an airouiit of, 2.(-.
Loniliards, ibc fxli'iil of tluir trailc, ll.
I.opc/. luaii. bis roiitoiure with ("oiaban.inia, 2i>).
i.ots for pd^;riIIl.ll,'l■s, dr.iwuik' ot, *>-,.
Liixan. Iiiaii di-, bis excursion amoni; ibi- inouiuaiiis
of Cibao, ijj.
M.
Macham. bis discovery of Madeira, to ; an aicount
of liis adventures, 2-}.
M.ideira, an account of tbe discovi'ry of ibe isl.md .if,
Magellan, electrical li^bts seen durin^' bis voyage on
the masts of ships, So.
Maiju.mi, domain of, an account of, 114.
M.ihoi,Mny, c.ini>es m.ide of, 103.
M.ii/.e. ciiiliv.iled in li.iyti, i)"^.
Maiailies of the Sp.mi.irds m llayti, > ), <■)'-).
M.ilaua, su'ne .md c.ipture of, 27.
M.ildon, 1,1(1, Don Alonzo, appointed Alk'uazil-mayor in
tne pl,ice of Kold,in, in llisp,iniol.i. \^\.
-, .Melcbor, visits ("lU.icanagari, S(i ; proceeds
aloni; the coast, .■>.S,
Make Uriin, bis conjecture rel.Uive to Columbus con-
sidered, 257.
Man, origin of, accorvling to the Il.iytians, 117.
Manicaotex, succeeds C.ionabo, 120 : ( oiiini.inds in a
battle, 121 ; is c,.n(jU( red .ind sues lor pea( e, 122 ;
compelled lo pay half a calaliasb of gold every three
months, ib. ; .issembly (^f the C.i('i(|ues .it his bouse
to prefer compl.iints ag.iinst Columijus, 127.
Mandeville, Sir John, a short a( count of his travels,
2(iS ; held in great authority by C(.)luiiibus, 2'i').
Mangon, a province of Cuba, 10;.
Map, I'.iulo Toscanelli's, used by Columbus on his
first voyage, if).
M.ips, a great improvement made in, 12.
Marble, masses of, found among the mountains of
Cib.io, 1)4.
Marcoiini, his account of F.stotil.m 1 and Drogeo, 25'i,
Margarita, island of, discovery of, 141.
— — of .Austria, her nuptials with Prince Juan, 1 ;2.
Margarile. I'edro, recomniended to a ciin.m.ind bv
Colunilius, ()() ; made commander of the fortress
of St. Thomas, ij; ; sends an .icrount of the coii-
du't of his colony, etc , ()■) ; is invested with the
ciimniand of the forces, i>») ; disreg.irds his in-
structions, mi ; his misconduct during the al)sen( e
(jf Coluiiilius, 114; is censured by I)iego C(dum
bus, 115 ; forms a plan of reluming to Sp.iin, ib. ;
sets sail, ib, ; his ac( usations of Cidunibus at .M.i-
drid, 124.
Mar(iue, Diego, misseiJ at (iiiadaloupe, Si ; his re-
turn, S2 ; is pi, iced under arrest, ib,
M.iria, Santa, discovery of, S2.
M,irien, (himaiii, account of, 114,
Martin \',, i'lipe, concedes to the crown of l'ortui;,il
all the lands it niighl discover from Cape li.ijador
to the Indies, 74.
Maria, Santa, ilis(:overy of, 10?,
M.irlin, Sm, island ol, disi overed, S2.
M.irtyt, i'eter, his account ol Cuba, 50; his descrip-
tion of till- natives of ilispaniola, =: ; sent to the
Soldari of i:gypt to ni,ike arrangements for the con-
servation of the holy sejiiili hre, 1^4 ; short account
of his life and writings, j;!, ; p.issagcs from his let-
ters relative to (dhmibus, ih. ; bis char.icter of
.■\merigo Vespucci, 247.
Marig.il.intc, isl.ind of. ili^rovcry of, Vi
M.ilco, JiMii, .1 ll,uli.in (oiuerteil lu Chri;.,-
147.
M.iuro, conslriKts a cehdir.iled 111. ip, 1;,
.M.iyob.iiiex, C.iciipie of the Ciguav.iiis. r ; 1,,^,,
liex tiles to him lor refuge, 1^4 ; his ,inMvi.ti".',
Adebinl.ido. when desired id give U|i lll;a(.^,^,^
ib. ; is deserted in bis need, isf; ( i)iii|icI1m ;Jt;
ib ; is seized with his wife and children, it. '
Medin,! Cell, Diike o', entert.iins t'l 'uiu! , -•
applic.itioii of Columbus to, ili, , wrii')
(lueen, ib,
, Sidonia, Duke of, application df fi.;umuj;i
22 ; pi. Ill rejected, ib.
Melons intioduced iiilo llayti, ly)-
.Mende/, Diego, his bidd condiici at V(.'nj;;,i. :,, I
I()S ; his reward, 201 ; his meri'orinus ri)n.;j(i 1 1
lamaica, 20? ; his conversation with Coliimt.s,;'.
'undert.iUes logo in ,1 raiioe |o St. Iluiiiiiisn, u
dep.irls with one Sp.mi.ird and six Imliiin^ ~\
narrtnvly escapes being imirdere.l by the I':;,-,! |
of the coast, and returns, 204 : accdunt dI h<
age, 2()ij ; sails for Sp.iin, 213 , his suljscqu;r.! Jj- |
lory, ib.
Mendo/.i. I'edro Cion/.dez dc. See Tolcdi Alt:
bishop of.
Meneses, Don I'edro de, his answer Id the 11 >r.'
Ceuta in respect lo the propriety of m.inicv ,.
coveries, 2o.
Mermaids, three suppo.^ed, seen bv Cnhmi: ls. ':,
McxialriUo, Kodrigo, i ommands the MiWijry a; :;'
m.issacre of X.ir.igua, 210,
Misa, Rio de la, so c. died from lu.iss pcrf(Tii:c.! :.\
banks. 110.
Mollis de Talestridlo, Don.i Felipa, her ni.irri.'.;":.
Colum'ius, 12.
Monte Chiisti, descripition of, ss ; Culuirlus :..:..;
the city of Is.ibella, ib.
Montserr.it, discovery of, S2.
Moors, w.ir against the, 23,
-, none permitted to est.iblish themselves n ;:
colonies or go on voyages of discovery, .'■!
Morales, C.isp.ir, e.xpeditioil of, lo the l',icil .■, :
, Francisco, his evidence relative to the i::v ■■''
of the loast of P.iria by Columbus, 2:".
Mother of pearl found on the coast ol l'ar.,i, i;,
.Moxica, .\drian de, conspiracy of, id, nie;; t./.t- :
dcith of the admiral .ind of Uold 111, i!' : ■ <f
I'.s ; and flung he.idlong from the lutticmrr,.
Fort Com e|ilioii, ib.
Moya, Marchioness of, becomes a fricn.l t'C."
b'us, 27 ; and recoiiiineiids his suit to tlai,ufi::i.
also, 30, 31.
Mul.'itas, islands of, discovered, 2ol
Mules, the employment of, under the s.i.l.ii;
hibited in Sp.iin, 225.
Music of the Il.iytians, i)'^.
.Musici.ms sent t.'. ll.iyli to enliven the -;"' ■'' '
; colony, 134.
N.
N:'mcs, exchanging, an Indian leaKUf
,.f ■a::.
\.iv,irrete, his opiniori rel.itive to the isl.ir- "■
covered by Columlius, 25'),
Navas.i, isl.i'iid of, 210 : fountain mar, il .
' N.ividad. I. a, or the N.itivity. con-truli"" '^';
fortress of, do ; disasters at the fortp-'s, -y.
doned by Columbus, .■^■•, , , ^
Needle, v.iriation of the, lirst noti( ed. -'» ^ ;" ''f ,^
I wdiole point, 1 12 ; Columbus's speci.i.'H '" "■
sped to, 1.13.
! Negroes of Africa intro.luc(>(l into llis[ ..c >' •■
their hrsl revolt, ib. ^. ^.
Negotiations, diplomatic, between the ''H^t''"" '' .'
and Portugal, with respect to the new ■.;i>i">'-
Nc'wfoundl.ind. assertions relative i,. the ihs'-uv")'""
by the Sc.indinavi.ins. 2^5.
I Nicholas, St., harbor uf, 52.
Kif
(■,,v:lc
Nil-'
,, ni*R" '>'■
,|rn ,M"ii'".
, M>:c"f 'l''^"'M
'(.,,. Miter a ai".'i'l
(, : ||l»!i,lMiola.
Olli'T'. '3- , .
Jlov >. iwn '!'■■ l'"* '■'
Ocf,' liiu'o' •ItT'"^
1' •Hi^.C. T'l-
„l ttLilivr I" I "hii|
\Uv\nv. at (.11,11.. I
,,; I,' ihc interiov
1., cll.i, i"i . '''■'"
j.„, l ll) some ll.i:>
1'- , islii'siege I ''
uii liTLik^s li> sei/c|
i,;;,.llic hands el
(.^.tslillll die 'icll
uki'hiiiii'fl. lb : >
tr.;ihcr (if Caoii.ib
0' Iho \cga, 121 .
li;,|,,iiiit'la oil a \
,. hij, \,iyai;c, K'
,.. ; leaves the e
1 >|i,iiii ivith .1 '
i;pM.rivir of New
aiL-iisiiig KKolo'l
rr:,il;ve to the d''-
( iiimhus, J-o
Or,., Rio del, crS.iii:
Otto. Moiis , lem.ivk
re'.;itiv(; 10 Martin
■ 0..<n.io. Don Nich.
I'.nludilia, 17') ; ''
^t.mted to, ill. ; 'i
silk, prei ious st.Jii
St. D.imingo and
ri-;;isesto ;et C'lin
tiTHHis fondu. I 1
!,iiri;iua, 210 . a
,111:1 oppression,
under itic 1 ivil pc
(.j.etifoiis of, 215
inn hi* he, 111 that
r.:; his .itleiiiiaiils,
,i;', tliC t'.iiiiines
',;; ; anil causes
li.,ni;e(l. 217 , his
iiiitonimatc liidi,
(liiiimeiiioration
s^.iiiist the nativi
Iheiii to he slaui
l.jrnt. ib, ; li.ing-
I''. . ruiises '>'"> I
in iir.e 'Iwelling i
Ci.ii:nilui> on hi
hvrioTiiital (mill
(Hicdo lion/.ilo I'
liic ,in i writings
Oyters. in the Ciii
ra,in.i;rove trees,
Ojcini, river of,
1: .V-, 1(4.
Pai iS tne port, w
tx'|ii"litiiin, yi, ;
P.ilii'.s I'.ipe ul, 1
Pan..., Ivmian. l.il
P.irailiie, observe'
trial, 2S1 ; of tl
Pariu, ihill of, C
'lescr.; tion of
naiivi's, ib. ; ci
.<t i;^4f^i4(_iJ-AjjsiU
INDF-X.
Oft*»
)f, V)
'■'1 I" Chris
'«-"^t
1'. 1 ;.
ilV.iiis, 1 \ 1
Ilis .inMf,..
iill,
1 . •;,
• '"m|iciit.;
■-to.
1^ <-'''ii(iil'
,.
'• ; wriifs
■ ,
' "f Ci.ium-,.
ifh ('"lumi.s,,;.
"!>( Iii-Im<. :■,'
CDUm i.'i h J r .
is su!.sf';;;.T;:;.
r lo ihf li •
of in.ini:"
Ciiliim:L,v •;.
^ l'i-il<r:ri
licr iii.irriJi,- 5
f-'i'Iuir!'i.s :' .:
iverv. J- 1
Ik- I'.ici;,. . ■
e II) the !:;■
II l'.ir:,i. i;.
''' , riic: i,i;t<;:;
II. i'' ; ■- <('.:t:.
II-' iMttifnifru J.
iilvn.i :■ (. ■
In till- >,.;;::.
■ iMaiij ■:•'■
: it.
■tri) lii'ii "; :
trt'ss, M. •-•
, 2n : ill' :''!'■
-i-i.l.ili I" "
louris 111 ■■■; '
ew disii'vcr
K' dis'-uccry
Ifif..'
PifK"! lie. appointed governor <>f (ioldcn
ilin ivilr'! Al')n/o.!>.iil!ifor lliiyti. 130 ; im.lcrlakcs ^ 1
•'"' ' < .1:^ ..ri- ;iiul ri-iurns from ihi! ttcarl ■ I'.ii
-; .liter
iliMiiviTV, ami rfiurns from ihi; pearl
a iiia.iliv<' viiyaKr, \h. ; arrives at Cadiz
Hoy.
Ili-iii.iiiiiil.i,
■. ',52
tl.lM '
Willi .1 luiiiilicr lit
his esrape l')' diving',
Indian pris-
)•!■
o.
\-
1;
Ull
Qjc,,.. line of (Icm.vrkaiion of the, l.i iweeti Spain and
r r'.iig.ii. T'l. . /.,,•,
Oder ^". iliiiiiniCMls in (he possession "f tlie f.iiiiily
oi 'iLiiivr III (■iihiiiilnis, H?.
i Oic.1.1 Dun .Mon/o de. goes in S(rarrh of Dietio
' M .r' IK', 'it (■uail.iliiiipe. >2 : his expedition t<i ex-
,', ir'ih'i' interior of llispaniida, Hi); sallies from
i.ll,i, i(i| , . h.ir.Kler of. ili. ; his rondiict in re-
: uVsiimr li.i\ti.in thieves, 11). ; character of,
;s lifsieKel liy Cion.iliii. it).; anetdnte of, ill. ;
;cri.ikis In »vif'- CaniLitio. and deliver him alive
.,., ilic hiiiiiN of Ciilimihus. iih ; visits him. ili. .
pi;..Ts Imii '.111- Sell of Naliclla, ili.; his Mr.ita>;em to
U^f hiin iifT. ill ; ri)ni|iiers in an ent.;,iv,'enK lit with a
brulhcriif C'aon.ihn, 1 U) ; his rondiu 1 at the liallle
0! 'ilie \ina, IJI , arrives at the western p.irt of
Il;-]i,iniiil.i iin a voyage of discovery, U>.\ ; eanse
c! Ins v.iyaijc, K'S : his mamruvres with Kuldaii,
V . Itavi-s the island with a tlireat, il>. ; returns
I. ,S|i.iiii with a liriive of sl.ivcs, ih. ; .ippointed
gnvirnur nf New .Andalusia. 2^^ : fails in his nn-
dcrt.ikiiii,' liii'iil'i'ii/i' llial eoimtry, ili. , liis tvidem e
relalivc III the disrovery of the coast of I'.iria liy
C. 'iniliii". --II
Ori'. Rii jcl, <T S.intiaiio. discovered. (12.
Otl'. y.i'i's . ii-m.irks on his letter to l)r
rel;iliv'.' Ill .M.irtin Mehem. 255.
,,0.<in<i'i Dull N'lthiilas ilc. chosen to supersede
Holijiiilia, 171) ; character of, ill. ; ^reat privileges
grinlid 111. ill. . his Meet, l.si ; allowed to we.ir
silk, prii inns st.ines. etc., ih. ; sails, 11). ; reaches
St. DiiminK'n anl .issunies the novernmeiu, l^o;
refuses III let (iiUimluis lake shelter, ih. ; his inys-
teriiiils romhii I to Columlius in his distress at
J:imaii';i, 210: an ai < ount of his administr.ition
and iipprcssinn. .11. suffcrintrs of the n.itivcs
under the iivi! policy of, ih. ; view of the iDJIitarv
o|,i'r:iriins of. 'Jij , visits ..Xn.ii .lona. 215 ; takes it
inir his be.iil that she intends to m,iss,icre him and
.".li his .ittcnil,inl>. -mO ; seizes An.n.iona and burns
a;! tliL- (.".uii|ik's, ih. ; massacres the popul.ice,
ii; ; iinil causes .Anacaona to lie innominiously
li.ini,eit, ji; . liis further atrocious conduct to the
unloruinatc Indians, ili. ; fminds Santa .Maria in
ci:.nii!!cnior:itinii of his atrocities, ih. ; w-i^-es war
3^.iin>t Ihc natives of lliijuey, ih. ; causes many of
them to be sl.uiijlitcred and their chieftains to be
t'jrnt ib , li.im;s a female C.iciiiue of distinction,
1 , iLHisc!. 'iMi Indi.ms of S.ion.i to he imprisoned
in line iiwellinn anil put to ihe sword, ib. ; receives
Ciii;nihiis on his arriv.d .it St. 1 )ominL;o with ,111
hvr''iriliv;:ii (.nliteness. 22 1
I'rankbn
tion/.iio Kern, 111 iiv. de, a short account of his
.iM i wn!ini;s, 27^.
'^y«li"'rs, ill the I'.iilf uf I'.iria, round the roots of the
maiii.;rove trees, 1 V).
iO.--iT!i. r.ver of. and the country throUKh which it
Ovicild t
n
!!■
•• 1 )4.
P.i. '« ttie port, whence Columbus sailed on his first
e-spi-'litiiin, ;; , present state of, 71).
i.ilii'.s r,ip,. „i^ di.'.covercd, ^^.
';iii'-. Rnni.m, l.ibors to convert the llaytians, 147.
l'ira.liie, obsiTvations on the situation of the lerres-
tf'^". 2.S1 ; „(the llavti.ms, ,,7
'•'ri^. i>ulf of, Ciilimibus's voyage llirouRh the, 13.S ;
'"!^lr.^ti(nl (if the coast of, ' I ^7 ; maimers of the
Mt'vcs, ib. , current uf the sua, 143.
Parrots, first seen in the western hcnuspherc, 43 ;
lar^je flights of seen, (s ; found on the 1 oast of
I'.iria, II),
I'.irtilion. pap.d bull of, 73 ; line of removed, 7').
I'.iss.imonte, Miv;uel. becomes an enemy to Don
hicno Coliinibiis, 237,
I'j'arls, the Ciiilf of, 140,
— ol Cuii.iKua. I ti). 141.
I'edrarias, .See I).iv...i,
I'epper, A^i. <i\.
I'erez, ,\lon/o, discovers land in Columbus's third
voy.iite, 13;.
, Fray jiian, prior of the convent of I. a Rabid.i,
entert, litis Columluis on his hrst entry into Spain,
2') ; nives him letters of introduction to the (|ueen's
confessor, and educ.ites his son. ib. ; reception <>i
Cohiinbus, ib. ; writes to IJueen Isabell.i, ib. ; in-
vited III court, ib, ; pleads the 1 .iiise of Columbus,
30 ; receives a visit from Columbus after his suc-
cess, 33.
I'hilip. Kin^; of Castile, listens to ihe ri'ipiest .of
Columbus, and [irondses a prosperous termination
to his suit, 227,
i'ii;eons. wood, vast numbers sei.n on the south side
of Cuba, 107,
I*ilk;rimai;es. lots 'or, drawini; of, 05, (17,
I 'dot. observations on the rumor of a pilot having died
in the house- of Columbus, 2>i,
Pineapple first met with. Si.
Pini-s, isl.md of. discovered by C'olumbus, lo.S,
I'inos, Isl.i de, disi overy of, 1-7.
I'iiita, desertion of, jsl.
Pinziins, family of, they cn.ilde Columlius to offer to
bear one ei;;hlh of the ( h.irye ot the expedition, and
to add a third ship to the .irinament, 32 ; their
activity and interest in the voyaije, 33 ; furnish
Columbus with money to defr.iy the eiijhlh sh.ire of
the expense, ib, ; accounl of their f.iniily, 70,
note.
Pin/on, Martin .Monzo, offers to be.ir the expenses of
Columbus in a renewed apiilication to the court,
2i) ; his opinion relative to the ne,irness of I.md,
)i> ; begins to lose confidence in the course they
are piirsuini,;, ib. , crediting; the accounts of the
Indi.ms in respei t to a very rich island, deserts
and noes in se.in li of it, 51 ; Columbus meets him,
( 2 ; his apology, ib, ; account of his proceedin),'s,
ib. ; his duplicity becomes more eviilent. ib. , his
arrival at l',ilos. tn) ; effect of his treacherous con-
ihict, ib, ; his de.ilh, 70 ; rellections on, ib, ; ob-
serv.itions rehitive to the sujiposed idea of Colum-
bus owinv; to him the success ot his f^re.il enter-
prise, 252 ; his character, 253.
, Vicente Yanes, obtains ,1 license for voyages of
discovery. 125 ; sails on a vny.ii^e of discovery, 1 7*^ ;
discovers the Hrazils, ib, ; is .illowed. as a rew.ird,
to colonize and ^jovern the Kinds which he h.id dis-
covered, ib,
Pl,inis(ihere of Martin lUhem. 35.
I'liny, his notice of electric.il lights on the masts of
ships. So.
Poetry of the Ilaytians. (jS.
polo, Nicholas and M,itteo, an account of their tr,ivels
into the east, 2(14 ; their first journey, ib, ; return,
it), ; their second journey, 205 ; their return, 2t)() ;
invite their rel.itives to a splendid li.mquet, ib,
, .Nl.irco, intluence of his travels upon the mind
of Columlius, lb, 2''4 ; sliort account of his tr.ivels,
2f)4 ; his relurn, ib. : commands a );alley at ttie
b.ittle of Cuzzol.t, 2()() ; is t.iken prisoner and sent
in chains to Cieiioa, it). ; writes an account of his
tr.ivels, it). ; is liber.ited and returns to N'enice, ib. ;
an account of his work. ib.
Porras, rr.incisco de. en^anes in .1 mutiny at Jamaica,
205 ; they embark with most of Columtms's crew
in ten Iiidi.m t .inoes. 20(1 ; are driven tiack, ib, ;
and with their < omp.inions rove atjout the island,
207 ; refuses an otfer of pardon, 211 ; att,icks l\u'.
Admir,il ,iiid ,\delantado. ii2 ; t.iken prisoner, it), ;
is tict at libertv by Ov.mdo. 221 ; and sent to Spain
to be fxaiiiined liy the liidiai) board, ib.
: i
,1 .-;;'
■•i/iii
■ilr li: ' i i
1.M
:::l!i
208
INDKX.
! .4
\4
'i' ! ■'
Port" Rico, nr Itdriqiien, ilisrovery "f. S.?, a.iT.
I'orliiij.il .111.1 S|Min, .li|il(MU.itic lU'UDtiatioiis litlui-cn
the MUirls of, wUli tcspcrt 10 llio new ilisroViTifs,
7(1.
I'utalo ill ll.ivti, 1)*.
I'railc), |iriiir of. S.'i- T.ilavL-r.i.
IVcMiT |olm. .Ill iiii.inin.irv I'lui.-li.iii Uiin;, !•» ; ;u-
cmint I 'I, jn.
Pricsls 1)1 ilii- llavti.iiis, oi'.
riolciiiv, .lilfMillv .11 llii' iiuiiicil of S.il.iiiiaiira t.i rct-
Diii ili; ilu- ilifDry oi (.■ohiml'iiN vviili ili.it ii(, :('.
I'lKTlo .li' Histiiin-'iito, harliiii .i(, mj.
■ — ISclid, iliM.-iivcry iif by l.'«ilumlm>, I'lJ,
S.iiUo, Cipliiiiiluis's ilcsi ripliiiii nf, 51,
u-
O.R'in's Ci.irdL'iis, Ciiliiml'iis's arri\.il ,it. iti lii>. third
vciv.ii;!-', i."^; ; ari-liippl.i;;" "(, disi'iiMTcil, lu.j,
(Jiif>.tiiiii, llif lorritorial. limv settled, 71
yuiliian. Cacique ii( Ver.inua, interview witii H.ittlinl-
iiiiiew l."iiluml)iis. l(); ; sii'iiii 1 interview, ib. ;
detfrniines on preventiiiv; tiic Sp.ini.irds (roin i>b-
t, lining .1 sfttleiiU'iU in iiis territories, ib. , ((in-
spires to burn their hou-es and murder them, |i)() ;
is seized by llie Adel.uU.ido with his wives and
children 1,7 : esr.ipes in .1 very extr.iordin.iry
ni. inner, ib, : att.itks tht; Sp.ini.irds and is de-
feated, ir.
(Juins.ii, Marro I'olo's acrount of, jliS.
yiiintanill.i, Aloiuo de, receives Columbus into his
house, 2J.
R.
Rabid.i, I. a, ronvont of, Cidumlius is entertained at, on
his first arriv,il in Sp,iin, 2) ; present stale. 70, note.
Reeds, river ol. 14.
, immense, seen .m the Mosquito coast, l"').
Rc.nicr, Kini; of Naples, Columbus engages in liis
service, (j.
Religion of the native-, of Ilavti, '.''.
Rep.irtimirntos, i>rik;in of. liii ; o])positiun of Don
l)ie;;o Columbus t 1 the, •_' i•^.
Re()uelme. I'edro. m,ikes his house the lie;id.|U.irters
of the rebels at ilispaniola. l?-); ni.ide Alcalde by
Rol dan, \('} ; joins in a conspiracy with .\drian dc
Moxica, li.'i ; is taken. 1(1^.
Rew.irds and punishments, ideas of the llaylians in
respect to, ij7.
Rio \'erdc. or the ilreen River, lU-
Ri,i.|. the first constructed by I'.uropeans in the Sew
World. '13.
Ivi lri.i;ue/:. Seb.islian. t.ikes .1 letter from the ]irior
I'eriv to the (piecn, 2.)
RoMan. IV.incisco. history and cliaractcr of, Ijfi ;
an account of his ( onspiraiy, lb. ; takes pos-
session of Xar.iijua, 157; his conduct in re-
spiTt to the ships sent forwanl t)y Coluintius,
i!) ; promises to repair to St. Uominijo on the ar-
rival of Columbus, ib. : his interview with H.illestrr,
T5'i ; rejects an offer of pardon, ib. ; dem.inds Ids
discharge, l''0 ; his interview with Caravajal, etc..
ib. ; determines on Koini,' to the adn.ir.il, 161 ;
correspondence with the ailniiral, ib. ; sends prop-
ositions by ("arav.ijal, ib. ; which are ac(epted,
ib. ; circumstances prevent their bein^; acted upon,
ib. ; makes a scctmd arrangement with the admiral,
ib2 ; is pL-rini;te I to resume his otrue of .Alcalde
mayor, ib. ; receives .1 ^rant of lands, idj ; visits
his l.inds, ib. ; assumes new authority, ib. ; is
sent to meet .Monzo deOjeda. 1^4 ; his mapd-uvres
vi-ith him, ifj?. i(,l> ; his tiv.ilship with ( luevara, 107 ;
seizes him in the dwelling of ,\nac.iona, ib. ; treated
with confidence by Holialill.i, 175 ; his conduct
inyesti,i,Mted by Ovando, lOi ; sails" for Sp.iin, and
is iost in a violent hurricane. 1S7.
Roman, Friar, his account of Ihe natives of Ilispan-
iola, c/i.
S.ibellicu>i, his account of tif c.ipiure nf ilu v,, .
j;,illey!», 2 (i". *"
S.il.im.iiu .1, the learned as*eml)le at, to i'ti<il«i!, 1
proiiosiilon of ( oluinbns, 21 ; pronmincc ;ht ,?
to be v.tiii .md itnpos'iible, 20 ' *
S.ilcedo. Wiegode, arrives al J.ini m.i wiih ,^,(, ■
from < iv.in do, 221. '
Salv.ulor, St., discovery of, .|2 ; aw" .ml 5.^,,,,,
the n.itives on first Iteholdmi; the slii|,s „j'(^'J.,
bus, -H ; (h'scfiption of them, ib. , (juli (;;,;•' I
covered in this island, il).
S.im.m.i. (iulf of, discovered, b;,
S.m U.ibiel, discovery ol, 112.
Sanchez, |u. in. t.ikes ch.ir^c of ^)iiil,i.m, 1 ,• ».■
escapes, ib. ; killed in b.itlle liy die .A ice;.;;
=7-|.
Sande, I'on Riiy de, liis mission to the Spjn;-h ::r
-Ik
S.mtil M.iria, isl.ind of, discovered, in;.
Suit. I, l.a Isl.i, discovery ol, l:;7.
.S.int.i Cruz, island of, dlsi overy of, S.v
S.int.i (iloiia (St. Ann's H.iyi, dismurcil !■. .j;,.-
llUS, |()1.
S.mti.ino. Sec jamaii.i ; letter of lleMcl.cji, 1:
-— — , river of, discovered. (i2.
S.iomela. discovery of. .(?.
.S.iona. isl.iiid of. discovered. 112; diiicn nc( ct, •.
^itude lielwcen, and I'adiz, ib
Scandinavians, an essay rel.ilive t ■ llie \ .;,.ii;c<
Sihedel. rem. irks on an interpol.itioii iti h^ ,;ir(.i.
255-
Seneca, his noliie of elci triial lights on iliv k.>\:
ships. So.
Ser.ilin l'.>int. loo.
Sh.irks. a multitude of. seen on the ii.,iM ni Vt:....
I')4 ; curious method ol t.^kill^,' tiiciii, i ■■ . -:.<■
stition concerning'. '') I
.Ships, observations nd.itive to the si/e nt liiD- c;
ploved by Columbus. .';7.
Sl.ives, live' hundred .ire sent to Sp.iiii. I.vMl.f ?:,r-
dred sent to ii.irtliolomew Columbus, lii .r;..^
in Sp.iin, 125 ; (.jueen Isabill.i interest t.ir*i:: ;:
their favor, ib. ' orders them to be sriit la.ii ;
Ilavti, ib, ; neijroes first introiliHccI to the .Vei
W'o'ild. I'l; revolt of. 230 . Ili--p.iniu'..i ;hc ::<:
island to exhibit an awful retribution. >\'. . :•:....■
lions in respect to. ib.
Solomon, the ^(dd used in the temple of. l.-.
Sori.i, lu.in de, his insolence to Colmnhiis. ;•■
Soul, ideas of the I l.iytians in respect In the. >• W
after slate of, believed by Ihe n.ilivcs el Ub... l.'i
Spain and Portugal, diidomatic nei;oii.ition> IcWrt-.
the (durts of, with respect to the new ilifcrt::!
7''-
Spotorno, (iio, iiublishes documeii'..s k.j. ■
Columbus, 185.
Sut;ar-cane introduced into llayti. i)'i.
Superstition of St. Idmo lights, ><>.
Sw.illow, .1, encircles the ships of Colutnini-- '■■■
T.
.ilavera, Fernando de. prior of IV.ido and n -.(•■• i
to yueen Is.ibell.i, 2^; esteems (."oUimW- > r'-'
impossible, 2.) ; he is desired by the kinn l^' J^:':-
ble men of science to consider tin- m.itfM' ■ f^"
ports to the kint; that the council had prcii '.x-;.
the pl.m vain and impossible, ib. ; t.rM-^ ."""•■'; ■
from the kin«, ib. ; disKUSted .u th.' h..;" !^'"' ■•'
sisled on by Columbus, 10. .^
rilfe, fea'rs (d the crew at l)eh(ddin^ ^' '""'
errilory, (piesiion (d, how settled, 71 ,
hoinas^ St., fortress of, creeled, o( : ^"^■'' ""'';|,. '
( (induct of the colonists there, i)') ; alt.u k« 'I. '■
ibacco, (iist seen in the isl.ind of ( ula. 1 ■
>\>:iiio, discovery of, 141.
oledo, Archbishop of, his ch.ir.ictor, ;i
nes
I cuinc>cii '•"••"';■'''
tn.ark.iti.Mi I'"
qiM-l.,lM. l>..";
(„| SIMIII. -P ■ '
I Cii^uiii''"' "■"''
%.,lh tw^'l^^- ^'''i;"
I |j; ; ,lhnill'S'''l I
"'l.ui-ae, -ci'l
Ibiis. p; .in.K"
fori'iisis. 'ca''"^'
Cii''.i. 1"; • '■'" '
imc t.,ki'ii "lit • I
JosciiiicHi. I'ai'l".
, bii? !"■
fni.U III the (dioii
Si'i.ii r". i''
t;ru'S. 1-1
■ Tr,i~:i'rr.c
|a.;n dc
Ti,.;i,i. RcdriKO'.c-
u .t:.i. r-
Tn'.ile iiiipiiscd lip
Ir.iii.l.nl, isl.ind (.1.
,:; pe;ii.iii''c. I'l. •
Tr;-liii, l)ici;n, IT
Tuiiic Hcni.iiiaa.
^llr^^ M.iii'l. obsci
fr^ .'..., Santa, islan
V,i«;il5. natives 01
dilicin cjf. li'v
VcR.i. li.iri.id;is" de
int;;lit'il in die liol
-, River. 'I', ; cal
Kc.il. :lic loy
v'ei.b.c, rr.inrisco,
'Vel.iS'nic;. Ihenc c
?.irroul Xara^iia,
ViT.ii:iia. 11' 'St ol,
ui iiii.' inhabitants
ii.iicil with I," lid.
Ver.ii;iiis. lUike ol.
liiluinlius renicv
— , the heirship t
".4.).
ViTilt;. C:ipe lie. (li
Vcpiicci, .\ini.;ino
^trfyi^
M
lCi.li.mi''"<
;in aiK'iiu
[him III .iii'lis'iif'' "
I ilii- kinn. il'
iNi)r,x. 'jfo
I eiiploycd liy rohimlmi at r(piirt. :2' ; an .irmutit
il, ••17 ; it suiiiiiiary view ol his ( l.kiiii t'l tin.' lillc c.f
||,,i,i M.iii.t ill'. 1'"" "ii'U" I'liUmiluis lie- a ilisicivfrcr, il'. ; tlif voy-mc whciic l- hit iia
[till' '.11
(m T
I..S fll.lllll'"'
1 1)1, 'J!; ; tlitir iiiarria^t.', ib. ; and k'^'-" '" '''•■ AtiuTitati ckiuiiiimii, jp ; Cohiniljus'M
ilimi I'lr lli>palli<.la
il).
:•(!
,>l SI. l)nllllll«l' 'II
ill . hill line* a wulDW
I ihi- saihni; of I »i)ii I liit;'
,1111,
Drfl.l .111.'" I 'It'
'CiMinibii- wiih .11 ail-
IflUT tn his Mill rcLilivt! ti) ihc iiwrit ami mis-
fdrliiiirs ()(, 2\i) ; I'cirr M.irlyr's i haraitcr nf. ;:i ;
liis hilir ti> l<|.ni . |)iil»L'(i( l.iirrairif, ■2.\i) ; olist-r-
I, r(.rfivfs a h'ltfr frmu vaiinis rc'Liiivi. in ili(. poinis in I'liniruvfrsy. ih
It iif his Ircitnit'iit, 17(1.
iiitliiir's riiiu iiision, ihat the vny
IK''
asscricil to
I . \tiliiiii'' 'li'i ili'-p.'l'''"'! Ir'iin I li>-|i.iiiiiihi, h.ivu hi'i.n iiiaiti- l.y .\iiit'ri(;i) W'spucti never K^ok
■'""'''' ■ ■ ■ >- ,,;..... .. ('..I;, |ila(0, J51.
\'i'sscl. slcrn-post (il a, (uuinl in (inf uf llr- hniiM-'s at
[ Willi IWliU'
12:
ships, In ^p,im. ')"
irrlvi-.s ,ii C.'.idi/
ssril Itniii (illiix-, I U.
i.llivill., !>ITt up III'- i"-!.'"
if full, I hv C'liliini-
(■n,
llMllllllK
II pi
I bus. p: '"' aioiiiiU "1 his jouriU'V, ih.
[.(I with, on tho sontliiTtl mast <if
Villains, n.ilivts (if I lisp, mini. i iLilini'd tu thi;
lorliii"':
ki.,1 covrrt.i
ililmn II
f, Kit.
uU'M,
1117 ; tiir mis nn
ihiiil ol l,iklnn, ii'S ; .1 living \'illi.jit, Ahui/o I'.v, appuintcil lo carry (nkinihus i:
the in.iw of a shark. I)(.
.iiililii! isl.iiiil 'if. iliscdvcry nl, ? =
pni. ukcn ml <'l
^OtlU;;.!^
foSiMIK'
bus 111.
rail .ii till Miliiiiii"< tniiiiiipiiii
I'.'in. 17s
rharai ti-r of, ili
Hi, i',iiilii, liis (orrcspiinikMHe with fuUim- I \ in<-s intrdilini
('i)liinilpiis previous to thi'ir sailing, 1;
IS 1 olloijiiy with
ito l|,ivt
1. !)'».
\'itil.iiul. ,1 siippoS(.il ilis(dvt.Ty, '.'•;!;,
/c.l hv ill'' rrown of \'irj.'.itis, the MUvlii 'I'hons.inil, isl.mils of,
ns.'ovfrfu
^l'l.ll I "I
l;:;irs, IM.
ihc Sp,nii.«!i system iho sroii oi iniHlcrn
ir;i>ii'rf.i.
ii,m ill' I' 1.
rri.iii.i. IsiMnn'
IV-T..I, r.!
.If. Ins! sees th'- l,ii
)f the western
Vows inaile in a storm by Columbus and Ids crew.
O5 ; attempt ul fuUiiincnl, (/O,
fril'uU' iiii|iii''til upon
llie ILivtians, UJ.
'rinii!,iil, isl.iml (,l, discovered, 1.17 ; de^( ription of its VVatcr«.poiit,
i\'\K-J
.,WV. ll). , lUrioUS.K 1
ki
(lUnt of the ii.itives, ib.
\V,
rk.il/lr
n on ih
^t (f
ffi>i.iii, l)n.■^'(l, I.).-* ; IS killed, ii|.
rudiii. Ilciii.unin, travels of, i<).
lurk:
ohserv.iiions relative to, 2;i;,
I'
Sfrs;;.., S.iiila, isuiii.l t.f, diseovcred, S3,
a reduced to the con-
;. iLilivi'S 01
dilion of. 11.3.
Ifcg.i. (i.inin.iMi di.
inn dii'il ■'" 'h'" house of Coluinbus, ,i^^.
his I, lie rcl.itive lo ,1 pilot hav-
iwr. i|',
ailed by the n.ilives N'auui.
Ill- I..\al |ilam, .|.|, i>s
1 r:iIU'15io, I"
account ol, see
VeUy
Di
ceo. < iinin.inds tiie soldierv at ihe inas-
Ver.
.Hii.i. I'M-
\V.i\, (.ike of, presente.l to Ihi; sovereign'; by Ci
bus, f, I.
Wheat introduced into llavli
W
'I').
(lives, se.i, sever.il
lola, 1 1 I.
kill
the coast of llispi
tint of a very slroni,', of (iuad.dnupe, IJ./ ;
{Akvn to Columbus's ship. ib. ; f.dls in love iviih
Wol
n:in. ai((i
,ion,uio, a
lid refuses to return on shore, il
omen, o
ri^;in (.f, according to the llayli,ins, ()7
W
Wrilini;, fe.ir of the 'ndi.ins ol Carlari at seeing the
Sp,ini,irils write, Mo.
.X.iijua. Ciiilf of. lori.
X
ir,i);ii.i, (Icniaiti ol, ,in acn mi
It of. 1 14
lescilplion
III .N.iragii;
I. 2111.
i'r.ii;,;a, Lii ist ol, disci
ivi-rv of, i.)i
w,irlike spirit
oi •.111.- iiiluibilaills, ib. ; soil appe.irs to be Inipre^;-
n.ilcil wiih i;old. in? , linldeu (".isiilc
IVer.i,
M7-
'iike (.1. I oiiseiits lo have the renl.iiiis of
C.uluiiiiiijs rciiinM.I In Cuba, 'j',^.
I— , ihc licirshiii t I ('(Munbus dci ulcil in his f,ivor,
\t-r.li... C.irc (le, discovcrv of, 11.
V
if its inh. (bit. lilts, ib. ; Kold.in lakes possession cf,
If 7 ; iiuissacre at, 2i -..
Xerif al [■".(Iri/i. his description of the .-Xthmtic, 7.
Xiineiies, Cardinal, 2;,S ; prohibits licenses tu imjiort
sl.ivcs linm .\lric.i to the colonies, J75.
Van
Kluc, river o
f, o.t.
Zipanf,'a ( japani, Marro Polo's account of, 268.
c'l-ucti, .Vincigo, first notice uf his e.xpedition, 105 , . Zones, the observations relative to, 2(iij
Id ail'! ri 'it- t
."iiluiiiij;;> ^ r-'-
e kiriK ti' .isifK-
m.iiiiT. i! . ; '■'
had prmi 'W.ct.
l.iia-s a Mics>..i;i,
.. Iii.'.li liTiiis :r.-
Bf.U
ii
*'.i:
ti
AN EC
I'll
1 Ni-
ls- il'C roiiiM- '
mc:. V'Mr- sini'c.
\Yi; : siimi' "t till
ji; , ■.i.'a;-,i Kill- (■'
in • ;;,.il -ilv le ai M
Hi'n.' tnr Ur-
I,,,,,. vis I m:c.isii)n
cll•;•^>. uvl liardy
pi,', ; iiu'ii who 1
fi.\'..'f 1 siKii'iy, .111
ar, , ,v!vi li.i'l Wiiiuli
v,i, ! iicri'ijrinatidii'
lli;r iit-nlotis ailvt
cr/'s.iai'iiii; \\v I
imi^iiulinii Iciul-
llv •(t'lncs ot the
n'l : ii- 'hi' lite lit ■'
roivii. 1- In inc. 1
viMi t.i till- ri'inol
In..!'- .\liiih .IIIIUI.
e;s. ;v'ij^ itiiTi-lii
aiii 1 'i.ivf I'vcr
vriv." 1 ly I in urns
U.'l' '■.<\''i i-tli'i I,
ihc ^'r.m'.l I'aliTiin
an 1 11,1' h 1/ Uilou
lhc'...M puu lit
biT' i-i'-;ni-s .if I
h' • t' it ai'Mnu-.
Vi- u-M'i-, rx|ic li
th.i'. ;ir Mi'.'-d Uii' I
All ■■.{ t All UM
Ir p :i in.ir iijui
h. ' 1 ;-.lU\lTS;iti
r c. As'.'ir. ril.iiii
r, , 1 1 i!',i ailvri
lilt- ■,.;i;'rl)i.i. ■
cir"-jiri-: Ml (ii
tH ■; UM'lilv .1
i'.- 'iS'',i t M i-.ir
M" ri'.iins, ;iii(l
r::viin^' that
!"■ i'\iiri-,Sf.i a 1-1
■ ti;,l i>\ iii> rlUi-
.'<>'■ ::n;.urt,uicc
m i.'f
i!!;,^
iAm
ASTORIA
OR.
ANECDOTES OF AN ENTERPRISE
IlKVOND TIIK
ROCKY MOUNTAINS,
DY
WASIIINCirON' IRVINlJ
i\TK(»i)i'(:ri')N.
.1 \\i-.li that I ucMiM III
It iki- to
;i\c ;m accmiiu
Iv il'c roiiv.-.f I't nccasiiiii.u \i~ii
its to C
ot It. 'I hi' sii;4;,'rsti(in struck upon ihi- chord u[
in. id I iirly .isMii i.itioiis, ,ilriM(l\ \ ihr.iiiii" in mv mind
in;i:y viMr> since
I I
K-caiDc intiinatt'iy •>> (|ii.ini
tcl It
oil lined to nir tli.il .1 Work ot this kind niij,du
V\V\ siinii- nl tli<' principal p.irincrs o| the ^;riMt comprise a \aiiit\ ol ihosi- i
llllolls ill
tail
S, so Ml-
r[\<M,
ho.,
CllT
t I'lir (,'oinpany, who ,it that time lived tinstin^r to me, illustrative ot the liir trade ; ot its
style ill Mont ri'al, and kept almf)st open remole and adventurous inieipiises, and ot the
tor till' s
I .n'i;.i.-,|iinal
tr.iiiucr.
At ll
U'lr liospitalile \.iriou, piupli
mi tnix
s, ant I Isles, and
1 har-
y met whU partners, and aciers, civili/ed and s.iv.ij,m-, .ittected liy its opera-
.irdv tiir trailers li
oin the interior tioii>
■11
le loiirnals, .iiiii letters also.
it the ad-
liu h.id p.issed years remote Irom vinturers by se.i .iml land employirj hy .Mr. .Xstor
s.iiulv, .imoii:; distant and sav.ii;e trilies, in his compreliensive project, mi',,dit throw lii,du
ani ^'^'^ h.cl wanders to recount ot their wid<» and upon portionsot our countrs ipiiie .ait ol the trai k
T.ill ]irr.'i,'rin.itii)iis, their hiintin;j exploits, and ot urdin.iry travel, and ,is set luii liitle known. I
tht.r |iinloi:s ailveiitiires and h.iir-lire.idlh is- theretore lilt disponed to undertake the t.isk, pro-
V the Indiai
wis at an ai;i
thin
\ided documeiUs ot siitticiint extent ai
111 niiiiiite-
inii, 1 iiinn icnil-. its colonni.; to everytliin^j, ami ucss cui
iild
turnishid to nil
All tl
th-
si'irics
•t ihi
le |).ii)ers
esr Sinh.ids ot the wilileniess rel.itive to the eliterjUlse were .ici i)rdllii;K suh-
n.iif ;tii' lite III .1 tripju'r and liir tr ider p m tcci initied to niy ins|)ection.
iiio:
tlicm were
ri>:ii,i ,. I' 111 Ilk'
even llledit.ited at one time .i loiirnals ,ini| lelli-rs n.iriatim,'- expeilitinils liv se.i,
VM!
Ihi' rcinote no
.ts lit f
e comp.mv in llie
an
d
oiirni'vs
to .iiiil tro ,icri
the Kockv .Moll
11-
li'iis , hi, h .iiiiui.ilK ascended the I. ikes an I riv- t.iins hy routes lietore untr.nelled, to^rether with
e;s, ;ir' v^r t!i,.rei,i invited liv one ot the p.irtncr
Vfi;;
i.ivi- (".cr since rei;retti'(
th.it I w.is p
documents illustrative ol s.i\-,i^i' .ami coloni.il
lilt
111 the liordeis ot the I'.icilic
Wit
1 such m.itrri-
ly 1 ii'i iimsi.iiii es Irom c.irr\ iiiij mv inieii- ,ils in h,ind, 1 undertook the work. 'I'lie trouhlo
th
itti'i'i, l-'mm tl
lo^e e irlv impri'ssiuns.
I'.r.inil -•lUerprisi's ot the ^;re,o lur comp.iiiH
th,'
h -. !■
Iii/UijiiUs erraiitr\ ot then .issn, i.ius in and commonplace i
ot riimm.ij^iiiL; amon<; husiness piprrs, ,iiul ot coi-
li'ctini; ,inil coll.itiiii,' t.icts tiMiii .imid tedious
letails, W.IS sp.iled me li\ mv
I'.irii
if
>t inir v.lsl
ontinmt, h i\e alw.u-
I'ierre .M. Ir\'inir,
•ted
I h.irini ll inieri'si to me
,ini|
I I
ii'i-r. .iiul to whom
.1111 t;ie,iii\ 1
my pio-
ndehted tor
it .ii'Minis t'l j;ct ,it the di't.iiis ot their .i I- smunthini; mv
'Is I'Kpi' litinns .iinon^ the s.iv.ii^e tril),'-;
As tl
p.itli .mil le^hlenmL; mv i.ihor-
le lourn.ils on win
■hi
liielK deiii'lii
li'.l had
'ic'-fl Hit' (Jcii
th
s III till' w llderiless.
\'i 'it IWil
Us ;i^r,), not lon^r alter m\' ri'tiirn
a lic.ir iijioii till prairies ot the l.ir West, I
r. John j.i-
lortion ot our coiintrv.
■•itUiTsaiioii with inv Iriend, M
I'.ii!
V'T. icl.itive i,, that iiortion ot
' l!u ailvrntiiroiis tr.hlers to S.int.i Fe aii'd
lis ll I hihi Id .idvert lo a j;re.u
looi .iiid condiuied l)V him, l>e-
ice, li.ivini;' tar
iir trade across the Kockv
"riiri-
hi.i. Th
.set nil
'. twi'iiu ,111, 1 ihirlv ye.irs sii
'''•'1 tl) C.UTV ihr I
''"i!.illi.s, and 1
been kept bv rmn ot business, iiueiil upon the
m.iin object ot the enterprise, and but little versed
in science, nr curious .iboiit m. liters not immedi-
ately be.irmj,^ upon their interests, and as they
were written otteli in moments ol t.itiijue i)rhiirr\-,
,imid ihe inconveniences of w '
thev w ere ,1
ilil encampments.
tell me.e^re in their det.iils, furnishiii;;'
hints to pio\"ke rither th. in n.irratix-es to satisfy
m(|Uir\'.
i.ive, theii'loi'e, av.iiled iinselt occa-
sion, illv ot coll, I
fin, I
"J( ill, it I took
11 swei 1 the shores of the I'acilic
I I
ilcr.il li,i;hts supplier! by the pub-
n.ilsot other travellers who have visited
'■xpro-ii'il a ri'.j,'ret that the ti
Mil Hi [
.m interest in the subject,
tie n.iture anil e\-
iis I'lUi rpri
se .111(1 Its nation.i
1 cl
lar.icte
iH'^r'aiice luul never been uiulcrstood, and
Islieil lour
le scenes described : such as Messrs. Lewis
tl
Cl.irke, lir.iilburv, Hri'ckenridijc, I.i
and
i'r.inchert
d k
(ox, and m.i
ke .1 eeiier.U acl<liowlei.tir-
iciu ot aiil rccci\ed tiuin these ciU.irlerb.
I » 1
U ^1
\i '■
::|
•I 1
30-i
ASTORIA.
mm \m
■i ii
if
■J'
Th<^ work I \\r\-<^ prcsnU t.> tlu- puhlu' is iic'cs-
sariK ot .1 r.iinliliii.t; .iiul scinculiat (lisjomU'ii n.i- i
luiv.' i-oiniiri>iii-- \,iii(Ui-. (A|KMliii(iiis ami ailvcii- j
Uiivs hv l.mil ,'mi! MM. Tiif l,ul>, however, \m11 ^
]M-ove lo Ik- linkf.l .m 1 li.iiulcl lo-rlluT l.v mu'
^r.uul -,( lu'inc, .l<\.M-.l .in>l , omliu ii-,l liy .i lu.is- j
UT >|)inl ; o:u' ^et oi cIkumi ur^. .ii>o, eontimif.s j
lhr.iU:;hoiii. ,ii>|h-.ii iiv^ (ut.imoii.iiU . tlu)iiL;h .sonic- |
linu>"^il K'lii; ;r.tri\,ii-, .iihI tlu- whole nitci-pii-e
winds U|i !>\ .1 ici^iii.ir r.u, islrophc ; so ih.il llio
wiii-k, uilho'u; .inv lalmiTi! allempl at artitu i.il
coiiv.'i'h lion, i.'ai.illy po.s.M's-M-s mm h ot ih.ii iiiiii\
t.o nuuli sotiL;hl .liter i.i works ot In lion, .iiul
roMsiilereil so miportaiil to the interest ul every i
histor\-.
fllArri.R I.
Two le.iilin"; o'>i( .".^ ot i uiiiniri\i.il i; on h.ive
};-iveii tiirlli Ii wi'le -.mil (l.iriiiu; riUerprise m the
eariv hisioiv ot llie .\!iiene.is ; ilu- pm uuis met-
als ot tile s''iii;:i, ,111.1 the ruli peltries ol the norlli.
Whili' th.e lirrv .-.lul ma-iKliee'it Sp.im.ml. in-
ll.imeil with th.' m.ui!,i torj^-iM, h.is lAiemled his
(lisi-o\eries ami e .mpiests mer those hrilli.iilt
countries seorei.eil !'> t'.ie .inh nt sun ol t!ie trop-
ics, the ailinii .iiul oiMv.ini I'reiu hin.m. and tlie
cool .iml I .il. ii' itii.u; llriton, h.ive ]Hirstieil the j
less sjilemlul. hut no i >s luer.ilive, tr.illir in lurs
amid the iivp; rliore.m regions ol the Cm. id. is,
uniil ihev ha\e .idvMiuel e\en w ithm tiii' Art lie
cirele.
Tiiese two piuiuits h.i\e thus m a ni.ii'.ner been
the pioneers .lii.1 pre, uisors ot ei\ ili/.nioii. \\ itli-
out p.UlslllL; oil li.e holders, tiieV h.UC pt'llel IMte 1
at oiue, in d. 11.01, e ol dillKuitieS ,inil d,i:iL;ers, to
the lie.irl ol s.i\,:-i- louiiiries: Liviiv^ open the
hidden secret-. ..i i,ie wildernes-,: le.idiiiLj the .
w.iv to remoti' re^i Mis ot luMUtv ar.d tertiii'.v th.it
nii>;lu h.ive I'em.sinel i:ne\iilored lor ai^es, ,in I
heekoiun,;- .ill. ;• I'leni the slow .ill.l p.iUsiiiL; steps
Ot a^'rietiliurk' ,01 1 eiMii/.iiion.
It w.is tlu- lur tr.ide. in t.e 1, whieh |^.i\i' e.ir'y
susteii.iiue .in 1 \ii,.iny to ihr v;ie,a ( '.iii.i'h.in
]iro\inees. I'ei;!',;" i!e-.iitiite •■'. th" pi r. lou-, nut-
als, at th.ii nine t!ie le.id'.m; ooje' I-, nt Aiiieru .111
t'lUeipiise, ihr\ •.'..■,-e loiii^ nei;leetel l>ytlup.ir-
ent countrv. Tiie Trem li ad\ciuiii'ers, howcvrr,
who h.id setiiel on the li.inksot ihi- .Si, |..i\\-
rcni'e, soon i.mnd ih.ii in the 1 uh peliin s ol i!.e
interior, tliey h.id s.nirees ot vu-.ilih th.it me,;ht
almost riwil l!;.' inin.s ot Mesieo .iml I'eru. '1 lie
Inili.i'is, as \;l 111! u-.piainle.i witii the ,1111111 ;.il
value s;iven 1. 1 s. line de~eripii.)iis ol tuis. meuil-
i/ed lite, hroii',^iit ipl liititie-, ot tie.- ino-.l prei lous
kinds and Iloii re.l tiiein ,iw.iv toi l.tirope.m trink-
ets and (help eiinmiodities. Immense pr.iliis
Were thus ni 1 le li\ the i..iriv ti.uh is, and the
trallie w.i , piirsUi .1 '.•, ith ,i\ i.lily.
As the v.dii.ilile lurs soon bet .ime se.in e in the
ncij^hliorlioo.! ot tlie settlements, the Indi.ms ol
the vit initv were siiimil.iii- 1 lot, ike ,1 wider r.uii^e
in their lumii:"., .Ap.Mliiions ; they were ^fner.iiiy
aecomp. lined on ihese expedilioiii hv some of the-
traders or tlu ir depi-mh-iits, who sh.ired in the
toils and p'-rils ot tin- 1 h.ise, and .it the s.ime lime
made then,s'-!ves .ncpi.iinted wiih the liest liiini-
iiii; .and tr.ippin^ grounds. , iml with the remote
trdies, whom tliev < m (Hira^cil |.i In in:; their ptd-
tries t.i the M-lllemeiils. In this \\.i\- the tr.ide
aie^m'-nted, .md w.is drawn Irom re-mote (piarlers
to M.intre.il. l-'.vt now and then a lar^n- hody
ut Olt.iwas, Ilurons, .and other tribes who iumle.l
the cuuiurieb borilcniig uii tht great lakes, would
eonu-thnvn in .1 siiu.niron ol li^lu i-,|.> ,...
with be.uer skills, and oilier spuiU (,t ji^.,. ^^
luintin;,;. The e.moes would |„. unl.i.l.-, ,"'.,
on shore, .md their contents (li-,|\iisi-.| i- „,L"
A c'linp ot birch b.irk would be pit. In-. | ,,,;■, 1.':
the to\Mi. :\i\i\ .1 kindol primitive I, nr u::e
ill, It t;r.i\e ccrcmoni.il so de.irlo iLv p,,..
.ludieiice would be dem.iivled el 1! 1
l^enel'.ll, W ho W.UlI.l llol.l the I inlrl. :;. .
coming sl.iti-, si .lied in .m elliow i li.iu,
Indi.ms r,inj;ed in seinu in U-s heloii- In ,
on till' i_;iound, .iml silently sinokm.^ ih: :■■■.;
.Spee. hes would be IlKlile, presents .v
,llld li.e .lUvlleli. t would bre.ik up 11.
^ood humor.
Now wiuild ensue .1 brisk '.rillic v.nii
eh. mis, .iiul ,ill Moiur>-.il would he .iliv. „,,;•,,
ked Indians ninniiii; trom simp |.i sii..;., i;-r..
lilt;- tor arms, kettles, knuis. ,,\c'., ., i,.;;.;
briL;ht-color'-d cloths, .iml oila r .iiii.'.tM.- .■ .
t.incv ; uii.iii .ill whicli, s.iys ,in (cdl:-, ...
ler, the mercli..nls \M-re sure to i '.; .ir .1' ! •-.•.■,
hundreil jier cent. Thei-e-vvas 11, . mnn.', .-.i-
this tr.illn , .111.1, .liter .1 lime, .ill p.uirn r.; ,;-.--■.
iliious Inpiois w.i-, prolnliitcil. in coii-.o,.;- ■ :
the tr.intic ,i!id tii^htlul e\i 1 sses .ii.-i ...
br.iwis which th.ey were .ipt t.i ini;!>i.ia.
Their w.inls ,iml ciprices lu lii;^ siipp' .;-
would t.lke le.ue- ol the ^;.i\eliiiir, sli,-.-
tents, l.iunch their e.moes, .md ply liu;.-..
the Ottaw.i to tm- hikes.
.\ new ,ind .inom.ilous i l.iss nl in. n ^r .....
i;ri w out ot this tr.ide. The--- u< re ..m, •,.
I, :irs 1/1 s tu<i\. r, infers ol tl'.i- w.'oil- ; > 1 ,,:,.
nun who had .u comi'anied the liuli.iii^ ■
huritiiiL; t-\pedili. .MS, ,ind ni.ide tlll^M.-^
tpi. Hilled Willi I emote tl.icts and tl ilr- ; ,.' .,
How bei .line, ,1s 11 Wc-re, pi-illers .it 1.-' •.-
ness, 'llu-.e men would set oiil Ir.nr, \'. .'. .
with I .llioes Well stocki.-d With ;,;. U'ds, '.>-.' i"
,ind .iiunuimtion, ,iiid would m. ike tin a i'.'
the m,i/'c ,iiid w.imh-riiiu; riMi.-. licit ii.i-i.
\.ist toiests ol the (.'.mad. is, i .i.istiii;; ll.i ; <'
in. lie l.ikes, .m.l in.ilin.u; new wiiiis v. -
tu.les .unoiiL; tiie ii,iti\es. ^nineiiii-,. ^ I, ''
i.uirne.l lor moiuhs ,1111011;^ iheiii. .is-iir;.''.'.
their t.istes ,iml li.ibitswilh tlu icippNli '
I'renchii.' n ; .i.lopim^" m soiiu- lie^o-i- n.^ ■
dress, ami not untreipieiilly l.ikiii^ l ■ 'n :..'
llidi.in w \\ es,
I'welve, tiltreii, ei-lueell months -.M.tii '"
i-l,ipse without ,ii'v iidm;,;s ot tl't in, '.." ■
would come swi-c|iiii,i; their w.iy d..-.',n f.- ' ■■
in lull ,i;lee, their cimu- 1 nh n down -..ai .
I beuer skins. N.iv, i.ime iiieir ririi : '•
.111.1 i-Ml.iv.i-.im e. ' N'oil woulil he c.i'
s.ivs .m old wilier , lire. Illy ipioted, " '■ : ■
h.o'w lewil ihc^e iK-dh-rs ,ire when I'.'iV : '•
how they le.ist ,ind ^.ime, .iiui how pi '• -I
.ire, not 'only m tln-ir clothes, but ui>.ia t ' •■
lie.irts. Such I't thi-m ,is ;ire m.iiii"i '<
wisdom to retire 1. 1 their ownli.u-.is, 1.
b.ichelors ,u I -list .is .111 hiist Imii.iiu.i:. '•
i r.lles are wont t.i do ; lor ihev huish. '-.i'.. '
! and play .ill ,iw,iy ,is Ioiim a^ ihe u,,odsl;'-
and when these .'in- :;one, lliev evni snl t'''-' .
broiderv, their l.ice, and their . 'o'.li''^
, done, ih(-v .ire torced iip.m ,1 m-u \oy.i.;''l •
sisicnce.' '■'*■
M.iny of the.e . ■.irriirs ,/•< /'.'/. he. .I'lic -
i ustoiiu-d l.i the llidi.in modi- ol livir;,', ■.'.>■
I pertect treedoin ot llie wilderm ss, ihit 1. 1'-
j all relish lor civili/.iliun, and idcntilied ihi^:--
I
1 * La 1 Ionian, v. i, let. .).
ASTORIA.
30;]
to
ric.
th:-
p:i:
•„ =;>v;i'T(-i ainoni;- wliom thoy dwelt, nr
',„lv hr'^ilistin-iM^licd Iroin them l)y supc-
,.|UioUs:uss^ ' riH'ir roiHliict .ukI cx.implc
.llvfirniiu.'-l 111.' iKUivi's, aixl ini|HMlc<l the
" ,'' t'u- L'.ilholic mission, irif-;, \\lu» were at
' ,',' iiros-.'ciiiii.- their pious labors in the
■! Ciiiad.i.
'u'lk tlu'M aliiises, and to protect the lur
: ,1)1 various irre^'ularilies |)raetised by these
Ivi'iitiiPT-', Ma order was issiu'd by the
. i;,,\vri\m':it iindiibitiiiK' 'dl p(MN,)ns, mi
■ ,k-.uh, Irom tra ling into ihe interior <.t llie
-. witlvnit a licen-.e.
fTlv'v-' li'i!!-^''-- ^^ere jrranted in writint; bv tiie
ov ■•'! M--iri'iieral, .m 1 .U lir^t were ^'iven only to
Ser-- :i-'rri'S|nTtai)iiity ; to .^enllenien ot broken
fi,, ,; to "111 ol'ti 'i'l's ot the army who had
fai: . 11 |)i>ividf tor . or to their widows, llaeh
lice- ■ |Kr:iiillf I the iittins; out ot two lar-e canof-,
^vili, ;;! r.'h,in:lisc |or the lake^, and no more than
t\vi :\.'ivc lieciis;'.-. were to be i-^^ued in one \eii-.
Bv '. ivc-;, liiiwevi.T, private licenses were aUo
giv. Y a!i;l the luiinlv.'r rajiidly increased.
Til- Ahfi did iMl choase to fit out the esjie li-
tion^ Muin-ielves were p •rmitted to sell them [to
the 111 ivhanis ; th"se employed the coitrrurs ,/,■.<
ki> ■'■ rin^i as ol ihe woods, to undertake the
loir ^ '■■Ik'"' "II -•h ire-., and lluis the abii-,es ot
th? 'd --^^teai w Te re\,\'.l ,ind coiitimie 1.*
Til' ])ina, iiiw^ion irics, employe I by ihi' 1'^ 1-
ni.r; Catli'iii': (.'luirch to convert the Indian-^, did
everv.l.ir.;,'- in their power to cunnter.ict the protli-
.11-, i',ui>'.' 1 and propagate,! by tie-s" men in the
L'.ir; 1! tile wilderness. The C.ilhcdic chapel
mi,r!i ii:i-,n !).■ seen phmted beside the ir.idinuf
ho'i'.', .1.1'' its s|)ire siirinounted l)y .1 cross, tow-
ering ir.iai the midst ot an In li.m vill.ai^-e, on the
b.i:i:<-. et ;i river or 1 Like. Th" missions ha I
ottfii I I'LMit lici.il el! ct on the simple s ons ot the
jori^i, Imt had little p iwer ovw tiie reni';^ide.
fnrii ■ i,'-;i/atian.
.\! 1 -M.;!!) il w.is fnun 1 necess iry to establish
fj";,' I \ri^\> .It the c eilheaice lit llierivers.ini
thsiN ^ ter th" iirot-ethiii ot tlv tr.ide, ,in 1 ih •
ris:iii'i- oi thev pr.idii; iti'-. ol the wilderness.
Ti!: Ill .,t iinpiri 111! ot tliese was ,it Miehilim ud<-
ni!'. Mtuaiel ,1! liie strait of the sanv n ime,
fM:..a 1 miu-c'.s l,ik"> Ile.ron .and Mii'hi|.;.in. It
b; i:iv,. till.' KIT It interior marl and pl.ace ot de-
p -.1, :i'! I soni" ot the retjular meridiants wdio
pr^ 1'.,'-! the tr.idi' in p.'rs.m, nnder tlieir li-
C'.;i"j> ; i.'iiK' 1 cstablisiinvjiUs here. This, lo".
iiiC loll.iwiniT arc the terms on wlileh these pxpe-
d-.iir.v wore ■.■oiiino-ily unilei taken. The nierchaiu
ti'.'i'iii; llie lireiis" wduI,! fit out tlic two canoes witl\
aiii'iusinl crowns' wortti of k"o:Is, an.) put tiieiii un-
der l.ie oan'iiiit of six coiireurs des li lis, la \vlu>m tlie
g'i'iAvu- tliariri.;! ill ilie rate of liflccn per cent
aj'^vc ttiL- rs.vlym iiK'v price in the colony. The
cirejirs .trs dii^. m their turn, ilealt so sli.irply with
;tti'."^iu.;cs. thil thi-y ,i;enerally returncil, at tlie end
[0. av. ,r ur s.i, witli f.)ur ciimes vv<'ll i.vicn, so ,-is to
Mi;>-!'':" (;lo.ir iifdiii of seven hiin Ire i percent, inso-
ji'. 11 tint tin- ihouiaiel crnvns invested pnnluccl
|euti!tliHis.m.!. Of (his cNtr.iv.iLi.mt prodt th.- nvr-
■CilJnt ha.tihe jinti's '^lia e. In tlie lirst pl.ice he woull
sti.i*i.esi\ linn.'lrcl-r.nvnstorthe .'ostof 1 is li-ense,
tii''n;it»;.ius;in<l i-rinviis fur the cost of lie original
[Ti Tr .1.111 iw. This w. ui.J le.ive six thousand four
I'"' .re I -Towns, fnnn which he would t.ike forlv |ht
. C''ini>rl,.)ti<m)ry,anioiintinKlntwoth()U..anil livehun-
"■'l.ino.'.ixtv crowns. The residue wiaild be equ.dlv
i-i'l':'a.iii,nnn the , is ^..(,,1 rammers. wlio w.iuld thus re'
"ive I'Ul.; innr,. i|,aii six hundred crowns for all their
l"i,s an-l perils
w.is .1 rende/voiis for the r.ant^ers of the woods,
,is well '.ho-,e who e.ime up with !.;o. 11 Is from .Minit-
re.il .IS tho>(. will) retiirmij wil!i pidiries tiuin
the mil rior. Here new expeditions were lilted out
.iiid to(d< their dep.irture tor Lake .Miihi;.^^in .111 1
the Mississi]ipi ; Lake .Superior .uu! the nollh-
we^t ; .ind here the peltries bidiii^hl in return
Were embarkeil loi Montre.il.
1 he I- reiicli niei .li.iiM ii his tr.idinL;' |io-,i, in
these piimili\c da\s (i| ('.inadi, was ,1 kind id
commeia iai p.itri.iich. With the lax h.abits .and
iMsy l.imiliarity ot !iis r.ic(., he h nl ,1 li'Mi' world
ot sidt indulge nee .md misrule around l...n. He
h.id his ch'iks, iMime men. ,ind ret. liners ot ,ii!
kinds, wdio h\ed wi'di him on terms ot perteci so-
liability, .alw.iys < .illiiii.; him bv ids Cdiristi.in
n.ime ; he had his h.irem oi li'ihan beauties, and
his troop ol halt-breed children ; nor w.as there
ever w.intino' a loutine; tr.iin ot Ind'.ans, hniii^'in':;'
.ibiitil the cstablishnu'iit, e,itin;_;- :ind drinking;' ;U
his expense in the interv.ils ol their luintin;;- cxp -
(iitions.
d'lie Canadi.in tr.iders, f. n- a Imij^ lime, h iil
tnuililesome com|)etit(n-s in the I'riiish mere h. mis
ot New N'oik, who :n\-eij;lid the Indian hunlei-s
.and the n-ur.urs (/,-.< /','/. t'l their posts, and
tradeil with them on more t i\'or.ible terms. A
still more tormid.ible opjiosiiinn w. .1-. (u-eani/ed in
the lludsim IkU' ("omp.inv, ch.irtiacd by Charles
IL, in 1070, with the fxcli!-.i\a' pri\ ileifi' ot est 1!)-
lishini;- ir.idini; houses on the slinr. s nl th.at b.iy
.iiid its tribut.irv ri\ia-s ; a |'i:\ ilc^c which ihey
have maintain". I to the pr. se'it d ly. Letwcen
this lirilish company .and l!ie I'rencli mere hauls
ol Can.ui.i feuds .and content-, .irn-e .ibuui aUeecil
infrin.ecmeiits ot lerritori.d liniil-., and acts 01
\ iohau e .and bh odshed o.'cuired belwceu lliLar
.iL;enls.
In \~(\Z the I'rencI, l.ist p i^ses-ion of t'.inada,
.and the tr.idi- tell jiiani ip.dly iiitn tlie h.mds ot
IJritish sulijects. I'nr .1 time, ho.vexar, il shrunk
within n.irrow limits. The cdd i •:< w/r.s i/rs /','is
weie br.d.en \\\i ,\nd disp.as.ij, or, where they
ciiuhl lie met with, were si.e.v I 1 wci.- islom them-
s(!\e~, ti) the habits and mirrcrsnl tlvcir llritish
emphners. Thev misstil the Ir.'edom, indul-
;;e!!ce, .and l.imiliarity (d the old h'renidl tr.l'liiyLj
houses, .md did not ri'lish the suber ex.ictiiess, re-
ser\e, and nicthod i I tiie new-i liv I's. d1ie ISrit-
ish tr.iders, too. wane i^n ir.uit ol the country,
.md dislrusttiil ot the n iiives. Ihey had reason
to be so. ddie Ir.Mcherou- and Moody atfairs of
Detroit .and Miehilimai kin.ic siiowed them tlu!
lurkiii,:;- hostility cheridied b\ the sav.i^es, w!io
h.id too Ion;.;- been l.iu:.,du by the French to re;..;ard
them ,is enemies.
It W.IS not until '' • ;e.ii- 1-00 ih it the Ir.ade re-
e.i;neil its old chanmds ; leu it w.i-. then imrsued
with much avidity .iiul enuil.ition by individual
mendi.inls, and soon Ir.in-ciidel its tormer
boun-ls. i'',xi)editions were title 1 out by v.irious
pia'sons from Montreal ..lel Michiiimackinac, ,and
riv.tlshiiis :in.l je ilousic s ot cmirs" ensued, ddie
tr.ide W.IS iniuiasl b\- llu ;,■ .irtiiii es to outbid and
undi rniiiie each otiur; ll.e livlians were de-
bauched by the ,al" 111 spMaiii.m s liipnu's, which
h.id been ' prohibited un h".' die l"r"nch rule.
Scenes ol (bamkenness, brut \\\\\ . and bravl were
the ciinsei|',ience. in tia- liidi.an \all.ii;- 's .and
.iroiin I the tr.idiii:; hoii-.., - ; i\hile bloo ly lends
look pl.ice bidweeii ri\.il t'.ilii".^ |) ir.ies whefi
th. . ' .ppened to encounter e ich .illu'r in the law-
less depths (d the wildernei^s.
To put an end to these sordid .iii'l ruinous con-
tentions, sevcr.d ot the prin.ii'.d merchants ot
i!
■y. t
■lip '■:, 'A\
'■' :'l
%'■■:
304
ASTORIA.
^ f
\1.
Montrpnl onti'rc.l into a p.irlnorsliiii in tlu^ winter '
ut 178',, wlm-h war, ,uii;nuiUi'd hy .im.ili;.iiu.itic.n ,
witli ,i"i-iv.il comp.inv in i?"')'. ''''n','^ ^^•'^ .Tcalril j
tlu' l.uiKuis ■• Noitli\\L'>t Company." wliii'h lor a 1
imu' l.ciil a lonllv swav ovc>r the wintry lakes |
ami boundless iorests ot the Canail.is, aliixist
cipial to th It ot the Il.ist Indi.i Conil'.my over the
voluiniious iliinr-, and ni.i-nilieenl re.dnis of ihe ^
Orient.
The eonip.ins eonsi-^led of twenty iliree share-
holders or p.irliiers. lull held m Us employ ,ili'>ut
two thoiis.md persons .IS elerks, j;iiides, interpret-
ers, and " \o\.i,i^eiirs," or ho.itmeii. These were
distrilnited at \.irio\!s tr.idini; imsis, estahhshed |
l.ir and wide on the interior lakes .iiid rivers, :
at immense di-l.inces trom e.ieh other, and in
t!ie heart ol lr.ukli>s eouniriis .md sa\M,u;e
iri'oes.
Several ol ilie partners resided in Monireal .md
(Hielxe, to m.,in,iL;e the m.ain (oiueliisol the eom-
junv. Thes" were e.ilied at;fnts, and w.re jier-
soiia;.;es of ;.;reat wi i;.;dit and import, inee ; the
other jLirtner-- took their st.ilioi\s at the interior
]io>ts, wl'.ere tliey remained throiij;liom the win-
ter, to superintend the intercourse with the v.iri-
ous irilus (it Indi.ms. 'I'hey were ihenee ealled
winterin;,;' p.irtners.
The s;oods destined for lliis wiile and w.mder-
in<^ tratlie wi'ri' put up .it the warehouses ot the
comp,iin- in M^ntnil, and eonveyed in l),iUe.iii\,
or lioais .md canoi--, up the River .\tt.iw.i, or < H-
low.l, whieh hil'sinto l!ie St. i.awreiiee ne.ir Mont
real, and hy oilur riveis ,ind |)(U-t,ii;rs to L.ike
Nipissin,;;, Lake Huron, L.d^e Superior, .md^
ihenee, 1)\- se\er.d eh.unso! j;re.it and sin, ill hikes,
to Lake VVinnipeL;-, Lake .Xthahasea, and liie ( ".re.il
Slave Lake. Thi-, smi;'ular and heautilul svstem
ot miern.d se 1-., whieh renders an immense re-
<;ion ot wilderness so ,ieeessilile to the Ir.iil h.iik
of the Indian or the tr.ider, w.is studded hy
the nnioie' prists (it ihe eoniiLiny, where they
e.irried on their ir.iHie with the surroundin-
trdies.
The eomp.ur., .as W(' h.ive shown, w.i, at lir-t
a s|-on'., incur- .(.-.oci.itjon ot merch.iiits ; hiil ,ill( r
it h.id iic'-'i refill, ir'v or:,Mni/cd, .idmusion into
it In.-c.ime c\treine!\ dilticuh. .\ ( .dididate h.id
to enter, as it were, " hetore the m.isl." to undcr-
;;'o a lon,^ p:' lii.itein. .ml to rise slowI\ hy \\':->
merits .and sc!\ices, lie he;.,Mn /it an eiily .il;c
.IS ,1 clerk, ,111 1 s ■i"\.il .in ,ipprenti(esli;p ul se\en
\'e.irs. t"r whicii he re(ci\cil one luindre.! pounds
sierhiiL;, w.is maint,;ine(l at the e\p( use of the
comp.mv, an'! lu;-ms!ied with suit.ible (lothini,'
and eipiipnu i.is. His prohation w.is j;ener.ir;y
passr-il .It ilic mfrior tr.idin;.,' posts ; renuncd tor
\c.irs t;'o!ii eivdi/id soidctv, le.idin;^' .1 lite .i.most
t!ie .sawi:;!--. .iround
;is wild .111(1 jire, .irinii , ,;>, i
liim ; exposed i > t!ie s'Aerities ot a ni rthi in win-
ter, olteii siill rini:;- liM:a .1 scircityot hiil,,ini!
s.imetini's deitituie lor .1 loni; time ot liotli lire. id
ami s. lit. W'ieii his apprenticeship h.id expired,
he recc;\i'| ,1 s.il.irv ,li(ordin^f to hu desert-.,
v.iryin;.,r trom ei.^ht) to one lumdred and sixtv
pounds sterlm;,^ ,ind w.is now elii^ilile to the
};real ohici I o! his amliitr'ii, ,1 ]i.irtncrship in the
('Unp.my; tlioui;h \e,iis miLjht \et eLijise Inlore
he .itlained in th.it eini.ilile st.ition.
Most o| tile elerKS were yolllV.;' men ot i;o.i ' ' im-
ilies, trom the liisrhl,ii,i|., nj Scotl.ind, ch.u-.u ler
i/ed hy the perseveranee, thrill, .md lidelit\ ot
their country, ,iiid lilted liy their n.itivc h.irdihood
to encounter the ri^^'irous ( Ijmaic ot the noriii,
aii'l to eiKlure the Iri.ils .ui'l |)riv.itions ot tiieir
lot ; though It must not Iji; coiieeakd that the
constitutions of ninny of tlum hciMinp '■.n-,,.,:
hy the hanlshi|)s ol the w ildcnus'^, aii.l t-»!
stomachs injured hy oi'c.isioiKi! t,imis!m;i' •■
especially hy the w.mtol bread .iiulsalt. Nju'
then, at an iiiterv.d ot years, they were lurr.:,"
to come down on a visit to the est.ihlislir,':-
Mvinire.il. to recruit their he.ilth, .uul t^i ).,, .
t.iste ol i i\ ili/ed lite ; .md ilus,, wen ir,;,;-
spots in iheir I'xisteiice.
.\s to the prineip.il partners or ,i;.;ints, r ■,
sided in Moiitre.il .iiul ' Hie bee. they lornnd ,i.,-
of commeicial .iristocr.icy, living in lor.iiv "
hospitable style. Their e.iiiy .assncritin'!, '•,(-.-
clerks .it the remote trading posts, ami tirr'.,,.
ures, d.ui(;ers, ,id\ cntures, and niisli.i]', v, ■
they liad sh.ired to;.;cther 111 tiieirwilil w.nv, ^
hid' linked them he.irtil) to e.icli ntlii v, v : •
lliev lornied .1 ( onvi\ial Iralernity. l(,v'.r.
lers th.it h.ive \ isited C.m.ul.i some thin: v./;
since, in the d.us ol the M'T.ivislies, ihi MV., .
\r.ns, the .M'Keii/ies, the I'rohisluT-., ini
other m.ij;n.ites ot the northwest. \\hc:i ;',;i
p.inv W.IS in .ill its ;^lory. but must rniv •;.%;:■
round of leaslini; .iiiil re\-eliy kept i.|' :i:- ■;
these liy|)erbore.in n.ibolis.
.Sometimes one or two ]),iriners, recnu., :.- -
the interiiu' posts, would m.ike their .i:i]m:.
Ill New N'oik, III ihe course ot ,1 t uir .'t ^.i' ■ ■
.md curiosilv. ( )il these oc isioiis ihere . .,■
w,i\s .1 dei^ree ol ni,ij,;niricence ot tlic ■ii-.r- ,
them, .and ,1 iiecnliar propensity to expeiiiliu:
the i;-oldsmith's .md jeweller's, tor rini;v .;■;,
l)roo(hes, neckl.ices, jewelled walclic^. ,i' ^ "
riili trinkets, partU' tor their own vwir, ;,/■
presents to their lemale .icipi.iint.iiiii^ ,, .
Ljeoiis prodii;.ilit\ , suidi as w is oltcii le 'n- '
m former times in southern ]il,inters a!il Wi-
di.i Creoles, when llusli with the \n-«\\>
pi iiitatioiis.
'I'o behold the Northwest ( ■(linn.ii'.v '
slate .md i;rindeiir, howe\iM', li v, is r "..
to witnes-, .111 .innual ;..,Mlherini; .it !!;■'.,'. ■' "■'
nor ]ii,ice id conlerema- est ililishe.l 1! I
ia!ii. ne.ir what is c.dled the C.r.ind I' r'i,
La!ve Superior. Here two or three el li'.i '
p.irtnta-s tr an Montic.d proeeeded oiirr' ;\
meet the p.irtiuis trom the \ .iriois ir.i':;;'.., ' ■
ot ihe wilderness, to discus-, the att.ur- ■■:;
p.iiiv durini;' tlu; precedini;- year, m ! !- •
pi. ins lor the tiiture.
I In these Oil .isions mi>;!it be seen ; ■■'
since the iiMccremoiiious times ot t!i( "! . I
tiMdeis ; now the .11 istoi rain .d ( li.ir iit' v
I'.riton shone toitli m.i^'niliiaailK . er r e,
teud.il spirit ol the Hi'^hl.inder. I'.'.d. :
wlio h.ui cii.iii;,' of an interior jiost. '.!m -' •
ol ret. liners .at tiis coinmand, tell like the .,: i''-'
ot a lli'.,'-liland 1 !.in, .and w.is ahivisi .1, ■;';'■•
'ant in the eves ot his dependiai;-^ .e. e* -' '"''^^
To him a visit to the ^;r.ind coa'er." -■ ■' ' '■
William W.IS ;i most imiimt.int e\e;>t ; c ,
p.iired there .IS to a meetini,^ of p.irh inie:'
The p.irtners tnmi Monti e.il, honevi '■. '' ^
lords ol the .iseendanl ; coming' (rom t' ''■•'_'
ot luxurious .md osleiit.itious lite, l-i'; '1' "
eclipsed their .ompeiU's Irom the '.veaih, «••>«
tonus .md faces h.id be. 11 b.itlend airl I "-'I''';
hv ti.ird livin.i;- .md h.ird serv,. c ami wi"'- -'^;
mellts and cipiipmiails were .dl li"' ''^''''"'„ J'.
wca,-. Indeed, the p.irtners tr.'U h- i'V.' ow* •
la-ed the whole (lii,Muty ol (he > ompaiu 'I,; '
sented in their pers(ms, .and condu. led tli'"'i''t-^
'■ in suitable style. They .as.a-ndel die nv''>||^|,
^n-eat state, IIkc so\ frei:.;iis m.ikin:^ a l""'"-",/,!
i or rather iik(j lliiihlaie chiellams naviy.itini,"*
ASTORIA.
305
511''''
tlir '■
.»((<■■
can .
Wl'i
ch'i
all
hi ,
SI"
i
i bar-.
W" ' :
a'h ' ■
(li:.
th-
v::
b".
te;
if-:-
as ■
ot- .
iiiL .
nil'
t--.
fc,','-
lill "i:
t likes Tliev wore wrapped in ricli furs,
)nvH- c.inocs iri!>;luc<l wiili rvt ry lonvui-
in^lluNHiy. ami maimed liy C.madi.m \ny.
.,' .is oht'iliVnt as llii;ldand elaiisnu'ii. 'I'Mfy
,|'u|)vudi du"n Kpok^ and liakcrs, t(i>;clluT
i'elicacifS "1 i\ ••'■>■ l^ii"'' and ahimdaiicf nl
wines !('|- ihi' l)aiu|iH'ts wliicli alUMidcd tins
„mi)c.iti"ii Happy wciL- they, loo, it ilii-y
Purt with sonu' (lislinniii''''d stranK^T ;
, ■ill some tilled nu'inhcr ■.,[ i\\- \',v\Us\\ no-
: ) aa-ump.iiiy them on this stately oeca-
lui i^Miie their In^li solemnities,
i: Wiiliain, the seene ot this im.ioitant an-
;;u■(■lln'^ was a eoiisiderable \ill,ij;t on the
- ol i..rk'e Siiiierior. Here, in in immense
rn IniildiiiK. was the K^^'at couneil hall, as
:„■ l);i'ii|iietiii^' I hamber, decorated with In-
,r:ii-, .iiul ,ii'. ■inurements, and the trophies of
i! iiMiii'. Ilie liouse sw.irmed at this time
i.uld-.-. iiiul vi)ya,i;c\irs, some from Montreal,
1 u) the interior posts ; some from the in-
posti, iiotind to .Montreal. The eoiincils
r,M 111 .:rea* stale, tor every meml)er tell as
ii^ ill parli.inunt, ami every retainer and de-
ni uiDKi'd tip to the as cinhlas^e with awe,
I'lR' iidi.se ol lords. There w.u. a v.isl deal
iiiiii litliheiiiloii, and hard Scottish reason-
ui!i an (iciasioii.d ^well ol pomixms decl.i-
CHAPTER II.
generous wine.
:i time ot loyal
iiul hrimmiiisj
M' HiMve aiidwrij^hlv comuils wert; altern;i-
, luii;f teahlM and ri'vels, like ^oine ol the old
ilescrilu'd m Iiii;hlaiid ca. 'Irs. The tables
L;reat haiKjueiiiij,' room i,'roane(l under the
■. Ill i,Mine of all kinds; ot venison Irom tlie
-, .iiiil fish Irom the lakes, with luintrrs' deli-
lcac:rs sui I) as hultaloe^.' tonj^ues and beavers'
Itaii^ . and \arimi> lii\iirie>, Irom Moiitre.il, ;dl
isei'.rl tip l)v rvperieiiied cooks brought for the
puipoM', 'liiere wa>> no stint ot
pior r w.is a h ird-drinkiiiL;' period
|tOa>N. .iiiil hacchanaliaii niii^s,
|bun!|-jrs
While ihe rhii I-. thus re\( lied in hall, and made
the rilti r> r -iDiiad with luir-.li "I Idv.iIiv and old
.Si'iilli-ii mi;il;s. chanlrd in voices cr.icked .md
Ijsh.Kiiiiu-ii li\ the iiciithern bl.i-it, tluar merriment
Iv.'.i.i II 'liiitl .\\n\ proliini;ed by .i mon^^i'el li:;ion
Nf li, iiiiris, (aii.iilian vo\ ai^'ei,, •,, halt-iii'eeds, I;i-
f'di.c. Iiiaiurs, and vagabond h,u)^er-.-on, who
fc-iMeil MiinptiMiisly without on tlu' crumbs that
fe.i troiii ilu-ir labie, .ind made the welkin rini;-
|:\v;ui i)!i| Fr.'iicli (hiiics, iniiiL^led with Indian
|yci:)s aiul yell!i\k,'s.
Si:ch wa.i the \iinh\iiesi Cnmpanv- in its power-
p ful ami |irospennis da\s, when it held a km I of
feu"„i! sway over a vast domain ol lake and
forisi. We are ilvvelliii^- tiio Imij;-, peril. ipi, tl|)on
tlioL- m.lividiial ]!ictiires, endeared to us bv the
awmatioas lit early hie, when, ,is yet a striplin.i;
y'l'J'i', Uf have s.it at ilie hospitable bo.irds ol the
"i'',,'lit\ Nrrihwesicrs," the lonis ot the asceiul-
ai'i a'. Montreal, and i;i/:ed with wondering- .md
[afxpeniMivil eve at the !)aronial w,i. sailing-, .md
'i>I>iit,l with astonished ( ar to their t.llcs ot hard-
sailisa'id ailveiuaies. ii is .me object ot mir task,
li');^'''vrr, to present s. enes ol the rouj^h lile ot the
wiKi mess, and we .ire templed to 'lix these few
"i-i" mils III ,1 i.MMMeiit stale ot thiiio-s fast p.iss-
''^;'it<) ohhvion ; lor the feudal state of Fort
Wii.iini is ,,i,„i end; II-, council-chamber is si-
'«^m ami (leserted ; us ban(|Uetdi,dl no l.m^^er
|iy\"'S 10 il-.e biiisi „| lov.div. or the " auld
l^'Hil ,i„,y; ,h,; U„.,ls of^ the l.ikcsand forests
"» •■passe.l .way ; and the hospitable macn.itcs
01 \louWuil-vvl.ere .ire lliey .' „
Till' surress of the Xortliwest Company stimu-
lated lurtlier enterprise in this o|)eiimj;- and apj^ar-
eiitly boundless lield of jirotit. 'I'lie tr.iltic ot tliat
comp.my lay prim ijjally in llic liij,di northern lat-
itudes, while there were immense rej^ions to the
south and west, known to abouiul with v.daablc
peltries ; but which, as yet, liad been but bale ex-
l)lorc;il by the fur trader. ,\ new .issociation of
flniish merchants was therefore formed, to pros-
ecute the trade in tliis direction. The chiet t.ic-
tory w.is established at the old emporium of
.Micliilim.ickinac, from wliich id.ice the associ.i-
tion look its n.ime, .ind was coiunionly c. tiled the
.Mai kinaw (.'omp.iiiy.
While the .Northwesters continued to push their
enterprises into the liy|ierborean n-i^ions Irom
their slron^ii./i.i ..t l-'ort William, and to liolil ,il-
most soverei|;n swa\- over tin- tribes of the up|K-r
l.ikes .111(1 rivers, the M.ickinaw (. ninjianv sent
lortli their lif;ht pero,i;iies and b.irks, by dreen
flay, l''ox Kiver, and the Wisconsin, to tli.U i;reat
.irtery ot the we-sl, the Mississippi ; and do.vn
lli.it sire, nil to all its tribut.iry rivers. In this w.iy
thev hoped soon to mopopoli/e tile trade with ail
t'U' tribes on the southern .md western w. iters,
and of thoic v. est tr.icts coiiiprised in .mcieiu
Louisi.in.i,
rile .i;o\eniment of tlir I'liiinl St.ites beL;',in to
view with. .1 w.iry e_\e the t;r"winu inlhience thus
ac(piired bv combin.itioiis ot torcii^ners over the
aboriLjinal tribes inh.ibilini; its ici ritoiies, .md en-
de.ivored to i. oimter.icl ii. I'or this puriuise, .as
e.irK
7i/) the ;;overiinicnt sent out a),^eiils to
establish riv.d tr.idini; houses mi the Ironiier. so
■ IS to sup|ily the w.iiusot the liulians, to link their
interests .ind teelinns with those ot tlu' people (if
the rnited States, .iiid to divert this import. iiU
br.iiii li ot tr.ide into n.ilion.il i iciiiiiels.
I'lie e>;|ieilieiit, however, w.is iiiisiu cesstul, as
most coninii rcial expedients ai'c prone to be,
where the dull p.itron,iu;e ut l;o\ ei nnuiu is cnunt-
(■(1 upon to out\ ie till.' keen .icti\',iy ot priv.Ue en-
terprise. \\ li.it government t.iiled to elfect, how-
ever, with .ill its p,itri)ii,if;eand .ill its aj^eiits. was
.U leiiL;lii broUL,dit .iboul by the enterprise and jier-
sevi'r.iiii'e ot a siiil^K? merch.mt, on. ol its adopted
citi/ciis ; .ind tills brin;.;s us to '.pc. ik oi the mdi-
idu.il whose enterprise is the espe«i.d subject ot
th.' follow iiii;' pa^cs ; .a m.in whose' n.ime and
cli.ir.icter are woiihv ol beiiii;" enrolled in the his-
tory of (oninierce, as iilustr.uinL; ils noblest aims
.md s(>undest ni.iMiiis. .\ lew Innl .inecdotes of
his e.irlv lile, .md ot ll-,e cir. unisi.inces vvhiLli
tirst determined him to tlic biMich ol commerce
of wliii h we .ire ire.iiin;^-, canimt be but interest-
in-.
John jacid) .\stor. the iiidividiiil in cpiestion,
w.-i:; born in the honest little (.iei'm.in villa:.;e of
W.ildorf, ne.ir Heidelberg;, on the b.inks ot the
Ixliine. lie W.IS brought ip in the simplicity ot
rur.il lite, but. while y,-t .i mere -tnpliii;;-, left his
home and l.umched him-rlt .iniid the busy scenes
of London, h.ivini; h.ul, Irom his very boyhood, ,i
sin),Milar presentiment ill, it lu wiuiid uilim,ile!y
arrive at ^reat torttm
/\t the close of the .Vmericin Kevolution he was
still in London, and sc.iice ui the iliresliold of
active lite. .An elder br.itlicr h.id been tor some
years resident in the rnited Si.iles, and Mr. .Aslor
(letermined to follow him, and to seek his for-
tunes in the risini^ country, investing- a smal'
sumwhiih he h.ni .im.issed since le,iviii>; his na-
tive viU.it'e, in mercluindisc suited to the Amcri-
!l
If ' !■! I- 1^ !
i
ft: *'
; 1
30G
can maiKi'l, Iio omn.ii
ASTORIA.
kfil, in tilt- nv-intli
.t N(i-
viMnl)cr, 17S3, in a ^liip hmmil to l.alnnnrf, am
I t
llir military post; nrciipiccl liy the Ti
u- icri itiirial limits
arrivL'il in llaininon Kiiail>. in
tlu' ni'inih ot l.imi- 1 hi' siirrcndcri
A
.1 the I
croriliivK (I
ntis",
niir.l Si:iu-^
!■>■•
Tn
iiiUT was I'xtriMiu'ly scvfic
h\\\ with many 1
in an
1
iihs
ahoul LIK.sapi'
(i ti)t
lie ii-c
ikL' \'i.\\ ti'T iu'a;:\- tliri'c
iliKTS, was (It'lanu'd
ara, IU'Iimi
A
t, M
iiliiiiniaclxntai
swr;,, V,
on Ihf .\nicrKMn si.lc
ot liiC I,
An o]
icnin'' was
111
anil nthtf
10*..
us
niadc tiir the An
mcn-hant to trailc on the conlini
nuriivj; this
ous ships ummI
the passenger.'
.f tlic \ari- wiilun the icrritoiii's ot the I
(.1 (■
l!U'll
ml I'll Sl.ll'S. .V;,,
.isionallv to ''"o o!i ■'More,
m inlcvval ot sonic ycais, :iliiuu 1807, \,
niin''k' scn-'.a
)lv i.i..tihf|-.
In tliw wav Ml. Astor ' vm
l>,Tki
in llus
tr.i.l
r. .!»■
JHH-anu' ;u'(piaintf(l
iurricr In ir.i'lr. H
with .1 CO
wini:
untrvm an ot his, a r.ipit.il .md ri'soMivi-s
t' on his own aiioiini |;
Kill .1 pi
Shin tn.
New
(•\ions r.n|iri'S-
th
tcl, .and hi- had r
'V this tip
ISl'll
trniii sm.ill ir.
It this nii;;lu ln' .1 lufiMlivc tr.idr in thr nini;s to t.ikc his pl.acf anioiii; ihr tirM nv
\\oii<l, hr 111. nil- ni.iny in<piincs ot hi> new .ind liinnricn
t th
I' l'OtHlII\.
IIS '"'i-lii
at-iitiaiiU.iiuc on tin- su\i]vt
•t, wlio clu'crtullv t;-.i\ t fVfr licni in advaiuu ot
111-, cirn
th.' mloini.i
tion in liis powtT ;is to the ' promptiiii.
till.
(|uality .111*1 V
(it i\UT\iiv,f I
conip.mu'tl iiini
it diltt'ivm tur>, aii'l tlif mode 1 prist' bfyoiid the sfopc ot oi-tjiiiarv iiitrih
limi to new ,111
th(
li
flih ill,-
111 the tr.illii
II
ti Ni
York
!• SUb-il'll
IK'lltIv .11'
Witl
!. 1
Mr. Astor w.is imliur.l to 1
n\i--.i the ]
i\ his .i(;\-ic('
iroi'cfds o
his cntcrprist' ami rt'^nurii''
III
lif soon toiiiid till' powi'r .111(1 iiilhiciiic
I i .Mu'liilim.ickin.n' (or
M
ICkllKIV.
iiaipi",i
lis nii'r.-lianili-.t' m lurs.
With till'
■rcat
ll.l\ III''' I'lll^l'OS
lllo^l (i! ill-
from
tlit'in
Nt
N'orK to
OIKloM m
:ulv ini i''-i'oii-lv. ma
1 1.' h
i-S.;. (lispoMvl ot within tht' .\iiii ih'.ui hordfi
turthcr at'
\ plan li.id ti
) JH' (li'\'i^t'd til fii i;ii(
([uainli.'tl villi tlu- fovirs
L' ot llu' tratif, and rtinrn- into siii-rt's^tiil cor.ipclilion. Ilr w.i- .m,,-,
tl
If s.mu' v;'.ir
to Ntnv York, with a vit-'W to stt- ihf wash ot tlu'
Anii'rii .111
'iviiiiiiu'iil. 1'
iL- in till
I
lit' now
nu-rcf wi
nitrd Mati'S.
(K'volv'ii hiiiiM'lt to tlu' hr.mrh o| lom-
th
wliii'h 111' h.ul
thus lM>U.l
lU
-itatt'd, that the tur tr.nlc will. in its hm-.r
>liou!tl he in the hands ot Anifru 111 il',;,'!':
I'l tlu- ini'tfiTlu.il nu'.isiirt's it h.ul i iki "i 1.1
II- .ii'ipi.iiiitf
I. II
f 1 11';'-. 1 11
his ( .in-cr. ot I'liiirsf, jilish ih.it oliit-i't. llf now oili-r. il. n
on
If n.iirnA fst SI'. Ik
.'1 IH'l'S'
ll
task
sirivi iiiir;^rily. To
iiii;; spirit ih.it :i!\\.i\-
iHit hf h
roll'' lit to tl'.r
]iriitfCtf(l by ^
nt'rnnicnt, to farii th'
■\-i'riii'' inilustrs , ni;iil n mi
lusr wi'ii.' a
I.U'd
inn ,
an .ispir
that tr.idi' into .Xniriu .111 I'li.iiinrls. ll"
vitfd to uiilolil his pi. ins to '^o.i'innuni in
I'liikt'd I'pw.ird ; a ^t'liuis ' Wf re warmly .ippnnt'd, tlii)iii;h llu' f\i-t !Hi
hold, tfi-til
f, ;in(l f\]i.msivf
Itv qU'.rk to ;4i\i' no dirt-rt .111
prasji .md finvfrt cvrry cinnimst iiu'f to n
Tl
I'lUiiitiii.'inri
'I, 1
vant.i'.jf. .inn
1 siiv'iil.ir and uf Vf r-w.i\'rrin;'; ci
11- ' iSoi). ,1 I'W.irtrr trom the l,i'L;is!,itiir
lowi'Vi'r. lu" oiii I!'
I-,
t'.di'iii-f ot si.'-ii.il s'afi'fss.
As vi'ttr.ulf in pn-Urii's \s .is not or;^' iiii'i'il 111 tiif
. and could not he s.ml to f irm ,1
it Inisi'ifss. j-'urs .md skills wire
u' rounirv tr 1 Irr-. in tlu'ir
)l NcwN'ork. inrorporatiii;..; a conin.ii'i ir
i.inif ot "Till' .Xmt'rii'.in l''iir ( omp.iiiy
L nitfd Sta.lr
rci^ular hill-
casually r 1
(lealiiv^s w
hut thf iii.ii
As Mr. A St.
tanitai of oiu
llion ot d
wii'
.11' 1 '
f;4f oi in('ri.'as;n;4 it to t'Ao million-;
li'il'.'d U\ il
il!i the rmh.iiis or tlif whit ' liiiii!' r-
lin s'^;n]i|\- w.is i|fri\'i' I tro;il C'.lll.l'l,
was liiriiisiifc' 11',
hii
It -iif , m I u't, ■11'.-"!:
Il
H- fomiiin',
tor, tlioi.m'.i hi' h il .1 '' ■ iri
nii'.ms 111 'iT.isr:
111' mail
V!slt> lo
the hmi
M'
iiti-' .ll
at t!
Thf.se h'' shippr I I;
here 111' piir''li
pl.li'f rn^Mj^c
im r.m.i'l.i to
lurs Ir im
in till
ifi tors. tiii'S' writ.' m.':-t';\' noiiiiuu
biKiiir-iS w.is I onlui'tni on his p.. 11
his rrsiiuri t's, but he IHrli'l'li'd to ilo
impo-.m'.;- .mil tormid.ib'i' .1 -pi i I o! ,1
'III. 11') ili-
r.ilhi'r tli.iii 111
iiiilu iibi.il n.imi', aiiii
reel tr;ide bnni,' .illir-vf 1 troni that I'l'ony to .my
but the mother toun'ry.
a ireatv ■.vith (".re. it jlrit lin re-
in 1704 i>r 'H
nio'.
ith tl
trii't.ons imposeil U|)on the 1
the res
le t'oionies, .in 1 opened .1 di
ir.ine
rei I r'lir.nu-rrial |
w .Is s.io.ii I' ais .Old ell 'I li\ e.
.\^ till' .M.irkin.iw roniiiiiiy still i"
riv.ilrv, .-md as tlu- Inr tr.nK' would n '
j^fojsU' ;idmit ot toiiipt'lition, hr ai.ul'
raii'ifineiU in iSii, by whiih. in 1 inju:!
ten-'iurse bfiween C.inad.i .'iiid the I'liited I eert.im p.irtmis ot the
in
Si.iti
and
Norilu
Cl'IT
Mr. .\-
ir w.is 111
Lon
don .It the iiiiie, 1
tl
H: lur tl'.li'i'.
immediatflv made .1 eontr.iet wi
th tl
If nsjeiUs
ot the N'lrll
ivVest
C'lablfd t'l imp r
t Conip.mv for furs. lie w.-^s no
w
the
her persons eni;ai;'eil m
It the Mai kin.iw'Comii.my, .md "U'li
Anu'ne.iii I'Lir t'omp.iiiv into ■! 1
d '.btril
t tliein trnm Montre.il into thf tioii, to be e.illeil
Tne SoutliAi'si I
United "'States t
1
shipped tlunri-
well ,'ts to Ch.
1)ost m.iiket toi
' , '
peltry.
Till.' tre.ity in
1
* An instniicp
i
.li
doiilit alilc 1 to '
we huve from Itn:
almost a stranKc-r
cumstanres, he p
1 '■■
just been erertcl
! ^1
superior style of
boast of the city.
greater house th;
said he to liims
i ;
diction.
«Afct.t.w..>
.'iji-i
tor th'
to dill
mm'' supply, .im
■rfnt parts o
wliifli li.is e\ir
I'".
to be
urope. as
been the
T
us he
hk
I'wise 1
lit!
Willi the I
llVltV .lii
itionof the .\merie.in s;oV( riimi rt.
\W this arrani^emenl Mr. .Asi-
r the rirhesl and tinesi kinds ot 1 elor of me hit
t ot th(' Indian 1 si.ihhsnr.i
•mods which the Mackin.iw (..'onipuiv
l„il
(liiesl.oii ])ro\idetl, liki
\',i'H', th.it 1 the territory ot the
In'
iunir\ 111 I'
M.itc
.'ind
it WIS Ull'lerst'iod t
h il till' Wlilli'
nf this buov.ant r
ontulcnre, wlm
h no
to be siirremleri'd into
his iiands .it tlu' ixn
r.i'
produce tlie succss it antii'i|)aleil, | (
lips ot Mr. .\. Iiiuisclf. While yet
r in the city, and in very ii;irro\v 1 ir-
paspi.'d by where .1 rtnv of houses h.ii!
in liriiii.iwav, and which, fro'u the
ll
livt
\fars,
ll t'ondilion th.it till
;\p'.crin
oni|i:my won
I millions.
I'l not tr.ide wiiliiii
ihr r.r'.'^i''
Inluckilv, the w.ir whirli broke mi' 1
11 tSi:'
tiair architecture, were the talk
I'll build, one day or other, a
in any >if these, in this very street,"
elf. He has acromplislicd his pre-
tWi't'll t lie. It
|iendi'd the .isso
enlinlv dissolve
u- I mil' i "^'i'"";
■i llion ; .and alter the w-i'' ''
Irit.im iiiiil t
iiro
hiliit
iiu
15riti
L'on-ress having p.isscii
sh tur traders Iroin pro*
;i la.v
utin;
their enterprises within the territnrics
L'lUted .States.
ot t
f ,t 'he I'u'l'
I an', '.he siiverciiin
ASTORIA.
307
CllAl'TKU 111.
01'
\V,i-
C'l
J"'
Coi
Ip.i
in;
V.'
di^
■ (I:,
£:
hi^
■ w,
K v: ■
fTI'
iwu.
i;ilK'he vnriDiis comiiaiiics we have nntircd
';,,iVhinj. their (•ntiTiinsi'sl.ir and wide in ihi;
i; C,!".; 'i, .'I'd alonfi the comsc ot the
./otiiii w.ittTS, other advcnturi-rs, mlcnl
, sinit iibjciis, wiTf travi'isin^' the watt-iy
. jf the i'liilii" ''"id skirtin;; the northwest
■ i! Aimrii.i. Tlie last viiya),'e nt that re-
,1 Irjt iiiilortiinate discoverer, Captain
ii i.j ni.iili' known the va^t ((iiantilies nt the
''.'.•.T t(i be toiinii alon^"- thai coast, and llu-
M' irin's to lie oiil. lined for its fur in
it w.'S as it a new j,M)hl coast had been
.ir.il. Individuals from various coumries
,| i;ito iliis lucrative irallic, so that in the
<-ij: there were twenty-one vessels under
ill ll,l^^, plying alon^f the coast and tradinj(
ifc niilues. The ^Mcater part of them wi;re
H.ii, and owned by llostnn merchants.
^fiUT.dly rein.inu-d on the eo.ist ,ind about
',itiMt seas for two years, carrying; on as
•I!!)'.,' and adventurous a comnu;ree on tin;
;>s\iii| the traders and trappers on land.
;r:uii' cvtmded .don^; the wlude co.ast from
Mii.i 1(1 the lii^di northern latitudes. 'I'hey
, run III lie. ir shore, anchor, and wait for the
,uv.\f oil in their canoes with jieliries.
Ill" ;r:iili' f\li,iiistc'l at one pi. ice, they would up
faniiiiir :inii ilf to another. In this way they
wo'.iiii cnn.iunic ihe summer, and wdien autumn
canif (111, wi/iild run down to the .S.mdwii h
IslaiiiU ,i!iil wiMlrr in sume friendly and plentitul
P/hnr'ii'!' Ill the fidliiwinj,^ ye.ir they vsould re-
suim- uuir suimiier Ir.ide, commenciiiy,' at C'ali-
, torii.i :inil |ir"ceedin^ nurih ; and, ha\inj,f in the
|coi,!-.i nt ihe twii se.iMilis coilecti'd a sullicient
|caij;o (1 |u'l!ries. wiiull 111. ike the best ot their
|\v;i\ I'l C'liii.i. Here they would sell their luis,
hih in lc:is, iMiikeens, and otlier mercb.iiidi->e,
|an:l iiauii u. Ho^tuii, ,dter an absi'iice ot two or
Ithrn- jc.irs.
T!h- iH'M|ile, liowrver, will) entered most exten-
tsilfly .I'vl ctfeilnelv in the fur trade ot the
IPai'irii-, were die Kussi.ms. Instead of maUinj,''
fcisti.;! v,'ya;.;es, iii tr.uisieiit ships, they established
f rf;'ii!anr,ii|iiiir houses in the hif^h l.uitudes, aiom;-
I thi' iiiirlli'M'st co.ist (it Anierie.i, ,iiul upon ttie
;ch,iin ot die .Meutiaii Islands between K.iiiit-
^scliatki :,n,| the promontory of Alaska.
prdiiiote and ji.otec't these enterprises a
fCKimiiiiv u.is in((ir|i(irated by the Russian ^;(tv-
kr.'iiiUT.t with e\'■luslveprivile'J■■^, and ;i ca|)ital of
■ed .iiid sixt\- thous.ind ])ouiids sterling;- ;
land '.he sovereis^nty (it that jiart of the American
[cmi'.iiunt ahiiiiT the coast ol which the jiosts hail
•11 (•'-iihlished. was claimed bv the Russian
fcriu:,, ,,i, the plea that the land had bjen discov-
• cr"i; :!!i'l oicujiied by its subjects.
As (Jmiu w.is the ^,'rand mart for the turs col-
tl«:id. II. these (|U.irier.., the iiussiaiis bad the ad-
I vaiii,ij;e ner their competitors in the tr.ide. The
M'Wt-r h.i.l to take their peltries to Canton, which,
". w.is a mere receiving mart, from
'.hey had tu be distributed over the iiite-
jfiur ot t :,. rni] Te ,ind sent to the northern parts,
pia.Tc thro was the chief consumiition. The
: Ku■^=l.lil^. nr. the contrarv, carried their turs, hv
I iisltorlL-r v(jya)fe, directly to the northern parts o'f
'f'' (-Imie.e empire ; thus beinp- able
!li^'"i 111 the market withou' '
'"'eni.il transport. ituHi.
hviieiici
Jt the
to .ilfiird
additional i ost of
Ijj iW tile ijroat eiiterpribe we iiavc undert.ikeii to
^i;^(;Mne now to the immediate fiidd of opera-
Amonjit the .American sliips svliich traded along
the nortiiwcst coast in 17(^2, w.is the Columbia,
C.ipt.iin (Iray, of IJostoii. in the course ni her
Miy.ij^e she (iisco\ered the mouth ot a l.iii;e river
ill lat. 40^ K/ north. Ijileriii;,^ ji with some dilli-
i uity, on account of s.ind-bars and breakers, she
came to anchor in a spacious bay. .\ bo.il was
well inanned, and sent on shore to a vill.i^'e on
the he.icli, hut all the inhabitants fled exceplinfr
tile aj;ed and inl'irm. The kind manner in which
tliese were treated, .uid the presents ^i\ en to them,
.i;radu;iily lureil i»,ick the others, and ,1 friendly
intercourse took pl.iee, I'lu y IkkI never seen .1
ship or a white man. Wheii lliey liad tirst de-
scried the Columbi.i, the)- bad suppo.^ed it a tloat-
iny; island ; then some moii,~,ti'r of the decii ; but
wlieii tliey s.iw the boat, luitling tor shore with
human beings on board, they considered them
cannibals sent by the (Ireat Spirit to rav.ij;e the
country anil devour the inhabit, iiits. Captain
Cray did not ascend the river farther th.in the bay
in (piestion, which coiuiiuies to bear Ins name.
.\tter puttini,' to sea lie tell in with the cele-
br.ited disco\erer, X'ancouver, and inlnrmed liini
(d his discover)-, turnishiiig- him with a cliart
which lie li.id m.ide of the river. X'.iiuoiiver \is-
ited the river, and his lieutenant, l!roii;^lui)n, ex-
plored It by the aid of C.iptain Cray's chart ; as-
(endiiii^r it ujiward of one hundred miles, until
within \ iew- of a simw) mountain, to whi(-h he
}(,-ive the name of .Moimt Hood, which it still re-
t.iiiis.
'Ihe existence of this ri\-er, however, was known
loii),r betore the visits ot Cray and \'anc(nuer, but
the inform, ilion concerning it w.is v.igue and in-
(lelinite, being gathered tror.-i the rejiorts (d the
indi.iiis. It W.IS s[)oken ot by travellers as the
Oregon, and as the gre.it river of the west. .V
Sp.mish ship is s.iid i{) li.n'e been w rei Led .it ihe
mouth, se\eral of the crew- of which liM-d lor
some time among the ii.iti\-es. The Columbia,
liowe\-er, is belie\ed to be the I'lrst shi]) th.it made
.1 regular disccncrv and aiK bored wuiiiii its
waters, .iiid it has since generally lioiiic the n.im-j
id that vessel.
As early as I7f).>, shortlv after the .'u;i]uisiiio!i of
the C. mad. is by Cre.it liiitain, Ciptaiii Joii.ilhan
Carver, who li.id been in tlie llritish provincial
army, projei-ted a journey ;icross the continent
between the forty-third ;ind forty-sixth degrees of
iiMithern l.ititude, to the shores td the Pacific
('cean. His object-, were to ;isi-i.|-l,iiii tiie bre.idth
ot the continent .it its bro.idest p.iri. and to de-
termine on some ))lace on the shores of the I'a-
citic where government might e-,t.i!)lish ,1 post to
facilitate the discovery ot .1 northwest ]),iss.ige,
or a communication bei\secii Hudson's li.i) and
the I'acitic Oce.iii. I'his pl.ue he iiri'siinied woiikl
be somewhere about the .Straits of .Amii.in, ;it
which [loiiu he supposed the Oregon disemliogiied
itself. It was his opinion also th.it a settlement
on this extremity of .America would disclose new
sources of tr.ide, |)romote many Uictul discoveries,
and open a more direct communicition with
China .ind the l-!iiglisli settlements in the l-last In-
dies, til. Ill that b)- the C.ipe of Cood Hope or the
Str.iits of M.igelian.-* This enterprising and iii-
tre|)i(l traveller was twice b.it'tled in iiulividu.il ef-
forts to accom])lis!i his great journe)-. In 1774
he was joined in the sclieme liy Richard W'liit-
w-orth, .1 member of I'.irli.imeiit, and a man of
wealth. Their enterprise w.is projected on a
bro.id and bold plan. The)- were to take willi
■* Carver's Travels, IntroJ. b. iii. I'hilad, 1796,
I i i c
13
J ■ :i
ih'.l
:!-T,
!:hC
:! rn
J-, 1;
■I iV
II
II
308
ASTORIA.
. j'iipf
: ; :';i
:■' ^:i'^
'1
tlu'iii llftv or sixty mrn, nrtificrrs and mariners.
With ihi-sc thcv Wfrt- to make llu-ir wav up oiu-
ot the hranclu's ol tin- Missouri, rvplnre the
moui\tains tor the source ot the l)rej,^)n, or river
of the west, and sail doun that river to its sup-
posed exit near the Straits of Annian. Here they
were to (•re( t a tort, and hiuUi tiu' vessels neies-
;vU\ to oair\ their discoveries by sea into effect.
Their plan had the s.mction ot the British ^jov-
crnnieiit, and i^r.ints and other reipiisites were
iieaiiv compK-ted wlien thi; lirealvin^;- out ot the
American l\e\oUuion imce more (Ufealed the
undert.dxin^^*
The expedition of Sir .\lcxan(Kr Mackenzie in
1793, across tile continent to the I'acitie ( >eean,
wliich he reached in lat. ;2 :;o' 48, ai,'ain sii^r-
gesleii the possii)ility ot linking; to;;etlier the trade
of both sides of the continent. In lat. 52 30' lie
had descended a river tor some distance which
flowed tow.ird the south, and was railed by
the natives Taroutehe Tesse. and which he erro-
neou-^lv siip])osed to be the Columbia. It w.is
jifterw.ird a.-.i ert.iined that it emjitied itself in lat.
49", whereas the month of the Colunibia is about
three de;.jrees farther south.
\\'heii Macken.'ie some years substMpienily pub-
lished 111 account ot his expeilitioiis, he sui.,'i;ested
the policy of openinj.^ an intercourse between the
Atlaniic ami Pacific Oceans, and tormini.; reijular
estal)lishments throui;h the interior and at both
extremes, as well as alonj; the co.i-^ts and islands.
liy this mt\.ns, he observed, tlie eiuii'i- comm.ind
of the fur trade of North Americi might be ob-
tained from lat. 48' north to the pole, excepting
that portion lieUI by the I'Jussi.ins, lor as to the
Americ.m adventurers who hail hitherto eiiioved
the trat'tic along the noithwi'sl co.ist, they would
instanti)' di-^.ippcar, he added, before a well regu-
lated tr.'idi .
A scheme of this kind, however, w.is too vast
and h.izardous tor indisidu.il enterprise : it could
only be undertaken bv a company under the sane-
ti Ml and proicetioii of a government ; ;ind as
there might be a clashing of claims betwi'i'U the
Hudson's U.iy ,ind N'orihwest Com|)anv, the one
holding by right ot (barter, the other liy right of
possession, he ])ro|>osed that the two r.)m]),inies
should eo.ilesee in this gn^at undert.ikiiig. 'I'he
long-cherished jcdousies ot these two coniii.inies,
lioweser, were too (lee() and strong to allow them
to list) n to such c(ninsel.
In the iiie.ui time the .attention of the Amrric.m
government was ;itiniried to the subjeci, and the
meiiKU'alile expedition under Messrs. Lewis and
Clarke fitted out. These gentlemen, in 1S04, ,u-
compli^hed the enterprise which h.id In en pro-
jected by Carver and W'hitwortli in 1774. Thcv
ascended the Missouri, passed through thr stu-
pendous gates of the Rocky Mount.ains. hitherto
imkiiowii to white men ; discovered ani' explored
the upper wati'i-s of the Colund)ia, .-ind followed
that river down to its mouth, where their country-
man, (ir.iy, had anchored about twelve ve.irs prl'-
viously. Here they p,issi-i| the winter, and re-
turns' •irro-,s the mount.iins in the following
spring. The reports published bv them <if ihei'r
exp'dition demonstrated the practirabilitv ol es-
t.iblishing a line of communication across the
continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
It was tlien ih.at the jde.a presented itself to the
mind ot Mr. Astur, of grasping with his individ-
ual hand this great <-nterprise. which for vears had
been dubiously yet desirously contemplated by
* Carver's Travels, p. 360. Philad. 179O.
powerful associations and matfrn.tl (jnvernirc-
l-'or some time he revohcd the idea in iiism:,'i
gradually extending .md m.ituring his pl;in,aiit
means of executing then, augmented. 'Ww^^-^.
fi-attire of his scheme w.is to est.iMJsh ;, ;,|,,^i
tr.iding posts ,ilong the Missouri ami tluG.uji,
bia. to the mouth of the l.itter, wlitic \\,|,;ji,''
founded the chief trading hoiisi' or inir; -,
terior posts would '. • established in ih-.' "iirrrr'
;i \t\ on .dl the tributary stre.mis ot the Oilii:iii|,j'
to tr.idi- with the Indians ; these |iii,i, \,r,i;,i
dr.iw their su|)plies from the mam esi.iii.Ktimr'
and bring to it the jieltries tliev coilectol tm,'!'.
ing craft would be liiiill and tilled out, ,i'.MMi!>i
mouth of the Columi)ia, to trade, ai l:\or,ili.t
scisons, all along the mirtluvest coast, .vM\tt.
Uirii, with the |)i >ce(.'ds ot their xoyaj^i'-., lu itjs
pi. ice ot deposit. 'Ilius all the Indian inilc ho;a
of the interior and the coast, would i.iii\iT|;e;(i
tills point, and tlieiice derive its sustei',,c r.
A shi]) was to lie sent annually troni NwV •<
lo this m.iin est.iblishmeiit with reiiiioromvr.a
,ind supplies, .and with mendiandisc siiiifl i„i:t
tr.ide. It would t. ike on board the furs O'.ia'id
during the preceding year, carry tluni t.i Cij.
ton, in\esl the jircu'eeds in the ncli iiU'n ii.in{':«
ot China, and return thus trieghted tc Niv, Y.,x
As, in extending the .Amrric.m tr.iile .lin-.^';:!
co.ist to the northward, it might he liieii^',,t::,;.i
the vicinity ot the Russian I'ur Ci)ni](,i;.\, ..rj
jiroduce a hostile riv.ilry, it w.is ji.irt !■! i:v;m-:
of Mr. Astor to concili.ite the good will 1! r,ai
(ompany by the most .imicable and luiHt.iL ir.
rangements. Tlie Russian estahlislmv : '
cliied\' dt-pendent lor its su|)plies iipup ;:,'
ir.iding vessels from the rnited Static.
\essels, however, were often ot more n.ii:
.adv.intage. I'leing owned by priv.ite aiKi '
or casu.il voy.igers, who c.ired only !or
pioiit, and had no interest in the |)erni.in!'.i ;'W.
]ierilv of till' tr,ide, they were reckli s-< in '.'m
di.iiings with the n.itives, .and ni.ide ne M;'.::i';ffi
su]ii)lying them with lirearms. In thi-. w. vv.
er.il lierce tribes in the vicinity ot tiie K'JS>'..n
posts, or within the r.ilige ot their lr.ii:::i..; a.;.:-
sions, were furnished with deadly iiu-Ui- '>! ■i'-
tare, ;ind rendered trouble-iome and i!.iiii;''rvJi
neighbors.
'I'he Russi.m government h.ul inaile reiirr-d;;!-
tions to th.it of the I'nited St.itt's ollii-cn..:-
pr.iclii'es on t!ie part ot its citi/eiis, anil uisi'i!';'
iia\i' this tr.iIlM' in arms pridiibit'il . i.ui. a- '•
dill not intringe ,in\- immiciii.il l.iw, our i,'.>vt"!i-
meiit could not interfere. Vi-t still il ri-i,Mri'.!:il.
with solicitude, a tr.iltic which, it peisi^l'-ii '^.
might give offence to Kiissi.i, ;it th.it lar.' .i"'"*!
the only power friendly to us. In tliis uii''!"".>
the government h.id .ipiilied to Mr. .Xsinr hiK
lonvers.mt in this branch of tr.ule. Inr : .'"fnj-
tion that might point out a w.iy to niiivili i-
evil. This circum 'ance had suggi >tc(l ii 'I
the ide.l fif supplying the Russian es'..il'ii^ii"'''"j
regul.irly by means ot the .annu.il ship ih.il -''•*''
visit the'settlement at the mouth ol the OiH";''''
(or Oregoni; by this me.ans the cimmI ''>■■»■'''
vesstds would be exi liided from tho>i- iMr!^"!!''
coast where their malpractices \verc su M)"™'"
to the Russians.
Such is a brief outline ot the entcii'n.M' I'f"'^':
ed l)v .Mr. .\stor, but which coiitinu.illy exii.i'"'')
in his niind. Indeed it is due to him li'^i'')' "^'j'
lie was not actuated bv mere motives o! ii"'"'""
ual profit. He w.is aire.idy weallbv hi-V""','"
ordiL.irv desirt'S of man, but he nmv .i^in""'
that Inno.ablc fame whicii ib awarded lunicnoi
;;■,>(
•r.ij
ITiscVi
Ip./-; n-i tin- p.-u-iTi
ASTORIA.
;]00
-.rnpo
mind, who liy their ^ront mni-
ii L-mfr|)risi-s have cut u iu-il nations, pcuplfd
;,;s :iml I'Nti-ii'Icil llic l)inni(ls (it i-nipiif.
..insKkif'l his proicctfil fsialiiishniLMU at the
noiii'i III ihclDluinbia as tiu' rniimrunn to an ini-
li,sf i(miinor(c ; as a ((liony liiat would torni
..■rm 1)1 a wi'li: livili/alion ; that would, in
■acl'" "I) ''"' Amcruan |iii|nil.itii)ii .icruss the
Vk\ Mmintaiiis .uid spread it alon^' the shores
bl till' I'.irilic, as il already ,iiiiniated the shores
bftlif Ailantii.
As Mr. AsKir. hvthe niai,Mmu(le of his comnier-
linancial relations, and the vij,'.)r ,ind
icopeol his sfli-lauKlit iniml, had elevated hini-
kelf iiuo ihi: I'oiisiilcration ol ^nivernnient ,iiid the
bniiminien ami ci)rres|)ondeiii-e with le,i(linj,r
Lilesiiun, he, .it an early period, eoninuiiiicited
ii's schcnu'^ ti) President Jetlerson, soliritin;,^ tht!
jtoiiiiltiiaiKL' i)f j^dvernnieiit. How hij^hly they
H'eru t^ifc ned lu that (iniiient man, wi; m.iy
|g(l"c liy llu' loliowin^ pass.i^je, \s ritten hs liini
|oni(.-lniie alterw ird to ^Ir. A^lor.
"I renifMilier well havinj; invited \our projio-
fcilion nil this sahjeit,* and eiu-our,ij,a'd it with
|he .issuraiu'c nl every fac ility ,nid protection
ft'hich the t;i)V(ri!ineiU roiild pro|)erly afford. I
Iconsidrred, ii'i a !,'ie,it jiuhlic ;ie(piisition, the eoni-
ntiuciiK'nl ol a settlement on thai point of the
Jwesicn coait ol .\nierie.i, and looked forward
|«ith jjiMtitiraliiin to the time when its deseend-
|ani'< sliiiuM h.ive sjiread themselves ihrouj^h the
iwh'ilc lcii),'ih of that co.ast, covering'' il witl\ fret'
lanJ iiiiii'|ieiuleiU .Americans, unconnected with
lus lull liy the ties ol hlood and interest, .and en-
Ijoyiii^' lik'L' lis ihi' rii;lit;> of self-government."
T;;l- cahiiiet jniiuvl with Jefferson in warm ;ip- 1
iproii.itKiii of the pl.in, and field out .issurance cif
levi'ry proteciioii th.it could, consistently with '
geni.T.i! pilicv, lie afforded. I
.Mr .V^tor iiiiw prepared to c.irry his scheme '
linti jiruaipt execiuion. He li.td some com|)eti-
ltio'i,h')\\c\i r, to .ipprcheiul ,iml j,'ii,ird a;,Mm-.t. I
iThf Xarthwesl Comp.niy, acting; feehly and par- ,
Itiaii; ii|ic;nilir Mi;;,i;estioiisot its tormer';i,i(ent, .Sir !
lAleviiKhT M.ii'ken/ie, h.id pushed one or two ad- ■
ivanccil iracliiij; iio,ts across the Kocky Moun- ■
Itai'ii. ml 1 a tract ol counlrv visited hv' that ei
lti:r|ir!,:iio traveller, and since named New C.il-
led'iiii.i. fills tract lay about two de^rrcc., n.irth
|olihv(.'iiliitn!)i.i, and intervened between the ter-
jril Ml.-, ul the Tiiited Stales and those of Russi.i.
|Il>kii:4:;i was .iliout five hundred .and tlltv mihrs,
lani is biv iilth, !rom the mountains to 'the I'.i-
[CiV, from three hundred to three hundred and
jfim .i;.Mj;i-aphical miles.
SlinulJ ihe Ncirihwest Comi).inv persist in ex-
Ittiniiii,,' their tr.ide in that (pi.irier,' their comjieti-
jtwi: iiip^ii; he -jt seiious detriment to the plans ol
I'Mr. .\st..r. h i^ tiiie thev would contend with
n™ l.i a v.,-,1 disadvantage, from the checks and
rMrii::i,,n.s to which they were subjected. They
jvcri' Mr.iiieiud on one side by the riv.ilrv ol the
1- I
H
v.n ^ li.iy Company ; then' thev had ho .ijood
Pp; i"i t,ie I'acilic where thev could receive stip-
I'l'i^^ liy s,,i t„r tlunr establishments bevond the
ni":"U.uii^ ; nor, if ilu'v had one, could t'hev ship
•"•-•^i- li.r.', iktiKe to CI ■
Inn. I, that Ljreat mart tor p<d
* On ihis
\^f'''. Then
"t Mr. lelTcrson's mcmorv was in
m,„. ^ Pf'Posnioii alUidcl t„ was the one, already
C ."'''"' ■ •",'*"" '■^l-'''hshn.eiil of an .American fur
prt.r- '", '"-' •^"•""'= ^t-'t'-s- The Kreat enter-
shiVw'',!,', '.'"''""'■"■'''■ 'hatw.is to sweep the
■ I lie la< 111,, originated in the mind of Mr.
IS proijoscd by him to the yovernmc-nt.
tries ; tho Chinosc trade heinfj romprisod in the
moiiiipoly (,( the l''.,ist India Comp.iny. Their
post be\ond the iiKjuntains h.id to In- su|)plied in
yearly ex|)e(liiions, like carav.ins, front Montre.il,
and the furs conveyed l),ick in the same w,iy, by
lonj;, precarious, .and expensive routes, across the
I ontinent. Mr. Astor, on the contrary, would he
.ible to su|iply liis projiosed establishment at the
mouth of the C(dumbi.i by se.i, and to ship tiie
furs collected there directly to t'hin.t, .so as tt)
underseil the Northwest Comp.iny in the j^rre.it
Chinese m.irket.
.Still, the comiietition ol two ri\;il com]),inies
west of the Kocky Mount. lins could not but jirovc
detrinieiital to both, .and fr.iuijht witli those evils,
both to the trade and to the jndi.ms, th.it had at-
tended similiir rivalries in tin- Can.iilas. To jire-
vent any contest of the kind, therefore, he m.ide
known his pl.m to the a^jenls of the Northwest
Comp.iny, .md proposed to interest them, to ihe
extent i>\ one third, in the tr,idethus lobe opened.
.Some ( iirres|)ondence .iiid iiej^oti.itioii ensued,
'file com])any were aware ol tlie ad\ ,iiilaj^e.s
\sliich would be possesseil by Mr. .Astor should
he be able to ( .irry his scheme into elfecl ; but
they .inticip.Ued a monopidy of the trade bevond
the mountains by their establishments in .New
Caledonia, and were lo.ith to share il wiin ;m in-
dividual who had already |)roved a formid.ible
competitor in the Atl.inlic trade. Thev hoped,
too, by a timidy move, to secure the mouth of the
Coluinbi.i before Mr. Astor would be able to put
his plans into operation ; ,iiid, that key to the in-
ternal trade once irt their posse:,>,ion, the whole
(duntry would be at their command. After some
nej,n)liatioii ,ind delay, therefore, thev declined
the proposition ih.it had been m.ide to them, but
subsecpieiitly dis|)atclied .i parly tiu" the nioiith of
the C(dumbia, to establish a post there betore .my
expedition sent out by Mr. Astor mi^ht arri\e.
In the mean lime Mr. Astor tliulini( his over-
tures rejected, proceeded fe.irlessly to execute his
enterprise in I, ice of the whole power of the .North-
west Company. His main est.iblishment once
p!. lilted ,it the mouth of the Coliimhia, he lookeil
w ith conlidenc<' to ultimate success. ISeiii^' able
to reintiH'ce ,iiid supply it am])ly bv sea, lie would
push his interior posts in every direction up the
ruers and .iloii;^ the coast ; suppKiiiir the natives
.It a lower r.Ue, .iiid thus ;;ra lually oblij^rjnir the
Northwest Company to ^ive up the coni|)etition,
relin(|uish New Caledoni.i, .iiid retire to the other
side (d the mountains. He would then have ])os-
session of the tr.ide, not merely of the Columbia
and its tribut.iries, but of the reL,non-> f.irther
north, (|uite to the Kussi.m |)ossessions. .Such
was a jiart of his brilli.int and comprehensive
pi. in.
He now proceeded. Willi all dilii^ence, to pro-
cure proper ai^feiits .and co.idiutors, habituated to
the Indi.m tr.ide ,ind to the life ol the wilderness.
.Anions llu clerks ol the .Northwest Company
were sever, il ot j^re.il c.ip.u'ilv and exiiern-nce,
who li.id served out ilu'ir probation, iry terms, but
who, either iliroutjh Lick of interest anil iiitlucnci',
or ,1 want ot \,icancies, li.id not been promoted.
'I'liev were cor. ■.cipieiiiU much dissatistied, and
ready tor .iiiv .mploymenl in which their talents
.itid .icipiiremeiiis mi^hl bi- Uiriie<l to better ac-
count.
Mr. .Astor made his overtures to sever.il of
these persons, .md thia'e (d them entered into
his views. ( )ne ot these, Mr. .Alex.uider M' Kay,
had .iccomjianied Sir .Alexander Mackenzie in
both ot his expeditions to the northwest coast of
Hi
i'li-:
i '■ !" -h
I
I
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I
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I
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310
ASTORIA.
Amorira in 17S0 -ind 179.V Tlio oilirr two svi re
Duiu'.iii M'l)i)U,i;.il and Dun.iM MKiii/ii'. 'I'd
these well' hiil)si i|uciuly .uMi'd Mr. \\ dsnu I'riii'
Iluiu, (it New JiiM'v. As this j^iiitlfin.iii \s,is .1
luitivc lioin liti/cn nt the I'liili'd M.iti ■,, .1 iicrstiii
of grc.it inohity and worth, lie \sa-. seK'iti'd by
Mr. Astor to lie his iliicl aj,'fi»l, and to rcprcsi'iil
him in the lOiUtniplated I'.stahlishnu'nt.
On t!ic 2ji\ ot Jiuu', iSio, arliili's nt ai;ncnicMi
wore iiittMi'd inlo ln'twocn Mr. Astor and tho.if
four ^;iiulenicn, acting lor tliemselves and lor the
several persons who had aire, idy .iijri'ed to be-
come, ol' should therealter l)eeoMie assm i.ited
under the I'lriit ot " I'he I'.uilie I'ur C.'oin|ian\. "
Aeeordin^' to these articles Mr. Astor w,is to
he at the he, id ol the iom|i.iiiy, and to m in.i^,'i' its
•nff.iirs in New \'oik. lie w.is to turnisli \tssels,
j;oo(ls, provisions, .uiiis, ammunition, ,ind all
oilier requisites tcjr the enterprise at lirsi eont .md
eh, irises, ])n)vided th.it they did not, ,it ,iny time,
involve ,in advance ot more th.in tour luindred
thous,ind dollars.
The stock oi the roniiiany w,is to be divided
into a luindred e(pi.il sh.ires. with the prot'its ac-
cruing thereon. I'llty sh,ires wvw to be at the
disposition ot .Mr. .\sior, and the other I'ltty to be
divided amoii^ the partners .md their .issoci.ites.
Mr. .\sior w.is to ha\e the pri\ile^e ot intro-
(iucin.i; other |iersons into the coiiiiectioii ,is p.irt-
ners, two ot whom, ,it le.ist, shoulil be coiners, int
with the Iiuli.m ti,ide, .md none ot them entitled
to more than three sh.irt's.
A ;,fener;d meetini; ot the comp.my w,is to be
held annually ;it Columbi.i River, tor the iiivesti-
fjation and re^nil.ilion ot its alt.iirs ; .il which
absent members mi^lit be represented, .-md mii;hl
vote by proxy under cert. tin spccitied conditions.
Tile asS(Jci,aion, it suecesstul, was to oonliiuu'
for twenty ye.irs ; but tin: parlies li.id lull power
to ab.mdon and dissolve it within the tirst tivi-
years, should it be tound uii|)rolUal)le. l''or this
leriii .Mr. .\stor coveil.uited to be.ir .ill the hcs
that nii<,du be incurred ; alter which it w.is to bi'
borne by .ill the jj.irtiiers, in [iioportion to their
res|)ectivc shares.
The parties ot the second p.irt were to execute
faithlully such duties as mi,!;ht be assii;iied to
them by a majority of the I'omp.iny on the north-
west coast, and to n^ii.iir to such place or pi. ices
as the majority mii;hi direct.
All .ii^eiit, appointed tor ttu: term of hvv vears,
was to reside at the princip.il est.iblishment on
the northwest co.i^,t, .md \\ ilsoii Trice Hunt w.is
the one chosen tor the lirsi term. .Should the in-
terests of the concern ;it .my lime reijuire his ,ib-
sence, a person w.is to be .ipp(]iiued, in };elier,il
meetinj,r, to lake his pi, ice.
Such were the leadinij conditions of this ,issoci-
ation ; we sh.ill now procied to relate- the v.uious
hardy and evenllul expeditions, by sea ami land,
to wl'iich it LMve rise.
CIl.M'TKR I\-.
Ix jiroseculi
his j;reat scheme of commerce
.ind coloni/alion, two expeilitioiis were devised by
Mr. Astor, one by si-a, the other by Kind. The
lormrrwa-, to c.irry out the people, stores, am-
munition, and merchandise reijuisite for est.iblish-
ins ;i fortified trading; post .at the mouth of
Columbia Kiver. '1 he laiter, londueted by .Mr.
Hunt, was to jiroi eed up the Missouri, .uid
across the Rocky .Mountains, to the same jwiiu ;
i \plorinjj .i line of comiriunic.iti.in ,icr,,, •
loiiiinent, ,ind noting; the pl.iie> where ivr"
tl.idlii);' posts mij;ht l)e I'sl.ibliMhcl. ■[•l,,. ,^,'/
liim b)- se.i is tlie one w hii h eniues hl^,^u^ ■
consider. ition,
.\ line ship W.IS proviiled, e.illed tin T,,;, ^
of two lumdreil .md ninety tons hiinliii, ii;,!j!
\u^ ten K"ns, with a crew of twenty iikn.T-
cirrieil ,111 assorlmeiii ot nterch.iiuliM'' |,,r i-jj,. !
with the ii,itivcs ot the sealio.ird .md ui liio '
terior, toj;etlier aiih the tr.inii- ot ,1 silnnjinr'
be emploved in the coasting Ir.ide. .Soa, ^,
were provideii tor the cultiv.itioii o| the mi! ,:
nothm.i; w.is neglected tor the liere^.n^ ^I'l.,; ^
ot the est,ibli-.hment. The comni.iiul id tin v
W.IS intrusieil to Jon.ith.in 'I'horn, nt Neu \ ,
.1 lieulen,inl in the L'liited .St.ites N'.ivv, (in',i..
ol .ibsence, lie w.is a 111. in ol i our.ij;'' ,iii(| ti-- .
iiess who h.id distiiij;uished himself in nur f,-;: .
it, in w,ir, and, from bein^ accustniiuil u ;,,,.
disciplini', W.IS considi'red by Mr. .\^i'ir ,h ., .
titled to t.ike ch,ir>;e of .111 expedition el !ill■^:,.
I'our of the partners were to emb.irk in i;i: >:;
ll.lllleK, MesMs. .I'K.iy, M'I)oui;.il, l),r.ils,,,-
and Ills nephew, Robert .Siu,iit, Mr, M [i.;.,,
was empoweleil liy Mr. .Astor to .11 1 ,is lii-. |i.. .
in the .ibsence ot .Mr. Hunt, to vote lor liiir. ,1,,:
his n.ime, on any (jueslion tli.it ni!i;hl 1 i;nt
lore any meeting- ot the persons iiilere.ilc.i ..r
voyage.
lU'sides the |)artners, there were twehf clirL:,
^'o out in the ship, sever. d of ihein in'iim 1:
L'.in.id.i, who iiad some experience in li .„„",
tr.ide, 'I'iiey were liouiid to the st-rvite 0: ;;.;
comp,iii\ for live ye.irs, ,il the r.ite ot one iiuivir::!
dollirs .1 ye.ir, p.iy.ible at the exiiir.iuni', : l.e
term, .md .111 aiiiui.il eiiuipment of L'Kiiiim^' ij
the amount of forty doll.irs. In case m1 ;;1 :i:i-
duct they were li.ible to torleil their w.i^'',-- 1:.-;
disiiii.ssed ; but, should they ac(|Uil ihenbc..-
well, the conlideilt ex|)ect,ilion w.is iielii W. ;o
them ot promotion, and partneishiji. 'n,i':r:>
tere-.ls Were thus, to some exlelU, idelllilini
those ot the comp.iny,
S(.'\er,il .irlis.iiis Were likewise l" s.iil ;:i
ship, tor the su])|)ly of the eoloin ; hut '.in- :i. ;■
peculi.ir and ch.ir.icterisiic p.iri .it liiis ii; ; ...'
emb.irk.ilioii consisted ot ihirleeiit .iii.ili.iii ' . ••
aj^euiM," who h.id enlisted lor livi' m irs. A- ' >
chiss ot tunetioiKiries will contmu.iily leiut ■'•'-■
course ot the tollowin^r ii.irr.itioiis, .ir.vl .i> ti'-;
form one ot those distinct and sin.:ii;!y iw.ik:'.
c.istes or orders of |)eople sprini;iiis; njji'i;-*
v.ist continent out ot );eo>;r.ipliical circiiiii.->'.i'i ■••
or the v.ined imisuits, li.ibitudes, ami cn:,'.:> :
its po|)ul.ition, we sli.ill sketch a lew of their >. :
acteristics for the inform. ilion of the reail'-r.
The " \'oyaj;eurs" form .1 kind ol lonli-i'i
in the Cm, id, IS, like the .irrieros, or '.i::"
Spain, aiul, like them, are employed m 1 ",
terii.il expeditions of travel .md tr.itli' '.uia i- '
dittereiue, tli.it the .irrieros travel !i\ Un>l '■'■■<:
voy.ij^eiirs liy water ; llie former with num-
liorses, the kilter with b.itte.iux and ciiMiv '
\oy.i);curs m.iv be said to have sprim:.; I'l' ^"^'■■;
the fur trade, h.ivin,n ori^iiKilly been einplnU' '''
the early I'reiudi merchants in llu ir ir.ili:;,
iieditions throuifli the laliyrinth ol rm ' ■-
lakes of the boundless interior. They \^i'''|.'''
eval with the muni/rs- i/r.t I'ois, or r.m;^"'* "■ '"''
woods, alre.idy noticed, and, like theiii, in i^'f ■'•
t'Tvals of their lonif, arduous, ;mil l.ihoriiuiy^K"
dilions, were jiroiie to p.iss their time in i'"''''''
and re\(dry ,i!)out ihelr.ulin^ posts or seUknH■^.^
scju.indefinti their fiard earnings in hceJIcis ^Jf'"
V vi,ilitv, and ri-
(iMib, 11 '•"'';''■"
,l,srr,Mrd ot the ..
Wlicn C.m.i'l.i
tHii, .md the '"
br.ikni ti',' I'l'' '
/iv.,,\uTi' !i'|- a
l;i,f, .md with c
H'^otnthesi-rvi
;,.;; ,11 ii.iliis. m-'
l,.,,„-r rmplou'r-
lu:-:i!nf :lirilstoni
j„,,,. tn fniisidel
]X
,;,Hv tiv,' mend
!.. ihfla'iimiate
Tiif drc'^s tit I'
i;c;l, h,dt s;iv,i'^(
,,.,i,lc „| a blank
tpuvii'rs, or leat'i
ikir., :i"i! 1 '"'ll '
:m sil<]iiTiiiei
th.
inipicinciu-^. 'I'll'
ci-,.ir.ii liT, hein|.;
with Indi.m ;ini
The lives ot ll
:i;u! extensive 10
11,1k, hiit more e.
arc j;f!ii'r,illy ol 1-
(it thr j,Myety .0
rl•^tl•l^s. lieini; tai
Mdy lor the d.iii
civili'tv ;ind com
h.uilncss ;uid i;i
111 .ire ajil to md
miitiwlly ol)hj;iii
rr.;in;.,'mi,' kind o
aiii" anil finutori
the tamiluir :;
" brother" when
Tiit-;r natural f^oi
,1 ;-.'iiiiminity ot
pro' irimis .md w
No men ,ire 1
p.n I i'm|)io\ers,
sir p. or more j:
NfV.r .ire they
r"!„'il e\]ii'(lillol
lakes , fill .inipii
i;it; rmind their I
air. 'llu'v are 1
adroit with the 1
n'ornin'4 until
stirrsnian iiiten
sii'v.,'. with soiii
a!i inin, kecpiiii
rniir thi'v ll ii(
'a: neress.iry '
inn ilunii all 11
I'anadi.in w.uer
r'l.'.iisotis, ih.it
iisontn ,ind tr.it
f.. I adiesl day
i"ii; (tfei I, 111 a
?t.a- a lialleau
ravl dip.|)in;.,'' '
(inaint (lid ilnii
I'l a hrioju si',1
nirrcnt ot (me
I'lllt we are t
av.a\ ' Tlie
d'lvinL' everyil
ii'iats, which ,
r"m.inc<- ot 01
'uhdni the wo
ai l.il.d tu the
•*it>u-
ASTORIA.
811
i,.M|li'v ,in-l riv.iilinij tlioir n.Mj;hbnrs, the In
(,V„„'n i:ul<'l''iil in'liilK'<'n<c .in>l ;in imiirudcnt
,j,;.,.,,rl ..t tlic iiDriinv „ . . , ,
wiiiM (.111.1(1.1 iMN-^c'l iindiT Ilntish (loniina-
,i„, ,11,1 till' old l''|-fn.h ir.idiiiK' Ikhiscs wtTf
LriMii "'> lln- vt)V.ij;riirs, lik.- the o'lir.urn ,frs
I •. win' tor .1 tunc ilisliciiu-iicd and discnnsn-
I, .',.'., ml with didicidtv r^iulil rccoiuili- tlicin-
>.,,,•> Ill till' st-rviic lit the iicw-i-oincrs, sn ddtcr-
r: ill iiahits. ni.iiiiuTS, .nid l.in^jii.i);.' Iioiu tlu-ir
),, ;iur ciiiploviTs. r.v di'Kri'cs. (mwcviT, tlicy
|„ ,inc :iinisiomcil in ilic clian;;!', and ,it len^jlh
c;,,;.,. tn CMiisidfr tli< lintish tur tr.idcr';. ,nid cs-
pi.-uillv till' mt'iiilicrs ot ttu' \('ilhw(-.t Corni- "v,
.Vlhrici,'!!""."'' l'""''^ "' '"'■•Mtinn.
Till' (Ire. .silt tlifM- pfoplf is j,'cncr.d!y li.ilt civil-
i.'i;l, ll.ilt s;i\m:,'L'. Tllcy w< .If a caput nr siirco.lt,
n;,i(l't' 111 ,1 hlank-fi, a striped < niton shirt, clnth
IPiwvrs, nr If.ithcrii lci;i^iiis, nincc.isons id dccr-
skii;. ■iiiil 1 lii'lint \;iric',Mlcd worsted, from which
.Iff s'.Kpi'ndi'd tlic kiidc. Inh.iccD-pom h, .ind other
iini'iinu'iits. Their laii^ii,ij;e is ot the s.iine pieh.dd
c".ir,ii liT, heiiij,' a i-'reiuh jiatois, einhroidered
wiin liiilian and F.nj,dish words and phrases.
Tlic lives lit the voyaiji-nrs are passed in wild
a;id (Vtcnsive rovin);s, in the service ot individ-
ii.iU, hi.i iiinre (-.peciaily of the fur tr.iders. They
,irf|,'f!uT.illviil French desi-ent,;md inherit much
|i| the j,',ivetv .lild li);litiless of heart ol their ail-
f('^t^r^, bi'iiii,' tiill ot anecdote and sonj,^ and e\er
frt'lv tiir the (1. nice. Tiiey inherit, too, ,i fund ot
civililv ;uiil coliipl.usaiice ; and instead ot til, it
h.irdiiiss and ;,Miissiiess which men in ialmrions
111 .ire .1] it Id iiidiils^e toward e.u h other, tliey are
mii'ai.illy oliliKiiii,' and aeeonimod.itiiij,^ ; inter-
cnaii;.;inj; kind otfu es, yieldinj^ ea( li othtM" .assist-
,iiii ■ ;\iii| lonifiirt ill every emergency, and nsin^'
the liiinih.ir appell.itions of " cousin" and
"lipitlicr" when there i'i in fact no rel.ationship.
Tiii-;r iiMlinal j,''nnd\vill is prohahls- hei;.jlUened l)V
.T .•I'lmiiiinity nt aiKcntiin- .iiid li.irdship in their
priiMriniis and waiideriiiu;' iilc
Nil incn are more suhmissive to their leaders
nn! iMiiploycrs, nio'-e cap.ilile ot endiirin;^- h.ird-
sii:p, or iiinre ^fond-hiininred under priv.itioiis.
Nfvvr .ire they so li.ippy as when on lonij and
rn!;'h fSiHililinns, toiling; up ri\'ers or co.istiiii;
i.ikcs , ciicunpiiiij.tt iiii;lit on tile liorders, ^o^sip-
i:!!,' riiiintl their tires, ,ind tiivoii.ickini,' in the open
.'i!r llu'v ire dexterous ho.itmeli. \ ii^orous .iiiil
I'iroit with the II, ir .ind p.iddle, and will row from
P~iini!iic; until nii;lit without a imirniiir. Tlv
Mi-iTsai.in (itieii sini,'s an idd tr.iditionarv [■'reiich
S''■'.^■. v.itli MMiie ic',,'uiar burden in wliich thev
i"i "'in, krepiii'^' time with their o.trs ; it at aiiv
"111' di.'v tl iir n, spirits or rel;ix in exertion, it is
'"'. ai'i'rss.iry in strike uj) ;i son;.; of the kind to
!';" ilii'in all ill tresh spirits ami .aitivitv. The
''"'uh.inw.iieis are vucil with these litile French
^''■'■iisiins, that h.ue lu-en echoed troin mouth to
ii!'H:tn ,inil transmitted from t.itl
I"" ".iHiesldaysot the rolonv
-'■: ftto t, in I still ^'olden summer evenii'ii,', to
^t^^c .1 iutic'iii -^Muvr ., cross the lidsom ot .I'lake
'"'■'I. 'lippini,- ■;>, (MI'S to the c.ideiice of these
'i'i'i'it old duties, or sweepinj; alon^^ in full (diorus.
ler to son, from
ami it lias a iiieas-
, • .-. ...VI,, -,, <.| s\\i-r|iiii).; aioii;^ 111 luii ( noi us,
'''■■• h!i;-ht siinnv mornlll.■,^ down the tr.ins]i,ireiii
^iirren' ul om- nt the Canad.i rivers.
•'ii'.^we.'ii',- t,ill<ii,^r,,t ihin^rs th.it ;ire f.ist t.idiiit,''
'■^'••'y Ihe ni.irch (d niech.uiical invention is
<;-iviii;r,.v^.,.yih|,;^. p<.<-tic,il |„.|ore It. The steam-
""■"•s. which are t.ast dispelliii;,r t|,e wildness .-ind
r'lni.iii.-e of our lakes ;ind rivers, and aidin^r t„
''""hii the World inio i nmmoiiiila.ee. are r.rovim:
.•15 ,11.1 t,, tl, ., .1... ,- 'l: _ _ ' _.._ ^
I 1 H
r ICC ul the Canadian vuyageurs as
the\' liave lieen to that nf the Iinattnrn of tlie Mis«
sissippi. Their ;;loi-y is dep.irted. Thev .ire no
lon^jer the lorils ot our iiiterii.al seas and llie j^reat
n.r.'ii^Minrs cd the wilderness. .Some of them ni.iy
still oce.ision.illy he Seen co.istinj( the lowar I. ikes
with their tr.iil li.irks, and pilidimj,' their e.imps
;ind li;;htiii'^' their tires iipun the shores ; hut
their r.inj^e is f,i.,t coiiir.Ktiii;,' to those remote
w.itei's .ind sh.illow and olistrucied rivers iinvisit-
ed hy the stcimlui.it. In the course ot si'ars they
will ;;radii.illy dis.ippe.ir ; thidr soii;,'s will die
away like the ei hoes iliey once .aw.iki'iied, aiul
the Canadi.m voy,i).jeiirs will liecome .i tor;,^otli:ii
r.Ki', or rememliereij, like llieir associates, the
Indi.ins, .imoii^'' the jioetic.il ini.i;^es of past times,
and .as themes for Im .d .md rom.inlic asbocia-
tions.
.■\n instance ol the hun\ mt temper.imeiU .ind
the pndessioii.il pride of these people was ftir-
nislied in the ;^My aiui l)r.ii.;i,Mrt style in which
they arrived .il New N'ork to join the enterprise.
They were determined to re^.ile .md ,'istoiiish tlie
people ot the " States" with the sij^ht of a Caii.'i-
(lian lio.it and .i Can.idi.in crew. They .iceord-
inj,dy tilted up .i lar^e hut li^^lu li.irk c.inoe, such
.IS is Used 111 the liir tr.ide ; Ir.msporied it in :i
w.t;;on from the lianks of the St. Lawremc to ihe
shores ot Lake Champlain ; tr.i\'iTst'd the Like in
it, from end to end ; hoisted it aj^.iin in a wa^on
and wheided it off to l.ansiin,dnirL;h. .md there
l.iiinched it upon the waters ol the Hudson. Down
this ri\iT tliev plied their course merrily on a line
summer's dav, m.ikiii;,' its h.uiks rc-ound tor thii
first time with their old i'reni h h.iat sonjrs ;
passing; hv the villajfes with wdinop and li.ilioo,
so ;is to make tiie honest Dutch hirmers mist, ike
them for .i crew of s.iva;;es. In this wa.y they
swejit, ill lull soiiij, .md with rei^iil.ir tlourisii of
the paddle, round New York, in a still summer
eveiiiiii.;, to the wonder and admir.itinii ot its in-
h.ihitants, who h.id never heloie witiu'ssed on
their w.'iters a n.'iuticil .ipp.irition ol the kind.
.Such was the x'.irieL^.ited hand ot .i.dventnrers
ahoiil lo emli.iik in the 'foiupiin on this .irduous
.111(1 doiihltul eiiteriinse. Wliiie \-et in )iort and on
dry land, in llii' hustle ot prepar.itioii and the ex-
citement ol novidty, all w.is sunshine and |)romise.
'Ihe Canadi.ms, esjiecially, who, with their loiisti-
tutional \ivacity, lia\e a eonsider.iliU- dish of the
luiov.int and hoasttul, .iiid ;4reat
tiitiire ; while all those who
h.'id iieeii in die service ot the Northwi'st Coiii-
])any, and en;.,M^ed in the Imlian tr.ide, idumed
themselves upon their harddiood and their c.ip.icity
to endure privaiions. It Mr. Astnr ventured to
liint at the difii, allies they niii,dit have to encoun-
ter, thev tre.iled them with scnni. They were
" northwesters ;" men seasoned to li.irdships.
who I ared tor neither wind nor wcither. T'hey
could live hard, lie h.ird. sleep hard, eat doi^s ! —
ill a wiird they were re.idy to do .md suiter .my-
thiiiLf tor the i,nii)d ot the enterprise. Willi all this
prolessKiii of /e.il .md devolioii, Mr. Asior was
not over-( iMitideiit of the st.iliility .md firm t.iiih ot
these men iiri.il liiiiiL^^s. He li.id received informa-
tion, also, th.it .m .irmed \n'v^ from Halilax, prob-
ably ,it tile iiistiir-ition ot the Nonhwesi Cuniii.my,
I was hoverin.i;: on tlie coast, w.iUdiiiiL;- tor the
' 'I'ln-Kpiin. with the jnirpose id impressinj;- the
i ('.in.idiaiis on bo.ird ol her, as lirilish sulijects,
.md thus iiiterriipiinf,r the \oy.ii;e. It was a lime
ot doubt .mil .mxiety, -.vhen the rel.itions between
the United States and dreat Hrit.iin were d.iily
I assumini;' a more prec.irimis aspeet ,md verL;iny;
I toward th.il w.ir which shortly ensued. As a prc-
^.iscini. were
lira<^;;,irls .is to iht
i
iiilii
'
;■• i
i; !!
Mi-u
'^'ilSi
e I
•i^; ■ li
WVi
ASTORIA.
:li
cautinn.irv mcasiirr. thrrcfoir, he rrqiiircd tli.it
llu' \ii\,l^illls, .l>. tlii-s were .lliout to tlUrlilllK ihi'
sciAuiiil ,m AmciK.ui .ismk i.itiDii, and tn loulc
within ttif lunil^ <t\ tlu' rnitfd Sl.itis, sliuiild l.ikr
tlir o.aU> (it n.itin.di/.ition a^ Ann ru an i iii/cns.
'lo llus lliiy if.idily a>,'ii'i'il, .md slimlly atuiuaid
assnii'd hmi tlial ilu'\ liad ai lu.dly dmu' so. It
was nut until atiiT lluy li.id s.iilid that lu' discuv-
t-rt'd ihal lluy hail ii\liii'ly diri'ivcd hini n) the
matter.
Tin' cdiit'idcnci- nf Mr. .Xstnr w.i^ .ihusccl in
nniitlur (|ii,irtrr. Two dI tlu' ii.irtiurs, lnuli nt
them S<'nt( hini'ii, .md riciiuly in ih- scrviic dt
llu' .Nortlnvi-st (.'onip.inv, had nus^ivi.i,,s as tn an
fntcrprisi which ini^'ht cl.ish with the inttrtsis
and (•si.ilili>hintiUs prdtcrlfd by tlu' I'.ntish tl.i^;.
TluA priwiiily w.iitcd upon tlu' Ilrlti^h ininistir,
.Mr. Jaiksiin, thfii m Nrw York, l.ud opi n to hnn
the whiih' schtiiu' ot Mr. Astor, thoiij;h intrii^icd
to tlu in 111 loiMidiMtCf, and di'pcndi'nl, in ,i n^'a'
iiUMsuit', upon scrri'i y at the outset tor its sUi-
ifs>. ,ind iiupiiiid whether they, .is llrilish siil)-
jet ts. eould lawlalU in),Mi;e in it. The rejily satis-
tied tlieir scriiiiles, while the intormation they iin-
p.irteil uxi itid the surprise .iiui adinir.itioii ot Mr.
J.u'kson, that a pri\.ite induidii.d should ii.ivi
coiuiivi'd and set on toot al his own ri>k and
expense so ^re.ii .m interprise.
This step on the jiart ot those j,'eiulenien was
not known to Mr. Astor until sonic time .itter-
ward, or it niit;lit li.i\e inodilied the trust ,ind
euntideiui; ixpox-il in them.
To j;ii.iril .i^.iinst any ititerru|Hion to the \-i>\-
a^e by the armed liri^;, s.iid to bi: oil the harbor,
Mr. .\sior .ipplied to Commodore Ki)d;;ers, at
th.it time comm.indiii),' al New \'ork, to j;i\e the
ToiKiuin .sate coiuoy oil the coast. The com-
modore i;,i\in(,' received trom a hi>;h ollici.il source
as>ur.ince ot tiie deep interest which the (govern-
ment took in the enter|)rise. Sent directions loC.ip-
tain Hull, al ih.il lime iiuisinj;- oil the h.irbor in
tile Iri^-.ue Constitution, lo aiford the Toiupiin
the re(juiretl prulection wlu'ii she should put to
-se.i.
llelore the d.iy ot eml;irkation, Mr. Astor ad-
dres-.ed ,1 letter ot instruciioii to the tour p.irtiiers
who were lo sad m ihe shiji. In this he eiijoineii
them, in the most earnest manner, to eultiv.ite
h.irmoiiy and unanimity, and recommended tli.it
all ditfereiKes ot opinions on points (onni-rted
with the objects .md interests ot the vovai^^e should
be discussed by the whole, and deeidi'd bv a m.i-
jin-it\- ot \ote^. IK-, moreo\-er, ,i,MVe iheiii e~,|)e-
i i.il cuuliin .IS to their conduct on .irri^inj^ .it their
destined port; exlKu-tilii,' them to be i .tretul to
make .1 t.norable impresMon ujion the wild people
an. on;,' whom their lot .md the fortunes ot the
enterprise would be cist. '• It you tind them
kind," said he, ".is I ho|.)e you will] be so to tliem.
It otherwi.-.e, act with c.iution and torbearaiice.
and convince ihem that \ou ( nine as triends."
W'ltii the s.inie anxious torethou^dit he w rotc> a
letter of in-iruclions to Captain 'fhorn, in which he
ur;;i(l the siricte-,t .■itteiitioii to the he.dlh of him-
selt ,ind Ids crew, and to tlu; iiromotioii of ^r,„i(|-
humor and liarmony i,n bo.ird his shi]). " 'I'o j)re-
veiu any misunderst.indm^r " added he, " will re-
(piire your particular j^ood man.ii^ement." His
letter clo.^e<l with an injuiu tion ot wariness hi his
intercourse with tlu n.itives, a subject on which
•M;-. Aslur w.is justly si'iisibK; he rould not be too
earnest. " 1 must reiommeiid vou," said he,
" lo be particularly c, ireful on ihe' lo.ist, and not
to rely too much on the fri^mlly disposition of llu-
natives. All accidents which have as vel luin-
neneil there .Trose frnm l(vi niiK h c.>niuli;nct.,„,L
Indi.iiis." ' '"'
Tlie reader will lie.ir these instruitiniK
j as events will prove their wisdom ,in,|
j t.mce, ,ind the dis.isiers which eiisuiil m ".',!!'
(|UeiUf III llie iiej;lect of llitiu. "'
CIIAi'Il.l^ V.
n\ tlu- ei^jhtii of September, iSio, thcTm.vj
put to sea, where she w..s soon joined Ivlln-iri
ate Constitution. I'he wind w.is Ireih .im; tj*|i
I from llle southwest, ,in(l the ship U.is saiiii„u[ „t
' siyht of j.iiid .111(1 free trom the .ippreiuinKil il, !
' ^er of mil rruption. Tlie tri^.ite, thei-ilun, ;;'v,..
Iier " (lod speed," and left her to tier con rx-."
! The li.irnioiiv so e.irnestly enjoined In .Mr. .\v
, tor on this lieieroj;ene(ius crew, and uluiih,,!.
i been so lontidently promised in the liuin.,;;;ni.
I meiUs of prepar.ition, w.is doomed to uuit v.u;; ;
I check al the very outset.
' C.i|)lain TfuM'ii was an fu)nest, sirai^jlitlnrw.ir!
j liui sonii'wh.it dry .md (lit t.iton.il Knv.m.ind.-
j wlui, li.uiii;; been nurtured m the svstem .iiiiUi;..
cipliiie of a sliip ot w.ir, iind in a s.icrt I utrnv
ol the supiem.icy of the (piarter-deck, w.isi;.
posed to lie .ibsoliile lord and m.lster eMhi.ifi
' his sliip. lie .i|)pears, moreover, to li.ivc im;
^re.ii opinion, from the first, ot the ])fr>"o''
b.irkeil with film. He h.id stood hv tti',:iji;r.
' contempt while they \'.iimtc(l so br.iveh to ).['
'< Astor (d all lluy could tio and all tiv; oi.
I under^ni ; luiw they could lace ,dl wc.itlu>„ j ,
up with all kinds id fare, and even e.it ili)i;s ',\ •.
.1 relish, when no liilter food w.is to he li;ul II;
h.id set them down ,is a set ol l.indliihhtr< .'.r.il
'"'■'nK'"'"" '""•■ •'""' ^^•'■'■"' disposed to trcit il'f".
■ acciudin.LiK . .Mr. Astor was, in liis eyes, I;im;
j re. il employer, bein^; tlie father of the eiiltrpp-'
' who furnished .ill funds bore all lossi's. 1
' otiiers were mere aj^er.ts and subordiii.iii\ v
li\ed .It his expense. He I'viilelitly li.ul lillt.;:' :
■ low ideaot the scopi' and n.'iture id the niti:;''-
limiting; his views merely lo Ids p.irt 't it; ■'
, thiiii.; bi'yoiid the com eriis of Ins ship u;l^ .;.'
] Ills sphere ; ;ind anything; ih.it intertered uHh
' routine of his n.iulicd duties |)Ul him in i ji.i-'- -:'..
■file p.irtiiers, on the otiu r li.md. Iii^l 'H-^
brou;.;lit up in the service ot the .Nortliuc^i i'''"-
' paliv. .mil in ,i iiridouiid idea (d the in.juM'.ii.;.
di^^iiity, and .luthority id .i |),irtiier. 'I'liey >iir-.i;;y
liej^j.ui ;o coiisidiM' themselves on .i p.ir wi'.n ;:>
M"ravislas, the M'CdIlivrays, the 1- rohisluis, ,i;i.l
the other 111. i^jn.ites of the iiorthw r^t, whrni' li'-y
h.id been aicuslDmed to look up [■' .i^ '.H' ^i-''
ones of tlu; e.irtli ; and they were .i liitlr i!i^i'"-e..
perhaps, to we.ir tlieir suddenly-. ici|inri'i! liiiii"!'
w ith some .lir ot pretension. Mr. .\stM: , 1 1 1. 1...
put them on their mettle with 'especl !ni.;i m;-
tain, describing- him as a gunpowder teii'iw ■'.»
Would ((mini.iiid his sliip in tine st_\ Ir. .aiil, t rur;
W.IS any tinhtmj; lo do, would "blow all u:'. >'l
the w.iter."
Thus |)repared to reijard each other w ili'.'i"^'''
corilial eye, it is not to be wondered :it lliun.c
p.irties soiui came into collision, • Mi thi' u'v
first ni^;lit C.i|)t.iin Thorn be,i,Mn his in i!i-o!-v:ii'
discipline by ordering; the li^lils in the iihi'i '-'"'•'
e\tiiij;uish(;d ,il ei^dit o'clock.
The pride ot the partners was ininieii' lU"'}' -ij
.irnis. This w;is an invasion ot their ri^lil-' '"'I
ibi^iiiiies not to be borne. Tlie\ wfre or. Iiii.iril»''
their own ship, and eniiilcd to coiisuli dicir '.ivj
'M«mi
' .^aiiy
ASTORIA.
313
,„U.nj(.vmcnt. M'no.^-J was lli.- .hamp'un ..f
il'ir-' iiixi'. !'.• «.iN .111 aiusf, irnlalilc, liiniin;;,
V ■u'l'irii'ii'- !illl'' "'■'"• •■""' '■''■^■•"*''' '" '"■' "^^"
opinL. l>vl''''"Kil'-|''''>:y''' ^''■' AM-r A vio-
Ifii; .lii.Tianoii fiHiKil, 111 till' loiirsr of which
T,,',n, ihii'iU'iuil to put ihi- partners m irmis
shi'iiM Uh'V pniv iftrai lory ; upon uhi.h
M'mii'mI M'i/i'd a pi-t(jl und swore to lie the
,1, iiIh'MIii: i.ipMin mIioiiIiI h<' ever olfer siieh an
ii;.!ii;iiin. It was siiiue lime lielore the irrilateil
|ir!:, -,.1111(1 lie paeiheii !iy tilt; more temperate
lu^iui'lir.v .
Ml, ii \v.i. llu- ia|ita'n s laitset with the |iartners.
> (III III"- clerks stand much hi^;her in his t^mid
riHt-s, tiulcfil, lie s(-enis to have reKanlcd all the
fi I liiiidi nil hoard his ship as a kind ul live Imn-
li.i iiiiiiimialK 111 the way. 'riu- poor voya^'eurs,
t,,. .iiiiiiiually irntaied iiis spleen 'ly their
"1ii:.Ii'.tIv' and iiiisceinlv lialiils, so ahliorreiU to
O'lt .Ul ustuiiicd to the cleanliness ot a m.in-ol-
v,i:-. i'hcse poor tresh-water sailors, so vain>;lo-
ri .-IS 1)11 slinre, .md .ilinost amphiliioiis when mi
l.iM-i .111(1 river i. l(>>t .ill he.irt and siom.ich the
111 iiKiii iliey were ,it se.i. For d.iys they sullered
till- lifdil ri;,'(irs and retthinjjs ot se.i sickness,
li; Kiiv; Ill-low in their berths in s(|U.ili(l state, or
tiiur;;iii),f now and then like spectres Iroin the
h:i',. iii'.avs, in cipole.-, .iiul lil.mkets, with diriv
iii,'nii.i|is, i,^ri//ly hc.ird, I, intern \isaj,'i; and iin-
h;i;i|n cyi:. sliivcniij; alnuii the deck, and e\-i-r .iii'l
,111(111 ( r.iu I iii^; to the sides of the vt.-ssel, .ind olk-r-
in;' u|i ihi-ir iiiliutes to the windw.ird, to the iii-
tiiiilt .iiinoyaiice ot the captain.
lib lil'irs to Mr. Astor, wherein he pours forth
the IrnkMiicis of his soul, and his se.im.mlike iiii-
piii^ikc ut wh.it he I oilfillers the " liihlurly"
ili.ii'.K i(-r iiid KiiuliK-t of those around him, .ire
lu'iiift- -IS. .iiid ,irc .iimi^iiii^ly char.u ti-ristic. 'I'tie
hl||ll■^t c.i|U.iiii is lull ol ve.x.itioii on his own .ic-
coiiiit, ,111'! iolicitiide on .indiint of Mr. Astur,
wiidM.' |)M|ierty he considers at the mercy ot ,i
ni'i.ii iu-iiTd^fiieous ami w.isteful crew.
.\s 111 tile clerks, he- ]iroiuiunces them nii-re |)re-
teiiil(.r->, nt.t one of whom li.id e' er lieeii .imciiir tlie
Indi.iii,, nor lariluT to the nortliwesl tli.m .Moiit-
rc.il, !,ur III lii^'lier r.ink than i);irkeei)er ul a t.iv-
crn nr n.irker of .i Inlliard-table, excei)tin,i; one,
w): I i:.if| hei-ii ,1 schoolm.ister, .and whom he em-
li,v-i:ii'.ill_, s-.-is down for " .i.i l()oli.-.li .i ped.iiit ,is
l-ViT M.;-(|."
l'H-!i ,1-, [o the artis. Ills and l.iliorcrs who h.id
lin-'i liruii;;nt Inmi C.in.ida ami shipped .it such
t\'i -':■.(. til'- ihree most respectable, acc.-rd'iii; ,o
t.i'' (.ipl.iin s account, were cul|)rits, who li.id
ti'-il Iroiii Ciiiad.l on .-iccoimt of their misdeeds ;
Ji'.tr rest |i.u| ti^nired i;i Montre.il as dr.iymen.
li.irin-rs, w,iiifr> .md c.irriole drivers, and' were
1:h' md.^t liel|)less. wortidess beings " th.it ever
l.T'iKi- .sea-hiscuil."
'■• m.iy easii,- hi- iin.i;rii,fd what a series of
lii;s|iii:lersi.ui(|iiiirs and cro>s-puri)oses would be
I'Kci) lo lake pi, ice between such ,i crew .uid sm h
■'C.nim.uuler. The capl.iin, in his ze.il tor the
m-.iliii .111(1 cle.uihiiess of his ship, would m.ike
■'^";;'''i',"'s7'i'^ilatioli.', to the " lubber nests" of the
"I'licKv" \oyai;eurs" and their coni|).iiiions in mis-
<•••). Iciret them out of their berths, m.ike them air
■iji'i w.ish liii-niselves and ilit-ir accoutrements. and
f'^'c ihi-in to stir about briskly and take exercise.
■>(ir f ill his disirust and ve'x.ition cease when
p Hands had lecovered from sea-sickness, and
W'limc accustomed to the ship, for now broke
^"•i'-n.darminj; keenness of appetite th.it threat-
i^'-'l iiavor to the provisions. What especiillv
'•^'•niililn; ciplain was the daintiness ot some ut
his rabin passpnfjcrs. They were loud in their
compl.iints ot the ship's tare, thou^fh their t.iblc
w.is served with fresh pork, h.ims, ton>,'ue-i,
smoked beef, and piiddiii^js. " When thwarted in
ihcir cravin^;s lor delicuies," s iid he, " they
would e\( l.iim tli.it it w.is d -d h.ird they coiilil
not live as they ple.isi il upon their own projurtv,
beinj; on bo.ud ot th(-ir own shiji, fn i^^hti-d with
their own merch.indise. And tlie-.e." .idded lip,
" are the tine fidlows wlio m.ule siu h boast that
they could ' eat do^s.' "
In his ir.di>{ii,ition at wh.it he t(-rme(l tlu-ir
fffemin.icy, lie would swc.ir th.it he wdiild iie\-er
takt- them to se.i a^'.iin " without h.ivin',' l-'ly-m.ir-
ket on till- forei astle, fovelit-^.irdcn oil the poop,
.111(1 a cool sprin^f from Cin.id.i in the m.imtoi)."
i\s they proceeded on their voy.i^je .iiid ^nt inlo
the smooth scis and ple.is.mt we.-itlur of tlie troll-
ies, other .iiiiioy.inces occurred to vex the spirit ot
the captain, lie li.id bieii crossed by the irrilablir
mood ot om; ot the p.irtners ; he was now txcess-
ividy annoyed by the j,'ood-liumor ot another,
'this was the elder .Stuart, who was an easy soul,
.ind of a soci.il ilisposition. lit- h id s<-en life in
Canada, and on the co.isl of I..ibrador ; h.id been
,1 fur trader in the former, and a tislu-nn.in on the
l.itter ; anil in the course of his e\|)er!ence h.id
m.ide various exp-ditions with voy.i^fiiis. lie
was .III ustomed, ilicelore, to the f.imiliarily
which |)re\ails between tli.it i l.iss and their .-.u-
periors, and the >;os-.ipin;;s \sliich t.ike pl.icc
anion;; thciii when s<, ated round .i tire at their i-n-
campments. Stu.irt was ne\er so happ) ,is when
he could seat liimselt on the deck with a numiier
of these men round him, in c.impin;; style, smoki;
to),'etlier, p.issin^'- the pipe from iiioiith to nn iith,
alter the m. inner of the In.li ins, siiii,'- old ("ana-
ilian bo.it-sonj^s, and tell stories about their hard-
ships .md aiUeiitures, in the course ot which ho
ri\alled Sinbad
III his lon^,"- t.iles ot the se.i.
about his rishin<; exploits on the co.ist of I.abr.idor.
'this K"''Siiiiiii;' familiarity shockeil the c.iptain's
notions of r.iiik a. id subordiii.itioii, ;iiiil iiotliin;;-
w.is so ;ibliorreiit to him .is the i nmmiinilv of
|)ipe between m.ister and m.in, and their mingling
in 1 horns in the outlandish boat-soni.js.
riun there w;is .uiotlu-r whimsii al sourctr of
annoy. iiiie to him. Some of the yoimi; (dciks, who
were making their first \oyi,i;'-, and to whom
e\ervtliing w.is new ami str,iiij;i , were, \ery ra-
tion. ill\', in the habit of taking notes .md keeping
journ.ils. 'I'his was a sore .ibomiii.itioii to the
honest c.iplain, who held llieir litcr.iry iireten-
sioiis in gre.it contempt. " The collecting of m.i-
teri.ils fo'- long histories of their vo\,ij;t-s and
tr.ivels," <iid he, in his letter to Mr. .\:.tor, " ap-
pe.irs to engross nmst of their attention." We can
coiicei\e what must lia\e been the i rusty iiiip.i-
tieiice of the worthy iia\igator, win n, on .my tri-
lling occurreiii e in the course ol the \o\,ige, quite
comnioiipl.ue in his eyes, he saw lliese young
l.indsineii running to record il in their journ.ils ;
and wh.il indi^n.int gl.mces he must have cast to
right .md Ictt, .is he worried about the deck, giv-
ing out liis orders for the m.inagement of the ship,
surrounded by singing, smoking, gossi|;ing, scrib-
bling <;roups, all, as he thought, intent U|)on the
.inuisemeiit of the ]i.issing hour, instead of the
gre.il purposes and interests of the \ov.'ige.
It is possible the capt.iin w.is in some degrcd
ri(jlit in his notions. Though some of the passen-
gers li.id much to gain by the vo\.il;c, none of
them had anything positively to lose, 'they were
mostly voung men, in the heyd.iy of lile ; and
luuing got into line latitudes, iii>on siiuxHli seas,
%MM
M' ■
■i; '
H I
'if
iSl li
V :'^
ii i:' ilf 'I
!ii
I
ht
311
ASTORIA.
\vith n \\iH-st(.ri'(I ••Iiip untltT thrm, nnil a (.»ir
wiml in llu' slmuliliT nl llic >.iil, tin y miiiu'iI to
have >jot inlo .i hdliil.iy worlil, ami wiTf (Ii-<|iiimvI
to injiiy ii. 'I'hat ( lavin;; ilrsirr, n.iliit.il In uii-
travflli'vl tiu'ii nl tushaiiil livi-ly iniiuls, to sci-
straiijic lands, and In viMl sicnts tanu'iis u, lu>>-
I liy snnii- III till' part-
tiilA o
r fal>l
V, was t xprcssn
ni IS ami t ii'ilx.s, willi rtsiirrt tn sumu- nt ilic sli
rit'd coasts .1
nd
elands thai lav witlun (lu'ir rmilr,
Tl
u' (iptain, ImWfMT, whn rij;a
nli'd
I'ViTv iiia'-t
nnil Islam! ui
iiiiiri' aiMU ia
Ih
a ni
iitttriit-l.u I »\i', ,ind had in
linns inniui'lfd with ilicni than iIid-^c
laid dins 11 in Ins MM-ih.irt, tunsidi'nd all this
rniiiiiity as cm cfilini^ly idle and ihddish. " In
tile tir.st part ot llu' \nyaj;i," says lir in hu Ittti i ,
" tliiv wtTf dftiTiiiiiuMl tl) ha\»r it said tlu'v had
in All
nd thiTflurc insisted nii my slnp
pin^' at the Cape df N'trdis. Ni\t they .said the
.slnp shduld stop (in ihe toast ot r.ita;;onia, tor
they nuist s.i- the lar^;i' and iiiu'iiiiinion inhabit-
must j;o to the
't that pi. lie. 'l"hi'n the
ant-'
islaml where
•ioliiiison Cruso
.11
I so I,
i\ml
,IS
tlv, tl
illij llVei
lev were deti'rmined to see the li.tnd
some inlialiitaiils o
1 1:
sler
siaml
II al
these resulvi's the i .ipt.iin opposed his
pvreniptiny veto, as " contrars' to iiistrm lions. "
'riuii would break lortli
111 unavailing explosiiin
<if wrath on the part ot eert.iin nt the piriiurs, in
the course ot which they tlid not cmii sjiari' Mr.
Asior lor Ins ;iit of su|icrero^r,ui,,|| ni lurnishin^-
Ills
orders lor the i muroi
on bo.ird. iiistctd ot h
where it would In best
i| th
ship while the\ were
.ivin^; Iheili to be the pid^i s
hiT to toiiili, an
I h
lonj; to remain. The ch ileric M'DoulmI look tl
le.id in these r.iilin;,',-!
Served, a Inile putted
Mr. .Aslor's prow
bein
Ki
eill
Up with the ule.i ol bi-niL
The e.iptaia, however, became only so iinu h the
mure crnstv .iiid doi,'),'eil in his adh'eieiue to his
orders, and touchy and h.irsli in his de.ilin^'s with
his ji.issenjrers, .uid tiequent alleiLations eiisiird.
e ina\ in some measure
ll.ive been inlluenecd b
his se.imanlike i;npatienec ul the inlcrterence tit
landsmen, ,iml his hi;;h notions ot nav.il einpictte
and (pi.irter-dfck authority ; but he evidentlv had
an htaic-t, irustv eimccrii lor tl
empioM r.
H.
ie interests ol
Ills
III turnl to hiinst
It
he
jn-oiti'iiir ot the enterprise, who had disbuisi
muiiiliceiiilv in lis ouilil, ealrul.iiii
aiiMous
iij' on till- /f,il
lidtlity, and siii:;leiless ot pur,
;;ml a),'enls ; wliile thev, on the other li.iiul, h.i\
lose ol his .1
ssoei.Ui"
.^ood ship ;il their dispos.il.
kct .a hoinr to bf.ir tl
am
•a (Irij)
leni out, sefiiifd if.idv !■
■iitrr (.n e\fry co.ist, ,uul .iiiuise tlaim
i;.i-i\ei i:i
every port.
( In the Irairth of 1)
tif the l-'.a!Ll.uid Isl.imii
fcemher thev emu
tim
(• oil .111 ailow.iiuf ot \..iler, u w
Ilaviii}^ been I ir S'
111 si"ht
int.'
,is resolved to
anchor h, re ;tiid obuiin ,i si;pj)l\-. .\ |)o.it w;ei
Sent into a sm.il
to tal.
M'l).
I Us.
and .Mr. .M'K.iy took tl
soiindini
Ml
o on shore, but with
n.s tiee.ision lii
that they wouiti not detain ll
.sh.ore,
order:-
I reijiiesl from the i .ipl.im
le
hill.
( Mil
however, they were in no h.i^te to
'J'l
but l.imbled ;il
loiii in se.ircli ol < urio.^ities.
le anchor.e.,'!' i.rovin..^'- unsafe, .•tiid w.ii.t diltlcult
to be |)roeurei!, tln' c.iiitain siui
ml out to se.i,
Hid
ide repealed sij,'n,il-i tor those on shin- to re|oin
tlie sliip, but It w.is nut until nine .a niL;|il ihal
they came on bo.ird.
The wintf beiii); adverse, the boat
sent on shore on the followii
was a},''aiii
.noriiin:
j,'enilemeli aj;-.iin landed, but
off at
am
1 ll
le
promi.sed to
lorgol their )
a moment s w.srnin!
thev
.is/.iin
iroinise in their e,i),'er pursuit of wild
Hjerse ,Tnil sr.i-wolvc
Aft
'•f 1 limp till
<• tn.iilrt.irih.
h.iuled l.iir, .iiiil si^n.ils wei
II. lit .in hour el.ipsed, but no bo.it niitiiii
i.ipt.iin reeonnoitretl the shore with I
I' itTt-;
ns;;i.iv
to Ins inlinite m x.ition, s.nv thi loittiirs
en)o;. iiieiit ol their "wild i;onse cli.n,,
to the ipiick, he imniedi.iti ly m.idi'
""'"II..
S.ll
those on shore s.iw the ship ;ii unliy
they emb.irketl with .ill spcfd, jmi In,! , J^
pull of ei^;ht miles before the\ ^n\ im |i„..f,
tl
nil espelli lit III but .1 ^;rlm lei rptuiti.
st.indin^; th.it they t .iiiie wi
id the I li.ise.
Two d.ivs alterw.ird, on th
uihtlu-
'jfci'i
•\elitli
ber, tlu'V aiiehoreil.it I'ort I v;inoiit.
isl.ind, where they rem.iined tour
111 liii'i.nii'
y rem.iined tour i|a\s t.iKiii;- ^
water .iiid m.ikiii;; np.iirs. This u i,,i i,,\n>iMiin,.
for the l.indsiiieii. 'Ihes p'li lied I ll lit iiulvif
at at their
I omni.md, .iinl
|ia'>Mi| I;
tune merrily in r.imblinj; .ilmut the islm.! i,;
eo.istinj; ;ilon^- the shores, shontiitj; m,, in,r<
se.ils, loses, ^eese, dlK ks. and peliynii'-, V,,!,,.
\Mre keener in pursuit of this kind nl i.eiif'.i
MDi
"iK'il
d I>.ivid Stu.irt ; the l.iltei
tiiiiiiled ot .iipi.ilie sports on th
I.IhI 111
dor, ,1
nd his lumiiii)^ e\ploits in the imriliv
.|!1'J.
Ill the mean time the e.ipt.iin aililn
ste.idily to the business ot his ship, s.
a h'
mn-:
hobd.
ly spirit .iiiil useless pursuits of In-, n
p.iteil messm.ites, anil w.iriim^' them, tr nM;"'c
to time, not to wander .iw.iy nor be mr .> i;,,'
They iiroiiiised, .is usu.il, tli.it the ,,iii| ,v'j
nr\er eNprrielli e .i moment's detelllioti 111' ll r ' !
t oiiiu. but .IS iiMi.il tiir^;ot their proiniM-
< 'n the morning; ot the lltli, the iip.UN'.-i
.dl linished, .iml tin' w.iti'r-e.isk-; repliiii-.r.i ', i
si^Mi.il w.is j,'iveli tiieinb.irk, .llid the slti|i Ki;;,i'i
wei;;li anchor. ,\t this time .sexeral ul iln 'm-v
yers were dis|)ersed about the
thenistdves
d t
in various wavs.
Sone
■t th.
men hail tound two inscriniioiis.
1-.
pl.ii e w here two uiilorUin.ite m.iiniers h.i',
liurie
d in tl
us tiesert isl.ind
.\s ll
were iie.irlv worn out bv time
wt
!,• iiiM P|it;.
Ul- itiiir t
re pl.iyin^; the p.irl ol " ( )ld .Nb
Tl
|iloUsly reliewili),^ them
sumiiioiied them trom their l.ibois
s.ails un
V
M'l>,
lulled, and lli.it she w.
11- two sportin;; p.irtiiei
le Sl;;n,ll lioiii llv
they -vi-^
•etlKh 111
11,
i\id Slu.il
t, h
,. hii'.\i\ r, I
sir.. bill .iv.iv
the south ol the isl.iiul in pursuit oi pi rmiins
would never do to |
nt olt Wltliolll tlielil. .i>t',
W.IS liut one lio.it 111 I oiiNiA the who
W'hilir this del.u' took |il.ice on s!
tain w.is siorniiiij^ on bo.ird. Ibis
lime his ortlers li.id been ire.ited uith i iii-'''
.mil the ship w.inlonlv ilel. lined, .-ind M -i'nni
ll'i
the
,lst
SI) tie siire.U
sail
swe.irinj,' he
theliiseht's.
niatle remonslr.iiices and entre:iiits.
mid leave the l.ii,'!,'.iri!s i-i-,lim''ir
t was in v.iin tli.n those eii '■■
seiited the horrors ol ab.indonim;
sterile and iininh.ibileil isl.ind : i!
t.iiii was inliexible.
.nil! 11,
llleli li:' 1' '
11 tile mean lime the i)en)i:uin hiiplers ll
llle en^rax'ers ol tombstones, but
ship W.IS alreadv out al se.i. ■rhe\
llol
{■
lie
of
einht. Hire
w tl
lelllseut's
into tlicn
which W.IS alioul Uveiits'
III lenell;,a:'i!:i«i
w
itii mij^ht ;iiiil mam.
For three lioui'^
ami .1
h.tll tlid they tuy an.xiously and
Mlelv .1'
o.ir, sw.is
bed
oee.isiiin.illv
)v the siirum:.;' "
the
;1VCS
ot till: open se.i, while the ship
ilieMil.ibh .<ii'
her 1 ourse
ami seemed determined to leaic
ll'd.i
iA #i>i
JsiiJUii
ASTORIA.
315
., ii.unl III the ship w.ih the nophrw of D.ivi.l
hiuiii asciink' '"■'""' ''I'"''' •'"'' ''""'I""""' ^''''
'' ' ■ ilnmnht. till- i.i|it.tiM iilisim.ilrly hi-iit
„. „ nc umuKiii. i>'- ...|....... ■•• ., ..v...
»U .ilwnlimiiiK' I""' >'"' !•' •""' ''"" ">'>'■''*. I>''
.1 .,,1 I mstul, .mil III .1 I'.iritxysm nl vmmiIi swon-
hcv,4ilil l>liiwmit lln' uiiitain's liiaiiis iiiiIi-mh he
nut .iiuiit Ml- sliiirlfiifil sail.
K.iriiiii.iti'ly lor .ill p.irlics, ihr wiiul jiki then
c,in;i' :ilu'.i'l. ■""' ''"■ ''•'" ^^'''* '■"■''''•''' '" '<••" li
th.^ slip ; iitluiwisc, ilis.istmus i iniiinst.inrcs
lini'*,! iMVfi'iiiiif'l. NV«' (^'" li.inlly hflirxr ih.il
thi"! i|il.iin rc.illy iiitt lulfil to cirry In-, tliicu
inn lull till' I. .i'"' I'.itli'''' iliiiil< Ik' iiiiMiii t" li't
ihi i:i;),'."^'l'' "" ''"" ■' '""'»' I'"" ■""' ■' '"■■"''>■ 'i !>;•"•
ill unl.iii'l, ho.vivtT, ill Ins letter iv Mr. .Nsior,
th.it h'- «.is hci'iouH III Ins I lire. Its ; .iiid there is
miki) iwinn hew l.ir suih an inui iii.iii in.iy push
|lHn,iliiiii.,o! .iiilhority.
"ll.nl the winil,' writes he, " (iiiitdrtiin.itely i
Init Li'ileil .ill''."' ^""'1' .it'er le.ivin^,' the harlmr's
ni.irih, I slii'iilil pDSilivelv have lelt them ; ,mi|,
imltT'l, I (.iiiinil (lilt think it an iinlurlim.iie eir-
CKiv.'ii.im I' t(ir \iai that it so h.ippeiieij tnr the
fir-; !'!>> Ill tills iir.i.imi' woiilil, in my opininn,
hu'u prdvtil the hesi, as ihey seem to h.ive no
iilt'i lit the v.iliif ot pidpeny, imr .iiiy apparent re-
{[.irl liir y<iiir iMterc-.t, .illh(ni^;li interwoven with
tliiirawn."
This, it niu-.t he runtessed, was .-ntin;^ with .i
hi(;li h.iml. and i-arryin;,' a re^.n-il to the owner's
nnimrty to it (l.iii>,'eri)ns length. Wirioiis petty
tcii.Is ndurrcd .ilsn between him and the jj.irtiKTs
in ii-iicrt til iIk' ^{iMids on hoard the sliiji, soiiu
arth lis ol wliiih they wi-.hed to distnluite tnr
c!"',l)ini; iiinnii); the men, or tor other piirpoM's
wkiiji ihcv ileeiiied esseiili.d, The rapt.iin, how-
ever, kept ,1 inisiiit w itrh upon the i.ir^;;!), .ind
giMwlc.l :iM(l siiaiiped il they iiiit ullered to loin h
l)ci\ iir hale. " It w.is eontr.iry to orders ; it
viruM iiirliit his iiiviiranee ; il was oiii ot all
riii: It u.is 111 vain they insisted iipoii iluir
ti,i;hi '.mlo so, as |)arl owners, and as .k im.^ tm-
t!ic);("/l nt Ihe enterprise ; the caiitain imlv slin k
to Iii3 |iiiiiit tin: more staiiehly. They i oiisoIcmI
tlu",n>clvi's, iherelore, hy dcrl.iniij,' tli.it .is sooii.i-.
they i-i;i<k- land they would assert their rights, and
i>i\\\[n ship ,in;l ciii;,. ,is they pitvced.
l^siik'5 these lends tietweeii the captain ,'ind the
Iwriii'Ts, there were leiuls lietween the iiartiiers
lht"Hbi-lvcs, o. I ,i-.ioned, in some nie.isiire. hy ieah
iju-;. 'd iMiik. M'Doiij^al ,ind M'K.iv I.eMan to
(.M'A- p ,ins tor the l.iri, .md other liiiihlint^-, ol the
\rf-Mr,\ cslalihsliment. 1 |u-y aj,'reed very well
"V''. the (nitliiie and diniensioi'is, wliiidi were on a
siilixiiinlv >;raiui seale ; hut when thev eame to
a''.tn:;r die det.iil.s, lirnc disputes arose, and
[''•vwoiildiiuarnl h^ the hour .iliout the distri-
"i'-:'':i ol the (lodi-s .md \vin<lows. M.mv were ilie
''■'fil words ,111(1 hard names li.indied lutweeii
l!':n on Uu-se decasions, aeeordiiij; to the r,i|,.
'l'''^ ■ici-oiint. Kaidi accused the oilier ot en-
'■■'"I'liiii; In assume iiiiw.irr.intahlc- power, .md
'"t.iM' the lead ; uii.ui which Mr. .MT)ou-al would
^iii!miij,'!y l,iy down .Mr. Astor'.s letter, constitut-
'",!.iiii tiis rcpreseiitalive .md proxv, ;i docimieiil
■■-' I'l he (lii|)uled.
'■'".^: wordy loiilests, though violent, were
"■'■: 'ami within hiteen minules," s.ivs ihec.ip-
"V ■ liey would lie t.iressinir e.ich ■ollor like
C")i'iiTn.
/^'''^''■'- all liiH prttv an.ui hv was a.^itatini;- the
■'* won. \Mih,n the Ton(|uin. the' ^;ood' .ship
F'b|).Tously pursued her course, doubled C.ipe
"■'"'" liu'JSlh o! December, careered acn.ss
I'^^lH'som ot the Pacilic. until, on the nth ot
I I lini.irv, the snnwv peaks of Dwvitpc were seen
bn^hlcnin;; ,iliove the liori/oii.
(II.M'lIk \ 1.
nwvin f, nr ll.iw.iii, as il is written hy more
ex.ict ortho^'raphers, is the l.ir^^est id the i luster,
ten 111 number, ol the S.indwich Isluids. It is
about ninety -si'M'ti mihs in li'iit,'th ,ind seventy-
eii;ht 111 bre.idlh, rising' ^;r.idu.ill\ into three py-
lainid.il siimmiis or i ones ; the higlu'st, Moiiii.-i
Ko.i, liein^f eighteen tlnnisind teet .iluive llie level
ol the sea, so as to domineer o'.cr the whole Ar-
ehipel.igo, and to be .i l.indmark mcr .i wide cx-
li'iit ot ocean. It iiin.iins a Listing moimiiient of
the eiiterprisinj; and unlortuii.ite I'.ipt.iiii .Cook,
who was murdered by the natives ot this islanrl.
The Sandwich Islanders, when lirsi discovereij,
e\inced ,1 rh.iracter superior to mo>i ot ihesav.iges
ot the I'.icitlc isles. They were traiik and open
in their deportment, friendly ,tnd liber.d in their
de. dings, with an .iiil iiignuiits a|)p,innt in all
their rude inventions.
'I he tr.igii .d Lite ot the- discoverer, whii h. for a
time, brought them imdir the i h.irge ot terocitv,
w.is, in l.n I, the result ot suddcii esasper.ilion,
i.iused bv the sei/uie ot their i hif|.
.\t the lime ot the \islt ot the TniKpijn, the
islanders ti.id prolited, in ni.nu n ^pr( is, b\ occa-
sional intercourse with while iiirii ; and h.ul
lown .1 (piickness to observe and culii\,ite those
,iris impoii.ini to their mode ot living. Origin. illy
thev li.iil no me, ins ot n,i\ ig.itirg ilie se.is hy
which they wen; surrounded, superior to lig'ht
pirogues which were little competent to contend
with the storms ol the bio. id oce.iii. As the
isl.inihrs are not in sight id i ich oth.er, there
( mild, tliendore, he lull c.isii.il inteii nurse between
them. The tr.iltie with white mi n h.id put them
in jiossession of vessels ot superior description ;
they h.id made themselvi's acipi.iinted with their
m.in.igeimnt, and h.id even m.ide rude .idv.inces
ill the .irt ot ship building.
These impro\emems luid lueii |)romoted, irt ,1
gre.il au'.isure, hy the energy ,ind s.ig. icily ot one
man, the t.imous Tam.i.ihm.iah. lie h.ul origi-
nally been a petty eri, or cliiet ; but, being ot :m
intrepid :n\i\ .ispiring nature, he h.ul risen in r.mk,
and, availing himself ot the su|reriiir aiK'.intages
now attorded in navig.ition, h.id brought the
whole ,\rcliipel.igo in subjcciioii to his .irms. At
the time o| ilie arriwil id the ToiKpiin he had
about lortv schooners, ot trom twenty to thirty
tons l)iinlen, .and one old .\meric.in .ship. With
these he m.aint.'iined undispuicd sway over his in-
sul.ir dom.iins, and c.irried on .in inurcourse with
the ciiitds or governors whom lu- h.id jdaced in
command ot tlie sever.il isl.uids.
The situ.ilion id this group ot isl.uids, tar in the
bosom of the vast I'acilic, and their abund.uU fer-
tility, rendered them import.int slopping places
on the highway to China, or to the northwest coast
ot .Xmeriia. Ilere the \essels engaged in the tur
trade toiii hed to make rep.iirs and |irociire provi-
sions ; and here they otteii sheltered themseUcs
during ihe winters th.U occurreil in iheir long co.ist-
ing expi'ditions.
The I'.rilish navig.Uors were, from the t'lrst,
aw.ire id the \;ilueot these isl.mdsto the purposes
lit commerce ; and Tamaahma.ih, not long after
he had .lUained the sovereign sway, was per-
suaded bv \'aiiC(.)Uver, the celehr.ited discoverer,
to .icknowledgo, on behalf of himself anil sul'jects,
il
L , •
hi
' .1
it
813
tille^ianco to tho Kln^^ of (".ri-at r.rit
AGTORIA.
reader caniuit l>iit lall tn mini
I t!
Tin
u' \iMt whu h
im.
the r
(>\al t.miilv and cou
rtol thf Saiidwiih Islands
U
as, in late yJars, iiidiiii'd to make tn the luuit
111
ot St. James
niiH-k par:
est\- (it m-MhU'.'hal stvl'
K' seiiD-riMnie ( ereauinials an(
am
wh'cll attended
that
iini;ular trav-
•re selddni worn bv either sc
the (lav, when
tl
iiriPL' til
K' eximstirc (i| their pti-
at tirst Very revoltiit)^ to a civili/cil
Toward evenii •; several (it
5"'1S WAS
•lerk<
s went on shore, where tliev wci
eye.
pari lit-
vx
V."!!
reived ,ind
)s|)it,U)ly enteriaiiii (
A
It was a put ol tlie wide and roinprehensive • teen younjj w
perlornu'd lor their anuisemeiit, in ulij n i;
omen and
plan ot Ml
course between the.--
one man li;,>uN
in-
\si;ir to estahlisli a friendly inter- graeeliiUy, sii ninj; in concert, ,iiul mkiv
(Is
and
intended ; c.ulence of iheir sonj^
"S 10 t':t
colonv, which mii;ht, tor a time, have occasion t
All this, however, was nothing,' t
i> the 111;
d
raw Slipiihes theiu e ; a
th
nd
le even
I vaijue ; in the eyes of Cajitain Thorn, wli
riiose
idiM of, some time or other, t^ettinj;; possession ot
one ot their islands as a remie/votis tor h-s ships,
and .1 link .a tlie c!iain ol his commcicial esiah-
i
11, iH-in.,; ,]|,3.|.
pointed in his hope ol obtaiiiinL; ,i siqipiy ni iMjii
or tindimj ijood water, was an\ioi:> in he i,i
his it was not so ea..>' to eftec t. Tl
isliments.
On th
e evenin;,''o
d
t the I2th
if ]••
larv theTon-
oiue on shore, were
i>V the (Kcasion.
d,
p;isv,'lii;vi
Tl
as UmIMI, In |,|int
quin anchored m tlie hay ot K.ir.ikakooa, m the
th.
le jiartners li.iil ni.my iii(|,!nt
to make relative to lite island, with ,i view
island ot ( )\
wild and
Jnices of I
mdiii:
' shores were . ncss ; whi
(• the voiiiiT clerks were
ilcll
i;hU'i:
irokeii, wi
th o\irli.int;in.i( cliffs and prcc- . t!ic charms and j^races of llie d.mcinL; ll;ln1^t■'l>
ai
xoicuMC rin
k. 1
e\ iinil
th
ese
■[•(
ever
the
oiimi" was lertile and well ciiltiva
ted.
tl' their );ratilic.iliiiii>, .m I'M r:.r,
oltered to contliict them to th
with inclosiires ot \ams.
sug-,
ir-canes,
and
antains, sweet potatoes,
■ " li-
nn C'l
\sas massacri(
1. 1
mates and teemiiii; soils
talions o
other jiroduciions of warm i-|i
id the luiiaerous hal
the natives wire p
isantlv s
helti-
e s|),ii u lifiv c,:;).
le priipti-,itir.ii -.v;,
ea};erlv accepted, and all hands sit lUit.on ,i ;«,.
.;rima^e to the |/..;ce. The \cler,in ishiiiiii in-
formed his promise laithliil!), and p.diritcil miiihe
beneath clumps of cocu i.aii ,iiid liread-fruit trees.
which afforded imth toi
Variel\ id ';ardcn and
th
e sides <
if ti
,iiul shade. This mi
;rove swept j;railu.i
h
icry spot wliei
th
e iinlorMinati- (liMuvircrk,
ii;led The rocks and coiiia-trees around hinv niori! oi
Iv up , the f.ict, ill th
m.i
rks of thi- lialis tirt-il lmir.r,i:
:lense lorcMis
mount. iins until succeedn
l;i
1)
lats ui)on the sa\
T
le
which in turn ijave place to n.iked nnii
nd the old man, ami dresv liniii
pil.i,'rims ;,'.;lhcM
and cr.ij^^y rocks, until the summits rose into ilie
rejjions of iH-rpetu.il snow.
Th • •
this t
i.nticulars he had to rel.ite ti ^pcciiiii; this ni!
:aii ..li r:i
■ni-
event ; while the honest c,ii4.uii sloi'iHiv
e ro\.il re-iiileiice o
.im.i.ihm.i.ih w.is
d 'lit
mil- at aiiuilii-i- i-.;aii.l ii.imei
1 W .
Tl
is n -lis with im]iatieiu
Tl
I HI)
isi.ind of (iw\hie w.ii under the comm.md nt one
ot ins eris, or duels, who
sided at the village of
ift
the
■N.ilion, tfiey employi
thems
if tl
..ad cutliiii; nil ilr li.irs
trees marked l)\- the li.iUs, whu h iluv <
Iroin the
h, situ.ited on ;. differmt part ut the coast i back to the ship as |irecious reli(-
ik.ik.
Ki-ht .rl.
I her
l(ire, was
I't them:
On tl
If nioi-iun''- alter hi-r arm;
t!ie shii) w.is
surrmmdi-
the islamli
of f
in-
and
]iiriij,nies,
til
P
ed \\itli
-ies, briU'rin'r off supplies
till ir treasures lairly on bo.ird, uluii he
'iom this unprolltalile pi. ice, and stcircil
ru;
i.d.li
Pan
waterme.
capt.iiii >
number iif Im
The tr.idr in
subject of thi
with it. Sue
PP
anas, plantains, t
if r
oc.iii'li, tlie
fur l-^
■sidelice of the illii-r iT IJO
nior ot the
>ns, y.im>
ai desirnus.
caiiliaLres,
am
1 t,
irn.
io\\i-\er, ot iiurchasini
I'he succi-sslul in olit. lining su|
he
iplle
1,1 pel I til . i: "'-"J't-
(Ml ((Mnn^'.O
Hit tlu-ie were none to be
h,
.nil hor till- captain went on shnn-, acinn-.iwiiieii
IV Mr. .M'Dou.mU and Mr. M'K.iv. .mil r.ini ^
v.a> .1 ii!\,il monopol\-, .and no \ i^ii to the ^.joxcrnor.
It T
his di^iiil.ii} |ii 111 1 ''■■"•■
im.ialimaali dared to meddle
an old s.iilor, liv the name ot
ho
nauisions as
th
ev could furnish.
after beiiiij toss
about th'- SI .!->
Vnllll!;
like .1111 il'ir
tiani
wever, were brou'dit bv the
d .1 livelv intercourse
the (lav, 111 which the women miiv'led in the kind- . isl.md. lb
natives in abiiii- b.id, h.id, bv one ot the whimsicil tte.il».-' "I W-
s kept up durilii; tune, been elevated to the j;overiillli'Iit ul i m' ,!,'';
his visitois with nvr-,-
cst m.anni r.
complex!
■-Liad
ers ,ire a , nmi-lv r.ice.
The iiu-ii .ire t.iU ,iiu!
it a
tamiliarit\ than person. ij;
es in
his lii-!i st.if''!.
with lorms indn atiiiLi sin-nirth and
women w
nil
ictivitv ; the
It to ind'ult;(-. but 'Soon ^a\e lln ni to laicn'"-''!-
Ill, It ]irovisions wen; scanty at I oc.ai;li, .ml I'.i-
there was no j;oo(| wat(-r, no r.ii i haMi;' 'Ht^'
rejjul.ir and
feat
ot tl
occisionallv
-^oml
111 tin- nei
.hb
d
lires, .iiid a lascivious expre-
leir tempi-r.imeiit.
nearlv tl
Th(-ir st\
.is in the (l,i\ s -il
T
har.icieris';
it dre-.s w.i
aplam ("link
in three yi ar--.
li.iielv !or
lie ( .ipt..in w,!-. immei
conlerencc and departing;.
hri-iki
Jt the
-re not so williiv' to part with the nicn a- ;
le iiieii Willi- liir niaro.a b.md one tout in widtli , ernor, who seemed disposi-d to be extri iiu:
t'-rt in
leli-'th.
swati
loins, ,md Inrii
if ta
kit
ip.i, or ell
ah lit
tlie
th
nuinicative, and Irom whom ttu-v im
il I'l
\ l.iri
or III mile, aliout six feet siiu.ire, tn
not over one shoulder.
e procure some uselul inlormalion
.1 s.ition ac( ordiiiHly ensued, in the cnur
arm, so .is to leave it b.nc ,ii,-l, f.iUin'' it
jiassi-d under ihe op|)osite , they m.ide m
inv iiHjuiries about the .itl.nis'
f
olds hefon
.IIK
1 1
r.icetul I islands, their naiiir.d production
iii>l ti'.i'
some reseinhlance to
The f
111
l.de il
ment forii
I kom.in toi;,
1 oiwistiil III the pall, a
<_r,. in i'lf v^.a •
trade ; nor did they tail to impure nim thr ii'i'*"
lehiml, to the I me, so as to bi-.ir bility of tiirnini,^ them to adv.inta
.il historv of John \'oun^
<■ and how I"' ''.i'^''
lehf^th ai
and real Inn-
piece of t.ipp.a, sever.il yards in governor. This he ^.ive with j,nc.it
id one in width, wr/qiped round tin- w.iist runnin'^ throu^;h tlu- whole course
,| hi. l"i"-> •''■■'
I pt-lticoat, to the knees. ()\ir , " e\(-n trom his bovish davs.
this a kilit I nr m.iiiile, l.trin-rthan that of th
II
e w.is a n.itive o
f I
ivi-rpoi
il, in i'.Pijian-
sometinie
\viirn liver
shawl
iiotll
shoulders.
.1 : had followed th
e sea Iron
>\ In
IlllK.
.sonietinus over one only. These mantle^ \ ot yuod (.oiiducl, lie had risen so lar n
l:i> I'r
hVliii'. .iiichmt-il
grcil iiiiiiibcrs ,
i& i)*i*-.
ASTORIA.
.„•„• ■, '0 hr boabAvain (.1 an Anu-ru-an sliip
[';,l'i"ii,e Klcanor, cimm,ui(k-(l l)y Cplam Mcl-
f t 'n lliis vfsvl lie liad .sailed in 1 789, on "lie
!„j,|,,,M- (isual cvixililions b> ihc northwest roast
I ip „u,,t ol lJr>. In tlH- . cursc' ..I llu' voya-c ih.-
iciDiiMi lift a Miiall .s(luH)iur, named ihc lair
Viu'ricaii, at .soolka, with a in-w <.t tivc men,
i a'mm.Hi'l'' 'i bv liis son. a yiiuili ct ciKditt -n. Siic
f^vn'oi^'ili'^^'i"' 111 iIh' track ol l.u- hU-aiioi-.
' 'liiV.liiuarv, I7«^'. fapimn Mciclt toiulu'd at
Ihv islaiul (it Mdwi f. «iu; ut the Sandwii h Kioup.
Wliil; .indiMicci hiMc, a hiiat which was astern of
[tht; Kli iP.ur was stoliii, and a seaman wiio was in
jtu.bkiiled. The natives, ^;eiierally, liiselaimed
ticuiraj;!', ami l)i-(>u^;ht the shattered remains ot
ithl'iMi .111.1 I'le (lead tiudy t)t the seaman to tin.'
jS;:;!'. SupiiosiiiK that they had thus appeased the
a:ii;tr.'l ll'.c captain, they thronj;ed, as usual, m
crr.it mimhers .diout the \esscl, to traiie. faplam
■ Mdci.t, luivvever, dett rmiiied on a 1)1 xnly re-
Veii'c. The I'k.iiior niounled ten >;uns. All these
I he iirihre(i to he lo.ided with nnisket-halls, nails,
I aiul i.U'LCs ot old iron, and then tired them, and
till' small arms ot the shi|), .iinon^^ the natives.
Till' hnoc w.is (Ireadtul ; more than a hundreil,
aci'iiiiliiij; to Vouiy's aci ouiit, were slain.
Aii'.r t'lissi^jiial ,icl ot veii^eanee, Captain Met-
Cilt ^.lii^■(l from Mowee, and made tor the island
|oH)w',l)ic,\vliire he was well reeei\ed by lama. di-
[ni.i.ili. Tl!f torl.iiies of this warlike cliiet were
at ili.il time -a. '.ne rist;. lie had orij^inaiiy tierii ot
inlenor iMiik, ruling' over or.ly c)iie or two disiiicts
■ 01 "vuhie, hut liad j^radu. illy 111, ule hiiiiselt sov-
eivi_;"i ot his native isl.ind.
Thi' Kleaiior rcin.imed some fewd.ivs at .iiichor
lure, aiiii an ,i|i|i,irently triendly intercourse w.is
ki'pl up with the iiih,d)it.ints. On the l/tli .March,
Joi'.ii Vcung obiaiiied |)eriiiission to pas>, the i/ii;ht
or, shuru. t)ii the tollowini; niornini; a signal j,eii
summ.iiifil him to leturn on hoard.
Ilf lUiu to the shore to emh.irk, hut found .ill
■t.u iMiUH-, haulei ii|) on the In ch and ni;orousl\-
tr.;iij",'l, or inienhi ted. He would have Luinclieil
o;.v limi.M'it. bill w.is informed hv rania.dim.i.ih
ti:.it ;: ii'j iiresuir.Ld to do so lie would be put to
iti;.
Vr ;;,.; was obiii^cil lo submit, .md rem. lined .ill
; (...) ir, !,'riMt perplexity to .11 a ount lur this ni\ste-
' i'."tis i.iiui.i. :in(l learUil that s.mie ho-,tilily' w.is
niri(li-i!. In the evenin^j he le.irned the caiis" ot
; i|. .111.1 \\\^ iine.isincss sv,is mcre.ised. It .ippe.ired
ti'i.u ■,!;.• mihIk live a. t ot (',i|)tain Metc.ilf h.id re
i.Ci'"^-' 'ijion Ills own head. The schooner {■',iir
|\iii"!.i,ia, .oininaiided by his son, following- in
li;'' ir.iik, had l.illfii iiuo the li.uids ot the natives
[ti|iii'„iiiilnv.inlot Tocaigh li.iy. ,ind young .Met-
U'l;' til t'Uir.il the , rew had been mass.ured.
«'ii a-iiiviiig iiitflligrnee of this event, T.i-
"■'■'■'-I'laili had imme.liatelv tabooed .ill ibe ca-
ji''5, ■ni.lirilcrdicicl ,ill intercourse with th.e ship
[ ;■ ':!'■ ripi.un should Ir.irn the I. He id the
" ^'"'''f, :i!l.l l.ike his f'Vfnge upon the isl.ind.
' ''" 'iiiii- riMsoii he prevented Voungtium re
ll'i^'/iij; ^.'.MoiiMlryhien. The Ide.mor coiitinued
Wiifr- .;s^r„.,|., j|,,,„ ,11^^^, 1^^ |^^^^^_ j^^^. 1^^^^ i\:iy^^ and
'•L>.|i.i.!; lom.hnhng, 11., doubt, tint the bo.it-
.'"•'' ^"ui'.' was in d,-,p,i
|=;|;l' r.akL' sail, and louin'
! ■ 'liyi.HMj^'i.s ; and savages, too, sanguin.irv in
^^ i '''.ir.utcr, .mil imlanied by acts ot hostility.
r,..'^''^ ''"''7''''''-' '''■^■'PP"'l'ted,' however, in (\pr-
, ''"/"s is'iiliing out kind treatment from T.im.i.ih-
■,:':!"'■' "-^ I'c'iple. It is true, he w.is narrowly
■•'"• Ittlv.never a vessel came in sight, lest he
iir w lien
himself
le s.iw the
ib.mdoned
! should escape and ndate what had pas.sed ; hut at
ether times tie was treated with entire eontidence
I and gre.il distinction. Me became a prime favor-
ite, c.ibinet counsellor, and activi: coadjutor of
I 'r.iiiiaahniaah, atteiulmg him in all his excursions,
j whether of business (U' pleasure, and .liding in his
I w. II like and ambitious enterprises, fly di grees he
I rose to the nink of a chiet, espoused one ot the
j be.iutiesot the isl.imj, and became h.ibitu.ited ami
I reconciled to his new way ot lite ; thinking it bet-
! ler, perhajis, to rule among savages than serve
1 among white men : to be a fe.Hhered ( hief th.iii a
\ tarpawling boatsw.iin. lli.-, t.nor with T.imaah-
' iiiaah ne\er declined ; and when that sag.icious,
infepid, ,ind as|):ring chieftain h.id 111. ide him-
self so\ereigii o\'vT the whole group ot islands,
and removed his residiaice to Wo ihoo, he left his
t.iillitul adherent John Young in command of
t >\\ yhee.
i Such is an outlini' of the histinv of (io\ernor
Young, as furnished by hiniselt ; and we regret
ih.it we .ire not able to gi\i- anv account ot the
sl.ite maintained by this seat.inng worthy, .and
I the manner in which he discharged liis high func-
tions ; though It is evident he h.id more id the
I hearty t.i.nili.irity ot the loia-casile th.iti the dig-
nity of thi: guberiiatori.il ollii c
] 'i'hese long contereiues were bitter Iri.ils tl^ the
; p.itience of the captain, who h.id 110 resput eitiier
lor the governor or liis ishiiid, and w.is .uixious to
push on ill (|Uest of pi'o\ isions and w.iter. As
soon as he could get his in(pii-..itive p.irtners once
more on bo.ird, he weighed .1111 lior, and ni.ule
s.iil tor the ishmd of W'o.ihoo, the r. jy.il residence
of I'.im.i.ihmaah.
This is the most beautilul ishmd td the .S.mdwich
group. It is forty-six miles in length and twenty-
three in breadth. .\ ridge ol \oliaiiic mounlaiiis
extends through the centre, rising iiiId lottv jxMks,
.111(1 skirted by undulating hills ,iiid rich |)laiiis,
where iIr' cabins .4 the n,ai\e~. )K'i p mil from be-
ne, ith groves of cocoanut and other luxuri.iiil trees.
On the 2ist ot l-'ebru.irv the Ton(|iiin cast
.iiichor in the beautiful b.is' l)idi>re llie \illage ot
W'.iitui. I jiri'iiounced Win teetee 1, the abode of
' Tarn. I, dim. I. ih. This \ ill. ige .(int. lined about two
hundred h.ibitation.-,, compused id poies set in the
ground, tieil logetlur at the ends, and thatched
with gr.iss, and was silu.ited in .111 open gnne of
coco. units. '1 he rnval |).il.ice ot T.im.i.i'im.i.ih w.is
.1 l.irge house of Iwii sloiies ; the lower o! stone,
the upper (d wood. Round this his body-guard
kept watch, composed id iwent\-t,iur men, in long
blue cassocks turneil up with yellow, and each
.irmed with ,1 .i.usket.
Wdiile .It .inclior ,it this pi. ice, mm h eeremo-
niiMis \i-.i(ing .md long conleicnce-. i.itd< place
between the potent. ite of the i.d.inds .and the
p.irtners (d tlv compiiu'. T.im.i.il.m.i.ih came
.111 bii.ird (d the slup ia lov.il st\!e, in his
d'luble pirogue. He w.is between lilty .md sixty
, \e.iis ol .Ige, above the middle si/e, huge and
well in ide, though somewh.it cmpnleiu. jle w.is
dresseil 111 .an uld suit of regiiiieiii.ils, with a
swuril bv ills s lie, .md seemed somewh.ll eill-
b.irr.issed b\ Ids m.igiiiliceiit .itiire. I'hree of his
\\i\es accompaivid liim. 'I'hey were almost as
I. ill, and quite .is corpulent as himselt ; but Iw no
nie.ins to be eomp.ired with him in gr.mdeur oi
h.ibilinief .. wearing no other g.irb th.in the \i.ni.
With him .ilso c.ime his gre.u l.iviu-i'e and con-
lidenti.il counsellor, Kr.iimaker ; who, Ironi hold-
I ing .1 post equiv.ilelit to th.it id ]irime minister,
i h.id bei-n t.imili.irh n. lined liiliy I'ltl by the Uritish
\ isiturs to the ishiiuls.
ii:
.■Ilii.i.M;
':.i
i !■
.«';
m
m-i
m
•I
... .|^j
318
ASTORIA.
ii.
■111
||!
I^M
' ; '
3b
H^
ite !
laR'
HH ■'
uf ' '
■P»i
B*
1
i
1 ^'t
! i -f
' " *l '
, ! .is-
wrirT
i ''
1 ■'!,;
ib.
.i^i/..:.'.J^JijJU|K
The sov(MTiL:ii was rcccivod with l)flittinix riTc-
nionial. 'I'lir Aiiifflcaii llat,' was ilispla\iMl, tour
jjuns wiTr tircil, aiul tlir partners ajipcand in
si'arU't CO. Its, an.i coiuhu'ti'il iluir illustrious
guots to the cabni, wlu'iT llu'v wvw ri'jjaied with
wiiio. In thi-. nitrrviiw thf partiifrs I'lidcavorfd
to impress the uioii.ireh \\ '^ i sense ot iheir im-
portance, and ot the im|)oi. . c al the associ.ition
to whicli thi\- licloiii;ed. 'l liey let him know that
lhr\- were ens, oi- chiefs, ot a i;reat comiiany
about to be est.iblisheil on llie northwest co.ist,
and t.dked ot ilie prob,il)iht\- of ojieiun^f a tr.ide
with his islands, and ot sending,'' sliips there occa-
sionalK. All this was gratityin.i,; and intereslini;
to him, fi>r he w.is .iw.ire ot tlie adv,inta;.;es ot
trade, ,ind desirous ot jiromotini,'' tre(|iient inter-
course with white men. Me encour.ii;ed I'.uro-
pe.ins .iiid Americans to settle in his islands, ;inil
intermarr\' with his sul'iects. There weri> be-
tween tw<-;itv and tliirty while men .it th.it time
resident in th<' isiaiid, but maiiv ot tlu-m were
mere v.it;Mboads, who rem.iined tlure in liopes
(it ie.ldm;.; a la/\ .;nd .in e.lsy lite. l-'or sucli
Tama. dim. 1. ill hail .a !.;re.it contempt ; those only
had his esteem ,i:id comitenance who knew some
At leiiLCtli the royal harjifaiii w.is
the necessarv suiiiilv of lu
)ht,i
rniii.
Iiesiilts
lanic .irt, .mil were solu-r
.ind
in-
trade or nu
(lustrioiis.
( >n the <'.iy subseciuent to the miniarch's visit,
the p.irtiiers l.mded .and w.iited upon liim in re-
turn. Know mil; the ttfect ot silow and dres.' ujion
men in s.iv iv;i' !i:i\ .and wishinjj to ir..ike ;i f.ivor-
ahlc impre -lion as the rri's, or chiefs, ot the i;reat
American I'm Company, some of them appeared
ill Highland pl.iids .uid' kilts, to th.e i^reat admi-
r.itioii of the n.itives.
While vis'ts ot uremonv .and L,^raiid diiilom.iiic
contereiices were i^oiii:;; on between the p.irtners
and the kaiLj. the i.ipl.iin, in his pl.iin, matter-ot-
t.ict w.ay, w'.is pushinj.^ wh.it he considered a far
more import. iiu ncL^^otiatioii— the purchase of a
scpply of ho-s. ife found tli.il the kins; li.ad
prohied ill ni'ire w.us than one bv his intercourse
with white men. Al.o\e .all other .irts he li.id
learned t'-.j ::v\. of drivim,'' .a b.iri^ain. llew.'s.i
ni.it;iianimoiis m'Hi.iri h, but ,i shrewd purk mei-
chaiit, .and ] i ri. ips thoir^dit \ ■ could not do In t-
ter witli his luiure allies, the Anu-ric.in I"ur t'om-
pany, th.in t^' be-in by close de.dinj;-. Sever. il in-
terviews Were !■ .;uisite, and mucji li.iri^Minin;;,
betiire he < n\\]i\ iie i)roU'.;ht to ]i.art with .1 liristle
ot his bacon, .and thiai he insisted upon beiii'.;-
paid in hard Sp.mish dollars, },Mvinj.j as a re.isoii
tli.it he w.inted money to ]nirchasi! .a lrit;-.ite from
his brother ("ieor;;e, as he affection. Uei)' termed
the Kill;..,' of Ijij^l.ind.*
* It appi-ars, f-om ihe arroiuUR of sufjscnucnt vnv- '
ai;ps, that T.uii.i.i'im.i.ih, attcrw.ird suicccilcil in liis '
ui-ti of punliasiiif,' a l.irt;t' ship. In tliis lie sent a I
cari;o of s.ind.il-woud to faiitou, liavin;; disrovpred I
that the forc-i.;n mercfi.uus tradinR with him made
hir<'' profits 1.11 tliis wool, shipped by them from ttie '.
islands to the <'liinese markets. The ship was tnaniie.i
liy natives, fiut the otiiiers were linKhslnr.en. .Stie
arcoinplrshed tier voyage, and ri^tlirned in s.ifetv to i
the islan.Js. iviifi the ifawaiian (i.ii; lloatin^' Kl'iriously i
in tlie hrei /(■. The fiini; h.istened on hoard, cxpedinir
to lind his s.ind.il-wood converted into crapes and
ilainasks, .uid other rich sti:lTs of China, but (ound.
to his astonishment, by the U'^erdemaiii of trairic, his
carjjo h.id all disappeared, .ind, in place of it, re-
mained a bill of ch.ir^^es ainounlinf; to /Ar,Y thoiiuimi
■/,i/.'.;> r. It was some time liefore he could he nude
to enrnprchf-nd certain of tlie most impfjrt.mt items of
the fjill, surh as (iilot,iRe, anrhorai;e, and ruslom-luuise
fees ; but when he discovered that maritime siute.i in
le necessary su|)|)iy ot iio);s olu,ii:ic(|.
sever.il >;o.Us, two sheep, a (pi.intitv of' puuhr
.and vej;et,ibles in almiidance. I'he lurnl r, r '•
urged to recruit their forces tronuhi ii.du v'j
this ishiiul. They di-clared they ha.l im,-, s,.,.',
waternu'ii e(|U.il to them, even aiiiiiiu' t::c 'n-.
ajfeurs of the northwtst ; .imi indeed ilK'v.ir,- p..
m.trk.ible for their skill in m,in.n;iiv,r ;ii(,r;|,^
craft, ami can swint and dive like w.iur-f,*'
The ii.irtiiers were inclined, therffoiv, n ij,i
thirty or forty walh them to the (■(iluinlc., i,,'.^
empio\cd in the service ot the conip.cri. f;.
capt.im, howe\fr, objected that there »\,;, r,,;
room in his vessel tor liie acconuiiii(!,itioii i ! yjch
a number. Twelve, only, were tlierclorci-;iii.v.tii
for the :oinp.iny, and as m.anv ninir Im '.ht str.
\ice of the stiip. 'J he former eil;;,ij;i(l tn.scne
tor the ti'rm of three years, diiniij; uhiihinty
Were to 111' led and (dothed, .iiid at flic cvpir.ctnj
ot the time weia.' to reici\e one hundred iloilars
in merchandise.
.\iid now, having emb. irked his livi si.i''<,
fruits, vej;etables, .mil w,ater, the cijit.iii; :ii:i,ie
'eadv to set s.iil. I low nnu h the honest i;wn hti! '|
sultcred in s])irit by what he considercil tlv- iri'/ki
.and v.is^-.iries of his passeni;t'rs, ,iiul Ikuv l,it!t'»
had understood their humors .ind iiUi'iUinin, i;
amusingly shown in .i letter written tn .Mr .i^-.nf
from W'o.dioo, which coiit.iiiis his cunini ntb la
the scenes we have described.
" It Wduld be difficult," he writes, " to !iin.;;iie
the frantic g.imbols that are d.iiiv pl.ivcd cillivfe;
sometimes dressiiij; in reil co. its, luul dthcriVise
verv tant.istically, .and colU'cliiii,'' a iiumlurcil','-
nor.int natives .i .)Uiid them, iclli:".,' tiiun t'n.V.
thev a.e the ^jrt a t'aris t)t the iKirtiiuci!. .".;;J
m.ikin^f .irr.in^i nients for sen.hiii,' iliu'c ei'toiir '
vessels yearly to them from the coast \.:tli siurs,
etc.; while those \'ery natives c.iiiiint cvi'i iinii^h
.1 hoj; to the ship. Then dressiiv.,' iii lli-nl:rd
]il.iids and kills, .and m.ikiiit,'- siiiul.ir .:ir.!i"i,'i'-
nieiiis, with presents id rum, \iinc, ur .I'uinirii;
th.a is .It h.iiid. Then takiny; a lUiiiihcr i'! i v^i
and men on shore to the ver\- spot eii \Mihli(..i>
t.im Cuok was kdU d. .md e ■< h fcich n;' 'iff a
piece of the rock or tree th.il w .is t'Uii'l.ui! 'v:'''
shot. Then sittiii;,' down with some whii-'X.m
or sonie n.itive who can be a little lavitrsioj,.,
.ind ccdiectiiii; the history of those i>!.in''s. "I '■'"■•
aahmaah's w.irs, tlie curiosities of tlieisi.mJ.s i.^'-
prepar.itin-y to the histories of their vc\;ii;is: ar.d
the i-ollecti'on is indei-d ridiculousK' i aiiicii;);:nie.
To enumer.ite the thous.and mst.iiiiis y\ K^>
ranee, filth, etc., or to |)artictil. li/e ,iil Uu :i ii't'i
^Mmliols til, It an; daily pr.ic e(l, umilii ■.-■\y'^^
Volumes. "
litdore embarking,' the ;;re.it ens i>l ll'' Aire:-
c.an Fur Comp.iny took lea.ve of ;lu ir illu^ini'i-S
.ally in due style, with maii\- pidtessu.iiis "i -'■''■■ ^
fnemlshii) .ind promisi s of future in'i'ii '''■'"'■
while the m.atler ot-t.ict capt.iin .m.itl't t.i'.i".
him in his lie.vrt lor a t,MMspiii^r, tiMllick;ni; O'-
a^,re, .is shrewd and sordid in his dc.ii.i:^'-""^'
white 111. in. As one of the vessels I'l '.'.r ■' ;
pany will, in the coarsi; of evciiis, havi !■■ .q'!""
other cf)untries derived larfie revenues i" '",'^''^. i
lier, to the t;re.it ' ost of the nicrch.int. ',.^^'j''; \. ij'
he, " tlien I will have h.irlmr fees .also." "'''''*
lished them arrordinslv. Pilotage a dmlir ;i l""'';_
the draft of each vessel. An^horaiie from -'^ ,''
seventy dollars. In this wav he k;really ii'''f'|'\*f'' ",
royal revenue, and turned his China speci;.i'-'J
at count.
(■ ''■iindrcdd.jil.i,-;
ASTCJRIA.
319
ItO till' ji'-''
|te:ii'il''
re and niajrnanimiiy ot this islan<l po- ^ lent storm ; and nn tlic twcnty-scrond of Marcli
' 1 the lioiiL'st capt.iin i [hv Toiuiuin arrived at the mouth ol lUv Urej^oii
ur shall SCI'
Imw 1. 1
il in I'.is niiiiiioii.
or Coliimiii.i River.
1
( llAl'TKR VII.
on lh(
:St
h lit Kel)ruary tliat the Tor
ispecl ot llic riv'er
I
d tl
le ad
areiit roast
was wild and danurroiis
\\v. moiilh ot the t."u-
hinr inih-s wide, \suh a pen-
himhia is ui)ward
insuhi and pronioiitory on one side, and
■>pit ot
iind on the o
tlier
letween w
a h
hie
Iquii
■ I
tmm
the San(l\Mi li
(Lro till' \^i
Islands. l-'or , s.md-har and ehain ot i)real^ers ahnost bhx k up
untry rises
i:d was contrary, ,ind tlie vessel ilu.' enlraiue.
ne nit(;nor ot
(i.ai
„.,1 u\ ilicir nci>;r
at hMij^li) a , iiKu successive ranges ot mountains, which, at
f|,r, r.iiilc hm-/r spranj^r up. an( m a
littli
i til- 111 '1 i;riivi'i
s. i;recii lulls, and snowy peaks
the time o! the arnv.il ot
erc(i \\ iih snow.
the 'I
oniiuin, were cov-
I till'-
|si,i;ht. 'T "I
or.qii:;
Irt'iiiib
ipy islands on
u alter anc
her
ik tr
A t
lesli w
ind f
roin the iioriliwesl sent a rnu'rti
ritcil into ilic blue
[•imi^iu-i
1 ihi' I'acilic
dist.ince,
d til
tumbling se.i upon the coa-.t, whicli broke upon
I her ctuirse toward the sterner the bar in turious surges, and exteinied a sheet of
almost across the moelh ol the ri\er.
Ihc Mi^iiiulcrstaiulinjjs
bit\
the captain , rnder these circumstances the laplain did not
lis ii,isscn"ers s
till coniinued ; or rather, in- i ihink it
hc(! in j,'iM\iiy.
niiH'
i.|v hiinmrs in:
liy his altercations and his
iiad cut himsel
ltd th
irudent to ap|)roa( h within three leaj^'ues,
ar sliould be s(
il .and t
lam. in:tv it tluai
'dit or Ireedo
m ot
le channel
otf Irom .dl .i-^certained. Mr. l''o.\, the cliirt male, w.is or-
convers.iiion iKred to this service in the \\ haleboat, accom-
;:', i",--iii.
■ rr i" ilirir y:
: th'-' nu'.uiin,:; e
' in !.ii''i':
lie (hsilained to ask any <piesti
eedinjjs, and could only j{uess at , tornierly visited the ri\er
i.miid bv John .M.irim,
th
Id se.nci.in, who h.id
iiid bv tlirt'i' Cana-
eir movements, and in S(i do;n
llh
ciiniectiires
]•
and
sus
ox re(|Ue^,led to h.i\e |-(i;uiar sailors to
re
nui-it whimsical se
It-l
)icions whii.li man the boat, but the cipt.iiii wnuld not s|ia
orment.
them Irom
the
jrsicc of the ship, aiul supposed
Tliib. in line
.Ikes
i to lik-
lis disputes witl> them, rel.iti\e the Cmadians, beint^j e\|)ert boatmen on
ids nil board, .some ot the |iack,i;;("i ot and rivers, were competent to the sirvic l^ es|)e-
v.hicli ihi'V \\islicd to o[)en, to take out arli(des i i.div \\hen (lirette<
and
mil d
iiv
ON .Ulll
Nb
o!
he men, o
r i)r<'sents lor tlu' n.i-
o\ seems to have lost .ii! tirmness o
,i!l p.itii'
-.■,! |UI
irsli ,uul peremptory
that tl
1 hinted that thev we
re the
tin. I'
on the 'iccasion, and to 1
V. iih a miiijivimr heart.
lave ri e.o uei
th
ts]
lint
mi
It redt
jce him tl) a \er\' lor svmpathv.
il.Mi, ililciniua, liV t.iKiii;' from liini the cum- , cant.iin, a
ml tl
enow injJT
He
their
le tears were in liii i
ame hi til
lilteri'iii e
h
e serx'ice
p.irtncrs
with the
n 111
.\ •Ji'nii'ht now 11.1 .lied across tlu-
IlliiiJ III, It llii'V re.dlv h.id .i lie:
C.'l[)t,
represented his case
1
:iin
•U
tl.
s.iu
1 1
te.
\\
itl
lout se.'iiiien to m.in mv lio.u, m boisterous
;n to depose
him
we.ilher,
am
1 on the most ilanL;troiis part ot the
nr. 1 '.li.it, liavini; iiicked U|) some information at noithwe^t co.ist. .\1\ uncle \s. is losi ,' tew yi ar.-
Oivvhc
I'
ssililv of war between the I'liiti'
i«ro on this s.inu- P.ir, and
Ulll, thev me.int to alter the
tiiKiliiii 'it tlie Miyaj(i', ])erhaps to sei.x' upuii si
des- mv bones alongside i
f.ir tl
leir ii\^ 11 use.
(hi
ci: li.uinu conceived
th
lis suspicion, eveiv-
p.llhl/ed
with the
I') be m
it his
h
in his appri'hension
,iiti
ipt.im.
Tl
.1111 now ;; ■''h.i,' to Uiy
The parlners sym-
ul remonstrated
i\\e\ er, w.is not
)\ed. He h.ul b
diMlli
\\
i)\ m the culler 1
,irt of tl
iih Mr.
cmsidermi:
t!i:;ij,' Willi to luster it. They had ilistributi
bv.iriib nil, in.; -.nine iif their men, a common lijni indolenl and in.u'l;\e, .'iiid pi'i'b.ibly l!ioui(lu
i.~, ])iesent repuL;n.ince .iro.ie trom ,i w.iiu ot true
.uitic.il spirit. The interference ot liie |)ariners
j);;'c:ui!i'.a .iniMiiLr the lur tr.iders
when miniJiim.
lIlM
\v.i:i !'\'
r.ri'wn.
anil '-.onu' n:
This, h;:'vt'\er, looked like ji
r.d ot the jLirtners and cierk-. in the business o
tht
ship, ,Uso,
ineii, beinj.[ Scotsmen, wire .ic
.iteil
to h.ive a lavor.ible elti el
ctiiint'il with 'h,: ll.ielic, and h'-ld long com er-^.i- .luthoritv like himself, especi.il
not c.ucu-
stickler for
his .ictu.il
tnn.^
hat l.ui!;u.i;.;;e
r
lese convers.i-
Iiuil.s VM-iv iiii|.,ii|iTeil by the ciptain ot ,i " mv:
■-tale ol lieling tow.ird ihel
I'.riiv
s iivl iiiuvarr.uit.ible n.ilure,
.\t
OIU' o cloc
k I'.M., then
■ o\ and
us
and rel, ded
ii'iii'Hiiit, !i) MMUi- tout
ii'.i.' 'iiii m ' thei.i. lb
conspir.icy that was brew-
nrades set off in the wh..leboal, wnich is rep-
ted
IS small in si/e and cra.'V m condition.
I'l''llllb I'l l;i
mkh
avows such sui
•n
eves were strained alter the little bark as it
•; Ictlcr to Mr. Astm-,
t.iil tvc siuK I re.idv lo n
but intim.Ue-.
ulled lor shore, rising
and sinkiii'.,'' \\ i
th tl
le hugt:
lirt.ik, ;i!,'J
sisl any treasonous oul-
ii
IlllL
•ins to think that the evidenc
waves,
the U>:
until It entered
irea
I'pnuiiia im his ]virt h.ul an effect in over.iw- t'l viei
i:« tl
V:x- 1,
on- 11 till-
wiih
I' 1 iiispir.diir-
.venmg
ker.
set 111. n:
a mere s]
)eck.
\\.i~, soon lost
III 1 ceded .and
ut Is
.IS we
ave since been
infi
p.issed awav, and morniii;.
the return of the bo.it.
returned
but
without
p.iMl
t'-^. It was a mischievous ple.isure
.\s the wind had moderated, the ship stood near
iimu'
.It 111
e p.irtiiers and clerks, who were to the l.md, so as to comm.ind a view
ot the riv-
yitiii,,^ mc-ii, lo pi.iv upon the susi
I11.U
I'lc'it-'tic hiiinors ol the e.ipt.
ncious temper er s moull
Nothing- W.IS lo be seen but a wi
Id
To tl
'i;"niie ni.mv ot their whimsicd or..
ch.ios ol tumbling w.ives hreaki
iig upon
the I
lar.
■:Mn |iri|,„siti„ns, and, above all, their nusteri
O'hi-iill
la 11
pursuf
:i<|iin's in C.aelit
ii\vire and irritable m
d I .and app.irently lorming a to.imii'.g barrier trom
Toward night the ship again
ood did the capt.iin
I'lUrse, keeping a wary eye
'""remnit, ,ui 1 hristlmg up whenever'the iletest-
ingu.ige grated upon his
isiiun.b.l tlie(;aelic 1
nr. .\,i,|
ilisturlj th
ling occurred, however, m.iteri.dly t
ICSKi
shore to shore.
stood out to g.iin sea-room, and ,i gloom was vis-
ible in every countenance.
The captain himself
shared in the general anxiety, and prob.ibly re-
jiented of his i)eremi)tory orders. Another weary
and w.itchful night succeeded, during which the
wind snhsiilei
d th
e weather becime sereiU'.
lue ot the voyage, excepting u vio- 1 On the toUowing day, the ship, having drilled
P;
|1
1
1 J
' '■ i
il!
H ■ 1
i ii
■
1
''■> ' ill
!' '■
is
I-. I '(
ii
I3"te!r,
m'
3Q0
ASTORIA.
in
fllli
!i M:
' '/
near the land, nnrliorod in fourtpen fathoms
water, to the northward ot the h>n^ ]Hninsul,i or
promontorx- wliu h tornis the north side ot the e.i-
tranee, and is called tJ.ipe Disaiiiniintnient. The
pmnaee w.is tlien manned, .and two ot the p.nt-
ners, Mr. David Stuart and Mr. M'K.iy, set o|f
in the hope ot iiMrnintj sonieihinir ot the t.ite ot
the wh.ilelxiat. 'l"he surt, hu\\e\er, broke with
siicii viok-nee .iloni; the shore that they lould tind
no laiuhni; pl.iee. .Srver.il of llie n.Uives aiijie.ir-
ed on the l)each and m.ide sii,nis to tiiem to row-
round tiie e.ipe, Init the\ thought it most prucK'nt
to return t(> the shij).
The wind now springing; iiji, tlie Tontpiin i^'nt
luider w,i\'. and stood in to seek the eh.iiinel. luit
was .I'^.aiii deterred. !)y the trij,dillui ,is]iect ot the
hre.ikers, from venturiiii^ within .i le.ii^ue. Here
she hove to. .ind Mr. .Mumlord, tlie srroml
mate, was dis])ateiied with lour iiands, in the
]iinnace, to sound .leross the ehaniiei until he
should tind tour f.uhoms depth. 'I'he |iinn.ii'e
enteretl anioni;^ the hre.ikers, init was near heini,^
lost, and with diftieulty j^ot li.aek to the shi]i. 'I'l-.c
captain insisted that Mr. Mumtord h.id steered
too nuieii to tlie southward. He now turned to
Mr. Aiken, an ahle m.iriner, destined to eom-
ma.nd the sehooner intended lor the eo.istinij
trade, and ordereil him. toijether with John foil's,
sailmaker, .^^'ejihen \\'e(d<es, armorer, and two
Sandwieh Isl.inders, to proceed ;ihe,id .-ind takir
.soundintjs while the ship should follow under e.i^v
sail. In this w.iv they proceedetl until Aiken had
ascertained the ehinnfl, whi'n sitjn.il w.is ujucn
from the ship for Inni to return on luiard. Ih'
v>';is then within pistol-shot, hut so furious w.is
the current, and tumultuous the hre.ikers. th.it
the boat l)ecainf nninanajfe.ible. and was hurried
away, the crew cryinij out piteously lor assist.un c
In a few moments she could not he seen from the
ship's deck. .Some of tlie passfui^ers climbed to
tne mi/./entop, and beheld her strui;;;linL,r to reach
the slii]) ; but slioit'v .alter she bro.iched bro. id-
side trj the w.-;m'S, ,ind her case seemed des]ier.ite.
The attention of those on iioard ol the ship w.is
now called lo their own safety. Thev were in
shallow w.Uer ; ihe vessel struck re])eatedlv. the
w.i\es broke o\er her, .and there w.is d.inm'r ot
lier foundei-iii'.;. .At lenLjlh she );ot into se\f:i
fathoms w.iter, and the wind lullinij, an<l tlv
ni};ht comiii;^ on. cast anch<ir. With the darkness
their anxieties inere.ised. The win i whistled, the
sea roared, the L;!iioni w,as only broken bv the
i^hastly cfkire o! die foaminjr breakers, the niiiids
of the se.inien were lull ol drearv appn-hensions,
and ;.onie of them fancied they he.ird the cries nt
their lust comr.ides min'^hnj;^ with the ujiroar ol
the elements. |-'or ;i time, too, the rapidiv ebb-
inj:r tifle threatened to sweep them Ironi their
precarious aiichora,;;e. .\t lenj,ftli the retlux ol tin-
tide and the sprini;inL,' up of the wind en.ible.l
them to (put their dan;;erous situation and take
shelter in a small b.iy within Cape Disappoint-
inent, where th.ey rode in safety during; the resi-
due of a stormy ni;^dit, and enjoyed a brief inter-
val of refresliiiii^' slec|i.
With the hi;ht of day returned their cares ami
anxieties. They looked (jut fnm the m.isthead
over a wild co.ast and wilder se.i, but could <lis-
cover no trace of the two boats .and their crews
that were inissin;;. Several of the natives came
on board with peltries, but there was no disposi-
tion to trade. They were interroi,rated by si^jns
.after the lost bo, its, but could not understand the
inquiries.
I'arties now went on shore and scoured tfie
iviiheJ
i cstt
nei^hhnrhoficl. One of these w.is he.iil
capt.im. They h.id not proceeded lar wh.
beheld a person at a (list, nice in civil','.',i ,,, i; i
.As he drew ne.ar he proved to he \Vt..|,i.,',';',
.iniiorer. 'I'liere was a burst of itiv, tiT i^ "
liojied his comrades were near at ' *"
story, however, w.is one of disaster, ii,- ,,;,ij,.
companions h.id found it impossible ;.i. •!,;.,'
their boat, h.iviii).;; no ruddfi', and lif;i,.-^i ''"
by r.ipid and wiiirlin^ currents and
surges. After long struggling the\ h.u< „.,,,
go at the mercy of the w.ives, tossing alii,;;; ^;,n,p.
times with her bow, sometimes with I tr |irr,||i.
side to the surges, threatened e.icli iiisi.i--,; urji
destruction, yet rejicatedly esc.iping, iim,; ,. ],■;„
se.i broke over .and swamped lur. W'-ik-sv'!;
o\-crwli(dnied by the boiling w.ives, Im; cir.ir'i!'
.ib(.\'e the surf.ace. looked rinind lor his ..n nj^
ions. .Aikin .and Coles were not to he -i.ni r.ai
him were the twai Sandwich Islanders. >ir:',-iinj
themselves of their clothing tli.ii tin \ irii;t;t >,'(in
more freely. Hedid die s.nne, ,ind the 1 ...a tin,;;,
ing ne.ar to him. he seized hold of it. Thi-t«o
iskinders joined him, and, uniting thiir fuicij
they suci-eeded in turning the Im.it lip.i-, htr
keel : then l)earing down her stern .iinl rockir"
her. they forced out so miicli w.iter that she wis
.ible to hear the weight of a in. in witiim;t >inkinj;.
( )ne of the islandi'rs now got in .nni in .1 lit'.le
while bailed out the w.ater with his h.uiils. The
other swam about .and collected tl.i' u.irs, ,rul
they all three got once more on bo.inl.
I!;, this time the tide had swept iln'iii liy.^ij
the breakers, .and Weekes called on Ins ic;)i|).,ii-
inis to row for land. They were s.i rliiiltii , Kid
benumbed bv the cold, however, tli.il i!u". '.ii>t:i!l
heart, and .absolutely refused. Wi'ckfs \v:iS
cipiallv chilled, but h.id superior s.i^Ka'y l^!
selt-command. He counteracted the iciii!i:u',;o
drowsiness .and stU]ior which cold pnHlii';.5 i>y
kee]Mng himsidf in const.int exercise, aiii! v'firii;
tli.it the \css(d w.as ad\',incing, ;ind tli.it iM.iV.hir.,;
dipended U])on himself, he set to work inscill
the bo.it clear of the bar, and into ipnet wiV:!.
Toward iiodnight one of the jioor islaiuli istv-
pireil ; his comp.inion threw hinise'.t on hij
1 orpsc .and could not be persuaded ti> li .ivi him.
Tt;e dism.al night waire aw.iy .iiiiid 'Jn -t- \:<>i-
V irs ; .-IS the day dawned, Weekes loini'l h'list.i
near the I.tnd. He steered dinatly t.-r it. .in 1 .it
h'ngth, with the aid of the siirl, i.in Lis I -.i: f.,.":
u]ioii .T s.andy be.ach.
l-"indiiig th.at one of the S.indwich l-l i!u!rri;;t
g.ax'e signs of life, he aided him lo lea\e the Imi'.,
,<i;d set out with him toward the .idt.ii eiii wi'-'.y
The poor fellow, however, was too tei'li'c "a I'-
low him, .and Wecdies was soon (ibl,L;eil t" :i'i';"-
don him tohis fate and ])ro\ ide lor Ins'iun ^.ifr'.;
I'alling upon a beaten path, he puisuci! it..i'<-
aher ,1 few hours c.aine to a part "t th-va*:
xshere, to his surprise and joy, he Im held dv. ^'vp
.at anchor, and was met by the c.aiilaia .ini; .;;i
partv.
Alter Weekes h.ad rel.ited his .irlveiitutv-.. ti ;■
|i,irties were dispatched to belt up liif'"'^'''
search of the unlortunate isl.inder. They trm.
ed at night without success, though tl'ey hi'l '""''
the utmost diligence. On the lollowiiij;;!.iy t'l'
se.arch w.as resumed, and the poor fellow "'ly
length discovered Iving bene.ath a groiipi'' f"-'"*"
his legs swfdlen, liis feet torn and liloody'!"!;'
walking througfli luishes and briers, .ami li;"";' '
h.ilf dead with cold, hunger, and f.itigue. ^^'■'';^'^\
and this isl.ander were the onlv sui\ivar
crew of the jolly-boat, ^and no trace
was cvi'i'ii^-
^Mk±:^.^L£^t.
ASTORIA.
821
„,.,.p,! ei Fos and his party. Tims ci^'lit men
;,,Vlo>-' on ihf t.i-sl appr...ich to the coast - ;i
crmnuMKrmrni tl.at cast a k1"">" "vrr tin- spirits
r, ,h,. «l,nk' partv, and was rcK'an cd by soiiu- ot
thesiiPfrsiiliniisasanomcn that boded no ^;ood to
rmvarTiuKht th<- Sandwich Islanders went on
ishiPli'biirv the Ixidv of their iinfortunate coun-
tminn ulio'had perished in the boat. On arriv-
iiv It lh<> place whiMV it had been lett, they dii^ a
Lnn- in tht-- sand, in which tliey (le|)osite(| the
' oiip>^- witli a l)iscnit underone ol the arms, sonii;
l,ir,i under the chni, and a small (jiiantily ot to-
li;i( (I ;is pnivisions tor its i(>iirney m the l.ind ot
i spirits. Havin|r covered the body with sand and
' flinti, thcv kneeltd alonjj the >;ravt' in a double
row.'wiih iheir faies turned to the cast, while one
who olliriated as a priest sprinkled theni with
I writer from a hat. In so doini,^ he recited a kind
of pr.iyi'r or invoc.ition, to which, at intervals, thr
o'.htT.s iiiaile responses. Suih were the simple
r:!is pcrtnniied by these poor savaj,'(;s at the
iT.iVi'i'l their comrade on the shores of ;i stran^je
L.'i I : and when these were done, they rose and
rii;irii('l in silence to the ship, without once cast-
ir, - a lu.ik behind.
CII.M'TKR VIII.
The folumhia, (>r i >re^on, for the distance of
l:;iri\ or turlvnrles from its t-ntr;ince into the sea,
is. priipcrh' spe.ikin},', a mere estuary, indented
'.n (ictp havs so as to vary from three to seven
ii;:!i"> 111 width, and is rendered extremely intri-
c.it'' ani! (Luif^aToiis bv shoals reachin,;^ iie.arlv
[i-nm shore to shore, on which, ;'.t limes, the
winds ar.d currents i)rodnce foaminjjf ,ind tumult-
u U'; breakers. The mouth of the river pro])er
is init about half a mile wide, formed bv the con-
tnctini^ shores of the estii.ary. The entraix'e
trill th.' sea, as we h.ive already observed, is
liivji.;k'd on the south side by .-i ll.it, s.indy spit
tt land strel'diin;.,' into the ocean, 'i'his is com-
miiily calif I Point .Ad.ims. 'i'h<' opposite or
mrilu'rn side is Cipe I Jisajipointment, a kind
fif peniiisiibi, termin.itinij in ;i steep knoll or
prnnuntory cro\vne<l with a f(M-est ol ])ine trees,
a:'' ruiiiiccted with the main-land by ,i low ,ind
narrow neck. Iniiiie liat(dy within this c.ipe is
iiv.ide, open h,\y, terniinalinj; at Chinook Point,
SI callffl troin a neiirhborinjj tribe of Indi.ins.
1'iiS wa:; c.dled li.iker's liav, and here the 'lon-
'l'.:!' was anchored.
Ttu- natives inh.ibilinj^r the' lower ji.art of the
nviT. and with whom the comp.uiy was likely to
r.i'- :hi-'mositre(pii-nt intercourse, were divided at
iHistmu- into tour tribes— the Ciiinooks, Clatsops,
Wahkiaciims, and Cithl.imahs. Thev resembled
Mch other in person, dress, lan^ju.ii^e, and m.m-
r.iT, and were pro!).iblv from the" same stock,
Hit .iroken into fibes, (ir rather hordes, bv those
iHifisand schisms frecpient .imon^r lndi,ins.'
IlU'Sf pcopl,. ^r,.m.,.,,|l\. Ij^.^, 1,^. Cshilijr. It is
tru<'t[ipy,.c,Msion.illv hunt the elk and deer, and
(rnnive th,. w.iierfowl of th<dr jwiids and rivers,
™' tliMf are casual luxuries. Their chief sub-
sisteiicp IS derived from the salmon .and other fish
«nit!i aliound m the Columbia and its tribut.;iy
Streams, aided by roots ,ind herbs, especi.ilb the
\\appatoo, which IS found on the isl.uids o'l the
ri'.cr.
As ihr Indians of the plains wdio depend upon
™ f^liase are li,,ld and expert rid.-rs. .md pride
'HMibdvcs upon thdr horses, su these piscatory
tribes of the coast excel in the m.anatfpment of
e.inoes, and ,ire never luore .it home than wdien
ridinjj uiKin the w.ives. Their ( anoes vary in
form ,ind si/c. .Some are upw.ard ot tifty feet
lonj^, cut out of ;i sinj^le tree, either lir or white
ced.ir, ;in(l cap.ible ot carryini^f thirtv persons.
They h.i\c thw.irt pieces from side to side .about
three inches thid:. and th.ir {gunwales tl.ire out-
ward, so as to cast off the sur^^es of the w.ives.
Th(! bow and stern are decor. Ue I will' j^'rotestpie
b^rures of men and .anim.ils, sometimes live feet in
liei^^ht.
In ni.anaj^ini;- their canoes they kne(d twf) and
two alon^' the bottom, sittinij on 'heir he(ds, and
wiiddin^f p.iddles from tour to live teet lon^, while
(Mie sits on the stern and steers with ;i paddle of
the same kind. Tlie women are equ.illy expert
with the men in man,i|^dnt; the canoe, and gen-
erally t.ike the helm.
It is sur|)risin;,f U) see with what feaih-ss uncon-
cern these sav.iges venture in their li.Ljht b.irks up-
on the rouf^diest .and most tempestuous seas. T'hey
seem to ride upon the waxes like se.i-towl. Should
,a suii^c throw the canoe upon its side .and end.in-
j;er its overturn, those to windw.ird lean over the
upper |.;unwale, thrust their |)addles deep into the
wave, ;ip]i.irently c.it(di the w.iter aiui force it
under the cmoe, .and by tins .action nut meiady re-
gain an e(]uilibrium, but gi\'e their bark a \'igor-
ous impulse forward.
' The effect ot different moiles of lite upon the
I human frame and human ch.ir icH'r is strikingly
instanced in the contrast between t!ie hunting
Indians of the jirairies and thi' piscatory Indian*"
' ot the se.i-coast. The former, continu.illy o"
hors(d),ick scouring the ])!ains, gaining their food
by hardv exercise, and subsisting idiietly on llesh,
are geiuT.ally t.ill, sinewy, me.agre, but widl form-
ed, .and ot bold and t'lerce deportment ; the latter,
huinging .about the river banks, or stpi.uting and
curved up in their c.inoes, are generally low ia
stature, ill-sh.aiKil, with crooked h-gs, ;hi; k ankles.
,ind bro.i'l tl.it feet. Thev .are interior .also in
nuis< iilar ])o\ver .and .ictivitv, .and in ev^/zi'' (pi.ali-
ties .and .ippe.arance, to their hard-riding brethren
ot the ]ir,iiries.
lla\ing premiseil these few p.ir'icul ir.-, concern-
ing the neighboring Indians, v.e v. ill return to
the immediate (luicerns ot t'-f Tniv|i'.i:i .-'.nd her
I rew.
r'urther search was m.ule for Mr. I'ox and his
p.irty, but with no lultia- su>ci'ss, and they were
at length given up .as lost. In the nie.in time the
c.ipt.un .and some ot tlu' p.irtners explored the
river for some distance in ,i l.irge bo, it, to select a
suitable place for the traciing pist. Their old
jealousii-s and differences continued ; they never
could coincide in their choice, and the ca])tain
olijected .iltogether to any site s^' high up the river.
; They all returned, therelore, to li.iker's Hay in no
very good humor. The piitiurs proposed to
1 examine the opposite shore, but the c,ii>tain was
impatient ot any further delav. 1 lis e.igerness to
i " get on" had incriMsed upon him. He thought
' all these excursions a sheer ot lost time, and was
I resolved to kind at once, build a slndler for the
reception ot that p.irt of his cargo destined tor the
I use ot the settlement, and, h.u mg ( le.ired his ship
■ ot it and ot his irksome shipmates, to depart upon
1 the prosecution ot his coasting voy,ij;e, .ucording
to orders.
( In the fidlowing d.iv, thertdore, without tn ub-
ling himsidf to consult the partners, lie l.iiideil in
li.iker's Hav, and jiroceeded to erei t ,a shed tor
the reception ot the rigging, eiiuipmenis, and
ti;
)■! V
'; 'iM'iil
;i , ■[
Jia ' V c-
,.::-^ li;i
; i ' '
; Si I
m
I
• 3
883
ASTORIA.
stores of the scl\onncr that was to I)c Imilt fur tlie
usi: ot th^ setlltnu lit.
This (loijj^fil (IctiTiniiiation on tln' part of tlu"
Sturciv raiitain .i,M\t' liiK'i otfi'iicc to ^ir. M'Dou-
ca!, Cvlio now conMilcicd liini.sflt at llic Ih'.kI ot
the ccnuiin, as Mr. Astoi's rcprfscntatixc and
prow, lie st't oft tllf same d.iy (April 5th), ac-
conipanit'd \i\ Mr. Havid Stuart, tor thi: soiitiifrn
stiori', intt-ndini; to he liai k i)\' tlu' seventh. Not
ha\ini( tin- captain to lontend witli, tliev soon
jiilrlu'd upon a spot wliieli appeared to them ta-
yoraliie tor the intended establishment. Il u.is
on a point ot lam! called I'omt (leorj^e, liaxiiij; ,1
very jjood harbor, where vessels, not exceedinif
two hundretl tons burden, nii[;lu anchor within
titty yards ot the shore.
.Alter a day thus prolltablv spent they recrossed
the river, !>ut landed on the northern shore sev-
tral miles alune the anchoring' j;round <A the
Toiu|uii), in the neit^hborliood ot C'hinooUs, ,ind
visited the villaj^e ot th.at tribe. Here they were
received with j;reat hospitality by the < hiet, who
was named Comcoinly, a shrewd old sa\M;;e, with
liut one eye, who will occasionally I'l^ure in this
narrative. l'..uh \ill.i>;e forms a petty sov-
efeij^nty, ^-overned by its own chief, who, how-
ever, jiossesses but little authority, unless he be .1
man oi wealth and substance— ih.it is to s.iy, pos-
sessed of Cannes, slaves, and wives. The j^re.iter
luimber of tluse the },n-eater is the cllief. How
many wives this one-eyed jxitentate maintained
we are not told, but he certainly ])iissessed gre.it
sway, not merely over his own tribe, but o\er the
neij^hborliuod.
llavinj; mentioned sla\es, we would obser\e
that slavery exists ,11110111; se\er.d ot tin- trilies be-
yond the Koi'ky Mountains. The sl.ixes ari' well
treated while in i;oo(l luMlth, but occui)ie(l in .ill
kinds ot drudijeiy. .Should they become useless,
however, by sii kness (ir old ai;.;, they an; totally
ncKleeted, and le!' to jierish ; nor is any resjiec't
paid to their bodies alter <le.ith.
\ sinj^ul.ir custom prevails, not merely among
the Chinooks but .iniong most of the tribes about
this |)arl of the coast, which is the tl.itteiiing ot the
forehe.id. 'I'he jiroi ess by wliu li this detormily
is effecie.i c.imnii-nces immediately after birth.
The infant Is l.iid in .i wooden trough, by was ol
cradle. Tht: end on which the he.id renosjs is
higher th.m the re^t. .\ p.idding is pl.u cl on the
forehead ot the inl.mt, with a jiiece ot b.irk abo\c
it, and is jiressed down by cords, which pass
tiiroilgh iioles on e.K h side of the trough. .Xs the
tightening ot the pad<ling and the pressing oi tiie
ilead to the boani is gr.idu.al, the process is s.iiil
not to be atteiide.l with much pain. The a|)i)e.ir-
ance of the int.iiu, however, while in tl'.is sl.iti- of
comi>ressio!i, is \\himsically liideous, and " its
little bl.ick eyes," we are told, " lieiiig forced
out by the tightness of l!ie b.indages, reseiabie
those ot ;i mouse choki-d m .1 tr.ip."
.■\bout ,1 \e,ir's pressure is suiiicient to produce
the desire I eifect, at liie end of which time the
child emerges from its b.ind.igcs .a complete ll.it-
hc;i(l, and continues .so thiough life. It must be
noted, how'-ver, that this ll.ittemng ol the he.ul
has something in it of .iristocralical sigiiilic.iiK y,
like the crippling ot the feet among Cliinescr
ladies of_(iu.ility. .\t .iiiy rate il is a sign ol tree-
doin. No sl.ive is permuted to bestow this envi-
able deformity upon his child ; all the slaves,
therefore, .ire roundheads.
With this worth) tribe of Chinooks tiie two part-
ners jjassed a p.irt of the d.iy \ery agreeably.
M'Dougal, who w.is somewhat vain'ul his otiicml
r.ink, li.id given it to he understood tl.nti',,
were two duets of .i great trading compam' ;,,,j,',
to be eslal)lislied liere, and liie ijiiHi!,;,,,,,.!
though one-eyed chief, who was sonicwh,'; ?,;,,.
Used in tratiie with white men, iinnn (li.an, ,ij.r.
ci'i\fd the polic\- of cultiv.iting the tne'uK'i - mt
two sucli important visitors. Me riLMlcl ik!™
. thentore, to the best of his ahilitv, wiih ,iVip,!
d.iiice ol s.ilmon ;uul svajjpatoo. The lU'vi iiMri.
ing, M.irih 7th, they prep.ired lo return in ih. ■,,.^.
sel, .according to promise, '{"hey had ,.;,.'(,',,
miles of open b.iy to tr.iverse ; 'the wiiiil ^^-j
flesh, the w.ives ran high. Comcomli' rcnviii.
str.iteil with them on the hazard la \\\vx]\ I'r, ■
would be exposed. The\- were rcsohuf, huwcvcf
and l.iuncluHl their iioal, while the wary chu:i,i;ri
toUowed at some short (list, mi e in his ex'.^t.
Scarce h.id they rode .1 mile w lu 11 a w.ivi' hrnki;
over their bo.il and upset it. Tliey w irc in mi-
minent peril of drowning, es|)ecially Mr. Mlmj.
g.d, who could not swim. C'omcoiiily, hir.ic,^r
c.ime boundiiig o\cr the wa\es in his l'i;.;ht ar.i-,
and snatched tiiein from a watery grave.
They were t.ikeii on sliore, and ,1 tir.' ni.i'!'.', ^i
which they dried their (lothes, .liter which Gj;i;.
comly conducted them back to hi; vill.njc. Ihri;
ever_\ thing was done that (ould lie (!evis!'d It
their entertainment during iliit c d.iv, th.ii il w
were detained by b.id wiather. (' -ni nnilv n.i.C
his people ]ierfor-n antic; befiire them ; ;ii', 1 ',;3
wives and d.iughters ende.uored, liy all Ihi'soniii-
ing and endi'aring arts of women, lo tiiullavurm
their eyes. Some even ]Kiinted their h()(liis\ui!i
red clay, ,ind .anointed themselves with lis'oil,
lo give additional lustri: to their charm-,. Mr.
.M'I)oug;il seems to h.i\e a he.ut siiscrpliib'!!
the inlhieiice of the gentler sex. W'hitlier ":•;:>
it w.is lirst touched on this ici-;i iion wv li iin".
le.irn ; but it will be found, in tl.e c lun.f 0! 'hi-,
W(M-k, tlKit one ot t!;e (Laughter . of t'le liiiSi)i!.!'''e
Comi iimly eveirai.iUy in.ide a coiujUest ci ll":
great <'ri of the .American Fur Coinp.aiy.
When the weather had moder.ited a.id lii.'-f.
become lran(|uil, the one-eyed chief ol I'lr C; •
nooks m.mned his :;t;iti' canoe, .url coaduiic''; ;.:;
guests in s.ifetv to the ship, where t'u-\ wen v.' ,.
cuned with joj-, for apprehensions had ln'in:.'.
lor their s.atetv. Comcomly and Ms ])"■;):■:
wire then entertained (in bo.ird of tlu: Tiii'.i|;;".
.mil liber.illy rewarded for their liaspitality .i^l
s'-rvices. Thcv returned home highly
]iromising to renjain f.iithful friends and .ii^ii-'
the white men.
.^.Kis'i''-,
■I /iM,i;:'i
rn.M'Tr".!; ix.
Fl^MM the report made by the twi cvp! i::r;;
]i.iitiiers, It was determined that I'oint iir<r:-;
should be the site ol the trading liou-)e. I""-'
gentlemen, it is true, were not perleitlv s,i'.: • 1
With the place, .and were desirous ol con!au..'i,'
their si-arch ; but C.iiitain Thorn u. is ;iii|i.i'.. "j
continue I'.i^ Vii\.i.:;i'.
wh.it he !'"
l.l'.l'->'>
1 2th of April the U' ^
things necessiiry !'"■'•
to land his cargo ;in(
protested against any more o
" sporting excursiims.'
.Aci'ordingly, on tht
was Ireighli-ii with al ., , ^
purpose, ;ind sixteen ]iersoiis dep.irted 111 In' J^'
commence the est.iblishmeiit, leaving tlu' I""-
(|uin to follow as soon as the harbor I'oi.M ^''^
solliuled.
Crossing the wide mouth of tlie river, the.ariv
l.imled, .and encamped at the bottom of .i'^ '1:111
bay within I'oinl George. The situation clu-iti
•■ii»ii....
ASTORIA.
3-33
fnr the l'>'-lili'''' r"''' '^■■'''^ "" ■'^" «'l(>vnrmn hcinjr
nh, with tlu' wide I'Stu.iry, its sarul-liars
iitMl\(rrs sprcail out hftoic it,
IJ'.'IU ilii
UllllultlMll.'.
!,';i,'l the nruinoiiiorv ot CaiR' Disappoiiumfnt,
i;|.vn mili-s (li->l.'ii>.'l<''*'"S>' t'l*-' l'n)s|H'.t K. the
, ? Ti,.. ^iiiTDiiiuiiiiL'- coiintrv was in all the-
,..[ Tlic Mirrouiuiiii!,^ country was iii ai
hs'iiiLSS (4 si-nn- ; the Hits were in llif younj;
l^^^ 'hu wiMlhii- was supcrl), ami everything'
l,MkViilik'li'hii ''I II"-'" i'l^' eniaiRipated innii a
1,11),. diirnu'iiii'iit oil slnphoard. The ■r()n(|iiii)
sh.i^llv alitrw.inl made her way ihnni>,'h the in-
tr;i.i!>- (.h.imicl. Hid came to anchor in ihi; little
b,u ami was s.diiud fioni the encampment with
tl'ii'irvolltys >i\ imiikciry aiul three cheers. She rc-
t,jiin-ilihi's.iUite\Mlh three cheers and ttircf ^niiis.
^AI1 hands 11(1" sci to work cultmj; down tree:.,
f;..iri!ii,' .may thickets, and markiiij; mit the pi. ice
Ijrthi- rcsidincc, sturehmise, and powder niaja-
;:!R', which were to he built ol loj,;s and co\ert;i!
\\\'.h haik. (Mhcrs l.uideil the limhers intended
! tile I'ar.if III liie cnastinj; vessel, ;ind proceed-
(! !j |)u; tia'iii iiij,'ttlier, while others prep.ired
;, ,;i!-.lcn s|):>t, and sowfd the seeds ot various
VL.;"iil)icS.
['m lU'Xt th()ni;lit was to j;i\e a name to the
(■:;i'ir\o nienniiolis ; the one that natur.dly prr-
v'iieil ilsell 'va-i th.U ot the projector ,ind sup-
|i! r'.iT ot tile whole eiuerprise. It wa;; accord-
ingly naineil .•\>li)kl,.\.
lii'.' iii'ij^hl)i>riii;,f Indi.uis now swarmed about
t:i'' !■ ,u c. Skiuc hroii^du a tew l.md-otler ,ind sea-
oiur skills M barter, but in very scanty i).ircels ;
tnc ijriaior nuiiibcr cime jiryin^j about to j^ratiiy
tuircuriijsily, tor they are said to be imper mieiil-
Iv inqiiisilive ; while not a lew cinie with no
oihi"" ik'sii^n than lo pilier ; the laws ol iiiriini
an I tuiim hi'iiij; but sli^dilly respecti'd .imoni;
lliriii. .S>j:ne ol llii'iii be~,et the ship in their c,i-
r.i'fs ainoii'.; whoiii w as the Chinook cliiet (."om-
iiaily .imi lii-. lic,;;e subjects. These were well
rufivi-ii hy Mr. .M'IJou;,mI, who w.is delighted
v.n.li a;i o|ij)nruinily ot enteriiif^ upon ins tunc-
liMr.saiul ,iii|uir:a;4 import.mee in the eyes of liis
iiitiin nc!;;h!n; 1. I'he contusion thus ])roduced
en huanl. and die der.in^'emeiit ot the carjjo
enseal hy this |ietty trade, stirred the spleen ol
tiisi:,i|itaiii. wlin li.id ,i soverelj^n contempt tor
thenne-mrtl i-hieltain and all his crew, lie eom-
jjiiiicil loielli III h.uin^f his shi]) lumhered by a
nov. of ■■liiiiian r,ii;amullins," who had no'; a
^^ln la ili.spise ot, and at len^nh put bis posUi\c
in;e.\iM upon all traftickin.i;- on board, I'pon
!:iisM:-. M'i)LHii,Ml was tain to l.md. .ind establish
h;M i|iiait'TS at the eiK.unpnient, where be could
iM.':i;v.' liH ri:;liis and enjoy his (lij;nities without
(.T.'.r'i!.
l"'-' li-.id, however, between these riv.il jiowcrs
s'Ih riiniiiiiieij. !,ti! w.is chielly carried on b) letter.
'■''•' il!ir d,i\ ,111(1 week alter week el.ijised, yet
i:i'-. store houses leipiisite tor the receiuion ot the
cr-.i ■.\eiv iioi .■ mipleled, and the sliij) w.is de-
tii^ic'l in jiori , uh.le the captain was teased by
iwiiiLit iV'jiiisuions lor v.irious .irticles lor the
|i^'^oltliecs'.,il.|i^hmeMt,or the trade with the ii.i-
"■'•>■ .\n an;,'rv > nrrespondence took place, in
uwal);,.r,n,|,iaine.l bitterly ot the time wasted
jii^ sniokiiii; .md sportinj; parlies," as he termed
'■'■<■■ i-coniiniierin;: expeditions, and in cle.irin^'
iin'Mir'T.'nn-m.'ailie.N ground and turnip p.itcbes
"'iw.l i,t .hsp.uchiiijj his ship. At leiiKtli all
"esu ;in-,i,,^r m.itters were .adjusted, it not to the
S'l'iMaition, .u it.a.t to the .ac.piiescence ot all
''"ii-s. the p.irt of the cargo destined for the
«ot ,\st„n., was l.iiuled, and the ship left tree
'« i'roccal on her voyigc.
As tlie Tonquin was to roast to tlic nortli, to
tr.idi' lor peltries .it the ditfereiit bariiors, .and to
loui h at Asiori.a on li(;r return in the .lutumn, it
w.is uii.uiimousl) determined tb.it ,\lr, M'K.iy
should go in her as su|)ei c.irgo, taking svi'l' hini
Mr. Lewis as ship's clerk. On the tiistotjune
the ship got under way, and (lrop|)ed down to
n.iker's H-iy, where slie w.is detarned ior a lew
d.iys by a he.id wind; but e.irl\- in tlie morning
ol the httli stuoil out to sea with ,i line bree/e and
swelling canv.is, .md swept oil g.iyly on her t.ilal
voyage, from which she w.is nc\er t(j return !
( )n reMcwing the toiiduct ot Ca|)tain 1 born,
and e\.imiiiing liis peevish .md somewhat whim.si-
( .il corres|)oiiden( f, the im|)ression lelt upon our
mind is upon the whole di'cidedly in his favor.
While we smile at the simplicity ol Ins heart .md
the n.irrowness of his >iews, which made liim rc-
g.inl everything out of .ne direct jiath ol his d.iily
duty, and the rigid exigencies ot the service, as triv-
ial and impertinent, which inspire>i him with
contem|)t tor the swelling vanity of some ot his
coadjutors, ,md the liter.iry e\eii ises ,iiid ( urious
rese.irches of others, we c.innot but applaud that
strict and conscientious cle\o;'on to the interests
ot his employer, ,ind lo what p,e considereil the
true objects ot the enterprise in whit h he was en-
g.iged. He certainly w.is to blame ociasionally
lor the ..s|)erity of his m.mners and the .irbiiraiy
n.iture ot his measures, yet much th.it is excep-
tion. ible in this part of his londui t n-.iy be tr.iced
to rigid notions ot duty, accpiired in th.it tyranni-
cal school, .1 ship of war, and to the construction
given by liis companions to the orders of Mr.
Astor, so little in conformity with his own. His
mind, too, ;i])pears to ha\e beeiuiie almost dis-
e.ised bv the suspicions he had lornied .is to the
loyallv of his associates and the n.uure ot their
ultimate designs ; yet on this point there were
circumstances lo, in some me.isuro, ju.siily him.
the rel.itions between the I'nited .Slates and
(".re.it Britain were at that time in a critical ^tatc ;
in f.ict, tint two countries were oil the e\e ot a
w.ir, .Se\er,il ot the partners were ISritish sub-
jei IS, and might be ready to desi n the llig under
which they acted, should .i w.ir I, ike pl.i. e. Tiuir
api)lic.itio'n to the l!riti.sh mini.sler .it New 'Siiik
shows the dubious leelmg with which they hatl
emb.irked in the present enterprise. They h.id
been in the employ of the Noiihwest Compain,
.111(1 might be disposed to r.illy ag.iin under that
association, should events threaten the prosperity
of this embr\() establishment ot .Mr. Astor. lie-
sides, we liave the t.icl, averred to us by one of
the partners, that some of them, who were y.'ung
and heedless, to(d< a mischievoiis .md uiiw.irrant-
able pleasure in playing upon t)"' je.ilou.s temper
ot the captain, and affecting mysterious consulta-
tio'is .ami sinister movements.
These circumst.inces .ire cite.! in p.iUi.ition of
ihe doubts and surmises ot C.iiit.iin Thorn, which
might otherwise appe.ir strange and unreason-
able. Tli.it most ot the p.irtneis were pertectly
upright and l.iitbtiil in the (bsch.irge of the iru.st
reposed in them we are fully s.iti.slied ; still the
honest captain w.as not invari.ibly wrong in his
suspicions ; ,md th.U he tormed a pretty just
opinion ol the inlegrily of thai .ispiring jierson-
age. Mr. M'Dougal, will be substantuilly proved
in tlie seijuel.
CHAPTER \',
Willi. I', tlu; .Vstorians were busily occupied in
completing ilieir factory and tjrt, a report was
, !
\i m
I ii (.
j;
! j!! ■: m
51
rM:
324
ASTORIA.
lir(nit;lit tn them )iy an Ind'.in from the iip|)cr
part lit tile river, that a party ot thirtv white iiu'ii
hail appeared on the hanks i.t the C'ohinil)ia, ami
were a. mails- huil(hn^; houses at tlii' second rap-
ids. This mtoi iii.ition c.iiised nuuh (lis(|uiet. \Vc
have alre.idv mentioned that the Nortiuvest C'oin-
panv had est.ililished posts to 'lie west ot the
Koi'kv Mountains, in a (hstri.t called hy them
New Caledonia, which extended fron\ lat, 52 to
55' north, bein^; within the liritish territories. It
was now appreiunded th.it they were advancing;
witliin the .\merican limits, and were endeavor-
in|f to sei.-e ujion the upiier part ot the ri\'er ami
forest. ill the .Xmericm l-'ur C'oir.pany in the sur-
romHiini; trade ; in which c.ise bloody feuds
mi^flit he .mtu-ipatcKl, such as had piev.iilcd be-
tween tile rival fur com|ianies in former d.iys.
A reconnoitnnj; p.irty w.is sent up the river t<i
asceri.un the truth ot the report. 'I'hey .iscended
to the foot of the tnst rapid, .ibout tuo humlred
miles, bi;i could hear nothinj; ot ,iny \sluie men
l)cin^ in the nei^jhborlKiod.
Not loiijj alter their return, howescr, airthei
accounts were itceivd, by two wandernii^ In-
dians, wliii li (st.iblished ll.e tact that the North-
west Compaiu hail .1 tua'ly erec te<l a trading'
hou^,' on the Spokan i'lver, which t.ills uito the
nort!i l-"anch ot the C'oliimbia.
Whet rendered this intelliij'nce the more dis-
qiiietini; w.is ine 'n.dnlity of the .\stori.ins, in their
present redured sl.ite :is to numbers, and the e\i-
jjencies ot their new establishment, to furnish de-
tachments to peiietr.ite the countrv ■!) ditterent
directions, ,in(i ti\ the posts ne(tssary to secure
the interior tr.ide.
It w,is resolved, however. ,»t .anv r.il( , to ad-
vance a counter-che( k to tins post on ''.v S|iok.ui,
and one ot the p.irtners, Mr. D.ivid Stuart, pre-
pared to set out lor the juirpose with eij,'ht men
and .1 s ill .issorfiieiit of j^oods. He w.is to be
p;uided i-y the two Indi.ans, who knew the i ,)uiitr\',
and pioniised to take him to a place not l.ir troin
the Sj)okan Kivi;', .ind in a ntij^hborhood .dioiind-
in^ V. iili beaver. Here he was to est.ibbsh
hiir.selt and lo reiii.Tiu for ,■ time, provided he
found the situation .idvanta^eous and the n.itives
trie:ui!y.
On the 15th of July, when Mr .Stti.irt was near-
ly re.idy to embark. .1 canoe m ule its .appear, mce,
standiii).; for the liar!)«r, and manned by nine
white men. Much speculation toi>l; place who
these slran;;ers could be, for it w ,is too .soon to
expect their own jx-ople, under Mr. Hunt, aIio
Were to cro^s the conlineiit. .As tlie c.inoe dr>w
near, the I'.itish stand.ird w.is (hstin.Lrmshecj ; on
co;nin;4 lo land, one ot the crew Mepped on sliore,
and announced himself as .Mr. HaMil Thompson,
astrin-mer, ;ind jjariner of the Norllvvest ''oni-
pany. A( cordiii).; to his account, he had set out
in tile jirecedinjr ye.ir with a tolerablv Strang;
party, and a supply of Indian jjoods, to cross the
Rocky Mount. iins. A part ot his people, how-
ever, hr.il deserted him on the eastern side, ant!
returned wiili the ^(o ids to the nearest north-west
post. He hid |iersisted in crossin;; ti.e moun-
tains with eii,'ht men, who remained true lo hm.
They h.id traversed the hi^dier re).;ioiis, ind ven-
tured near the source of the folumbi.i, -vhere, in
the sprin>(, tli,y had constructed a c <-d.ir ( .inoe,
the same in which they h.id rc.iched Astoria.
'I'his, in f.ict, w.is the ji.irty disjiatihed by the
Northwest Company to antieip.ite .\!r. .Xstor in
his inteniionot effectin^r a settlement at the moutfi
of the C'llumbia Ri.er. It appears, Horn inhir-
mation liubscjueiicly derived from otiicr sources,
th.it Mr. Thompson had piislu d on Ins .-„,,p
with ijre.il h.iste, callin),' at all the liiil:.iiM.:!,,,.fj
in his m.irch, |)resentin^,' them wiih llriihhii.,«
and even pl.iniin^; them .it the forks ot il,i ri.r
liroidaimin^; form, illy th.it he toiik in,-,-i>,Miiii ,(
the country in the ii.ime of the Kiiij; (.; {.re i
liriiain tor the N'lU thwi st Comp.iiu. As|i.s,iri".
in.il plan w.is dele.ited by the dcscrt.oii • 1 i^^
people, it is prob.lble th.lt he desceiKl,.,! il,,. f.,,.
simply to reconnoitre, and ascert.im wluihcr j
.Americ.in settlement liad been i uniiiinicid
Mr. Thompson was. no doubt, tin inst v\|i,<
m.in who ilesi'ended the northern hniah ot'.rt
(■(^umbia from so iie.ir its souiie. Lewis ,r,i|
Cl.irke struck the main body ot the river .itne
torks, about tour hundred miles truiinls ninun.
They entered it from Lewis Kivrr, its iuui'',;n
br.imh, and tluiu e desi ended.
Tfioii^jh Mr. Thompson could he (■(iiisiiii'R;l,is
little better than .1 spy in the ciinp, hi- vv.b rt-
reived with yjrM lordiality by .Mr. M'1Ii:'jj;i1,
..holiada lurking feeli'ij,' ot cunpaninnsliipiir:!
jjood-will 'or all of tlie NiuMliwist (.nnip.inv. He
invited him to he.id-r|uarters, where ht imi :,:5
people were hos|)itably euint. lined. .N'.iv, fa-
ther ; beinj,' somewhat in extremity, he w.is l;:r.
nished b\- Mr. M'Douj^al with v;no(ls ;imi iiPui-
sions for his journey b.iek across ilic m"iin!;iir,;,
much a^.i'ist the wishes of Mr. Ha'.i'l yx^n,
vitio (lid not think tlie object ot his vhii cr.ircJ
him to .any f.ivor.
1 )n il. ''^vl ot July Mr. .Stuart sit nut iijin:'. r,;s
evjiedition to the interior. His | .iriy nuvs'.;-.! 1
liiur ol the clerks, .Messrs. I'llli t. kii-.s, M l.n-
non, .111(1 Montigny, two C.inadiin voy.i;;<iii> 'iiil
two n.itives of the .Sandwich Isl.inds. Ti iv 1 .il
three c.inoes w(dl l.aden wiih ]irovisinns. ,inil -.in
j^'oods and necess.iries for a tradini,' est.iMii'iir.'r'.,
.Mr. Thom|)son and his p.irty set (iiit n h/ii-
|i.iny with them, il bein^ Ins iniintmn to |irn.-.tii
direct to .Moiitre.il. The jiariiieis .c Asl'in.i Inr-
vv.irded by him a short letter to Mr. Asier :r."":i-
111^' hiin ot their safe .irrival at the mnudi nt fj
Coiiinibi.i, .".nd th.it they h.id noi\et IumI'I ;' Mr.
Hunt. The little stpi.idron ol canoes Ml Mil v^lii
a l.ivorable bree/e. and souii passed 1 iii,j;ii, I'm",
.1 lon^', hiijli, and rocky promoiiio;y, cuvt-ri'.! '■.■..i
trees. ,ind stretcliin^r t.'ir into the nvd. cpp'^'e
to this, on the northern shore, is aiif.,' '.ly
where the Columbia anchored .it the l;;r.f i,i ; e
'bs( overy, ;ind which is still c.dled lir.i) •• !*•''.
Iro.ii he iiaiii' of her commander
from hence the ^'ener.il course ol ll.e r;w ilT
;iboi t s<-venty miles was nearly s-miliiis;
in^.' in l.re.iillii .k coning to its b.ivs :ii! ;
tloivi. and n.ivi^Mble lor M'ssels o! t
t (lis. The shores were in some Jil.
rockv, witli low, marshy islandsa. i!u-ii i.^i.^'i" •
ject to inundation, and covere.l wit.i vviii .wj,
|)oplars, and other trees that love .m .illiivi.il 1""
Sometimi's the mountains reced-d. "lil ^''^
pi. ice to beautiful plains and noble tmesw. \\i;'''
the river m.ir^MP was richly frin.i,'ed vvr.l, v::--"~
dei iduoiis to;i:i).;e, the roti'di upl.mds vseri;. r ivvniv
l)V ni.i)esiic pini'S, and tirs ot ^'i^Mniic si.u- ••''■'•'
lilwerint; lo the hei},dit of betw.eii two ,iim ti''
hundred ieet, with proportion.ile , ir. iimt'rr'i"
Out ot these th(- Indians v roui;ht tlieir ti'^'''
canoes .anil pitoj^aies. ,^
.At one part of thi- river, tliey ]).issci,. m' '"
northern side, an isolatefl rock, .iboiit une ■■'"'
(Irei
soi
lTl(/^i i(itiiii.~Ti aii:.-* »»iij in-t'i ••• f^
the neiijhboriin; Iiulians, Leing one ul their I'f
ry-
,!■;■ I'.uiidrr;:
1)1,11 fs ii':.;l. :i"
lorthern side, an isolatefl rock, .ibmit unr '■>-'
red and tittv feet hi^h, rising,' from a low, mir> ^
oil, and totally disconnected with tlie ■i"!''^ '', ;
nount.nns. Tt'iis was held in j,'"' " rev-r<n(f ''■
. ■ . . , .l,..,i- nr •
ci'x' I'll ill'-' ''•■'
hiiiii'iii; '•''"■'"i
th- iibi''ii"'T ""I
LriOtineil ^^i"'
airl Ills l">*^' ■""'[
he .11 IV IH- l'<'>"
liiiuinii; k'f""'"'\
I ihel.iller, du: lill
; 5Vi;>,l.'»l '" '*'''[
s|)-.,r, .iii'l ">'"
,,li,vJ.ili'ttoasl
, lii.LiiiK 'Ih' nvei]
; (p.'iite.l. Ill-- !■'
' u]Mii those |i! i|
1 s'Kkeil vvillia^l
;ir- jiiv;i.ireil 111
,i,(|iiiltfilthemsi
...M'l husli.inds,
Jliiiri;' their iimr
I he isiiliied il
1,11 ;c (li tlie kind
l.M,iilll 111 I.IIIIK
.iiuiiulwere tmi
,.! iriiikels, ^arn
;,ri'i!es tiirtlie 11-
leiliiiiClTDtecl^ 1
rMi'i'. The tricii
v.ii;iieii. repair
5,i;iic liiiu' ;dt(
ihi-e, .uul i!'t(
;i,.;is,
rmin the imin
stiveil iipoii tliis
riwr, 11 rr(eivcd
1; I nalimies to 1 1
lievdiid this r
r;.;r (Ml the r\'^
appe.iieil t(i i.ik
'. .vered with si
i.'.T vv.is the
tSer I'll tliey I
viMV, so c.d'.e
>i\iy iiiili.-i 111
Siniih-^'iiiiluMst
lli,■.^, vvim h ho
■ ■•.'ii;;li the n
I In .uitiliil
• .'.]] e.iiiie w.ri
;--i.-!i :i yet i
■ i sitlLltMIl
US (flei i II pi)
■ ,il lie.i'.ltv .III
i ijrieii liv 11
nil irilies vvei
111:;' I'le 1 1.1 Ilk'
.1 i"l!l ci^hl 1
!V,-H the little
"il so i.illei
.'■r 'i\ his lit
■>':■.: He rive
■ ''.■: nvi,>t lif
• '■';. :iie;i(liivv
l!ie (I litre, t
r.s 'Mwiied
■I'M-i by Ml. I
■>!i'.i; into .1 li
' ■■-• >iaiiri,Ue l.i
I'liiii Vanci
"Jill .\'-turi.i.
" I'ronounec
llic scroml syll
' ii ritSttri'" ii ,' "^ iiiMif
ASTORIA.
•625
Thf same iirovidcnt
ic,;„ pl.nTS of sqiultiirp.
ihn„iMi« !:i!"'s of th.' pr.nncs is (.l,.f rvat)lc .iinoiiK
,1,,. |„„at '.IT tril'.'s ..I tin- rivers ;.n.l sc'a-...,.st.
null-- the I'onnrr llir l.ivoiilr liurs.- ,>i the li.in -
iV'sliineil \\illi lii"> i" ilu-.s..ri!(hiiicriMl iiKuin.l,
.,„'il,i, howaiul ;irr..us an- I. .id l.y Ins side, that
1., iiiiv he ncrtrdly .•(jUipiM^d K'r tin; " Happy
]|,,,„i:i'' .^Tdiinds" ot lite lan<l <>t spinis. Kinnu^r
[W\\nvr. ihc Indian is wrapped m his ni.,iule (.1
s^is l.'iti ill his ran. If, with his pa. I. lie, his lishiiiL'
sprir .mil .illKf implfmcnls husidt- him, aii.l
ii' i.i'j iiliitt on soin.,' rm k or other eniiiu'iu'f ovcr-
|,i;il,iiij; llir liver, or hay, .ir lake, that he has Irc-
(|i.;ilt.i. lit' is tliiis lillfd out to launch away
up III those iilaciil streams and sunny lakes,
s'likfil Willi ad kinils ot lish .'.ml watertowl, wliii h
;ir;' ])iv|i.ireil in tin' 'H'xt world for th.ise wh.) have
i„(mitte.l tlienisehes as ),'o.id sons, ^jood l.itheis,
.'in! hiisli.inds, and, .ibove all, j^.xi.l li:,lurintii,
(iurn;' their nmrl.il Mij.nirn.
llu: i.Miliieil rii. k in (lUestion presenle.l a s|if.'-
tjiifiif ilie kiiiil, numerous dead liodies heiiij; .le-
iKKiinl in cimies on ils summit; while .in poles
urniiulwere Irophies, or, rather, tunereal .)lleriiii,fs
u! iniikels, ijarnients, baskets of roots, .-md .)ther
.,ri ili'S fiirtin: use id the de.-e.ised. A r.'\-erenti.il
k(iiiij,'|in)tei'ts thest- saereil spi>ts from roliliery .ir
i-.su'i. The liieiids iil th.- dee.Msed, esp.'.'i.illy tin;
v.>i;iK-n, repair here at sunrise an.l sunset for
Siinii' time alter his death, sin),(iii^' his tuner,il
il;r;;c, .iiul uttering; loud wailiii^'s and lameiil.i-
ihillS,
froiii the iiiindier of dea.l bodies in eanoes oh-
stivcil ii|)OM tills III. k hy the tirst explorers .if tin;
:..ir, II rc.eiic.l the name id Mount Cotlin, \\hiidi
;: I oniiiuies to hear.
IVvdiiii this roi k ihev passed the month .if a
ri.rim ihe right hank .it the C.ilumhia, whiih
appciieil tfi lake il^ rise in a ilistant mountain
' .v.''til with snow. liie Indian n.ime of this
I.'.' r w.is the ''in\ leskei'. .Some miles liir-
!''rr ii:i they e.inie to the ^n'eat C'olmnliian
vi!li\, sn e.dled li\ I.cwit .ind ('l.iikr. It is
MMVIIilh.S 111 uidlli, .Old eMenils t.r to til.'
Si'i!lii;''iiilhe.ist I'.iNMen p.ir.ill.d |-idi;i'Sid iiKum-
i!i..\ whiili hound it mi th.' east and \wst.
Tir.'ii;di thi- centre id this v.illrv llnwed .i l,ir;.;c
■M iii.iutiliil stre.ini, ..died the W'.ill.iinot, *
■■■■;i.'li i:iliie v,,,iulenii); fur ,sc\-er,il hundr.-.l mil.'S,
'"■■■■'.i,:;h .-! yet mi''\plore,l wilderness. 'I h.' shel-
^ -i ulu.iium ot till', immense vallev h.id an oh-
'•''iiscffei I tipiiii the elim.iti-. It w.is ,i region id
,;'riMt iH-.r.ilv and hlMiri.mce, \sith hikes and pools,
■.ii'i h'ri-eii nieuldws shaded liy n.d)le j^roves. \'a-
t'-iuilrilies were s.iid to reside in this vallev and
31 i:i,i!- I'le h.uiks id the W.dlamot,
, .'ViMiit fiv;ht mih's above the mouth ot the \V,d-
'"'i! the little .s.pMdioii arrived at Vancouver's
l'"'.^^") 1 ailed 111 honor ot that ci'lebr.Ued voy-
■'S'-f I'l his lieilten.iiU i HroiiLjhton i when he e\-
I'l'T-.M i;ic ruiT. This jioint is said to present une
';■'''" iivist ii.-aiitiful sc. n.-s on the folumbi.i -a
:''''!} nie.iduw, with a siKer sheet of limpid w.it.'r
."'■|!ie II litre, enlivened bv wil.l-fowd, ,a ranj,'e of
-ji.s rniwiied by forests,' while the prospect is
'■'J^'-l hy .Mnuiit lloiid, a m.ii^nihcent nuuintain
^■'"lin iiuii ,1 Kilty |ieak, ;uul C(iv<;red wdth snow ;
'■"•• 'lilim.ite laiidiii.irk .i! the tirst exidorers ut the
r:.-i-r, '
, ''""11 \'.ini:ouv( r is .ilK.ut one hundieil miles
'■>:ii.\-t(iri,i. Here the i-edux of the tide ceases
I'ronoun'.ai W.i'lamot, tlic accent being upon
tlie sccon.i :.yllaldc.
to lie perreiitilile. To thispl.ace vessnisof two atvl
thr.c hundre.l tons luinh n may asceii.l. Thu
party under the . .unman. 1 .d Mr. iStu.irt had been
three or tour .la\ s m re,i. liiiij; it, thou^di we li.i\c
f.irborn.' to notice th.'ir .lady priij.;rrss ,ind nij^litly
eiicampm.iils.
I'dom I'oiiit V'.incoiiver the riv.T turned tow.inl
tile iDrthe.isl, ami be. anie iiior.' contra, te.l anil
r.ipi.l, \\iili occ.isi.inal islands ami fre(|uent s.md-
banks. These isl.inds ;ire i'lirnishe.l \^ith a nuin-
ber ot jionds, anil at cert.iin seasons .iboiiiul \siili
swan, ^eese, brandts, cr.iiies, ;;ulls, plo\er, .inil
other wild lo\'. 1. The shor.'s, ton, .ire low, ,iiid
closely wooded, and i:ii\ered with iiii h ,in under-
^'r.iwlh ot vines and rushes .is to be .ilniost im-
passable.
Ab.iut thirty miles .ibove ruiiil Wincoiiver the
niounlains a>,Min ap|iroa.di on both sides ot the
river, whi. h is liiirdered by slupendinis pre. ipices,
covered with the tir and the white ced.ir, and en-
livened o.'.'.isioii.illy by lieaiilitul c.isi'atles lea()ing
Iroin .1 )^riMi luii^hl, and sendiiiy; up wre.aths of
vapor. (111.' of ih.'si pr.-.ipi.rs, or clitfs, is cu-
riouslv worn by time an.l w e.ither so ,is to lia\f the
.■ip|)e.ir.in.c id a ruined fortress, with lowers .iiul
battlements beetlin^f Idj^h above the river; wliile
t\\.) sm.ill . .isca.les, one hundred ;ind lilty feet ill
lieij,r|it, |)iti h down from the I'lssures of the rocks.
■| he turlnili'iice .mil r.-ijiidity of the current con-
tiiiu.illy aut^meiitiii).; .is they ,i.l\ .meed, j,M\'e the
\'oy.ij;ers iiiliiii.itiiui th.it th.y were appro, u liiiij^
the ^reat ob-.tru. lions ol the ri\er, an.l at Kiij;lh
thev arri\fd ;it Strawberry Inland, so e.dled by
Lewis and Cl.irke, wlii.dilies.it the Imhi of the tli'it
rapi.l. As this |i,iit ot tin- (.■oluiiibi.i \sill ln' r.'-
pe.ite.lly nieiilioned in tlii' course of this wurk,
iiein^ th.' scene .d som.' .d its MicichiUs, we sh.ill
^i\'e a ^f.'ii.T.il .lescriiiticm of it in this |il.,c.'.
Tlu; t.ills or r.ipi.ls .d the Cohinibia .ire situ.itcd
.ibout one hfn.lri.'d and .-ij^dity miles above the
month of the ri\er. Tint tirst is a |ierp.-iulii ul.ir
casc.ide ot twenty feet, after which there is a swilt
descent tor a mile, belw.-en islands ol hard bl.ud;
luck, to .iiiother pitch nf eij,du Ui I .livided by two
rocks. .'Ml out two aiul a li.ilt miles below this tlie
riv.r exp.uids into .i uid.: Ii.isin, seemin;;ly
d.iliinied up b\' a perpeiidicul.ir rid^e of bi.ick rock.
.\ current, hnwever, >et-> .li.ij^.m.diy to the left of
this rockv b.irrier, where there is ,i ch.isni tort\-
live yards in width. 'Idirou^rli this the whole body
of the ri\'erro.irs aloiij;', sw.-lliii^'- .iii.l whirling; aiul
boiliiijj; tor some dist.ince in the w ildest confusion,
'1 firoiij^li this irenu'iidoiis ch.innel the intrejii.! e.v..
pl.irersot the river, Lewis and Clarke, p.issed sate-
i\- in their bo. its ; the d.in,mfr beiii^-, not from the
rocks, but from the threat surges .mil wliirl|)o(ils.
.At the dist.ince of ,i mile .md .i h.ilf Irom the
tool of this narrow ch.iiiiitd is .i r.ipid, formed by
two rocky islands ; and twn mile.lie\ond is ,i sec-
ond ^rreat fall, .ner a led^e ot r.u ks twenty teet
lii^dl, exlendini^ n.Miiy Irom shore to slmre. ddie
ri\'er is aj^ain compressed into .i ch.innel from I'ltlv
to a hundred t.'et wi.le, wmii throui^ii ,i roiit;li
bed of hard bhick rock, aloii^ which it lioils ,iiul
roars with ;;r.'at lury tor the .list. nice .)f three miles.
This is calle.l " Idle i-.m^' Narrows."
Here is the ^rcdi llshinif id.ice of the Columbia.
In the s|)rin,i', ot the year, when the waiei is high,
the salmon as.'eiid the river in incredible minibers.
.■\s they pass through this n.irrow str.iit, the In-
di.iiis, standing on the rocks, or on the end ot
wo.ideii stagis projecting from the banks, scoop
them up with small nets distended on hoops .md
.Mtached to long haiullcs, and cast ihcm on ihc
shore.
I 1 .
1
' I
i »iff ■
Qi^i
ASTORIA.
Thcv uv tlirn rnrcd ainl p.u kc'(! in a lu-i-uliar '
maruu'r. Atur liaviiij; Ixtn upciu'd and iliM'm-
liDWi'lU'il, !lu'\ arc tA|)iisc(l tit thf Mill on siallnlils
ercitfil (in lilt' iiMT hanks, W lun MilliiiiiuK ilr\, [
thfv arc poundrd I'lnc hctwccn Iwoslnncs, picsMd
into till' Mivdlist idinp iss, and |)aik('d in li.iskrts ■
or liali'-. nt [;imms inattinj;, ahmit two Irct loi\j; and
oni- in diamcttT, lined witli the in red skni ot a
salmon, 'riic top is liki'svisc lovcifd will) lisi)-
skins, sceiin'd In innls jtassin^ tltroii^'h holes in
the ('dv;eot the luskel. I'.nkajjes ,iie then made,
caeli ( oiu;dnin}; tuelve ot these h.des, si\en .U
bottom, ti\e at lop, pressed ilose to e.uh other,
with the ii'ided side upward, wrapped in m.its.md
corded. These are planMJ in dry sitiiatii'Hs, and
a.i;ain eo\'ered with inallinj;. l-'.a( h ot lliese p.u k-
;ii,ns luniaiiis trom ninei\ to a lumdred |iounds ot
dried tish.whuh in this st.ilc will keep sound tor
several ye.irs. *
We hlive j;iv<n this proeess at some lrii^;lh, as
lurnished hy the lirst e\|)lorers, heeaiise it m.irks
a pr.iciise r inj;eiuiily in |>repaiin;; .irtules ol
tr.itTu- tor .1 m.uki't, >el,|om sun .imoii^- our abo-
riginals. I'or like re.isoiis wi- wnuld m.ike espe-
cial meiiti(U) ot the village ot Wish-r.im, .it the i
he.id ot tlu- I.on^; Narrows, as lieiiii; ,i solitary in-
stanee ot ;in abon^in.d tr.idiii;^' marl, or em|>o-
rium. Here the s.dnion e.ui^ht in the neii;hbor-
in^; rapids u-ere " warehoused," to aw.iii eusioiii-
ers. liiilur the tribes trom the mouth ot the Co- i
himbia rejiaircd wilh ihe lish ot llu' sea-eoast, the j
roois, lurries, and espeeially the w.ipp.iloo, )^:ilh-
cred in ihe lower jiarts ot the ri\;r, lo);ether
with i;-oiuls and irinkets i)buuiud Iriim llu; shi|)s
whii'h ca-iuallv \isil tlu- en.isi. liilhrr .ilso tin-
tribes trom the Koeky Mounl.iiiis broU;.;lil ilowu
horses, be.ir-j;rass, (piamash, and other i tuuinod-
ities ot the interior. Tlie nierch.mt tislu rmeii
at the t.iUs .icted .as miildlemen or t.utors, .iiid
jiassed the objeL'ls ot tr.ittii', as it were, eross-hand-
fil : tr.idin;^ aw.iy part ot the ware,-, received
from tlu- iniHint.iin tribes to those ot tlu- river .md
the pi. on,-., and ;'/.(• t'crv,; .■ their ]),ii k.ii^is ot
poimdei! s.ilmon entered l,irj;i-ly into the system
of b.irter, .in.l bciiu^ carried otf in o|)pii>ite direc-
tions tound their way to the s,l\.i'.;e huiitiiv.;-
camps tar in the interior, and to tin- c.isu.d while
tr.-i'!crs who tout lied upon the c(i.i-.t.
We ha\f already noticed cirt.iin coiurarielies
of cl'i.iracter between the indi.m tribes, pr'xluced
liy their diet and mode of lite; .and luiwlu re ,ire
thev more .ip])areni than about the f.ilU <.t the Co-
lumbia. The Indi.ins ot this ^;re,it tishim; marl
are reprcsenietl l)y the earliest e\i)!orer>. assletker
and t. liter, but less li.ardy and .utive, th.in the
tribes ot the inounl,ains ;ind the prairies, who li\e
by huiitini,;. orot the upper ji.iris ot the iImm-. where
lish is sc.oitv and thi- inhabit, mis musi eke (.iit
their suii>isteiue by di^^.i^dn;^ ro.iis or ch.isin:; the
(leer. Iiuleed, wlu'liever an Iiulian ot the up|ier
(Miiilry i-, l(ii) l.i.'y to hunt, \et is tond ot ;^ood
luiiiu;, In- repair-, to the tails, to li\e in .ibund.mce
williuul lalmr.
" iiy sui h Worthless doj^s ,is these," savs an hon-
est tr.idi r ill his jnurn.il, which now lies betore us,
" by sill !i wiiiihless doijs ,is these are these noted
lishinuj pl.ices peopled, whii h, like our;,rre.it cilie-.,
m.iy with propriety be c.illed the head-(|u,irters ol
viti,il( d priiu iples."
The li.diits ot tr.ide and the ;i\idity of ^ain h.ive
their coriuptin;r effects even in the wilderness, as
ni.iv lie instanced in the m(;mbers of this a!)orij;i-
n.al emp'.iium ; tor the s.inie journaiisl denounces
* Lewis and Clarke, vol. ii. p. 32.
them as " saucy, impudent rasc.il., vIi.mviI; ,.„.•
when they can, ,ind pill.n;e wlieiK\er,iw X '
t.ills in their power. "
I'll. It he does not belie them will he cviiJcf ,
here.itler. when we li.i\«' Decision a^Min 1,1 („(;,'
■It Wish ram ,ind n.ivi^;.iti' the r.ipiiU. Intlir j,,-,,.^
ent insl,ince the tr.ivellers t ttci ted tlu: l.itior , u,
■isi cut ol this p.irl ot the river, w iih ,i|| iis i ^j, .^^
)ort.ij;es, without molest, itinn, ,mi| on,,, p, ^
.lunched ,iw.i\ 111 smooth w.iier ahovi.' ihi ji j,
t.ills. ■ "
The two p.irties conliiuied Idi^'etlitr, Wii'.,-;
m.iteri.il im|iedim(nt, lor thne or luiir liuni'.t;
miles tunher up ihe Columlii.i ; Mr. riiijm|,„',
.ippe.ii'iij; to Like ^11. It inti rest in the mio,,„ii
Mr. Slu.irt, .md pomiin^ mit pi, ice-, t,iMii,iiif, ,1,
lu' s.iid, to the esl.dillshinelil ot his iniilciii|i;,..;i;;
tr.idin^ post,
Mr, Slii.iil who distrusted his sine .,al [i-.i'.',
pielellded t.i .lilopt his ,iil\ice, ,<■.:;, l.iklii; ,i,|ij;
ot him, rem. lined ,is it to esl.ibli^h liiiibcll. \vi;,c
the other proceeded on his iiaiise tim.iril ',•,•.•
mount. liiis. No sooner, howi\iT, li.nl hij !,\;: ,
dep.irted ih.iii Mr. Stuari .ii;.iiii piislieil tii-v.it.i.
under ^•uid.mce ot the two Indi.ius, imi (liili;i'-!i;i
until he li.id .irrived within .iboiii one Iuii.iIivh ni
forty miles ot the Spok.in Uiver, which In- Mir„i;.
erei'l ne.ir enough in keep the li\,ii e,,t.i|)lisi,nn.v;
in I hei k.
The pi, ice \shi( h he pilcheil upon fur f.Mriiiiri;
])o-,t w.is ,1 iioilll ot i.ind aboiil llivee rv.nN ■'-,
length .md two in bre.idlh, formed In tlu- im,-
tinii lit the ( i,ikm.i>;.m w ilh the Coliiiiilii.i. i!-t
fiirmi-r is ,1 ri\(-r whu h has its suur>e in arm-on,-
er.dile Like .iboiit oneluin(lr(-d and lilly milovi-'
ol the|)ointot iunction, Tlu- two rivi-rs, aiimit ',:i;
|,i.ice of tluir conll-,ii-iu (-, .ire horilend !'\ im-
mense prairies covered with heib.i.i;e hill ili--'. ;;.■,;,■
of trees. The point itself w.is orii.inii-;iUil uv.i
wild flowers ol every hue, ill winch iiimiir,r,:ir,c
huinnun>;-birils were " b.iiiquctin;.; lu.irl;, ;,■;
liv(-lon;,4 d,i\ ."
'Ihe silu.itioii of this point ;ip|ie,ir(il lu '<•' '
,i(l,i|ileil tor a tradini; post. 'I'lu- i hin.iU- «.i- ■ .
brious, tht- soil leitiie, the river-- well ,-.l(ii-ko, . ■'
lish, the n.itivi-s pe.ice.ible .md fnenilU. I'-
wi-re e.isv communications with tin- iiilr! "
the upper w.itt-rs of the Coliimbi.i .oi.l tl'f '■'' '
stre.im ot the « )-ikina^an, while the d'''.\n,i;' - |' ■
rent of the Coliimbi.i turiiishe,! .1 liij;ln\:i\ i" .»^
toria.
.■\\Milin-: himself, therefore, ot the dnliv^
which had collected in (|ii.intities in the m •^"'
in;4 bends ol the river, Mr. Stu.irt ami hi^ "'" ■ ■
to work to erect a house, \\hicli in a litti'- ','■
was sullicientlv comi)leted tor their r^-^;•i ' ■
and thus was e^t.iblislied the tirst mterinr I- •'
j tile lomp.my. We will now return tun -i'.^ '
, pro^M-(-ss ot .affair-, at the mouth ot tlic L i.u'«!).i
Cll.\l'TI-.lv XI.
Tin-; sailing' of the Tumpiin, .mi! tin- ilj-p'"-'
of .Mr. D.ivid .Stii.iri .iiid his det.ii him-nt, h.ii, ';
duced a striking;- effect on aff.iirs at .\sturM. I'
natives who li.ul sw.irmed about the pl'i''' ' ":>
immedi.-itelv to drop otf, until al icn-lH mU -1" -
di.iii w.is to be seen. This, .it lil^l '^''^ "'J',
lited to the w.int ot iiellri(-s With w l.icH tu ti.i'.
l)Ut in a little while the mysti-rs w i-- '■M'l-'"|^'''^'_
a more .ilarminj; m.inner. .-\ coiispii u-y ^^-p ';
to be on tool amon^; the iieiKld'orm.ii to'"'-'
m.ike a combined .itt.ick u|)on tlie white ""■'■ ';,
thai ihey were bu reduced in numlx-r. r-^' •-
..inSWy:
ASTORIA.
ivm
purr
isr I
here li. id ln'c" .i U''ll'>-''''"K' '
if w.ui
Kirs lit
ll
ilmiii lilt' cn.ist.
'I'licv w
nt.|.;lil"iriii),' I'.iy
iiMilcr prcii'M ot li^liiiij; tor
s.liir^;i'
julM
'nin ; .iiul III
I'lN (l| f.llU)L-S SVfll- CXIUt
led U
iHiii Iroin itu luirih .ind so
iith. l'.\tn Coin-
he (im'-i'\
1(1 ( liK I, luilwitli'^l.iiulin^; Ills pn
■;! triiMidsMi|i till-
,i,n;tc.l 111
lilMiC 111
Mr. .M'l)iiii,:;.il, u.is sli(i|i;;ly
111 I'rntil III iliis j^iiu'r.il iniii-
iTc miiilci
tun,
1)
sliifwd (lid ( hi( f n.mird NiMiLmiis, who I'lad
^roun i,'r,iy ii tr.illic \silli New iMi^rl.iml skippers,
itid
1'
Disilt Upon his .11 iiti'iie.ss.
IliH
ipiniun Mcinrd lo rt'L'iii.itu the iii.irkcl. Whfii
( .ipt.iiii riiiirn made vvli.it lu- luiisidi lud .i lilii r.il
iliii tor .111 ottn-skm, lli
iv iild Indian trc.itcd
hiiuliii
,\l.irin''il
;il niinnrs dt this impi
(lin;,r
It vvitli xorii, .111(1 ;iskfd inure than di)iil
)lc
Ili3
,\siiiri:ins Mispinded Hif
t:ic
sit III ^^"1
ir r< iio\AV
: (l.ini,'cr,
hdi', .iiid
( (iliii'.ides .ill tciuk their (lie ll'iiin
iiiin,
iitul nut all
k, Willi all ha^t( . tn ihriivv up tenipor.iry
,rk.
iwa.
w
' ri-liii'e and (l( i(
in t
le nnirsi' o
Lu's ihi'^ surrounded ilinr dwelliii^jdnuise am
f .1
1
()lt,ir-ski
II vv.is
to h
le had at .i le.isonablc- r.ite
'Ihe (dd )( How, iiovvevcr, ovcrsliot hi.s ni.irk, .ind
niisl(j()k the cliar.itter ot the man lie was ire.itiiij;
witn. 'riKirii was ri plain, strai^;httorvvanl .s.iil.ir
iiu'.i/iiHS wi'.ii .1 pit ket leiu e mm ly tecl s(|iiare, | who never liad two minds nor two priics in his
ll.iirkiil liv twu hiisiiiHis, (111 wliuh were moiiiited I de.din^^s, vv.is delkient in paiieiici! and |di,ini
iiiur liHir-piiiuiders. J'.very da\' they e\eri:isi;d ! and tot.illy w.intin^' in the i hit aiiery ot traltie. 1
ti'ciitsclifs in the use ot their weapons, so as to
(jiMJily liii'ni.sflves t ir milit.iry duty, and at ni^;ht
csiiM.a-d llieilisehcs 111 their hirtress and poste(l
In tl
us vv.iv
li
h.id a vM'it de.il (it stern hut liomst prid
e 111 111'
iml, nioriMivir, luld thi
wliok; .sa\'auu
iiainre,
r.iee in sover(d.i,ni idnlempt. Ali.indimiii)^- all lur-
tlier .ittempts, theretore, to li.irL'.iin with iii:i
I:H'V luipfil
ficn ill i.ise of att.uk, to lie .ilde to ' shul'ihiiK ( u->toiiiers, he tlinist hi~i hands into his
lliHli'il liV
|iiickets, ,111(1 p.u 111 up .ind (low n
the del k in sullen
ill
e lUii'iin^ old Inili.in tuiluweil hiin to
I rill
III mil until till' arriv.il ot the p.irty to lie cmi-
Mr. liuiit ,u ross the ism kv Mount. liiis,
il;l ihf return 111 the 't'oiupiin. i hi Litter dr- ' .ind tru, holding nut .i se.i-niter .skin to hii
doomed soon m he de- | t'.eiy turn, .ind pe-.teriiiiL; him to trade. !•
in^^ li.iiid of other means uii.iv.iiliii^f, he suddenly ( li;inj;t
|-iir.i m.ide tone, .ind Iiclmh to jeer and h, inter, him uim
|iiiHii-nc', hdwiver, w.is
siii'uil. I-;,irly III .\u.i,Mist a
s;iv.i;,a's (ruin the .Strait of Ji
tiicir :i|i|)LMr.ii;r(: .i
II
iiidiii^i
■;,irlv III .\ii.i,Mist a wamlerin^^
t the mouth of tin- (olumlii.i, ' me. in prices he ollcred. This was loo nuh h tur
,Uu
tlity e.iii'.e to lish lor sturj;ei
'I'liiy I the iiatiriice ot the c.iptain, who was m.\i r re-
in. irk. ilde tor reli'.hiii'f a joke, es|)eciallv win n at
;t (lis.istniiis ;ii( ouiits ot the Toiui
wire ,it lir^t ticited a.s mere tallies, Imt | his own exoeiise. 'rurniii^j smfdenlv U|)oii his
.ii WLTc til.) s.idly i:ont"irmed hy .i dilteri'iit | persecutor, lie sn.iti lied ihe proftered otter-dsin
trill'.' iliit .irrived .i tew davs suliseiiueiitlv.
Wi
troiii Ins
.iiids, rulilied it in liis f.u
11(1 (lis-
sh.. 1 rtLiie the ( ircimist.inees of this mcl.uicholv missed him over the side of the ship with no very
l;iir as c irrtcily as the e.isu.il (liscrepaneies in
. I' statements tliat li.ivc re. lined us will permit.
Wt
lavc airea
dy st.ittd th.it the 'riiliii
uin
set
rum the iiioiitli ot the
complinieiii.iry applu .ilioii to .hi derate Ins (vit,
lie then kii ked the jieltries to the ri^ht and i< !t
alioul the deck, .mil luiikc up the m.irkct in tiic
uok.imi;' lu.lde
lii;k'.
Th
river on the litth ot most iifnomimiuis iii. inner, uld \
rd I tor shore in .i Ihimus p.issiuii, in vv
e vvliuie nunihiT ot iicrsons on ho.i
.iiiMUnled til twciitv -tlirei
111 one ot the outer
Ikiv-i ihcy pii
ked
nil, Irnin .1 ti-.hiin
,111 111-
il I'l iMiiied I.,iin.i/ee, who li.id .ilreadv m.idi; two
vj'..i 'IS .iliiiii: the 1 (i.ihi, .im
I k
new somelhiiit,'' ot
tiicli hi
hv .Shew isli, iii.e (it the sons of \\
]oir
llish, who Wrlit I
lit I
iriMthiin.
Veil;; ea nee
the
III! W .11 S(l' 111
WI
ii.iiidonei
I I IV the n;Ui
Mr. .M' K.iv n turiiei
iiii.,'il,i^e ill the v.irmu.s tribes. lie agreed to ' pntcr i il.ited wli.it h.id |MSM'd
iji.diy tliein .as interpreter.
I'cniii; to the north, C.ipt
ill board, the ii'.ter-
and fjcy^ed him
1,
It \'
ineoiiver s
■1
il.ind.
lorn arrivt
•d
hore
to piiv.iil ii]iiiii the ea]it.iiii to m.iKL' s.iil, as,
troiii his knowledge of the temper ami pride ot
the iieoide ol the place, he vv.is sure ihev would
t th
111 liic harimr ot .\e\veetci-, vei\ mucli .iL;.iiiist the it sent the iiidi^^mtv ottered to one ot their chit I
■r.'i-i' lit his Indian iiiinpreter, who w.iriied hiiii Mr. M'K.iv. who himstlt ]n
d
some exiie-
iil-iiiisl the perlidioii> cliar.icter ol the natives ot rieiice ot liidi.m t li.irat ler, went to thu c.ipt.ili
V:^ |i.irt lit the CO 1st. .\uml
iir. 1
lers ot t'.inoes S'iMii
who w,.s sii
tlu; tIecK 111 moo.
Iv I
minor.
iriiiiriiiv
sea-otter skins to sidl. It w.is represi iiie.l tlu- il.inL;er to vvhu h his h.ist} .ut h.id
I 111-- ill the tl.iy to commence a ir.iiiic, but Mr.
Kay, aoir.npaiiied by a lew ot the men, wtiit j
^•'Mic to .1 larLje villnre to visit W'ic.in.inish, !
Jot
tlif surnamdm'' territorv, six ot the
•111
.1111.1111 mat
le I
.. 'I '
i'jjht ot
urn to Will,
lis counsels.
iiul poiiuitl to his cannon and lire. inns as a s
,utti-
"i'.'o'> ifniaaiin;.;- on bo.ird .is host. is.
ri'iv-.i-.i \\itli j_r|-f,it pndessions of tr
''friaiiicd iiispitahlv, and
cieiil sale^uard .if^'.iillsl ii.iked sivai^e
I'lirther
lie W.IS remoiistr.inces only |)rovoked t.iuntinvj replies a
lit
lelldsliip. en
.1 coucli o
sh.irj) altercations.
The
passed awav wilhoul
si.-a-;i
IS iiivij.ired tor him in the dwelling ot the tired
tier ' .my sii.^;iis ot hostility, and .it ni^ht the c.i])t.iin re
.IS usu.il to his
c.iinn.
t.lklll;
r no ir.on-
c.u!t,:iii, whfir he
w.is prev.iiled upon to ii.isstlu:
Ih
e u^iial preiMUtions.
ihc mornlin,'. h.tore Mr. M K.
•iiii-;i'' I tu di
hid
j ( >n the hdlowin;;' morniiiL,', .at daybre.ik. wnilc
tl
M'
1 .Mr. .M K IV were vet asl
iiiif i.|'( in tl
f Ship, |.;re.it niiiiiliiis ot the ii.iiivcs c.inoe cime .iioii
iitW
ie:r c.uioes to ti.ide, he.itleil b\ two I dialis, comm.ini
;,rslth
in \'. I lie
vv
lied
IV vouii.' .'shewi.s
eep
ere twfiiiv In-
h. Thev ■
were
icaii.iiiisli. As thev brouoht .iluind.ince unarmed, tluir .ispeci .iiul deme.inor frieinlly, .iiui
M:a inter skills, .md [|
' lir.sk ti,„lt
lere was everv .ippe.ir.iin e
ipt.iin
■J'
\'iirn „1 Mr. M'Kav, but spre.id
lorn did not vv.iit tor
his vv.iri'S
h.dd
up ottei'-skins, and iii.cle sign
they
tivi' lit .1 wish to ir.ide.
s iiulici-
'V
le iMuiMii en)oinfi
.Mr. .\stor, in re^pi-i t to the admission of liidiai
■ins, k
'"";i d"| k, m.ikin'j .i ifini'itinuj display of blankets, j on bo.ird id the ship li.nl been ne^decied li
i. .ml lishdiooks, e\pectiiv4 a ' time past, .md the oltieer ot the watch, perceivino-
ml
ily
nivi"
,111 1 1
j.Piai;,
i"''>"r, Wfi-f not so
i, he, id'
protitalil
I"
le Imlians,
those in the c.inoe to he without Vie.ipc
e.i'ffr .111
iliL' value of
it sinijile as lie
had
.11
'•^ learned ilit
nierchaiulise Iro
t ot 1
m the
nip
receiveil no orders to th
e conirary.
).iri,Minim; .ind i permittei
ilii'in to iii'iuiu the (
eck.
An
su.il tr.nler:
c.inoe bocui sticceeuei.!
the crcwot which was like-
j
'
m
1 ' ' 1
n w
■ i
' 1
!!*l
''
i
m
l'.'?'('i
if! !i't
tl ii
I (
ih f;
f'^^ff
S98
ASTORIA.
1^'
n
Mi
wise .idnullcil. In ,\ liltli' while (iilicr r.iiiofs r.iinr
off, ami Iiuli.ms uiic m'»i> i l.milii'iiiij; uuo tlir
Vi'>.sil on all Milis.
Tlu' i.lVuir 111 ihc wall h ni>\v 1< It alarim>l. and
ralU'd in faptaui 'ItiDi-n and Mr. M'K ay. I'v tin-
linn- thfv lamc on iltt k, it was llirc>nj;r.l wnli In-
dians, 'riif MUiT|)ifii'r notiicd to Mr. M'Ka\ iliat
many nt ihr n.ilivr.s wort- slmrl n),nitU's ut skin-^,
jind inliniatfd .1 Mispiinin that they \n« rr sniTtly
arniid. Mr. M'K.iy m^vA the lapt.iin to i li'ar llir
hhip .md ^;t■t inidii' \v.i\. ilr a^-ain \\\.n\v ll^;llt ot
the .uUiif, luU ihc .ninnuntrd sw.inn ol r inm -.
alionl ihc r»hip, .md the luiiuhirs sidl imitin^' oil
troni short', at hiiK'lh awakened his disirtist, .md
ill' onlireil some ol ihe ci.w to wiiy;h am hor,
while soll\e Wi're sent alolt to ni.lke s.iil
'1 he Indi.m. now ottered to tr.ide wiih the eap-
t.un on his own Iithis, prompted, app.innlly, li\
the appro.ii hill); dep.irliire ot the shio. .Ntn.rd-
inj;l\, a luirritil tr.ule w.is eomiueiued. The m,\in
anu'le.i son(;ht l>y the s,iva},'is in hartiT, wire
knive> ; .IS t.i--t as some were supplie<l they
liio\ed off, .md oil.' rs smi'ceiled. \W (lei;rt es thev
were thus distriluiii d about thi dei k, .md .ill \Mih
We.ipons,
The .im hor w.is iiuw nearly iii>, the s.iils were
loose, .md the c.iiit.iin, in .1 loud and peremptory
tone, ordered the ship to lie clean d. In .m iiist.mt
n sij^n.il \ell WM> '^iM n: it w.is eclioecl on every side,
ktiivi's .iiid w.ir-.hil)^ were lu.ilidished in every
<lirectioii, .md the :..i\ar,rs rushed updii their
marked victims,
The first lh.it Irll W.IS Mr. Lewis, the shiji's
rleik. lie W.IS It .min^^ wiih foldi d .irm^, nvi-ra
h.ile ot hl.inkets, en^ i^'ed in li,iri;.uninj;, when he
reciiMil ,1 ile.iilly stal) in the h.ii k, and tell iluwn
the > iimn.inion-way.
Mr. M'Kay, who w.is seated "W the t.iffr.iil,
spr.iii;; (iM his fei t, hut w.is inst.mtly kiioi ked
down with a w.ir-iiuh ;mtl iKmi; li.ukw.inl into
the m;i, where he w.is di-.p. itched liy thrwuiiun in
the 1 .'.noes.
in the mean time dpt.-iin Thorn m.ide iles|it'r:,tc
fi^dit ,ij.;.iinst te.irlul i.diN. lie w.is a poweitui as
well .IS .1 resuliur in. ill, but he had cuiiie upon
deck without we.ipons. Sluwish, the yoiiii;; 1 hiet,
.sin);led him out .is his |ieculiar prey, .mil rushed
ii])oii him ,il the first mitlire.ik. The c.ipt.iin had
b.irel\ time to dr.iw a cl.isp-kiiile, w iih mie blow
ot which he laid the youn^^ s.iv.i^e tie.id at hisltrt.
.Se\er.il ot the stoutest followers ot Shewish iiuw
si't upon him. He th'tnided liiuiself vi^nrously,
de.ilinj; crippliiiL( blows to ri^ht .iiid left, and
strew 111;;- the (pi.irter-deck N'.ilh the sl.iin .md
wounded. I lis iibjei'i w .IS to h;.4ht hisw.iy to the
r.i!)iii, where there were fire, inns ; but he w.is
henuiud ill with foes, comtciI with WDUnds, ,mi|
t,iint with loss i)f bliMil. I''or ,111 iiist.iiit he ie.nud
iip'iii the tiller wheel, when a bliiw troiii liehiml,
with .1 W .ir-i bib, lei It'll him in the dei k, w lu-ie he
w.is ilisj). itched with knui's and thrown ii\ei'-
bo.i rt I .
While this w.is trans.ictiiii; upon the tpi.ii'icr-
deck, ,1 I hance-nii'illey lii;hi w.is j,'oin^r .m thinii^h-
out ihe shij). Tile ( rew foUj^ht desper.iteU with
kni\es, h;iiulspikes, ,in(l whatmfr wtapon they
could sei/e u|)on in iln- iii.iment of surprise. 'I'liey
were soMH, howevir, u\erpowereil by numbers,
.ind mercilessly butchcrtd.
As ti) the se\'enwli(i hail been st lit .ilnft tii m.ike
s.iil, ihi-y contemplali'd wiih hnrrnr the carnaj,'e
tli.it was Jjoinj,^ on hi luw. r.eiiii; destitute nt
we;ipons, they let tliiinsel\-cs iluwii bv the riin-
nini; ri'..,^ging, in hopts nl ^^feltili;.; between decks.
One !cll in the attempt, and was instantly dis-
p, ill hid ; another recei\<d ,t ile.iili hlow ii
b.h k .is he W.is descending;; .1 ifuni. Si,
\\ eekis, the .irmorer, was inorl.illy wmihI^,
he W.IS >;eltm),' down ihi h,itchw,iy.
The I em. lining four in.iile ^^mid tht ir nri,,;
till' I .ibiii w In re they lound Ml Lewis, miIj
thi)U>;h molt. illy wounded. H n 1 u .ii|iti>; lie ,,
door, they broke holes lhriiU^;h die ii.m]i,ii,i„;'!
w.iy, aiul, with tlu' imiskets ,un| ,(inmi;;ii(. •
j which were at h.iml, opeiud ,1 brisk fire tlut vii
, cicired the deck.
Thus t.ir the liidi.in inteipn n 1, lr"m \\!-, m
ihesi p.iriii iil,ir> .ire derivid, h.iii licm an |..,(.
witness of the ile,iill\ conllnl. lb ti.nl |.,ls,| 'i,,
' p,ill in 't, and h.id been sp.ired by (lie ii,it,iij,„
I liciiij; lit their 1,11 e. In the 1 oiiliisinii ,,| ihi nv).
; melit he look relu^;e with the lest, in ii-.c r.ii,,,,,
The siir\i\iirs of the crew now s.illu I tnr.li, ..ik!
disch.iij^ed Slime ol the ili 1 k nmw ulmli i,;
);ie.it evccutloii ailloli^ tlU' c.inoei, ,1 id ilrir,i.' ...1
the :..i\.i);e,s to shore,
I l''or the rem.iindi-r of the il.iy i"> mif \iiii'ari.l
to put oft to the ship, ileleritd by tdt tlli'iln.ti;,;
lire.irms. The ni^lit jLissed .iw ly \uil-."W ■■,
further .lilt iiipl on the J). irt ul the i.iliu-s. Wii'i
the iLiy d.iwned, the Ti'ni|Uin still ,iy ,it iiU'lmni
I th.e b.iy. her .s.iils all Iohm' and iLiiipiii^ m \\;".
wiii'l, .md no one app.irently oii hu.mlit Ur
i Alter .1 time, some 111 the c.iliius .eiilliri'il liuh ;i
I rectiiiiioitif, t,ikiiii,' with lilt in the iiiii r|iii::if.
j They p.iildleil abmit her, kee|im; > .iiHii'ihli d ,.
I tlist.mce, bill ^;row ini; more .mil noir 1 mhiMiln.Lil
.It .steill^; her l|inel H\m\ lifeless I Hic I'Mii .it
leii^'th made his ap|ieaiance on tin di k, ,in.il .'. n
I rrcimiii/eil Ly the interpreter .is .Mi. l.i'.u> !1'
' m.itle friendly si^ns, .md iiuitt d ihem • n li ..i.i
It W.IS loiij; before they M-nturctl In i "in|.l\, L ■
w l;o mounted the tieck met Willi im iiji|i"^.U >:. ,
no line was to be seen on bo, nil ; fir Mr, I.e..;''.
,itti r in\ itin^' tht 111, h,id tlis,i|ipi ,iii '1. inlirr.i-
j i.ocs now iiressed fnrw.iri! to bn.ird the ]ir;,i '.:•.■
decks were stii'll clowtletl, .illtl the salisi 1 , .
with I l.inibi'rinjf s.iv.i;;es, all iiittiit 11: ••' >
III the midst tit their ea^;eriiess .mil eMiU.il:' ''•■ '.
ship blew iiji with .1 iremeliilnus e\]iliisi'iii. 'i!''.'.
I le,i;s, ,ind mulil.lted botlies were bln'.Mi ml" '.'.t .1 ',
; and ilie.idtul h.i\oc w.is m.id.' in iIh suin ic:.
c.iiiiies. The interpreter w.is 111 ihc m.iri • !..i 'S
at the time of the explosion, .iliil w.is llir.i.'. •
hurt into the water, w here he siu 1 1 tileil 111 ;;i '.':;:;
into tine ol the canoes, .\ciorihiii; in !.> ■'•■■•' ■
1 mt lit, tlie b.iy preseiueil an awful siHiuii'' ''"f
\ the c.itasiropl'ie. The ship li.itl tlis,ip|H-,ii"'l. "u:
[ the b,iv W.IS cii\-ereil with fr.ii^liieiits n! ll" '^-''-^
' with sdattereil c.inoes, and liuh.iiis s'.MiiiiMi'i; !•;
till ir liit'S, or slrn^;^lin^- in the .i^mu' s I't I''''
\shile th'isf w hob, id est .i|)t'il the d.ill.yiT !ir..i '■
,li;h,ist .md stllpcflid, or lll.idc Wl'dl tl.iMl ."
for the shore. Ipw.iid 0! .1 hiiiuhi''' -"i' .-■
I wfre ilestroyetl by the explositm, niaii\ im"' '_'
' shtickinj,dy I'lUitil.'ited, ,ind tor tl,i\s .ittt r\\.ii''' '
i limbs .'11111' botlies of the hi, tin wd' tliri'^v; '•!' '
the beach.
[ Tht' inhabit. lilts of Neweetee wi if nv r"U:n''
with consteni.ilion at this astountlU'.U i.c''""'
1 which had burst upon them in the vti\ inuiiii'i'.
triumph. 'I'lit: w.irriors s.it mute .mii iimur^;^'
while the Women lilleil the .lir with l"ii'l l.'"'^'''
I lions. 'I'heir wee|iiii^ and w.iilinu. f "^^cv. r >i.-
' sudileidy ch,in},retl into yells ol jury at ihi -V-^^
four uidorlun,ile white 'men, luoii^ht . ,ipir>''' '''^"
the vill;i^;t;. Thev h.iil been tbi\cii tin s!i''i'''
one of the shiji's' bo.its, .md t.ikeii .1' "i"'' '
tance alon^ the t o.ist.
'I'ht; intt.'ri)reter v,...' permitted to coiivL-r.^' ■• •
thim. '''"'^I
^lui li.nl "'"''
cilin. 'I'l" '"
,, lU' i-ariicul.
turilHT, ll1.1l. ■;"
anil 'li'''"''' "
sh.itiul ■'111' "'!
'l|,,V.|,i'llllf<l
wM "' >""
(iri'.c llii'i" ""
ji \i,is li'ir'*' '''
whuhiliry .M'
t.) cu.l't .iIi'Hk
fciiliiiuHi iri'
o'inii.iiiy t'i''"|
l„i;K'lf" "' '■""1
rfiii.H'. ('i"l
txiiif^fil .1 l'i'*1
o'.vii li.iml" ; '."I
siuiiilil Ih' l''l«''l
ti'.i-, .iii'l hi'iiij
lunimit Sim I'll I
11,- ii.iw .li'fl.ire
„l 111, ,iM|i until
si'',i;i 1 111!
!!,>■ p.ivMliT mm;.
5l;,'il.ll .lit 111 'Cl
j„'i, 'i.'c:! sho\v
inliiu hilly -I'lii
niiftlili i». "
);a ni;i of tfi
ui.iliur.i piiiiit
IhIiviI lu like s
lli'lH
1 to rcni.iii
li- iniirt' tavur.
v.iUliitit; lli''y
y..iit' '.\cri' sill pi
ubtt'u t.u- th.i
I'Liini'l with l.t
115 It w.i.i, tlity
j,;.i'r.u'ti'il 111. nil
I . till' lll.llR'S 1)1
I I'tlli'l'i 111 S.lV.l
iliMiii, the intt'i
lit |irisiiii''r 1!
liriiuj^lit the n.i
hilili Is the
,ilul .such W.IS t
Jiiin.iiitler, a
1 ,it;isiri)i)he th:
i-rpiiM-s til ill
ihstruciii'iis lit
iii.'iii. Mr. .\'
whii!'. liiips \vi
- 'l^ with ihe 11
,! the l.iiit.-r tt
i;il.irilnl lUnlil'
i.pin l.",i|)taiii
iiii;. in ins lei
ali.l Ivlllil 111 hi
1; 1 means to t;
n r l,> ihlmit
iiilf' ,ll ,1 l!)ll,
ll.iii the il
uniit-rly re;;i
s.n i^'.' priile
lit ..'nLirii'il t
t'.U'S.i\,ii;es '
maitcry. Hi
tiM' the lU'ies
luinnr-l 111 ;i
it ■.i-iic.itli hi
uii.iriiu'd s.iv
With ,'ill 11
spcikul him
41) ^1 .',
ASTORIA.
3>'3
thi'iii.
w \w It
ciIm'i.
(il il f !'•
Tht'V |)i'o\r(l I" Ik" 'I"* f'""' l>ravc fellows ^ l.ilc ; fur we rrmrmhiT liim w<H in i-arly life, .is a
I mull, sill II ili's|ii'i,ilf ili'Iriu (• lidin llif j t iiiii|Mriiipii m |)li-.i',,int si tnt's .iml jnynis Imur*.
tiirilH'i'
^hl^Ul.i •'lip
I'hf mlrtpiiti r K.illii'ttil limn tluin snmi
lic.uiv ITl.llfil. I licv tnlil liini
llif) (\.ul hiMliii (lit llic I runi\,
Il ind li'<' --liil'' l-''*^'"* .idvisftl lli.it lluy
III! i.ililc .mil cndcavdr lo net In sc.i.
ij ID I ikc liis .iilvuc, allcKHij,' tli.il ilu'
irliiiil.irs a
lli.it, attiT Ihf
llifVla'lini'
n iiii sliiiii
inj( Ills Iriiiiils, lu' sv.is il
\\,'M
I ,(< 1(1(1 Slll'll^l)
\\ into till' b.iv. ami ssuuld
riu- ihi'ii) ""
sjliiU
'I'llcV icsiilvitl, as sdiili .IS
II rt.is (l.ir
«
huh tlu'V Mill
t , ru.iit .lliMli;
I- ..iiullnil II I"
k, 1.1 put oil i|iiiflly in llii' ship's Ixi.it.
i| hr alilc to >l<> unpen I'lVL'iJ, .iml
^ iii|i.iiiy
|i(i|ii'li"''<
c\|i;i'"i'
I"
.!< k to Asioii.i. I liey put till
;ll<( t ; i)'ll Lewis letuseil to .11 •
ihiiii, liciii;;- ilis.ilikil by Ins wound,
it esc.ipe, .iiul detiiniined mi .1 teirilile
(III the .o).i^'e out, lie li.id re|ie.iledly
1 ,1 |ire-.iiitinieiii th.it he should die liy his
Sllii
h.iiiiis : ihiiikmn It highly proh.ihle tli.it lu
K'lil III some eoiUesl with the iia-
iikl
,(• i-ii;;.iK'
tiu>, mill lii'iiU,'
i(i:i\iiii
rcsiiUiil, ill L'.ise of c'Xtieinilv, to
U- IMW (
t suiuili r.iilur til. Ill he m.ide a piisoner.
ird
Ifii.ili'i! Ills iiilelilioii toielii.iin on Im,
ri nil' >P1|1
until
ll.lV
liuht, In (let ov .IS ni.in\ ol the
oil hiiai'il .IS
t!,. p.
iliT 111
till II lo sit lire to
'K
l/ilic, .iiid lei iniii.ile Ills lite hy .1
SlL'il.il .Kl lit veliLM'.uu e,
Ih
'II
he siiii eedeil
w
li.iiik, in. ml), siiiinillie.irted s.iilor. < )ii lio.ini
shiii lie cMdeiitly .issiiined llie hardness ol deport-
ment and sternness ol deiiic.inor ulmh in. my
lUeiii esseiiti.d to ii.ival serviee, 'IhrouKhmit tin-
whole ol the expedition, however, he showed hint-
sell loy.il, smuleiiiindcd, strai^jhilorw.ird, ami
te.irit
.md it the t.itu ol
rli.iri;ed to his harshness
IS \e.ssei may
mil impruilcni'c
Wf
sliiiulil rei II
I tli.it he p. lid lor ills I iror sviili his
The loss ol the ■rollipiln w.is ,1 >(rie\oUS jilow Id
the ml. ml esi.ililishineiil
.Aslori.i,
that
lllM'.lll'IU I
lo I
rlll^J .liter It .1 train of dis.isters.
riu- miellimiK e of It did not re.u h Mr. Astor until
111. my nioiiilis atterw.iid. lie hit it m .ill its
lone, ,md w.is .iware tli.it it must uijiple. il not
eiitirelv dete.it, the jjreal seheiiie ul his .iinliition.
In his letters, written .it the nine, he spe;il<s ol it
as " ,1 I'.il.iinit) , the lin^ih ol wliiih he loiild not
loresee." lie indulged, howeM r, in un we.ik ind
\.im l.iineiu.ition, but soii^r|u t,, devise a pimnpt
and ellii lent
dy.
Tl
le \er\' s.iine eveniii'
i.is Ik'cii shuuii.
ill
hii
.ippr.ired .It the tlie.itre with his usu.il sen nuy ol
t lumieii.mce. .\ tiunil, whokiievv the dis.istrmis
I h
IS i i>m|i.inions li.uli' him .1 j inielh^eiii e he h.ul nii'iM'ii, evpresseil his asiiiii
n.ii.iiu-iiiily .I'lieu, and '.ft oil on their prei .irioiis | islmieiit lh.it
t'\|ii'(liii 111. 'I'liey strove witli mi^;ht and mam to
ji.i), hut loiind It inipossihif to
lie ( ollli
1 II
i.iliniuss ol spirit
thi
mini
l.md, .md were .it li'ii^^tl
1 I >ni-
inllvil Id I iki' shelter ill .1 sill. ill eo\e, where they
li(iiit.'il to ri'in:iiii loiife.iK'd until the wind should
li,- iniii'r l.iviir.ilile. lAh.illsteil liy l.iti^ue .md
\.,.uliini; llley lell into .1 sound sleep, .md m lli.it
i.;, III! wi'ii' sill pri.ii'd liy the s.i\.ij,'es. Heller h.ul
1; |ii:iii lur thoie unlorlim.Ue men had the\ re-
Ill.llMl'.l Ul
Hi It W.l.-i,
Ih I
Ihi
( WIS, .nil
I sh.ired his luroii de.uh
suMu lent lor siii h .1 scene ot lii^hl amusement.
Wh.it Would VDU have me do
W.IS Ins I
liar
ic-
would \oii h.ue nie slav at home
terislH lepU
and weep lor wli.il 1 i aniioi help .'
Cll.MTKK .\1I.
Till', ti
i(linv,"i id the loss o
I the ■roiKjuin,
tlie
in.iss.ure ol her irew, sirinU disin.is into tlu*
y perished in .1 more p.iintui .mil he. ills ol the .Xstori.m-.. 'Iliey tound themselves
|jiotr.u!iil iii.iiiiu'r, lieiiij,' s.u'iirui'd Ity the n.itues j a mere h.mdtul ot men, on ,1 s.i\'.i;;e loasi, sur-
|. the iniiii'Mit their trii'iids wiih .ill the liii;;i'riii>; | rounded hy hostile tribes, who would doululess he
I I'lure.,
s,lV.lj;e ililellv. .Suiiie lime .illel their ' ilU itei
and
who li.ul II
iliMth, the inlet |)reli
ul liriMiluT :it Lir^e, elteeled his i
l)iiHij,'ii! ihe tiMj^iial tidings lo ,\stoi 1.
eneouram'd to deeds o
t VI'
ill, lined .1 kind ' the l.ile le.irtul r.it.istroiih
In this jui lure Mi
'1 in iiv \s III
.'iiiih IS the
niel.iiuholv
slorv ot the I'l
ami .such W.IS the l.itcol her br.ive but he.idstroi
itiirin.iiiiler,
.'IIKI
her
aihentunius erew.
Il
t.it.i-.lro|iiie that nlmws the iiiinorl.iiu e, m all in
11 I-,
II
md I .\r I )iiiil,m1, ue .ire told, h.td rerourse to .1 sir.ila-
i h to .i\ail himseil ot the it^noraiKe and
.111(1 which lerl.iiuly does
indeed, of all the
ledulily ol the s.i\.ij.
redit to his inj;eiiuity.
11
le n.iliM's ol the eo.ist, and
regions west ot the moiini.ims.
had
.111 e\trenic
l:ii;lll.
wIulIi
piiM'> III iiioineiu, to keep in mind the ^ener.il 1 dre.id ot the sin.illpox, lli.il lerrilie seour^'e hav-
ing,'. .1 tew \e.irs pre\ii)Usly, appeared .imun^ them
i-.i'.ri.i .ii-n-i I
il tl
Ml'. Asii:
le s.
i>;.ii:ious lie. Ills w liu li ilcMse
d tl
or was well .iware ot the perils to \ and almost swept olt entire tribe
h
s I infill .UK
->ni|is ue:ee\pi)sed on ihiseu.isl tnmi ipi.ii
ith t!
U' n.itives,
"tiht l.iUfr to
and!
rom |)erli(iiuus .itteinpts
surprise .ui
I e.ipt
ure them m un-
laluie Were wr.ipjied in mysleiy, .md the)' eoii-
leived it an evil intlieted upon them by the ( '.re.it
Spirit, or broui^ht amonjj them by the whit
k'liirilccl niiiiiunts. He h.ul repe.itedly enjoi .ed it | The l.ist ide.i w.is sei/eil upon by .Mr. M'l)oU)4.il
i:|)iii'-'.i|Uaiii 'Ihorn, in ionversalion,and at |)arl-
iiK 111 Ins letter ol iiistruitions, to be
kii
1(1 In hi
eourteous
s de.ilintjs with the s.iv.ij^es, but liv
'ineaiis to uDiitidf 111 their .ijiiiarent Irieiidship',
II •>' /i> ihlinit til
iiiit'tl 't tun,
il.iii the il
///
'" " J'
/',
,/ (/ hi
eporlineiu
IT'l'tTly ri-'jul.iicd, tl
^■i^ i;,'" prill,, uoiild never ha
11'' ■.•niarccil ih,. nil
t!ii's.n,ii-L'S would not h.ive 1
C.intain
Tl
insult so woundiiij^f to
;'en jri
II.
e to .idmit hut .1 few al a tin
Ik
.issemDIeil se\i
ral ot tht
hielt
W
iins wiiom he
lell lliev were
belii'Vi'd lo be in the eonspii.uy.
.ill se.ited around, he intornu'd them ili.u he h.id
he.ird ot the tre.uhery of some ol their nnrihern
bietliien louard the 'foiu|uiii, .uid was ileter-
mined on veii^aMiiee.
vou.
s.iid
.ire
The white nu'H animi^
tew in number, it is true, but
11
lev .ire mi'ililv m medieme.
See here,
con
tinned he
dr
iwmt;
lottle and hoi
n-astcrv. He
)een able to ^et the
tl5
was too irritable, however, t(
luiriiii'ffi
it ^H'ne.ith I
uinrnu'd
With .-ill
Bpe,
f necessary sell-conimand, and, haviii;; tu-i
forth .'i sni.iU
this bottle I iiold the
raw
in>; it before their eyes.
smallpox, safely corked up ; I h.ive but to d
tl
le curl
.UK
1 let II
tile pestilence, to swi
ni.m,
woiiKin, ;ind child from the face of the
11 a proud contempt ot d.inj^i'r, thoii},dit I e.iilh.
linn 1(1 manilesl .my te.ir ot a crew uf i The
.-hiefs were struck witii
liorror and alarm.
■iKfS-
Tl
ills
.lulls .111(1 foibles, we e.innol but i tliev
ley implorei
hiin not lo uncork the
botll
e, since
'i^ul liim wahcsiL
eein, .uid deplore Ins untimely , white men, .md would alw.ivs leni.un bo
all their people were tirm Irieiuls ot the
1 would alw.us lem.iin bo ; but,
If
I : i 1 1
'd
ij'lf
\\A
830
ASTORIA.
should the smallpox he once let out, it would run
like wihitire thmujjhout the eoumry, sweeping' oti
the j;oo(l as well a^ the Iiail, and surely l)e wouKl
mil he so unju>tas to pui\ish his triiiid^ lor eriims
coinmilted liy his iiuniiis.
Mr. M'l)()Ui;.d pri'teiuled to lie eonvinecd hy
tlieir re.isonii!^;, and assun-d tin in that, so lon^,' is
the white people shoidd he unnioleslcd, .mil tlic
condiut ot ilu'ir Indi.iu neitjhbors friendly and
hospitable, tiu' plii.il ol wrath slmuld rcin.iin
sealed up ; hut. on tlie le.isl hostility, tlu- t, it.it
cork should he dr.iwn.
l-'roni this tmu , it is .added, he w.is iiiueh
(Iri ided l)\ tni' n.Uivi's, as tine who held tluir t.ite
in his hands, and w.is ealled, by way ot prt-iiui-
neme, " the llreat Sinalli)(>x Chief."
All this while, the l.iiiors at the int.mt scltlr-
ment went on with unremitting^ assiduity, and, by
tlu- ^r-th of Septeinlu'r a eoiiinioiiiuu-, ni.msion,
sp.'ieiou:, fnoui;h to .uioninioil.Ue all h.inds, was
conijileted. It w.is liiiiit ot stone and i l.iy. there
beiii^ no c.ileareous stune in the neighborhood
from whiih lime tor nioriar eould be |)roeureil.
The sehooner was also tinislu-d, and l.umehed,
with the aeeustonu'd eeremoiu. nr, the si'eond of
Oetoher, ,ind took her st.ition below th.i'tort. .She
was named the Dolly, .and was the tirst Amirie.in
Vessel launidied on this eoast.
On the 5th of < Htober, in the e\ciuni^, the little
community at .Astoria w.is eidieened bv tlu un-
expected arriwil .it .1 detaehmeiit tr.iiii ,\lr. l),i\id
Stuart's ])i.st on the I i.ikin.i;;.,!' It 1 hums ted ot two
ot the clerks and two of the prnates. Tliev
i)roui;ht f.ivor.ible aeinunts of t!ie new ist.iblish-
nieiu. but reported th.it, as Mr. .Sui. ri w.is ap-
piehensive tture mi,i,dit be a ditlieult)' ol subsisting
his whole party tlii'oiiLjhoui the winter, he h.id sent
one hall h.iek to .Xstori.i. retaining' with him onU
Ross >dontij.;ny. and two others. Sucii is tlie hanli-
hood ot the Indi.in tr.idir. in tlie he.irl til ,i sa\ -
a;^^. and unknown lountry, seven hundred miles
from the ni.iin bidy nt his fellow-adventurers,
Stu.irt had dismissed half of his little number, .ind
was pre[),ired with the residue to br.ive .all the
perils ol the wilderness, and the rij^mis of .1 lonj(
and (Ire, try winter.
With the return ji irlv t.ime a C.in.idi.in Creole
named Re;.;is l'ruL;ierr, .md an IrotjUiiis hunter,
with his wite .and two children. As these two |)er-
sc)naj,'es helollj^ to t crt.iin classes wliieli ha\e de-
rivt-d I'leir petuli.ir ih.ir.icteristics Ironi the liir
trade, we deem sunie tew p.irtiiul.ws loncerniii^
them |)ertinent to till- n.itiire ot this \\(irk.
liruj^'ien ".as ot a cl.iss of be.iver tr.ippi rs .and
hunters technically called treemen, in the l,;n-
iiun^c ot the tradi^Ts. They are ^,'. 'iiaMllv I'ana-
(lians by birth, .and ot l-'reneh ilestcnt, who h.i\c
been employed tor .1 term of \ears b,- Mime fur
com().iny, but, their term beinj^ expired, (oiitinue
to hunt and trap on their own account, ir.idm^f
with the lomp.inylike the irvlcans. llep.iMhey
derive their .i|)pell,aion ot freemen, to dis;m^'uish
them trom ilie tr.ipper.. who .are bound tor a num-
ber ot \e.irs, and receive w.i^es, or hunt on
sh.ires,
Ila\ mcj p.tssed thi-ir e.irly youth in the wilder-
ness, sei'.irated .I'niost entirely trom civih/ed m.iii.
and in fre(|Ueiu mt'n ourse w'llh the Indi.ins, tliev
rcl.i|)se, witn .1 l.icihty comni m to hum.in nature,
into the h.ibitudes lit .sav.aj^e hie. '! hou^h no
lonijer bound by en;^r.i^r,.;iiems to ( ontnun' in ihe
interior, tlit y have bet oiiie so at < usiomed to the
freedom of the toresi .and the iir.iirie, that they
look b II k with r'pu^Mi.tiH f upon the nstr.iints of
civiliAition. Most ot them intermarry with ihtj
n.itives, anti, like the hitler, ii
n,itives, antI, llKe ine l.ltter, 11 l\e ohfn ,^ |;
ot wives. Wanderers ot the w iKIfrncs,.',,,^,',',',/
in^f to the vicissitudes t)f the scisoiis, n,, „ J,"
tions of anim.ds, and the pleniv i-r s, ,; 1^
};.ime, they lead a precarious ,iiul tiiisinlii,., ,
em f ; exptiseii It) sun ant! storm .iml :il| > ,,, ,
h.mlships, until they resembh Irdi.ms ,;■' ,
plexion as wf!l as in tastes .md \].\\{\\s [•
time to time they brin^f the peltries tiuv,i,,v.
leiled to the tr.idin^,'' luiuses ol the , .mhi, ..
whose emplov tliev have been
■'■"ii;;mii|,. h-c
they tr..lhc tliem away tor such .iriu Us ,,i .„(...
< h.indise or ammunition as i!iev ni.iy y,;;,! .,
need tit. At the time when Moiil'i il \\,h 'f,»
j,^re. It emporium of the lur trader, o;eiil iinsiif....
men ot the wilderness wnuld suiliUniv rvM'-
after .m .\bsenre ol m nv \e.us. ainuii' jiu ,,.,1
trieiids .iiul ciinr.ides. lie would he ■^■rci !•. : j
one risen trom the dead ; .and \\\l\\ Hie ■f.'.r
w t Icome, as he n tinned llusii ol nimav .\y,\:{
time, however, spent in re\fhy wmiiil lie m,:;i.
cient to tlrainhis purse .and sate hiin uiih ■,:,...]
lite, and he woultl return w:ili new ria>h!'.;::e
unshat kled freetlom tit the Imest.
Numbers ot men ol this 1 1 i>s weii' -.:.;;(rc,l
throuj^diout the northwest tei rilor.es, >m- j'.
them ret.ained .1 little ot the thiilt and Kniii'if-t
ol the eiiili/ed m.m, .and liecaiiii \vt ahl;\ jii.r/'
their im|)r'ivident lu ighbors ; their v, t ..ili Ih';i''
t hietiy displ,i\ I'd in l.irj.;e b iiuls ol 1. l|■>^^ v.liici
eo\ered the pr. lilies in the \ iemiiy ol thi i;- .il.^ii-s.
.Most ot them, hoWt'Ver were prone tn iv-!],; ,,;i;
to the red m.iii in their heeillessness e! '.;;f I',';!!;,
Siith W.IS Ke^is l)ru).;iere, .1 tri iin.in 11;! 'lu-r
of the wililerness. H.ivmj; been l'!iii,:,Iit i;'i .:'
the service ot the Norili\\est Coinp iii\. i r h.iii :;.!•
lo\s'ei| in the tr.iiii ot one of its e\pi dan.i'.s lu r-s
the Rock,' .Mount. lins. .md unih iiaki u '.1 lr„;i:ir
the trailing post est.iblished on the Siieiv:!!! Iv.k:
In th" course ot his hiintinf; e\eiirsii a^ It i.nl
tather .icciilent.allv, or desij^ia (!!\ , loam: l;s a.ij
to the post ot .Mr. Stu.irt, .ind been pre\.iiiol ;i:..!i
to 'lescentl the CoUnnbi.i, .nil " tr\ nis l1.l..^^:l
.\sioria.
lj;naee Shonow.me, the lioipmi, huater n.ij.i
spei mien ut ,1 tiiftiaaaU cl.iss. lie w,.si'iii. i'' I'l'ri
abori;;in.ils ot Canad.i wl.o h.ad p.iMnl'" " >
tormed to the h.ibits ol civili'.ilion. .iii'l li;- '!' ■
tianes ol L'hristl.mity. under the I'lllmiac 1.! Vi
!■ rt 111 h (iiloiiists ami the ('.iiliole p-ii -!- "■'
Seem j;eiua'ally to have in-iai n..irr -.u. i-sVii, n
concilla^^l^^ t.immj(. and . iiiu en H'.^ ih- v.i i;;r>,
tb.iii their !-'n;;!!'.!i .and i'roiesi.uit rn ev I'l-'-
li.dl-c i\ali/t (1 liidi.ms ret.mvd some ei tl 1 '.;''id
.and m.inv ot the e\il (|U.llltles ol '.lli'r 'li',:i'l
st.M k. '1 hey wtat- tirsl r.:te hunti r~, .mil liievr-
ous 111 the m.in.i^emeiU .d the i .ii.oe. I 'ma i: J
undt rj,'o ^i, re.it |iriv,ititiiis. and were .id'iai.ai '"f
the ser\atc ol the rivers, lakes .mil j.u -t-. ""■•
\ ideil tlie\- could be kept sober, .mil I'l |'tiM"i •^''•
ordin.-ilioii ; but. oiiee iiit'.iii rd Willi i.i|i:''r. 'J
which they \m re ni.idly . denied, all Hi" lii'" ''i'.t
p. I .dons inherent in th. .1 ii.itiio '.\eii ;i' 1 '
bre.ik lorlh, and to burr, lla 111 11. '• ti.e im"-! ■•'■•
dirii\e and lilooiU .icts ol \ioleni 1 .
ihouj^h tliei, -(aiei.illv proh ssed the K '" ^'''
("alliolii i( li^ion, \\t itvv.is 'iii\' d. Ol .l^l■ i.i i'.
\sitnsomei.t tlieir .mcient siiprrsliiioi - ; iii'' 'i'"
ret lined nun h of the Indi.m beliel m ' ami'- •>'•'
omens. Numbers ot these mill v^'i'i '■iii|'''e''
by ihe .Nurthwfsi ('o:n|i.iny .is trijij" 's, lai'.U'v
ano c.moe-nieii, but on lower tt rni~ tli-in ^y ' ''''
lowed to wliite UK n. I^;iiaif Sb.iiioA.me M'l' '■'
this w.iv. lollowed the elllia-priM i.| tl.r i allK'V ^
I.) the b.mkb ot the Spok.m, beiii)^. piulublv, -'"^
^iiiiMM^iJjl^^MJ
ASTORIA.
m
pj ilu' tiist of his tribe tli.'U liad tfavcrscd the
Sa'h were sdine el tlie niolU-y pi)|)ul,i(c of llu-
\,i'M't'riu-ss, iiici.lcnt to the fur trade, who w.-iv
,r 1 T.allv alir.Hii-'il tn tlif lu-w sfUlfmciit ct As-
I'lH- ni.iiUh nl OrKilu't- now l)cjjan to ^ivi: indi
ciiiuiisdt .ippni.uliiM}; winter. Ilillierto tlif col-
„.'i,;i hail l''-'» "'•" |>leasi-il with llu- clmialc.
T K' M.miiuir hail hcin iciniH-rate. tlie nicniiry
„,'.,, -rW.r.'j, ;ihiivcci^litv dfi;rfes. Wfslcrly winiN
luanivvairnliUirmu thf.si)nii^' and ihe c.'iy part
cil siiiiimfr, a:i(l liien suiii"ilcd liy fresh lireeves
fioni the nordiwest. in the month ol ( )eiohcr the
siumeriy winds -set in, brint^int; with tlieni tre-
I'iiL- liiih.iiis M'lW licL^an to iiiiit the iiorders of
the ucciii, ami In reliie In their Winter quarters in
■Jir shelleivil hi'sn'n ot lile foi-e'-ts, or .don;^ the
siii.iil river.-i and hniolis. 'I'he r.i:ny season,
•,\h;;h I'dmnieiiit^ in Detoher, (oiiliiuies, witli
li;ili inU'niiissioii, iiiilil A|)nl ; .md tlioii^li tliir
wriurs .ire j^eiier.diy niild, the niereiiry .seldom
MiAini,' helDW t!ie tree/iii;.,' point, yet the tempests
(il wiiul ami r.iiii are ti rriSle. 'i'l'ie sun is some-
liniis .ihsiurrl for weeks, the brooks swell into
ir.;!!!;.; Iiirrrii'.s, and the country is thre.iteiicd
•,w,;i ,i ilelu^r.
The ileii.irliirr ol the Indi. ins to their winter
iHKiriLTs uMMiluall)' rendered provisions se.inty,
,:!;.! uliliired the colonists to send out foraf^inj.; ex-
pi.liiiaiis in lilt- Dollv. .Still, the little h.mdlul (d
.iih.iiiiiircrs kept up their s|iirits in their lonely
lir' ,!t .\stiiria, Inokiiij,'- lorw.ird to the tune when
t ,,', ^i;(lllld lie .iiiiin.ited .uul reintort'ed hv the p.irty
'.' 1 I'M' Mr. Iliiiil, lh.it w.is to come to tliem .uross
111' Ivii^y .MuiiiU.iins,
The vi.ir |,MMdu.illy wore awav. 'I'he rain,
\\hiih had pmired ilowii almost inci'ss.mtlv since
l:,! I'lis! lit I), toiler, ile.ired up tow.inl the eveli-
iiiij I.! the ;,i .1 .it IJeceniber, .ind the monnm; ol
ihi' iir>t ol J.mu.iry ushered in .i d.iy ot sunshine.
I'he hereilit.iry I'reiu h holid.iv spirit ot the
l-.in.iiliaii voy.ii;elli -. is h.irdiv to he (le])ressed by
.er. a.lvi r^itic^ ; .-ind they can m.in.i^;e to i;et uj)
;'.:.■■.'< :;-, tlv.' most squalid situ.itions, and under
I!!' iii.isi iinlow.ird circiimst.iiu'es. .\ii extr.i
jil'.v.ia.e ()! rum. .ml ,i little llour to in. ike c.ikes
11! i I'll Millies, constitute a " re),Mle ;" .md thev
t'^'ii all theu toii.1 .md troubles in liic son.^' .md
d.l!.. L'
".1 tile presciU ociMsion the p.irtners elide. ivm-
I'-i !■' rc'i-lir.itr the new ye.ir with some etfec|j
.V siiiuise the drums heat to .irms, the colors
v.iie huist,-il wuh three rounds of sm.ill .iriiis .md
t:!rie di.si h irijis of c.mnon. Tlie il.iy w.is de-
'. '''l to ^Miiiis ot .l^'illty ,ind stren,i,'tli, .md other
'■iHi .■•m.-ni-, . ,111,1 ^;rov; w.is temper.ilelv distrib-
i;:"i. lii^ediM- with hre.KJ, huller, .md cheese.
b" esi ijiiiiur their circumst.inces could .itfoid
"■"■vivcd III) , It imdilav. .\t sunset the cdors
VTi' i.uv,r,.i|. ,Mt|-. .molluT discharge of ,irtillery,
'•■■ i:i'flu >\;i-, spent in d.mciiiij ; .and, thouj^h
•'"■■ '.i.is , lai k ol tem.ile ],,irtiieis to e\i ite their
;■'' i»ln, tl,.. voy.li^eurs kept up the bill, with
'■'I'l i-'-n.li spirii. until three o'( lock in the morn-
■nc. So p:i,v-,| (lie iii'w u-ar lestiv.il
'■''iM.ii;! inhmy ,,1 Aston, i'.
o
t 1SI2 at
("llAITI-K Xlll.
nave fidloAcd up the fortunes of the m.iri-
l''""' 'I tin, enierpnse to the shores ut llie
• ■ aa hai.j comliicle.l the .ill.iirs ol ilie em-
bryo pst.iblishmcnt to tlic npenint,'' of the new
ye.ir ; let us now turn b.ick to the .idveiiturous
h.iiul to whom w.is intrusted the land e\|)edition,
and who were to m.ike their w.iy to tlie mouth of
the t'olumbi.i, up v.ist risers, across trackless
pl.i.ins, and ovt r the ru;.;i;ed b.irriers ot t!ie Kocky
.Mountains.
'I he conduct of this expedition, as has been al-
ready mentioned, was assi;,Mud to .Mr. Wilson
1 lice Hunt, ot Trenion, New Jirsey, one id the
p.irtners ot the coinpanv, who was ultim.ittdy to
be .It the he. id o| the esl.ililishment at the moutfl
of the Columbi.i. lie is represented as a man
scrupiilousls upri;.;!it and laitldul in his de.ilin;.(s,
.imic.ihle 111 Ills disposition, and ot ino-,t accom-
niod.itiiij; m.iniiers ; and his whole cniiducl will
be found in unismi with such .a ch.ir icter. lie
was not practic.iUy cxperitmed m the Indian
tr.ide ; that is to s.iv, he had ne\(r made any ex-
peditions ot trallic into the he.irt nt the wilder-
ness, but he h.iil been eii^.i^ed iiiciiiimerce.it
St. Louis, then ,i frontier settlement on the Mis-
sissippi, where the chief branch ot his business
li.id consisted in turnishini;' Indi. in tr.iders with
j^'oods and eipiipmeiits. In this w.iy he had ac-
ipiired much knov ledi;e ot the tr.ide at second
h.inil. .md of the v.irious tribes, and the interior
colllUlA' o\er which it extended.
.Another ol the p.irtners, Mr. hop.dd M'Keii/ie,
W.IS .issoci.ited with .Mr. I i unt in the expialition,
and excelled on thostr points in w huh the other
w.is deticient ; tor he had been ten _\e.irs in the
interior, in the ser\ice of the Nurthwisi Conip.my,
and \.ilued himself on his know lednc ot " wnoil-
cr.itt," and the stratetf\- ot In.li, in tr.ide and In-
di, m w.irt.ire. lie h.id .i Ir.inie sr.isoiied to toils
and h.irdships, .a spirit not to be intimid.iled,
and w.is reputed to be a " remarkable shot ;"
w liii h ot itsell w.is sulticieiit to ^ive him renown
upon the frontier.
.Mr. Hunt and his co.idiutor rep.iired, .about
the hatter jLirt ot July, iSio, to Moiure.d, the an-
( lent emporium ot the fur tr.ide, where ei, crythiiijj^
reipiisite toi the expedition could be procured.
( »ne of the first objects w.is to recruit ,i comple-
ment of C.in.idi.m vov.ii^eurs Irom the disband-
ed herd usu.illy to be tound loiterin^^ .ibout the
plaif. .\ decree of lockeyshi]), howe\er, is rc-
(plireil tor this service, for a Cin.idian \oyai;eur
Is ,is lull of latent tricks and \ ice as ,i horse ;
.md when he in. ikes the L;re.itest i Xtelll.d prom-
ise, is pioiie to prove the i^ie.itest "t. ike in."
Hesides, the Northwest t'umpany, \s ho ni.iint.iined
a lonLj esta!)lishie(l control .it Montie.d, .md knew
tne ipi.ililies ot every \ .iy,iL;eur. secretly interdict-
ed tlie prime li.inds from ent;.i;.;int; in this new
service ; so ih.it, allhouoh liber, d terms Were
otfered, tew presented t uinseUe^ but such as
Were not worth h.ivin^r.
I-"roni these Mr. liiiiu eiii^.n;!'! a number stitTi-
cient, as he supiiosed, for present ]uirposes ; and,
h.ivini;- Laid in .i supply of ammunition, iirovisions,
.md indi. Ill ,i;oods, emb.iiked .ill on bo.iril one of
those ^;re,it c.moes ,ai that time imivcis.illy used
by the fur traders tor n ivi^.iliii- ihe mliic.ite ,ind
oiten-obslrucled rivers, d he c.inoe w.is between
thirtv and toitv teel lorn;, and s..vrl,d teet ill
width; constructed ol hiiih li.iik, sewe,! with
tibres ol the mots of tlii' spruce tree, and daubei.1
with resia ot thi' pine, instead ot t.ir. I he c.iri^o
was m.itle up 111 p.ii ka);es, weii;liiii|4 from ninety
lo one hundred pounds e.u h, tor the l.icility of
lo.idiii',; and unloadmi;, and ol transport, ition at
|)orl.i;.,res. d'ne canoe ilsi It, thoU'.;h c.i|).ible of
sust ainmi;- a freii^ht ot upw.ird ut 1 nir tons, cuulU
:!l 1.
832
ASTORIA.
re.iililv lie ranied on men's shoulders. Canoes
ot lliis sue are generally maiiaLjed hy eii;lu or ten
men, two ot wiioiii aie pieked veterans, who re-
ceive doiitile waj;es, and are stationed, one at the
l)ow and the otht r at llie stern, to keep a lookout
and to steer. Tliey .ire termed tlie foreman and
the steersman, llie rest, w lio i)ly the p.iddles, are
called middle-men. When there is a t.ivurahle
bree<;e, the eanoe is occasionally naMj(ated with a
sail.
The expedition took its rei;ul,>r dep.irture, as
usual, from St. .Anne's, near the extremity ot the
ibl.ind ot .Montre.il, the ^reat startini; pl.ue ot the
traders to the interior. Here stood the ancient
ch.ipel ot .St. .\nne, tiie patroness of iheCanadi.m
vu\,ii;eurs, where they m.iile confession, and
offeretl up liiiir vows, jirevious to dip.irtin;.; on
an\' lia/ardou-^ expedition. 'I'he shrine ot the
saint w.is decoi.iled with reli.s and N'otive offer-
illi^s hun;; up hy the>.e --uperstitious l)eini;s,
eitlier to proiiiti.Ue her ta\or, or in ^'ratitude
for some sij^n.il deli\er.ini'e in the wilderness.
It was the custom, loo, nt these devout vaj^^a-
bonds, after le.ivin^'^ the ch.ipel, Ut h.ive a j^^rand
carouse, in honor of the saint and tor the pros-
perilv of tiie vosa^e. In this i).irt ol their devo-
tions, the crew ot Mr. lluiu proved tluniselvo
by no means ih-licient. Indied, In soim discov-
eretl that hii recruits, enlisted at Montre.il, were
tit to vie with the r.ii;i,red rej^iment ot I-'.llst.itt.
Some were ,il)le-hodicil, but inexpert ; others were
expert. Inn l.i.'v : while a third cl.iss were expert
and willing, hut tot, illy worn out, bein^' l)roken
down vetei.m^. iiK .ipai)le of toil.
With this inellicient crew he made his way up the
' Oii.iw.i KiviT, and hy the ancient route ot the fur
traders aloii^r a suc(.e>sion of small Likes a:i(l
rivers to Michiliniai kiii.ic. I'heir proj^ress w.is
slow and tedious. Mr. iluni was not .u customed
to the maii,ij;emeiri I'l " \ ny.ij^eurs," aiul he
iiad a crew .idmir.ihly di^|)o-,ed to |)lay the old
solilier and lialk their work, andexer readv to
come to a iialt, l.ind, m.ike ,i lire, put on the i;real
pot, and ^nioki-, ,md );■o•,^)ip, and siiii^ liy the hour.
Ii W.IS iiiit until the J2d of July th.it tliev .ir-
ri\ed at .M.ickin.iw, siiu.iteil on the isl.iiid nt the
same n.ime, ,ii the continence ot lakes Huron ,ind
Michii,r.in. I'liiM famous old I'rench iiailiiiv,' post
continued to he ,i rall\inif point tor a multifarious
and motley jHipuhition. the inhabit.uus were
am])liil)iou-. in their li.ihits, most of ilu-m hein^^
or h.iviiiLj been, voy.i),'elirs or c.inoe-meii. it
was the ;;re,ii place of arriv.il and departure of
the southwest tur tr.uie. Here the .M.u kinaw
Conip.my liad esi.ililisheil its piiiu ipal jiost, from
whence it cimiiuiiuiMied with tiu- interior and
with .Moiure il. Hence its various tr.iders and
trappers set out tor their respective destinaliiins
about Lake Superior and its tril)utar\- w. iters, or
for the .Mississippi, the .\rk.ins.is, the .Missouri,
and the other re;,M(iiis of the west. Here, after
the ,ibseiM> lit .1 \ear or more, they returneil with
their peltries, and settled their ai counts ; the furs
rendereil in by them bein^f tr.insmitted, in ciiioes,
from heini-t'i Moiitri il. .M.u km.iw w.is, there-
fore, t^ir .1 ^i r.u p.ut ol the \e,ir, \(M-v se.iniily
|)eopled : but it (cii.iin se.isons the tr.idt-rs ar-
rived frtnn all puinls, w itil their crews o! voy-
a^eurs, .md ihi' pl.K <• sw.inued like .1 hue.
.M.ickin.iw, .It tiiat tune, w.is ,1 mere vill.iije,
Streic hini^ aluii^r a small b.iy, with a line bro.id
be.ich ia liimt ol its piiiu ip.il row of houses, and
dotnin.ited b\ ilic old fort, which crowned an
imiiendini,' heitjlit. 'I'Im' be.a.h was .1 kiiul of
public proiiicn.ide, where were disphiyeil all the
vatjaries of a seaport on the arriv.il ot an.-i
trom .1 hint; cruise. llcre \oya,i,'ciir.>, Imlic'^tj
.iw.iy their waives, liddiiiij,' ;inii u.iiuiu- m (■.•
booths .md c.ibins, buwn^{ all kiiuU 1^1 {Jn,'".
kn.icks, dressiii).; themselves out tiiielv, ,\r,i', •;,.
r.idini; up .iiul down, like .irr.int hr.i'ij-.ins .inj
coxcombs. Sometimes they met witii riv n ,'!(.
combs in the youni;- Indians from ilu> oii',,i5ic
shore, who would .ippear on the he.itli ii.cir.t'j
.md decorated in f.mtastic style, .lad wnul , .mn.
ter up ;ind down, to be ^;;'./.ed at .iiui ,uli,',iri-!i
perfectly s.itistied th.it they eclipse.l their imc!
t.iced competitors.
Now .ind then .1 chance p.irty ol " .Wirti'.wot.
ers" .appeared at .Mackm.iw from th.i: niidc,;., 1,1
at I'ori Willi. im. These heUl them.iflvi-, i:p,.s
thechi\.ilry of the tur trade. Tin y wtTc miii.it
iron : ])roof .i^-.iinst cold weather, hard I iiu. ,iiul
perils ot .ill kiiuls. .Some would we.ir iln' n;ri;>
west button, .md a tiu-midable dirk, .iii;l .-issuni!:
something; of ,1 milit.ir_\- air. 1 licy ^tiiei-;tii\ w.rt
leathers in their h.its, and .itlected the " hr.ivi. '
" Je suis un homme dii luud '." - "1 ain,.!r..;i
ot the north," one of these swelhiii; lellous woii.d
excl.um, sticking his arms .ikimbo ,iiul ruiil;:';' ii,
the .Southwesti'i's, whom he re;4.irde(l wiiii j;rf,u
contempt, as men softened by mild clim.iic> iuil
the luxuriiius hire ot bre.id .md b.tcon, aiuhilMn
he sti^aii.iti/ed with the inglorious n.uiUMit \>'tu-
eaters. The superiority assumed by iI.ch' v;i;.i.
j,'lorious sw.i^i,'erers w.is, in Ljeiur.ii, laciily ...l-
mitted. Indeed, some ot them h.iil acqtirtd
),n"eat notonetv tor di-i-;ls of h.irdilinoil .iiui i"jr-
aije ; for the fur tr.ide h.ul its hemes, \.:ii->i
n.ums resounded throughout the uihleriu--.s.
Such W.IS .M.ickin.iw at the tune ol which ve
,ire ire.itiiii;. Il now, doubtless, prcsfilti ,i l.i-
tally difteieiil as|)ect. The fur i oiiip.iiiiis ;i.i
longer .isseinble there ; the n.i\ i.L;.iti()ii ut lb:
hikes is carried on by steambo.its .iiul v,:ii.i'.:5
slii|)pinj,', and the r.ice of tr.iders, and trapjuis,
.md \o\.i^i-urs, ami Imli.in d.iiulies, ii.ive vap.^ii I
out their briet liour .md dis.ippe.ircil. Su- :i
chanj^res does the l,i])se ot ,1 handtuiof uara iii:i.\t:
111 this e\er-i li.ini;iii^r country.
.\i this pi. ice .Mr. Hunt rem.mic'l tor .-iti.;
time, to (iiinplete his .issortment ol Imh.sii i;'"iii.
.md to nil re.ise Ins number of \.u .i:;i!ns, ;is ui.^
.IS til 'ii^Mj;!' some of ,1 niore elln lent ciiaiM'.'.o
th.in tliose enlisted at .Montreal.
.And now ((iinineiiced .another i^aiiie "f iiiLh'/y-
siup. There were able .iiul eMu lent iiua ::i
^Inindance .it Mackin.aw, but for sevi-r.il ii.iyi ■ I'l
one presented hiinselt. It offers were iii.ik'.'i
any, they were listened to with .1 sd.ikj nt I.'.'.'
head. Should anv mie seein mcline:! t.mi.^i.
there were oIIuidUs idlers .md l.iis\hi"::( >. ••
that cl.iss who ,ire e\ er ready In d:--siKiili: ' '.!''>
roin .iiiv eiiter|)rise in which tliev i:u-m><iv,-
h,i\e no concern. These would |iu.l him "y |' ^'
sleive, t.ike him on one side, .in>. n uriiuiri- : '>
e.ir, or wmild sui(j,'est dilficulties ic/i ii;lil-
It W.IS idijecteil that the expedition weuiJ i"-'
to n.i\i>4,ite unknown rivers, and j i^s mvh"."
howling'' \'.ilderiu-sses infested b\' s.c ■.;'■ I'l'''"'
who h.id alre.idy cut off the iiiUoiu:' c^'^ '■•
aj;eurs that h.id' ventured .iiimiiL; theiii , ''-.t '
W.IS to I limb the Rocky Mouiitaiiis .iiulili^" '■
into <lesol.ite and tamislied ri'i;! "!•>, wher:' -
tr.neller w.is oltell ol)lii;ed to ^iitisisl n" Uf-'"'
lioppeis and crukets, (U' to kill his nv^"' ' ' ~-
liM' liMid,
.\t len;;th one ni.m w.is hardy ''""tiu'' ''' '"'
K.ii^e, and he w.is used like :i " stool-|iii;i,'nn ''
decoy olliers ; l;ut several ihiis ei.ilKsel I' '^^
ASTORIA.
333
v,v more rould he prevailed upon to join him.
'\ tfu ihfii canic to terms. It was (Icsiiahir t i
■„,r|,.c ihem lor live years, hut sunn- rL-tiist-il tu
'.,,";'ir./ tor more tluin' three. Then they niiisl
' ti'^ii.'rt III then pav in advanee, whicli w.is
■uliv i-ranted. \\hen tiiey had poeketed tiie
vi'iouiil, .uiil scpiandered it in re^Mles or in oui-
ii', liiv lic'^an to talk ot peeiini.iry obligations
•irMi'kiiwiw, whuh must he diseh.ir^jed helore
[w[ \\M\d he liee to depart ; or eiiKaKenienis
Willi lUlnr |)erson-., which were only to he can-
ij'lc 1 i'v .1 " rea.so;i.d)le eonsidenition."
it h.i^ii) v.iin to arj,nie or remonstrate. The
niniin .ulviiined had already been sacked .and
s-uiit. .111(1 must he lost and the recruits lett he-
iiiiul, unless diey could he Ireed troni their del)i^>
amU•llK■.l^''•■menis. .XccordiiiKlv. a Idle was paid
tni .Ilk-; a jiidjrmeiit tor another ; a t.ivern hill
|,r &.■: lliird ; and almost all h,id to he l)ouj;lu
(.;'! JMiii some prior enna>;eiiient, either real (jr
]'rcliiiileil.
M;. lliiiit ;;rii.incd in spirit at the incessant
;i;.il iinrc,l''OiKihle demands ol llu'Se wiirlhies
'j;i,iii his jiiir.v ; yet with ail this outlay ol luiid.',,
;hf niiinlier ncriiiled wa-> hut sc.inty, .ind many
o; ilu' inosl (lesir.ihle still held themselves aloot,
liiui wire iiiit to he cuij^ht 1)\- a [.(olden h.ul.
Willi ihesr he tried .molher tempt. ition. Anions
ih.L- rccniils who li.ul enh-ited he distriliuted
lii'.hri^ ,iiui iisliich |)lumes. 'I'hese they put in
iin'.r ii.ils, .iiul thus lij^ured about .Mackin.iw, ;i->-
suiiKiiu .iir-> ol vast imporl.ince, as " voy.i^tiirs
ii; .1 ni',\ (uiiip.uu-, th.it was to ecli|)se llic .Nortli-
\\i:A" The ethi t W.IS complete. A h'rench
Li:Mil..iii is too \.iia .md mercuri.il a beiii;.;' to
v.iiii-iUeiii tile tiiierv .md ostentation ot llie te.itlu'r.
.NiMi.litrs iiuinedi.itely pressed into the service.
Hiu' iiHist h.ive .in o-,trich plume ; anotlier, ,i
v-iUc U ither with .i red end ; .i third, a bunch ol
cii-;>s' i.iii^. 'riujs ,ill p.ii.ideil .d)out in v.iin-
^MiinK style, more ilelii;hlei.l with the fe.ithers
III ilmr liats tli.ui with the money in their pock-
I'n : .iiul coiisidrrin^f themselves fully ci|U.il to
ill- ill^l^lllll " men ot the north."
U'liiic thii-, rei ruitin;^ llu' number of r.mk and
li;i,Mi' limit w.is joined by a person whom he
tion, they would ha\e another tribe still more sav-
age .iiid warlike beyond, and deadly foes ot the
wiute men. 'Ihese were the lil.ickteet Indians,
who ran).;ed over a wide extent ol country which
they wotilil have to tr.iverse.
I'nder all these circumstances it was thought
•idsis.ibh- to augment the part\ i oiisiderably. It
already exceeded the number ot thirty, to which
it h.ul originally been limitetl ; but it was deter-
niiiied, on arriving ,it St. l.oiiis, to increase it to
the number of sixty.
These m.itters being airangdl, they jirepared
to irnbark ; but the embark, ition ol a crew of
L'.uiadian \-oyageurs, on ,i disi.int e\|)edition, is
noi so e.isy a m.itler as might be imagined ; es-
pcci.dly ot sui h a set ot vaingionous tellows with
money in l)oth pockets, and cocks' t.iils in their
hats. Like s.iilors, the Ciii.idi.in vo\,igeurs gen-
er.iii)- ]irel.ice .1 long cruise with ,i c.iruuse. '1 hey
li.i\e their cronies, their brothers, their cousins,
their wives, their sweethearts ; ,dl to be enter-
t. lined at their expense. They least, they hddle,
the)' drink, they sing, they dance, they Irolic ami
light, until they are all as iii.id ,is so many
drunken Indians. The pubiicans are all obedi-
ence to their commands, nescr hesitating to let
them rtm up scores without limit, knowing that,
wlkii their own money is expended, the purses ot
their employers imist .mswer lor llie bill, or the
\oyage must be delayed. Neither w.is it possi-
ble, at th.il time, to remedy the matter at Mack-
in.iw. In that ;im|)hibious comnuinity there was
alw.iys a propensity to wrest the laws in tavor of
riotous or mutinous ho.atmen. It was necessary,
also, to keep the recruits in good humor, sei-ing
the novelty and (Linger ot the ser\ u e into which
they were entering, .ind the ease with which they
might at any time escijic it, by jun',|)ing into a
c.iiioe and going ilow n the stie.im.
Such Were the scenes th.it beset Mr. Hunt, and
gave him a foret.iste ot the ditliculties ol his com-
111. md. The little cab.irels and sutlers' shops
.ilong the bay resotmdeil with the scr.qiing ol I'ld-
(lles, with snatches of old I'reticii songs, with In-
dian whoo|)s and veils ; while evt rv piiimeil .md
tcitlured wigabond h.id his troop ot loving cous-
il i;i\:tcil, hv letter, to eiig.ige as ,i p.irtiier ill ! ills and comrades at his In
It w ,is w I
th tl
le
t.'i
litiiia.
Th
is w.is .Mr. K.im
s.iv l-'rool-
.n.iiiii^ man, ,i ii.itise ot Scoll.ind, who h.id serv-
(■'.iinliT the Xorthwesl (..'omp.iny, and been en-
utmost dilticulty they coiiul
the clutches ol the |iul)licans an
e\tr;
1 th
f their pot coniiianioiis, w
m;
III t,
,h<
t.iin
g expeilitiolis upon his iiuliviilii.il the water s edge with m;
cted triiin
e enihr.ices
led them to
a kiss on e.ich
'ii;n. .ummg the tribes ot the Missouri. .Mr.
Hum l<iiew linn person.d
iciiir;
and h.ul conceived
.iii'l nuriled opinion of his judgiiunt, en-
cheek, ;
I'reiich.
d a iiKiudlin benediction in Caii.idian
It
was .iDo
lit the iJth ol .A
uijnst tli.it tliev le
.111
iiitcentv
he W.IS rejoicei
tliere-
M.
"Hill the Later consented to accomn.inv ! Hav, Lox and \\i
cm.iw, and pursui-d the iisii.il r.)iue
•Mr, Cnioks
line
sconsin Ki\eis
ft
by tlreetv
to I'r.iirie du
drew from experi- , Linen,
v.im'.I lie Miiijected, and ur
tne d.ingers t
o Willi h ttie\
'ed the import. nice ot
Loin
ber.
d thence down the .Mississippi to St.
where they l.inded on the third ot Septem-
|il" r M
onsider.ible ti
in
dl
issouri ihev would h.i\i
to
1'.'.)U,l;:i die .lUiiUry ot the Sionx Indi.ins, who
Mil lli.lllili slid repe.itcd hoslilllv to the white
''1"!', :!ii(| iTiidi led their expedilioiis exirenu i\
CHAl'TL.R XIV
Sr. Liifi
s, which IS
.1^ IIU'V |M>
situ.ited on the right bank
'iiiiig upon them from the ri\er banks ot the Mississippi Kimt, ,i lew nides below the
hene.ith in their boats, and .ittack- mouth ot tlie .Missouri, w.is, ,it ih.it time, a Iron
.Ml
t'i'iii ill ilii-ir encampments. Mr. Crooks tier settlement, and the hist litiing-out phice lor
"vil. wlien vos.igi
hi
ti.i.l'i- i.t tl
f'll'ti'l li'. thcM' I
le II, line ol
iig in comp.iny wi
ML
d I)
th .mother the In'li.in tr.ide ot the southwest.
.1 tl
It possesse
tl
Illll.M'll I, ,11
^^.'.n.iiit liisi
n.ii.UKlers, and
■n inter- , .i motley population compos
h.id
oiisKlereil
seen
hints ot the ori'jin.il I-'reiu li colonisis ; the
le i reole de-
di
nil. lie in escaping down the ruer
traders from the Atl.intic St.iti
hi
e or property, but with .i lot.il I wood-men o
'"""'"Hill' 111 .it his tr.uliiig \()v.ig,-
,^'""il'i diev be l,.iuin;iti'
t'-'.u^li till ■
f Kentuckv
cnnessrc
the back,
In-
tlle
en.ilii;li lo
,ind haltdireeds ot t
iss \silh .1 singul.ir ai|u.ilic r.i
irairics ; together
le
■e th.il liai
'iiiwn up
P
oiniiry ol the Sioux VMilmut molest. i- , Irom the n.iv ig, ition ot the ruers - the " bo.itnieii
1 •
f ;:i:
-Wl
..^ «
\: m
flip!
im
5
t'r-'M'J
3''i h
t
i
n.
33-i
ASTORIA.
of tin- Mississippi," who possosstnl lialiils, ni.ui-
lu-rs, and aliiiost a lani;uaj;i'. pt'i'iiliaiiy tlinr
own, anil slron-ly U'i'IiiiumI. TIu'V, at that tiinc,
wtTt' I'xtii'imly nuiniMiius, and mndiKtcd the
diiet na\ii;iti(in and (.■omnicrfc ot tht-Hhuiand
thu Mississippi, as tlu- xoya^fuis did ot the Ca-
nadian waters ; i)Ut, hist,- them, tiieir i()n.s(i|iitiH i-
and iharaiti-ristics are r.ipidly vanisiiin;,; helori'
the all-|)er\.iiiiiiLj iiitriisioii ot steaniho.its.
The old Freiuh houses I'ULja^ed m the Indi.m
ir.ldf iiad ^atiiered rcilind liielii a tr.un (il de|iend-
cnts, nioiiL;rel Indians, and inoMijrel I'renchiiieii.
who liad intei'niarricd uitii Imhans. 'I'hex' they
employed in their \arioiis expeditiiuis by land and
water. \aiioiis individuals ol lilher cmintries
had lit laie vears, pusiied '.'le trade larther into
the interiiir, to the upi)er waters iit the Mi>MHiri,
and had sweile I the niiniher ot tlu'se h.nv,;irs-on.
Sexeial ol li\e-ie tradei's had, two or three years
previousU. tornu'd thenisehes into a eonipany,
eoni])osed ol lueive partners, with ,i ia]iital ol
ahont loru thousand dollars, called the Missoui'i
l-'ur L'oni|>ar,\'. the oiiieet ot whieh xs ,is to estai)-
lish jiosls .lion;;" tin- upper part ol that ri\er, .iiid
inonopoli.'e the ir.ide. 'I'he le.idins,' partner ot
this conipanv' \\ is Mr. Maiual I.is.i. a .S]i,iniard
by hirth, ,ind .1 ni.in vi hold and enterprising;
eh iiMi'ler, \\l'.o luid .iseended the Missouri ainio^t
to Its Miurce. ,ind made himselt well acipiiinted
and ])opuiar with se\er.d ot its tnlies. |i\ lu^ ex-
ertions, tradin;,r po-.ts h.ul been est.dih-.hed, i'l
1808, in thi' Sioux country, and .inioiv,; tl.e .\ri-
c.ira .md .M.iml.ui tribes : .oiil a priuDp.il one,
under Mr. lleiirv, one ot the partiiers, .it the
lorks ot till- Missouri. This eomp.uiy h.ul in its
emi)loy .iboui t\so hupi'red and titty men, partK'
American liunters, .and p.irily Creoles and C.in.i-
di.in voya};eurs.
.Ml the;-e i ircunistances combined to produce a
po|)ul.iiion .It .St. I.ouis even still more mmU-v
than that ,il M.ickin.iw. Here were to be seen
about tile ri\i '• b.iiiks, the hei torin;.;-, extr.iva^^Miit,
hra^^injr boatmen o! the Mississippi, with the
ii.iy, ^frim.ii in;;, sin^inj;-, ^Mod-huniored (.."an.idi.m
vo_\ a^reurs. \ ,:;..;r,int indi.uis, ot v.wious trdus,
loitered aboiu tiie streets. N.iw .md ihi n, .1 st.i'.'k
Kentuck) hunter, in le.ithern liuniin^-drtss, with
rille on shnidder ,ind krole m bill, strode .tlont^.
Here and tiiere wen- new brick hou-,c>, and sho|js,
just set up ii\- bustlin;.;, dn\int;, and e.ii^er nirii
ot tr.illic tmni the .Atl.uitic St,iti-s ; while, on the
other h.md, tiie old !■ rench numsions, with open
casements, s'lll ret.ameil the e.isy, indidenl .ur ot
the orii,Mn.il cidonisis ; and now and then the
scr.ipinj;- oi a tldille, a str.iin ot .111 ancient I'rench
son;;-, or l!ie sound of biUi.ird b.ilU, showed ih.it
the h.ippy ( i.iilic turn tor j,M\ety,ind .iintisnnent
still lini,'er(d .iboul the pl.ice.
Such w.is St. I.OUIS ,it tiie lime ul Mr. ilunt's
arriwil tiii re. .iiul the .ippe ir.ini c ol .1 new tin-
comp.iiiy, with .imjile binds .at its coaim.ind. pro-
(bii.il .1 su-iai;,'- seiis.ition amonir the indiaii tr.i-
•I's lit 111.' pi, 11 I-
d ,l\\ akelii d kreli jr i!oUs\
and ■ipposiMi.ii on tiie p.irt ol the .Missouri ( ■-uii
]).tny. .Mr. llunt proceeded to strengthen liimsell
,i;,Mllist ,111 ■ oliipelition. I-'or this purpose, he se-
cured lo ihe iniercstsol the a.ssoci.ition another o!
those enterprisilli;- men, who h.ad been ent,Mi;ed
in individn.d u due with the iribesot the Missouri.
This was ,1 Mr. lo-^eph Miller, .1 ^M-nilem.in well
educated .iiirl '\ili intormed. and o| .i n-spn • ible
l.inilly ot l'..illimore. lie had been .m ollicer III
the ,irm\ ot th.- Inilnj Sl.iti-s, bui li.id resi^;ned in
disgust, on bein;.; relused .1 [urlou;(h, and had t.iken
to trappin^r bL;iver and trading ainotig the In-
ili.ms. lie was easily induced hy Mr. Hnn.,
join as .1 partncT, .and w.is (ainsider'cd liv hmi J,
.iccoiint ot his educition and .a ipiuciiuiiu • j
his I'xperience in liidi.m trade, .1 \.du,il/ic .uldnllj,,
to the conip.iii)-.
Sever.d .iddilional men were likewisr i!iii,te,l
in Si. I.OUIS. some .IS bo.itmen, ,ind iidirrs,,^ imr^j.
ers. These 1,1st were ell^jaged, not liUTfiv id l'.,!
-.ime lor iiro\ isiiuis, but also, and uulff|'i!;i|.jC
to tr,i|i be.i\er .ind other .mimals ol ru h \v:,\ l^l
u.ibh' in the Ir.ide. Thev enlisted on (iilu-rni
li rills. Some were to h.uc ,1 tixcil s.d uv n! ihf.e
hundred dollars ; others were to Iil- lllu-il i,ut ;,ii,i
maint.iiiH'd .it the expense ol the ciiiii|i,i!;v. ,ip,;|
were to hunt and tr.ip on shares.
.\s Mr. Hunt met with imu li opjioiiiiim iiu!-e
p.irt ol ru.d tr.iders, especi.dly the MbMiir; h.r
C'omp.my, it took him some weeks lo ciii,|/,i''i'ii;s
prep.ir.itions. Tiie del.iys which he lui rt>
\iousl\ experiencrd .it .Montreal, M,u kiii.iw. .i:ii|
on the w.iy, added to those ,il St. l.ini;^. i„J
thrown hint much behind his iirij;iii,i| 1 mj;;'.
iKuis, so til, it it would be impos^.lile tu i-lliiir.is
vo\.il;c Uj) the Missiuiri in the iireseiit \c..r. T;,.j
ri\er, llowiiii; from high and cold Litilu. lis. .ii.J
through widi'.ind open plains, exposed in > lii,>,r
bi.ists, free/i's e.irly. The winter m.iv In i!,iui|
troin ihe lirstot .November ; there w.is cwrviifu-
pect, theretori', th.it il would be clnseil u:;ii us
long belore .Mr. Hunt could icicii ,i-.u|;,-r
w. iters. l'o,i\,>id, however, the expi ht .it \i,:i.
leriiig .It St. I.OUIS. he determined to piwh iijr.he
li\er ,is l.ir .as pMs.Mble, to some pnal .u si l:.f
seiili nimis, w here g.ime w.is plii,:\ . .aiii v.lu'c
his wiiole p.ariy lould be subsisinl h, liiinl 'i;.
unlil th'' brciking up of the lie in l!ic s:irir.;j
j.houid [lermit them to resume their \n\.ij;i'.
.\ccordinglv, on the twent\' lirst of ( >i.|..iHTr.i'
took his departure from St. Louis. 1 bs |i.uty v.,.>
distributed in three bo. its. ( )ne w.is t'i< l'.'r.;c
which he h.ul brought Imm M.ickili.iv, ; .c; !i:/'f
W.IS ot .1 l.irger si/e, sui h as w.is loniurK isn: ill
n,i\ig.itmg the Midi.iwk Ki\er, and kimwi, iv:''.'
gi aeru n.ime I't the .Schcnrct.uU' b.ir'.;r : ll'- «•'.'■<
W.IS .1 l.ir^^e ket I bo, It, al th.it tune the gr.:!: 1 l r..
', ey.iace on the Mississippi.
In tills w.r, ilie\' s!-t outlrom Si. I.iai: ., ia i'lii'V-
ant spirits, ,ind soon ,irri\edat the iir ullc ! '■■:
.\li-.souri. This vast ri\er, three tluuis.iu 1 m,.i:s
in length, and which, with its tiibiil.iiy i;riM:;>,
dr.iins su( h an immense extent ot 1 luaii'*, ■'..'
.:s yet liut casu. illy and imperlectly a.oi,;; i^c'l ' •'
the .iibeiilurous b.irkot the tiir tr.iiier .\^ir.::-'
lio.it h.id lie\er\et sleliimed lis lurluilcil i ■I'^r'-M.
.S.iils w rre but ot ccu.d .issist.iiii c, I' a' II iMiur'id
I strong wind to coiiipier the Iok r nt lin 'iir c:,.
The m.iin deiiendence w.is on bodili ■irs.^i'' I'W
111, mil. d dexteritv. The b-Mts. in griii-ni in!')
be jiropidleil bv oars ,in<l selling noles, nr ii"»'i
by the h.iiid .iiid bv gr.ippling iiimks li ■'' ■''"■'
rout or overhanging tree to aiiotlii r ; • ' I'S' 1 ;.
liie long 1 ordelle, or low iiig line, wl.i ri l'"- ••' ''''^
Were suttii ielitU- ilc.ir ot woods .Hid li'.'il^i'Ml
periiii! the men lo pass .liong the b.iak^
During tills slow .mil tedious iirn^ress ;:'■ "••■i
would be exposed to Irequelil d.oi^i r Imiii Hiol-
ing irces .Old gre.it m.isses ol dnii-w ■"'','
be imp'h-d upon sn.igs and s.iw\ii>, im'''^''
s.iy, sunken iiees. presenting a i.ii;^;' d ei p'l'''''-
I lid ,ibo\e the surl.lieol the \\aler. .\^ ll'c ' ''■ ■'•'
iiel (d the ii\er ImpifnlU shitled li 'ai '■'■ '
side, .iciiirding to the belliis .mil s.illd iuli'^"'.
bo, It h.ul, in ihe s.inie w.i\ , lo .ad\ aiic! in ■! 'K'-'h
course, ( iltcn a p.irt of tin crcw *'.oiiI.! i; i''' ^''
Icip into the w.itcr at the shallow i, .lii. ^^•'■■'
ilH/
ASTORIA,
331
l,\- NiPH'timcs tlif lid.it would sci'in ti) he
' ' ■ ■' Di'lUjounil
,!v.'\vilh the towing line, while their comrades
■ ' "" \icd with oar and selling;
rc-
tiMirU iiiL'tionlfss, .1-, it siu'llhound, oppoMle mmiu-
'„■,.,! rcDMil wliuh llu' iiirreiu .set wilh violence,
.riii uhtre llif ulniosl hibor scarce elfecled .my
(In these (K:e.isii>ns il was llial llie iiienl', ol the
C'luilim vova^eurs came into lull action. I'a-
iil';i' ol tiiil.'not to lie disheartened t)\ impedi-
nii-nts ,ir.il ilisappominients, fertile in evpcdients,
;ui(l viisi-il ill every mode ot humurinj; and cun-
("iLiin;; the wayward current, they would ply
tvciv niTlion, sninetimes in the boat, somelimes
unsii'iif. soiiietnues in the water, however i old ;
.liwav.' alert, always in good humor ; and, should
.uv a; .iny time il.ij; or grow weary, one of their
p,r;ul..r boat songs, chanted by a veteran oars-
II: ji, iiiiil res|u)iiiled to in chorus, acted as a
nivcr-tailiiiij restorative.
]]\ su.h assiduous an 1 ])ersevering l.ibor they
hmJi' lli;-ir way about four hundred and titty
nilcs up the Missouri, by the i6th of No\-eniber,
\'j ■.lie liiiiiilh (if the Nodowa. As this w.is a good
luiiiiiii.i; couiurv, and as the season w.is rapidly
ai;v,i!Kir,j(, thev determined to establish their
wniitT (|iiarier-, at this pi, ice ; and, in t.ict, two
(i.ivs :iltir the\ had come to a hall, tlie river
cio«';l iiist above their encani|)nu-nt.
T;ie [Kiriy had not been long at this jilace when
thfv were joined b\ Mr. Robert M'l.ell.ui, another
triiicr (i| tlv Missouri ; the same who h,id been
a,i>iii ;..;icl with .Mr. Crooks in the unfortunate ex-
pi'i!!',:-'!) m which they had been intercepted by
the S:^i,iK Iiidi.iiis, and cibliged to make a rapid
rt'!r;-.i'. ilivMi the I i\e!'.
Ml.ili.iii was ,1 remarkable man. lie h.id
hi'i!! .1 paitisaii under lieiieral W'.isne, in his In-
dl.;i', v,;i;s, where he had distinguished himself by
his iicr\ spirit and reckless daring, and m.irvel-
luus s',')!ics were loldot his exploits. His .ippeai-
.■!i;ic .m^wercd to liis cliar.icter. His frame was
n.iM^rc. Init muscular; showing strength, acti\-
i'.i-, .uiil iron lirmiU'^s. Hi.-, e\fs weri- dark, deep
Si't. .ii„! piercing. liew.is restless., fearless, but
o: iinpc'iioi]-, ,nul sometimes ung.ivt-rh.ible tmi-
|xr. Mr h.id been iiniied by Mr. Hunt to enroll
liiiiiM'lt i> .1 p irtner, and gl.idly consented ; lieing
pitiMii with the thouglUs of |),issing, witli .a pow-
iriu, l.ji'.c, lluiiugh the < ouiury ot i!ie Sioux, and
pcihaps h.iviiig an opportunity ot re\-enging him-
i(.il ■.ipar, that Liwless tribe lor their pa->l olirnees.
.Vmni.errenuit tl',.it pniied the camp. it Nodow.i
'Icseivc-, oju.il nieiilion. This w.is John |).i\ , ,i
huiilur 'ram the h.ukwoods of \'irgini,i, who 'had
1h-vii siMT.ii \e,irs on the Missouri in the service
<>! Mr. (.laoks, and ol other trailers. He w.i-
Jli'iLt forty \e,irs of ,ige, six feet two inche-, high.
s!lM.i;lit .1, ,111 huli.m ; with ,in id.istic stej) ,is it
lii'tni.lnii springs, , mil a h.imlMime, oi)eii. niaaU
CQ'JiUi-iLcue. It was his bo.ist that in iii's
V'jun^er il.e.s iiot'.iing could hurl or il.iuiit him;
'lu: ill li.iil " li\(.'<l too fast" and injured his co;!
itiUltian l,y Ins excesses. .Still he w.is strong of
'■'^inil, hiilil ol heart, .i prime woodm.m, and an .al-
um unerring shot. He had the tr.mk spirit ot .i
yr^ia.iii, ,iiid the nuigli heroism of a pioneer ot
t''t-- Ul.-"'.
ll'e p.iriy were now lirouglu to :i halt for sev-
m, nil, mils. I'hey were in ,i countrv abouiulim:
wahil
•y
i-r .mil wild turkevs, so th.it there was no
«imi) provisions, and every one .iiipe.ireil cheer-
"1:111.1 lontented. .Mr. lUmt determined to avail
"'•"''elti.t this interval to return to St. I.ouis and
Uftlaiii ,1 rciiiturceinem. He wished to procure
.111 intcrpretpr, nrfpi.iinted with the lanjju.ige of
the Sioux, ;is, from all accounts, hi: ;iii|)rehendeil
ditlicullie,-. in p.issiiig through the country of that
n.ition. He felt the nece.s.sity, .also, ol having a
greater numlier ol huiilers, not merely to keep
111) ■' ^iipi'ly "t provisions throughout their long
.111(1 arduous expedition, but also as a protection
and ill liiice, in case of Indi.in hostilities. For
such service the C.an.uli.m vo\ageuis were little
to be depended upon, fighting not being a part ot
their profession. 'I'lie proper kind ol men were
American hunters experienced in s.avage life and
s.ivage warl.ire, and possessed of the true g.ime
spirit of the west.
I.e.iving, tiieretore, the ( !u .ampnieiit in ch.irge
ot the other partners, Mr. Hunt sci oil on loot on
the lirr^t of J.inu.iry ( iSioi, tor St. I.ouis. He was
accomp.mied by eight men as l.ir ,i > l-'ort Osage,
about one hundred .iiid titty miles below Nodow.i.
Here he procured a couple of horse,, and jiro-
ceeded on the remainder of hi^ journr\ with two
men, sending the other six b.ick t . the eiicamp-
inent. He arrived at St. Louis on tiie :oih of
Jaiui.iry.
CHAl'lKK .W.
On this liis second \isit to St. Louis, Mr. Hunt
W.IS .ig.iin impeded in his plans by tlie o|)po.sition
of the .Missouri Fur Comjianv. 'I'lie .ifl.iirs ot that
com]). my were, at this tiiiic, in .a \erv dubious
st.ite. i)uring the iireceding ye.a;-, their princi-
p.il establishment at llie forks ot the Mi.-,M)uri Ii.hI
i)eeii so iiuK 11 harassed by the !!!.ickleet Iiulians
th.it its commander, Mr. Henry, oiieol the part-
iieii. h.id been compilled to .ibaniloii tlie post
.and cross the Rocky Mountains, with the intention
ot fixing himself upon one uf the upper br.iiii lies
of the Columbi.i. Wh.it had become ol him and
his |).irtv W.IS unknown. 'I'he most intense anxi-
ety W.I-. lelt coiuerning tluail, an I .ippia heiisions
that lhe\' might have beiai i ut oil by ilie sav.iges.
.\t the time of Mr. Hunt's .arriwil ,it St. Louis,
ilv Missouri Conip.my were lilting out ;in eN|)edi-
tioii logo in (|uest of Mr. lleiuy. Il was to be
conducted by Mr. NLinuel l.is.i, tiie eiitcrjirising
p.irtiur .ilie.id\ menlioiu'd.
'riiere Ixang thus two expeditions on loot at the
s.iiiie moment, an unusual demand w.c. oi casion-
ed for liuiit(.-rs and voyagiiirs, who ,ii cordiiigly
|i:otilei| by the circumsi.mce, and stipul.ited tor
high terms. Mr. Hunt found .i keen and subtle
competitor 111 i.is.i, and was oblige. I ti>.se< ure his
recruits by libt-ral .uUances ot p.iy, .iiul by other
pecuiii.iry indulgences.
The greatest diffu ultv was to ])rocure l!ie Sioux
interpreter. 'I'here w.is but one III. ill to be met
with. it .St. I.ouis who w.as lilted lor the purpose,
but to sei ui-e him would require much m.inage-
lileiit. 'I he indi\idu.il in question w.is a h.ilf-
breed. n.imeil I'ierre Dorion ; .mil, .as he llgures
Ill-re. itter in this narrative. ,ind is, withal, a strik-
ing specimen ot the In bnd race on the Irontier,
we sli.ill give a few particul.irs concerning him.
I'ierre was the son of Dorion, the l-"rench inter-
preter, who accompanied Messrs. Lewis and
Cl.irke in their famous exiiloring ixpedition across
the Roi kv .Mount. lins. Old Dorion was one of
those French Creoles, tiescendaiUs of the ancient
Canadian stock, who .ihoimd on the western fron-
tier, and am.ilg.imateor coh.ibit with the s.i\ages.
He li.id soiotirned among various tribes, ,iiid per-
h.ips left progeny .imong them all ; but his regu-
l.ir or h.ibitu.il wile was a Sioux squaw. ISy her
'-fill
li
[ i
i '!'
m^ ■
FTi
1;-
it '■ :
■■ 1
f
k
11. ■ ■
.,■
1,
ihl
■t i
%
A
' 1 1
33C
ASTORIA.
he h;i(l a lioprful lirood of half-breed sons, ot
wlimn Pierre was diie. 'l"he dninestii- atlairs ot
old Dorioii were eDiiihiiled on ilie true ln<lian
l)lan. Fattier and suns wdidd oeeasioiially K'''
drunk tojrcilu'r, and then tlie ealiin was a scene
ot ruttiau brawl and lii,'htin^, in the course ot
whieli the old Freiuhmaii was a])l to jjet soundly
belabored In his iii()i\i;rrl ii||s])rin>;. In a furious
scuffle ot the kind, cme ot the sons };ot tlu' old
man upon ilie ;;round. and was upon the point of
seaipinj; liiin. "llolil! my son," cried the old
fellow, in nnplorini; .u cents, " you are too tir.i\e,
too honorahir to sc,il|) your hither !" Tins last
•nppeal touc lied the l-'reiich sideot the lialt-lireed's
he.irt, so he suttered the old man to wear his scalp
tintiarmed.
Ot this hopeful stock w.is I'ierre Dorion, the
man whom it was now the desire tit Mr. Hunt to
en^.ij,'e as ,111 iiiter|)reter. He h,ul been ein|)lo\cd
in ih.it c.iij.uity by the Missouri l"ur Comiiaiiy
durinj^f the precedinj,^ \ear, and had coiuhu ted
their traders in s,itcl\ throui^h the different tribes
of the .Sii)U\. He had pnncd himself faithful and
serviceable while >obcr ; but the love of licpior, in
whicli he had been nuruirnl and brou;.dii up,
wovild occi^iiinally lirc.ik out, and with it llie sav-
ni,'e side of his character.
It was his love ot lii'U.ir which had embroiled
him with tb.e .Missouri Company. While in their
service ;it l''ort Mandan on the frontier, lie li.id
been seized with a whiskey m.ini.i ; and .is the iicv-
er,iL;e w.is cuil, to be procured .at the comp.mv's
store, it had In en chari,fed in his account .it the
rate of ten doil.irs a (pi.irt. This item li.id e\er
remain unsettled, and a m.atter of furious dispute,
the mere meii'.ion ot whicli w.is sutlicieiu tn put
iiim in a p.issi.iii.
The momeiil ilw.is discovered bv Mr. Lisa that
Pierre iJorion w.is in triMt\ with the new .mil n-
v.il associ.itioii, he t-nde.ivoreil, liv thre.its .is
well as promisi s, to prevent his eiij^.ij^inj; in their
service. His proniises mii(lil, jierhaps, ti i\e pre-
vailed ; but his threats, wliicti rel.Ui'd to the
whiskey debt, only served to ilrne Pierre into the
op])osite rank^. Still, he took ,idv,iiit.iv;e ot this
competition t.-r his ser\ii es to stand out with
Mr. Hunt on the most ad\ .int.ii,M(ius ti-rms, ,inil,
after ,a nei;i>;;.inon ot nearlv f.vo weeks, e.ipilu-
laied to ser\i' in t!ie expedition, ,is hunter and
interpreter, .it tlse r.ite ot three hundred doll.irs
a ye.ir, two luindred ut which were to be paid in
aihance.
When Mr. iiunl h.id ^nt everyllii:!^' readv for
leaving- St. I.ouis, new ditlicuities rose. I'ne ot
the .American hunters from the em-.impmeiii ,it
Nodow.i, siiihiellly m.ide their .ippe.ir.mce. 'I'llev
alleged th.it they had been ill tre.ited by tlie
partners at the encampmeiu, .and h.id eoine oil
claildestinel) , in lainseiiueine ot ,1 dispute. It
was useless at the present moment, ;ind im-h r
present circmiist.im-es, to .attempt ,iiiy coininil-
sory measures \sitli these deserters. ' Two of
them Mr. Hunt j)rev. tiled iijion, bv mild means,
to return with him. The rest refused ; nay, wli.it
W.IS worse, tliey spread such rejiorts of the li.ird-
ships anil d,ini;er-> to he .ip[)rehen(led in the
course ot the e\pediiioii, tti.it tlu-y struck a p.inic
into those tiunters who had recently enjfa;(ed .it
St. I.ouis, and, when the hour of d'ei)arture ar-
rived, all but one refused to embark. It w.is in
v.iin to i)le,id or remonstr.ite ; they shouldered
their rilles and lurtied their back ujion the expedi-
tion, and .Mr. Hunt was fain to put off from shore
with the sinj^de hnnlerand .1 nunitierof voya^eurs
whom he had engaged. Lvcn Pierre Dorion, at
the l.ist moment, refused to enter the !)o,,ti;n'|
Mr, Hunt consented to take liis sqii.m ,ili,i ,.
children on bo.ird .ilso. Hut the tissue ot in n't''
! ities, on aicouiitof this worthy iiuiivulii.il -Ik*,"!
' end here, ' ' ' '"'
j .Amimg the v.irious iiersons who WiMf .ih, -.^
' proceed up tlie Missouri with Mf. Hunt, w.^.'.y'.
j scientilic gentlemen ; one Mr. lohn llnullu;/'
I man ot m.ituiv age, but great enter])|-|Sf ,|;;,|';„,j'
I son.il activity, wiio h.id been sent oi;l In iIk {■/
\ naean Society ot I,i\er|iool, to ni.ike .1 Vu:;,,].,,*
of .American ])l;ints ; the other, ,1 .Mr. \;.!|':'
likewise an 1-Jiglisliman, youn;;er in vi-.irs, wj,,
has since m.ide lumselt known ,is the ;u;;hor !•
" Tra\'els in .\rk.insas," and a work on (!;i"i;.r!
I era of .American Plants." Mr. Hunt h;iii oticrid
them the protection .mil facilities nt his |;,.r,v. :,
, their scientitic researches up the Missmn.' ,\;
I they were not ready to dep.irt .U ihi iin:v,int ;
emii.irk.ilion, they put their trunks on iiu,,ni (•
the bo, It, but remaiiU'd at St. I.ouis until tlir r,r'
d.iy, lur llie arriv.il ot the iiosi, iiueiiiliiii; :o'
the expedition at St. Charles, a short (lisi,ir,.
.above the mouth of the Missouri.
1 Thi' same evening, however, they Ii arivil ih-.i
I ;i writ h.id been issued .ag.ainsi Pierre !Vini;i tr
I his whiskey debt, by Mr. Lisa, as ai;eni ot I'.v Ms-
souri Com|>aiiy, and that it was the inifiiiun;)
entr.ip the mongrid linguist on his arriv.il ,ii '•,
Charles. I'pon lie.aring this, Mr. l!r.Tilt>iir\ n
Mr. Nuttall setoff a little .after niidni^jht, liVi.n..:,
got ahead ot the bo.it as it w.is asren 1; ;-.; the
Missouri, before its arriv.il at St. (.i: ik'i. .ril
gave Pierre Dorion w.irning of the lei;.!! ii ;1 pre-
p.ared to ensnare him. The knowing 1';;t:i' ;i'.-
medi.itely l.mded .mil took to the wo nN, : i^uuvl
by his si|Li.ivv l.iden with their p.iponses, .iiiil .
l.irge bundle cont.iining their most \<\<: mus c-
te( ts, promising to rejoin the p.irly sonv- il:s!n.r.:t'
above .St. Charles, 'I'liere seemed liltir ilfjR'.ii-
eiice to be |.l.iced upon the promise-, nt ;: ^."h- ,:;•
' venturer of the kind, who was ,it tin vtvy t.'no
pi.iving .an evasive game with his fornur tnijoi'-
ers ; who h.id alre.idy rei eived two thiri!s i;i - 5
ve.u's pay, and li.id his rille on his shoii'.diT. I'.s
t.imily ;ind worldlv fortune at his lieeis, iinl ;i:c
wild woods before him. There w.is no .ill'Tr..i-
t'.ve, liowe\er, and it w.is hoped his pi<iiif :i;;. mist
his old i-mployers would render hiiii lai'.l.lul 10
his ni w ones.
The p.irty reached St. Ch.iries in th.' ati rn '
I lit the li.arpies of the l.iw looked in vain li.i";';r
expected prev. The boats resumed their oiyrv.^
on the following morning, and had not jin," i'C''i:i.
t.ir when Pierre Dorion made his .ippe,ir.i:;ciin
the shore. He w.is gladly taken on h:' ii-.l Iwt
he came without his sqii.aw. 'I'hey li.nl ijU.irrcL'il
ill the night ; Pierre h.id .administered ti'- !"il •"
di.^cipline of the cudgel, whereupon she h..i. l'"'"
to the woods, with their children a:iii 'iMf'f
W(H-ldly goods. Pii-rre evidently wa- •'''■''p'y
grieved .and discoiuerted at the loss if 'is witij
.ind his knapsack, wherefore Mr. Hunt (!i-;vi'^:i'.fii
one of the Canadian voy.igeurs in se.ii. !' I'i ''"■'
' bigitive ; and the whole' party, atn:' pj"-''- "'I?
a tew miles further, eucimped on .111 liH"' ''|
.iw.iit his return. The C.in.idian rc'iiiad ins:
p.irty, but without the sipi.iw ; .ind I'lun" "y*
lion ji.assed ;i solit.iry and .anxioiis n.glit. i'U'^''''')
I regretting his indiscretion in having eNC'ciseu us
I conjug.il .authority so ne.ir home, bih'rt' nn-
' break, however, ,1 well-known voice rcaLln'il •'is
' ears from the opposite shore. Uveas his rt'P' "l-
ant spouse, who h.ad been w.inderiiig die woof'S
; all night in 4Utst of the party, and had at Icngt!!
]ii(]Uf ;i,t;.iiiiu
liiiii !;.i:),!ui '.u
not nn.«i'('ii(-i.
ASTORIA,
337
drscrifi
1 ;t bv its fires. A boat was dispatrhcd | cilalion, as shnwinp the liairhrcailtli advciiturts
( , i,.-r ihc iiiti'nMiiivr f.iniilv was dik i- mon* ■ to wliu h tlusc solitary rovfis ol ilic wild
lur nci, II >^ ,, .?. .1 ■.. 11,. II .1... ' 1 '
uniU'
(t. a
hi,;icr|ik-xi
I'lrK risf ill
lul Ml'. Hunt now ti.itti'ri'd liiniscil tli.il ■ arc ixposcd
iiu'suith I'icrrc Donoii wrre at an end. i Colter, with ihf li.ii(lilioo<l o( .i ri'milar trapiKT,
tlicr, Miy liLMvy rims, .md an unusually I ii.id i ast lunisclt hxtsi: Iroin \\w. p.iilyol I.owis
the .Missouri rundcri'il tlu' ascent ol | and CI. irke in the very heart ot the wllilirness. and
the river
Mil.; .Ml
loilsiime, slow, and (lant;crous.
riu
till- iiMii
ssDiiri (Iocs not j,'i-ner,dly take place until
th
th ot .Mav or June ; the present swellinj;
:i\-e iieen caused by a treihet ii
,it \\x riMT iiaisi li
biiiiif ii
I its more southern hrancMes.
It
dd
not
:)im:k'
..\m! h
ailnir.ihlf
the jjreat .umii.il Hood, as the hi^;lier
ave been iced)ound.
(•If we (Mnnot iuit jj.nise, to nolire the
hc-s imisl St 1 1
rem
had
waters o
ained to tr.ip be
a\er .done on the head-
t tl
Ml
ssouri.
lit
dl
with
.mother lonely trajiper, like liiniselt, named I'ott.s
.iiid they a^'reed to keep to^jether. They were in
the very rejjion of the terrible lil.u kleet, .it th.il lime
thirs!iiii( to reveiij^n' the de.itli ot their coinp.mion,
and k
h.mds
new th.it Ihev had to exi
t no mercv at their
T
lev were olihueil
to ki
arr-inj-cii
lent ol n.uiire. bv \s Inch tl
(1,1V 111 the wodilv m.irLnns ot tin
■I'
tncealed all
ers, settinij
anini.il swcllinjjs ol the v.irious >;re.it rivers which i their traps after nij^htl.ill, and t.ikiii^; them up be
empty
theiii
selves
into the .Mississi
nlf to prec
fore
davoreal-
t'di' e.ich other at consider. ible inter- ! the s.ike ol ,i I
I w.is running
ew heaver skins ;
rlul
•<k tor
11 such is the lite
I'hiis, the tlooil it the Kid River precedes \ ot the trajiper.
f the Arkans.is bv a inoiu
li'.i: ol
al.M', ri.sin,t( in .i much nm
I'he Arkans.is,
Thev Were on a br.uu h of the Missouri called
re southern i.Uitude than I letferson's Fork, and li.id set tlieir t
the .\lissou
li, takes th
e If, Ml ol
It in Its anil
ual
rajis at xw^
In.
ex-
bout si.\ miles up .1 small \w\-\ tli.il emptied into
,insl Its siiper.ilniiil. lilt waters .ire dis^jori^'ed i the fork. Marly in the morniii;; they ascended the
lisiiosfil ot lon^; betore the breakinj,' up ol the ; river in a canoe, to examine the traps. The banks
,l!l'l lllSpoSfl
U'v li.irriiTs ol the north ; otherwise, ilid all these | on each side were lii^,di and ptr]iendicul,ir, and
niit;:iiy stiLMins rise simult.iiicously, and disch,iri,'e ' cast a shade over tlu; stream. As iluv were sottlv
iiii'ir vt-riKil llniids into the
th
Mi
I'.i'jii wiiiihl he the roiise(|uen(:e
ississinni, ,in lliun-
M>l
that
P
(ill
lie
would sub- leet upon the
they heard the trami^iintj ot many
'olter immedi.itrly ^jave the
b.mk
r .iPil (le\;istate .ill tlie lower countrv.
•il.irin ot
null. ins
and was tur insi.int retreat.
I'll
the alternoon ot the third day, January 17th, j I'otls scoffed at him lor beiiiL; Iri^ditened by the
the hials touched at Ch.irette, one of the old vil- j tramplin,;,^ ot ,1 lunl of butt.iloes. Colter checked
the ori),dn.il I
rencli colonists.
his tine.isines-i and
laddled h
d. Thev had
II re tlii'V met with U.iniel lioone, the renowned I iu)l jjone miu h turther when tn;;hitul whoops
nh 1)1 Kentucky, who h.id ke|)t in the ,»d- I and yells burst lorth trom e.ich side i>| tl
p.i'rian'!! ot Kentucky, wMo li
v.iiicfnf civili/.ttion, anil on tlu
horders ol the w il
and severa
1 hi
Ind
laiis .ippeir.
.'ither
(r.
Still lc;idmj; a luinter's lite, thous,;h now ' b.mk. Si;,;ns were m.ide to the untoriimate trap-
t'lXhty-hlth yc.ir. lie h.id but recentlv
iiers to come 01
1 shore, Thev wt'n
u-l tr
n.ul !)
iiintinj; .ind tra|)pin),' expediti
:hl 11
ply.
llel
(lie thev CO
uld
!i;cd to com-
;ct out ot tlic'.r canoes, .a
early sixty be.iver skms ;is tro- ' sav.ij^e sei/ed the rille beloiu^iiii; to I'lills. Loiter
!iis skill. The old i
I'l-m
an : .11 11
le weapiiii Irom the
n.in w.is still erect in spraii.14 on shore, wrested tl
stronjr ill limb, and unilinchinf,^ in sjurit, ' hands ot the Indian, .and restore! it to his com-
(■ stood on the ri\er b.mk, watchi
th
lar'.uif ol an expcilition destined to tr.iverse the
e ! p.inion, who w.is still m llic ciinr
.i:hi
imme-
di.ilely pushei
into the sin im.
Tl
icre W.IS
pri'i.i
riR'SS to the very shores ot tlu; Pacific, very ! sh.irp tw.iiiL^of .1 bow, .md Tolls
the
lilt that he
ilv fell a throb of h
MIL' him to
IS old |)ioneer spirit, 1111- \ was wounded
Colt
er urijed
iim to conu; on
sliouldei Ins r
;lli
vi'i.uiro'is hand
II
ourishe
,ind join the .id-
sever.il \f.trs
shore and submit, as his onl\ ( h imcc lur lite ; but
the other k
a!ii-:- this meeting', in a vi^rorous did a^e, the .\i
d del
ew there w.is no pro-.pi
ut hlliUfi's .iiul b.ickwoods
ermincd to die y^ww^
>v!v
.111 ii
and died, lull he shot one ol the s,iv.ii;es
I.
de.id
unor.uiil renown. Ill iMiS, in his niiietv-
■xt moment he fell h
in the s)
! nuTcy,
his rille,
spot. The
H'lun i vear.
bi'- next iiKirniiiff
meraiile .irrows.
Th
e \'cn''eance n
(I with iniui-
t tlu; savaires
:ii|)f
e.irh-, as the partv were yet
ev
www turned upon Culler,
II
at the moaih ol a small sire.im, th
1, I
wra- Msiifil by .-inother ot these hei
il"i-!ii-,s, one i.ihn Colter, who h.u
ns and (.laike in th
les ot the wil-
.icciimp.mied
aiu
ani;ii.i^(e, overh
e w ,is strijiped naked,
lit the lU.ickt.iot
e.ird a ccnsultalion ,is t.iihe nuide
i,ivin}( some knowled
dispatchin'T him, so .is to di
eir memor.ible ex
pediti
amusement trom
IS death
th
the ^re.itest
lii h.id reienily m.ide one of those vast internal | tinjj him up as a m.irl
>'|.ajj.,"s so cli.iracterislic of this fearless class of I at his expense. The ( hiet
;'i';i, and ol the
liii'l their lonel
Some were ior set-
and h.ivia;' ,1 in. 11 o
f sk
was lor
!iR- he.i(t.w,iiers' ol ihe M
minense regions over which they I nobler sport, lie seized ('(iller by the shoulder,
y wanderiiijjs ; h.ivinj^ come trom and dem.mdeil it he could run f.ist. The iintor-
■-nvill
canoe.
niilt-. he h.el
"•■'ill wilh the
I'lriii-uLirs t
Tl
issouri to St. Louis in a \ tunate ir.i|)per was too well acipLiintecl with bi-
as (list, nice (
it th
ree thous.iiul
di,
111 customs not to coni|
in heiid the dritt of the
iplished in thirty days. Colter i ipieslion. lie knew he was to run tor his life, to
party. ill the morninj;. He had ni.iny ' furnish
O ''IV(
th
l:i!li,.n
•^. a resllcss
em oncernini; the iUackleet ' Thou;;!! in re.iliiy he w.is noted anions; his brother
)t hum.in hunt to his jiersecutors.
the
itorv tribe, who h.id ' hunters tor swittness ot toot.
th
e c
nil
l.'i;; Ijccii
II
hiet
IS slrat.iLrem
|^''"<'Mve.l 111 impLicable hosiili'ty to the white th.it he w.is a very b.id ru
""•'1^ in iunsf(|iience ol one ot their warriors li.iv- ' j;.iiiu;d him some vaiita),'e ^;n)und, lie w.is led by
^^\^v<\ by Captain Lewis, while attempt- I the chief into the jirairie, about four hundred yards
'I'k' lo steal h(i
!iv I 111-
(eeii, ;
s(; sava'-
ses. Through the country inlt;sted | from the main bo|ly of sa
I th
expedition would h.ive to |iro
lid Colter was ur^,reiil in reiteratiiu' tl
loose to sive hiinse
cj'ilions that oujiht to be ol
tl!ci;i
He 1
■^ the |)re- ! U
)served respectiii},; ' w
t him know that the whoh
md then turned
f it he could. A tremendous yell
ii.ick ot bloodhounds
:re olf in lull crv. Colter \\v\s , r.ither th.m ran
ictivc cruel
himself experienced their v
If W.IS astonislu'(
I at \
us own speei
1 ; but ho had
ty, and his story deserves particular { si.x miles ot prairie to tr.iverse betore he should
H
m-
V'M
M L
388
ASTORIA.
ril
X'-'
w iti.in
lie turiu-.
riM.li tlx' I.ff.TS'in Fnrl of tho Missoufi ; liow
louM lie li<!|ii' 111 liold out siu 1) .1 ilisi;iiu-c will) llif
tiMilul (iiM.-. nt si'MT.il luiiulifd ti) lint' .ij^amst
him '. 'I'lu' ]il.iiM t"o aluiundnl with tlii' pnckU
pc.ir, which wDiiiiik'il his naked lict. Sidl l\f
tied nil, tlivadini; each nionu'nt t>> hear the twani;
ot a luiw, and In Ici'l an arrow (iiiivcrin^; at his
licart. Ill- did not cvfii dare to Inok round, lest
he shouhl lo'-i' an in. h ot tlial distain i- on whicli
liis lite di'iKiKKd. lie liad ran nearly half way
across the plain when the sound ot luirsuit };rew
somewhat lainter, .md lie ventured to turn hw
head. The in.iiii body ot his inir^uers were a
C insuierable <listanee behind ; sever.d o' ti,e
iastest runners were sealtered in the advaiuc ;
while a switt-lonted warrior, ,irmed with i sjicir,
was not more than a hundred y.irds behind him.
Inspired with new hope, C'olter redoub'' d , 'S
e\enion>, but strained himsell siudi
t', the blood ;^u>hed tro'i his i,. n'!i
;'.:!i. strea.aed down 111 o'e.ist. Ii. ...i ■
a mile ot the river. 'I'he s"ir ■
g.ithered upon him. A i^laiici 'che : .
lursuer within twenty yards, and p
auneh Iv.s sjie.ir. Stoppai',' short,
round and >pre.id out his .irms. The sa\ai;e, |
contounded hv this sudden .ution. attempted to j
stop and hurl his sjicir, but tell in iIk- \ery \
.■ut. His sj-ear stuck in the j^nuiiid, and the j
shilt broke 111 his hand. Colter iilucked up
the pointed p.irt, iiir.iicil tlu' s iv.i>;e to the
earth, and continued his llii^lit. The liidi.in-.,
as thev arrived at their slauj^htered com- ;
I'.iiiion, stop|,rd to howl over him. Colter made ,
t!ie most ol this precious del,i\, ^.liiieil the skirt \
oi cotton-wood bordering the ri\er, d.islied |
throu;;h it, and plun,i;ed into the stre.im. He ;
sw.im to ,1 neij^hboriii;,; isl.ind, a_i;ainst the iijiper
end ol which the driliwood had lodged in such
([U, unities as to torm a natural rati ; under this ,
he di\'eil, ,111(1 >>\\,im below w.iter until he suc-
ceeded in tjettinj; .i bre.uhinj; |)lace between the
tio.itinjj trunks ot trees, whose branches and
bushes formed a covert sever.d leet above the
level of the w.iier. llir h.id scarcely drawn breath
atter all hi^ i ui->, when he heard his pursui'r-> on
the river bank, w h.io|)ing .md yi-Uinj; liki' so ni.iiiy
tleluU, .Tiiey plun;;ed in the river, and swam to
the rail. The lie.irt of Colter almost died within
him as he s.iw them, through the ( liinks ot his
conce.dnient, p.issim^ .md rep.issing, and seekin;; .
for him in all directions. Tiiey at ien^jth jf.ive up
the search, .•uid he bcLj.in to rejoice in hii escape,
when the idea presented itstdt that they mi),^ht set
the raft on tire. Here w.is a newsoun e ol horrible
ajiprehension, in wliicii he rem, lined until ni^ht-
l.dl. l-'ortlin.ltelv, the idea did not sil;.^;;est llselt
to the IiuImiIs. .\s soon .is it W.n d.llk, lilldill;^
bv th.e sileiii e .irouiid th.it his pursuers h.id de
ji.irted, (.-"olter dived ,i,i,^ain and cime up lieyond
the rait. He then swam sileiith' down the river
for a consider.ible dist.iiK e, when he l.inded. and
kept on all ni^jht, to j^^et .isfar off ,is possilile Iroin
this d,in;,'erous nei;,jhborlujod.
ISy d.iybre.ik he h.id L,'ained sulUcieiit dist.ince to
ielie\e liiiii Irom the terrors ot his sav.i.t^e toes ;
but now IK- A- sources ot iiwpiietude preieiiled
themselve-i. He w.is naked and alone, in the
midst of an unbounded wilderness ; his only
chance was to reacli ,i tradin;r post of the Mis-
souri Company, siiu.ilerl on a branch ot the Yellow-
stone River. I'.veii should h(; elude his pursuers,
days must i l.ipse belore he could re.ieh this post,
(liiriiii; which he must tr.iverse immense jir.iiries
dejtitute ot shade, liis naked budy e.'^p'jsed to the
burning' lieat of the sun by day, and the ilcwsn-,!
chills ot the night se.isou ; und hu ii-...t 1 1,'^ j.,^,
by the thorn'- ot the prickly pe.ir. TIhiuliJ
might see g.ime in ■ibund.ince armiiul lum. 1,,. • '
no me, ins ol killing an\ tor hi-, siibieii.iiu,. ,;;,
must ilepelid tor tood Upon the roots ut ;hi ^ ir-^|'
111 deli. nice ot these ditliciiltles he ini>lir(! r,,„.
lut< ly forward, guiding himsidt in hi:, u:n\,;\
(ourse by those signs .md indicitniiis kiiuwn iniv
to Indians ;ind b.ickwoodsmeii ; .nul ,iUcrV(.iv;ii'i
dingers .md hardships enough to lire:u ilinvn.my
spiriibuith.it id .1 western pionei-r, ..irivi-vi -^iic
,it the solit.iry post in ipiestion.*
.Such is asam|>le()t the rugged e\pi;i,.Hi,..,v[,j|,],
l"olter h.id to rel.lte ut s.iv.ige lite, \it, with .V,l
these perils ,in(l terrors tiesh in his ro iili-ii-i-n,
he could not see the present 1 nnd o;i di. t , , ;,i
those regions uf d.iiiger at'd ad\i liiuie, wuhiiut
teeling I veheme n impulseto jom them. .\\\r,\.
ern tr.ipjier is like a s.iilor , p.ist h.i/.inU uiilv
siinuil.ite him to turtlier risks. Tlie v.i-.i]ir,iir'H,s
to the one what the oci'.m is to the iitlier. .i |ii(:i:i(;.
less lield td enterprise and exploit. IIdwcmt he
m i\ li.iM' sutfered in his l.isl criiise. he is ;i!',Mo
■e.idv to jiun .1 new eNpeditioii ; .mil tlii: more M-
\enturous its n.iture, the iiioi'e .itlr.u iiveiMf.^ ris
v.igr.mt spirit.
Nothing seems to li.ive kept Colter !rnm i.^n-
iiiiuing with the party to the shores ot ilic l',u';!',c
but the circiim:it.in( e of his having ri . iiith mi:-
ried. All the morning he kept witn llieiii. ittl.i;'..-
ing in his iniml the ch.irms ot his hridu ,i^;iH5:
tlioie ut the Rucky .Mount. lins ; the InriiuT. Km-
ever jirevailed, and ;ilnr a m.irdi ol s, ve;:ii imi-.i,
he took ;i reluctant leave ut the tr,iveiicr>, .inl
turned his t,ice liomew.ird.
Continuing their progress up t!a' Missouri i:'t
party enc.impeil, on tlie evening ol thL-;i:>ir:
M.irch, in the neighborhood ot .i little h-o'iin r ■-;•
l.ige (d French Creoles. Here I'leriv hiinnnin.:
with someot his old coinr.ides, with wii'iin l!i.'..i'i
.1 long gossip, .111(1 returned to the i miji wiin r.'.-
mors ot bloods lends between the » i,,!-,'!-.-, .iiul i:.r
low.ivs. 'II .\y.iw.tys, I'olow.itoinie^, .simix. -I'-i
S.iwkees. lUood 'had alre.idv bee'i shol. al
scaljis been taken. A w.ir paity, ti.ne hii;.'.:.l
strong, were iirowliiig in the iiei-iihur!' :
others might be met with higher up ihi rnr: .1
behooved the tr.ivellers, iherelore. to he i.n"':t'.t.r
gu.ird ag.iinst robber\ or surinise. tor .n Ii:i.m:i
w.ir p.iri) on the iii.iri li is pmne l" :at'< ^'I "-•"
'■•':-^''' ' , . , ,,
In conseipieiice (d this rejiort, wlani w.is .■"■^'•
ipieiitlv contirnied by lurther intelligiMicf. i i;i-^
kept Uj) .It iiiglii round the encaininiK"' ■
all slept on tlieir arms. As tin v wtfrc >'■'
V'. , I s
the\-
ill number," and well supplied with ai'.i| ':!■> ■>
.mmuiiiition, they trusted to be aiile ti ,i.'. *'^
ni.ir.iudmg party a w.inii reception. N';-!.;
< urred, howevei'-. to midesl them on t'lcr ^ ■ i-
aiid on the 8th ot Ajiril they c.ime la si'^r.t '^i V
O^.igc. On their .ippro.ich th.e tl.ig v..i^''i-
on the !ort, .md ihey s.iiuted it b} a "'''"';"5'
tire.irms. Within .i stu.rl disl.iiice oi die 1 'i' ■
an ( )s.ige village, the inhabit. mis ''* '■'•'""' '''
women, and children, thronged
water side to witness their laiidmtJ
first persons they met on the river l>in-<
Crooks, who h.iil come down in .i bo.'t. w'"'
men, tmm the winter encaminneiii .r> Ni"'*
meet them. ,
rtiey remained .it I'ort Osage a 1 'i", ^ ''
d.iys, (luring which they were hospil-i ' ; '
* JJradburv. Travels In America, p '7
itoMl ■'
1 1'!,:- ''.
'iiiil tho .lows 1- 1
■•"■■ Tt,„u-: :'.
■'Hind hini, |„. . ,
■'' subiriiaii, ,. .,'
'iiiisul :h, ,,,.'!'
' '"■ lHi>h,d ,,„|.
' 'I' lii> I rail,,,,
tii'its kiii,wiiii,„
iin(l,ilU-|';,-,ii,
!''■' r. ..rnviM sj-
••\|Hri,.|uv which
"'• . \^t, \\i!h a:i
I liw rcroli.,., iw.^,
il nil 'li. ■' ■ ^ .^1
'^"I'll'lt', wiiUt
II l!i'm. A'.M-,;.
'•|^l li,i/,inl,. oniv
Hu' v,i-.i|iraint',',
H'Otlicr, a lin!i:i(l.
'it. IlinMii-r !:!'
ii'^i-', hi; is al'Aio
aiul iIk! niua' ,111-
tr.ii tni-hii'."!:;s
''ilUT imm iv.il.
■<-s lit ilii- I'a,-,:',
1,1,' n . iml\ mi;.
itn liifiu, i'lal.ir.;-
lii-< lu'iik a^iiiii;
tile liU'llHT. liju-
ol m-\-c:m1 ua'.ts,
iC llMVl-iilTs, .ini
.!.!■ Ml^SO'.lri l:>.
; ul \\u: ;i.ii I':
Inilr Iro'Uiiiv;,.
ri( liiu'ioti i;u:
il ■.\ilNlli hi; !,.i'l
I <n\]) \\\v,) !'.;•
K,i;,'r.s .im! i:;?
t<\ sluii, a'li
ti.rir liu;.i.:vJ
ii!.i;^;ilii>rhii"'' :
ip the nvr : ;;
n lie iinr.:i Cu'ir
ir .11 Iii!m:i
i.> ,ni-> u: ...;•
lull W.b .■-■,.'-.■
,'fnic. a L;i,.ir;
MHi|Minnt, ."i
'. \.cri- iiv.!''.:!
,. 1, J. u- .,;,v
\..t!;;i- -
1 Tii'ir \...i'.;e,
•^ V. a-. '■.i>irl
1 i!i.M-li iC" ■
i; t!-.!- 1 in v.i-
.! a'iiiII. T, ",
.li.^i! :■ ;ht
I ini" ''■ I ■■
,I!K U '- ^'•■
, ...1. wi'.'l ;:li'-
,11 Xddrwi. '.'J
1 ,r' <<i '-'■"■■'
t.iM-, fi-i-'-
ASTORIA.
.It t!ie fj.i
rrisnn hv I.ienttMinnt lliowiisiiii
Iwi!'
lUs.it;'
;i tciiipiT.uy luiiini.iiu
'111
well' re
ai»i
Willi .1 Ns.i
r-tiMst ,it iIk; vill.i^jf ; tlic
w.'rrii
)rs luivmu ri.imiifi
1 (nmi il .Mil I f-.s|ii
flor.ij .It,'
MlllS
II siMlll''
nil
(• lliW
i)",, in \slii( Il tlii'v h.ul t.ik
til
jtti.Miii.li;
lallihfir-.
I'.y I hi' '
paii'ins .v«
Tl
~f wore I
i.ir.K
le.l
III! pdlcs alldUt
tnllowi-il In ilif w.nriors dti
kt<l
iiiiy.
sn.ikos hci^.m tn vi
339
iivrr from tlicir
tiiipui- ,nul I i.iwi liirlli jiild (l.iy, and the iu-ii;lil
to have I )(■(.;!»
Iiury, in the
t'lUIH
a SL1I--
out III
(iriiaiiifiits, .nil! Iiidi'iniily n.iinlcil
7;c \va
mors, Mr. Hunt and ids coin-
.1^.1111 \wmu'<
I til )i<
ic on ihcir (fii.ua
i II. i^i.'
•iil'P the nvi
r, as tl" Siuii.x IiiIk; iiumiiI Id
I lav Ml u 1 ii"' -i
II, 11 k them.
h(M)(l III tin.' wilitrlilij,' hullsi' irili
much iiiiosti:(l \Mih iticiii. Mr. IJ
ciiursc 1)1 his hoiaiiical rcsiMrcl
inihiii); lumibcr in a hall tuipid .-.late, under ll.it
sldiu's updii tlu' hanks wliieh incrhiing the cm.
toiiinriit, and n.irruwly escaped heiii;,' .struck liy ;i
rallh sn.ikc, which started at hini limn a dell in
llii; roi I., liuL Idrliinately gave liiia swirnin;^ hy ii.s
ra
ttl.
'11
|)i^'euiis too Were lilliiij,''
111
Wdd.ls in v.ist
ini>{r;itory lloi ks
It is aliiid-,t iiicrcdihle to de-
Ull ill''
I p.ir'y '
jd.li'i"
h 111 .\,..il tlii'V aj;ain eiiihaiked, their scrihe the prodi^idus lliylil.i df llie.se liirds in tin:
:nii;ineiitci| to twinty six, by liic j western wildi riiessi/s.
,1 Mr. Cp
[ha.l :H't jirov ■.■<■! If,'
iks and his be
s crew.
r
lev
[simidi
|.i|'r
(i.ru'i-.
V .er, v.lien there was
e lit the Ijoats ; it wa-. dci ,i-
av.
iiilcrv troiii on
'\ ,1 little ilomesl'C disiipline in the
'Tl
I)orii
I'he M|U.iw ol the worthy mtermeter. it
had lierll SO delighted with tin; scalp-
illier totivities ol the ( »s.ige viUagi
I IdUds, ainI iiK)\e
ikin
with
■■ll
They appear absolutidy in
astoniiliiiisr vtdocity, their
wings in.iking ;i whistling .Miund as they ll)'. 'I'lio
r.ipid ex'dlutions ul thcM.' llocks, wheeling aiui sjiiti-
iiig siidd(;nly as it with one niiiid and out; ini-
piiUe ; the ll.ishing (hanger ol color they |iri;...( iit,
as their li.ii ks, iheir breasts, or llie under nan of
their winj.
all- tiirnei
to tl
u- S|)t;cl,itor, a:
ftli. I . she hail taken ,1 jitrong inclin.ition to rem.iin | gul.irly ple.ising. When they alight, il
1)11
till II'.
g"
'IM-, 1.1(1 heen as .strongly ojiposed by her ! groiiiul, tin y coveTw
hoK
;U a ll
•nl, will) ii.Ki I'onipi
lied her to emb.irk. The i ti
.ialllt'
Hiii.iineu
s
ulky
ever since,
\v;itri:t|iu:i I lerre.
■iiiL' no other iniK
le »l
I ti-
ll'
!(■ '.-Ml SlH
rit out of her, and being, pt;r-
ili,i|i>, J i.'.ile iiK|)ired by whiskev
h.id
1 led tl
111.;. a riiiieilv t
t'.ah
nci^li'im^ 'I'll
Id
I the iiidgei, .111(1, before his
iiilvrleri
bel.ib
her
tile bl'. inches (illell bic.lk
Ihu
il ii|ioii
heir
weight.
If
.suddeiilv .sl.irlled w
Idle h
midst
a toresi, the noise tluv in
lie wiiiir IS
\e llu; ro.ir dt
• ul ir
tl
le
uiid ol di~.t.iiil thunder.
.\ llielit of lhi-> kind Id
dcusls devdiirs e\'i;r\ thiii'.i th,il
soi:iii!iv lh.it there is no record ol her having ai it |)asse.> .ihnig. So gre.u \
fshiiiu .iii;. relr.K tory .symptoms throughdiit the the \iciidty ol the cam|) th.U .M
I ■• 1', llighl of
e- '.ir ;'•> food
lie IHimbeiS ill
'.!.'' iii\, in the
ir n! the e.\|iedltlon.
lurse ol a niorning s "xcur.sion,
lle.irl
tl
irec
HI .1 uetk thev continuc'd their vowej-e,
hundred will
I a
.iiiiuisi nil. ess.int rams.
Tl
;iL(l Imtf.ihi..^ ilo.ited p.ist tliein ii
lii.inv h.id di'ilti
-I liie upper (lids ol tl
if nous, though ap|)arently a l.iit
owlmg-piei e.
tl\
.IVCii .1 cu-
nini
.iceonni o[
ne
1 \.iNl luim- I kind ot diseip
ol)ser>'e(l in these inilnense
eil unoii the shore
r.ift
S .lIlll lll.llUlS.
Ildck
s, so Ih.il eacli ni.iv li.i\
1 1 ll.llK (• o
lood. ,\s the front r.iiiks nlu^.t meet wi
I lucking
th I
le
all:'. hied gre.ii llighls of tiirkeydni/.- j gre.ite-.l abund.'ince, .iiid the re.ir r.inks imisl have
^••lne were li.iiu|Ueiiiig on the e.irc.isses, sc.mly pickings, the instant a r.iiik tin Is iImMI th
kl"i
o;:.i;. w arsii.inii'.
,ir all!
ft
n the skv, and others
ve-
iled
oil llie irees, wi
th tl
s;i:., ,i;:i! liii-ir wiie.
ir.i'iv \i-«seii III ii.irbor,
leir backs to tlu;
stretched (Uit to drv, like so
.1 -..l^i'wer.
irkev
-hi!,;
lU'ciding their sails
.11(1 niiliiir .iiir.i, or vrdUlen \ii
v»:iell uli th.e vuii.
IS d
ne ol the most she
le
.111 I iin]iii-,nig ot birds. Its lliglu in I
j lii'niT rc;;iiiiis u! the ;iir is re.illv sublime, eMeiid
iiig slowly .1111
i; .; Ill !i!'!iii-n'.
wings
;iiiil w
lleel
III i:iil Iro, seemmgh wilhoul cxeriiiii
ilti rin;r a le. litter.
imdinosl, It rises in the air, lins over the whole
Hoik,
iie.xt ran
and
t.iki
k ll
its i)l,ice in the adv.ince.
l'
10
ows in its course, ;uul thus the l.ist
is coiiliiui.illy becoming t"ir?.t, .in I .ill by tiiriii
h.ive .1 Iront pi, ice ,it the b.iiKpiel.
'i'he r.iiiis h.iving ,il leni'th su!)hi
did. Mr. I
lint
bl
up the .N|i-.M)
up the
eiie
.impmeiit .iml i ,-.-uiiie.i In,, coui.ie
r
Ir p.irlS' now Cdllslsteil o
if \slioin live VM-re p.irtner:
riy sixty persons
llie, |dhn Reed
.1 clerk ; fortv were C.in.idi.
r,'..r-
ipviv-
I ir.;' I-
folic::
.1(1,111,
but moving
hv
.iiling on the bosom <>
t tlu
or
Tl
ind there were sewr.
lev enih.ir
ked
four
ho.it-.
1 iliip upon llie ocean.
I
■t the
surping the em-
le assumes lor .i lime
si/e, mounting .i sw i\
•1
\' i\.'geurs.
iiinlers.
t w nich w.is
d t
wo liow'-
it/ers.
All
were turnislied
with m.i-.ts and ^ails
"lid 'hgiiiiy ol that
•iii-.i.iken lor him bv
majestic bird
.'IIUI
to be usiM
I'nior.iiit 1 r.iwlers able am
1 wl
1 stn
nil the wind w.is ^uUicieii
tlv f,
ivor-
■.rtli,
1-- oiiiv when
hed.
;..cends Irom
tht
iig to dverpowi'r the i
rrent of the
i'i\'er.
Such w.is the c,i.-,e tor ihe lirst tour or live
i 1 I'oiiiii e upon c.irrion ih.it he betr.iys his ! d.iss, wlu n ihey were w.illed sle.ulily uji the
■■".xiii.--, .iii'l reveaN his c.ii
-'■ .It hand he is
tiff
.1 disgusting bir(
!i.i?e ill
t, .UK
■I ijtii lit April .Mr. Hunt arrived with I
ch,iract(;r. j stre.im b_s' .i strong MUilhe.isler
I 1 heir eiic.impments .it leg'lit \'>ere otteii pie.i
j ant and pieturesijue : on some biMUiituI ti.ink \i
gK:<
oallisome oilor.
i' the st.i'ioii ne.ir the .S'odowa River,
d bi-en (juartered during
us I iie.itli spre.iilmg tree:
wli;
1 .itton
tliem shel
V'VT.-!l... lii.lin Ijodv h.
t ll.M'I'l.R XVI.
•meili;,
■'■^liriii
till r coiitmuei
raiiiv am
1 ur
ll for
-1 a!ti
'■ Mr. Huiit'.s return to .Nodow.i
\\.is r.ipidlv .idvanc
l"i:!'i':-;- lorth with all its
g and vegetation
irly freshness and
ler and
tuel
Tl
le tents were pilcned, the lires
made .md the nie.ds ]irep;ired by the viiyageurs,
and many a storv w.is told, and joki; passed, and
soiiir sung, round the evening tire.
All,
ever, wer(; asleep at .m e.irly hour. Some under
tlu; tents, ottiers wr.ipped in bl.mkels betore tlu:
ih tlu; trees ; .md some lew in the
lin
or hem;, I
ho. Its .liul I, mo,
t)n the
l.inds wl
28lh tlu-v Dre.ikt.isled on one
licli lie .it the mouth ot llu
Nel
if th
k.:
ehr.isk.i or
J'lalic Kiver, the largest tribut.irv vl the .\li:)Souri,
I :((
' 'H'li
u.S
;r i:
H!'i
lir
I t
■ii^
'ii
:M(i
ASTORIA.
anil iihiM
it siv Inindrcil T)V\\c<. rilvnc il< rutilliicnii'
with tin- Mi^Mssi|i|)
This
il Imt
^h.illdU-
iiiij tli<ir inlcntifiii to .-ihandd;! iln
h'Uiih hiiiiic. ( tiic ol tlicsc 11 III
slriM
in tl<
\vs till' ;m imnifiisc (jisi.iiui' thiiui^Mi ;i
\vi(lc anil vcrd.mt valU'S .siu(1|hmI mil ot IioiiikIIi'ss
It (Ir.iws its m.iin Mipjiiics, by M-vcial
]iraiiK
links or hr.iiulu's, Imtn llic Km kv Mountain'*.
Tl
If mo
mil ot tliis incr is fstahiishfd as the di-
\'idinj; )ioiiU between the u|i|)er ami lo\\(
•r Mi
III
e plei eilinj; .lUllim
n, h
.)|'iiif I tl,,
III
two years on the MisMuin ; il
It St. I
>eolluMh,(il,.
ouis, in the tollowiii^r \| I,
I mv
ii's-t.tr
lome \ip tniin iheiuo with Mi. ||
dei lared th.il he iiad enlisted
II!'.' II-
.UK
.souri ;
asi-elit,
»'iinsiiler(
th
e e.irlier \o\,ij;ers, in tin ir toilsomi
toll
pose ol
to return
owinn his
jtrotli
er, .nil
men ly i.u- u- |,j-.
l.l\ \\\^ heell en|iiinri| |,
per,iii
■tore the iiurodiieiion ot sie.iinho.its, I mother, wiiose anxiety h.id hrin .iwiU
ed one h.dt (d their I. duns .leeoinplislied ' the idea ot hii ^oinj; on mk h a wild .ui 1
when lluy reaehed this pl.ue. The p.is>,in;; ol the ' e\|ie(
moiilh ot tile Nehrask.i, iheretore, was e(pii\.deiit I Th
amon:,f lio.iti
sailor>, and
(lit
loll.
iii'>!a:,i
d t
wo St, Ilk hunter-
i.itiiuii to the erossinij ot the line .iinoni.; men w,\s ,i serious , alt. lir to the p.irh
•i'"i M'liiii n:!f.
i'llavwtr;
.1
a roiit'li .11
lehr.ited With like ceremoni, lis .ippro.irhin;;- the region where the) liii^'hl iviir
id w,i^;^ish ii.itiire, praetised tipon hostilities linni the .Siinix ; indeed, t'lrMi'ti.iin'.jii
WHole
the nninitiated ; ;imoii^ whieh w.is the old
tic.il i'lke ot sha\ini;. The river deities, howe\ir, ! sue
h ni
like tl
lirilie. .Ill
f th.
their i.enlons journey, the miu,., ,j
' ■■' ' " impori.mt, 1 ir ii'tS; j.;.
Se,l, Were to
pro
piti.ited by .1 , lianee w.is 'o be ]il.i( rd upon |]i,
the intliition id these null! lioiiors to ' Cm. nil. ins in
)t .itt.uk. .Mr. I
. iM n t'-;
urn \',.:[::\.
be
]i.irrieil h
V ,1 tre.it to the .adepts.
.At t
ored liy .■ir^jumeiits, expostul.iliMns, ,ind iiitn.iiir^
le nioiilh ot the Nebr.isk.i new si'.^ns were to hh.ike the determination ot the luihrchrs
met V. nil lit w.ir parties whieh had re<-ently been
ill
ncsenti'il to them thai tlie\
in the \irinu\-,
Tl
leru W.IS
the frame id a ski
si\ .ir.d seven
hundred miles ;il
vMrr Ui\un
( anoi , ia whuh the w.irriors li.ad tr.ivirseil tlie the Missouri ; th.it they would
river. At nii,'lu, also, the lurid retleetion of im- miles to ^<t lu-lore they ('(uild re u !i ihi-h.ili;
I'M' llie iiMUlh,;
tmii' lMiii:!rri
irelise
tin
w' ill the skv, si
gration ot v;Te.u tr.nts of the pr,
not b
line
Sn
ill.
h tin
tioii ol ;i w hill- ni.m, thniULdioui wliii li '.hiA
leiiiLr m.ide bv hunters so l.iie in the se.isim, ' it thev persi
be exnoseil to ,il
lilS(d risks
Sllji
km
-.teil in .ab.indonin!' him
'A'OU;-;
•l.riin
It was supposi
d t
ie\' Were eaused liv some w in-
their t.iith, he would Hot furnish tlu'in v,i;!i;
liese often t. ike the preeau- ' ^;le round ot .ammunitinn. .Ml w.is in ' ilii ;
(h-rmi;' w.ir iiarties.
tion t ) Sit the pr.iiviis on tire luhiiul them to cnii- ! obstiii.itely
■rsisted in th
tm'iii ; »ii'.'.-
ce.l
1 ll
leir traees
,1
from their ciiemie
This is ■ upon .Mr. Hunt, p,iitl\- iiiiii'.l bv iiiiIi,;!„i;ii,it
chielu- (liiiii' when the p.irtv has been iiiisiui e'
■ I
tu';, and is on the ri'tre.it, and apprelieiisive
]Uirsii!t. .At
friends to l.id in with them, ;is ihev are ant to be
p.irtly li\' till' ]iiilii \' I'l deiernn;.; oduT' !h
rtinn, init his threat in exeeutiou, m
stub time it is not s.ite evi n tur to iind tluir w.iv b.iek to tin
in sav.i;;e luinior, and dispox
.spleen in eaprieious outr,ii,'e. T
d tl
lese si::ns,
.1 sini;le
e siliJiaicm> V,
diet . r ■ li.irui '
> \ent their I iler.
th
ere-
■\u
bo.its now rontinued thia
fe
band of m.iraiiders on the prowl, e,illed I some eourse tor sever.il davs,
;e'.i
11. 1 ta-
tnr S;il:;e de;..;ree ut vi;.;ilanee on the p.
tr.ive;l.-:-s.
rl lit tl
Alter II IssilV'; the N'ebr.isk.l, tl
]i,irt
ariv
(V hal!
f.
of the ri\i r.
ties caused ,i \i^il.iiit wateh ti
W hen the i ii \\ s elii'.illllied
he l.aie sij^iis ol iiMimir.: uMrp/
k
davs on t!ie b.mk ot the ri\er, .a litth
on
1'
illion (.'reek, to si
a stm-k ol o.irs .and poU
ppK' tllelllsehrs With <
lot i
Iroin the toueh wooi
vi^'ilam e supeilluous ; loroii the \-<<^
entb inst.int there \\,i, .a wild ,i:id
eleven Sioux w.trriors, st.irk ii.d-
Ihi.
whiih is not met with higher up the Mis- | h.iwks in their h.inds, riished ini'
\Vh
i.e the vowe'etirs were thus iic laipiei
were inst.intlv surrmmdei
. U ai ! 'l:
, V. :iiT'.'
ti:e a.'iur.lllsts r.imbled o\er tile .adj.aieiit loiintrv ' their le.lder e.alled out III Ills !'
to eol
bluff-
laindi
t pi. lilts.
}•■
th
e summit ot .i r mire ot trom ;inv violeiiee, and iceieiidr I i i 'i ii-r!
on the opposite side ol the ri\( r, about t\\o ' paeiiie in his inteiitioi
It
titty leel hii;h, they had one of tl
thev Were a n.irt ot tin
i.ir'.v
till'
\.ist .and m.iLjnilu eiit priis|)er;s wl
uiid
sometimes
lintoiil themsehis in these bo
ess re'Mons.
wIm:
rivia-
e.i.liMi' li.ul beiai seen ,it III,'
^!!P.t;
I'latt.
e. .ind t!ie retlei tioii
low irn'm was th
e v.ilii
V ol the M
seven mile
d
'*!'
in lire, Kith. <
en.imelled \\itl
111 tlie
l!nW.
issdiiri, ,abiiiit
tresli \rrdure
bi'ell (lesi Tie;! in the ,iir
i"
lev
pointed or defeated ill their t ir.r. . ■''
S])ersid with i lumjis and j.;ro\isnt noble trees, b
t'.veeii wdiirh the mi''-litv river imhi
intri'- r.ij^e .mil mortiln .ition these el
'.I a v, .in.
Us inrbu-
•nt
turbid streiiii.
he mil ri'ir
ll th
( iiiMlry pre-,rii
W iste III
Inlls, 11 it above eighty leet in heii^dit, but extreimlv
devoted the
desper.lte art
w.ir. ,iiid in (Ire, 1(1 n
h
ir clothes to tae meili
Indi.m br.e.is
nted .a siie,^rnl,,r si cue ; the immense ' case thry sometimes
bmken \ip by innunii-r.ible <,'rei n : orn.imeiits, devote tliei
•oll-
thn
ai ll
. t ' ;
I .
steep.
mil
ai iitely ])oinlei| ,it their summits.
id .att(aiipt s(
lilt; line o
f bluff
•r th( ir
di
ime re(
s-rai c.
k!<
\\i
expl'Hl '.V!
le Id .r.\
S cteiH
led U
mile
ir upw,ar(
ir.dlel to the .M
I of thirty I p.artv ot v. hiti
men t!i:it iaa\- tl
issouri, w ilh ,1 slia
Hi
sireli hiie'- aion^r their b.
wav
cinfT tirne
lak
d .ab
had
ot the ri\ er.
■Ih
Ike was ( n\irrf| with .aiiuatic
|e,a\i-S II
pi,
e surtai e ol
uus, on the tl
dentiv
this
Sill ll w
IS the expKan.ition
t v.hii h numbers of water-sn.ikcs
fori
1 b\' the LO-ni.al w.iniilli of
spriii'', waa-e li.iskmir
m the sunshine
On the 2(1 ot M.ay, ;it the usu.al h.eir id emb.ark-
th
e camj) w,is
irown into some co
iittis
iwu of the liuntcrs, iiamtd Harrington, express
y
on, the halt lireial inter|ireter, o
sioii into the cimp ; and the p.i
;iven ii\
this
per,ate(l when .i|)pris((l (
if th.
, Wfli'^
■•viia!i..i>
turns of the prisoiurs
tli.at thev wii'c :•"■ ■"
them on th.' simt. .Mr. Ilunt, Iihw.m''.
his usual moder.ation .and humanitv
crto 1
that thev should be
one o
t th
b(jals
iiuna-ved .n
ihrealil'iiiii:; lla-i"i
,.|,„i ,1.1111
the I'vi"
l,'j"tvr,
Jiijut 'I
ASTORIA.
••ui
' "''">|HMiii,inw|
■"llHMiMin -
'• "'"'' I!.-:,,,'
"'■I' iy '-'r li,. ,!'.'.'.
nil |ilT>t|;. .1, l'
■'' '" ''i - \i;!
a \mU\ ,iivl „is!,;.
"fs ;in,l i,|,|„j ,.,,:^,_
l'''IIV. fMr||;,vv,-
tlif\ m.irii, ;.^|„, .
''•'I, l'iri.|l;r[,,,|;|.:,.
I'V, lill' M-li;,.., .
rt.iiit, : .r i,;t:,. ;
1 llli' ■. il,,r el t .
Mr. lltim, !..!•'.
the lu^i hr .;hri!
tllry UlTC lclW(i ;
■l"'\l' tllL' Ili.Ulh,;
• '■'•r tour lni:i:lrt|
. Ulli.'ll •.hr\ MOU;,;
siiiril.riln!ircl,
lliill „l„| iirtikii'i;
I tlu'iii v.i;li:.>;-
\S.li in '.lill ; li'.
i--'llU!Ml| ; u|,.,'_.
I I'V inili;;„,;i.n,
■;, (UhiT^ !i.,n;,: .
II in, .ihil !i!: ikf;
n!c;iicnis \'.i!'mi;;,
' r I !i.n\'i ;.( I'nn.
; .;..\V
.. ::! 1-.,..
r:. ■! ;.;'
■ iirrr;;!
Mliiilii;
•x.tr n.ir-
k 'l.t 1.,
..I !K'i::
!•'■ : I.'.:
\\ . ■ "■■
W^:'. ..
"r -. .
!' .llT.li
'.■:;. ,i!.i
.■•', V.
. '1 ■•
' ' ' lU
ii-rf!|"'
l..l'.ll-l-.
',, .,><
1 . h:
i'r!'-f..
! I.MU.
\' ' iii. ■.
::ir >'v
]•■'. '.1 ' '
■ ■ ■<.-i".
i'.ti''
,, i !..'•
I 'i •...
1; , .11: 1
'; (■■'■■:
:l l. .in
. i-lJ
■'•i:. :i
•I
.. -In
:\>vA
■■.s 1.1
1 , 'I-
; ^[li^!.
1,1, ;i
1, .
11
!,l t''t'^'
1 1''
;.'; ;'y.'
■. 1 icr
■; I),i'l.
lill-- i.ii
! ii.in.'
, •.\i'ii'
., 1 r\.l'-
i:,'i.iri.ii
ir :mi- >
>' I'Ui':;-
; . iili..;
\s( M-r.
l-MTICi
tV. .111.1
M-.!<'re:l
ip-S tiic
1 'vcr in
iiiii, !.
jWO'T,
,,.i-lh,:l
^iihciTMin 'liMth, if again r:uin»it in any l.osiil.;
"'('in ihe loll) III M.iv ilir party aiiivc.l at llir
,i.,u,,i ipnjnouiiCL'd nm.iwliaw) vill.iK'', ahout
,i!,|',' liumlrcd .md tlnriy nulcs ah.nc the tiKUitli
./tlK .\lis.>ouri, an.l cncampcl in ii^ nciKlil'-r-
hojil TIk- villand wa.s Mlu.ilcil un(l(.T a lull on
ilu'iiiiikot tlu: nvcr, and coiisislcd ot alxmt ii>;l\ty
I,, i,s Tlifse ut'i't: i<t a iinular ami (•(iiiual
|!,.'ii ,iiul al)OUl siMfcn Icet in iliamclcr ; hcinj;
p,,ri' Kills ol drcNSi'd l)nll.do skills, sewed li.-
.iiul sticttlii'd on iiiii^' poll'-,, iiiiliiic(| i().
.ml cull DliuT 11) as ti) I russ ai .ilniiit li.ill llicir
ln!"hl. Hui- lilt: M.ikfd lops ol llic jiDlfs (InciKi;
I'irLiiha maiiMiT that, it tlii'y wi lo (dvitimI will)
i,;.i> like liii; lower fiuN, tliu tent wmilil Ik-
;,i|icil like an lunirniass, .iiid present the appcar-
,,i,.,.,if one emu: inverted dh tin: apex tit aiiuilirr.
Tlir loniis (it Indian lt>d),'es .irc wDriliy ot atieii-
tiuii, t 11 li iril'f liaviii);- .1 ditferent moth; ot sliap-
11,4 .iml jirran^'inj; tlieiii, so that it is c.isy to tell,
ii'r«riiij,' a li)ilj;e or an emampment at a ilis-
\v.'X'-\ ID uli It tnlx' the iiili.ilntaiits belong'. 'Ilie
tv'.iTi ir ut llie "iniali.i Imi^ts have olleii a ^'.ly
;mi| f.iiu ilul ,i|i|nMr.ini e, heiii^' iiaiiiteil witli iin-
liuLiiLii; l);mds nl rcil or yidlow, or (Icioratetj
Willi riiik: lij;iirf> ol horsi's, deer, ;ilid luilt.iloes,
aid uil'i liiiiu.in I, lie., p.unteil like lull mumiii^,
I 111 ar.u live leet broad.
Ihi' dni.ilias were once one of the numerous
,.;i I liiuvcrhil tribes ot the prairies, vyiii^; ill w.ir-
iiki iiiij;lu ;ind prowess wilb the Sioux, the I'aw-
ni-is, llie Saiiks, the Koii/.is, .uiil the l.it.ms.
Tiiir wars with the .Sioiix, howexer, li.id thinned
ti'iiir r.iiiks, and the small pox in 1S02 had swept
I'll ;>u) thirds ol their nunilur. At the time ot
Mr lluiu's visit they still lio.isled alioiit two liiin-
liivi u',uiii)rn .iiid luiiiters, but tliey aii' now t.ist
;;i''iii:i^ away, .iiid belore loiij; will b/ numbered
,1.11 .il; those extiii.i,'iiished nations id the west tli.it
1 , ^' !nu 111 tradil 11)11.
11. 'IIS eorrespiiiideiiee with Mr. .Astur, timn this
;m:vi; ot Ins jniiine)', .Mr. Iliinr. oives ,1 h.id ae-
I'li.iU :)[ the liiiii.iii tribe's bordering;- uii the rix'cr.
'ili'.'V ueie ill coiitiiiii.il w.ir with e.ich other, ,iiid
rwirs were ol the iiuisi h.ir.isMii;
.. .;. nut merely td m.un 1 onlliei-,
■ "t in )ini-iit, invulv in^j the Liekinj^s, buriiinv^s
. ;:i.is-..i'irs ol towns ;ind vill.ij^fes, but id indi-
;'.iii .ict-i ot tre.u liiT\ , murder, .uul iDld-blood-
iJi.riiy; or ol v.uiniin;^ and l.iolhardy exploits
' ''.^Ir u.uriors, either to .ueiii^e some persoii,il
'^i;; Hrti.iiii the wiinolorious trophy ot a .se.ilp.
■ :ii:ieiy hiinler, the w.inderinj^ wayt.irtr, tlu'
T ;,ii:iw eiiltiiii^r wood or j^Mtherinj; eoni, was
1 ^lif 111 he surjirised and sl.iu^lilereil. In this
■^.1;, Iriliei Were eiijur swept away at oiu c, or
.;r,iilii,illv thinned 0111, .uul sav.i^e'lile was siir-
"'"lilei v,iil| const, mt horrors am! .-il.irms, 'I'hat
;:i-.M.u'. I icil iiu'ii shoulil dimmish trom _\e,ii to
;.i'i.''. .Mid 1-I tew shoulil survi\e ot the numerous
"'■•':'-. «liii ii evidently once peopled ih.e vast re-
., ii-i 111 ihr .vest, IS nolhiiis; surprising' ; it is
n.inr ni.ittei- 111 siirprisetli.it so m.inv should sur-
i;: liir the exisienci' id .-i s,iva>,fc in these parts
iii> little better than ,1 prol(in^;ed .mil all lieset-
•:K ilcMth. It is, in but, a ciricature id the
( iii\-.ilr\- 111 Its
iii^ht-err.mtry
■'■'■'^I'-d run, 111. e nf leud.il times
• I'.'"'- .ind iiiicultund sl,Ue, ,md
■ "■" v'lld.
, '■' iiHir more prosjieroiis tl.iys, the ( »mahas
■ '-^'^ ii|Hm ihelilseives as the most jiowertul .and
^''Tiwi lit hiim.m heinjrs, am! considered all cre-
■""' ''hint's ,is made tor their ]ieciili,ir use and
""■■"tilt. It is this tribe ol whose chief, the la-
Kiiit! ; coii-
iiid evpedi-
nioiis Wash-inj^jjuh-sah-h.i, or ni,irkl)ir(l, sui li
sav.i^;e ,ini| rom.intic stories are told, lie h. id
dieil about tell \e,irs prexious to the arn\,ili)t
Mr. lliini's ii.irty, but his n.iiiie was still min-
tioned \Mlh awi; by Ins |ieople. lie w.isoiieot
the lirst ,imon;4 the liidi.m t liitds on the .Missouri
to de.il with the white traders, .did showed Kr'al
s,ij{,u:iiy in knyiiiK his roy,il ilues. When a trader
arrued in Ins \ili.ijje, he caused all Ins yoods to
be brought into Ins lodt^e and opened. 1" roin
these he selecteil vxh.itever suiteil his soven i^;ii
|ile.;siire bhiiikets, tobacco, \xhiski'y, ])owili:r,
b.ill, beads, and red p.mn ,iiu| laid ilie artiide.s
on one side, witlumt dei^nin); to );ive any coiii-
pens,itioii. I'lun c.illiii;; to him his luTald or
crier, he would order him lo moiiiu on to|) ot iliu
lodj;e .iiid summon .ill the tribe to briii^r n, their
u.ltnes, ,iiul tr.ide with the while m.tn. I'lii:
odj,'e would soon be crowded w ith Indi.ins briiiLj-
iii^; lie.ir, be.iver, otter, and other skins. .No one
u.is allowed to dispute the prices ti.xed by the
white tr.iiier upon his artitles, who look tare to
imlemnily himself live limes oxer tor llie nood.s
set .ipart by the chii I. In this w.iy the llbick-
liird enriched himsell, .iiid enriched the white
men, and became exi eeilm^^ly |iopul.ir anion),' the
Ir. liters ol the .Missouri. Ills people, howiM'r,
were not eipi.ill) s.itislied by a re;;ul.ition ot Ir.idu
whicli worked so iiianitesily a^.tinsl them, and
liej^.iii to show si),'ns ot discontent. I'ponthisa
cr.ilty .111(1 imprincipled tr.ider revealed a sei ret
to the lll.ukbird, by which lie niiuhl ,ic(|uire un-
bounded sw.iv over his i;,'norant and superstitiou»
sulijects. lie instructed liiiii in the poisonous
i|U,iliiies ot .irsciiic, and tuinislied him with an
ample suppK ot ih.it b.iiiclul tlru^;. l''rom tliis
ti.me llie I'.l.o kbiid seemed elldo.xed with silper-
iiitiir.il powers, to possess the ;;ill ot |iri)phi'i y,
.uul to hold the dis|)os.il of lite and de.itli \\iiliiii
liis h.iiids. Woe to any one who ijuestioneil his
aulhorits' or d.ired to ilispute his comm.inds !
1 he lll.i<kbirii prophesied his de.iih within ,1 cer-
t.iin time, ;md he h.ul the secret me, Ills ot verity-
iiiLf his pro|)htcv. Within the l.ited period the
with stranoe .mil sudden
Irom the Luc ot the earth,
[■'.very one stoud ,iL;h.isi ,it these mulliplieil ex.ini-
plcsot his su|ier!uim.iii mi;;ht, and tire.ided to dis-
|ile.ise so omniiioteiit and vindii ti\'e .1 bi'iii),' ; and
the Ul.u kbird enjoyed a wide .uul imdi^pul'.'d
sw.iy.
It w.is not, howe\er, by terror .iloiie th.it he
ruled his people ; he \\,is ,1 w.iirior ot the tirst or-
der, and liis I'xploiis in arms were the theme ot
youii),' and idil. His cireer had bei;un bv h.ird-
ships, h.iviiii,' been t.ikeii prisoner In llie .Siniix,
in e.irly )ouili. riuier his comm.uid ihe ( bin-
lias (dilained jrreat ch.iracler lor iiiilit,iry prow ess,
nor tlid he permit an insult or iniiiiv to one ot his
tribe lo |Mss unre\ eii;;id. 'llie I'.iwiiee re|)ubli-
c.ins h.i.l mlluied .1 .!;ross iiidij^nily on a t.ivorile
anil tlisiinL;uished t im.ih.i br.i\e. The lU.ickbird
assembled his w.irriors, led them .lo.iinst llie
I'.iwilee town, att.icked it with irresistible tiny,
slaui;htered a ),'real number of its inh.ibiiaius,
.mil burnt it to the ),'rovind. llew,ii;eil tierce .uul
bloodv w.ir a,i,Minst the ( )ttoes lor many\e,irs,
uiilil jieace was etfectcd between them <)y the me-
di.itioii of the whites. Fearless in b.ittle. and fond
ol sij^nali/inj; himself, he d.i//leil his followers b\i
ilariiin' .ids. In attackino a K.in/.i \ill.i,L;f, lil
rode singly round it, loading; .uul discli.irj;ino' hit
rille at the iiihaliitaiUs as he );.illopeil jiast tliem.
lie kept up ill w.ir the sanii' iile.i ot mysieriou.'*
ami buperii.itural power. At one time, when pur.
olteiider W.IS smitten
dise.lse, ,llld ])erislieil
fit- n
:!
I'i
M t I
1
1W'
yrj
s\\\i\^ .\ war p,irl\
ASTOKIA.
the ir tiai l.s across ilip | in.il.u
111
lo.UllsDMU' .1
h ii'i till' >.kill
ml
i;;om/iii^' In iu ucu,'
pr.mif-i, hr ri'pt.ilfilly ilisi liai^'d liis i ilic- iiiin thr j ami \s liu h -ii'i tlii' >kill ami i \|iirii ihimjI (ii,.
■ ' llUf, 1
It .1 i.i
)niiw mailf li\ tluiricH ami l)y lln' limiK ot lliiir | |iiiiirs and ni-jiluiiif iiu'ii al deli
lorsi >, assuniin liis lulliiwcrs lliat ho wmild ! svluli- two thirds i)t ilu" impuLiiinii wi'ri- ,
tlirrcliy i ri|i|ih' tiir tunilivi-s, su that tiny wnuld ! Iruiu iht laii.' i>l the larih, and ilic iK„j|ip
iMMJ) 111' DM rl.ikc'ii. Ill' ii\ l.ul iliil iiMrtaixi' j icsl sii'iiu'd sralfd. 'I'hi' siuitiMu ot tli
tlniu', and di>tr(i)cd them almost tn a man ; and ■ wa-. al an »nd ; llu'v luiamo \siM aiul ^ll•^|.
his \iitiiry w.iM lonsuU red miraiuluiii, linih by j siinu- iri liic to the Milage as ,\ last inr
liifnd and Inc. Ily tlusi' and siimlar lAploiii. | i iui kin^; llic pi-sid- iiii' ; (Hl\cri, m ,i |,,'
I' W.irin,:,
iif niaili' himiilt tlic piuk' and Ihi.i-»i nt his pi
despair put tlu.r \m\cs and * IhIiIitii tu
pli', and iifiaint- pupular aimmn tin in, notvMlh- , ilial liny nii(;hi hr spand llif a>;cinn'. ul
siandiiij; Ins dfalh-di'miuminj; tiat.
lalili' disiasi , and liiat iht) ini^iii .ili ^u i,
III Iht
With all his sava^ji' anil tfrriln- (lualiliis, hi- : hiiirr t luintiy
as siMisihli' t)( ihu piiwiT ot ti'inaU' hraiits, and j W lu'ii tin ^;riuial hiurorand iIim
M.IV \V,h
ipalili- of liivi*. A war party nt thf I'muas had , ht'i>;lil, llu; I'.larkhird hiin-.ill was sIiikL
niailf a tnr.u into the lands ot llu' iMnahas, .im
ilh il
It' niaiad\
1'
If Jioor s,u,iv;fs. whin !;;.
arriiil o
III.
It a nninlur ot women and horses. 'I'he ■ s.iw their iliiet in il.in>;er, liiij;tit ilitir
nl w.is roiiseii to tur\
took the lield ', el Its. and suiloliiuled hlsihmi; litij. jj
in\ii H
with iili his lira\es, .swe.irin^ to " e;it tipihe I'om ,1 ^ n.int s|iirit, ami ins lo\e toi tlie wluif niiu
n.ition" the Indi.in tlireat ot lAternuii.itinL: w.ir. iMiieed ii\ lii?, I.iiest lire.illi, will
i> (1.
The I'
oreh pressi'i
I, took I I'tiiiJi' Ik hind
n.lle'
nis III. lie o
I s
liiulture
I wiatli lifili
It W.li tolif,
(le liiilw.irk ol eartii ; Imt the lll.u klnrd kept hill or promontor), ii|i\v.ud ol tour liumlnil: a
tip so ^allm^; .i tin
tli.it
he seemeil III
'U I
o e\e- in lui);ht, o\ei looking a j;"''' e\li m .,! tlit; Mi
I uie ins tm n.ue. In tluir estremitv they sent soiiii, troin wheiue he li.id linii .ulUM. n.i
tortli ,1 her. lid, he.irinj; the e.ilimiel or pipe ot , \satv it tor the li.irks ot tin- wiiile nitii. 11, f
pt-aee, hill he w. is siiot down by order ot the likii k- ! siiiirl w i .lies llie li.ise ot tlie promniui'i..
)ird. ,\notlier Inr.ilil w.is sent forth in simil.ir , .dier windiiij; .iinl douliliiij; m in. my Iiiim
iflli.se, hut he sh.ired .1 like t.il^
rmici eiiief m.i/es in till- |il.iiii lit low. retime tr. Willi
hundred \.iiil< of its sl.ii tin^-pl.ii
llieii, as a List hope, .'irr.iyt d his lir.iutilul daiij,'li- liuiulreil \.iiil. ot its si.iiini^; pl.u •• ; s.i iii,
ter in her finest (n'n.iim nts, .md sint lit r toiili tliirl\ inih s n i\ i^;,itin;; wilii s.ul .nicl (mi, ih,
willi .1 r.ilunu t, lo sue tor pe.ue. The eh. inns ot .iK'''' Innls hinisell t oiitiiui illy iumi to ih.s s
tlie Imii.m ni.iid toiu hed tlie stern iii'.irt ot the lar proiiioiuoiy .is it s|)t II hoii
1!
aeeeiited
Ih
e jiipe at ill r
h.iml.
It
W.IS tlie dsiiiu' tonim.iiiil
tiif
i;:
sinokeil It, .iml li'om th.it time .i ptaee took pl.iee that liis lomli .siioiilil he ii|ion tliu siiinniit -
bt'tween the I'oiu.is .iml liie • )!ii,ili
in wluth
sliould be iiilerifii, s'mIi.
■|1
uilitiil damsel, in all proli.ibility. w.is , liis l.ivorite hoi^f, lii.il lie iiiiKlU i mtIohI^ lii'
tlu- t.norite wife whose t.ile makes so tr.ii;ie .in ( ieiit doni.iin, and t)ehold the h.irks ul tli'w:
iiu'iileiit in the slorv "f tiie Bl.nkliird. lb r vouth
ami be.iuty h.id j;.tined .m .ibsolute sway o\er Ids i people
nun as Ihey i .uiie up tlie riw r to u.
rugi^ci
.'ill hi
iri, so th.it In- ihstini;iiisheil
lur ai)o\e
s iitner wives.
'I'l
e h.ilntu.il ^r.itiin .ition ot , eorpse w.is p
Ills dyinjr orders were l.uihtul
.istrn
ollt'Vl
if his \\.ii'si''i'il
his \ llidli'll\'e impulses, liuwe\'el
troni liim all m.isterv over ins n.issions
d l.ikeii .iw.i\ mound r.iised o\fr them on llie siiiiiiiiil ui
d
ill.
( Ml lo;i ot the imiuml w.i-, i ;i'i te.
dert il liim li.ilile to the most tiirioiis tr.iiisports ot tnun wliuh llutlered tlie b.uiiici i
Il tlie i.li'.f'
r.i-e.
110:
In one ot these
lorimie to otleiid him, when sudihnlv dr.iwm
llltul wile h.ld llie .md the si .il|)s th.il he h.id l.ikeli ill iMtlif.
his kiiiti, he l.iid lur ilead al his feel will
1 .1 sini;li
llie e\|>cdllioll under Mr. limit Vlslleil ili.i;
e 1 ounii'S', the si. lit still reiu.iiiu'il \\:
Ir
..1 ih
tr.mnii'iil-
tile li.iniRr
,iml
Ih'
:.U|"
n .'in inst.iiu his lieii.'v w.is .it .m end
II
c I rite of pl.ii
lood li'om lime lo ttiA'.'
.1/1(1 lur a time in nuiie hewiidei imiu upon his mound, tor t
\i''.ilii; llieii ilr.iwiiu'' his luill.ilo r.
u-.i'i, III s.it (!
iWll 1)
r 1
ilde tile < oi'i
ill' over Ins served
Old rem.iin-
llllo illsUst
le Use of the dr. r.i>t'(l, W.i^ "l-i
ly the ( im.ih. ,. 'I'll. It nil' ii i^ siH"' '■■■
tor the icilie itsell is ,lilnu.^I i'\!-
iiMoiliiiLT o\rr Ins crime .iiid Ins los
N'et the hill III ih" iH.u kbird i oiiiniiH - .i'' "'"
uav
Cl
liiistMl, \el llie
■,11't
eoiiliiuii'
SI
lent
nut
i| \'el
ler.ilion li Mil- w.iiii
niouonle-,
sleeiiit ss.
It
i.isiim; no
w.is anort
•liemi
lllil .ipp.ireiiliv
eil ill, it lie llili'lideil
l.iiitlm.irk to tl
II' voy.i^
t r III
lerin
the
.Mi^
the ti\ili/ed tr.r.eller eoiiies willnil -i,;;
to staiif liimselt to de.itli
him 111 trembling' awe, , mil enire.iied Inni mui
Ins peoplf .ippid.ielit
I
^pell-lioiind eresl, the mound is poiiilt'i
more to iiii
m live
r ills I.
and lit; eomtoiii
he remained unmove 1. At leiii^th one ut
lull
I mil •
lioin .il.ir. wliieii still im loses the '.;r;!li sh>-
>t the Imli.m warrior .md hi.s linrsi.
warriors lirou^lii in ,i sm.ii
.lyni^ It on
llu- j;r'uiiid, jil.i. id the tool ot the Illarkbiril u
Its I,
ol ot till
Hoon
ly savage w.is
louel'.rii by tills .ippeal ; he threw aside ins robe
ni.ide an iiaf.ilij^ile upon wli.it he h.id done ; and i
CII.M'IIIR .Wll.
Will! r. Mr. llimi
d
his p.irtv vMii ■• '
^l ■
trom lliil lime lorw.ii d seeme
1 I
o ha\f llirow 11 llie
loai
I ot
t .md remorse liom his mind.
■nil rei.iiiifd Ins t.ital .-md i
in siiMioiis se-
bk
avert 11 Ir.im
with It his terntu: ])ower ; but, tliou>;li
li'.il de.ilh to his enemies, lie i.oulil not
iii^; .it the vill.ij^e ot the ( 'in.ih.is, llae
di.ins (it the V.mkton Aiin.i triiie anucl. i;-
in;,'' unple.isant intelli^em e. I liey n'i /rii' :
tilt, nil b.iiids III the .Sioux Tetoiis, wlm "'I''''
a re^jioii in. my
.leiies tiirtlnr U|
M;'
iimseii or
his tri
sniali-po\', tli.'ii dreadful jiesi
In 1.S02 tl
Were near ."it hand, .iwaiHii^ tne .ip
e )iarly, with tin: .ivowei
d intention ot iiii|ii!--.i'.-i
lU'cr ilie land like a lire i
re over llu:
Heme , Willi II SNM'pt
pr.iirie, m.ule its
in the villaj,'e ot the Omahas. 'I
i
ic Sioii.x
'let
oils were
.lies ot the Missouri, wiii
:it ill. It tinu ,1 -1
1 1 1)11 .iilrii'il til''
puij:
b.iw- with dismay the ravages ol a | irciyhted bark of ihe American
tic:- lair
,111. t.
tu'iii lur sii|
"t lilt- Il'.a. I,-.;..
Ilf siliniliu illii.j
llTlfll, ^'Mlu. Ml
I lU'lindk llli.i,.
iflv. III t!i.-u:i-
I U.iili- \w'.ii ;.■
ASTORIA.
nn
Th.'V ii.T
(tiiniH
1 iliclr own IrafTic \\\\h tlu* Piritlsli mcr- ' |iiMt; .iml colliTiin^r peltries, ;iihI to aw.iii l.n ;ir
(ihi-norlliwrM, who l)r<iii>;lit ilicm rcKU
slDllIll"' "'
I'icr.
,1 nun h.milisf liy w.iy <>» ilir river
lIciiiL' tluis iiulepeiident ot llie Mis
rn.il at Mune littti
•(' pi-rmi
As MHiri .IS tlie (Ictarhment had had snllieicnt
time I'l asi-riid lievoml ttie hii>>til'' coiintrs' of tlie
li irulfi"'
VMlll
tor ihcir Mi|iplii's, thi-y kejil no j Simiv, Mr. (rmiks suddenly limke up his |ei^;nc(l
(liciii, till! plundtTed ihcm whenever trailin;.,' esLililislimeiit, eiiiliarked his men and
!i iil'.iii ''IM""'"""')' • It has Iteeii insimi.iled itleets, ;mi|, alter H'^'"!-! '*"' astonished rear-
it tlicv were proinntiii t" these r)iitrav,'es In the ' j,'iiaril nt savages a t,Mllinij .mil indi;,Ni leit nics-
'i-hmcrih lilt--, hIio ^^i''he(| to ki-epnll .ill n\ als ' sii;e to take their eiiiintrvnien, piishe(| dnwii the
'111- Imliaii trade; hut olliers .ille^e another i ri\er w ilh all speed, spariii;.; neither oar imr pail-
•ii\i
;iii(| cine savoring; ot a deeper pniiev.
■|h
(lie, (lav no
(ly their iiilereoiirse with the ISritish tiaih'rs, i nl the-x- river hawks.
r nit,^hi, until t iirly lii_\o
ml tl
swoop
[>y
.i((|ilirei
<\\v Use III lireariiis, wlinli h,id I What mere, iseij the irritalinn ol Messrs, (Jrnoks
tluMH v.'si siipe
riorilv over other irilie
mil M'I.ell.in at this niortilvini^ chei k to their
lm;nr iiji
the Misso'iri. '1 hey had made them- I j,Mintiil eiilerprise, was the intorm.ition that a
ri-
.51 Kl'H
. sii, ill a Miaimrr, laiiois lor the upper ' val trader was ;\l the bottom nt it; the Sioux, if
supi'lyiiij,' theni ,it second li.ind, .ind at I is s.iid, h.i\in^; heen insti^j.ited to this outrage hy
illV .11
■ uhil'- Ml
Ivained priies, with ^joods derived trom I Mr, .Manuel las.i, the le.idin;^ partner and .ii;ent
Mieii I tie Siou\, tlierelori', siw with i n( the .Mi>siiuri l-'ur('o'i)p,in\ , .ilriMdv mentioned.
,1' mv
V the .Aiiierie.in lr,i(lers piisliinv,' their w.iy
Tl
■il
IIS intelll^'enee, whether true iir lalse, sii |ciu-,(.'<i
upilic Missouri
I ireseein;; that the upper trilies 1 the liery temper ot M'I.ell.in, th.it he s\
it
V mill
thus he relieved trom .ill depeinleni c on I ever hi- tell in with l.is.i in the Indian country, h
M jiir siiiiphes
iiav, w h.il w,is worse, wouli
iiild shniit him nil the split ; .1 mode cit redresH
liirnislKil with lirearnis, .ind elewileil into tnr- I perleetly in uiiiscm with the eh iraeter of the man
I .iililili-riv.ils. i .ind the inde nl lionnr picvali'iil liesmid tie- Iron
\\i' have nlreadv alluded to a ( .ise in whirh Mr. I Her.
frouk'* and Mr. .M' I.ellan had heeii interruplei
It Crnnks and MT.
id liccn exasp"r.ilrd
, tni'liiiL' viiv.iire hv these rultians of the river, In the insolent eondin t ot t!i' Sioux 'I'etdiis, .and
aii'l
ciiniiiiiiu'es
it IS ill some de^jree eoiinei ted witli iii- ilie losswhieh it li.id oeeasn
)ned, those treehooters
liter to Ir! rel.iti'd,
ill
s;ifiity il mure p.irtn ii
irlv.
id lieen no le->s inilij;nant at hein^r outwitted liy
the white men, an
I 'li
s.iiiiiointed (it their antiei-
,\iiiiiil two ve.irs helore the time ot whii h w(
ited
■aliMK
(re
d M '{.(dl.iii were ascend
j,Mins. and it was ,ippreliendei
tl
lev wo
Uld
III' p.iltieularly hostile .is,',lilist the present e\pedi-
111^ ihr rner 111 hoats with .i Jiarty ot about tnrty tion, when tiny should leirn th.it tie-
It! Ml
leli
nici!,
mill nil one ol their tr.idin^ expeditions were i'n^(a',,'ei| in it.
til till' uii'ier trihes. In one ot the beiuU ot the
.Ml tlicie causes of uneasiness were concealed
;re the 1 h.imi
m.ide .1 deep curve under
as miich as iiossi
ible I
rom the ( '.in.idian voviv'eur,-.
iprivliiij,' I). inks, they sudden!) licird \ells and | lest tiny should become intimid.ited ; it w.is i
m-
.ini:^ aliiiv
e them, .Uld heheld the i litts overhead I possible, howexer, to prevent the rumors broiii,dit
iTnl
With .irmeil sa\aj;es. It
iiand ot ' i)V tlie Indi, ins trom le.ikin;^ out,
and thev liec ime
.Shiu\ w.irrinrs, iipw.ird ot si\ liindred slroiii;. ' subjects ot ^ussipin!,' .'ind e\a;.^}^'er,itioii
il.indisheil their we.iiions in .i men
aeiii;; I chiet ot tla' ( imahas, ti
on returniii'^
■I'lii:
Inmi .1
i-r, .iMil (inlend the bo, its to turn b.ick .ind htintii
ill 1 1.
Ul 111
e ri\er.
Tl
excursion, reported th.it two men h.n
lere w .IS no ilisput-
lieen
|)ower t') ' Slotix
some (list. nice .ahove
b
ot
: ihi'si' ciimniands, lor they had tl
rr destruction upon the white men, without ijaii ti
, l..!l
leiiisrlves. (.rooks .-ind .MT.e'
n.ic
with tei'ined
lal an mteiMinv wi
th tl
,111
al.icrity
le Siouv.
ih
his added to the te.irs th.il already be-
velled. The voyaj,'eurs pietuml to
ihelliseUes bands ot tlen
w.irriors
si.itiuned
Ui l.iih.iile them, under p.ain ol extermin.itiii'.;
■<\:,V.. tmiii .iUem])lm).( to proceed up the ri\cr,
i: ItiTi-'l to trade pe.icetulK- with them it they
,il(ini,f e.ich li.iiik of the river, by whom they would
he exposed to be shot down ill their bo. Its ; or
liiikiii;^' hordes, who Would set on tliem at nii,dit,
d 111. iss.icre them in their encaiiii
iir.i 'lis.
Sonu
I halt where they were. Th
e pari) , !iein;4 jirin
jiisl lieart, am
li''lit their w.i\
iiroposed t'l reiiirn.
r.itlur ih.m
d, in .1 111. inner, run the if.iunt-
I'l !)■ I 'i!ii])')seil (it vov.i;;eiirs. w.is too we.ik to let thrini'.,'!i the country of tle'sc pir.itic.il m.iraui
r'Mrii.l with
so superior ,i lorce
so e,is|,v
In t.icl, three men deserted wliiie .il ihis vil
ij'll-iilfd , dlev pretended, ihe. 'ore. III comply
'irtiilly Willi till ir .irhitr.irv de ition, .mil im-
.I',;!-, l.uckilv
ithers who h
their III, ice W.IS supplleil
l)V
th
ree
ippened to be there, .ind who were
lely pidceedc'd I.) cut down trees ,iiid erect , prev.uled on to join the expedition by promises ot
iiiir house. The w.irrior band denarted tor l lilxr.il ii.iv, .ni.l bv beiii'- tilted out ami ecpiipped
■ir vill.e'i-, whirl
1 W.IS .about twcni . miles (lis- ; incomplete sule.
lilecl
•I I'f th
>i''cts ot ir.allic ; thev left six or
Tl
e irresolution .and disconlent vasihle .ipvm!.'-
eir number, however, ti
I, rep w.itc
it his
•" I'le white men, .ind scouts were (oiitmu.dlv
'iii.i.: "I aii'l tro with iiuelli'remc.
I"'"l
irisiii',.
al tunes .ilmost t i n
tin\',
the
il (1
eserlions whic
took
Mr. fr.iok
s s.iw ih.at it would
he impossili
le tl
111-, vov
1.1.,'e without the d.mjjer ot hav- i elies ot M
pl.aee while thus ,amiinj,f trieiidl)- tribes, .a:i ; within
tl\- to lie anxi-
hii'i '-.^ 'cr to
rca
ch of the trontiers, .added
hint,
.iiiil naiileri'
torw.ird ;ind leave a hostile ti .i t iiehnid
ill- liii;iis plundered, .ind .i i^re.it p.irt ol
iniassaire.l ; he determined, however, not lo inm, so ih.it il would be .is prrilous t.i iriurn .is
iii'Tviy triistr.ited in the
Whik
lie continued, thereti
ijects ot his ex|
ill
to keep on, .ind no one wo
''•■'It e.irnestiH"
th
lid
re, with i;reil
A
ccordiiii,'iy
on the I ^t
nlil d.ire to ih -ert.
h ot M i\
.issiilmtv, the construe
trom the \ill.i''e ot the ( )malias, .'ind set i.
rted
ard
e tr.i'liii.„
:iiu.-r
' ami tr.iii
ikr ih
|)ei
mise, he dispatched t
his p.irty in a canoe
u-
I'lW.ird
th,
louiitrv ot the tormid.ible Sioux Ti
to i tons.
■or the lirst hve davs
th
ev
nr ami
t'lr w.iy up the river t'l the ori'^iiu
iiialiui.
there tc
y themselves in ir.ip
a t,
|)ro^ress.
le wind then (.'.line ahe.id, and lie..' ri\ir iK^jiii-
Iresh b
.mil the lio.its m.ide
ih
i>
n
■<j;'
f.<i
fi; : f|
jiiii!
Hi
li\
"'
341
niiiK
ASTORIA.
to risi\ and to iiirrp.Tio in rapidity, bctoke
iforimvl to tilt' hardy niul nii^i-i'il h,
lUHi
I'd the I'oiunu
lui'iiu'iitut tlie annual tluod, I aiisi'd iiu-n around him, and ot couim' jr;,|,n.j |
hv tiu' nu'lliiisJ (it the snow on till' Rocky Moun- ihnr i-vr-,. lir had a strung; rclihii I
tanis
and the \crn al rams ol tac upper praincs.
ul\ tntiiic, was iui"i>Js m uhsiTv
As thcv wcrr mr.v cnUTUlt;- a rt'i^ion whrrc toes niannrrs and sa\a-i
hl(
>ii- 111 .i:
an 1 ri'aiA
:hi lu' K int;- ni wait n citiu'r
r hank, it was
liunt
''I ',1.1
niuj or nihi T (Arm SI. 111. l.wn \
tcinuiic
d, in h-antiniT tor uanir, to lonliiu- them- cxpidilion w.i> jikx rciin;;- thri>Ui;h .i d.i
>"'v. th.,;:i,.
sclvi's pnncipdly to the islands, whi^di soni;lun
fxttiid to 1. insK
W()(.H|('(I
IcrahU' icn,i;th, and arc hcautiluHy to ramhic. llavini;- ohs
luiuhlinrhood, nc ciudd nut cIk
cr.cd, I
'n ih'! cvi-iii
alt<ir>iini;- .ainindanl pasturaj;!' and the J jd ot May, that lla' ri\cr .ihcail pa.ui(
On uiii
it th''Si' thcv killed three ludta-
licnij which wunld t.ikc up the n.'.M^'.uio-i ,,:
I, haltmi;- on the c<li;-c ct a Icdlnw iii'^' d.iy, he deternuncd tn inMm i,vii„.,
lieaiitil'i! prairie, made a sinnpiu.nis hunter's ic- cc.m^t.incr. < in the mnrmnL; ol tl;r :j,1, li ,
es anil two eii\>, ;.ni
iM->t. ■r!)i-\- had nut loii'' r(sumcdih(ir
ats a
iiil Inif. instead ot cml alkiii'^, lir lillril \;u
pulldl .lU'i!^ th'- ri\cr liank>, when they (h .cric 1 imuih with p an '-.cd ( ihii, t'lr pniviMnus, ,ui i
a (alloc allproa,■hlnv,^ na\ii;ated hy I'ao men,
It 1 1
I crii-,s the net
k Mil t.Mit .iiid 111 ■•.•t I'l-h
w
ii.nil, to their slir|irise, llu v .iscrrt. lined to he in the ailcrniinii ,it the oppusiu side nt ih- '
Mr. Hunt telt ui'cas\- .it his vcatuiiii^ '.luii ,.
wliite men. 1
straPiTe .md tc.irlcss
d til lie V.
.t ;h.
w.indercrs ot the wilderiu"
and reminded liim th.it h
the ir
'Idu'ir n. lines wer
A!
cvandcr Cirson.
1. 1st hunting;- and trai
c Iicnj.imiii Jones
" d I
CliU
atrv : luil Mr. llradliurs in.iilc li''l:'. ii '
lev h.nl liccn tor twn il.uii^cr, .u
hiil; ne.ir the h
id st.utcd oil d
leerr,\ U] ii; li.> r.
the Missouri, and were t
e.id I't Ills d.iv W.IS jLiSscd pleasaiUlv Kl ir.c.
iuis llii.itie,' till- ihiiii- lie.iutitul tr.n t, makiii''- hot. inn .d ,uil -i
kic--h(dl iliiwn .1 turluilent res'Mrches, .an I oliserviiii; the hahlt^ ■ t ,!r.
;.aa(|s v', nines in a iiu
strcim, llirini;.;li rei^inns intcsied l>y s.n.i;.;e tribes,
vet .Ipp.il'entK ,'s e.isv .iiul Uliciill. erneil ,i^ it II, i\-
i f;itin'.r securcK- in tin- midst (/t i i\ ili.-.iti'Hi,
■.i\ e \ dhn^c (it pi. line (hi
■i:
limn lit twM sue
h.irdy. experience'
,it u hu II he '11,1
■I'd incttei tn.d shuts, -a itliuut iiinsiiiiiin^ ;
he run of .ittr.icliin,; the attciiti'iii "1 .iiiv :,
tii.it micht lie lurkiii'i' in tl;(' ici'iiitMirin"
and d,lun•Je^.s Ininters was iieciili.ul'v desir.ih'c t.ict he I,, id tul.ilU InriMitteii the S, r.w ']■
at the preseni iiiiciicnt. 1 lie\- needed In
t liltli
.nd ,lil the oliler pi rils n\ the CdUlUry, 'Ai!'.:i, .{.
pcrsu.ision.
tr.mner
he waldcrne-,s
i, the hi'nieiit the the middle (d the .llIerriiMUl, .is he sIhim!
ike ill
t 111 th
ih'r, h
little to river I), in
d C
imp
d w.is loiikiii;;" uui lnr tin
ic steer-
;im
ones
siiddcnls'
t(dt a li.ilid I. lid
on hi-, '.ami! ir
irsoii rcadilv ah.indoncd their vns.c'e t.i .St. mur and tuiaiic'- round, he l-.ch.el
■ Ills .md turne.l thci'- taces tow.i
rd tr.i- I'xockN
Moir
it.iiCs am
the I>
with .1 iiinv lieiit, ,111'! the arrow jjiiMU-:
breast. In .m iiist.mt his ''un >v.i> li\i\' ■
'I'he two 'i.itiir.ilists, Mr. Tir.i.lbiir-,- .in.! Mr. his h.md unon the h
Tli.- Iiiliin
Null. ill. '.vh'i li.ul joiiieil tlv,- expe.liii in .11 s;. bo\\- still turlher, but torboit' ti i l.iur.i 'i li
.ou's still accomiMnied it, .md pursued ineii re
M;
seirciii > on .il
Mr. Nutt.'.il seems i
llr.idluirs, Willi .idniiraiiic preseiu
led t:i.il Ihi
11 hostile 111 l,i->
ll.lNC in ell exi lUsr.-elv ,|e\ et''d to 111-
aiiihc 'lur- would h.i\ c s
hot 1
iim 'A ithont l: n riu !in
a-.. He ',\.ls ,1 /e.ili.u-. b'H.uilst, and ,ll; his ell- ot d -tem e ; he p.illsed, theletore, .ill 1 '.lei
'isM^m ',\.i-
is pr.iiries.
.ikelled at belioldiii''' ,l nt
I'lie oilier look it ill sl'll t l,'
ipcnim^'' upon him in t.'ie bound ,md deni.inded in tlic ' •s,ii;(
I.UlL,'.
.id 111 the \('rn.il and \.iiii-LMted
it unkn.iwai tl
owe
\VI
111^; Knite, lU' Al
uiieicr the lio.i;, ;iie .illii in.iti\ c, .md iiupiired whil;'r I"
.iiidi
iie.il times, or tor any tciiijior.iry pur- wt re ,i .Sioux. To h
io->e. !ie would spriii'.^ on shore, ;md set dUt on a w,i-i .i I'one.i, piv tl
IS urc.il reliet
lis time I'.^ii "iiii'i'
mn! tor iiew
siiei imeiis.
.\c'i\- 111. lilt or llo.vi
me nmiiiii;;^ up, .md .ill three l,i, I Im .. I'i
o: .1 I'.ire
.•IS a lii'i-'e.
or unknown speci'-^ w,i-> e.iL;eri\' s(a/e I Hr.idbiir\- .md seemed disposed l i . 'tn
l>ell-h.le.
leillsel'.es oiil !ii
'Aith till- tre.i-,(ires siirei,
11111, he went e lo'iini
■t .re 1
Mitt sivitii them .inioiiLj tlic hihs. in-r
iltiiiL; down oil .a s.mddiill. coi.t: i\'
.iIoIIl;' .lliloli^ a w l|;,i riles , III them Willi .1 poi ket Loiup.i
Wle. II li
.and stemlilmi.
s',M its, tor;,'-et!iil ol e\er\thmL; but his minieli.itc ot lliis \^.is ••xh.uistcd, they .u; on si
)iursmt, ,ind ti.id otieii to l)e-,ou'^ht atterwiien the he now proilm ed ,i sm.ill mn o
i/i-l
ho lis were
,ibout to re-,ume their
.\l
ii:. Il limes he '.\
mid b
t.irotf
m tile |ir,iirii
wonder a-.iin lixed the .■illi lllioa ■■! CieNi-
who ii.iM- l.ir more i uriositv ih.m ii li.i> e ' '
ir uj) the Course ot some jietiy sire. iia, l.idi n \uih ( usnun to .illow them. Whih th
.if.'s 1 1 .ill ki'id ■
ot them suddeidv le ip
u^
nil lad
i li '< .111 ii'.ii, voy.iL;i urs -.nIio ar-' .'i 1 Liss ot pi o- wlmop. '1 he h.md ot ttie h.irib ii ilic i
a- th.d know iiothm'f out ot theiriminedi.ite In;
.iLj.im on his ''iia, ,iiii
. it'i eoii-.ntuiion.ii
. ItV 111, ike .1 jest ot ,lll\- ' li.ittU
lie was p
when t!ie liidi.in pointed
■e.lled the true ( il-.c ot 111--
l ,in'4 they c.amoi imd'.a'si.ind. were cxtreineU- and fi
]iu/.d'-i by till-, p.issioii tor 1 illecti !:;• wh.it thev ! m.ist ot one ot the bo c .ippe.irmu
consiiji red mere useless weeds.
\VI
nil t!l'-\ S.IW
willows W
Inch boidered the sticci
the woriliy bot.inist coming;- b.nk In ,c. \ l.ideu w iili biir\- telt inliiiiielv rebc^'c'l b\' the si^ :i.
Ills si.ecimi
and tre,iMirin''' ttiein ui
iiillv
make merry ,imiin;;- ihi;msi-l,
re^^ardiiiL; him a-, some \(,himsii d kind ot n
in.i'i.
ii; ins Oil their p.irt no\c siiowi
I miser \soiil I lis lio.ard. the\ use-| lo , hens., i, ami were disposed to inn a'A.n ;
issuicd tin in ol j^ood ire.itnn nt .md soiii''.
Irink d tlu \ wmild .iccoinpanv him .n heir
hill lie- i;
■s .It his exiien ,e
.Mr. ii
i.its. riii'v lin''<red tor .1 time
W.IS I e s ^ I
ibit
xclusivc ill hi,»i-,tcs 111 tl ire the boats
.line to l.md
s, .ind I ombmeij the himti r .md sport-i
( »n the lolli.wiii'.; nuirmnij they appeal'
lis riiic or his ( .1111]) a. 1 omi.inii
ii till If
ncin -Aith the n.itur.dist. He took
io'.vlm^-pieecwiih him m his geolo'dcd resean hes, With lliem c.i'ine ,ilso a\\ h:i'. man, wlia.
ii;jii:.
ASTORIA.
315
"«:^.''l habi:, ;■..
■ '''''i^li lor ni, ,;,.■.'
'."•'•.His t,',, , ■:;
•^■'■11 Mil'.v, dill .',■',
"■"^'.^li .id'.ir,^.,' '
'^''''^ l<IS |)|„|r-,-
"" '''■■ <-Vrl:i:;.-','(
iliiMiini.ui,. ,,,,',!
lit \\\r
.i''. I.
'"■ liili'd |:i,
|ll'i>VIM(i||S, ,11' 1
;inil ni/vi i'l-l,.
.r >ii!c n! !,';■■ 1
Itllllll^ '..'lUi .;;,
'■^ in ,i:i ,r., ■ ,
:il,|.lr liH^. ,,, .
* ^1"!: '!•■' r.::
Iv in ir.r,.'i;i
■ ll .iU'l ;.,..,.'
ll.llliN . I .m; ..,"■
I'll 11 he Mi.ii,-,
>n-,i(l.Tii!^ l:-,
ii'H .i| .iin^ :,.r.,:,
)fi;^h!i,ii:ii.n,i
lllr S. I'lv '1.
miry, •.ihc-,, ,i ,
ill- >!rl.ii! Iir.r;
ut I'irtli.-: ,::,
'•111 111! ir ■, Mi-
ll .'• n.iki-.i M\ li,
>\.i^ lew ','■■ ' ,
I: ill in M-i v
l.ii.i;. '! ;;-.• .-
I'fM'iii r ' ! ;i :
lir 111 1,1, r,; ■ ;
II
1 1,-
r". ■
1 1-
• 'l
■'■::.•
11-
lll>
:• 1
iii'i
1 .:
i.i'i.-r I',
'ii-ii li- li ..:■■;
-.rl.T,! :,■■; .
i: ,' V.
ii;ii-': ■;
.r.'.iv : 'i'
SMiMflli'l,
■ ■
r; 'k'H-I :
: •'
.il'r.
ri'i
^ ,.-,■! i.
' ;l!iir '-.
■r".
ii i.iaujii:.
i,;,,vr ,1=; n mrssiMiK'''- hearing nnssivcs fur Mr.
H,,Mi ' inl.ictlu buiu-hl aUMtcrtiom Mr. Man-
,.M .1 lurtiHT am! a-jciil ot llir Missouri Kur
r .niiv -^-^ ''■'•■' •'''■'•■"'v '"''■" llU-ntidlird, this
.vMii'ii'i.Mi U.I-. ■-;.'i",i; II' '"•■"■'■'' "' ^^'- "^■'"■y •""'
I" .,,,]. uh.i iM<l I't'i-" dislodged trom llif torks
, ,1,','. Mhviiin li> ill'' lilai kicct liidi,iiis. and
h I Mnlin! Ills p'l^l Minu'vslu'ic beyond llu' Rocky
m'„ui'i'iiiiv Ml. I-i^.' ''•"' '<■" ^'' '•""'•'* ^'"''■^"
„.',K> '.itur Ml. Hunt, and having; iicard o( the
|,V]'ir i.-itt-niii'ii-. "t '!»■ •'^ii'ii'^. ''•»'' iiiade the
.'r7i;,.,: rMTluin-^ tn ovcitakf him, th.it liu-y
^,,,|,'i ji.i,^ inrou^li llii' d.iiij^i-rou.s part of tiic
ru.rtil'itlii!'- !''■ ''■"' ^'■^'■I'ly ^l""l oarsinfii in
I s „.r.,;M . ,iiid ili'-v I'lii-d tlii'ir oars so vi)^orour,ly
til.,; Ill' lii'l iiM'l"''l 'I"' 'I'li.i'i'i vill.ij^e just four
,''i,s .i!l-r till- ili'p.ii'lnri- ot Mr. Hunt. From
; 11:, ii;i..;- Ill' iiN]Mi.hiiI til"' nu'ssi-nj^cr in (|Ui's-
;;,i. tu>ii!iL( l'> i.i-' .ivi'rt.ikiiij; llu' harj^cs as liu-y
t'liK.I I'i' .i,i,'.iiii-i i1h' siii'.im, .mil ui'iv (K.'l.iycd
:,, i;v.' \Mr..li'i,i4"' "t till' iivrr. Ilir purport of his
I'.'r'r IV. i> 111 liiirrat Ml. lluiil to w.iit until In-
,■ ,iM ':'i'r,f lip -'>.lli 'lini, tli.it tluy mi;,'lit uniic
;:uir t ii\':'.^ iii I I"' ■' prnli'i'tion to ciili otiu'r in
;:,i-ii- iii'::iiiiw ^,i;;r--i' thrnii^h the country ot ihi:
>,,ii)v. In 1.1' t, .1^ It v'l.is altcrward ascertained,
i.i'.iw ii.i[i|ii'i'luii--'ive til. It Nlr. Hunt woul-.i do him
.vHiiL' i.i oti; ■'' witii the Siiiu.\ h.inds, securin;^ his
o.Mi p,i-;s.i:;L- through llieir country by i)retendiii.:,^
•.:..ii liii '.Mill whijin ihcy were accustomed to
•.:ul(' '.v.is i.n Ins \\.i\ t.i tliein with .i plentiful
Mi[ii)iy ol ..^'i.ids- He le.ued, loo, th.it Crooks .md
M'l.tlin WiiiiM t.ike this opportuiiily to retort
"ihiii i.ini the pertidy which they .iccused him of
':,,ii.; usr 1. I A I years previously, amonj; these
,..-, .Siiiir.. In li.i^ respect, however, he did them
pi.il iiijiisiice. fliere w.is no such thin;.; .is
: :•;; .lesi'^'ii or ireacher)- in their ihou^dil ; but
'.ri.i'il.iii. ,,iuii lie heard ih.il Lis.i w.is on Ium
.i\ in tlie iisir, renewed his open lhre.it of
Vviiii.;- Iiiin the niDiiiciit lie met him on liidi.ui
1-. r-pr;.,!. 111., turns in.i
le hs Crook-, .iiid M 'I.el-
." u! tlie in- iclr.'rv tlii'\' had e.\))ern lu ed, or t.m-
I. 'I'i l!u' p. lit ot I.N. I, li.id ^{re.il weij;hl villi
Ir Hum, i^peri.uK '.\luii he recollecteil the oh-
■'..lu'.', tii.ii lia I been tlir'iwii in hi. own w.iy by
;i! ;,'i.p.tlrni.iii .ll St. I.Diiis. H e ' 1 . )Li bled, tliere-
■ia', til" l.nr di .diii^ of Lis.i, and le.ired th.it,
•'.'I'I ti.') .hill the .Siou.K country toi^eiher, the
.'t' '■ :nl ;'it mi\e Use of his inlliieniesvitlitli.it
■.. ■'. .i-i :'e iu'l 111 the cise of Clonks .im! M'l.el-
-i .Mill iiii'.i-.iie thein I'I opp'.ise his progress up
' in, r
ill s 111 111, k, therefore, .m answer cileulated
".;ii:i( l.ii.i. .ii-iuruii.; hiin tli.it he would w.iil
; i'.:ii .!i I'lr Piiuc.is vilKim', which W.IS but ,i lil-
■ ■'••■"I'I ill idv.iiiie; but no sooner h. id the
' '•'!. '1 'k'p.iHe.l, ih.m he inisheil liirw.ird with
' lifl' n. ■,' iMrely stopping; .it the vili.ij^e lo
"••■>n- I s ii.ply ol drii-'l bull, ill) nie.il, and liast-
■ < '"' ie.i\e the other l>.irty .is i.ir behiiul .is
"''>nie, tiiiiikiiij; there w.is less to be .ipiireliend-
. ' 'i'a the ')piii lui.siiliiy ot liuli.in t'les tli.m
' ■•.. 'I.f (iimi str.iteyj of M\ hull. Ill trader.
• il.MTl.R Will.
ll \'.is .iliniit noon when the p.irtv left the I'on-
' ■■. v:i,,ijj;(- .ihoiii :i Ici^iie beyond which they
'^^i''l til'' iii'iuth of the nuicoiirt, or Rapid
-r.'T i.alleil, m the original Vreiich, /'Juiit (Jui
•"'i \lli'i h.iviiii; proceeded some di.it.ince
■'^f'i'i'l', tli'A Lil.,le'l, .iii'l elicmiped lol llu: ll',^hl.
In the eveninfr camp (lie voyageurs possiped, as
usual, o\er tile events of the day, and especi.iUy
over intelligence nicked up .inioiii; the I'oncas.
These Indi.ins h.ui coiilirmed the previous leports
of the hostile intentions of the .Sioii.'<, .iiul h.ul as-
■sured iliem that live tribes, or bands, of that tierce
nation were aclu.illy assembled lii;^lii r up the
river, and waitin.L; to cut them off. 'Ihis e\ eninj^'
jjossii), and the ternlic stories ot Iiuli.m w.irl.ire
lo wnich It ;;avi; rise, produced a .slron;^ elfect
upon the ima^in.'ilions of the irrcMilute, .iiiil in
the mornin^r it w.is discovered tli.it tlie two men
who had joined llu- part\- at the ( )mah.i \ illa;,re,
.'Ulil been so bounteously lilted out, h.id decried
in the course of tin: nii.;ht, < .irryinj,' with ihein all
their eipiipiiients. .As it was kiiown that one of
lluin could not swim, it w.is liojied th.it tin banks
of the ihiicourt I'iiver woiiid briiii.;' llieiii t.i a
halt. A };eni'r,il pursuit w.is therefore iiiTiiUitcd,
but without success.
< )ii the tollowiiii; niornin^'' iM.iy 2fithi. .is they
Were .ill on shore, bre.ikf.istin;^ mi oiieo! the be.iu-
tilul b.inki of the river, they obser\ ed t .so c iiioes
descemliliL; .ilulls; the opposite side. In llie.il.l
of spy-j;l.is-,es they asceri.iireil that there wi le
Iwo white men in oneot theianoes, and one in tlvj
otlu'r. .\ ^un w.is iliMch.ir^ed, which i.illi.ltiie
attention ot the \ 'iya.L;ers, who i'ros..,e.l o\er.
l'he\' proved I.) be three Kentucky hunters, of the
true " dre,idnoU};hl" si. imp. Their n.ime-,wi're
lid'A.inl Robinson, John Iloli.u k, .ip.d J.icol) ]i\/,-
lur. Robinson w.is a \etei.iii li,ickwoi"!-.ai.iii,
si\ly-si> \e.irs of ai;i'. 1 h- li.id liceii or.j i.t the
lirst settlers ot Kelltiu kv, .mil en^.i;.;ed in 111. my
of the I .iiillii ts ut the Indi.ms on " The P'loody
t'liound." In one oi llie->e b.ittles lie h.ul been
sc.ilped, and he still wore .1 iMiuikercliiet hound
round Ins head lo proteet the p.irl. 'l"lie,r men
li.id p.i->seil .several ye.irs in the upjier wiKlei ness.
Thcv h. Ill been in the .servii'e ot the .Mis>'''iii ('oin-
p.iii)' under Mr. Henry, and li.id irnsst'l the
I'vocky Mount. lins with him in the piecediiv.; ye.ir,
when driven trom his post on llie Mi:,s.)Uri by the
hostilities nt t!ie lil.ii kleet. .\ller cio-sjn- the
lii'iuiU.iins. Mr. Ileiuy li.nl eil.ilili>lu''l himself
on one ot llu- he, id briluhes ol the Coiiiliibi.l
i-Jiver. 'I'liere ilie\ hid ri'iu. lined wiili liiiii tor
some moiitlis, liiimiiii; .md trapping, iiiilil, li.iv-
iiij^ s.itislied lluii w.indering inopensities, lliey
fell ilisposed to return to the l.imilies and cnnilmt-
able homes which they h.ul left in K> iitia ky.
They li.id cordin^K' ni.ide their w.i\ b.u k
.1CIOS-, the mount. lins .md down the ri\' i^, and
Wire in full career for Si. l.ouis, \i,hi'ii tliu-, sud-
deiilv intcrrupi 'il. The simIu ,.t a p.iwerlul [larty
ot tiMilds, tr.ijipeis, hunters, .iii'l \''iy.i,i;eurs, well
.irnu'l .md cijmpped.lurnished .il all points, in hi.Ljh
he.ilth .md spirits, .mil b.uu|uetin<4- lusiily mi ihe
-rceii 111 ir-m ot llu- river, 'v.is .i siiecl.ule eipi.il-
Iv ^timul.iimi; tii these \eler.m Icick vMiuilsmen
with the ^I'lriiius .irr.i\ of .1 c.imp.uiMiiiu;- .ii.iiy to
.111 old soldier ; but when they le.mied the i;r.iiid
scope and eMeiit .d the enterprise in h.iiid. it w.is
irresistible : homes .md huiiilies .uul .ill the
cli.iinis of i;reen Kentucky v.inished ti'im llu-ir
thou.i;hts ; iliey c,i-.t loose llu-ir c.moes to drift
dowii the stre.im, and loyfully enlii.ted m tliu
b.iii'l of .iiheiitiirers. They eng.i);e'l on smiil.ir
lerms with -,ome 'it the other hunters. The com-
p. my w.is lo tit them out, .md keep them supplied
Willi the rei|ui-.iti' e'|iiii>ments and niunilioiis, and
they were lo \ leld one li.llt of ihe produce ';! 'heir
huiiliiu; .iii'l tr.ipi>iiii;.
The .idditi'in of three such st.iunch ic mils w.is
,.\tremely .ici.ept.ible.it this d.mgerous imrl ot the
(. iS
\ '"
li !
31(1
ASTORIA.
river. The knnwli'd^o of tlio country wliicli they I provided in tlip licTrt of this v
had .Kviiiired, .ilso, in their joiirnf\s and iuintin).
i^t r,
»'X('ursions .ilonir
the ri
vers and aniont;
the K
anil whieh, in eonneciKm
d
■iiiiwi; i.Tj-,
MicUv I ot cu.u (in the same imr
Mountains, was all iniport.ant ; in f.ut, tiie inlor- tlie i'lenu'i\t':
'.vith Ihr ill,;,,,
mation <len\eil
alter his
future
to proeceil In tlie route t.iken bv I.
till in induced Mr. 1 hint U
111- had hitherto intendei
•v.is and flarisi
I'M-
in tlieir taiiious exiilnniij; expeditimi, asccni
the Missouri to its forks, and thence K"'"K
land, across tin.' nuuintains. Tiiese tiieii int(Uine(l
niiL;ht\' West
ol tlie tutuiT \\i allh,ii-.l
'I'lu- sii;iit of these m
iiieral tiiMMin
cited the curiosity ot Mr. lliMilhurv
tant.ili.'in^;- to him to he . lu-ek.d ii,'i,i
researches, ,ind ol)lii;ed in |
1.1
him, li(i\ve\er, that on t.ikin^ th.it
course In
wi'uld ! f.iied i<iu
u-e-.
es nil sliure ; liut llu'\ w i l r n,
ntiy (it llic .Siiuu 'I'el.
:i\e In pass throuirh the countr\ mlestcl \^\■ tl
tribe ol the lUackfeet,
(lan^feldUs In w ,ili(ler
.111(1 would lie e\
'Ihi
.lOnllt 111
W 1-Illrr,i,.^
ill ulai!; ■[,
counti)- evlei
■r Sni;
])ose(l to ih; ir hostilities ; they heiiiL;. .!'< h.is al- aloiij;' the river, .ind ( misi-a-. nl
re.ii'.v heel) nl)ser\(Ml, ex.isper.ited to dcaillv .mi- ; and there diversified liv swellin
V.I--, pi, ,1V;
losity .iLjainsi the whites, on .iccniini ,if the death : li\- r.i\ iiies, the ch.iniiels of turlr.i!
•X ii<;v;,I,
ot one (
1 tin ir trii
liv the 1
I.
route more
ewis
li \' .l(IVI->(
laiuis of C.ipt.iin : r.iiiiy sea-^niis, but almost (
t.) th(
iin rather tn pursue ;i ii
... I I .
e .sniitluvard, beinj.; the s.ime b\- | sides of the hills, or alnii'- t!
the he. its of
f th
summer.
esIUiiIi el
i( i( .in.! ;'
whicii ihev h..(! returned. 'I'his wnuld c,irr\- them i bottoms n
if t!
over the liioual.iins .ilmut wliere the hcid-w. iters ' fnrt'^t
le ravines, are
o! th.e ri.itte and tlie V
ellowstniie l.ikr their risi
d td tl
lit ( ir the most p.irt tin i
le e\e a bnlindle^S \\,,.tc
.at a pl.ice much !Unre e.isy .and ])r.ictic.ible th.in ' herb, ii;e. but w illmut tree-
th.it wliere I.(.\\ IS ,iad I'Lirke had crnssed. In pur-
ili
suinu this c- .iir?
\\-><<. he wniild p.i-.
tf
till- lllillle!!
se '■( ••! a
irou:;ii .1
coiiiili'v alinuii.liiv^r with i;.ime. wliere hewmi
si
])rei;iiate(l with sulphur, (dp
.lUller s.ilt-
.I'l'e .1 iielter i-!i.iiic(
ot prncuriiiL; .i (nnst.iiit
1(1
p- ! tin;,;-e tn tlu
Its v.irinu
s ( ,ir;:.s ir.r
■.tre.iiie> wliK h
]i!y el jirnsisinas th.in by the other rniKe. .and ; with the ci unibliii;; n! tli
vnu'.d run less risknt nKilcNiaiinii from tlie ill.u k- | souri, L;ive tn the w. iters el t:
feet.
ll ri\l!- V;
Mauild he .ulnpt tin
s ,i(l\ive, It wnuld
iietni- for liim to .ib.iiidon the ri\-er at the .\rii-.iri
town, ,it which |-i
the cnlorinj;- m.ittei wi;h which {][•■; ,c
I Her till.., \Mst tr.n t the rnMiie' hci.!-
.arrive in tin? course ol a j nux 'I'etoiis Imld their
.\s the Indi.ins ,it that town iinsM-s-,ed , bv the el
v.ier.inl s\s
lorse-. m .i
bund.
cient num
ber nl tl'
nice, he mii^dit iniri li.ise .i siilli- the ;iiil
i.ise (it the hull.iln, the •, i
elnpe, .iiid w.iLjill- lilllce.
•Ill tnr hi". i;re.it jnurne\- o\er- other w.iinlei 111,1; tribe
.111(1, wiach \V(i!i', 1 c iinmeiK (• at th.it pi.
.\s tl
le hn.its iii.Kle their w.n
.Alter relleetj;i._r ,.,, tlijs advice, .aiul cniisiiltin;.;; ' dered b\- this l.iiid nf d.iiCMi
with h
niin.ilaci
assdCi.lte
tn tniln.v t
Ml
lllllt
line tn tin- deter-
(li.lli \-n\-.iLrelirs, w !l !-!(
1(
lie rniite thus ]ini;;ted out, in ' wnuld rc-.ird with a distrusllii!
.1 1 .
whnh the himte'-s ei
iL'.e'cil tn pilnt him.
Th
w.iste e\tell(lili''- on e
■h side. .\:i.
,1V w either.
iiu- I iheir \(i\.i.;c w-.th delii;!;t- ' silent, .ind .ipp.ire:it!y uiiten.ih- I
.inrderill'i; on the iiu
.N.
r:\er wtre .^'ayly p.iinted wi ; .iiiimer.ible llow- 1 feedim;- tiMiKiui'.l
iw ,ai 1 then .1 herd n|
vhibit
iiil: the ir.nilev
oni,,.-,inIl (.; cnlnrs n
f li
,1
;i 'I'lirkey ( .irp; t. T!ie be.iiilitlll isl.nid ; .ilsn. (HI ' ill;
which they (ic( as;nii.iily h.dted, preseiiied ih
pe.ir.iine nl an; ^ded ^rn\c and );.ir,lea.
trees wtre nlteii cn\ere,l with cl.imbernv' ••
rf
.uiKinf
thell.
UK^ o! liull.ilot s, like a c.ir.iv.i
ki
iiiTos-. the distant ])rolile
a "II u-- 'i; 11".
.( Ill, ,;.f i
e .ip- II. Kleins, hnwe\(-r, liei.;,in tna|i['
'I'lie I in e\(ry thicket, .iiid In re;;.ir I 1
r.ipe- i 1)1. lin as a s.iihjr e\c-. some slco
Le '..
vines 1:1 hlnN-,nm, which perfumed the .nr. lie- se,i, wlii.li, ilmu'di sninnth ai. I
tweiri the st.ltel\- ni.ls-,
.iwiis .and .jl.ides, >tiid
es (if the ""roves \'. i
sp;rs|.d With rnse-lillshes in lull 111. mm. 'I'llese ' t(
isl.llids were oltell tlie resnrt of the bllUa!;), the ' d
.MM'-sy c iiic ..ils the lurkiiiL;' ro( k er lie,
:th ih.wfis, nr la'er- ; 'I'he \ er\' ii.ime nl .1 Smux b c.di.e .1
rrm ,
!k.
i.ith
.llld the .■'.ICelnpr
S .imnli.r the tl'
I
the elP-( t ot t! e m.i/v w.dks .and ;il
vvlvi h.Kl ni.nle mniimer.dile
and thickets, whi( li had
'i shruhii
1 \ s ol 'i.ir
ks
rit s. Sometimes,
l)et\M( n he'll b,in|.
o\ ihi
tr.imp (it buff.i
where the rucr
(1 bluffs, the m.ids,
oes l.ir m.iiiv ;iL:es
iloii'^ the t.ice (if the heights, loiked hke s ) maliv
Nnt .111 el
'pp> ir 0:1 tl
■I
.■1 wiC
II .i:.\
w it.i cM'l.im.iiiniis irnai stern i
.^/' 7/ 1.'" " I'l'i/.i Ac .' 'It I .'" .'
there .ire the Siouv '1. W'heie
ble, the ni^lit (-111 .impnieiit w ;
the ( elllre (.1 the ^a|■e,lm.
Olltl
If iiinrnin;;; ot the ;
WelMi.ive
Icil-.k
liiid
iwavs.
j\t oilier pl,i( cs t
le
lers \si re
ri'.'"r, the Usu.i
bre.ikt.isiii
;ist nl M -,
on the r .,
1 .ll,
irm w .is eu.
laid h.ire li\ the .'il
Milea Willi fM< .It \(IMS lit irnil on
re.isnii, ,1 , tw-> i'lill.lll-. a( til
ibr.tsioii nt tl
pl.K (• tl
sir.ii-lM hm f.
( ilirse (I
f the ri\t
WIS ne.-ir
,\t
I;
11 th
in .1
r alinllt lilteen miles, 'I'lie b,i
'■.ir.llli (■ nil a lilllll n
i.le, .Old h.ir.lllj^Ued them ill ,i In.' ^
1
Slil[.'e I ;(ei,o.v tn Ms In,ir!/itl. Willi. lilt
ilKs , WIS imji.issihle .'U t'.al disl.iii '
tnit
mile-
'oi-'lered with Krass .and her!
I SlIC'll- tK
cvte
eci'' e.u h ll.
ink.
WlMt the\ s,il
th
M
lunl, .ilti
l.l^e nl ,1 \ivi.i I ih.- ri\ er with I'ierre Dnrinll, ll
ir.cr ,('
ir the wleiie lilteen .(dcunad bnldly tn ( onver-
breadth, ..f ,i d
pyfi:,.|slilile ').
.1 stripe, one liiin.lred s.ird
With t
s 111 r.si rein, lined w.it( liiii:;. in iiini' "-a-
ep riistv hmwn, mdn iiim.
d ..(
■ Ill 111- pcncmeiits (ll till- ii.irtie
\v
Mr i:
HUM, tlirnilL'h ihe
licii Ihe Missouri li.e! wir
•III.
tmns nl the
w ir'l (iiiser\i(l hi'rh
11 Its w,i\-. h
iiiiaiu UK (• (it this berl were .liter- 1
I. Hide I, .me nt the IikImiis dis;ipp'' ir
hill.
Hit
irtiv re,i|i[ie,ir(
ter- w.-iil s,.iiiniii; off across the Ik
one ot tl
er 11]. the rocr. it is, n l.i, i, ' h.dd snine ( nnfe
(•• miner.il ni.iiM/ines whi.
\\ ith ,he rem luciu
ll ii.itiire li.is 1 .111(1 then recrnssed the river tn his p.inv.
. ^-\
ASTORIA,
347
■pu-ic two Intli.in"; proved to he spies or sroiit-
( I iir^i. \v;ir p.iiivene.impeil aiioiit a Icaj^ue utf,
and I'uiinkMint; t-vo luiiulr..! an.l eiKHuy Iml-es,
(rilwiiisix lumilred warriors, ot tlirec ilillereiu
ir'ik-i ct Sioux ; llic Nani^t.'HS Ahna, the 'l^el.
iHiivliriik',
Idii-.
and t'f Titiiiis Mii\-na-kme-a//n.
Tlir. cviH'rUil (lailv t ) be reiiiloree-l by two ntlicr
■ri,,. ,iiul Ii.kI I'ee'n wailin^f eleven days for llu-
,ri;\,ilol Mr. iluiu's party, with a deierininatioii
!', lii.^.se their progress up llie river ; biiii- n--
Ijl'i/i t.i Iiri'venl .ill trade id the white men uilli
[liiir cncmie- ill'' Ariek.ir.is, Maiidans, .iiid Min.i-
iiuw-^. The Indi.m who h.ad i;.UIi>ped otf mi
imrsclKuk had jjcne 'ei .i^i^'' tftiee of ih.- .ippro.i. li
(,| 'M- p.irty, "'O th.it t'ley niij^dit now look out tor
,',;,,•■ iicrre M'eiies witii tho-<e ])ir.iti( al s.iv;i^res, n\
^ I, ,n t!K\' h.id re(e!\i(i so ni.in\ lorniid.ible ae-
,. liiiii'^.
Tic n.irty hr.ieed np their spirits to tiie en-
n'.miir,' Hid rl■-enl^arkin^^ imlled res(diileiy up
i ',-vieun. An isi.md tor some time intervened
intHrciilhi.ni and tne opposite side ot the river ;
^i;t 111 ciiMnn;; the Ujiper end, they i .iiiie in lull
Mtw •■! tile l;o-,tile shore. There w.is a ridi;e id
L:,,x (l.i'.Mi whi'li the s;ivaj,'es were pouring,' in
' '!..t minenTS. .■lUiie on horsidiai k. and some on
;ini.. Ki loniinileriie^ them with tin' .ud ot
;-l.b^(■■^, diev peieeived lh.it they were ,ill in w.ir-
i.ki: .irrav, |i.iiiUei.! and dei m.ited (or battle. Their
V,- I'l.iMN wi-n- hows .md .irruws, and a tew short
, i;li,:i(- aiiil nio->t ot them li.id rouiui shields,
.'luii^'fihi'r ti'.ev h.id a wild and ).jail.nU appe.ir-
,,:kC. .mil. t.ikin^ posse-'aon ol a point wlmh
i:irni.i!ldtd till- iivei', r.ini;-ed themsidves .iloiii;- the
i!ii. .1^ if ])rep.iied to dispute lludr p.i-^saj^e.
.\'. ^,;;lu lit till--, lormiilable Iroiu nl w.ir, Mr.
IJ!;".: .U'.ii his iiiiiipamons held i oiiiisel toi^ether.
/ v.:iM iil.iiii lli.it the rumors they had he. in! were
iririt. :iiid till' .'sioi:\ wi re deiermined tn op])o^e
: i.-ir |inv;;re'-s hv lor. e of .iims. To .ii'eiupl to
llie lllein .Hid 1 eUinUe .dollar the il\cr W.ls iillt
! ;.ii' i|uestii)ii. '1 he strength nf the mid-current
.'.1 I'll violiiU to be wiliistond, and the bo. a.-.
\i;it liilij^e I t'l .iseeiid ,ilon^ the river li.inks.
1 ''.i>f iianks were etlm hi'.;h .md perpenilieiil.ir.
ul.ii'liii;,' tin; sav.i;.;!--, frequent st.ilions. tinin
•i-nii.-, s.ile lhrm^elves, and ;ilnio-,i uiiseeii, ilie\'
':i;iit sh.iwi-r diiwii their missiles iipim the liii.it->
'•''■. .I'l'l lir-.u .it will, u ithoiit d.in'.;e|- li'iiii
urii!i', X.iiiniif^j .ipp.ireiulv rem. lined, tluir-
i •. i"i; 'o tii;ht or turn li.u k. The Simix l.ir
-I'l'.iriherrd t!i.'m, it is true, bin their nun paii\-
!-■ il'iiit Mv'.y siniii;,;', W(dl armed and su|)plied
.'' iniiiuiiiiiiiiii ; and be.sides their ^'uns and ri-
I, 1 I .1 swivel .Uh! two liowil/ers llKHinted
"Ml- :-)h.iulii thev suei-eeil in l)re.ikinj;
i;iiii.in ;or. e by ime \'i^roroiis .iss.iult, it \^.is
'■■'■y ». mid be deterred from makiii,;,'^ .in\'
I if..e k'lt ( oiiseipieiiic. The tij,jhtinv; .liter-
' "■ .VIS, ll'.cielore. in-.t.intly adopted, .ind tl-.e
■^ ;>uiir I [1 .,hole lle.irly o|)|)iisile to the lios
I ''. llnr the .irms were .ill ex.iminrd .ind
"■'li'i. I lie snivel .md howit/ers were then
'' I '^''h |i'U\der ,ind disehar'^ed. tn let tin-
■■,'■•• kn.,\ !)y tlie re])')I i how formid.iblv they
''"'■ P'"^i I'd. The noise eelioed aloni;- the
"'^ "' 'he ri\ri,an<l must h.ive startled the
m.-rs, \kh,i SI I,, only aeeiistomed to sh.irp re
'f'^ 't nil'-,, I lie s.ime pieees were then lo.id
' >*''■' .e- 'iLlllv bullets .is thev Would jtrnb.ibU
■f . dtir ,vi![, h the uliole pai-lv embarked .md
■1 .ll^o■,^ the fiver. 'I'he Indians remaini'l
'■' ''i'i:.( thein III silenee, their painted furms ,mil
^^is'-< ijl.inn- 111 the viin. ;,i,,i their leather-, tint
■''•■■i. 111 tin.- i!iee/e, 1 he poor Canadians t\ ed
thein with rueful ^'l.mces, .md now and then .1
te.irlnl ei.uul.itinn wiiiild esiMpe them. " I'.ar-
bleii ! this is ;i sad ser.ipe wr ,iri- in, brother!"
wniild line mutter to the next iMisni.m. "Ay,
av '." the nthi-r would rrpis, " we .ire not K''''^.'>
to .1 weddini;, mv friend ! "
When the bo. Its arrived within rille shot, the
hunters and other ti^htin;.; personages on bo.iril
seized their wea])oiis, and ]irepared l.ir action.
.\s thev rose to lire, ;i conliisioii tmik |)l.ice amonij
the s.iv.iL,'es. They dis|il,-iyr.l their biiU.ilo robes,
r.iisi'd them witli both li.iiids ab'ive their heads,
and then sjire.id their, betnfe them on the !,;rouncl.
.At sij,du ol this Pierre Durion e,ti;e|-ly cried out to
the |)arly not t') tire, as this nvAeiiunt w.is a
pe.icetul sii.;n.il, and an iiu it uinii to ;i p.trley. im-
j medi.itelv .ibout a do,',en of the principal w.irriors,
I separ.ililiL;' from tlle rest, descended to the edj^c
I of the river, lighted a lire, se.ited tliemsidves in a
si-niicircle nuind it, .iiid, displ.iyiie,,,'- tlVv- calumet,
invited the p.irty to land. .\lr. Hunt now c.illed
a ciiuncil of the p.irtiiers on bri.inl ol his lioat.
The ipirst ion w.ls, whetlur I 1 trust to the amicable
oMMluies (if these t. loeiiuis peopli- .' It \s.is deter-
I mined in the .illirm.itiNe ; 1 ir, inhnv.ise, then' was
no .iltern.iti\e but to li,i;ht tlu-m. Tl;e main body
ol the p.\u\ were onh'nd t'l remain oii board of
' the bo. its, keepinj^f w ith.ii shot, ,iiid |iri p.ired to fire
in case ot .mv sii^-ns of tre.icheiy ; while Mr. Hunt
;md the other ]).irtners iM'Km.ie. Crooks, Mil-
ler, ;md MT. ell, nil, iirocteded to l.ind, accom-
! ]i.inied bv tiie interpreter and Mr. ilradbury. The
chiefs will) .awaited them mi tl'.e mar;4in ot the
ri\er, remained seatt'd in tlieir semieiri le without
stirriiii,^ .a limb or mo\iii;;' a imisi le, moti'inless as
so manv st.itues. Mr. Hunt and his companions
advanced without hesit.itioit, .iiid limk their se.its
I on the s.md so :is to coniplt-te ih..' circle. The
band ot warru>rs who lined lie' b.iiiks .ilmve stood
lookiii;;' down in silent i;roiips and i lusters, some
ostein, iliousK' equipped and dicor.iled, others en-
tirely n.iked, bu'. f.ml.islically p.iinled, and all
\'.iriouslv armed.
: The pipe ot pe.ice w.is now brouijiu for'>var'l
' with due ceremony. The bowl wis o! .i species ot
red stone iesemblin;j^ |iorphyry ; the stem v .is six
teet in leiiglli, decorated with tults ol horse-hair
lived red. The pipebe.irer stepped witiiin the cir-
i le, li:;hted the pipe, lud'l it t'lu.ird tie- sun, then
tmv.ii'l the dilfereiit points ol the coiii|)ass, after
which he h.indcd it to the pi iiu ip.i. chiel. The
hitter smoked .i lew wliilts, then. liuldiiiL;- the head
ol the I pe in his h.md tdlered the other end to
.Mr. Ilimt, .md l.) e.udi one suci e-,s;\el', in the cir-
cle. When .ill li.id smoked, it w.is considered that
.in .'.ssur.ince of v^ooil faith .md .unit;, h.ad been
interch.in;.;eil. Mr. Hunt imw ni.ide .i s|)eech in
' l-'rench, which w.is inii-r))retii| as he iiroceeded
by I'ierre Dorion. He mlormed the Sioux of the
■ real obn'ct of the expedition, ol himself and his
comp.mimis, which w.is, tioi to ti.tde with any ot
. the tribes up the n\er, but to . ro^s the moiint.iins
to the >;re.it s.dl lake in tlie west, in se.irch of
some ot their brothel's, whom ilie\ h.id not seen
tor eleven ni'inths. d'h.U he h.id iie.ird ot the in-
teftion ot the Simix to oppose his p.iss.i);e. .'ind
W.IS prep. lied. .IS thev mii^ll'. see, to ettc ' it at all
h.i/.irds ; nevcMlieless his leeliie.;s tow.ird the
Si'iiix were friendly, in prool ii| whicli he had
bioiii;ht them a pri sent .it tob.icco ,md ■ • irn. So
s.iving. he ordered .iboul lltliell cilo'ti'S of to-
ll. iceu. .md as m.m\- b.iL;s ot corn, lo lie br nijjjht
from the bo, it .md l.iid in .i he.ip ne.ir the > incil
tire.
d'he sight ot these presents iiiollilici! the chief-
Viiii
' : \if
if
348
ASTORIA.
tain, who lia.I doulitli-v^ Invn proviously rondcrc.l
l)V the ri-Miluli; luiuluit"! tin- whilo
(li>>i)ci.sui()n ol llu'ir littK' ,u in.i-
|)lctciu^s (it llu'ir (.-(luipiiu'ius, ami
iMV (il li.itllf wliii'li ihcy |ii(.'M-iUtil.
n whicli lie slatcil the
consulfiatc hy
nu'ii, till' iuiluiiiiis
niiMit, 'ihc (oiii
tlu- i-(i.n|iari ai
lii' luai
^I'ci ill 111 r('|il\ , 1
nuTclv t(i iircM'
lion troin sjniiiir to
ibx'inblajii'. which had lu'i n
I siipiiiics ot aims .aid ainimilii-
ihr Ai-ukaras, M.ind.iiis
aiKl
^Il:lala|•t•l•^, with wiioin llu'y were at war ; luit
hfiiiLr now roiuiiufi!
thai thf panv were carrv-
inij no .Mipiiius o
t the kind, Init nicri'lv procfi
iiii;- in (|Ui'si ot thi.1'' hroihtTs bryond thf iiioiin-
tain;., ihcv would not inipcili' lluiii in tluir voy-
ai,^r. llf' lonrltidid liy tliankiiii; tluin tor tlu'ir
p'rcsiMU, and advisini;; I'luMii to ciu-anip on the op-
Dositc Mdr ot tlir n\rr, as he ha<l soliu- Nouni,^
tor whoMC diMTclioii he
could not lie ail->\\ trail, u, and who lui^hl \)v trou-
l)li'Sonu'.
men aiicoii'' his warrior.-,
the land, .ind is rcprcsontod a.^ w.tninmn
irovokfd ; the nci>;lil)oriioo,| is rm
,1 w.ir ensues, wlii' h ends in tlu' il^t
isiil luani,.
lall the trilie, the ruin ot tl
le i( St. an.: ihi
llUlulioi
pulsion roni their herediiarv hoin
olteii tl'c re.il III. torv ol Indi.i
.Sll,
II w.ii'.ai
nirf(.
j^ener.il is Iraeed up only to .,oiiu' \iii.,(,m
ot ,1 s.n.ii;c; \ hi!,' ilie outr.i^i- o! ilir „ I'l
while man tli.il provoked il is sunk m mIhiu'
dlie two elilels. li.ivin,^ siiium .1 i;i|i|-
>- Alt
i.inn
'!|IC .,!
]K\ue.in(l reiri\cil .i li'w presmi'., ilcji.irioi v.yi
s.ilislied
on horseli.ie
In .1 hltle while l\\,
1 wih,
.iiul roik' u
■11
p.d
IIC.I-^I 1)1
ley had seen the |)resenis ^i\tii l,i il-,ciri(,p
r.ides, tiut Were dissallstied willi tin iii. .,n,| ,
itu-r the lioats to ask tor more, li
liuiii
iir.pioiy .uid ins, dent in ll
■'iiif.il;
«ave
llielll a 11 It letus.il, ,in,l i!
II 'ir lii-lli.i'ii;,, )|-
'lil.l'l'lltH!.
H
ere eivleil
til
r eiUlter.il' t'
t!iev a:
sliook haliils. .i])A parted. Mr. Hunt iiid his eoni-
p.miolis re-enili.irke,l, .iiid the I'o.its proi.eeded on
iheir i.oUlse Uliniuiesled.
fll.MWKR XIX.
On the aiterii" ,11 ol i!ie tollowin.::; d.iy (June
1st I tliev ariivrd .it the ^jre.il hend. where the
river winds t,'r .ili.iiit thirty mih-s round .1 eireii-
l.ir peiiiiisul.i, the n^'ck ot whuli is not .ihove two
th'iusan.l v.i
ill'.
rds .i> ross. t hi the sueeeediui; morn
.It .111 earlv liour, they deseried iwo liuli.ms
.st.iiuJML; on a hi-h h.ink ot the river, w.i\ini; .uid
spreadmt; laeir :iutt,ilo robes in sii^ns ot .unity.
They immedi.ili ly |)ulled to shore and l.inded.
C>n .ippr, ,u hiiij.; iiie s.i\ay;es. ho\se\i r, ll.e i.iiii r
showed evident syniptonis ol .ilarm, siire.ulini,' out
their .inns liori.'ont.dly, .ui'ordiii,:;' to llieir mode
ot supplii'.itin:; elemeney. The re.ison was soon
the\ or .uu 111 their liibe tollowi,; iuii \o
■ ir (lem.iiuls,
to tre.it them ,is
turned .iiul rode oil m .1 tuiious p.i^.i.,:; ..\5
!•' noi.ii't w h.il toi ee t!
I ',!•.'!- ni:
;i:i 11,
behind the 1 lis, ,ind .is it w.is \rr\
ini^hl t.ike .id\ Miit.i'^i' ot soiin- p.iss i,| V!',- linr
.itt.iek the bo. lis. .Ml. liuiil i.iilid ,ill si;„;j.;
on bo.ir,! and jirep.ired lor sii, h rimiu'in'..
was ,i;;ired tll.it the l.iri;e ImmI i niaiii -.liilvil
.Mr. Hunt, should ,isi end aloii;.; liie iii>r'.!.;.i>i.5i
,it the river, and the three sin.iiier |im..',.s ,m
tile south side. I'>v this arr.in''iaiK!il ■■ ,- . ,.,
would I omni.iiid .1 \ lew o
t till' i>|
mslk' i,c'
,iliii\e the he, ids .md out ot llu- sIl;IiI i,| linr,
|>.iiiioiis. ,iiid 1 otild j;i\i' tlie .il.iriii >l;i, .il
]>ereei\e .iii\ Indi.iiis lurkiiii; there i 'i- ■
id .il.irm w.is to be two sliols lufl 111 ; ,;l^
eessMii,
Tlu
bo.its proeeeded tor the ijri
•U'.-r ",:n
(l.i\' witlioill seeim
aiiv si'';is lit
exill.illlei
1
ley Jiroveil
to be two duels ot tiie
Verv w.ir ]i,iriv ih,a li,id bi'ou;.^
hi Me
ssrs. Crooks
anii M'Leli.m to ,1 st.iiid two \e.irs belore, and
1 ilie ri\er. I'hex r.iii
obui^ed lilelll to es, .ipc ijowi
to embr.iie ihe^e :;!-lUlemell. as il delii;i;le.l to
meet with them ; \et llie\ e\idenli\ le.iled s,ime
rel.ili.ition ol lluir n.isl niiseoiidiiei, nor weri- j the lnwer end ol the s.ind-h.ii niu i'l'' i"-
About
idork ill the .iUeili'.i.,ii !!.•
i.il, eomm.iiided bv Mr. I lur.i. 1 .ui, ■ to w!
I\er W.IS (ilMileil
ly .1 loiij;
^.lll. ■■ur, w,:i,:i
Hiei'.l |-,.liilU-, lie-
the r
a|ii)areiitly, liowever, lidl a suit
iweeii il and the shore aloiiL; wliuli thi'v "iir il-
v. lining', lb- kepi up this ih.iiiiu,, '.'iiT' ina- :■:
s.inie disi.iiue, un'.d the w.iti r pinvi 1 ; ■ , i,i.i
lor ti',e bo.li. Il W.IS lU'i l-ss.irV, liielrl!, ;.-,', ,
•ibout. iitiirn down the eh.iiiiiri. ii:,i ; -, ''"'i"'''
thev tpiil.-.il i-.i.sc Ulllil tlie])ipc ot pe.ue li.id heeii
snioki
stitMin. Jusl ,is he h.id i;ui'n nid'-is 1,1 ';.>i-:.i-.t
to ills men, two siyiLil );uns \s( le liiiil M-'iv, II.-;
Mr. Hunt ll.ivili;; been illlormed lll.it the tribe : lio.il.s on the upposile side ot the ri.il
to which these men belonged li.id killed three
white UK 11 diirini,^ the pri-eedmj^ summer re-
pro. lehed them wiili tlie crime, .iiid dem.iiide.l
their re.isoiis lor sin h s.in'.ij^c' hosli'it) . " We kill
while men," ripli'd one ot the i lilels. " bec.iUse
wiiiie men kill i;s. 'I'll. it \er\' m.in," ailde,l he,
])i)intilli; to ('.(rs,,ii, one ol I
le ni-\', reiruiis,
' kill
li-ii oiii- ol our broilu-rs l.ist siimini r.
1
three wili'e nii'li were si. 1111 to .lVen;;e his diMlh."
Tile I hiel W.IS ..irreet m his reply, ('.irsoii ad-
mitted
the b
ot .Siiiuv: 1
his nlle .11 ro-
w ithiuii mm 1
was h.il . .li'
brou;: ..■ •■. \
desU. ■ ■!' : '!
ns has I
trecpieiii, 'I
t, bein;_; w,ith ,1 |
.11 tv oi .Arn k.ir.
ss ' in. .tiul seeini; .1 w.ir pariv
,;)osit • side, he li.iil tired waii
s.ime nujiiieiit .1 lile ot s.iN.e^e vV.u:
served |)ouriiii; down Irointlie :iii| i '.ii',".;
the b.tr.
jMlherim
11 ■
ill the shore .it tin .".M'.
■\hA
lev w ere e\ 11
h-ntU .1 \^.u i'l''.^.
irnied Willi bows .uk
.iiliines. ,iiid round
I .iiiows, hi'dt
111, kh-is ,ii liu:i.i '1 i'' - ''■''
their 11, iked bodies Wei,' p. linn ll Villi
while siripes
1
le n.iiur.il iiiti I'
they belol;>;ed In the two llliie-.
h.ni been e\|)eeled by lie' ^<le.i'
lh.lt thev ll.ld been ilU lied to liii>'.
lilels W ho had bi
en eiii.i^;i'i, n\
the mcii.iee ol Mr. Iluni. Her, tl
't w.as .1 r.iiidoiii shot m.nle 1 till predn .im.ni. Mr. 1 liint .ml 1.1s
1 ,'\ ... I
t.lllon ot eltecl, h,r tl
hi'Mlth. riilui
.')|.iU
or w II
had I
■,.,y It
.mtoii
III.
ills W.l\ oUi
lei'll t.lkel
1
lali.ite
ess or III.
orili.
Ol! the n.itives bv ■ UiUtiilt-
hi e iiu-' 'he Indi.iiis re-
' .v% ot
ir eode. Willi
reoilires blo'
til
iCIll IS pliHI:;
; tlier .1, t, ol w h.n \. ith
-c, ll. ..ijuiid.s ihrouylioui
I .iiij;lit, .IS II w i-re, 111 .1 tl .ip. I '■'■ '
nunilii r ol .ilmui .1 lumdreo. li.id 'Ut 1
sloll ot .1 point lle.ir \s hli 11 II:''
l.v.!-.
, (■. «,ii;.il
:i.ive to p.iss : o
ihers kepi poiirih
1 l',r I'.
:ii.
.Hid It W.IS pioli,ible th.il
p'lsted on liie top ot the heii;
si.nii ^\
ri
e h.i/.udoiis sii i.ition o
I Ml. llu;,' v^.o!" ■
celM d bv tllOsi- 111 till' other b,i its, .I'l. Ui
(lleil to his .isslsl.im e. 1 'le. v.i le •!'
t.iiii c al)u\c the saiid-b.ir, liowew.r, .m ■
ilii'i' "'"'
the li',)-
,11 t'lC
, , yvilC ='1'"'
"■ !,:uHl',.t!»|
iiiinl'ii:-,, ■"'
thi "I'll ^^'
Ur t::iv '
^11\U-'V 111'
pail\ ili'sCe
];10.a'ili;i:s
ih.ii^T'i iic.l
tl.ur I'V l!''l
0;;'. ^it''y "i
Tl, • :ii \i 1
,,.,.■,■ voiv. o\j
t,,;-ir well"
•:.)- lii'-r, -M
s;;m llli»h'''
I .inus v/n::
i:..i:i.' ii-i^'''
i,:,;ii'^ ti)ki'!',|
A'l '.i'leasil
iImUi ;ir'i\i''|
Mi:ii|.,!is, ,11
hiiiuii-i-d v.. 11
!;,.• s.mix.
llic in-isei;'
Auci; ira i'
ilic white 111
tr, liiii' tlieiii
tlK-iriiit'iiiiis
t tor ■■:..■, iiri'!
v,,iri"li'> li\e
yinb (lol.int
i\i,U.i s'.illii'iei
thiiii'^ii rude
ivinir.'.,' llie 1
llir.'b Widi I
a'.t'.T miiiiiinh
(in ;;;flolle
l(■•■^ I •■'■I'lhar
ii'uir hiiii.in I
r,i-'ii,itfly I'lr
jin'i',1 t,i an
ci'f ii-'i l.ir he
tiic ^I'lie ;iiul
!.h j„ ijiN' ro:
h.i 1 -. iiiicthii
l.iy !,.,.l ini
iViir-'.."!,! ll
tl, "I .1 ;iii-^
li,:l;^ la.! t'l
\.;.> :,i,,ii V |i
in;; ;',:•■>,■ ;iri'
t.u- -!,"••;•, .111
wli" ■ ir.iai, '
I". ■. 1 'lliMllS
( ,;!' 'iy 1,1!
1.-: ' ,-1 ; .111
;iS\' ' ■ :iMU->
!,',.■ ' ;, ll.
!-';il l.is,i,
' ';;. -.1 ■!!■■;
jCi'lriH' I, I V
10, i::,' ciiit
i"-. .::i.i h
t:-r:.,l u.,i
1 ,' ,i;ipr:'lie
I Ivi'l
:.;',t. a
;'■■>.
ASTORIA.
349
""""■ ^H'h„|„,
1 \\.ir;,iM. uii;,,; ,,
"'"'• Vlll:,;,il\, 'J
>•'■' •'" - '■l.hiM
link 111 Miiiiu-,
iki.l i;i,;r |„|n^, .
"It-., (ir|..iri(..i y,.
I'l-'l-l ol •!,. ;,,,.,
'1' llH 111. .illi|( :;;;:•
.''""■-; -"inn:,,.;
.1". 1 i!in,,-,.in.,. •
.'l-ll I, nil 'A,::; v;;;
•> rli'-iuii,. I ,,
' ■''■■■Mil:;':;:,,,
I. IS-, 1.1 l!;.. ii'.ir',
II. il .iilM;-„i,j,r.-i
1 ll niirlur'Hi-',, 1;
'it ( iilillii,,;;.;,-!! ! V
till- linr'.!..,.,^;^, .
■ i'.lvr 1.....;^ .u:^
;''iiil!U .t ;,,„■■'
■ ii| ;iosllc he';";,
'l.i^lil <■! liiir, ■,.;.:.
l.irili sill.:,, (I ;'.,
".iTf ILl- -;-|,.,
Iiii'l 111 .;■.;,.^ 5..,.
;r. .tu r I',;!-;,,:: :
- "\ ..;<. ;in-iv,.
•rni''.ii !l.- I,. ;:
t, ( ,111..- to v.'.r: ■
; ^.lil. 'M.', u/,.. ,
■If'.; h.i.ir.ci ( ■
h th.'v >.i'tc I ,
'. i'mTi liil'f. !
Vt I ;:. ; ^.l.lill
i,r!c!ni.-. ;'.|„
ii:.! ; 111. rini!..
111. I ilir ill,!,
I > I'l ';.;.. I'llr. ;
111m! ii<i;ii ti
n;i;l .\ : ■
II viii;'> 'A.i' .1
, ,;,(',::;; ."..i,
I ,...U.' '"Hi ■
.',' ' '''V'"''l'
i;i,i " I'l", .i"
\v i;'i h.A n '■
s ..-, ll 'it
ill'!
, V, s'r'V.
1,.;,. Ill-''
i.r
1-1'. ii^i'
::''
1 1 r u.iuii
^.
■1 I'ir 1' 'I'.
. 1 iv;
11 11
it U.n I''.'
,.,.
ihri '.ll-.
llll-l.'/-
■ ll'"' iiMii-, ir.i.lrr ujHiii liis l-.i-cK, whuin In- h.nl
';'■ ' '.I iM'.i' nmiiiiirM'inrcil, inid i. !i t.if !"■-
'•''' ' '■'ll. Iiiiwc'i i-r. was i')o unit h tApcnrnri ,1
'-' Ail , nt hull, III tr.i'lr In Ih' liilkd l)v llic
:.'i>ii'i>f lit \v,iii|.v^' liir hiiii ,il the I'diici'.. viir,ii;i' ;
1 til- r.iiUr.iry, he h.nl alliusr.l liiinMlt uu' w-
''■■■■''i liad str.iiiu'il cvfl) luivr to mi ii.ikc
•;■"•• il lurly, .iMii .iviiilm^ iiim-.! ll n[ [[,■ mumi-
vit. ii III I vi-n silled (jiinnij :i i misiiii r.ililr |i.iri
'''" "'k'" In tins hr was |) iilK pr.implrd |i\
'•■"■ijii'i' hri|.,|,in., ,,| ll,, Sunix, liasiiiL; mil ,i Imit
■'''•ili'l iiruli.ilily nassi-.j Mr. liuiil's i!.irt\ m
'"">';'■!, and whiL-'h l;ad lu-in lired iiao hv tlu.si'
On licariiij^ tlint I.is.i w.ts so iu'.t,' at Imnil, ^fr.
IliiiU |it.-|-( 'Ui'd that it was 'Jsi less to .iltcmpl any
i lon^rr loi'N'.uir jiini ; ;dlcr prorcrdin;; a lew miles
j tuilluir, llu'i-i'torc, he caine to .i ii.iit and wailed
lor iiim to eome up. In a lillle while the liarj^e
(d l.is.i made its ajipearanie. ll came sweejiin^
^■fiiliy ii|) the river, manned liy ils lwenl\- stout
(i.irsmen, and :irmed liy .i swiu'l mn-inied ai the
liiiw. The whole nuinher on Imard auvjunled la
' Uveiuy-si\ men; amoiiL;" whom w.is .Mr. Iletiry
llreik(iiridi;e, then a youni;", enterprisinjr man ;
who w.is a mere ])assenj(er, templed by notions of
luriosily to aceomp.iiiy .Mr. I.is.i. He has since
m.ide himselt known li\' \arious writing's, amonjj
I which m.i_\- be iioled a narrative ot this ver_\' \o)-
'1 he ajiproach of Lis.i, while it was r.'j^arded
with ime.ismess by Mr. Ilunl, roused the ire ot
M'I.ell.in; who calling; lo mind old j;rie\ .iiuis,
be;;.in to Inok round lor his rilli', as il he re.dly
: intended ti carry his lliriat into e\( i ulion and
.shoot him on ihe spot ; and il w.i-. w ith some dilii-
( uity th.ii Mr. Hunt, w.as en.iblrd tn n-.^ir.iin lus
I ire, ,ind pie\ciil a seine ct oinr.i^e .iiid contu-
smn.
Tlu' meelinj.( between the two leaders, thus niu-
tu.illy disirusitiil, could not be \er\' cirdi.d ; and
as to .Messrs. Crooks and M'Lell.in, lhoni;h they
ntr, lined Irom any outbreak, yet they re;;,irded in
;;riin del"iani-e their old riwil and u:id"rpioUer. In
I truth, a j;eneral distrust prev.uled thron^huut the
I |):irlv cij^nceinin}.j l.isa and his iiUiiuiniis. 'I'lu-y
I cmisidered him arllul .ind slippery, and serri ily
I an.vious lor the lailure ol their expedition. There
I beinv,' now nolhin^r more to be appi; heiided Iroin
' the Siiiux, they suspected lh.it I.is.i would Like ad-
: \- uit.ii;!' of his IweiiU -o.ired bar.i^e ''i le.ue ihein
' ,ind j;et lirst amonL,r the Arickar.is. .\s he h.id
[ tr.idi'd with thos^' pi'o])lc and |)ossessed j^re.il in-
i lluence o\er them, it w.is feared ! ■■ mi;^hl make
' Usi- ol it to impede the business ol Mr. Hum and
his ])arly. ll was resohed, iheri l.ue, lo keep a
siiarp lookout U|i()n his mo\-ements , .ii.d .MT.ellan
s.MUe th.it it he s.iw the le.isl si;^!! . t Ire.icherv oil
his p.irt. he would inst.intly pul h.-. >.: I threat into
e\ei iiliiin.
Nolwithsiandiii;.,^ these secret
he.irt lnirn:n;^s, the two ii.irties
I'Utw.ird .ippear.iiice 111 ci\ilily. i
ciuit'.nind torw.ird in i omp.mv v.
' ot h.irmmu'. < 'n tiie lliird d.iy
|)ioiion toiik pi, ice, .111.1 itw.ispii.
.1 peison.iv;e th.in I'ieiie Dorin
interpreter. ll will be lecn
worlhv h.ld been obliged M St-
.St. I.iuiis, to a\oid beinif ,i'
\Oiiske\- debl which he uwe.l '
t'omp.iiu-, .ind bv which ,\l' .
prevent his enlisliii'.; in Mr. lie
1 )iii-iiiii, since the ,irri\-.il ot l.i-^ i.
.iiul rc'^.irded him w iih a suil- ■
pt-ci. ( >n ill'' tilth of July, tin i
biiui^dit to ,1 h.iii by a lu-.i\\' r c
' i-nc. imped aboul ,i hundrcl \ ,i' Is ap.iit. In the
course 111 ilie d.i\ l.i-^.i underio.ik In tamper with
ihe l.iilii lit I'lerre 1 )iiiioil. .md, "vilin;;- him on
bo.ird ot lus bo, It, re;;,iled him .vOi his l.norite
wliiske\-. When he lhoiii;hi iiim ■.uUiciently mel-
lowed, he pr.i posed lo him lo ipm the s(-r\ ice ot I lis
new empliu i-rs ,ind ri-liiin to his old .illev;ianee.
l-'indmi;- him not lo be mo\ed b\- soli words, he
I .died to mind his old dc-bi lo llic coinp.iny, and
ilircilened to c.irrv him oil by toii e, in'p.iymfiU ot
It. The mention ot this debt .ilw.iys siiired up the
, y.ill ot I'ierrc Doripn, bnugmgwilh il tlie le'u-.'iu-
po-iip si'lo I'f I'lc river, and s.iw, with intense
?nm-l\ tl't' "iii"''^'!' "' ^''^■•'K''"-'' continually au^;-
!' ,,iliiiu 111 liv l"^^i''' '•'"' "' ''"■ '''''"""■'' ^" l''''l
L ,Hi,it\voilliM'L' exjiosed to a tearful all,ick be- ^
j, ,.,. [iiv could render il any assist. met;, llieir , lor him lo come up. In .i little while the barj^e
,..',',xii-'v increased, a.s they s.iw .Mr. Hunt and his ■ ■ ^ - i -■
' pull Jcsci'iuimK tin- ch-nmel .ind d;iuntlessly ,ip-
pn,,ii-iii:i'.( die I'onit of il.in^^er ; but it suddenly
ih,irr'i-iimtii surprise on bcholdini,' the bo.ii pa-.s
i.iii-,i'"'in the s.iv,i;;i: horde unmolested, ,ind sleer
(,'i;: sili'v iiiti' the broad river.
Tu- ;ii\l iiioiueiil the whole l),i:id ot w;irriors
,,,„'.; niiitieii. I'liev r.m .iloni;- ihe b.mk unlil
in-.,- wi'ii; <i|)p-'site lo ihe bo. its, then throw ini; bv
ti.i'ir ucijioiis :uiil luiff.ilo lolies, p'un;;ed into
,;,,, ,.^,.r, w.idi-d ■.ind s'.v.im oft to the bo, its ,ind
s-;ri. tiiulfd dieiii in crowds, sei-kin;; to sli.ike
i.ini,-, -,, iia cv(-r\ individual on bo.-iid ; lor the In-
i,.,i:o ii.ivc hw^ suiic lound this lo be the while
u\:.'\'> ti'kcii ot .laiity, .md they c.iriy it to .m e\-
in-nii'
.\!1 tine.'isiiic'.s W.IS now at an end. 'Ihe In-
lii.iii-, ;ir.i-ied ll be a war p.iit>' of .Vrickar.'is,
.M iiiil.iiis, and .Min.ii.iri-es, lonsistin^;- of three
lii:ii(lri-il vs.ininrs, .mil bound on .i lor.iy ;i),Minst
tc- r^iiiux. i'licir w.ir pl.ms were .ib.indoiied lor
lin' I'll .cut, ,iiid ilu'\- determineil lo n-uirn lo liie
Aru n ii.i luAii, \\iierc they ho|)ed to obi. lin Irom
Hit- wiiiie men arii.s and .immunilion th.it wmild
e;-iiiiic tlu'iii til t.ike the ield with .id\ant.ii;i ci\er
liii-irciu'inii-s.
riir liiialsiuiw sou).;lil the lirst con\-i-nient pl.n e
i,ir f:i.-.iir.|)lii,i;-. The tents were pitched ; the
N.irniis lixed their c.imp at .iboiit a hundri'd
\.iril> (li.slatU I "I'm isioils were tuinished Irom the
iCit-, Milli.icnl l.ir al! p.irties ; there w.isheir'y
Vki'.il;!! rude te.islin^- in both camiis, ,ind in liie
ivi-nii'.i; the red warri.u's i-ntert. lined their while
:!ii,.|. wall d.iiici-s and son;.;s, ih.ii l.isled until
lilt'.-r iiiniiiij^ht.
(In ;:',i- tnllnu ini; morniii;^' ijuly^di liie lr,i\i-l-
1-rs r--'-i'i!>.irkei!, .md took .i tempor.'.rv ie.iM- oi
i'lir liivii.iii Iru-nds, who intended to ]iroieed im-
!':i-u;.ili-ly Inr the .\rick.ir i town, wlu-re ihe\ e\-
|:-i'.-.-.| t.i :irii\e 111 three .l.iys, loiii; belole liu-
' .i.iti : 'iiid ic.u ll there. Mr. Himi h.id not pro
I'-'i- ii-'l !.ir lietore the , hiet c.inie j^.lliopilV^ ,llont;-
; ;i- •, I'lie .-illd ni,ide si^Us tor .1 p.iiliy. He s.iid
:•. ji. iiili' ciuild not ^.1 home s.itlstied unless thev
:m I Mi'.u-thiiiv^ lo l.ike uilli them lo pi i\e lh.it
i.ty ii.,.| iiiei w-ilh the wliile men. .Mr. Hunt
Ml r-',i'-i.i tile drill of the spet-i li. .md m.ide l.'ie
; ■: .1 iMi--,eiit ot .1 ( .isk ol p.iwdei, a b.i^ o!
jll.-. linI I'liee do/i-M lit k'ii\es, willi which he
a:> !u;,ii;v pli-.tsi-d. While the , llli t w.isleceiv-
I',; ;''ii-s(- ;in--,ems an Indian c.inie iiiiiiun;; .don^
■ !t-^!i"-i-, .iiiil ,innounceil lli.it .i b.i.ii, lili-d with
'1" ■ ii'i-ii, w.is i.iinun;4 up tile iiM-r. I ins w.is
1 ' 1 •iii-,in-i .i^ree.ible lidiii;^-, to M ;■. limit, who
■■r'-'i;, c.iiK hided il to be the boll ol Ml. .M.iii-
• -1 ; .inil he '.v. IS \exeil to lind lh,:l .dell .Mi.l
■ ilsies .111(1
It. dm d ail
ir tW'i d.ivs
line dei;"ree
\er, an e\-
.' I d !iv no less
■ ;e h.ilf-breed
'•d tli.-it this
,1 m.irch Irom
d tor an old
1- .Missouii I iir
I h.ld i'.oped to
I's expedition.
I. .id kept .iKiof,
Old il.i-.;^ed .ii-
o parties Were
ind rem. mud
1.5^- ;' I
I'- •!. '! '"'I
^^il nil
m'
\'>i)
branro of thr w
ASTORIA.
nskcv I
A'tortion. Avlolrnt qinrril
nrosf liftwfcii hmi .in
I Lisa, .111
1 lie Ictt tlif in. .It
111
hi''h (lud'.n'Mi).
His liist sU'i) w.is to ii'p.ur til
mimhrr were rlo'^rricvl nn \hr ho.nrli r [
,iiul, under llic sh.idf nt ilic trcrs, (i|-
111 thf w .1
tiT, like iMtllf, to .ivoul t
If ihi'
till' •.flit ot Ml. 1 luill .liui ITVf.ll
the .illfituil tli.it luMt ot the dav.
"«.i.i!
i! l:,;:
had 1
ICCll 111. nil
t>> sli.iki' Ins taith.
W
Ilk- he w.is
Si-viT.il lit till' bfst lil.iik'
n^^■\^ sl.iiioiu:'
,Tl t.ilkin^'- I.is.i filtered tlic tciit, iiiuU r
the I
•hcs in llic how <i| .1 li.iivi- wlu'h
I'i'i.i'i
llAt ot lOllllllV
to lioriMW a tow nil,'
nil,' line. llii;li ' slowly .md silfiitly. stinininii; tin- cunvn
v.ords iiisi.inllv iiisiici
wliu'll en
! lu't
wci'ii r.iin .inn
Uorion,
tl
u' an
I ot
a hill, II
i s.iil and
1,'d i>v tin- b.ill-hrcrd's dc.iliii.Lj Inin a luiff.do stood o,,/ii,^r ,|iiictly at tla- h.
■1 lair liiTc'u i\,
lilow. .\ (|ii.iriTl i:i tlu'
Indi,iii idiintrv," h'
C'vi'i", IS not lo
I :(' settled with ti^lii lilt>
i.i^
iru.iehed, ,KTteeily iiiieoiiseioii-, o| ihca ,1
The I. litest ol the herd w.is seleetcd hvtln !,;
r .; in,;
lir.lllei
1 loii 111 sll.U
Mr,
il.ttilv .Ushed to his lio.it tor .1 we.!]).!!!. who .li
lired
to^eilwr and
:il':r.
hroui^lu (!i.,v;i t:;^,
e!;eii lip .1
]i.lir ut pistols heloli.iiini;- to | vietini
luiit, .111.
hiniselt in liatt'.e .iri.iv, I'.esides the hiifl does they s,iw
The n.ijse h,id roiised tl
jiiii, .111(1 ever
\ one deer, ,ind tre(|uent ,i,Mni;s ot stately elks
i;'e^se{
1
lllioll till
to k
low tl
,i])pe,ired with li;;lit troops ot s|inL;litly ,iiUi
iu.|,| uuli ,1 kaile stuck in his -irdle, ; est ,ind most hiMiititiil inh.ihit. nils nt :h,. 1 1-,,,..
>ir. lii-eekenral-e, who h,id tried m v.iin to nioiiiiy
1
Here .ire two kinds ot antelopes in thcsi' n
his ire. .oe.aiipiiiit il liiiil t<i the s.eiie ot .n Iioi
Pierre IiorKiiTs pi-.tois n.ixc hiin tlie ,uh',int.i
1. I one ne.'irlv the si/e of the coniiiioii dei:r, il'
ee
he ill. lint. 1111. d ,i ir,o-t WMilil^e
.Ulitiiile,
il iniieh l.irL;i'r th.in a j^cit. Tluir i c •:• ,
It ur-i^'. '''■ r.illier iliin, siiL;litly >|in!r.lAi
the me. in linn- t 'ro.iks .im
the c.iilM' ot tile .illr,i\ , .ind were e.n h e.i,:;er lo t
i| .\n. ell. Ill h.id I'Mriit white; and they li.ive sni.iU horns like
he (leer, uliieh lliev never
N
t.ike i:ie ipi.irrel in'.o llieir own
hani
rp
ipiM.ir .md hiihhiih eilsued th.it delirs deseriji- lir.ihs, i
the delie.ite .md eiei; nit linisli
11 wliieh liijhiness, el.isiiiitv.
u!:ii!;- ci-l
tilMl.
MT.ell.in woidil h,ive hrotii;iu his rille into .ire woiidertully eoiiihined, .\l! the .ittUi:
Jil.lV .md sellh
ot the triUL^er,
,iiid new,i;riidi;es liy ,i piiU nio\c'nien
','4 lueii re^tr.iiiied hv Mr.
is ot this lie.uititi
iliil ]iietliresip
d il
Il .1111111.11 ,n ;;
is alto'Mther i-. ; i ,
Hunt. 'I'll. it ,i4'-:itieiii.in .leted as iiioih-r.ilor, en- 'ei
(leaxoriiiLj to ]
t tor the taiieihil uses ot the iioel.
re\enl a ''ene
in the' sunij i;.i/e
Midst ot l!li
liowe\fr, ,111 e\]ire>slon w,is
lie ot Ihe I-"..isl.
,1
riieir h.ihits are :diy and f.iprieioii> ; i
ide Use ot h\- l.r-, I der'>.i;.iiorv to his own honor. on ihe open plains, ari' (|Uiek to i.ike the.i:
In .111 in^Mn! ihe tvan(|iiil spirit ot Mr. Hunt
lonint .iw.i
V with a tleetness lli,:t ilrtii
in a 11;
nu'
le now hei
anie .IS f.nj'er tor !ii;hl .IS When thus skiniiniiiLr a.ross ,i pniri.
aiiv one on the -rninil, and eli,illeni;eil
Se
l.is
iiitunin, tlieir lij,dit Kr^'V '"' 'l"" I'olor Mi-
.-tile the disiHlIe .-11 t!ie spot with pistols. Lisa the hue of the withered herl).i.i;e, tliesw
]i,-iired lo Ills ho.it to .iriii hiniselt tor the de. idly their mo
fell'
tion li.itlles the eve, .and the. ,ilir. iM -
II
toil.iwed h\- Messr
ir.i.lhurv .inu
insulistaiiti,il tonus, driven like j,'o-s.i
lireekenrid'je. who, iioxiees in Indian
,llli| Hie Ihe Wlllil
h t,
scenes o
t M
the trontier, li,i(l no rcMsn
;ind hr.iwl. l!v their e.iriiest im
W
iile the\- tlii.is
th
M to me M|i.'li 11. i;-
irilst to their speed, tiley an
lie , hill
ation the (|iMrrel w .is with ;,.;re.it ditlieiihy liroii^i.t .i ]
iriineiit eiiriosiiv tli.it someiiiiir
heir
pc
to a elos, witlieiut bloodshed : 1 ml the iv\-ole:idi r. i.i their nun. Win n ihev ha\ e si ml l.v -
the n.-.d 1 imps separated in ai";i r, a:.d .ill i.iine .mil hit their pursuer behii.il i:
rson.il mien lurse ee.ised between tllelil, siiddi-lily slop .md turn to i;.i/e :it the eh i . l
' .il.irm. It the piM-sii.t IS not toll.iwed iipf
. ] alter .1 time, yield to their iiupiisHiM- h.-i
t .ind r'-tiirn to th" pl.ne troiii v\l.e:;'e mv
been trii.,ditene<
Lll.M'll.K XX,
ohn D.iv,
iht
\eter.in liiinter .lun.
ioned, displayed his e\perieili e .ilii
Tm. rivr.l p.-i.rti' s now eo.isted alon;.^ the opp
Snc sides ot the li'.er, \>. ilhin s:^rhl o| e.i. h olher ; trai)pini,j om
the- barges I >1 .NFr. 1 lunl ,ib\.iys keepm;,' suir.e dis- ,idvaiil.ij;e ot tus
tanee in the .aib-aiiee, lest j.is.i should push on down ll.it anion^' the !;'■■'''''•
t tlu'se beautitlll .iiiinii's
dl known i-iir'n--i\
I ''et tirsi to the .\riik;
niK
.'iiid oli'i (
ir.i \"i:i,i''e
h
e seen
erv keiehiet oil the end ot hisr,imr
,llld pll'lil;;
oil, \* . I '■
tl
Is, ,IS theV pr"l e'Mle;
,IVe evideiue III It 111 the .lir.
T
the etie.t
le\ were .ld\aili ir.;^' deeper and deeper into tile
eination ot the r itilesn.ike
11
dom.uiis ot s.iv.it'e nature
Itou
idlesS w. Isles
kel,!
exleiiilm
to the e\f, more .uid more ,im-
m
ilted bv herds ot luitt.lli
the mvslerioiis objeet lor siuiu
ilieii appro.ielied timidly, p.lUsI
le il.ieai;'
time .11
Soiiietinies tliesi lerilli' Willi I liereasei
1 luriosity ; nu
unwuhh . mini. lis vMTe seen inoMiiLjin loii;^ pro- poin
Cession ..' ros> iiie sih-nt hmdseape ; at otlu r tmu s
t of .ittr.K tion in a eirele, hut -i'
ih
nearer .md nein-r, until beiiii^wiini
they wen- se.ntered .iboul, sini;ly i.r in ,i;roups, on the de.idly rilie, he tell .i VK Inn lo h
the b
rii.id-en Hv.ellfd
irairies .i
In I I'reen
ilies, sniiie I roppint( the rieh p.istnr.e.,fe. ouier-
rerli'iin.f .imid the ilower\ herb. in. ■ ; ilu \\iiol(
I Ml the'iolti of luile, .is the parly \^ '■
th' \ II I '
sk
ildnress
with .1 line liree/i
scene re.ili/ne' in a manner tlie o
Id ■
riptiir.il de-
with three In bans ileseeiidn
e.ime to a p.irley,
le the n
serijitioiis o| i),e v. 1st p.is'oral ( ■iiirtrie
Orieiit, Willi " ' .itlle upon ;i thousand hill
.1 till
irii K.ir.i \in.ii
and In-oiiKhl '"'^^
The wir j).ut\. \\
.ami .It the saii.
bar. Ii.i
.At on
.11 e Ihe shores seeniei
I .ibsolutelv lineil , tlu
ik
^e some d.iys pi
ireMiaislv, am"
r'' 1 ■'■
with biiM does ; in,inv were in.ikin^ their w,i\- ;ip]irn:ieh uf ,i p.irtv ot tr
idels, .IM
I ,!,.;il.ivp.hv;',ii
neross
til-
stream, suortiiv'', .ind hlowiiv,.
d
;re,it osl •ntalion the p
resents lii' v
lloiinderm;,'.
Were borne
.Villi, hers,
bv 11
111 spite o
f e. erv eltort, 1 tniiiithem. • Ml turtlier lonvers
le lipid 1 iirreiit w iihin shot
it the three Indi.ms, .Mr. Hunt I'-ini
llioll
t Ih-
u-:; 1 . 'I"'
n .li '■ '!>'
boat^, and sever.il were killed. At iinuthcr place | which he h.id run, wiuu luanined '■'['
Uill.t
:i \'X
"■'•'■\ "r ,;,i„i,'
"I till- llir-, .;.,;,■
■n sl.lliuiif ■;•..
llii' I'lliiT;! ,, .„
■ l.iir hri'cA. !■'
•I''" li.iri;,. „, j. ,
-> "I l!)i:r .:,.,','.'.
'"•'"n-ih.i,:,..,;:;
■'«' ;il»ii:; ;,in,,. ,.
K'lyrlks, I,,;,;;.;
IUi'In|)cs, ;;i,. i „..
"'> I't ihr |r„t:.,.
s III llii-sc r:,„i..'
"11 'Ici'i-, \\;\',' '■
'I'luir II' .;• ,
;litiy >|iiiii .; ,, ■;
DMls hki' ;.: .... •
'!. Nlll!!!!:- rin
111 linlsli I,! ■,•,.-
•|;y, .I'i' ■.y-rf^',
till- .iiti!i::...i
iim.il ii-' ;;„;■;
I'tlirr ,i> ;,( ., ,,, .
>■ |">''l. .1- tl'. >:■
ii'inu> ; r, y kt"-
ikc iIiim; •■',1. ,,■
Kit ili'Iics J ,,rv:'.
:i pnin. n ;;■•
ciilnr iili". :^ \\,\:,
. I he \Ai::,;"„ :
lh< ;, allKK! v:r
i;o^-..i:iii r :'■.■'. ;■:
'•■."■n \h.ir.] :■-<.
■ . t.m !!■-■', ill', •
'.(•l!-,i;,- 'ir:
till liV - 'I! i^.i-
'IIMI 111! , A ,'
I' nil'! ( ! •! :l 'i:
:-il ll|i I' 1 . .'.Ij
MM h ■■MT',',
.i-;;.v 'iv. 1 :■-
r .linn-. ■:.):':•
ri'!,^ I..
^ i.'fi
■1 ■!•
. i; :rf
:. i'"i.,
!;■•;■
•. h.i.l
iiiiii.ii
;,-:ii.i
1 1
.r,h\;'.ii
"{ . t" ■ 1. 1.
* 1 '/'("''
■■ n.i
''.^'■.y
14, U!
.ui:i ii'.c
ASTORIA.
301
1; ,)• The M.»nil-\ns who wcro of the war
'']!.*".uu'n Ihcv ;<■»«• '''i-' '"^■"'^ ^" complcttly cii-
i!:,,;i',l ,iiul .i|)|).irciuly witliiii tlu'ir power, li.i.l
' ' , .,|„r ;iii,i.kiiiK it. and s(riirinn- v. n.li
",' j.-nu-MiiMKiriTS. also, were nolhiiii; loath.
," 'i;,i./in Mime iiuMsufe coinmittcd 111 hosiilily to
I'.'wliil.s 111 i-ciiscqiii'iK-L' ot tliuir trihc havm-
.,]i,,| rwo'vvhiti- iiu'ii a!)ovf \.\n: tort ot tiu' .Mi.>,-
■ri i t: 0.m|)aMV. FurluiiaU'ly, the .Anikara^,
V /, tnniiL'il ilu- maioritv ol llic war party, i)rovc(l
,,.„, iiiihcirtrii'ii'Ishiptoihcwhitfs, .iml prcvciit-
iir III. -tile .11 1, oth.'ruisf a t)loody aftr.iy, and
[„.'iu'i-.i liiHT 1>U: massacre, nii,i;ht have ensued.
' ,',,,',1,, Mihol luiic Mr. Hunt and Ins eonipan-
jin-iii .iii'.pi''' '"■•"■ '"' '■>'•""' •''""It ^'^ "'i'"-"' '"'-
|,,,^' ili,. .\ri. kar.i viliaK'e. Mr- I-is.i ene.miped,
a>i^i!il, ■!! II" .i;i'':'t distanee ; Imt the s.mie sul-
i'li ;iii ! ii'ii'i'i-' i'"-''''^''' •'"'' non-intereciiise lun-
l,;.!i'iil i' i\\i'''ii >l" '"■ Sliortly attcr i)iteiiin^Mhe
t-'iN M!'. linrkeiuid^'e made his ai)pearani-e .is
n:Ki!V.'M'~'.iil''i' h"in theriv.d e.iiiip. He < anic on
ii.'!i;iit .■! Ills laniii.mions, to arr.inj^e ttie manner
0! :!l.i
! 1 ' tluir eiiiranee into tile villa);e and ot
rcic;i; :,' ;!!i: ilii"ts ; tor e\i'r\ tliinj;' ot liie kind
i, ;i 11; i.tiT I'l j;rave teremonial ainon^' tlie In-
I'lir Mi'tiie's luiw evpressed tr.inkis' llieir <K'i';)
,:,!rus' .1 me iiUemionsot Mr. Lisa, ;ind their ap-
iiivlii"! .nils, ih.it, mitot till' jealousy ot trade, and
• -fn'r.i '111 of rereiil di-.piltes, he mi^jlu seek to
: -!i.,'ii" tile .\rii k.ir.i.s a^^aiiist ilieiii. Mr. iirei k-
, ;iil;;i' .issuied them tlial their SUSplriolls Wel'e
L.nrti' f^rniia.llrs-., and pleil,:;ed hiins'Mt ih.u
;'.i;|iiii,'. it the kind should take pi. n . He found
i; illlh !;!t, h r.vevei', to remoxe tlieii' '.istrust ; the
i;i!!r;i III-, tiierelore, ended witliout produein;^
a'ivi>i,'li.i;iiii.lersiandiii,i^ ; and .M'I.ell.in reeurred
III |-.i.> 11! tiire.U ol shoolintj l.'sa the instant h'-
.!mi)..;tiI anxdiiUL'- like treael'.er\ 111 his pi'-.-
ia-;lll.;s.
ill:; 'I'ljht the rain fell in torrents, ,•■• .lnlp.l■
l •.! 'r. ;!m:i'!er .iinl li^^lunin^;. 'I'tie e imp w.is
d'Vii^cl. and I'.ie iieddiiij^ .ind l)a>ji,^a);i' drmein 1.
Ail !„i;i ;-, ciuh.u'isi-d .It .m e.ir'.v tnuir, .ind sci
ti:v,.i;-.! ! ir the \ ir..ii;e. Ah.mt luie- o'l loek, when
iii.t v.n. tiiey met a e.inoe, .1.11 ho.ird ot which
v.'r- ! .a .\riik.ira diijnil.iries. One, ,1 t'me-look-
".j mill, mil' li ,i')o\c the eoniinon > ue, w.i» ii-'-
riilir, ililet ot the villai;e ; tie w;i.s ealh-d the
I.itl li I'i'lr I, on .i(-eoiint ot .i person. il |)ei'uli.iril\ .
r;H:i'.,iti, .1 :i nuiousduokin^^ s.u'a^'-e. w.is the
V ir ilii. t. ,1;- i;eiier;ilissimo ; tie w.is known hv
■ ■ ,;i::i' 11! ii • jinf M.m, an apiiellation lie well
vf'-. I JiMin 111-, si.'e, tor lie w.is ol .1 ^i.ij.intii'
111'', i'l liii '.\rre of l.iiier i onipie.\ion ih.m is
mI '\;'" M'. l•„'.■^.
!ii'\ V..1-' .uiompanied liy an interpreti'r, .a
'■"''• i! lie, one ot those h.iph.i/ard wii;hts cit
■ ' 'n_;ai. '\ iui .iliound upon <iur trontier. In in.;
. ''y^ 'Itr liuiiuis like one o! their ow n r.iee. i !e
• I'l- :: I'A i,i,' y Mrs .unoni; the .Ariek.iiMs, h.id
^'!'i-' ' .'Il ! .1 troop ot pu'li.T;! ihildreii, .md
''"IT.' I Is ii.levpreter t> the ( hlels. 'I'lirou-h
^ ■,'. 11,1 av I •!■.;. Ill the two dii;nil. tries sii;nilied to
'1 . Il'i'l i'ii ir so\ereii.;n intention to oppose die
■■-'.■icr ;i; '-itss ot ttu; e.\l)edltlon UJ) tile ri\t r
'-'•""'^ I '"'I-, v\,.,-,. Ifit I,, tr.ide witli ttiem. Mr.
' i;i'. -1 r> i'l/. lAplained thi- (Uijeet ot his \oy.i<^e.
I'' ii'> i'l'iiuiiiii ti» deliarkin;;- at their vill.ii;e .md
1' ' '•'•■li.i^' tiieliee hy l.ilid ; ,ind that he would
I'l-iiiL^ly ti ule with Iliem for a supplv of horses
lir'i;, hi;:-. v. With this expl.inatioii' they wen-
Pf!'i"'!l\ Mii-iied, .md 'puttiiij; about, sleei-ed tor
■^'-•ir vill.ij^'r tamake pre|)araiion3 lor the receiition
-''llicstr.iii-crs.
'llie vill \c;c of the Rikar.ns, .Arick.irns, nr Rica-
recs, tor ilie n.ime is thus s.iriously written, is be-
tween the 4f)lh and 47th |)ar.illels ot north l.ititude,
and lourteeii hundred .uul thirty niilivs .■ibovc the
moutjj ot tile Mis.^oiiri. The p.:rt\- re.uhed it
about ten o'l Im k in the niorniiu;, but landed on
the opposite skIc ot the n\er. While they spre.id
out their b,i;;,i;,i^e and eltee!^ i-i (li\. I''roin
heme they i unim.inded .in evia Heiil \ ;ew ot the
vdl,ii;e. il was divided into two portions, about
eiLjIily N.irds ,i|),u t, beiiif; inhabited by tsso distinct
li.inds. 'I'liewllole extended .iboiil three (|U.irlers
ot ,1 mile .don:; the ri\'er b.ink, and w.is cmnposed
ot i oni( .d lodj;es, th.lt looked like su 111 any sm.lU
hillocks, bein^ wooden li-.imes iiiteitw ined witli
osier, and covi'red with e.irth. 'I'lie jilain beyond
the \illa^e swejil iij) into hills n| i oasidi'rablti
lieij^'ht, but the wliole cnunlry w.is iir.iiiy desti-
tute ol trees. While they were re;^'ardin^ the vil-
lage, lhe\- beheld ,1 sill;;ul.li lier! i oniiilj^ down
il'.i' riser. it consisted ot .1 ihiiiiIh r ol cmoes,
e.ich lii.ide id ,1. suckle bullalo hiiie stritclicd on
sticks, so as to toiin a kind ol circidar troUi,di.
il.'ich one w.is na\i,i;,ited liv a siiij;le sqii.iw, who
knelt in llie bottom ,ind paddled, towim; , liter her
trail I), irk . I bundle ol tloatinu;" woo.l intended tor
liiini.;. 'I'liis kind of c.iiioe is ill trcijiient use
amoni^ the indi.ins ; the butt.ilo hah- biiie^;- re.id-
ily ni.ide up into a bundle and liMiispnried on
horseback; it is \'er\' service. ible in loiuesing
ba;;e;a^e .icross the rivers
The i^riMt number ot horses ;;iM/i!i:.; around the
\ iilaije, .md sciltered over the neii^hboiin;.;- hills
.md willevs, bi-^poke ill i.j ^tri.in li.ibits ot the
.\rickar.is, who arc ac'i..'i ■ horsemen. in-
deed in the numlHT ot ''ns Imlses consists tliu
we.ilth of .111 indian of the prairies ; who reseni-
')les an Ar.ib in his passion tor this noble aiiini.d,
.irid in his adroitness in the management ot it.
.\lter a time, the voice ot the .sovereiijn chief,
■' the ia'ftdKinded," was he.ird .icros, tlie ruer,
.iiiiiouncm^ lh.it the council lod..,'i' w.is prtp.iriiiLj,
.,11 1 iiivitiii;; llie white men to 1 ,inie ii\er. 'I'lic
ri\er \\.is li.ilf a mile in width, \ri c\eiy word ut-
tered by the chietl.lin w.is ile.ird. ; this m.iy be
p.irlK .ittriluited to the distinct ra.ir.ner in wiiicit
ewry s\ ll.ible of the cnmpuuiii! words iii the In-
di.iii l.inL;u.i:;is is .irticulated ,iik1 .icceiiled ; but
in truth, a s.i\.ii;e w.iriior mii;lu olten riv.d
.\i liilles hiiiiseit toi force ot llln.;.^. ■"
.\o\v cinie llie delic.ite point ot nviiia^fiient :
h.ow the two ii\'.il ii.irties we.e to conduct llieir
\;>i'. to ihi' \iil.iL;e with |)roper i iri unispectiori
.md due decorum. Neither ol i!;e Iciders h.id
spoken to e.ich othei' since their ipiarrel. .\ll
( imiMunic.iiion h.id been b\ .r.nb.iss.idors. .Seeinjj
the iclloilss" ehtert. lined ot l.is.i, Ml'. Ilrecken-
ridi^e, in his iiei.^oti,ition, h.id .iiiMiiL^cd th.it a
ueputalion Irom e.icli p.irly sliouhl ir.i.-^ the ii\er
,it itie s.inie time, so thai neither would li.n c t'lc
iirsl .iccess to the ear ot the .\rii k,.i is.
■file distrust ol l.is.i, howewr, li.l 1 increased
in proportion as they aiipro.uhed th.e siiherc ut
aciaui, ,md M'l.ell.in in p.irlicul.ir kept a vii;ilaiit
e\e upon his motions, swe.irin;4 t'> sliooi him d he
.ittempted to ( ross tile river tirst.
.Miout two o'clock the l.ir.ne bo.il of Mr. Hunt
w,is m. limed, and he stepped on bo.ird, accom-
p.'mel by Messrs. M'I\en/;e and M'lallan ; Lis.i
at the siiiie linn: embarked in Ids b.irne ; the two
deput.itions amounted in all to fourteen persons,
and ni'ver was any movement of riv.d [lotcniatcs
i cunducled with more wary c.sactncbs.
1 '■ UraUbury, p. no.
1 ni
I '!■
li;' ^.
1:^ t!
1 ' ;
|i 1
1: ii
v
i» ..!'
Pl'li
852
ASTORIA.
Thcv 1 111(1. '(1 aniiil .1 nMilr- rro\v<l, rmd wi
iMmiwruiUT; wriT cnfTftiv niiTc^l
rcct'iviwi nil tin- li.mk by thf Ictl-li.iiulftl ihift, uliii llnisc i.( Ml.cU.iii nl.uiiii,' like ,i 1.
CiiiuluiU'il llifiii into tlic \ill.i,i;f willi >;iavf lourt- Ik^.im l-y the mmi.iI rsprissK.n-, ul IrtHKi.
CSV; (Iriviiij; 1(1 till' rijjlit ■•uid li'tt the sw.irnis nt then iH'm ctdcd to cviil.iin the nlni , i ,,,
ol
il siiiiaw'', imi)
hk.
IONS, ,»ihI \,ij;.iI>i)I1iI iltii;s, p,irl\.
with wliuli till' jiLifi alxuiiK
Ird. 11
Idsr pcisullS, li()\M\ti. ,,,;,
lev WiUIHi
In Mr. Hunt .mil 1
til.
ilirt-l
lu't
leaps hii
wtcll
til
f i Mhiii'i,
which hulked Ilk.' .illle|-elit
11*^ ' 'llllp.lllluli
p.r.'ty. ami arc (piiie .lis-n,
l(ih'(i t(ii,'etluT Willi. lilt am- )ilail, and views; lull, added he, thniinh
surnuni.li-il hy nlil palis.i.hs ; ,ul lilihy in ili.' .a-
trtMiie, and redolent ot vill immis smells.
parties \\<' make luit
u.-
At lenL;th they arrived at tlu- eouiui
1 lodi.
safety '<\ either is eoll.'erned
It ' suit iitlered to lliein 1 sh.ill
one ((illKiKiil t ,111,
.\.l\ 111
. Dllsi'Icr
was sonii wliat sp.iiious, and hiriiUMJ of lour fork iinsell, ,uid will resent it aei miiiii^^h.
t'd trunks i.t tice> plai'V.I iiprij;lit, supiuU'tiiiL; thertdore. ihai \oii \v ill tri'.it them wn'
cr.iss-ii. Mills and a tr. lire id poles int. Mw.neii \vith trieiiiUliip th.it \iai li.r.c .dw.iys 111,11;!
0-.U IS. .iiid thi' whole eiivi red with e.irth. .\ hole me, d.'iiii,' lAerslhini;' in vonr piAir
sunken in th.' eeiitre lormed ihr lirepl.i. c, ,in.l ini- , ihein and to liidp lluin on i(
It ir \\.i\.
nu'iJi.UeU' above w.is a eireular liole in liie api'v
.t I
isa, ileli\ere'! w illi .111 .iir el !r.
ot the lodi;-.', to let oiii the smoke , mil In in the 1 snuariiv.
(l.l\lii;ht. .\roiml the lod;;c
sl.'epiiii,', li!-
t.i troiii vii-
W ere rei e-iseS
lor the rival party.
'reeahly sur|)ri;-.e'
;in:
e iiie hiTilis on ho,iru sliiii^, si-reen-
Mr. Hunt then .siioke, d
liv iiirt.iilis ot dressed
lis. .\i his mil
rn.",' to the
;r.Ml S.tll 1.
the upp.'r end ot the Iodide was ,1 kind ot ImnliiiL
itains, .111.! that h.' s'
iinilil w.iie I .;|,
and w.iriiKe
head
llophv, iMMsistii'i;- (it i\M) liull.ilo luirpose, lorwhieh he w.is reaiK in ,r
s ij.irislilv p.untrd, surniounU-d l>\ shields, iiroui,dU with him jijeiitv ot i;oi
)ows, uuivers ot arrows, and oilier wr.i|i ins.
( hi .■•iierin''- tlu
I' the idii.d liointed to iii.ils ot loh.u I'l
las, I idiiiduded tludr sjiee.die.s
n in.iki
or . usIiiiMis w hi. h had 'leen pi. iced .irouml lor tlie
str.iiiijers, .11
'llie leltdi.inded ehi.dt
whiK- he p
lelt.iiii in reei. !■
a wliieh tllev se.iteil their.seh 1 s. friendship ,inc| .lid to the iiew-iniiir!
UHM
hmiselt on ,1 kind ot sii
old 11
1,111 llu'ii i-.ime t ir>v,ird wath U
or L'ood-te!io\' siiip, le' h
ted
le pijie ot jiiMie I1
.inded 11 to ill
:liiet.
d !l
leil t.llliil'i:
haek.
Miu.uied liim^t
, luued them lo his vill,!i
id iKrt the miiuluT <d
lluiil r'(|uiri(l. .111(1 e.viiri
ihev shin
;e. lie „.:(h.: :
hia'scs 111 sii.iii- 1
'I.
lid I
tl
ne.ir the iloor.
T!
le piiK! w.is ii.issed tnuii moull
1 .mother I
hiett.
H" .ink' to p.irt
w:lh ill'
.illeil (rl.lV l.\i
to iiioulhi. e,;. h one t.ikuii; a whitf. wh
alenl to th.' iiuiid.ihle jiledije ot t.iitli, ot t.ikiiii
Salt toi.'-ethir amoii'r th.e .ancient I'lritons. Th
icll IS e.illiv- speei h. .Hid (le. l.ired th.lt thev coii.a Tt
lors.--, |,e n
Mr. iluiil with all the I
^m.-e. It iliev had not enoU'di in
1 nn.h' a si"'i to uu.' <dd pinedie.ir.T, 1 oiil.i e.isilv.sii
who S(- aied (o |i|l, likewise, ihe st.atlon ot li
imtliet
ll.itt
nioii
(I tl
elv removed uie main (h'luiii'
senesch.il. ;
the ton ot il
piiiilu' 1 ri, r,
tor I
><• ascelKlt
d V
let deterreii all tra(li'i;r t
or .1 (i.i\ r: 'v,
;^(' to mike pro. l.ini,iiiijii. Here he shmi'd h.i\-e tin.e to consult wiiii
lie took liis posi l"-M(|e ih- .aperture tor the eiiiis- 11. .te chicle, ;is to market r.it.'S ; I
sum ot sill!
d the .idinission ol le'iil , th
t ot a \;;i.|ee, lii eiiniuiiction \v;'h !i:
ChKi dn t 1! 'd 'roin \. mi w
rl h w
; •..■ vill
hat 1
cl.iiin, .and \)r Ir.iu led
th;a
1
rescuadrd (•■•(■r :ii
le summ.au-d
le w.ininrs and
ll' W.IS to pill
a tori (• 111 luiii^-
e. Ill tins w,i\
;.,'"rc.it II, en t-
porlill'^'- pro;;res
'i>ii.,i:v iiv
the ]
irices at whh 11 .111:
I'ote^dil .md sold, and to tluai
■ oiilorm.
11
ic c.iiillri!
couiii il ; !■■. •I-.' iinw .111(1 then rt
to his chief lliidu^di the hnle in the root.
In a litilc wliile the braves .aiid s e.;r,
enter one bv one .as their ii.inies were cille
annoiin ail, emrri^inj,' Irom uniierth.' biilt:
suspended o\cr the eiitr.iiice ii.ste.id nt
lerred hi", i anil) across th.
now nroke up. M:. ii'
the -ivi :■ ..• ,.
t.iiii
m to p
b.'l.iw the \ ill.i
d
and the
il.iced some or Ins w.irriors as
ii- il'e intrusion ot .mv .
th
it his ne'iiii ,
w.is pitih.-d on the 1 iver bank iiisi il
r
St.dki
the tl
le tents, .111(1 the lien WT.lpped in I'le
Indite to ih.- skills pl.iie.l (111 and bi\'ou,ickiii^ on ski
In tl
form
oor, and 1 r^ iuchiiiL,Miiiwi'. on them m sih 1
I's WMV I'.'.cniv eniered and took ilieir se
r lundeil the b.iij^^ai;.- .at m.i.
.lUo kepi wati h within siidit .1
illi
't. l-'i'i:
•^ in .asseiiiLd.a!;.' worthv ot il:e pi
the .\rickar.;s .ire a noble r.aee ot i
■neii ; ti.r
il 1!
lip until inidni^^lit, w hen
inn. I.ir'^e .mi
I lu ved bv I'lur others who moimti
well tormed. .and m.iiiu.iin a s.iv.e^e t:-.,,iilriir .and d.ivlii;lit. Mr. I.i.s.i encimiv
gr.u'ity lit lii nie.inor in th.ar .sol.-mn eenMiioii
All I
between hjin .1
ind til
u-lll'' se.ited
the- old seilesi lial pnp.ired llie 'I he spiei tl ol Mr. Lisa ill tii
111 I erenumv or couiual. ami
n.uideii It t > tl
SliKike, e.,\. ,^
H
•iMUl' 111 ,t.
I'
ilie (dfecl in tin
e mh.iled the s.ii ri
d Thoueh the sinceritv ot his Irieie
ailt upw.inl to the lie.i\i-ii, then will tow.ird tile new coiii[ia'
Kiwiiw.iid lo tile ..111), then low.ird the e.ist ■ iii. liter ol doubt, 1
nfter th
inouth.
le was no li nv
is It W.IS .as iisu.il
lassed troni mouth to
bor
e.i. li holiiiiie It respe. tliilly until his lie
had t.iheii sever.d whitfs ; .and
h
.an intention to
twien the two
pl.iv t.dsi
le.|(leT>> w
'1 he i:li " ■ '
.IS, Iheicten-. !•
council W.:s 1
The (hiet
white men i
now the ^rr.im
b
oiisKlered a , >.j!ene(l in due turill.
made an li.ir, nffu.
wa'liomm;( th'
o nis Mll.itje, and e\|)ressine In , |i;,|,.
liiiess 111 t.ikinj.; them by ih
)Ut .at the s.inic tinu; eomp
e li.iiid as Iriends ;
mini; ol the poveriv
of himsidf .mit ins \icnp\t ; the usual pr. lud
amon^ Indians to l» ■.:.;,Mnj,' or hard t).irf.viimn
liiC atl.urj ot botn p.irties weiu ii'-<
•:n 'IS.
ouslv.
rii
Arri'R .wi.
.\ 1 P \rii' n
ow I rn
imeili ed With h'.i'
Lisa roic to
rcjd), and the eyes ol Hunt
K-
and
under the rtirulation and supervision e.
tliiettaitis. Lisa sent a pari ol hi'^ ,; "
me
■ iiirnr! 1 •• •
^'' ■! Im-,i:i-,!
•^ "I Mll-!ll|.
U' o!}t,., ( ,,,
■'''. vi;ii ;,
lllp.diiiiii.
<• ilis;ii. ,
'' «<• r.. .,.,
"'Ill 1 ,ll!.c .'. .
■'>|\ m ;,:■■
iiiiM'lfr .1, ,, ,
'oiilm-iv. 1 •
''<'m witi. -1 .,
•lys m,i::i;, -■,.
1- pnvir ■ ..
■ \^.iv, T' . . ,
lllli^f •!;,. ^
t l.ik" ;.,.,,,;
u.mt 1 ,H\. ,% '
'> 1" .ri ;., ' ,i
'"U. |p. ■ ,
n lll.lki:.- ;r-..
'■I'p'' !'■■■': ;•■ .
-'■nni'': ., ,
r i.'.ii ' ■ ■ . ,
' at Hit , 1 ; ■, • 1;
t" ''11. IT'' ',:,, : V
• ' 'it'll , \'. [i
,11-.. r ,.,,. ;;
■ I.\=s, '::,[,
■iiIlM u 1, „:■
•-> I.I' n,,,':i 'ii !■
1 ••':'■ V!,;.,; i;:
ll'Ml'-,! , \j., |,.
IiMmjI:, : "ii; ■
il.u I-; ■ .'. 1 ;;'i-
tor !'>,■ . -/■ i;
'■vi'li ill, . •„ ■.
Ml, iiv.'. !-.:i.
AST(JKI.\.
85$
u.l.'.of lh<-leltlinm!c(l (lijr"it.\ry, nnd Mr. lluiu
V?')lislifil lii'> Mi.irt m llu- li.ilR.' ..I tlu- n\^ Miiii.
T!'u'\ill,iLr<' s'"M pivscntrd tlu- ;ii)iKMr.iiuc <it a
Um (hi ■ ■iii'l a'i liiiiM'S were in (Ifni.iiid, tlu'
!ii?iu-iis I'Ui'l '111- Miljiiri'Ml III. Ill) were like the \i-
.|„j. ,,| a T.irtiir fiuMm|>iiu'iit ; luirscs vcit |iiit
tliro'i-h ,ill tlifir ii.u'i'S, .mil horsemen v.erer.i.
ri,Trii\i; ■'>■»' "'t*^ '''■" •l''^'»'''i')' ""' i^'''"' ''"'
«!-, h 111!' Ari'l^.inis are iiDteil. As simiii ,is a
howwii-. I'liiihiHi-tl. his tail was cmpix-d, a sui-
HMiIi' I't Jisliiii,'Uishinj; hiin Irniil the liorses ot
■jictril'c ; liir the huHans disdain tn practise this
liHiiril. I'lii'iiriUN, and iiuhTent nuitdatiniii in-
.iiiiiril'ln •'nni'' n-caii and vnlj^ar mind, insiiisi-
I'lle 111 |!ii- ini-iit and iicrtertions ot the aniin.d.
(11- liic r.inirn'.', the Indian hiirses arc sulhri-il
t,. fMiain 111 i'\fiy I'-spect the snperli and hcinii-
j.|! ;i!i!in.il.> ^vilil•h' nature hirmed theiiii
iM',' ncillii "! .Ill Indian nt llie lar west cdiisi'-ts
nri'iiiiiiil'. ill his liorses, nt wiiii h eai li chiel and
win 'T |iH-iv>-.cs a >;reat mindicr, so (hat itif
■•liii'iS .ih.iil an Indian viliaj^e or eneainpinent
,ri' i- ivciid with tlii'in. Thesi' hirni olijrets n\
•iMliii.er nliicits (p1 depredaliiin, and in this way
;i;i<, tnnii iriiie 111 tribe over jijreat tracts ol C(niii-
jr, Till.' liiMses owned ity tlic Arickaras are, hn-
l''ij mii->t pirt. (it the wild slock oi the iirairii's ;
.line l.'n\rvcr, liad hccn obtained tioni tiie
I'u'i-MSi l','..v!i'-c^, and other tribes to tlie sonth-
w'si. \\!i 1 li id stnl.n ihein Ircnn the Siianiards in
;hi' r.iii"~.' o! ho|■^c-ste.dill^ expeditions into ihr
Mt\;r in IriTUdrie,-,. These were to be known by
iH'iii^' liiM'vletl, a Spanisii mode of inarkiii^' hoiscs
noi prac'.i-.c I liv thi' Indians.
.\s llif .\rick iras were meilitatiin.]^ .-inrither evpe-
'li'.'iii ii'.r.iiitvt llirn' enemies the Sion\i tlie articles
ij '.r.illu; iii'i'il in demand were ;;inis, tonialiawks,
■•-•alniiijj knives, jiowdcr, liali, and other imini-
!:•';■> lit wir, 'I'lie price ot a liorse, as rej^niiated
liv tiic iliK N. w 1-1 coniinonly ten doUars' worth ol
„'■)'lli^ at Iir-.! I ist. To siippiv the di-in.md thus
.^i!iii!i'i;'y 1 Vi .ileti, parties oi yotniij mm and braces
lid) on expeiHtions to steal horses ;
l-i'l vllUi-:!
iS|:iics .! .■rrviccamonj; till- Indians which lake
' ;. ''Iciiif nt huniin^f, and is considered a de-
iniiiriu ■' i'.innrable warfare.
\\'l;ilf ;!)' I'.ailers ot the expedition were acti\e-
iy I i^iL'i i 'II pi rpa rin^ lor tlie approai iiin^r jonr-
';.;.. ihi'i' v'.ii'i had aecom|ianied it tor ciiriosiiv
:: iiai,: lueiil. touiid ample matter lor ii!iser\a-
i:-i;i ;a the \ill.i';r and its inliabit.ints. Wherever
"ii".- mia th.v wri-e k'ndly enterl lined. It ilie\
iriii.rcl .'. I . I^c, liu' bntfaio robe \'vas sprc.ul be-
: •:<■ ■I'lr Inc. tor iliem lo sit down ; the pipe w.is
r"i(^(:t, I'id while the master ot the lodt;e i on
■ii"--'.-! Willi ill- '^lusis. the sipi.aw ]nit the earthen
a-.v--i tiv r llu' lire, well tilled with dried bnltalo
■'.-.i'. ini| 11 iiai-li'd I orn ; lor the Indi.m in his na-
■ [■■•.ii''. i'l'tori III' lias ininL;led nuich with whin
■'ill .111! J.'.|li.red their sordid h.ibits, h.is the
■'■!". I'". '<' till' .Ar.d) : never does a stran.i^'er
■•"iri- h;-. 1.1 .1 v.iihon; h.ivinf,r food pl.iced betir<'
■'•'■ 111 i :'■■■.:■]■ is the l.i.icj thus tnrnished m.nle
■"lit'.'T .' iial:!.-.
, ' "■■ k'- ■• an I'ulian when at home in liis \il-
fV- \^^ ,1 .1. ,|i iiidolfnce and .iimiseinent. Id
:(;!■ w'.-'v,,,'-, I, ,-,|,|sijr„(.(| ilie lal)ors of ttic hons(.
■"■■■ ii'l t'l" 1m td ; she .irrantjes the lodj^e ; hrini;s
■ '' '"I' 'lie lire ; i.ioks ; jerks venison and bnt-
' ''if.il : iresses the skins of the anim.ils killed
1 III ill:.!' ; ciilti\,,t,.s the little patidi of ni ii/e,
''''■i'''.iiiS .Mil! pulse, which furnishes :i v^re.it
! '■■ "t ti-ir provisions. Their time for repose
I"' if Ti'.iiu.a IS ,11 sunset, when, the kibors ot the
u.iy Umy ended, they gather together to iinnisc ;
thems('Ive«; with petty j^.imes, or hold gnssipinj^
I'onvocations on the tops ot their Iodides.
As to the Indian, he is a game animal, not to be
(ley;radei| by lisetul or meni.d toiL It is I'noilgh
that he e\|ios<.s himself to the hardships of the
chase .and the |)erils ot war ; th.it he briin^s home
food for his l.imily, ,inil w.itclus ,ind lights lor its
inoieciion. I.\erythin^ else is beiieatli his atteii-
iioii. When at home he .attends only to his we.i])-
oiis .Old his horses, prep.iriiig the nie.ins ot tnturo
exploit. ( >r he enj;a},'es with his coinradis in
^j.imes of dexterity, a^;ility, ami strength ; or in
(;.imblin}^ (.j.imes in which evervthini; is put at
h.a/ard. with a recklessness seldom witnessed in
civili/ed lite,
.■\ gre.it part ot the iijle li i,ure of the Indians
when ,it lioiii . is ]iissed in j^ioups. sipiatted to-
HCllier <iii the bank ot ;. rivei'i on the top of a
mound on the prairie, or on the rmil ot mie ol their
earlh-((i\ ired lodj^fcs, talkiiiii; ovi r the news ot the
daVi the affairs ot the tribci the events ;in<l ex-
ploits ot their List huntinj,'- or lii,diiini; i \pedition ;
or lisienine; to the stories of old times told by
some \t'teran idironii ler : reseinblili'^ .i ;;idUj) of
our \illay;i- quidnuncs and politiii.ms. likening to
the prosin^s ot some Miperaiimi.iled or.ude, or
discussing;" the coilteiils ot .m am ii nl new '>|i.aper.
As to the Indian women, tin \- are t.ir troni com-
pl.iinin^r of their lot. tie the contrary, they
wdiild despise their husb.uids louM ihe\ stoop to
.mv menial ollii e, and would think it i mueved an
imputation upon their own loiuluii. It is the
worst insult one virago c.in i asi upon .uioilu-r ii\
a moment ot .altercation. " iiil.imoiis woman 1"
will she ere. " I have seen your hu^ban.j cirrying
wdod into his lodj^a' to m.ike the lire. Where was
his sipi.iw that he should be obliged to make .1
wom.iii ot himselt .'"
.Mr. Hunt and his fellow-tr.ivillers li.nl not Ix-en
m.iin d,i\s .at the .\rickar.i \ill e^e, when rumors
beean to i ii\ ukite that the Sioux h.id lollowed
them up. and th.it a w.ir |)ari\ . tour or live hun-
dred 111 niini'ier. were lurking; M'liiewlieie in tht*
neighborhood. These rumors )iroduced much
embarr.issmenl in the (amp. The w l-,ite hunters
\\cre deterred from vcniurino- tortli in (piest of
L;,ime. neither did the leaih is think it proper to
expose them to such risk. The .XiTkar.is, too,
Wilio h.id sutfered greatly in tin ir w ai's with this
cruel and ter<icii)us tribe, wen- ifnisi .1 to increas-
I'd \ i;.;iliiii(a'. and st.atiolie I mounied s. outs upcnl
the neighboring hills. This, h'We'.-i r, is ;i i;en-
er,il precaution amoiii;' the tnbisol th.- pr.liries.
Those immense plains jireseiu a hori/oii like the
oce.in. so that anv ob'eci ot importance i-an he
ihsciied at.ir, .ind inl irmati in commiinicaled to
a oreat distama'. The scouts .uc si.itioned on
the lulls, therefore, to look out lu.;!i lor ..;.ime ancl
tor enemies, and are. in a m.iniur. liMli;;- tele-
^ra|ihs con\cvine- their iiiii lii'^i iici' ii\ i oncerted
sii^nsi It they wish to j;ue natii e oi a herd of
butfalo in tlie pl.iin be\.in.!i tin v ;,;allop b.ickward
and torw.ard abre.ist. on I'.e samniit ot the hill.
It thev ])erca'i\c an enemy .it li.md. ihev yiiUop to
and tro, (adssini,'- e.udi other ; ,it si^!;i ol which
tl:i w hole \all.i^e llies to a; 'iis.
Suidi an alarm w.is eivcn in tin- atti iiioan .if the
I jtl). Four scouts were see;» crossiii;.; and re-
la-ossing each other at full i;aii.ip, on the summit
of a hill about two miles disi.int down the river.
'Idle crv was up that the Sionx w iie comingi In
nil inst.int the \ill.ige w.is in .in uproar. Men,
women, and children were .ill br.i'.vliii};- an.l
shoutini;' : doL^s b.irkiii};. yelping, and howling.
Sonic of the warriors rvin (or tiic horses to gather
i
I!
r '
1iJ
ii\'.\
'p*\
Ml-
1 ;
Zbi
ASTORIA.
m
i. 'M
! (IrivL- thcin in from ilir pr.iirii'. sonu- t.>r lluir ; v.iiimis ri^jun-s wen- fancifully L'mhroji!
niu
wcipiin-
A-. I.isl .!» lliiy coiilil .iiin ami ciiiuii s|ilil (|uilK <iu(l icil .mil \rl
.IIKI
crpilvi:'!
fV S.lllUHl
Somi-
toot.
\siit>
ii'S >.iinMri'il
turiiisJK'd ui
liiilli ; collie (111 lioi>>i'l).iik, •.oinc mi
!•< Ii in^;iil s\ it!) tlir skiuk r IidhI-, ii| \
h.i>lih' .iir.iscd HI liiiMi- w.ir ilii's-,, | liiat r.ililtil as he ualk
nil
% I.IV !
I iiriMuii I
it lIuttiTiiiK tralln'is, ami tluir Im
■|-:
.HTival (It llu~> (U luii.iii.iii w.i^ i|„
Willi iiaiiu
tlurs naki'il ami miK tor .mullur of tliuif niciiuiiiiaU \\|
nil
th tl
\siMi)tm>
tlll'V had Miati lied
up.
tons
Th
C \'.iiMlrll .llti
hildriMi y;atlurt
III! h id Imli.iM lili' : tor no Ikih^' j., n,,;)-,
1 in
H M'.
I )>i:i,V
d th
tU-vloll ot till' M I'MC !i\ lIU'l
•md litij;l»ti'ni
•red iill the .ilid |illiu tlllous, and inorr olisi'i \ ili|.; cit (.i|, u^
d the inn .mil lonnalily th.in an AiniTic.m N.iv.i^r.
nun who loidil no
onK<f
r vorilcr.ition. • 'id 'I'lu- ulijfci (d llic ilcpiitalion \v,i» i,, j;
f an intended vi'iitot the Shienin.' lurCI
lie.ir .iiiiii
.sinid.ir si.iiioii>.
md li.ii.m^iiid the win
tube to the .\i i
kai-
I \lll.i^i' III the riuifir lit lij
the;
.Si)nu
p.iMMMJ, e\liorliM^; ihein to \aloroui deeds. da)'
'I'll this MMt Mr. liuni lookc.!
it till
\eter,ins took .inns iliein-.el\es, ,inil
iroi ure .uUlitioii.il nurses
liiir;
for I
ir.\,ir!
ll.-< Inliniri
s.lllied tollhwilh tottrlint; steps
Int
lis W.IV
the
ir^;. lining lieinn iiutfeitu.il in ohi.uiii
s,i\Mj;e ehiv.dry ot thevillaKi' to the nuiniier ot live lieiinl supply Iroin the .\ri
K ,1 Ml!.
li..Iir
iimlred, in iirei
I forth, lu ller-skelter, ridiiii,' .md mj; eoiild prev. id upon the litter to p.iri wh!; i|;
1;
running, ^vi'h hi'ieour, \clls .mil w.ir-svi
ons, like
horses, uhiih h.id lucn tr.
ii;r
iiu-a Id lu.lta;!)
so in.iiiv hedl, unites or deinoni.us let Ioom
llllllllllj.
,1 while the ti
less uproir.
li w.ir rolled li.n k. tmi
.itlier I
t had
Alter
with l.ir
al.irni, or
thenisidves disiovired, .md ipiii t w.is restored to
o he
.\s \ir. lluntNMiuld li.ue to .di.iiid ill li;- '
a
a t.ilsc ,it this pi. lie, .Mr. l.is.i now i.tteri:d '.u imiih.i^c
liii- "eiieinv li.id reire.iled on lindiiii; them, .md siu h o| Jus nun h.mdise ,is w.^ ,ii|icr.
th
is, and to p.iy him in hoisrs, to i
III..
the \i
le.irtll
tr
d.i-i
'I'he white luiiUers (oiumuiiiv; t
1 ot r.iM;;ir.ir this d,
iiij,'i'riius neij;nliorhoin
.it .1 lorl I)
|i.iii\ .
1^ to the Missouri I-'iir Ciir
iliil .It the M.illil
III \lll.l;;r-i
"u; .1
esn iiro\ i^ioii-.
'i;Mn to he
se.irio in the e.mip. hundred and litty tniles lurther up ilu- iivi;r \
As a suhstitute, then-tore, tor venison .md hull.il
the tr.ivellers li.id to pun h.ise a luimher i
!iie.
i| Mr. ( 'rook'^
.1111 w.is promp
tlv I
n.iili', .iiiii
1.1
s, with sever, u eoinp.iiiinii
o^s to he shut .mil .'ookeil lor tne s
c.iniii.
niiv
(lovjs.
(lian
1m, n
un.iteu ,
how ever i ii.irv
sui-i
the
il\' o
t tht
Ii
ifl
tort to iirorure the
hoi;
DUt !uf
:i-V lv!uri;d.
liter U|)w
ard id .1 fortnight's .il
brii
it he
lit ilieir horse-,, they were liher.d ot their
.mim.ils sw.irm aluuit .m In-
ith them llii
itipul.iteil nuniher
v.c
In la, t. tliese
vil
,is thev do .ihout a
Turk
the I .u.dry
W.IS not sultieieiilU luiiiunih
isli tow 11.
Not .1 l.im
hut
.Is two or three ilo/.en
bet
on;.
to it (.1 .i!
perior hi
(Ir.uv the
I,
,e\ the p.irly and the b.i^'K.'K'' •""' mtr, h.i;„'„H',
iiiil a few d.i\s nioie were ii <piir.--d t,,i i..);iip'';;5
sizes .md eoiors ; some, ot .i su- the .irr.in>{enients tor the joiiriu \.
re Used lor hunting'; others, ti ( iii tiie i;lh ot JuU , just lielm-e d.i) I'le ik, .1 h'R.Tt
1 hreeil, noise .md voi ifer.itiiin was he.ird in t'.i- vi; ,,;■(,
sle li;e, wliile otlu/rs, I'l a inoiv^ri
and
Til
idle \.l 'ihoiul n.iture, .ire tattelled tor |i
1'
L'V .ire supposed lo hedeseei
nded li'iin the woit.
lis belli);-
tl
surprise,
and ret.iin soiiu-thin.
IIS sava>,'e
hut eow .1
rdl\
temper, howliii;; r ither th.m b.irkiii^ ; showing .i
thfir teeth .md simiIiiil' on the sliirhtest pnivu, .i ii
.1111
nei^'iiliornooi
1 t
le usual liiili.m l.our i
le Sioux beiii
,!,:!M.L.
1, tl
u; I .imp \\.is ills' I
nII.ivMI Ii lie I'l I'C
.llv ,11 'i.e
1-1
t. .-\s the d.iv broke liidi.i
tion, but sne.ikini,' .iw.iy on t!
least ;it:.u K.
Ill lonsiiier.ihle numher o
mia-s ilow II the river.
n the bliilU. ll.iu-
Tl
le liolsr .i;
Th
e t'\i liriiu-nt II
I ilu:
V Mll.l^e lOlltiniH-i
.irriveil Iroin i
< 'II the (1 ly 1
M-M-r.il p.irtie:
'1,1 \',i-|-e nut ,-md I .indih-'a-i
1 to t'le I 'iiiiu il
ow in;; the .il.irm just ir
htti
rent
d.iv to (lay.
mentioned,
(iircelioiis
ot ihL- br.ivr
J)orte(i the e
whether,,)! -.s.ir or hiintiiii; ; wiinli new s w.is alter-
ward prom-,i!;;-.ited ilinnii;liou; the \ill.i-^e, by eer
lain II
liolii the viU.i'^e I oiitmuei
i
le tops I
■I tl
IIU
iwded with ihe inh.ibil.mts,
tow.ird the hills, .md keepi
■it.i;;,:! :l
st.\
le.
h.itti-rinj;.
['reseiitlv an Indi.in w.nr
Ills .Mill Mill es
I, nh.;e, where they n- p.ist the c.imp tow.ird the \ iiLi^' -'"''
s III their expeditions, w hile the legions be^;. in l,
•fj
truth ol tlu-
I pt,iir
m.itler w.is 1.
ilil nu-n who aeteil ,is heralds or town irirr-
The Indian-, upon the disl.iiil hills v-.i ii- riu, "i-;
d .-Xrii k.ir
I br.ues ri-luriiiiiK
Anion'' tl'.e iiarties whi, h .irrive'l w.is one ih.a
T
K\
had
h.id mil the war p.irly ot ^^ll'llv \*'i •
iieeii .Mil, iin; the Sii. ike n.ition steJiliiij; horse-,, Ik eii so loiin hosi-nii);
bollt the :ii -'111'
anil returiu.
with sui-.-i'ss.
As tl
lev
h
lassed in liiumph tlirou,'h
th
id toiinht tl
em
the (l.iv bdori
cheered
Iccted .1
>vere exhort.
i'V the men. women.
e \-ill.ii;e they Were
and ehildi-en, i ol-
.iir.
ilele.lted tlu I est Wl
th t!
u-
lit
-lU.il on the tup-, lit the lod'..
hv Ihe
Nesl,
th
to
three ot their own nu n .mil .lO'i
111 ; ,md lhe\ were now iLiitin^ .it i
lei 111 the Mll.l'^e s1i,k:M
,'.ii ;',\!'
,11' I i:<
g'jiierous in tiu-ir de.ilili;;s with the white men.
their I iiinr.
meet ihem, .md swel
Tlie e\ei.in
in^ anui!\^ i!,--
riors ; bin souni
spi-iit ill fi-.istin;; and ri
h.il
pn
enir\ .
Tl
the p..|-.i,,i-
w.irrior w ho ii.h
relations ut
ih
If siiieesslul wa
rom
ih.
Is ol ..;-r
ir- the (-.imp was the le.ider
1 h
d tht
rii-1 .md wailiiiL; wen.' he.ird home to j^ive iiiliii^;s
t hi
s vKt'irv.
.iih.u-ent to tlie \lil.i'
tile I,
mieli-
I're
unions III
,|ai-!l \\i\ii h 111
osi sime ri,-l.ai\e in m.ii
ti.il
lar.itioiis wc
I cieiiionv.
re now 111. I'l'.: ■'
.All the hiurv .n
the f
A I
or.iy.
1 lniiia;i vill.i 'e i-
t!ie w.ti riors w i-re set
lions
'\i lie, i-;it-
'ei t to ( oiitinual .i^ita
he next il.i\
iniKht appear to
lh<
It torlli lo 111-
■reatesl .ulv.nit.;
ll.t-ii-l.:!;"-
.uiji'ii- •'
/iImiiiI'V
.irriM-d .1 too, who hail reinaiiu-i
I at
mine
Je[)Utalioii 1,1 iir.i'.-es Iroin the (du yeime or Shi- w.in
Irobes and toilets to do lioii-ir ! • lH'-' I"
emu: natimi
Arick.'ir.-is. h-,
take ndui,"
hrokeii trihe, i ill up,
Ilk.
till-
Slllll.
w.irs with the Sioux, and ilii\-eii to
.mioii'..
the
k Hills, 1
'Ihe .-Xriikar.is j;eni
h
r.illy K'
ikid.
:a'
soun-fS ol the Clieveiiiie River, from wliiili ilu
lear the , s.iv.i);i-s. they h.ive their ^
den
th
eir name. < )iie
d ll
■y
not
little
Tl
,il.i me
lis usu.diy
hut,
,1 Willi hi^')'
ie-,e deputies w.is j^r.iv sureo.it .imi ie;.;};ins
dtl
le (Iressi i
magnificently arrayed in a bultalo rube, on which ! antelupc, rtbemlding chaniuis
Icatl er, aii'-i
: ii'.e
ASTOKIA.
355
finhroidtrnlv
'^^ ; .inJii.rv.
:il>.ll.il n If.- ' .;,
ti;ri:.| '..1 |.ijii.:„i>j
lli.-<f .IS U,i> vjj'
iCS, I,, llC.llt...
I'^'^iuiii Kiir i;,
\ in.if,'!-!, .li'.u:
r u|i ihc livi.r \
111(1 ^il l.iv.i ,,•
.llil"!iM, M • ,i;il ;
I'l: rill •:, luil,^''' ,
r 111 ll.ilM-,. >;;
I'uim I Jih ',11.
.iiiil imrili I. Ill,-,,
uiru'il tu ■..'iiipv.e
li.aiiri-.ik, .1-;' ■
ril IK I'll' v:;.,,.'
(Ifrc'i wii'i piircupinc (|iiills brilliantly <l\i"il, j n\c iMiri'd ^tc|), in radcnri' Id (Ik- sdli-mn i liint,
lie islliiiAMi "MT llir r\^\\l sliiiiililcr, j .iml tin- winiuts in.iiiii.iiiH'il ilitir tivcil and ->iiiii
A 1 ull.'.l'i
mil
I llliS I
In- I. It IS Mim^; a <|
iii\i r III ai
TJu'v W'-.i
r y IV I iiiiin
lis III |iliiiiu-s, jiartii tdarh
ihi'M.
I.| 'III' sW.lM
IM;;h'.1I.'i
ll!l^llll•ll■d the 111 '■'
liiil ilu' Icatlu'ls 111 till' liiark
I wiKlliy, Itcinj; a sa-
iTl
;| "iPl .nii'M;;
tin- Indiiii wariiiirs. Ilr wlin
(IIIIIIMIInl
,1 111-
liflwi III IwiHil till' piiiii i|)al I liiili rude a Nutiii)^
warimr wlm li.ui di-.liii;4iiislird Iiiiiim'H hi lli'r lial-
tli'. Ill- wa-. siM'ifly wnimdfd, -.o as Willi dilli-
I iilty tu krc|) nil liw liiH-if ; liut 111' |iit'scr\id a
in hi', iiwii land is I'litillrd to \ sriTiir and sU'adlasl i miiiii'iiani i', a-, il piTli itly
„! III-. Iii'i'ls a l'i\ skin ati.alii'd 111 fail) nun - j iiiilianiird. ilw iiuitlicr ha<l lu-ard (d In-, i undi-
?ii iml 111' ^^li" ''•'"' *''•''" •' M'"''y '"'■"■ ^^''a''-* ""II- ^li»' linikf tlirmij^h tlu' llinm^;', and riislnnj^
l^;„,ii| Ins il.iw., till' iiin-il ^;liiriitii-. trupliy u|i. lliii'W liir amis aioimd liiiii .iiid V'.i'jit al nid
h.ia.lli Ian nii'ii'v
tlir .1 Kiiiitii ' 'I
liiliii.
Ill' kfiit np ilic s|iiiit and dctiirainir id a w iniur
\:\ Iii'Imii tiiili'l '-• an n|irrati(in id snini- Inil and 1" llic last, lail i'\|)iri'd slmrtly atlrr lie li id n ai htd
I i>mS1i' : die ualTi'M' nltrll Ills In |iiint hlln.ill liisliiiiili
Ir.iiii In ii
,;,iiu'iiit 1" pliM ■''. 'IS
siA'ikN i.i'l ' iiliir ••
lU'a'tiii-i, |ias'
1,1 1 1 il, and I-- i'\tri'iiiily i aprii imi-i ,iiii| Tlii' \ illa).;r \\a-> impw a -.i I'lU' ol tin- iitiiinst lr^ii\'-
lii the hidriiiis distriliutinii id iis' .iiid tiuiiii|ili. 'I In' liaiiiu'i's, and lrii|iliii' , and
A K'li' Il part lit llii' iiinriiiii;;, sralps, and painltd sliirld-. smti' i Ifvati'd uii pidcs
awaV licliMi- lluri' well' ,ilis lirar lllr liidj;r-.. I'lliili: Wrlc \s,u' li'asl-iaild
i.'i'.i I'l ill. a-i im |i.ini'ant. In the ini' an tinii' .i ! sr.d])-d.iui'i's, with w.iilikc soni^s .iml sa^.i^ij
i-niloiii, 1 •■nilm''^ ii'ii;in' I iiM'i' iIk' ^'illaKf. .Mn-l niiisu- ; all tlir iiili.ilnl. mis were iiT.iscd in llair
' iiil,..'iii.iiit'' li.i I -;iiii(' tiTili ; (Ptiii'is rcni.iui ti'-il.d dn'ssrs
tlu: idd lii'i'.dd
s wriit I'liuni
cJ 111 nnli' I'vj'i'' lalliui. .Ml s|nirts .illil nri lip.i ll'uni Iml^;!' t.> liid;;i', priiintlls;.itiii;;- with liiiid
ti.i:b w; i'.' si|i|K'ilili'd, ('\i I'pllll^; tll.lt ill till' liidyi'-i \iini's llic events ot the li.itlle and IIU' i 'vplulls ol
i.'iint ikiii;; M|ii 1^', s wne silcnil'.' Inisied in ihe \ ,ii mils warrmr-
_,ripa
III- llii' ri'ji.i
.1:, I'll- ll
e \\ .in 11)1 •
il a.i-. IK .If tl Mill ili.il .1 iiiiii;;leil siiiind of Viii
I iMiiU III ml li'iiMi a (list. II
,ir.J ''U I-' iiui.
M'.i'ii
Suih W.I-, the hiiisteriiii-, revelry u^ the \ill.i.,''i' ;
lull si 111 111 U id anil I her kind were iic.ii.l un the siir-
iiiiindiiii; lulls ; piteiius w.iiliiii;i id tlu; wniiieii,
;i. ,' ill ll the piiii eisiKii w.is nil the iii.irih. \\ Im hid retired thither to nioiirn in d irkncs . .iiul
;,i' ii.il iM.'ii .lail ^l
111 ll (i| the s(|ii.iws ,ii ( (iiild le,i\
lllll.le lnr thu-ii' W III) h.ld I.I
lien in li.i
tile. Thur
au'iis li.i-iieiie.l lortli tl) me:'i ll. In the pmir niMlher 111 the \milliliil w'.irriur who li.id
ll liltic '.'. lull- .; i':iii'r);ei| lioni beluiul .i hill, .ind leUiniel huiiie in triumph b'al to die, ^M\eliill
n.'.
irciiilii'n
L.i.l ,
111 i pii tilli'iipie .ippearaiiie ,11 il i .iiue .iiit In the ,ill;;lllsh id .i
tUDther's lie.iri, 11
ni.i'iin:; ii.rr I'le ■.uiiililit in me,i-.lile I sle|), .Hid Id null ll dues llii-i 1 ii-.li)m ,11111)11:;" the Indi.tn wmneii
the 1,1 ii-iii .'111 ■'''ii);i ,illil •>.r.'.i^;i' insliiinienls ; ihe
111 rep uriliL' In t
lull iiijii III the lUijlii, .mil jinur-
w.ii.iivc -tiail.ir.K .iiid trnphi("> ll.iuiilin^ .dull, .iiid \wj, Iniih their w.iiimi;s lnr the dead, e.ill In mind
■, il' k'.l'.'ii'r-.. .11' I jiilIU, .md siKcr oi n.iniellts nl the lieilllllul .llld .llle. till;;- p.lss.i^fe nt Seriptlire,
il' k',l!;ii'r-., ,ie
ihi' 'A.iiii'ir
.III'
lilleriii''' III the sun-
Ti.'j '|i.i4' ml li.i.l rc.iliy sonietliiii;;'
' In R.ii
mil wei'l
I M)ii I he. lid, l.uiient.iti
11.1 w.i-i llieie
iii.;j. .llld •■re.il lunurniii", K.i
elu I w i el
( lin'.iirniw
!iu lit. 'I'lie A
rii k.iias .ire iiivnle
lnr her 1 hilurea, .i
.1(1-.^' lili'V ale nnl."
ml Wnllld lint bu L'nlulurU
i::i 1 11 ,':-i'.il !i 111
■hb
th
e name nl sniiie
.nil i;- hirl, a-, die hull. dn, the be.ir, the dii^r.
I'l' |lll".l>.!ll
I. Tl
ire-.enl p.Ul)' eollslsti'd nt
I I'.r 111 I'll'-.!' 1) .III .. .iiie nl w hi' ll s\ .IS the dn;;. th
.;i i.t I'llii'iiK- 1 111 w.ii , he'ii),^ inmpDSe 1 nl yniiii;.
I 11 \r
.\.\1I.
ni-'ii lai |. r ihiriv. .lad imled h
11 is
Willi K Mr, lliinl w,is dihLjenil
y pvi p.iriiii.
f.ir
e;.;.i;;i.' I ni ili" iii.i-,i di'-.|)i'r,iie m t ,i ^ uii. Ihe hi-, .ir luniis I'luriu",'. snme nl hi-, men In ■■ m lo
i'i'li ir, iiili-' I ill seu.lt lie hndies Uiider their ln->i' lie.irt .it ll
e penlnlis prnspei 1 liitnre liielil
SJ'"i'l r i'-.i lr,"-<. I'll',- w.il 1 ml-, nil In ll V .line lilst, lull, lirlnl'e \,i' ,irill-,e ihelll nt W'.llll nl sjiinl.lt
in jL-lliiia- n! l:-ii ,ir r.vi'Ke .ibr ■ i -! ; then ihe i-, prnpi r l.i iiisider the n.iture nl the w lldi'l'lies.i
'I'ill ;i 1. I, h ll HI. I hnfi
■l-Ui'l wi'ii I
e .1-1 .ill ellsl;.;ll .1 ^pe.ir
)''.i',ls, p.iri iiiiiiie (imiU.
1 1 ill) w I
.1 reiilnll
h tl
u . Were .iDniit In .ill \ eiiuiie,
lmn>i ,1-, \,i-.t .mil tr.ii'kle-.',
the
|)Ml-
tealu-r,. !■:
iili hire Its trnpliie-, n| lue.m, .md, .it the nine nl '.Imh w-' ire, it, but lit-
pnle,, ilu'ir lull;; 1)1, ick I'lik-, tl,' l-;iin\vn, excepting; throu^li thev.i;;
tie .•uinimts
''ri'iuii;.,; ill till '.Mil. I, l''.,iih w'.i-. .lei'nniu.iiiie.l nl III, ll, 111 liimiei -. .\ |),irt ot their rnute wniild
)h r
i:.' '.viin,
,'.i;k .'tii.T
ai i.u .la I liuil-.lrel-,',
I e,tra,le I lle,irl\ .1 ipi.irt
• '.. ■.-'' v,i'inu-,ly aniu
nil llnW -V ,1111
'1 till-. w.i\' I i\ .uin^aii ininieiise ir.ul, slretihiiiLr nnr
ei nl .1 I'le.
snm-- h'.v
irrnws, .III I \'. ir
ill .md
snlllli t ll hundred-, 1)1 miles .llnlli;' ihe Innl o! the
d 1)'. the tributary
issis-iipni.
k\ .M.>uiit,im'-, .ind di
Mil-, nt ihe Ml-. -.nun an I tin
.M
''I 'i I ! .'li'-lU 111 liiilhiin hide, .1 kiiiil ni i '■;-, re,ri,,ii, w liii'li f ■•( 111 ! )le niu' nl ihe iiiimea-.ur-
<\ the hull, .lis nt ll
>te|)p
ll .\-
.1-, n.)l iii.iptU' heeii teniU'
l1
111 ii.ive lint ll,,. I'livcrl ,i| trees .md lnr- " the ;;re.it .\nieiu'.in desert," li spre.id-- Inrth
''■' ' t theai. They Were p,iliitel in the mln iDidul.itili'^ .md t leeless pl.iins, ,ind desol.ite
i■|^ Hi! ll
.id the st.imp nl .1
•"■ 1' m iuih>, ,1 si^iii ih,a ll
, mils' W.l-,les. W e.il'l-,i)nii
M th
Iroiii their
.1
.\.
.1 t.
'iif'.v iir.ir M the viil.
eMeiil .md iiiniiolniiv. .md which .ire supposed by
■.^' ilniji^is In h.ive Inrnied the .nil ieiit llnor ol the
lue the old men
!"• l.ii .Vi'ii'M li,-M,,ii 1,1 meet th'elli, .md lio'.v
,111, loimiless .iL;es Mine, wli'ii lis priii
te 1.
leval
:i I w.ues be. it .I'^.iin-.! ihe L;r.mite l).i-,e-. ol the l-ineky
<^'^il'--! llLU priiM' I ilu' hill.iey nt the nld l,i- .\biunt.im-
pilhy .111,1 si.iiiisni. I'.iriiit-, .md ll i-- .i l.md win re no ni.m iit'rm.inenil\- .ibidi"
""■'■11, mi,!i,m U in I
m,'l 'ivilli ll,...
Wi\i'S, l)|-nlhers .md si-.ters lnr, in i eil.im se,i-,ni
h
ll ll
h
le \ e.ir theie i-- lu
d
.,IIH'
l'l'-l-C:..Wn, Imu
'1II-.I r.lpturnu-, e\p|■e,-,.■^inns ot ln\' ; eillier lnr the llUllIernr lll-,'.teed, I lie lull i,l;;e
■md l,mie:;!.Ultin-, were he. ml Irnlii is p.iii hrd and williei'd ; the brnnk-. .md stre.inis
"' die killed and wounded. The .in dried up ; the luift.iln, ihe elk, .md the deer
i.'\ef, cniiiiiuicd c)ii with blow .111.1 : li,i\'c w.mdcre.l lo ili^l.ml p. iris, keeping, wiihii;
,*
t:^^ .^.
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IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGI:T (MT-3)
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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
"o" ...^ '^.5<>
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
^
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Is
P
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35G
ASTORIA.
Ifc
fci .11
[: i
the verpc of expirinp verdure, nnd Icaviiifj hc-
liiiid ihcm ,'1 vast iiiiiiilial)ited solitude, st-anicd l)y
raviiu's, tlu" buds ot loinicr torii'iits, lut now sorv-
iii;,^ otdy to tantali/L- atui increase t'.ie tiiirst ol tlu'
travflltT.
Oic.isionrdly llic monotony of this vast wildur-
ncss is intcrruptt'd by mountainous bi'lts ot sand
.ind linu'slonc, l)rokfn into (.onfuscd masses ; wilii
|)ii'i-ipilous ciifts iind yawninj;' ravines, li)oi<ini;'
like the ruins ot a world ; or is traversed bv lolty
and barren ridi^es ot rock. ;dmost impassable,
like those denominated the l>lack Hills, lii'yond
these rise the stern liarriers ol the Rocky Moun-
tains, the limits, as it were, oi tlu' Atlantic world.
The ru-Tfred detiles ;ind deep valleys ot this vast
chain torm shelterinj,^ places tor restless and fero-
cious bands ot sav.ij^es, many ot them tin; rem-
nants ot tribes once inhabitants of the pr:\iries,
but broken ii|) by war and violence, and who cirry
into their mountain h.iunts the lierce passions and
reckless habits of desneradoes.
Sui li is the nature of this immi'nse wilderness
ol the far West ; which ap]i.irently defies culliv.i-
tion, and the habitation ot civili/ed life. Some
portions of it alonjr the rivers may partially be
subdued by ajfriculture, others may form vast
jiastoral tracts, like those of the I'!.ist ; but it is to
lie ftMred th.it a j^rtat part of it will form a law-
less interval between the abodes of civilized man,
like the wastes ot the ocean or tlu' deserts of Ara-
bia ; and, like them, be subject to the de|)re(la-
tions ol tlie m.irauder. Here may spring up new
an I mori).(rel races, like new formations in yeol-
oj^ry, the amalgamation of the "debris" and
" abr.isions" ot former races, civilized and sav-
nj^e ; the remains of broken and ;ilmost extin-
f;uished tribes ; the descendants (jf wanderinijf
hunters and tr,i|)pe;'s ; ol lui;iti\es from the .Span-
ish ;ind American troniiers ; ot lulventurers and
desperadoes ot every class and country, ye;irly
ejected from the bosom of society into the wilder-
ness. We are contribuiini^f incess.mtly to swell
this siuLJularand heleroj4i-i',eous cloud of wild pop-
td.ilion that is to han^^ about our frontier, by tlie
tr.anster ot whole tribes ot sava^jes from the east
of the .Mississippi to the j;reat w.istes of the far
West. .Manv of these bear with them the smart
(if real or t.mciecl injuries ; many consider them-
selves e\|)atriat^ l l)ein^'•s, wron^tully exded from
their hereditary homes .ind the sepidchres of their
fathers, and cherisli a deep and .ibidin^ animosity
ai;;unst the r.ice lh.it h;is dispossessed them. Some
m.iy j;r,idually become pastoral hordes, like those
rude and mij;r,itory |)eople, halt sliepherd, half
warrior, w!io, with their docks and herds, roam
the |)lains of iippi^r .\sia ; but others, it is to be
.apprehended, will become predatory bands,
mounted on the lleet steeds of the ])r,uries, with
the o|)en pl.iins for their maraudinjr j^roimds, .and
the mountains lor their relre.ats and lurkin;;-
places. Here they may resemble those ^'reat hordes
of the North — " Cav^ and Ma^ojj with their
bands," that haunted the (gloomy imai^nnations of
the prophets. " A jrreat company and a mi^dity
host, all riding- upon horses, anti warrini,'- ujion
those n.itions which were ;it rest, and dwelt peace-
ably, and had j^olten cattle .and j^iiods."
The .Spaniards chanL,''e,l the whole ch.ir.icter
and .habits of tlie Indians when they broui,!it the
horse amoii;.,' them. In Chili, 'I'ucuman, and
other |)ar(s. it has con\erted iliem, wi' are told,
into 'I'artar-like tribes, and enable. 1 them to keep
the Spani.irds out of their coui\try, and even to
make it danij^erous for them to venture f.ir from
their towns and seltltments. Are we not in dan-
ger of producinfj ."^nme such st.itc of ihir.'-; ;■ ..
boundless rej;ions of the far West r TlKuth '
are not mere t.incihd .and extr,iva;,^uit sui^icv'-'
we have sullicient proofs in the daivn-s",',"'''
experienced by the traders to the .Sp.iiiidi in,r '•
Santa l-"e, and to the distant posts ot ihi. lur'j'jp
panics. These .are oblij^ed to proceed i;, ;i-t'
carav.ins, and are subject to munlerouj.ra, '
from bands of I'.iwnees, Cainaiuiu's, ;i:vl'llk*'
feet, that come scouriiiLf upon them in thvirwc'''
march across the plains or lie in v.Mi; ; p
amon.i,^ the passes <if the mountains.
We are wanderinij, however, ini) .•>, ■
speculations, when our intentioii v.,n i,.,
f;ivc an idea ot the nature ot t'ic wiKlwiu,, v,
.Mr. Hunt was about to traverse, and v.hj,
ih.it time w.is far less knov.n than ai pre,;.-.
ihoui^h it still ri'mains in .-i. "real ine.isurc an ■!
known land. We cannot bi; surprised, thtr! •
ih.it sonu' of the least p'solute ot his ]i;iriVbh •:
leid dism.iy ;it the thou-^hti of .adveaiuniir;'.'
this ]ieril(iui wilderness, un.ler the unccr'iuJM.rv/.
ance of three hunters, who had nicivlv luij '.
once throut,di the country and miLjht li.ni- hrv'
ten t!ie landm.arks. Their .apprehcn^iniis \-:'
;ijj|.^r;ivated by some of Lisa's tollowirs, whn.;; •
beinij en^atjed in the ex|)edition, tmik .'i miichit .
ous pleas'ire in exaL^ger.itiiif;- its daiijfi-r.s, Th,.
p.ainted in stnmjj colors, to t!ie ])o.)r Canal,',
voy.igeurs, the risk they would ri!:i (it piriihir'
v.ith lum^'-er and thirst ; of beinn- (in of; !n■.^ ?
p.arties (if the .Sioux who scoured the ])!:i:i;s; •
havinjf their horses stolen by the I'ji.s.injk,:; -
Crows, who iidested the skirts uf tin.- Kj,
Mountains; or of beinjr butchered hy iIk- Di.iii-
feet, who lurked ;imon;_f the detiles. Ip. aworii
there was little ch.ince of thidrj^cttinj,' alive acrjss
the mountains ; and even it thev did, those; ihr;:
fjfuides knew nothinjf of the h(j\vliii^r wildtrnt-:
that lay beyond.
The apprelu.Misions thus .awakened in ihemir.'.i
of some ot the men came well-nii;h pniviiii;(!i;-;.
mental to the expedition. Some (d tlK'nuL-.tr-
mined to desert, and to m.ake their u.iy back;
St. Louis. 'I'hey accordinjdy purhiiiifd slvi:.;!
wea])ons and a barrel of j^unpowder, as animu';-
lion tor their enterprise, and buried them ir. ;: :
river bank, intendinj^r to seize one (d ihc iio,;'.j
and m.ake off in tlu; ni^ht. I-"ortunateiv their |ii''.
was overheard by John D.iy, the Kc'iilm kian, „:;;
co:iimunicale:l to tlu; |).irtners,wh() loui; (]uitt.;:..
effectual means to frustrate it.
'I'he dantfers to be api)rehende(l frtini iheCni.v
Ir.dians had not been overrated by the camiii;:j5-
sips. These savaj^es, throuj^^h who.se muiii;',.:'
haunts the party would have to pass, wtTc i; I'.v.
for darint,'' and excursive habits, and i^rcal dtxlc:-
ily in horse stealiii','-. Mr. Hunt, theridore, cm'.-
sidere.l himself fortun.ate in havinjf iiiut with .i
man who mij^ht be ot ^^reat use to iiini iiiany;:;-
tercourse he mit^dit h.ive with the tribe. Thi.iv.,.-
a wanderinjf individual, named Ldward Ro>f.
whom he had ])icked up somewhere en the Mis-
souri — one of those anomalous beiii.i;s lo'.ind r".
the frontier, who seem to have iieithi-r kin r.ur
country. He li.id lived sonu' time anion;,' tlx-
Crows, so .as to become acepiainted with the;:
lanfj^uaire and customs; and was, withal. :ul(i5"-
^ed, sullen, silent fellow, with a sinister aspect.
;iiul more of the sava^^e than the civili/ed nun n
liis appearance. He was enf^ai^'ed to serve in '„'i;!i-
er.il as a hunter, but as j^tiide and imer|irt!cr
when thev should re.udi the countrv ol theCio.vj.
On the i.Sth of July Mr. Hunt took uphisline
of march by land from the Arickara vill.ijjo, Iw-
ASTORIA.
357
late n! iliii-;; :. . .
iva,i,Mllt sii.^.t,.,,,
Uu: Sp;ini;,h I,,,..;.
losls (it ihr \(,rc]~,
'■> linii'ii'il i,,.-'.;
iiuinlL-rdi;,,,:;,
laiU'hfS, ,-i;, ; ;;
llu'in ill th- -.,;
i'k' in w.iii t r;
tains.
cr, into .x,--.
liiiii was i,,t-;.
'ic \vil<lcrin-,sw
•crsc, and v,!;ii,
;n than at prM:-,
rcat nuMsurc an r-
siirprisc'l, tlir'
; lit liis panvi'.,
of atlvcnuiri;!;; ,-.;,
• till-' Uni'LTiaJn |^■^;,,^.
li:i(l nuTfly pi.j-
I mii^jit liavi' t >r,v..
a|)ina:hfnsi()iis v,c:;
i tcilliiwcrs, \vhi).s:;
un, t()()i< a misi:h!t •
its (lan;^^-rs, Th..
l!u' poor C;,ii;i I:..'.
mid run o! iicriii.;:;;;
icin;;- cut oU !n a,.:.
)iin-il tli(' pl.r.iis; •
iirt.s uf ill- \{;.
fiuTi-d by lilt lli.ur.-
dclili-s, Ir. awur!
r^^Tilinij alive acrj-:
tlii-y did, ihosi' thr';j
luiwlin^' \vildiTuL>-
alu'ncd in the rair.''.;
-nil^di priivin;; lit;'':-
iDMH.' (if ihiMii diivr-
a: their way back;
y piirloiiR'd scvi-M
ii\\(|:'c, as ammr:-
iiurii'il thi-ii; ir, •„.■
(.' (HH' (il lilt; iiu.-.j
(iflunali'ly tlii.'ir|ii/.
ic Kentinkian, I,:;;
wild tooi; ijuicl .;:...
Iidcd from iheCruv.
•il by tin.' camiifji-
[h whcisc mmir.!,.:'
t(i ])ass, were r. ''.■..
Is, and ,i,M-iMl ilextt:-
liiiit, thcri-liire. ai:>
liaviny; iiii-t withi
Isc to iiini ill any ;:!•
lliu iribe. Tlmv„.3
lud lulward Rosf,
H'wlutri' (i:i tlif Mb-
bcini^s Idiindrt
\w neithtT kill r.ur
,ic tiniL- animv,,' ;;i
l|uaintfd witli the;:
Iwas, willial, atln,'-
|h a sinister aspect,
he civili/cJniMi:!
j.-cd to serve in ;4cn-
[\c and interpri'W
liiitrvdl theCrowi.
lilt tnuk up His line
Ickara viliaiiO, leav-
\[r I is.i nnd Mf- N'uttall there, where they
■'r':.!,.,! io'aw.iit the e.xpcrted arrival of Mr,
i',;;rvlr.ni>theKoekyM.n.ntains. Ask, Messrs.
rrlhurv and lireckcnndKe, they lia.l departed,
medivspreviouslv, on a voya^je down the river
Tst Linns with a detachment Iroin Mr. Lisa's
'. ' With all his exertions, Mr. Hunt had been
"ihle in obtain a siiMicieiU number ol liorses lor
::':.„onil,wlalion of all bis people, lliscaval-
", !t lonsisted of ciLjhiy-two horses, most of them
■,!,iv laden with' Indian ^r(„„ls, beaver traps,
'nmiinilion, Indian corn, corn meal, and other
...v.;ries. I'.ach of the parintM-s was mounted,
i' iliiirse w.is allottt'd to the interpreter, Pierre
i,, r;',,|, lor the iransport.ation of his hii^ijaf^e and
j,s IV. I) children. His sipiaw, tor the most part of
Ih- time, tnidi^ed on foot, like the residue of the
„',riv ; ii(ir dill anv of the men show more jiatience
" i\',riiiii(le th.in this resolute woman in eiulur-
.-'iti'.,'ue and h.irdship.
The veteran trapjiers and voy,i^r,.iirs of Lisa's
p.irtvslKmk their heads as tb.eir comrades .set out,
'iiil'ldok leave of them as of doomed men ; and
iven Lisa himself },'ave it as his opinion, after the
travellers had departed, that they would never
rvich ihe shores (if the i'.icitlc, but would either
m-risli Willi hnn,L,a-r in the wilderness, or be cut
i.ji hv the sava^'es.
CIIAITKR XXIII.
Tin; rniirse taken by Mr. Hunt was at first to
■ ;• iiirlinvesl, but soon turned and kejit jjfenerally
;ithe siiulliwest, to avoid the country infested by
tie !;!:iekleet. His route took him across some of
;"e iriluilary streams of the Missouri, and over im-
r.ci.^e prairies, bounded only by the hori/on, and
lirttituie of trees. It was now ihe heiffbt ol sum- j
i..r, and these naked plains would be intolerable |
tubs traveller were it not for the breezes which I
■ weep over them durinj; the fervor of the day, '
Hri;i.;'in'r with them tempering;- airs from the (lis- I
tan; iiKiuniaiiis. To the jirevtilenee of these
breezes, and to the want of all leafy covert, may '
v.calsij alirihnte the Ireed'om from those llies and
lither insects so tormenting to m;in and beast dur-
in;;the siininier iiKiiiths, in the lower plains, which
;.rc litirdered and interspersed with woodland.
Tile nidiiotonv of these immense; landscapes,
:.',vi. wiitild he ;';S wearisome as that of the ocean,
uere it not relieved in some deijTee by the )nirity
..a>l elisticity of the atmosphere, and the be.anty of
;ae heavens. TTk; sky has that delicious blue for
v.hich the skyot ilaly is renowned ; the sun shines
'...th a splendor, unobscured by any cloud or va-
;iir .and a slarliijht iiiijhl on the prairies is }.;lori-
"J-. This purity and elasticity of .atir.osphere in-
:rases as ihe traveller ;i])pro;iches the mountains,
:.n:l ;rraihi;illy rises into more elevated prturies.
On the second d;iy of the journey Mr. Hunt ar-
n^;,'el the party into sm.all and convenient
t;;i'»es, distrihutinif amon;r them the e.amp ket-
;«. The enc;inipments at nij^ht were as before :
-iivie sleepintf under tents, and others bivou.ick-
"';; in the open ;iir. The C;in;ulians proved ;is
iMtientof toil and h.irdship on tin land ;is on the
"■■itvr; indeed, nolhiiiiif could surpass the |)atieiice
sill ;s'uodduinior of tiiese men upon the mtirch.
Tiiey were the clieerful drudfi^es of the ]),irty, load-
»s' and unloadinj: the horses, i>itchin.i,'- the tents,
:r,:ikint;' the lires, eookinj,^ ; in short, performinLf
'ill those household and menial ot'fiees which the
Mans usually ;issij>;n to the .squaws ; tmd, like the
smaws, they 'left all the huiitinir and tij^hting to
others. A Canadian has but little affection for
the exercise of the ritle.
The i)ro},M-i'ss of the ])arty w.is but slow for the
first ttwv days. Some of the men were indisposed ;
Mr. Crooks, especi.illy, w;is so uiuvtdl th.it he
could not keep on his horse. A rude kind of litter
was therefore prejiared tor him, consisting of
two lonj,'' poles, fixed, one on ea( h side of two
horses, with ;i mtUtinf;- between them, on which
he reclined at full leni^th, and was jinnected from
the sun by a cinopy ot bouffhs.
On the eveiiint,^ of the 23(1 (July) they encamped
on tlie banks ot whtit they term Ui^^ Uiver ; and
here we ctinnot but (itiuse to lament the stupid,
rommonpl.ice, and often ribtild names enttiiled
upon the rivers and other fe;itures of the tjre.it
\Vest, by tr.iders ;ind settlers. As the .aborij^in.il
tribes of these matfiiiticent re^rions ;ire yet in ex-
istence, the Indian ntimes mid;ht easily be recover-
ed ; which, besides beinjr in ^jeneral more sonorous
.and musictil, would remtiin mementoes ot the
primitivt; lords of the soil, of whom in a little while
scarce .any traces will be left. Indeed, it is to be
wished tlitit the whole ot our country could be res-
cued, as nuich as possible, from the wreuhed
nomenclature iiitlicte(l u]ion it by ij^nor.mt and
vul)rar minds ; .and this mij;hl be done, in .a s^^reat
decree, by restorint( the indi.m na.mes, wherever
siijnilic.ant .and euphonious. As there ,ip]iears to
be a spirit of research abro.ul in respect to our
aborij^inal anti(piities, we would suj^'t^fst, :is .i
worthy object of enter])rise, .a m.ip or maps, ot
every p.irt of our couiUry, },ri\in^ the Inditm names
wherever they could be ascertained. Whoever
achieves such an object worthily, will letive a
monument to his own reputation.
To return trom this ditrression. As the travel-
lers were now in a country tiboundin^ with buffa-
lo, they remained for sever.il days en(amped upon
the banks ot \')\'^ River, to obt.iin a supply of jiro-
visions, ;ind to <^'\\f the invalids time to recruit.
( )n tile second d.iy of their sojourn, as ISen Jones,
John Dtiy, and others of the hunters were in i)ur-
suit of j^time, they came upon tin Inditin cam]) on
the open ])rairie, netir to ;i smtill stretim which r;in
through ;i ravine. The tents or lodges were ct
dressed bufftilo skins, sewn toj,^ether ;ind stretched
on ta|)erinjj pine ])oles, joined ;it top, but r.adi.i-
tini; at Ixjttom, so .as to form a circle capable ot
.adniittinfr ilfty ])ersons. Numbers ol horses were
t^rtiziiif^in the neighborhood of the c.imp, or stay-
ing ;it larire in the prairie ; ;i siiflit most acce]:t:i-
ble to the hunters. After reconnoitring the ctimp
h)r some time they .iscerttiined it to behing to ;i
band of Cheyenne Inditms, the sanie th.il htul sent
.1 deputation to the .Arickaras. They received th.e
hunters in the most friendly mtimier ; invited theni
to their lodges, which were more cle.inly th.an In-
dian hjdges tire jirone to be, ;ind set food before
them with true uncivilized hospitality. Several of
them accomptmied the hunters back to the ctmi]),
when ;i trtide \\as immedititely opened. The
Cheyeiines were tistonished and delighted to tind
a convoy of goods tind trinkets thus brought into
tlie very heart of the prtiirie ; while Mr. Hunt and
his compani(>ns were overjoyed to htive tin op|)or-
tunityot obtaining a further supply ot horses ifoM
these e([uestrian savages.
During ti fortnight thtit the trtivellers lingered
tit this jilace, their encampment wtis continually
thronged by the Cheyennes. They were a civil,
\v(dl-l)ehtive(l people, eletmly in their persons
tmd decorous in their habits. The men were tall,
sirtiight, tmd vigorous, with a(|uiline noses and
high cheek bones. Some were almost tis naked tis
358
ASTORIA.
iii'ifii!
ancient statues, and might have stood as models
tor statuary ; others had Ic^jpins and moccasons of
(leer skill, and hulfaio robes, which they threw
{^racelully over tlieir shoulders. In a little while,
liowever, they bej^an to appear in more ^^orj^eous
array, tricked out in the linery obtained from the
white men — brijfht cloths, brass rinjfs, beads of
v.irious c(jlors, and happy was he who could ren-
der himselt hideous witli vermilion.
The travellers had fre(|uent occasir- to admire
the skill aiul jrrace with which these i,.aians man-
aj.jed their horses. Some of them niaile a strikinjr
dis])lay when mounted, themselves and their
steeils decorated in ^ala style ; for the Indians
often bestow more tinery upon their horses than
U|)on themselves. .Some would han^ round the
necks, or rather on the breasts of their horses, the
most precious ornaments they had obtained from
the white men ; others interwove feathers in their
in.mes and tails. The Indian horses, too, appear
to have an attachment to their wild riders, and in-
deed it is said that the horses of the pr.iiries read-
ily distinguish an Indian from a while; man by the
smell, and j;ive a ])relerence to the former. Yet
the Indians, in jreneral, are hard riders, and, how-
ever they may value their horses, treat them with
j^reat rouj,diness and nejrlect. Occasionally the
Cheyennes joined the white hunters in pursuit ot
the elk and buffalo ; and when in the ardor of th<!
chase, spared neither themselves nor their steeds,
scourinjf the prairies ,il hdl speed, and plunjrinfr
down precipices and trif;httul ravines that threat-
ened the necks of both horse and horseman. The
Indian steed, well trained to the chase, seems ;is
mad as his rider, and pursues thej^ame as eagerly
as if it were his natural i)rey, on the llesh of
which he was to l)an(|uet.
The history ot the Cheyennes is that of many of
those wanderinjr tribes ot the ]irairies. They weie
the remnant of ,i once powerful people called the
.Sliaways, inhabitinij a branch ot the Red River
which llows into Lake Winnipej^. I-very Indian
tribe has sonu' rival tribe with which it wafjfes im-
placable hostility. 'Ihe deadly enemies of the
Shaways were the .Sioux, who, .liter a long course
ot warlare, jiroved loo |)owertul for them, and
dro\e them across the Missouri. They .again took
root near the Warricanne Creek, and established
themsehes there in a tortitled village.
The Sioux still followed them with deadly ani-
mosity ; dislodged them from their village, and
compelled them to take refuge in the Black Hills,
near the upper waters of the Sheyt'iine or Chey-
enne River. Here they lost I'ven their name, and
became known among the I'rench colonists h\ that
ot the river they tre(iuented.
The he.irt of the tribe was now broken ; its
nund)ers were gre.itly thinned by their harassing
wars. 'I'hey no longer attempted to est.iblish
themselves in any permanent abode that might
lie an object of attack to their cruel foes. They
jiave u|) the cultivation ot the truits of the earth,
and became a w.indering tribe, subsisting by the
chase, and following the buffalo in its migr.itions.
Their only possessions were horses, which they
caught on the ])r.iiries, or reared, or captured on
])redatory incursions into the .Mexicm territories,
•as has already been menlioned. With some ot
these they repaired once a year to the /\rick;ir,i \il-
1 iges, exchanged them tor corn, be.ins, pumpkins,
and articles of Iuiro|)ean merch.indise, and then
returned into the heart of the jir.airies.
Such are the tluctualing fortunes of these s.ivagi;
rations. War, famine, pestilence, together or
singly, bring ilown their strength and thin their
numbers. Whole tribes are rooted up from i •
native places, wander for a time .ibimt iht.f ^^
meiise regions, become amalgainatid with ,/, !
tribes, or disappear from the face ot tln' 1 1-
There ap])ears to be a tendency to cxtimil,.
among all the savage nations; and this tiiulr
would seem to have been in o|)er,iti(ii, ;ini(ii.,r ;.
aboriginals ot this country long beloic tluM^w!
ot the white men, if we may ju(lge liom tlnir.iir
and traditions ot ancient i)opulousness in n."!.!-!
which were silent and deserted at the timr i?t'-.
discovery ; and from the mysterious and pcr^rv
ing vestiges of unknown races, iiredctcssnr, r-
those found in aclu.d ])ossessioii, .inil whni'-.'
long since have become gradually extinniiishc; •
been destroyed. The whole history ul tht ii\i,r.-'.
inal population of this country, however, k '■
enigma, and a grand one — will it ever he buivt, ■
CHAPTER XXIV.
Os the sixth of August the travellers h.ido tir-.
well to the friendly band of Cheycniu-s .iml r.
sumed their journey. As they had ohtaimd ili;r:'.
si.x additional horses by their recent tndhi. .\1-.
Hunt made a new arrangement. Tlie l;i,';' -
was made up in smaller loads. .\ hursf w.i^a,.
lotted to each of the six prime hunters, .-iiid dihcs
were distributed among the voyage'irs, a lniM't :
every two, so that they could ride aiul w.ilk .liv.r-
nately. Mr. Crooks, beingstill too feehle tu ni-'j!.;
the saddle, was carried on a litter.
Their march this day lay ;imong singular hi.!;
and knolls of an indurated red earth, rescmli:::,'
brick, about the bases of which were MMUtrc.
pumice stones and cinders, the whole l«:iri:;
traces of the action ot tire. In the evening' 'ht.
encamped on a branch ot Big River.
They were now out of the tract of Cdiir.trv ::■•
fested by the Sioux, and had .adv.inced sin h a (ii>-
tance into the interior that -Mr. Hunt no l<ir;;t:r
felt apprehensive of the desertion ol any ct :.:s
men. He was doomed, however, to cxpcrn'it
new cause of anxiety. As he w.as seatud, in is
tent after nightt.all, one of the men canit: tu him
])rivately, and informed him tli;it ihcie w.h i''^
i chief brewing in the camp. I'.dward Ki'm', "•■
I interpreter, whose sinister lo(d<s we liavf a'lii y
I mentioned, w;is denounced by this secret inlurirvr
1 as a designing, treacherous scoundiel, who w.is
tam|)ering with the tidelity of certain idthe iiii!i,
and instig.iting them to ;i flagrant piece el trta-"n.
In the course of a tew d.iys they would arrivv i!
the mountainous distric infested by the l'|is,inik.is
or Crows, the tribe among which Ruse uas ii
ohici.ite as interpreter. His plan was that several
of the nien should join with him, wlu-n in thi!
neighborhood, in carrying off a iiiiiiiher nt t ■•
horses with their packages of goods, and (k-M-r; ;
to thost; savages. He assured them ol j,fo:i! if' ''■;
meiu among the Crows, the prlnciiial chitlsar.;
warriors of whom he knew ; they would soon In-
come great men among them, and li.ive the lint-t
women, and the daughters of tlu' cliiels, fur wives;
.and the horses ;ind goods they carried off wiHii'i
make them rich for lite.
The intelligence ot this treachery on thep.ulot
Rose gave much distjuiit to Mr. Hunt, tor he
knew not how far it might be etfective anmni; i">
men. He had already' had proofs that several u'.
them were disaffected' to the enterprise, and ii''"'
to cross the mountains. He knew also that snvi);e
life had charms tor many ot them, especially thi;
ASTORIA.
359
,. ,iiljins who were prone to intermarry and
'Z,wM tlifnisclvcs amonjr the Indians.
" Ami lift a word or two coiiciTnin;; tin- Crows
„.'ul,cijfsfrvi(f to tin- reader, as iliuy will ligure
;;-,,,on.illv iii Ih.^ succeedinjr narration.
[iie liilii; ii>ii'<i''ts ol lour hands, which have
tslliii"-|)laces in lerlile, well-wooded valleys,
Imii; .mil
" m'^' uiiiintr di^- Koi-'^^v Mountains, and watered
kiiic liiK' Horse Kiverand its tributary streams ;
;,M, -hoiiK'li il»'^^' ■"■^' l'i''J|''''''.\' I'l^'"' liomt-s, where
,l,^.;.sln.|u-r their old people, their wives, and llieir
•iiMriii, the iiH'ii :il tlie tribe are almost continually
,V ilii.. fiir.iy and the scamper. They are, in lact,
„i.„„oiis niaratiders and horse-stealers ; crossinj,^
•mil rci.ro.-.siii>; the mountains, robbinjr on the one
i,if ami tiiiivevinij their sjioils to the other.
lliiuT, we are t()!d, is derived their n.ime, >,nven
Mliiin'i oil arcount of their unsettled and preda-
•■rvluliits ; \viii;;iiiij their fliirju, like the crows,
-,,ni (ine side nt the mountains to the other, and
i ,,iii;r !>(■« Ixioty ot everytliin,i( that lies in their
,.. ^Iliirscs, however, are the esjiecial objects
::u!r i!e]irc(lati(iiis, and their skill and audacity
•is'.i.iiiii.!,' llieiii are said to be astonishing^. This
], ti.(ir"l"iv and deli},dit ; an aci()m|)lished horse-
>:i.i',cr liils up tlicir idea of a hero. Many horses
[.rcdlitainecl by them, also, in barter from tribes
i:i ,111(1 hevDmrtlie mountains. They have an ab-
yi'.iitcpas^iiiiii lor tins noble animal ; besi<les which
':.■: i^ with them an imjiortant object of trallic.
(i".a' a vear they make a visit to the Mandaiis,
Miiiatarces, ami other tribes of the Missouri, tak-
ii; with tlieiii droves of horses which they e.\-
i:;.iiii;i- f(ir},niiis, amnuiiiidon, trinkets, vermilion,
i!';ii'. ol bn^'ht colors, and various other articles
: liiiropeaii iiiaiiidaclure. With these they suji-
]•:; ihcir own wants .ind cajirices, and carry on
I",; iiitiTiial trade for horses already mentioned.
Till' plot (it Rose to rob and abandon iiis coun-
■rvnit:! vvlu'ii ill the heart of the wilderness, and to
i.riu iiiiiiscif into the hands of a horde of sav;ijres,
: IV .iipcar straiij^e and improbable to those un-
„ (|U,iiiUi.'(l with the siii},ailar and anomalous cliar-
.■.itrs that are to be found about the borders.
This fellow, it ajipears, was one of those desper-
r.iluis of the tmiuiers, outlawed by their crimes,
uhiiciiiiihiiiellie vices of civilized and savaj^e life,
,ril,ire liMi times more liarbarous than the In-
ili.Kis .vith whom they consort. Rose had formerly
:ir!aiij;i'irto one of the >,''''"rrs of ])iratcs who in-
:r^lI•(l i!ie islands of the Mississip])i, iiluiideriii^''
J lis as they went up and down the river, and
v.::ij soiiK-tinies sliifteil the scene of their robberies
'.ithc siinre, w.iylayiiijj; travellers as they returned
'. i.imllroiii .New Orleans with the proceeils of
'..■;r ilowiuvard vovaije, plunderiiii^ them ol their
"'.'ncy and effects, and often perpetratint( the most
:.:rici:)us iiuirders.
liiiNf hnnles of \'illains beinj,^ broken up and
|>li(;rsf(|, Koseh.id betaken himself to the wihler-
■■'>, ami associated himself with the Crows, whose
■■-liiory iiahits were coiifrenial with his own, had
:-.arrii;l a woniaii of the tribe, and, in short, liad
■ 'iUitiL'd himself with those vajrrant savages.
Suih was the worthy jruide and interjireter,
f.iuard Kose. Wejjive his storv, however, not
J>;iwas known to Mr. Hunt antf his companions
■I'l'.c lime, hut as it iias been subse(|uently ascer-
-liwil. laioiijrh was known of the fellow and his
'^ir!; ami perfidious character to jiut .Mr. Hunt
^ini his jriianl ; still, as there was no knowinf,'
'* far his plans mijrht h.ive succeeded, and as
I'ly rash act niijrht blow the mere smoulderiu},'
surlis of treason into a sudden blaze, it was
'•■JJijIu advisable by those witli whom .Mr. Hunt
consulted, to conceal all knowledge or suspicion
of the meditated treachery, but to keep up a vij,'i-
lant watch upon the movements ot Kose, and a
strict guard upon the horses at night.
CHAI'TKl-l XXV.
Thf. plains over which the travellers were jour-
neying continued to be deslituti of trees or even
slirubs ; insomucli that they had to use the dung
of the iiuffalo tor fuel, as the .Arabs of the desert
use that of the camel. This substitute for fuel is
universal among the Indians ot these upper prai-
ries, and is said to make ,i tire e(|ual to that of turf.
If a few chips are added, it throws out a cheerful
and kindly l)laze.
These plains, however, had not .ilwavs been
e(|ually destitute of wood, as was evident Irom the
trunks ot the trees which the travellers repeatedly
met with, some still standing, others lying about
in broken Iragmeius, but all in a fossil state,
having llourislied in limes long past. In these
singular remains, the original grain of the wood
was still so distinct that tliey could be .isci'rtained
to be the ruins ot oak trees. Several pieces of th'j
fossil wood were selected by the men to serve as
whetstones.
In this ])art of the journey there was no lick of
])rovisions, for the prairies were covered with im-
mense herds of buffalo. These, in general, are
animals of jieaceful demeanor, grazing (|iiietly like
domestic cattle ; but this was the season when
they are in heat, and when tlie bulls are usually
tierce and pugnacious. Ttiere was accordingly a
universal restlessness and commotion throughout
the ])lain ; and the amorous herds g.ive utter-
ance to their feelings in low bellowings that re-
sounded like distant thunder. Here and there
tierce duellos too place between rival enainora-
dos ; butting their luige shagged fronts together,
goring eacti other with their short black horns,
and tearing uj) the earth with their feet in jierfect
fury.
In one of the evening halls, Pierre Dorion, l!ie
interpreter, together with Carson and (lardpie, two
of the hunters, were missing, nor had they return-
morning. As it was su|)|)')se(I they had
red away in jiursuit (d buffalo, and would
readily find the track of the party, no solicitude
was felt on their account. A tire w.is left burn-
ing, to guide them by its column ol smoke, and
the travellers proceedeil on their man h. In the
evening a signal tire was made on ,i hill adja-
cent to the c.unp, and in the nioniiiig it was re-
plenished with fuel so as to l.ist throughout the
day. These sign.ils are usual among the Indians,
to give warnings to e.uh other, or to call home
straggling hunters ; and such is the transparency
of the atmosphere in those (devated plains, lli.il ,i
slight column of smoke can be discerned Irom a
great distance, particularly in the evenings. Two
or three days elapsed, however, without the reap-
pearance of the three hunters; and Mr. Hunt
slackened his march to give them time to overtake
him.
,\ vigilant watch continued to be kept upon the
movements of Rose, ,ind of such of the men as
were considered doubtful in their loyalty ; but
nothing occurred to excite immediate apprehen-
sions. Rose evidently was not a favorite among
his comrades, and it was hoped that he had not
lieen able to make any real partisans.
On the loth of August they encamped among
ed by
waiuler
300
ASTORIA.
liills, on the liifjlicst peak of which Mr. Hunt
caused a hu^ff pyre ot pint- wood to be made',
wliich soon sent up a j;rcat column of llamu that
niij;lu l)c si'cn lar and \\ idc over the prairies. 'I'liis
tire i)laze(l all ni^jlil and was amply re|)ienishe(l at
daybreak; so that thif towerinj,' pillar ot smoke
(')iil(l not but be descried by the wanderers it
within the distance ol a day's journey.
It is a common occurrence in these rejfions,
where the teaturcs ot the country so much resem-
ble each other, tor hunters to l(jse themselves and
w.iiider lor many days, betore they can lind their
n.iy back to the main body ot their party. In the
])resenl instance, liowever, a more th.m common
solicitude w.is lelt, in conse(|Uence ot the distrust
a\v;ikcned by the sinister desij^^r.s ot Rose.
The route now became excessively toilsome,
over a ridj^e of steep rocky hilis, covered with
loose stones. These were intersected by deep val-
leys, formed by two i)ranches of ISi;^' River, com-
injr from the south of west, both of which they
crossed. Tliese streams were bordered b\' iiK.'ad-
ows, well stocked with buftaloes. Loads ot meat
were brouj^ht in by the hunters ; but the travel-
lers were rendered d.iinty by profusion, and woidd
cook only the choii e pieces.
'I'hey li.id now travelled for scver.il days at a
Very slow rate, and li.id made sij,nial lires and left
traces ot their routt^ at e\ery slaj;e, yet nothini^
was lu'.ird or seen of the lost men. It bcj^an to be
fe.ired that they mi^dit h;u-e fabcn in'o the hands
of some lurkiii;,'' b.and ot sava;;es. A party nii-
nuious ,is that of .Mr. Hunt, with a lonj;- train ot
n.ick-hoises, movinj^r across open plains or naked
hills, is discover.'.ble .it a i;reat distance by Indi.iii
!;rouls, who s|)read the intellii^rcnce rapidly to va-
rious points, ,ind assemble their triends to han;,^
about til!.' skirts of the travellers, steal their
liorses, or cut olf any stra^jrlers from the main
body.
Mr. Hunt and his comi)anions were more and
more sensible how nu.'h it would be in the ])ower
of this sullen and d.janj;; vajrabond Rose, to do
them mischief, when they should bt.'come entan-
};led in the defiles ot the mountains, with the
]);isses ot which they were wholly un,ic(|uainted,
and which were infested by his treebootin^r friends,
the Crows. There, should he succeed in seducinjr
some ot the ])arty into his plans, he mijrht c.irrv
off the best horses and effects, throw himself
amonn' his sav.iire allies, and set all pursuit at
deliance. Mr. Ilimt resolved therefore to frus-
trate the knave, divert him, by man.iirenient, from
his plans, and make it sulliciently ad\-anta^eous
for him to remain honest. I le took occasion ac-
cordin^jly, in the course of convers.ition, to in-
forn'' Hose th.it, h.ivin,if enijajri'd hini chielly as a
{Tiiide and interpreter throuifh the country ot the
Crows, they would not st.md in need of his ser-
vices beyond. Knowint,', therefore, his connec-
tion by inarriaLje with that tribe, and his jiredilec-
tion tor ;i residence amonjr them, they would put
no restraint upon his will, but, whenever they met
Willi a p.irtv ot th.at ])eo|)le, would leave him at
libert)- to remain amonj; his .idoptcd brethren.
I'urthermore. th.'.t, in thus partinj,'- with him, they
would pay him h.ilf ;i year's wattes in consideni-
tion of his p.ist services, and would f^ive him .i
liorse, three be.iver traps, ;ind sundry other arti-
cles calctdated to set him up in tne world.
This unexpected lilieralitv, which m.ide it n -arly
as ])rotit,ible and intinitely less hazardous for
Rose to remain honest th.m to play the roj^ue,
completely dis.irnied him. From th.it time his
wh.ule deportment underwent a change. His brow
cleared up and anpeared more rhccrfu! ; he »i-
off his sullen, skulkinj^ habits, and m.uli'-i-'i
ther .ittempts to tamper with the t^iiih ot 1, ,,".
rades.
On the 13th of August Mr. I lii;u v.mri -
course, and inclined westward, in hiiiHvi; •
ing in with the three lost hunters, whi,, .!„^
now thought, might have ke|)t to tlu-ri"-'..
of Uig River, 'fhis course soon hrcnH • ^.
to a fork ot the Little Missouri, ahniii ,1 h;ir, -
\'.irds wide, ;ind resembling the gre.iirivir :•
s.ime name in the strength of its iiirrcii!, \. .
bid water, and the fre(|uency ot drili-ui,,,,; •
sunken trees.
Ri.'gged mountains appeared alicul, mm !'-
down to till w.ater edge, and offering a l.,irr;,r'
further progress on the side they were iisiiii:^"
Crossing the river, theretore, they enc,iin:i( : "n
its nortliwest bank, where they toinul jji.oij 'i,,,
turage and buff.ilo in abundance. Thu v.,'-,-
w.is overcast and rainy, .and a gener.il ;;liii-ni 1-.
vaded the camii ; the voy.igeurs s.itsnmM:;-
groups, with tlieir shoidders .as hij^h ^i>, • ■•:
heads, croaking their torebodings, wlien s'liii;.;, ,
tow.ird evening a shout ot joy gave iintict',: ;:
the lost nu'ii were found. 'I'hey cinie sluvly,,:;-
ging into the camp, with weai'v looks, ;inil lior-t;
laded and w.iyworn. They li.ul, in fnii, tH--
tor sever.il days incessantly on the ninvf. I-
their hunting excursion on the pr.iirics il.c, ":i
pushed so far in pursuit of buffalo as toiiiii.;
impossible to retr.ice their steps over ])laiiistrj:--
pled by innunier.ible herds, ;ind were bafilcili'v
the monotony of the landscape in their atk'H'n'.i
to recall landtnarks. They had ridden I" nml :r
until they had almost lost the ixiinls ol iht c:;';-
]);iss, and become totally l)ewilderei| ; nor (ii(i
they ever perceive .any of the signal liits and ro',.
limns of smoke made by their conirailcs. A:
length, .about two d.ays previously, wlicii ,^ln^l^•.
spent by anxiety and hard riding, tliey cimc, j
their great joy, upon the " tr.iii" ot iht p;iriy.
which they had since followed uj) stcidily.
Those only who have experienced the wx".
cordi.ality th.it grows U|) between cdmra'ifs i-
wild and adventurous expeditions ot llu' kiid.
can picture to themselves the hearty clieenn;;
with which the str.agglers were welromeil tiuht
cam]). Lvery one crowded round tlicm to ass
(piestions, and to hear the story of their niish.ips:
and even the scpiaw ol the 'moody lialMirtci
I'ierre Dorion, forgot the sternness ot his ddmis'.::
rule, and the conjugal discipline ot the cudgel. :'.
her joy at his safe return.
CIIAI'TKR X.X'VI.
Mr. Hunt and his party were now onthcs'KirtJ
of the HIack Hills, or ISl'ack Mountains, a^rr
are sometimes called ; ;in extensive chain, iyir,'
about a hundred miles east of the R'>cky M'h:;;-
tains, ;ind stretching in ;i northeast directini; !pir'
the south fork of the Nebraska or I'Littt' K«'.
to the great north bend of the Missouri. Ire
.Sierra or ridge of the IJlack Hills, in f.ul, l^rm^
the dividing line between the waters of tl-i'Miv
souri and tlvose of the Ark.ans.as and the Missis-
sippi, and gives rise to the Cheyenne, the kitji''
Mi!*souri, and sever.al tributary streams ol ins
Yellowstone. ,
The wild recesses of these hills, like thosec
the Rocky Mountains, are retreats ;nid lurkrif
places for Ijroken and predatory tribes, and i-
ASTORIA.
3f!l
nmnn? them that tlin remnant of the Clu'v-
(!,'.ic tnlii-'"'t<i"l< rt-l'ik''-'. -'^ '^•"* '"''■" ^talL'd, Irom
,j,;iro.n(|Ucnii-riu-mifS the Sioux.
Iht; liiaik liilU ill"-' ihii-tly coinposL'd of saml-
,.jnc ami in nuiiiy placi'S art- i)roktii into savaj^c
'•|l(. Ii;, I |)rcci|)i<i'S, aiul present the most siiij^ni-
ilr iii'i t.iiu.i->tic tnrnis ; somctinu-s rcsi'nihliii^j
,',,vi'ii .m:l casicllalcil fortressus. 'I'lii? ignorant
irn'liiUms o\ iilains arc prone to elotlit; the
niijiiniiH that boiinil their h(n-i/on willi tancitul
and MilVr-litioils attributes. Tluis the wanderin;;
iriiin <it thi' prairies, who otteii hehoUl clouds
cvJicrin^' round the summits of these hills, and
Ir'hinii"," llashintj, and thunder i)ealin<; from
•Ml, wlitn M tlie ncii;hl)oriiiK plains are serene
aisunny, consider them the abode ol the trenii
orihunkr-siiirits, who fabricate storms and tcm-
pch. (inen'ernix-
their deliles, therefore, they
citrii hanif olkTHi^fS on the trees, or pl.ice them
on the riirks, to ])ropiti;ite the invisible " lords ol
iheniiiiwtain^." and ])rocure fiood weatlu'r ;ind
ijia'S.->tiil luinlin,i; ; and they attach unusual sijr-
r.ilicaiK'f to the echoes which hamit the preci-
|:\cs. I'lii.s superstition may also h.ive arisen, in
[uri, troiii a natural phenomenon of .i sin^rular
i;,i;u'a-. in the most calm and serene weather,
mil .It all times of the d.ay or ni^ht, successive re-
inns, lie now and tlien heard amonj,^ these nioun-
icu. ri'scmhlini,' the disch,irj,'e of several pieces
K .irtilliTV. Similar reports were heard by
Miiir.-.. Lewis .mil Cl.irke in the Kocky Moiuitains,
v.l.uh thL',sav were attributed by the fndi.ans to
r.i-lnir-itiiv,' (it the rich mines ol silver contained
111 ihi- bosiiin of the mountains.
Ill t.nt these sini;ular explosions iiave received
imcilul explanations from learned men, and h,i\e
njtbrt-n satisl.ictorily accounted for even by phi-
I'liopiiL-rs. They are said to occur fre(|iienily in
liri/il. \'asconcel!es, a Jesuit father, describes
ii:;e which he heard in the Sierr.i, or moimtain re-
;':)ii iif l'ir,itiiiiii^;a, and which he com|)ares to
nt iliy.'iiurijes ol ;i park of artillery. The In-
ili.tns li}l,l him that it was an explosion of stones.
Tne wnrihv lather h;id soon a satisfactory proof
o; thf truth of their information, for the very
p!.iC8 w.is found where a rock had burst and ex-
piodc'l from its entrails a stony mass, like a
Mni!)-shell, and of the size of a bull's heart.
Tins mass w,is broken either in its ejection or
I'.s t.ill, and wonderlul was the internal orj.;'.ini/a-
t:i'i reve.iled. It had a shell harder even than
■'c: wiihiii which were arranj,red, like the seeds
<: .1 p'imrL,'iMiiate, jewels ot various colors ; some
:.i;i>|)iaMit as crystal ; others of a tine red, ,ind
T^ lit mixed hues. The same phenomenon is
v:: I'loocur occasionally in the .idjacenl |)rovince
': (iiiayra, where stones of the l)ii,''ness of a
"w'sliand are exploded, with a loud noise, from
'."•■ Ii,i^(!,n of the earth, and scatter ;ibout };litter-
is'aii'l liuautilul fragments that look like precious
?ems, Imt are of no value.
The Indians of the Orellanna, also, tell of hor-
fihlc noises heard occasionally in the I'araj,ni.ixo,
•v'ich they consider the throes ,ind j^roans of the
niouniain, eiideavorinir to cast forth the ])recious
stones hidden within' its entrails. Others have
endeavorfd to account for these disch.irjres of
"miiimiain artillery" on h>.mbler jirinciples ;
a'.tributin;,' them to 'the loud reports made !)y the
uisru|ni,in ,ind f.iU of frreat masses of rock, re\er-
iwaie I and iiroloni^ed by the echoes; others, to
l,e ilist'iiir;i^r^.|,n,m ,jf hydro^eil, prodiice<l by
J'jh'erraneous beds of coal in a state of iLfnilion'.
Wwhui'ver w,iy this sinjrular i)henomenon m.iy
•'c Mwiintcd lor, the e.\istencc of it appears to be
well established. It remains ono of the linfjerini^
mysteries ut nature whii h throw somelhmi; ot ,i
supern.itur.il ch.irm over iier wild mount. lin soli-
tudes ; and we dmibt whether the im,i;;in,itive
reader will not r.ither join with the pour Indian
in attributing; it to the llHmder-s|)iriis, or the !,aiar-
di.in ^;enii ol imseeii tre.isures, than lo any com-
monpl.ice physical cause.
Whatextr mi^;ht be tin- snpern.ilural inducnce;
amon;.,^ ihese mountains, the tr.ivellers lound tlu'ir
physical dilliculties h.ird to < cipe with, 'i'hev
made repeated attempts t(» tind a passable throujjh
or over the ( hain, but were as often turned back
by imp.iss.ible barriers. Sonu-times .i delile
seemed to open .i pr.icticable |iath, but it woidd
termin.ite in some wild chaos of rocks and (diffs,
which it was impossible to clindi. 'I'he .mimals
ot these solitary retfions were ditlerent Irom thost;
they had been accustomed to. The black-tailed
(leer would bound up the r.ivines on their .in-
pro.ich, and the bii^diorn would },M/e fearlessly
down upon them from some impendiin,'' |)recipice,
or skip pl.iyfiilly from rock to rock. The>eaiii-
m.ils are Old)' to be met with in mount. linoiis re-
.i,'ions. 'file lornur is lari^er th.in the common
(leer, but its tlesh is not eipi.illy esteemed by liiiiit-
ers. it h IS very l.irjre ears, and the tip (d the
tail is bl.ick, from whii h it derives its n.ime.
'file l)it;horii is so named {mm its horns,
which are of .a j^^reat si/.e, and twisted like those
of .'i r.im. It is called by some the .ir.L;ali, by
others, tile ibex, thou^^h dilferiiiLj from both ol
these .inimals. 'flu; Mandans call it the .ihsaht.i,
;i name much better than the clumsy ;i|)p(dlatioii
which it generally bears. It is ot the si/e ol a
small (dk, or l.irge deer, and of a dun color, ex-
cepting' the belly and round the tail, wdiere it is
white. In its habits it resembles the {^o.it, fre-
(|uentinir the ruih'St precipices ; croppinjr the
herbage from tludr edtfes ; and, like the ch.imois,
bounciiii;; li;;ht!y .and securely amoii^r di//y heights,
where the hunter d.ires not venture. It is dilVi-
cult, therttore, to get within shot of it. lien
Jones the hunter, however, in one of the passes ()t
the lllack Hills, succeeded in bringing down a
bighorn from the verge of a precipice, the llesh
of which w.is pronounced by the gourmands of
the cam|) to ha\e the ll.ivor ot excellent mutton.
liatilled in his attempts to traverse this nioun-
t.iin ch.iin, Mr. Hunt skirted along it to the
southwest, keeping it on the right, .and still in
hopes of linding an opening. At an e.nlv hour
one day, he encamped in a narrow vallcv on the
banks of a be.iutitully clear but rushy pool, sur-
rounded by thickets bearing abundance of wild
cherries, currants, .and )tdlow and purjile goose-
berries.
While the afternoon's me.d w.is in preparation,
Mr. Hunt and Mr. M'Ken/ie ascended to the
summit of llie nearest hill, from whence, aideil by
the purity and transparency of the evening atmos-
phere, they commanded a vast ])ros])eit on all
sides, jielow then, extended a |)!ain, dotted with
innumer.ible herds of buff.ilo. .Some were lying
down among the herbage, others roaming in their
unbounded pastures, while many were engaged
in fierce contests like those alre;idy described,
their low bellowings reaching the ear like the
hoarse murmurs ot the surf of .i distant shore.
Far off in the west they descried a range of lofty
mountains printing the clear horizon, some of
them evidently capped with snow, 'fhese they
su|)])osed to be the llig Horn Mount.iins, so called
from the animal of that nanv, with whii h they
abound, 'fhey are a spur ul the great Rocky
'!•
-■' ii
i#H
..J
if*
'h!
i
i
il
r\
303
ASTOPIA.
( h.iin. Tlie liill from whence Mr. Hunt had tliis
|)ro>i>r('t was, ;i( (ordiiijj to hiscominitalion, about
two liuiulrcd and titty nulcs from ihu Arick.ira vil-
lage.
On ri'turiiin^j to the canip Mr. Hunt found
sonic untMsincss prevailing; am)!!).; the Canadian
voyafjcurs. In strayin^; anion^ the thiikcls ihcy
had hcliL-ld tracks of j;ri//ly hears in every direc-
tion, doubtless allracled ihiliu-r by tlie fruit. 'I'o
tlieir dismay, tliey now found that tliey had eii-
canii>ei| in one of the favorite resorts of this
dreach'il animal. The idea marred ail the com-
fort of the encampnient. As nij;ht closed, the sur-
nunulinjr tlii( kels were peopled with terrors ; in-
somuch that, accordinjj to .Mr. 1 limt, they could
not lu-lj) st.irtinj; at every little bree/.e thai stirred
the bushes.
'fhe '^;ri//ly bear is the only really formidal)le
• luadruped cif our continent. He is the favorite
tlienie of the hunters of the f,ir West, who de-
scribe him .IS e<pial in si/.e to a comnum cow and
of prodi^nous strenj^th. lie makes battle if as-
sailed, anil often, if pressed by hunjjer, is the
ass.iilant. It wounded, hi' becomes furious and
will pursue the hunter. }lis speed exceeds ih.it
of a man, but is iideriorto that of a horsi-. In at-
tackiiiif he ri.irs himself on his hind lej^s, ,uid
spriiiL;s the l(ii;;lh of his body. Woe to hoi.-.e
or rider that comes within the sweep of his ter-
rilic claws, which are s.imetinu-s nine inches in
lenj;tli, and te.ir everything before them.
At the tiM)e we an? trcatin;,^ of, tlu' j,fri//ly bear
was still fre(iuent on the .Nlissouri, and in the
lower country, but, like some of the broken tribes
of the pr.iirie, he h.is ;^r.idu,dly fallen l)ack before
ills enemies, anil is now chiefly to be found in the
upland regions, in ru;4-;,a'd lastnesses, like those of
the Ill.uk Hills and the Kocky Mountains. Here
he lurks in caverns, or holes which he has diifjred
in the sides of hills, or tmder the roots and trunks
of fallen trees. Like the common bear he is fond
of fruits, and mast, .ind roots, the latter of which
he will iW'^ up with his htre claws. He is carniv-
orous also, and will even alt.ack and coiupier the
lordly buifalo, draj,ri;in^r his hu<;e carcass to the
neis^ddiorhood of his ileii, that he may prey upon
it at his leisure.
'I'he hunters, both white and red men, consider
this the most lu'roic jrame. They ])refer to hunt
him on horseback, and will venture so ne.ir as
sometimes to sinL;e his hair with the tlash of the
rille. The hunter of the }rri//dy be.ir, howe\er,
must l)e an experienced hand, and know where to
aim at a vit.d part ; for of all (piadru])eds he is
the most dillicultto he killed. He will receive re-
peated wounds without tlinchinf,', and r.irelv is a
shot mortal uidess throuj»-h the head or heart'.
That the dan<rers ajjprehended from the jrri/zly
l)ear, at this night encampment, were not im.igi-
tiary, was proved on the foUowinjj morning.
Among the hired men of the p.irty was one Will-
iam Cannon, who h;ul been a soldier at one of
the frontier ])osts, and entered into the employ of
Mr. Hunt at Mackinaw. He was an inexperienced
hunter and a poor shot, for which he was much
bantered by his more adroit comrades, ficpied at
their railh'ry, he had been practising ever since
he had joined the ex|)edition, but without success.
In the course of the present afternoon, he went
forth by himself to take a lesson in \enerie, and,
to his great delight, had the good fortune to kill
a buffalo. As he was a considerable distance from
the camp, he cut out the tongue and some of the
choice bits, made them into a parcel, and, sling-
ing them on his shoulders by a strap passed
round his forehead, as fhe voyagrurs r.nrrv- ,
ages of goods, set out all glorious fur thf'/,,"!
anticip.iting a triumph over hi^ hniilitr ha|V.
In passing through a narrow ravnic ht hi'aM'
noise behind him, and looking rouiiil lnhejii ',!'
his dismay, a gri/zly bear in lull pursuit, ,irm„^
ently attr.u ted by the sct-nt of the nuat, Cirl,"
had heard so much of the invulmraliiliivdt if,!
tremendous animal, that he never iittcniriiiil T
lire, but, slipping the strap from lus tunic,,,! j,
go the buflalo meat and ran for his Iji,. |,.
bear did not sto|) to regale himself with ihf .r,,nV
but kept on alter the hunter. He hadmafV
overtaken him when Cannon reachcil a tree, ;,n^
throwing down his rille, scrambltd up it Thf
next inst.mt IJruin was at the tout i<\ il;(. iff/
hut, as this species of bear does not cliinlv in ,:,r,!
tented himself with turning the ch.isi' min a iii.in'.
ade. .Night came on. In the d.irkiics, Unnnn
could not ])erceive whetlier or not thr tutmv
maintained his st.ation ; but his liars iiicmrtil
I him rigorously mounting guard. llepasMil ihe
night, therefore, in the tree, a i)rey to disniil lan-
cies. In the morning the bear wasgime. l.ii.iin
warily descended the tree, gathered up ll^ -un,
and made the best of Ids way back ti> ihr ,,,m.,
without venturing to look after his luill.iln nuij.
Whih- on this theme we will aild anmhi-r aricc.
dote of an ad\ciuure with a gri//lv Iiimt, luiil i.t
John D.iy, the Kentucky hunt<-r, luit whiili l,,;i.
pelied at a different jieriod of the exjudii, ,n.
Day w.is hunting in comp.my with one ol thnlcw
of the company, a lively youngster, wIid was a
great fa\'orile with the veter.m, but uliiisuviv.ic;;;
he had continually to keep in check. Tlu y were
in search of deer, when suddiidy a lui;;t- i;ri//iv
bear emerged from a thicki't about tl)irt\ virii
distant, rearing lumself upon his liiiid kfj'; with.i
tcrrilic growl, and displaying a hidcnus .irrav"!
teeth and claws. The rille ol the yoiui;; man w.i>
levelled in an instant, but John l).iy's iron hand
was as (|uickly upf>n his arm. " lie (|iiii.t, hoy!
be cpiiet I" exclaimed the hunter, helwtin iuS
clenched teeth, and without turning liis i yes irrni
the bear. They remained molionltss. Tiie
moii'Uer regarded them for a tim<', tlu-n, iDwtrir,;;
Idmself on his fore ]);iws, slowly withilrcw. Hf
had not gone many paces before he ai^ain luriird,
reared •himself on his hind legs. ,niil npt.tipl
his men.ice. Day's hand was still on tlic arm id
his young comjianion ; he ag.iin pressed it hard.
and kept repeating between his teeth, "'.;ii;ct.
boy l---kee|) (pnet I— keep (piiet 1" tli'it:'.;h i''f
latter had not made a move since his tiist piid.;i-i-
tion. The bear again loweri'd hinisclt i>:i ■'•'■
fours, retreated some twenty yards turiliiT. a;; I
again turned, reared, showed his teelh, and
growled. This third menace! was ton nuicli t^ir
the g.ame s[)irit of John Day. " Ky jovc I" i\-
claimed he, "I can stand this no Iniitfcr. ' am'
in an instant ;i b.all from his rille whi//i-d inliii:;c
foe. Tlu; wound w.as not inort.d ; hut, Im kily, .;
dismayed instead of enraging the animal, and li;
retre.ited into the thicket.
D.ay's yoimg comp.inion repro.iclu'd him tirrni
liractising the caution which he enjoiiuMl iip"".
others. " Why, boy," replied the veler.in, "laii-
tion is caution, but one must not put uji witli t"!
nundi even from a bear. WouUI voii liavf ir.t|
suffer myself to be bullied all day by' avarmnit.'
CHAPTER XXVII.
For the two following days the tr.ivelU'rs pur-
sued a westerly course for thirty-four miles aion;;
ASTORIA.
363
riili-f f' '■niinlrv divitlinp the tributary waters
,j„. Missouri and llie Vflloustoiic. As laiid-
" ,1^ ihrv Laiiiliil tlicmsL-lvfs hv the siiinmits ot
jjf iljsl.iiu lii'iiililains, wliK'h they supposed to
Vlonu t" ''"^' "'« "'"■" '■'"''"■ ""■■>■ ^"■'■•' ^''■•"''
, iiiv risinjj into a liiK'lu-r temperature, lor the
■ ilhi-r wii^ i'"''l ''"' •'"' season, with .i siiarp
J!'jl in tht; iii>;lit, and ice of an fi),'hlh of an inch
m thii-kiies'-. I , » . 1 ■ ,
on iIh' luciity-serond ot Aujjust, early m the
(liv thfV liiiiic upon the tr.iil ol a lumirmiis
!,'inil. Ki>>'' '""I •'"' "''"'•■ I'unters cxaniineil the
liijiniints with ;,'reat attention, .and di'lernuiud it
ii'iclhu trail ut a party ol Crows returning,' Inun
,■, aimii.il tr.nlinj;' visit to the Mandans. As this
ir.iil altiirdiil more coniniodious tr.iveJIiM^r, they
ininifili.iti-lv stru(k into it, and toilowed it lor two
ilavs. it liil them over rou^;h lulls, and throuj,di
liDPicii (juliii'S, durin^r which tinie they suffered
iTiat tatiK'i'c from the ruj,''),redness of the country,
liie weather, too, which li.ul recently lieen frosty,
«as now ojipressively warm, and there w.is a
■Tcil scarcilv of water, insomuch lh.it a v.du-
ilhie 'liiK ljeli)nj(inj^ to Mr. .M'Ken/ic died of
r.iRi.
,\i ine time they h.id twenty-l'ive miles of pain-
:,; iravcl, uitlioiit a drop of water, until llu-y .ir-
rmil at a small runninjf stn.'am. Here they
c,i,'crlv slaked their thirst ; hut, this heinir .ill.iy-
d, the calls of hun^rer hec.ime equ.illy imporiu-
r,M. Kver since they h.id ),fot .amonjf these bar-
ren and arid hills, where there was a del'iciencv
o: ^'rass, tluy had iiK'l with no buffaloes, those'
aninials keeping' in the fjrassy nie.idows ne.ir the
^trl•alll^>. 'I'hey were obliffed, therelore, to ha\-e
recourse to their corn nv'al, which they reserved
!.)r such emerf^^encies. Some, however, wert'
iucky eni)Ui,di to kill a wolf, which they coiked
I'lr supper, ,ind pronounced excellent food.
The next mornin;r they resumed their w.iyf.ir-
;:il;. luin;,'ry and j.ided, and h;id a doj,'tje<l man h
01 tri^;lileen miles amonjf the s.ime kind of hills.
.\t Icnjfth tliey emerged upon a stream of cle.ir
A.iicr, (inc of the h)rks of I'owder Kiver, .and to
tiicir (jreat joy beheld once more wide grassy
nuMiluws, stocked with htu'ds of bulf.ilo. For sev-
eral (lays they kept along the banks of the river,
octn.liiij; it .d)out eighteen mile*, it w.as ii hunt-
ers piiradise ; the l)uffaloes were in such abun-
licince that they were enabled to kill .as m.iin- as
•hey pleased, and to jerk a sufficient suppiv ol
nir.it lor several days' journeying. Here, then,
l:iiy revelled and reposed after their hungry and
ttr.iry travi'l, huiuing and feasting, and reclining
ii:wa the gr.iss. 'i'heir fpuet, however, w.is a lit-
•ue marred hy coining upon traces of Indians, who,
liiey i'(mclii le I, must be Crows ; they were there-
tire ol)li;;ed to keep a more vigilant w.itch than
eier upon their horses. For several days they
iul lurn directing their march toward the loftv
nwuinaiii descried by .Mr. Hunt and Mr. M'Keii-
.'ie on the I7ih of .August, the height of which
reiidiTe i it a l.indmark over a vast extent of
wmtry. At first it h.id ajipeared to them soli-
iirvand detached ; but as they advanced toward
i:. It prove I to be the princip.d summit of .i chain
)i mouiu.iiiis. Day by day it varied in torni, or
ri'hiT its lower ])i-aks, aiul'tlie summits of others
I'! tile ehain emerged above the cle.ar horizon,
•"'I linally the interior line of hills which con-
"■•'ted most (if them rose to view. So f.ar, how-
f'er, are objects discernible in the pure .itmos-
piiere of these elevated plains, that, from the
I'loe where they t'lrst descried the main moun-
wn, they had to travel a hundred and fifty miles
before they reached its base. Here tlu>y cn-
c, imped on the thirtieth of .Xiigu-.t, h.iving come
nearly four huiulred miles siiue le.ning thu
Arickara vill.ige.
The mountain which now towered .ibove them
W.IS one of the liig iiorii i h.iiii, bordered by .1
river of the same name, .ind extending t<u' a i(mj^
distance r.ither east ot north anil we-^i ol south,
it W.IS a p.irt ol the great system ot granite
mount. liiis whi( h forms one ot llie mos,t impor-
tant and striking le.itures ol .North .\meric.T,
stretihing parallel to the coast of the I'acific
from the isthmus id I'an.ima almost to the .Arc-
tic Ocean, and |)ieseiiting a corresponding chain
to that ol the Andes in tiu' southern hemisphere.
'I'his \ast range has acipiired, Irom its rugged
.ind broken charai ter, and its summit-, uf naked
gr.inite, the appi ll.ition u\ the l<ock\ .Mountains,
a n.inie by no means distinctive, .is .ill idevated
r.mges are rocky. .Among the early explorers it
w.is known as the r.mge ol Chippiw\,in Moun-
tains, and this Indian name is the one it is likely
to retain in poetic us.ige. Rising from the midst
of vast plains and pr.iiries, tr.iwrsing several de-
grees of huiiude, dividing the waters ol the At-
lantic and the I'ai ific, ;ind se<-ming to bind with
diverging ridges the' levid regions on its ll.mks, it
has been tiguratively termed the bai kbonc ot the
northern continent.
'I'hf Kocky Mount.iins do not present .a range
ot unif(U'm elevation, but rather groups .md occa-
sionallv detached peaks. 'I'hough some ot these
rise to the region of perpetu.d snows, and are
upw.ird of eleven thous.md feet in re.il .altitude,
yet their height Irom their imincdi.ite b.isis is not
so great as might be imagined, .is they swell U|)
Irom elevated plains, scve^ral thousand leet alfove
the level (d the ocean. These plains are olten of
.1 desolate sterility ; mere sandy wastes, formed
of the detritus of the granite heights, destitute of
trees and herbage, scon bed by the ardent and
rellected rays ol the summer's sun, .ind in win-
ter swept by (hilling blasts Irom the snow-clad
mountains. .Such is a great p.irt ol th.it vast re-
gion extending north and south .along the moun-
tains, several bundled miles in width, which has
not improperly been termed the ( licit .\merican
Desert, it is a region th.it .ilmost discour.iges all
hoi)e of cultivation, and c.in only be tra\ersed
with salc'ty by keeping near the streams which
intersect it. I".xteiisi\i' pl.iins likewise oceur
• imong till- higher ri'gions of the mount.ains, ot
considt'r.ible tertilitv. Indeed, iIicm' lolly |ilats
(d table-land seem to torin a pec uliar Icatiire in
the .American continents. Some occur among
the Cordilleras of the .Andes, when; cities ,ind
towns and cultivated larms .are to be seen eight
thousand feel above the level ol the se.i.
'I'he Kocky .Mount.iins, ;is we h,i\(: .ilre.idy fd)-
served, occur sometimes singly or in groups, and
occasionally in cidl.iteral ridges. lielwei.'ii these
are deep v.illeys, with small streams winding
thnuigli them, which t'ind th>-i" way into the lower
plains, augmenting .•l^ they jiroeeed, and ulti-
mately discharging themsehes into those vast riv-
ers which traverse the jirairies lik<- grt-al arteries
and drain the continent.
While the granitic summits of the Kocky
Mountains are ble.ik and b.ue, m.my r)t the in-
ferior ridges .are scantily clothed with scrubbed
l)ines, oaks, cedar, and fur/e. X'arious p.irts of
the mountains also bi'ar tr.ices of volcanic .action.
Some of the interior valleys .are strewed with
scori.i and broken stones, evidently ot volcanic
origin ; the surrounding rocks be.ir the like char-
304
ASTORIA.
artrr, .-mil vcsii^'cs of cxtin^jiiislu'd rratcrs :ui' to
l)c M'cii (III llic iliv.itid lirij^lils.
W'f h.ivf ;iliiMily iiiilii rii ilic superslitious Itcl-
u■\^^s with wliii'li till' IiiilJaiis rc^aril the lll.ick
Mills; liut llii-i liniiiciiM' iMi)^^.' (il iiiiiiiiit.iins,
uhu'li ilivlilcs ail that tlicy know ot tlu' world,
and ii\\\>i liiilli to Mil II niinlity livcis, is still nioi'i'
an ohji't I ol awe and vcnt'iation. 'I'licy lall
it " till' iitst ot tin.' woihl," and tliinli that
W'aiipiidali, or the iii.isti'r ol lifi', as tlii'y dcsi^;-
natu llif Su|iii'ni ■ I'lciiij;, lias liis ri'sidrm i' amoii^;
ttu'Si- atrial lui^lits. I'lic tribes on the rasterii
[irairit'S lall thciii the inounl.iiiis ot ilic setting
sun. Some ol tlu in plai e the " happy hiiiitinj;-
^Jrounds," iluir iilcal paradise, .imonj.; the re-
cesses (il these iiiomuains ; hut say they .ire in-
visible 111 li\ inj; men. lU're .also is the " Land
ot .Souls," in \\lii( h .ire the " towns ol the tree
and j^eiierous spirits." where those who li.ivc
ple.ised the master ol lile while livilij^, (.iijoy alter
de.ith all manner ol delights.
Wonders ;irc told ol these mountains by the
dist.int tribes, whose warriors or huntirs ha\e
ever w.indi'red in their neij^diborhood. It is
tluuij;ht by some that, alter de.ith, they will li.ive
to travel to lhes(' iiiount.tins and aseeiul one ot
their hinliist and most ruj^j^'cd pe.iks, anion;;'
rocks, and snows, and tumbling; torrents. .Alter
many moons ol painlul toil thev will reach the
summit. Iroin wIuik c thev will fiave a view over
the l.ilid ol souls. There they will see the happv
huntin^f-;;roiinds, with the souls ol the brave and
good li\inf,r in tents in ^reen me.idows, by bri;.;lit
runnin^f stre.ims, or hunting the herds ol bull.iio,
and elks, and deer, which have been sl.iin on
earth. 'I'licre, too, iluy will see the vill.iges or
towns ol the Irec and generous spirits brightening
in the midst ol deliiiou-. prairies. It they h.ivc
ac(|uitte(l themselves well while living, they will
be iiermitted to descend and enjoy this li.ippy
countr\ ; it otliiM'w ise, they will but be lantali/ed
with this iiidspecl of it, and then hurled b.uk
from the mountain to wander Jiboul the sandy
plains, and endure the eternal pangs ot uns.ilis-
lied thirst and luiii'jer.
Cli.M'IT.R .\XVIII.
Tlir, ir.ivelK IS h.id now arrived in the vicinity
of the mouiit.iin regions infested by the Crow lii-
(li.ms. 'Ihese restless marauders, ;is has alreadv
been observed, are .ijU to be contiiiu.illy on the
jirowl about the skirts of the mountains ; and
even when eiic. imped in some dte|) and secluded
glen, thev keep scouts upon the cliffs and prom-
ontories, who, unseen themselves, can discern
every living thing iliat moves over the subjacent
plains and valleys. It was not to be expected
that our travellers could |)ass unseen through a
region thus vigilantly sentinelled ; accordingly,
in the edgeol the evening, not long .ifier thev had
enc, impel at the foot of the I>ig Horn Sierr.i, ;i
couple III wild-looking beings, sc.iiuily chid in
skins, but well armed, .ind mounted on horses as
wild-looking ;is themselves, were seen .'i|)proach-
ing with great caution from among the rocks.
They might h.ive been mist.iken for two of the
evil sjiiriis of the mouiU.iins so formidable in In-
dian table.
Rose w.is immedi.iU'ly sent out to hold .1 p.uiey
with llu'iii. .111(1 invite them to the camp. 'I'hey
proved to be two si nuts from the same band that
had been trackeil fur t-ume (lays pabt, ancl which
was now cncniiipofl at some disl.mrp in ihei;.
ol the mount. lin. 'I'hey wi-re easily privaiini t!,'.'
to come to the (.imp, where iliiy vvircA,. "
ceived, ,111(1, alter rem. lining there i lil;| |,,.". '.
the evening, dep.irted to m.ike ;i rc|,iiri(it,,'||i,"
had seen .iiid e.\perience(| to their i (inip.iiin.i, *
'I'he lollowing d.iy li.id scarce (l.r.Micil vi,.
troop ol these wild mount. iiii siaiiiiunrM ^
g,ill(ipiiig with whoops .111(1 yells ma, il,,, ,jj.'
bringing .111 invitation Irom tlieiri liiel lnriUar'',
men to visit him. 'I'lie tents were .:ii{iri|;r i.
striK k. the horses ladi'ii, and the p.irtv v\rrt'.,|IJ
on the m.ircli. 'I'lieC'rovv horseinen, ii>,ilicv ,.,|,,p^
ed then'), appe.ired to t.tke pride in sliiiwiiix. \\y,.
e(|iiestri.in skill and hardihiuiil ; i .irci riii"ai!^
spi I 1 on their hall-savagi steeds, mid (|,,sh,p!,
among rocks and crags, and up .iiul dimnit-
most rugged ,111(1 dangerous pl.u.cs Willi |„[:;.
ease .ind uncoiici'rn.
A ridi- ol sixteen miles brought llirin. m;,,
.•ifternoon, in sight of the L'rovv (.iiiip. h ;i,,
composed ot leathern tents, pitched in a mr;ii:ijj
on the border ot a small cle.ir • tre.ini .iH',c!i ;.
ol the mountain. A great number d IviM-swrrt
gr.i/ing in the vicinity, many ot ihua (i( u','..-,
c.ipturiil in marauding excursiniis.
'I'he Crow chielt.iin came tortli tn nud hi;
guests with great prolessions ot hiiiiilslii|i, ,ir.i:
conducted them to his tents. |)(iiiitiiig mil, In i;;t
way, ;i convenient place where tluy liii;;iii h
their camp. .No sooner h.id they (iniie xdisn
.Mr. Hun' opened some of the jiai kagcs ,1111! i;.;.:f
the chiel a present of .a sc.irlei lil.iiikfi. ami a
(pi.intity III powder and ball; he g^ive iiim .lisi.-
some knives, trinkets, ;iiul tob.iccd tn In: (!i>!rin.
Uled .imoiig his w.irriors, with .ill v. hii h the i,!nrr.
potentate seemed lor the time well pKascil. .\i
the CrovNs. however, were repuieil to he |h rliilioiis
in the extreme, and as errant Ireehn'itiT.') as ine
bird alter which they were so vvuril'.ily iiani';il.
and as their geiier.il feelings tovvan! tlif whitts
were known to be by no me.iiis Irieiully, tliviri-
tercour.se with them was coiuluiie.l with (jru;
circum.,pecti(in.
'I'lu' lollowing d.iy was jiassed in tradiiii; wiih
the Crows ior bulfalo robes .and skins, ami '.?.
b.irteriiig galled and jaded horses lonithers lk:i:
were in good toiulition. Some ot tlu' nun .nso
purch.ised horses on their own acciniiil, sniKit
the number now amounted to one hundred ,i::C
twent',-one, most of them sound ami activcai'.d
lit tor mountain service.
'I'lK'.r w.ints being sup|)lieil. tluy ceased .v.
further tratlic, much to the diss:ilisf.uti(in cllht
Crows vlio became extremely urgent tiuiimmue
the tr.ide and, tindiii;.;' their impiirluiiitiis ot no
avail, assumed an insolent and mciuiiin^' tunc
.Ml this was attributed by Mr. I luiit and hi>.ii-
sociates to the pertidious iiistigatiiins nt Krue
the interpreter, who they suspected (d tlie doirt
to foineiil ill-will between them ami i1k' sav.ii;i\
tor the promotion of his iielarious plans. M l-''-
Ian, with his usual hiDii liant niiide ef ilt;.il:i.K
out justice, resolved to shoot the dripcrado I'li
the s|)ot in case of any outbreak. NmliinK' '•'"':'^
kind, however, occurred. 'I'he Crows were I'loD-
ably daunted by the resolute thoLigh i|iii'-l Jc-
nieanor of the white men, .and the t onstaiit vii;i-
lance and armed preparations which they i;i.iin-
tained ; and Rose, if he really still harhnred hi>
knavish designs, must have perceived tliat t^ev
were suspected, and, if atteiiipted to he carriw
into effect, might bring ruin on his ouii lu-ad.
The next morning, bright and early, Mr. Ik'-'
projiosed to resume his journeying. He ;.)j^ '
ASTORIA.
305
a^Ts than ;iiii
f.rtmonious li'nvP "f »'i'' ^row clufftain ami his
,,,r,l.,mtl warriors, ami, a.vonliMK' \n prrvKuis
j'rriiv'fmciiis, omsi^iUMl to tlinr .licrisliiiij;
,P(n,r,hi|) ami Iratfriial aduptnin tlicir wurihy
conlrltTitu, Ki'sc ; wli'), li.iviiiK liKurcil .imk.iih
nc wiur pir.ilf^ "t tin- Mlsslssl|)|.i, was well
riitdioriv III (lisiim.tioii amoiiK ili<' lami piraics
otihcKn.kv M'liiiiiaiiis.
I, „i,r,,|,,T 111 adil that llir rulli.iii was well rc-
((ivrj'.ii 1^' the trihi-, and .ippcufd to In- pcr-
Icalv Mti-'lii"! with th(! ( (inipnimls(t lir h.id
tccliii;,' iniuh inon- at liis tasf aiiiini); s.iv-
iii^f whitt; men. It is ouic.isls Irom
iiniiMtinii, hi;;itivcs Irom justice, ami hcartirss
(biieralcifs ot this kind, who sow the seeds of
cnmitv anil hitteriie->s amon^( the uiilorlimate
uiIks 1)1 the Iniiitier. Tiiere is no enemy so iin-
pi!n;ililfaH''i"''l'' 'I'l'i'lry or a comimiDity as one
(il Its Dun ptiiple wiio has remlefed himself an
aiifii Nv iti-> irinu-s.
Ki;;ht t;lail to lie relieved from this treacherous
fomiuniiin, Mr. Hunt pursued his course alonj;
we skirls 1)1 tlie iniiMiitain, in a smilliern direction,
seekin" ti)r some praclicihle delili; hy which he
iniv'iii pass iliroii:^'li it ; none .such presented,
' i.\i:\i-T. ill tlie cour-ie ot lilteen miles, and he
cii.:im|ii-il():) a sm.ill stream, still on the outskirts.
Tu- i;rci.ii nicidows which border tliese moun-
tam streiins .ire jfenerally well .slocked with
;Mmc, ami tile hunters soon killed several fat elks,
winch supplied the camp with tresh me, it. In
t.ic cviMiiiij; liie travellers were surpriseil by ;in
liinvclciiine visit Irom several Crows beloii^injr to
ailittiTcni li.inil Irom th.it which they had recently
isli.aiiil wh'] s.iiil their c.imp was amonj;- the moun-
liiilv The consciousness ot beim; environed by
suclKLiiifTerou^; nei)f|il)ors, ,'ind ot beiiiLt still within
inc r,iiij;e 1)1 Ki.se and his fellow rullians, oblij^ed
ini-partvlolie contiiui.illy on the ,ilert,and to main-
tun wi-.iiv vi„d Is throULchoui the nij^ht, lest they
snoulil l)c robbed ol tln'ir horses.
Vn the third ot September, lindinjf that the
nmimMin still stretched onward, presentini,' a
I i!Ui;ui;'il b.irrier, they endeavored to force ;i p;is-
5i;'il.i the westw.ird, but soon bi'cime entangled
amgii;' rocks and precipices which set all their
tltirts atilcliance. The mountain seemed, for the
lliiit part, riii;i,''ed, bare, .and sterile ; yet here .and
tiicrc it was clothed with pines and with shrubs and
liiweniiij pi lilts, some ot which were in bloom. In
Dihni; ainoiiir these we.iry jilaces ihi'ir thirst be-
' imt i/xctssive, lor no w.iler was to be met with.
NumliiTS (it tile men w.mdered off into roi'ky dells
.in(lr,;v;nesiii hopes of t'lndiiii^ some brook orfoun-
iim; some ol whom lost their way and did not
renin the main p.irty.
AliiT halt a (lay ot painful and fruitless scram-
■':n;', Mr. jlimt ^^ave up the attempt to i)enetrate
i:ithis direction, and returnini^ to the little stre.im
I'll thi; skirts of the mountain, pitched his tents
w;ihinsi\ mile-, ot his encampment ol the preced-
i-;' "i;'ht. lie now ordered tiiat si|;nals should
"" ni:iil(^ tor till. stra,i,rglers in (piest ot water, but
I'f !i:;'ht passed ,i\vay without their return.
Il'" iiL'xt mornin;.,^ to their surprise. Rose m.ide
"i 'I'/pciraiice at the cim]), accomp.inied by
sinic lit his Crow associates, His unwi-lcome
visit revived tiieir suspicions ; but he announced
'iiisclf ,15 a ll1essen^■er of ffood-will from the
j'liH, who, liii'lin^r they had taken a wron;j^ road,
"lisi'iit KdSf ,111(1 his companions to j^uide them
iJiincirfr and belter one across the mountain.
1 aviiiir „(, clioi,-,.^ beiiio' themselves utterly at
I,™, they set out under this (|uestionable escort.
"ley had not gone fur before ihey tell it\ with the
w hole jLirty of Crnw?, who, thry nriw found, w<tl»
j^oin^; the s line lo.id with thelilseUcs. I'lle two
1 , IV. lie. ides ot white ,ind reil men, tlieli lore, pustl-
eij on to;;ellier, .ilid presented a wild .ind pictU-
risipie specl.icic, as, i(|uippeil with v.irinus we.tn-
oiis .md in v,irious ^j.irlis, \\illi tr.iins of pack-
horses, they wound in loii^' lines lliroU:;li the ni^-
^'eil deliles, and Up ,,nd down the i raj; i and steeps
ol the iiioiint.iin.
'The tr.ivellers li.ul a^.iiii an (ipiiniiiHnty to see
and ,iilniire the eipirstii,in li.ibitudes ami address
ot this hard-ridiii;; tribe. 'I'liey were all mounted,
man, woman, ,ind child, to'r the Crows lia\c
horses in abund.ince, so th.it no one K'""' "" '""C
The children are perfect imps on linrstb,ick.
.\iiionjr them was one so youii); that he i ould not
yet spe.ik. Hi; w.is tied on a coll ol two ye,ir.
old, but nLinajred the reins as il by iiisiinct, and
plied the whip with true Indian prodi^^.ility. .Mr.
Html iiupiired the :v^c ot this int. ml jockey, .and
was .iiiswered that " he had seen two winters."
'I'liis is almost reali/iiijr the fable ot the cen-
taurs ; nor cm we wonder at tin: e(|Uestrian
adroitness of these sa\ai;es, who are tlius in a
manner cr.idled in the s.iildle, and become in in-
t,incv almost ideiititied with the aniii'..il they be-
stride.
'I'lie mountain delilei were e\ceeiliii'.^ly roU),dl
and broken, aii.l tlii' travelliiii,^ iiainlid to the
burdened horses. The parly, tlieretore, pro-
ceeded but slowly, and were j;r,idually left be-
hind by the b,ind of Crows, who had t iken the
liNid. It is more than i)rol);il)le thai .Mr. Hunt
loitered in his course, to ^el rid ol such doubtful
leilow-lravidlers. Cerl.iin it is that he ti It .i sen-
sation ot rtdiet .is he saw the whole i rew , the ren-
ej;.ide Rose and .ill, disajipear anioii^' the wiiid-
iii,l(s of the mountain, and heard the last yelp of
the savages die aw.iy in the (list. nice.
When they were t.iirly out ot sight, .and out of
hearing, he encampi'd on the head w. iters ot the
little stream of the ])reciiling day, lia\iiig come
.about sixteen miles. Here he rem.iined all the
succeeding day, as well to give time for the
Crows to get in the adv.mce, as lor the stragglers,
who h.id wandered away in (juest ol water two
(lays pr(fviously, to rejoin the camp. Indeed, con-
siderable uneasiness began to be felt concerniiifj
these men, lest tliey should become utterly bewil-
dered ill the deliles ot the mountains, or should fall
into the hands of soiiii; m.ir.iudiiig b.md of s.iv-
;iges. .Some of the most experieiicrd hunters
were sent in search ot them, others, in tin- mean
time, employed themseU'es in hunting. The nar-
row valley in which they encamped, being watered
by a running stream, yielded fr:sh p.istur.ige,
and, though in the heart of the liig Horn Moun-
tains, was well stocked with buffalo. Sever.al of
these were killed, as also a gri/.zly be.ir. In the
evening, to the s.itistaction of .all parties, the
str.igglers ni.ade their a|)pearaiu'e, and provisions
being in .ibunilance, there was hearty yood idiecr
in the c.uiii).
CH.M'TKR X.XIX.
RKSf.MlN'c; their course on the following morn-
ing, Mr. Hunt and his companions continued on
westward through a rugged region ot hills and
rocks, but diversit'ied in many phuc-. by gras;;y
little glens, with springs of water, liriglit spark-
ling brooks, clumps ot ])ine trees, and a jirofu-
sion ot flowering plants, wliich were in full bloom,
although the weather was frosty, The^e beauti-
ASTORIA.
Ki
fill and vrrdnnt rrrcssr^, ninninfj tliroii>;li ami
.SDllriiiii^' llii' rii^;},'i(l moiiiilains, wvrr i in<'riiin
anil rctir-.liiii),' to ilic way-wnrii tiavillrri.
Ill till' c nurse 111 till' iiKirnill^,', as tliry were en-
taii^'lc I ill a ili'lilc, tlii'V lit'lit'lil a small liaiiil nl
Ca\.in<s, a. \ulil loiikiiij; as tin- suiicuiiKliiij,'
scullery, whii rec iiiiiinitred llieiii \vanl\' trmii llie
riM ks ImIdic tin y veiiliired to ad\aiii c. SdHie iit
llieiii wire iiiiniiiied (III horsi's rudely iMparisoru'd,
with liridle-. Ill- lialters ot hullald hide, one I'lid
trailiii;,' alter tlieiii on the fjrmind. 'riiey proved
to he a iiii\ed party of I'lalheads and Slioslionies.
(ir Snakes ; and as tliesi- irilies will lie lrL'(|Ueiitly
mentioned in the < oiirse ot this work, we sh.ill
(,'i\'i' .1 lew introdui' ory p irticiil.irs i (nuerniii^;-
tlielll.
'I'lie I'l itlie.i(N in (|iiesiion ire not to !»• icie
fmiiiiled with tliii,.' Ill the n.iiiie who dwell aliout
the lower waters III the ('ohiiiiliia ; neither do they
llalteii their heads .is the others do. 'i'hey iiiliah-
it the banks ol ,i river on the west side ot the
lliolliitailis. .111(1 arc de->i'rilieil .is simple, honest,
and lio-<jiii,ii)le. Like all people ol similar cliir-
acter, wiietlur t ivili/ed or sava^je, thev are prone
to lie iiiiposed upon ; and are espei Lilly m.il-
tre.ited hythe ruthless lil.ukfeet, who har.iss them
in their Mlla^^es, steal their horses by iii(,du, or
openly carry ihem olf in the hue ot day, without
jirovokiiii;- pursuit or ni.iliation.
The Shoshonies are ,i lir.iiu hot the once power-
ful anil |ii(i-,periius tribe ot the .Sn.ikes, who ])i(s-
•scssed a j^loriolis hunting' country about the ujiper
forks ot the Missouri, .iboimdiii;,'' in beaver and
liuff.ilo. Their liuiiliii;,f-^rouiid w.is oic.isionally
inv.ided by the lll.ickteel, but the Sn.ikes battled
liravelv for their dom.iins, and a lon;,^ .iiid bloody
feud e\isted, w ith variable success. .At leii^'th the
Hudson's Hay Comp.iny, cxteiidiiv^f their tr.ide
into the interior, li.ul de.ilin^'s with tin- lU.u klect,
who Were nearest to them, and supplied them
with tire. inns. 'I'lu; Snakes, who occasionally
traded with the Sp.iniards, endeavored, bill in
vain, to obi.iin similar we.ipons ; the S|ianish
traders wisely refused to arm tlicm s!) tormidalily.
The lilackfeei had now a vast advantat^e, and
•Soon dispossessed tlu' pmir Sii.ikes of their favorite
luintiiif;;; rounds, their land of plenty, and drove
them trom place to ]ilace, until they were tain to
take relume in the wildest .and most desolate re-
cesses ol the Kocky Mountains. I'.\en here they
are subject to occasional visits from their impla-
cable foes, as \nn^ .is they h.i\e horses, or any
other property to tempt the iilunderer. Thus liy
deu;rees the .Sn.ikes h.ive become a si.ittered, bro-
ken-spirited, impoverished people, keepiii;,' .liiout
lonelv ri\ers anil mouni.iin streams, and subsist-
in^r chiellv upon t'ish. Such ot lliem as still pos-
sess horses, and occasionallv lij^ure .is hunters,
are calh'd Shoshonies ; but there is another el.iss,
the most abject and lorlorn, who are c.illed
.Sluu kcrs, or more commonly Diirtfers and Root
K.ilers. Ihcse ;ire a shy, secret, solitary race, who
keep in the most retired p.irts of the mountains,
lurkinjr like i^nomes in caverns and clefts of the
rocks, and siibsistintj in a j^rejit incisure on the
roots ot the e.irth. .Sometimes, in passin^'^ lhrouj,di
a solit.iry mountain valley, the tr.iveller comes per-
chance upon the bleediuff carcass of a deer or
buffalo that has just been sl.iin. lie looks round
in vain for the hunter ; the whole l.indsc.ipe is
lifeless and deserted ; at lenjrih he jierceives a
thread of smoke, curlinj,f up from amon;( the
crafts ;ind cliffs, and scr.'imblin^ to the place,
finds some forlorr. .-iiid skulkiiij^^ brooil of Uigi^^ers,
terrified at being iliscovered.
Thr .ShoshonifS, however, who, ■,\-, h.\^\^,,,.^^^
served, have still " horse to rule .iml \\i,,|m„',"
wear," are sotnewh.it bokler in ihiirsiiini ari'
more open aim wide in their w.iiiilirnn., l-
the aiitiimn, when s.ilmon disappc.ir Iruiii |I>
rivers, and hunger begins to piih h. thev ni-n
veiniire down into their ancient li"n'iii);.iifiiii|,||»
to III. ike a liM-ay among the bull;i|iii,, i,, ,^/
perilous enterprise tiiey are oi c.isioii.illy iuu,,.,!,
the I' latlieads, the persecutions nl the I',;,, ,,1,/.
li.iving produced a close alii. nice luiil ni.i,|,tr,,|
tioii between these liK kless and in.illriMltd inli,..
Still, notwithst. Hiding their uiiiicd Idnc, ,\(-rv
step they take within the deli.itahlr urminil I
t.ikeii ill tear and trembling, ,iiid witli Km- uimos;
jiiecaution ; and an Indi.iii ir.ider assiin , u<il,ij
lie has seen ;it least live hundred ol llnm, urmtii
and e(|iiippiMl lor .ictioii, ;inil keeping \Miti h iiiiun
the hill tops, while about titty were hiin'.in^ m m..
pr.iirie. Their i \cursioiis .ire briel .aul l,ii;r;iii
as soon ;is they have collecled and jirkni m,!.
ti( ieiii bultilo me.it tor winter prnvhiuiis. liicv
p.ick their horses, abandon the dallgl■|■lil^ lim-i.
ing grounds, .iiid hasten b.u k to the irinuiii.iiiis
happy it they ha\e not the terrible likitklift rai-
tliiig .liter them.
Suidi ;i coiileder.ite b.aiid ot Sliiisliiniics ,ir,i:
I''latlie.ids w IS the one met by our tr.ivillirv I;
was bound on .'i visit to the /Xrapalioes, ,'i irilieiii.
habiting the banks of the Nebraska. Tilt y wtrc
.armed to the best of their scanty inc. ins, .iml ■.iinu;
ot the Shoshonies h.id bucklers ol liiilLlii hmc,
adorned with te.itliers and Icatlurii lriii;;i^, ,ii;,.
which have a charmed \iriue in their iyi>,, Irwi
h.iving been prepared, with mystic CLTiiiiiiiik->,
by their conjurors.
In company with this w.indering band iiiir tr.iv.
idlers procei'ded all d.iy. In the evening; iliry in-
camped near to eai h other in a delile ut tiic iiifiun-
tains, on the borders fit a stream riliiiiint; imri.',
.iiid hilling into Hig Horn River. In tlitMiniii'v
of the c.imp they found gooseberries, stniwIiT-
ries, and currants in great abundance. Tlie ik-
tile bore tr.ices ot having been a thiiinil.nlit.irc l^r
countless herds of buffaloes, though mil "in' n,i-
to b(! seen. The hunters succeedid ill killmi; an
elk ;ind several black-taili'd deer.
'I'hey were now in the bosom of the scinnil li:;;
lloi'ii ridge, with anolhe-r lolly and siiou-i rowiini
mounlain full in view to the west. I'illtrii mili'
of western course brought them, on the tniiii\vi!i;
day, down into an inter-.ening pl.iiii, well ^tmir:
with buttalo. Here the Sn.ike-i ,iiid I'l.uhirads
joined with the white hunters in a succes.'iUil luiii'
that s.ion tilled the cimp with provisimis.
On the morning of the i>th ol Se|itiiiil>iT ti'
ir.nellers ]).irted comp.iny with liuir IiuIh'.
trieiids, and continued on their course In thi' "f^i
A inarch of thirty miles brought iheiii, m th'
evening, to the banks of a r.apid and hiMiiiituliy
cle.ir stream about a hundred yards wide. It '•>
the north fork or branch of the l'>ig lleni kmr,
but bears its peculiar name ot the W iml Kmr.
Irom being subiect in the winter seasmi to aioii-
tinned blast which sweeps its banks ;inil pn-ven^
the snow from King on them. This blast it"''''
to be caused by a narrow gap or himul in W
mountains, through wdiich the river forces its 'V.iy
between [lerpendicular precipices, iesciiil)liiij;i''"
rocks.
This river gives its name to a whole miiijt 'l
mount.-iins consisting of three parallel ib.nn-.
eighlv miles in length, and about twt-iiiy i"
twentv-tive broad. One of its jieaks is prnlialilv
lifteeii thousand feet above the level ut thi-' sci,
ASTORIA.
SOT
i„nL' one nf ih.- highest of ih.' Rorky Sicrrn.
iL, mcMim.nns «iv rise, not n)cr.-lv to tin-
'.! I„|.|ii;r lliii'ii Kivcr, liut Id scvcimI hr.iiiclif',
iH- V.lldu^Miw .111(1 llif Missonnoii the iMsi,
",i III tlic ('(illlinbl.l .lll'l l'uli)IMiln nil tlic Wot,
.'u,!'|umIiiik' •'"' -'iiiirii'Mit llu-sc iiii^jlil) -iiriMiiis.
•'.|,'|. In,, siuiiiiliiij,' (lays Mr. Hunt .iiid his
.,,rtn,Hitiiu"'l u|i ilic coiirsi' ol the Wind River,
!, the ilhMii''' "' •''""" ''iKt'ly iiiih's, cid'^sin^;
,,,| m rii^Mii^' il, iuiordiiiK: to ils wiudiiiK'-' and
•w n.iliire nt il'* l>ank!. ; soiiiiliiiics passiiiK
.,mu"h valleys, iit other limes si r.iiiihliiijr over
r,ciis"iii'l hills. 'Hie . (iiinlry in ^I'li'Tal was des-
• tuifot trcf"*. ''>'l ''">■ !'■'''''•■'' liiniiinh ^'Hives of
i;!,rnuv(m(l, i'IR'" and' ten leet in heitrht, wliieli
.ijivuiiil i«('isii"i'dlv ''>'■ ''"•', and they met with
,ir;i;(|iwnlilifs (pl wild ll.i\.
i"!!!. nimiiltaiiis were destilute ot ^jami-- ; lliey
imeiii si^jht (il two K''i'!'ly l)<-'ars, hut could not
■I ni'.ir ciKiUnli lor a shot ; provisions, therelore,
'■Mil ID lie si amy. 'I'hey saw l.iim: llijrhts ot the
, :il| (il thrii-ih conimoiily called the roliiii, and
:;uiiyMii.iller hirils ol mi^;ratory species ; hut the
■ : I, III ifcncr.il a|i|)eared lonely and with tew si^iis
,;,iMiiihil lile. On tlu-eveliili);- ol llu- 14th ol Sep-
!riiilni- llu\ cnciinped on the torks ot the Wind
if III- lliirii River. 'I'he larnisl ot these forks
c,iiiu' Iroiii the raii(,'e ot Wind River Mountains.
Ihc hunters who served as jruides to the |);irty
iithis |i,irt III their route had .issureij Mr. Hunt
tn.it, in tiiilnwiii^f up Wind Ri\er, and crossiiin'
,1 >ini;ic iiiuiintain ridj;e, he would come upon
liic held w.itcrs ot the Columbia. 'I'lie scarcity
; ',Miiic, liiiwever, which already li.id been lelt lo
1 |iiiKliiiitf (lej.';ree, and which threatened them
«i:li liiiniii'i .11111)11),' the sterile heij^hts which lay
iicliiri.- lliflii, adiiioiiished them to chaii^'e their
(iij^L-. It was (leterniiiied, iheretore, to make
:ir .1 slre:iiii, which, they were inlormed, passed
liif ni'iL;lil).iriii;;' niouniains to the south ot west,
ii!i ihi' i;r,iss\- banks ot \\liich il was probable they
wiiiild meet with luitfalo. Accordiii|4ly, about
'jirir III luck on the tollowin^ d.iy, meeting with
,1 iiciiltii livlitin road which led in the proper di-
ri-tliiiii, lliey struck into it, turiiiii|;- their backs
i|iiii Wiml River.
Ill i!iu riiurie ot the day tlu'y came to a lieij^lil
;:i.U tiimiii.niiled an almost boundless prospect.
lliTi- imc ol the j^uides jiaused, and, alter consid-
rin;' the vait landscape attentively, iioiiiled to
;ircf iiiiuiiitain peaks jrhsteniii;;' with snow, which
^'^e, he said, above a fork ot Columbia River.
T!ity were hailed by t!)c travellers with that joy
viih which a beacon on a sea-shore is hailed by
x.iriiHTs alter ;i loii.Lf and dan^'erous voyage. It
iitriio there w,ii many a weary leaj;ue to be trav-
trscd belore they should reach these landmarks,
lur, aiiowiiit;- lor their evident hei^dit and the ev-
ir-iiic tr.in^parency of the atmosphere, tin y could
'H bt: iinu 11 less than a hundred miles distant.
Hicii alter reacliiiijr them there would \et remain
runilriJs ot miles oi' their journey to be accom-
plished. All these matters were forj^otten in the
ly at seeiiii,r the tirst landmarks of the Columbia,
tnjt river which formed the bourne ot the ex|)edi-
li'iii. These remarkable peaks are known to
^mi!' travellers as the Tetons ; as they had been
,?iiidinn liiiiiits, for many days, to Mr. Hunt, he
,'iiithi.Mii the name of the I'ilot Knobs.
Ihe travellers continued their course to the
«'uin ot west for alio-jl f;>rty miles, throuj^h .1 re-
i'on su elevated that patches of snow lay on the
l'':shest summits, and on the northern declivities.
.\! l(;n;,'th they came to the desired stream, the
(Jjjat ul their search, the waters of which flowed
to the west. It was, in fart, .1 lir.im h of tlii'
(.'olor.ido, wliicli falls into the ( iull ul ( .ditoriiia,
.mil h.id reieiveil Irom the litinteis ihr n.iine of
Sp.misb River, troiii inform. ilioii ^;im 11 bs the Mi-
di, ins tli.it Sp.iniirds resided upmi \\•^ lower
waters.
i'lie aspect ot this ri\er and its \ ii iiiity w.ii
I heeriiiK to the \\,i\ -worn and hun^^iy ti.iMliers.
Its banks were j^reeii, and there wtie ^r.issy \al-
leys runnin^r Irmn il in v.iriotis dini tioiis, into
the' lie.irt ot the rii;,;j;(i| niiiiint.iins, with herds of
liutf.tio (juietly ^''■''''"K'- ' '"' hunter^ sallied lurth
with keen al.icrit), and soon returin d l.iileii with
provisions.
In this part of the iiiount.iiiw Mr. Hunt met with
three ditterellt kinds ol ^ooieberi 11-.. I he i Olll-
iiioli purple, on .1 low and \'ei'y tlinrns bush ; a
yellow kind, ot an exi client ll.isor, j;iiiwiii^ on a
stock free from thorns ; and a deep purple, ot the
si/.e and taste of our winter >;r.ipe, with ,1 thorny
st.ilk. 'I'here were .ilso three kinds of ctirr.Uits,
oliir very lar^^f and well tasted, of a purple color,
and jjrowiii); on a bush ei^ht or nine feet hi^jh.
.Another of ,1 yellow color, and ol the si/e and taste
ot the \:\r'^r red currant, the bush four or live feet
liijrli ; and the third a beautiful scarlet, resem-
bling; the strawberry in sweetness, ;liou^;h r.ilher
insipid, .mil j^rowinj,' on a low luish.
On the 17th they 1 iiiitinued down the course of
the river, making titteeii miles to the soiithweil,
'I'he river abounde I with ^;eese ,iiid ducks, and
there were si^^ns ot its beinn' inh.ibited by be.iver
and otters ; indeed they were now .ippioachin^f
regions where thesi; aniliiaK, the j.;riMt iilijei Is ot
the fur tr.ide, .ire said to .ibouiid. liny eiic.iiii|)-
ed lor the ni^dit opposite the end of .1 iiuiuntain in
the west, which was probably the last rh.iin of the
Rocky .Mountains. On the tollo\> ini; morninj;
tlieV abandoned the main courst; ol Sp.iiii-.h River,
.111(1 lakiiii,'^ a northwest direi tioii tur ei^^lit miles,
canity upon one of its little tributaries, issuinj; out
of the bosom of the mountains, ,iiid running'
throu^,di KreiMi nuMdows, yieldin;,' p.isiura>;e to
herds ot bulfalo. ,\s these were priib.ibly the last
of that .iiiimal they would meet with, they en-
camped on the (rrassy banks ol the river, ditler-
miniii),' to s|)end se\-er;il days in huiitin;.;, so ;is to
bt; able to jerk sulticient me.it to suppK them un-
til they should reach the w.ilers ol the Columbia,
where they trusted to lind tish enough for their
sup|)ort. A little repose, too, w.is necessary for
both men and horses, .after their ru^fufd and in-
cessant m.irchin^' ; liaviii),' in the course ot the
last seventeen days traverse 1 two hundred and
sixty miles of rouj^li, and in 111. my p.nts sterile
mountain country.
CIIAITKR X.\.\.
FiVK days were passed by Mr. Hunt ,ind his
companions in the fresh meadows watered by the
brifrin little mountain stre.im. The huiHers made
).;reat havoc ammiff the buffaloes, and brought in
(luaiuities of meat ; the voy.ij^eurs busied them-
selves about the tires, roastiiij.; and stewinj; for
present ])urposes, or dryinjr |)rovisioiis for the jour-
ney ; the pack-horses, eased of their burdens,
rolled on the jjrass, or grazed at l.irj^e about the
ample |)aslures ; those of the party who had no
call U|)on their services indulged in the luxury of
l)erfect rel.ix.ition, and the cam]) presented a ])ic-
ture of rude feasting and revelry, of mingled hus-
tle and repose, char.icleristic of a halt in a fine
hunting country. In the course of one of their
368
ASTORIA.
m ' !
P. '' i!
excursions snmo of the riicn ramo in sijrlit of n
small parly ot Indians, wiio instantly lli'd in j^rcat
apparent consternation. They immediately re-
turned to camp with the intellij^eiice ; upon which
Mr. Hunt .ind lour others llunj; themselves upon
their iiorse:; and sallied lorth to reconnoitre.
After riding lor about ei^hl miles they came
ujinn a wild mountain scene. A lonely ^ncen
valley stretched hetore them, surrounde<l by rujj-
gi'(\ hei;,' ts. A herd of bulf.do were c.ireeriti),''
madly through it, with a troop of savajje horse-
men in full chase, plying them with their bows
and .arrows. 'The .appearance of Mr. Hunt .and
his companions put an .ibrui)t end to the hunt ;
the buffalo scuttled off in one dirt'ction, while the
Indians ])lic-d their lashes and j^.dloped off in
another, .is f.ist as their steeds could carry them.
Mr. linnl \^:ivv ch.ise ; there was a sharp scam-
]ier, thout^b of short cimtinu.ance. Two youn^r
Indians, who wcvv indifferently mounted, were
soon overtaken. They were terribly fri^ditened,
.and evidently ^^ave themselves up for lost. \W
de;rrces the., le.irs were .dl.ayeil by kind treat-
ment ; but they continued to re;,f.ir(l the stranj^^ers
with a mixture of .awe .and wonder ; tor it was the
first time in their lives they had ever seen a white
man.
They bidon};cd to .a ]).irty ot Snakes who had
com. cross the mountains on their .autumnal
huntinjr excursion to ])rovide bulf.do meat tor the
winter, liein^ persuaded of the peace.ible inten-
tions ot Mr. flunt and his companions, they will-
injfly conducted them to their camp. It w;is pitcheii
in a narrow v.alley on the martjin ot a stream. The
tents were of dressed skins, some ol them fantasti-
cally painted, with horses j^^ra/in^^ about them. The
appro.ich of tht' party caused .a iransient alarm in
the camp, for these jjoor Indi.ins were ever on' the
lookout for cruel toes. Xo sooner, however, did
they recoffnize the jji'arb and complexion of their
visitors th.in their .apprehensions were chani,red
into joy ; for sonu' of them had dealt with whiti!
men, and knew them to be friendly, .and to .abound
with articles of sin^rular \-.alue. They welcomed
them, therefore, to their tents, set iood before
them, and enterl.ained them to the best of their
])ower.
'I'hey h.i ' been successful in their hunt, and
their cam]) w.as full of jerked buffalo meat, .all of
the choicest kind, and extremely fat. Mr. Hunt
inirch.ased enoULjh of them, in addition to what
had been killed and curt'd by his own hunters, to
lo.ul all the horses exceptinjr those reserved for
the p.irtn'rs .and the wife of Pierre Dcuion. He
found also a lew bea\'er skins in their camp, for
which he p.iid liberally, .as an inducennait to
tlum to hunt fur more, informini;- them that
some of his party intended to live amonj,'- the
mountains, and trade with liie native hunters for
their peltries. The poor Snakes soon compre-
hended the advant.i^es thus held out to them, and
promised to exert themselves to procure a c|uan-
tity ot lieaver skins lor future tr.al'fic.
15ein;;- now well sui)plie(l with provisions, Mr.
Hunt broke up his encampment on the 24th of
September, .and coatinued on to the west. A
march of lifteen miles, over ,a mount.ain rid^e,
brought them to a stream about fifty feet in width,
wtiich Hoback, one ol their j^^uides, who had tr.ip-
ped about tlu; neij,dd) ""hood when in the service
of .Mr. Henry, recofrni/ed tor one of the head
waters of the C'lhimbia. The travellers hailed it
with deli,i;ht, as the lirst stri-am they had enioun-
tered tending toward their jioint of destination.
They kept along it for two days, during- which,
from the contribution of many rills aiu! hr.;
j^radually swelled into a small river. .Ami,,..
andered amonj; rocks and ]n'ccipi( cs, ihiv ^ i*^
fre(|Uently obliged to lord it, and such ^v,^^'ns'.'
])idity that the men were often in diuijrcr (jj lif,,,!'
swept aw.iy. Sometimes the b.iiiks ailvanrcd f
close upon the river that they wen- ciliii.-ci| ,^,
scr.imble up and down their nigjreil iinn,,,,,
tories, or to skirt .along their bases whuii- ilui,'
was scarce a foothold. Their horses h;iil (|,in,r,..
ous falls in some of these pa.sses. One nt 1 1,..,,
rolled, with his load, nearly two luiiulrcl |i ■
dov.n hill, into the river, but wiih(i\it noar •
any injury. At len,gth they enicri^cd Irom il„ '
stupendous deliles, and continued hir srviri
miles .along tlie bank ot Hob.ack's kivcr, iliu,;; -
one ot the stern mount.ain valle\s. llcrif ii iv^,,
joined by a riverof greater magniluile aivKwiu'r
current, .and their united w.aters swept oii ihroiWii
the valley in one imjietuous stream, vihiili, ino;
its rapidity and turbulence, had reccivi':! ±-
nanie of .\lad l<i\cr. At the conlhieiice ut tiu-c
streams the tr.avidlers encamped. An impurt.i;;
|)()int in their .arduous journev had bicn ali.nni-;
a few miles Irom their camp rose the iliin- \.i-:
snowy peaks called tlu: 'I'etons, or ilir I'l.;
Knobs, the great Landmarks ol the ('(iluiv.iiM, !i,
which tlu'y had shaped tlu-ir course thriiu;;iu; ■
mountain wilderness, lly their Icet Ikuvcl r
r.ipid (Hirrent of M.id River, a stream ai)i|iiccniiu;;.-.
to admit ot the n.ivig.ation ot canoes, ;iii(l duwii
which they might possibly be able to stci-r tln:-
course to the m.un bo;ly of the C'ohiiidiia. 1,
("anadian voyageurs rejoiced ;U the ide.i nt oii.u
more Launching thi'mstdves upon their lavonic
element; of exchanging their horses lor canots,
ai.d of gliding down the boso.ns ol rivers, in.itiiu:
ot scr.ambling over the b.acks ol nioumaiiiv
Others of the p.arly, .also, inexperienrcd in il\s
kind of travidling, considered their toils and trmi-
bles .as drawing to a close. 'I'hey had comiiki;.-!!
the (diief ditticulties ol this great roiky barnt-r,
.and now llattered themselves with the hope i)t an
I'asy (lowanvard course tor the rest ol ihcir juiir-
nev. Little did they dream of the hardships and
|)erils by land .and water, which were yet U) lit
encountered in the fiighttul wiUh-rnrss that intvr-
vened between them and the shores ol the Pa-
cific !
CHAl'TliR .\.\.\I.
On the banks of Mad I'iiver Mr. I hint lu Id a
consultation with the other ]i;irlners aslollitir
future movements. 'I'he wild and iini"-iiiiuis I'sr-
rent of the river rendered him doiihuul uiu-tiur
it might not abound with impediineius ln^ur
down, sufticient to render the na\i,:;ation ot u
slow and iierilous, if not im|)raciii-.ihlc. lite
hunters who had acted as guides knew niithin;,'
of the character of the river below ; what rock--,
and sho;ils, and r.i|)ids might (disirinl il. '"'
through what mountains and dcieris it iiii;,'i't
pass.' Should they then abandon their hnrsfs,
cast themselves loose in fragile b.irks upon ihis
wild, ditubttui, and unknown river ; or shoih'l
they continue their more toilsome .and tedious, liJt
peril. ijis more cert.iin w.aytaring by land ? ^
'l"he vote, as might have been expecled, was a.-
most un.ininvius for embarkation ; tor w1r"i men
are in diriiciilties everv change seenis to he lur
the better. The ditlicuUy now' was to liiul nmber
ot sufticient si/e tor the construction ot (ano-.-s.ine
trees in these high mount. liu regions buin;,' chici.y
ASTORIA.
309
, scruhlicil Rrnwth of pines and cedars aspens
h r 111(1 sci-vi( e-l)errics, and a small kind ot
mon-'trw, willi a 'i-'af rcsemhiing that of the wil-
1 Tlici'f was a species of lar},fe lir, hut so lull
Tknois as to eiidan-er the axe in hewinn; it. Alter
'■irchiiiK ''"■ ^"""' '''"'■• ■' K'>'"^\'l'' "' tiniher, of
yjlticiciu si/e
was louni! lower down the river,
uhiTcuimii the encampment was move
veil to the vi-
i:iilV.
set to work to fel
ami
per.
lie men were now set to worK lo leii trees,
rid tilt' mmmtaiiis echoed to the unwonted sound
,)t their .-ives. While preparations were thus -^n-
'in.r on tiir a V(iva},'e down th«' river, Mr. Hunt,
wiw still enterl.i'ined dout)ts of its practicability,
(lisiHlchcd an explorinj,^ party, consistin>r of John
Kii'd, the clerk, John Day, the hunter, and I'ierre
IKiniiii, tlie inleriireter, with orders to jiroceed
MViT.ildays' march alonjr the stream, and notice
us course ami character.
.\liir their departure Mr. Hunt tin"ied liis
ihoiiL'hls ti) another object of importance. He
\.x\ now arrived at the head waters of the
Giliiniliin, which were amonj,-- the main points
cmliriK'ed hy the enterprise' of Mr. Astor. 'I'hese
iiniifrsire.uiis weri; reputed to .abound in beaver,
ill had ;is \'t lieen unmolested by the white tr.ip-
I'he lUinu-rous si},Mis of beaver met with
ilunn.i; the recent scared) for timber ^f.ave evi-
dence lli:it the neighborhood was a good " trap-
nin'' jinuiiid." Here then it was proper to be-
.'jn to cast loose those leashes of hardy trappers,
;h;itare detaclieil from tr.ading parties, in the very
hcirt nl the wilderness. 'Idle men detached in
ihc present instance were Alexander Carson,
l.iiuis St. Michel, I'ierre Detaye, and I'ierre I)e-
i.iiinav. d'ni|)|iers j^enerally jro in pairs, that they
mav assist, protect, and comfort each other in
their lonely .ind perilous occupations. Thus C.ir-
siii and .St. .Michel formed one couple, and I)e-
uvo and Delauiiay another. They were lUti'd
liiil with tr.ips, .inns, ammunition, horses, .-ind
every other rc(|iiisite, .and were to trap i:pon the
upper part of Mad Ri\er, and U|)on the neii^rlihor-
;iii,' streams of the mountains. This would prob-
,iii!y occupy tlieiii for some months ; and, when
they should li.ive collected .a sufficient (piantity of
jieitries, they were to p.ack them upon their horses
iiii make the best of their way to tlu' mouth of
C 'lunihia River, or to any intermedi.ite post which
;;i;^'ht he established by the company. Tluy
I'ijk leave of their comrades and started off on
their sever.il courses with stout hearts .and t hei-r-
!.i'. cinmtenancrs ; thouj^di these loiudy eruisinj^^s
Hi' 1 a wild and hostile wilderness seem to the un-
initiated e(|uiv,dent to being cast .adrift in the
siiip'syawl ill the midst of the ocean.
iHlhe perils tlitit attend the loiudy trtipper, the
reader will li.ive sullicient proof, when he comes,
m the after p.ut ol this work, to learn the h.ird
tnrtunes of these jioor iellows in the course (d'
livir wild peregrin.ations.
The trappers had not long (le])arted w hen two
>''iik' hulians wandered into the camp. When
•!,e;, |i(i(civeil thtit the strangers were fabricating
' iiUH's, they shook their heads .and gave them to
;'|;l^r^tan(l that the river was not navig.ible.
b"ir inlorni.ition, however, was scoffed at by
^'laie of iJio party, who were obstin.itedv bent on
eniharkatioii, but was conlirmed by the exiiloring
P'riy, who returned after several dtivs' .iliseiice.
lliey had kept along the river with great dilliculty
■ir two (lays, and found it a narrow, crooked, tur-
™.ent stream, contined in a rocky channel, with
niaiiy rapids, :ind occasionally overhung with
iirecipices. Iroin the summil of one of these they
! 1
li.id caught a bird's-eye view of its boisterous ca-
ree-r, for a great distance, through the heart ut
the mountain, with impending rocks and cliffs.
.S.itislied Irom this view lluit it w.is useless lo fol-
low its course either by land or wtiter, they had
given up all further investigation.
These concurring reports (letermine(l Mr. Hunt
to .abandon M.id River, .iiid see k some more n;i'-
ig.ible stretim. 'i'his delermin.ition was concur-
red in by all his .associ.iles <x( cptiiig Mr. Miller,
wdio had become impatient (d tin- lal'gue of land
travid, and was for immedi.ite lanbarkation .at all
h.azards. 'idiis gentleman h.id been in a gloomy
;ind irritated state of miii'l for some time past, De-
ing troulded wdth a bodily mal.idy that rendered
travelling on liorstdi.ick extreiiudy irksome to
him, and being, moreover, disconteiiteil with hav-
ing .1 smaller sh.ire in the expedition than his
comrades. His unreasonable objections to a fur-
ther march by hand were overruled, and the partv
prepared to decamp.
Uobiiison, Hoback, and Ke/ner, the three hunt-
ers who had hitherto served as guidrs .among the
mount.ains, now stepju'd iorwrrd, and advised
Mr. Hunt to m.ike for the jiost i-stablished during
the preceding ye.ar by Mr. Henry, of the Missouri
I'ur Comp.iny. '["hey had been with Mr. Henrv,
and as l.ir as they coidd judge by the neighboring
indmarks, his post could not be very far off.
They presumed there could be but one interven-
ing ridge of mountains, whii b might be passed
without any great dil'lit ailty. Heiirv's ])ost, or
lort, w.as on an upjier br.iiK li ot the Columbia,
down which Ihev made no doubt it would be easy
to navigate in canoes.
The two Sn.ike Indi.ins bi dug (|Uestioiie(l in the
m.atter, showed a, perfect knowledge of the situa-
tion of the post, and olferi'd, with gre.it alacrity,
to guide them to the pi, ice. Tlitdr olfer was .ac-
cepted, gre.atly lo the dis|)leasure of Mr. Miller,
wdio seemed obstin.ately bent upon br.iving the
perils of M.ad River.
'Idle weather fe)r .a few days p.ist h.ul be(;n
stormy, with rain .and sleet. 'I he Roik- Moun-
t.ains are subject to tempestuous winds trom the
west ; these, sometimes, (a)me in Maws or cur-
rents, making a jiath through the lorests m.any
y.ir(is in width, ,aiid whirling off trunks .and
br.aiu lies to .a great dist.incc. TIk' pivsent storm
subsided on the third ol < >ctober, leaving all the
serrounding ludghts overed with snow ; tor
while rain h.ul fallen in the v.illey, it had snowed
on the hill tops.
( )n the 4th they broke up thtir eiicanipnient
.and crossed the river, the water coming up to the
girths of tludr horses. .Alter tr.ividling lour
miles, they encampd .it the loot ot tlu' mountain,
the l.ist, .as they hoped, which they should h.ave to
l'"our days more to(d< theiu .across it,
watered by beautitul little
., tribut,' ies of M.id River. j\(;ar one of
their encampments there w.is .a hot sjiring ctuitin-
ii.iUy emitting a cloud of \,ipor. These elevated
|)hiilis, wdiich give .a peeuliar (di.iracter to the
mountains, .are tre(|ueiuel by Large gangs of ante-
lopes, Heel as tlu; w ind.
( >n the evening of the .Sth of (ictobcr, .after , a
cold wintry d.ay, wdth gusts of westerly wind and
tlurries of snow, they .arrived at the sought-lor
post ot M . Henry. Here he h.id lixenl himself,
afti'r being com|)elled by the hostilities of the
Ulackfeet t.a .ab.indoii the U])per w.aters ot the
Missouri. The post, however, w.as deserted, tor
Mr. Henry li.id lelt it, in the course; eif llu' preeaid-
ing spring, and, as it atterward appeared, had
tr.averse
■anel eivea' sever.i! ]d.aiiis
streams.
370
ASTORIA.
|J. ;
fallen in with Mr. Lisa, at the Arickara villajrc on
the Missouri, .iMic time alter the separation of
Mr. Hunt and his party.
The weary travellers j^'ladly took possession of
the deserted lo;; huts which had formed the jiost,
and whieh stood on the hank of a stream ujjward
of a hundred y.irds wide, on which they intended
to emhark. I'lurt' heinj,^ plenty of suitahle tim-
ber in the nei^dihorhood, Mr. llunt immediately
proceeded to construct canoes. As he would
nave to leave his horses and their accoutrements
here, he determined to make this a tradinj,^ post,
where the irap|)ers and hunters, to be distributed
about the country, mij,dn re])air ; and where the
traders mijrjil touch on their way throuj^h the
mountains to and from the establishment at the
mouth of the Columbia. He informed the two
Snake Iiuliaiis oi this determination, and enj^a^^ed
them to reniain in that neighborhood and take
care of the horses until the white men should re-
turn, ])romisin;,r them ample rewards lor their
fidelity. It may seem a desperate chance to trust
to the faith :ind honesty of two such vajjabonds ;
but, as the horses would have, at all events, to
be abandoned, and would otherwise become the
property of the t'lrst v.ij,nant horde that should en-
counter them, it was (.)ne chance in favor ot their
beinjr refrained.
At this place another detachment of hunters
prepared to separate from the [)arly for the pur-
])ose of trappini;- beaver. Three of these had al-
ready been in liiis neighboriiood, beinj^ the vete-
ran Robinson and his companions, Ht)back and
Rey{ner, who had accompanied Mr. Henry across
the mountains, and who had been ])icked U|) by
Mr. Hunt on the Missouri, on their way home to
Kentucky. , Accordinjr to aj^reement they were
tilted out with horses, traps, ammunition, and
everythinjr re(|uisite for their undertakinfj, and
were to iirin^r in all the peltries they should col-
lect, either to this trading'- post or to the estab-
lishment at the mouth of Columbia River. Another
hunter, ot the name of Cass, was associated with
them in their eiUeriirise. It is in this way that
small knots of trappers and hunters are ilistrib-
uted about the wilderness by the fur comi):!nies,
and, like cranes and bitterns, h.iunt its solitary
streams. Rol)iiist)n, the Kentuckian, the veteran
of the " bloody f,n-ound," who, as has already been
noted, had been scalped by the Indians in his
yount^rer days, was the leader of this little band.
When they were about to depart, Mr. Miller call-
ed the ])artiu'rs toj^ether, and threw uj) his share
in tlie coni|)any, declaring his intention ot joining
the parly of tra|)|)ers.
Tliis resolution struck every one with astonish-
ment, Mr. Miller beinj^ a man ot education and
of cultivated habits, and little lilted for the rude
life of a hunter. ISesides, the precarious and
slender profits arisinjr from such a life were be-
neath the |)rospects ot one who held a share in the
y;eneral enu-rprise. Mr. flunt was es|)ecially
concerned ,ind niortitied at his determination, as
it was lliroU!;h his advice and inlluence he had en-
tered into the concern. He endeavored, there-
fore, to dissuade him from this sudden resolution ;
representiii'^ its rashness, and the hardships and
j)erils to wIn h it would expose him. He earnest-
ly advised Iiim, however he miijht feel dissatislied
with the enterprise, still to continue on in com-
i)any until they should reach the mouth of Colum-
bia River. Thei'e they would meet the expedition
that was to come by sea ; when, should he still
feel disposed to re!in(|uish the undertakinJ,^ Mr.
Hunt i)ledyed himself to furnish him a passage
home in one of the vessels belonginir m (|,j
pany. " '"'■•
'loall this Miller replied •'ibrupiiy, th,,t j, ^^ ,
useless to argue with him, as his mi':ul was nnd'
up. They might furnish him, or not, as i'.'
pleased, with the necessary supjjlifs, hui'i,^*
determined to part comjjany here, and setoifvii'i
tlie trajipers. So saying, he Hung out of tl-t r
presence without vouchsaling any hMther i u-''
sation. ' '"''''
Much as this wayward conduct g.uc ihinurx.
iety, the partners saw it was in vain to rcm-^
slrate. Hvery attention was paid to litliiiiuw'
for his heailstrong undertaking, lie wa--, t/jI
vided with four horses and all ilie .iriidus he ^^
cpiired. The two Snakes undertook to cdndua
Iiim and his companions to an enciimpinciit ,;
their tribe, lower down among the nioum.uri
from whom they would receive intoniialion ai;o
the best trapping grounds. After iluis jjuidir,.
them, the Snakes were to return to Fort Iknr,"
as the new trading ])ost was called, ami t,i«
charge ot the horses which the party winilil Icivij
there, of which, after all the huiite):, \v(;rt.■^uli•
jjlied, there remained sevenly-se\eii. ThtSL- mat-
ters being all arranged, Mr. Milirr sut dut with
his companions, under guidtuice ot the ivo
Snakes, on the loth of October; and nuich diil it
grieve the friends of that gentlemtu) loscehiiiuht.i
wantonly casting himsell loose upon sav,i;;c iiit.
How he and his comrades fared in ilu- wikkrnov
and how the Snakes aciiuitted ihenihelvci ut ihiir
trust resiiecting the horses, will luTe.iltcr appear
iti the course ot these rambling anecdotes.
CHAPTER XXXII.
WhiI-IC the canoes were in ])reparatinn, the
hunters ranged about the neighborhood, hut with
little success. Tracks of buffaloes were to he sa;i
in .ill directions, but none of a fresh (kite. There
were some elk, but extremely wild ; two only
were killed. Antelopes were likewise st-un, l)iit
too shy aiul lleel to be api)ro;iched. .\ few iK-aurs
were taken every night, and salmon trout uti
small si/e, so that the camp had p'riiicipally to
subsist upon dried bufftdo meat.
On the 14th, a poor, halt-ntiked Snake Indian,
one of thiit forlorn caste called llu' Shiickers. nr
Diggers, made his a])pearance at the ciiiip. He
came from some lurking-place among the rmki
and cliffs, .-ind presented a |)icture ot iliat l.imi^h-
ing wretchedness t<' which these loiu-ly lufjitives
among the mountains are sometiniLS leductil.
Having received wherewithal to allay his hunger,
he disappeared, but in the course of adaynrtuo
returned to the camp, bringing with him his son,
a miserable boy, still more naked ;uul lorlorn than
hiiiiselt. Foocl was given to both ; they skulked
about the camj) like hungry hounds, seckini;- what
they might devour, ;ind having gathered up the kit
an(l entrails of some beavers that were lyiii;!
about, slunk off with them to their ihii anion;; the
ro<:ks.
Hythe 18th of October fifteen canoes wen- torn-
pleted, and on the h)llowing day the parly tm-
barked with their effects, leaving their liorsei
grazing about the b.mks, and trusting to the ln'ii-
esty of the two Snakes, and some special tuniof
gooil luck for their future recovery.
The current bore them along at a rapid rate:
the li.ght sjjirits ot the Canadian voyageurs, whidi
had occasionally flagged upon land, rose to their
ASTORIA.
871
,,cu.tnme<l Inioynncy on fiiKlinp themselves
,,,..| iiiiun tin; w.iler. 1 hey wiehled their iiail-
''i^'swith their wdiitwl dexterity, and for the first
1 !,?e m.ule the mountains echo with their favorite
''h -hi- 'course of the day the little squadron ar-
rvcl. It the lonlhienee (/t Henry and Mad Rivers,
"c'l tiuis united, swelled into a heautifid stream
^'."j']i,r|u pca-ijreen color, navi^^ahle for boats of
' •' SUV, and which, Irom the place of junction,
•lik the name of Snake River, a stream doomed
i,Cthesccne of much disaster to the travellers.
Th- hanks were here and there fringed with wil-
Inv thickets aiul small cotton-wood trees. The
wrather was cold, and it snowed all day,
,..,,1 jrreat thicks of ducks and ^jeese, spor't-
pr in the water or streaminj,' throujjh the air,
rr,i- tiken that winter was at hand ; yet the
Prtr!^ of the travellers were lijjht, and, as they
.■;,ieil tlown the little river, they tiattered them-
svia-awith the hope of soon reachinj^j the Colum-
!ii;t. .\ttcrinal<in}( thirty miles in a southerly di-
r;c;inn, thev cncainiied for the ni^,du in a nei^jh-
iiirhni'l whi''h recpiired some little vijjilance, as
IMTC were recent traces of j^ri/.zly hears amonir
i:,e thickets.
un the lolliwing day the river increased in
wilthand i)cauty, Mowing' parallel to a ran^a- of
nnu-i'.ainson the left, which at times were linely
rtii^ctcii ill its li;_,dit green waters. The three
s-v.vv summits ot the Pilot Knobs or Tetons,
ucKStill seen towering in the distance. After
pjrsuini,' a swift but pl.icid course for twenty
r..;!ei. liie current began to foam and brawl, and
^l^^J:lle the wild and broken character common
;,-.'::i- sireams west of the Rocky Mountains. In
::.!ihe rivers which llow Irom those mountains
;ii".e Pacific are essentially diffL-rent from those
wiich traverse the great prairic'S on their eastern
declivities. The latter, though sometimes- boister-
(,;). are jrenerally tree from o!)structions, and
eaiiiy navij;ate.| ; but the rivers to the west of
the niauiitains descend more stee])ly and impet-
uniiiy, and are continually lial)]e to cascades and
ri!)iils. The latter abounded in the \Kin of the
rv^T which the travellers were now descending.
Turtoi the canoes tilled among the breakers ; the
cri-.vs ux-re savi il, but much ot the lading was lost
or (l.imat;ed, and one of the canoes drifted down
tM stream and was broken atnong the rocks.
On the folliiwing day, October 2ist, they made
but a short distance when they came to a danger-
O'JS strait, where the river was compressed for
nearly half a mile between perjiendicular rocks,
reiljcin;^ it to the width of twenty yards, and in-
crsasin^nts vi lence. Here they'were obliged to
pa the canoes down cautiously by a line from
tae impending banks. This consumed a great
[art of a day ; and after they had re-embarked
tr.ey were soon again impeded by rapids, when
tney had to unload their canoes and carry them
and their cargoes for some distance by land. It
is at these places, called " portages," that th°
Cin,i(lian vo\ageur exhibits his most valuable
, (jualities, carrying heavy burdens, and toiling to
lav! fro, on land and in the water, over rocks and
[recipices, among brakes and brambles, not only
J'|'>iOut a murmur, but with the greatest cheer-
'-:ifss and alacrity, joking and laughing and
s;:;;Mng scraps of old French ditties.
The spirits (if the party, however, which had
Wfii elated on lirst varying their journeying from
'■'"'. to water, had now lost some of their buoy-
21 V. I.\^rything ahead was wrajiped in uncer-
tii".iy. They knew nothing of the river on which
they were floating. It had never been navigated
by a white man, nor could they meet with an In-
dian to give them any information concerning it.
It ke|U on its course through a vast wilderness ot
silent and apparently uninhabited mountains,
without a sav.ige wigwam upon its banks, or bark
upon its waters. Tiie dit'ticulties and perils they
had already passed made them apprehend others
before them that might effectually bar their jirog-
ress. As they glided onward, however, they
regained heart anil hope. The current continued
to be strong ; but it was steady, and though they
met with frecpient rapids, none of them were bad.
Mountains were constantly to be seen in different
directions, but sometimes the swift river glideil
through prairies, and was bordered by small cot-
ton-woo(l trees and willows. These prairies at
certain seasons are ranged by migratory herds of
the wide-wandering buftalo, the tracks of which,
though not of recent dale, were freciuenily to be
seen. Here, too, were to be found the |)rickly
pear, or Indian tig, a plant which loves a more
southern climate. On the land were large flights
of magpies and American robins ; whole fleets of
ilucks and geese navigatefi the river, or flew off
in long streaming tiles at the ajiproach of the ca-
noes ; while the frecpient establishments ot the
painstaking and (|uiet-loving beaver showed that
the solitude of these waters was rarely disturbed,
e\en by the all-pervading savage.
They had now come near two hundred and
eighty miles since leaving Fort Henry, yet with-
out seeing a human being or a human haliitation ;
a wild and desert solitude extended on either side
of the river, apparently almost destitute of animal
life. At length, on the 24th of October, they were
gladdened by the sight of some savage tents, and
hastened to land and visit them, hir they were anx-
ous to procure information to guide them on their
route. On their approach, however, the savages
lied in consternation. They proved to be a wan-
dering band ot Shoshonies. In their tents were
great ([uantities of small fish about two inches
long, together with roots and seeds, or grain,
which they were drying tor winter provisions.
They a]ipeared to be destitute of tools of any
kind, yet there were bows and arrows very well
made ; the former were formed of pine, cedar, or
bone, strengthened by sinews, and the latter of the
wood of rose-bushes, and other crooked jilants,
but carefully straightened, and tip[)ed with stone
of a bottle-green color.
There were a!.->o vessels of willow and grass, so
closely wrought as to hold water, and a seine
neatly made with meshes, in the ordinary man-
ner, of 'he fibres of wild tlax or nettle. The
humble i ifects of the poor savages remained un-
molested by their visitors, and a few small arti-
cles, with a knife or two, were left in the camp,
and were no doubt regarded as invaluable prizes.
Shortly after leaving this deserted camp, and re-
embarking in the canoes, the travellers met with
three of the Snakes on a triangular raft made of
flags or reeds ; such was their rude mode ot nav-
igating the river. They were entirely naked ex-
cepting small mantles of hare skins over their
shoulders. The canoes approached near enough
to gain a full view of them, but they were not to
be brought to a parley.
All further progress for the day was barred by a
fall in the river of about thirty feet perpendicular ;
at the head ot which the parly encamped tor the
night.
The next day was one of excessive toil and but
little progress, the riven winding through a wild
372
ASTORIA.
li I
I]
tni
rocky coiintn", anr! bcinp interrupted by frequent
r.ipiils, aiiionjr which the caiiucs were in j,'reat
])irii. On the succeedinj^ day they aj^ain visited
a camp of wandcrin^^ Snakes, hut the inhabitants
lied witii terror at the si^^ht of a tleet of canoes,
lilled wilii wliite men, coming clown tiieir solitary
river.
As Mr. Hunt was extremely anxious to gain in-
formation concerning his route, he endeavored l)y
all kinds oi friendly signs to entice back the fugi-
tives. At length one, who was on horseback,
ventured back with fear and trembling. He was
l)etter clad and in better condition than most of
liis vagrant tribe that Mr. Hunt had yet seen. The
chief ol)ject of his return apjjeared to be to inter-
cede for a ([uantity of dried meat and salmon
trout, which lie had left behind ; on which, |)rob-
;'.l)ly, he de|)ended for his winter's subsistence.
The poor wretch approached with hesitation, the
alternate dread of famine and of white men oper-
ating upon his mind. He made the most abject
signs imploring .Mr. Hunt not to carry off his food.
The latter tried in everyway to reassure him, and
offered him knives in exchange for his provisions ;
great as was the temptation, the poor .Snake could
only prevail upon himself to spare a part, keep-
ing a feverish watch over the rest, lest it shouki
be taken away. It was in vaiivMr. Hunt made
li.iKjuiries of him concerning his route, and the
it,i,)urse of tile river. The Inilian was too much
Irightened and bewildered to comprehend him or
to reply ; he did nothiii); but alternately commend
])j.!jiiielt to the protection ol the dood S|)irit, and
supjiiiicate .Mr. Hunt not to take away his tish and
bufJaJo meat ; and in this state they lelt him,
iJciubling .d)out his treasures.
Iji llie course of that and the next day they made
neaj'ly eight miles, the river inclining to the south
of wi St, and being clear and beautiful, nearly hall
a n)ile in width, with many jjopulous communities
ol the Ilea ver along its banks. The 28th of October,
however, w.is a d,iy of dis.ister. The river again
became rough anil ini])etuous, and w.is chafed
aju! broken by numerous ra|)ids. These grew more
and ni(jre dangerous, and the utmost skill was re-
quired to steer among them. Mr. Crooks was
.sealed in the second canoe of the scpiadron, and
had ail old exjierienceil Canadian for steersman,
named .\ntoine Ciajiijine, one of the most valua-
h\v of the voyageurs. The leading canoe had
glided safely among the turbulent and roaring
surges, but in following it Mr. Crooks ])erceive(l
that Ids canoe was bearing toward a rock. He
called out to the steersman, but his warning voice
was either unheard or unheeded. In the next
moment they struck upcjn the rock. The canoe
W.IS s|)lit and overturned. There were five per-
.sons on board. .Mr. Crooks and one of his com-
j)anions were thrown amid ro.iring lireakers and
a whirling current, but succeeded, by strong
swimming, to reach the shore. Cla])pine and
two others clung to the shattered bark, and drift-
ed with it to a rock. The wreck struck the rock
will) one end, .ind swinging round, flung |)oor
Clappiiic olf into the raging stream, which swept
him away, and he perished. His comr.des suc-
ceeded in getting upon the rock, from whence
they were alterward taken off.
'I'his disastrous event brought the whole stiuad-
ron to a halt, and struck a chill into every bosom.
Indeed, they had arrived at a terrilic strait, that
f(jrbade all further progress in the canoes, and
dismayed the most ex|)erienced voyageur. The
whole body of the river was compressed into a
space of less than thirty feet in width, between
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Mr. Hl'NT and his comiianions encamped u-.-n
the borders of the CaUlron Linn, and In-ld '1.,,;.!!^
counsel as to their future course. Th(;Vf,i',
wreck had dismayed even the vovageurs, anj'-l
fate of their jiojiular comrade, Clappini;, onj ',,
the most adroit and experienced nt ihcir twcl
nity, had struck sorrow to their liearis, tor, uih
all their levity, these thoughil(_-bi heir s hjve
great kindness toward each other.
The whole distance they had iiavi;;;ilwU;r.ct
leaving Henry's Fort was compuied lo heabiiit
three iumdred and forty miles ; slnm;,' appreiw-
sions were now entertained thai ihe li'L-nK'niifnj
impediments before them would ohliije thLm:o
abanilon their canoes. It was (leU-rniniL';l losc;]
ex])loring parties on each side of ihe rivt-noa--
certain whether it was possible to navijjaic it !::.
ther. Accordingly, on the followin^j niurn;;-.'
three :nen were dispatched along iIk' bouiii 1),.;^,
while -Mr. Hunt and three others proceeded sur.,;
the north. The two parties returned atier a wcrv
scramble among swamps, rocks, ;uul prtcipicts.
and with very dishearteidng accounts. For iiiMrv
forty miles that they had explored, ilie river ii;i,-
ed and roared along through a cleup aiul iiarrw
channel, from twenty to thirty y.u-ds wide, whcr,
it had worn, in the course of ages, tlirouj;h :'..c
heart of a barren, rocky country. The |)reci|; ti
on each side were often two .inil three luiiiln;!
feet high, sometimes perpendicul.ir, and Siir,--
times overhanging, so that it was impo^Miiie, iv-
cepting in one or two plact.-s, to get down Ui;.i:
margin of the stream. This dreary str:i:i « .1
rendered the more dangerous by treiiuent ra; ;:s,
and occasionally jjerpendicular tails tr<mik;;;)
forty feet in height ; so that it seemed alnn-:
hopeless to attempt to ])ass the canoes dnwp, ,t.
The party, however, who had explored ihesiiwh
side of the river, had found a jilace, ahniiisis
miles from the camp, where tlu'y ihoiighl it P''»;-
ble the c.inoes might be carried downtheb.rK
and launched upon the stream, and tiMm \\ hence
they might make their way with tl'.e aid ot occ;,-
sional jiortages. Four of the best canoes ucr;
accordingly selected for the exjieriinent, amlnere
trans]iorted to the jilace on the shoulders >■! ms-
teen of the men. At the same lime Mr Iv:---.
the clck, and three men were detached to esp,<.'
the river still further down than ihe previous mmu:-
ing p.irties had been, and at the s.ame time t)
look out for Indians, from whom provisions ni:,'t
be (d)tained, and a sujjply of horses, should it )•;
found necessarv to proceed by la;ul.
The party who had been sent with the caivti
returned on the following day, we.u y and dc n'-
One of the canoes had bi^'cn swept away u::;
the weapons and effects of lour of tlic vi:y-
.igeurs, in attemjiting to pass it down a rapiu :•■
means of a line. The other three had suickt.m
among the rocks, so that it was impossibie :i
' them ; the men returned, tiKretorc, m "t-
and declared the river unnnvigalile.
The situation of the unfortunate travellers W5
now ijloomy in the extreme. Th'-y were iiu.iC
eil
all
move
spair,
IHi
ASTORIA.
srs
hfirt nf an unknown wilderness, untraversed as
In ;i whilL- man. Tlu-y were at a loss what
mutc'u) t''l<'^. '""' '^"^"•' ''"" '''^>' ^^'■■'''^ *''""'' '''^'
'.ii„^„e nlaCL- of tlu-ir destination, nor coukl they
„^t.t',n these iiiiinhahited wilds, with any hu-
nii lifiiiU '" li'^'-' '''^'"^ information. The repeat-
iaiiltiils to dieir canoes had reduced their
• i,K (it provisions to live days' allowance, and
■ \'r(. was now every appearance of soon having
.',• ,;iic adilcil to their other sufferings.
liiisi.ist circumstance rendereil it more perilous
in«|i to^a-tlicr than to separate. Accordmgly,
,,;:t.r a little anxious but hewiklered counsel, it
ms idfrinincil that several small detachments
spoiilil si.irt oil in different directions, headed by
ihc scviial partners. .Should any of them succeed
ia Mllin.^Mn with friendly Indians, within a rea-
siiiubie^listance, and obtaining a supply of pro-
vhiiiiisand horses, they were to return to the aid
ul the main Iwdy ; otherwise, they were to shift
trllicinsi'lves, and shape tlieir course according
to circumstances, keejiing the mouth of the Co-
liiaihia River as the ultimate jjoint of their way-
laniv. Accordingly, three several parties set off
;roiii the cainj) at Caldron Linn, in o[)i)()site di-
rccuoiis. Mr. .M'J-ellan, with three men, ke|)t
iluun alonij the bank of the river. Mr. Crooks,
u;;h live others, turned their steps up it, retrac-
;:;;; liy land the weary course they had made by
u.itcr. intending, should they nf)t tliul relief nearer
al ii.iml, to keep on imtil they sliould reach llen-
rvsl'dit, where they hoped to find the horses they
hill Iclt there, and to return with them to the
m,iin bully.
Tile third party, composed of five men, was
ht.vkd by .Mr. .M'Ken/.ie, who struck to the north-
w.inl, across the desert |)lains, in lu)pes of com-
i:i;'i!|)im the main stre.im of the Columbia.
flaviiiLf Seen these three adventurous i)ands de-
part upon their forlorn e>i])editions, Mr. Hunt
tiirai:;! Iiis thoughts to provide for the subsistence
ut tile main body left to his charge, and to pre-
iviretiir their future march. There remained with
tiini tliirly-one men, besides the sciuaw and two
chiiilreii of I'ierre Dorion. Tliere was no game
!i lit met with in the neighborhood ; but beavers
ttcreoccasi<inally trapped about the river banks,
whicli atlorded a scanty sup|)ly of food ; in the
r.c.uuime tliey comforted themselves that some
one or other of the for.aging detachments would
iicsuccessfid, and return with relief.
.Mr. Hunt now set to work with .ill diligence,
t ' prepare ci/iV/f-j- in which to deixisit the bagg.age
and merchandise, of which it would be necessary
Ij ilishurden themselves, prejiaratorv to their
irt.iry march by l.md ; and here we shall give a
'I'.t ilescri|)tion of those contrivances, so noted in
i:.f wilderness.
•\ cache is a ti'rm, common amf)ng traders and
li'Jnturs. todesignalea hiding-place lor provisions
in4 elfecls. It is derived from the French word
c/i/;,;-, to conceal, .-111(1 originated among the
t.irly colonists of Ciiiada and Louisiana ; but the
secret depository which it designates was in use
anwii^' iIk; aboriginals long before the intrusion
t'i the white men. It is, in tact, the only mode
lilt mifrratory hordes have of preserving their
vil'J.ihles from rolibery, during their long ab-
sences Irom their villages or accustomed haunts,
I'liuiuiiiir expeditions, or during the vicissitudes
j!'*.ir. file utmost skill and caution are re(|uired
'Teider these places of conce.ilment invisible to
■ ■' lyux eye of an Indian. The tirst care is to
■■■■; (Hit a jiroper situation, wdiich is gener.illy
>■■'■'■: dry low bank of clay, on the margin of a
water-course. As soon ns the precise spot is
pitched upon, blankets, saddle-cloths, and other
coverings are sjuead over the surrounding grass
and bushes, to prevent foot tracks, or any other
derangement ; and as few hands as |)ossil)le are
employed. A circle of about two feet in diameter
is then nicely cut in the sod, which is c.iretully
removed, with the loose soil immediately beneath
it, and laid aside in a iil.ace where it will be safe
from anything that may change its appearance.
The uncovered area is then digged perpendicular-
ly to the (le|>th of about three feet, and is then
gradually widened so as to form a conical ch.am-
ber, si,\ or seven feet deep. The whole of the
earth dis])laced by this process, being of .i differ-
ent color from that on the surface, is handed up
in a vessel, and heajied into a skin or cloth, in
which it is conveyed to the stream and thrown
into the midst of the current, that it may be en-
tirely carried off. Should the cache not be form-
ed in the vicinity of a stream, the earth thus
thrown up is carried to ;i distance, and scattered
in such manner as not to leave the minutest tr.ice.
The cave, being formed, is well lined with dry
grass, bark, sticks, and poles, and occasioii.illy a
liried hide. The ])roperiy intended to be hidden
is then laid in, alter having been well aired ; a
hide is S|)read over it, and dried grass, brush, and
stones thrown in, and tr.im]iled down until the ])it
is filled to the neck. The loose soil whi( h had
been ])Ut aside is then brnuglu, and r.inimed
down tirmly, to prevent its caving in, and is fre-
((uently s|)rinkled with water, to destroy the scent,
lest the wolves and bears should be .ittr.icted to
the place, and root up the conce.ile'l treasure.
When the neck of the cache is nearly level with
the surroimding surface, the sod is again fitted in
with the utmost exactness, and any bushes, stocks,
or stones, that may have originally been about
the spot, are restored to their former places. Tiie
blankets and other coverings are then removed
from the surrounding herb.ige ; all tracks are ob-
literated ; the grass is gently raised by the iiand
to its natural jiosition, .and the minutest chip or
straw is scrupulously gleaned up and thrown into
the stream. After all is done, the ])lace is aban-
doned lor the nigiit, and, if all be right next morn-
ing, is not visited again, until there be a necessity
for reopening the cache. Four men are sullicient,
in this way, to coiiceal the amount of three tons'
weight of merch.indise in the course of two days.
Nine caches were re(|uired to cont.iin the goods
and bagg.ige which Nlr. Hunt found it necessary
to leave .it this |)lace.
Three days h.id been thus employed since the
departure of the several detacliiiienls, when th.it
of Mr. Croid<s unexpectedly made its .ipjiear-
ance. .V momentary joy uasdilYused throiig.'i the
cimp, for they sup])ose(l succor to be ;it li.ind. It
was soon dispelled. Mr. Crooks and his com-
panions had become completely disheartened by
this retrograde march through a bleak and bar-
ren country ; and had found, computing from
their progress and the accumulating dilficultie:;
besetting every step, that it would be impossible
to reach Henry's I'ort and return to the m.iin
body in the course of the winter. They had de-
termined, therefore, to rejoin their comrades, and
share their lot.
t)ne avenue of hope was thus closed upon the
.anxious sojourners at the Caldron Linn ; their main
expectatio I of relief was now from the two p.arties
under Keed and .M'Lellan, wlii(h had proceeded
down the rivt'r, for, as to Mr. M'Ken.de's detach-
ment, which had struck across the plains, they
374
ASTORIA.
m:,!
thoiifjlu it would have sufficient dilTlciilty in strup-
j(liii|; forward throu^fi the iracklfss wildcriuss.
Por five days ihcy continued to support tlieni-
selves l)y tra|)pinj; and fishiiifj. Sonic tish of toi-
eralilc size were speared at nijjlit liy the lijjht of
- cedar torches ; others, that were very sniaii, were
f rauj^iu in nets with tine meshes. 'I'lie protluct of
their tishinj^, however, was very scanty. Tlieir
traiipinj; was also precarious, and the tails and
l)eliies of the beavers were dried and ])Ut by lor
the journey.
At ienjrth two of the companions of Mr. Reed
returned, and were hailed with the most anxious
fa^erness. Their re|)ort served hut to increase
the jjcneral despondency. They had followed
Mr. Reed for some distance below tiie point to
which Mr. Hunt had explored, iiut had met witii
no Indians, from whom to obtain information and
relief. The river still presented the same furious
aspect, brawlinj; and boilin^^ alon^ a narrow and
ru},^j(ed channel, between rocks that rose like
walls.
A linjjering hope, which had been indulfjed by
some ol the party, of proceedin.i»- by water, was
now finally gi\en uj) : tlie lunjr and terrific strait
of the river set ail further iiro^ress :\t defiance,
and in their disfjust at the place, and ihei" vexa-
tion at the disasters sustained there, lliey gave it
the inditfiiant thouj^h not very decorous appella-
tion of tile Devil's Scuttle Hole.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
TitK resolution of Mr. Hunt and hiscompaninns
was now taken to set out immediately on foot.
As to the other detachments that had in a manner
{jone forth to seek their fortunes, there was little
chance of their return ; they would probably make
their own way through the wilderness. At any
rate, to linger in the vague hojje of relief from
them would be to run the risk of perishing with
hunger. IJesides, the winter w.is rajiidly advanc-
ing, and they had a long journey to make through
an unknown country, whtie all kinds of perils
might await them. They were yet, in fact, a
thousand miles from Astoria, but the distance
was unknown to them at the time ; everything be-
fore and around them was vague and conjectural,
and wore an aspect calculated to inspire desjiond-
ency.
In abandoning the river they would have to
launch forth upon vast trackless ]ilains destitute
of all means of subsistence, where they might per-
ish of hunger and thirst. A dreary desert of sand
and gravel extends from Snake River almost to
the Columbia. Here and there is a thin and
scanty herbage, insufficient for the pasturage of
horse or t)uffalo. Indeed these treeless wastes
between '.he Rocky Mountains and the I'acitic are
even more desolate and barren than the nake'i,
upper i)rairics on the Atlantic side ; they jiresent
vast desert tracts that must ever defy cultivation,
and interpose dreary and thirsty wilds between
the habitations of man, in traversing which the
wanderer will often be in danger of perishing.
Seeing the hopeless character of these wastes,
Mr. Hunt and his comiianions determined to keep
along the course of the river, where they would
ahvays have water at hand, and would be able oc-
casionally to ]irocure tish and beaver, and m.ight
periiianre meet with Indians, from whom they
could obtain provisions.
They now made their final preparatioiio for the
\'-
march. All their remaining stock ol provivr
consisted of forty pounds of Indian ctirn iJ p.!
pounds of grease, about hve iinunds ot jiortavl
soup, and a sufficient (piantity of dried nin"'
allow each man a pittance of fpe iiounds.inV
(piarter, to be reserved for emct;;eiiciis. '[(..-
being properly distributed, they dejmsiied nil iKr
goods anci superfluous articles in ihcciKhcs ti.
ing nothing with them but what was indisiiny.
ble to the journey. With all their nianaL'ciiHv'
each man h id to carry twenty pounds' wlii'Iu ii^!
side his own articles and e(|ui|)nuius.
That they might have the belter chance of
curing sulisistence in the scaiuy rejjions ir^ |
were to traverse, they divided t'luMr partv ir;j
two bands, Mr. Plunt, with eighteen men, licsiiri
I'ierre Dorion and his family, w.is V) nmn-ti I
down the north side of the river, whikr Mr, Crojks I
with eighteen men, kept along the Sdtith side.
On the morning of the 9th of Ocuiher thctv.o
jiarticH se|Kirated and set forth on iheirsevtrni
courses. .Mr. Hunt and his coin])aMions tullovri
along the right bank of the river, which ma;]'. ;;i
way far below them, brawling at the funidt r.'-
nendicular precipices of soliil rock, two and ilirn
hundred feet high. For twenty-eight mile-; i-,:
they travelled this day, they found ii inipiuMi;-
to get down to the margin of the sireani. .\nr-
end of this distance they encnni])e(l lor the iiiiji
at a place wdiich admitted a scr.iinlilin;,' dcba-i:!.
It was with the greatest difficulty, however, iha:
they succeeded in getting uj) a kettle of wsir
from the river for the use of the cam|). .\s S"Te
rain had fallen in the afternoon, they passed t:,t
night under the shelter of the rocks.
The next day they continued ihirty-twn niilt>;o
the nortliwest, keeping along tlie river, whjth
still ran in its deep cut channel. I Kre and I'r.trc
a sandy beach or a narrow strip ol soil lrnv,,t:
with dwarf willows would extend for a little (.i;-
tance along the foot of the cliffs, and sometiniesj
reach of still water would intervene like a sniu.;'.
mirror between the foaming rajiids.
As through the preceding day, ihcy jinirney>:;
on without finding, except in one instaiuc, ary
|)lace w here they co'ild get down to the rivers
edge, and they were fain to allay the thirst c:'.ii-f:
by hard travelling, with the water cullecled in i:.c
hollow of the rocks.
In the course ct their march on the fullowjiv,;
morning they fell into a beaten horse ])ath leu!-
ing along the river, wdiich sliowed that they were
in the neighborhood of some Indian villa;,'e I'r
encampment. They had not proceeded lar alim,'
ic, wdien they met wdth two Shoshoiiies or Snakes,
They approached with some appearance of n;;e>
siness, and accosting Mr. Hunt, held up :i kiiue,
which by signs they let him know they had rectiv-
ed from some of the wdiite men of the advar.ie
l^arties. It was with some difficulty that Mr,
Hunt prevailed upon one of the savaf;es to con-
duct him to the lodges of his people, .Strikiii;,'
into a trail or path which led up from the river,
he guided them for some distance in the pr.iiric.
until they came in sight of a luunher of lo'li,'t;>
made of straw, and shaped like haystacks. llKir
a])pr()ach, as on former occasions, caused the
wildest affright among the inliahitants. 'Ine
women hid such of 'heir children as were too
large to be carried, and too small to take care ii:
themselves, under straw, and, claspinjj then- in-
fants to their breasts, tied across the prairie. 1«
men awaited the approach ol these strangers, m
evidently in great alarm.
Mr. Hunt entered the lodges, and, as he was
ASTORIA.
375
:h on the followinj
■ . Ij,2 about, nl'servetl where the children were
n tiled their l)l;uk eyes ^'iistcninj,' like those
!'.' Viki's'fruni bcMU-ath the straw, lie lilted up
",\ovcrin),' to look ;it them ; the poor little i)e-
'vi wire horriblv tri^jhtened, and their lathers
.•?kI iiumliliiij,';''* 'f -^ '"-'''^^ "^ P''^'y ^^■'^'''-' ''!'""' '"
",.'-■(• upon the brood.
' inelriiiKliviiKUiner of Mr. Iluntsnon dispelled
.■,,c,iii|ia'hi'nsii)iis ; he succeeded in purchasinj,'
yiw cxclIIciU (iiied salmon, and a doi,^ an ani-
nilnnich esitfmed as food by the natives ; and
u'xn he reiunied to the river one of ihe Indians
ri-i;i)|).iiiied him. He now came to where lodjres
•urc ira|ueiit alon^j the banks, and, alter a day's
'iriu-v ol tweiuy-six miles to the northwest, en-
. iiii'iL-.l in a p()|)uh)us neif,dil)orhood. Forty or
i^Mv'iilihe natives soon visited the camp, conduct-
hcm^elvi-s in a very amicable manner. They
clad, and all had buffalo robes, which
\vi-!
5, and, as he was
v.i-ri "^■- - r 1 1 • ■-, •
•.-ivpnicured from some of the luintin;^ tribes m
• \iiKiii:,'e hir salmon. Their habitations were
vcrvc(imh)rtab!(; ; each had its pile of wormwood
'•. ihcihmr lor liiel, and within w.is abundance of
,i,mi)ii, some Iresli, but the frreater part cured.
W'.vw the white men visited the lod),'es, however,
::;r- women and children hid themselves throuj^h
ir,ir. .Amony; the supplies obtained here were
;uii (1(1,;'^ on which our travellers breakfasted,
,:•.! tmmd them to be very excellent, well llavored,
.i;-.>i Ik-.trty food.
Ill the course of the three lollowinir days they
ni.iJc.ihout sixty-three miles, ^^eiierally in a norlh-
ucjtiiirectioii. They met with many of the natives
111 ilk'irstraw-luiilt cal)ins who received them with-
y,;; .ilarin. .'Vbout their dwellings were immense
I ,i,iiitiiies of the heads and skins of salmon, tlie
'iv. |):irt of which had been cured and l;idden in
: L- t;piimd. The women were badly clad ; the
::;:l.livn worse ; their j^.armeius were buffalo
ri'iis, or the skins of foxes, wolves, hares, ;ind
li.il,'t'r.s, and somelimes the skins of ducks, sewed
! ';;r',hi'r with the plumage on. Most of the skins
iii;W h.ive been procured by traffic with other
'.riics, or in distant hunting excursions, for the
I,l^;il pr.iiries ill the neighborhood afforded few
,ii'.;ii,il.s, exce|)tiiig horses, which were abundant.
Tnere were signs of buffaloes having been there,
b'j; :i lung time before.
I'll the ijth of November they made twenty-
oi;':!! miles along the river, which was entirely
I'll- f,"i);ii rapids. The shores were lined with
livi,! salmon, which taintc.l the whole atmos-
|):ierd. The natives whom they met spoke of Mr.
ktro.i's party having ])assed through that neigh-
ijirhiiod. In the course of the day -Mr. Hunt saw
a lew h'ir.ses, but the owners of tliem took care to
harry them out of the way. All the provisions
ifV Were able to procure ere two dogs and a
5.ihii()n. On the following day they were still
uirieoff, having to subsist on parched corn and
'if reniaiiis of their dried meat. The river this
'!iy li;id resumed its turbulent character, forcing
'■'.^v.'.y through a narrow ch.annel between steej)
rxNS, ami down violent r.ipids. They made
■Hiity miles over a rugged road, gradually ap-
rr'i.iciiiiig a mountain in the northwest, covered
Willi siiuw, which had been in sight for three davs
"n the 17th they met with sevei d Indians, one
"i viinin had a horse. Mr. Hunt was extremely
'■•-iTous of obtaining it ;is a |)ack-horse ; for the
'" '1, \v,)i-ii down by fatigue and hunger, found
'•'■. in;i!l., of twenty pounds' weight wdiich they had
|_'''iiry, daily growing heavier ami more galling.
f"e Indians, however, along this river,
were
never willing to part with their horses, having
none to sp.ire. The owner of the steed in tpies-
tion seemed proof against all temptation ; .irticle
alter article of great value in Indian eyes was
offered ;ind refused. The ch.irms ol an old tin-
kettle, however, were irresistible, and a bargain
was concluded.
A great part of the following morning was con-
sumed in lightening the packages of the men and
arranging the load for the horse. At this en-
campment there was no wood for fuel, even the
wormwood on which they had freipiently depend-
ed having disaiiiieared. For the two hast days
they had made thirty miles to the northwest.
On the 19th of Xovember Mr. Hunt w,is lucky
enough to purchase another horse for his own use.
gi\ing ill exchange a tomahawk, a knile, a fire
steel, aiul some beads and gartering. In an evil
hour, however, lie took the advice of the Indians
to abandon the river, and follow a road or trail
leading into the jirairies. He soon had cause to
repent the change. The road led across a dreary
w.iste, without verdure ; and where there was
neither fountain, nor pool, nor running stream.
The men now began to experience the torments of
thirst, .aggravated by their usual diet of dried fish.
The thirst of the Canadian voyageurs becaiiK; so
insup|)ortal)le as to drive them to the most re\olt-
iiig means of allaying it. I'"or twenty-five miles
dill they toil on across this dismal desert, and laid
themselves down at night, parched and disconso-
late, beside their wormwood t'lres ; looking' for-
ward to still greater sufferings on the following
day. Fortuii.itely, it began to rain in the night,
to their infinite relief ; the water soon collected in
puddles and afforded them delicious draughts.
Refreshed in this manner, they resumed their
wayfaring as soon as the first streaks of d.iwn gave
light enough for them to see their jiath. The rain
continued all day, so that they no longer sufferetl
from thirst, but hunger took its jilace, for alter
travelling thirty-three miles they had nothing to
su|i on but a little parched corn.
The next day brouglit them to the b.iiiks of a
beautiful little stream, running to the west, and
fringed with groves of cotton-wood and willow.
< In its borders was an Indian camp, with :; great
many horses grazing around it. The inhabit. iiits,
too, apjjcared to be better clad th.in usu.il. The
scene was altogether a cheering one to the poor
h.ill-famishetl wanderers. They hastened to the
lodges, but on arriving at them, met with a check
that at lirst dampened their cheerfulness. An In-
di.in immediately laid claim to the horse of Mr.
Hunt, s, lying that it had been stolen Imm him.
There was no disproving a fact supported by nu-
merous bystanders, and which the lun'se-stealing
habits of the Indians rendered but too probable ;
so Mr. Hunt reliii(|uished his steed to the cl.iini-
aiit ; not being able to retain him by a sieond
(jurchase.
At this place they encam])ed for the night, and
m.ide a sumptuous repast upon fish and a c(ni|)le
of dogs, ])rocured from their Indian neighbors.
The next day they kept along the ri\er, but came
to a hall alter ten miles' march, on account ot the
rain. Here they .ig.vin got a sup|)ly ol lisli and
dogs from the natives ; and two of the men were
fortunate enough each to tljet a horse in exch.inge
for a buffalo robe. One ot these men was I'ierre
Dorion, the half-breed interpreter, to wdiose suffer-
ing family the horse was a most timely accpiisition.
.Viul here we cannot but notice the wondeilul pa-
tience, ])erseverance, and h.ardihood of the Indi.in
women, as exemplified in the conduct ol the poor
3TC
ASTORIA.
Sfiunw f)f the iiitcrprfter. She was now far ad-
vaiu'td ill hrr |)ic^naiu\ , and had two <hil(lii'ii In
take car<' ot, diu.' tour, and thi- other two ycar.i of
agf. The latter ot roiirse she liad tre(|ui'iuly to
rarryoii her hack, in ad(Mlion to the burden usual-
ly ininosed U|)on the S(|uaw, yet siie h.'d home all
lier hardships without ,i muninir, ami throuj^hout
this weary and jiainlul journey had kept jiace with
the best of the pedestrians. Indeed on various oe-
casions in the course of this enterprise, she (lis
pl.aved a force; of character that won the respect
and apiilause of the while men.
Mr. llunl endeavored to ^j.uher some infornia-
tion from these Indians concerninif the country
and the course of the rivers. His communications
with them had to be by sij^ns, and a tew words
which he had learnt, and of course were extremel)'
vaj^ue. All that he could learn from them was
that the ^reat river, the Columbia, was still far dis-
t.irit, but he could ascertain nothinj^ as to the route
lie ouj^ht to lake to ,irri\e at it. l'"or the two fol-
lowing days they continued wi'stward upward of
forty miles alonjr the little stream, until they
crossed it just before its junction with Sn.ike
River, which they found still running to the north.
15elore them was a wintry-lookinyf moiuuain cov-
ered with snow on all sides.
In tliree days more they made about seventv
miles, fordin;,^ two small rivers, the waters of
which were very cold. Provisions wert; e\tremely
scarce ; their chief sustenance was portable soU|),
u mea,u;'re diet for weary pedestrians.
On tile 27th of November the river led them into
the mountains throu.s;h a rocky detde wlu're there;
•was scircely room to pass. They were freepiently
obli),fcd to unload the horses to i^^et tlii'm by the
narrow pl.ices, 'id sometimes to wade tl.rou^^di
the water in ,tjettin; round rocks and buttin;;' clilfs
All their lood this day was a be.iver which they
had c.iuj,''ht the ni;;ht belore ; by eveninj^ the
cravinj,fs of huni^er were so sharp, and the |)rospect
of any supply anion",^ the mountains so faint, that
tlu'y iiad to kill one of the horses. " The men,"
says Mr. Hunt in his journal, " luid the meat very
j,food, and indeed, so should I, were it not for the
att.ichment I have to the ;.; imal."
I'-arly in the followin^,^ day, after jiroceedinj^ ten
miles to the north, they came to two lodges of
Shoshonies, who seemecl in nearly as ^'reat an e.\-
tremity as themselves, havini,^ just killed two
iiorses for food. They had no other provisions ex-
cejitinj;- the seed of a weed which they feather in
);re,it (piantities, and pound tine. It resembles
hemp seed. Mr. Hunt jiurchased a ba^ of it, and
also some small pieces of horse- tlesh, which he be-
gan to relish, ])ronouncin,L,'' them " tat and tender."
From these Indians he received inform.ition that
several white men had gone down the ri\'er, some
one side, .and a good many on the otiic-r ; these
last he concluded to be Mr. Crooks .md his party.
He w.is thus n^leased from much ;inxiety about
their safety, especiallvas the Indians spoke of .Mr.
Crooks having one of his dogs yet, which showed
that he and his men had not been reduced to ex-
tremity of hunger.
As .Mr. I hint feared thai he might be several days
in p.issing through this mountain defile, ;ind run the
risk ot tamine, he encamped in the neighborhontl
of the Indians, ior the purpose of bartering with
them for a horse. The evening w.is expeniied in
ineffectual tri.ils. He offered a gun, a bulf.alo
robe, anrl \-;irious other articles. The poor fel-
lows iiad, probably, like himself, the fear of star-
vation before their eyes. Ai length the women,
learning the object of his pressing solicitations
'''■ ''■■' ..A
Id soon conic III ,1 111.
and tempting offers, set up such ,i tprri'i;..-
and cry that he was fairly howled ainl suj ,!
from the ground.
The next morning e.irly, the Iiidi.ms ^^.•„,,|
Very desirous to get rid of their visiiurs, |,,||-|, ,
]irid)ably, tor the s.dety ol their hor>,es. In p.,,'''.
to Mr. Hunt's iiupiiries .about the ni(iiim,iir,s jij,
t(dd him that hi' would ha\c to slriii liiniip,.;.
nights niori; among tluni, and ih.ii si\ ,1;^,- ,, ]
elling would take !iim to the tails o| theOuiini;,!
information in which he put no faith, hclitnivr'i
was only giviMi to induce him lo set turvil-i
These, he was told, were the l.isl Sn.ikes
meet with, and that he wou
tion called Sciatogas.
Forward then did he jiroceed on liis U'iIkii;;
journey, which at every step grew niurc |Hin!i:",
The road continued tor two d.i\s dinm^h n;,r.
row defiles, where they were repeatclly (ilil;..vi
to unload the horses. Sometimes the riviT |i,i,-,,|
through such rocky chasms and inider such .Mf.;i
precipices that they had to leave it, anil nKi'v:
their way, with excessive l.ibor, over iiiiniii;-;
hills, almost impass.able for hordes. On sonic,:
these hills were a few pine trees, and tlnjirsuni.
mits were co\'ered with snow. On ihi; scu |
day of this scramble one id' the hunters kir. 1
black-tailed deer, which allorded the halt-si.ir,-!
travellers a sumiituous repast. Their |)r..;ii,5
these two days was twenty-eij;ht inilcs, a lillii;!)
the 'lorthward ot east.
'I le month of December set in drearilv, with
rail, in the \alleys;ind snow upon the hills. Tm-v
had to climb a mount;iin with snow to thi-iiiidi'^;.
which incr(;;ised their |)ainful toil. .\ small In- ivtr
su|)plie(I them with ;i scanty me.il, which thcvrktil
out with frozen blackberries, haws, and chiik;-
cherries, whiili they lound in the cDurse ot tinir
scramble. Their journey this d.iy, ilimi^'h c\cov
sively fatiguing, was but thirteen miles ; nml ,iil
the next day they had to remain eiuani|i'j{|. ii^'t
being able to see half a mile ahead, nii .uinuiu
of a snow-storm. Having nothing else imat,
they were com]Kdled to kill anotherot tluirliinsn.
The next day they resumetl their march in si;i w
and rain, but with all their (diorts cuiiid iiiily;;et
forward nine miles, having ti
tance to unload the Iiorses
I part of till.- Ills-
mil carry the pjaks
themselves. t)n the succeeding morning; tlv.y
were obliged to le.ive the river and scranibli' un
the hills. From the summit of these, they ,i;»l a
wide view ot the surrounding cinintry, anil it was
a prospect almost sut'licieiit to make tiieni ili;s|),iir.
In every direction they beheld simwy niouiuains,
jiartiaUy s])rinkleil with ])ines and otiur i'.it-
greens, and s|)re,iding a desert and tnilsonieuiniil
around them. The wind howled over ihi' liicik
and wintry landsc.ipe, and seemed to peiutnie
to the marrow i.f their bones. They w.ulwl <'ii
through the snow, which at every step was more
than knee dc'cp.
Alter toiling in this way all day, tlu-y !i;ul the
mortitication to lind that they were hut toiiniiiles
distant from the encamiinient of the prccfiliii;'
night, such was the meandering of the rivi-r
aiiiong these dismal hills. Pinched with tanime,
exhausted with fatigue, with evening approach-
iiig,-and a wintry wild still lengtheniiy ;!-> tl'''}'
advanced, they began to look forward witii »!
forebodings to the night's exposure upmi '■■;'
frightful waste. Fortunately thev succedfli:'
reachincf a cluster of D'nes about sunset.
rhdr
axes we're immediatelv at work; they cut il"'^'»
trees, piled ihem up in' great heaps, and soon iim
huge fires " to cheer their cold and hungry hcMs.
ASTORIA.
877
,i„„i( three o'clock in the morning' it f\(,';iin l)c-
n III siuiw, i'li'l •■'' <l;ivl)rcaiv tluy touiul llii'm-
*;''■, ;,s it were, in a rUmd, scancly ix-inK alili-
'',li,,',i,,.uiiluiliifcls at the distance ol a inuuircii
.•rds riuiiliiiK' themselves liy the sound (it lun-
Li,'«:itcr, they set iiut tor the river, and iiy siin-
[m'""r,imisli(liiif,' contrived to(,'et <\o\\u to its hank.
[i-,;i ihuhiir.ies, niissinjj his h)otin>;, rolled down
sear.il hunilreil yards with his load, but sustained
HI iii'ury The weather in the valley was less rii;-
.iMUstii'in"" ''"-' '''"■'*• "'^' •'*""^^' '■'>' '"" ''"'^''•
,ie,.n, :in(l tlure was a (juiet rain now tallinj,^.
\tu-rcrcfpiiik' 'ihiiij,^ for six miles, they encamped
imthr l'"nliT(it the river, liein.i;- utterly destitute
ot nriAi'i'ii"'*. 'Ii^')' ^^■^''■'' '>K'''" eompelied to kill
or.e ut their hurses to appease their lamishinji
hunger.
CI 1 A ITER XXXV.
Tlir. w.uiilcrers had now accomplished four
hundri'd aiul seventy-two miles ot their drearv
iunicvsince leaving;- the Caldron I, inn ; how much
iuriluM- they had yet to travel, and what hardships
toi-nc'iuiiter, no one knew.'
(In the itiorninj,' ol the 6th ot December they left
ihtirilumal encuniiment, but had scarcely l)e^;un
thc:rmircll when, to their surprise, they beheld
,1 party (if white men cominjr e;) .donj^ tile oppo-
>;■..• ;i,iiik (it the river. As they drew nearer they
wirre reiojjni/ed tor .Mr. Cr()ol<s ;uid his compan-
iiiii). When they came opposite, .and could make
iht-niseives heard across the nnirmurinj( ot the
nvtr. iheir lirst cry was lor food ; n t.act, ihey were
aimusi starved. Mr. Hunt inimedi.itely returned
! ithe cam|), and had ;i kind ot c.inoe made out ot
till' siiiii ot the horse killed on the ])recedinf(
:!:;'hi. This was done alter the Indian tashion,
iiy ilrawin:,' up the edi^es of the skin with thont(s,
a;il keepin;.,' them distended by slicks or thwarts
pieces. In this trail bark, Sar(le|)ie, one ot the
Cana'lians, carried over a jiortion ot the llesh of
\x horse to the tainishm}^ parly on the opposite
s:leot the river, and br()Uj,dil b.ick with him Mr.
Cri)i)ks ami the C.ui.adian, Le Clerc. The forlorn
;:iJ u.isled looks and sl.irvinjr condition ot these
luoineii struck dism.iy to the hearts of .Mr. Hunt's
ijiiouers. Tlu-y had been accustomed to each
o'.iut's appearance, and to the f^raclual operation
n!liuii;,a-r ami hardshii) upon their tr.imes, but the
ch;in;,'c in the looks of these men, since l.'st they
pried, was a tyjie ol the f.imine and desolation of
::;•.■ 1.111(1 ; and they nowbej^an to in(lul},^e the lior-
r.iiie presentiment th.it they would all starve to-
;;ether, or he reduced to the direful alternative of
i.blill;( lots !
\\h(.ii .Mr. Crooks had ajiiieased his hunj^er, he
Jive .Mr. Hunt some account of his waytarinir.
'i!i the side of the river alon^r which he had kept
irii.id met with but tew Indians, and those were
;o.>miseral)ly])()or to yield much assistance. For
!r,e !ii,-,t ei;,dii(,-en days after leaviiifr ihe Caldron
l-;:!;i, he and his men had been contined to half a
M:ii ill twenty-tour liours ; for three days hillow-
:-.;they had subsisted on a single beaver, a tew
'■•'■'■' cherries, and the soles of old moccasons ;
■I' I f'l^ the last six days their only animal tood
■•I l)'-en the carcass of a doLf. They had been
'.iru;; (lays' journey further down the river than
•h. Hunt, always keepinjr as near to its banks as
i'l'j-ile, and tre(iuently climbinj^ over sharp and
f"-Ky ridjrys that projected into the stream. At
■yls'th ihey had arrived to where the mountains
•'■crcMsed in hei^dit, and came closer to the river,
with perpendicular precipices, which rench-red it
impossible to keep aloii;,' the stream. The riveP
here rushed with iiuredible velocity throu^jh a
delile not more than thirty \ards wide, wluic cas-
cades and rapids succeeded e.ich other almost
without intermission. F.ven had the ojiposite
b.mks, theretore, been such .is to nermit a c(.ntii\-
uance ot their journey, it would have been mad-
ness to attempt to p.iss the tumultuous current,
either on ratts or otherwise. Still bei't. however,
on pushiiif,' forward, they attempted to climb thu
opposinir mountains ; .ind stru^,'i,de(l on throuf^ln
the snow lor halt a day until, comin;;- to where
they coidd command a prospect, they tound tli.it
they were not halt w.iy to the suminit, and that
mountain upon mount. lin l.iy pded luyoiid them,
in wintry desolation. I''aniislied .ind einai iated
as tlu-y were, to continue forward would be to per-
ish ; their only d' -nee seemed to lie to rej^ani thu
river, and retrace lieir steps up itsb.mks. It was
in this torlorn and retrograde march that they
h.id met .Mr. Hunt and his p.irty.
Mr. Crooks also ^^ave intorm.uion of some others
of their lei low adventurers. He h.id spoken several
day;, previously with .Mr. Reed and .Mr. .M'Kcn/ic,
who with their men were on the opposite side- ol the
river, where it was impossible toj^ct over to them.
T'hey informed him that Mr. M'l.ellan li.id struck
across from the little river above the niount.iins,
in the hope of talliiiff in with some ot the tribe of
I'Tatheads, who inhabit the western skirts ol the
Rocky r,inj,rf. As the companions ot Reed and
M'Kenzie were i>icke(l men, .md had lound pro.
visions more abundant on their side ot the river,
they were in better condition, and more titted to
contend with the dilficullies of the country, than
those of Mr. Crooks, and when he lost sii;lit of
them, were pushin^^ onward, down the course of
the river.
Mr. Hunt took a iiij,dit to revolve over his criti-
cal situation, and to determine what w.is to be
done. No time was to be lost ; he had twenty men
and more in his own party to jirovide for. .iiul
.Mr. Crooks and his men io relieve. T'o linifer
would be to starve. The idea ot retracinif his
steps was intolerable, and, notwithstandiiiLj .ill the
discour;i,i,nn).j accounts of the ru^jjediiess ot the
mountains lower down the river, In; wculd ! ,
been disposed to .attempt them, but the dipt
the snow with which they were covered deteri\ ..
him ; having already experienced the impossibility
ot hirciiiLf his w.iy at^^ainst such an impedinieiit.
T'lie only .alternative, theretore, appeared to be to
return and seek the Indian bands scattered alonjj
the small rivers .above the mountains. Perhaps
from some ot these he niij^dit jirocure horses enoutjh
to support him until he could reach the Colum-
bia ; tor he still cherished the lioiie ot arrivitiir at
that river in the course of the winter, thouj^h he
w.is a|iprehensive th.it few of .Mr. Crooks' party
would be sulliciently stroni; to follow him. Jueii
in adoiitinir this course he had to make uj) his
mind to the certainty of sever.il days of lamiiie at
the outset, for it would lake that time to reach
the Last Indian lodtres from which he had partc'd,
and until they should arrive there his jieojile
would have jiolhinjr to subsist u|)on but haws and
wild berries, exceiilintf one miserable horse, which
was little better than skin and bone.
After a nij^dit of slee|)less coi^rjtation, Mr. Hunt
announced to his men the dre.iry alternative he
had ad()])ted, and preparations were m.ide to t.ike
Mr. Crooks and Le Clerc across the river, with
the rem.iinder of the iiie.it, ;is the other party
were to keep up alonj^ ihe opposite bank. The
378
ASTORIA.
^ I
il'i
skin cmoc liad uiifortnnatcly hccn lost in llit;
ni),'lil ; ;i r.iit w.is ( oiiitrmtcd, tlicri'ti)rf, atluf liic
lu. inner ol tlu- natives, ot hunijles ot wiiluws, iiut
it I'oiild not he floated luntss the in)|ietiii>us eur-
rcnt. The men were <lire(ted, in enni^eiiueiici', to
keep on alon^; the river hy lhenisel\cs, whih: M .
Crooks anil l,e Clerc would proeeeil with Mr,
Hunt. Tliey all then look up their retro^frade
marth with droopiu); spirits.
In a little while it was tound th.it Mr. Crooks
and Le Clerc were so ieehle as to walk with dilli-
culty, so that Mr. Hunt was obli^jed to retard his
pafe, tiiat they nii);ht kiep up with him. His
men jrrew imp.iiient at the delay. They murmur-
ed that tlu'y h.id ,i lon^ ,ind desolate region to
traverse, iietore they eould arrive it the point
wiiere they mi^;ht e\peet to tind horses ; that it
was impossihie lor Crooks and I,e Clerc. in their
fcehle eondition, to ^r,.t over it ; that to remain
with them would only he to starve in their com-
pany. 'I'hey im|)oriuiied Mr. Hui.t, theretorc, to
leave these untorlun.ite men to their t.Ue, and
think only of the s.ifely ot himself and his party.
Findin^j him not to he moved, either hy entreaties
or their clamors, they hei^MU to proceed without
him, sini^ly .and in parties. .Anion^j those who
thus went off w.is I'ierro Dorion. the interpreter.
I'ierre owned the oidy remainin^j horse, which was
now a meri' skeleton. .Mr. Hunt h.id suj^^^ested,
in their present extremity, th.it it sliould be killed
for food ; to which tlu; half-hreed ll.itly refused
his assent, and ciid^rfHin^ the miser.ible animal
forward, pushed on sullenly, with the air of a
man do^^cdly determined to i|U.irrel for his rifrht.
In this way .Mr. Hunt saw his men, one alter
another break away, until but live remained to
bear him comp.my.
On the lollowinjc mornimf another raft was
made, on which Nlr. Crooks and I,e Clerc aj^ain
attein|)ted to ferry themselves across tlu; river, but
after repeated trials h.ul to j^ive up in desp.iir.
This caused additional delay ; after which they
continued to crawl forward at a snail's pace.
Some of the men who had remained with Mr.
Hunt now became imp.itient of these incum-
branct^s, and ur^ed him clamorously to push for-
ward, cryinjr out that they should all starve. The
ni^ht which succeeded was intensely cold, so that
one of the men w.is st'verely frost-bitten. In the
course of the niijiu .Mr. Crooks was taken ill, and
in the morninjr was still more incompetent to
travel. Their situation was now <les|)er.ae, for
their stock of provisions was reduceil to three
beaver skins. Mr. Hunt, therefore, resolveil to
push on, overtake his people, and insist upon hav-
mjr the horse of I'ierre Dorion s.icriliced for the
relief of .ill hands. Accordinj^ly I* left twi" uf his
men to help Crooks and I.e Cl< re on their way,
jjivinjj; fhem two ot the beaver skins tor their suj)-
port ; the remaining skin he retained, as |)rovision
for himself and the three other men who struck
forward with him.
chai'Ti:r x.xxvt.
At. I. that l.iy Mr. Hunt and his three comrades
travelled without eatini^. At nij.jht they made a
tantali/iii}^ supper on their beaver skin, and wen:
nearly exhausted by luinjrer and cold. The next
(lay, Hecember loth, they overtook the advance
party, who were all as mui h famished as them-
selves, some of them not havinj^ eaten since the
mornini^ of the seventh. Mr. Hunt now [iroposed
the sacrifice ot I'ierre Dorion's skeleton horse.
Heri' he .ifj,,!,, met with positive nml vcUm..,
opposition from the hall-breed, wliowasid,, ,|,
and vindictive a Kllow to be e.isilv i|i;i|| ^ '"
-....- . ,,,, ,||>;||| ^^,,,
Wh.it was sin^'ul.ir, the men, thoiii,'!, suiter'.,
su( h pinching' hun^jer, interfered
horse. Thev
reiircseiited that
ill fivomi I .'.
it was
inii-iu. 1 iiiv ii|iu-.->i-iiiiu iiiai 11 Was iMiirr ■»
keep on as \<tn^ as |)ossible withniit icsMrm , ..
this last resource. I'ossibly the Imlians, ni uV-
they were in (|iiest, \\\\^\n have shittd ihtiri-'i!
campment, in which ca^e it would be tiinecnoi;.^
to kill the horse to escape star\',ith
... u^ n
iiinluToth.ihts
sin lit \v.is ,-is uiii'X|i(tivi|
lilt: ciioi;;i
. , ,., '"■ Mr. liui:,,
therefore, was i)revailed upon to ^t.iiu IVt*
f.)orion's hor^e a reprieve.
Kortun.itely, thev had not iirorccdi d inui i ; ..
ther, when, tow.ird evening, they cmii,' m ,,|,,i,
ol a lodt^e ot Shoshonies, with a niir ' ■■ '
(,fr.i/in^f .iround it. 'I'lu
as it W.IS joyous. Having seen no Indians ii; ihij
neij;hborli 1 ,is tiny p.issed clown the river, ihcv
must have subse(|Uently come out tnmi ,imiin'i"»
mount.iins. Mr. Hunt, who lir^t dcM-rii'il ;!ii:'i"
checked the ea^'eriiess of his conipaniims, k„inv.
in|,f the unwilliiii^iiess of these linli.uis to ur.
with their horse-., .iiid their aptness i.i luirr\ ih^.-n
off and conceal them, in case of ,ni al.irin, TIis
W.IS no time to risk such a clis.ippoiiitinfiu. .Aq.
pro.ichin).(, therefore, stealthily .iiul silently, the/
came u|)()n the s.ivajjes by surprise, who lit; I in
terror. Five of their horses were iMj,a-rly voiieil,
and one was dispatched U|)on the sput. Thccr.
cass was immeil lately cut up, ,ind a p.irtuf it hiisuly
cooked and ravinously devoured. .\ m;in was
now sent on horseback with a supplv of the tloii
to .Mr. Crooks ,uul his comp.inions. Ilurearhcil
them in the ni^;ht ; they were so famished that tho
sujjply sent them seemed but to .ij^^MMV.it'- tiicir
hunjriM-, and thev were almost tcnipieil to kill.-ind
eat the horse that had br(>ii;;ht the niessiMi^'tr.
Availinj.j themselves ot the assist. iiue of tlij.i;;;-
inal, they reached the camp early in the ninrniii.;.
On arrivinj; there, Mr. Crooks w.is shockiilio
tind that, wdiile the jieople on this side ol the rivcr
were amply supplied with provisions, mine li:i;l
been sent to his own forlorn and taniisliiiii,' men
on the opposite bank. He iminedi.itely caiiscl a
skin canoe to be constructed, ;inil called out to his
men to fill their cam|)-keitles with w.iter and h,i;i,'
them over the tire, lh.it no time iniLjht he liisi :ii
cookiii"^ the meat the moment it should !)e receiv-
ed. The river was so narrow, thoiii^h dee|), th,;t
everything could be distinctly heard ,ind 3iiii
.across it. The kettles were plac' 1 on the lire,
.and the water was boiliiv.r bv the time the c.inie
was completed. When all was re.idy, howev.T,
no one would undertake to ferry the meat acnss.
.\ vajrue and almost superstitious terror had :a-
lected the minds of Mr. Hunt's followers, entit-
bled and rendered im.a<rinative ot horrors hy the
dismal scenes and sufferinf^s throiii^di which ihoy
had jiassed. They re^janled the ha;4j;-.ird crcv,
ho\erintf like sjiectres of famine on the opposite
bank, with indelinite feelings of awe and appre-
hension, as if something; desperate and danger-
ous w.is to be feareil from them.
.Mr. Crooks tried in vain to reason or shame '.hem
out of this sinj,nilar state of mind. 1 le then attempt-
ed to navifjate the canoe himself, but found ins
strength incompetent to bra\-e the impetuous cur-
rent. The ;rood feelings ot Ben Jones, the Ken-
tuckian, at lenvclh overcame his le.irs, and he ven-
tured over. The supply he brought w.is receiv.il
with trembling avidity. A poor Can.idian. hmv-
ever, nametl Jean liaptiste I'revost, whom famin';
h,id rendered wild and desperate, r.in fiaiiticaily
about the bank, after Jones had returned, crying
ASTORIA.
870
,1. ti Mr. Hiinl to send tlio canoe fur liim, nivl
."'t him trmii lli:il liiirrihle rc^jiun i)( l.iminc, dc-
nii" til'" "tli'T^^i^'" ''*' wmild never ni:irrli
n'lthcr stt'l'' '"" ^^'"'1'' ''^" ''"^^" tliere .iiul die.
\iK t.inii',' was sliorlly sent oMTaj^iun under
;,,. l„,,i,ajrcnient nt Jiisepli I )el,iiin.iy , with liir-
,,"^ ^iippljiv,. rri'vost ininiedi.itely presM'd tdr-
,', JrJ to I'lnli.ii-k. Delauna)' reiiHcd to admit liini.
.',;|i„M hull til, It llicie was now a sutruieiit supiily
oimc.it cm 111'' •'ide ot the river, lie re|ilied llia'l
iH.is nut iiinkcd, and lie sluuiid starve belore it
unready; lii; iin|)iiired, tiierel.ire, \n lie taken
wiierc lie <""l'l K^' sDiuelliinv; to ajipease his
huiver imnu'diately. Kindiii^f the eaiioe |iiiltinj;-
nllwitlmiit liiiii, he loiTud himself aboard. As he
,;rc«' near the (i|i|iosile shore, ami lielield nie.it
ri.htiiiL' lifliiie the lire, ho )uin|ied ii]), shouted,
i:i,i'i|)t.'il liis hands, and daneeil in a delirium ol
0,, until 1r' iijisct the canoe. 'I'lu.' poor wretch
uii swept away by the current and drowned, and
;;n,iiwitli cMieniediMicidty that Delaunay reacli-
e,l the ^li'irc.
Mr. Hunt imw sent all his men forward escepi-
ii'twii iir three. In the cveniiij; he c.iused
,;ii ilhcr iKir.ie to be killed, and ac.iiioeto be made
ri; 111 tlie skill, in which he sent over a liirther
,j,i|il\ ohiii'.il to the opposite party. The canoe
iriii^'ht h.ii'-: John Day, the Kentucky hmiier,
■I lu t.iiiie to join his tornu'r employer and com-
;;ii:iJtr, .Mr. Crooks. I'oor Day, once so active
,.;;.| \i),'(iriiiis, was now reduced to a condition
f.iii nrjre teehleand em.iciated th.in his comiian-
iii. .Mr. Crnuks had such a valui; for the iii.in,
o .icrtiuiit 111 his pa^it services and f.iillilul char-
i.t'.r, lli.it he determined not lo (piil him ; he e.\-
.iirii'fl .Mr. lliiiit, however, lo proceed lorward,
..id jdiii the party, as his presence was all impor-
;ii!'. til llie cdiuliiit of the expedition. One ol the
Liii.iilians, Jean liaptiste Oubreuil, likewise re-
;;iiiiii'(l with Mr. Crooks.
.Mr. Iluiii lelt two horses with them, and a part
«: liic carcass of the last that had been killed.
Tii:s, he hoped, would besufticient to sustain them
uiitii ihcv should re.ich the Indi.in encainpment.
Uncut the ihief daii;,rers attending' iheenleebled
conilition lit .Mr. Crooks and his compa'iions was
'.heir liL'iili; overtaken by the Indians whose horses
i.nl hccii seized, thouj,d'i .Mr. Hunt hoiied thai he
:.'. i ^'iiarded against any resenlnieiu on the i)art
0! tht: sav.'i^'es, by leaviiijr various articles in their
1jI,'c. more than suliicienl to compensate lor the
ouira^jL' he had been conijielled to coir.niil.
Kcsiimin^r his onward course, .Mr. lluiUcame
•>:n with his people in the evenin;,^ The next day,
iJacmlii-r i;,lh, he beheld several Indians, with
;:ira' horses, on the opposite side of the river, I'.nd
r.Utr,i time came to the two lod|,a'S which he had
Mn on ,u;oin;;- down. Here he endeavored in
'■iin to barter a rille for a horse, but a^f.iin s'ac-
cn-'li'il in ettectin^,^ the jjurcliase with an old tin
■'.-■ale, .-tilled by .a tew beads.
rhctwosuccee.liii^r(l-iy,s were cold and stormy ;
'■fsiiow was aui;ineiuin},r, and tliere was a j^aiod
:e.il of ice riinnnn;- in the river. Their road,
■ »VfVer, \vasbeciiinin<r easier ; ihey were f^etliiiL;'
:■")! the hills, and tinally emer^^ed' into the o|)^'n
'■'■i:ry, alter twenty days of fatij,nie, famine, and
■'riSiiipot every kind, i'n the inclt'cctual allempt
■■' jjiiil a pass,i;.;L' down the river.
Ihcynowencanijiedon a little willowcd stream,
'Jnninir troni the e.ist, which ihey had cros.sed on
'j -6th ot .Xiivember. Here ih'ey found a dozen
"«'« ot .Shu-^hoiiies, recently arrived, who in-
'■'"iicil them th.it had they persevered alon^r the
•••tr, they would have found their difticullies'auu--
mrnt tintil thry hpcamo .nlisnliitfly instirmnimt.i-
lile. This init'llij,'eiu t; ;iililed to the anxiety of
Mr. Hunt tor the l.iie ot .Mr. M'Ken/ie .md his
people, who had kept on.
.\ir. Hunt now todowed up the little river, and
elic, imped .It some lod(;iS ot Shodioliies, troni
sshoin he procured .i couple of hor-ies, a doj,', .1
lew dried Ii-.!', and some roots and diird i lu'iries.
Two or ihne d.i)s wi're exhausted in i)lit.iinini»
intorm.ition about the route, and wh.il time it
would take lo ^;et to the .Sciato>;as, a ho-,pit,ilile
tribe on the west side ot the mount. tins, repre»
seiited as iMxin^; many horses. The replies were
various, but concurred in s.iyiny; th.it thedisi.mce
was >;reat, and would occupy trom seventeen to
twenty-one ni^dils. Mr. Ilunl then tried to pro-
cure a ^uide ; but lhoiij,'h he sent to v.irioiis lodj,'e3
up and down the river, offering artii le~. ot ;,rreat
v.ilue in liidi.in estimalion, no one would \enture.
The snow, they said, was waist deep in the moun-
t.iins ; and to all his otters ihey shook their heads,
}4,l\i' a shiver, and reiilied, " Wi; shall tree/e 1 we
sh.dl tree/e !" At tlie s.ime lime they ur^jed him
lo rem.iin and pass the winter anion;,^ them.
Mr. Hunt w.is in a dism.d dilemin.i. To at-
tempt the mount.tins wilhoul a );iiide would be
cert.iin death lo him and all his people ; to re-
in, lin there, alter ha\in^ already been so lom; on
the journey, and at such ),^re.it expense, was worse
to him, he said, ihan "two de.iths." He now
ch,in,i;eil Ids tone with the Indi.ins, i liarL;eil tlu'in
with deceiving,'' him in respect to the mount, lins,
.'ind t. liking' with a " forked ton),aie," or, in other
words, with Kin^'. He u|il)raiile I tlu-m with their
w.int of coura);e, and told them they were wmnen,
to shrink Irom the perils ot sui h .i journey. At
leHLjlh one of them, pitjued by his i.iunts, or
tempted by his offers, a^jreed lo be his ^uide ; tor
which he was to receive a >fun, a pi>tol, three
knives, two horses, ;ind a little of every article in
possession ot the ]iarty ; a reward suliicienl to
m.ike him one of the wealthiest ot his va^^aboiul
nation.
Once more, then, on the 2 1 si of Deciniber, they
set oui upon their w.iytariiiH; with newly excited
spirits. Two other Indians accompanied their
^uide, who led them immediately b.ick to Snake
River, which ihey followed down for a short dis-
tance, in search of some Indian rafts made of
reeds, on w hich they mi^^hl cross. Findin^f none,
Mr. Hunt caused ;i horse lo be killed and a ca-
noe lo be made out ot its skin. Here, on the
opposite bank, they saw the thirteen men ot .Mr.
Crooks' ])arty, who had continued up aloiij;- the
river. They told Mr. Hunt, across the stre.ini,
that they had not seen .Mr. Crooks, .-ind the two
men who h.id remained with him, since the day
that lie h.id separ.ited from ihem.
'l"iie canoe proving;' too small, another liorse
w.is killed, and the skin of it joined to that ot the
llrst. .Ni^ht came on before the little b.irk h,id
made more than two voy.i^;-es. Ileinj^r badly
made, it was taken apart and |)ut together ai^'ain,
by the li^jhl of the I'lre. The ni^ht was cold ; the
men were weary and disheartened with such va-
ried and incessant toil and hardship. They croucii-
ed, dull and droopiiiL,'^, .irouiid their fires ; many of
them be^an to exjiress a wish to remain where
they were for the winter. The very necessity of
crossiiiLf the river dismayed some ot them in their
present enfeebled and dejected state. It was rapid
and turbulent, and tilled with lloatin^ ice, and
they remembered that two of iheir comrades had
already ]ierished in its waters. Others looked
forwartl with iiiisgivinys to ihe lory; and dismal
880
ASTORIA.
ei ;:
jnurncy through lonesome regions tluit .iw.iilfd
them, uluMi tlu-y should have passi-tl this tln-arv
tlood.
At .'III c.uly hour of tin- morning, DcicmlxT
;.ld. iIk'.v lii'j,MMto irii^is the ri\i'r. Mu<h ice h.id
fornieij dm iiiK the iiitjht, and lliey were ohii^jed to
lircak it tor some (lislaiue on eaeli siiore. At
ienntli they all j,'otover in safety to the west side ;
and tliiir spirits rose on having;' achieved this per-
ilous p,is>,aj;e. lien; tiiey were rejoined by the
people ot Ml', {'rooks, who h,id with them a horse
and a do^, which the\' had ri'ceiitly iirocured. 'i'iie
poor fellows were ill tlie most s(pia lid and emai iatcd
state. I'hri'e of them were so compleielv pro^traie(l
in strenj^ili ,iiid spirits th.il lhe\ evprrssed .1 wish
to rem.im anion;; the Snakes. Mr. limit, there-
fore, vj.ive tluiii the canoe, that tlu\ mi;;ht croNS
the ri\er, and a few ,uliiles, with wliic li to pro-
cure ni'cess.iries until they should meet with
Mr. Crooks. '{'here w.is .inoilur man, ii.imeil
Micliai 1 (■.iiriere, who w.is almost e(pi,illy reduceil,
but he determined to proceed with his comr.ides,
who Were now iin'orpiUMled with the pally ol Mr.
Hunt. .Mter tiled. ly's eNcrtioiis tliev encamped
together on the banks (d the river, '1 Ilis was the
last nij;ht they were to siieiid upon its borders.
More than ei^hl hundred miles ot hard tr.ivelliiii;
and in. my weary days h.ul it tost them, .md tlh-
sutferini{s (oiiiiected with it rendered it hatilul
in their remembrance, so th.it the Canadian voy-
aj.jeurs alwa\s spoki' ot it as " I, a maudite rivieie
fiir.ij^t'e" tlie .accursed mad river, tins couiilinj;
a m.ileiliction with its name.
hir luisb.md with another child. A^ ihcfnrit
.and ^'ood conduct <d the poor woni.ui li.nl,.,
for her ttie ^Jood-will (d the p;iru '
c.uised concern .ind perple\ity. j'
tier Miu,,,
I'lerri', hirw.
tre.ited the matter as an DCi-urrein i; ih
soon be .irr.inj;e(l .and need cause iin ilil.iv i..
rem.iined by his wile in the camii, unh hi,, i. ,
. 1..I.I ...'a !,:„ !..._ I ..: . ' '■
ami his horse, am. ,
main body, who procecdt(
proniiMd sddiu,,,,.
I'll 1:
CIIAITF.R X.XXVII.
On the 24lh of Peccmln'r. ;ill thint,'s bein^ ar-
ran^jed. .Mr. Hunt tunied his b.ick upon the disas-
trous b.inks of .Snake River, .and struck his course
Westward hu" the mount. lins. His party, beini,^
auj,niieiUed l)\- the Lite tnllowers ot Mr. Crooks,
nmouiued now to thirty-two white men, three In-
dians, ami the S(|u,iw .md two children ol I'ierre
iJorion. I'ive j.uled, lialt-starvi-d horses were
laden with their lu^;'.;'ay;e, and, in case of need,
Were to lurnish them wiili provisions. They tr.iv-
elled p.iiiilully about lourieeii miles a day, over
jjlains .iiid amom; hills, rendered dre.iry by occa-
sional tails of siu'- ■ and r.iin. 'I'lu'lr only suste-
nance was ;i scanty nu d ot horse-llesh once in
loll r-and -twenty hours.
On the third day the poor Canadian, Carriere,
one of the famished jiarty of Mr. Crooks, j^ave up
in desp..ir, and lyiii^ ilown ujion the ijround de-
clared he could j;<) no lariher. MIforts were m.ule
to cheer him up, but it was found that the jioor
iellow was absolutely exhausted .and could not
keep on his le;{s. He was niouiited, theref(U"e,
U|)on one of the horses, thoutrh the forlorn animal
was in little better plii^ht tli.iii himself.
On the 28th they came upon a sm.ill stream
windiiii;- to the north, tliri)U;^di a tine level v.illev,
the mountains reeediiiLf on each side. Here their
Indian Irieiids iioiiued out a ch.iin of woody
mount. litis to the left, runnintr north ;ind south,
and covered with snow, over which they would
have to pass. They kept aloii;^ tlie v.illey for
twenty-one miles on the 2yth, sulfering much from
a coniiiuied t.ill ot snow .and rain, and beinjj twice
oblif;-ed to ford the icy strt'am. I'.arlv in the fol-
lowinj,'' mornin;^' the stiu.iw of Pierre Dorion, who
I'.ad b.itherto kept on without nuirmurinj;- or Hinch-
uig, was suddeidy t.dicn in labor, and enriched
( hlldren
join the
111 .arch.
Kindiiij^ tli.at the little river enlinil ih,. i;,,,,
tains, they .ab.iiidoned 't, and turni i| oil tcjr , v ,
miles amoiij;- hills. Here anoilirr (.';iii,i(|,,p
named I, a Hoiite, j,Mve out, and had to In- lie -tij
on liors(d)ack. As the horse w.is lii(iui,,|.,
bear both him and bis pack, .\Ir. Hunt ii.i,„ i-
latter upon his own shoulders. Tlnis, wiili i:,;i.
cnlties auj^meiitm^f .it e\'erystep, tluy iiri;iili;,, f
toilsome way amoiijftlie hills, h, lit t'.inihhed ,i!i.i
faint .at he.irt, when they c.inie to win re a t.iir \,i;
ley spread out before them (d u'c.it cxti'iu, am;
sever, il le.i;;ues in width, With a hciiuitul strtic,
me.iiiderin^- tliroii;;li it. .A j,'eiiial clinuitf Sftir.i':!
to prev.iil here, tor thou},di tl'.e snow l.iy ii|iiin,i;;
the mmml.iins within sij^lit, there was iioiii; to 1 1
seen in tliir \alley. '1 he tr.ivellers j,'a/f(| wuh lit-
li^lit U|)oii this hcrene, sunny l.iiidsi-.ipf, liutil-.i,:
joy was ( omjilete on lu'lioldinn' six Inilj^i's ul .Shi.
shonies pitched upon the bordia's ol the ^l|•|;|I,;,
with a number of horses and ilo;;s .iliuiit iliim.
They .ill pressed forward with e.i^jerness ami sun
re. idled the c.amp. Here their lirsi .itteiilion w,i,
to obtain provisions. A rifle, .m old iiiuskn, a
tom.ihawk, a tin kettle, and a sin. ill (|iiiintiivcii
ammunition soon procureil them tour liursis, iliitc
dolors, and some roots. I'.iri of the live slock w,ij
immedi.itely killed, cooked with all e\iit(li!i":i.
and as promjitly devoured. A he.irty niiMl re-
I stored every one to ^ood spirits. In the cwim
! of the tollowiiii^ morninj^ the Horiim l.iiiiily m:i.:"
its reappearani e. I'ierre came tr.iil^'iii;; 111 !i,f
advania', tollowed by his x.iliied. tliiiii;,'li .ski'lciun
steed, on which was mounted his >(|',i.iw uitli '.he
new-born infant in her arms, and her hoy nt r.vo
years old wr.ajiped in a blanket and sliin^' ;ii htr
I side. The mothci looked ,as llllColu■erlu•(lasitlUl'.h•
i iii^r had h;ip])ened to her ; so easy is ii.iliirfin Icr
oper.itions in the wilderness, when tree trnm l.'e
enleeblim; retinemeiits ot luxury, and the t-imptr-
inj,fs and ,i|)pli,iii(a's of art.
The next morninj^ ushered in tlie new vim:
(i8i2). Mr. Hunt was about to resume his miiri!;
when his men retjuested permission to iclfhr.r.t
the day. This was partiiail.arly u[-'^ci\ hy ilis
Canadian voya^rcurs. with whom new-yu.ir's day
is a favorite' festival, and who never \villin,;'y
f;ive up a holiday, under any circiniisiaiKn.
There was no resistin;^ such an apjilication ; -0
the day was p.issed in repose ,uid leveliy ; liie
jjoor Canadians contrived to sin^^ and dance i:i
detiaiice of all their hardships, and there was ,1
sumptuotis new-year's baiupiel of dujj's-iiicat ami
horse-tlesh.
.After two d.iys of welcome rest tin- travclleri
addressed themselves once more to their paiiiUil
journey. The Indians of the lo(h.;es poi.tt.'d oi'.t
a distant j^ap throuf,di which they must pa^ in
traversinuf the ridi^t. ,it mount. lins. They assured
them that they would be but little i '■.;;( nil nwdtii
by snow, and in three days would arrive .imon,'
tlie Sciatogas. Mr. Hunt,' however, had hci'ii so
fretpiently deceived bv Indian acc:ninls of rouks
and distances, that he 't;ave but litii!. faith to tluj
information.
The travellers continued their course due west
ASTORIA.
Ml
''• '\'' the foniti:,'.
■ ^^""'.'M had .-,,,;,
►'• ''"'frc, hour,..
''"'■•■'•I"': thai,,,;
•aiNf ikkIh.h. li,'.
•""I'. Willi hi',„t-,;
"■""llMll Slllll, t„ fj'.
Tuiiclal oil II,,,.
'■••lll'Tr(lth..nir,ir.
"ii'ii<<l<)|(f„r,,vv
•""'tli'T Caiuhm,
'I'l li.iil to lie hrpd
'• \\Ms tun \M.,t ,,
. '^Ir. IliinttdiiKi'-
'■ 'I'll"'*, with (!i!i.
'•p. tlu'V iirKrilihtr
<. Il.llt l.llllhhKl ,,|;,1
■l"\\lii'i-i'al,i:r\,i:'
't Ki'Mt cxifm, ai,,;
1 ■'" iH.iutituI vrrc.
iii'il iliinali/ scfnv;
u snow lay iipifl,,;;
ITL- W.IS nolle to ■ ;
il'T'< K'i/''il witlulc.
■ iiKlscnpc, hmtht;:
«■ SIX ln(l>;cs Ot Sho-
"lli-rs (i| Ihf stITai;;,
I iloj;s alioiil ihtiii!
i-.-iKiTiii'ss ami yi ,!i
■ tii'sl attfiuidn tt.i,
'. an old iiui.,kd, j
I sniall (|iianiitv u:
II lour iiorsfs, ilirrc
I tile livi' stork Wai
illl all f\|lf(|l!lrrl.
A luMrly nuMl re-
nts, ln'thciii!ir>t
^"I'ioii lamlly my,':
■ liM(l;,'iii;;' inu,,'
. tli(iiij,'li nkdflu:)
is .-(|ti,iw uiihthe
111 her lioy ol nvo
and sliiM),' at htr
)n(■^•|•|U■(la^itlll,!h•
>y is natiiri'inhcr
u'li tree Irom ve
and iht taniinr-
in the new year
n-siiiiic Ills mariii
issioii ti) ci'lfhrais
riy iir;,'c(l by i!i!
Ill iicw-yi-ar's (lay
lU'Vcr \villiii;,'y
lirciinistaiiii!.
Ill application : ^o
and irvelry ; the
iij;' .\w\ (lance i;i
and tluTc was a
)l d(ii,f'b-im:alai;(l
est llu' travelleri
L- to ilifir paiiiiiil
kI'jcs poiat.'d m;;
hey nuisi p.is^ in
'riicy a^sur(•(l
itllc ir,;-()iiiniodrtl
lid arrive nnion,'
\er, had Ih'cii so
_'c;)imts of rouiri
lilli:. lai'Ji to this
course due west
,,.|lv((|ayi, rrovsinR the valley and rnlcrinK the
■'miMiH, IIlT"' the iravillin^; ltc( amc l-mi'ss-
,,,iv taiUcinu-, across roiiKli stony rnl^fs. and
..,',|tdlen iriTS. Thry were oltcii knci- deep in
Vil and M)niflinic's in thi' hollows liciwci'ii ihc
rii-o^ank up to their waists. Thi' wcithcr w.is
lacnicly culd, the sky covered with . loiids, so
,i,',l |,ir days they h id not a j^linipse ol the sun.
l',,,r,,,crsiiin the' highest rid^'' tliey h.id a wide
|,'„ j|,il|jnK pru-ipeil over a wilderness of snowy
riniiitiiii'' , , , ,
(Hiiic^ilhiif J.iiiu iry, Iiowcmt, tiiey h.ul crossed
thf ilividin;,' siiininil'id the ch.iin, and were evi-
(|h|iiIv miller the intlucncc of a milder elini.ile.
•](■,,., now liej;. Ill to decrease, the sun oiu c more
fiiiiTKi'd Iroiii the thick e.mopy of clouds, and
sh)ii"iiH'<'riiiKly t'l''"' lliem, and they caiiv;ht a
n r|ii nt what .ippc.ired to he a pl.iin sireti hin^;
ij"; la the west. They hailed it .is the poor Is-
rulili-- h.iiled the tirst j,dimpse nt the promised
li", I, tor they llattered thems(d\es that this miKht
k- ilif nre.it plain ot the Columliia, and th.it their
r,uiitui pilnrini.i^je mi>;ht he drawlnjr to a idi.se.
It u.is now live d.iys since they h.id letl the
Idfjei ot the Shoshonies, durin;,^ whiidi they h.'id
lime .ihiiut siNty miles, and tlu ir j,niide as->ureil
them tii'it ill the course of the next day they would
su' the ScialoK'as.
On tile followiii;,^ morilinj,', iheridore, they push-
ti! fiir.v.ird uith ea),f ernes.-., .-ind soon ftdl upon ;i
5,1. ill stream whicii led them tliri)Uj;h a deep, nar-
rjiv dililc, hetweeii stupendous rid^a-s. Here
aiMii;; the nicks and preciiiices they saw Kan^;s
(■; th.it inmiiil.iiii-lovin^f .uiimal, the hhick-t.iiled
deer, and c.inie to where i;re,U trai ks of horses
were to he seen in all directions, made hy the In-
(li.m luiiiters.
The billow h,iil entirely dis.ippe.ired, .and the
hjpe.s ol soon coinin-- upon sonic' Indi.in eneani|i-
niciit iiiihued .Mr. Hunt to press on. Many of the
men, liowever. Were so enteehle.l th.it lliey could
r.ii keep up with the m.iin hody, hut hi^^K'^'d. at
interv.ils, hehiiid, and some of them did not ar-
rive at the iii^dn eiicampnient. In the course of
this day's march the recently horn child of I'ierre
D-iri-m (lied.
Tne march w.is resumed early the next morn-
ir.,', without w.iitiii),' tor the str.-idfijlers. The
-■.u-un which they h.id followed throu,i,diout the
[reudinjr day was now swollen hy the inllu\ uf
another river; the deidivities of the hills were
K'reeiiand the valleys were clothed with jjrass. At
icn;jtli the jovi.il cry was jrjven of "an Indian
cain|)!" It was yet in the distance, in the hos(>m
otthe;;reeu valley, hut they could perceive tli.it it
I'jnsisted of numerous lodfres, .and that hundreds
"t hordes were j;r,i,dn;,' the ^(rassy meadows .iround
i:. T;ie prospect ot ahundance' of horse-llesh dif-
lu.>e,l universal joy, lor hy this tiiiK; the whole
s'.'ik ot tr.ivellini;- |)ro\ isions w.is reduced to the
Su'letoii .steed ot I'ierre Dorion, and another
J'-elched animal, eipially em.iciated, that iiad
i'--a rqieatedly reprieve, rdurinj,^ the journey.
.V lorced march soon hrou,i;iit the wearv and
h''ini;ry travellers to the camp.' It proved tii he a
-T ei;; p,irty ot .Sciato;;,is and Tus-che-pas. There
■"•iethirty-tinir lo,ljrt.s, coniiort.ihly constructed of
"•''■=; the In.li.ms. too, were hett'er clothed than
-■:•■ III the wiiiderinir hands they had hitherto
•■••ton this Mile of the Rocky Mountains. Indeed
; '•■V were as well clad .is the .ifi-neralitv of the wdid
•J:uer tribes. Each had a '<(ood huf'f.ilo or di er
"^■^ robe ; and a deer skin huntinir shirt and lej;-
!>;"'■ l-pwardof two thousrind horses were r.an;,^-
'■i the pastures around their encampment ; hut
wh.it deljjrhtrd Mr. Hunt w.ih, on enli'rin;j tho
lod^,'es, to hidiold hrass kettle., axes, copper te.l-
kettles, and v.irious other .irin Ics ol i ivili/ed m.m-
ut,ic|iire, whii h '.howcd th.it these Indian-, h.id .11)
indirect communn .ition with the people ol the se.».
co.ist who 'r.ided \Mth the whites. He m.ide »M^,'tr
ilwpiirics of the Sci.ito^;.is, .mil ^^.ithercd Irom Ihein
lli.it the KiiMt river (the l.'olunihl.i i. w.is luit two
d.iys' man li dist.int, .mil lh.it sever. d whilr pioplu
h.id nil ntly descended it, who hr hoped iiiit;lit
pro\e to he M'l.idl.m, .M'Kiii/ie, .ind tlit ir com-
p.mions.
It was with ihe utmost joy, and the most pro.
found ).;r.itituile to Heaven, that .Mr. Hunt loiiml
hinisell ,ind his h.iiid ol we.iry and l.imi-,hiiiu
wanderers, thus s.ih ly extrii ,iled from the iimst
perilous p.irt of ilieir lonj; jnurney, .md within thu
prospect ol .1 terniin.iiion of tlnir tmls. .\ll the
straKj,deis, who hid l.inj;ed ludimd, arrived, one
.liter another, excepiiii;; ihi' poor Can, idi.in \()ya»
};i'iir, ( .irriere. He h.ul heeii seen l.ile in the prece-
ding .ilternoon, ridiiiif hrhind a Sn.ike Indian, near
some lo(lj;-es of th.it nation, ,i lew miles distant
from the last nij,;hl's enc.mipnirnt, ,inil it w.is
expected that he would soim m.ike his appcir.mcc,
'Ihe lirst (d)jeet ot .\Ir. Hunt w.is to ohtain pro-
visions for his men. A little veni.nn, (d an in-
litlereiit (pialily, ,ind some roots were all that
could he ])rocured that evening,' ; hut the next d,iy
he succeeded in punh.isini; ,i ni.ii'e and colt,
wdiich wire imme.li.itidy killed, ;md the cr.uinjfs
of the h.llf-st.irved people in some di^'iee .ippe isi-d.
For several days they rem. lined in the nni^hhor-
hood ot these Indians, re|)osiiij;' after , ill their h.ird-
ships, and le.istint^ u|)on horse-lh sli and roots,
ohtained in suhseipieiil traltic. Man) of the people
ate to such excess ,is to render ibemselves sick,
otlu'rs were lame troin their p.ist j uiniey ; hut all
(,nMdually recruited in the reiiose ,in 1 ahimdaiu e
of the valley. Horses were ohtained here much
more re.idily ;ind .at .i che.iper r.iie ;h,in .imon^
the Sn.ikes. A hl,iid<et, :\ knife, or .i half pounil
of hliie he.uls would pundi.ise ;i steed, ,ind .it tlii.s
r.iti' m.inyof the men hou^ht hor-.e , tor their indi-
vidual use.
This trihe ot Indi.ms, who .ire repn seiited .is a
proud-spirited race, and uncommonlv cle.mly,
never e.it horses nor do^'s, imr would tiiey permit
the r.iw flesh of idther to he hioU',;ht into their
huts. They had a sm.ill (|Uantity of vi'iiison in
e.ich lod^r,., hut set so lii);h a price upon it that
the white men, in their impoverished state, could
not alfi-rd lo purchase it. They hunted the deer
on luM'seh.ick, " rinj;in,i;," or surrounding,' them,
;iiid runninjj them down in a ciia le. They were
.■idniiral)le horsemen, .mil their weapons were
l)iiws .111(1 arrows, which they nian;n;ci| willi j^^rcit
(lext(-rity. They were .ilto^rether primitivi' in their
hahits, and seemed to cliii;j to the us.it^^es of s.iv-
aj;e life, even when possessed (d the aids of civili-
zation. They h.ul ,ixes ammi;^' them, yet they f^en-
er.iUy made use of a stone m.illei wroiiLjhi into
the sh.'ipe of a hottle, and wedLfes ot (dk-h(M'n, in
splitting their wood. ThoUL;li they niinlil h.ive
two (U" three hrass kettles hanL,dn.L'; in their lodj^res,
yet they would treipiently use \-cssels m.ide ot
wdllow, for carryiii|4' water, and would evc-ii l)oil
their me.at in them, l)y means ot liot stones. Tliidr
women wore caps of willow neatly worked and
ti;4ured.
y\s C.irriere, the C.inadian str.ij^f^^ler, did not
make his ap])e,iraiice lor two nr three d.iys after
the enc.ini])nient in the valley, two men were sent
out on horsidiack in seandi ot him. They return-
ed, however, without success. The lodges ot the
3S3
ASTORIA.
<f
liM '■ -I:
i^ I
I^H
Snnkp Indians nrar which lie had been scon were
removed, and Uu-y could lincl no trace ot iiini.
Several days more el.ijjsed, yet nolliin)^ was seen
or heard ot him, or ol the Snake horseman, behind
whom he had been last observed. It was teared,
therefore, that he hail either perished through
huni,^er and taiij,'ue ; had been murdered by the
Indians , or, beini; left to himself, hail mistaken
some luMUiiii;- tracks for the trail oi the parly, and
been led astiay an<l lost.
The river on the banks of which they were en-
camped, emptied into the Columbia, was called by
the natives the Mu-o-tal-la, or L'm.it.dla, and
abounded with bea\er. In the cour.ie of their so-
journ in the \,dley wldch it watered, they twice
shitted their cunp, |iroceedini;; about lhirt\ miles
down its course, which was to the west. A heavy
fall of rain caused the river to overllow its banks,
dislodn't'd them Irom their encampment, and
drowned thrte of their horses, which wei'e tether-
ed in the low !;i'ound.
Further conversation with the Indians satisl'ied
them that they were in the neiLjliborhocd of the
Columbia. The number of the white r.ien who
they said had |),issed down the river, a^jrced with
that of M'Lellan, .M'Keii/iie, and their comi)an-
ions, and increased the hope of Mr. Hunt that
they minht h ive passed throuL,di the wilderness
wilil salety.
These Indians had a vaj^ue story that white
men were comint,' to trade anuni^them ; and tlie\
often spoke ol two ^reat men named Ke-Koosh
arid J.iccpiein, who ;.;'ave them tobacco, and
smoked with them. Jacipiean, they said, had a
house somewhiMe u|)on the yreat river. Some of
the Canadians su])posed they were speakin;,^ ot
one Jac{|uean I'inlay, a clerk of the .Northwest
Company, and infeired th.it the house must he
some tr.idin.:.;' pjsl on one ot the tributary streams
of the Columbia. The Indians were oxerjoyed
wiien they tound this band of white men intended
to retui-n and trade with them. They jjromised to
use all dili^rence in colleclinj;' (piantities of beaver
skins, and no doubt proceeded to ni.ike deadh'
war upon tii.it sa^^.icious, but ill-f.ited animal,
who, in }i^eiieral, lived in peaceful in.siijnilic.mce
amonj.; his Indian nei.^hbors, belore the intrusion
of the white iradi-r. On the ;oih of January, Mr.
Hunt took lea\e of these friendly Indi.ins, and of
the river on which they were encamped, and
continued westw.ird.
At lentjtli, on the following,' day, the wayworn
travellers lilie<l up their eyes and beheld before
them the lon;.^-sou;.,dit waters of the Columbia. The
sif^ht was hailed with as much transport as if they
had alreaily reached the i-nd of their pili^rima^e ;
nor cm we wonder at their joy. Two hundred
and forty miles h.id they marched, throui;h winirv
wastes and ruL^ujed mountains, since leavin^r ;',nake
River ; and si:c months ot pi-rilous w.iyfarini,^ had
they e\])erii'nced since their departure from the
Arickara vili.'.;.;o on the Missouri. Their whole
route by land and w.iler from that |)oint liad been,
accordinu,r to tluit computation, seventeen liun-
dred and tiliy-one miles, in the course of which
they had enduied all kinds of hardships. In l.ict,
the necessity ot avoidinf,r ihe dantjerous country
of the iSlackteet had oblij^ed them to make a beml
to the south, and to traverse a j.;reat adtlitional ex-
tent of unknown wilderness.
The |)l,ice where ihey struck the Columbia was
some distance below the jiuiction ol its two ^reat
branches, Lewis and Cl.irke I\ivers, and not far
from the influx of the W.dlah-W.illah. It was a
beautilid stie.iin, three C|uarters of a mile wirle,
totally free from trees; bordered in snnv> Vr^j
with stee|) rocks, in others w itli pebhlcd sl'.i/''ts
On the banks ot the Colunibi.i they Iouik! a ,, .
erable horde ot Indians, called .Akai-cliii., « • "
no clothin},^ but a scanty mantle ot the^kmsj]
animals, and sometimes a pair of sleeves ot wii''-
skin. Their lodj;es were shaped like a tent ••'ii
very tight and warm, beinj,^ covered with r,i,i;5;i
rushes ; beside which they had excavati'ins i
the j,n-ound, lined with mats, and occupied b. ■'-
-t
cupied Iv.
women, who were even more sli;,duly cl.,ij ;-
the men. These ])e()i)le stdisisted cliidly hv :• i-.
inj,' ; havin;.;' canoes of ;i rude cor.stnicli'on, he"-'
merely the trunks of pine trees split and Iviilnv^
out by lire. Their lod;.,res were well sturid ivr-i
dried salmon, and they h.id j,'ieat <iii.intitiij a
Iresh salmon trout of an excellent tlavcir, liktr, ,-.t
the mouth of the I'matalla ; id which the triv.
ellers obtained a most acceiitahle supply.
Findin); aat the ro.id was on the im'rth ^ille^j
the river, Mr. IlinU crossed, ai;.l cuiitinui-il r,ve
or six days travellin;^ r.ither slowly down ,il.^: i
its banks, beini; much delayed by the slr.i'.i: ■ ^:
the horses, and the attemjus made liy the l;;i!;.,:.j
to steal the;,,. They treiiuiaitly passed liiijc?,
wl'.ere they obtained lish .icd doLjs. At oiiu place
the natives had just returned Iroin liuntiiii;. ,in!
had brou),fht back .a lar),re tpiantity ot elkamliler
meat, but asked so hi}(h a price tur it .as to W: ;.•.
yond the funds ot the travellers, so llu'V l'.,i(l ;o
content themselves with do;4's tlesh. 'I'liiv i-,,d
by this time, however, come to consider it wr,'
j choice fond, superior to horse tlesh, anil tln' mii
I utes of the expedition speak rather exultiiifjly nnv
and then, of their havinj^ made a " faiii.iiis re-
< ]).ist," where this \-iand hapjiencl to he uiiii^m;!,'
: pleiitv.
; They af^ain learnt tidinjj;s of some ot the scat-
I tered members ol the xiiedition, supposed tn iie
! .M'Ken/.ie, .M'l.ellan, and iheir men, whu h.nl pre.
I ceded them down the i , and had overl'.!r;u\l
i one of their canoes, by whicii they lost ni.iny ar;;-
■ cles. All these tlo.alin^ ])ieces of iiUellii;i:ire"'t
1 their fellow adventurers, who had separaleil Iron
I them in the heart of the wilderness, they receiveJ
] with eaL;'er interest.
i The we.uher continued to be temperate, irark-
1 iiiLf the su])erior softness of the climate on th;5
side of the mountains. I'or a ;^reat part t it the
time, the davs were deIi,L;httully mild .imlu(.;r,
like the .ii'rene d.iys of ( ictober, on the .Atl.iir.ic
borders. The country i:i ;;ener.d, in t! .' iic;.;!;-
borhood of the river, was a ci.ntinual iilaiii, 1 iv;
near the water, but rising ^n-adu.dly ; destitute of
trees, and almost without shrubs or plants ot a;;y
kind, exceptini;' a few willow bushes. Alter tr.iv-
ellin^' about sixty miles, they came to where the
country became very hilly and the river niaiie :■.$
way between rocky banks, and down nutiureiis
r.ii)ids. The Indians in this vicinity were hitti-r
id. id and alto.o'ethi'r in more prosperous coniiiti'n
than those ;'ibove, and, as Mr. Hunt thoiii;l;t,
showed their consciousness ot ease hy sometliin,,'
like sauciness ot manner. Thus prosperity is rdtt
to produce arroj^ance in s.avai^e as well as in I'lvi-
li/ed life. In both conditions, man is an aiiimal
that will not bear |)amperinjj.
From these people Mr. I li nt f(n- the t'lrst time
received vai,rue but deejilv interesting;' itUell)|,'Ci;ce
of that p.irt'ot the enteriii'ise which had prmw.«l
b\ sea to the mouth of the Colunihia. '"y":
dians spoke of a number of white men who luJ
built a large house at the mouth ot the ^reat river,
and siirrouiifled it with ]ialisades. None ot tnem
had been down to Astoria themselves ; hul ru-
ASTORIA.
383
■^rcd in sinv p'i-a
■i llifv Idiim! :i ^1 ■
<l Ak;ii-rh|,,'v..i
III Slfuvt's ol WoV;
)c;l likcatciu, a'^
'VCrcil with I-,l,U3;j
;i>l i-'xcavatiuiii -4
ikI 'icciipifd hv;'l
■ sliKlnly cL.i:;" i,
ti'<l rhiclly bv :':::-.
Cdiislnictilin.'lur .
split ami lv.il„r..;
re Wtll stun,! -a;;-!
,ni-at (|iian!itii.,s i.!
(-■Ill tlavur, likv:; ,;t
ot wliicii tht; tr,.v.
lie supply.
Ill the north suk .f
niiil continih-l ;■,..
slowly down ;; t
I by the straMi,.; '
ink- by tin- lV,i!:.,:,i
tly iKisst-d \.\^,<
I'^S. At uiv- pU;
IfDin lulnlil,^', ,i;,|
lity ot elk ami i;.
■ tor it as to h'- , .
l"s, so tlk'v !;,-ii| ;)
tlcsh. Tli.A i,,;,!
to consider ;t V'.-v
ilesh, and tl:- ii,:;{.
Iiei- e\u!tinj;iy iv w
lie a " lani^'us rt-
ed to be muMia!:,-
; some ol the scat-
in, suppiisi'i! t(i ';ie
lien, who ii.:il jir;.
id had overi'.!iT.i',l
ley lost niai'iV ai::-
i of inteilii;i iicf 'i
ad separateil tio".i
ess, they leicucJ
temperate, n'ark-
e elimale i)!i this
,L;reat ]>arl nt iho
\- mild ami I'l.ir,
r, (in the .Ail.ur.ic
r.d, in tl : iiei;;!:-
lUiiiual plain, 1 '■■'.•
div ; desliui'.eot
■, or [dams et a;;y
lu'S. Alter tr..v-
mie to wlk-retlv;
the river ni.ule ".j
down nin;uri'.i5
rinity were i^'-tScr
sperous comiit; in
•, Hunt thoui;!.;,
ise by soliiethii:,'
prosperity is .,! t
;is well as HI eivi-
ni.m is an animal
for the tnst t;:r.e
stinj;- inle!lii;o:'.ie
h h.id proi-c'-ilnl
iiiiibia. 'I he in-
lite men wlioh.iJ
)| the };reat river,
None ot them
iiselves ; hut r'J-
mirs spread widelv and mpidly from mouth to
uth iimm,!,' ihi-' Indian tribes, and are carried
p '■■!. h«ari ol the interior, by liuiuinjr parties and
„,,,,.,;uv hordev
The establislimeiit ot a tr.idiiij^r emporium at
I,., point, also, was calcul.iled to cause a seii-
,,•1011 to the most remote parts ot tlie vast wllder-
,' .„ hevoiid the mountains. It, in a manner,
strick the pulse ot the K!''';>t ^'itiil river, and vi-
L,i-,jtclupall its tributary streams.
it h siirprisint,'' to notice bow well this remote
tribe ot sav,i(,'es Had learnt, throuj;h intermediate
„',.jjps, the private leelin,i;s ot the colonists at
'\,tiiria'; it shows that Indians are nut the iii-
airhiu> and iiiditferent observers tli.it they have
hall represented. They told Mr. Ihiiit that the
wi.ite people at the large house had been lookiiijr
a;i\ioii>!v tor many ot their trieiids, whom they
i\ul expected to descend the j;reat river ; and had
jiceii 111 iiHi^^'li altlictioii, tearing' that they were
l„\, Sow, however, the arriv.il of him raid his
i-irty would wipe away all their tears, and they
vv mid (lance and sin.tj tor joy.
On the 31st of Jaiuiary, Mr. Hunt arrived at the
fils ,ii the Columbia, and encamped at the vil-
li -;■ r.; Wish-ram, situated at the he.id of that
(i,."!!-! r 'US |)ass of the river called " the long nar-
rowi."
CIIAI'TKR X.X.WIII.
Onhevill.a;jeof Wisb-r.im, the aborigines' tish-
in; mart ot the Columbi.i, we have gi\en some
ruvouiit in an early cli.apter of this work. The
iatuhitants held a traflie in the productions of the
li-heries of the falls, and their villa.ge was the
irailin;,' resort ot the tribes from the co.ist and
iriai t!u' mountains. Mr. Hunt found the inliab-
iMiils >hre\vder ami more intelligent than any In-
ilaiiis lie had met with. Tr.ide li.id shar|)ened
tiieirwits, though it had not improved their lion-
Ci'.y ; tor they were .1 community of arrant rogues
aiil treehooters. Their habitations comp.irted
with their circumstances, and were superior to
any the travellers h;id yet seen west of the Rocky
Mouiu.uns. In general the dwellings of the sav-
a^'cs nil the Pacilic sideot tli.it gre.it barrier, were
n'.tre tents and cabins of m.ats, or skins, or str.aw,
the country being destitute of timber. In Wish-
r.im, oil the contr.iry, the houses were built of
wood, with long sloping roots. The floor was
sunk about six feet below the surface of the
ground, with a low door at the gable end, ex-
trtniely narrow, and partly sunk. Through this
i'.w.ts necessary to crawd, and then to descend a
short ladder. This inconvenient entrance was
rrohahly for the jiurjiose of defence ; there were
lojp-holes also under the eaves, .apparently tor the
dischar^'e ol arrows. The houses were large,
generally containing two or three families. Im-
mediately within the door were sleeping places,
ran^'al along the walls, like berths in a ship ; and
furnished with pallets of matting. These ex-
tended along one-h,ilf of the building ; the re-
H'',iiiiiiv.r halt was approiiriated to the storing of
(iricdllsh.
Ihc trading operations of the inhabitants of
Wish-ram had given them a wider scope of infor-
nation, and rendered their village a kind of
h«di|'.iarters of intelligence. Mr. Hunt was
i:w, therefore, to collect more distinct tidings
concerning the settlement of Astoria and its af-
fairs. One ot the inhabitants had been at the trn-
'^H past estalilislied by Daviil Stuart, on the
(^akinagan, nnd h.td pickcti U]) a few word.s of
I'jigli.ih there. From him, Mr. Hunt gleaned
various ji.irticulars about that e.-it.iblishment, as
well as abiuit the gener.il concerns ot the enter-
prise. Others repeated the name ot Mr. M'Kay,
the partner who perished in the massacre on
board of the Ton(|iiin, and gase some account of
that melancholy affair. 'I'liey said, ,Mr. .M'K.iy
was a chief among the white men, and had built
a great house .it the month of the river, hut had
Icit it and sailed away in a large ship to the north-
w.ird, where he had been att.icked by b.ul Indi.ms
in canoes. Mr. Hunt w.is startUd iiy this intelli-
gence, and made further in(|uiiaes. They inforni-
ed him tli.it the Indians had l.islie 1 their c.uioes to
the slii]), .111(1 louglit until they kille 1 him .and all
his people. This is .another instance ot the (de.ir-
ness with wdiich intelligence is tr.iiisiiiitted from
mouth to mouth among tlu' Indi.in • .lies. These
tidings, though but ]),irti,illy credited by -Mr.
Hunt, filled his mind with anxious torebodings.
He now endeavored to [irocure canoes in -.vhich to
descend the Columbi.i, but none suit.ible for the
|)iirpose were to be obtained above the narrows ;
lie continued on, therefore, the distance of twelve
miles, and enc.imped on the b.iiik ol ih.e river.
The cam]) was soon surrounded by loitering sav-
ages, who went prowling about, seeking wh.it
they might |)ilfer. Indng battled by the vigilance
of the gu.ird, they eiuleavored to 1 onipass their
ends by other means. Toward evening, a iium-
berof w.irriors entered the camp in rurilmg style ;
p.iinted and dressed out as if tor battle, and armed
with laiu'es, bows .ind arrows, and se.ilping knives.
They informed Mr. Hunt that ;i p.irty ot thirty or
forty br.ives were coming up from ,1 vill.ige below
to .attack the cam]) .and carry (df the horses, but
tli.it they were determined to stay with him, and
detend him. .Mr. Hunt received them with gre.it
coldness, and, wdien they had t'lnislu'd their story,
.gave them a |)i|)e to smoke. He then called up
.all li.ands, st.itioned sentinels in dilfereiit (luarters,
but told them to kee|) as vigilant an eye within
the camp as without.
The w.irriors were evitlently bifded by these
])recautions, and, having smoked tlieir pipe, and
vapored off their valor, took their dep.irture. The
farce, however, did not end lieri'. .Alter a little
while the w.irriors returned, ushering in .another
savage, still more heroically arrayed. This they
announced as the cliiid of the belligerent village,
but as a great ]),acitic,itor. His people h.id been
furiously bent U|)(M1 the .itt.ick, and would have
doubtless carried it into elfect, but this g.illant
chief had stood forth as the friend id the wdiite
men, and had dispersed the throng by his own
.authority and jirow'ess. Il.ning v.iunted this
sign.al piece of service, there w.is ;i signilicant
pause ; all evidently expecting some .adei|uate re-
w.ard. Mr. Hunt .again jiroduced the pipe, smoked
with the chieftain .and his wortliv comjieers ; but
made no further demonstr.itions ot gr.ititude.
They remained about the c.inip all night, but at
daylight returnee, baftleil ,ind cresti dleii, to their
homes, with noth.ng but smoke for their pains.
Mr. Hunt now emle.ivmed to procure canoes, of
wdiich he saw several about the neighborhood,
extremely well ni.ade, with elevated stems ,and
sterns, some of tluMii cap.ible of carrying three
tlious.and ])ounds weight. He found it extremely
dillicult, however, to deal with these slippery peo-
ple, wdio seemed much more inclined to jiilfer.
Notwithstanding a strict guard maintaineil round
the camp, various implements were .stolen, anci sev-
eral horses carried off. Amonjj the latter we have
384
ASTORIA.
m
l! ;^;
(I '
to include the lonff-cliprishcd steed of Pierre Do-
rioii. Froin sonic wiltiil caprice, that worthy
pitched his tent at sonu: distance Ironi the main
iioily, and tctiu'red liis invaUiahie steed beside it,
iroin wlieiice it was abstracted in tile ni^jlit, to tile
inlinile cliaj,Min and iiiorlilication of ilie hylirid
interpreter.
llavint;, after several days' nejjotiation, ])ro-
cured llie rii|' !sit(? nunihcr of canoes, Mr. Ilunl
would i^ladly iiave left lliis lliievisli nci).(lil)iir-
hood, l)iit \sas detained until tlie Stli (jf February
by violent iuad winds, accompanied l)y snow
and rain, luen alter he was enaliled to j;et
under way, he had still to struj^^de against
contrary winds and teni|)estuous we.ither. 'I'lie
cmrent of the river, however, was in Ids t ivor ;
having m.ide a ]iortaf;fe at the grand rapid, the
canoes met with no further obstruction, and, on
the afternoon of the 15th of l^'ebruary, swejit
round an intervi'niiig rape, and came in sight of
the infant settlement of Astoria. After eleven
months wandering in the wilderness, a great part
of the lime over trackless wastes, wliere tlie sight
of a savage wigwam was a r.irily, we may im-
agine the (leliglit of tlie jioor weatlier-lieateii trav-
ellers, at beholilingihe embryo establishment, with
its maga/.iiies, habit.itions, and i)ick('ted bul-
warks, sealed on a high point ol land, dominating
a l)eaulitul little t.ay, in which was a irim-lmilt
shallop riding (|uielly at anchor. A shout of jo\'
burst from each canoe at the long-wislied for
sight, 'f'liey urged iheir canoes across the bay,
and pidled with eagerness for shore, where all
hands poured down from tlie settlement to receive
and welcome ihem. .Vmong the first to greet
ihem on their landing, were some of their old
conir.ides and fellow-sufferers, who, under the
conduct of Reed, M'Lellan, and M'Ken/ie, hid
jiarted from them at the Caldron Linn, 'i'hese
liad reached .\sloria nearly a month |)reviously,
and, iuJging tioni their own narrow escape frt)m
star\ation, had given u]) Mr. Hunt and his follow-
ers as lost. iheir grei'ling was the more warm
and cordial. .Xsto the Canadian voyageurs, their
mutual felicitations, as usual, were loud and vocif-
erous, ;ind it was almost ludicrous to behold these
ancient " conir.ides" and " confreres," hugging
and kissing e.ich other on the river bank. \\'lieii
the first greetings were over, the different baiifls
interchanged accounts of their several wander-
ings, after siparatiiig at Snake f<iver ; we shall
briefly notice a few of the leading particulars. It
will be recollecle;l by the reader, that a small ex-
jiloringdetacliment had proceeded down the river,
under the conduct of Mr. John Keed, a clerk of
the com|)aiiy : that another had set off under
M'Lell.iii, and ;i tliirtl in a different direction, un-
der M'Ken/ie. After wandering for several days
withouV meeting with Indi.iiis, or obtaining any
suppli(S, they c.inie together fortuitously aiiioilg
the Sii.ike l\.iver mountains, some distance below
that disastrous pass or strait, wliicli had received
the aii|)ellalion of the Devil's .Scuttle Hole.
When thus united, their p.irty consisted of
IM'Keiuie, M'L'.'llan, i'leed, and eight men,
chielly Can.ulians. I'eing all in the same jiredie-
ament, withoiii horses, provisions, or inform, ition
of any kind, they all agreed that it would be worse
than ust'less to return to Mr. Hunt and encumber
liim with S'l many starving men, and that their
only course was to extricate tht'mselves as soon
as ])ossible from this land of famine and misery,
and made the best of their way for the Columbia.
They accordingly continued to follow the down-
ward coarse of Snake River ; clambering rocks
and mountains, and defying all thp (litf,|.„it;,
and dangers of that rugrgcil deiile, which su'i'is"
(|ueiitly, when the snows had fallen, \\tas|(,i, i
impaiisable by Messrs. Hunt and Crooks. '"
Though consl.nilly near to the herders of •-<
river, and for a great p.irt of the tiiiie- within sir
of its current, one of their greatest siiflcninjsvi-
thirst. The river had worn its wav in a d "
channel througli rocky mountains, destiiut- 7-
brooks or sjirings. Its banks were so hi -hV'
precipitous, that there was r.irely any ijl.icAvKr-'
the tr.avellers could get down to drink ils\va;rV
l''re(|uently they suffered for miles tin- tdrnitn's , •
■fanialus ; w.'iier conliiiu.illy within sl"ht, v-i
fevered with the most parching thirst, llciei,'
there they met with rain-water cullecttd in ij^j
hollows of the rocks, but more tliaii once thtv
were reduced to the utmost extremity ; am! son-;
of the men had recourse to the last expcilic:;'.-,
avoid perishing.
Their sufferings from hunger were equaiiy ^-.
vere. 'I'hey could meet with no g.uiie, nhij m: ■.
sisled tor a time on strips of beaver skin, lirn;,,-,;
on the coals. 'I'hese were doled out in siimtv:;..
lowances, b.arely sutlicient to keep ii|) exi^tcWr,
and at length failed them allogetl'.er. Siilit;,-;
I crept feebly on, scarce dragging one liiiiiiaiiTr
i another, until a severe snow-storm hroujjlu ii;v:r.
to .1 pause. To struggle against it, in liicir ■■.•
' hausti-d condition, was impossible: ?.o cn\uT,! ,■
under an impending rock at tin: toot of ;i s'av;
mountain, they prep.ired themselves fur ti.i'.
wretched fate which seemed inevit.i' '•■.
At this critical juncture, when I, .mine stare]
them in the face, .M'I,ell;in c.-isting up his ivt\
beheld an ahsahta, or bighorn, shelterint; list:
under a shelving rock on the side of tlic hill ;ib(.vc
them. Deing in a more active |iliglu tb.nii anvc:
liis comrades, ;ind an excellent ni:n'ksnian, hcsc:
off to get within sliot of the animal, fliscim-
]):inions watclucl his nio\'enients with Inx-.ilh.iss
anxiety, for their li\-es depended upon his biuciss.
He made a cautious circuit: scranihled ii|i;':;e
hill with th(' utmost silence, and at length .'irrivi.'!,
unperceived, within a proper distance. Hcrt; liv-
elling his rille he took so sure an aim, th.mhe
bighorn tell dead on the spot ; a fortunate ciroini-
st.ance, for, to pursue it, if merely wuumli'i!.
wduld h.ive been ini]iossible in his enimi:!'.'.'!
st.ite. The declivity of the hill enabled him to
roll the carcass down to his companions, «!■.)
Were too feeble to climb the rocks. They tt-ilw
woik to cut it U|) ; yet exerted a remark:ilili' st;:-
denial for men in their starving condition, lur
they contented themselves tor the iiresent will; .1
soup made from the bones, reserving the llt'sh It
future rep.'ists. This providential relief ^Mi
them strength to ]nirsue iheir juiirney, I'Ul ihcy
were fre(pienll\' reduced to ;dniost i(|ual stiaiis,
I and it was only the smallness of their party, re-
i (juiring a small supply of provisions, that eiialu'l
; them to get through this desolate regiuii \vi;:i
their lives.
At length, after twenty-one days of tnil ,inil
suffering, ihey got through these liiountaiiis, a:i'J
.arrived ;it a liibutary stream of that branch nf tr.e
Colunil)i;i called Lewis Kiver, of which .Snake
Kiver forms the southern hirk. In this nei}(hiiHr-
hood they met with wild horses, the first iIhv
had seen west of the Rocky .Mountains. From
hence thev made their wav to Lewis River, where
they fell 'in with a friendly tribe ot Indians, who
freely administered to their necessities, llnthis
river they procured two canoes, in which they
dropped 'down the stream to its cunllucnce witi)
ASTORIA.
385
,i,e '"ulumbi'i. and then down lliat river to Astoria,
liaci-c they iurivctl haggard and emaciated, and
„;rfcctly ill '■ai,'s. r^, .,
Thus, all the leading persons ot Mr. Hunt s ex-
relitiori were once more gathered together, ex-
"t-'i'is, (lesiiiut- r
[ii,,r Mr. Crooks, of whose safety they enter
uiiicd but little ho|)e, considering the feeble con-
, lliiin ill wliiih they had been compelled to leave
him 111 the heart ot the wilderness.
\ il.iv w.is now given up to jul)ilec, to cele-
i.Mtc the arrival ot .Mr. Hunt and his companions,
^J,| the joyliil meeting ot the v.arious scattered
^uii.l otailveimirers at Astoria. The colors were
, .jjsted ; the guns, great and small, were fired ;
iiutf was a feast of lish, of beaver, and venison,
whidi relished well with men who had so long
iiicn L'lad to revel on horse tlesh and dogs' meat ;
ai'ciiial allowance of grog was issued, to increase
the "■eiieral animation, and the festivities wound
w, as usual, with a grand dance at night, by the
Canadian voyageurs.*
CILVPTER XXXIX.
TiiF. winter had passed away tranquilly at As-
oria. The apprehensions of hostility from the
natives hail subsided ; imleed, as the season ad-
vance;!, the Indians for the most i)art had disap-
piared from tin; neighborhood, and .abandoned
tie sea-coast, so that, for want of their aid, the
oiiinists had at times suffered consideral)ly for
want of provisions. The hunters belcnging to
t:i- establishment made fre([uent and wide excur-
sions, but with very moilerale success. There
Wire some deer and .a few bears to be found in
the vicinity, and elk in gre.it numbers ; the coun-
trv, hoivever, was so rough, and the woods so
c.js-j and ent.ingled, that it was almost im|)ossi-
i;icto heat up the game. The prevalent rains ot
winter, also, rendered it diflicult for the hunter
ij keep his arms in order. The (|Uantity of game,
thcrelure, brought in by the hunters was exlreme-
iy scanty, and it w.is frequently necessary to put
aii hands on very moderate allowance. Toward
sprinij, however, the fishing season commenced
-the season of plenty on the Columbi.i. .About
the l)e;,nnning ot l'"ebruary, a small kind of fish,
a'ljut six inches long, called by the natives the
uihltcan, and resembling the smelt, made its ap-
pearance at the mouth of the river. It is said to
I); (if delicious Iktvor, and so fat as to l)urn like a
camlle, for which it is often usetl by the natives.
Centers the river in immense shoals, like sijlid
cilumns, often extending to the depth of five or
mire feet, and is scoo|)ed uj) by the natives with
snnii nets at the end ot poles. In this w;iy they
will soon till a canoe, or form a great he.ip upon
lae river banks. These lish constitute a princijjal
article ot their food ; the women (Irving tlumi ;ind
striiiijing them on cords. .-Vs the iithlecan is
only tound in the lower part of the river, the ar-
rival of it soon brought back the n.itives to the
wast; whoag.iin resorted to the factory to trade,
3:id Irom that time furnished plentiful sujiplies ot
liie sturgeon makes its appearance in the river
''m\y after the uthlecan, and is taken in differ-
i^'it ways, by the natives : sometimes tliey spear
The distance from St. Louis to Astoria, by ifie
rwe travelled by Hunt and M'Kenzie. was upward
«1 ihirty-five hundred miles, though in a direct line it
aoes not exceed eighteen hundred.
it ; l)ut oftener tliey use tlie liook and line, and
the net. Occ.isionally, they sink a cord m the
river by a heavy weight, with .a buoy ;U llie upper
end, to keep it floating. To this cord several
hooks are alt.iciied by short lines, ;i few feet dis-
t.iiit from each other, and baited with small lish.
This ap|)aratus is often set tow.ird night, .and by
the next morning several sturgeon will be h)unu
hooked by it ; for though a large and strong lish,
it m.ikes but little resi^itance when ensnared.
The s.almon, which are the ])rinu; lish of the
Columbia, and as important to the piscatory
tribes as are the buffaloes to the hunters ot the
])rairies, do not enter the river until toward the
Latter p.art of May, from which time until the mid-
dle of .August, they abound, and ,ire taken in v.ist
(luantities, either with the spear or seine, and
mostly in shallow water. An inferior s|)ecie3
succeeds, and continues from August to Decem-
ber. It is remarkaule for having a double row of
teeth, half an inch long and extremely sharp,
from whence it has received the name ot the dog-
toothed salmon. It is generally killed with the
spear in sniall rivulets, and smoked hir winter
provision. We have noticed in a former chapter
the mode in which the salmon .ire taken and cured
at the falls of the Columliia ; and jiiit u\) in par-
cels for exi)ort;ition. From these iliffereiil fisher-
ies of the river tribes, the establishment at As-
toria h.id to derive much of its precarious sup-
plies of provisions.
A ye.ir's residence .at the mouth o\ ihi' Colum-
bia, and various expeditions in the interior, had
now given the .Astorians some ide.i ol the coun-
try. The whole coast is described as rem.irkably
rugged .'ind mountainous ; with densit forests of
hemlock, S])ruce, while and red ced.ir, cotton-
wood, white oak, white and swanij) ;ish, willow,
and a few walnut. There is lik"wise .in i-ntler-
growlh of aromatic shrubs, creepers, and clam-
iiering vines, th.it render tne forests .almost impen-
etrable ; together with berries of xarious kinds,
such as gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries,
both re(i and yellow, vi-ry large and finely tlavor-
ed whortleberries, cranberries, srr\ i(\d)erries,
bl.ickberries, currants, sloes, and wild anil choke
cherries.
Among the flowering vines is one deserving of
p.articular notice. Each llower is composed of
six leaves or petals, about thrix' inches in length,
ot a be.iutiful crimson, the insidu spotted with
white. Its leaves, of a fine gieen, are oval, and
disposed by threes. This plant climbs upon the
trees without attaching itself to them ; when it
has re.iched the topmost branches it discentls
perpendicularly, and as it continues to grow, ex-
tends from tree to tree, until its \-arious st.dks in-
terl.ace the grove like the rigging of a ship. The
stems or trunks ot this vine are tougher .uid more
tlexible than .villow, and are Iroin lilty to one
hundred fathoms in length. From the lilires, the
Indians ni.inufaciure baskets ot such close tex-
ture as to hold water.
The principal (|U.idru]K'ils that l!.ad been seen
oy the colonists in their various expeditions were
the st.ig, fallow deer, hart, black and gri/zly
bear, antelope, ahsaht.i, or bighorn, be,i\a-r, sea
and river otter, muskrat, fox, wolf, and panther,
the latter extremely rare. The only domestic an-
im.ils among the natives were horses ;ind dogs.
The country abounded with atpiatic and land
birds, such as swans, wiKl geese, l)ranl, ducks of
almost every description, pelicms, iieruiis, gulls,
snipes, curlews, eagles, \iiltiires, crows, ravens,
magpies, woodpeckers, iiigeons, partridges, pheas-
38G
ASTORIA.
5 -;:li '
f IS
,u
iiy^^
tlif only dangerous
, .111(1 oru; striped with
.'Uioiit tour leet louf;.
one ;d)out nine or Icn
ol tile tail, ritul three
The t.iii was round.
ar.ts, jrrouse, and a great variety of singing
birds.
There were few reptiles
kinds were the rattlesnake,
Ijlaik, yellow, and white
Among the li/ard kind was
inches in length, exclusive
inches in circumference,
and of the same length as the body. Tlie head
w.is triangular, coven/d with small sjjuare scales
The u|)per p.irt ol the body w;is likewise covered
with sm.ill scaU^s, green, yellow, black, and blue.
ICach toot h.id live toes, furnished with strong
nails, probably to aid it in burrowing, as it usually
lived underground on the plains.
A remarkable tact, ch.iracteristic of the country
wc' of the Rocky Mountains, is the mildness
am. e(|uability of the climate. That great moim-
tain barrier seems to divide the continent into
different climates, even in the same degrees of
latitude. The rigorous winters and sultry siuii-
iners, .and all the capricious ineciualities of tem-
per.iture prevalent on the Atlantic side of the
mountains, are but little felt on their western de-
clivities. The countries between tliem and the
Pacific arc blessed with milder and steadier tem-
jierature, resembling the climates of ])arallcl lat-
itudes in Europe. In the jjlains and valleys but
little snow falls throughout the winter, and usually
melts while tailing. It rarely lies on the ground
more than two d.iys at a time, except on the sum-
mits of' the mountains. The winters are rainy
ratiier th.m cold. The rains for live months,
from the middle of October to the middle of
March, are almost incess.int, and often accom-
])anied by tremendous thunder and lightning.
The winds |)revalent at this season are from the
south and southeast, which usually bring rain.
Those from the north to the southwest are the
harbingers of fair weather and a clear sky. The
residue of the year, from the middle of .\Iarch to
the michlle of October, an interval of seven
months, is serene and delightful. There is scarce-
ly any rain throughout this time, yet the face of
the country is ke])t fresh and verd.int by nightly
dews, and occasionally by humid fogs in the
mornings. These are not considered prejudicial
to health, since both the natives and the whites
sleep in the o[)en air with ]iertect impunity. While
this ec|u;ible and bland tenijierature prevails
throughout the lower country, the ])eaks and
ridges of the vast mountains by which it is domi-
nated, are covered v.ith perpetual snow. This
renders them discernible at a great distance,
shining at times, like bright summer clouds, at
other tinv.'S .assuming the most aerial tints, and
always forming brilliant and striking features in
the vast l.indscape. The mild temperature prev-
alent throughout the country is attributed by some
to the succession of wimls from the Pacific l)cean,
extending from latitude twenty degrees to at least
titty degrees north. These tenijier the heat of
summer, so th.it in the shade no one is incom-
moded !)y pers])iration ; they also soften the rigors
ol winter, and produce such a moderation in the
climate, th.U the inhabitants can wear the same
tlress tliroughout the year.
The soil in the neighborhood of the sea-coast
is of a brown color, inclining to red, and general-
ly poor ; being a mixture of clay and gravel. In
the interior, and esi)ecially in the valleys of tlie
Rocky .Mountains, the soil is gener.'Uy blackish ;
though sometimes yellow. It is frequently mixed
with marl, and with marine substances in a state
of decomposition. This kind of soil extends to a
considerable depth, as may be pcrcrived in t-.
ileep cuts made by ravines, and by tl,,. |,^,i_"'
rivers. The veget.'ition in these v.il'leys i, niu^'-
more abundant th;m near the coast ; fn t;ict V
in these fertile intervals, locked up hctwci-n L '
sierr.is, or scooped out from barieii uasies ii ■
jKipul.ition must extend itself, ,is it were, iinv"
and r;imilkations, if ever the regi<iiih Ijt'yuiidv/
mountains shoultl become civili/.eil.
CHAPTER XL.
A URIF.F mention has already hcca ni.ideoiti.
tribes or hordes existing about the lower part u!
the Columbia at the time of the seiilcnaMit ; .iifj
more jiarticulars concerning them may he accept.
able. The tour tribes nearest to AstrMia, ar„;
with whom the traders had most iniercoursi'
were, as has heretofore been ohserveil, iheL'l,;!
nooks, the Clatsops, the W'ahki.uiiiiis, and t:,;
Cathl.amets. The Chinooks residcil chietlvaloii'
the b.iiiks of a river of the same name, runnir,i'
p.arallel to the sea-coast, through a lnw coumrv
studded with stagnant ])ools, and cniptviii;,' iijc.;
into Maker's Hay, a few miles from Cajie Disi;.
liointment. This was the tribe over which Cii,.
comly, the one-eyed chieftain, lieKl swa\ ; ::
boasted two hundred and fourteen lij^hlitij,' iifcr:,
'I'heir chief subsistence was on tish, with an uc-
c.ision.il regale of the llesh of elk and deer, ar.<:
of wild-fowl from the neighboring ponds.
The Clatsojis resided on bc.tii sides of I'oir,;
Adams ; they were the mere relics of a iri'x
which had been nearly swejit off by the smallpox.
and did not number more than one liuiuhed an.;
eighty lighting men.
The \V';ihkiacums, or Waak-i-cums, inhahiicl
the north side of the Columbia, anil numherti
sixty-six warriors. They and the Cliinouks wcrt;
originally the same ; but a disjuite arisiiij,' ahuu:
two gener.itions (irevious to the time ol the seiiii-
ment between the ruling chief and his hrolhi-r
Wahkiacum, the latter seceded, and with his ad-
herents formed the jiresent horde which coiuiii-
ues to go by his name. In this way new tri'iti
or clans are formed, and lurking c.uises ol hos-
tility engendered.
The Cathlamets lived opposite to the lower vil-
lage of the W'ahkiacums, and inmihcred iiiiiity-
four warriors.
These four tribes, or rather cl.ins, have every
a])pearance of springing from the s.une uri,'i:i,
resembling each other in person, dress, lanijuaije,
and manners. They are rather .i diniiiuitive na-.
genera/.y below five feet live inches, with crookcJ
legs and thick ankles ; a delorniity caused !iy
their passing so much of their time sittini; or
squatting upon the calves of their legs, and tl.cir
heels, in the bottom of their canoes ; a t.ivimit,'
])osition, which they retain, even when on shore.
The women increase the deformity hy weanr,;'
tight bandages around the ankles, v.hich pnver.t
tlie circulation of the blood, and ciuse a sweliin.;;
of the muscles of the leg.
Neithersex can boast of person.il heanty. Their
faces arc round, with small, but animated eyo.
Their noses are broad and flat at top, and tleiiiy
at the end, with large nostrils. Tliey have wwc
mouths, thick lips, .and short, irregular and dirty
teeth. Indeed, good teeth are seldom to he seen
among the tribes west of the Rocky Mountains,
who live chiefly on fish.
In the early stages of their intercourse with white
ASTORIA.
887
"^ ["^rci-ived
in fy
' ;-'"''^' ; 'II tact, i: '■;
liari-L-ii wastes, n,,.
:»s It Were, m vt ^^
'y I't-'cn ma(le(,t!i.
ut tlic Idwlt pan ;,|
t; seitleineiit ; at-j'
lieni may he ,Kccp|.
St to A'stiiria, ar.i;
"lost iiiaTciiursi-
oliscrved, theCli;!
il<i:iciinis, and t!,-
L'sidcl cliietlya,i,i,J
:inie name, ruiin;-'
>'i,i;h a low couiiir,-
ind I'mpiyiiiiri;,.;.
■i Iroiii Cajie lJ;s:i>
e over which Cm-
1. liekl swav; :;
■tc-eii fif,'luin^''mtri.
'11 liili, with an oc-
elk and deer, am!
iii^^ pDnds.
i>tii sides of I'oir.t
; relics of a tn'ic
'ff liy the smallpox.
II oiiu luiiulrd aii,l
•i-cii!iis, inhnhiic:
and iiumhcrcl
lie Chinoukj wire
juuc arisiiij,' aimi);
time of the si-nii-
and his hrnilu-r
and with hisaii-
"(le which coniHi-
IS way Hew ti:'in
iiy causes ut l;u3-
e tn the lower vil-
uiniliered ninety-
clans, have every
the same ori,'i:i,
dress, laiii^u.isju,
diinimitive rate,
les, with crodki-l
rniity caused ':•]■
r time sittini; or
r lef(s, and tr.cir
noes ; a taviitjle
1 when on shore,
niity by wearir,;;
which |)rtvc!;t
cause a sueiiin,^'
1 heanty. Thiir
animated eyes.
t to|), and tlcbivv'
They have wule
^rular and dirty
Idoni to he seen
■ky Mountains,
ourse with white
„fn these savages were but scantily clad. In
unimer time the men went entirely naked ; in the
.„(i;rand in had weather, the men wore ;i .small
\., r^achini; to the middle of the thij^h, made
oMlie skins of animal.s, or of the wool of the
.,'„,jntiin sheep. Occ.isionally, they wore a kind
,.( mantle of matting-, lo keep off the rain ; l)iit
i- ,;n" thus protected the back and shoulders, they
jj' ir^. re^i ut the body naked.
"Xne women wore similar rohes, though shorter,
■ ,• riMciiiiij; liflow the waist ; beside which, they
'ti: a kind of petticoat, or fringe, reaching from
t c u,i:st lo the knee, formed of the tilires of ce-
brokeii into strands, or a tissue of silk
twisted ,inil knotted at the ends. This was
dress of the women in summer ; should
to wt-ailicr be inclement, they added a vest of
siiins, similar to the robe,
Tne mei
jSeard, - - „ o ^ .
with disgust at the whiskers and wcll-lur-
ri chins ot the white men, and in derision
Long-beards. Uoth sexes, on the
I the hair of tlie head, which
!,.r !iarK,
iliuiai iu III*- 1 V..I/V,.
iKU cuetully er.ulicated every vestige of
, considering it a gre.it deformity. 'I'hey
Iwk
niihei
called them __ „
o'.ncrhand, cherished the -. ...^ ..^ ^..
ifith them is generally black and rather course.
Tney allowed it to grow to a great length, and
Were vcrv jiroucl and careful of it, sometimes
woirin;; it plaited, sometimes wound round the
.'.till in fanciful tresses. No greater affront could
ji; Dftered them tiian to cut off their treasured
bcks.
Thcv had conical hats with narrow rims, neatly
tt.,vcn of hear-grass orot the fibres of cedar bark,
ir,erujven with designs ot various shapes and
colors ; sometimes mciely stpiares and triangles,
at other times rude representations of canoes,
with men tishing and harpooning. These hats
Were nearly water|)roof, and extremely durable.
The favorite ornaments of the men were col-
lars oi hears' claws, the proud trojjhies of hu.U-
in,' exploits ; while the women and chiklren wore
similar decorations ot elks' tusks. An intercourse
\v:ih the white tr.iders, however, soon effected a
ctianj;e in the toilets of both sexes. They became
!ond of arraying themselves in any article of civi-
lized dress which they could procure, and often
made a most grotesc|ue appearance. They adapt-
e! Ill my articles of finery, also, to their own jire-
vious tastes, fioth sexes were fond of adorning
tnciiiielves with bracelets of iron, brass or cop-
per. They were delighted, also, with blue and
tthite heads, particularly the former, and wore
briad tif,du bands of them round the waist and
sikles ; large rolls of them round the neck, and
pendants of them in the ears. The men, especial-
•y. whi), in savage life carry a passion for person-
:■ decoration farther than the females, did not
iMnkiheir gala e([uipments complete, unless they
nil a Jewel of hai(|ua, orwampun, dangling at the
niie. Thus arrayed, their hair besmeared with
-'nnil, and their bodies bedaubed with red clay,
:-.-y considered themselves irresistible.
When on warlike expeditions, they painted
iieir t.aces and bodies in the most hideous and
jrotesijue manner, according tn the universal
prattiee of American savages. Their arms were
f>m and arrows, sjiears, and war-clubs. Some
wre a corslet formed of |)ieces of hard wood,
j;"ed tojjpther with bear-grass, so as to form a
'^ptcoat of mail, pliant to the body ; and a kind
c:cas(|ue ot cedar bark, leather, and bear grass,
s'Jiticient to protect the head from an arrow or
«rckil). A more complete article of defensive
I'aior was a buff jerkin or shirt of great thick-
ness, made of doublings of elk skin, and reaching
to the feet, holes being left for the head and arms.
This was perfectly arrow proof ; add to which, it
was often endowed with charmed virtues, by the
spells and mystic ceremonials of the medicine
man, or conjurer.
Of the ijeculiar custom, prevalent among these
people of flattening the head, we h.ive already
s|)oken. It is one of those instances of human
caprice, like the crip])ling of tlie feet of females
in China, which are <)uite incomprehensible.
This custom jirevails jjrincipally among the tribes
on the sea-coast, and aliiuii the lower parts ot the
rivers. How far it extends along the co.ist we
are not able to ascertain. Some ol the tribes, both
north and south of the Columbia, pnictise it ; but
they all speak the Chinook language, and prob-
ably originated from the same slock. As t.ir as
we can learn, the remoter tribes, which spe'.ik an
entirely different language, do not ll.itten the
head. This absurd custinn declines, also, in re-
ceding from the shores of the I'acitic ; tew traces
of it are to be found among the tribes ot the
Rocky Mount.iins, and after crossing tlie moun-
tains it disappears altogether. Those Indians,
therefore, about the head waters ot the Columbia,
and in the solitary mountain regions, who are
often called Flatheads, must not be supposed to
be characterized by this deformity. It is .an .ippel-
lation often given by the hunters east ot the moun-
tain chain, to all the western Indians, excepting
the Snakes.
The religious belief of these jieople was ex-
tremely limited and confined ; or rather, in all
])rol)ability, their explanations were but little un-
derstood by their visitors. They had an idea of
a benevolent and omnipotent spirit, the creator
of all things. They re[)resent him as assuming
various shapes at pleasure, but generally that of
an immense bird. He usually inhaljits the sun,
but occasionally wings his way through the aerial
regions, and sees all that is doing upon earth.
Should anything disjilease him he vents his wrath
in terrilic storms and tempests, the lightning be-
ing the flashes of his eye, and the tlumder the
clapping of his wings. To propitiate his favor
they offer him annual sacrifices of salmon and
venison, the first-fruits of their tishing and hunt-
ing.
Beside this aerial spirit they believe in an in-
ferior one, who inhabits the tire, and of whom
they are in perpetual dread, as, ihougli he pos-
sesses eciually the power of good and evil, the
evil is apt to predominate. They endeavor,
therefore, to keep him in good humor by tre(|uent
offerings. He is supposed also to have great in-
tluence with the winged spirit, their sovereign
protector and benefactor. They implore him,
therefore, to act as their interpreter, and procure
them all desiral)le things, such as success in tish-
ing and hunting, abund.ince of game, lleet horses,
obedient wives, and male children.
These Indians have likewise their ))riests, or
conjurers, or medicine men, who iireiend to be in
the confidence of the deities, ;ind the expounders
and the enforcers of their will. ICach of these
medicine men has his idols carved in wood,
representing the spirits of the air and of the lire,
under some rude and grotcscjue form of a horse,
a bear, a beaver, or other C|uadrui)ed, or that of
bird or fish. These idols are hung round with
amulets and votive offerings, such as beavers'
teeth, and bears' anl eagles' claws.
When any chief i)ersonage is on his deri.th-bed,
or dangerously ill, the medicine men are sent for.
Each brings with him his idolii, with which he
388
ASTORIA.
Ml!
il^i
« ''I
i.i
*.![
!
retires into a canoe to hold a consultation. As
doctors are prone to disagree, so these metlicine
men have now and then a violent altercation as
to the malady of the patient, or the treatment of
it. 'I"o settle this they heat their idols soundly
against each other ; whichever first loses a tooth
or a claw is considered as confuted, and his vo-
tary retires from the field.
rolyg.imy is not only allowed, but considered
iionorai)le, and the greater numher of wives a
man can maintain, the more important is he in
the eyes of the tribe. The first wife, however,
takes rank of all the others, and is considered
mistress of the house. Still the domestic estab-
lishment is liable to jealousies and cabals, and
the lord and master h.is much difficulty in main-
tainmg harmony in his jangling household.
In the manuscript from which we draw many
of these iiarticulars, it is stated that he who ex-
ceeds his neighbors in the number of his wives,
male children and slaves, is elected chief of the
village ; a title to office which we do not recollect
ever before to have met with.
Keuds are fretjuent among these tribes, but are
not very deadly. They have occasionally jiitched
battles, fought on ap|)ointed days, and at s|)eci-
fied places, which are generally the banks of a
rivulet. The adverse parties post themselves on
the ojiposile sides of the stream, and at such dis-
tances that the battles often last a long while be-
fore any blood is shed. The number of killed
and wounded seldom exceed half a dozen. Should
the d.'image be equal on each side, the war is con-
sidered as honorably concluded ; should one
party lose more than' the other, it is entitled to a
compensation in slaves or other pro[)erty, other-
wise hostilities are liable to be renewed at a fu-
ture day. They are much given also to predatory
inroads into the territories of their enemies, and
sometimes of their friendly neighbor.;. Should
they fall u|)on a band of interior force, or upon a
village, weakly defended, they act with the feroc-
ity of true poltroons, slaying all the men, and
carrying off the women and children as slaves.
As to the pro|)erty, it is[)acked upon horses which
they bring with them for the purjiose. They are
mean an(i jjaltry as warriors, and altogether in-
ferior in heroic (jualilies to the savages of the
buffalo plains on the east side of the mountains.
A great portion of their lime is passed in rev-
elry, music, dancing, and gambling. Their niu-
sic scarcely deserves the name ; the instruments
being of the rudest kind. Their singing is harsh
and discordant ; the songs are chiefly extempore,
relating to |)assing circumstances, the persons
present, or any trilling object that strikes the at-
tention of the singer. They have several kinds of
dances, some of them lively and pleasing. The
women are rarely jiermitted to dance with the
men, but form groups apart, dancing to the same
instrument and song.
They have a great passion for play, and a va-
riety of games. To such a pitch of excitement
are they sometimes roused, tht they gamble away
everything they ]iossess, even to their wives and
children. They are notorious thieves, also, and
proud of their clexterity. He who is frequently
successful, gains much applause and popularity ;
but the clumsy thief, who is detected in some
bungling attempt, is scoffed at and despised, and
sometimes severely punished.
.Such area few leading characteristics of the na-
tives in the neighborhood of Astoria. They ap-
pear to us inferior in many respects to the tribes
east of the mountains, the bold rovers of the
prairies ; and to partake much of the Esquim,!.,
character; elevated in some dcgrte by ,, ni, ..
genial climate, and more varied style of livinjr''
The habits of traffic engendered at then.
racts of the Columbia, have had their imluJ^
along the coast. The Chinooks and oilu-f i.'
dians at the mouth of the river, soon jjrovMl ihw!
selves keen traders, and in their i-arlv (li'.i'iin .'
with the Astorians, never hesitated Id asktlv!
times what they considered the real v.ilui; o' -
article. They were inquisitive, also, in ihc «!
treme, and impertinently intrusive ; mi wej
prone to indulge in scol'fmg and ridicui", ai;h;
expense of the strangers.
In one thing, however, they showed superior
judgment and self-command to nioht o( ihfir
race ; this was, in their abstinence from anltr.t
spirits, and the abhorrence and dis).ni.ii wilii
which they regarded a drunkard. Onuneocc,,.
sion, ason of Comcomly had been induced to drins
freely at the factory, and went home in .isiaicoi
intoxication, playing all kinds of mad pranks,
until he sank into a stu|)or, in which In: i\mainej
for two days. The old chieftain rcpiMrwl lohij
friend M'Dougal, with indignation tiair.inj; in his
countenance, and bitterly reproached liini ior
having permitted his son to degrade hiin>,iiti:r,o
a beast, and to render himself an object ut scora
and laughter to his slave.
CHAPTER XLI.
As the spring opened, the little settkmentoi
Astoria was in agitation, and prepared lo send
forth various expeditions. .Several impurtint
things were to be done. It was necessar\ to send
a supply of goods to the trading post ol Mr. Iij-
vid Stuart, established in the preceding,' auiumn
on the Oakinagan. The cache, or secret dipoiit,
made by Mr. Hunt at the Caldron Linn, \vas like-
wise to be visited, and the merchandise and other
effects left there, to be brought to Astoria. X
third object of moment was to send dispatches
overland to Mr. Astor at New York, intorinmg
him of the state of affairs at the seUlenicnt, an;i
the fortunes of the several expeditions.
The task of carrying supplies to Oakinaijan was
assigned to Mr. Robert Stuart, a spirited and en-
terprising young man, nephew W the one who
had established the post. The cache was to he
sought out by two of the clerks, named Russell
Farnham and Donald M't'iilles, conducted Ini
guide, and accompanied by eight men, to .iss;st
in f)ringing home the goods.
As to the dispatches, they were contide 1 to Mr.
John Reed, the clerk, the same who had conduct-
ed one of the exploring detachments ot .Snake
River. He was now to trace back his way acruss
the mountains by the same route by wliicli he had
come, with no other companions or escort than
Hen Jones, the Kentucky hunter, and twoCan.v
dians. As it was still hoped that Mr. Crooks
might be in existence, and that Mr. Reed and his
party might meet with him in the course ot then-
route, they were charged with a small supply w
goods and provisions, to aid that gentleman uii
his way to Astoria.
When the e.pedition of Reed was made known,
Mr. M'Lellan announced his determination to ac-
company it. He had long been dissatisfied with
the smailness ol his interest in the copartnership,
and had requested an additional nunfner ol
shares ; his recjuest not being complied «''''' "'
ASTORIA.
389
rpdvcd to abandon tlie company. M'Lellan
a man of singularly self-willeil and decided
Viricter' with wliom persuasion was useless ;
lit was permiU(-(l, therefore, to take his own
Jurse without opposition • , , ■ .
.\5io Reed, he set ai)out preparing for his haz-
in'ous journey with the zeal of a true Irishman.
Hf hid a tin case made, in which the letters and
niiiers addressed to Mr. Astor were carefully
si'lered up. This case he intended to strap
upon his shoulders, so as to bear it about with
'iiiii sleeping and waking, in all changes and
dunces, hv land or by water, and never to part
Mi'ih it liut'with his life !
.\s the route of these several parties would be
the Slime for nearly four hundred miles up the Co-
lumbia, and within that distance would lie
ihr()uj,'h the piratical pass of the rapids, and
ailiont; the Ireebooting tribes of the river, it was
;hiiii),'hi advisable to start about the same time,
a;ul 10 keep together. Accordingly, on the 22(1 of
.M,;rch they all set off, to the number of seventeen
r;in, in two canoes— and here we cannot but
Diihc to notice the hardihood of these several ex-
iiclitions, so insignificant in point of force, and
ievcrally (lestineil to traverse immense wilder-
nnses, where larger parties had experienced so
;:vjch ilanjjer and distress. When recruits were
) .i.;hi in the preceding year among experienced
.huiucrs and voyageurs at Montreal and St. Louis,
KuMS considered dangerous to attempt to cross
;.if Kuckv Mountains with less than sixty men ;
jiilvft here we tind Reed ready to push his way
Kwis those barriers with merely three compan-
jjas. .Such is the fearlessness, the insensibility
lodanjrer, which men acc|uire by the habitude of
cuiistaiit risk. The mind, like the body, becomes
calliius hy exposure.
The little associated band proceeded up the
rivfr, under the command of Mr. Robert Stuart,
an! arrived early in the month of April at the
Lon',' Narrows, that notorious jjlundering place.
Htrrc it was necessary to unload the canoes, and
to transport both them and their cargoes to the
head of the .Narrows by land. Their i)arty was
too tew in number for the |)urpose. They were
ol)li;.;e(l, therefore, to seek the assistance of the
Cathiasco Indians, who undertook to carry the
J'IhIs on their horses. Forward then they set,
'..le Indians with their horses well freighted, and
tile tirst load convoyed by Reed and live men,
'Veil armed; the gallant Irishman striding along
it the head, with his tin case ot dispatches glit-
l.rin;roii his back. In passing, however, through
a rooky and intricate detile, some of the freeboot-
I":; vai;r,ints turned their horses up a narrow
pull and galloped off, carrying with them two
;!'« of !,'ijods and a number of small articles.
roloilaw them was useless ; indeed, it was with
"iJ-'h lido that the convoy got into port with the
rrtiijiie of the cargoes ; for some of the guards
"^-rc pillaged of their knives and pocket-handker-
c-iHs.and the lustrous tin case of Mr. John Reed
M< in imniineiU jeopardy.
^ Mr, Stuart heard of these depredations, and
'"isieued forward to the relief of the convoy, but
rould not reach them before dusk, bv which time
>^« had arrived at the village of Wish-ram, al-
rwly noted for its great fishery, and the knavish
propensities of its inhabitants. Here they found
■'■emselves benighted in a strange place, and sur-
f Jiuled hy savages bent on pilfering, if not upon
"pen rohheiy. Not knowing what active course
J^';''^[Mhey remained under arms all night, with-
"'" closing an eye, and at the very lirsl peep of
m
dawn, when objects were yet scarce visible, every-
thing was hastily embarked, and, without seeking
to recover the stolen effects, they pushed off from
shore; "glad to bid adieu," as they said, "to
this abominable nest ot miscreants."
The worthies of Wish-ram, however, were not
dis|)osed to jiart so easily with their visitors.
Their cupidity had been ([uickeneil by the i)luiuler
which they had already taken, and their conli-
dence increased by the impunity with which their
outrage had passed. They resolved, therefore,
to take further toll of the travellers, and, if possi-
ble, to capture the tin case of dispatches ; which
shining conspicuously from afar, and being
guarded by John Reed with such especial care,
must, as they supposed, be " a great medicine."
Accordingly, Mr. Stuart and his comrades had
nut |)rocee(led far in the canoes, when they be-
held the whole rabble of Wish-ram stringing in
groups alo"g the bank, whooping and yelling,
and gibbering in their wild jargon, and when
they landed below the falls they were surrounded
by upward of four hundred of these river rutfians,
armed with bows and arrows, war clubs, and
other savage weajions. These now pressed for-
ward, with offers to carry the canoes and effects
ii|) the portage. Mr. Stuart declined forwarding
the goods, alleging the lateness ol the hour ; but,
to keep them in good humor, informed them, that,
if they conducted themselves well, their offered
services might probably be accepted in the morn-
ing ; in the meanwhile he suggested that they
might carry up the canoes. They acc(jrdingly
set off with the two canoes on their shoulders, ac-
comijanied by a guard of eight men well armed.
When arrived at the head of the falls, the mis-
chievous spirit of the savages broke out, and they
were on the point of destroying the canoes, doubt-
less with a view to im])e(le the while men from
carrying forward their goods, and laying them
open to further pilfering. They were with some
difficulty prevented from committing this outrage
by the interference of an old man, who appeared
to have authority among them ; and, in conse-
quence of his harangue, the whole of the hostile
'and, with the exception of about fifty, crossed to
the north side ot the river, where they lay in wait,
ready for further mischief.
In the meantime, Mr. Stuart, who had remain-
ed at the foot of the falls with the goods, and who
knew that the iiroffered assistance (jf the sa\;iges
was only for the pur])oseof having an opportunity
to plunder, determined, it possible, to steal a march
upon them, and defeat their machinations. In
the dead of the night, therefore, about one o'clock,
the moon shining brightly, he roused his party,
and proposed that they should endeavor lo trans-
port the goods themselves, above the falls, before
the sleeping savages could be aware of their op-
erations. .Ml h.mds sprang to the work with
zeal, and hurried it on in the hope of getting all
over before daylight. Mr. Stuart went forward
with the tirst loads, and took his station at the
head of the portage, while Mr. Reed and Mr.
M'Lellan remained at the foot to forward the re-
mainder.
The day dawned before the transportation was
completed. .Some of the fifty Indians who had re-
mained on the south side of the river, perceived
what was going on, and, feeling themselves too
weak for an attack, gave the alarm to those on
the opposite side, upwarti of a hundred of whom
embarked in several large canoes. Two loads of
goods yet remained to be brought up. .Mr. .Stuart
dispatched some of the people for one ot the loads,
300
ASTORIA.
Si'3 .!
! :i:'::i:
IM
with a rcfiuest to Mr. Reed to retain with iiim as
m.my nn.-n as he thoujjht necessary to jjii.irti the
remaining load, as he suspected hostile intentions
on the p.irt of the Indians. Mr. Keed, iiowever,
retusf'd to retain .any ot tiieni, sayinjj tliat .M'Lel-
Jaii .itid liiniself were sullicient to protect the
sni.iil (lu.intity that remained. The men accord-
ingly departed with the load, while Reed and
M'Lellan continued to mount fjuard over the res-
idue. IJy this time, .i nund)er ot the canoes had
arrived from the o[)posite side. As they approach-
ed the shore, the unlucky tin hox ot John Keed,
shininj^ .if.ir like the brilliant helmet ot ICuryalus,
cauj^lu their eyes. No sooner did the canoes
touch the shore, than they leaped torward on the
rocks, set up a war-whoop, and spranjf lorward
to secure the jjlitterinjj prize. Mr. .M'Lellan, who
was ;it the river hank, advanced to j^uanl the
goods, when one ol the sa\aj.jes attempted to
hoodwink him with his buffalo rf)be with one
hand, and to slab him with the other. M'Lellan
spranjf back just tar enoiij^h to avoid the blow,
and raisinj^ his rille, shot the ruliian through the
heart.
In the meantime. Reed, who with the want of
forethought of an Irishman, had neglected to re-
move the leathern cover from the lock of his rille,
was fumbling at the fastenings, when he received
a blow on the head with aw.ir-club that laid him
senseless on the ground. In a twinkling he was
stripped ot his rille and pistols, and the tin box, the
cause of all this onslaught, was borne off in tri-
umph.
At this critical juncture, Mr. Stuart, who had
heard the war-whoop, hastened to the scene of
action with Hen Jones, and seven others of the
men. When he arrived. Reed was weltering in
his blood, and an Indian standing over him and
about to (lispatch him with a tomahawk. Stuart
gave the word, when lien Jones levelled his ritle,
and shot the miscreant on the sjiot. The men
then gave a cheer and charged upon the main
])ody of the savages, who took to instant flight.
Reed was now raised from the ground, and borne
sensekss and bleeding to the upper end ot the
portage. Preparations were made to launch
the c.inoes and embark all in haste, when i' was
found that they were too leaky to be i)ut iu the
wat-r, and that the oars had been left at the toot
of the falls. A scene of confusion now ensued.
The Inilians were whooping and yelling, and
running about like tieiuls. A panic seized upon
the men, at being thus suddenly checked, the
he.irtsot some ot the Canadians died within them,
and two young men actually fainted away. The
monieiu they recovered their senses Mr. Stuart
ordered that they should be (le|)rived of their
arms, their under-garments taken off, and that a
piece ot cloth should be tied round their waists,
in imitation of a squaw ; an Indian punishment
for cowardice. Thus e(|uipped, they were stowed
away among the goods in one of the canoes. This
ludicrous affair excitetl the mirth of the holder
spirits, even in the midst ot their perils, and rousecl
the pride of the wavering. The Indians having
crossed back again to the north side, order was
restored, some of the hands were sent back for
the oars, others set to work to calk and launch the
canoes, and in a little while all were embarked
and were continuing their voyage along the south-
ern shore.
\o sooner had they departed, than the Indians
returned to the scene of action, bore off their two
comrades, who had been shot, one of whom was
still living, and returned to their village. Here
they kille<! two horses ; and drank the hmi,;^,
to uive fierceness to tlieir eourauc. Ihcy pjn^Jj
anil arra
formed
nerceness lo laeir touragi', Ihcyn
iiyed themseUvs hideously fur |)au||.
the dead dance round the slam, .ukI
t ; |*r.
, ( .,., • ">(l raiitii
the war song ot vengeance. Ihen mountini; ihi-
horses, to the number of four hundred ami lii'
men, and brantlishing their weapons, they set „ti
along the northern bank of the river, to j;eij„J^,
ot the canoes, lie in wait for them, and laktaitr!
rible revenge on the white men.
They succeeded in getting sonieilisi.inrcaliCi,^
the canoes without being discovtied, and un-
crossing the river to post themselves on ilit si
along which the white men were coastinir, «f„.„
they were fortunately descried. Mr. Siu.irt a;,,
his comi)anions were immedi.Ucly on tht Ah-
As they drew near to the place wlure the saViU'cs
had crossed, they observed them postal anioiii;
stee|) and overhanging rocks, close .iloni; wm. a
the canoes would have lo pass. I-'iiulJnj; ilunkt
enemy had the advantage of the ground, the uhi.c,
stop|)ed short when within five luinilrtd vardj;
them, and discharged and reloaded iht-ir pine,.
They then made a fire and dres.-iud ll-.i: uoiiii;)
of i\Ir. Reed, who had received live seviie jj.isins
in the head. This being done, they kisliwl i:,e
canoes together, fastened them to :■ roik at a
small distance from the shore, aiul ilierc awancj
the menaced attack.
They had not been long posted in this maniur,
when they saw a canoe approaching. It cmmiii.
ed the war-chief ot the tribe and ihiee ot his pr;;,-
ci|)al warriors. He drew near and made ,i Imi);
harangue, in which he itdormed them thaiihiv
had killed one and wounded another ot hi^ na-
tion ; that the relations ot the slain cried out fur
vengeance, and he had been compelled to Itad
them to tight. Still he wished to spare unnecibsary
bloodshed, he proposed, therefore, that .Mr. Kitd.
who, he observed, was little better than a dead
man, might be given up lo be sacrificed to the
manes ot the deceased warrior. This would ap-
pease the fury of his friends; the hatchet would then
be buritd, and all thenceforward would helrieiids.
The answer was a stern refusal and a dcliance,
and the war-chief saw that the canoes were wtil
prepared for a vigorous defence. He withdrew,
therefore, and returning to his warriors among
the rocks held long deliberations. Blood tor blood
is a principle in Indian equity and Indian honor;
but though the inhabitants of Wish-ram were imii
of war, they were likewise men of iraltic, and u
was suggested that honor for once might, ijive way
to profit. A negotiation was accordingly opeael
with the white men, and after some diplomacy the
matter was compromised for a blanket lo cover tho
dead, and some tobacco to be smoked by the liv-
ing. This being granted, the heroes ot Wi^h-
ram crossed the river once more, returned to their
village to feast upon the horses whose blood thi-y
had so vain-gloriously drunk, and the tiavcllcrs
pursued their voy.ige without further molestation.
The tin case, however, containing the impor-
tant dispatches for New York, was irreiiievaiiiy
lost ; the very precaution taken by the worthy
Hibernian to secure his missives, had, by render-
ing them conspicuous, produced their robbery.
The object of his overland journey, therefore, be-
ing defeated, he gave uj) the expedition- fne
whole party repaired with Mr. Robert .Stuart tothe
establishment of Mr. David Stuart, on the O.akina.
gan River. After remaining here two or three days
thev all set out on their return to .Astoria, accom-
pan'ied by Mr. David Stuart. This geiulenian
had a large quantity of beaver skins at his cstaj-
■Tf ^h'f'"M
."''■^'•"".aiKlra„t,i
"i-Mi muuiiiinir iin. ,
ir liuiulredandt;.,
■•eapoiis, ihey jti !,',j
c rivLT,ioj;^taiiHi
iiem, and take a itr.
.omedistanreahov.
ic()\ti-c(l, and kc-
■nisulvi-sonthcsi.c
•'• Mr- .Siuariai,
i;Ucly on iht ali-r;
-■ whfa'lliesav,ii;rt
Ik'iii posted ainoii^
, close aloni; wiuui
'• l'"indin>;ilia||kt
i;j,n-ound,ihi'tt|,,u.,
•f lunidrfd yards ut
oadi'd iliL-ir|)n,fc,,
IfCSsud ll'.e Uulll);:)
1 live severe gashes
lie, lliey lashed tr.c
fni to :• rotk at,i
, anil iliere auaitcj
'("MTiRSK U IPyiNO
■ y/v^ ///////y/////^/// A
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/u
.•■■* /'V/ '^>>/U J'iff
ifH'l;
I t
fl
li^hment, tmt
tlu-in with hini
,u the tails.
On their w;
tlH'Columl'ia,
shiirc in H'lk'j''
(All wrutchi'il I
to shore ; till- 1
kmnvn. Thi'.v
Uitliful tulh)Wi
Thi- riMili'r V
l)av :in<l '"'•''
livf.imiac am
U) liMVc them
hanks of ihi: >
the mori: criii
hooil.ot a bail
b'cn fnri-ibly
iisioiis, Mr.
(Idaine;! by t
l),iy, who w.i
whlmi he won
his cinp'iiy or
ripiVCll hilllSfl
Shiiihonic'S did
ha I ncwr btdo
eiitiTtaiii soiiK'
tur, thoiiijh till
(l:iv linv, tlicy
ih'j ni^jht : aiK
ini; leave,
When Day w
l:uy kept feebh
i^ they could
uhen three o
with want, le
t'le road by "1
of Indians. .N
track in the si
ii5Ual in the o|
h.irdships. At
lust every nppi
tiered during t
mmintains, sub
sinitlimes oil 1
of the lime on i
About the la
;'ave out, and w
Uit Mr. CrooKi
lindin;; the siii
t'iok, from Ind
m^tinlain ridj^n
:,!-er.vard jell i
I'l Indians inhn
i.inie name, an
hie, and since
character, for
kindly, kille'd a
cd them on ll
struck the rivi
aivanced (low
came v,-ilhiii al
Here they n
that noted pass
V'Mv, and Set f(
v.ere .satistyiii,
their ritles. T
'iriive them ol
Crunks for a fli
hed him ; an'
instantly de|ia:
, In this f.irlot
t'.ey renewed I
totind their w;
Wallahs, and
ASTORIA.
ayi
i,Amfnt but ili'l n"< Iti'"!^ '' prU'li'iU to Uikc.
Sri him, feanng the levy ..t " hlack mail"
"nn'^tiieir way down, when lulow the forks of
thfColumliia. they were liaileil ont- day from tlu-
shore in KnK'li><l'. I-"..kinK' anumd, they descried
WdwrcliluMl MH'M, entirely ti.iked. 1 hey pulled
Mshorf • tlie men came ii|) and made themselves
known Tlu'V proved to l)e Mr. Crooks and his
l,,i,h(ull()llowcr, John ')ay
riic rcailff will rei-i)lleet that Mr. Crooks, with
In" aii'l lour Can.idians, h.iil heen so reduced
liv iimi.ie anil laliK'^H'. ''i-'t ^''■- """I ^^'''^ oljli^ed
tok'avc llien'. i" ""' nioiith of December, on the
h,inb of the .Snake River. Their situ.ition w,is
the more critical, as they were in the nei^;hllor-
hooil ot a hand of Shoshonies, whose horses h.id
Ivcn forcibly sei«'d by .Mr. Hunt's p.irly tor pro-
visions. Mr. Crooks reni.iined here twenty days,
(lil.iint:! bv the e\;tremely reduced sl.ite of John
It.iv, who'w.is utterly unable to travel, and
whimi he would not ab.indon, as Day had been in
his cmpli)y on the Missouri, and had always
prncd himself most laithlul. I''ortunatcly the
Shoshonies did not offer to molest them. They
ha 1 never before sec'ii white men, and seemed to
tiiurtain some suixTstitions with rej^.trd to them,
tor, ihouijh thev would encamp ni'ar them in the
(l.iv tini(\ they would move off with their tents in
ihe ni;,'ht ; ami linally disappeared, without tak-
iii;; leave.
When Day was sufficiently recovered to travel,
tiuy kept feebly on, sust.iiniiif^ themselves as well
■IS they could, until in the month of I^'ebruary,
when three ot the Canadians, fearful of |)erishinjr
with want, left Mr. Crooks on a small river, on
ihe road bv which Mr. Hunt had jiassed in ([uest
of Indians. .Mr. Crooks followed Mr. Hunt's
iraik in the snow for several days, sleeping; as
u>ual in the open air, and sufferiiif; all kinds of
hardships. ,\t len^'th, coniinjr to a low prairie, he
just every appearance of the " trail," and wan-
dered duriiij; the remainder of the winter in the
mountains, subsistin;r sometimes on horse-meat,
5;)aieiimes on beavers and their skins, and ;i part
of the time on roots.
.\hout the last of March, the other Canadian
{;ave out, and was left with a lodf^e of .Shoshonies ;
hut .Mr. CrooKs and Jf)hn Day still kept on, ancl
finding' the snow sufficiently diminshed, under-
took, from Indian information, to cross the last
mountain ridj^e. They happily succeeded, and
at'erward fell in with the Walla'h-Wallahs, a tribe
e; Indians inhabiting the banks of a river of the
same name, and reputed as beiuj^ frank, hospita-
hle, and sincere. They pr)ved worthy of the
character, for they recc'ivetl the poor wanderers
kuidly, killed a horse for them to eat, and direct-
ed them on their way to the Columbia. They
struck the river .about the middle of April, and
advanced down it one hundred miles, until they
came within about twenty miles of the falls.
Here they met with some of the " chivalry" of
that noted pass, who receiveil them in a friendly
way, and st-t food before them ; but, while they
were satisfyii,^ their hunj^er, perfidiously seized
th'-ir rides. They then stripped them naked, and
'■rove them off, 'refusinjr the entreaties of Mr.
Crooks for a tlint and steel of wdiich thev had rob-
bed him
and lhreaieiiin"f his life if
ty had
he did
not
instantly depart.
, hi this f.irlorn plight, still worse off than before,
t^ey renewed their wanderinjjs. They now sought
'■0 hrid their way back to the hospitable Wallah-
"ailahs, and had advanced eighty miles along
the river, when fortunat(dy, on the very mornintf
that they were going, to leave the Columbl.i, aim
striki- inland, the canoes of Mr. Stuart hove in
sight.
It is neeclless to describe the joy of these poor
men at once more tinding themselves am()n^
countrymen and friends, or of the honest .iml
he, irty welcome with which they were rei'eived by
their fcdlow adventurers. The whole party now
continued ilown the river, passed ,ill the il.mger-
ous phices without interruption, and arrived s.ifo*
ly at Astoria on the nth ot .May.
CHAI'TKK XLII.
Havinc, traced the fortunes of the two expedi-
tions by sea and l.md to the mouth ot the Colum-
bia, and presented a view of affairs at .Astoria,
we will return for a moment to the master-spirit
of the enterprise who regulated the sjirings ui As-
tori.i, at his residence in New ^'ork.
It will be remembered that a part of the pl.m
of Mr. .Astor was to furnish the Kussi.in fur es-
t.iblishment on the north-west coast with regular
supplies, so as to render it independent ol those
c;isual vessels wdiich cut up the trade and su|)plieil
the natives with arms. Tliis jjlan h.id been coun-
tenanced by our own government, and likewise by
Count I'ahlem, the Russian Minister at Washing-
ton. As it views, however, were imi)ortant .and
extensive, and might eventu.iUy affect a wide
course of commerce, Mr. Astor was desirous of
establishing a complete arrangement on the sub-
ject with the Russian American Fur Comp.my,
under the sanction of the Russi;.n Ciovernment.
i'"or this purpose, in March, i8ii, he disp.iti hed
a conlideiitial agent to .St. I'etersburgh, fully em-
powered to enter into the recjuisite negotiations.
A p.issage was given to this gentleman by the
(iovernment of the United .States, in the John
Adams, one of its armed vessels, bound to a l:lu-
ropean port.
The next step of Mr. Astor was, to dispatch the
annual ship contemplated in his general ])lan. He
had as yet heard nothing of the success ot the
previous expeditions, and harl to ])roceed upon the
presum|)tion that everything had been effected ac-
cordingto his instructions. Heaccordingly litted
out a tine ship of four hundred aiul ninety tons,
called the Heaver, and freighted her with ;i v.ilua-
ble cargo destined tor the factory, .it the mouth
of the Columbia, the trade along the coast, and
the sup|)ly of the Russian establishmen*. In this
shii) embarked a reinforcement, consisting of a
partner, live clerks, t'lfteen American laborers,
and six Canadian voyageurs. In choosing his
agents for his first expedition, Mr. .Astor h.id been
obliged to have recourse to British subjects expe-
rienced in the Canadi.m fur trade ; henceforth it
was his intention, as much .is jiossible, to select
Americans, so as to secure an asceiida.icy of
American inlluence in the managemt-nt of the
company, and to make it decidedly national.
Accorclingly, .Mr. John Clarke, the jiartner, whr)
took the lead in the present expedition, was a na-
tive of the United .States, though he had ]),issecl
much of his life in the north-west, having been
employed in the fur trade since the age ot sixteen.
Most of the clerks were young gentlemen of good
connections in the American cities, some of whom
embarked in the ho])e of gain, others through the
mere spirit of adventure incident to youth.
The instructions given by Mr, Astor to Captain
• ? 1?
!':■.
Mm ^
■■'5 n^mk ,!i
i\
t I: il
IM
302
ASTORIA.
SowIp, tlip fiimniandrr of thr Hfavpr, worr, in
nomi' rcs|>»Mts, liy|)c)tlifii(al, in (■oiiscfiuciK i- nt
the (inicrl.iiiily rcsiiiin upon llu: prfvioiis strps tiJ
tin- riitcrprlsir,
He was 1(1 tmirh at th<; Sandwuh Islands, in-
quire aliniit the l(irturii's ut tile Tdniiuin, aiul
wiv'tlicr an rstalillsliincnl l.ad iii-i-n t(irmi-d at llif
mouth III thr t'cihuni)ia. It so, he was to laki- as
many S indwiih Klanijcrs as his ship would ac-
ronunodalc, and proiicd hitluT. ( )n arriving; at
tiif river, he was to observe jfre.it caution, for
i;ven if an estalilishinent sliould have heen foriu-
ed, it rni^ht liave i.illen into hostile h.inds. lie
was, then-lore, to put in ;is it hy easu.iliy or dis-
tress, to j;ive himself out as ;i eoaslinj; tr.ider,
and to s.iy nothiii:; alioiit his ship liein^; owneil hy
Mr. Astor, unid he had ascertained that e\-ery-
thiiiK was ri;,dii. In ih.it case, he was to land
such part ot his car^;o as w.is intended for the es-
t.dilishnient, ;ind to proceed to New Archangel
witii the supplies intended lor the Kussian post
at that place, where he could recei\f peltries in
])aynietil. With these he was to return to As-
tor'i.i ; lake in the furs collected there, and, hav-
ing completed his car^jo by iradin;^ alonj^ the
coast, was to jiroceed to Canton. The captain
received ihes.inu- injunctions th.it h. id been (;iven
to Captain Thorn of the Toixiuin, ot ^jrcit c;ui-
tion ,ind ( ircumspection in his inter( nurse with
the natives, and tl'.at he should not perndl ni(jre
th.in one or two to be on board at a time.
The heaver sailed trom New N'ork on the loth
of October, iSll, ;ind reached the S.ind\vi(h
Islands without any occurrence of moment. Here
a rumor was he.ird of the disastrous f.ite of the
Ton(|uin. Deep solicitude was felt by every onu
on bo.ird for the fate of both expeditions, by se.i
and land. Doubts were entertained whether any
est.dilishment had been formed at the mouth of
tile Columbia, or whether any of the com]);iny
would be iound there. Alter inuch deliberation,
the captain took twelve S.mdwiidi Islanders on
board, for the service of the f.ictory, should tluTe
be one in existence, .and proceeded on his vova^je.
On the Tith of May hi- .arrived off the mouth of
the Columbia, and runninjr ;is ne.ir as possible,
fired two si^n.il-^^uns. No answer was returned,
nor was there; any sijrn.il to be descried. Ni^dit
cominij on, the ship stood out to sea, and every
heart drooped as tht; land laded ;iway. On thi:
following- mornin;.j they anain ran in within four
miles of the shore, and tired other sij;;nal-}runs,
but still without reply. A bo.itw.as then disp.atch-
ed, to sound the ch.innel, and .attempt an en-
trance ; but returned without suctess, there be-
inp a tremendous swell, and breakers. Si^jnal-
jjuns were tired afr.ain in the evenins,', but equally
m v.iin, ;ui<l once more the ship stood off to sea
ior tile nii^ht. The captain now j;ave up all hojie
of tindiii},'- any establishment at the place, and in-
did).;ed in the most (bloomy apprehensions. He
feare(| his predecessors had been niassai-red he-
tore they h.ul reached their place of destination ;
or if they should h.ive erected a factory, th.it it
had been surprised and destroyed hy the natives.
In this moment of doubt and uncertainty, Mr.
Clarke annf)unced his determin.ition, in case of
the worst, to foimd an establishment with the
present party, and all hands bravely en<jajjed to
stand by him in the undertaking. The next morn-
injj the shi]) stood in for the third time, and tired
three sif^nal fjuns, but with little hope of reply.
To the j;reat joy of the crew, three distinct puns
were heard in answer. The apprehensions of all
but Captain Sowle were now at rest. That cau-
linin rommindrr rrrollectod the liHtruct!-i
piven him by Mr. Astor, and detcrniiiitd i^'p,,,,
(fed with ^;r(■at ( irciinispei tion. He \m, [|,'
.aw.it -of Indi.ui tre.ichery ,ind ( unnin^r liwynj
im|)ossil)le, he observed, th.lt these ( .iiiilon nil "i
h.i\-e been lired by the s.iv,ij,'es thiinsflvcs. T^
minht liaM- surprised the lort, iii.iss'urfd jj^ ,/
mates; and these si),Mial-j,'Uns iiii),r!ii (mly i,^,,"
coys t(» lure him a(T(>s>-- the bar, tli.it the) mir!
have il chante of fulling him off, and jt'i/in;;ta
vessel.
At leiijjth a while ll.i>; w.is descried hoisiici -
a sif^nal on Cape Disa|ipointnuiit. Tlit; p,i,v ■ .
);ers pointed to it in triumph, but the i:a|nain i;,;
not yet dismiss his doubts. A beacnn tirtlilaft]
throilnh the iii^,du on the s;inie place, liul tht;.,ii!
tain observed tli.il all these si^jiials might it
treacherous.
On the followiii).; morning, M.iy ((tli, thevcss';
came to .'inchor oil Cape Dis.ippdiiuiiuiit, ouim;^
<if the b,ir. Tow.ird noon an Inili.in (.inoi: n„
seen making for the sliiii and all Ii.iihIs were oni.r-
ed to be on tin; alert. A lew nionients aticrw,ir,(,
,1 barj;i; waspeiceived loll(H\iii^,' the caniii', iK'
hopes and Ic.irsof those on board of tlicshi]\ wr[.:
in tumultuous •■ipit.itioii, as the boat drew m;^,
that w.is to let them know the lortimcs (il tiler,-
terprise, and the f.ite ot their predeccssdrs. 11;
c.iptain, who was haunted with the idea ui \um\.
ble treachery, did not suiter his ciirinsitv lo '.;r',
the better ot his caution, but ordenil ,1 p.irt', :
his men under arms, to receive the \isit(irs. TS
c.iiioe came tirst alon^jside, in which were (.dm-
coiiily and six Indians ; in the bar;4e wcrcM h'u-
j(al, M'Llellan, and eiH;lit Ciiadiaiis. A lit;.e
conversation with these neiillunieii dispellid ;ij
the captain's fears, and tile lieaver cr(issinj,Mi>;
bar under their pilotaye, anchored safely in I,,-
ker's liay.
CIIAI'TKK XLllI.
Tun arrival of the Heaver with a reinlnrrcnur.
and supplies, jjave new lite and vitjor to affairs a;
Astoria. These were m tor extemliii;,' !!'-•
operations of the establislniient, and foundiiii;!::-
terior tradinir posts. Two parties were iiiiiiv.'-
diattdy set on fool to jiroceed severally uiiiltr ihe
command of Messrs, M'Keii/ie and Clarl<c, .111 1
establish posts above the forks ot the C(ilumb!,i,
I at points wdiere most rivalry and opiiosiiion wire
' aiiprehended from the North-west Cempany.
I A third party, headed by Mr. D.ivid Stuart, w.is
I to repair with suppli(;s to the post ot that K'''i''i'-
! man on the t)akinapan. In adilition to tlu'Sfiv-
]ieditions a fourth was necessary to ciiiivey i:is-
l)a'.ches to Mr. Astor, at New S'ork, in iilaai:
those unfortunately lost by John Reed. The m'c
conveyance of these dispatches v.as liiijhiy im-
portant, as bv them Mr. Astor would rax'ivi;.'.n
account of th(; state of the factory, and n%m\:
his reinforcements and supjilies ;iccordiii;;iy
I The mission was one of peril and hardship, am.
I re(|uired a man of nerve and vi^or. It was con-
! tided to Robert Stuart, who, thoutjh he had never
been across the mountains, and a very yi)u:\'
I man, had jriven proofs of his competency to '.he
I task. Four trusty and well-tried men, who h.i'.
j come overland iii Mr. Hunt's expedition, wri
j <;i\en as his guides and hunters. These were
; Hen Jones and John Dav, the Kentiickians, rA
\ Andri \'all.ir and Francis Le Clerc, Can.idiMS-
; Mr. M'Lellan ajjain expressed his determination
! to take this opportunity of returning to the -Mian-
ASTORIA.
, .^l,itr« I" tl'i^ ^'' W'l" it>in<-<l !'>■ Mr. Crooks,
' , ',Hittilli>liii'l">« .'ll <l>'" I'l- I'-"' ^ulk-rfd It)
I'iliMii.il i"iirii'y of ihc prcifilin^; wmt.'r. vv.is
-i,h \« rr'ir.t'."' Ill'* •''•'I''* •""' '"■''^'•-" ^•■^■•''■y <l->ii««T
, I (,,,r(Utii|i, r.illii'r lh:iii n'm.iin ;it Asiun.i.
11,1, liulr h.inilliil lit iKlvftiluroii-, im-n we projioM-
., .ifcimpany in iti lori^' ami p.niou-i l.^rr^•^,'rill.l
"I'hc several |).iiiii's \vr liav mciitioniMl all sot otf
I, ,,)m|any mi llir J<;th ot Jimr, uiuIi.t a saiiiti' of
niinnii Iniin t!i.' lort. ■|'licy w.tc to kfcp to^;ctlnT,
!„rniutu.illirolriiioii, tlir.iiij;li On- piralii.il passus
,' ihi' riviT, an! to separate, on tluir dilferent
IbtiiMtiiins, at tlie forks of the ('oluii*l)ia. 'I'lieir
lujmliir, Cdllfi lively, was nearly sixty, idnsislin^;
I'lurtiur!. anil elerk,, Canaili.ui voyaneurs, S.iixi-
wi.h Waivlers, anil Anierie.m hunters; and they
miliirU I in two har^jes .mil ten e.moes.
fluv ii.iil si.inciv >,'ot under way, when John
Iiiv, till' Kentuiky liunter, lice.inie restless and
Liu'.i>y, ami extrenu'ly wayward in his deport
infnt. This ciused surprise, lor in ^jeneral, he
w:h rfinarkahle for his eheerlul, manly deport-
miiii, it was siip|)osed that the recollection of
],,i',i MidcriMK's niiLjht harass his mind in iindcr-
Miiiii^' lo retrace the scenes where they had lifcn
txntriiMiceil. As the expedition advanced, how-
t.tr, his ajjitation increased, lie he^.m to talk
wildly and incoherently, and to i>how manifest
svm|itiinis of (leranj{i'ment.
Mr. Crunks nicv informed his companions that
ill his ilesol.ile \v.inderin;;s throujjh the Snake
Hivi-r cmniiry durinjf the precedinvf winter, in
\vhi(h he liail heen accomi).inii-d l>y Jolni Day,
the |i""r Icllitw'.s wits had been partiallv imset-
tltil hy ihe siilferiiijjs and horrors throUL'h which
tluv iiad p.isscd, ;uid he doubted whether they
hill fViT heeii restored to ])erlect s.mity. It was
s'.i'i h'i|iud that this a;;ilation of spirit mi^jht pass
:.',.iy as they iiroceeded ; but, on the contrary, it
j,rcu mure and more violent. His comrades en-
(Ir.ivurcd tu di\ert his mind and to draw him
il'.'in r:ilii)iial ( iinvers.ilion, but he only became
till; mure exasper.ited, iittcrinjj wild and inco-
licrLMit ravinj,'s. I'he sij,du of any of the natives
put him in an .ibsolute fury, and he would heap
(jii iheni tile most o|)|)robrious epithets ; recollect-
in;,', iiu duiilit, what he had sulftred from Indian
rolilicrs.
On the e\i'nin;.r of the 2(1 of July he becar le ab-
solutely Irantic, and attempletl to destroy h.mself.
Ilcini; disarmed, he sank uUo (|uielutle, and pro-
l:5se;l the ^^reatest remorse for the crime he had
militated, lie then jjretended U) sleej), and liav-
i;i;' thus lulled suspicion, sutldenly sprani; up,
jjst liedire daylijjht, seized a pair of loaded i)is-
li'.i, ami endeavored to blow out his brains. In
his hurry he lired too hiH;h, and the balls jjassed
ever his head. He was instantly secured and
placed under a .i,niard in one of the boats. How
iMlispose of hini w;is now the (|Uestion, as it was
itiip'issihle to keep him with the expedition, For-
tuiiiitcly .Mr. Stuart met with some Indians ac-
customed to trade with Astoria. These under-
luok to conduct John IJay back to the factory,
.i;i(l deliver him there in safety. It was with the
jjtmijst rocern that his comrades saw the jioor )el-
!»"• depart ; tor, independent of his invaluable
services as a tirst-rate hunter, his frank and loyal
q'Jdities had made him a universal favorite. It
"iiay he as well to add that the Indians executed
Iheirtask faithtully, and landed John Day among
his friends at Astoria ; but his constitution was
C'lmpletely broken l)ythe hardships he had' under-
guiie, and he died within a year.
f)n the evcninj{ of the ''ith i>f Inly the p.irly aN
rived at the pir.ilic.d p.iss ot tin.' river, .mil en-
ctniped at the loot ot the first r.ipid. 'riic next
d.iy, before the commellceiDeiit of the |iortaj,'e,
ilie (greatest preiiutioiiH were t.iken to jju.inl
.ij{ainst lurking; tre.uhery, or open att.ick. 'i'lii!
we.ipotis of every m.iii were put in order, and hi*
cartriil^;e-l)ox replenished. Kn h one wore a kind
of sun oat made of the skin of llie elk, re.ichili){
from his neck to his knees, .ind .iiiswerin^; thu
purpose of a shirt of iii.iil, for it sv.is arrow proof,
and it could even resist a nuisket b.ill at the dis-
tant i' of iiinrty y.irds. 'riius armed .mil ei|iiippe(|,
they posted their forces in military style. I'i\(' of
the ollii ers took their st.ition-i it eat li end ot the
porl.i^'e, wliiih w.is between three and tour milcH
in lenj,'tli; .i number ot men mointed ;ju,ird .it short
(list. lilies .ilon^r ihe heights iiiiMcdi.ilidy o\ erloolc.
iii^; the ri\'er, while the residue, thus protected
Irom surprise, eniplo\cd them leUes In low in dr.ij;-
^'iiij,' up the b.ir>,'ei and canoes, .ind c irryiii;( up
the ),'oods alonjf the n.irrow !ii.ir;,'in of the rapids.
Willi these precaution, they .ill p,is-,eil uninoleit-
ed. The only accident lh.it li,ip|)eneil was tin;
upsettini,' ot one of the c.uioes, by which some of
the floods sunk, and others llo.ited down the
stre.im. The .dertness and rapacity of the hordes
which infest these rapids, v:ere immediately ap-
jiarent. 'i'hey nounced upon the tlo.ilin;.; mer-
chaiulise with tlie keenness of re),'ul,ir wreckers.
A bale of j{oods which l.inded upon one of tin:
islands was immediatidy ripped open, one half of
its contents divided aiiioii',; the i .iptives, and the
other half secreted in a lonely hut in a diep ra-
vine. Mr. Robert Stuart, however, set out in ;i
canoe with live men ,ind ;in interpreter, ferreted
out the wreckers in tin ir retreat, and succeeded
in wresiing Irom tliein their booty.
.Similar precautions to those already mentioned,
and to a still ^,'reater extent, were observed in
passing; the long narrows, ,ind the t.ills, where they
would be (.'xposed to the depredations ot the chiv-
alry of Wisli-r.im, and its Ireebooting neighbor-
hood. In t.ict, they had scarcely set their first
watch one night, when an alarm of " Indi.uis I"
w.is given. " To arms !" w.is the cry, ;ind every
man was at his post in an inst.inl. The alarm
was explained ; a war jiarty of Slioshonies li.id
surprised a canoe of the natives just below the en-
campment, had murdered four men and two
women, .'ind it was ap])relieiiiled they would at-
tack the camp. The boats and canoes were im-
medi.itely h.iuled up, a brea-.twork w.is m.ide of
them, and the packages, forming three sides of
a sipiare, w ilh the river in the rear, and thus the
jiarty remained fortitied throughout the night.
The dawn, however, dispelled the alarm ; the
jiortage was conducted in pe.ice ; the vagabond
warriors of the vicinity hovered about them while
at work, but were ke])l at a wary distaiire. They
regarded the lo.ids of merchandise with wistful
eyes, but seeing the " long-beartis" so formid.ible
in number, and so well prepared for action, they
made no attempt, either by open force or sly pil-
fen.ig to collect their usual toll, but maint.iined n
peaceful deme.inor, and were afterward ;ewar(led
tor their good conduct with i)resents of tob.acco.
Kifteen days were consumed in .iscending front
the foot of the first rapid, to the head of iht- f.iUs,
a distance of .about eighty miles, but full ot all
kinds of obstructions. Having ha|)pily accom-
plished these difficult portages, the party, on thu
19th of July, arrived at a smoother part ot tlie
river, and pursued their way up the stream with
greater speed and facility.
394
ASTORIA.
'.ii.
m
I: i.i'H I
iii;i^
i 'V''\'\
H ,1
^'m
11 rti
They wcfc now in the nci^lihorhood where Mr.
Crooks ;iiul John Day had bfcn so pertkliously
rol)l)ecl and stripped a few months previously,
when contiding in the proffi^red hosjiitaiity ot a
ruffian hand. On iandinjj at nij^ht, therefore, a
vijjiiant guard was maintained aliout the camp.
On the following morning a number of Indians
made their appearanel^ and came prowling round
the party while at breafcfast. To his greatdelight
Mr. Crooks recognized among them two of the
miscreants by whom ne had been robbed. They
were instantly seized, bound hand ;,nd foot, and
thrown into one of the canoes. Here they lay in
doleful fright, expecting summary execution. Mr.
Crooks, however, was out of a revengeful disposi-
tion, and agreed to release the culprits as soon as
the pillaged property should be restored. Several
savages immediately started off in different direc-
tions, and before night the ritles of Crooks and
Day were produced ; several of the smaller arti-
cles pilfered from them, however, could not be re-
covered.
The hands of the culprits were then removed,
and they lost no lime in taking their departure,
still unde; the intluence of abject terror, and
scarcely crediting their senses that they had es-
cajied the merited punishment of their offences.
The country on each side of the river now be-
gan to nssume a different character. The hills,
and cliffs, and forests disap])eared ; vast sandy
plains, scantily clotheil here and there with short
tuttsof grass, ])arclied by the summer sun, stretch-
ed far away to the north and south. The river
was occasionally obstructed with rocks and rap-
ids, but often there were smooth, placid intervals,
whei !■ the current was gentle, and the boatmen
were 'nabled to lighten their labors with the as-
sistant e of the sail.
Thi natives in this part of the river residetl en-
tirely on the northern siile. They were hunters,
3S well as fishermen, and had horses in plenty.
Some of these were purchased by the jiarty, as
provisions, and killed on the s|)ot, though they
occasi'nally fi.und a dif'ticully in procuring fuel
wherewi'h to ook them. One of the greatest
dangers '.hat iieset the travellers in this i)art of
their expei'tion, was the vast number of r.illle-
snakes whit -. infested the rocks about the rapids
and portage' , and on which the men were in dan-
ger of t'.'i -icling. They were often found, too, in
quant'tie'. about the encampments. In one i)lace
a P ■■"( of them lay coiled together, fiasking in the
sur.. Several guns loaded with shot were dis-
ch.i". ed c!t them, and thirty-seven killed and
wo .ided. To prevent any unwelcome visits from
th'ji i'l the night, tobacco was occasionally strewed
aroi, .d the tents, a weed for which they have a
very |)ro[)er abfiorrence.
'-)n tlij 28th of July, the travellers arrived at the
mouth of the Wallah-Wallah, a bright, clear
strtair., about six feet deep and tifty-tive yards
'V. le, which flows rapidly over a bed of sand and
gravel, and throws itself into the Columbia, a
few miles l)elow Lewis I'iiver. Mere the com-
bined parties that had thus far voyaged together
were to separate, each for its particular dt.'stina-
tion.
On the banks of the Wallah- Wallah lived the
hospita!)le tribe of the same name who had suc-
cored Mr. Crooks and J.ihn Day in the time of
their extremity. Xo sooner did they hear of the
arrival of the party, than they hastened to greet
them. Thi'V built a great bonfire on the hank of
the river, before the camp, ar.d men and women
danced round it to the cadence r' their songs, in
which they sang the praises of the wliito m,.,, .
welcomed them to their country. ' '■""
On the following day a traffic was commence]
to procure horses lor such of the party as imcny i
to proceed by land. The Wallali-WiiH,,!,, ir'
equestrian tribe. The equipmeiils ot tlu-ir iniV'-
were rude and inconvenient. High s.uliHt., i," '
ly made of deer skin, stuffed with hair.' \u,^^i
chafe the horsi-'s b.ack, and leave it raw ; v.noi.,
slirru])s with a thong of raw hide wrapped niu m
them ; and for hritUes they have cunls ut iwibid
horse-hair, which, they tie round the uiulcr U'
They are, like most Indians, bold Inn hard niiiri
and when, on horseback gallop alioui the muji
dangerous places, without fear tor thc'ni.sclvcs or
jiity for their steeds.
From these people Mr. Stuart purclKucd iwent"
horses for his party; some for the saddle, anil
others to transport the baggage. He was lonu-
iiate in procuring a noble animal for his own iise
which was praisetl by the Indians lor il^ iti-.u
speed and bottom, and a high price sut uiuin :■,
No jjcople understand better the value ol a horie
than these equestrian tribes ; and nowhere is
si)eed a greater requisite, as they trwiucmh en-
gage in tile ch.ise ot the antelope, one ot tlu- iiai-
est of animals. ICven after the Indian who sj,,]
this boasted horse to Mr. Stuart had coiKhidtl
his bargair., he lingered about the animal, seen;-
ing loth to ])art from him, aiul to he sorry lor
what he had done.
A day or two were employed by Mr. Smart in
arranging packages and jiack-saddles, and mak-
ing other ])reparations for his long and ardumis
journey. His party, by the loss ol Jidm Dav,
was now reduced to six, a small number lor siuh
an exiiedition. They were young nun, howcvir,
full of courage, health, and good spirits, mkI
stimulated, rather than appalled by danijcr.
On the morning of the 31st of July, all pnpiin-
lions t)eing concluded, Mr. Stuart and his liule
band mounted their steeds and took a faniwcll ot
their fellow-travellers, who gave tlu-m thive
hearty cheers ;is they set out on their danncrnus
journey. The course they took wtis to the south-
etist, toward the fated region ot the Snaki: River.
At an immense distance rose a chain ot crai;;,'y
mountains, which they would have to traverse ;
they were the same .imono which the travellers
had experienced such sulferings from cold durin:,'
the preceding winter, and from liieir .i/.urc tiius,
when seen :it a distance, had received tin; name
ot the Blue Mountains.
CHAPTER XLIV.
In retracing the route which had proved so dis-
astrous to Mr. Hunt's party during the prcccdinj;
winler,Mr. Stuart had trusted, in tlic present more
favorable season, to fnul easy travelling aiul ahun-
dant supplies. On these great wastes and wilds,
however, each season has its i)ecu!iar hardships.
The travellers had not iiroceeded f..r, htlore ihev
found themselves among naked and arid hills.with
a soil composeil of sand and chiy, baked and bnl-
tle, that to all appearance had never been visited
by the dews of heaven.
Not a spring, or jjool, or running stream was to
be seen ; the sunburnt country was ;,e;iiiu:d and
cut up by dry ravines, the beds of wintcrlorrenis
serving onlv to balk the hopes of man ami bfast,
with the sight of dusty channels where water \m
once poureel along in doods.
ASTORIA.
305
For a Ion" summer day they contimicfl onward
,„thout h.ilui'K ; ;i iHirniiifj sky aliovc their heads,
desert beneath their feet, with just
r\\ to raise tiie liyht sand Irom the
Tile
a narchecl
wiiui eiiougli to raise
knoils and envciop them in sutlins clouds,
-ufferinRS from iliirsi hecame intense ; a tine
' „,r dog, tlieir only companion of the kind,
nvfout and exiiired. Evening drew on without
aliv prospect of relief, and they were almost re-
(l|,(.j;|t(, despair, when they descried somethin),^
thit looked like a frinj^e of forest alonjj the hori-
zon All were inspired with new hope, for they
IniW that on these arid wastes, in the neighbor-
hood of trees, there is always water.
Thiv now <iiiickened their pace ; the horses
sciineil to iimlersatnd their motives, and to par-
ukeot their anticipations ; for, though i)ufore al-
most ready to give out, they now required neither
uiiip nor spur. With all their exertions it was
l.ueiii the night before they drew near to the
tats. .•\s they approached, they iieard with tr.ins-
■lort, the rippling of a shallow stream. No sooner
uiil the refreshing sound reach the ears of the
horses, than the poor animals snuffed the air,
nishi'J iorward with ungovernable eagerness, and
piiiiKriiig their mu/zles into tlie water, drank until
iney stemed in danger of bursting. Their riders
h,ui hut little more discretion, and re(iuired re-
pealed draughts to tjuench their excessive thirst.
Their weary march that day had been forty-live
miles, over a tr.ick that might rival the deserts of
.\lrica for aridity. Indeed, the sufferings of the
iHVtller on these .American deserts, is fre(|uently
moresivere than in the wastes of Africa or Asia,
irom hiing less habituated and prepared to cope
uidi them.
( 111 the hanks of this l)lessed stream the travellers
enciniped tor the night ; and so great had been
their laiiguc, and so sound and sweet was their
sleep, that it was a late hour the next morning be-
!ore they awoke. They now recognized the little
river to he the Uniatalla, the same on the banks of
'.vhich .Mr. Hunt and his followers had arrived
alter their painful struggle through the Hlue
Mountains, and experienced such a kind relief in
the friendly camp of thi^ .Sciatogas.
That range of iJlue Mountains now extended in
the distance before them ; ihey were the s.ime
.among which poor Michael Carriere had perished.
They ((irm the soutii-east boundary of the great
niains along the Columbia, dividing the waters of
:ts main stream from those of Lewis River. They
.ire. inf.ict, a part of a long chain, which stretches
over a great extent of country, and includes in its
" 'S the Snake River Mountains.
The day was somewhat advanced before the
;ravrllers left the shady banks of the Uniatalla.
Tneirroul" gr.adually took them among the Hlue
■Mountains, wliicli assumed the most rugged as-
pect on a near approach. They were sii.igged
wth dense and gloomy forests, and cut up by
deep and precipitous r.ivines, extremely toilsome
10 the liorses. Sometimes the travellers had to
I'llow the course ol some brawling stream, with a
hrokcn, rocky bed. -.-hich the shouldering cliffs
i!Hl pnuiiontorieson either side, obliged them [w-
wn\y to cross and recross. l'\)r some miles
ipey struggled forward through these sav.ige and
'-ukly Wooded deliles, when all at once the
'vhole landscape changed, as if h. magic. The
™ie mountains and rugged ravines softened into
'eatitifjl hills, and intervening meadows, with
nvulets winding through fresh herbage, and
^;iarklnigand murmuring over gravelly beds, the
Allele forming ;i ^ erdant and pastoral scene, which
derived additional charm; from being locked up
in the bosom of such a hard-he. irted region.
luiierging from the chain of Hlue .Nlouiitains,
they descended ujion a vast plain, almost a dead
level, sixty miles in circumference, of excellent
soil, with fine streams ine.mdering through it in
every direction, their courses marked oW in the
wide landscape by ser|)entine lines ot cotton-wood
trees, and willows, which fringed tlu;ii b.-.nks, and
afforded sustenance to great numbers of beavers
and otters.
In traversing this iil.iin, they [la
they at length
, close to
the skirts of the hills, a great pool ol v.ater, three
hundred yards in circumlereiice, fed by a sul]ihur
spring, about ten feet in diameter, boiling up in
one corner. The va|)or from this pool was ex-
tremely noisome, and tainted ilie air lor a consid-
erable distance. The place was much lre([Uented
by elk, which were fouiul in consider.ible num-
bers in the adjacent mountains, and their horns,
shed in the spring time, were streweil in every di-
rection around the ])ond.
On the 20tli of August, they reached the main
body of Wooclvile Creek, the saiiii; stream which
.Mr. Hunt had ascended in the ]H"e^etling year,
shortly after his sep.iration from Mr. Crooks.
On the banks of this stre.im they saw a herd of
nineteen antelopes ; a sight so unusual in that
part of the country, that at first they doubted the
evidence of their senses. They tried by every
means to get within shot of them, but they wene
too shy and fleet, and after alternately bounding
to a distance, and then stopping to ga/.e with ca-
pricious curiosity at the hunter,
scaiii]iered out of sight.
On the I2tli of August the travellers arrived on
the banks of Snake River, t'-.e scene of so many
trials and mishaps to ail of the present jiarly ex-
cepting Mr. Stuart. They struck 'lie river just
above the place where it entered th - mount.iins,
through which Messrs. Stuart and Crooks had
\ainly endeavored to tliid a ]j.issage. The river
was here a rapiil stream, lour hundred yards in
width, with high sandy btiiiks, ,ind here and there
a scanty growth of willow. I'p the southern side
(jf the river they now bent their course, intending
to visit the caches made by Mr. Hunt at the Cal-
dron Linn.
On the second evening a solitary Snake Indian
visited their camp, at a late hour, and informed
them that there w;.s a white man residing at one
of the cantonmen's of his tribe, about a day'j
journey higher up the river. It w;is immediately
concluded that he must be one ol the |)oor fellows
ol Mr. Hunt's ]).irty, who h.ul given out, exhaust-
ed by hunger and fatigue, in the wret bed jour-
ney of the preceding winter. All present, who
had Ixn-nc a ])art in the sufferings of that journey,
wer(! eager now to press forward, d bring relief
to a lost comrade. l'"arlythe next morning, thcrc-
f.)re, they pushed forw.ird with unusual alacritv.
l"or two days, howev('r, did they travel without
being able to lind ,>ny trace of such ;i straggler.
On the evening of the second day, they arrived
.It a place where a large river came in fiimi the
east, which was renowned .•imongall the wj'ulering
hordes of the Snake nation for its salmon fishery,
that fish being taken in incredible (jiiantities in
this neighborhood. Here, therefore, during the
li hing season, the Snake Indians resort from far
ai u near, to l.iy in tlieir stock ot salmon, which,
with esculent roots, forms the principal foo.l of
the inhabit:Mits of these barren regions.
On the b.u.k.T of a sni.ill stream emptying into
Snake River at tin;, place, Mr. Slu.irl louiid an
1 r '"S ■
fii\
l\:: ,i'..i
r fit
.. ii.-
390
ASTORIA.
i ]
encampment of Shoshonies. He made the usual
inquiry of them concernin{; the white mar. of whom
he had received inlelli};t;nce. No such person
■was dweilinjr amonj^ tliem, but they said there
were wiiite men residinj^ with some of their nation
on the o[)posite side of the river. This was still
more animatinj^ information. Mr. Crooks now
hoped that these niij^ht be the men of his i)arty,
who, disheartened by perils and hardships, had
prelerred to remain among the Indians. Others
thought they migiu be Mr. Miller and the hunters
who had leit the main body at Henry's I'"ort, to
trap among the mountain streams. Mr. Stuart
halted, therefore, in the neighborhood of the Sho-
shonie lodges, and sent ar. Indian across the river
to seek out the white meti in question, and bring
them to his camj).
The travellers passed i restless, miserable night.
The ])lace sw.irnK'd w th myriads of moscjuitoes,
which, with their stings anil their music, set all
sleep at detiance. The morning dawn found them
in a feverish, irritable mood, and their spleen was
completely aroused by th'^ return of the Indian
without any intelligence of the white men. They
now considered themselves the dupes of Indian
falsehoods, and resolved to put no more confi-
dence in Snakes. They soon, however, forgot
this resolution. In the course of the morning, an
Indian came galloping after them ; Mr. Stuart
waited to recei\e him ; no sooner had he come
up, than, dismounting and throwing his arms
round the neck of Mr. Stuart's hor.se, he began
to kiss and care.is the animal, who on his part
seemed by no means surprised or displeased with
his salutation. .Mr. .Stuart, who valued his horse
highly, was somewhat annoyed by these trans-
ports ; the cause of them was soon ex[)lained.
The Snake said the horse had belonged to him,
and been the best in his jjossession, and that it
had been stolen by the Wallah-Wallahs. Mr.
Stuart was by no means pleased with this recog-
nition ol his steed, nor disposed to admit any
claim on the part ol its ancient owner. In fact,
it was a noble animal, admirably sha])ed, of free
and generous spirit, graceful in movement, and
fleet as an aiUeU^pe. It was his intention, if pos-
sible, to take ti'.e horse to New York, and present
him to .Mr. Asior.
In the iijeaniime some of the party came up,
and immedi.ilely recognized in the .Snake an old
friend and ally. He was in fact one of the two
guides who had conducted Mr. Hunt's ])arty, in
ihe jMeceding autumn, across Mad River Moun-
tain to Fort Ih'iuy, and who subse(|uently depart-
ed with Mr. ^Miller and his fellow tra])|)ers, to
conduct them ti) a good f-'jiping ground. The
reader inav recollect that these two trusty .Snakes
^vel■e engaged by Mr. Hunt to return and take
charge ol tiie horses which thi; ])arty intended to
le.'ive at Fort Henry, when they shoultl embark
in canoes.
The party now crowded round the Snake, and
began to (piestion him with eagerness. His replies
were somewhat v.igue, and but partially under-
stood. ]'". tokl a long story about the horses,
from wliica it appeared that they had been stolen
l)y various wandering bands, and scattered in
different direction:;. The cache, too, had been
jilundered, .and the s.iddlcs and otiier et|uipments
carried off. 1 lis information concerning .Mr. Mil-
ler and his comrades, was not more satisfactory.
They had tra])ped tor some time at)out the upper
streams, but had fallen into the hands of a ma-
rauding party of Crows, who had robbed them of
horses, weapons, and everything.
Further questioning brought forth further in^d.
ligence, but allot a disastrous kind. About leii
days previously, he had met with three oil^cr
white men, in very miserable plight, haviivor
horse each, and but one ritle among them. \Ll
also had i)eei; plunde>-ed and nialtreiUed hy ;|-'e
Crows, '.hose univers;d freebooters. The .Sni '.
endeavored to pronounce the names of these ihrw
men, and as far as his im])erfect soluuIs could !e
understood, they were supposed to be three ol the
party of four hunters, viz., Carson, .St. Michati
Detayi', and Delaunay, who were detached ironi
Mr. Hunt's party on the 28th ol SeptemUr, ;o
trap beaver on the head waters of the Colunilii.u
In the course of conversation, the Indian i.
formed them that the route by which Mr. Hunt
had crossed the Rocky Mountains, was verv bad
and circuitous, and that he knew one much sl.(ir;er
and easier. Mr. Stuart urged him to acconip.inv
them as guide, promising to reward hinnvuh a
l)istol with powder and ball, a knite, an awl, some
blue beads, a blanket, and a looising-glass. Si;ih
a catalogue of riches was too tem|)iiiijr to |,^ f^,.
sisted ; beside the poor .Snake laiiguished after the
prairies ; he was tired, he said, of salmon, ar/!
longed for buffalo meat, and to ha\ e a grand Int.
falo hunt beyond the mountains. He dipartiii,
therefore, with all speed, to get his arms and
equi|)ment for the journey, promising to rejoin 'he
party the next day. He kejjt his word, and, as he
no longer said anything to .Mr. Stuart on the suii-
ject of the pet horse, they journeyed very luirmo-
niously together ; though now ami thi n, the Snake
woulil regard his (juondam steed with a wistful
eye.
They had not travelled many miles, when thev
came to a great bend in the river. Here the
Snake informed them that, by cutting across the
hills they would save many miles distance. The
route across, however, would be ;i good d.iy's
journey. He advised them, therefore, to encamp
here for the night, and set off early in the mon;-
ing. They took his advice, though ihey had come
but nine miles that day.
On the folk wing morning they rose, hright and
early, to ascend the hills. On mustering their
little ])arty, the guide was missing. They sup-
posed him to be somewhere in the neighhorhood,
and proceeded to collect the horses. Thevaunied
steeil of Mr. Stuart was not to be found. .A sus-
])icion Hashed U])on his mind. Se.irch for the
horse of the Snake I — He likewise wa.-. gone-ihe
tracks of two horses, one after the other, wire
found, making off from the camp. They appear-
ed as it one horse had been mounted, and the
other led. They were traced tor a few niilci
above the camp, until thev both crossed the river.
It was ])lain the Snake h.ad taken an Indian nwiie
of recovering his horse, having (piietly decamped
with him in the night.
New vows were made never more to trust in
Snakes or any other Indians. It was determined,
also, to maintain, lu'reafter, the str::test viff-
lance over their horses, dividing the night into
three watches, and one person mounting guard
at a time. They resolved, also, to keep along the
river, instead of' taking the short cut lecommeml-
ed by the lugitive Snake, w'lom they now srt-
down for a thorough deceiver. The heat of the
weather was oppressive, and their horses were, at
timen, -endered almost frantic by the stings ut
the i)rairie Hies. The nights were sutfocalini;,
and it was almost impossible to sleep, ho''^ '"^
swarms of mosiiuitoes.
I On the 2Qth of August they resumci
d their
ASTORIA.
897
iiisinj^Mo rejoin 'he
mirch keeping along the prairie parallel to Snake
o'er Tlif (lay \V''is sultry, and some ot the
m- beinj: parched with thirst, left the line of
P^ • j, .i„(l"scraniblecl clown the bank ot the river
ndriiik 'Hie hank was overiiung with willows,
.Leiih wliich, to their surprise, they beheld a
„ i;^liiiicr No sooner did he see them, than
hfuuerd an --xclamation of joy. It proved !■ be
I,;,i, Holiack, one of their lost comrades, i'ney
h,| scarcciv exchanged greetings, when three
other men came out from among the willows.
Thevwerejoscph .Miller, Jacob Kezner, and Rob-
iivi'n, the scalped Kentuckian, the veteran of the
Uiuodvllrounil. ,, , .
The reailcr wdl perhaps recollect the abrupt
and wilUil manner in which Mr. Miller threw
I;., his interest as a partner of the company, and
defined IroniFort Henry, in company wi'h these
nrce trappers, and a fourth, named Cass He
nwv likewise recognize in Roi)inson, Rcner, and
Hoback, llie trio of Kentucky hunters >vho had
ori''in.diy been in the service of Mr. Henry, and
whom Mr. Hunt found Hoaung down the .Mis-
souri, on tlieir way homeward ■ and ;irevailed
u'lon.once more, to cross the mountains. Thr
h'^'ij.ud looks and naked condition o' these men
proved how much they had suffered. After leav-
!:,■; Mr. Hunt's party, they had made their way
abiut I'.vo hiiiulred miles to the southward, where
t:iev trappetl beaver on a river, wliich, according
lothcir account, discharged itself into the ocean
I ] tne south of the Columbia, but which we appre-
hend to be Bear River, a stream emjitying itself
i:,to Lake lioniieville, an immense body of salt
w.itcr, west of the Rocky Mountains.
Havin^r collected a considerai)le (juantity of
hiMver skins, they made them into packs, loaded
their hordes, and steered two hundred miles due
cast. Here tiiey came upon an encampment of
sixty lodges of Arapahays, an outlawed band of
the .Arapahoes, and notorious robbers. These
fell upon the poor trappers ; robbed them of their
pcitries, most of their clothing, and several of
t'leir horses. They were '.dad to escape with their
lives, and without being entirely stripped, and
alter proceeding about fifty miles further, made
their halt tor the winter.
Early in the spring they resumed their v ayfar-
ing, hut were unluckily overtaken i)y the same
r'Jilian horde, who levied still lurther contribu-
tions, and carried off the rentainder of their
horses, excepting two. With thes ? they contin-
ued on, suffering the greatest hardships. They
siill retained rifles and ammunition, but were in
a desert country, where neither bir;! nor beast
was to he found. Their oidy chance was to keep
alunj( tlie rivers and subsist i)y fishing ; but, at
tunes, no fish were to be taken, and then their sut-
fennfTs were horrible. One of their horses was
St lien among the mountains by the Snake In-
dians ; the other, they said, was carried off by
Cass, who, according to their account, " villain-
ously le't them in thtiir extremities," Certain
(lark doubts and surmises were afterward circu-
lated concerning the fate of that pwr fellow,
which, if true, showed to what a desperate state
cManiine his comrades had been reduced.
llcing miw completely unhorsed, Mr. Miller and
li:s three companions wandered on foot for several
fuiidred miles, enduring hunger, thirst, and fa-
'U'Ue, while traversing the barren wastes which
a.wund beyond the Rocky .Mountains. At the
taiie they were discovered by Mr. Stuart's party,
'■ey were almost fami;,' ed, and were fishing tor
a precarious meal. Had Mr. Stuart made the short
cut across the hills, avoiding this bend of the
river, or had not some of his party accidentally
gone down to the margin of the stream to drink,
these poor wanderers might have remainetl un-
discovered, and have perished in the wilderness.
Nothing could exceed their joy on thus meeting
with their old comrades, or the heartiness with
which they were welcomed. All hands imme-
diately encamped ; and the slender stores of the
party were ransacked to furnish out a suitable re-
gale.
The next morning they all set out together ;
Mr. Miller and his comrades being resolved to
give up the life of a trapper, and accompany Mr.
Stuart back to St. Louis.
For several days they kept along the course of
Snake River, occasionally making short cuts
across hills and promont'-:ic:; where there were
bends in the stream. In their way they jjassed
several camps of Shoshonies, from some of whom
they procured salmon, i)Ut in general they were
too wretchedly poor to furnish anything. It was
the wish of Mr. Stuart to purchase horses for the
recent recruits of his party ; but the Indians could
not be prevailed upon to part with any, alleging
that they had not enough for tlieir own use.
On the 2Sth of August, they reached a great
fishing ])lace, to which they gave the name of the
Salmon Falls. Here there is a pe!|)endicular fall
of twenty feet on the north side of the ri\er, while
on the south side there is a succession of rapids.
The salmon are taken here in incredible i[uanti-
ties, as they attempt to shoot the falls, ft was
now a favorable season, and there were about one
hundred lodges of Shoshonies busily engaged
killing and drying fish. The salnioii begin to
leap, shortly after sunrise. At this time the In-
dians swim to the centre of the falls, where some
station themselves on rocks, and others stand to
their waists in the water, all armed with spears,
with which they assail the salmon as they attempt
to leap, or fall back exhausted. It is an incessant
slaughter, so great is the throng of the lish.
The construction of the spears thus used is pe-
culiar. The head is a straight piece of elk horn,
about seven inches long ; on the i^oiiit of which
an artificial barb is made fast, with twine well
gummed. The head is stuck on the end of the
.,liaft, a verv long pole ot willow, to which it is
likewise cou.'ecled by a strong cord, a few inches
in length. When the spearsman in. ikes a sure
blow, lie often strikes the head of the spe.ir through
the body of the fish. It comes off easily, and
leaves ilie salmon struggling with the siring
through its body, wdiile the jiole is still held by
the spearsman. Were it not tor the precaution of
the string, the willow shaft would be snapped by
the struggles and the weigiit of tluMish. Mr.
.Miller, in the course cd his wanderings, had been
at these falls, and liai. seen sever.il thousand sal-
mon taken in the course of one afternoon. He
declared that he had seen a salmon leap a distance
of about thirty feet, from the coiunienoen.ent of
the foam at the foot of the fall, com[detely to the
top.
Having ]nircliased n good supply of salmon
from the fishermen, the party resuiiieil their jour-
ney, and on the twenly-nintli, arriv ' at the Cal-
dron Linn ; the eventtul scene of the i)receding
autumn. Here, the first thing that met their eyes,
was a memento of the perplexities (<f that p.^'iod ;
the wreck of a canoe lodgetl between two ledges
of rocks. They endeavored to get down ir) it, but
the river banks were too high and iirocipitous.
They now proceeded to that part of the neigh-
Ill
308
ASTORIA.
W .' f /I
I)(irnoo;l when! Mr. Hunt and his party had made
the caclu-s, iiULMidiiijr to take from them such arti-
cles as liclon^jcd to Mr. Crooks, M'Lt'llan, and
tlie Canadians. On reachinjr the spot, tlicy found,
to llifir astonishiucnt, six of the caches open and
ritled of their contents, exceptinjj a few i)ooks
whicii lay scattered about the vicinity. They hatl
the a])pe,i ranee of liavinjr been pluridered in the
course of tiie summer. There were tracks of
wohes in every direction, to and from the l.oles,
from wiiicii Mr. Stuart conchided tiiat these ani-
mals had llrst been attracted to the |)lace by the
smell of the skins contained in the caches, which
they had probably torn up, and that their tracks
had betrayed the secret to the Indians.
Tiie three remaining caches had not been mo-
lested : they contained a few dry jjfoods, some am-
munition, and a number oi beaver traps. I'"rom
these Ml'. Stuart too'c whatever was retiuisite for
his i);:rty ; he then deposited within them all his
superlluous ba^^gai^'e, and all the books and pa-
pers scattered around ; the holes were then care-
fully closed up, and all traces of them effaced.
And here we have to record another instance of
the indoniitaiile spirit of the western trapjiers.
No sooner did the trio of Kentucky hunters,
Robinson, Rezner, and Hoback, find that they
could once moie Ijc fitted out for a campaign
of beaver-trapping, than they forgot all that they
had suffered, ami determined upon another trial
of their fortunes ; |)referring to take their chance
in the wilderness, rather than return home ragged
and penniless. As to Mr. Miller, he declareil his
curiosity and his desire of travelling through the
Indian couiitries fully satisfied ; he adhered to his
determination, therefore, to keep on with the jiarty
to St. Louis, and to return to the bosom of civi-
lized society.
T!ie three hunters, therefore, Rol)inson, Rezner,
and Hoback, were furnished as far as the caches
and the means of Mr. Stuart's jjarty afforded,
with the rc(|uisite munitions and equi])ments for a
" tw'j years' hunt ;" but as their fitting out was
yet incomplete, they resolved to wait in this
neighborhood until Mr. Reed should arrive ;
whose arrival might soon be exnccted, as he was
to set out lor the caches aliout twenty days after
Mr. Stuart parted with him at the Waflah-Wallah
River.
Mr. Stu.irt gave in charge to Robinson a letter
to Mr. Reed, reporting his safe journey thus far,
and th<f slate in which he had found the caches,
A duplicate of this letter he elevated on a pole,
and set it up near the jilace of deposit.
All things being thus arranged, Mr. Stuart and
his little band, now seven in number, took leave
of the three hardy trap])ers, wishing them all jios-
sible success in their lonely and perilous sojourn
in the wilderness ; and we, in like manner, shall
leave them to their fortunes, promising to take
them up again at some future ])age, and to close
the story of their ijcrsevering and ill-fated enter-
prise.
li'
CHAPTER XLV.
On the 1st of September, Mr. Stuart and his
companions resumed their journey, bending their
course eastward, along the course of Snake Ri\cr.
As they advanced the country opened. The hills
which had hemmed in the river receded on either
hand, and great s.mdy and dusty plains extended
before them. Occasionally there were intervals
of pastorage, and the banks of the river were
fringed with willows and cotton-wnod, so that •
course might be traced from the hill-td'ps wimi-'
under an umbrageous covert, through a wid-'^^
burnt landscape. The soil, howe\'er, was in*^
rally poor ; there was in some i)lacesp m'isin','
growth of wormwood, and a plant calkil s f
weed, resembling pennyroyal ; but the sumnv-
heat had parched the plains, and lt|t hm [«'',
l)asturage. The game too hail disappeared T-!
hunter looked in vain over the liefek-sslandscan
now and then a few antelo|)e might ho stm j r'
not within reach of the ritle. We forljearto')
low the travellers in a week's wandtnn r iri,',
these barren wastes, where they sulfcri'irmu h
from hunger; having to depend upon a fmviish
from the streams, and now and then a litilcdnil
salmon, or a dog, procured from some forlorn
lodge of the Shoshonies.
Tireil of these cheerless wastes, thev left th"
banks of Snake River on the 7th of Siptfinijfr"
under guidance of Mr. Miller, who haviin' ■••.
(|uired some knowledge of the country (luriiiVhs
trai)i)ing campaign, undertook to coiuluct ihcm
across the mountains by a better route than that
by Fort Henry, and one more out of the laivtof
the Blackfeet. He proved, however, hut an in.
different guide, and they soon became liewildmil
among rugged hills and unknown streams, ar.J
burnt and barren prairies.
At length they came to a river on which Xr,
Miller had trapped, and to which they ^mvc his
name ; though, as before observed, we ]]risiin;i;
it to be the same called Hear River, wliicluni|)tiis
itself into Lake Bonneville. I'p this river and its
branches they kept for two or three (lavs, support-
ing themselves precariously upon I'lsli. Tln\ sona
found that they were in a (langerotis luiijhbor-
hood. On the 12th of Sejitember, havititj t:,. '
camjied early, they sallied forth with their liidsio
angle for their supper. On returning, tluv lie-
helil a number of Indians prowling tilxiut their
camp, whom, to their infinite dis(|uiet, tluvsnoa
perceived to be I'psarokas, or Crows. Thiir
chief came forward with a confident air. He
was a dark herculean fellow, full six feet loar
inches in height, with a mingled air ot the rulliin
and the rogue. He conducted himself |)eai'eahlv,
however, and dispatched some of his people io
their camj), which wa.-> somewhere in the neijjh-
borhood, from whence they returned with a most
acceptable sup])ly of buffalo meat. He now si<,'n:-
fied to Mr. Stuart that he was going to trade with
the Snakes who reside on the west base ut the
mountains below Henry's Fort. Here they culti-
vate a delicate kind of tobacco, much esteemed
and sought af!er by the mountain tribes. There
was something sinister, however, in the look of
this Indian, that inspired distrust, liy degrei^
the number of his people increased, until, by mid-
night, there wt«re twenty-one of them about the
camp, who began to be im]Hi(lent and trouble-
some. The greatest uneasine'ss was now leli tor
the safety of the horses and effects, and every one
kept vigilant watch airoughout the night.
The morning dawned, however, without any un-
pleasant occurrence, and Mr. Stuart, haviut; pur-
chased all the buffalo meat that the Crows had to
sjiare, prepared to depart. His Indian ac(iiiaint-
ance, however, were disposed for furtherdealini,'s;
and above all, anxious for a supply of gunpowde',
for which they offered horses in exchange. M"-
Stuart declined to furnish them with the daiv^er-
ous commodity. They became more importuiiite
in their solicitations, until they mei. with a llat re-
fusal.
ASTORIA.
309
The fiffant'C chief now stepped forward, as-
<„.,rtlasV-llinK.ur. and, slai)pinj(-himsflt upon
\' Vj. i^( ,,,iVL' Mr. Crooks to understand that he
'' "ichiet of great power and importance. He
r!mlic 1 i^rllK'^ that it "-as customary for great
Mts wivn they met, to make each other pres-
s's Ik- re(|uested, therefore, that Mr. Stuart
"liuM .ili;;hi. and jfive him the horse upon whicii
^!\va^ im)u'nled. This was a nolde animal, of
"\c (i! '!'<; ^^i''' '^^'^^^ "^ ^^^' 1"''^'''''^^ ' "^'^ which
U- Stuart sct},'reat value ; he of course shook his
i.c'i I altlie rc'iiiest of the Crow dijrnitary. Upon
thVilu' iattcrstroile up to him, and taking hold
o'him. moved him backward and forward in his
sjiillt. ■!» i' "' '"■''^'^ '*''" ^^'^'' ^'^'^' '^''' ^^''' '^ '"'-''■^
|,y,';'j\vithiii his grasp. Mr. Stuart preserved his
ci!mnf.ssaii(lstiil shook his head. The chief then
s-iwi the liridle and gave it a jerk that startled
thclioric, and nearly brought the rider to the
.^viKiil. Mr. .Stuart instantly drew forth a pistol
anJ presented it at the head of the bully ruffian.
i-i.uwiiikliiig, his swaggering was at an end, and
he Jod'c'd behind his horse to escape the expected
s.it. As his subject Crows gazed on the affray
irom.i little (list. uice, Mr. Stuart ordered his men to
k-vcltlicirritlesatlhem, but not to tire. The whole
crjiv scam|)eie(i among the bushes, and throwing
tr.j;iiSL'la'!i u|)on the ground, vanished from sight.
Tht ihicttain thus left alone, was confounded
fir ,111111 itaiit ; !)ul recovering himself, with true
l;idi,iii slircwdness, l)ur.=t into a loud laugh, and
aiiatid t!) turn off the whole matter as a jjiece of
picb.intry, .Mr. Stuart by no means relished
5j;luqiiivoc;d joking, but it v.'as not his jiolicy to
••.■; ii;; I a (iiiarrel ; so he joined with the best
-.-,„ till.' could .assume, in the merriment of the joc-
ular ;,'i.i:it ; and, to console the latter for the re-
h3,il o! the horse, made iiim a present of twenty
ciiirijcs of po.vder. They parted, according to
all iiutwanl professions, the best friends in the
world ; it was evident, however, that nothing but
tr.-.' smailness of his own force, and the martial
arnv and alertness of the white men, had pre-
vciitid the Crow chief from jjroceeding to open
Cjirajjc, As it was, his worthy followers, in the
course of their brief interview, had contrived to
purloin a hag containing almost all the culinary
f.ensils of the jjarty.
The travellers kept on their way due east, over
i ch.iiii of hills. The recent rencontre showed
'.hem that the) were now in a land of danger,
su!);ect to the wide roamings of a predacious
uihe ; nor in fact, had they gone many miles be-
tjrc they beheld such sights calculated to inspire
.".ri\ic;y anil al.irm. Fnmi the summits <■' some
of the loftiest mountains, in different di notions,
columns ol smoke began to rise. These theycon-
c.Jied to he signals made by the runners of the
Criw chieftain to summon the stragglers of his
l;i:i I, so as to pursue them with greater force,
Si^'ii.ilsof this kind, made by outrunners from one
uiixil poin,, will rou.se a wide circuit of the
liMuiuaiiis in a wonderfully short space of time ;
in Hiring the straggling hunters and warriors to
;>■ standard of their ch'ieftain.
Tu keep ,as much as possible out of the way of
"Me freebooters, Mr. Stuart altered his course to
I -north, and, (|uilting the main stream of Mil-
fi River kept up a large branch that came in
-Ml the mountains. Here they encamped after
•'"itiguiiig march of twenty-tive miles. As the
I'Smdrew on, the horses were hobbled or tether-
M. and tethered close to the camp; a vigilant
^wtch w.is maintained until morning and every
one slept with his rifle on his arm.
At sunrise, they were again on the march, still
keeping to the north. They soon began to ascend
the mountains, and occasionally h.ul wide pros-
pects over the surrounding country. Not a sign
of a Crow was to be seen ; but this did not assure
them of their security, W(dl knowing the persever-
.'ince of these savages in dogging .any party they
intend to rob, and the stealthy way in which they
can conceal their movements, keeping ahjiig ra-
vines and defiles. After a mountain scramble of
twenty-one miles they encamped on the margin
of a stream running to the north.
In the evening there was an alarm of Indians
and every one was instantly on tin; alert. They
proved to be three miserable Sn,d<es, who were
no sooner informed that a bind of Crows w.is
prowling in the neighborhood, than they made off
with great signs of consternation.
A couple more of weary days and watchful
nights brought them to a strong and r.ipid stream,
running due north, which they conclude 1 to be
one of the upper branches of Snake River. It was
pr(d)ably the same since called Salt River. They
determined to bend their course down this river,
as it would take them still further out of the dan-
gerous neighborhood of the Crows. They then
would strike upon Mr. Hunt's track of the preced-
ing autumn, and retrace it across the nKiuniains.
The attempt to find a better route under guid-
ance of Mr. Miller had cost them a l.irgc bend to
the south ; in resuming Mr, Hunt's tr.ick, they
would at least be sure of their rood. They ac-
cordingly turned down along the course of this
stream, and at the end of tnree days' journey,
came to where it was joined by a larger river,
and assumed a more impetuous char.ictcr, r.iging
and roaring among rocks and precipices. It
proved, in fact, to be Mad River, already noted
in the expedition of Mr. Hunt. On the banks of
this river they encamped on the i8th ol Septem-
ber, at an early hour.
Six days had now elapsed since their interview
with the Crows ; during that time they had come
nearly a hundred and fifty miles to the north and
west, without seeing ;iny signs of those maraud-
ers. They considered themselves, therefore, be-
yond the reach of molestation, and beg.m to relax
in their vigilance, lingering occasionally for part
of a day, where there was good pastur.ige. The
poor horses needed repose. They had been urged
on, by forced marches, over rugged heights,
among rocks and fallen timber, or over low
swampy valleys, inundated by the labors of the
beaver. These inrlustrious animals abounded in
all the mountain streams, and water cinirses,
wherever there were willows for their subsistence.
Many of '.hem they had so com])letely dammed
up as to iiu ndate the low grounds, making shallow
pools Oi lakes, and extensive (|U,igmires ; by
which the route of the travellers was often im|)edecl.
(Jn the igth of Se[)tember, they rosi; at early
dawn ; some began to prepare breakfast, and
others to arrange the packs |)repar,ttory to a
march. The horses had been hobbhxi, but left at
large to graze upon the adjacent jiasture. Mr.
Stuart was on the bank of a river, at a short dis-
tance from the camp, when he heard the alarm
cry — " Indians ! Indians ! — to arms ! to arms I"
A mounted Crow gallo|)ed past the camp, bear-
ing a red Hag. He reined his steed on the summit
of a neighboring knoll, and waved his flaring ban-
ner. A diabolical yell now broke forth on the
opposite side of the camp, beyond where the
horses were grazing, and a small troop ol savages
came galloping up, whooping and making a ter-
400
ASTORIA.
r i I '
h !
racks haii seized tliuir rifles, and atteniptcci to cut
off the Indians, wlio were pursuinj^ the horses.
I ■!■
rific clamor. The horses took fright, and dashed
across the camp in the direction of the standard-
bearer, attracted hy his waving Mag. He in-
stantly put spurs to his steed, and scoured off, fol-
lowed i)y the jjanic-stricken herd, their tlight be-
ing increased by the yells of the savages in their
rear.
At the first alarm Mr. .Stuart and his com-
ittempt
ing tm
Their attention w;is instantly distracted by
whoops and yells in an opposite direction. They
now ajiprchended that a reserve jiarty was about
to carry olf their baggage. They ran to secure
it. The reserve party, however, galloped by,
whooping anil yelling in triumph and tlerision.
The last of tiicni proved to be their commander,
tile identical giafft joker already mentioned. He
was not cast in the stern poetical moukl of fash-
ionable Indian heroism, but on the contrary, was
grievously given to vulgar jocularity. As he passed
Kir. Stu;>rt and his companions, he checked his
horse, raised himself in the saddle, and clapjjing
his hand on the most insulting ])art of his body, ut-
tered some jeering words, which, fortunately for
their delic.icy, tlu-y could not understantl. The
ritle of 'ji'n Jones was levelled in an instant, and
he was on the jioint of whizzing a bullet into the
target so tauntingly displayed. " Not for your
life ! not for your life !" exclaimed Mr. Stuart,
*' you will bring destruction on us all !"
It was hard to restrain honest IJen, when the
mark was so fair and the insult so foul. " Oh,
Mr. Stuart," exclaimed he, " only let me have one
crack at the infernal rascal, and you may keep all
the pay that is due to me."
" 15y heaven, if you fire," cried Mr. Stuart,
" I'll blow your brains out."
I5y this time the Indian was far out of reach,
and had rejuine'l his men, and the whole dare-
tlevil banil, with the captured horses, scuttled off
along the defiles, their red flag daunting over
head, and the rocks echoing to their whoops and
yells, and ilcMiioniac laughter.
The unhorsed travellers gazed after them in
silent niortiticalion and despair ; yet Mr. Stuart
could not bi;t admire the style and spirit with
which the whole ex[)loit had been managed, and
pronounced it cne of the most daring and intrepid
actions he had ever heard of among Indians.
The whole number of the Crows did not exceed
twenty. In this way a small gang of lurkers will
hurry off the cavalry of a large war i)arty, for
when onc^- a drove of horse are seized with a
panic, they become frantic, and nothing short of
broken necks can stop them.
No one was more annoyed by this unfortunate
occurrence than F n Jones. He declared he would
actually i'ave given his whole arrears of j^ay,
amounting to upward of a year's wages, rather
than be i)alkeil of such a capital shot. Mr.
Stuart, however, represented what might have
been the consequence of so rash an act. Life for
life is the Indian maxim. The whole tribe would
have made common cause in avenging the death
of a warrior. The party were but seven dismount-
ed men, with a wii'e mountain region to traverse,
infested by these ', iple, and which might all be
roused by signal tires. In fact, the conduct of
the band of m.irauders in question, showed the
perseverance of savages whenonce they have fixed
their minds upon a project. These fellows had
evidently been silently and secretly dogging the
party for a week past, and a distance of a hun-
dred and fifty miles, keeping out of sight by day,
lurking about the encampment at night, waid, i
all their movements, and waiting for ,i tVvor m''
moment when they should be olf ihtir |tuV''i'
The menace of Mr. Stuart, in their first intmin'
to shoot the giant chief with his pistol, and .)'
fright caused among the warriors hv presinim
the rifles, had probably added the stimiilus ofpiJ
to their usual horse-stealing proiieiisitits, and i^
this mood of mind they would ..oul)il«sshVvelv!
lowed the -larty throughout their vhole courst
over the Rocky Mountains, rather than bedibap.
pointed in their scheme. '
CHAPTER XLVI
Few reverses in this changeful world nremort
complete and disheartening than t'lat of lUravt,.
ler, suddenly unhorsed, in the midst of '.Ik- wilder.
ness. Our unfortunate travellers contcniplaud
thei.- situation, for a time, in perfect dismav. A
long journey over rugged mountains and imme.is-
urat)le plains lay before them, which thev muit
painfully perform on foot, and evciythin;,' neces-
sary for subsistence or defence nii'ist he carried
on their shoulders. Their dismay, however, was
but transient, and they immediately set to work,
with that prompt expediency jiro lu'ccd' hyihecy-
igenciesof the wilderness, to fit theiiisehes torihe
change in their condition.
Their first attention was to select from their bag.
gage such articles as were indispensable to thtir
journey ; to make them up into coiivenieiu packs,
and to deposit the residue in caches. Tlie whole
day was consumed in these occupations ; ,at ni^'ht
they made a scanty meal of their remaining pro-
visions, and lay down to sleep with heavy hearts.
In the morning, they were up and alioutatan
early hour, and l)egan to prepare their knapsacks
for a march, while Hen Joiv-s repaired to an old
beaver trap which he had set in the river bank at
j some little distance from the camp. He was re-
joiced to find a middle-sized beaver there, sutlicient
lor a morning's meal to his hungry comrades,
i On his way back with his ]irize, he observed two
j heads peering over the edge of an iiiipendinj; cliif,
several hundred feet high, which he supposed lo
be a coujjle ui wolves. As he continued on, he
i now and then cast his eye up ; the heads were
1 still there, looking down with fixed and v.atchlul
gaze. A suspicion now flashed across his mind
that they might be Indian scouts ; and had they
not been far above the reach of his ritle, he would
undoubtedly have regaled them with a shit.
On arriving at the camp, he directed the atten-
tion of his comrades to these aerial observers,
The same idea was at first entertained, that they
were wolves ; but their immovable watcbtulncss
soon satisfied every one that they were Indians. It
was concluded that they were watching the move-
ments of the party, to discover their jilace of con-
cealment of such articles as they ouhl be compel-
led to leave behind. There was no likelihool that
the caches would escape the search of sneh keen
eyes and experienced rummagers, and the idea w.is
intolerable that any more booty should l.iH inw
their hands. To disappoint them, therefore, the
travellers stripped the caches of the articles depos-
ited there, and collecting together eveiythMv; that
they could not carry away with them, nuule a
bonfire of all that would burn, and threw the rest
into the river. There was a forlorn satistartion in
thus balking the Crows, by the destruction of their
own property ; and, having thus gratified their
ASTORIA.
401
ninue they shouldered their packs, about ten
'cluck in the morning, and set out on their jie-
l^irian wayfaring'. , ■ , ,
Thu' route they took was down alonjf the hanks
[Mul Kiver. This stream makes its way throuffh
L ilctilt's of the mountains, into the plain l)eiow
Fort Henry, where it terminates in Snake River.
Mr Stuart was in holies of meeting; with Snake
encampments in the plain, where he nii>,'iu pro-
cure a couple of horses to transport the bag),r;,jr,;.
,. jy^.|, cjisf, he intended to resume his eastern
course across the mountains, and endeavor to
rtuh the Cheyenne Kiver before winter. Should
he fail, however, of obtaininjf horses, he would
nrol)al)'ly he compelled to winter on the Pacific
side of the mountains, somewhere on the head
wters of the Spanish or Colorado River.
With all the care that had been observed in
lakiii},' nothinfj with them that was not absolutely
necessary, the poor pedestrians were heavily la-
den, and their burdens added to the fatifjue of
their rugged road. They suffered much, too, from
hun(;er.° The trout they cauj^ht were too poor to
vicid n-,uch nourishment ; their main de|)endence,
t.icrclore, was upon an old beaver trap, which they
h.id providentially retained. Whenever they were
fortunate enough to entrap a beaver, it was cut up
immediately and distributed, that each man
niiijht carry his share.
.After two days of toilsome travel, during which
they made but eighteen miles, they stopped on
ti'.e 2ist to build two rafts on which to cross to
the north side of the river. On these they em-
harked on the following morning, four on one
raft, and three on the other, and pushed boldly
from shore. Finding the rafts sufficiently '^•'m
and steady to withstand the rough and rapid
water, they changed their minds, and instead of
crossing, ventured to float down with the current.
The river was in general very rppid, and from one
to two hun;lred yards in width, winding in every
direction through mountains of hard black rock,
covered with i)ines and cedars. The mountains
to the east of the river were spurs of the Rocky
r,inje, and of great magnitude ; those on the
west were little better than hills, bleak and bar-
ren, or scantily clothed with stunted grass.
.Ma I River, though deserving its name from the
impetuosity of its current, w.is free from rapids
and cascatles, and flowed on in a single channel
lietueen gravel banks, often fringed with cotton-
wood and dwarf willows in abundance. These
gave sustenance to immense cjuantities of beaver,
so that the voyageurs found no difitjculty in jiro-
curing food. 'l5en Jones, also, killed a fallow
deer and a wolverine, and as they were enal)led
to carry the carcasses on their rafts, their larder
was well sujiplied. Indeed they might have oc-
cisionally shot l)eavers that were swimming in
the river as they floated by, but they humanely
spared their lives, being in no want of meat at the
t:me. In this way they kept down the river for
three days, drifting with the current and encamp-
ins on land at night, when they drew up their rafts
oa snore. Toward the evening of the third day,
taeycame to a little island on which they descried
H'i"S,' of elk. Hen Jones landed, and was fortu-
nate enough to wound one, which immediately
look to the water, but, being unable to stem the
current, drifted above a mile, when it was over-
taken and drawn to shore. As a storm w.as gath-
f-ij, they now encimped on the margin of the
f'ler, where they remained all the next day, shel-
tering themselves ,as well as they could from the
'iin, and hail, and snow, a sharp foretaste of the
impending winter. During their encampment they
emjiloyed themselves in jerking a jiart of the elk
for future supply. In cutting uj) the carcass they
found that the animal had been wounded by
hunters, about a week previously, an arrow head
and a musket ball remaining in the wounds. In
the wilderness every trivial circumstance is a
matter of anxious s|)eculation. The Snake In-
dians have n.> guns ; the elk, thereft)re, could not
have been wounded by one of them. They were
on the borders of the country infested l)y the
HIackteet, who carry firearms, it was concluded,
therefore, that the elk had been hunted by some
of that wandering and hostile tribe, who, of
course, must be in the neighborhood. T'he idea
put .in end to the transient solace they had en-
joyed in the comparative repose and aliundance
of the river.
For three days longer they continued to navigate
with their rafts. T'he recent storm had rendered
the weather extremely cold. They had now
floated down the river about ninety-one miles,
when, finding the mountains on the right dimin-
ished to moderate sized hills, they landed, and
prejiared to resume their journey on foot. Ac-
cordingly, having spent a d.iy in pre|)arations,
making moccasons, and jiarceiling out their jerk-
ed meat in packs of twenty pounds to each man,
they turned their backs upon the river on the
29th of September, and struck off to the north-
east ; keeping along the southern skirt of the
mountain on which Henry's Fort was situated.
Their march was slow and toilsome ; part of
the time through an alluvial bottom, thickly
grown with cotton-wood, hawthorn, and willows,
and part of the time over rough hills. T'hree ante-
lopes came within shot, but they dared not fire at
them, lest the report of their rifles should betray
them to the Hlackfeet. In the course; of the day
they came upon a large horse-track, a])p.irently
about three weeks olcl, and in the evening en-
cam])ed on the tianksof a small stream, on a spot
which had been the camping jilace of this same
band.
On the following morning they still observed
the Indian track, hut after a time they cime to
where it separated in every direction, .and was
lost. This showed that the band h.ul rlispersed in
various hunting parties, and was, in all probabil-
ity, still in the neighborhood ; it was necessary,
therefore, to |)roceed with the utmost caution.
They ke|)t a vigilant eye as they marclied, upon
every height where a scout might be posted, and
scanned the solitary landscape and the distant ra-
vines, to observe any column of smoke ; but noth-
ing of the kind was to be seen ; all was indescrib-
af)ly stern and lifeless.
Toward evening they came to where there were
several hot springs, strongly impregnated with
iron and sulphur, and sending up a volume of va-
por that tainted the surrounding atmosphere, and
might be seen at the distance of a couple of miles.
Near to these they encamped in a deep gully,
which afforded some conce.ilmeiit. To their
great concern, Mr. Crooks, who h;ul been indis-
l)osed for the two preceding days, had a violent
fever in the night.
Shortly after daybreak they resumed their
march. On emerging from the glen a i onsulta-
tion was held as to their course. Shruld they
continue round the skirt of the mountain, they
would be in danger of falling in with the scatter-
ed parties of Hlackfeet, who were probab'y hunt-
ing in the plain. It was thought most atlvisable,
therefore, to strike directly across the mountain,
402
ASTORIA.
ill'
iMi^n
i iiii
since the rnuto, tliniigh nipffcd and dilTicult,
would l)c most sccun-. This counsel was iiuiij{-
nantiy duridt-d iiy M'Lellan as pusillanimous.
Hot-hfadt.'d and impatient at all times, he had
1)een rendered irascilile by the fatifjues of the
journey, and the condition of his feet, which wt;re
chafed and sore. He could not endure the idea
of encounurinf; the dilliculties of the mountain,
and swore he would r.ither face all the Hlackfeet
in the country. \\v. w.is overruled, however, and
the party hejjan to ascend the mountain, strivinj^,
with the .ir<l()r and emulation of youn|^ men, who
should be first up. M'Lellan, who was double the
age of some ot his comp.inions, soon be^^an to
lose breath, ;ind fall in the re.ir. In the distribu-
tion of burdens, it was his turn to carry the old
beaver trap, ricpied and irritated, he suddenly
came to .i h.dt, swore he would carry it no further,
and jerked it h.ilt way down the hill. He was
offered in pl.ice of it a ])ackai;e of dried meat, but
this he scdrnfully threw upon the ground. They
might carry it, he said, who needed it, for his
p.irt, he could jirovide his daily food with his ritle.
He concluded by llinging off from the party, and
keeping along the skirts of the mountain, leaving
those, he said, to climb rocks, who were afraid to
face Indians. It was in vain that Mr. Stuart rep-
resented to him the rashness of his conduct, and
the d.M-igers to which he exposed himself ; he re-
jected such counsel as craven. It was eciually
useless to r(.-present the dangers to which he sub-
jected his com]ianions ; as he could be discover-
ed at a great distance on those naked plains, and
the Indians, seeing him, would know that there
must be other white men within reach. M'Lellan
turned a deaf ear to every remonstrance, and kept
on his wilful way.
It seems ;i strange instance of perversencss in
this man thus to lliiig himself off alone, in a savage
region, where solitude itself was dismal, but
every encounter with his fellow-man full of peiil.
Such, however, is the hardness ot spirit, and the
insensibility to danger, that grow uiion men in
the wiklerness. M'Lellan, moreover, was a man
of peculiar temperament, ungovernable in his
will, of a courage that absolutely knew no fear,
and somewhat of a braggart spirit, that took a
pride in doing desperate and hair-brained things.
Mr. Stuart ;uvl iiis party found the i)assage of
the mountain st)mewhat ditlicult, on account of
the snow, which in many jilaces was of consider-
able depth, though it was now but the 1st of Oc-
tober. They crossed the summit early in the
afternoon, ;uid beheld below them a plain about
twenty miles wide, bounded on the opposite side
by their old ac(|u;untances, the I'ilot Knobs, those
towering mountains which had served Mr. Hunt
as landmarks in i)art of his route of the preceding
year. Through the intermediate plain wandered
a river about tifty yards wiile, sometimes gleam-
ing in open ilay, but oftener running through wil-
lowed banks, which marked its serpentine course.
Those of ihi; party who had been across these
mountains pointed out much of the bearings of
the country to Mr. Stuart. They showed him in
what direction must lie the ileserted ]iost called
Henry's Fort, where they had abandoned their
horses and embarked in canoes, and they inform-
ed him that the stream which wandere<l through
the plain below them, fell into Henry River, half
way between the fort and the mouth of Mad or
Snake River. The character of all this mountain
region was decidedly volcanic ; and to the north-
west, between Henry's Fort and the .source of che
Missouri, Mr. Stuart observed several very high
peaks covered with snow, from two of wv \
smoke ascended in considerable volumes am'
ently from craters, in a state of erui)iiun. ' '"'
On their way tlown the niouiuain, when the-
had reached the skirts, they descried .M'Lellan ;,
a distance, in the adv.mce, traversing' the plajn
Whether he saw them or not, he showed niMlJs'.r)
sition to rejoin them, but pursued his sullen ,vvi
solitary way. After descending into the plan
they kept on about six miles, \intil theyreichci
the little river, which was here about kneeiletn
and richly fringed with \ullow. Here thevt".
camped for the night. At this encampnieni ti-c
fever of Mr. Crooks increased to suchaiK'rf-
that it was imi)ossible for him to travel. Si'mie
of the men were strenuous for Mr. Stuart to pro.
ceed without him, urging the imnuiiem dan'-r
they were exposed to by delay in that unknown
and barren region, infested by the most treacher-
ous and inveterate of foes. They represeiueil ihat
the season was rapidly advancing ; the weiuher
for some days had been extremely cold ; ih;
mountains were already almost imp;issal)lelMr.i
snow, and would soon present effectual harriers.
Their jirovisions were exh'vuste,, ; there was no
game to be seen, and they did not dare to u^c
their rifles, through fear of drawing upon thtai
the HIackfeet.
The picture thus presented was too true to he
contradicted, and made a deep impression on th:
mind of Mr. Stuart ; but the idea of .ihandmiin'
a fellow-being, and a comrade, in such a tiir':"r;i
situation, was too repugnant to his feelings to 'ic
admitted for an instant. He represented to the
men that the malady of Mr. Crooks could not!)':
of long duration, and that in all prohahilitv Iv;
would be able to travel in the course of a few
days. It was with great difliculty, however, that
he prevailed upon them to abide the event,
CHAPTER XLVII.
As the travelers were now in a dangerous nei;;':'-
borhood where the report of a ritle mij^ht hriii;,'
the savages upon them, they had to depend upn
their old beaver-trap for subsistence. The little
river on which they were encamped gave many
"beaver signs," and Ben Jones set off at day-
break, along the willowtd l)anks, to I'liul a projur
trapping-place. As he was making his way
among the thickets, with his trap on his shoulder
and his ritle in his hand, he heard a crashini;
sound, and turning, beheld a huge grizzly I'lar
advancing upon him with a terrific growl. The
sturdy Kentuckian was not to be iinimidateil by
man or monster. Levelling his rilie, he pulled
trigger. The bear was wounded, but not mor-
tally ; instead, however, of rushing upon his .is-
sailant, as is generally the case with this kind of
bear, he retreated into the bushes. Junes follow-
ed him for some distance, but with suitable cau-
tion, and Hruin effected his escape.
As there was every prosjjcct of a detention of
some days in this place, and as the supplies oft'-e
beaver-trap were too precarious to be depend.td
upon, it became absolutely necessary to runtime
risk of discovery by hunting in the neighhorhooi,.
Hen Jones, therefore, obtained permission D
range with his ride some distance from the tamp,
and set off to beat up the river banks, in deiiancc
of bear or Blackfeet.
He returned in great spirits in the course of a
few hours, having come upon a gang of elk about
ASTORIA.
403
. -11,5 off, and killed five. This was joyful news,
the parly iiiiiiii'dKiti'ly moved forward to the
' 'u: liail left the larcasbcs. 'I'lu-y
rt Mr. Crooks llic wholi'
am.
p!.u'L'
where
iii'ici; tor lie was iiii.iblc to walk, ficrc they
^iViinc:! for two or llirce d.iys, feastiii.i;- licartily
'V(''|k nic.il, and dryin),^ .is much as llicy wouhl
I,! ,i,lfl,ii-.i'rry away witli them.
livilK'jlliofOitolier, some simple jirescriptions,
,,,Jilur Willi an " Indian sweat," had so far
,."-iiuil Mr. Crooks that he w.is enabietl to
,. I'.ilioiit; they, therefore, set forward slowly,
nvidiii" his' pai'k and accoutrements amon^
■Vni, "ml niadu a creepinfr day's pro^^ress ot
•ht'iiiiles soiitli. Their route for the most part
'thrnii'li swamps, caused hy the industrious la-
llm l)eaver ; for this little animal h.id
luinierous small streams issuing
'i.ifi 111
,',;nnu-sl up
-1:11 ihe rilot Knob Mountains, so that tlie low
•riumls on llieir borders were completely inun-
5.iti'(l. Ill iIh' course ot their march they killeil a
."riwlv Iwar, with fat on its flank upwards of three
;:chfs ill thickness. This was an acceptable ad-
ii.;ij:i tolhi-ir stock of elk me.at. The next il.iy
Mr. Crooks was siilVicicntly recruited in slreiijrtii
:, lie al'li; to c.irry his rille and jiistols, and tliey
;"..:!u ,1 m.iri'h ol seventeen miles alon^ the bor-
I-jiifthf |)lain.
Tr.iir journey daily became more toilsome, and
■,-r;r i>iilferini;s more severe, as lliey advanced.
K'.Ljiiii.^' up Uie cli.innel of a river, tliey tr.iversed
■:.■,■ ruLii^eil siiniinit ot the I'ilot l\in)b .Mountain,
, rcrcil willi siiuw nine inches deep. l'"or several
L.v,s thev coiiiliuied, beiidinjf their course as
:::':A as possible to the east, over a succession of
:iAy hei^'hls, deep valleys, and ra|)id streams.
s .;r,'.tiiius their di//y jiath lay alonjj the mar},Mn
j! inrpiiullcul.ir iirecipices, several hundred feet
;:• hiii,'ht, where a single false .stej) might precipi-
•r.i' them into the rocky bed ot a torrent which
ri.irfd l)elow. .Not the least part ot their weary
•.bK W.IS the tordinj,'' of the numerous windings
ar.l hr;iiiihings of the mountain rivers, all bois-
'.crojs ill their currents and icy cold.
Hunger w.is added to their other sufferings,
,r„l sunn became the keenest. The small supjily
.: !;c,ir .ind elk meat which they li.ad been able to
cirry, in addition to their previous burileiis, serv-
f] hut for a very short lime, fn their an.xiety to
siriiij^'le forward', they had but little time to hiint,
;:i(l si'.irce any game in their path. I'"or three
(lays they had nothing to eat but a small duck
and a few poor trout. They occasionally saw
ncmhcrs ol antelopes, .and tried every art' to get
v.;;'.in shot ; but the timid animals were more
;.-.;:i conimoMly wild, and after tantalizing the
."■-ii^'ry hunters for a time, bounded .iway be-
y);;!l all chance of pursuit. At length they were
^raiiate enough to kill one ; it w;is extremely
~ia;,'re, and yielded but a scanty supply ; but oil
'.".j they subsisted for several da'ys.
•'n. ihc nth, they eiic.imi)ed on a small stream,
KM the foot of the .Spanish River .Mountain.
Here they met with traces of that wayward and
iJitary being, M'I.ellan, who was still keeping
J" ahead ot them through these lonely mountains.
H: had encamped the night before on this
s-r«ni ; they found the embers of the tire bv
Mich he had slept, and the remains of a misera'-
■:w(ilf on which he had supped. It was evident
;'■ .lad suffered, like themselves, the pangs of
' -"s'er, though he had fared better at this en-
aipment ; tor they had not a mouthful to eat.
iiK' next (lay they rose hungry and alert, and
-■'■ out with the dawn to climb the mountain,
. which was steep and difficult. Traces of volcanic
eruptions were to be seen in various directions.
I There was a snecies of clay also to be nut with,
I out of which the Indians manufacture iiols and
j.irs, and dishes. It is very tine and light, of an
.igreeable smell, and of a brown ccdor .spotted
with yellow, and dissolves re.idily in the mouth.
X'essels manutactured of it are s.iid to impart it
])leas iiit smell .iiid ll.ivor to any li(|ui(ls. These
mountains abound als(j with mineral earths, or
chalks of various colors ; especl.illy two kinds of
I ochre, one a jiale, the other a bright red, like ver-
I milion ; much used by the Indians, in painting
, their Ov,""s.
I About nooii the travellers reached the " dr.iins"
1 and brooks that formed the head wati'rs of the
, river, and later in the day descended to where the
main body, a shallow stream, about .1 hundred
1 ,111(1 sixty yards wide, poured through its moun-
tain valley.
Here the poor famishing wanderers h.id expect-
ed to find buffalo in abuiulance, and h.id fed their
hungry hopes during their scrambling toil.w ith the
tliouj^his ot roasted ribs, juicy luim|)s, and broiled
marrow bones. To their great (lisappoiiitment
the river banks were deserted ; a lew old tracks,
showed where a herd of bulls had some time be-
fore passed along, but not a horn nor luimj) was
to be .seen in the sterile lan(lsca|)e. A few ante-
lopes looked down U])on them from the brow of
a crag, but llitted .away out ot sight at the least .ip-
I proacli of the hunter.
j In the most starving mood they kept hir several
: miles further along the bank ot the river, seeking
j lor " beaver signs." Finding .some, they en-
camped in the vicinity, and 15eii Jones immediately
proceeded to set the trap. They had scarce come
, to .1 halt, when they jierceived a huge smoke at
: some distance to the southwest. Tlie sight was
. hailed with joy, for they trusted it might rise
from some Indian camp, where they could jiro-
cure something to eat, and the dread of starva-
tion had now overcome even the terror of the
IJIackfeet. I-e Clerc, one of the Canadians, was
instantly dispatched by Mr. .Stuart, to reconnoi-
tre ; and the travellers sat up till a late hour,
watching and listening for his return, hoping he
might bring them food. Midnight arrived, but
Le Clerc did not make his appearance, and they
laid down once more supperless to sleep, comfort-
ing ihemseUes with the hopes tli.at their old
beaver trap might furnish them with a break-
fast.
At daybre.iK they hastened with famished eager-
ness to the trap — they found it in the fore|)aw of
a beaver ; the sight of wliich tantalized their
hunger, and added to their Ji'jei-tion. They re-
sumed their journey with tlagging s|)irits, but had
not gone tar when they perceived I.e (Jlerc a[)-
|)roaching at a distance. They hastened to meet
liim, in hopes ot tidings of good cheer. He liad
none to give them ; but news ot th.it str.inge
wanderer, .M'Lellan. The smoke had risen from
his encami)ment, which took fire while he was at
a little distance from it fishing. I.e Clerc found
him in forlorn condition, flis fishing had been
unsuccessful. During twelve d.iys tiiat he bad
been wandering alone through these savage
mountains, he had found scarce anything to eat.
He had been ill, wayworn, sick at heart, still he
had ke])t forward ; but now his strength and his
stubbornness were exhausted. He expressed his
satisfaction at hearing that Mr. Stu.irt .and his
party were near, and said he would wait at his
camp for their arrival, in hopes they would give
it
: III],
Hl!'.ii!l
pt
W^
III
W
■10 I
ASTORIA.
him sonulliinfj tn oat, for willioiit lood lie dcrlarcd
he shiiulil nol 1)1- ahlf to procot'il nuicli tiiilln-r.
W'lu'ii tlic parly rc.ichcd the place, tlicy loimd
tile poor li'llow lymj; oil a parcel <il witlu'rcd ^^rass,
wasted to a perfect skeli'ton, and so feeble that
he could si'arcc raise his head to speak. 'I'he
presenc'.: of liis old comrades seemed to revive
him ; but tliey had no food to ^;ive him, for they
themselves were almost starving'. 'I'hi'y ur^jed
him to rise and accompany them, hut he shook
his head, ft w.is all in v.iin, he s.iid ; there was
no prospect of thi.'ir },a'*l'"fi ^pf-'cdy relief, and
without it he should perish liy the way ; he mi, ' '
,is well, therefore, st.i\' and die where he was. .\i
len^jlh, .liter much persuasion, they got him upon
his le;;s ; his rilU; and other effects were sh.in'd
.'imonj^ them, and he w.is cheered .ind ai<led for-
ward. In this way they proceeded tor seventeen
miles, over a level pl.iin of sand, imtil, seein^j a few-
antelopes in the distance, they encamped on tlie
mar^;in of a small stream. .All now th.il were
c,ipal)le of the exertion, turned out to hunt for .i
meal. 'I'heir (•fforts were fruitless, ;ind after dark
they returned to their camp, famished .almost to
<lesi)eration.
As they were jireparin-^ for the third time to Lay
down to sleep without ;i niouthful to cat, I-e Clerc,
one of the Canadians, jraunl .and wild with lum|,aM',
a])|)roached Mr. Stu.irt with his .;un in his han<l.
" It W.IS all in vain," he s.aid, " to attempt to pro-
ceed any further without food. 'l"hey h.id .i bar-
ren plain before them, three or four ilays' lourney
in extent, on which nothinj^ was to be procured.
They must all ])erish before they coidd j^et to the
end of it. It was better, iherehire, lh.it one
should die to save; the rest.' lie proposed there-
fore, that they should cast lots ; adding; as an in-
ducement for .Mr. Stuart to assent to the proposi-
tion, th.it he, as leader of the jjarty, should be ex-
emi)led.
Mr. Stu.irt shuddered at the horrible jiroposi-
tion, and endeavored to reason with the man, but
liis words were unavailinj,''. At lenirth, sn;itchint(
up his rille, he thre.itened to shoot him on the
spot if he persisted. 'I'he f.imished wnMch drop-
ped on his knees, bej;;fed pardon in the most .ab-
ject terms, and promised never aijain to offend
him with such a sugfj(!Siion.
Ouiet heinj:^ restored to the forlorn cncxmp-
ment, each one souj^ht repose. Mr. Stuart, how-
ever, W.IS so exhausted by the ajriiaiion of the
jiast scene, aclintj upon his emaciati'd frame,
that he could scarce: crawl to his miseralile couch ;
where, notwithst.indini;- his f.atiijues, he passed a
sleepless ni^rht, revoKinjjf upon tlieir dreary situa-
tion, and the desper.ate pros|)ect before them.
liefore dayliifht the next mornin^^^ they were up
and on their w.iy ; they had nothini^' to detain
them ; no breakfast to prepare, and li, linger was
to perish. They proceeded, however, but slowly,
for .ill were faint and we.ik. Here and there they
passed the skulls ;iud bones of buffaloes, which
showed that these animals must have been hunted
here during the ])ast season ; the sight of these
bones served only to mock their misery. After
lr,i\elling about nini; miles along the ])l'.iin, they
as<'ended a range of hills, and had scarcely gone
two miles further wlien, to their great joy, they
discovered "an old run-down buffalo bull ;" the
laggard probably of some herd that had Ijcen
hunted and har.issed through the mountains.
They now all stretched themselvei; out to encom-
jiass' and m.ake sure of this solitary animal, for
their lives deiiended U|)on their success. After
consitlerable trouble and intinite .anxietv, they at
length succeeded in killing him. He \v;i, j^,.,.,
ly flayed and cut up, .and ^o ravenous u'h,;!''!
hunger that they devoured some of the t|,.,|| ^ ! "
'i'he residue they carried to ,i hrimk n,.;,fi,
where they encampetl, lit a lin-, ;iii,| I),.,,,,';'
Mr. Stuart w.is fearful that in tluir tuiu,!,,
stale they would eat to excess ,uid iiijun. ihii
selves. He caused a soui) to be in.iile ul vin,i •
the meat, and that each should l.ike a (nLuiiii •
it .IS a prelude to his supper, 'fins m.iv h.u^. [, i
.'i beiietici.il effect, for though they wt uii i
greater p.irt of the night, cooking .ui'd crammiii'.^
no one suffered any inconvenieii c. ^'
The next morning the fi'asiing was rcsuiii- il
and about midday, feeling somewhat rtcruu .
and refreshed, ihey set out on their ioiiriicv wn,
renowned spirits, shaping their course lo'w.iri! i
mountain, the summit of which they saw tinvi^rir '
in the e.ist, and near to which they exitoitil T,
lind the he.id w.itc'rs of the Missouri.
.As they proci'cded, they contiiuieil in ^ct pu
skeletons of bulf.iloes scattereil .iboiu tlir phiin ;;
I'very direction, which showed that tluTc !„,!
been nnuti hunting here by the Indians i:uhe r..
cent season. l''urther on llley crossed ,i l;ii-;;e | ,.
di.aii tr.iil, foriijing .a deep jiat'li, about tififni d,,', ,
old, which went in ;\ north direction. Tlu'vcn;-
eluded it to li.ive been made by some iiuiiiVn :,
b.ind of Crows, wdio had hunted in this i.iiui.'.r,
for the greater |).irl of the summer.
On the following day they forded .a streaiv. ;
considerable magnitude, with b.inks clodn.'d w.:-,
|)ine trees. Among these they fi)iiml tli; ir.iu,
of a large Indian cam]), which had evidently Im-,
the headipiarters of .a hunting expedition, IruMiih::
great (|uantitii:s of buffalo boin'S streux-il .ilmr.
the neighborhood. The camp had apparcitlv
been abandoned about a month.
In the centre was a singular lodge 0110 liuiKin!
and lifty feet in circumfercMice, supporteil by the
trunks of twenty trees, about twebc inches in di-
ameter and forty-four feet l"ng. .Acidss iluv
were l.iid braiudies of pine and willow tret's, sh .:•.
to yield a tolerable shade. .At the west vw\, in;-
mediatidy o|)posite to the door, three hodics I,.;,
interred with their feet tow.ird the e.ist. .At ;i.i-
head of e.udi grave was ;i branch of red ce'l.ir
tirmly pl.mted in the ground. At the funt \v;ii ..
largt; buffalo's skull, painted black. S:lv,l^'e or-
naments were suspended in various piii'ls nl 'J'-
(•ditice, and a great number of children's nioi\:;-
sons. From the magnitude of tliis huildin;,', ;i:id
the time and labor that must have been expended
in erecting it, the bodies which it cont.iined wvrc
probably those of noted warriors and hiinlers.
The next clay, October 17th, they pa.ssed f.v)
large tributary streams of the Spanish Kiver. Thty
look their rise in the Wind Kiver MouiUiiiM,
which ranged along to the cast, stupmduD-'.y
high and rugged, composed of >'.ist masses it
black rock, almost destilute of wood, and coverel
in many |)laces with snow. 'I'his d.iy they sav. a
few buffalo bulls, and some .■mtelnpes, bin cm:..!
not kill any ; and their stock of pru\isii)ns l)e;;.i!i
to grow scanty as well ;is poor.
On the l8th, .after crossing a mountain rid;,'v,
;ind traversing a pl.ain, they waded one of :lv.-
branches of the Spanish River, and on a.iCLiid.n;
its bank, met with about a hundred and thiny
Snake Indians. They were friendly in their de-
meanor, and conducted ihem to their eiieaiiip-
ment, which w;is about three miles disianl. Ij
consisted of about forty wigwams, consirucUu
principally of piiic branches. Tiie Snakes, vm
w
ASTORIA.
40j
""• "i' was iinLof,
" '■•'^'•IHPUSUKstt,'.
" .■■» 'T'lok nrirV
■ >"-f, .uwl !,,.,„(;
" '" >l"ir tarnish, '
fJ'S :iii(| injur,. i|„,,,
1)0 m.uw „i 5,,,^^,; .
'' I'iIm- a (jiiaiitii; , ^
'I'lii'' mavlwwi,.'
«1> they ,;,;| ,||, ,■
<iii^^ .mil trammir.
stiii^j was rciin;,,;
'I'liicwhat n-cruii i'
I their joiirnuy wi!;.
I'ii' I'liiirst; tiiwanl i
li tliey saw imviTii;
'■li llu'y cxijctal r
is:s(uiri,
'IMtilUlL-ll iDscnhc
1 al)i)iu tlu' plain :•,
i-'<l that tl.rro !;,,!
u-' Iii'haiis iaihtTv-
crossL'd a larjre I...
1, about lillifiiiLi,
I'fctiiiii. Tlayco;:-
l>y sonu' nuiiiVp,,;,
UlmI in iliis ciunir;
1I1UI-.
fiirJi'd a stream ;
banks cloiJu'd wn'-
I'y lound llv: tract,
had I'vidfiUiy Ik,:.
[-■:\|)rditi(iii, IriiiiiiJ/
MK'S StrcWL-.l aim-;
i|) had a|)|)arfu:,
1.
Uk]'^c oml' liuiiiirc!
sii|)|)urttil by the
Wfhc inches in d:-
l,l,^ Aci-ijss ihtj-
\vi!l(i\v trees, sn.i,
the west end, in:-
)r, three bodies k;v
tin: east. M\:'-:
mrh ot red ced.ir
At the foot wai,:
lack. Savaj,'e d.--
arioii.s parts ijj ;;v.-
children's iikicl::-
tills buililill;,', a:vl
been e.Kpendc.i
it contained wir-j
and luinter.i.
lhe_\' pas.sed tv, )
mish River, Thty
vi\-er Moinita:;;s,
1st, siu|icndo;):!y
'Mst masses ot
■Odd, and coverc!
is (lay they saw a
)|)es, hut CDiiiil
provisions l)e;;.iii
nuiiint.dii ridijc,
ided one of ;h'.'
iiid on .a^CJlid.n;
ndrfd and thiriy
idly 1)1 their dc-
,1 their encaiiip-
iilcs distant. It
nis, constructed
rhc Snakes, like
,, of ihpir nation, were vcrv poor ; the nia-
nudiiiL' f-'rows, in their late .•<ciir>,ion tlir.ni^h
' ,.|„|iiirv, hail picked this iiMlucky h.mij to the
!.,rvlHine,carrvinK<'ll their hoiscs, several ot their
wu'iws, and most of their ittects. In spit.- of
[kuinnnrrty, hey were hospit.ible iiillie extreme,
mdinade the hiin.Ljry str.iii),'e,-s welcome to their
c,l)ini. A few trinkets procured from the'ii a
siimilv'nf hulfalo me, it, and of leather tor nioce.i-
y,ns 'of whiih the p.irty were ^;reatly in need.
[he nioSt Viilii.il'h! prize ol)t,'uneil Iroiii them, liow-
■ cr v,.is a liorse ; it \v,is ;i sorry old anim.il, in
truth, hut it was tlie only one that remained to
ih" poor fellows, .after the fell swoop ot the
iriivs; yet this they wi'ia: prev.iiled upon to part
niih 1 1' their ,i,niests tor ;i pistol, .in a\e, a knife,
,in:lale\V(iiher trillinf^ articles.
I'hcy liad doleful stories to tell of the Crows,
■.vim were encamped on a river at no ^;real dis-
laiue to the east, and wa.-re in such force that iIk y
,l;irid nut venture to si'ek any s.itisfaction tor
their outra^je.i, or to >jet hack ,i horse or sciii.aw.
riicv endeavored to excite tht' indij^n.ation of
their visitors hv accmmts of r<d)l)eries and imir-
(Ifrs'iinimitted on loiudy white luinlers .and trap-
lers hv Crows and lil.ickfeet. .Some of these
■,veree\a;,'^,'ir.itioiis of the oiitr.ij,'es already men-
liiine I, sustained by some of the sc,ittere(l mem-
:hts of .Mr. i hint's e\|)e(lition ; others were in
li pridiahility sheer f.ihricitioiis, to wdiich the
Snakes seem to have been .a little jiroiie. Mr.
.Stuart assured them th.it tin.' d;iy v.'as not f.ir dis-
t.int when the whites would make their power to
!ie fell throuLjhoiit that country ;ind take si^;nal
venijeance on the iierpelr.itors of these misdeeds,
■fhe Snakes expressed j;reat joyiit the iiitt lli}|ence,
,in.l idfered tlieir services to ,aid the ri^,fliteotis
r.iuse, hriijliteniii.tf at the tlioii),dits of t.ikin.i,^ the
f.eld with sucdi potent allies, ami doiihtless antici-
jiitini; their turn .it stealing" horses and abducti'i.L,^
squaws. Their offers of course were .accepted ;
the calumet of peace was produced, and the two
iirlorn powers smoked eternal friendship he-
tHcen themselves, and vengeance upon their coni-
nwn spoilers, the Crows.
ClIAl'TKR XLVIII.
I)V sunrise on the followinjf morninij (October
191I11, the travellers had lo.aded their old horse
aiih buffalo me.at, sut'licient for live days' provi-
siias, and, takiii.i,' leave of their new allies, the poor
ii'Jt hospitable .Snakes, set forth in somewhat bet-
ter spirits, thouf,di the increasinir cold of the
'vcather and the sitjht of the snowy mountains
•vr.ich they had yet to traverse, were enou^i^b to
ci'.ill their very hearts. The countrv alou','-' this
iiranch of the Spanish River, ;is bar :is they could
!i-L-. was perlectly level, bounded by ranj,res of
ijfty mountains, both to the e.ist and west, 'fhey
liM.-eeded about three miles to the south, wdieri;
iweanie aij.iin upon the larire trail of Crow In-
|iia"s, which they hull crossed four days previous-
ly, made, no doubt, by the same mar.iudinjr band
;:!'il had plundered the Snakes; and wdii'ch, ac-
t.mlin<; to the account of the latter, wa.s now en-
tmiped on a stream to the eastward. The trail
«pton to the southeast, and was so well beaten by
Wieand foot, that they supposed at least a hun-
ted lodges had passed alon^r jt. As it fornu;(l,
■'.K-refere, a convenient hi^rbwav, and ran in a
pr^Jlier direction, they turned into it, and deter-
mined to keep alonjr it as far .as safety would per-
"iit; as the Crow encampment must be some dis-
tance off and it w.as not likely tbnsf s,ivaj4;cs
would return upon their steps. They trtivelUd
forward, therefore, all that (l.iy, in tiie track of
their dangerous |)reilecessors, which leil them
across mountain -.treams, ,iiid alonj,' ridj^cs, ,iiul
throu^fh narrow valleys, all tending,' j|ener;illy to-
ward the southeast. The wind blew ( oldly from
the northeast, with occasional llurries of snow,
which m.idi; them encamp early, on the slndtcrcd
banks of a brook. The two C.iii.idi.ins, \'alh>c
and Le Cleri , killed a yiHin;,' buffalo bull in the
evening;, which was in j,'ood condition, and ,ilfii|(|-
ed them a plentiful supply of tnsb beet. 'I'liey
loaded their spits, therefore, ;ind crammed their
camp kettle with nie.it, and while the wind
whistled, .111(1 the snow whirled .around them, liild-
dled round .1 rousiiij; tire, baskeil in its w.irmtb,
tiiid comforteil both soul and body with a hearty
.111(1 invi^;or.itiiij,' meal. No enjoyments have
greater /est than these, snatched in the \-er\ mid a
of difliculty .and danger ; .and it is probable the
poor wayworn and weatlier-bciten trav(dlers r(d-
ished thesi! creature comforts the more lii;^hly
from the surrounding^ desolation, and the danyer-
eus proximity ot the Crows.
The snow which ha'l f.illen in the ni;^ht made
it lutein the mornin;^ before the party loaded their
solitary pack-horse, and resiinn .1 their manh.
I'luy had not j,f()ne far befort. tin; Cr(,w trati:
whi( h they were followinj^ chanjjed its direction,
and bore to the north of e.ist. They had already
bej^iin to fe(d themselves on dangerous ;,'ruun(l in
kee|)injr .ilonjr it, .as they iiiiKht be descried by
some scouts and spies of that race ot Islimaelites,
whose predatory lite re(|uired them to be constant-
ly on the alert. < >n seeinj^ the tr.ice turn so nun h
to the north, thereloie, they abandoned it, and
kept on their course to the southeast for eiijhteeii
miles, throuj,fh ,1 beautifully undiilatlnj,^ country,
li.ivinLj tlu; main chain ot mountains on the left,
and .a considerably elev.ited rid^e on the ri;.,'-bt.
Here the mountain ridtje whi(di divides Wind
River from the lie.id waters of the Columbia and
S|>anish Rivers ends abrui)tly, .and windinj.j to tin;
north, of e.i; t, becomes the dividiiij^ barrier be-
tween .1 branch of the 15i(^ Hprn and Cheyeiim;
Rivers, ,ind those head waters which llow into
the Missouri below the .Sioux country.
The ri(l;re w hi( h lav on tin; rifrlu of the travel-
lers hayiiij.j now become very low, they jiassed over
it, .and came into a level ])lain .about ten miles in
circumference, and incriisted to the depth of a
loot or ei^'hteen inches with salt ;is white as snow.
This is lu;aiishe(l by luimerous salt sprini^s of
limpid water, which are continually wtdliiii;' up,
overllowinj,^ their border ^ .and forming' be.iutiliil
crystallizatioiis. The liiui.in tribes of the interior
are excessively fond of this salt, and re])air to the
valley to collect it, but it is held in distaste by the
tribes of the se.i-co.ast, who will eat nothiiiL;- that
has been cured or seasoned by it.
This eveninj,'' they encamped on the b;inks of ;i
small stream, in the open |)rairie. 'I"be norllie.ist
wind was keen .and cuttinir ; they had nothing;
wherewith to make a t'ire, but a scanty ^M-owth ot
s;i^e, or wormwood, .and were fain to wrap them-
selves up in their bl.ankets, and huddle them-
selves in their " nests," at an early hour. In the
course of the e\('nini.,'^, Mr. M'Lellan, who h.ul
now retrained his strenj^th, killed .a buffalo, but it
was some distance from the cani|), and they post-
poned supplyinj( themselves from the carctiss un-
til the following' i>-'>rpinjj.
The next day (( )ctober 21st) the cold continued,
accompanied by snow. They set forward 0:1
4U0
ASTORIA.
tlicir lili'.ik anil toilsome wny, krcpiiijr to the r.isl-
niii'thca^t, tdwaril tlic lnlty suiiiniil tit a inouii-
lain, wliicli \i was nrtt'ssary for tlu-rii to irons.
I'.iti)ri' lilt y rcaiiii'd its liasc liicy passfd anotlicr
iai^ji.' trail, stciiiiiK a liillc to tlu' njjlit ot tlii'
point (il (lie mount. liii. '11, 's tlicy pri'siinu-d to
li.ivc hi'iii iii.kIc by anotlicr band ot Crows, wlio
ii.id prolialily bci'ii luiiUiii^ lower down on llii:
S|i,inisli Kivir.
Tlic scM'iily ol tin- weather conipellcd tli<iu to
t'lii'.inip at till' end ot lillien miles, on llie skirts
ol ilic mount, lin, where they found sullieieiU dry
aspen trees lo supply them with liie, hut they
.sought in vain about the neighborhood lor a
s|)riM^f or rill of w.iter.
At d.iybre.ik they were up and on the m.irch,
ser.imblinn U|) the mouiit.iin side lor the distanec
ol eij(hl p.iinlul miles, Krom the t.isu.il hints
^nveii in tlu' ir.ivellinj,' menioramla of Mr. .Stuart,
tins mount, lin would seem to oik'r a rich field of
speculation for the j;eolo^ist. Here w.is a plain
tiiree miles in diameter, strewed with |)umice
btone and other volcanic reli(|ues, with a hike in
the centre, occupyinjf what had prol),it)ly been
the crater. Here were also, in some places, de-
posits ol marine shells, indie. itinjr that this moun-
tain crest had at some remote period been below
the w.ives.
After pausiii^f lo repose, ;md to enjoy these
^M'aiid but sava);e and awful scenes, they be^;an
lo tlesceiid the eastern siile ol the mountain. The
descent was ruj;).;ed .iiiil rom.intic, aloii^,^ deep
r.ivines and defiles, overhuii)^ with cra;;s and
cliffs, amon^,f which they beliel<l nuiubers of tlie
ahsahla or bi^^horn, skipping; fearlessly from rock
to rock. 'I'wo of them they succeeded in brinj^-
injr down with their rifles, as the) peered fear-
lessly from the brow of their airy precipices.
Arrived at the foot ot the mount. liii, the travel-
lers toiiiid a rill of w.iter oo/in),^ out ot the earth,
and resemblin),^ in look and tasie the w.iler ot the
Missouri. Here ihey enc.imped tor the nij^ht. and
supjied sum|)tuously upon llieir mouiUain mutton,
which they louiul in j^ood condition, and extreme-
ly well tasted.
The mornint,' was britjlit and intensely cold.
I'-arly in the day they cime upon a stream run-
niiifj to the east, between low hills ut bluish e.irth,
sironjjly imprej^niated with copperas. Mr. .Stuart
supposed this lo be one of the head waters ot the
Missouri, and determined to follow its banks.
After a march ot twenty-six miles, however he ar-
rived at the summit oi a hill, the i)ros|)ect of
which induced him to alter his intention. \\v be-
held, in every ilirection south of east, a vast ])lain,
bounded only by the hori/on, throuj^h which
wandered the stream in (plestion, in a south-
southeast direction. Il could not, therefore, tie a
branch of ihe Missouri. He now )4.iV(' up all iilea
of t.ikin^- the stream for his ),^ui(le, and sli.iped his
course toward a ran^e ot mount, lins in the e.-ist,
about sixty miles distant, near which he liojied to
find another stre.'im.
The weather w.is now so severe, and the hard-
ships of travelling;' so ^rre.it, that he resolved to
halt for the winter, at the tirst elijjible jilace.
'I'll. It nij^ht they had to encamp on the open
])rairie, ne.ir a scanty ]K)oI of water, and without
any wood to make a t'lre. The northeast wind
blew keenly across the ii.iked waste, and they
were fain to decamp from their inhospitable l)i-
\ouac betore the dawn.
For two days they kept on in .in eastward di-
rection, ajrainst wintry blasts and occasional
enow stormy They suffered, also, from scarcity
of water, having nrrasionally to u^ m^iy
snnw ; this, with llu- w.inl ol p.isuir,inf, rt:(lut|.|i
their old pack-horse s.idly. Ilify slvt ni,ir
tracks of buff, do, and some tew bulls, wliiih, hin^'
evv r, y^itl the wind of them, and si ,iin|ifrci| nn
On the J()lh of ( »( toiler tliey stecriil f,i,i.|,„r(|i.
e.isl, lor .1 wooded ravine, in .i iiioiiiii.im .u.j
small distance Irom the base of wIik h, t,, ^\^fl^
^rcit )oy, they discovered an abunil.uit sur.un
runiiinji between willowi'd b.iiiks. Hit,. ,|„ '
h.dled for the ni^fht, and Iteii Jones having lntKiiJ
tr.lpped a beaver, and killed two luitl,i|(] I,,,;;','
they rem. lined all the next d.iy eiu ainpfil, t,a>,i!
injr ,ind reposm^r, and allowiii); their j.idni h,',f„.
to rest from his labors.
The little stream on which they were eiuamiwl
was one ot the head waters ot the ri.iUr Ku,./
which flows into the .Missouri ; il was, in l.ut, iho
northern fork, or fir.mch of that river, ihoii'[i
this the tr.avellersdid not discover until l.mK.itkr.
ward. I'lirsuin^f the course ot this sUt.iiiiiir
about twenty miles, they i ame to wlure il luncil
a pass,ijre throiij,'h a ran^je of lii^di lulls ciivcrtil
with cedars, iiito,in extensue low cuiiniry, .itlunl.
in^f excellent |)asiure to numerous herds Ol bulla.
lo. Here they killed three cows, wliirh Ufrtilic
first they had been able to ^;et, havin),' liithiri)
had to content themselves with bull beet, wimh ,it
this se.ison ot the year is \-ery poor. Tlu' luimn
me;it atfortled them a rep.ist lit tor an epicuif.
Late on the afternoon ot the 3oih ihiv ciiiic to
where the stream, now increased to ,i cuniiik'iM-
ble si/e, poured alon^^ in a ravine behveen piva-
pices of red stone, two hundred Unl in liui^jhi.
Kur some distance it dashed ahjnjf, over luii;c
masses of rock, with toamin^j violence, as itu\,iv
perated by beinjf coj.ipressed into so n.irinw ,i
channel, and at lenj^th leaped down .i ch.ism
that looked dark ami trij^httul in the ^Mihcniii;
twili^rht.
h'or a part of the next day, the wilil river, in its
capricious w.mderin^s, leil them tlirmij^h a vari-
ety of striking scenes, 'At one tiint' llury wen;
upon hi>,di plains, like platforms anion;; llie iiujuii-
t.iins, with herds ot butfaloes roamiii;; .iliiimiiuMii;
;it another, among- rude rocky deliles, hrokiii iiii')
cliffs and ])reci|)ices, where the black-taiii'l (kcr
bounded off amonjr the craj^s, and the bigliDiii
basked on the sunny brow ot the precipice.
In the after part of the clay they came to
.•mother scene, surpassinj; in sav.ij,n: jjrandinir
those already described. They had been inuvi-
lin^r for some distance throuj^h a pass of the
mountains, keepinj^ |)arallel with tlu; river, :is it
roared aloilff, out of sij^ht, throu;.;h a deep raviiii-.
Sometimes their devious path apjir laclied the mar-
),nn of cliffs below which the river to.inu'd .in,l
boiled and whirled amonj; the m.issesof rock that
had fallen into its channel. As they crept cau-
tiously on, leadinjj their solitary pack l.orsi don;,'
these Ki<'''y hei^rhts, they all a' once came to
where the river thuiulered (|...^n a succession nt
|)recipic(;s, throwinfr up clij'iils of sjiray, and m:ii<-
ing a prodigious din and'uproar. The traielleij
rem.-iined, tor a time, >;'izinfj with mingled awe
and delight, at thisfuriou!. cataract, tu uhu:h Mr.
Stuart K.-ive, from the cjor ot the ini|)emlmg
rocks, the name of " The I'^'ery Narrows. '
CHAPTER XLl.V.
The travellers encamped for the night on the
banks of the river below the cataract. Ihe mgm
was cold, with partial showers of rain and sleet.
ASTORIA.
407
Thf mnrninfj (l.-iwncd Rloomilv, thr skies w.-r.
i,n inil (ivcr.-.ist, and thnalfiicl liirllur
,„,ldinnoMitili<' wfMtluT
Imtlhf little l>aii(l rt'simu'il tluir jdiiriuy,
. 'Ihf iniitM.Mii>; |■|^;l)|■
,„„,, luiwfvcr, wliidi mal<f^ itsfit trlt
\ in tliL^f niiiuiitiiinoiis rf^jions, and on tlifsf
'^'Icil ;in(l flrvatcd jilains, ItroUKlit llicni t(i a
'iiM' .11"! ii siiiDiis dfldifiMtion, alter they had
ICv-cniiftl iilKiiit tliirty miles hirllier aloiin the
o.ursf lit tlic river. , , .
.\|| were tdiivinced thai it was in vain to at-
' ' ■' on loot at this
U'liiiit III aiaimplisli their imirnev
'''hey h.-' ■"■■■
lore tliev shoiilil reach tin
I'hev had still many lumdred
<hoii
the Missouri, and iheir route
|.„lfnH'nl!>i'asim.
niiifs I" tr.iverse
niiin course nl I , , i
Hiiulil lay "^■'■1' immense prairies, naked and |
jicik, anil (Ifslltuie ot tuei. The (luestion then j
\u^, where to clioose their wintering place, and j
HhtlliiTDr not III jiroceed hirtlu'r down the river.
fhfV hail ill tirsi imaj,Miied it to he one ot the
liciil waters, or iribiit.iry stre.ims, ot the Mis-
sdiiri. Afterward, they h.id lielit'ved it to he the
k.ipi'l. or 'Hiiciiurt Kiver, in which opinion they
hail not ciiMH' nearer to the truth ; they now,
however, were persii.ided, with etpial fallacy, hy
U, iiuliniiij; sdiiiewh.it to the north of east, that
iiw.i.s the ClMveiine. It so, hy coiitinuinjj; down
II niuili Uirilur they must arrive amonj; the lii-
ilini\ IrDiii whom the river lakes its name.
.Amuii;,' lliese tliey would he sure to meet some ot
ilu'.Simix irihe. These would ;ii)prise their rela-
livts, liie piratical Sioux ot the Missouri, ol the
,,|i]iri)ach III a hand of white tr.iders ; so that, in
iht:S|irnij,'time, they would he likely to be waylaid
;iiiil rnlibeil on their way down the river, by some
party m anihiisli upon its b.inks.
Kirn sluiiild this |)rove to be the (juicourt or
Kipiil Kiver, it would not be prudent to winter
niikii lurtlier down upon its hanks, as, thouj,di
i:iiv ini},'lit he out ot the ran^^e ot the Sioux, they
ttniilil he in the nei^jhborhood ot the I'oncas, a
tribe nearly as dangerous. It was resolved, there-
lure, since tliey must winter somewhere on this
side of tile Missouri, to descend no lower, but to
kirp up ill these solitary rej.(ions, where they
ttimlil he in no dan^ror of molestation.
riuy were hrou^fht the more promptly and
uaaiiimoii.ily to this decision, by coming' U|)on an
e\a'lltntwiiiterin),r place, that promised everything;
requisite tor their comfort. Il was on a tine beiui
lit ilie river, just l)elow where it issued out from
anvjiij; a ri(l);e of mountains, and bent toward
liienuillieast. Here was a beautiful low point of
laml, coviM'ed hy cotton-wood, and surrounded by
a thick growth of willow, so as to yield both
shelirr and fuel, as well as materials tor biiildiii);.
rhc river swept hy in a strong'- current, about a
humlreil and hfty yards wide. To the southeast
uere mountains of moderate lieij;ht, the nearest
about two miles off, l)Ut the whole chain ran^nnf;
toiheeast, south, and southwest, as far as the eye
could reach. Their summits were crowned with
«:i-n^ive tracts of pitch pine, checkered with small
patches of the (piiverin^ aspen. Lower down
Were thick forests of hrs and red cedars, j^rowinj;
out in many |)laces from the very fissures ot the
ri'CKs. 1 lu' in 'Uiuains were broken and |)recii)i-
tuus, with huf,re hUilts protrudin;; from amonj;- the
I'irests. Their rocky recesses and beetlinj; cliffs
jilfuriied retreats to innumerable tlocks of the
bii;horii, while their woody summits .and ravines
■'ii'iunilcd with hears and black tailed deer. These,
™i the numerous herds ot buffalo that ran>;ed
the lower j;rounds :\\on<r the river, jiromised the
travellers abundant cheer in their winter quarters.
On the 2(1 of November, thcreforr, ihcy pllrhed
their (.imp lor the winter, on the woody point,
and their tirst thou^'ht vs.is to obt.iin ,i supply of
provisions, iteii Jones and the two C'.in.idlans
accordingly salli'd forth, .iccomp.mieil by two
others ot the p.iily. leaving but one to u.ilch thu
lamp. Their liuiiiin^;; w.is uiu (iiiinioiiU success-
ful, in the course ot two da\s they killed thirty-
two bultaloes, and loUeiteii their liie.it on the
iii.irgin (it a small brook, about a mile (list. int.
I'ortunalely, a seven; Irost Iro/e the river, so tli.it
the me.it w.is e.isily tr.in-iported lo the em .imp-
ment. < hi ,i succeeding il.iy. a herd id buH.il»
caiiK- tr.iinpling through the woody buttoiii mi
the river b.inks. .ind fifteen more wi re killed.
It was soon disiovered. however, th.it there w.l.s
game of a more dangerous nature in the neighbor-
hood. On one occasion .Mr. Crooks h.id w.mder-
ed about a mile from the camp, and li.ul asicnd-
ed a small hill c.'imni.indmg a view ot tlie river.
He was without his rifle. ;i ran; circumst.mce. tor
in these wild regions, where one m,iy put up a
.vild .mini.il. or a wild Indi.in. at e\er>' turn, it is
customary never to stir Irom the c.imp-tlre iiii-
.irnied. The hill where he stood overlooked the
pi, ice where the massacre of the bult.do had t.ikeii
place. As he w.is looking around on lie |)rosp(( i
Ids eye w.is caught by an object below, moving
directly tow.ird iiini. To his dism.iy he discov-
ered it to be a grizzly bear, with two cubs. There:
was no tree at hand into which he loiild climb ;
(n run would only be to provoke |iursuit. and he
should soon r overtaken, lit; threw hiiiiielt on
the ground, therefore, and lay motionless, w.ili li-
iiig the movements ot the animal with intense
an.xiely. It continued to advance until ,it the loot
of the hill, when it turned, and made into the
woods, having jirobiibly gi>i'ged itsidt with biill.i-
lo llesh. Mr. Crooks made all h.iste liack to the
cam]), rejoicing at his escape, and determining
never to stir out again without his rille. A few
days after tTiis circumstance, ;i grizzly bear was
shot in the neighborhood by .Mr. .Miller.
As the slaughter of so many buffaloes had pro-
vided the ])arly with beet tor the winter, in case
they met with no further supply, they now set to
work, heart and hand, to l)uild a comfortable
wigwam. In a little while the woody promontory
rang with the unwonted sound of the axe. .Some
of its lofty trees were laid low, and by the second
evening the cabin was complete. It w.is eight
feet wide, and eighteen feet long. The walls
were six feet higli, and the whole was covered
with buffalo skins. The tireplace was in the cen-
tre, and the smoke found its way out by a hole in
the root.
The hunters were next sent lUt to procure deer
skins for garments, moccasons, and other pur-
poses. They made the mountains echo with their
rifles, and, in the course of two d.iys' hunting,
killed twenty-eight bighorns and bl.ick-iailed deer.
The party now revelled in al)uiul, uue. After
all that they had suffered from hunger, cold, fa-
tigue, and watchfulness ; after all their perils
from treacherous and sav.ige men, the)' exulted
in the snugness and security of their isolated
cabin, hidtlen, as they thought, even from the
prying eyes of Indian scouts, and stored with crea-
ture comforts ; and they looked forward to a win-
ter of peace and quietness; ot roasting, and boil-
ing, and broiling, and feasting upon venison, and
mountain mutton, and bear's meat, and marrow
bones, and buffalo humps, and other hunter's
dainties, and of dosing and reposing round their
tire, and gossiping over past dangers and adven-
Ii fl
i
HHi liL'
U
t
it 'li^ni^
i.>'\
:4;iM
t 1 ■>^-
>ll':': -i
m !m I?
11 ■ , n I'l.r
408
ASTORIA.
turcs, and tellinjr lon^ hunting stories
spring should rfturii ; whc-n they woulc
untu
make
Ciii\oes ot hulialo skins and tloat themselves down
the river.
Fron. such halcyon dreams they were startled
one morning at d.iybreak, by a savajife yell. They
started U|), and seized their rilles. 'I'he yell was
repeatetl by two or three voices. Cautiously peep-
inf,r (Hit, they beheld, to their dismay, several In-
dian warriors amonjj the trees, all armed and
pair.ted in warlike style ; being evidently bent on
some hostile |)urpose.
Miller changed countenance as he regarded
them. " We are in trouble," said he, " these .ire
some of the rascally Arapahnys that robbed me
last year." Not a word was uttered by the rest
ot the jiarty, but they silently slung their powder
horns and ball pouches, and prepared tor battle.
M'Lellan.who had taken his gun to |)ieces the even-
ing lietore, |)Ut it together in all haste. He pro-
])osed that they should break out the clay from be-
tween the logs, so as to be able to fire upon the
enemy.
" Not yet," replied Stuart ; " it will not do to
sho'.s fear or distrust ; we must first hol'l a pa.iey.
Some one must go out and meet them as a friend. ' '
Who was to undertake the L;..;k .' it was full of
be shot down at the
said Miller, " always
peri!, as the envoy might
threshuld.
" The leader ot a jjarty,"
takes "he advance."
" '!oo(l I" replied Stuart ; " I am ready." He
immetliately went forth ; one of the C.in.idians
followed him ; the rest of the party remained in
garrison, to keep the savages in check.
Stuart advanced holding liis rille in one hand,
and extending the other to the savage that appear-
ed to be the chief. The latter stepjied forward
and took it ; his men followed his example, and
all shook hands with Stuart, in token of friend-
sliij). They now explained their errand. They
were a war party ot Aiapahay braves. Their vil-
lage lay on ;i stream several days' journey to the
eastward. It had been attacked anti ravaged dur-
ing their absence, by a band of Crows, who had
carried off several of their women, and most of
dieir iiorses. They were in c[uest of vengeance.
l'"or sixteen days they had been tracking the Crows
about the mountains, but had not vet come upon
aiem. In the meantime they had met with
scarcely any game, and were hal^ famished.
About two days ])reviously, they had heard the
report ot t'lrearms among the mountains, and on
searching in the direction of the sound, had come
to a place where a deer had been killed. They
liad immediately ]uit themselves upon the track of
ihc 'lunters, and by following it u]i, had arrived
at the cabin.
•Mr. Stuart now invited the chief and another,
who appeared to be his lieutenant, into the hut,
b.it made signs that no one else was to enter.
'I'he rest halted at the door ; others came strag-
gling up, until the whole parly, to the number of
twenty-three, were gathered before the hut.
They were armed with bows and arrows, toma-
hawks, and scal|)ing knives, and some few with
guns. All were jjainted and dressed tor war, and
had a wild and fierce ,i|)[)earance. Mr. Miller
ret'ogni/ed among them some of the vet ,■ fellows
who had robbed him in the preceding year ; -and
put his comrades u|)on their guard. Kvery man
stood ready to resist the first act of hostility ; the
savages, iiowever, conducted themselves peace-
ably, an.l showed none ot that swaggering arro-
gance which a war party is apt to assume.
On entering the hut the chief and his lieuiena-
cast a wistful look at the raft(;rs, laden winivr
son and buffalo meat. Mr. Stu;'rt iiKukiu^-.
of necessity, and invited them to h(;lp themsuiv
They did not wait to be pressed. Tin. \^u^'j
were soon eased of their burden ; viinison -
beef were passed out to the crew betore thedjij-
and a scene of gormandizing coiiimtiiftil '•
which few can have an idea, who have not u:
nessed the gastronomic jiowersot an liuli;i;i alt •
an interval ot tasting. 'I'his was kejit upthmu'-
out the day; they |,aused now and then, ip
true, for a brief interval, but only to return uit;.
charge with renewed ardor. The chid amlt,.
lieutenant surp.issed all the rest in thevirora;'
perseverance of their attacks; as it, trnmiiii;-
station, they were bound to signalize UuniHivr,
in all onslaughts. Mr. Stuart kept ihcm \vt,.
supplied with choice bits, foi' it was his pniicvii
overfeed them, and keep them troiii leavinjjuicjif.
where they served as hostages for the j,'oik1 cur,.
duct of their followers. Once, only, in the cours.;
ot the d; /, did the chief sally forth. Mr. Stiian
and one of his men accompanietl him, arnu'lwu'.
their ril'es, but without betraying any distrus:.
The chieftain soon returned, and renewed his at-
tack upon the larder. In a word, ho and h:>
worthy coadjutor, the lieuienant, ale umil tki,'v
were both stupefied.
Toward the evening the Indians made ihc;r
preparations to." the night according to the prac-
tice ot war parties. Those outside ot the hut ihn v.
up two breastworks, into which thev nured ,aia
I tolerably e.ariy hou ■, and slept like overic;
hounds. As to the chief and his lieiilLnant, lia,
])assed tae night in the hut,!, the ciiurse^;
which, t'ley, two or three times, got up in e.a.
The travellers took turns, one at a lime, lu nwur.;
guard until the morning.
Scarce had the day dawned, when the t;iirni:.n-
dizing was renewed by the whole hand, and I'arri-.J
on with -.urprising vigor until ten o'clock, wht-n
all iji-eijac-d to depart. They had six days' jour-
ney yet io make, they said, btdore they shoiiii
come up with the Crows, who they imderstiii;
were encamped on a ri\er to the nor.hwarri.
Their way lay through a hungry coiiniry whca
there was no game ; they would, moreover, have
but little time to hunt ; they, llierefore, craved
a small supply of provisions for lluir journiy.
Mr. Stuart again invited them to help ihemseives.
Tl-.ey tlici so with keen forethought, loadiiii; them-
selves with the choicest parts of the meat, an i
j leaving the late plenteous larder tar gone in a
consumption. Their next recpiest was lor a sup-
■ ply of ammunition, having guns, but no powder
i an'd ball. They promised to pay m.iijr.ilicenii;'
I out of the spoils of their foray. " We are pmr
I now," said they, " and are obliged to },fo on tout.
but we shall soon come back laden wiih Umv.
and all mounted on horseback, with scaips hani;-
ing at our bridles. We will then give each ot y.n;
a horse to keep you from being tired onyourj'Hir-
ney."
" Well," said Mr. Stuart, " when you hrinijtr-
horses, you shall have the amnuimiion, but ra '.
betore." The Indians saw by his delermine.
tone, that all further entreaty would be unavai.-
ing, so they desisted, with a good-humored iau;,di,
and went off exceedingly "well tivi^hted, I"'!:.
within and without, promising lo bL li.ick .'.l;.'-'-
in the course of a fortnight.
No sooner were thev out of hearing than ihe
held another counsel. The sv
nd.and -vith lU-
sooner
luckless travellers
curity of their cabin was at an e
ASTORIA.
409
Hers, ladeiMvithver'
■•^'"•"rt "ladeaine::
■m to livlp ihenist,,;;
presse,!. The ra;;:,,
''"■•'ieM; venison,;;
CH'W before ihed,,;
'-'iK' commehfci -•
*-'■'». who h;i\-eno;ur'
•L-rsot an Indi.w.ai;''.
^vas kept up thriiu!-.
i>i>w and ihei!,,;.,
t only to return 10 i,v
■• 'I'he chiet anilii;.'-
rest in tlievitrorar.:
•^s : as il, from tlur
siKiialize Ihenisuvr,
u:>'"t kept them ui
"■ II was hisp.,licy;i
1 tnmi leaviiiijther,u;
ifes for the ,i,'()ijd colli
■^, only, ill the courj.
'y '<^rlh. Mr, Sill,,::
iiiwi liim.arnie.lwii,;
-raying any distrub;.
aiul renewed his ,r,.
il word, he and hii
;nant, ate until li-.L",-
Indians made thc.r
:c()i-din,i( to the pr.ic-
tsideot thehutthiuv
lich they retird.iti
slL'|)t like ovcriri
1 his lieutenam, ti.r,
It, :. the course ^:
mcs, got up to iMi.
at a time, lu mou:;;
vlien the gormi.n-
le band, aiu'learn',!
te'ii o'e'lock, wht?.
bad six days' jour-
lictore they shouii
bo they iindersloo:
to the norJiw.wl.
gry country whcr'.
Id, moreover, have
llicrefore, craved
for tluir journey.
to help theniseives.
gbt, loadiiii; them-
; (if the meat, aiiu
ilcr far gone in ,;
Liest was lor a sup-
ns, but no powder
niw niagr.iticenl!;
" We are poor
iged to go on lout,
laden with hwH',
with srai|)s iiaiii;-
■n give each ot y-w
tired on your join-
ben you briiij,' th-
iliiuintion, hut m'.
)y bis deleniiim':
would be uiiavai:-
id-lumiored laii:,'h,
II Ireighted, hoii!
to liL back ni,Mi:i
bearing, than the
I'oiinsei. The .se-
nd, and "vith it aii
\'
their dreams ot a quiet and -osy winter. Thoy
„ere tKtwt" two fires. On one side were their
old enemies, the Crows, on the other side, the
\niiahays, no less dangerous freebooters. As
; j|}^. niijdcration of this war party, they consid-
^.rcd it assumed, to |)Ut them off their ),'uard
.-i^Minst some more iavonible opportuniy tor a
surprisal. it was detertnined, therefore, not to
j.Jjtiheir return, but to abandon, with all S|iee(i,
t-iij dangerous neighborhood. From the ac-
counts o"? their recent visitors, they were led to
believe, though erroneously, that they were upon
t:-,e Huicourt, or l<a|)id River. They proposed
P)U ^) keep a'ong it to its contUience with tin-
.Missouri ; but., should they t)e prevrtited by the
rii'ors of the season from proceeding so tar, at
least to reach a part of the river where they might
ije ahie to construct canoes of greater strenjjtl:
sr.d durability than those of buffalo skins.
Accordinglv, on the '3th of December, they
bide adieu, with many a regret, to their comfort-
able (piarters, where, for live weeks, they liad
iK-en indulging the sweets ot repose, of plenty,
;md of fancied security. They were still accom-
panied bv their veteran pack-horse, which the
.-\rapahays had omitted to steal, either because
thev iiueiuled to steal him on their return, or be-
ciuse they thought him not worth stealing.
CHAPTER L.
The interval of comfort and repose which the
parly had enjoyed in their wigwam, rendered the
renewal ot their tatigues intolerable tor the first
two or three days. The snow lay deep, and was
sii.;!itly frozen on the surface, l)ut not sufliciently
I) l)ear 'Jieir weight. Their teet became sore by
iireaking through the crust, and their limbs weary
by llounderiiig on without firm foothold. So ex-
hausted and (lis[)iriled were: they, that the began to
think it would be better to remain and lun the risk
oi being killed by the Indians, than to dragon thus
paintully, wit'; the ])rol)ability ot jjerishing by the
way. their miserable liorse fared no better than
themselves, having for the first day or two no
other fodder than the ends ot willow twigs, and
the hark of the cotton-wood tree.
They all, however, a|)])eared to gain ])."tieiic('
and hardiiiood as they ])roceeded, and tor four-
teen d.iys kept steatlily on, making a distance ot
about three hundred and thirty miles. l'"or some
li^ystiie range of moiiiuains which had been near
to their wigwam kept parallel to the river at no
.ureal disMiice, but at length subsided into bills,
Sumetinu-r. they found the river bordered with al-
luvial Ijoitoms, and groves witli cotton-wood and
v.illows ; sometimes the adja'-ent country was na-
ked and barren. In one place it ran tor a consid-
erable distance between rocky hills and ])romon-
I'jries covr-cd with cedar and jjitch pines, and
peopled with the bighorn and the mountain deer ;
3! oilier places it wandered through ])rairies well
stocked with buffaloes and antelopes. As they
descended the course of the river, they began to
perceive the ash and white oak here' and there
among the cotton-wood and willow ; and at length
wui;ht a sight of some wild horses on the distant
prairies.
the weather was various ; atone time the snow
wdeep ; then they had a genial day or two, with
the mildness and' serenity of autumn ; then,
a^^^ln, the frost was so .severe that the river was
sulticiently fro.-en to bear them upon the ice.
During the last three days of tlicir fortnight's
travel, however, the f.ice ot the country changed.
The timber gradually diminished, until they could
scarcely I'ind fuel sutticient lor culinary [Hirposes.
The game grew more tiiui more scanty, and,
finally, none were to be seen but a few miserable
broken-down buffalo bulls, not >• orth killing. 'I'he
snow lay fitteen inches deep, and made tlie tra-
velling grievously painful and toilsome. At
length, t'ley came to an immense plain, where no
vestige of timber was to be seen ; nor a single
(|uadruped to enliven the desol ite Ian lsca|)e.
Here, then, their hearts faileil them, anil they hekl
another consultation. The width of the river,
which was upward ot a mile, its extreme sbtillow-
ness, the fre(|uency of (piicksands, and various
other chtiracteristics, had at length made them
sensible of their errors with respect to it, and they
now came to the correct coclu;;ion, that they were
on the banks of the I'latte i)r Shallow l-iiver.
What were they to do ? lursue its course to the
Misst)uri ? To go on at this season of the year
seemed d.mgerous in the extreme. There was no
pros|)ect ot obtaining either food or firing. The
country was destitute of trees, and though there
might be dritl-wood along the river, it lay too
dee]) beneath the snow for them to find it.
The weather w:is tbretitening a change, and a
snow-storm on these boundless wtisies, might
|)rove as fatal as a whirlwind of sand on an Ara-
liian desert. After much dreary deliberation, it
was at length determined tf) retrace tludr three
lasL (lavs' journey of seventv-.seven miles, to a
place wdiich they liad remarked where there was
a sheltering growth ot forest trees, and a country
abundant in game. Here they would once more
set U|) their winter (|uarters, ;iiid await the open-
ing of the nacigation to launch themselves in ca-
noe;.
Accordingly, on the 27th of December, they
faced about, retraced their .'ieps, and on the 30th,
regained the part ot the river in (piestion. Ilere
the alluvial bottom was from one to two miles
wide, and thickly coveri-d with a forest of cotton-
wood trees ; while herds of buffalo were scattered
about the neighboring prairie, several of which
soon tell beneath their riiies.
They encamped on the margin of the river, in
a grove where tliere were trees large enough tor
canoes. Here they put up a shed tor inimedi.ite
shelter, and immediately ]irocee(ied to erect a hut.
New Year's day dawned .vheii, as yet, but one
wall of their cabin was completed ; the genial
and jo.ial day, however, was not permitted to
]iass uncelebrated, even by this weatber-beateii
crew ot wanderers. All work was suspended, ex-
ce|)t that ot roasting and Ix.iling. The choicest of
the buffalo meat, with tongues,
humps, .and
marrow bones, were dexoured in (|uaiuilies that
would astonish any one tij.it has not lived among
hunters or Inditms ; and as an exti.a regale, htuing
no tobticco left, they cut up an (dd tobacco ])ouch,
still redolent wilh ihe |)otent herb, .and smoked it
in honor of the d.iy. 'I'luis for a time, in ]iresent
revelrv, however uncouth, they forgot all past
troubles and .all .anxieties about the tuture, and
their forlorn wigwam edioed to the sound ot gay-
ety.
The next day they resumed their labors. and by
the 6ih ot the month it was complete. Tlu'y
soon killed abunclai-. '.; of bufftdo, -.uv] .again laid
in a stock of winter provisions.
The ]i;irty were more fortunate in this their sec-
ond cantonment. 'I'he winter jiassed iwtiy without
anv Iinlian visitors, and the game continued to be
410
ASTORIA.
plenty in the neighljorhood. They felled two
large trees, anil shaped them into canoes ; and,
as the sprinjr opened, and a thaw of several days'
continuance melted the ice in the river, they made
every prejiaration for embarking. On the 8th of
Marcii they launched forth in their canoes, but soon
found that tiie river had not depth '^ :ient even
for such slender harks. It expandc . .ito a wide
i)ut extremely shallow stream, with many sand-
bars, and occasionally various channels. They
got one of their canoes a few miles down it, with
extreme dit'ficulty, sometimes wading and drag-
ging it over the shoals ; at length they had to
aljandon tlie attemjn, and to resume their journey
on foot, aided by their faithl il old jiack-horse,
who iiad recruited strength during the rei)ose of
the winter.
The weather delayed them for a few days, hav-
ing suddenly become more rigorous than it had
been at any time during the winter ; but on tiie
20lh of March tliey were again on their journey.
In two days they arrived at the vast naked
prairie, the wintry aspect of which had caused
them, in Decemi)er, to ])ause and turn back. It
was now clothetl in tiie early verdure of spring,
and plentifully stocked with game. Still, when
obliged to bivouac on its bare surface, without
any shelter, and by a scanty fire of dry buffalo
tlung, they found the night blasts piercing cokl.
On one occasion a herd of buffalo straying near
their evening camp, they killed three of them
merely lor their hides, wherewith to make a
shelter for the night.
They continued on for upward of :i hundred
miles ; with vast ])rairies extending before them
as they advanced ; sometimes diversified by un-
dulating hills, but destitute of trees. In one |)lace
they saw ;i gang of sixty-five wild horses, but as
to the buffaloes, they seemed absolutely to cover
the country. Wilc[ geese abounded, and they
passed extensive swamps that were alive with in-
iiumera!)le flocks of water-lowl, among which
were a few swans, but an eridlebo variety of ducks.
The ri\er continued a winding course to the
cast-northeast, nearly a mile in width, but tt)o
shallow lo tloat oven an em|)ty canoe. The coun-
try s])read out into a vast level plain, bounded by
the liorizon alone, exce[)ting to the north, where
a line of hiils seemed like a long promontory,
stretching into the bosom of the ocean. Tlie
dreary sameness of the pr;iirie wastes began to
grow extremely irksome. The travellers longed
tor the sight of a forest or grove, or single tree,
to break tlie level uniformity, and began to notice
every objei.t tiiat gave reason to hope they were
drawing towaril the end c*^ this weary wilderness.
Thus the occurrence of a particular kind of grass
was hailed as a ])roof that they could not he far
from the bottoms of the Missouri ; and they were
rejoiced at putting up several prairie hens, a kind
ol grouse seldom found far in the interior. In
])icking u|) drift-wood for fuel, also, they found
on some pieces the mark of an axe, which caused
muclr speculation as to the time when and the
])ersons by whom the trees had been felled. Thus
they went on, like sailors at sea, who piMTeive in
every llo.uing weed and wandering bird, harbin-
gers of the wished-for land.
By the close ot the month the weather became
very mild, and, heavily burdened as tliey were,
they lound the noontide temperature uncomforta-
bly warm. < )n the jOth, tliey came to three de-
serted hunting camps, either of I'awnees or Ot-
toes, ai)out which were buffalo skulls in al! di-
rections ; and the frames oa which the hides had
been stretched and cured. They h.id apn.arer'^
been occupied the preceding autumn. '•'
For several days they kept patiently on wur-
ing every sign that might give them an id'cusia
where they were, and how near to tin; l);i„;;
the Missouri.
Though there were numerous traces ofhuniirr
parties and encampments, they were luit nl tkk'
date. The country seemed deserted. The onC
human beings they met with were three l',uvi,(i.
squaws, in a hut in the midst of a deserted can n
Their ])eoi)le had all gone to the sovitli, in mri^.^
of the buffalo, and had left these poor woniin be.
hind, being too sick and infirm to travel.
It is a common practice with the Pawnees, anil
probably with other roving tribes, when denar;.
ing on a distant expedition, which will nuta,;--
of incumbrance or delay, to leave their a;'ed ar.ii
infirm with a supply of jirovisions siitlicientiora
temjiorary subsistence. When this is exhauikil
they must perish ; though sometimes their suitir-
ings are abridged by hostile prowlers who m\-
visit the deserted camp.
The poor sc|uaws in question expected some
such fate at the hands of the white strantjers, an'l
though the latter accosted them in the kindtsi
manner, and made them jiresents of dried huftalo
meat, it was impossible to soothe their alarm or
get any iniormation from them.
The tirst landmark by which the travellers
were enabled to conjecture their position viih
any degree of contidence, was an i.sland about
seventy miles in length, which they presume 1 la
be (irand Isle. If so, they were within one hun-
dred and forty miles of the iMissouri. Thev kept
on, therefore, with renewed spirit, and at the end
of three days met with an ( > :;o Indian, by whom
they were confirmed in tht r conjecture. 'Ihev
learnt at the same time another piece of infor-
mation, of an uncomfortable nature. .According
to ills account, there was war between the I'nited
States and England, and in fact it had existed for
a whole vear, during which time liny had lieia
beyond tne reach of all knowledge ol the a.tfairs
of the civilized world.
TheCHto conducted the travellers to his village,
situated a short distance from the hanks u' the
I'latte. Mere they were delighted to meet with
two white men, .Nlessrs. Dornin and Roi, Indian
traders recently from St. Louis. Ol these they
had a thous.ind iiujuiries to make concerninijail
affairs, foreign and domestic, during their year ot
sepulture in the wilderness ; and especially a'jiiut
the events of the existing war.
They now prepared to .abandon their weary
travel by land, and to embark upon the water. .\
bargain'was made with Mr. Dornin, who eii.tr ed
to turnish them with a canoe and pnnisio,. . lor
the voyage, in exchange for their venerahle and
well-tried fellow-traveller, the old Snake lv)''se.
Accordingly, in a couple of days, the Indians
employed by that gentleman construried for them
a canoe twenty feet long, four feci wide, and
eighteen inches ileep. The frame was ol pules
and willow twigs, on which were stretehcd live
elk and buffalo' hides, sewed together with sm-
ews, and the seams jiayed with unctiioiH mud.
In this thev emliarked at an t riy luuir on the
i6th ot Ai)nl, and drifted down ten miles with the
stream, when the wind being high th.y ene.imp-
ed, and set to work to make' oars, which they had
not been able to procure at the Indian villai;e.
Once more alloat, they went merrily down the
stream, and after making thiny-tive miles,
emerged into the broad turbid current ul the Mis-
ASTORIA.
411
rlSn?^^^--':.
mn
t P;uifntly on, w,
"'-■^'- '" the hanks
^MCV
""■■^ faces of humin,.
'7 ^VL-i-c not ol r,c„'.
tlcscrtcd. Th, ,,1::
1 ycre three Pa,„,;
t ot a (lesertcl can;-.'
the south, in pursu;;
H-se poor uonun be.
■Ill to travel,
thtlif I'awnces, an.|
tnl't's, when clepan.
'\'liiL-h will not a':-!
Itave their airman;]
sums sulheienilori
L-n this isexhau*,;
mctiiiies their suilcr.
l)i-owlers who may
•tinii expected some
A-liite slran,t;ers, an'l
^hein in thekimltsi
flits of dried hutialo
Jothe their alarm or
11.
Iiich the travellers
tlieir position v.iih
••■IS an island about
■li they presume;! to
LTe within one liun-
issouri. Thev kept
'irit, and at the tad
:o Indian, hv whom
conjecture.' 'fhev
iher piece of infnr-
ature. Accordinr;
)cUveen the United
:t it iiad existcil for
ime they had been
fdgeol'theatfa.rs
Hers to his village,
1 the l)anks 0' the
lited to meet with
md Koi, Indian
Of these they
ike concerninij ail
urinj; their year of
especially a'joui
idoM their wean'
poll the water. A
iiiii, who eni:- eil
ml provisio,. . lor
■ir venerahle and
(I .Snake lv)'-se.
ays. the lialians
striuted for them
feci wide, anil
me was of poles
■re stretched live
)).,'ether with sin-
unctuiius mud.
rlv hour on the
'A miles with the
h they enc.imp-
', which they h.iil
idian villa.i;'e.
nerrilv down the
thirtv-live miles,
rreni of the .Mis-
• Here they were borne along- l)riskly by
'""niiid stream, 'tiioiiRli, by ttie time ihe-ir fragile
"■ hid floated a couple of hundred miles, its
!'■ me heiran to show the effects ot the voyage.
'/ kilv tl-y came to the deserted winterinjj
of some luintiiifr party, where they found
p.-itt
two
uld wooden canoes, rakinjr possession of
'ir"est, they a,i(ain committed themselves io
n, current, and after droi)iMn}r down fifty-five
,„ri further, arrived safely at Fort Osajre. ^
Here thev found Lieutenant Brownson still in
.,,.,iiiKiiul ;'lhe officer who had >,nvep the e.xpedi-
' '„ a hospitable reception on its way up the
r,'„r ei'diteen months ])reviously. He received
,j,is remnant of the party with a cordial welcome,
and enilwvored in every way to i^omote their
comfortaml enjoyment durinfj their sojourn at the
(ort The jjreatest luxury they met with on their
return to the abode of civilized man, was bread,
not havin;; tasted any tor nearly a year.
Their stay at Fort t)safie was but short. On
re.einharkin,:,' they were furnished with an amjile
sunplvof I'l'uvisio'ns tiythe kindness of Lieutenant
IJrow'nson, and perfor.^ied the rest of their voya^nj
ttidiuiit adverse circumstance. On the 3o{h of
.April they arrived in perfect healtli and fine spir-
its at St. Louis, havin^r l^een ten months in per-
lorn.i'i? 'his perilous expedition trom Astoria.
T;;eir return caused (|uite a sensation at the place,
brincinfj the first intellij^ence ot the fortune of
Mr.''Hunt and his jiarty, in their adventurous
rcuteacross the l-locky Mountains, and of the new
establishment on the shores ot the Pacific.
CHAI^TER LI.
It is now necessary, in linking tofjetlier the
parts of this excursive narrative, tb.-'.t we notice
the proceedin},'s ot Mr. Aslor, in support ot his
i;reat undertakin,!^. His project with respect to
the Russian estal)lishments alonj,'' the northwest
coast, had l)een diligently jirosecuted. The
a;.,'entsent by him to St. i'etersburgh, to negotiate
in his name as ])resident ot the American Fur
Company, had, under sanction ot the Russian
liovernment, made a provisional agreement with
the Russian company.
lly this ai;reenient, wiiich was raliiied by Mr.
.\stor in 1S13, the Iw.; companies bound iliem-
scKes not to interfere with each other's trading
and hunting grounds, nor to furnish arms and
ammuniii'Mi to the liulians. They were to act in
coaeert, also, ag.iinst all interlopers, and to suc-
cor each other in case cil vlanger. The American
company was to have the exclusive right ot sup-
piyinj; the Russian posts with goods and neces-
saries, receiving peltries in payment at staled
prices They were also, if so retjuested by the Rus-
sian jjoveriior, to convey the furs ot tiie Russian
com]).iny to Canton, sell them on commission,
.lud bring l.ick the proceeds, at such freight as
miL;ht he agreed on at the time. Tliis agreement
w.is to coniinue in operation four years, and to
he renew, ible for a similar term, unless some iin-
Ijreseeii contingency slu)uld reiuler a modification
iiecessarv.
It was calculated to be ot great service to the
imam est.iblishment at Astoria ; dispelling the
fears of hostile rivalry on the part ot the foreign
cuiipanies in its neighborhood, and giving a tor-
nadahle blow to the irregular trade along the
wist. It w,is also the intention of .Mr. Astor to
navt coasting vessels ot his own, at Astoria, of
small tonnage and draft of water, fitted for coast-
ing service. These, having a place ot shelter and
deposit, could ply about the coast in short voy-
ages, in favorable weather, and would have vast
.idvantage over chance ships, which must make
long voyages, maintain numerous crews, and
could only approach the coast ,it certain seasons
ot the year. He hojjed, therefore, gr/.du.illy, to
make Astoria the great emporium of the Ameri-
can tur trade in the Pacific, and the nucleus of a
jjowerful American state. rntortun.itely for
these sanguine tinticipations, betoia; Mr. Astor
had ratified the agreement, as at) ove stated, war
broke out between the United States .mil ( "treat
Britain. He jierceived at once the peril of the
case. The harl)or ot New \'ork would doubtless
be blockaded, and the departure of llie annual
supply ship in the autumn prevented ; or, if she
should succeed in getting out to sea, she might
be captured on her voyage.
In this emergency, he wrote to Captain Sowle,
commantler ot the Beaver. The letter, which
was addressed to him at Canton, directed him to
l)roceed to the factory at the mouth ot the Colum-
l)ia, with such articles as the establishment might
need ; and to remain there, subject to the orders
ot Mr. Hunt, should that gentleman be in com-
mand there.
The war continued. No tidings had yet
been received trom Astoria ; the disp.iti lies hav-
ing been delayed by the misadventure of .Mr. Reed
at the tails ot the ('oluml)ia, and the unhorsing of
Mr. Stuart by the Crows among the mountains.
A ])ainful uncertainty, also, prevailed about Mr.
Hunt and his party. Nothing had been heard ol
them since their de[)arture trom the .Xrickara vil-
lage ; Lisa, wdio ])arted trom them there, had pre-
dicted their destruction ; and some of the traders
of the Northwest Company had actually sjiread a
rumor ot their having been cutoff by the Indians.
Il was a hard trial ot the courage and means
ot an individual, to have to fit out another costly
expedition, where so much had already l)een ex-
pended, so much uncertainty ])revailed, and
where the risk ot loss was so greatly enhanced,
that no insur.mce could be effected.
In s[)ite ot all these discouragements, Mr. Astor
determined to send another slii]) to the relief of
the settlement. He selected tor this pur|)ose a
vessel called the Lark, remark.ible tor lier last
sailing. The disordered stale of the times, liow-
ever, caused such a delay, that February arrived,
while the vessel was yet lingering in port.
At this juncture 'Mr. Astor learnt that the
Northwest Company were preparing to .<eiul out
an armed ship ot twenty guns, called the Isaac
Todd, to form an est.iblishment at the mouth ot
the Columbii. These tiilings g.ive him great
uneasiness. A considerable |)ro|)ortion oi the
liersons in his emplov were Scotchmen .and Cana-
dian:;, .Old sever.al ot them had been in the ser-
vice of the Northwest Company. .Should Mr.
Hunt have failed to arrive at .Astoria, the whole
establishment would be uniler the control ot Mr.
M'Dougal, ot wdiose fidelity he had received very
disparaging accounts froiii Caplair T horn. T'he
British ('io\ernment, also, miglit di-em itx^orth
wdiile to send a force against the establishment,
'.aviiig been urged to do so sonn-lime previously,
by the Northwest Company.
Ibider all these circumstances, Mr. Astor
wrote to Mr. Monroe, then Secretary ot State,
re<|uesling protecti(;n from the Ciovernment of the
United .States. He represented the importance
ot this settlement, in a comnurcial point ot view.
412
ASTORIA.
li .i:,!:,
i iUi:.^
and thf sliclliT it might afford to tlie American
vessels in those seas. Ail he aslsed was, lliat the
American Ciovernnient woukl tlinnv hirly or litty
men into tlie turt at his estai)lisliment, wliicli
Would i)e suliicient tor its defence, until he could
.send reinicircements overland.
lie waited in v.un for a re|)ly to his letter, the
("tovernment, no doubt, heiniif en^^rossed at the
time, by an overwhelming crowd of affairs. The
month of .March arrived, and the Lark w:'.s order-
ed by Mr. Astor to put to sea. The otiicer who
was to coniniand her shrunk from his engage-
ment, and in the exigency of the moment she was
given in charge to ^Ir. Northrop, the male. Mr.
Nicholas d. t)gden, a gentleman on whose tal-
ents and intt.'grity the iiighesl reliance could be
placed, sailed as supercargo. The Lark ])Ut to
sea in the beginning of March, 1S13.
ISy this opportunity Mr. .Xstor wrote to Mr.
Hunt, as head of the establishment at the mouth
of the Columbia, for he would not allow himself
to doubt of his welfare. " I always think you are
well," said he, " and that I shall see you again,
which hea\en. I hope, will grant."
lie w,;rned him to be on his guard against
any attempts to surprise the jjost ; suggesting the
])r(;l)ability of armed hostility on the part of the
Northwest Comp.iny, and expressing his indigna-
tion at the ungratelul returns made by that as-
sociation h)r his traid< and open contluct, and ad-
vantageous overtures. " Were 1 on the spot,"
said he, " and had the management of affairs, I
would dely them all ; but, as it is, everything de-
j.^nds upon you and your friends about you. i)iir
enterprise is i^raiic/, and dcser7<cs success, and I
hope in God it toill meet it. If my object was
ir.erely gain of money, I should say, think whether
it is best to save what we can, and abandon the
place ; but the very idea is tike a da>;i^er to my
heart." Tiiis extract is sufficient to show the
spirit and the views which actuated Mr. Astor in
this great undertaking.
Week after week and month after month
elapsril, without anything to lispel the painful in-
certitude that hung over eve-y part of this enter-
prise. Though a man of resolute sjjirit, anil not
easily cast down, the dangers impending over
this ilarliiig sclieme oi his and)ition, had a grad-
ual effect upon the spirits of Mr. Astor. He was
sitting one gloomy e\ening by his window revolv-
ing over the loss of the 'l'on(|um, and the fate of
her unlorlunate crew, ami tearing that some
C(pially tragical calamity might have befallen the
adventurers across the mountains, wiien the even-
ing newspaper was brought to him. The first
paragraph that c.iuglu his eye, announced the ar-
rival of Mr. ^:iuart and his ])arty at St. Louis,
with intelligence that Mr. Hunt and his compan-
ions had effected their perilous exjiediton to the
mouth of the Columbia. This was a gleam of
sunshine tliat for .a time dis|)elled every cloud,
and he now looked forward with sanguine hope
to the accomplishment ol all his plans.
CH.Al'TKR LI I.
TilF, course of our narrative now takes us back
to the regions beyond the mountains, to dispose of
the parties that set out from Astoria in company
with .Mr. Robert Smart, and whom he left on the
l)anks of the W'all.ih-Wallah. Those |)arlies like-
wise separ.ited Irom each other shortly after his
departure, proceeding to their respective destina-
tions, but agreeing to meet at the mnuihof-.
Wall ih-Wallah, about the beginning/ „( i'"'
the following year, with such peltrius iViv
should have collected in the interi(jr, so .isii .'
vov each other through the daiu'eruus iiic. '"
le Colund)ia.
Mr. David Stuart, one of the parintn n-
ceeded with his men to the jiosi alreiulvcbur^ '•
ed by him at the mouth of the Oakiiiiii'iui t-'
ing furnished this with goods and aiimnii;; ,!-
he proceeded three hundred miles iii) ihairj, .,
where he established another post in a jjiiml irj^'
ing neighborhood.
.Mr. Clarke, another partner, conductal hi, 1-.
tie band up Lewis River to the moiuli ol asiiu'
stream coming in from the iionh, to which f-
C.madians gave the name of the I'avion. Hcr^
he found a village or encampmeiit ot foruhc"
or tents, covered with mats, and inhaliiii-il liv
Xe:: J'erees, or pierced-nose Indians, as thevar*
called by the traders ; but Chi])UHiusli, asihtvare
called by themselves. They a.'e a liar'lv, I'lhur-
ious, and somewhat knavish r.ice, whu lead 1
[irecarious life, fishing and digging roots ilurin'
the summer and autumn, hunting the ilcer 0?,
snow shoes during the winter, and traviTs;iur;h;
Rocky Mountains in the spring, to trade tor buiti.
lo skins with the hunting tribes of thu Missuur:.
In these migrations they , are liable to he iv,-iv!:i:'l
and attacked by the lUackteet, and other warlike
and predatory tribes, and driven hack across the
mountains with the loss of their horses, anil i!
many of their comrades.
A life of this unsettled and precarious kind is
apt to render men selfish, and such Mr. Claike
fouml the inhabitants of this village, whu were
delicient in the usual hospitality nt Indians; p.irt-
ing with everything with extreme rehictaiice, ur.d
showing no sensibility to any act of kindness.
t\\. the time ot his arrival they weii' all occupid
in catching and curing salmon. The nun were
stout, robust, active, and good looking, and the
women handsomer than those ol the tri lies nearer
the coast.
It was the jilan of Mr. Clarke to lay up his
boats here, and procv^ed by land to his pl.icci:
destination, which was among the .Spokan tnb;
of Indians, about a hundreil and fifty miles dis-
tant. He accordingly endeavored to purchase
horses for the journey, but in this he hail to con-
tend with the sordid dis[)osition of these people,
'fhey asked high ])rices for their horses, and were
so cliflicult to deal with, that Mr. Clarke was de-
tained seven days among them befo-.' he coiiid
procure a sufiiicient number. Dining that time
lie was annoyed by repeated pilfcriiigs, forwhici
he could get' no redress. The cliiet promised 10
recover the stolen articles; but faileil to (loso,
alleging that the thieves l;elonged to a distar;
tribe, and had made off with their booty. Witii
this excuse .Mr. Clarke was fain to content him-
self, though he laid up in his heart a bitter i^rud^'e
against the whole ])ierced-nose race which as wi.l
be lound he took occasion subsequently to grainy
in a signal manner.
Having made arrangements for his deparuire,
Mr. Clarke laid up his barge and canoes :n .1
sheltered place, on the banks of a small l«y.
overgrown witn shrubs and willows, contidini;
them to the care of the Nez I'erce chief, whn, 0:1
being ]M'omised an ample compensation, eni^iiged
to have a guardian eye ujion them ; then mmmt-
ing Ills steed, and |)utting himself atlhehcidc:
his little caravan, he shook the dust off his feel as
he turned his back upon this vilkiLje ol n.yiio
ASTORIA
418
11(1 prcrarious kind is
and such .Mr. C.i.ke
s Vill.liJ-U, whj y,„
litvof liuiians; p.ir!.
I hard dealers. We shall not follow him mi-
*"' L.'ji, his joiirncv; which lay att imes overstL-L'i)
Lirockv hiil-i. and amon^r cra),'s ncl precipices ;
othei'tinus uver vast naked and sunliurnt
!'iiii5 ahoLimling with rattlesnakes, in traversin>{
\c\) liotli Mien and horses suffered intolerably
l\m iicat and thirst. The place on which he
Iwltiiratnidinij iwst, was a hne point of land,
,,(i,MunLti'(n c)l the I'ohited Heart and .Spokan
" Ts, His fst.d)lishment was intended to coni-
ife'witli a iradin.i,^ post of the Nortiuvest Coni-
Ri
MnVsiuiiUfd at no jrreat distance, and to riva
j. iii'ilu' trade with the .S|)okan Indians ; as well
,'. ^^|.|, (he Coolonais and Flatlieads. In this
n'fi^-iiiHirhood we shall leave him for the present.
Mr. .MKeiizic, who conducted the third party
iromlhf Wallah-Wallah, navigated tor several
,|,iV5tni llie soiilli branch of the Columbia, named
iheCaiiKienuni by the natives, but commonly call-
c'l Lewis Kivcr, in honor of the first explorer.
\VaiKlt:riii}( hands ol various tribes were seen
aioii" liiis river, travelling in various directions ;
tor thf Indians gener.ally are restless, roving be-
ini's, ciiniiiui.dly intent on enterprises of war,
iraliic, aiv:l hnniing. Some of these ],eople were
drivin.,' larffL- gangs of horses, as if to a distant
ni.irk.'t. Having arrived at the mouth of the
Shalwpt.in, he ascended some distance up that
river, and established his trading jiost U|)on its
tanks. This appeared to be a great thoroughfare
for thf trii)es from the neighborhood of the falls
oiiheColiunhia, in their expeditions to make war
umn llic tribes of the Rocky Mountains ; to hunt
bulfiloon the plains beyond, or tc trallic for roots
a:i(i hulfalu rol)es. It was the season of migra-
ns, and tht! Indians from various distant i)arts
were passing and repassing in gre.at numbers.
.^lr. .M'Kfii/ie now detached a small band, un-
der the conduct of Mr. John Reed, to visit the
caches made by Mr. Hunt at the Caldron Linn,
and to bring the contents to his ])ost; as he de-
pended in some incisure on them lor his sup])lies
ot goods and ammunition. They had not been
fone a week when two Indians arrived of the I'al-
Luap.illa tribe, who live upon a river of the same
name. These communicated the unwelcome in-
te!li;,'ence that the caches had been robbed. They
Slid that some ol their tribe had, in the course of
the preceding spring, been across the mountains
which separated tliem from -Snake River, and had
triled horses with the Snakes in exchange for
liiinkets, robes, and goods ol various descriptions.
Tnese articles the Snakes had procured from
caches to which they were guided by some white
men who resided among them, and who after-
ward accompanied them across the Rocky Moun-
tains. This intelligence was extremely perplex-
injtoMr. .M'Kenzie, but the truth ol part of it was
conlirmed by the two Indians, who brought them
an Knjjlish saddle and bridle, which was recog-
nized as hasing belonged to Mr. Crooks. The
perhdy of the white men who revealed the secret of
tile caches, was, however, perfectly inexplicable.
\\e shall presentlv account for it in narrating the
espeduioiiof .Mr. 'Reed.
riiat worthy Ililiernian proceeded o,-. his mis-
sion with his usu.d alacritv. His forlorn travels
c: ike preceding winter had made him acciuainted
mththe topograijhyot the countrv, and he reacb-
tjl Snake River without any ma'terial dithculty.
nere in an encampment of' the natives, he met
with si.v white men, wanderers from the main ex-
rcliuon ol Mr. Hunt, who, alter having had their
respective shares of .adventures and mishaps, had
briunately come together at this place. Three 'A
these men were Turcotte, La Chapelle, and Fran-
cis Landry ; the three Canadian voyageurs, who,
it may be recollected, had left Mr. (J'rooks in Feb-
ruary, in the neighborhood of .Snake River, being
dismayed by the increasing hardship) ol the jour-
ney, and tearful ot jierishmg of luniger. They
had relurnetl to a Snake enc ■ .ipment, where they
passed the resiilue of tfie w;.iter.
Farly in the spring, being utterly destitute, and
in great extremity, and having woin out the hos-
l)itality of the Snakes, they determined to avail
themselves of the buried treasurts within their
knowledge. They accortlingly inlormed the Snake
chieftains that they knew where a greai (luantity
ot goods had been left in caches, enough to enrich
the whole tribe ; and offered lo conduct them to
the place, on condition of being rewanled with
horses and jjrovisions. The chieltains |)le(lged
their faith and honor as great men and Snakes,
and the three Canadians conducted ihem to the
place of deposit at the Caldron Linn. This is the
way that the savages got knowledge of the caches,
and not by following the tracks of wolves, as Mr.
Stuart hati sujiposed. Xever did money diggers
turn up a miser's hoard with more eager delight
than did the savages lay o|)en the treasures of the
I caches, lilankets and robes ; brass trinkets and
I blue beads were drawn forth with chuckling ex-
! ultation, and long strips of scarlet cloth produced
yells ot ecstasy.
The rilling ot the caches effected a change in
the fortunes and deportment of the whole iiar'.y.
The Snakes were f)etter e(|uipped anil (lad than
ever were Snakes before, and the three Canadians,
suddenly linding themselves with horse to ride
and weapon to wear, were, like beggars on horse-
bacl<, ready to ride on any wild scamper. An
opportunity soon presented. The Snakes deter-
mined on a hunting match on the buffalo prairies,
to lay in a sui)])ly of beef, that they might live in
plenty, as became men ot their improved condi-
tion. The three newly mounted cavaliers must
fain accom|)any them. They all traversed the
Rocky .Mountains in safety, descended to the head
waters ot the Missouri, and made great havoc
among the buffaloes.
Their hunting camj) was full of meal ; they
were gorging themselves, like true Indians, with
present plenty, and drying and jerking great
c|uantities for a winter's sujiply. In the midst of
their revelry and good cheer, the camp was sur-
])rised by the lilackfeet. Sever.d ol tlie .Snakes
were slain on the spot ; the residue, w ith their
three Canadian allies, lied to the moimtains,
stri])|)e(l of horses, buffalo me.it, eviMytliing ; and
made their way back to the old enc. impment on
Snake River, poorer than ever, but e^teeming
themselves forlun.ite in having escaped with their
lives. Thev had not been long there when the
Canadians were cheered by the sight ol a com-
panion in misfortune, I)ul)reuil, the poor voy.ageur
who had left Mr. Crooks in March, bring too
much exhausted to kee]i on with him. .\di long
afterward, three other straggling members ol the
main expedition made their a|)pearance. These
were Carson, St. Michael, and Pierie Delaunay,
three of the lra|)pers, who, in comp.iay with
I'ierre Detaye, had been lelt among the mountains
by Mr. Hunt, to trap beaver, in the preceding
month o'. .September. They had de|):;rle.| trom the
main body well armed and provided, w ith horses
to ride, and horses to carry the peltries they were
to colle'-t. They came wandering into the Snake
camp as ragged and destitute as thtdr jiredeces-
bors. It appears that they had finished their trap-
414
ASTORIA.
i^ ' I':
'■' ^}
IL ; (■
i! :
I-*' '•<
pinij, and were n^akinp their way in the sjirinj,' to
the Missouri, when they were met and attacked
by a [lowertul hand ot the all-jjervadinif Crows.
Tiiey ni ide a desperate resistance, and killed seven
ot the sa\aj,^es, hut were overpowered by num-
bers. I'ierre iJetayt' was slain, the rest were
robbed ()( horses and effects, and oblijifed to tui'n
back, \\ hen they Icll in with their old com|)anions,
as already mentioned.
We should observe, that at the heels of Pierre
Delaunay c.ime dra>,'>;^linij an Indian wife, whon\
he had picked up in his wanderlusts ; having'
grown we.iry of celibacy amonj,'' the savages.
The whole seven ot this forlorn fraternity of
adventurers, thus .iccidentally congregated on the
banks of Snake River, were making arrange-
ments once more to cross the mountains, when
some Indi.in scouts brought word of the approach
of the little b.nid headed by John Reed.
The latter, having heard the several stories of
these wanderers, look them all into his party, and
set out for the Caldron Linn, to clear out two or
three of the caches which had not been revealed
to the Indians.
At that place he met with Robinson, the Ken-
tucky veter.in, who with his two comrades, Rez-
ner and iiob.ick, had remained there when Mr.
Stuart went on. This adventurous trio had been
trapping higher u]) the river, but Robinson h;ul
come clown in a canoe, to .await the expected .ar-
rival of the |)arty, and obtain horses and ecpiij)-
ments. lb' told i<eed the story of the robbery of
his party by the Arapah.iys, but it differed, in
some |);irliculars, from the account given by him
to Mr. Stu.irt. In that he had represented Cass
as having shamefully deserted his companions in
their extremity, carrying off with him a horse ; in
the one now given he spoke of him as h.i\-ing been
killed in the .affr.iy with the .Arapahays. 'fhis
discre])ancy, of which, of course. Reed could have
had no knowledge at th.e time, concurred with
other circumstances, to occasion .afterward some
mysterious speculations and dark surmises, as to
the re.d fate ot Cass ; but as no susbiantial
grounds were ever adduced for them, we forbear
to throw any deeper shades into this story of suf-
ferings in the wildernss.
Mr. Reed having gathered the remainder of the
goods froni the caches, put himself at the head of
his parly, now augmented by the seven men thus
casually |)icked up, ,ind the squaw of Pierre De-
launay, and made his way successfully to M'Ken-
zie's Post, on the waters of the Shahaptan.
!•■
CHAPTER Llir.
After the departure of the different detach-
ments or lirii;atii:s, as they are called by the fur
traders, the ISeaver [irepareil for her voy.ige along
the co.ist, and her visit to the Russian establish-
ment, ,it New .Archangel, where she was to carry
supjilies. It had been determined in the council
of jiartners at Astoria, that Mr. Hunt should em-
bark in this vessel, for the ])urpose of aci|uainting
himself w illi the coasting trade, .ind of making
arrangements with the comm.mder of the Rus-
sian post, and that he should be relan('ed in Oc-
tober, at Astoria, by the Heaver, on her way to
the Sandwich. Islands, and Canton.
The Peaver put to sea in the month of August.
Her dep.irture, and that of the various brisfades,
left the fortress of Astoria but slightly garrisoned.
This was soon perceived by some of the Indian
tribes, .ind the consequence was inrroa;eir
lence of deportment, and a (lis|)(i>uiiiiuu h.'"*
ity. It was now the fishing season, wi'ifMi.'!
tribes from the northern co.ist divw jni, \'''
neighborhood of the Columbi.i, These \Mr,.\.'
like and nertklious in their dispositimii ■ ,,V!'
ted for tlieir attempts to surprise tr.uliii.r 1;^'!'
.Among them were numbers ol the Newciu. Ik.
ferocious tribe that massacred the (Tl-w ,)' ,,,
Toncpiin. ' *
I Creat precautions, therefore, were Uiki'a iti.
I factory to guard against sur])rise whiluihc.vda-'
genius intruders were in the vieiiiitv. (;,i!||.'nei
I were constructed inside of the ]),ilis,iiies ; \\»'\)x.
I tions were heightened, and sentinels weW nosiH
j day and night. Fortunately, the Chinti.)!;.; ,,„''
other tribes resident in the vicinity m.mifi-sti'il i),.
most ])acific disuosition. Old Conuumiv, Vm
: held sway over them, was a shrewd caiailainr
j He was aw.are ot the .adv.mtages of h.ivin;; ihe
I whites as neighbors and allies, and of the aiibt.
quence derived to himself and his people iron
acting as internvdiate traders between thi'm kIi
the distant tribes. He had, theretuiu, hv this
time, become ;i llrm friend of the Asti)ri:ins. .w!
formed a kinil of barrier between them iinil ih«
hostile intruders from the north.
The summer of 1812 p.assed away witl-.ou; ,w,-
of the hostilities that had been apijr'eheiulc! ; the
Xeweetees, and other dangerou:; visitors to tht
neighborhood, tniished their lishing ami n-tumtl
home, and the inmates of the f.ietory oiv.c more
felt secure from .attack.
It now becaine necessary to guard a^j.iinst other
evils. The season of scarcity arrived, whirh ion'.-
mences in October, and Lists until the end uf lar,-
u.iry. To provide for the support of the ijiirnsDn,
the shallop was em|)loyed to furaj;e ahout the
shores of the river. A number of the ineri, .ilso, un-
der tile comm.uul of some of the clerks, were sent tj
(|uarter themselves on the banks of the Wnll.imm
(the Multnom.ih of Lewis and Clark), a liiiv river
which disembogues itself into the Coliinihia, alioiit
sixty miles above Astoria. The country hordir-
ing on tlie river is finely diversilie.l with ]ir:uric5
and hills, an<l forests of oak, ash, iiiaple. and ce-
dar. It abounded, at that time, with elk ainl
deer, and the streams were well stocked with
bea\'er. Here the party, after supplying' their
own w.ints, were enabled to ])ack up (lu.uiiiiiesi.'
dried meat, and send it by canoes to .Astoria.
The month of October elapsed without the re-
turn of the Be.iver. November, DeccMiher, Ja:;-
uary, ])assed away, and still nothing was seen or
her^rd of her. Ciloomy apprehensions now heij.ri
to be entertained ; she might h;ive l.een witii'!
in the course of her coasting vnya^'e, or sur-
prised, like the Tonquin, liy some of the treach-
erous tribes of the north.
No one indulged more in these ,i]iprehcii>i'ir';
than M'lJougal, who had now the ehiirye ot the
establishment. He no longer evinced the husiliiii;
confidence and buoyancy whicli once character-
ized him. Command seemed to have lost its
charms tor him. or rather, he ga\e way to the
most abject despondency, decrying the whole er-
ter|)rise, magnifving everv untoward circum-
stance, and foreboding nothing but evil.
While in this moody state, he was siirprisef!.
on the 16th of January! by the sudden appearance
of M'Kenzie, wayworn and weather-heaieii In a
long wintry journey from his post on the .Shahap-
tan, and with a face the very frontispiece fir a
volume of misfortune. M'Ken'zie had been heart-
ily disgusted and disappointed at his post, it
ASTORIA.
415
!hp
midst of the Tushepaws, .1 powerful
I'liJ,'' season.
„„ warlike nation
(lividecl into many tribes,
I ler (I'tfiTcnt chiefs, who possessed innuniera-
h" h'r^ts. Inii, not havinjj turned their attention
•■ iruiDink'. li'"l "o f'^''-^ 'o offer. Accord-
t' '"'..,',-"....:" .1,..,. „-.,r,. hut
were hut a " rascally
loni which we may infer that they were
llf. v> .M'Kciizic they
lit their own interests, more than
'ii-iint I" ^'onsii
Z,„|,;,ri,Hl with the interests of a greedy Indian
" "^ lieing scarce, he was obliged to rely,
llor'ihf most part, on horse-tlesh for subsistence,
lani'iiii-' Inihans discovering his necessities, adopt-
leii a iKilicv usual in civilized trade, and raised tiie
IprM I'! ii"!''*'-'^ '" '"'' t-'J^orbilant rate, knowing
Ithat hi' and his men must eat or die. In this way,
Ithc goads he had brought to trade for Ix'aver
IcKin., were likely to be bartered for horse-llesh,
land all the proceeds devoured U])on the sjjot.
He had dispatchetl trap|)ers in various direc-
Itioas, I'l't the country around did not offer more
Ikaver than his own station. In this emergency
lliebfaii to think of .abandoning his unprotitable
pisLsciulini; his goods to the ])osts of Clarke and
David Stuart, w ho could make a better use of them,
lasihev were in a good beaver country, and re-
tarninjj with his ])arty to Astoria, to seek some
I better destination. With this view he repaired to
[the post of .Mr. Clarke, to hokl a consultation.
I Vi'liiie the two partners were in conference in Mr.
jCiirlie's wijrwani, an unexpected visitor came
Ibuiiliii!; in upon tfcm.
This was Mr. John (ieorge M'Tavish, a partner
I c! tht. Northwest Company, who had charge of
the rival trading posts establisheil in that neigh-
borhood. Mr. M'Tivish was the delighted mes-
siiigerof had news. He had been to Lake Win-
' r.i;)tg. where he received an express from Canada,
I coniaiiiinij the declaration of war, and President
[ Madison's proclamation, which he handed with
ihe most ofticious coni|)laisance to .Messrs. Clarke
asd M'Kenzie. He moreover told them that he
! liad received a fresli supply of goods from the
lurthwest posts on the other side of the Rocky
.Mountains, and was prepared for vigorous oppo-
sition to the establishment of the .American Com-
|iaiiy, He capped the climax of this obliging, l)ut
Wli;'i-rent intelligence, by informing them thai.
;ne armed ship, Isaac Todd, was to be at the
.Tiiuth of the Columbia about the beginning of
March, to j^et possession of the trade of the river,
and that he w.is ordered to join her there at that
time.
The receipt of this news determined M'Kcnzie.
He immediately returned to the Shahaptan, broke
^) his establishment, deposited his goods in
i a/u\ and hastened, with all his i)eople, to As-
loria.
The intelligence thus brought, completed the
£:>ni.iy of M'Dougal, and seemed to |)roduce a
complete confusion of mind. He held a council
0! war with M'Kenzie, at which some of the
Cicrks were present, but of course had no votes.
They jrave up all hope of maintaining their post
at .Astoria. The Heaver had probably been lost ;
tto- could receive no aid from the United States,
;»ad ports would be blockaded. From Eng-
''"d nothing could be exnected but hostility. It
)>Js determined, therefore", to abandon the estab-
"Mient in the course ui the following spring,
^^1 return across the Rocky Mountains.
.In pursuance of this resolution, they suspended
J' trade with the natives, except for provisions,
wiiiff already more peltries than they could car-
away, and having need of all the goods for the
clothing and subsistence of their people durinp-
the remainder of their sojourn, and on their jour-
ney across the mountains. Their intention of
abandoning Astoria was, however, kept secret
from the men, lest they should at once give up
.ill labor, and become restless and insubordinate.
In the meantime, M'Kenzie setoff for his ])OSt
at the Shah.iptan, to get his goods Irom the
caches, and buy horses and provisions with them
for the caravan across the moui\tains. He was
chargetl with dispatches from M'Doug.il to Mes-
srs. .Stuart and Clarke, apprizing them ot the in-
tended migration, that they might make timely
))reparatioi's
M' Kenzi , was accompanied by two of the clerks,
Mr. John '<eed, tlie Irishman, and .Mr. Alfred Se-
ton, of N.'w York. They embarked in two ca-
noes, maui'ed by seventeen men, ami ascendeil
the river witi Hit any incident ol import.ince, un-
til they arrived in the eventful neighborhood of
the ra|)ids. They made the portage of the nar-
rows and the falls early in the afternoon, and,
having partaken of a scanty meal, had now a long
evening on their hands.
On the opposite side of the river lay the village
of V\'ish-ram, of freebooting renowi. Here lived
the savages who had rol)l)ed and maltreated
Reed, when bearing his tin box of dis|)atches. It
was known that the rilie of which he was despoil-
ed was retained as a trophy at the village.
M'Kenzie offered to cross tlie river, ;ind demand
the rille, it any one would accompany liim. It
was a hair-brained project, for these villages
were noted for the ruffian char.acter o( their in-
habitants ; yet two volunteers ])romptly step])ed
forward ; .Alfred Seton, the clerk, and Joe de
la Pierre, the cook. The trio soon reached the
o])posite side ot the river. On landing they freshly
primed their ritles and jiistols. A |)ath winding
for about a hundied yards among rocks and
crags, led to the village. No notice seemed to
be taken of their ,i|)proach. Not a solitary be-
ing, man, woman, or child greeted them. The
very dogs, those noisy ])ests of an Indian town,
ke,pt silence On entering the village, a boy made
his appearance, and jjointed to a house (jf Larger
dimensions than the rest. They liad to sloop to
enter it ; as soon as they had passed the thresh-
old, the narrow ])assage behind them was filled
u|) by a sudden rush of Indians, who had before
kept out ot sight.
M'Kenzie and his com|)anions fi)und them-
selves in a rude chamber of about twentv-five feet
long, and twenty wide. A bright fire was blaz-
ing at one end, near which sat the chief, about
sixty years old. A large number ol Indians,
wra|)ped in buffalo robes, were s(|uatted in rows,
three deep, forming a semicircle round three
sides of the room. A single glance .iround suf-
ficed to show the.n the grim and dangerous as-
sembly into whi( h they had intruded, ;ind that all
retreat was cii' off by the mass which blocked up
the entrance.
The chief ])ointedto the vacant side of the room
opposite to the door, and motioned tor them to
take their seats. They complied. A dead pause
ensued. The grim waniors around sat like stat-
ues ; each muffled in his robe, with his tierce eyes
bent on the intruders, 'fhe latter fell they were
in a perilous predicament.
" Keep your eyes on the chief while I am ad-
dressing him," said M'Kenzie to his com|)anions.
" Should he give any sign to his band, shoot him,
and make for the door."
M'Kenzie ad<anced, and offered the pipe ot
410
ASTORIA.
mm
'if
1 1
! if
■i: , , I
:r
:;.:i'r-: t
peace to the; rhief, but it was refused. He then
made a rcj^ular speech, explaininjr the object of
their visit, and proposing,' to jjive in exchange for
the ritie two l)iankets, an axe, some beads, and
tobacco.
When he had done tlie cliief rose, iKfjan to ad-
dress him in a low voice, i)Ut soon l)ecame loud
aid violent, ;ind ended by workinjf himself up
into a furious passion. He upbraided the white
men for their sordid conduct in passin^r and rc-
])assinf,r throu;.,'-!! their nei^diborhood, without giv-
ing them ;i blanket or any other article of goods,
merely because they had no furs to barter in ex-
change ; and he alludeil with menaces of ven-
geance, to the death of the Indian killed by the
whites in the skirmish at the f.dls.
M.itters were verging to ;i crisis. It w;is evident
the surrounding savages were only waiting a sign.il
iromthe chief to spring upon their prev. .M'Ken-
■' e ani.1 liis companions li.id gradually risen on
their feet during the speech, and had brought their
rilles to a huri/ontal po«;ition, the barrels resting
in their left h.uids ; tl.e muzzle of M'Kenzie's
])iece was within three feet of t'lespe.iker's heart.
They cockei' their rilles ; tlic click of the locks
for a momen. suffused the darl- cheek of the sav-
age, .and there was a pause. They coolly, but
prom|)tly advanced to the door ; thi' indi.ins fell
l)ack in awe, .iiul suffered them to i)ass. The sun
was )ust setting as thev emeiged from this dan-
gerous den. 'I'liey took the ])recaution to keep
along the tops of the rocks as much as |)ok. ..ble
on their way b.ick to the canoe, and reached their
camp in safety, congr.iiulating themselves on thei'
escape, .iid feeling no desire to make a second
visit to the grim warriors of Wish-r.im.
M'Kenzie and his ]);irty resumed their journey
the next morning. At some distance above the
f.il's of the Co' : nbia, the;- observed two bark ca-
.loes, filled with white men, coming down the
river, to the full chant of a set of C.uiadian voy-
ajjeuis. A ])arley ensued. It was a detachment
.>f northwcstcis, under the command of .Mr. John.
Cieorge M'Tavish, boimd, full of song and spirit,
to the mouth of the Columbia, to await the .arrival
of the Isa.ic Todd.
Mr. .M'Kenzie and M'Tavish came to a h;dt,
and landing, encamped to;^cther for the night.
The \oy,igeurs of either party hailed each other
as brotlu.rs, and old " comr.ades," and they min-
gled togelher as if united by one common ruerest,
instead of belonging to ri\'al companies, and trad-
ing under hostile liags
in the morning they ])roceeded on their differ-
ent ways, in style corresponding to their different
fortunes, the one "oiling ])ainfully against the
stream, the other swecpmg down gayly with the
current.
M'Kenzie .arrived s.ifely at his deserted post on
the Shah.iptan, but foui\d, to his ch.igrin, that his
caches had been discovered and rifled b\- the In-
dians. Here was a dilemma, for on the stolen
goods he had depended t:) purchase horses of the
Indians. He sent out men in .ill directions to en-
deavor to discover tht; thieves, aiirl dispatc'ied .>Ir.
Reed to the ]iosts of Mess'-s. Clatke and D'.-vid
Stuart, vvith the letters ol Mr. M'Doug.d.
The resolution announced in these let'^rs, to
break up and depart from .Astori.i, was condemn-
ed by buth Clarke ;\nd Stuart. Th"se two gentle-
men had been very successful ,it tlieir jjosts. .and
considered it r.ish and pusillanimmis to abandon,
on the first dlHiculty, ;in enterprise of such great
cost ,ind anipl'; promise. They made no arrange-
ments, theielore, forlea.'ing the country, but acted
with a view to tlie maintenance of thciri
l)rosperous establishments.
The regular time ajjproached, when the ir-
ners of the interior posts were to nn 'c/v . "!
the mouth of the Wallah-Wallali,
T-cvitii
Astoria, with the i)eltries they hail Cdikct,..,! \
and then lock it up in a lar;,'t\i,',i'n/,-.
1 accompanied him in his travels, ami
■"lUlicirwayb
Clarke accordingly packed ail his fur^ on tw-''^'
eight horses, and leaving a clerk ,iml t,iurn>ir,i
take charge of the |)ost, ileparted on ihci-rh!.
May with the residue of his force. ''"''
On the 30th he arrived at the conllucnci: oli'r
I'.ivion and Lewis Rivers, where he hiulltii |i
barge and canoes, in the guardianshi|i of ih^|';,|
I'ierced-nose chieftain. That dignii.uy had a".
(juitted himself more faithfully of his char'i: than
.Mr. Clarke had expected, and the caiiui^, wcrc
found in very tiderable order. Some iiiiairs were
necessary, and while the) were in.ikin^-, tin.' |,,,r;v
encam|)ed close by the vill;ige. Ihn in- L.ulrt'.
])eated and vexatious proo.s of the pihtnn;: lug.
pensi'ies jf this tribe tluring his f 'rincr vibu, Mr,
Cl.iike ordered tlvt a wary eye shuuid ht kcii^
upon them.
He was a tall, good-looking in.nn, .ukI Mjme.
what given to pomp and circumstaiuc, which
made him an object of note in the cyc^ijltht
wondering savages. He was stately, tun, in his
appointments, and I'ad a silver gi, Met (jrilnnkin'
cup, out of wliicli ne would drink with a in,i;;;,ii.
icent ail
7'i/t, whi
stood in his tent. This goblet had originally b«a
sent as a present from .Mr. Astor to .Mr. M Kav,
the partner who had unfortunately been hlowii lip
in the Ton(|uin. As it reached Astoria alter the
de|)arture of th.at gentleman, it had remaiiial i;i
the possession of .Mr. Clarke.
A silver goblet w.as too glittering a prize not to
catch the eye of a I'ierced-nose. It v.a.i lil<eihe
shining tin case of Join Reed. Such a wuiidcr
had never been seen in the land beloiv. The In-
di.ins talked about it to one anoiluT. They
m.irked the care with which it was (le|)o.sited in
the i^iirdc I'in, like a relic in its shrine, and con-
cluded that it must be a "great medicine,'
'ITi.at night .Mr. Clarke neglected to luck up his
treasure; in the morning the sacred casket v.is
open — the precious relic gone 1
Clarke was now outrageous. .-Ml the past vtx-
ations that he had suffered from this piiieriiy
commir'ity rose to mintl, and he tlireateiied tiut.
unless the /o detwiis ;irom|)tly retunied, he winial
Iiang the iliief should he e\entually discover him.
The day passed away, however, without the restor-
ation of the cup. At night si ..tinels were se'-rciiV
jwsted about the camp. With all their vi.nilaiice a
I'ierctd-iiose contrived to get into the camp un-
|)erceived, and to load himself with hocty : it u.is
only on his retreat that he was discovered .imi
taken.
At daybreak the culprit was l)roui;ht lu trial,
and promptlv convicted. He stood resporsihii:
for all the spoliation., of the camp, the pieciniis
goblet among the numl)er, and .Mr. Clarke p.iS5i.-il
sentence o' de.ith upji him.
A gibbet was accordinglv constructed of o.us;
tie chief of th' village "and his people were .is-
■sembled and the culjirit, was produced, wita his
legs and .arms pinioned. Clarke then made a
harangue. He reminded the tribe ot "":
benehts he had bestowed upon theni (iUrnik'
his former visits, and the many thelts ami
other misdeeds which he had overlooked. U'e
prisoner especially had always been peciiliary
well treated by the white men, but had repeatedly
ASTORIA.
417
i^PC'iiltV of piltiTiiiff. He wr.s to he. punished
.A'i'ownmis.lc.-ils, and as a warniiiK' to l»s tP,;...
ne Imlians now KatluTcd round Mr. Clarke
,n,l inifri-edcd tor the culprit. Tlic-y were will-
„, In. should he i)Uiiishe;l severely, hut iini)li)r(Hi
;;'" j,j, life mi!,du he spared. The conipaiiions,
.,' ol .Mr. Clarke, considered the sentence too
I^Xk iiiid advised him to uiitif^ate it ; hut he
' , incxora!ilc. He was not naturally a stern or
l','ll •inn • hut from his hovhood he had lived in
[he In.lian couiitrv anion^' Indian traders, and
held lliL- life of a sav.iK^e extremely cheai). He
w.ii niiireover, a tirin heliever in the doctrine ot
iniiniiikilion.
Firnham, a clerk, a tall "(.reen Mountam
W Irom Vermont, who had heen rohhed ot a
pistdl, acted as executioner. The sijrnal was
.rivcii! and the poor i'ierced-nose, resistinf,^ struij-
L'iiiv,', an 1 screaming', in the most fri^ditul man-
nfr,''w,is laimchcd uito eternity. Tlie Indi.ms
stiiii 1 round ija/iii^^ iii silence and mute ;iwe, hut
m.vlt I"' attempt to oppose the execution, nor
tcjlitiel any einotion when it was over. They
lockel up their teelin^rs within their Ixisoms until
anopinrtunity should arrive to gratify them with
a Woo ly act of veii^'eance.
To s;iy notliinjf of the needless severity of this
' act, its impolicy was jr|arinf,'ly obvious. .Mr.
.M'i.i'nnin and three mi-ii were to return to the
pjst with the horses, tlieir loads havinj^ heen
trjnsftrred to the canoes. They would have to
|i,i5s thri)U;,di a tract of country infested hv this
trihe, who were all horsemen and hard riders, and
nii;,'ht pursue them to take veni^eance h)r the
de.iih at their comr.ide. .M'Lenn.an, however, was
.irtiolute fellow, ami m.ide light of all dangers.
He anil hi.s three men were present at the execu-
<:m, and set off as soon as life was extinct in the
victim ; hut, to use the words of one of th(dr com-
r.ide.i, " they did not let the grass grow under the
hfi'ls of their horses, as they clattin-ed out of the
I'iercfd-noie country," and were glad to find
thcnisflves in safety at the post.
.Mr. Clarke and his |).irty embarked about the
sinie lime in tlieir canoes, and early on the fol-
lo'.vuij,' (lay reached the mouth of the Wallah-Wal-
i.iii, where they found .Messrs. .Stuart and M'lveii-
zii; awaiting them ; the latter having reco\ered
p.irtot the goo Is stolen from his c.aclie. Cl.irke
inlornv.'f them of the signal punishment he had
inllicte 1 on the I'ierced-nose, evidently exiiecting
ioevciie tlieir admiration by such a hardy act of
"is'ice, performed in the very midst of the Indian
oiintry, hut was mortified at finding it strongly
C'!iiiirr 1 as inhuman, unnecessary, and likely to
prnvoKC i;o.jtilities.
The parties thus united iormed a S(]uadroii of
two boats and six canoes, with wdiich they ])er-
ijrnied their voyage in safetv down the river, and
arrived ,at Astoria on the i'2th of June, bringing
'■villi them a valuable stock of peltries.
.■\l)out ten (l.iys |)reviouslv, the brigade wdiich
M been quartered on the banks of the Wollamut,
nil arrived with numerous packs of beaver, the
f^'^ult of a few months' sojourn on that river.
T.iese were the first fruits of the enterprise, g.ith-
j-tcd by men as yet mere strangers in the land ;
ii'Ji tliey were such as to give substantial grounds
'■'' saniruin; antici|);uions of proht, when the
fJUiitryshoiiUl he more completely explored, and
tiietradi-estaolished.
CHAPTER LIV.
The partners found Mr. M'Dougal in all the
bustle of preparation ; having .ibout nine days
previously announced .it the factory, his inteiition
ot breaking i\\> the e^itablishmeiit, and fixed u|)on
the 1st ot July lor the tinieol dep.irturc. Messrs.
Stu.irt and Clarke felt 'highly disple.ised at his
taking so precipitate a ste|), without w.iiting tor
th'.'i'- concurrence, when he must have known that
their arrival could not be tar distant.
Indeed, the whole conduct ot .Mr. .M'Dougal
was such as to awaken strong' (huibts ;i:. to liis
loyal devotion to the cause. His old sympathies
with the .Northwest Company st-emed to have re-
vived. He had received M'Tavish and his p.irty
with uncalled-tor hospitality, as though they were
friends and allies, in.-,ie.id ot being a p.irty of ob-
: servation, come to reconnoitre the st.ite of affairs
j at Astoria, and to aw.iit the arriv.il ol .i hostile
j ship. Had they been left to thcmsidves, they
i wotdd have been starved off for w.int ot |inivi-
sions, or ilriven away by the Chinooks, who only
I wanted a signal from the factory to treat them as
intruders and enemies. M'Doug.il, on the con-
I trary, had supplied them from the stores ol the
I garrison, :ind h.id gained them tlu' l.ivor ol the
! Indi.ms, by tre.iting them as triends.
i lla\dng set his mind tlxedly on the project of
I breaking up the establishment at Ast(ni;i, in the
current year, M'Dougal w.is sorely disappointed
at linding that Messrs. .Stuart .and Clarke had
omitted to eom|)ly with his re(|Uest to purchase
horses and provisions for the caravan across the
mount.iins. It was now too late to make the ne-
cessary ])reparations in time for tr.iversing the
mountains before winter, and the project had
to be postponed.
In the meantime, tlu? non-arriv.il of the annual
ship, and the ap|irelu'nsions entertained ot the
loss of the Heaver, ,ind of .Mr. Hunt, had their ef-
fect upon the minds of Messrs. Stuart and Cl.arke.
j They began to listen to the des])onding represent-
I atioiis ot .M'Doug.il, seconded by .M'Keii/ie, wdio
' inveighed against their situation as des|)erate and
I forlorn ; left to shift h)r themselves, or perish upon
! a b.irbarous coast ; neglected bv those wdio sent
j them tlu:ri', and threatened with dangers of exery
! kind. In this w.iy they were brought to consent
: to the pl.an ot abandoning the country in the en-
; suing year.
I About this time, M'Tavish .ajiplied at the fac-
I tory to purch.'ise a sni.ill su|)ply id goods where-
I with to trade his way b;uk to his post on the up-
! per Waters of the Columbi.a, having waited in
vain for the arrival of the Isaac Todd. His re-
(|Uest brought on a consultation .among the part-
ners. .M'Douga.l urged that it shoidd be com-
plied with. He furthermore jiroposed, that they
should give iiji to M'T.avish, for a proper consider-
ation, the ])ost on the Spok.in, and ail its depend-
enci(!S, as they had not sullicient gooiis on liand
to supply that post themseh'es, .iiid to kee[) U|) a
competition with the Northwest Comp.iny in the
trade with the neighboring Indi.ins. 'f'his last rep-
resent. ition has since been proved incorrect, liy
inventories, it .appears th.at their sto(k in hand lor
the supply ot the interior posts, w.is superior to
ih.at of the Northwest C()ni|)any ; so th.at ifiey had
nothing to fear from competition.
Through the intluence of Messrs. M'Dougal
and M'Keii/ie, this proposition was adopted, and
was [)rom])tly acce|)ted bv M'T.avish. The mer-
chandise sold to him, amounted to eight hundred
and fifty-eight dollars, to be paid for, in the fol-
lowdng sjiring, in horses, or in any other manner
most accept.'ble to the |5artners at th.it period.
This agreement being concluded, the partners
Hi
P
11'!
Hill
ir
i':!
i
I'
I .;>)•!'
418
ASTORIA.
formrd thrir pl.in ; for the yr.ir that they would
yet liavi; ID pass in ihc touiilry. Tlu'lr olijcits
were, chiully, present subsistence, and tlie pur-
eliase of iinrsei for tlie eonteiuplated journey,
thouy;l> lliey were lil\ewise to eollect ;is nuieh
peltries .is their diininished nutans would coni-
m.ind. Ai (ordiiiKly, it w.is .irran^'ed th.it David
Stuart shiuld return to liis lornur |)ost on the
OaUina^MU, and Mr. Clarke shotdd make Ids so-
journ anuinn the l''l,ilhc.ids, John Keed, the sturdy
Hihernian, was lo tuidertake the Snake R'ver
country, .uconip miid by I'ierre Dorion and
Pierre Del.uuiay, as luuiters, .and Francis I.andry,
Jean li.iptiste 'ruridtie, Andre' I,a ChapcUe, and
(lilies le Clerc, Can.idian vovajjeurs.
Astori.i, however, was {[\t: post about which
they felt the greatest solicitude, and on which
they .all more or KviS depended. I'he mainte-
n.inceof this in s.ifety throughout the eominj^year,
was, ihereliire, thi'ir ;,r|-and consideration. .Mr.
M'Douj^al w,is lo conliiuu' in ciuumand of it, with
a party id' forty men. I'hey would have to de-
pend chielly upon the nei^rhborin),^ s.iva^es for
their subsi.-iience. I'hese, ;il present, were friend-
ly, but it \\,is to be tr;irerl th.it, when they should
(liscover the exiL,ri.||,ius of the post, and its real
weakness, they mi;rlu proceed to hostilities ; or,
at .any rate, mi},du cease to furnish their usual
supplies. It was iinporlant, therefore, to render
the place as independent as possible, of the sur-
roundin!.( ti'ibes for its sujiport ; aiul it w,is ac-
cordiuLjIy resolved lh.it M'ken/ie, with four hun-
ters, .and ei^du common men, should winter in
the abimd.int country of W'oUaiiuit, from whence
they niif;lit be enabled to furnish ;i constant sup-
ply of |)ro\isions to Astoria.
As there was too j^q-eat a pro|)orlion of clerks
(or the number of iirivates in the service, the vw-
gajiemenis of three of them, Koss Cox, Ross, ;ind
M'Lennan, were surrendered to them, and they
immedi.ilely enrolletl themselves in the service of
the N'ortluvest Company ; f^lad, no doubt, to es-
cape from wh.it they considered a sinking sliip.
I laving made all these .arrangements, the four
partners, on the llrst of July, signed a form.il
manifesto, slating the alarming state of their af-
fairs, from the non-arrival of the annual ship, am!
the absence and ;i|)pri'heiuled loss of the ISeaver,
their want of goods, their des])air of recei\'ing any
further sup|)ly, their ignor.ince of the coast, and
their dis,ip|)ointment as to the interior trade,
which they pronounced uneiiual lo llie expenses
incurred, and inciuupetenl lo stand ag.iinsl the
])owerful op]iositiou of the Northwest Comp.my.
And as by the i6th .article of the comp.my's .agree-
ment, they were authorized to abandon this under-
taking .and dissolve the concern, if before the
])eriod of t"ive years it should be found unprofita-
ble, they now formally announceil their intention
lo do so on the ist day of June, of the ensuing
year, unless in the interim they should receive the
necessary supjiort and supplies froni .Mr. Astor,
or the stockholders, with orders to continue.
This insirument, accompanied by priv.ite letters
of similar imjiort, was delivered to Mr. M'Tavish,
who departed on the 5th of July. He engageil to
forward the dispatches to Mr. Astor, by the usual
winter ex[)ress sent overland by the Northwest
Company.
The m.inifi'sto was signed with great reluctance
by Messrs. Clarke and I). Stuart, whose experi-
ence by no me.ms justified the discouraging ac-
count given in it of the internal trade, and who
considered the main difficulties of ex|)loring an
unknown and savage country, and of ascertaining
the best trndinR and Irappinp proumU, in.ic-rcji
iiurasure overcome. They were ovrrriili'tl L,,
ever, by the urgent instances ot M ' 1 )uuir!il iJ,,!
M'Ken/ie, who, h.iving resoUed upon .ilwinign,,,'
the I'nterprise, were desirous ot unking ,n sironi
,1 case as possible to excuse their conduct to Mr
Astor ami to the svurld, ' '
CHAl'TKR LV.
Willi, F. dilTiculties and disisters h.ul hocn ni!;.
ering .about the infant settlement nl .\si()ii;i p^
mind of its projector at New N'oik w,is apa-vij
great anxiety. The ship l.ark, disp.iichwl livlu;,-,
with supplies for the establishment, s.iilud lir, liv
6th of March, .'Sij. Within a fortniglu aficrw.inr
he received intelligence which jiistilicd all his.v
prehensions of hostility on the p.irt ot the lirij,!!,
The Northwest Company hail m.idf :i ^^M
memorial to th.it government, repia seiitinjr .\^.
toria as an American est.iblishiuenl, siatiiiirth^
vast scope of ilr. contemplate I oper.itidiis, m,ii;ii:.
lying the strength of its lortifualions, and cvpas-
sing their fears, th, it, iiidess criislird in the bml,
it would effect the downhill ol iheir tr.iik'.
Inlluenced by these repre.-cntalions, the liriiiih
Ciovernment ordered the Irig.ite I'lioi-he lohuilf.
tached as a convoy for the armed ship, |,;i,ic
'I'ofld, which was re.idy to sail with men and iiiu-
nilions tor forming a new establishment. Thr;
were lo proceed together lo the monih ut ihu Cj-
liimbia, capture or destroy whiitev rr .Ainuriiin
f:)i'tress they should find there, and phint ihu llir.-
ish dag on its ruins.
Informed of these movemenls, Mr. .Xstor lust
11) lime in addressing a second letter to iho .Sec-
retary of State, communicating this iiuellij^uiiif,
and rec|uesling it might lie '.aid bclore the l'it>i-
dent; .as no notice, iiowever, had liciiitakcn nt
his ])revious letter, he contented himsclt with this
simple conununication, and m.ule no further ap-
plication f(H" aid.
Awakened now to the danger that menaced tlie
establishment at Astoria, and aware of the im-
portance of protecting this foothold ot .\nierirM
commerce and empireonthe shoresol the I'aiitic,
the government determined to sead the Irij^.ite
.\danis, CapLain Crane, upon this service. On
hearing of this determination, Mr. .Asttir ininie-
di.itely proceeded to tit out a ship calleil the Kn-
terjjrise, to s.iil in com[)any with the Adams,
freighted with additional supplies and reinlura-
meats for Astoria.
About the middle of June, while in the midst oi
these preparations, Mr. Astor received a letter
from Mr. R. Stuart, dated St. Louis, May i^t,
confirming the intelligence already received
through the public newspapers, of his sate return,
and of the arrival of Mr. Hunt and his party at
Astoria, and giving the most daltering accounts
of the prosjjerity of the enterprise.
So deep had been the anxiety of Mr. Astor, tor
the success of this great object of Ids amlntina,
th.at this gleam of good news was almost over-
powering. " I felt ready," said he, '•to kill upon
my knees in a transport of gratitude."
At the same time he heard that die l)eaverli.Kl
made good her vovage from New '. ork to the Co-
lumbia. This was additional ground of hope lor
the welfare of the little colony. The post hfn.s,'
thus relieved and strengthened with an AiTiencan
•at its head, and a ship of war about lo sail tor it^
protection, the prospect for the future seemed tu..
iNSTOKIA.
41ft
nfencouMKcmpnt, and IMr. Astnr proceeded, with
fre hviL'or, to lit out his niciTli.iiit shin.
{■|,(„rtunatfly ior Astoria, this hriKht (jleam of
sjnsliiMf was soon overclouded. Juist as the
Vlinishail rfceive.! I'.er cnmi)iemeiUof men, and
J;,,.'iwii vessels were ready lor sea, news came
Irmi Commodore Chauncey, commanding; on
L-ikc (tiitarlo, that a renilorcement ol seamen
.,.,.• „ iiiird in th.it (luarler. 'I'he demand w.is
L:ikc vMii.iiiv', >■
\ni wantuil in th.it (|uarler
^p,,.nt, the crew ot the Adam
;rnsfcrrfil to that service, and lii
I'lie demand w.is
is was immechately
' "'e biiip was hiid
CII.M'ri'.R LVI.
\Vr liavo iiitlicrto liad so mucii to relate of a
;';onmy ami disastrous nature, tliat it is with a
! lini,' of nioiiieiitary ridief we turn to something'-
<■! :i mnrL- ])lcasinj,'- complexion, and record the
liw, anil indeed only nuptials in hij^h lih' that
ijok plaif ill the infant settlement of Astori.a.
M'Douifal, who a])pe,irs to have been a man of
3 th'iiisaiul |)ro]ects, and of jrreat thouj^h some-
uh.it irrej,'ular .-nnhition, sucUlenly conceived the
il.':i of scL'kiii;.; the h.and of one of the native
princtsses, a (lauj(hter of the one-eyed |)otentate
Comcoiiily, who held sway over the tishinjr tribe
of the Chinooks, and had long supplietl tlie lac-
Urywiiii smells and sturgeons.
Some accounts give rather a romantic origin to
li;is affair, tracing it to the stormy night when
M'Doiicjal, in the course of an ('xpforing exptuli-
liin, was driven by stress of we.ither' to seek
Satlti-r in the rnyal abode of C<imcondy. Then
a'l.l thc-i-j he was first struck with the ch.arms of
this piscalnry princess, as slie exerted herself t;)
entertain her father's guest.
Tile "journal of Astoria," however, which was
kept iiiidci- his own eye, records this union as a
hi;,'hst;ite alliance, and'greal stroke of policy. The
ii'-t'iry had to depend, in a great measure, on the
Chinnoks ior provisions. They were at present
l"cii(ily, hut it was to be feared they would prove
otherwise, should they discover the weakness and
'.'■.e e\i^'encies of the post, and the intention to
iiT.c the country. This alliance, therefore, would
"il.iilibly rivet Comcomly to the interests of the
Astorians, and with him the powerful tribe of the
wtnnoKS. lie this as it may, and it is hard to
iv.hmi the real iiolicv of governors and princes,
•H l)oii-al dispatched two of the clerks as ambas-
*ilii;s cxtranrdinary, to wait upon the one-eyed
'■■iie.t.nn, and make overtures for the hand of'his
ilau^'hter.
The Chinooks, though not a verv refined na-
|in, h.ive notions of matriinonial .-I'rningements
mt would not disgrace the most refined sticklers
for settlements and pin money. The suitor rev
pairs not to iluf bower of liis mistress, but to lier
father's lodge, .uid throws down a prrsent at his
feet. His wishes .ire then dis( dosed by somt! dis.
creet friend employed by him lor the juiriiose. If
the suitor and his present lind favor in the eyes of
the father, he bre.iks the matter to his d.iugliter,
.md iiupiires into tiie stale of her inclin.itions.
.Should her ;inswer be favorable, the suit is ac-
cepted, and till' lover has to make further presents
to the father, of horses, canoes, and other v.ilu.i-
bles, according to the beauty and merits ot the
bride ; loid<ing forward to a return in kind when-
ever tlu'y sli.dl go to housekeeping.
We have more than once had occ.ision to speak
of the shrewdness ot Comcomly ; but never was it
exerted more adroitly tli.in on this occ.ision. He
was ;i gre.it friend ot Al'Dougal, and pleased with
the idea of having so distinguished ,i son-in-l.uv ;
but so f,ivor;d)le ,in op|)orluiiily ot beiuditing his
own fortune W.IS not likely to occur a second time,
and he determined to ni.ike the most of it. Ac-
cordingly, the negotiation was prolr.icted with
true (lipiomatic skill. (."onfereiice .itter conler-
Jlice was litdd with the two ;imb.issadi)rs ; t,"om-
comly was extr;i\;ig.int in his terms, rating the
vliarms of his daughter at the highest |)rice, ;ind
indeed she is represented as having oiu; ot tin;
flattest and most .iristocralieal heads in the tribe.
At length the |)reliminaries were all happily .id-
justed. On the 20th of July, e.irly in tiie alter-
noon, a sepiadron ot c.inoes crossed over Ironi tha
\ill.ige of the Chinooks, bearing the royal family
of Come omly, ;ind all his court.
'I'li.it wiu-'thy s.ichem landed in ])rincely st.ite,
arr.iyed in a bright bliii' blanket and red Itreech-
(lout, with an extr.i <piantity{)t p.iint ;ind fe;itli(!rs,
attended by a train ol half-n.iked warriors and no-
bles. A horse was in waiting to recei\e the
princess, who was mounted behind one of the
clerks, and thus conveyed, coy but comidiant, to
the lortress. Here she was received with devout
though decent joy, by her expecting bridegroom.
Her brid.il adornments, it is true, at first c.iused
some little dismay, having painted and anointed
herstdf for the occasion according to the ('liinook
toilet ; by dint, however, of <-opious ablutions, she;
was freed trom all adventitious tint, and fr.igr.ince,
and entered into the nuptial stat(.', the ck'anest
|)rincess that had ever been known, of the some-
what unctuous tribe of the Chinooks.
From that time forward Comcomly was ;i daily
visitor ;il the fort, and was .admitted into the most
intimate councils of his son-in-l.iw. He took an
interest in everything that w;is going forward, but
was p.irticularly freipieiit in hisxisits to the bl.udv-
smitli's shop, tasking the labors of tlu' arliticer in
iron for every kind of weapon and implement
suited to the savage st.ite, iiisomiudi that the
necessary business of the f.ictory w.is olteii ))ost-
poned to attend to his re(|uisitions.
The houeymoon had scarce ])assed away, and
M'f)ougal was seated with his bride in the lortress
of Astoria, when, about noon of the 20th of Au-
gust, Cassaco]), the son of Comcomly, hurried into
his |)resence with great agitation, and announced
a ship at the mouth of the river. The news pro-
duced a vast sensation. W.is it .a ship ot peace
or war .' Was it .'imerican or 15ritisli .' Was it
the lieaver or the Isaac Todd .' M'Dougal hur-
ried to the w.iler-side, threw himself into a boat,
and ordered the hands to pull with all sjieed for
the mouth of the h.irbor. Those in the fort re-
mained watching the entrance of the river, anx-
ious to know whether they were to prepare for
i
■I'v'tt
ASTORIA.
I !
I'
iM
Krc(tii)(,' .1 friend or finliliiHJ •>" ini'my. At
Icii^'th il\c ship was (l(^( ritil (■nissin},^ lite har,
aiwl liiMulinK luT coiirsL- toward Astoria. ICvcry
(;a/e w.is tixcd upon her in silent scrutiny, untd
the yXnicrican llan; was rccoj^ni/ed. A L'cncral
shout was the lir ,t cvprcssioii ot joy, ancrnext a
sahitation was ihundind Irom the cannon of the
iort.
The \('ssel canie to anclior on the opposite side
of the river, and returned the salute. 1 he boat ol
Mr. M'Dou^mI went on hoard, .md w.is seen re-
lurninjr Lite in the .iltenioon, 'l"lie Astorians
w.Uched her with siraininj; eyes, to discover who
were on ho.ird, but the sun went down, .and the
eveninj,' closed in, heiore she was sul'ticieiilly
nc.ir. At len^fth she re.iched tile land, and Mr.
Hunt stepped on siiore. He w.is ii.iiled ;is one
risen Irom tin; de.id, and his return w.is .i si;^Ni,il
for nierrinient almost e(pial to th.il which prevail-
ed ;it till' nuptials of M'I)oi1},m1.
We must now explain the cause of this f^eiUle-
ni.in's lon|^^ absence, which had i^iven rise to such
j^loomy and dispiriting surmises.
CH A I'TI'.R I.VII.
If will be recollected that the destination of
the Heaver, when she s.iiled Irom Astori.'i oil the
4th ot August in 1S12, was to proceed mn'tliward-
ly .ilcmijlhe coast to Slu'etk.i, or New Arch.uigel,
there to dispose of that p.irt of her cargo intend-
ed for the supply of the Russian establishment at
that pl.ice, ;ind then to return to Aslori.i, where
it was I'xpected she would ;inive in October.
New .Archangel is silu.iled in Norfolk .Sound,
l.it. 57' 2' N., long. 135 50' W. It was the he.ad-
(|Uarteis nl tlu' different colonii'S of the Russian
l''ur Company, ;uid the commun reiide/vous ol the
American \'essels trading along the coast.
The IleaviM' met with nothing worth}' ol |),irlic-
ular mention in her voy.ige, ;ind arrived at New
Arch.mgcd on tin; 19th of .August. The ])l.ice at
th.U lime w;is the residence of Count li.ir.mhoff,
the go\'ernor of the dilfereiU colonies, ;i rough,
rugged, hospitable, hard-drinking old Russian ;
somewh.it of :i soldier, somewhat of a trader ;
above all, a boon comp.inion of the old rovsiering
school, with a strong cross of the bear.
.Mr. Hunt f(3und this hyperborean veteran en-
sconced in :i tort which crested the whole ot a
high rocky ])romont()r\-. It mounted one hundred
guns. Large and small, and was impregn.ible to
lndi,-in .attack, unaided by artillery. Ilerc; the
old governor lorded it over sixty Russians who
fm-nied tile corps of the trading est.iblishment,
besides an indetmite number of Indian hunters of
the Kodi.ik tribe, who were continually coming
and going, or lounging and loitering about the
fort like so m.any hounds round a sportsman's
Innuing ([U.arters. Though a loose liver among
his guests, the governor was ;i strict disciplinarian
among his men, keeping them in |ierfect subjec-
tion, .and having seven on guard night .and d.ay.
ISesides those iminedi.ite serfs ami dependents
just mentioned, the old Russian ])oteiUate exerted
a consider.ible sway over a numerous and irregu-
lar class of ni.aritime tr.aders, who looked to him
for aid .and munitions, .and through whom he mav
be said to h.ave, in some degree, extended his
jiower along the whole northwest coast. These
were .American captains of vessels engaged in a
particul.ir department of trade. One of tliese caji-
tains would come, in a manner, empty-handed to
New Arcli.mge'
Here
ew Arcii.ingei. Mere nis ^hlp wmilil i„. ,
nished with about lilty canoes anil ;i liiniclnii i;''
diak hunters, ,uul lilted out with provisim,, ,i
everything necess.iry lor hunting the Mii.,,),;., j',!
the coast ol (.'.ililorni.i, where the kiis.si.nis hw"
another establishment. The ship wmild ply .ijor!
the C.dilornian (oast from pLu (• to nliux- df,,''
ping parlies of otter hunters in their cmui'.s t^t'
nishing them only with water, and lca\uij; li.,,.;^,*
to di'pend upon their own dexterity lur ,1 i,,aj|,,.
naiici.'. When ,a siiriicieiit cargo' was riillcn'..'
she would gather up her ( aiioes and liiiiittrs, ,ii)il'
return with them to /Xn h.ingel, wlicie ihc'uii.
tain would render in the returns ol his vuv.i'/r
.and reci'ive one h.ill of the skins lor his sh.iri..
Over these laiastingcipt.ains, jiswc h;i\i' liiiiinl,
the veteran governor exerted some sort of s\\,v
but it W.IS ot ;i pt.'culiar and char.ictcristir kiiii'
it was the tyranny of the t.able. Tlic\ wi ri: ulilimj
to join him in his " prosnics" (jr canjiLs.ils, ,i!i,|
to drink " potations pottlt! deep." His c-irmisalu
loo, were not of llu' most (piiet kiiiil, iior «crt
his potations ;is mild as nta'lar. "Ileiscurtin.
ually," s.nd .Mr. Hunt, "giving entcn,i;r,niur,i
by way of par.ade, and if ymi do not diiiiK r.iv.
rum, and boiling punch as strong ;is siiiphiir, b;
will insult \du .as soon as he gets driiiik, which :;
very shortly alter sitting down to tahle,"
As to any " teniiierance captain" whn bton'i
fast to his Liith, .iikI refused to give ii|) his snhn.
ety, he might go elsi'where Uir a market, I'lrh?
stood no chance with the gnvenuir. K,iit!v.
however, did any cold-w;iter caililf el iju,' ki:/,
darken the door of old Il.ir.inliolf ; the coasii!-,.;
captains knew too well his humor and their nui;
interests ; they joined in his revels, thiy dr,ir,k,
and sang, and wlToo|)ed, and hicciipcd, liiiiil iht,'
all got " h.alf seas over," and then affairs wi-iUrri
swimmingly.
An awltil warning to all " llincliers" occurrtii
shortly behjre Mr. Hunt's arrival. .A y(iiiH){ iiavii
ollicer had rei-eiilly been sent out by the c-ir.perT
to t.ake comm.and of one of the com|).mv's vcssiis.
The governor, as usual, had him ,it Ids "pros-
nics," and plied him with liery potations. Thu
young m.an stood on the defensive emil i!i(;(V,
count's ire was completely kindled ; lie canin:
his point, and made tlie greenhorn ti|isy, u Ly
nilly.'*, In proportion as they grew liKldlwl ili.'
grew t'oisy, they (juarrelled in their iiips;;t.;
young:-,ter jiaid old ISananhoff in his owiuuiniy
r.aling him soundly; in reward for whirh, uix:.
sober, he was taken the rounds ol Iniir pi(ki.:\
and received seventy-nine laslies, talcd o'Jtu;..
Russian punctuality of punishment.
.Such w.is the old gri/i'led bi.r, widi whnm Mr.
Hunt h.ad to do his business. How he ni,iiia;;':i!
to cope with his humor ; whether he iilcdgtii
himself in raw rum and bla/ing punch, anJ
"clinked the can" with him as they mndetheir
b.argains, does not apjiear upon record ; we mils;
infer, howeve.', from his gener.il observations en
the absolute sway ot this hard-drinking piUcntaie.
that he had to conform to the cnstuiiis nf l'.:5
court, and that their business tr.uisac lions pre-
sented ;i maudlin mixture of punc:li .ami p'cltry.
The greatest annoy.ance to Mr. Hunt, huwcvcr,
was the del.ay to wdiich he w.is suhieclcii imhs-
posing of the cargo of the ship and getting' the re-
(piisile returns. With all the govi'riun-'s di votu";
to the bottle, he never obfuscated his tacu.'.."
sutricientlyto lose sight of his interest, and is rt!>
resented by Mr. Iliint .as keen, not to say cr.i,;;.^
at a bargain as the most arrant w.iter (Innker. -A
long timti was expended negotiaiing uith .iin,
ASTORIA.
491
, ^. ,|,f time tho hnrRnin wns rnncliidpd, the
' ',i,ji „t OrlolHT li.iil .irrivrd. 'I'd ;i(|i| tf) the di'-
i,v'|ic\\astolic|).ud tor his <;irKo in sral skins.
\iw it Ml li.ipi"'"^''' '''■'" ''"■''' ^^'"'^ '"""' "* '''"*
1,,,I,| (if peltry .It till' lort ot old ll,ir.inli(p|f. It was
li^lil (II |ii:ui > . , , , 1
*arv, tlu;rtforc, icr Mr. Hunt to iirncfcd la a
.mli'ii'K' i'->til''isiinuiit, wliiili llif Kussiaii
,\l the iilami lit .St. I'.iill 111 tilf SIM ol
ni,ilutk.i. llf acdiidinjrly set sail on the 4tli
„, (Vtolitr, alti'i' li.ivin^; s|)fiit torty-tivc days at
SViV,\riii,iiit;i'l. lioo-,iiiK ;iiid h.-ii-Kaiiiinj; with its
riivsic'rini,' Cdiniii. uhUt, ,ind ri^;lu K'Lid was h« to
csiMpclruin tliL' tlut(hfs ot tills "old man of tin-
c>c,ipc li'uin
"' Ihc lieiiver arrived at St. I'aiil's on the .31st of
liy whiih timi', a^■^ordin^,r to arr.iiij;i-
liavL' hi'fii liai k at Aston, 1.
Tlic i>l.iii'l
(;iiu(li! 170 or 171
n'.fiit, lu- (Uinht to
id (it St. I'aul s IS in l.itiludc 57 N., lon-
, .,. W. Its siiori'S in icrtain
anil .'It rcrtain stt.isons, are covcri-d with
id\ while iitluTs arc playin>( aliotit in the w.itcr.
(i| thisf, till- Ktissians t.iku only iht; sin.iil niu s,
iriin M'Vfii to till months old, and cari'tiilly sc-
Icdihi' m.ilt's, ^(ivinK the fi-malcs their freedom,
i!;.it ihc lirccil m.iy not l)e diminished. 'I'lie
i,UmliTs, however,' kill the larf;e ones lor nro
vi.j.iib, and fur skins wherewith to eover tlieir
ciiim^'i. 'I'lieyilrive them from the shore over the
piclii, until within ;i short distance of their li.ihi-
• ;!i,)!is, where they kill them. liy this means
'M ''.ive themselves the trouble of earryin),^ the
>k;iii, and have the llesh .it hand. 'I'his is thrown
i:i helps, anil when the season lor skinning,' is
i,vi-r, tliey lake out the entrails and m.ike one
i.cijii'f llie hhihher. This with drilt-wond serves
|ir I'uil. fiirllu; island is entirely desiitiite of trees.
Ti'ifv make aiiiilher heap of the flesh, whieh, with
i:/jc';',;siitse:i-ti)wls, |)reserved in oil, .in nee.isional
iti-ii'M, a tew duiks in winter, and some wild
nut'. i.nm|i(jse their food.
Mr. Hunt fdiiiid seven Russians ;it the island,
,r,|iinc luinilreil hunters, natives of ()onalaska,
,;!!i ilu-ir taniilies. They lived in eahins that
hiikid like eanoes ; bein^r, for the most part,
(jrnu'.l 111 the jaw-bone of a whale, put up as rall-
irs, .KTiiss whieh were l.iid pieees of drift-wood
ciuri-il over with lonj,' ^;rass, tlie skins of lar).(e sea
:.:iim,.l.s, and earth, so ;is to be ([uite eomfort-
aiilc, in despite of the rij^ors ot the elimale ; tli(iuj,di
uc.irc liild they had ;is aneieiu ;inil lish-like .111
cilur, "as had the (juarters of Jon.ili, when he
i.'i!,;iil within the whale."
ill line (it these iidoriferous m.ansions Mr. Hunt
'.' iMiinnally lonk up his abodi:, that he mi,L,du be
a ii-iml ti) h.isten the loading- of the shi|). The
'jpcniiiun, Iviwever, was somewh.'it slow, for it
wiis niTess.'iry to overhaul .-ind iiispeit everv paek
lJ|iri-vent ini|i()silioi\, and the peltries h.id then to
iii'Oihveyed in lap^^e boats, made of skins, to the
ship, whirh was some little distance from the
si'irc, standin,^,' off and on.
"''-■ni;4lu, while .Mr. Hunt was on shore, with
^wi'jdihers iil iheerew, there rose a terrible i^-.ile.
\\iOT the day broke the ship was not to be seen.
Hew, itched tor her with .anxious ey ■• mitil niijht,
"■■tinvain, l);iy ;ifier day ol boisleious storms
:':i'l liiiwlini,^ wintry weather were passed in
^v.ilchlulness and solicitude. Xothinif was to be
■"■-•n h'Jt a d,irk and anjjry se;i, .'ind a scowling
r.'rilifrn sky ; and at night he retired within the
.'■•5 of the whale, and nestled ilisconsolately
•^""'ns; seal skins.
Atlen',rth, on the ijlh ot November, tlie ISeaver
:ii.ii,L- her appearance, much the worse for the
stormy conflicts she had sustained in those hvper-
hnri'an sp.ns. Shr hnrl been obliprd to r.nrry a
press of sail in heavy ^JaU•s, to be ,ible to hold
her ground, .ind had conseijuently siist. lined gre.it
dam.ige in her canvas .iiul rigging, .Mr. llimt
lost no timi' in luirrving the residue of the c.irgo
on bo.ird of her ; then, iiid ling adieu to liis se.il-
lishiiig Irieiids ,ind his wh.iUlione h.ibit.ition, he
put forth oiu'e more to sea.
He w.is now for m. iking the best of his \\,iy (o
Astoria, and lortun.ite would it have been lor the
interests ot tli.it place, ,ind the interests ot .Mr.
Astor, h,i(l he done so ; liut, uiiliii kily , .1 per|)li'x-
mg ipiestioii rose in his mind. The s.iils iiiul rig-
ging of the Heaver had been much rent and sluit-
tered in the kite storm ; would she lie able to
sl.ind the h.ird g.iles to be expected in making
ColumliM Ki\i'r at this scisoii ? W'.is it prudent,
also, at this boisterous time ot the ye,u', to risk the
valuable cargo which she now h.id on bo.ird, by
crossin|,r iind recrossing the dangerous li.ir ol that
river ? 'I'hese <loubts wen- prob.ibly suggested
or enforced by Captain Sowle, who, it has alreaily
been seen, was an over-cautious, or rather a
timid seam.in, and they may ha\e h.id some
weight with Mr. Hunt; but there were other
lonsider.itions which more strongly sw.iyed his
mind. The lateness ot tin- season, and the un-
foreseen delays the shi|) had encountiTcd at New
.Archangel, and by being obliged to proceed to
St. Paul's, had put her so much bai k in her cal-
culated time, til, It there was a risk ot her .irriving
so late .It Canton as to come to a bad market,
both for the sale of her ptdtries and the purchase
of .1 return cargo. He considered it to the inter-
est of the com|)any, therefore, that he stioukl pro-
ceed at onci' to the Sandwii li Isl.mds ; there wait
the arrival of the annu.il \essel from New N'ork,
taki: passage in her to Astoria, and suffer the
Heaver to continue on to Canton.
On the other h,uid, he was urged to the other
course by his eiig,igements ; by the plan of the
voyagt; m.irked out for the lieaver, by Sir. .Astor ;
by his inclination .ind the possibiliiv l!i,it the es-
iiid by the
.- ^ , .>e a large
.imount of peltries collected at Astoria, and wail-
ing for the return ot the lii'axer to coiuey them to
market.
These conflicting (piestions jierplexed and agi-
t.ited his mind, ;ind g,ive rise to much anxious re-
lleclion, for he was ;i conscientious man, that
seems ever to have aimed at a faithful disch.irge
of his duties, and to li,ivi' had the inti'ri'sts of liis
emiiloyers earnestly ;it heart. His decision m the
present instance \sas injudicious, and proved un-
iortunale. It u.is, to bear .iway for the Sandwich
Islands. He jiersuaded himsell tli.it it was ;i
malti . of necessity, and tli.il the distressed condi--
lion of llu' ship left him no other .iltenialive ; but
we r.ither su.-ipeci he \\, is so persuaded by the re])-
reseiilaiions ot the timid cipiain. They accord-
ingly stood lor the Sanilwich Islands, arrived ;it
Wo.ihoo, where the ship underwent tin- necessary
repairs, and ag.iin put to sea on the 1st ot Janu-
ary, 1S13, leaving Mr. Hunt on llie island.
\Vc will lollow the I'leaver to Cintoii, as her
fortunes, in some measure, exemijlif'ied the evil of
comm.inders of ships acting contrary to orders,
and as they form .1 part of the tissue of cross-pur-
poses that marred the gre.it commercial enterprise
we have undertaken to record.
The lieaver arrived safe at Canton, wliere
Captain Sowle found the letter of Mr. Astor, giv-
ing him inform.ition of the war, and directing him
to convey the intelligence to Astoria, He wrote a
t.iblishmeiit might need his present i-, and by the
recollection that there must already be a largi
425
ASTORIA.
''.' ■'.'
II 4
:-;ul
|) l:\
I N,;
' !iJ
K: :ni'^
reply, dictated either by timiditvor olistinary, in
wliicli hu di'cliiiL'd complyiiij^ with the orders of
Mr. Astor, hut .said he would wait for tiie return
of peace, and then come home. The other pro-
ceedinj^s of Captain Sowie were ec|ually wronij-
I'.eadcd and unluci<y. lie was oftcreti one iiun-
drrd and tifty thousaml dollars for the fur he had
taken on hoard at St. I'aul's. The jjoods tor
which it had been procured cost but twenty livt;
th'jusand dollars in New York. Had he accejjted
this offer, and reinvested the 'mount in nankeens,
which at th it time, '- <-on:,e([Uence of the inter-
ruption to commerce by the war, were at two
thirds of their usual price, the whole would have
brought three hundred thousand dollars in New
York. It is true, the wa"- would have render-
ed it unsafe to attempt the homeward voyage, but
lie might have out the goods in store at Cniton,
until after the ;ve;ice, and have sailed without risk
of capture to Astoria ; bringing to the partners .it
that place tidings of the great profits realized on
the outward cargo, and the still greater to be ex-
pected from the returns. The news of such a
brilli.'.iit commencement to their undertaking
would have counterbalanced the gluomy tidings
of the ',1,-ar ; it wouUl have infused new spirit into
them all, and given them courage and constancy
to persevere in the enterprise. Captain .Sowle,
however, refu.:i'd the offer of one iiundred and
fifty thousand dollars, and stood wavering and
chaffering for higher terms. The furs beg.in to
fall in value ; this only increasc'd his irresolution ;
they sunk so much that he feared to sell ;U all ; he
borrowed money on Mr. Astor's .iccount at ;.n
interest of eighteen p'.-r cent, and laid U|) his .ship
to await the return of ]ieace.
In the meanwhik! Mr. Hunt soon saw reason
to repent the resolution he had adopted in .alter-
ing the destination of the ship. His stay at the
Sandwirh Islands was ])rolonged far beyond all
expectation. He looked in vain for the annual
ship in the spring. .Month after month passed
by, and still she did not make her a])i)earance.
He, too, i)roved the dinger of tiep.irting from or-
ders. Had he returned from .St. Paul's to .Astoria,
all the anxiety and despondency about his fate,
and about the whole course of the underl.iking,
would ha\-e been obviated. Tlie ]iea\er would
lia\e received the furs collected at the f.ictory,
and taken them to Canton, and great gains, in-
stead of gre.-K losses, would have been the result.
The greatest blunder, however, was that commit-
ted by C.iiit.iin Sowle.
At length, ;ibo..l the 20th of June, the shi|) .Al-
batross, Captain Smith, arrived from China, and
lirought the tirst tidings of the war to the S.ind-
wich Is'ands. Mr. Hunt w,is no longer m doubt
and perjilexity as to the reason of the noii-.ippjar-
ance of the annu.il shi|). His tirst thoughts w.Te
tor the welfare of Astoria, ,\nd, concluding diat
the inh.ibitants would probably be in want of pro-
\isions, he chartered tht; Albatross tor two '.hou-
sand dollars, to land him, with some supjjlies, at
the mouth of the Columbia, where he .arrixc 1, as
we !iave seen, on the 20th of August, after a
y^'ar's seafaring that might have furnished a chap-
ter in the wanderings of Sinhad.
CHAI'TKR I.VIII.
Mr. Ht'NT was overwhelmed with surprise
when he learnt the resolution t.iken by the part-
ners to .abandon Astoria. He soon found, how-
ever, that matters had gone too far, :ind the
minds of his colleagues had become ton firn,.
bent upon the measure, to render ;iny oniK,,,,;
otav.iil. He was beset, too, with the sjuiuMr"
l)araging accounts of the interi(,r tradf ;,ni| ?!
the whole concerns and jirospccts of tlic m)Mr2
that li.id been rendered tw .Mr. .Astor. 1|; ;
exiienence had been full of lierplexilii's and (i:'
cour.igements. He had a conscientious an\i''.
tor the interests of Mr. Astor, and, not comir
hending the extended views of that <'tiiii J '
and his habit of operating with grer.t anmu'ius T-
had from the tirst been daunted hy the eiinr^r
expenses re( pi i red, and had become (lishc.rici.rf
by the subse(|ueiU losses sustained, ■.vhirh j„'
peared to him to be ruinous in their m.i'r.iituiv
liy degrees, therefore, he was hrouj^ht"" to ,io
{[uiesce in the step taken by l-.ls colle.^i'uus ni
perhaps .advisal)le in the exigencies of tli't case-
his only care was to wind up the business witiiai
little further loss as ])()ssible to .Mr. Astor.
.A large stock of valuable furs was colleciej.v
the f.ictory, which it was necessary to ijct tj'j
market. There were twenty - five Samlwun
Islanders, also, in the employ' of the cniii|i,i:iv
whom they were bound by exjiress agreciikinii
restore to their native country. T'or tliL-sc imr.
|)oses a ship was necessarv.
The .Albatross was bound to the M.-inuiis;i;,
and thence to the Sandwich Islands. Itwiisrc-
solved that Mr. Hunt should sail in her in iniHt
of a vessel, and should return, if possihlc, hvij;,;
1st oi J.inuary, bringing with him a siip|)ly (ji'pro.
visions. .Should anything occur, howevur, ly|,re-
vent his return, an .arrangement was to he iro-
posed to Mr. M'Tavish, to transfer such nt ii;-;
men ;is were so disposed, froin the serviix njiiie
.American Fur Company into that of the Xnrtli-
west, the latter bei-oniing res])onsil/lL' lor ilit
wages due them, on receiving an e(|uivak'm i:i
goods from the storehouse of the fnclorv. .\sa
means of f.icilitating the dis|iatch of husin^M, Mr.
M'Doug.il ])roposed, that in case .Mr. Hunt shniilj
not return, the whole arrangement with .\Ir.
-M'Tavish should be left sok-ly to him. Tiis
was .assented to, the contingency being con i.iiMtJ
possible, but not ])rob,'ible.
It is proper to note, that on the hrst announce-
inent by Mr. .M'Dougal of his intention to lirwi;
up the establishment, three of the clerks, liriti>h
subjects, had, with his consent, passed iiilu iIy
service of the .\ortlnvest Company, and dunaricil
with Mr. M'T;i\-isb for liis post in the iiUeiinr.
Having arr.anged all these m.itlus (hirini; a sn-
journ of six days , it .\stiiii.i, ?>!r. Hunt set sail in
the .'\ll)atross on the 26''o of .Aiigira, :ind arrivcJ
v.ithout accident at the .Mar(|Ueias ll-nadii'l
bee" there long when Porter arrivril in llic triif.r.e
r'.ssex, bringing in a number ol sioi;t Liindna
wh.iiers as jiri/es, ha\-ing m.ide a swe< pins,' (tuisi;
in the I'.icitic. I-"rom Commodore I 'oritr he re-
ceived the al.irming iiutdligence th.it the llrili^li
frig.ite I'ha'be, with a storeship, 'noumtd with
i)attering |)ieces, calculated to atl.ick tons, h;.il
arrived at Kio J.aneiro, where sh:' Icul been joiiifd
by the sloo|)s of war Chenii) and R.ioion. ami
that thev had all sailed in company on the dlh ol
Inly for'the I'acitic, bound, as it was supposed, li'
Columbia River.
VIere, tlien, wi'.s th.e denth-warrant of unfortu-
nate .\st M-i.i : 'l'!-,e anxious mind of Mr. Hu:it
was in gre.iter |)erplexitv than ever, lie had h\-\
eager to extricate the iiroperty of Mr. Astor Inmi
a tailing concern with as little loss as pn-silili' :
there w.is now danger that the whole would 1''
swallowed ui). How was it to be sn.itchud trciii
ASTORIA.
i2i
fy - livf Saiiilw!cn
. m]{ ' It was impossible to charter a ship for
'^^ilurpose, now that a Hritisli sfiuaclron was on
'■ulav to the river. He ajiplied to |)urcliase one
j ,1,'e wii:ile-ships l)ri)U.L;ht in by Commodore
1 tcr Tiie coinniodore dcmancled tvsx'nty-tivc
Eland dollars tor her. Tlie price apiic.irJd i-x-
;,,,j,„it and no !iarj,r;iin could be made. Mr.
Hunii-ieii uri,a'(l ilie commodore to tit out one of
Hnri«s anil send her to Astoria to brinp off the
iroi'icrtv and i)art of the people, i)Ut he declined,
'■Ironi want of au'.hority." He assured Mr.
Huni however, that he would endeavor to fall
inwiih the enemy, or, slunild he hear of their hav-
n^' fiTtainly jfone to the Columbia, he would
iincr tiilhnv or anticipate theni, shoukl his cir-
Ustaiues warrant such a step.
In this lanializin;,^ sta'e of suspense, Mr. Hunt
ws detained at the Marcpiesas until November
I'll when he proceeded in the Albatross to 'he
M:i(l\viih Islands. He still cherished a faint hope
lh,U, iidtwithstandinjr the war, and all other dis-
purairiiiir circumstances, the annual ship mi,;,'-ht
be heen sent by Mr. Astor, and mijrbt h.ive
louchi'd at the islands, and proceeded to the Co-
i'jmbia. He knew the pride and interest taken
!h- that gentleman in his }^reat enterprise, and
i^nt he would not be deterred bv dangers and
ililliculiies from prosecutinjf it ; much less would
he leave the infant establishment without succor
M(! support in the tinve of trouble. In tids, we
l.Ave seen, he did but justice to Mr. Astor ; and
■.veinust now turn to notice the cause of the non-
..rrii.il of the vessel which he had dispatched
w'.h reintorcements and sui)])lies. Her voyaj^e
^rms another chapter of accidents in this event-
la. -lory.
The Lark sailed from New York on the 6th of
March, iSij, and proceeded prosperously on her
vinai;c. until within a few dej^rees of the Sand-
wich Islands. Here a g:\le s])ranjj u|) th.it soon
iiiewwith tremendous violence. The Lark was a
staunch and noble ship, and for a time buffeted
hravclv with the storm. Unluckily, however,
she " iiroached to," tind was struck by a betivy
sea, th.it hove her on her beam-ends. The helm,
I'M, \v,is knocked to leeward, all commtmd of the
\cssel was lost, and another n'lounl.iin wave com-
]U'tcly overset her. Orders were .t;;iven to cut
away the masts. In the hurry and confusion the
Iwati were alsn unfortunately cut adrift. 'I'he
wreck then ri(,dited, but was a mere hulk, full of
wiier, with a he.ivy sea washinjf over it, and all
the hatches off. On musterinij the crew, one
man was missMifr, who was discovered below in
the tiirecastle, drown jd.
hi cuitin;r away tlie masts it had been utterly
iiiipossihle 10 observe the necess.'iry jirecaution of
commencinj^ with the lee rif,rjrjnjr, that being, from
the position of the slii|), completely under water.
The m ists and spars, therefore, being linked to
the wreck hy the shrouds and rigging, remained
alongside tor lour davs. During all this time the
sh'phiy rolling in the trough of the sea, the heavy
sjri;es breaking over her, and the sp.ars lie.iving
aa ;nuiv.,rii'g to and Iro, iiruising the half-drowned
sailnrs tliat clung to the bowsprit and the stumps
''the masts. The sufferings of these poor tel-
'■« were int(ileral)le. Thev stood to their waists
in water, in imminent peril of being w.ished off b\
eieryMir;.;e. In this |)osuioii thev dared not sleep',
i«t they_ should let go their hold and be swept
way. I"he only dry place i.u the wreck was the
w^prit. Ilere'tliey took turns to be tied on, for
nail an hour at a ume, and in thi^ way gained
snort snatches of sleep.
On the 14th the first mate died at his po'-t, and
was swept off by the surges. On the I7tb two
seamen, taint and exhausted, were washed over-
t)oard. The next wave threw their bodies back
upon the deck, where they remained, swashing
backward and forward, ghastly objects to the al-
most i)erish' g survivors. Mr. Ogden, the super-
cargo, who V as at the bowsjirit, called to the men
nearest to the bodies to fasten them to the wreck,
as a last borrit)le resource in case of being driven
to extremity by famine 1
On the 17th the gale gradually subsided, and
the sea became calm. The sailors now crawled
feebly about the wreck, and began to relieve it
from the main incumbrances. The sjjars were
cleared away, the anchors and guns heaved over-
board ; the spritsail yard w.is rigged tor a jury-
j mast, and a mi/.zen-topsail sc t upon it. A sort of
stage was made of a few broken sp.irs, on whicli
the crew were raised above tlie surface of the
water, so as to be enabh'd to keep themsehes dry
and to sleep comfortably. Still their sufferings
from hunger .and 'hirst were great ; but there was
a .Sandwich Islander on bo.ird, an expert swim-
mer, who found his way into tlie cabin and occa-
sionally brought U]) a few bottles of wine and
porter, and at length got into the run, ,ind secured
a (|uarter cask of wine. A little raw ])ork was
likewise jirocured, and dealt out with a sparing
hand. The horrors of their situation were in-
creased by the sight of numerous sh.arks prowling
about the wreck, as if w.iiting for their Jirey. On
the 24th th" cook a bl.ick man, died, and was
cast into the sea, when he was instantly seized on
by these ravenous monsters.
They had been several days making slow head-
way under their scanty sail, when, on the 25ih,
they c.uiie in sight of land. It was about tifteen
leagues distant, and they remained two or three
days drifting .along in siglit of it. On the 28tli
they descried, to their great trans|)ort, a canoe ap-
proaching, nian.iged by n.itives. They came
alongside, and brought a most welcome' su])|)ly of
pot.itoes. 'I'liey informed them th.it the land they
had made was one of the Sandwich Isl.mds. The
second niate and one of the seamen went on
shore in the canoe tor water ;ind provisions, and
to procure aid from the isl.mders, in towing the
wreck into a harbor.
Neither of the men returned, nor was any assist-
ance sent from shore. The next day, ten or twelve
canoes came alongside, but roamed roinul the
wreck like so many sharks, and would render no
aid in towing her to land.
The sea continued to break over the vessel
with such violence that it w.is impossible to
stand at the helm without the assist.ince of
lashings. The crew were now so worn down
by famine and thirst tb.it the c.iptain s.iw
it would be imi)ossible tor them to with-
st.iiiil the bre.ikirig of tlie se.i, whc:. the ship
should ground ; be di enied tlu; only ib.ince for
their lives, therefore, was to get to lanil in tlie
canoes, and stand ready to receive and protect
I the wreck when she should drift to shore. Ac-
I cordinglv, they all got s.ile to land, but h.id
j sea reel V touched the beacli when they were sur-
! rounded l)\' the natives, who stripped them almost
i naked. The ii.inK- ol this inhospitable island w.is
Tahoorow.i,
In the course of the night the wreck came drift-
ing to the str.ind, with the surf thundering arouiiil
her, and shortlv afterward bilged. On the follow-
ing morning numerous casks of ]irovisions lioate'l
Oil shore. The natives sta\ed them for the sak-j
4S4
ASTORIA.
'Mi
I I'
I*'' ■■
'mki ii |:''
'i 1
tiMi ii'j
of the iron lioops, but would not allow the crew
to help themselves to the contents, or to jjo on
board of the wreck.
As the crew were in want of everythin};, and
as it nii^dit he a ionjr time before any ()])])ortunity
occurred tor them to jfet away Irom tiiese islands,
Mr. <)};(len, as soon as he coukl ^et a chance,
made his w.iy to the island o( Owyhee, and en-
deavored to make some arraiif^ement with the
kiiifjf tor die relief of his companions in misfor-
tune.
The illustrious Tamaahmaah, as we have shown
on a former occasion, was a shrewd bargainer,
and in the present instance jiroved himself an
experienced wrecker. His nej;otiations with
iM'Doufral and the other " Kris of the j^reat Amer-
ican l'"ur Company" had but little eftect on pres-
ent circumstances, and he procee^led to avail
himself of their misfortunes. He r.jrreed to fur-
nish the crew with provisions durinjr their stay in
his tei*rit()ries, and to return to tiiem all their
clothinij that could be found, but he stipulated
that the wreck should be abandoned to him as a
waif cast by fortune on his shores. With these
conditions Mr. Ogilen was fain to comjily. Upon
this the jjreat Tamaahmaah deputed his favorite,
John Young', the tarpawlin governor of Oywhee,
to proceed with a number of the royal guards, and
take possession of the wreck on behalf of the
crown. This was done accordingly, and the
property and crew were removed to Owyhee.
The royal bounty ajipears to have been but scanty
in its dispensations. The crew tared but meagre-
ly ; though on reading the journal of the vovage
it is singular to tlnd them, after all the hardsliips
they had suffered, so sensitive about petty incon-
veniences as to exclaim against the king as a
"savage monster," for retusing them a " ]K)t to
cook in," and denying Mr. Ogden the use of a
knife and fork which had been saved from the
wreck.
Such was the unfortunate catastrophe of the
Lark ; had she reached her destination in safety,
affairs at Astoria might have taken a different
course. A strange fatality seems to have attend-
ed all the expeditions by sea, nor were those by
land much less dis.istrous.
Cajjtain Northrop w.is still at the Sandwich
Islands, on December 20th, when Mr. Hunt ar-
rived. The latter immexliately ])urchas(Hl tor ten
thousand dollars a brig called the I'edler, and j
put Captain N'orthro]) in command of her. They I
set sail for Astoria on the 22d of January, intend-
ing to remove the property from thence as s|)eed-
ily as possible to the Russian settlements on the
northwest coast, to prevent it from tailing into the
hands of the liritish. Such were the orders of
iilr. Astor, sent out by the Lark.
We will now leave Mr. Hunt on his voyage,
and rt:turn to see what has taken place at Astoria
during his absence.
:itl
CHAl'TKR LIX.
O.v the 2(1 of ( )ctober, about live weeks after Mr.
Hunt IkuI sailed in the Albatross from Astoria,
Mr. M'Ken/.ie set off, with two canoes and twelve
men, for the posts of Messrs. Stuart and Clarke,
to apprise them of the new arrangements deter-
mined U|)on in the recent conference of the ])art-
ners at the tactorv.
He had not ascended the river a hundred miles,
when he met a squadron of ten canoes, sweeping
merrily down under British colors, the Canal-
oarsmen, as usual, in full song, ' '"
It was an armament fitted out hyM'X,,.
who had with him Mr. J. Stuart, another |,an'l
of the Northwest Company, togetliLT with "
clerks and sixty-eight men— si.'Vciuy-liv(; *,'"'
in all. They had heard of the trigati: Phai,..'"!'
the Isaac Todd being on the higli st-as. ;in.| V--
on their way down to await their arrival. In ( '
of the canoes Mr. Clarke canm passunir,r i-
alarming intelligence having brought him , if,,;"
from his post on the Sjiokan. .Mr. .M'Kci,/ -
mediately determined to return with him ;» i"
toria, and, veering about, the two paruVe-
camped together tor the night. The leadirs "'•
course, observed a due decorum, but snme i'
the subalterns could not restrain thuir thutkir :
exultation, boasting that they would sonii plant
the Lritish standard on the w.ills of .Astoria ir ^
drive the .Americans out ot the countrv.
In the course of the evening Mr. .M'Ktn?it.'i-'
a secret conference with .Mr. Clarke, inwhiduiK
agreeil to set off ])ri\-ately, hi-tore <laylii;iii, ;,r;'i
get down in lime to a]iprise M'Doii^rai uhhca''.
|)roach of these Northwesters. The- latter, hv-
e\'er, were com|)letely on the alert; just a,
M'Kenzie's canoes were about to |)ush ntf, liw
were joined by a couple from the .Noniiwc-:
sciuadron, in which was M'Ta\ish with twodir:,
and eleven men. With these he intended tn luha
forward and make arrangements, leavin;,' the rt,:
ot the convoy, in which was a large quaiUiiv .c
furs, to await his orders.
The two parties arrived at Astoria nn the 7;!; '.■.
October. The Northwesters encamped nmlurti-e
guns of the fort, and displayed the liriiish colors.
The young men in the fort, natives of the l.'nikj
States, were on the point of hoisting the .American
flag, but were forbidden by Mr. M'Dousjal. They
were astonished at such a prohibition, aiiil wire
exceedingly g;dle<l by the tone and maniurss-
sumed by the clerks and retainers ot the .\nr;h-
west Comjiany, who ruffled about in that hweliiii^
and braggart style which grows up aninn:; tiie^ii
heroes of the wilderness ; they, in fact, eonsMlcr-
ed themselves lords of the ascendant, and rei;,ini-
ed the hampered and harassed Astorians as a
concjuered people.
On the iollowing day M'Dougal convened the
clerks, and read to them an extract of a Idler
from his uncle, Mr. Angus Shaw, one (it thepnnci-
|)al partners of the Northwest Company, iniiiniKic.
ing the coming of the I'lio-he and Isaac Tudil,
" to take and destroy everything .American un the
northwest coast. "
This intelligence was received wilhnnl (lisma;,-
by such of the clerks as were natives of the I'liiU- ;
States. They had felt indignant at seeini;- ihiir
'\alional Hag struck bv a Canadian comniaiiiler,
and tie British Hag I'lowed, as it were, in iheir
faces. They had been stung to the (piick, a!sn.
by the vaunting airs assumed by the Norihwesi-
ers. In this mood of mind they would \v;liiiv,'!y
have nailed their colors to the' staff, and dciicil
the frigate. .She could not come within mi"^
miles of the fort, ihev observed, and any h^ '
she ndght send could be destroyed liy their c..:,-
non.
There were cooler and more calculating spir.ts,
however, who h,id the control of atlairs, ;inil tot
nothing ot the patriotic pride and indignation ol
these youths. The extract of the letter had, ap-
jiarently, been read by M'Dougal, merely to pre-
jiare the way tot a |)reconccrtc(l strok(Mit m.iii-
agement. On the same day .Mr. M'Tavish pro-
ASTORIA.
4525
.^^^^^'^i-s. the Canada,
L'd out l)vM'T,,v
"■'!«. »""ih.r |,a,t,
'' ''■'Katcl'hal,,.;,
t'li^^ir iiiTival. In,,'
•■•'jiii-- I)assi-n.,r, ,.':
' '''■""Kin hiimiov
tn"i with him ;„ \:
\'"-" ')^" jwri,,,,;.-;
^''il- riic lfa,|„s :'^
-■"■■um, l,ut .snnie'.,.
^traui thdrthiKKiir;
'•>■ WiHild soon nlr,;
\v;illsot Astoria, av
IL' COlllltlT.
^lai-kf, inwhiditiK
l'i-t(irc davhjjiu, .-.r'!
•^I'Doiik'aio'tu-.ca-!
■s- 1 lu; latter, liow.
thi; alLTt ; just ,i,
Hit to push otf, .j;..;-
roin the y.w\wl
i\ish with two diT-i
lif intLMulwltopusn
'Us, leaviiiiT the rt,-
s a lai-jftMiuaiitiiy,:
Astoria on the yth oi
::ncam|K-d uiidiTt.'-.e
(1 the liritish Ciiiori.
lativcs of the Ijnttj
dstin^- the Aiiurnan
Ii-. .M'Dousal, Tiiiv
i"olni)ition, aiul were
)ne and manner as-
ainers of the Nnnh-
lout in that sweliins;
nvs uj) ainnn;; thes;
;y, in fact, consider-
endant, and rei;jrii-
s(jd Astorians as a
oupal convened the
I extract of a letter
w, one of thepriiici-
.'onipany, anmiinic-
e and Isaac ToiM.
ii; American on tiie
ved without dismay
Uives of the rnilcii
;iiu at seein;;- their
adian commander.
IS it were, in their
to the (|uici<, alsn.
by the .\i)rih\vest-
ley would \v;din;'ly
le staff, and delicti
■onie within ni.inv
I'd, and any hn.,'.-
■oyed by their ca;;-
calculatinjj spirits,
of affairs, anil kit
and indi};natii>n ot
the letter had, ap-
;al, merely to pre-
rd stroke of tn.m-
dr. M'Tavish pro-
•el to purcfiasc the whole stock of goods and
wt helonijini,' to the coini)any, l)oth at Astoria
ind in the" interior, at cost and charjres- Mr.
M'DoU'mI undertook to comi)ly, assumiiijr the
•.. 1^. ,'?i;i„ai,a-nieiU of tlie negotiation in virtue of
L pinver \-ested ill him, in case of the non-arri-
val of ^Ir' Hunt. 'I'iiat |)o\ver, liowever, was
Pniitcd and specific, and did not extend to an op-
eritioii of this nature and ..xtent ; no ot)jection,
however, was made to Ids assumption, anrl he
and M'Tavish soon made a preliminary arrange-
nicnt! perfectly satisfactory to the latter.
Mr. .Siu.art and the reserve jiarty of Xorthwest-
e's arrived, shortly afterward, and encamped
\vithM'T:>^'^h. The former exclaimed loudly
against the terms of the tirrangement, and insisted
ii'pna a reduction of the prices. New negoti.itions
had now to be entered into. The demands of the
.Northwesters wen: mtule in a peremjjtory tone,
,ind thev seemed disposed to dictate like coii(|iier-
ors. The .\nierican.s looked on with indignation
and impatience. They considered M'Doug.al as I
acdn", it not a pertldious, certtiinly ;i craven part.
Hew.asconlinuidly repairing to the cam]) to ne-
jroliate, instead of keeping within his walls and
receiving,' overtures in his fortress. His case, they
observed, was not so desperate as to excuse such
cro'jchin;.;. He might, in fact, hold out for his
own terms. The Northwest ]):irty had lost their
aaiiininilion ; they had no goods to trade with the
i;,".iives for ])rovisions ; and they were so destitute
tnat M'DoUi^al h.ad tdisolutely to feed them, while
he iieLjoii.iied with them. He, on the contrary,
was well lodged and victualled ; had sixty i..en,
with arms, .iinmuiiition, l)oats, and everything
roquisite eitlier for defense or retreat. The jiarty,
i)cntaih the guns e)f his fort, were at his mercy ;
should an enemy ajjpetir in the offing, he coukl
pack up the most valu;d)le ])art of the i)roperty,
and retire to some place of concealment, or make
ottfor the interior.
These considertitions, however, had no weight
with .Mr. .M'Dougal, or were overruled by ottier
motives. The terms of sale were lowered l)y him
to the standard fixed liy Mr. Stuart, ;ind an agree-
ment executed, on the i6th of ()ct(jl)er, by which
the furs and merchandise of all kinds in the
cmntry, helimging to .Mr. Astor, passed into the
pissession of the .\(n-thwest Comjiany at about a
third of their real value.* A safe ]);iss"age through
the .Northwest posts was guaranteed to sucii as
il)d not choose to enter into the service of that
cjmpany, and the amount of wtiges due to them
* Not quite $40,000 were allowed for furs wortfi
upward of ^100,000. Heaver was valued at two dol-
lars per skin, though worth five dollars. I,;ind otter
at fifty cents, tlioujjh worth five dollars. .Sea otter at
twelve dollars, worth from forty-five to sixty dollars ;
and lor several kinds of furs nothing was allowed.
Moreover, the j;oo(ls and merchandise for the Indian
trade ou;;ht to have brought ihiee times the amount
far which tliey were sold.
The folldwinj,' estimate lias lieen made of the
ankles on hand, and the prices :
■ ;.:o!ll>«. l;e Ivor parchment, value-i .11 $j 00, worth $5 ca
' 1 (jS, ■• 3 50
' 5°' " 5 "O
' 12 cx>, *' $45"^ 00
' 5 00, " 25 cx)
4f5 0id to;it |ie.iv€
9=7 l.iml i,llt:
H SCI oiler
3; "
Nothing was allowed for
■ ?)miiik5l,iiis, worth each.
»! ratC'OM
25 lynx '*
■lifoi.... " "
>:>>" ;;■.; -. ;
;■ l>l.ick Ijear. " ]
'^ griizly bear "
40
« ■•'
C2 uo
1 00
I 50
4 GO
20 00
was to he deducted from the price paid for Aa«
toria.
The conduct and motives of Mr. M'Dougal,
throughout the whole of this ]iroceeding, have
been strongly (piestioned by the other partners.
He has been accused of availing himself of a
wrong construction of jOTwers \este<l in him at his
own re([Uest, and of sacrificing the interests of
Mr. Astor to the Northwest Comptmy, under the
promise or hope of advantage to himself.
He always insisted, however, that he mtide the
best bargain for Mr. Astor that circumstances
would permit ; the frigate being hourly expected,
in which case the wiiole proijorty of that gentle-
man would be li;d)le to capture. That the return
of Mr. Hunt was problematical ; the frigate in-
tending to cruise along the coast h)r two years,
and cletir it of all American vessels. He more-
over averred, and M'Tavish corrobortited his
averment by certiticate, that he projiosed an ar-
r.ingement to that gentleman, by which the furs
were to be sent to Ctmton, and sold there at Mr.
.Astor's risk, and for his ;iccount ; but the [)i"opo-
sition was not acceded to.
Notwithstanding all his rejiresimtations, several
of the ])ersons present ;U the tr.instiction, and ac-
(piainted with the wdiole course of the tilfair, :md
among the number Mr. M'Keiuie himself, his oc-
c.ision.il coadjutor, remtiined firm in the belief
that he h;id acted a hollow part. Neither did he
succeed in exculi^ating himself to Mr. Astor ; that
gentlemtm declaring, in a letter written some
time afterward, to Mr. Hunt, thtit he considered
the property virtually given away. "Had our
])lace and our property," he tidils, " been f.iirly
captured, I should ha\e preferred it. I should
not feel ;is if I were disgraced."
All these may be unmerited sus])icions ; but it
cert.'iinly is a circumstance strongly corrobortitive
of them, that Mr. M'Dougal, shortl)' after conclud-
ing this agreement, became ;i member of the
Northwest Com|)any, .and received a share pro-
ductive ot a handsome income.
CHAI'TKIi I.X.
Ox the morning of the 30th of November a :;ail
was descried doubling Cape Disappointment, it
came to anchor in liaker's ISav, and proved to be
a ship of wtir. ()t whtit n.ation ?
now the
anxious in([uiry. If English, why did it come
alone .' where was the merchant \essel that was
to have accompanied it ? If .\merican, what was
to become of the newly accpHred possession of the
Northwest Company.
In this diletnma, M'Tavish, in all h.iste, loaded
two barges with ;ill the iiack.iges of furs bearing
the mark of the Northwest Comptm)', and made
off for Tongue Point, three miles up the river.
There he w.is to aw.iit a preconcerted signal from
M'Dougal on ascertaining the character of the
shiiL If it should ])rove American, M'T'.ivish
would have a fair sttirt, and ctxild be.ir off his
rich cargo to the interior. It is singuhir th.it this
prom]it mode of conveying vtiluable, but easily
transportable effects beyond the reai h of ,1 hostibj
ship should not h.ive suggested itself while tiie
property belonged to Mr. .\stor.
In the mean time M'Doug.il, who still remained
nomin.il chief tit the fort, humched ,i canoe, manned
l)ymen recently in the employ of the \merican I'\ir
Comp.my, and steered for the ship. On the way
he instructed his nien to pass themsclvcb for
I
:.i
m
I
426
ASTORIA.
i I
ii :
ii I
Americans or Englishmen, according to the exi-
gencies of the case.
The vessel |)rove(l to be the British sloop-of-\var
Racoon, of twenty-six guns and one hundred and
twenty men, commanded i)y Captain HIack. Ac-
cording to tiie account of that oflicer, the frigate
I'hoebe, and tiie two sloops - of - war Cherub
and Racoon, had sailed in convoy of the
Isaac Todd from Rio Janeiro. On board of the
I'iui'be Mr. John M'Donald, a partner of the
North w' t Com])any, embarked as ])assenger, to
protU I.) tile aniicijjated catastro|)iie at Astoria.
The convoy was separated by stress of weather
off Cape Horn. The three ships of war came to-
gether again at the islanti of Juan Fernandez,
their api)ointed rendezvous, but waited in vain for
the Isaac Todd.
In the mean time intelligence was received of
the mischief tiiat Commodore Porter was doing
among the Hritir.h whaie-siiips. Commodore Mill-
yer immediately set sail in (juest of him, witli the
Pha'be and the Cherub, transferring Mr. M'Don-
ald to the Racoon, and ordering that vessel to
proceed to the Columbia.
The oHicers of the Racoon were in high spirits.
The agtiUs of the Xorthwest Company, in insti-
gating the expedition, iiad talked of immense
booty to l)e made iiy the fortunate captors of As-
toria. Mr. M'Donald liad kept up the excitement
during the voyage, so that not a midshipman but
revelled in dreams of ample [irize-money, nor a
lieutenant that would have sold his chance for a
thousand poup.ds. Their disappointment, there-
ton;, may easily be conceived, when they learned
that their warlike attack upon Astoria had been
forestalled by a snug commercial arrangement ;
that their anticipated booty had l^ecome liritish
property in the regular course of trallic, and that
all this had been effected by the very company
which had iieen instrumental in getting them sent
on what liiey now stigmatized as a fool's errand.
They felt as if they h.ul been duped and made
tools ot, by a set of siirewd men of trairic, who
had eni])loye(l them to crack the nut whili; they
carried off the kernel. In a word, M'Dougal
found himself so ungraciously recei\ecl by his
countrymen on board of the ship, that he was
glad to cut short his visit and return to shore.
He was busy at the fort making preparations for
the recei)tion of the captain of the Racoon, when
his one-eyed Indian father-in-law made his a|)])ear-
ance, with a train of Chinook warriors, alli)ainted
and e(|uip]ied in warlike style.
Old Comcomly had beheld, with dismay, the ar-
rival of a " big war canoe" dis|ilayiiig the ISritish
flag. The shrewd old savage had become some-
thing of ;i politician in the course of his daily vis-
its at the fort. He knew of the war existing be-
tween the nations, but knew nothing of the ar-
rangement between M'Dougal and M'Tavish. He
trembled, therefore, for the power of his white
son-in-law and the new-lledged grandeur of his
assi'mbled his warriors in all
Cieorge," said he, " has sent his
destroy the fort, and make slaves
of all the inliabitants. Shall we suffer it ? The
Americans .ire the first white men that have fixed
themselves in the land. They ha\e treated us
like brothers. Their great chief has taken my
daughter lo be his squaw : we are, therefore, as
one people."
His w.irriors all determined to stand by the
Americans to the last, and to this effect they came
painted and armed for battle. Comcomlv made a
spirited war-speech lo his son-in-law. lie offered
daughter, anc
haste. " Kin;^
great canoi
lo
to kill every one of King George's men ih,
should attempt to land. It was an msv niai ,
The ship could not approach within six nn'i/';
the fort ; the crew could only land in bn.iis n"'
woods reached to the water's edge ; iinlus. i-'
and his warriors would conceal the'mstlves '1
shoot down the enemy as fast as tlu-y ijut |,jyj"
shore. ''"
M'Dougal was, doubtless, propcrlv stiisil,ie,j
this parental devotion on the ])art of his s;,v, ,
father-in-law, and perhajjs a little rehnlad liviu
game spirit so opposite to his own. Ik aisurtd
Comcomly, however, that his solicitude for ihe
safety of himself anil the jirincess was suiiirllu.
ous ; as, though the shij) belonged to Kinjjtieor.c'
her crew would not injure the An'.ericaiis, DitiiOT
Indian allies. He advised him and jiis \v;irii(,rs
therefore, to lay aside their weapons and waiMiirts'
wash off the paint from their tacts ami buditj'
and api)ear like clean and civil savages to anjie
the strangers courteously.
Comcomly was sorely jiuzzled at this advice
which accorded so little with his Indian notions
of receiving a hostile nation; and itv.asonl''
after repeated and i)ositive assurances of tlii; am-
icable intentions ot the strangers that he was in.
duced to lower his fighting lone. He said some-
thing to his warriors explanatory of tliis sin"u'iar
jioslure of affairs, and in vindication, perhaps, ci
the pacitic temper of his son-in-law. Thiv all
gave a shrug and an Indian gruiUol ac(|uii'scence,
and went off sulkily to their village, lu l;iy aside
their weajions for the ])resent.
The i)roper arrangements being made for ihe
receiitiem of Captain Black, that olfKi-r caused
his ship's boats to be manned, and landed with
befitting state at Astoria. From the talk that had
been mad(; by the Northwest C()ni|)any of liie
strength of the place, and the arinanieiit tliey had
re(|uired to assist in its reduction, he cNpccied to
find a fortress of some importance. When he
beheld nothing but stockades and bastions, calcu-
lated for defence against naked savages, j'.e Iclt
an emotion of indignant surprise, minified with
something of the ludicrous. " Is this the lort,"
cried he, "about which I have heard so much
talking ? D — n me, but I'd batter il down in two
hours with a four-jiounder !"
When he learned, however, the amoiintof rich
furs that had been ])assed into the liaiuls of the
Northwesters, he was outrageous, and insisted
that an inventory should be taken of all the prop-
erty purchased of the Americans, "with a view-
to ulterior measures in Knghmd, lor tic reci.vciy
of the value from the Northwest Comiiain."
As he grew cool, however, he gave over all idea
of ])referringsuch a claim, and reconciled himself,
as well as he could, lo the idea of liaviiij; been
forestalled by his bargaining coadjutors.
On the I2lh of December the late (t .Astoria
was consummated by a regular ceremonial. Cap-
tain Black, atU'iuled by his ofliceis, entered the
fort, caused the British standard lo he erected,
broke a bottle of wine, and drchired. in a loud
voice, that he took possession o! the establishment
and of the country, in the name f' !; lirit.niiiic
Majesty, changing' ihe name ot .Astoria to ll.atui
Fort Cicorge.
The Indian w.irriors who had offered their ser-
•ices lo rejjcl the strangers were preseiu on this
)ccasion. It was explained to them as heinj,' a
\-i
occ
friendly arrangement and transfer, but they s.ioor
their heads grimlv, and considered it anncto
subjugation of their ancient allies. They re|,m'tieil
that thev had complied with M'Dougal's wishes,
ASTORIA.
427
HIS, ;iiul iiisislcd
I . svini? :>siflc their arms, and remarked that,
'" r the Americans might conceal the fact,
'■^''tvie uiuloiilnudlv ail slaves ; nor could they
'r'' ruadeil of the' contrary until they beheld
;feK:icoon depart without taking away any pris-
°"v to Conuomlv, he no longer prided himself
',11 his white son-in-law, Inil, whenes-er he was
%i abmit him, shook his head, and replied,
I ''.'" |,j5 (|:uij,diter had made a mistake, and, in-
'■ 1 of "ettiiig a great warrior lor a husband,
^jj'marriLd herself to a scjuaw.
CIIAI'TER LXI.
Havint. given the catastro|)he at the Fort of As-
.^rii icrt-iiKiiiisnow hut to gather up a few loose
Milsof this widely excursive narrative and con-
cuilc. I'll the2Sth'of February the brig I'edler an-
■hareil ill (-'i)hi:nl)ia River. It will be recollecteil
-ijt Mr. Hunt ii.id ])urchase(l this vessel at the
sindvvich Islands, to take off the furs collected at
thefactorv, and to restore the Sandwich Islanders
;,) their lionies. When that gentleman learned,
howivcr, the preci|)itate and summary manner in
uhich the properly had been bargained aw.ay by
M'lXiugal, lie expressed his indignation in llu.'
stron"t'St terms, and determined to make an effort
inret baclc the furs. As soon as his wishes were
Known ill this respect, ^FI)ougal came to sound
|;;m on behalf of the Northwest Com|)any, inli-
PLitini; th.it he had no doubt the peltries might be
Ffiurchased at ,-ui advance ol lltty per cent. This
overliire was not calculated to soothe the angry
lechnfjs of .Mr. Hunt, and his indignation was
complete when he discovered that M'Dougal had
Iwmiie a partner of the Northwest Comii.any, and
hai acluallv been so since the 23d of December.
He had ke|)t his partnership a secret, however ;
.'-Mil retained tlie |)ai)ers of the I'acitic I'"ur Com-
.any ill his jiossession, and had continued to act
js .Mr. .Astor's agent, though two of the ])artners
li ihe other company, Mr. M'Kenzie and .Mr.
Clarke, were, present. He li;ul, moreover, di-
vai;'i\l to his new associates ;dl that lie knew as
;i .Mr. .Asior's plans and affairs, and had made
( ipies ui his business letters for tb.eir perusal.
)Ir. Hunt n iw considered the whole conduct of
M'Diiusal liolluw and collusive. His only thought
v.as, therelore, to get all the |)apersof the concern
oat of his hands, and bring the business to a
uiise ; fur the interests of Sir. Astor were yet
nmpletely , at stake ; the drafts of the Northwest
Company in his fa.or, tor the purchase money,
1 It having' yet been obtained. With some dilii-
■Uity he succeeded in getting possession of the
: ipiis. The hills or dralts were delivered with-
out hisit.ilion. The latter he remitted to Mr.
.\ji()r by some of his .-issociates, who were about
jiiniss the continent to .\ew York. This done,
i.; embarked on board the I'edler, on A|)ril y\,
iiomnanied by two of the clerks, Mr. .Seton and
.Mr. llalsty, and bade a hnal adieu to .Astori.i.
^ The next day, April 4th, Messrs. Cl.irke,
M'Kenzie. David Stuart, and such of the .Astorians
aOiafI not entered into the service of the Xorlh-
'•>tConi]),uiy, set out to cross the Rocky Moun-
■i:iis. It is not our intention to t.ike the reader
■ Hther journey across those rugged barriers ; but
I'l- will step hirward with the ir.ivellers to ,1 dis-
i'!iieim their way, merely to rel.ite their inter-
v.vwwith ,1 ch.ir.icler .ilrcidy noted in this work.
As the party were proceeding up the Columbia,
! near the mnuth of the Wallah-Walkih River, sev-
eral Indian canoes ]nit off Irom the shore to over-
take them, and a voice called upon them in
French and recpiested them to sloj). They ac-
cordingly ]Hit to shore, and were joined by those
in the canoes. To their surjirise, they recognized
in the person who had hailed them the Indian wife
of Pierre Dorion, accompaiued by hertw(j children.
She had a story to tell, involving the late of sev-
eral of our unfortunate adventurers.
.Mr. John Reed, the Hibernian, it will be re-
membered, had been detached during the sum-
mer to the Snake Ri\er. His party consisted of
four Canadians, diles Le Clerc, I'r.incoiK l.andry,
Jean liaptiste Turcot, and Andre L.i Cliapelle,
together with two hunters, Pierre Dorion and
Pierre Delaunay ; Dorion, as usual, being accom-
panied by his wife and children. The ol)jects of
this exjiedition were twolold — to trap beaver, ami
to search for the three hunters, R(jbinson, Ho-
back, and Re/ner.
In the course of the autumn Reed lost one
man, Landry, by death ; another one, Pierre
Delaunay, who was ol : uUen, perverse disposi-
tion, left him in a moody iit, and was never heard
of afterward. The nund)er of his party was not,
however, reduced by these losses, ;is the three
hunters, Robinson, Ilobatk, ;ind Re/ncr, had
joined it.
Reed now built a house on the Snake River, for
'heir winter (piarters ; which, being com|)leted
the party set about tra|)ping. Reziier, l.e Clerc,
;uu! Pierre Dorion went about live days' journey
Inmi the wintering house, to a jiart of the country
well slocked with beaver. Here they i)iit up a
hut, and jjroceeded to tra]) with great success.
While the men were out hunting, I'lerre Dorion's
wife remained at home to dress the skins .md pre-
])are the meals. .She was thus employed one
evening about the beginning of January, cooking
the supper of the hunters, when she heard foot-
steps, and Le Clerc staggered, p.ile and bleeding,
into the hut. He informed her that a party of
savages had surprised them while at their tr.i|)S,
and had killed Rezner and her husband. He had
liandy strength lett to give this intormation, when
he sank upon the ground.
The poor woman s.iw tli;it the only (di;inco for
life was instant lligbt, but, in this exigency,
showed th.at ])reseiice of mind and force of char-
;icter for whiidi she had frf(|Ue!itly been noted.
With great ditViculty she cauglit iwu of the horses
belonging to the jiarty. Then collecting her
clothes, .and a small (|uantily of beaver meat and
dried salmon, she ]),icked them ujion one of the
horses, and helpi'd tin: wounded man to mount
upon it. On tin: otlu'r horse she inounte<l with
her two cliildren, and hurried ;i\say troni this dan-
gerous luighborhood, directing ln-i- tliglu to Mr.
Reed's establishment. < Mi ilu' third day she
descried a number of Indi.iiis on horsiback pro-
ceeding in an easterly direction. She inimedi-
attdy dismoiHited with her children, and helped
Le Clerc likewise to (bsmount, and .all concealed
themselves. IVirtun,it( ly they escaped the sharp
eyes of the savages, but h.id to proceed with the
utmost caution. Tli.it night they sle]it without
fire or water ; she m.in.iged to ki'ep her ( hildren
warm in her arms ; but bilore morning poor Le
Clerc died.
With the dawn of d.iy the reiiolute \\"man re-
sumed her course, .and on the lourtli d.ay reached
the house of Mr. Reed. It w.is de'serted, and all
riiun<l were m.irks of blood and signs ot .1 furious
massacre. Not doubting that ^Ir. Reed and his
498
ASTORIA.
!!:■■!!■
■ i
''I : i
'i\
party li.id all fallen victims, she turned in Iresh
Iiorror tioni liie spot. For two ilays she con-
tinued ]uirr\inj,f iorward, ready to sink lor want
of food, but more solicitous about her children
than herself. At len;;th she readied a ranj^e of
the Rocky Mountains, near the upjier jiart of the
\Vallah-V\;illah River. Here she chose a wikl,
lonely ra\ine as her i)lace of winter refuj^e.
She had lortunately a bulialo robe and three
deer skins ; of these, and of pine bark and cedar
branches, she constructed a rude wigwam, which
she i)itched iieside a mountain spring;. Having-
no other food, she killed the two horses, and
smoked their llesh. The skins aided to cover her
hut. Mere she dra^fs^^ed out the winter, with no
other conijiany than her two children. Toward
the middle of March her provisions were nearly
e.\hausted. She therefore packed up the remain-
der, slung it on her back, and, with her helpless
little ones, set out again on her wanderings.
Crossing the ridge of mountains, she descended
to the banks of the Wallah-Wallah, and kept along
them until she arri\ed wheri' that river throws it-
self into the Columbia. She was hospitably re-
ceived and entertained by tlie Wallah-Wallahs, and
iiad been ne.uiy two weeks among them when the
two canoes ])assed.
On being interrogated, she could assign no rea-
son for this murtlerous attack of the savages ; it
ajipeared to be perlcctly wanton and unprovoked.
Some of the Astorians sui)|)osed it an act of
butchery by a roving band of HIackfeet ; others,
however, and with greater probability of correct-
ness, have ascribed it to tile tribe of Pierced-nose
Indians, in revenge for the death of their comrade
lianged by order of Mr. Clarke. If so, it shows
that these sudden and apparently wanton out-
breakings of sanguinary violence on the part of
the savages ha\e often some previous, though
perha[)s renu)le, provocation.
The narrative of the Indian woman closes the
checkered adventuies of some of the ])ersonages
of this motley story ; such as the honest Hiber-
nian Reed, anil Dorion the hybrid inter|)reter.
Turcot and I. a Chapelle were two of the men who
fell off from Mr. Crooks in the course of his win-
try ]ournev, and had subsequently such disastrous
times among the Indians. We cannot but feel
some sym|)athy with that persevering- trio of Ken-
luckians, Robinson, Re/ner, and lioback, who
twice turned back when on their way homeward,
and lingered in the wilderness to perish by the
hands ot savages.
The return parties from Astoria, both by sea
and land, experienced on the way as many adven-
tures, vicissitudes, and mishajjs, as the far-famed
lieroes of the " Odyssey ;" they re.iched their des-
tination at different limes, bearing tidings to Mr.
Astor of the untortun.ile termination of his enter-
prise.
That gentleman, however, was not tlisposed,
even yet, to give the matter up as lost. On the
contrary, his spirit was roused by what he con-
sidered ungenerous and unmerited conduct on the
jiart ol the Xorthwest Company. " After their
treatment of me," said he in a letter to Mr.
Hunt, " I have no idea of remaining (|uiet and
idle." He determined, therefore, as soon as cir-
cumstances would permit, to resume his enter-
prise.
At the leturn of |)eace, .\storia, with the ;id|a-
cent cotuitry, reverted to the United States by the
treaty of (Ihent, on llu' principle of sfatiis anii
bclluiii, and Captain liiddlewas dis])atched, in the
sloop-of-war Ontario, to lake lormal repossession.
In the winter of 1815 a law was p.isscd h-r
gress prohibiting all traflic ol liriti,], u^i
within the territories of the I'niteil States '
The hiv(U-able moment seemed iimv to M.
Astor to have arrived for the revival nt his la- V.'
enterprise, but new ditficullies had 'Town'"'.'
impede it. The Xorthwest Conipain wito u-. I
in complete occupation of the Colu'iiihii i(;'.''^M
and its chief tributary streams, lioldin.r tj,^ ,','[; !
which he had established, and cai-rvin'Miiru-'^l
throughout the neighboring region; iirilfna,,,'^';'.
the iM-ohdmory law of Congress, which, in cKeci'
was a dead letter beyond the nioinitains.
To tlis|iossess them would be .an iiiulcriakin"ri'
almost a belligerent natiu-e ; for tiieir a"L'iiis^-i
retainers were well armed, .and skilK'd m tin. i'i.
of weapons, ;is is usual with Indian traders. T-.
ferocious and blo(Kly contests which had lak^
jilace between the rival trading iiartics ot tC
-Northwest and Hudson's I!ay Cuni|)anii-s iuii
shown what might be expected Iroiii lumm.'rM,;;
feuds in the lawless depths of the wildcnu-ii
Mr. Astor did not think it advisable, lliuri-lun-, i,
attempt the matter without the protection ot !'■(■
American llag, under which liis people m:"*;
rally in case of need. He accordiiij^lv mailt :a
informal overture to the fresident nl'the l'ni;-i:
States. .Mr. Madison, through .Mr. ('lall.iiii;, ij!!;:.
ing to renew his enterprise, and to rc-Mialilish
.Astoria, ]H"ovided it would be jirotected hv iht
American llag, and made a inililai'vpust, s'jiin-
that the whole force required would iiul exceed a
lieutenant's command.
The aiiplication, approved and rci-omnicmii:!;
by Mr. C<allalin, one of the most eidijjluiiicd
statesmen of our country, was f.ivorahiy received,
but no step was taken in conse(|ueuce ; the I'roi-
dent not being disjiosed, in ail pnibahilitv, w
commit himself by any direct couiuenance or
overt act. Discouraged by this supiiieiiess on the
part of the government, Mr. -Xslor did not thin!;
lit to renew his overtures in a more formal man-
ner, and ihe favorable moment for th.e reoccupa-
lion of -Astoria was sufferetl to ])ass unimproved.
The liritish trading establishments were thus
enabled, without molestation, to strike deep ihcir
roots, and extend their ramifications, in despite t!
the ])rohibition of Congress, until llu-y had spread
themselves over the rich held of enlurprise opened
by -Mr. Aster. The liritisli governiiKiU soon be-
gan to ])erceive the importance of this re^don.and
to desire to include it within their territorial do-
mains. A (|uestion has consetiueiitly risen as '.o
the right to the soil, and has become one ot the
most per])lexi;ig nov>- open betweer tiie United
States and (".real ISritain. In the first treaty rela-
tive to it, under date of October 2oih, i8i8, the
([uestion was left unsettled, and it was ai,M-eed that
the country on the northwest coast of America,
westward of the Rocky Mountains, claimed by
either nation, should be o|)en to the inhabitants
of both for ten years, for the pur|)oscsof traiie,
with the ec|ual right of navigating all its rivers,
When these ten years had expired, a sulisequeiu
ireatv. in 1828, extended the arraiigeiiient to ten
additional years. So the matter st.uuls at pres-
ent.
On casting back our eyes over the series ot
events we have recorded, we see no rctson to at-
tribute the failure of this great commercial under-
taking to any f.iult in the scheme, or omission ;;'.
the execution of it, on the part of the projector,
It .vas a magiiitieent enteri)rise
well cniicerleil
and cross purp
Lie otitse'l ; so
nei'lcctottli'-'"
Thelir^tcnpp
ruin, whi^'l' ^''
Mr. .Astor s ea
'naiives lift'ii
|,riii>.vll"--'-^">
yria m 'l"'-' »'
spinis 111 all c.
deiupro.-.pccto
struck a chill
my for siili-^cti
Anotiicr cm
the deparliiiv
tnevuyaijeot '
in^ .Aiioria.
duced a series
establishmfiii
Irom hi^ l'"-^''
viul impurt.iii'
itior.m a^jeiit
dcrtakin^j, to >
the p:irt iiiarke
vhidi has com
Tiiebreakiii;.
.States and (in
and embarrass
appoinlineiil a:
keep tip i-i:i"t'
IjSS of the Lar
fjrcs.
That Mr. As
diiiiciilty, ami
every loss, has
been secomlcvl
protected by g
his plan nii^jlu
great mislortm
with his own s|
ciciil to cumpn
his scheme ; o
tcrest, and had
a rival conip.
Mii;ht orij;iiia
p.iired, if not (I
upon his cause
iww they mit,d'
under their li
Mr. lliint, the
tor, at the tinii
west Company
poses. Had
transfer, in al
place.
It is painfu
heneticial strc
rc^'ret the fai
point of view
ccss, it would
vantaije and
prutits drawn
lirai>l\ Fur (
!i;m no crite
I.i's'es tliat vvc
1:1 the hands
Tnai compai
"X nature :>
:'.ake but litl
and carried on, without regard to diirictiities cr
expense. A successiun ot adverse ■.ircumstancci
ASTORIA.
429
,.,1 crn5. purposes, however, beset it almost from
?4e outset; some of them, in lact, arisin^j from
>rlcttul tlicorders ami instructions of Mr. Astor.
t'ih'iirsicripiiliiiir ''low was the loss of the Ton-
qiim,
licit clearly would not have ha))penecl hail
Mr Astur's earnest injunctions with regard to the
wtia'S been attended to. Had this ship per-
tormc I liei- VDVa^'e prosperously, and revisited As-
rjiiiiilui-' ti'nie, liie trade of the establishment
^lulJ li^i^'i! takea its preconcerted course, and the
iii.|'ij ,it all ciJin'crnel been kejjt uj) by a cont'i-
^'j„i |iios|)ectuf success, llerdismai catastrophe
jirud :i chill into every heart, anti prepared the
u\ Kir subsequent desjiondency.
■Vnotlier cause of embarrassment and loss was
the ilep;irlure from the jilan of Mr. Astor, as to
the vovii^'e of tbe ISeaver, subsecjuent to her visit-
ing .V'liuria. Tbe variation from this |)laii ])ro-
(iuci'tl a series of cross pur|)iises, disastrous to the
eitaWishmeiit, and detained Mr. Hunt absent
liom iiii P"st. when his presence there w.as of
vii.il imi.'urtance to the eiUer])rise ; so essential is
it tor .III agent, in any g-reat and complicated un-
ttrtakiii},', to execute laithfully, and to the letter,
lilt |):irt marked out for him l)y the master mind
which h.is concerted the whole.
Tht-baMkin^j out of tlie war between the United
Sates anil (Ireat Britain multiplied the hazards
ami embarrassments of the enterprise. The dis-
apj)i)intnieiit as to convoy rendered it diflicult to
liccp up reintorcements and supplies ; and the
Ijjsot the Lark added to the tissue of misadven-
nre.i.
Th.it Mr. .Astor battled resolutely aj^ainst every
dii'iiculiy, and pursued his course in iletlance of
every loss, has been suflicieiUly shown. Had he
l)ceii seconded by suitable aj^ents, and ]iro|)erly
|iroiecleil by j,^)vernment, the ultimate failure of
hlspl.iii niij,du yet have been averteil. It was his
great mistortiine that his as^-ents were not imbued
with his own s|)irit. Some had not cajjacity sutii-
cicii; til coniprcliend the real nature and extent of
his scheme; others were alien in feeling' and in-
terest, and had been broujifht up in the service of
a rival company. Whatever sympathies they
nii;,'ht orijfinally have had with him, were im-
paireJ, if nut destroyed, by the war. They looked
upon his cause as des|)erate, and only considered
iwiviheymitfht make interest to regain a situation
under their former employers. Tlie absence of
Mr. Hunt, tbe only real representative of Mr. As-
tor,, at the time of the cai)itulation with the North-
west Com|)any, completed the series of cross pur-
poses. H.id tb.it gentleman been present, the
transter, in all probability, would not have taken
place.
it is painful, at all times, to see a grand and
beneticial stroke of genius fail of its aim : but we
regret the failure of this enterprise in a national
point of view ; for, had it been crowned with suc-
cess, It would have redounded greatly to the ad-
v.iiitaj,fe and extension of our commerce. The
protiis ilrawn Irom the country in cpiestion by the
lirilisli Fur Company, though of ample amount,
tJrm no criterion by which to judge of the advan-
Uj,'es that would have arisen had it been entirely
n the hands of the citizens of the I'liited .States.
biai company, as has been shown, is limited in
i-.e nature and scope of its ojierations, and can
"'■ike but little use of the maritime facilities held
out by an emporium .and a harbor on that coast.
In our hands, besides the roving b.inds of traj)-
pers and traders, the country wotdd have been
explored .and settled by industrious husb.indmen ;
and the fertile valleys bordering its rivers, and
shut up among its niount.iins, would have been
made to pour forth their agricultural treasures to
contribute to the general wealth.
In respect to commerce, we should h;ive h;id a
line of trading |)osts from the Mississippi and the
Missouri across the Kocky Mount.iins, lorming a
high road from the great regions ol the west to
the shores of the I'acitic. W'e should have had a
fortihed post and port at the mouth ot the Colum-
bia, commanding the trade of that ri\er and its
tributaries, and of a wide extent of country and
sea-coast ; carrying on an acti\e .and iirolit.ible
commerce with the Sandwich Islands, ,ind a di-
rect and trecpient communication witii China. In
a word, Astoria might h.ave realized the anticipa-
tions of Mr. .\stor, so well umKrstood ,ind appre-
ciated by Mr. Jefferson, in gradually becoming a
commercial empire beyond the mountains, ])eo-
pled by " free and independent Americans, and
linked with us by lies of blood and interest."
W'e repeat, theretore, our sincere regret that
our government should have neglected the over-
ture of Mr. Astor, and suffered the moment to
pass by, when full possession of this region might
have been taken (piietly, as a matter of course,
and a military post established, without ilis|)Ute, at
Astoria. t)ur statesmen have become sensible,
when too late, of the importance of this measure.
Bills have repeatedly been brought into Congress
for the ])urpose, but without success ; and our right-
ful i)ossessions on that coast, as well .as our trade
on the I'acihc, have no rallying point jirotected
by the nation.al tl.ig, and by a military force.
In the mean time the second jieriod of ten years
is fast ela|)sing. In 1838 the (luestion of title will
again come up, and most ]jrol)al)ly, in the present
amicable state of our relations withCireat Britain,
will be again post[)oned. Kvery year, however,
the litigated claim is growing in im|)ortance.
There is no ])ride so jealous and irritable as the
pride of territory. As one wave of emigr.ition
after another rolls into the v.isi regions of the
west, and our settlements stretch toward the
Rocky Mountains, the eager eyes of our ])ioneers
I will ])ry beyond, and they will become impatient
I of any barrier or impediment in the way of what
! they consider a grand outlet of our emjiire.
' Should any circumstance, therefore, unfortunately
' occur to disturb the jjresent harmony of the two
i nations, this ill-adjusted cpiestion, which now lies
j dormant, may suildenly start up into one of bel-
ligerent import, and -Astoria become the watch-
word in a contest for dominion on the shores of
the I'acitic.
Since the al)o\'e was written, the fpiestion of
dominion over the vast territory beyond the Rocky
Mount.iins, which for a time threatened to dis-
turb the |)eaceful relations with our tr.msallantic
kindred, has been tinally settled in a spirit of mu-
tual concession, and the \a:nerable projector,
■ whose early enterprise forms the subject of this
j work, had the satisfaction of knowing, ere his eyes
! closed upon the world, that the tiag of his country
j aj^ain waved over " AsTUI<.l.\."
I •
APPENDIX.
:r,f
I a
11. '
ill
i^
Draii^lit of a I'elition to Coiii^riss, sent !>y Mr. Astorin
1S12.
To ihe linnor.ilile the Senate and House of ' ■•'■•rese'
atives ' ' 'lie L'niteJ States, in Tor '.res'; ;. nnnbln!
The pi;iuion ol lae American i 'irCompa n roip'-'f
fully slioweili :
Tiiat the trade with the several Indian tr • • •A
Nortli Aiiierira, has, (or many years past been aliiiost
exclusively carried on by the merchants of Canada ;
who, haviiiit formed powerful and extensive associa-
tions for that piir|)ose, beinR anled by Mrilish capital,
and beint; encouraged by the favor and protection of
the Hrilisli i^overnment, could not be opposed, with
any prospect of success, by individuals of the United
States.
That by means of the above trade, thus systematic-
ally pursued, not only the inhabitants of the United
States have been deprived of commercial profits and
advantaijes, to which they appear to have just and
natural pretensions, but a great and dangerous inllu-
ence has been established over the Indian tribes, diffi-
cult to be counteracted, and capable of being exerted
at critical periods, to the great injury and annoyance
of our frontier settlements.
That in order to obtain at least a part of the above
trade, and more particularly that which is within the
boundaries of the United States, your petitioners, in
the year 1803, obtained an act of incorporation from
the State of New York, whereby they are enabled,
with a competent capital, to carry on the said trade
with the Indians in such manner as may be conform-
able to the laus and regulations of the United States,
in relation to such commerce.
That the ca|>ital nientionea in the said act. amount-
ing to <me million of dollars, having been duly
formed, your petitioners entered with zeal and alacrity
into those lar^je and important arrangements, which
were necessary for, or conducive to, the object of their
incorporation ; and, among other things, purchased a
great part of the stock in trade, and trading establish-
ments (if the Michilimackinac Company of Canada.
Your petitioners also, with the expectation of great
public and private advantage from the use of the said
establishtnents, ordered, during the spring and sum-
mer of iSio, an assortment of goods from England,
suitable for the Indian trade ; which, in consequence
of the Fresifh'nt's proclamation of November of that
year, were shippetl to Canada instead of New York,
and have b<en transported, under a very heavy ex-
pense, into the interior of the country. Hut as they
could not legally be brought into the Indian country
within the boimdaries of the United States, they have
been ston.-d on the Island of St. Joseph, in Lake
Huron, where they now remain.
Your petitioners, with great deference and implicit
submission to the wisdom of the national legislature,
beg leave to suggest (or consideration, whether they
have not some claim to national attention and encour-
agement, from the nature and importance of their un-
dertaking ; which though hazardous and uncertain as
it concerns their private emolument, must, at any
rate, redouml to the public security and advant.age.
If their undertaking shall ap])ear to be of the descrip-
tion given, they would further suggest to your honor-
able bodies, that unless they ran procirp a rciru'mt
SU( 'ily for the trade in which they are c ni;a',(;ii, ii m,.-
Ian;, iish, and be ("n;dly abandoned by Aineritan \%
ens when it w.d revert t( its fornu-r channfi. wi'.h
a<: iitiinal, and pelhaps with irres stiljle, power,
U'ntier these circmnstances, and upcui all those con-
• i'erations of public policv which will present Aem-
3; Ivc'- to your honorable brxlies, in conncciidn wiih
thi-. already mentioned, your pctiti.-JiuTs rt'^iiwluliv
pra\' vii.i a law may be passed to tnahlc lb.- i'res;.
dent, or any of the heads of departnicnis actini; under
I his authority, to gr.-int permits for tlu; iniroiluciiunui
goods necessary for the supply of the Imllmii, into
; the Indian country, that is, within the Imuiularies oi
the United Slates, under such regulatiuns, aiiil with
I such restrictions, as may secure the public revenue
[ and promnte the public welfare.
■ And your petitioners shall ever pray, &r.
In witness <vhereof, the common seal of the American
Fur Conipanyis hereunto alfi.\eU, the day of
March, 1S12.
By order of the Corporation.
A.v Act to enable the .'\merican Fur Company, and
other citizens, to introduce goods nei'cssary lor ihe
Indian trade into the territories within the bounda-
ries of the U'niled States.
WllF.Kf:AS, the pu'''ic peace and welfare require that
the native India , tribes residing wilhin the bounda-
ries of the United States, shouUl receive their nece<-
j sary supplies under the authority and from the l!;:-
zens of the U'nitcii States : Therefore, be it en-
! acted by the .Senate and House of Keprcsent-
atives of the United States, in ("on.L'ress assem-
! bled, that it shall be lawful (or the Frtsident ol
I the United States, or any of the heads ui dt-
partments thereunto by him duly .uithorizcil, from
I time to time to grant permits to the Anicrican l"i;r
C<jmpany, their agents or factors, or any i;lhiT cili-
' zens of the I'nited Stales engaged in the InJian
! trade, to introduce into the Indian countrv, within
I the boundaries of the U'nited States, such ,i;ood?,
I wares, and merchandise, as may be necessary torlhe
j said trade, under such regulations luid resirji-iionsas
' the said Fresident or heaiis of departments inayjmlse
; proper ; any law or regulation to the contrary, in any-
wise, notwithstanding.
Letter from Mr. (■nlhititi to Mr. A >
daid
Nkw York, .^u.chs; f, i?3!.
DfiAR Sir : In compliance with your request, 1"!.!
state such facts as I recollect touching the subier.s
mentioned in your letter of 2.Sth ult. 1 may bo mis-
taken respecting dates and det;iils, and will only re-
late general facts, which I well reinejolier.
In conforn-dty with the treaty uf i-'j.pvith Great
Britain, the citizens and subje( ts of cadi country were
permitted to trade with the Indi:'.ns resi(lin,i; in ihe
territories of the other party. The recipnuHiy ms
altogether ncjininal. Since the conquest of Canada.
APPENDIX.
431
''■'1 '^> Ainerian ,1
■'"■nHT chiinnd itu',
fs stihle, power
1'' "|i"ii:illih(,sccnn.
h will present t'lcm-
'. I'l ciinncTimn wiih
I'lilioiicrs rf^[,f.I(ui:v
I') tnablc ilr ivsi.
irtmciiisaciini; under
T the imnMutiiunui
."f lilt Inilians, inio
I" the iKHimlarifs oi
rc),'ul;ui(iiis, am! wiii
tht public revenue
r pray, &r.
J^lmI of the Amerk-sn
*=J. "le day of
1 Fur Companv. and
«ls neressarv Inrihe
5 wllhin the 'buunii,!-
J "•flfarcreciiiirclhat
wiihiii ihe Ixmnda-
receive ihcir necK-
y and from the i.,:'-
hcreforc, he it en-
JUse (,f Keprcsen;-
1 C'oiifrress iisseni-
T the President n(
the- heads of lie-
ly authorized, irom
the Atiiericm Fiir
i, or ,iiiy (.'iliir ciii-
iRcd in the liidi,,n
an cuuntrv, Hithm
it;ites, such ,l'i;oi;«,
le necessary lur die
anil ro.siriclion,';;!?
artnu'tils may iiulje
lie contrary, in any-
i: .-litor, ,!,U,.!
, .Aiifius; 5, iSj;.
yiuir request, I ni:
chilli; the silbjtr:?
It. I may he mi^-
and will uidy tc-
lemlier.
f l~i)4 with (irc^:;
cai h country were
IS residinj; in the
le rc'ciprociiy v:r-
Kiucbt of Canada.
I ,K, Ornish had inh( -ted from the French the whole
' ', • throunh the jjreat laUes and iheir coinmuni-
' "^ivitli all th • western Indians, whether rcsld-
' '' , \. British cidininions or the I'nitcd States.
!i. ,.)[ the important western posts on those lakes
t r Vi'l the vcar I7<)7. And the defensive Indian
[ ' ','' "I'liich the United 'fates had to susta'ii from
'' ,'i |.,, had still fT'M' alienated ll;e Indians,
'.. r,'.,Vto the itriti'' leir e.xclusive trad- lar-
. iii^li the lakes, v rever the Indians in that
;\etl. No Amcr m "ould, without itri' -.i-
I -nl .iiierof pr ip. rty ad lilc, carry on th.it trade,
' "^.n within the I'nittd ' ates. by the wi of either
Mchilinuckinac or St. W .ry's. And independent of
,j,p;o«, 111 commerce, '. -it Hrit.i, i was enalded to
.IfSfru- a most danger ■■■i
inlluence over our Indians.
^ '".V mdcr '"'ese ci' -umstances that you communi-
jj,i.ji,,,jur ttovcrnrnent ih'; prospect you : '.d • -e
atie and your intention, to purciuise one half of the
jjierestof the Canadian Fur Company, enRUKed in
trade bv the way of .Michiliinackinac with our own
Indians. Vou wished to know whether the plan met
Biih the approbation of Rovernment, and how far you
coiildrely oil its protection and cncouraReincnt. This
overture was received witn ^rcat satisfaction by the
administration, and Mr, Jefferson, then I'residcnt,
irrole ynu to that elTect. 1 was also directed, as
Seciel.iry of the 'treasury, to write to you an ofTicial
letter to the same purpose. On investigating the sub-
iect, it was found that the Executive had no authority
to jive vou any direct aid ; and 1 believe that you
reieiicd nothiiit; moro than an entire approbation of
viir pl.in, anil general assurances of the protection
(iLf I'.i every citizen engaged in lawful and useful pur-
suits.
Vou did effect the contemplated purchase, but in
i[h,it year I do not collect. Immediately liefore the
ivar, v'U represented that a large (|uiintity of mer-
fhan(ii,-e, intended for the Indian trade, and includ-
ci arms and munitions of war, belonging to that
cnn:ern of which yon owned one half, w;is deposited
atapDSt on Lake Huron, within the Hritisli domin-
iins; that, in onler to prevent their ultimately falling
intoihe hands of Indians who mii^ht prove hostile,
you were desirous to try to have them conveyed into
tfce United .Slates ; but that you were prevented by
the then existing law of non-intercourse with the Brit-
ish dominions.
The lAccutivc could not annul the provisions of
thatlaiv. Hut I was directed to instruct the collectors
on the lakes, in case you or your agents should volun-
tarily btitii; in and deliver to them any parts of the
goods above mentioned, to receive and keej) them in
the r guard, tiiui not to coinmencc prosecutions until
farther instructions ; the intention Ijcing then to ap-
plvto Congress lor an act remitting the forfeiture and
penalties. I wrote accordinglv, to that effect, to the
coHectiirs of Detroit and Michiliinackinac.
The attempt to obtain the goods did not, however,
sncrced ; ami I cannot say how far the failure injured
you. liut the war proved fatal to another much more
extensive ami important enterprise.
Previous to that time, but I also forget the year,
you ha ! umleriaken to carry on a trade on your own
a:count. though I believe under the New York charter
o: die .\nierican Fur Company, with the Indians west
0! the Rocky Mountains, This project was also
cmmuiiicated to government, and met, of course,
with its full approbation, and best wishes for your
SiTcss. You carried it on, on the most extensive
5^'ile, sending several ships to the mouth of the
C'lundila River, and a large party by land across the
n;'iur.tains, and finally founding the establishment of
i-loria.
This unfortunately fell into the hands of the enemy
.rini; the war, from circumstances with which I am
■t imperfectly ac(|uainted — being then absent on a
^•reiitn mission. I returned in September, 1S15, and
sailed again on a mission to France in June, 181O.
I'urini; that period I visited Washington twice— in
October or November, 1815, and in March, 1S16. On
one of these two occasions, and I bilieve on the last,
you mentioned to me that you were disposed once
more to renew the attempt, and to re-establish
Astoria, pinvided you had the protection of the
American ll.ig ; for which purpose a lieutenant's com-
mand would l)e sufficient to you. You rei)uested me
to mention this to the President, which I did. Mr.
N#aiiison s;ud lie would consider the subject, and,
alth It'll he did not < immit himself, I thought that he
eceived the (iroposal favorably. The message was
verbal, and I do not know whether the apjUication
was ever renewed in i more fornitil iiKiuner. I sailed
soon after lor Fur' , and was seven years absent.
I never had the pleasure, since iriio, to see .Mr.
Madison, and never heard again anything toucern-
ing the si bject in question.
1 remain, dear sir, most respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
ALHFUT CALLATIN.
John Jaioh Astok, Estp, New York.
iVotices of till' present state of the J'lir Ti<i,!e, chiefly
extiacted from an article publislied in Sillinian s
Joutnat for January, 1834.
The Northwest Company did not long enjoy the
sway they had acquired over the trading regions of
the Columbia. i\ competition, ruinous in its ex-
penses, which h,ul long existed between tluin and tl
Ihidson's Hay Company, ended in their downfall a..
the ruin of most of the partners. The relict of ,ee
company became merged in the rival assoi iatior
the whole business was conducted under the name o,
the Hudson's Hay Company.
This coalition took place in 1S21. They 'h?n
abandoned Astoria, and built a large establi nt
sixty miles up the river, on the right bank, whic. ' ,.
called Fort Vancouver. This was in a neighborhood
where provisions could be more readily procured, and
where there was less danger from molesttition by any
naval force. The company are said to carry on an
active and prosperous trade, and tc^ give gr<;at encour-
agement to settlers. They are extremely jealous,
however, of any interference or participation in their
trade, and monopolize it from the coast of the Pacific
to the mountains, and for a considerable extent north
anil south. The American traders and trappers who
venture across the mountains, instead of enjoying the
participation in the trade of the river and its tributa-
ries, that had been stipulated by treaty, are obliged to
keep to the south, out of the track of the Hudson's
Hay parties.
Mr. Astor has withdrawn cntirtly from the .Ameri-
can Fur Company, as he has, in fact, from active
business of every kind. That company is now headed
l)y Mr. Ramsay Crooks ; its principal establishment
is at Michiliinackinac, and it receives its furs from the
posts depending on that station, and from those on
the Mississippi, Missouri, and Yellow Stone Rivers,
and the great range of country extending thence to
the Rocky Mountains. This company Ins steamboats
in its employ, with which it ascends the rivers, and
penetr.ites to a vast distance into the bosom of those
regions formerly so painfully explored in keel boats
anil barges, or by weary parties on horseback and on
foot. The first irruption of steamboats into the heart
of these vast wildernesses is said to have caused the
utmost astonishment and affright among their savage
inhabitants.
In addition to the main companies already men-
tioned, minor associations have been formed, which
push their way in the most intrepid manner to the re-
mote parts of the far West, and beyond the mountain
barriers. One of the most noted of these is Ashley's
company, from St. Louis, who trap for themselves,
and drive an extensive trade with the Indians. The
spirit, enterprise, and hardihood of Ashley are themes
of the highest eulogy in the far West, and his adven-
tures and exploits furnish abundance of frontier
stories.
i
432
APPF.NDIX.
t^ii
ii ft
'|i:
if :;
ill'
'. i:
! : ,
li;tji;:
Anr.thcr company of one hundred and fifty persons
from New \nrk, formeil in 1H31, and headeil l)y Cap-
tain Honncvillf "f Ihc Utiitccl Siatps army, has pushed
its enterprises into tracts l)ef(ire luit little known, and
has brought ronsiderable ipiantities of hirs from the
reKion between the l<f)cky Mountains and the coasts
of Monterey and I'pper ("aiifnrni.i, on the Ituenaven-
lur,i and Timp.inoKos Uivers. •
The fur countries, from the I'acifie east to the
Roci<y MouiUiiins, are now occupied (exclusive of
private c(inil)iiialioiis and individual trappers and
traders) liy the Kussiaiis ; and on the northwest, from
Hehrinij's Strait to yueen Charlotte's Island, in north
latitude hfty three (let;re<-s, and by the liusdon's Hay
Company thence, south ut the Columbia River ; while
Ashley's company, and that under Captain Monne-
ville, take the remainder of the region to Califiirnia.
Indeed, the whole compass from the Mississippi to
the PacifiR <)cean is traversed in every direction.
The mountains and forests, from the Arctic Sc.i to the
(iulf of .Mexico, are threaded, throuyli every niiize, by
the hunter. luery river and tributary stre.im. from
the Columbia to the mouth of the Kio del Norte, and
from the M'Kenzie to the Colorado of the West, from
their head sprin^js to their junction, are searched and
trapped for be.iver. Almost all the Ameiican furs,
which do not bcloni; to the Hudson's U.iy Company,
find their way to New Vork, and .ire either distribut-
ed thence for home consumption, or sent to foreijjn
markets.
Tlie Hudson's Hay Company ship their furs from
their factories of York Fort ai\d from Moose Uiver,
on Hudson's Buy ; their collection from (Iranii River.
iSlC, they ship from Canada ; and the collection Irom
Columbia K"es to London. None of ihcir furs come
to the United States, except through the London
market.
The export trade of furs from the United .St.ites is
chiefly to London. Some (piantiiies have been sent
to Canton, and some few to Hamburg ; and an in-
creasing export tr.ide in beaver, otter, nutria, and
vicunia woid. prepared for the hatter's use, is carried
on in Mexico. Some furs are e.xported from Haiti-
more, Philadelphia, and Boston ; but the iiriniipal
shipments from the United States arc from New \(irk
to Londcm, from whence they are sent to Leipsic, a
well-known mart for furs, where they are disposed of
during the great fair in that city, and distributed to
every part ot the continent.
The United States import from South America,
nutria, vicunia, chinchilla, and a few deerskins ; also
lur seals fnun the Lobos Islands, off the river Plate.
A quantity of beaver, otter. ^:c.. ;ire brought annually
from Santa I'c'. Dressed furs for edgings, linings,
caps, muffs, iVc, such as squirrel, genet, Inch skins,
and blue rabbit, are received from the north of
Europe ; also coney and hare's fur ; but the largest
importations are fro;n London, where is concentrated
nearly the whole of ihe North .Anierican fur trade.
.Such is the present st.ite of the fur trade, by which
it will appear that the extended sway of the Hudson's
H.iy Company, anil its monopoly of the region of
which Astoria was the key, has operated to turn the
main current of this opulent trade into the coffers of
(ireat Britain, and to render London the emporium
instead of New York, as Mr. Aslor had intended.
We will subjoin a few observations on the animals
sought after in this traflic, extracted from the same
intelligent source with the preceding remarks.
0/ !/u- Jiir-!'i-<iriui;- iiiii»iii/s, " the precious ermine,"
so called by way of pre-eminence, is found, of the
l)cst quality, only in the cold regions of luirope and
Asia.- Its fur is of the most pc;rfect whiteness, ex-
cept the tip of its tail, which is of a brilliant shining
black. With these black tips tacked on Ihe skins,
they are beautifully spotted, producing an effect often
imitated, but never equalled in other furs. The er-
mine is of the genus mustcla (weasel), and resembles
* All .mim.Tl called the stoat, a kind cf erniiiie, is said to be
f.nind ill North America, but very inferior to the European and
Asiatic.
the rommofj weasel in its form ; is from (,,„„,
sixteen Incites from the tit> of the nose ii, (i,,, V
the tail. The body is from ten to twi-lvt ir„ hf'"
It lives in hollow trees, river banks, amlcMic,, Ji'."
beech forests; preys on small birds, is verv V
sleeping during the day. and employinc the ,iJ,
search of food. The fur of the older aniiniK 1 '
ferred to the younger. It is taken I'V ^n;lrcs ?"j
traps, and sometimes shot with bliim nrrinvj \,
tenipts have been made to doniestii ale it Ui ij '
extremely wild, and has been foiiiid uni.miiiljlc '
The sable can scarcely be called sn mvl i„ 11,5
mine. It is a native of northern Liiri)|ic imd >|i,|.., '
and is also of the genus mustcla. In S;iin(iii'i|,i \v
kutsk, Kamschatka, and Russian La[ilaii(t, it ;> jomj
(jf the richest <|ua'.ity and darkest color. In iishili'j
it resembles the ermine. It preys on sm.ill si|uiire"i
ami birds, sleeps bv day, and prowls for (rmii ilurir™
the niidit. It is so like the marten, in every latijru a,
except its si/.e, and the dark shade of its rolur, iliai
ntituraiisls have not decided whether it is llifr:ih«i
and finest of the marten tribe, or a variciv i,( ibi
species.* It varies in ilimensions (roia ciniuttmo
twenty inches.
The ri( h dark shades of the sable, and* ihe snowv
whiteness of the ermine, the great depth, ami ihj
pcctdiar, almost llowing softness of iliuir sUnj anj
fur, have combined to gtiin them a prulcrcncp in a,:
countries, and in all ages of the worhl, In ili.s .luj
they maintain the same relative estimate in rtx.irlio
other furs, as wdien they matked the rank of thcproad
crusader, and were emblazoned in lier.ililry ; Ijiii m
most European nations they are now worn prumis-
cuously by the opulent.
The m.irteiis from Northern Asia and the Moun-
tains of K.imschatka are much superior in the .Anir;-
can. though in every pack of American ni.irltn sliins
there are a I'ertain number wdiich are hcauliiullv shad-
ed, and of a tlark brown olive color, of ijrem Otftii
.and richness.
Next these in value, for ornament and utility, are
the sea otter, the mink, and the liery lox.
The fiery fox is the bright red of .Asia ; i? more
Ijrilliantly colored and of finer fur llian anyotherol
the genus. It is highly valued for the splunjnr ci its
red color and the fineness of its fur. It is the stuiid-
ard of value on the northeastern coast of .Asi,!.
The sea otter, wdiicli was lirst introchircd inlocciii-
merce in 17'.'?, from the Aletitian and Kurile Islands,
is an exceedinulv fine, soft, close fur, jet bLuk in
winter, with a silken gloss. The fur of the youn<
anim.al is of a be.iuliful brown color. It is met with
in great abund;ince in Bhcrings Island, Ktmisihatka.
Aleutian and I'ox Islands, and is also tal^cn on the
opposite coasts of North America. It is sonittimes
taken with nets, but more frc(|uently with rluljS.inJ
spears. Their food is principally lobster and other
shellfish.
In 17S0 furs had become so scarce in Siln'ria that
the supply was insufficient for the demand in m. .\si-
atic countries. It was at this time that the sta otter
was introduced into the markets lor Cliina. The
skins brought stich incredible prices as to originate
immediately several .American and Hrilisli cNpi'ilitiims
to the northern islands of the Pticilic. to Nr.utka
Sound and the northwest coast of Anurii.a: but the
Russians already had possession of the ir.irt which
they now bold, and had arranged a trade for the sc.i
otter with the Koudek tribes. They do not cniir^ss
the trade, however ; the American northwest ir.idin;'
ships procure them, all along the coast, lior.i the
Indians.
At one period the fur seals formed no inconsiiler-
able item in the trade. South (leorgia, in s:iuth lati-
tude fifty-five degrees, discovered in 1117?, was f.v
plored by Captain Cook in 1771. The .Americans
* 'I'he finest fur and ibe darkest color .are moit estfcmeJ ; .wd
whcthtT the diffeience ari>c5 from ihe age of ibe amin.il.urlrom
some iieculianty of location, i^i not knc.wn. Thc\ J' J'"' "JJ
more from the common ni:irtcn than ihc Arabi.m horse from tM
shatigy Canadian.
Al'IM'NUIX.
433
""'•^"''"'•il:Ul,;
"'','"' "Miamal;!, '
' '■•"r-'K ami >,(,„;
■"•■'''''■. .-in'rihe snow
"'■'^^•" 'I'Tili, jiiil lii
' "' "i>-ir skills and
" " t'leltrcntc in a:
"■"fl'l. In tli,s a.t
•-■slimate in rei;jr-li„
tlKTankofihcproa
"• 'ii-T'ililry ; bm ,„
<^ iii'w worn piomi;.
Asia and the Mm-
upcriiir lo the ,\mf,.
UTii-aii rnarlcn skins
> iirc lii-'aiiii/uiivshad.
^••olor, of ^-reat Ctn,,
nent and utility, arc
It-TV lex.
il «)f Asia ; is more
iir than any other ol
>r tllL- S|j|uii,lor(i!i;s
iir- It is the stand-
roast (11 Asia,
iilroiliiced intocoiii-
ami Kurilf Islands,
'sc fur, jei blark in
- fur of the voun^'
or. It is met with
slarid, Kamsihalka.
also taken on the
V. It is sometimes
lUly with cliiLsand
■ lobster and other
rce in Sihcria that
de'iiKind in i.'ie Asi-
: that the sea otter
i for China. The
:es as to originate
Hritisli expeditions
^iriiic, to Xoolka
Anieriea ; Li:t the
)f tlic tract which
trade for the sea
!)■ do not cnijruss
northwest tradiiii;
; coast, froi:i the
ed no inconsider-
■gia, in south hiti-
in 1I175, was c.\-
TliL' Americans
nicit estrcined ; .md
if ihe animal, or fruiTi
'I'hey it ' l"'I viry
ibian liurse frtj.ii lh<
,i;,n.|v rommcnccd rarryioR seal >kins tlicncc to
''. nhcTi-' ihcy obtained llif most exort)itant
^' ''!' One million two liiindrcd thousand skins have
l^^'tikcn (r""i ll'at island alonn, and nearly an
"1 nunil'cr from the Island of DisolalioTi, since
■ "J^uffp first resorted to for tlie purpose of roin-
TV i'is<:"*"V o' ll'f' ^"""' Shetlands. sixty three
I Jls'snuth latitude, in iSi.S, added surprisingly l<>
h twlei" (iif '*<•'•''"■ ""^ tunnber taken from the
Wh Shetlands in I S3 1 anil iS22 ainoiiiited to three
IkiindreJ^i"' l"'<-'iny thousand. This valuable animal
f„ almost exlini-i in all these islands, owinu to
ihe'exteriiiinatinK' system adopted by the hunters.
IV jrc .^lill taken on the I.otios Islands, where the
'' ■ij^,„l ^riiverninent of Montevideo restrict the lish-
,■ or hunting, within certain limits, which insures
!.'innu.il return of the seals. At certain seasons these
.itphibia, for the purpose of rtnewiiiK their coat,
coracupn" the dark frowning rocks and precipices,
where there is not a trace of ve^etalinn. In the niid-
ii> o( lanuarv the islands arc partially cleared of
(Miv.ftherc a' few patches of short stramlioK Riass
s'-tinK up in favorable situations; but the se.ds do
n'otrcsorl to it for fo >d. They remain on the rocks
nut less tli.in two months, without any sustenance,
nhcnlhey return much em;iciated to the sea.
Hears (if various s|)ci Irs and colors, many varieties
ofttieiox, the wolf, the iieaver. the otter, the marten,
lie racoon, the badger, the wolverine, the mink, the
iins, the nuiskr.it. tin; woo Ichuck. t'.o rabbit, the
tare! and the si|uirrtl. arc natives of North America.
The beaver, otter, lyn.v, fisher, hare, and raioon,
arc used iirinci|ially for hats ; while the bears of
several varieties furnish an excellent material for
iic'Sh lininijs, for cavalry caps, and other military
iguipmcnts. The fur of the black fox is the most
viuable of any of the American varieties; ;ind next
13 that the red, which is exported to China and
Smyrna. In China, the red is employed for trini-
ninss, iinini;s, and robes, the latter beini; varic>,'ated
Iv addinn the black fur of the paws, in spots or
waves. There are many other varieties of American
;:\. such as the f;ray, the wdiite, the cross, the silver,
anl the dun colored. The silver fox is ii rare animal,
3 native of the woody country below the falls of the
C umbia River. It has a lon^, thick, deep le.ad-
j c iored fur, intermingled with lon^ luiirs, invarialdy
ahiieatthe top, forniinR a bright lustrous silver ^;ray,
tsteemcd liy some more beautiful than anv other kind
c! (o.\.
The skins of the buffalo, of the Rocky mountain
sheep, of various deer and of the antelope, arc in-
t.cdid in the fur trade with the Indians and trappers
0: the north and west.
Fo.xand se.il skins are sent from Greenland to Dcn-
itark. The white fur of the arctic fox and polar bear
is sometimes found in the packs brought to the trad-
irsbyihe most northern tribes of Indians, but is not
;.irlicularly valuable. The silver-tipped rabbit is
;;culiar to England, and is sent thence to Russia and
China.
Other furs arc employed and valued according to
Lie caprices of fashion, as well in those countries
nhere they are needed for defences ai;ainst the severity
o( the seasons, as among the inhaliitaiUs of milder
c.malcs, who, bein.c; of Tartar or Sclavonian descent,
are said to inherit an attachment to furred clothinR.
S^charethe inhabitants of Poland, of Southern Rus-
sa. of China, of Persia, of Turkey, and all the nations
ol Gothic orif;in in the middle and western parts of
Empe. Cnder the burning suns of Syria and Kgypt
Ml the mild climes of ISucharia and Independent
Tartary, there is also a constant demtiml. and a great
consumption, where there exists no physical necessity.
In our own temperate latitudes, besides their use in
the .arts, they are in rec|uest for ornament and warmth
-aring the winter, and large cjuantities are annually
tonsumed for both purposes in the United States.
from the foregoing statements it appears that the
nirade must henceforward decline. The advanced
state of fjeographical science shows th.il no new
countries remain to be e.xplored. In North America
the animals are slowly decreasing, from Ihe persever-
ing efforts iind the indisi riininale sl.iughter practiced
by the hunters, and by the .ippropri.itioii to the uses
of man of those forests and rivers which have afford-
ed them food and protection. They recede with the
alxirigines, before ihi; tide of 1 ivili/.ition ; but .1
diminished supply will remain in the inouiil.iins and
imcultivated tracts of this and other (onntries, if the
avidity of Ihe hunter can be restrained wilhia pruijcr
limitations.
Ihii^ht of I III- l\ihky Afotintivin.
Various estimates have been made of the height of
the Rocky Mountains, but it is doiibtfiil whether anv
have, as yet, done justice to their re,d .altitude, which
promises to place them only seconil to the highest
mountains of the known world. Their height has
been diminished to the eye by the great elev.ilion of
the plains from which they rise. They consist, ac-
cording to Long, of ridges, knobs, and peaks, vari-
ously disposed. The more elevated parts are cov-
reed with perpetual snows, which contribute to give
them ;i luminous, and, at a great distance, even a
brilli.int appearance ; whence they derived, among
some of the first discoverers, the name of the Shining
Mountains.
James's Peak has generally been cited as the high-
est of the duiin ; and its elevation above the common
level has been ascertained, by a trigonometrical
measurement, to be about eight thousand live hun-
dred feet. Mr. Long, however, judged, from the
|)osition of the snow near Ihe summits of other peaks
;ind ridges ;it no great distance from it, that they were
much higher. I hiving he.ird Professor Renwick, of
New York, express an opinion of the jilliuide of these
mountains far bey<md wh.it h.id usually been ascribeil
lo them, we a|)[)lied to him for the authority on which
he grounded his observation, and here subjoin his
reply :
CciitrMiiiA Coi.i.Kci-., Ni.w YoKK, Feb. 23, 1836.
DicAK SiK : In compliance with your re(|uesi, I have
to communicate some facts In relation to ihe heights
of the Rocky Mounttuns, and the sources whence I
obtained the information.
In conversation with Simon M'Oillivray, Ksc|., a
partner of Ihe Northwest Company, he slated to me
his impression, that the mountains in the vicinity cif
the route pursued by the traders of that company were
nearly as high ;is the Ilini.ilayas. He had hinisell
crossed bv this route, seen the snowy summits of the
peaks, and experienced a degree of cold which re-
quireci a spirit thermometer to indicate it. His
authority for the estimate of the heights was a gentle-
man who had been employed for several years as
surveyor of that company. This conveisation oc-
curred about sixteen years since.
A year or two afterward I had the pleasure of din-
ing at Major Delafield's with Mr. T honips<in, the gen-
tleman referred toby Mr. M'dillivray. I iniiuired of
him in relation to the circumst.mi cs mentioned by
Mr. M'Cillivray, and he slated that, by the joint
means of the barometric and iriiMiiiomclric measure-
ment, he had ascertained the height of one of the
lieaks to be about twenty-five thousand feet, and there
were others of nearly the same height in the vicinity.
I am, dear sir, vours trulv,
■ ja.mls'rlnwtck.
To W. Ikving, Esq.
I
Siii;gi-s(ioiis wil/i reaped lo the Indian tribes, and the
protection of our Tiade.
In the course of this work, a few general remarks
have been hazarded rcsijccting Ihe Indian tribes of
the prairies, and the dangers to be apprehended from
484
APPENDIX.
1:1*
I- F
•\i\
■ '.ir i
I ;
'i ;
l!'^'
i\'
lliein in fiitiiro timi-s to oiir trade ticyond the Rrxky
Moimtuiris ill). I with tlii' Sp.uiish (ronlierd. Sieiii'
writiiiK lli'isi- rL'in.irks, wo Ii.ivl' met with sotno fxccl-
Ictit (liism.ili Ills ainl sii);^L'Hii()n!j, In in.uuiHcript, on
the SHin': Mil)JL( t, wrilttii liy Caplain Iloiini-villi', of
the Unilcil Stall's army, who lias lately returned (ro'n
n lonn re:-iiil:'iu'e anions; the trilies of tlie Koeky
Mountains, Captain II. approves highly of the plan
recently aloptiMl l>y the I'nited Stales ^jovernment for
the urKani/atloii of a re^inient of drat^oons for the
protectiiii of our wcstiTii frontier, and the trade
across the pr.iiries. " No other sjiecies of military
force," he ohserves, " is at .ill ('oni|)etent to cope with
these restless and wandering hordes, who re(|iiire to
lie opposed with swiftness (|uitc as much as with
BtreiiKth ; and the consciousness th.it a troop, uniting
these (juaiilications, is alw.iys on the alert to aven^je
their outr.ines upon the settlers and Ir.iders, will j;o
very far toward restraining them from the perpetra-
tion t)f those thefts and murders which they have
heretofore conimitted with impunity, whenever str.itii-
gcni or Kuperioiity of force has ^jiven them the advan-
tage. Their interest already has iloiie sonulhiiiK
toward their pa( ilication with our countrymen. I'roni
the traders amoiii; them, they receive their supplies
in the greatest abundance, and upon very eciiiit.iblc
terms ; and when it is remembered that a very con-
siderable amount iif property is yearly distributed
anions them by the ^,'overnment, as presents, it will
readily he perceived that they .ire ^jreatly d(|)eiulent
upon us for their most valued resources. If, super-
added to this inducement, a frc(|uent display of r.iill-
tary power be m.ide in their territories, there can lie
little doubt tliat the desired security and peace will be
speedily atlnr led to our own people. Hut the idea of
cstablishiii); a permanent amity ami concord nmon^
ine various east and west tribes themselves, seems to
me, if not wholly impracticable, at least inl'initcly
more ditTicult than many excellent phihmthropists
have hoped and believed. Those nations wliii h have
so lately emivjniled from the midst of our settlements
to live up<in our western borders, and have made some
progress in agriculture and the arts of civilization.
have, in the property they have ac(|uir;d, and the pro-
tection and aid extended to them, loo many advan-
tages to lie induced readily to take up arms against us,
particularly if they cm be brought to the full convic-
tion that their new homes will be permanent and un-
disturbed ; and there is every reason and motive, in
policy as well as humanity, for our ameliorating their
condition by every me.uis in our power, Hut the
case is far different with regard to the Osages, the
Kanzas, the I'.iwnees, and other roving hordes be-
yond the frontiers of the settlements. Wild and rest-
less in their character and habits, they are by no
means so susceptible of control or civilization ; and
they are urged by strong, and, to them, irresistiiile
causes in their situation and necessities, to the daily
perpetration of violence and fraud. Their perma-
nent subsistence, for example, is derived from the
bulT.iIo hunting grounds, which lie a great distance
from their Knvns. Twice a year they are obliged lo
make long and dangerous expeditions, to procure the
necessary provisions for themselves and their fami-
lies. Tor this purpose horses iire absolutely requi-
site, for I heir own comfort and safety, as well as for
the transportation of their food and their little stock
of valuables ; and without iheni they would be re-
duced, during a great portion of the year, to a state
of abject misery and privation. They have no brood
mares, nor any trade sufficiently valuable to supply
their yearly losses, and endeavor to keep up their
slock by stealing horses from the other tribes to the
west and southwest. Our own people, and the tribes
immediately upon our borders, may indeed be pro-
tected from their depred.itions ; and the Kanzas,
Osages, Pawnees, and others, may be induced to re-
main at pe.ice among themselves, so long as they are
permitted to [jursue the old custom of levying upon
the Camanches and other remote nations for their
complement of steeds for the warriors, and pack-
horses for their transportations to and from tl k
inK ground. Hut the instant they .ire fiirii.,||'' '"
tain a peaceful and inofTensivp dinuMtidr low"!'"
tribes along the Mexicm border, and tin,! ih ,i",' ■'^^'
violation of their rights is lollmvcl |,y (t,i, ,',, '^
arm of our government, the result must iVih"'' *
diiced to a wri'tchedness and want whiih ihi.y r'' '*i
brook, and feeling the certainlv of luini^hmcm"'''
every attempt to ameliorate their c(,n.|iti„n in .'i'
only way they as yt t « r.mprehend, they wjn „| ';'
their unfruitful territory ,ind remove i„ thi- nci.hi,"
hood of the .Mcxic an lands, and thcro ni,,,.
vigorous predatory w.irfare indisiriminiinlyyp, ,,'
Mexicans and our own people tr.idiiig (ir tr.ivcrjn. ,
that (luartcr. ' ' *'■•
" 'I he Indians of the prairies nre almnit innjm.-
able. Their superior horsemanship, wliiih, in Z
opinion, far exceeds that of any .jthor pcDpli. ,ini|,.
face of the earth, their d.iring biavcrv, ihcjr cunrij
d skill in the warfare of the wililcriic
an I ihe
.istonishing rapidity and secrecy wiili whiih iheya-..
accustomed to move in their m.irtiul ix|n'(iiiiiiiis « '
always render them most d.iiigcroiis -..vA vcx,i'ii,)ui
neighbors, when their ni.'ccssitii-s or llnir d scununit
may drive them to hostility wiih oir Iniiititrs, Tht i
mode and Jirinciples of w,irl.iic will ahv;ivs |ir..'ri
them from final and irretriev.iblc (Iffcat, I'mij scitr>
their families from participating in ,uiy binv hmvcci
severe, which 'hm tribution might deal (Hit tn them,
" The Cam. nil Irs lay the Mexicans iinilcrruniriba!
tion for horses and mules, which they areahvavsf.
g.iged in stealing from them in lucre. Iilile inimYcrs;
and from the Camanches, all the roving trihcs of ir..^
far West, by a similar exertion of skill •■mil .l,,rin "
supply themselves in turn. It seems tn inc, ilinriiiri-
under all these circumstances, that the aiiji.ircni [i;
ity of any philiinthropic schemes for ilic liciifiit i
these nations, and a regard for our own protection,
concur in recommending that ive remain sali^ij
with maintaining peace upon our own iinmei.ai*
borders, and leave the Mexicans and the Camanihcs,
and all the tribes hostile to these last, to settle Iheii
differences and difTiculties in their own ivav.
" In order to give full security and |iiotcilinn n
our trading parties circulating in all diroclio:-.;
through the great |)rairics, I am under llic imprcs-on
that a few judicious measures on the part ol ilie^i.-
eminent, involving a very limited expi use, woulllo
sulficient. And, in attaining this enil, whi.hijf i'.M.i
h.as already become an object of pulijii- inttrcslacl
import, another, of much greater ( nnseqiKiuc, n'.^h:
be brought about, viz., the securing to ilic .Siatcsa
most valuable and increasing trade, now carried only
caravans directly to Santa I'e.
" As to the first (tesiiU-vatiim : the Indi.insr.an onlv
be made to rcspec-t the h .'es and propiTty 'f the
American parties, by renderin,, thcni ilcpcndciuupin
us for their su]iplies ; which r. n alone tie dmic iviih
complete effect by the establi' imcnt of a tr;i(lini;[."<;.
with resilient ti:id"-rs, at soiT.e point which ivi;i iini'.;
a sufficient number of advantages to altr.act ihL'
several tribes to itself, in ,irefereni e to ihiir pit^ttil
places of resort for that purpose ; for it is a ivcil-
known fact that the Indians will always protcn thcr
trader, and those in whom he is interested, so!nni;as
they derive benefits from him. The aitcrn:itiyc pre-
sented to those at the north, by the resilience (li llie
.agents of the Hudson's Hay Company aiiinni; them,
n-nders the condition of our iieople in th.it quarter
less secure ; but I think it will ap|)e-ar, at imce i:p':i
the most cursory examin.uion, tliai no saih iippojilion
further south could be maintained, so as to wialicn
the benefits of such an establishment as is here sug-
gested.
"In considering this matter, the first qiicstimi nhi.h
presents iisclf is. Where do these tribes now mak';
their exchanges, and obtain tlieir necessary supplies'
They resort almost exchisiv'ely lo the Mexicans. «h
themselves purchase from us whatever the Indian-
most seek for. In this point of view, therefore, nr'-'-'
pariluis, it would be an easy matter fur us to nrjnopo-
APIM'NDIX.
•Ill,-)
L n.Hnl* tMlTii-. All th.it i» wanting i« nomc In-
''' rs.uii^i'"i'"' '"^ '*'*^ "''''^■'" '''•'•'"'''''''''''•■'■ '^^''
il the si'lii lion "f such a point rL'(|uite«. Iiiil .i
' ' .|!co( llic !*inKl<- f'"^'- 'hat tlu'sc nalionn iiua-
'"."'Inti-r mum ill'' hiMil waliTS i.( the Arkunsai,
all their Ijulfali) r ilics for trade,
£;;5,ni!'h.avy:^m.l to tlu- i,.,lian vnry .lilli-
l^"", rnitl aiiv urrat distaiicr with sii'li ini-uii''L-ti-
I u ' ' ik'B iK'". -^ 1'"^'' '•i''''«^''"f''' *'<ial'n»niil upon
If V 1 ttili'f^"' ''"-' Arkansas, nin^t inlalliblv sciiiru
|l„u«c»nieMiMl prrtVrrnce over th.U of the Me.m-ans.
I'Vnatlhiir priies and raten of barter. I hen let the
1'', „„,i,i;rasi' nally move about anion^ tliese peo-
J iUe parlies, impressing them with the proper
'''■■Uic)("iir |">wer to proteit and to punish, and
■ .ccwclMVi.' cimiplete and assured security for all
r, ,,!„,tth"sccnlerprise may lead them beyond liie
I i,'r', Vt, antl all end to the outrages and dcpred.itions
» h now (li)K th<; footsteps uf the traveller in the
Itii'iM .mil .irrcst and depress the most advanta-
IL'uuiimmcrro. Smh a p<ist need not be stronger
I Ln fifty mill ; iweiiiy-live to be employed as hunt-
■„ nn'upplv the Harrison, and the residue as a de-
1,1,(5 aijainst'aiiv hostility. .Situ.itcd here upon the
lr.oJl.inils of llie .Arkans.-is. in the niiilst of abun-
limccoflimlier, while it miKlit be kc[)t up at a most
I i'nton«iJcr.ilile expense, f uch an establishment within
I, Btlv miles iif .S.inla i'l' or Taos would be more than
■'s.Kd I'V llie other .uul more important advantages
I it: rc.illiiikd to, leaving the protection ol the traders
iiiiltif Indian tribes entirely out of the question.
ThiH're'i' Ir.ule, carried on by caravans to Santa
1 F' jntnially Iliads one hundred wagons with merchan-
... which is bartered in the northern provinces of
jlfvci) iiir cash and for lieaver furs. The numerous
ancles excluded as contraband, and the exorbitant
ijlits laid upon all those that arc admitted by the
y.cskin govcrninent, present so many obstacles to
tojimcrcc, that 1 am well persuaded that if a post,
sjih as is here suKKcsted, should be established on
lie .-irkansas, it would become the place of deposit,
not only for the present trade, but for one inrmitely
more extended. Mere the Mexicans minhl pun haso
their supplies, and mii(ht well ulTord to sell them at
prices whiili would ■ileiieu ull eoinpeiitloi) frutn any
other (piarter.
" These two trades, with the Mexic.ins and the In-
dians, cenlrinK at this (xist, would nive rise to u
lar^e village of traders and l.iborers, and would un-
doubtedly lie liaile<l, liy all th.it section of < ouniry, as
a permanent and invalual>le aiUMnta^e. A few pack-
horses would carry all the clothing' and ammunition
ncccss.iry for the post <Uirint{ the first year, and two
liKht field-pieces would be all the atlillery re(|uire<l
for its defence. Afterward, all the horses retpiired
for the use of the establishment niiv;ht be purcliased
from the Mexicans at the low price of ten ibdlars
each ; ami, at the same time, whatever animals miKht
be needed to su[)ply the losses anions the <lr.ivjoon»
traversing the neighborhood, could be readily |)ro-
(ur(;d. The Upper Missouri Indians can furnish
horsts, at very cheap rates, to any number of the same
troops who minht be detailed for the cUfcnce of the
northern frontier ; and, in other rcspec ts, a very
limited outlay of money would sullice to maintain a
post in that section of the country.
" Trom these (onsiderations, and my own personal
observation, I am, therefore, disposed to believe that
two posts established by the Rovernment, one at the
mouth of the Yellow .Stone River, and one on the
Arkansas, would completely protect all our (leople in
every section ol the great wilderness of the West ;
while other advantiiges, at least with regard to one of
them, confirm and urge the suRgestion. A fort at the
mouth of Yellow .Stone, Rarrisoned by fifty men,
would be |)erfectly safe. The establishment might be
constructed sini|)ly with a view to the stores, stables
for the ilragoons' horses, and quarters for the regular
garrison ; the rest being provided with sheds or
lodges, erected in the vicinity, for their residence dur-
ing the winter months."
THE END.
V"^
m
m
11; 1:
n
v:''M-
1 , ■ 1 J 1
■ t ■
3 'I!
«1 fl*.
i^)
ii
^ »y
A
TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
IlY
WAsiiiNcrroN ikving.
INTRODUCTION.
HwiNT,. Miice my leluni to the I'nited States, maile a
»Me aii'i varied tour, for tlie ^ratilicalioii of r.iy ciiri-
fi-itv. it lias been siipposeil that I did it for the imrpose
ofviritiii" a lu)iiU ; and it lias more than oiue l)ceii iii-
li-Mtcd ill llie papers, tiiat sueh a work was actually in
liic I'le^S conlaiiiii'^ scenes and sketches of the Far
Wc-t.
Thc^ aiinoiincements. gratuitously made for me, be-
f.it I liail |Hit i^n to lia|icr, or even conteniidaled any
ihiii" iif (he kind, have enibarra.ssed nie exceedinijly. I
have ^leuii like a poor actor, who finds liiiiiself an-
r."iiiKfd for a part he had no thou^dit of playin<;, and
i:i-a|>nc.iiaiicc expected on the stare before he ha> coin-
::i;;ted a line to memory.
I liavcaluavs had a repugnance, ainountinij alnn-t to
I'i-aialiiy. til write in tlie face of expectation; and, in
t!n' pic-ont instance, I was cxjiected to write about a
:e;M\\ (r.iilful of wonders ami adventures, and winch
h.ii already been made the theme of spirit-stirring' iiar-
r.-.;ives fin.'ii able pens; yel about which I had nolhiny
mnlerful or adventurous to olTer.
Since such, however, seems to be the doire of the
nilihc, and tliat they take suflicient iiUere-t in my
waiiilurini;- to deem them worthy of recital, I have hast-
eiit'l, as pminptly as pos^il>le, to meet in some ilci^ree,
l!w exncitaiion which others have excited. For this
]iur]«:.-c, I liave, as it were, jiiucked a few leaves mit of
iin meiii.iiaiiduni book, coiuainiii^ a month's foray be-
y.iii'i die imt|iii~ts of human habiialioii, into the wilder-
iic" of tile Far \Ve~t. It forms, indeed, but a small
pirtioii of an extensive tour; but it is an episode, com-
jide .IS (ar a^ it i^oes. As such, I offer it to the public,
iiilli ^leat (Ihlidence. It is a simple narrative of every
(i.iy (iccinrences ; si'.ch as happen to every one who
'.i.mU tlie prairies. I have no wonders to describe, nor
a'.iy moviii;,' accidents iiy flood or field to narrate; and
n- to tliu^e who Imik for a marvellous or adventurous
''.Hryal my hands. I can only reply, in the words of the
iK-ary knilci^iiii Icr : "Story! (joil bless you, I have
iiiji:e tu tell, sir."
Cil.M'Il'.R I.
jhc p. -i'lhr Hurliiii: ('ii\>uniU.— Ti\r,'f'!hi^ C""/^*,:«^|;/i.
— .( (\tminii.<i,infr. — ./ I'hiHJSO. — ./ .SWivrit/'.l,/-
I'-rtur.i.—.l CU ji/.is of the I'lonticr. — ./ Wiuiii,'
Mui's Anii, it.ilums of l'U\isitie.
In' the nftiMi vaunted re^;ions of the Far West,
Svjvcral hundred miles lieyiind the Mississippi,
C.x.^iuU .1 v.ist tract uf uiiinliabiteJ (.oiuitiy, where
there is neither to be scon the lo<; hoiise of tlie
white man, nor the wigwam of the Iiulian. It
consists of threat grassy plains, interspersed witli
forests and groves, and clumps of trees, and
watered l)y the Arkansas, the grand (Janadian,
the Red River, ;<nd their tributary streams. Over
these fertile and \erd.mt wastes still roam the elk,
the buffalo, and the wild lijrse, in all their native
freedom. These, in fact, are the hunting ground.;
of the various tribes of the Far West. Hither
repair the Osage, the Creek, the Del.iware and
other tribes that h.i\'e linked themseives with
civilization, and live within the vicinity of the
w hite settlements. I lere resort also, the I'awnees,
the Com inches, and other fierce, and as yet in-
dependent tribes, the nomads of the jir.iiries. i>r
the inhabitants of tlie skirts of the Rocky Moun-
tains. The regions I have mentioned form a de-
batable ground of these warring and vindittive
tribes ; none of them presume to erect a perma-
nent habitation within its bo.rtlers. Their hunters
and "liraves" repair thither in luii.ienius bodies
during the season of g.tnie, throw \\\> their tran-
sient hunting camps, consisting of light bowers
covereel with bark and skins, commit sad havoc
among the innumerable herds that graze the
prairies, anclh.iving lo.ided themselves with veni-
son and buffalo meat, v rily retire from the dan-
gerous neighborhood, 'i nese expeditions jiartake,
always, of a warlike char.icter ; the hunters are
all armed for action, ollensivc and defeiir^ive, and
are bound to incessant \ igilance. Should tliey,
in their excursions, meet the hunters of ;in adverse
tribe, savage conflicts take ])lace. Their encamp-
ments, too, are always subject to be surjarised by
wandering war jiarties, and their hunters, when
scattered in pursuit of game, to be captured or
massacred by lurking foes. MoulderingskuUsand
^skeletons, bleaching in some dark r,i\ ine, or near
the traces of a hunting camp, occasionally mark
the scene of ,1 foregone ai t of blooci, and let the
wanderer know the ilangerous nature of the region
he is traversing. It is the juirportof the hjUowing
(lages to narrate a month's excursion to these
noted hunting groi.nds, through a tract of country
which had not as yet been explored by white men.
It w.is early in October, lSj2, tliat I arrived at
I'.irt (lilison, a frontier post of the Far West,
situated on the Neosho, or (iraiul River, near its
cunihience witli the Ark.msas, 1 had been irav el-
■' fHi!lilJ£
vm.
M^-
,|;.ii'-i:ii
488
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
m^^
Vnv^ for ,1 nifinlh past, with .1 sninll party from St.
Louis, 11]) the l)ani<s of the Missouri, and aloni;
the frortier hue of ai^eiieies and missions that
extends from the Missouri to the Arkansas. Our
party was hiatled by one of tb.e Commissioners
appointed by the j^overnmeiit of tlie 1,'nited States
t<j superintend ti\e settlement of the Indian tril)es
migrating; from the ca^^t to the west of the Missis-
sippi. In the (hscharL;e of his duties, he was tiuis
viiitin;^ tlie various outposts of ci\ihzalion.
And here let mo bear testimony to the merits
of this worthy leader of our little band, lie was
a n.itive of one of the towns of Connecticut, a
man in whom a course of le^'al ])ractice and jio-
litical life had not been able to \itiatc an inrate
siniplicity and benevolence of heart. The !.;reater
])art of his tlays had been passed in the bosom of
his family anil the society of deacons, eh.lers, and
selectmen, on the peaceful banks of the Connec-
ticut ; when suddenly he had been railed to
mount his steed, shoulder his ritle, and mini^le
among stark hunters, backwoodsmen, and n.iked
sa\'.is^es, on the tr.ickless wilds of tiie i'"ar West.
Another of my fellow-travellers was Mr. I,., an
I'ni^lisiiman by birth, but ilescended froui a for-
cii;n stock ; and who had all the buoyancy and
accommodating spirit of a native of the Conti-
nent. I lavin;^ rand)led over many countries, he
had become, to a certain degree, .1 citizen of the
world, easily adaptin;^' himself to ;',ny chanL;e.
He was a man of a thousand occupations ; a
botanist, a geoloj^ist, a hunter of beetles and but-
terflies, a musical amateur, a sketcher of no me.m
pretensions, in short, a complete virtuoso ; added
to which, ho was a very indefatigable, if not al-
ways a very successful, sjiortsman. Never had a
man more irons in the lire, and, consecpiently,
never was man more busy nor more cheerful.
My third fellow-traveller was <ine who h.id ,-ic-
companied the former from Murope, an<l travelled
with him as his Tclemachus ; bein;^' -w* like his
prototype, to j;ivc occasional ])erple: i': and dis-
ijuiet to his Mentor. He was a yo .i;;^ Swiss
Count, scarce twenty-one years of a;^'c, full of
t:'.lent and spirit, but galliard in the extreme, and
prone to every kintl of wild adventure.
Having made this mention of my cimirades, I
must not pass over unnoticed, a personage of in-
ferior rank, l)ut of all-per\ading and pre\alent
iniport.mcc : the squire, the gioom, the cook,
the tent man, in a word, the factotimi, anil, I
may add, the universal meddler and marplot of
our party. This was a little swaithy, mc.igre,
French crcole, named Anloine, but familiarly
dubbed Tonish : a kind of Ciil lil.'.s of the fion-
tier, who had ])assed a scrambling life, some-
times among white men, s<uneiimes among In-
dians ? sometimes in the employ of trailers, mis-
sionaries, and Indian agents ; sometimes ming-
ling uilh the Osage hunters. We picked him up
at St. I.ouis, near which he had ;i small farm, aii
Indi.in wife, and a brood of half-blood diildren.
According to Ins own account, however, he had a
wife in every tribe ; in fact, if all this little '.aga*
bond said of himself were to be believed, he was
withcuil morals, without caste, without creed,
without country, ancl e\en without language ; for
he spoke ;i Jaigon of mingled Krench, J'jiglish,
and Osage, lie was, with.d, a notorious brag-
jr '.rt, and .1 liar of tlu- tirst w.iter. It was amus-
ing to liear him va|ior and gasconade about his
terrible exploits and hairbreadth escapes in war
and hunting. In the midst of his \dlubility, he
w.is prone to be seized by a spa-^niodic gasping,
as if the springs of h.is jaws were suddenly un-
hinged ; but I am apt to think it was c.iuscd I •
Some falsehood that stuck in his throat i ']
generally remarked that iminedialciv afiiriv ,1
there bolted forth ;i lie of the tirst iiiai'iiitud' ""'
(Jur route hail been a pleasant one, (nur' p. .
ourselves, occasionally, at the widely si.'i,';i'ni ']
establishments of the Indian missionaries br
general camping out in the fine groves that I'ji'r^
der the streams, and sleei)ing iindcr ciiviTi,f a
tent. During the Litter jiart of our tour we hiul
pressed forward, in hopes of arriving in time i-
Fort (iibson to accompany the Osage IuiiUitsit
their autumnal \isit to the bufi'.ilo piairiis. l-,
deed the imagination of the youiig Count li.u! ij..
come completely excited on the subject. Th'
grand scenery and wild habits of the piairiis haj
set his spirits madding, and the stories ihallitil^
Tonish told him of Indian braves anil huiia'!
beauties, of hunting luiffaloes and calcliin" wilj
horses, had set him all agog for a da^h inui s,;v.
age life, lie was a bold and hard riiltr, a.i,i
longed to be scouring the hunting groiinils. ]•
was amuiing to hear his youthful anlici|r't!ijin ui
.all that he was to see, and dt>, and enjiiv, nh-,;i
mingling among the Indians and pariiiip.uir. •■ ;:i
their hardy adventures ; and it \v,is still m,,i .
amusing to listen to the gasconailiiigs iif hu
Tonish. who \olunteered to be his f.iiiliful sqiiiro
in all his perilous undertakings; to IimiIi him
how to catch the wild horse, bring down ;hj
buffalo, and win the smiles of Indian princcbsis ;
— " And if we can only get sight of a ])rairic on
fire ! " said the young Count — ■' lly tiar, I'll si.;
one on tire myself! " cried the little Frenchm.r..
CIIAl'TI'.R ir.
^hitici/',7tio>!S Dis,7/'f'oiriti\!. — .\'r;;' J'i'.ins. — Pir/<iii;:ti.r'
h> ji'in tin /■ix/'ioriiii,' /\irly. — I)i'/>artNr,' jidih 1,'i!
C,il<s.,ii.— lording 0/ llu- l\i\!i.^'ri.-,. — .//; liiJi.:ii c.;:,.
//. r.
TlIK anticipations of a young man arc prone ;i
meet with disappointment. I'nfortunalely I't
the Count's scheme of wild campaigning, befurj
we reached the end of our journey, we he.irJ
that the Osage hunters had set forth ii|Kia thea
exjiedition to the buffalo grounds. The Cii.ir.t
still determined, if jiossible, to follov im tiiea
track and overtake them, and for this i)i;r|"i;c
stop])ed short at the Osage y\gency, a few milis
distant from Fiut (iibson, to make inquiries ?.':.\
preparations. His travelling com|)ani<in, Mr. 1...
slo|)ptil with him ; wliile the ^ iinmiissioner a:iJ
myself proceeded to Fiut (iibson, followed by ;1:j
f.iilhful and ver.icious Tonish. I liinleil to hmi
his promises to follow the Count in his cimp.ii^:'.-
ings, but 1 found the little varlet h.iil a keen eye
to self-interest. He was aware that the Ccininij-
sioner, from his official ilulies, would remain inr
a long time in the cminiry, and l?e likely 1 1 give
him permanent employ, .lent, while the sojoiiraut
the Count would be but transient. 'I'lie gas>:! n-
ading of the little braggart was suddenly ih-i:-
fore at an end. He spake not anoUier wonl !>
the young Count about Indians, buffiloes, r.r.J
wild' horses, but putting himself l.u'itly in il'.o
train of the (,'oinmissioner, jogged silently ;"■-;■
us to the garrison.
On arriving at the fut, however, a new ch.'.n e
y)rcsented itself for a cruise 01 the prairies. W'-
learnt th.it a company of mounted r.'.ngers. f.
riilemen, h.ul departed but three days pievioi;i
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
439
to m.ikc .1 wide cxplorinfT tour frmn the Ark.m-
- - 10 the l^i-'J Hivcr, inrliidint; a part of the
l^i'viK'i; hunting groiimls where no iiarty of white
•n had as yet penetrated. Here, then, was an
onnortiiniivofiMiit;ini,'"ver those dan-eroiis and
-vri.'sun'yr<-'t;ions under the safefjiiard of a pow-
-Miscort; foi' tiic Commissioner, in virtue of
1, oilice could claim the ser\ice of this newly
n^scci c()r])s of rillcmen, and the country they
■ Tu to explore w:is destined for the settlement
,f siiiiie of the niiL,'ratin<j tribes connected with
1;;5 mission.
(iiir plan was ])roniptly formed and put into ex-
irjliun. Ac()U|)le of Creek Indians were sent off
express, bv the commander of Fort (lihson, to
I vcrtako the rant,'ers and brin;^' them to a halt imtil
•' ■ Cor.imissioner and his party should be able to
■' n them. As we should have a m.irch of three
ir I'jur (lays through a wild country before we
cuiKi overtake the conijiany of rangers, an escort
(if fiiurtecn mounted rillemcn, under the com-
r.iriiul of .1 lieutenant, was assigned us,
\Vc sent word to the young Count and Mr. L,
r.t the Osage Agency, of our new plan and ])ros-
yccts. and invited them to accompany us. The
(.lant, however, could not forego the delights he
Ii:ul promised himself in mingling with absolutely
c.iva"e life. In I'c'l'ly, he agreed to keep with us
until we should come upon the trail of the Osage
luiRters, when it was his fixed resolve to strike ot'f
i;]!0 t!ie wilderness in inirsuit of them ; and his
f,ii;hu;l .Mentor, though he grieved at the matl-
r.0!5 of the scheme, was too stanch a friend to
ilcsL'rt liiin. A general rendezvous of our party
,-.nii escort was a]ipoinled, for the following r.iorn-
iiv,'. at the .Agency.
\Ve now made all arrangements for pnutipt de-
pwtare. Our baggage had liitherto been tran-
sai.rted on a light w.agon, but we were now to
b'ro.ik oitr way through an untr.avelled country,
c;;t i:p by rivers, ravines, and th.ickels, where a
vehicle of the kind would l)c a complete iin|)e(li-
D'.'nt. W'c were to ira\el on horseback, in hun-
ter's style, and with as little encumbrance as ])os-
Siblc. Our baggage, therefore, underwent a rigid
•inil most abstemious reduction. ,-\ ])air of sadille-
l.Mjj's, and those by no means crammetl, sulTiced
fir each man's scanty wardrobe, and, with his
p'e.itcoat, were to be carried ui)on the steed he
roiio. The rest of the baggage was ])laccd on
;^,ick-lKir:;es. I'lach one had .a bear-skin and a
couple of blankets for bedding, and there was a
tent to shelter us in case of sickness or bad
v.xalh.cr. We took care to pro\ide ourselves with
ilour, coffee, and sugar, together with a small
supply of salt • ' fv.r emergencies ; for our main
sjbsistencj we • ere t,' lepend Hi)on the cha^e.
Sufh '.I our horses as had not been tired (uit in
"ur recc It journey, were taken with us as i)ack-
l;'jr-e=, or , upernumeraries ; but as we were
t'nav; 'm •'. long and rough tou'', where there
wi:ul(i 1), occasional hunting, and where, in case
rf int^t'.ig w ith hostile savages, the safety of the
r.iur n'iglit ile])end u])on the goodness of his
r.e.i:, we took c. ire to be well mounted. I jiro-
cureil a stout .silver-gray; s( mewh;'.t rough, but
v.iiicliand powerful; and retained a harcly jiony
vhkli I had hitherto ridden, ami which, being
f uncwhat jaded, was sulVercd to ramble along
^wth the pack-horses, to be mounted only in case
oftmer^'ency.
All these arrangements being made, we left
lort (iibson, on the morning of the tenth of Octo-
I'cr, and crossing the river in the front of it, set
c:i lor the rendezvous at the Au;ency. A ride of
a few miles brought us to the ford of the Verdi-
gris, a wild rocky scene overhung with forest
trees. We descended to the bank of the river
and crossed in straggling file, the horses step[)ing
cautiously from rock to rock, and in a m. inner
feeling about for a foothold beneath the rushing
,ind brawling stream.
Our little ]'"renchm,nn, Tonish, brought up the
rear with the pack-horses. He was in high glee,
having experienced a kind of promotion, lu or.r
journey hitherto he hail driven the wagon, which
he .seemed to consider a very inferior employ ;
now he was master of the horse.
He sat iierched like a monkey behind the pack
on one of the horses ; he sang, he shouted, he
yelped like an Indian, and ever and anon bl.is-
])hemed the loitering pack-horses in his jargon of
mingled French, I'aiglish and Osage, which not
one of them could understand.
As we were crossing the ford we saw on the
opposite shore a Creek Indian on horseback. He
had paused to rcconnoilre us from the brow of a
rock, and formed a picturesque object, in unison
with the wild scenery around him. He wore a
bright blue hunting-shirt trimmed with scarlet
fringe ; a gayly colored handkerchief was bound
round his head something like .a turban, with one
end hanging down beside his ear ; he held a long
rille in his hand, and looked like a wild Arab on
the ])rowl. Our loipiacious and ever-meddling
little Frencliman called out to liim in his li.iby-
lonish jargon, but the savage having satisfied his
curiosity tossed his hand in the air, turned the
head of his steed, and galloping along the shore
soon disapi)eared Pinong the trees.
.I,:- Iniihui
fry., yv.
cnAi'T::R hi.
",■<■, Cr,;-ir, 7'i; /-
II.W'IN'r, crossed the ford, we soon reached the
Osage .'\gency, where Col. Chote.ai has his offices
and magazines, for the dispatch of Indian aflhirs,
and the distribution of presents and sup|)lies. It
consisted of a few log houses on the banks of the
river, and presented a motley frontier scene.
Here was our escort aw.'iiting (uir ari-i\al ; some
were on horseback, some on foot, some seated
on the trunks of fallen trees, some shooting at a
mark. They were a lieterogeneous crew ; some
in frock-coats made of green blankets ; others in
leathern hunting-shirts, but the most part in
mar\elh)Usly ill-cut garments, nuich the worse
for wear, and evidently ])ut on for ruggeil service.
Near by these was a grcuiji of Or,ages : statily
fellows ; stern and simple in garb and aspect.
They wore no ornaments; their dress consisted
merely of blankets, leggings, anil moccasons.
'I'heir heads were bare ; their hair was rro]iped
close, excei)ting a bristling ridge on the top, like
the (Tefit of a helmet, with <a long scalp lock h.mg-
ing behind. They had line Roman coi'.ntenaiii-e ;,
and broad deep chests; and, as they generally
wore their blankets wrapped round their loin-;, so
as to leave the bust and arms bare, they looked
like so many noble bronze figures. TheOs.iges
are the finest looking Indians I have ever seen in
the West. They ha\e not yieldeil sufficiently,
as yet, to the inlluence of civilization to lay by
their simple Indi.in garb, or to lose the h.iliits of
the hunter and the warrior; and their po\erty
-A
n
■
I KlfllBl
i
!
\
440
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
Si-
r '.;.
: lij;, '■ i'^ I
prevents their ir.clul;,'iny in much hixury of a[)-
l>:irfl.
In contrast to tlicsc was a ^aily (h'csscil party of
Crocks. There is soinethin;4, at tlic lirst ijlance,
(|iiite oriental in the appearance of tliis tribe.
They dress in calico huntin;^ shirts, of various
hrilhant coh)rs, decorated with hri;j;ht frincjes, and
l)elted with broad [,'irdies, embroidered with
heads: they have Icg;_;inj;s of dressetl deerskins,
or of green or scarlet cloth, with embroidered
knee-liands and tassels: their moccasons arc
fancifully wrought and ornamented, .Tnd 'they
wear gaudy liandkerchiefs t.iL^lefully hound rouiul
their heads.
liesides these, there was a sprinkling of traji-
jicrs. hunters, half-breeds, Creoles, negroes of
every hue ; and all that other rabble rout of non-
ilescript beings tliat keep ;\l)out the frontiers, be-
tween civilized and savage life, as those cqui\-ocnl
liirds, the bats, hover about the confines cf light
and darkness.
The little h. unlet of the -Agency was in a com-
plete bustle ; the blacksmith's shed, in particular,
was ;i scene of prep.iration : a strapping negro was
shoeing a horse ; two half-bi'eeds were fabricating
iron spoons in which to melt lead for bullets. An
old trapper, in leathern hunting frock and moc-
casons, liad ])laced his rille against a work-bench,
while he superintendi'd the operation, and gos-
siped :d)out his hunting ex])loits ; several large
dogs were lounging in and out of the shop, or
sleeping in the sunshine, while a little cur, with
head cocked on one side, and one car erect, was
watching, witli that curiosity common to little
dogs, tlie process of shoeing the horse, as if
studying the art, or waiting for his turn to be
shod'.
We found the Count and his conijianion, the
\'irtuoso, ready for the march. As they intended
to o\ertake the Osages, .and jiass some time in
hunting the butT:'.lo anil the wild horse, they had
])ro\ided themselves accordingly ; having, in ad-
dition to the steeds which they used for travelling,
others of jjrime c[ualit\', which were to be led
when on the marcli, antl (mly to be mounted for
the ch:ise.
They had, moreover, engaged the ser\ ices r.f a
young man named Antoine, a half-breed of
French and ()s;ige origin. He w.is to lie a kind
of Jack-ot'- .'ill-work ; to cook, to hunt, and to
take care of the horses ; but he had a \ehement
propensity to do nothing, being one of the worth-
less lirood engendered and brought x\\i ,''.mong the'
missions. lie was, moreover, a little spoiled by
being really a liandsome young fellow, an Adonis
of the frontier, and still worse by fancying him-
self highly connected, his sister being concubine
to an opulent white trader !
For our own jiarts, the Commissioner and my-
self were desirous, bet'ore setting out, to procure
another atter;'-int well versed in woodcrrift, who
might serve ,is is a hunter ; for our httlc Frencii-
nian would iia\ ^ :^ ■• h mds full when in camp, in
cooking, and on ti;c ni.irjh, in t.i'.:ing care of the
pack-horses. Such a i ■ i e presented himself, (,|-
rather was rccoiamended to us, i'l I'ierre Heatti^,
a h:dt"-l)ree(l r\ I r? ti, I. nnd 'V -gc parentage.
We were ; ■.r. d t i it lie v.. is ■ic|u.;j:V. 'd with -.''i]
parts of die c;e I'ir . having traverse I it in all cii-
of deer skin, soiled and greased, ami .ilnvH'
j.apanned by constant use. lie was npparin'''
•about tliirty-si.x years of .igc, sipiare and struiv''''
built, I lis fe:Uures were not b.ul, hiMH" s,l,;ip';i
not unlike those of Naiioleon, but sharpened ni
with high Indian cheek boms. I'crliaps t's
dusky greenish hue of his complexion, aided Iv;
resemblance to an old bronze bust 1 had seen ('f
the Fmperor. He had, however, a stillcn, satur-
nine ex|)ression, set off by a slouched \voulli,:i
h:U, and elf locks that hung aljout his cars.
Such was the ajipearanco of the ni.ui, and hi-
manners were cipially unprepossessing. He Mu-
coid and laconic ; made no jironiises or prnfw.
sions ; stated the terms he reipiireil for the Sf.
vices of himself and his horse, which we tlioii-i'.t
rather high, but slunveil no disjiosition to alw;'
them, nor any anxiety to secure our empluv"
1 le had altogether more of the red than the \vh;io
man in his composition ; and, as I li.id been
tuight to look upon all h:ilfd)reeds with distri;.!
as an uncertain and fai'iless :-ace, 1 vvoidd j;l,K;iv
h:ive dispensed with the ser\ ices i-.i I'iirre lle;Utc.
We had no time, however, to look out for.inver.e
more to our taste, and h.ul to ui.ike an arr,-i:i^v-
ment with h.iin on the s|)ot. ile then set al)n;:t
making his prep;irations for the journey, promia-
ing to join us at our evening's eucanipnient.
Dne thing was yet wanting to tit me out for the
Prairies — a thoroughly trustworthy steed: 1 \v;ii
not yet mounted to my mind. The gr.iy 1 h;(d
bought, though strong and serviceable, was rou^h.
At the last moment 1 succeeded in ge'ttiiv,' an ix-
cellent animal ; a dark bay ; ])ov\crfr,l, activi.',
generous-spirited, and in c:ipital cnndition. 1
mounted him with exultation, and tr;insferred tlio
silver gray to Tonish, who vv;is in such eesl,"-;- i
at finding himself so completely I'/V ( '.?r',?//iT, that
I feared he mi;';ht realize tlvj ancient ,Tiid vvil-
l::iovvn proverb of'" a beggar on lioriebaek."
rcciions, both
III liun'mg and 'wir jiarlies
he wmild be o'" ;i-.e ' "tii .isguide .and inter;in.'ter,
and th;it he was a cr- ra l^ri' r.
I confess I <lid not n^e '•- ' loks v . ;ie was
first pr'sentid to e. •. Iii . ,-. lounging about,
in an (.'Id huntinj^ frock n 1 !ic.i,ajsei or leggings.
CIIAl'T!-.!^ r
7/'/t* /'r'',:r,'/iri:
Tirr. long-drawn notes of a liuglo at le:v;;Ii fr-"0
the signal for deiiarture. The rangers tiled off in
a straggling line of march ihrougli the woodi:
we were soon on htu'seback and followiivg on, l)i;t
were detained by the irregiihirity of the pack-
horses. They were unaccustomed to keep the
line, and straggled from side to side ^unonj; tlio
thickets, in spite of all the pestingaml hcilevilin„'
of Tonish ; v,ho, mounted o;v his g.illant gm\
with a long rille on his shoulder, worried .ilt.T
ihcm, bestowing a superabund;UKe of dry blcws
and curses.
We soon, therefore, lost sight of ovr eseort.hut
managed to keep on their track, tliruldin;; loi;y
forests, and entangled thickets, and pasbiii;,; by
Indian wigwams and negio huts, until touarJ
duTik we arrived at a frontier i'.irin-house. ownvil
by a settler of the name of rieirylulh It w;ti
situated on a hill, bciovv which the r.uigcrs h.ul
.■ncamped in a circular grove, on llu niaigiimf.i
stream. The master of tlie house lecetvcd is
civilly, hut could offer us no accommud.it'on, li'r
sickness prevailed in his family. He aj.|K';iiea
himself to be in no very thriving conuiiion, !o:
though bulky in frame, he had ;i salliw, i:i.-
healthy complexion, and a v 'aifiling douhlj \c.\a\
shifting abruptly from a treble to j tlioroi.jh-
llUSi,
A. .<-■ - 1 "
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
441
lo at Ic:-;-;;i pre
iiij;cri lilcd otf in
oUL'Ji tlie wouils:
folliiuir,;^ on. 1)!.::
■ity (if tliL' pack-
ncd I.) keep ilie
i) side ;sm(in;' til'
1,:,' ar.d licdevilinr,'
lii-i j^all.iiit gray,
LT, v.cirriii.1 alt.i'
ncc of drv b!c«3
F'ndin" liii' '"^^ house was a incrc hospital,
. ded wi'l' invalids, wc ordered our tent to be
'i^Ulintiicfiirm-yard.
\Vc had not been long cncamiicd, wlicn our
. „ ntlv cn"agi-''l attendant, ISeatte, tbe Usage
I'f.'lia'cd, "made his appearance. He came
'.'■•.nicd on one horse antl leading another, whicli
!'.T.icd to he well packed witli supplies for the
""••(lition. iJeatte was evidently an "old sol-
' 'r"'''as '0 the art of taking care of himself and
■ ';in''oiit for emergencies. Finding that he was
:.. !-invnimcnt employ, being engaged by the
"■ ,?„„issioncr, he had drawn rations of flour and
ii jr.. and put them up so as to be weather-
r-of.' hi addition to the horse for the road, and
l.'ordin:u-y service, which was a rough, liardy
•' "'al, lie had another for hunting. 'I'his was of
^i'xcd breed like himself, being a cross of the
ii/iiicstic slock with the wild horse c f the prairies ;
,„j;i noble steed it was, of generous spirit, fine
•icaon, and ad:nirable bottom. He had taken
ere to have his horses well shod ;;t the Agency,
lio came prepared at all points for war or hunl-
;--; his rille on his shoulder, his powder-horn
■Ji b'jllet-poueh at his side, his hunting-knife
-;;;cli in his belt, and coils of cord.age at his satl-
di; bow, which we were told were lariats, or
r.iisod cords, used in catching tne wild horse.
Tlius equipped and provided, an Indian hunter
CT, a prairie is like a cruiser on thi ocean, j)er-
Icc'.ly independent of the world, and competent
t.sj.f-protection and self-maintenance. He can
I,;,; himself loose from every one, shape his own
c:.;r;e, and take care of his own fortunes. I
th.'.'.-'ht ISeatte seemed to feci his independence,
;n(l to consider himself superior t(3 us all, now
l;!.it we were launching into the wilderness. He
r..iin;ained a half jn'oud, half sidlen look, and
.rca: taciturnity, and his iirst care was to impack
;;:; horses and put them in sale tjuarters for the
.•■.:;h;. His whole demeanor was in ])erfect con-
•.:;:: to oi:r \aporiiig, chattering, l.uistling little
Frenchman. The latter, too, seenietl jealous of
;;':; r.cw-conier. He v.hispered to us that these
i-.,i'.!'-breed3 were a touchy, capricious (leople, lit-
;'.. to be depended upon. That llcatte had evi-
d-,-.:ly come prepared to take care of himself,
:.:;d that, at any moment in the course of our
tour, he woulil be liable to take some sudden dis-
j'.;3t or att'ront, and abandon us at a mcunent's
f.irning: havirg the means of shifting for him-
ieif, and being perfectly at home on the prairies.
CHAPTER V.
■y-vliiT Scenes.— A l.yniri^ii! of the Hoidey. — /a'iu/i's
l.iw.— Vic Danger of Finding a Horse. — The Vouiig
OX the following morning (October I (\ we were
".the march by half-past seeen o'clock, and rode
'./.:ot);^li deep rich bottoms of alhnial soil, over-
-•ro-.vnwidi redutidant vegetation, and '.rees of an
r.ormous size. Our route lay parallel to the
^-i! bank of the Arkansas, on the liorders of
'.::ch r'ver, near the conlluence of the Red Fork,
'.- exijccted to overtake the main b.jdy of ran-
.'•.tn For some miles the country was sprinkled
';th Creek yill.iges and farm-houses; the inhabi-
■-■'3 of which appeared to have adopted, with
tisiderable facility, the rudiments of civiliza-
■ 5!i. and to have thriveia m consequen'-e. Their
:;rpis were well stocked, and their houses had a
-jivcf comfort anu abundance.
We met with numbers of them returning from
one of their grand games of ball, for which their
nation is celebrated. Some were on foot, some
on horseback ; the latter, occasionally, with gay-
ly dressed females behind them. They are a
well-made rtice, muscular and closely knit, with
well-turned thighs and legs. They ha\e a gyp'sy
fondness f >r brilliant colors and gay decorations,
and are bright and fanciful objects when seen at
a distance on the prairies. One had a scarlet
handkerchief bound rouiul his head, surmounted
with a tuft of black feathers like a cocktail. A;i-
other had .a white handkerchief, with red leathers;
while a third, for want of ;i plume, h.id stuck in
his turban ;i brilliant bunch of sumtich.
On the \erge of the wilderness we ji.iused to
inquire our way at a log house, owiied by .a white
settler (jr sipiatter, a tall raw-boned old fellow,
with red hair, a lank lantern visage, and an in\et-
erate li.diit of winking with one eye, as if every-
thing he said was of knowing impiu't. He was in
a towering passion. (.)ne of his horses was miss-
ing ; he was sure it had been stolen in the night
by a straggling ptirty of Osages encamped in a
neigliboring swamp ; but he would have satisfac-
tion ! He would in. dee an example of the vil-
lains. He had accordingly ctiuglit down his rille
froir. the w:ill,that invarial)le enforcer of right or
wrong upon the frontiers, and', h.iving stuldled his
steed, was about to sally forth o\\ a fortiy into the
sw.imp ; while .a brother squatter, with rille in
han<l, stood ready to accompany him.
Wc endeavoreil to calm the oh' campaigner of
the prairies, by suggesting that his lu)rse might
have strayed into the neigldioring woods ; but he
had the frontier propensity to charge e\erything
to the Indians, and nothing could dissuade him
from carrying fire and sword into the swamp.
After riding a few miles fartlier we lost the
trail of tbe main body of r.uigers, and became
perplexed by .a variety of tracks nitule by the In-
dians and settlors. .At length coming to a log
house, inhabited by a white man, the \ery hist on
the frontier, we found that we had wandered from
our true course. Taking us back Uix some diri-
tance, he again brought us tcj the ri:;ht trail ;
]nitting ourselves upon wh'ch, we took our fm.d
departure, and launched into the broad wihler-
ness.
The trail kejit on like a str.aggling foolpaiii,
over hill and dale, through brush an<l brake, an>.
tangled thicket, and open prairie. In traversing,
the wilds it is customary for a party either (jl
horse or foot lo follow each other in single fdc
like the Indians ; so that the leaders break 'i^:
way for those who follow, and lessen their 1,.' «r
and fatigue. In this way, also, the number of a
party is C(uicealed, the whole leaving bi. one
narrow well-traiii|)led tr.ack to mark their c arse.
We had not long regained the trail, when, on
emerging from a forest, we beheld our raw boned,
hard-wink'ng, h.ird-riding knight-errant of the
frontier, di^scending tlie slojie of a hill, follow .^d
by his companion in arms. As he drew near to
us, the gauntness of his figure and luefulr.eis ol
his .aspect reminded me of the description of the
hero of La Mancha, and he was ecpt. illy bent on
affairs of doughty enterpris. , being about to pen. -
trate Oie thickets of the perilous swamp, wu'!!n
which the enemy lay ensconced.
While we were holding a jiailey with him o:i
the slf)pe of the hill, we descried an ()• age on
horseback issuing out of a skirt of wood al)out
half ;i mile off. and leading a horse bv a haker.
' I 'iln
jiAL
\
f
^^ ll'iJ; fi
f ll. > 1 1*
1% 'f
■ (f
< (
1. i
The kuter was iniroedi
it,.i,.
... _,
iii/.ed by our
,':r
442
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
^'■til:!ii:i
'■■f * " ■ »
lii:?^
*('M*
h.'iid-uinkin;,' friend .is the steed of which he was
in (|ucst. As llio Osaj^e drew near, I was struck
witli his appearance. He was about nineteen oi'
twenty years of a;4e,but well j;rown, with th.e fine
Roman countenance conunon to Iiis tribe, and as
he rode with his l)lanket wrapped rouml his loins,
his naked Ijust would have furnished a model for
a statuary. He was moiuUed on a be.iutiful ])ie-
bald horse, a mottled white and brown, of the
wild breed of the i)r,uries, decoratetl with a broad
collar, from which luuv^' in front a tuft of horse-
hair lived of a brij^lit scarlet.
The youtli rode slowly up to \is with a frank
ojienair, and si;;iiilied by means of our interpreter
llealte, that the horse he w.is leading' had wari-
dered to tlieir cam]), and he was now on his way
to conduct liim back to his ouner.
I liad expected to witness an expression of
gratitude on the ])art of our har<l-favored civalier,
but to my surprise the (ild fellow broke out into a
furious passion. He declai-cd that the Indians
had carried olf his horse in the niL;ht, witii the
intention of bringin;.; him home in the morning',
and claimint; a reward for tindini; liim ; a com-
mon practice, as he aflirmed, amon;^ the Indians.
He was, therefore, for tyiiiL; the youn;.^ Indi.in to
ti tree and j;ivin^' him a sound lashing ; and was
C[uite surprisetl at the burst of indiijnation which
this novel moile of requitinj; a service drew front
lis. Such, however, is too often the administra-
tion of law on the frontier, " l.ynch's law," as it is
technically termed, in which the iilaintitf is apt to
be witness, jury, jud};e, and executioner, and the
defendant to bo convicted and pvmished un mere
l)resum[)tiou : and in tins way, I am convinced,
are occasioned many of those lieart-burnini^s and
resentments among the Indians, which lend to
retaliation, and end in Indian wars. ^Vhen I
compared the open, noble countenance and frank
demeanor of the young ( 'sage, with the sinister \is-
ago and high-handed conduct of the frontiersman,
1 felt little doubt on whose back a lash would be
most meritoriously bestowed.
Being thus obliged to content himself with the
recovery of his horse, without the pleasure of
(lugging the (inder into the bargain, the old l.ycur-
gus, or r:'.ther Draco, ol the frontier, set off growl-
ing on his return homeward, followed by his
brother si|uatter.
As for the youthful Osage, we were all ]nepos-
scssed in his favor ; the young Count especially,
with the sympathies proper to his ago and inci-
<lent to his character, had taken i[uite a fancy to
him. Nothing would suit but he must have the
young Osage as a companion and squire in his
expedition into the wilderness. The youth was
easily tempted, and, with tiie prospect of a safe
range over the buffalo prairies anil the jiromise of
a new blanket, he turned his bridle, l:ft the
swamp and the encampment of his friends behind
him, and set olf to follow the Count in his wander-
ings in quest of the Osage hunters.
Such is the glorious independence of man in .a
savage state. This youth, with his ritle, his bl.m-
l;et, and hisluu'se, was ready at a moment's warn-
ing to ro\e the wmld ; he carried all his worldly
effects with him, .and in the absence of artificial
wants, possessed tho great secret of personal
freedom. \Vc of society are slaves, not so much
to others as to ourselves ; our siipertUiitiesare the
chains that bind us, impeding every movement
of our bodies and thwarting every impulse of our
souls. Such, at least, uere my speculations at
the time, tliough I am not sure but that they took
their tone from the enthusiasm of tho ^oung
Count, who seemed more enchnntcd th,in c .
wiih the wild chivalry of the iirairics, and iilk"
of i)utting on the Indian dress and addptini- ■i'-
Indian habits during the time he liope^d tuV'
with the Osages. •'''"
CHAPTKR \[.
Tfiii! of llw Os.ixc llundrs. — I1fp,ii-ti(i-f rf tht f.n-ir'
/lis l\irtv. — .7 I>is,-rt,\i \\\ir r;,;«/A j \\,^''{'''
■ft I- ^ J / ■ ■ ' t *'^fiiiuij.:
— J /le I.mttmp/neiit,
l.V the ccnirsc of the morning tiic trail wc u'-.
pursuing was crossed by another, which striicUij
through the forest to the west in a direct cmir.
for the Arkansas River, lieatte, our liali'-bicjj
aUer considering it for a miunent. iir'/nouncid .i
the trail of the Osage hunters ; and that it r.v^'
lead to the ])lace where they had forded tlieriw
on iheir way to the hunting groiuuls.
Here then the young Count and his cnmn.in.tn
-ame to a halt and pre])ared to take leave tt i:-!
'1 he most exj)erienced frontiersmen in ilie trotn
remonstrated on the hazard of the uiulcrtak-.r. ■.
They were about to throw themselves li/Oic in ;!v
wilderness, with no other guides, guards, or ,t-
tendants, than a young ignorant half-breed, .ir.d
a still younger Indi.an. They were cmharr.iJMii
by a pack-horse and two led horses, wiih ■.vl;:cii
they would have to make their way through ih.t.-
ted forests, and across rivers and niorassts. The
Osages and Pawnees were at war, and tliev mi;;iit
fall in with some warrior parly of the latter, ulu
are ferocious foes ; besides, their small mimbir,
and their valuable horses W(uild funii a f;rc,it
temptation to some of the stragi;liiig Linds 'i
Osages loitering about the frontier, who mi;,lu le'i
them of their horses in the night, and leave tii^in
destitute and on foot in the niiilst of the iiiairios,
Nothing, howe\-er, could restrain ihe nanantic
,irdor of the Count for a cam]),iign of hiilialu hunt-
ing with the Osages, and he h.ul a gaiiv: spirit
that seemed nlw;,ys stimulated by the idea of
danger. His trtivelling comp.inion. of discrccttr
age and ctilmer temperament, was convinced if
the rashness of the enlerpi-ise ; but he cdulil nut
control the 'mpetuous ze.'d of his joiiihful friend,
and he was too loyal to leave him to pursue Ids
hazardous scheme alone. To our great rei;rci,
therefore, we stiw them abandon the pnitcttiin
of our escort, and strike off on their hap-lia:?.ra
I'xpedition. The old hunters of our party sliuk
their h.eads, and our half-breed, ISeallo. pa-
dieted all kinds of trouble to them ; myonh !:;'-■
was, that they would soon meet with ]ierple\.t.i.5
enough to cool the impetuosity of the mu;'.;
Count, and Induce him to rejoin us. With t!;:-
idea we travelleil slowly, and mailea consideiv.i !e
halt at noon. After resuming our iiiaixh. '.vo
came in sight of the Arktmsas. It presented a
i)ro.id ;ind rapid stre-am, l)ordered by a licaeh ■:
hue sand, overgrown with willows and cuttcn-
wood trees. Heyond the river, the eye u.nni'eral
over a beautiful chamiiaign country, of lloweiy
])lains and sloping ui)le.nds, diversified hv i,'rivi.5
and clumps of trees, and long screens ol wecv;-
land ; the whole wearing the aspect of coiiiplcto,
aiul even ornamental cultivation, instead ol n.i-
tive wildness. Not far from the ri\er, on amfeR
eminence, wc passed through the recently ee-
sorted camping place of an Osage «.u' I'^ir'V
The frames of the tents or wigwams remainci..
consisting of polos bent into an arch, wiili i-'-"^''
w
A TOUR OX THE PRAIRIES.
443
n(l5tuck into tlic ground ; these are intenvincd
•h iHi"s at"' br.iiichcs, and covered wiih hark
! i skiii>. 'I'x'^'^ experienced in Indian lure,
f' ,,-^.^.rt,'lill tiic tribe, and «lietlier on a luintini;
''Vu'.irlilic expedition, by the siiape and dispo-
■ „niiftiie «i,:;\vams. lieatte pointed out to us,
the piest-iit skeleton camp, the wigwam in
• vi-li the chiefs liad held their consultations
■' '.ml lilt' cDimcil-tire ; and an open area, well
.-iii|ili.'l down, "i> *vhich the grand war-dance
luiibaMi perlbrnied.
rur^uinj; <'nr journey, as we were ])assni(;
•■.-ii'h It iDiest, we were met by a forlorn, half-
■■ ■ iiioil (111.;. wlii> came rambling along the trail,
ii-.hinlbmcdeyes, and bewildereil look. Though
r.'Vlv tnuiiplt'd upon by the foremost rangers, he
"i niiticc of no one, but rambled heeiUessly
rrn^'the horses. The cry of" mad dog" was
'•'-".icdiaU'lv raised, and one of the r.mgers levelled
i- i riili, Init was stayed by the ever-ready hu-
Ri:i!:vof tlie Commissioner. "He is blind!"
;';!lii.'. '' It is the dog of some poor Indian, fol-
1 vi:v; his master by the scent. It would be a
^h'.moto kill so faithfid an animal." The ranger
;h''.;!'Ii-'i'i.'d his rille, the dog bUmdered blindly
!:i::ii,'h the cavalcade unhurt, and kce])ing his
;■ .,c to the ground, continued his course along
iii tr.til, affording a rare instance of a ilog siu'-
i:vi:-.i;.i bad name.
.Vbiiiit three o'clock, we came to a recent
cniiiiiv^-place of the company of rangers : the
br.wi's of one of their tires were still smoking ;
sj that, accord uig to the opinion of Heatte, they
c aid not have jjassed an above a day previously.
As there was a tine stream of water close by. and
li.'atvof pea-vines for the horses, we encamped
i;;r.'iiir the ni.,ht.
We had nut been here long, when we hcai'd a
i:,i!!o:) from a distance, and beheld the young
C ijnt and his |)arty advancing through the fcu'est.
\\V "clciiined them to the camp with heartfelt
■v.isf.ictiiia ; tor their departure upon so h.azard-
cu-^iaexpLditiiin had caused us great inieasiness.
;\ jhurt experiment had con\ inccd them of the
t'\I .iiul difficulty of inexperienced traveller^ like
:homscives making their way through tlv wihler-
r.ojwith such a train of horses, and such slender
,r,i;nd.iiirc. I'ortimately, they determined to re-
imiis hcfore niglitfall ; one night's camping o\it
r.-.i^ht. have cost them their horses. The Count
hi prevailed upon his protege and csipiire, the
yaiin,:,' Osa^'c, to continue with him, and still cal-
cdaied upon achieving great exploits, with his as-
sistance, on the buflalo prairies.
CIIAl'TMR VII.
IhU III the 1 1 ■,•.),/.(. — I ( \h',f;.i>i.i .ScYH,:—0.u
—Os.i^v I'lsil^'rs ,it our I.vcnln:^ C\imJ>.
I -.ll.u
Ix the morning early (October 12th), the two
Crocks wiiu had lieen sent express by the com-
maderof Furt Clibson, to stop the conijjany of
r.in^eri, arrived at our encampment on their
return. They had left the company encamjied
:./iiit lifty miles distant, in a line ])lace 011 the
Arkansas, abounding in game, where they in-
: :;ded to await our arrival. This news sjiread an-
■ r.iontliroii;.;hout our p,,rty, and we set out oii
• inarch at sunrise, with renewed spirit.
■:i ainiinting our steeds, the young O'-.age at-
■"••p-d tu throw a blaukct upon lus wild liorse.
The fine, sensible animal took friglit, reared and
recoiled. The attituilesof the wild horse and the
almost naked savage, would h.ave formed .-)tudies
for a painter or a statuary.
I often pleasetl myself in the course of our
march, witli noticing the appi'arance of the ycning
Count and his newly enlisted follower, as they
rode befoie me. .Never w.is prcux clie\alicr bet-
ter suited with an es([uire. The Count was well
mounted, and, as I have before observed, was .a
bold and graceful rider. He was fiuid, too, of
caracoling his horse, and d.ishing abmit in the
buoyancy of youthful spirits. His dress was a
gay Indian hunting ficiik of dressed deer skin,
setting well to the shape, dyed of a beautiful
purple, and fancifully embroidered with silks of
various colors ; as if it had been the work of some
Indi.rn beauty, to decorate a favorite chief. With
this he wore leathern pant.iloons ;ind moccasons,
a ior.iging cap, .ind a double-b.arrelled gun slung
by a b.indtdeer athwart his hack : so that he was
cpiite a |)ictures([\ie ligure as he managed grace-
fully his sjjirited steed.
The yiuing Osage would ride close behii.d him
on his wild and beautifully mottled horse, which
w.is decorated with crimson tufts of hair, lie
rode with his tlnely sha[)ed head and bust naked;
his blanke-t being girt round his waist. He car-
ried his rille in one hand, and managed his horse
with the other, and seemed ready to dash off at a
miunent's warning, with his youthful le.uler, on
any madcap foray or scam|)Cr. The Count, with
tiio sanguine anticipations of youth, ])roniised
hiins'i'many hardy adventures and • ■., l-its in
comp.iuy with his youthful •■l)ra\e ' ^•.::'. we
should get amoiiL' the but'faloes, in ii- . ..". nee
hunting grounds.
After riding some distance, we crosseil .a nar-
row, dei-p stream, upon a solid bridge, the re-
mains of an old l)e.iver d.ani ; the industrious
< immunity whic!) had constructed it had .dl been
destroyed. Above us, a streaming llighl of wild
geese, high in the air, and making a vocit'erous
noise, ga\e note of the waning year.
About half past ten o'clock we made a halt in
a forest, where there w.is abund.ince (jf the ])ea-
vine. Here we turned the liorses loose to graze.
A tire was nadc. water ])rocured fnuu an atlja-
cent spring, .and in a short timeoui- little French-
man, Tonish, had a ])ot of coffee ]u-;'pared for
(uir refreshment. While jiartaking of it, we weie
joined by an old Osage, one of a sm.'.H hunting
pir;y who h.id recently passed tin-, way. He
W.IS in search of his horse, which h id uanderetl
awa\', lu' been st(den. Our h.ilf-breed, lieatte,
matle a wry Lick: on hearing of Os.ige hunters in
this <lirection. " I'ntil we ])a.-s tho^e hunters,"
^,ud he, '■ we shall see no l)Ullaliie-,. They
frighten away ever\- thing, like a pi.'.ine o\\ tire."
Idle morning re[)ast lieing over, the party
amused themselves in various w.iys. Some shot
with their rides ;\t a mark, others lay asleep half
ouried in the deep bed of foli.ige, with their head.;
resting on their saddles ; others gos,-.i|)ed roimd
tiio lire at the foot of a tree, whi(di sent up wreaths
(.f blue smoke .among the braiudie-, The horses
baiKpieted luxuriously on the pea-vines, and some
l,iy (iown anil ndled amongst them.
We were oversh.idowed by lol'.y trees, with
straight, smo(Uh trunks, like stately columns;
and as the glancing rays of t!ie sun slione through
the transparent lea\es, tinted wi'di the many-
colored hues of autumn, 1 w.is reminded of the
effect of sunshine among the stained windows and
clustering eoluiiiiis ut a Gothic e.iihedra.1. In-
.'J8i
4il
A TOUR OX THE PRAIRIES.
I mB 'i\
"1
deed tlicre is a ;,'rnrKlciir and solemnity in our
Sjiacioiis lV)rL-.ls of tlu' West, tliat aw.il<en in me
the sanu.' leelMii^ I liave expcrieiK ed in tliose vast
and \i.iu'ral)le piles, and tii<' souml of tiie wiiul
sweeping; ihroii.nh tiieni, siipp'ies oeeasionally tlie
deep lueatliin^'s of tlie oj'gan.
About niHin the hu^le siuinded to horse, and
\vc were a>;ain (ui the niarcli, ho|)in;^' to arrive at
the encanipnieiit of the rani;ers liefore ni;<ht ; as
the old ( >sa;;e liad assured us it was not above
ten or twelv e miles distant. In our course throuj^h
a forest, we passi'd by a lonelv jiool, covered with
the most ma'_;nilicent water-lilies I had e\er he-
held ; amon;4 which swam several wood-ducks,
one of the most beautiful of water-fowl, remark-
able for till! gracefulness and brilliancy of its
plumage.
After proceeding some distance farther, wc
came down upon the banks of the Arkansas, at a
])lace where tracks of numerous horses, all en-
tering the water, showed where a ])arly of Osage
hunters had recently crossed the river on their
way to the Itull'alo range. After letting our horses
ilrink in the river, we continued along its bank
for a space, and then across prairies, where we
saw a distant smoke, whicli ive hoped might pro-
ceed from the mcampinent of the rangers. Fol-
lowing what we sup|)osed to be their trail, we
came to .i meadow in whi^jli were a number of
horses grazing : they were not, liowe\er, the
horses of the troo]). A little farther on, we
reached a str.iggling Osage \illage, on the banks
of the Arkansas. Our arrixal created tiuiie ,i
•as.ition. A number of old men came forward
and slicok hands with us all se\erally ; while the
women i ■' hildren huddh.-d together in groups,
staring .'ii us wildly, chattering and laughing
among themselves. We found that all the yo\uig '
men of the \ill.ige had clepartt d on a himting ex- |
jiedition, leaving the wiunen and children and old I
men behind. Here the Com.nissioner made a i
speech fi(un on !u)rsel)ack : 'pforming his hearers j
of the purport of his mission , '(> jiron^ote a general j
jieace anviiig the tribes of Ji ■ \\'e ., and urging I
them to i.'y aside all warlik'' and bloodthirsty j
notions, and not to make any wanton attacks
U|)on the Pawnees. 'I'his speech being inter|ireted
by lieatte, seemed to have a most pacilying el'l'ecl
upon the nuillilude, who ])roniised laithfully that,
as far as in them lay, the ))eaee should not be
disturbed ; and indeed their age and sex gave
some reason to trust that they would kee|j llieir
word.
Still luiping to reach the cam]) of the rangers
before nightfall, we ])ushed on until twilight, when
we W(;re obliged to h.dt on the borders of a ravine.
The rangers bivouacked under trees, at the bot-
tom of the dell, while we pitched our tent on a
rocky knoll near a running stream. The night
came im dark and overcast, with llying clouds,
and much appearance of rain. The lires of the
rangers burnt brightly in the dell, and threw
strong massi's of light upon the robber-looking
groui)s that were cooking, eating, and drinking
around them. To add to the wildncss of the
scene, several Osage Indians, visitors from the
i.illage we h id ji.issed, were mingled among the
men. Tliree of ihem came a'vl seated themselves
by our lire, I'hey watched eery tiling that \*as
going on around them in silenc ;, and looked like |
figures of monumental bronze. We gave them I
food, and, what they most relished, coffee; for
the Intlians [)ail,\kc in the univ'is.il fondness for
this beverage, which perv^ides the West. When
they had made their si;pper, they stretched thetn-
selves, side by side, before the fire, and h^i
low nas.d chant, drumming uitli tluir hands v^
their breasts, by way of acriiin|i,uunicm ''■[•"''
cliaiit se'.-med to consist of ret;iil,ir slaves "■'
one terminating, not in a melodnnis cadcna vi'i
in the abrupt interjection huh! uiteral alnv"!
like a hiccuj). Tiiis diant, we were tdldlni^"!
interpreter, lieatte, related to ourselves, our t'
liear.mce, our treatment of them, and' all •?•
they knew of our ))lans. In one part tlnv.,,
of the young Count, whose animated tiiarlr'-
and eagerness for Indian enterprise had sir ^
their fancy, and they indulged in soiikmvi"-"
about him and the young Indian lieamii, "[! '.
produced great merriment among inirhall-liK,,!"
This mode of improvising is counmm thini; h!
out the s.ivage tribes; and in lliis way, with j
few simiile inllections of the voice, tlic'i'hiintail
their exploits in war and hunting, and (icc'asiun-
ally indulge in a vein of comic liiimnr and drv
satire, to which the Indians appear tDmcmjr'
more (irone than is generally imagined.
In fact, the In<lians that j ha\e had an nnpr.
tunity of seeing in real life are iinite diiilTtn
from those described in poetry. 'I'hey arc bv no
means the stoics that they are re|irese'nted ; vw-
turn, unbending, without a tear or a smile. l\:ii.
turn tiiey are, it is true, when in < ompanv h,;1;
white men, whose good-will tju'v (listnisi, :,:A
whose language they do not understand; l;;;t '.i;..
white man is ecpially taciturn under like circum-
stances. When the Indians are .iinijiK; ihu;;.
selves, however, there cannot be gi'eater ^ii-inii.
Half their time is taken up in t.ilking nvn thi.;
;uhentures in war and hunting, and in iciim^
whimsical stories. They are great mimics zd
bul'ibons, also, and entertain tliemsclves exces-
sively at the 'jxpense of the whites with when
they have associated, and who have suppo5ul
them impressed with profound rc-jieet fur i!ic;r
grandeur and dignity. They are curious ob-
servers, noting every thing in sileme, hut with. i
keen and watchful eye ; occasionally exclian^;ir.^
a glance or a grunt with cat;h other, when ar.v
thing j)articularly strikes tliem : hut reservin;,' .'iil
cmnments until they are alone. Then it is tha:
they give full scope to criticism, s.itire, mimicry,
and mirth.
In the course of my journey al'.mg tlie fronti.r.
I have had repeated opportunities of iioiiciR,;
their excitability and boisterous merriment at
their games ; and h.ive occasionally noticed a
group of Osages sitting rounti a tire until ahto
hour of the night, engaged in ilir most animated
aiul lively conversatimi ; ;inel at times makmL; ;ho
woods resouml with peals of laughter. .-\s ti
tears, they have them in abundance, both real
:intl affected ; at times they m.ike a merit of them.
No one weejis more bitterly or prol'uscly at the
tleath of a relative or friend : and tliey have stated
times when they repair to howl and lament at
their graves. 1 have hoard doleful wailings at
daybreak, in the neighboring Indian vilLyes
made by some of the inhabitants, who j,'o out at
that hour into the fields, to nvuirn andweeplM
the dead : at such times, I am toid. the tears will
stream down their clueks in torrents.
As far as I can judge, the Indi.ui of poetica!
liction is like the shepherd of p.isKual romance,
a mere personilication of imaginary aurihutes.
The nasal chant of our Osage giii sts jiradually
died awav; thev covereil their lieads with their
blankets and fel'l fast .asleep, and ci a httle while
all w.is silent, exeeinmg the pattering uf scattcriu
r.iiu-drops upon . ur tent.
A TOUR OX Till'; PRAIRIKS.
445
""MMniinunt, t '■
"l'';'"^ca,lcna,.;
'"'•' ■ '"l^'rcl aim ;;
l<' oursdvcs.ocr-.;
""■'". and ail .!-.
^<^n'n-,u had Sit' ;;
I'l 111 .soincMac-e'v
■xliiin licuitii.s,,,'-,
i?""j;<HiriialW,rc;V
IS tdininoniliroi;),;
'" "lis wnv, Mitli'a
voiaMlicy ,;],,„, ,;,
ltlll;-,^ :nHl occas.ur,.
iiiiL- luiinnr and in
•'i'i>'Mr lomeiiKcii
iiii'iK'ncd.
li^ivc jiad an nppor.
nrc i|uiie (li|i;,,„,;
!•>■• 'llK'yarcl)vrio
i-' iV|]ivsciuud ; tac;.
'^r 01- :i smile. Tad-
•11 in company «ith
ility (listni^f, p.nd
iniicrsinnd ; l.vjt :!.,;
iiiuler like ciicua'
5 arc amon;.; iliu;;-
be Ki'i--atLT';;ojS!ii5.
n talkin;; ovcrtli«
ing. and in tciiin:;
' Ki'i-'at mimics anil
thenistdvcs wccs-
whites with «li,.n
■ ho liavL- siippoiul
id rc-ijcct f(ir ihc:
■y arc curious '-b-
silence, butv.iihi
^iiinaily cxchanj.'ir,,'
,li mhcr, when ar.y
1 : but rcservinj; ail
ic. Tiicn it is'tlia:
in. satire, mimicry.
■ .-iIdii,:,' the fronii-.r,
unities of iioiicin,'
•Otis merriment .at
sion.illy r.oticed a
.1 a tire until a late
ilii- most animated
t times makin;,'the
f hui^diter. .As lo
ind.incc. Ijnth real
kc .a merit lit' thera.
ir |iri)l"uscly at the
ul they have stated
)\vl and lament at
iolcl'ul wailini;? at
; hnliaia vill.a^e-,
it.s. who ;,'i) out at
iiirii and weep lor
tdld, the tears «ii!
rrents.
Iiidi.m of poi'ti'
pastoral romance,
iiary attributes.
-■ ;;iicsls p-adii.ally
licads with iheir
id in a little while
x'riii.; of scattered
Indian visitors brcnkfastcd j
...Vmnrnin!; f^i"'
.'/but the vouiiK' Ona^o wlio was to act as
r''',rn)the Count in liis kiii^'iitcrrantry on llic
r''^ r, wis iiowlK'ro to be found. Ills wild
|P';:"'',',,,,^'ttns niis^in^;, and, .-iftc'r many con-
l'"'"-' '_ -,,„,.. I,, ilw conclusion tliat lie liad
c
that lie had lieeu |)er-
llie (»sa^;cs we liad recently
was nus^in
;^'^;^^, wc came to the
Uk^n ' ' '
•''■"-"■•' Indian leave " of us in the niiiht. \V
ijserw.irds asrert.nnc
..'■itd so to di , , , ■ , ■,
Miitb' who had represented to hun the penis
f:. „,„u|',i attend him in an expi'flition to the
r'na^e hunting' Ki'"i'i"''^'"bere he iiii-ht fall into
'n hinds of the imiilacal)le enemies of his tribe ;
;;y'„ii.it was scarcely less to he apprehended,
f- '. anni'vanccs to which he would he subjected
f-!'"i' die capricious and overltearlni,' conduct of
|Ve",dii;e men; who, as I h.avc witnessed in my
(snjhort e.vpcricnce, arc prone to treat the poor
pJiasns little better than lirutc animals. In-
Aiei hehad had a s])ecinien of it liimself in the
r'-ron escape" he ni.ide from the inlliction of
I'Linch's law." by the h;ird-wiid<inrj worthy of
I t;e frontier, for the flagitious crime of lindin^^ a
i'.Mvli'irse.
Th.M'.iiappcaranre of tin- yotith was i^'cnerally
Ir "Lt'.ed by our p.irty, for we h.id till t.ikeii a
je";; fancv' to him from his handsome, fr.ink,
Ijjjinanly appearance, and the easy jjrace of his
Ictfrtnicnt. lie was indeed a native-born 'fjen-
;r:,ii!. I'V none, however, was he so miicli la-
.".ted as by the viniiii;' Count, who thus sud-
|c;.lii'i'iiiid himself deprived of his cs(|uire. I
i.j'/.ted tile (lejiartiire of the < )s.i;.,'e for his own
si. for we should lia\e cherished him throui;li-
c,;: the expedition, and I am convinced, from the
rnnilicent spirit of his patron, he would have re-
;;rntdtii his tribe laden with wealth of beads and
tr.nkelj and Indian blankets.
CII.M'TKK \-IlI.
yXc //I'wci' Cimfi.
iHF.wcaihcr, which had been rainy in the iiiijht,
h.iiini; held up, wc resumed our march at sewn
r'clock in the ninrning, in contident hope of soon
,i.rriv!n;,'at the encimptnent of the ranj;ers. We
la,! not ridden above three or four miles when we
I ca:r.e to a large tree which had recently been
f.i'.ed by an axe, for the wild honey contained in
tr.o hollow of its trunk, se\eral broken Hakes of
vaidi still remained. We now felt sure that the
I ranpronkl not be far distant. About a cou])!e
I tf miles further some of the raiv^ers set up :\
:aMt, and pidiued to a number of horses gra/iiv^
:.a«K!dy bottom. A few paces brought us to
!.'jbroivof an elcvate'd ridge, wlience we looked
I c '.a upon the encampment. It was a wild ban-
i c.;. or Rid)in Mood, scene. In a beautiful ojicii
, rist. traversed by a running stream, were
I p-disof bark and branches, and tents of blan-
i fcts.tiniporary shelters from the recent rain,
! T tiie rangers commonly bivouac in the open
"^ There were grou])s of rangers in every kiiul
i'l'ath garb. Some were cooking at large
; nude at the feet of trees; some were stretch-
:■; and dressing deer skins ; some were shooting
■■-.1 mark, and some lying about ow the grass.
i usL-on jerked , and hung on frames, was drying
■■« die embers in one place ; in another lay'car-
•■'s recently lirought in by the hunters. Stacks
■ '.lies Were leaning ag.ainst the trunks of the
'■"=, and saddles, bridles, and powdcr-hoins
hanging above th( iii, while the )ior;i's were graz-
ing lure and there among the thickets.
Our jirrival w.is greeted with acidaination. The
r.mgers crowded alimit their comrades to incpiirc
the news from the fort ; for our own part, wc
wereie eived in frank sitnplo iumter's style by
C,'.iptai;i Hean, the commaii<ler of the company;
;i m.\n about forty ye, us of age, vigorous and ac-
tive. His life had been chielly p.issed on the
frontier, occasionally in Indian warfare, so that
he was a thorough woodsman, and ji tirst-rato
hunter. He w,is eipiippi'il in character ; in
leatlu'rn hunting shirt and leggings, ami ;i le.ith-
erii foraging ca[).
While we were conversing wilh the Captain, ;i
veter.in huntsman ap[)roaclied, whose whole ap*
]iearancc, struck me. He w.is of the middle
size, but tough and weather- proverl ; a head
partly bald and g.irnishetl with loose irun-gray
locks, and a tine black eye, be.iming with youth-
ful spirit. His dress was similar to that of the
Captain, a rille shirt and leggings of dressed deer
skin, that had evidently seen service ; a ])owder-
lun-n was slung by his side, a hunting-knife stuck
in his belt, and in his hand was tin .incieiu and
trusty rille, doubtless as dear to him as a bosom
friend. He ,'isked i)ermishion to go hunting,
which was readily gr.mted. •' Thai's old Ryan,"
s.iid the Captain, when he had gone; "there's
not a better hunter in the c.iiiii) ; he's sure to
bring in game."
In a little while our pack-horses were unloaded
and turned loose to re\el among the i)ea-vines.
< Uir tent was ])itclied : our lire m.ide ; the half of
a deer had been sent to us from the Captain's
lodge ; lieatte brought in a couple of wild tur-
keys ; the s])its were laden, and the cimp-kettlc
crammed with meat ; and to crown our luxuries,
a basin lilled with great ll.ikes of delicious honey,
the spoils of a plundered bee-tree, w.is given its
by one of the rangers.
Our little Frenchman, Tonisli, was in an ec-
stasy, and tucking up his sleeves to the elljosvs,
set to work to make a disjilay of his culinary skill,
on whicdi he jirided himself almost as much as
upon his huntini
prowess.
his ridiu'', and his warlike
CIIAl'Ti-.R IX.
.•/ /.',■<■ //.v«.'.
The beautiful foroU in wiiich v.e \vcre encamped
abounded in bee-trees ; that is to say, trees in
the decayed trunks of which wild Vices had estab-
lished their hives. It is surprising in what count-
less sw.irms the bees have overspread the l'"ar
West, within but a moderate number of years.
The Ineiians consider them the liarbinger of the
white man. as the bulTalo is of the reel man ; and
sav that, in jiroportion as the bee aiUanres, the
Indian and bul'fado retire. We .iie always accus-
tomed to. associate the hum of tlie bee-Jiive with
the farmhouse and tlower-garden. :iiid to consider
those industrious little tininials as eonneeted with
the busy haunts of man, :ind 1 . <i told that the
wild bee is seldom to he met \wlh at any great
distance from the tVontier. They have been the
heralds of civilization, Mradf.istU preceding it as
it advanced from the Atlantic bortlers, and some
of the ancient settlers of the West pretend to
give the very year when the honey-bee first:
crossed the Mississippi. The Iiuli.ins with sur-
prise found the mouldering treci of their lurcsta
I- Si
mf>\
I, I mi i> 1, M I
|j '
iailsi
11
' , I
•110
A TOl'R ()\ TIIK PRAIRII'S.
m
i m
I; {
i,
I
-j ,■«
MuUU'nly tcrmiii!; with nm1ir(isi:il sweets, r\ncl
luitliili;,', I am tn|(|, cm i-x( eed the j^'ieeily leli^li
witli wliicli ilic y l),m(|iiet lor tlu' liist time u[)(iii
tins \ml)<)ii;.',ht Iiimii y of the wikUrness.
At ineseiit the liuiu'y hie sw^iriiis in myri.uls,
in the nuhK' };i()\es and Imests whieh skirt aiitl
intersect llie pr.iiries, anil extend .lion^ the alhi-
vial l)i)tt()ms (il'ihe rivers. It seems to nie as if
these lieaiitiliil re^jions answer literally to the iK'-
scription ot the land ot promise, " a land tlowin;^
with milk and lioiuy ;" lor the rieh ])astura;;e of
the ])rairies is cdenlati'd to susi.iiii herds of cat-
lie as countless its the sands upon the sea-shore,
while the llow lis with which they arc enamelled
vender them a very paradise for the nectar seik-
iiij; liee.
W'c had not ln'cn loii^ in the camj) when a
party set onl in ipiest of a bee-tree; and, hein^'
curious to winu ss the s[)ort, 1 j^dadly accepted an
in\it,ition to aci-oTn|)any them. The party was
lieadeil by a \eteian bee-hunter, a tall lank fel-
low in homespun ^.uh that I1UIV4 loosely about
liis limbs, and a straw liat sliapi'il not unlike a
bee-hi\e ; .1 ( (uniade, eciiiaily uncouth in j;arb,
and uithout a hat, straddleil alon;; at his heels,
with a loiij^' rille 011 his shoulder. To these suc-
ceeded half a do/en others, some with axes ami
some with lilies, I'or no oni; stirs fir from the
camp without his lireaiins, so as to be reaily
cither for wild deer or wild Indian.
After proceeding some distance we came to an
ri])en j^ladu on the skirts of the forest. Here our
le.uler h.dtcd, and then advanced tpiietly to a low
bush, on the top of which 1 ])erceived a ])iece of
lioney-i luiib. Tiiis I found was the bait or hue
for the wild liees. Several were huniniin;^ abotit
it. and di\ ini; into its cells. When they had laden
themselves with hoiiey they would rise into the
air, and dart oiV in ;\ str.ii^'Ju line, almost with
the velocity of a bullet. The luiiUers watched
.ntlentively the cmuse they look, ami then set olf
in the same direction, siumblin;.; alonj^ over
tvvisted roots and fallen trees, with their eyes
turned up to the sky. In this way they traced
the honey-l.Kiea bees to their hive, in the hollow
trunk of a bl.isted oak. where, ifter buz.'in;^ about
for a monunt. tlu y entered a hole about sixty
feet from the ;.;round.
Two of tb.e bee-luinter.T now plied their axes
vi;4orously at the foot of the tree to level it with the
ground. The mere spectators and .amateurs, in
the meantiir.e, drew olf to a caution i distance, to
be out of the w.iy of the fdliiiLj of the tree ;iiiil
the vengeance of its inmates, 'i'he jairing blow s
of the axe seemetl to have no etfect in alarming
or disturbing this most iiuluslrious comnumiiy.
They continued to ]dy at their usual occu|)ations,
some arriving full freighted into ]iort, others sally-
ing forth on new expeditions, like so many mer-
chantmen in a money-making metropolis, little
suspicious (.f impi'iiding bankru|)tcy aiul down-
fall, liven a loud crack which announced the
tlisruiJture of tlic trunk, filled to divert their at-
tention from the intense pursuit of gain ; at
length down c.ime the tree with a tremendous
crash, bursting open from end to end, ami di^,-
]ilaying all the hoarded treasures of the eommon-
v.eallh.
t)nc of the huntc?r3 immediately ran up with a
wisp of liglite;l hav as a defence against the
bees. Tlu' latter, however, made no attack and
sought no re\eii;j,e; they seemed stujietied by the
catastrophe and unsuspicious of its cause, and re-
mained crawling .and buzzing about the ruins
■without oU'erin^; uj any mulcstalion. Every one
of the i)arty now fell to, with ^pnnn .m,] 1 „,:.
knift , to scoop mit the ll.ikes of iKiiHv.cdi, i"'," I
which the hollow trunk was stored. Si'imt,']'.* 'M
wi'ie of old dale and a deej) hrown C(ili,r' ,/" .
were beautifully white, and the lioncv r i' ''
cells was almost limpid. Such of tlie'ci.'nj" '
were entire were pl.ieed in cam|) ketiks •">!
conveyed to the enc.iinpment ; tliu^i. «h;,. ; 1 1
been shivered in the fill were devnurfd i„,i'/
s\Hn. Kvery stark bee-hunler w;is to la. 4^, „',, 1
a rich morsel in his li.iiul, dri])piii^( abunt i
gers, and disap|)earing as r.ipuily ?is a ,rci|v' .,., 1
before the holiday appetite of a sclionllun
Nor was it the bee-hunters alone that 1 ri,-rl
by the downfdl of this industnoiis comn.t. .
as if the bees would carry throu^ili the Miim !
of their habits with those of l.ihoriiius .u/l''-!
ful man, I beheld numbers from rival \\\\^^%
riving on eager wing, to enrich l'K'nhi'ht.','i •i |
the ruins of their neighhius. These lniskil;ln~!
selves as eagerly and cheerfully as sn iiv.-v 1
wreckers on an Indiainan th.it has hi.cn (it;,'i
on shore; iilunging into the cells of the l.^'^lj |
li(Miey-coii ' 1, bampieling greedily nn ti.c .1 ;
and then winging their i\.i\- lull-rrei;.;hit.(l ti, tii
homes. As to the jioor proprietor^ of th, r..,"
they si'emcd to li.ne no heart to do am ti.,; ■
not even to t.iste the nectar that llowi,'!!';!:, l
them ; but crawled backward and I'orwanl.'.ir ..
cant descd.ition, as 1 lia\e seen a poor li'llnw ■,i,;;i
his hands in his ])ockets, whistling' vacaniiv
despondingly about the ruins of his huust. ;
luul been burnt.
It is tlillicult to describe the I'cwildcniHr.: ;r,l |
(•(uifusiim of the bees of the b.mkrupt liivrahj
had been absent at the time of the tata-ir'i|i':,c,
;ind who arri\etl from 'iine to time, with fi';'. :.:■
goes from abro.id. At liist they whtclcii .ii> ■;
in the air, in the jilace where the filliii tic: h,.i
once reared its head, astonishei! :!t limliii- :•,,;;. 3
\Mcuum. At length, as if coniprLliemhr.;.; ;h.::
disaster, they settled down in clusters m. ,ii!r,
branch of a neighboring tree, whence lliey •.'.;;•..£
to contenipl.ite the prostrate ruin, and t^ 1;,.;:
forth doleful l.imentations over the dmviiUll ■!
their republic. It was a scene on whid; :'.;,
" melancholy Jaecjues" might have muiah^ca 'jy
the hour.
We now abandoned the ])lnce. Icaiin,' iiii:'';
honey in the hollow of the tiee. " It will ;\\'. ':.
cleareil olf by varmint," said one of the r.iiv,i.r-.
" Wli.it \ennin?" asked 1. " oh, bcaii, ..r.] j
skunks, and racoons, .and 'possums. The bears
is the knowingest \armini for tiiulini; out a bcf
tree in the world. 'I'hey'll gnaw for (l:iys '.••■
gether at the trunk till' they make a Imle hi;.;
enough to get in their jiaws, and then tlk's'll li,ul
out huney, bees and all."
ciiArriiR x.
.■tmi/.<r!tf/!/< in tlu' (\;mp. — C\vi::i'i\itii"r—I!'''''<'>' '/'
ciiii /-'i-.ts/i/it,'. — /.>'/■;////<' .S((«i-.i. — ' u'W.'/.I/ii ..;■.■-. -■■
/',;/(' f'/' ii/i .hihitciir U'i'l,
On returning to the camp, we fuiinil it a <o.:..
of the greatest hilarity. Sonic of the r.iiv^tii
were shooting at a mark, others were k:!!)':'.-'.
wrestling, and playing at jirisun hars. ll'-y
were mostly young men, on their first expeihtion.
in high health and vigor, and buoymt with amic!-
liations ; and I can conceive nothini,' iinir' liki'.}^
to set the youthful blood into a llow, th.ir. a«i;J
'. M
A TOl'R ON Till". l'KAIRIi;S.
447
iw'
f-i"'
Jlifonfllickind. nnd tin- r.uiKt' <>f a in:n;niii-
1,1, ini'>% ahoiiMilin^,' "itii v,.\u\v, and liiiil-
\Vl' m.'iuI our voiitli iilii'd.id to
n lull
.iilu'imiri'
'",„ 1, siiiiinis aiul iUVmm.itr in l.uroi'^' : 't iip-
r" .'.j, iiit, ih.it ;i pri'vioiis tour on lliu in.iirics
'^'jVli.Miiiirc liki'lv III nrodiicc lli;it lll;mlllu■^s,
liilK'imirc
„, I • tv, ami si'ir-dc|ii'iuk'nco, iiKJst iii iiiiisoii
'"iii'liVrp'olitical imtiiuiion^.
|i,,.iTmii aimisciiK'iU'., a •^riivt.T si't, L-oin|iosi.'(l
.y.ln. Cipt.uii, tliu Doi-loi-, iiiid oIIkt safe's anil
,.,\,i ol till.' cMiiip. wire siat(.(l or slirtclK'd
',',„,|,c aijss, rmind a froiitiir map, luddiiv^ a
r';.l|,,ij„n al)i>ut our iiosilion, and the course
L««rc t(. parsiio.
^mr plan was til rross llio Arkansas just above
Lhtre the Ki'd I'ork I'.ills into it, tlien to keep
,!,;,.rh-, uiUil we should i)as> tliroii-h a ^raiKl
k,";; of oiKii forest, called the Cross 'riiiiher,
Liiich r.w^cs nearly noiih and south from tiie
Arkmwj til Ki d Kiver ; after \Nliirli, we were to
I i.-iiiasiiutlieiiy course toward the latter river.
"(I'jr Iwll'-hreed, lleatle, liein^' an cx|)erieneed
O-'.'o lumicr, was c.illed into the consultation.
■ Hue villi c\cr hunted in this direction.'"' said
fe Ciptaiii. " Ves," was the 1. iconic reply.
'I'tihaps, then, you can tell us in wliich di-
reciion lies llie Ned l''ork r "
'Ifvoii keep aliiiiL,' yonder, by the eil;.;e of the
pniric, you will eoiue to a b.dd hill, with a pile
'iidiics iipi>n it."
•■jh.uc noticed th.U hill a; I was hunting,"
ixJtheCapt.-iin.
•• Well ! those stones were set up by the ( >sa^'es
;;,il.in(lmark: from that spot you m.iy ha\e a
■Jitufilie Kcd Fork."
"In that case," cried the ra|)t.iin, " we sh.'dl
rachlhc Red Fork to-morrow; then cross the
.•irk.insas above it, into the Pawnee country, and
V.nm !«o days we shall crack bultalo bones ! "
The iiiia of .irrivin;.^ at the ad\enlurous hunting
frdjricU of the Pawnees, and of coming uiion the
traces of the hultaloos, made every eye sparkle
ivi;h .ininiation. Our further conversation was
ir.tmipted hy the sharp report of a rille at no
jri'.K (iisiance fnun the camp.
"That's old Ryan's ride," exclaimed the Cap-
j i.iia; " there's a buck down, I'll w.irr.mt!" nor
1 n; he mistaken ; for, before long, ihe veteran
naJe hii ajipear.uice, calling upon one of th ■
y.uiyer rangers to return with him, and aid in
'tnn^ia^' home the carcass.
Tile siirrouiuling country, in fact, abounded
v.r.iipmc.sa that the camp was o\ erstocked with
friivijjons, and, as no less than twenty bee-
ire.s h.id been cut down in the vicinity, every
K'.- levelled in luxury. With the wasteful jiro-
liji'iiy of luinters, there was a continual feast-
:r;. and scarce any one ])ut by ))rovision for the
::: rrijw. The cooking w.is conducted in hunter's
i';.c: the meat was stuck upon tapering s|)its of
(•v'.vood, which were thrust ])er])endicularly into
tajrwiind, so as to sustain the joint before the
:r:, uhere it was roasteil or broiled with all its
.'-A'es retained in it in a manner th.U would lia\c
: -kl.'J the pal, lie of the most exiieriericeil gour-
'■■■::.!. .Vs much could not be s.iid in f.wor of
'•.".e bread. It was littk more than a paste m.ide
(filour .and water, anil fried like fritters, in lard ;
t.M;;h some adopteil a ruder style, twisting it
■ ^-n,;ithe ends of slicks, and thus ro.isting it be-
::; the lire. In either way, I ha\ e found it ex-
I'vmeiy pal.ilable on the prairies. No one knows
-■i'triie relish of fuuJ until he has a hunter's ap-
r:;;ie.
I'lefore sunset, we were siimnioncil hy little
'I'onisli to a sumptuous rep.iit. I.l.iiikets h.ul
been spread on the ground ne.ir to tin; tire, uixiii
whiih we took our si. its. A l.irge' di-.h, or bowl,
ni.ide from the root of a maple trei', and which
we had purch.ised ;it the liidi.in \illage, was
pl,i( ed on tin; ground belore us, ,ind into it were
einptie<l the conlents of one of the c.iiiip kettles,
collilsling of a wild turkey h.islud, logelher with
slices of b.icon and lumps of duiigli. Ileside it
was placed another bowl of simil.ir w,ir';, con-
taining an amjile supply of fritters. Alter wo
li.ul discussed the hash, two wooden spits, on
which the ribs of a f.it buck were broiling before
the lire, were removed and pl.mii d in theground
before us, with a triumphant air, bv little 'ioiiiih.
Having no dishes, we had to procc ed in hunter's
style, cutting olf strips and sliii-. with luir hunt-
ingdviiives, and dipping them iii s.ili and pepper.
'I'll do justice to 'I'onish's coidary, however, and
to the keen sauce of the jir.iiriis, never have I
tasted venison so delicious. With all this, our
beverage w.is colTei', boiled in a ( .iiiip kettle,
sweetened with brown sugar, and drunk out of
tin cups: ;ind such was Ihe style of our b.impiet-
ing throughout this e\pi dition, whenever provi-
sions were ph'iily, and as long as lloiir .mil coll'ee
ami sugar lu Id out.
As tile twilight thickened iiioi iii.;ht, the senti-
luls were marched forth to tluir si.iiioiis around
the cami) ; an iiiilis|]Lnsable precaution in a
country infested by liuli.ins. 'Ihe encani|)ment
now presented a ])ielures(|iie appearance. Camp
iires were blazing and smouldei ■ g here and there
among the trees, with groups of rangers round
them ; some seated or lying on the ground, ijthers
st.inding in the ruddy gl.ire of the llames, or in
shadowy relief. At some of the tires then was
much boisterous mirth, where ]k','i1s of laughter
were mingled with loud lib.ild jokes and uncouth
exclamations ; for the troop wa-. evidently a raw,
undisci|)lined band, levied among the wild young-
sters of the frontier, who had enlisted, some for
the sake of roving adventure, and smiie for the
purpose of getting a kiioukdge of tlie country.
Many of them were the neighbor i of iheir officers,
and accustomed to regard them with the famili-
arity of equals and companions. .None of them
li.id any idea of the restraint and decorum of a
cam]), or .ambition to ac'iniro a name for exact-
ness in .a ])rofession in wh 'i iliey h.ul no inten-
tion of continuing.
While this boisterous merriment ])revailed at
some of the tires, there suddenly rose a strain of
nas.il melody from another, at which a < iioir of
"vocalists" wi ir uniting then voices in a most
lugi'brious psalm tune. This w.is led by one of the
lieutuiants ; a tall, spare man, wb.o we were in-
fornietl had officiated as schonlm ister, singing-
master, and oec isionally as .Metliodiht |)reachcr,
in one of tls illages of the fronlier. 'I'lie chant
rose solemnly and s.adly in the night air, and re-
minded me of the description of similar canticles
in the camps of the Coven. inters ; and, indeed,
the strange medley of figures and faces and un-
couth garbs, congreg.Ued together in our troop,
would not ha\i' disgraced the banners of I'raise-
(iod ILireboiii ■.
In one of the intervaK nf this na-^al psalmody,
an amateur owl, as if in competition, began his
dreary hooting. Immediately there w.is a cry
throughout the camp of " Charlev's owl ! Char-
ley's owl!" It seems this " obscure- bird " h.ul
\i.->ileil the camp every night, .ind had been tlreel
at by one of the seatiiieU, u half-willed lad.
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WEBSTER, NY. 14580
(716) 872-4503
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448
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
.U
( ;■
named Charley ; who, on being called up for fir-
ing when on duty, excused liiinsclf by sayinj^,
that he understood owls made uncommonly good
soup.
One of the young rangers mimicked the cry of
this bird of wisdom, who, with a simplicity little
consonant with his chaiactcr, came hovering
within sight, and alighted on the naked branch
of a tree, lit up by the blaze of our fire. The
young Count immediately seized his fowling-
piece, took f.Ual aim, and in a twinkling the
poor bird of ill omen came fluttering to the
ground. Charley was now called upon to make
and eat his dish of owl-soup, but declined, as he
had not shot the bird.
In the course of the evening, I paid a visit to the
Captain's fire. It was composed of huge trunks
of trees, and of sufficient magnitude to roast a
buffalo whole. Here were a number of the prime
hunters and leaders of the camp, some sitting,
some standing, and others lying on skins or blan-
kets before the fire, telling old frontier stories
about hunting and Indian warfare.
As the night advanced, we perceived above the
trees to the west, a ruddy glow flushing up the
sky.
"That mwt be a prairie set on fire by the
Os.age hunters," said the Captain.
" It is at the Red Fork," said IScatte, regarding
the sky. " It seems but three miles distant, yet
it perhaps is twenty."
About half past eight o'clock, a beautiful pale
light gradually sprang up in tlie cast, a jjrecursor
of the rising moon. Drawing off from tiie Cap-
tain's lodge, 1 now prepared for the night's re-
pose. 1 had determined to abandon the shelter
of the tent, and henceforth to bivouac like the
rangers. A bear-skin spread at llie foot of a
tree was my bed, with a ])air of saddle-bags for a
l)illow. Wrapping myself in blankets, 1 stretched
myself on this hunter's couch, and soon fell into
a sound and sweet sleep, from which 1 did not
awake until the bugle sounded at daybreak.
CllAl'TKR XI.
Preii);iiij^ ti^ cf the I'.iutnnpntnit. — r'uturi-s,;iii' Af.iy,li. —
iftiwt'. — (\niip Sti-ut's. — Trhnyil'k i\t ,i Yontii^^ Uunlt-r,
— lit Suciiss I'/ ail Oiii JIuHtcr. — J'oul MurJcr of ,i
J'olll\lt.
OCTOr.KR 14TU. — At the signal note of the bugle,
the sentinels and jiatrols marched in from their
stations around the camp and were dismissed. The
rangers were roused from their night's repose, and
soon a bustling scene took place. While some
cut wood, made tires, and ))repared the morn-
ing's meal, others struck their foul weather shel-
ters of blankets, and made every preparation for
departure ; while others dashed about, tluough
brush and brake, catching the horses and leading
or driving tlicm into camp.
During all this bustle the forest rang with
vhoops, and shouts, ami ])eals of laughter ; when
all had ineakfasted. packed up their eflects and
camp ecpiipagc. and loaded the ])ack-horses,
the bugle sounded to saildleand mount. Uy eight
o'clock the whole troop setotfin a long straggling
line, with whoop and halloo, intermingled with
many an oath at the loitering pack-horses, and in
a little while the forest, which for several da; s
had been the scene of such unwonted bi'sii,.
uproar, relapsed into its primeval solitude ani
lence. '"'■'
It was a bright sunny morning, wit], •, .
transparent atmosphere that seemed tubati,, •■'
very heart with gladness. Our march cmim."'!
parallel to the Arkansas, through .i rich ar.d"'i
ried country ; sometimes we had to brc.ik wnn '
through alluvial bottoms matted wiih ndavi ''•
vegetation, where the gigantic trees wcrc\'r"a'.'
glcd with grape-vines, hanging like cnrda-e H
their branches ; sometimes we coasted / '
sluggish brooks, whose feebly tricklinj,currin'' i
served to link together a succession of di.t-
pools, imbedded like miirors in the quiubo^
of the forest, reilecting its autumnal foliacc, 3-1
patches of the clear blue sky. SomctinKs v'
scrambled up broken .-•"! rocky hills, fptm i^I
summits of which we had wide views 'sta'tch;nj
on one side over distant prairies diversiticd bv
groves and forests, and on the other ranj;ini; ale
a line of blue and shadowy hills beyond tlit »>
ters of the Arkansas.
The appearance of our troop was suited to th;
country ; stretching along in a line orupwardJt'
half a mile in length, winding ainonj; br.ikcsar/i
bushes, and up and down in the diiiles of '.h;
hills, the men in every kind of uncouth p/.,
with long ritles on their shoulders, and niounici
on horses of every color. The jjack horns, in',
would incessantly wander from the line of mar.ii,
to crop the surrounding herbai;e, andworclian^tj
and beaten back by Tonish and his haif braj
compeers, with volleys of mongrel oiul.s. t\cr,
now and then the notes of the bu>;k', frcun thekaii
of the column, would echo through the woodlaniis
and along the hollow glens, sinnninniii;,' up stnij-
glers, and announcing the line of m.\ich. Tr.e
whole scene reminded me of the description jiir.
of bands of buccaneers per.etratin,; the \ukis i
South America, on their i)huulering expcdii:c.;
against the Spanish setilen)ents.
At one time we passed throu^jh a hixuri.ir.tl •■
torn or meadow bordered by thickets, where •,]..
tall grass was jjressed down into numerous "da:
beds," where those animals had couched thepr-.-
ceding night. Some oak trees also bore 5ij;iiM!'
having been clambered by bears, in ipiest ii
acorns, the marks of their claws beinLj vb.blc .3
the bark.
As we opened aglade of this sheltered incado'v
we beheld several deer bouiidiiig away in »il.i
affright, tmtil, having gained some distance, the;
woulil stop and gaze back, with tlie curiosiiycon.-
mon to this animal, at the strange intniderj ir.M
their solitudes. There was ininiedi.Uely a jliir?
report of rilles in c\ery direction, from ihev.iu';;
huntsmen of the troop, hut they were too e,'„i.:
to aim surely, anil the ileer, uidiarmed,, bouaiiu
away into the depths of the lorest.
In the course of our march we strutk the Ar-
kansas, but found ourselves still below the K.l
Fork, and, as the river made deep bends. •*;
again left its banks and cmitinueil iliroui;ii ;:;■-'
woods until nearly eight o'clock, when «e vP.-
cam])ed in a beautiful basin bmilered by a "■.e
stream, and shaded by clumps of lolty oar;-.
The horses were now liuhbled, that is t'l «,>>■
their fore legs were fettered with conls or k.i;./
ern straps, so as to impede their imivomenis.in'i
prevent their wandering from the camp, l''^',
were then turned loose to graze. A minilHr ii |
rangers, ])rime hunters, startnl oil in diiieri'.
directions in search of game. Tluie «•'* 5"^
w hooping nor laughing about the tamp as w '>•"
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
449
ch unwonted b.istle j-j
irimuval solitude anili,
I morning, with a ■ ..
hat sccnicd tob.r, ■ '
Our march cnir/!'
. through a rich and"': j
wehacltobreak<,;;r,i..
matted with redar,(i-.
jantic trees were er'a^i
n^mg l:ke cnrda^e fr -
mcs we coasted .-;,'•
-bly tricklintciirkn:"^
a succession (jf j;;j..'
rors in the quin bov.n
ts autumnal fohai;e,ar.i
uc sky. SometiiiKsv.:
-"1 rocky hills, fpim i'-.
(l wide views strttchir-
t prairies diversiiied bv
n tile other ranijin^jalir;-
iwy hills beyond tin; «!•
troop was suited to the
1,' in a line o,' upward (f
iding ainoni-ljrakcsjr.d
ivn in the defiles oi the
kind of uncouth tan,
shoulders, and niounid
The ])aek hor-es, t" ,
■from tile line of mar h.
erbage, and werebanjt^
nish and his haifbrcej |
f mongrel oath.s. Eicrv
' the bugle, from the Inaii
o through the uuudlar.iis
IS, summoning up >;r;i^-
lie line of march. Tr.;
of the descripiitiniji.in
lenetrating the \\Mi4
])lundeniig e.\ped:t;ir.i
nients.
through a luxuriant! :•
by thickets, wh.ere :r.:
.■n into numerous "L^:
lis had couched the pr;- ]
trees also bore sign* of
by bears, in quest d
r claws being visible .a I
f this sheltered mcaiio'v
bounding away in »il.i
led senile distance, they I
with the curiosity eon.-
e strange intruders i:::) |
as iniinedi.itely a sl;.;rp
rection, from the V''^:,'
)ut they were tone...:
er, unharmed. boi;;'.i:.>.
le t'orest.
tirch we struck the .A:-
ves still below tlie K.j |
made deep bends, 'H'
continued llirou.i;ii ;'- j
o'clock, when "c '■'■■
isiii bonlcred by a r.r.e
imjis of lofty oaks.
lobbied, that is t" «>•
ed with corils or katif j
e their inovemenis..iriii j
from the I'amp. 'H'''.
II gr.i/e. A number •~\ j
starteil off in difler^r.;
aiiie. Tlieie ».i' '•' i
joul the camii as in :
nminfr • .ill were cither busy about the fires pre-
rrin-'ihe'cvcning's repast, or reposing uiion the
. 55° Shots were soon heard in various dircc-
f'''.' j^fj^r a time a huntsman rode into the
0^0 with the carcass of a fine buck hanging
across his horse. Shortly afterward came in a
°le of stripling hunters on foot, one of whom
L-e on his shoulders the body of a doe. He was
c antiv proud of his spoil, being probably one
fl his tir'st achievements, though he and his com-
piP,„n were much bantered by their comrades,
iii voung beginners who hunted in partner-
just as the night set in, there was agre.it shout-
in' at one end of the camp, and immediately
^ifcrvvard a body of young rangers came parad-
)• -round the various fires, bearing one of their
c i;ir.i(l>-'S in triumph on tiieir shoulders. He had
chit an elk for the first time in his hfe, and it was
the lirst animal of the kind that had been killed
or. this expedition. The young huntsman, whose
nunc was M'l.cllan, was the hero of the camp for
thoni;'ht, and was the " father of the feast "' into
the bargain ; for portions of his elk were seen
roasting at every fire.
The other hunters returned without success.
The captain had observed the tracks of a bufTalo,
nhich must have passed within a few days, and
h.:d tracked a bear for some distance until the
fuut-printshad disappeared. He had seen an elk,
too, on the banks of the Arkansas, which walked
p:t on a sand-bar of the river, but before he
could steal nnind through the bushes to get a shot,
it had re-entered the woods.
Our own hunter, IJeatte, returned silent and
!"lkv. frimi an unsuccessful hunt. As yet he had
bro.idit us in nothing, and we had depended for
O'jr sitpplies of venison upon the Captain's mess.
Ikaite was evidently mortified, for he looked
dr.vn witli contempt upon the rangers, as raw and
ir.cxperienced woodsmen, but little skilled in
h.::;t!ng; they, on the other hand, regarded
Bo.itte with no very complacent eye, as one of an
evil breed, and always spoke of him as " the In-
dian."
Our little Frenchman, Tonish, also, by his in-
ccss.ant boasting, and chattering, and gasconad-
ir;,', in his balderdashcd dialect, had drawn upon
l.iiiiself the ridicule of many of the wags of the
troop, who amused themselves at his expense in
a kind of raillery by no means remarkable for its
delicacy; but the little varlet was so completely
fortitied by vanity and self-concMt, that he was
invulnerable to every joke. I must confess, how-
ever, that I felt a little mortified at the sorry fig-
tre our retainers were making among these
r.ss-trnopers of the frontier. Even our very
equipments came in for a share of unpojjularity,
ar.d I heard many sneers at the double-barrellecl
c'^nswith which we were provided against smaller
pme; the lads of the West holding " shot-guns,"
Si ihcy call tlieni, in great contempt, thinking
"ouse, partridges, and even wild turkeys as be-
neath their serious attention, and the ritle the
cr.ly firearm worthy of a hunter.
1 was awakened before daybreak the next
■^'"ning, by the mournful howling of a wolf, who
"Is sktilking about the purlieus of the camp, at-
'k' c'' ''^ ''""' 5^^'"t of venison. Scarcely had
'he first gray streak of dawn appeared, when a
yojjngster at one of the distant lodges, shaking
^^nisslt;ep, crowed in imitation of a cock, with
s load clear note and prolonged cadence, that
»:i'-ld luve done credit to the most veteran chan-
i|"ti-T. He was immec'iptely answered from an-
other quarter, as if from a rival rooster. The
chant was echoed from lodge to lodge, and fol-
lowed by the cackling of hens, quacking of ducks,
g.abbling of turkeys, and grunting of swine, until
we seemed to have been transported into the
midst of a farmyard, with all iis inmates in full
concert around us.
After riding a short distance this morning, we
came upon a well-worn Indian track, and follow-
ing it, scrambled to the summit of a hill, whence
we had a wide prospect over a country diversified
by rocky ridges and waving lines of upland, and
enriched by groves and clumps of trees of varied
tuft and foliage. At a distance to the west, to
our great satisfaction, we beheld the Hed Fork
rolling its ruddy current to the Arkansas, and
found that we were above the point of junction.
We now descended and pushed forward, with
much difficulty, through the rich alluvial bottom
that borders the Arkansas. Here the trees were
interwoven with grape-vines, forming a kind of
cordage, from trunk to trunk and limb to limb ;
there was a thick undergrowth, also, of bush and
bramble, and such an abundance of hojis, fit for
gathering, that it was difficult for our horses to
force their way through.
The soil was imprinted in many places with
the tracks of deer, and the claws of bears were
to be traced on various trees. Every one was on
the look-out in the hope of starting some game,
when suddenly there was a bustle and a clamor
in a distant part of the line. A bear ! a bear !
w.is the cry. We all pressed forward to be pres-
ent at the sport, when to my infinite, though
whimsical chagrin, I found it to be our two
worthies, Ueatte and Tonish, perpetrating a foul
murder on a polecat, or skunk! The animal
had ensconced itself beneath the trunk of a fallen
tree, whence it kept up a vigorous d"fence in its
peculiar style, until the surrounding forest was in
a high state of fnigrance.
Gibes and jokes now broke out on all sides at
the expense of the Indian hunter, and he was ad-
vised to wear the scalp of the skunk as the only
trophy of his prowess. When they found, how-
ever, that he and Tonish were absolutely bent
upon bearing off the carcass as a peculiar dainty,
there was a universal expression of disgust ; and
they were regarded as little better than canni-
bals.
Mortified at this ignominious debut of our two
hunters, I insisted upon their abandoning their
prize and resuming their march. lieatte com-
plied with a dogged, discontented air, and lagged
behind muttering to himself. Tonish, however,
with his usual buoyancy, consoled himself by
vociferous eulogies on the richness anel delicacy
of a roasted polecat, which he swore was consid-
ered the daintiest of dishes by all experienced
Indian gourmands. It was with difficulty I could
silence his loquacity by repeated and peremptory
commands. A Erenclimtin's vivacity, however,
if repressed in one way, will break out in an-
other, and Tonish now eased off his s|)leen by
bestowing volleys of oaths and dry blows on the
pack-horses. I was likely to be no gainer in the
end, by my oppositi(Hi to the humors of these
varlcts, for after a time, Reatte, who had lagged
behind, rode up to the head of the line to resume
his station as a guide, and I had the vexation to
see the carcass of his jirizc, stripped of its skin,
and looking like a f.it sucking-pig, dangling be-
hind his saddle. I made a solemn \ow, however,
in secret, that our fire should not be disgraced
by the cooking of that polecat.
430
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
Filial!
|t(
!!■
J:
ill
'|,;r ;
II- "
CHAPTER XII.
T/te Crossing of the Arkansas.
We had now arrived at the river, about a quarter
of .1 mile aliove tlie junction of the Red l-'ork ;
but tlie banks were steep anil cruinblinj;, and tiie
current was deep and rapid. It was impossible,
therefore, to cross at this i)lace ; and we resumed
our painful course throu^jh the forest, dispatchin[j
IJealte ahead, in search of a ' linjj jihice. Wc
had proceeded about a mile farther, when he re-
joined us, brinj^inj,' intelligence of a place hard by,
where tiie river, for a fjreat part of its breadth,
was rendered fordable by sand-bars, and the re-
mainder nii^,'ht easily be swam by the horses.
Here, then, we made a halt. Some of the
rangers set to work vigorously with their axes,
felling trees on the edge of the river, wherewith
to form rafts for the transportation of their bag-
page antl camp equipage. Others patrolled the
banks of the river farther up, in hopes of finding
a better fording place ; being unwilling to risk
their horses in the deep channel.
It was now that our worthies, I?eatte and Ton-
ishjhad an o])|i()rtunity of displaying their Indian
adroitness and resource. At the Osage village
which we had passed a day or two before, they
had ])rocured a dry buffalo skin. This was now
produced ; cords were ]iassed through .1 lumiber
of small eyelet-holes with which it \\as bordered,
and it was drawn up, until it formed a kind of
deep trough. Sticks were then placed athwart it
on the ins'de, to keep it in shajjc ; our camp
cc|uipage and a jiart of our baggage were placed
within, anil the singular bark was carried down
the bank and set afloat. A cord was attached to
the prow, which lieattc took between his teeth,
and throwing himself into the water, went ahead,
towing the bark after him ; while Tonish followed
behind, to keep it steady and to propel it. I'art
of the way they had foothold, and were enabled
to wade, but in the main current they were
obliged to s-vim. The whole way, they whooped
and yelled in the Indian style, until they landed
safely on the op[)osite shore.
The Commissioner and myself were so well
jjleased with this Indian mode of ferriage, that
we determined to trust ourselves in the buffalo
hide. Our comjianions, the Count and Mr. L.,
had ])roceeded with the horses, along the river
bank, in search of a ford which some of the ran-
gers had discovered, about a mile and half dis-
tant. While we were waiting for the return of
our ferryman, I happened to cast r.iv eyes upon
a heap of luggage under .1 bush, .and descried the
sleek carcass of the polecat, snugly trussed up,
and ready for roasting before the evening fire.
I could not resist the temjuation to plump it into
the river, when it sunk to the bottom like a lump
of lead ; and thus our lodge was relieved from the
bad odor wliich this savory viand had threatened
to bring upon it.
Our men having rccrosscd with their cockle-
shell bark, it was drawn on shore, half tilled with
saddles, saddlebags, and other luggage, amount-
ing to a hundred weight ; and being again placed
in the water, I was invited to take my seat. It
appeared to me pretty much like the embarkation
of the wise men of Cotham, who went to sea in a
bowl : I stepped in, however, without hesitation,
though as cautiously as possible, and sat down
on the toj) of the luggage, the margin of the hide
sinking to within a liand's breadth of the water's
edge. Rilles, fowling-pieces, and other articles
of small bulk, were then handed in, until I
tested against receiving any more freijjht h'"
then launched forth upon the stream tlo 1 ,."
being towed as before. ' ' "'^
It was with a sensation half serious, half ff,,>„
that I found myself thus alloat, on t'lic skin , 'i
buffalo, in the midst of a wild rivir, siirn, nr ii
by wilderness, and towed along by a li.ilf s.^vj"'.'
whooping and yelling like a divirincarnaic li
please the vanity of little Toni^li, 1 disclur '
the double-barrelled gun, to the right and lir
when in the centre of the stream.' The rc'K.-'
echoed along the woody shores, ami uas ansuir, j
by shouts from some of the r.mgers, to tht'-.-
exultation of the little l-'renchnian, whu tonk ti
himself the whole glory of this Indian modt: ci
na\igation.
Our voyage was accomplished happily; t.t
Commissioner was ferried across wiilniiial ..r!
cess, and all our effects were broir^iit over in ti;;
same manner. Nothing could equal the var".
glorious vaporing of little Tonish, as ho strutivil
about the shore, and exulted in liis superior 5ic;;i
and knowledge, to the rangers. IkaUo, howc.,:
kept his proud, s.iturnine look, without a vkciL
He had a vast contemjit for the ii^norancc df ;.,;
rangers, and felt that he had bei 11 undcrv.ilu ;
by them. His only observation was. " iJiv i.v
see de Indian good for someting, auyliowl'
The broail, sandy shore wlieie wi- had l.indiV;,
was intersected by innumerable tracks of l.;^,
deer, bears, racoons, tinki.ys, ami waicr-fm!,
The river scenery at this place was bcai)tili:i;v
diversitied, presenting long, siiiniiig reached, Imr-
dered by willows and cottonwodd trees; r. h
bottoms, with lofty forests ; anicjiv^' which ten-
cred enormous plane trees, and tlic distance uis
closed in by high embowered pioniontfr; =.
The foliage had a yellow autumnal tint, wl;;.h
gave to the sunny landscape the golden tone c;
one of the landscapes of Claude Lorraine. There
was animation given to the scene, by a nft (f
logs and branches, on which the Captain and h.j
prime companion, the Doctor, weie I'erryin^' ihi.r
elfects across the stream ; and by a lonj;line'f
rangers on horseback, fording the river ol)likp:o.y,
along a series of sand-bars, about a mile and a
half distant.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CAMP OK Till'. C.I.KN'.
Camp Gossip.— PaxL'nees aiiJ their 1 1 -.hi! i— A HunUr'i
AJvinturt: — I torses founJ, aiiJ Mm liist.
Bein'G joined by the Captain and some of the
rangers, we struck into the woods fur about h.d;
•a mile, and then entered a wild, mcky ilell, bcr-
dered by two lofty ridges of limestone, whicli
narrowed as we advanced, until they met ar.u
united ; making almost an angk'. Here a tir.J
spring of water rose among the mcks, and fed a
silver rill that ran the whole length of the dell.
freshening the grass with which ii was carpeted.
In this rocky nook we encaniped, amonj; t.iil
trees. The rangers gradually joined us, str.i:-
gling through the forest singly orin groups ; some
on horscb.ick, some on foot, driving their hor;Ci
before them, heavily laden with l).i:;gas,'C, some
dripping wet, having fallen into the river; fjr
they had experienced much fatigue and trouble
from the length of the ford, and the dej)ih and
A TOUR OX THE PRAIRIES.
•l.ll
IIK C.I.KX.
nmilitv of the Stream. They looked not unlike
h'uiiui rotiirninK' with tlicir phnuler, and tlic
i dell was ^ retreat worthy to receive them.
-". I'icct was heightened after dark, when the
I't'iif the fires was cast upon nig^'ed lookin;;
'."rniof men and horses ; with ba;4^ai;e tumbled
;"-Vcinj, rille3|)iled against the trees, and sad-
^■■rt, bri'ciles, and powder-horns hanging about
n:ir trunks. • • i i .1
V the encampment we were jomcd by the
^rJV Count and his companion, and the younj;
h''!brcc(l, Antiiine, who had all passed success-
I ilvbvtlic fiii-d. To my annoyance, however, I
i"-overid that both of my horses were missin'^.
1 !i,k! suppii^ed them in the charge of Antoine ;
1. • hi'. Willi characteristic carelessness, had paid
r.i heed to them, and they liad probably wan-
tiered from the line on the opposite side of the
,ver. It was arranged that lieattc and Antoine
i^vid reciDSS the river at an early hour of the
irimn'i, in search of them.
A f.u buck, and a number of wild turkeys being
1' ,1,'lit into the camp, we managed, with the
- ;■ null of a Clip of coffee, to make a comfortable
-pper; after which I repaired to the Captain's
iii,e. which was a kind of council tire aiul gos-
; '11,' place for the veterans of the camp.
A3 «e were conversing together, wo observed,
,v in fiirmcr nights, a tlusky, red glow in the
• -•. :ibjve the summits of the surrounding cliffs.
1: WIS again attributed to Indian fires on the
ti:,::ies; and supposed to be on the western side
(■•.he Arkansas. If so, it was thought they must
ii.iMdc by some jjarty of I'awnees, as the Osage
l.r.'.ers seldom ventured in that quarter. Our
:;. if breeds, however, pronounced them Osage
■ris; and that they were on the opposite side of
i'.i Arkansas.
The conversation now turned upon the Paw-
r;.'i, into whose hunting grounds we were about
rv.ering. There is always some wild untamed
Vibe of Indians, who form, for a time, the terror
I fa frontier, and al)oiit whom all kinds of fearful
•: riesare told. Such, at present, was the case
■ 'h ;he Pawnees, who rove the regions between
■,.. Arkansas and the Red River, and the prairies
iflex.is. They were represented as admirable
1. rienicn, and always on horseback; mounted
(!i fleet and hardy steeds, the wild race of the
pr.'.iries, With these they roam the great plains
tint extend about the Arkansas, the Red River,
..r.d through Texas, to the Rocky Mountains ;
• nietimes engaged in hunting the deer and buf-
1.1), sjmetimes in warlike and predatory expedi-
t o.i; tor, like their counterparts, the sons of
i>!.;;;acl, their hand is against every one, and
•. .ry one's hand against them. .Some of them
!.'ve no fixed habitation, but dwell in tents of
s^.n, c.isily i)acked up ;md transported, so that
they are here to-day, and away, no one knows
"lierc, to morrow.
One of the veteran hunters gave several anec-
I'ltes of their mode of fighting. Luckless, ac-
cirding to his account, is the band of weary
ir.'.ders or hunters descried by them, in the midst
<} a prairie. Sometimes, they will steal upon
''•'.eai by str.Uagem, hanging with one leg (uer
i-'..; s.iddle, and their bodies concealed ; so that
i.ieir troop at ,1 distance has the appearance of a
f"V f'f wild horses. When they have thus
pined sufficiently upon the enemy, they will
suddenly raise themselves in their saddles, and
time like a rushing blast, all tluttering with
f.v.hers, shaking their mantles, brandishing their
•eapons, and making hideous yelb. In this
way, they seek to strike ,1 panic into the horse;,
and put them to the scamper, when they will
pursue and carry them olf in trium|>h.
The best mode of defence, according to tlii;
veteran woodsman, is to get into the covert of
some wood, or thicket; or if there be none at
hand, to dismount, tie the horses lirmly lie.id to
liead in a circle, so that they cannot break away
and scatter, and resort to the sheltei of a ravine,
or make a hollow in the sand, where they maybe
screened fr(un the shafts of the r.iwnees. T'he
latter chielly use the bow and arrow, and arc <lo\-
terous archers ; circling round and round tlieir
enemy, and launching tlicir arrows when at full
speeil. They are chielly formidable on the prai-
ries, where they have free c.ireer for thvir hoises,
an;l no trees to turn aside their arrows. T'liey
will rarely follow a living enemy into the forest.
Several anecdotes, also, were given, of the se-
crecy and caution with which they will follow,
and hang about the camp of an enemy, seeking a
favorable moment for ])lunder or attack.
" We must now begin to keep a sharp look-
out," said the Captain. " I must issue written
orders, that no man shall hunt without leave, or
fire off a gun, on pain of riding a wooden horse
with a sharp back. I have a wild crew of young
, fellows, unaccustomed to frontier service. It will
be dilHciilt to teach them caution. We are now
ill the l.uul of a silent, watchful, crafty |)eople,
who, when we least suspect it, maybe around us,
spying out all our movements, and ready to
pounce u])on all stragglers."
" How will you be able to keep your lUeii from
firing, if they see game while strolling round tlu
camp ? " asked one of the rangers.
" They must not take their guns with them un-
less they are on duty, or have permission."
"All, Captain!" cried the ranger, " that will
never do for me. Where 1 go, my rille goes. I
never like to leave it behind ; it's like a ]).irt of
myself. There's no one will take sucli care of it
as I, and there's nothing will take such care of
me as my ritle."
" TTiere's truth in all that." said the Cajnain,
touched by a true hunter's symp.ithy. " I've
had my rille pretty nigh as l<mg as I li.ive had my
wife, and a faithful friend it has been 10 me."
Here the Docior, who is as keen a hunter ;;s
the Captain, joined in the conversation: " .V
neighbor of mine says, next to my rille, I'd as
leave lend you my wife."
"There's few.'' observed the Captain, " th.it
take care of their rilles as they ought to be taken
care ot."
" Or of their wives either," replied the Doctor,
with a wink.
"That's a fact," rejoined the Cai)tain.
Word was now brought that a jiarty of four
rangers, headed by " Old Ryan,", were missing.
T'liey had separated from the main body, on the
o|)posite siile of the river, when searching for a
ford, and had straggled off, nobody knew wliithcr.
Many conjectures were made about them, and
some apiuehensions expressed for their safety.
" I should send to look after them," said the
Captain, " but old Ryan is with them, and he
knows how to take care of himself and of them
too. if it were not for him, I would not give
much for the rest ; but he is as much at home in
the woods or on a prairie as he would be in his
own farmyard. He's never lost, wherever he is.
T'liere's a good gang of them to stand by one
another ; four to watch and one to take c.ire of
the fire."
•152
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
mm
!
I'l
,Mi
i^! : •
" It's a dismal thinR to pet lost at ni;;lu in a
strangle and wild country," baidoncof the younger
r.in;4crs.
" Not if you have one or two in company," said
an older oni-. " I'or my part, I could feci as
cheerful in this lioUow as in my own home, if I
had but one comrade to take turns to watch and
keep the lire jjoin^;. 1 could lie here for hours,
and ^;a/e up to that hlazinj; star there, that seems
to look down into the camp as if it were keeping
i;uard over it."
•' Aye, the stars arc a kind of company to one,
when you have to keep watch alone. That's a
cliecrful star, too, somehow ; that's the evening
star, the planet \'cnus they call it, I think."
" If that's the planet \'enus," said one of the
council, who, I believe, was the psalm-singing
schoolmastei;, " it bodes us no good ; for 1 recol-
lect reading in some book that the Pawnees wor-
ship that star, and sacrifice their jjrisoners to it.
So I should not feel the better for the sight of
that star in this part of the country."
" Well," said the sergeant, a thorough-bred
woodsman, " star or no star, I have passed many
n night alone in a wilder place than this, and
slept sound loo, I'll warrant you. Once, how-
ever, I had ratlicr an uneasy time of it. I was
belated in passing through a tract of wood, near
the Tomljigbee River ; so I struck a light, made
a fire, and turned my horse loose, while I
stretched myself to sleep. By and by, I heard
the wolves howi. My horse can.o crowding near
ine for jjroteclion, for he was terribly frightened.
I drove him off, but he returned, and drew nearer
and nearer, and stood looking at me and at the
fire, and tlozing, and nodding, and tottering on
his ft)re feet, tor lie was powerful tired. After a
while, I heard a strange dismal cry. I thought
at iirst it might be an owl. I heard it again, and
then I knew it was not an owl, but must be a pan-
ther. I felt rather awkward, for I had no weapon
but a double "Maded penknife. I however pvc-
])aicd for defenr e in the best way I could, and
piled up small brands from the tire, to pepper
liiin with, should he come nigh. The company
of my horse now seemed a comfort to me ; the
poor creature laid down beside me and soon fell
asleep, being so tired. I kept watch, and nod-
ded and dozed, and started awake, and looked
round, expecting to see the glaring eyes of the
panther close upon nie ; but somehow or otlicr,
fatigue got the better of me, and 1 fell asleep out-
right. In the morning I found the tracks of a
panther within si.xty paces. They were as large
as my two fists. He had evidently been walking
backward and forward, trying to make up his
mind tc attack me ; but luckily, he had nut
courage."
October i6th. — I awoke before daylight. The
moon was shining feebly down into the glen, from
among light drifting clouds ; the camp lircs were
nearly burnt out, and the men lying about them,
wrapped in blankets. With the first streak of
day, our huntsman, Beatte, with Antoinc, the
young l.alf-breed, set otT to rccross the river, in
search of the stray horses, in company with sev-
eral rangers who had left their rilles on the oppo-
site shore. As the ford was deep, and they were
obliged to cross in a diagonal line, against a rapid
current, tluy had to be jnounted on the tallest
and strongest horses.
By eight o'clock, Bcatte returned. lie had
found the horses, but had lost Antoinc. The
latter, he said, was a boy, a greenhorn, that knew
nothing of the woods. He had wandered out of
sight of him, and got lost. However there,,.
plenty more for him to fall in cumpanv „,.!'"
some of the rangers had gone ahtnival,' ^i-
old Ryan and his party had not retiirn'cii ' '"'
Wc waited until tlie morning wa, s,',nn,,,.
advanced, in hopes of being rejoiinil U •
stragglers, but they did not make' tJuir v,V,,' '
ance. The Captain observed, that tin; V,,' !'
on the opposite side of the river, wxTe .ill i,', 'i
disposed to the whites ; so that no serious „,!'
hensicms need be entertained fir tiie safciv,|' '
missing. The greatest danger was.'tjut'ih'i
horses might be stolen in the night by strr' /,
Osages. He determined, therefore, iu nroai,'
leaving a rear-guard in the camp, lu await ilu f
arrival.
I sat on a rock that overhung the sjjriii' rt ■■
til>pcr part of the dell, and aiimsed m\iuit
watching the changing scene befuie mc' 1 1^
the preparations for departure. Ilursis drun
in from the purlieus of the camp ; raiij;crs nd t'
about among rocks and bushes in cuiest of oiIks
that had strayed to a distame ; tlic buitlc c'
packing up camp ciiuip.age, and tlie clamur;i" -
kettles and frying-pans borrowed by one iiii-,
from another, mixed up with oallis ;\ii(l cxii.v.:i.;'
tions at restive horses, or others tli.it iiadw'.r!-
dered away to graze after being p;u:kc'i!, aim r •
which the voice of our little l-'reiuhman, Tui-,:;'
was i)articularly to be distinguislud.
The bugle sounded the signal m nin;:nt ;i".:
march. The troop filed off in irrej;i;lar bnc cvir,
the glen, and through the open lorest, wimhr,
and gradually disappearing aincm^' the truT
though the clamor of voices and the imtib dt i.'^
bugle could be heard for some time aUtrv.i: .,
The rear-guard remained under tiic taci in il.;
h)wer part of the dell, some on limscb.ick, ur.h
their rilled on their shoulders ; otb.ors scaini bv
the fire or lying on the ground, gusbi|)iii„' ia -
low, lazy tone of voice, their lioises imsadal-.i':,
standing and dozing around, wliiie one nf ;h;
rangers, profiting by this interval uf leisure, v,-^
shaving himself before a pocket r.iinur b:.ul;
against the trunk of a tree.
The clamor of voices and the no'.os of ihcln,i;:o
at length died away, and the glen relapsed i:.;)
quiet and silence, broken occasinnaliy by ibeluv,-
murmuring tone of the group around the li'.e.ir
the pensive whistle of some laggard aiiidn,' ;i.o
trees ; or the rustling of the yelluw leaves, wliuii
the lightest breath of air brought down in v..\\er-
ing showers, a sign of the departing' gloil.iii
the year.
CHAPTER XIV.
Dct-r-Shoofhi!;: — l.i/,' en the Pr.ilru-'.—nf.iut'fui ft-
cimpmciit — Hiiiiter's I.m!;. — AnerJctcs cf iiu /■■'.>
Vhircs and t/tvir Su/ers/itions.
Having passed through the skiit r f v.owll.ir.J
bordering the river, we ascended the iiiUs, tik:; ;,'
a westerly course through an undulatiivj cour.;ry
of " oak openings," where the eye suetelicil o\'.r
wide tracts of hill and dale, diversified by fcr-
ests, groves, and clumps of trees. As we «i.ri'
proceeding at a slow pace, those who were att:;c
head of the line descried four deer >,'raziii^ on a
grassy slope about half a mile distant, Hh"
apparently had not perceived our approarli,,!' •
continued to graze in perfect tranquillity. ■\
young ranger obtained permissioa from llic *-3p-
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
453
pursuit of them, and the troop
"!' hn^-ngthVncd line, watching liim in silence.
:'x ,„ his hursc slowly and cautiously, he made
n't until a screen of wood intervened be-
t ' '"n liim and the deer. IJismountinj; then, lie
I ITlrs horse aiiioiii,' the trees, and creeping; round
■ '„'|| ^vas hidileii from our view. \Vc now
'■ V inir eyes intently fixed on the deer, which
■nrcd i^razin;;, unconscious of their danger.
'i-,int!vtiierc was the sharp report of a ritle ; a
.'')uck made a convulsive bound and fell to
:,\,riii; liis t'jmpanions scampered off. Im-
Vitelv'our whole line of march was broken;
rtKivas a helter-skelter gallopinij of the young-
,. -i of tlie tido]), e.nger to get a shot at the
j"'u,i; and one of the mo3t conspicuous per-
,'rvo lii t'l- thasc was our little Frenchman
f7>ii,iin his silver-gray ; having ab.andoned his
,, ckhorscsnt the first sight of the deer. It was
'no tune before our scattered forces could be
!c,r,!iil by the Inigle, and our march resumed.
l«oorthree times in the course of the day we
„.re interrupted by hurry-scurry scenes of the
k-.I The young men of the troop were full of
(v:;iT.!i.'nt on entering an unexplored country
i!);'i!i,i!in'' in game, and they were too little ac-
(:.;;. iiuil to discipline or restraint to be kept in
ciir. No one, however, was more unmanage-
;.:v.' ;lun Tonisli. Having an intense conceit of
l:;j skill as a hunter, and an irrepressible passion
fir iloplay, he was continually sallying forth,
like aa ill-broken hound, whenever any game
«as st.irtcd, and had as often to be whipped
uck.
A: length his curiosity got a salutary check. A
fit CL' came bounding along in full view of the
v.hle line. Tonish dismounted, levelled his
r;i'. a:ul had afaii shot. The doe kept on. lie
ssMi!;,' upon his horse, stood up on the saddle
l.kca pii^tiire-master, and continued gazing after
ti.e ;diiiiial as if certain to see it fall. The doc,
fciu.vcr, kept on its way rejoicing ; a laugh
Lpke oat along the line, the little Frenchman
s!;:i)i(l quietly into his saddle, began to belabor
2r,J hl.isplicme the wandering pack-horses, as if
thi". had iiecn to blame, and for some time we
UK relieved from his vaunting and vaporing.
In one place of our march we came to the re-
ir.,i;ns of an old Indian encampment, on the
b.inki of a hne stream, with the moss-grown
skalls of deer lying here and there about it. As
»e«ere in the Pawnee country, it was supposed,
cf cnirse, to have been a cam,) of those formida-
ble rivers; the Doctor, however, after consider-
i:,' the shape and disposition of the lodges, pro-
tmnced it the camp of some bold Delawares,
Wii had probably made a brief and dashing cx-
cjs;iin into these dangerous hunting grounds.
Hiving proceeded some distance farther, we
. cfeorved a couple of figures on horseback, slowly
nnving parallel to us along the edge of a naked
liil about two miles distant ; and apparently re-
cinnoitring us, There was a halt, and much gaz-
in„' and conjecturing. Were they Indians ? If
Indians, were they Pawnees ? There is some-
!!iiii^'exdting to the imagination and stirring to
sieltelin^'s, while traversing these hostile plains,
■".^cein,:,' a horseman prowp-'g along the horizon.
'■li like descrying a sail a: sea in time of war,
'.'.n it may be either a privateer or a pirate.
"-• conjectures were soon set at rest by recon-
fJ^trinij the two horsemen through a small spy-
- lis. when they proved to be two of the men we
"■ 'left .at the camp, who had set out to rejoin
Hi, and had wandered from the track.
Our march this day was animating and delight-
ful. We were in a region of adventure ; break-
ing our way through a country hitherto untrotlden
by white men, excepting perchance by some soli-
tary trapper. The weather was in its perfection,
tem])erate, genial and enlivening ; a deep blue
sky with a few light feathery clouds, an atmos-
phere of perfect transparency, an air pure and
bland, and a glorious country spreading out f.ir
and wide in the golden sunshine of an autumnal
day ; but all silent, lifeless, without a human
habitation, and apparently without a human in-
habitant 1 It was as if a ban hung over this fair
but fated region. The very Indians dared not
abide here, but made it a mere scene of perilous
enterprise, to hunt for a few days, and then away.
After a march of about fifteen miles west we
encamped in a beautiful peninsula, made by the
windings and doublings of a deep, clear, and al-
most motionless brook, and covered by an open
grove of lofty and magnilicent trees. Several
hunters immediately started forth in cpiest of
game before the noise of the camp should frighten
it from the vicinity. Our man, I'leatte, also took
his ritle and went forth alone, in a different ccjurse
from the rest.
For my own part, I laid on the grass under
the trees, and budt castles in the clouds, and in-
dulged in the very luxury of rural re])ose. Indeed
1 can scarcely conceive a kind of life more calcu-
lated to put both mind and body in a healthful
tt)ne. A morning's ride of several hour.; diversi-
fied by hunting incidents ; an encampment in
the afternoon under some noble grove on the bor-
ders of a stream ; an evening banquet of venison,
fresh killed, roasted, or broiled on the coals ; tur-
keys just from the tliickets and wild honey from
the trees ; and all relished with an appetite un-
known to the gourmets of the cities. And at
night — such sweet sleeping in the open air, or
waking and gazing at the moon and stars, shining
between the trees 1
On the present occasion, however, we had not
much reason to boast of our lartler. lUit one
deer had been killed during the day, and none of
that had reached our lodge. We were fain,
therefore, to stay our keen appetites by some
scraps of turkey brought from the last encamp-
ment, eked out with a slice or two of salt pork.
This scarcity, however, did not continue long.
Before dark a young hunter returned well laden
with spoil. Me had shot a deer, cut it up in an
artist-like style, and, putting the meat in a kind
of sack made of the hide, had slung it across his
shoulder and trudged with it to camp.
Not long after, Beatte made his appe.iranco
with a fat doe across his horse. It was the first
game he had brought in, and I was gl.ul to sec
liim with a trophy that might efface the memory
of the polecat. He laid the carcass tluwn by our
fire without saying a. word, and then turned to
unsaddle his horse ; nor could any cpiestions from
us about his hunting draw from him more than
laconic replies. I Beatte, however, observed this
Indian taciturnity about what he had done,
Tonish made up for it by boasting of what he
meant to do. Now that we were in a good hunt-
ing country he meant to take the field, and, if \\r
would take his word for it, our lodge would hence-
forth be overwhelmed with game, i.uckily this
talking did not prevent his working, the eioe was
skilfully dissected, several fat ribs roasted before
the fire, the coffee kettle replenished, and in .t
little while we were enabled to indemnify our-
selves luxuriously for our late meagre repa:jt.
(■
i|!
|i!i I
454
A TOUR OX THE PRAIRIES.
[!'■ i
Tlie captain did not return until late, and lie
returned empty handed. He had been in pur-
suit of his usual game, the deer, when he eanie
upon the traeks of a giuij; of about sixty elk.
llavinj; never killed an animal of the kind, and
the elk bein}^ at this moment an object of ambi-
tion anions^ all the veteran hunters of th" camp,
he aliandoned his pursuit of the deer, and fol-
lowed the newly discovered track. After some
time he came in si^jlit of the elk, and had se\eral
fair chances of a shot, but was anxious to brin^
ilown a Large buck which kej)t in the advance.
Finding at length there was danger of the
whole gang escaping hiu), he fired at a doe.
The shot took effect, but the animal had suffi-
cient strength to keej) on for a time with its com-
panions. From the tracks of blood he felt con-
iident it was mortally wounded, but evening came
on, he could not keep the trail, and hail to gi\e
up the search until morning.
Old Ryan and his little band had not yet re-
joined us, neither had our young half-lireeil An-
toine made his ajipearance. It was determined,
therefore, to remain at our enc.iinpment for the
following day, to give time for all stragglers to
arrive.
The conversation this evening, among the old
huntsmen, turned upon the Deiawar' tribe, one
of whose encampments we IkuI passed in the
course of the d.iy ; and anecdotes were given of
their prowess in w.ar and dexterity in hun'ing.
They used to be deadly foes of tiie (Usages, who
stood in great awe of their ilesjierate valor, though
they were ajit to attribute it to a whimsical
cause. '" Look at the Delawares," would they
say, " dcy got short leg — no can run— must stand
and fight a great heap." In fact the Dehiuares
arc rather short legged, while the Osages are re-
markable for length of limb.
The expeditions of the Delawares, whether of
war or hunting, are wide and fearless ; a small
band of them will jjcnetrate far into these d.in-
gcrous and hostile wilds, and will push their en-
campments even to the Rocky -Mountains. This
daring temper may be in some measure encour-
aged by one of the superstitions of their creed.
Tliey believe that a guardian sjiirit. in the I'orm
of a great eagle, watches over them, hovering in
the sky, far out of sight. Sometimes, when well
pleased vith them, he wheels down into the lower
regions, and may be seen circling with wide-
spread winds against the white chnids ; at such
times the seasons are propitious, the corn grows
finely, and they have great success in hunting.
Sometimes, however, he is angry, and then he
vents his rage in the thunder, which is his voice,
and the lightning, which is the dashing of hiseye,
and strikes dead the object of his displeasure.
The Delawares make sacrifices to this spirit, who
occasionally lets drop a feather from his wing in
token of satisfaction. These feathers render the
wearer invisible, and invulnerable. Indeed, the
Indians generally consider the feathers of the
eagle possessed of occult and sovereign virtues.
At one time a party of the Delawares, in the
course of a bold excursion into the Pawnee hunt-
ing grounds, were surrounded on one of the great
plains, and nearly destroyed. The reirnant took
refuge on the summit of one of those isolated
and conical hills which rise almost like artificial
mounds, from the midst of the ])rairies. Mere
the chief warrior, driven almost to despair, s.icri-
ficed his horse to the tutelar spirit. Suddenly
an enormous eagle, rushing down from the sky,
bore off the victim in his talons, and mounting
into the air, dropped a cpiill feather fr™, i
wing. The chief caught it up withjw 1,„ j
to his forehead, and, leading his folliiwir. ,'
the hill, cut his way through the enemvui' , .
slaughter, and without any one of liis ],\,."'.
ceiving a wound. •' '
■.k!.
ciiai'Ti:r XV,
Tie Si\n-ch for the /'Jk.—t'.r.niee Si.-nr
With the morning dawn, the prime irir'
the camp were all im the alert, ami set nff
ferent directions, to beat u]) the i uuniiv fr,r
The Capt.iin's brother, Serge;int JVin
among the first, and returned hcfdro lir.
with success, having killed a f.t (Id
within the ])urlieus of the camp.
When breakfast was over, the Captnin w.n\::.\}, I
his horse, to go in tpiest of the elk wliirh he hi
wounded on the i)rcceding evening'; ,-;n(l«h;h'
he was jiersuaded, had received its(lenlliw(i;:,t'
I determined to join him in the search, ardiji
accordingly sallied forth together. accfim;i;:n' i*. I
also by his brother, the sergeant, ami a \\v..
ant. Two rangers followed on font, \n !•■■
home the carcass of the doe which the !.trv:-"tj
had killed. We had not ridden fir, whin»t|
caine to where it lay, on the side nf a hill, imhl
midst of a beautiful woodl.uid stine. Thi.;«,il
rangers immediately fell to work, with tii'. !, —. j
crs' skill, to dismember it, anil iiriparc ii
transportation to the camp, while we irpntimx;]
on our course. We passed ahm;,' slupini; lull
sides, among skirts of thicket and scaitondfr!'
trees, until we came to a place where the '.-:
herbage was ])resseil down with miiiicni;;s i k 1
beds. Here the Captain had fust niiHiil the
gang of elks, and, after looking a!)init dilii;cr.t!v
for a little while, he pointed out ihiir " trp.:!," I
the foot-prints of which were as haijc as thn-tof I
horned cattle. He now put liima-lf i;p(in '.Ml
track, and went ([uietly foruard, the ristilo
following him in Indian file. At leii;;t i he haivj]
at the place where the elk had been «h ;'. ^
at. Spots of blood on the siirnuimliiv.,' Ikt!
showed that the shot had been ei!"ecti\i.'. The |
wounded animal had evidently kept fur siimodiv
tance with the rest of the herd, as cinikl be n'.n |
by sprinklings of blooil here anil thire. en sh;
shrubs and weeds bordering the trail. Tliosca:
length suddenly disap])eared. " Sonn-Alicie here-
about," said the Captain, " the elk must li.v.t
turned off from the gang. WlKiievcr ihiv la! |
themselves mortally wounded, they will
aside, and seek sotiie out-of-the-way i)lace in i::e ]
alone."
There was something in this picture of the l.i;ti
moments of a wounded deer, to toiicli the >u>
pathies of one not hardened to llie ;,vntlc liii-
ports of the chase ; such synip^ithies, howiver,
are but transient. Man is natiir.illy an ar.iiw.
of prey ; and, however changed by ci\ili2:ui(ii.
will readily relapse into his instinct lor licitra:- 1
tion. 1 found my ravenous and sani;uinaiy pn-
pensities daily glowing stronger upon the i'f.ia;i>-
After looking about for a little while, the O.;!-
tain succeeded in finding the se|)aralo tiailofi:;.'
wounded elk, which turned off almost at r:i:.'.;
angles from that of the herd, and entered .wfjpi^'
forest of scattered trees. The traces ol h'«'u
became more faint and rare, and ticeurred rt j
greater distances : at length they cciscd a.to-
A TOUR ON Till' r'RAIRIKS.
455
\l
,,;,cr ami the Rroi.nd was so hard and tl.c
,, ii) niiiLh |i:iiilK'd and witlicrcd, tliat tlic
Ifrf-iClUi
|(c:'^'
, I
of till.' animal could nu lunycr be pcr-
••TIk' <•'"* '"''^' ''*■" ^"'"'^"■'^^■'■^" '" '''■'^ ni'it,'li-
,,l"s,iicl tli^' Cajitain, "as von may know
•' liiiU'V-lHWzards wiit'clin;^' about in the
f r tlK'V always hover in that way above
, , ir^Mji. Hi)vvcver, the dead ilk cannot
viv, sn let us follow the trail of the livin;^
";ii|..v may have halteil at no ^jreat distance,
j:|,,.'ii,,'iy liml them ii'':izin<,', and got another
fvi;,!: ihciii."
Wc iiccoriliiv^ly returned, and resumed the
(, : ,•■ tin.' clks,^ which led us a stra^;>,din^,' course
f T i;:ll -iii'l ''''''^'' '-'"^■'-''''•''' ^^''l' scattered oaks.
V -v '.unv ami then we would catch a yjimpse of
,i'-r b;niiu!in;,' away across some j.;l'ide of the
f 'f,;. '>,il the C.iptain was not to be diverted
f:■^i)i elk himt by such inferior [,'ame. A lar^e
j;\.k.if «:lil turkeys, too, were roused by the
l',-,..,;;Pj; of (lur horses; some scampered off as
f.t ,1^ their li'iv^' le.;s could carry them ; others
|!-.r,J up inii) the trees, where they reniaini'd
ii:hK:lstrctL'hed necks, t,'a/in^; at us. The Cap-
jv- « ii;!il not allow . I rille to be ilischarned at
(i..;«,j^st it sluni'.d alarm the elk, which he hoped
tjXi! ill the vicinity. At len;^'th we c.imc to
i\h-.r. '.lie f(irest ended in .a sleep bank, and the
K..1 F irk wound its way below us, between bro.id
Sir.'iv shores. The tr.iil descended the bank, and
»c:iV,iKl trace it, with our eyes, across the level
sirsii. '.i:ilil it terminated in the river, which, it
»iH".:ilent, the gan:; had forded on the precetl-
r; cviniii;,'.
'■ h ii needles; to follow on any f.irther," saitl
lh;C:,i;.iin. "The elk must ha\e been much
f:;,:.ti;ie;l, and, after cro,isin;.^ the river, m.iy
h.;..'ki'|it iin for twenty miles without slopping."
Oir little party now divided, the lieti'enant
3i; >.'r;,'e:int making .1 circuit in t|uest of game,
a",.i '.iv: Captain and myself taking the direction
of ;h: camp. On our way, we came to a bul'lalo
tM-k. ni'ire than a year old. It was not wider
thill .n ordiii.iry footpath, and worn deep into
th.'-.'.l; for these anim \ls follow each other in
iisj'.i' tile. Shortly afterward, we met two
rr^'.rsHn foot, hunting. They h.id wounded an
t'k. bill lie had ebca|)ed ; and in ])ursuing him,
hi f'lmd the one shot by the Cajilain on the
p-.,ii,n,;,' evening. They turned back, and con-
il;;:.\l US to il. It w.is a noble animal, as large
2vi U'arling heifer, and l.iy in an open p.irt of
th.iir;:t, atxHit a mile and a half tlistanl from
i.i.i' ice where it had been shot. The turkey-
:.:;;,ii\;5, which we had previously noticed, were
(vi.viip.;; ill the ;iir above it. The observation of
t.i: l,i;itaiii seemed \-erified. The poor animal,
a.-!;l.'was ebbing away, had ap|)arenlly aban-
i)Ki its unhurt companions, and turnetl asitle
!3 die alone.
The Captain and the two rangers forthwith fell
ti "M:k. with their hunting-knives, to (lay and
f :! iiii tiie carcass. It was already tainted on the
-■'■e, but ample collops were cut from the ribs
■■■■■'.i JMinche^, and l.iid in a heap on the oui-
^rcleiied hide. Holes were then cut along the
. "...r of the hide, raw thongs were ])assed
'■•■ '.A them, and the whole drawn up like a
behind the Captain's sad-
the tLirkev-buzzards were
th.
'inch was swain"
All this whih ■
'•'■:',' overhead, waiting for our departure, to
yi.own and bancpiet'on the carcass.
i..e wreck of the pocn- elk being thus disman-
'■•-t.;e Captain and myself mounted our horses,
and jogged back to the ramp, while the two ran-
gers resunuil their hunting.
On ri'. idling the cinip, 1 found there our young
half breed, .\ntoine. Afterseparatingfrcuu lieattc,
in the scare h afti r the str.iy horses on the other
side of the Ark.ms.is, lie h.ul fillen upon a wrong
track, whicdi he followed for severa' miles, when
he owrtook cdd Ryan and ids party, and found
he had been following their tr.ices.
'i'hey all f(U(led the Ark.insas about eight miles
above our crossing place, and found their w.iy to
our Lite encampment in the glen, where the rear-
guard we hail left behind wis waiting for them.
Antoiiie, being well mounted, and somewhat iiii-
jiatient to rejoin us, had pushed on alone, fdlow-
ing our trail, to our jiresent encam|)iiunt. and
bringing the carcass of a voung be.ir wliicli he
h.id killed.
Our caiiii), during the residue tif the d.iy, pre-
sented a mingled |)icture of bustle and repose.
Some of the men were busy round the fires, jerk-
ing and roasting venison and be.ir's nie.it, to lie
packeil up as a future supply. Some were stretch-
ing and dressing the skins of the animals they had
killed ; others were washing their clothes in the
brook, ami Ii.inging them on the bushes to dry ;
while many were lying on the grass, and lazily
gossiping in the shade, fivi'ry now and then :i
hunter would return, (ui horseback or on foot,
laden with game, or empty handed. Those who
brought home any spoil, deposited it at the Cap-
tain's fire, and then tiled oif to their respecti\e
messes, to relate their dav's e.\|iloits to their com-
jiiinions. The g.inie killed at this camp mnsi-.ted
of six deer, one elk, two bears, anil bix or eight
turkeys.
During the last two or three days, since their
wild Indian achievement in navigating the river,
our ret.iiners had risen in consequence among the
rangers ; ;uid now I found Tonish making him-
self a cimiplete oracle among some of the r.iw and
inexperienced recruits, who had never been in the
wilderness. He had continually a knot h.mging
about him, and listening to his extravagant tales
about the I'awnees, with whom he ])reteiided to
have had fearful encounters. His representa-
tions, in fact, were calculatid to inspire his hear-
ers with an awful idea of the foe into whose lands
they were intruding. According to his accounts,
the ritle of the white man was no match for the
bow and arrow of the I'.iwaiee. \\'lien th.; rille
was once dischargcil, it took time and trouble to
lo.ul it ag.iin, and in the meantime the enemy
could keep on launching his sh.ifls as fist as he
could draw his bow. Then the Pawnee, accord-
ing to 'I'onish, could shoot witli uneniiv.; aim,
three liundred Viirds, and semi li s .arrow ( lean
thnnigli and through a bulfalo ; nay, he had
known a Pawnee shaft ]5ass through one butValo
and wound another. And liien the way the Paw-
nees sheltered themsebes from the shots of their
enemy : they would hiing with one leg over the
saddle, crouching their bodies along the opposite
siile of their'horsc, and would slioot their arrows
from under his neck, wliile at full speed !
If Tonish was to be belie\ed, there was peril
at every step in these debatable grounds of th.c
Indian tribes. Pawnees lurked unseen among
the thickets and ravines. They had their scouts
and sentinels on the summit of the mounils which
command a \iew over the prairies, wdiere t!ie;. lay
crouched in the tall grass ; only now and then
raising their heads to watch the movements nt
any w.ir or lumtiiig jiarty that might be passing
ill lengthened line below, At night, they would
48«
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
J I i
.('
lurk round an encampment ; crawling throii^;li the
j;i.iss, and imitating tlie nioveniunts of a wolf, so
as to (k'ccivc the sentinel (m the outpost, until,
lia\ in;^ arri\ed sufficiently near, they would speed
an arrow ihrouuli his heart, and retreat unilis-
covered. In telling; liis stories, Tonish would ap-
peal from lime to time to liealte, for the truth of
what he saiil ; the only reply would be a nod or
sliru:^ of the shoulders ; the latter bein;^' tlivided
in mind between a distaste for the jjasconadin^;
spirit of his comrade, and a soverei(,'n contempt
ftir the inexperience of the youn^,' rangers in all
that he considered true knowled'je.
CIIAl'TKR X\'I.
A Sid- r.imp.— Thc Mar,lt.— Tlu- /Ht.ihUJ Ihn-^e.—OUt
h'Viin iiuJ tilt' Str,i:;^li-rs. — Svin/'toms of (/t,i>i:;c t'/
li 'fiilli(>\ iinil C/tii»j;e of Humors.
OcToi'.f.u iRrit. — We prepared to march at the
usual hoiw, but woril w;is brou>;lit to the Captain
that three of the rant;ers, who had been attacked
with the measles, were unable to jiroceed, and th.tt
another one was missin;;. The last was an olil
frontiersman, by the name of Sawyer, who had
gained years without experience ; and having
sallied forth to hunt, on the preceding; day, h.ul
jirobably lost his way on the ])rairies. A guard
of ten men was, therefore, to take care of tlie sick,
and wait for the stra;^'j;ler. If the former re-
c,i\ered suftKienlly in llie course of two or three
days, they were to rejoin the main budy, other-
wise to be escorted back to tlie garrison.
Taking our lea\ e of the sick camp, v.e shaped
our cour .e westwanl, along the he:!d.; of small
streams, :\11 wandering, in ileep ravines, toward
the Red fork. The land w.is high and imdu-
lating, or ■' rolling,'" as it is termed in the West ;
with a jjoor hungry soil mingled with the sand-
stone, which is unusual in this jiait of the coun-
try, and checkered with harsh forests of post-oak
and black-jack.
In the course of the morning, I recei\e<l a les-
son on the importance of being chary of one's
steed on the prairies The one I rode on sur-
passed in action most horses of the troop, and
was of great mettle and a generous spirit. In
crossing the ileep ravines, he would scramble up
the steep banks like a cat, and was alw.tys for
leaping the narrow runs of w.iter. I was not
aware of the imj)rudence of indulging him in such
exertions, until, in leajiing him across a small
biDok, I fjlt him immediately f.dler beneath me.
He limped forward a short distance, but soon fell
starlv lame, having sprained his shoulder. What
was to be done ? He could not kee]) up with the
troop, and w.is too valuable to be abandoned <in
the jn-airie. The only alternative was to send
him back to join the invaliils in the sick camp,
and to share their fortunes. Nobody, however,
seemed disposed to lead him back, although I
oflered a liberal reward, lather the stories of
Tonish about the Pawnees had s])read an appre-
hension of lurking foes, and imminent ])erils on
the prairies ; or there was a fear of missing the
trail and getting lost. At length two young men
ste[)[)ed forw.ard and agreed to go in company, so
that, shouUl they lie Ijenighted on the prairies,
there might be one to watch while the other
sle()t.
The horse was accordingly consigned to their
care, and I looked after him with \ rueful cv I
he limped ot'f, for it seemed as if, with i,,;.'.,
strength and buoyancy had <lep,irti'(l fnu, „ '
I looked r(nmd for a steed to supply i,,,., .
and fixed my eyes u|)on the gallant Krivlh';,
hail transferred at the Agency to -i-un,;!, fl
moment, however, that I hinted alidut li;, ,
mounting and taking up with the siipcrr,;''.'
I)ony, the little varlet broke out int')vu;Vi
remonstrances and lamentaiions, pspi '•
almr)st strangling, in his eagenuss td m ,; ,
to them. I saw that to unhorse him \\wi\'l
prostrate his spirit and cut his vanity '.n thiii';
I had not the heart to intlict such -a wminJ., ,
bring down the poor devil from his lr,iiM,|,l
glory ; so I left him in possessi(jn uf hi, ■•,i|
gray; and contented myself with sliifnlr r, I
saildle to the jaded pony. '
I was now sensible of the conii)lcte ri'\i:K<;)|
which a horseman is exposed on the pni!;.
felt how completely the spirit of the nli:
pended upon his steed. I had hitlunnbanab;:!
to make excursions at will from thf liiu, an^i •'
g.allop in pursuit of any objec t of inii.ri.,ti,r jr
osity. 1 was nowretlucec' to the toiKnf thi' ;;6,; |
animal I bestrode, and doomed to |ilini (.>. ;
tiently and slowly after my tile kaikr. A!, .
all, 1 was made conscious how unwise iti;, or, I
expeditions of the kind, where a niMii'n lift ni;v
depend ujxm the strength, and s|)ce(l, and fa-h-
ness of his horse, to task the genermis aiiim.illv
any unnecessary exertion of his powers.
I have observed that the wary ami c\peiicr.«:'
lumtsmen and tra\eller of the prairies is nl,i ,,
sparing of his horse, when on a joiuney; iv.-, :.
except in emergency, jnitting luni dlf ol' ,i«,iii.
The regular journeyings of frontieisiiie'ii mu! In-
dians, when (Ml a long march, i-cKIum exavi
above fifteen miles a day, and are gene't^illynbi:;!
ten or twelve, and they never imlulge incajini! .;
gallo|)ing. Many of those, however, witliwlKr.il
1 was travelling were young and inexpcriencii
and full of excitement at tinding theiiisel.csir. 1 1
country abounding with game. It was iiuprissib!; I
to retain them in the sobriety of a niaicli.dri)
keep them to the line. As we hidkc our «:y
through the coverts and ravines, ami the' dn: |
started up and scampered off to the rijiht .ir;i
left, the rille balls would whiz after them, and o..;
young hunters dash off in pursuit. At one tic-.' |
they made a grand burst after what they supi'un ■
to be a gang of bears, but soon pulleil up cint;.--
covering them to be black wohes, iJioulin^' ;:'.
company.
At'ier a march of about twelve raiics wc en-
camped, a little after mitl-day, on t!ic borders d |
a brook which loiteretl through a deep nv&i
In the course of the afternoon (dtl Ky:'.n, tl.
NestiH' of the cam]), made his appeaniiici.', lo.- 1
lowed by his little band of stragglers. Hcw;
greeted with joyful acclamations, which sIkhuu |
the estimati(m in which he was liokl by t'
brother woodmen. The little band nuiio l;i'l::
with xenison ; a fine haunch of which tiie vi.:-
cran hunter l.iid, as a present, In- the C.'.p;.'.:'.:
fire.
(Wurmen, Beattc and Tonish. both s.illiiilfriA
early in the afternoon, to hunt. Tuwaid c.."
ing the former returned, with a fine buck acre :
his horse. He laid it down, as usual, in silcn.e
and proceeded to unsaddle and turn his hi^-
loosc. Tonish came back w ithout any game'. • >■
with much more glory; having made sm:-
capital shots, though unluckily the wounded t..a
I',ad all escaped him.
A TOUR ON THE rRAIKIKS.
m
Tkfrtwas an ahundint supply of meat in the
for. bcsick's other t,M'»»-'. '•"'i-''-' '-■"< h'»'l
r. iiillici. I ho wary and veteran woodmen
■"■''" ^^11 in'isv jerking' meat against a time of
"Wtv tliclt's^ experienced revelled in present
.i"inci,ina', leaving the morrow to provide for
''on the following mornini; (October lyth), I
,.iccicil«.il in ch.inninK my pony and a reasonable
,'-, I'f niiincv for a strong; and active horse. It
■ ^ '-ant -i.iti^failion to find myself once more
llcMblv well inoiiiited. I jjerceived, however,
ihr tlHTc wdukl be little dililiculty in making; a
sf'VfiMin fnim amonj; the troop, for the rangers
hi'j .ill llwt prcM'cnsity for " swaj.pinK'," or, as
(iicv term it, " tradinj;," which pervades the
\Vc5t. In 'l'^^' '"""'■'^c of our expedition, there w.is
s-irrclv a h(irse, ritle, powder-horn., or blanket,
ihjt iliii not change owners several limes ; and
pne keen "trader" bo.astcd of having;, by dint
(f friuuent bar^jains, chanjjed a bad horse into
a godd one, and put a hundred dollars in his
The morning' was lowcnnR and sultry, with low
r'.iitti'rin^; of dist.mt thunder. The change of
wcailKT li'"l '''' effect ujion the spirits of the
trnop. Tlio camp was unusually sober and quiet ;
thiTi' w.ns nolle of the accustomed faiinyard
i^dinlv of crowing' and cackling,' at daybre.ik ;
none of the bursts of merriment, the loud jokes
,-nJ Imnterintjs, that had commonly ])re\ailed
djinL'tlio bii-itle of ei|uii)ment. Now and then
nj'ht be iiearcl a short str.iin of a son;^, a faint
Liu'h. or a solitary whistle ; but, in t;eneral,
even one went silently and doKKedly about the
diities of the camp, or the preparati-jns for de-
p.irt'.iro.
When tlic time arrived to saddle and mount,
f.ve horses were reported as missinj^ ; althoui^h
,ill the woods .ind thickets had been beaten uj)
for some distiince round the camp. Several
ra^^ers were dispatched to "skir" the country
rojiid in i|oest of them. In the meantime, the
th'jnder continued to (;rowl, and we had a pass-
in; shower. The horses, like their riders, were
jifected by the change of weather. They stood
here .iml there about the camp, some saddled
and bridled, others loose, but all spiritless and
(iMm;,'. with stooping head, one hind leg partly
drawn up so as to rest on the point of the hoof,
and tlie whole hide reeking with the rain, and
sending' up wreaths of va])or. The men, too,
waited in listless groups the return of their com-
ndes who had gone in quest of the horses ; now
and then tinning up an anxious eye to the drifting
clouds, which boded an approaching storm.
Gloomy weather inspires gloomy thoughts. Some
cspreiscd fears that we were dogged by some
party of Indians, who had stolen the horses in
the n;j;bt. The most prevalent apprehension,
however, was, that they had returned on their
traces to our last encampment, or had started off
on ,1 direct line for Fort Gibson. In this respect,
the instinct of horses is said to resemble that of
the pi;,'con. They will strike for home by a
direct course, i)assing througli tracts of wikler-
ne>i which they have never before traversed.
.Alter delaying until the morning was somewhat
advanced, a lieutenant with a guard was a])pointed
toaw.iit the return of the rangers, and we set off
on our day's journey, considerably reduced in
timbers; much, ;is I thought, to the discom-
posure of some of the troop, who intimated that
»e might prove too weak-handed, in case of an
encounter with the Pawnees.
CIIAI'TKR XVII.
T/iuniltr -Storm iv/ Ihf l't\iiriet.— Thf S\^rm I-Hiiim,
niint.-.\it;/il
tniii //one.
SifHf. — /nJi,i/t M/or
S,,irm l-Hiamfi-
OfK march for a part of the day, l.iy a little tn
the south of west, through str.iggliiig Inrests of
the kiiul of low scrubbed trees alre.idy iiuiitioned,
c.dled " post-oaks," anil " bl.uUJ.icks." The
soil of tiu'se " oak barrens " is hiose and uiisdund ;
being little better at times than a mere (pm ks.iiid,
in wliich, in rainy weather, the horse'-, liciof slips
from side to side, and now and then sinks in a
rotten, sjiongy turf, to thefetloik. Sudi was the
case .'it jiresent in consequence of successi\e
thunder-showers, through whi<h we dr.iggled aloii};
in doggeil silence. lieveral tieer were roused by
our approach, and scudded across the forest
gl.ides ; but no one, as formerly, broke the line
of march to pursue them. At one time, wo
p.isseil the bones and horns of a Inill'.dd, and at
another lime a butTalo track, not above three
days old. These signs of the vicinity of this
grand game of the prairies, had a reviving elfect
on the spirits of our huntsmen ; but it was of
transient duration.
In crossing a prairie of moderate extent, ren-
dered little better than a slippery boi; by the re-
cent showers, we were overtaken by a violent
thunder-gust. 'l"he rain came rattling upon us in
torrents, and spattereil up like steam ahmg the
ground ; the whole landscape was sucUknly
wra])|)eil in gloom that g.ive a vi\ iil elfect to the
intense sheets of lightning, while the thumler
seemed to burst over our very heads, and w.u
reverberated by the groves and forests that
checkered and skirted the jir.iirie. Man and
beast were so pelted, drenched, and confounded,
that the line was thrown in com|)lete confusion ;
some of the horses were so frightened as to be
almost unmanageable, and our scattered caval-
cade looked like a tempest-tosseil tket, driven
hither and thither, at the mercy of wind and
wave.
At length, at half past two o'clock, we came to
a halt, and gathering together our forces, en-
camped in an open and lofty grove, with a prairie
on one side and a stream on the other. The
forest immediately rang with the sound of the
axe, and the crash of falling trees. Huge tires
were soon blazing ; blankets were stretched be-
fore them, by way of tents ; booths were hastily
reared of bark and skins ; every t'lie had its
group drawn close round it, drying and warming
themselves, or i)rep,iring a coiiifoi ting meal.
Some of the rangers were discharging ami clean-
ing their ritles, which hail been exposid to the
rain ; while the horses, relieved from their sad-
dles and burdens, rolled in the wet gras-5.
The showers continued from time to lime, until
late in the evening. liefore dark, our horses
were gathered in anil tethered about the skirts of
the camp, within the outposts, through fear of
Indian prowlers, who are ajit to lake advantage
of stormy nights for their depreilations and as-
saults. As the night thickened, the huge fires
became more and more luminous ; lighting up
masses of the overhanging foliage, and leaving
other parts of the grove in deep gloom. l-'very
fire had its goblin group around it, while the teth-
ered horses were dimly seen, like sjiectres,
among the thickets ; excepting that here and
there a gray one stood out in bright relief.
The grove, thus titfully lighted up by the ruddy
■ir>H
A TOUR ON TIIK I'KAIUIKS.
,
:^i\
;i
'?U
01
ulaif nf till' fircH, rcsini1)k'(l a va«t leafy ddiDc,
w.ilU'tl ill liy n|),ii|iiL' il.iikin'ss ; ))iit I'viry lunv
and tlii'M isvoor llnco l|ui\L■|•ill^; (li^liis of li^lil-
nin^; in (|iii(k siiicis^ioii, nmhiUI smUlLnly tcmmI
a\MsiilMiii|>.ii;4n 1 i)imir\ , wIuti- luUlsatKl fdrc^ls,
and tunning; sliranis, winilil start, as it wviv, intn
cxistcnci' liir a few l)rii'f soconds, antl, hcforc tin-
eye could ahcc'i't.iin tlicni, vanish aj^ain into
jjicioin.
A lliiindcr-sti>rn> on a jirairio, as iiinin llu-
oci'an, (li'iiM-i j;ian(li'ur and siihliniity Imm tlic
wild and IkiimuUiss waste omt wliii li it la^jes and
l)ill(i\vs. It IS not sur|iiisiii;; that these awful
]iheniiiiu'na of nature should he ohjecls of super-
slitiiius leveieiiie to the | r s,u aj;es, and thai
they should consider the thunder the an^jry xoicc
of the (Ireat Spirit. As <uir hail-hri'eds sat ^os-
;.ipini,' round the lire, I drew from them some of
the notions enlert.iini'd on the subject by their
Indian fiieiuls. The latter declare that exlin-
piiished thunderbolts arc sometimes ])icked up
by hunters on the prairies, wlio use them for the
heads of arrows and lances, and that any w.irrior
thus armed is invincible. .Should .i thiin<hr-
storm occur, ho\ve\er, during b.iltle, he i-. liable
to be carried away by the ihuniler, and ne\er
hearil of more.
A warrior of the Kon/a tribe, hunting on a
]n'airie, was owrtaken by a storm, and struck
down seiiseii'ss by the thunder. On recovering;,
lie beheld the thunderbolt lyiiv4 on the (^nuintl,
and a horse standing; beside it. Snatchini,' up
the bolt, he sprang; u|)on the horse, but found,
too late, that he was astride of the lij,'litnin;^'. In
an instant he w.is whisked away over jir.iiries and
forests, and slre.inis and desirts, until he was
flunj^ senseless at the foot of the Rocky .Moun-
tains ; whence, on recovering;, it took him several
months to return to his own jieoplc.
This story reminded liii' of an Indian tradition,
related by a ti.iveller, of the fate of a warrior who
saw the thunder 1) iiv^ upon the };round, with a
beautifully wrouj;lit moccason on each side of it.
TliinkiiiL; he h.ul found a p.rize, he ])ut on the
nuiccasons ; but they bore him away to the land
of spirits, whence he iie\er returned.
These are simple and artless tales, but tlu'y
had a wihl and romantic interest heard I'rom the
li|)S of half-savaj,'e n.irrators, round a hunter's
fire, on a stormy nis;lit,wiih a forest on one side,
and a howliiv.; waste on the other ; and where,
peradventure, savaye foesini<;lu belurkin;; in the
outer darkness.
Our conversation was interrupted by a loud
claj) of thunder, followed immediately by the
sound of a horse ;;allopiiv.; off madly into the
waste. livery one listened in mute .silence. 'I'he
hoofs resounded \i;;orously for a time, but grew
fainter and f.iinter, until they dieil away in re-
mote distance.
When the sound was no loni;er to be heard,
the listeners turned to conjecture what coukl
have causeil this sudden scamper. Some thouijht
the horse had been startk'd by the thunder ;
others, that some lurking Indian had [galloped off
with him. -'I'o this it was objectecl, that the
usual mode with the Indians is to steal cpiictly
upon the horse, take off his fetters, mount liiin
]4enlly, and walk him off as sileiUly as possible,
leading off others, without any unusual stir or
noise to disturb the cain[).
On the other hand, it was stated as a common
practice with the Indians, to creep among a
troop of horses when grazing at night, mount one
quietly, an<l then start off suddenly at full speed,
Nothing is lo cont.agious ainoii;; horv* .i,
p.imc ; one sutlden bre.ik-.iw.iy m| tliu liin-l » '
sometimes .il.irm the whole troup, and tlnv » i
set off, helter-skelter, after the le.ulcr. ' "
i;\ery one who h.ul a horse ura/iiij; ,|, ,i,
skirts of the c.imp w.is uneasy, Usi liii shnnlil '',"
the fugiti\e; but it was impossihle h> asnrtaii
tin: f.ict until morning. 'I'liose who li ul ml.,.; i
their horses felt more secure ; thouijli liorn, i, '
tied up, .nnd limited to a short raiijjc .it u, b'
are apt to fall <iff in llesh and stren;;!!), clim? "j
long lu.irch ; and many of the lioiscs u\ "^,,
troo|) already g.ivc sign-, of being w.iyworn,
After a gloomy ami unruly ni^;lit,'tlic mnrri;;-.-
dawned bright and cle.ir, and a glunmis siirriit
transformed the whole landscape, a-, if liv in,.,-,
The l.itc dreary wilderness briglitciail iiUn.M.v'
open i-ountry, with stately gro\es, aivl cliim|i,,|
o.iks of ;i gigantic si/e, some of wliirh bioud ;,:;.
gly, as if planted for ornament ami sIiikIc, in i'„j
midst of rich meailows; while our hursts, v.,.;.
tered about, ;ind grazing under tlielii, ^;.uu ti',;.:
whole the ;iir of a noble jiark. It w.is iliftitiil'. i j
realize the f.ict th.it we were so fir in the wildi
beyond the residence of man. ( )ur eiuMiii|)inii,t,
alone, had a savage appiarance ; wilh iis r,,:,
tents of skins and bl.inkets, ami its cohmiiu ii'
blue smoke rising among the lree;i.
The (irst care in the morning, was titKiok ;il, r
our horses. Some of them had w.iiuicixil 1 1 ,\
distance, but all were fortuiiati ly fmiml ; ;\.:i
the one whose clattering hoofs had c.aisiil sn'i
uneasiness in the night, lie had coim; tn a h,'.',;
about a mile from the camp, ami was fujnl
cpiietly gr.izing near a brook. The lni;:lL icninil. i
for departure about half-p.ist eight. As wc wc:
in greater risk of Indian molestation tiii: t.'.i'uur
we advanced, our line was formed uuli niuix' pr.-
cibion than heretofore. .Everyone h.ul his st,.'
tion assigned him, anil was forbiilileii loiciui.;!
in jnirsuit of game, without speci.d pi'iiiih-i'",.
The pack-horses were ])l.iced in the tentic ol '.';..
line, and a stronij guard in the re.ir.
CIIAFTKR .Win.
.1 Cr.ii/J /'r.iiii,: — Cliff <\tst!i\—IU(f.ii' Ti\uh.—Vi,>
lltinttd /,. \\\iivcs. — i io>'i Jimh-r,
Al'TKK a toilsome march of some distance tliroii.;!:
a country cut up by ra\ines and h-rouks, .uul i.;>
tangled by thickets, we emerged upon a gr.iiui
prairie. Here one of the characteristic sciiil-
of the Far West broke upon us. An imiiKibc
extent of grassy, undulating, or, as it is turned,
rolling country, with here and there a clump ot
trees, ilimly seen in the distance like a ship it
sea ; the landscape deri\ing suhliniity from n-
vastness .-ind simplicity. To tiie sou^h^vc^t, in
the summit of a hill, was a singul.ir civst of
broken rocks, resembling a ruined fnrtre^v .1
reminded me of the ruin of some Moiuisli c,i>"i.'
crowning a height in the mitlst uf a Imiely Sp.;;>
ish landscape. To this hill we g.ive the iiair.t d
Cliff Castle.
The prairies of these great hunting rcjjions (.i:-
fcred in the character of their vegei.uion Iroa
those through which I had hitherto jiis^ai. i-j
stead of a profusion of tall (lowering iibnts aiul
long Haunting grasses, they were coveied witli.i
shorter growth of herbage called buiialu i;: '-^
somewhat coarse, but, at the proper sciuoiis, ..l*
A TOUR ON TIIK PRAIRIf.S.
450
(,]„. cwcllcnt nrul nhiindant piistiirni^c. At
r! Kilt !'"■'< i'.f""'"^'*^ '•■>■. ■""'• "» "••'">■ pliicc*
' w'l.it .irul M.MSII11 (.illid till' liuli.in Siimnui'.
',/',^. j,',n a MMiiky li.iA' in till' alinoipluiL' tli.it
.inpacil till.' liiinlitiiL-.H of llic siiiisliiiu' iiitu .i
•i'lliii tint, siiluiuiii,' the fc.iti.ii -. i>( tin' l.uul-
['p^.,,iiul nivin^ 11 \,>>;uiMU'sH t<» the outlitun of
J|.',„\,ilijciis, 'I'lii'* li.i/iiu->s w.is (Lilly iiuiiMs-
-■, 311.1 «.!•» .ittiiliiitiil to tlif liuriiiiij; of clihtiiiu
r'ir'a's liv tilt' liuli.iii iiiintm;; |),iilios.
' Uc li.iil Mut Koiic f.ir iijiou ilic iir.iiric bifoic
». cr.nc ID wiicrc dtciily worn footpallis wire
i.in ir.iMTMii;' tin." totmtry : soimiiiiR's two or
;;.ru«"iil'l '<'■''• P "" l'i"'''"'-'l l'> i-';ii It otlii'i, ami
'",M few piiLi'i apart. 'Ihcsc wi're proiioiiiii(.(l
•'be tiaciii 'if liiiU'iiloi's, wluie i.ir^'c ilroMs
1 .,1 p.iiscd. '1 lure wire tracks also of liorsos,
'.,i,..lnii'rc (ibsirvLil with sonic attention tty our
tM.riincal luiiiters. They coiilil not !jc the
iM.iiuf ttilil lioises, as there were no prints of
•he lumfs (if ch-. ; all were full-j^rown. Ai the
!, riijcvitlcntly were not shoil, it w.is eoncliuKil
•,;;.;v imist luKiii^,' to some liuiuiiv^' P'lrty of
LrJiiiis. Ill the course of the niornin^;, the
t;.hkiiif .1 siiv^le horse, with shoes, were diseov-
iral, Thi-i iiii^ht lie llie horse of a Cherokee
hjr.itr, or pirluips .i iiorse stolen from the whiles
(I'.lii,' friiiitiiT. Tluis. in tra\ersiii;^ these peni-
II.:- «.oti'S, every fniitprint airl iliiit of hoof lie-
liiik'j mailer (if cautious inspection and shrewd
<;imbo; .iiul the iiue--tion coniinu.illy is, whether
itktlic tr.ire of friend or foe, whether of recent
i: mcii'tlt il.ile, and whether the liein;^ that
rr,i!'.' It bo (I'.it (if re.icli, or liable to bo eiicoim-
•..rul,
Ui' were ;,'ettiiv.; more and more into the };ame
r.amry ; as we proceeded, wo repeatedly saw
uir to the ri^jht ami left. Ixmndin;^ off for the
ciurts; but their appe.ir.ince no lon^^'er excited
iiii'siiiK' ca;,'eniess to ])ursiie. In passing' alon.;
a-l'|ia(if tlio prairie, between two roHio;.^ swells
ifl.inil, wc cinie in si^dit of a (,'eniiine natur.il
hiin'.i:,,' male li. A ]).iek of seven black wnlves
;r i MKMiliite one were in full chase of a buck,
»h.,ii tlioy bad iicirly tired down. They crosseil
;i.iiaic pf our in.irih without apjiarently perceiv-
ir; ;ii; we saw them have a fair run of nearly
.1 Kile, paiiiiiv.,' upon the buck until they were
killing' upon his h.-'unches, when he |)hiii:.;ed
li.'in a ravine. .Some of our i)arty j,'alloped to
a rijirii} K't'iuul commandiiv^' a view of the
fi'ir.c. The ))oor buck was completely beset.
sWicnn bis ll.mks, some at bis throat ; he iiuule
I' If three stri;:;i;K's and desperate bounds, but
«i5 ilra,;i;ed ibiwn, overpowered, aid torn to
p.as, The lil.uk wolves, in their ravenous
t-;ir anil fury, took no notice of 'he distant
P'.y of borseuien ; but tlic white wolf, appar-
i"iiy lc55 j,v.nu', abandoned the ])rey, and scam-
P'lii over bill and dale, rousinjj various deer
i:..it were crouched in the hollows, and which
fc-ndeil ntf likewise in ditleient directions. It
«i*altci;;etber a wild scene, worthy of the " hunt-
•■-.'^rininds.''
\U- now came once more in sight of the Red
' '1;, Mi ml ill;; iis turbid course between well-
• "led hills, and tliroiij;h a vast .'ind mai,'nit"icent
iinlicipe. The prairies bordering' on tlie rivers
;"■-' auyay-. varied in this way with woodland, so
;"'iii'.itully iiiier-.])ersed as to appear to have been
•W' out by the hand of taste ; and they only
lli'i^t here and there a viUaj^e si)ire, the battle'-
■■-:'.o of a cistle, or the turrets of an old family
in.insion rising frntn .nmonR the trees, to rival the
most ornamented scenery of llurope.
About iiiidd.iy we re.iched the edge of tli.it
scittered belt ol forest l.iml, about forty iiiilis in
\Miltli, whiili sliet(lies across the counliy troni
north to south, from the .Arkansas to the Ued
Kiver, seii.iraiing the ujiper from the lower prai-
lies, and commonly c.illid the " C'loss Timber.''
Oil the skirts of this forest I. mil, jiisl mi the edge
of a pr.iirie, we louiid traces of a I'.iwine cn-
c.impiiuiit of l)eiween one and two hiindreil
lodges, showing that the |i,ii»y must have been
numerous. The skull of a biiff.do l.iy ni.ir the
c.imp, and the moss which Ii.id i.;.itlirred on it
proved tli.it the enc.impmeiit w.is .it li.ist a ve.ir
old. About li.df a mile off we cncaiiiped in a
beautiful grove, w.itered by a tine spring ami
rivulet. Our day's journey had been .iboiit four-
teen miles.
Ill the course of the aflernoim we were rejoined
by two of l.ii utcii.int King's p.irty, which we
li.iil left behind a few d.iys before, to look after
str.iy horses. All the horses li.iil been found,
though some li.ul w.indered to the di-.taiicc of
several miles. T'ho lieutenant, with seventeen
of his companions, li.id rein.iined at our list
night's eiic.iiiipmeiit to hunt, h.uingcome u|)i)n
recent tr.ues of biilT.ilo. T'liev li.id also seen a
line wild horse, which, however, had |;alloped off
with a speed that delied pursuit.
I ■oiifideiit anticipations were nn'.v indulged,
tli.it (HI the following day we should meit with
bull.ilo, and peril. i|)s with wild luMses, and every
one W.IS 111 s|)irits. We needed some e\( iliineiU
of the kind, for our young nun were growing
we;iry of inar( liing and enc. imping under re-
straint, and provisions this day were sc.inty.
The Cajitain and sever.d of the ringers went out
hunting, but brought home nothing but a sm.ill
deir and a few turkevs. Our two men, ISealte
and T'onish, likewise went out. T he former re-
turned with a deer athw.irt his horse, which, a-,
usual, he l.iid down 1)y our lodge, and said noth-
ing. T'onish returned with iiog.ime, but with his
custom. iry Ijudgit of wondi'iful tabs. Ilnth he
and the dier li.id done m.irvels. Nut one li.id
come within the lure of his rille without being
hit in a mortal part, yet, strange to s.iy, every
(ine had kept on his way without llinchiiig. We
all deieriiiiiied that, from the acciir.icy of hi i aim,
T'onish mil it have shot with cliarnied biills, but
that every deer had a ch.iriiied lil'e. The inn-l
important inlclligence broughl by hiiii. lumever,
w,is, that he had seen the fresh tracks of siver.il
wild horses, lie now considered himself upon
the eve of gre.it exploits, for there w.i. mithing
upon which he glorilied himself more lli.in his
skill in horse-eatchiiig.
Cil.Al'TKR XIX.
Jlunli-i's AiitiiiSitiom.— Thc Kii^\'i\{ /'.'fi.'.—.l U'l.'J
/hts,:
•
OcTonr.K^isr. — TTiis morning the cimp was in a
bustle at an early hour : the expectation of filling
in with biitt'alo in the course of the day roused
every one's spirit. T'liere was a continual cracking
of rilles, that they might be reloadeil : the shot was
drawn ot'f from doulile-b.irrelled guns, and balls
were substituted. T'onish, however, jirepared
chietly for a campaign against wild horses. He
took the ticld, with a toil of cordaye luing at his
1
m
460
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
]■' -: i
saddlc-bow, and a couple of white wands, some-
thing like fishiny-rods, eight or ten feet in length,
with forked ends. The coil of cordage thus used
in hunting the wild horse, is called a lariat, and
answers to the lasso of South America. It is not
flung, however, in the graceful and dexterous
Spanish style. The hunter, after a hard chase,
wiien he succeeds in getting almost head and
head with the wild horse, hitches the running
noose of the lariat over his head by means of the
forked stick ; then letting him have the full
length of the cord, plays him like a fish, and
chokes him into subjection.
All this Tonish promised to exemplify to our
full satisfaction ; we had not much confidence in
his success, and feared he might knock up a good
horse in a headlong gallop after a bad one, for,
like all the French Creoles, he was a merciless
hard rider. It was determined, therefore, to
keep a sharp eye upon him, and to check his
sallying propensities.
'Ve iiad not proceeded far on our morning's
march, when we were checkeil by a deep stream,
running ahuig the bott<im of a thickly wooded
ravine. After coasting it for a coujile of miles,
we came to a fording ])lace ; but to get down to
it was the difficulty, for the banks v.ere steep and
crumbling, and overgrown with forest trees,
mingled with thickets, Ijrambles, and grapevines.
At lergth the leading iiorseman broke his way
through the thicket, and his horse, putting his
feet togetlier, slid down the black crumlsling
bank, to the narrow margin of the stream ; then
floundering across, with mutl and water up to
the saddle-girths, he scrambled up to the oppo-
site bank, and arrived safe on level grou ^d.
The whole line followed pell-mell after the
leader, and pushing forward in close order, In-
dian file, they crowded each other down the bank
and into the stream. Some of the horsemen
missed the ford, and were soused o\er head and
ears ; one '.vas unhorsed, and plumped head fore-
most into the middle of the stream: for my own
])art, while pressed forward, and hurried o\ertlie
bank by those behind me, I was interru])ted by a
grape-vine, as thick as a cable, which hiuig in a
fi'Uoon as low as the saddle-bow, and, dragging
me from the saddle, threw me among tlie feet of
the trampling horses. Fortunately, I escaped
without injury, regained my steed, crossed the
stream without further difficulty, and was enabled
to join in the merriment occasioned by the ludi-
crous disasters.
It is at ])asses like this tliat occur the most
dangerous ambuscades and sanguinary surprises of
Indian warf.ire. A party of savages well ])laced
among the thickets, might have matle sad havoc
among our men, while entangled in the ravine.
We now came out upon a vast and glorious
prairie, spreading out beneath the golden beams
of an autumnal sun. The deej) and freipient
traces of buffalo, showed it to be one of their
favorite grazing grounds ; yet none were to be
seen. In the course of the morning, we were
overt.'iken by the lieutenant and seventeen men,
who h;id ilm.iined behind, and who came laden
with th<.' spoils of buffaloes ; having killed three
on the ineceding day. One of the rangers, how-
ever, had little luck to boast of; his horse having
taken fright at sight of the butfaloes, thrown his
rider, and escaped into the woods.
The exc'tement of our hunters, both young and
old. now rose almost to fever height ; scarce any
of them having ever encountered any of this far-
famed game of the prairies. Accordingly, when
in the course of the day the cry of buffalo' U
falo! rose from one part of the line, tht wh '
troop were thrown in agitation. We wae i'^i
then p.-issing through a beautiful part nf ■,(,''
prairie, finely diversified by hills .ind slupo, 'J
woody dells, and high, statelv {proves Ti,','
who had given the alarm, pointed nut a i.^p!
black-looking animal, slowly inoviiv' aliin-i'.
side of a rising ground, about' two miles diT ' x^
e\er- ready Tonish jumped up, and stoodunhi '
feet on the saddle, and his forkicl sticks m h ■
hands, like a posture-master or scuaiiKnuh •-• 1
circus, just ready for a feat of lioisniian-hi,
After gazing at the animal for a iiioiiunt, u!, ,'h
he could have seen full as well without risii'v.;froni
his stirrups, he pronounced it a wild horse ; anil
dropping again into his saddle, was ab.nit to
dash off full tilt in pursuit, when, to his inexpres-
sible chagrin, he was called back, and ordered
to keep to his post, in rear of the bai;.;aj;e horses
The Captain and two of his offiiirs now set en'
to reconnoitre the game. It was the intention of
the Captain, who was an adinir.ible iiiiirkMnan.to
endeavor to crease the horse; that is to sav, ;o
hit him with a rifle ball in the ridge of the iiei.
A wound of this kind paralyzes a Imr^e for a ni >•
ment ; he falls to the ground, and may he secure!
before he recovers. It is a cruel expedient, hi.-.\.
ever, for an ill-directed shot may kill unnaiin tlv;
noble animal.
As the Captain and his companions moved off
laterally and slowly, in the direction of ilie horse,
we continued our course forward ; u uchin;' in-
tently, however, the movements of the •j.iiiie,
The horse moved cpiietly over the protile of the
rising ground, and disajjpeared Ixhiiul it. The
Ca])tain and his party were likewise soon hidden
by an intervening hill.
After a time, the horse suddenly made his ap-
pearance to our light, just ahead of the line,
emerging out of a small valley, on a hri^k irot;
ha\ing evidently taken the ahum. .At si^;htofi;s
he stojjped short, gazed at us for an instant with
surprise, then tossing up his head, trotted off in
fine style, glancing at us first over one slioulder,
then over the other, his ample m.ino tind tail
streaming in the wind. Il.ning dashed throii^;h
a skirt of thicket, that looked like a liedi^e-row,
he p.aused in the open field beyond, elanced hack
at us again, with a beautifiil bend of tlie neck,
snuffed the air, then tossing his head ,i;,'nin, broke
into a gallop, and took refuge in a wood.
It was the first time 1 had ever seen a hor-e
scouring his native wilderness in all the pride and
freedinn of his nature. He)ve dillereiit from the
poor, mutilated, harnessed, r'.cched, leined-iip
victim of luxury, caprice, and av.uice, in o.;r
cities !
After travelling about fifteen miles, we en-
camped abcnit one o'clock, that our hunters
might have time to procure a supply of jirovisions.
Our encampment was in a spacious grove o! lofy
oaks and walnuts, free from underwood, on the
border of a brook. While unloading the iKuk-
horses, our little Frenchman w.is loud in 1.^
comiihiints at ha\ing l)een prewiued from ]>»'■■
suing the wild horse, which he wouUl certain.;
have taken. In the meantime. I s.nv our lull-
breed, lieatte, (|uietlv saeldle his best horse, a
jiowerful steed of halV-savage race, linni,' a lari.il
at the saddle-bow, take a ritle and forked suck in
hand, and, mounting, depart from the camp with-
out saving a word. It was evident he was ;;o-
ing off 'in ipiest of the wild horse, but was disposed
to hunt ulone.
hecryofbufrnlolhuf.
■'"."«-■ 'inc, the. w
i' atio,,. We «,re ,
l^y lulls and slopes 'j
^^tatdy proves/ Tl
111, pointal ..lit alar.
"wly nunm;,' al„n. ,!;,,
joiit two milwdiy. 'jijj
■" iip.:iii(l stood with |,.5
Ills UnkLd sticks 11, h.'i
3tcr or sc-iniiiKiiuii m a
■>'•;' "' li"i-^i'm.iiL-hin.
lal lor a iiioitU'iit, wlr, h
'Wclhvitl,„„tri,j|,j,f,;;|j,
fed It a wild horse; and
saddle, was abom ,o
t.wlicn, to liis incxpres-
lied back, and ordond
rotthcba-ajjehorsci.
I Ills olticcrs lunvsct erf
It was tiif iniL'ntinnof
Klmirahle maik-,man,!o
"fsc ; that is to sav, to
1 the ri(l.i,'L' of tlie licrk.
ahzi's a h.iri,e foranw.
nd.aiid iii.'.ybe scciinj
a crml cxiKilicnt. Ii.,u.
lot may kill ur maim !li,<
companions mnvcd on
: din-ctioii of liie horn',
forward ; « Ui.liiiv,' in-
vemcnts of the >;!inie,
over the iJioiile of dw
iiearcd behind it. The
'c likewise soon hidden
suddenly made his ap-
list ahead of the line,
alley, on a brisk trot;
[; alarm. At sijjhtof i;5
t us for an instant with
his head, trotted uii in
first over one shoulder,
ample m.ine :ind tail
il.iNin;.,' dashed tliroii','h
)ked like ;i lK'd;^e-iinv,
d 'jeyond, .i;l,ineed back
ifiil bend of tlie neck,
i.l; his heatl .ij;ain, broke
fiige in a wood.
had e\er seen a hor^c
less in .dl the pride and
rlovi' dit'ferelit from the
d, r'.ecked. reincd-i;p
, ami av.iriee, in o;:r
fifteen miles, we en-
3ck, th.it our hunters
; a supply of pro\i>ion>.
spaeioiis urove of lol'v
)in tinderuood, on the
e iinloadin;.; the pack-
ni;in w,;s loud in I'.ij
1 jirevented from pur-
:h he would certainlv
ntime. 1 s.iw our hall-
Idle his best horse, ;i
a^e rare, haiii,' a kni'"
■ille and forked stick m
irt from the eamp with-
as e\ ident he w,is j;o-
horse, but was disposed
nlilii
i! ■ if,'
II
1 1*1
f:":f^
1 ;!' -iTj- ■■
m
'i
rut rt .\-- '^.^■j
/ ////^/ y//'^./< r ///"^jr
^ouyi5ht 'SO ■ P> ''^^ --"Ji ■
/v/v-v/ ///" Ai"//*'.' ^'"A ■''
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
4G1
CHAPTER XX.
THE CAMP OF THE WILD HORSE.
llrrtJ .""/ f"' I rizt.
SfinI Tinned.
,/ .'/;<• 1 1 ■//,/ Jlorsf. — T/if Ihir-
l J/Wse C/iasc.—.l HilJ
\Vi: had encamped in a good ncighliorhood for
rime, as the reports of ritlcs in various directions
I'lci'dilv R'l^c 'notice. One of our Inintcrs soon
rjturnwl with the meat of a doe, tied \\\t in the
skin, and slunj; across his shoulders. Another
broiigiit a fat Inick across his horse. Two otlicr
(l.crwcro brouijht in, and a number of turkeys.
.\ll the game was thrown down in front of tiic
Captain's tire, to be portioned out among the va-
rious messes. The spits and camp kettles were
Sinn in full employ, and throughout the evening
tiktc w.is a scene of hunter's feasting and profu-
sion.
We had been disappointed this day in our
hopes of meeting with buffalo, but the sigiit of the
v.ildliorse had been a great novelty, and gave a
turn to the conversation of the camp for the even-
ing. There were several anecdotes told of a fa-
nousgray horse, which has ranged the prairies of
this nei^diborhood for six or seven years, setting
,it naught every attempt of the hunters to capture
him. They say he can jiace and rack (or amble)
faster than the tleetest horses can run. Equally
marvellous accounts were given of a black liorse
en the lirazos, who grazed the prairies on that
river's bank in Texas. For years he outstrip[)ed
A\ pursuit. His fame spread far and wide ;
oiTers were made for him to the amount of a
thousand dollars ; the boldest and most hard-
riiiing hunters tried incessantly to make \n\,'.c of
him, but in va'n. At length he fell a victim to
his jjalhntry, being decoyed under a tree by a
tame mare, and a noose dropjied over his head
hya boy |)erched among the branches.
The capture of a wild horse is one of the most
favorite achievements of the prairie tribes ; and,
indeed, it is from this source that the Indi.m
hunters chiclly supply themselves. The wild
horses which range those vast grassy plains, ex-
tending from the Arkansas to the Spanish settle-
ments, are of various forms and colors, betraying
their various descents. Some resemble the com-
mon Enijlish stock, and are probably descended
from horses which have escaped from our border
settlements. Others are of a low but strong make,
and arc supposed to be of the Andalusian breed,
broi jht out by the Spanish discoverers.
Some f.mciful speculatists have seen in them
descendants of the Arab stock, bi ought into
i'pain from Africa, and thence transferred to this
fountry ; and have jileased themselves with the
idea, that their sires may ha\ e been of the jiure
coursers of the desert, that once bore Mahomet
:'!id his warlike disciples across the sandy plains
tf .Araljia.
I'he habits of the Arab seem to have come with
I ■■-Steed. The introduction of the horse on the
'"'^'■ndless prairies of the Far West, changed the
niole mode of iivingof their inhabitants. It gave
i:ivm that ficility of rapid motion, and of sudden
-'ddistant change of place, so dear to the roving
T'lpensities of man. Instead of lurking in the
i"pths of gloomy forests, and p.itiently threading
'•"-mazes of a t.mgled wilderness on foot, like his I
I :vthien of the north, the Indian of the West is a j
f'^erof the plain ; he leads a brighter and more
i'Jnshiny life ; almost always on horseback,
on vast flowery prairies and under cloudless
skies.
I was lying by the Captain's fire, late in the
evening, listening to the stories about those
coursers of the iirairies, and weaving speculations
of my own, when there was a clamor of voices and
a loud cheering at the other end of the camp ;
and word was (lassed tli.it IJealte, the half-breed,
had brought in a wild horse.
In an instant every tire was deserted ; the whole
camp crowded to see the Indi.m and his priz«.
It was a colt about two years oUl, well grown,
finely limbed, with bright jjrominent eyes, and a
spirited yet gentle demeanor. He gazed about
him with an air of mingled stupefaction and sur-
prise, at the men, the horses, and the ctimp-tires;
while the Indian stood before him wiiii folded
arms, having hold of the otliei end of ilie cord
which noosed his captive, and gazing on him with
a most imiierturbable aspect. Heattc, as I have
before observed, has a greenish olive complexion,
with a strongly marked countenance, not unlike
the bronze casts of Napoleon ; and as he stood
before his captive horse, with folded arms and
fixed aspect, he looked more like a statue than a
man.
If the horse, however, manifested the least
rcstiveness, IJeatte would immediately worry
him with the lariat, jerking him lirst on one side,
then on the other, so as almost to throw him on
the ground ; when he had thus rendered him
passive, he would resume his siatuc-like attitude
aiul gaze at him in silence.
The whole scene was singularly wild ; the tall
grove, jiartially illumined by the tlasliing tires of
the camp, the horses tethered here and there
among the trees, the carcasses of deor hanging
around, and in the midst of all, the wild luints-
man and his wilil horse, with an admiring throng
of rangers, almost as wild.
In the eagerness of their excitement, several of
the young rangers sought to get tiie horse by
purchase or barter, ani.1 even ofl'ered extravagant
terms; but lieatte declined .ill their olfers. " Vou
give great jirice now ; " said he, " to-morrow you
be sorry, and take back, and say d— d Indian ! "
The young men importuned him witlupiestions
about the mode in which he took the horse, but
his answers were dry and laconic ; he evidently
retained some jiique at having been undervalued
and sneereil at by them ; ami at tin- same time
looked down upon them with coiUemi)t as green-
horns, little versed in the noble science of wood-
craft.
.Vfterward, however, when he w:i ; seated by
I ; tiro, I readily ilrew from him an account of
Ins exploit ; for, though taciturn among stran-
gers, and little prone to boast of his actions, yet
liis taciturnity, like that of all Iiuli:ins, had its
times of relaxation.
He informed me, that on leaving the ramp, he
had returned to the place where we liad lost sight
of the wild horse. Soon getting upon its tr.ick,
he followed it to the b.mks of the river. Here,
the prints being more distinct in the sand, he
jicrceived that one of the hoofs w.is broken and
defective, so ho gave u|} the pursuit.
As he was returning to the camj), h:,- came ujion
a gang of six horses, which immediately made for
the river. He pursued them across the stream,
left his rifle on the river bank, and putting his
horse to full speed, soon came up with the fugi-
tives. He attemptetl to luxise o;ie of them, but
the lariat hitched on one of his ears, and he
shook it off. The horses dashed up a ImII, he
4Ga
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
;,-l '
til
If
ttii
1 1; Lit f
m
Slti 1"'- ^1 ■
:H
"'>
followed hard nt their heels, when, of a sudden,
he saw their tails wliiskin^j in the air, and they
plunjjinj; down a precipice. It was too late to
stop. He shut his eyes, held in his breath, and
went over witli them— neck or noihini,'. The tie-
scent was between twenty and thirty feet, but
they all came down safe ii[)on a sandy bot-
tom.
He now succeeded in throwinjjhis noose round
.1 fine youn;^' hr)rse. As he i^alloped alonj;sidc
of him, the two horses jiassed each side of a
snplin};, and the end of the lariat was jerked out
of his hand, lie rci^ainetl it, but an interveninj;
tree oblij^ed him a^'ain to let it j;o. Havini; once
more cau;^ht it, and comini; to a more open coun-
try, he was enabled to play the younj^ horse w'th
the line until lie ^;raduaily checked ;ind subdued
him, so as lo lead him to the place where he hail
left liis rille.
He had anothtr formidable difficulty in s^ctting
him across tiie river, where boiii liorses stuck for
a time in tiie mire, and lieatte was nearly un-
seated from his saddle by the force of the current
and the stiii;4:-;les of his captive. y\fter much toil
and trouble, however, he got across the stream,
and brouj^ht his ])ri/e safe into camp.
For the remainder of the eveninij, the camp
remained in a hi.Ljli state of excitement ; nothing
was talked of but the capture of wild horses ;
every youngsitr of the troop was for this harum-
scarum kind of chase ; every one promised him-
self to return fvom the campaign in triumph, be-
striding one (if these wild coursers of the prairies,
lieatte had suddenly risen to great importance ;
he was the prime hunter, the hero of the day.
Offers were mad',' him by the best mounted ran-
gers, to let him ride their horses in the chase, pro-
vided he would ;',i\e them a share of the spoil.
IJeatte bore his honors in silence, and closed with
none of the offers. Our stammering, chattering,
gasconading little Frenchman, however, made up
for his taciturnity, by vaunting as much u])on the
subject as if it were he that had caught the lun-se.
Indeed he held forth so learnedly in the matter,
and boasted so much of the many horses he had
taken, that he began to be considered an oracle ;
and some of the youngsters were inclined to
doubt wheihor he were not superior even to the
taciturn lieaiie.
The excitement kept the camji awake later
than usual. The hum of voices, interrupted by
occasi(Uial ])eals of laughter, was heard from the
groups around tlie various fires, and the night
was considerably advanced before all had sunk to
sleep.
With the morning dawn the excitement re-
vived, and lieatte and his wild horse were again
the gaze and talk of the camp. The captive h.id
been tied all night to a tree among the other
horses. He was again led forth by lieatte, by a
long halter or lariat, and, on his manifesting the
least restixeness. was, as before, jerkeil and wor-
ried into passive siilimission. He appeared to be
gentle and ilocile l)y nature, and lirul a beauti-
fully mild ex|)ression of the eye. In his strange
and forlorn situ.ition, the poor animal seemed to
seek protection and companionship in the very
horse which had aided to capture him.
Seeing him thus gentle and tractable, Beatte,
just as wc were aixnit to march, strapped a light
]iack upon his back, by way of giving him the
lirst lesscm in servitude. The native pride and
independence of the animal took tire at this in-
dignity. He rearetl, and plunged, and kicked,
and tried in every w ay to get rid of the dcgradintj
va
burden. The Indian was too potent foi him i
every paroxysm he renewed the discipline of th!
halter, until the poor animal, driven to dcsn.v
threw himself prostrate on the ground, and l-
motionless, as if acknoulcdging hii ii'lf v^''
cpiished. A stage hero, representing lie dosiir
of a captive jnince, could not have ]ilavud Im-
part more dramatically. There was abb iln^.l ' '
moral grandeur in it.
The imperturbable lieatte folded his anus nm'
stood for a time, looking down in siknceiipi.nh'i
captive ; until seeing him pertectlv subdiud lie
nodded his head slowly, screwed his ni(imli into
a sardonic smile of triumph, and, with a jurk 1 1
the halter, ordered him to rise. He obeyed, and
from that time forward otfercd no rcsisiiuice
During that day he bore his pack iiaticiuly, and
was led by the halter; but in two da.s lie fd].
lowed voluntarily at large among the' supernu-
merary horses of the troop.
I could not look without compassion upon this
fine young animal, whose whole course of exiit-
encc had been so suddenly reverseil. Frini
being a denizen of these vast pastures, rani;in',it
will fr(mi plain to plain and niead to mead, civp-
ping of every herb and (lower, and driiikin- if
every stream, he was suddenly reduced td ia-
Iietual and painful servitude, to pass liij life i;n.
der the harness anil the curb, ainiil, perhaps,
the din and dust and drudgery of cities, jhc
transition in his lot was such as soineiinu's takes
l)lace in human alTairs, and in the Idrtuiies ci
lowering individuals : — one day. a prince ul ih'^
prairies— the next day, a pack-horse !
CHAPTKR X.XI.
'/'/if /•\>rtfi»^ of Ihc Ri\{ I'oi-k.-
tlic " C/i'ss Timber,
Th,- Drr.vv Forali J
'—llti^.ilo /
\\v. left the camp of the wild horse about a
([uarter before eiglit, and, after steering nearly
south for three or four miles, arrived (ii thi'
banks of the Red Fork, about seventy-five iiidc?.
as we supposed, above its mouth. The ri\er\v,i>
about three hundred yartls wide, wamUfiiij;
among sand-bars and shoals. Its shores, and the
long sandy banks that stretched out inio tiie
stream, were jirinted, as usual, with the traces of
various animals that had come down to cmss it,
or to drink its waters.
Here we came to a halt, and there was mueh
consultation aliout the possibilitv of forilin;.; lite
river with safety, as there was an apprelun>niniif
cpiicksands. lieatte, who had been >(inK'»h.it:n
the rear, came up while we were debaiin;.;. He
w;is mounted on his horse of the half-wild breed,
and leading his cajjlive by the bridle. He sj'i^';
the hitter in charge to 'fonish, and withiuit say-
ing a word, urged his horse iiii the stream, and
crossed it in s.ifety. Fxerythiug was done by
this man in a similar way, pronijitly, residutely,
and silently, without a previous pruniisc cr an
after \aunt.
The troop now followed the lead of rieatte,.ind
reached the opposite sliore without anv mishap,
though one of the pack-horses wandering a liule
from the track, came near being sualloued upi^i
a cpiicksaiid, and was with dil'iiciiltv drat;;4ed to
land.
After crossing the ri\er, we had to force cur
way, for nearly a mile, ihrouyh a thick cane-
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
4C3
brake, which, at first sifjht, appeared an impcr-
I,ij mass of reeds and braniljles. It was a hanl
frtim'le ; our horses were often to the saddle-
nrths" in mire and water, and both horse and
Lrscman harassed and torn by bush and brier.
F.illin", however, upon a Ijuffalo track, we at
1 n 'tlu'^ficatcd ourselves from this morass, and
ijoiiided a ridge of land, where we beheld a
bciiitilul open country before us ; while to our
r lit. the belt of forest land, called " The Cross
Tiiiibcr,'' continued stretchin<j away to the south-
V, iril, as far as the eye could reach. We soon
ab.im'liined the open country, and struck into the
forest l.intl. It was the intention of the Captain
to keep on southwest by south, and traverse the
Cross Timber diagonally, so as to come out upon
the edije of the great western prairie. 15y thus
maintaining something of a southerly direction,
ho trusted, while he crossed the belt of the
forest, he would at the same time approach the
Red Kiver.
The plan of the Captain was judicious ; but he
erred from not being informed of the nature of
the country. Mad he kept directly west, a couple
of davs would have carried us through the forest
Innd, and we might then have had an easy course
j'/in;,' the skirts of the upper prairies, to Red
R;ver; by going diagonally, we were kejit for
ninv weary days toiling through a dismal series
of ru;,'t;ed forests.
The Cross Timber is about forty miles in
bre.idtli, and stretches over a rough country of
ro'i'iin;; hills, covered with scattered tracts of post-
oak and black-jack ; with some intervening val-
levs, which, at proper seasons, would afford good
p.-.sliirage. It is very much cut up by deep
ravines, which, in the rainy seasons, are the beds
of temporary streams, tributary to the main
rivers, and these are called " branches." The
whole tract may present a pleasant aspect in the
fresh time of the year, when the ground is covered
with herb.ige ; when the trees are in their green
leaf, and the glens are enlivened by running
streams. Unfortunately, we entered it too late
in the season. The herbage was parched ; the
foliage of the scrubby forests was withered ; the
whole woodland prospect, as far as the eye could
reach, h,ad a brown and arid hue. The fires made
en the prairies by the Indian hunters, had fre-
quently penetrated these forests, sweeping in light
transient flames along the dry grass, scorching
and calcining the lower twigs and branches of
the trees, and leaving them black and hard, so
as to tear the flesh of man and horse that had to
scramble through them. I shall not easily for-
get the mortal toil, and the vexations of llesh and
spirit, that we underwent occasionally, in our
wanderings through the Cross Timber. It was
like struggling through forests of cast iron.
After a tedious ride of several miles, we came
cjtupon.an open tr.act of hill and d.ale, inter-
spersed with woodland. Here we were roused by
the cry of buff.do ! buffalo ! The effect was some-
thing like that of the cry of a sail ! a sail ! at sea.
It was not a false alarm. Three or four of these
cnoriiKius animals were visible to our sight graz-
i:Von the slope of a distant hill.
I here was a general movement to set off in
fKrsuit, and it was with some difficulty that the
vivacity of the younger men of the troop could be
restrained. Leaving orders that the line of march
should be proservccl, the Captain and two of his
otticcrs departed at a quiet pace, accompanied by
lieattc, and by the ever-forward Tonish ; for it
•as impossible any longer tQ keep the little
Frenchman in check, being half crazy to prove
his skill and jirowess in hunting the buffalo.
The intervening hills soon hid from us both the
game and the huntsmen. We kept on our course
in tpiest of a camping place, which was difticult
to be found ; almost all the ch,innels of the
streams being dry, and the country being desti-
tute of fountain heads.
After proceeding some distance, there w.ts
again a cry of buffilo, and two were jjointed out
on a hill to the left. The Captain being absent,
it was no longer possible to restr.iin the ardor oi
the young hunters. Away several of them
d.ished, full speed, and soon (li>a])peared among
the ravines ; the rest kept on, anxious to find a
proper place for encampment.
Indeed we now began to experience the disad-
vantages of the season. The pasturage of the
|)rairies was scanty and iiarcheil ; the pea-vines
which grew in the woody bottoms were withered,
and most of the "branches" or streams were
dried up. While wandering in this ])erplexity,
we were overtaken by the Ca])tain and all his
party, except Tonish. They l)a<l pursued the
buffalo for some distance without getting within
shot, and had given up the chase, being fearful
of fatiguing their horses, or being Icdotftoo fir
from camp. The little frenchman, however, had
g.'iUoped after them at headlong s[)eed, and the
last they saw of him, he was engaged, as it were,
yard-arm and yard-arm, with a ;.;reat buffilo bull,
tiring broadsides into him, " 1 tink dat little
man crazy — somehow," observed lioatle, dryly.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Ahirm <\jii;^,
Wf, now came to a halt, and had to content our-
selves with an indifferent encampment. It was in
a grove of scrub-oaks, on the borders of a deep
ravine, at the bottom of which were a few scanty
])ools of water. We were just at the foot of .a.
gradually-sloping hill, covered with half-withered
grass, that afforded meagre p.isturage. In the
spot where we had encamped, the grass was high
and parched. The view arounil us was circum-
scribed and much shut in by gently swelling hills.
Just as we were encamping, 'i'onish arrived, all
glorious, from his hunting match ; his white horse
luing all round with buffilo meat. According to
his own account, he had laid low two mighty
bulls. As usual, we deducted one h.ilf from his
boastings ; but, now that he had sumething real
to vaunt about, there was no restraining the valor
of his tongue.
After having in some measure ajjpeased hi:;
vanity by boasting of his exploit, he informed us
that he had observed the fresh tr.ick of liorses,
which, from various circunistaiiccs, he suspected
to have been made by some roving band of Paw-
nees. This caused some little Uiieasincss. The
young men who had left the lino of march in pur-
suit of the two buffdoes, had not yet rejoined us ;
a])])rehensions were expressed that they might be
waylaid and att.icked. Our veter.m hunter, old
Ryan, also, immediately on our halting to en-
ca'iip, had gone off on foot, in company with a
young disciide, " Dat old man will have his
ijrains knocked out by de I'.iwnees yet," said
lieatte. " He tink he know every ting, but he
don't know I'awaccs, anyhow."
461
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
\\:X !
:i;.
■ I.
!>..
•A \
II :l
!.;!!' :,
■:yi'il
!;.ifi-
liHi
JiM.,;
i! f: ii S
Taking his rifle, the Captain repaired on foot
to reconnoitre tlie country from the naked siiin-
mit of one of the neighl)orin.i; iiills. In llie mean-
time, tlic horses were hobljled and turned loose
to graze ; and wood was cut, and fires made, to
prepare the evening's repast.
Suddenly there was an alarm of fire in the
cnmp ! The tlanie from one of the kindling fires
had caught to the tall dry grass ; a breeze was
blowing ; there was danger that tlie camp would
soon be wra])ped in a light blaze. '' Look to the
horses ! " cried one ; " JJragaway the baggage ! "
cried another. " Take care of the rilles and
powder-horns ! " crieil a third. All was hurry-
scurry and upro.'r. The horses dashed wildly
jxbout ; some of tie men snatched away rilles and
powder-horns, others dragged off saddles and
saddle-bags. Meantime, no one thought of (picll-
ing the fire, nor indeed knew how to quell it.
Ik'atte, however, and his comrades attacked it in
the Indian niode, beating down the edges of the
fire with blankets and horse-cloths, and endea-
voring to prevent its spreading among the grass ;
the rangers followed their example, and in a little
vhile the flames were happily quelled.
The fires were now properly kindled on places
from which the dry grass had been cleared away.
The horses were scattered about a small valley,
and on the s!()|)ing hill-side, cropping the scanty
herbage. 'i'oni'ih was preparing a suinptuous
evening's meal from his buffalo meat, promising
us a rich soup anil a prime piece of roast beef,
but we were ilonmed to experience another and
more serious alarm.
There was an indistinct cry from some rangers
on the summit of the hill, of which we could only
ilistinguish the words, " The horses ! the horses!
get in the horses I "
Immediately a clamor of voices arose ; shouts,
inquiries, rejilies, were all mingled together, so
that nothing could be clearly understood, and
every one drew his own inference.
" The Cajitain has started buffaloes," cried
one, " and wants horses for the chase." Imme-
diately a number of ran<^ers seized their rifles, and
scampered for the hill top. " The prairie is on
fire beyond the hill," cried another; " 1 see the
smoke — the Captain means we shall drive the
horses beyond the brook."
15y this time a ranger from the hill had reached
the skirts of tli,; camp. He was almost breath-
less, and could only say that the Captain had
seen Indians at a distance.
" Pawnees ! Pawnees ! " was now the cry among
our wild-headed youngsters. " Drive the horses
into camp ! " cried one. "Saddle the horses!"
cried another. " Form the line ! " cried a third.
There was now a scene of clamor and confusion
that baffles ;i!l description. The rangers were
scampering about the adjacent field in pursuit of
their horses. One might be seen tugging his
steed along by a halter ; another without a hat,
riding bare-backed ; another driving .a hobbled
horse before him, that made awkward leaps like
a kangaroo.
The alarm increased. Word was brought from
the lower end of the camp that there was a l)and
of Pawnees in a neighboring valley. They had
shot old Ryan through the head, and were chas-
ing his companion ! " N'o it was not old Ryan
that was killed^it was one of the hunters that
had been after the two buffaloes." " There are
three hundred Pawnees just beyond the hill,"
cried one voice. " More, more ! " cried another.
Our situation, shut in among hills, prevented
our seeing to any distance, and left us a ^nm- .
all these rumors. A cruel enemy was supno !^
to beat hand, and an immediate attack aim','
hended. The horses by this time were drl' '
into the camp, and were dashing about .imfT'
the fires, and trampling upon the ba't-.-n'u'
Every one endeavored to prepare fornctinn" f i
here was the perplexity. During the late alun
of fire, the saddles, bridles, rifles, powder-horn,
and other equipments, h.ad been snatrhed out (,i
their pbces, and thrown helter-skelter .iniur-
the trees. ""
"Where is my saddle?" cried one, ''il.ii
any one seen my rifle ? " cried another. •• W),'
will lend me a ball ? " cried a third, who u,is
loading his piece. " I have lost mv huila
pouch." " For Ciod's sake help nic to >;'iiih ih,-
horse ! " cried another ; "he's so rcstive"l can do
nothing with him." In his hurry and wurrv he
had put on the saddle the hind part before ! '
Some affected to swagger and talk bold; others
said nothing, but went on steadily, preparin'
their horses and weapons, and on these I felt the
most reliance. Some were evidently excited aiij
elated with the idea of an encounter wit'i Indians;
and none more so than my young Swiss fellov;
traveller, who had a passion for wild adventiin.-,
Our man, Heatte, led his horses in the rear uf tlw
cr.mp, placed his rifle against a tree, then seated
himself by the fire in perfect silence. On the
other hand, little Tonish, who was busv cookin:,
sto|)ped every moment from his work to play the
fanfaron, singing, swearing, and alfeciin^' aii un-
usual hilarity, which made me slroiv^dy saspctt
that there was some little fright at bottom, to
cause all this effervescence.
About a dozen of the rangers, as soon as tliev
could saddle their horses, dashed oiTin the direc-
tion in which the Pawnees were said to have at-
tacked the hunters. It was now determined, in
case our camp should be assailed, to put our
horses in the ravine in the rear, where they would
be out of danger from arrow or rille-ball,and ti
take our stand within the edge of the ravine. Thai
would serve as a trench, and the trees and thickets
with which it wa.. bordered, would be suliicient
to turn aside any shaft of the enemy. Tlie Paw-
nees, besides, are wary of attacking any covert of
the kind ; their warfare, as I have already ob-
served, lies in the open prairie, where, mounted
upon their fleet horses, they can swoop like hawks
upon their enemy, or wheel about him a:ul dis-
charge their arrows. Still I could not but per-
ceive, that, in case of being attacked by such a
number of these well-mounted and warlike sav-
ages as were s;iid to be at hand, we should be
exposed to considerable risk from the inexperi-
ence and want of discipline of our newly raised
rangers, and from the very courage of many of
the younger ones who seemed bent on adventure
and exploit.
15y this time the Captain reached the camp,
and every one crowded rounil him for informa-
tion. He informed us, that he had proceeded
some distance on his reconnoitering expedition,
and was slowly returning toward the camp,
along the brow of a naked hill, when lie saw
something on the edge of a parallel hill, th.it
looked like a man. He paused, and waaliedit;
but it remained so jjcrfectly motionless, that he
supposed it a bush, or the top of some tree be-
yond the hill. He resumed his course, when it
likewise began to move in a par;illel direction.
Another form now rose beside it, of smne one
who had either been lying down, ur had just as-
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
4G5
.J ,hc other side of the hill. The Captain
''"Intel and regarded them; they likewise
'■ ' 1 He llien lay down upon the grass, and
'"'■'■ d as if watchinj,' him. Knowmg that the
fTn'areaut to have their spies and sentinels
,?' Visted nn the summit of naked hills, com-
''lin" extensive prospects, his doubts were in-
"^^"'■d^bv tlie suspicious movements of these
'^'"■r He' now put his foraginj? cap on the end
'th'i riilc, and waved it in the air. They took
:, notice of tlic signal. He then walked on,
ntdhe entered the edge of a wood, which con-
Pilcd him from t'l^^''' ^'^w. Stoppmg out of
.'Vfura moment, he .ngain looked forth, when
lUiw the two men passing swiftly forward. As
•he lull on which they were walking made a curve
.'ward that on which he stood, it seemed as if
i .v »ere ende.ivoring to hci'd him before he
ch.iild reach the camp. Doubting whether they
J;'; htnot behni;; to some large party of Indians,
i'Tui in amlnisii or moving along the valley be-
,!d the hill, the Captain hastened his steps
himew.ird, and, descrying some rangers on an
cciincncc between him and the camp, he called
,vlt to them to pass the word to have the horses
jnvou in, as these are generally the first objects
ei' Indian depred.-ition. , . , , ,
Such w.ns the origin of the alarm which had
thrnvwi the cam]) in commotion. Some of those
»i-.o heard the Cajitain's narration, had no doubt
that ihemeii on the hill were Pawnee scouts, be-
lon,'mgto the band that had \^iylaid the hunters.
libum't shots were heard at intervals, which were
jjpposed to be tiied by those who had sallied out
;;: R'sciie their comrades. Several more rangers,
luviii;,' completed their equipments, now rode
f.irthin the ilirection of the firing ; others looked
avioiis and uneasy.
"If they are as numerous as they arc said to
b;," said one, " and as well mounted as they
.-rierally are, wc shall be a bad match for them
v.iih our jaded horses."
"Well," replied the Captain, "we have a
;:ron^' encampment, and can stand a siege."
"Ay. but they may set fire to the prairie in the
r.yi;. and burn us out of our encampment."
" We will then set up a counter-fire ! "
The \>ord was now passed that a man on horse-
back approached the camp.
"it is one of the hunters! It is Clements!
He brink's buffalo meat ! " was announced by
several voices as the horseman drew near.
It was, in fact, one of the rangers who had set
Ki'in the morning in pursuit of the two buftaloes.
He rode into the camp, with the spoils of the
chase hanging; rountl his horse, anil followed by
h:s companions, all soind and unharmed, and
equally well laden. Tney proceeded to give an
account of a grand gallop they had had after the
lao buffaloes, and how many shots it had cost
them 10 brin;;- one to the ground.
" Well, but the I'awnces — the Pawnees — where
are the Pawnees ? "
"What I'awnces?"
" The I'awnees that attacked you."
" .No one attacked us."
"ISut have you seen no Indians on your way ? "
"Uh yes, two of us got to ic top of a hill to
look out for the camp, and saw a fellow on an
opposite hill cutting ipiecr antics, who seemed
to be an Indian."
" I'shaw ! th.it was I ! " said the Captain.
Here the bubble burst. The whole alarm had
nsen from this mutual mistake of the Captain
80
and the two rangers. As to the report of the
three hundred Pawnees and their attack on the
hunters, it proved to be a wanton fabrication, of
which no further notice was taken ; though the
author deserved to have been sought out, and
severely punished.
There being no longer any prospect of fighting,
every one now thought of eating ; and here the
stomachs throughout the camp were in unison.
Tonish served up to us his promised regale of
buffalo soup and butfalo beef. The soup was
peppered most horribly, and the roast beef proved
the bull to have been one of the patriarchs of the
prairies; never did 1 have to deal with a tougher
morsel. However, it was our first re|)ast on
buffalo meat, so we ate it with a lively faith ; nor
would our little Frenchman allow us any rest,
until he had extorted from us an acknowledgment
of the excellence of his cookery ; though the
pepper gave us the lie in our throats.
The night closed in without the return ol old
Ryan and his companion. We had become ac-
customed, ho\\ever, to the aberrations of this old
cock of the woods, and no further solicitude was
expressed on his account.
After the fatigues and agitations of the day, the
camp soon sunk into a profound sleep, excepting
those on gu.ird, who were more than usually on the
alert ; for the traces recently seen of Pawnees,
and the certainty that we were in the midst of
their hunting grounds, excited to constant vigi-
lance. About half past ten o'clock we were all
startled from sleep by a new alarm. A sentinel
had fired off his rifle and run into camp, crying
that there were Indians at hand.
Every one was on his legs in an instant. Some
seized their rilles ; some were about to saddle
their horses ; some hastened to the Captain's
lodge, but were ordered back to their respective
fires. The sentinel was examined. He declared
he had seen an Indian approach, crawling aiong
the ground ; whereupon he had fired upon him,
and run into camp. The Captain gave it as his
opinion, that the supposed Indian was a wolf;
he reprimanded the sentinel for deserting his
]K)st, and obliged him to return to it. .Many
seemed inclined to give credit to the story of the
sentinel ; for the events of the d.iy had predis-
posed them to apprehend lurking foes and sudden
assaults during the darkness of the night. For a
long time they sat round their fires, with rifle in
hand, carrying on low, murmuring conversations,
and listening for som-^ new alarm. Nothing
further, however, occurred ; the voices gradually
died away ; the gossipers nodded and dozed, and
sunk to rest ; and, by degrees, silence and sleep
once more stole over the camp.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Bca-fi- Dj7!t.—niiff,i!o and /{,'ru- T>\ul:!.—A Prr.L'!:ce
Trail. — Wild Horses. — The Wniii:^' Hunter and the
Bear. — Chanj^e of A'jiile.
On mustering our forces in the morning (October
23d), old Ryan and his comrade were still missing ;
but the Captain had such perfect reliance on the
skill and resources of the veteran woodsman, that
he did not think it necessary to take any measures
with respect to him.
Our march this day lay through the same kind
of rough rolling country ; checkered by brown
400
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
ilfi:''^
dreary forests of post-oak, and cut up by deep
dry riivines. The distant lires were e\ idently in-
creasing; on the prairies. Tlie wind had been at
northwest for several days ; and the atmospliere
had lieeonie so smoky, as in the heij^lit ■ ( Inihan
sununer, that it was diftieult to distinguish ol)-
jeets at any distance.
In tlie course of the morning, wc crossed adeej)
stream with a complete beaver dam, above three
feet \\\\^h, making; a lar^e ponil, and doubtless
containin;.; several families of that inilustrious
animal, tliouj,'h not one showed his nose above
water. The Ca])tain would not i)ermit this am-
phibious commonwealth to be disturbed.
We were now continually coming upon the
tracks of buffaloes anil w ild horses ; those of the
former tended i. 'variably to the south, as we
could perceive by ti." direction of the tram|)led
grass. It was evident > e were on the great high-
way of tliese niigr.itory herds, but that they had
chiefly passed to the southward.
liealte, who generally ke])t a parallel course
several hundred yards distant from our line of
march, to be on the lookout for game, and who
reg.inled every track with the knowing eye of an
Inili.m, reported that he had come upon a very
sus|)icious trail. There were the tracks of men
who wore I'awnce moccasiu'ss. He had scenteil
tlie smoke of mingled sumach and tobacco, such
as the Indians use. He had obser.'d tracks of
horses, mingled with those of a dog ; and a ma k
in the <lust where a cord had been trailed along ;
probably the long bridle, one end of which the
Indian horsemen suffer to trail on the gr(nmd. It
was evident, they were not the tracks of wild
horses My anxiety began to revive about the
safety of 'uu- veteran hunter Ryan, for I had taken
a great f.iucy to this real old l.eatherstocking ;
every one expressed a conlidence, however, that
wherever Ryan was, he was safe, and knew how-
to take care of himself.
We had accomplished the greater part of a
weary d.ay's march, and were passing through a
glade of the oak openings, when we came in sight
of six wild hor' s, among which 1 esjDecially
noticed two very handsome onfs, a gray and a
roan. They iir.mced about, with heads erect,
and long Haunting tails, offering a proud contrast
to our poor, spiritless, travel-tired steeds. Hav-
ing reconnoitred us for a moment, they set otT at
a gallop, passed through a woody dingle, and in
a little while emerged once more to view, trot-
ting up a slope about a mile distant.
The sight of these horses was again a sore trial
to the vajioring Tonish, who had his lariat and
forked stick ready, and was on the jioint of launch-
ing forth in pursuit, on his jaded horse, when he
was again ordereil back to the pack-horses.
After a day's journey of fourteen miles in a
southwest direction, wc encamped on the banks
of a small clear stream, on the northern border
of the Cross Timbers ; and on the edge of those
vast prairies, that extend away to the foot of the
Rocky Mountains. In turning loose the horses
to graze, their bells were stuffed with grass to
prevent their tinkling, lest it might be heard by
some wandering horde of Pawnees.
Our hunters now went out in different direc-
tions, but without much success, as but one deer
was brought into the camp. A young ranger had
a long story to tell of his adventures. In skirting
the thickets of a deep ravine he had wounded a
buck, which he plainly heard to fall among the
bushes. He stopped to fix the lock of his ritle,
which was out of order, and to reload it ; then
advancing to the edge of the thicket, in -mc,. .
his game, he heard a low growling;, l'ui;ir,,',J,
branches aside, and stealing silmilv fi
r«ar(l.!,(
looked down into the ravine and hilitiii
bear dragging the carcass of the (Ka ,ili,r,!'."
dry channel of a brook, and growlin;; ami ^^.'.^
ing at four or five officious \volves, MluiHtniui.'
ha\e droi)i)ed in to take supjier wuli him. '^' "
The ranger fired at the hear, hut iuimuI I,-.
liruin maintained his ground ami his pn^. 1 i
seemed disposed to make battle. The «(i'
too, who were evidently sharp set, dnw (,;V .'
but a small distance. As night was n)min>' if;'
the young hunter felt disin.iyed ;u the v.illin ^'
i'.nd darkness of the place, and thu sti;uij;c r ,';>
pany he had fallen in with; so lie ([uiiily «;;!,'.
drew, and returned empty handed to ilic'c.i;.-)
where, having told his story, he wa-, la;\rii!vh'.|,!
tered by his more experienced comriulcs,
In the course of the e\ening, did Kv.m cm'
straggling into the camp, followed hy liisdL-cii/.i,
and as usual was received with lieartv '.;raii:i.i!
tions. He had lost himself yesterd.iy.wlKnli,;).;.
ing, and camped out all night, hut had foumlijr
trail in the mo'-ning, and followed it up. llthu!
passed some time at the beaver dam, adm:r;r'
the skill and solidity w ilh which it had been t(,n'
Btructed. "These beavers," said he, " arc in-
dustrious little fellows. They are the kninvin;-,,;
varment as I know ; and I'll warrant the pir.i
was stocked with them."
" Aye," said the Captain, " I have no d,),';-.
most of the small . rivers we have p.issed are i:.]'.
of beaver. I would like to come and trap i -
these waters all winter."
" Hut would you not run the chance nf hi;;;;
attacked by Indians ? " asked one uf the in;;,-
pany.
" Oh, as to that, it would be safe enoui,'lilKr:,
in the winter time. There would be no Imli.ii,,
here until spring. I should want no more tl;:i:i
two comjianions. Three persons arc safer tl,,::'
a large number for trai)])ing beivcr. 'riieyc;:;
keep cpiiet, and need seldom fire a yun. .Alt,.:
would ser\e them for food, for two months, t,ii<-
ing care to turn every i)ar* uf it to ailv,i;,-
tage."
A consultation was now held as to our future
progress. We had thus far pursued a wcste;:i
course ; and, having traversed the Cross Timkr,
were on the skirts of the Creat Western l'r,iii;c.
We were still, however, in a \ery rouv;h coumrv,
where food was scarce. The season h,is so l.ir
advanced that the grass was withered, and the
prairies yielded no pasturage. The pea-vmej
of the bottoms, also, which had sustained c.i'.r
horses for some part of the journey, were nc.uly
gone, and for several days i)ast the |)oor aniin.ili
had fallen off wofully both in tlesli and spirit.
The Indian fires on the prairies were appru.uh-
ing us from north, and south, and west ; they
might spread also from the east, and le.ivc a
scorched desert between us and the frontier, ;:i
which our horses might be funished.
It was determined, therefore, to advance m
further to the westward, but to shape oiircuiaj;
more to the east, so as to strike the north fork ul
the Can.adian, as soon as possible, where wc
hoped to find abundance of young cane, which,
at this season of the year, affords the most nutri-
tious pasturage for the horses ; and, at the sj.mc
time, attracts immense cpiantitiesof game. Here
then wc fixed the limits of our tour to the Inr
West, being within little more than a day's marcH
of the boundary line of Texas.
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIKS.
W
.C :'"'.'
CHAPTF.R XXIV.
T„F, mnrnin.,' broke l)ri},'lit and clear, but the
f ■•,',1 iiiul no'iliiii;.; nf its usual Kaycty. The con-
•'ttlic f.iniivaril was at an end; not a cock
fvii h'T il",' I'arked ; nor was fliere either sin;^'-
■•< -if laus;lansl ! <-'veiy one jjursued his avoca-
1 '-j (iiiiitlv .ind };ravely. 'I'he novelty of the
npfdition was wearin;^ off. Sonic of the younj;
|,;nwcrc SL'ttint! :'« way-worn as their horses ;
liiirnDStof llicm, unaccustomed to the hunter's
if;, bc^i'.n to ni)ine at its jirivations, Wliat
linvm'Jstfclt was the want of bread, their ra-
ins of tlour having' been exhausted for several
d-.vs. The (lid hunters, who had often experi-
(tcil this want, made li^'ht of it ; and IJcatle,
;^r:;4tnmc(l wiien anioni- the Indians to live for
riojiihs without it, considered it a mere article of
i;\iirv. " liiead," he would say scornfully, " is
dvfitf'ra ihild."
Ahdiit a ([uarter before cii,'ht o'clock, wc turned
oirlmks uiion the Far West, and set off in a
soa'.hw'.t course, alonj,' a yentle valley. After
niin;;.! few miles, beattc, who kept parallel u ith
i:>, aliin;' the ridi;e of a naked hill to our ri>;lit,
called (lilt and made sii;nals, as if soincthini; were
coming nnind tlie hill to intercept us. Some who
\iorc near me cried out that it was a party of
Iumtcs. A skirt of thickets hid the a])])roach of
the S'jppi'sed enemy from our view. We heard
: uampiin;; among the brushwood. My horse
li kid toHaid the ])lace, si.orted and pricked
tp h's cars, when presently a couple of larj;e
kii'ilo bulls, who had been alarmed by Deatte,
c,i:iic cmshin;^ through the brake, and making
ciRTtly toward us. At sight of us they wheeled
Mind, and scuttled along a narrow delilc of the
l::!l. In .in instant half a score of ritles cracketl
on; there was a luiiversal whoop and halloo, and
iivaywent half the trooj), helter-skelter in pur-
sjit, anil myself among the number. The most
of us snon |)idlcd up, and gave over a chase
which li'd tluough birch and brier, and break-
f.eck r.ivincs. Some few of the rangers persisted
foratime; hut eventually joined the line, slowly
hf'gin:,' one after another. One of them rc-
t'jrned on foot ; he had been thrown while in
fiill chase; his ride had been broken in the fall,
,^nd his horse, retaining the spirit of the rider, li;id
keptonnfLer tliebuffalo. It was a melancholy pre-
ci.amcnt to bo reduced to ; without horse or wc;i-
pon in the midst of the Pawnee hunting grounds.
For my own part, I had been fortunate enough
recently, by a further exchange, to get posses-
vniifthc best horse in the troop ; a full-blooded
wrcl of excellent bottom, beautiful form, aiid
ir.o-t generous ([ualities.
In such a situ:uion it almost seems as if a man
cimues his nature with his horse. I felt quite
Ikeamnhcr being, now that I had an anim;d un-
lieriiie, spirited yet gentle, docile to a remark-
3)ledigree, and easy, clastic, and rapid in all
li^^ranvcnicnts. In a few days he became almost
iim;irh;ut.iched to me as a dog ; would follow
f^ewhin 1 dismoimted, would come to me in the
f;irn;n.; tn be noticed and caressed ; and would
""lis nuiz/lo between me and my book, as I sat
wdin- :it the foot of a tree. The feeling I had
'■rthis my dumb companion of the prairies, gave
f"'- some faint idea of that attachment the Arab is
"id to entertain for the horse that has borne him
>oout the deserts.
After riding a few miles further, we came to a
fiiic meadow with a broad clear .stream winding
llirough it, on the banks of which there w;is ex-
cellent p;isturage. Here we at once came to ;i
halt, in a beautiful grove of ehns, on the site of
an (dd ()s:ige cue mipment. Sc.ircely had we
dismounted, when ;i univcrsid tiring of rilles took
])lace ujjon a huge tlock of turkeys, MC.Uti'red
idxiut the grove, which proved to be ;i f.norite
roosting-id;ice for these simple birds. They llew
to the trees, and sat ])erche(| upon their br.uK lies,
stretching out their long necks,. and g.izing in stu-
pid astonishment, untd eighteei. of them were
shot down.
In the height of the carnage, word w;is brought
that there were four buffaloes in a neighboring
uieadow. The turkeys were now abandoned for
nobler game. 'I'he tired horses were ;\g;iin
mounted, and urged to the chase. In ;i little
while we c;iiiu u sight of the buffaloes, looking
like brown iiilloeks among the long green herb-
age. liCiitte endeavored to get ;ihead of them
and turn them tow;-rd us, that the iiuxperieiued
hunters might have a chance. They ran round the
Ivise of ;i rocky hill, that hid us from tin; sight.
Some of us endeavored to cut across the hill, but
became entr;i[)ped in .a thick wood, malted with
grape-vines. Sly horse, who, under his fiunier
rider, had huntetl the buffalo, seemed as murli ex-
cited as myself, and cndeinored to force his way
through the bushes. At length we extricated
ourselves, and gallo])ing over the hill, 1 foun<lour
little Frenchman, Toni^h, curvetting on liorsel.>;ick
round a great buffalo which he l::\d wounded too
severely to lly, and which he was keeping em-
ployed until we should come up. There wa;i a
mixture of the grand ;md the comic, in beholding
this tremendous animal :ind his f;int;istic assail-
ant. The bulTalo stood with his sli;iggy front
always ]iresented to his foe ; his mouth open, his
tongue ])arched, his eyes like coals of fire, ;ind his
tail erect with nige ; every now and then he
would make a f;dnt rush upon his foe, who e;isily
evadeil his attack, capering and cutting all kinds
of antics Ijcfore him.
W'e now m;ulc repeated shots at the buflalo,
but they glanced into his mountain of lle;di with-
out jiroxing mortal. He made a slow , and nl
retreat into the shallow river, turning up .s
assailants whenever they jiressed u|)on him ; ad
when in the water, took his stand there as if iire-
li;ired to sustain a siege. A ride-biill, however,
more fat;illy lodged, sent a tremor through his
frame. 1 le turned and attemjited to w:ule across
the stream, but after tottering a few jxaces, slowly
fell upon his side and expired. It w.is the fill of
a hero, and we felt somewhat ash;mied of the
butchery that had effected it ; but, after the lirst
shot or two, we had reconciled it to our feelings,
by the old plea of putting the [loor ;inimal out of
his misery.
Two other Inifl'aloes were killed this evening,
but they were all Inills, the tlesli of which is me.igre
and hard, ;it this season of the year. A i.\K buck
yielded us more savory me;it for our evening's
repast.
CHAPTER X.W.
Ringlns; the Wild ilorse.
W'v. left the buftalo camp about eight o'clock, and
h;id a toilsome and harassing march of two hours,
over ridges of hills, covered with a ragged meagre
4G3
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
; '.<i!i
i^:'
I
i''i I 1
1^
V- (1
forest of scrul)-o.-iks, anil broken by deep jjuUics.
Among the o.iks I observeil many of the most
(limiiiutive si/c ; sonic not abose a foot lli^;ll, yet
beiiriiin aljundance of small acorns. 'I'lie wiiole
of the Cross 'I'imbcr, in fitt, abounds witli mast.
'I'lieri- is a jiine-oak wliieli prodiues an acorn
l)ieas:int to the taste, antl ripening; early in the
season.
About ten o'clock in the niorninj;, we came to
wlierc this line of ru^;ged hills swept down into a
valley, throuj;h whii 1> llowed the north fork of
the Red River. A be.iutiful meadow about half
a mile wiile, enamelled with yellow autumnal
flowers, stretcheil for two or three miles alonj;
the fool of the hills, bordered on the opposite siile
1>y the river, wluise bank was frin^;ed with cotton-
wood trees, the bri^lu foliajje of which refreshed
and delighted the eye, after being wearieil by the
contcmidatioii of monotonous wastes of brown
forest.
The meadow was finely diversified by jjroves
and (lumps of trees, so l)ap|>ily dispersed, that
they seemcil as if set out by the hand of art. As
we cast our eyes over this fresh and delightful
valley, we beheld a troop of wild horses, tpiietly
grazing on a green lawn, about a mile disiant to
our right, while to our left, at nearly the same
distance, were several buffaloes; some feeding,
others reposing and ruminating among the high
rich herbage, under the shade of a cliiin]) of cot-
ton-wood trees. The whole had the a])pearancc
of a broiid beautiful tract of ])asture land, on the
highly ornamented estate of sonic gentleman
farmer, with his cattle grazing about the lawns
and meadows.
A council of war was now held, and it was de-
termined to profit by the present fivorable o|)-
])ortunit\ , and try our haiul at the grand hunting
manreuvre, which is called ringing the wild horse.
This re(iuires a huge party of horsemen, well
mounted. They extend themsehes in each di-
rcciiiin, singly, at certain distances apart, and
gradually form a ring<if twoor three miles in cir-
cumference, so as to surround the game. This
has to be done with c^•;reme care, for the wild
horse is the most readily alarmed inh.abitant of
the j)rairie, and can scent a hunter at a great dis-
tance, if to windward.
The ring being formed, two or three ride to-
ward the horses, who start off in an oj)posite ili-
rection. Whenever they a|)|)roach the bcninds
of the ring, liowever, a huntsman presents him-
self and turns them horn their course. In this
way, they are checked and driven back at every
])oint; and kept galloi)ing round and round this
magic circle, until, beins; completely tired down,
it is easy for the hunters to ride up beside them,
and throw the lariat over their heads. The
prime horses of most speed, courage, and bot-
tom, however, are apt to bre.ik through and cs-
ca[)e, so that, in general, it is the second-rate
horses that are taken.
Preparations were now made for a luint of the
kiml. Tlie jiack-horses were taken into the
woods and lirmly tied to trees, lest, in a. rush of
tiiC wild horses, they should break away with
them. Tweiity-tive men were then sent under
the command of a lieutenant, to steal along the
edge of the valley within the strip of wood that
skirted the hills. They were to station them-
selves about fifty yards apart, within the edge of
the woods, and not advance or show themselves
until the horses dashed in that direction. Twen-
ty-five men were sent across the valley, to steal
in like manner along the river bank that bordered
the opposite side, and to station thcmsclvoi.inif.
the trees. A thirti patty, of alioiit tlics.imin''
ber, was to form a line, stretching acrdsstlKJi "
I)art of the valley, so as to connect the iw,,!,',"."
Ileatte and our other lialf-hr.ed, Antoinc '
gelher with the ever-officious Tdnhh, \np, .'
make a circuit through the woods sd a'-, t,, • . •
the upper jjart of the valley, in the rcir ,'!'[''.'
horses, and to drive them forwiinl inii, i1k\- '
of sack that we had formed, wink' the iwi^r '
should join behind them and make a cuhilI ■'.
circle. ■""'■'
The flanking parties were (piietlv cxtLnd"
themselves, out of sight, on each sulc of tht la'
ley, and the residue were stretching tlHUhi!,,-
like the links of a chain, across it, wluii the » I'i
horses gave signs that they scented an cnui- •
snuffing the air, snorting, and looking alHut. ■\J
length they pranced off slowly toward the ti\ir
and disa|)peared behind a green hank. IKn'
had the regulations of the chase htcn dhiiriul'
they would have been quietly checkcilar.d turui
back by the advance of a hiuiter fii.m am,,;,.
the trees ; unluckily, however, we had our «r. ^
lire Jack-o'-lanttrn little I'renchm.inti) d^.tlu;;;,.
Instead of keeping (piietly up the ri^ht sale J
the valley, to get above the horses, tlu minKc:
he saw them move toward the river, heliMki •
of the covert of woods, and daslitd fiirin,-;,
across the i)lain in pursuit of them, biii;;^ ni(),;r.:-
cd on one of the led horses iHlun-in^; to ;1 ;
Count. This put an end to all svstuii. Tl.c
half-breeds and half a score of rangers ji'iiinln
the chase. Away they all went over the jirun
bank; in a moment or two the wild Ikihs re-
appeared, anil came thundering dnwn tlic \alkv,
with Frenchman, half-breeds, aiul ranger-i ;.Ml;(.ii.
ing anil yelling like devils behind thmi, lt«.ij
in vain that the line drawn across the xalKv at-
tempted to cheek and turn back the fi;^iti\is,
They were too hotly ])ressed by their pmswr? ;
in their panic they dashed through the line, ar.d
clattereil down the i)lain- The whnlc trui p
joined in the headlong chase, some of the ian;;crj
without hats or cai)s, their hair flying about thtir
ears, others with handkerchiefs tied ro.'.nd thc:r
heads. The buflaloes, who had been calmly
ruminating among the herbage, heaved up ihtir
huge forms, gazed for a moment with astoni-h-
ment at the temjiest that came scourin;; dnvn the
meadow, then turned and took to heavy-iolling
flight. They were soon overtaken ; the |)iumi!-
cuous throng were pressed together hy the con-
tracting sides of the valley, and away they went,
liell-mell, hurry-scurry, wild bulTalu, wild hor«c,
wild huntsman, with clang and clatter, and whoop
and halloo, that made the forests ring.
At length the buffaloes turned inti a grcon
brake on the river bank, while the horses dashed
up a narrow defile of th.e hills, with their pursuers
close at their heels. Heatte ])assed several of
them, having li.xed his eye upon a fine l'.:wi;ee
horse, that had his cars slit, and sadiUe-niarks
upon his back. He pressed him gall.intly, but
lost him in the woods. Among the wdd hor!fs
was a fine black mare, far gone with foal. In
scrambling up the defile, she tripped and fell.
A young ranger sprang from his lioise, nnd
seized her by the mane and nnizxle. Another
ranger dismounted, and came to his .issistancc.
The mare struggled fiercely, kicking and bitini;.
and striking with her fore feet, but a neose wr.s
slipped o\ er her head, and her strugslcs were ;n
vain. It was some time, however, before she g.ave
over rearinjj and plunging, and lashing' out with
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
409
, f.pt on every siitc. Tl)c two ran^'ors then
I l..r alont; tlic v.illcy l)y two lonj,' lariats,
"k h cnahkil tlH-ni to keep at a sufficii'nt dis-
•'■\ |,n\.;ich side to be out of tlic reach of licr
I ;' ■'; ,„j \vlu'nt'V(.'r she struck out in one tlirec-
.' I'iliewas jcrkcil in the other. In tiiis way her
'it to little Scaramouch Tonish, who li.itl
,;„„,1 (lie whiilo scene by his precipitancy, he
i I 'i„.n more successful than he deserved, hav-
- • 111 m.iLa'd to catch a beautiful cream-colored
■ ,il)oiit seven months old, which had not
,„!^ . til t(i keep u|> with its companions. The
1'i.^inal lilile Frenchman was beside himself
,.iii i'xiiluti"n- It was ainusinji to see liim with
■■"mue. Tiie colt would rear and kick, and
",'.• le in i;ct free, when Tonish would take him
•1, ''the neck, wrestle with him, jumii on his
v^cLiinil c"' •'*'' iii''"y iintics as a monkey with
-k;t!on. Nothing' surprised me more, however,
'.,,n If) witness how soon these poor animals,
• ;< taken fmni the unbounded freedom of the
• r;r:i'. vielded to the dominion of man. In the
vsr-e I'l two or three days the mare and coll
Win: with llic led horses, and became quite do-
cic,
CII.M'TKK X.WI.
; '.'.,■■■; <f the X.'rtli J'orfi. — Dri-iiiy S,fnfry of the ('/-ott
limftr.—Stiim/'rr of l/orsis in the \ii;kt. — Os^ix'C
W'.tr l\irt\.—lj)eits of u J'tiuc ll.iraii^'uc. — Itujalo.
-WdilLru.
!;t-iMlN'i; our march, wc forded the North
Fiirk, a rapid stream, and of a purity seldom to
le foiiiui in tlie rivers of the jjrairies. It e\i-
cnlly had its sources in hij;h land, well sup[)licd
\ii:li spiini;s. After crossin;^ the river, we aj^ain
Kcatkii amoiij; hills, from one of which we liad
jr. raciisive view over this belt of cross timber,
,-.r,J a cheerless prospect it was ; hill beyond hill,
fircst heyond forest, all of one sad russet hue —
txaptini; that here and there a line of ^'recn
c;i!oii-w(iod trees, sycamores, and willows,
caked the course of some streamlet throui^h a
lailey. ,\ procession of buffaloes, moving slowly
iiptlie prolilc of oneof those distant hills, formed
2 characteristic object in the savaye scene. To
ihv left, the eye stretched beyond this rugj^cd
v.iidcrncss of hills, and ravines, and ragged
f rests, to a jirairie about ten miles off, extending
;r. a clear blue line along the horizon. It was
!:ie looking' from among rocks and breakers ujjon
iiliitaiit tract of tranquil ocean. Unluckily, our
•'i'jiedid not lie in that direction; wo still had to
:r;urse many a weary mile of the " cross tim-
ber."
We encamped toward evening in a valley, be-
M'e a scanty pool, under a scattered grove of
dr.is. the upper branches of which were fringed
'"!i t'lfts of the mystic mistletoe. In the course
f'f;he nigiit, the wild colt whinnied repeatedly ;
Ki!a!)out two hours before day, there was a su'd-
cvn Uiimpcdo, or rush of horses, along the pur-
i'.M of the camp, with a snorting and neighing,
ad clattering of hoofs, that startled most of the
:3r,ers from their sleep, who listened in silence,
■-r':l the sound died away like the rushing of a
Wiit. As usual, the noise was at tirst attributed
- some party of marauding Indians, but as the
uy dawned, a couple of wild horses were seen in
1 neighboring meadow, which scoured off on
k;.i^ approached. It was now supposed that a
gang of them had dashed through our camp in
the night. A gener.d mustering of our luirses
took place, many were found scattered to .i tdii-
siderable distance, and several were not to be
found. The prints of their hoofs, howevir, .i|)-
))eared deeply dinted in the soil, le.iding olf at
full speetl into the waste, .and their owners, put-
ting thems'lves on the trail, set nlf in we.iry
search of them.
We had a ruddy daybreak, but the morning
gathered u[) gray and lowering, with indieatiims
of an autumnal storm. We resume<l our m.inh
silently and seriously, through .a mugh and ( heer-
less country, from the highest ])oints of whic h we
coidd descry large jirairies, stretching indefiniteh
wi.'stward. After tr.ivelling for two or three hours,
as we were traversing a withered prairie, restiii-
bling a great brown heath, we beheld seven Osage
warriors approaching at a distance. The sight
of any human being in this lonely wilderness was
interesting; it was like speaking a ship at sea.
One of the Indians took the lead of his compan-
ions, and advanced towartl us with head erect,
chest thrown forward, and a free and noble mien.
lie was .'i fine-looking fellow, dresseil in scarlet
froc:k and fringed leggings of deer skin. His head
was decorateil with .1 white tuft, and he stepped
forward with something of a marti.d air, swaying
his bow and arrows in one hand.
We held some conversation with him through
our interjireter, liealte, and found tluit he and
his comjjanions had been with the main jiart of
their tribe hunting the bulTalo, and had met with
great success ; and he informed us, that in the
course of another day's march, we would reach
the prairies on the banks of the Cirand Canadian,
and find plenty of game, lie added, that as
their hunt was o\er, and the hunters on their re-
turn homeward, h.e and his comrades had set out
on a war ]'arty, to waylay ;iml hover about some
I'awnee t :!mp, i;i hopes of carrying off scalps or
horses.
liy this lime l;is companionr., who at first stood
aloof, joined him. Three of thein had inditterent
fowling-pieces; the rest were armed with bows
and arrows. I could not but admire the finely
shaped heads and busts of these savages, and
their graceUil altitudes and expressive gestures,
as they stood conversing with our interpreter,
and surrounded by a cavalcade of rangers. We
endeavored to get one of them to join us, as we
were desirous of seeing him hunt the bulYalo with
his bow and arrow, lie seemed at first inclined
to do so, bi;t was dissuaded by his companions.
The worthy Commissioner now remembered
his mission as p.icilicalor, and m.ide a sjieech,
exhorting them to abstain from r.ll offensive acts
against ihe I'awnees ; informing ihem of tlie ])lan
of their father .-.t Washinglon, to luit an end to
all war among his red children ; and assuring
them that he w.is sent to the frontier to esl.iblish
a uni\ersal peace. lie told them, theretore, to
return quietly to I'.icir homes, with the certainly
that the Tawnees would no longer molest ihem,
but would sot)n regard them ;'.s brothers.
The Indians listened to the speech with tluir
customary silence and decorum ; after wlii( Ii.
exchanging a few words among themselves, they
bade us farewell, and pursueil their way across
the prairie.
Fancying that I saw a lurking smile ia iho
countenance of our interpreter, Beatte, I pri-
vately inquired what the Indians had said to each
other after hearing the speech. The leader, he
said, hai observed to his con^panions, that, as
■170
A TOUR ON Tin-: PUAIRIKS.
\i
n :',; J
f^!
their j;rr,ii fitlicr intcndoi! so soon to put nn I'liil
to all w.irfari', it bi'lioovi'd tluiu to iiiakc the
most of till- httii- tinio th.U w.is K'ft tlioin. So
tliuy hail iK p.iitfd, with ri'douhlcd zeal, lo pur-
hUc iliiir iirojcit oC horse stoalim;!
\\\: Ii.kI not lon^' |iartiil from tlir Indians l)i'-
forc uo discovcri'd llui'c biiiralois ainon^' tho
thii kcts of ;i marshy valley to our left, 1 set off
with the Ca|it.iin an<l si'veral ran;;ers, in pursuit
of then). Stealing; throi:^;li a stra^j^iiiiK' yrove,
the (.'aplaiii, wild took the lead, (.[ot williin rifle-
shot, and wounded one of them in the flank.
They all three m.ide off in headlong' pinie,
through thiikels and brushwood, and sw.imp ami
mire, be.uiii;,' down e\ery ohst.ule by their im-
incnsi- wei;^ht. The C.iplain and rangers soon
j;ave up a <hase whirh thre.itened to knoek up
their hiu-ses ; 1 had got upon the traces of the
wounded bull, however, ;ind w.is in hopes of j;et-
tinj^ near i'nouj;h to >ise my |)islols, the only
weapons with which I was provided ; but before
I (oidd eliVct it, he reached the foot of ;i rocky
hill, < iivrred with posl-oak and br.unbles, and
phinj;ed forward, d.ishin;; and ( rashini,' alon;,',
with ne( k or nothing; fuiy, where it would li.ive
been m.idness to have followed hinj.
The chase h.id led me so far on one side, that
it was liome time before I rej,'ained the tr.iil of
our troop. As 1 was slowly ascendinj^ a hill, a
fmc bl.ick mare came jjraneing numd the simi-
mit, and w.is close to me before she was aware.
At si^du of me she started back, then turuiri},',
swept at full speed down into the \;dley, ;md up
the o|)i)osite hill, with flowing mane and tail, and
action tree .as .air. I gazed after her as long as
she was in sight, and breathed a wish th.it so
glorious an .inimal might ne\er come under the
degr.iding thraldom of whipand curb, but remain
a free ru\ er of the prairies.
CHAl'TKR XXVII.
/■'iiii.' \\'f,U/icr I-.tmimpmenl. — Anecdotes of Itcir llitiilin,!;.
— hiiHiin .\'i>,'ions tiboul Dimin. — Hirii/lcs A'cs/ec/it/j,'
tlu- IMiJ.
On o\ert.iking the troop, I found it encamping
in a rich bottom of woodland, traversed by a
small stream, running between deep crumbling
banks. A shar[) cracking olT of rilles was kept
up for some time in various directions, upon a i
numerous llock of turkeys, scampering among j
the thickets, or perched ujion the trees. We had :
not been long :\t a halt, when a drizzling rain
ushered in the autumnal storm that had been
brewing. Preparations were immediately made
to we.uher it ; our tent was |)itched. and our sad-
dles, s,\ddleb;igs, packages of coffee, sugar, salt,
and every thing else that could be damaged by
the rain, were gathered under its shelter. Our
men, I'eatte, Tonisii, and Antoine, drove stakes
with forked ends into the groimd, laid i)oles across
them for rafters, and thus made a shed or pent-
house, covered with bark and skins, slopinjj to-
ward the wind, and open toward the tire. 'I'he ran-
gers formed similar shelters of b.irk and skins,
or of blankets stretched on poles, supported by
forked stakes, with great fires in front.
These precautions were well timed. The rain
set in sullenly and steadily, and kept on, with
slight intermissions, for two clays. The brook
which flowed peacefully on our arrival, swelled
into a turbid and boilinj torrent, and the forest
became little better than a mere sw.imp ti
men gathered under their slultcrs nf sk,j,, , '
blankets, or sal idwcring round their firrs'«i
columns (if smoke curling up ainun^; the ir.,
and dilfusing theniseUes in the .lir, sprc.id it
ha/e through the woodland. Ourpdur, u.iv- .
horses, reduced by weary trawl and s'am\ ,,/
turage, lost all remaining sjiirit, .uul mi,.,,! „?'
drooping he.uls, flagging ears. ;iiul h,il|J,„i
eyes, dozing and ste,in»ing in the r.iin, «hi!, i '.
yellow autumnal leaves, at everv sli.ikinK (!| ■
breeze, c.ime wa-.ering down around tlnm. ^
Notwithstanding the l)a<l wi.iilar, ImucT.
our hunters were not iille, but during th,' ^r.-.
\als of the rain, sallied forth on luirsiliiii, ■,
prowl through the woodland, liviry imu ;> (
then the sharp report of a distant rille hodil • ,
death of a deer. \'enison in aluindini. li^
brought in. Stuue busied thenisrhcs undu n 1
sheds, Haying and cutting up the cnri,i,s,,. ',f
round the tires with spits aiul cain|i kc'ttlc.,,ir'
a rude kind of fe.isting, or rather ;;iirin:iii(;:' r
prex.iiled throughout the camp. TIk.. ,tv,. „"j
continually at wmk, and wearied the fdriN! v\
its echoes. Crash ! some mighty trie «i;,!.l
come down ; in a few minutes its limbs wdnliilit
blazing and crackling on the lui;;e cunp lii ^
with some luckless deer roasting before it, ;i„;;
had once sported beneath its shade.
The change of weather had taken slurp 1.. ii
of our little Frenchman. His nKa].;re fnii-.x,
composed of Ijones aiul whip-coiil, \\a< r.uk' 1
with rheumatic pains and tuniges. He li,i(l ;!;:.
toothache the earache -his f.we was tied I'p-
he had shooting pains in every limb ; y,t ,:!1
seemed but to increase his restless aetivitv, ,t:|
he was an incessant fidget about tlic tlie, r. i-;-
ing, and stewing, anil groaning, and iccKl;);,
and swearing.
Our man Beatte returned grim .iiul mortii nl,
from hunting, lie had come upon ahe.irol l.r-
midable dimensions, and wounded liiin witli \
rille-shot. The bear took to the brinik. uIikH
was swollen and rapid. Ik-atte dashed aftLrli:;;i
and assailed him in the rear with his linirii:-
knife. At every blow the bear turned fiiii(i,;-ly
upon him, with a terrific display ol white iixih.
r.eatte, haxing a foothold in the brciok, \us en-
abled to push him off with his rille, anil.Hlunho
turned to swim, would flounder after. ;ind ai-
tempt to hamstring him. The bear, hii«c\i'r,
succeeded in scrambling off among the thitkcti.
and IJeatte had to give up the chase.
Thisailventure, if it jiroduced n()gamo,l)rnii;;ht
up at least several anecdotes, round the cvoir.ti;;
lire, relative to bear hunting, in which the jjriz^ly
bear figured conspicuously. This powerUd and
ferocious animal is a favorite theine of liunln's
story, both among red and white men; ami his
enormous claws are worn round the neck nl .in
Indian brave as a trophy more honorable than .n
human scalp. }Ie is now scarcely seen beliv
the upper jirairies and the skirts of the Ki'^'^y
Mountains. Other bears are fornuilahle >'i:^n
wounded and provoked, but seldom make battle
when allowed to escape. The grizi.ly bear alnne.
of all the animals of our Western wilds, is prime
to unprovoked hostility. His prodigious size and
strength make him a formidable opponent : and
his great tenacity of life often baffles the skill ot
the hunter, notwithstanding repeated shots of the
rifle, and woimds of the hunting-knife.
One of the anecdotes related on this occasion,
gave a picture of the accidents and hard shitis
to which cur frontier rovers are inured. A hunter,
A TOUR ON TIIK PRAIRIKS.
471
anint;, iind scolJ:i;j,
, ,^ . pursuit of ^ lU'or, foil into one of tljoso
''tllinncl'i''»l"''' 1'''^' ''"""^■'' "" '''^" l>':>if'i'^
rL. ..tiliii;: "( <Ih' watiTs afur iuMvy r.iiii'*,
,;\„„«n bv lilt' 'I'l'iit" "' '>ink-'i'>l''s. l'> 111"*
■ ihiirrDr, ia' '■•i'"'-' '" tnntacl, at the linltom,
''■I .1 \wi'^ Kri^'y ''^''"■* '"'^" '"""•<''■'■ t^raiil'l'il
I ail"'i<"> <'"ii't"*' tn^iit'''- ill \vIik1i tlii.' jinDr
k .'.'rw.u si'Mri'ly l"i'ii -I'l'' liitli'ii. and li.ul a
i.",ml in :irm broken, Init stii-coi'cUd in killing
!', ,^^\ f,,^., h(ir si'vcral (lays lie riinainril at
rMwrncf till- iiit, tno iniicli ( npplod to tn.>\r,
,Vu. bsjsliiv on tlif raw IIliIi dI iIu- bear, diir-
?-• 'iiuli time he kept his wounds open, that
,v"/,mj;ht heal ^'radiiaily and ctCectually. He
i,,i;lcn"th enabled to serainbU' to the lop of the
"i' ,.',;! jooiit upon the open jtrairie. With ^;reat
'■^c.iltv he iTas\led to a ra\ine, formed by a
^■. "' ,',',/ thf II nearly dry. Hero he took a de-
1 i;s'jr.ni;;ht of water, whieli infused new life
vjium; iheii dra^^'in;; himself ahni;^ from i)ool
ijuool, he supported himself by small lish and
one il.i^' he saw a wolf hunt down and kill a
,iArm'li^''i'-''i-''''""''"'''l"'"'''''-'" "e immediately
(•.AudfiT'l' from the ravine, drove otf the wolf,
',i. Km' iliiwii be'sidc the carcass of the deer,
jViinal" there mUil he made several liearty
;;' ;],, Ijv which lils strcnj^th was nuieh recruited.
k.iiirnin^! to the ravine, he pursued the course
,; ::ii.' briiiik, until it grew to be a ccmsiderable
,.:„im. Down this he lluated, imtil became to
■i.ri- it emptied into the Mississippi. Just at
l;.i :ii(iuth of the stream, he found a forkeil tree,
tth;:!i he huiiicheil with some difficulty, and,
;c;;,n,' iutiiile of it, committed himself to the
(xviU of the miijhty river. In this way ho
f JH.I .ilnn^;, until he arrived opposite the fort
.r. Linincil liliiffs. Fortunately he arrived there
ii.iht' daytime, otlierwise he iiii^jht ha\e lloated,
i.r.n/.ucii, past this solitary post, and i)erished
ir.;h.' idle w.iste of waters. IJeins^ descried from
;h.fnrt, acaiKio was sent to his relief, and he w.is
V i,lit lo shiir • more dead than alive, where he
! 1 recovered from his wounds, but remained
i;;.,ii;ii.'d for life.
n.;r ni.iii lieittc had come out of his contest
' ;ii ihc hear \ ery much worsted and discomtited.
H:> danchiii.; in the brook, to;,'ether with the
riCi:n change of weather, had broui^ht on rheu-
r,ric p.iiiii in his limbs, to which lie is subject.
T:iiii„'h ordin.irily a fellow of undaunted sj>irit,
"il .ihove all hardship, yet he now sat down by
;.. lire, j,'lo:)iny ami dejected, and for once i;ave
»»\ til repining. Though in the prime of life,
nr.l (ifa rolmst frame, and ajiparently iron con-
.■';;,;'..on, yet, by his own account lie was little
K'.:er tliiiii a mere wreck. He was, in fact, a
Uin,'miiniiment of the hardships of wild frontier
111'. li:\ring his left arm, lie showed it w.irped
".Icfmtracted by a former attack of rheumatism ;
:■. inilKly with which the Indians are often af-
■ I'.J; lor their exposure to the \icissitudes of
!. dements does not produce that perfect har-
ilbi'd and iiiSL-nsibility to the changes of the
'•'.Mini th.it many are apt to imagine. He bore
lii. scirs of various maims and bruises ; some
t- '.ivrtl in juinting, some in Indian warfare.
Hiiri-hl arm had been broken by a fall from his
iirs. ; at another time his steed had fallen with
t.i.;iiul crushed his left leg.
"lam all broke to pieces and good for noth-
%';" s.iid he, " 1 no care now what happen to
K .ir.y more." " However," added lie. after a
!"'::i,ni's pause, " for all that, it ivoald take a
P'ctty stron.; man to put me down, anyhow."
1 drew from liim\ariouH particulari concernini;
himself, >\hi(h served to r.iise him in mv ettima*
tion. His residence w.is on the Neosim, in an
O.sage h. unlet or neighborhood, under tlu' super-
intendence of ,1 wDrlhy mission, iry from the b.inks
of the Hudson, by tlu' name of Ki'ou.i, who was
ende.ivoriiig to iiistno t the s,i\ .iges in the .irt of
agriculture, and to m.ike hih^b.indmen and herdH>
men of tli>'in. 1 li.ul Msited this agricultural
mission of Uecpia in the course of my ie( eiit tour
■doiig the frontier, and h.id eoii-.ideri'd it more
likely to produce solid .idv.mt.iges to the poor
liidi.ms th.in any of the mere pr-iym;,' and pre. idl-
ing missions .along the border.
In this neighborhood, I'ierre lieatte li.id his
little f.irm, his Indi.in wife, and his liall-bieeil
children ; and aiiled .Mr. Kei|u.i in his enilea\ors
to civili/e the h.ibits, and melior.iie tiie i undilion
of the Osage tribe. Ilealte li.id been brought up
a Catholic, and w.is inllexible in his religious
f.iith ; he could not pr.iy with .Ml. Kecpi.i, he
said, but he could work with liiiii, and he evin<ed
a zeal for the good of his sa\'.ige rel.itions and
neighbors. Indeed, though bis father had been
l-'rench, an<l he himself hail been brought up in
communion with the whites, he evidently was
more of .in Indi.in in his tastes, aiul his heart
yearned toward his mother's n.ition. When he
talked to me of the wrongs and insults that the
poor Indians sul'fered in their intercourse with the
rcuigli settler.s on the frontiers ; when he described
the precarious and degrailed state of the ( is.ige
tribe, diminished in numbers, broken in spirit,
and almost living on sulferance in the l.ind where
they once figured so heroically, I could see his
veins swell, .md his nostrils distend with indigna-
tion ; l)ut he would check the feeling with a strong
exertion of Indian self-command, and, in a m. in-
ner, dri\e it back into his bosom.
I le did not hesitate to relate an instance wherein
he had joined his kindred Osages, in |)ursuingand
avenging themsehes on a party of uliite iiu'ii who
had committed a llagranl outrage upon them ;
and 1 found, in the encounter that to(dc jil.ice,
Heatte h.id shown himself the complete Indi.m.
He had more ih.in once accom|)anied his Osage
relations in their wars with the I'awnees, and re-
lated a skirmish which took i)lace on the borders
of these very hunting grounds, in which several
Tawnees were killed. We should jiass near the
place, he said, in the course of our tour, and the
unburieil hones antl skulls of the slain were still
to be seen there. The surgeon of the troop, who
was present at our conversation, jiricked up his
ears at this intelligence. He was scmiething of a
phrenologist, and offered Be.itte a handsome re-
ward if he would j.rocure him one of the skulls.
Heatte regarded him for a moment with a lot)k
of stern surprise.
"No!" said he at length, " dat too bad! 1
have heart strong enough— 1 no cue kill, but /rl
//if ilfixd alonr .' ''
He added, that (mce in travelling with .". party
of white men, he had slept in the same tent with
a doctor, anil found that he had a I'awnee skull
among his baggage: he at once renounced the
doctor's tent, and his fellowship. " He try to
coax me,'' said ISeatte, " but I say no, we must
part — 1 no keep such company."
In the temporary depression of his spirits,
Heattc gave way to those su])erstitious forebod-
ings to which Indians are prone. He had sat for
some time, with his cheek upon his hand, gazing
into the lire. I found his thoughts were wander-
in;; back to his humble home, on the banks of
472
A TOUR OX THE PRAIRIES.
m
£! : Hi
W I
Mist I ! |!J ■:
ii:
the Neosho ; he was sure, he said, that he sliould
find some one of his family ill, or dead, on his
return: his left eye had twitched and twinkled for
two days past ; an omen which always boded
some miifortune of the kind.
Such are the trivial circumstances which, when
maj^nitied into omens, will shake the souls of
these men of iron. The least sign of mystic and
sinister jjortent is sufficient to turn a hunter or a
w.irrior from his course, or to fdl his mind with
apprehensions of impending evil. It is this su-
perstitious pro])ensity, common to the solitary and
sa\ai,'e rovers of the wilderness, that gives such
])owerful inlluence to the prophi.H and the dreamer.
The Osages, with whom Ik-atte had passetl
much of his life, retain these superstitious fan-
cies and rites in much of their original force.
They all believe in the existence of the soul after
its separation from the bod\ , and that it carries
with it all its mortal tastes and habitudes. At an
Osage village in the neighborhor.d of Iteatte, one
of the chief warriors lost an only child, a beauti-
ful girl, of a very tender age. A'l her ])laythings
were buriid with her. Her favorite little horse,
also, was killed, and laid in the g.-ave beside her,
that she might have it to ride in the land of
spirits.
1 will here add a little story, which I picked up
in the course of my tour thmugii Ileatte's coun-
try, and which illustrates the superstitions of his
Os.ige kindred. A large ])arty of t)sages had
been encamped for some time on the borders of
a line stream, called the N'ickanansa. Among
them was a young hunter, one of the bravest and
most graceful of the trilie, who was to be married
to an Osage giil. who, for her beauty, w.is called
the I'lower of the I'rairies. The young hunter
left her for a time among her relatives in the en-
campment, and went to St. Louis, to dispose of
the ))roducts of his hunting, and purchase orna-
ments for his bride. At"ier an absence of some
weeks, he returned to the banks of the N'ickan-
ansa, but the camp was no longer there ; and the
bare frames of the lodges and the brands of ex-
tinguished tires alone marked the place. At a
distance he beheld a fem.alc seated, as if weeping,
by the side of the stream. It was his atVianced
bride. He ran to embrace her. but she turned
nmurnfully away. He dreaded lest some evil had
bef.iUen the camp.
'■ Where are our people ?" cried he.
'• Tliey arc gone lo tlie b.mks of the Wa-
grushka."
" And what art thou doing here alone ? "
" Waiting for thee."
'■ Then let us hasten to join our people on the
banks of the Wagrushka."
He ga\e her his ])ack to carry, and walked
ahead, according to the Indian custom.
Till)- came to where the smoke of the distant
cam)) was seen rising from the woody m.irgin of
the stream. The girl seated herself at the foot
of ;> tree. " It is not pro|ier for us to return to-
gether," said she ; " 1 will wait here."
'I"he young hunter proceedetl to the camp
alone, and was received by his relations with
gloomy coimtenances.
" What evil has happened," said he, " that ye
are all so sad ? "
N'o one replied.
He turned to bis favorite sister, and bade her
go forth, seek his bride, and conduct her to the
camp.
" Alas !" cried she, " how shall I seek her?
She died a few days since."
The rcl.ations of the yoimg girl now surro«r,^,i
him, weeping and wailing ; but ho refuscch, l
heve the dismal tidings. "I'.ut a few m,jm -''
since," cried he, " I left her alone and in hcvC
come with me, and I will conduct voii tnlu,"'"
He led the way to the tree where she h-i
seated herself, but she was no longer there ">
his pack lay on the ground. The f,i,;,i ',|?!'"
struck him to the heart ; he fell to the rrii-J
de.ad. "'""
I give this simple story almost in the Knnii -
which it was related to me, as I lay hy the lip !
an evening encampment on the' banks ui tV
haunted stream where it is said to have hapinT. i
CHAPTER X.WIH.
\rrt/ F.xpidilion. — Deer Bh\Uhi:;.—MvU I:y;
On the following morning
we were rejoined bv
the rangers who had remained at tiic las; t'-
campment, to seek for the stray horses. Thiv
had t-aeked them for a consieierahle tlisi.m i
through bush and brake, and across stre,ir;.j.
until they found them cropping the licrb,n;'o,c
the edge of a ])rairie. Their heads w re in ihj
direction of the fort, and they were evi(k:r,,v
grazing their way homeward, h.ecdless of the t.-
bounded freedom of the prairie su suddenly 1,^.;
open to them.
About noon the weather held up, .nnil j : j.
served a mysterious consultation going on bj.
tween our half-breeds and Tonish ; it ended in ,i
rccpiest that we would dispense with the servias
of the latter for .a few hours, and permit him m
join his comrades in a grand foray. We nbiec. ;
that Tonish was too much disabled by aches ,i:,i
pains for such an undertaking; but hewnsM.i
with eageri.css for be mysterious enterprise,.!;:,!,
when jiermission was given him, seemed toiVr
get all his ailments in an instant.
In a short time the trio were ei|uip|iod ,ind or.
iiorseback ; with ritles on their shoulders ,;:.:
handkerchiefs twisted round their heads, e>;-
dently bounil for a granil scamper. As ihey
passed by the dit'ferent lodges of the camp, tlii'
vainglorious little Frenchman could not help
boasting to the right and left of the great thr.^j
he was ab(nit to achieve ; though the taeiuirn
Heatte, who rode in aihance, w iild every r.in
and then check his horse, anil look back ,it iaii'.
with an air of stern rebuke. It was hard.h™-
ever, to make the loipiacious Tonish i)lav"hv
dian."
Several of the hunters, likewise, sallied W\\
and the prime old woodman, Ryan, came luci;
early in the afternoon, with air.ple spoil, h.uin^'
killed a buck and two fat does. 1 diewne.ino j
group of rangers that had gathered roiMulhiin .'■
he stood by the spoil, anel found they were ili--
cussing the merits of a stratagem sometime.'' i;-.i
in deer hunting. This consists in imitatm;.;. .».di
a small instrument called a bleat, the ery d the
fawn, so as to lure the doe within reach : ih'-'
ritle. There are bleat>; of various kinds, suited
to calm or wiiulv weati,er, and to the at;e ul the
fawn. The poor animal, deliuUcI by them, in its
anxiety about its young, will sometimes advaiue
close up to the hunter.' " 1 once bleated a dee.
said a young hunter, " until it came within twenty
vards of me. and jiresented a sure mark. I lev-
elled my ritle three times, but had not the he.irt
to shoot, for the poor doe looked so \vistla.ly>
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
473
"■ngRirlnowsurroanU
=' i^ but ho refused ,„b':
.Ji^-rnoncamlinhp V
1 conduct yon to Ih,:. ■
1^' tree wlicre she 'h-, i
''^' '^^■" '" the ,ro;:S
■ilniost ill the ,,„r,;. ,
'I-'. ■IS I lay bv the lip ','
' '"1 the banks 01 ■.;:
s SLiRl to have happer -T
X.WIII.
'/;/.-,;/,V. _.]/,. ,.;;...
S we wci-e rejoined h-
named at t!ie last t-'.
lio stray horses. Th^v
I foiisideral)le disLir,.;
% and across striMr,;,'
;oppni- llie herbawio
lieir heads «. re in ih;
|<1 tliey were evidca-'v
ird, heedless of the i:r,'.
prairie so suddenly bi
icr held up, and I lo-
sultation f;oing on be.
I Tonish ; it ended in .i
pcnse with the servias
lis. and ])erniit him ;i
md foray. We objefU'ii
I disableil by aches .ir„i
iking ; but he \niw2
itcrious enterprise, and,
"n him, seemed tofr
instant.
were C(piippe{l ,ind nn
n their shoulders x.i
iind their heads. e\;-
111 scamper. As duv
d.ijes of the camp, ihi-
hnian could nm hiin
left of the great thm^i
; though the taem:rn
mce, \\ old e\ery no.v
and look bark ,il liin
cc. It was hard. Im«-
oils Tonish pl.iy "In-
likewise, sallied fur.h,
i;in, ky.iii, c.ime l),uk
h aiKple spoil, li.i'.;n,'
oes. 1 drew ne.ir to.!
gathered round hiiii .w
found they were di--
tagem sometime-' i:-i i
sists ill iinilatin;.;, .miIi
a i)lcal, the cry I'f li'.o
e within reach ■. : tl;o
\'ari(uis kinds, siiaeJ
ind to the age til tl'.t
.'hided by them. ini!>
II sometimes ad\.ir.ie
1 once ble.ateil allot."
it came withui tiunty
1 a sure mark. I li-^-
)iit had nut the hi'ir.
looked so wistfully,
A , it in a manner made my heart yearn. I
i,.<ilitof my own mother, and how anxious she
'j°to 1)L' about me when 1 was a child ; so to
'^"! ,n end to the matter, I gave a halloo, and
I"". , ] ,],(. doe out of rifle-shot in a moment."
*"l'\'nil van did right," cried honest old Ryan.
• For niv part. I never could bring myself to
i,:..,tii-' (leer. I've been with hunters who Iiad
I'ltj ami have made them throw them away.
lis.TiM-^i-'ally trick to take advantage of a motli-
{^•/I'ne for her young."
Toivanl evening mir three worthies returned
f- 111 tlK'ir mysterious foray. The tongue of
Tnish s,'.ive notice of their approach long before
, vc.uiie in sight ; for he was vociferating at the
'I'u'i his hings. and rousing the attention of the
„;:,;,■ camp. The lagging gait and reeking flanks
■ ;lH;r horses, gave evidence of hard riding ;
V,;, mi nearer approach, we found them hung
i .::;d u;th meat like a butcher's shambles. In
frt.tluy had lieen scouring an immense prairie
t'i.it extended heyoiul the fon>st, and which was
c^.ertd with herds of buffalo. Of tiiis prairie,
:r.il iho animals upon it, Heatte had received iii-
[.jii^ente a few days before, in his conversation
«;-.h the Osages, but had kept the information a
if ret I'roiii the rangers, that he and his comrades
n.hth.ne the first dash at the game. They had
ci:i;enied themselves with killing four; though,
i;Tcini>li might be believed, they might have
sLiiii them by scores.
These tidings, and the buffalo meat brought
h me m evidence, spread exultation through the
C3;ap. :uul every one looked forward with joy to
abulTalohnnt on the prairies. Tonish was again
the oracle of the camp, and held forth by the
h>jr to a knot of listeners, crouched round the
f-o. with their shoulders up to their ears. He
iv.i; nou more boastful than ever of his skill as
,- marksman. All his want of success in the early
pirtof (iiir march he attributed to being " out of
1 ck." if not "spell-bound;" and finding him-
y.!f listened to w ith apparent credulity, gave an
;n;tanco of the kind, which he declared had hap-
f.acd to himself, but which was evidently a tale
picked up among bis relations, the Osages.
.According to this account, when about fourteen
ycirsof age, as he was one day hunting, he saw
a white deer come out from a ravine. Crawling
r.c.ir to get a shot, he beheld another and another
cime forth, until there were seven, all as white
as snow. Having crept sufficiently near, he sin-
fled one out and tired, but without effect ; the
il.cr remained unfrightened. He loaded and
f.'cJ a-.iin and missed. Thus he continued firing
ard missing until all his ammunition was ex-
fvnded.and the deer remained without a wound.
lie returned lioiiie desjiairing of his skill as a
i^arksmaii, but was consoled by an old Osage
hiinter. These white deer, said he, have "a
charmed life, and can only be killed by bullets
fMpariicular kind.
liio old liidian cast several balls for Tnnish,
^•.:; would not suffer him to be present on the oi-
(■•■•'n, nor inform him of the ingredients and
i:.)s!ic ceremonials.
I'rnvided with these balls, Tonish again set out
'"qiit'siof the white deer, and succeeded in find-
^; them. He tried at first with ordinary balls,
I''-:', missed as before. A magic ball, however,
Mediately brought a fine buck to the ground.
"hereupon the rest of the herd immediately dis-
ippcared .ind were never seen again.
'■•ctober 29th.— The mo.ning opened gloomy
!M lowering; but toward eight o'clock the sua
struggled forth and lighted up the forest, and the
notes of the bugle gave signal to prepare for
marching. Now began a scene of i)ustle, and
clamor, and gayety. Some were scampering and
brawling after their horses, some were riiling in
bare-backed, and driving in the horses of their
comrailes. Some were stri|)ping the poles of the
wet blankets tli.it had served for shelters ; others
packing up with all possible dispatch, and load-
ing the baggage horses as they arriveil, while
others were cracking off their danij) rifles and
charging them afresh, to be ready for the sport.
About ten o'clock, we began our march. I loi-
tered in the rear of the troop as it forded the
turbid brook, and defiled through the l.ibyrinth;
of the forest. I a'ways felt ilisposed to linger
until the last straggler disajipeared among the
trees and the distant note of the bugle tlied upon
the ear, that I might behold the .. .iderness relap-
sing into silence and solitude. In the jiresent
instance, the des(?rteil scene of our late bustling
encam])iiient had a forlorn and desolue njipear-
ance. The surrounding forest had i)ecn in many
places trampled into a ipiagmire. T'rees felled
and p.irtly hewn in pieces, and scattered in huge
fragments ; tent-poles stri]i|K'd of their covering ;
smouldering tires, with great morsels of roastetl
venison and buffalo meat, st.mding in wooden
s]iits before them, hacked and slashed by the
kni\es of hungry hunters ; while around were
strewed the hides, the horns, the antlers, and
bones of bulialoes and deer, with uncooked joints,
and uni)lucked turkeys, left behind with that
reckless improvidence and w.istet'ulness which
young hunters are a]>t to indulge when in a neigh-
borhood where game ab(niiuls. In tb.e meantime
a score or two of turkey-buxzards, or vultures,
were already on the wing, whi-eling their magni-
ficent flight high in the iiir, and preparing for a
descent upon the camj) dj soon as it sliould be
abandoned.
CHAl'TKR XXIX.
T/i,- Crr.riJ J'r.!!>ic.—.l ISiif.i.\' /.'::>:!.
AKTf,f< proceeding about two hours in a southerly
direction, we emerged tow.ud mid-day tVoni the
dreary belt of the Cross Timber, and to our in-
finite delight liehekl " the great Prairie " stretch-
ing to the right and left lieHire us. We could
distinctly trace the meandering course of the
m.iin Canadian, and v.iriinis sm.iller streams, by
the strijis of green forest that bordered them.
The lanelscape was \ ast and beautiful. 'I'bere i:i
always an expansion of feeling ia looking ujion
these boundless and fertile wastes; but I w.i;
doubly conscious of it after emerging from oi;r
" close dungeon of innuiiierous boughs."
l'"roiii a rising ground lleatte pointed out the
])lace vvhere he and bis romr.uU's li.id killed tb.e
Imli'aloes ; aid v.-e beheld scver.il bl.uk objects
moving in ti-e distance, which he s.iid were p.ut
of the herd. The Captain <letermiiieil to sli.ipe
his course to a wooily bottom about a mile dis-
tant, and to encamp there for a day or two, by
way of having a regular biit'falo bunt, and getting
a supply of provisions. As the troo|) deliled
along the slope of the hill toward the camping
ground, lieatte projiosed to my messmates ami
myself', lh.it we should put oursehes under bis
guidance, promising to t.ike us wliere we should
have plenty of sport. Leaving the line of march,
474
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
'li'ilil:
!'!!
if'i
liH i:
r'il'i : ;
therefore, we diverged toward the prairie ; tra-
vcrsinj^ a small valley, and ascending; a gentle
swell of land. As we reached the summit, wc
beheld a (j-'fo "'' v,^\d horses about a mile off.
IJcatte was immediately on the alert, and no
lonj^cr thought of buffalo hunting. He was
inoimted on his powerful half-wild horse, with a
lariat cdled at the saddle-bow, and set off in
pursuit ; while we remained on a rising ground
watching his mananivres with great solicitude.
Taking advantage of a strip of woodland, he stole
([uietly along, so as to get close to them before
he was perceived. The moment they caught
sight of him a grand scamper took ])Iace. We
watched him skirting along the horizon like a
privateer in full chase of a merchantman ; at
length he jiassed ox er the brow of a ric'.gi;, and
ilown into a shallow valley ; in a. few moments he
was on the opi)osite hill, and close upon one of
the horses. He was soon head and head, and
appeared to be trying to noose his prey ; but
they both disappeared again below the hill, and
we saw no more of them. It turned out after-
ward that he had noosed a powerful horse, but
coukl not hold him, and had lost his lariat in the
attempt.
While we were waiting for Iiis return, wc per-
ceived two buffalo bulls descending a slope, to-
ward a stream, which wound through a ravine
fringed with trees. The young Count and myself
endeavored to get near them under covert of the
trees. They disco\ered us while we were yet
three or four hundred yards off, and turning about,
retreated up the rising ground. We urged our
horses across Ihe ravine, and gave chase. The
immense weiglit of head and shoulders causes
the buffalo to labor heavily up hill ; but it accel-
erates his descent. We had the advantage,
therefore, and gained rajjidly upon the fugitives,
though it was difticult to get our horses to ap-
proach them, their very scent inspiring them
with terror. The Count, who had a double-bar-
relled gun, loaded with ball, fired, but it missed.
The bulls now altered their course, and galloped
down hill with headlong rapidity. As they ran
in ilifferent directions, we e;vch singled out one
and separated. I was provided with .a brace of
veteran brass-barrelled pistols, which I had bor-
rowed at Fort Gibson, and which had e\ idently
seen some service. I'istuls are very effective in
buffalo hunting, as the hunter can ride up close
to the animal, and fire at it while at full speed ;
whereas the long heavy rilles used en the fron-
tier, cannot be easily managed, nor discharged
with accurate aim from horseback. My object,
therefore, was to get within [)istol shot nf the buf-
falo. This was no very easy matter. 1 was well
iiiounted on a horse of excellent spectl and bot-
tom, that seemed eager for the chase, and soon
overtook the game ; but the moment he came
nearly parallel, he would keep sheering off, with
ears forked and pricked forward, and every
symptom of aversion and alarm. It was no
womler. Of .all animals, a buffalo, when close
presseil by the hunter, has an aspect the most
diabolical. His two short black horns, curve out
of a huge frontier of shaggy hair ; his eyes glow
like coals • his mouth is open, his tongue jiarched
and drawn up into a half crescent ; his tail is
erect, .mil tufted and whisking about in the air,
he is a perfect picture of mingled rage and terror.
It was with difficulty I urged tny horse suffi-
ciently near, when, t.iking aim. to my chagrin,
both ])istols missed fire. Unfortunately the locks
of these veteran weapons were so niucli worn,
that in the gallop, the priming li.ni been sln'^
out of the pans. At the snapping df ti„. i.,^,"^'
tol I was close upon the buffalo, wlicn, in ir'i'
spair, he turned round with a siulden' siiorPri
rushed upon me. My horse wheeled abm '^,''|
on a pivot, made .1 convulsive sprin;;, .md , i
had been leaning on one side wiiirpM,,' ''\
tended, I came near being thrown at ih ■ f '
the buffalo. ' '''•"'
Three or four bounds of the horse cinia' ■ ■
out of the reach of the enemy; wlio. iin,,"'
merely turned in desperate Belf-dilerKe, (iiii, ; '
resumed his fiight. As soon as 1 cmiM ''';',;htr''T
my panic-stricken horse, and pi-ip.K> th^. p'^. ,.
afresh, I again spurred in pursiut of Hk- |,i;£;i'
who had slackened his sjieed to take bre.uh. o-J
my ap|)roach he again set off full tih. hiavirr
himself forward with a heavy rolling ;;:ill,jp. d^^ir.
ing with headlong precipit:ition tiirouj;!i bnil;.;
and ravines, while several deer nnd \\u\\r.
startled from their coverts by his tlr.imitr-l
career, ran helter-sk'Uer to right and kf; acr -;
the waste.
A gallop across the prairies in pursuit of mkc
is by no means so smooth a career as those m ,•
imagine, who have only the idea of .\n open Ind
plain. It is true, the prairies of the hunur,'
ground are not so much entangled \vi;h tlowcri;/'
l)Iants and long herbage as the \o\\r<: prairivf^
and are principally covered with short buif,.'.;)
grass ; but they are diversified by hill and dale
and where most level, are apt to he cut up bv
deep rifts and ravines, madi by torrents af;.r
rains ; and which, yawning fnun an even siirfiu-,
are almost like pitfalls in the way (}f the huniiv,
checking him suddenly, when in iall c:i:eer. i;-
subjecting him to the risk of limb aivd lite. T';j
l)lains, too, are beset by burrow iiig iioles of ^m.i'.l
animals, in which the horse is apt to sink to tho
fetlock, and throw both himself and his riikr.
The late rain had covered some parts of tlie jira;-
rie, where the ground was hard, with a thin s'lctt
of water, through which the horse had to spLbli
his way. In other parts there were inmniurali'.o
shallow hollows, eight or ten feet in di.uiictir,
made by the bulfaloes, who wallow in sand k.1
muil like swane. These being filled with water,
shone like mirrors, so that the horse w.is coritin.:-
ally leaping over them or springing on one side.
We hail reached, too, a rough part of the prairio,
very much broken and cut up ; the bnlialo, wli)
was running for life, took no heed to his course,
jilunging down bre;'.k-neck ravines, wh.ere it was
necessary to skirt the borders in search of .t safer
descent. At length we came to where a winter
streair> had torn a deep chasm across the whule
I>rairie, leaving open jaggetl rocks, and lorinin,'
a long gb-n bordered by steej) cruiublin;,' cliliVof
mingled stone and clay. Down one of these the
buffalo tlung himself, lialf tumbling, ball leapiii::,
and then scuttletl along the bottom : while 1, see-
ing all further jjursuit useless, pidled iip.iinil
gazed quietly after him from the bordtr ol th:
clil'f, until he disappeared amidst the wiiidiiiijs nt
the ravine.
Nothing now remained but to ttn-n my steed
and reioin mv comi)anions. Here at first was
some little difficulty. The ardor of the chase h.id
betr.iyed me into a' longs heedless g.iUop. 1 m';!'
found' myself in the midst of a lonely waste, m
which the prospect was bounded by tuuhilatin,;
swells of land, naked and uniform, wheie, liotii
the deficiency of landmarks and distinct teaiures.
an inexperienct'd man ma\- become bewibbred,
and lose his way as readily as in the wastes ul
A TOUR OX TFIE PRAIRIES.
*in
(IC OCC^I'
The day, too, was overcast, so that I
'^ "''-- ■'"■•se c.rriul •,
"iHii-siiit of ti,, ,;,;,:.;,;
■'■'1 t" take l,a.,„i, „'
.''^"'.[""•ilt, huv,'
ivyroll,„s.all,m.d.io.:
it:iti()ii tliiou'li brV '-
-• clccr and X:
"S ''>• Ills tlK!,U',.:,
o '-'ylit ami l.ft ac^ii
ndiT.
'omcp.-irtsof the jir.i;-
lard.Hitlia tliiii slicit
horse had to spl.bli
M-e were iiim,;iiu.iu!e
en feet in diiiiiictiT,
wallow ill s:i:i(l ai:,|
n.^r filled with w.itor,
'le hoisc was Cdiilinj-
I'liv^ijiL,' 1)11 one side.
,'li part (.1' the pr.urio,
jp ; the biii'ulo, mIv)
) lieed to his course,
•a\ines, uherc it uv.s
■sin search of a safer
le to where a winter
sin across the wimle
rocks, and furnini,,'
p cruiubiin;,' didx'l
)wn one of iliese the
nhliiit;. half Icapiii;',
otloiii ; whdc l,see-
ss, pidk'd lip, anJ
1 tiu' liordtr nf tl;e
itlst the wiudiiiijs (if
.J not guide myself by the sun ; my only
ie was t" retrace the track my horse liatl
thout,'h this I would often lose
the ground was covered with
,',-ht of. "■''^''■^"
wrchcd herbage. , . ,
To one unaccustomed to it, there is something
;-t.vorcs>ihlv lonely in the solitude of a prairie.
The'loaeliiK'ss of a forest seems nothinjj to it.
TVrctheview is shut in by trees, and the im-
y-niwn is loft free to picture some livelier scene
"vond. Hut l'^"''-" "'-' 'i'^^'^ •!" immense extent
"fijinlicipe without a sign of human existence.
We h.i^c the consciousness of being far, far be-
vondthc bcmnds of human h;ibit;ition; we feel as
;.n„nin>' in the midst of a desert world. As my
horjO l.T"'o'l slowly back over the scenes ot our
ii;c sc.impcr, and the delirium of the chase had
niiieJ .i»'.iv, I w.is peculiarly sensible to these
c'CJiiMtanies. The silence of the wtiste wt's now
ajj then broken by the cry of a distant tlock of
piiicins, stalking like spectres about a shtdlow
■i.oI: sometimes by the sinister croaking of a
,'aven in the air, while occasionally a scoundrel
Ivolf would scour off from before mc ; and, hav-
jp; attained a safe distance, would sit down and
heivland whine with tones that gave a dreariness
lithe surrimnding solitude.
.Alter pursuing my way for some time, I de-
scried a iiorseman on the edge of a distant hill,
and soon recognized him to be the Count. He
had been equally unsuccessful with myself; we
were shortly after rejoined by our worthy com-
rade, the \'irtuoso, who, with spectacles on nose,
had made two or three ineffectual shots from
hirieback.
We determined not to seek the camp until we
had made one more effort. Casting our eyes
.--.bciut the surrounding .vaste, we descried a herd
tf buffalo about two miles distant, scattered
apart, .and ciuictly grazing near a small strip of
trees and bushes. It recpiired but little stretch
of fancy to picture them so many cattle grtizing
on the ed<;e of a common, and that the grove
ia;;;ht shelter some lowly farmhouse.
We now formed our jiian to circumvent the
i;crd,and by getting on the other side of them,
til hunt them in the direction where we knew our
camp to be situ.ited, otherwise, the jnirsuit might
take us to such a distance as to render it im-
pii>s:ble to find our way back before nightf.ill.
Taking a wide circuit therefore, we moved slowly
sad cautiously, pausing occasionally, when we
saw any of the lienl desist from grazing. The
«:nd fortunately set from them, otherwise they
n:,'htliave scented us and have taken the alarm.
la this way we succeeded in getting round the
htrd without disturbing it. It consisted of about
firty head, bulls, cows, and calves. Separating
to some distance from each other, we now ap-
pro,iched slowly in a parallel line, hoping by de-
j-'rees to steal near without exciting attention.
'Iheybeijan, however, to move off i|uietly, stoj)-
p.a;,' at every step or two to graze, when sudden'/
.". ball that, unol)served by us, h.ul been taking
iw siesta under a clump of trees to our left,
rojsed himself from his lair, and hastened to
join his companions. We were still at a consiil-
wable distance, but the game had taken the
a.arm. We (piickened our pace, they broke into
•■;~i!'op, and now commenced ;i full c'h.ise.
•As the ground was level, they shouldered
[■on„'with i^reat speed, following each other in a
'ie; two or three bulls bringing up the rear, the
•■i;ti..f whom, from his enormous size and vener-
able frontlet, and beard of sunburnt hair, looked
like the jiatriarch of the herd ; timl as if he
might long have reigned the mon.irch of the
prairie.
There is a mixture of the awful and the comic
in the look of these huge animals, as they betir
their great bulk forward, with an up anil down
motion of the unwieldy head ;ind shoulders ;
their tail cocked up like the ipieue of r.intaloon in
a ijantomime, the end whisking about in a fierce
yet whimsical style, and their eyes glaring ven-
omously with an expression of fright ami fury.
For some time 1 kept p.irallel w'nh the line,
without being able to force my horse within pis-
tol shot, so much h.id he been alariiied by the
assault of the bulTalo in the preceding chase.
At length 1 succeeded, but was again balked by
my pistols missing fire. My comp.mions, whose
horses were less fleet, and more way-worn, could
not overtake the herd ; at length Mr. L., who
was in the rear of the line, and losing ground,
levelled his double-barrelled gun, and fired ;i long
raking shot. It struck a butVaio just above the
loins, brol.c its back-bone, and brought it to the
ground. He stopped and alighted to dispatch
his prey , when borrowing his gun, which had yet
a charge remaining in it, I put my horse to his
speed, again overtook the herd which was thun-
dering along, pursued by the Count. With my
present weapon there was no need of urging my
horse to such close quarters ; g.illoping along
jiarallel, therefore, 1 singled out a butTalo, and
by a fortunate shot brought it down on the spot.
The ball had struck a vital part ; it could not
move from the place where it fell, but l.iy there
struggling in mortal agony, while the rest of the
herd kept on their headlong c:ueer across the
prairie.
Dismounting, 1 now fettered my horse to pre-
vent 'lis straying, and adv.inced to contemplate
my victim. 1 am nothing of a sportsman ; 1 had
been prompted to this unwonted exploit by the
magnitude of the game, ami the excitement of
an adventurous chase. Now that the excitement
was over, I could not but loo!, with commisera-
tion upon the poor animal that lay struggling and
bleeding at my feet. His very size ;ind impor-
tance, which had before inspired me with eager-
ness, now increased my c(niipuiu:iioii. It seemed
as if I had inflicted ])ain in propcution to the bulk
of my victim, and as if it were .a hundred-fold
gretiter waste of life than there would ha\e been
in the destruction of an animal of inferior size.
T"o add to these after-t[ua!ins of conscience,
the poor animal lingered in his agony. He had
evidently received a mortal wound, but death
might be long in coming. It v.ould not do to
leave him here to be torn ])ieceiiual, while yet
alive, by the wolves that h.id already snuft'ed his
blood, and were skulking anil howling at a. dis-
tance, and waiting for my departure ; and by
the r.wensthat were flapping tibout, cro, iking dis-
mally in the air. It became now an act of mercy
to give him his quietus, ami juit him out of his
mi:5ery. I primed one of the justols, therefore,
and advanced close up to the biiflalo. To in-
flict a wound thus in cold blood, 1 found a totally
dilTerent thing frcun firing in the heat of the
chase. Taking aim, however, just behind the
fore-shoulder, my pistol for once proved true ; the
ball must have passed through the he.irt, for the
animal ga\e cme convulsiv'c throe and expired.
While 1 stood meditating ami moralizing over
the wreck I had so wantonly produced, witli my
horse grazing near me, 1 was rejoined by r.iy fcl-
47a
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
:i
■-li-
m:i,
fciH fi
r-i
tii-"i
I !ii
bciny .1 man
thai, more
low-sportsman, the Viituoso ; who,
of universal adroitness, and withal, more ex-
perienced and hardened in the gentle art of
" venerie," soon managed to carve out the tongue
of the buffalo, and delivered it to mc to bear
back to the camp as a trophy.
CHAPTER XXX.
W Comriiifr Lost. — / Sniyc/i for lite Cimp. — T/if Com-
viiisii'iirr, the \\ iUl I/orsf, auJ the ISu^fiUo. — . / 11 olf
Our solicitude was now awakened for the young
Count. With his usual eagerness and impetuos-
ity he liad ])crsisted in urging his jaded horse in
puisuit of the herd, unwilling to return without
ha\ ing likewise killed a buffalo. In this way he
bad ke])i on following them, hither and thiiher,
and oceasit)nally firing an ineffectual shot, until
by degrees horseman and herd became indis-
tinct in the distance, and at length swelling
ground and strips of trees and thickets hid them
entirely from sight.
liy the time my friend, the amateur, joined
me, the young Count h.ad been long lost to view.
We held a consultation on the matter, livening
was drawing on. Were we to pursue him, it
would be dark before we should overtake him,
granting we did not entirely lose trace of him in
the gloDMi. We should then be too much bewil-
dered to find our way back to the encampment ;
even now, our return would be difficult. We de-
termined, therefore, io hasten to the camp as
speedily as possible, and send out our half-breeds,
and some of the veteran hunters, skilled in cruis-
ing about the prairies, to search for our compan-
ion.
We accordingly set forward in what we sup-
posed to bo llie direction of the camp. Our
weary horses could hardly be urged beyond a
walk. The t\\ ilight thickened upon us ; the land-
scape grew gradually indistinct ; we tried in vain
to rccogni/e xarious landmarks which we had
noted ill the morning. The features of the jirai-
ries are so similar as to baffle the eye of any but
an Indi.m, or a practised woodman. At length
night closed in. We hoped to see the distant
glare of camp-fires ; we listened to catch the
sound of the bells about the necks of the grazing
horses. Once or twice we thought we distin-
guished lliL'iii ; we were mistaken. Nothing was
to be heard but a monotonous concert of insects,
with now and then the dismal howl of wolves
mingling with the night breeze. We began to
think of halting for llie night, and bivouackin;;
under the lee of sonic thicket. We had imple-
ments to strike a light; there was plenty of fire-
wood at hand, and the tongues of our bufValoes
would furnish us with a repast.
Just as we were preparing to dismount, we
heard the re])ort of a rille, and shortly after, the
notes of the bugle, calling up the night guard.
Pushing forward in that direction, the camp fires
soon broke on our sight, gleaming at a distance
from among the thick groves of an alluvial bot-
tom.
•\s we entered the camp, we found it a scene
of nule hunters' revelry ar I wassail. There hail
keen a grand day's sport, in which all had taken
a part, l-.iglit bufialoes had been killed; roaring
fires were bla/ing on every side ; all hands were
feasting upon roasted joints, broiled marrow-
bones, .-ind the juicy hump, far-f.imcd amor.- •■
epicures of the prairies. Right g|;uKv„|," ' ;'
dismount and partake of the sturdy chcr* •"
we had been on our weary horses siiicc mor'.
without tasting food. '"'■
As to our worthy friend, the CommissV,-,.
with whom we had parted company at tin.. ,, i
of this eventful day, we fountl him ivin-inaf ■
ner of the tent, much the worse fur wear i •-
course of a successful hunting match, ' "
It seems that our man, lieattc, in his zr' •
give the Commissioner an opportuiiiiv cf ;! "■ l'
guishing himself, and gratifying his In'intm;' pr-!
])ensities, had mounted him u|h)ii his lial'i'-'v'
liorse, and started him in pursuit of a Im -o i, •!
falo bull, that had already been friylitoned l)v;-.
hunters. The horse, which was tlarlcsj as !■■
owner, and, like him, had a coiibidur.ablc vv^
of devil in his composition, and wlui besides
had been made familiar with tiie game, r.nsi»n()
came in sight and scent of the buiialu, dian'h'
set off full speed, bearing the inv(,|unt:irv ln;a'„J
hither and thither, and whither lie wnuld nn;^
up hill and down hill — leaping jiooli and bro b
—dashing thnuigh glens and giillies, until b
came up with the game. Instead of slieerin'tr;
he crowded upon the buffalo. 'I'lio Coimiij;!
sioner, almost in self-defence, di^cbarged both
barrels of a double-barrelled gun iiUDllieciieir.v.
The broadside took elTect, but was not mort.-.I.
Thi; buffalo turned furiously ujion liis piirbu.r;
the horse, as he had been taught by bis owner,
wheeled ofT. The InifTalo plunged after biiii. Ti;;
worthy Commissioner, in gre.it extremity, drcv
his sole pistol from his holhter, tired it on ,is.-.
stern-chaser, shot the buffalo full in tbc brcis:,
and brought him lumbering forward to tbc cir.i'..
The Commissioner returned to camp, buidcd
on all sides for his signal ex])loit ; ln;t j,'riev(ii;siv
battered and way-worn. He had been .t h.itd
rider perforce, and a victor in spite of bimself.
He turned a deaf car to all coniidimenis andcir.-
gratulations ; had but little stoni.uh for tbo Iwr.-
ter's fare jilaced before him, and fonn ietre.'.!i. i
to stretch his limbs in the tent, ('.Lclaring ih.r,
nothing should tempt him agaia to mount tli.r
half devil Inilian horse, and that l;o bad had
enough of buffalo hunting tor tiie re'it of Ids life.
It was too dark now to send any one in icarc':;
of the young Count. Ciuns, however, were lirLii,
and the bugle sounded from time to time, m
guide him to the camp, if by chance bo si., ill
str.iggle within hearing ; but the night adwir-cd
without his making his appearance. There w.;
not a star visible to guide him, and we conelud:!
that wherever he was. he would give i:p wander-
ing in the dark, and bivouac until tl.iybrcak.
It was a raw, overcast nigl'.l. 'H'.c carcasses
of the buffaloes killed in the vicinity of' die
camp had drawn about it an unusual number c!
wolves, who kept up the most forlorn ceneeritf
whining yells, ])rolonged into dismal cadence;
and inflexions, literally converting the surround-
ing waste into a howling wilderness. NotbinL' is
more melancholy than the niidniglit bowl of a
wolf on a jirairie.' ^\Tlat rendered the gloom r.n'i
wildness of the night and the savage concert ft
the neighboring waste the more dreary to us, was
the idea of the lonely and exposed situation (f
our young and inexiierienced comrade, "o
trusted, however, that on the return of daylighi,
he would find his way back to the camp, and
then all the events of the nij'.ht woelil be remem-
bered only as so many savory gratifications of l-j
passion for adventure.
T.,,£ r.wrnin
•l-.iio'Jt .my
; ^1 uncisin
I',,;,, be mi!
s.r.io oppos
(iKnb""^
IJ'iS
about
. vv
v,,thliii"i
j..,i liable ti
(,:-ir.ib'Sl'"iJ
.\s soon
I'a.ir breakf
t'rjbO ill se
ji,.crs, mo'
horses, aiid_
'•.,.rt: puf
;'i;h our litl
:.;hecau^c
I, ,hcAV tbc
iviicre vvc b
«c all set
coujiie of ill
two buiMloi
f,^,i;3 wolves
i'.i approai
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
4,Tt
CHAPTER XXXI.
A Hunt for a Lost Comr,iiie.
T ir nornins dawned, .ind .nn hour or two passed
,lo'utanvudint;s of the Count. Wc beg.-m to
.•"l ;;ncasincss lest, h.ivin^' no compass to aid
I , ]',j, might i)cii)lex himself and wander in
'mc' opiwsitc direction. Stragglers arc thus
i-.|,i^],jt for (lays ; what made us the more anx-
■~,ji ibout liini was, that he had no provisions
''■hiiiiii. was totally unversed in '" wood craft,"
'd i:.ibl'c to fall into the hands of some lurking
■'-' Mr.";,'^liiin' P-^'''>' "*" savages.
'.\j 5,1011 as our jjcople, therefore, had made
I'n'ir breakfast, we beat up for volunteers for a
.rVo in search of the Count. A dozen of the
rir'cri,iii()iintcdon some of the best and freshest
horses, and armed with rifles, were soon ready to
;• n; our lialf-brceds lieatte and Antoine also,
»i;liwir little mongrel Frenchman, were zealous
■".•hecuise; so Mr. L. and myself taking the lead,
|rsho»thc way to the scene of our little hunt
ivhcre we liad jiarted company with the Count,
V,.' all set out across the prairie. A ride of a
couple of miles brought us to the carcasses of the
wo biiiuloes we had killed. A legion of ra\e-
r, ;:5\volves were already goi^^ing upon thcni. At
I ,,: approach they reluctantly drew off, skulking
■,i,;h.ieaitiff look to the distance of a few hun-
cid v.uds, and there awaiting our departure,
!;.,iniiev mii;ht return to their banquet.
1 conducted lieatte and Antoine to the spot
v.iiLr.ce the young Count had continued the chase
iiiao. It was like putting hounds upon the
sciiit. Thcv immediately distinguished the track
cf his horse amidst the trami)ings of the buffaloes,
anJ!etoffat around i)ace, following with the eye
;r. r.varlv a straight course, for upward of a mile,
v.hen they came to where the herd had v'.i\idcd,
ar.d run hither and thither about a meadow.
litre the track of the horse's hoofs wandered and
doubled and often crossed each other ; our half-
breeiis were like hounds at fault. While wc
vcre at a halt, waiting until they should unravel
;he aiize, lieatte suddenly gave a short Indian
whoop, or rather yelp, and pointed to a distant
lull. On regarding it attentively, we perceived a
horseman on the summit. "It is the Count!"'
cried Lieatte, and set off at full gallop, followed
by the wiiole company. In a few moments he
chocked his horse. Another figure on horseback
h.idappeared on the brow of the hill. This com-
[I'.etely .iltered the case. The Count had wandered
cii' alone ; no other person had been missing from
the camp. If one of these horsemen were indeed
the Count, the oUier must be an Indian. If an
Ir.dian, in all probability a Pawnee. Perhaps they
v.ereboth Indians ; scouts of some ])arty lurking
i;; the vicinity. While these and other sugges-
tions were hastily discussed, the two horsemen
flidod down from the profile of the hill, and we
lost s!;;lit of thein. One of the rangers suggested
that there might be a straggling ])arty of Pawnees
hvhind the hill, and that the Count might have
fallen into their hands. The idea had an electric
ciicct upon the little troop. In an instant every
hiirsc was at full speed, the half-breeds leading
the way; the young rangers as they rode set up
vial yelps of exultation at the thoughts of having a
brushwiih the Indians. A neck or nothing gallop
brtiu;.;ht lis lo the skirts of the hill, and revealed
tur mistake. In a ravine we lound the two horse-
of a buffalo which
lo be t«'o rangers,
raon standing by the carcass
!-•-■;•■ had killed. ' They proved
who, unperccivcd, had left the camp a little be-
fore us, and h.ad come here in a direct line, while
we had made a wide circuit abiuit the prairie.
This episode being at an end, and the sudden
excitement being over, we slowly and coolly re-
traced our steps to the meadow ; but it was some
time before our half-breeds could again get on
the track of the Count. Having at length found
it, they succeeded in following it Ihniugh all its
doublings, until they came to where it was no
longer mingled with the tramp of but'faloes, but
became single and separate, wandering here and
there about the prairies, but always tending in a
direction opposite to that of the ciinp. Here the
Count had evidently given up the ])ursuit of the
herd, and had endeavored to liiul his way to tlic
encampment, but had become bewildereil as the
evening shades thickened around him, and had
completely mistaken the jjoints of tl;e compass.
In all this quest our half-breeds dis])layed that
quickness of eye, in following up a track, for
which Indians are so noted. Uc^ute, especially,
was as staunch as a veteran hound. Sometimes
he would keep forward on an easy trot ; his eyes
fixeil on the ground a little alieael of his horse,
clearly distinguishing prints in the heriiage which
to me were invisible, excepting on the closest
inspection. Sometimes he wciuld inill up and
w.ilk his horse slowly, regarding the grt)und in-
tensely, where to my eye noiliing was api)arent.
Then he would dismount, lead his lunse by the
bridle, and advance cautiously step by step, with
his face bent toward the earth, just catching,
here and there, a casual indication of the vaguest
kind to guide him onward. In some |)laces where
the soil was hard and the grass withered, he
would lose the track entirely, and wander back-
ward and forward, and right and left, in search
of it ; returning occasionally to the jdace where
he had lost sight of it, to take a new departure.
If this f.iiled he would examine the b.uiks of the
neighboring streams, or the sandy bottoms of the
ravines, in hopes of finding tracks where the
Count had crossed. Wiien he again came upon
the track, he would remount his horse, and re-
sume his onward course. At length, after cross-
ing a stream, in the crumbling banks of which
the hoofs of the horse were deeply dented, we
came u|)on a high dry ])rairie, where our half-
breeils were completely batiled. Xot a foot-print
was to be discerned, though they se.ircheel in
every direction ; and ISeattcat length coming to
a pause, shook his head despondingly.
Just then a small herd of deer, roused from a
neighboring ravine, came bounding by us. ISeatte
sprang from his horse, levelleil his ritle, and
wountled one slightly, but wiiliout bringing it to
the ground. The report of the ride was almost;
immediately followcil by along halloo fnnn a dis-
tance. We looked around but could sec luilhing.
.Another loivg halloo was In ard. and at length a
ImrMenian was descried, enu.r;ging o.ut of a skirt
of forest. A single glance slioweel him lo be the
young Count; there was .'i universal shout and
scamper, every one setting olf t'ull gallop to greet
him. It was a joyful meeting lo both ])arlies ;
for, much anxiety had been felt by us all on ac-
count of his youth and inexperience, and for his
part, with all his love of adventure, he seemed
right glad to be once more among his friends.
As wc supposed, he had cimipletely mistaken
his course oi; the preceding evening, and had
wandered about until dark, wdien he lliought of
bivouacking. The iirght was cold, yet he feared
to make a lire, lest it might betray him to some
r i^M!
I] '
'n h
;*'"■:■ I
w
' (•:■•
'478
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
lurkinfj party of Indians. Hobbling his horse
with his jjockcl handkerchief, and leavinj,' him to
};raze on thj margin of tiic prairie, he clambered
into a tree, fixed his saddle in the fork of the
branches, and placin;^ himself securely with his
back against the trunk, prepared to pass a dreary
and anxious ni.i;ht, regaled occasionally with the
bowlings of the woKes. He was agreeably dis-
appointed. The fatigue of the day soon brought
on a sound sleep ; he hail delightful dreams about
his lu)me in Suit/erland, nor did he wake until it
was broad d.iylight.
He then deseended from his roosting-placc,
mounted his horse, and rode to the naked summit
of a hill, whence he beheld a trackless wilderness
around him, but, at no great distance, the tirand
Canadian, winding its way between borders of
forest land. The sight of this river consoled him
with the itlea lliat, should he fail in finding his
way back to the camp, or, in being found by some
party of his comrades, he might follow the course
of the stream, which could not fail to conduct
him to some frontier post, or Inilian hamlet.
So closed the events of our hap-hazard buffalo
hunt.
CHAPTKR X.XXII.
«4 A'l/'iibHc of Prairie Dogs,
On returning from our expedition in quest of the
young Count, 1 learned that a burrow, or village,
as it is termed, of jjrairie dogs had been discov-
ered on the level summit of a hill, about a mile
from the camp. 1 Living heard much of the hab-
its and peculiarities of these little animals, I de-
termined to ])ay .1 \ isit to the community. The
prairie dog is, in fact, one of the curiosities of
the I'"ar West, about which travellers delight to
tell marvellous tales, endowing him at times with
something of the politic and social habits of a
rational being, and giving him systems of civil
government aiul domestic economy, almost equal
to what ihey used to bestow upon the beaver.
The prairie dog is an animal of the coney kind,
and about the si/e of a rabbit. He is of a
sprightly mercurial nature ; quick, sensitive, and
somewhat petulant. He is very gregarious, liv-
ing in large communities, sometimes of several
acres in extent, where innumerable little heaps of
earth show the entrances to the subterranean
cells of the inhabitants, and the well beaten
tracks, like lanes antl streets, show their mobility
and restlessness. According to the accounts
given of them, they would seem to be continually
full of sport, business, ;md public affairs; whisk-
ing about hitiier and thither, as if on gossiping
visits to each other's houses, or congregating in
the cool of the evening, or after a shower, and
gambolin;.; together in the open air. Sometimes,
especially when the moon shines, they pass half
the night in revelry, barking or yelping with short,
quick, yet weak tones, like those of very young
jjuppies. While in the height jf their playfulness
and clamor, howe\er, should there be the least
alarm, they all vanish into their cells in an in-
stant, and the vill,\ge remains blank and silent.
In case they are hard pressed by their pursuers,
without any ho[)e of escape, they will assume a
pugnacious air, and a most whimsical look of
impotent w rath and deliancc.
The pniirie dogs are not ])ermittcd to remain
sole and undisturbed inhabitants of their own
homes. Owls and rattlesnakes arc said to t l-
their abodes with them ; but whetlicr ■, ''
guests or unwelcome intruders, is a
contro\ersy. The owls are of a
iiuitcr ,1
peculiar kit,'
•If Ut ,
and would seem to part.ike of tlie char
the hawk; for they are taller and niorti'r.xi,
lui raind .li
their legs, more alert in their looks ;i,i
their flight than ordinary owls, and dn nn-
hne their excursions to the night, hut s.illvr?i!
in broad day. ' '■ "'"''
Some s.iy that they only inhabit cells wh
the prairie dogs have 'deserted, and suliaal i,''!
to ruin, in consecpience of the death iiitluiv '
some relative; for they would make out th, <?
tie animal to be endowed with keen sinsiljiln '■
that will not permit it to remain in the duii, ?!
where it has witnessed the ikatii uf a {^^^l
Other fanciful speculators represent the uMl.i a
kind of housekeeper to the prairie dug ; aiul.frlm
having a note very similar, insinuate that \\-k>-
in a manner, as family preceptor, and tuchti
the young litter to bark.
As to the rattlesnake, nothing satisfirUirv hi-
been ascertained of the ])arl he plays in Uiis ini.s'
interesting household ; thougli he is dubidind ,v
little better than a sycophant and shaipei, tli.r
winds himself into the concerns ul' the hmuM'
credulous little dog, and takes him in must saiilv!
Certain it is, if he acts as toad-e.iter, itc (>Ci;a>inn!
ally solaces himself with more than tiie u<„,il
perquisites of his order ; as he is now and then
detected with one of the younger mendxTs of tl.o
family in his maw.
Such are a few of the particulars that I cncid
gather aljout the domestic economy of this ht;];
inhabitant of the prairies, who, with his pij;!;;'.
republic, appears to be a subject of nuich whin-
sical speculation and burlesque remarks .iiiiun'
the hunters of the Far West.
It was toward evening that I set out widi ,1
companion, to visit the village in (piestioii. l:>
luckily, it had been invaded in the coui^e of ilio
day by some of the rangers, who had shut lunur
three of its inhabitants, and thrown the \\\\\ic
sensitive community in confusion. As wc ap-
proached, we could perceive numbers of dit in-
habitants seated at the entrances of tiieir tills,
while sentinels seemed to have been posted rii
the outskirts, to keep a look-out. At siLjht of i.s,
the picket guards scampered in and gave tk
alarm ; wherevqion every inliabitant gave a slmrt
yelp, or bark, and dived into his hole, liis htcii
twinkling in the air as if he had thrown a somer-
sault.
We traversed the whole village, or republic,
which covered an area of about thirty acres ; ba;
not a whisker of an inhabitant was to be sovn.
We probed their cells as far as the ramrods of
our rifles would reach, but could imearih neither
dog, nor owl, nor rattlesnake. Mo\in;,' (|iiicily
to a little distance, we lay down upon thejjround,
and watched for a long time, silent and motion-
less, liy aiul by, a cautious old burgher would
slowly put forth the end of his nose.lnil instantly
draw it in again. Another, at a greater di=taiico,
would emerge entirely ; but, catching a fiance tf
us, would throw a somersault, and pluir^c back
again into his hole. At length, some wlio resultJ
on the opposite side of the village, takiii;,' cour-
age from the continued stillness, would steal
forth, and hurry off to a distant iiolc, the resi-
dence possibly of some family connection, or pij-
siping friend, about whose safety they were solici-
tous, or with whom they wished to compare' notes
about the late occurrences.
nthor5,
kWiN I"
CISC'JS^
the
•:i ii!<e
then veil'
fa■^cli fr"i"
ceriy <i'>l'^'''
[ireciion ;
ir.t,i llif f-irt
The dusk
ijrvaticriSi '
s,ir,s prnil'i'-"
iiiiics which
pditic anim
cjnip ; and
;;:thecami:
r.c» of tlH'
frcnitheili-
i-.Mo my-'
;- noisy a-si
-;.ir.5 lor the
i.;aJ riijlUs
A TOUR ON TIIK PRAIRIES.
479
fliiicrs 'till more hold, ns-,cni1)lc(l in little
1, .; in'tlit streets and public places, as if to
r,;''j, he recent (iutra};cs offered to the com-
''*^ ,',.,lih ami the atrocious murders of their fel-
Wcro-e from the ground and moved forward,
MtiU' .1 nearer view of these iiublic proceedings,
VnVlp! yelp! yelp!— there was a shrill alarm
'-■.ciifri'iii iiH'u'h to mouth ; the meetinj;s sud-
!'riv dispersed ; feet twinkled in the air in every
"rectiiin; .inJ in an instant all had vanished
in'Mhe earth. . , . ,
The dusk of the cvcninj; put an end to our ob-
...-vMions, but the train of whimsical comi)ari-
[li-sprodiiced in my brain by the moral attri-
brts wliic'i ' '•'"' heard j;iven to these little
r"|nc animals, still continued after my return to
cMip; nndlate in the night, as I lay awake after
•^', the camp was asleep, and heard in the still-
r'fjK'f the hour, a faint clamor of shrill voices
(.•ir.tiiciii>tant village, I could not help pictiir-
;- to m>self the inhabitants gathered together
|;'noi>v assemblage and windy debate, to devise
"■jnsfar the i)uhlic safety, ahd to vindicate the iii-
l--iJ r:i;hli and insulted dignity of the republic.
CHAPTER XXXIII
Cmniil in llie CimJ'. — Reasons f^ir Faiini^ Ifome-.i'r.yd,
-ii-nes I.t>sl.—/-><f>irlure tuilk ii /K-l,u/imeiil en
fii //t'liiai'iin/ koiile. — Sir.im/i. — ll'i/it lloysc. —
(j/i;,* SuHcs ly A'ij,'lit. — T/ic Owl, ilarbiiii^cr cf
Win; E breakfast was preparing, a council was
kid as tn our future movements. Symptoms of
(ii.-content had appeared for a day or two ])ast
sraoi;'^ the rangers, most of whom, unaccustomed
pthelifeof the prairies, had become impatient
(titi privations, as well as the restraints of the
nnip. The want of bread had been felt severely,
,-.r.d tlicy were wearied with constant travel. In
fact, the novelty and excitement of the cxpedi-
t;in «cre at an end. They had hunted the deer,
the bear, the elk, the buffalo, and the wikl horse,
and liad no further object of leading interest to
:?ok lorward to. A general inclination prevailed,
therefore, to turn homeward.
Grave reasons disposed the Captain and his
cfScers to adopt this resolution. Our horses
»cre i;cncrally much jaded by the fatigues of
ir.mHin;4and hunting, and had fallen away sadly
forw.iatof good pasturage, and from being teth-
ered .it night, to protect them from Indian depre-
cr,:on5. 'I'iie Lite rains, too, seemed to have
«r.shed away the nourishment from the scanty
krb.ige that remained ; and since our cncamp-
nent during the storm, our horses had lost llchh
ffid strength rapidly. With every possible care,
i'.'^rscs, accustomed to grain, and to the regular
:nd pk'iitiful nourishment of the st.-xble ancl the
firm, lose heart and condition in travelling on the
pM.rics. In all expeditions of the kind we were
i"agc(l in, the hardy Indian horses, which are
[encrally mustangs, or a cross of the wild breed,
-Mo be preferred. They can stand all fatigues,
• •irdships, and privations, and thrive on the
passes and wild herbage of the plains.
Oarmen, ton, had acted with little forethought ;
plloping oiT whenever they had a chance, after
ts; 1,'ame that we encountered while on the
nwch. In this way they had strained and wearied
'iiir horses, instead of husbanding their strcnjjth
and s|)irits. On a tour of the kind, horses should
as seldom as ])ossible be put olV ot a quiet w.dk ;
and the average day's journey should not exceed
ten miles.
We had hoped, by pusiilng foru.ird, to reach
the bottoms of the Red River, wliicii abound
with young cane, a most nourishing forage for
cattle at this season of the year. It would non*
t.ike us several days to arrive there, and in the
meantime many of our horses Neniild probably
give out. It was the time, t(-o, when the hunting
parties of Indians set tiro t^) the prairies ; the
herbage, throughout this ]),\rt of the country,
\,as in that parched state, favorable to combus-
tion, and there was daily more and more risk
that the prairies between us and tiie fort would
be set on lire by some of the return i>.irties of
Osages, and a scorched desert left for us to tra-
verse. In a word, we had started too late in the
season, or loiteied too much in the early |)art of
our march, to accomplish our originally inieiuletl
tour; and there was imminent lii/ard, if we con-
tinued on, that we should lose the greater part of
our horses ; and, besides suffering various other
inconveniences, be obliged to return cm foot. It
was determineil, therefore, to gi\e up all further
progress, and, turning our f.ices to the southeast,
to make the best of our way back to I'ort (ubson.
This resolution being taken, there was an im-
mediate eagerness to ])ut it into o])eration. Sev-
eral horses, however, were missing, and amonij
others those of the Captain and tlie Surgeon.
Persons had gone in search of them, but the
morning advanced without any tidings of them.
Our ])arty in the meantime, being all ready for a
march, the Commissioner determined to set off
in the advance, with his original esc(>rt of a lieu-
tenant and fourteen rangers, leaving the Captain
to come on at his convenience, with the main
body. At ten o'clock wc accordingly started,
under the guidance of Beatte, who had hunted
oxer this part of the country, and knew the direct
route to the garrison.
For some distance wc skirted the prairie, keep-
ing a southeast direction ; ,iiid in the course of
our ride wc saw a \ariety of wild animals, deer,
white and black wolves, buffaloes, and wild
horses. To the latter, our half-breeds and
Tonish gave ineffectual chase, only serving to
add to the weariness of their already jaded steeds.
Indeed it is rarely that any but the weaker and
least lleet of the wild horses are taken in these
hard racings ; while the horse of the huntsman
is |irone to be knocked u]i. The l.ittcr, in fact,
risks a good horse to catcli a bad one. On this
occasion, Tonish, who was a ])erfect imp on
horseback, and noted for ruining e\ery animal
he bestrode, succeeded in l.uiiing and almost dis-
abling the powerful gray on wliic'i wc had
mounted him at the outset of o;:r tour.
After proceeding a few miles, we left the
prairie, and struck to the east, t.d<ing what Heatte
)>ronounced an old Osage war-track. This led us
through a rugged tract of country, overgrown
with scrubbed forests and entaiigled iliickets, and
intersected by deep ravines, and brisk-running
streams, the sources of Little Ri\er. About
three o'clock, we encamped by some pools of
water in a small valley, having come about four-
teen miles. We had brought on .a su])ply of
provisions from our last camp,antl siip[)ed heart-
ily upon stewed buffalo meat, ro.istecl venison,
beignets, or fritters of flour fried in bear's lard,
ancl tea made of a species of the golden-rod,
which wc had found, throu<;hout our whole route,
Hil • !i
480
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
iim
iV.
;ti;
•i
n
ii;;^i
mf i
almost ns j,'i-r\trful a beverage as coffee. Indeed
our coffee, wliicli, ns long as it held out, had been
served u|> with every meal, aceordiny to the cus-
tom of the West, was by no means a bcvera^'e
to boast of, It was roasted in a fryinj;-pan,
without mtii'h care, pounded in a leathern liaj,',
with a round stone, and boiled in our prime anil
almost only kitilien utensil, the camp kettle, in
" branch " or brook w.iter ; wliich, on the ])rai-
ries, is deeply colored by the soil, of which it
always holds abundant jiarticlcs in a state of
solution and SMsj)ension. In fact, in thiT course
of our tour, we had tasted the quality of every
variety of soil, and the drauj;hts of water we
had taken mi^ht \ ie in di\ersity of color, if not
of flavor, witii the tinctures of an apothecary's
shop. Pure, limpid water is a rare luxury on
the prairies, at least at this season of the year.
Sujijier o\er, we placed sentinels about our
scanty and diminislied camp, spread our skins
and blankets under the trees, now nearly desti-
tute of foliage, and slept soundly until mornint;.
We had a beautiful daybreak. The camp
again resounded w ith cheerful voices ; every one
was animated « ith the thoughts of soon being at
the fort, and revelling on bread and vegetables.
Kven our saturnine man, lieatte, seemed in-
spired on this occasion ; and as he drove up the
horses for the m.irch, I heard him singing, in
nasal tones, a most forlorn Indian ditty. All
this transient gayety, however, soon died away
amidst the fatigues of our march, which lay
through the same kind of rough, hilly, thicketed
country as that of yesterday. In the course of
the morning we arrived at the valley of the Lit-
tle River, where it wound through a broad bottom
of alluvial soil. At present it had overllowed its
banks, and iuimdated a great part of the valley.
The difficulty was to distinguish the stream from
the broad slieets of water it had formed, and to
find a i)lace where it might be forded ; for it
was in general deep and miry, witli abrupt
crumbling banks. I'nder the pilotage of Beatte,
therefore, we wandered for some time among the
links made by this winding stream, in what ap-
peared tt> us a trackless labyrinth of swamps,
thickets, and standing pools. Sonietimes our
jaded horses dragged their limbs forward with
the utmost difficulty, having to toil for a great
distance, with '.he water up to the stirrups, and
beset at the bottom with. roots and creeping
plants. Sometimes we had to force our way
through dense thickets of brambles and grape-
vines, which almost pulled us out of our saddles.
In one place, one of the pack-horses sunk in the
mire and fell on his side, so as to be extricated
vith great difficulty. Wherever the soil was
bare, or there was a sand-bank, we beheld in-
numerable tracks of bears, wolves, wild horses,
turkeys, and water- fowl ; showing the abundant
sport this valley might afford to the huntsman.
Our men, however, were sated with hunting, and
too weary to be excited by these signs, which in
the outset of our tour would have put them in a
fever of antici])ation. Their only desire, at pres-
ent, was to push on doggedly for the fortress.
At length we succeeded in finding a fording
place, where we all crossed Little River, with the
water and mire to the saddle-girths, and then
halted for an hour and a half, to overhaul the wet
baggage, and give the horses time to rest.
On resuming our march, we came to a pleas-
ant little meadow, surrounded by groves of elms
and cotton-wood trees, in the midst of which was
a fine black horse grazing, I5cattc, who was in
the advance, beckoned us to halt, and 1 '
' '"''l ll,c'l,ni,cV"'"'
hinny „f ,1,^. ^,,
"le nol,!^. ,,
mounted on a marc, approached iIic'Ikiuc'. •
step by step, imitating the whinny uf th^ I""";';
with .ulmirable exactness. . ..^ i,,,,,,^. ^
of the ijrairie gazed for a time, siuilkd iIk'^'
neighed, pricked up his ears, and praiiL,,! „■'!>
and round the mare in g.dlant siyic ; b j T";
at too great a distance for liciiiu lu ii;r,,w f
lariat. He was a magnificent oltjcci, ij, .|,i .J*
pride and glory of his nature. It was',i,l;i'irr'
to see the lofty and airy carriage of In, i,„'|j'!
the freedom of e\ery mo\enieiU; thecLhtiV
with which he trod the meadow, I'indm n -
possible to get within noosing distnnco, mil'"'
ing that the horse was receding,' ;inii ^rdivr"
alarmed, lieatte slid down Inmi lil, \^ii-\
levelled his rifie across the l)a(k nf his ni.irc .ipi
took aim, with the evident intention ol n l"n'
him. I felt a throb of anxietv fur the s.iliiv if
the noble animal, .and called out to lieatte \:,i^.
sist. It was too late; he pulled the tri--ir > I
spoke ; luckily he did not shoot with li:, j,
accuracy, and I had the satisfaciiun t(i sii.ih»
coal-black steed dash off unharmed miu tlie
forest.
On leaving this valley, we asrended anuir
broken hills and rugged, n-gged forests. n|ii,i,;"'
harassing to horse and ritler. The r.ivnus, '.i .,
were of red clay, and often so steep tli.it, m .;.■
scending, the horses would put their feet u .;it!,i:
and fairly slide down, and then sciinnhlc u], ;':.;
opposite side like cats. Here and tliere, .im.in^
the thickets in the valleys, we met wiili stv"
and persimmon, and the eagerne.ss with wlinh
our men broke from the line of march. ,iiid r.a
to gather these poor fruits, showed Ikav nv,ii.!i
they craved some vegetable condiment, iiw:
living so long exclusively on animal lood.
About half past three we eni^amped nc-.r a
brook in a meadow, where there was some stamv
herbage for our half-famished horses. As liuiue
had killed a fat doe in the course of the day, ani
one of our company a fine turkey, wc did not
lack for provisions.
It was a splendid autumnal cvenin;.;. Tiie
horizon, after sunset, was of a clear apple j;ricn,
rising into a delicate lake which grailiially lost it-
self in a deep purple blue. One narrow strealt
of cloud, of a mahogany color, edged with ainhir
and gold, floated in the west, and just beneath it
was the evening star, shining with the pure bril-
liancy of a diamond. In unison with this scine,
there was an evening concert of insects of variouj
kinds, all blended and harmonized into one sobir
and somewhat melancholy note, which I have
always found to have a soothing el'i'ect upon ilio
mind, disposing it to quiet musings.
The right that succeeded was calm .nnd beau-
tiful. There was a faint light frcjiii the iinnin,
now in its second quarter, and after it Iwd sci,
a fine starlight, with shooting meteors. 'Iho
wearied rangers, after a little murnuiring ccmvor-
sation round their fires, sank to rest at an cailv
hour, and I seemed to have the whole scene lo
myself. It is delightful, in thus bi\oiiackin>; on
the prairies, to lie awake and gaze at the stars;
it is like watching them from tlie deck ol a ship
at sea, when at one view we have the whole cope
of heaven. One realizes, in such lonely scenes,
that companionship with these be.uitiful lumi-
naries which made astronomers ol the eastern
shepherds, as they watched their Hocks by night.
How often, while contemplating their mild ml
benignant radiance, I have called to mind the
cxquisitQ text of Job : " Canst thou bind the
I ,f '. in""'"!
;'-.;,i.l On
^;cmn mai;
KCincil. «','
iiMvcn.ti) I"
iii;,ir.nini! l^"!
j,;.ly ; .ind
iae^'ippy'"
p.rnin'4, ""C
;hc '.'w'l'' •■
r,,i«e.irv :>i
■U 1 fl
;;;.\ ens .also.
""■• If the St.
;i -.'.,ir daybij
' ■■ There cal
,K. l.iy closel
•■I IPCS the I
A TOUR ON THE TRAIRIKS.
481
■'"•■'!'/ ^'yic; b.a?
V "^•■"^' to throw;
'•'•"■'■|••'^;^• »( hi, 1;,.,.
^■:"'""- I'liuhiv, It ,.
"""K <ii^tanco, a,,,!,;;:;
L' 'wck(,fhisnu;v,„r,;
>t llltl'lltlOU Ul I'.' i'
ixii'tv f;>r tlir .,,[^^'1
li-'iloiit t(. IVnttc',,,'
-'PMllc.l,h.tn^,u,;i
• *''!'".' "itii li;, iiv. ,
,.S''li''l':irtioii to sicii;'.!
I iinli.iniK'd iiitu [];,". ,
imnal cvciiiri'^. The
f a clc.ir appk' frnen,
hicli xi'.uliially hbl i;-
One naiKnv streak
or, cilj^vd with anihcr
t, and jii-,t Ixnuathii
? with the pine bril-
lisoii with this scene,
t of iiisi.-cts (if various
oiiizL'il into (,iiie sober
note, which I have
liin^' elTcct upon the
iiLsings.
was calm and hcai;-
lij,'ht fi-(im tiic iiKHin,
and after it Itad set,
tiiiL,' meteors. The
' imiriniiring coiiver-
c to rest at an early
the ulidle scene to
iuis bi\()iiackint; on
gaze at the stars;
tile deck of a ship
have the whole cope
such loiiel) scenes,
CSC beautiful lumi-
ncrs of the eastern
heir dorks by night.
ing their mild and
called to mind the
iiMl thou bind the
-t influences of the Pleiades, or loose the
f'4 of Orion?" 1 <!<> not know why it was,
s!.Tfelt this niijht unusually affected by the
I '.mn mai-nifu ence of the lirmament ; and
1 _.,s I lay thus under the open vault of
I f ,tn,'t„inh,i'le the pure untainted air, an ex-
UiMiini; buoyancy id' spirit, and, as it were,
.-ecstasy of inind. I slept and waked aller-
',\lv; and when I slejit, my dre.uns jjarlook of
whappvtone of nij waking' reveries. Toward
r.rnin'M "'"^ "'^ the sentinels, the oldest ni.m in
•»' troop, came ami took a seat near nie ; he
r"'i«carv and sleepy, and imp.itient to be re-
■j'l^.J. 'l found he had been K'azinj.; at the
ieivcns also, but with dilVerent feeling;-;.
•if the stars don't tieceive me," said lie, "it
.;.,,ir daybre.ik."
"Ihcrccan be no doubt )f that," said Ileatte,
,'r I.ivduse by. " I licanl :;n owl just now."
"Iioes the owl, then, hoot toward daybreak ? "
:skal I.
•Aye, sir, just as the cock crows."
This was ;i useful haliitudo of the bird of wis-
ijirj, of wliicli 1 was not aware. Neither the
suriHor iiwlde<eived their votaries. In a short
there was a faint streak of li;jlit in the east.
CIIArTKR XXXIV.
C'..' ''r/ft /'>ii::'it*nirnf. — ^'i(7rn',y cf riiKhit^nf. — /•'./(/
II .ji'iiT.— 1 1 \.!iy Man/till^;. — . / Jfunlfr's IStUl^c,
The fountry tlir(iii^;h which wc passed this morn-
;r,,MNoveiiii)er 2(1), was less rugj^ed, and of more
j;rctable aspect than that we liad lately tra-
wrnd. At eleven o'clock, we came; out upon an
Hicnsive prairie, and about six miles to our left
beheld a lon<,' line of f;reen forest, niarkinjj the
cr.Tse of the north fork of the Arkansas. On the
ci^'ofthc prairie, and in a spacious grove of
r.nblc trees which ovcrsh.idowed .1 small brook,
were the traces of an old Creek hunting; camp.
Or. the bark of the trees were rude delineations
of hunters and scpiaws, scrawled with charcoal;
:o;:c:hcr with various sit;ns and hieroglyphics,
vhich our half-breeds interpreted as indicating
lit from this encampment the hunters had re-
turned home.
In this beautiful camping ground we made our
mid-day halt. While reposing under the trees,
«c heard a shouting at no great distance, and
prc-cntly the C'aptain and the main body of
iJn;;ers, whom wc had left behind two days since,
emerged from the thickets, and crossing the
twoK, were joyfully welcomed into the camp.
ThoCaptain and the Doctor had been unsuccess-
Min the search after their horses, and were
obliged to march for the greater part of the time
on foot ; yet they had come on with more than
ccdmary speed.
We resumed our march about one o'clock,
keeping easterly, and approaching the north fork
obliquely; it was late before we found a good
wmpingplacc; the beds of the streams were dry,
the prairies, too, had lieen burnt in various places,
Of Indian hunting parties. At length we found
«3ierin a small alluvial bottom, where there was
tolerable pasturage.
On the following morning there were flashes
ft lightning in the east, with low, rumbling
thridcr, and clouds began to gather about
tie horizon. IJeatte prognosticated rain, and
SI
that the wind would veer to tl»e r.orth. In
the course of our march, a llo(k of br.mt were
seen overhead, living from the iiorlh. '' There
comes the wind!" said Ucitte ; aiul, ii\ f.ict, it
began to blow from that (piarter almost immedi-
ately, with occasional Hurries of rain. About
h.ilt past nine o'clock, we for 'ed tin' north fork
of the Canadian, and ene, imped about one, that
our hunters might have time to be. it up the neigh-
borhood for g.ime ; for a serious sc.ircity began
to prevail in thec.imp, .M();>t (d" the rangers were
young, heedless, ;ind iiieNpcrieniKl, aail could
not be jirevailed upon, while ))iii\ isi<uisaboundeil,
to provide for the future, by jerking meat, or car-
rying aw.iy any on their liorsi s. On leaving an
enc.impment, they would leave (piantities ;if
meat lying al)out, trusting to I'roviilence and
their rilles for a future supply. The coiisei|uence
was, that any temporary scarcity of game, or ill-
luck in hunting, j)roduced almost a l.uniui^ in the
c.imp. In the ])resenl instance, they had left
loads of buffalo meat at the camp on the great
prairie ; i'.nd, ha\ ing ever since been on a forced
march, leaving no time for hunting, they were
now destitute of sup[)lies, and pinched with liun-
ger. Some had not e.iteii any thing since the
morning of the preceding day. Nothing would
have persuaded them, when revilling in the abun-
dance of the bulT.do encampment, th.it they woulil
so soon be in such famisliiii;.; plight.
The hunters returned with indifl'erer.t success.
The game hail been frightened away from this
jiart of the country by Indian hunting ))arties,
which had preceded us. Ten (r a dozen wikl
turkeys were brought in, but not a deer had been
seen. The rangers began to think turk; ys and
c\en prairie-hens deserving of attention ; game
which they had hitherto eonsideretl unworthy of
their rilles.
The night was cold and windy, with < ccasionid
sprinklings of rain ; but we li.ul roaring tires to
keep us comfortable. In the night, a lliglit of
wild geese passed over the camp, r.i. iking a great
cackling in the air ; symptoms of approaching
winter,
We set forward at an early hour the next morn-
ing, in a northeast course, and < ,uiie upon the
trace of a party of Creek Indians, which enabled
our poor horses to travel with r.iore ease. Vv'c
entered upon a fine champaign country. From
a rising ground we had a noiile pm^pect, over
extensive prairies, finely diverr>iikd by groves
and tracts of woodland, and bounded by long
lines of distant hills, all clothed with the rich
mellow tints of autumn, tlanie, too, was more
jilenty. A fine buck sjirang up from r.niong the
herbage on our right, and daslied oif at full
speed ; but a young ranger by the name of
Childcrs, wdio was on foot, lc\ell.'d hi:; rille, dis-
charged a ball that broke the neck (d' the bound-
ing deer, and sent him tumbling head over heels
forward. Another buck and a doe, besides sev-
eral turkeys, w ere killed bef(uc we came to a halt,
so that the hungry mouths of the troop were once
more supplied.
About three o'clock wc encamped in a grove
after a forced march of twenty-five miles, that
had proved a hard tri.d to the horses. For a
long time after the head of the line had en-
camped, the rest kept straggling in, two and
three at a time; one of our pack-horses had
given out, about nine miles back, and a pony be-
longing to IJeatte, shortly after. Many of the
other horses looked so gaunt and feeble, that
doubts were entertained of their being able to
482
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
11 ! I
Mi:
In
[ ''
Hi;
't :U
iiMi
m. t
■■"^ !;!f il
!
reach the fnrt. In the nifjlit tlicrc was heavy
rain, and the ninrninj,' tlawned thmily and dismal.
The camp resounded, however, with somethinjj
of its former i;ayely. The ra^^,'crs had supped
well, and were renovated in spirits, antici|)atin^;
a speedy arrival at the jjarrison. liefore we set
forward on our march, ISeatte returned, and
l)r()U;,'ht hii pony to the camp with j;reat difti-
culty. The jjack-horse. however, was com|)letely
knocked uji and had to he ahandoned. The wild
mare, too, ii;id cast her foal, throu^^h exhaustion,
and \>as not in a state to tjo forward. She and
the pony, therefore, were left at this encamj)-
ment, wliere there was water and good jiastur.iye ;
and where thire would he a chance of their re-
viving', and bein;; afterward sought out and
brouj^ht to the jjarrison.
AVe set off about eij^ht o'clock, and had a day
of weary and harassing travel; part of the time
over rouLjli hills, and part over rollin^j prairies.
The rain had rendered the soil slijipery and
plashy, so as to afford unsteady foothold. Some
of thoran^'ers dismounted, their horses havinj; no
lon;,'cr ii'.reiv^th to bear them. We made a halt
in the course of the mornin;^, but the horses were
too tired to gr.ize. Several of them laid down,
and there was some difficulty in fjettinj,' them on
their feet again. Our troop presented a forlorn
appearance, stra;;t,'linij slowly along, in a liroken
and scattered line, lh.it extended over hill and
dale, for three miles and upward, in groups of
three ami four, widely apart ; some on horseback,
some on foot, with a few laggards far in the rear.
About four o'clock, we halted for the night in a
spacious forest, beside a deep narrow river,
called the Utile North I'ork, or Deep Creek.
It was late before the main part of the troop
straggled into the encampment, many of the
horses having given out. As this stream was too
deep to be forded, we v ted until the next day
to devise means to cross it ; but our half-breeds
swam the horses f)f our party to the other side in
the evening, as they would liave better ])asturage,
and the stream was evidently swelling. The
night was cold and unruly ; the wind sounding
hoarsely through the forest and whirling about
the dry leaves. We made long fires of great
trunks of trees, which diffused something of con-
solation if not cheerfulness around.
The next morning there was general permis-
sion given to hunt until twelve o'clock ; the camp
being destitute of provisions. The rich woody
bottom in which we were encamped abounded
with will! turkeys, of which a considerable nimi-
ber were killed. In the meantime, preparations
were made for crossing the river, which had risen
several feet during the night ; and it was deter-
mined to fell trees for the purpose, to serve as
bridges.
The Captain and Doctor, and one or two other
leaders of the camp, versed in woodcraft, exam-
ined, with learned eye, the trees growing on the
river bank, until they singled out a couple of the
largest size, and most suitable inclinations. The
axe was then vigorously ap])lied to their roots, in
such a way as to insure their falling directly
across the stream. As they did not reach to the
opposite bank, it was necessary for some of the
men to swim acrf)ss and fell trees on the other
side, to meet them. They at length succeeded
in making a precarious footway across the deep
and rapid current, by which the baggage could
be carried over ; but it was necessary to grope
our way, ste|) by step, along the trunks and main
branches of the trees, which for a part of the dis-
tance were completely submerged, nn thu
were to our waists in water. M,i^t df t|,^, | , .*'
were then swam across, but some nf tlum'?' '
too weak to l)rave the current, and evidnrK-!'
much knocked up to bear any furihcr tr'uV
Twelve men, therefore, were left at the incim
ment to guard these horses, until, hy rq,,,,,', ,?,'
good jiasluragcthey should he siiftirumlvp ■ '
ered to complete their journev ; and thi't'im
engaged to send the nien a Mijiplv of tUn L)
other necessaries, as soon as «c 'bliuuM nrr,.
at the Fort. ' '^
CHAI'TI-.R XX.W.
/l,illiii,i,'.—A Irontur l\ii-mlhHise.—.\rn:\il ui ■
ii.irriion. '" '"
It was a little after one o'clock when wen'Minp.
sumed our weary wayfaring. Tjic residnodl ihii
day and the whole of the next were s[ant in ii,,]!
some travel. I'art of the way was civcr stonv
hills, part across wide prairies, rcndcnd spmi'v
and miry by the recent rain, ruiil cut up bv
brooks swollen into torrents. Our poor ln.rsc'i
were so feeble, that it was with dit'ticuliv w^
could get them across the deep ravines ami t;ir.
bulent streams. In traversing the iniiy plain;,
they slijjped and staggered at every step, ,ind
most of us were obliged to disuMuiiit :iiul walk fnr
the greater part of the way. llu:v.;cr prcvaiVd
throughout the troop ; every one be;,'an to Idok
anxious and haggard, and to feel the prowi;;,-
length of each additional mile. At (inc time, in
crossing a hill, Heatte climbed a high trie, cim-
manding a wide prospect, and took a look-out,
like a mariner from the mast-head .nt so.i. Ho
came down with cheering tidings. To the kfthe
had beheld a line of forest stretching .icro's tho
country, which he knew to be the nondy hordcr
of the Arkansas ; anil at a distance lie had re-
cognized certain landmarks, from which he con-
cluded that we could not be above fiirty miles
distant from the fort. It was like the rtcleoiiie
cry of land to tempest-tossed mariners.
In fact we soon after saw smoke rising; from a
woody glen at a distance. It w.as siip|)osed tn bo
inade by a hunting-party of Creek or Dsa^ie In-
dians from the neighborhood of the tort, and was
joyfully hailed as a harbinger of man. It was
now confidently hoped that we would soon ariive
among the frontier hamlets of Creek Indians,
which arc scattered along the skirts nl the unin-
habited wilderness ; and our luin;.,'ry rangers
trudged forward with reviving spirit, resjalin;;
themselves with savory anticipations of lann-
house luxuries, and enumerating c. ery article nf
good cheer, until their iriouths tairly watered at
the shadowy feasts thus conjured up.
A hungry night, however, closed in upon a toil-
some day. We encamped on the border ot one
of the tributary streams of the Arkansas, amidst
the ruins of a stately grove that had heen riven
by a hurricane. The blast had torn its «ay
through the forest in a narrow column, and its
course was marked by enormous trees shivered
and splintered, and upturned, with their roots
in the air ; all lay in one direction, like so many
brittle reeds broken and trodden down hy the
hunter.
Here wai fuel in abundance, without the la-
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
483
I Tr.irelli,,. „„j „
< ihc nxt ; *'<^ had soon immense fires blaz-
-.'llsP'irkli"^' ill tl'C frosty air, and li^htinj;
''ih' whole I'liri's' ; ''"'' "''^* ' ^^'"^ ''-"^ "" '"*-''"
n nok nt them. The scarcity in tlic camp al-
iL'.aniounlcilto famine. Happy >vas lie who
luamorstl of jerked meat, or even the half-
•tcd bones (if a former repast. For our jiart,
f' '. „«r.> liickv at our mess than our nci;4h-
,f ucre more • , . , ,
of our men having sliot a turkey.
We
ince, without the li-
liors ; one ... ,
kjjni' bread to cat with it, nor salt to season it
j-.'jjjl it was simply boiled in water ; the latter
ira. served ii|) ^'* soup, and we were fain to rub
Jh morsel uf tilt; turkey on the empty salt-ba^;,
ijliopis some saline particle might remain to re-
isvc It* '"''!''''''>•
Thi.nii;ht «as biting cold ; the brilliant monn-
|:.|,, spafkled oil the frosty crystals which cov-
ereii every object around us. 'I'he water fro/c
!,.;iiile the skins on which we bivouacked, and in
th. morning I found the blanket in wliith I was
wrapped covered with a hoar frost j yet I had
[i'.iT slept more comfortably.
;\licr a shadow of a breakfast, consistinf; of
l^Jkiy bones and a cup of coflee without suj^ar,
K(ii'camped at an early hour ; for huni;er is a
sh^rp quiekeiier on a journey. The prairies were
i;'. L'cmmed with frost, that covered the tall
ncfilsaiid glistened in the sun. We saw j^reat
iiWi of prairie-hens, or grouse, that ho\ered
(mi tree '.o tree, or sat in rows along the naked
bmch'.'s, waiting until the sun should melt the
fro^; from tlie weeds and herbage. Our rangers
r,ikin„'L'r despised such humble game, but turned
from tiie ranks in pursuit of a prairie-hen as cag-
(M as tliev formerly would go in pursuit of a
Lir.
Lveryonc now pushed forward, anxious to ar-
r;;c at some human habitation before night.
The poor iiorses were urged beyond tjieir
slrenph, in the thought of soon being ai)le to in-
li.Tiiuly tiiem for present toil, by rest and ample
frivender. Still the distances seemed to stretch
c;; more than ever, and the blue hills, pointed
c: as landmarks on the horizon, to recede as wc
jiiianccd. Every step became a labor ; every
Dv and then a miserable horse would give out
ar.l i:e down. His owner would raise him by
mill strength, force him forward to the margin
c:.-oi;!c stream, where there might be a scanty
Imltr of herbage, and then abandon him to his
f:tc. Among them that were thus left on the
11.1). was one of the led horses of the Count ; a
prane hunter, that had taken the lead of every
!r.:n„'in the chase of the wild horses. It was in-
t.nded, however, as soon as wc should arri\c at
the fort, to send out a party provided with corn,
13 bring in such of the horses as should survive.
In the coiirsc of the morning, we came upon
Mian tracks, crossing each other in various
creciions, a proof that wc must be in the neigh-
borhoiid of human habitations. At length, on
p.ijMiig through a skirt of wood, wc beheld t.vo
orihree log houses, sheltered under lofty trees on
'« border of a prairie, the habitations of Creek
Indians, .vlio had small farms adjacent. Had
liieybecn sumptuous villas, abounding with the
iMrics of civilization, they could not have been
Kiled Hitli greater delight.
Some of the rangers rode up to them in quest
C'ffiod ; the greater part, however, pushed for-
um in search of the habitation of a white settler,
»^nich we were told was at no great distance.
Ine troop soon disappeared .among the trees, and
'Wiioued slowly in their track ; for my once fleet
Mil gcnc-ous steed faltered under me, and was
just able to drn^ one font after the other, yet I
was too we.iry and exhausted to spare him.
In this way we crept (ui, until, on turning .a
thick dumj) of trees, a frontier firmhousc sud-
denly jinsented itself to view. It was .i low tcne-
iiunt of logs, overshadowed by great forest trees,
hut it seemed as if a very region of Cocaigne pre-
vailed around it. Here was a st.ible and b.irn,
and gr.'inaries teeming with abundance, whih;
legions of Krunting swine, gobbling turkeys, ( ai k-
ling hens and strutting roosters, swarmed about
the farmyard.
My poor jaded and half-fimished horse raiscil
his head and pricked up his e.irs at the welt-
l.nown sights and sounds, lie gave a chuckling
inward sound, something like- a drv laugh ;
whisked his tail, and made great leeway tow. ird
a corn-i'ril), tilled with goklen c.irs of m.iize, anil
it was with some diffRulty that I could control
his course, and steer him up to the door of the
cabin. A single glance within was sufficient to
raise every gastronomic faculty. There sat the
Captain of the rangers and his officers, round a
three-legged table, crowned by a broul aad
smoking dish f)f boiled beef and turiiipi. I
sprang off my horse in an instant, cast him loose
to make his way to the corn-crib, ami entered
this palace of jilenty. A fit good-humored
negress received me at the door. She was the
mistress of the house, the spouse of the white
man, who was absent. I hailed her as some
swart fairy of the wild, that h.ul sudileiily con-
jured up a banquet in the tlesert ; and i< haiu|uet
was it in gootl sooth. In a twinkling, she lugged
from the fire a huge iron pot, tli.it might have
rivalled one of the famous flesh-pots of llgyiu, or
the witches' caldron in Macbeth. Placing a brown
earthen dish on the tloor, she inclined the corpu-
lent caldron on one side, and out leaped sundry
great morsels of beef, with a regiment of turnips
tumbling after them, aad a rich cascade of broth
overflowing the whole. This she handed me with
an ivory smile that extended from e.ir to ear ;
apologizing for our humble fare, anil the humble
style in which it was served u]). 1 lunible f ue !
humble style! ISoiled beef and turnips, and an
earthen dish to e.it them from I To think of
apologizing for such a treat to a half-star\ ed man
from the prairies ; and then such magnilicent
slices of bread and butter! Head of Aiiicius,
what a banquet !
" The rage of hunger" Ijcing .appeased, I be-
gan to think of my horse. He, however, like an
old campaigner, had taken good care of himself
I found him paying assiduous ailenlion to the
crib of Indian corn, and dexterously dr.iw ing forth
and munching the ears that jirotruded between
the bars. It was with great regret that 1 inter-
rupted his repast, whicli he abandr.ned with a
heavy sigh, or rather a rumbling groan. I was
anxious, however, to rejoin my travelling com-
panions, who had passed by the farmho'ise with-
out stopping, and proceeded to the banks of the
Arkansas; i)eing'n hopes of arriving befine night
at the Osage Agency. Leaving the Captain and
his troop, therefore, amidst the abundance of the
farm, where they had determined to cpiarter
themselves for the night, I bade adieu to our
sable hostess, and again pushed forward.
A ride of about a mile brought me to where my
comrades were waiting on the banks of the Arkan-
sas, which here ])oured along between beautiful
forests. A number of Creek Indians, in their
brightly colored dresses, looking like so many
gay tropical birds, were busy aiclinij our men to
i»i
A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES.
! i
tratrspnrt tlio b:>KRaRC across the river in ii canoe.
Wliiic tills was (loinj!, f>iir horses liatl anotlior re-
j,'ale from two };ieiil i;ril)s heaped up with ears of
Inciian corn, wliicli stood near tiie ed^je of tlic
river. We liad to keep a elieik upon the jioor
lialf-fainislu'd animals, lest tliey should injure
tlu'inselvi's l)y tlieir voracity.
'J'lie l)aj;^;aKe beinj; all carried to the opposite
bank, we eini)arked in the canoe, and swam our
horses across the river. 1 was fearful, lest in
their enl'eel)le<l state, they should not he able to
stem tlic current ; but their banquet of Indian
corn had already infused fresh life and spirit into
them, and it would appear as if they were cheered
by the instinctive consciousness of their approach
to honu', where they would soon be at rest, and
in plentiful cpiarters ; for no sooner had we
lande<l and resumed our route, than they set off
vn a hand-gallop, and continued bo for a great
part of seven miles, th.it wp h.id to ride t!„„ i
the woods. ""»'
It ^^as an early hour in the cvcnin);»v,„
arrived at the Aj,'eney, on the biinksnf tli..\ .'
Kris River, whence we had set oif .ihou' a m,V,i!
before. Here wc passed t'lc ni^ht cnnifc,.,.
([uartered ; yet, after having; hcon .nrri,' 1 ,
to sleep in the open air, the contiiinn,'.', ','
chamber was, in some respects, irlcMimc n!
atmosphere seemed close, and liustitiiacff,,,';'!
nc-is ; and when I woke in the uikIu aiuUj,.'j|
about me upon complete darkness, 1 misjcd ihe
glorious companionship of the st.irs.
The next mornint;, after hieakf.ist, I a^.-iin,..!
forward, in company witli tin; wortliv oimmii.
bioner, for Fort (libson, wluie we ariivi'ii nvrHI
tattered, travel-stained, and wtalluT-kMUn b'.
in hit;h health and spirits ;-and llui'. niJcj mi
foray into the I'awncc Hunting; Gruuiius.
!';
<•< •"'•lil-.'stiimcoffK,:'
"? ',''*■■ '">;'" •Ti'iu'i I
'>' thcst.irs. I
'^•-•l.r.akfas, !,,,„, I
:>'i<l wc;iil,or-lxM|,n b
NEWSTEAD ABBEY./
WAS 1 11 N ( '/r( ) N I lU' 1 N* r. .
HISTORICAL NOTICE.
r,^;^,-, about to i^'ive a (cw sketches taken diirinn
a:hrcc weeks' sdjoiiin in \\\i.' ancestral inansiini
(f;h.' l.ite Lord Uyrou, 1 think it jjroper to jire-
cij some brief particulars concerning its liis-
[ l.rv.
N.Aiiciul Abl)ey is tine of the finest specimens
jjivitciicc (if those quaint anil romantic piles,
jllc,\stl", half convent, whicii remain as inonu-
n.T.ijuf tiic olilen times of Knglanii. It stands,
1-1, 111 the midst of a lej,'entlary nei^;hl)orh()l)<l ;
Km,' in tlic heart of Sherwood Forest, and sur-
rounilal l)y the haunts of Kobin Hood and his
im! (if outlaws, so famous in ancient ballad and
urscry tale. It is true, the forest scarcely exists
i)j; in II line, and the tract of country over whieli
i:iflce extended its broad solitudes and shades,
is nmv an open and smilin^j region, cultivated
»:thp.iiks and farms, and enlivened with viilajjes.
.W'Witead, which probably once exerted a nio-
nv.ic sway (uxr this rcfjion, and controlled the
Diiicicnccs of the rude foresters, was originally a
pnory, founded in the latter ])art of th(-' twelfth
cintiiry, by Ihniry If,, at the time uhen he
sought, by biiildinj; of shrines and convents, and
In other acts of external piety, to expiate the
riirdcr of Thomas h. Hecket. The priory was
dedicated to Ciod and the Virgin, and was inhab-
itt'd by a fraternity of canons regular of St.
Aj;iisiinc. This order was originally simple and
abstemious in its mode of living, and exemplary
in its conduct ; hut it would seem that it grad-
ailly lapsed into tliosc abuses which disgraced loo
many of the wealthy monastic establishments ;
fr there arc documents among its archives which
ir.iimite the ])revalence of gross misrule and dis-
solute sensuality among its members.
.■\tihe time of the dissolution of the convents
dM;,'the iei;,'n of Henry VIll., Newstcad under-
ivent a sudden reverse, being given, with the
nciijhhirin.; manor and rectory of I'apclwick, to
Sir Joiin iiyron. Steward of Manchester and
Rf'clidale, and Lieutenant of Sherwood Forest.
Tbij ancient family worthy figures in the ttadi-
iM^ofthe Abbey, and in the ghost stories with
'-ch it abounds, under the quaint and graphic
appellation of " Sir John IJyron the Little, with
vi'ijreat Beard." He converted the saintly edi-
'w into a castellated dwelling, making it his
favorite residence and the scat <>f Iw. forcu juris-
diction.
The Uyron family being subsequently cniuddcd
by a b.ironial title, and enriched by various pos-
sessions, maint. lined great style .iiid retinue at
Newsteail. The i)iiiud edifice jiartook, h(iwe\ir,
of the vicissitudes of the times, and Lord I'lyron,
in one of his jioenis, represents it as alternately
the scene of lordly wassailing ;ind of ci\il war ;
" Hark, bow IIk; ball resounding to the strain,
Shakes with the niarliil iiui>-ii 's novii din !
The heraliU of .•% w.irrioi's hau(;lity ri'n;ii.
lllyh creeled l).aniifrs w.-.vc thy w.nIK vithiii.
" Of eb.ingiiig scMlineln the distant lunii,
'i'lie niirlh of fe.rsts, the cl.Tiig of lmrni..IiM ann^.
The braying triiin|)et, .-xiid tlio iioarser dniiii,
I'nite ill conceit «ith ineixaseil .ilaniis.''
About the middle of the last century, the .Abbey
came into the imssession of another noted cli.ir-
acter, who makes n^i less figure in its shadowy
tradiiiims than Sir J(din the I.ittle with the great
Heard. This was the granil-imcle of the imet,
familiarly known among the gossiping cbroiii-
elers of tjie Abbey as " the Wicked Lord Lyron."
He is represented as a man of irritalile pas-ions
and vindictive temper, in the indulgence of which
an incident occurred which g.ive a turn to his
whole character and lite, and in some measure
affected the fortunes of the Abbey. In his
neighborhood li\ed hi; kinsman and friend. Mr.
Chaworth, ])ropriotor of Annesley H.ill. lieing
together in London in 1765, in .1 chamber of the
.Star and (iarter tavern in I'all Mall, a (piarrel
rose between them. Hyroii insisted upon settling
it upon the spot by single combat. They fought
without seconds, by the dim light of a candl-, aiul
Mr. Chawin-th. althoagh the most expert sworiU-
inan, received a iiiort.il wound. W'itii his dying
breath he related such particulars of the contest
as induced the coroner's jury to return a xerdict
of wilful murder. Lord Hyron was sent to the
Tower, and subsequently tried before the House
of I'eers, where an ultimate verdict was given of
manslaugliter.
He retired after this to the Alibey, where he
shut himself up to brood over his disgraces ;
grew gloomy, morose, and fantastical, and in-
486
NEWSTEAD ADBEY.
j'.:'\
i"'A
r'iM''
KM
dulgcfl in fits of passion and caprice, that made
him the theme of rural wonder and scandal. No
talc was too wild or too monstrous for vulgar be-
lief. Like his successor the poet, he was accused
of all kinds of vagaries and wickedness. It was
said that he always went armed, as if prepared
to commit murder on the least provocation. At
one time, when a gentleman of his neighborhood
was to dim. A7t' a t('tc with him, it is said a brace
of pistols were gravely laid with the knives and
forks tipon the table, as part of the regular table
furniture, and implements that might l)e needed
in the course of the repast. Another rumor states
that being exasperated at his coachman for dis-
obedience to orders, he shot him on the spot,
threw his body into the coach where Lady ISyron
was seated, and, mounting the box, officiated in
his stead. At another time, according to the
same vulgar rumors, he threw licr ladyship into
the lake in front of the Abbey, where she would
have been drowned, but for the timely aid of the
gardener. These stories arc doubtless exaggera-
tions of trivial incidents which may have oc-
curred ; but it is certain that the wayward pas-
sions of this imhapijy man caused a separation
from his wife,. and linally spread asolituile around
him. lieing displeased at the marriage of his
son and heir, he displayed an inveterate malignity
toward him. Not being able to cut off his suc-
cession to the Abbey estate, v.hich ilescended to
him liy entail, he endeavored to injure it as much
as possible, so that it might come .a mere wreck
into his hands. For this purpose he sut'lered the
Abbey to fall out of repair, and everything to
go to waste about it, and cut down all the timber
on the estate, laying low many a tract of old
Sherwood Forest, so that the Abbey lands lay
stripped and bare of all their ancient honors. He
was balded in his unnatural revenge by the pre-
mature death of his son, and passed the re-
mainder of his days in his deserted and dilajii-
datcl halls, a gloomy misanthrope, brooding
am''' St the scenes he had laid desolate.
]'.ib- wayward humors drove from him all neigh-
borly society, and for a part of the time he was
ai nest without domestics. In lii^ misanthropic
111 jod, when at variance with all human kind, he
took to feeding crickets, so that in process of
time the Abbey was overrun with them, and its
h)nely halls made more lonely at night by their
monotonous music. Tradition adds that, at his
death, the crickets seemed aware that 'they had
icst their jjatron and protector, for they one and
all packed up bag and baggage, and left the
Abbey, trooping across its courts and corridors
in all directions.
The death of the " Old Lord," or " The Wicked
Lord Hyron," for he is known by both appella-
tion"., occurred in 179S ; and the Abbey then
passed into the possession of the poet. The lat-
ter was but eleven years of age, and living in
humble style with his mother in Scotland. They
came soon after to Kngl.inil, to take jiossession.
Moore gives ;i simple but striking anecdote of the
first arri\al of the poet at the domains of his an-
cestors.
They had arrived at the Newstead toll-bar,
and saw the woods of the Abbey stretching out 10
receive them, \.hen Mrs. Hyrtm, affecting to be
ignorant of the place, asked the woman of the
toll-house to whom that seat belonged ? She was
told that the owner of it. Lord l$yron, had been
some months dead. " And who is the next
heir?" asked the p.oud and happy mother.
" They say," answered the old woman, "it is a
little boy who lives at Aberdeen." " ,\n(l il,;-
he, bless him! " exclaimed the nurse n^ ' -i '
able to contain herself, and turnini' to l;i « '"!'
delight the young lord who was "sc.itcd m 1 '•
lap.*
During Lord Byron's minority, the Alibcv „.
let to Lord Cirey de Ruthen, but ihf poc; yj\
it occasionally during the Harrow vacation^ .'i,J
he resided with his mother at lodginj^s in Ni,u r •
ham. It was treated little better by its n^^-'
tenant, than by the old lord who prcccdLii ' •■'
so that when, in the autumn of iSoS, I.nnl \\-',,'\
took up his abode then, it was in a ruiiious «-!
dition. The following lines from his o\.n •, -
may give some idea of its condition ; '
"Through thy b.ittlements, Xcwstead, t'le 1.^1 j,
wiiuLs whistle,
Thou, the h.ill of my f.-ilhcrs, art t;one tn^iccav
In thy once smiling gardoii, tlie lienilock ami ;!.i' '.
Have choked up the ro!.e whicli oiKeUoumcdi' ■-e
way.
" Of the mail-covcrcil barons wlio, ]irnu(li\, if, 'la't'-
Led tliy vassals from ]uiro]ie to raliMine's blai?
The escutcheon and shiekl, which with cvtrv »:r'l
rattle,
Are the only sad vestiges nuw tluit remain." f
In another poem he expresses the niclandioiv
feeling with which ho took possession of his ac-
cestral mansion :
" Newstead ! what saddenir.^ scene of cli.inge isthine,
Thy yawning arch betokens sure deciy :
The last and youngest of a nublo line,
Now holds thy mouldering turrets in hijswav.
" Deserted now, lie scans thy gray-worn towers,
Thy vaults, where dead of fuinlal aijes sl«p,
Thy cloisters, pervious to the wintry slunvti-,
These — these he views, and views tliem but to weep,
"Vet he prefers thee to the gilded doncs.
Or gewgaw grottoes of llio vainly ijre.it;
Vet lingers mid thy damp and nios>y tumhs,
Xur breathes a nmrmur 'gainst tin. will uf fate";
Lord Byron had not fortune s.ifticicM to put
the pile in extensive repair, nor to r.iair.tain anv-
thing like the state of his ancestors, lie restoral
some of the apartments, so as to furnish his
mother with a comfortable habitr.tion, and ti'.tcd
up a quaint study for hi.nself, ir which, anmn,
books and busts, and other library fuiniuin',
were two skulls of the anciepl hi.-,'-*, grinning on
each side of an antique cross. One ol his ^.ly
comjianions gives a jiictuie k^^ Newstead when
thus repaired, and the picture is sufficiently dc>o-
late.
" There arc two tiers of cloisters, with a ^.v
riety of cells and rooms about them, ulncii,
though not inhabited, nor in an inhabitable stale,
might easily be made so ; and many of ilieoiiL,!-
nai rooms, among which is a line stone hail, aio
still in use. Of the Abbey chun li, one end wiK
remains ; and the old kitchen, with a lonu' ran.c
of apartments, is reduced to a heap of nibbi-h.
Leading from the Abbey to the modem jiart i;l
the habitation is a noble room, seventy leet m
length, and twenty-three in breadth; butcury
part of the house displays neglect and cccay,
• Moore's Life of Lord liyron,
t Lines on leaving Newstead Abbey.
\ Elegy on Newstead Abbey.
NEWSTEAD ABBEY,
487
icrdccn." "And,!.;. ^H ,,,6 those which the present lord has hitcly fitted
L'l the nurse, no ion...
^nd turning ,o k,s, "'!
who was seated 03 l^^l
minority, ;hcAI,bcv«,,
Harrduvacaiioii, .,.,.'
rat lodgings 1,1 N.;,!,;-.;
lo Letter by its pr,:^:'.
ord who premlodh.p.'
>nnof,SoS,],,raii;,;;„
f «-ns in a ruinous cm.
lines from lu, own ir
condition : "
• -'^■'■■"■stead, fie 1,,;;^,
hers, art t;onc tn ,:t„,,
. tlielieinlack am! ilj; '.
«hicli(,iiL-eljloumiM;:);he
who, prnudlv, t.,;,,!"',.
ropet.) I'al-iincNJt
!, winch «i!l; cvcrv mn'j
i now tliat remain."*
51C.S.SCS ihe melancholv
c posacbbion ol' \v.i ai..
;-'ccnenfclKin-e is thine,
.ii.s sure decay :
noble line,
ig turrets in hh miy.
gray-worn towers,
>f fuuilal a;jcs sleep,
lie wintry shower*,
id view.s thcui but to wefn,
iliied doiiics,
10 vainly tjreat ;
nd mossy tdinlis,
t'ainst tin; will of fate.";
rtunc s.ilticiei.t lo pjt
', nor tc I'.iair.tain .in\-
icestors. He restored
so as to furnish hii
habitr.tion, and titled
;elf, jp which, nraons,
lier library furniuire.
cpl frir.'-*. grinnini:cn
■o.'=.s. One of his ..'.y
e of Nenvstcad wiiea
ire IS sufficiently de^o■
cloisters, with .a \a-
about tlicm, whidi,
1 an inhabitable st;i;e,
nd many of the I'li,.,!-
a fine stone hail. a:o
church, one end only
cii, with a lon.u' r:ip.;e
a heap of nil)l)i>h.
the modern jiait oi
•ooin. seventy leet m
1 Ijreadth ; but every
; neglect and decay,
1 Iivron.
.vsteail Abbey,
Vbbey.
■'Even the repairs thus made were but of tran-
,: itbcnctit, for the roof beinjj left in its dilapi-
'^.'•■d state, the r.iin soo." penetrated into the
jiirtmciits which Lord Hyron had restored and
iCowteHl, ami in -^ fc-w years rendered them al-
.-"ist as desolate as the rest of the Abbey.
-^'ililie felt a pride in the ruinous old edifice;
;-uTV dreary and dismantled sta'e, addressed
•iilftohis poetical imagination, and to that love
cfilie melancholy and the grand which is evinced
i'^ ill his writings. " Come what may," said ho
;-iir.e of his letters, " Xewstead and 1 stand or
iv; to''cther, I have now lived on the spot. I
'•ivc lixed mv heart uiion it, and no pressure,
'rejcnt or future, shall induce me to liarter the
l.iitvc5ti;,'e of our inheritance. I have that pride
fi;h:n nie which will enable me to support dif-
ii:;;l;ics ; could I obtain in exchange for Ncw-
si.ad Ahbcv, the first fortune in the country, I
ii'ould reject the proiiosition."
His residence at the Abbey, however, was fitful
r:ij uncertain. He passed occasional portions
(f;;me there, sometimes studiously and alone,
crcncr idly and recklessly, and occasionally with
\ ;;:!,' and gay companions, in riot and revelry,
•n: the indulgence of all kinds of mad caprice.
The .Abbey was by no means be>;elited by these
r vstcrin,' inmates, who sometimes played off
c.nkish mummeries about the cloisters, at other
t.nies turned the state chambers into schools for
t'Nin;,' and singlestick, and shot pistols in the
;re,it hall. The country people of the neighbor-
h ,«1 were as much puzzled by these madcap
v.i.Mries of the new incumbent, as by the i^looni-
i.r habits of the " old lord," and began to think
;;•,; madness was inherent in the Hyron race, or
tr.itsnmc wayward star ruled over the .Abbey.
1: is needless to enter into a detail of the cir-
tamst.inces which led his Lordship to sell his
rnastral estate, notwithstanding the partial pre-
lii'.ections and hereditary feeling which he had
so clo(iucntly expressed. Fortunately, it fell
;:.; I the hands of a man who possessed sonie-
thn,' of a poetical tem|)erament, and who cher-
i-iied an enthusiastic ad.niration for Lord lUron.
Lilonel (at that time Major) Wildman had been
arfhoolmate of the poet, and sat with him on the
Krx form at Harrow. He had subsequently dis-
i:r:;i;bhe(l himself in the war of the I'eninsula,
r.r.datthe battle of Waterloo, and it was a great
uinsolation to Lord Byron, in parting with his
'.:iiily estate, to know that it would be held by
ce capable of restoring its faded glories, and
-hiuoiikl respect and preserve all the monu-
i'.' ills and memorials of his line.f
"Letter of the late Charles SUinner Mathews, ];s,|.
* The folhnviii;,' letter, written in the course of the
'.::r.-ferof the estate, lias never been published : —
VEMcii, November iS, iSi.S.
Mv b'AR WlI.DM.W.
Mr. Hanson i- on the eve of his return, so that I
Uve "Illy time 10 return a few iiiadecjuate tbanUs for
yar very kind litter. I should regret to trouiile yiui
»i;iiaiiy rci|uests of mine, in regard to the ]ireservatii)ii
t. ..ny sii;iis of iny family, wliicli may still exist at Xew-
^■"il, and leave everything of tli t kind to your own
■■■;"'i;S present or future, ujiou the subject. The por-
'■i". which you flatter me by ilesiring, would not lit
"'«.! to you your trouble and expense of sueli an ey.
i^'tion, hut you may rely upon having the very first
•It may be painted, aiwl which may seem wortli vuur
»:ccplanii'
' ifusl that Newstead will, beiiiij your.s, remain so,
The confidence of Lord Piyrnn in th.c good
feeling and good taste of Colimel Wildman has
been justified by the event. Under his judicious
eye and muniticent hand the venerable and ro-
mantic pile has risen from its ruins in all its old
monastic and baronial splendor, and additions
have been made to it in perfect coniormity of
style. The groves and forests ha^\.■ been re-
planted ; the lakes and fish-ponds cleaned out,
and the gardens rescued from the '' hemlock and
thistle," and restored to their pristine and digni-
fied formality.
The farms on the estate have been put in com-
plete order, new farm-houses built of stone, in the
picturescpie and comfortable style of the old
Knglish granges ; the hereditary tenants secured
in their paternal homes, and treated with the
most considerate indulgence ; everything, in a
word, gives ha)j])y indications of a liberal and
beneficent landlord.
What most, however, will interest the v isitors
to the Abbey in favor of its present occupant, is
the reverential care with which he has preserved
and renovated every monument ' nd relic of the
liyron family, and every objeci in anywise con-
nected with the memory of the poet, i'.ighty
thousand pounds have already been expended
upon the venerable pile, yet the work is still
going on, and Xewstead promises to realize the
hope faintly breathed by the poet when bidding
it a melancholy farewell —
"Ilaply thy sun emerging', yet may sliine,
Thee to irr.idiate witji meridian ray;
Hours splendid as tlic pae'. may still bo tbine,
And bless thy future, as tliy former day."
ARRR'AL AT THE Ani5EV.
I li.\n been passing a merry Christmas in tl e
good old style at liarlboro' H.ili, a venerable
family mansion in Derbyshire, and set olf to fin
ish the holidays with the !ios])itable proprietor of
Xewstead Abbey. A drive of seventeen miles
through a pleasant country, part of it the storied
region of Sherwood Forest, brought me t(j the
gate of Xewstead I'ark. The aspect of the -park
was bv no m?ani imposing, the fine old trees
that once adc-t.ed it having been laid low by
Lord Hyr(n'i's wayward pred 'cessor.
Entering the gate, the postchaise roiled heavily
along a sandy road, between naked declivities,
gradually descending into one of those gentle anil
sheltered valleys, in which the sleek monks of old
loved to nestle themselves. Here a sweep of the
road round an angle of a garden wall brought us
full in front of the veiier.ible edifice, embosomed
in the valley, with a beautiful sb.eet of w.iter
spreading out before it.
and that it may see you as bapi'.y, as I am very sure
that you will make your depeiKleiits. Willi regard to
myself, vou mav be sure that wbotlier in ilie fourlli, or
fifth, or sixth form .".t Harrow, cr in the lluctuations of
after iil'e, I shall always remember wiili legard my old
sehooKellow — fellow monitor, and frieiul, and reeo^'^i/.c
V. ith re.peet tlie gallant soldier, who, with all the ad-
vantages of fortune and allurements of youili to a li'''■^
of |ileasure, devoted liiiuself to duties of a nobler
order, and will receive his reward i:i the esteem an 1
admiration of bis country.
Ever voursiiiobt truly aid alTeclioiiati Iv,
IJVKOX.
488
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
■;-i|';in
iliiltiif
l''i^-:r'
V > it
The irregular Rrny pile, of motley nrchitccturc,
answered to the description given by Lord IJyron :
" An old, old monastery once, nnd now
Still older mansion, of a rich and rare
Mixed Cothic "
One end was fortified by a castellated tower,
bcspeakin}^ the baronial and warlike days of the
edifice ; the other end maintained its primitive
monastic character. A ruined chapel, flanked
by a solemn grove, still reared its front entire.
It is true, the threshold of the once frequented
portal was grass-;;rown, arid ihe great lancet
window, once glrrious with painted glass, was
now entwined and overhung with ivy ; but the
old convent cv >i-,s still braved both time and
tempest on the 'jinnacle of the chapel, and below,
the blessed efigies of the Virgin and child,
sculptured in gr.iy stone, remained uninjured in
their niche, giving a sanctified aspect to the
pile.*
A flight of rooks, tenants of the adjacent grove,
were hovering about the ruin, and balancing
themselves upon every airy projection, and looked
down with curious eye and cawed as the post-
chaise rattled along below.
The chamberlain of the Abbey, a most deco-
rous personage, dressed in black, received us at
the portal. Here, too, we encountered a me-
mento of Lord Byron, a great black and white
Newfoundland dog, that had accompanied his
remains from C'ircece. He was descended from
the famous Boatswain, and inherited his generous
qualities. He was a cherished inmate of the
Abbey, and honored and caressed by every vis-
itor. Conducted by the chamberlain, and fol-
lowed by the dog, who assisted in doing the
honors of the house, we passed through a long
low vaulted hall, supported by massive Gothic
arches, and not a little resembling the crypt of a
cathedral, being the basement story of the
Abbey.
From this we ascended a stone staircase, at the
head of which a pair of folding doors admitted us
into a broad corridor that ran round the interior
of the Abbey. The windows of the corridor
looked into a cpiadrangular grass-grown court,
forming the hollow centre of the pile. In the
midst of it rose a lofty and fantastic fountain,
wrought of the same gray stone as the main cdi-
Ike, and which has been well described by Lord
Byron.
" Amidst the court .1 Gothic fountain play'd,
Symmetrical, bui deck'd with carvini;s (jiiaint,
'■[range faces, like to men in masquer.ide.
And here perhaps a monster, there a saint :
The spring rush'd through grim mouths of granite
made,
And sparkled into basins, where it spent
Its little torrent in a thousanil Inibbles,
Like man's vain glory, and his vainer troubles." f
Around this quadrangle were low vaulted
noisters, with (iothic arches, once the secluded
walks of the mo.iks : the corridor along which
* " -in a hifjher niche, alone, but crown'd.
The \irj;in Mother of the tiod-born child
With her son in her blessr-d arms, looked round.
Spared by some chance, when all beside was
spoil'd :
She made the earth below seim holy ground."
J)u.N Jlan, Canto IlL
f Don Juan, Canto HI,
we were passing w.ts built above these clolst...
and their hollow arches seemed to revcrh '-.i
:very footfall. Everything thus far hai! as(,!,[l!
monastic air ; but, on arriving at an an"!c i'iX[
corridor, the eye, glancing along a sliatlouvJa'
lory, caught a sight of two dark fu'wrts ' ' ""
in pir,:
armor, with closed visors, bucklers b
swords drawn, standing motionless ajjainst ttc
wall. They seemed two phantoms of tlie cliival-
rous era of the Abbey.
Here the chamberlain, throwini,' open ?. fiM'-r.-
door, ushered us at once into a sjiacious mi
lofty saloon, which offered a brilliant contrast 'o
the quaint and sombre apartments wc h.iii ua.
versed. It was elegantly furnished, and thcvr.ils
hung with paintings, yet something of its ori-wl
architecture had been preserved and bkndiii
with modern embellishments. There were the
stone-shafted casements and the deep bow-njn,
dow of former times. The carved and paneikj
wood-work of the lofty ceiling had likewise been
carefully restored, and its Ciothic and gr(]tiM;;c
devices paintetl and gilded in their anriint sivl;.
Here, too, were emblems of the furmcr ar.d
latter days of the Abbey, in the effigies of the
first and last of the Byron line that hekl swav
over its destinies. At the upper end of the sali.on,
above the door, the dark (iothic portrait of "Sir
John Byron the Little with the gre.it Heard,'
looked grimly down from his canvas, while, ?.t
til? opposite end, a white marble bust of the ;,-
/liitS loci, the noble poet, shone eonspicuoii;!f
from its pedestal.
The whole air and style of the npavtnient [ar-
took more of the palace than the monastery, ar.d
its windows looked forth on a suitable pros|K::,
composed of beautiful groves, smoutii verdarit
lawns, and silver sheets of water. ISelow ;!,o
windows was a small flower-garden, inclosed bv
stone balustrades, on which were stately pea-
cocks, sunning themselves and displaying their
plumage. About the grass-plots in front were
gay cock pheasants, and plump partridges, and
nimblr: footed water hens, feeding almost in per-
fect security.
Such was the medley of objects presented m
the eye on first visiting the Abbey, a.ul 1 Imir.d
the interior fully to answer the description of the
poet —
" The mansion's self was vast and venerable,
With more of the monastic than lias been
];isewhere preserved ; the cloisters still were sta; !t.
The cells, too, and refectory, I ween ;
An exquisite small chapel bad been able.
Still unimpair'd, to decorate the scene;
The rest had been reformed, replaced, or sunk,
And .spoke more of the friar than the monk.
" Huge halls, long galleries, spacious chambers, joinei
)iy no quite lawful marriage of the arts,
MiSjht shock a connoisseur ; but when conibineJ
Formed a whole, which, irregidar in pari-,
Vet left a grand impression on the .iiiml, ^
At least of those whose eyes were in llicir hearts,
It is not mv intention to lav open the fccnes
of domestic life at the Abbey, nor to describe
the festivities of which 1 was a partaker durnv;
mv sojourn within its hospitable walls. I »:■;'
merely to p-esent a picture of the edifiee it-ell.
andof thosj personages and circumstances .ilwut
it, connected with the mcmorv of Byron.
I forbear, therefore, to dwell on my reception
b-, my excellent and amiable iiost and bostcs,,
or to make my reader acquainted wiili the cK-^-
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
489
. MS of the mansion that I met in the saloon ;
''^Vsl' 11 pass on at once with him to the cham-
[/ralkittcil me, ..nd to which I was most re-
V coiuluctcd by the chamberlain.
I „5 'one of a magnificent suite of rooms, c.\-
-linir between the court of the cloisters and
!•" \bbev garden, the windows looking into the
'1"^.',, f'le wiiole suite formed the ancien* jtati;
'nr'ment, and had fallen into decay ihr.ua ll e
r'iatcd tlavs of the Abbey, so as to be in ::
r'noiis coiuii'iion in the time of Lord Byron. It
VI .incc been restored to its ancient splendor,
o'tthich my chamljcr may be cited as a sjjcci-
Jn. It was lofty and well proportioned ; ;he
ijl'ipaitof llie walls was panelled with ancient
y;\lie upper part hung with gobelin t.apestry,
rfircsciUing oriental hunting scenes, wherein the
ti 'aai wcie-'of tiie size of life, and of preat viva-
Quf attitude and color.
the furniture was antique, dignified, and cum-
t'oiis. Hi!,'b-b;iclccd chairs curiously carved, and
uroaght in needlework ; a massive clothes-press
otii.'kpak, well polished, and inlaid with land-
sapoj of various tinted woods; a bed of state,
aciple and lofty, so a; only to be ascended bv a
-jiable tli;^ht of steps, the huge ))osts support-
Jxaiiish tester with a tuft of crimson plumes at
each corner, and rich curtains of crimson damask
hjiying in broad and heavy folds.
Awiicrable mirror of plate glass stood on the
vZd, in wliieh belles of former centuries may
iuic contemplated and decorated their '-harms.
The lioorof the chamber was of tesselated oak,
iiiining with wax, and partly covered by a Turkey
c.rpo'. In the centre stood a massy oaken table,
\i.i\aland polished as smooth as glass, and fur-
r..:hal with a writing-desk of perfumed rosewood.
.\ sober lij^ht was admitted into the room
Gothic stone-shafted
J by crimson curtains.
casements, partly
sruiia Dy crunson curtams, and partly over-
sh.idowcd by the trees of the garden. This sol-
cr.rJy tempered light added to the effect of the
:;..'..lyand antiquated interior.
Two portraits, susp-^nded over the doors, were
ir. keeping with the scene. They were in ancient
V.indyke dresses ; one was a cavalier, who may
la.o occupied this apartment in days of yore,
the other was a lady with a black velvet mask in
terhind, who may once have arrayed herself for
cy fiest at the very mirror I have described.
The most curious relic of old times, however,
ir. this quaint but richly dight apartment, was a
jreit chimney-piece of panel-work, carved in
[.:h relief, with niches or compartments, each
c.iujuiing a human bust, that protruded almost
tr,;iro!y from the wall. Some of the figures were
1.. jncient (iothic garb : the most striking among
i."i;a was a female, who was earnestly regarded
ly J tierce Saracen from an adjoining niche.
This panel-work is among the mysteries of the
Abbey, and causes as much wide speculation as
ih. l-.gyptian hieroglyphics. Some suppose it to
i.''i>ir.ite an adventure in the Holy Land, and
li'itthe lady in effigy had been rescued by some
CVisader of the family from the Uirbaned Turk
m watches her so earnestly. What tends to
^.ve weight to these suppositions is, that similar
u"* "■' P''"'^'"^^o''^ '-''^'s' '" other parts of the
rtoljoy, in all of wh.ich are to be seen the Chris-
li.in lady and her Saracen guardian or lover.
•y>tlK' bottom of these sculptures are emblazoned
Itvarinnrial bearings of the Hyrons.
1 shall not detain the reader, however, with
^ny further descri, .ion of my apartment, or of
!"i^^ mysteries connected with it. As he is to
pass some days with mc at the Abbey, we shall
have time to e.xaminc the old edifice at our lei-
sure, and to make ourselves acquainted, not
merely with its interior, but likewise with its en-
virons.
THE ABIJEY GARDEN'.
The morning after my arrival, I rose at an early
hour. The daylight was peering brightly be-
tween the window curtains, and drawing them
apart, I gazed through the Clothie easement upon.
:^ scene that accorded in character with the inte-
rior of the ancient mansion. It was the old
Abbey garden, but altered to suit the tastes of
different times and occupants. In one directioi^
were shady walls and alleys, broad terraces and
lofty groves ; in another, beneath a gray monas-
tic-looking angle of the edifice, overrrn with ivy
and surmounted by a cross, lay a small French
garden, with formal flowerpots, gravel walks,
and stately stone balustrades.
The beauty of the morning, and the quiet cf
the hour, tempted me to an early stroll ; for it is
]jleasant to enjoy such old-time j, laces alone,
when one may indulge poetical reveries, and spin
cobweb fancies, without In'erruption. Dressing
myself, therefore, with all sjieed, I descended a
small flight of steps from t'le state apartment into
the long corridor over the cloisters, along which
I passed to a door at the farther end. Here I
emerged into the open air, and, descending an-
other flight of stone ste|)3, found myself in tha
centre of what had once been the Ahljey chapel.
Nothing of the sacred edifice remained, how-
ever, but the Gothic front, with its deep portal
and grand lancet window, already described.
The nave, the side walls, the choir, the sacristy,
all had disappeared. The open sky was over my
head, a smooth shaven grass-plot beneath my
feet. Gravel walks and shrubberies had suc-
ceeded to the shadowy aisles, and stately trees
to the clustering columns.
" Where now the grass exhales a murky dew,
The liumid pall of life-extinguishcil clay,
In sainteu fame the saered fathers grew.
Nor raised their pious voices but to pray.
Where .'ow the bats their wavering wings extend,
Soon a;, the gloaming spreads her warning shade,
The choir aid oft their mingling; vespers blend,
Or matin orisons to Mary paid."
Instead of the matin orisons of the monks,
however, the ruined walis of the chr.pel now re-
sounded to the cawing of innumerable rooks that
were fluttering and hovering about the dark grove
which they inhabited, and pie|)ariiig for their
morning flight.
My ramble led .ne along cpiiet alleyr,, bordered
by shrubbery, where the solitary water-hen would
now and then scud across my path, and take
refuge among the bushes. From lience I entered
upon a broad terraced walk, once a fa'orite re-
sort of the friars, which extended the whole
length of the old Abbey garden, passing along
the ancient stone wall which boip^ded it. In the
centre of the garden lay one of thu monkish fish-
pools, an oblong sheet of water, deep set like a.
mirror, in green sloping banks of turf. In its
glassy bosom was reflected the dark mass of a
neighboring grove, one of the most imporiu.t
features of the garden.
Tliis grove goes by the sinister name of '" the
I
490
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
I 'iJ^
I'Mii'J;
vmi
I] ).'„■:«'! ts
i^ii/l!?^
:i^
:!<
■lii
:':l
Devil's Wood," and fnjoys but an equivocal
character in th neighborhood. It was planted
by " The Wicked Lord Byron," during the early
part of his residence at the Abbey, before his
fatal duel with Mr. Chaworth. Having some-
thing of .a foreign and classical taste, lie set up
leaden statues of satyrs or fauns at each end of
the grove. The statues, like everything else
about the old Lord, fell under the suspicion and
oblocpiy that oversh.adowed him in the latter part
of liis life. The country people, who knew noth-
ing of heathen mythology and its sylvan deities,
looked with horror at idols invested with the dia-
bolical attributes of horns and cloven feet. Thoj-
probably supposed them some object of secret
•worsliip of the gloomy and secluded misanthrope
and reputed murderer, and gave them the name
of "The old Lord's Devils."
I penetrated the recesses of the mystic grove.
There stood the ancient and much slandered
statues, overshadowed by tall larches, and stained
by dank green mold. It is not a matter of sur-
prise that stran^'c figures, thus behoofed and be-
horncd, and set up in a gloomy grove, should
perplex the minds of the simple and superstitious
yeomanry. There arc many of the tastes and
caprices of the rich, that in the eyes of the un-
educated must savor of insanity.
I was attracted to this grove, however, by
memorials of a more touching character. It had
been one of the favorite haunts of the late Lord
liyron. In his farewell visit to the Abbey, after
he had parted with the possession of it, he passed
some time in this grove, in company with his
sister ; and as a last memento, engraved their
names on the bark of a tree.
The feelings that agitated his bosom during
this farewell visit, when he beheld round him ob-
jects dear to his ])ride, and dear to his juvenile
recollections, but of which the narrowness of his
fortune would not permit him to retain posses-
sion, may be gathered from a passage in a poetical
epistle, written to his sister in after years;
•' I did remipd you of our own dear lake
r>y the old liall, -.oJtich may t<f mine no more ;
Lcman's is fair ; but tliink not I forsake
The swoct remembrance of a dearer shore :
S.id havoc Time must with my memory make
ICre that or tJioii can fade tliese eyes before ;
Though, like all tilings which I have loved, ihey are
Resign'd for ever, or divided far.
" I feel almost at times as I have felt
In hapjiy cliildhoud ; trees, and (lowers, and brooks,
Wliich do remember me of where I dwelt
I"re my young mind i\ as sacrificed to books.
Come as of yore upon me, and can melt
My he.irt with recognition of their looks ;
And even iit moments I would think I see
Some living things I love — but none like thee."
I scarchc<l the grove for some time, before I
fountl the tree on which Lord liyron had left his
frail memorial. It was an elm of peculiar form,
having two trunks, which sprang from the same
root, and, ;ifter growing side by side, mingled
their branches together. He had selected it,
doubtless, as emblematical of his sister and him-
self. The names of Ih'RdN and Al"f;i'STA were
still visible. They had been deeply cut in the
bark, but the natural growth of the tree was
gradually rendering them illegible, and a few
years hence, rtrangets will seek in vain for this
record of fraternal affection.
Leaving the grove, I continued my ramble
along a spacious terrace, o\-crInokin,; nli.i' ] 4
once been the kitchen garden of \\^r. .{|Jl|.
Ik'low me lay the monks' slew, or fish L„j'' '
dark pool, overhung by gloomy c> presses, «r''!
solitary water-hen swimming about in it,
A little farther on, and the terrace iook-d d ■
upon the stately scene on the south sid,- ,,| •■'^
Abbey ; the flower garden, with its stone 1,,,; .
trades and stately peacocks, tlie lawn wfV •'
pheasants and partridges, and the sufi v.illv'. if
Newstead beyond.
At a distance, on the border of tlicluvn.b'.i
another memento of Lord liyron ; an n:ik pllr J
by him in his boyhood, on his tiist visit '()•■-'
Abbey. With a superstitious feclia.; inlia.:; -"
him, he linked his own destiny with that (,[•'■
tree. " As it fares," said he', " su will far- ijiy
fortunes." Several years elai)sed, many of'th.^l
passed in idleness and dissipation. He i'.i;i:ni.;
to the Abbey a youth scarce grown to manhmd"
but, as he thought, with vices and follies ljav,ni
his years. He found his eiublcm oak alir.fii;
choked by weeds and brambles, and touk the
lesson to himself,
" Young oak, when I pl.intcd thee deep in tliegrour.l
I hoped that tliy days would Ijc lunj^cr than ii.ir.c,
That thy dark waving i)ranchcs woiil 1 llouiish arour.;.
And ivy thy trunk with its mantle entwine,
" .Such, such was my hope — when in infancy's vtan
On the land of my fathers I reared theewiih pri'e;
They are past, and I water thy ston wi;li niv le.irs-
Tliy decav not the weeds that siiiroiinil thee cia
hide.'"
I leaned over the stone balustrade of the tor-
race, and gazed upon the \alley of NcHsteiiil,
w'ith its silver sheets of water glcaiuiii„' in the
morning sun. It was a sabbath niornui;,,'. which
always seems to have a hallowed iiilluente r,,or
the landscape, probably from the quiet of ihc
day, and the cessation of all kinds of weekdiy
labor. As I mused upon the mild and beautifi;!
scene, and the wayward destinies of the man,
whose stoimy temperament forced him from thii
tranquil paradise to battle with the passions and
perils of the world, the sweet chime of Ijclisfrna
a village a few miles distant cauie siealin:; up the
valley. Every sight and sound llu's mornin:;
seemed calculated to summon up tourhinj rc.nl-
lections of poor Byron. The chime was from the
village spire of Hucknall Torkard, bcncatli which
his reriains lie buried !
I have since visited his tomb. Itisin
an old gray country church, venerable witli the
lapse of centuries. He lies buried beneath the
pavement, at one end of the [jrincipal aisle. A
li.ght falls on the spot through the stained i;l,is5
of a (.iothic window, and a tablet on tlio .adjacent
wall announces the family vault of tiie lUron~.
It had beei he wayward intentiini of the poef.o
be entombed, with his faithful dog. in tliemoivi-
nient erected by iiim in the garden of Newstoa.l
Abbey. His executors showetl bitter jud'^'iiio;;:
and feeling, in consigning his ashes to the lamily
sepulchre, to mingle widi those of liisiuutlier aiiJ
his kindred. Here,
" .•\fler life's fitful fever, he slccjis well.
Malice domestic, foreii;n levy, notliiiij;
Can toucli him furllun- ! "
How nearly diu his dying horn- realise the wiA
made by him', but a few years prcviousl.v, iiu'iis
(,;■ hi! fitful I
tflopy ■
«\VheiJ
Tl
Ohlivl
\V.1
"Sol
To|
N<| "1
Tol
He died
»;;hout a kin
c:i not die I
triors, .ind \\
(I atuchini,'!
'r,;n. One c
h;; remains t
:T.v.e. 1 ^1"
eood holdin
:.r.d when al
live gone (U
■.;i master.—
t;chmems, 11
cent.
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
401
■^ ^''-■^S or fish p„> ,
"nsabouiinit -M
''"I terrace look,,! d, J
acks. the lawn, «,■ ..
s. and the soft v.ili:.! ,",•
'<;;-<'^'>-ofthcIa«n.,,„,j
"-> l"s (Mst v,s„',o .:
Kuis fee!in.;inl,er -,
lestiny with that U'C
'^ >^'. " -^0 will f„, ;;;
■t^'apsed, manvofii, ■
'■^ipat.on. Herd;,r„"
•"(-■c Krnuii to ni:inli„„(|
;'cc,s .-nul f„ll,,s b,,,„j
'^ fii'Weni oak almost
rambler, and took ih-
P 'e-.'Ioepmtl.egroun',
'"1<1 l>c lui,t;cr than imne
•licswuiiHilouHsharutrJ
Its iiiaiille entHiiie. '
vlien in inftnrv's vcir,
hi r<.-are.lilu.f,vit'i,prre'
thy stem \\i;l]mvie,irs-!
s tliat iiuroiiii.l 'ihee can
balustrade of iIk- tor-
-' valley of NewstiM,!,
-yntor gleamiii,' in ih.'
bbatli nioniiii;'. uinch
allowed iiilluentL' ir.or
f|-<)in the quiet of the
all kinds of wci'k-d.iv
die mild and lie.ii,'t:i;i
:!estinies of i|,e m,ir,
t forced him from this
with the i)assior.s and
ct chime of hells frnn
t came slealin;; up ihe
sound this iiKirr.in;
ion up touching rccul-
10 chime was from tho
irkard, beneath hIiicIi
■d his tonil). It is in
1, \enoral)le with tho
i buried beneatli the
le principal aisle. A
i.t;li the stained ijLiss
ablet on the ailjacent
vaidt of the liyrons.
entifni of the poet tj
ul doL;, in the iiioin-
^ardeii of Xewste;'..!
ved better jiiil;,'menr
5 ashes to the lamily
)sc of his mother anj
he vlceps well,
a levy, iiolliiiii^
lour realize the wijh
s jircN iouily, la una
■ Vs fitful moods of melancholy and misan-
liirop;' '■
«\Vhentinic, or f on or late, shall bring
The (heamlcss sleep that lulls the dead,
Oblivion ! may thy languid wing
Wave gently o'er my dying bed I
"KolanJ of friends or heirs be there,
To weep or wish the condng blow ;
Xo maiden with dishevelled hair,
To feel, or feign decorous woe.
" Cut silent let me sink to earth,
With no ofiicious mourners near :
I woulil not mar one hour of mirth,
Nor startle friendship with a tear."
He died among strangers, in a foreign land,
»r.hout a kindred hand to close his eyes ; yet be
c;j not (lie unwept. V/ith all his faults and
cmrs, and passions and caprices, he had the gift
ci attaching,' his humble dependents warmly to
h;r.i, One of them, a poor (ireek, accompanied
lis remains to England, and followed them to the
crave, I am told that, during the ceremony, he
swd holding on by a pew in an agony of grief,
si when all was over, seemed as if he would
live gone down into the tomb with the body of
;.:i master.— A nature that could inspire such at-
tachments, must have been generous and bcneti-
ccnt.
TLOUGH MONDAY.
?:!rR\vnon Forf.st is a region that still retains
n;.;chof the quaint customs and holiday games
tf;he oklcn time. A day or two after my arrival
,-.t the Abbey, as I was walking in the cloisters, 1
hiird the sound of rustic music, and now and
then a burst of merriment, proceeding from the
interior of the mansion. Presently the chamber-
laia came and informed mc that a party of coun-
try lads were in the servants' hall, performing
Ho'jgh Monday antics, and invited me to witness
their mummery. I gladly assented, for I am
somewhat curious about these relics of popular
csigts. The servants' hall was a fit place for
Ihc exhibition of an old Gothic game. It was a
chamber of great extent, whiv h in monkish times
had been the refectory of the Abbey. A row of
massive columns extended lengthwise through the
centre, whence sprung Gothic arche .supporting
the lowvaulted ceiling. Here was a set of rus-
tics dressed up in something of the style repre-
sented in the books concerning popular antiiiui-
lies. One was in a rough garb of frieze, with his
head miit'tled in bear-skin, and a bell dai.j^iing
hehir 1 him, that jingled at every movement. He
«as the clown, or fool of the party, probably a
tr.iditional representative of the ancient satyr.
The rest were decorated with ribbons and armed
»ith wooden swords. The leader of the troop
recited the old ballad of St. George and the
br.igon, which had been current among the coun-
try people for ages ; h.s companions accompanied
the recitation with some rude attempt at acting,
^hile the clown cut all kinds of antics.
lo these succeeded a set of morris-dancers,
E'lyly dressed up with ribbons and hawks'-bells.
in this troop we had Robin Hood and Maid
wian, the Litter represented by a smooth-faced
My; also l!eelzebub, equipped with a broom,
»nd accompanied by his wife Ucssy, a termaj;ant
old beldame. These rude pageants are the lin-
gering remains of the old customs of Plough
Alonday, when bands of rustics, fantastically
dressed, and furnished with pipe and tabor,
dragged what was called the " foul ]iloui.;h" from
house to house, singing l)allads and ]ierforming
antics, for which they were rewarded with money
and good cheer.
But it is not in "merry Sherwood Forest"
alone that these remnants of old times prevail.
They are to be met with in most of the counties
north of the Trent, which classic stream seems
to be the boundary line of primitive customs.
During my ucent Christmas sojourn at liarlboro'
Hall, on the skirts of Derbyshire and Yorkshire,
I had witnessed many of the rustic festivities
peculiar to that joyous season, wbirh have nishly
been pronounced obsolete, by those who draw
their experience merely from city life, I had
seen tl'.e great Yule log put on the lire on Christ-
mas Kve, and the wassail liowl siiil round, brim-
ming with its spicy beverage. I had heard carols
beneath my window by the choristers of the
neighboring village, who went their rounds about
the ancient Hall at midnight, according to imme-
morial custom. W'e had nuunmers and mimers
too, with the story of St. George and the Dragon,
and other ballads and traditional dialogues, to-
gether with the famous old interlude of the Hobby
Horse, all represented in the antechandjcr and
servants' hall by rustics, who inherited the
custom and the poetry from preceding genera-
tions.
The boar's head, crowned with rosemary, had
taken its honored station among tb.e Christmas
cheer ; the festal board had been attended by
glee singers and minstrels from the village to
entertain the company with hereditary songs and
catches during their repast ; and the old I'yrrhic
game of the sword dance, handed down since the
time fif the Romans, was admirably performed
in the court-yard of the mansion by a band of
young men, lithe and supple in their forms and
graceful in their movements, who, I was told,
went the rounds of the villages and country seats
during the Christmas holidays.
I specify these rural pageants and rcremonials,
which 1 saw during my sojourn in this neighbor-
hood, because it has been deemed that some of
the anecdotes of holiday custom^ given in my
preceding writings, related to usages which have
entirely jiassedaway. Critics who reside in cities
have little idea of the ])rimitive manners and
observances, which still i)revail in remote and
rura'i neighborhoods.
In fact, in crossing the Trent one seems to step
back into old times ; and in the vill.iges of Sher-
wood Forest we are in a black-letter region. The
moss-green cottages, the U)wly mansions of gray
stone, the (Gothic crosses at each end of the vil-
lages, and the tall M.iypoli; in the centre, trans-
port us in imagination to foregone centuries ;
everything has a cjuaint and anlic|uated air.
The tenantry on the Abbey estate jiartake of
this primitive character. Some of the families
have rented farms there for nearly three hundred
years ; and, notwithstanding that their mansions
fell to decay, and every thing about them par-
took of the general waste and misride of the
liyron dynasty, yet nothing could uproot them
from their native soil. I am happy to say, that
Colonel Wildman has taken these stanch loyal
families tinder his peculiar care. He has favored
them in their rents, repaireel, or rather rebuilt
their farm-houses, and has enabled families that
:•■ i
'If'
,'':;u|:'!i;' ; j
fiffi 1 i '1'
m
NEWSTEAD ARBEY.
had almost sunk into the class of mere rustic
hiijorcr.s, once more to hold up their heads amony
the yeomanry of the land.
I visited one of tliese renovated establishments
that hail but lately Ijeen a mere ruin, and now
was a substantial j^ran^e. It was inhabitetl by a
younj,' couple. Tiie j;ood woman showed every
part of ilic establishment with decent ])ride, ex-
ultinj,' in its comfort and respectability. Her
husband, I understood, had risen in consequence
with the improvement of his mansion, and now
began to be known among his rustic neighbors
by the appellation of " the young Squire."
OLD SERVANTS.
Tn an old, time-worn, and mysterious looking
mansion like Newstead Abbey, and one so
haunted by monkish, and feudal, and poetical
associations, it is a ])ri/.e to meet with some an-
cient crone, who has ])assed a long life about the
place, so as to have become a living chronicle of
its fortunes and vicissitudes. .Such a one is
Nanny Smith, a worthy dame, near seventy years
of age, who for a long time served as house-
keeper to the Hyrons. The Abbey and its do-
mains comprise her world, beyond which she
knows nothing, but within which she has ever
conducted herself with native shrewdness and
old-fasliioned honesty. \\'hen Lord 15yron sold
the Abbey her xocation was at an end, still she
lingered about the place, having for it the local
attachment of a cat. Abandoning her comforta-
ble housekeejier's apartment, she took shelter in
one of tlie "ruck liouses," which are nothing
more than a little neighborhood of cabins, ex-
cavated in the jierpendicular walls of a stone
cpiarry, at no great distance from the Abbey.
Three cells cut in the living rock, formed her
dwelling ; these she fitted up humbly but com-
fortably ; her son William labored in the neigh-
borhood, and aided to support her, and Nanny
Smith maintained a cheerful aspect and an in-
dejiendenl b])irit. One of her gossips suggested
to her that \Villi;im should marry, and bring
home a young wife to help her and take care of
her. " Xay, nay," replied Nanny, tartly, " I
•■"• '■'tiisc." So much
,'s house was a
want no young n''
for the love of r.
hole in a rock !
Colonel Wildman, on taking possession of the
Abbey, found Nanny Smith thus humbly nestled.
With tliat active benevolence which characterizes
him, he immediately set William up in a small
farm on the estate, where Nanny Smith has a
comfortable mansion in her old days. Her pride
is roused by her son's advancement. She re-
marks with exultation that people treat William
with much more res])ect now that he is a farmer,
than they did when he was a laborer. A fanner
of the neighborhood has even endeavored to
make a match between him and his sister, but
Nanny Smith has grown fastidious, and inter-
fered. ' ' > girl, she said, was too old for her
son, besides, she did not see that he was in any
need of a wife.
" No," said William, " I ha' no great mind to
marry the wencli ; but if the Colonel and his
lady wisii it, 1 am willing. They have been so
kind to me that I shoukl think it my duty to
please them." The Colonel and his lady, how-
ever, have not thought proper to put honest
William's gratitude to so severe a test.
Another worthy whom Ccloncl Wildman fotnJ
vegetating upon the iilaee, and who h,,d L "j
there for at least sixty years, was did JocMur-
lie had come there when a mere boy in ilic ','
of the " old lord," about the iniddfc of th/i"';
century, and had continued wait him ,.|n,i 1'':
death. Having been a cabin Ihiv wlun \,',?.
young, Joe always fancied himseif a bu ,•' 1
sail(, , and had charge of all liie pieasiind). V-
on the lake, though he afterward rose to died !
nity of butler. In the latter days of ihc ,;i
Lord liyron, when he shut hiinself up fn,,,, '||J
the world, Joe Murray was the onlv servant re-
tained by him, excepting iiis housekcqicr, IV,-,-
Hardstaff, who was reputed to have an'uni'
sway over him, and .-as derisively called bdv
15etty among the country folk.
When the Abbey came into the possession 01
the late Lord Hyron, Joe Murray acKJinpanitd ;t
as a fixture. He was reinstated as butler in die
Abbey, and liigh admiral on the lake, aiuihj
sturdy honest mastiff qualities won so upon Lord
liyron as even to rival his Newfoiuidland dn' m
his affections. Often when dining, lie woidd pMi;r
out a bumper of choice Minleira, and liand it tj
Joe as he stood behind his cli.nir. lii faet, '■Jua
he built the monumental tonil) which stamis n
the Abbey garden, he intended it for liiniself,
Joe Murray, and the dog. The two latter uere
to lie on each side of him. ISoatswain died n^jt
long afterward, and was regularly interred, and
the well-known epitaph inscribed on one side of
the monument. Lord ISyron departed fordreece;
during his absence, a gentieinan to whom loc
.Murray was showing the tomb, ()l)served, " Weil,
old boy, you will take your place here sunic
twenty years hence."
" I don't know that, sir,'' growled Joe, in re-
ply, "if I was sure his Lordshi]) would ecnie
here, I should like it well enough, but 1 should
not like to lie alone with the dog."
Joe Murray was always extremely neat in his
dress, and attentive to his person, and made a
most respectable appearance. A portrait of him
still hangs in the Abbey, representing him a hale
fresh-looking fellow, in a tlaxen wig, a blue eoat
and buff waistcoat, with a pipe in his hand. He
discharged all the duties of his station with },'reat
fidelity, unquestionable honesty, and nuieh out-
ward decorum, but, if we may believe his eon-
temporary, Nanny Smith, who, as housekeeper,
shared the sway of the liousehold witii luni, he
was very lax in his minor morals, and used to
sing loose and profane songs as he presided at
the table in the servants' hall, or sat takinj; hij
ale and smoking his pipe by the evcnin;; t'.re.
Joe had evidently derived his convivial iiotions
from the race of English coimtry scpiires «ho
flourished in the days of his juveiuHty. Nanny
Smith was scandalized at his ribald sonijs, bit
being above harm heri'df, endured them in ;^:-
Icnce. At length, on hi.-, singing them bclore a
young girl of sixteen, she could coiit.dn her^e.t
iio longer, but read him a lecture that niade li:s
ears ring, and then flounced off to bed. '1 he lec-
ture seems, by her account, to have st.a.u'ijereJ
Joe, for he told her the next UKuniiig tiial he had
had a terrible dream in the night. An Kvan:.;il-
ist stood at the foot of his bed with a great Duieh
IJible, which he held with the priiUed part:'-
ward him, and after a while pushed it in his lace.
Nannv Smith undertook to interpret the vision,
and read from it such a homily, and deduced such
awful warnings, that Joe became ipiite serious,
left off sii:ging, and took to reading good books
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
493
'LO, ;uul ^^|,„ l,,j , «
. "';•■ '■Hcidic of ,1,; ;
( ='" "'^' Plcasurcl,,,,,
latter <|,,ys of ,1,^. ,",
K.s •'"-■ <mly servant re
■'^■'1. to have anu,id'„i
^|l|-M-i.sivcly called L.dy
int., the possession cf
•\'"n-ayacn,mp;,ni,(i,t
iitatal as builer in ;h,
' "" t''^' lake, and h.
itics won so upon l.ord
^i-'vvfoiindlaiHl dii'in
II 'lining, he vvnukh"„r
•W'-'ii-i, and linnd it •■,
fli.tir. In fact, Mm
tc.iiil) vvhieh standi n
'tended it for hmudf,
1 lie two latter inre
• ISuatsuain died n.jt
•Cf^ulaily interred, and
scribed on one side .f
'11 departed forCneCi':
iitieniiin to whom l„e
'inh, observed, •■«;■!"
our place here su;:io
,,,,„(,mh; Init after that, continued Nanny,
l!,!'inH(ian(l became as bad as ever, and con-
I'ij tj sing loose and profane songs to his
■5?, jj (joloncl Wildinan became proprietor of
,v.. Abbevlio foiind Joe MmTay nourishing in a
'■;■■ il^l';,j;e, thouv;h upward of fourscore, and
^'r'n'icilliiiii ia 1"^ station as butler. The old
1h «!i5 ix'ioiceil at the extensive repairs that
... iinmeiliately commenced, and anticipated
V)ri'li.' ll"-' day when the Abbey should rise
It- jits mi'" "'''^ renovated splendor, its gates
i' ihrongeJ with trains and equipages, and its
[jv ona- more echo to the sound of joyous
liipitalilv.
iviia: ciiicllv, however, concerned Joe's pride
,,) j,i,!)iti()ii, was a jilan of the Colonel's to have
|fi".inrieiu refectory of the convent, a great
iTiteJ room, supported by Gothic columns, con-
Tertt'il into a servants' hall. Hero Joe looked for-
rrd to rule tlic roast at the head of the servants'
I able, and to make the Gothic arches ring with
thoii;' h'Jiuing and hard-drinking ditties which
iie:e the horror of the discreet Nanny Smith.
1 Tne, however, was fast wearing away with him,
I jr.dhis "rent fear was that the hall would not be
I cr.'.plc'ted in his day. In his eagerness to hasten
.;.;ropairs, he used to get up early in the morn-
i j._- anil ring up the workmen. Notwithstanding
hiKM n;;c, also, he would turn out half-dressed
i: cu!J weather to cut sticks for the fire. Colonel
W.ldman kindly remonstrated with him for thus
i iw; his health, as others would do the work
■ f:rhim.
■Lord, sir," exclaimed the hale old tellow,
:'j my air-bath, I'm all the better for it."
I'niuckily, as he was thus employed one norn-
ir; a splinter flew up and wounded one of his
cv;i. .\n inllammation took place ; he lost the
i:;iuofihat eye, and subsequently of the other.
Poor Joe Xfadually pined away, and grew nielan-
cWy, Colonel Wiktman kindly tried to cheer
ti up— ''Come, come, old boy," cried he, '' be
c:;;a(rtl heart, you will yet take your place in the
!c:;iii!,' hall."
".Nay, nay. sir," replied he, " I did hope once
tla; 1 should live to see it — I looked forward to
;:with pride, 1 confess, but it is all over with me
r,jx-l iliall soon go home ! "
He died shortly afterward, at the advanced
sjo of ci;4hty-six, seventy of which had been
f.i>scd,isan honest and faithful servant at the
.Vjbey. C(/loncl Wildinan had him decently in-
t.rred in the church of Hucknall Torkard, near
ti vault of Lord IJyron.
SITERSTITIONS OF THE ABBEY.
Thf. .wccdotcs I had heard of the quondam
r.jjickeeper of Lord Byron, rendered me desir-
(i:j of paying her a visit. I rode in company
9i'h Colonel Wildinan, therefore, to the cot'age
cMiorson Wdliani, where she resides, and found
Kr seated by her fireside, with a favorite cat
F-rchcd upon her shoulder and purring in her
«•■ .Nanny Smith is a large, good-looking wo-
j-'i:.. a specimen of the old-fashioned country
t -sewife, combining antiquated notions and
P^'.iudices, and very limited information, with
Wiral j;ood sense. She loves to gossip about
li-' Abbey and Lord Byron, and was soon drawn
i."0 .uoursc of anecdotes, though mostly of an
humble kind, such as .suited the meridian of the
housekeeper's room and servants' hall. She
seemed to entertain a kind recollection of Lord
Byron, thouglt she had evidently been much per-
plexed by some of his vagaries ; and especially
by the means he adopted to C(uinter.ut his ten-
dency to corpulency, lie used \arioiis modes to
sweat himself down ; sometimes he would lie for
a long time in a warm bath, soiiutimes he would
walk up the hills in the jiark, wra))ped up and
loaded with great coats ; " a sad toil for the])oor
youth," adilecl Nanny, " he being so l.une."
His meals were scanty and irregular, ciuisisting
of dishes which Nanny seemed to hold in great
contenqit, such as i)illau, maccaroni, and light
puddings.
She contradicted the report of the licentious
life which he was reported to leail at the Abbey,
and of the paramours said to have been brought
with him from London. '' A great part of his
lime used to be passed lying on a sofa reading.
Sometimes he had young gentlemen of his ac-
quaintance with him, and they played some mad
pranks ; but nothing but what young gentlemen
may do, and no harm done."
" Once, it is true," she added, '' he had with
him a beautiful boy as a page, which the house-
maids said was a girl. For my part, I know-
nothing about it. I'oor soul, he was so lame he
could not go out much with the men ; all the
comfort he had was to be a little with the l.isses.
The housemaids, however, were very jealous ;
one of them, in particular, took the matter in
great dudgeon. Her name was Lucy ; she was a
great favorite with Lord liyron, and had been
much noticed by him, and began to have high
notions. She had her fortune told by a man who
squinted, to whom she g.ive two-and-sixpence.
He told her to hold up her head and look high,
for she would come to great things. Upon this,"
added Nanny, " the jioor thing dreamt of nothing
less than becoming a lady, antl mistress of the
Abbey ; and promised me, if such hick should
happen to her, she would be a good iViencl to me.
Ah well-a-day ! Lucy never had the tine fortune
she dreamt of; but she had better tli.m 1 thought
for; she is now married, and kee[)s a puljlic
house at Warwick."
Finding that we listened to her with great at-
tention, Nanny Smith went on with her gossiping.
'• One time," said she, " Lortl I'lyron look a no-
tion that there was a deal of money buried about
the .'\bbey by the monks in old tinies, and noth-
ing would serve him but he must have the (lag-
ging taken up in the cloisters ; and tliey digged
and digged, but found nothing but stone coftins
full of bones. Then he must needs luue one of
the coftins yiut in one end of the great hall, so
that the servants were afraid logo there of nights.
Several of the skulls were cleani'd and put in
frames in his room. 1 used to have to go into
the room at night to shut the windows, and if I
glanced an eye at them, they all seemed to grin ;
which 1 believe skulls alw.iys do. 1 can't say
but I was glad to get out of llv room.
'"There was atone time (an 1 for that matter
there is still) a good deal said about ghosts
haunting about the Abbey. The keejier's wife
said she saw two standing in a dark part of the
cloisters just opposite the chapel, and one in the
garden by the lord's well. Then there was a
young lady, a cousin of Lord Byron, who was
staying in the Abbey and slept in the roo/i". next
the clock; and she told me that one niglu when
she was lying in bed, she saw a lady in white
iU
MEWSTEAD ABBEY.
m.
: ;
ii,''ii' ?■
,-Al 1
i; : i
;: fi 1 :
come out of the wall on one side of the room, and
go into the wall on the o|)posite side.
" I.onl I'lyion one ilay said to me, ' Nanny,
what nonsense they tell about (ghosts, as if there
ever were any siieh thin},'s. 1 have never seen
any tiling; nf the kind al)out the Abbey, and I
uarrant you have not.' This was all done, tlo
you see, to draw nie out ; but I said nothing;, but
lihook my head. However, they say his lortlship
did onee see somethin;;. It was in the f,'reat hall
— something all black and hairy, he said it was
the devil.
" For my part," continued Xanny Smith, " I
never saw anything of the kind — but I heard
something once. I was one evening scrubbing
the floor of the little dining-room at the end of
the long gallery ; it was after dark ; 1 exjiccted
every moment to be called to tea, but wished to
finish what I was about. All at once I heard
heavy footsteps in the great hall. They sounded
like the tramp of a horse. I took the light and
went to see wh.it it was. I heard the steps conic
from the lower end of the hall to the fireplace in
the centre, where they stopped ; but I could see
nothing. 1 returnetl to my work, and in a little
time heard the same noise again. I went again
with the light ; the footsteps slojiped by the tire-
place as before ; still 1 could see nothing. I re-
turned to my work, when 1 heard the steps for a
third time. 1 then went into the hall without a
light, but they stopped just the same, by the fire-
place, half way up the hall. I thought tliis rather
odd, but returned to my work. When it was fin-
ished, 1 took the light and went through the hall,
as that was my way to the kitchen. I heard no
more footstei)s, and thought no more of the mat-
ter, when, on comingto the lower end of the hall,
I found the door locked, and then, on one side of
the door, 1 saw the stone coffin with the skull and
bones that h.ul been digged up in the cloisters."
Here Nanny paused. I asked her if she be-
lieved that the mysterious footsteps had any con-
nection with the skeleton in the coffin ; but she
shook her heail. and would not commit herself.
We took our leave of the good old dame shortly
after, and the story she had related gave subject
for conversation on our ride homeward. It was
evident she had spoken the truth as to what she
had heard, but had been deceived by some ])ccu-
liar etfect of sound. Noises arc propagated about
a huge irregular edilice of the kind in a very de-
ceptive manner ; footsteps are prolonged and re-
verberated by the vaulted cloisters and echoing
halls ; the creaking and slamming of distant
gates, the rushing of the blast through the groves
and among the ruinetl arches of the chapel, have
all a slrang-ly delusive effect at night.
Colonel Wildman gave an instance of the kind
from his own experience. Not long after he had
taken up his residence at the Abbey, he heard
one moonlight night a noise as if a carri.igc was
passing at a distance. He opened the window
and leaned out. It then seemed as if the great
iron roller was dragged along the gravel walks
and terrace, but there was nothing to be seen.
When he saw the gardener on the following
morning, he questioned him about working so
late at night. The gardener declared that no
one had been at work, and the roller was chained
up. He was sent to examine it, and came back
with a countenance full of surprise. The roller
had been moved in the night, but he declared no
mortal hanil could have moved it. "Well," re-
plied the Colonel, good-humoredly, " I am
.to find 1 have u brownie to work for mc."
'lad
Lord T?yron did much to foster and eivc r. I
rcney to the superstitious tales conncrud 'A
the Abbey, by believing, or prctemlnv. tnhX
in them. Many have supposed that liMnindr
really tinged with superstition, and that ilm '
natc infirmity was increased by pasbin;; mucV '
his time in a lonely way, about the tiiipiv h'. I
and cloisters of the Abbey, then in.irui'r'l
melancholy state, and brooiling ovcrihci'"-
and effigies of its former inmates. | si,,,'''] i
rather think that he found jioetical ciijoviikti 'i
these supernatural themes, and that hi/imii-'na
lion delighted to peojile this gloomy anil n.niar!
tic pile with all kinds of shadowy inhabitr'i
Certain it is, the aspect of the mansiim umkrihe
varying influence of twilight and moonlight, .I'j
cloud and sunshine operating upon itslullsilr^
galleries, and monkish cloisters, is cnmiu'h \i)
breed all kinds of fancies in the minds of its jn.
mates, especially if poetically or supcrsmiouil.-
inclined.
I have already mentioned some of the fab'ci I
visitants of the AI bey. The goblin friar, hov-'
ever, is the one to whom Lord liyron has j,;\cn i
the greatest importance. It walked the dui-'.c
by night, and sometimes glimpses of it wcro sim |
in other i)arts of the Abbey. Its appearance uj
said to portend some impending evil to the nus.
ter of the mansion. Lord liynm prctenilal lo
have seen it about a month before he lontiacii.] ]
his ill-starred marriage with Miss Milhankc.
He has embodied this tradition in the lolloivin;
ballad, in which he represents the friar as oneci
the ancient inmates of the Abbey, niaintairirj
by night a kind of spectral possession of it, ;a
right of the fraternity. Other traditions, hnw.
ever, represent him as one of the friars dommd
to wander about the place in atonement for h.s
crimes. 15ut to the ballad —
" Beware ! beware ! of the Black Friar,
Who sittt'th by Norman stone,
For he mutters his prayer in the niiilnight air.
And his mass of the days that are j;one.
When the Lord of the Hill. Aiiiiindeville,
M.ade Norman Church his prey.
And expell'd the friars, one friar still
Would not be driven away.
" Tiiough he came in his might, with King Ilenrj's
right.
To turn church lands to lay,
With sword in hand, and torch to iijjht
Their walls, if they said nay,
A monk remain'd, unchascd, unchainM,
And he did not seem form'd of clay,
For he's seen in the porcli, and he's seen in '.he
church.
Though he is not seen by day.
" And whether for good, or whether for ill,
It is not mine to s-iy ;
But still to the house of Amundeville
He abiileth night and day.
By the marriage bed of their lords, 'tis said.
He flits on the bridal eve ;
And 'lis held as faith, to their bed of death.
He comes— but not to grieve.
" When an heir is born, he is heard to mourn.
And when anglit is to befall
That ancient line, in the pale moonshine
He walks from hall to hall.
His form you may trace, but not his face,
'Tis shadow'd by his cowl ;
But his eyes may be seen from the folds bct«e«,
And they seem of a parted soul.
NEWSTKAD ABnEV,
4n5
us
sti
U
IlK
»" faster and givo.,.,
'"","". ••'■Hi tha,,!,,,!''
>'■'''""' the cnipu la I
>r<)<.tlin|; over the ,i. ":
'"'• I">^;'ical cnjovnKT.t
Xjs.an. hhath,,-^^^^ I
»l''s Klnoiny and r,;,,:
of shadowy inhabit,,..;
o'tlic mansion umlir 'he
'Kilt and moonli.lit [,,< ,
ratinj; upon its halls, ..rj
. cloisters, is cnotiRh •,
les 111 the minds of It, i„.
nically or supcrsmiouslv
f^ned some of the f,il,:(j
'1'Ik' jjoblii, friar, hf,"
n Lord ISyron has j,;vf„
It walked thccioi.'c.i|
;},'l"iipse'sofitMerc5Kn
JL'V. Its appearance vi
pcMulMiKevil to the mas.
>i-cl liyron pretended to
nil before he inntracid
vith Miss Miihankc,
tradition in the lolloivin;
[?scnts the friar as one 01'
the Abbey, niaintainirj
:tral possession of it. ;,'
Other traditions, imw
one of the friars dnnimd
ice in atonement for h.i
id —
Black Friar,
II stone,
in the midnight air,
ys that are(,'one.
ill, Ainiindevillc,
his prey,
le friar still
vay.
iiight, with King llenrj's
lay,
torch to li(>lit
1 nay,
ed, inuhainM,
m'd of clay,
-'h, and he's seen in At
y day.
whether for ill,
uundeville
y-
:ir lords, 'tis said,
- t
leir bed of death,
rieve.
heard to mourn,
fall
de moonshine
ill.
It not his face,
I;
)m the folds hctwesn,
;d soul.
• Jut licwarc ! Iicware of the lUack Friar,
He still retains his sway,
for lie i> .vet the church's heir,
Wliocvrr may he the lay.
Amimdcville is lord by day.
Hut the monk is lord by ni(,'hf,
,Vir wine nor wassail coidd raise a vassal
* Tuiiticstion that friar's right.
"Savnmight to him as he walks the hall,
Ami he'll say nouuht to you;
lie sweeps along inliis dusky pall,
.\so'er the grass the dew.
TUn t;ramercy ! for the lilaek Friar ;
IIe.iven sain him ! fair or foul,
And «li.ils(ie'er may be his prayer
Let ours he for his soul."
fjch is the story of the goblin friar, which,
piriK thiouj^h (dd tradition, and partly throu^jh
I i,t intluence of 1-ord Hyron's rhymes, lias bc-
I (ocic completely established in the Abbey, and
I ihrentens to hold possession so long as the old
(iiice shall endure. \'arious visitors have either
lincicd, or pretended to have seen him, and a
I cKsinof Lord liyron, Miss Sally Parkins, is even
Slid to have made a sketch of him from niem-
ix As to the servants at the Abbey, they have
kcnrac possessed with all kinds of superstitious
fficies. The lonjj corridors and Gothic halls,
«;!h ihcir ancient portraits and dark figures in
araor, are all haunted regions to them ; they
ennftar to sleep alone, and will scarce venture
j;iiight on any distant errand about the Abbey
inlcss ihcy g( in couples.
Even the magnificent chamber in which I was
bdjcd was subject to the supernatural intluences
«tich reiijned over the Abbey, and was said to
kliauntcd by " .Sir John IJyron the Little with
lie great Beard." The ancient black-looking
portrait of this family worthy, which hangs over
ti:odoorof the great saloon, was said to descend
kcasionally at midnight from the frame, and
iviili the rounds of the state apartments. Nay,
Li visitations were not confined to the night, for
uvoanglady, on a visit to the Abbey some years
iXi, declared that, on passing in broad day by
;he door of the identical chamber I have de-
scribed, which stood partly open, she saw Sir
John liyron the Little seated by the fireplace,
Kiim^ out of a great black-letter book, from
ijis circumstance some have been led to suppose
iiat the stoiy of Sir John Uyron may be in sonic
measure connected with the mysterious scul])-
'.tresofthe chimney-piece already mentioned;
tut this has no countenance from the most aulhen-
t antiquarians of the Abbey.
for my own part, the moment I learned the
'cndcifid stories and strange suppositions con-
recedwith my apartment, it became an imagi-
riryrcahn to me. As I lay in bed at night and
pedattlic mysterious panel-work, where Gothic
l:ii„iit, and Christian dame, and I'aynim lover
fcWd upon me in effigy, I used to weave a thou-
iai fancies concerning them. The great figures
ir. the tapestry, also, were almost animated by
■"■e workings of my imar;tnation, and the Van-
dyke portraits of the cavalier and lady that looked
»n with pale aspects from the wall, had al-
■••lit a spectral cfifect, from their immovable
pc and silent companionship —
"F»r by dim lights the portraits of the dead
Hive something ghastly, desolate, and dread.
— Their buried looks still wave
Along the canvas ; their eyes glance like dreams
Un ours, as spars within some dusky cave,
But death is mingled in their shadowy beams."
In this way I used to conjure, iij) fiction'? of the
brain, and clothe the objects around nie with
ide.il interest and import, until, as the Abbey
clock tolled midnight, 1 almost looked to see Sir
John liyron the Litth' with the long Heard stalk
into the room with his book under his arm, and
t.ik ■ his seat beside the mysterious chimney-
piece.
AXXKSLKY HALL.
At about three miles' distance from Xewstead
Abbey, and contiguous to its lands, is situated
Annesley Hall, the old family m.insion of the
Chaworllis. The families, like the estates, of the
liyrons and Chaworths, were connei.tetl in former
times, unlil the fatal duel between their two
representatives. The feud, liowe\er, which pre-
vailed for a time, prf)mised to be cincelled by
the attachment of two youlhrul heaits. While
Lord liyron was yet a boy, he beheld Mary Ann
Chaworth, a beautiful girl, ami the scde heiress of
Annesley. With that susceptibility to female
cliarnis, which he cvinceil rdniosl from t hildhood,
he became almost immediately enaiiuMcd of her.
According to one of his biographers, it would ap-
pear that at first their attachment was mutual,
yet clandestine. The father of Miss Chaworth
was then living, and may have retained some-
what of the family hostility, for we are told that
the interviews of Lord Hyron and the young la<ly
were private, at a gate which opened from her
father's grounds to those of Xewstead. How-
ever, they were so young at the time that these
meetings could not have been regarded as of any
importance : they were little more than children
in years; but, as Lord liyion s.ijs of himself, his
feelings were beyond his age.
The passion thus early conceived was blown
into ;i^ime, during a six weeks' vacation which
he passed with his mother at Xottingham. The
father of Miss Chaworth w.is dead, and she re-
sided with her mother at the old Hall of Annesley.
During liyron's minority, the estate of Xewstead
was let to Lord (^rcy de Rulhen, but its youthful
Lord was always a welcome guest at the Abbey.
He would pass days at a time there, ;ind make fre-
quent visits thence to Annesley Hall. His \isits
were encouraged by Miss CTiawortli's mother ;
she jiariook of none of the family feud, and
probably looked with complacency upon an at-
tachment that might hi.'al old differences md
unite two neighboring estates.
The six weeks' vacation passed as a dream
amongst the beautiful flowers of Annesley. Byron
was scarce fifteen years of age, .\lary Chaworth
was two years older ; but his heart, as 1 have said,
was beyond his a(;e, and his tenderness for her
was deep and jiassionale. These early loves, like
the first run of the uncrushed grape, are the
sweetest and strongest gusliings of the heart, and
however they may be superseded by other at-
tachments in after years, the memory will con-
tinually recur to them, and fondly tlwcU upon
their recollections.
His love for Miss Chaworth, to use Lord liy-
ron's own expression, was " the romance of the
most romantic period of his life," and I think we
can trace the effect of it throughout the whole
course of liis writings, coming uji every now and
then, like some lurking theme which runs through
a complicated piece of music, and links it all in a
pervading chain of melody.
.ilpiift
h' Vji
85^1
ifi
M")'
5!i.'
:!i1 i
40fi
NKWSTKAD ATinF.V.
H(i\" tenderly and inournfully docs lie rer.dl,
in after yens, iheficliii^js nwakcned in liis yoiitii-
fid and inexiierienced Ixiioin l)y tliis inipassiuned,
yet innocent att.ielinient ; feelinj^s, lie says, lust
or liaiilened in the intercourse of life ;
" The love (if liftter lliiiij;'; and hottor d.ivs ;
'I'lie uiil")unik-il liiipe, ami iR'avenly i(;iiiir:im'e
Of wli.it is I ;\Ilcd llie wnrld, and llic world's ways ;
'I'lie iiiiiiiii'iit i wlii'ii we L;.-itlu.T from a yhuiie
Mnri' jiiy tli.\ii from all future pildo o ">aisL',
Willi li Kiiid'c inanliood, hut lan act., tiitiance
Tlie lii^ait in in e\istL'ii^ e of its own,
( )f wliitli aiioilicr'.s liosoin is the zuiic."
^VIu■lller tills love was really responded to by
tlie (dijec I, is uiicei lain. I'yron siiiiu;liines sjieaks
as if lu' liad met with kindness in return, at other
tinus lie acknowk'djjes that she never ^;a\e liiin
reason to bt lie\e she loved him. It is probable,
however, tli.'t at first she experienced some
flutterin^s of the lieart. She was of a susce|nible
aije ; had as yet formed no other attachiv.ents ;
her lover, though boyish in years, was a man in
intellect, a jioet in iina};inati(jn, and luul ;; conn-
tenance of ixniarkablc beauty.
With the MX weeks' \acation ended this brief
romance. l'.\ron retunv-'d to school deeply en-
amored, but if he hail rtally made any impres-
sion on Miss Cliaworth's heart, it was too sli;;lit to
stand the test of absenci'. She was at that age
when a female soon ehanj;es from the girl to a
woman, and lea\es her Ijuyish lovers far behind
her. While 15yic.ii v.as ])ursuing his school-boy
studies, she was miii;^lin}; with society, and met
with a jjentliinan of the name of Musters, re-
markable, it is s.iiil, for manly beauty. A story
is told of her ha\in^ first seen him from the top
of Annesley Hall, r.s he dashed through thei)ark,
with hound and horn, takinj^ the lead of the
whole field in a fox ih.\se, and that she was struck
by the sjiirii of his appearance, and his admirable
horsemansliip. Under such faviirable auspices,
he wooed and won her, and when L(jrd liyrcjii
next met her, lie learned to his dismay that she
was the afiianced bride of another.
With that ]iiide of spirit which always distin-
Ijuished him, he controlled liis feelings and main-
tained a serene counten.ince. He e\cn atVected
to speak ciliuly on the subject of her ajjproach-
in;4 nuptials. " The next lime I see you," said
he, " 1 suppose you «ill be Mrs. Chaworth'' (for
she w.is to retain her family name). Her rejily
was, " I hope so."
I have given these brief details jireparatory to
.1 sketch of a \ isit which I ni.ide to the scene of
this youthful romance. Annesley Hall I under-
stood was shut up, neglected, and almost in a
state of desolation ; for .Mr. Musters rarely
visited it, residing with his family in the neigh-
borhood of .Nottingham. I set out for the Hall
on liorseback, in company with (..'olonel Wildm.in.
and followed by the great Newfoundland dog
IJoatswain. In the course of our ride we \isited
a spot memorable in the love story 1 have cited.
It was the scene of ihi , parting interview betv.een
liynm and Miss Chaworth, ])rior to her marriage.
A long ridge of u[)land advances into the valley
of N'ewste.id, like a promontory into a lake, and
was formerly crowned by a beautiful grove, a
landmark to the neighboring country. The grove
and promontory are graphically described by
Lord Byron in his " Dream," and an exquisite
picture given of himself, and the lovely object of
his boyish idolatry—
" I WW two bcinR'! in llip huc% of youth
Standing \i]>on a lull, n i;cnllc lii'li,
(irrcn, and of mild dcdiviiy, tlic |Vt
As 'twoio the- tap'; of a |,,u^; ii,|^,. ,,f ^„^]|
Save that tlicre was no sua t,, l.^e its |„,^,'
but a luosi living landscape-, andthewinV
Of woods and corn-liclds, and tLc ,il„„lcv,,'n,..
Si.itlcr'd at inlervaU, and wrculiln- mik,U
-Arising from such rustic roofs ; -\]„. i\\[
Was crown'd uitli a ) cvuli.ir dindcm
( If ticos, in circular nil ay, so fi\id
Not hy tlic sport ofiialuic. Imofmnn;
Tlii'sc two. n maitlen and a yoiilli, «cre ihcrc
('■a/ing— the one- on all tliat was li(iic;uli
I'air as liersidf— but the boy ga/'cd cm lief
And both were fair, and one was litMuliful ■
And both were ycuing- yet not alik' In y„:i:],_
As the sweet moon in the horizon's VL'rpi',
'I'he luaiil was on the verge of vvdiiianlidd.! ;
'I'lic boy had fewer sunimcrs, but his I.e.irt
Had far outgrown his years, and to liistve
■■there was hut one beloved face on caitli,
And that was shining on hiiu,"
I Stood upon the spot consecrated by iliiii
mcn-orable interview, lielow me cMciuli'd ihel
" living landscape," once contcniplat.d hv thel
loving pair ; the gentle valley of N'cwstcad, (iivirJ
silled by woods and corn-tields, ;inil vill.i^^espirc?!
and gleams of water, and the distant tfuvcrs.iril
jiinnacles of the venerable Abbey. The (liiuitnl
of trees, however, was gone. The attcniiun ilraunl
to it by the i)oet, and the roinaiuic manner :n|
whi(di he had .associated it with liis carlv p,bs(!i|
for .Mary Chaworth, had nettled the irriiahle fill-
ings of her husband, who but ill brnokid thel
])oetic celebrity conferred on liis wile hv the
enamored \erses of another. The cclelir.iitd|
grove stood on his estate, and in a lit cf spleen!
he ordered it to be levelled with the diisi, .^tl
the time of my visit the mere roots nf the tries I
were visible ; but the hand thai laid theiiiloivisl
execrated by every jioetical |iilgrini.
Descending the hill, we soon entered a pnrtrf
what once w;is Annesley I'ark, and rode aim i:i;
time-worn and tempest-riven oaks and clms.wr.h
i\y clambering about their trunks, and louks' '
nests among their branches. 'I'lie park had been
cut up by a jiost-road, crossing which, we c.ir.e
to the gate-house of Annesley Hall. It was an
(dd brick building that might have served as an
outpost or barbacan to the Hall durine; the ci\il
wars, when every gentleman's house was liable to
become a fortress. Loopholes were still vi-iblc
in its walls, but the ])eaceful ivy had mantled the
sides, oxerrun the roof, and aliiust buried the
ancient clock in front, that still marked the wan-
ing hours of its decay.
An arched way led through the rciitro of the
gate-house, secured by grated doors of open :rcn
work, wrought into llowers and llourifhcs. These
being thrown open, we entered a pa\ed court-
>arel, decorated with shrubs and antiijiie llmvcr-
jiols, with a ruined stone fountain in the centre.
The whidc ajiin-oach resembled that of an oU
1-rench chateau.
On one side of the court-yard was a r.-.ngc of
stables, now tenantless, but which bore tr.m'sof
the fox-hunting sepiire ; for there were stahs
boxed up, into which the hunters mi.ijht he turned
loose when thev came home from the chase.
.•\t the lower'end of the court, and immedi.ite:.
opjiosite the gate-house, extended the Ihill it^i|''|
a rambling, irregular pile, patched and piecei. .■■
various times, and in various tastes, with .u'.i)-
ends, stone balustrades, and cnurmous cliimm;;',
lie luir<! of voiith
nK'i-nllc'liili,
''■■I'^'i'y. Ilie la-t
' "'^•^ '" I'W iish,,;
'^^••■>l'<-', nn,|||,ew,vo'
•'''^'"'""•■•''""''-•'mn
i»"l W'ca.l,in. s,„„k. ^^
icriKifs;. -ilie|,ji|
eciilhir diadem
"me, l.m„r„,a,i.
,"'1 •■' yntli. were iIktc
I that was liiiieaili
c iM'vga.'cl.inlior.
Ill one wasl,eaiiiii;ii'.
-yet nnt alike in wirl,
'■he linrj/„n\ver(;e,
•Tf^c of Hdinanlii,!,,' •
imcrs, hut hi, i,e,,ft'
■cars, and toliisne
<ved fate on caitli,'
n liiiii."
ipr>t consccmtcd hv n,;,!
Jkdow inc extended lhe|
nre contcmplat,-,! hv ihel
v.-ijicvof\eH.stead,(liur.r
i-(icl(ls,;indvill.i-espir,.,|
111 tlic distant tdneisa^jl
ble Abbey, The dia,ieni|
"nc. llifnttcniiondniiJ
the roiiiantic manner J
1 it with jiis earlv y^,,;i'A
1 nettled tlieiriilalilefu;-!
who but ill brni.ked thc|
rri-d oil liis wile In- ihe
lotbcf, 'I'lic eelelmttdl
to, ,niul in ,-i lit of splecnl
•cilc'd with the dust. ,\i\
c iiiLTc loots nf thetri'csl
tiul th.-it l.iid themloiiisl
ifal iiili^rini,
ic soon entered a part of I
y I'ailv, and icide amnns;!
riven oaks and elms, «i:t
bcir trunks, and looks'!
los. 'I'he park had been
rrossiPL; wliieli, we crar.e
meslcy Hall, It w.is .in
might have served as .in
:hc II, ill diirini; tlicciiil
nan's house was liable lo |
pludes were still visible
eful ivy had mantled the
and almost buried the
at still marked the \v,in-
•oush the rentro of the
rated doors of open iron
s .Tiid (lourishcs. These
?ntci-ed a pa\ed courl-
libs and anti(pie tltnver-
fountain in the centre.
cndjled that nf an oiJ
irt-yard was a mngcof
lit whi( li liore traces of
for there were stalls
uinters nii,i;lil bo turned
le from the ella^o.
court, and iniiiii'diately
.xtended the Hall ii.-eii;
patched and |iiecei! ^■'■
ions tastes, with g.ih'-'
id enormous chimneys.
/^//////^//////^///// //////// y///////. ////// ////y ^ ///////////
flH\
I ifL, „
'iff
l,kj,,tr.it!o<
\\'i .i|ipli«
«h''cJ '') *
b.':i; an ''I'l
,.y tenant I
I f: m .1 >"'^
«.r.hy inm.i
1,.,.!. "•'= ^
c! her lift' '•
if.e i.imily 1'
tctn left in
hi been ill
(fihel.itc ri
»h;ch the il^
tvthe mill).
•,:!c kind v\
s;,,;,. ol' ilefei
ij'jtMnniuU
b'X "V,
ir;,"5aiil I,
"Ah, sir
sr.J have a 1
:J':\ Win
■„ •,: and li\
l,:;Jal b
Lrtri'iS wi-'
«',::ch she li
siiu, in as
v.;v.ri' thu
>„.,ire stone
t^rythin;;
(i:hioni(l CO
centre i)f till
\:x walls w
L.nttrs, am
:..:Jy with I
^;,iircascs
r.'.r.'.i. In
c^i'j|jlc (if Iji:
louts, of ill
art' often to
r.ansions.
f :thcj;oo(l
l.t',iin;;ed ii
;:i;(l>t of the
cr.;c bore n
s:.y his clai
;■;. ^;;li ue i
(' i'.:\ss he
t:;:,n his tin
-Sv.ruoud 1
r,iraory of
As we Hi
f .:r-fiiutcil
i-rcly, as i
f.rncd 111 I
r.-criu til,
'-.'.unged .(
.uara towa
^ " Nay, n
l.t him };(
Aa, dear \
:.':iat care
Weill" c.
V:i;ld hav,
-'Td llyroi
" 1 buppt
KKWsTr-Ai) arhi:y.
lOT
, „f,|t!od out likp huttrrsscs from tlic walls.
iihiilo friiii' "f ''"-' fi'''"^<-' ^vas overrun with
',\" .iijplii'd (of admission at the front door,
;».ii iiiidir a licavy porrli. The portal was
- 'i li.irrii ailed, ami our kiiockinj; wa^
,",ll)y waste a 11(1 empty halls. livery tiling'
, ,in .ipijcarame of ahamlonnu-nt. After .i
li(A\iner, "ur knocking suiiimoiied a soli-
. i^niiii friiin some reniole eoriier of the pde.
..iikcciit-lciokinn little dame, who emervje'd
• J .1 side door at a distance, and seemed a
.'hvinin.itc of the antii|u,ited niansi<in. She
V.nfiict, Ki'""" old with it. 1 K r name, she
i i, tt,i5 N.iiiny M.irsden ; if she IiMd until next
,{■'1,1, she woidil 1)'; seventy-one; a t;reat (lart
cfixrlifciiad been passeil in the Ilall,an(l when
the l.iin''y ''•"' removed to Nottin^jham, she had
Icinlift in (iiarge of it. The front of the house
h,ul 'jci'n thus warily barricaded in consecpience
(;;!;i Lite ridts at Nottingham, in the course of
Kxh llic dwelling' of her m.ister had been sacked
hihomol), To ^;uard .njiainsil any nttemi)t of
;;. kind upon the Hall, she had put it in this
ii'.iiil'ik'fiiuc; though I rather think she and a
i.pLWiiniiated gardener comprised the whole gar-
r;.in. " Ydii must be attached to the old build-
ir;,"s,iid 1, " after lia\ing lived so long in it."
",\h, sir!" replied she, " I Mn };i/tinj^ in years,
ar.J have a furnished cottage of my own in An-
r.c-iiv \V(iod,and begin to feel as if I should like
tj;o and live in my own home."
G.;iikd liy the worthy little custodian of the
foririis, we eiUereil through the sally port by
Baich she li.ul issued forth, and soon found <nir-
sc'.ii'i in a spacious, but somewhat gloomy hall,
there the li^ilit was partially admitted through
sijuare stone-shafted windows, overhung with ivy.
E.iTvihinj; arinuul us had the air of an old-
faihionidcdinitry scpiire's establishment. In the
(calrcofihe ludl was a billiard-table, and about
iii Halls were hung portraits of race-horses,
haters, ,nnd favorite dogs, mingled indiscrimi-
naiilywiih funily jjictures.
Staircases led up from the hall to various apart-
nintj. In uiie of the rooms we were shown a
couple of buff jerkins, mil a i)air of ancient jack-
boots, of the time of the ca\aliers ; relics which
are often to be met with in the old English family
r.ansiims. These, however, h;id pecidiar value,
for the good little dame assured us that they had
bclon^'ed Id Robin Hood. As we were in the
laukiof the region over which that famous outlaw
cr.cebore ruffian sway, it was not for us to gain-
say his claim to any of tliesc venerable relics,
ibu-h we might have demurred that the articles
ifilrcss here shown were of a date much later
than his time. Kvery antiquity, however, about
Siwrwood Finest is apt to be linked with the
mmiory of Robin Hood and his gang.
^ .As we Were strolling about the mansion, our
' '^r-fooial attendant, ISoatswain, followed lei-
■-•tly, as if taking a survey of the premises. I
'..".od to rebuke him for his intrusion, but the
moment the old housekeeper understood he h.ad
Klonijed ,0 Lord ISyron, her heart seemed to
)arn toward liim.
"Nay, nay," exclaimed she, "let him alone,
'^■' him j;o where he ple.ases. He's welcome.
As. dear me! If he lived here I should take
w'm""^ of him—he should want for nothing.—
"■•''l!" continued she, fondling him, "who
«oa,d have thought that I should see a dog of
Lord liyi-on in Anncsley Hall ! "
"I suppose, then," said I, " you recollect some -
33,
thing of I.ntil Hyrnn, when ho used to visit
here?" "Ah, Mess him!" cried she. "that I
do! He used to ride o\erheri' and stay three
days at .1 time, and sleep in the bliif room. Ali !
pour fellow! He was very much taken with my
\oung mistress ; he used to w.ilk .dxiut the garden
and the terr.ices with her, and seemed to love
the \ery ground she imd on. He used to tall
her /lis I'tii^/it iiiorniHi; sl^ir of' , Uniis/i v."
1 felt the beautiful poetic plir.ise thrill through
me.
"Yon a|)i)ear to like the meiiicuy of Lord
liyron," saiil I.
" Ah, sir ! why should not I ! He was alwa\s
main good to me when hi' came here. Well,
well, they say it is a pity he and my young l.idy
did not make a match. Her inothi'r »ould ha\e
liked it. He was always a welcume guest, and
some think it would h.ive been well Inr him to
have h;id her ; but it was not to be! He went
away to schixd, and then .Mr. Musters saw her,
and so things took their course."
The simple soul now showed us int.. the ftivorite
sitting-room of .Miss Ch.iworth, with a small
flower-garden under the windows, in which she
had delighted. In this room Uynm used to sit
and listen to her as she ])layeil and sang, gazing
upon her with the passionate, and almost |)ainful
devotion of a love-sick stripling. He himself
gives us a tilowing picture of his mute idol-
atry :
" lie had MO breath, no heinf;, Imt in hen ;
She w.is his voice ; he ilid not speak to licr,
lint tremliled 011 lier words ; she was lii, sight,
I'or Ids eye followed liers. ami saw willi hers,
Wliieli colored all liis objects ; lie had ee.ised
To live within liiinself; she was liis life,
The oce.m to the river of his ihoiiglits,
Which terminated all : upon a lone,
A toueli of hers. Ids blood woiihl cl>li and flow,
And his cheek change tenniestiiously — his heart
Unknowing of its cause of agony."
There was a. little Welsh air, called " Mary
Ann," which, froi-i bearing her own name, he ;isso-
ciated with herself, and often jjcrsuaded her to
sing it over and over for him.
'I'he chamber, like all the other jiarts of the
house, had a look of sadness and neglect ; the
llower-pots beneath the \vindi)u-, uliieli once
bloomeil bene.ith the hand of Mary ('hawortli,
were overrun with weeds ; and the piano, which
h.ul once vibrated to her imich, and thrilled the
heart of her stripling lover, was now unstrung
and out of tune.
We continued our stroll about the waste ajjart-
ments, of all shapes and sizes, and without much
elegance of decoration. Some of tiiem were
hung with family ])ortraits, among which was
liointed out that of the .Mr. Lh.iwdrih who was
killed by the " wicked Lord r.yion."
These dismal looking jjortraits had a powerful
effect upon the imagination of the stripling i>oct,
on his tirst visit to the hall. As they gazed down
from the wall, he thought they scowled upon him,
as if they had taken a grudge against him on ac-
count of the duel of his ancestor. He even gave
this as a reason, though pndiably in jest, for not
sleeping at the Hall, declaring that he feared
they would come down from their frames at night
to haunt him.
A feeling of the kind he has embodied in one
of his stanzas of " Don Juan ;"
\m
.1; : ll
498
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
"■;i ' r
;-ii :::; ill
I| '■ :;!! iiiJj. <i! < ; 'Ira
'i!
m
:|.i:,h:.
mm
w.
" The form'! of the Rrim knights and pictured saints
I.ooU living in tlie moon ; and as you turn
Backward and forward to tile eclioes faint
Of yiiur own footsteps — voices from he urn
Appear to wake, and sliadows wild and quaint
iStart from the frames which fence their aspects
stern,
As if to ask you liow you dare to l;ecp
A vigil there, where all Init death should sleep."
Nor was the youthful poet sinfjular in these
fancies ; the hall, like most old English mansions
t)iat have ancient family portraits hanging about
their dusky galleries and waste apartments, had
its ghost Si>)ry connected with these pale incmo-
rials of the dead. Our simple-hearted conductor
stopped before the portrait of a lady, vho had
been a beauty in her time, and inhabited the hall
in the heyday of her charms. Snmetiiing mys-
terious or melancholy was connected with her
Story ; she died young, but continued for a long
time to haunt the ancient mansion, to the great
dismay of the servants, and the occasion.-.l dis-
cpiiet of the visitors, and it was with much difH-
cully her troubled spirit was conjured down and
put to rest.
From the rear of Ih.: hall wc walked out into
the garden, about which Byron used to stroll and
loiter in company with Miss Chaworth. It was
laid out in the old French style. There was a
long terraced walk, with heavy stone balustrades
and sculptured \nns, overrun with ivy and ever-
greens. A neglected shrulibery bordereil one
side of the terr.ice, with a lofty grove inhabiteil
by a venerable community of rooks. dreat
Jlights of stejis led down from the terrace to a
flower garden laid out in formal plots. The
rear of the Hall, which overlooked tiie garden,
had the weather stains of centuries, and its
stone-shalted casements and an ancient sun-dial
against its walls carried back the mind to days of
yore.
The retired and quiet garden, once a little se-
qucstcud world of love and romance, was now-
all matted and wild, yet was beautiful, even in its
decay. Its air of neglect and desolation wis in
unison with the fortune of the two beings who had
once walked here in the freshness of youth, and
life, and beauty. The garden, like their young
hearts, had gone to waste and ruin.
Returning to the Hall we now visited a cham-
ber built over the [jorcli, or grand entrance. It
was in a ruinous condition, the ceiling having
fallen in and the lloor given way. This, however,
is a chamber rendered interesting by iioetieal '
associations. It is supposed to be the oratory
alluded to by Tonl Uyron in his " Dream," wherein
he pictures his ileparture from Annesley, after
learning that Mary Chaworth wa^ engaged to be
married —
" There was an ancient mansion, and before
hs walls tlicre was a steed caparisoned ;
AVithin an anlicine oratory stood
The l)oy of whniu I spake; — he was .ilone,
And palo and pacing to and fro ; an( n
He sate him down, and seized a ])en, and traced
^V(>^■ds whicli 1 could not guess cf ; then he leaned
His how'd htad on his hands, and .hook as 'twere
With a convulsion — then arose again.
And wi;h his teeth and (puvering hands did tear
What he had written, but he shed no tears.
And he did <ahn liinisclf, and fix his broiv
Into a kind nf (piiet ; as lie paused.
The lady of his hive le-enteied there;
She was serene and smiling then, and yet
.She knew she was liy him beloved,— shj in^.
For (|uickly comes such knowledge, tiiat liis heart
Was darkened with iier shadow, and she saw
That he w.as wretched, but she saw not all
He rose, and with a cold and gentle gr.vp
He took her hand ; a moment o'er his face
A tablet of unutterable tlioughts
Was traced, anl then it faded as it came-
He dropp'd the hand he htld, and wiili slowsttr,;
Keturn'd, but not .as bidding her adieu ''
For they did part with mutual smiles ;-Lhn pasvl
From out the massy gate of that old Hall
And mounting on his steed he went his wav
And ne'er repassed that hoary thresliuld more,''
In one of his journals. Lord Kyron dcscril 's
his feelings after thus leaving the oiatnrv. .\:
riving on the summit of a hill, which commanil'd
the last view of AnncsK y, he checked his hopj
and gazed back with mingled pain and fondncii
upon the grovcb which embowered the Hall, ar.d
thought upon the lovely being that dwelt there,
un'il his feelings w-cre cjuite dissolved in timicr-
ness. The conviction at length recurred that she
n-^vcr could be h'j, when, rousing himself from
his reverie, he struck his spurs into his sttedwd
dashed forward, as if by rapid motion to lc,i\e
reflection behind hirn
Vet, notwithstanding what he asserts in !ho
verses last cpioted, he did pass the " hnary thresh-
old " of Annesley .again. It was, hmvevcr, afier
the lapse of several years, during which he had
grown up to manhood, and had prisscd thrftu:,'h
the ordeal of p'easincs and tvinuiltiioiis passirns,
and had felt the inllucnce of oth-.r charms. Miij
C laworth, too, had becoiP'" a wife and a mother,
and he dined at Annesley Hall at the invitator,
of her husband. He thus met th.- object of hii
early idolatry in the very scene of his tender de-
votions, which, as he says, her smiles had orcc
made a heaven to hiin. The scene w.-is but li;:::
cl.i.nged. He was in the very chamber where
he had so often listened entranced to the witchery
of her voice ; there were the same instrumen-.s
and music ; there lay her tlower g.irde-n beneath
the window, and the walks throug'i which he had
wandered with her in the intoxicaiion of youthfd
love. Can we wonder that amidst the tender
recollections which every object around him w, is
calculated to awaken, the fond passion of h:5
boyiiood should rush back in full current to h.s
heart ? He was himself surprised at this siidiien
revulsion of his feelings, but he had aci|uired
self-possession and coukl cominand them. His
hrinness, however, was doomed to iindcpvi a
further trial. While seated by the object ot hi;
secret devotions, with all thei^e recollccticiii
throbbing in his bosom, her infant daiij^hter w.is
brought into the room. At sight of tnc child he
started ; it dispelled the last lingeiirijs of his
dream, and he afterward confessed, that to re-
press his emotion at the moment, was the sever-
est part of his task.
The conflict of feelings that raged wiihin h.s
bosom throughout this fond and tender, ,.ct pain-
ful and embarrassing visit, are tourhin-ly de-
picted in lines which he wrote iinuiechatcly after-
ward, and which, though not addrcs-^cd to her
by name, are evidently intended for the eye a.-J
the heart of the fair lady of Annesley ;
" Well ! thou art happy, and I feel
That I should thus be liappy lo";
Fur still my lie.art regards thy weal
Warmly, as it was wont '.o '".
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
49d
s, Lord nyron descrih.^.
^•ivins tlic oratory. M.
^ '"II. which comman^.j
y, lie chocked his horn.
"K fd pain and fondncsi
nibov.crcd the Hall, an^
bcinj; that (hvelt 11,0^;
uite (hssolvcd in tender!
length recurred tlm^.c
•n, rousing himself frn-i
spurs into his stml anil
»' i-apid niution to leave
iiThv husband's blest— and 'twill impart
Some pangs to view his Iiappier lot :
liut let tliem pass— Oil ! liow my heart
Would hate him, if he loved thee not 1
" When late I saw tl.y favorite child
1 tiiouglit my jealous heart would Ix-cak ;
Uutwhcn the unconscious infant smilf.d,
1 ki»'J it for its mother's sake.
i.jki-s'il it, and repress'd my sighs
lis father in its face to see ;
But then it had its mother's eyes.
And they were all to love and me.
'Miry, adieu ! I must away:
While thou art blest I'll not repine ;
Bui near thee I can never stay :
My heart would soon again be thine.
"Idcem'd that time. I deein'd that pride
Ihdqucnch'd at length my boyish llame ;
Kor knew, Idl seated by thy side,
My Iieart in all, save love, the same.
'Yet 1 was calm : I knew the time
My breast would th.-ill before thy look ;
But now to tremble were a crime —
We met, and not a nerve was shook.
"I <aw thee g,ae upon my face,
Yet meet wiili no jcnfusion there:
One only feeling couUl'st thou trace ;
The sullen calmness of despair.
".\»ay ! away ! my early dream
Kememhrance never must awake :
Oh I where is Lethe's fabled stream ?
My foolish heart, be still, or break,"
Th'- revival of this early passion, and the mcl-
ar.choly associations which it spread over those
scenes in the neighborhood of Ncw^stead, which
would necessarily be tho places of ]'':■> frequent
resort while in England, arc alluded ;o by him as
2 principal cause of his first departure for the
Continent :
'■ When m.an expell'd from Eden's bowers
.\ moment lingered near tlie gate,
Each scene recalled the vanish'd hours,
And bade him curse his future fate.
"liut wandering on through distant climes,
lie learnt to bear his load of grief ;
Just gave a sigh to other times.
And found in busier scenes relief.
"Thus, Mary, must it be with me.
And I niu--t view thy cliarms no more ;
Kor, while I linger nc-.r to thee,
1 sigh for all i knew 1 efore."
It was in the subsccjucnt June that he set off
Mh". liilgrimago by sea and land, which was to
U'comc the theme of his immortal ijocin. That
& image of Mary Chaworlh, as he saw and
Ijied her in the tlays of his boyhood, followed
r.iai to tho very shore, is shown in the glowing
sianzas addressed to her on the eve of embarka-
tion—
'lis done— and shivering in the gale
The bark unfurls her snowy sail ;
■\iid wh'.,tling o'er the bending mast,
l.'Hul Mn^'s on high the fresh'ning blast ;
And I must from this land be gone,
lieca'js. I cannot love but one.
" -And I will cross the whitening foam,
And I will seek a foreign home;
Till I forget a false fair face,
I ne'er shall fnid a resting jilace ;
My own dark thoughts I cannot shun.
Hut ever love, and love but one.
" To think of every early scene,
Of what we arc, and what we've been,
Would whelm some softer hearts with woe —
liut line, alas ! has stood the blow ;
Yet still beats 011 as it begun,
And never truly loves but one.
"And who that dear loved one may be
Is not for vulgar eyes to see.
And why that early love was c.oss'd.
Thou know'st the best, I feel the most ;
IJut few that dwell beneath the sun
Have loved so long, and loved but one.
" I've tried another's fetters too,
With charms, perchance, as fair to view;
And I would fain have loved as well,
lint some uncon'jneral)lc spell
I'orbade my bleeding breast to own
A kindred care f ir aiiglit but one.
"'Twould soothe to take one lingering view.
And bless thee in my last adieu ;
Vet wish I not those eyes to weep
For him who wanders o'er the deep;
lli.i home, bis hope, his youth are gone.
Yet still he loves, and loves but one."
The painful interview ,-it Annesley Hall, which
revived with such intenseness his early passion,
remained stamped upon his memory with singular
force, and seems to have survived all his ''wan-
dering through distant climes," to which he
tri'sted as an oblivious antidote. Upward of
two years after that event, when, having made
his famous pilgrimage, he vas once more an in-
mate of Newstead Abbey, his vicinity to Annes-
ley Hall brought the whole scene vividly before
him, and he thus recalls it in a poetic epistle to
a friend —
" I've seen my bride another's bride, —
Have seen her seated by his side, —
Have seen the infant which she bore.
Wear the sweet smile the mother wore.
When sue and I in youth iiave smiled
As fond and faultier as her child ; —
Have seen her eyes, in cold disdain.
Ask if I felt no secret pain.
" And I have acted well my part,
And made my cheek belie my heart.
Returned the freezing glance she gave,
Act felt the while //mt woman's slave; —
Have kiss'd, as if '\ithout design,
The babe which ought to have been mine.
And show'd, alas ! in each caress,
Time iiad not made lue love the less."
" It was about the time," says Moore in his life
of Lord Byron, " when h:: was thus bitterly feel-
ing and exjjressing tl'.'* bbght wliic h his heart had
sullered from a fr<i/ ( bject of atfection, that his
poems on an im.igin.'.ry one, 'Thyrza,' were
written." He was at the same time grieving over
the loss of severiil of his earliest and dearest
friends, the compr-^ ins of his joyous school-boy
hours. To recur to the beautiful language of
Moore, who writes with the kindred and kindling
sympathies of a true poet : '"All these recollec-
tions of the youn'j' and the dead mingled thein-
lil
'!■ „i
: ;^i f
m
An
•I
mi
500
NEVVSTEAD ABBEY.
selves in his mind with the image of her, who,
though living, was for him, as much lost as they,
and diffused that general feeling of sadness and
fondness through his soul, which found a vent in
these poems. . . . it was the blending of the
two affections in his men- :t and imagination,
that gave birth to an idea icct combining the
best features of both, and drew from him thoie
saddest and tenderest of love poems, in which we
find all the depth and intensity of real feeling,
touched over with such a light as no reality ever
wore."
An early, innocent, and unfortunate passion,
however fruitful of piin it may be to the man, is
a lasting advantage to the poet. It is a well of
sweet and bitter fancies ; of refined and gentle
sentiments ; of elevated and ennobling thoughts ;
shut up in the deep recesses of the heart, keeping
it green amidst the withering blights of the world,
and, by its casual gushings and overflowings, re-
calling at times all the freshness, and innocence,
and enthusiasm of youthful days. Lord IJyron
was conscious of this effect, and purposely cher-
ished and brooded over the remembrance of his
early passion, and of all the scenes of Anncsley
Hall connected with it. It was this remembrance
that attuned his mind to some of its most elevated
and vii-tuous strains, and shed an inexpressible
grace and pathos over his best productions.
Heing thus put upon the traces of this little
love-story, I cannot refrain from threading them
out, as Ihcy appear from time to time in various
pass.iges of Lord Byron's works. During his
subsequent rambles in the East, when time and
distance had softened away his " early romance"
almost into the remembrance of a pleasing and
tender dream, he received accounts of the ob-
ject of it, which represented her, still in her pa-
ternal Hall, among her native bowers of Annes-
Icy, surrounded by a blooming and beautiful
family, yet a prey to secret and withering melan-
choly —
" In her home,
A tlimiscind leagues from his, — her native home,
Slie dwelt, begirt witli (flowing '.ifancy,
Daughters and sons of licauty, h.t — behold !
I'pon her face there was the tint of grief,
The settled sliadow of an inwanl strife.
And r.n unquiet drooping of the eye,
As if its litis wf>c chayged icitJi unshed tears."
For an instant the buried tenderness of early
youth and the fluttering hopes which accompanied
it, seemed to have revived in his bosom, and the
idea to have flashed upon his mind that his image
miglit be connected with her secret woes — but
he rejected the thought almost as soon as formed.
" What could her grief be ? — she had all she loved,
And he wlio h;ul so loved her was nut there
To trouble with bad hopes, or evil w ish,
f )r ill repress'd affection, her pure thoughts.
Wiiat could her grief be ? — she had loved liini not,
Is'ur given him cause to deem himself beloved,
Nor could he be a part of that which prey'd
Upon her mind — a spectre of the past."
The cause of her grief was a matter of rural
comment in the neighborhood of Newstead and
Anncsley. It was disconnected from all idea of
Lord liyron, but attributed to the harsh and
capricious conduct of one to whose kindness and
affection she had a sacred claim. The domestic
sorrows which had long preyed in secret on her
heart, at length affected her intellect, and the
" bright morning star of Anncsley" was
for ever.
CClipsdJ
-St:
" The lady of his love,— oh! she was chanced
As by the sickness of the soul; her mind
Had wandered from its dwelling, and her eves
They had not their own lustre, hut the luok '
Which is not of the earth ; she was hecorne
The queen of a fantastic realm : hut her the;
Were combinations of disjointed lhini;s ■
And forms impalpable and unperceived '
Of others' sight, familiar were to hers.
And this the world calls frenzy."
Notwithstanding lapse J time, change of puc. i
and a succession of splendid and spirit-stirnrjl
scenes in various countries, the quiet and "tntvl
scene of his boyish love seems to h.ive klj jI
magic sway over the recollections of Lord Ikton I
and the image of Mary Chaworili to have ura^i
pectedly obtruded itself upon his mind liki.sor,el
supernatural visitation. Such was the fact en!
the occasion of his marriage with Miss Milbar.ki-I
Anncsley Hall and all its fond associations iloavjl
like a vision before his thoughts, even when at!
the altar, and on the point of pronouncin,' the!
nuptial vows. The circumstance is rclatd bvl
him with a force and feeling that persuade us oi f
its truth.
" A changi came o'er the spirit of my dream.
The wanderer was returned. — I saw him bianl
Before an altar — with a gentle hride ;
Her face was fair, but was not tiiat which made
The stardight of his boyhood ; — as he stood
Even at the altar, o'er his brow there came
The self-same aspect, and the quivering shock
That ir ihe antique ratory sho(d;
His bosom in its s tude ; and then —
As in that hour — a moment o'er his face
The tablet of unutterable thoU5;hts
Was traced, — and then it faded as it came.
And he stood calm and quiet, and he spoke
The fitting vows, but heard not his own words.
And all things reel'd around him ; he jouM see
Not that whicli was, nor that wdiichsliouldhavebeen-
IJiit the old mansion, and the accustomed hall,
And the remember'd chambers, and the |)laco,
The day, the hour, the sunshine, aini the shade,
All things pert.iining to that place .and hour,
And her who was his destiny, came hack,
And thrust themselves between him and tlieli^lit;
What business had they there at such a time?'
The history of Lord T5yron's union is ton we'.l
known to need narration. The errors, and humili-
ations, and heart-burnings that followed upon
it, gave additional effect to the re icmbranccif
his early passion, and tonnentc him with the
idea, that had he been successful in his suit to
the lovely heiress of Anncsley, they might ImA
have shared a hap[)ier destiny. In one nt li;s
manuscripts, written long after his marriage, hav-
ing accif'-ntallv mentioned Miss Chavuirih a
mv l\. .\. C."
Ahi
exclaims he, «iih a
sudden burst of feeling, " why do I say mi.'
Our union would have healed fends in which
blood had been shed by our fathers; it wouiJ
have joined lands br. ,'d and rich ; it would h.no
joined at least our hea '., and two persons no! ill-
matched in years — and— and— niul-wh.u lu?
been the result ? "
liut enough of Anncsley I Inll, and thcpocticai
themes connected with it. 1 fell as it I coui
linger for hours about its ruined oratory, ar.d
silent hall, and neglected garden, and spin reve-
ries and dream dreams, until all became an lucai
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
501
...J jfound me. The day, however, was fast
vine, and the shadows of evcnin{,' throwing
I 'ir shades of melancholy about the place.
I E'l, our leave of the worthy old housekeeper,
I Itfore, with a snipU compensation and many
l!!"l'l;s for her civilities, we mounted our horses
I Joursucd our way back to Ncwstead Abbey.
THE LAKE.
.'Before the mansion lay a lucid lake,
Bruad as transparent, deep, and freshly fed
Bf a river, wliich its softened way did take
In currents through the calrier water spread
teund: the wild fowl nestled in the brake
And sedges, brooding in their liquid bed :
Xfce woods sloped downward to its brink, and stood
Wiih their green faces fixed upon the flood."
?ach is Lord Byron's description of one of a
I itrici of beautiful snrots of water, formed in old
lias bv the monks by damming up the course
I eta small river. Here he used daily to enjoy his
fjvontc recreations in swimming and sailing.
wicked old Lord," in his scheme of rural
|(l;•3^'„^tion,had cut down all the woods that once
fc;cd the lake ; Lord Byron, on coming of age,
er.iii'.orcd to restore them, and a beautiful
vaj wood, planted by him, now sweeps up from
I the water's edge, and clothes the hillside oppo-
::; lo the Abbey. To this woody nook Colonel
I Wikm has given the appropriate title of " the
I lad Corner."
The lake has inherited its share of the tradi-
[:'.• ind fables connected with everything in
jr.d about the Abbey. It was a petty Mediter-
I r.^eansca on which the " wicked old Lord" used
I? ;:rjtify his nautical tastes and humors. He
I bd Iii5 mimic castles and fortresses along its
ares, and his mimic fleets upon its waters, and
jsd to get u]) mimic sea-fights. The remains
|c:h;spctty fortifications still awaken the curious
i::j;r ei of visitors. In one of his vagaries, he
cv:scJ a lari^e vessel to be brought on wheels
fr™ the sea-coast and launched in the lake. The
t:;niry people were surprised to see a ship thus
nj over dry land. They called to mind a
Isjyinjof Mother Shipion, the famous prophet of
ik vj|;;ar, that whenever a ship freighted with
kg should cross Sherwood Forest, Newstcad
I ''wld pass out of the Hyron family. The country
fcpio, who detested the old Lord, wxre anxious
10 icnfy the prophecy. Ling, in the dialect of
I Notiin;;liam, is the name for heather ; with this
pant they heaped the fated bark as it passed, so
I tilt It arrived full freighted at Ncwstead.
The most important stories about the lake,
hoivevcr, relate to the treasures that are supposed
15 he buried in its bosom. These may have
taken iheiririgin in a fact which actually occur-
I'eil. Ihere I'as one time fished up from the
.'pirt of tie hike a great eagle of molten
tes, wiihcxp.inded wings, standing on a pede-
stal or perch of the same metal. It had doubt-
'"'-^'f^«i as a stand or reading-desk, in the
I Abwv chapel, to hold a folio Hible or missal.
The sacred relic was sent to a brazier to be
teinod. As he was at work upon it, he dis-
tovcred thai the pedestal was hollow and com-
M of several pieces. Unscrewing these, he
WW forti, a number of parchment deeds and
rwts appertaining to the Abbev, and bearing
•••t seals of Edward 111. and Henry VllL, which
had thus been concealed, and ultimately sunk in
the lake by the friars, to substantiate their right
and title to these domains at some future day.
One of the parchment scrolls thus discovered,
throws rather an awkward light upon the kind of
life led by the friars of Newstcad. It is an in-
dulgence granted to them for a certain number of
months, in which plenary pardon is assured in
advance for all kinds of crimes, among which,
several of the most gross and sensual are specifi-
cally mentioned, and the weakness of the flesh to
which they are prone.
After inspecting these testimonials of monkish
life, in the regions of Sherwood Forest, we cease
to wonder at the virtuous indignation of Robin
Hood and his outlaw crew, at the sleek sensual-
ists of the cloister :
"I never hurt the husbandman,
That use to till the ground,
Nor spill their blood that range the wood
To follow hawk and huund.
" My chiefest spite to clergy is,
Who in these days bear sway ;
With friars and monks with their fine spunks,
I make my chiefest prey."
Old Ballad of Robin Iloon.
The brazen eagle has been transferred to the
parochial and rollegiate church of Southnll,
about twenty mil.-s from Newstcad, where it may
still be seen in the centre of the chancel, sup-
porting, as of yore, a ponderous liible. As to
the documents it contained, they are carefully
treasured up by Colonel Wildman among his
other deeds and papers, in an iron chest secured
by a p itent lock of nine bolts, almost equal to a
magic spell.
The fishing up of this brazen relic, as I have
already hinted, has given rise to the tales of treas-
ure lying at the bottom of the lake, thrown in
there by the monks when they abandoned the
Abbey. The favorite story is, that there is a
great iron chest there filled with gold and jewels,
and chalices and crucifixes. Nay, that it has
been seen, when the water of the lake was unu-
sually low. There were large iron rings at each
end, but all attempts to move it were ineffectual ;
either the gold it contained was too ponderous,
or what is more probable, it was secured by one
of those magic spells usually laid upon hidden
treasure. It remains, therefore, at the bottom
of the lake to this day ; and it is to be hoped,
may one <lay or other be discovered by the pre-
sent worthy proprietor.
ROlMN HOOD AND SHERWOOD FOREST.
Whii.K at Ncwstead Abbey I took great de-
light in riding and rambling about the neighbor-
hood, studying out the traces of merry Sherwood
Forest, and visiting the haunts v. Robin Hood.
The relics of the old forest are few and scattered,
but as to the bold outlaw who once held a kind
of freebooting sway over it, there is scarce a hill
or dale, a cliff or cavern, a well or fountain, in
tl'^s part of the country, that is not ctmnected
with his memory. The very names of some of
the tenants on the Newstcad estate, such as
Heardall and Hardstaff, sound as if they may
have been borne in old t'.mes by some of tlia
stalwart fellows of the outlaw gang.
i \i\
Il '
. ij : ■ MJ
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WW-
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11;
!f^"' M|
502
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
One of the earliest books that captivated m/
fancy when a child, was a collection of Robin
Hood ballads, "adorned with cuts," which I
bought of an old Scotch pedler, at the cost of
all my holiday money. How I devoured its
pages, and gazed upon its uncouth woodcuts!
I'"or a lime my mind was filled with picturings of
'"merry Sherwood," and the exploits and revel-
ling of the bold foresters ; and Robin Hood,
Little Jolin, Friar Tuck, and their doughty com-
peers, were my heroes of romance.
These early feelings were in some degree re-
vived when 1 found myself in the very heart of
the far-famed forest, and, as I said before, 1 took
a kind of schoolboy delight in hunting up all
traces of old Sherwood and its sylvan chivalry.
t)ne of the first of my antiquarian rambles was on
horseback, in company with Colonel Wildman
and his lady, who undertook to guide me to some
of the moldering monuments of the forest. One
of these stands in front of the very gate of New-
stead Park, and is known throughout the country
by the name of "The Pilgrim Oak." It is a
venerable tree, of great size, overshadowing a
wide arena of the road. Under its shade the
rustics of the neighborhood have been ac-
customed to assemble on certain holidays, and
celebrate their rural festivals. This custom had
been handed down from father to son for several
generations, until the oak had acquired a kind of
sacred character.
The " old Lord Byron," however, in whose
eyes nothing was sacred, when he laid his deso-
lating hand on the groves and forests of New-
stead, doomed likewise this traditional tree to the
axe. P'ortunately the good people of Notting-
ham heard of the danger of their favorite oak,
and hastened to ransom it from destruction.
They afterward made a present of it to the poet,
when he came to the estate, and the PUgrim O.ak
is likely to continue a rural gathering place for
many coming generations.
From this m.agnificent and time-honored tree
we continued on our sylvan research, in quest of
another oak, of more ancient date and less flour-
ishing condition. A ride of two or three miles,
the latter part across open wastes, once clothed
with forest, now bare and cheerless, brought us
to the tree in question. It was the Oak of
Ravenshead, one of the last survivors of old
Sherwood, and which had evidently once held a
high head in the forest ; it was now a mere
wreck, crazed by time, and blasted by lightning,
and standing alone on a. naked waste, like a
ruined column in a desert.
" The scenes are desert now, and bare,
Where flourished once a forest fair.
When these waste glens with copse were lined,
And peopled with the hart and hind.
Y'ln lonely oak, would he could tell
Tlie changes of liis parent dell,
Since he, so gray and stubborn now,
Waved in each breeze a sapling bough.
Would he could tell how deep the shade
A thousand mingled branches made.
Here in my shade, methinks he'd say,
The minlity slag at noontide lay,
While doe, and roe, and red-deer good,
Have bounded by through gay green-wood."
At no great distance from Ravenshead Oak is
a small cave which goes by the name of Robin
Hood's biable. It is in the breast of a hill,
scooped out of brown freestone, with rude at-
tempt at columns and arches. Within are J
niches, which served, it is said, as stalls f( ."j
bold outlaw's horses. To this retreat he r- ^
when hotly pursued by the law, for the plac,'
a secret even from his band. The cave i ' J
shadowed by an oak and alder, and 'kCm
discoverable even at the present day ; hut iih 3
the country was overrun with forest itmuiti-
been completely concealed.
There was an agreeable wiklncss and londinea
m a great part of our ride. Our devious rwj
wound down, at one time ainonj; rockvdiHj hJ
wandering streams, and lonely pools, liauntdb!l
shy water-fowl. We passed through a skirt th
woodland, of more modern planting, huicnnjii.
ered a legitimate offspring of the ancient furc^tj
and commonly called Jock of Sherwood.
riding through these (|uiet, solitary seems, iM
partridge and pheasant would now and ih;3
burst upon the wing, and the hare scud a.avbeJ
fore us.
Another of these rambling rides in qucsi qfl
popular antiquities, was to a chain of rocM
cliffs, called the Kirkby Crags, which skirt ;h(
Robin Hood hills. Here, leaving my hftrse
the foot of the crags, I scaled their rug<;cd siis^
and seated myself in a niche of the rocks, call
Robin Hood's chair. It commands a wide priisJ
pect over the valley of Newstcad, and here ;hM
bold outlaw is said to have taken his seat, a;
kept a look-out upon the roads below, watu.i;
for merchants, and bishops, and other wcahhy]
travellers, upon whom to pounce down, like aJ
eagle from his eyrie.
Descending from the cliffs and rcniountins; isr
horse, a ride of a mile or two further .ilonj ;
narrow " robber path," as it was called, whiclii
wound up into the hills between perpendicularl
rocks, led to an artificial cavern cut inthelacef
of a cliff, with a door and window wroui;hU
through the living stone. This bears the n.iniel
of Friar Tuck's cell, or hermitage, where, ac-j
cording to tradition, that jovial anchorite used toi
make good cheer and boisterous revel with l;;sj
freebooting comrades.
Such were some of the vestiges of old Slitr-I
wood and its renowned " yeoniandrie," which ll
visited in the neighborhood of Newstead, Thtl
worthy clergyman who officiated as chaplain atl
the Abbey, seeing my zeal in the cause, inlormtdl
me of a considerable tract of the ancient forcit,!
still in existence about ten miles distant. Tlurel
were many fine old oaks in it, he said, that liadl
stood for centuries, but were now shattered r.r.dl
" stag-headed," that is to say, their uppcrl
branches were bare, and blasted, and stra,;;;'.ir.j|
out like the antlers of a deer. Their trunkj, teo,r
were hollow, and full of crows and jackda«s,l
who made them their nestling places. He occa-j
sionally rode over to the forest in the Ion;,' :.;nfj
mer evenings, and pleased himself with lo .Ar-l
ing in the twilight about the green alleys ar.dl
under the venerable trees.
The description given by the chaplain maJel
me anxious to visit this remnant of old Sher.uKiJ,!
and he kindly offered to be my guide and eom-r
panion. We accordingly sallied forth one mora-l
ing on horseback on this sylvan cxpeditum. 0;rl
ride took us through a part of the coiuitrv uhvrel
King joh'i had once held a hunting se.u : i.el
ruins of which are still to be seen. At that tr.el
the whole neighborhood was an open royal ir-l
est, or Frank chase, as it was termed ; tor K.r.ijI
John was an onemv to i)arks and warrens, .'Ji
other inclosures, by which game was fenced ini
;m'
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
503
'Y/1^"; Within arn.d
t IS suk!, as stalls fcr 7
1 o th.s retreat he r.;,;
."''^^'w fortheplac''
band. The cave i, ■ J
c present day; bu,. 5
'^,;;;tl> forest it mu,!,;;.]
5le wildncss and InndiwU
"'I'^- 0„rdev,o„s3
lie amon.,' rockvddh '
'lonely pools, liaunudD*
'assed through a skir! °f|
:lfrn planting, but cmw
'HK of the ancient f.rMj
Jock of Sherwood 'J
.uict, solitary sceiKs, J
It would now and iJ
Hi the hare scud a.aybel
mbling rides in quesi A
■is to a chain of rockiT
y Crags, which skirt ;hd
re, leaving mv horse A
scaled their rugged sid J
niche of the rocks, cal>r
t commands a wide pr.i
Newstcad, and here tad
lavc taken his seat, anl
he roads below, w.ittJHs
hops, and other wealthy)
to pounce down, like :ij
cliffs and remountini; r,r|
: or two further alon^
' as it was called, whiclij
s between pcrpcndica:
al cavern cut in the Uc^
or and window Hrou^htl
:. This bears the n.icJ
3r hermitage, where, ac4
.t jovial anchorite used tJ
boisterous revel with l;;i|
:hc vestiges of old Slier-I
" ycomandrie," which l|
liood of Xewslead. The!
ofticiated as chapl.iin ,itj
:al in the cause, informed:
let of the ancient f(iro-t,|
en miles distant. Therel
s in it, he said, that had!
were now shattered .•'.ndj
s to say, their upperl
I blasted, and str.ii,;^linjl
leer. Their trunks, tiH),r
)f crows and jackdawspl
'stling places. He occi-r
," forest in the long :'.;t;i-
scd himself with loiter-l
ut the green alleys ar.d|
s.
by the chapLiin niadej
jinnant of old .ShcrnouJil
l)e my guide and com-r
,■ sallied forth one morn-i
sylvtin expedition. Ourl
irt of the country whircl
jld a hunting seat ; the!
) be seen. Atthatt;niel
was an open royal l<'r-|
was termed ; lor K;nj
)arks and warrens. ."iJj
;li game was fenced ml
ihc private benefit and recreation of the
■'Hies,ind the clergy.
Hereon the brow of a gentle hill, command-
- ."in extensive prospect of what had once tjccn
iv I stood another of those monumental trees,
''■"h' to my 111'"''' K^ve a peculiar interest to
!"I„ji,,|iborhood. It was the Parliament Oak,
"dk'd in memory of an assemblage of the
'VikW by King John beneath its shade. The
''|j.^,(,f upward of six centuries had reduced this
''emi;'lity tree to a mere crumbling fragment,
',.'' ljl(Q a gigantic torso in ancient statuary, the
niideiirof ihc mutilated trunk gave evidence of
jjitithad been in the days of its glory. In
contemplating its mouldering remains, the fancy
ij^-icd itsclt in calling up the scene that must
liavc been presented beneath its shade, when this
i\-j\ hill swarmed with the pageantry of a war-
iikcand hunting court. When silken pavilions
a-iJ uarrior-tents decked its crest, and royal
itindards, and baronial banners, and knightly
wnnns rolled out to the breeze. When prelates
Kil courtiers, and steel-clad chivalry thronged
round the person of the monarch, while at a dis-
trce loitered the foresters in green, and all the
t-il and hunting train that waited upon his
i:\m sports.
"Ailious.md vassals mustered round
With horse, and hawk, and horn, and hound ;
.\iid through the brake the rangers stalk,
.•\iidfalc'ners hold tlie ready hawk ;
.\nd foresters in green-wood trim
L«d in the leash the greyhound grim."
Sjch was the phantasmagoria that presented
i;>clffor a moment to my imagination, peo|5ling
tr:i' silent place before me with empty shadows of
Ai past. The reverie however was transient ;
ktn;', courtier, and steel-clad warrior, and forest-
er m green, with horn, and hawk, and hound,
al! faded again into oblivion, and 1 awoke to all
that remained of this once stirring scene of hu-
itian pomp and power — a mouldering oak, and a
tradition.
" We are such stuff as dreams arc made of 1 "
X ride of a few miles farther brought us at
length among the venerable and classic shades of
Sherwood. Here 1 was delighted to find myself
in a genuine wild wood, of primitive and ntitural
fmith, so rarely to be met with in this thickly
penpled and highly cultivated country. It re-
minded me of the aboriginal forests of my native
land. I rode through natural alleys and green-
«>iod groves, carpeted with grass and shaded by
l.fiy ,ind beautiful birches. What most inter-
e-todme, however, was to behold around me the
ni:,'hiy trunks of veteran oaks, old monumental
trees, the patriarchs of Sherwood Forest. T'hcy
»erc shattered, hollow, and moss-grown, it is
ir:e. and their " leafy honors" were nearly de-
fined; but like mouldering towers they were
r. ule and picturesque in their decay, and gave
evidence, even in their ruins, of their ancient
pandeur,
As I gazed .about me upon these vestiges of
wc^'Mcrrie Sherwood," the picturings of mv
C'vish fancy began to rise in mv mind, and
Ki'bm Hood and his men to stand before mc.
'' He clothed himself in scarlet then,
His men were all in green ;
A finer show throughout the world
In no place could be seen.
" Good lord ! it w.is a gallant sight
To see them all in a row ;
With every man a good broad-sword
And eke a good yew bow."
The liorn of Robin Hood again seemed to re-
sound through the forest. I saw this sylvan
chivalry, half huntsmen, l'".lf freebooters, troop-
ing across the distant ;^l;;des, or feasting and
revelling beneath the trees ; I was going on to
embody in this way all the ballad scenes that had
delighted me when a boy, when the distant sound
of a wood-cutter's axe roused n^e from my ilay-
drcain.
The boding apprehensions which it aw.akcned
were too soon verified. 1 had not ridden much
farther, when I came to an open space where the
work of destruction was going on. Around me
lay the prostrate trunks of venerable oaks, once
the towering and magnificent lords of the forest,
and a number of wood-cutters were hacking and
hewing at another gigantic tree, just tottering to
its fall.
Alas ! for old Sherwood Forest : it had f illcn
into the ]iossession of a noble agriculturist ; a
modern utilitarian, who had no feeling for jioetry
or forest scenery. In a little while and this
glorious woodland will be laid low ; its green
glades be turned into sbeep-wtilks ; its legendary
bowers supplanted by turnip-fields ; and " Merrie
Sherwood" will exist but in ballad and tradition.
" O for the ])oetical superstitions," thought I,
" of the olden time ! that shed a sanctity over
every grove ; that gave to each tree its tutelar
genius or nymph, and threatened disaster to all
who should molest the hamadryads in their leafy
abodes. Alas! for the scrdid propensities of
modern days, when every thing is coined into
gold, and this once holiday planet of ours is
turned into a mere ' working-day world.'"
.My cobweb fancies put to fiight, and my feel-
ings out of tune, I left the forest in a far different
mood from that in which 1 had entered it, and
rode silently along until, on reaching the summit
of a gentle eminence, the chime of evening liclls
came on the breeze across the heath from a dis-
tant vill.age.
1 ])aused to listen.
" They are merely the evening bells of Mans-
field," said my companion.
"Of Mansfield!" Here was another of the
legendary names of this storied neighborhood,
th.it called up early and j)leasant associations.
The famous old ballad of the King and the Mil-
ler of .Mansfield came at once to mind, ami the
chime of the bells put me again in good humor.
A little farther (ua, and we were again on the
traces of Robin Hood. Here was Fountain Dale,
where he had his encounter with that sttilwart
shaveling Friar Tuck, who was a kind of saint
militant, alternately wearing the casc|ue ;uul the
coul :
" Tlie ciirtal fryar kept f'ouiUain dale
Seven long years and more,
There was neither lord, knight or earl
Could make him yieUl licforv*. "
The moat is still showti which is said to ha\-c
surrounded the stronghold of this jovial .and
tigliung friar ; and the jilace where he .ind Robin
Hood liad their sturdy trial of strength and
prowess, in the memorable conllict which histed
'■ From ten o'clock tliat very <'ay
Until four iu the afternoon,"
004
NEVVSTEAD ABBEY.
It *
ilij
1 '-i"!!' ■ %
•n
11
rind ended in the treaty of fellowship. As to the
hardy feats, both of sword and trencher, per-
formed by this " ciirtal fryar," behold are they
not recorded at lenj^th in the ancient ballads, and
in the niayic paj;es of Ivanhoe ?
Tiie evening was fast cominj; on, and the twi-
li(;ht thickening, as we rode tiirough these haunts
famo\is in outlaw story. A melancholy seemed
to <,'ather over the landscape as we proceeded,
for our course lay by shadowy woods, and across
naked heaths, and alont; lonely roads, marked by
some of those sinister names by which the coun-
try people in England arc apt to make dreary
places still more dreary. The horrors of
" Thieves' Wood," and the " Murderers' Stone,"
and " the Hag Nook," liad .all to be encountered
in the gathering gloom of evening, and threatened
to beset our path with more than mortal peril.
Happily, however, wc passed these ominous
])laces unharmed, and arrived in safety at the
portal of Newstead Abbey, highly satisfied with
our green-wood foray.
l! ' :i:
TtlE ROOK CELL.
I^f the course of my sojourn at the Abbey, 1
changed my c|uarters from the magnificent old
state apartment haunted by Sir John Byron the
Little, to another in a remote corner of the
ancient edifice, immediately adjoining the ruined
chaiiej. It possessed still more interest in my
eyes, from having been the sleeping apartment
of Lord IJyron during his residence at the Abbey.
Tlie furniture remained the same. Here was the
bed in which he slept, and which he had brought
with him from college ; its gilded posts sur-
mounted by coronets, giving evidence of his
aristocratical feelings. Here was likewise his
college sofa ; and about the walls were the
portraits of his favorite butler, old Joe Murray,
of his fancy acquaintance, Jackson the pugilist,
together with pictures of Harrow School and the
College at Cambridge, at which he was educated.
The bedchamber goes by the name of the Rook
Cell, froir. its vicinity to tlie Rookery which, since
time immemorial, has maintained possession of a
solemn grove adjacent to the chapel. This \ener-
able community af'tbrded me much food for
speculation during my residence in this apart-
ment. In the morning I used to hear them
gradually waking and seeming to call each other
uj). After a time, the whole fraternity would be
in a flutter ; some balancing and swinging on the
tree lops, others perched on the pinnacle of the
Abbey church, or wheeling and hovering about
in tlie air, and the ruined walls would reverlierate
with tlieir incessant cawings. In tliis way they
would linger about the rookery and its vicinity
for the early i)art of the morning, when, having
apparently mustered all their forces, called over
the roll, and determined upon their line of march,
they one and all would sail off in a long straggling
flight to maraud the distant fields. They would
forage the country for miles, and remain absent
all day, excepting now antl then a scout would
come home, as if to see that all was well. To-
ward night the whole host might be seen, like a
liark cloud in the disiance, wingiag their way
homeward. Tluy came, as it were, with whoop
a:ul halloii, wheeling high in the air above the
Alibcy, making various evolutions before they
alighted, and then keeping up an incessant caw-
ing in the tree tops, until they gradually fi
aslee|). ' "
It is remarked at the Abbey, that tlie rork
though they sally forth on forays throughout rt'
week, yet keej) about the venerable cIiukc on
Sundays, as if they had inherited a reverence f
the ('ay, from their ancient confreres, the nv)J'
Indeed, a believer in the metempsvcliosb mi {•
easily imagine these (iothie-lookinu birds toV'
the emboclied souls of the ancient friars '1
hovering about their sanctified abode.
I dislike to disturb any point of popular rmil
poetic faith, and was loth, therefore, to question
the authenticity of this mysterious reverenn' fct
the S.abbath on the part of the Newstead rooki'
but certainly in the course of my sojourn in ;h'
Rook Cell, I detected them in a llai;rant wa-
break and foray on a bright Sunday inornin '.
lieside the occasional clamor (jf tlie rookcrv
this remote apartment was often greeted w.ih
sounds of a different kind, from the neiKhbdrir.,'
ruins. The great lancet window in front of i|,°
chapel, adjoins the very wall of the chamhtr-
and the mysterious sounds from it at night Im'
been well described by Lord Byron :
"Now loud, now frantic,
The gale sweeps through its fret, ork, and oft singi
The owl his anthem, when the silent quiic
Lie with their hallelujahs <[ueiiclicd like fne.
" But on the noontide of the moon, and when
The wind is winged from one point of he.ivcii,
There moans a .strange unearllily sound, whicii then
Is musical — a dying accent driven
Through the huge arch, which soar> and sinks .i-ain.
Some deem it but tlie distant echo fjivcn
Back to the night wind by the waterlall.
And liarinonized by the old choral wall.
" Others, that some original shape or form,
.Shaped by decay jiercbance, hath t;ivcn the power
To this gr.ay ruin, with a voice to charm.
Sail, but serene, it sweeps o'er tree or tnwir;
The cause I know not, nor can solve; hut siith
The fact : — I've lieard it, — once perhaps too niiioli,'
Never was a traveller in quest of tlic rniiiap.ti:
in greater luck. I had in sooth, ^'ot lodijeil la
another haunted apartment of the Abbey; fur in
this chamber Lord Byron declared he had more
than once been harassed at midnight h\ a mys-
terious visitor. A black shapeless form would
sit cowering upon his bed, and after j;a7.in:; at
him for a time with glaring eyes, would roll oil
and disappear. The same uncouth apparition is
s.iid to have disturbed the slumbers of a newly
married couple that once passed tlieir honey-
moon in this apartment.
I would observe, that the access to the Rook
Cell is by a spiral stone staircase icadin<^ up inw
it, .as into a turret, from the long shadowy corn-
dor over the cloisters, one of the mi(lni;;'r,t w.ilks
of the Goblin Friar. Indeed, to the fancies en-
gendered in his brain in this remote and lonely
apartment, incorporated with the lloatin:^ super-
stitions of the Abbey, we are no doubt iiuiebteo
for the spectral scene in " Don Juan."
" Then as the night w.is clear, though colil, lie tlirew
Ills elianiber door wide oiien— and went firlli
Into a gallerv, of sombre line.
Long furnishM with old i.ictures ofLjreat worth.
Of knii^hts and dames, heroic and ch.istc too,
As doubtless should be people of hii;h birth.
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
505
.VnMund except the echo of his sigh
'weo ran sadly through lliat antuiue house,
saJileiily he hcanl, or thought so, nigh,
ffken
-or a mouse,
.' lout; shaddwy cdrri-
)f the nii(hii;^r,t w.ilkj
d, to ll'.L' fancies en-
is rciiKitc anil lonely
li the lliiatin,:,' super-
re no doubt iniiebt'.ii
)on luaii."
A .upeniaturaUgeiit-
--lie iiihhliiiK' rustle will emliarrass
pic, as it plays along the arras.
Whose 1
Mo>t pt"?
„,.,.snomouse, hut lo! a monk, arrayed
Um\ anil heads, and dusky garb, appeared,
vinntheiiwonli-ht, an 1 now lapsed in shade;
■ w ill 'tq's '•'=*' "■'"' ^'^ '"^"^y- y^' »"'"••"•'■'' ;
H.nnnenlsonlya slight murmur ir.me;
IlMi, iveil as shadowy as the sisters weird,
nj.;iowlv;ru>a as he passed Juan by
OjwI, without iiausing, on him a bright eye.
i „Ijm«5 petrified; he had heard a hint
■ iif,ucli a spirit in these halls of old,
If tfiuiiglit, like most men, there was nothing in't
li-vonftlie rumor which such spots unfold,
Cr.n'J from surviving superstition's mint,
Wiiiih passes ghosts in currency like gold,
Bjirirelyseeii, like gold compared with paper.
A,. :„■■„/ lie sec this? or was it a vapor ?
iiMr.e, l«ice, thrice pass'd, repassM— -the thing of air,
(Veirth lieneath, or heaven, or t'other place ;
.^-i Iiun gazed upon it with a stare,
Vc'ciiilii not speak or move ; but, on its base
\;.!,iii.ls a statue, stool : he felt his hair
Tivine lilic a knot of snakes around his face ;
!i; ii\'i his tongue for words, which were not
Uranted
Tj ,1^1; I'le reverend person what he wanted.
'TiMhird line, after a still longer pause,
T!ie shadow pass'd rway — but where? the hall
\V.i- Im;;. and thus far there was no great cause
Tilhiiik his vanishing unnatural :
II '[slliere w'le many, through which, by the laws
i.ii'phvsics, bullies, whether short or tall,
Mijiitome or go ; but Juan could not state
T.i.-ou;;li wliieli the spectre seem'd to cvaiiorate.
■lie stood, how long he knew not, but it seem'd
Ai'.a^e— expectant, powerless, with his eyes
SlrjiiiM on the spot where first the figure gleam'd :
Ineii by ile^jioes recall'd his energies,
An! woiiM have pass'd the wdiole off as a dream,
liul c luld not wake ; he was, he did surmise,
WiUiijj already, and return'd at length
hJ.: lu his chamber, shorn of half his strength."
. As ! Imvc already observed, it is difticult to
i.:crraino whether Lord Hyroii was really subjeet
yih-siiperstitioiis faneies which have liecn im-
j filed to him, or uhelher he merely amused him-
I ij'.f by i;ivin;^ currency to them among his do-
n.'jiics and dependents. He certainly never
i;rapled to cxjiress a belief in sui)ernatural visi-
■i;:::ns, both verbally and in bis corresponilence.
:-Jchueie his foible, the Rook Cell was an
.iii;:rablo place to eni;ender these delusions. As
Irjichiiii awake at night, 1 have beard all kinds
j: isysterious and sigbin; sounds from the neigb-
j Jirin^ ruin, Distant tootsteps, too, and the
c. sin;; of doors in remote parts of the Abbey,
■ 'J'ld send hollow reverberations and echoes
n'ir.,' the corridor and up the spiral staircase.
•■'e. ill fiet, I was roused by a strange sound
tlie very door of my chamber. I threw it
fn.aiul a form "black and shapeless with
»•'«!,,' eves" stood before me. It jiroved, bow-
Mr. neither ghost nor goblin, but my friend
iu.;tswain, the grc-'f XewfountUand dog, who
Wameeivcd a companionable liking for me,
JKioccasionally sought mc in my apartment.
'"'•.liehauntings of even such a visitant as hon-
«; linatswain may we attribute some of the mar-
' >-iJo stories ;;bout the Goblin Triur.
THE LITTLE WHITE LADY.
In the course of a morning's ride with Colonel
W'ildman, about tlic Abbey lands, we found our-
selves in one of the prettiest little wikl woods
imaginable. The road to it had led us among
rocky ravines overhung with thickets, and now
wound through birchen dingles and among beau-
tiful groves and clumps of elms and beeches. A
limpid rill of sparkling water, winding and doub-
ling in perjilexed mazes, crossed our jiath re|)e,it-
edly, so as to give the wood the appearance of
being watered by numerous rivulets. The soli-
tary and romantic look of this piece of woodland,
and th , frequent recurrence of its mazy stream,
put lii.n in mind. Colonel Wildman said, of the
little ilerman fairy tale of Undine, in which is
recor ltd the adventures of a ki, ;ht who hatl
married a water-nymph. As he rode with his
bride through her nati\-e woods, every stream
claimed her as a relative ; one was a brother, an-
other an uncle, another a cousin.
We rotle on amusing ourselves with applying
this fanciful tale to the charming scenery arounil
us, until we came to a lowly gray-stone farm-
house, of ancient date, situated in a solitary glen,
on the margin of the brook, and overshadowed
by venerable trees. It went by the name, as I
was told, of the Weir Mill farmhouse. With
this rustic mansion was connected a litte tale of
real life, some circumstances of which were re-
lated to me on the spot, and othei's I collected in
the course of my sojourn at the Abbey.
Not long after Colonel Wildman had i)urchascd
the estate of Xewstead, he made it a '.isit for the
purpose of planning repairs and alterations. As
lie was rambling one evening, about dusk, in
company with his architect, tlirough this little
piece of woodland, he was struck with its jjcculiar
characteristics, and then, for the lirst time, com-
pared it to the haunted wood of I'ndine. While
he was making the remark, a small female figure
in white, Ihtled by without speaking a word, or
indeed appearing to notice them, ller step was
scarcely heard as she passed, and her forn; was
indistinct in the twilight.
"What a figure for a fairy or sprite!" ex-
claimed Colonel Wildman. " How much a poet
or a romance writer would tiiake of such an ap-
parition, at such a time and in such a place ! "
He oegan to congratulate himself upon having
some eUin inhabitant for his haunted wt)od, when,
on i)roceeding a few paces, he found a white frill
lying in the |)ath, which had evidently fallen
from the tlgure that had just passed.
" Well," said be, " after all, this is neither
sprite nor fairy, but a being of llesh, and bi'iod,
and muslin."
Continuing on. he came to where the road
passed by an c'.d mill in front of the Abbey. The
people of th( mill were at the door. He |)aused
and iniiuiroj whether any visitor had been at the
Abbey, but was answered in the negati\e.
" lias nol/odv i)assed by here ? "
" No one, sir."
"Th.tt's strange! Surely I met a female in
white, who must ii^Lve jiassed along this path,"
" Oh, sir, you mear. the Little White Lady^
oh, yes, she passed by here not long since."
"The Little Whit ; Lady! And prav who is
the Little White Lady?"
•' Why, sir, that nobody knows ; she lives in
the Weir Mill farmh luse, tlown in the skirts of
the wofid. She comes to the /Vbbey every morn-
ing, keeps about it all day, and goes away at
111
50G
NEWSTEAD AnnEY,
li !
, ill » 'I PI :
i<i'/ iil
N
1
';B:
II
lt?l
ilijv;
night. She speaks to nobody, and \vc arc rather
shy of lii.T, for we ilon't know what to make of
her."
Colonel Wiklman now concluded tliat it was
some artist or amateur emjiloyed in making;
sketches of the Alibey, and thouj^ht no more
about the matter, lie went '.o London, and was
absent for some time. In the interim, his sister,
who was newly married, came with her husband
to pass the honcymocm at tlie Abbey. The
Little White L.ady still resided in the Weir Mill
farudiouse, on the border of the haunted wood,
and continued her visits daily to the Abbey. Her
dress was always the same, a white ^jown with a
little black spencer or bo(hce, and a white hat
with a short veil that screened the upper part of
lier c(ninten.\nce. Iter habits were shy, lonely,
and silent ; she spoke to no one, and sou<»ht no
companionship, excei)tini^ with the Newfoundland
do^; that had belon<;ed to Lord Uyron. His
fnendsliip >!ie secured by caressin;^ him and oc-
casionally brin^'inj; him food, and lie bec;rnr the
companion of her solitary walks. She avoided
all str,i'ij.;ers, .nd wandered .about the retired
])arts of the t;ar(len ; s imetinies sittin;^ for hours
by the tsce on v.hirli ,.ord lUron had carved his
n.in e, or at the foot ui' th;." monument which he
had I rected amon;.^ the ruins of the chapel.
Sometimes she reail, sometiiv.es she wrote with a
pencil on a sm,\ll slate which she carried with
her, but much of he; time was passed in a kind
of reverie.
'I'hc people about the place grad.,.dly became
accustomed to her, and suffered her to wander
about unmolested ; their distrust of her subsiiled
on discovering that most f)f her i)eci;liar and
lonely habits arose from the misfortune of being
deaf and dumb. Still she was regarded witli
some degree ol shyness, for it was the common
opini' ' that she was not exactly in her right
mind.
Colonel Wildman's sister w.is informed of all
these circumstances l)y the serv.nits of the .\bbey,
a.iiong whom the Little White Lady was a theme
of tret(uent discussion. The .Aljbey and its mo-
nastic environs being haunted ground, it was
natiual that a mysterious \isitant of the kind,
and one supposed to be under the influence of
mental hallucinalion, shouki insjjire awe in a
person unaccustomed to the ])lace. As Colonel
Wildman's sister was one d.iy w;dking along a
broad terrace of the garden, she s .iidenly beheld
the Little White Lady ctnning toward her, and,
in the surprise .and agitation of the moment,
turned aid r.in into the house.
Day alier day now elapsed, and nothing more
was seen of this singul.ir personage. Colonel
Wildman at length arrived at the Abbey, and his
sibter mentioned to him her rencounti • .and fright
in the g.irden. It brought to mind his own ad-
venture with the Little White Lady in the wood
of I'r.dine, and he was surprised lo lind that she
still eominued her mysterious wanderings about
the Abbey Tlic nustery was soon explained.
ImmediatLly after .'lis arriv.d he received a letter
written in the most minute and I'elicace female
hand, and in elegant and even eloquent language.
It was from the Little White Lady. She Lad
noticed and been shocked by the -.bruov retreat
of colonel Wildman's sister im seeing her in the
gartlen walk, and ex|)ressed her unhappiness at
being an object fif alarm to any of his family.
She explained the motives of her frecpient and
long visits to the Abbey, which proved to be a
singul.-rly enthusiastic idolatry < f t!;-: ;-enius of j to Lord Byron ;
Lord Ryron, and a solitary .nnd p.i55i.n,i,e ,;. l
light \n haunting the scenes he ' ' ''
habited. She hinted at the intin
i;ul nncv
her off from all social comnniiiion with L,, f ''^'P
beings, and at her situation in hfc as <] P
and bereaved ; and concluded hv liiiniiv- ,\ , I'i
would not deprive her of her unlv cnnif„rr.u|
|)erinission of visiting the Abbe- ■— ■■ • "■
lingering .about the walks and gardens.
Colonel Wildman now made funlKr inr, ;,
concerning her, and found that she w,is ,.'■,(''!
favorite with the people of tlie farmlumsr v'l"
she boarded, from the gentleness, (|iii«i:ii,, ,.j
innocence of her manners. WIrh ^ hcimf ";
passed the greater part of her time inasimli!^
ting-room, reading and writing. "'
Colonel Wildman immediately cnllcd nn ho' i
the farmhouse. She recei\ ed ' liim wni, >,!,.'..
agit.ition and emba'-rassment, but liis fnnkri.s's
and urbanity soon put Iter at her ease. Slinis
oas* tlie bloom of youth, a pale, ncrvnui l,;-'.
being, and apparently (K licient in most (,f ;"j
physical or,;ans, for in addition to heinjjdiaf.ri
dumb, she saw but imperfectly. Thev i.ir'.l
on a communication by means of a snialUliv
which she drew out of her relicuU', and on «!;■ ;r
they wrote their (juestions and .'plies. Ip, «rr.i
ing or re.idii g she always approiiched li-r v'vi
close to tie written characters.
This defective organization was arciim|,.r,.,]
by a niorind sensibility almost aminintiii'.'tti i!,.
ci>e. Siie had not been born cleaf ami (l.im;,;
but had lost her hearing in a fit of siikntbi, rl
with it the power of distinct articul.ilicn. II, (
life had eviilently been checkered and iin'.iai;';
she was apparently without family or fricmi. .i
lonely, desolate being, cut off from socii'v '■:■;
her infirmities.
" I am always among strangers," she said." -,5
much so in my native country as I cduld In ,i|
the remotest parts of the world. liy all I ,.;;i|
considered as a stranger and an alan; nn ore
will acknowledge any connection with mc. 1
seem not to belong to the human species."
Such were the circumstances that tolir.l
Wildman was able to draw forth in the co'.iir.' f
his conversation, and they strcMv^ly inteusiul
him in favor of this jioor enthusiast. He wast o
dexcnit an ailniircr of Lord I'lyion liiinself.no:;)
sympathi/c in this extraortiinaiy /cal of one ef hi
votaries, and he entreated her to renew i'.er vi;::j
■ it the Abbey, assuring her that the edifice :'.:'.d
its „''■ ninds sii/uld always be open to her.
The Little White Lady now resumed lierd,-.;!y
waifs in the Monk's ('arden, and her ncrasicn,'
se;'t at the foot of tin monument; shcv -."v
a'ld diftident, however, and evidently f.arfiil if
i'ltruding. If any persons were walkin;,' in lb:
garden she would avoid them, and seek ill'.' ir'-t
remote jiarts ; and was seen like a sprite. only';'
gleams and glimjises, as she glided iiiiii'ni; i.i
groves and thickets. Many oi her feelir s asd|
fancies, during these lonely ramble ;, weic t"-
bodied in verse, noted down on her ial)!el. r.r.J
tr;.nsferred to i).iper in the e\ ening on her iv'.in
to t'ae f.nimhouse. Stune o( these verses nov, i;-:
before me, written with considerable h.irinen; 1
x-ersiticai^'.n, l.nit chielly curi(uis as l.H'in.e; illu^tr.y
live of that singulai and' enthusiastic idnblry u:;.i
which she aim.' st worshipjied the genius ot liyron.
or rather, the nmiantic imr.ge of him toniici. :y ^
her imagination.
Two or three extracts mav not be unacD^ptP.J.'^j
The follo-vingare from a long rhapsody .iddrcsK-i
t \ ■
NEWSTEAD AHHEV.
507
'"••'!•■>' ■'^"'' passionate,.. I
s<--c'nes he |,;ul ' '''l
•'>'>'nninu,nwithi,,,r 'I
•<» .-ind ^;,n■,le|,s, ■ ^
"Hkt lime in i, small.:;
wntinj;.
nu'diatcly called nnh,.-.,
'■t-ci.'n«l him «i!h .,\~l
;"^"'ciu but his frankri;;;
l'J-''-at her ease. Sho,;,!
"ivT |m1o, nervniii l;;.'.,
< ' iHient in most of 1 J
uldilion to IjeinjjiKaiH'
"l"''lfcily. Thev ar-'i
y means of a sniall ^y-.
UT rel;>ii!c,ancl on «l..'i
)n.s and .cplies. In •,ir-'.
ay? npproadied livr r.'s
raciens.
izalion was arci)mp,;r,.,J
almost amoiiiitiii-.MiM;;',.
n l)orn deaf and (Ijiiiij";!
; in a fit of siekiiKs, ,!r] j
istinct articuLition, H.fl
^licckered and iinliai : ,,
tlioiit family or friciKi. .i|
cut off from socic'v
strangers," she said.'
L-ountry as I niuM h :a|
111-' \v(jrld. liy all I ,;-ij
■r and an aiiui ; no iir.cj
connection with ine, l|
c human s|)ei;its,"
Li instances that Co
aw forth in the cir.ir.vM'j
:lify strongly inttiistnij
enthusiast. ' lie was ;'.il
ird llyron himself, iiot;)j
rdinary zeal of (jiieofhis)
'd lier to renew l!erv;^;:ij
licr that the edifice .d|
.s l)c oi)cn to her.
: now resumed ImA?.
den, and her ocra-icn.''
nonument ; she v -hy
ind evidently f.arl'ul cfl
ins were walkiiii; in thj
hem, and seek tli'-Mro^tl
.•en like a sprite, or.ly'yl
she glided ampng '.h.'!
any of her feelir s ?.?.i\
lely ramble.;, were cr.- 1
own on her lahlct, ,'.r.J j
10 e\ening on I'.er iv:'.:ri j
o( these verses nov. ]■:
nnsiderable li.u'inor.) ' !
nrious as being Whii'.v.-
ntluisi.istic idolatry «:"! I
)ed tiie genius of llyron,
ni'.gc of him toriiicil ly j
ay not be u.iaeco|itable.
jiitj rhapsody addrcs-w
„n,„hatdrc.id charm thou rulest the mind
'H is niil yiven for us to know ;
W'e mIovv with feelings uniletined,
Nor can explain from whence they flow.
„jf(,t that fond love which passion breathes
Anil youthful hearts inflame;
Xhe soul a noliler liomaKC gives,
Ami bows to thy great name.
■ lOft have "C own'd the muses' skill,
Ami proved the power of .sung,
Biil sweeter notes ne'er woke the thrill
Th,-U solely to thy verse belong.
uXhis—hut far more, for thee we prove,
SDHielliing that bears a holier name,
Than llie pure dream of early love,
l)r friendship's nobler flame,
'Somelliing divine— Oh ! what it is
T/iv muse alone can tell,
So sweet, Imt so jirofound the bliss
We dread to break the spell."
This singuhr and romantic infatuation, for
iih it mi.giit truly be called, was entirely spirit-
I d and ideal, for, as she herself declares in
ar.'.kruf her rhapsodies, she had never beheld
LfirJ llyron; be was, to her, a mere phantom of
;;•. brain.
"I ne'er have drunk thy glance — thy form
My earthly eye has never seen,
Thoiigli "ft ulien fancy's visions warm,
It greets nie in some blissful dream,
"(.Ireetsme, as greets the sainted seer
.Some railiant visitant from high,
When lieavcu's own strains break on his ear,
.\ml wrap his soul in ecstasy."
Her poetical wanderings and musings were not
cratini'd to the Abbey grounds, but extended to
all parts of the neigbborbood connecteil with the
Effliory of Lord liyron, and among the rest to
the groves and g.irdens of Annesley Hall, the
icii of his early passion for Miss Cbawortb.
Or.cofher poetical elfusions mentions her having
seen from Howet's Hill in Annesley I'ark, a
"sylphdike form," in a car drawn by milk-white
liorscs, passing by the foot of the bill, who proved
»bc the " fivorite cliild," seen by Lord Hyron,
;a his memorable interview with Miss Cliaworth
sfter her marriage. That favorite child was now
abluoniing girl ap|;roaebing to womanhood, and
seems to have understood something of the char-
ai. and story of this singular visitant, and to
have treated her with gentle sympathy. The
Little White Lady expresses, in touching terms,
in a note to 'ler verses, her sense of this gentle
courtesy, "The benevolent condescension,"
ays she, "of that amiable and interesting young
My, to the iinforttmate writer of those simjilo
Ik will remain engraved upon a grateful mem-
cry, till the vit.d .ipark that now animates a heart
l!ia! too sensibly feels, and too seldom cxperi-
cicessueh kindness, is for ever extinct."
In the meantime, Colonel \Vildman, in occa-
spa.!', interviews, had obtained further particulars
oi the story of the stranger, and found that jjov-
s'tv^vas .added to the other evils of ber forlorn
33iiisol,ued state. Her name was Sophia Hyatt.
MO was the daughter of a country bookseller,
but both her parents had died several years be-
-fs. At their death, her sob.' dependence was
'pen her brother, v ho allowed her a small an-
nuity on her share of the property left by their
f.itber, and which rem.iined in bis hands. Her
brother, who was .i captain of a mercb.mt vessel,
removed with his family to America, k'.iving her
almost alone in the world, for she bad no other
rr|,iti\e ill England but a cousin, of «liom she
knew .ilinost nothing. She receiveil ber annuity
•tgularly for a time, but unfortunately ber brotlu'r
lied in the West Indies, leaving Ins atlairs in
confusion, and his est.ite overhung bv several
commercial claims, wbieli tlire,itciu'(l lo swallow
lip the whole. I'nder these disastrous circum-
stances, her annuity suddenly ceased ; she b.id
in \ain tried to obtain a renewal of it from the
widow, or even an account of the state of ber
brotlu'i's allairs. Her letters for three years past
bad remainetl unanswered, and she would have
been exposed to the horrors of the most abject
want, Ijiit for a [)ittance ipiarterly chjled out to
her by her cousin in England.
Colonel Wildman entered with characteristic
benevolence into the story of her troubles. Ife
saw that she w.is a helpless, uninotected being,
unable, from her intirmities and her ignorance
of the world, to prosecute her just claims. He
obtained from ber the address of ber relations in
America, and of the commercial connection of
ber brcthor; promised, through the medium of
bis own agents in Liverpool, to institute an in-
quiry into the situation of her brother's affairs,
and to forward any letters she might wiite, so as
to insure their reaching their place of destin.iticm.
lns|)ired with some faint hopes, the Little
White Lady continued her wanderings about the
Abbey and its neighborliood. The delicacy and
timidity of ber deportment increased the inter-
est already felt for her by Mrs. Wildman. That
lady, with ber wonted kindness, sought to make
acc|uaintance with her, and inspire her with con-
fidence. She invited her into the Abbey ; treated
her with the most delicite attention, and, seeing
that she bad a great turn for reading, offered her
the lo.m of any books in ber possession. .She
borrowed a few, particularly the works of Sir
Walter Scott, but soon returned them ; the writ-
ings of Lord Byron seemed to form the only
study in which she delighted, and when not occu-
j)ied in reading those, her time was passed in
])assionate meditations on his genius. Her en-
thusiasm spread an ide.il world around her in
which she iiioved and existed as in a dream, for-
getful at times of the real miseries which beset
her in her mortal state.
One of ber rhapsodies is, however, of a very
mel.incholy cast ; anticipating ber own de.itb,
which her fragile frame and growing iiibrmities
rendered but too probable. It is he.ided by the
following paragraph.
" Written beneath the tree on Crowbolt Hill,
where it is my wish to be interred (if 1 should die
in Newstead)'."
1 subj(.in a few of the stanzas : they are ad-
dressed to Lord liyron ;
'Thou, while thou staml'st beneath this tree,
While l)y thy foot this earth is jiress'd,
Think, here the wanderer's aslies be — ■
And wilt lliou say, sweet be thy rest !
" 'Twould add even to a scrapli's bliss
Whose sacred charge thou then ni.iy bc^
To guile — to guard — yes, liyron ! ye\
That glory is reserved for me.
^!i
t
in
COS
NEWSTEAD ABBEY.
'i ij
Mi'' I!
m.
W:?.
" If woes hclow niny plead above
A frail heart's crmrs, mine forgiven,
To tiiat ' liij;li world' I >oar, wliere 'love
Survisin^ ' forius the lilibs of Heaven,
"0 whercsoc'or, in realms above,
Assiyii'd niy spirit's new abode,
'Twill watch thee with a seraph's love,
Till thou too soar'at to meet thy God.
" And here, beneath this lonely tree —
Jiencalh llu; earth thy feet have preis'd,
My du^t shall sleep— once dear to thee
These sceiiev- here may the wanderer rest !"
In the midst of lic-r reveries and rhapsodies,
tidin^js reached Newstead of the tintiiiiely death
of Lord I'.yron. How they were reLei\ed by this
humljle but passionate devotee I coidd not as-
eertain ; her life was too obscure and lonely to
finnish much personal anecdote, but amonj; her
poetical elTusions are several written in a broken
an?l irrej^ular manner, and evidenily under yre.at
agitation.
The followin;; sonnet is the most coherent and
most descrifitive of her peculiar state of mind ;
" Well, thou art gone— but what wert thou to me?
I never saw thee — never heard thy voice,
Yet my soul seemed to claim affiance with thee.
The Roman IkuiI has sunj^ of fields Klysian,
Wiiere the soul scijourns ere she visits earth ;
Sure it was there my s])irit knew thee, iiyron !
Thine imaj,;e haunteth me liUe a jiast virion ;
It liatli enshrined itself in my heart's core ;
'Tis my soul's soul — it fills the whole creation.
For I do live but in that world ideal
Which the muse peopled with her britjht fancies,
And of that worhl thou art a monarch real.
Nor ever earthly sceptre ruled a kingdom,
With Bw.ay so potent as thy lyre, the mind's do-
minion."
Taking all the circumstances here adduced
into consideration, it is evident that this strong
c.Ncitement and exclusive occujjation of the
mind upon one subject, operating upon a sys-
tem in a high state of morbid irritability, was
in danger of producing that species of mental
derangement called monomania. The poor little
being was aware, herself, of the dangers of her
case, and alluded to it in the following passage of
a letter to Colonel W'ildman, which presents one
of the most lamentable pictures of anticipated
evil ever conjmed up by the liunian mind.
'■ I have long," writes she, " too sensibly felt
the decay of my mental faculties, wliich 1 con-
sider as the certain indication of that dreaded
calamity which I anlicijiate with such terror. A
strange idea has long liaimted my mind, that
Swift's drca<lful fate will be mine. It is not ordi-
nary insanity 1 so much api)rehcnd, but some-
thing worse — absolute idiotism !
"Osir! think what 1 must suffer* from such
an idea, without an earthly friend to look up to
for protection in such a wretched state — exposed
to the indecent insidts which such spectacles al-
ways excite, lint I dare not dwell u])on the
thought ; it would facilitate the event I so much
dreacl, and rontempl.ite with horror. Yet I can-
not help thinking from ])eo])le's behavior to me
at times, and from after retlections upon my con-
duct, that syminoms of the disease arc already
apparent."
Five months passed away, but the letters writ-
ten by her, and forwarded by Colonel Wildman
to America relative to her brother's affaj,,
niained unanswered ; tlie in(|uirics instiuii„i' i*'
the Colonel had as yet proved ei|ually f'uitl '
A deeper gloom and dcspontkncv now sicmd'i
gather upon her mmd. She begiui to tilk f
leaving Newstead, and repairing t„ London ',
the vague hope of obtaining relief (jr re(lrcs,'l,
instituting some legal jirocess to .isn rtain 'in'l
enforce the will of her deceased brotjur. \\ '
elapsed, however, before she could siimnioii-l
sufficient resolution to tear liersclf away finn, .f!.
scene of poetical f.iscination. The follimii.
simple stanzas, selected from a nuiidnT wiir,'n
about the time, express, in luunble iliymtb, t|..
melancholy that preyed upon her spirui ;
" Farewell to thee, Newstead, thy timerivcn towers
Si;all meet the fond gaze of the pili;iiin n,, mor-';
No more m.ay she roam through thy wall' , ly
bowers.
Nor muse in thy cloisters at eve's ptn,ivc hour
" Oh, how shall [ leave you, ye hills and ye daks
When lost in sid musing, though >,t1 not imHc-t
A lone pilgrim I str.ay — .Mi ! in tli'jsc Imnly valt>, '
1 hoped, vainly hoped, that the pil-iim miMin ,[.<,_
" Yet rest is far distant--in the dark vale of dcith,
Alone I shall find it, an out(■a^t fuilnrii—
liut hence vain complaints, though by fni tunc bereft
(Jf all that could solace in life's eaily inurn.
" Is not man from his birth doomed a pil;,;iim loro.im
O'er the world's dreary wilds, wlieiite hy fon;;i.c',
rude gust,
In his pall), if some flowrct of joy eli.iniol In !.|of si,
It is torn and its foliage laul low in the i!u>l."
At length she fixed upon a day for licr tkp.ir-
ture. On the day previous, she paid a farcwdl
^isit to the Abbey ; wandering o\er iicry part it
the grounds and gartlen ; pausing and linijeriii:;
at every i)lacc ])articularly associated witii the
recollection of Lord Iiyron; and passing' a lunj
time seated at the foot of the niomiinent, which
she used to call " her altar," Seeking Mrs. WiU-
man, she placed in her hands a sealed packet,
with an earnest recpiest that she would nut open
it until after her departure from the neigliborhdod.
This done, she took an affectionate leave of her,
and with manv bitter tears bade farewell ti tk
Abbey.
On retiring to her room that evening, Mr;.
\Yildman could not refrain from inspecting tlic
legacy of this singular being. On opening the
jiacket, she found a number of fugitive poems,
written in a most delicate and iiiiiuitc hand, .ind
evidently the fruits of her rewries and medita-
tions during her lonely rambles ; from iliesc the
foregoing extracts ha\ e been m.ule. These were
accompanied by a volumimuis letter, written «i;h
the pathos and el<H|uence of genuine feeling, ."id
depicting her jjeculiar situ.ation and singular st.ito
of mind in dark but painful colors.
"The last time," says she, "that I had the
pleasure of seeing you, in the garden, you aiktd
me why I leave Newstead ; when 1 told ynu my
circumstances <d)liged me, the expression ol con-
cern which I fancied I observed in your lonk and
manner would have encouraged nie to have been
explicit at the time, but from niv iu.ibility ot ex-
pressing myself verbally."
She then'goes on to detail precisely her pecuni-
ary circumstances, by which it appears that her
whole dependence for subsistence w:is on an al-
lowance of thirteen pounds a \ ear from her cousin,
NEW.STEAD AUUEY.
r.oo
■r brother's affairue.
'"Klines in.iiiut,,i h,
"'li-'ncy now 5ucmc,|.„
'"■', ''^H'"' 1" lalk if
P'""".' U, London. .„
'« ri'lR'f „r rnlr,,, i,,
"fss to asi'i nam ,^,1
nsc.l l.rothn-. W,,^,
"1-' '•■iiiilii bummon.ia
iKTsclfauiiyfn,,,,,',:
"""• Tlu' foll„u;r'.
rum a nunihiTuiifi,;
1 Iiuiiilik' ihviiRs, -h..
on licT spinii :
lliy liini.--riven Idwih,
'''tlic liil.niiiii Ml, nii.n''
rouyli thy wall. . ,,',
at eve's peii,ive hour.
e liilK and ye dales,
tliout,'li svl iiMt imhlc-1,
! in tli'j'ic liiiicly valc>,
It the iiili;rim ini;;lit ust,
e (lark v.ilc of ile.-\!li,
itca-^t fi 111.. Ill—
hiiiif^h hy f.. mine bereft
life's e.iily mum.
nmed a pil^'iim t.i ro.im
ihls, wlieiiLc hy furiuiie'i
if j(iy eh.inL-e.l to Mofj,,
111 Urn ill ihu ihisi,"
1 a (lay fi.r her ckp.ir-
5, she paid a farLuill
ills,' "\'<-'r eiery part i.|'
)ausiii>5 and iin;,'eri!i,,'
associated willi the
; and passinj,' a ions
ihc momiment, which
' Seekiii.ii Mrs. Wild-
nds a sealed piickct,
t slie would not open
»in the iU'i.ulihorhdod,
;ti(i]iate leave of lur,
bade farewell li the
tliat evenin;,', Mrs.
from inspectiii;,' the
ng. On opening the
:t of fuLjitivc poctnj,
nd niinute hand, .ind
reveries and mcilit.v
olcs ; from these the
t made. The^e were
us letter, w ritten with
genuine feelini;. and
ion and singular state
colors.
lie, •' that I had the
ic garden, you asked
wlien 1 told ynii my
lie expres^ion of con-
vcd in your look and
^0(1 me' to have been
n my inability of ex-
precisely her peciini-
it ajiiiears that her
stcnce wa.s on an al-
vcar from her coiisii).
:, bestowed it through ,1 foclinj,' of prule, lest
' nim^e'bliould eome upon the parish. Durin;^'
I ' vi'ar.s till'* P'"'""^^'-' '"'"^ been augnientenl from
h r si.iirces, to twenty-three pounils, but the
ne.irit had shrunk witliin its original bonnds,
'-': ii,is vK-lded so grudgingly, that siu; could not
riliiireof its coniiiuiance from one ([u.irter to
VjtlkT. More than once it had been witliliekl
r. shtjl'it pretences, anil she was in constant
-«dle''t 1' should be entirely withdrtiwn.
••[lis Willi extreme reluctance," observes she,
■••hat 1 li''^*-' *"" '^'"' ''■'<P"S'-''l '">' imfortunati'
.nation; hut 1 thought you expecteil to know
I'liieihiiv more of it, and I feared that Cohuud
Vi.iilniaii, deceived by appearances, might think
■ V.lani ill 110 immediate w.iiit, and thai the de-
1 of .1 few weeks, or months, respecting the
-.jjirv, can he of no inateri.al consequence. It
j.ihsiihitelv necessary to the success of the busi-
•lijthat L'l'ilonel Wildui.an should know the ex. u:t
■tiieofmvcircumstances without reserve, that he
r„;v be enabled to make a correct representation
.>lthem to any gentleman whom he intends to in-
;;^^t|^dul. I presume, if they are not of Americ.
ihiiibelvci, li.ive some connections there, through
»:;.in my friends may be convinced of the reality
;iav distress, if they pretend to iloubt it, as 1
■;ii|.oa' lliey do. Hut to be more explicit is ini-
r.isible; it would be too humili.iting to ])ar-
[.d.nui: the' circumstances of the embarrassment
;r. ahicli 1 am nnh.ippily involveil — my utter
.;.s:;tiition. To disclose all might, too, be liable
; an inference which I hope I am not so void of
i.iiiaiy, of natural jiridc, as to endure the
t!; J.^lit of. I'tirdon me, madam, for thus giving
•.;i»lile where 1 have no right to do— compelled
: throu' myself upon Colonel Wihlmtin's hu-
' ni.aity. to eiitre::t his earnest exertions in my
I b.h.df.fiir it is now my only resource. Yet do not
I t.'niiidi despise me for thus submitting to im-
P'.i'.'ius necessity — it is not love of life, believe
j.e I! is nut, nor anxiety for its ])reservation. I
■anot say, ' There are things that make the
veld dear to me,' — for in the world there is not
:.:. 'hject to make ;;/(• wish to linger here another
hr, cnihl 1 lind thtit rest and peace in the grave
vr.i.'h 1 have never found on earth, and I fear
'■a be denied me there."'
.■\niithcr part of her letter develops more coin-
p'.vtely the dark despondency hinted at in the
i! ::c!iision of the foregoing extract— and ])resents
I a laicntahle instance of a mind diseaseil, wdiich
ight in vain, amidst sorrow and calamity, the
i'let consolations of religious ftiith.
"That my existence has hitherto been pro-
, l)c;ed," s,iys she, "often beyond what I have
thought to have been its destined period, is
I astonishing to myself. Often when my situation
bibccn as desperate, as hopeless, or more so,
;:?!'"il)le, than it is at present, some unexpected
""•.rpoiition of Providence has rescued inc from
• fjte that has appeared inevitable. I do not
piraciilarly allude to recent circumstances or lat-
:-rycar-,, for from my earlier years I have been
: !■:.■ child of Providence — then why should I dis-
'■-it 115 care now ? I do not <//j'trust it — neither
-'trust it. 1 feci perfectly unanxious, uncon-
■'"■fd, and inditTcrent as to' the future; but this
^-f't trust in Providence— not that trust which
[■'"■« claims its protection. I know this is a
■:ni>ihlc indifference — it is more— for it reaches
';-*interniin,able future. It turns almost with
>-,;-iist from the bright prospects which religion
'"•rs lor the consolation and support of the
"'■itched, and to which I was early taught, by au
idniost ailored mother, to look forw.ird with hope
ami joy ; but to me they cm ali'ord no consid.i-
tion. Not that I doubt the sacreil truths tliat
religion inculcates. I cannot doubt though I
confess I have sometimes tried to ilo so, bec.ius.'
I no longer wish for th:\t iminort.dity of which it
assures us. My only wish now is for rest and
peace— endless rest. ' I'or rest — but not to feel
'tis rest,' but I cannot delude iiiyse If with the
hope that such rest will be my lot. 1 feel .in in-
ternal evidence, stronger than tiny arguments tliat
reason or religion cm enfortx', tli.it I li.ue th.it
within me which is im])erisli.ible ; tlmt drew not
iis origin frcjin the ' clod of the valley.' With
this conviction, but without ti lujpe to brighten
the prospect of that dretul future :
" ' I dare ii.it look beyoii.l the l.iinli,
Vet eaiiiiot hope (or peace liefoie, '
" Su(di an unhappy frame of mind, I am sure,
mailaiii, must excite your comiuiser.ition. It is
perhtips owing, in part at Icist, to the siditude in
which 1 have lived, I may stiy, even in the midst
of society ; when 1 have mixetl in it ; .is my int'ir-
niities entirely exclude me from th.it sweet inter-
course of kindred spirits — th.it sweet sohK'c of re-
tined converstition ; the little intercourse I luue
tit any time with those around nic ciiinot be
termed conversation — they are not kiiulied spirits
—-and even where circuiii,t.inces htive iis^oiitited
me (but rtirely indeed) with superior and culti-
vtitcd minds, who have not dituhiiiud to tulinit
me to their society, they could not liy till their
generous et'tbrts, even in early youth, lure from
my ihirk soul the thoughts that loved to lie buried
there, nor inspire me with the courage to attempt
their disclosure ; and yet of till the jdetisures <;f
liolished life which ftmcy litis often picturetl to
me in such \ ivid colors, there is not one thtit 1
have so ardently coveteel as that sweet reciiiroci-
tion of idetis, the supreme bliss of enlightened
minds in the hour of socitd converiie. 15ut thi.-. 1
knew was not decreeil for me —
" ' Vet tliis was in my nature- -'
but since the loss of my hetiring I have tdways
been incapable of verbal eonvcrsalio!!. I need
not, however, inform you, madiiui, of this. Al
the tlrst interview with which you f.ivorcel me,
you ciuickly discovered my jieculhir itiihappiiie:,.!
in this respect ; you perceived from my in. inner
that ;iny attennK to drtivv me into c mversation
would be in vain — htid it been ollierwi.e. per-
haps you would not luue disihiitied now .ind
then to luive soothed the h/Uely wanderer with
yours. 1 have sometimes fancied wIumi 1 have
seen you in the walk, thtit you seeined to wirdi to
encourtige me to throw myself in your vv.iy. Par-
don me if my imtigination, loo tipt to beguile me
with such ilear illusions, has deceived me into too
presumptuous an idea here. You must luiv c ob-
served that I genertiUy endeavored to tivoid both
you and Colonel Wildnian. It w.is to spare your
generous hctirts the ptiin of witnessing distress
you could not alleviate. Thus cut oil", ;is it were,
from all luimtui society, I have been compelled
to live in a world of my own, and certtiinly with
the beings with which my world is peo[)led, I am
at no loss to converse. lUit, thougli I love soli-
tude anel am never in want of subjcts to amuse
my fancy, yet solitude too much indulged in must
necessarily have an unhappy effect upon the mind,
which, when left to seek fur resources wholly
no
NRWSTKAD AIJIJKV.
im
mi
f, •■■ '■
within itself will, ima%'oi(lably, in hours of Rloom
anil tlcsiiondincy, brood ovtT rorrodiiij,' tlioughls
that jiruy upon the spirits, and sonu'timi's termi-
nate in rontirined niisantlirdpy— especially with
those who, I'tom constitution, or early misfor-
tunes, are iiK'lined to melanelinly, and to view
Iniman nature in its dark shades. And have I
rot cause for i,'loomy rellections? The utter
loneliness of my lot would alone have rendereil
existence a curse to one wiioni nature has formed
glowinj; with ;dl the warmth of soiial affection,
yet without an object on which to plac:e it — witli-
oul one natural connection, one earthly friend to
anpeal to, to shield me from the contempt, indi^;-
mties,and insults, to which my deserted situation
ctmtinually exposed me. '
I am [;i"int,' li>ii;,' extracts from this Utti'r, yet I
cannot refr.iin from subjoining; another letter,
wliicli de[>iiMs her feelinijs with respect to New-
stead.
" Permit me, madam, a;;ain to re((uest your
and Colonel Wildman's acceptance of these ac-
knowledj^ments which I cannot too often rei)eat,
for your unexampled j;f)odness to a rude stranj^er.
I know I ou;.;lU not to have taken advantaj^e of
your extreme ^;oo(l nature so frequently as I have.
i should have absented myself from your fjarclen
durin<^ the stay of the company at the Abbey,
but, as I knew I must be j^one lop^' before they
would lea\e it, 1 could not deny layself the indul-
j;ence, as you so freely i^ave mc your jjermission to
continue my walks, but now they are at an entl.
I have taken my last farewell of every dear and
interestinjf spot, which I now never hope to see
again, unless my disembodii'd spirit may be per-
mitted to revisit them. — Yet O! if Providence
shovdd enable me aj^ain to support ni\ self with
any dcj,'ree of respectability, and you should
{,'rant me some little humble shed, with what joy
shall I return and renew my deli;;htl'ul rambles,
liutdear as Newstead is tonic, I will never aj,Min
come under the same imliappy circumstances as
I have this last time — ne\ er without the means of
at least securing; myself from contempt. How
dear, how very ilear Newstead is to me, how un-
coni|uerable the infatuation that jiossesses mc, 1
am now j^oing to gi\e .i too convincing jiroof. In
offering to your accejn:'.nce the worthless tritles
that will accompany this, I hope you will beliexe
that I have no view to yinu- amusement. I dare
not ho])e that the consideration of their being the
products of yovu' own gp.rden, and most of them
written there, in my little tablet, while sitting at
the foot of iitv A/td, — I could not, 1 cannot resist
the earnest desire of leaving this memorial of the
many hap|)y hours I have there enjoyed. Oh !
do not reject them, madam ; suffer them to re-
main with yini, and if you slu)ulil deign to honor
them with a jjcrusal, when you read them repress,
if you can, the smile that I know will too natu-
rally arise, v\hen you recollect the appearance of
the wretched being who lias dared to devote her
whole soul to the contemplation of such more
than human excellence. Vet, ridiculinis as such
dcNotion may appear to somi , I must take leave
to say, that if the sentiments which I have enter-
tained for that exalted being could be duly appre-
ciated, I trust they wenild be found to be of such
a nature as is no dishonor even for him to have
insjiircd," ....
" I am now coming to t.akc a last, last view of
scenes too deeply impressed ujion my memory ever
to be effaced even by madness itself, O madam !
may you never know, nor be able to conceive
the agony 1 endure in tearing myself from all
ih.nt the world contains nf dc.nr and McnM i, ,,
the only s\w\. on earth where I c;in over h™,.T,
peace or comfort. May every hll•sHin^; \W J,u
lias to liestow atfentl you, or r.iilicr, niw -
lung, long live in the enjoyment of tiiu ,y i^,
of y(uir own (laradise, in secret mtIu-jih (,,,"' '
"orld that has no real blessings to bistow v;,.,
I go— but () might I dare to hope ili,it whinM',,
are enjoying these blissful scenes, a lliuiijhi rf
the unhappy wanderer miglit sonulimn ™.
v<un- mind, how soothing would such ,in idci W
if I dared to indulge it— could ynn %k m; i;n,l
at this moment, how needless would it \k in ,!!
sure you of the res|)ectful gratitude, \\k ann.
tionate esteem, this heart must i vcr Ijuir v ]
both."
The effect of this letter upon the ^miM:
heart of Mrs. Wildman may be morennililvc r..
( eived than exjiressed. Ibr tirst ini|iiilu' «.i<')
give a home to this |)oor honielcss In iii',;, anfl !i
li\ her in the midst of those sients \\\w\\ ffirnul
her earthly paradise. She conuininiriitiil l^r
wishes to Colonel Wildman, and lliev iiKt u'h
an immedi.ite response iu his j^incrnih Jx.sdm,
It was settled on the sjiot, that lui ;ip;irlimn!
shoiilil be fitted u|) for the Little Wliiti.' I,n(i\ m I
one of the new farmhouses, and eviry arraiij;!. |
ment made for her comfortable ,ind piriii.inir;
maintenance on the est.ite. W'idi ii wnmin's
liromi)t benevolence, Mrs, Wildman, liefiiri' <li»
laid her head upon her i>illow, wrote the folluv.
ing letter to the destitute stranger:
"N'KwsrKAii AniiKv,
" Tuesday night, .SL-|iU.Miiln;r :o, i?;_;.
" On retiring to my bedcliamlicr this cvcni:,;
1 have opened your letter, and (annul Idsoair.o-
ment in expressing to you the stron;,; intcnst
which it has excited both in Colonel Wildman '
iind myself, from the details of \oiir luTuliir •,;• .
nation, and the delicate, and, let me add,i.'le^.ia
language in which they are conveyed. 1 .iin
anxious that my note should reach you prcvioa j
to your departure from this nei;^lil)orhiiud, apd I
shoi'ild be truly happy if, by any arnui^i'iiKiit W
your accommodation, 1 could prevent the ncccv
sily of your undertaking the journey, Col^nd
Wildman begs me to assure you that he will ;i!e
his best exertions in the investigation of tli >c
matters which ytni have conlided to him, a'J
should you remain here at ))reseiU, or reUirn a::..,n
after a short absence, I trust we shall lir.d imar.;
to become better acquainted, and to coinince y.u I
of the interest I feel, and the real saiisf.iction :t
would afford mc to contribute in any wiiy to yojr
comfort and happiness. I will only now addn;v
thanks for the little packet which 1 received »:n
your letter, and I must confess that the letter liai
so entirely engaged my attention, that 1 hue n'. ^
as yet had time for the attentive perusal ot ;:i
ciunpanion.
" Uelieve mc, dear madam, with sincere iou .
wishes,
" Yours truly, „
" LOL-I.SA Wll OMAN.
Early the next morning a servant was (;;:• I
patched with the letter to the Weir M'^ f""':":;
returned with the information that the Little « !• - j
Ladv had set off, before his arrival, in emiipai;
with the farmer's wife, in a cart for .Noitiiii,'lw M
to take her place in the coach for London. .* =• 1
Wildman ordered him to mount horse insianii,,
"'•IV ' f:incvTrh„n,.(,,
^■v^'rybk.ssinjiihe;,,,:,
"."• "•■ f'XlHT, nuv u„
iJoyiiK'nt „f th, 4:1,.,,,;
S' t" l"i|'>^^tluiHh,.n\„,
"1 scenes, ;i il„„|jj|„' ,,■
nut,'ht Sdnieiimcs nw.
: woiil'l siidi an hb i,f
rniild ymi s(V.' my hti;-
(Hess W(.iil(l It \k If) s!
fill Ui-iititude, ilii. at;.-.
lit iiiu-,t ever IxMr ■,. ,
NRNVSTKAn AHUKY,
ftll
folio* »i^
bcr hand be
The ht:,\r^
nor ipiif. ■""'
im'iiti-'rinn
ip.i
ih all "ipcc'li ■'^"f' deliver the letter intd
fore tlic (le|iiirtiirc of tlu: cD.ieli
r lit >;i»i<l ticlinj;s spareil neither wlii|
[| arrjveil :it Nottin^th.iin oil a K'""l'
ihe tiiwn a crowd olistructed liim in
the pri"''
1 sire
jt. Me checked his horse to
ikl- iiisMay ilirminh it (|iiietly. As the crtiwd
I 111 the ri^lit and lel'l, ho beheld a human
llie pavement. — It was the corpse
■iioncd
bulvKin:
Little' White Lady I
It
seems that on nrruin^; in town and dismount-
ing' from the i art, the lariiur's wil\' had jLiried
witli lier to ),'() on an erraiul, and the White Lady
continued on toward the co,u
■li-otll-
li
in^; a street a cart came alon^,' dri\en at a rapid
r.Ue, The driver c.dled out to her, but slie was
too deaf to iiear his Miice or the ratiliii); of his
cart. In .m instant siic was knocked do\sn by the
horse, and the wheels passed over her body, and
she died without a ifroan.
Xkwstkah AniiKv,
night, Sfptoiiiljcr :u, iS;;.
sdchanibcr this cvcnm,'
r, and cannot Ium; ;i im- 1
>-ou the stron;.; intcnst
th in Colonel U'ildma |
ails of Noiir peculi.ir -.;■ 1
and, let ine .•i(l(l,elc^'.
■ are conveyed. 1 .11:1 |
.)uld reach ymi prcvioa
this nei;^hh(irhiii>d, sr:J I
by any air.iiij^eincnt tor |
:ould prevent the nccci-
; the jonrney. Ccl'ini!
ure yon that he will ;iiC I
l; investigation of llr-cj
I confided to him, r.d
; ))reseiu, or return .i;:.i;n |
rust we bhall tindmwr.s
ted, and to convince y.u |
I the real satisf.iction :
bute in any way to yoar I
I will only now addir.y
n which f received u;:h I
)nfess that the letter k.i
ttention, that 1 h:ivcrr;|
attentive perusal ct ::;
dam, with sincere gofJ
' Louis.\ Wll.DM.VN.
nj^ a servant wns a:--
the Weir Mill farm. 1)1- I
;ion that the Little Wl"'-' I
his arrival, in comp.wy j
a cart for Nottinglunii
oach fur Lond.m. M'''
mount horse instantly)]
ividown tfi
ir. account of
Abbotst'ord.
evpect much
liken at tlv
ffiv mcmorv s
ihail (lisapjio
crj'Jeness of i
Late in the
r.vcJ at the ;i:
«h(TC 1 init 11
f:on l'!ihnhui
aaJ its vicini
"mi,'hty mill
of mtroductic
th'; poet, .md
lercit lie had
b'.:a,4s, that :i
an;atriision.
iJn the folk
is\. I set off
the way thitln
fird. and seni
kr.or of intr
h,id written tl
Melrose Abb.
«3'jld be a;;r
been made a
;a the course
While the
t:nie to siirve
Li\.v.\a: \):-\:
j'Vvepmj; do'
bj; a snii;4 ;^
r:ral and pi
v.holc front
iMi'diately
dk horns, in
i^e, ami ^'iv
ta'.i modest
*■« just 0111
*'.'.'iS surro
t;>ea to tho
}jr.l in front
Ihe noise
T-^i-t of til
«arder of t
'tipin;; ou i
ABBOTSFORD
BY
WASHINGTON IRVING.
!::T(!own W perform my promise of giving voii
r .iccoimt of a visit made many years since lo
Abbotsford. I hope, however, that you do not
evpect much from me, for the traveMing notes
ukcn at the time are so scanty and vague, and
r;vniemorv so extremely fallacious, that I fear I
ihi':', (lisai)point you with the meagreness and
c;:Lncss of my details.
Lite in tlie evening of August 29, 1S17, I ar-
r.eJatthc ancient little border town of .Selkirk,
uhvre I put up for the night. I had come down
Irci ildinhurtjh, partly to visit Melrose Abbey
and its vicinity, but chiv:fly to get sight of the
"niii;lity minstrel of the north." I had a letter
of introduction to him from Thomas Campbell,
tho poet, and had reason to think, from the in-
terest lie had taken in some of my earlier scrib-
b!;:;,'\ that a visit from me would not be deemed
an;atriisinn.
Mn the following morning, after an early brcak-
f.i;t. 1 set ol'f in a postehaise for the Abbey. On
thiMvay thithor I stopped at the gate of Abbots-
fird, and sent the postilion to the house with the
kttcr of introduction and my card, on which 1
b,l written that I was on my way to the ruins of
Mclrnsc .Abbey, and wished to know wheliier it
yjKi be a;;rceahle to .Mr. Scott (he had not yet
b'.'.amadea liaronetj to receive a visit from me
a the course of tlie morning.
Willie the postilion was on his errand, I had
t::ae to survey the mansion. It stood some short
d.^taace below the road, on the side of a hill
SAvepinj; down to the Tweed ; and was as yet
bjtasnti,' ;,'enilenian's cottage, with something
f:;ral and pictniesiiue in its ap|)earance. The
I'liole front was overrun with evergreens, and
i-nttii'diately above the i)ortal was a great pair of
w linrns, branching out from l)eneath the foli-
iis't, and ;,'iving the cottage the look of a hunt-
•J,.; I".l:,'e, The huge baronial pile, to which
'iiH modest mansion in a manner gave birth,
ws just emerging into existence ; part of the
*'lls surr.)unded" by scatfolding, already had
"=« tolhe height of the cottage, and the court-
ywdin friMit was encumbered bv masses of hewn
stono,
The noise of the chaise had disturbed the
quiet of the establishment. Out sallied the
«ardcr of the casllo, a black grevhound, and,
'"Ping on one of ilic blocks of stone, began a
furious barking. His alarum brought out the
whole garrison of dogs :
" Uoth mongrel, puppy, wlielp, ami hound,
And curs of low degree ; "
all open-mouthed and vociferous. — I should cor-
rect my quotation ;— not a cur was to be seen on
the premises: Scott was too true ;v sportsman,
and had too high a veneration for pure blood, to
tolerate a mongrel.
In a little while the "lord of the castle" him-
self made his appearance. I knew him at once
by the descriptions I had read and heard, and
the likenesses that had been published of him.
He was tall, and of a large and powerful frame.
His dress was simple, antl almost rustic. An old
green shooting-coat, with a dog-whistle at the
buttonhole, brown linen pantaloons, stout shoes
that tied at the ankles, and a white hat that h.ad
evidently seen service. He came limping u|) the
gravel walk, aiding himself by a stout walking-
staff, but moving rapidly and with \ igor. By his
side jogged along a large iron-gray stag-hound
of most grave demeanor, who tnok no part in the
clamor of the canine rabble, but seemed to C(m-
sider himself bound, for the dignity of the house,
to give me a courteous recei)tion.
Hefore Scott had reached the gate he called
out in a hearty tone, welcoming mc to Abbots-
ford, and asking news of Campliell. Arrived at
the door of the chaise, he grasped me warndy by
the hand: "Come, drive ilown, diive down to
the house," said he, " ye're just in time for
breakfast, and afterward ye shr.li see all the
wonders of the .'Mibey."
I would h.ive excused myself, on the plea of
having .already made my breakfist. " Hcnit,
man," cried he, " a ride in the morning in the
keen air of the Scotch hills is warrant enough for
a second breakfist."
I was accordingly whirled to the portal of the
cottage, and in a few moments found myself
seatetl at the breakfist-table. There w.as no (uie
present but the fimily, which consisted of Mrs.
Scott, her eldest d.iughter Sophia, then a fine girl
about seventeen. Miss Ann Scott, two or three
ye.irs younger, Walter, a well-grown stripling,
and Ch.\rles, .1 lively boy, eleven or twelve years
of age. 1 soon felt myself quite at home, and my
614
ABBOTSFORD.
"1
:]: '
'^■■,^')
heart in a glow with the cordial welcome I experi-
enced. I had thought to make a mere morning
visit, but found I was not to be let off so lightly.
" You must not think our neighborhood is to be
read in a morning, like a newspaper,'" said Scott.
" It takes several days of study for an oliservant
trn veller tiial has a relish for auld world trumpery.
Alter breakfast you sjiall make your visit to .Mel-
rose Al)bey ; I shall not be able to accompany
you, as I have some household affairs to attend
to, but I will put you in charge of my son Charles,
who is very learned in all things touching the old
ruin and the neighborhood it stands in, and he
and my friend Johnny )!ower will tell you the
whole truth about it, with a good deal more that
you are not called ujjon to belie\c — unless you
be a true and nothing-douliting antiquary. When
you come back, I'll take you out on a ramble
about the neighborhood. To-morrow we will
take a look at the Yarrow, and the next day we
will drive o\cr to Dryburgh Abbey, which is a
fine old ruin well wortli your seeing" — in a word,
before Scott had got through with his plan, I
found myself committed for a visit of several
days, and it seemed as if a little realm of romance
was suddenly opened before me.
iM-n:
After breakfast I accordingly set off for the
Abbey with my little friend Charles, whom 1
found a most sprightly and entertaining com-
panion. He had au ample stock of anecdote
about the neighborhood, which he had learned
from his father, and many rpiaint remarks and
sly jokes, evidently derived from the same source,
all which were uttered with a Scottish accent and
a mixture of Scottish phraseology, that gave them
additional fla\or.
On our way to the Abbey he gave me some
anecdotes of Johnny Bower to wliom his father
had alluded ; he was sexton of the parish and
custodian of the ruin, employed to keep it in
order and show it to strangers ; — a worthy little
man, not without ambition in his humble sphere.
The death of his predecessor had been mentioned
in the newspapers, so that his name had appeared
in print throughout the land. When Johnny suc-
ceeded to the guardianship of the ruin, he stipu-
lated that, on his death, his name should receive
like honorable blazon ; with, this addition, that it
should be from the pen of Scott. The latter
gravely pledged himself to pay this tribute to his
memory, and Johnny now lived in the proud
anticipation of a |joetic immortality.
1 found Johnny Bower a decent-looking little
old man, in blue coat and red waistcoat. lie
received us with much greeting, and seemed de-
lighted to see my young companion, who was
full of merriment and waggery, drawing out his
peculiarities for my amusement. The old man
was one of the most authentic and particular of
cicerones ; he pointed out everything in the
Abbey that had been descriljed by Scott in his
" Lay of the Last Minstrel;" and would repeat,
with broad Scottish accent, the passage which
celebrated it.
Thus, in passing through the cloisters, he made
me remark the beautiful carvings of leaves and
flowers wrought in stone with the most exquisite
delicacy, and, notwithstanding the lapse of cen-
turies, retaining their sharpness as if fresh from
the chisel ; rivalling, as Siott has said, the real
objects of which they were imitations :
'• Nor herb nor fluwrct glistened there
But was c.irscd in tlic cloister arches as fair."
He pointed out also among the carved worl:
nun's head of much beaut\ , which he s,ii(' < ..
always stopped to admire-^" fdr the shirraKi^ '
wonderful eye for all sic matters." ' ' ■^^'
I would observe that Scott seemed to (' -;. , I
more consequence in the neit^hboihodii 'i^,'',"
being sheriff of the county than from Uia"k "
In the interior of the Abbey joliimv"
conducted me to the iilentical stone en i , i
Stout William of Ueloraine and the monk vH
their seat on that memoraljle ni^'ht wha-'*'
wizard's book was to be rescued from the -v"
Nay, Johnny had even gone beyond Scoti in iC
minuteness of his antiipiarian' research, for ii!l I
had discovered the very tomb of the wizard,
position of which had been left in doiilji bv th..
poet. This he boasted to have asctrtain'.V'v I
the position of the oriel window, aiul the d'n 1
tion in which the moonbeams full at r,;'ht
through the stained glass, casting the sh,ido\ to 1
the red cross on the s\wl ; as had all bien spixi-
fied in the poem. " I ])()inted out the whole to ihe '
shirra," said he, "and he could na' i,'.unb,ivbu':; i
was varra clear." I found afterwanl th.it Scott
used to amuse himself with the siniplicitv of th;
old man, and his zeal in verifying every p.is,,i;e
of the poem, as though it had been .Tutii'enticlili-
tory, and that he always acc|uiesced in liisdid;::-
tions. I subjoin the description of the m.<.Ki
grave, which called forth the antiquarian research
of Johnny Bower.
" Lo warrior ! now the cross of red,
Points to the gr.ive of the iiu;^hty de.id ;
Slow moved tlie monk lo the IniKid lb(;!-tone,
Which the bloody cross was traced uimjii :
lie pointed to a sacred nook :
An iron bar the warrior look ;
And -he monk made a sign with his willierod lupl.
The grave's huge portal to expand.
" It was by dint of passing strength,
Tliat he moved the massy stone at length.
I would you had been there to see,
How the light broke fortli so gl.irioiisly,
Streamed ujnvard to thcelianetl roof,
Anil through the galleries far aloof !
And, issuing from the tonih,
Showed the monk's eowl and visage pale.
Danced on the dark brown warrior's mail,
And kissed his waving plume.
" Hefore their eyes the wizard l.iy,
As if he had not been dead a day.
His hoary beanl in silver rolled,
He seemed some seventy winters old ;
A palmer's amice wrapped him round ;
With a wrought .Spani-.li baldric l)ound,
Like a pilgrim from beyond the sea ;
H'S left hand held his book of might ;
A ^ilver cross was in his right ;
The lamp was phaced beside his knee."
The fictions of Scott had become facts «ith
honest Johnny Bower. From constantly Ininj
among the ruins of .Melrose Abbey, and pointing
out the scenes of the poem, the " L.i\ ol the l.i>i
Minstrel" had, in a manner, become interwoven
with bib whole existence, and 1 doul)t whether
he did not now and then mix uji his own idcnttty
with the personages of some of its cantos.
He could not bear that any other production 3l
the poet should be preferred to the " Lay of u'f
Last Minstrel." " Faith," sr.id he to me, " U'sjU''
e'en r.s gude a thing as .Mr. Scou ha^ written—in
if he were stannin' there Fd tell him so-aii' t'"-'"
he'd lauff."
ABBOTSFORD.
CIS
, '^'.''>^'y JMinnv-
'"^"tic.il stone on, :,
""^' a>Hi the ,n„nk ;;;
'^°'-^''''^, ni;,'ln.l,„.h
ii-'saicd fn,m the ,.rj^, '
■)nc Ix'vond Scott in ivJ I
I'an.in rcscarcli, fo, L
tomb of tlie wiwrd tV
tt^'ii left in doubt bv .};■
to have ascertained bv i
"indow, and the djr,;.
"ibcams fell at ni-h-
, casiiiiu ,i„, sbadiwioj
,; :'^ li^ul allheen spec:. I
intcdoiittliewli(,lcto;he
.' coidd na'jjainsavba'-
itl afterward that Scr.;t"
ill till' simplicity of the
verifying' t-'very'pasM-'e
bad been nulhenliclw.
icc|uiesced in liisdedtc-
criptioii of the wizard's
theanticiuarianrescarcli
ad I)ernme facts with
rom ennstantly lii in,
.' Abbew and pnintnig
, tbe '• La\ of the Last
.'r, become interwoven
and I tliuiii! uhelhcr
ix lip his own identity
c of its cantos,
iiy other production i
(1 to the •' Lay of tiie
.id he tonic, "it'sji:?!
Scoit has written— .in
1 tell him so— an' then
H.MV,i5 loml in his praises of the affability of
ir.tt "He'll come here sometimes," said he,
'f ;,j ,reat folks in his company, an' the first I
It-wof it is '^'* ^'"''''^' '^^"'"1'' ""' ' Johnny !—
;;,nvIiowcr! '-and when I j^ooiit, I am sure to
l-ra'tcd "i'h :i j"'^i- or a pleasant word. He'll
.'j ^nd crack and laiiff wi' me, just like an
,i'l „'jf^,_and to think that of a man who has
Sanawfu' knowled^'e o' history !"
'fine of the in;4i'nious devices on which the
[ ,f,r'".v little man prided himself, was to place a
I ;...'''pinpnsitc to the Abbey, with his bacjk to
i,'','!,j bid him bend down and look at it between
t'ilc'S' Tliis. he said, gave an entire different
asri'ct to the ruin. Folks admired the plan
,'!ii,mn?lv, bat as to the " Icddies," they were
Lj,ijn;v (ill the matter, and contented themselves
I ,;;:i loi.kin,;' fn>iii under their arms.
A- Inhnnv Bower picpied himself upon showing
I (viTvthin',' laid down in the poem, there was one
-,1,'e that per|)lexed him sadly. It was the
t opcuin;; of one of the cantos :
■•If thou woulil'st view fair Melrose aright,
(li) visit it liy the pale moonlight ;
Fiirthej;ay heams of lightsome (Lay,
Gild Ijut to lloul the niiiis gr.iy," etc.
h consequence of this admonition, many of
ihemnit (le\out jjilgrims to the ruin could not be
c::r.i':iteil with .i daylight inspection, and insisted
mild be nothing, unless seen by the light of
i-.innon. Now, unfortunately, the moor jhines
k: f"r a part of the month; and, what is still
r.'c unfortunate, is very apt in Scotland to be
l■J^.■:!re(l by clouds and mists. Johnny was
■orciv puzzled, therefore, how to accommodate
r.:;;Hietry-stniek visitors with this indispensable
Hooa^hine. At length, in a lucky moment, he
(it'v'.icd a siibstiiiite. This was a great double
tilloiv candle btuck upon the end of a pole, with
«i;;ch he could conduct his visitors about the
r:;:b un dark nights, so much to their satisfac-
tj", '.iiat, at length, he began to think it even ])re-
fir.iblc to the moon itself. " It does na light up
.1 ti;e .Abbey at ,aince, to be sure," he would say,
"b;:t then you can shift it about and show the
a;ll rum bit by bit, whiles the moon only shines
oai'r.e side.''
Honest Ljlmny Rower ! so many years have
eLipsed since the time I treat of, that it is more
1I1.111 probable his simple head lies beneath the
«il' (if his fivorite Abbey. It is to be hoped
b humble ambition has been gratified, and his
CMe recorded by the pen of the man he so loved
ar.ilhiinured.
.■\;::r my return from Melrose Abbey, Scott
F'li.'jed a ramble to show me something of the
:-" landing country. As we sallied forth, every
li j'lnthe esi.iblishment turned out to attend us.
There was the old stag-hound Maida, that I have
p.i;iy mentioned, a noble animal, and a great
wnte of Scott's, and Hamlet, the black "grey-
a«nd, awihl, thoughtless youngster, not yet a'r-
'■'vdtothe years of discretion'; and Fiiiette, a
J'-'a.i!iful setter, with soft, silken hair, long pen-
Kjit ears, and a mild eye, the parlor favorite.
"lien in front of the house, we were joined by a
S''?emnnuated greyhound, who came from the
k'-chen wagging his tail, and was cheered by Scott
IS M old friend and comrade.
ki our walks, Scott would frequently pause in
conversation to notice his dof;s and speak to thcin,
as if rational companions; and indeed there
appears to be a vast deal of rationality in these
faithful attendants on man, derived from their
close intimacy with him. .Maida de])orted him-
self with a gravity becoming his age ami size, and
seemed to consider himself called u])on to pre-
serve a great degree of dignity and decorum in
our society. As he jogged along a little distance
aliead of us, the young dogs waiuld gambol about
him, leap on his neck, worry at his ears, and en-
deavor to tease him into a frolic. The old dog
would keep on for a long time with imperturb.ible
solemnity, now and then seeming to rebuke the
wantonness of his young companions. At length
he would make a sudden turn, seize one of them,
and tumble him in the dust ; then giving a glance
at us, as much as to say, " \ov. see, geiillenien,
I c.in't help giving way to this nonsense,'' would
resume his gravity and jog on as before.
Scott amused himself with these ])eculiarities.
" 1 make no doubt," said he, " when .Maida is
alone ivith these young dogs, he throws gravity
aside, and plays the boy as much as any of them;
but he is ashamed to do so in our company, and
seems to say, ' Ha' done with your nonsense,
youngsters ; what will the laird and that other
gentleman think of me if .1 give way to such
foolery ? '"
-Maida reminded him, he said, of a scene on
board an armed yacht in which he made an ex-
cursion with his friend Adam Ferguson, 'i'hey
had taken much notice of the boatswain, who was a
fine sturdy seaman, and evidently felt tiattered by
their attention. On one occasion the crew were
" ])ipe<l to fun," and the sailors were dancing and
cutting all kinds of capers to the music of the
ship's band. The boatsw.iin looked on with a
wistful eye, as if he would like to joii in ; but a
glance at Scott and Ferguson showed that there
was a struggle with his tlignity, fearing to lessen
himself in their eyes. At length one of his me'ss-
mates came up, and seizing him by the arm,
challenged him to a jig. The boatswain, con-
tinued Scott, after a little hesitation complied,
made an awkward gambol or two, like our friend
Maida, Init soon gave it tip. " It's of no use,"
said he, jerking up his waistband and giving a
side glance at us, " one can't dance always
nouther."
Scott amused himself with the licculiaiilies of
another of his dogs, a little shamefaced terrier,
with large glassy eyes, one of the most sensitive
little bodies to insult and indignity in the wdrld.
If ever he whipped him, he said, the little fellow
would sneak ot"f ;ind hide himself from the light o{
day, in a lumber garret, whence there was no
drawing him forth but by the sound of the cliop-
ping-knife, as if chopping up his vietu.als, when
he would steal forth with humble ami d(iwni:ast
look, but would skulk aw.iy again if any one re-
garded him.
While we were discussing the humors and
])eculiarities of our canine companions, some
object provoked their spleen, and ])r(Hiuc(,'d ,1
sharp and petulant barking frcnii the smaller try,
but it was some time before Maida was sufiiciently
.irouseil to ramji forward two or three hounds
and join in the chorus, with a deep-mouthed bow-
wow !
It was but a transient outbreak, and he returned
instantly, wngging his tail, and looking up dubi-
ously in his m.ister's f.ice ; uncertain whether he
woulil censure or applaud.
" Aye, aye, old boy ! " cried Scott, " you have
i!i
M
;ti
■ilm
■Ht-^
616
ABBOTSFORD.
done wonders. You have shaken the Eildon hills
with your roaring ; you may now lay by your
artillery for the rest of the day. Maida is like
the [,'reat gun at Constantinople," continued he ;
" it takes so long to get it ready, that the small
guns can fire off a dozen times first, but when it
does go off it plays the very d — 1."
'I'luse siin|)le anecdotes may serve to show the
delightful play of Scott's humors and feelings in
private life. His domestic animals were his
friends; everything about him seemed to rejoice
in the light of his countenance ; the face of the
luimhlesl dependent brightened at his approach,
as if he ainici]jated a cordial and cheering word.
I had occasion to observe this particularly in a
visit wliich we paid to a quarry, whence several
men were cutting stone for the new edifice ; who
all ])aused from their labor to have a pleasant
" cr;u;k wi' the lairtl." (Jnc of them was a bur-
gess of Selkirk, with whom Scott had some joke
about the old song :
" I'p with the .Soiiters o' Sell-irk,
And down with the Earl of Home."
Another was precentor at the Kirk, and, besides
leading the psalmody on Sunday, taught the lads
and lasses of the neighborhood dancing on week
days, ill the winter time, when out-of-door labor
was scarce.
Among the rest was a tall, straight old fellow,
with a healthful conijilexion and silver hair, and a
small round-crowned white hat. He had been
about to shoulder a hod, but pauseil, and stood
looking at Scott, wii'' a slight sparkling of his
blue eye, as if waiting his turn; for the old fel-
low knew himself to be a favorite.
Scott accosted him in an affable tone, and
asked for .i pinch of snuff. The old man drew
forth a horn snufl-box. " Hoot, man," said
Scott. " not that old mull : where's the bonnie
I'rench one that 1 brought you from Paris ? "
" Troth, your honor," replied the old fellow,
" sic a mull as that is nae for week-days."
On leaving the ((uarry, Scott informed me that
when absent at Paris, he had purchased several
trilling articles as presents for his tlependents,
and among others the gay snuff-box in question,
which was so carefully reser\ed for Sundays, by
the \eter;in. " It was not so much the value of
the gifts," said he, " that |)leased them, as the
idea that the laird should think of them when so
far away."
The old man in question, I found, was a great
favorite with .Scott. If I recollect right, he had
been a soldier in e.irly life, and his straight, erect
person, his ruddy yet rugged countenance, his
gray hair, and an arch gleam in his blue eye, re-
minded me of the description of Kdie Ochiltree.
1 tiiul tli.it the old fellow has since been intiocluced
by Wilkie, in his picture of the Scott family.
We ramliled on among scenes which had been
familiar in Scottish song, and rendered classic by
jiastoral muse, long before Scott had thrown the
rich inantle of his jioetry over them. What a
thrill ol pleasure did 1 feel when first 1 saw the
bi(ioin-( ()\ ered tops of the Cowden Knowes, ])ee|)-
ing p.!)o\e the gray hills of the Tweed : and what
touching .issociations were called up by the sight
of latrick X'.ile, (lalla Water, and the I')raes of
Y.irniw! livery turn brought to mind some
household air — some almost forj^otten song of the
nursery, by which I had been luHcl m sKfn
my childhood; and with them the Inok,
voices of those who had sunt' tlitin m/ ■ i
were now no more. It is these mcJdelKs.chm',
in our ears in the days of infancy, and ti)iini.c' 11
with the memory of those we'liavc luvid aV
who have passed away, that clotlu' Scdtiishi '-i
scape with such teiuler associations, lln' .'
tish songs, in general, have somuthinj; iii;r-,..
cally melancholy in them; (juiiij,', infill. pi
ability, to the pastoral and loiuK l:fu of tr .,
who com|)osed them ; who were oltun muif si;,
herds, tending their Hocks in tl.e suliiarv riu
or folding them among the naked hills. Manvij I
these rustic bards have passed ,iway, wuh',;;,
leaving a name behind them ; nothing iLmair,Mf
them but their sweet and toucliinj,' sun^s, ukich i
live, like echoes, about the places tliex onci- ;
habited. Most of these siini)lc cti'iisions n
pastoral poets are linked with some favoritu hurt 1
of the poet ; and in this way, not a mount.iiiiot
valley, a town or tower, green shaw or running j
stream, in Scotland, but has sonic iinpuLir n.r
connected with it, that makes its very name i !
key-note to a whole train of delicious fancii:, ar.il
feelings.
Let ine step forward in time, and mention h •*
sensible 1 was to the power of these siinj)lc iv.rs.
in a visit which 1 made to Ayr, the birthplace i(
Robert Burns. I passed a whole nioinin;,' al)n;;t
" the banks and braes of bonnie Doon," withh)5
tender little love verses running in my hcaii. I
founil a poor Scotch car])entcr at work amongthe
ruins of Kirk AUoway, which was to he dn-
verted into a school-house. Finding the purpife
of my visit, he left his work, sat doun williinein
a grassy grave, close by where I iurn-^' father »«
buried, and talked of the jioet, wlniia he hiJ
known personally. He said his sonj^s uitc
familiar to the poorest and most illiterate cf '.he
country folk, '^ ami it siriitn/ to liim as if Ik
country luid }:;rozvn more bcnuliful, sinct jiiinu
luiti ivrittcn /lis bonnie little soni^'s ,thnit it.''
I found Scott was quite an enthusiast on she
subject of the popular songs of his country. xA
he seemed gratified to find me so alive to thiin.
Their effect in calling up in my mind the tw\-
lections of early times and scenes in which I h:ul
first heard them, reminded him, he said, of the
lines of his poor friend, Leyelen, to the Scoitish
I muse :
•' 111 youth's first morn, alert and ijay,
Krc rolling years liail ii;>-->ed au.iy,
Kcnienihored like a lUornniL; dre,am,
I heard the dideel ineasure.i dual,
III many a lii|iiid winding note,
Along the bank of 'I'eviot's stieain.
" Sweet sounds ! that oft have soothed to re^t
The sorrows of my guileless breast,
And thanued .away mine infant tears;
Fond memory shall your strains repeat,
Like distant echoes, dniibly sweel.
That on the wild the traveller i.ear.s."
Scott went on to expatiate on the |iopular sings
of Scotl.md. '-Thev are a part of our natiuiui
inheritance," said he, " and sonielliin;.; Hut «>•'
mav truly call our own. They have no loiti:,n
taiiil ; thev h.ive the pure breath of the heather
and the mountain bree;ie. All genuine le,^ltl^wte
races that have descended from the .niuant
Britons ; such as the Scotch, the Welsh, am the
Irish, have national airs. The Fn-lish li.ne
none, because they aie not natives ol the soil, or,
ABBOTSFORD.
517
" t''^'in the looks V
'tli.sfind,Kl„s,cha„.
f '"f^'nq-. and conn ;
''■"'.'""'^■^"'tu.liL,,:
■'^soci.uions. The >ri
li'ivc somcthinsr i,,,,^,^;
■'"', ""'"■^'' in nlhtniJ
•""I '"ihK lif,of i|..,
x'wo-cnficnmcrcshJ
ks in ii:e s„l,tnrvsk/,
li^' nakal liill,. .\i,^„,,;j
-' I'-'-''^'-'' •''"ay, «,ii;„„,
'ciii; nothing r,n,ai„Hf
',' '<Hidiing sun-s, «li,c!,
lilt-' pl.-uTs ihn onct m-
'C simple cifusions of j
"•itIisoiin,'f;ivi)ritdiarat
way, not a niountaiiiot
gifcn sliaw or running
nas some jjopular :a '
iiakfs Its vcrv name a
of delicious fancies .i;-.(]
tiiiK', and mention h^*
t-T of tlieso simple a:'?
' A\i-, the birthplaa- ,'f
a u hole mornin,:; al)n;;t
Ixmiiie IJiion," Willi his
running' in niv lieail. I
.'liter at worknmoni;the
which was to he \..:,-
:. Findin;^' the jiiirpuje
■k, sat down wiili niein
vliere liiirns' fatluiua;
10 jioet, whom he Lad
said his sunijs lure
(1 most illiterai'i iif :he
(■//III/ to him lu ii tki
hcuiitifid, siiwc j!iinis
'Ic so/ii^s about it."
J an enthusiast on ;he
igs of his ((Himry. ami
id me so alive to ihtn.
in my mind the ixol-
I semes in which I haj
(1 liilii, he said, of liie
-cvden, to the Scui:;.-h
derl and t;ay,
lassed awav,
norniiij; iheam,
ure,-> llual,
il; Mole,
eviot's slieani.
Iiavo soot lied to ^e^t
ele^s breast,
line infant tears ;
r strains rejieat,
ilily sweet,
traveller iiears."
'2 on the popular H'WS
I part (d ipiir iiatiun..i
id soinethini; that wc
riiey have no foreign
breatll (d' the liealher
All ^,vniiine legiiimaie
d from the aiiiRiit
li, the U'el-h. and the
'Idle i:n-lbh have
natives of the soil, or,
.'.i;t .are mongrels. Their music is all made
'34 foreign scraps, like a harlequin jacket, or a
'':,■•, if mosaic. K\cn in Scotland, \vc have
'-iparatively few national songs in the eastern
I tri \diere we have had most iiidux of strangers.
M'J^'il.iM Scottish song is a cairngorm -a gein
lf,,jro«n mountains ; or rather, it is a i)recimis
te'i-ofold times, that bears the national char-
jcti'r -lamped upon i:— like a cameo, that shows
diithe national visage was in former days, bc-
fJ'Mhe breed was crossed."
While Scott was thus discoursing, \vc were pass-
i-' nil a narrow gK n, with the dogs beating about,
torhiand left, when suddenly a black cock burst
ipfliiu'wing.
".■\lul ' cried Scott, " there will be a good
ii-,;f(ir Master \V. liter ; we must send him this
i'.iv\vitli Ills gim, when we go home. Walter's
iKiamilv sjiortsman now, and keeps us in game.
1 iuvv pretty nigh resigneil my i;un to him ; for
liim! 1 cannot trudge about as briskly as for-
isvrlv."
ii,;r ramble took us on the hills rnmnianding
r i\t'.'nsive prospect. " .\ow," said Scott. " 1
b'.L'brouiiht yon, like the pilgrim in tiic l'il;.;riiii's
Ii'.'asN to the top of the Delectable Mountains,
'.a.: 1 may show you all the goodly regions here-
ijAi'.i. Yonder is Lamiuerimiir, and Smal-
bvliiie; and there you have (iallashiels, and Tor-
« iKllie, and ("lallawatcr ; and in that directicui
m see Teviotdale, and the Braes of Yarrow ;
an! Hiirick stream, winding along, like a silver
ir.rv. I. to throw itself into the Tweed."
He went on thus to c.dl o\er names celebrated
uSci'itidi song, and most of which had recently
.'.■.liied a romantic interest from his own jien.
la fact, I saw a great part of the border country
spre.ul out before me, and could trace the scenes
of 'Jii'so poems and romances which had, in a
iwaier, hew itched the world. I ga/ed about me
t-r a time with mute surprise, I may almost say
nillulisappoiiitment. I beheld a mere succes-
>; nnfi^ray wa^iiiL; hills, line beyond line, as far
ii i;iy eye coulil reach ; monotinious in their
i>pe:t. and 50 destitute of trees, that one could
aliinst see a stout ily walking along their profile ;
and the far-famed Tweed ap])eared a naked
slMiii.llowin^f lietween bare hills, without a tree
crliiiiket on its hanks ; and yet. such had been
till' ma.;ie web of poetry and romance thrown
O'vr ilie whole, that it had a greater charm for
:.'..''; ill the richest scenery 1 beheld in Mn;^laiid.
I'-' 'ilvinot help giving utterance to my thoughts.
>'.<w luiinined for a moment to himself, and
I ' 'all ;.;rave ; he had no itlea of having his muse
coiajiliaiented at the expense of his native hills.
"I; maybe partiality,"' said he, at length ; " but
tuny eye, tliese gray liills and all this wild border
C'iniry have beauties peculiar to themsehes. I
i.v. '.lie very nakedness of the land ; it has some-
i'.;!: hold, and stern, and solitary about it.
^^-i:! I have been for some time in tlie rich
i-''M'v about Edinburgh, which is like oriia-
f'-^i'.id ;4arden land, I begin to wish myself back
3; ■::! anion;.; my own honest gray hills'; and if I
''>1 not sec the heather at least once a rear, /
!w / !/wil,':/ i/ir .'"
li'.e!a-t words were said with an honest warmth,
•"'-;rap,inied with a thuiii]) on the ground with his
JM.hy wayid'einphasis. that showed his he.irt
|«> in his speech. He vindicated the Tweed.
''"■« a beautiful sti earn in itself, and observed
■'•"lie did not dislike it for beiu'; b.ire of trees,
?f'bali|y from ba\ing been much of an angUr in
'•'■' lime, and an angler does not like to iiave a
strearn overhung by trees, which cmbarr.iss him
in the exercise of his rod and line.
I took occasion to jilead, in like manner, the
associations of early life, for my disappointment
in respect to the surrounding scenery. I had
been so accustomed to hills crowned witli fiuests,
and streams breaking their way through a wilder-
ness of trees, that all my ideas of romantic l.iiul-
scape were apt to be well woodeil.
"Aye, and that's the great charm of your
country," cried Scott. " ^'()u lo\e the forest as I
do the heather — but 1 would not have you think I
do not feel the gliuy of a great woodland ])ros-
pect. There is nothing I shouUl like more than
to be in the mitlst of one of your grand, wild,
original forests with the idea of hundreds of
miles of untroildeii forest around me. 1 once
s.vw, at I.cith, an immense stick of timber, just
landed from America. It nuist have l)een aii
enormous tree when it stood on its native soil, at
its full height, and with .ill its branches. 1 ga/ed
at it with admiration ; it seemed like one of the
gigantic obelisks which are now and then brought
from I'>gypt, to shame die pigmy luonuinents of
hhirope ; and, in fact, these vast aboriginal
trees, that have sheltered the Indians before the
intrusion of the white men, are the miuuimenis
and anti(|uities of your country."
The conversation here turned upon Campbell's
poem of " (iertrude of Wyiuuing." as illustrative
of the poetic materials furnished by American
scenery. Scott spoke of it in that liberal style
in which I always found him to speak of the
writings of his contem|)(Maries. lie cited several
]iassages of it with great delight. "What a jiity
it is," said he, " that Campbell cloes not write
min-e and ofteiier, and give full sweep to his
genius. He has wings that would bear him to
tlie skies ; and he does now and then spread
them grandly, but folds them uj) again and re-
sumes his perch, as if he was afraid to lauiiL-li
away. lie don't know or won't trust his own
strength. l'".\tn when he )ias done a thing well,
he has often misgivings about it. lie left out
several line passages of his Lochiel, but 1 got
him to rest(ue some of them. Here Scott le-
jieated se\eral passages in a magnilicent style.
" Wh.it a grand idea is that," said he, " .djoiit
])roplietic boding, or, in common parlance,
second sight —
' Cdiiiiiig events cist tbcii sliadows berae,'
It is a noble thought, and nobly expressed. And
there's that glorious little poem, too, of' Hohen-
lindeii ; ' after be had written it. he did not -seem
to think much of it, but considered some .if it
' d d druiu and irumiiet lines.' I got him to
recite it to me, and 1 believe that tlu^ delight I
felt and expressed had an clfect in inducing him
to print it. The fact is," added he, " Camiiliell
is, in a manner, a bugbear to himself. The
brightness of his e.irly success is a detriment to
all bis further effort';. //(• is af/iUii of the ihiidou
that his 07.'/i J'a//ii- rasts hi-fa/c hiz/i.""
While we were thus chatting, we heard the rc-
jKu-t of a gun among the hills. " That's W.dt.-r,
I think.'" said Scott " he li.is finished his morii-
ing's studies, and is out with his gun. I shouKl
not be surprised if he had met with the bl.ick
cock ; if so, we shall have an addition to our
l.irder. for Walter is a pretty sure shot. "
I inquired into the nature of Walter's studi'.^s.
" l-'aith," said Scof., " I can't say miicli on that
lie.ul. I .1111 nut over bent upon m.ikmg proiligies
1
i''i
1
if
If:"?
mm
'H
518
ABI30TSF0RD.
of any of my chiklrcn. As to Walter, I taught
him, while a boy, to ritlc, ami shoot, ami speak
the truth ; .is {,0 the other parts of his eilucation,
I leave them to a very worthy youiij; man, the
son of one of our clergymen, who instructs all
my children."
I afterwartl became accpiainteil with the young
man in i[uestion, (leorge Thomson, son of the
minister of Melrose, and found him ])ossessed of
much learning, intelligence, .ind modest worth,
lie used to come every day from his father's re-
sidence at Melrose to superintend the studies of
the young fi)lks, and occasionally took his meals
at Abbotsford, vhere he was highly esteemed.
Nature had cut him out, Scott used to say, for a
stalwart soldier, for he was tall, vigorous, active,
and fond of athletic exercises, but accident h.ul
marred her work, the loss of a limb in boyhood
having reduced him to a wooden leg. He was
brought uj), therefore, for the C'luuch, whence
lie was occasionally called the Dominie, and is
su|)posed, by his mixti're of learning, simplicity,
and amiable eccentricity, to have furnished many
traits for the character of Dominie Sampson. I
believe he often acted as Scott's amanuensis,
when composing his novels. With him the young
people were occupied in general during the early
])art of the day, after which they took all kinds
of healthful recreations in the o|)en air ; for Scott
was as solicitous to strengthen their bodies as
their minds.
We had not walked much further before we
saw the two Miss Scotts advancing along the hill-
side to meet us. The morning studies being
o\er, they had set off to take a r.mdile on the
hills, and gather heather blossoms, with which to
decorate their hair for dinner. As they came
bounding lightly like ycnmg fawns, and their
dresses lluttering in the pure siunmer breeze, I
w.is reminded of Scott's own description of his
children in his introduction tu one of the cantos
of .Marmion —
" My iiii])'^, thotigli linrily, bold, am! wikl,
As best liefits tlie imiunt.Tiii iliilil,
Their suiniiicr gaiiilinls tell ami iiiourn.
An I anxious .isk will spring rcluni.
Anil liir<ls .mil l.inihs ag:iin lie g;iy.
And Ijlossoms clothe the hawthorn spray ?
*' Vcs, ]irattlors, yes, tlie (l;\isy's (lower
Again shall jiaint your sinnmer bower ;
Attain the liawthorn sliall sn|iply
Tlie garlands you ilcli;^Iit to tie ;
The lambs upon the lea sliall bovnid,
The Willi birds carul to the round.
And while you frolic light as they,
Too short shall seem the sununer ilay."
As they approached, the dogs all sprang forward
and gambolled around them. They i)layetl with
them for a time, and then joined tis with counte-
nances ftdl of health and glee. Soi>hia, the eld-
est, was the most lively and joyous, ha\ing much
of her f.ither's varied spirit in conversation, and
seeming to catch excitement from his utirds and
looks. Ann was of ipiieter mood, rather silent,
owing, in some measure, no doubt, to her being
some years younger.
At dinner Scott had laid by his half-rustic dress.
and appeareil clad in black. The girls, too, in
comi)leting their toilet, had tw istetl in their hair the
sprigs of purple heather which they had gathered
on the hillside, and looked all fresh and 1,!(„,|t -,
from their breezy walk. ' =
There was no guest at dinner hut m,. ''
Around the table were two or three du"^ !■ "'
tendance. Maida, the old stag-lmund," „ ;■ : '.
seat at Scott's elbow, looking up wistfuHv- i !
master's eye, while l'"inette, the put mH'''
jilaced herself near Mrs. Scott, hy whom, 1 ! 1
perceived, she was completely spoiled. ' '" '
The conversation haiipeniiig to turn (r. •' ,
merits of his dogs, Scott sjioke with j^rtnt !; i-"
anil affection of his f.ivorite, t'aniii, win, 1, , '
picted by his side in the earlier int;ia\ii;-,'f
him. He talked of him as of a real fi-ii.ii,l ui/-,
he had lost, antl Sophia Scott, loiikin;^ uijaniilv
in his face, observed that I'apa shed a I'm tt,-,r'i
when i)oor Camp died. I may here meniii.n j?.. I
other testimonial of Scott's fon(lne>s fur h^ i!;,-, |
and his hiniionnis mode of showing it, «hi.;^i
subsetpiently met with. R:;inliling with luni,:,;
morring about the grotmds adjacent tuthrli.i-v,,
1 observed a small anlicpie mununieiu, 011 ul.irh
was inscribed, in (iothic char.ictera—
" Cy git le preux Percy."
(Uete lies the brave I'eny.)
I paused, suijposing it to be the tonih nf srco
stark warrior of tl'.e olden time, hnl .Scutt dr-..v
me on, " I'ooh! " cried he, '" it's nothiiv: ln:t hm
of the monmnents of my nonsense, nf winch miu'H 1
lind enough hereabouts." I learnt aUirward th,u
It was the grave of a favorite greyhmmd.
Among the other important and iMivilo'.'cil
mend)ers of the household who figined iiiatiir.;
ance at the dinner, was a l.uge gray cat, u',;-.
obser\ed, was regaled from time to time With;:;-
bits from the table. This s.ige grimalkin u,b,i
f.ivorite of both master and mistress, and ^l^.|;t ,.'.
night in their room ; and Scott laughav,;ly n'l-
served, that one of the least wise p.u;-. of tiki:
establishment was, that the wimlowwas lel'tdpiri
at night for jniss to go in and out. The cat .is-
Slimed a kind of ascendancy among the liiiaiiri;-
peds— sitting in state in Scott's ariu-ili.ia-, ai.i!
occasionally stationing himself on a chair htsule
the diun-, as if to review his siibjeils as ih'.y
]iassed, giving each dog :i cuff beside tlie i.ai« r.j
lie went by. This clapper-clawing was alw.iys
taken in good ]>art ; it appeared to he, in t.ut. a
mere act of sovereignty on the p.irt of griiiiaik:i:,
to remind the others of their vassala;.;e; wliich
they acknowledged by the most perfect -AoivMr
cence. A general harmony prevaileil lii.;.u,:'.
sovereign and stdijects, and thev would all tW.i
together in the sunshine.
Scott was full of anecdote and ceavei^.'.t.Mn
during dinner. He made some admirable re-
marks upon the Scottish character, and si'.ikc
strongly in jiraise of the (|uiet, orderly, 1i"1K'-'.
conduct of his neighbors, which one would li.uilly
expect, said he, from the tiescendants ol" i:!"-j
troopers, and borderers, in a neighborliuoi! I.im.u
ill old times for brawl and feud, and vi'il. ,\<^'<\
all kinds. He said he had, in his oI'Mcial ia|i.>.a;v
of sheriff, administLred the laws fur a niiinlur I
vears, during which there had been \e;\ icx
trials. The "old feuds and local inteiesls, .'.r.a
rivalries, and animosities of die Scotch, li"«eM.'r,
still slept, he said, in their ashes, and m!;.;!'.--
easilv be roused. Their hereditary keli'.u If
names w.is still -reat. It w.is not always s.ile t"
have e\en the game of foot-ball between \iIa;;CN
the <dd clannish spirit was too apt to hre ik n;il.
The Scotch, he said, were more rcveniielui tli-'-i
li
ABBOTSFORD.
cin
''■''" f'-.sh and U„o,.,
""8
=" '''"IILT hut lliu V
'' ^i''K-iuHimi, ,,„•,;■■,
''■^"i;-; up wistfullvi,''"
I' li-'ly spoilal. '
l"-''\"'o to liirii on -..
'■"^■' ,<: •""!', wl,n,,c''
.-^ "'"•■' iv;il fn,,|,l '^i,,,^ .
^coil Joukinj,. uiKiriv
'■i|msIk'c1 ;irrA;,,,r'i
1 lll.ly iK-TClnclKlw,-,-.
s '.'"Illness fdi-liM!..'^
'•v^iinhlm-wiihl,,,,,!.-..
'^•■idjaLtiittiiili, 1,,,.,,
>-■ iiionunu'iu, 01, ubi
iiar,u:ti.Tb—
-•ux Percy."
iMVL' IVuy.;
bf tlie loml) „f jf,.,,.,
n tiiiif, but Sccitt (ir.x
', " il's noihiivj i,i:;„,,.
onscnsL',(,f will, !n„;;;
I Ic.-iriu aluruarJ ;:.,.,:
itc j^ivylioiiiul.
tii'laiit and |.n»ilcvi
U 111) I'lLIUad ill ,;!1,:;,;.
laryc gray cat. \\l],.,[
1> tiiiK- to timo with ;::.
i s.agc i;iiina!kiii «,i-,i
1 iliibtix'ss, and ^;l^'. •.
Scdtt laii,i;li:ii_-|y ,...
ast wisi' |)aris onlk,;
J windiiwwas IlU iiptn
anil (int. The cat ,,v
L-y anion;.,' the <iii,ii;r,:-
U'ott's arm-ch.ia-, .iiu!
isclf on a cliair hi-^n:o
his sulijccts as ili'.v
rul'f" hcbidc thciar- si
r-chi\viiig was aiu.iys
cared to be, in fact, a
tiic part of griiiiail;:;'.,
Iicir vassala,L;c ; wl.icli
must |)crfcct ;iii|i:;i.;"
ly |)rcv,iilcd licluii.:!
I tbcv would all ?!ii:i
otc and C(iiivc;>.i!!i'n
some adniiruljic re-
L'liaracter, and s|«iI;o
piict, orderly, linik?;
licli one would lurdiy
descendants of iiii^
I neigiiborliood fauuJ
feud, and viol., mo n|
n his oliicial c,i|).'.('i;y
laws for a nuiiilKr -f
ll.ul iicell \r;\ fi'V
local iiitcrcsls, anJ
tiie .Scotch, lioHcvcr,
ir ashes, .■uid nuVl'.t
ereditary feclini,' l"r
,is not always s.ifc to
)all l)etween vi!la;;e=,
[(10 a])t (o lire ik nut.
uorc rcN-enyefiil tlu:i
,1 i!-
,v, Fiv'iiih ; they carried their resentments
I".',.r and would sometimes lay then\ by for
'- 'but would be snre to ynitify them in the
The .indent jealousy between the llit;lilandcrs
,,' I'li' l.owhiiiders still continued tu ;i certain
P'JllJc former lookin;,' u|)(in the hitter as an
i.^r,)!' race, less brave and hardy, but at tlie
Hiic'iime, s'uspectins,' them of a disposition to
;'■'., ^,fj upon themselves under the ide.i of
Ijcriori''^^''"'-''"'^^'''" '^'''* made them techy and
r'kluh company for a stranger on his first com-
■-'Miiinng them ; ruflhng up and inittinj,' them-
i", lUpnii their mettle on the slightest occasion,
(iiliailiohad in a manner to iiiiarrel and fight
i,i ivav into their good graces.
He iniianced a case in point in a brother of
V:n'o i'.irk, who went to take u|) Iiis residence in
-uU nci'diborhood of the Highlands. lie soon
"'vrA himself considered as an intruder, and
•'"'t ih-tc was a disposition among these cocks
ckiohill-i. to I'lX a quarrel on him. trusting that,
|.;,i,' a Lowlander, he would show the white
i..;;h;T.
For a time he bore their llings and taunts with
.TL.it ciiolncss, until one, presuming on his for-
k'.Mi'.co, drew forth a dirk, and holding it be-
;■ :e him, nsked him if he had ever seen :\ weapon
;.ic ihat in his ])art of the country. Park, who
j.j a Hercules in frame, seized the dirk, and,
» th line blow, drove it through an oaken table :
-"Vis," replied he, "and tell your friends that
,-. mm from the Lowlands drove it whore the
c.-.ii him.-ielf cannot draw it out again." All
r.r-ons were delighted with the feat, and the
•J nii that accompanied it. They drank with
1. irk til abetter acquaintance, and were stanch
i'ri'.nJi ever afterw.ird.
.^I'tcr dinner we adjourned to the drawing-
r .im. which served also f(jr study and liljrary,
.\;x,i)il the w.iU on one side was a long writing-
l.:'i!e, with drawers ; surmounted by ;i small
cibintt (if polished wood, with folding doors
ridily stiiddeil with brass ornaments, within
shi.ii Scott kept his most valu.ible papers.
.Vime the cabinet, in a kind of niche, was a
ciiii|ilcto corslet of glittering steel, with a closed
kimct, and tlanked by gauntlets and battle-
rvii. .Around were hung trojihies and relics of
nrimis kinds : ,i ciineter of Tippoo Sail) ; a
H:;lil,uid broadsword from Klodden Field ; a |)air
of Kippiin spins from Hannockburn ; and above
.■'.. a^iin which had belonged to ]\ob Roy, and
brchii initials, K. M. C, an object of peculiar
ir.tircst tome at the time, as it was umlerstood
.'"Mtt was actually engaged in printing a novel
founded on the story ot th.it famous outlaw.
^''n each side of the cabinet were liook-cases,
»u! stiircd with works of rom.intic tlction in vari-
Kjlan;,'nages, many of them r.ire and antiquated.
This, however, was merely Ins cottage library,
tie principal part of his books being at Kdii'i-
l):r^h.
liiiin this little cabinet of curiosities Scott
fcvldrih a manuscript jiicked up on the field of
».i!i'iio(i, containing copies of se\-eral songs
Fpr.lir at the time in France. The paper was
MiWodwith blood-" the very life-blood, very
P'lssibly," said Scott, "of some gay young officer,
«lio had clierislied these songs as' a keepsake
from some lady-love in Paris.""
He .idverted, in a mellow and delightful man-
ner, to tlic little half-gny, half-melanclioly, cam-
Iiaigning song, said to have been comiiosed by
Cieneral Wolfe, and sung by him at the mess
table, on the e\e of the storming of Ouebec, in
which he fell so gloriously :
" Why, soldiers, why,
•SlioiiUl we be melancholy, boys?
Why, soldiers, why.
Whose liiisiness 'tis to die !
l-'or shoillil next campaign
Send us to him who made us, boys,
We're free from p.iin :
lint should we remain,
A bottle and kind landlady
Makes all well again."
" So," added he, " the poor lad who fell at
Waterloo, in .ill |)robabilily, had been singing
these songs in his tent the night before the battle,
and thinking of the fair dame who had taught him
them, and |)roinising himself, should he outlive
the campaign, to return to her all glorious from
the wars."
I find since that Scott pulilished translations of
these songs among some of his smaller ])oems.
The evening passed away delightfully in this
(luainl-looking apartment, half study, half draw-
ing-room. Scott read se\eral jiassages from the
old romance of " Arthur," with a t'lne, deep sonor-
ous voice, and a gravity of tone that seemed to
suit the antiquated, black-letter volume. It was
a rich treat to hear such a work, read by such a
jierson, and in such a ))lace ; and his ajipearance
as he sat reading, in a large armed chair, with his
favorite hound Slaida at his feet, and surrounded
by books and relics, and border trophies, would
have formed an admirable .-11111 most character-
istic ])icture.
While Scott was leading, the sage grim.ilkin,
already mentioned, had t.iken his seat in a chair
beside the fire, and remained with fixeil eye and
grave demeanor, as if listening to the reader. I
observed to Scott that his cat seemed to have a
bl.udc-lelter taste in literature.
" Ah," said he, " these cits are a very mysteri-
ous kind of folk. There is always more jiassing
in their minds than we are aware of. It comes no
doubt from their being so familiar with witcln.'S
and warlocks." He went on to tell a little story
about a gude man who was returning to his cot-
tage one night, when, in a lonely out-of-the-way
l)lace, he met with a funeral i)rocession of cats all
in mourning, bearing one of tlieir race to the grave
in a coftin covered with a black velvet pall. The
worthy man, astonished and half-frightened at so
strange a pageant, hastened home and told what
he had seen to his wife and children. Scarce li.id
he finished, when a great black cat that sat be-
side the tire raised himself up, exclaimed " 'I'hen
1 am king of the cits!" and vanished up the
chimney. The funeral seen by the gude man, was
one of the cat dynasty.
" Our grimalkin here," added Scott. " some-
times reminds me of the story, by the airs of
so\ ereignty w hicli he assumes ; and I am apt to
tre.it him with resjiect from the idea that be iii.iy
be a great prince incog., and may some time or
other come to the throne.''
In this way Scott would make the habits and
jieculiarities of even the dumb animals about
liim subjects for humorous remark or whimsical
story.
Our evening was enlivened also by an occa-
sional song from Sophia Scott, at the request
l';i;i i ii
m
>i' ' ii
m
'}
■III
mm
km
sao
ABBOTSFORD.
(if licr fiiihcr. She never wanted to l)c asked
twice, l)ul coniijlied frankly and clieerfuUy. Her
son^s were all Scotch, sun^,' without any acconi-
])aninient, in a simple manner, hut with (^'reat
s|)irit and expression, and in their native dialects,
which nave them ai additional charm. It was
deli;^'hlful to hear her carol olf in spri;4htly style,
and with an animated air, some of those j^encrous-
spirileil old Jacobite son^s, once current amon;^
the adherents of tlie I'retender in Scotland, in
which he is desiLjnated by the appellation ol'
" The YounjT Chevalier."
These songs were much relished by Scott, not-
withstandinj^ his loyalty; (or the ut. fortunate
" Che\alier" has always been a here of romance
with him, as he has with many other stau -h . 1-
herents to the House of Hai •<'<•, nf : U ti e
' "uart line has lo=t ,"i'l it •■ 'errir in ; .K;n • e
tne sid)ject, Scott li "'Lioned a^ a •. u; :oii« fact,
that, amon;4 the jiapers of the " Chv .in. r. ' - hich
had been sidnnilted by<;over. ici ' ■ 'w i.i.iiec-
tion, he had found a memorial to i !:.irlcs lii , •
Eome adherents in America, dated i/J^S, pio[j ,..
iny to set up his standard in the back settlements.
I re;;ret that, at the time, I did not make more
particular inquiries of Scott on the subject ; the
document in ([uestion, however, in all jirobabilily,
still exists amon^f the I'retender's |)apers, which
are in the possession of the liritish {Government.
In the course of tlie evenin<,f, Scott related the
story of a whimsical pictme hani^in^' in thi' room,
which had been drawn for him by a lady of liis
acc|iuuntance. It represented the dolefid per-
]ile.\ity of a wealthy and handsome youn;..; I'-n;.^-
lish kniylit of the olden time, who, in the course
of a border foray, had been (•aptiu'cil and carried
off to the castle of a hartl-lieaded and liiLjh-
handed old baron. The unfortunate youth w;is
thrown into a dungeon, and a tall gallows erected
before the castle gate for his execution. When
all was ready, he was brought into the casile hall
where the grim baron was seated in state, with his
warriors armed to the teeth around him, and was
gi\en his choice, either to swing on the gibbet or
to marry the ban.n's daughter. The last maybe
thought an easy alternative, but unfortunately,
the liaron's young lady was hidecnisly ugly, with
a mouth from ear to ear, so that not a suitor was to
be h.ul for her, either for love or money, and she
was known throughout the border country by the
name of .Muekle-mouthed Mag!
The ])icture in ciuestion represented the un-
happy dilemma of the handsome youth, lieforc
him sat the grim baron, with a face wortlu' of the
father of such a daugluer, and looking daggers
and rat's-bane. On one siite of him was Muckle-
niouthed Mag, with an amorous smile across the
whole breadth of her countenance, and a leer
enough to turn a man to stone ; on the other siile
was the father confessor, a sleek friar, jogging
the xoulh's elbow, and pointing to the gallows,
seen in ])erspective through tlie open jjort.d.
The st(uy goes, that after long laboring in
mind, between the altar and the halter, the love
of life pre\ailed, and the youth resigned himself
to the charms of Muekle-mouthed Mag. Con-
trary to all the ]irobal)ilities of romance, the
match proved a hajjpy one. The baron's daugh-
ter, if not be.uitiful, was a most exemiilary wife ;
her husband was never troidiled with any of
those doubts and jealousies which sometimes mar
the happiness of connubial life, and was made
the father of a fair and undoubtedly legitimate
line, which still lloinishes on the border.
I |,Mve but a faint outline of ;hc story from
vague recollection ; it may, pr re
riihly ri'lated elsewhere, bv souk
-1 1.; ..r .1. i !■ .
'■clianco, lie nn
riihly ri'lated elsewhere, by some (mu uli„ ,
retain something of the deligluful hum'v',
which Scott recmmted it.
When 1 retired for the night, I found i;;,>.
impossible to sleep ; the idea of hcin'.' unil' "••
roof of Scott ; of being on the borders , i
Tweed, in the very centre of ilmt ri"ii'" ■■
had for some time past been the f.-ndm,
of romantic ficti(ni ; and above ill, t!,e rm'-
tions of the rand)le I had l.iken, tlic aimpaM
which 1 had U\kvn it, and the convers,uiii;,'uiv
had passed, all fermented in niv miii,i -
nearly drove sleep from my i)ilknv, '
On tne foll-nvii^g morning, tlie sun dwcd hijl
beams from over the hills throiigli the Knvhtuccl
window. 1 rose .it an early hoiu', :uul loukcdoutl
between the branches of eglantine win h iivcr-l
himg the casement. To my sin]iriso Scoimasl
alreaily u|) ;ind forth, seated on a fni'jmer.; ofl
stone, and chatting with the workmen iii:plii\ i]I
on the new building. I had supposed, ;iftir;hc I
time he had wasted ii])on me yestcrdnv, liiMui;;iJ
be closely occupied this morning, but li- m-
])eared like a man of leisiue, who juul ndthinv.il
do but bask in the sunshine and amuse huibiif.
I soon dressed myself and joined liuii, He
talked about his jjroposed jilans of .Abl.ui-ford; I
hajjpy woidd it have been for him could lie bvc |
contented himself with his deligluful littli; vir.c-
covered cottage, and the simple, yet lieartv nr.d I
hos[)itablc style, in which he lived at the timt ul
my visit. The great ])ile of Abbotsford, uiihik |
huge expense it ent.iiled upon him. of serv.m'.s,
ret.iiners, guests, and biironial style, was .t dran I
iijion his purse, a tax upon his exertions, and a
weight upon his mind, that tinally crushed hun.
As yet, however, all was in embry(i and per-
spective, an<l Scott ijleased him^ell' witli picf.ir-
ing out bis future residence, as he would op.': (f I
the fanciful creations of his own roiiiant'es, "1; I
was one of his air castles," he said, "which he
was reducing to solid stone and mortar." Ahrnit I
the jjlace were strewed various morsels tVdm the j
ruins of Melrose Abbey, which were to be incor-
jjor.'tted in his mansion. He bail already cm-
strueted out of similar materials a kind (ifdMi,;;
shrine over a spring, and had surmounted it hy a
small stone cross.
Among the relics from the Abbey which lav
scattered before us, was a must quaint and
antique little lion, either of red >tonc, or
painted red, which hit my fancy. 1 for.mt «hojc
cognizance it was ; but 1 shall never Iit^'C. ih:
delightful observations concerning old .Mclioscto
which it accidenlallv gave rise.
The Abliey was e'vidently a pile tliat called up
all Scott's poetic and romantic feelings; anddne
to which he w:is enthusiastically attached by the
most fanciful and delightful of bis early associ.i-
ti.nis. He spoke of it, 1 mav say, with ailcction,
" There is no telling," said he, " what irea-^iiroi
are hid in that glorious old pile. U is a t.inioiis
place for antiquarian plunder; there arc suc.i
rich bits of old time sculpture for tbc aichiuct,
and old time storv for the poet. Tlieic I'j a* ''''^
Ijicking in it as a Stilton cheese, and m ihc janie
taste— the mouldier the better."
Me went on to mention circumstances ol
"mightv import" connected with dn .W^;
which had never been touched, and which r.,iu
even escaped the researches ot Jubiwy bo«cr.
ABBOTSFORD.
C21
. ''. soniL' (,n,j ui,,, ,. ^"
'^' 'l^'liflitful hum,,;
^"io'lit- I foillKl u .,'.,
: on tliL> borders ! ( ■
'r^ "f ll>at rcpon „ .
I^e^'n the favorit, <,„
' =^'7^ -''l,tl,cruo'i'l.
;' '.■''^^•"•tlH.'a.mpar.v'ia,
'' "'L' convcrsaiinn «h, I
"'^•'' '" '"y mind, „dl
my pillow. ' ^'
"1";.;, till' sun darted hisi
-s tliniiigh (lie Inwbtiiccl
'lylym-, amllo„kdoi!t
' L'Kl.mtmc wh-h nvcr.
> my sur|.rise Scouivail
■■;iU'(l (m a fra;jiner,t nf)
the workmen tmpli,v,jf
iKid supposaLaiur'tlie
mu yi.'^tcrdav,li|.«ou!d|
s morninf,', but hv ap- ,
in-o, who had iiiuhin-;)
no and amuse liinibih'.
and jdincd luni. Hcj
d i)lan;i of Abhotsford;,
1 for him could he have]
lis (lc!i;;htt"ul little vine-,
simpk', yet heartv and I
1 lie lived at thetimtoli
of Abhotsford, with the
upon him. of servants,
■onial style, was a diaia |
»a his exertions, .ami ,i .
it finally crushed him.
as in cniliryo and p^r-
cd himself with jiictur-
cc, as he would one (f ]
lis own romances. •■]:
s," he said, "wiiichhe
c and mortar." .Ahna
irioiis morsels fi(>m the
vhich were to be inc ■.'■
lie had already cm-
terials a kind of (li'ii;;:
liael surmounted it b; a
the Abbey which lay
i a most c|uaint and
er of red stone, or
fancy. I forget vdwse
shall never f'r.'e'. thv
icernini; old .Melrose to
rise.
y a pile that called up
ntic feelings ; andeiie
tically attached by the
il of his early associ;!-
lay say, with aiieetion.
1 iic, " what treasures
I pile. It is a famous
iider ; there are such
tnrc for the architect,
met. There is as r.ue
ecsc, and in the same
Icr."
ion circnmstaiKes of
ted with the .Abbey,
.ichcd, and which h.id
es uf Johnny Itewer.
L.,|j^,^ftnf Robert Rruce, the hero of Scotland,
'Crn buried in it. He dwell on the bcaiiti-
r, if Bruce s pious and cliiv.iiroiis rcijucst
,Kii;' hour, tiiat his lie.irt inijjhl be c;ir-
.. the \U>\\- '■
hre, in fidri <■■
.iihcloyal I-
,-, amvev the K'
iB.ufc.ll'-'S.li'l-"'"
|ir,;ii.u.iilventurous
an
his death in
....... — — -J.,..- —
and .and pl.iccd mi the Hcdy
ent of a vow of pil^;rima;^i" ;
litioii of Sir jaiiu Doi.glas
Otis relic. Much iiiiKlit !.'■
the adventures of Si James
i],'e ; of his fortunes in Spain,
^^ crusade a!4ain.ji. the Moors;
,rii the "subseii. Mit fort'i es of the lieart of
RAt-rt Ilmce, ■! . it was brou^du back to its
luiivc land, anu enshrined within the holy walls
oi.iidMi-lrose.
^5 Scott sat nn a stone t ikin- ai iliis way, and
lijicking with his staff against the little red lion
»h:cii lay prostrate before him, his gray eyes
rra'icioJbeneath his shaggeil eyebrows ; scenes,
iHj_,L.i, incidents, kept breaking; upon his niiiul
a,'h: proceeded, mingled with touches of the
ni'.iterious and supernatural as connected with
th; lieart of liniee. It seemed us if a poem or
rr.imeewere breaking; vat;uely on his ima;.4ina-
;; n. That be subseipiently coatempl.ated some-
ihia.'iif the kind, as connected with this subject,
ar.d'.vith his favorite ruin of .Melrose, is eviileiit
Ipni Ins introduction to "The Monastery ;" and
:; i! a pity that he never succeeileel in following
cjtthcie shadowy, Init enthusiastic conceptions.
\ summons to breakfast broke off our con-
vention, when 1 bej^ged to recommend to Scott's
atttnlion my .lend the little reel lion, who h.icl
led to such an interesting topic, and hoped he
ra;,ht receive some niche or station in the future
ar.le. worthy of his evident antit(uity and ap-
p.'.rcnt dii,'nity. Scott assured me, with comic
pivitv, that the valiant little lion should be most
kinorably entertained ; I hope, therefore, that he
i:;;l ilourishes at Abhotsford.
Before dismissini; the theme of the relics from
the .Abbey, 1 will mention another, illustrative of
Satt's varied humors. Tliis w.is a human skull,
«i;;ch had probaljly belonged of yore to one of
those jovial friars, so honorably mentioned in the
cl.l border ballad ;
"0 the monks of Melrose made f;iulo kale
Oil Fridays, when they fasted ;
They w.antutl iieilber beef nor ale,
.U long as their neighbors lasted."
Tiiis skull he had caused to be cleaned and var-
r.ijh'.d. and placed it on a chest of drawers in ids
diiiiber, immediately opposite his bed ; where 1
hive seen it, ;,'rinning raost dismally. It was an
ihitt of great awe and horror to the superstitious
b-Kemaids ; and Scott used to amuse himself
«:'h their apprehensions. Sometimes, in chang-
i"jliij dress, he would leave his neck-cloth coiled
rwndit hkc a turban, and none of the " lasses"
dired to remove it. It was a matter of great
ivMder and speculation among them that the
l-[d should have such an " awsome fancy for an
Kid girnin.;' skull."
At breakfast that morning Scott gave an
aaubin,,' account of a little Highlander called
t'fflipbell of the \orth, who had a lawsuit of
niny years' standing with a nobleman in his
f'-yliborhood about the boundaries of their
tbMtes. It was the leading object of the little
'^■■•^slile ; the running theme of all his conver-
sjtmns ; he used to detail all the circumstances
;•; iall length to everybody he met, and, to aid
f-i m his description of the premises, and make
his story " mair prccccsc," he had a great map
made ol ids est.ite, a huge roll sever.i! feet long,
which he used to carry about on his shoulder.
C.impl)ell was a long-bodied, but siiort and
b.iiuly legged little man, always clad in the
Highi.uui garb ; and as he went about with this
. reat loU on liis shoulder, and his little li'gs
curving like a pair of p.irentlieses below Ills kill,
he was an odd hgure to behold. He w.is like
little IJavid ' uildering the spe.ir of (ioli.iih,
which was " li.ieunto a weaver's beam."
Whenever sheep-shearing was over, Campbell
used to set out for Edinburgh to .ittimd to his
I.iwsuit. At the inns he jjaid double for all his
meals and his night's lodgings, telling the l.ind-
lords to keep it in mind until Ins return, so that
he might come back that way at free cost ; for
lie knew, he said, that he would s])end all his
money among the lawyers at lulinburgh, so he
thought it best to secure a retreat home again.
(Jn one of his \ isits he called upon his lawyer,
but was told he was not at home, but his lady
was. " It's just the same thing," said litt'
Campbell. On being shown into the parlor, ',
unrolled his ma]), stated his case at full leng'i..
and, having gone through with his story, , '<e
her the customary fee. She would have •>-
dined it, but he insisted on her taking it, '• .
ha' had just as much pleasure," said he, ' , i 11-
ing the wdiole tale to you, as I should have !i
in telling it to your husband, and 1 beli'ce fui.
as much prolit."
'I'he last lime lie saw Scott, he tolc i ',.;
believed he and the laird were licar a setti^iiK nt,
as they agreed to within a few miles of the
boundary. If I recollect right, Scott .ulded that
he ailviseil the little man to consign his cause
and his map to the care of "Slow Willie Mow-
bray," of tedious memory, an lulinburgh worthy,
much emi>loyed by the country ])eople, for he
tired out everybody in office by repeated visits
and drawling, endless prolixity, and gained every
suit by dint of boring.
These little stories and anecdotes, which
abouiuled in Scott's conversation, rose naturally
out of the subject, and were perfectly unforced ;
though, in thus relating them in a detached way,
without the observations (iv circumst.mces which
led to them, and which have passed from my re-
collection, they want their setting to give them
proper relief. They will serve, however, to show
the natural play of his mind, in its familiar moods,
and its fecundity in graphic and ch.n.icteristic
detail.
His daughter Sophia and his son Charles were
those of his family who seemed most to feel
and understand his humors, and to take didight
in his conversation. .Mrs. Scott did not alw.iys
I)ay the same attention, and would now and then
make a casual remark which would operate a
little like a damper. Thus, one morning at
breakfast, when Dominie Thomps(m, the tutor,
was present, Scott was going on with great glee
to relate an anecdote of the laird of .Macnab,
" who, poor fellow," premised he, " is dead and
gone—" " Why, Mr. Scott," exclaimed the
good lady," Macnab's not dead, islie ? " " F.iith,
my dear," replied Scott, with humorous gr.uity,
" if he's not dead they've done him great injus-
tice — for they've buried him."
The joke jiassed harmless and unnoticed by
Mrs. Scott, but hit the poor Dominie just as he
had raised a cup of tea to his lips, causing a
burst of laughter which sent half of the contents
about the table.
n
fc#i'i \F-^''
p.
*i
,' ; m •!
622
AnnOTSFORD.
. ^v
i; /' ;'
:: u\
.Jl.11
;!'i
' ;■' i
;'!.^ >
•('
Afti'i lircakfast, Scott w.is occiipicil for some
time ((iiiL'ctini; proof-sliccts which he had w-
ici\c(l liy ihc mail. The iui\(jl of Roh Hoy, as I
liavc already ohsi-rvcd, was at that time \n ilu-
j)rL'ss, and I supposed them to be the proof-
sheets of that work. The authorship of the
Waverley no\els was still a matter of eonjecuire
and uneii lainly ; though few douhted their heiii'^
piiniipally written hy Scott. One proof to me
of his heing the author, was that he never ad-
virted to ihem. A man so fond of an\lhin;;
Scottish, anil anything; relating; to national his-
tory or local Icj^end, coukl not have been mule
respecting; such productions, hail they been writ-
ten hy another, lie w.is fonil of ipioting the
works of his contemporaries ; he was continually
reciting; scraps of border songs, or relating anec-
dotes of border story. With respect to his own
jxiems, ,ind their n\erits, however, he was niute,
and while with him 1 observed n scrupidous
silence on the sid)ject.
I may lu re mention a singular fact, of which I
was not aware at the time, tli.it Scott was \ery re-
ser\ed with his children respecting his own
writings, anil w.is even disinclined to their read-
ing his romantic poems. 1 learnt this, some
time after, from a passage in one of his letters
to me, adverting to a set of the American minia-
ture eilition of his ])(iems, whic h, on my return to
I'^ngland, I forwarded to one of the yomig ladies.
" Jn my hurry," writes he, '"l have not thanked
you, in Sophia's name, for the kind attention
whicJi furni>hed her with the American volumes.
I am not quite sure I can adil my own, since you
have made her acquainted with much more of
papa's folly than she would otherwise have
le.irned ; for I have taken special care they
should never see any of these things during their
earlier years."
To retinn to the thread of my narrative, When
Scott had got through his brief literary occup.i-
tion, we set out on a ramble. 'I'he young ladies
started to accom]iany us, but they had not gone
far, when they met a ])oor old laborer anil his
distressed f.imily, .'uid tinned back to t.ike them
to the house, and relie\e them.
On i)assing the boimds of Atjl>otsfnrd, we came
upon a bleak-looking farm, with a forlorn, crazy
old manse, or f.irm-house, st.iniling in naked deso-
lation. 'I'his, however, Scott told me, was an
ancient hereditary jiroperty called l.aiickend,
about as \aluable as the i)atrinionial estate of
Don Ouixolc, and which, in like manner, con-
ferred an hereditary dignity iqxin its projirictor,
who was a laird, and, though poor as a rat,
prided himself ui)on his ancient blood, and the
standing of his house. lie was accordingly
called Lauckend, according to the Scottish cus-
tom of naming a mar after his family estate, but
he was more generally known through the country
roimd by the name of Lauckie I-ong I.cgs, from
the length of his limbs. While Scott was giving
this account of him, we saw him at a distance
striding along one of his fields, with his plaid
tluttering .about him, and he seemed well to ile-
ser\e his ajjpellation, for he looked all legs and
tartan.
Lauckie knew nothing of the world beyond his
neighborlKiod. Scott told me that on returning to
Al)botsford from his visit to l-' ranee, immediately
after the war, he was calleil on by his neighbors
generally to inquire after foreign jiarts. Among
the number came Lauckie Long 1-X'gs anil an old
brother as ignorant as himself They had many
inquiries to make about the French, whom they
seemed to consider some remoicaiuUni,,; I , I
ouslvu-de--''An.l what like ariMltu'S''''''^
in their own country .''' said i..im kn. ..' '"
write ?-can they cij.her T IR. «,„' ,'.'" S
ished to le.irn th.it they were nearlv a,mu,h '3*
v.nu ed in civiluatiou as the t;ii(l^ f„ii., „, 7
botsford. ■^*
Alter living for a long time in sindc \,l J
ness, Lauckie all at once, ami not limi; 1,", ,T
my visit to the neighborhoiid, Un>\i it in'^'i
head to get married. The neiglil„„s ,h," 'J
surprised; but the family eiinnixiiiii, u',,, , ■
a.-, proud as they were poor, vnic "lir.r'l
scandalized, for they thought the \uiZ «V„'";J|
on whom he h.id set his mind i|iuie'l)ini;,ii,i,'i;l
It was in vain, however, tli.it lliiv iviii(iii,;;,.'|i|
on the misalliance he was about tiiiiMkc; K»^^
not to be swayed from his ileiinnin.iiidn. .UnJ
ing hin.self in his best, and s.uldlmu ';,' ,,'^^1
steed that might have ri\allid KiiMiiimur.ir.a
jilacing a pillion behind liis saddle, lie dqiaiy
to wed and bring home the liiiinhlu l;b>u 4j|
was to be made mistress of the vtmiabli' h ,cl|
of Lauckend, and who lived in a villayc in ;'-t|
opposite side of the Tweed. I
,A small event of the kind makes a great ,i;r J
a little quiet country neiglibiiilmod, Tlif liiij
soon circulated through the \ill:ige of .Mdr,,,.. I
and the cottages in its vicinity, that l.,iuiki«|
Long Legs had gone over the Twicd to ft!,'ii|
home his bride. All the good folks asM'inlji.J.J
the bridge to await his return, L.uk kicliiiwi^n f
disappointed them; for he crossed ilic rr.u ,i;j
distant ford, and conveyed his bride iafo iul,ij|
mansion without being percei\ed.
Let me step forward in the toiirse of ivtn:! I
and relate the fate of jioor Lauckii-, as ii v.,iil
communicated to ine a year or twu al'itruari! A
letter by Scott. From the time of his man :.;:■.• I
he had no longer any peace, owing to the cun-l
stant intermeddling of his relations, who uojijl
not permit him to be hajjpy in his own wav, 'i„t(
endeavored to set him at variance with h- v.iii.l
Lauckie refused to credit any of their stnriis'.ol
her disadvantage; but the inces^.uU wailate hM
had to wage in defence of her good iLime, «i;i;
out both lle-.h and spirit. Hi.-. I.i»t coiillii.: »..;
witli his own brothers, in front of his |)ati,'rn.ill
mansion. A furious scolding match took pLicej
between them; Lauckie made a xehemeDt pro- [
fession of faith in fa\-or of her Inimaciilaic hen- j
esty, and then fell dead at the tlireshokl nf h:j
own door. His jjcrson, his char.icter, his n.^nu',
his story, and his fate, entitled linn to be iniinit-
tali/.ed in one of Scott's novels, .ind 1 lnokiil t.i
recognize him in some of the siiccee'din;; »j '
from his pen ; but I looked in vain.
After passing by the domains of honest I.ni;d;c,
Scott pointed out, at a dist.uice, the kilw-
stone. There in ancient days stood the Eia;.;! |
tree, beneath which Thomas the Rhymet. .i:-
cording to popular tradition, dealt lorth hb pif-
phecies, some of which still exist in anliquatcJ
ballads.
Here we turned up a little glen with a m:„..1 !
burn or brook whimpering and dashing aK'Hf ■<•
making an occasional waterfall, and o\ ciluin,,' ;a |
some places with mountain ash and wiii'i'»
birch. We are now, said Scott, treadiii;; «.la'-'>-''
or rather f;.iry ground. This is the hauntcil :4!j^:i
of Thomas the Rhymer, where he met wnn '■■■^
queen of fairy land, and this the bo^le burn, ^r
JlI-
AUHOTSl-URI).
62n
I ■', brook, alcint; which she rode on licr ihip-
|f' '!liv|)allr(.y, "ill* »''*■'■"'■ 1j*-""s ringinii at the
'"itrc '' s'i'l l"^'- I''>i"*'"«' " 's Huntley Hank.
I .hicli'l'i'""'"' <1>^' KliynH-r l;iy nlllhin^; and
j'fp,,,^ whin lie saw, or dreamt he saw, the
llj'JU'll
of niti.iiui
„']-,iijTli""ii>s'iiy on Hiinllie hank;
\ lerlie lie spied wi' liis e'c ;
\i..l iheru lie saw a ladyo 1lli^;ll^,
Oimtiri'liiiij down l>y the ICildon tree.
• Her -kin was c' tlic (jrass-green silk,
llcrmmtlen' iIk; velvet fyne ;
At ilka ti'lt iif lier In use's mane
Hum.,' lifiy siller hells and nine."
Here Scott repented several of the stanzas .nnd
Ircjuntcil ilio cinnmistance of Thomas the Khy-
Utr* interview with the fairy, and ins bein^;
[inKporteil by her to lairy land—
"An I til seven years were ^nnc and past.
True 'I'liiiinas (pn eartli was never seen."
;ti5.ifine old story," said he, " and mi^^ht be
I ,;:..:;lu up inm a caiiital tale."
Srott coiilimicd on, le.idiiv.; the way as usual,
;..,1 limping' lip the wizard ul"-'". talkin^^ as he
I iii".t. but, as his back was toward me, 1 could
lorJvhcar the (leeji growling; tones of his voice,
! l:«c the low breathing' of an or;4an, without (lis-
I t:s."iisliin;,' tlio words, until jjaiisin^', and turnini;
ibMfe toward me, 1 found he was recitiii;.,' some
j imp of border minstrelsy about Thomas the
[ Rhymer. This was continually the case in my
MniUin^'s with him about this storied nei;;hbor-
}jiA. liis mind was frau;.;ht with the traditionary
•■'.ions connected with every object around him,
ar.ii he would breathe it forth as he went, ap-
ririii'Jv as imirh for his own yratilicalion as for
iiitofi'.is cimipaninn.
"Nurliill, niir bronl^, we paced along,
liut had It-, legend or its sonj;."
Hiivoiccwas deep and sonorous, he spoke with
.I.Scottish accent, and with somewhat of the
N'rilmmljiian "burr," which, to my mind, gave
.-.li'iric stren;.;tli and simi)licily to his elocution.
H;s rccitatioa of poetry was, at times, niagniti-
c;n!,
1 '.iiink it w:is in the course of this ramble that
riiylrieiid llaiidct, the black j;reyliound, got into
abad scrape. The dogs were beating about the
;icn5ancl fields as usual, and had been for some
I tine out nf si-ht, when we lu'.ird a barking ;il
!;iao distance to the left. Shortly after we s.iw
ST.io sheep scaiii))ering on the hills, with the
(i-\;i .".fter them. Scott applied to his lips the
iv.ry whistle, always hanging at his bultondnde,
Ku soon called in the culprits, e.\ce[)ting 11am-
:.;■ Hastening up a bank which comm.indcd a
•:•.»■ .iluni; a fold or hollow of the hills, we beheld
;•'.. s.ible |)rince of Denmark staiuling by the
'/.a'dinj,' body of a sheep. The carcass was still
V'.irin, the thin.it bore marks of the fatal grip,
^"il Hamlet's muzzle was stained with blood.
•Vver was culprit more completely caught in
n-lJiutl,' (/(■!;,/,,, I sii|)posed the doom of ])oor
riaiiilct to be sealed ; for no higher offence can
recommitted by a dog in a country abounding
«;|iisheep-w,ilks. Sc()tt, however, had a greater
'i.'-i; for hio doys than for his sheep. They were
his companions and friends, Hamlet, too, though
an irregul.ir, iinpeitincnt kind of youngster, was
I'vidently a f,ivorite. lie woidil not for some time
believe it could be he who h,id killed the sheep.
It must have been some cur of the luighbiirhoud,
that h.id m.ule olf on our ajjiiroach, ai\d left poor
Hamlet in the lurch. I'ronfs, howt'ver, were too
strong, and llamkl w.is generally (nndemneil.
" Well, well," said Scott, " it's partly my own
fault. I have given up coursing for some tin>e
past, and thi' jioor dog has h,id no ( h.ince after
game to take the (ire edge off<d' him. If he was
put after a hare occasion, illy he never woidil
meddle with sheej)."
I understood, afterward, th.il Scutt actu.illy
got a pony, and went out mivv .md tin ii coursing
with llandet, who, in con-,e(|uenee, showevl no
further inclination for mutton.
A further stroll among the hills brought us to
what Siotl i)ronouncetl the rem.iins nl ,i Kdinui
camp, and as we sat upon a hilhx k whu h li.id
once formed a i)art of the ramparts, he poiiiti il
out the tr.ices of the lines and Inilw.uks, and the
pra'torium, and showed a knowledge of castram-
aiation that would not have disgraci'il the aiiti-
ipiarian Oldbuck himself. Indeeil, various cir-
cunisvt.tnces that 1 observed ,d)out Scott during
my \ isit, concurred to persuade me lh.it many of
the anti(|u:irian humors of .Monkbarns were t.iken
from his ouii richly compounded char.ictcr, .ind
that some of the scenes and peisotiagis of th.it
.idmir.ible novel were furidshed by his immediat-'
neighborhood.
He gave mc sever.'d anecdotes of :i noted
l)auper named Andrew (lemiiKlls, or tlamnul,
as it w,is i)roiiouiiced, who had once lh)urisheil
on the banks of tlall.i Water, immediately op-
l)osite Abbotsford, and whinn he h.ul seen and
talked and joked with when a boy ; and 1 in-
stantly recognized the likeness of th.it mirror of
|ihiloso|)hic vag.d)onds anil Xestor ol begg.irs,
lalie Ochiltree. 1 was on the ])oiiU of pronounc-
ing the name and recognizing the jxatr.iit, when
I recollected the incognito idjserved b\ Scott
with respect to his novels, and checkril myself;
but it was one among many things tK.il tended
to convince me of his.aulhorship.
His jjiclure of Andrew (lemmells exactly ac-
corded with that of J'ldie as to his height, car-
riage, and soldier-like air, as well as hi> arch and
s.ircastie humor. 1 lis home, if home he had, was
at (Jal.ishiels ; but he went " daundering " about
the country, along the green shaws and beside
the burns, and was a kind of walking chroidcle
throughout the valleys of the Tweed, the h'.ttrick,
and tlie Yarrow ; carrying the gos^ip from house
to house, commenting on the inh.djitants and
their concerns, and never hesitating to give them
a ilry rtib as to any of their faidts or follies.
Ashrewd beggar like Andrew Ciemmells, Scott
added, who could sing the <dd Scotch airs, tell
stories .and traditions, aiul gossip away the long
winter evenings, w.is by no means an unwelcmno
visitor .It a lonely manse or cott.ige. The chil-
dren would run to welcome him, and place his
sto(d in a warm corner of the ingle nook, and the
old folks would receive him as a ])rivileged guest.
As to Andrew, he looked upon them ;dl as a
parson does upon his parishioners, and consid-
ered the alms he receivetl as much his due as the
other does hi- titles. " I rather tl.ink," added
bcoit, "Andrew considered himself more of a
524
AnnoTSFORI).
4
ifcft''
II !::
i^!'.:- :l
^-iMiilcman tli.m tlidsc wlin toiled fur a li\ in^;, ami
ill, It la- sccritly lookid down upon llu' o.iins-
takin;; peasants thai (cd and slicltend hini.
lie liati derived iiis aristoeralieal notions in
siinie di>;ree Ironi hein^; ailniitled oeeasionally to
a ))reearioiis soeialiility "itli some of the small
country j,'entry, who were sonietimes in w.mt of
(•iim|iany to help whde away the time. With
these Andrew would now and then jday at cards
and diee, .ind he ne\er lacked "siller in pout h "
to stake on a K'"'!*^'' ^^'li'l^ 1'^' did with a perfect
air of a man to whom money was a matter of
little moment, and no one could lose his money
with more ^;enilemaiilike coolness.
AmoMj; those who occasionally admitted him to
this lamiliarity, was old John Scott of (lalla, a
man of family, who inhahited his paternal man-
sion of 'I'oi wtiodlee. Some distinction of rank,
liowe\er, was still kept up 'i'he lairil sat on the
inside of the window and the l)e;^';4ar on the out-
sitle, .ind they played cards on the sill.
Andrew now and then toUl the laird a jiieco nf
his mind \ery freely ; especi.illy on one occasion,
when he had sold some of his paternal lands to
liuild himself a lar^'er house with the ])roceeds.
'I'he sjieech of lionest Andrew smacks of the
shrewdness of I'.dic Ochiltree.
" It's a' varra weel--it's a' \arra weel, Tor-
wooillee," said he ; " Init who would li.i' thought
that your f.ither's son would ha' sold two yude
estates to luiild a shaw's (cuckoo's) nest on the
side of ahill.>"
Th.'it (lav there was an arrival at Abhotsford of
two IJi^ii^h tourists ; one a j^eiitleman of fortune
and landed estate, the other a younj; cler^jy-
man -.vhom he aiijieared to ha\e under his pat-
ronaj^e, and to ha\ e l)rou;.^ht with him as a tra\el-
lin^' comp.inion.
'I'hc patron was one of those well bred, com-
monplace ;^entlemen with which l''.iv.,dand is over-
run. He had ^Meat ileference for Scott, and
endea\()red to acquit himself learnedly in his
comp.my, aiming' continualh- at abstract dis(|uisi-
tions. t'orwhiih Scott had little relish. The con-
versation of the latter, as usual, was studded
with anecdotes and st(uies, some of them of
j,'p'at pith and humor; the well-ljred ^'entleinan
\v;is either too dull to feel their jioint, or too
decorous to indulj,'0 in hearty merriment ; the
honest parson, on the contrary, who was not too
refined to be happy, laui,dietl loud and long at
every joke, and enjoyed them with the zest of a
man who has more merriment in his heart thaii
coin in his jiocket.
After they were Rone, some comments were
made upon their different deportments. Scott
spoke very respecttiilly of the j,'ood breeding and
measured m.mners of the man of wealth, but with
a kindlier feeling of the honest parson, and the
homely but hearty enjoyment with which he re-
lished every ])leasantry. " I doubt," said he,
'• whether the |)arson's lot in life is not the best ;
if he cannot command as many of the good
things of this world by his own jnirse as his patron
can, he beats him all hollow in his enjoyment of
them when set before him by others. Upon the
whole." added he, " I rather think I jirefer the
honest parson's good humor to his ]iatron's good
breeding ; I have a great regard for a hearty
laugher."
He went on to speak of the great influx of
English travellers which of late years had inun-
date.l Scotland; and <loiiliteil whiilur iVa
not injuri'd the oldf.ishioned Sr(Jiii,l, ,hir ,
" i'ormerly they c.mie here imimv,,.,,' '
sportsmen," said he, " to sliont iiimir Mnu V
out any idea of looking at sccmrv" ;ir,.i '.i
moM'd about the country in hardy simpi.'Vi
coping with the couiilr\ peopK^ in iluir 'v,„
but now they come rolling ahom in ii^.t,.
ii.iges, to see ruins, and spend niniicv, .irnl''
j.ivish extravagance has played tlk'va-, ,
with the c.'inmon piople. It li.is hi.kI.''
rap.icious 111 their de. dings with straii;;ti,, ..'
alter money, and extortionaie in tliur di";
lor the mo-.i trixi.d serxiies. liunuii,,
tinned he, "the Jioorer classes of our iH'ii|ili'«,.«j
comp.iiati\el;, disinteresti'd ; tlii.y utiuul ti
services gr.ituitoiisly, in prniiKitni; tin.. ;,|,j,,j
meiil, or aiding the ciuinsiiy of Miin.-irs, j^,
were gr.itified by the smallest ciiiii|Kiisiti(,n';l„|
now the\ make a tr.ide of slwmiu;; rmks im
iiiins, and are as greedy as Italian (.irairli
They look upon the finglisli ,is mi in.iny u,i,'k,j
money -b.igs ; the more they are sli.ikvn ■"'
poked, the more they will le.ive heliiiiil thin/'
I ImKI him that he had a great dcil h< .k-m;
for on that head, since it w.is the roinniitic ,ii
ci.itioiis he had throun by his Minings M\i'r
many out-of-the-way places in Scutlaiid. tlmtl:
brought in the inlliix of curious travilKrs.
Scott laughed, ;iiid said he ljclie\cd 1 nii^ht
in some measure in the right, as lie i ncjlktul
circumstance in point. lieing one tune ntliltn-
ross, an (dd woman who kept a small inn, «hicli|
h.ul but little custom, was iineiiiiiinnnly iifticii>u$^
in her attenilance upon him. and aliMilutiK m.
commodeil him with her civilities, 'Hk' svcrcf
at length came out. As he was alidiit tu ikp.irt,
she addressed him with m.iiiy cult^n■s, and siid
she understood he was the geiuK'iii.in th.it li,id
written a bonnie l)ook .about l.ocli K.ilnne, She
begged him to write a little ahoiii tluir ! ikf ilji,
for she understood his book li.iil ilimi.' ;lic mn,it
Loidi Katrine ,i muckle deal of L;niMl.
On the follow in
with Scott
tlay I made ,in c\i'i:r-i nl
_ nd the young ladits to I)ryl)ur,h|
Abbey. We went in an open carnage, drauiibyj
two sleek old black horses, for \diich Sco'.tj
seemeil to h.'>',e an affection, as lie had lorvvtryf
dumb aidmi.i tliat belonged to liiin. Our najl
lay through a va;iety of scenes, licli in prK'.icdl
and hist(M-ical assoi Nations, about must of which
Scott had somethi'ig to relate. In one part of I
the drive, he pointed to an old hoiiler kicp.frj
fortress, on the nimmit of a naked liill.scvmlj
miles olT, which he called Smallliolin Tower, and]
a rocky knoll on which it smod, tlie " S.imly
Knowe' crags," It was a place, he said, peculiarly
dear to him, from the recollections of i;liil(lh""d.
His father had lived therein the old SmalllKilni
('■range, or farm-house; and he had been sir.tl
there", when but two years old, on account of h;i
lameness, that he might have the benetit of ihi
pure air of the hills, and be under the care uf 1
grandmother and aunts.
In the introduction of one of the cantos i;^
Marmioii, he has depicted his gnintlfather, ar.u
the fireside of the farm-house; .ind lias -iven .in
amusing picture of himself in his boyish ye.irs:
" Still with vain fondness coiiM I tr.ue
Anew eieli kind familiar face,
That l)riglitened at our evening foe;
From the tli.itclied niansien's i^iay-li.iircd sire,
Wi>,e wathout le.irnint;, i>laiii and i,"""!,
And sprung of Scotland's gentler biouJ ;
AHIU)TS1-()KI).
62b
oltJ wli.ii i" >'""'' '"'' H'"*"''' '">'' '"^^'■•" ;
^V ,„,|„nMi ilhorilinu' iiriKlili'TH ioiii-lit,
e ii'«i.!«iilii-''l""V""l""'K'i'i
MimllievciiLLihlc iirii'sl,
,„l„cnt an.l laimliar Kircst,
^liielhe.lu.lcnlaiMtlifSiunt;
ij;„; „|i,.«e s|icecli l'"> "ft I liroko
\v''iii;:iiiii"'' 1'"'^' ■""' """■■''•"'^ j"i>'-" ;
Ulf.BiliC'l imp. i> t;i.inil;\iiit''scliil.|;
\Vj,.tilltniliiri.'.l, l.clovoil, c;irost."
It«3i. ho s.iid, (luring his residence at Siniill-
|ii,^(f,ij.s tli.it lie lir^t iml)il)e(l his |);issii)n fur
l-enlirv't'il'-"'' limilrr tr;i(htinns, ;m<l old n,i-
• '".i! Hini;* and li;dl.iils. I lis ^;r.m(hn<)thir and
! .^I; wore wt-U Miseil in thiit kind of lore, so
J- ;.I in Sciittisli riiiiiitry life. 'I'hey used to
,'" :n[ tlam in loii;;, gloomy winter d;\ys, and
jJk ;; till' inK'*-' """'* '■'' "'K''^' '" eoni'laxe with
,1, , j.,ijsip vi-.iti)rs ; and little Waller woidd sit
allMcnwith j^reedyear; thus taking; into liis
r''.r.', r.imil the seeds of many a splendid lietion.
There was an old shepherd, lie said, in the ser-
r; 1 1' the fanuly, wlu) used to sit under the
i. -1 tt:ill, and tell marvellous stories, and re-
(,;; i 111 time ballads, as he knitted stoekin^;s.
f; :ti:-vil to he wheeled (Uit in his chair, in fine
wihiT. and would sit lieside the old man, and
to'.'ihim fill- liours.
The situation of Sandy Knowe was favorable
iixhfnrstnry-teller and listener. It commanded
ia;i,!c view over ail the Ijorder ('(umtry, with its
|i;:iil towers, its haunted i^hns, and wizard
[ffiams. As tlie oitl slu'plierd told his tales, he
Ik!J piiint out the very scene of action. Thus,
Id re Scott could walk, he was made familiar
ItA'Jic scenes of his future stories ; they were
•all as thnui^li a ma^ic medium, and took
jtrittin^eof romance, which they ever after re-
:;.".tJ in his iniai^ination. I''rom the height of
Mr:.'.y Knnwc, he may be saiil to have hail the
bt luuk-oiit upon the promised land of his
L;:re ^lory.
On rtfcirin;.; to Scott's works. I find many of
] a circumstances rel.ited in this con\ersalion,
Ubnut the (lid tower, and the boyish scenes con-
I tected with it, recorded in the introduction to
"armion, already cited. This was frec[uently
I ;h; case with Scott ; incidents and feeling's that
bii appiared in his writing's, were apt to be
r,;n;lal up in his conversation, for they liail lieen
I ;ikin from wh.u he had witnessed ani' felt in
id life, and were connected with those ccnes
:~on,'which he lived, and moved, and h. ! his
ia,'. I make no scruple at cpiotinj; the jiassajje
rc'.iiive to the tower, thoui^h it repeats mucli of
: iorcgone imagerv, and with vastly superior
il\-t :
"Tkii!, while I a]ic the mcisure wild
Ofulesthat tharmed nie yet a child,
Ka'e ihoiiyh they ho, still with the chime
RelBrn the tliduglits of c.irly time ;
Aii'l feelings roused in life's first day,
Jj"« iiilhu line, anil prompt the lay.
ir.en ri-e (hdse cr.iys, that mountain tower,
]}sicii charmed my fancy's wakL-ning hour,
Ttua^h no Ijroad river swept alunj;
To tiaiiii jwrchance heroic souf; ;
l^.iagh sijjhed no (;roves in summer gale
'' ;njiiipt of love a softer tale;
^j! u.;h scarce a puny streamlet's speed
Ciiiiuta homage from a shepherd's reed ;
^■et was poetic implil'o f^ivpli,
lly the ^■,ri't'ii lull and ili,\i lilne lienvcn.
Ii w.ii a liarron scciu-, and wild,
WhiMir iiahed clills wire rudely piled;
lint ever and anoii lielweiii
Lay velvet tnfls of ImmUcI ^;teen ;
And well the lonely iidint knew
kecesses wlieie the wall llnwir urew,
And hoMey-sn( lile loved to ir.iwl
I p the low cra^; and mined wall.
I deemed sm li nonks the sHeelcst diade
The Ml!) In all hi-- round surveyed ;
And still I thought that slMtlered lower
TIk- mi(;htie>t woik of human |>ower ;
And iiiaivell'il as the n^ji'd hind
Willi ^ome slraii^;e tale liewiuhed my mind,
(If foiayeis, who, with headlong; forn',
i)own lidiu that >lreiii;lh li.id spuircd their iiorsc,
Tlnir soMllieiM l.ipine to renew,
I'ar ill the distant ( lieviot'^ blue,
And, liome returnini,', filled the hall
With revel, wa^sail-iout, and l>ia«l —
Melhou^ht dial still, with Ir.viiip and ( lan^j
The j^ale-way'i broken arehe-. rain^ ;
Melliou^;lit ^;iiiii fealiire-., seamed willi sears,
(il.ired tiuoujji llie window's riisly b.irs.
And ever by the wiiiliT he.irlh,
Oil! tales I heard of woe or mirth.
Of lover' slii^lits, of ladie-.' <liarms,
( If witehe-,' '■pelU, of wairiois' arms ;
( If patriot liatlles, won of old,
liy Wallace wiL^ht and liriue the bold ;
Of later fields. .f feud and li-lit,
When pouriiif; from the llii;lilaiiil heit;ht,
'I'lie Scottish elans, in headlong sway,
Had swept the scarlet ranks away.
While siietched at lenfjlh up )ii the lloor,
Attain I fou)^lit eai h combat o'er.
I'ebliles and lieIN, in order l.iid,
'I'lic mimic laiiks of war di.played ;
And oinvanl still the Srolli-li Lion bore.
And still Ihescatteied Southron lied before."
Scott eyed the distant hei^^lil of Sandy Knowe
with an earnest d.i/c as we rode ahuv.;, and said
he had often tliou;4lit id" Iniyin;.; tlii' |)l.iie, repair-
ing; the: old tower, and liiakiiv^ it his residence.
lie has in siuiie measure, however, paid off his
early debt of ;;ralitiide, in clothing' it with poetic
and romantic assuci.itiiuis, ])y his tale of " 'llie
J'.ve of St. John." It is to be hoped that those
who actually jiossess so interestiiiL,' a mominient
of Scott's early days, will preserve it from further
dilapid.ition.
Not far from Sandy Knowe, Scott ]H)inted out
another idd Ixuiler ludd, standing,' on the summit
of a hill, which had been a kind of enchanted
castle to him in his boyhood. It was the tower of
liemerside, the baroni.d residence of the llai;;s,
or l)e llamas, one of the oldest families of the
border. " There had seemed to liim," he said,
" almost a wizard spell ban^iir^ over it, in conse-
<|uence of a prophecy id' Thomas the Rhymer, in
which, in his ycnmi,' davs, he most potently be-
lieved : " '
" Delide. betide, whatc'er betide,
Ilaii; shall be Ilaigof llenierside."
Scott added some ii.irticidars winch show.'d
that, in the present inst.ance, the vener.ible
Thomas had not jiroved a false iirojihet, for it
was a noted f.ict that, amid all the idiani^es and
chances of the border; throiioh all the feuds, and
forays, and sackini^s, and burnings, which hail
reiUiced most of the castles to ruins, and the
proud families that once jiossessed them to
poverty, the tower of Dcmersidc still icmaincd
1 wf^
11
iHlli
iiBRj
3' VtV'* '•
' 'wT
11 MS i ) j
S Ml i'-
:.||
III
m
Ui
U 'M
%-.il
■ f. ■ ■!'■
]r,i|ii
iiiii>«il^'^
ii M'fl!^
52G
ABnOTSFORD.
unsc.itliod, "1 i uns ?.till the btrongliold of the j
ancient f.unil) nf 1 laig. |
l'n)i)lR\ ies, however, often insure tlicir own j
ful!";hnenl. Itisvi. , prol)a1)le that tlie predie- !
tion of 'Thomas the Rhymer has hnked the liai:^'s I
to their tower, as their lock of safety, and has
in(hieeil them to cHn;j, to it ahnost siii)erstitiously,
tliroiigh li.inUliips anil ineon\eniences that would,
Dtheiuise, ha\e caused its abandonment.
I afterward s,iw, at Drybuii^h Abbey, the bury-
ing jilace of tliis predestinated anil tenacious fam-
ily, the inscri])iion of which showed the value tliey
set upon tlieir antiquity :
T.fH'US Scpultune,
Anti'inessiiii.e l''aiiiilix
l)c lIaK:i
l)c Iil:lner^idc,
In revcrtin,; to the days of his childhood, Scott
observed iIku tlie l.imeness which hail disableil
him in infancy ;.;iadiially decreased ; he soon ac-
quired stren;_;ih in his limbs, and though he always
limped, he became, even in boyhood, a great
w.ilker. I le used frequently to stroll from luime [
and wanikr about the country for days together, |
]iicking iqi all kinds of local gossip, and obser\- j
ing ])opular scenes and characters. His father |
used to be \e.\c.! with him for this wandering pro- |
jiensiiy, and, sluking his head, would say he [
fanc.^d the boy woulil make nothing l)ut a jied- 1
dler. As he grew oliler lie became a keen sports- I
man, and jiassed much of his time hunting and |
shooting. His field sports led him into the most
wild anil ur.lieqiRiited p.irts of the counlrx, and
in this w.iy he jiicked uj) much of that local knowl- j
edge which he has since e\ inced in his writings. |
His first visit to Loch Katrine, he says, was in I
his boyish days, on a shooting excursion. The !
island, which he has made the romantic residence |
of the " L.idy of the Lake," was then garrisoned
by an old in. in and his wife. Their house was
vacant ; they had jiut the key under the door,
and were absent lishing. It was at that time a
peaceful re:adence, but bec.ime afterward a re-
sort of smugglers, \intil they were ferreted out.
In after years, when Scott began to turn this
local knowledge to literary account, he revisited
many of those scenes of his early ramblings, and
endeavored to secure the fugitive remains of the
traditions and songs that had charmed his boy-
hooil. When ci^llecting materials for his '' lior-
der Minstrelsy," he used, he said,* i go from cot-
tage to cottage, and make the old wixes rejieat
all they knew, if but two lines; and by jnitting
these scraps to;.;ellier, he retrieved many a tine
char.icteristic old ballad ortradition from obli\ ion.
I legref to ^ay that I can scarce recollect ;my-
thing of I er \i-ii to Dryburgh Abbey. It is on
the es' ae of the l-'.,irl of ISuchan. The religious
eilillce is a mere ruin, rich in dothic antiquities,
hut especi.iK iiiUresling to Scott, from cont.iin-
ing the family \aull, and the tombs and monu-
.ments of his ancestors. lie appealed to feel
much eli,i|^iiii at their being in the iiossession,
and suViject to ihe iiuermeddlings of the l!arl,
who was |■epre^emed as a nobleman of an eccen-
tric charaeiii-. The latter, however, set great
value on tiiese se|)ulch'al relics, and had ex-
pressed a li\ely anticip ition of one day or other
having the honor of burying Scott, and adding
liis monunii 111 to the collection, which he intended
shcuild be worthy of the " mighty iiiinstiel of the
north '■ — a prospective compliment which was by
iiu means relished by the object of it.
:' :!iJ
One of my pleasant rambles witli Scou •>-
the neighborhood of A'li'jotsfurd, w'l^ ['■''.'
comp.my with Mr. William I. uill;'iw, th/o!'
of his estate. This was a gentlcm;in f-ri,;':
Si;ott entertained a i)arii'-iilar val'n... l;,. ■
been born to a conqieti.'ncy, h.nl' i,^',? '''
educated, his mind was richly stcMed «ii^,
information, and he was a ni.'ui of siiTlin'. r 3
worth. Having been reduced by niiM„"'j
Scott had got him to take clinr^'cuf hj; ""
He lived at a small farm ^'inlie liillsul/jr'3
Abbotst'iu'd, and was treated by Scd" ^
cherished and confidential friend,' nulurihr
de]H'naent.
As the day was showery, Scott was .nttcndidbl
one of his retainers, named Tunimic 1'
carried his jilaid, and who deserves Cb|iici,.lrti
tion. Sophia Scott used to call liim hit f.nM
grand vizier, and she gave a pl.uful acu;;-.:
evening, as she was hanging mi her fnlKi'i
of the consultations which he and T'.niiv.;i
to h.'ive about matters rel.ui\e t' f..n
I'urdie was tenacious of his opiniuns, and h
Scott would have long dis)uiles in fn in i
house, as to something that was to Ik ui r
the estate, until the latter, fairly tired (i,;t. v
abandon the ground and the ar;.;uiiiim. i\..:;:ji,
ing, " Well, well, Tom, Inve it your dwi- u.r,
After a time, howe\er, I'unlic would l'l\^al
himself at the door of the parlur, and nlj-ipe,
'■ 1 ha' been thinking over the matter, and iii
the whole, I think I'll t.ike ymir honor's ail\;.;
Scott I.iughed heartily when this nmcdi ',■, '.u!
told of him. " It w. is with him and 'I'l ]!'..'li(
said, " as it was with an old l.iird .aid a [n; >.r.
vant, whom he had inilulged until he was i"
beyond all endurance." ■" Tlu< won't do!"
the old laird, in a passion, "we can't i;'.
gether any longer — we must part.'' "' .An' v.r.iti
the deil does your honor mean to go?" it|!!,
the other.
I would, moreover, observe of Tom runin., tlul
he was a firm belie\ er in ghosts, .md «.!i',.»li,
and all kiiiils of old wi\es' fible. Hewasaiil:;;:',;5|
man, too, mingling a little liegree of !^c.i::;;h
pride in his devotion; for lhoi:;^h Ids salary v..;5
but twenty pounds a year, he li.ul maiia;;',(! ;ol
allord se\en |)ouiiils for a fimily bible. I;
true, lie had one hundred iKninds ikar el' '
wotld, and was looked up to liy his ciMi'.rJu.;
a man of property.
In the course of our morning's walk, wc stop;:
at a small house belonging to one ol ;
l.iborers on the estate. 'I'he object of Sfet;'>';-.t'
w.is to inspect a relic which had been di;:,:'..l .?
in a Rom.iii camp, and which, if I reci licit r; J,:,
he pronounced to have been a tiin;;s. It '.i
|)roiliiced by the cottager's w ife, a ruddy, 1k,'.Ii;>
i looking dame, whom Scott adilies'^ed l)v ::..'
! name of Ailie. As he stood regar<l"i;; the rt!;c,
' turning it round and round, anil :n;;kif:,^ coip-
j meiits upon it, half g'rave, half comic, with th;
I cottage group arounil him. all joining; ecia-i'ii-
! ally in the coUoquN, the ininiiiable ehara'ta^
Monkbarns was ag.ain brought to niiml. am! 1
! seemed to see before me that prince lit anlu;"J-
rians and humorists bidding forth to his iink.irrA.1
.1. d iiiibebevirg neighbors.
Whenever Scott touched, in this w:iy. i:?'^
local antiquities, and in all his familiar fiMuir-.'.-
tioiis about local traditions and siiiicrsiitwn-.
there was always a sly and quiet luiinor runn;::;
at the bottom of his discour'^e, ami playing.*-
his counten.ince, as if he sjiorted with lln' 5-| '•
jecl. It seemed to me as if he distrusted ki
■;;;;.vn
li.inii.
...'...■.;;lK'..i 1'
&"^-,cn'->lly"
W:.ir.'«^'r'-
m'
Jlcd w
l^^ii-roic cli.
1_,' .■, .Hul eh
■';..;, but the
iisomc il'
ABBOTSFORD.
527
•'ni'-ul,,r val:a, i;! :"
•'s a man „f si,rli,-, , j
t'viiuti In- Sa,.. 7
""■•>' fn^'nd.'r.uiKni.;;]
•^'^1 to I-;, II lii,„h,r|,.C'
'■'^■^■•'> pl.iNful.Kv,''"',,
l\^^';l,lju^lK■r|■;ul,e,^,..
"'•1' '»-■ .nulTnmnji,.;,;;
. al.uivc t. f,;n:'
I liis <'l>ini(iiis, aiulli'
<li>luiiLs ill fi,,|,; ,.':
, tii.i; was til In ,; ,
cr, fairly tiled ,„;t, '■„',. ,
I'l I 111-' ^n-iiiiKin. i\..:i:j,,
• li '^'i-' It vciiir (mini.. <
'■; ''"i-'lic would prvnil
llic I).irl(ir, ami (.Lhiic,
vcr the matliT, ami ■„■
mI<c Vdiif liuiu>r'saii\:.
ly "lii'ii tins anmliiti'jj,
^^illi him and Tiii:."!ii
II 1)1(1 laird and a |nt'.,'r.
'■1l;<-'i1 iiiiiii !H'Has|.,..:::ii
■' 'I'liis Hdii'tdii!"
.sum, •' wc fati't ;;.,- :)
must part." " A;-; r.hje]
I'll- iiaan to ;4o?"a
scrxcdfToin I'liruic.iiuli
ill k'^isIs, and \\:\\i,«\j
'{<\h\c. Hcwasaivli;:.-:;
iililc dci^rcc of .^c.'.;::,h|
I'm- til
()i:;
lis saLirvn.isI
i-'ar, he had inana,:;V(i :o|
I- a fund)- llihlc' I; is|
it.'<i piiiinds cliar of
ip 111 liy Ids inn-.r.kiLj „i|
iiniiij;'s walk. «f s:np;K(l|
m-in.i; ti> (nic of ;i;
I'hc ohj.ct (if S^oil■^l;^;t|
ii<ii had hi'cn (li;jjc(! '.ipl
hich. if I ivnlli'i'! r;Ji:,|
bi'L'ii a tonijs. It K..i|
's wife, a ruddy, iuMi'J'.v-
cott addressed bv
tooil rct^ar(l''i,i; the ri!;c,|
unci, and :iiakir,L,' tm-
c, li.ilf cdliiii', with '.::.■
11. all jdinini; ucaMi'ti-
iniiiiu,d)lL' cliarai'ur (j
r(ui;.;ht t(i mind, ,uii! I|
that ]irinrc of ai'.t;t;'.:.i'l
ly forth t(i iiis iinii.!r:;.i|
ci\, in tliis way, i:piT|
1 his familiar comer-,!
ans .and siipcistitiur.-
d quiet iiinnor r;;rr.:::.
irse, .md playing :.h' -'■ j
spdrted with the
IS if he (.liatrustcJ 1;:J I
I ,.,i,,,;i.i^m. and wa; disposed to droll iijion
Ir'n luimors and peculiarities, yet, at the
J ,,■ IK'. 'I {MCUC gleam in his eye would show
l^'.iV. rci'llv took a strong relish and interest in
If- "It w.is a pity," he said, "that anti-
f -i'lnswc i;i.'nor,dly so dry, for the subjects
Im 'imili-'il were rich in historical and jioetical
Cv'a'tions, in picturescjue details, in iju.iiiit
heroic characteristics, and in .'ill kinds of
»,„,■,, mil uhsolete ceremonials. They are al-
1"; ri'pi"n among the rarest materials for
V'V'biit they have no idea of turning them to
J .''vuiC. No"' every fragment iVom oltl limes
|[i,- ;n-»iiiivilegree, it's story with it, or gives an
J-',',.. „f soniething ch.iracteristic of the cir-
It "'.'/iiia's and m.mners of its day, and so sets
|llc;;iu^i"'ili<"i at work."
I Fanny own part I never met with antitjuarian
Ij, ■,,r;;liil'ul, either in his writings or his con-
li'-i.'.on; and the ijuiet suhaciil humor that
l( . '-I'lio to mingle in his ilisijuisiiions, gave
|,v,,' [u mo, a iH'culiar am', an exquisite thwor.
fji: :a' scoiiK'd, in fact, to midervalue e\ery-
; :ii,it concerned himself. 'I'he play of his
.i,m so easy th.il he w.'is uncon'..(aous of its
Ig-li'.v pmvcr, and made light of those sports of
|i::.iA'Ct tliat shamed the et'forts and labors of
Icir.criiiini'.s.
f >i.:r r.imblc this morning to(dv us .igain iqi
J',:, KliviiK'r's Glen, and bv Iluiitley liank, and
|H:";1iV Wood, .md the silver waterfall overhung
trj-vapini; birches and m.)untain ashes, those
|C'.;;..i;oanil heautiful trees whicli s;rai-e the green
liraniiinil burnside-, of .Scotland, 'i'he heather,
1;,., th.it closely woven robe of Seott'sh l.md-
[si'^xwliich covers the nakedness of its hills and
In/iruaiiis, tinted the neigiiborhood with soft
:3ii ricli colors. As we ascended the glen, the
pi^pi'ds opened uiiim us ; Melrose, with its
; '.Tiand pinnacles, l.iy below; beyontl was the
Liin lulls, the Cinvden Knowes, the Tweed,
Itiii't'i.iii.t Water, and all the storied vicinity; the
j v.iu- l.indscape varied by gleams of sunshine
::.i lirivin;,' shuwers.
\'['tt, , as usual, look the lead, limping ahmg
I f.:h p'lMt ;icli\ity, and in joyous mood, giving
j s.'r.;;i-i)l'bi>riler rhymes and Ijorder stories ; two
C three times in the course of our walk there
'''lt. Jri/ihng showers, which 1 su])posed would
r:'. .m end to mir raml)le, but my cmnpanious
loai'.s unconcernedly as if it li.ul been tine
I i>.,;:hi'r.
.\'. l'.:i,:;tli, I asked whether we had not better
■.k same shelter, "Ti'ue," said .Scott, " I diil
rtrc-aillect tli.it you were not accustomed to our
KV'.t:-li mists. This is a lachrymose climate,
I ev;'-i;.i)re showering. We, however, are children
ft '111' mist, and must not mind a little whimper-
:::,o! ilie clouds any more tha;i a man iiiusl mind
;■.■.' wiepin^' i)f an hysterical wife. As yon are
I r. : acci^toined to be wet through, as a matter of
■-■■e, ill a morning's w.ilk, we will bide a bit
■ •ir the lee of this bank until the shower is
■■r' Talcing his seat under shelter of a thi( ket,
■ iiiledti) his m.iii C.eorge for his t.ulaii, thin
■ n"k' to me. •• Come.'' said he, "loiiie under
• ; F'-'i'-'y. :is the eld song goes;'' so, making
■';■. :i '>tle down lieside him. he wrapped a part of
'■■' i'iiid round me, and took me, as he said,
"l- his wing.
|\;)ile wc were thus nestled to;.;ether, be
['"^'..dti) a hole in the opposite b.ink of the glen.
, ,''ii'' be said, w,is the hole of an old 'gr.iy
^'^,ir. nlio w.is doiditless snugly housed in this
■' ^natlicr. iumetimes ho saw liim at the
entrance of his hole, like ,1 hermit at the door of
his cell, telling his be, ids, or iciding a homdy,
lie luid a great respect for the venerable aiulio-
rite, and would not sut'l'er him to be ilisturbed.
lie was a kind of successor to Thomas the
Rhymer, and ])erli.ips might be Thomas himself
returned from f.iiry l.uul, but -.till under f.iiry
spell.
Some accident turned the conversation upon
Hogg, the poet, in which l..oill.iw, who u.is
se.Ueil beside its, look a ])art. Hogg had once
been a shepherd in the service of his lather, and
l.aidlaw gave many interesting aim dotes of him,
of which 1 now retain no reiadleriion. They
used to tend the sheep together wliiii l.aiill.iw
was ;i boy, and Hogg would recite tlo' lirst strug-
gling conceptions of his muse. .At night when
l.aidlaw was quartered comfort, ibl\ in bed, in
the f.irmhouse, poor Hogg wiuihl i.ike to the
shepherd's hut in the tie'ld on the hilUide, and
there lie awake for hours together, and look .it
the stars and make poetr\'. which he would re-
peat the next day to his cimip.mion.
.Scott spoke in warm terms ot lioeg, and re-
peated i)ass-,ges iVom his beaiitilul poem of
" Kelmeny," to which he gave great and well-mer-
ited |)raise. He gave, also, some amusing ,inec-
dotes of Hogg and his publislu'r, IlLukwood,
who w:is ;'.t that time just rising into the biblio-
gra))lii'al importance w hich lie has since enjoyed.
Hogg, in one of his |)oenv., I belie\e the " I'il-
grinis of the Sun," had d.ibbled .i little in nieta-
])hysics, and like his heroes, h.iil got into the
clouds, lllackwood, who begin to ,ilfecl criti-
cism, argued stoutly with him .is ;i> ilie necessity
of omitting or elucidating some obsi ure passage.
Hogg was immovable.
"I'lUi, man," saiil rd.ickuno.;. '• I dinna keii
what ye mean in tin-, |)as-,age.'' '"I lout tout,
111. m," replied Hogg, impatiently, '' 1 dinna ken
always what 1 mean inysel." T'.ieie is many a
meta|)liysical poet in the same prediciment with
honest I logg,
Scott promised to invite the She[iherd to
AbbotJ-ford during my \i>it, am I .mticipated
much gr 'titiration in meeting uith him, f|-om the
account 1 h.id received of his eh, nailer and
m,inners,and the great [ile.isure I h.id d"rived
from his works. Circumst.inces, however, pre-
vented Scott from perfoiming his promise ; and
to my great regret 1 lefi Scotland without seeing
one of its most origin. i .ind n.uioii.d i h.iraclers.
When the weather held ui), we continued our
walk until we came to ,-i beautiful --liret of water,
ill the bosom ol the inoimiain, called, if 1 recol-
lect right, the lake if Cauid^hii I. Scoit prided
i himself much u|)on this little Meditei r.inr.m sea
in his dominions, and hoped I was not too much
spoiled by our gre.it l.ikc- in .Anuiic.i to relish
j it. He proposed to l,ike me out to ilie centre of
it, to a line ])oint of view, fn- win. li puipo-,e we
embaikedin a small bo.it. wlmh hid been put
on the lake by his neighbor, l.md Sonier\ille.
.As 1 was about to step on board, I observed in
l.nge letters on one of the benches. '' Search No.
.:." 1 p.iused for a moment and repeated tlu' in-
; scription aloud, trying to recollect something I
! had heard or read to which it alluded, " I'shaw,"
I cried Scott, " it is only sonie of Lord Sollier-
I \ die's nonsense -gel in ! '' In an instant scenes
' in the .Aiiliqu. try connected with '" .Seirch No. I,"
llasheil upon my mind. ".Mil I remember
now,"' sail' 1, and with a laugh toidv my ■i.it, but
' aiherted no more to the .;ircumsiaiiee.
1 We had a pleasanl row about the Like, which
* !.
i;
li^
i. i
i ti.
^I.
528
ABBOTSFORD.
commanded some pretty scenery. Tlic most in-
teresting' circumstance connected with it, how-
ever, according to Scott, was, that it was liaunted
by a boj^le in the shape o{ a water bull, which
lived in the dee]3 ])arts, and now and then came
forth u|)on ih y land and made a tremendous roar-
in;;, tliat shook the \ery hills. This story had
been current in tlie vicinity from time immemo-
rial ; — there was a man li\ing who declared he
had seen the bull, — and he was believed by many
of his simple nei;4hbors. " I don't choose to
ronlvadict the tale," said Scott, " for I am will-
ing to have my lake stocked with any fish, flesh,
or fowl that my neii^hbors think oroper to jnit
into it ; and these old wives' fables are a kind of
property in Scotland that belon,i;s to the estates
and go with the soil Cur streams and lochs
are like the rivers and pools in tiermany, that
liave all their Wasser Nixe, or water witches,
and I have a fancy for these kind of amphdjious
bogles and hobgoblins."
have not circulating librnr
jrks of fiction in thi
1 do not pretend to give th
works of fiction in their place."
Scott went on after we had landed to m.'ike
m;iny rem, irks, mingled with pictiiresi.|ue ancc
dotes, concerning tile fabulous beings with which
the Scotch were a|)t to pe(>[)le the wikl streams
and lochs that occur in the solemn and lonely
scenes of their mountains ; and to compare thei.i
with similar superstitions among the northern
nations of F.urope ; but Scotland, he said, was
above all other countries for this wild and vivid
progeny of the fancy, f:om the nature of the
scenery, the misty magnificence and vagueness
of the climate, the wikl and gloomy events of
its history ; the clannish ilivisions of its jieople ;
thi.'ir local fei lings, notions and prejudices ; the
individuality of their dialect, in which all kinds
of odd and peculiar notions were incorporated ; by
the secluded life of their u >.• itaineers ; tlieK)i:ely
habits of their i)astor,i' ;. . , le, much of whose
time was jtassecf on the solitary hillsides ; their
tr.iditional songs, which clothed every rock and
sire.im with old world stories, handed down from
age to age, ; .id generation to generatii)n. The
Scottish mind. In; said, was made up of poetry
and strong common sense ; ar.' the very strength
of the latter gave jierpetuity and luxuriance to
•he former, it w.is .i strong tenacious ;.oil, into
which, wlieii once a seed of poetry fell, it struck
deep root and bnniglit forth abundantly. " Vou
will nexer \\eed these popular stories and songs
and su])erstitions out of Scotland," said he. " It
is not so much that the peojile believe in them,
as th.it they delight in them. They belong to the
n;.t;\e hills .nul streams of which tliey are fond,
and to the history of tiieir forefathers, of which
they .are iroud.''
'■ It would do your heart good," contini ed he,
" to see :i number of our poor country pi'ople
seated round liie ingle nook, wliich is generally
capacious enough, and ])assing the long dark
dreary wiiitir nights listening to some olii wife,
or stioiling gaberliinzie, dealing out aiild world
stories .lixna bogles and w;ulocis, or about r.iids
ami foiM\ s. and border skirmishes ; or reciting
some b.illal stuck full of those fighting names
that stir I'p a true Scotchman's bliuxl like the
sound of ,1 tiumpit. These traditional tales and
liidl.ids h.i\e li\e(i forages in mere oral circula-
tion, being 'passed from father to son, or rather
from grandain to gr.uulchild, and are a kind of
hereditary property of tliC poor peasantry, f>f
which it would be li.ud to deprive them, as they
- .- "•■ precise w-ird,;,,
as nearly as I can from scantv mcnidr: , .',
and vague recollections, the leacliiv ii. "'
Scott. I am constantly sensible, liciwc'ir "
far 1 fall short of his copiousness ,ticI ri. I-'
He went on to speak of the elves iimi ',1'^;,
so frequent in Scottish legend. " Our 'i- '/i
however," said he, " though they dress in '
and gambol by moonlight abotit' the bank^
shaws, and burnsides, are not such \)\n^i^
folks as the English fairies, but are suiZ ,, .-
more of the warlock in tiieir natures, .in(l:,i-'''|
spiteful tricks. When 1 was a ijnv, | i- ■!''•
look wistfully at the green hillcick's' tha-^ i'.
said to be haunted by faiiies, and I'elt siim'.'ii^lL
as if I should like to lie down l)v them .md -l. il
!-• -,;■•,• I .,,,',1 . ..1.. ., ."'?ff
and be carried off to Fairy I.aiui, unlv ma'
not like some of the cantrips which used n'ju ,v I
then to be played oiT upon visitors.'
Here Scott recounted, in "r:;phic stvK. vi
with much iiumor. a little story wliicli ibcd:
current in the neighborhood, of an hum.-,
gess of Selkirk, who, being at work upon tln.h.',l|
of I'eallaw, fell asleep upon one of iIksc ■'fairvl
knowes," or hillock^.. When he awuko. i.jl
rubbed his eyes and gazed about him with a,: a.!
isliment, for he was in the niarket-piace ui i|
great city, with a crowd of ])eople biisilinj; a', jjt j
him, not one of whom he knew. At kn^iirnj!
accosted a bystander, and asked him the :;,r.v.e|
of the place. '• Hout man," replied tliu i.iKr,
"are ye in the heart o" (llasgow, and siKcr '.l.e!
name of it ? " The poor ni.-in was ast'oni.-l'.'.J,
and would not believe either ears or cvis; t'^l
insisted that he liad laid down to sleep h'.ii k,,'.f]
an hour before on the I'e.itlaw, ne;.r Selki.
lie came well nigh being taken up f()ram;i';K..n, I
v.hen, f >rtunately, a Selkirk man came bv. v.i.oj
knew him, and took charge of him, ami con- 1
ducted him back to his native place. Ikr;, j
howc\cr, he was likely to Tare no better, wiuni
sjioke of ha\ing been whi.>ked ui his sleep iV.ai]
the I'eatlaw to (ilasgow. The truth of the iii.;!;.r 1
at length came out ; his coat, which he had vh?,
off when at work on the I'eatlaw. was found i\:r,' |
near a " fiiry knowe," and his bonnet, v.hi.h
was missing, was disco'.ered on the weatlii.:oH.k
of Lanark steejile. So it ivas as clear ^.^ ii,^y
that he had been carried tliro,.uh the .u' hv.ho |
fairies while he was sleeping, and lli•^ bcnna i
been blown oif by the way.
1 give this little story but nie.Tgrely fr-in .i1
scanty niemorandu..i . Scott has related i; ;;i |
somewhat dilferent style in a note to one :■!
poems ; but in n.irration these anecdote^ deiiitJI
their clii:-t zest, from the quiet but deli:Ju:.
humor, the ijonhomie witli which he se,iNi:.
them, and tiie sly ghtnce of the eye from •,:r...'.r ]
his bushy eyebnjwb, with which ;he\ Acre acam-
panied.
That (lav at dinner, we had Mr. Laialiw .^'^
his wife, aiid a female friend who accouip:;n.^u
them. The latter was a very intelli:.^ent, le-put-
able ))erso!i, about the inuklle .ige. an^. «.'■>
treated with jiarticular attention and couik>y ny
Scott. Our dinner was a most agreeahl'.' • i.i j
for liie guests were evidently clier lu'il >'■''>'■'
to the house, and felt that they were app'i;''.!''^^'-'
W
..hen tliey were gone, Scott spoke
the must corili.d manner
1 wibhei' tu i'"'-'*
ABBOTSFORD.
)29
tlii-'ir natures, and:,- .
k'l-L'cn liilldcks tin- .. J
lines, and fdt„i„'.'.':'H
''('"nliyUiemam;.,;;]
"T J-""l-oiilvtliailVT
'■■'Pswliiduisdn.v,.'^
on vibiidrs.'' ■
!' '11 "'-pliic ,ivk. :,.ji
'<■• stoiy wlii^l, i,:.v-,'J
.■'i"<)(l, of ail hum-' ;,.'..|
'"K at work upon ;!, ■"■jl
iip"ii onr „f i!,,s, .."(•;:;: I
^\lK'n lie a«uk^ iJ
-'« abuut him wiih a,.. .,.1
tlie niai-ket-piaci- i/'J
f'f people bustlin;; ,;
lie knew. At kn ;!,
nd asked l;iiii th,"::,,:-
i-Hi." replied iliu oihi'r .
(•la.sgow, and snctr ;f,e I
'i; ir.an was astoni.-fa-.j, I
either ears or e\ts: h-J
1 down to sleep lint Lilfj
I'eatlaw, near Suku.
taken up furaiiU';;!;..n i
<ii'k man came bv. v.i.aj
arge of him, ami c-ir.-
s native place. Ikr.J
I Tare no better, wiim ;;;
ii^l<ed in lii.s sice|ili, -i
The truth of the i;i.'.:;.r
oat. which he hail t.iki.i
'catlaw. wasfdiiiKi :\;:;
and his bonnet, v.Lh
red on the weathiiL. .k
it was as dear ■> li..'
tliniu'.;h the aa In ■,!;e
ill;,', anil his beiinu i;„.;
I .,.,;(! he, " some of our really excellent, jilaiii
r:,j'" ,|ile; not tine geiitleiiieii and ladies,
"'^;','.j,^j,.,, GUI meet cverywlicro, and they arc
"'"'^ ■ til'.; same. The character of a na-
""■"'""[ "to be learnt from its tine folks."
- ,.11 went on with a iiarticiilar euiogium on
."• ■• will) had accompanied the Laidlaws.
iS'rii'tiic ''.au;;hter, he said, of a poor country
I'T'iin, v.lio had (lied in debt, and left her an
ph-i.THi destitute. Having liad a good i)lain
^;,';j,,^;,^5heiiuniediately .set up a child's school,
t'ihi sumi a numerous Hock under her care,
r jjjjfi, she earned a decent maintenance.
„. however, was not her main object. Her
ffja:,
to p.iy off her father's debts, that
IrM care «,is . .
touwiiril I'l' ill "'11 might rest upon his memory.
ji,;;,bv liint of Scottish economy, backed by
M ri'vcreiice and pride, she accomplished,
itirh in the ciTort, she subjected herself to
((■ iv p'.iv.ition. Not content with this, she in
Ittraia instances refused to take jiay for the tui-
K of the children of some of her neighbors,
Jj i;,j(l befriended her father in his need, and
s;:i« fallen into poverty. '"In a word,"
tijjixott. " she is a tine olil Scotch girl ; and
iM^Jitin her, more than in many a line lady I
. known, and I have known many of the
iKi-t."
I halted, and took my hand. " I will not say f.ire-
! well," said he, '" for it is always a ])aiiiful word,
I but I will s.iy, come again. When you have made
your tour to the 1 lighlaiids, come here and give
I me a few more days — l)ut come when you please,
yiu will always liiid Abbotsfurd open lu )ou, and
a hearty welcome.''
his time, however, to draw tills rambling nar-
n:;u' to .u'lose. Several dr.ys were ])assecl by
ue.iniheway 1 have attempted to describe, in
aljiKt constant, familiar, and joyous conversa-
E3«ith Scott ; it was as If I were admitted to
!-oci;il coniiminion with Shakespeare, tor it was
w.h (me of a kindred, if not eipial genius.
Euryni;'lit 1 retired with my mlntl filled with
ii;kkl recollections of the day, and every
iiii?:nmg 1 rose with the certainty of new enjoy-
Bir.;. The days thus spent, I shall ever look
ii;k to. as among the very hapi)iest of my life ;
foil«,is conscious at the time of being happy.
The nnly s.id nionient that I experiencei.1 .it
.Vib.it^l'ord was th.U of my departure ; but it
»;; diATcil with the prospect of soon returning ;
f: 1 h.'.d promised, after making a tour in the
H.'r.kinils, to come and pass a few more days on
t. iu:;ks of the Tweed, when Scott intended to
;r.v:!i.' Hii;.;;4 the poet to meet me. I took a kind
fir.vJl (if the family, with each of ulioiii 1 had
'a;.! hyhly pleased. If I have refrained from
r.l.:n^^p,irii. ularly on their several characters,
■u,'Min:g: ■ o.js of them individually. It is
t:i'dK i c, i; ider t!' in shielded by the sanciity
i«f '^ liiedt life; Scott, on the contrary, belongs
' ory. As I'.c accompanied me on foot, how-
;":i iiiall gate on the confines of his prem-
■' '111 not refniin from c.\;-ressiiig the en-
■ 1 liaii experienced in his domestic circle,
'-:iV4 -^oine warm culogiums on the young
"111 whom I had just parted. I shairiieve'r
I|-;i.;i'i5 reply. '■ They have kind hearts," said
I'-Miul ili.it is the main point as to hum. in
iK;f:ni.5S. They love one another, poor things,
httliis e\er\ thing in domestic life. The best
['■^Irmm.ike you, my friend," added he, lay-
■:,'bh,ind upon my shoulder, " is, tiiat when
'-riiuriiio yotirown country, you may get mar-
'•■■■. W'l have a fuiiily of young'bairiis about vou.
M';'W are happy, there thev are to share vour
-fPiness-aiKl if vou are otherwise— there they
|i-!"("mfort yoii."
% liiij time we h.id reached the yate, when he
:.k. Ir.
I have thus given, in a rude stylo, my main
recollections of what occurred during my sojourn
at Abbotsforil, and I feel niortilied that I cm
give but such meagre, scattered, and colorless
details of what was so copious, rich, and varied.
During several days that I passed there Scott
was In admirable vein, l-'rom early morn until
dinner time he was raiiibling about, showing me
the neighborhood, and during dinner and until
late at night, engaged In soci.il conversation.
No time was reserved for himself; he seemed
as if his only occupation was to entertain me ;
and yet I was almost .an entire stran;.;er to
him, one of whom he knew nothing, but an
Idle book I had written, and which, some
\ears before, had amused him, liut such was
Scott--lie appeared to have nothing lo do but
lavish his time, attention, and conversation cm
those around. It was difticult to imagine what
time he found to write those volumes that were
incessantly issuing from the press ; all of which,
too, were of a nature to require reading and re-
search. I could not tincl that his life was ever
otherwise than a life of leisure and hap-hazard
recreation, such as It was during my visit. He
scarce ever b.ilked a party of jjleasiire, or a
sporting excursion, and rarely pleaded his own
concerns as an excuse for rejecting those of
others. During my visit I he.ird of other visitors
who had preceded ine, and who must have kejjt
him occupied tor many days, and I h.ive had an
op|)ortiinity of knowing the course of his daily
lite for some time subsei|ueiitly. Not long after
my departure from Abbotsfoid, my ft lend Wilkie
arrived there, to jiaint a ])ictu;e of the Scott
fimily. He fniiid the house full of guests.
Scott's whole time was taken up in riding and
driving about the country, or in social conversa-
tion at home. ".Ml this time," s.iid Wilkie to
me, '• I did not iiresume to ask Mr. Scott to sit
for his portrait, for I saw he had not a moment
to s[)are ; I waited for the guests lo go away, but
as fist .as one went ai'otber arrived, and so It con-
tinued for several days, and with each set he was
coni])lelely ocrupie(l. At length all went oil",
and wo were (piiet. I ihoiiglit, however, Mr.
Scott will now shut himself up among his books
and ])apers, for he h.is to make up for lost lime ;
it v.'oii't do for me to ask him now to sit for his pic-
ture. Laidlaw, who managed Ills estate, came
in, and .Scott turned to him, as I supposed, lo
consult about business. ' Laidlaw.' said he, ' to-
morrow morning we'll go across thow.iter and
t.ikc' the dogs with us — there's a ))lai e where I
think we sliall lie able to liiid a bare.'
" In short," added Wilkie, '• I found that in-
stead of luisiness, he w.is thinking only of .umise-
ment, as if he bad nothing in the world to occupy
Iiini ; so I no longer fe.ued to intrude upon him.''
Tlie ciinv ersaiion of .Scott was frank, hearty,
picturesipie. and dramatic. During the time of
my visit he inclined to the comic rather than the
grave, in his anecdotes and stories, and such, I
i was told, was his general inclination. He rel-
i iblied a joke, or a trail of humor in social inter-
mm
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M.;|
680
ABBOTSFORD.
iii
si - il'i
.1. : =
' I.:
course-, and laughed with right pood "will. He
l.ilkcil not for ctTcct nor display, but from the flow
of his spirits, liic stores of his memory, and the
vigor of liis imagination. He had a natural turn
for narration, and his narratives and descriptions
verc without effort, yet wonilerfully graphic. He
jilaccd the scene before you hisc a picture ; ho
ga\ e the (Uak)gue with tlie a])propriate dialect or
peculiarities, and described the a])pearance and
characters of his ])ersonages with that sjjirit and
felicity evinced in his writings. Indeed, his con-
versation reminded mc continually of his novels ;
and it seemed to mc, tliat during the whole time
I was with him, he talked enough to fill volumes,
and that they could not have been fdled more
delightfully.
He was as good a listener as talker, apjireci-
ating e\erything that others said, howe\er hum-
ble might be their rank or ])retensions, and was
quick to testify liis perception of any point in
their discourse. He arrogated nothing to him-
self, but was perfectly unassuming and unpre-
tending, entering with heart and soul into the
business, or ])leasure, or, I had almost said,
folly, of the hour and the company. No one's
concerns, no one's thoughts, no one's o])inions,
no one's tastes and jileasures seemed beneath
liim. He made himself so thoroughly the com-
panion of those with whom he happened to be,
that they forgot for a time his vast superiority,
and only recollected and wondered, when all was
over, that it was Scott with whom they had been
on such familiar terms, and in whose society
they had f.'lt so perfectly at their case.
It was delightful to observe tlie generous spirit
in which he spoke of all his literary contempo-
raries, cpioling the beauties of their works, and
this, too, with respect to persons with whom he
might have been supposed to be at variance in
literature or jiolitics. Jeffrey, it was thought,
had ruffled his ])lumes in one of his reviews, yet
Scott spoke of him in terms of high and warm
eulogy, both as an author and as a man.
His lumior in conversation, as in his work.s,
was genial and free from all causticity. He had
a quick percejjlion of faults and foibles, but he
looked \q)on ])oor human nature with an indul-
gent eye, relishinj; what was good and pleasant,
■-re I
r il
tolerating what was frail, and puvin'.; what ■.v..i
evil. It is this l)eneficent spirit Mliiiir..i,^!;.,./ I
an air of bonhomie to Scott's luiinor thrnipi '
all his works. He played wiUi tliu foiljlis"'-'
errors of his fellow beings, and prc^eiittd iC. I
in a thousand whimsical and ch.uactLristicl'i'^
but the kindness and generosity of luj '"
would not allow him to be a satirist. ]
recollect a sneer throughout his ccinvcrsiti^i .-•
more than there is throughout his works.
Such is a rough sketch of Scmt, as 1 kw}~,
in private life, not merely .-it ilie tiniu of t'lii-! -[
here narrated, but in the casual iiitcrcoiir,e Vf
subsequent years. (_)f his \n\h\,': characiu :,'1|
merits, all the world can judge. !!is work, h '.
incorporated themselves with the tluni-hts l-lj
concerns of the whole civilized world, lnr ,i .
ter of a century, and ha\e had a comrolli!-;
fluence over the age in which he lived. Uutv.i.al
did a lumian ' eing ever exercise ;.MiiuluenciT. .-el
salutary and benignant? Who is llitri.' t;.!;./:i|
looking back o\er a great i)oni(iM ot'lii, liiV, i;r,ij
not lind the genius of Scott admiiiisteriiv,' tuhisl
pleasures, beguiling his cares, ami soothin,'
lonely sorrows? Who does not still n^Tinl hiil
works as a treasury of piu'e enjoyiuem, an arr,>.rv|
to which to resort in time ofiieed. to lindHcaprii'sl
with which to fight olf the evils and tin.' ^'nil! of f
life ? For my own part, in periods of (kjictn ,
I have hailed the announceniem of a mu \\url;|
from his pen as an earnest of certain pkajiiriinl
store for mc, and have looked forward lu it nA
traveller in a waste looks to a grLX'ii spot at ail;y|
tance, where he feels assured (.f solace .mil re^
freshment. When I consider luiu- miuh kkii
thus contributed to the belter l;oi;rs ofmyp.istj
existence, and how independent his works s'.illl
make me, at times, of all the unrld tor niy (.i.vi.'
ment, 1 bless my stars that cist my lot ir, i-.;ii
days, to be thus cheered and gladde .oil by iltel
outpourings of his .genius. 1 conside. it nnecifr
the greatest advantages that I lia\c derival iVnitij
my literary career, that it h.is elevated mc into!
genial coinmunioii with such a spirit: aiid.ijjj
tribute of gratitude for his friendship, and \\.Rir;
tion for his memory, 1 cast this lumiblL' s'.irisj
upon his cairn, which will soon, I trust, bo puoij
aloft with the cui'tribuliuns of abkr hands.
in
1> ami puvin'^whtflyi
t SlMlltullKll.i,,,;,,;^
-■otl's luiiiiDr thrill; ■'►!,.
^h1 with the (011)11.""^';
,'s, and pri'semd (r,,:^
iind cli.ir.ictcristicM..;
;L'ncrosity of Ms nj.t'.ji
be a satirist. I dor.i
out his convcri.-aiit. i-,]
,'h(iut his Hiirks.
1 of Scdit.asl v,ivh,-n
■■ al tllC tilllfof thiM;.;
e casual intiTcoi;r,o ,."
lis i)iil)h'; chiir.u!, r :,r,;
jii(l:4u. ;iisH(irk,!.:;',j
uilii the liiou-hii -,'.4
iili/i.'il win 1(1, for ,1 ,n; ..
\ e had a lomrnlh-,- -.
liich he lived. liiii\.;,.:i
'iuiTisc r.MiiitUicnciT. :i
Who is lliiie ti;i;.n
t piinion of his lik.i;(.,-i
:ott administering' toi.;;
cares, and southing i.i
Iocs not still ri:4,-ird h;i
re enjoyiiienl.anarir. rv
' of need, to liiulHiaijir.i
le evils and the ;;riil! 1 1
in perioils of (kiv;t;':,
iieeiiielU of a nev, »,:<
St (if cert.iin ple.b.ir. 13
loked forward tu :i ,ba
to a ^reeil spot at a ii;i-
siired of sol.ite ar,!.! k-
isider how much hcl:«
better hoias of my p.iit
pendent his works •■,:!1
the world for my iiiii y-
that cast my lot ini.;i
I and gladde .eil hy ihe
1 conside. it intif
lal I ha\e dcriiul frin
t li.is ele\ate(l iiic ir.'.i)
uch a spirit ; and as j
; fi'iendship, andveniri-
cast thi^ lumibio i',u:;S
soon,
trust, be p:!:^l
IS of abler hands,
ifiiJI
i<Si