directed their course to the Canary Islands, where they were delayed for some time in consequence of an injury done to the rudder of the Pinta. On the 6th of September, they left the Canaries; and that may be regarded as the first day of the most memorable voyage which has ever been undertaken. The winds were at first light, and little way was made; the second day, the fleet lost sight of land. The companions of Columbus, who were now advancing over the ocean, unable to conjecture the termination of their voyage, began to feel astonished at the boldness of the enterprise. Many of them shed tears and broke into loud lamentations, believing that they should never return. Columbus endeavoured to console them and inspire them with new courage.

soothe their rising fears, sometimes by arguments and expostulations, sometimes by awakening fresh hopes, and pointing out new signs of land. Light breezes from the southwest springing up on the 20th of September, had a cheering effect on the people, as they proved that the wind did not always prevail in the same direction. Three days later a whale was observed, heaving up his huge form at a distance, which Columbus pointed out as an indication of the proximity of land. The prevalence of calms, however, and the great quantities of sea-weed which they encountered, retarding the course of the ships, occasioned fresh alarm. Columbus. reasoned, expostulated, and promised in vain. The men were too much under the influence of terror to listen to reason. The more Columbus argued the more boisterous became their murmurs, until there came a heavy swell of the sea unaccompanied by wind. This, fortunately, dispelled the terrors occasioned by the previous dead calm.

On the 25th of September, while Columbus, with his officers, were studying a map and endeavoring to make out from it their position, they were aroused by a shout from the Pinta, and looking up, beheld Martin Alonzo Pinzon, mounted on the stern of his vessel, who cried with a loud

voice, "Land! land! Señor, I claim my reward!"* pointing at the same. time to the south-west, where there was indeed an appearance of land, at about twenty-five leagues distance. Columbus threw himself upon his knees and returned thanks to God, and Martin Alonzo repeated the Gloria in Excelsis, in which he was loudly joined by the crews of the ships. They changed their course, and sailed all night in the same direction. At daylight all eyes were turned in that quarter; but the supposed land which had caused so much joy, had disappeared, and they found that they had been deceived by the appearance of clouds in the horizon. The direct course to the west was again resumed.

possessed.

HE crews soon relapsed into their former despondency. Nevertheless, the multitude of birds which they saw continually flying about the ships, the pieces of wood which they picked up, and many other symptoms of land, prevented them from giving themselves wholly up to despair. Columbus, in the midst of so much uneasiness and dejection, remained calm and self

On the 11th of October, the indications of land became more and more certain. A reed quite green floated by, fish, such as abound near rocks, were seen, the trunk of a bamboo, and a plank, rudely carved, were picked up by the people of the Nina, and those in the Pinta saw a branch of a tree with berries on it. They sounded at sunset and found bottom. The wind was now unequal; and this last circumstance completely satisfied the mind of Columbus that land was not far off. The crew assembled, as usual, for evening prayer. As soon as the service was over, Columbus desired the people to return thanks to God for having preserved them in so long and dangerous a voyage, and assured them that the indications. of land were now too certain to be doubted. He recommended them to look out carefully during the night, for that they should surely discover land before the morning; and he promised a doublet of velvet to whomsoever should first descry it, in addition to the pension to be given by the sovereigns. About ten o'clock at night, while Columbus was sitting on the top of the castle or cabin on the high poop of his vessel, he thought he beheld a glimmering light at a distance. Fearing that his hopes might deceive him, he called Pedro Gutierrez, and inquired whether he saw a light in that direction; the latter replied in the affirmative. He then called Roderigo Sanchez, of Segovia; but before he came, it had disappeared; they saw it, nevertheless, twice afterwards, in sudden gleams,

* A pension of 30 crowns had been promised by the sovereigns to the first man who should discover land.

as if it were a torch in the bark of a fisherman, rising and sinking with the waves, or in the hands of some person on shore, borne up and down as he walked. Columbus considered this appearance as a certain sign of land, and, moreover, that the land was inhabited.

T two in the morning, a gun from the Pinta, which was ahead, gave the joyful signal of land. It was in the night of the 11th of October, 1492, after a voyage of thirty-five days, that the New World was discovered. The crews longed for the return of day, that they might feast their eyes on the long-desired sight. At length day broke, and they enjoyed the prospect of hills and valleys, clothed in delicious verdure. The three vessels steered towards it at sunrise. The crew of the Pinta, which, as usual, was in advance; commenced chanting the Te Deum; and all sincerely thanked Heaven for the success of their voyage. They saw, as they approached, the inhabitants issuing from the woods and running from all parts to the shore, where they stood gazing at the ships. They were all quite naked, and from their attitudes and gestures appeared to be lost in astonishment. Columbus gave the signal to anchor, and ordered the boats to be manned and armed. He entered his own boat, richly attired in scarlet, and bearing

the royal standard; whilst Martin Alonzo Pinzon, and Vicente Yanez, his brother, put off in company, in their boats. As they approached the shore they were delighted with the luxuriance of the tropical vegetation with which it was adorned, with the pure, fresh atmosphere, and the crystal transparency of the sea. No sooner did Columbus land than he threw himself upon his knees, kissed the earth, and returned thanks to God with tears of joy. His example was followed by the rest, who were penetrated with the same sentiments of gratitude. Columbus then rising, drew his sword, displayed the royal standard, and took solemn possession on behalf of the Castilian sovereigns, giving the island the name of San Salvador. He then exacted from his followers the oath of obedience to him as admiral and viceroy, representing the persons of the sovereigns.

HE natives who, at their first landing, had fled to the woods, finding that there was no attempt to pursue or molest them, gradually recovered from their terror, and approached their new visiters with great awe, frequently prostrating themselves and making signs of adoration. When they had still further recovered from their fear, they approached the Spaniards, touched their beards, and examined their hands and faces, admiring their whiteness. Columbus treated them with

kindness; they supposed that the ships had sailed out of the firmament which bounded their horizon, or that they had descended from above, and that these strange beings were inhabitants of the skies.

The island which the Spaniards had discovered was called by the natives Guanahana; but it has since retained the name of San Salvador; the English call it Cat Island. It is one of the Bahama group, between Florida and Hispaniola.

HEN the admiral returned to his vessel, some of the natives swam after him, others paddled in their canoes, and the caravel was quite surrounded with them. They were ignorant of the use of iron, and some of them, catching hold of the Spanish swords by the blades, received slight wounds. On the morrow, they came off to the fleet to exchange balls of cotton for beads, hawks' bells, and other trinkets. They had appended to their ears little plates of gold, which soon caught the eyes of the Spaniards. On being asked where they had obtained them, they always pointed towards the south. Columbus determined to go in search of the country thus indicated, always hoping speedily to arrive at Cathay and Zipangu. In pursuit of these countries, he prosecuted his researches until he discovered Cuba. The interpreters whom he had brought from San Salvador, learned here that some gold was found in Cuba, but that it was much more abundant in another country farther to the east.

HE prospect of obtaining gold inflamed the cupidity of the Spaniards, and Alonzo Pinzon, the commander of the Pinta, which was the best sailer in the fleet, wishing to arrive first at the land where the precious metal abounded, crowded all sail, and was soon out of sight.

On the 5th of December, Columbus, with the remaining ships, sailed from the eastern point of Cuba, and soon arrived at the rich country of which he had received such a glowing description. It was called by the natives Haiti; Columbus gave it the name of Hispaniola. They anchored first at Port St. Nicholas, and shortly after at a little distance from Cape François. The natives took to flight at the appearance of the ships; but kind treatment to one of their number, who accidentally fell into the hands of the Spaniards by the upsetting of his canoe, gave them confidence; and they came in multitudes to the ships, exchanging fruits, provisions, and gold for bits of porcelain, beads, and hawks' bells. Guanacanagari, the prince of the country, or Cacique, as he was called by his people, received Columbus with much kindness, and