The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, December 16, 1891, Image 1
-.-?
fill 8?HTER WATCH M AK, KstablUhed April, 1850.
Consolidated Ans. 2. 1881-1
lBe Just
and Fear not-Let all tie End? tnou Aims't at, ba thy Country's, thy Pod's and Truth's
THE TRUE SKTCTHJCOTI, Setofrttrintf /rae, Ic6*
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1891
New Series-Toi. XL No. 20.
Published awry Wednesday,
? , . I - , .. sr v j
HJ GK OSTEEN,
SUMTER, S. C.
TERMS :
Two Dollars per annum-in advance.
ADTIRTI81MBHTS.
Ona. Square, first insertion................ ..$1 00
?^ery subsequent insertion. 50
. - .1: Contracts for three months, or longer will
bu tnade at reduced raira.
JX* ?Ul-coinraanications wb?ch subserve private
interests will be ?barged for as advertisements.
Obituaries and tributes' of respect will be
charged for.
PMOTHERSI
lakes Child Birth Easy, i
\ ? Shortens Labor, |
Jessens Pasa, .
* {' ?ndoKed ly the Leading Physicians. .
< Book to ^Mothers" mailed J
J BRADFIELD RECULATOR CO. J
\ ? ATLANTA, GA. t
- Ic. 'ly 0pU> BY ALL DRUGGISTS. ?
Axe You Interested ?
Are you suffering with any of the' following
syaptoms : Loss of, or irregular appetite,
loss of flesh, a feeling of fnloess or weight io
the stomach, acidity, flatulence, a dall pain
with a sensation of heaviness iu the head,
giddiness, constipation, derangement of kid?
neys, heart trouble, nervousness, sleepless?
ness* etc. Dr. Bolt's Dyspeptic Elixir will
, cureyoa. :i
W. A. Wright, the Comptroller General of
Georgia, says, three bottles cured him after
having tried almost everything else.
Judge R. F, War, Macon, Ga., says, Holt's
Slixir accomplished what all other remedies
Culed to do, a perfect care.
- J- E. Paullin, Ft. Gaines, Ga., writes : "I
bare no hesitancy io recommending it, as it
cered me of dyspepsia.
For any further information inquire of
. your druggist. For. sale by all druggists.
THE SIMONDS NATIONAL BANE,
OF SUMTER.
STATE, CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSI?
TORT, SUMTER^S. C.
Paid np Capital . . . . . $75,000 00
Surplus Fund. 10,000 00
Transacts a General Banking; Business.
-Oareral attention given to collections.
\MAy?nen DEPARTMENT.:
Tteposits of $land upwards received. In?
terest allowed ?t the Tate of 4 percent, per
an dum. Payable quarterly, on first days of
January, April, July and October.
R. M. WALLACE,
Vice President.
L. S. CAB305,
Aug. 7 Cashier.
s ?.
QHT AND COD?T?. DEPOSITORY.
Transacts a general Banking business.
Also bes'
A Savings Bank Department
Deposits of $1.00 and upwards received.
Interest calculated at the rate of 4 per cent,
sar snasm, payable quarterly.
. ?% P. *? B. B?YNSWORTH,
A. WHITS, JB., President.
Cashier. ,
? Aug 21._
W. ALSTON PRINGf.K, Js. J. CHARLTON RtVSBS.
NICKEL SAVING BANK,
-r-CHARLESTON, S. C.
x Deposits of .05 and upwards received. In?
terest allowed at the rate of 5 per cent, per
annum. Payable quarterly on first days of j
January, April, July and October.
Cartful Attention Given to CoUectic ~>?.
-PRINGLE & RIVERS, -
m ,r-AGENTS.
* g Oct 28. _
L D. JOHNSTON,
m ^SUMTER, S C.,
Practical, Carpeni er, Coa traci or
AND BUILDER,
WOULD RESPECTFULLY inform the
citizens of Sumter and surrounding
? coon try that be is prepared to furnish plans,
and estimates on brick and wooden buildings.
. AU work entrusted to him will bc done
first class.
v SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
Aug 19_ _o
ii L ALTA
DENTIST.
Office
' OVER BROWNS & PURDY'S STORE.
Entrance on Main Street,
Between Browns & Purdy and Durant & Son.
OFFICE HOURS:
9 to 1.30; 2 to 5 o'clock.
Sumter, S. O, April 29._'
G. W. DICK, D. D. S.
Office over Bogie's New Store,
urrfiAScs ON -us? STRICT
SUMTER, S. C.
Office Honrs.-9 to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5.
Dr. T. W. BOOKHART,
DENTAL SURGEON.
O ?ce over Bultman & Bro.'s Shoe Store.
ENTRANCE ON MAIN STRKJBT.
SUMTER, S. C.
Office Hours-9 to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5.
April 17-o_? .._
'GLENN' SPRINGS
MINERAL WATER
A Safe, Pleasan and Effective Remedy for al
diseases of the
*T ACTS ON THE BOWELS.
CLEANSES THE SYSTEM,
AND REGULATES THE LIVER,
And is a specific for mot
FEMALE DISORDERS.
SIMPSON & SIMPSON,
Proprietors,
Glenn Springs, S. C.
For sale by all leading Druggists.
* mm TO LEND
ON IMPROVED FARMING LANDS at
8 per cent, interest and a Con>c?i3.<>ion.
LEE * MOISE.
Sept. 16 x.
IRVING'S COLUMBUS.
The Great Discoverer's First
Voyage to America.
A Far More Wonderful Story Than
(he Most Brilliant Imagination Has
Yet Conjured. Told in the Words
of One of the Masters of Litera?
ture.
IcoxniruEixJ
The thoughts and feelings of Colum?
bus in this little space of time must haye
been tumultuous and intense. At length,
in spite of every difficulty and danger,
he had accomplished his object. The
great mystery of the oc?an was revealed;
his theory, which had been the scoff of
sages, was triumphantly established; he
had secured to himself a glory dura?
ble as the world itself.
It is difficult 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 fra?
grance of aromatic groves. The moving
light he had beheld proved it the resi?
dence of man. But 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 unknown
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 specu?
lations of the kind must have swarmed
upon him, as, with his anxious crews, he
waited for the night to pass away; won?
dering whether the morning light would
reveal a savage wilderness or dawn upon
spicy groves, and glittering fanes, and
gilded cities, and all the splendor of
oriental civilization.
CHAPTER V.
FIRST LANDING OP COLUMBUS IN THE NEW
WORLD.
PAST OF TERRESTRIAL GLOBS, MADE AT
NUREMBERG, 1492.
It was on Friday morning, the 12th 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 apparently
uncultivated, it was populous, for the
inhabitants were seen issuing from all
parts of the woods and running to the
shore. They were perfectly naked, and,
as they stood gazing at the ships, ap?
peared by their attitudes and gestures to
be lost in astonishment. Columbus made
signal for the ships to cast anchor and
the boats to be manned and armed. He
entered his own boat, richly attired in
scarlet, and holding the royal standard,
while Martin Alonzo Pinz?n and Vin?
cent Janez, his brother, put off in com?
pany in their boats, each with a banner
of the enterprise emblazoned with a
green cross, having on either side the
letters F. and Y., the initials of the Cas?
tillan monarchs Fernando and Ysabel
surmounted by crowns.
As he approached the shore, Columbus,
who was disposed for all kinds of agree?
able impressions, was delighted with the
purity and suavity of the atmosphere,
the crystal transparency of the sea and
the extraordinary beauty of the vegeta?
tion. He beheld, also, fruits of- an un?
known kind upon the trees which over?
hung 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 overflowed
with the same feelings of gratitude.
Columbus then rising drew his sword,
displayed the royal standard, and as?
sembling around him the two captains,
with Rodrigo de Escobedo, notary of the
armament, Rodrigo Sanchez and the
rest who had landed, he took solemn
possession in the name of the CastUian
sovereigns, giving the island the name
of San Salvador. Having complied with
the requisite forms and ceremonies he
called upon all present to take the oath
of obedienca to him, as admiral and
viceroy, representing the persons of the
sovereigns.
The feelings of the crew now burst
forth in the most extravagant trans?
ports. They had recently considered
themselves devoted men, hurrying for?
ward to destruction; they now looked
upon themselves as favorites of fortune,
and gave themselves np to the most un?
bounded joy. They thronged around
the admiral with overflowing zeal, some
embracing him, others kissing his hands.
Those who had been most mutinous and
turbulent during the voyage were now
most devoted and enthusiastic. Some
begged favors of him, as if he had al?
ready wealth and honors in his gift
Many abject spirits, who had outraged
him by their insolence, now crouched at
his feet, begging pardon for all the trou?
ble they had caused Mm, and promising
the blindest obedience tor the future.
The natives of the island, when at the
dawn of day they had beheld the ships
hovering on their coast, had supposed
them monsters which had issued from
the deep during the night They had
crowded to the beach and watched their
movements with awful anxiety. Their
veering about, apparently without ef?
fort, and the shifting and furling of j
their sails, resembling huge wings, filied
them with astonishment When they j
beheld their boats approach tue shore,
and a number of strange beings clad in
glittering steel or raiment of various
colors landing upon the beach, they fled
in affright to the woods. Finding, how?
ever, that there was no attempt to pur?
sue or molest them, they gradually re?
covered from their terror and ap?
proached the Spaniards with great awe,
frequently prostrating themselves on
the earth and making signs of adoration.
During the ceremonies of taking posses?
sion they remained gazing in timid ad
miration at the complexion, the bea
the sliming armor and splendid dres
the Spaniards.
The admiral particularly attra<
their attention from his commane
height, his air of authority, his dre?
scarlet and the deference which
paid him by his companions, all wi
pointed him out to be the command
When they had still further recove
from their fears they approached
Spaniards, touched their beards and
amined their hands and faces, admii
their whiteness. Columbus was plea
with their gentleness and confiding s
plicity, and suffered their scrutiny v
perfect acquiescence, winning them
his benignity. They now supposed t
the ships had sailed out of the cry;
firmament which bounded their horiz
or had descended from above on tl
ample wings, and that these marvel
beings were inhabitants of the skies.
The natives of the island were no 1
objects of curiosity to the Spaniards, <
fering. as they did, from any race of n
they had ever seen. Their appeara:
gave no promise of either wealth or c
ilization, for they were entirely nak
and painted with a variety of cole
With some it was confined merely t<
part of the face, the nose or around I
eyes: with others it extended to 1
rrhphi body, and gave them a wild a
fantastic appearance. Their complex:
was of a tawny or copper hue, and tl
were entirely destitute of beards. Th
hair was not crisped, like the recen
discovered tribes of the African coa
under the same latitude, but strak
and coarse, partly cut short above 1
ears, but some locks were left long behi
and falling upon their shoulders. Tb
features, though obscured and disfigui
by paint, were agreeable; they had lol
foreheads and remarkably fine ey
They were of moderate stature and w
formed; most of them appeared to
under thirty years of age: there was b
one female with them, quite your
naked like her companions, and beau
fully formed.
As Columbus supposed himself to ha
landed on an i&land at the extremi
of India, he called the natives by t
general appellation of Indiana, whi
was universally adopted before the tr
nature of his discovery was known, ai
has since been extended to all the abori
inals of the New World.
The islanders were friendly and ge
tia Their only arms were lances, har
ened at the end by fire, or pointed wi
a flint, or the teeth or bone of a fis
There was no iron to be seen, nor d
they appear acquainted with its prone
ties; for, when a drawn sword was pi
sented to them, they unguardedly tex
it by the edge.
Columbus distributed among the:
colored caps, glass beads, hawks' bel
and other trifles, such as the Portugue
were accustomed to trade with amoi
the nations of the gold coast of Afric
They received them eagerly, hung tl
beads round their necks, and were wo:
derfully pleased with their finery ar
with the sound of the bells. The Spai
iards remained all day on shore refres]
ing themselves after their anxious vo;
age amid the beautiful groves of tl
island, and returned on board late in tl
evening delighted with all they had seei
On the following morning, at break <
day, the shore was thronged with tl
natives; some swam off. to the ship
others came in light barks which the
called canoes, formed of a single tra
hollowed, and capable of holding froi
one man to the number of fort}* or fift]
These they managed dexterously wit
paddles, and, if overturned, swam aboi
in the water with perfect unconcern, f
if in their natural element, righting thei
canoes with great facility, and bailin
them with calabashes.
They were eager to procure more toj
and trinkets, not apparently from an
idea of their intrinsic value, but becaus
everything from the hands of the strat
gers possessed a supernatural virtue i
their eyes, as having been brought fror
heaven; they even picked up fragment
of glass and earthenware as valuabl
prizes. They had but few objects t
offer in return, except parrots, of whic?
great numbers were domesticated arnon;
them, and cotton yam, of which the;
had abundance, and would exchang
large balls of five and twenty pound*
weight for the merest trifle.
They brought also cakes of a bind o
bread called cassava, which constitute
a principal part of their food, and wa
afterward an important article of pro
visions with the Spaniards, it wa
formed from a great root called yuca
which they cultivated in fields. Thi
they cut into small morsels, which the]
grated or scraped, and strained in i
press, making a broad, thin cake, whicl
was afterward dried hard and wonlc
keep for a long time, being steeped ii
water when eaten, ft was insipid, bm
nourishing, though the water strainee
from it in the preparation was a deadlj
poison. There was another kind of yucf
destitute of this poisonous quality, which
was eaten in the root, either boiled 01
roasted.
The avarice of the discoverers was
quickly excited by the sight of small or?
naments of gold worn by some of the
natives in their noses. These the lattei
gladly exchanged for glass beads and
hawks' bells, and both parties exulted
in the bargain, no doubt admiring each
other's simplicity. As gold, however,
was an object of royal monopoly in all
enterprises of discover}-, Columbus for?
bade any traffic in it without his express
sanction; and he put the same prohibi?
tion on the trafile for cotton, reserving
to the crown all trade for it, wherever it
should be found in any quantity.
He inquired of the natives where this
gold was procured. They answered him
by signs, pointing to the south, where,
he understood them, dwelt a king of
such wealth that he was served in vessels
of wrought gold. He understood also
that there was land to the south, the
southwest and tho northwest, and that
the people from the last mentioned quar?
ter frequently proceeded to the south?
west in quest of gold and precious stones,
making in their way descents upon the
islands and carrying 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 his fancied intelligence was self de?
lusion on the part of Columbus, for he
was under a spell of the imagination,
which gave its own shapes and colors to
every object. He was persuaded that he
had arrived among the islands described
by Maroo Polo as lying opposite Cathay,
in the Chinese sea, and he construed
?very thing to accord with the account
given of those opulent regions. Thus the
enemies which the natives spoke of as
coming from the northwest he concluded
to be the people of the mainland of Asia,
the subjects of the great khan of Tar?
tary, who were represented by the Vene?
tian traveler ns accustomed to make war
upon the islands and to enslave their in?
habitants. The country to the south,
abounding in gold, could be none other
than the famous island of Cipango; and
the king who was served out of vessels
of gold trittst be the monarch whose mag?
nificent city and gorgeous palace, cov?
ered with plates of gold, had been ex?
tolled in such splendid terms by Marco
Polo.
The island where Columbus had thus
for the first time set his foot upon the
New World was called by the natives
Gruauahane. It still retains the name of
San Salvador, which he gave to it,
though called by the English Cat island.
The light which he had seen the evening
previous to his ruakirg land may nave
been on Watling's island, which lies a
few leagues to the east San Salvador
is one of the great cluster of the Lueayos
or Bahama islands, which stretch south?
east and northwest from the coast of
Florida to Hispaniola, covering the
northern cost of Cuba.
On the morning of the 14th of October
the admiral set off at daybreak with the
boat? of tV* ships to reconnoiter the
island, directing his course to the north?
east. The coast was surrounded by a
reef of rocks, within which there was
depth of water and sufficient harbor to
receive all the ships in Christendom
The entrauce wa*? very narrow. Within
there were many sand banks, but the
water was as still as in a pool.
The island appeared throughout to be
well wooded, with streams of water and
a large lake in the center. As the boats
proceeded the}* passed two or three vil?
lage, the inhabitants of which, men as
well tvs women, ran to the shores, throw?
ing themselves on the ground, lifting up
their hands and eyes, either giving
thanks to heaven, or worshiping the
Spaniards as supernatural beings. They
ran along parallel to the lx>ats, 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 arid swam after them, and
others followed in canoes. The admiral
received them all with kindness, giving
them gh;ss beads and other trifles,
which were received with transport as
celestial presente, for the invariable idea
of the savages was that the white men
had come from the skies.
In this way they pursued their course
until they came to a small peninsula
which with two or three days' labor
might be separated from the mainland
and surrounded with water, and was
therefore specified by Columbas as an
excellent situation for a fortress. On
this were six Indian cabins, surrounded
by groves and gardens as beautiful as
those of Castile. The sailors being
wearied with rowing and the island not
appearing to the admiral of sufficient
importance to induce colonization, he re?
turned to the ships, taking seven of the
natives with him, that they might ac?
quire the Spanish language and serve as
interpreters.
Having taken in a supply of wood and
water, they left the island of San Salva?
dor the same evening, the admiral being
impatient to arrive at the wealthy coun?
try to the south, which he flattered him?
self would prove the famous island of j
Cipango.
CHAPTER VL
CRUSE AMONG THE BAHAMA ISLANDS.
SKETCH BY COLUMBUS.
On leaving San Salvador Columbus
was at a loss which way to direct his
coursa A great number of islands,
green and level and fertile, invited him
in different directions. The Indian? on
board of his vessel intimated by signs
that they were innumerable, well peo?
pled and at war with one another. They
mentioned the names of above a hun?
dred. Columbus now had no longer a
doubt that he was amoug the islands
described by Marco Polo as studding the
vast sea of Chin or China, and lying at
a great distance from the mainland.
These, according to the Venetian,
amounted to between seven and eight
thousand and abounded with drugs and
spices and odoriferous trees, together
with gold and silver and many other
precious objects of commerce.
Animated by the idea of exploring
this opulent archipelago, he selected the
largest island in sight for his next visit,
lt appeared to be about five leagues' dis?
tance, and he understood from his In?
dians that the natives were richer than
those of San Salvador, wearing bracelets
and anklets and other ornaments of mas?
sive gold.
The night coming on. Columbus or?
dered that the ships should lie to, as the
navigation was difficult 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, but meeting with counter
currents it was not until sunset that
they anchored at the island. The next
morning (16th) they went on shore, and
Columbus took solemn possession, giv?
ing the island the name of Santa Maria
de la Concepci?n. The same scene oc?
curred with the inhabitants as with
those of San Sal vador. They manif ested
the same astonishment and awe; the
same gentleness and simplicity, and the
same nakedness and absence of wealth.
Columbus looked in vain for bracelets
and anklets of gold, or for any other
precious articles; they had been either
fictions of his Indian guides or his own
misinterpretations.
Returning on board, he prepared to
make sail, when one of the Indians of
San Salvador, who was on board of the
Nina, plunged into the sea and swam to
a large canoe filled with natives. The
boat of the caravel put off in pursuit,
brit the Indians managed in their light
}KLT\< with too much velocity to be over?
taken, and, reaching the land, fled to tho
woods. The sailors took he canoe os a
prize, find returned on board the csraveL
Shortly afterward a small canoe ap
proached one of tho ships, from a dif?
ferent part of the island, with a single
indian on board, who came to oiler a
ball of cotton in exchange for hawks'
bells. As lu- paused when close to tb?
vessel, and feared to enter, several sail?
ors threw themselves into the sea and
\<juk him prisoner.
Columbus having ?een all that pas
from hi? station on the high poop of
vessel, ordered tht? captive to l>e bron
to him. He came trembling with f
and humbly offered his ball of cotton
a gift The admiral received him \v
the utmost benignity, and declining
offering pnt a colored cap npon bis he
strings of green beads around his an
and hawks' bells in his ears, then ord
ing him and his ball of cotton to be
placed in the canoe, dismissed him,
toui8hed and overjoyed. He orde;
that the canoe, also, which had tx
seized and was fastened to the Ni
shonld be cast loose, to be regained
its proprietors. When the Indian read
the shore, his conntrj-men throm
aronnd him, examining and admiring
finery, and listening to his acconnt
the kind treatment he experienced.
Snch were the gentle and sage precj
tions continnally taken by Columbas
impress the natives favorably. Anotl
instance of the kind occurred after les
lng the Island of Conception, when I
caravels rtood for the larger island. s<
eral leagues to the west Midway '
tween the two islands they overtoo!
single Indian in a canoe. He had a mi
morsel of cassava bread and a calata
of water for sea stores, and a little t
paint, like dragon's blood, for persoi
decoration when he shonld land,
string of glass beads, snch a? had be
given to the natives of San Salvad
showed that he had come thence, a
was probably passing from island
island, to give notice of the ships. C
Inmbtts admired the hardihood of tl
simple navigator, making snch an ext?
give voyage in so. frail a bark. As t
island was still distant, he ordered th
both the Indian and his canoe shonld
taken on board, where he treated hi
with the greatest kindness, giving hi
bread and honey to eat and wine
drink. The weather being very cab
they did not reach the island nntil t
dark to anchor, throngh fear of cnttii
their cables with rocks. The sea abo
these islands was so transparent that
the daytime they conld see the botte
and choose their ground, and so de
that at two gnnshot distance there w
no anchorage. Hoisting ont the can
of their Indian voyager, therefore, ai
restoring to him all his effects, they se
him joyfully ashore, to prepare the n
rives for their arrival, while the shi
lay to nntil morning.
This kindness had the desired effec
The natives surrounded the ships
their canoes during the night, bringii
fruits and roots and the pure water <
their springs. Colnmbns distribu?
trifling presents among them, and *
those who came on board he gave sugj
and honey.
Landing the next morning he gave 1
this island the name of Fernandina, i
honor of the king; it is the same i
present called Exnma. The inhabitau
were similar in every respect to those <
the preceding islands, excepting tha
they appeared more ing?nions and ii
telligent Some of the women wo]
mantles and aprons of cotton, bnt for tl
most part they were entirely nakex
Their habitations were constructed i
the form of a pavilion or high circula
tent, of branches of trees, of reeds an
palm leaves. They were kept ver
clean and neat and sheltered nude
spreading trees. For beds they had ne)
of cotton extended from two pos?
which they called hamacs, a name sine
in universal rise among seamen.
In endeavoring to circumnavigate th
island, Colnmbns found, within tw
leagues of the northwest cape, a nobl
harbor, sufficient to hold a hundred ship?
with two entrances formed by an islan
which lay in the month of it Hen
while the men landed with the casks i
search of water, he reposed under tb
shade of the groves, which he says wer
more bean ti f ul than any he had ever bc
held: "the conntry waa as fresh an?
green as in the month of May in Ands
lnsia; the tr<xes, the fmits, the herbs, th
flowers, tl?? very stones for the mos
part, KS different from those of Spain a
night from day." The inhabitants gav
the same proofs as the other islanders
of being totally unaccustomed to th
sight of civilized man. They regarde<
the Spaniards with awe and admiration
approached them with propitiator)* offer
ings of whatever their poverty, o:
rather their simple and natura
mode of lifo, afforded; the fruit
of their fields and groves, the cotton
which was their article of greates'
value, and their domesticated parrots
They took those who were in search ol
wnter to the coolest springs, the ewceteel
and freshest runs, filling their casks anc
rolling them to the boals, thu* seekinj
in every way to gratify their celestia!
visitors.
However pleasing this state of pri?
meval poverty might be to the imagina?
tion of the poet, it was a source of con
tinned disappointment to the Spaniards,
whose avarice had been whetted to thc
quick by scanty specimens of gold and
by the information of golden islands con?
tinually given by the Indians.
Leaving Fernandina on the 19th day of
October they steered to the southeast in
quest of 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 sur?
rounding islands, who dwelt in a large
city and possessed great treasures, wear?
ing rich clothing and jewels of gold.
They found the island, but neither the
monarch nor the mine; either Columbus
had misunderstood the natives or they,
measuring things by their own poverty,
had exaggerated the paltry state and
trivial ornaments of some savage chief?
tain. Delightful as the other islands
had appeared. Columbus declared that
this surpassed them alL Like those, it
was covered with trees and shrubs and
herbs of unknown kind. The climate had
the same soft temperature; the air was
delicate and balmy: the land -y.is higher,
with a fine verdant hill; the coast of a
fine sand, gently laved by transparent
billows.
At the southwest end of the island he
found fine lakes of fresh water, overhung
with groves and surrounded by banks
covered with 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
marvelous, and here and in all the island
everything is green, as in April in Anda?
lusia. The pinging of the birds is such
that it seems as if one would never desire
to depart hence. There are flocks of
parrots which obscure the snn, and other
birds, large and small, of so many kinds
all different from ours that it is wonder?
ful; and besides, there are trees of a thou?
sand species, each having its particular
fruit and all of marvelous flavor, so that
I am in the greatest trouble in the world
not to know them, for I am very certain
that they are each of great val ne. I
shall bring home some of them as speci?
mens, and also some of the herbs." To
this beautiful island he gave the name
of his royal patroness, Isabella; it is the
same at present called Isla Larga and
Exumeta. Columbus was intent on dis- j
covering the dings and spicer* of the
east, and on approaching this island had
fancied he perceived in the air the spicy
odors said to be wafted from the island?
of the Indian seas. "As 1 arrived at this
cape," says he, "there came thence a
fragrance so good and* soft of the flow?
ers or trees of the land that it was the
sweetest thing in the world. I believe
there are here many herbs and trees
which wonld be of great price in Spain
for tinctures, medicines and spices, bnt
I know nothing of them, which gives me
great concern."
The fish which abounded in these seas
partook of the novelty which character?
ized most of the objects in this New
World. They rivaled the birds in trop?
ical brilliancy of color, the scales of
some of them glancing back the rays of
light like precious stones; as they sported
about the ships they flashed gleams of
gold and silver through the clear waves:
and the dolphins, taken out of their ele?
ment, delighted the eye with the
changes of colors ascribed in fable to
the chameleon.
No animals were seen in these islands,
excepting a species of dog which never
barked, a kind of cony or rabbit called
?*utia** by the natives, together with nu?
merous lizards and guanas. The last
were regarded with disgust and horror
by the Spaniards, supposing them to be
fierce and noxious serpents; but they
were found afterward to be perfectly
harmless, and their flesh to be esteemed
a great delicacy by the Indians.
For several days Columbus hovered
about this island, seeking in vain to find
ita imaginary monarch, or to establish a
communication with him, until at length
he reluctantly became convinced of his
error. No sooner, however, did one de?
lusion fade away than another succeeded.
In reply to the continual inquiries made
by the Spaniards after the source whence
they procnred their gold, the natives uni?
formly pointed to the south. Columbus
now began to hear of an island in that
direction called Cuba, but all that he
could collect concerning it from the
signs of the natives was colored by his
imagination. He understood it to be of
great extent, abounding in gold and
pearls and spices, and carrying on an ex?
tensive commerce in those precious arti?
cles, and that large merchant ships came
to trade with its inhabitants.
Comparing these misinterpreted ac?
counts with the coast of Asia as laid'
down on his map, after the descriptions
of Marco Polo, he concluded that this
island must be Cipango, and the mer?
chant ships mentioned must be those of
the grand khan, who maintained an ex?
tensive commerce in these seas. He
formed his plan accordingly, determin?
ing to sail immediately for this island
and make himself acquainted with its
ports, cities and productions for the pur?
pose of establishing relations of traffic.
He would then seek another great island
called Boh?o, of which the natives gave
likewise marvelous accounts. His so?
journ in those islands would depend
upon the quantities of gold, spices, pre?
cious stones and other objects of oriental
trade which he should find there. After
this he would proceed to the mainland
of India, which must be within ten days*
sail, seek the city Quinsai,which, accord?
ing to Marco Polo, was one of the most
magnificent capitals in the world; he
would there deliver in person the letters
of the Castilian sovereigns to the grand
khan, and when he received his reply
return triumphantly to Spain with this
document to prove that he had accom?
plished the great object of his voyage.
Such was the splendid scheme with
which Columbus fed his imagination
when about to leave the Bahamas in
quest of the island of Cuba.
CHAPTER VIL
DISCOVERY AND COASTING OF CUBA.
THE LANDING OF COLUMBUS.
For several days the departure of Co?
lumbus was delayed by contrary winds
and calms, attended by heavy showers,
which last had prevailed more or less
since his arrival among the islands. It
was the season of the autumnal rains,
which in those torrid climates succeed
the parching heats of summer-commenc?
ing about the decrease of the August
moon and lasting until the month of No?
vember.
At length at midnight, Oct. 24, he sot
sail from the island of Isabella, but was
nearly becalmed until midday; a gentle
wind then sprang up, and, as he observes,
began to blow most amorously. Every
sail was spread, and ho 6tood toward the
weat-sonthwest, the direction in which
he was told the land of Cuba lay from
Isabella. After three days' navigation,
in the course of which he touched at a
group of seven or eight small islands,
which he called Isias de Arena-supposed
to be the present Mucaras islands-and
havirg crossed tho Bahama bank and
channel, he arrived on the morning of
the 28th of October in sight of Cuba. The
part which he first discovered is supposed
to be the coast to the west of Nuevitas del
Principe.
As he approached this noble island he
was struck with its magnitude and the
grandeur of its features: ita high and
airy mountains, which reminded him of
those of Sicily: its fertile valleys and
long sweeping plains, watered by noble
rivers; its stately forests; its bold pro?
montories and stretching headlands,
which melted away into the remotest
distance. He anchored in a beautiful
river of transparent clearness, free from
rocks and shoals, its banks overhung
with trees. Here landing, and taking
possession 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 of tho ships two canoes
put off from the shore, but fled on see?
ing the boat approach to sound the river
for anchorage. The admiral visited two
cabins, abandoned by their inhabitants.
They contained but a few nets made of
the fibers of the palm tree, hooks and
harpoons of bone, and some other fish?
ing implements, and one of the kind of
dogs lie had met with on the smaller
islands, which never bark. He ordered
that nothing should be taken away or
deranged.
Returning to his boat he proceeded for
some distance up the river, more and
more enchanted with the beauty of the
country. The banks were covered with
high and widespread:tig trees; some
bearing fruits, others flowers, while in
sotne l)Oth fruit and flower were min?
gled, bespeaking a perpetual round of
fertility; among them were many pa
bnt different from those of Spain
Africa. With the great leaves of t
the natives thatched their cabins.
The continual eulogies made bj
luinbus on the beauty of the cou
were warranted by tho kind of scei
he was beholding. There is a wende
splendor, variety and luxuriance ir
vegetation of those quick and ar
climates. The verdure of the gre
and the colors of the flowers and 1
.soins, derive a vividness from the tr
parent purity of the air and the dee]
renity of the azure heavens. The
ests, too, are full of life, swarming y
birds of brilliant plumage. Painted
rieties of parrots and woodpeckers cr
a glitter amid the verdure of the gr
and humming birds rove from flowc
flower, resembling, as has well been G
animated particles of a rainbow,
scarlet flamingoes, too, seen somer5
through an opening of a forest in a
tant savanna, have the appearance
soldiers drawn np in battalion, with
advanced scoot ern the alert to give
tice of approaching danger. Kor is
least beautiful part of animated n>l
the various tribes of insects peop!
every plant and displaying brill;
coats of mail, which sparkle like
cious gems.
Such is the splendor of animal
vegetable creation in these tropical
mates, where an ardent sun imparte
own luster to every object and quiet
nature into exuberant fecundity. 1
birds in general are not remarkable
their notes, for it has been observed t
in the feathered race sweetness of s
rarely accompanies brilliancy of ]
mage. Columbus remarks, howe
that there were various kinds wi
sang sweetly among the trees, and
frequently deceived himself in fancy
that he heard the voice of the nigh
gale, a bird nnknown in these countr
He was, in fact, in a mood to see evt
thing through a favoring medium,
heart was full to overflowing, for
was enjoying the fulfillment of
hopes and the hard earned but glori
reward of his toils and perils. Eve
thing around him was beheld with
enamored and exulting eye of a disc
erer, where triumph mingles with
miration, and it is difficult to conce
the rapturous state of his feelings wi
thus exploring the charms of a vir
world, won by his enterprise and vale
From his continual remarks on
beauty of scenery and from his evid<
delight iu rural sounds and objects,
appears to have been extremely open
those happy influences exercised o'
some spirits by tho graces and wond
of nature. He gives utterance to th
feelings with characteristic enthusias
and at the same time with the artie
ness and simplicity of diction of a chi
When speaking of some lovely see
among groves, or along the flowe
shores of theT* favored islands, he sa;
"one could liv?? there forever.n Cu
broke npon him like an elysium. "It
the most beautiful island," he says, "tl
eyes ever beheld, full of excellent po.
and profound rivers." The climate w
mor e temperate here than in the ott
islands, the nights being neither hot n
cold, while the birds and crickets sai
all night long. Indeed there is a bean
in a tropical night, in the depth of t
dark blue sky, the lambent parity of t
stars, and the resplendent clearness
the moon that spreads over the rich lan
scape and the balmy groves, a char
more captivating than the splendor
the day.
In the sweet smell of the woods ai
the odor of the flowers Columbus fa
cied he perceived the fragrance of OJ
en tal spices, and along the shores ho fonz
shells of the kind of oyster which pr
daces pearl. From the grass growing
the very edge of the water he inferrt
the peacefulness of the ocean whi<
bathes these Islands, never lashing tl
shores with angry surges. Ever shu
his arrival among these Antilles he hs
experienced nothing but soft and gent
weather, and he concluded that a pe
petual serenity reigned over these napp
seas. He was little suspicious of the o
casional bursts of fury to which they ?1
liable. Charlevoix, speaking from actrn
observation, remarks: "The sea of th?
islands is commonly more tranquil tha
ours; but., like certain people who are e:
j cited with difficulty, and whose tran
ports of passion are as violent as the
are rare, so when the sea becomes i cr
tated, it is terrible. It breaks all bound
overflows the country, sweeps away a
I things that oppose it, and leaves frigfa
i ful ravages behind to mark the extent <
I its inundations. It is after tneee ten
pests, known by the came of hurricane
I that the shores are covered with marin
shells, which greatly surpass in Inste
and beauty those of the European seas.
It is a singular fact, however, that th
hurricanes, which almost annually dei
astate the Bahamas and other island
in the immediate vicinity of Cuba, hav
been seldom known to extend their ir
fluence to this favored land. It woul
seem ?ts if the very elements wer
charmed into gentleness as they ar,
proached it.
In a kind of riot of the imagination
Columbus finds at every step something
to corroborate the information he ha?
received, or fancied he had received
from the natives. He had conclusive
proofs, as he thought, that Cuba pos
sessed mines of gold and groves o
spices, and that its shores abounded wit!
pearls. He no longer doubted that i
was the island of Cipango, and weighing
anchor coasted along westward, in whicl
direction, according to the signs of bi
interpreters, the magnificent city of ita
king was situated*, in the course of hi
voyage he landed occasionally, and visit
ed several villages, particularly on? or
the banks of a large river, to which he
gave the name of Ri? de los Mares.
The houses were neatly built ol
branches of palm trees in the shape ol
pavilions, not laid out in regular street*
but scattered here and there among the
groves and under the shade of broad
spreading trees, like tents in a camp-af
is still the case in many of the Spanish
settlements, and in the vi liages in the
interior of Cuba. The inhabitants fled
to the mountains or hid themselves in
the woods.
Columbus carefully noted the archi?
tecture and fnrniture of their dwellings.
The houses were better built than those
he had hitherto seen, and were kept ex?
tremely clean. He found in them rude
statues and wooden masks carved with
considerable ingenuity. All these were
indications of more art and civilization
than he had observ ed tn the smaller is?
lands, and he supposed they wonld go on
increasing as he approached terra firma.
Finding in all the cabins implements for
fishing, ho 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; though
these are supposed to have been skulls of
the manat? or seacalf found on this const.
After standing to the northwest for
sonic distance, Columbus came in sight
of a great headland, to wh??n, irosa the
grove? with winch it was covered, he
gave the name of the Cape of Palms,
and which forms the eastern entrance to
what is now known as Laguna de Moron,
Here three Indian- natives of the island
of (iuanahani, who were on board of the
Pinta, informed the commander, Mar?
tin Alonzo Pinz?n, that behind the cape
there was a river, whence it was but
four days' journey to Cubanacan, a place
abounding in gold. By this they desig?
nated a province situated in the center
of Cuba-nacan, in their language, sig?
nifying the midst Pinz?n, however,
had studied intently the map of Tosca
nelli, and had imbibed from Columbus
all his ideas respecting the coast of Asia.
He concluded, therefore, that the indians
were talking of Cublai Klran, the Tartar
sovereign, and of certain parts of hfc
dominions described by Marco Polo. He
understood fronWhem that Cuba w?s
not an island, bafr^rra firma, extending:
a vast distance to the north, and that the
king who reigned in this vicinity was at
war with the great khan.
This tissue of errors and misconcep?
tions he immediately communicated to
Columbus. It put an end to the delusion
in which the admiral had hitherto in?
dulged, that this was the island of (3
pango; but it substituted another no les?
agreeable. He concluded that he must
have reached the mainland of Asia, ory
as be termed it, India, and if so, he could
not be at any great distance from Mangi
and Cathay, the ultimate destination of
his voyage. The prince in question, who
reigned over this neighboring country,
must be rome oriental potentate of con?
sequence; he resolved, therefore, to seek
the river beyond the Cape of Palms and
dispatch a present to the monarch with
one of the letters of recommendation
from the Castilian sovereigns, and after
visiting his dominions he would proceed
to the capital of Cathay, the residence of
the grand khan.
Every attempt to reach the river itt
question, however, proved ineffectual.
Cape stretched beyond cape; there was
no good anchorage; the wind became
contrary, and the appearance 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 boats on shore to visit several
houses, but the inhabitants fled to the
woods. He supposed they must nave
mistaken his armament for one of the
scouring expeditions sent by the grand
khan to make prisoners and slaves. He
sent the boat on shore again in the after?
noon with an Indian interpreter, who
was instructed to assure the people of
the peaceable and beneficent intentions
of the Spaniards, and that they had no
connection with the grand khan. After
the Indian had proclaimed this from the
boat to the savages on the beach, part of
itj no doubt, to their great perplexity, be
threw himself into the water and swam
to shore. He was well received by the
natives, and succeeded so effectually in
calming their fears that before evening
there were more than sixteen canoes about
the ships, bringing cotton yarn and other
simple articles of traffic. Columbus for?
bade all trading for anything but gold,
that the natives might be tempted to
produce the real riches of their country.
They had none to offer; all were desti?
tute of ornaments of the precious metals,
excepting one, who wore in his nose &
piece of wrought silver.
Columbus understood this man to say
that the king lived about the distance of
four days* journey In tho interior, that
many messengers had been dispatched
to give him tidings of tue arrival of tho
strangers upon the coast, and that in
less than three days' time messengers
might be expected from him in return,
and many merchants from the interior to
trade with the ships. It is curious to
observe how ingeniously the imagina?
tion of Columbus deceived him at every .
step, and how he wove everything into
uniform web of false conclusions.
Poring over the map of Toscanelli, re?
ferring to the reckonings of his voyage,
and musing on the misinterpreted words
of the Indians, he imagined that he must
be on the borders of Cathay and about
100 leagues from the capital of tho
grand khan. Anxious to arrive there,
and to delay as little as possible in tho
territories of an .inferior prince, he de?
termined not to await the arrival of
messengers and merchants, but to dis?
patch two envoys to seek the neigte
boring monarch at his residence.
Por this mission he chose Jtwo 3par>
lards--Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de T???
res-the latter a converted Jew, wno
knew Hebrew and ?haldaic, and eVe?*
something of Arabic, one or other ot
which Columbas supposed might bo
known to this oriental prince. Two Indi?
ans were sent with them as guides-one &
native of Guanahani and the other an in>
habitant of the hamlet on the bank of
the river. The embassadors were fur?
nished with strings of beads and other
trinkets for traveling expenses. Instruc*
tions were given them to inform the king
that Columbus had been sent by the Cas?
tilian sovereigns a bearer of letters and o
pr?sent, which he was to deliver person?
ally, for the purpose of establishing an
amicable intercourse between the powers,
They were likewise to inform themselves
accurately about the situation and dis?
tances of certain provinces, ports and
rivers, which the admiral specified by
name from the descriptions which he had
of the coast of Asia. They were more?
over providto. with specimens of spices
and drugs for the purpose of ascertaining
whether any articles of the kind abound?
ed in the country. With these provisions
and instructions the embassadors depart
ed, six days being allowed them to go
and return. Many at the present day
will smile at this embassy to a naked sav?
age chieftain in the interior of 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 by the deluding volume of
Marco Polo.
[TO BE CONTINUED ]
mWM I I tm*
For Over Fifty Years.
Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup bas been
used for children teething. It soothes the
child. 8ofteos the gums, allays all pain, cures
wind colic, ?nd is the best remedy for
Diarrhoea. Twenty-five cents a bottle.
Bueklen's Arnica Salve.
The Best Salve in the world for Cat?, Brutos
Sores. Ulcers, Salt Rheum. Fever Sores, Tetter,
Chapped Hands Chilblains, Corns and all
Skin Eruptions, and positively cores Piles, of
no pay required. It is guarantee?*. to give per?
fect satisfaction, cr money refunded. Pri?e
25 cents per box. For sale by J. F. W. De
Lonne. ?
A Little Girl*? Kxperfencc In A Light
howie.
Mr. and Mrs. Loren Preseo't are keepers of
the (JOT. Lighthouse at Smd Hench, Mich., sud
are blessed with a daughter, four years old.
Last April she was taken d?iwn with Measle*,
fellowed with a dreadful Coogb and turning
' into a Fever. Poet ors at home ?nd at Detroit
j treated ber, bot in vain, sbe grew worse rapid
ly, until she was a mere ''handful of bones."
j Then she tried Dr. King's Hew Discovery and
after the u.-? of two and a half hollies, wa?
couiplefe'y cured. They say Dr. King's New
Rscovery is worth its weight in gold, yet yon
nwy get a trial bottle free at J. F. W. De
Loroic'.- i>rug*t?rc 6