CHAP. HI.] WEST INDIES. 69 



have disarmed habitual cruelty, and melted bigotry 

 into tenderness. 



Among other instances of their generous and com- 

 passionate turn of mind, the following is, not the least 

 remarkable. Soon after Columbus's first arrival at 

 Hispaniola, one of his ships was wrecked on the 

 coast. The natives, scorning to derive advantage to 

 themselves from the distress of the strangers, (uncon- 

 scious indeed of the calamities which their arrival was 

 soon to bring upon them), beheld the accident with 

 the liveliest emotions of sorrow, and hastened to their 

 relief. A thousand canoes were instantly in motion, 

 busily employed in conveying the seamen and cargo 

 ashore; by which timely assistance, not a life was 

 lost; and of the goods and provisions that were saved 

 from the w r reck, not the smallest article was embez- 

 zled. Such was their celerity and good will on this 

 occasion, says Martyr, that no friend for friend, or 

 brother for brother, in distress, could have manifested 

 stronger tokens of sympathy and pity.|| Other histo- 

 rians still heighten the picture; for they relate that 

 Guacanahari, the sovereign of that part of the coun- 

 try, perceiving that, notwithstanding the efforts of 

 his people, the ship itself, and great part of the car- 

 go were irrecoverably sunk, waited on Columbus to 

 condole with him on the occasion; and while this 

 poor Indian lamented his misfortune in terms which 

 excited surprize and admiration, he offered the admi- 



Martyr. Herrera. F. Columbus, c. xxvii. xxxii. &c. &c. 

 }j Martyr, decad. i. lib. i. 



