LIFE OP COLUMBUS. 3G7 



rose as he drew near. Kneeling down, he requested 

 to kiss their hands; they then raised him in the most gra- 

 cious manner, and ordered him to seat himself in their 

 presence, and relate his adventures. This done, they 

 sunk on their knees, wept with joy, and gave thanks to 

 God ; and the whole of the vast multitude present, with a 

 common emotion, followed their example. Such was the 

 reception of Columbus! Such the celebration of the most 

 sublime discovery recorded in the annals of the world ! 



In the ensuing year, a second expedition was fitted 

 out for Columbus, consisting of seventeen vessels and 

 fifteen hundred men, including large numbers of 

 young, noble and enthusiastic volunteers. They sailed 

 before sunrise on the twentyfifth of September, 1493, 

 from the Bay of Cadiz. In the evening of the twentysecond 

 of November, after a winding cruise among several new- 

 ly-discovered islands, they arrived at the harbor of the 

 fort, named La Navidad, and anchored a league from the 

 land. Here, impatient to know at least that the garrison 

 were living, Columbus ordered a cannon to be fired ; the 

 report echoed along the shore, but there was no reply; no 

 shout was heard ; no light was seen ; all was darkness and 

 death-like silence. At midnight, a canoe was seen cau- 

 tiously to approach the fleet. Those who paddled it, how- 

 ever, would not go on board even of the admiral's ship, un- 

 til Columbus showed himself with a light at the side of 

 the vessel. By their confused accounts, and by subse- 

 quent sources of information, it appeared that the unfor- 

 tunate garrison had neglected the admiral's advice, and 

 had suffered the consequences of their imprudence. The 

 avarice of some, and the sensuality of others, occasioned 

 quarrels with the natives, while jealousy and ambition 

 embittered them against each other. The results were 

 combinations, factions, brawls, war, and at last sudden 

 destruction by the hands of the enraged and disgusted 

 natives. Such was the history of the first European 

 settlement in the new world. 



But, discouraging as it was, it became necessary to un- 

 dertake a second one; and for this purpose a site was se- 

 lected upon the same island (Hispaniola) at a place where 

 two rivers, a green and beautiful plain between them, and 



