THE HOME OF THE INDIAN WEED 31 



boisterous crew, and, with chart in hand, once more 

 subdues them with an enthusiasm fired by profound 

 conviction. On the morning of October 12, a sailor, 

 Rodirego de Triano on board the Ni?la scanning the 

 horizon, calls to his mates to look out for land, pointing 

 to a dark mass looming in the distance. Then there 

 breaks forth from the mast-head the wild cry, Tierra ! 

 Tierra ! and the helmsmen steer their course into the 

 calm waters of San Salvador. 



Here among the fair Bahamas where on Nassau's most 

 conspicuous site is reared a statue to Columbus, let us 

 linger a moment while the great navigator and his 

 adventurers prepare for landing in order to take possession 

 of the new territory in the names of their Majesties, 

 Ferdinand and Isabel. Richly attired in scarlet and 

 plumes, and accompanied by the two Pinzons, with a 

 chosen escort bearing the standard of Spain, they enter 

 their boats and are rowed to the shore. With tears of joy 

 Columbus kneels and kisses the ground, while thanking 

 Heaven for the great mercy vouchsafed to him and his 

 companions. Very soon they become aware that the 

 island is populated; they see natives running hither and 

 thither, peering from among the trees that stretch down 

 to the shore, and making gestures to one another in 

 evident amazement. By-and-by they approach nearer 

 and nearer to the white men ; now they throw themselves 

 on the ground in attitudes of wonder and supplication. 

 Columbus is struck with their child-like simpUcity; he 

 reassures them, offering to each some trifling article — 

 beads, buttons, etc. — which they take with eager delight. 

 Their curiosity leads them to touch the hands and faces 

 of the white men, whose garments are a great surprise. 

 From a creek hard by canoes shoot out into the open, 



