32 ST NICOTINE 



but the moment the occupants see the towering vessels of 

 the Spaniards with their flapping sails, amazement strikes 

 them dumb and motionless. Columbus directs his men 

 to capture them, but the spell broken, they struggle 

 desperately and plunge into the water. Two, however, 

 are secured and brought on board, where they are treated 

 with the utmost kindness by Columbus, for he wishes to 

 learn from them something of their language, their country, 

 and its products, particularly about gold and where it is 

 to be obtained. 



The gladsome sight that everywhere met their eyes must 

 have been very refreshing to the weary mariners. As far 

 as the eye could reach there was a luxuriant vegetation, 

 and a forest of trees bearing an amplitude of rich and 

 varied fruit stretching down to the shore temptingly over- 

 hanging its sides, as if inviting the strangers to feast and ' 

 enjoy the good things of this Elysium. Perennial 

 springtime seemed to reign over the happy island, whose 

 inhabitants knew no want nor suffering. Its waters were 

 liquid sapphire and malachite, looking through which 

 could be seen graceful branching corals ; sky-blue fishes 

 playing hide-and-seek with golden ones among a delicate 

 network of purple and yellow ; there, too, were miniature 

 willows of lilac, and many another rare thing in the 

 mermaids' pleasure gardens. Here and there the coast 

 was strewn with shells of exquisite beauty — trumpets for 

 Tritons ; the king conch, out of whose pink lining lissome 

 fingers create lovely cameos ; tiny rice shells, pink ones 

 like ladies' finger-nails, and cowries, and many another 

 rare shell that, in the days of England's shell mania, would 

 have realised a handsome fortune for the happy 

 possessor. 



Sailing amidst these scenes of wondrous beauty they, 



