36 ST NICOTINE 



realisation of his dreams. His own vessel, the Santa Maria, 

 having run aground had to be abandoned, but the Nina 

 was soon made ready for him, and without undue delay the 

 little craft weighed anchor on January i6, 1493. On his 

 arrival in Spain the Court was at Barcelona, and thither 

 Columbus journeyed, attended by his train, bearing the 

 trophies of his adventure. He was received by the king 

 and queen with every mark of royal favour. Seated in 

 their presence, he displayed to their eager gaze the specimens 

 he had brought for their acceptance of various products of 

 the new found land : virgin gold, cotton, mysterious plants 

 (assuredly the tobacco plant would be here), birds of rare 

 plumage, and animals of unknown species. But rising in 

 importance above all these things were nine native Indians 

 for conversion and baptism to attest to the reality of his 

 triumph. Though the Grand Khan had not been seen, yet 

 in presence of these Indians even the learned Bishop of 

 Talavera could no longer look askance at the great navi- 

 gator as a vain dreamer not altogether free from suspicion 

 of magic. In grateful remembrance of Her Majesty's bounty 

 and enthusiastic protection, Columbus presented to her the 

 casket which had contained the jewels she so generously 

 gave up for his use, now filled with pure gold, as an earnest 

 of what was in store for Spain in their Majesties' new 

 dominions. The casket is preserved to this day in the 

 sacristy of the cathedral at Grenada. 



Columbus was of too active a disposition to indulge his 

 well-earned repose ; the old craving for adventure and 

 exploration left him no peace. Under royal command a 

 fleet worthy of his grand scheme of conquest and colonisa- 

 tion was prepared for him, consisting of three large galleons 

 and fourteen caravels, carrying 1,500 men, and all things 

 necessary for the establishment of a new colony. He was 



