COLUMBUS WRECKED. 291 



signs of cultivation and prosperous villages became frequent. At first the natives tied. 

 Even when only three sailors rambled on shore, and encountered a lai'ge number, they 

 could not be induced to parley. The sailors at length succeeded in capturing a young 

 female, in a perfectly nude condition, having hanging from her nose only an ornament 

 of gold. Columbus soon soothed her terror, had her clothed, and gave her presents 

 of beads, brass rings, and other trinkets. She was sent on shore accompanied by three 

 Indian interpreters and some of the crew. By this means, and after one of the inter- 

 preters had succeeded in overtaking some of the natives, and had assured them that the 

 strangers had descended from the skies mainly for the purpose of making them presents, 

 they were induced to meet the Spaniards, whom they treated with the greatest hospitality, 

 setting before them fruit, fish, and cassava bread. The description of these people given 

 by Columbus to old Peter Martyr represented them as holding a community of goods, 



" that ' mine and thine/ the seeds of all mischief, have no place with them 



They seem to live in the golden world, without toil, living in open gardens, not entrenched 

 with dykes, divided with hedges, or defended with walls. They deal truly one with another, 

 without laws, without books, and without judges. They take him for an evil and mis- 

 chievous man who taketh pleasure in doing hurt to another." This must have been 

 Utopia indeed ! Alas, as we shall see, the advent of so-called civilisation proved a veritable 

 curse. Columbus named the island Espannola, or Little Spain (Anglice, Hispaniola). The 

 island is now known as Hayti, or San Domingo. 



The people of Hispaniola appeared handsomer to Columbus than any he had yet met. 

 He was at length visited by a young cacique or chief, and the interview was graphically 

 described by Columbus himself in his oration before Ferdinand and Isabella and the court 

 on his return to Spain. 



Having put to sea on the morning of December 24th, at eleven in the evening, 

 Columbus, being very fatigued, retired to his cabin. The sea was calm and the wind light 

 at the time. No sooner had he left than the steersman gave the helm to a ynrnmict* and 

 the result was that the current carried the vessel upon a treacherous sandbank. Scarcely 

 had the shock occurred than Columbus and his crew were on deck, but in spite of aid from 

 the other vessel, she speedily became a wreck, and had to be deserted. The admiral imme- 

 diately sent ashore to the village of the cacique, at some little distance, and that chief 

 with all his people with canoes assisted to unload the unfortunate vessel. " From time 

 to time," said Columbus, " he sent some of his people to me weeping, to beg me not t > 

 be dejected, as he would give me everything he possessed. I assure your highnesses that 

 better order could not have heen taken in any port in Castile to preserve our things, for 

 we did not lose the value of a pin." The Indians about this time brought in some few 

 specimens of gold, worked and in the rough state, and the cacique perceiving that the 

 admiral was much pleased at the sight, said he would order a quantity to be brought from 

 a place called Cibao, where it was abundant. After offering him to eat, he presented him 

 with gold ornaments and masks, in which latter the precious metal formed part of Ihe 

 features. 



The chief complained greatly of a nation named the Caribs, who carried off and made 

 * "Land-lubber" about expresses this term. 



