292 



THE SEA. 



slaves of his people, and Columbus, who was impressed with the beauty and productiveness 

 of the island, readily promised to leave some of his people to protect him and form a colony. 

 Cannons had not been very long familiar to Europeans, and we hardly wonder, therefore, 

 that the natives " fell down as if dead " on hearing the reports of those fired by order of 

 the admiral. Finding so much kindness among these people, and as the narrative of his 

 son naively remarks, "such strong indications of gold," he almost forgot his grief at the loss 



of his vessel. A fort or block-house was 

 immediately erected, and leaving three 

 officers and thirty-six men as garrison, 

 he set sail for Spain. 



On February 4th (1493) the vessels 

 were overtaken by a fearful storm. The 

 whole company betook themselves to 

 prayer, and cast lots which of them 

 should go on pilgrimage for the whole 

 crew to the shrine of Our Lady of 

 Guadaloupe, which fell to Columbus. 

 After other pilgrimages had been vowed, 

 and the storm still increasing, " they all 

 made a vow to go barefooted and in 

 their shirts to some church of Our Lady 

 at the first land they might come to." 

 The admiral, fearing the loss to the 

 world of his discoveries, retired to his 

 cabin to write two brief accounts of 

 them. These were wrapped in wax and 

 enclosed in casks, one of which was 

 thrown into the sea, while the other 

 was placed on the poop of his vessel, in 

 case she should founder. Happily, the 

 storm subsided, and they reached the 

 island of St. Mary, where they were de- 

 tained by some formalities of the naval 

 etiquette of the day. Leaving St. Mary's, 



they encountered a second gale of terrific force, during the continuance of which more 

 vows were made, and the lot again fell to Columbus, "showing,-" says his sou, 

 " that his offerings were more acceptable than others/'' They were driven off the 

 rock of Cintra, and perforce had to anchor in the Tagus. When it was known at 

 Lisbon that the ship was freighted with the people and productions of a new world 

 the excitement was intense, and from morn to night the vessel was thronged with 

 visitors. In an interview with the king, Columbus recited his adventures and dis- 

 coveries. King John listened with the deepest interest, and for the moment concealed 

 his mortification. Columbus himself was loaded with attentions and allowed to depart for 



FACSIMILE OF AN ENGRAVING, REPUTED TO BE BY COLUMBUS, 

 PUBLISHED IN 1493, REPRESENTING THE DISCOVERY OF 

 THE ISLE OF SPAIN (ST. DOMINGO). 



