THE SEA. 



of attentions were showered upon him : he was permitted to quarter the royal arms with 

 his own, which consisted of a group of golden islands amid azure billows; and received 

 the substantial gratuity of 1,000 doblas of gold from the royal treasury, besides the premium 

 promised to the person who first descried land. But that which pleased Columbus most 

 were the preparations of the court for further discoveries, on a scale befitting their im- 

 portance. The complement of the new fleet was originally fixed at 1,200 persons, but was 

 eventually swollen to 1,500, and many who joined were persons of rank and distinction 

 among the royal household. The squadron counted no less than seventeen vessels. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



DECISIVE VOYAGES IN HISTORY. COLUMBUS. VASCO DA GAMA. 



Columbus and his Enemies Unsuitable Settlers Outrageous Conduct of the Colonists The Second Expedition of 

 Columbus Discovery of Jamaica Dangerous Illness of Columbus Return to Spain The Excitement over Diffi- 

 culty of starting a New Expedition Third Voyage Columbus reaches the Mainland of America Insurrection in 

 Hispaniola Machinations at Home Columbus brought to Spain in Chains Indignation in Spain His Fourth 

 Voyage Ferdinand's IngratitudeDeath of the Great Navigator Estimate of his Character Vasco da Gama 

 First Voyage The Cape reached First Sight of India At Calicut Friendship of the King of Cananore Great 

 Profits of the Expedition Second Voyage -Vengeance on the Ruler of Calicut -His Brutality Subsequent History 

 of Da Gama. 



THE first accounts transmitted to Spain from this grand expedition were of the most 

 sanguine description. But in less than two years from the commencement of this second 

 voyage very different stories reached the home country. It was true that on the voyage 

 Columbus had made further discoveries of a grand nature the islands of Jamaica, Guada- 

 loupe, and the Caribbee Islands. But rumours, and more than rumours, had reached the 

 Court of the most alarming discontent and disaffection in the colony of Hispaniola, while 

 the actual returns of a practical and commercial nature were as yet exceedingly small. 

 The real secret was, however, that mutiny, jealousy, and distrust of Columbus as a 

 foreigner, had sprung up among the Spanish adventurers, most, or at least many, of whom 

 were little fitted for rough life in a new country. They were like the miscellaneous 

 crowds who in our own day have gravitated towards the gold and diamond fields, a large 

 number of whom expect to make gigantic fortunes without special effort, and in a very 

 short space of time. The hidalgoes and cavaliers, of whom there was a too large proportion 

 on the expedition, could not bend themselves to obey Columbus, whom they deemed an 

 upstart. Prescott, who has collated more carefully than any other writer the many 

 authorities on the subject, shows that the Spaniards indulged in the most wanton licence 

 in regard to the unoffending natives, who in the simplicity of their hearts had received 

 the white men as messengers from heaven. A general resistance had, however, soon 

 followed, which led to a war of extermination. In less than four years after the Spaniards 

 had set foot on San Domingo, one-third of its native population, amounting, according to 



