July 1, 1887.] 



KNOW^LEDGE 



203 



that may imply. At two on the morning of Friday, 

 October 12, a gun from the Pinta announced that land 

 had actually been sighted; and in the morning a level 

 island was seen, several leagues in extent, and covered with 

 trees like one great orchard. The inhabitants could be seen 



ing St. Domingo, Columbus sailed for home on January 16, 

 149.3. But it was not in tlie Santa Maria that he made the 

 return journey. She had been lost through the negligence 

 of a boy left in charge of her, and Cohimbus transferred his 

 flag to the JVlna, in which, after narrowly escaping destruc- 



Map I. 



issuing from all parts of the woods, and running down to the 

 shore. 



This island, still called San Salvador, as named by 

 Columbus, is also called Cat Island, after the lass euphonious 

 and dignified name which the English masters of the 

 Bahamas have thought appropriate. The light seen by 

 Columbus was probably on Watling Lsland, which lies a few 

 miles to the east. 



After voyaging about among the Bahamas, and discover- 



tion during a great storm, he finally reached the harbour of 

 Palos, on March 15, 1493, having been alisent seven and a 

 half months. 



The map shows how much his journey to San Salvador 

 might have been shortened had he known how the land lay. 

 For in maps on this projection the great-circle or shortest 

 courses from place to place are represented very nearly by 

 straight lines, as the meridians show (wliich are all great 

 circles) ; and it is only necessary to compare the actuftl 



