194 F. A. Ober—ln the Wake of Columbus. 



nightly throu2;h the forest adjacent, tleigned to honor me with 

 their presence. Isabelki today is in desolation, completely over- 

 grown with rank vegetation, and with no inhabitants within 

 the region that was settled by the Spaniards. The nearest port 

 is that of Puerta Plata, some forty iniles away, and the only 

 means of communication with the outside world is by small 

 sailing vessels. 



Although the original settlement of Isabella was soon aban- 

 doned, the early settlers made s^eral attempts to erect forts 

 and towns in the interior of Santo Domingo, starting out from 

 this initial town on the coast. They soon after penetrated 

 the Cibao, the famous gold region of the island, and there 

 erected the fortress of Santo Tomas de Yanico, near the head- 

 waters of the Rio del Oro, or the river from which Columbus 

 obtained the first gold in 1492. 



I myself have explored the region of Columbus' Rio del Oro 

 and have a nugget weighing half an ounce from the river Yanico, 

 and also some flakes of gold ; for there is j^et much gold in 

 the interior of Santo Domingo and the region has never been 

 fully exploited. 



Santo Tomas is indicated at present only by rude earthworks, 

 but the traditions of its early days still survive, and the memory 

 of the audacious exploits of Alonzo de Ojeda and the fierce 

 Caonabo still lingers. This fortress was erected in 1494, and 

 immediately after were started the towns of Concepcion de la 

 Vega and Jacagua, about 1495. Both towns were destroyed by 

 an earthquake in 1564, but from their ruins I succeeded in 

 taking away some interesting relics, which are to be seen in the 

 monastery, and in photographing the fort and the ruins of the 

 church. 



Not far from these ruins is the hill of Santo Cerro, overlooking 

 the glorious plain called by Columbus the Vega Real, or Royal 

 Plaiii, where his forces had a decisive battle with the Indians in 

 1495, Avhich reduced them to subjection and sealed their fate 

 forever. From a tree still standing on the Cerro and called 

 the " Nispero de Colon " the discoverer watched the first impor- 

 tant battle between red and white races, and afterward erected 

 here a cross, which was long a venerated relic. 



The interior of the island of Santo Domingo is little known, 

 and my explorations there were well rewarded, so far as Colum- 

 bian relics go, and I would recommend it to the adventurous 

 traveller as an interesting field for exploitation. 



