852 CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT 



men paniculatum spicis crassioribus et brevioribus " by Tournefort inst. 521 ; was observed by Fors- 

 kal near Marseilles ; and is known to grow in waste places and in woods throughout middle Europe 

 as far as Britain, where it is called orchard grass or cock's-foot (Engl. bot. pi. 335, Pers., and Prior). 

 From Europe, was carried by colonists to Northeast America, where it has become naturalized, grow- 

 ing not only in waste ground, but extending into the forest. 



Lappago racemosa of Hindustan. Known in Arabia (Pers.) as early probably as this date; — 

 observed in the environs of Constantinople by Forskal, and Sibthorp. Westward, described by Tra- 

 gus, and Haller ; termed " gramen spicatum locustis echinatis " by Tournefort inst. 519; and known 

 to grow in various parts of Southern Europe (Lam. fl. fr., and Pers.). Eastward, observed in Hin- 

 dustan by Roxburgh, by Law, in the environs of Bombay (Graham) ; and specimens were shown me 

 on the Deccan by Mr. Ballantine. The grass bears minute burs, and by European colonists was 

 carried to the West Indies (Pers.). 



Eragrostis poceoidcs of Subtropical Africa and Asia. A grass called in Nubia " gytt ; " — and 

 observed by Forskal p. 21 among the mountains of Yemen ; and by him, and Delile, in Lower Egypt. 

 Farther North, observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in the Peloponnesus and on Samos, frequent 

 in cultivated ground; and farther East, known to grow in Siberia. Westward, described by Lobel 

 hist., Clus. rar. vi. 38, and Barrelier pi. 44; termed "gramen paniculis elegantissimis sive Eragrostis, 

 majus " by Tournefort inst. 522 ; and known to grow in Italy, Switzerland, and Barbary (Pers.). 



Festuca rubens of the Mediterranean countries. A grass known in Egypt as early probably as 

 this date : — observed there by Forskal, and Delile pi. 1 1, on the margin of grain-fields around Alex- 

 andria. Farther North, observed by Forskal, Sibthorp pi. 83, and Chaubard, in Crete, the Pelopon- 

 nesus, and on Imros, on the margin of fields and the site of old walls ; and Westward, described by 

 Tournefort inst. 524, and known to grow in Liguria and Spain (All., Pers., and Dec). 



Bromns mollis of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. A grass called in Greece "luko- 

 nora ; " — observed there by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, frequent in cultivated ground on the Pelopon- 

 nesus and the Greek islands ; and farther South, observed by Delile growing around Cairo. Westward, 

 termed "gramen avenaceum locustis villosis crassioribus" by Tournefort inst. 526; and is known to 

 grow abundantly throughout middle Europe as far as Britain (Curt. lond. i. pi. S, and Pers.). From 

 Europe, carried by colonists to Northeast America, where though " scarce " it continues to occur in 

 wheat-fields in our Middle States (A. Gray) ; also to Austral Africa (Rcem. and Schult.). According 

 to Loudon, the seeds bring on giddiness in the human species and in quadrupeds, and are fatal to 

 poultry (Lindl.). 



"Sept. 6th, Thursday" (F. Columb. 15 to 44), departure of Columbus from the Canary Islands 

 Westward : with three ships, provided by Isabella wife of king Ferdinand. " On the 13th " at night- 

 fall, having sailed about two hundred leagues, he remarked Variation of the magnetic needle : contin- 

 uing his observations on this — and his succeeding voyages, he discovered a "line without magnetic 

 variation " one hundred miles West of the Azores. 



"Oct. nth, Thursday," in the night (F. Columb. 22 to 62), land discovered by Columbus, sup- 

 posed by him to be the beginning of the Indies. In the morning, the land was ascertained to be an 

 island, called by the natives " Guanahani ; " which name was changed by Columbus to " St. Salvador." 

 The natives proving friendly, on being asked by signs, Where they procured the bits of gold worn for 

 ornament, pointed South. Seven natives were then taken on board, and Columbus proceeded in the 

 direction designated to another island in sight, which he called " Conception ; " thence to a third 

 island, which he called " Fernandina; "' thence to a fourth, whose native name " Saomotto or Somoto " 

 he changed to "Isabella;" and next came in sight of Cuba, a large and mountainous island. A 

 "beast like a badger" (Capromys) was killed here by a party sent on shore. Turning now East, 

 Columbus followed the coast of Cuba " one hundred and six leagues " to its termination : and contin- 

 uing beyond, reached another large and mountainous island, and changed its native name " Aiti " to 

 "Hispaniola." On this island, the source of the gold above mentioned, he lost his largest ship; and with 

 the materials, saved through the aid of the natives, built a fort; and left behind thirty-nine of his men. 



In the new archipelago, the tides were observed by Columbus to be " quite contrary to ours ; for 

 it was low water when the moon was Southwest and by South." 



The natives first met with, are described (F. Columb.) as " of a middle stature, well shap'd, 

 plump, but of an olive colour, like the people of the Canaries or peasants that are sun-burn'd. Their 

 countenances were pleasant, and their features good, but their too high foreheads made them look 

 somewhat wild. Their hair lank, thick, very black," and in some individuals cut short (agreeino- with 

 the Malayan race, but the complexion too light). They easily repeated the words they once heard; 

 had javelins pointed with fish-bone, and sword-like clubs; and some of their canoes were lar^e enouo-h 

 to contain " forty or fifty " men. " Their beds were like a net drawn together in the nature of a sling 

 tied to two posts," and were called " hamacas " (hammocks, now first made known to Europeans). 

 They had nets, cotton '• very well spun, cotton cloth" and " looms to weave ; " also honey, and balls of 



