34 
Columbus, amidst the verdure that met his eye, 
was particularly pleased with a great bay, con- 
taining seven islands, surrounded by numerous vil- 
lages. Anchoring here in the evening, he was visited 
by the cacique who resided in the largest and most 
elevated of the islands. He came with numerous 
retainers bearing refreshments, and loitered till night, 
listening enraptured at the stories of the splendour 
and glory of the land from which the strangers 
came. For the incidents which followed this visit, 
we shall draw at length from the charming text of 
Washington Irving in his narrative of the life and 
voyages of Columbus. ‘The next morning the’ 
ships wére under way and standing along the coast 
with a light wind, and easy sail, when they beheld 
three canoes issuing from among the islands of the 
bay. They approached in regular order ; one which 
was very large, and handsomely carved and painted | 
was in the centre, a little in advance of the two 
others, which appeared to attend and guard it. In _ 
this was seated the caciqne and his family, con- 
sisting of his wife, two daughters, iwo sons, and 
five brothers, One of the daughters was eighteen 
years of age, beautiful in form and countenance ¢ her 
sister was somewhat younger; beth were naked, 
according to the custom of these islands, but were 
of modest demeanor. In the prow of the canoe 
stood the standard bearer of the cacique, clad in a 
mantle of variegated feathers, witha tuft of gay 
plumes on his head, and bearing in his hand a flut- 
tering white banner. ~T'wo Indians with caps or 
s 

