Historical Tales, Vol. III | Page 2

had never met
their eyes before. No clothing hid their dusky, copper-colored skins, of
a hue unknown to their visitors, and they looked like the unclad tenants
of some new paradise. Their astonishment turned into fright when they
saw boats leave these strange monsters of the deep, in them men clad in
shining steel or raiment of varied color. Their white faces, their curling
beards, their splendid clothing, as it appeared to these simple denizens
of the forest, and especially the air of dignity of their leader, with his
ample cloak of scarlet, added to their amazement, and they viewed the
strangers as divine visitors, come to them from the skies.
Not less was their surprise when they saw the wonderful strangers
kneel and kiss the soil, and then uplift a great and gleaming banner, of

rich colors and designs that seemed magical to their untaught eyes. And
deep was their delight when these strange beings distributed among
them wonderful gifts,--glass beads, hawk's bells, and other
trifles,--which seemed precious gems to their untutored souls. They had
nothing to offer in return, except tame parrots, of which they had many,
and balls of cotton-yarn; but the eyes of the Spaniards sparkled with
hope when they saw small ornaments of gold, which some of them
wore. Happy had it been for all the natives of the New World if this
yellow metal had not existed among them, for it was to bring them
untold suffering and despair.
Such was the island of San Salvador, as Columbus named this
first-seen land; but, leaving it, let us go with him in his voyage through
that island-sprinkled sea, and use his eyes in taking in the marvels with
which it was sown. Familiar as these islands have become to many of
us, to him they were all new, beautiful, and strange, a string of tropic
pearls or rare emeralds spread out along those shining waters of the
South.
On leaving San Salvador, the Spaniards, their hearts elate with joy and
pride in their discovery, hardly knew whither to go. They seemed
drawn to the right and the left alike. They found themselves in an
archipelago of beautiful islands, green and level, rising on all sides and
seemingly numberless. To us they are the great green cluster of the
Bahamas, but to Columbus, who fancied that he had reached the shores
of Asia, they were that wonderful archipelago spoken of by Marco Polo,
in which were seven thousand four hundred and fifty-eight islands,
abounding with spices and rich in odoriferous trees and shrubs.
On went the Spanish caravels, sailing over bright and placid waters
scarce ruffled by the gentle breeze, and touching at isle after isle, each
of which seemed to the voyagers more beautiful than the last. Besting
under the shade of warm and verdant groves, while his men sought to
fill their water-casks from the purest and coolest springs, the admiral
found the scene around him entrancing to his vision, "the country as
fresh and green as the month of May in Andalusia; the trees, the fruits,
the herbs, the flowers, the very stones, for the most part, as different

from those of Spain as night from day."
[Illustration: A TROPICAL RIVER SCENE.]
A TROPICAL RIVER SCENE.
One isle, which he honored with the name of Isabella, after his patron,
the Spanish queen, surpassed in charm all he had yet seen. Like them
all, it was covered with rich vegetation, its climate delightful, its air
soft and balmy, its scenery so lovely that it seemed to him "as if one
would never desire to depart. I know not where first to go, nor are my
eyes ever weary of gazing on the beautiful verdure."
Fresh water was abundant, and he ordered all the casks of the ships to
be filled. He could not say enough in praise of what he saw. "Here are
large lakes, and the groves about them are marvellous, and in all the
island everything is green, and the herbage as in April in Andalusia.
The singing of the birds is such that it seems as if one would never
wish to leave this land. There are flocks of parrots which hide the sun,
and other birds, large and small, of so many kinds, and so different
from ours, that it is wonderful; and besides, there are trees of a
thousand species, each having its particular fruit, and all of marvellous
flavor, so that I am in the greatest trouble in the world not to know
them, for I am very certain that they are each of great value."
As he approached this island, he fancied that the winds bore to his
senses the spicy odors said to be wafted from the islands of the East
Indian seas. "As I arrived at this