As the fleet, with a gentle breeze, swept onward in the stillness of the Sabbath, island after island arose amid the tranquil sea. Green forests, enlivened with myriads of parrots and gaycolored birds, were seen clothing their declivities. On one of these, which, in honor of his ship, he named the Marigalante, (a name which it still bears) the admiral landed, and took formal possession, but discovered no trace of the existence of human beings. On the 4th he landed at Guadaloupe, whose lofty and volcanic precipices form one of the most striking features of the archipelago. The natives, like most savages, fled from the unaccustomed sight of the white men; and to secure their good will, the Spaniards bound hawks' bells and other trinkets upon the children which they had left in their dwellings. These, and their simple utensils, indicated greater comfort and ingenuity than any which they had hitherto seen. There were many tame geese around their houses, and domesticated parrots of great size and splendid plumage. Here also the delicious flavor of the pine-apple first surprised and delighted the senses of the Europeans.

The discoverers, however, were soon struck with horror at the sight of numerous human remains, such as skulls, which appeared to be used as drinking-vessels and other domestic utensils. This convinced them that they had come upon the abode of the Caribs, a fierce race of cannibals, which had been described with horror by their former entertainers. This conjecture was speedily confirmed. On farther search, "Our men found in their houses all kinds of earthern vessels, not much vnlike unto ours. They found also in their kytchens, mans flesh, duckes flesh, & goose flesh, all in one pot, and other on the spits ready to be layd to the fire. Entring into their inner lodginges, they found faggottes of the bones of mens armes and legges, which they reserue to make heades for their Arrowes, because they lack iron, the other bones they cast away when they haue eaten the flesh. They found likewise the head of a yong man fastened to a post, and yet bleeding." These accounts were received with a lively though horrific interest in

Europe-being considered as settling the doubtful question whether any race of men habitually preyed upon their fellowbeings. The relics in question were probably those of some unfortunate prisoners, taken in war.

At this island, nine mariners straggled into the woods, whose dense foliage prevented them from regaining the shore or even ascertaining the points of the compass. Search was fruitless, and it was not until after the expiration of several days that the fears of the admiral were relieved by their return. They were exhausted with wandering, and half starved; but they had not been eaten, and brought with them several native women and boys, whom they had captured, the men being absent on some expedition.

On the 10th they again weighed anchor, and stood in the supposed direction of Hayti, or Hispaniola, discovering as they went numbers of the islands which compose this splendid archipelago. While at anchor at Santa Cruz, a boat's-crew of the Spaniards became engaged in a fight with several of the Caribs who were in a small canoe. The fierceness with which they fought, the women as well as the men, rendered their capture exceedingly difficult. One of them was killed, and one of the Spaniards was mortally wounded by a poisoned arrow. The virulent effect of such a wound is described in curt but forcible language by a narrator of the time: "They poison their arrowes with an herbe, whereof he that is hurt dieth, biting himselfe like as a mad dog doth."

The chief prisoner was an Indian queen,—a perfect Amazon, it would seem. "Her son wayted vpon her, beeing a young man, strongly made, of a terrible and frowning countenance, and a Lion's face." These brave barbarians were daunted neither at their misfortune, nor at the sight of the white men, wonderful and novel as all must have been to them.

"When they were brought into the Admirall's shippe, they did no more put of their fierceness and cruel countenances, then do the Lions of Lybia when they perceiue themselves to bee bom chaynes. There is no man able to behold them,

but he shall feele his bowells grate with a certayne horrour, nature hath endued them with so terrible menacing and cruell aspect."

Still steering to the north-west, in quest of Hispaniola, Columbus discovered fresh clusters of verdant islands arising from the sea-to some of these, from their surpassing number, he gave the name of the Eleven Thousand Virgins. He soon arrived at a large and beautiful island, called by the natives Boriquen, and now styled Porto Rico. Its inhabitants were enemies of the Caribs, but like them were cannibals, devouring their prisoners. On landing, well-built and neatly-ornamented huts were seen, and the signs of industrious cultivation; but the natives had fled in terror from their formidable visitors.

On the 22d, the fleet arrived at the eastern extremity of Hayti; and the greatest excitement and the most glowing expectations prevailed among the adventurers. These sanguine hopes were soon destined to be miserably disappointed. A party of sailors, ranging along the shore, discovered several decaying bodies, one of which, from its beard, was evidently that of a European. The greatest alarm was now felt for the safety of Arana and his garrison; but the fearless and confiding manner in which the Indians came off to the fleet, in some measure dispelled these apprehensions. On the evening of the 27th the admiral arrived at La Navidad, and fired cannon as a signal to his friends on shore. No answering report was given. A deadly silence seemed to prevail. The suspense of the voyagers, during the night, was in some measure relieved by the arrival of a messenger from Guacanagari, bringing presents to the admiral, and charged with an account of the misfortunes of the colonists.

It would appear that, after the departure of Columbus, the mutinous and undisciplined spirits, whom he left behind, abandoned all restraint and obedience to order. They quarreled fiercely among themselves, and grievously ill-treated the unof fending natives. Eleven of them, inflamed by accounts of the riches of Cibao, had started on an expedition to amass treasure.

Over this coveted district ruled Caonabo, a powerful cacique, a Carib by birth, and possessing all the fierce and warlike qualities of that dreaded race. This despotic chieftain, jealous and alarmed at the invasion of the strangers, was also, perhaps, influenced by an ancient tradition, long current with his people. "The Deuill," says Purchas, "had forewarned them by Oracle a bearded Nation shoulde spoile their images and spill the bloude of their children." Accordingly, on their entrance into his territories, he had seized the whole party, and put them to death. Then joining his forces with those of a neighboring cacique of the mountains, he had secretly traversed the forests, until he arrived in the neighborhood of the fort. The garrison, unsuspicious of any hostility, were buried in slumber, when a furious midnight attack, accompanied with frightful yells, was made upon their quarters. Taken by surprise and overpowered by numbers, they found that flight or defence were alike futile. All were slaughtered, and the village of Guacanagari, who fought faithfully in defence of his guests, was burned to the ground.

The morning brought a sad confirmation of these disastrous tidings. The shores were deserted, the fortress lay in ruins, and the simple habitations of the Indians were reduced to ashes. Eleven bodies of the colonists were found buried in the vicinity. The Indians gradually relinquished their fears, and thronging around the whites related the mournful fate of their comrades. The admiral, numerously attended, repaired to the cacique, whom he found suffering from a wound received in the conflict. The prince shed many tears while describing the fate of the garrison and his own misfortunes. Several of his people were present, and the wounds which they exhibited had evidently been inflicted with Indian weapons.

Columbus, recalling the kindness and hospitality of the cacique, readily believed his tale; and liberal presents were exchanged. Several of the Spaniards, however, considered it merely a fabrication to conceal his own share in the destruction of his guests; and Friar Boyl, the chief of the ecclesiastics, in

a sanguinary spirit, advised his immediate, execution. The admiral, however, still reposed confidence in his good faith, and invited him on board his ship. Here the simple chieftain was again amazed by the display of European art and luxury, the strange plants and fruits of the old world, the animals, and especially the horses, whose imposing appearance filled the natives with astonishment. All were supposed to be a fresh importation from the celestial shores.

The evident distrust with which he was regarded, however, inspired the cacique with alarm. His reluctance to wear the mysterious emblem of the cross probably increased the ill will of the missionaries. He went on shore, and soon afterwards strengthened suspicion by enticing from the ship some Indian women, with whom he made good his retreat into his native mountains. The shore was again left silent and deserted.

CHAPTER IX.

FOUNDATION OF THE CITY OF ISABELLA-NATURAL WEALTH OF THE ISLAND-CONSPIRACY AGAINST COLUMBUS-GRAND EXPEDITION

TO THE INTERIOR-SUFFERINGS OF THE COLONISTS

SEVERITY TO THE INDIANS.

ON account of the melancholy associations and somewhat unfavorable location of La Navidad, Columbus resolved to leave it, and to found his new settlement in some more eligible spot. He weighed anchor on the 7th of December, and while cruising along the coast, was compelled by adverse winds to put into a harbor about ten leagues east of Monte Christi-a bold and lofty promontory, which still bears the name bestowed by its discoverer. Struck with the natural advantages of the place, both for fortification and improvement, he determined to found a city, the earliest built by Europeans in the new world, and to name it in honor of his magnanimous mistress, Isabella. The harbor was spacious and commodious, with two