1492] HIS LABORS CROWNED WITH SUCCESS.

47

counter seized on the sailors; and their fears gradually increased, till, on the expiration of twenty days without any signs of land, they began to talk of throwing their commander overboard and returning home. The variation of the compass had not yet been discovered, and their alarm was therefore greatly heightened when they observed that the magnetic needle no longer pointed directly north. It was a trying hour for Columbus, but his great mind was equal to the crisis. Explaining the variation of the compass in a manner satisfactory to his followers though not to himself, he used every means to induce them to prosecute the voyage, now picturing to their minds the riches they would obtain and now threatening them with the anger of their sovereign. At length both officers and men insisted on returning, and Columbus was obliged to promise that unless land appeared within three days he would comply with their demand. The shallowness of the water, the numerous birds in the air, the grass and weeds floating by, a branch that was picked up with berries still fresh upon it, all made him sure that he could give this promise with safety.

68. On the evening of October 11th, the sails were furled, and a close watch was kept. At ten o'clock, a moving light was discerned in the distance by Columbus and several others. At two in the morning, a shout from the Pinta announced the discovery of land. Dawn displayed to the overjoyed adventurers a scene of strange beauty. The land was covered with forests, and gay with the foliage and flowers of a tropical clime. The natives thronged from the woods. to gaze at the ships, which with their white sails they regarded as huge birds hovering over the sea.

69. Columbus was the first to touch the newly discovered shore. Richly attired and with drawn sword, he landed. Kneeling on the sand, he kissed the earth, and returned thanks to God. When he had taken formal possession of

did the fleet sail? Give an account of the voyage. What was Columbus at last obliged to promise? What made him feel sure that land was near? 68. What took place on the evening of October 11, 1492? When day broke, what did the voyagers behold? 69. Who was the first to land? Give an account of the landing. What was the land

the country in the name of the king and queen of Spain, his followers rendered him homage as viceroy, and the inhabitants, regarding the Spaniards as a superior race, prostrated themselves at his feet. The land thus reached was one of the Bahama [ba-ha'-ma] Islands. It was called by the Indians Guanahani [gwah-nah-hah'-ne], but received from Columbus the name of San Salvador, by which it is still known.

Learning from the natives that gold was found further to the south, Columbus soon sailed in that direction, and discovered Cu'-ba, and His-pan-i-o'-la, since called by its original Indian name Haiti ['-te]. One of his vessels having been wrecked, he left 35 of his men as a colony on Hispaniola, and on the 1st of January, 1493, set sail for Spain. A violent storm on the return voyage threatened his frail vessels with destruction; and Columbus, fearing that his discoveries would be lost to the world, wrote an account of them on parchment, secured it in a cask, and threw it into the sea, in the hope that it would reach the shore in safety. The storm, however, abated; and, after being first driven to Lisbon, the shattered vessels finally entered the port of Palos, amid the acclamations of the people and the thunder of cannon. Columbus hastened to the king and queen, laid before them the history of his discoveries, presented specimen products of the new world, showed them the natives whom he had brought with him, and in return was loaded with the highest honors.

70. On the 25th of September, 1493, Columbus sailed again, from Ca'-diz, with 17 vessels and 1,500 men. On arriving at Hispaniola, he found that his colony had been cut off. The injustice and cruelty with which they had treated the unoffending natives had provoked the latter, gentle and friendly as they were, to summary vengeance. After providing for the erection of a fort, Columbus proceeded to

thus reached? Where did Columbus socn sail, and why? What island did he discover? What happened to him there? How many men did he leave there? Where did the rest go? What happened on the return voyage? How did Columbus seek to prevent his discoveries from being lost to the world? What port did he finally reach? How was he received? 70. When did Columbus again set sail? With how many ves

1494]

THIRD VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS.

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explore Jamaica [ja-mā'-ka] and the surrounding islands. Soon after completing this work, he was filled with delight by the arrival of his brother Bartholomew, whom he had not seen for 13 years, and whom, returning from his mission to England after his brother had sailed the second time, Isabella had sent to the new world with supplies.

Tired of hardship and disappointed in the hope of obtaining gold, the followers of Columbus now began to murmur. His management of affairs was complained of, and an emissary of his enemies was sent out to examine into it. Columbus deemed it proper to return to Spain and plead his own cause before the throne. He established his innocence be yond dispute, and was once more received into favor.

71. In 1498, Columbus undertook a third voyage. Di recting his course more towards the equator than he had previously done, he discovered Trin-i-dad' and the South American coast near the mouth of the O-ri-no'-co. He was for a time in great danger on account of the rush of waters from the mouth of this great river, and judged aright that so mighty a stream could belong only to a continent. On his return to Hispaniola, he set about regulating the affairs of the colony, but was interrupted in the work by the arrival of Bovadilla [bo-va-deel-ya], whom, at the instigation of enemies, the Spanish sovereigns had invested with powers to examine into his conduct, and, if needful, supersede him in the command. Columbus was sent back to Spain in chains. The master of the vessel, indignant that the great discoverer should be treated so unworthily, offered to take off his fetters; but Columbus, grieved at the ingratitude of those he had faithfully served, refused to have them removed, took them with him wherever he went, and ordered that they should be placed with him in his coffin. He triumphantly repelled every charge, but his sovereigns never had the jus

sole and men? On arriving at Hispaniola, what did he find? Where did he next go? On returning to Hispaniola, whom was he surprised to see? What did the followers of Columbus now begin to do? Who was sent out to examine into his conduct? On this, what did Columbus do? 71. Give an account of the third voyage of Columbus. On reaching Hispaniola, to what did he devote himself? How was he interrupted? What indignity was put upon him? How was he received at court? Who was appointed 3

tice to restore him to his station. They put him off on dif ferent pretexts; and, when it became necessary to remove Bovadilla on account of his mismanagement, O-van'-do was appointed his successor.

72. Though cut to the heart by this ingratitude, and beginning to feel the infirmities of age, Columbus in 1502 set out on a fourth voyage. He still believed that the land he had discovered formed part of Asia, and did not live to have the delusion dispelled. The object of this last voyage was to find a passage to India by pushing further westward than he had yet been. He explored the coast for a considerable distance along the Gulf of Darien; but at last, after a succession of disasters, in the attempt to return to Hispaniola he was wrecked on the coast of Jamaica. Reduced to the verge of starvation, and in danger of attack from the Indians, Columbus saved himself and his men by an ingenious device. From his acquaintance with astronomy, he knew that an eclipse of the moon was about to take place; and, on the morning of the day, summoning the natives around. him, he informed them that the Great Spirit was displeased because they had not treated the Spaniards better, and that he would shroud his face from them that night. When the moon became dark, the Indians, convinced of the truth of his words, hastened to him with plentiful supplies, praying that he would beseech the Great Spirit to receive them again into favor. After undergoing extraordinary hardships, Columbus finally succeeded in reaching Hispaniola, and in the summer of 1504 he landed once more in Spain.

73. Queen Isabella had died shortly before; and the remaining two years of the great discoverer's life were shrouded in gloom. He died peaceably at Valladolid [val-la-doleed'] in the 71st year of his age. His chains were buried with him, and his remains now rest in the cathedral of Havan'-a.

successor to Bovadilla? 72. What did Columbus still believe respecting the land he had discovered? When did he start on his fourth voyage? What was his object? What finally befell him? How did Columbus on one occasion save himself and his men? At last, what island did they succeed in reaching? 73. What is said of the last two years of Columbus's life? Where and at what age did he die? Where is he buried?

1499]

ORIGIN OF THE NAME AMERICA.

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Columbus was tall, well-formed, and muscular. His coun tenance bore an air of authority, and his demeanor was grave and dignified. He was distinguished by a vivid imagination, lofty enthusiasm, high moral worth, great inventive genius, and a steadfastness of purpose which overcame all difficulties.

74. Meanwhile, encouraged by the success of Columbus, other Spanish navigators had found their way to the new world. Among these was Ojeda [o-ha'-dah]. Following the course taken by Columbus in his second voyage, he touched on the South American coast, without, however, making any important discovery. In Ojeda's company was a well-educated Florentine gentleman named Amerigo Vespucci [a-ma're-go ves-poot'-she], who published an interesting description of the lands he had visited. This was the first written account of the new world; and, as it left Columbus out of view, the Western Continent, instead of being called after its real discoverer, was unjustly styled, from the name of this Florentine, AMERICA.

CHAPTER II.

EARLY EXPLORATIONS.-FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS.

75. English Discoveries.-In the latter part of the fifteenth century, England was laid waste by civil wars, known in history as the Wars of the Roses. As soon as they ended, commerce began to receive attention. Adventures to the new world promised large profits; and Henry VII., wishing to secure his share, commissioned John Ca-bot', a Venetian merchant of Bristol, to sail on a voyage of discovery and take possession of all new lands in the name of England. On the 24th of June, 1497, before Columbus had yet seen the main

Describe his person and character. 74. Meanwhile what had other Spanish navigators been doing? Among these, who is specially mentioned? Who went in Ojeda's company? What did he do on his return? What honor did he thus unjustly obtain ?

75. What desolated England towards the end of the fifteenth century? When those wars had ended, what began to receive attention? What did Henry VII. do? What