Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey ; A Tour of the prairies

Front matter

£ Tfie

Elll

.1 797

Book I. Chap

I. Birth, Parentage, and Early Life of Columbus . IT

II. Early Voyages of Columbus . 20

III. Progress of Discovery under Prince Henry of Portugal . . 24

IV. Residence of Columbus at Lisbon — Ideas concerning Islands in the Ocean 29

V. Grounds on which Columbus founded his Belief of the existence of Un¬ discovered Lands in the West . 34

VI. Correspondence of Columbus with Paulo Toscanelli — Events in Portugal relative to Discoveries— Proposition of Columbus to the Portuguese Court — Departure from Portugal . 40

Book II

I. Proceedings of Columbus after leaving Portugal — His Applications in

Spain — Characters of Ferdinand and Isabella . 52

II. Columbus at the Court of Spain . 57

III. Columbus before the Council of Salamanca . 60

IV. Further Applications at the Court of Castile— Columbus follows the Court

in its Campaigns . 66

V. Columbus at the Convent of La Rabida . . . . . . 72

VI. Application to the Court at the time of the Surrender of Granada . 76

VII. Arrangement with the Spanish Sovereigns— Preparations for the Expedi¬

tion at the Port of Palos . 61

VIII. Columbus at the Port of Palos— Preparations for the Voyage of Discovery 84

Book III

I. Departure of Columbus on his First Voyage . 89

II. Continuation of the Voyage — First Notice of the Variation of the Needle 93

III. Continuation of the Voyage — Various Terrors of the Seamen . . . . . 96

IV. Continuation of the Voyage — Discovery of Land . . . 101

Book IV

I. First Landing of Columbus in the New World

II. Cruise among the Bahama Islands .

III. Discovery and Coasting of Cuba .

IV. Further Coasting of Cuba .

594362

JL27

Contents

CHAP, PAGE

V. Search after the supposed Island of Babeque— Desertion of the Pinta . 132

VI. Discovery of Hispaniola . . . 135

Book V

I. Coasting towards the Eastern End of Hispaniola — Meeting with Pinzon— '

Affair with the Natives at the Gulf of Samana . 160

TT. Return Voyage— Violent Storms— Arrival at the Azores . . 166

III. Transactions at the Island of St. Mary’s . 171

IV. Arrival at Portugal— Visit to the Court . 174

V. Reception of Columbus at Palos . 180

VI. Reception of Columbus by the Spanish Court at Barcelona . 184

¥11. Sojourn of Columbus at Barcelona— Attentions paid him by the Sovereigns

and Courtiers . 183

Till. Papal Bull of Partition— Preparations for a Second Voyage of Columbus . 192 IX. Diplomatic Negotiations between the Courts of Spain and Portugal with

respect to the New Discoveries . . 199

X. Further Preparations for the Second Voyage — Character of Alonzo de

Ojeda— Difference of Columbus with Soria and Ponseca . 202

BOOK YI.

I. Departure of Columbus on his Second Voyage— Discovery of the Caribbee

Islands . 209

II. Transactions at the Island of Guadaloupe . 212

III. Cruise among the Caribbee Islands . 217

IV. Arrival at the Harbor of La Navidad — Disaster of the Fortress . 222

V. Transactions with the Natives— Suspicious Conduct of Guacanagarl . 229

VI. Founding of the City of Isabella— Maladies of the Spaniards . ’. . 231

VII. Expedition of Alonzo de Ojeda to explore the Interior of the Island —

Dispatch of the Ships to Spain . 238

VIII. Discontents at Isabella — Mutiny of Bernal Diaz de Pisa . 243

IX. Expedition of Columbus to the Mountains of Cibao . 246

X. Excursion of Juan de Luxan among the Mountains— Customs and Charac¬ teristics of the Natives— Columbus returns to Isabella . 253

XI. Arrival of Columbus at Isabella — Sickness of the Colony . 203

XII. Distribution of the Spanish Forces in the Interior— Preparations for a

Voyage to Cuba . 263

Book VII

I. Voyage to the East End of Cuba . 271

II. Discovery of Jamaica . . . 275

III. Return to Cuba— Na vigation among the Islands called the Queen’s Gardens 278

IV. Coasting of the Southern Side of Cuba . 28?

V. Return of Columbus along the Southern Coast of Cuba . 29'?

VI. Coasting Voyage along the South Ride of Jamaica . 295

VII. Voyage along the South Side of Hispaniola, and Return to Isabella . 299

CONTEXTS.

Book VIII

CHAP. PAGE

I. Arrival of We Admiral at Isabella— Character of Bartholomew Columbus. 302

II. Misconduct of Don Pedro Margarite, and his Departure from the Island. . 306

III. Troubles with the Natives — Alonzo de Ojeda besieged by Caonabo . 310

IV. Measures of Columbus to restore the Quiet of the Island — Expedition of

Ojeda to surprise Caonabo . 315

V. Arrival of Antonio de Torres with Four Ships from Spain— His Return with

Indian Slaves . 321

VI. Expedition of Columbus against the Indians of the Vega — Battle . 321

VII. Subjugation of the Natives— Imposition of Tribute . 328

VIII. Intrigues against Columbus in the Court of Spain— Aguado sent to investi¬

gate the Affairs of Hispaniola . 334

IX. Arrival of Aguado at Isabella— His Arrogant Conduct— Tempest in the

Harbor . 339

X. Discovery of the Mines of Hayna . 343

Book IX

I. Return of Columbus to Spain with Aguado . 347

II. Decline of the Popularity of Columbus in Spain— His Reception by the

Sovereigns at Burgos — He proposes a Third Voyage . 352

III. Preparations for a Third Voyage— Disappointments and Delaj^s . , . 358

Book X

I. Departure of Columbus from Spain on his Third Voyage— Disco veiy of

Trinidad . 366

II. Voyage through the Gulf of Paria . 371

III. Continuation of the Voyage through the Gulf of Paria— Return to His¬

paniola . 379

IV. Speculations of Columbus concerning the Coast of Paria . 385

BOOK XL

I. Administration of the Adelantado— Expedition to the Province of Xaragua 391

II. Establishment of a Chain of Military Posts— Insurrection of Guarionex, the Cacique of the Vega . . . 397

III. The Adelantado repairs to Xaragua to receive Tribute . 403

IV. Conspiracy of Roldan . 407

V. The Adelantado repairs to the Vega in relief of Fort Conception— His In¬ terview with Roldan . 412

VI. Second Insurrection of Guarionex, and his Flight to the Mountains of

VII. Campaign of the Adelantado in the Mountains of Ciguay . 419

Book XII

I. Confusion in the Island — Proceedings of the Rebels at Xaragua . 425

II. Negotiation of the Admiral with the Rebels — Departure of Shins for

Spain . 429

HI. Negotiations and Arrangements with the Rebels . 434

IV. Grants made to Roldan and his Followers— Departure of several of the

Rebels for Spain . 443

V. Arrival of Ojeda with a Squadron at the Western Part of the Island —

Roldan sent to meet him . 417

VI. Manoeuvres of Roldan and Ojeda . 451

VII. Conspiracy of Guevara and Moxiea . 455

CONTENTS, ;

Book XIII

CHAP. PAGE

I. Representations at Court against Columbus— Bobadilla empowered to

examine into his Conduct . 461

II. Arrival of Bobadilla at San Domingo— His Violent Assumption of the

Command . 467

III. Columbus summoned to appear before Bobadilla . 472

IV. Columbus and his Brothers arrested and sent to Spain in Chains . 475

Book XIV

I. Sensation in Spain on the Arrival of Columbus in Irons— His Appearance at Court . 482

H. Contemporary Voyages of Discovery . . 486

III. Nicholas de Ovando appointed to supersede Bobadilla . 490

IV. Proposition of Columbus relative to the Recovery of the Holy Sepulchre.. 498

V. Preparations of Columbus for a Fourth Voyage of Discovery . 502

Book XV

I. Departure of Columbus on his Fourth Voyage— Refused Admission to the

Harbor of San *Domingo— Exposed to a Violent Tempest . 507

II. Voyage along the Coast of Honduras . 513

III. Voyage along the Mosquito Coast, and Transactions at Cariari . 518

IV. Voyage along Coast Rica— Speculations concerning the Isthmus at

V. Discovery of Puerto Bello and El Retrete — Columbus abandons the Search

after the Strait . 527

1 'VI. Return to Veragua— The Adelantado explores the Country . 530

VH. Commencement of a Settlement on the river Belen— Conspiracy of the

Natives— Expedition of the Adelantado to surprise Quibian . 537

VIII. Disasters of the Settlement . 543

IX. Distress of the Admiral on board of his Ship— Ultimate Relief of the

Settlement . 547

X. Departure from the Coast of Veragua— Arrival at Jamaica— Stranding of

the Ships . 552

Book XVI

I. Arrangement of Diego Mendez with the Caciques for Supplies of Pro¬ visions— Sent to San Domingo by Columbus in quest of Relief . 556

II. Mutiny of Porras . .- . 562

III. Scarcity of Provisions— Stratagem of Columbus to obtain Supplies from

the Natives . 569

IV. Mission of Diego de Escobar to the Admiral . 572

V. Voyage of Diego Mendez and Bartholomew Fiesco in a Canoe to Hispaniola 575

VI. Overtures of Columbus to the Mutineers— Battle of the Adelantado with

Porras and his Followers . 580

Book XVII

I. Administration of Ovando in Hispaniola — Oppression of the Natives . 586

II. Massacre at Xaragua— Fate of Anacaona . 591

III. War with the Natives of Higuey . 597

IV. Close of the War with Higuey— Fate of Cotabanama . 601

CONTENTS. 7

Book XVIII

CHAP. PAGE

I. Departure of Columbus for San Domingo— His Return to Spain . 607

H. Illness of Columbus at Seville— Application to tbe Crown for a Restitution

of his Honors— Death of Isabella . 612

III. Columbus arrives at Court— Fruitless Application to the King for Redress 618

IV. Death of Columbus . 624

V. Observations on the Character of Columbus . 628

Appendix

NUMBER

I. Transportation of the Remains of Columbus from St. Domingo to

the Havana . 637

II. Notice of the Descendants of Columbus . 639

III. Fernando Columbus . 648

IV. Age of Columbus . 650

V. Lineage of Columbus . 651

VI. Birthplace of Columbus . , . 652

VII. The Colombos . 657

VIII. Expedition of John of Anjou . 658

IX. Capture of the Venetian Galleys by Colombo the Younger . 659

X. Amerigo Vespucci . 661

XI. Martin Alonzo Pinzon . 670

XII. Rumor of the Pilot said to have died in the House of Columbus . 672

XIII. Martin Behem . 674

XIV. Voyages of the Scandinavians . 676

XV. Circumnavigation of Africa by the Ancients . 680

XVI. Of the Ships of Columbus . 681

XVII. Routs of Columbus in his First Voyage . 682

XVIII. Principles upon which the Sums mentioned in this Work have been

reduced into Modern Currency — . 691

XIX. Prester John . 692

XX. Marco Polo . 693

XXI. The Work of Marco Polo . 698

XXII. Sir John Mandeville . 702

XXIII. The Zones.... . 703

XXIV. Of the Atalantis of Plato . 704

XXV. The Imaginary Island of St. Brandan . . 704

XXVI. The Island of the Seven Cities . ; . 709

XXVII. Discovery of the Island of Madeira . 710

XXVIII. Las Casas . . 712

XXIX. Peter Martyr . 716

XXX. Oviedo . . 720

XXXI. Cura de Los Palacios . 720

XXXII. “Navigations del Re de Castiglia del Isole e Paese Nuovamente

Ritrovate” — “ Navigatio Christophori Colombi” . 721

XXXIII. Antonio de Herrera . 722

XXXIV. Bishop Fonseca . 723

XXXV. Of the Situation of the Terrestrial Paradise . 725

XXXVI. Will of Columbus . 728

XXXVH. Signature of Columbus . ..... 730

A

Preface

Being at Bordeaux in the winter of 1825-6, I received a letter from Mr. Alexander Everett, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at Madrid, informing me of a work then in the press, edited by Don Martin Fernandez de Navarrete, Secretary of the Royal Academy of History, etc. etc. , contain¬ ing a collection of documents relative to the voyages of Colum¬ bus, among which were many of a highly important nature, recently discovered. Mr. Everett, at the same time, expressed an opinion that a version of the work into English, by one of our own country, would be peculiarly desirable. I concurred with him in the opinion ; and, having for some time intended a visit to Madrid, I shortly afterward set off for that capital, with an idea of undertaking., while there, the translation of the work.

Soon after my arrival, the publication of M. Navarrete made its appearance. I found it to contain many documents, hitherto unknown, which threw additional lights on the dis¬ covery of the New World, and which reflected the greatest credit on the industry and activity of the learned editor. Still the whole presented rather a mass of rich materials for history, than a history itself. And invaluable as such stores may be to the laborious inquirer, the eight of disconnected papers and official documents is apt to be repulsive to the general reader, who seeks for clear and continued narrative. These circum¬ stances made me hesitate in my proposed undertaking; yet the subject was of so interesting and national a kind, that I could not willingly abandon it.

On considering the matter more maturely, I perceived that, although there were many books, in various languages, relative to Columbus, they all contained limited and incomplete ac¬ counts of his life and voyages ; while numerous valuable tracts on the subject existed only in manuscript or in the form of

PREFACE.

letters, journals, and public muniments. It appeared to me that a history, faithfully digested from these various mate¬ rials, was a desideratum in literature, and would be a more satisfactory occupation to myself, and a more acceptable work to my country, than the translation I had contemplated.

I was encouraged to undertake such a work, by the great facilities which I found within my reach at Madrid. I was resident under the roof of the American Consul, O. Rich, Esq. , one of the most indefatigable bibliographers in Europe, who, for several years, had made particular researches after every document relative to the early history of America. In his ex¬ tensive and curious library, I found one of the best collections extant of Spanish colonial history, containing many documents for which I might search elsewhere in vain. This he put at my absolute command, with a frankness and unreserve seldom to be met with among the possessors of such rare and valuable works ; and his library has been my main resource throughout the Avhole of my labors.

I found also the Royal Library of Madrid, and the library of the Jesuits’ College of San Isidro, two noble and extensive collections, open to access, and conducted with great order and liberality. From Don Martin Fernandez de Navarrete, who communicated various valuable and curious pieces of informa¬ tion, discovered in the course of his researches, I received the most obliging assistance ; nor can I refrain from testifying my admiration of the self-sustained zeal of that estimable man, one of the last veterans of Spanish literature, who is almost alone, yet indefatigable in his labors, in a country where, at present, literary exertion meets with but little excitement or reward.

I must acknowledge, also, the liberality of the Duke of Veragua, the descendant and representative of Columbus, who submitted the archives of his family to my inspection, and took a personal interest in exhibiting the treasures they contained. Nor, lastly, must I omit my deep obligations to my excellent friend Don Antonio de Uguina, treasurer of the Prince Fran¬ cisco, a gentleman of talents and erudition, and particularly versed in the history of his country and its dependencies. To his unAvearied investigations, and silent and unavowed con¬ tributions, the Avorld is indebted for much of the accurate information, recently imparted, on points of early colonial his¬ tory. In the possession of this gentleman are most of the papers of his deceased friend, the late historian Mimog, who

PREFACE.

was cut off in the midst of his valuable labors. Those, and various other documents, have been imparted to me by Don Antonia, with a kindness and urbanity which greatly increased, yet lightened, the obligation.

With these, and other aids incidentally afforded me by my local situation, I have endeavored, to the best of my abilities, and making the most of the time which I could allow myself during a sojourn in a foreign country, to construct this history. I have diligently collated all the works that I could find relative to my subject, in print and manuscript; comparing them, as far as in my power, with original documents, those sure lights of historic research ; endeavoring to ascertain the truth amid those contradictions which will inevitably occur, where several persons have recorded the same facts, viewing them from different points, and under the influence of different interests and feelings.

In the execution of this work I have avoided indulging in mere speculations or general reflections, excepting such as rose naturally out of the subject, preferring to give a minute and circumstantial narrative, omitting no particular that appeared characteristic of the persons, the events, or the times ; and en¬ deavoring to place every fact in such a point of view, that the reader might perceive its merits, and draw his own maxims and conclusions.

As many points of the history required explanations, drawn from contemporary events and the literature of the times, I have preferred, instead of incumbering the narrative, to give detached illustrations at the end of the work. This also enabled me to indulge in greater latitude of detail, where the subject was of a curious or interesting nature, and the sources of in¬ formation such as not to be within the common course of reading.

After all, the work is presented to the public with extreme diffidence. All that I can safely claim is, an earnest desire to state the truth, an absence from prejudices respecting the nations mentioned in my history, a strong interest in my sub¬ ject, and a zeal to make up by assiduity for many deficiencies of which I am conscious,

Washington Irving.

Madrid , 1827.

P. S. — I have been surprised at finding myself accused by some American writer of not giving sufficient credit to Don

PREFACE.

Martin Fernandez de Navarrete for the aid I had derived from his collection of documents. I had thought I had sufficiently shown, in the preceding preface, which appeared with my first edition, that his collection first prompted my work and subse¬ quently furnished its principal materials ; and that I had illus¬ trated this by citations at the foot of almost every page. In preparing this revised edition, I have carefully and conscien¬ tiously examined into the matter, but find nothing to add to the acknowledgments already made.

To show the feelings and opinions of M. Navarrete himself with respect to my work and myself, I subjoin an extract from a letter received from that excellent man, and a passage from the introduction to the third volume of his collection. Nothing but the desire to vindicate myself on this head would induce me to publish extracts so laudatory.

From a letter dated Madrid , April ls£, 1831.

I congratulate myself that the documents and notices which I published in my collection about the first occurrences in the history of America, have fallen into lianas so able to appreciate their authenticity, to examine them critically, and to circulate them in all directions ; establishing fundamental truths which hitherto have been adulterated by partial or systematic writers.

Yo me complazeo en que los documentos y noticias que publico en mi coleccion sobre los primeros acontecimientos de la historia de America, hayan recaido en manos tan habiles para apreciar su autenticidad, para examinar las con critica y propagarlas por todos partes echando los fundamentos de la verdad que hasta ahora ha sido tan adulterada par los escri tores parciales 6 sistematicos.

In the introduction to the third volume of his Collection of Spanish Voyages, Mr. Navarrete cites various testimonials he has received since the publication of his two first volumes of the utility of his work to the republic of letters.

“A signal proof of this,” he continues, 44 is just given us by Mr. Washington Irving in the History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus, which he has published with a suc¬ cess as general as it is well merited. We said in our introduc¬ tion that we did not propose to write the history of the admiral, but to publish notes and materials that it might be written

PREFACE.

with veracity ; and it is fortunate that the first person to profit by them should be a literary man, judicious and erudite, already known in his own country and in Europe by other works of merit. Kesident in Madrid, exempt from the rivalries which have influenced some European natives with respect to Columbus and his discoveries ; having an opportunity to exam¬ ine excellent books and precious manuscripts ; to converse with persons instructed in these matters, and having always at hand the authentic documents which we had just published, he has been enabled to give to his history that fulness, impartiality, and exactness, which make it much superior to those of the writers who preceded him. To this be adds his regular method, and convenient distribution; his style animated, pure, and elegant ; the notice of various personages who mingled in the concerns of Columbus ; and the examination of various ques¬ tions, in which always shine sound criticism, erudition, and good taste.”

Insigne praeba de esto mismo acaba de darnos el Seiior Wash¬ ington Irving en la Historia de la Vide, y de los Yiages de Cristobal Colon que ha publicado con una aceptacion tan general como bien merecida. Diginos en nuestra introduccion (1 § 56 pag. Ixxxii.) que no nos proponiamos escribir la historia de aqual almirante, sino publicar noticias y materiales para que se escribiesce con veracidad, y es una fortune, que el primero que se hay a aprovecliado de ellas sea un literato juicioso y erudito, conocido ya en su patria y en Europa por otras obras apreciables. Colocado en Madrid, exento de las rivalidades que han dominado entre algunas naciones Europeas sobre Colon y sus descubrimientos ; con la proporcion de examinar excelentes libros y preciosos manuscritos, de tratar a persona^ instruidas en estas materias, y teniendo siempre a la mano loS autenticos documentos que acabamos de publicar, ha logrado dar a su his¬ toria aquella extension imparcialidad y exactitud que la hacen muy superior a las de los escritores que la precedieron, Agregase a esto su metodico arreglo y conveniente distribucion ; su estilo animado, puro y elegante ; la noticia de varies personages que intervenieron en los sucesos de Colon, y el examen do varias cuestiones en que luce siempre la mas sana critica. la erudicion y buen gusto, — Prologo al tomo 3°,

THE LIFE AND VOYAGES

OF

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

Book I

Whether in old times, beyond the reach of history or tra¬ dition, and in some remote period of civilization, when, as some imagine, the arts may have flourished to a degree un¬ known to those whom we term the Ancients, there existed an intercourse between the opposite shores of the Atlantic; whether the Egyptian legend, narrated by Plato, respecting the island of Atalantis was indeed no fable, but the obscure tradition of some vast country, engulfed by one of those mighty convulsions of our globe, which have left traces of the ocean on the summits of lofty mountains, must ever remain matters of vague and visionary speculation. As far as authenticated his¬ tory extends, nothing was known of terra firma, and the islands of the western hemisphere, until their discovery toward the close of the fifteenth century. A wandering bark may occa¬ sionally have lost sight of the landmarks of the old conti¬ nents, and been driven by tempests across the wilderness of ’ waters long before the invention of the compass, but never re¬ turned to reveal the secrets of the ocean. And though, from tune to time, some document has* floated to the shores of the old world, giving to its wondering inhabitants evidences of land far beyond their watery horizon ; yet no one ventured to spread a sail, and seek that land enveloped in mystery and peril. Or if the legends of the Scandinavian voyagers be correct, and their mysterious Vinland was the coast of Labrador, or the shore of Newfoundland, they had but transient glimpses of the

LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

new world, leading to no certain or permanent knowledge, and in a little time lost again to mankind.* Certain it is that at tho beginning of the fifteenth century, when the most intelligent minds were seeking in every direction for the scattered lights of geographical knowledge, a profound ignorance prevailed among the learned as to the western regions of the Atlantic ; its vast waters were regarded with awe and wonder, seeming to bound the world as with a chaos, into which conjecture could i not penetrate, and enterprise feared to adventure. We need no greater proofs of this than the description given of the Atlantic by Xerif al Edrisi, surnamed the Nubian, an eminent Arabian writer, whose countrymen were the boldest navigators of the middle ages, and possessed all that was then known of geog¬ raphy.

“ The ocean,” he observes, “ encircles the ultimate bounds of the inhabited earth, and all beyond it is unknown. No one has been able to verify anything concerning it, on account of its difficult and perilous navigation, its great obscurity, its pro¬ found depth, and frequent tempests ; through fear of its mighty fishes, and its haughty winds ; yet there are many islands in it, some peopled, others uninhabited. There is no mariner who dares to enter into its deep waters ; or if any have done so, they have merely kept along its coasts, fearful of departing from them. The waves of this ocean, although they roll as high as mountains, yet maintain themselves without breaking; for if they broke, it would be impossible for ship to plough them.” f

It is the object of the following work, to relate the deeds and fortunes of the mariner who first had the judgment to divine, and the intrepidity to brave the mysteries of this perilous deep ; and who, by his hardy genius, his inflexible constancy, and his heroic courage, brought the ends of the earth into commuication with each other. The narrative of his troubled life is the link which connects the history of the old world with that of the new.

*See illustrations in Appendix at the end of this work, article “Scandinavian Discoveries.”

+ Description of Spain, by Xerif al Edrisi; Conde's Spanish translation. Madrid, 1799.

LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

Chapter I. Birth, Parentage, And Early Life Of Columbus

Christopher Columbus, or Colombo, as the name is written m Italian,* was born in the city of Genoa, about the year 1435. He was the son of Dominico Colombo, a wool-comber, and Su¬ sannah Fontanarossa, his wife, and it would seem that his an¬ cestors had followed the same handicraft for several genera¬ tions in Genoa. Attempts have been made to prove him of illustrious descent, and several noble houses have laid claim to him since his name has become so renowned as to confer rather than receive distinction. It is possible some of them may be in the right, for the feuds in Italy in those ages had broken down and scattered many of the noblest families, and while some branches remained in the lordly heritage of castles and do¬ mains, others were confounded with the humblest population of the cities. The fact, however, is not material to his fame; and it is a higher proof of merit to be the object of contention among various noble families, than to be able to substantiate the most illustrious lineage. His son Fernando had a true feel¬ ing on the subject. “ I am of opinion,” says he, “that I should derive less dignity from any nobility of ancestry, than from being the son of such a father.” f

Columbus was the oldest of four children; having two brothers, Bartholomew and Giacomo, or James (written Diego in Spanish), and one sister, of whom nothing is known but that she was married to a person in obscure life called Giacomo Bavarello. At a very early age Columbus evinced a decided inclination for the sea; his education, therefore, was mainly directed to fit him for maritime life, but was as general as the

* Columbus Latinized his name in his letters according to the usage of the time, when Latin was the language of learned correspondence. In subsequent life when in Spain he recurred to what was supposed to be the original Roman name of the family, Colonus, which he abbreviated to Colon, to adapt it to the Castilian tongue. Hence he is known in Spanish history as Christoval Colon. In the present work the name will be written Columbus, being the one by which he is most known throughout the world.

t The reader will find the vexed questions about the age, birthplace, and lineage of Columbus severally discussed in the Appendix.

LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

narrow means of his father would permit. Besides the ordi< nary branches of reading, writing, grammar, and arithmetic, he was instructed in the Latin tongue, and made some proficiency in drawing and design. For a short time, also, he was sent to the university of Pavia, where he studied geometry, geography, astronomy, and navigation. He then returned to Genoa, where, according to a contemporary historian, he assisted his father in his trade of wool-combing. * This assertion is indignantly contradicted by his son Fernando, though there is nothing in it improbable, and he gives us no information of his father’s occupation to supply its place. He could not, however, have remained long in this employment, as, according to his own account, he entered upon a nautical life when but fourteen years of age.f