Tales from American history : containing the principal facts in the life of Christopher Columbus : for the use of young persons

Front matter

<^9^

FROM

AMERICAN HISTORY;

Chapter I

The ancient world — Navigation and commerce of the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.— Constantinople and Venice.

Pag^

CHAPTER n.

The middle ages — Popery — Printing- Revival of Learning— The Magnet- Heraldry.— Armorial bearings — Prince Henry of Portugal— Discoveries of the Portuguese. . . . . . jg

CHAPTER HI.

Christopher Columbus — His industry, piety and desire of knowledge — Rights of men better understood in modern than in ancient times.— Columbus lays plans for discoveries before John H. of Portugal. 22

CHAPTER IV.

Columbus at the convent of La Rabidad— Isabella queen of Spain— Columbus at

Yl CONTENTS.

Page the court of Spain — Council of leafned men meet at Salamanca to discuss the project of Columbus — The Moors surrender the city of Grenada — Columbus appointed admiral and viceroy. . 28

CHAPTER V.

Columbus sails from Palos— touches at

the Canaries — discovers St. Salvador. 36

CHAPTER VI.

The Bahama Islands — The landing of Columbus — The natives of the Island — their persons and arms — food and ornaments — Islands of Fernandina and Isabella. 43

CHAPTER VII.

Cuba — Indian Villages — Hayti, or Hispaniola discovered — Indian Woman — The natives generous and amiable. , 52

CHAPTER VIII.

The cacique Guacanagari — The Caribs — One of the ships, the Pinta, deserts the squadron of Columbus — Fortress of La Navidad — Columbus returns to Europe. 61

CHAPTER IX.

Reception of Columbus— In Portugal — At the court of Spain — Public rejoicings

CONTENTS. Vll

Page —Duplicity of Martin Alonzo Pinzon — His death. . . , , . 77

CHAPTER X.

The king and queen of Spain encourage Columbus to undertake a second voyage — He sails from the Bay of Cadiz — Discovers the Caribbees and Porto Rico — Arrives at Hispaniola — Finds the garrison of La Navidad destroyed — The Indian chief Caonabo. . , . 92

CHAPTER XI.

Columbus lays the foundation of the city of Isabella— The Royal Vega— The Island in part explored — Mountains of Cibao — Fables of the Indians — Their songs and dances — Fort St. Thomas erected — Jamaica discovered — Interesting young Indian — Cojumbus goes to Cuba— Venerable old man meets the Spaniards and admonishes them — Natural Religion. . . . . lOYj

CHAPTER Xn.

Columbus circumnavigates Jamaica — Cacique and his family — Columbus arrives at Isabella — meets his brother Bartholomew — Five domains of Hispaniola — Misconduct and discontent of the Spaniards — Adventures of Ojeda — The chief Caonabo made prisoner. . 137

VIU CO^JTENT^.

CHAPTER XIII.

Pagi

Indians treated with cruelty by the Spaniards — Their sufferings — Death of Guacanagari. . . . . .153

CHAPTER XIV,

Enemies of Columbus complain to the king and queen of Spain of his administration — Aguado appointed to inquire into the affairs of the colony at Hispaniola — Mines of gold discovered — Columbus embarks for Spain, March, 1 496 — Entrusts the government of the colony to his brother Bartholomew — Columbus received with indifference in Spain — ■ Furnished with six ships for a new enterprise — Discovers the Island of Trinidad, and Margarita, and the coast of Paria. 158

CHAPTER XV.

City of St. Domingo — Province of Xanagua and its chief, Behechio — Female cacique, Anacaona— Guarionex, cacique of the Vega — The Adelantado takes tribute from Behechio — Revolt of Roldan. 1 70

CHAPTER XVI.

Roldan refuses to submit to the Adelantado ' — The Indians take part in the insurrection — Don Bartholomew marches against them into the province of

CONTENTS. IX

Pagi> Cigiiay — The caciques, Magobanex and Guarionex taken — Roldan in tire province of Xaragua — Columbus makes peace with Roldan — Ojeda appears in Hispaniola, and heads a party of rebels — Roldan, at the command of Columbus, crushes this Rebellion — Guevara — Insurgent attempt of Adrian de Moxico, — Salutary severity of Columbus. . 181

CHAPTER XVII.

Misrepresentations of the adminstration of Columbus by his enemies in Spain — Bobadilla appointed to supersede Columbus — His unworthy treatment of Columbus — Columbus sent in chains to Spain — Columbus arrives at Cadiz — Queen Isabella commands him to appear at court — She receives him graciously — Ovando succeeds Bobadilla as governor of the Spanish colonies. . 196

CHAPTER XVm.

Columbus engages in his fourth and last voyage — Arrives off St. Domingo — Ovando refuses to allow him to enter the harbour — Bobadilla, Roldan, and the chief Guarionex are lost at sea — Columbus discovers the coast of Honduras — Cape Gracias a Dios, &c. — The rivers Veragua and Belen — Commences a settlement. . . , ^00

Contents

Page in the vicinity — The Indians conspire against the Spaniards — The Spaniards seize the family of the cacique Quibia — The Indians attack the Spaniards at the settlement— They kill Diego Tristan. 206

CHAPTER ;CIX.

Columbus takes off the Spaniards fi-om the settlement, and sails from the coast of Veragua — He arrives at the coast of Jamaica, forced to remain there — Sends to Hispaniola — Rebellion of the brothers Porras — Stratagem of Columbus to procure supplies from the Indians. 222

Chapter III

I HAVE told you, in my last chapter, that in the fifteenth century the Portuguese, of all the nations of Europe, prosecuted maritime discovery with the greatest eagerness ; but it was reserved to their neighbours, the Spanish, to promote the greatest of all discoveries, that of the continent of America. The chief honour of this achievement, however, belongs to the individual who accomplished it.

Christopher Columbus was born of a humble and worthy family in the city of Genoa. His father was a wool-comber of the name of Colombo — his illustrious son adopted the Latin termination of Columbus. The Latin language, at the time when Columbus lived, was that in which statesmen and princes wrote their letters, and every person in a public station of importance, wrote his name in conformity to this usage. Columbus had a son named Fernando, who, after his death, wrote a history of his father's life, and this son despised the pride then very common in Europe of being descended from noble ancestors, but he felt the true honour of his distinguished parent. Mr. Irving gives the words of Fernando Columbus thus, " I should derive less dignity from any nobility of ancestry, than from being the son of such a father."

Columbus was the eldest of four children, three sons and a daughter. His brothers Bartholomew and Diego are mentioned in his history. It appears

COLUMBUS. ^ti

that his parents, though poor, were sensible of the value of knowledge, and bestowed upon their children such instruction as could be obtained for them, and that Columbus improved his opportunities to the utmost advantage. He was taught reading, writing, arithmetic, drawing, and painting ; and all that he learned he acquired such skill in using, that by any branch of his knowledge, said one of his contemporaries, '• he might have gained a livelihood." Columbus was also sent for a short time to Pavia, a city of Lombardy, the most celebrated of any at that time in Italy, for its schools of learning. Here he was made acquainted with the Latin tongue, but his chief attention was given to mathematics, to geography, and astronomy, then called astrology.

It is not uncommon to meet with boys who have a strong inclination to folloiD the sea^ as they call it — to leave their homes and their native country to see something more wonderful and magniiicent than the groves and valleys, or the streets and houses to which they are accustomed. A feeling like this animated the young Columbus ; but he added to it the noble and praiseworthy desire to benefit mankind. In the present age of the world, the curiosity of the young mariner is directed to some well known shore ; but the hopes and wishes of Columbus embraced the " great globe itself." He longed to go forth and penetrate the thick darkness which was upon the face of the deep ; to find some good land never seen by European eyes ; and it was the labour of his life to accomphsh this mighty enterprise.

How Columbus passed his early years is not

24 COLUMBUS.

precisely known, but it is supposed that from the age of fifteen to thirty-five, he spent the greater part of his time on the Mediterranean, sometimes engaged in merchant vessels and sometimes in warlike enterprises. At that period the Barbary States sent out their corsairs, or piratical vessels, to intercept the merchantmen of Soul hern Europe, and the states of Italy kept up wars with one another ; so that the hardihood of the soldier was essential to the character of the sailor ; and the defence of life and property was as necessary to the trader as to the vessel expressly sent out to fight.

Columbus was induced to go to Lisbon by the attention paid there to navigation, and by the society of learned men, who studied geography and mathematics — his chief studies resembled theirs, and he lived always in the hope to be permitted by Providence to prosecute some great discovery. Columbus was persuaded that one third of the globe remained unknown to the inhabitants of the old world, and he believed that it was fertile and inhabited. Voyagers, who had sailed west of the Azores, reported that they had seen land plants floating on the ocean ; that pieces of wood, carved in a manner different from the workmanship of Europe, had also been found : and the dead bodies of two men, of a different complexion from Europeans, had been cast upon one of the western islands. Columbus considered these circumstances as proofs that his theory was true.

Columbus was eminently a devout man. He thanked God sincerely, that from a child his taste and his studies w ere directed to navigation, and he

COLUMBUS. -O

thought himself appointed by God to bring men of distant regions together ; to make them acquainted with each other ; and to instruct Pagans in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. The dignity of his mind, and the sublimity of his designs, made him feel himself upon an equahty with princes. He proposed to discover empires, and to present them to the European sovereign who should aid him in his project ; so that, though he was a poor man, he did not esteem himself the less, but felt that his mind raised him above the inferior considerations of rank and fortune.

Columbus was too poor to fit out vessels for the expedition in search of the new world, which he meditated ; and he also thought it necessary that some prince should take part in his enterprise, because such a person only could govern the territory he might discover, and which, according to the ideas which men in that age entertained of property- he conceived would belong to the king whose subjects might discover it. You must remember that the pope gave away all Africa to Prince Henry of Portugal, and Columbus had the same notions which Prince Henry had respecting the authority of princes.

At the present time no such opinions prevail, and civilized men have more just conceptions of the rights of savages. Perhaps you have read of the discoveries of Captain Cook and other navigators in the Pacific Ocean. In 1778 Captain Cook discovered the Sandwich Islands — ^just fifty years ago, (1828.) He was in the service of the king of Great Britain, but Captain Cook did not therefore imagine that the Sandwich Islands be- 3

2Q COLUMBUS.

longed to the king of England, nor did the khig ever take the islands ; he left them in possession of the natives ; and, instead of injuring the islanders, British ships go to the islands, and English merchants send English goods thither, and huy whatever the islanders have to sell. Besides carvying on a peaceful trade with the men of the South Sea, the English sent out to them missionaries on purpose to instruct those ignorant people in reading, and in the Gospel ; and also to teach them to build comfortable houses, to cultivate the fields, and to make decent garments. I have told you this that you may know that nations act with more good sense and humanity in this age of the world than they did three hundred years ago. When you come to read the treatment of the Europeans to the natives of the Western Continent, after the former people had discoveied it, you will understand how nations, at the present time, have improved in philanthropy, or love to makind.

In 1484 Columbus presented the plan of a voyage across the Western Ocean to John II. of Portugal, and the king laid it before a council of bishops and nobles, for their approbation. The council decided that the scheme of Columbus could not end in any acquisition of importance ; but some of the king's counsellors proposed a treacherous experiment to ascertain the truth of Columbus's theory, and, if possible, to deprive him of the honour of his undertaking. T'o this unworthy suggestion the king gave ear, and consented to the mean and dishonest measures which I will relate to you.

King John required Columbus to give him in

COLtTMBtS. 37

writing a plan of his intended voyage, to which the unsuspecting petitioner readily consented. When the king had learned the course which Columbus intended to pursue, he despatched a vessel upon the rbute pointed out by Columbus, pretending she was sent with provisions to the inhabitants of the Cape de Verd Islands. The captain sent upon this expedition had neither perseverance nor skill. He departed secretly from Portugal, but was soon intimidated by stormy weather and returned, and those who had promoted his voyage afterward ridiculed the designs of Columbus.

While Columbus resided in Portugal he married, and had a son called Diego. The ungenerous treatment he received wounded his noble spirit, and having lost his wife he resolved to quit Portugal, and, not discouraged, to seek out the favour of some wiser government. ToAvards the end of 1484, he departed from Lisbon, taking with him his son Diego. It is uncertain whither Columbus went immediately on his departure from Lisbon. Some writers say that he went to his native city of Genoa, to solicit aid from that Republic; others assert that his visit to Genoa was made to his father, and that having made some arrangements for his comfort he again repaired to foreign courts. Now I will leave Columbus. The next time you shall hear of him will be from Spain.

-<^> COLUMBUS.

Chapter IV

I PROMISED to return to Columbus on his arrival in Spain. I will give you an account of his first appearance in that country in the words of his American biographer, Mr. Washington Irving, who has taken this part of his history from the report of one of Columbus's contemporaries, Garcia Fernandez, a physician resident in the little sea-port of Palos de Maquez, in Andalusia. " Abot^t half a league from that town stood, and stands at the present day, an ancient convent of Franciscan friars, dedicated to Santa Maria de Rabida. — A stranger, on foot, accompanied by a small boy, stopped one day at the gate of the convent, and asked of the porter a little bread and water for his child.

" While receiving this refreshment, the prior of the convent, Friar Juan Perez de Marchena, happening to pass by was struck with the appearance of the stranger, and observing from his air and accent that he was a foreigner, entered into conversation with him, and soon learnt the particulars of his history. That stranger was Columbus, accompanied by his young son Diego. Where he had come from does not clearly appear ; that he was in destitute circumstances is evident from the mode of his wayfaring. He was on his way to the neighbouring town of Huelon, to seek his brother-in-law, who had married a sister of his deceased wifo,"

FEIAR JUAN PEHEZ. 29

You know that a convent is a house where rehgious persons, men or women of the Roman Catholic persuasion, reside together — men in a house by themselves, and women by themselves. The principal priest, or governor of the convent, is sometimes called a prior. It is considered the duty of the male residents in convents to show kindness and hospitality to wayfaring and destitute persons ; so it was quite proper and according to custom, for Columbus, when his little boy Diego stood in need of sustenance, to ask it at the gate of a convent The most learned men at that time in Europe were some of the priests, or ecclesiastics.

The good prior of La Rabidad not only read and thought much, but had conversed with navigators, and loved the science of geography. He was delighted with Columbus, persuaded him to remain a short time in the convent, and sent for a friend of bis, the physician Garcia Fernandez, to come and see his guest. To these persons Columbus related his misfortunes and his plans — they perceived that he was indeed a great man, and that the voyage he proposed to make might be of tije utmost consequence ; therefore. Friar Juan Perez gladly assisted him. The prior had a friend, Fernando de Talevera, who was confessor to Isabella, queen of Spain.

The office of confessor is that of a Roman Catholic priest, who takes care of the spiritual welfare of other persons, that is, he instructs them in what is right and wrong, and that if they are sorry for their sins God will forgive them. The penitfnt goes to the priest, who hears the man or

30 rilE aUEEN OP SPAIN.

woman relate his or her thoughts and actions, and then gives the person who has confessed, ah- 5o/^?AZiow— an assurance that his sins are pardoned, and will not be punished by God. If you should ask how a priest dares to forgive nien's sins, I will tell you that God promises to forgive those who have done wrong, if they are determined to do right in future ; and a good priest will only declare this to a true penitent, who is a person sincerely sorry for his sins, whatever they are, and resolved to amend, or become better.

Queen Isabella was a Catholic and a very pious woman : she respected her confessor highly, and he could easily persuade her to do what he thought would be for the benefit of Spain. In I486, the court, which is a king's family, was fixed at the city of Cordova, and thither Columbus repaired, bearing a letter from Prior Juan Perez to Fernando de Talevera This letter recommended Columbus to the confessor, explained his plans, and urged Talevera to make the king and queen acquainted with him and his projects. At the same time Prior Juan Perez offered to maintain and educate Diego Columbus, so his father left him at La Rabidad, and departed for the court of Ferdinand and Isabella.

You must have read of the Moorish conquest of Spain. The Goths established themselves in Spain, and were themselves subdued by an irruption of the Moors, who remained for seven hundred years in the peninsula. The Moors went over to Spain from the country of Morocco — they were originally Arabs, were an active, ingenious, and scientific people, though they were Mahome-

THK MOORS. .31

ilans. They introduced into Spain the Saracenic architecture, and many useful arts ; but during the seven centuries of their continuance in Spain, they were never sole masters of the country. Spain was divided into provinces, several of which was governed by its own king ; and in the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, all the provinces fell under their government, except the kingdom of Grenada, to which the Moors retreated, and whence the sovereigns of Spain resolved to expel them. Ferdinand and his queen believed that they were rendering a service to God in punishing infidels, as the Mahomedans are called by the Catholics. When Columbus made his first application for assistance to the court of Spain, the sovereigns were engaged in a war with the Moors, and had no leisure to attend to his petition, nor money to spare to fit out a fleet for him.

Queen Isabella was one of the most lovely and virtuous women in the world. She loved her people, was truly religious, and delighted to encourage learning, and to reward learned men. Her disposition to do good was enough to inspire hope in the persevering Columbus. He arrived at Cordova in the year 1486, but he could not immediately obtain a hearing. The queen's confessor did not consider his plan practicable, and paid little attention to him. Mr. Irving supposes that the humble garb and low fortunes of Columbus made the courtiers regard him with contempt, for a Spanish historian said of him, " Because he was a stranger, and went but in simple apparel, not otherwise credited but by the letter of a gray friar, they believed him not, neither gave ear to

32 COLUMBUS AT ST. STEPHEN'S.

his words." From all liis history it appears that he was very poor, and it is a melancholy fact that he was forced " to beg his way from court to court, to offer princes the discovery of a world."

In every trial the future discoverer of America had confidence in his final success, and though he had little encouragement, he remained about the court, designing maps for support, and making liimself intimate with great men, who were freely admitted to the king and queen. Of these his best friend was Mendoza, archbishop of Toledo, and grand cardinal of Spain. This prelate was satisfied that Columbus deserved a hearing from the sovereigns, and at his request they gave him an audience, after which they ordered an assembly of learned men to examine his plans, and report their opinion of them. This consultation took place in the convent of St. Stephen, which belonged to the college of Salamanca, and after much discourse Columbus was dismissed without any encouragement, though some candid and generous minds in the assembly were convinced that he had advanced a rational theory, and merited aid ; and from that time the sovereigns granted money for his maintenance, though they furnished none for his voyage.

Columbus continued his suit till 1491, when Fernando de Talevera was commissioned by the sovereigns to inform him that until the war should be ended, they could not engage in his enterprise, and that then they should interest themselves in it. Grieved and disappointed at this delay on the part of the king and queen, Columbus hoped that the kinsr of France might afford him prompt

COLUMBUS AT GRENADA. 33

assistance, and determined to go to Paris, and present himself at court. Previously to his intended departure from Spain, he repaired to La Rabidad, in order to remove his son Diego to Cordova, and to take leave of Friar Juan Perez. That good priest saw with regret his friend return poor and unsuccessful ; but when he heard the story of his weary attendance, and vain solicitation at the court, he comforted him ; and, with the advice of Garcia Fernandez, and of Martin Pinzon, a rich citizen of Palos, wrote a letter to Queen Isabella, entreating her to befriend his undertaking.

The queen immediately summoned Juan Perez to her presence, and, as soon as he received her command, he mounted his mule, and, journeying through the countries lately conquered from the Moors, soon arrived at Santa Fe, near Grenada, where the queen was with the army. Juan Perez easily convinced that beneficent princess of the merit of Columbus, and of the possibility that he might confer important benefits upon her people. No sooner was Isabella persuaded of this, than she sent to La Rabidad for Columbus, ordering for his use a sum of money, equal to two hundred and sixteen dollars at the present time.

Columbus readily obeyed her majesty. He arrived at Grenada at the time when the Moors surrendered their last hold, the city of Grenada, lo the king and queen. I mention this memorable circumstance to you, because it is an important date in Spanish history. Mr. Irving has given a splendid description of the rejoicings upon this Of'casion. Speaking; of Columbus, ho says, •' He

34 SURRENDER OF THE MOORS.

beheld Boabdil, the last of the Moorish kings, sally forth from the Alhambra, and yield up the keys of that favourite seat of the Moorish power, while the king and queen, with all the chivalry, and rank and magnificence of Spain, moved forward in proud and solemn procession, to receive this token of submission.

" It was one of the most brilliant triumphs in Spanish history. After near eight hundred years of painful struggle, the crescent was completely cast down, the cross exalted in its place, and the standard of Spain was seen floating on the highest tower of the Alhambra. The whole court and army was abandoned to jubilee. The air resounded with shouts of joy, with songs of triumph, and hymns of thanksgivmg. On every side were beheld military rejoicings and rehgious oblatiofis. The king and queen moved in the midst, in more than common magnificence, while every eye regarded them as more than mortal. The court was thronged by the most illustrious of that warlike country ; by the flower of its nobility ; by the most dignified of its prelacy ; by bards and minstrels. There was nothing but the glittering of arms, the rustling of robes, the sound of music, and festivity."

I suppose you understand, that, to cast down the crescent and exalt the cross, is a figurative expression, which signifies, that when the crescent, the badge or sign of the Mahomedan religion was removed, and the cross put in its place, the followers of Mahomet were expelled, and the Christian religion, which is indicated by the sign of the cross, became triumphant. This is quite

piaiu, dear aunt, I think I liear you say, but when will Columbus get to sea, if we stop so long with the conquerors of the Moors. We must leave them in possession of their Moorish palace, the Alhambra, and all the fine buildings which the Moors left behind them in Spain, and follow our noble Genoese over the wide ocean.

Isabella was now at leisure to listen with attention to Columbus, but at first she was not so liberal as he desired. He proposed to be made admiral and viceroy of the countries he should discover, and to take for his own, one tenth of the riches he might gain, giving the rest to the king's disposal. The office of viceroy is that of a civil governor, who has the authority of a king in some province belonging to an absent prince. Isabella for a while thought Columbus demanded too much, but he would yield nothing, and Luis Si, Angel, one of his friends, pleaded in his behalf. The high-minded Isabella did not long hesitate? but having disposed of all the money she could command to defray the expenses of the late war^ she offered to pledge her jewels to procure funds for the use of Columbus. St. Angel assured her that this was not necessary, as he would supply the money, and the queen accepted his offer. Three thousand crowns was the sum needed, besides two vessels.

All that Columbus had asked was granted by the king and queen, though their subjects were unv.'illing to furnish vessels or to engage with Columbus as mariners. The commission, or writing which empowered Columbus to commence his operations, was dated at Grenada* April SOth?

36 DEPARTURE FROM SPAIN.

1492, and signed by Ferdinand and Isabella. Columbus added a third vessel, which the Pinzons, rich men of Palos enabled him to do, and on this account he was to have one eighth of the profits of his voyage. The queen, as a particular mark of respect to Columbus, appointed his son Diego page to her son. Prince Juan, with an allowance of money for his support. For eighteen years Columbus had persevered under every discouragement, and though he was now fifiy-six years old, be joyfully entered upon the grandest undertaking ever devised by man.

I will soon commence the detail of his voyage, and you will be interested with his success as much as you have been in his prolonged anxieties and mortifications.

Chapter V

To resume the history of Columbus. On Friday, the third of August, 1492, he set sail on his first voyage of discovery. His largest ship, the Santa Maria, was commanded by the admiral. The second, the Pinta, was commanded by Alonzo Martin Pinzon, and the third, the Nina, by his brother, Vincente Yanez Pinzon. The whole number of officers, adventurers and mariners, on board these ships, was an hundred and twenty. The squadron being ready for sea, Columbus and the men under his command solemnly committed themselves to divine Providence, and departed

TEAK OF TiiNJiRIFlE. Oi

from Paios with the prayers and bles.sings of their friends and relatives. You must remember that their return was much more doubtful than a voyage of discovery undertaken- at the present time, for the ships were not larger than the vessels which navigate our rivers, and the most distressing fears agitated the hearts of those who savv' their friends embark upon an unknown and boundless ocean.

In nine days Columbus reached the Canaries? and sailing among these islands his ships passed the famous Peak of Teneriffe, which " was sending out volumes of flame and smoke." The ignorant sailors considered this as a " disastrous portent," or bad sign, as we sometimes say. The admiral took pains to relieve their false and superstitious fears, by instructing them that this volcano resembled Mount Etna and other volcanoes, and intimated no misfortune to them. The fleet had been detained for the repair of one of the ships, the Pinta, three weeks at the island of Gomera, and it was not till five weeks after the departure from Spain that they lost sight of the Island of Ferro, one of the Canaries. At this moment the courage of the crew failed. Thev seemed to have departed from the known world, from those they loved, and from all familiar thino-s : they despaired of ever again seeing their homes, and while some melted into tears, others broke out into loud lamentations.