The history of South America

Front matter

Class P14I1 Rook .G^-S^iL.

i

"The.

Chapter I. Preliminary Observations.— -discovery Of Madeira, The

CAPE DE VERD ISLANDS, AND THE AZORES. BIOGRAPHY OF

COLUMBUS.

The omnipotent ruler of the universe has developed, with admirable economy, the secrets of the material world. Had a full knowledge of its organization been imparted, at the time of the earliest formation of society, the blessings of life would have been greatly lessened. Man would have been deprived of one of the chief sources of earthly happiness, — the daily employment of his mental faculties, in contemplating the inexhaustible variety of elements of which matter is composed, and the vast extent of space which has gradually been unfolded. Certain periods in the revolution of time, have been signally prolific in extraordinary events. The fifteenth century is distinguished by two remarkable occurrences, — the invention of the modern art of printing, and the discovery of the great western continent, now universally called America. The former was the means of spreading over civilized Europe, the knowledge already accumulated by the human mind, and of exciting men to further inquiries after tnith, and to further examination of the principles of civil and religious liberty ; the latter opened a field for the exercise of individual and national enterprise, and afforded an asylum to all who preferred liberty of opinion in a foreign country, to mental slavery in their native land.

The spirit of geographical researcli was unusually excited by a wonderful discovery, — the polarity of the magnet, which eventuated in the construction of the mariner's compass, and jjiipre powerfully influenced navigation, than all the efforts of

10 raSTORY OF SOUTH AMERICA.

preceding ages. The precise epoch of this discovery, we cannot satisfactorily ascertain. It is generally attributed to^ Gioia, a Neapolitan, and dated in the year 1302; but the supposition appears erroneous. Guyot de Provins, in a poem written about the year 1180, plainly alludes to the magnetic needle being then in common use ; and the writings of many other authors coincide in establishing its previous introduction, and consequently in depriving the Neapolitan of any honour, further than having increased its utility by fixing it on a pivot, and enclosing it in a box.* Seamen were now enabled to abandon their timid course along the shore, and fearlessly to launch into the wide bosom of the ocean. The first appearance of increasing confidence, may be dated from the voyages of the Spaniards, to the Canary Islands. These, which many centuries before the Christian era, had been visited by the Carthaginians, were again discovered, about the middle of the fourteenth century, by the seamen of Spain ; but the genius of naval enterprise was not, at this period, fully excited ; as navigation seems not to have then extended beyond the limits which circumscribed it before the downfall of the Roman empire.

The next considerable effort was made by the seamen of Portugal. In 1420, they sailed to Madeira; (to which they were directed by its previous accidental discovery by an Englishman ;) in 1446, they discovered the Cape de Verd islands ; and in 1449, the Azores. When prosecuting their researches along the shores of Africa, they ventured to cross the equinoctial line ; equally pleased and astonished, on finding that region not only habitable, but populous and fertile. As they advanced towards the south, they found, that, instead of extending, according to the doctrine of Ptolemy, it appeared to contract its breadth, towards the east. This unexpected discovery induced them to credit the ancient Phenician voyages around Africa, which had long been deemed fabulous ; and led them to conceive hopes, that, by following the same track,, they might arrive at the East Indies, and engross, for a while, a traffic which had always been so eagerly desired. The attainment of this object was entrusted to Bartholomew Diaz., After advancing a thousand miles further than any of his predecessors, exposed to violent tempests, mutinies, and famines, this experienced officer, distinguished alike for his sagacity, fortitude, and perseverance, at last beheld that lofty promon-

* The latitude was then taken by an mstrument called the astrolabe.

HISTORY OF SOUTH AMERICA. H

tory which terminates Africa on the south. But to behold it, was all tliut he could accomplish: the violence of the winds, and the- turbulent spirit of his men, compelled him to return* The vast lentrth of this voyage, with the furious storms encountered by Diaz, so alarmed and intimidated tiic Portu* guese, that some time was required to prepare their minds for the prosecution and accom()lishment of their ^^reat design — tlie passing of that southern promontory, called, by the king of Portugal, the Cape of Good Hope. In the interval, an event occurred, no less extraordinary than unexpected, which forms the subject of this history — the discovery of a new continent, situated in the west.

The honour of accomplishing that sublime exploit was gained by Christopher Columbus. This illustrious navigator was born at Genoa, in the year 1435. He was the eldest of four children, having two brothers, I5artholomcw and Diego, and one sister, of whom nothing is now known, except that she was married to a person in obscure life, named Ciiacomo Bovarello. He was well (]ualili('d, both by nature and education, to become distinguished on the cx^ean. Ardently inclined towards that element, ho went to sea at the age of fourteen; and, in a few years, visited the coast of Iceland, and advanced several degrees within the polar circle. He once commanded a vessel of war belonging to the king of Naples, and was employcnl in a perilous enterprise — to cut out a galley from the i)ort of Tunis. There is an interval of many years, during which we have only a few shado\vy traces of Columbus. He is supj)osed to have been then principally engaged in the Mediterranean, and the Levant; sometimes in voyages of commerce; sometimes, in warlike contests between the Italian states ; at other times, in pious and predatory expeditions against the Mahometans. After a variety of adventures, serving more to enlarge his knowledge

than to increase his fortune, he went to Lisbon, a 1470. city in which there lived many of his countrymen,

and where, having married, he fixed his residence. He was then in the full vigour of life, and of an engaging appearance. He was tall, well-formed, muscular, and of an elevated and dignified demeanour. His visage was long, his complexion fair and freckled, and inclined to ruddy ; his nose aquiline, his eyes light-gray and sparkling, and his whole countenance had an air of authority. His hair, in his youthful days, was of a light colour, but care and trouble soon turned it gray, and at thirty years of age, it was entirely

\o lllSTOUY OF SOUTH AAIJvIUCA.

white. He was moderate in his dipt, and simple in his apparel; cliKjiKMit in discourse; entrajrino- antl affable with stranj^ers, and of an aiuiahlenrss and suavity in domestic life, wliicli stroMj^'ly attaclied liis hi)Ust'liold to his person.

The matrimonial alliance forme«l by Columbus, did not weaken his early attachment to the sea. His wife was a dauirhter of Bartholomew de Perc^trcllo, who had been one o{ the most distin^juished navijrators und<'r l'rin<-e Henry, and had first carried the Portu^juese to Madeira. Cohunbus obtained possession of his journals; made a voya^re to Madeira, and tradeil, for many years, with the Canaries, the Azores, the coast of Guinea, and all the other |)laces discovereti by tin; TortUL^uese on the continent of Africa.

The preat object oi' the Portu«rucse, at that period, as already narrated, was to discover a passage to the East Indies. But they searched for it only by steerint^ towards the south, in the hope of accomplishin<^ their wishes by turning,' to the cast, when they had reached the southern extremity of Africa; a course of so trreat extent, that a voyage to India nmst have a})peareMl efjually arduous and. uncertain. Stinmlated by this reilection, after com})aring the observations of modern navigators with the conjectures of the ancients, Colund)US at length concluded, that by sailing directly towards the west, across the Atlantic Ocean, new countries, which it was likely formed a part of the great continent of Asia, must infallibly be discovered. The sj)herical figure of the earth was known ; its matjfuilude, with some degree of accuracy, ascertained ; Sir John Mandtiville, a celebrated English traveller, had already, from astronomical demonstration, asserted that it might be circumnavigated. It was evident that the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, formed but a small j)ortion of the terraqueous globe; it seemed rational, that the vast, unexplored space, was not entirely covered with water, but was occupied, in some measure, by countries fit for the residence of man. These deductions were not drawn merely from conjecture. Timber, artificially carved, had been seen floating, at an unusual distance, in the ocean : to the west of the Madeira isles, there had been found another piece, fashioned in the same manner, brought by the same wind; and canes, of an enormous size, resembling those described by ancient naturalists, as |)eculiar to the Indi«s. Trees had been frecjuenll, driven upon the Azores; and at one tim(> the dead bodit.'s of two men, differing in their features from the inhabitants of Euro])e, Africa, or Asia.

Confiding fully in the truth of his system, Columbus was impatient to prove it by experiment. But it was necessary to procure the patronage and aid of a sovereign state. As long absence had not abated his affection for his native country, he wished that Genoa should enjoy the advantages likely to accrue from his ingenuity and perseverance, and accordingly submitted his ideas to the senate. He had, however, resided so many years in foreign countries, that the Genoese were unacquainted with his character; and unable, rightly to comprehend the principles on which he founded his expectations of success, they rejected his proposals, as the offspring of a disordered imagination.

The perseverance of Columbus was not yet exhausted. Though his sensibility was wounded, his resolution was not shaken by this repulse. He made his next overture to the king of Portugal ; who, he considered had the second claim to his services, by reason of his having so long resided in his dominions. John listened to his proposals with attention, and treated them with respect. He appointed three eminent cosmographers to examine the merits of his interesting plan : but these individuals, after drawing from Columbus the minutest particulars of his design, basely conspired to defraud the ingenious seaman of his expected glory, and the king adopted their perfidious counsel. A caravel was despatched, under the ostensible pretext of carrying provisions to the Cape de Verd islands, but with private instructions to pursue the route designated in the papers of Columbus. Having departed from these islands, the caravel steered westward, for several days. The weather became stormy, and the pilots having no zeal to animate them to persevere, and seeing continually before them only an immense waste of rolling waters, lost ail courage to proceed. They returned to the Cape de Verd islands, and thence to Lisbon, execrating the project, as extravagant in its extentj and irrational in its conception.

Columbus resolved to hold no further intercourse with a sovereign and people capable of so flagrant treachery. He proceeded instantly to Spain, that he might lay his plan before Ferdinand and Isabella ; at the same time, increasing the chances of success, by sending his brother Bartholomew to England, in order to negotiate with Henry VH., who was reported to be one of the most sagacious and enterprising monarchs of the age.

Though Spain was then engaged in a serious war with Granada, the last of the Moorish kingdoms in that country^ B yet Ferdinand and Isabella treated Columbus with so much regard, as to submit the consideration of his plan to a confidential minister, Ferdinand de Talavera. It would be tedious and uninteresting to enumerate all the objections offered to his scheme. Some insisted that he would find the ocean of infinite extent ; others, that if he persisted in steering to the west, beyond a certain point, the convex figure of the earth would prevent his return ; and that he must inevitably perish, in the vain attempt to open a communication between the two opposite hemispheres, which nature had for ever disjoined.*

- . gg More than seven years had elapsed, since the date of his first application to Ferdinand and Isabella, when Columbus, mortified by the bitterest disappointment, and feeling the most painful solicitude on account of not having received any information from his brother Bartholomew, withdrew from the Spanish court, intending to visit England, himself, as his last resource. His departure was prevented by a fortunate occurrence. About that time, Granada surrendered, and Ferdinand and Isabella, in triumphal pomp, took possession of a city, the reduction of which extirpated a foreign enemy from the heart of their dominions. Quintanella and Santangel, the vigilant and discerning patrons of Columbus, now made another effort in behalf of their ingenious friend, and their arguments, urged at so favourable a juncture, were successful. The doubts and fears of Isabella were dispelled; she ordered Columbus to be recalled, and declared her resolution of employing him on his own terms. On the 17th of April, a capitulation or contract with Columbus was signed ; the chief articles of which, were ; " 1. Ferdinand and Isabella, as sovereigns of the ocean, constituted Columbus their high admiral, in all the seas, islands, and continents^ which should be discovered by his industry ; and stipulated that he and his heirs for ever should enjoy the ofiice, with the same powers and prerogatives which belonged to the high admiralof Castile, within the limits of his jurisdiction. 2. They appointed Columbus their viceroy, in all the islands and continents which he should discover ; but if, for the better administration of affairs, it should hereafter be necessary to establish a separate governor in any of those countries, they authorised Columbus to name three persons, of whom they would choose

* Thus far, the narrative is substantially taken from the History of the United States, by the author of this work.

one for that office ; and the dignity of viceroy, with all its immunities, was likewise to be hereditary in the family of Colmnbus. 3. They granted to Columbus and his heirs for ever, the tenth of the free profits accruing from the produc-. tions and commerce of the countries which he should discover. 4. They declared, that if any controversy or law-suit arose, with respect to any mercantile transaction, in the countries which should be discovered, it should be determined by the sole authority of Columbus, or of judges to be appointed by him."

Though the name of Ferdinand appears conjoined with that of Isabella, in this transaction, his distrust of Columbus was still so violent, that he refused to have any participation in the enterprise, as king of Arragon. As the whole expense of the expedition was to be defrayed by the crown of Castile, Isabella reserved for her subjects of that kingdom, of which she was s^g^ereign in her own right, the exclusive benefits which miffht arise from its success.

CHAPTER 11.

THE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS.

HE DISCOVERS THE ISLANDS OF ST. SALVADOE, ST. MARY, EXUMA, ISABELLA, CUBA, AND HAYTI OR HISPANIOLA.

Isabella had ordered the ships, of which Columbus was to take the command, to be fitted out in the port of Palos, a small maritime town in the province of Andalusia. The chief of his associates were three brothers, named Pinzon, of considerable wealth, and of great experience in naval affairs, who were willing to hazard their lives and fortunes in the expedition.

The armament consisted of only three vessels. Two of them were light barques, called caravels, not superior to river and coasting craft of the present day ; and only one of the three vessels was decked. The largest was commanded by Column bus, as admiral; who gave it the name of Santa Maria, out of respect for the Virgin Mary : the second in burthen, named the Pinta, was under the command of Martin Alonzo Pinzon, his brother Francis being pilot : the third, called the Nigna, under the direction of Vincent Yanez Pinzon. This little squadron was victualled for twelve months, and had on board ninety men, mostly sailors, together with a few adventurers who followed the fortune of Columbus ; and some gentlemen of Isabella's court, whom she had appointed to accompany him.

As Columbus was deeply impressed with sentiments of religion, he would not set out upon an expedition so hazardous, and of which one great object was professed to be the extension of the Christian faith, without imploring publicly the guidance and protection of Heaven. With all the persons under his command, he marched in solemn procession to the monastery of Rabida ; where, after confessing their sins, they received the sacrament, and joined in prayers for its success.

The next morning, being Friday, the 3d day of August, 1492, Columbus set sail, a little before sun-rise. His departure was witnessed by a vast crowd of spectators, who sent up their supplications to Heaven, for the prosperous issue of the voyage, which they wished, rather than expected to be accomplished. He steered directly for the Canary islands, and arrived there v/ithout the occurrence of any accident that would deserve notice on any other occasion. But, in a voyage of so much solicitude and importance, the most trifling incident was an object of attention. The day after she left the harbour, the rudder of the Pinta broke loose ; and that accident alarmed the superstitious crew, as a certain omen of the disastrous issue of the expedition. Even in the short voyage to the Canaries, which occupied only about six days, the ships were found to be so crazy and ill appointed, as to be very inadequate to a navigation expected to be both long and full of peril. Columbus refitted them, however, as well as circumstances would admit ; and, having obtained a supply of fresh provisions, he took his departure from Gomera, one of the most westerly of the Canary islands, on the sixth of September.

Here, the voyage of discovery may properly be said to begin. Holding his course due west, Columbus immediately left the usual track of navigation, and stretched into seas unfrequented and unknown. The first day being calm, he made lUtle way ; but on the second, he lost sight of the Canaries ; and many of the sailors, already dejected and dismayed, when they contemplated the boldness of the und'er^ fflSTORY OF SOUTH AMERICA. X7

taking, began to beat their breasts and to shed tears, as if they were never again to behold land. Columbus comforted them with assurances of success, and the prospect of immense wealth ; and, happily for himself, as well as for the country by which he was employed, he possessed a thorough knowledge of mankind, an insinuating address, a patient perse veranc^y a perfect government of his own passions, and the talent of acquiring an ascendance over those of other men. He regulated every thing by his sole authority ; he superintended the execution of every order; and, allowing himself only a few hours for sleep, he was at all other times on deck. The sounding line, or instruments for observation, were continually in his hands. He attended to the motions of tides and currents, watched the flight of birds, the appearance of fishes, of sea- weeds, and of every thing that floated on the waves. As the length of the voyage could not fail of alarming sailors habituated only to short excursions, Columbus endeavoured to conceal from them the real progress of his vessel. Though they had run eighteen leagues, on the second day after they left Gomera, he reported that they had advanced only fifteen ; and he uniformly employed the same artifice, during the whole voyage. On the 14th of September, eight days after his departure from Gomera, the fleet was more than two hundred leagues west of the Canary islands, at a greater distance from land than any Spaniard had ever been before. They were now struck with a phenomenon, no less astonishing than new. Their magnetic needle did not point exactly to the polar star, but varied towards the west : and, as they proceeded, this variation increased. This appearance, now grown familiar to us, though like the polarity of the magnet, it still continues one of the mysteries of nature, filled the companions of Columbus with terror. They were now in a boundless and unknown ocean ; nature itself seemed altered, and the only guide on which they had depended, was about to desert them. But Columbus, with no less quickness than ingenuity, invented a reason for this appearance ; which, thoug-h it did not satisfy himself, seemed so rational to them, that it dispelled their fears, or silenced their complaints.

Continuing to steer due west, he came within the region

of the trade-wind, which blows invariably from east to west,

between the tropics and a few degrees beyond them, in the

temperate zones. He advanced before this steady gale, with

b2

1$ History of sotJtH amkmca.

so uniform a rapiditj^, that it was seldom necessary to siiiit a sail. When about four hundred leagues to the west of the Canaries, he found the sea so covered with weeds, that it resembled a meadow of vast extent ; and in some places they were so thick, as to retard the motion of the vessels.* This strange appearance occasioned new alarm. The sailors imagined that they had now arrived at the utmost boundary of the navigable ocean ; that these floating weeds would obstruct their further progress, and concealed dangerous rocks, or a large tract of land, which had sunk, in that place, by some unknown cause. Columbus endeavoured to persuade them, that what had alarmed, ought rather to have encouraged them, and was to be considered a sign of approaching land. At the same time, a brisk gale arose, and carried them forward. Several birds were seen hovering about the ship, and directing their flight towards the west. The desponding crew resumed some degree of spirit, and began to entertain fresh hopes.

On the first of October, according to the reckoning of Columbus, they were seven-hundred-and-seventy leagues to the westward of the Canaries ; but, lest his men should be intimidated by the extraordinary length of the navigation, he reported that they had proceeded only five-hundred-and-eightyfour ; and, fortunately for Columbus, neither his own pilot, nor the pilots of the other vessels, had skill sufficient to correct this error, and discover the deceit. They had now been about twenty-five days at sea : they had proceeded far beyond what former navigators had attempted, or considered possible ; the appearances of land had been altogether illusive, and their prospect of success seemed as distant as ever. From secret murmurings, they proceeded to open complaints : they contended that it was necessary to think of returning to Spain, while their crazy vessels were yet in a condition to oppose the waves ; but they expressed their fears that the attempt would prove vain, as the wind, which had hitherto been so favourable to their course, must render it impossible to sail in the opposite direction. All agreed that Columbus should be compelled, by force, to adopt a measure on which their common safety depended, and some of the more audacious proposed to throw him into the sea, and report, on their arrival in Spain, that he had fallen overboard, while contem-

* This vegetable substance is now known as the Gulf-weed.

niSi^ORY OF SOUTH AMERICA. 10

plating the stars, and the signs of the heavens ; a fabrication which no one would have either the inclination or the means to controvert.

Columbus was not insensible of his perilous situation. He retained, however, entire presence of mind, and affected to be ignorant of their machinations. Notwithstanding the agitation and solicitude of his own mind, he appeared with a cheerful countenance, like one satisfied with his progress, and confident of success. Sometimes, he employed all the arts of insinuation to soothe his men : sometimes, he endeavoured to work upon their ambition or avarice, by magnificent descriptions of the fancied wealth which they were about to acquire : on other occasions, he assumed the tone of authority, and threatened them with vengeance from their sovereign, if, by their dastardly behaviour, they should defeat the glorious object of the voyage.

His words produced the desired effect. He assuaged their angry passions, and allayed their fears. As they proceeded, the indications of approaching land seemed more certain, and excited hope. The water became so smooth, that the sailors amused themselves by swimming about the vessels. Dolphins began to abound ; and flying-fish, darting into the air, fell upon the decks. The birds began to appear in flocks, directing their flight towards the south-west. In imitation of the Portuguese navigators, who had been guided, in several of their discoveries, by the motion of birds, Columbus altered his course, from due west, towards that quarter whither they pointed their course. But, after proceeding for several days in this new direction, without any better success, having seen no object, during thirty days, except the sea and the arch of heaven, the hopes of his companions subsided, more rapidly than they had arisen, their fears renewed with additional force, and in every countenance there appeared impatience, rage, and despair. All sense of subordination was lost : the ofi&cers now combined with the private men : they assembled tumultuously on the deck, and required him instantly to return to Europe. Columbus perceived that it would be unavailing to have recourse to any of his former arts. Having been tried so often, they had lost their effect. It became necessary to soothe those passions which he could no longer control, and to yield to a torrent too impetuous to be checked. He promised solemnly to his men, that, provided they would accompany him, and obey his commands for three days longer, and during that time land were not discovered, he would then abandon the enterprise, and direct his course to Spain.

This proposition did not appear to the sailors unreasonable. They acceded to the conditions proposed. Nor did Columbus hazard much, in confining himself to a term so short. The presages of discovering land, were now so numerous and promising, that he deemed them infallible. For some days, the sounding-lead had reached the bottom, and the soil which adhered to it, indicated the proximity of land. The flocks of birds increased, and were composed not only of sea-fowl, but also of small birds, of various colours, some of them such as sing in the fields, and could not be supposed to fly far from shore. Tunny fish played about the tranquil sea, and a heron, a pelican, and a duck, were seen, all bound in the same direction. The crew of the Pinta observed a green fish, of a kind which is found about rocks, also a cane floating, which seemed to have been newly cut, and likewise a piece of timber, artificially carved : the sailors on board the Nigna, picked up a branch of a tree with red berries, perfectly fresh : the clouds around the setting sun assumed a new appearance : the air had become more mild and warm, and, during night, the wind became unequal and variable, as if affected by the inequalities of an undulating shore. From all these symptoms, Columbus was so confident of being near land, that, on the evening of the 11th of October, after public prayers for success, he ordered the sails to be furled, and the ships to lie-to ; keeping strict watch, lest they might happen to strike upon the shore, in the night.

During this interval of suspense and expectation, not a head was reclined to sleep. All remained on deck, with their eyes intently directed towards that quarter, where they hoped to discover the land which had been so long the object of their desires. Their hopes were at length realized. About ten o'clock, Columbus, standing on the forecastle, observed, at some distance, a light ; and, at two in the morning, a gun, discharged by the Pinta, which had always been a little a-head of the other vessels, gave the joyful signal of land !

Every man now waited, in all the anguish of uncertainty Ti '1 and impatience, for the return of day. As soon as Of ^2' '^^orning dawned, all doubts and fears were dispelled.

^ * ' From every ship, an island was seen, about two leagues to the north, the flat and verdant fields of which, adorned with lofty woods, and watered by many rivulets, presented the appearance of a delightful country. The crew of the Pinta instantly began the Te Deum, as a hymn of thanksgiving to God, and were joined by the seamen of the other vessels, with transports of congratulation, and tears of joy.

Seventy days had now elapsed, since Columbus had left Paios : six days were occupied in reaching the Canaries ; twenty-eight, in refitting his vessels at those islands, and thirty-six from the time he took his departure from Gomera, until he discovered land.

The sun had no sooner risen, than all the boats were manned and armed. They rowed towards the island, with their colours displayed, with warlike music, and other military pomp. The coast was covered with a multitude of people, attracted by the novelty of the spectacle, and expressing wonder and astonishment in every gesture. Columbus was the first European who set foot in the New World which he had discovered. He was splendidly arrayed in scarlet, and held in his hand a naked sword. He was followed by his men, who, kneeling down, kissed the ground, which they had so long desired, but so little expected ever to behold. They next erected a crucifix, and prostrated themselves before it, returning thanks to Heaven, for the happy issue of the voyage. They then took solemn possession of the country, for the crown of Castile and Leon, with all the formality usually observed, on similar occasions, by the Portuguese.