The discovery and conquest of the New world

Front matter

D001373bTflM

Class

CDFKRIGlrr DEPOSIT.

Book I. Preface DC

• INTRODUCTION.

The Sagas (Legends) of Leif Eric, son of Eric Rauda (The Red) and Thorfinn Karlsefni, fail to establish the

fact that the Vinland visited by them was on the continent of America 53

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

Christopher Columbus born in the city of Genoa about 1435-6 — Is the son of a woolcomber — Has been claimed by many noble houses to be of their own illustrious descent. — The fact not material to his fame — His son Fernando's views express the true feeling on the subject — Columbus the oldest of four children — Evinces a strong passion during his earliest boyhood for geographical knowledge — Attributes his success in after life to his early inclinations — Supposed to have been sent to the University of Pavia, where he remains but a short time — Character of Columbus — Enters nautical life at the age of 14 — Obscurity rests upon this part of his early life — Supposed to have made his first sea voyages under a hardy captain of his own name — A seafaring hfe at that time peculiarly full of hazard and enterprise — Commercial ex- * peditions resemble warlike cruises — Armadas are continually fitted out by petty sovereigns to prey upon each other's domains and commerce — Mahometan pirates scour the narrow seas — Columbus engages in a naval expedition to make a descent upon Naples when 24 years old. Supposed to distinguish himself with a separate command by cutting out a galley in the port of Tunis. An interval of a few years occurs during which only shadowy traces of himself are found — Sails with Colombo the younger, a famous corsair, and waylays four Venetian galleys^ — Narrowly escapes drowning 57

CHAPTER 11.

PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY UNDER PRINCE HENRY OF PORTUGAL — RESIDENCE OF COLUMBUS IN LISBON IDEAS CONCERNING ISLANDS IN THE OCEAN.

The age of discovery ushered in by Prince Henry ("The Navigator") of Portugal — He makes himself master of the astronomical science of the ancients and the Arabians of Spain — Struggle against the ignorance and prejudices of mankind — Establishes a naval college and observatory — Obtains a papal bull investing Portugal with authority over all lands in the Atlantic Ocean— Arrival of Columbus in Lisbon, 1470 — Pen picture of his character and person — Becomes acquainted with DoSa Felipa and marries her — Removes to Porto Santo — Ideas concerning islands in the ocean — The fable of St. Brandan, a Scotch-Irish priest who was accredited with first having discovered America in the sixth century. 64

Chapter III

GROUNDS ON WHICH COLUMBUS FOUNDS HIS BELIEF OF UNDISCOVERED LANDS IN THE WEST.

Correspondence of Columbus with Paulo Toscanel'li — Is encouraged by Toscanelli to seek India by a western route, and thus reach Marco Polo's Cathay, since ascertained to be the northern coast of China — Sends him a new Map, projected partly according to Ptolemy and partly according to the description

(xvii)

XVlll CONTENTS.

of Marco Polo — Columbus gathers information bearing upon his theory from veteran manners, among whom is his brother-in-law — It becomes fixed in his mind with singular firmness — He reads, as he supposes, his contemplated discovery foretold in " Holy Writ," and shadowed forth darkly in the Prophecies—Envy and pusillanimity give countenance to idle tales of his having received previous information of the Western World, by a tempest-tossed mariner yi

Chapter IV

EVENTS IN PORTUGAL RELATIVE TO DISCOVERY PROPOSITIONS OF COLUMBUS TO THE

PORTUGUESE COURT.

Makes a voyage to the Island of Thule (Iceland) — John II. ascends the throne of Portugal — Calls upon his men of science to devise some means of giving greater scope and certainty to navigation — His two physicians, Roderigo and Joseph, the latter a Hebrew, together with the German, Martin Behem, apply the astrolabe to navigation — Propositions of Columbus to the Portuguese court — Obtains an audience of King John — Is referred to a learned junto (council) — This scientific body treats the project as extravagant and visionary — A second council, over which the Bishop of Ceuta presides, is equally unfavorable to the propositions of Columbus — King John is dissatisfied with their decisions — The wily Bishop suggests a stratagem by which all the advantages of discovery might be secured without committing the dignity of the crown by entering informal negotiations with Columbus — They privately dispatch a caraval (small boat) to pursue the designated route of Columbus — The pilots lose all courage when beset by tempestuous weather and put back to Lisbon — They ridicule the project — Columbus' wife dying, he leaves Portugal — Uncertainty of his next movements — Supposed to have gone to Genoa — Thence to Venice — Engages his brother Bartholomew to lay his propositions before Henry VII. of England — Himself goes to Spain about 1485 . . yj

Chapter V

FIRST ARRIVAL OF COLUMBUS IN SPAIN CHARACTER OF THE SPANISH SOVEREIGNS.

Columbus arrives in Spain — The Prior Juan Perez de Marchena of the convent of La Rabida, near Palos, struck with the appearance of a stranger (Columbus), accompanied by a young boy, the latter of whom is receiving bread and water from his porter, enters into conversation with him — Becomes interested and detains him as his guest— Calls in his learned friends, amongst whom is Martin Alonzo Pinzon, who give the project of Columbus their decided approbation — The friar advises Columbus to go to court — Gives him a letter of recommendation to F. de Talevera, confessor of the queen, and himself takes charge of young Diego — Pinzon offers money for the journey — Columbus sets out for Cordova i486 — Character of the Spanish sovereigns 85

CHAPTER VL

PROPOSITIONS OF COLUMBUS TO THE COURT OF CASTILE.

Arrival of Columbus in Cordova — Finds everybody engrossed with the opening campaign against the Moors — Talevera hstens coldly to him, and looks upon his plans as extravagant — Doubtful if the friar permitted his application to reach the ears of the sovereigns — Columbus becomes indigent — Is ridiculed even by children, who scoff at him as a dreamer — Becomes attached to Doria Beatrix Enriquez, the mother of his second son Fernando — -The theory of Columbus begins to obtain proselytes — .-Vlonzo de Quintanilla, Geraldine, the Pope's nuncio (ambassador) Mendoza, Archbishop of Toledo, appreciate the importance of his project and at last obtain for him the royal audience — Propositions of Columbus to the court of Castile — Ferdinand perceives that his scheme has scientific and practical foundations — Orders the moet learned astronomers and cosmographers to hold a conference with Columbus . . 90

CHAPTER VIL

COLUMBUS BEFORE THE COUNCIL AT SALAMANCA.

The Council assembles in Salamanca — The learned junto come prepossessed against him — He is assailed with citations from the Bible — Doctrinal points are mixed up with philosophical discussions — The existence of the antipodes disputed on the authority of St. Augustinus and Lactantius — His simple

CONTENTS. XIX

proposition, the spherical form of the earth, opposed by figurative texts of Scripture — Many of the objections, absurd at the present day, due to the imperfect state of knowledge of the times — He boldly meets all objections — Not daunted by the scriptural difficulties opposed to him, for here he was peculiarly at home — He pours forth magnificent texts of Scripture and those mysterious p edictions of their Prophets, which he considers as types and annunciations of the sublime discovery which he proposes — Some few of his hearers are convinced — But the preponderating mass of inert bigotry and learned pride refuses to yield to his demonstrations — Talevera leaves Cordova with the court, and puts an end to the consultations — Columbus follows the movements of the court — Is present at the sieges and surrenders of iMalag.i and Baza — His pious indignation aroused by the threat of the Grand Soldan addressed to the Catholic majesties — \'ows to devote the profits which he anticipates from his discoveries to a crusade — He presses TalevL-ra in the winter of 1491 for a decisive reply — Talevera informs Ferdinand that the majority of the junto condemns the scheme — Ferdinand holds out prospects after the war is concluded, m which he is at present engaged — Columbus, disappointed, leaves Seville 9^

CHAPTER VIII.

COLUMBUS SEEKS PATRONAGE AMONG THE SPANISH GRANDEES — RETURNS TO THE CONVENT OF LA RABIDA — RESUMES HIS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SOVEREIGNS. [l491-]

Columbus in receipt of favoraljle letters from the kings of France, F.ngland and Portugal — Seeks patronage among the Spanish Grandees, but is unsuccessful — He prepares to leave for Paris, but first calls at La Rabida — Father Marchena is surprised at his ill success, and his patriotism takes alarm — The prior writes a letter to the queen, conjuring her not to turn a deaf ear to a matter of such vast importance — The queen invites the friar to court — Sends for Columbus — He arrives in time to witness the memorable surrender of the last king of Granada — Persons in the confidence of the queen appointed to negotiate with him — His terms pronounced inadmissible, and he. indignant, determines to abandon Spain forever — Is recalled at the solicitations of Louis de St. .Angel, who enkindles the generous spirit of Isabella — She offers to pledge her jewels to defray the expense of the enterprise ........ 106

CHAPTER IX.

ARRANGKMiCN;' WITH THE SPANISH SOVEREIGNS PREPARATION FOR THE EXPEDITKIN AT THE

PORT (IF PA LOS. [1492.]

Articles of agreement are drawn up by the royal secretary — The port of Palos de Moguer fixed upon where the expedition is to be fitted out — Royal order issued to that eftect — Isabella appnints Diego Columbus page to Prince Juan — Repeated mandates necessary to press Spanish vessels and 1 rews mto service — Tumults and altercations take place — Martin Alonzo Pinzon volunteers to. engage m the expedition — Other dift'iculties occur, but all are at length overcome by the beginning of .August — Description of the vessels — Columbus, officers and crew confess themselves to Friar Juan Perez, and partake of the communion — With tears, lamentations and dismal forebodings, the parting takes place . , . . . I I 6

CHAPTER X.

EVENTS OF THE FIRST VOYAGE — DISCOVERY OF LAND. [1492.]

Departure of Columbus on his first voyage, guided by a conjectural map sent him by Paulo Toscanelli — On the third day after setting sail the Pinta breaks her rudder — Attempt to replace the Pinta by searching for another vessel among the Canary Islands — Compelled to furnish the Pinta with a new rudder — Dreading some hostile stratagem from some Portuguese caravals, Columbus puts to sea — Becalmed for three days — After leaving sight of land, seamen shed tears and break out into lamentations — Columbus reassures them — Gives orders to the Nina and Pinta to continue due west — Keeps two reckonings, one private, and one public, so as to keep the crews in ignorance of the real distance — First notice of the variation of the needle — -Continuation of the voyage within the influence of the trade wind — Entry into the SaragossaSea — Signs of approaching land begin to animate the crew, though for but a short time — The crews become uneasy, and Columbus with admirable patience reasons with them, but in vain — His situation becomes daily more and more critical — A mutiny breaks out, and some propose to throw him into the sea — On the 25th of September Pinzon, mistaking an evening cloud for the much wished for land,

XX CONTENTS.

shouts, "Seiior, I claim the reward" — The crews chant the Gloria in excehis—On the 7th of October, yielding to the solicitations of Pinzon, Columbus alters his course — The crew again break out in loud clamors, and insist upon abandoning the voyage— He refuses, and is now at open defiance with his crew — He maintains an intense and unremitting watch on the i ith day of October— At ten o'clock he thinks he beholds a light ; calls Pedro Gutierrez to his side, who affirms his impression — At two in the morning a gun from the Pinta gave the joyful signal of land . . i 2&

CHAPTER XI. '

FIRST LANDING OF COLUMBUS IN THE NEW WORLD — CRUISE AMONG THE BAHAMA ISLANDS

DISCOVERY OF CUBA AND HISPANIOLA. [1492.]

Landfall of Columbus at GuanahanJ — Present uncertainty which of the Lucayos he named San Salvador — Takes possession of the island in the names of the Castilian sovereigns — Behavior of the crew — The natives of the island, after recovering from their fears, approach the Spaniards, each being objects of curiosity to the other — They are entirely naked, simple and artless ; destitute of wealth, excepting balls of cotton, and parrots — Columbus interprets their imperfect communications, when asked where their scanty gold ornaments come from, according to his previous ideas and cherished wishes — Concludes to be in the neighborhood of Cipango, and sets sail in quest of that opulent country — Sails amongst the Lucayos, the inhabitants of which gave the same proof as those of San Salvador, of being totally unaccustomed to the sight of civilized man — Columbus, disappointed in his hopes of finding gold, continues a southerly course, towards Cuba, concluding this to be the desired Cipango — Coasts along its shores tp the Cape of Palms — Mistaking the Cubanacan of the natives for Marco Polo's Cublay Khan, he determines to send a present to him — The ambassadors penetrate twelve leagues into the interior, and come upon a village of 1000 inhabitants, but no traces of the city and court they had anticipated finding — Notice the natives smoking dried herbs, which they call tobacco — Columbus resolves not to proceed further north, but turns eastward in quest of Babeque, which he trusts might prove some rich and civilized land — The Pinta parts company with him, and Columbus fears that Pinzon departed to make an independent cruise, or to hasten back to Spain and claim the merit of the discovery — Descries the magical charm of Haytian scenery I40

CHAPTER Xn.

COASTING OF HISPANIOLA SHIPWRECK, AND OTHER OCCURRENCES AT THE ISLAND. [1492.]!

Enters the harbor of St. Nicholas — Succeeds in overtaking a young snd handsome female who flies before them — Releases her, loaded with presents — She returns in company of 2000 natives — Frank hospitality of the islantiers — \^isit of a young cacique (chief), who persists in the idea that the Spaniards were more than mortal — Columbus anchors in the harbor of St. Thomas, and is visited by the messengers from the grand cacique Guacanagari, who bring golden presents — He determines to visit him — Shipwrec'k of the Santa Maria — Generous assistance from Guacanagari — The natives entertain the shipwrecked crew, and perform several of their national games and dances — Consternation of the natives when hearing the discharge of a cannon — Columbus is told of Cibao and its golden treasures, and fancies the name to be a corruption of Cipango — Manners and customs of the Indians — The mariners entreat permission to remain in the island, and Columbus forms the idea to plant a colony — He builds a fort from the wreck of the caraval, and is aided by the subjects of the cacique — Names it La Navidad, and puts it in charge of Diego de Arana — Sorrowful parting with Guacanagari and the comrades who remain behind . . I 54

CHAPTER Xin.

RETURN VOYAGE — VIOLENT STORMS — ARRIVAL AT PORTUGAL. [1493.]

Return voyage — The Pinta is signaled standing towards them — Pinzon endeavors to excuse his actions — Is compelled to set his Indian prisoners ashore — Columbus coasts along the north shore of the island, and has a skirmish with the fierce-looking natives under the cacique Mayonabex — Takes four Indians with him to guide him to the Caribbean islands, and Mantinino, said to be inhabited by Amazons — A favorable breeze springing up, changes his intention, and he makes all sail for Spain — A tempest bursts upon them with frightful violence, and threatens to overwhelm them — The Pinta is separated from him by the

CONTENTS. XXI

fury of the storm — Columbus endeavors to propitiate Heaven by solemn vows — Columbus, alarmed lest the glory of his achievements might perish, writes a brief account of his discovery on parchment, seals it up in a cake of wax, inclosing the whole in a cask, and throws it into the sea — The storm subsides, and they behold land on the 15th of February — Th^y land at St. Mary's, one of the Azores, and meet with an ungenerous reception — After a few days' detention they again set sail, but meet a renewal of tempestuous weather — During the turbulence of the following night they sight land, and Columbus, though distrustful of the good will of Portugal, has no alternative but to anchor in the mouth of the Tagus 166

CHAPTER XIV.

VISIT OF COLUMBUS TO THE COURT OF PORTUG.\L ARRIVAL AT PALOS. [1493.]

He dispatches the tidings of his discovery to the^ Spanish Sovereign, and asks permission of the king of Portugal to proceed with his vessel to Lisbon — The whole world is filled with astonishment ; every thing he brings is viewed with insatiable curiosity — The enthusiasm of some, and avarice of others, are excited — Receives message of congratulations from King John, and is invited to court — Welcome and honors granted bv the king^The king, though, secretly grieved that he refused to undertake the enterprise when presented to him — Propositition by the courtiers to assassinate Columbus, but the king too magnanimous to adopt such counsel — Escorted back to his ships, he visits the queen on his way, and sets sail for Palos — His arrival in that port a prodigious event — Receives such homage as is paid to sovereigns only — The reply from their Catholic majesties, addressed to him by his titles of "Admiral and Viceroy," invites him at once to court — Fate of the Pinta and Martin Alonzo Pinzon — Driven into the Bay of Biscay, and doubting the survival of Columbus, he dispatches messengers to the king, then sails for Palos — On arrival there, sees the vessel of Columbus safely riding at anchor — An order from court forbids him to repair thither — Dies of a broken heart — Character of Pinzon 1 73

CHAPTER XV.

RECEPTION OF COLUMBUS RV THE SPANISH SOVEREIGNS AT BARCELONA. [1492.]

Journey of Columbus to Barcelona — Towns, streets, balconies filled with spectators — As he approaches the city a vast concourse of people come to meet him — His entry like the triumphs of the old Roman consuls — His six painted savages, decorated with gold ornaments, lead the van — Columbus, surrounded by a brilliant cavalcade, follows, and is led up to the throne, erected for the occasion on the outside of the cathedral — The sovereigns rise on his approach, and he gives an account of the most striking events of the voyage — When he finishes, the king and queen sink on their knees, the populace follow their example, and the anthem of Te Deum laudamus (Praise God. from whom ail blessings flow) is chanted by the royal chapel — Columbus repeats his vow to furnish the means for a new crusade out of his own purse when in possession of same — He continues to receive the highest marks of personal consideration from the sovereigns — -To perpetuate the glory of his achievements he is ennobled — Belitded at a banquet by a shallow courtier, the well known circumstance of the egg occurs — Misled by the opinion of Columbus, the whole civilized world adopts it as a fact that Cuba is the end of the Asiatic continent, and name the islands visited by him the " West Indies " l82

CHAPTER XVI.

PAPAL BULL OF PARTITION- — PREPARATIONS FOR A SECOND VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. [1493.]

Pope Alexander VI. (a Borgia), as vicar of Christ on earth and supreme authority over all temporal things, is asked, and grants a bull investing the Spanish monarchs with all rights, privileges and indulgences over the newly discovered regions — The famous line of demarkation is established — The utmost exertions are made to fit out a second expedition, , the superintendence of which is placed in the hands of the future bishop of Burgos — Arbitrary royal orders are issued empowering Columbus and Fonseca to freight and purchase ships — The conversion of the heathen being the professed object of these discoveries, twelve ecclesiastics, under the guidance of Father Boyle, a subtle and intriguing spirit, are chosen to accompany the expedition — The Indians brought by the Admiral to Barcelona are baptized. Prince Juan officiating as sponsor — A keen diplomatic game ensues between the rulers of Spain and Portugal, wherein the parties were playing for a newly discovered world — A fleet of seventeen sail is soon got ready in the harbor

XX CONTENTS.

shouts, "Senor, I claim the reward" — The crews chant the Gloria in excelsis — On the 7th of October, yielding to the solicitations of Pinzon, Columbus alters his course — The crew again break out in loud clamors, and insist upon abandoning the voyage — He refuses, and is now at open defiance with his crew — He maintains an intense and unremitting watch on the nth day of October — At ten o'clock he thinks he beholds a light ; calls Pedro Gutierrez to his side, who affirms his impression — At two in the morning a gun from the Pinta gave the joyful signal of land j 26

CHAPTER XI. '.

FIRST LANDING OF COLUMBUS IN THE NEW WORLD — CRUISE AMONG THE BAHAMA ISLANDS

DISCOVERY OF CUBA AND HISPANIOLA. [1492.]

Landfall of Columbus at Guanahane — Present uncertainty which of the Lucayos he named San Salvador — Takes possession of the island in the names of the Castilian sovereigns — Behavior of the crew — The natives of the island, after recovering from their fears, approach the Spaniards, each being objects of curiosity to the other — They are entirely naked, simple and artless; destitute of wealth, excepting balls of cotton, and parrots — Columbus interprets their imperfect communications, when asked where their scanty gold ornaments come from, according to his previous ideas and cherished wishes — Concludes to be in the neighborhood of Cipango, and sets sail in quest of that opulent country — Sails amongst the Lucayos, the inhabitants of which gave the same proof as those of San Salvador, of being totally unaccustomed to the sight of civilized man — Columbus, disappointed in his hopes of finding gold, continues a southerly course, towards Cuba, concluding this to be the desired Cipango — Coasts along its shores tp the Cape of Palms — Mistaking the Cubanacan of the natives for Marco Polo's Cublay Khan, he determines to send a present to him — The ambassadors penetrate twelve leagues into the interior, and come upon a village of \ooo inhabitants, but no traces of the city and court they had anticipated finding — Notice the natives smoking dried herbs, which they call tobacco — Columbus resolves not to proceed further north, but turns eastward in quest of Babeque, which he trusts might prove some rich and civilized land — The Pinta parts company with him, and Columbus fears that Pinzon departed to make an independent cruise, or to hasten back to Spain and 'claim the merit of the discovery — Descries the magical charm of Haytian scenery 140

CHAPTER Xn.

COASTING OF HISPANIOLA — SHIPWRECK, AND OTHER OCCURRENCES AT THE ISLAND. [1492.]!

Enters the harbor of St Nicholas — Succeeds in overtaking a young snd handsome female who flies before them — Releases her, loaded with presents — She returns in company of 2000 natives — Frank hospitality of the islanders — \'isit of a young cacique (chief), who persists in the idea that the Spaniards were more than mortal — Columbus anchors in the harbor of St. Thomas, and is visited by the messengers from the grand cacique Guacanagari, who bring golden presents — He determines to visit him — ShipwrecTc of the Santa Maria — Generous assistance from Guacanagari — The natives entertain the shipwrecked crew, and perform several of their national games and dances — Consternation of the natives when hearing the discharge of a cannon — Columbus is told of Cibao and its golden treasures, and fancies the name to be a corruption of Cipango — Manners and customs of the Indians — The mariners entreat permission to remain in the island, and Columbus forms the idea to plant a colony — He builds a fort from the wreck of the caraval, and is aided by the subjects of the cacique — Names it La Navidad, and puts it in charge of Diego de Arana — Sorrowful parting with Guacanagari and the comrades who remain behind . . I 54

CHAPTER Xin.

RETURN VOYAGE VIOLENT STORMS — ARRIVAL AT PORTUGAL. [1493.]

Return voyage — The Pinta is signaled standing towards them — Pinzon endeavors to e.xcuse his actions — Is compelled to set his Indian prisoners asrhore — Columbus coasts along the north shore of the island, and has a skirmish with the fierce-looking natives under the cacique Mayonabex — Takes four Indians with him to guide him to the Caribbean islands, and Mantinino, said to be inhabited by Amazons — A favorable breeze springing up, changes his intention, and he makes all sail for Spain — A tempest bursts upon them with frightful violence, and threatens to overwhelm them — The Pinta is separated from him by the

CONTENTS. XXI

fury of the storm — Columbus endeavors to propitiate Heaven by solemn vows — Columbus, alarmed lest the glory of his achievements might perish, writes a brief account of his discovery on parchment, seals it up in a cake of wax, inclosing the whole in a cask, and throws it into the sea — The storm subsides, and they behold land on the 15th of February — They land at St. Mary's, one of the Azores, and meet with an ungenerous reception — After a few days' detention they again set sail, but meet a renewal of tempestuous weather — During the turbulence of the followmg night they sight land, and Columbus, thouo-h distrustful of the good will of Portugal, has no alternative but to anchor in the mouth of the Tagus 166

CHAPTER XIV.

VISIT OF COLUMBUS TO THE COURT OF PORTUG.AL — ARRIVAL AT PALOS. [l493-]

He dispatches the tidings of his discovery to the: Spanish Sovereign, and asks permission of the king of Portugal to proceed with his vessel to Lisbon — The whole world is filled with astonishment ; every thing he brings is viewed with insatiable curiosity — The enthusiasm of some, and avarice of others, are excited — Receives message of congratulations from King John, and is invited to court — Welcome and honors granted by the king — The king, though, secretly grieved that he refused to undertake the enterprise when presented to him — Propositition by the courtiers to assassinate Columbus, but the king too magnanimous to adopt such counsel — Escorted back to his ships, he visits the queen on his way, and sets sail for Palos — His arrival in that port a prodigious event — Receives such homage as is paid to sovereigns only — The reply from their Catholic majesties, addressed to him by his titles of " Admiral and Viceroy," invites him at once to court — Fate of the Pinta and Martin Alonzo Pinzon — Driven into the Bay of Biscay, and doubting the survival of Columbus, he dispatches messengers to the king, then sails for Palos — On arrival there, sees the vessel of Columbus safely riding at anchor — An order from court forbids him to repair thither — Dies of a broken heart — Character of Pinzon 1 73

CHAPTER XV.

RECEPTION OF COLUMBUS BY THE SPANISH SOVEREIGNS AT BARCELONA. [1492.]

Journey of Columbus to Barcelona — Towns, streets, balconies filled with spectators — As he approaches the city a vast concourse of people come to meet him — His entry like the triumphs of the old Roman consuls — His six painted savages, decorated with gold ornaments, lead the van — Columbus, surrounded by a brilhant cavalcade, follows, and is led up to the throne, erected for the occasion on the outside of the cathedral — The sovereigns rise on his approach, and he gives an account of the most striking events of the voyage — When he finishes, the king and queen sink on their knees, the populace follow their example, and the anthem of Tc Dc-um laudamits (Praise God, from whom all blessings flow) is chanted by the royal chapel — Columbus repeats his vow to furnish the means for a new crusade out of his own purse when in possession of same — He continues to receive the highest marks of personal consideration from the sovereigns — To perpetuate the glorj' of his achievements he is ennobled — Belittled at a banquet by a shallow courtier, the well known circumstance of the egg occurs — Misled by the opinion of Columbus, the whole civilized world adopts it as a fact that Cuba is the end of the .Asiatic continent, and name the islands visited by him the " West Indies " 182