Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-04

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under the square sail alone, and lay 10 u".i'
Friday, when they reached one OF the l'uhayo,
islands which the natives called Guanahani'3
Tom In 1870.
Much doub, and uncertainty have existed as
to the island which Columbus tirst discoveIeu.
He gave i, the name Of San Salvador, and II mas
bee6 generally supposed TO be the island now
called St. Salvador or Cat Island. The position
of this island not agreeing perfectly with the
Admiral's course and description, Munez con-
iectured that Wa,ling's Island was the true
Guapabani. But Seno Navarette adduces very
strong reasons for believing it to be the largest
of the Turks Islands. The course OF Column
bus from Guanahani was continuallyWest, from
island to island, till he arrived at Nipe in Gu
ba. Now this factis irreconciabe with the
idea that Guanahani is Cat Island, which lies
nearly due North OF the Nipe. Besides, the
Great Bahama Bank, and long chain OF keys,
called Cayos de la Cadena, stretching between
ST. Salvador and Cuba, inlerposc most seri-
Gus obstacle to holding such Westerly course
as Columbus pursued. But by setting out from
Nipe, and proceeding in a retrogade direction
along his course, as he very particularly oe'
scribes in his journal, we may easily trace MS
path, and shall be convinced that Guanahani is
no other than Turks Island. Add to this, that
his description Of it accords exactly with the
latter especially in the circumstance OF there
being large lake in the middle OF 1t. ms
point is of NO grea, consequence, but it is salts
factory to know precisely what spot IN America
vas first revealed 10 the eye OF Europeans.
In the subsequent parts OF the journal, we ire
ouently discover the influence OF the opinions
| which Columbus had imblbed from The travels
of Marco Polo, and the famous letter OF Paoo
| Tuscanelli. |, is the Indies, and the Indies
| alone, which he seeks. Although his reason as
sured him Of the true figure OF cur globe, and
he deduced the right onstquenees from TINS
| Dosition, and thus was much IN advance OIL his
age. vet he had most vague and incorrect idea
| of the actual locality Of the Indies. After he
has discovered Gusnahani, his inquiries OF the
savages invariably point TO Caihay or Grange,
or olher distant Asialic countries, at which he
every moment expected TO arrive. Indeed, ma
nv wears afterwards. in letter written 10 the
pone in 1902, he says: This island is rarsis, it
| is Cr,hia, it is Ophir, and Orphan, and Cipan
60, and we have called it Hispaniola." Con-
rormable to this idea are the entries in his Jour-
! nal.
| "Fridav Oct 26M.-He set sail for Cuba, be-
cause BY the signs which the Indians gave him
Of its magnitude and of The gold and pearls
there. he though, il must BE- the same with u.
pango"
'Tuesaay, Oct 3oM-He says that he must
exer, himself TO 60 10 the Grand Can, who he
though, was there, or at the city of Cathay, be-
longing 10 the Grand Can, which he says is
very large. a, he was told before he left Spain"
Tom. !, p 40, ~
We pass over the intermediate portions OF
the journal, in.which the Admiral relates his
discoveries among the islands, desc riding the
| appearance aud productions of the country, and
the condition Of the inhabitants. The luxurl-
anc. Of tropical vegetation, Astounding IN noble
trees splendid flowers, and exquisite fruits, and
springng from virgin soil of exhaustless fer
,iity awakens his admiration a. every step
Nor is he less enchanted with the b!andness
and suavity of thu atmosphere at the new re-
gions he was exploring, where the people, the
climate, the richness Of the vegetable and mi
neral kingdoms, all excited his mag ination,
and drew from him the warmest praises. The
riches planted in those beautiful islands by the
hand Of nature, still remain; and the conquer
ers have increased their abundance by transport.
ing th,her and naturalizing the congenlal pro-
ductions of Asia and Europe. Butin one other
respect how changed is the whole face OF things
there! The native races Of Guanabania, Cuba,
IIay,i, Jamaica, have vanished like the dew oil
the morning; and Africa is unpeopled 10 sup
ply their place. Nothing was more deeply i'm
pressed on The mind Of Columbus than the per-
fecty aminbh character Of the inhabitants lie
dwells upon i, in the description OF every ISL
and at which he touched. AT peace among
themselves unarmed. and engaged in the tran
quill arts Of cultivation, they dreaded nothing
bu, the ruinous descens Of the brutal and fe-
rocious Cariobees. They received the Spa
niards with unsuspecting confidence, as beings
of higher order. descended among them for
objects of philanthropy and benefcence. How
cruelty they were disappointed in the sequel,
was but TOO fatally proved by their speedy de-
struction under the merciless rule Of their TO-
reign masters
Our last extract from the journal is charac
teristic passage, relating to the storm on the
passage home, when Columbus and his com.
panions SO narrowly escaped being lost, and
with them the knowledge Of his wonderful dis.
coveries.
Thursday Feb I4h -[After giving an &C
count of the violence Of the tempest, the jour
nal proceeds he Columbus ordered them 10
draw for pilgrim to go to ST. Mary OF Gauda.
loupe, and carry a wax candle of five pounds
weight; and that I'll should make VOW that
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