Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-21

Ne e. C.
his return to Spain.
The work affords us much light on the char
acler OF Columbus, the character Of the abort
ginal inhabitants, and some Of the richest de.
scrlptions we have ever met with Of the beau
ty and fertility Of the West India Islands. Of
the perseverance, 6rmness, prudence, piety, be-
nevolence, and loyalty Of Columbus, it affords
abundant Illustration. He appears to have
been one Of whom the world was then unwor,
thy. AS we pass over his pages. it is impossi-
bic to re2ress regret that his associates and fol-
lowers to these beautiful regions had not been
more like him. Had his conduct iowards the In
o!ons been initiated by them, the world had
not been called 10 lament the cruel extermina-
ton OF on OF the most amiabe races Of men
ever in existence.
OF The character of thee Indians no Ian
guage can afford more agreeable conceptions
than that in which Columbus describes them.
On his approach to the shores Of Guanahani
he deserted people naked, and on his landing,
numbers Of the people staishtway collected to-
gether." He remarks-"As saw that they
were very friendly to US, and perceived that
they could be much more easily converted 10
our holy faith by grnrle means than by force,
presented them with some red caps, aud
strings of beads to wear upon the neck, and
many other trilles of small value, wherewith
they were much delighted and became ,vonder.
fully attached 10 as. Afterwards they came
swimming to the boats, bringing parrots, balls
of cotton thread, javelins, and many other
things, which they exchanged for articles we
gave them such as glass beads * hawks bells
aohich trade aoaS carried on UHh the Ut
most good wiH" CAN whom ! saw were
young, well made, with fine shapes and faces,
of good size and stature, and handsomely
formed. Weapons they have none, nor are
acquainted with them, for l showed them
sw words, which they grasped by the blades, and
cut themselves through ignorance 1t app
pears to me that the people are ingenious, and
would be good servants; and I am of opinion
that Mey ,ooud very readiiy become Chris
tians, as they appear to have no religion They
very quickly learn such words as are spoken TO
them"
Saturday, Oc,ober 18th ---"At daybreak
great mulritudes OF men came 10 the shore, all
Young and of6ne shapes, very handsome, their
hair not curled, but straight Ond arse like
horse hair, and all with foreheads and heads
muc broader than any people | had hitherto
St en-, their eyes were large and very beautiful;
they were not black, but the color of the in,
habitants Of the Canaries--they were stralgh,
limbed without exception, handsomely shaped
They came to the ship in canoes, made OF a
single trunk OF tree, wrought In wonderful
manner; considering the country; some OF
them large enough TO contain 40 or As men;
others of different sizes down to those fitted to
hold but single person. He had before said
they have no ir n, their javelins being without
it, and nothing more than sli"ks, though some
have fish bones or other things al the ends
if they happen 10 upset, they all Jump into the
sea, and swim Till they have righted their Ca
noe and emptied it with the calabashes they
carry with them. They came loaded with
balls OF cotton, parrots, Jarelins and other
things too hume Gus to mention; these they
exchanged FOR whatever we chose 10 give them.
Il Saw sixteen balls OF cotton thread which
weighed above twenty-five pounds, given for
three Portuguese CENTS, Qess than mill)-
This traffic l forbade, sc. AT night thew all
went on shore with their canoes"
Sunday, Oct. l4th.-"ln the morning or
dered the boats 10 be got ready, and coasled
along the island-present!y we discovered Two
or three villages; and the people all came down
to the shore calling out TO US, and giving thanks
10 God. Some brought us water, and others
victuals; others seeing that was no, disposed
to land, plunged into the sea and swan out 10
US, and we perceived that they interroga'cd us
IL we nan come from utdNtH. AN olu MaH
came On board my boat; the others, both men
and women, cried with loud yolces--'comc ana
see the men ,cho hare come from hearen, bring
then, viciuaks and drnk-There came many OF
both sexes, every one bringing something, Civ
ing thanks TO tiod, pros,rating themselves on
the earth, and lifting up their hands to hea-
ven. AT 'lnagua Chica,' or 'Fernandina, he
saw cotton bloth, and found the females par
tally clothed" He subsequently, mentions
that their houses were found "very clean and
neat, with beds and coverings OF cotton nets
"The married women wore cotton breeches "
Ofthe appearance and fertility of the is
lands, particularly Cuba and Hispaniola, Coz
lambus gives tho most enchanting descrip>
lions. On Sunday, lie 2sth OF October, they
anchored within river bay, called "the
Bay of Nipe. in the eastern part OF Cuba
where Columbus saws the prospect exceeds IN
beauty any thing he ever saw, the river beng
surrounded with trees of the most beautiful and
luxuriant foliage of singular appearance, and
covered with flowers and fruits OF all Sorts
Birds were here in abundance, singing most
delightfully."-" At Neuvitas, he states the
houses to have been the finest he had yet seen
,tr,,r faIi in Ia