The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-02-05
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and other triaes, such as the Portu-
guese were accustomed to trade with
among the nations of the gold coast OF
Africa, They received them eagerly,
hung the beads round theirnecks, and
We're wonderfully pleased with the
bells. The Spaniards remained all
day on shore, amusing themselves af-
ter their anxious voyage amidst the
beautiful groves OF the island, and re-
turned Oh board late in the evening,
delighted with all they had seen.
On the following morning. at break
of day, the shore was thronged with
the natives; some swan off to the
ships, others came in light barks,
which they called canoes, formed of a
single tree followed, and capable OF
holding from n man to the number
offorty or fifty. These they managed
dexterously withpaddles, and, flower
turned, swan about in the water with
perfect %unconcern, asifin theirnatural
element, righting their II with
great facility, and battling them with
calabashes.
They We're eager to procure more
toys and trinkets, not apparently
from any idea of their intrinsic value,
but because everythingfrom the stran-
| gers possessed q supernatural value in
their eyes, as having been brought
from heaven; they even picked up
fragments of glass and e~arthenware us
valuable prizes. They had but few
objects to offer in return, except par
rots, OF which great numbers We're do
mesticated among them, and cotton
yarn, OF which they had abundance,
and would exchange large balls OF five
and twenty pounds weight for the
merest tritle. They brought also cakes
OF q kind OF bread called cassava, which
constituted II principal part OF their
food, and was afterward an important
article OF provisions with the Span
iards. 1t was formed from a great
rootcalled yucca, which they cultivated
in fields. This they cut into smallmor-
sells, which they grated or scraped and
strained in Il press, making broad thin
cake, which was afterward dried hard,
and would keep for a long time, being
stepped in water when eaten. 1t was
insipid, but nourishing, though the
water strained from it i'll the prepara-
ton was a deadly poison. There was
another kind OF yucca destitute OF this
poisonous quality, which was eaten
in the root, either boiled or roasted.
The avarice OF the discoveries was
quickly excited by the sight OF small
ornaments OF gold worn by some OF
the natives in their noses. These the
latter gladly exchanged forglass beads
and hawks bells; and both partiesex-
ulted in the bargain, no doubt adj
,,,i..;,,- = ln ~ how, % r,,,0i,it, c,,n1I
however. was an object OF royal mo-
nopoly in all enterprises OF discovery,
Columbus forbade any traffic in it
without his express sanction; and he
put the same prohibition on the
traffic for cotton, reserving to the
crown all trade fer it, wherever it
should be found in any quantity.
He inquired oil the natives where
this gold was procured. They answer
ed him by signs, pointingto the south,
where, he understood them, dwelt u
king OF such wealth that he was served
in vessels OF wrought gold. He under
stood, also, that there was land to
the southwest, and the northwest;
and that the people from the last
mentioned quarterfrequently proceed
ed to the southwest in quest Of gold
and precious stones, making i'll their
way descent upon the islands, and
carrying off the inhabitants. Sever
al OF the natives showed him scars OF
wounds received III battle with these
invaders. 1t is evident that a great
part OF this fancied intelligence was
delusion OF the part OF Columbus; for
he was under a spell OF the magma
ton, which gave its W shapes and
colorsto every object.
He was persuaded that he had ar
rived among the Islands described by
Marco Polo, as lying opposite Cathay,
in the Chinese Sea, and he construed
everything to accord with the account
given OF these opulent regions. Thus
the enemies which the natives spoke
Of as coming from the northwest, he
concluded to be the people Of the
mainland OF Asia, the subjects OF the
great Khan of Tartary, who were rep
resented by the Venetian traveller as
accustomed to make war upon the is
lands, and to enslave theinhabitants.
The country to the south Astounding
in gold, could be no other than the
famous island Of Gpango; and the
king who was served out of vessels OF
Suld, De tIle illOili1ItH WllOsc mag
niiicent city and gorgeous palace, cover
ed with plates of gold, had been extoll-
ed in such splendid terms by Marco
Polo. ...-.
Theisland where Columbus had thus,
for the first time, set his foot upon the
New World, was called by the natives,
Guanahane. 1t still retains the name
of San Salvador, which he gaveto it,
though called by the English Cat Is
land