The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-10-09
sun, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1891.

| with fine verdant hill; the coast Of {
fine sand, gently layed by transparent
pillows.
At the southwest end of the island he
found fine lakes of fresh water, overhuna
with groves and surrounded by banks
covered with herbage. Here he ordered
all the casks of the ships to be filed.
Here are large lakes,' says he in his
| journal, land the groves about them are
marvellous, and here and in all the island
everything is green, as in April in Anda-
lusia. The singing of the birds is such
that it seems as if one would never desire
| to depart hence. There are focks OF
| parrots which obscure the sun, and other
birds, large and small. of so many kinds
all different from ours that it is wonder
| full; and besides, there are trees of thou
sand species, each having its particular
fruit and all of marvellous flavor, so that
am in the greatest trouble in the world
not to know them, for | am very certain
| that they are each Of great value.
shall bring home some of them as speci-
mems, and also some of the herbs" To
this beautiful island he gave the name
of his royal patroness, Isabella; it is the
same at present called lsla Larga and
Exumeta. Columbus was intent on dis
covering the drugs and spices Of the
east, and on approaching this island had
fancied he perceived in the air the spicy
odors said to be waited from the islands
of the Indian seas LAS arrived at this
cape" says he, "there came thence a
| fragrance so good and soft of the flow
ers or trees of the land that it was the
sweetest thing in the world. / believe
there are here many herbs and trees
which would be of great price in Spain
| for tinctures, medicines and spices, but
know nothing of them. which gives me
great concern"
The fish which abounded in these seas
partook of the novelty which character
lied most of the objects in this New
World. They rivaled the birds in trop-
ical brilliancy of color, the scales of
some of them glancing back the rays of
light like precious stones; as they sported
about the ships they flashed CLEANS of
gold and silver through the clear waves;
and the dolphins, taken out of their ele-
ment, delighted the eye with the
changes of colors ascribed in fable to
the chameleon.
No animals were seen in these islands,
excepting species of dog which never
barked, kind of cony or rabbit called
"utia" by the natives, together with nu-
merous lizards and guanas. The last
were regarded with disgust and horror
by the Spaniards, supposing them to be
fierce and poxious serpents; but they
were found afterward to be perfectly
harmless, and their flesh to be esteemed
great delicacy by the Indians.
For several days Columbus lowered
about this island, seeking in vain to find
its imaginary monarch, or to establish a
communication with him. until at length
he reluctantly became convinced of his
error. No sooner, however. did one de-
fusion fade away than another succeeded.
In reply to the continual inquiries made
by the Spaniards after the source whence
they procured their gold, the natives uni
formly pointed to the south. Columbus
now began to hear of an island in that
direction called Cuba, but all that he
could collect concerning it from the
signs of the natives was colored by his
imagination. He understood it to be of
great extent, abounding in gold and
pearls and spices. and carrying on an ex-
tensive commerce in those precious arti-
cles, and that large merchant ships came
to trade with its inhabitants.
Comparing these misinterpreted ac-
counts with the coast of Asia as laid
down on his map, after the descriptions
of Marco Polo, he concluded that this
island must be Cipango, and the mer-
chant ships mentioned must be those Of
the grand khan, who maintained an ex-
tensive commerce in these seas He
formed his plan accordingly, deterlnin-
ing to sail Immediately for this island
and make himself acquainted with its
ports, cities and productions for the pur-
pose of establishing relations of traffic.
He would then seek another great island
called Bohio, of which the natives gave
likewise marvellous accounts His sop
journ in those islands would depend
upon the quantities of gold, spices, pre-
cious stones and other objects of oriental
trade which he should find there After
this he would proceed to the mainland
of India, which must be within ten days
sail, seek the city C9uinsai, which, accord
ing to Marco Polo, was one Of the most
magnificent capitals in the world; he
would there deliver in person the letters
of the Castilian sovereigns to the grand
khan, and when he received his reply
return triumphantly to Spain with this
document to prove that he had accom-
plished the great object of his voyage
Such was the splendid scheme with
which Columbus fed his imagination
when about to leave the Bahamas in
quest of the island of Cuba.