Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-02

with two entrances formed by an island
which lay in the mouth OF 10. Hero,
while the men landed with the casks in
search Of water, he reposed under the
shade Of the groves, which he says were
more beautiful than any he had ever be-
held; 1.-THE country was as fresh and
green as in the month Of May in Anda-
lusia; the trees, the fruits, the herbs, the
flowers, the very stones for the most
part, as different from those OF Spain as
night from day." The inhabitants gave
the same proofs as the other islanders,
of being totally unaccustomed to the
sight of civilized man. They regarded
the Spaniards with awe and admiration,
approached them with propitiatory offer
ings Of whatever their poverty, W
rather their simple and natural
mode OF life, afforded; the fruits
Of their fields and groves, the cotton,
which was their article Of greatest
value, and their domesticated parrots
They took those who were in search of
water to the coolest springs, the sweetest
and freshest runs, filling their casks and
rolling them to the boats, thus seeking
in every way to crafty their celestial
visitors
However pleasing this state Of pri-
meval poverty might be to the magma
ton OF the poet, it was a source of con-
tinued disappointment to the Spaniards,
whose avarice had been whetted to the
quick by scanty specimens of gold and
by the information Of golden islands con-
tinually given by the Indians.
Leaving Fernandina on the 10Th day Of
October they steered to the southeast in
quest of an island called Saometo, where
Columbus understood from tho signs OF
the guides there was mine Of gold and
a king, the sovereign of all the sur
rounding islands, who dwelt in large
city and possessed great treasures, wear
ing rich clothing and jewels Of gold.
They found the island, but neither the
monarch nor the mine; either Columbus
had misunderstood the natives or they.
measuring things by their own poverty,
had exaggerated the paltry state and
trivial ornaments of some savage chief
tain. Delightful as the other islands
had appeared, Columbus declared that
this surpassed them all. Like those, it
was covered with trees and shrubs and
herbs of unknown kind. The climate had
the same soft temperature; the air was
delicate and balmy; the land was higher,
WIN q me verdant NH; the coast OF
fine sand, gently layed by transparent
pillows.
AT the southwest end of the island he
found fine lakes Of fresh water, overhung
with groves and surrounded by banks
covered with heritage. Here he ordered
all the casks Of the ships to be filled.
Here are large lakes" says he in his
journal, land the groves about them ara
| 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 30 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 III 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 Isla 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
odOr5 said to be waited from the islands
/ Of the Indian seas. LAS arrived at this
/ cane" says he, there came thence a
/ fragrance 50 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 tiuctures, 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 tho birds in trop-
ical brilliancy of color, the scales of
some of them CHANGING back the rays Of
/ light like precious stones; RS 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
/ IS, chameleon.
No animals We're seen in these islands,
excepting a species Of dog which never
! barlied, a 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 nOxiOus serpentS; but they
were found afterward to be perfectly
! harmless, and their flesh to be esteemed
a great delicscy by the Indians.
For several days Columbus lowered
about this island, seeking in vain TO fluid
/ its imaginary monarch, or to establish n
communication with him, until st length
ho reluctantly became convinced Of his
error. No sooner, however, did one do
/ fusion fade away than another succeeded.
In reply to the continual inquiries made
/ by the 5paniards after the source whence