The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-12-11
IRvINC'S COLUMBUS.
The Great Discoverer's First
Voyage to America
a Far More Wonderful story Than
b Mo~i BriIiian, Imagination fias
YET ConJured- Told ~ the Words
81 One 81 the Masters % L'tcra-
snrc.
Washington Irving,
CHAPTER Il.
coAsTIx0 or HIsPASroLA

NRA7AAF4 w nl-lAlLA
When the weather became favorable
Columbus made another attempt on the
the l4th Of December to find the island
Of Babeque. but was again bafled by
adverse winds. In the course Of this
attempt he visited an island lying oppo-
site 70 the harbor OF Conception, to
which. from it. Astounding in turtle. he
gave the name Of Tortngas. The ma
tives had fled TO the rocks and forests,
and alarm fires blazed along tho heights
the country was SO beautiful that he
gave to one Of the valleys the name OF
Vale de Paraiso. or the Vale Of Para
disc, and called a fine stream the Quad
alquiver. af.,r that renowned river
which flows through some Of the fairest
provinces Of Spain.
Setting sail on the 10th Of December
at midnight, Columbus steered again
for Hispaniola- When half way across
the gulf which separates the islands. he
perceived a canoe navigated by a single
Indian. and. as on a former occasion.
was astonished at his hardihood ia yen-
turing 90 far from land in 50 frail q bark
and al his adroirness in keeping it above
water. as the wind was fresh and there
was some sea running. He ordered both
him and his canoe 10 be taken on board:
and having anchored near a village on
b coast Of Hispaniola. at present known
as Puerto de Paz. he sent him on shore
well RECALLED and enriched with various
presents.
In the carly intercourse with these
people. kindness never seems TO have
failed in its effect. The favorable 40
oun given BY this Indian. and by those
with whom the spaniards had communi-
Gated IN their previous landings. dis
PEELED the fears Of the islanders. A
friendly intercourse soon took place, and
the ships We're visited by a cacique Of
the neighborhood- From this chieftain
and his counselors Columbus had fur
Their information Of the island of Ba-
beque. which a described a. lying II
nc great distance
No mention Is afterward made Of this
island. nor does IL appear that be maze
any further attempt TO seek il. No such
island exists In the ancient charts, n a
it Is probable that this was one Of tie
numerous misinterpretations Of Indii 4
words which led the first discoveries
into 80 many fruitless researches. The
people Of Hispaniols arr4ared hand
somer TO Columbus thi , arg he had yes
met with. and Of a GENT. and peaceabls
disposition. Some u them had crna-
ments Of gold. which they readily gave
away or exchanged for any tribe. The
country wa finely diversified with lofty
mountains and green valleys. which
stretched away inland as far as the eye
could reach. The mountains were OF
u easy ascent that the highest Of
them might be plowed with oxen, and
the luxuriant growth Of the forests man
Tested the fertility Of the soil. The val
legs were watered By numerous clear
and beautiful reams they appeared to
be cultivated in many places. and TO be
lifted Tor grain. for orchards and pas
turage.
While detained At this harbor by con |
trary winds Columbus was visited by .
young cacique, who came borne by four
men on a sort Of litter and attended BY
200 Of his subjects. The admiral being
At dinner when he arrived, the young
chieftain ordered his followers to remain
without. and entering the cabin took his
seat beside Columbus. not permitting
him 20 rise or use any ceremony. Only
two old nen entered with aim, who ap-
peared ~ be his counsel0rs, and who
seated themselves At his feet II any
thing were given MIN to a or drink he
merely tasted 1t and sent it to his fol-
lowers. maintaining an air OF great grav-
ity and dignity. He spoke but little,
his two counselors watching his lips aud
catching aud communicating his ideas.
After dinner he presented the admiral
with ? heit cnriously wrought and two
pieces IL gold
Columbus gave him a piece or cloth.
several amber beads. colored shoes and
a haskot orange flower water: be showed
him a Spanish coin on which were the
likenesses Of the king and queen. and
tndeavored 10 explain TO him the power
and grandeur Of those sovereigns: he
displayed. also. the royal banners and
the standard Of the cross. but IL was All
~ vain 70 attempt 70 convey any clear
idea by these symbols. The caciqne
could not be made 10 believe that there
was asregiun on the earth which pro-
ducei these wonderful people and won
derfrI things He joined in the com
mon idea that the Spaniards were more
than mortal, and that the country and
sovereigns they talked Of must exist
somewhere in the skies
In the evening tie caciqne was sent on
shore in the boat with great ceremony,
snd a salute fired In honor Of him. He
departed IN the state in which he had
ONE carried on a litter. accompanied
BY a great concourse Of his subjects: not
far behind him was bis son. borne and
escorted In like manner. and his brother
on foot. supported BY two attendants.
The presents which be had received from
the admiral were carried .riumphantIy
before HIM
They procured but little gold In this
place though whatever the
natives possessed they readily gave