Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-10-01
CHAPTER XVI.
MEETING WITH pINznN

IL was on the 4th or January that Co
lumbus set sail from La Navidad on his
return 10 Spain. The wind being light.
it was necessary to tow the caravel out
of the harbor and clear of the reefs.
They then stood eastward toward lofty
promontory destitute Of trees, but COW
cred with grass and shaped like tent,
having at distance the appearance Of
towering island. being connected with
Hispaniola by low neck of land. To
this promontory Columbus gave the
name Of Monte Christi, by which it is
still known. The country in the imme-
diate neighborhood was level, but far
ther inland rose high range of noun
tains, well wooded, with broad, fruitful
valleys between them, watered by abun-
dant streams. The wind being contrary,
thay were detained for two days in q
large bay to the west Of the promontory.
On the 9th they again made sail with q
land breeze, and weathering the cape
advanced ten leagues, when the wind
again turned to blow freshly from the
east. At this time sailor stationed at
the masthead to look out for rocks cried
out that he beheld the Pinta at dis
tance. The certainty of the fact glad
dened the heart of the admiral and had
an animating effect throughout the ship,
for it was joyful event to the mariners
once more to meet with their comrades,
and to have companion bark in their
voyage through these lonely seas.
The Pinta came sweeping toward them
directly before the wind The admiral
was desirous of having conversation
with Martin Alonzo Pinzou, and seeing
that all attempt was fruitless from the
obstinacy of the adverse wind, aud that
there was no safe anchorage in the neigh
horhood, he put back to the bay little
west of Monte Christi, whittier be was
followed by the Pinta. On their first
interview. Pinzon endeavored To excuse
his desertion, alleging that he had been
compelled to part company by stress Of
weather, and had ever since been seek.
ing to rejoin the admiral. Columbus lis
tened passively but obviously to his
apologies, and the suspicious he had con-
ceived appeared to be warranted by sub
sequent information. He was told that
Pinzon had been excited by accounts
given him by one Of the Indians on board
Of his vessel of region to the eastward
abounding in gold Taking advantage,
therafnra. nf the superior sailing OF his
vessel. he had worked TO windward,
when the other ships had been obliged
to put back, and had sought to be the
Grst to discover ard enjoy this golden
region.
After separating troui his companions
he had been entangled for several days
among a cluster of small islands sup
posed to have been the Caicos, but had
at length been guided by the Indians to
Hispaniola Here he remained three
weeks, trading with the natives in the
river already mentioned, and collected a
considerable quantity Of gold, one-half
of which he retained as captain, the rest
he divided among his men to secure their
fidelity and secrecy.
Such were the particulars privately
related to Columbus, who, however, re-
pressed his indignation at this fragrant
breach Of duty, being unwilling to dis
turb the remainder of his voyage with
any alterations with Pinzon, who had
a powerful party Of relatives and towns
men in the armament. To such de-
gree, however, was his confidence in his
confederates impaired that he deter
mined to return forthwith to Spain,
though nnder other circumstances he
would have been tempted to explore the
coast in hopes of freighting his ships
with treasure.
The boats were accordingly dispatched
to large river in the neighborhood to
procure supply OF wood and water for
the voyage. This river, called by the
natives the Yaqui, flows from the noun
tains OF the interior and throws itself
into the bay, receiving in its course the
contributions of various minor streams.
Many particles of gold were perceived
among the sands at its mouth, and others
were found adhering to the hoops of the
water casks. Columbus gave it, there
fore, the name of Rio del Orc, or the
Golden river; it is at present called the
Santiago.
In this uelghborhood were turtles Of
great size. Columbus also mentions in
his journal that he saw three mermaids
which elevated themselves above the
surface Of the sea, and he observes that
he had before seen such on the coasts Of
Africa. He adds that they were by no
means the beautiful beings they had
been represented, although they pos
sessed some traces of the human coun-
tenance. 1t is supposed that these must
have been manate or seacalves, seen in
distinctly and ut distance, and that
the imagination of Columbus, disposed
to give wonderful character to every.
thing in this New World, had identified
these misshapen animals with the sirens
Of ancient story.
On the evening of the 9th January
they again made sail. and on the follow
ing day arrived at the river where Pin
zon had been trading, to which Column
bus gave the name of Rio de Gracia,
but 1t took the appellation of its orig
inal discoverer and long continued to
be known as the river of Martin Alonzo.
The natives Of this place complained
that Pinzon on his previous visit had
violently carried off four men and two
girls. The admiral, finding they were
retained on board Of the Pinta to be
carried to Spain and sold as slaves, or
dered them to be Immediately restored
10 their homes, with many presents and
we'll clothed, to atone for the wrong they
had experienced. This restitution was
made with great unwillingness and
many high words on the part of Pinzon.
The wind being favorable, for in these
regions the trade wind is often alternated
during autumn and winter by north
westerly breezess they continued coast
ing the island until they came to high
and beautiful headland, to which they
gave the name Of Capo del Enamorado,
or the Lovers Cape, but which at
present is known as Cape Cabron. A
little beyond this they anchored in q
bay. or rather gulf, three leagues in
breadth and extending so far ialand
that Columbus at first supposed it an
arm OF the sea separating Hispaniola
from some other land. On landing they
found the natives quite different from
the gentle and pacific people hitherto
met with on this island. They were Of
q ferocious aspect and hideonsly painted.
Their hair was long. tied behind and