The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-11-20

the ingenious caprice Of man mas sinc(
converted into universal luxury d
defiance Of the opposition Of the senses
They beheld several Of the natives going
about with iirebrands In their hands and
certain dried herbs which they rolled up
In = leaf, and lighting Que end put the
other In their months and continued ex.
haling and putting out the smoke. A
roll OF this kind they called tobacco. &
name since transferred TO tho plant d
which the rolls were made. The Span.
iards, although prepared 70 meet with
wonders. were struck with astonishmont
at this singular and apparently nauseous
indulgence
On their return to the ships they
gave favorable accounts OF the beauty
and fertility Of the country They had
met with many hamlets OF four or five
houses, well peopled. embowered among
trees laden with unknown fruits Of
tempting hue and delightful flavor.
Around them were fields cultivated with
the agi or sweet pepper, potatoes. maize
or Indian corn, species Of lupin or pulse.
and yucca. whereof they made their cas-
sava bread. These. with the fruits Of
the groves. formed their principal food
There were vast quantities Of cotton.
some inst sown. some in full growth.
There was great store Of IL also in their
houses, some wrought into yarn, or into
nets, Of which they made their ham
mocks. They had seen many birds Of
puV ix.x<. kxxt -
many ducks; several small cartridges;
and they heard the song Of bird which
they had mistaken for the nightingale
An that they had seen, however, betok-
cned primitive and simple state Of 60
ciety. The wonder with which they
had been regarded showed clearly that
the people were strangers 10 civilized
man. nor could they hear OF any inland
city superior to the one they had visited
The report Of the ENJOYS put an end to
many splendid fancies Of Columbus
about the barbaric prince and his capital
He was cruising, however, in a region Of
enchantment, in which pleasing chimeras
started mp at every step. exercising by
turns power over his imagination
During the absence Of the emissaries the
Indians had informed him, by signs, Of
place to the eastward, where the people
collected gold along the river banks BY
torchlight and afterward wrought Il
into bars with hammers. In speaking Of
this place they again used the words Be-
beque and Bohio, which he, as usual,
supposed to be the proper names OF H.
lands or countries. The true meaning Of
these words has been variously explained
It is said that they were applied by the
Indians to the coast Of terra frma, called
also BY them Caritaba. It is also said
that Bohio means a house, and was often
used by the Indians to signify the popu-
lousness Of an island. Hence IL was fire..
quently applied to Hispaniola. as well Is
the more general name Of Hayti, which |
means high land. and occasionally Quis-
queya, | g.. the whole, on account Of its |
extent
The misrepresentation Of these and !
other words was source Of perpetual
error 70 Columbus. Sometimes he sup |
posed Babeque and Bohio to signify the
same island: sometimes to b different
places or islands; and Quisqueya he sup !
posed to mean Quisai or Quinsai, 1. 4,
the celestial city, mentioned by Marco
Polo.
His great object was to arrive at some
opulent and civilized country Of tho
east, with which he might establish
commercial relations. and whence he
might carry home a quantity OF oriental
as q rich trophy Of his dis
covery. The season was advancing; the
cool nights gave hints OF approaching
winter; he resolved, therefore, not 70
proceed farther to the north, nor TO lin
ger about uncivilized places, which, at
present, he had not the means Of colo
nizing, but to return n the east-south-
last in quest Of Ba''a,ne, which he trust
"a might prove 90. ne rich and civilized L
sland on the coast OF Asia.
Before leaving the river, 20 which be
1ad given the name Of Rio de Mares, he
ook several Of the natives to carry with
'im TO Spain, for the purpose Of teach
ng them the language, that in future
'oyages they might serve a. interpre-
ers He took them Of both sexes. hav- |,
ng learned from the Portuguese discov-
'rers that the men were always more
'ontented on the voyage and service
'ble on their return when accompanied \
~ females With the religious feeling
y the day. he anticipated great til
'mphs to the faith and glory to the
'rown from the conversion Of these
avage nations. through the means q
he natives thus instructed. He I'm
'gined that the Indians had no systsm
4 religion, but disposition to receive
Is impressions, rs they regarded with
yreat reverence and attention the ~
igious ceremonies Of the Spaniards, soon
'epeating by rote any prayer taught
hem, and making the sign Of the cross
With the most edifying devotion. They
lad an idea Of future state, but Him.
ted and confused. They confess the
oul to be immortal" gays Peter Mar
yr, and having put OF the bodily
clothing, they imagine II goes forth 70
he woods and the mountains, and that
liveth there perpetually In caves; nor
10 they exempt 1t from eating and drink
ny. but that 1t should be fed there. The
answering voices heard from caves and
follows, which the Latines call echoes,