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

Indian on board, who came to offer 9
ball of cotton in exchange for hawks
bells. As he paused when close to the
vessel, and feared to enter, several sail
ors threw themselves into the sea and
took him prisoner.
Columbus having seen all that passed
from his station on the high poop Of the
vessel, ordered the captive to be brought
to him. He came trembling with feal
and huinbly offered his ball of cotton a;
gift. The admiral received him with
the utmost benignity, and declining hi:
offering put colored cap upon his head
strings of green beads around his arms
and hawks bells in his ears, then order
ing him and his ball of cotton to be re-
placed in the canoe, dismissed him, as
tonished and overjoyed. He ordered
that the canoe, also, which had been
seized and was fastened to the Nina
should be cast loose, to be regained by
its proprietors. When the Indian reached
the shore. his countrymen thronged
around him, examining and admiring his
finery, and listening to his account Of
the kind treatment he experienced.
Such were the gentle and sage precau-
tions continually taken by Columbus to
impress the natives favorably. Another
instance of the kind occurred after leav.
ing the island of Conception, when the
caravels stood for the larger island. sew
eral leagues to the west. Midway be.
tween the two islands they overlook a
single Indian in a canoe. He had mere
morsel of cassava bread and a calabash
of water for sea stores, and little red
paint, like dragons blood, for personal
decoration when he should land. A
string of glass beads, such as had been
given to the natives of San Salvador,
showed that he had come thence, and
was probably passing from island to
island, to give notice Of the ships. Co
lunbus admired the hardihood of this
simple navigator. making such an exten-
sive voyage in so frail a bark AS the
island was still distant, he ordered that
both the Indian and his canoe should be
taken on board, where he treated him
with the greatest kindness, giving him
bread and honey to eat and wine to
drink The weather being very calm,
they did not reach the island until too
dark to anchor, through fear of cutting
their cables with rocks. The sea about
these islands was so transparent that in
the daytime they could see the bottom
and choose their ground, and so deep
that at two gunshot distance there was
no anchorage Hosting out the canoe
of their Indian voyager, therefore. and
restoring to him all his effects, they sent
him joyfully ashore, to prepare the ma
tives for their arrival, while the ships
lay to until morning.
This kindness had the desired effect
The natives surrounded the ships in
their canoes during the night, bringing
fruits and roots and the pure water of
their springs. Columbus distributed
tri1ing presents among them, and to
those who came on board he gave sugar
and honey.
Landing the next morning he gave to
this island the name of Fernandina. in
honor of the king; 1t Is the same at
present called Exuma. The inhabitants
were similar in every respect to those of
the preceding islands. excepting that
they appeared more ingenious and in
telligent. Some of the women wore
mantles and aprons of cotton, but for the
most part they were entirely naked.
Their habitations were constructed in
the form of a pavilion or high circular
tent, of branches of trees. of reeds and
palm leaves. They were kept very
clean and neat and sheltered under
spreading trees. For beds they had nets
of cotton extended from two posts
which they called hamacs, name since
in universal use among seamen.
In endeavoring to circumnavigate the
island, Columbus found, within two
leagues of the northwest cape. noble
harbor, sufficient to hold hundred ships,
with two entrances formed by an island
which lay in the mouth. of it. Here.
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, az different from those of Spain as
night from day" The inhabitants gave
the same proofs as the other islanders.
Of being totally unaccustolned to the
sight of civilized man. They regarded
the Spaniarls with awe and admiration.
approached them with propitiatory offer
ings of whatever their poverty, or
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 70 the boats, thus seeking
in every way TO crafty their celestial
visitors.
However pleasing this state of pri-
meval poverty might be to the imagina-
ton OF the poet, it was q source Of con-
Npued 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 Ferpandina on the 10th day of
October they steered to the southeast in
quest of an island called Saometo, where
Columbus understood from the signs of
the guides there was Q mine of gold and
Q 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 hut neithar tha