Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-29
CHAPTER XIX.
ARRIVAL AT PORTUGAL.

ARRIVAL AT PORTUGAL
Columbus remained two days longer
at the island of st. Marys endeavoring
to take in wood and ballast, but was
prevented by the heavy surf which broke
upon the shore. The wind veering to
the south and being dangerous for YES
sells at anchor off the island, but favor
able for the voyage to Spain, he set sail
on the 24th of February, and had pleas
ant weather until the 9th, when, being
within 125 leagues of Cape st. Vincent,
he again encountered contrary gales and
a boisterous sea. His fortitude was
scarcely proof against these perils and
delays, which appeared to increase tho
nearer he approached his home, and he
could not help uttering complaint at
thus being repulsed, as it were, from
| the very door of the house." He con-
| trasted the rude storms which ragged
about the coasts Of the Old World with
the genial airs, the tranquil seas and
balmy weather which he supposed per-
retually to prevail about the countries
| lie had discovered. "Well," says he,
"may the sacred theologians and sage
/ philosophers declare that the terrestrial
paradise is in the uttermost extremity Of
| the east, for 1t is the most temperate Of
regions"
After experiencing several days Of
stormy and adverse weather, about mid
/ night on Saturday, the ID of March, the
caravel was struck by a squall of wind,
which rent all her sails, and. continuing
to blow with resistless violence, obliged
her to scud under bare poles, threaten
! ing her each moment with destruction.
In this hour Of darkness and peril the
crew again called upon the aid of heav
en-, a lot was cast for the performance
of a barefooted pilgrimage to the shrine
of Santa Maria de la Cueva in Huelva,
and, as usual, the lot fell upon Column
/ bus. There was something singular in
/ the recurrence of this circumstance.
Las Casas devoutly considers it as an in
timaton from tho Deity to the admiral
| that these storms were all on his &C
count, to humble his pride and prevent
his arrogating to himself the glory of a
discovery which was the work of God,
and for which he bad merely been chosen
as an instrument.
Various signs appeared of the vicinity
of land, which they supposed must be
the coast Of Portugal; the tempest, how
ever, increased to such degree that
they doubted whether any of them would
survive to reach a port. The whole crew
made vow, in case their lives were
spared, to fast upon bread and water the
following Saturday. The turbulence Of
the elements was still greater in the
course of the following night. The sea
was broken, wild and mountainous; at
one moment the light caravel was tossed
high in the air, and the next moment
seemed sinking in II yawning abyss
The rain at times fell in torrents, and
the lightning flashed and thunder pealed
from various parts of the heavens.
In the first watch of this fearful night
the seamen gave the usually welcome
cry of land. but it now only increased
the general alarm. They knew not
where they We're nor where to look for
harbor. They dreaded being driven
on shore or dashed upon rocks, and thus
the very land they had SO earnestly de-
sired was terror to them. Taking in
sail, therefore, they kept to sea as much
as possible and waited anxiously for the
morning light.
At daybreali on the 4th of March they
found themselves off the rock of Cintra,
at the mouth of the Tagus. Though en-
tertaining a strong distrust of the good
will of Portugal, the still prevailing
tempest left Columbus no alternative
but to run in for shelter. He according
ly anchored, about o'clock, opposite to
Rastello, to the great joy Of the crew,
who returned thanks to God for their es-
cape from so many perils.
The inhabitants came off from various
parts Of the shore, congratulating them
upon what they considered a miraculous
preservation They had been Watching
the vessel the whole morning with great
anxiety and pntting up prayers for ncl
safety. The Oldest mariners Of the pla )
assured Colum bus they had never know,
so tempestuous a winter; many vessels
had remained for months in port
weather bound, and there had been nu.
merous shipwrecks.
Immediately on his arrival Columbus
dispatched a courier to the king and
queen Of Spain with tidiugs of his dis
tONcI ~ lic NIOlt dlSO 10 lnt king OF L OF
tugal then at Valparaiso, requesting
permission to go with his vessel to Lis
bon, for report had gone abroad thai
his caravel WAS laden with gold, and HI
i. felt insecure in the mouth Of the Tagus
in the neighborhood of place like Ras
, tello, scantily peopled by needy and ad
| venturous inhabitants. To prevent an,
, misunderstanding as to the nature o
his voyage, he assured the king that h
, had not been on the coast Of Guinea, no
to any other Of the Portuguese colonies
J but had come from Cipango and the ex
| trenity Of India, which he had discov
, cred by sailing to the west.
On the following day, Don Alonzo d
Acuna, the captain of Il large Portuguese
+ man-of-war, stationed at Rastello, sum
moned Columbus on board his ship t.
give an account of himself and his yes
g sci. The latter asserted his rights an(
, dignities as admiral of the Castilian soy
araiUpe apJ raf,,ea1 10 lava hi, x,aOSol