The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-11-06

was probably passing from islaud 4
island. 70 give notice Of the shipa 20
\ lumbus admired the hardihood % thu
simple navigator. making such N exten
sive voyage In % frail : bark Az tn
island was still distant. he ordered thai
both the Indian and his canoe should b
taken on board. where he treated him
with the greatest kindness. giving him
bread and honey TO eat and wine q
/ drink. The weather being very calm.
! they did not reach the island until too
dark 70 anchor. through fear of cutting
their cables with rockA The sea about
these Islands was 20 transparent that n
the daytime they could 80 the bottom
and choose their ground. and % deep
that at two gunshot distance there va
no anchorage. Hosting out the canoe
Of their Indian voyager. therefore. and
restoring to him all bic effects. they eent
him joyfully ashore. to prepare the M
tives for their arrival. while tho 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 spring. Columbus distributed
trifling presents among them. and 70
those who came on board be gave sugar
aud honey.
Landing the next morning hs gave 70
this island the name Of FernandinA in
honor Of the king; Is Il 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
NANTES and aprons Of cotton. but for the
most part they were entirely naked
Their habitations were constructed IN
the form OF 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 metz
Of cotton extended from two posts.
which they called hamacs. name dnco
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. be reposed under the
shade OF the groves. which be says were
more beautiful than any he had ever b.
held: 1.-THE country was ~ fresh and
green as in the month Of May in Anda-
lusis; the trees. the fruits. the herbs. the
flowers. the very stones for the most
part, as different from those Of Spain -
night from day" The inhabitants gave
the same proofs ~ the other islanders.
Of being totally unaccustomed to the
sight OF civilized man. They regarded
the Spaniards 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 parTotA
They took those who were il search Of
water to the coolest springs, the sweetest
and freshest runs. filing their casks and
rolling them to 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, IL was : source Of con-
tinued disappoint ment to the Spaniards.
whose avarice had been whetted to the
quick by scanty specimens Of gold and
by the information Of golden islandscon-
tinually given by the Indiana
Leaving Fernandina on the 10th day Of
October they eteered TO the southeast IN
quest Of an island called Saometo. where
Columbus understood from the signs Of
the guides there was mine Of gold and
. king, the sovereign Of al 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. but neither the
monarch nor the mine; either Columbus
had misunderstood the natives or they
measuring things by their own poverty,
had exaggerated the paltry state and
trivial ornaments Of some savage chief
tain. Delightful = the other Islands
had appeared, Columbus declared that
this surpassed them all Like those, q
was covered with trees and shrubs and
herbs Of unknown kind The climate had
the same soft temperature; the cir W.
delicate and balmy: the land was higher.
with fine verdant hill; the coast Of :
fine sand. gently laved by transparent
pillows.
At the southwest end Of the island be
found fine lakes Of fresh water, overriding
with groves and surrounded by banks
covered with heritage. Here be ordered
all the casks Of the ships to b filed.
Here are large lakes" says be N his
journal. land the groves about them arc
marvellous. and here and in al the island
everything ID green, - In April in Anda-
lusia. The singing Il the birds u sucb
that II seems as II one would never desire
to depart hence. There ars docks of
parrots which obscure the sun, and otheg
BIRDS large and small, OF % many kinds
all different from ours that II u wonder
full; and besides. there arc tress Of thou
sand species, each having ~ particular
fruit and al Of marvellous flavor, % that
] am In the greatest troublein the world