Gloucester County Democrat., 1891-09-24
IRvINC'S COLUMBUS.
The Great Discoverer's First
Voyage to America.
CHAPTER X.
SEARCH AFTER THE SUPPOSED ISLAND or
BABEQUE

enect upon ms RtfpSeQueDt discoveries
He had proceeded far within what is
called the old channel, between Cuba
and the Bahamas In two or three days
more he wonld have discovered his mis-
take in supposing Cuba o part of terra
frma-an error in which hs continued
to the day of his death. He might have
had intimation also of the vicinity of the
continent, and have stood for the coast
of Florida. or have been carried thither
by the Gulf stream, or. continuing along
CBba where it bends to the southwest,
might have struck over to the opposite
coast Of Yucatan aad have realized his
most sanguine anticipations il becoming
the discoyerer of Mexico Ii was sufi-
cient glory for Columbus, however, to
have discovered new world Its more
golden regions were reserved to give
splendor to succeeding enterprises.
He now ran along the coast for two OF
three days without stopping to explore it,
as no populous towns or citiss were to be
seen. Passing by great cape, 10 which
he gave the name Of Cape Cuba. he
struck eastward in search of Babeque,
but on the 14th head wind and bolster
GUS sea obliged him TO put back and an
chor in deep and secure harbor, tc
which he gave the paiEe Of Puerto del
Principe Here he erected a cross on a
neighboring height in token of posses
sion. A few days were passed in explor-
ing with his boats an archipelago of
small but beautiful islands in the vicin-
ity, since known as FL ,Jardin del Rey,
or the kings garden The gulf studded
with these islands he named the sea of
Nuestra Sonora; in modern days it has
been lurking place for pirates. who
have found secure shelter and conceal
ment among the channels and solitary
harbors Of this archipelago. These
islands were covered with noble trees,
among which the Spanards thought they
discovered mastic and aloes
On the 10Th Columbus again put tc
sea, and for two days made Intellectual
attempts against head winds to reach an
island directly east, about sixty miles
distant, which he supposed to be Ba-
beque. The wind continuing obstinately
adverse and the sea rough, he put his
ship about toward evening of the goth,
making signals for the other vessels
to follow him. His signals were unat-
tended to by the Pinta, WHICH was con-
siderably to the eastward Columbus
repeated the signals, but they were still
unattended TO Night coming on, he
shortened sail and hoisted signal lights
n +ho rpacf hao1 fI,;. lxi,,.r Di,,,<,, ,,,1,,f5
yet join him, which he could easily do,
having the wind astern; but when the
morning dawned the Pinta was no Ion
ger to be seen.
Columbus was disquieted by this cir
cumstance. Pinzon WAS veteran navi-
gator, accustomed to hold a. high rank
among his nautical associates. The
squadron had in great measure been
manned and fitted out through his in-
fuence and exertions; he could i'll brook
subordination therefore to Columbus,
whom he perhaps did not consider his
superior in skill and knowledge, and
who had been benefited by his purse.
Several misunderstanding and disputes
had accordingly occurred between them
in the course of the voyage, and when
Columbus saw Pinzon thus parting com
pany without any appointed rendezvous,
he suspected either that he intended to
take upon himself a separate command
and prosecute the enterprise in his own
name, or hasten back to Spain and bear
off the glory of the discovery. To at
tempt to seek him, however, was fruit
less; he was far out Of sight; his vessel
was superior sailer. and it was impos-
sible to say what course he had steered
Columbus stood back, therefore, for
Cuba, to finish the exploring of its
coast; but he no longer possessed his
usual serenity Of mind and unity of pur-
pose, and was embarrassed in the prose
cution Of his discoveries by doubts Of
the designs Of Pinzon
On the 24th Of November he regained
Point Cuba and anchored in fine harbor
formed by the mouth of river, to which
he gave the name of St Catherine. II
was bordered by rich meadows; the
neighboring mountains were well wood
ed, having pines tall enough to make
maBts for the finest ships, and noble oaks.
In the bed of theriyer were found stones
veined with gold.
Columbus continued for several days
coasting the residne of Cuba, extollin9
the magnifcence, freshness and verdure
of the scenery, the purity Of the rivera
and the number and conmodiousness OF
the harbors. Speaking in his letters to
4ha aovaraiouc IF ono ,,Inoa ~. xyl,;ol, I,o
gave the naTne of Puerto Santo, he says
In his artless but enthusiastic language:
"The amenity of this river, and the
clearness of the water, through which
the sand at the bottom may be seen; the
multitude of palm trees of various forms,
the highest and most beautiful that
have met with, and an infnity Of other
great and green trees; the birds in rich
plumage and the verdure of the fields,
render this country, most serene princes,
of such marvellous beauty, that it sur
passes all others in charms and graces,
as the day doth the night in luster. For
which reason ! often say to my people,
that much rs | endeavor to give COM
plete account of it to your majesties, my
tongue cannot express the whole truth,
nor can my pen describe it, and have
been so overwhelmed at the sight Of SO
much beauty that | have not known
how to relate it.
The transparency Of the water, which
Columbus. attributed to the purity of the
rivers, is the property Of the ocean in
these ATTITUDES. So clear is the sea in
the neighborhood of some of these is
lands that in still weather the bottom
may be seen, as in crystal fountain,
and the inhabitants dive down four or
five fathoms in search Of conchs and
other shellfish, which are visible from
the surface. The delicate air and pure
waters of these islands are among their
greatest charms.
As proof Of the gigantic vegetation,
Columbus mentions the enormous size
of the canoes formed from single trunks
of trees. One that he saw was capable
Of containing 100 persons. Among other
articles found in the Indian dwellings
was a cake of wax. which he took to
present to the Castilian sovereigns 'sFor
where is wax, said he, there must bel
thousand other good things 1t is since
supposed to have been brought from,
Yucatan, as the inhabitants of CubA
were not accustomed to gather wax.
On the 9th of December he reached the
eastern end Of Cuba, which he supposed