The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-11-06

gave the name of Capo del Enamorado,
or the Lovers Cape, but which at
present is known as Cape Cabron. A
little beyond this they anchored in
bay, or rather gulf, three leagues in
breadth and extending so far inland
that Columbus at first supposed it an
arm Of the sea separating Hispaniola
from some other land. On landing they
found the natives quite different from
the gentle and pacific people hitherto
met with on this island. They were of
ferocious aspect and hideously painted
Their hair was long, tied behind and
decorated with the feathers of parrots
and other birds Of gaudy plumage
Some were armed with war clubs. 9th
ers had bows of the length Of those used
by the English archers, with arrows OF
slender reeds, pointed with hard wood.
or tipped with bone or the tooth Of a
fish. Their swords were of palm wood.
as hard and heavy as iron; not sharp.
but broad, nearly of the thickness of two
fingers and capable, with one blow. of
:leaving through helmet to the very
brains Though thus prepared for COM
bat, they made no attempt to molest the
| Spaniards. On the contrary, they sold
them two of their bows and several Of
their arrows. and one of them was pre-
vailed upon to go on board OF the ad-
mirals ship.
Columbus was persuaded, from the fe-
rocious looks and hardy, undaunted
manner of this wild warrior, that he
and his companions were Of the nation
of Caribs SO much dreaded throughout
these seas. and that the gulf in which he
was anchored must be strait separat-
| ing their island from Hispanioia. On
| inquiring of the Indian, however, he still
pointed to the east as the quarter where
| lay the Caribbean islands. He spoke
also Of an island called Mantinino, which
Columbus fancied him to say was peo-
pied merely by women, who received the
Caribs among them once year for the
sake of continuing the population of
| their island All the male progeny re-
sulting from such visits were delivered
| to the fathers, the female remained with
the mothers.
This Ainazonlan island is repeatedly
UlcQbLOuCQ III tuC CO0Ao0 Vi bllO wy dSCS
of Columbus, and is another of his self
delusions. to be explained by the work
of Marco Polo. That traveller described
| two islands near the coast of Asia, one
inhabited solely by women, the other by
men. between which similar inter
course subsisted, and Columbus, suppos-
| ing himself in that vicinity, easily inter-
| preted the signs of the Indians to coincide
with the descriptions of the Venetian.
Having regaled the warrior and made
him various presents. the admiral sent
him on shore in hopes, through his me-
diation. of opening trade for gold with
his companions. AS the boat approached
the land. upward of fifty savages, armed
| with bows aud arrows, war clubs and
| javelins, were seen lurking among the
| trees. On word from the Indian who
was in the boat, they laid by their arms
and came forth to meet the Spaniards.
The latter, according to directions from
the admiral, endeayored to purchase sew
eral Of their weapons. to take as curios-
tiles to Spain. They parted with two of
their bows, but. suddenly cpneeiving
some distrust or thinking to overpower
this handful of strangers, they rushed to
the place where they had left their
weapons, snatched them up and re-
turned with cords, as IL to bind the
Spaniards. The latter Immediately at
tackled them, wounded two, put the rest
| to fight, and would have pursued them
but were restrained by the pilot who
commanded the boat. This was the first
contest with the Indians. and the first
time that native blood was shed by the
white men in the New World
Columbus was grieved to see all his
exertions to maintain an amicable inter-
course vain; he consoled himself with
the idea, however. that if these were
Caribs or frontier Indians Of warlike
character they would be inspired with
3 dread of the force and weapons of the
white men. and be deferred from mo-
testing the little garrison of Fort Ma
tivity. The fact was that these were of
a bold and hardy race, iphabiting
mountainQus district oaiied Ciguay, ex-
tending five and twenty leagues along
the coast and several leagues into the in
terror. They differed in language, look
and manners from the other natives of
the island. and had the rude but indie
pendent and Vigorous character Of noun
taineers.
Their frank and bold spirit was evinced
on the day after the skirmish when
multitude appearing on the beach the
admiral sent large party, well armed.
On shora in the boat The natives ap-
preached as freely and confidently as if
nothing had happened; neither did they
betray, throughout their subsequent in
tercourse, any signs Of lunking fear or
anmitF. Fhe eacique who ruled over
| the Heigh boring country was on the
shora He sent to the boat string of
beads formed of small stones, or rather
of the hard part of shells. which the
Spaniards understood to be a token and
assurance Of amity; but they were not
yet aware Of the full meaning of this
| symbol, the wampum belt. the pledge of
peace, held sacred among the Indians
The chieftain followed shortly after, and
entering the boat with QnlE tiree attend
ants Waa 6onYeyed on board Of the car.
Svel.
This frank and confiding conduct, so
| Indicative of brave and generous ma
ture, was properly appreciated BY Co
lumbus; he received tho caciqua cordial
| ~, set before him q collation. such as the
earavel afforded, particularly biscuits
and honey. which were great dainties
with the Indians, and after showing him
| 4hc xvondarc NJ fha vaeraf aud ,,,of.x..~~