Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-16

DESTROYS of establishing some inter-
course with the natives, who had aban-
loned the coast on his arrival, he dis
patched six men, well armed, into the
interior. They found several cultivated
fields and traces OF roads and places
where fires had been made, but the in
habitants had fed with terror to the
mountains
Though the whole country was soil
tary and deserted, Columbus consoled
himself with the idea that there must be
populous towns in the interior, where
the people had taken refuge, and that
the fiSes he had beheld had been signal
fires, Like those lighted up on the noun
tains of Spain in the times Of Moorish
war, to give the alarm when there was
any invasion of the seaboard.
On the 18th Of December Columbus,
with great solemnity, erected cross on
a commanding eminence at the entrance
of the harbor in sign of having taken pos
session As three sailors We're rambling
about the vicinity they beheld large
number of the natives, who Immediately
took fight, but the sailors pursued them
and captured a young female, whom
they brought to the ships. She was per-
fectly naked-a bad omen as to Che civ
ilization of the island-but an ornament
of gold in the nose gave hope of the pre-
ciou+metal. The admiral soon soothed
her terror by his kindness, and by pres
ents of beads, brass rings, hawks bells
and other trinkets, and having had her
clothed, sent her on shore, accompanied
11c g., 4 IL,
Indian interpreters. So well pleased
was she with her iinery and with the
kind treatment she had experienced that
she would gladly have remained with
the Indian women whom she found Oh
board. The party sent with her returned
on board late in the night without ven
turing to her village, which was far in
land. Confident of the favorable i'm
preston which the report given by the
woman must produce, the admiral on
the following day dispatched nine stout
hearted, well armed men to seek the
village, accompanied by a native Of
Cuba as an interpreter. They found it
about four and half leagues to the
southeast, in a fine valley, on the banks
of beautiful river. 1t contained 900
houses, but the inhabitants fed as they
approached.
The interpreter overlook them and as
! sured them Of the goodness of these
| strangers who had descended from the
skies and went about the world makiA.
precious and beautiful presents Thus
assured, the natives ventured back to
the number of 1000. They APP
preached the Spaniards with slow and
trembling steps, often pausing and
putting their hands upon their heads,
in token of profound reverence and
submission. They were well formed
race, fairer and handsomer than the
natives Of the other islands. While
the Spaniards We're conversing with
them by means of their interpreter, an
other multitude approached, headed by
the husband Of the female captive.
They brought her in triumph on their
shoulders, and the husband was profuse
in his gratitude for the kindness with
which she had been treated, and the
magnificent presents which had been be-
slowed upon her,
The Indians now conducted the Span
iards to their houses, and set before
them cassava bread, fish, roots and fruits
Of various kinds. They brought also
great numbers of domesticated parrots,
and indeed offered freely whatever they
possessed. The great river flowing
through this valley was bordered with
noble forests, among which We're palms,
bananas, and many trees covered with
fruit and flowers. The air was mild as
in April; the birds sang all day long,
and some were even heard in the night.
The Spaniards had not learned as yet to
account for the difference of seasons in
this opposite part of the globe; they
We're astonished to hear the voice of this
supposed Nightingale singing in the
midst of December, and considered it a
proof that there was no winter in this
happy climate. They returned to the
ships enraptured with the beauty Of the
country, surprising, as they said, even
the iuxuriant plains of Cordova. AL
that they complained of was that they
saw no signs of riches among the natives
And here it is impossible to refrain
from dwelling on the picture given by
the first discoveries of the state Of man
ners in this eventful island before the
arrival Of the white men. According tC
their accounts the people of Hayti ex
listed in that state of primitive and say
age simplicity which some philosopher!
have fondly pictured as the most envi
able on earth, surrounded by natura
blessings, without even a knowledge o.
artificial wants. The fertile earth pro
duced the chief part of their food almost
without culture; their rivers and sea
coast abounded with fish, and they
caught the utia, the guiana, and vari-
ETY. of birds. This, to beings of theil
frugal and temperate habits, was grea
abundance, and what nature furnished
thus spontaneously they willingly shared
with all the world.
Hospitality, we are told was with
them ii law of nature universally oh
served, there was no need of being
known to receive its succors; every
house was as open to thestranger as hi
own. Columbus, too in letter to Lui
de st. Angel observes; True it is thai