Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-16
CHAPTER XI.
COAsTING OF HISPANIOLA.

When the weather became favorable
Columbus made another attempt on the
the 18th of December to find the island
Of Babeque, but was again baf1ed by
adverse winds. In the course of this
attempt he visited an island lying oppo-
site to the harbor of Conception, to
which, from its Astounding in turtle, he
gave the name Of Tortugas. The ma
tives had fled TO the rocks and forests,
and alarm fires blazed along the heights.
The country was SO beautiful that he
gave to one of the valleys the name of
Vale de Paraiso, or the Vale of Para
disc, and called fine stream the Quad
alquiver, after that renowned river
which flows through some of the fairest
provinces of Spain.
Setting sail on the 10th of December
at midnight, Columbus steered again
for Hispaniola. When half way across
the gulf which separates the islands, he
perceived a canoe navigated by single
Indian, and, as on former OCCASION,
was astonished at his hardihood in ven
turing so far from land in so frail a bark
and at his adroitness in keeping it above
water, as the wind was fresh and there
/ was some sea running He ordered both
| him and his canoe to be taken on board
and having anchored near a village on
/ the coast Of Hispaniola, at present known
as Puerto de Paz, he sent him on shore
well RECALLED and enriched with various
! presents.
In the early intercourse with these
people, kindness never seems 10 have
failed in its effect The favorable ac-
counts given 10y this Indian, and by those
with whom the Spaniards had commune
Gated in their previous landings, dis
PEELED the fears Of the islanders. A
friendly intercourse soon took place, and
the ships were visited by cacique of
the neighborhood. From this chieftain
and his counselors Columbus had fur
Their information Of the island of BIZ
beque, which was described as lying a.
no great distance.
No mention is afterward made of this
island, nor does it appear that he mace
any further attempt to seek it. No snch
island exists in the ancient charts. Il, d
it is probable that this was one Of tie
numerous neutrality-suspicious. of Indian
words which led the first discoveries
into SO many fruitless researches. The
people of Hispaniola appeared hand
somer to Columbus than any he had yet
met with, and of gentle and peaceablf
disposition. Some of them had orna,
ments of gold which they readily gave
away or exchanged for any trifie. The
country was finely diversified with lofty
mountains and green valleys, which
stretched away inland as far rs the eye
could reach. The mountains were OF
such easy ascent that the highest OF
them might be plowed with oxen, anG
the luxuriant growth Of the forests man
ifested the fertility Of the soil. The val
leys were watered by numerous clear
and beautiful streams; they appeared tC
be cultivated in many places, and to bt
fitted for grain, for orchards and pas
turage.
While detained at this harbor by con
trary winds Columbus was visited by {
young cacique, who came borne by foul
men on a sort of litter and attended by
200 of his subjects. The admiral bein(
at dinner when he arrived, the youne
chieftain ordered his followers to remain
without, and entering the cabin took mi
seat beside Columbus, not permittin.
him to rise or use any ceremony. Only
two old men entered with him, who ap
peared to be his counselors, and who
seated themselves at his feet II any
thing were given him to eat or drink h,
merely tasted it and sent it to his fol
lowers, maintaining an air of great gray
ity and dignity, He spoke but little
his two counselors watching his lips ant
catching and communicating his ideas
After dinner he presented the admira
with belt curiously wrought and TIVE
pieces Of gold.