The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-11-13
CHAPTER xyII1.
CHAPTER AVll1.
TRANSACTIONS AT THE ISLAND OF ST.
MAgY'S.

CHAPTER XVIII.
TRANSACTIONS AT THE ISLAND OF ST.
MARY'S.
On sending the boat to land Columbus
ascertained the island to be st. Mary's,
the most southern of the. Azores. and a
possession of the crown of Portugal.
The inhabitants, when they beheld the
light caravel riding at anchor, were as
tonished that it had been able to live
through the gale which had ragged for
fifteen days with unexampled fury, but
when they heard from the boats crew
that this tempest tossed vessel brought
tidings of a strange country beyond the
ocean they were filled with wonder and
curiosity. To the inquiries about a
place where the caravel might anchor Sc
curely they replied by pointing out a
harbor in the vicinity, but prevailed on
three of the mariners to remain on shore
and crafty them with further particu-
lars Of this unparalleled voyage.
In the evening three men of the island
hailed the caravel, and boat being sent
for them they brought on board fowls,
bread and various refreshments from
Juan de Castaneda, governor Of the
island, who claimed an acquaintance
with Columbus, and sent him many
compliments and congratulations. He
apologized for not coming in person,
owing to the lateness Of the hour and
the distance of his residence, but prom
ised to visit the caravel the next morn
ing, bringing further refreshments and
the three men, whom he still kept with
him to satisfy his extreme curiosity re-
specting the voyage. As there were no
houses on the neighboring shore the
messengers remained on board all night.
On the following morning Columbus
reminded his people of their VOW to per-
form pious procession at the first place
where they should land. On the neigh
boring shore, at no great distance from
the sea, was small hermitage or chapel
dedicated to the Virgin, and he made i'm
mediate arrangements for the perform
ance Of the rite The three messengers
ON returning to the village sent a priest
to perform mass, and one-half Of the
crew landing, walked in procession. bare
footed and in their shirts, to the chapel,
while the admiral awaited their return
to perform the same ceremony with the
remainder.
An ungenerous reception, however,
awaited the poor tempest tossed mari
pers on their first return to the abode of
civilized men, far different from the
sympathy and hospitality they had ex-
perienced among the savages of the New
World Scarcely had they begun their
prayers and thanksgiyings, when the
rabble Of the village, horse and foot,
headed by the governor, surrounded the
hermitage and took them all prisoners.
As an intervening point of land hid
the hermitage from the view of the car
avel, the admiral remained in ignorance
of this transaction. When II o'clock
arrived without the return of the pill
grims, he began to fear that they were
detained by the Portuguese or that the
boat had been shattered upon the surf
beaten rocks which bordered the island.
Weighing anchor, therefore, he stood in
q direction to command view of the
chapel and the adjacent shore, whence
he beheld number of armed horsemen,
who, dismounting, entered the boat and
made for the caravel. The admirals
ancient suspicious of Portuguese hostil-
ity toward himself and his enterprises
were Immediately revived, and he or
dered his men to arm themselves, but to
keep out of sight, ready either to defend
the vessel or surprise the boat.
The latter, however. approached in a
pacific manner; the governor of the
island was on board, and coming within
hail demanded assurance of personal
safety in case he should enter the caravel.
This the admiral readily gave, but the
Portuguese still continued at wary dis
tance. The Indignation of Columbus now
broke forth; he reproached the governor
with his perfidy and with the wrong he
did. not merely to the Spanish nonarchs,
bnt to his own sovereign, by such dis
honorable outrage. He informed him of
his own rank and dignity, displayed his
letters patent, sealed with the royal seal
of CASTLE, and threatened him with the
vengeance of his government. Castaneda
replied in vein of contempt and de-
fance. declaring that all he had done
was in conformity to the commands Of
the king, his sovereign.
After an Improbable alteration the
boat returned to shore, leaving Column
bus much perplexed by this unexpected
| hostility, and fearful that a war might
have broken ont between Spain and Por-
tugal during his absence, The next day
the weather became so tempestuous that
they were driven from their anchorage
and obliged to stand to sea toward the
island Of st. Michael. For two taays tha
ehip continued beating about in great
peril, half Of her crew being detained on
shore, and the greater part of those on
board being landsmen and Indians, al
most equally useless in difficult navi-
cation. Fortunately, although the waves
ran high, thera were none Of those cross
seas which had recently prevailed, other
wise, being so feebly manned, the cara
vel could scarcely have lived through
the storm.
On the evening Of the 22d, the weather
having moderated, Columbus returned
to his anchorage ut st. Mary'a. Shortly
after his arrival boat came off, bring
ing two priests and notary. After a
cautious parley and an assurance of
safety they came on board and requested
sight Of the papers Of Columbus, on the
part of Castaneda, assuring him that it
was tho disposition Of the governor to