Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-02

boats for the distance Of two leagues un-
til he came to fresh water. Here land.
ing, he climbed hill to obtain view of
the interior. His view, however, was
shut in by thick and lofty forests of wild
but beautiful 1uxuriance. Among the
trees were some which he considered
linaloes; many were odoriferous, and
he doubted not possessed valuable aro-
matte qualities. There was general
eagerness among the voyagers to find
the precious articles Of commerce which
grow in the favored climes of the east,
and their imaginations were continually
deceived by their hopes.
For two or three days the admiral was
excited by reports of cinnamon trees and
nutmegs and rhubarb; but on examina-
ton they all proved fallacious. He
showed the natives specimens Of those
and various other spices and drugs, and
understood from them that those arti-
clcs abounded to the southeast. lie
showed them gold and pearls, also, and
several old Indians spoke Of country
where the natives wore ornaments of
them round their necks, arms and an
kles. They repeatedly mentioned the
word Bohio, which Columbus supposed
to be the name OF the place in question,
and that it was some rich district or
island. They mingled, however, great
cGtravac" 1cie9 with their imperfect ac-
u;nts, scribing nations at distance
who had but one eye; others who had
the heads Of dogs and who were canni.
bals-cutting the Threats of their prison
ers and sucking their blood.
All these reports Of gold and pearls
and SPICES, many Of which were prob
ably iabrications to please the admiral,
tended to keep up the persuasion that he
was among the valuable coasts and is
lands OF he eust On making fire to
heat the tar for careeniug the ships the
scamen found that the wood they burned
sent forth powerful odOr, and, on ex-
aiming 1t, declared that it was mastic.
The wood abounded in the neighboring
forests, insonuch that Columbus fatter-
ed himself a thousand quintals of this
| precious gum might be collected every
year, and a more abundant supply pro-
cured than that furnished by EScios and
other islands of the Archipelago. In the
course of their researches in the vegetable
! kingdom in quest Of the luxuries Of COM
merce, they met with the potato, hum
/ bic loot, little valued at the time but
more precious acquisition to man than
all the spices Of the east.
/ On the 9th of November the two en-
bassadors returned, and every one
crowded to hear tidings of the interior
of the country, and Of the prince to
! 81 4 I,
penetrating twelve leagues they had
come to a village of fifty houses, built
similarly to those Of the coast, but
larger, the whole village containing at
least Il thousand inhabitants. The ma
tives received them with great solem-
nifty, conducted them TO the best house
and placed them in what appeared to be
intended for chairs Of state, being
wrought out Of single pieces of wood,
into forms Of quadrupeds. They then
offered them fruits and vegetables.
Having complied with the laws of say
age courtesy and hospi tally, they seated
themselves on the ground around their
visitors, and waited to hear what they
bad TO communicate.
The Lsraelite, Luis dc Torres, found
bis Hebrew, Chaldaic and Arabic of no
avail, and the Lucayen interpreter had
to be the orator. lie made regular
speech after the Indian manner, in which
he extolled the power, the wealth and
munifcence Of the white man. When
he had finished, the Indians crowded
round these wonderful beings, whom, as
usual, they considered more than human.
Some touched them, examining their
skin and raiment, others kissed their
hands and feet in token Of submission or
alteration. In little while the men
withdrew and were succeeded by the
women, and the same ceremonies were
repeated. Some of the women had a
slight covering of Melted cotton around |
the middle, but in general both sexes
were entirely naked. There seemed to |
be ranks and orders Of society among
them, and chieftain of some authority,
whereas among all the natives they had |
previously met with complete equality |
seemed to prevail.
There was no appearance of gold or |
other precious articles, and when they |
showed specimens Of cinnamon, pepper |
and other spices, the inhabitants told |
them they were not to be found in that !
neighborhood, but far off to the south
west.
The ENJOYS determined, therefore, to
return to the ships. The natives would !
fam have induced them to remain for
several days; but seeing them bent on
departing great numbev were anxious
to accompany them, imagining they
We're about to return to the skies. They
took with them, however, only one of the
prtncipal men. with his son, who were
attended by a domestic.
On their way back they for the first
time witnessed the use OF a weed, which
the ingenious caprice Of man has since
converted into universal luxury in
defiance Of the opposition of the senses.
They beheld several of the natives going
about with tirebrands in their hands and
certain dried herbs which they rolled up
l.,