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

ticc of approaching danger. Nor Is the
least beautiful part of animated nature
the various tribes Of insects peopihg
every plant and displaying brilliant
coats of mail, which sparkle like pre-
cious gems.
Such is the splendor Of animal and
vegetable creation in these tropical eli
mates, where an ardent sun imparts its
own lrlster to every object and quickens
nature into exuberant fecundity. The
birds in general are not remarkable for
their notes, for it has been observed that
in the feathered race sweetness of song
rarely accompanies brilliancy of plu-
mage Columbus remarks, however,
that there were various kinds which
sang sweetly among the trees, and he
frequently deceived himself in fancying
that he heard the voice OF the nightin-
gale, bird unknown in these countries.
He was, in fact, in a mood to see every
thing through a favoring medium. His
heart was full to overlooking, for he
was enjoying the fulfllment Of his
hopes and the hard earned but glorious
reward Of his tolls and perils. Every
thing around him was beheld with the
enamored and exultiug eye OF discov-
eror, where triumph mingles with ad-
lniraton, and ii is difficult to conceive
the rapt,rous state of his feelings whlle
thus exploring the charms OF virgin
world, Won BY his enterprise and valor.
From his continual remarks on tho
beauty of scenery ard from his evident
delight in rural sounds and objects, Le
appears to have been extremely open to
those happy influences exercised over
come spirits by the graces and wonders
of nature. He gives utterance to these
feelings with characteristic enthusiasm,
and at the same time with the artless-
ness and simplicity of diction Of a child
When speaking of some lovely scene
among the groves, or along the fowery
shores of these favored islands, he says,
zone could live there forever" Cuba
broke upon him like an clysium. ut is
the most beautiful island" he says, that
eye ever beheld, full Of excellent ports
and profound rivers" The climate was
more temperate here than in the other
islands, the nights being neither hot nor
cold, while the birds and crickets sang
in a tropical night, in the depth of the
dark blue sky, the lambert purity Of the
stars, and the respondent clearness of
the moon that spreads over the rich land
scGpe and the balmy groves, charm
more captivating than the spendor Of
the day.
In the sweet smell Of the woods and
the odor of the flowers Columbus fam
cied he perceived the fragrance of ori-
entail spices, and along the shores he found
shells of the kind Of oyster which pro-
duces pearl. From the grass growing to
the very edge Of the water he inferred
the peacefulness Of the ocean which
bathes these islands, never lashing the
shores with angry surges. Ever since
his arrival among these Antilles he had
experienced nothing but soft and gentle
weather, and he concluded that a per-
petual serenity reigned over these happy
seas. He was little suspicious of the oc-
casional bursts of fury to which they are
liable. Charlevoix, speaking from actual
observation. remarks; 1.-The sea Of those
Islands Is commonly more tranquil than
ours; but. like certain people who are en-
cited with difficulty. and whose trans
ports Of passion are as violent as they
are rare, so when the sea becomes irri-
tated, 1t is terrible. 1t breaks all bounds,
overt1ows the country, sweeps away all
things that oppose it, and leaves fright
full ravages behind to mark the extent of
its foundations. 1t is after these tenn
pests, known by the name of hurricanes,
that the shores are covered with marine
shells, which greatly surpass in luster
and beauty those of the European seas"
1t is singular fact, however, that the
hurricanes, which almost annually dew
estate the bahamas and other islands
In The immediate vicinity Of Cuba, have
been seldom known to extend their in
fluence to this favored land. 1t would
seem as il the very elements were
charmed into gentleness as they ap-
preached it.
In kind of riot Of the imagination,
Columbus finds at every step something
to corroborate the information he had
received, or fancied he had received,
from the natives. He had conclusive
proofs, rs he thought that Cuba pos
sessed llines of gold and groves Of
spices, ard tlIat lis shores aDOunded with
pearls. lie ~ longer doubted that it
was the island Of Cipango, and weighing
anchor coasted along westward, in which
direction, according to the signs Of his
interpreters, the magnificent city Of its
king was situated. IN the course of his /
voyage he landed occasionally, and visit |
ed several villages, particularly one on
the banks Of d large river, to which he |
gave the name of Rio de los Mares.
The houses were neatly built of
branches of palm trees in the shape of /
pavilions, not laid out in regular streets |
but scattered here and there among the !
groves and under the shade Of broad .
spreading trees, like tents III camp-as
Is still the case III many Of the Spanish .
settlements, and in the villages in the .
interior of Cuba. The inhabitants fed .
to tho mountains or hid themselves in /
the woods.
Columbus carefully noted the archi-
lecture and furniture Of their dwellings.
The houses were better built than those
he had hit beTtp seen and N,ara l-,r+ -,