Arizona weekly citizen., 1892-09-17

made saII, out meeting with counter currents 1t was not until sunset that they anchored at the island. The next morning Q6th) they went on shore, and Columbus took solemn possession, giv- ing the island the name of Santa Maria ! de Ia Conception. The same scene oc- cured with the inhabitants as with those of San Salvador. They manifested the same astonishment and awe; the same gentleness and simplicity, and ths same nakedness and absence of wealth. Columbus looked in vain for bracelets and anklets of gold, or for any other precious articles; they had been either 6ctions of his indian guides or his own misinterpretations.
 Returning on board, he prepared to make sail, when one of the Indians of San Salvador, who was on board of the Nina, plunged into the sea and swam to large canoe filled with natives. The boat of the caravel put of in pursuit, but the Indians managed in their light bark with too much velocity to bs over taken, and, reaching the land, fled to the woods. The sailors took the canoe as a prize, and returned on board the caravel. Shortly afterward a small canoe sp- preached one of the ships, from a diff ferent part of the island, with single Indian on board, who came to offer 8 ball of cotton in exchange for hawks bells. As he paused when close to the vessel, and feared to enter, several sail ors threw themselves into the sea and took him prisoner
 Columbus having seen all that passed from his station on the high poop of the vessel, ordered the captive to be brought to him. He came trembling with fear and humbly offered his ball of cotton as a gift The admiral received him with the utmost benignity, and declining his offering put cOlOred cap upon his head. strings of green beads around his arms, and hawks bells in his ears, then order ing him and his ball of cotton to be re- placed in the canoe, dismissed him, as- tonished and overjoyed. He ordered that the canoe, also, which had been seized and was fastened to the Nina, should be cast loose, to be regained by its prOprietors When the Indian reached the shore, his countrymen thronged around him, examining and admirlng his fnery, and listening to his account of the kind treatment he experienced.
 Such were the gentle and sage precau- tions continually taken by Columbus to impress the natives favorably. Another instance of the kind occurred after leav- ing the island of Conception, when the caravels stood for the larger island, sew eral leagues to the west. Midway be- tween the two islands they overlook single Indian in a canoe. He had mere morsel of cassava bread and a calabash of water for sea stores, and little red paint, like dragons blood, for personal decoration when he should land A string of glass beads, such as had been given to the natives of San Salvador, showed that he had come thence, and was probably passing rom island Io island, to give notice of the ships. Co., lumbus admired the hardihood of this simple navigator, making such an exten- sive voyage in so frail a bark As the island was still distant, he ordered that both the Indian and his canoe should be taken on board, where he treated him with the greatest kindness, giving him bread and honey to eat and wine to drink The weather being very calm. they did not reach the island until too dark to anchor, through fear of cutting their cables with rocks. The sea about these islands was so transparent that in the daytime they could see the bottom and choose their ground, and so deep that at two gunshot distance there was no anchorage. Hoisting out the canoe of their Indian vOyager, therefore, and restoring to him all his effects, they sent him joyfully ashore, to prepare the na- tives for their arrival. while the ships lay to until morning.
 This kindness had the desired effect The natives surrounded the ships in their canoes during the night, bringing fruits and roots and the pure water of their springs. Columbus distributed trifing presents among them, and to those who came on board he gave sugar and honey.
 Landing the next morning he gave to this island the name of Fernandina. In honor of the king; it is the same at present called Exuma The inhabitants were similar in every respect to those of the preceding islands, excepting that they appeared more ingenious and in telligent. Some of the women wore mantles and aprons of cotton, but for the most part they were entirely naked Their habitatiOns were constructed in the form of pavilion or high circular tent, of branches of trees, of reeds a. palm leaves. They were kept We clean and neat and sheltered un spreading trees. For beds they had E ; of cotton extended from two pos which they called hamacs, name sine in universal use among sealnen.
 In endeavoring to circumnavigate ths island, Columbus found. within two leagues of the northwest cape, a noble harbor, sufficient to hold a hundred ships. with two entrances formed by an island which lay in the mouth of it. Here. while the men landed with the casks in search of water he repOsed under the