Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-18
CHAPTER vi.
THE NEW WORLD is DISCOVERED.

THE NEW WORLD is DISCOVERED.
1t was goodly country that Columbus
and his followers looked upon when the
morning OF the 18th OF October had dawned,
and they were able to approach nearer to
the shore. They saw large level island
covered with abundant and luxuriant veg
citation. The trees were laden with fruit
and soft and balmy air blew from the
shore. People were running about in the
woods and OH the beach and their actions
indicated that they were surprised at the
sudden appearance of the ships in the bay
before them.
AS soon as it vas light the boats were
manned and armed Columbus had already
given thanks to God for the favorable result
of his voyage. Now he clad himself in
shining armor and bright scarlet robes and
carried the royal standard of Spain in his
hands. The two Pinzons Joined him in
their boats each one handsomely attired and
carrying the banner of the enterprise. As
soon as his boat grounded upon the shore
Columbus leaped out, the frs. to put foot
upon the new world. Reverently he
dropped upon his knees. kissed the earth
and with tears of joy pouring from his eyes
again publicly acknowledged the goodness
of God to him.
Then he drew his sword and planting the
staff of the royal banner upright upon the
shore he took formal possession of the new
land in the name OF Ferdinand and
Isabella His action was witnessed and
certified by the notaries, and he gave the
name San Salvador to the island. His fol-
lowers were now overwhelmed with ad-
miration for their captain. They crowded
around him with every expression of grati-
tude and worshipful obedience. At once
they forgot the long and anxious voyage and
their own mutinous spirit, and they bound
themselves anew with oaths of fealty to the
Admiral and Viceroy in whose hands were
now, they believed, fortune and fame
for all.
The island upon which this landing was
made was one of the Bahamas. The exact
location has been disputed among historians
and geographers 1t is now generally
accepted that Watling's Island, just south
of Cats Island, or the modern San Saliva
dor, was the site. There must have been
some feeling of disappointment in the mind
of Columbus over his discovery. He had
expected to find the eastern side of Asia
with populous and wealthy cities. He had
even brought with him letters from the
Spanish sovereigns to Prester John, who
was believed to be powerful ruler over
great part OF Asia. The wonderful stories
of gold, silver, jewels and spices that
were believed to surround the every
day life of the people of this new
land had always been an incentive to him.
Now ali that greeted his eyes was a little
island pleasant enough after long sea voy-
age, but with no indications of wealth
either in itself or in the appearance OF the
naked people who were running about.
Still he thought he had reached the out
skirts of India and, therefore, he gave the
name of Indians to the natives, a name that
you know has clung to the aborigines of North
America ever since. And it is worthy of
note here that although Columbus continued
his explorations for pearly IA years he
never got beyond the Bahamas and West
Indies. The belief that he had discovered
Asia or even the islands of Cipango or
Japan was in time dispelled from his mind.
But he died without ever having seen or
known of the great continent only 300 miles
beyond the scene of his first great dis
covery.
But there was much to interest him in the
new country and its people even, if he did
not find exactly what he had expected His
description of the people was graphic. He
wrote in his journal:
All whom saw were young, not above
30 years of age, well made, with fine Shapes
and faces; their hair short and coarse like
that OF horses tail, combed toward the
forehead, except small portion which they
suffered to hang down behind, and never
cut. Some paint themselves with black
which makes them appear like those of the
Canaries, neither black nor white: others
with white, others with red, and others with
such colors as they can find. Some paint
the face. and some the whole body: others
only the eyes, ana others the nose. Weapons
they have none, nor are they acquainted
with them: for / showed them swords which
4 hla1aS
selves through ignorance. They have no
iron, their javelins being without it. and
nothing more than sticks. though some
have f1shbones or other things at the ends.
Thev are all of q good size and stature, and
formed.
These natives were mild-mannered and
they looked upon the newcomers with awe.
They supposed that the ships were live
that had risen from the ocean dur
ing the night or that had descended from