Arizona weekly citizen., 1892-09-24

held; "the country was as fresh an green as in the month of May in Ands lusia; the trees, the fruits. the herbs. tn
 flowers, the very stones for the mos
 part, as different from those of Spain a
 night from day. The inhabitants gay the same proofs as the other islanders
 of being totally unaccustomed to tn
 sight of civilized man. They regarded the Spaniards with awe and admiration
 approached them with propitiatory offer ings of whatever their poverty. O
 rather their simple and natura mode Of life, afforded the fruit
 ef their fields and groves, the cotton
 which was their article of greates
 value. and their dOmesticated parrots
 They took those who were in search O
 water to the coolest springs, the sweetes
 and freshest runs, filling their casks anC
 rolling them to the boats, thus seeking
 in every way to gratify their celestia
 visitors.
 However pleasing this state or prl
 meval poverty might be to the imagina
 ton of the poet, 1t was a source of con
 tinued disappointment to the Spaniards
 whose avarice had been whetted to the
 quick by scanty specimens of gold and
 hy the information of golden islands con
 tinually given by the Indians.
 Leaving Fernandina on the 18th day oi
 October they steered to the southeast in
 quest of an island called Saometo. where
 Columbus understood from the signs of
 the guides there was a mine of gold and
 king, the sovereign of all the sur
 rounding islands. who dwelt in large
 city and possessed great treasures, wear
 ing rich clothing and jewels of gold.
 They found the island, but neither the
 monarch nor the mine. either Colum bus
 had misunderstood the natives or they
 measuring things by their own Ppvertjy-
 had exaggerated the paltry stSte and trivial ornaments of some savage chief tain Delightful as the other islands had appeared, Columbus declared that this surpassed them all Like those, it was covered with trees and shrubs and herUs of unknown kind. The climate had the same soft temperature; the air was delicate and balmy: the land was higher.
 --1th q fire yerdant hill; the coast of a
 ne sand, gently layed by transparent Iiilows
 Al the southwest end of the island he found fine lakes of fresh water, overhung with groves and surrounded by banks covered with herbage Here he ordered aii the casks of the ships to be filled.
 Here are large lakes, says he in his journal. and the groves about them are marvellous. and here and in all the island everything is green, as in April in Anda- lnsia. The singing of the birds is such that II seems as if one would never desire 70 depart hence There are focks of parrots which obscure the sun, and other birds, large and small. of so many kinds all different from ours that it is wonder ful, and besides, there are trees of thou sand species. each having its particular fruit and all of marvellous flavor, so that | am m the greatest trouble in the world not to know them. for am very certain that they are each of great valne. l shall bring home some of them as speci- mems, and also some of the herbs" To this beautiful island he gave the name of his royal patroneSs, Isabella; it is the same at present called Isla Larga and EXUmeta Columbus was intent on dis covering the drugs and spices of the east, and on approaching this island had fancied he perceived in the air the spicy OdOrs said to be waited from the islands of the Indian seas. As 1 arrived at this cape" says he, "there came thence a fragrance so good and soft of the flow ITS or trees of the land that it was the sweetest thing in the world. l believe there are here many herbs and trees which would be of great price in Spain for tinctures, medicines and spices, but know nothing of them. which gives me great concern.
 The fish which abounded in these seas 1artook of the novelty which character zed most of the objects in this New World They rivaled the birds in trop- cal brilliancy of color, the scales of some of them glancing back the rays of fight like precious stones; as they sported about the ships they flashed gleams of gold and silver through the clear waves; md the dOlphins, taken out of their ele- nent, delighted the eye with the .hanges of colors ascribed in fable to he chameleon.
 No animals were seen in these islands, | excepting @ species of dog which never ! parked, kind of cony or rabbit called l 'utia" by the natives, together with nu nerous lizards and guanas. The last | were regarded with disgust and horror y the Spaniards. supposing them to be ierce and noxious serpents; but they | were found afterward to be perfectly | harmless, and their flesh to be esteemed ! great delicacy by the Indians.
 For several days Columbus hovered | bout this island, seeking in vain to find | ts imaginary monarch, or to establish with him, until at length | le reluctantly became convinced of his | rror. No sooner, however, did one de i usiOn fade away than another succeeded. | n reply to the continual inquiries made | y the Spaniards after the source whence | hey procured their gold, the natives uni Ormly pointed to the south. Columbus | iON lO uSdI Ol du iSldilu III lilIl Erection called Cuba, but all that he | ould collect concerning it from the igns of the natives was colOred by his He understood it to be of 'reat extent, abounding in gold and earls and spices, and carrying on an ex- ensive commerce in those precious arti- les, and that large merchant ships came o trade with its inhabitants.
 Comparing these misinterpreted ac- cunts with the coast of Asia as laid | own on his map, after the descriptions f Marco Polo, he concluded that this 5land must be Cipango, and the mer- 1 hant ships mentioned must be those of he grand khan, who maintained an ex- ensive commerce in these seas. He ormed his plan accordingly, determin- lg to sail immediately for this island nd make himself acquainted with its orts, cities and productions for the pur- Ose of establishing relations of traffic. IT