The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-02-07

now prostrated themselves, entreatine
his pardon and promising henceforth
the most implicit obedience.
columbus, with natural generosity,
accepted both apologies and promises,
finding it impossible to blur the
triumph OF his success even by just
and necessary severity.
although the Indians las the
Spaniards called them) at first fed,
curiosity and the encouraging gentle
ness of Columbus soon brought them
back. and they proved to be as guile
less and hospitable as they were
timid. They were soon offering to
the strangers everything of their best,
accepting in return the most trivial
articles as gifts from the gods.
"Their language, however, was
foreign to the interpreters with whom
Columbus had provided himself, but
they were quick at pantomime, hav-
ing all the keenness Of perception pc
culiar to untortured people, and the
little that was to be known about the
island was soon learned.
ga few of the natives, apparently
of more Importance than their fellows,
wore ornaments of gold; and when
they understood from Columbus that
it was his wish to find this precious
metal, they explained by signs, that
it could be found on many adjacent
islands, the position of which they in
dicated to him. The Spaniards, then,
soon prepared to leave San Salvador,
having first taken on board q, supply
of water and such simple food and
fruits as the natives could, offer; and
Notwithstanding the entreaties of these
simple beings, who confidently be-
lieved that the new arrivals we're di-
vine and had descended from the sky,
they left this lovely island, on the
third day after landing on it, to pur-
sue their adventurous search for more
profitable shores.
''There was now DO further grum-
bling among the Spanish sailors.
Truly things seen are mightier than
things heard;' their former lack of
confidence in the admiral was changed
to faith and veneration, and they were
almost as ready as the simple savages
to believe him above ordinary human
ity.
4sThe next landing was made upon
an island about five or six leagues
distant; but though Columbus found
the inhabitants gentle and willing to
display such treasures as they pos
sessed, he was again disappointed in
his quest for gold. Some of the In
dians wore anklets and bracelets of
the precious metal, and a few were
further decorated with strings OF
pearls. These ornaments were read
ily bestowed on the ,Spaniards, III e1-
change for bright-colored beads and
hawks bells, with which they were
nightly pleased; and they told them
the gold and the pearls could be found
on other islands not far distant, which
they described an named.
"While cruising about from island
to island, Pedro Mendoza had kept an
eager watch on all that happened;
and although gold was on article OF
Royal monopoly and Columbus had
forbidden all traffic in it without his
permission, Pedro had already pos
sessed himself of several specimens
of what the Indians too soon learned
to denominate 'the Spaniard's god
His avarice led him toward it by an
attraction as mysterious, but as sure
as that of the iron to the loadstone;
and already the thought had crossed
his mind of deserting the expedition in
order more freely and entirely to give
up his life to his most passionate de-
sire. Among this simple people, he
might reign q king, possessed of
wealth greater than was ever owned
by the sovereigns of his native land;
and in such ambitious dreams the
memory of Juniata and little Raphael
had already grown so faint that for
days and even weeks he forgot to
think of them. What had at first
been like dream, a fantasy, soon
took the shape of reality, and Men
doza found himself devising plan by
which he could fulfill his purpose.
columbus and his followers had
landed upon a most beautiful island,
one of which, in his journal, he wrote
with such enthusiasm that the reader,
even at this distant day, is thrilled by
the description of it.
"'The groves are marvellous, and IN
all the island everything is green as
it is in April in our own Andalusia.
The singing of the birds is such, that
it seems as if one would never desire
to depart hence; there are foclIs OF
parrots that obscure the sun, and other
birds large and small of so many diff
ferent kinds that.sit is wonderful.
;, :: Trees of thousand varieties,
each having its particular fruit. and
oil ,of marvellous flavor -. and so
soft and goodis the airafromfall man.
ner of flowers, that it is the sweetest
thing in the world (. here, indeed,
one could live foreyer!' .5xS
To pr coyT1NuED - %..,,%