New Britain herald., 1924-01-26
COLUMBUS WRITER
 OF GREAT ABILITY
Wrote 9bSerVant Account Of His
 Travels in the New World

Washington. p. C.. Jan 26.--Ask your friends tu name q few of the great travel writers Of all times and you will got many names Marco Polo. Richard IIdkiuyt Henry NJ. Stanley probably none will mention Columbus.
 If he did and you inquired which Columb,Is'' he would conclude you wvrt asking a trick question.
 "rhr fame of Christopher colum- lu, as the discoterer of America has both ovrrshatlowed his own remark - ably ul,s.rlaut account of what h" found among the Indies and the bio graphical uarratiy" of his son Ferdtn- and Columhus says a bulletin from the Natioual Geographic society.
 Roth documents are arcrssihle aud known tn crographors and his tofiaus. indeed the iatter's ant horship has aroused considerable controversy, yet they are not read so pnpularly as are .Inauy other travel classics"
 Trc,'~ "~trrt,'hiug | n tn t'iC Stars.
 An example of in" deSrriptiv" styi" of Columbus is quot"d from his re marks about rlIl,a. which ho called Jusna. and at first believed to h" a part rt the China roast. Columbus wrote.
 This island IS surrounded by many 1nr> safe and wide harbors, not eA- cnllcd by any others that | have ever secu Many great and salubrions river flow through ii, There are also .lfe
 All thoso islands are very beauti- fuI, and distinguished by various qualities; they are accessible and full of great variety of trees stretching np to the stars; the leaves of which l believe are never shed. for l saw them as green and flourishing as they ar,- usually in Spain in the month of May: some of them hlossoming, some were bearg fruit. some were in other conditions; each one was thriving in is own way. The nightingale and ,arioms other birds without number were singing in the month of Novem- hrr, when was exploring them. Theru are besides in the said island JHana seven or eight kinds Of palm trees. which far excel ours in height and beauty, just as all the other trees, herhs and fruits do,'
 Relieved Visitors Were Celestial.
 nf the natives of inc islands to- Hmhus wrote:
 '1'hese people practice no kind of idnlatry; on the contrary they firmly and in fact all good things are in heaven. and that had come down from thence with these ships and sail ors. and m this hslief [ was received after they had put aside fear Nor are they slow or unskillod, but Of nN- cpilent and acute understanding; and to men who have nayignted that sca give an account nf everything in au admirable manner: but they never saw people clothed, nor this kind of ships"
 one island whicb Columbus called Mateunin. probably Martinique. he believed to bc inhabited only hy , women.
 "'rhesc women," hc said. perform no kind of work of their sex, for they iise bows and darts; they protect themselves with sheets Of ropper. They fell mc of another island, who's" arc without hair. anal which abonnds in gold above all others"
 \ Commercial Report.
 The explorers summary Of the commercial advantages Of the islands said:
 ''l promise this. that if [ am sup ported by our most in,nciblc sovef- eigns with a little Of their help. as much gold can be supplied as they will need. indeed as much Of spices. Of cotton. of chewing gum (which is only found n Chic. also as much of aioes-W ood, and as many slaves for the navy. as their inaiesties will wish to demand"
 Interesting si1elights on the first trans Atlantic voyage abound in the or Ferdinand Columbus based on his illustrious fathers log. This journal contained surprising amount Of data telling what winds blew. how far he sailed with each