The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-10-05

knees kissed the earth, and returned
thanks to God with tears of joy. His
example was followed by the rest,
whose hearts indeed overlooked with
the same feelings of gratitude Column
bus then rising, drew his sword, dis
played the royal standard, and as
sembling round him the two captains,
with Rodrigo de Escobedo, notary of
the armament, Rodrigo Sanchez, aud
thu resi- who had landed. ne took SOL
emn possession in the name of the
CaStilian sovereignS, giving the island
the name of San Salvador. Having COM
piled with the requisite forms and
ceremonies, he called upon all present
to take the oath of obedience to him,
as admiral and viceroy, representing
the persons of the SoVereigns.
The feelings of the crew now burst
forth in the most eXtravagant trans
ports They had recently considered
themselves devoted men, hurrying for
ward to destruction; they now looked
upon themselves as favorites of for
tune, and gave themselves up to the
NEST unbounded joy. They thronged
around the admiral with OVERLOOKING
zeal, some embracing him, others kiss
ing his hands Those who had been
most mutinous and turbulent during
the voyage were now most devoted
and enthusiastic. Some begged favors
OF hinI as if he already had wealth
and honors in his gift Many abject
spirits, who had outraged him by their
insolence, now crouched at his feet,
begging pardon for all the trouble they
had caused him and promising the
bIindest obedience for the future.
The natives of the island, when, at
the dawn of day, they had beheld the
ships towering on their coast, had sup
posed them monsters which had issued
from the deep during the night. They
had crowded to the beach and watched
their movements with awful anxiety.
Their veering about, apparently with
out effort. and the shifting and furling
of their sails, resembling huge wings.
filled them with establishment When
they beheld their boats approach the
shore, and a number of strange be-
ings clad in gFittering steel, or raj
ment of various colors. landing upon
the beach, they fled in alright to the
woods. Finding. however. that there
was no attempt to pursue or modest
them, they gradually recovered from
theiI terror, and approached the Span
iards with great awe; frequently pros
tratirg themselves on the earth, and
making signs of alteration. During the
ceremonies of taking possession, they
remained gazing in timid admiration
at the complexion, the boards, the shin
ing armOr, ana SpI9nulu ureSS OF the
Spaniards. The admiral particularly at
tracted their attention, from his com
manding height, his air of authority,
his dress of scarlet, and the Difference
which was pa him by his companions:
all which pointed him out to be the
comma nder When they had still furth-
er recovered from their fears, they
approached he Spaniards touched
their boards, and examined their hand
ana faces, admring their whiteness
Columbus was pleased with their gem
tleness and confiding simplicity, and
suffered their scrutiny with perfect
acquiescence. winning them by his be-
nightly They now supposed that the
ships had sailed out of the crystal
armament which bounded their horizon.
or had descended from above on their
ample wings, and that these marvel
Gus beings were Inhabitants of the
skies
The natives of the island were no
less objects of curiosity to the Span
lards, differing, as they did, from ~
race of men they had ever seen. Their
appearance gave no promise of either
wealth or civilization, for they were
entirely naked, and painted with
variety of colors. With some it was