Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15

been found it has come down to us through q
translation in Latin, made by Leander de Cosco
in Naples on April 49, 1893 and not less than
six editions Of this Latin version were printed
in that same year. 1t is thought that two
0enoese ambassadors, who left Barcelona
shortly after Columbus return, may have taken
to Italy With them Spanish edition OF the let
ter. This version is the one included In the
Verardus volume and was the only original
one known prior to the discovery in recent years
Of the original Spanish text.
The letters TO Sanchez and SantanGel," says
Henry HarTiSsee, distinguished authority on Co
lunbus together with the abstract Of Column
bus journal In the hand of Las Casas, pre-
served IN the archives of the Duke del Infantae
do and published for the first time by Narvar.
rete and the extract from Bernaldes, compose
the sum total Of all that we know concerning
the ffTst voyage Of Columbus"
At any rate, we have the Sanchez letter IN
our Verardus book-incidentally, the FIRST edi-
ton Of Verardus with the discovery letter.
safely reposing on the shelves of our rare book
room In fact, we have two, because the LII
brary Of Congress already had Verarcus In tts
famous Peter Force collection.
Having now accomplished the undertaking
upon which set out" says the Columbus dis.
covery letter in the Verardus book, II know that
it WIN be agreeable to you to be informed OF an
have discovered IN my voyage. On the thirty
third day after left Cadiz reached the m
dian Ocean, where found many islands pe0-
uAuMeTaD4e
took possession without resistance. The Is
lands abound in the finest variety Of trees, 20
lofty that they seem to reach the stars. These
people are Of very timid disposition, an I'M
commonly simple, honest people, liberal In be-
slowing what they possess"
The wOodcuts in VerarduS of the landing
Of Columbus being the very first illustrations to
depict the discovery of the New World, are, OF
course, OF extraordinary interest Indeed, 1t u
frequently stated that they were drawn by Co
Nlmbus himself, but who can say?
The title page displays woodcut OF tulI~
length portrait of King Ferdinand of Spain,
dressed In armor, holding the escutcheon' OF
CASTLE and Leon in his right hand and that OF
Granada in his left, and the words "FerdanduS.
Rex Hyspanie."
The next woodcut depicts Columbus and am
other mariner in a boat landing on the shores
of America and Offering a goblet to the half
frightened unclothed natives, some Of whom
are advancing, while others are running away
caxaval or small sailing vessel is in the fore
ground. At the top of the picture are the
words Ursula Hyspana" (San Domingo).
Then there is q woodcut of the islands dis
covered by Columbus on his first voyage, de-
picting Hispaniola, Fernandina isabella, San
Salvador and Santa Maria de Ia Conception.
A town and fort in the process OF conSTucs
ton by the seaside on Hispania, with the words
Ursula Hyspana" (San Domingo), form the
theme for another picture; the next Is a single
escutcheOn Of CASTLE and Leon, and, finally,
there is an exquisite full-page woodcut OF Co
lumbus adniraPs ship, showing the great navi-
gators cabin on the stern, IN full sail, with
these words above: "Oceanica Chassis"
CCARCE, indeed, are contemporary references
- in q printed book to new discoveries dur~
ing the progress of Columbus second voyage,
or m the interval previous to the undertaking
of the third voyage in the Spring of 1893 but
we find some in Sebastian Brandts Ship Of
Fools" ZachariuS Lihas' DE Origine ct 1audi-