as at Santa Gloria, many canoes came off: the men, with menaces, endeavoured to prevent their landing; but were pacified, by the Lucayan interpreter, with some trinkets. Columbus, however, thinking it necessary to make them feel his power, wounded seven of them with grape shot, and sent a large dog after the fugitives, The next day, they came with signs of peace, dressed with palm leaves and feathers, and painted with various colours: they were black. The admiral named the island Santiago; and stood to the westward, to a large bay, which he named Gulfo Buentiempo. An Indian boy concealed himself in the hold, that he might go with the ship. Columbus now altered his course for Cuba, intending to ascertain if it was an island or not. The 18th of May, they made and named Cabo de Cruz. The archipelago, which Columbus called the Queen's Garden, he supposed to be the 5000 islands, which Marco Polo and Mandeville described as the extreme of India. Pursuing his dangerous course to the westward, he made constant inquiries whether Cuba was an island or not: and though several of the natives said it was, and a very large one, their account of the inhabitants at the west end was so absurd, that Columbus, after coasting it for 335 leagues from the east point, ordered Fernan Perez de Luna, and four witnesses, to declare upon oath, upon the 12th of June, on board each ship, that it was the beginning of India, and the country which he intended to find. Had he stood to the westward one day longer, he would have discovered his error. Piedra's Point was seen from his mast head; but he fancied himself in the Chinese Ocean, and thought of sailing round the world, and returning to Europe by the Red Sea. His ships were leaky, and short of provisions: he therefore stood back for Espanola. The Nina got on shore, and was with great difficulty saved. Upon the 6th of July, the admiral landed near Cape Santa Cruz, and heard mass in the presence of several Indians; one of whom, an old cazique of great gravity, presented the admiral with a calabash full of fruit; then seating himself upon his hams, made the following speech to the admiral: "Thou hast come here with a great power, and hast terrified the inhabitants very much. Dost thou know that there are two places in the world whither souls go: the one dark and bad, for those that do evil; the other pleasant and good, where those rest who have loved peace? Therefore, if thou knowest that thou hast to die, and that every one will be rewarded according to his deeds, thou wilt not do evil unto those who do none to thee. I see it is your custom to give thanks to God- we do so here." The admiral desired the interpreter to say, that he was glad to find they believed in the immortality of the soul; that his sovereign had sent him to discover those lands, to protect the inhabitants from the cannibals, and make every body live in peace. The old man embraced his knees, with great respect; and asked repeatedly, where Four ships soon arrived, under the command of Torres, and brought the admiral the following letter: The King and the Queen, Don Christopher Columbus, our High Admiral of the Islands of the Indies: We have seen your letters and memorials, sent to us by Torres; and have felt great pleasure in being made acquainted with all that you have written to us in them; and we return many thanks to the Lord for all, hoping that, with his assistance, your undertaking will be the cause of our holy Catholic faith being still more widely spread; and one of the principal things which pleased us so much in this affair is, its having been invented, commenced, and obtained through your means, labour, and industry. It appears to us, that of all that you told us from the beginning would happen almost the whole has been verified; as if you had seen it before mentioning it to us; and we trust in God, that what yet remains to be known will be verified in like manner; for all which things we are bound in duty to confer favours upon you, such as you shall be perfectly satisfied with. And having reflected upon all that you have written to us, although you express yourself minutely upon every thing, which upon reading, gives us great pleasure and joy, nevertheless, we should feel greater satisfaction by your writing to inform us how many islands have been discovered up to the present time, and what is the name you have given to each of them; for although you name some of them in your letters, they are not all named; and also the name given to the others by the Indians; and the distance between them; and whatever you have found in each of them; and what is said to be produced in them; and what has been sown since you were there; and what has been obtained, the time being already elapsed in which whatever has been sown should be reaped. And, more especially, we wish to know all the seasons of the year, such as they take place there in each month separately; it appearing to us, from what you say, that there is a great difference in the seasons from what we have here: some wish to know if there are two winters and two summers in the same year. Inform us of every thing for our service; and send us the greatest number possible of falcons, and of all the other birds that are produced there, and that can be had; because we are desirous of seeing them all. And as for the things of which you have sent us a memorial, to be provided here, and forwarded to you, we have given orders for them all to be provided, as you will learn from the foresaid Torres, and as you will see by what he brings with him. We should wish, if you approve of it, that in order to receive news from you, and from the people who are with you, as well as that you may be provided constantly with all necessary things, a caravel should sail every month from thence, and another depart from hence; as, the affairs of Portugal being now arranged, vessels may pass and repass in security. Reflect upon this; and if it appears to you proper to be done, do it, and write to us in what manner you think it would be proper to expedite the vessel from hence. As to what relates to the forms you have established, we entirely approve of those you have hitherto commenced, and desire them to be continued; recommending to you to keep the people as much satisfied as possible, but at the same time not allowing them to transgress in any thing in what they are to do, or you order them to do, on our part. Memorials of Columbus, Doc. 35. Majesties had appointed the admiral's sons pages to the Prince, and the title of Don had been given to himself: he was also commodore of three caravels, which were laden with the things that the admiral had sent for by Antonio de Torres, who had arrived in Spain a month before he sailed, which was in April. Columbus received the following letter from their Majesties: The King and Queen's Letter to Columbus. Don Christopher Columbus, our Admiral of the Ocean, and our Viceroy and Governor of the Islands newly discovered in the Indies. We have seen the letters which you sent us by Antonio de Torres, from which we received great pleasure; and we return many thanks to our Lord God for having executed it so well, and for having guided you se well throughout all. We acknowledge ourselves obliged and indebted to you for what you have performed in those parts, and arranged in the best order and foresight imaginable. We have likewise given audience to the said Anthony de Torres, and received all that you sent us by him; nor was this the less expected from you, in consequence of the earnestness and great affection we have found and do find in you, for whatever regards our service. You may be certain that we consider ourselves exceedingly well served by you, and that we feel it our duty to confer favours, and honours, and privileges, upon you, such as your great services demand and entitle you to expect. And as the said Antonio de Torres delayed coming here until now, and we had not seen your letters, which he had not sent to us, wishing to deliver them himself safely; and in order to hasten the departure of the ships, now about to sail, which, immediately we were informed of it, we ordered to be dispatched, with a complement of the things you sent for in your memorial, and as completely as possible, without detaining them; and thus, also, every thing shall be done and executed, mentioned in the other memorial brought by him, and at the time and in the manner he shall direct. We cannot now answer you as we wished: nevertheless, when he departs, if it please God, we will answer you fully; and we will give orders to provide | whatever may be requisite. We have heard, with displeasure, of the circumstances which have taken place in those parts contrary to our will; for which we shall order proper remedy, as well as punishment. In the first vessel that returns to Spain, send home Bernal de Pisa, to whom we have sent an order to that effect; and let the person whom you and Father Boyl may judge proper fill his office, until we have provided another for it here; as, in order to hasten the departure of the said ships, no steps till now have been taken upon it; but in the next voyage, if it please God, a proper person shall be sent out for the said office. From Medina del Campo, the 13th of April, 94. I, the KING. I, the QUEEN. By command of the King and Queen, JUAN DE LA PARRA. Four ships soon arrived, under the command of Torres, and brought the admiral the following letter: The King and the Queen, Don Christopher Columbus, our High Admiral of the Islands of the Indies: We have seen your letters and memorials, sent to us by Torres; and have felt great pleasure in being made acquainted with all that you have written to us in them; and we return many thanks to the Lord for all, hoping that, with his assistance, your undertaking will be the cause of our holy Catholic faith being still more widely spread; and one of the principal things which pleased us so much in this affair is, its having been invented, commenced, and obtained through your means, labour, and industry. It appears to us, that of all that you told us from the beginning would happen almost the whole has been verified; as if you had seen it before mentioning it to us; and we trust in God, that what yet remains to be known will be verified in like manner; for all which things we are bound in duty to confer favours upon you, such as you shall be perfectly satisfied with. And having reflected upon all that you have written to us, although you express yourself minutely upon every thing, which upon reading, gives us great pleasure and joy, nevertheless, we should feel greater satisfaction by your writing to inform us how many islands have been discovered up to the present time, and what is the name you have given to each of them; for although you name some of them in your letters, they are not all named; and also the name given to the others by the Indians; and the distance between them; and whatever you have found in each of them; and what is said to be produced in them; and what has been sown since you were there; and what has been obtained, the time being already elapsed in which whatever has been sown should be reaped. And, more especially, we wish to know all the seasons of the year, such as they take place there in each month separately; it appearing to us, from what you say, that there is a great difference in the seasons from what we have here: some wish to know if there are two winters and two summers in the same year. Inform us of every thing for our service; and send us the greatest number possible of falcons, and of all the other birds that are produced there, and that can be had; because we are desirous of seeing them all. And as for the things of which you have sent us a memorial, to be provided here, and forwarded to you, we have given orders for them all to be provided, as you will learn from the foresaid Torres, and as you will see by what he brings with him. We should wish, if you approve of it, that in order to receive news from you, and from the people who are with you, as well as that you may be provided constantly with all necessary things, a caravel should sail every month from thence, and another depart from hence; as, the affairs of Portugal being now arranged, vessels may pass and repass in security. Reflect upon this; and if it appears to you proper to be done, do it, and write to us in what manner you think it would be proper to expedite the vessel from hence. As to what relates to the forms you have established, we entirely approve of those you have hitherto commenced, and desire them to be continued; recommending to you to keep the people as much satisfied. as possible, but at the same time not allowing them to transgress in any thing in what they are to do, or you order them to do, on our part. Memorials of Columbus, Doc. 35. And with respect to the town which you have founded, there is no one here who can lay down certain rules for it, nor correct any thing; for if we ourselves were there present in person, we should take your counsel and opinion in this respect; how much more so, being absent? Wherefore we refer the whole of it to you. To all other points contained in the memorial brought by the said Torres, the answer has been written in the margin of the same, to what was proper you should know: to which we refer you. With respect to the disputes with Portugal, a convention has been entered into here with their ambassadors, which appeared to us less subject to inconveniences; and in order that you may be fully and distinctly informed of it, we send you a copy of the articles agreed upon: so that it is not necessary for us to dilate here upon the said subject, except to order and charge you to observe them fully, and cause them to be observed by every one, according to the tenor of the said convention. With respect to the boundary which is to be determined, it appearing to us a very difficult thing, and an affair which requires much knowledge and confidence, we would wish, if it were possible, that you were present there, to assist in its determination, along with the commissioners on the part of the King of Portugal. And if your going upon this affair should be attended with difficulty, or your absence be productive of inconvenience, see whether your brother, or any other of the persons about you, be fit for the trust: give them the fullest information in writing, and verbally, and by picture, and every other means proper to instruct them; and send them immediately to us, by the first caravels that sail, in order that we may send other persons from hence with them, within the period of time agreed upon. And whether you are to go yourself upon this affair or not, write to us fully respecting all you know of it, and which may appear to you proper to be done, for our information, and that our interests may be in all points attended to; and take care that your letters, and the persons whom you have to send, may arrive soon, that they may proceed to the place where the line is to be determined, before the time agreed upon with the King of Portugal be elapsed, as you will see by the capitulation. From Segovia, on the 16th of August, 94. I, the KING. I, the QUEEN. Upon the 16th of August 1494, in the city of Segovia, the King and Queen of Spain signed an order, directed to all persons then, or that thereafter might be, in the Indies; commanding them to do and perform whatever Columbus, in their name, should command them, as if they in person had commanded it to be done; under the penalties which he should impose in the royal name: which, by the order, the sovereigns declare that they impose, and look upon as imposed. Father Boyl, displeased with Columbus for his severity, placed the island under an interdict, and ordered all religious ceremonies to cease. Columbus, in return, ordered that no rations should be supplied to him or his household. The Indians, before they went to seek for gold, abstained from their women twenty days, and said that those who disregarded this |