eminence that is due to superior penetration and perseverance; nor can we contemplate his humane and enlightened conduct in general, without paying him the tribute of our praise.

THE

SECOND VOYAGE

OF

COLUMBUS.

THE fame and merits of Columbus already made the malignant passions of jealousy and envy rankle in the hearts of those who had opposed his original plans, or wished to detract from his success. But all those emotions were for the present stifled; and the necessary measures being concerted for the prosecution of his future undertakings, with an activity proportioned to the objects in view, in a short space, a fleet of 17 vessels was equipped, stored with provisions, implements for improvements, and commodities for traffic. Many artizans and labourers were engaged; and so great was the thirst of gold, that numbers were desirous of entering into this service, beyond what could be accepted. The admiral restricted himself to 1,500 persons of all descriptions; and having taken on board some of the most useful European animals, set sail from the road of Cadiz, on the 25th of September, 1493, and immediately stood for the Canary islands, where he intended to take in refreshments. He arrived at the Grand Canary on the 2d of October; and on the 7th continued his voyage for the West Indies, as they were now called in contradistinction to the East.

A prosperous gale attended them for 400 leagues to the westward of Gomera; nor did they fall in with any of the weeds, which had been so plentiful in the former voyage. On the 26th, at night, the mariners perceived those lights which they call the body of St. Elmo, to which they sang litanies and prayers, in full confidence that no danger would now ensue from any storm, however violent.

On the 2d of November, a great alteration in the winds and sky took place; and it poured down torrents of rain. From this the admiral concluded they were near land; nor was he wrong in his conjecture; for, at day-break, they descried a high mountainous island, about seven leagues to the westward, which he named Dominica, because it was discovered on Sunday morning. Three others islands were discovered in the vicinity; when the people, assembling on the poop, sang Salve regina, and returned thanks to God for their prosperous voyage. The cast side of Dominica affording no convenient anchorage, they stood over to another island, which Columbus named Mariglante, from his own ship; and landing, took possession with the usual solemnities.

He soon sailed to another island, which he denominated St. Mary of Guadaloupe, in conformity to a promise made to the friars of a convent bearing that name. At the distance of two leagues from this shore, they espied a very high rock, terminating in a point, from which gushed a natural cascade with prodigious noise. Having landed some men, they advanced to a kind of town, which was abandoned by all the inhabitants, except some children, to whose arms they tied a few presents, in token of amity. Here they saw geese, a variety of parrots, and several fruits, particularly pine apples of exquisite taste and flavour. They refrained from meddling with any of the domestic utensils or manufactures, that the natives might conceive the better opinion of the morality of their visitors.

Next day, the admiral sent two boats ashore, to open, if possible, some communication with the natives; and the crews soon returned with two young men, who, it appeared, had been in a state of captivity. The boats, returning again for

some of the people who had been left behind, found six women in their company, who had fled to their protection. These the admiral presented with beads and bells, and dismissed, contrary to their inclinations; for they were no sooner landed, than the Caribbees robbed them in the sight of their benefactors. Next opportunity they had, these poor creatures leapt into the boat, and implored the protection of the Spaniards, giving them to understand, that the islanders had eaten their husbands, and retained them in slavery. They were therefore brought on board, when they gave the admiral to understand, that towards the south were many islands and a large continent; and they pointed out the situation of Hispaniola. For this island Columbus would instantly have proceeded, had not one of his captains and eight men been on shore without leave. To recover them, he sent a party ashore with muskets and trumpets, to give the signal of recal. This expedient proving unsuccessful, he ordered 40 men, under captain Hoidea, to range the country, and to make observations on its produce. They reported that they found mastic, aloes, sanders, ginger, frankincense, and abundance of cotton; that birds of various species were in abundance, and that they crossed several rivers, some of which were deep and spacious.

While absent on this excursion, the stragglers returned of their own accord, and said they had been bewildered in the woods; but to punish their presumption, the captain was ordered into irons, and the men were abridged of their usual allowance. Having made this example of necessary severity, Columbus himself landed; and entering some of the houses, found plenty of cotton, raw and spun, and numbers of human skulls, and bones suspended in baskets. The natives seemed to live and lodge more comfortably than any of those he had visited in his first voyage.

On the 10th of November, he sailed in quest of Hispaniola, and passed an island which he called Mountserrat, from its extraordinary elevation; the inhabitants of which, he learned, had been totally devoured by the Caribbees. In his progress, he passed islands, to which he gave the respective names of St. Mary Rodonda, Antigua, and St. Martin, near the last

of which he came to anchor; and, on weighing, found pieces of coral adhering to the flukes. On account of bad weather, he again anchored at another island, where they secured four women and three children, and soon after fell in with a canoe, in which were four men and a woman. These sceing an escape was impracticable, put themselves in a posture of defence; and the female discharged an arrow with such force, that it actually pierced a strong target. The canoe being accidentally overset, they betook themselves to swimming, and one of them used his bow with as much dexterity as if he had been on land. All the males were eunuchs, and had been castrated by the Caribbees to increase their fatness.

Departing from thence, Columbus continued his course; leaving to the northward 50 islands, to the largest of which he gave the name of St. Ursula, and to the rest that of the Eleven Thousand Virgins. He then anchored in a bay, on the west side of what he called St. John Baptist, where the mariners caught plenty of fish. In the vicinity of the bay, they visited some well-built houses with a square in front, and flanked on the sides with cane-towers, having their houses interwoven with greens.

On the 14th he arrived in the bay of Samana in Hispaniola, where he sent on shore one of his Indian natives, now a convert to Christianity, who undertook for the submission of his countrymen. From thence he proceeded for the town of Nativity; and, coming to an anchor in the port of Monte Christo, some of his men discovered two bodies of men, with a rope about their necks, suspended on a kind of cross. This did not augur well; but whether the sufferers were Christians or natives, they could not tell.

Next day a number of Indians came on board, with apparent confidence and cordiality; and, pronouncing several Spanish words, the apprehensions of the admiral began to be allayed. On the morrow, however, his doubts were at an end; for, on anchoring near the town of Nativity, some Indians came along side, and enquired for him by name, presenting a compliment from the cazique Guacanagari. From them he had the sorrow to learn, that the greater part of his

colony was dead, and the rest gone into distant countries.--Columbus concealed his suspicions, and dismissed the messenger with presents for the prince.

Ruin and desolation met his view, on entering the port of the Nativity; the town was burnt to the ground, and not a soul was to be seen. The bodies of 11 Spaniards were discovered, who seemed to have been dead a month. Ruminating with regret and resentment on this disastrous event, he received a visit from the brother of the cazique, who informed him, that he had scarcely sailed, before the colony began to quarrel; each person endeavouring to amass as much gold, and to monopolize as many women as suited his appetite or his avarice; that having committed a murder on one of their associates, ten of them had retired into the dominions of Caunabo, who was lord of the mines, by whom they were put to death, and who afterwards destroyed the town with all the inhabitants. He farther represented, that Guacanagari having espoused the cause of the Spaniards, was wounded in the conflict; and in consequence was now under confinement. This story exactly tallied with intelligence received from some Spaniards, who had been sent up the country to reconnoitre. The admiral therefore paid the cazique a visit next day, and was received with every token of affection and concern. The prince repeated the melancholy tale with marks of unfeigned regret; and displayed his own wounds and those of his men, which had been received in defence of the settlement. Compliments of condolence being passed, the cazique presented the admiral with eight strings of white, red, and green stones, a string of gold beads, a regal crown of the same metal, and three calabashes full of gold dust, weighing about two pounds. In return for such valuable articles, Columbus gave him toys to the amount of three reals, which he highly prized; and though extremely ill, insisted on attending his guest to the fleet, where he first saw some horses with surprize. He was afterwards instructed in the mysteries of the Christian religion, which, with some hesitation, he embraced.

The admiral being disgusted at the sight of a place which had been the scene of so many disasters, sailed to the east