This squadron, however, had hardly weathered the eastern extremity of Hispaniola, before they were overtaken by a terri ble tempest, in which the commodore, with Bovadilla and almost all the principal rebels foundered, and not more than three or four ships of the whole were saved; while Columbus, aware of the impending danger, sheltered himself under the land in the best position he could. But the wind soon rose to a perfect hurricane, and his three consorts were forced out to sea. The Bermuda, commanded by Bartholomew Columbus, was saved by the admirable skill and dexterity of this accomplished seaman; being a bad sailer, her danger had been most imminent. In a few days, the ships all joined the admiral in the port of Azua. Though a revengeful temper and a superstitious mind might have found consolation in the idea, that this dreadful tempest had been the destruction of his enemies, Columbus felt more chagrin than satisfaction when he reflected, that he was denied shelter in that very country he had discovered and annexed to the crown of Spain, in whose service he still laboured. His enemies, less liberal, less enlightened, ascribed this storm to magic; and to give weight to this belief, the only ship out of eighteen that arrived in Spain was the Aguja, on board of which were 4,000 pesos of gold, the property of the admiral.

Unwilling to enter into disputes with the governor, Columbus refreshed his men in the best manner he could in the port of Azua, and thence sailed to a harbour of Brasil, called Gracchimo by the Indians. Leaving this, he was so becalmed, that instead of continuing his course, he was carried by the currents near Jamaica. However, after some delay, standing southward for the continent, he reached the islands of Guanara, near the country now called Honduras, where Bartholomew landed, and found a numerous population, and some pieces of lapis calaminaris, which the scamen mistook for gold. While he remained here, he descried a large canoe, with an awning made of palm tree leaves, under which the women and children were sheltered from the weather; and though the vessel was manned by 25 stout Indians, they suf fered themselves to be captured without the least resistance.

This vessel being replete with goods and domestic utensils, gave him a favourable opportunity of becoming acquainted with the commodities of the country. On examining the cargo, it was found to consist of quilts and cotton shirts of various colours, together with long sheets, in which the women wrapped themselves, long wooden swords, sharpened on each side with flints, hatchets, and copper bells. The provisions consisted of such roots and grain as were usual in Hispaniola, and a kind of fermented liquor made from maize. They had likewise abundance of cocoa-nuts, which being the representative of coin here, were proportionably valued. The people seemed to have a due sense of modesty and decency; which decorum of manners made such a favourable impression on the admiral, that he ordered them to be treated with peculiar respect, restored their canoe, exchanged for European articles such commodities as he wished to retain, and dismissed them well pleased. One old man, however, who cheerfully undertook the office of interpreter, and seemed to be a person of character among his countrymen, was kept during the course of the voyage; and having acquitted himself with fidelity in the department he undertook, was at last discharged with many valuable presents.

Though the admiral soon learned from this intelligent guide that a people of great wealth, politeness, and ingenuity, inhabited a country to the westward; yet, conceiving he could at any time sail thither from Cuba, for the present he resolved to explore the imagined strait in the continent, through which he might penetrate into the South sea, and thus reach the spice country. A misconception of the Indian's meaning had given rise to the supposition that such a strait existed: they intended to describe an isthmus, which Columbus mistook for a narrow gulph, extending from sea to sea.

In quest of this strait, he sailed towards a point on the continent, which he named Casinus, from the quantity of trees growing there, bearing a fruit so called by the Hispaniolans. In the vicinity of this cape, he saw people with painted shirts, like coats of mail, sufficiently strong. to defend them against the weapons of that country, or even the stroke of a sword. VOL. I.

H

Farther to the eastward, near cape Gracios a Dios, the natives were of a savage aspect, and cannibals. Sailing still to windward, on Sunday, August 14, 1502, Bartholomew Columbus with a large party went ashore to hear mass, and on the following Wednesday, took possession of the country for their catholic majesties. Immediately, above 100 Indians laden with provisions ran down to the shore; but perceiving the boats, suddenly retired in silence. The lieutenant ascribing this to timidity, employed the interpreter to ingratiate himself with them by means of trinkets and bells, which were so acceptable, that next day they returned in greater numbers, bringing with them hens, geese, fish, and other kinds of provisions. The country, though low, was beautifully verdant; producing pines, oaks, palms, and mirabolans. Among the quadrupeds were deer, and a species of leopard. The features of the inhabitants resembled those of the islands already described: they covered their loins; and every nation spoke a language of its own. Their bodies and arms were ornamented with different figures indented by fire. They seemed to have no religion; but on festivals they painted their faces of various colours, so as to make a most terrific appearance.

The winds and currents being contrary, the admiral spent 70 days in sailing 60 leagues to the eastward. On the 14th of September, he reached Gracios a Dios, so called because the land bending off to the south, gave him an opportunity of prosecuting his voyage with the trade wind.

On the 16th, the boats being sent ashore to water, one of them, with all the men, was unfortunately lost by a violent surf or rippling, occasioned by the conflict of the current and the wind. To this river he gave the appellation of De la Disgracia, or Disaster. Running farther to the southward, he anchored near the town of Cariari, in the vicinity of an island named Quiriviri, which in population, soil, and situation, was distinguished above every place he had yet visited. The town was watered by a large river, on the banks of which a multitude of people appeared, some armed with bows and arrows, others with palm-tree lances pointed with fish bones, and a third description with clubs. They seemed to have been col

lected to defend their country from invasion; but being satisfied of the pacific disposition of the Spaniards, they eagerly wished to barter their commodities, consisting of arms, cotton, sheets, and guaninis, which are ornaments of gold for the neck, for articles of European manufacture; but the admiral, to give the savages a high opinion of their visitors, as if they were superior to all mercenary views, presented them with trinkets, for which he would not suffer any thing to be taken in exchange. This served only to whet their desire for traffic: they invited the Spaniards to land; but finding they could not succeed, they retired, leaving every article they had received in a small heap on the shore. The Indians, conceiving that the strangers distrusted their sincerity, sent down an ancient man of a majestic presence, with a flag on a staff, attended by two young women, having guaninis about their necks. These females, at the earnest request of their guide, were sent on board the admiral; and being handsomely entertained, were dismissed to rejoin the veteran and about fifty of his countrymen on the beach.

Next day the lieutenant going ashore, two of the Indian chiefs taking him by the arm, with a gentle violence, made him sit down on the grass between them. Thus situated, he began to interrogate them, and ordered the secretary to write down their answers. But having themselves performed some magic ceremonies before they approached the Spaniards, they conceived that pen, ink, and paper, were the instruments of sorcery among the strangers, and fled in great consternation when they were produced. Bartholomew found means to quiet their apprehensions, and afterwards visited their town, where he saw several tombs in a large wooden structure covered with canes. They appeared to possess the art of embalming the dead. Over each of the sepulchres was a board, carved with the figures of beasts, or the effigies of the deceased, with the native ornaments.

The appearance of the country, and the manners of the inhabitants excited the admiral's desire to become better acquainted with both. He therefore ordered seven of the Indians to be secured, and selecting two of the most intelligent looking

persons among them, dismissed the rest with presents, assuring them, that their companions were detained for no other reason but to act as guides and interpreters, and that in a short space they should be set at liberty. This detention, however, was ascribed to avarice; and next day, four ambassadors arrived with a present of two wild hogs to ransom their countrymen. The deputies were treated with the greatest civility, well repaid for their hogs, and sent away satisfied that no harm would befal their comrades on board.

One of the sailors having caught a wild cat of extraordinary size, compared with the same animal in Europe, the crew entertained themselves with letting it loose on one of the hogs which had been brought for a present. Though naturally very ferocious, no sooner did it see the cat than it ran about the deck in a fright. The admiral perceiving this, ordered a hog to be brought near the cat in confinement, which imme diately winding its tail about the hog's snout, and with its fore leg fastened on the poll, would soon have dispatched it, had not the attendants interposed. From these circumstances it was clear, that those cats hunt like the European wolves.

On the 5th of October, the admiral entered the spacious bay of Carovaro, in which are many islets. On one of these small islands they discovered twenty canoes, and their crews hard by them on the shore, without the least article of dress or ornament, save little plates of gold round their necks. These betrayed no symptoms of fear, but readily exchanged a gold plate weighing ten ducats for three horse-bells; and gave the Spaniards the agreeable intimation, that gold was abundant in that neighbourhood.

Next day, a boat's crew met with ten canoes full of people, who declining to part with their gold plates, the admiral ordered two of them to be taken, for the sake of obtaining information by means of the Cariari interpreters. These confirmed the report of gold being found at the distance of two days' journey up the country.

Sailing from thence, the admiral, some days after, entered the river Guaiga, where his boats were violently assaulted by a party of 100 Indians; who resolutely ran into the water up