THE NEW WORLD DISCOVERED The First adventurers numbered 88 souls; and on Friday, Aug. 3, 1492, at eight in the morning, the little fleet weighed anchor, and stood for the Canary islands. An abstract of the admiral's diary made by Las Casas is yet extant ; and from it many particulars may be gleaned concerning this first voyage.
Three days after the ships had set sail the "Pinta" lost her rudder ; the admiral was in some alarm, but comforted himself with the reflection that Martin Pinzon was energetic and ready-witted; they had, however, to put in at Teneriffe, to refit the caravel. On Sept. 6, they weighed anchor once more with all haste, Columbus having been informed that three Portuguese caravels were on the look-out to intercept him. On Sept. 13, the westerly variations of the magnetic needle were for the first time observed; on the isth a meteor fell into the sea at four or five leagues distance; soon after they arrived at those vast plains of seaweed called the Sar gasso Sea; while all the time, writes the admiral, they had most temperate breezes, the sweetness of the moAnings being especially delightful. On the 17th the men began to murmur; they were frightened by the strange phenomena of the variation of the compass, but the explanation Columbus gave restored their tran quillity. On the i8th they saw many birds, and a great ridge of low-lying clouds; and they expected to see land. On the 2oth they saw boobies and other birds, and were sure the land must be near. In this, however, they were disappointed; and thenceforth Colum bus, who was keeping all the while a double reckoning, one for the crew and one for himself, had great difficulty in restraining the evil-disposed from the excesses they meditated. On the 25th Martin Alonso Pinzon raised the cry of land, but it proved false, as did the rumour to the same effect on Oct. 7, from the "Nina." But on the iith the "Pinta" fished up a cane, a pole, a stick which appeared to have been wrought with iron, and a board, while the "Nina" sighted a branch covered with berries; "and with these signs all of them breathed and were glad." At ten o'clock on that night Columbus himself perceived and pointed out a light ahead, and at two in the morning of Friday, Oct. 12, 1492, Rodrigo de Triana, a sailor aboard the "Nina," announced the appearance of what proved to be the New World. The land sighted was an island, called by the Indians Guanahani, and named by Columbus San Salvador. It is generally identified with Watling island. The same morning Columbus landed, richly clad, and bearing the royal banner of Spain. He was accompanied by the brothers Pinzon, bearing banners of the Green Cross (a device of the admiral's), and by a great part of the crew. When they all had "given thanks to God, kneeling upon the shore, and kissed the ground with tears of joy, for the great mercy received," the admiral named the island, and took solemn possession of it for their Catholic majes ties of Castile and Leon. At the same time such of the crews as had shown themselves doubtful and mutinous sought his pardon weeping, and prostrated themselves at his feet.
This voyage resulted in the discovery of the islands of Santa Maria de la Concepcion (Rum Cay), Fernandina (Lond island), Isabella (Crooked island), Cuba or Juana (named by Columbus in honour of the young prince of Spain), and Hispaniola, Haiti, or San Domingo. Off the last of these the "Santa Maria" went aground, owing to the carelessness of the steersman. No lives were lost, but the ship had to be unloaded and abandoned; and Columbus, who was anxious to return to Europe with the news of his achievement, resolved to plan a colony on the island, to build a fort out of the material of the stranded hulk, and to leave the crew. The fort was called La Navidad; 44 Europeans were placed in charge. On Jan. 4, 1493 Columbus, who had lost sight of Martin Pinzon, set sail alone in the "Nina" for the east ; and two days afterwards the "Pinta" joined her sister-ship. A storm separated the vessels, and Columbus did not reach the island of Santa Maria in the Azores until Feb. 18. Here he was threatened with capture by the Portuguese governor, who could not for some time be brought to recognize his commission. On Feb. 24, however, he was allowed to proceed, and on March 4 the "Nina" dropped anchor off Lisbon. The king of Portugal received the admiral with the highest honours. On March 13 the "Nina" put out from the Tagus, and two days afterwards, Friday, the 5th, she reached Palos.
The court was at Barcelona ; and thither Columbus proceeded. He entered the city in a sort of triumphal procession, was received by their majesties in full court, and, seated in their presence, re lated the story of his wanderings, exhibiting the "rich and strange" spoils of the new-found lands,—the gold, the cotton, the parrots, the curious arms, the mysterious plants, the unknown birds and beasts, and the Indians he had brought with him for baptism. All his honours and privileges were confirmed to him; the title of Don was conferred on himself and his brothers; he rode at the king's bridle ; he was served and saluted as a grandee of Spain. A new and magnificent scutcheon was also blazoned for him (May 4, whereon the royal castle and lion of Castile and Leon were combined with the five anchors of his own coat of arms. On May 3-4, Alexander VI. granted bulls confirming to the crowns of Castile and Leon all the lands discovered, or to be discovered, west of a line of demarcation drawn i oo leagues west of the Azores, on the same terms as those on which the Portuguese held their colonies along the African coast. A new expedition was got ready to secure and extend the discoveries already made.
Second Voyage.—After several delays the fleet weighed anchor on Sept. It consisted of three great carracks (galleons) and 14 caravels (light frigates) , having on board over 1, 5 oo men, besides the animals and materials necessary for colonization. Twelve missionaries accompanied the expedition, under the orders of Bernardo Buil or Boil, a Benedictine ; Columbus had already been directed (May 1493), to endeavour to Christianize the inhabitants of the islands, to make them presents, and to "honour them much," while all under him were commanded to treat them "well and lovingly," under pain of severe punishment. On Oct. 13, the ships, which had put in at the Canaries, left Ferro ; and on Sunday, Nov. 3, after a single storm, an island was sighted to the west, which was named Dominica. Northwards from this the isles of Marigalante and Guadalupe were next discovered and named; while on the north-western course to La Navidad those of Mont serrat, Antigua, San Martin, Santa Cruz and the Virgin Islands were sighted, and the island now called Porto Rico was touched at, hurriedly explored, and named San Juan Bautista. On Nov. 22, Columbus came in sight of Hispaniola, and sailing westward to La Navidad, found the fort burned and the colony dispersed. He decided on building a second fort, and coasting on 3o m. east of Monte Cristi, he pitched on a spot where he founded the city of Isabella.