at La Rabida. This introduction to their most catholic majesties was followed by the conference at Salamanca, the particulars of which I have already detailed to you, and by the subsequent acceptance of his proposals at Santa Fé. Columbus once more returned to the gates of the convent of La Rabida; but he now appeared in triumph. He was received with open arms by the worthy prior, and became his guest while he remained at Palos.

Nothing can be a stronger evidence of the bold nature of this undertaking than the extreme dread with which it was regarded by a maritime community, composed of some of the most adventurous navigators of the age. Notwithstanding the peremptory tenour of the royal order, and the promise of compliance on the part of the magistrate, weeks elapsed, and not a single vessel was to be procured.

"Fresh orders from the court were given, with equal ill success, until Martin Alonzo Pinzon, a rich and enterprising navigator, came foward, and took a decided and personal interest in the expedition. His assistance was most timely and efficacious; and through the united exertions of himself and his brother, the vessels were in a month equipped for sea. Three small ships, not larger nor superior to the coasting-vessels of the present day, were all that he had requested, though he

had found them so difficult to procure. The largest only was decked, on board of which Columbus hoisted his flag: it was called the Santa Maria. The second, called the Pinta, was commanded by Martin Alonzo Pinzon, accompanied by his brother, Francisco Martin, as pilot. The third, called the Nina, was commanded by the third of the brothers, Vincente Pinzon. In the three ships there were one hundred and twenty persons. The squadron being ready to put to sea, Columbus, impressed with the solemnity of his undertaking, confessed himself to the friar, Juan Perez, and partook of the communion. His example was followed by his officers and crew; and they entered upon their enterprise full of awe, and with the most devout and affecting ceremonials, committed themselves to the especial guidance and protection of Heaven. A deep gloom was spread over the whole community of Palos, at their departure; for every one had some relative or friend on board the squadron.

"The spirits of the seamen, already depressed by their own fears, were still more cast down at the affliction of those they left behind, who took leave of them with tears and lamentations, and dismal forebodings, as friends they were never to behold again. It was natural that men, who had embarked on an expedition to unknown lands with reluctance, should feel their fears increase, when

they found themselves traversing that boundless ocean, over which no European ships had sailed before. Accordingly they soon began to murmur, and to expostulate with Columbus. His situation was becoming daily more critical. In proportion as he approached the regions where he expected to find land, the impatience of the crews angmented. At times they threatened to mutiny, and seemed disposed to resort to any measures that might induce him to return. At length indications of land became numerous; singing-birds alighted in the shrouds; they saw a duck and other birds whose flight was short; a branch of thorn, with berries on it, floated past them; and they picked up a staff artificially carved. Mutiny and gloom gave way to sanguine expectation, and each was eagerly on the look-out for land; a pension of thirty crowns being promised to him who should first discover it. In the evening, when, according to custom, the mariners sung the vesper-hymn to the Virgin, Columbus made an impressive address to his crew. He pointed out to them the goodness of God, in thus conducting them, by such soft and favouring breezes, across a tranquil ocean; cheering their hopes continually with fresh signs, increasing as their fears augmented, and thus leading and guiding them to a promised land. That night, while watching with intense anxiety, he thought he saw a gleam of

light on the sea, as if it came from a distant shore like a person carrying a flambeau from house to house. He called two other persons to see it, fearful of being mistaken. They saw it distinctly, and at two in the morning a gun from the Pinta gave the long-hoped-for signal of land. It was clearly seen, about two leagues distant: they took in sail, and waited for the dawn. The thoughts and feelings of Columbus, in that little space of time, must have been tumultuous and intense. In spite of every difficulty and danger, he had succeeded in his enterprise. The theory, which had been the scoff of sages, was triumphantly established. He had secured to himself a glory which must be as durable as the world itself.

"It was on the morning of Friday, the 12th of October, 1492, that Columbus first beheld the new world. When the day dawned, he saw before him a level and beautiful island, several leagues in extent, blooming as an orchard, and the inhabitants running from all parts to the shore, to gaze upon the ship. It was one of a chain of islands, now known by the name of the Bahamas; and the one at which he landed first was St. Salvador. Imagination can hardly paint the feelings with which the Spaniards first landed on this unknown shore. Columbus threw himself on the earth, and kissed it in a transport of gratitude. The natives were naked, guileless, and good-natured; and he was careful

to conciliate their good-will by kindness, and such gay and glittering toys as were most suited to their taste. Cotton seemed to be the chief production. There was little or no gold, and no display of art or industry. The poor simple-minded Indians concluded that their visitors, arriving in ships, that seemed to fly before the wind, had come from heaven, and adored them as celestial beings. From the Bahamas Columbus sailed to Cuba, with the beauty of which he was enchanted. Before he set out on his voyage of discovery, Columbus was prepossessed with an idea that he was going to Asia, and was to discover the magnificent kingdom of Cathay, (China,) of which Marco Polo, the Venetian traveller, had given so extraordinary an account; and which had fired the imagination of Columbus, from the first time he read it. It was at Cuba that, for the first time, they saw tobacco used, and the leaves of that plant rolled and smoked like our modern cigar.

From Cuba he went to Hispaniola, and found the same quiet and well-disposed race of people; and a country so beautiful, that the Spaniards said it even surpassed the luxuriance of Cordova. It was off this island that a severe misfortune happened to the admiral. While he slept, the master gave the helm to the ship-boys; and the consequence was, that the vessel was shipwrecked, and went entirely to pieces. Alonzo Pinzon had ab