weed, drift-wood, and birds, and a stick carved by tool. On the night of Thursday, Oct. 11, 1492, Columbus, standing, near midnight, on the poop of his vessel, saw a moving light, which afterwards proved, as he surmised, to be a torch, carried from one hut to another, on the island which he named San Salvador. On the next morning, clad in complete, armor, with the banner of Spain, his captains around him, bearing the royal insignia of Ferdinand and Isabella, he landed on a spot which he says was fresh and fruitful like a garden full of trees. The natives in simple amazement looked on, as they lined the shores and saw their mysterious visitors kneel with devout tears on the earth.
And here is Columbus's report of his first impression from those whom he looked upon then as simply materials for making Christians: —
“Because they had much friendship for us, and because I knew
they were people that would deliver themselves better to the Christian
faith, and be converted more through love than by force, I
gave to some of them some colored caps, and some strings of glass
beads for their necks, and many other things of little value, with
which they were delighted, and were so entirely ours that it was a
marvel to see. The same afterwards came swimming to the ships'
boats where we were, and brought us parrots, cotton threads in
balls, darts, and many other things which we gave them, such as
bells and small glass beads. In fine, they took and gave all of
whatever they had with good-will. But it appeared to me they
were a people very poor in everything. They went totally naked.
They were well made, with very good faces, hair like horse-hair,
their color yellow, and they painted themselves; without arms,
save darts pointed with a fish's tooth. They ought to make faithful
servants and of good understanding, for I see that very quickly
they repeat all that is said to them; and I believe they would
easily be converted to Christianity, for it appeared to me that they
had no
creed.”[1]
- ↑ Navarrete, Col. vol. i. p. 21, as quoted by Arthur Helps, in “The Conquerors of the New World and their Bondsmen,” vol. i. p. 105.
