The Isles Of Beauty Beyond The Seas


The 12th of October, 1492, ranks very high among the important dates in

the history of the world. For on that day men from Europe, then the centre

of civilization, first gazed on a rich new land beyond the seas, a great

virgin continent, destined to become the seat of flourishing civilizations

and to play a leading part in the later history of the world. Little did

Columbus and his companions, when they saw before them on that famo
s

morning a beautiful island, rising like a pearl of promise from the

sparkling tropical sea, dream of what time held in store for that

new-found land, foreordained to become the "New World" of the nations, the

hope of the oppressed, and the pioneer dwelling-place of liberty and

equality.



But we are here concerned with only what they saw, and this was a green

and populous island, so covered with fresh verdure that it seemed to their

eyes like a continual orchard. An orchard it was, for many of the trees

were laden with new and strange fruits, of rare color and attractive form.

Never had they breathed air more pure and fresh, and never had they beheld

seas of such crystal clearness or verdure of more emerald hue; and it is

not surprising that their eyes sparkled with joy and their souls were

filled with wonder and delight as they gazed on this entrancing scene

after their long and dreaded journey over a vast and unknown ocean.



Not less strange to the new-comers were the people who flocked in numbers

from the woods and ran to the shore, where they stood gazing in simple

wonder on the ships, winged marvels which had never met their eyes before.

No clothing hid their dusky, copper-colored skins, of a hue unknown to

their visitors, and they looked like the unclad tenants of some new

paradise. Their astonishment turned into fright when they saw boats leave

these strange monsters of the deep, in them men clad in shining steel or

raiment of varied color. Their white faces, their curling beards, their

splendid clothing, as it appeared to these simple denizens of the forest,

and especially the air of dignity of their leader, with his ample cloak of

scarlet, added to their amazement, and they viewed the strangers as divine

visitors, come to them from the skies.



Not less was their surprise when they saw the wonderful strangers kneel

and kiss the soil, and then uplift a great and gleaming banner, of rich

colors and designs that seemed magical to their untaught eyes. And deep

was their delight when these strange beings distributed among them

wonderful gifts,--glass beads, hawk's bells, and other trifles,--which

seemed precious gems to their untutored souls. They had nothing to offer

in return, except tame parrots, of which they had many, and balls of

cotton-yarn; but the eyes of the Spaniards sparkled with hope when they

saw small ornaments of gold, which some of them wore. Happy had it been

for all the natives of the New World if this yellow metal had not existed

among them, for it was to bring them untold suffering and despair.



Such was the island of San Salvador, as Columbus named this first-seen

land; but, leaving it, let us go with him in his voyage through that

island-sprinkled sea, and use his eyes in taking in the marvels with which

it was sown. Familiar as these islands have become to many of us, to him

they were all new, beautiful, and strange, a string of tropic pearls or

rare emeralds spread out along those shining waters of the South.



On leaving San Salvador, the Spaniards, their hearts elate with joy and

pride in their discovery, hardly knew whither to go. They seemed drawn to

the right and the left alike. They found themselves in an archipelago of

beautiful islands, green and level, rising on all sides and seemingly

numberless. To us they are the great green cluster of the Bahamas, but to

Columbus, who fancied that he had reached the shores of Asia, they were

that wonderful archipelago spoken of by Marco Polo, in which were seven

thousand four hundred and fifty-eight islands, abounding with spices and

rich in odoriferous trees and shrubs.



On went the Spanish caravels, sailing over bright and placid waters scarce

ruffled by the gentle breeze, and touching at isle after isle, each of

which seemed to the voyagers more beautiful than the last. Besting under

the shade of warm and verdant groves, while his men sought to fill their

water-casks from the purest and coolest springs, the admiral found the

scene around him entrancing to his vision, "the country as fresh and green

as the month of May in Andalusia; the trees, the fruits, the herbs, the

flowers, the very stones, for the most part, as different from those of

Spain as night from day."






A TROPICAL RIVER SCENE.





One isle, which he honored with the name of Isabella, after his patron,

the Spanish queen, surpassed in charm all he had yet seen. Like them all,

it was covered with rich vegetation, its climate delightful, its air soft

and balmy, its scenery so lovely that it seemed to him "as if one would

never desire to depart. I know not where first to go, nor are my eyes ever

weary of gazing on the beautiful verdure."



Fresh water was abundant, and he ordered all the casks of the ships to be

filled. He could not say enough in praise of what he saw. "Here are large

lakes, and the groves about them are marvellous, and in all the island

everything is green, and the herbage as in April in Andalusia. The singing

of the birds is such that it seems as if one would never wish to leave

this land. There are flocks of parrots which hide the sun, and other

birds, large and small, of so many kinds, and so different from ours, that

it is wonderful; and besides, there are trees of a thousand species, each

having its particular fruit, and all of marvellous flavor, so that I am in

the greatest trouble in the world not to know them, for I am very certain

that they are each of great value."



As he approached this island, he fancied that the winds bore to his senses

the spicy odors said to be wafted from the islands of the East Indian

seas. "As I arrived at this cape," he said, "there came off a fragrance so

good and soft of the flowers or trees of the land that it was the sweetest

thing in the world."



Not only were the islands the homes of birds of brilliant plumage and

flowers of gorgeous hue, but the very seas seemed to their new visitors

like tropical gardens, for the fish with which they abounded rivalled the

birds and flowers in brilliancy of color. The scales of some of them

glittered like precious stones, and gleams of gold and silver seemed to

come from them as they swam around the ships, while the dolphins taken

from the water changed color like the chameleon.



The natives who had been taken on board the ships made signs which seemed

to indicate that more wonderful islands were yet to be seen, with cities

and kings and queens, and abundance of gold and gems; or, at least, the

Spaniards understood this from their signs, as they pointed to the south

when gold was shown them and they were asked where it could be found. Far

to the south was a great island which they named Cuba, and another which

they called Bohio. Cuba, as their signs appeared to show, was of vast

extent and abounded with gold, pearls, and spices, and Columbus determined

to sail for it, hoping there to find the wealth which he and his

companions so ardently craved. It cannot be said that the natives wished

to deceive them, but no doubt they willingly agreed to all they were

asked, with the innocent desire of pleasing their wonderful new friends.

Columbus, full of the idea that he was near the shores of India, hoped to

reach the city of Quinsai, which Marco Polo had said was one of the most

magnificent in the world, and there deliver the letter of his sovereigns

to the Grand Khan of the Indies and bring back his reply to Spain.

Inspired by this enticing hope, he left the Bahamas and turned the prows

of his small fleet towards the isle of Cuba.



It was on the morning of October 28 that the shores of this noble island

first met the eyes of the eager mariners. As the small fleet swept along

its coast the admiral was struck with its size and grandeur; its high and

airy mountains, like those of Sicily; its long and sweeping plains, and

the fertile valleys of its broad rivers; its far-reaching forests and many

green headlands, which led them on and on into the remote distance. They

anchored at length in a beautiful river, whose waters were transparent and

deeply shaded with overhanging trees. Here Columbus had himself rowed up

the stream, which seemed to grow more enchanting with every mile, forests

of lofty and spreading trees crowding down to its banks, some in fruit,

some in flower, some bearing fruits and flowers at once. These woods

swarmed with birds of brilliant plumage,--the scarlet flamingo, the

rich-hued parrots and woodpeckers, the tiny and sparkling humming-birds,

which flitted on rainbow wings from flower to flower, and which no

European had ever before seen. Even the insects were beautiful, in their

shining coats of mail. Though most of the birds were silent, the charms of

song were not wanting, and the excited fancy of Columbus detected among

them notes like those of the nightingale. Ever open to the charms of

nature, Cuba seemed to him an elysium, "the most beautiful island that

eyes ever beheld."



He was sure there must here be mines of gold, groves of spices, rivers and

seas that bore pearls. The houses, though simple in structure, were well

built and clean, roofed with palm-leaves and shaded by spreading trees.

Led on still by his excited fancy, he hoped soon to find great cities and

rich settlements, but none such greeted his gaze. Assured that the capital

of the Grand Khan could not be far away, he sent two ambassadors, with

presents, to the interior, in a direction pointed out by the people. But

after going many miles they found only a village of fifty houses, like

those seen on the coast. There was no gold or silver, no spices, none of

the things they so ardently sought. The only thing new to their eyes was a

fashion seen among the people, who rolled up certain dried and aromatic

leaves, and, lighting one end, put the other in their mouths, and exhaled

the smoke. This was the first ever seen by white men of that remarkable

American plant, called by the natives by a name like tobacco, which has

since grown to be a favorite throughout the world, in palace and hovel

alike.



Sailing onward along the Cuban coast, the imagination of Columbus was

continually aroused by the magnificence, freshness, and verdant charm of

the scenery, which he could not praise too highly. A warm love of nature

is frequently displayed in the description of the country which he wrote

out for Ferdinand and Isabella, of Spain. Of one place, named by him

Puerto Santo, he said: "The amenity of this river, and the clearness of

the water, through which the sand at the bottom may be seen; the multitude

of palm-trees of various forms, the highest and most beautiful that I have

met with, and an infinity of other great and green trees; the birds in

rich plumage, and the verdure of the fields, render this country, most

Serene Princess, of such marvellous beauty, that it surpasses all others

in graces and charm, as the day doth the night in lustre. For which reason

I often say to my people, that, much as I endeavor to give a complete

account of it to your Majesties, my tongue cannot express the whole truth

or my tongue describe it; and I have been so overwhelmed at the sight of

so much beauty that I have not known how to relate it."



One more island he was yet to see in this marvellous series of

discoveries,--the one called by the natives Bohio or Babeque, now known as

Hayti, one of the most beautiful islands in the world in the splendor of

its tropical vegetation. Columbus and his men could describe it only by

comparison with the most beautiful provinces of the country from which

they came, and in consequence he named the island Hispaniola, or "Little

Spain."



Here he found the people as innocent and simple in their habits as those

of San Salvador, living in huts built of the palm-branches, wearing no

clothing, for the air was always warm and balmy, and passing life in a

holiday of indolence and enjoyment. To the Spaniards their life seemed

like a pleasant dream, their country a veritable Lotus land, where it was

"always afternoon." They had no wants nor cares, and spent life in easy

idleness and innocent sports. They had their fields, but the food plants

grew bountifully with little labor. The rivers and sea yielded abundance

of fish, and luscious tropical fruits grew profusely in their forests.

Thus favored by nature, they spent much of the day in repose, while in the

evenings they danced gayly in their fragrant groves with songs or the rude

music of their drums. After the coming of the Spaniards the clear tinkle

of the hawk's bells as they danced gave them the deepest delight, and for

those musical toys they were ready to barter everything they possessed.



In Hispaniola gold seemed more plentiful than the Spaniards had yet seen,

but they were still lured on to distant places, with the illusive hope

that this precious metal might there be found in quantities. Yet Columbus

felt forced to cease, for a time, the quest of the precious metal, and

sail for home with the story of the new world he had found. One of his

vessels had deserted him; another had been wrecked: if he should lose the

third he would be left without means of return and his great discovery

might remain unknown.



Moved by this fear, on the 4th of January, 1493, he spread the sails of

the one caravel left to him, and turned its prow towards Europe, to carry

thither the news of the greatest maritime discovery the world had ever

known. Thus ended in success and triumph the first voyage of Columbus to

the "New World."



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