Celebrated Travels and Travellers Vol 1 First Part Chapter VII part 2b - Christopher Columbus – First voyage.

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Section 15 of Celebrated Travels and Travellers, Volume 1

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Celebrated Travels and Travellers, Volume 1 Exploration of the World by Jules Verne. First part, Chapter 7, Part 2b.

Another consequence of the error of Columbus must be noticed here, one which, according to Irving, changed the whole series of his discoveries. He believed himself to be on the coast of Asia, and therefore looked upon Cuba as a portion of that continent. In consequence, he never thought of making the tour of Cuba, but decided on returning towards the east. Now, had he not been deceived on this occasion, and had he continued to follow the same direction as at first, the results of his enterprise would have been greatly modified. He might then have drifted towards Florida, at the south-eastern point of North America, or he might have run direct to Mexico. In this latter case, instead of ignorant and savage natives, what would he have found? The inhabitants of the great Aztec Empire, of the half-civilized kingdom of Montezuma. There he would have seen towns, armies, enormous wealth, and his role would no doubt have been the same as that afterwards played by Fernando Cortes. But it was not to be thus, and the admiral, persevering in his mistake, directed his flotilla towards the east, weighing anchor on the 12th of November 1492

Columbus tacked in and out along the Cuban coast. He saw the two mountains, Cristal and Moa. He explored a harbor to which he gave the name of Puerto del Príncipe, and an archipelago which he called the Sea of Nuestra Señora. Each night the fishermen's fires were seen upon the numerous islands, the inhabitants of which lived upon spiders and huge worms. Several times the Spaniards landed upon different points of the coast, and there planted the cross as a sign of taking possession of the country. The natives often spoke to the admiral about a certain island of bavacue, where gold abounded, and thither Columbus resolved to go. But Martin Alonso Pinzon, the captain of the Pinta, the best sailor of the three ships, was beforehand with him, and at daybreak, on the 21st of November, he had completely disappeared from sight.

The admiral was very angry at the separation. His feelings on the subject were appearing plainly in his narrative, where he says, Pinzon has said and done to me many like things. Continuing his exploration of the coast of Cuba, Columbus discovered the Bay of Moa, the Point of Mangle, Point Valles, and the harbor of Baracoa. But nowhere did he meet with cannibals, although the huts of the natives were often to be seen adorned with human skulls, a sight which appeared to give great satisfaction to the islanders on board the fleet. On the following days they saw the Boma River, and the caravels doubling the point of Los Azules found themselves upon the eastern part of the island, whose coast they had now reconnoitered for a distance of 375 miles. But Columbus, instead of continuing his route to the south, turned off to the east, and on the 5th of December perceived a large island called by the natives Bohio. This was Haiti, or San Domingo.

In the evening, the Niña, by the Admiral's orders, entered a harbor which was named Port Mary. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the island, and with the cape near which it lies is now called St. Nicholas. The next day the Spaniards discovered a number of headlands and an islet called Tortuga Island. Everywhere on the appearance of the ships the Indian canoes took to flight. The island, along which they were now coasting, appeared very large and very high, from which latter peculiarity it gained later on, its name of Haiti, which signifies high land. The coast was explored by the Spaniards as far as Mosquito Bay. Its natural features, its plains and hills, its plants and the birds which flooded amongst the beautiful trees of the island, all recalled to the memory the landscapes of Castile, and, for this reason, Columbus named it Hispaniola, or Spanish Island. The inhabitants were extremely timid and distrustful. They fled away into the interior, and no communication could be held with them. Some sailors, however, succeeded in capturing a young woman whom they carried on board with them. She was young and rather pretty. The Admiral gave her, besides rings and beads, some clothing of which she had great need, and, after most generous treatment, he sent her back to shore.

The good conduct had the result of taming the natives, and the next day, when nine of the sailors, well-armed, ventured as far as sixteen miles inland, they were received with respect, the savages running to them in crowds, and offering them everything which their country produced. The sailors returned to the ships enchanted with their excursion. The interior of the island they had found rich in cotton plants, mastic trees and aloes, while a fine river, named afterwards the Three Rivers, flowed gently upon its limpid course. On December 15th Columbus again set sail, and was carried by the wind towards Tortuga Island, upon which he saw a navigable stream of water, and a valley so beautiful that he called it the Vale of Paradise. The day following, having attacked into a deep gulf, an Indian was seen, who, notwithstanding the violence of the wind, was skillfully maneuvering a light canoe. This Indian was invited to come on board, was loaded with presents by the Admiral, and then put on shore again at one of the harbors of Hispaniola, now called the Puerto de Paz. This kindness tended to attach the natives to the Admiral, and from that day, they came in numbers round the caravels. Their king came with them, a strong, vigorous, and somewhat stout young man of 20 years of age. He was naked, like his subjects of both sexes, who showed him much respect, but with no appearance of servility. Columbus ordered royal honors to be rendered to him, and in return, the king, or rather cacique, informed the admiral that the provinces to the east abounded in gold. Next day, another cacique arrived, offering to place all the treasures of his country at the service of the Spaniards. He was present at a fet in honor of the Virgin Mary that Columbus caused to be celebrated with great pomp on board his vessel, which was gaily dressed with flags on the occasion.