history of this first European settlement is an epitome of many that have followed-of the base vices and lawless abuse of their superior power, by men boasting of their civilisation of the fierce revenge of the savage, his momentary success, his final destruction.

The cacique or chief of the Indians soon after sent a message excusing his absence, and stating that he was confined to his tent by a wound received in defence of the Spaniards. Columbus visited him, when he related the misfortune of the garrison with tears in his eyes, and convinced the admiral of his good faith, though some of his followers were of a different opinion. The cacique afterwards visited the ships, where he was lost in astonishment amidst the new and unknown objects that he beheld. The horses especially, their great size, their apparent fierceness yet perfect docility, filled with amazement men who knew only the most diminutive quadrupeds. The females rescued from the Caribs were also a special object of attention, in particular one distinguished by her lofty air and manner, with whom the cacique conversed repeatedly. After a repast the chief begged permission to return on shore, perhaps feeling uneasy at the dark suspicious looks of the Spaniards, some of whom advised Columbus to retain him prisoner. Next day the brother of the chief came on board and conversed for some time with the women. He was probably concerting their escape, as in the night they all slipped overboard, and though heard and pursued, swam to the land, three miles distant, and escaped. Next day, when Columbus sent on shore to reclaim them, he found the village deserted and the natives fled into the interior. Columbus left this place, where there was now no induce ment to remain, as the locality seemed unhealthy and unfit for a permanent settlement. When looking for a situation adapted for this purpose, he was driven by adverse weather into a harbour, and being pleased with its appearance, and hearing that the mountains of Cibao, containing gold mines, were at no great distance, he resolved to found a city, named Isabella from his royal patroness. A plan was formed, and preparations begun, when disease broke out among the Spaniards, already suffering from their long confinement on ship-board, and unaccustomed to the climate of the tropics. Disappointment, too, increased their maladies, when their golden dreams melted away, and the necessity of hard labour appeared. Even Columbus suffered from exposure to the climate and the numerous anxieties in which he was involved. Still, though confined to his bed, he continued to direct the affairs of the expedition and the building of the town. The ships had now discharged their cargoes, and were soon to return to Spain, but no merchandise was provided, and no treasures even ascertained to exist. The golden mountains were, however, at no great distance, and Don Alonzo de Ojeda, one of the most adventurous of his followers, set out with a party to explore them. They found the natives friendly, the sands of the mountain streams glistened with particles of gold, and fragments weighing several ounces were collected. With these glad tidings he returned to the admiral, who now sent home twelve ships, retaining five for farther discoveries. As yet Columbus had only promises of wealth to give in return for the supplies he requested to be transmitted from Spain. Till articles of more value could be procured, Columbus proposed sending home Carib slaves in return for live-stock, but Isabella refused her consent to this inhuman project. Though no wealth was brought back by the fleet, still the reports of the gold mines prevented that disappointment whose effects the admiral so justly dreaded.

Columbus. On the 12th March, however, he set out for the interior with four hundred men, leaving the command of the town and fleet to his brother Diego, a man of an easy and facile disposition. On reaching the summit of the first range of mountains, the Spaniards were lost in admiration of the beautiful plain, which extended like an earthly paradise before them. Through this region, which he named the Vega Real or Royal Plain, Columbus continued his march, being everywhere hospitably received by the Indians, when their first terror at the strange spectacle was overcome. On the second day he reached another chain of mountains, higher and more rugged, but as they were now in the golden region, Columbus, before penetrating farther, resolved to erect a fort and commence to work the mines which he believed to exist. The fort, named St Thomas, was built on an eminence, protected by a small river. Here he left fifty-six men, and set out on his return to the coast, halting some time, however, in the Indian villages on the way. He thus acquired more knowledge of the manners of the natives, some of whose customs and opinions are very curious. He at first regarded them as atheists, but soon found that, besides a belief in one supreme deity, they had also many inferior gods, some the peculiar guardians of each tribe, others allotted to watch over every special department of nature. They had also priests or magicians; and some imperfect notions of the creation of the world and universal deluge. They believed that mankind had originally come out of a certain cave; large men from a large hole, and the small men from a small one; and that they had no women among them at first, but at last found them among the branches of a forest near a small lake. The ladies were, however, as slippery as eels, so that the men could not for a long time catch any of them; till some whose hands were rough with a kind of leprosy, succeeded in securing four of these slippery females. The natives appeared an idle careless race, living chiefly on the spontaneous produce of their woods and rivers.

On reaching Isabella, Columbus found the sickness continuing, the stores of provisions almost consumed, and discontent and disappointment very prevalent. The last were greatly increased when he required the cavaliers to aid in erecting certain public works of immediate necessity, the proud hidalgos considering all labour as a degradation. These circumstances greatly embarrassed Columbus, who was desirous of proceeding on another voyage of discovery. He therefore sent all the persons who could be spared into the interior, under the command of Pedro Margarite, with orders to explore the country. He gave strict charges to treat the Indians with kindness, justice, and caution; to respect their property and persons, except Caonabo the Carib chief, whom they were to seize by stratagem. An incident that now occurred convinced him that there was little to fear from the natives. A horseman, returning from the interior, found five of his countrymen captive among a crowd of Indians. Though more than four hundred in number, the sight of his horse put them all to flight, and he brought off his friends in triumph. Leaving his brother Diego governor in his absence, Columbus sailed in the three smallest vessels in search of new lands.

ment of these animals against the natives. Subsequently, intercourse was established with the Indians, who were more warlike and ingenious than those of Hayti, and possessed larger canoes. These were hollowed from a single tree, and one of them measured ninety-six feet long by eight broad. After a few days, Columbus finding no signs of gold, returned to Cuba. Here he was involved among a vast multitude of small islands, which rendered navigation very dangerous and difficult. He, however, named them the Queen's Gardens, from the verdure with which they as it were covered the surface of the sea. Some of these islands were inhabited, and Columbus was much amused by a method the natives employed in fishing. They attached a long line to the tail of a small fish with a flat head furnished with numerous suckers. They allowed it to swim about, when it generally kept near the surface, but on perceiving a large fish would dart on it, and fixing itself firmly by its suckers, would retain its hold till both were drawn out of the water. Besides fish, the Spaniards saw large tortoises caught in this way, which it appears is also practised on the east coast of Africa. Columbus continued his voyage along the southern shore of the island, which he believed to form part of the Asiatic continent. In this navigation he encountered many difficulties from the numerous sandbanks and keys or small islands. At last being fully convinced that he had reached a continent, and fearing the exhaustion of his provisions, and the shattered condition of his vessels, he determined to return. After getting free of the small islands, he cast anchor at the mouth of a river in order to refresh his men, harassed by their long voyage and anxieties. From this place he intended to return direct to Hispaniola, but was forced by contrary winds to the coast of Jamaica, along which he sailed a considerable distance, having frequent intercourse with the natives. Thence he reached the shores of Hispaniola, where he was soon recognised by some of the natives, among whom his fame was widely spread. After sailing along its southern side, he came to a region already explored, but intended to continue his researches farther east among the Caribbean islands. The hardships, exertions, and anxieties of his five months' voyage had, however, exhausted his mental and bodily powers; he was struck with a sudden malady which deprived him of memory, sight, and all his faculties, and the crew, alarmed at the deep lethargy of the admiral, abandoned all thought of prosecuting the voyage, and bore away direct for the harbour of Isabella. Here Columbus rejoiced to meet his brother Bartholomew, who had arrived from Spain with supplies, but found the affairs of the island fallen into the utmost confusion during his absence.

Columbus, before departing on his voyage, had, as we mentioned, given the command of his troops to Margarite, with orders to explore the island. Instead of obeying these orders, Margarite quartered himself and followers among the natives of the Vega, whom he oppressed and abused in all possible ways. To the remonstrances of the council and Diego Columbus he paid no attention, but at last fearing the investigation of his conduct on the return of the admiral, he resolved, with his associates, to seize some of the ships and return to Spain. He was joined in this scheme by Friar Boyle, to whom the religious superintendance of the colony had been committed. Deserting their posts, they had sailed for Spain, leaving the army without a head and without discipline. The men became bolder in their abuse of the natives, till the latter, roused to resentment, began to take secret vengeance on their oppressors. Scattered parties and individuals were put to cath, and success in these attempts led to bolder undertakings. Caonabo resolved to attack the fortress, built without permission on his territories, and now garrisoned by only fifty men. They were commanded by Alonzo de Ojeda, who to great natural bravery added much military skill, acquired in the Moorish wars. Caonabo assembled ten thousand warriors, but found his adversary on his guard, and being unable to force so strong a fortress, endeavoured to reduce it by famine. After a thirty days' siege, in which many of the Indians perished, he was

obliged to withdraw, but meditated an attack on the town, weakened by the dispersion of the troops and the sickness of those who remained. He made a league, for this purpose, with three other chiefs, but Guacanagari, the first friend of the Spaniards, whose dominions were nearest the town, remained faithful to them, and delayed the attempt. He thus brought on himself the hostility of the confederates, who plundered his country and killed many of his subjects.

Columbus took various measures to quiet the island, punishing some of the chiefs, and gaining others by conciliatory treatment. From his most dangerous enemy Caonabo, he was freed by a daring stratagem of Ojeda, who with ten horsemen ventured into the camp of the chief on a pretended friendly mission, and having by false representations induced the simple Indian to mount behind him, and suffer himself to be adorned with polished shackles, bore him off in triumph from among his astonished warriors. This deceit, however contrary to our feelings, seems to have been viewed in a different light by its victim, who, when a captive, always showed the highest respect for Ojeda, whilst he proudly refused all marks of deference for Columbus, though well aware of his superior rank. Another important event for the colony was the arrival of Antonio Torres, with four ships loaded with provisions, and accompanied with many workmen and mechanics. The dispatches from the court were still favourable; insidious enemies having not as yet poisoned the ear of the princes against Columbus. The admiral hastened the return of Torres, sending with him his brother Diego to support his interests at court, and to give his advice in settling the boundaries of their respective discoveries with Portugal. In the fleet was sent not only all the gold and other precious metals which he could procure, but also above five hundred Indian prisoners, whom he recommended to be sold as slaves at Seville. Thus early was begun that accursed trade in human flesh, which has produced more misfortune to mankind than all the wars from that time to the present; and which is no less disgraceful to humanity than the cannibalism of the savages for which the Spaniards express such horror.

One of Caonabo's brothers, attempting to revenge his captivity, had been defeated by Ojeda, but this did not prevent the other chiefs from collecting their forces for his rescue. Columbus learning from the friendly Indians that they had assembled in the Vega, marched out to meet them, though his whole army only amounted to two hundred infantry, twenty horse, and the same number of bloodhounds, not the least dangerous opponents to the naked Indians. A battle, or rather massacre, took place in the Vega; the natives, who had trusted to their numbers, being at once dispersed by the fire of the infantry, and then cut down by the cavalry, or hunted like wild beasts by the savage dogs. Columbus followed up his victory by subduing almost the whole island, and imposing a tax of a certain quantity of gold dust, or, where this was not produced, of cotton, on each of the natives. The chiefs remonstrated against this grievous burden; but in vain. Their people, seeing no hope of relief, deserted their fields, and retired to the mountains, hoping that famine might drive away their persecutors. But this only increased their severities, and after a large part of the Indians had perished by want and violence, the remainder returned to linger under the yoke of slavery. Even the friendly Guacanagari and his people were subjected to the same impositions and cruelties, till the chief, unable to endure the reproaches of his miserable subjects, retired to the mountains, and died in poverty-a victim to the strangers whom his hospitality had more than once preserved from destruction.

The malcontents who had returned to Spain were not wholly unsuccessful in prejudicing the sovereigas against Columbus, who, as a foreigner, had no influence to support him at court. Even the arrival of Torres, with news of the discoveries made in the recent voyage, and the specimens of gold which he brought, did not restore Columbus to his former favour. Juan Aguado was sent as a commissioner to investigate the affairs of the island, and though formerly

highly indebted to Columbus, soon became his bitterest foe. On arriving at Isabella, he found the admiral absent in the interior, and immediately assumed high authority to himself, and interfered in all public affairs. When the admiral returned from the interior, he received Aguado with all the courtesy due to the royal messenger; and when his inquiries were finished, intimated his intention of returning with him to Spain. Their departure was delayed by a tremendous hurricane, which swept over the island with such awful fury, that even the Indians thought it a divine judgment on the crimes and cruelties of the white men. It destroyed all the vessels in the harbour except one, left in a very shattered condition. Whilst the vessels were repairing, Columbus received news of great importance. A Spaniard, Miguel Diaz, in the service of his brother Bartholomew, had wounded one of his comrades dangerously in a quarrel, and fearing the consequences, had fled to the south side of the island. Here he had won the heart of a female cacique, and lived with her for some time very happily. But at length he became desirous of returning to his friends, and fell into deep melancholy. His Indian bride learning the cause, and desirous of drawing the Spaniards to her part of the island, that he might not thus be induced to abandon her, informed him that there were rich mines in the neighbourhood. Diaz having ascertained the truth of the report, returned to his master, who was easily reconciled to him, and set out personally to investigate the mines. He found them as rich as was reported, and deep pits near them, as if dug in former times, which gave rise to a curious conjecture of Columbus, that he had now discovered the ancient Ophir of Solomon. The tidings were indeed highly grateful to the admiral, both as decisive proofs of the wealth of the island, thus silencing the cavils of his enemies, and as an excuse for removing the colony from its unhealthy situation. Diaz was pardoned, and employed in various duties, all of which he discharged with fidelity. He also kept faith with his Indian spouse, who seems to have become a Christian, and to have been baptised.

On the 10th March, 1496, Columbus sailed for Spain, along with Aguado. Keeping too far south, within the trade-winds, his passage was long and tedious, so that he had to touch at Guadaloupe for provisions. The shores were only defended by the women, some of whom they took prisoners, but again set free before their departure. One heroine, however, refused liberty, and chose rather to accompany Caonabo, whom Columbus was taking with him to Spain. But the Carib chief was destined never to arrive there; his proud heart was broken by his misfortunes, and he died on the voyage. During this voyage, the Spaniards were reduced to great extremity, some even proposing to kill and eat their Indian prisoners. On the 11th June, Columbus at last reached Cadiz, after a weary passage of three months. His hopes and reception were very different from what they had been on his former return three years before; and the miserable emaciated figures of his sickly companions, and their yellow countenances-a mockery, says an old writer, of that gold they had gone to seek-was no unfit emblem of the public disappointment. He, however, received a friendly letter from the court, and on his arrival there met with a kind reception; his great merits not being yet wholly forgotten. He proposed to undertake a new voyage of discovery, which was readily agreed to; but numerous delays were destined to intervene before its accomplishment. Affairs of more immediate necessity demanded all the care and resources of the king, whilst envious councillors insinuated to him the great cost and small profit of the boasted discoveries. At length the influence of the queen procured certain measures favourable to Columbus, and adapted to promote the prosperity of the colony; but the management of Indian affairs was committed to his cold-blooded enemy, Fonseca, who persecuted him, and embarrassed his proceedings by the meanest and most despicable artifices. Absent, envied, and a stranger,' as he said in a letter to the king, every one was against him, and it was only his gratitude to the queen that induced him to persevere.

At length, on the 30th May, 1498, Columbus sailed with six vessels on his third voyage to the New World. He proceeded south to the Cape Verd Islands. Thence he continued south-west, till his ship was involved in the region of the calms,' near the equator. Here the wind fell, and a dead, sultry air, as from a furnace, hung over the ships, wasting their stores, and destroying the health and spirits of the men. He then altered his course more to the west, and reached land with his provisions nearly exhausted, and only one cask of water remaining in each ship. It was the island of Trinidad, which Columbus named from a vow he made to consecrate the first land he should reach to the Trinity. He coasted along the southern shore of the island, and was surprised at its fertility, at the coolness of air, and the fair complexion of the natives-all so unlike the tropical character of Africa. He was now sailing in the strait between Trinidad and the mainland, on some parts of which he touched in the gulf of Paria, but without knowing that it was in reality the continent he had long sought. The strings of pearls worn by the natives highly interested him as a new source of wealth, and a confirmation of his theories. His time, however, would not permit of further researches, so, retracing his way, he sailed through the narrow passage between Trinidad and Cape Boto in Paria, where the sea was raging and foaming, the currents being swollen by the large mass of fresh water then poured into the gulf. He passed through it, however, in safety, and examined part of the north coast of Paria, when he was compelled to sail for Hispaniola. He reached it considerably north of the point he wished, having been carried out of his reckoning by the strong currents. Sending a message on shore to his brother, he sailed for the river Ozema, and was soon met by his brother Bartholomew, who came off in a caravel to meet him. In a letter to the sovereigns, relating his voyage, Columbus enters into various speculations-some of them wild and fanciful in the extreme-concerning his new discoveries. He however rightly conjectured from the quantity of fresh water flowing into the gulf, that it must come from some continent of vast extent, which he still maintained to be a part of Asia.

From his brother, who had governed the island under the title of Adelantado, Columbus received an account of the events which had occurred during his long absence. Bartholomew had proceeded to found a fort near the mines of Hayna, discovered by his servant, but, from want of provisions, the work had made slow progress. He then laid the foundation of San Domingo, on the harbour at the mouth of the Ozema river, and leaving a small garrison there, set out to explore the western region of the island. He was well received by the cacique of that district, who readily agreed to pay an annual tribute of cotton, alleging that no gold was produced in his part of the island. On returning to Isabella, he found nothing but misery and repining. The provisions received from Europe were consumed, the Spaniards, intent only on procuring gold, would not condescend to cultivate the ground, and yet, by their cruelties, had driven the natives to the mountains. The Adelantado sent all the men who could be spared into the interior, where the climate was more salubrious, and provisions in greater abundance. He then established military posts to overawe the natives, whose indignation was roused anew by fresh indignities. Two friars had laboured with small success to convert the Indians, who could not be persuaded that a religion was true, whose followers perpetrated such atrocities. In one place, the friars had built a small chapel, with crucifix, images, and altar, for the use of a family of converts. Some other Indians had, however, entered the chapel, and broken the images. For this crime the ignorant savages were tried by the ecclesiastical law, condemned, and burned. This cruel treatment excited the indignation of the whole natives, and a rebellion, to commence by a general massacre of their oppressors, was concerted. It was betrayed, as usual, to the Spaniards; and, by a successful stratagem, the Adelantado seized fourteen of the assembled caciques, and carried them prisoners to a fortress. Two of the principal instigators of the insurrection were put to death, but the others released-an act of cle

mency which for a time restored tranquillity to the Vega. Bartholomew then set out to the western extremity of the island, where he received for tribute sufficient cotton and provisions to load a caravel.

A new trouble arose from the machinations of one Francisco Roldan, who, raised from low rank to be chief judge of the island, now turned his influence against his benefactor. During the absence of the Adelantado, he excited mutiny against him among the Spaniards at Isabella, and, on his return, set out into the interior, where he had formed friendship with the native chiefs, and hoped to seize one of the forts. Disappointed by the vigilance of the commander, he now endeavoured to obtain possession of it by force. The Adelantado marched to its relief, but distrusting the loyalty of his followers, durst not attack Roldan. He had an interview with him which led to no result, and Roldan, taking advantage of his absence, returned to Isabella, entered it by surprise, and breaking open the royal warehouse, supplied himself and his followers with arms and clothing. He then returned to the Vega, endeavouring to seduce the followers of the Adelantado from their allegiance. Not succeeding in this, he again endeavoured to stir up the natives to revolt, and continued to sow discontent among the Spaniards. The whole island was reduced to a state of complete anarchy, when two vessels arrived at San Domingo in February, 1498, with supplies of provisions, troops, and, what was of more importance, a royal confirmation of the authority of the Adelantado. Roldan had, however, gone too far to hope for pardon, and feeling too weak for resistance, retired towards the west end of the island. The Indians in the Vega, seduced by his machinations, had taken up arms, but being defeated by the Spaniards, their chief fled to the mountains of Ciguay, where he found shelter with a brother cacique. Thither he was followed by the Adelantado, who, notwithstanding the difficulties of a mountain warfare with savage foes, soon dispersed the Indians, and captured both the chiefs, who had sought shelter in the recesses of the mountains. Such was the state of the island when Columbus returned thither from Spain, and such the immediate results of that unwise policy which the Spanish monarchs, instigated by his private enemies, pursued towards him. The productiveness of the colony was ruined; discontent, disloyalty, and crime fomented among the white settlers, and the poor Indians led into rebellions, in which they either perished miserably by the sword and famine, or were reduced to a state of cruel slavery, to which death in almost any form was preferable.

Oh! do not talk of fate, dear Paul,' said a meek-looking young woman with a child on her knee. Was it chance that made me your wife? or was it fate that bestowed upon us this little fellow? or that gave to our little Jessie the health, and strength, and beauty, which gladden our hearts as we look upon her? No, Paul, the hand of Providence is visible there at least, and it is sinful to talk of fate, and chance, and luck, while these dear children are within your sight.'

'You are right, wife,' said the peasant; Jessie is, indeed, a strong child, and a pretty one;' and he passed his large and horny hand fondly over her long auburn ringlets as she glanced smilingly in his face; but, poor thing, her strength will not pay the rent, and her beauty will not supply the potage; and you, too, Annette, you are wrong to ask me what made you my wife; for if I had nothing else to give you, God knows I gave you at least as warm a heart, and as true a love as ever man could bestow. You might have done better, Annette-I know it-you might

have had a warmer hearth, and a dainter meal; but never a warmer love than mine, though you had been the wife of the Count himself.'

Now, fie upon you, my friend,' said the young woman, as she rose in her innocent beauty, and moved towards him; look at your children, and then ask yourself if you should talk thus to their mother.'

'No, no, Annette; I know that I have no reason, no right to say these things to you; but it is almost more than I can bear, when I remember that had you married

Hush, Paul, my own husband,' murmured the sweet voice of Annette; had I married that bold, bad man, I should have been a wretched woman-now I am only a poor one: had I plighted my faith to him, I should have drooped under a sense of my own falsehood-now, I can lift my head among my neighbours, for my heart cannot reproach me with any wrong.'

'But I am a beggar, Annette.'

'You are an honest man, Paul; and never have you seen the seed of the righteous begging their bread:' if you can no longer labour on your own land, you can at least work on that of others, and while you have a stout arm and a willing heart you will never need employment the trial will be bitter enough at first-I know it; but He who died for us suffered far more, when he was reviled and spit upon; and we shall at least have the evening to ourselves, to tell each other all that we have thought, and done, and purposed, during the day; and to fondle our little ones, and teach them those homely things which it is befitting for a poor man's child to know; and while you are away in the fields, and I am busied in our cottage with my own cares, I will teach Jessie those songs you used to love when you came to see me at the farm, and she shall sing them too; for her young voice will sound cheerfully when you come home weary with your day's labour-then, cheer up, dear Paul; poverty is no crime.'

'But it is a curse,' said Giroux, impatiently; a biting, bitter curse!'

'But who told you that Abel Lamotte was to take the farm?' said the meek wife.

'Who told me?' echoed the husband, with flashing eyes and elevated voice; 'why, he told me-told me with a taunt. You won the wife, Paul,' said he, as we met on the millbridge, and I have got the farm! we shall see which of us has drawn the prize."

'That was an idle jest, if he meant it for one,' said the meek-eyed Annette.

'Jest!' shouted her husband again, what makes you talk of jests and Abel Lamotte in the same breath to me? I tell you, Annette, that it was well for both of us when we met to-night, that I had thought somewhat more of another world since he knew me first, or -Well, well, we jostled on the narrow and quivering plank just above where the water runs deepest and darkest; but we passed on, each one to his home

Paul!' gasped out the young wife, starting up and gazing fearfully at her husband. Paul, what mean you?' Nothing, Annette, nothing-why, you look as pale as if you had seen a ghost.'

Paul,' she said, solemnly, I have done worse; I have seen an evil spirit-I fear to look stedfastly at it, lest it wither me. Search into your secret heart, Paul, I pray; it will, perhaps, be a hard task, but it is a needful one, that you may pluck thence the unholy and sinful thoughts which you have suffered to grow up in its hidden recesses, and to destroy its uprightness. Come hither, Jessie, my child: kneel down beside me, and pray to God to protect your dear father, and to deliver him from temptation.' And the fair girl did as she was bidden, and knelt down on the greensward with her little hands clasped and resting on the knee of her father, while she lisped out one of those pure and artless petitions which the lips of childhood alone can utter worthily: and the right chord was touched in the bosom of the unhappy man, for the suppressed sobs of stifled anguish mingled at intervals with the bird-like tones of the child; and then, indeed, in grateful humility,