CHAPTER VII.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, 1436-1506.

I.

Discovery of Madeira, Cape de Verd Islands, the Azores, Congo, and Guinea--Bartholomew Diaz--Cabot and Labrador--The geographical and commercial tendencies of the middle ages--The erroneous idea of the distance between Europe and Asia--Birth of Christopher Columbus--His first voyages--His plans rejected--His sojourn at the Franciscan convent--His reception by Ferdinand and Isabella--Treaty of the 17th of April, 1492--The brothers Pinzon--Three armed caravels at the port of Palos--Departure on the 3rd of August, 1492 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

II.

First voyage: The Great Canary--Gomera--Magnetic variation-- Symptoms of revolt--Land, land--San Salvador--Taking possession--Conception--Fernandina or Great Exuma--Isabella, or Long Island--The Mucaras--Cuba--Description of the island-- Archipelago of Notre-Dame--Hispaniola or San Domingo--Tortuga Island--The cacique on board the _Santa-Maria_--The caravel of Columbus goes aground and cannot be floated off--Island of Monte-Christi--Return--Tempest--Arrival in Spain--Homage rendered to Christopher Columbus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

III.

Second Voyage: Flotilla of seventeen vessels--Island of Ferro-- Dominica--Marie-Galante--Guadaloupe--The Cannibals--Montserrat-- Santa-Maria-la-Rodonda--St. Martin and Santa Cruz--Archipelago of the Eleven Thousand Virgins--The island of St. John Baptist, or Porto Rico--Hispaniola--The first Colonists massacred-- Foundation of the town of Isabella--Twelve ships laden with treasure sent to Spain--Fort St. Thomas built in the Province of Cibao--Don Diego, Columbus' brother, named Governor of the Island--Jamaica--The Coast of Cuba--The Remora--Return to Isabella--The Cacique made prisoner--Revolt of the Natives-- Famine--Columbus traduced in Spain--Juan Aguado sent as Commissary to Isabella--Gold-mines--Departure of Columbus--His arrival at Cadiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

IV.

Third Voyage: Madeira--Santiago in the Cape Verd Archipelago-- Trinidad--First sight of the American Coast in Venezuela, beyond the Orinoco, now the Province of Cumana--Gulf of Paria--The Gardens--Tobago--Grenada--Margarita--Cubaga--Hispaniola during the absence of Columbus--Foundation of the town of San Domingo-- Arrival of Columbus--Insubordination in the Colony--Complaints in Spain--Bovadilla sent by the king to inquire into the conduct of Columbus--Columbus sent to Europe in fetters with his two brothers--His appearance before Ferdinand and Isabella--Renewal of royal favour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

V.

Fourth Voyage: A Flotilla of four vessels--Canary Islands-- Martinique--Dominica--Santa-Cruz--Porto-Rico--Hispaniola-- Jamaica--Cayman Island--Pinos Island--Island of Guanaja--Cape Honduras--The American Coast of Truxillo on the Gulf of Darien-- The Limonare Islands--Huerta--The Coast of Veragua--Auriferous Strata--Revolt of the Natives--The Dream of Columbus-- Porto-Bello--The Mulatas--Putting into port at Jamaica-- Distress--Revolt of the Spaniards against Columbus--Lunar Eclipse--Arrival of Columbus at Hispaniola--Return of Columbus to Spain--His death, on the 20th of March, 1506 . . . . . . . . 150