centinels were pofted, who kept the multitude at a distance, in order to prevent them not only from embezzling, but from infpecting too curioufly what belonged to their guefts z). Next morning this prince vifited Columbus, who was now on board the Nigna, and endeavoured to confole him for his lofs, by offering all that he poffeffed to repair it a).

Diftrefs of Columbus.

The Condition of Columbus was fuch, that he ftood in need of confolation. He had hitherto procured no intelligence of the Pinta, and no longer doubted but that his treacherous affociate had fet fail for Europe, in order to have the merit of carrying the first ridings of the extraordinary discoveries which had been made, and to preoccupy fo far the ear of their fovereign, as to rob him of the glory and reward to which he was juftly intitled. There remained but one veffel, and that. the fmalleft and moft crazy of the fquadron, to traverfe fuch a vaft ocean, and carry fo many men back to Europe. Each of thofe circumftances was alarming, and filled the mind of Columbus with the utmoft folicitude. The defire of overtaking Pinzon, and of effacing the unfavourable impreffions which his mifreprefentations might make in Spain, made it neceffary to return thither without delay.

2) See NOTE xv.

a) Herrera, dec. 1. lib, i, e. 18.

Refolves to leaves a part of his crew in the ifland.

The difficulty of taking fuch a number of perfous aboard the Nigna, confirmed him in an opinion, which the fertility of the country, and the gentle temper of the people, had already induced him to form. He refolved to leave a part of his crew in the ifland, that, by refiding there, they might learn the language of the natives, ftudy their difpofition, examine the nature of the country, fearch for mines, prepare for the commodious fettlement of the colony, with which he purposed to return, and thus fecure and facilitate the acquifition of those advantages which he expected from his difcoveries. When he mentioned this to his men, all approved of the defign; and from impatience under the fatigue of a long voyage, from the levity natural to failors, or from the hopes of amaffing vaft wealth in a country which afforded fuch promifing fpecimens of its riches, many offered voluntarily to be among the number of those who should remain.

Obtains the confent of the natives.

Nothing was now wanting towards the execution of this fcheme, but to obtain the confent of Guacanahari; and his unfufpicious fimplicity foon prefented to the admiral a favourable opportunity of propofing it. Columbus having, in the best manner he could, by broken words and figns, expreffed fome curiofity to know the

caufe which had moved the iflanders to fly with fuch precipitation upon the approach of his fhips, the cazique informed him that the country was much infefted by the incurfions of certain people, whom he called Carribeans, who inhabited feveral iflands to the fouth east. Thefe he defcribed as a fierce and warlike race of men, who delighted in blood, and devoured the flesh of the prifoners who were fo unhappy as to fall into their hands; and as the Spaniards, as their first appearance, were fuppofed to be Carribeans, whom the natives, however numerous, durft not face in battle, they had recourse to their ufual method of fecuring their fafety, by flying into the thickest and most impenetrable woods. Guacanahari, while fpeaking of those dreadful invaders, difcovered fuch symptoms of terror, as well as fuch consciousness of the inability of his own people to refift them, as led Columbus to conclude that he would not be alarmed at the propofition of any scheme which afforded him the profpect of an additional fecurity against their attacks. He inftantly offered him the affiftance of the Spaniards to repel his enemies; he engaged to take him and his people under the protection of the powerful monarch whom he ferved, and offered to leave in the ifland fuch a number of his men, as fhould be fufficient, not only to defend the inhabitants from future incurfions, but to avenge their paft wrongs.

Builds a fort.

The credulous prince clofed eagerly with the proposal, and thought himself already safe under the patronage of beings fprung from Hea ven, and fuperior in power to mortal men. The ground was marked out for a fmall fort, which Columbus called Navidad, because he had landed there on Christmas day. A deep ditch was drawn around it. The ramparts were fortified with pallifades, and the great guns, faved out of the admiral's fhip, were planted upon them. In ten days the work was finifhed; that fimplo race of men labouring with inconfiderate affiduity in erecting this firft monument of their own fervitude. During this time Columbus, by his careffes and liberality, laboured to increase the high opinion which the natives entertained of the Spaniards. But while he endeavoured to inspire them with confidence in their difpofition to do good, he wifhed likewise to give them fome ftriking idea of their power to pu nish and destroy fuch as were the objects of their indignation. With his view, in prefence of a vaft affembly, he drew up his men in order of battle, and made an oftentatious but innocent display of the sharpness of the Spanish fwords, of the force of their fpears, and the operation of their crossbows. Thefe rude people, firangers to the ùfe of iron, and unacquainted with any hoftile weapons, but arrows of reeds pointed with the bones of fishes, wooden fwords

and javelins hardened in the fire, wondered and trembled. Before this furprife or fear had time to abate, he ordered the great guns to be fired. The fudden explofion ftruck them with fuch terror, that they fell flat to the ground, covering their faces with their hands; and when they beheld the aftonifhing effect of the bullets among the trees, towards which the cannon had been pointed, they concluded that it was impoffible to refift men, who had the command of fuch deftructive inftruments, and who came armed with thunder and lightning against their enemies.

His inftructions to thofe he left in it.

After giving fuch impreffions both of the beneficence and power of the Spaniards, as might have rendered it easy to preserve an afcendant over the minds of the natives, Columbus appointed thirty-eight of his people to remain in the ifland. He entrusted the command of thefe to Diego de Arada, a gentleman of Cordova, investing him with the fame poIwers which he himfelf had received from Ferdinand and Ifabella, and furnished him with every thing requifite for the fubfiftence or defence of this infant colony. He ftrictly enjoined them to maintain concord among themfelves, to yield an unreferved obedience to their commander, to avoid giving offence to the natives by any violence or exaction, to cultivate the friendship of Guacanahari, but not to put