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from shore； but certain it is； that the very night the land was
seen from the Admiral's vessel； it was also discovered by one of
the seamen on board another ship。 The problem of the age was at
last solved。 A new continent was given to Ferdinand and Isabella。
On the 12th of October Columbus landsnot； however； on the
continent； as he supposed； but on an islandin great pomp； as
admiral of the seas and viceroy of the king； in a purple doublet；
and with a drawn sword in one hand and the standard of Spain in the
other； followed by officers in appropriate costume； and a friar
bearing the emblem of our redemption； which is solemnly planted on
the shore； and the land called San Salvador。 This little island；
one of the Bahamas； is not； however； gilded with the anticipated
splendors of Oriental countries。 He finds neither gold； nor
jewels； nor silks； nor spices； nor any signs of civilization； only
naked men and women； without any indication of wealth or culture or
power。 But he finds a soft and genial climate； and a soil of
unparalleled fertility； and trees and shrubs as green as Andalusia
in spring and birds with every variety of plumage； and insects
glistening with every color of the rainbow； while the natives are
gentle and unsuspecting and full of worship。 Columbus is
disappointed； but not discouraged。 He sets sail to find the real
Cipango of which he is in search。 He cruises among the Bahama
islands； discovers Cuba and Hispaniola （now called Hayti）； explores
their coasts； holds peaceful intercourse with the natives； and is
transported with enthusiasm in view of the beauty of the country
and its great capacities； but he sees no gold； only a few ornaments
to show that there is gold somewhere near； if it only could be
found。 Nor has he reached the Cipango of his dreams； but new
countries； of which there was no record or suspicion of existence；
yet of vast extent； and fertile beyond knowledge。 He is puzzled；
but filled with intoxicating joy。 He has performed a great feat。
He has doubtless added indefinitely to the dominion of Spain。
Columbus leaves a small colony on the island of Hispaniola； and
with the trophies of his discoveries returns to Spain； without
serious obstacles； except a short detention in Portugal； whither he
was driven by a storm。 His stories fill the whole civilized world
with wonder。 He is welcomed with the most cordial and enthusiastic
reception； the people gaze at him with admiration。 His sovereigns
rise at his approach； and seat him beside themselves on their
gilded and canopied throne； he has made them a present worthy of a
god。 What honors could be too great for such a man！ Even envy
pales before the universal exhilaration。 He enters into the most
august circles as an equal； his dignities and honors are confirmed；
he is loaded with presents and favors； he is the most marked
personage in Europe； he is almost stifled with the incense of royal
and popular idolatry。 Never was a subject more honored and
caressed。 The imagination of a chivalrous and lively people is
inflamed with the wildest expectations； for although he returned
with but little of the expected wealth； he has pointed out a land
rich in unfathomed mines。
A second and larger expedition is soon projected。 Everybody wishes
to join it。 All press to join the fortunate admiral who has added
a continent to civilization。 The proudest nobles； with the armor
and horses of chivalry； embark with artisans and miners for another
voyage； now without solicitude or fear； but with unbounded hopes of
wealth；especially hardy adventurers and broken…down families of
rank anxious to retrieve their fortunes。 The pendulum of a
nation's thought swings from the extreme of doubt and cynicism to
the opposite extreme of faith and exhilaration。 Spain was ripe for
the harvest。 Eight hundred years' desperate contest with the Moors
had made the nation bold； heroic； adventurous。 There were no such
warriors in all Europe。 Nowhere were there such chivalric virtues。
No people were then animated with such martial enthusiasm； such
unfettered imagination； such heroic daring； as were the subjects of
Ferdinand and Isabella。 They were a people to conquer a world； not
merely heroic and enterprising； but fresh with religious
enthusiasm。 They had expelled the infidels from Spain； they would
fight for the honor of the Cross in any clime or land。
The hopes held out by Columbus were extravagant； and these
extravagant expectations were the occasion of his fall and
subsequent sorrows and humiliation。 Doubtless he was sincere； but
he was infatuated。 He could only see the gold of Cipango。 He was
as confident of enriching his followers as he had been of
discovering new realms。 He was as enthusiastic as Sir Walter
Raleigh a century later； and made promises as rash as he； and
created the same exalted hopes； to be followed by bitter
disappointments； and consequently he incurred the same hostilities
and met the same downfall。
This second expedition was undertaken in seventeen vessels；
carrying fifteen hundred people； all full of animation and hope；
and some of them with intentions to settle in the newly discovered
country until they had made their fortunes。 They arrived at
Hispaniola in March； of the year 1493； only to discover that the
men left behind on the first voyage to secure their settlement were
all despoiled or murdered； that the natives had proved treacherous；
or that the Spaniards had abused their confidence and forfeited
their friendship。 They were exposed to new hostilities： they found
the climate unhealthy； their numbers rapidly dwindled away from
disease or poor food； starvation stared them in the face； in spite
of the fertility of the soil； dissensions and jealousies arose；
they were governed with great difficulty； for the haughty hidalgoes
were unused to menial labor； and labor of the most irksome kind was
necessary； law and order were relaxed。 The blame of disaster was
laid upon the Admiral； who was accused of deceiving them； evil
reports were sent to Spain； accusing him of incapacity； cruelty；
and oppression； gold was found only in small quantities； some of
the leading men mutinied； general discontent arose； the greater
part of the colonists were disabled from sickness and debility； no
gold of any amount was sent back to Spain； only five hundred Indian
slaves to be sold instead； which led to renewed hostilities with
the natives； and the necessity for their subjugation。 All of these
evils created bitter disappointment in Spain and discontent with
the measures and government of Columbus himself； so that a
commission of inquiry was sent to Hispaniola； headed by Aguado； who
assumed arrogant authority； and made it necessary for Columbus to
return to Spain without adding essentially to his discoveries。 He
sailed around Cuba and Jamaica and other islands； but as yet had
not seen the mainland or found mines of gold or silver。
He landed in Spain； in 1496； to find that his popularity had
declined and the old enthusiasm had grown cold。 With him landed a
feeble train of emaciated men； who had nothing to relate but
sickness； hardship； and disappointment。 The sovereigns； however；
received him kindly； but he was depressed and sad； and clothed
himself with the habit of a Franciscan friar； to denote his
humility and dejection。 He displayed a few golden collars and
bracelets as trophies； with some Indians； but these no longer
dazzled the crowd。
It was not until 1498 that Columbus was enabled to make his third
voyage； having experienced great delay from the general
disappointment。 Instead of seventeen vessels； he could collect but
six。 In this voyage he reached the mainland；that part called
Paria； near the mouth of the Orinoco； in South America； but he
supposed it to be an island。 It was fruitful and populous； and the
air was sweetened with the perfumes of flowers。 Yet he did not
explore the coast to any extent； but made his way to Hispaniola；
where he had left the discontented colony himself broken in health；
a victim of gout； haggard from anxiety； and emaciated by pain。 His
splendid constitution was now undermined from his various hardships
and cares。
He found the colony in a worse state than when he left it under the
care of his brother Bartholomew。 The Indians had proved hostile；
the colonists were lazy and turbulent； mutiny had broken out；
factions prevailed； as well as general misery and discontent。 The
horrors of famine had succeeded wars with the natives。 There was a
general desire to leave the settlement。 Columbus tried to restore
order and confidence； but the difficulty of governing such a
disorderly set of adventurers was too great even for him。 He was
obliged to resort to severities that made him more and more
unpopular。 The complaints of his enemies reached Spain。 He was
most cruelly misrepresented and slandered； and