the Indians remaining at a distance, and observing the strictest care, neither by word nor movement to cause any new distrust. When the boats were about to return to the ships, the old Indian made signs that the young girls should be taken on board, nor would he admit of any denial. On entering the ships, the girls showed no signs of grief or alarm, though surrounded by what, to them, must have been such uncouth and formidable beings. Columbus was careful that the confidence thus placed in him should not be abused. After feasting the young females, and ordering them to be clothed, and adorned with various ornaments, he sent them on shore. The night, however, had fallen, and the coast was deserted. They had to return to the ship, where they remained all night under the careful protection of the admiral. The next morning he restored them to their friends. The old Indian received them with joy, and manifested a grateful sense of the kind treatment they had experienced. In the evening, however, when the boats went on shore, the young girls appeared, accompanied by a multitude of their friends, and returned all the presents they had received, nor could they be prevailed upon to retain any of them, although they must have been precious in their eyes; so greatly was the pride of these savages piqued at having their gifts refused.

On the following day, as the adelantado approached the shore, two of the principal inhabitants, entering the water, took him out of the boat in their arms, and carrying him to land, seated him with great ceremony on a grassy bank. Don Bartholomew endeavoured to collect information from them respecting the country, and ordered the notary of the squadron to write down their replies. The latter immediately prepared pen, ink and paper, and proceeded to write ; but no sooner did the Indians behold this strange and mys

1

ror.

terious process, than, mistaking it for some necromantic spell, intended to be wrought upon them, they fled with terAfter some time they returned, cautiously scattering a fragrant powder in the air, and burning some of it in such a direction that the smoke should be borne towards the Spaniards by the wind. This was apparently intended to counteract any baleful spell, for they regarded the strangers as beings of a mysterious and supernatural order.

The sailors looked upon these counter charms of the Indians with equal distrust; and apprehended something of magic; nay, Fernando Columbus, who was present, and records the scene, appears to doubt whether these Indians were not tainted with sorcery, and thus led to suspect it in others*. Indeed, not to conceal a foible, which was more characteristic of the superstition of the age than of the man, Columbus himself entertained an idea of the kind, and assures the sovereigns in his letter from Jamaica, that the people of Cariari and its vicinity are great enchanters ; and he intimates that the two Indian girls who had visited his ship, had magic powder concealed about their persons. He adds that the sailors attributed all the delays and hardships which they experienced on that coast, to their being under the influence of some evil spell, worked by the witchcraft of the natives, and that they still remained in that belieft.

For several days the squadron remained at this place, during which time the ships were examined and repaired, and the crews enjoyed repose and the recreation of the land. The adelantado, with a band of armed men, made excursions on shore to collect information. There was no pure gold to be met with here; all their ornaments were of

*His. del Almirante, Cap. 91.

† Letter from Jamaica. ́

guanin; but the natives assured the adelantado, that in proceeding along the coast, the ships would soon arrive at a country where gold was in great abundance. In examining one of the villages, the adelantado found in a large house, several sepulchres. One contained a human body embalmed. In another, there were two bodies wrapped in cotton, and so preserved as to be free from any disagreeable odour. They were adorned with the ornaments which had been most precious to them when living; and the sepulchres were decorated with rude carvings and paintings representing various animals, and sometimes what appeared to be intended for portraits of the deceased*. Throughout most of the savage tribes, there appears to have been great veneration for the dead, and an anxiety to preserve their remains undisturbed.

When about to sail, Columbus seized seven of the people, two of whom, apparently the most intelligent, he selected to serve as guides, the rest he suffered to depart. His late guide he had dismissed with presents at Cape Gracias a Dios. The inhabitants of Cariari manifested unusual sensibility at this seizure of their countrymen. They thronged the shore, and sent off four of their principal men with presents to the ships, imploring the release of the prisoners. The admiral assured them that he only took their companions as guides, for a short distance along the coast, and would restore them soon in safety to their homes. He ordered various presents to be given to the ambassadors; but neither his promises nor gifts could soothe the grief and apprehension of the natives, at beholding their friends carried away by beings of whom they had such mysterious apprehensionst.

CHAPTER IV.

VOYAGE ALONG COSTA RICA-SPECULATION CONCERNING THE ISTHMUS AT VERAGUA.

1502

ON the 5th of October, the squadron departed from Cariari, and sailed along what is at present called Costa Rica, (or the rich coast) from the gold and silver mines found in after years among its mountains. After sailing about twenty-two leagues, the ships anchored in a great bay, about six leagues in length and three in breadth, full of islands, with channels opening between them so as to present three or four entrances. This bay was called by the natives Caribaro*, and had been pointed out by the natives of Cariari, as plentiful in gold. The islands were beautifully verdant, and covered with groves which sent forth the fragrance of fruits and flowers. The channels between them were so deep, and free from rocks, that the ships sailed along them, as if passing through streets, their spars and rigging brushing the overhanging branches of the trees. After anchoring, the boats landed on one of the islands, where they found twenty canoes. The people were on shore among the trees. Being encouraged by the Indians

*In some English maps this bay is called Almirante, or Carnabaco Bay. The channel by which Columbus entered is still called Boca del Almirante; or the mouth of the Admiral.

of Cariari who accompanied the Spaniards, they soon advanced with confidence. Here, for the first time on this coast, the Spaniards met with specimens of pure gold*. The natives had large plates of it suspended round their necks by cotton cords; they had ornaments likewise, of Guanin, rudely shaped like eagles. One of them exchanged a plate of gold, equal in value to ten ducats, for three hawks bells.

On the following day the boats proceeded to the main land at the bottom of the bay. The country around was high and rough, and the villages were generally perched on the heights. They met with ten canoes of Indians, their heads decorated with garlands of flowers, and coronets formed of the claws of beasts and the quills of birdst. Most of them had plates of gold about their necks, but refused to part with them. The Spaniards brought two of them to the admiral to serve as guides. One had a plate of pure gold worth fourteen ducats, the other an eagle worth twenty-two ducats. Seeing the great value which the strangers set upon this metal, they assured them it was to be had in abundance within the distance of two days' journey; and mentioned various places along the coast, from whence it was procured; particularly Veragua, which was about twenty-five leagues distant‡.

The cupidity of the Spaniards was greatly excited by the sight of the gold, which seemed so plentiful among these. Indians. They would gladly have remained to barter, but the admiral discouraged all disposition of the kind. He barely bought to collect specimens, and information of the